Thursday, June 21, 2007

Ailing Castro Cedes Power to Brother

Cuban Leader Out of Sight After Surgery

HAVANA (Aug. 1) - Fidel Castro who has wielded absolute power in Cuba for nearly half a century, remained out of sight Tuesday after undergoing intestinal surgery and temporarily turning over power to his brother Raul.
The surprise announcement that Castro had been operated on to repair a "sharp intestinal crisis with sustained bleeding" stunned Cubans on the island and in exile, and marked the first time that Castro, two weeks away from 80th birthday, had relinquished power in 47 years of rule.
Castro, who took control of Cuba in 1959, resisted repeated U.S. attempts to oust him and survived communism's demise elsewhere, also said in the statement that he was temporarily handing over leadership of the Communist Party to his younger brother. Raul Castro, the defense minister who turned 75 in June.
Editor Rozek’s Note: Fidel gives directions to his younger brother: “Listen Ra ra, I know you are just a boy but I need you to listen carefully for a few seconds. Ole Fido has a little bit of gas and needs you to do him a favor. I want you to go down to wal-mart and gather up all of the working class, steal their Swedish fish and make sure no one takes a vote on anything! Got it? Can I count on you to do this one simple task? Remember the time daddy sent you down to the country store for peanuts and you came back with a half eaten bag of chips? You need to focus!

Monday, May 21, 2007

Landis lawyer's new explanation: dehydration

But 1 expert says no way can big testosterone imbalance occur naturally
Dehydration is the latest possible reason offered for Tour de France winner Floyd Landis’ elevated testosterone levels. “Maybe a combination of dehydration, maximum effort,” Jose Maria Buxeda, the cyclist’s lawyer, said Thursday after testing began on his backup sample.
However, Buxeda contends a second positive sample would not be enough to find Landis guilty. He also seemed to question the validity of the French lab, which is accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Olympic Committee.
“I wouldn’t say that they know. I would say they can presume. They do not have the certainty,” Buxeda said. By contrast, Landis is “certain” he hasn’t ingested banned substances, Buxeda said.
Landis, joking with the press afterward, said the only stimulant he had turned to after what he called a "disastrous, humiliating" afternoon the day before was a beer.
"But just one," he insisted. "I hadn't given up."

Editor Rozek’s Note: I’m sure the guy is innocent. There are many other causes of an 11:1 ratio of testosterone in a urine sample: growth hormone, EPO, testosterone pills, steroids. I can see how this mistake could’ve happened. He noted that he always had a high level of testosterone. I guess at 11:1 when a normal male is 1:1 or 2:1, someone should’ve checked his ID because he must be about 16 years old. I believe him! Besides…he had a beer the night before…you know? I know that I can barely function until I have my first cup of beer in the morning! All of these urine testing labs are just out to screw athletes. If I had a dollar for every irresponsible, underachieving scientist in a lab accredited by the Olympic Committee, I’d have like…a tub of urine that could be dehydrated into the 6 million dollar man.

Working long hours harder on women's health, study says

LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Working long hours has a greater negative impact on women than men because it makes them more likely to smoke, drink coffee and eat unhealthy food.
"Women who work long hours eat more high-fat and high-sugar snacks, exercise less, drink more caffeine and, if smokers, smoke more than their male colleagues," said Dr. Daryl O'Connor, a researcher at Britain's Leeds University.
"For men, working longer hours has no negative impact on exercise, caffeine intake or smoking," O'Connor said in a statement released by the Economic and Social Research Council, which funded his study.

Editor Rozek’s Note: Interesting. So… All of this started when they gave women the right to vote. Women come to work with babies in backpacks, need more time off and for some reason crave high-fat and high-sugar snacks. RAISE YOUR CHILDREN for god’s sake. Put the bon-bon down and step away from the desk!

Mel Gibson Says He's 'Not an Anti-Semite'

Mel Gibson Says He's 'Not an Anti-Semite'
Actor Enters 'Ongoing Program' After Arrest

"There is no excuse, nor should there be any tolerance, for anyone who thinks or expresses any kind of anti-Semitic remark," Gibson said. "But please know from my heart that I am not an anti-Semite. I am not a bigot. Hatred of any kind goes against my faith."

"I'm not just asking for forgiveness," Gibson said. "I would like to take it one step further, and meet with leaders in the Jewish community, with whom I can have a one-on-one discussion to discern the appropriate path for healing."

Editor Rozek’s Note: Oh Melly! This faith of which you speak… “I’d like to thank the academy for giving me this opportunity to pray for forgiveness from people who watch movies…in jesus name…oops…I mean…Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam. I am a simple man with a ‘Brave heart’ who knows ‘What women want.”

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Wreck hospitalizes astronaut Glenn

Former senator and his wife expected to be released Saturday
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Former senator and astronaut John Glenn and his wife were recovering at a hospital Saturday after a car accident a day earlier, Glenn's former press secretary said.
Glenn, 85, and his wife, Annie, 86, were in fair condition Saturday afternoon at Grant Medical Center, nursing supervisor Louis Tejada said. Glenn and his wife were returning home from a fundraiser at a suburban Columbus country club late Friday when he tried to make a left turn onto a highway ramp, Butland said. "He saw a lot of cars in the distance, but did not see this car that was right up on him," Butland said.

Editor Rozek’s Note: It’s time to have driver retests after a certain age. How many times does someone need to be run off the road by someone who’s simply too old to be a safe driver anymore? This man piloted the first manned orbital mission in 1962. There must not have been as much traffic back then. The DMV is so up on revenue and rules and regulations: inspections that must be done within a 7 day period or an auto-ticket is generated, lines to stand in to be sent to other lines (that’s my personal favorite), failure to change your address tickets, etc…Why is my driver’s license picture of some 17 year old blonde girl with huge hair and “under 21” printed along the top? I’m 35!