5 Hurt in French Quarter Shooting

Early this morning at 12:30 a gunman entered Club Decatur, a bar on Decatur St. and Iberville St.(near the Houe of Blues), and shot three men and injured two women (with bullet fragments). The latest violence highlights the fact that the Big Easy is on edge as its Katrina evacuees return to a city that has a murder rate approximately ten times the national average. The National Guard and state police who were called up in June in response to the murders of five youths in a vehicle in New Orleans are scheduled to leave this December. Mayor Nagin will have to redouble his efforts to make the citizens and visitors of the Crescent City safe and thereby make Louisiana's cultural capital a magnet anew for conventioneers and other cash-spending tourists.

Cf. http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/10/31/D8L3OQJO0.html.

Oedipus: Eyes Wide Open

Albertville, Alabama, police report that Gary Helms, Jr. a nineteen-year-old boy, sought revenge against his brother over a girlfriend by raping their passed-out, drunk 45-year-old mother at Willow Terrace Trailer Park. According to the the Albertville police Sgt. Jamie Smith's account, the mother came to as her son was assaulting her and tried to resist without success. Understatedly, Sgt. Smith said, "It's totally sick is what it is." He is now in jail on $100,000 bond and is charged with first degree rape of his mother.

Cf. http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=5598920&nav=menu33_3_6.

Pagan Prisoners Get Halloween Off in UK

The UK Prison Services regulations require that paganists (including Satanists and devil worshipers) get October 31 (Halloween) or Summer's End (i.e., Sarnhain, its Celtic name) off to be free to celebrate one of their religious days. The 282 English and Welsh prisoners will be allowed to use artifacts such as rune stones, flexible twigs, and unhooded robes in their cells or in their communal rites. (Hooded robes are forbidden for security reasons.) Pagans are afforded two religious "holidays" whereas Christian and Buddhists get three, Jews receive seven, Hindus obtain ten, and Muslims require 26. Some attacked the Prison Service directive as political correctness gone amok while a Home Office spokesperson defended the decision as evidence of its commitment to "treating all prisoners with decency and humanity, which includes respecting those of all religions."

Cf. http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23372521-details/Pagan+inmates+are+given+a+day+off+from+work+for+Halloween/article.do.

Eyelash Nip & Tuck

Nose jobs, face lifts, botox injections, breast augmentation, liposuction, posterior implants, labiaplasty. What's next? Ready to increase America's 10 million cosmetic surgeries, eylash transplants are beoming the rage. Using procedures pioneered by the "plugs" for balding men method, docs are using these same techniques to give ladies (and some gents) those luscious, lengthy lashes that they formerly had to glue on. Surgeons charge approximately $3000/eye for the procedure: it involves the removal of 30-40 hair follicles from the back of the scalp and their transferrance to the eyelid. Originally, this surgery was meant for burn victims and the like but now has transmogrified to a praxis to give those willowy waifs that pose and model for America's entertainment and Park Avenue's ad that look that may mandate more monthly attention but negates the need for eye lash extensions and daubs of mascara. Hurray for Hollywood!

Cf. http://www.moscowtimes.ru/stories/2006/10/25/003.html.

Russian Decline

Now that the USSR has devolved into Russia and its erstwhile satellites, the tongue of the tsars is seeing a marked decline even in the mother country itself. Russian is the fourth most spoken lingua after English, Chinese, and Spanish according to the Russian Academy of Science's Center for Demography and Human Ecology (CDHE). Within 15 years the CDHE forecasts that Russian will be tenth. One salient reason is the annual decline of the Russian population by 700,000. Also, the loss of superpower status has diminished the cachet of the language. An analyst at the Institute for Cultural Research, Kirill Razlogov, said, "As the geopolitical importance of Russia degenerated to being little more than a big supplier of raw materials for other countries' growing high-tech economies, so did the demand for knowing Russian. He added, "In many former Soviet republics, particularly in Central Asia, Russia was once the language of the elite: now with advancing globalization, more people opt for English." Now that the Cold War has subsided, Islamic fundamentalism is on the rise, and Hispanics are in the ascendancy in America, Arabic and Spanish are projected to surpass Russian in the number of speakers. To reassert itself on the world stage, this great power founded by Swedish princes and now a superpower (but only a military one), this bear should arise from its hibernation and roar anew as a nation that embraces freedom and democracy.

Cf. http://www.moscowtimes.ru/stories/2006/10/25/003.html.

Mayoress Demands Demires for Dutch Doughboys

Almere (Netherlands) mayoress and member of the ruling VVD libs Annemarie Jorritsma has called for prostitutes to go on foreign missions with the Dutch troops. Ms. Jorritsma said, "The army must consider ways its soldiers can let off steam." She elaborated that it would keep the military from turning to local women. Her suggestion is getting mixed reviews from her fellow citizens. Spokesman for the military trade union, Wim van den Burg told Volkskrant (a Dutch newspaper), "I don't think that my wife would find it a good idea." Even VER (sex industry) spokesman Andre van Dorst expressed doubts and said, I can see something in this, though it's a very strange idea."

Cf. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061023/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_dutch_prostitutes.

Newsweek: Cold, Warm, Warmer . . .

Newsweek admits that its Global Cooling scare was scientifically challenged. Now it claims with more facts, faster computers, and "infinitely more sophisticated mathematical methods" the truth can now be ascertained: the globe is warming! Don't "pour soot over the Arctic ice cap to help it melt" (as it once suggested). And now that we have taken more of the dust out of the air from the coal-burning factories and aerosols (suspended liquid) as prescient scientists demanded, the heat will no longer be reflected back into space. Thanks for keeping us warm, our ecological friends! Keep listening to Newsweek: sooner or later, we'll get it!

Cf. http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15391426/site/newsweek/page/2.

AL's "Mary Carey" Gov Candidate

America's most conservative state, Alabama, the "Heart of Dixie," now has a "Mary Carey" candidate for governor. She is Loretta Nall, a Libertarian Party write-in who advocates the decriminalization of marijuana and other progressive principles. Nall is garnering free media coverage with her unconventional campaign for governor. This bottled blonde tititillates her audience with her campaign tees that emphasize her "boobs" and decry her Republican and Dem opponent "boobs" that run the state and with her discussion of how her fashion predeliction (a la Brooke Shields) precluded her from a jailhouse meeting with her alcoholic sib because of overly zealous jailers. If one gets past the more "sin"sational aspects of her run, she does seem to faithfully represent her libertarian brethren and sisterhood. Of course, she probably has the same chance that the old George C. Wallace would have if he were campaigning for office (if he were still alive).

Cf. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061024/ap_on_fe_st/candidate_s_neckline and http://www.lorettanall.com/indexf.htm.

Paris New Brit

Paris Hilton, ubiquitous hottie, has now supplanted Tabasco tart, Britney Spears, as America's fave sex symbol. Paris, known best for her top selling private tape, One Night in Paris, her series Simple Life, and her errant heiress status, is now making her mark on the MTV music scene. Last week her latest chart climber, Nothing in this World, from her successful Paris CD made one forget Stacy's Mom as it reached number five on MTV's Top 18. Poor Brit is dreaming of reinvigorating her moribund music career as she nurtures KevFed's two latest and complains on YouTube.com about looking ugly while she downs fried chicken and burps miasma. The Louisiana lolita reminds one of an eponymous film by Stanley Kubrick except that she has two of a real ne'er-do-well's progeny and may be hoping that a Humbert takes her to a better life.

Report Sooner Smokers: Call 9-1-1

Omaha, Nebraska, has a stringent new anti-smoking law that bans the verboten pleasure in almost all public places. (Keno establishments are exempted.) A first-time offense is $100, a second-time is $200, and any subsuequent offense is $500. Cops and city officials urge Omaha citizens to report on the offending smokers by calling 9-1-1. Police public information sergeant Teresa Negron elucidated that witnesses are observed to call the emergency hotline when infractions are observed just like other crime. Marty Conboy, city prosecutor, said that he hasn't seen any citations on his desk yet. He added, "We're very grateful people in the city have taken it seriously." Mark Conrey, Douglas Country Emergency director was not amused with the call to inundate his hotline with illegal smoking sitings: he said that such actions threaten his emergency system. Who you gonna call? Buttbusters!

Cf. http://wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=52559.

GW: Too Texan?

Is "43," "W," or POTUS much too stereotypically Texan? If you're conservative, you have to admire that he started his presidential quest at the Cold War Winner's library vis-a-vis his dad's: he told the U.S. that he had a vision and that he would return to the kind, gentle America (not with the grating "er" suffixes that impugned RR). (Yes, I know, his "compassionate conservative" line may have been a more subtle slur but I would prefer to think that he was referring to Goldwater, an abrasive whilom conservative.) Bush has cut taxes, taken on terrorism, and returned God to the national discourse. Of course, he has also co-written the "no child left behind" education bill with Teddy; has further increased the scope of Big Brother; and has been much too defensive whenever he addresses an audience. His defensiveness is most strange: why would a twice-elected Lone Star gov and twice-elected Prez seem to expect his listeners to be negative and/or disagreeable? He needs to take lessons from the Great Communicator who envisioned his audience to be a six-year-old lad who had just skinned his knee. I.e., he  was compassionate, loving, and nurturing to those he addressed and not defensive, combative, or condescending. President Bush should leave the swagger and snicker in Crawford and walk that second mile with a warm smile and a playful wink.

Putin Envies "Rapist" Israeli Prez

In Moscow Wednesday Russian President Vladimir Putin joked with Israeli PM Ehud Ohmert in a brief appearance in front of the Russian and Hebrew press about Israeli Prez Moshe Katsav's sex scandals. According to the Jerusalem Post, Agence France-Presse, and Kommersant, Putin told Olmert, "Say hello to your president: He really surprised us." According to the JP and AF-P, Putin added, "We did not know he could deal with 10 women." Kommersant's version cited the comments in Russian and gave a coarser account. According to Andrei Kolesnikov, Kommersant's reporter in the official Kremlin press pool, President Putin said, "He [Israeli PM Katsav] turned out to be a powerful man: He raped 10 women."  Putin added, "I never expected it from him. He surprised us. We all envy him." The crude remarks engendered laughter from the assembled Russian and Israeli media. Perhaps, remembering his less male chauvinistic constituency, Olmert replied, "I wouldn't be jealous of him." Who would be on David Letterman's Putin Top Ten list of most admired world leaders?

Cf. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/20/world/europe/20putin.html?ex=1318996800&en=4518d72a8666ca41&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss.

Katrina Flash Queen Killed & Kooked by Jilted Jumper (in Voodo Flat)

Adriane "Addie" Hall, a 30-year-old New Orleans Katrina survivor who found fame as the bohemian babe who kept cops patrolling her neighborhood by flashing her breasts at them, was strangled Oct. 5 (two weeks ago today) by her estranged live-in boyfriend Zachary Bowen, a 28 year-old veteran who had found refuge and a lover when he sought shelter under Hall's roof from the hurricane and its aftermath. Her body was found in the apartment they shared above a Rampart St. voodoo shop with her head charred beyond recognition in a pot on the stove, her limbs similarly cooked in the oven, and the rest of her dismembered body in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Police were notified of the murder, subsequent desecration of the body, and other pertinent facts by a suicide note found on Bowen's body Tuesday (October 17) as it lay at the foot of the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel after he had jumped to his death the night before. This tragedy is one of the most gruesome murders in recent memory in the Big Easy: the following links provide these details and more about this gory and sordid story.

Cf. http://www.nola.com/newslogs/tpupdates/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_tpupdates/archives/2006_10_18.html#196196; http://www.nola.com/newslogs/tpupdates/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_tpupdates/archives/2006_10_18.html#196198; and http://www.nola.com/newslogs/tpupdates/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_tpupdates/archives/2006_10_18.html#196174; and http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=52507.

House Dems' Whip: "Slavish" Steele

House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, #2 House Democrat, said that black U.S. senatorial candidate Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele was "slavishly" supporting the GOP. Steele spokesman Doug Heye characterized Hoyer's statements as "insensitive and pretty stupid." The Democratic Whip yesterday replied, "I should not have used those words." Steele's spokesman said, "This is nothing new for Steny Hoyer." He added that in 2002 Hoyer was quoted as referring to Steele as a "token" candidate. What would Senator Byrd have said--now that he's a U.S. senator, that is?

Cf. http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/17/democrats.apology/index.html.

Israeli Prez Sex Scandals

Israel's President Moshe Katsav is facing possible indictment of rape charges which were recommended by the police and may be brought by  Attorney General Menahem Mazuz. The 60-y.o. wedded father of five and grandfather of six is apparently accused of sexual harassment of his underlings, fraud by giving personal gifts using governmental funds, wire-tapping his staff to monitor their conversations, and raping two women subordinates that were in his office. The embattled Prez could serve up to sixteen years upon conviction of the rape charges alone. Faced with opposition MP's ready to end his office and hostile to his appearance before the opening of the Knesset's winter session, Katsav ensconced himself at his official west Jerusalem residence. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni opined that the President should step down now that an indictment was imminent: the President said that he would if the AG endorsed the police conclusions. Americans can empathize with their Israeli counterparts.

Cf. http://www.smh.com.au/text/articles/2006/10/17/1160850933294.html and http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1159193438706&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull.

2nd Nuclear Test by NK Feared

Seoul is "aware" of new signs that Pyongyang is reading for a second nuclear bomb test according to a SK governmental official today reported the Yonhap News. Media reports have indicated that U.S. spy satellites have surveiled suspicious activites at sites in NK that could indicate  preparations for another test. The official stated, "We are preparing for uncertainties but are very caustious in analyzing North Korea-related intelligence. Even though the Russian Minister of Defense indicated that the first test was equivalent to 5000-15000 megatons of TNT, U.S. authorities put the strength as less than 5000 and seemed to indicate that the first test may have been somewhat of a failure. Secretary Condaleeza Rice is expected to meet with SK Foreign Minister Ban Ki Moon in Seoul Thursday: she plans to visit China, Russian, and Korea, also. Kelly Wright of FNC indicates that an Australian newspaper is reporting that Chinese authorities are openly debating regime change as to Kim Jung Il.

Cf. http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/10/16/D8KQ4KLG0.html.

US: 300 Mil Strong

Today the U.S. hit the milestone of 300 million people today at approximately 6:46 a.m. C.S.T. Only China with over 1.3 billion and India with 1.1 billion number more than the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. Rounding out the top 10 are Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia, Nigeria, and Japan. The U.S. is growing at a rate of less than 1%, increasing the populace by 2.8 million per annum. Approximately 40% of the growth is attributable to immigration. With regard to any overcrowding concerns, the U.S. has .13 person/acre whereas the E.U. has 0.47 person/acre and Japan has 1.4 persons/acre. Paul Ehrlich, author of the Population Bomb, who predicted worldwide famine and the end of entire nations, e.g., England, by the end of the 20th century would be shocked and, perhaps, apoplectic: N.B. England is still with us much to the joy of the French and child obesity is a concern to American and European medical communities.


Cf. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population;  Chuch of Liberalism: Godless, ch. 1, p. 8 by Ann Coulter; http://apnews.myway.com/article/20061017/D8KQCF780.html; http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2006/10/17/255.html; and http://www.speedygrl.com/aconv.html.

Gorbachev: US Won Cold War

Always sensitive to the claim that Ronald Reagan won the Cold War, Mikhail Gorbachev has never wanted to give the Gipper his full due. However, in a scathing criticism of the US, he inadvertently accedes to the truth. In the German paper Netzzeitung, Gorby stated, "Today our American friends are suffering from an illness worse than AIDS: and I would say this is victor's complex." He further posited that the U.S. and the rest of the West had squandered the opportunity to make the world a better place after the Berlin Wall fell and communism ended (or was swept into the dustbin of history, as Dutch presciently predicted).

Cf. http://reuters.myway.com/article/20061013/2006-10-13T160754Z_01_L13180540_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-RUSSIA-USA-GORBACHEV-DC.html.

Cruel Coach Canned

Fayette County (PA) Judge Ralph Warman gave 29 year-old former youth baseball coach, Mark Downs, Jr., from  Dunbar, PA 6-to-36 month sentences after being convicted on charges of corruption of minors and criminal solicitation to simple assault. Judge Warman revoked Downs' bond and jailed him. Unless an appeal overturns his conviction, Downs will serve one-to-six years in the hoosegow. According to officials, Downs offered one of his players, 8 year-old Keith Reese, Jr., twenty-five dollars to bean an autistic teammate, 9 year-old Harry Bowers, so that the coach would not have to play Bowers. Reese hit Bowers with a baseball once in the head and once in the groin. According to Bowers' mother, she is finding it difficult to get him to try new activities because he fears getting hurt again. I've know coaches who I think would have done the same thing: however, I don't believe that criminal convictions would have been contemplated at that time. It is heartening to see the government give justice to the weak.

Cf. http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15239517 and Fox News Live (10/12/06).

Orwell's Olympic City

The City of Chicago will be looking after you if you attend the 2016 Summer Olympics (if the Windy City is awarded that august athletic celebration). Mayor Richard M. Daley said, "By the time 2016 [arrives], we'll have more cameras than Washington, D.C." With a Big Brother's assurance, he added, "By 2016, I'll make you a bet: We'll have [surveillance cameras on] every block." In the meantime, Daley wants to mandate businesses open more than 12 hours per day and bars open until 4:00 a.m. to install cameras that can i.d. anyone who enters and leaves these establishments. Chicago already employs 2000 cameras around the city connected to the emergency command center. Feel free, citizens of the safe city? Or does it matter anymore?

Cf. http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/92811,CST-NWS-bside12.article and http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-02-14-chicago-cameras_x.htm.

Shays: Teddy Still All Wet

Rep. Shayes (R-Conn.) fought back against his Democratic foe Diane Farrell and Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) who joined forces against him. As Farrell called for Speaker Hastert to resign because of his handling of the Foley affair and for Shays to return any money raised by Hastert while she basked in the glow of Camelot's baby brother, Shays struck back. He reminded voters that Farrell's fast friend has left Mary Jo Kopechne to die in his car after it had careened off a bridge in the Chappaquiddick catastrophe and did not have a press conference the very next day. Shays added, "Dennis Hastert didn't kill anybody." The gloves are off!

Cf. http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/11/shays.kennedy.ap/index.html; http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-foley1011.artoct11,0,4392221.story?coll=hc-headlines-home; and http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/11/ap/politics/mainD8KMGS500.shtml.

Estrich v. Coulter: Jewish Lib v. Xian Conservative

Susan Estrich, liberal Fox News pundit and former Dukakis campaign chief, has penned Soulless, her response to conservative FNC commentator and controversial best seller Ann Coulter's book Godless. Not only does Susan like Ann sport  a sleeveless v-neck black dress on her book's cover but also long, blond tresses draped over her right shoulder: however, Estrich wears a Star of David pendant vis-a-vis Coulter's cross. What to make of this "progressive's" parody? Read 'em both, and you decide.

Cf. F&F (10/11/06 which featured Estrich wearing the same getup as on her cover) and http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/book_jackets/default.asp.

Foley Foe 2 Out More Republicans

On Bill O'Reilly last night, Mike Rogers, gay activist and president of proudofwhoweare.com, threatened to out other "closeted" Republican members of Congress in the coming week or two. Obviously, Rogers is hoping to diminish the turnout of social conservatives as he questioned Republicans' ability to protect the moral values that James Dobson and Tony Perkins expect them to protect. Ironically, if Rogers is successful, the moral values of social conservatives will be even more at risk.

During the Foley hoopla, I believe worldnetdaily.com had an article indicating that CREW, alleged to be bankrolled by George Soros, would disclose that a Republican U.S. Senator is homosexual. If such a bombshell occurs (or even if more do), the voters will have to ask themselves whether their abandonment of the outed Senator (and/or other members of Congress) will accomplish their goals short term and long term.

Miller to Increase Foreign Beers on Tap

Miller Brewing Co. stated yesterday that it will import more three South American brews and expand the distribution of its Polish beer Tyskie which is now sold in the Windy City with its large Polish community. Cristal and Cusquena are from Peru, and Aguila from Columbia. (However, the three SA beers will be targeted to the large SA populations in NY and FL.) So for now: you'll probably only see Pilsner Urquell (Czech Republic) and Peroni (Italy) at your local grocery unless it caters to a more cosmopolitan palate.

Cf. http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=businessNews&storyid=2006-10-09T161404Z_01_N09273893_RTRUKOC_0_US-FOOD-SABMILLER.xml&src=rss&rpc=23.

"Rather" Returns

Last weeks ratings for Katie's latest week on CBS Evening News was below interim anchor Bob Shieffer's last week prior to Couric's ascension. Since Katie Couric opened on CBS Evening News the day after Labor Day to blockbuster ratings of 13.6 million viewers, her viewership has diminished from week to week. In fact, this week's average of 7.04 million watchers was third behind NBC's Nightly News (8.56 mil with host Brian Williams) and ABC's World News (7.97 mil with host Charles Gibson). SNL joked that the ratings had got so bad that Katie's new nickname was "Dan Rather." Try to forgive Schieffer if he can't hide his smile.

Cf. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061009/ap_en_tv/tv_cbs_couric_2 and http://www.calendarlive.com/tv/cl-et-evening11oct11,0,1209222.story?coll=cl-tv-features.

Amish Love Amazes English

One week after the incredible tragedy of Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, where a troubled milkman slaughtered five Amish primary and middle school girls, shot five others, and then committed suicide, church bells rang in memory of the victims today at 10:45 a.m. EST. The love of this Christian Amish community who reached out to the shooter's wife and their three young children assuring them of their forgiveness has touched the hearts of us, the English (non-Amish), in a profound manner. E.g., as funds were created for the victims' families, the Amish community asked that one be established for the killer's family, too. Incredible love!

Cf. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,218739,00.html.

Kim Goes Nuclear

North Korea carried out an underground test of a nuclear bomb equivalent to 5000-15,000 tons of TNT according to the Russian Defense Minister. (The bomb dropped on Hiroshima was approximately 15,000 tons of TNT.) Staunch NK ally China branded the test "brazen" and voiced its "resolute opposition." Japanese PM Shinzo Abe called the NK action "unpardonable" and stated that the region was "entering a new, dangerous nuclear age." In a statement from the White House, President Bush would not verify that NK had tested a nuclear bomb but he did affirm American intentions to fulfill its security commitments in the region and to hold NK responsible for the transference of nuclear material or weapons. Concerns are now that South Korea and Japan will seek to enter the exclusive nuclear club of nine now known to possess nuclear weapons.

Cf. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6032525.stm; http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,218699,00.html; and FNC F&F.

More AOL Weird

Yesterday morning around 10:26 a.m., I believe, I received a post (actually two but the same one posted twice). It purported to be from Bill Kerr of Oklahoma City, OK, and included his physical address and his phone no. As best as I can recall, it said, "Keep checking back for updates. Drudge was half right and I was was wrong. Oops!" After Googling to see who Bill Kerr was; whether his address and phone number were as he claimed; and whether he was the Wild Bill of Passionate America, I discovered that the post(s) appeared legitimate. Then I responded this morning at  1:09 a.m. as follows: Great scoop, Bill! You've definitely raised your profile. I look forward to checking out your updates. Comment from jakeho - 10/6/06 1:09 AM This afternoon when I checked my blog the post(s) was deleted. However, my response was still there. What is AOL up to? My loyalty to this shrinking erstwhile giant is diminishing with its lack of service to Mac users and its blog incompetence or worse. I just checked Kerr's address and phone no. again: it matched what I found early this morning in the post(s). It is as folllows: Bill Kerr; 1133 Live Oak Dr.; Oklahoma City, OK 73110-1307 (405) 737-3881. AOL doesn't seem to be worth a tinker's dam since Steve Case left. Maybe, Steve Jobs will give the Mac community an Internet service that is responsive to its needs and desires.

Foley's "Hot Stud" Revealed

According to the Drudge Report , the identity of ABC's infamous "17-year-old" who was Foley's IM "hot stud" was revealed on the blog of Passionate America (Wild Bill). According to Wild Bill, the now 21 y.o. is former Class 2002 Congressional page Jordan Edmund, a poli-sci major at Berkeley and now Deputy Campaign Manager for (Republican U.S. Rep.) Ernest Istook in Oaklahoma City. According to Drudge, Edmund was 18 y.o. when the lurid IM was made. However, ABC has said that there were other IM's exchanged between Foley and Edmund when the latter was only 17 y.o.

Cf. http://drudgereport.com/flashmfa.htm; http://passionateamerica.blogspot.com/2006/03/passionate-america-about-page.html; http://www.newsok.com/article/2951137; and http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/BrianRoss/story?id=2509586&page=1.