Thursday, May 31, 2007

Selfish Attorney Endangers Others and Further Maligns Profession In the Process

The AP had an interesting story about the TB infected lawyer who endangered others at the Globe and Mail.

One thing is clear about the honeymooner who put airline passengers at risk of getting an especially dangerous strain of tuberculosis: He can't claim ignorance.


No. Just stupidity with a healthy dose of extraordinarily bad judgment.

Andrew Speaker didn't just have doctors' warnings against flying to Europe, and again against flying back. As a personal injury lawyer, he presumably knew something about the dangers of reckless behaviour.


Which is why he should be sued until his eyes bleed.

And most amazingly, Speaker has a new father-in-law with a vast knowledge of the disease he carried aboard two trans-Atlantic flights.


See above.

Bob Cooksey, a CDC microbiologist specializing in TB and other bacteria, said he gave his 31-year-old son-in-law some “fatherly advice” when he learned the young man had contracted the disease. He would not comment on whether he reported his son-in-law to federal health authorities, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not explain how the case came to their attention.


He let his daughter marry Andy, and presumably enjoy intimate contact with him after learning he has a strain of drug-resistant TB? Is he the beneficiary of a really large insurance policy on her life?


Some travellers who flew on the same flights as Speaker angrily accused him of putting hundreds of other people's lives in danger.


And rightly so.

Despite warnings from federal health officials not to board another long flight, he flew home for treatment, fearing he wouldn't survive if he didn't reach the U.S., he said.


Who just happened to go on vacation knowing he had this disease. Riiggghhhht.

“I'm a very well-educated, successful, intelligent person,” he told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “This is insane to me that I have an armed guard outside my door when I've co-operated with everything other than the whole solitary-confinement-in-Italy thing.”


I’m selfish bastard who has cooperated with with all instructions except the ones I didn’t like, ‘cuz they’re no fun, you know?

The Homeland Security Department is investigating how Mr. Speaker was allowed back into the U.S. on May 24, after he flew to Canada to avoid being stopped by U.S. health officials.


Wait a minute! He feared he wouldn’t survive if he didn’t reach the US, so he flew into Canada???

Along the border crossing at Champlain, N.Y., an inspector ran Mr. Speaker's passport through a computer, and a warning — including instructions to hold the traveller, don a protective mask in dealing with him, and telephone health authorities — popped up, officials said.


Good.

About a minute later, Mr. Speaker was instead cleared to continue on his journey, according to officials familiar with the records.


Of course he was. Move along. Warning of serious health threat, nothing to see here, move along.

The inspector has been removed from border duty.


How comforting.

The unidentified inspector explained that he was no doctor but that the infected man seemed perfectly healthy and that he thought the warning was merely “discretionary,” officials briefed on the case told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the matter is still under investigation.


Am I the only person who finds it disturbing that customs inspectors are making determinations as to the potential health threat a person poses based on appearance?

Colleen Kelley, president of the union that represents customs and border agents, declined to comment on the specifics of the case, but said “public health issues were not receiving adequate attention and training” within the agency.


Do you think??? If Al-Queerda is paying any attention, they just found a new way to hit us.

On Thursday, a tan and healthy-looking Mr. Speaker was flown from Atlanta to Denver, accompanied by his wife and federal marshals, to Denver's National Jewish Medical and Research Center, where doctors planned to isolate him and treat him with oral and intravenous antibiotics.


A few lawsuits will wipe the tan right off him, I’m sure.

Mr. Speaker's father-in-law has worked at the CDC for 32 years and is in the Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, where he works with TB and other organisms. He has co-authored papers on diabetes, TB and other infectious diseases.
“As part of my job, I am regularly tested for TB. I do not have TB, nor have I ever had TB,” he said in a statement. “My son-in-law's TB did not originate from myself or the CDC's labs, which operate under the highest levels of biosecurity.”


Certainly an interesting statement. Why did he deny that it came from him? Why did Andy get checked?

“I'm hoping and praying that he's getting the proper treatment, that my daughter is holding up mentally and physically,” Mr. Cooksey said. “Had I known that my daughter was in any risk, I would not allow her to travel.”


How does someone who works with the disease assume that there is no risk to a loved one when there is no determination of the strain? I’m sorry, that doesn’t add up.
Andrew Speaker recently moved from an upscale condominium complex in anticipation of his wedding, former neighbours said. He also wrote in an application to become a board member of his condo association that he was going to Vietnam for five weeks as part of the Rotary Club to act as an ambassador.


Maybe he picked it up there...but if he was so damn healthy, what prompted him to get tested?

Mr. Speaker told the Journal-Constitution that he wasn't coughing and that doctors initially did not order him not to fly and only suggested he put off his long-planned wedding. “We headed off to Greece thinking everything's fine,” he told the newspaper.


So I decided to go on my honeymoon and put my wife at risk because I felt fine, even though I am a well-educated person and could presumably find out how much risk I pose to others by Googling the name. With intellectual processes that sharp, I'm sure he has a long career ahead of him in Congress. Asshat.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Friday Favorite

I always loved this tune. Dick probably knows these guys.

The Latest Insult

Have you ever poured all of your attention and energies into a worthy endeavor for a prolonged period of time just to have it all turn into a steaming pile of manure and then you are on the receiving end of a professional equivalent of an unforgivable curse?

Me too, and I'm REALLY REALLY REALLY pissed!

Monday, May 14, 2007

Idiocy That Passes For Education

I saw a story on MSN today about grandparents suing the Chicago schools for showing "Brokeback Mountain" to their 12 year old grandchild. I thought that type of thing would be a no-brainer, but not in what passes for edumincashun today. Hell, I never want to watch it and I'm an adult. Apparently the kid required some therapy after, and the grandparents were a little teed off over evposure to the language and concepts.

I hope they win.

Fun with the NHL Playoffs

My Ottawa Senators are kicking butt! Three games to none against Buffalo. I love it! (Even though Ryan Miller, the Sabre's goal tender is a cousin of mine.)

New Music

Last week I heard Christina Aguilera's "Candyman". If you like Big Band/Swing, you'll like it. If you don't, it sucks to be you. Myself, I'm a sucker for a great horn arrangment. Mrs. Blackiswhite bought me the album, "Back to Basics." No other Big Band track on it. Some interesting retrotracks of other types. She actually has a hell of a voice. I don't know why she is trying to out-slut all the other women in the business. If she cranks out more tracks like some of these, she'll do just fine.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

I Say It to My Clients, I Say It to My Kids...

Dick, I tell you, I do not know why these guys never caught on. I had three of their albums when i was in high school, and all three cassettes were in heavy rotation in my car...

Another Nugget From my Misspent Youth

Understand, I grew up in a shop town. My freinds did not understand my ecclectic tastes in music.


Wednesday, May 09, 2007

It Was True Then, and It Is True Now...

Sorry, did you say something? I was flashing back to High School...


Another Classic

Late Night Summer, Driving Around the City, Smelling the Air and Sliding Into THAT Mindset...

One of My Favorite Songs

These guys do melodic melancholia better than anyone I know. This song is a prime example.



Friday, May 04, 2007

Dhimicrats In Congress Continue Their Attempts to Criminalize The White Male

H.R. 1592 came to the House floor this week. Titled the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007, this bill proposes to take acts that are already criminal, and make them MORE criminal by federalizing them if they are committed against people belonging to certain groups and classes, i.e., anyone who is not a white male. Don't take my word for it. Have a look yourself.

`Sec. 249. Hate crime acts

`(a) In General-

`(1) OFFENSES INVOLVING ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN- Whoever, whether or not acting under color of law, willfully causes bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, or an explosive or incendiary device, attempts to cause bodily injury to any person, because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national origin of any person--

`(A) shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years, fined in accordance with this title, or both; and

`(B) shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life, fined in accordance with this title, or both, if--

`(i) death results from the offense; or

`(ii) the offense includes kidnaping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill.

`(2) OFFENSES INVOLVING ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, OR DISABILITY-

`(A) IN GENERAL- Whoever, whether or not acting under color of law, in any circumstance described in subparagraph (B), willfully causes bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, or an explosive or incendiary device, attempts to cause bodily injury to any person, because of the actual or perceived religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability of any person--

`(i) shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years, fined in accordance with this title, or both; and

`(ii) shall be imprisoned for any term of years or for life, fined in accordance with this title, or both, if--

`(I) death results from the offense; or

`(II) the offense includes kidnaping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill.

`(B) CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED- For purposes of subparagraph (A), the circumstances described in this subparagraph are that--

`(i) the conduct described in subparagraph (A) occurs during the course of, or as the result of, the travel of the defendant or the victim--

`(I) across a State line or national border; or

`(II) using a channel, facility, or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce;

`(ii) the defendant uses a channel, facility, or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce in connection with the conduct described in subparagraph (A);

`(iii) in connection with the conduct described in subparagraph (A), the defendant employs a firearm, explosive or incendiary device, or other weapon that has traveled in interstate or foreign commerce; or

`(iv) the conduct described in subparagraph (A)--

`(I) interferes with commercial or other economic activity in which the victim is engaged at the time of the conduct; or

`(II) otherwise affects interstate or foreign commerce.

`(b) Certification Requirement- No prosecution of any offense described in this subsection may be undertaken by the United States, except under the certification in writing of the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General, the Associate Attorney General, or any Assistant Attorney General specially designated by the Attorney General that--

`(1) such certifying individual has reasonable cause to believe that the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of any person was a motivating factor underlying the alleged conduct of the defendant; and

`(2) such certifying individual has consulted with State or local law enforcement officials regarding the prosecution and determined that--

`(A) the State does not have jurisdiction or does not intend to exercise jurisdiction;

`(B) the State has requested that the Federal Government assume jurisdiction;

`(C) the State does not object to the Federal Government assuming jurisdiction; or

`(D) the verdict or sentence obtained pursuant to State charges left demonstratively unvindicated the Federal interest in eradicating bias-motivated violence.

`(c) Definitions- In this section--

`(1) the term `explosive or incendiary device' has the meaning given such term in section 232 of this title;

`(2) the term `firearm' has the meaning given such term in section 921(a) of this title; and

`(3) the term `gender identity' for the purposes of this chapter means actual or perceived gender-related characteristics.

`(d) Rule of Evidence- In a prosecution for an offense under this section, evidence of expression or associations of the defendant may not be introduced as substantive evidence at trial, unless the evidence specifically relates to that offense. However, nothing in this section affects the rules of evidence governing impeachment of a witness.'.

Nice, huh?

I see that the pink swastika lobby got tossed a bone also. Even though their is no concrete evidence supporting the creation of a protected class based on sexual orientation, the dhimis decided, all by their lonesome that they are worthy of special protection. This all misses the point. If I beat the crap out of you and kill you, I have committed a crime. If I beat the crap out of you and kill you and you happen to be gay/hispanic/jewish or female, I committed a crime, AND I get a longer sentance, whereas the penalty for doing the same to me is the same, no matter who does it or why. So much for equal protection under the law.

I don't question their patriotism. They simply do not have any. They have overstayed their welcome. Its time to march on D.C. with pitchforks and torches and show these weasels the door.

Revenge of Free Speech

I see that Imus is suing the spineless wimpletons at CBS. Apparently the contract recognized that he was provocative and encouraged it. It also required them to issue a warning before firing him. Whoops. Sucks when the hired help actually READS the contract.

CBS has said they'll fight him in court. They didn't fight when it mattered. They didn't call bullshit on the left-reverends Sharptongue and Jackson. That kind of abdication should be painful, and being spineless wimpletons, only a pecuniary loss will hurt.