Guest Morning News Column...........

A an old Vet friend from Florida pretty well summarized this morning's news today and threw it over my transom:

Coffee & News To Start a Stimulating Day

- Feb 17, 2009

Let's see. My automatic mouse has run amok on the mouse pad and selected at random some of the most uplifting interesting headlines of the day.

1. Japan: Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa steps down due to health problems or the possibility he was drunk at the G7 summit meeting while Sec. of State invites Prime Minister Taro Aso to the White house for a meeting with the POTUS. Aso, of course accepts cause he's embarrassed about his drunk Finance Minister and told Sec. of State Clinton that while he is making travel plans to show the wonderful alliance with the U.S. to get your stinking 8,000 Marines out of Okinawa.

2. Japan: Not to be outdone by Prime Minister Aso, Clinton fires off yet another warning shot for the U.S. against North Korea's leader Kim Jong Il. [paraphrase] "Stop this silly missile crap or the U.S. government will not normalize relations with you. We mean it this time. You will not receive any energy, financial and humanitarian assistance from us." I think she meant that we don't have any energy to spare until our windmills are up and running and certainly Kim ain't receiving financial help until our own citizens get their $13-$15 dollar a week Stimuli.

3. Chicago: Sen. Burris says he "won't resign." And the beat goes on in Chicago politics.

4. Stamford, Conn: Most likely the PETA group will be P.O.'d at the killing of a chimpanzee that nearly ripped the face off a woman.

5. SEATTLE, Washington: A 16-year-old girl was found dead and another girl was found unconscious in an Army barracks at Fort Lewis. The Fort Lewis Criminal Investigation Division is trying to determine why the two girls were in the barracks where soldiers live, and what led to their conditions when they were found. Damn, it's going to take Sherlock Holmes to figure this one out.

6. NEW YORK: -- The founder of an Islamic television station in upstate New York aimed at countering Muslim stereotypes has confessed to beheading his wife. Of course we should never stereotype some Muslim actions.

7. Somewhere in U.S.: Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc., real estate tycoon Donald Trump's casino group, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Tuesday morning, court documents show. Looks like things are a changing for good ole boy Donald, except the hairdo.

8. NEW YORK -- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, whose pro-gun stance has attracted criticism from fellow New York Democrats, has moved two rifles she kept under her bed for protection because of news reports about the weapons. Damn politicians that keep guns around under beds. That's down right dangerous, especially when the bullets are someplace else.

9. Washington: 'Game-Changing' U.S. Strategy Urgently Needed in Afghanistan. It seems that drug money is winning the war with payoffs to local tribe politicians. U.S. thinks more troops might be the answer, but not sure how many or when they could arrive. In the meantime, why doesn't our government take over the poppy fields, sell the drugs at a discount and bank some extra loot? [well, it was a thought anyway]

10. France: Salma to reveal in the future what her first legitimate night in bed was like.

Mouse is now going to wander over to local news while I get the extra cup of joe. Maybe there is uplifting news on the home front. Nah! Just wishful thinking.

Thanks, and a Tip O' the Stetson to Vet Mike of Flagler Beach FL !!!!! Leave a comment if you'd like to see Mike do a follow up next week......