Two workers for a Border Patrol contractor were arrested for allegedly conspiring to release illegal immigrants for $2,500 apiece instead of returning them to Mexico. Christopher Saint Lucero and Manley Lamont Smith work for Wackenhut Corp., which holds a contract to escort illegal immigrants to Mexico after they are captured by Border Patrol agents in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
It was unclear how long the alleged scheme lasted and how many illegal immigrants were released on U.S. soil. According to court documents, Saint Lucero told a colleague that he had been involved in about 10 smuggling attempts.
The men were arrested Sunday after Saint Lucero allegedly escorted a group of illegal immigrants from the Border Patrol's Chula Vista station in suburban San Diego to the border in Tijuana, Mexico. According to a statement of probable cause, Mexican authorities refused to admit two who identified themselves as Salvadorans. One was an undercover agent.
Authorities say Saint Lucero then brokered the deal to get the two men to Los Angeles. Smith allegedly met them at the Border Patrol station in a company vehicle and offered to hide them.
Saint Lucero and Smith were expected to make an initial court appearances Wednesday, said Debra Hartman, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office in San Diego. The charge against them, conspiracy to transport illegal immigrants, is a felony. Hartman did not have contact information for their attorneys, and neither man had a San Diego telephone listing. Wackenhut has suspended both men.
Marc Shapiro, a Wackenhut senior vice president, said the smuggling arrests are the first since the contract began in 2006. Wackenhut has escorted illegal immigrants back to Mexico more than 1 million times. "This has to be put in context of those numbers," Shapiro said.
Wackenhut is a subsidiary of British-based security giant G4S PLC. According to its Web site, the Border Patrol contract is for $250 million over five years. Wackenhut, based in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., is cooperating with investigators, Shapiro said. Hiring background checks turned up no criminal history for either employee.
A Border Patrol spokesman, Richard Smith, declined to comment.
The arrests are the latest in a string of corruption cases that have unsettled the Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection, which oversees border crossings. A border inspector in San Diego was charged last month with allowing motorists to pass through his booth with illegal immigrants and marijuana in their vehicles.
#3
The guys who can come up with $2500 are the ones we really want to keep out of here. These are going to be the hardcore criminals, smugglers, Mexican Mafia and MS-13 gang bangers.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
06/04/2008 14:23 Comments ||
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Actor George Clooney has praised the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces in a new public service announcement marking their 60th anniversary. The actor - who was designated a United Nations Messenger of Peace earlier this year - is featured in a segment entitled Peace Is Hard. Clooney's voice is heard over a video of soldiers in the UN forces as they carry out peacekeeping missions throughout the world. He says in the clip: "Peace is certainly more than a celebrity endorsement. Peace is protecting civilians, overseeing elections and disarming ex-combatants in places others can't or won't go."
#3
Yep, deep in corruption, incompetence, and human rights violations by its members and bureaucrats, all of which Mr. Clooney et al would denounce the American Bush administration if it exhibited 1/100th of the same, go ahead George, show us principles.
(Xinhua) -- An earthquake with magnitude of 6.0 rocked East Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia on Wednesday morning, the country's meteorology agency said here.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/04/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Two large EM sparks-bursts observed in skies over Agana + southern Guam.
More than 1 million people still don't have adequate food, water or shelter a month after a devastating cyclone swept through Myanmar, and the military junta's policies are hindering relief efforts and driving up the cost of aid operations, the United Nations said Tuesday.
Don't worry, help is on the way: the staff at the New Republic want us to invade. Seriously.
Humanitarian groups say they continue to face hurdles from Myanmar's military government in sending disaster experts and vital equipment into the country. As a result, only a trickle of aid is reaching the storm's estimated 2.4 million survivors, leaving many without even basic relief.
Compounding these problems, the junta's refusal to allow the use of military helicopters from neighboring countries is driving up relief costs, an official from the World Food Program said.
Aid groups are unable to provide 1.1 million survivors with sufficient food and clean water, while trying to prevent a second wave of deaths from malnutrition and disease, the U.N. said in its latest assessment report.
Of the 1.3 million people who are getting help, most have been "reached with inconsistent levels of assistance," the U.N. said. "There remains a serious lack of sufficient and sustained humanitarian assistance for the affected populations," the report said. It also said the world body lacked "a clear understanding of the support being provided by the Government of Myanmar to its people."
It's shocking that cyclone victims still need basic relief after four weeks, said Sarah Ireland, regional director of the British aid organization Oxfam, which is trying to get permission to work in Myanmar. "If we were in a normal response by week four, those affected should be working toward recovery," she said Monday. "They would be in a position perhaps to think about what they need to restart their lives. But we know people on the ground don't have food to eat."
Posted by: Fred ||
06/04/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
ION REDDIT/FREEREPUBLIC/NEWSCIENTIST > NUCLEAR BLAST AT CENTRE OF SICHUAN EARTHQUAKE. Pre-Quake Nuke Test = NUcFac? versus Quake-caused Radiation Damage???; + SCARY DETAILS OF SICHUAN EARTHQUAKE REVEALED. Ground estim to had shifted approxi 5.0 feet [shoulder-height] in [milli?]seconds???
That NR piece is hilarious, even the Libtards are shocked by the stupidity.
Sorry, but I won't be donating anything to anyone that hasn't shown the will and resolve to try and solve their own problems, starting with deposing the tyrants
#3
As long as the usual suspects don't want to solve the real underlying problem, it'll continue. I guess the big beef is that this greatly limits them on the platform which to exhibit their personal moral deficit superiority.
A "lull" in global warming over the next decade should not be misinterpreted as meaning that the greenhouse effect has stopped, German researchers warn.
"That last research grant ain't gonna last our whole lives, ya know!!!! We won't stand for a "lull" in our gravy train, capische?"
North Atlantic sea surface temperatures may actually decrease slightly in the next decade, according to the researchers with Germany's Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences in Kiel. Their paper also suggests global surface temperatures may not actually increase either. But they caution that their findings should not be interpreted to mean that global warming has stopped.
On the contrary, the "lull" is only a temporary phenomenon associated with ocean currents, writes Dr. Noel Keenlyside in the report published in Nature. The effect of rising fossil fuel emissions will mean that warming will accelerate again after 2015 when natural trends in the oceans veer back towards warming, according to the German researchers' computer model. "Our prediction is that there will be no warming until 2015 but it will pick up after that," Keenlyside says.
"Coincidentally, our mortgages are scheduled to reset in 2015. Strictly coincidentally."
The new computer model attempts to predict what might happen to the climate of the North Atlantic over a period of decades. It suggests the temperature of the sea and Europe and North America may cool slightly. The Kiel researchers say the North Atlantic has variability on a 70 to 80-year cycle and the meridional overturning circulation (MOC), a giant "conveyor belt" which brings warm water northwards into the area, had an important role to play in driving those fluctuations.
When the circulation is strong, it creates warmer temperatures.
Continued on Page 49
#1
REDDIT > VARIOUS- SCIENTISTS WORRIED OVER SPOTLESS SUN/LACK OF SUNSPOTS; + RUMORMILLNEWS > OUR SPOTLESS SUN - HERALDING A NEW ICE AGE?
FYI, AS EXAMPLE > THIS WEEK > here on Guam, while the weekdaya thus far appear nice, clear and white sunny, INTERIOR LIGHT DEFLECTIONS = BOUNCING RICCOCHETS vv REFLEC SHINY SURFACES-MIRRORS SHOW A RED = DEEP RED PRISM.
AN OTHERWISE BEAUTIFUL TROPICAL GUAM DAY = also RED/DEEP RED as per multi-point/source light aural or prismic reflections. This did NOT occur 1970's - 1990's.
NOT ONLY PRISMIC BUT ALSO OPTICAL-VISUAL, at least in my case.
#2
REDDIT > VARIOUS- SCIENTISTS WORRIED OVER SPOTLESS SUN/LACK OF SUNSPOTS; + RUMORMILLNEWS > OUR SPOTLESS SUN - HERALDING A NEW ICE AGE?
FYI, AS EXAMPLE > THIS WEEK > here on Guam, while the weekdaya thus far appear nice, clear and white sunny, INTERIOR LIGHT DEFLECTIONS = BOUNCING RICCOCHETS vv REFLEC SHINY SURFACES-MIRRORS SHOW A RED = DEEP RED PRISM.
AN OTHERWISE BEAUTIFUL TROPICAL GUAM DAY = also RED/DEEP RED as per multi-point/source light aural or prismic reflections. This did NOT occur 1970's - 1990's.
NOT ONLY PRISMIC BUT ALSO OPTICAL-VISUAL, at least in my case.
#3
REDDIT > VARIOUS- SCIENTISTS WORRIED OVER SPOTLESS SUN/LACK OF SUNSPOTS; + RUMORMILLNEWS > OUR SPOTLESS SUN - HERALDING A NEW ICE AGE?
FYI, AS EXAMPLE > THIS WEEK > here on Guam, while the weekdaya thus far appear nice, clear and white sunny, INTERIOR LIGHT DEFLECTIONS = BOUNCING RICCOCHETS vv REFLEC SHINY SURFACES-MIRRORS SHOW A RED = DEEP RED PRISM.
AN OTHERWISE BEAUTIFUL TROPICAL GUAM DAY = also RED/DEEP RED as per multi-point/source light aural or prismic reflections. This did NOT occur 1970's - 1990's.
NOT ONLY PRISMIC BUT ALSO OPTICAL-VISUAL, at least in my case.
#6
Meanwhile in the real world as opposed to the Playstation world of the models. May UAH global temps are out. Cooling continues, particularly in the Tropics, where May is now the coolest monthly anomaly in 20 years.
#11
Okay let's imagine that they are right, that there is man made global warming and that there is a lull.
That means that in global warming there are two components: the upwards component and a cyclic component.
Since ther cyclic component was never integrated in past forecasts that means thet future rise has been grossly overstimated. Or said in other words that the temperature level forecast for 2100 will not be reached until several centuries later. By then technology will have changed so much that what we make in 2008 is irrelevant. Like if our ancestors had dug giant pits for coollecting the zillion tons of horse manure they thought we would nbe producing.
#12
Does anyone know exactly what date range they're using for this warming "trend"?
I've seen all sorts of dates but no one answer. Afterall it was hot in the '30s and then got cooler. We haven't had warming since '98 so this lull looks to be 20 or so years long.
If they started counting right after they got over the cooling scare of the '70s then this lull/cooling will have been longer than the warming.
Nah, you just have to run it through the Joe Translator. For example:
"INTERIOR LIGHT DEFLECTIONS = BOUNCING RICCOCHETS vv REFLEC SHINY SURFACES-MIRRORS SHOW A RED = DEEP RED PRISM."
Translates as:
"Wow. Dude. Look at the colors!"
Posted by: Steve ||
06/04/2008 12:20 Comments ||
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#14
But Obama declared it is the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal.
I saw it with my own eyes and there was a litany of Angelic past presidents led by Abe Lincoln circling in the background, so it must be true. And he hasn't even signed Kyoto yet. Imagine how much more "lulling" that's going to cause.
(Xinhua) -- The management of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) is set to lay off about 2,500 of its workforce, who refused to cash in on the window of voluntary retirement at the end of last month.
The Lagos-based This Day newspaper on Tuesday reported that more than 1,000 members of staff were either laid off or had voluntarily retired at the close of work on May 30.
It was learnt that the outstanding workforce of 5,000 prefer trying their luck on either being laid off or retained.
The state-run Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) confirmed on Monday that a moratorium was placed on the exercise, but could not confirm if it had been lifted.
The retrenchment exercise is however not going down well with the NNPC, the joint venture partners of the Anglo Dutch company, as management had earlier claimed that it was not formally notified by Shell before the commencement of the exercise.
The NNPC had admitted that the Nigerian federal government was taken aback at the planned restructuring by Shell, expressing worry that transparency might be lost in the process if the exercise was actualized by the Anglo Dutch company.
The Managing Director of Shell, Mutiu Summonu, had earlier explained that the downsizing would save the company over 200 million U.S. dollars annually.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/04/2008 00:00 ||
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#2
Marginal old fields require a lot of manpower for relatively little return. Add the costs of kidnapping and terrorism. Then realize that a lot of operating contracts change over to a fixed dollars/barrel 'profit' to the operating company with all the oil price generated profit going to the governent and the political graft and patronage positions associated with it. It makes better sense to return the assets to the government and walk away, and invest your capital and quality manpower elsewhere (e. g. NW
shelf of Australia.)
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe defended land policies blamed for devastating his country's agricultural sector, asserting at a U.N. food summit Tuesday that the West was trying to cripple the nation's economy.
Mugabe's presence at a summit addressing high global food prices sparked protests from some world leaders. He is blamed for the economic collapse of a country once considered a regional breadbasket and Zimbabweans increasingly are unable to afford food and other essentials.
Zimbabwe is not subject to broad sanctions affecting ordinary citizens. Western sanctions are targeted instead at the president and several dozen close associates.
Mugabe nonetheless contended that his policies of redistributing land taken from large farmholders were "warmly welcomed by the vast majority of our people" and the sanctions aim to "cripple Zimbabwe's economy and thereby effect illegal regime change in our country."
"The United Kingdom has mobilized her friends and allies in Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand to impose illegal economic sanctions against Zimbabwe," he said.
U.S. State Department spokesman Tom Casey criticized Mugabe's attendance at the summit, saying his "misrule" serves as "an example of what not to do in terms of managing agricultural and food policy."
Australia's foreign minister decried Mugabe's participation as "obscene". The Dutch ministry for overseas development pledged to ignore the ruler.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/04/2008 00:00 ||
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#2
meanwhile, Hotair reports: "Zimbabwe police detained Morgan Tsvangirai and his entourage, not long after Tsvingarai agreed to return to Zimbabwe to contest the run-off election on June 27th"
cue the surprise meter
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/04/2008 13:14 Comments ||
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The Congolese government has closed down the Belgian consulates in the cities of Bukavu and Lubumbashi indefinitely. The reopening of the consulates will depend on the development of the strained relations between Belgium and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Relations between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Belgium have become strained in May. In May, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht upset the Congolese authorities by insisting on greater transparency in economic affairs and more action against corruption when he was in Congo. De Gucht further upset the Congolese authorities when he went on to comment that Belgium has the moral rights to demand more ethical behaviour in Congo in a TV interview two weeks ago.
And who would know more about morality in the Congo than the Belgians ...
The Congolese authorities accused De Gucht of neo-colonial behaviour. De Gucht however feels that his approach is the only way of changing the situation in the Congo for the benefit of the people.
Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme regrets the Congolese decision to move ahead to actually close down consulates. [He] is in favour of a constructive dialogue with the Congolese authorities to return relations to normal.
The vice president of a Venezuelan newspaper was shot and killed by a gunman who police said could have confused the victim for his brother the president of a daily that has closely covered corruption cases.
Pierre Fould Gerges, vice president of the Reporte Diario de la Economia, was shot about a dozen times by an assassin on a motorcycle Monday night, newspaper editor Jose Palmar told the Venezuelan broadcaster Union Radio. "Everything indicates it was a hit," Palmar said, adding the 48-year-old was shot about a dozen times and that the gunman stole nothing during the attack outside a Caracas gas station.
The possible motives remain unclear, but the victim's brother Tannous Fould Gerges is the newspaper's president and has reported receiving threats while the newspaper has covered corruption cases. Police said the Fould had been driving his brother's car when he was killed on Monday night, raising the possibility his killer confused him with the newspaper's president.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/04/2008 00:00 ||
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"A slave stood behind the conqueror, holding a golden crown, and whispering in his ear a warning: That all glory is fleeting."
Oh, woe is she! Just ask Hillary.
Or Bill, or the legion of hard-core Clinton boosters who think just about everything that went wrong with her campaign is the fault of bad luck or someone else.
Where to start? Even before there was a campaign, her soon-to-be handlers moaned about the fawning coverage Barack Obama was getting. (John Edwards griped about it, too.) That was pretty much it, until things started to go wrong last October when she flubbed debate questions over then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer's illegal immigration policy.
Starting the following day, Team Clinton developed a list of complaints almost as long as the marathon primary battle:
She accused her rivals of "piling on" because she was the front-runner.
She said last month sexist attacks on her have been "deeply offensive to millions of women."
The media was unfair to her - and too easy on Obama. Just Monday, Bill Clinton denounced an unflattering story on him as part of "the national media's attempt to nail Hillary" and railed, "This has been the most rigged coverage in modern history."
Debate moderators were unfair to her. "Can I just point out that in the last several debates, I seem to get the first question all the time?" she griped in February.
Most politicos would love to get the first question each time and thus frame that night's debate ...
Caucus-state rules were undemocratic and favored Obama's activist supporters.
Obama outspent her.
The Clintons were unfairly accused of playing the race card.
Old pals like Ted Kennedy and Bill Richardson stabbed her in the back by endorsing Obama.
If only Democrats had winner-take-all rules in states like the GOP does, she'd be the nominee.
Last Saturday's party ruling on the Florida-Michigan mess cheated her.
Analysts think the campaign's biggest problems were internal: its failures in message and strategy. But most see some elements of truth in her complaints. "There are degrees of plausibility and veracity," said Prof. Doug Muzzio of Baruch College. "There is sexism, the love affair with Obama - it's not just made up."
There was no failure in either message or strategy. Hillary delivered her message. She went to each state. She thumped her drum good and loud. The Dhimmis heard her and decided (narrowly) they preferred an untried, rookie, smooth-talking, hard-left foot-in-his-mouth greenhorn to putting the Clintonistas back in power. Can't say I blame them.
#2
If years ago Hillary would have had the cajones to dump her narcissistic, philandering husband, she would probably have been the Democratic nominee.
But alas, blind ambition and a genuine lack of moral principles and self respect contributed to her own undoing.
#6
While I despise Obama with a passion, I hate this bitch and her criminal husband even worse. If there was any justice in American politics, both of them would be in the Supermax for life.
Posted by: Thaimble Scourge of the Pixies4707 ||
06/04/2008 18:20 Comments ||
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#8
If years ago Hillary would have had the cajones to dump her narcissistic, philandering husband, she would probably have been the Democratic nominee.
But alas, blind ambition and a genuine lack of moral principles and self respect contributed to her own undoing.
Serious political wisdom there^^. So I'm quoting it, so skimmers don't miss it.
Posted by: George Smiley ||
06/04/2008 19:54 Comments ||
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Jim Geraghty, "Campaign Spot" @ National Review. liveblogging Hillary's speech last night
She's not done yet, but so far... Hillary's not conceding anything. She just made a reference to "count every vote," which would suggest she's not at peace with the DNC decision on Michigan and Florida.
Fighting on to the convention?
UPDATE: She tells the tale of a woman who arrived at an event hours early to give her a rosary. Translation: "I can appeal to Catholics, while Father Michael Pfleger's buddy can't."
"I make no decisions tonight." She wants people to visit her web site and help her decide what to do next.
Can you see what's next? "I wanted to concede, but my supporters didn't want me to."
I am a Democrat. If he can't stand up to her and caves the VP slot to her, I vote McCain. This is his first real test. I can't believe the Clintons. Such a despicable family the country have never known.
It sounds like Obama kept all of the praise for Hillary in the speech, even though she threw down the gauntlet in hers. She basically said that his verbal commitments from the superdelegates, along with two bucks, will get him a cup of coffee at Starbucks. She bragged that she had more votes, reminded everyone that she carried the swing states, jabbed at the Michigan and Florida decision, and invited her supporters to give her an excuse to remain in the race...
#2
Dang, that woman won't listen to anyone.
She thinks if she stinks up the joint in Denver, BO will put her on the ticket.
Talk about a deathwish!!!
Putting her as the VP candidate is the worst choice since McGovern put the Bi Polar Senator as his choice for VEEP.
I won't even talk about that cypher that George H W Bush had as a VP...he could have had Elizabeth Freaking Dole as a VP and that would have guaranteed him eight years and no Slick Willie...
Dang with Liz Dole as VP, I would have been out of a job a long time ago.
Boy Howdy, this talking head game is fun.
I wonder if BO needs a chief of staff? I have a resume around here somewhere.........NAW, McCain wouldn't hire me as his boot black much less a member of his staff.
Dang
Posted by: James Carville ||
06/04/2008 11:11 Comments ||
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#3
Hildebeast doesn't want to be VP.
She wants to be Prez.
Notice all this talk about her being VP comes from everyone but her. She doesn't want it.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/04/2008 12:28 Comments ||
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#4
Hildebeast doesn't want to be VP.
That's why BO would have to spend all of his time watching his back. He'd be a fool to put himself in that position.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
06/04/2008 14:41 Comments ||
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#5
you know, i think the biggest sign that hillary! is unfit for public office is that she's willing to hire james carville.
#6
I hope someone remembers that when this started, there were good, decent, & capable men in the running for the Dems; how did the Dems end up with two flawed candidates? Ignorance and black radicalism vs. Lady McBeth and Chinese "paid for by China" money.
#7
DRUDGE/FREEREPUBLIC > HILLARY planning to concede this Friday???
FOX NEWS AM + MSNBC > OBAMA's biggest single problem wid US Voters is that HE IS TOO INEXPERIENCED = TOO MUCH A "GREEN-/CREAMPUFF" POLITICALLY, AND ALL OF THE NON-FEMME POSSIB DEM MALE CANDIDATES FOR VEEP, EVEN YOUNG ONES, ARE NOT = HAVE STRONGER/BETTER POL RECORDS THAN BARACK DOES.
In any case, THE NUCLEARIZATION OF IRAN + RADICAL ISLAM-TERROR [Preemptive/Limited First Strike level] WILL LIKELY OCCUR DURING THE TENURE OF DUBYA'S SUCCESSOR [2008-2012].
*FREEREPUBLIC/YAHOO NEWS > AL QAEDA No.2 CALLS FOR HOLY WAR TO BREAK GAZA SIEGE. Message includes demands for EGYPT to allow Islamist fighters to enter Gaza [IMPLIED "OR ELSE"!] and liberate Pales. lands. IMO, ZAWI IS INDIR/COVERTLY WARNING EGYPT TO COMPLY OR FACE ISLAMIST INSURGENT MILACTIONS???
#8
SAME > BREAKING - looks like HILLARY may only SUSPEND her campaign after this Friday, Reportedly still intends to keep her delegates and other open option.
OLMERT was on FOX NEWS [AIPAC Confab] stating emphatically that ISRAEL WILL NOT - READ HIS LIPS, N-O-T - ACCEPT OR TOLERATE AN ISLAMIST IRAN WID A NUCLEAR BOMB, AND IHO NEITHER SHOULD THE REST OF THE WORLD.
Besides the NUCLEARIZATION OF IRAN + RADICAL ISLAMISM-TERROR, etal. looks like POTUS OBAMA? or POTUS MCCAIN will also have a pending ISRAELI-IRANIAN/ISLAMIST CONFLICT [Limited Nuclear?] on their radar 2008 NLT 2010.
* OTOH, FOX NEWS > TAMMY BRUCE - wasn't impressed wid MCAIN's speech vv Obama last nite.
TMZ has obtained a copy of a demand letter from Gina Gershon to Vanity Fair. Make no mistake - she's pissssed. Vanity Fair just published a pretty scandalous story about Prez Bill Clinton. The demand letter claims the article "outrageously insinuates that Ms. Gershon has had an inappropriate sexual relationship with President Clinton. This is absolutely false." The letter demands "a retraction and correction."
Gershon's lawyers from the bulldog firm Lavely & Singer noted that "Gershon has only been in the same room as President Clinton on three occasions," all with many others present. The lawyers take a shot at Vanity Fair, claiming, "Rumor-mongering was substituted for fact-checking."
This article starring:
Gina Gershon
Posted by: Fred ||
06/04/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
"I want to say one thing to the American people. I want you to listen to me. I'm going to say this again: I did not have sexual relations with that dessicated old has-been ex-president who gets his C!al!s from Canadian spam pharmacies."
To be followed, a few months from now, by:
"I did have a relationship with Miss Lewinsky's former boyfriend that was not appropriate. In fact, it was wrong. It constituted a critical lapse in judgment and a personal failure on my part for which I am solely and completely responsible."
Posted by: Mike ||
06/04/2008 8:37 Comments ||
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#2
Gina is far too hot for Bill
Posted by: john frum ||
06/04/2008 9:06 Comments ||
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#3
I was just thinking how his tastes have improved.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/04/2008 9:15 Comments ||
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#4
More of the press carrying water for Obama, by slandering Bill and Friends of Bill.
Its scary how our supposedly "free" press has voluntarily become an organ of the Obama campaign, and is pumping out one-sided and unture things to support Obama.
They are derelict in their duty in reporting on Iraq, now their dereliction continues in their partisan support of Obama.
The mainstream press in the US needs to be destroyed and rebuilt. It is not doing its job of objectively reporting FACTS to the people.
#5
Actually Gina turned Slick Willie down flat.
She doesn't like cigars and thinks men with bi-pass surgery and anger management problems are a bad bed partner risk....stains the satin sheets you know.
I hate to say it but Billy shot his bolt when he did his "boink me for your hubby's pardon" gig a while back.
Posted by: James Carville ||
06/04/2008 11:14 Comments ||
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#6
"Rumor-mongering was substituted for fact-checking."
Congratulation, someone just defined 21st Century MSM.
#2
If the Clintons are anything, they're calculating. 'If' she's playing this game, she's already come to the conclusion that Obama can't make it in November. She'll return to her secure Senate seat for some more years of far more power than the VP office. This contrition makes up for the depth of the fight the last six months and repair alliances for another shot at 2012.
#5
Obama looked pretty unhappy during his speech last evening. Something tells me he's been given the word to take the Hilderbeast. Slick will no doubt end up with a cushy Ambo appointment in the Philipines. Look out Ermita. LBFM's get ready!
Interesting how the one part of Iraq that's most like the West is doing so well ...
DUBAI Damac Properties yesterday announced a new project in Kurdistan that will require a total investment of Dh55 billion in three phases of development. The first phase of the project Tarin Hills Development encompassing 170 million square feet in Erbil will start by the year-end, and includes residential, commercial and hospitality buildings.
Damac Chairman Hussain Sajwani said the new project is fully owned and developed by Damac in cooperation with the government of Kurdistan. Phase one will cost $4.5 billion.
Damac, which has ongoing projects in seven countries and business operations across 20 countries, will eventually borrow funds from banks but will launch the Erbil project using own resources, Sajwani said in the presence of Nechirvan Barzani, Prime Minister of Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq, and several ministers from the region.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/04/2008 00:00 ||
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Microsoft has given another lease of life to Windows XP only days before PC makers have to stop selling it. Windows XP reaches its end of life on 30 June but Microsoft has now said it can continue being sold until June 2010 but only on cheap desktops.
The decision follows one made in April to extend the life of XP on low cost laptops until the same date.
It comes as Dell, HP and Lenovo exploit loopholes in Microsoft's licensing terms to keep putting XP on machines...
#1
XP is boon to keeping the mom and pop local computer stores in business as those who don't want Vista opt out by getting a 'custom' made machine near the dump Walmart price mark on HP's et al, along with avoiding the crap the OEMs load on the machines.
#2
The decision to restrict XP to low cost machines to promote Vista on more expensive machines contributes to Apple's 66% marketshare for PC's costing more than $1,000 and why Microsoft is singing the Vista blues.
#4
My friend built a PC from the ground up with the intent of loading Vista on it and he praises the OS. I think the problems are mostly from people installing Vista on machines sold prior to Vista that were supposed to be able to handle it, and those that added older peripherals that didn't have adequate drivers (no excuse but that's not Microsoft's fault).
I work for Sun and have a Mac so I'm hardly a Windows lover, I just haven't seen the trouble I'd expected.
#5
I bought a PC for my son and it came with Vista pre-installed. Having become accustomed to XP and all the preceding versions of Windows, I was annoyed and frustrated numerous times on it because it's different in a lot of ways. I found the most annoying thing is the way it questions everything you do.
Vista: "Do you really wanna run this application?"
Me: Uh, yeah. And, BTW, STFU!
One thing I will say for Microsoft is that their constant demand for every increasing processor speeds, memory and disk space have driven companies like Intel, AMD and others to produce some really incredible hardware.
Maybe by 2010 Microsoft will have learned the painful lessons of Vista and will be ready with a new version of their bloatware. In the meantime I'd prefer to stick with XP.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
06/04/2008 16:50 Comments ||
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#6
I have both Vista and XP units. XP is way better. I don't dare put pass codes or security restrictions on Vista, because it misreads same. One hour after I set it up, I tried to drag a file to the Rec. Bin; a message told me that I would need Administrative privilege to do that even though it was a notepad file that I created. Dell had to cease outsources Tech service to India, after Vista systems were on the market; there were too many users trying to wade through those heavy accents. Other problems are too numerous to count. However, their "public" file system for access between multiple users is superior to XP.
#7
Recent independent (I think it was Ziff Davis Tech Notes) benchmarks of Vista with SP1 vs. XP with SP3 show a wash in performance. XP is still better at copying large files, but not something most of us would notice. Vista is prettier, with more knobs to turn and buttons to push. Vista was a dog before it got patched when first released. I use Vista now more than XP.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike ||
06/04/2008 17:02 Comments ||
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#8
IOW, and iff GUAM is any measure, Microsoft may be recognizing that XP remains highly popular everywhere and has years left to go in sales.
That said we buy the computers with a Vista Lic and reimage before deploying, holding the rights to both OS.
Posted by: George Smiley ||
06/04/2008 20:03 Comments ||
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#10
I think the best way for Microsoft to sell a future OS is to make them ala carte.
To start with, give away a disk that does a complete system diagnosis and connects the user to MS.
Then users go down a very complex menu, which would also show dependencies, and select only those parts of the system they wanted. Experts users could also post their own itemized lists for things like "business", and "gaming".
This would be added to the diagnosis of the computer to insure hardware compatibility.
The entire OS would be modular, and once selected, it would be assembled and downloaded for installation, either to the hard drive or an OS chip on the motherboard.
Big, huge chunks of the OS would not be popular for most users. Things like DRM would be required for corporate use for liability reasons, but home users would want nothing to do with it.
Every software package out there would also have to list its dependencies, so the user could d/l them from MS before installation. It would also be a good discriminator, if two similar softwares had very different dependencies, you could select the simpler one.
In this way, Microsoft could again give the customers what they wanted, instead of what some marketing guy, who came up with both "Bob" and "Clippy" *thinks* they want.
#11
I have supported Windows professionally for years and when I get a new computer, it will be Linux or Apple. No way to Vista! Too many issues with the OS's approach to DRM licensing, the whole security settings clusterf*ck, the fact that a bad update downloaded from the Microsoft Server can lock you out of your system, etc.
#12
I am going to treat Vista the way I do Internet Explorer - not on my system! I run Firefox for a browser - much more reliable, does not need huge updates every other week, and does not have security holes in it left from the version put out 5 years ago.
#13
I switched to Firefox, except for my work email, which uses Outlook. If I use Firefox, it forces me to Outlook Lite - with few of the utilities I have available under IE7
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/04/2008 22:43 Comments ||
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Smoke cigars, do a partial load of laundry, drink bottled water, and feel no shame. That's what a campaign against a carbon trading bill is urging.
B-u-u-u-u-u-u-u-rp!
The latest parody of the proliferation of "green" social networking sites and eco-friendly events comes via "Carbon Belch Day", a campaign from the conservative Grassfire.org alliance that encourages people to pollute as much as possible on June 12. So far, more than 140,000 people have signed a petition against "climate alarmism", according to Ron De Jong, spokesman for Grassfire.org. And if the effort attracts half a million people, it would lead to the release of 105,000,000 million pounds of carbon a week from this Thursday.
Thereby seriously pissing off the professional virtuous.
The effort is strong on shock value, yet weak on social networking and Web 2.0 tools, other than its "belch" calculator. There are no real-world events planned, so expect no sea of SUVs clogging freeways, other than the usual weekday bottlenecks.
Fire up your charcoal grill and the riding mower. Important safety tip: Do not use your charcoal grill while riding the mower!
There are few things that hurt worse than a lap full of glowing charcoal!
The point, instead, is a political campaign to get people to oppose the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act, which would establish a corporate carbon cap-and-trade system, but is already threatened by a promised White House veto. "Somehow, this bogus idea of environmental indulgences has become accepted as a real and valid way to deal with our Carbon Guilt," De Jong wrote in an e-mail.
This article starring:
Ron De Jong
Posted by: Fred ||
06/04/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
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#1
And if the effort attracts half a million people, it would lead to the release of 105,000,000 million pounds of carbon a week from this Thursday.
Somebody's math seems to be off here a little. It would mean that half a million people each release 210 million pounds of carbon in one day. Unless everyone personally sets off a volcano in their back yard, that seems unlikely.
Of course, a volcano in your back yard would probably hurt worse than a lap full of glowing charcoal.
Posted by: Rambler in California ||
06/04/2008 12:00 Comments ||
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#2
Making CO2 is the most green thing you can do!
After all chlorophyll(green) is for eating that tasty CO2.
CHICAGO (CBS) ― CBS 2 News has learned that Francis Cardinal George is temporarily removing Father Michael Pfleger from his position as pastor of St. Sabina Roman Catholic Church on Chicago's South Side. CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports the move comes after several days of deliberation and consultation by the Cardinal, who first learned about Pfleger's racially charged comments about senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton from the pulpit of Trinity Unity Church of Christ last Thursday night.
The Cardinal immediately contacted Pfleger who agreed not to refer to the presidential candidates by name, but as CBS 2 reported at the time, there remained the possibility of some further disciplinary action against Pfleger.
The Cardinal reportedly spoke to Pfleger again Tuesday morning. "I have asked Father Michael Pfleger, Pastor of St. Sabina's Parish, to step back from his obligations there," the Cardinal said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon, "and take leave for a couple of weeks from his pastoral duties, effective today."
The order requires Fr. Pflger to at least temporarily leave the rectory he's called home for the past 24 years. It's clear that Pfleger tried to fight the move.
"Fr. Pfleger does not believe this to be the right step at this time," the Cardinal's statement continued. "While respecting his disagreement, I have nevertheless asked him to use this opportunity to reflect on his recent statements and actions in the light of the Church's regulations for all Catholic priests." Those regulations ban the preaching of partisan politics.
The Cardinal also reached out to parishioners. "I hope also that the life of St. Sabina's parish may continue in uninterrupted fashion. I ask the members...to cooperate with [Father William Vanecko, who will temporarily replace Pfleger] and to keep him and Fr. Pfleger in their prayers. They are in mine," the Cardinal's statement said.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/04/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
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#1
this guy's been working as a priest for over 30 yrs and this is the first time anyone's noticed that he's a nutjob? Kind of hard to believe. Maybe someone ought remind him that God is colorblind. Hillary Clinton doesn't believe in her entitlement to being coronated POTUS because she's white, it's because that's the type of self-important delusional egotistical **** she is. Skin color has nothing to do with it imho. Pfleger is a disgrace. (and from his lisp prolly playing for the away team as well)
#2
IIRC, Catholic priests take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. The obedience is to their bishop, or the head of their order. Fr Pfleger has obviously not kept his vow of obedience.
He has been in trouble with the Archdiocese in the past - he adopted several young men (including Jarvis Franklin, who was killed) in direct defiance of the Cardinal.
I don't know why the Cardinal has not removed him before this.
Posted by: Rambler in California ||
06/04/2008 0:29 Comments ||
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#3
Pflegers replacement is Chicago Mayor Rich Daley's brother-in-law... what are the odds on that one? I bet those 'consultations' were with the Daley's and Barry Obama, not Canon Lawyers.
Remember, Barry Obama is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Daley political machine who can't wait to get their hands on Federal Patronage.
#4
Cardinal George is a weak hand, more like the loser Maloney in LA than a strong orthodox Cardinal like the ones in Pittsburgh and Denver.
And this is the price his flock pays: politicians pushing the church around, and pieces of crap like this "priest" who cares more about political friends and liberal politics than he does about his vows to God.
This whole thing stinks of machine politics. The pope needs to "retire" Cardinal George and replace him with a strong orthodox reformer.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Actor George Clooney has praised the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces in a new public service announcement marking their 60th anniversary. The actor - who was designated a United Nations Messenger of Peace earlier this year - is featured in a segment entitled Peace Is Hard. Clooney's voice is heard over a video of soldiers in the UN forces as they carry out peacekeeping missions throughout the world. He says in the clip: "Peace is certainly more than a celebrity endorsement. Peace is protecting civilians, overseeing elections and disarming ex-combatants
in places others can't or won't go."
(Xinhua) -- The management of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) is set to lay off about 2,500 of its workforce, who refused to cash in on the window of voluntary retirement at the end of last month. 
The vice president of a Venezuelan newspaper was shot and killed by a gunman who police said could have confused the victim for his brother the president of a daily that has closely covered corruption cases. 
TMZ has obtained a copy of a demand letter from 
Microsoft has given another lease of life to Windows XP only days before PC makers have to stop selling it. Windows XP reaches its end of life on 30 June but Microsoft has now said it can continue being sold until June 2010 but only on cheap desktops.
CHICAGO (CBS) ― CBS 2 News has learned that Francis Cardinal George is temporarily removing Father Michael Pfleger from his position as pastor of St. Sabina Roman Catholic Church on Chicago's South Side. CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports the move comes after several days of deliberation and consultation by the Cardinal, who first learned about Pfleger's racially charged comments about senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton from the pulpit of Trinity Unity Church of Christ last Thursday night. 
