Crosblog

Rapper Yung Joc, charged with bringing a loaded gun to the airport (he claims not to have known it was there), wants everyone to know that he has the "utmost respect for the laws of this country."

I don't know much about Yung Joc's music, but if he uses that phrase on his next album, I'll buy it.

There was a story a couple of months back about a jury that actually found evidence police, prosecutors, and defense attorneys missed in a robbery case, and used that evidence to convict the defendant.


Well, it happened again. In Maryland, Moses Streete was on trial for a series of robberies. He and two other defendants were alleged to have crashed their car while fleeing the scene of the third robbery. One of the defense's arguments for Streete's acquittal was the lack of any fingerprints or cash found on the defendant at the scene, and sure enough, the prosecution didn't tender any cash or fingerprint evidence.

They did tender Streete's coat, however, and when jurors looked through it, they found some things everyone else missed - including a roll of cash and a rubber glove.

Jurors eventually convicted Streete on 13 counts, and acquitted him of 15 others. Jurors told the judge they did not consider the evidence found in the coat, after being instructed not to consider items in the coat not specifically tendered as evidence, and claim to have acquitted Streete on counts linked to the coat. Nevertheless, the judge granted Streete a new trial, at which his attorney will attempt to suppress the items found in the coat.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Phil Spector takes shots at Tina Turner at Ike Turner's funeral.

"I learned more from Ike than any professors I've been around."

Music, fashion, domestic relations, Ike Turner was a one-man university.

Sacha Baron Cohen announces the death of Borat.

I blame the Mossad.

With Georgia being the site of pro wrestling's most recent great unpleasantness, it's not terribly surprising that local officials would want to get involved. For years, wrestlers put their bodies through inhumanly grueling physical abuse, and far too often, would supplement it with dangerous drug combinations to try and stay on the road. The problem has gotten so bad that even Congress has announced plans to hold hearings and give windy speeches where they will declare their great concern for the well-being of wrestlers before ultimately doing nothing of consequence.

It's a guess, but I'm willing to put money on it.

Closer to home, the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission has announced that they, too, are considering actually paying attention to professional wrestling. They have posted their proposed regulations here. Of course, here's the funny thing - obviously all this attention has been prompted by the superstars in the news lately, Benoit, Brian "Crush" Adams, Lex Luger, etc. - all best known for their time in the WWE or WCW - the only two U.S. wrestling companies that were ever worth a boatload of money. Yet a Georgia statute exempts from regulation any company worth over $25 million - and unless I miss my guess, the list of wrestling companies that qualify has exactly one name on it, which means the Commission is basically arguing about regulating NWA-Anarchy and other small independent promotions. There is talk of removing the WWE's exemption, coming largely from Commission member Cary Ichter, who in what at least sounds like a bit of a conflict of interest, also happens to represent Chris Benoit's father in what will likely be a lawsuit over the idea that Chris being a double murderer is really more Vince McMahon's fault.

The WWE, for its part, has let it be known that they are done coming to Georgia if they have to play by the same rules as NWA-Anarchy. The WWE runs a fair amount of shows in Georgia, including, usually, a pay-per-view and a couple of RAW & Smackdown tapings that generate, I'm sure, a fair amount of money, while an indy promoter gets thrilled about an audience of 175.

The proposed regulations would end indy wrestling as we know it. They would outlaw blading (where a wrestler deliberately cuts himself), and insists on having a commission rep in attendance at every event (paid for by the promoter) who would have veto power over every single use of a chair, table, or other prop as a weapon in a match. And while I won't pretend to be an expert in indy wrestling finances, I believe that the costs imposed to pay a ringside doctor, have an ambulance in the parking lot, and paying a commission member to veto highspots would come pretty close to erasing what profit margins independent promoters have.

I don't disagree with the idea that independent wrestling frequently overdoes the hardcore - wrestlers trying to get noticed often take insane chances in small venues, and any indy promotion has more than a couple of talentless hacks who substitute a willingness to bleed and take unprotected chairshots for anything resembling wrestling skill. That said, regulating independent wrestling out of business won't do a lot - Georgia really doesn't have the power it used to, since no major wrestling promotions are based here anymore. What wrestlers do in the ring, and how they treat themselves, is based on the tone set by the WWE, and to a lesser extent, Ring of Honor, the top independent promotion in the U.S. today, and both promotions reward wrestlers for seriously risking their bodies - the WWE by encouraging abnormally large physiques, which are nearly impossible to obtain or maintain without steroids or something similar, and ROH encourages highly physical, borderline brutal wrestling from its performers, with more though to emulating MMA fighting than developing a style of wrestling that allows wrestlers to protect themselves and each other.

It's pretty obvious that the proposed regulations aren't based on any serious attempt to allow wrestling companies to do business while being more protective of their performers, and more of the "We Have To Do Something!" vein of government action. If you want to try to do something, perhaps you should contact legislators in Connecticut (WWE is based in Stamford, CT), or Pennsylvania (ROH is, I believe, based here.)

Or you could just go ahead and try to regulate them out of your state. It won't save anyone, but if they die somewhere else, that counts for something, I guess.

Today is your lucky day. Cynthia McKinney is running for President.

Note to Presidential candidates who are now feeling the heat - there's still time to ship McKinney off to the Northern Marianas Islands - but you'll have to hurry.

Atlanta is the bank robbery capital of the United States.

In your face, Los Angeles!

Britney Spears 16-year old sister pregnant.

Sometimes teen pregnancy even happens to people with the best role models available.

Did anyone who plays fantasy football suffer because of Brian Westbrook taking a knee on the 1-yard line Sunday?

On a side note, while everyone is claiming he did that so the Eagles could run out the clock, I think it's clear he just didn't want to embarrass Tony Romo any further in front of his girlfriend.

Inmates dig their way out of jail, using posters of women in bikinis to cover the holes they made in the wall.

A jail-wide screening of Tango and Cash was also cancelled.

I Am A: Lawful Good Human Cleric (4th Level)


Ability Scores:

Strength-11

Dexterity-10

Constitution-11

Intelligence-17

Wisdom-15

Charisma-14


Alignment:
Lawful Good A lawful good character acts as a good person is expected or required to act. He combines a commitment to oppose evil with the discipline to fight relentlessly. He tells the truth, keeps his word, helps those in need, and speaks out against injustice. A lawful good character hates to see the guilty go unpunished. Lawful good is the best alignment you can be because it combines honor and compassion. However, lawful good can be a dangerous alignment because it restricts freedom and criminalizes self-interest.


Race:
Humans are the most adaptable of the common races. Short generations and a penchant for migration and conquest have made them physically diverse as well. Humans are often unorthodox in their dress, sporting unusual hairstyles, fanciful clothes, tattoos, and the like.


Class:
Clerics act as intermediaries between the earthly and the divine (or infernal) worlds. A good cleric helps those in need, while an evil cleric seeks to spread his patron's vision of evil across the world. All clerics can heal wounds and bring people back from the brink of death, and powerful clerics can even raise the dead. Likewise, all clerics have authority over undead creatures, and they can turn away or even destroy these creatures. Clerics are trained in the use of simple weapons, and can use all forms of armor and shields without penalty, since armor does not interfere with the casting of divine spells. In addition to his normal complement of spells, every cleric chooses to focus on two of his deity's domains. These domains grants the cleric special powers, and give him access to spells that he might otherwise never learn. A cleric's Wisdom score should be high, since this determines the maximum spell level that he can cast.


Find out What Kind of Dungeons and Dragons Character Would You Be?, courtesy of Easydamus (e-mail)



Tip - Mike the Wizard.

Unfaithful wife busted by their Nintendo Wii. The husband found a profile for his wife's lover, as well as times and dates they played on his system. Confronted - she confessed.

In other news - Hillary Clinton's campaign has praised the Wii as the perfect holiday gift.

Tip - Matt.

Terminator skeleton from "T2" goes for $488,750 at auction.

To whoever bought this for me, thank you, and the knit sweater I got you is in the mail.

Michael Vick sentenced to serve 23 months on his federal dogfighting charges. His attorney believes that with time served and good behavior, Vick could be released in 18 months. After serving his time, Vick will be on probation for three years.

Note to the State of Virginia, which is planning on trying Vick in April on similiar state charges - you may want to reevaluate whether there is any further blood to be squeezed from this stone. Plenty of people lose their jobs when convicted of a crime - in Vick's case, this may cost him as much as $142 million dollars. Perhaps any point that "We the People" wanted to make to Mr. Vick has already been made.

In a bit of good news for the Falcons - the 2008 NFL draft is considered to be a good one for teams needing quarterbacks. Given his history with Falcons coach Bobby Petrino, most observers think the Falcons will be angling for Louisville QB Brian Brohm.

U.N. Secretary General warns Burma's dictators that the U.N. is running out of patience.

And you know what happens when the U.N.'s patience runs out? That's right, you'll get a very strongly worded letter from the...what's that?

[Pause for input from Chinese delegate.]

OK, well, it won't be very strongly worded, but it will be somewhat strongly worded, and it will insist on...

[Pause for input from Russian delegate.]

All right, it's not going to insist on anything, per se, but it will outline a series of steps to take concerning the humar rights situation...

[Pause for input from Cuban delegate.]

But don't worry, we're not going to use that imperialistic Western definition of "human rights" or anything. You know, the one that insists on the right to choose your leaders and protest and all that silly crap.

But rest assured, our patience is running out.

That's right. Running. Out.

Rape defendant cuts off ankle bracelet and am-scrays upon hearing that his jury had reached a verdict.

Actually, they were reporting a deadlock on his rape charge, and only returned a guilty verdict on a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

If anyone sees the defendant, please let him know that his next court date on the rape charge is January 10. I'm sure he'd hate to miss it.

Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Commodore 64.

And don't try and act young and claim you don't know what a Commodore 64 is. Nobody's buying it.

It shouldn't be too hard for a newcomer to our home, say, a puppy, to pick up the rules. We honestly don't have that many. Our commandments are few - the major ones being:

1. Thou shalt not relieve thyself in the house.

2. Thou shalt eat only the food or treats that we give you.

3. Thou shalt not fuck with Koshka.

I think the puppy learned a valuable lesson on commandment three last night. He was racing around the house, being generally aggravating, when he sees Koshka walking around a corner. I have no idea what actually transpired, but I did see and hear the following:

1. Smutyan races around the corner after Koshka, barking happily.

2. Koshka growls a warning.

3. There are sounds of physical activity.

4. Koshka makes a sound that could have easily originated from Hell itself.

5. Smutyan yelps.

6. Smutyan beats a hasty retreat across the living room, all the while making those "Yipe! Yipe! Yipe!" sounds a Pomeranian makes when you step on it.

7. Not that I've ever stepped on a Pomeranian. I just figure that's what it would sound like.

8. Koshka struts back into view, shoots a dismissive glance at the quickly backtracking puppy, snorts once, then retires upstairs.

A subsequent check of the puppy revealed no external or internal injuries, and hopefully, a little wiser than he was before.

If not, Koshka assures me that the Wolverine Finishing School remains open for business.

By which she means she will finish him.

I posted awhile back on Wayne Dumond, Mike Huckabee's "Willie Horton problem."

One journalist who's been following the story since before anyone actually thought Huck could get elected President posted letters from some of Dumond's prior victims, begging then-Arkansas Governor Huckabee to keep him in jail. A good follow up has been posted at Ace's site, saving me a fair bit of typing.

Huckabee's problem is his dogged refusal to take any blame, putting it all on the parole board and the previous governors. His argument is this - I was a new governor, and the parole board was all appointed by Democrats who weren't going to listen to me, so how could I have pushed them into releasing Dumond? There is, of course, a simple answer - they wanted to get re-appointed and found a real easy way to please the governor dropped in their lap. It is true that Huckabee did not sign the order releasing Dumond. It's also true that Huckabee wanted Dumond out of prison, both for reasons of mercy and because he doubted his guilt (which means he could not have thought much of anything his victim had to say.) And it's true that Huckabee was under pressure from both sides, and if the parole board hadn't done what it did, the new Governor would have found himself stuck between a rock and a hard place. The logical conclusion is that the parole boards decision was, in fact, influenced by a governor who specifically wanted Dumond out, but came to realize that maybe he needed some space from that decision. For Huckabee to pretend that he played no role in Dumond's early release is ludicrous, and frankly, offensive.

The only way Huckabee could deal with this is to offer an unqualified mea culpa that specifically acknowledges his own responsibility. I think had one been offered early, the public at large would have understood and forgiven a man for a mistaken act of Christian mercy.

I also think it's probably too late for that now, and Huckabee's only chance is to hope nobody brings it up too much, even though he's now a top-tier contender.

In other words, he's toast. Whether he's toast in the primaries or the general election is up to Republican voters, but toast he is.

Being married can also save your life, as your wedding ring can be used to deflect a robber's bullet.

And that's in addition to the other benefits of marriage, such as...well, the bliss. Can't say enough about the bliss, really I can't.

Oh, and by staying married, you also are saving the earth.

Plus the bliss.

Chimp beats college students at memory game.

The real surprise was learning that the college students in question did not attend Southern Illinois.

132,581 People

Oddly enough, given all the times I've posted about deaths in pro wrestling - both Yokozuna and the Big Boss Man died on my birthday. (As did Irving Berlin, Shaka Zulu, and Nathan Hale.) Not all in the same year, of course. That would have been a big news day.

By the way, if you want to place a bet for September 22, 2008 - I'd say given the sheer number of people who'd have motive - pick Randy Orton.

Tip - Dawn Summers.

Caught a sneak preview of The Golden Compass yesterday. So, the first thing I have to say is to Jesus - we had a good run, but hey, you know...

I kid, I kid. In case you hadn't heard, The Golden Compass is based on the first in a series of books where the bad guys are a giant organization that appears to a lot of people to be the church. This group of people would include the author of said books, who has claimed in interviews that his books attempt to undermine Christian belief. Of course, now that a multi-million dollar movie franchise hinges on it being a good time the whole family can enjoy, author Phillip Pullman now claims that hey, he's just telling a story, and the producers swear that all overtly anti-religious sentiment has been removed from the film. Yesterday the spouse and I took in the finished product, neither of us having read the book, but with me aware of the controversy surrounding the film's theology, and her not.

I bring this up because to me, the attack on religion is pretty obvious, and to her it isn't. She felt the Magisterium was a more traditional fascist style bad-guy (think the Empire in the Star Wars movies.) To me, it seemed a pretty clear cut battle between reason and tolerance vs. blind obedience masquerading as faith. Also, on the "faith" side of the argument - the Magisterium people know they're wrong, which you occasionally see in debates. The idea is everyone knows there isn't really a God, but "God said so" is such an easy way to get people to do what they're told. So far, unlike, say, the DaVinci Code, there's nobody of any value who defends faith in any form in the Golden Compass. At least not in the first movie.

Which actually isn't bad, if the above doesn't bother you for whatever reason. It doesn't compare to the better Harry Potter movies or Narnia, but it's OK. The audience in the theater we saw loved Iorek, and his big moment got applause. It looks great, and is reasonably well-acted. Having not read the book, I can't say how it holds up, but standing by itself, the movie is adequate.

You know, if you don't mind eternal damnation.