Saturday's Comments

It looks like kids finally have a legitimate excuse for not eating their spinach. The bagged vegetable is being held responsible for the infection of E. Coli in dozens and the death of one in Wisconsin. The use of dirty water to wash spinach is being presumed as the probable cause. PETA has yet to comment on the issue, but I'm sure the inhumane treatment of cows is surely to blame.

Microsoft has debuted their "iPod-killer," the new Zune. As much as I am impulsed to despise this toy, it looks pretty freakin cool. They're attempting to reach the younger market with its wireless sync capability, public sharing of photos and playlists, and the incorporation of YouTube and MySpace home-made movies. According to the Seatle-based company, kids would rather "[share] funny homebrew video clips than [catch] up on 'Lost.'" I don't see the gadget as an iPod killer as it is not as asthetically pleasing, but it may put a small dent into the Cupertino-based company's 60% mp3 market domination. If Zune works anything like the Microsoft operating system, expect bug-fixes every few days.

The World Health Organization has finally approved DDT usage, but only indoors. The change in policy comes as a result of millions of people dying from malaria. The insecticide was banned in 1972 because of a presumtion that it would cause cancer in humans. However, the book that inspired the DDT phobia was based on misrepresented science and bias reporting. After months of testimony on the controversy, a judge concluded that the pesticide wasn't a carcinogenic, mutagenic, or teratogenic hazard to humans. The government wrote in a scholarly journal that "DDT is still needed for malaria control." I'm glad the EPA was listening. It's a step in the right direction.

The Pope has come under fire by, who else, Muslims that are outraged by his latest comments regarding the radical religion. He quoted 14th century Emperor Manuel II Paleologus who said, "Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." Scathing, yes. The response was more inappropriately violent that the vicious rhetoric. Yesterday, Muslim protesters burned an effigy of the pope while shouting at a rally. Once again, I point to the hypocritical acceptance of poking fun at Catholics and priests, yet it is horribly offensive and worthy of beheading to insult Islam or draw a stick figure of Mohammed. I appreciate neither of the squabbling religions, but recognize that one happens to be responsible for less violence in the last century than the other.

E.J. Dionne of RCP makes the argument that 2006 will be an exception to Tip O'Neil's famous rule that "All politics is local." She cites Chafee, DeWine, Steele, and Mfume as proof that voters will turn out to polls to vote for or against a candidate for reasons broader than local concerns. More appropriately, she suggests, they will turn out to cast a ballot in favor of a Republican or Democratically-run House of Representatives. She gives voters too much credit. As much as I would like to rely on the common voter's knowledge of national politics and Senate or House member votes, John and Jane Doe will put into office the lesser of two evils. This year will be like any other mid-term election: Vote for whom you like most.

On a common topic, as Ann Coulter and others have stated that "it is the Democrats turn to win over the House." It's the President's six-year mark and commonly, the House swings in opposition to the sitting Commander in Chief. Along with many other Conservatives, I agree that the Republicans have gone astray from their fiscally conservative agenda made famous in 1994. I believe Neal Boortz said it best, (paraphrasing) "The Republicans deserve to be beaten, but America doesn't deserve the alternative." James Carville appropriately said, "If the Democrats can't win this November, they need to reconsider their status as a political party."

Reading Assignments:
Bill O'Reily: Red Hot Torture
Ed Koch: Losing the Will*
Joseph McQuaid: McCain's Fighting the Wrong War

*Must Read