Nineteen Percenters

Check out this guy’s comments. Some seem on point, but I wonder if he realizes what message he communicates when he says “The security issue had an impact on about 12 percent of our projects when I got there, and now it’s up to about 19 percent.” That doesn’t communicate anything good to me about the security situation or the wastage of monies the US spends there. And this is the Army’s spin on it!

Officer overseeing Iraq reconstruction projects urges patience http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0807/082407mag1.htm

Blood banks seek more Latino donations – More Health News – MSNBC.com

This story is good because it highlights the need and the fact that people have to step and do the right thing.  But it also has a downside – besides the inaccurate numbers (AABB says only about 34% of America are eligible donors after all).  If one group feels that they’re unable or unwanted from donating, the entire supply can dry up.  Too often, I think that blood bankers don’t account for human nature.

Blood banks seek more Latino donations – More Health News – MSNBC.com

That potential so far is mostly untapped. Now blood banks are beginning major efforts to boost Latino donations, amid concern that the blood supply could face a serious imbalance if population shifts bring more demand for Type O transfusions without a parallel increase in giving.

Miss Teen South Carolina 2007

Wow – she must have studied at the OK! magazine school of Geography:

Miss Teen South Carolina 2007

25-08-2007 23:16 | HY | 31 reacties

Naast een godsgruwelijk neukbaar br33z4h-kutje, is deze ‘Miss’ ook gewoon briljant. Petje af en helaas niet ‘Saved by the Bell’.

A Suprisingly Hard Time

This guy speaks well for himself, form Military.com

A SURPRISINGLY HARD TIME
Name: SGT Roy Batty
Posting date: 8/25/07
Returned from: Iraq
Stationed in: Germany
Hometown: Yellow Springs, Ohio
Email: sgtroybatty@yahoo.com

The truth is that I have been having a surprisingly hard time since getting to Germany, and the Army medical system seems woefully unprepared to help. I’ve been hearing all of these reports in the media about how the Army is on top of the PTSD problem and is starting all of these great new programs to help their returning soldiers. The reality is that, at least here in Bavaria, all of that is quite simply bullshit.

Read more >>

Dead Enders

I saw a trio of media discussing one of the major causes of violence and war. The first was this well done piece about the Great Separation and the challenges it faces:

The Politics of God  By MARK LILLA  Published: August 19, 2007

After centuries of strife, the West has learned to separate religion and politics — to establish the legitimacy of its leaders without referring to divine command. There is little reason to expect that the rest of the world — the Islamic world in particular — will follow.

In comparison, USA Today ran this rather intolerant piece:

Secularists, what happened to the open mind?

Many of the leading voices among atheists and the ‘unreligious’ reveal a disdain for religion that can only damage today’s dialogue. Speaking with people of faith, instead of about them, would enrich both sides of this philosophical divide.

And then we will have Christiane Amanpour’s “God’s Warriors”

3 Nights, 3 Religions

Christiane Amanpour takes you to the frontlines of a volatile battle where religion and politics collide.

Probably Met Them at a Purity Ball

Pastor had sex with daughters

A fundamentalist church pastor had sex with two of his teenage daughters to educate them on how to be good wives, a South Australian court has heard.

At least it wasn’t in the mens’ room.

Christian Domestic Discipline – Loving Wife Spanking in a Christian Marriage – About CDD

And you think the fundamentalists aren’t fun:

Christian Domestic Discipline – Loving Wife Spanking in a Christian Marriage – About CDD
Non-consensual CDD:

Though we believe the Bible gives a husband the authority to use spanking as one tool in enforcing his authority in the home with or without his wife’s permission, in today’s world we recognize the legality that mandates that all CDD must be consensual. Therefore we will do not condone nonconsensual CDD as a rule.

Home Where 3 Died Owned By GOP Strategist – News Story – WESH Orlando

This will be weird:

Home Where 3 Died Owned By GOP Strategist – News Story – WESH Orlando

-Don’t know what’s gone on here, but I suspect that one day it will be making Cliff’s “Republican Sexcapades”

Emergency Planning

We’ve got some work to do to address real risk and real planning, but some movement is better than none.  I still think we’ve got a long way to go before we’re “ready” for a large-scale attack, but even knowing where the list of steps to take is is something:

Survey: Hospitals adjust emergency plans
Most hospitals have upgraded their emergency response plans since 9/11, but only 63% have addressed potential biological, chemical, radiological and explosive terrorism incidents, according to a survey. Urban hospitals and hospitals with residency programs addressed biological, explosive and chemical threats more frequently than other hospitals, according to the results.  Modern Healthcare (8/13)

Crazee Cleric Asks for Help in Murder Plot

Pastor Wiley Drake, former leader of the baptists, tries to get Christians to pray for the death of those wanting to follow the law.

After endorsing another cleric on church stationaery, Americans for the Separation of Church and State filed a tax grievance against him. So – of course! – he wants to plot their deaths. How very sadrist of him.