Category Archive

From ABC News, regarding the VA Tech shooter: Some news accounts have suggested that Cho had a history of antidepressant use, but senior federal officials tell ABC News that they can find no record of such medication in the government’s files. This does not completely rule out prescription drug use, including samples from a physician, drugs obtained through illegal Internet … Read More

ACT TWO Scene One Norman and Billy are in the main room of the cabin, tying fishing lures.  Ethel is straightening the house around them. NORMAN Careful, there, boy   You’re liable to take your eye out with one of those things. ETHEL Norman, you old poop.  Leave the boy alone.  He’s only trying to help. BILLY Yeah, Norman.  And take … Read More

He’s Asian.  He attends Virginia Tech.  He lives in Harper Hall there.  He looooves guns (and owns many of them).  And he recently broke up with his girlfriend. He wants you to know — he’s not the guy.

It’s out – both dead and wounded.  Being updated periodically. Below the fold: a trapped student’s IMs with her mom Also: According to the Chicago Trib, Cho Seung-Hui died with the words "Ismail Ax" on the inside of one of his arms in red ink.  Nobody knows the significance, but this may provide a clue.  (Thanks, Google). Update:  Ismailax.com just … Read More

The gunman, student Cho Seung-hui, was a "loner". Could have predicted that. He was also a resident alien, originally from South Korea.  How long before wingnuts on the right use this for an anti-immigration anti-Muslim ("keep them ferners out") platform? "THAT DIDN’T TAKE LONG" UPDATE:  The prize goes to radio talk show host and wingnut Debbie Schlussel, who was pushing … Read More

One of the many stories you’ll be hearing in the next few days: Professor Liviu Librescu, 76, threw himself in front of the shooter when the man attempted to enter his classroom. The Israeli mechanics and engineering lecturer was shot to death, "but all the students lived – because of him," Virginia Tech student Asael Arad – also an Israeli … Read More

USA Today: Explicit photos of bound women were among the evidence that police recovered when they arrested ex-astronaut Lisa Nowak after she allegedly attacked a romantic rival at an airport in Orlando. "Fifteen of them were depictions of a woman in various states of dress and undress," the police reports said, according to Florida Today. "Most of the images depicted … Read More

It’s hard to sort the techno-economic gobbledygook, but the bottom line is this: If you used your credit card at TJ Maxx or Marshall’s, changes are pretty good that hackers have your credit/debit card number: At least 45.7 million credit and debit card numbers were stolen by hackers who accessed the computer systems at the TJX Cos. [parent company of … Read More

But you expected that, right?

Well, not quite.  At least Harold in the movie was of legal age: An 84-year-old woman who confessed to having sex with an 11-year-old boy in her foster care reached a deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty Thursday to attempted sex abuse, officials said.

A brief follow-up to a story I blogged about last month: No charges will be filed against Tigger. I have mixed feelings about this.  On the one hand, Tiggers are a wonderful thing.  On the other hand, I think we have to fight Tiggers there so that we don’t have to fight them here.

They don’t make astronauts like they used to, I guess. Once the very definition of "hero", we now have astronauts that are one step above trailor trash.  Yup, a mission specialist on a shuttle flight last summer is sitting in a Florida jail now, having been charged with plotting to kidnap a woman who was her rival for the heart … Read More