Award-winning pop singer Whitney Houston was found dead in a Beverly Hill, CA, hotel this afternoon. Beverly Hills Police Lt. Mark Rosen said there were “no obvious signs of criminal intent,” but the cause of death is being investigated.
“Gulf of America” Bill Was a Joke, Mississippi Lawmaker Says
Following on the “redneck” piece, Mississippi State Rep. Steve Holland, a Democrat, says his proposed bill to rename the Gulf of México the “Gulf of America” was purely “satirical.” I have to admit I wouldn’t be surprised if some legislator actually tried this. If anything, though, they could just call it the Big Gulf!
Filed under Curiosities
“Redneck” Bus Driver Fights His Termination
Ken Webber of Medford, Oregon has filed a lawsuit against the Phoenix-Talent School District to get his job back as a school bus driver. Webber was fired after he refused to remove a Confederate flag with the word “Redneck” emblazoned across the back of it from the CB antenna on his pickup truck. He claims his free speech rights have been violated. First of all, I’m shocked to find out there are rednecks in Oregon. I didn’t realize they’d migrated that far north. But, I guess, since there are Negroes in México, that really shouldn’t come as a surprise. Second, if the U.S. Supreme Court can allow the Westboro Baptist Church scumbags to protest at funerals, then I imagine a school bus driver in rural Oregon can fly a Confederate flag from his own truck. Tell me, though, doesn’t he look a little like “Larry, the Cable Guy” – except cuter?
Filed under Curiosities
ATF Uncovers Alleged Weapons Smuggling Ring
Young housewives and older moms are among nearly 2 dozen people who bought assault rifles from Texas gun dealers in an alleged weapons smuggling ring tied to Mexican drug cartels. Federal agents announced February 8 they seized more than 200 weapons – including AK-47s and sniper rifles – and arrested 22 people. That’s amazing – from soccer moms to sniper moms. That’s quite a leap! Then again, considering the out-of-control drug problem in the U.S., there may be some logic to it. As usual, though, I’m sure the National Rifle Association (NRA) will say this is just an aberration. To be fair, I’m a firm supporter of the U.S. Constitution’s 2nd Amendment, as much as I am a supporter of the 1st Amendment. But, I don’t think our “Founding Fathers” had AK-47s in mind.
AP Photo/Eric Gay
Filed under News
Banks Reach Foreclosure Abuse Settlement
In a true case of better late than never, more than 2 million Americans could benefit from a $25 billion deal federal and state authorities reached with some of the nation’s largest banks on February 9 to ease the home foreclosure crisis. It is the largest settlement involving a single industry since a 1998 multistate tobacco agreement. Five major banks – Ally Financial, Bank of America, Citigroup, JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo will reduce loans for nearly 1 million households. They also will send checks to about 750,000 additional households that suffered improper foreclosures. The banks have 3 years to fulfill the terms of the deal. Over 1 million households had endured foreclosure as of the end of 2011.
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan, second from right, and others, watch as Attorney General Eric Holder announces a settlement regarding mortgage loan servicing and foreclosure abuse, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012, at the Justice Department in Washington. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
Filed under News
Today’s Birthdays
Actress Tina Louise is 78.
Actor Burt Reynolds is 76.
Brazilian songwriter and musician Sérgio Mendes is 71.
Singer Sheryl Crow is 49.
Half-term Alaska governor and 2008 Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin is 48.
Actress Jennifer Aniston is 43.
Singer-songwriter Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park) is 35.
Actress and singer Brandy (Norwood) is 33.
Actor, model and martial arts aficionado Taylor Lautner (“Twilight” movies) is 20.
Filed under Birthdays
On February 11…
1752 – Through the efforts of Benjamin Franklin, the Pennsylvania Hospital opened. It was the very first hospital in America.
1861 – President-elect Abraham Lincoln and his wife, Mary, left Springfield, IL by train for Washington, D.C.
1916 – The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra presented its first concert. The symphony was the first by a municipal orchestra to be supported by taxes.
1916 – Birth control pioneer Emma Goldman was arrested in New York City for lecturing and distributing materials about birth control.
1958 – Ruth Carol Taylor was the first black woman to become a stewardess (flight attendant) by making her initial flight this day on Mohawk Airlines from Ithaca, NY to New York City.
1966 – Willie Mays became the highest-paid baseball player in either league as he signed a two-year contract with the San Francisco Giants for a salary of about $130,000 a year.
1968 – The new 20,000 seat Madison Square Garden officially opened in New York City. It was the fourth arena to be named Madison Square Garden.
1970 – Japan launches its first satellite from the Kagoshima Space Center, becoming the world’s fourth space power.
1989 – The Rev. Barbara C. Harris of Boston was consecrated as the first female bishop in the 450-year history of the Anglican Church.
1990 – Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s leading antiapartheid figure, was freed after 27 years in prison.
Filed under History
February 11, 2012 – 313 days Until Baktun 12
Survivalist Tip: If you live near the ocean, buy a large boat. Not a raft, a canoe, or one of those inflatable things – an actual boat! Predictions are that, with the onslaught of the apocalypse, the seas will rise dramatically and inundate coastal areas; thus a boat will come in handy. If your neighbors laugh at you, just remind them that people laughed at Noah. If they don’t believe in the story of Noah, mention global warming. If they don’t believe in global warming, it’s probably best if they drown. They’ll just take up too much room on your boat anyway.
Filed under Mayan Calendar Countdown
Picture of the Day
A stray dog runs across the frozen Danube River in southern Romania. Eastern Europe is experiencing its worst winter in decades, and the Danube – a key shipping route – has been mostly shut down due to heavy ice. It’s a winter like this that gave Mary Shelley the idea for Frankenstein, so who knows! Some great literary monsters may be lurking in the minds of the stranded citizenry.
Filed under News
Quote of the Day
“I’m glad that you played the Rachel Maddow clip because I think she is the best argument in favor of her parents using contraception. I would be all for that. And all of the rest of the crowd at MSNBC, too, for that matter.”
— Fox News pundit Cal Thomas in a speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).
Webster’s Dictionary:
ass – n., O.E. = Cal
hole – n., O.E. = Thomas
Filed under News
Chief Writing Wolf 