An L-39 Albatross jet in flight, the weapons systems on this particular plane, though installed, are rendered inoperable, and are for show purposes only. It all started with a mysterious jet crash in Ketchican, Alaska one year ago. A Czech L-39 jet crashed into a trailer home, starting an investigation that would uncover more questions than answers.The jet was being purchased by Security Aviation, an Alaskan company that owns entire fleets of the Czech jets "to do some contract work for the Navy and the Air Force," according to Craig Wolter. Wolter is Security Aviation's director of operations, and would not elaborate further at the time.Following the crash, federal agents stormed Security Aviation's hangars in Anchorage and Palmer, seizing Millions of dollars in fighter jets and weapons, and arresting Robert Kane on charges of illegally possessing air to ground rocket launchers mountable on L-39 Albatross fighter jets. Security also possessed boxes of Russian made rockets for the launchers. In Kane's home, officials found a briefcase with multiple badges, medals, passports, $20K cash, and a silencer for a .45 handgun. Kane maintained that he was subcontracting for the United States military and was not at liberty to discuss details.The government has since ordered the release of all of Security's jets, and Kane's trial is now underway.Just a hunch, but I'm guessing that owning rockets, rocket launchers, and Czech L-39 jets separately is not against the law, as long as you don't combine the three. We'll see how Kane's trial turns out, but so far I have not seen anything saying that the government denies any affiliation with Kane, who was likely an arms dealing middleman for the government to unsavory characters - a la Nick Cage in "Lord of War".Either that or Kane's just crazy as fuck.
You or I might see a man sleeping in a shopping cart, but to the trained eye, it's a basket of cash.What are two elderly ladies to do when their comfortable lifestyle becomes threatened in their old age? Well, some seniors might swallow their pride, trade in that Mercedes, sell the mansion, and step down to a more sustainable lifestyle; Buy a Kia, maybe a 1 bedroom condo.Helen Golay, 75, and Olga Rutterschmidt, 72, however, decided that it was much less embarrassing to simply befriend two homeless men, rent them apartments, get them to sign life insurance contracts, and then run them over in dark alleys in the early morning hours.The women were under police surveillance, but were arrested after meeting with several older men and having them sign unspecified documents.
"If having sex with men, murdering them in cold blood, preparing them with herbs and a light wine sauce, and then eating them is wrong then I don't want to be right," -Armin MeiwesArmin Meiwes, sentenced to eight years for manslaughter back in 2004, is getting a retrial. No, Meiwes isn't trying to get off lighter, German prosecutors believe that manslaughter is too lenient a sentence, and are seeking a life sentence for Murder. So why did Meiwes receive such a lenient sentence in the first place? Some say it was due to the consentual nature of his crime.Armin Meiwes, a computer technician, posted a personal ad on the internet seeking "a well-built man prepared to be eaten and killed." Meiwes received over a hundred responses to his ad before deciding on Bernd Brandes. The two enjoyed a romantic dinner of sausage-like parts of Brandes together before Brandes died and was carved and frozen for later consumption.At trial, Meiwes pleaded "Not Guilty By Reason of Germanity." Defense attorneys stated "This man grew up eating sausages and listening to Kraftwerk, What other outcome could you possibly expect from that kind of environment?" Court-appointed psychologist Klaus Beier argued that Meiwes was indeed not insane, but merely "From a clinical point of view ... 'Batshit German.'"Meiwes claimed the idea came from subliminal messages in David Hasselhoff's 1999 album Looking for Freedom.
Look at it, stretching out all those miles across another country. Makes a lot more sense than going straight down to the water where there's a huge shipping port... I guess?A bit of background on the mythological Alaska Gas Pipeline: Alaska has a lot of natural gas on it's north slope, worth billions of dollars in new State Funds and oil company profits. The oil companies have thus far not brought any to market, but the State of Alaska is pushing hard to extract. Alaska's Governor, Frank Murkowski, has been in extended 'closed door' gas line contract talks with the big three oil producers in Alaska for longer than I can even remember. No oversight, no press, private shit. This is the man who bought himself a jet even after a vote of the people turned down the idea, and said that he wouldn't tell the press if he was going to run in the upcoming election but said that "If I do run I will win."
The people of Alaska want the gas line run to the port city Valdez to benefit Alaskans the way that the Trans-Alaska Pipeline does, but current plans pump the gas through Canada to lower 48 markets, and if the Governor's gas line deal is anything like the recent oil tax changes he's proposed, he's telling Alaska to 'do as it's told' in respect to the oil companies. The Governor is attempting to muscle the state senate and house, and hasn't received much more than light verbal resistance. The proposed plan could lock in financial terms for 30 years or more, and people are asking if that's even legal to do.
Much as Murkowski did when he bought the jet, he is turning a deaf ear on Alaska as he attempts to ram this deal through and lock it in before the end of his term. At that point people can sue the State of Alaska and the big 3 oil companies all they want, we all see how well that worked with Exxon last time.
Finally, after being sued in State Supreme Court to release the contract, and being demanded Friday to release the documents "immediately," there is a draft of the contract for public review on the Governor's website. It's 356 pages long.
Lucky for Alaska residents there's a 'comment period'. Did I mention there are no roads to the State Capitol, Juneau?
Turns out, he will not be your monkey.Stephen Colbert's recent address at the White House Correspondent's Dinner got me thinking about Jon Stewart's appearance on "Crossfire" back in 2004. I hadn't seen the entire segment, so I never had a feel for what happened on that show and the impact it had on the shows cancellation.
Now that I've seen this clip I understand the extent of Stewart's role in the creation of the "Colbert Report", and the origins of the Colbert character. I see Jon, Stephen rises to power like a phoenix from the ashes of Tucker Carlson and Paul Bagala. Who can disagree with a man who loves America so much?
I'm throwing my full support behind Stewart / Colbert 2008, which is surprisingly grass roots at the moment. Do your part: sign an i-petition, wear a shirt, or just join in the call for change by making your voice heard.
Category: Goatees & Partial Beards, Freestyle.Though it's been decided for quite some time, I felt it necessary to report that the 2009 World Beard and Moustache Championship will indeed be held in Anchorage, Alaska. Depending on the progress of my Admiral's, I may enter in the category: Sideburns, Moustache Optional.
Next up for the Colbert Report's "Who's Honoring me Now"? America, Steven, its very heart and soul is honoring you now. Thank you, Sir, for your gift of Truthiness.Well, if anyone didn't know my hero, Stephen Colbert, before the White House Correspondent's Dinner, they do now. Mr. Colbert is being hailed by some as a 'folk hero' but by most republicans as 'over the line'. Though Fox news reported Colbert 'bombed' at the dinner, quite the different story is developing out here in reality-land. As Stephen pointed out though, "reality has a well known liberal bias."I doubt that George W. realized that the night's entertainment would be staring him straight in the face as he lampooned Cheney's hunting, NSA wiretaps, the Plame leak, the Iraq war, 9/11, and Hurricane Katrina. Bush was WAY out of his comfort zone. The president looked clearly uncomfortable as Stephen continued to drill home jokes to a mostly unreceptive crowd. Crowd, you were right to be uncomfortable, because the joke was on you, too. Mr. Colbert, your dedication is remarkable, and I hope you know that the other 68% of us are watching the clips at home and cheering. Especially at all the uncomfortable rich and influential people.In a related mysterious turn of events, YouTube, a video hosting site, has pulled the Colbert video from their site, and gone as far as banning the clip. The video site has not explained why the Colbert clips are now Taboo, but don't be surprised if they turn up on the Colbert Report's "Who's Attacking me Now," if they're not already "On Notice."Watch the entire speech HERE, then add The Colbert Report to your series recordings on TiVo, you've missed too much already.
