A Sunday feel-good story for sports/military fans
Rick Barnes (University of Texas) recently got back from an extended basketball road trip. During his seven-day trip, he didn't sign a single recruit. He picked up no inside knowledge about next season's team at Kansas or Texas A&M. Just as in March, his team didn't reach the Final Four this time, either. In fact, his team even lost to a team coached by a sportscaster.
But the Texas basketball coach landed something far more rewarding than his recent Elite Eight appearance. He gained eye-opening perspective.
Barnes was part of an 11-coach group to tour the Persian Gulf in Operation Hardwood II, which was designed to boost the morale of the American military and provide them a temporary respite from the overwhelming anxiety and high-level stress of the Iraq conflict. "They kept thanking us," said Martin Newton, Nike's college basketball sports marketer who made the trip. "But we kept going, 'No, you have it backward.' This was life-changing for these coaches."
Barnes and other high-profile NCAA Division I coaches, such as Kentucky's Tubby Smith and Michigan State's Tom Izzo, flew 18 hours to Camp Arifjan in Kuwait to take part in this goodwill mission sponsored by the USO, Armed Forces Entertainment and Nike.
#2
See? It isn't just those related to the military, and the natural hawks who get it. And their players back home will pick up on Coach's attitude, too.
Saudi women will have to continue to discuss their bra and panty sizes with male shop assistants for while. A June 1 government deadline for underwear shops across the conservative Muslim kingdom to replace their male sales staff with women has been postponed.
Some clerics are continuing to oppose the idea of women holding a job, while the government has said it is giving lingerie stores more time to hire female staff.
The deadline was announced last year in a bid to grant greater job opportunities for women. It was also meant to eliminate an inconsistency in a kingdom so puritanical it forces women to cover themselves from head to toe in public, does not allow them to travel unless accompanied by a close male relative, balks at the idea of women behind the wheel of a car - yet forces them to discuss their bodies with men.
At present, only a handful of all-female shopping malls in large cities cater to women seeking greater discretion. Men are not allowed to enter these centres and all the sales staff are women.
About 10 000 Saudi women have applied for jobs in lingerie shops, according to newspaper reports.
Labour Minister Ghazi al-Gosaibi said, "Based on pleas by shop owners... that they were unable to comply with the deadline, the ministry's decision is postponed until all the preparations are finalised."
The minister has been trying to balance the kingdom's obsession with tradition with growing economic and social pressures. His efforts have earned him the ire of Islamic hardliners, including al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who has termed him a "heretic".
More Saudis now seek jobs once considered menial amid a slowdown in growth that has seen the kingdom go from being an economic powerhouse providing cradle-to-grave benefits for all its citizens to a country still rich in oil but unable to provide jobs and security for all.
Most Saudis are still used to being served by a huge expatriate population of about five million people, many of whom work as maids and waiters, although some have qualified as engineers and doctors.
Lately, the government has been urging Saudis to get educated and snag some job experience on the grounds that the kingdom cannot afford to keep paying expatriates for jobs Saudis could do themselves. There have also been calls, rejected by the clergy, to allow women to contribute to the economy by working. About half of Saudi Arabia's 20 million people are female. Half of the total population is under 25.
#4
Do you have legions of alluring serving girls in diaphanous clothing, seductively feeding patrons from bunches of grapes, waving palm fronds and performing synchronized swimming in the pool, too?
Is there a signup sheet?
Maybe I'm confusing this with a Bohemian Club Meeting.
#5
As a Red-blooded AMERICAN male, my nostrils are flaring at the mere thought of damp diaphanous pantaloons in the 120 F. Degree, late Spring Mesopat. climate. That's HOT!
Posted by: as ||
06/11/2006 20:50 Comments ||
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#6
Mr. flyover, I'm quite, quite surprised at you! What have your silly fantasies to do with poor, dear Mr. 6 feeling faint? There, there, 6, I'll fetch you a nice cup of chamomile tea, while Mr. flyover prepares for his next meeting, or calls for a taxi to take himself to the airport or something.
RIYADH - A 70-year-old Saudi woman was briefly jailed after being detained by the religious police who suspected her motives for entering a shop owned by a man in a busy Riyadh market, a paper said on Saturday.
Members of the dreaded Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, known as Mutawas, descended on the shop in the capitals Al Deira market on Tuesday after the woman entered the shop while there was no one inside except the male owner, the Saudi-owned Al-Hayat daily reported. The commission suspected the woman was in unlawful seclusion with the owner despite the fact that the shops shutters were wide open, the paper said, employing a term commonly used in Saudi Arabias puritanical society to describe a sexual liaison.
"Dang it Granny, the windows are wide open! Don't! Stop! Don't! Stop! Don't Stop! Don't Stop ...
Quoting her nephew, the paper said the woman, who could barely walk, had gone missing after she went shopping.
"Uncle Ackmed, have you seen Grandma?"
"No, Mahmoud, not since she left the house for some sort of meeting."
"She ... left ... the house! Alone? Oh, Uncle, why did you let her go!?"
"She seemed rather pleased with herself."
Her family searched for her in hospitals and police stations all over the capital until they found her in a womans prison late Tuesday. She was later released.
"And I hope you're happy with yourself, Grandma!"
Mutawas, who are attached to the countrys powerful religious establishment, are charged with enforcing the ultra-conservative kingdoms strict Islamic moral code including the segregation of the sexes in public. The interior ministry issued a decree on May 25 aimed at reining in the Mutawas by requiring them not to interrogate detained suspects, as they previously did, but to hand them over to police.
Worked well, didn't it.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/11/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
Sheesh. To quote Jim Rockford:
"Does your mother know what you do for a living?"
The 25-year-old student at the University of Beijing completely lost control during a football match. After showering both the referee and spectators with abuse the Norwegian was shown the red card and ejected from the match.
The irritated Norwegian then responded by pulling down his shorts and showing the ref and crowd his buttocks. Both players and spectators were shocked by the gesture, newspaper Beijing News reports. The vulgar display caused the match to be suspended and the student now faces punitive action, which includes the possibility of being deported.
A 22-year-old Cronulla woman has been charged and a teenage boy has come forward in relation to the Cronulla riot after police released photographs of six people wanted for questioning over the December violence. The photographs of the six people, five men and one woman, were released by detectives from Strike Force Enoggera.
A police spokeswoman said the woman, who was pictured on the front page of a The Sunday Telegraph today, went to Hurstville police station around 1.15pm (AEST) where she was arrested by detectives from Strike Force Enoggera. Following questioning she was this evening charged with riot and affray and throw missile and will appear in Sutherland Local Court on July 6. She was allegedly among an angry mob who attacked people of Middle Eastern appearance at North Cronulla beach.
A 17-year-old male, also among the six pictured, attended Miranda police station shortly before 5pm (AEST) and was assisting police with inquiries into an incident at Cronulla railway station on Sunday December 11 in which two people were attacked in a railway carriage. Police have not heard yet from the remaining four males.
In the riot, bottles also were thrown at police officers, vehicles and an ambulance.
The arrest and questioning came after NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney defended the delayed release of the photographs. "I said at the time of the Cronulla riots and the post-Cronulla riots that these investigations would take as long as was required," he said. "They weren't set by timeframe and we will continue our investigations to identify those who were responsible for riotous behaviour and civil disorder.
"And we will continue our investigations to bring those responsible for that behaviour, which was completely unacceptable, and we'll bring them before the courts."
NSW opposition leader Peter Debnam today criticised the speed of the investigation, saying the NSW Government "consistently refuses to put the resources into locking those people up". Mr Debnam questioned why photographs of Middle Eastern men involved in reprisal attacks had not been released, and called on the government to offer $20,000 rewards for information leading to the conviction of offenders.
"I think it is about time a $20,000 reward was put up for each conviction, whether they were involved in the violence at the riot at Cronulla or whether they were Middle Eastern thugs (involved in the reprisal attacks)," he said. "Let's actually get serious about rounding these crims and thugs up.
"We saw this morning, photographs of six people from the Cronulla riots. We haven't seen the photographs of the 200 Middle Eastern thugs.
"I've always said that this Labor Government will not lock up Middle Eastern thugs."
Photographs released of 20 people earlier this year led to 16 males being arrested and charged, while inquiries are under way to identify the other four.
#2
Mr Debnam questioned why photographs of Middle Eastern men involved in reprisal attacks had not been released, and called on the government to offer $20,000 rewards for information leading to the conviction of offenders.
I've often asked myself the same question..
White Australians weren't the only mob involved in these race riots, but they are the one's who the police keep targeting.
A judge wants a psychologist to evaluate Alec Baldwin to determine whether he is fit to see his 10-year-old daughter more often as part of an ongoing custody battle with former wife Kim Basinger.
Superior Court Commissioner Maren E. Nelson said the question is whether the actor is attempting to turn the couple's child against Basinger.
"Whether that is taking place or not, I cannot determine," Nelson said. "Someone, an evaluator, needs to spend time with Ireland and the parents to work on that issue."
Neither actor attended Friday's court hearing.
Baldwin was given a week to accept the court-appointed psychologist or the judge said she would select another one.
In October, Basinger's attorney said Baldwin suffered from "severe emotional problems" and that he had been accused of domestic violence in the past.
Baldwin, 48, countered in court documents that the 52-year-old Basinger "has a pathological need" to turn their daughter against him. He also sought a psychological evaluation and parenting classes for Basinger.
The acting duo married Aug. 19, 1993. They separated in 2000 and divorced in 2002.
#2
someone in the press aptly described Angelides as a flashback to a faculty lounge from the 70's. As SPOD aptly sez: more gubbmint, more taxes, evil rich and businesses (except the greek developer supporting him) should pay for every insane program the bay-area Donks can dream up.
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/11/2006 16:42 Comments ||
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EAST PROVIDENCE --Saying Rhode Island doesnt need "a congressman who needs a babysitter," Rumford Republican Edmund Leather announced he will challenge Rep. Patrick Kennedy for the 1st District seat in the House of Representatives. Leather, 67, is a retired foreign service officer who was posted from Portugal to Switzerland to Jamaica and before that was a schoolteacher in Woonsocket.
Leather has called on Kennedy to resign his seat because of the congressmans public battle with addiction. "Hes an addict. He has been for 20 years," Leather said in an interview before his formal announcement. "Whether it is alcohol or drugs, he has had the best medical treatment. I dont think he belongs in Congress. He should resign. I think he cant take the pressure of being a Kennedy."
The remark about the babysitter comes from Kennedys statement to reporters after leaving a 28 day treatment regimen at the Mayo Clinic that followed an early-morning traffic mishap Kennedy was involved in near the Capitol building in early May. Kennedy said at a press conference that he has a strong support network in Washington D.C. and is building one in Rhode Island because "I cant follow my own instincts when it comes to this."
Speaking to about two dozen family, friends and supporters at the Metacomet Country Club on Thursday, Leather said, "Just the other day, he said he cant trust his own instincts. Well, neither can I." The line drew applause from his audience.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/11/2006 00:00 ||
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#2
yeah,but Patches will come out of this even more of a laughing stock than he currently is. The Kennedys have no shame and this boy passed his level of competence in Jr High
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/11/2006 9:30 Comments ||
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#3
Imagine for a moment (okay, you need a good imagination) that Patrick took everyone up on this -- calls a press conference and sez he's quitting Congress. Imagine the response from the press. Think he'd be lionized much?
Compare the response to his quitting to the response to any Republican leaving Congress under similar (or any other) circumstances.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/11/2006 10:17 Comments ||
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#4
The strain of a close election could "drive him to drinkin".
Solemn relatives of firefighters who died on 9/11 knelt quietly in front of their beautiful new memorial yesterday and took rubbings of their loved ones' names - names that were forged in fire and carved in timeless bronze to ensure they will never be forgotten. "It's perfect," said Rosemarie Langone, who lost two brothers, of the monument at the "10 House" near Ground Zero. "No matter what they build [at Ground Zero], it's not going to mean as much. That's for everybody, this is for us."
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani spoke at the unveiling ceremony while President Bush, Gov. Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg sent prerecorded video messages. He later blasted city, state and federal officials for failing to build a memorial at Ground Zero nearly five years after the terrorist attacks. "Forget about the buildings, the office space - that should all come second," he said. "The focus has to be on the memorial. Get it right. Future generations will respect us for that."
While politicians continue to dicker over the Ground Zero memorial, firefighters quietly built their own tribute to their 343 fallen brothers. Money was raised by law firm Holland & Knight, which lost one of its partners, volunteer firefighter Glenn Winuk, in the World Trade Center. "There's been much discussion of a memorial to be built over this hole in the ground that still stands after five years," said FDNY Chief of Department Peter Hayden. "We've had empty promises from empty suits, but the Fire Department has filled its promise."
The plaque, possibly the largest bas-relief sculpture in the world, stands 6 feet high and runs 56 feet along the side of the Engine 10 and Ladder 10 firehouse at Greenwich and Liberty streets. It depicts heroic firefighters responding to the burning towers. "It's beautiful. I'm very happy with it," said a tearful Beatrice Miller, who lost her son Henry, of Ladder 105. "I'm numb," she said of the memorial service and the memories it brought back. "Henry was too good for the world."
The plaque, and a separate tribute to Winuk, who grabbed equipment and ran from his nearby office to fight the flames, will be lit from above at night. "When you come here, you're going to be sad and overwhelmed with grief," Giuliani told the crowd. "But you're going to leave strengthened by these 343 men." Usually I would put an article on this topic on Page 2 but, since this seems to have a some local flavor and the Post itself puts it under regional news, I put it here.
Thanks for the story. If anyone has or can get an excellent pic of the relief I'd love to have it. Pls e-mail.
LAKKI MARWAT: District chapter of Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) has decided to extend its organizational structure to grass root level and to complete the process of electing office holders for tehsil and union councils bodies of MMA till June 15. It was decided in a meeting, which held here on Friday with district president Mazullah Khan in the chair. Other office bearers of MMA including vice presidents Professor Sher Ghulam and Syed Zahoor Abbas Shah, deputy general secretary Maulana Abdul Wakil, information secretary Sabz Ali Khan Naveed, Maulana Qaiser Abbas and other members of general council attended the meeting.
The participants agreed to complete the organizational structure of six parties' religious alliance till June 15 so that masses contact campaign could be launched as part of preparations for the forthcoming general elections in 2007.
They expressed the anger and concern over obscenity and lawlessness, asking the local police to take stern action against the people involved in playing music loudly in vehicles and displaying vulgar film posters outside the video shops.
MANILA - A restive volcano in the central Philippines spewed a column of ash at least 1 km (0.6 mile) into the sky before dawn on Saturday, raising concern of an eruption in the days ahead. There were two minor explosions of Bulusan volcano in the Bicol region, but there was no sign of laval flow, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said in a statement.
Bulusan, one of the six most active volcanoes in the Philippines, has had five ash eruptions since March.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/11/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
There were no limos, no trendy tuxedos, no low-cut gowns, no fancy flowers and, certainly, no couples dancing to raucous music. ..... no wild Kalashnikov waving or gun sex.
#3
One said he didn't bother to ask his parents. "It would have been a waste of time," said Irfan Mohammed, a graduate who admitted it probably was for the better. "The Koran says you cannot even look at a girl's fingernail. I try my best."
How enraged with furious jealousy are some of the teens at the fun denied them? How many among them are starting to believe that those having fun should be killed so that no muslim feels humiliated by what is denied them? How many dance steps is it from "rejecting" western values and lifestyle to "annihilating" them?
#4
West Texas Death Cult;
Wake up America, this is Columbine on the grand scale screeming "Don't take your eyes off us, we're out to kill every last one of you."
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.
Saudi women will have to continue to discuss their bra and panty sizes with male shop assistants for while. A June 1 government deadline for underwear shops across the conservative Muslim kingdom to replace their male sales staff with women has been postponed.
RIYADH - A 70-year-old Saudi woman was briefly jailed after being detained by the religious police who suspected her motives for entering a shop owned by a man in a busy Riyadh market, a paper said on Saturday.
The 25-year-old student at the University of Beijing completely lost control during a football match. After showering both the referee and spectators with abuse the Norwegian was shown the red card and ejected from the match.
EAST PROVIDENCE --Saying Rhode Island doesnt need "a congressman who needs a babysitter," Rumford Republican 
MANILA - A restive volcano in the central Philippines spewed a column of ash at least 1 km (0.6 mile) into the sky before dawn on Saturday, raising concern of an eruption in the days ahead. There were two minor explosions of Bulusan volcano in the Bicol region, but there was no sign of laval flow, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said in a statement.
