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PATH: BS | Society | Stupid People
The Sad Saga of James Kim
Posted by Pile
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[Beating Dead Horses]
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It's a big buzz on the Internet and the mainstream media is all over the place. In the spirit of young white girls who go missing in exotic places, San Francisco tech writer James Kim drove his family into the middle of the wilderness in Oregon, got them stranded, and unfortunately died while wandering off from his vehicle into the frozen cliffs.
This is a sad state of affairs, but as usual, the media is blowing this totally out of proportion. What gets me are the folks calling this guy a "hero." I think our definition of hero needs a little bit of work. It's very sad that the guy died, but when you hear the details of this story, it reads like a classic cautionary tale of what NOT to do if you're driving cross-country.
Before people lambast me for my nerve to question the wisdom of Mr. Kim's decisions which led to his death and the near death of his family, I ask, is it any better for the media to replay this tragedy over and over? Who is exploiting this tragedy for selling advertising, and who might want to at least point out there are some lessons to be learned beyond merely mourning for an associate? It's just a thought. |
READ MORE | 5 comments since 2006-12-12 05:52:43 | Comment on this Article |
ATF Director Abuses His Position to Help Out His Nephew
Posted by ueberbill
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In response to an anonymous tip that the then-director of the ATF had abused his position, hired an unqualified former colleague, and made expensive design changes to his new office, the Office of the Inspector General began an investigation. Regarding those charges, the OIG found that the director had in fact shown poor judgement, but did nothing not within his discretion. However, during the course of the investigation, the OIG heard another complaint that the director had used ATF equipment, employees, and time (upwards of 50 man-hours over 10 months) to help his nephew with a video project for high school. The director resigned before the report was released, but at least the nephew got an 'A'! |
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Myspace Picture Leads To Arrest
Posted by Pile
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Here's a suggestion to you kids out there. I know it's a tough life for you, with parents and school and all that stuff. But if you're running around toting a backpack and car containing hashish, marijuana, compact digital scales, packaging materials, bongs, 4 knives, over a dozen hypodermic syringes, gun powder and potassium nitrate, you might not want to call attention to yourself with a picture of you smoking from a Bong on Myspace. Just a thought. Getting busted trying to make homemade bombs might be a drag, not to mention the whole, "Look at me world, I smoke pot" Myspace attention grab. |
READ MORE | 1 comment since 2006-06-12 10:41:22 | Comment on this Article |
Prenuptual From Hell
Posted by Pile
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This country, as you know, is filled with the deranged. And then there's Travis Frey, a 33-year-old Iowa man who is facing charges that he tried to kidnap his own wife (not to mention a separate child pornography rap). Frey, prosecutors contend, apparently is a rather demanding guy. In fact, he actually drew up a bizarre four-page marriage document--a "Contract of Wifely Expectations"--that sought to establish guidelines for his spouse in terms of hygiene, clothing, and sexual activities.
In return for fulfilling certain requirements, Frey offered "Good Behavior Days," or GBDs. Each GBD, Frey wrote, could be redeemed by his wife to "get out of doing the things" he requested daily. |
READ MORE | 3 comments since 2006-02-23 10:47:33 | Comment on this Article |
FEMA to Homeless: Don't Call Us, We'll Call You.
Posted by Pile
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Kim Calcagno in Marrero escaped hurricane Katrina's wrath and managed to move back into her home not too long after the disaster. Imagine her surprise when she received a phone call from FEMA offering her the use of a trailer as a temporary home. She didn't need the trailer, but her brother, who lost everything and had no place to stay did. Upon asking FEMA if she could get the trailer for her brother, she was told FEMA can't do that, and would eventually get around to contacting her brother regarding living arrangements.
Apparently what's happening is FEMA is randomly calling the 600,000 people who have filed claims and offering trailers, with no logic or method of prioritizing resources on the basis of need. Nevermind that many who are homeless might not be easily contacted, FEMA representative James McIntyre said, "If they've been displaced, they're all in the same situation, regardles of the level of devastation. We have no way of knowing who has returned home and who has not." This makes no sense as they certainly have records of most people who entered shelters, and seem to have no desire whatsoever to coordinate relief efforts with local or state authorities who know which families need help. |
READ MORE | 4 comments since 2005-11-30 14:48:01 | Comment on this Article |
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