Bones Found in South Africa Possible Missing Link

Bones from one of two skeletons discovered accidentally in 2008 by a 9-year-old boy near the vestiges of a South African cave might prove the direct predecessor to homo sapiens.  A juvenile male and an adult female, dubbed Australopithecus sediba, lived approximately 2 million years ago.  The word Australopithecus means "southern ape," and sediba means"wellspring" in the South African language Sotho.  Researchers determined that the male was between 10 and 13 and the female in her late 20's or early 30's by dating the calcified sediments surrounding them with advanced uranium-lead dating techniques and a method called paleomagnetic dating, which measures how many times the Earth's magnetic field has reversed. (Charles Q. Choi, contributor to http://livescience.com/)  The remains have both human and more primitive features that have led researchers to consider them an intermediary form between Australopithecus and Homo.

Lee Berger, a paleoanthropologist at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, assembled a large team of experts to examine the skeletons.  Berger explained, "The fossils demonstrate a surprisingly advanced but small brain, a very evolved hand with a long thumb like a human's, a very modern pelvis, but a foot and ankle shape never seen in any hominin species that combines features of both apes and humans in one anatomical package.  You have things like a heel bone that's as primitive as a chimpanzee attached to the ankle bone that's as evolved as ours is. many very advanced features found in the brain and body and the earlier date make it possibly the best candidate ancestor for our genus, the genus Homo, more so than previous discoveries such as Homo habilis."

Anthropologists have injected a note of caution in drawing definite conclusions from these fossils  Some who question whether Australopithecus sediba directly pre-dates human say sediba could have been one of many evolutionary experiments at the time, one that might have died out rather than creating the final link in the chain of human evolution.  To learn more about this research, check the September 9th issue of the journal Science.

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Amanda Knox Appeal Shows Signs of Hope

Amanda Knox at her Appeal September 7,  2011

Amanda Knox, detained at the maximum-security Casa Circondariale Capanne prison compound just outside the Umbrian capital of Perugia since November 6, 2007, has finally seen some progress in her appeal for the murder of her then roommate, Meredith Kercher, a British citizen.  Knox's ex-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, was also convicted of the crime, and a third person, Ivory Coast national Rudy Guede, was already found guilty when Knox and Sollecito went on trial.  Guede had a streamlined trial that proceeded quickly and led to a 30-year sentence. 
When an appeals court rejected the prosecutor's request Wednesday for additional DNA testing, it signaled that the independent  review of DNA testing would stand, good news for Knox because the report favored her denial of participating in the crime.  The U.K. Telegraph reports that "court appointed experts have criticised the way the original forensic investigation was carried out by police." 

Judge Claudio Pratillo Hellmann/s ruling against the prosecutors allows for closing arguments to proceed Sept. 23.  The prosecution will present their arguments first, followed by those of civil plaintiffs and the defense.  Knox's lawyer Luciano Ghirga cautioned against assuming that the court's rejection of new DNA testing would automatically lead to Amanda Knox's release.  It does, however, give Knox and her family some reason to hope for a positive outcome.

Ham on Wry's author has followed this case since its inception.  Online articles have remained popular and always spike when media stories appear.  No one will ever know exactly what happened in 2007, except the person or people who killed Meredith Kercher, but perhaps now the accused and all of the families involved will have closure.  After learning about the Italian court system in following this case, Ham on Wry suggests that travelers from other countries avoid legal problems in Italy. 

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An Open Letter to President Obama

AP Photo

Ham on Wry's author wrote an open letter with jobs suggestions to President Obama last week.  In addition, she pleaded with him to show the vision that symbolized his campaign  promises and take a strong stance on what he believes we must do as a nation.  His approval rating has taken a tumble, and he must choose whether to act on his beliefs or concern himself with fundraising and the 2012 election.  The letter with some revisions follows.

President Obama,

 

I have meant to write to you for weeks and hope you read this message, or one of your minions advises you about it. I avidly supported you in the 2008 election and believe you have more mettle than you have shown since you took office. Your lack of strong leadership has deeply disappointed me because we're living in a time where your eloquence could translate into convincing Americans of thow vital a shared vision is for this country. Somehow, you have missed that opportunity thus far.

 

I don't know what suggestions your jobs proposal contains, but I do know that the federal government should not be in the business of creating jobs, nor should Americans expect it to be. Any proposal for substantive increases in jobs must emanate from the private sector. I could write a treatise on how the government can encourage this, but I'll opt for brevity. Two interlocking ideas immediately come to mind. First, tax companies that export jobs overseas. If exporting jobs bears that additional expense, decision makers will evaluate financial ramifications more prudently. Second, create incentives for companies to establish customer service operations and related call centers in states where clusters of small towns exist. A central area for the building that would house the employees could pull from these small towns with far fewer costs than in large metropolitan areas. Housing, compensation, and commuting costs would constitute significantly less expense for employees as a result.

 

Americans are fed up with speaking to someone in India, the Philippines or other locations outside the United States about customer service issues and dealing with vastly inferior products from China. If we're going to import from China, imports should be held to the same standards we demand in the U.S. Congress has ignored a resounding message from citizens of this nation, and as a result has plummeted to a positive rating from eighteen percent.in the most recent poll. We have a global economy, but that doesn't mean we should tolerate a huge imbalance between imports and exports. If you take my two suggestions seriously, you would win favor on multiple levels. Taking risk is part of any opportunity, and you might as well "go for the gold" because you face strong indicators that you won't be re-elected unless you present innovative ideas. Show the courage of your convictions, and people will rally behind you as they did in 2008. .

 

Respectfully,

 

Alice S. Carter

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Super-sized Croc Captured in Phillipines

Mayor Edwin Cox Elorde of Bunawan Township Emphasizes the Crocodile's Mammoth Proportions

After eluding capture for three weeks, Bunawan township villagers and experts from a crocodile farm in Palawan province finally caught their prey Saturday night, September 3rd.  Several people witnessed the enormous creature attack and kill a water buffalo in August, and locals also suspect that the same reptile is responsible for a fisherman who disappeared in July.  Township Mayor Edwin Cox Elorde joined the hunt and told the Associated Press by phone, "We were nervous but it's our duty to deal with a threat to the villagers.  When I finally stood before it, I couldn't believe my eyes."

Elorde explained that the croc destroyed four traps set by hunters, so they used sturdier traps that had steel cables.  Eventually, the monster succumbed to one of those traps.  The crocodile weighed 2,370 pounds (1075 kilos) and measured 21 feet (6.4 meters) in length.  Around 100 people combined strength to pull the it from the creek and take it to a clearing, where a crane was used to lift it into a truck.  Super Croc now resides in a fenced area in Augusan del Sur province, where Bunawan township is located.

Curious readers might wonder why the captors want the crocodile alive.  Mayor Elorde explained that they propose "to turn a threat into an asset."  The village is planning an ecotourism park in the area in hopes of bringing prosperity to the impoverished region southeast of Manila.  "It will be the star of the park," said Elorde.  The park will also display other species found in the marshland where the crocodile resided. 

Ham on Wry wishes Augusan province and the villagers of Bunawan township great success on their venture, but suggests they proceed with caution.  If one crocodile that size exists, what other giant creatures might also roam the area?  It seems like the care and feeding of the one species they already have could be dangerous and expensive.  Mayor Elorde might have to tweak the budget a bit until the park opens. 

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Florida Governor Rick Scott's Makeover

Beware the new Rick Scott. The photo at right shows Governor Scott in March of 2011 in shirt and tie, the manner in which he presented himself until Steve McNamara, his new Chief of Staff arrived in July. Almost immediately, his press office released a new official photo, instructing the news media to replace the old one.  Ham on Wry reminds readers that "looks don't make the man", as the well-known adage cautions.

In both the original and new official photos, Scott is depicted with a smile.  However, the casual stance, open shirt collar, and broader smile convey more warmth and approachability--ingredients lacking in the governor's first seven months in office.  Has Scott done a 180?  Steve McNamara hopes voters will conclude that he has.  The irony lies in the fact that Scott campaigned against special interests and insiders, and McNamara is the poster boy for Tallahassee insider.

McNamara has orchestrated several other changes since his arrival.  Scott's office has been redecorated, and he no longer refuses to meet with newspaper editorial boards.  No changes have occurred on his cuts to education, care for people with special needs, drug testing for welfare recipients, changes to Medicaid, shortening the time for voter registration and early voting, and, most glaringly, destroying environmental protections that had been in place since 1985.  He does seem to abide more closely to the "Sunshine Law" that requires open political meetings, but he can't explain away why the majority of his transition e-mails were deleted.  Another adage comes to mind in this situation.  "Where there's smoke; there's fire."  Although his office states the messages were accidentally deleted, Ham on Wry calls foul.  How does someone "accidentally" delete hundreds, if not thousands, of messages?

AP Photo, Bill Coterell, Tallahassee Democrat

Above, Scott is pictured at his first informal session with the Capitol press corps, August 1, 2011.  He sports one of his casual shirts, available in a full array of colors.  His newly adopted, friendly approach includes providing doughnuts for the reporters in attendance.  Ham on Wry fervently hopes that voters see through these attempts to present Scott in a different light.  America has enough media stars already.  What Florida needs is a governor who understands the state that he manages and acts according to the needs of his constituents, rather than pandering to business and ultra conservative voters.  Altering his form does not change his substance.  He made it clear who he was in his first seven months in office.  Citizens must remember that at election time.

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Ham on Wry Award--Wartime Contracting Commission Urges Significant Reform

The Wartime Contracting Commission, a bipartisan legislative commission created by Congress in 2008, presented their final report to Congress Wednesday, August 31st.  More than two and a half years in the making, the commission found monumental waste and corruption in a system lacking sufficient oversight.  Estimates range between $31 and $60 billion in losses over the past decade in Iraq and Afghanistan.due to lax oversight of contractors, poor planning, inadequate competition, and corruption.  The Washington Post quoted Commission member, Dov Zakheim, Pentagon Comptroller in George W. Bush's first term. “I personally believe that the number is much, much closer to $60 billion.”  And we wonder why Congress can't balance a budget.  Members of Congress are far more worried about re-election than they are in paying attention to expenditures.

Christopher Shays and Michael Thibault, Commission Co-chairs

The commission’s 15 recommendations include creating an inspector general to monitor war zone contracting and operations, appointing a senior government official to improve planning and coordination among federal agencies, reducing the use of private security companies, and carefully monitoring contractor performance.
“If these recommendations are not implemented, there ought to be a Hall of Shame,” said Michael Thibault, co-chairman of the commission. “There’s an opportunity at hand.” (from the Associated Press) (photo at right by Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)

Ham on Wry wonders what Congress will do with this information.  The commission recommended that the bipartisan debt reduction panel study its proposals and consider them in its deliberations.  I see little hope of substantive change occurring unless citizens demand it.  Members of Congress have displayed little ingenuity or commitment toward creating legislation that will actually improve the lot of ordinary Americans thus far, but adopting the commission's recommendations would go far in improving the budget deficit.  Add that to Warren Buffet's demand that Congress stop coddling the uber-wealthy, and it would definitely go a long way toward closing the gap.  It might even raise the under 13% approval rating the last poll reflected of Congress.  Maybe with enough knocks to the head, the entrenched will suddenly "get it." 

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Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice Blast Dick Cheney's Memoir

Condoleezza Rick Talks to Colin Powell with George Bush in the Forefront

Reactions to Dick Cheney's recently-released memoir, In My Time have been understandably negative from former Secretary of State Colin Powell and his successor Condoleezza Rice, since Cheney's version of certain events differ markedly from theirs.  Powell accused Cheney of taking "cheap shots" at him and other members of George W. Bush's Cabinet.  Rice claims that his book "attacks my integrity."

Cheney's and Powell's professional relationship was fraught with disagreements, many of which dealt with policy toward Iraq.  Powell was particularly critical of Cheney's attempt to lay blame for the Valerie Plame affair at the feet of Powell and Richard Armitage, Deputy Secretary of State at the time.  Cheney's former chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, was convicted of perjury, obstruction and lying to the FBI when it was conducting an investigation into a leak to the news media that Plame worked for the CIA. Plame's husband, a former ambassador, had been openly critical of the Bush administration, and speculation existed that the leak had been politically motivated.

Powell revealed that Armitage immediately notified Powell when he realized that a columnist had quoted him  as the anonymous source in the article that "outed" Plame as a CIA operative. They then went to the Justice Department and the FBI about the probe ordered by Bush.

"If the White House and the operatives in the White House — on Mr. Cheney's staff and elsewhere in the White House — had been as forthcoming with the FBI as Mr. Armitage was, this problem would not have reached the dimensions that it reached," Powell stated on Face the Nation Sunday.

Rice expressed anger at Cheney's claim that she “came into my office, sat down in the chair next to my desk, and tearfully admitted I had been right,” after President Bush apologized for an unsubstantiated claim that Iraq was seeking uranium to build nuclear weapons.  Cheney disagreed with her advice at the time.  Rice said that she had told Cheney he was right about press reaction, but not the apology and that the conversation included no tears.  She also disputed his contention that she had misled Bush during negotiations with North Korea.

In a statement made on "Fox & Friends" earlier today and noted on Politico, former President George W. Bush said, “I’m glad members of my family are giving their version of what it was like to serve our country,” Bush said. “I did the same thing. I put my version out there. And eventually, objective historians will analyze our administration and will draw objective conclusions.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0911/62496.html#ixzz1Wjp2qPG5

This has happened rarely, but Ham on Wry agrees with Bush in this case. Memories of past events often fade with time, and no two people recall events in identical fashion.  However, readers of Cheney's memoir should bear in mind that his view of the way things were might just be self-serving.

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