Speaking of taint:

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid wrote at least four letters helpful to Indian tribes represented by Jack Abramoff, and the senator's staff regularly had contact with the disgraced lobbyist's team about legislation affecting other clients.

The activities _ detailed in billing records and correspondence obtained by The Associated Press _ are far more extensive than previously disclosed. They occurred over three years as Reid collected nearly $68,000 in donations from Abramoff's firm, lobbying partners and clients.

Reid's office acknowledged Thursday having "routine contacts" with Abramoff's lobbying partners and intervening on some government matters _ such as blocking some tribal casinos _ in ways Abramoff's clients might have deemed helpful. But it said none of his actions were affected by donations or done for Abramoff.

"All the actions that Senator Reid took were consistent with his long- held beliefs, such as not letting tribal casinos expand beyond reservations, and were taken to defend the interests of Nevada constituents," spokesman Jim Manley said.

Reid, D-Nev., has led the Democratic Party's attacks portraying Abramoff's lobbying and fundraising as a Republican scandal.

Repeat after me:

This is a Republican scandal.

These aren't the droids you're looking for.

Posted by: Ace at 08:01 AM | Comments (21)
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Click "Level of Taint" on the vid-capture pics, and then skip to about 3:15 on the clock (3:15 remaining). It's not quite safe for work, as Jon Stewart and a reporter discuss the relative sizes of Republican and Democratic "taints."

Posted by: Ace at 07:45 AM | Comments (2)
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What possible threat could this item pose to anyone?

It's not like she can cut anybody with it.

I call racism, and I call cultural insensitivity, and I call for pizza delivery. This is what it is to live in Chimpy McSmirkiburton's Amerikkka.

Posted by: LauraW. at 07:03 AM | Comments (33)
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But totally dares to engage in public indecency.

See if you can find the punchline:

Nicola Hudson, 22, and Ann-Marie O’Neill, 29, were heard “moaning and groaning” by a cop at Manchester Piccadilly.

He looked over a cubicle wall and saw OÂ’Neill naked from the waist down, kneeling and caressing a topless Hudson.

After several minutes the officer told them to stop and get dressed.

Posted by: LauraW. at 06:20 AM | Comments (29)
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What's on your mind?
And

Can we flame it?

Posted by: LauraW. at 05:09 PM | Comments (277)
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I really didn't intend to take the whole day off, but an hour delay on a flight and then an hour drive in from Dulles really eats up the day.

I'll see what I can post. Nothing really to report from CPAC, as I just got here, and they're taking everything down.

The dominant colors of the site: red, white, and blue.

That's some real serious reportage there, I know. I'm already drinking. I deserve it.

Posted by: Ace at 01:52 PM | Comments (37)
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Why hasn't anybody thought of this already?

That technology includes miniature adhesive darts that emit GPS signals, which officers can fire at fleeing vehicles. Once stuck, police can use them to track their suspect.

UPDATE: You people are too much. Naysaying Nellies, and Doubting Thomases, the lot of you. I should give you such a pinch.

Regardless of whether fleeing drivers realize they have been tagged, it's unlikely that individuals could unglue the dart.

OK?

And: More detailed info. on how it works.

And some of the reasoning behind it.

Los Angeles police have long been unhappy about the television obsession with car chases.

Now, according to LAPD chief William Bratton, they can follow miscreants at their own pace.

"Instead of us pushing them, doing 70 or 80 miles an hour (112-128 km/h), this device allows us not to have to pursue after the car," Mr Bratton said. "It allows us to start vectoring where the car is. Even if they bail out of the car, we'll have pretty much instantaneous information where they are."

Posted by: LauraW. at 11:23 AM | Comments (41)
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French anti-globalisation icon Jose Bové arrived back in Paris on Thursday after being turned away at the US border due to his past convictions for trashing a McDonalds restaurant and GM crops.

Anti-globalisation activist? How about convicted criminal? Or my preferred term, degenerate subhuman?

Let's take a look at Froggy's rap sheet:

Sent to jail for destroying a McDonalds in 1999.

In 2002, shows his solidarity with international terrorist Yasser Arafat (who later died of Aids in Paris.)

Then made this announcement on French TV in regard to increasing Anti-Semitism in France:

"Who profits from the crime? The Israeli government and its secret services have an interest in creating a certain psychosis, in making believe that there is a climate of antisemitism in France, in order to distract attention from what they are doing."

Then the loser destroyed some GM crops and was sentenced to jail again. In order to bring him to justice, the Frogs literally had to conduct a commando operation to get him! But just like Vichy frog Maurice Papon, he was let out of jail soon afterwards.

I simply can't understand why he wasn't allowed to enter the US. It must be a bureaucratic mistake.

Posted by: Tanker at 11:02 AM | Comments (12)
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While people are focusing on a cure for AIDS -- which is big -- it seems that it was largely missed that this new cure, if it pans out, is in fact a general virus killer. Not just the AIDS virus; most viruses.

In addition to being a potential checkmate to HIV, the compounds show indications of being just as effective against other diseases plaguing humankind - among them influenza, possibly even the dread bird flu, along with smallpox and herpes.

Just pointing that out again.

Posted by: Ace at 07:13 AM | Comments (32)
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Yeah, okay, so I figured it was a domestic flight, right? I've gotten through the process pretty quick before. But I got to JetBlue's desk 18 minutes before take-off and they would not let me on the plane. Not even if I ran to the gate.

Bumped, on stand-by, for a 1:10 flight, missing most of the first day of CPAC. If I'm lucky, that is. Who knows if I'll actually be permitted on this one.

Half hour for domestic flights. I was told that. I guess they mean it.

Posted by: Ace at 07:08 AM | Comments (105)
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