Church of Christ's Preacher's Wife Confesses to His Murder

Police have not yet revealed a motive, but Tennessee Bureau of Investigation have indicated that she clearly had one. And authorities will not comment on whether she has accused him of abuse of some kind.

This is a horrific tragedy. There's no denying it. But... it will be interesting to hear and understand the truth as it is made known.

After shooting her husband in the parsonage in Selmer, Tennessee, Mary Winkler loaded her three daughters into their minivan and drove them to Orange Beach, Alabama, where she rented a condo on the beach. The were found and she was arrested as they left a restaurant.

She agreed to be returned to Tennessee and her daughters, Breanna (1), Mary Alice (6), and Patricia (8) have been remanded to the custody of their paternal grandparents.

I have some personal, deep and long standing experience with the Church of Christ.

I was once told by a Christian who studies these things, that children raised in the Church of Christ were documented to have suffered a much higher instance of emotional, physical and sexual abuse, than other Christian 'denominations'.

I want to make it clear that I suffered no physical or sexual abuse as a result of my upbringing in the Church, however, the emotional consequences have proven, to this point in my life, almost impossible to overcome. I've come to understand and accept that I could never measure up to what is expected in the Church for a child, a girl, a woman, or a wife.

It is the Image of God that I deal with now. Is He loving? Or is He damning? Is He a God that created me as I am and understands me? Or a God that punishes me? My heart says one, my upbringing another.

Irregardless, I have no personal knowledge of this case. It will, however, be interesting to see how this story unfolds. It is just so sad. There are three young children who will suffer, irregardless. I pray for God's blessings and reassurances upon them.

Murderess? Or Protector? Time will tell. And I believe Truth will be told.

Randy Quaid Sues Over His Own Bad Judgment

Quaid is evidently disgruntled over compensation for his role in Brokeback Mountain.

Quaid filed a lawsuit Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging the producers got him to work cheap by falsely claiming the movie was "a low-budget, art house film, with no prospect of making any money."

I haven't seen the movie, so I have nothing to really base my opinion on other than the fact that I have many friends that have seen it, and none of them commented to me that he was even in the film, much less a comment like, "Wow, Dennis Quaid really MADE the film".

Quaid agreed to waive his usual seven-figure fee and share of gross profits in favor of a much smaller payment, the suit claims, although it doesn't say how much he was paid.

The suit alleges intentional and negligent misrepresentation and seeks at least $10 million in damages. It names Focus Features LLC, Del Mar Productions James Schamus.

But he signed a contract, right? I mean he WILLINGLY signed a contract, right? There were no guns to his head. There was a clearly defined scope of work that wasn't breached. He agreed to the terms and conditions of his short term employment, and he signed his name, I assume?

Hey, it happens all the time in my line of work, but you can't sue by reason over your own stupidity. You either consent to the terms, or you don't. Period.

Just think about Andy Griffith and Ron Howard. Do you think they had a clue how much revenue their syndicated series would be worth?

("Brokeback Mountain," which won Academy Awards for best director, original score and adapted screenplay, has grossed more than $82 million in North America.)

Natalee Holloway: So Much for Reliable Tips

Acting on a "reliable tip", Aruban Law Enforcement, along with a U.S. Firm and its ground penetrating radar equipment, turned up nothing.

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems of Sylvania Township donated an employee and its ground radar equipment to search the area after they were contacted by Don Wood, head of Child Watch in Orlando, through an Internet search.

'They got down there and searched beach areas and caves,' Mr. Wood said.

Unfortunately, he said, nothing was found.

Dompig's Theory: Natalee Died of an Overdose, Not Murder

"We feel strongly that she probably went into shock or something happened to her system with all the alcohol – maybe on top of that, other drugs, which either she took or they gave her – and that she…just collapsed," Dompig is quoted as saying.

Sadly, I believed in the VERY beginning that Natalee had most likely died accidentally, due to a drug overdose. And if so, I continue to believe that she didn't knowingly ingest the substance that took her life, and the guilty parties embarked on a massive cover-up.

It's easy to understand how it happened. At the age of 18, nothing bad had ever happened to the sheltered Natalee. In innumerable ways, she likely felt so secure that she threw caution to the wind with the first taste of freedom... and with the handsome, well connected young Joran.

There are supposedly new clues. And there will, hopefully, be conclusive evidence or testimony to determine the exact nature of death and source of ingestion.

It feels like such a breach of faith and betrayal of hope to even discuss such things, but short of an unlikely kidnapping, there is a zero chance that Natalee chose to disappear or is being held hostage, against her will.

I stand firmly behind my initial and continuing beliefs that there are at least four people who know what happened and at least four people who initiated a coverup. In actuality, I believe that there are at least five people, and likely more, involved in the coverup.

Watch Dompig's interview on CBS' 48 Hours, this Saturday at 10pm Eastern, 9pm Central.

Photo is courtesy of CBS and 48 hours! Check out Dan's post at Riehl World View for more photos and commentary!

Cruising the Nut Aisle

I was alerted to this story by way of an ad that was placed in LA Weekly. What a terrible, terrible tragedy...

Condi Rice Passes on the NFL Commissioner Opening

It's widely known that Condi is a huge NFL fan, and has made no secret of her aspiration to run the league one day. The fact that Paul Tagliabue is retiring this July would mean that she would not only have to abandon her current duties, but also any other political goals she might have in the back of her mind (hint, hint).

"Unfortunately, it came open at the wrong time," Rice said Wednesday, clearly amused when a reporter posed the question. "Obviously, I'm very busy as secretary of state, and I intend to continue to be secretary of state as long as the president of the United States will have me."

Twisted Ad(sense)

Ok, so a few days ago I posted some comments, while on the subject of child predators, regarding the fact that Michael Jackson has stiffed his Neverland employees (including those that are caring for his "beloved" animals) since December.

And now my site is deluged with Michael Jackson ads. Quick! What can I blog to get rid of them!

(My only consolation is that there is a link to "Find Info On A Pedophile"... That's a good thing, right?).

Natalee Holloway Case: Carlos & Charlie Statement Conflicts

There's an interesting post over at Scared Monkeys, regarding inconsistencies in Carlos & Charlie's accounts. It's definitely worth a read, particularly if you're keeping up with Greta's bedtime stories!

Blogger Problems & Deletions

I read yesterday that Blogger had some problems. Some blogs were hi-jacked, some vanished in an automated spam prevention system, and some even lost content.

It seems that my content was spared, but my massive number of reader comments seem to have disappeared into cyberspace! :::::smirk:::::

Question

What does all work and no play make "Jill"? Hmmmm?

Is Osama Dead?

To refresh your memory, Curt Weldon is the Congressman who broke the 'Able Danger' story last year by revealing that military intelligence had identified Mohamed Atta as a terrorist before the 9/11 attacks.

And Weldon now says that Osama bin Laden has died in Iran.

Weldon made this stunning claim during an interview Wednesday with the Philadelphia Inquirer, which reported that a high-level source has told Weldon that terrorist leader Osama bin Laden has died, in hiding, in Iran. Weldon cited as his source an Iranian exile code-named Ali.

Filed Under the Category of YIKES: What do Jessica Simpson and a Porn Starlet NOT Have in Common?

... evidently an interest in rubbing shoulders with President Bush.

But it's not as you might surmise.

Jessica Simpson snubbed an offer to attend the National Republican Congressional Committee gala fund-raiser tonight because she "didn't want to politicize her favorite charity".

Simpson will be in town today to lobby members of Congress on behalf of
Operation Smile, a non-profit venture offering free plastic surgery for
disadvantaged children overseas with facial deformities. According to Reuters,
those close to Simpson said she declined a request to appear that same evening
at the fund-raiser for the NRCC -- even after she was offered a face-to-face,
private meeting with Bush.

"It just feels wrong," said one unnamed Simpson associate. "She would love
to meet the president and talk about Operation Smile ... but she can't do it at
a fund-raiser for the Republican Party."

NRCC spokesman Carl Forti told the news agency he was surprised at Simpson's position.

"It's never been a problem for Bono," he said, referring to the U2 rock star who has met regularly with political leaders of all stripes to promote various causes, including Third World debt relief. "I find it hard to believe she would pass up an opportunity to lobby the president on behalf of Operation Smile."

Mary Carey, XXX porn diva (who, along with her porn-promoting escort, caused an uproar last year for dining with President Bush), was eager for the chance to socialize with W.

Meanwhile, Carey, a former novelty candidate for California governor is to
attend the United to Victory dinner with Bush tonight. She also had lunch at a
related event yesterday where Bush adviser Karl Rove was the guest speaker.

She says she's taking part, for the second year in a row, at the
invitation of the National Republican Congressional Committee, which is
organizing the events.

"I'm really excited to be going back to Washington, D.C., to see the
president again," said Carey. "Everyone thinks that politicians are stuffy, but
we all had a great time last year, and I had fun signing a lot of autographs.
Wait till they see that I have lost 20 pounds since the last time they saw me.
Watch out Mr. President!"

St. Patrick's Day Will Never Mean As Much

I've always loved and celebrated St Patrick's Day, but March 17, 1998 forever changed my perspective.

I lost my Mom that day.

Eight years later, I still mourn just a little... but I try, mostly, to focus on and celebrate her life, and what she meant to me as the best Mom in the world.

So on March 17th, St. Paddy is way down the list of things on my mind.

March 16: My Mom's Birthday

Today is my Mom's birthday.

In a perfect world, I would still have her with me, healthy and here in this world.

She would be 77 today.

And we would be celebrating LARGE!

While We're on the Subject: Michael Jackson gets 1 day Extension to Pay $306,000 in Neverland wages

While Michael Jackson is parading and shooping around Bahrain in Islamic drag, Neverland employees go unpaid.

Michael Jackson got a one day reprieve Tuesday on a deadline to pay a $100,000 fine and $306,000 in wages he owes Neverland ranch employees. He had until 5 p.m. Wednesday to pay the penalty and back wages to dozens of workers, who complained to the state that they had not been paid since December 19th.

Of course, Jackson no longer lives at the ranch full-time, and is mainly living in Bahrain since being acquitted of child molestation charges last year. (Something tells me that children have far fewer rights in Bahrain).

The pop star's spokeswoman, Raymone K. Bain, said Jackson does not comment on matters involving his finances because he considers them to be private.

However, Jackson was "aware" of the extension, said Renee Bacchini, spokeswoman for the state Department of Industrial Relations.

The extra day was granted after Jackson's financial representatives contacted the
department to say "they are trying to come up with the money," Bacchini said.

The 2,600-acre ranch in Santa Barbara County remained virtually shut down Tuesday under an order issued by the labor department last week. Sixty-nine employees were ordered to stop work after it was discovered that their mandatory workers compensation coverage for job-related injuries had lapsed.

Financial representatives for Jackson indicated they are complying with the order and "anybody who's out there on the ranch is not an employee of Michael Jackson," Bacchini said.

A security guard could remain on duty if the guard was paid by a separate company that has workers compensation coverage, Bacchini said.

Similarly, people remained at the ranch to care for the singer's exotic menagerie, which at times has included elephants and a giraffe.

"There are people who are being paid to take care of the animals" but Jackson was not paying them, Bacchini said.

She did not have other details.

Officials previously said local animal welfare agencies had been notified of the shutdown and offered their help if needed.

Jackson also faces a fine of $69,000 for allowing the workers compensation coverage to lapse. But he has 30 days to appeal that fine, which was issued last week.

More Scum: International Child Pornography Ring

Speaking of child predator scum... I ran across this disturbing post on Riehl World View.

Dan researched named conspirator in an indictment on charges of international child pornography, Brian A. Annoreno, of Bartlett, Illinois.

Please follow the link to Dan's post to witness the nausea inducing, hostility provoking fear... and to read Annoeno's internet postings, seeking a child... either sex... TO ADOPT.

Scum: Joseph Smith, Death For Killing 11-Year-Old Carlie Brucia

Scum... The jury gave hime death. I don't disagree.

Joseph Smith, a 39 year-old mechanic, was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual battery and is now sentenced to die for the rape and murder of 11-year-old Carlie Brucia, whose abduction was caught on videotape.

Upon the reading of the verdict, Smith showed no emotion.

Carlie Brucia's mother, Susan Schorpen, had this response:

"He is still breathing. He may be condemned, but he is still breathing and my daughter is not," Schorpen said. "I want him dead. I want him dead now. But I have to wait for appeals until he dies. It's not over yet."

Jurors rejected the arguement by the defense that Smith's life was worth sparing because Carlie's rape and strangulation stemmed from his experience of years of depression and drug abuse.

"This man will die in prison. You have already decided that by your verdict," he said. "The Joe Smith who was a drug addict and out of control will never exist again, because he will be kept away from drugs. Joe didn't take drugs. Drugs took him."

Prosecutor Debra Johnes Riva countered that Smith should not be spared the death sentence because of testimony that he suffered from chronic back pain, depression and addiction to cocaine, heroin and painkillers.

"He did commit these crimes, and his crimes cannot be mitigated by his childhood or by his drug use," Riva said. "The crimes against Carlie speak volumes about the character of Joseph Smith."

"The defendant has made choices for drugs and for drug use throughout his life. He chose drugs over his wife. He chose drugs over his children," Riva said. "This is a person who has been given the chance of rehabilitation ... There are so many people who have reached out to the defendant in support of him, but in spite of that he has continued to make his choices."

She referred jurors back to the testimony that Smith abused drugs regularly, was in and out of prison and vowed as recently as Nov. 9 to break the jaw of his brother for cooperating with investigators.

"That's the real Joseph Smith," Riva said. "The real Joe Smith, through his crimes, deserves the death penalty."

Fred Phelps, At It Again

I stumbled across this story on Riehl World View. I gotta hand it to Dan. He really called it!

It seems that Fred Phelps and family are at it again. Followers of the nutcase are harassing the families of U.S. Soldiers who were killed in Iraq, singing, dancing and as they held up signs saying "thank God for dead soldiers" at the funeral of an army sergeant who was killed by an Iraqi bomb.

Their reasoning? Again, it was the perfect way to spread God's word: America was being punished for tolerating homosexuality. Phelps said he and his congregants are targeting the funerals because God's way of punishing an "evil nation" of "fags and fag enablers" is to "pick off its children."

The fringe group of fire and brimstone Baptists from Kansas has been courting controversy for more than 15 years, traveling the country with their hateful signs and slogans.

The Westboro Baptist Church first gained national notoriety when they picked the funeral of Matthew Shepard, a Wyoming student who was murdered in 1998 for being gay.

They have since picketed the funerals of Frank Sinatra and Bill Clinton's mother, celebrated the terrorist attacks of September 11 as an act of God's wrath, and have even targeted Santa Claus and the Ku Klux Klan.

I found these comments also interesting:

The group is so outrageous that some among the extreme-right have speculated that Phelps is a plant aimed at giving the anti-gay movement a bad name, said Mark Potok, the director of the intelligence project at the Southern Poverty Law Center which tracks hate crimes.

"I don't think they have any constituency beyond their own members - even the Nazis aren't interested," he said.

Phelps' virulence and frequently graphic condemnations of anal sex could mask a deeper issue than a radically literal interpretation of the Bible, Potok speculated.

"This man probably thinks more about gay sex than any other person in the United States of America and one can only guess at what that means," he said. "Many of the most homophobic people are deeply afraid that they might be gay."

Darryl Littlejohn: His Blood found on the plastic ties used to bind Imette St. Guillen

Even so, the 41-year-old maintains his innocence:

His attorney, Kevin O’Donnell, has said the parolee “feels like a scapegoat” and is “upset” because his picture has been published in newspapers across the country.

Littlejohn was a bouncer at The Falls bar, where manager has told police he ordered him to escort the woman out when she stayed sipping a drink past the 4 a.m. closing time; he recalled hearing the pair arguing before they disappeared through a side door.

Sometime during the next 17 hours, the student at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan was raped, strangled and suffocated. Her naked and bound body was found in a remote section of Brooklyn on Feb. 25 with a sock stuffed in her mouth and her head wrapped with packaging tape.

Kelly said the plastic ties were used to bind the 24-year-old’s hands behind her back. He wouldn’t comment on how blood got onto the restraints but said, “It is a very important piece of evidence for us.”

Kelly said witnesses also reported seeing Littlejohn and St. Guillen leaving the bar together and records put his cell phone near where her body was found.

Incidentally, the world is full of scum, and once caught, they should be kept locked up if the resources are not available to keep full and better tabs on them:

Records show Littlejohn’s first brush with the law came at age 17, when he robbed someone with a shotgun. Over the years, he was convicted on drug and gun charges using names like Darryl Banks, John Handsome and Jonathan Blaze — the name of a comic book character.

Littlejohn shouldn’t have been working at the bar St. Guillen visited because the job kept him out past his 9 p.m. parole curfew. Officials say they only knew about a second job he had at a mortgage company.

Five Things that Make My Day Worthwhile

1. My Comet. Just everything about her.
2. A friend saying "I love you".
3. Completing a difficult and dreaded task.
4. My peaceful home.
5. A cool breeze, a setting sun and the sounds of doves cooing.

Kinky Friedman: Any Man Who Treats His Dogs Well is Good By Me!

According to The New Yorker interview:

Leaving Houston, Kinky stopped briefly in Austin, and then drove off to Echo Hill Ranch for a rest. Echo Hill is a four-hundred-acre property in the Texas Hill Country, about an hour and a half west of Austin. Kinky's parents bought Echo Hill in 1952, and founded a children's summer camp there that became an important summer community for Jewish Texans. The elder Friedmans, the children of Polish and Russian immigrants, who spent their lives as educators, ran it until they died; Kinky's sister, who works for the State Department, helped run the place for years, and now his brother, a psychologist, has taken over.

The Friedmans moved to Texas from Chicago in 1945, a year after Kinky's birth. (Of Chicago, Kinky, who was born Richard Friedman, has written, “I lived there one year, couldn't find work, and moved to Texas, where I haven't worked since.”) Echo Hill is the site of many of Kinky's happiest memories, and when he's not on the road he spends most of his time there, in a small, slightly dilapidated one-story lodge, decorated with old Jewboy posters and countless photographs of his family and friends. He putters around, refills the hummingbird feeders that his mother put out decades ago, takes phone calls. He makes occasional trips into town, but not often. He lives alone, except for four profoundly unruly dogs whom he calls the Friedmans and on whom he dotes as if they were grandchildren. Over a meal of steak and beans—in fact every meal we ate at the ranch was steak and beans—the dogs are likely to end up with most of the steak while Kinky gets the beans.

Kinky Friedman: Candidate for Governor

Well, you can't say that the Texas Governor's race isn't going to be interesting this year!

Kinky, who, back in the 70's, led a band called Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys threw his hat in the race last night, as an independent. You might remember them, known for such hits as “They Ain't Makin' Jews Like Jesus Anymore” and “Asshole from El Paso.” (Hey! It was a different climate back then!).

Kinky gave an interview with The New Yorker, back in May. I just ran across it this afternoon. And it is HIGH-larious. Even if you're not politically inclined, it's a good read.

Witness the following teasers:

“The decisions that kill me are the little ones,” Kinky told me later. “Wardrobe kills me. I have two outfits. I have my Waylon Jennings vest, which is this booger here that Waylon gave me, and I have my preaching coat, and every morning it takes me half the goddam day to figure which one I'm going to wear.”

On this occasion, he had gone with the vest—the preaching coat is usually reserved for more formal occasions—a slightly weather-beaten black leather number, worn over a black shirt and jeans, topped off with his customary black Stetson and the first of eight or ten cigars (Montecristo No. 2s) that he smokes each day.

Kinky is assisted by his his buddy and former bandmate, Jeff Shelby (a
conservatory-trained pianist who played keyboards, accordion, clavieta, toy
trumpet, and kazoo), who now serves as a driver and "voice of reason—or,
often, a sort of profound unreason". Kinky, who has never been married, often introduces his buddy and former bandmate, Jeff Shelby, as Jewford to crowds as “very possibly the next First Lady of the state of Texas”; when asked about it, Jewford tends to shrug and say things like “I need a gig.”

Kinky has stated, “My platform is to remember that when they went out searching for Sam Houston to try to persuade him to be the governor—and he was the greatest governor this state has ever had—rumor has it that they found him drunk, sleeping under a bridge with the Indians.”

Kinky's campaign t-shirst read: KINKY 2006: WHY THE HELL NOT?”

When asked, Kinky said, “If I win, the first thing I'll do is demand a recount,” and promising that, if elected the first Jewish governor of Texas, he would reduce the speed limit to 54.95.

He had previously explained that he wanted the job because he needed the closet space, and he had already promised the job of warden of women's prisons to at least eight different guys.

Commenting on America's divided culture: “I grieve that NASCAR people never go to the lesbians' tea-houses, and the lesbians never go to NASCAR”.

Outlining his policies on education: “I say, No Teacher Left Behind. The teachers are getting screwed”.

Further proposing financing public education through the legalization of video poker terminals in bars: Slots for Tots.

Supporting nondenominational prayer in schools: what sort of prayer would it be? Kinky didn't know, but offered an explanation for his position: “Well, I confess that I get bored with the Lord on occasion, and, when I do, my spiritual adviser, Billy Joe Shaver, who has an affinity for the divinity, has convinced me that prayer is an excellent idea.”

Carol Alvarado Update, Part 1: Scandal in the Mayor Pro Tem's Office

Check out this little ditty, brought to you by my favorite local talk guy, Chris Baker of 740am KTRH!

My Job: Architect, Architecture and Society

Check out my new blog for a glimpse into some of my responsibilities as an Architect.

I know, I know... too many blogs! I'm considering converting to TypePad or some other format that offers the ability to file blogs into categories!

Advice, anyone?

Grief for Greta? Or Purposeful Remarks...

I read Scared Monkeys everyday, and more days than not, I agree. Today, though, the Monkeys are giving Greta grief over her "I'm inclined to agree with him." comment.

When I first heard her say it, I'll admit that I groaned out loud. But now, having had a little time to process her remark, and having had a chance to read her email response (see below), my thoughts have changed.

E-mail No. 21
Miss Van Susteren,I almost dropped dead when i heard you say you believed that punk, Van der Sloot. He had six months to make up a story. How can you be so gullible? No one else who seen your interview with this punk believed him.You backstabbed Mrs. Twitty, you should be ashamed of your self, you brainless idiot. You just lost six viewers. Mr. Santo

ANSWER: I almost dropped dead at your e-mail — to use your words. Apparently you have a potato in your ear. I did not say I believe him. What I said is that I am "inclined to believe him... that this is an ongoing investigation and a new fact could arise which would change all my views." I don't believe anyone until this is solved. No one should. I have my eyes wide open but if someone provides me information that is worthy of belief (consistent with known evidence), I am inclined to believe it but I leave the door wide open in case other evidence points at guilt. That is what I said ("get that potato out of your ear!") Backstabbing arises if I am intellectually dishonest. A criminal investigation is not about picking sides, it is about trying to get the facts. Beth knows that I want to solve this case — but we need to make sure we get the truth, whatever it is. She wants the truth. I want the truth. Incidentally, I have worked hard to help find the facts. Can you explain to me what you have done to help Beth and her family? So far it appears your time on this matter is limited to sending a nasty e-mail? If you can't think of any way to help, let me help you come up with an idea. You could start by helping Texas EquuSearch. They need financial
help. Go online to their Web site and contribute.

Perhaps Greta's comment was intended to keep the door open with Joran, maybe even to bait the Kalpoes into talking to her. After all, if 2K begin to see the tide of public opinion changing, perhaps they would like to clear their name, as well.

I could be wrong. Who knows?! I firmly believe, though, Greta is one smart cookie. I believe there is a purpose for her remarks.

And that reminds me of one of my Mother's sayings, "You draw more flies with honey, than vinegar". Just a thought.

Thanks, Greta!

Today's Gretawire is entitled Help Wanted. It's nice to be reminded that our efforts were appreciated. We rarely hear such nice things. Thanks, Greta!

You might want to pick up Newsweek today and read the story about Houston, Texas. We are letting Houston down and making a huge mistake in doing so. We owe Houston help.

When Katrina hit the Gulf States and New Orleans, Houston was extraordinary in helping. I was there and I saw it. Houstonians (and other Texans) immediately opened their doors and their arms and worked around the clock to provide food, clothing and shelter to people in great need. They were exhausted from their 24/7 help... and they helped and helped and helped. They never stopped helping — they were determined and they never said no. Houston — and Texas — only said, "Yes, we will help," and they did.

Now Houston — and Texas — have so many problems stemming from their post-Katrina help (see the Newsweek article) and they can't solve them alone. This time they need the help. If we don't step in fast and help Houston with all the post-Katrina problems that have been created in their community, what community is going to help next time? We should help them. They deserve it. We owe them. We should prove our deep gratitude to Texas. The Newsweek article is entitled, "Katrina's Latest Damage," and was written by Arian Campo-Flores.

"Blow" me down... Doc Loses His License, and Other Frightening Medical News

In frightening medical news:

Dr. Michael Brown, famed Houston hand surgeon, loses license after positive drug test.

In other bizarre and frightening medical news:

The parents of a teenager who died after receiving a a kidney infected with rabies have filed a lawsuit in East Texas against those involved in the transplant, including a Dallas hospital.

If that's not enough:

The family of William Beed, Jr., the organ donor whose rabies-infected organs led to the deaths of four people says a person's social or criminal troubles shouldn't be a factor in organ donation.

The donor's relatives, who are not defendants in the case, said they were hurt by the disclosure of personal information about their son that they feel was irrelevant to the issue of whether medical personnel were negligent in the re-use of his organs.

"Most medical experts would agree that William Beed Jr. and the organ
recipients died from rabies, a disease that had nothing to do with a poor
sociological background," Matt Soyars, an attorney for the family, said in a
written statement.

The Icing On The Cake: Aruba's Most Wanted!

This case grows more and more twisted each day. Greta, in Aruba for the Joran interview, stops by and knocks on the door to the Kalpoe's house. Before she knows it, the polis have issued an all points bulletin and are scouring the island looking to arrest her.

You've gotta read this story for yourself, in order to believe it!

Greta's summation, from her blog:

So, Natalee's missing and I am the one wanted. If the Aruban police want to find
me, I suggest that they simply return one of the hundreds of calls that we have
placed to them since last May. I am waiting and eager to talk to them. I just
realized: they probably have my cell number, too, since I leave that number —
they might have called that and gotten me at the airport or at my change of
planes in Charlotte and saved some gas running around looking for me.

Glenn Beck is a Hunk!

If you don't believe me (and my tongue which is planted firmly in my cheek), check out the cover of the March 2006 issue of Fusion!

I love this issue! It addresses weight loss and exercise, my favorite subjects! Oddly enough, Glenn and I have found additional common ground!