Giambi 'fesses up -- who will be next?

The San Francisco Chronicle reviewed the grand jury testimony of New York Yankee Jason Giambi (in connection with the the federal investigation on the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, a.k.a BALCO, a business suspected of distributing designer steroids to elite athletes), and reported that Giambi testified to using steriods. Specifically, Giambi testified that he injected himself with human growth hormone in 2003 and also used steroids (some undetectable) for at least three seasons. Giambi's December 2003 testimony contradicts Giambi's public denials of steroid use.

Others who have admitted using performance-enhancing drugs: fellow Yankee Gary Sheffield (who said he did not know the meds contained steroids - he did not claim to be "holding them for a friend"), Giambi's brother Jeremy (although he went to the minors after using, so "performance-enhancing" might be a stretch) , Lyle Alzado (shortly before his death).

Some believe that use of these drugs should not be illegal. Barry Bonds' position is not known.

Tom Ridge resigns -- the Exodus continues...

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge (couldn't we call it "Domestic Security"? Doesn't "Homeland" sound a little too close to "Fatherland"?), the man who launched the infamous color-coded terror alerts and tutorials about preparing for possible attacks with the liberal use of duct tape, resigned today.

In leaving, Ridge said he was confident the United States is significantly safer than before 9-11.
CNB will not point out that Ridge failed to consolidate the dozen “terrorist watch lists” that are currently maintained by nine different government organizations. Ted Kennedy and Cat Stevens might, but CNB won't.

Why won't CNB? Because Ridge saying that the US is safer is a much more reserved statement than that of outgoing Atty. Gen. Ashcroft. CNB recalls Ashcroft recently saying that "the objective of securing the safety of Americans from crime and terror has been achieved." Read that again -- it won't suddenly begin to make sense. Makes it more understandable how this guy lost an election to a dead guy.

CNB Telecommuncations Update

Cellular telephone company Virgin Mobile is now providing a new service to its customers. To prevent unplanned telephone calls, Virgin offers customers the chance to blacklist numbers, so that the customer's telephone cannot dial that number. In other words, you can prevent yourself from drunk-dialing your old girlfriend/boyfriend.

Really. They call it the "Dial Under the Influence" service, and it blocks calls to the specified number until 6am the following morning. It was created after an online survey found 95% had made drunken calls.

CNB returns from Thanksgiving Break

A sick kid, Thanksgiving, and CNB's own seasonal illness has caused several delays, for which CNB profusely apologizes to the loyal CNB reader. I mean readers.