Irritating News of the Day - Spanking & 'Sexual Problems'

In the most irritating headline of the newsday, it seems like the geniuses at the American Psychological Association (more like Amok Psychotic Absurdity) are weighing the merits of a study that indicates that children who are spanked are more likely to have 'sexual problems' later in life - including masochism and other sexually risky behavior...

USA Today Write-Up

Having received more than my fair share of corporal punishment at the very strong hands (among other things) of my parents growing up, the only sexual deviance I may exhibit in this modern age is that of chastity. Ghastly behavior, I know - who would have thought that I of all people am virtuous?!@# HEAVEN FORBID!

No offense to the S&M crowd - if they are consenting adults they are free to engage in whatever kind of lawful acts they wish, but I have a hard time believing that physical discipline causes a penchant for sexually risky fetishes.

Money Talks: Another Rate Slash on the Horizon, Hints Bernake

Today, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernake testified before the House Financial Services Committee on the Federal Reserve's 'Monetary Policy Report to Congress', hinting at another rate cut to stimulate projected sluggish business growth.

Bernake Testimony

Bernake noted that with energy (most specifically oil) prices increasing drastically, as well as the decline in the housing market has but a burden on business growth in the United States, and will result in increasing inflation (up 2.1%-2.4% from the fall predictions).

**Politicos are anticipating a rate reduction when the Federal Reserve Board meets again on March 18. This would mark the second month of rate reductions in 2008; the 1.25% rate reduction over eight days in January accounting for the largest slash during a single month in a quarter century.

NASA Likes to Make Things Go 'BOOM'

NASA plans to send two spacecraft on a path to collide with the moon in an effort to study whether or not water lies on the surface of the Earth's only natural satellite....I really think they are engaging in Earth-on-Moon violence because they like to make things go 'boom'. I know I do...

Space.com Article

Interesting Factoid - While the 5th largest planetary satellite in the Milky Way solar system, the Earth's moon has no name other than "the Moon (capital M)".

War Casualties in Perspective

The War on Terror has received unparalleled media attention since the September 11th attacks. Everyday, news outlets report the ever-increasing death toll in the Middle East, indicating in their subtle way of a skirmish that has failed. While the merits of military action in the region can be debated soundly on all positions, all of the poli-talk does not camouflage the fact that military personnel continue to serve in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Wiki Article: War on Terrorism
Wiki Article: Operation Enduring Freedom
Wiki Article: Operation Iraqi Freedom

A major focus of media coverage that can be attributed to a decline in popularity for the Global War on Terror is loss of life of military personnel. Many outspoken anti-war groups have taken on war casualties as their (perhaps most successful) cause célèbre for removal of U.S. forces from Iraq and Afghanistan, likening the campaigns to that of a previous 'failed' conflict - Vietnam. While the intent of each war is different, inferences and correlations between 'unpopular wars' made by talking heads welcomed further investigation into U.S. military deaths without opinion and manipulation:

Historical Overview of War Casualties

**Official Department of Defense Statistics**
Civil War (1861-1865)...................364,511
World War I (1917-1918).............116, 516
World War II (1941-1946)...........405,399
Korean War (1950-1953)..............36,574
Vietnam Conflict (1964-1973)......58,209
Persian Gulf War (1990-1991).....382

Active Duty Military Deaths

Web Link: Department of Defense Personnel & Procurement Statistics

**Tallies below were computed using DoD personnel statistics**

1981-1990:
21,344
81 due to hostile action
294 due to terrorist attack
12,532 due to accident

1991-2000:
10,580
148 due to hostile action
76 due to terrorist attack
5,560 due to accident

2001-2006 (*updated on November 22, 2007):
8,989
2,603 due to hostile action
55 due to terrorist attack
3,331 due to accident

Afterthought:

As a 'military brat' who had the honor of studying National Security at a military graduate school alongside officer heroes who undoubtedly serve in these military campaigns, soldiers hold a special place in my heart. I contend that any loss of life is a horrid result of war or service, and do not make light of what I felt compelled to report - placing into perspective casualties of war and service-connected deaths during times of peace.

Will Plagiarism Sink the Obama Machine?

There is absolutely no doubt that the media has taken it easy on golden boy du jour Barack Obama, doling out proverbial 'free-passes' much like the Clinton White House enjoyed for a time (Bill/Hillary are still attempting to wrap their heads around their fall from grace) . However, over the weekend Team Clinton released videos to the media that showed the Illinois Senator-cum-Presidential Candidate blatantly plagiarizing a 2006 campaign speech of now Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick.

Wiki Link: Plagiarism

Wiki Link: Deval Patrick

Patrick Rally Speech (Dated October 15, 2006):

“But her (Republican opponent Lt. Governor Kerry Healey) dismissive point, and I hear it a lot from her staff, is that all I have to offer is words — just words. ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’ Just words – just words! ‘We have nothing to fear but fear itself.’ Just words! ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.’ Just words! ‘I have a dream.’ Just words!”

Obama Re-Do (Dated February 16, 2008):

“Don’t tell me words don’t matter! ‘I have a dream.’ Just words. ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’ Just words! ‘We have nothing to fear but fear itself.’ Just words — just speeches!”

The Obama camp maintains that Patrick is a close friend of the candidate (does anyone else smell a detour from answering the allegations?), and counter-charged Clinton for pilfering 'Yes We Can' - which was made into a Will.i.am (of the Black-Eyed Peas) song - and 'Fired Up and Ready to Go', two supposed signature Obama rally cries, even though 'Yes We Can' is derived from a union chant.

Wiki Link: Yes We Can

Whether or not Obama will feel a backlash from the plagiarism charges can only be answered in the forthcoming primaries. As of right now, my money is on Obama remaining relatively unscathed.

Afterthought 1:

Interesting Washington Post Op-Ed on Obama (noting that Obama may have plagiarized several Clinton policy platforms) - The Obama Delusion

Afterthought 2:

Politics even plays a role in campaign music selection. Although Will.i.am compiled 'Yes We Can' for Obama, it is not used as a campaign song, Clinton is using Celine Dion's 'You and I' and John McCain - after earlier troubles with lacking permission to play the Rocky Theme Song - absorbed John Mellencamp's 'Our Country' from the now-defunct John Edwards campaign, only to be slighted yet again when the artist and known Democrat contacted the McCain camp and requested his songs not be played. Better luck next time, I guess...

AFP Article: 2008 US Campaign Songs

Wiki Link: Campaign Songs

Plamegate - So Over It

In news that I am almost too ashamed to pass along, Hollywood (per usual) is glamorizing a political happenstance unimportant to most everyone...and making a movie about it. To recap, Valerie Plame AKA Valerie Wilson - wife of former Ambassador Joseph Wilson - was 'outed' as a CIA employee to various news outlets by various high ranking Republican officials.

Page Six Article
Wiki Link: Plamegate

Inside the Beltway, it was known that Ms. Plame worked at Langley (she had not functioned as a covert officer for over 5 years, preventing the 'leakers' from serving jail time). I. Lewis 'Scooter' Libby was indicted on obstruction and perjury charges, not leaking the information. Outside the Beltway, this was a huge controversy elevating Plame from run-of-the-mill CIA employee to "CIA agent" or "Spy". Let's just be honest here, CIA agents aren't people who are employed by the CIA exclusively...real 'spies' are operatives. Another Hollywood fallacy.

Wiki Link: Scooter Libby
Reading Suggestion - "Blowing My Cover: My Life as a CIA Spy"

While no one should EVER reveal the identity of clandestine officers (not all of whom are 'spies') for national security reasons, this story has completely played itself out. Anything that might be of any interest to the public will be heavily redacted by the CIA (per non-disclosure agreements that she undoubtedly signed).

Afterthought: You can be certain I won't be reading her 'poor me' book or movie (in truth, this scandal has become a cash cow for her; she went from relative obscurity to rubbing elbows with the Hollywood elite & heavily capitalizing on her 'story').

Wiki Link: Plame's Book

While I don't have the highest opinions of Nicole Kidman, I think she is far better looking than the wronged Plame.

Wiki Link: Nicole Kidman

Cupid Ain't No Saint

Billions of lovebirds in mainly western (or influenced) countries observe Valentine’s Day on February 14 every year as a celebration of their affection for one another; traditionally exchanging cards, gifts, flowers and chocolate.

Valentine’s Day

What is particularly interesting is that Saint Valentine, for ‘whom’ the holiday is named, is actually a collection of martyred saints of ancient Rome, with no particular association to love or desire; only vague references remain (a feast for one of the Saints Valentine falls on February 14 in the Roman calendar; nothing considerable about this saint is known).

Saint Valentine

The origins of February 14’s association with romantic love can be traced back to the days of English poet Geoffrey Chaucer – best known for his work ‘The Canterbury Tales’.

Parlement of Foules (1382)

‘For this was on seynt Volantynys day
Whan euery byrd comyth there to chese
his make.’

Geoffrey Chaucer

A major icon of this holiday is the kindly cherub Cupid – shooting his bows into the hearts of the lonely. Unlike the Saints Valentine, Cupid is indeed linked with romance; in Roman mythology, Cupid is the god of erotic love and sex, equated with the Greek god Eros.

Cupid

While the Saints Valentine and Cupid find their origins in Roman mythology, they did not have clear connections until Chaucer and his circle manufactured a link - confirming yet again that perception is reality. As for this writer and her cronies…we will be celebrating my annual Anti-Valentine's Day fete with food, drink, tawdry conversation, drink…culminating in a pajama party full of drink.