News Jog 8/30/07

The Jog spent most of yesterday trying to avoid the non-stop news coverage concerning the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. While we feel for the lost and displaced we're just sick and tired of being told that it was somehow our fault- That America was to blame and that the storm revealed something important about the racial divide in this country. It didn't. It was simply a major natural disaster that struck a city that was already a basket case before the first raindrops fell. What is never reported is that President Bush appeared on television the day before Katrina hit landfall and warned the city that a major weather event was on hand and that everyone needed to follow the advice of local authorities and get out. We wish would could have dug that video up on You Tube but it was nowhere to be found. That's okay- we saw it when it happened. Instead the coverage is nearly always slanted as something akin to a racist nation leaving its least desired to the ravages of the wind and the rain. There's not much coverage of the widely held conspiracy theories bandied about by residents mired in ignorance- or the fact that New Orleans had become a criminal's paradise in the years leading up to the breaking of the levees. The Jog still maintains that 90% of the responsibility for the storms aftermath lay with local, elected officials. Besides, why are we so fixated on anniversaries? Is it really news that the earth has circled the sun twice since Hurricane Katrina smacked up K-Town?

While we're on the subject of race- Richard Jewell, a man who became a suspect in the Atlanta Olympic bombing because he was white, single, and lived with his mom, died yesterday of diabetes related causes.

Senator Larry 'I'm not gay, never have been gay, never would be gay' Craig is taking some heavy artillery from his Republican colleagues. He has already been stripped of his committee assignments though he still maintains he will run again. Senator 'Wide Stance' doesn't seem to understand he doesn't stand a chance of ever being elected again. It's not the crime of toilet cruising that will keep him out of office but the contradictory nature of the crime to his stated beliefs and voting record- It ain't the heat, it's the hypocrisy.

One of Hillary Clinton's top fundraisers turns out to be a fugitive on the lam. When the story first broke Hil's camp said they were sticking by their friend and saw no need to return the money- but a few hours later they reversed course and announced that it would all be donated to charity. Aww... isn't that sweet? The Jog always knew she cared about the little people.

Chubby anti-American weird beard Muqtada al-Sadr has ordered his Mahdi army to stop killing innocents for six months while he re-tools their mission. The Jog isn't a fan of this power hungry tub of lard but reading between the lines we see a bit of daylight. It may be that these Shia are getting just as disenchanted with Iran as their rival Sunni sects have become with Al-Qaeda. The Sunni clerics turned to the US after rejecting Osama. Perhaps the Shia clerics will make the same choice after rejecting Mahmoud. It's a wish on a star- but a Jog can dream.

The Taliban are still releasing South Korean hostages.

Former foes Benazir Bhutto and Pervez Musharraf are looking to become Pakistan's new power couple.

Is America running out of gasoline?

Could Virginia Tech have saved more lives?

Is your spinach going to kill you?

Billionaire hotel mogul Leona Helmsley was hated by everyone that new her- and apparently she hated them all back because she left very little in her will for specific people in her life but left $12 million to her stupid little lapdog. For what it's worth, her former housekeeper says the dog was meaner than Leona. The Jog didn't like Leona and the Jog doesn't like lapdogs. But the Jog does like funny- And leaving 12 million bucks to a dog that's near death itself is funny. Everyone dreams about having F-U money. This lady just showed us what you can do with it. Go girl!

The morons in England are still wacky for Diana. We're approaching the tenth anniversary of her death and the Brits have their bollocks all in a wad over it. Again the Jog must beg the question- Is it really news that the earth has circumnavigated the sun ten times since her chauffeur slammed his foot on the gas pedal? Or the petrol pedal... or whatever they call it over there.

It appears that reports of Owen Wilson swallowing a bunch of pills before slitting his wrists are untrue. He did slit his wrists. He just didn't down the pills. His brother Luke, who found him and called 911, broke down while answering a few questions about Owen's future. To get an idea of just how brilliant these two can be- the Jog recommends their first movie together "Bottle Rocket". Owen co-wrote it with Wes Anderson and it still stands out as one of the best buddy films ever. There is also a decent sized role played by Andrew, the rarely seen third Wilson brother. Great, great movie.

Meanwhile, Courtney Love is blaming her ex-boyfriend for Owen's current predicament.

Speaking of drugs and lives out of control- Sheriff Joe says drugs were found in rapper/actor/criminal DMX's home... right next to the dehydrated pit bulls we presume.

That hottie who had Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's baby has given the spawn her own last name and signaled that she wants the three time Super Bowl champ to stay away.

If you were silly enough to buy the first release of Microsoft's Vista- an update is on the way.

Would you like to drive an iPod? You may be able to someday soon: Apple Rumored to be in Talks with Volkswagen Over "iCar"

Is it against the law to unlock an iPhone?

What if that iPhone is unlocked in Lithuania?

Will Google soon market their own cell phone? Speculation builds about the gPhone

NASA says those claims about astronauts drinking before flights are unfounded. They do however concede that alcohol is available in the pre-flight green room. The Jog would certainly imbibe before strapping itself to the top of a huge bomb- but we're not professionals. Our favorite astronaut headline of the day is: Love Triangle Kidnap Pampernaut Preps Wingnut Defence

The coolest thing happening in the universe today is: Astronomers Get First Look at Protoplanetary "Rainfall"

The US is kicking the world's ass in basketball.

A music industry legend, Hilly Kristal, founder of CBGB's has passed away.

And finally:
The latest dispatch from Britney's last days on earth.

There's plenty more News,
but no more News Jog.
We're done.