Juche Apparently Isn't Rocket Science

Just in case you were wondering, 'Juche' is a political thesis from the late North Korean dictator Kim Il Sung that supposedly emphasised military and economic self-reliance. This is somewhat ironic, considering that Sung and his successors have relied heavily on imported food and materials long before the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union- one of North Korea's main trading partners.

As North Korea dedicated its efforts to building up their military arsenal in recent years, North Korean civilians have endured drought, famine and government crackdowns. This did not change after Kim Il Sung's 1994 death or the December 2011 passing of his son Kim Jong Il. Within weeks of Kim Il Jong's death, his youngest son and heir apparent- Kim Jong Un- took power.

In carrying on his father and grandfather's traditions of flouting treaties and international agreements, North Korea had been preparing all month to launch a long-range rocket. As US, South Korean and Japanese forces in the region went on heightened alert, the secretive North Korean government took the unusual step of allowing foreign reporters in to view the Sohae launch site, which is in the northwestern part of the country along the border with China. At the end of March, Japan's defense ministry announced they would shoot down North Korea's rocket should it pass over Japanese territory. In 2009, a long-range rocket from North Korea overflew Japan's home islands during a similar launch.

The US State Department says the launch is a breach of United Nations Security Council sanctions andan agreement reached between the USA and North Korea in February of this year restricting further development of North Korea's long-range weaponry. The North Korean regime, however, insists that Thursday's launch was to put a satellite into orbit to mark Kim Il Sung's 100th birthday. Japan, the South and the USA believe the lauch is to further develop long range missile technology.

However, in what was probably the least surprising development since the sun rising in the east, the Unha ("galaxy") rocket followed a similar trajectory to that of Keith Olbermann's broadcast career- crashing and burning spectacularly shortly after launch. The Nork rocket reportedly didn't even make it as far as 100km before exploding over the East China Sea.

In a rare move, the state-run news agency reported to a North Korean audience that the launch was unsuccessful. North Korean broadcasts are typically reserved for flowery, melodramatic propaganda heaping nonstop praise on the communist government. South Korean military experts believe that Un will try and deflect attention away from the failed launch or a military provocation directed against the South.

Boko Haram Suicide Bomber Kills 36 in Northern Nigeria Attack on Easter Sunday

Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram claimed credit for a deadly Easter Sunday bombing in the central city of Kaduna that has killed 36 people, despite an increased presence by Nigerian public security forces in troubled areas in the north.

on Sunday, a suicide bomber detonated his vehicle on a busy road in a Christian neighborhood of the predominantly Muslim city. The explosion occurred in the vicinity of two churches -- one of which was the alleged target -- drawing comparisons to the Christmas day bombings in Abuja, when Boko Haram killed more than 50 people by attacking a number of churches around the capital city during mass.

“The blast shattered windows of nearby churches and business premises. Many vehicles were also destroyed. It was a big bomb because it created a huge hole in the ground,” Kaduna resident Malam Zakari told the Nigerian Tribune.

According to AllAfrica, at least 20 of the 36 killed were "achaba riders," or taxi-bike drivers who were enjoying breakfast at a local cafe.

Although active for the last decade, Boko Haram had developed something of a reputation as 'the gang that couldn't shoot straight'- Nigerian authorities were sometimes alerted to Boko Haram's activities due to bombs going off prematurely, maiming operatives in Boko Haram safehouses.

However, in recent months the group has stepped up attacks against churches and government buildings in the predominantly Muslim north. Since the end of 2011, the group has claimed responsibility for previous attacks targeting churches and Christian worshippers in Jos and the outskirts of the capital city of Abuja.

Boko Haram has also targeted recently Nigerian police and security force with roadside bombs, arson attacks on police buildings and sniper fire.

Quickie Cuppa Sports Chowdah Update- Who's Won First? Sox Rally in Toronto; Scully to Miss LA's Home Opener; Guillen Suspended Over Castro Remarks

Getty Images

BOSTON RED SOX- Well, if I'm going to pout and kvetch when the Sox get off to an 0-3 start, then I might as well savor their first win of the season.

After the disastrous sweep in Detroit that left many in Red Sox nation with the unshakable feeling that the sky is indeed falling, the Red Sox took their road trip across the river and some 200 miles up the MacDonald-Cartier highway to Toronto for what would be the Blue Jays home opener.

With the roof closed on the Rogers Centre during a rainy, windy Toronto evening and Felix Doubront on the mound for Boston, the Blue Jays got off to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 3rd after Jays 2B Kelly Johnson was called safe on a close play at home and SS Yuniel Escobar was driven home on an Edwin Encarnacion RBI single. Those two runs notwithsanding, Doubront had a decent outing but was stymied by an apparent lack of offense until a solo home run in the top of the 6th by Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia to cut the Jays lead in half.

Doubront left after 5 innings of work- giving up 4 hits, 2 earned runs, 3 walks and striking out 6- and was replaced by Scott Atchison. Atchison would throw three shutout innings, allowing just one hit and striking out three.

In the top of the 9th, the Jays sent Sergio Santos to the mound to close out the game. Pedroia led off the inning with a double and advanced to 3rd base on a passed ball, tying up the game when he came home on an Adrian Gonzalez sac-fly. Santos would then strike out Youlikis for the 2nd out, but walked DH David Ortiz and OF Cody Ross. Ortiz was lifted for pinch-runner Darnell McDonald and after OF Ryan Sweeney singled to shallow center, it looked as though Jays outfielder Jose Bautista's throw to home plate would cut down McDonald, except it clanged off the glove of catcher J.P. Arencibia to give Boston the 3-2 lead.

After what happened in Detroit on Sunday, understandably not everybody was comfortable with a mere 1-run lead. But Cody Ross would come home on a wild pitch by Santos to make it 4-2 Red Sox before walking C Saltalamacchia. Santos then got the hook and was replaced by Luis Perez who promptly got SS Aviles to hit into a fielders choice.

Alfredo Aceves would then come on for Boston to close out the game with a 1-2-3 bottom of the 9th, getting Lawrie, Thames and Arencibia out in order. Red Sox get their first win of the Valentine era by a 4-2 final and more importantly win their first AL East contest of the 2012 season.

Tuesday night's starter are going to be Daniel Bard for Boston and Kyle Drabek for Toronto. Bard had been previously assigned to the Sox bullpen and hasn't started a gmae since 2007 with the South Atlantic League's Greenville Drive.


MIAMI MARLINS- Not even a full week into the MLB season, Marlins Manager Ozzy Guillen has earned the enmity of south Florida's considerable Cuban expat community after comments about Cuban dictator Fidel Castro in a TIME magazine interview. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Venezuelan-born Guillen said-

"I respect Fidel Castro," Mr. Guillen was quoted as saying. "You know why? A lot of people have wanted to kill Fidel Castro for the last 60 years, but that mother f— is still here."

Miami is home to at least three generations of Cubans who have fled Castro's communist government which came to power after a lengthy civil war that toppled the Bautista regime. Immediately afterwards, Castro's government expropriated private property, arbitrarily executed 'counter-revolutionaries' and political opponents, jailed dissidents, outlawed opposition parties, took control of the press and heightened tensions in the Cold War by allowing Soviet bloc troops and armaments to be positioned in Cuba for a potential attack against the USA. Since Fidel and his brother Ramon took power, many Cubans have fled by boat to Florida, which is 90 miles to the north of Cuba's northern coast.

Although Guillen appeared with staunch Fidel Castro ally Hugo Chavez in 2005 and praised the socialist leader while returning to his native Venezuela after the Chicago White Sox 2005 World Series title, Guillen more recently was critical of Chavez's American allies such as actor Sean Penn.

Sean penn if you love venezuela please move to venezuela for a year

— Ozzie Guillen (@OzzieGuillen) June 8, 2011

If I may play devil's advocate for a moment, I'm guessing Guillen was inarticulately attempting to express admiration for Castro's longevity and durability, not a proclamation of 'Gee! His style of governing is so awesome- can't wait to hop on the next flight to Havana and experience the squelching of free speech and noticeable lack of basic consumer goods myself!'. After all, if Guillen is into that, he could return to Venezuela at any time and experience those things himself thanks to the way Chavez has been running Venezuela for the last decade.

Guillen will be suspended for five games with pay and Guillen apologized to the community during an hour-long press conference. Guillen has been known for polarizing comments about immigrants and gays before arriving in Miami, and some are already calling for him to be fired. Whether or not Miami's Cuban community will let bygones be bygones will be reflected in how many seats are filled at the Marlins Little Havana ballpark for the remainder of the season. The Marlins are currently 2-3 and 3rd in the NL East.

However, what I do find abhorrent regarding Cuba is the institutional and supposedly educated left in this country embracing mass murderers like Che Guevara and giving dictators like Castro and Chavez a pass for detaining and executing political opponents while taking away so many basic freedoms from people in those nations. While you could honestly make the argument that Ozzy took one too many fastballs to the noggin or needs to cut back on his alcohol intake, there is no ambiguity or lack of clarity in their words when our 'betters' on the left when they say they want to see more Castro and Chavez-style totalitarian rule in the USA and for her citizens.

ELSEWHERE IN MLB- This season has gotten off to a rough start for a pair of Hall Of Fame broadcasters.

The Milwaukee Brewer's longtime broadcaster Bob Uecker returned to the team over the weekend for the first time since the death of his 52 year old son Steve.

In a statement released by the Brewers, Uecker said his son had passed away at Milwaukee's Froedtert Hospital due to complications from San Joaquin Valley Fever- a fungus that infects the body after entering through the lungs.

Two years ago, Bob Uecker missed several weeks in the booth after undergoing heart surgery, returning later in the 2010 season. Also known as a pitchman for Miller Lite and appearances in sitcoms and the 1989 comedy Major League, Uecker was given the Ford C Frick by the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY and was enshrined as a broadcaster [while joking about how he never would've gotten in with his record as a catcher for the Braves during his Hall of Fame speech- NANESB!].

Meanwhile over in Los Angeles, the Dodgers announced that 84 year old Vin Scully would miss LA's home opener at Chavez Ravine due to a cold. The Dodger's statement said that doctors advised Scully to rest up, although he is expected to return soon.

Scully has been calling games for the Dodgers since 1950 when they were in Brooklyn and has been in the booth for such memorable baseball moments as Hank Aaron's 715th career home run, a battered Kirk Gibson hitting a walkoff home run in the 1988 World Series and four of Sandy Koufax's no-hitters.

In recent years, Scully has limited his travel with the team to away games in San Diego, Arizona and San Francisco, leaving the remainder of the play-by-play duties to former ESPN anchor Charlie Steiner.

Tuesday's home game would be the first home game that Vin Scully has missed since 1977 when he was in Augusta, GA calling the Masters golf tournament. It also marks the 50th anniversary of Dodgers Stadium.



NHL- No NHL hockey until Wednesday, but here are some TMZ pictures of Paulina Gretzky leaving a Los Angeles steakhouse while clad in what appears to be not much more than black lingerie and heels.

The Stanley Cup playoffs resume tomorrow with three games- none of them involving the Bruins, sadly. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh go at it in an intra-state matchup that gets underway at 7:30 ET on NBC Sports network. Detroit and Nashville will get underway at 8:00 ET on CNBC and the nightcap will consist of Los Angeles and Vancouver at 10:30- also on NBC Sports Network.

As Random Person Offered Attorney General Holder's Ballot in Washington DC Polling Station, DOJ Insists There is No Voter Fraud Problem

In another hidden camera video released by former Andrew Breitbart protege James O'Keefe, a man is shown walking into a Washington DC polling station and is offered Attorney General Eric Holder's ballot by a poll worker after checking the name off of a ledger during- presumably last week's primary elections in the District of Columbia.

The Justice Department fired back on Monday afternoon, claiming that the stung was 'manufactured' [which is technically true- O'Keefe claims he orchestrated this to demonstrate how easy it was to commit voter fraud- NANESB!] while Holder himself insists that there “is a misperception that there is a vast amount of vote fraud out there.”

An unnamed DOJ official was quoted in a brief article from the Talking Points Memo blog on Monday as saying

“It’s no coincidence that these so-called examples of rampant voter fraud consistently turn out to be manufactured ones.”

. Previously, O'Keefe had released videos showing operatives entering polling stations in Vermont and New Hampshire earlier this year and obtaining ballots by using the names of dead or nonexistent voters.

Even without the O'Keefe hidden camera videos, there have been a number of ballot fraud cases that have been prosecuted across the country.

In upstate New York, Troy City Councilman Michael LoPorto and Rensselaer County Board of Elections Commissioner Ed McDonough [both Democrats- NANESB!] are awaiting separate trials after investigators determined they and forging signatures on absentee ballots during a 2009 Working Families Party primary. The two were tried together by prosecutors when the presiding judge declared a mistrial after contentious deliberations by the jurors last month. Jury selection for LoPorto's trial is set to begin on June 4th.

Over in the Hoosier State, prosecutors in South Bend, IN have charged four St Joseph County Democrat Party officials and their subordinates with forging signatures on primary petitions during the 2008 Presidential election.

Among those charged is the former long-time chairman of the St. Joseph County Democratic Party, Butch Morgan, who allegedly ordered the forgeries. He was forced to resign when the allegations were first made public last October, even though his lawyer, Shaw Friedman, told Fox News at the time that Morgan did not do anything wrong.

The St. Joseph County Board of Voter Registration's Democratic board member, Pam Brunette, Board of Voter Registration worker Beverly Shelton and Democratic volunteer and former board worker Dustin Blythe also face charges.

According to affidavits, St. Joseph County Voter Registration Office worker Lucas Burkett told investigators that he was part of the plan that started in January 2008 "to forge signatures on presidential candidate petitions instead of collecting actual signatures from citizens."

The documents state that Burkett told investigators that “he was heavily involved in St. Joseph County political activities with the local Democratic party," and that "he had, in fact, personally forged several such signatures," and had attended meetings at the local Democratic party headquarters, where it was agreed to forge the petitions. Morgan, the County Democratic Chairman, allegedly "instructed Mr. Burkett, Pamela Brunette, Beverly Shelton, and Dustin Blythe to forge ballot petitions for presidential candidates," and that "all of them agreed to follow these instructions" by copying names and signatures from old election petitions.

According to affidavits, Burkett told investigators it was his job to "forge petitions for candidate Barack Obama," Shelton "was assigned to forge petitions for candidate Hillary Clinton" and Blythe "was assigned to forge petitions for candidate John Edwards." When Edwards dropped out of the race at the end of January 2008 and Burkett refused to continue the forgeries, Morgan allegedly ordered Blythe to then forge petitions for Barack Obama.

Indiana State Police investigators identified a total of 22 petitions that appeared to be faked, yet sailed through the Voter Registration Board as legitimate documents. The signature of the board's Republican supervisor, Linda Silcott, which is required for legal certification, appeared to be rubber stamped on the documents. She told investigators that she did not remember signing or authorizing her rubber stamp to be used.

The developments in Indiana and upstate New York come less than a month after the DOJ struck down voter ID laws in Wisconsin and Texas- in December 2011, the Justice Department struck down similar legislation in South Carolina.

Today's Train of Thought- Almond Joy, April 9th 2012

Today's Train of Thought takes us to California- or what some have dubbed the 'Land of the Nuts', although that doesn't necessarily refer to the agricultural output.

Although agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley has taken a hit in recent years due to drought and a court order upholding the US Fish & Wildlife Service restricting deliveries of water from Northern California to protect the delta smelt, the past 30 years have seen California's almond crop more than quadruple. According to the California Almond Board, the almond is the largest tree nut crop in the Golden state and accounts for the top agricultural export for California and the leading US specialty crop export.

Here, the almond trees along the BNSF line in Escalon, CA are in bloom as railpictures.net contributor Jamie Miller snapped GP40-2 #3025 leading a Modesto to Stockton transfer job past an almond orchard on February 27, 2011.

Holy Day Cuppa Sports Chowdah- Ferris State's Day Off; Never Bring Sabres to a Shootout; Tale of the Tiger- Detroit Sweeps Sox; 76ers 86ed at Garden

The Tampa Bay Times, Daniel Wallace / AP Photo

FROZEN FOUR- Buoyed by a 2-goal performance from Junior Steven Whitney and Junior goaltender Parker Milner turning aside 27 of 28 shots faced, the Boston College Eagles won the men's NCAA Hockey title in Tampa, FL on Saturday night, defeating the Ferris State Bulldogs by a 4-1 final in a game that was much closer than the final score would indicate.

For the small university located in western Michigan, this was their first trip to the Frozen Four in school history- let alone NCAA final- advancing past another underdog making their 1st ever Frozen Four appearance, the Union Dutchmen out of Schenectady, NY.

In Saturday's game, the Eagles got off to a quick 1-0 lead just over 3 minutes into the game thanks to a Whitney tally before Ferris State's Garret Thompson tied the contest up at 1-1 two minutes later. Senior Paul Carey would then put Boston College back on top with a power play goal midway through the second.

Ferris State would launch a spirited counterattack in the second, matching the Eagles seemingly shot for shot. Milner turned aside all 15 shots faced in the 2nd stanza while Ferris State goalie Taylor Nelson stopped 14 shots he faced from Boston College.

Although the Bulldogs came precariously close to tying the contest a couple times in the 3rd, Boston College Freshman Johnny Gaudreau broke the contest open with an insurance goal with less than 5 minutes remaining in the contest to make it 3-1. After Ferris State pulled Nelson for an extra attacker, but Whitney would get the empty-netter with just under 2 minutes left in the contest to make it a 4-1 final.

The Men's Hockey title is the Eagle's 5th altogether- four of them coming during head coach Jerry York's tenure- and their 3rd championship since 2008. The Eagles finish the season with a 19-game winning streak and a 33-10-1 record overall.

OTHER NCAA HOCKEY NEWS- University of Minnesota-Duluth senior Jack Connolly was announced as the 2012 Hobey Baker Award winner over the weekend. The 5ft 8 center from last year's NCAA Men's Hockey champions is a Duluth, MN native and is the 5th Hobey Baker winner from UM-D. The Hobey Baker is given out each year to the best men's college hockey player.

Duane Burleson- AP photo

MLB- The Detroit Tigers were able to get a measure of revenge against Beantown on behalf of Ferris State by completing a 3-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox on Sunday afternoon.

On Saturday, the Tigers basically had batting practice off of Josh Beckett, with Beckett tying a career-worst 5 HR's allowed. Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder each had two home runs while Alex Avila hit a solo homer in a 10-0 rout of the Red Sox.

Sunday's game was no less a hot mess, although despite Clay Buccholz giving up an early 4 runs, a rough start by Max Scherzer helped Boston out. Buccholz lasted 4 innings, allowing 8 hits and 7 runs, while Scherzer gave up just as many runs and hits in 2 and ⅔ innings of work.

Although we're only 3 games into the regular season right now, those who cautioned against letting Papelbon depart thru free agency are probably saying 'I told you so' right now as Boston had the chance to close out the game twice and blew each opportunity, starting with Alfredo Aceves giving up a game-tying 3-run homer to Miguel Cabrera to tie things up at 10-10.

Then, after the Red Sox re-took the lead in the 11th on RBI singles from Nick Punto and Dustin Pedroia to make it 12-10, DH Delmon Young made it a 1-run game with a sac-fly off of Mark Melancon after Miguel Cabrera had singled and advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch. With two outs and Alex Avila down to his last strike, the Tiger's catcher homered to deep right for the walkoff 13-12 win.

Currently, the only saving grace for Boston at the moment is that the Yankees were swept by Tampa Bay in a weekend series down in Florida- that's marginally worse for the Yankees because it happened against an AL East opponent and could serve as a tiebreaker and work to the Yankees' disadvantage if the AL East race came down to the wire like it did last season.

The Red Sox take their 0-3 record north of the border to take on the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre on Monday afternoon in Toronto's home opener. Felix Doubront will get the start for Boston while Henderson Alvarez gets the start for the Jays. This will be Toronto's home opener after wrapping up a 2-1 series in Cleveland. The game is scheduled to get underway at 7:07 ET and will be televised on NESN and Rogers Sports Net.

NHL- The regular season wrapped up at TD Garden on Saturday with the Bruins coming into the finale clinching the #2 spot in the Eastern Conference and the Buffalo Sabres on the outside looking in. The table was set- it was just a matter of who sat where.



After a scoreless first, The Bruins got off to the 1-0 lead with a Tyler Segiun goal less than 5 minutes into the 2nd. Buffalo's Brad Boyes managed to knot the contest up at 1-1 with 4:15 to go in the first period.

The Sabres would go on the power play late in the second that would carry over into the 3rd, but seemed to offer the Bruins more shorthanded scoring chances than it did Buffalo with the man advantage- but Jhonas Enroth stopped both shorthanded attempts for Buffalo. Buffalo would then break the deadlock thanks to goals by Boyes and Jason Pominville less than two minutes apart about midway through the 3rd.

With just a hair over 10 minutes to go in regulation, the B's managed to close the gap within 1 thanks to a power play goal by Tyler Seguin, making it a 3-2 Buffalo lead. Marchand would get the game-tying goal two and a half minutes later and the final regular season contest at the Garden would head to OT.

After a scoreless OT, the contest headed to a shootout where Patrice Bergeron was the only shooter between the two teams to get one past the goaltender, giving Boston the 4-3 win and closing the book on the season for Buffalo.

Tim Thomas stopped 25 of 28 shots faced while Enroth turned aside 37 of 40 shots faced on Saturday. The Sabres went 0-1 on the power play while Boston went 1-4, getting their first power play goal since last Sunday's 2-1 win against the NY Rangers in Madison Square Garden.

The Bruins will be idle until Thursday when they take on the #7 seed Washington Capitals. The game is scheduled to get underway from the Garden at 7:30 ET and will be televised on the NBC Sports Channel and CBC.

ELSEWHERE IN THE NHL- Even though the Western Conference playoff picture wasn't as crowded as it was just a week ago, the regular-season finale between the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks put a bow on the NHL season in pretty dramatic fashion.

Calgary, Dallas and Colorado pretty much faded away in the final week while the Kings, Sharks and Coyotes were separated by three points or less coming down the home stretch. In the silicon valley on Saturday night, the Kings got off to a 1-0 lead before scoring in the closing seconds of the 2nd period to make it 2-0.

San Jose's Dan Boyle would put the Sharks on the board less than a minute into the 3rd before Patrick marleau tied the contest up at 2-2 on a San Jose power play. The game headed to overtime with each team getting a point, but Boyle would once again bury the puck past LA's Jonathan Quick to give the Sharks the 3-2 OT win.

The Sharks win, coupled with the Coyotes regulation win over Minnesota earlier Saturday night, knocks LA down to the #8 seed, where they'll take on the President's Cup-winning Vancouver Canucks this year. San Jose's OT win gets them a rendezvous with the #2 seed in the Western Conference, the St Louis Blue. While only two points ahead of LA and 1 point ahead of the Sharks, Phoenix has clinched the #3 spot on the Western Conference and will take on Chicago.

At the conclusion of the final regular season game this week, the NHL posted the schedule for the first round of the 2012 playoffs on their website.


NBA- Wow! This was so much better than last month's showing against the 76ers. Seems as though every time the Celtics have had a chance to take 1st place over the Philadelphia 76ers during this abbreviated season, they've always managed to fold- to the best of my knowledge, it's happened at least twice in this abbreviated season.

However, it did NOT happen on Sunday as Kevin Garnett had 20 points and Rajon Ronjo had 15 assists on Sunday night's game at the Garden in a 103-79 thumping of Philly. Avery Bradley and Brandon Bradley started Sunday's game and each of them had 18 points while Ray Allen came off the bench for 10 points.

Sunday's loss puts Philly in a tie with the New York Knicks for 2nd place in the Atlantic conference, with the Celtics having a 3-game cushion in the conference. The C's home record improves to 20-9 on the season as well.

The Celtic's next game will take place on Tuesday night when they travel to south Florida to take on the Miami Heat. The game will be televised on ESPN and tips off at 7PM ET.

Hop to It- Japanese Patrons Flock to Nagoya 'Bunny Cafe'

Seriously- when I heard that Japan had a bunny-themed restaurant, I figured it would be an eatery where the waitstaff would look like this:


I mean- c'mon, it's Japan. They already have such a thing as 'Maid Cafes'- which are dining establishments staffed almost exclusively by young women in maid outfits. Seriously, go ahead and check Wikipedia, I'll wait.

Anywhoo, although the Year of the Rabbit has come and gone, I thought Easter might be as good a time as any to highlight an article I recently saw about an offbeat dining experience in Japan.

For at least one cafe in the central Honshu city of Nagoya they really mean actual bunnies. And they're not on the menu, either.

It seems as though most apartments in Japan prohibit renters from keeping pets. To offset that, Nagoya's Usagi-to-Cafe (or Rabbit & Cafe) offers patrons the chance to play with a number of pet rabbits kept on the premises. The cafe also serves coffee, dishes decorated to look like rabbits and rabbit pottery.


Usagi-to-Cafe is a variation of a cat-themed Tokyo restaurant called Cafe Calico where patrons can dine or play with cats kept on site. While not as clean and fastidious as cats (who can mingle in the dining area with the patrons) the rabbits are kept in an enclosure separate from the dining area [this is making me wonder if they had any ads with whoever did the Japanese voiceover from the movie version of Lennie from Of Mice and Men- NANESB!].

Cafe patrons are charged a ¥900 (about $11) cover charge and an additional ¥100 per minute to cuddle or play with one of the 18 rabbits on hand. Usagi-to-Cafe also has a BYOB policy- as in 'Bring Your Own Bunny'- where owners can bring their pet rabbits to socialize with the cafe's own rabbits.

FAA Probing Report of Denver Air Traffic Controller Ignoring Emergency Landing Request

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a report that a Denver air traffic controller dismissed a request for an emergency landing from a United flight arriving from Peoria, IL as a hoax.

Investigators are looking at whether controllers' confusion delayed first responders as the plane was on its final approach, 9NEWS Aviation Analyst Greg Feith, a former NTSB investigator, said.

Only one of the 21 people on board the plane was taken to the hospital after the incident.

Tuesday morning around 8:30, United Express Flight 5912, operated by ExpressJet, declared an emergency landing during its final approach to DIA after being cleared to land, according to a control-tower recording provided by an FAA source. The emergency landing was because of smoke in the cockpit.

The controller then went on to continue directing traffic before Flight 5912 made another emergency call announcing the had already landed and were evacuating the aircraft.

The NTSB was investigating the Embraer 145's right engine failed on approach to Denver. According to an FAA report of the incident, firefighters extinguished a small fire located behind the instrument panel.

The incident comes a year after multiple reports of Air Traffic Controllers throughout the country falling asleep or being distracted on the job- including a near miss involving an aircraft carrying First Lady Michelle Obama.

Interestingly, the incident took place around the same time President Obama assailed Republican congressman Paul Ryan's latest budget proposal, specifically mentioning the FAA.

“Cuts to the FAA would likely result in more flight cancellations, delays, and the complete elimination of air traffic control services in parts of the country,” Obama said in a speech to the American Society of Newspaper Editors on Tuesday.

So even without Ryan's budget plan being approved, these dire scenarios Obama is predicting regardin the FAA are already happening. Apparently that's how evil, draconian and sinister the Ryan budget plan is.

US Coast Guard Shells Japanese Vessel Off Alaskan Coast

Reuters photo

Just thought I'd recycle some headlines from 1942, however misleading.
A derelict Japanese fishing vessel that was washed out to sea during last year's catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in northern Japan has drifted into waters off the coast of Alaska in the last year or so.

Officials from the United States Coast Guard made the decision to sink the abandoned vessel with heavy weaponry after determining the 164 foot Ryou Un Maru was a navigational hazard.

A U.S. Coast Guard cutter unleashed cannon fire on the abandoned 164-foot Ryou-Un Maru on Thursday, ending a journey that began when last year's tsunami dislodged it and set it adrift across the Pacific Ocean.

It sank into waters more than 1,000 feet deep in the Gulf of Alaska, more than 150 miles from land.

The crew pummeled the ghost ship with high explosive ammunition and, soon after, the Ryou-Un Maru burst into flames, began to take on water and list, officials said.

A huge column of smoke could be seen over the gulf.

The Coast Guard warned mariners to stay away, and aviation authorities did the same for pilots. A Coast Guard C-130 plane crew monitored the operation.

In about four hours, the ship vanished into the water, said Chief Petty Officer Kip Wadlow in Juneau.

Officials decided to sink the ship, rather than risk the chance of it running aground or endangering other vessels in the busy shipping lanes between North America and Asia.

The ship had no lights or communications system and its tank was able to carry more than 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel. Officials, however, didn't know how much fuel, if any, was aboard.

"It's less risky than it would be running into shore or running into (maritime) traffic," Webb said.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency studied the problem and decided it is safer to sink the ship and let the fuel evaporate in the open water.

The vessel was in Hokkaido, destined for the scrappers torch when it was swept out to sea in the devastating magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck on March 11, 2011.

Graphic courtesy

Vancouver Sun

The derelict fishing vessel was first spotted off the northwestern coast of Vancouver Island on March 20th. The ship continued drifting north before it was spotted off of Forrester Island in southern Alaska at the end of March. A Canadian fishing vessel had claimed salvage rights to the Ryou Un Maru but the US Coast Guard announced they would go ahead with plans to sink it if the Canadians were unable to secure the ghost ship. When the Canadian crew was unable to secure the vessel, the Coast Guard waited for them to clear the area. Once clear, the crew of the cutter USCG Anacapa opened up on the derelict with 25mm high explosive rounds.
Japan's Oceanic and Meteorological Agency estimates that nearly 5 million tons of debris were swept out into the Pacific Ocean after the tsunami. While most of that was concrete, Japanese researchers estimate that 30% of the debris is still afloat in the form of homes and boats that were docked at the time of the tsunami. Scientists in Japan and experts from the University of Hawaii's International Pacific Research Center are designing a complex computer model to try and predict where the ocean's currents will pull the remaining debris. The Ryou Un Maru is believed to be part of the advance guard of the massive debris field, which some estimate to be as large as 3100 by 1200 miles.
Residents in southeastern Alaskan towns such as Ketchican and Sitka have reported finding basketball-sized buoys washed ashore- the buoys are thought to be from Japanese oyster farms. The first known landfall of the debris in Alaska was back in January of this year near Yakutat.

Opening Day Sports Chowdah Update- Marlins Christen New Stadium; Sox Drop Season Opener in 1st Game of Valentine Era; Bruins Clinch #2 Spot in East

Believe it or not, there's a ballpark in there somewhere.

MLB- The defending World Series Champion St Louis Cardinals spoiled the opening game in the Miami Marlins new ballpark on Wednesday night.

Before a sellout crowd of 36,601, Cardinals starter Kyle Lohse had an early lead to work with a 2-RBI single from 3B David Freese in the 1st and another RBI single from SS Rafael Furcal in the 2nd inning to put the Cards up 3-0.

Lohse carried a no-hitter through 6 innings before Miami SS Jose Reyes led off the bottom of the 7th inning with a single to right field. The Marlins got on the board thanks to a John Buck RBI double, but that would be all Miami would get as the Cardinals would go on to win 4-1 in Miami's new park, their first regular season win without slugger Albert Pujols since losing him to free agency in the offseason.


RED SOX- The opening game stateside for the American League got underway on Thursday afternoon at Comerica Park in a pitcher's duel between Boston's Jon Lester and Detroit's Justin Verlander.

Although Lester allowed four leadoff singles, he threw 6 shutout innings against the Tigers before Tigers catcher Alex Avila drove in Jhonny Peralta with an RBI double in the bottom of the 7th. Detroit would then take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 8th on a Prince Fielder sac fly.

Tigers closer Jose Valverde came on to close out the game but immediately gave up a leadoff single to Dustin Pedroia and moving to third on an Adrian Gonzalez single. Gonzalez was pulled for pinch-runner Darnell McDonald. The Red Sox then got on the board when David Ortiz drove home Pedroia on a sac fly to center field. After Youkilis struck out for the second out in the 9th, McDonald stole second base before Ryan Sweeney belted a triple deep to the right-field corner, driving in the tying run before Cody Ross grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.

With offseason acquisiton Andrew Bailey going on the DL for thumb surgery right at the end of Spring Training, the Red Sox bullpen was left in a state of flux. Mark Melancon came on in the bottom of the 9th for the Sox, and after getting the first out, gave up singles to Peralta and Avila before being pulled for Alfredo Aceves. Aceves hit the first batter he faced, sending Ramon Santiago to first an loading the bases. Austin Jackson then drove an Aceves offering past a diving Nick Punto for a walkoff single and 3-2 Tigers win at the season opener in Comerica Park.

In the wake of the turbulent offseason, Red Sox Nation took the news of the opening day loss in stride.



With the Rays, Yankees and Orioles not getting started until Friday and the Blue Jays winning on Thursday, the loss leaves the Red Sox in the AL East basement to start off the regular season. Jon Lester went 7 innings allowing 6 hits and 1 earned run while last year's Cy Young winner Justin Verlander went 8 shutout innings, giving up two hits and striking out 7. Depsite the blown save, Valverde is credited with the win and Melancon gets the loss.

The two teams have Friday off, but will go back at it on Saturday, with Josh Beckett getting the start against Doug Fister. The game will get underway at 4:05 ET and will air on FOX.

ELSEWHERE IN THE AL EAST- It took 16 innings, but thanks to a blown save in the top of the 9th by Chris Perez and a 3-run homer by Jays catcher JP Arencibia in the top of the 16th, the Blue Jays won the longest opening day game in MLB history by a 7-4 final. The win, coupled with the Red Sox loss and Baltimore, Tampa Bay and the Yankees being idle puts the Jays into first place in the AL East.



NCAA HOOPS- Kentucky's 67-59 win over the Kansas Jayhawks in the NCAA title game for their 8th NCAA title was almost an afterthough as University of Kentucky Students rioted. At least one person was shot and there were a number of arson fires [including couches for some reason- NANESB!] in the Lexington, KY area immediately after the Monday night title game.

With the Jayhawks focused on Anthony Davis, Sophmore Doron Lamb had 22 points for the Wildcats in the Championship game. The win is the first NCAA title for former UMASS coach John Calipari.

ELSEWHERE IN NCAA HOOPS- In the NIT tournament, the UMASS Minutemen lost out to eventual champions Stanford in the semifinals by a 64-74 margin. The Stanford Cardinals would then go on to topple the Minnesota Golden Gophers by a 75-51 final in the NIT title game.


NHL- After a New York road trip that saw wins against the Rangers and Islanders followed by a home loss against the Penguins, the Bruins embarked on their final road game of the regular season up in Ottawa. Goalie Anton Khudobin was called up from Providence to make his Boston debut [but not his NHL debut- he had a couple of apprearences with Minnesota in 2009 and 2010- NANESB!]- a thumb injury last month prevented him from arriving in Boston, leaving the B's to pull Marty Turco- presently 2-2- from Austria after Tukka Rask was injured.

Khudobin got some offensive support early thanks to a Benoit Pouliot goal in the first and a rare Greg Zanon goal for Boston (his 3rd of the season) to build up a 2-0 advantage. Jason Spezza cut the Senators defecit in half late in the second. Boston would make it a 2 goal game once again with a Milan Lucic tally to make it a 3-1 Boston lead late in the 3rd, and that would be the final.

Khudobin stopped 44 of 45 shots faced while Ottawa's Ben Bishop would allow 3 goals on 27 shots faced. Both teams were 0-3 on the power play on Thursday Night.

For the regular season finale, the Bruins will host the Buffalo Sabres at the Garden on Saturday at 4:00 PM. After a late-season resurgence, the Sabres were eliminated from the playoffs with their Thursday night loss to Philadelphia. The game will be televised on NESN.

ELSEWHERE IN THE NHL- The Washington Capitals secured the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a 4-2 win over the Florida Panthers. Both Winnipeg and Buffalo were eliminated with the Washington win and Buffalo loss to Philly and a Winnipeg loss to the Islanders.

Out west, the playoff situation is a little tighter as the Los Angels Kings and San Jose Sharks jockey for position in the Pacific Division with a home and away series between the two teams to wrap up the regular season. The two teams are tied at 94 points on the season after the Sharks beat the kings 6-5 in a shootout in LA on Thursday night. The tie-breaker will take place in San Jose on Saturday night at 10:30 ET. With the Avalanche, Stars and Flames eliminated, the Phoenix Coyotes have wrapped up the 8th and final Western conference playoff spot.

NBA- Despite losing two games in a row, the Boston Celtics remain atop the Atlantic divison. On Wednesday, the Spurs managed to hold off the Celtics for an 87-86 win on Wednesday while the C's lost to the Bulls in the Windy City by an 86-93 final.

The Celtics will head on to Indianapolis to take on the Pacers Saturday night before returning to the Garden to take on the 76ers on Sunday.


NCAA HOCKEY- The Boston College Eagles punched their ticket to the NCAA Men's Hockey finals in a convincing fashion with a 6-1 win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Thursday night. After taking a 1-0 lead for the first, the Eagles exploded for 3 more goals from Kevin Hayes, Chris Kreider and Paul Carey in the 3rd to build up a 4-0 lead. Minnesota's lone goal came early in the 3rd, but Boston College responded with two more unanswered tallies for the 6-1 final.

The Eagles will face the Ferris State Bulldogs in the Finals on Saturday at 7:00 PM ET. The small Western Minnesota school got past Schenechtady, NY's Union College by a 3-1 final on Thursday. This is the first trip to the Frozen Four for both Ferris State and Union.

Petrino's reported mistress Jessica Dorrell in her Razorback volleyball days

NCAA FOOTBALL- University of Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino has been placed on administative leave by the University after an accident report from the Arkansas State Police contradicted his earlier public statements after he crashed his motorcycle over the weekend.

In public statements, the married 50 year old Petrino stated that he was alone when the crash took place in Madison county. However, the Arkansas State Police accident reports names 25 year old Jessica Dorrell as a passenger on Petrino's motorcycle. After the police report was made public, Petrino admitted to having a 'previous inappropriate relationship' with Dorrell.

A 2008 Arkansas graduate, Dorrell was a four time letter winner in the Razorbacks volleyball program and handled fundraising duties for the Razorback Foundation. Just last week, she was named student development coordinator for the football program, co-ordinating on campus recruitment and eligibility issues for incoming players. Dorell also has a fiancee who's the director of swimming operations for the Razorbacks [altho the Arkansas Razorbacks swimming & diving team page currently lists Megan Haskins as the director- NANESB].

Petrino arrived in Arkansas from the NFL after quitting in the final month of the Atlanta Falcons 2007 NFL season. The Razorback football program has had winning seasons for three of the last four years and have been invited to the Liberty, Sugar and Cotton Bowls under Petrino.