Book Review: 'Zero Day' by David Baldacci

Zero Day by David Baldacci

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoy David Baldacci as an author. As such, I didn't have any problem listening to a new character that Baldacci introduces to his readers in Zero Day. John Puller is our hero ... a rather straight-forward man with a complicated family tree that includes a brother convicted of treason and locked up for life ... and a father who is going senile after retiring from the military with 2-stars and a powerful reputation with his troops.

This story revolves around a military mystery taking place in a small West Virginia town. We learn about the true meaning of 'coal country' as well as a unique epilogue to the 1960s cold-war mentality of the United States of America in the post-9/11 era.

I listened to the CDs while driving from Cincinnati-to-Tulsa ... and it made the drive an enjoyable (albeit long) one! I do recommend it for anyone that is a Baldacci fan ... or a West Virginia fan!

View all my reviews

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Megan Williams Says She Lied About West Virginia Rape and Torture Case

It hurts my heart to learn that Megan Williams lied about the torture she experienced at the hands of seven hillbillies from West Virginia. This blog took up her cause in a major way two years ago.

Villagers will recall that Williams told authorities in 2007 that she had been beaten, raped, forced to eat animal feces and taunted with racial slurs for days. She was supported in the process by her mom ... who has since passed away.

Seven white men and women were convicted in the case, and most are serving long prison terms.

We learned this week from Williams' attorney that his client fabricated the story to get back at a boyfriend who had beaten her up. The attorney, Byron Potts, said that Williams came forward because she no longer wants to live a lie. I guess Megan wanted to get out in front of the story in light of the backlash coming down on Balloon Boy's family for his hoax.



Potts encouraged West Virginia authorities to re-evaluate the case. Prosecutors in West Virginia have dismissed Williams' new claim, and lawyers for the defendants aren't discussing their plans.

This story is depressing for me. What are your thoughts?

This Week in Presidential Politics

Villagers, have you been watching the ebb and flow of presidential politics this week. Team Clinton had a wonderful night on Tuesday in West Virginia with a 40% whomping. The white working class folks that Pat Buchanan and Hillary Clinton have fallen in love with over the past couple of months came out in droves to support her on Tuesday night. Hillary showed up on a couple of morning shows the next day ... and that was about the last anyone heard of Team Clinton.

The next evening we saw the political universe begin to shift in favor of Barack Obama. Widely-televised endorsement from John Edwards, in which he proclaimed that 'President Barack Obama' would convert the 'two Americas', poor and wealthy ... into one America again. Edwards was rockin' and rollin' on that night. I imagine he was wistful about what could have been if Kerry had won in 2004 or if he had done better in Iowa in 2008.

The major steelworkers' union ... who previously endorsed Edwards ... declared their support for Obama. A major woman's group that advocates on behalf of the pro-Choice movement hurled their endorsement of Obama directly in the face of Hillary Clinton. The steady stream of super-delegates continue to flow towards Obama. He has 1,900 delegates (magic number: 2025) at the time of this writing. Very few superdelegates are coming out for Hillary Clinton.

Yesterday, President George W. Bush stepped all over John McCain's big 'vision' speech when he called out Obama as an 'appeaser' similiar in scope to those that appeased Adolph Hitler. Villagers, one of the rules in your public life should be that you never compare any human being to either Adolph Hitler. There is simply no upside to make that comparison. Bush showed that he will stoop as low as necessary to help his little buddy, McCain.

Obama was joined by every elected Democrat official in denouncing Bush for dissin' Obama while giving a speech on foriegn soil. That ain't cricket. Of course, republicans feel it is OK to bash Obama's family here in America ... like the Tennessee republicans are doing with Michelle Obama ... but, no internal political campaign battles should take place overseas. McCain didn't see it that way ... McCain co-signed Bush. That is what little buddies do!

Obama then slapped down Bush-McCain for their words and activity over the past couple of days. His slap-down was fun to watch. It appears that Obama is ready to debate foriegn policy with McCain right away. Bush-McCain are so wrong on so many levels.

One outcome for the week is that Hillary Clinton became more Huckabee-like ... in other words, she became irrelevant in this presidential campaign. She needs to quickly decide what she plans to do for her future ... cuz I see no way that she gets on an Obama ticket as vice president. I also don't see Obama supporting her over the African American governor of New York when that job comes up for election again. So, I think that Hillary needs to get her Senate office cleaned out ... that is likely to be her glass ceiling job for the remainder of her professional life.

Villagers ... that is my observation about this week in presidential politics. What say u?

Wordless Wednesday: Megan Williams

Remember The Name of Megan Williams

And never forget what happened...

Why a March to Support Megan Williams and Oppose Hate Crimes?

Villagers, the drums are beating about a historic National March taking place in Charleston, West Virginia on November 3, 2007. This call to action is to support young Megan Williams, who is the victim of one of the worst hate crimes in United States history. The March is also called to address an unacceptable rise in hate crimes and incidents of injustices currently perpetrated against Blacks or African Americans.

On September 12, 2007, and in subsequent preliminary hearings, it was revealed that Megan Williams, a twenty year old Black Woman, was lured into a nearby Logan county trailer house of hatred. Young Megan, who also has special disability needs, was repeatedly raped, choked, stabbed, forced to eat dog and rat feces as her six white tormentors berated her calling her "nigger" incessantly. Arrested are: Frankie Brewster, 49, and her son Bobby Brewster, 24., Karen Burton, 46; her daughter Alisha, 23; Danny Combs, 20, and George Messer, 27 –six whites from nearby Logan County, West Virginia.

According to evidence gathered, Megan was sodomized with a stick and a noose was tied around her neck for lengthy periods during this week long ordeal that is verified by confessions from several of the co-defendants. At one point, she was sexually assaulted while scalding water and melting hot wax from a candle was poured on her body. At another point she was forced to lick the toes of the sadistic defendants. She was stabbed in the leg at least four times and both of her ankles were cut by a female suspect who allegedly taunted her, saying, "This one is for Kunta Kinte, and that's what we do to niggers around here."

This is an ugly and outrageous ordeal. Prosecutors said. "Every time they stabbed her, they called her 'nigger."

Carmen Williams, the mother, told The Charleston Gazette. "She wakes up in the middle of the night screaming, 'Mommy.' What's really, really bad is, we don't know everything they did to her. She is crying all the time." No doubt, had she not been rescued they were going to kill her and throw her in a nearby lake.

"The Megan Williams case is beyond a doubt, one of the worst hate crimes in U.S. History. The Megan Williams case is even worse than the case of the Jena 6,"said Attorney Malik Shabazz Esq., Megan Williams Family Attorney and Spokesman for Black Lawyers For Justice.

Shabazz also said, "The number of outright hate crimes and injustice cases against Blacks is rising so rapidly it’s hard for our office to keep track of. We are calling for every concerned person in our community to respond to this national crisis with vigor and due diligence. The November 3rd March in Charleston is a big step in the direction of organizing to challenge the tide of attacks occurring against Blacks".

Villagers, spread the word about this national march ... and if you are near West Virginia on November 3rd ... please support the event in person! Bottomline? We need to stop the continued rape of our Black women in this country. Period.

Call to Action for Megan Williams: National March Against Hate Crimes

Villagers are encouraged to support the November 3rd National March Against Hate Crimes to be held in Charleston, WV. The march begins in front of West Virginia State University and concludes at the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston.

The purpose of this march is to bring national and statewide support to Charleston resident Megan Williams, the Williams Family and victims of other hate crimes nationwide. The Jena 6 case, the rise in the hanging of nooses and other current acts of injustices and intimidation against people of African descent will all be highlighted at this National March Against Hate Crimes. Families and victims of hate crimes that are occurring throughout the nation will attend. Black Lawyers For Justice, the Williams Family and organizers are demanding that Federal Hate Crimes charges be brought against the five hillbillies charged for rape, torture and kidnapping. They are also demanding Congressional hearings on hate crimes against African American citizens as well a wide range of actions to combat the growing attacks on African Americans around the country.

BLFJ and the Support Committee For Megan Williams are the primary organizers for this march. This march will be endorsed by at least 100 Black organizations, student groups, clergy and leaders of every stripe. You can reach out to BLFJ by phone (304.657-1493) or email (shabazzlaw@aol.com).

Police Brutality Does Not Require a Taser or Night Stick

Kanawha County has about the sleaziest sheriff in the nation. Sheriff Mike Rutherford read in the papers about Megan Williams, the West Virginia woman who has been the center of international media attention after her torturous ordeal of rape and torture earlier this month. Sheriff Rutherford didn't pray for her full recovery ... he didn't curse the six thugs that held her captive for over a week ... instead, he decided to arraign Ms. Williams on outstanding warrants that she had for writing bad checks.

Before the arraignment, Williams was placed in a holding cell. She screamed and cried for her mother. Her mother, Carmen Williams, made a rude gesture toward the cameras at the arraignment and later threatened to strike a member of the media. "I wish you all would go," Carmen Williams told the media.

The timing of this decision is troubling. I wonder if Sheriff Rutherford is related to the thugs that held Ms. Williams captive? Why else would he do this now, instead of waiting for Ms. Williams to fully recover from her injuries. I can understand why drivers in town flip their middle finger at Sheriff Mike Rutherford.

Sheriff Mike Rutherford is formally exiled from the Electronic Village.

Megan Williams Tortured for Over a Week in West Virginia

Villagers, I imagine that you are aware of the situation up in West Virginia where a sister was kidnapped and raped for over a week by six white thugs (including a mother, her son and her daughter). Deidra (Black and Missing Blog) has been provided regular updates on the investigation by the police. Click here for the latest update on the torture of Megan Williams.