News in 30

I TRIPPED:  Francesco Schettino, captain of the doomed luxury liner Costa Concordia said he didn't intentionally leave the ship during the crisis.

While in an Italian court yesterday, Schettino said he tripped and fell into a life boat as it was being lowered into the sea.  In his statement to the court he said, "I had no intention of escaping.  I was helping some passengers put the life boat to sea.  At a certain point the mechanism for lowing it, blocked.  We had to force it.  Suddenly the system unblocked itself and I tripped and I found myself inside the life boat with a number of passengers."  He claims that once the lifeboat was lowered, it was "impossible to go back on board."

Schettino said he made a lot of mistakes on the cruise liner, but he maintains the path he took was approved from the beginning.  He was caught in a lie with the Port Authority, telling them at first he and fellow officers abandoned ship, but when questioned by the PA, he said the ship listed so forcefully they were all ejected from the boat.

Schettino has been crucified by local papers and is currently keeping a low profile.

Editor's Note:  If he is going to admit to lying, you do have to wonder how far he will take it.

                                                                                                                 


PUT A PIPE IN IT:  The Keystone crude oil pipeline has been briefly in the news, poised to be a huge debate between Republicans and Democrats.  Regardless of who won the 'debate' over the issue, someone was going to be left angry.

Trans Canada's proposed 1,700 mile pipeline has been the focus of the discussion about U.S. energy policy.  Many saw the pipeline as a way to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, but environmental groups saw the move as dangerous to the climate.

It is expected, by all parties, that the Obama administration will reject the pipeline today.  Before making it's statement, officials have said they are doing one last look over alternate routes and options.

Editor's Note:  Don't know how it would effect global warming, but I do know how it would affect our dependence on foreign oil....so, I guess that is the side I'm on....I guess.