Our Politicians Hard at Work

The House of Representatives on Tuesday (6/28/2005) agreed to a $3,100 pay raise for Congress next year to $165,200 after defeating an effort to roll it back. It makes me hopeful for the future when both parties can put aside their differences and concentrate on such an important issue.

Having solved the problems in Iraq, health care, Social Security and all our other problems, the leaders of both parties unite to vote themselves another pay raise.

I'm moving to Canada.

My Hero

Could a hotel be built on the land owned by Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter? A new ruling by the Supreme Court which was supported by Justice Souter himself might allow it. A private developer is seeking to use this very law to build a hotel on Souter's land.

Justice Souter's vote in the "Kelo vs. City of New London" decision allows city governments to take land from one private owner and give it to another if the government will generate greater tax revenue or other economic benefits when the land is developed by the new owner.

On Monday June 27, Logan Darrow Clements, faxed a request to Chip Meany, the code enforcement officer of the Towne of Weare, New Hampshire seeking to start the application process to build a hotel on 34 Cilley Hill Road. This is the present location of Judge Souter's home.

I have a new hero, and his name is Logan Darrow Clements.

Full article click here.

You scratch my back and I'll keep you out of jail.

In Cottage Grove, don't bother calling the cops if you find a flipped SUV with the motor running in your field, with beer bottles and a loaded gun inside. You've just found the police chief.

Cottage Grove Police Chief John Mickelson pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor Monday for an incident in which he rolled his vehicle and left it upside down with the motor running. Three other charges were dismissed, including having an open alcohol bottle in a vehicle and a gross misdemeanor for leaving the scene of accident. Defense attorney Fred Bruno said Mickelson felt he pleaded to an appropriate charge, driving too fast for the conditions. It was raining the night of the accident.

Plead guilty to the appropriate charge? Lets see here:
Drunk driving: check
Drinking while driving: check
Carrying a loaded weapon while intoxicated: check
Leaving the scene of an accident: check

Bypass Patients

A new American Heart Association study reveals that heavier people seem to recover from coronary artery bypass surgery better than thinner ones do.

The post-surgery death rates among underweight and normal weight people were higher than those of overweight patients, even those who are "extremely obese," according to the study published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. Article here.

It appears that a little extra body fat apparently provided patients a needed source of glucose, which the body burns for energy, to help them recover from surgery.

Then again, overweight people are also more likely to need bypass surgery.... so put down that cheeseburger.

Sticky Situation

Police and hazmat crews in Carlisle, PA had to deal with a sticky situation on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. A tractor trailer overturned. The rig was carrying glue and 1,500 gallons of glue spilled onto the road. Nobody was hurt. Full article click here.

"Glue Spill on Highway Slows Traffic" Some headlines just write themselves.

Your Tax Dollars Hard at Work

British police took a convicted drug dealer to court to confiscate assets that amounted to a mere 29 pence (53 US cents).

No word yet if the British Parliament is going to use it to pull out of its national debt.

Good news for the depressed.

Are you depressed? Good news, you won't live very long to worry about it.

Depressed women in their early 30s score significantly worse than those who are not depressed on physical tests tied to health threats -- from cholesterol to glucose and inflammation levels -- says Philip Gold, chief of clinical neuroendocrinology at the National Institute of Mental Health.

Nobody loves you.

What does 'irony' mean?

In Wellington, New Zealand a 6-year-old racehorse named Rain, Hail or Shine died in its paddock after being struck by lightning.

I shit you not. Seriously, I'm not smart enough to think of making this up, although I wish I had. Click here for the full article.