Random thoughts on a chilly Thursday morning

This will be updated throughout the day.

Think Katrina was bad? Folks in New Orleans say the surge in crime, particularly murder, is worse.

Apple has record profits, thanks to the iPod. I don't know much about the iPod, but overall, I prefer a Mac to a Windows-based PC. I do miss the right mouse button and the scroll wheel on the Mac mouse, but overall, I prefer the Mac.

West Virginia legislators want to give themselves a raise, but they have to consider the political fallout, according to the AP. What fallout? Who's going to vote against someone based on the fact that someone decided to raid the public trough again? Actually, the legislators probably could use a raise, but I wouldn't want to be the person voting myself a raise while telling teachers, state troopers and other folks that they don't get one or they don't get the same 67 percent raise spread over two or three years.

How many people in this area are rooting for the Patriots to win it all again simply because of Number 80, Troy Brown? I know of at least one household.

Update 1: Let it rest, please. A Georgia mother wants to keep Harry Potter off the school library shelves because it promotes witchcraft. Putting aside the obvious question, I will say that I have read all six books in the series, and they make the wizarding world the last place I would want to live. Anyway, I prefer the Artemis Fowl series and its approach to fairies and magic. And I prefer the way Artemis Fowl has grown to the way Harry Potter has grown.

Update 2, as morning gives way to afternoon: A Weather Channel person wants the American Meterological Society -- the outfit that gives all those seals of approval to local tv weathercasters -- to kick out anyone who does not follow the company line on global warming. See here and here. I thought science was about pursuit of facts, not silencing those who disagree. And I thought the largest contributions to knowledge came from people who look at things differently and come to different conclusions. I guess I was wrong.

Update 3: Remember about a year ago when state health officials in Massachusetts said cigarettes have more nicotene than they used to? Well, Harvard researchers just confirmed it.