John Wooden: The Greatest Coach of them all; recovering from pneumonia…

Get well soon, Coach.

LOS ANGELES — Former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden was recovering at a hospital Friday from a bout of pneumonia.

The 98-year-old Wooden has been hospitalized for more than a week, the Los Angeles Daily News reported. A spokesman for the UCLA athletic department could not be reached for immediate comment.

Wooden coached UCLA to a 620-147 record from 1948 to 1975 and won NCAA championships in 10 of his final 12 seasons, including seven in a row from 1967 to 1973. The Bruins won 88 consecutive games from 1971-74 and 38 consecutive NCAA tournament games from 1964 to 1974, both records.

He was hospitalized last February with a hairline fracture of his left wrist and a fractured left collarbone after falling at his Encino condominium.

In May, Wooden became the first basketball figure to receive a plaque in the Coliseum Memorial Court of Honor, which honors figures with ties to the Coliseum and the adjacent Sports Arena. The Sports Arena served as UCLA’s home court from the 1959-60 to 1964-65 seasons.

The Bruins won their first two basketball national championships while playing at the Sports Arena. They also won championships in 1968 and 1972 when the Final Four was played at the Sports Arena.

Wooden has also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award, was the first person selected for the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and coach and has a post office and high school named for him in Reseda.

B.S. Report–A genuinely great man…the greatest coach ever, and a better man off the court.  Hope to see you back at the coffee shop  real soon, Coach.  (No, NOT the coffee shop in the next story…)

Violence Between Repo Men and Repo…ees Increasing…Go Figure

HALSELL, Ala. (AP) — Alone in his mobile home off a winding dirt road, Jimmy Tanks heard a commotion at 2:30 a.m. just outside his bedroom window: Somebody was messing with his car.

The 67-year-old railroad retiree grabbed a gun, walked out the back door and confronted not a thief but a repo man and two helpers trying to tow off the Chrysler Sebring. Shots were fired, and Tanks wound up dead, a bullet in his chest.

The man who came to repossess the car, Kenneth Alvin Smith, is awaiting trial on a murder charge in a state considered a Wild West territory even by the standards of an industry that’s largely unregulated nationally. Since Tanks’ death last June, two other repo men from the same company Smith worked for were shot, one fatally.

“It’s gotten to where it’s a crazy world out there,” said Smith, 50, an ex-Marine who preaches part-time and sings gospel music. Smith said Thursday that he fired in self-defense after Tanks fired a shot.

With the U.S. dealing with an economic slide that has cost millions of jobs, the number of vehicle repossessions is expected to rise 5 percent this year. That’s after it jumped 12 percent to 1.67 million nationally in 2008, said Tom Webb, chief economist with Manheim Consulting, an automotive marketing firm. That followed a 9 percent increase in 2007, creating more opportunities for bad outcomes in an industry where armed confrontations and threats happen every day.

B.S. Report–Hard to believe people get a little upset when they catch some guy trying to tow away “their” cars.  A repo man is definitely not the “world’s best job.”   Things can get pretty heated as you can see by this video…*strong language warning.*

Environmentalists Upset At Americans’ taste for soft toilet rolls…It’s worse than driving a Hummer!

Wow, we can't even wipe our butts without pissing off the world!

Americans:  Just Keep Wiping…We’ll Make More

The tenderness of the delicate American buttock is causing more environmental devastation than the country’s love of gas-guzzling cars, fast food or McMansions, according to green campaigners. At fault, they say, is the US public’s insistence on extra-soft, quilted and multi-ply products when they use the bathroom.

“This is a product that we use for less than three seconds and the ecological consequences of manufacturing it from trees is enormous,” said Allen Hershkowitz, a senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defence Council.

“Future generations are going to look at the way we make toilet paper as one of the greatest excesses of our age. Making toilet paper from virgin wood is a lot worse than driving Hummers in terms of global warming pollution.” Making toilet paper has a significant impact because of chemicals used in pulp manufacture and cutting down forests.

A campaign by Greenpeace seeks to raise consciousness among Americans about the environmental costs of their toilet habits and counter an aggressive new push by the paper industry giants to market so-called luxury brands.

More than 98% of the toilet roll sold in America comes from virgin forests, said Hershkowitz. In Europe and Latin America, up to 40% of toilet paper comes from recycled products. Greenpeace this week launched a cut-out-and-keep ecological ranking of toilet paper products.

“We have this myth in the US that recycled is just so low quality, it’s like cardboard and is impossible to use,” said Lindsey Allen, the forestry campaigner of Greenpeace.

The campaigning group says it produced the guide to counter an aggressive marketing push by the big paper product makers in which celebrities talk about the comforts of luxury brands of toilet paper and tissue.

Those brands, which put quilting and pockets of air between several layers of paper, are especially damaging to the environment.  (Read more.)

B.S. Report–I have a recommendation for all you environmentalists who don’t like soft toilet paper.  Here’s the ideal selection for your not-s0-delicate fanny:

Site Crashes As Applicants For ‘World’s Best Job’ Flood In…

Relaxing on an island a “dream job” for thousands of people

BRISBANE, Australia — A lucky 200 people have been shortlisted for the chance to become the caretaker of a tropical Australian island, dubbed by promoters as the “Best Job in the World.”

But tourism officials acknowledged Friday that many last-minute applications were lost because the Web site was flooded with traffic.

Nearly 35,000 people submitted video applications for the job with Tourism Queensland, which pays a salary of 150,000 Australian dollars ($97,000) to relax on Hamilton Island in the Great Barrier Reef for six months while writing a blog to promote the island.

The job is part of a AU$1.7 million campaign to publicize the charms of northeastern Queensland state.

Anthony Hayes, Tourism Queensland’s chief executive, said a wave of 7,500 applications hit the Web site in the 72 hours before Monday’s deadline.

“This massive amount of traffic understandably slowed the site down and regretfully some people weren’t able to get their video application in on time,” he said. “It has been frankly heartbreaking because people have gone to so much trouble, and we have lost some fantastic applications. But to be fair to everyone, we have to be consistent.”

The tourism board will announce 50 finalists Tuesday on its Web site. The public will then have until March 24 to vote for their favorite applicant.

The top vote-getter and 10 other people chosen by the tourism board will be flown to Hamilton Island for interviews. The winner will be announced May 6, and the job begins July 1.

B.S. Report–But is being an island caretaker really the “World’s Best Job”?  This guy might disagree.

"Take my word for it...it's definitely not the "world's best job."

Even These Folks Had Their Fill of It…

Although if I were Gilligan and I could take just 2 people with me...

Bathroom Fees: Ryanair to charge $1.40 a… “plop” to use facilities

Low fares, but make sure you have plenty of change on hand for your flight...

Ryanair’s New Motto:  “We Get You Coming…And Going”

In an interview on BBC television this morning, Mr O’Leary said that the low-cost airline was looking at the possibility of installing a coin slot on the lavatory door so that “people might actually have to spend a pound to spend a penny.”

Ironically, in a light-hearted survey conducted by Telegraph Travel last November, we asked readers which service they thought no-frills airlines might start charging for in the future.

56 per cent of readers said that a charge for “using the loo” would be the most likely, while 31 per cent chose “reclining seats” and 11 per cent opted for “sick bags”.

Rochelle Turner, head of research at Which? Holiday, condemned the proposal.

“It seems Ryanair is prepared to plumb any depth to make a fast buck and, once again, is putting profit before the comfort of its customers,” she said. “Charging people to go to the toilet might result in fewer people buying overpriced drinks on board, though – that would serve Ryanair right.”

Mr O’Leary said that Ryanair was determined to make air travel easier and more affordable.

“I don’t think there’s anybody in history gone on board a Ryanair flight with less than a pound,” he added.

Later, Ryanair spokesman Stephen McNamara said: “Michael makes a lot of this stuff up as he goes along and, while this has been discussed internally, there are no immediate plans to introduce it.

“However, this highlights Ryanair’s continuing obsession with lowering costs and passing these savings on in the form of lower fares. (Read more.)

Going on a flight? Don't forget your bathroom money...

B.S. Report–Some of these airlines are more like “flying buses” now.  Going to the restroom is now a “service.”  Well, sometimes consumer pressure can change an unpopular company policy.  If all their customers agree to “do their business” in the aisle of the plane instead of paying the fee, I’ll bet they’ll quickly change their policy.

Remember, though, it’s always the “hidden” fees you should look out for.  In this case, it’s not the $1.40 to use the bathroom that you should worry about…it’s the $2.00 charge to use the toilet paper that’s really going to be “inconvenient.”

L.A. May Appoint ‘Film Czar’–Why not Obama…he’s running everything else, isn’t he?

My nominee for "film czar." He can do anything!

After years of declining movie production in Los Angeles County, the city may finally get an official devoted to keeping Hollywood here, and happy.

How much is the decline in production? A whole lot.  This year, only three big-budget movies have applied for permits to shoot in Los Angeles, according to Film LA, which issues them.

That compares to 21 major feature films – meaning those with budgets higher than $80 million – that shot on the streets of the city in 2008.  And that figure is down from the peak of 71 films shot with permits in L.A. in 1996.

To many, that feels like red-zone territory.

At a city council meeting on Wednesday, council president Eric Garcetti announced that he would propose the appointment of a “film czar” to focus on film industry efforts and relations with the studios.

Garcetti spokeswomen Julie Wong said Garcetti is not considering any candidates for the new position yet, and he hasn’t decided whether the “czar” will come from the entertainment industry or city government.

“We need a point person. Somebody who can understand the policies and reach out to the studios and producers and tell them how to take advantage,” Wong said. “It’s too early to tell who that person might be.”

B.S. Report–How about a “Business Czar”?  Someone with the responsibility to try and keeps businesses from leaving the once “Golden State.”  Productive people and companies are flying out of town so fast that “Hollywood” may be the only industry left in L.A.

First order of business for our new “Business Czar”?  Cut taxes…no, make that slash taxes across the board.  Gee, that was easy.

3 Insane Knuckleheads Trade 2 Children For A Cockatoo…

Okay bird, talk! Where are the kids? "I know nothing...I know nothing..."

This from the Smoking Gun website…

FEBRUARY 26–A trio of Louisiana nitwits agreed to swap two young children for a $1500 cockatoo and $175, police charge. The deranged exchange was hatched after Donna Greenwell, a 51-year-old trucker, learned that the bird was being offered for sale by Brandy Romero, 27, and Paul Romero, 46.

According to Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office investigators, Brandy Romero told cops that Greenwell contacted her and said that while she could not afford the cockatoo’s price tag, she did have children to trade (in a bid to sell the bird, the Romeros posted a flyer at a barn, where Greenwell spotted the notice, which included a photo of the cockatoo). Investigators have determined that Greenwell is not the mother of the children, a four-year-old girl and a five-year-old boy.

It appears as if the children, whose mother is a criminal fugitive, have resided with various families over the past several years, and have spent the past year in the custody of Greenwell, a convicted pedophile with a lengthy rap sheet. Greenwell and the Romeros, pictured below in photos released by the Evangeline sheriff, have each been charged with aggravated kidnapping. The children swapped for the bird are now living with a temporary foster family, according to investigator Keith Dupre, who added that the cockatoo was recovered from Greenwell’s home, where two other birds resided.

When confronted by deputies, Greenwell denied trading the children for the bird, which she claimed was simply given to her by the Romeros.  (Read more.)

B.S. Report–Take A Look At The Sterling Cast Of Characters:  All excellent examples of Louisiana in-breeding.

These 3 "guys" are a real piece of work.

Freedom Quote Of The Day

“Life, liberty, and property do not exist because men have made laws.  On the contrary, it was the fact that life, liberty, and property existed beforehand that caused men to make laws in the first place.”

–Frederic Bastiat

Republicans rip Obama Budget…Yeah, but where were your ‘gonads’ when you had a chance to do something about it?…

Republican dwarfs: "Useless, Cowardly, Gutless, Wimpy and Grumbly"...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. congressional Republicans, having vowed to return to the conservative ideals of limited government, denounced President Barack Obama’s $3.55 trillion budget on Thursday as excessive and misdirected.

While Obama’s fellow Democrats control Congress, he will need the support of fiscal moderates and conservatives in his party, and possibly some Republicans, to pass any budget.

Republicans, already angry over Obama’s success in passing a $787 billion economic stimulus package without their support, indicated they were ready to fight.

Republicans, already angry over Obama’s success in passing a $787 billion economic stimulus package without their support, indicated they were ready to fight.

“I have serious concerns with this budget, which demands hard-working American families and job creators turn over more of their hard-earned money to the government to pay for unprecedented spending increases,” said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.

Obama’s first budget proposal, for the 2010 fiscal year, includes steps to end the deepening recession while also enacting a bold agenda to expand healthcare, upgrade schools, move the U.S. toward energy independence and roll back tax cuts for the rich.

It also foresees a $1.75 trillion deficit for the 2009 fiscal year, but would reduce it to $533 billion by 2013.

“I think we just ought to admit we’re broke. We can’t continue to pile debt on the backs of our kids and grandkids,” said House Republican Leader John Boehner.  (Read more.)

B.S. Report–I really think the Republicans are happy to be out of power.  Now they get to act like they have a spine.  But we all saw how much backbone they had when they were in charge and did nothing to advance conservative principles–though they owned most of the power for 12 years.

Now they get to spend all their time yapping away like little chihuahua’s when it doesn’t count for anything.  It’s a whole lot easier to act like you have principles when there’s no pressure on you to be held to account.  I’m not convinced.

Lady sues for $500 Grand–Neighbor’s Chihuahua won’t shut up…

"Yo quiero, Yo quiero, Yo quiero, Yo quiero...." Shut-up already...

Ay-yi-yi, Chihuahuas! An Upper West Side woman has filed a $500,000 lawsuit charging that her downstair’s yappy little dogs are driving her loco.

In papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, lawyer Paulette Taylor says Theodore Henderson’s two Chihuahuas “bark in a manner that is offensive, constant, continuous and incessant.”

The mighty miniatures are loud enough to be heard outside of Henderson’s apartment and inside hers – and she can’t take it anymore.

Taylor, 62, says in the suit that the dogs have her so stressed that she can’t sleep. The suit adds that Henderson “may even be guilty of inciting his Chihuahuas to bark.”

Taylor has complained to Henderson and to the management of their building at 382 Central Park West for well over a year, but they’ve done nothing, said her lawyer, Jacqueline Bukowski.

“We’re asking for a restraining order against the dogs,” Bukowski said, or “some sort of soundproofing” to block the barking from coming into Taylor’s apartment, which is directly above Henderson’s.

Henderson could not be reached for comment. A lawyer for the building’s management company, Maxwell-Kates Inc., said he had not been served with a copy of the suit and couldn’t comment on it.

The suit seeks $500,000 from Henderson, Maxwell-Kates and the building’s owners for Taylor’s “emotional and physical distress.”

B.S. Report–Good luck with your suit, lady.  I’m no fan of chihuahua’s or other little “yappy” dogs, but there’s no chance you’re getting half a mil from your neighbor…especially in Manhattan.

What you need to do is find yourself a noise that your neighbor finds obnoxious and play it non-stop day and night.”  Perhaps the sound of a chihuahua being barbequed…