The Stories of DTS

Minute Maid Roof Update/Crazy People

I am now certain that the lawsuit against MLB for requiring the Astros to open the roof in Minute Maid for the World Series is not a hoax.  Instead, it's a publicity stunt perpetrated by a personal injury lawyer.  Lisa Sechelski is a partner at the Ogletree Abbott firm in Houston.  It's the kind of firm that solicits people who don't realize they're injured -- "have you taken XXX drug in the last 5 years?  If so, you may be entitled to a large amount of cold hard cash."  Here is the firm's take on roof lawsuit.  These firms make lawyers look like money grubbing whores, but they give the downtrodden somewhere to go when they've actually been wronged.  And, this particular firm knows an opportunity when it sees one.

Lawsuit Frivolity

This is good.  I mean, outstandingly good.  Infreakingcredible, really.  A Houston lawyer is planning to file a class action lawsuit against Major League Baseball on behalf of Houstonians because they got sick sitting out in the cold during the World Series.  From this article:

She claims some fans got sick because they weren't given adequate notice that the roof would be open and therefore, weren't prepared for temperatures in the 50's.

Never mind that the myth that cold weather causes the common cold or flu has been debunked over and over, but the game was in Houston!  It's never cold in Houston.  The temperature got down to the '50's.  No matter how you slice it, that is not cold.  It's an objective truth.  The irony is that people at Minute Maid Park during Games 1 and 2 were less likely to catch a cold or come down with the flu than had the roof been closed because they were exposed to fresh air.   

I love truly frivolous lawsuits.  On the other hand, perhaps this whole thing is a hoax -- I'll be following the story with bated breath.

Brownie, we need action!

So, this is why the feds failed to react quickly.

I Pledge Allegiance

Today Judge Lawrence Karlton ruled that requiring schoolchildren to recite the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional.  He cited the 2002 9th Circuit decision as precedent (as you may recall, the Supreme Court kicked the case out without addressing the merits).  So, here we go again.  The 9th Circuit will likely affirm Karlton's ruling and the Supremes will get another crack at it.  The issue with the pledge, of course, is two words amounting to just eight letters -- "under God."  These two words have everyone worked up.  Except me.

Sure, I see how affirming a loyalty to a nation "under God" could raise some red flags.  In fact, it sure stinks of forcing children to acknowledge the Christian God, which could be interpreted as a real church and state collision.  However, my problem is with the oath itself. 

Utter Chaos

The situation in New Orleans is completely out of control.  I've come across a couple things I thought I should share here just in case you have missed it.  First, FEMA, who by all accounts is completely overmatched and otherwise ineffectual in handling this emergency, actually simulated this catastrophe just last year. 

FEMA's Hurricane Pam

It appears that FEMA did not anticipate the civil unrest or the damaged infrastructure making it difficult to complete its mission.  The first oversight I can understand.  The second? 

Next, here is a Live Journal being kept by someone in the thick of it.  He cautions that he could lose access at any time, so if the link doesn't work....  Finally, a depressing article about Camp Superdome.  Finally again, my friend D. Derek shares some interesting thoughts on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

My thoughts are with the displaced.  I can't imagine what those people must be going through.

Walken for President

Whether it happens or not, you've got to love the idea of Christopher Walken running for president.

Walken for President

UPDATE (August 17):  As jt points out in the comments, this is a hoax.  It's a rare day when I act on something before Snopes does (I "snopes" everything), but today Snopes added a page about Walken running for President:  Snopes on Walken

Plane Crash!

Yesterday on NPR I heard the news of the Airbus crash in Canada.  I took in the following pieces of information:  plane crash, great ball of fire, 300 passengers, no casualties.  My first thought was not how lucky those people are to have survived.  Instead, my first thought was how lucky those people are to have such a good story to tell others at cocktail parties.  My second thought was how those people will never have to worry about being in a plane crash again.  The odds of being in one are astronomical -- two?, forget about it.  Those people are scot-free forever.  They can fly around in flaming Cessnas with one wing detached and an engine powered by squirrels and get to whereever they need to be.  Congratulations to the survivors.  Lucky bastards.

CNN Update

I'm not claiming responsibility for this, but the day after I wrote about CNN's odd promotional practices for its free video, the website made some changes.  Instead of the desperate "Watch Free" tag after a headline, the website now just suggests you may "Watch" the story.  For example, currently on the site you will find this:

Man survives 5 days in lava field.  Watch

I think CNN would be better off with a camera icon instead of a plea, but it hasn't made it that far yet.  And, either way, I don't have time to watch a video for five days, so I didn't click on "Watch."

CNN -- Your Source for Free Video!

CNN's website has a new feature of which it seems to be very proud: free video.  Not exactly groundbreaking, sure, but it's free and likely a harmless addition.  Whatever.  I'm actually in favor of free video, however, CNN must change how it's promoting this feature.  As is, CNN includes a video link after the headline.  For example, today a headline reads: 

How hot in Phoenix?  Hot enough to kill.  Watch Free.

If I click on "Watch Free" am I going to see the elderly dropping in the streets of Phoenix?  That's not something I'm into, even for free.  Other examples from today:

Emily prompts flood fears in Mexico.  Watch Free.

What do I get here?  Mexicans fleeing from rising waters?  I don't want to see that either.

Quake sounds reveal Earth "ripping apart."  Watch Free.

Actually, that does sound like something I'd watch.  If I had video of the Earth ripping apart, I'd charge people to watch.  I'd charge a lot.

Readers shocked by new Potter book.  Watch Free.

Boring!  I am not going to watch a bunch of people reading the last pages of Harry Potter just to see their shocked expressions.  I mean of course Harry dies.  I saw that coming on page 573 of book 4.*  Geez.

CNN must believe that it invented free video on the Internet.  I don't begrudge the network this misguided notion, I only wish it would rethink its methods of promotion.

*I've only read the first three Potter books and have no idea who dies at the end of book 6. 

I'm a Political Agnostic

I have never pledged allegiance to a political party, but had Republican leanings as a younger man.  I favored small government, fiscal responsibility, free markets....   I still do favor those party traits, but Republicans don't offer them anymore.  Now, it's all about morality and whathaveyou.  That's not for me.  A few years ago I recognized the shift in the GOP and denounced any leanings I once had (it was great, there were effigies, candles, chants, a clown, and, of course, cookies and punch).  James Chaney only recently cut ties, but captures my feelings well in this column. 

Which leads me to my friend at Awesome-o-meter.  His site is a virtual clearinghouse for the budding counter-administration movement.  He goes beyond mere Bush-bashing by assembling facts that do much of the talking for him, but he isn't hesitant about throwing in his two cents.  He pulls no punches and writes with a real sense of urgency.  The site is a must for the politically inclined.

Finally, Larry David chimes in with an incredible post at Huffington's site.  Larry David is my President.