"LEAVE BRITNEY'S SISTER ALONE!"

Really...I got nothing. I just want to be ahead of the inevitable YouTube video.

UPDATE: Actually, I do have something to add. A quick Google search indicates that Louisiana's age of consent is 17, and California's age of consent is 18.

Spears appears to be a legal resident of Louisiana. Her Nickelodeon show, Zoey 101, is filmed in Malibu, California. My guess is that she spread her wings and learned to fly in one of these two locations.

She's 16. If I'm right about the, um, "point of entry" (it's a legal term..ask Gabe!), this could be a statutory rape. I wouldn't hold my breath on charges being filed, but maybe they should be.

After all, they might be if this were two no name kids. Why should a "celebrity" pregnancy catch a legal break?

Posted by: Jack M. at 07:02 AM | Comments (63)
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So says Doubleplus Undead, and he should know.

Video of his Hannity and Colmes appearance at Stop the ACLU.

It seems to be the new storyline. AmSpec:

Honestly, having seen Thompson a few times before without being terribly impressed, I almost took off for a faraway Romney event before Thompson stopped by the diner. IÂ’m glad I didnÂ’t. Everything weÂ’d been promised about Thompson, but had never come to pass in his early campaigning, media and debate appearances was on vivid display yesterday.

Thompson strode in and owned the room. He didn’t hold his own or get by unscathed, he owned it. This is a Thompson who, had he been released earlier would almost certainly be in a much better position to win the nomination than he is today: Charismatic, funny (“I think I’m going to have a cup of ethanol when I get home”), on message and bristling with enough energy to make his in-tow younger wife look like the one struggling to keep up. “We’re going to enjoy ourselves, have some fun, and talk about things that are important to the future of this country,” he said.

Even a NYT blogger notices the new fire:

To scattered whoops and cheers in the crowd of about 75 people, Mr. Thompson repeatedly emphasized his intent to win the Republican nomination, and to campaign on what he called his “conservative principles” – small government, protecting the country from another terrorist attack, a politically inactive judiciary and the protection of the country’s borders from illegal immigrants. (This elicited more whoops and cheers, especially from three men in the back.)

He criticized the Democratic field of candidates, saying, “We’re not going to turn the keys of this country over to that outfit.”

He criticized his fellow Republicans and without naming names, landed a few punches. “I am the same man today with the same views today than I had back then,” he said. “Where I stand does not depend on where I’m standing.”

Mr. ThompsonÂ’s performance on Monday night contrasts sharply with the candidate that Iowans found little interest in back in October. Republicans then found his debut an inauspicious one for someone for whom they had such high hopes.

He seemed set on not disappointing his crowd. And instead of avoiding the post-speech handshaking as is his wont, Mr. Thompson crept out the front door, hugging young supporters and signing autographs as he went.

Posted by: Ace at 08:37 PM | Comments (51)
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There are carbon nano-tube developments coming out of RPI these days at a breakneck pace. Amazing stuff.

...A team of Rensselaer researchers led by Ravi S. Kane, professor of chemical and biological engineering, has worked for nearly a year to develop a means to remotely deactivate protein-wrapped carbon nanotubes by exposing them to invisible and near-infrared light. The group demonstrated this method by successfully deactivating anthrax toxin and other proteins....

...KaneÂ’s new method for selective nanotube-assisted protein deactivation could be used in defense, homeland security, and laboratory settings to destroy harmful toxins and pathogens. The method could also offer a new method for the targeted destruction of tumor cells. By conjugating carbon nanotubes with peptides engineered to seek out specific cancer cells, and then releasing those nanotubes into a patient, doctors may be able to use this remote protein deactivation technology as a powerful tool to prevent the spread of cancer.

Kane’s team also developed a thin, clear film made of carbon nanotubes that employs this technology. This self-cleaning film may be fashioned into a coating that — at the flip of a light switch — could help prevent the spread of harmful bacteria, toxins, and microbes...

Posted by: Purple Avenger at 07:06 PM | Comments (25)
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Funding approved by the Democrats, who at least prove they are consistent in waving the white flag. They don't discriminate as to their opponents.

Harry Reid meanwhile maintains the surge is not working:

"Who's winning?" Reid asked a group of reporters. "Big Oil, Big Tobacco. ... Al Qaeda has regrouped and is able to fight a civil war in Iraq. ... The American people are losing."

The community-based reality, folks.

Thanks to CJ.

Posted by: Ace at 07:01 PM | Comments (45)
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Only 12,000 of them out of 50,000, but, as Allah notes, it's a start.

Isn't this one of those there benchmarks I've heard so much about?

Posted by: Ace at 05:56 PM | Comments (10)
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The USS Ronald Reagan on station, got it under control.

14 year old Laura Montero, suffered acute appendicitis while on a cruise with her family. Her inflamed appendix burst, and that required drastic surgical attention.

And the USS Reagan responded with two helicopters, and a contingent of caring lifesavers. And performed her emergency appendectomy on board. They saved her life.

The video is particularly sweet (upper right), these warriors, the best of us, caring for a little girl in trouble. Very touching

Laura is fine, and will recover from her ordeal.

more...

Posted by: Dave In Texas at 05:48 PM | Comments (29)
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Thompson, by the way, clocks in at not-great 10%, but that is enough to put him in third behind Romney (28%) and Huck (25%).

Clarification: Romney's ahead only with "very likely voters." Among likely voters, they swap places (Huck up by 3 with 28%).

Thanks to Allah for noting that.

Posted by: Ace at 03:29 PM | Comments (31)
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Here's the link to Drudge, in case you don't know it.

Thanks to JackM. Here's Doug Ross' take, with lots of stuff ripped from a previous National Enquirer article revealing (they claim) his illicit affair with the woman.

Update: Dan Riehl posts excerpts from the story:

...The ENQUIRER has now confirmed not only that Rielle is pregnant, but she is also living in Chapel Hill, N.C. in a gated community, just a few streets away from Andrew Young, who has been a key official in Edwards' campaign.

Young has been in charge of looking after Hunter, according to sources, and she has been careful to stay out of sight during Edwards' campaign. A former Director of Operations for Edwards' campaign, Young's last official position with the campaign was North Carolina Finance Director.

He left that job about a month ago — nearly the same time Rielle relocated from the New Jersey area to Chapel Hill.

In a bizarre twist, Young, a 41-year-old married man with young children, now claims HE is the father of Reille's baby.

But others are skeptical about his claim and talk of a political cover up is heating up.

Reille, when contacted in person by the NATIONAL ENQUIRER, denied that she was Reille Hunter. Later, she hired a lawyer and issued a statement, saying that Young is the father.

But a source close to the 43-year-old divorcee says Rielle has told a far different story privately.

"Rielle told me she had a secret affair with Edwards. When she found out that she was pregnant she said he was the father."

See "Magic Touch" below for the possible one-two punch here.

...

Clinton trick? I doubt it. I think it's in Hillary's interest to keep both Edwards and Obama in the race, where each grabs a piece of the anti-Hillary vote but not enough to actually beat her.

Is this true? Probably not. How dumb do you have to be to get a woman pregnant while running for president? I don't think Edwards is that level of stupid.

Note Well... Thusfar all the Enquirer seems to be saying is that his once-paramour is pregnant.

They're not necessarily saying she's pregnant by Edwards.

Whoops, Spoke Too Soon: Edwards suddenly leads in Iowa, according to this somewhat-suspect poll (the same one that shows Romney overtaking Huckabee, albeit only with "very likely voters."

So who knows, maybe it is a Clinton hit.

National Enquirer Owned By Clintonite: Yeap. Former Deputy Treasury Secretary, in fact.

Thanks to Del D.

That Magic Clinton Touch? Maybe this would explain why Hillary and her surrogates have been so desperately flailing at Obama lately--

This is a perfect "one-two" punch by the Clintons. First, have some cutout mention that the Republicans might make hay out of a question about Obama "selling" drugs. Second, have a tabloid allege that Edwards has fathered a child while his loving, devoted, wife if dying of cancer. Since all sources are either being denied/fired or suspect, the damage is not enough to knock out either opponent - only weaken them. This way the two (Obama and Edwards) can split the anti-Hillary! vote but, both remain in the race (with reduced support) so she doesn't have to face only one strong contender.

This is pure Clinton "magic".

That's from NoPrisoners (h/t Nordbuster).

Makes sense if you imagine that the Clinton's had advanced word that this story was coming from their friend Altman at the Nat. Enq., and so knew that with Edwards damaged they'd have to beat up on Obama badly if they wanted to keep the anti-Hillary vote divided.

Posted by: Ace at 03:23 PM | Comments (70)
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Allah willing, of course.

The car will have options including a compass to find Mecca and a compartment for a Koran. Priced between $8,700 and $12,000, the vehicle is meant to appeal to buyers who would like a car designed with Muslims in mind and produced by a company that acts in line with Muslim values.

In addition, the vehicle will come standard with "smart" airbags which will not deploy if the onboard sensors detect an infidel or Jew is behind the wheel.

In addition, the car's "rich, Corinthian leather" is designed to harden into shrapnel if the car is used as a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device.

Via PJM.

Posted by: Ace at 01:35 PM | Comments (105)
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Taking a joke a little too far:

State officials are investigating complaints that at least two teenagers were given electric shock treatments at a residential center for people with special needs because someone telephoned fake orders to the staff.

Initial investigations showed that a former student at the Judge Rotenberg Education Center called in the orders on Aug. 26, Cindy Campbell, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Early Education and Care, said Monday. Center officials reported the incident the following day, she said.

"There is still an ongoing criminal investigation," said the school's senior counsel, Ernest Corrigan. "We are working very closely with investigators."

The state's Disabled Persons Protection Committee is investigating a complaint that a third resident of the center—an adult—also received unnecessary shock treatments after the call, said Nancy Alterio, the committee's executive director.

Don't tase me, Jerky.

Thanks to dri.

Posted by: Ace at 01:31 PM | Comments (15)
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