Archive through January 16, 2003
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TV ClubHouse: Archives: 2003 March: The daily rant. (Archive): Archive through January 16, 2003

Draheid

Sunday, January 12, 2003 - 12:23 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
{{{Zachsmom}}} I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the news reports say Maurice Gibb passed away Sunday according to CNN.com.

I also enjoyed their music. :(

Zachsmom

Sunday, January 12, 2003 - 12:28 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
myimage

Crazydog

Sunday, January 12, 2003 - 12:29 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Goddess, yes, I agree. The man is a crook and I will cheer when his indictment is issued. His continued indignant denials of involvement in the license scandal are just pathetic. You can tell that even the morning news team on channel 9 dislike him - they make fun of him occasionally. I have no idea how this <> man got so many people to vote for him.

And now I've heard that he's being considered for next year's Nobel Peace Prize. Europeans agree, because most of Europe does not have a death penalty. Bleccchhh. It takes a great humanitarian like Jimmy Carter years and years and years to win it, and Ryan is being nominated for this political stunt? I am embarrassed for Illinois.

Pamy

Sunday, January 12, 2003 - 12:38 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I also loved the Bee Gees and am sorry to hear this news

Crossfire

Sunday, January 12, 2003 - 12:40 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Eh...it would be fitting, it's not like the prize is not thoroughly tarnished already.

Cyn

Sunday, January 12, 2003 - 01:36 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
They are going to discontinue the jobs of many of our firemen and police here in NYC. Why? They are going to do this because of a stupid law. What is the stupid law? The stupid law is one that says if you are functioning with a lower capacity of employees on a continual basis because of sick leave, then they (the city) may terminate those jobs as the department has proven that it can function without them. Why are there huge sick leave absences? There are large numbers in sick leave, because many of our firefighters and police are suffering from the way that the mass murder of 2,879 (confirmed death toll as of 1/12/2003 3:34:43 PM) was perpetrated. This number includes the names of the fallen service people who were from within their ranks. Their names can be read by going to this site: www.9-11memorial.org/lodd.cfm. The survivors have huge respiratory problems, and they worked there without the proper equipment for days until we could get it delivered. The air was toxic, and this is so unfair and a millions shades of wrong.

Mayor Bloomberg thinks he is such a good manager. And I will admit that he can run a company efficiently, but a city is not a company. A city is society and it has to deal with the effects of business, and he just doesn't give a darn about anything except how the numbers look on paper. But what do I expect this is the Mayor of NYC who didn't go to Memorials when he took office after Gulliani, because he said that he didn't want to turn the memorials into anything political. Give me a break. He went to the Bahamas to one of his houses that weekend. Aghh!

And Gulliani wasn't that darn terrific either, although I have to give him huge props for holding the city together in the aftermath of shock.

Cyn

Sunday, January 12, 2003 - 01:42 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I love Maurice Gibb and all the brothers. I took a break and played and sang some Bee Gees songs today with guitar and loved one.

"'cause we're living in a world of fools
Breaking us down
When they all should let us be
We belong to you and me"

How Deep Is Your Love - Bee Gees

Crossfire

Sunday, January 12, 2003 - 01:44 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
That's sad to hear. I have to admit though, this was one of the concerns I had when Eric took all that time off in the sumer for BB. One of the concerns was that the station he was employed at, would get its staffing requirements cut based on demonstrating an ability to function with lower numbers.

Maris

Sunday, January 12, 2003 - 02:03 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I hate to say it Cyn but there are a lot more NYC workers who also were downtown and suffered due to what they inhaled. I know of one individual who was just a poor schmuck of an office worker, not a lauded fire fighter, who suffered breathing difficulties, was under medical care, and he moved on.

The fact is that the firefighters and police of NY did a great job during a difficult time, but there is also the fact that a record number filed for retirement after the mega overtime hours, so they could cash in. You also had a number who claimed medical disability. I totally appreciate and value the job that public servants do on a day in and day out basis however, I am not so naieve as to think there arent a number who want to cash in. Firefighters and others who were exposed to asbestos arent any different than the other thousands who fled those buildings.

Cyn

Sunday, January 12, 2003 - 02:25 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I am sorry that I forgot to include the civilians that are suffering tremondously also. The citizens who are now the study for what the effects of inhaling these massive pollutants in a small time frame will cause. The civilian population has their safety nets being pulled by the Mayor also.

Myjohnhenry

Monday, January 13, 2003 - 09:53 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Here is a "stupid criminal" story

Two suspects robbed a paint store at gunpoint, but didn't make off with the loot. One of the men had a gun and demanded money. The men fled the scene and the suspect with the gun removed a sweatshirt that was easily identifiable as he ran. The money and the gun were in the piece of clothing.

Twinkie

Monday, January 13, 2003 - 10:07 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Cyn, you are so right. I couldn't agree with you more.

Wargod

Monday, January 13, 2003 - 10:44 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I have a stupid criminal story. While hubby was working at Costco last night a guy got busted for shoplifting a DVD. Reason he's stupid? He was shopping with his wife and kids!!! He went off to jail while his family went home. Personally....I'd have left him too!!!!

Jed245

Monday, January 13, 2003 - 01:05 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
WOOOHOOO!! I love dumb criminal stories.
Here's one for ya. :o) A guy walks into a gas station/quick stop in his home town. He goes up to the clerk and asks if they have security camera's (by the way they did have them and this was all on tape.) The clerk said no, the guy then steps just outside the door still in plain view. Wearing the same clothes he steps back in with a paper bag over his head. The man is now sporting a brand new gun.

He threatens the clerk, points the gun downwards and fires a warning shot to let the clerk know he means what he's saying. The clerk sees the man fall to the floor and hears him screaming in pain.

... he shot himself in the leg just above his ankle. :o) heh.

Jed

Wargod

Monday, January 13, 2003 - 01:14 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
LOL.

Grooch

Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 12:47 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Well, I saw this woman's sister ranting and raving on the news this morning. It was totally unbelievable.

This problem has been going on for what seems like forever. They need to get rid of this woman.

Oliphant criticized by Bush, loses aid contract
BY ERIKA BOLSTAD
ebolstad@herald.com

A bizarre day for Broward Supervisor of Elections Miriam Oliphant was capped Wednesday with a tongue-lashing by the governor and an angry, rambling television appearance by her sister.

By day's end:

• Election Systems & Software, manufacturer of Broward County's touch-screen voting machines, walked away from a possible deal to train technicians, program machines and count ballots for the Feb. 11 municipal primaries.

• Gov. Jeb Bush demanded more evidence of financial reforms, and he cautioned Oliphant that he was worried about her office's recent loss of senior staff members and the effect on the upcoming elections.

• Broward County Auditor Norm Thabit warned that Oliphant would run through her budget by June, and that it was unlikely she had enough cash on hand to run the February primaries.

• Broward County Attorney Ed Dion told county commissioners he believed Oliphant could be personally liable for the almost $1 million her office overspent last year.

• Oliphant's sister, Robin Darville, made an unusual appearance in front of a WSVN-Fox 7 television crew Wednesday afternoon, hiding her face behind a newspaper and claiming her sister was the victim of a ''racist county'' and that many elections office employees refuse to work for Oliphant because she is black.

ES&S ended its negotiations with Oliphant's office, leaving city leaders frustrated as they try to plan elections scheduled for Feb. 11 and March 11.

CITY IS CONFIDENT

''We'll do this election if we have to use paper ballots,'' declared Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle, whose city will hold a primary Feb. 11. ``If they could figure out how to do it in 1776, we could certainly with today's technology figure out how to do it today.''

ES&S had offered to handle technical aspects of the primary for $82,500, but said Oliphant's office had to meet a 5 p.m. Wednesday deadline to give the company time to prepare.

Company officials said negotiations broke down after Oliphant's deputy, Ken Leb, told ES&S that no one from the supervisor's office had looked at the proposal and that no one knew who Oliphant's attorney was.

Oliphant's third attorney in two years, Michael Robinson, resigned last week.

''Our inclination at this point is to step away,'' said Russ Klenet, a lobbyist and negotiator for ES&S. ``We don't know who we're dealing with or who was in charge, and we're out of time.''

EXPLANATION SOUGHT

Bush, in the letter sent by his general counsel, asked Oliphant to give him by the end of next week a detailed explanation of the steps she has taken ``to ensure that the elections are conducted smooth and fairly.''

''He is also very concerned that the elections scheduled for February 11 and March 11, 2003, in Broward County be conducted effectively, transparently and in such a way as to restore the confidence of the citizens of Broward County, and indeed of all Floridians, in the elective process,'' the letter said.

It was unclear Wednesday whether Oliphant has the money to run the February primaries even though she told the county mayor Tuesday that she didn't need the county's money or help.

Oliphant partially reversed that position late Wednesday by asking Mayor Diana Wasserman-Rubin whether the county would consider allowing the voting technicians it trained to take vacation days from their county jobs to work at the municipal elections.

`GOTTEN NOTHING'

County budget officials and the auditor remain concerned about the supervisor's office finances, especially since they have not been able to look at Oliphant's books to see how much money she has on hand, or how much she may need after the February primaries.

''We've gotten nothing,'' said Commissioner Suzanne Gunzburger. ``We have no idea what's been going on the last several months.''

''We don't know whether she's got it in the bank or not,'' Thabit said. ``I'm sure she's very low.''

Oliphant has not responded to Thabit's scathing audit. The County Commission plans to discuss it with her Tuesday at a long-awaited workshop session.

County officials know that Oliphant's office already has received $4 million of its $5.8 million budget this year. But estimated expenses to date total $4.3 million, leaving Oliphant with a $229,344 deficit after taking into account the money provided to cover last year's overspending.

Based on Thabit's cash-flow projections, Oliphant will run out of money entirely in June.

''I think she's definitely out of money, and she's on Visa and MasterCard now,'' said Commissioner Ben Graber.

HUDDLE WITH FAMILY

Oliphant made no public appearances Wednesday, although she was reportedly in her office with her mother, her sister and her political advisor, BJ Bond. Oliphant did not respond to several requests for interviews.

Oliphant's sister, Darville, added a bizarre twist to Wednesday's events when she was caught on video in the hallway outside of Oliphant's office. After a rambling diatribe against employees of the Supervisor of Elections Office, delivered while she held a newspaper in front of her face, Darville was escorted out of the county governmental center by Fort Lauderdale police.

Darville's boss, Broward Public Defender Alan Schreiber, told The Herald after watching Darville on television that he intended to fire her today.

Darville, 44, is a $33,000-a-year clerk for Schreiber, Oliphant's former boss, chief campaign fundraiser and one-time political mentor.

''I'm going to have to get rid of her,'' Schreiber said. ``She's too unstable.''

Darville has a personal relationship with Oliphant's mailroom clerk, Glen Davis.

He has remained employed in Oliphant's office despite reprimands for showing up late and being drunk on the job.

Davis and three other elections office employees have been subpoenaed by the Broward State Attorney's Office as part of its probe into the possible disappearance of absentee ballots in the Sept. 10, 2002, election.

Davis was chiefly responsible for picking up ballots at the post office.

Herald staff writers Brad Bennett and Beth Reinhard contributed to this report.

Grooch

Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 01:12 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
This one is for Fanny. All I can think about is butt juice when I read this article.


Travelers ready to takeoff. . . er, for takeoff. . . er, to go
By INA PAIVA CORDLE
Miami Herald

Clothes on the Cancún flight will come off at cruising altitude.

Miami passengers on a flight to Cancún won't be fretting about dressing comfortably. In fact, they won't be dressed at all.

A Houston travel agency specializing in clothing-optional vacations is organizing the outing, which it claims is the first nude flight.

But no hanky-panky, please.

''Inappropriate behavior is not condoned,'' said James Bailey, who owns Castaways Travel with his wife, Donna Daniels. ``This is not a Mile High Club, not a bunch of groupies or anything. It's just a fun flight.''

Castaways has chartered a Boeing 727 for up to 170 passengers, scheduled to take off May 3 and return May 10. But those onboard probably won't have much luggage.

Many will be going to the El Dorado Resort & Spa, whose 175 rooms have been leased for a nudist vacation. More than half the seats on the flight and rooms in the resort have already been booked, said Bailey, who will enjoy the trip with his wife.

The flight's crew will be professionally dressed, and passengers will be required to be attired for check-in and takeoff.

Once they reach a cruising altitude, they can disrobe, Bailey said. Each will be given an embroidered beach towel to sit on.

''Nude etiquette always requests you take a towel -- you always have a towel between you and the seat,'' he said.

Since planes are often cold, the crew will regulate the temperature for comfort. And no steaming beverages or hot foods will be served -- to avoid any painful spills.

Castaways is charging $499 round-trip for the flight, including all taxes. Bailey would not disclose the charter operator, citing concerns about passengers' privacy. Castaways is using the moniker ''Naked-Air'' to market the flight.

Robert Conser, vice president for sales and marketing for Miami Air, confirmed that the charter carrier had been approached. But he would not confirm that his crew is flying the plane.

Bailey, who has been in the travel agency business since 1984, got into the nudist market about 12 years ago. Now he books 30 to 50 nudist groups annually.

And the future may bring more nude flights -- if this one is a success.

''People are looking for stress relief,'' he said. ``In a nudist environment, everyone is the same. There's no culture shock, no hierarchy of social strata, no caste system. Everyone is on the same wavelength.''

The Federal Aviation Administration is taking a hands-off approach.

''We have no regulations pertaining to nudity on board an aircraft,'' said spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen. ``It's not a safety issue.''

Goddessatlaw

Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 01:15 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I don't understand. What's fun about flying starkers?

Wargod

Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 01:32 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
There may be no culture shock for the nudist, but what about the flight attendants???? Can you imagine trying to do your job while everyone around you is butt nekkid?

And I agree, GAL, what the heck is fun about flying nekkid?

Goddessatlaw

Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 01:34 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Sounds like one party I'll be happy to miss.

Crossfire

Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 01:41 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Well, you get to indulge in pornography for one. That might take your mind off the fact that you are crammed into an airplane for a while. Airplanes suck clothes or not.

Fanny

Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 01:53 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Grooch, good find! Towel or not, buttjuice will be abundant on that flight. :) Imagine a full flight, then imagine the guy in the aisle seat having somebody pass him to get into the window seat. Even if the aisle seat guy gets up to make room, imagine the person on the other side of that aisle. Blech.

Somebody get me the VIN for that plane (do planes have VIN's?). I will make a point of never flying that particular aircraft.

This is disgusting.

Maris

Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 01:55 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
anyone ever get these emails? I received one today and reported it to the FBI. I think this is like the big arrest in London re the Nigerian letter fraud:

Subject: REPLY ME URGENTLY
Date: Thursday, January 16, 2003 8:47 AM


MR:THOMAS BAKER
ABSA BANK JOHANNESBURG,
S.A.
TEL:+27-835-164-849
EMAIL:th_omas1@yahoo.com

ATTN:Sir,

In order to transfer out (US$ 90million) Ninety million United States
Dollars) AMALGAMATED BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA (ABSA).I have picked-up the trust
and courage to ask you to look for a reliable and honest person who will be
capable for this important business transaction believing that you will
never let me down either now or in the future.

My name is THOMAS BAKER an senior Auditing Officer of
AMALGAMATED BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA (ABSA).There is an account opened in this
bank in 1980 and since 1990 nobody has operated on this account again. After
going through some old files in the records, I discovered that if I do not
remit this money out urgently it would be forfeited for nothing. The owner
of this account is MR.ANDREAS B.SMITH, a foreigner, he was a miner at Kruger
gold company, a geologist by profession, and he died since 1990. No other
person knows about this account or any thing concerning it, the account has
no other beneficiary and my investigation proved to me as well that this
company does not know anything about this account and the amount involved is
(US$90 million) Ninety million United States Dollars. I want to first
transfer (US$45M) Forty Five million united states Dollars from this money
into a safe foreigners account abroad before the rest.

I am contacting you based on the fact that you are a foreigner because this
money can only be approved for payment to a foreigner, more so it can not be
approved by any local bank here, as this money is in US Dollars hence the
former owner of this account is a foreigner too. I know that this proposal
will come to you as a surprise as we don't know ourselves before, however I
based my move on trust and God's directive and we will still have to meet
possibly, sign some agreement before the final transfer of the
fund into any of your chosen designated bankaccount.I need your full
co-operation to make this work fine because the management is ready to
approve this payment to any foreigner, who has correct information of this
account, which I will give to you later, if you are able and willing to
handle such amount in strict confidence and trust according to my
instructions and advice for our mutual benefit because this opportunity will
never come again in my life. I need truthful person in this business because
I don't want to make mistake, I need your strong assurance and trust.I will
apply for annual leave to get visa immediately this money is transfered
into your account.

At the conclusion of this business, you will be given 30% of the total
amount, 65% will be for me, and while 5% will be for expenses both parties
might have incurred during the process of transferring.


Please treat with utmost confidentiality.
Contact me as quickly as possible through my e-mail or by my
Tel:+27-835-164-849

Expecting your urgent response,

Best Regards,

Yours faithfully,

MR:THOMAS BAKER

Wargod

Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 01:56 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
OMG Fanny, I didn't think about people having to get up and move around or anything like that!

Goddessatlaw

Thursday, January 16, 2003 - 02:04 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
That's just weird, Maris. I've never seen anything like it. Good work reporting it, though. I suspect Senor Th_omas1 is going to find himself in boiling water before long.