Miscellaneous Drudge

Do you read the Drudge Report? I check it out at least once a day, and frequently find a gem or two for my blog. Just today I found these beauties:

Who?? Democrat Dennis Kucinich, who unsuccessfully ran for president in 2004, is planning to run again because his party isn't pushing hard enough to lose the war in Iraq. The liberal, anti-war congressman said he was inspired to run because he disagrees with the way some of his fellow Democrats are handling the war, including approval to spend $160 billion more on the effort. His anti-war message drew support from Hollywood celebrities. Let’s see: Hillary, Obama, Gore, Lurch, Silky Pony, Kucinich… you’ve got to be kidding me.

Intelligence?? Rep. Silvestre Reyes of Texas tapped by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to head the Intelligence Committee failed a quiz of basic questions about al Qaeda and Hezbollah. When asked whether al Qaeda is Sunni or Shiite, Reyes answered “they are probably both,” then ventured “Predominantly -- probably Shiite.” Wrong! Al Qaeda, founded by Osama bin Laden, is a Sunni organization and views Shiites as heretics. Reyes could also not answer questions about Hezbollah, a Shiite terrorist organization in Lebanon. Pelosi picked Reyes over Rep. Alcee Hastings of Florida, who had been impeached as a federal judge after taking a bribe. Well done, Nan.

Kofi-Kumbaya! U.N. Sec-Gen Kofi Annan criticized the Bush administration in his farewell, warning that America must not sacrifice its Democratic ideals while waging war against terrorism. “Human rights and the rule of law are vital to global security and prosperity,” Annan said. He listed five principles as essential: collective responsibility, global solidarity, rule of law, mutual accountability and multilateralism. Hmmm: collective global mutual multilateralism -- sounds like a wiener! After a private dinner at the White House for Annan, John Bolton joked that “nobody sang Kumbaya.”

Cow emissions more damaging to planet than CO2 from cars. Meet the world's top destroyer of the environment. It is not the car, or the plane, or even George Bush: it is the cow. A UN report entitled Livestock's Long Shadow has identified the world's rapidly growing herds of cattle as the greatest threat to the climate, forests and wildlife. The 1.5 billion cattle are responsible for 18 per cent of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming, more than cars, planes and all other forms of transport put together. The report concludes that, unless drastic changes are made, the massive damage done by livestock will more than double by 2050, as demand for meat increases. Algore was last seen hunting cows. Duck!! Bossie.

Your carbon footprint revealed. Research to calculate a carbon footprint for the average British citizen has detailed the precise environmental damage each of us causes. A study by the Carbon Trust puts the annual carbon footprint at 10.92 tons of CO2 - roughly half of the 19 tons of CO2 produced each year by the average American. Those ugly Americans! Carbon scores (in tons, including the production of goods and services) were Recreation 1.95, Heating 1.49 (an extra degree on thermostat accounts for 0.03 ton of CO2), Food 1.39, Household 1.37, Hygiene 1.34 (includes bathing and washing), Clothing 1.00, Commuting 0.81, Aviation 0.68, Education 0.49 and Phones 0.1. Mobile phone chargers accounted for 35-70kg while sending letters represented only 0.01kg. Throw away those damn phones!

With French friends, who needs….frogs? In an effort to put a stop to Israeli over-flights in Lebanon, the French Armed Forces has deployed an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) squadron to conduct intelligence-gathering missions in place of actual French soldiers. Military sources in Paris said that French soldiers stationed in Lebanon were given the authority to open fire at Israeli jets if they felt threatened by the flights. Israeli Maj.-Gen. Ido Nehushtan was overheard muttering about the “Fookin Frogs.”