"Worthless" Forensic Technique

60 Minutes teamed up with the Washington Post to look into a forensic technique called “bullet lead analysis” that had been used by the FBI for over 30 years. The technique was recently found to be flawed. It wasn’t even scientifically proven. A former FBI chief metallurgist performed his own research on the testing and found that the technique isn’t “based on science at all, but rather had been based on subjective belief for over four decades.” He added, “It’s worthless as a forensic tool.” Many cases that used this technique as testimony are now being called in to question. At first, the Justice Department was reluctant to tell those who were convicted on this evidence that bullet lead analysis is flawed. But because of the story, the FBI will now “identify, review and release all of the pertinent cases.”

Here is the 60 Minutes story via the Washington Post:

Presidential Power Grab

PBS’s Frontline just aired “Cheney’s Law” that examined the VP’s rise to power and his efforts through to enhance the power of the executive branch. Chapter 1 of the program shows the reasons why Cheney became a “fanatic about executive power.” When he became vice president, Cheney's philosophy of the executive branch, as boiled down by former presidential adviser David Gergen, was “the Congress, in effect, works for us, not with us. That we’re the lead branch, not a co-equal branch.” In Chapter 2, Cheney is reported as saying on the morning of 9/11, “We will probably have to be a country ruled by men, rather than laws in this period.” The other chapters show how Cheney and his office acted on their own through the Justice Department to build presidential power without regard for Congress and the American people.

In his Sunday Op-Ed piece, Frank Rich talks about “This perfect storm of democratic failure [which] began at the top,” that led to the Iraq war. But his piece focuses specifically on the public’s apathy regarding to Iraq: “As the war has dragged on, it is hard to give Americans en masse a pass. We are too slow to notice, let alone protest, the calamities that have followed the original sin.” A weak Congress, a media that gave a free pass in the run-up to the war, and a fearful public that isn’t informed or willing to participate: It’s not only a perfect storm that led to the Iraq war, but a perfect storm that led to a presidential power grab.

By Any Other Name

Last week, the New York Times reported that despite constant denials from the Bush Administration, torturing of detainees by U.S. interrogators was approved by the Justice Department. The article states the DOJ, “provided explicit authorization to barrage terror suspects with a combination of painful physical and psychological tactics, including head-slapping, simulated drowning and frigid temperatures.”

That’s not “torture”? The Daily Show’s Senior Interrogation Analyst Jon Oliver helps us find lost meaning in “torture” and other words.

Violent Weekend

A weekend of bombings in Iraq, including one truck bomb near Kirkuk that killed at least 150. Reuters (video) The Iraqi parliament can’t get it together - even reach quorum - to get anything done. ABC (video)

A case attempting to challenge the NSA wiretap program was dismissed by an appeals court. The program is so secret, no one could prove it’s damaging. The irony is “the program’s secrecy is proving to be its best legal protection.” New York Times

After the attempted bombings in London and Glasgow, will the British Muslim community step up and communicate with police to expose other terror cells? Telegraph Britain needs more Muslim spies, says the country’s former domestic spy chief. (London) Times Scotland asks, “Why us?” New York Times

Brainwashed, 10-year-old, wannabe martyrs and President Musharraf’s shaky regime clash at the Red Mosque in Pakistan. (London) Times

Unemployment at over 80% and children living on the street. These photos show the “Secret Lives” of Zimbabwe. Guardian

You’ve probably been hearing a lot about private equity lately. What’s the deal? Economist

Cellphones are combining all kinds of functions these days. This one can be used for self-defense.

"Confrontation"

The Senate has subpoenaed documents from the White House over the NSA wiretapping program. The White House has previously turned down requests for these documents. Washington Post Trans-Atlantic passengers flying European airlines to the U.S. will have 34 pieces of information about them given to the U.S. The info will be kept for 15 years. BBC

Gordon Brown takes over as the new British Prime Minster. Who is he? BBC Tony Blair’s new job is a “thankless task with four bosses and no office.” Guardian

World opinion is turning negative about large powerful nations like the U.S., China and Russia. BBC

Why did sci-fi and fantasy become so successful on television? Guardian

New York Times tech writer David Pogue got an iPhone before its launch tomorrow. He shows off all its goodies!

"Jewels" On Display

The CIA will reveal the “Family Jewels” this week. The “Jewels” are documents containing information about domestic spying, assassination plots and other illegal activity conducted by the agency between the 1950s and the 1970s. BBC

Vice President Cheney refuses to comply with an executive order to disclose how his office has handled classified documents. Washington Post How big of a liability is Cheney for Bush? Time

How the West could make “martyrs” and “traitors” in the Middle East. Economist

The U.S., France, China, Russia and several other nations begin a conference in Paris today to discuss ways to stop the genocide in Darfur. AFP/France 24

A court has ruled that once an email leaves your mailbox, it’s private: the government can’t look at it unless they tell you. Funny thing is, emails weren’t legally recognized as private before this. Time

It’s not a cure for the common cold, but researchers say there is something that can reduce the chances of catching one. BBC

Let boys be boys. Washington Post

You never know when you might need a “do it to it” waistband.

Home Soon?

The troops will come home from Iraq - most of them anyway. A small force will remain there for a long time say Pentagon planners. Washington Post

G8 recap. Maybe that $60 billion commitment to fight AIDS in Africa and the other agreements made there aren’t as great as they sound. BBC Here are some examples of where they fell short: Telegraph Sure, the world leaders said they agreed on several things, but does there need to be a summit with these leaders? Time

Why is everything - EVERYTHING! - such a big secret? Washington Post

Can the rich get richer without the poor getting poorer? New York Times What do you think?


Tony, Carmela and AJ get their onion rings. That guy at the counter goes to bathroom. Meadow walks in. Tony looks up. And that’s it? The end of The Sopranos? Was it a winner or a loser?

Dropping some money when dropping an f–bomb is fine if the cash goes to the office swear jar.

Wolfie Nearly Out

Paul Wolfowitz, one of the architect’s of the Iraq War, is negotiating how hard he will get kicked out as head of the World Bank. Why? He gave his girlfriend a big raise. Washington Post What does the World Bank do? BBC

The White House tried to get then-Attorney General John Ashcroft to extend the NSA eavesdropping program while he was “extremely ill and disoriented” in the hospital due to gall bladder surgery. New York Times

It pays to be a millionaire when you run for president. Washington Post

Bono says the goals made to raise money for developing countries at the G8 summit two years ago aren’t being met by some countries. The reason they may have been made in the first place was sympathy after the 7/7 bombings. Guardian

The military has banned the use of some sites - MySpace, YouTube for example - on military computers. It’s not censorship, because they can use the sites on other servers, but it’s not going to easy or cheap for troops to get on the web. U.S. News & World Report

For those of you thinning - or have lost it - up top, there may hope: A cure for baldness. Sydney Morning Herald

Even though it’s a comedy, it’s hard to believe somebody would spend money to make this movie. Yes, it’s a real movie!

The Date Is Off

Dems back off on a date to withdraw from Iraq, but they - and some Republicans - still want some conditions for war funding. Washington Post It’s al-Qaeda again? Washington Post Take a look at another effort by King George to execute warrantless searches. New York Times

7/7 bombing victims call for an inquiry on how MI-5 missed the bombers. After the attack investigators said the suicide bombers were “clean skins” - unknown to MI-5. (London) Times Police were pursuing the 7/7 leader five months before the attacks. Guardian

What’s going on with the secularists in Turkey? BBC

Arrests warrants have been issued by the International Criminal Court for a Sudanese minister and a militia leader for war crimes in Darfur. Let’s see if this warrant has teeth and the men are arrested. AP/The Australian

Do you bank with JP Morgan-Chase? According to this video, they don’t dispose of their customer information properly. CNN Money

That contaminant that got into your pet’s food may have also gotten into YOUR food. Reuters (video)

Why did NASA refuse a partnership with Russia on the second Moon shot? Telegraph Meanwhile, be healthy on your trip to Mars or you might get voted off the spaceship. AP/CNN

How much do countries give in aid. Maybe a little. Maybe a lot. It depends on how you count it. Economist

Enjoy a few pints beer over the course of the week? It could make your brain smaller. (Melbourne) Age But making that pint could be good for the environment. BBC

The big De La Hoya-Mayweather fight is on Saturday night. And it will continue on Sunday, and Monday..

It's A Date

The House of Representatives passes $124 billion spending bill for Iraq. It says U.S. troops must begin to withdraw by October 1. Washington Post

Testify! A House panel votes to subpoena Condoleezza Rice over pre-war intelligence. She and the White House are reluctant to accept the invitation. Reuters

An obit on “Tsar” Boris Yeltsin: Russia’s first democratically elected leader who died on Monday. The Australian He had some memorable moments including dancing and making Bill Clinton howl with laughter. Here’s a list - including video - of his not-so-greatest hits: Guardian

Alberto Gonzales gets the “Brownie, you’re doing a heckuva job,” type of support from Bush. Which means he doesn’t have a lot of job security. Bloomberg

Is the BlackBerry software sweeter than the device? Washington Post

Ever fearful you’re on next Oceanic flight #815? Statistically, air accidents are more or less likely depending on where you go. Economist

He cuts taxes and cuts a rug. Bush boogies at a White House event. Brace yourself. It’s as bad as you think.

Now That It's Finally Over..

Here’s a look at why Imus’s comments became a big story. New York Times Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are leaders - and even that’s in doubt - “through self-appointment and self-promotion.” Washington Post

Why those missing White House e-mails are important. Time

It took until 1961 for Washington, D.C. residents to get the right to vote in presidential elections. Now, it looks like they may finally get a vote in Congress, too. Reuters

The Fortune 500 is out. Here’s the list: Fortune

$12 flights between the U.K. and the U.S.? Maybe, but it will be a long, uncomfortable 7-hour ride. Baltimore Sun

This sobriety test ends with a painful thud. It’s nice how the police officer rushes over to help.

Further Isolation

Iran is in the news on two fronts. Britain is getting less diplomatic about insisting Iran return its 15 marines. Guardian Background on Iran’s seizure of the marines. Time And after U.N. sanctions were imposed this weekend, Iran said it would limit cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency on its nuclear program. Reuters

Here’s how one of those government databases that collects names and information works. The “bar for inclusion is low, and once someone is on the list, it is virtually impossible to get off it.” Washington Post

In other citizen surveillance news, the NYPD kept records on people who intended to protest at the 2004 Republican National Convention in NYC. They included people around U.S. and in other countries “who had no apparent intention of breaking the law.” New York Times

Could this be Zimbabwe’s Mugabe’s last stand? (London) Times Why is South Africa noticeably quiet on this? New York Times

Why political rights (you know the old favorites: free speech, due process, etc.) trump economic and social rights. Economist

This guy is trying to sell Moonshine as a premium spirit. Do you order that neat or on the rocks? Los Angeles Times

When Ctrl + Alt + Del = $38 Billion loss! AP/(Melbourne) Age

What Do You Think? John and Elizabeth Edwards announced her cancer has returned and he’s going to stay in the race for President. They were interviewed on 60 Minutes (video) and he told Katie Couric he’s in the race for the “duration.” Should he stay in it? If he’s elected president, will Elizabeth’s illness be too much of a distraction? Cynically speaking, will this boost his poll numbers? Who’s place is it to judge? Let us know at Joe.


Ever want to watch all six Rocky movies in a row, but didn’t have the time? We’re assuming the answer is no, but here’s the entire series in five seconds.

Gone Fishing

The FBI has been playing fast and loose with it’s Patriot Act Powers by fishing for info on U.S. citizens. Between 2003 and 2005, the Bureau “issued more than 143,000 requests for information on more than 52,000 people” about half of whom were U. S. citizens and asked the phone companies for “more than 3,000 phone numbers -- often without a subpoena, without an emergency or even without an investigative case” by using National Security Letters. Washington Post What is a National Security Letter? AP/Houston Chronicle

“First Step:” The U.S. and Iran met with other countries to figure out what to do about Iraq. New York Times Iran may already be in Iraq (not how you might think). And why would they be so happy to get the U.S. out of Iraq? Independent Iran wants to take its nuclear case to the U.N. Security Council. AP/MSNBC Bush asks for more troops for Afghanistan and even more troops for Iraq. He wants to cut some domestic programs to pay for it. USA Today

Good news from the Bureau, considering the top post today: The FBI has set up a task force to prosecute the “last of the lynchers” thought to be involved in Civil Rights Era crimes. Guardian

There are very few ways to escape that 2-year sentence known as a cell phone contract, but it’s not impossible. New York Times

The game of darts is under fire in - of all places - England, where only 10% of bar-goers surveyed have thrown a dart in the last year. Telegraph

It’s NCAA Tournament Time.. And therefore Tournament Pool Time. Here’s the bracket: Sports Illustrated


The criminally-minded folks that used to produce “The Man Show” put a smart-mouthed boy scout in front of a liquor store to see if people would buy him beer. We wonder if a “contributing to the delinquency of a minor” charge followed this clip.