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Twelve Mauritanian troops dead in attack blamed on Al-Qaeda's North Africa wing
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Page 5: Russia-Former Soviet Union
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3 00:00 CrazyFool [4] 
2 00:00 Nimble Spemble [1] 
3 00:00 Procopius2k [2] 
1 00:00 Anonymoose [2] 
8 00:00 SKIDMARK [4] 
6 00:00 rammer [3] 
10 00:00 Atomic Conspiracy [] 
5 00:00 Iblis [1] 
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12 00:00 tipover [2] 
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Page 1: WoT Operations
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Page 3: Non-WoT
10 00:00 Chons Grundy8202 [3]
2 00:00 bigjim-ky [6]
6 00:00 Abdominal Snowman [3]
4 00:00 Halliburton - Asymmetrical Reply Division [6]
17 00:00 Mike N. [4]
9 00:00 DMFD [7]
10 00:00 Squinty Slotch5289 [1]
6 00:00 DMFD [3]
11 00:00 Matt [5]
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Page 4: Opinion
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-Lurid Crime Tales-
Russia Has Its Problems - Graphic
Posted by: Anonymoose || 09/16/2008 13:59 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "616

In May 2005, it was reported that scholars at Oxford University using advanced imaging techniques[11] had been able to read previously illegible portions of the earliest known record of the Book of Revelation, from the Oxyrhynchus site, Papyrus 115 or P115, dating to the mid to late third century. The fragment gives the Number of the Beast as 616 (chi, iota, sigma), rather than the majority text 666 (chi, xi, sigma).[1] In Eastern Greek 616 is chi-iota-sigma or XIC. Eastern forms of Greek used the Lunate Sigma (which resembles an upper case C) as seen on many ancient Christian religious artifacts. The other early witness Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (C) has it written in full: hexakosiai deka hex (lit. six hundred sixteen).[12]

Significantly, P115 aligns with Codex Alexandrinus (A) and Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (C) which are generally regarded as providing the best testimony to Revelation. Thus, P115 has superior testimony to that of P47 which aligns with Codex Sinaiticus and together form the second-best witness to the Book of Revelation. This has led some scholars to conclude that 616 is the original number of the beast.[13][14]
Red arrow points to χιϛ'(616), "number of the beast" in P115 deciphered in May 2005.
Red arrow points to χιϛ'(616), "number of the beast" in P115 deciphered in May 2005.

Dr. Paul Lewes in his book, A Key to Christian Origins (1932) wrote:

"The figure 616 is given in one of the two best manuscripts, C (Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus, Paris), by the Latin version of Tyconius (DCXVI, ed. Souter in the Journal of Theology, SE, April 1913), and by an ancient Armenian version (ed. Conybaere, 1907). Irenaeus knew about it [the 616 reading], but did not adopt it (Haer. v.30,3), Jerome adopted it (De Monogramm., ed. Dom G Morin in the Rev. Benedictine, 1903). It is probably original. The number 666 has been substituted for 616 either by analogy with 888, the [Greek] number of Jesus (Deissmann), or because it is a triangular number, the sum of the first 36 numbers (1+2+3+4+5+6...+36 = 666)".[15]

Professor David Parker, Professor of New Testament Textual Criticism and Paleography at the University of Birmingham, thinks that 616, although less memorable than 666, is the original. Dr. Ellen Aitken said, “Scholars have argued for a long time over this, and it now seems that 616 was the original number of the beast. It's probably about 100 years before any other version."[16]" - wiki
Posted by: Procopius2k || 09/16/2008 15:57 Comments || Top||

#2  I coulda passed on the article but the footnote was interesting, P2K
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 09/16/2008 17:28 Comments || Top||


Police use Taser on nude man walking a dog
A 40-year-old man walking his dog in the nude was Tasered by police when he refused to follow an officer's commands. David McCranie of the Tallahassee Police Department said an officer on patrol spotted the man shortly after 8 p.m. Friday.

The man was asked what he was doing and told the officer, ''Allah told me to watch a Bruce Willis movie and walk the dog,'' McCranie said.

McCranie said using the Taser was the only way to subdue the man without having to hurt him. The man was then sent for mental-health evaluation and treatment.
Posted by: Mike || 09/16/2008 08:38 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I have a growing unease with Tasers, they seem to be hitting people with them for everything from littering to flipping other people the bird. Those damned things arent a toy.
Posted by: bigjim-ky || 09/16/2008 9:44 Comments || Top||

#2  Maybe the guy was packing big heat?
Posted by: Perfesser || 09/16/2008 9:59 Comments || Top||

#3  refused to follow an officer's commands
Sit!
I said sit!
*bzzzzt*
OK then, roll over.
Posted by: Spot || 09/16/2008 10:01 Comments || Top||

#4  ''Allah told me to watch a Bruce Willis movie and walk the dog,''

Oh...well. If Allah said so...
Posted by: tu3031 || 09/16/2008 10:59 Comments || Top||

#5  CAIR gets involved in 3..., 2...
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 09/16/2008 12:28 Comments || Top||

#6  "A 40-year-old man walking his dog in the nude .."

more bad journalism: of course the dog was in the nude.
i don't count those little artsy-fartsy neckerchiefs they put on FiFi as clothing.....
Posted by: USN, Ret. || 09/16/2008 13:36 Comments || Top||

#7  I suspect I would use a taser too if they guy was going to fight. Not too many handles to get hold of when they are nude. Taser, cuff. Simple.

At one time all cops had to meet a size requirement. The advantage to that is a big cop has a better chance to wrap someone up without hurting them. Little folks like me would have to hurt them. All else being equal; size matters.

On the other hand they do seem to use them a lot but it's better than a baton, cosh or choke hold. All of which are the other options.
Posted by: tipover || 09/16/2008 13:47 Comments || Top||

#8  I thought dogs were nude most of the time...well, except for those little pink tutus, for the ones that dance. what do mexican dogs wear?
Posted by: SKIDMARK || 09/16/2008 22:47 Comments || Top||


Nigeria: Sharia Court Remands Man With 86 Wives in Prison
The police in Bida, Niger State, yesterday arrested Alhaji Bello Masaba, the man who says he has 86 wives, arraigned him before an upper Sharia court sitting in Minna, which ordered that he should be remanded in prison custody.

Masaba was arrested in the early hours of yesterday in Bida and whisked to the state police headquarters in Minna where he was interrogated. He was subsequently arraigned before an upper Sharia court at about 3.15pm on charges of inciting and insulting contempt of a religious creed and for deceptive and inducing unlawful marriages, contrary to sections 210, 383 and 386 of the penal code. In the first information report read in the court, Masaba was accused of unlawfully keeping 86 wives in his house against Islamic law and, as such, had committed an abominable act.

Masaba pleaded not guilty to the charges. His counsel, Barrister Shehu Jibril, in his application for bail, said all the charges raised against his client were mere allegations which could be refuted. He averred that since the police was yet to conclude its investigation on the allegations, it would amount to a miscarriage of justice to deny him bail. According to Jibril, since the allegations leveled against his client have not been established or proved, it is in the best interest of justice to presume that he is innocent. Jibril, while praying the court to admit Masaba on bail because of old age and his enormous responsibility of catering for the daily needs of his over 100 children, assured the court that Masaba would not jump bail or interfere with police investigation.

The state Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Adamu Usman, who led a team of other state counsel, opposed the bail application. Usman told the court that the charges leveled against Masaba are serious ones, which attract between seven to 10 years imprisonment without an option of fine on conviction. He said in view of the serious nature of the offence, the police require sufficient time to conclude its investigation. According to him, the state Sharia Commission, which is the custodian of Islamic law and jurisprudence, is the complainant in the suit. Usman stated that he was opposing the bail application in the interest of public peace, public order, public morality, public health and, above all, in the interest of the accused person.

The presiding Khadi, Alhaji Abdulkadir I. Imam, in his ruling, rejected the bail application and ordered that the accused be remanded in Minna prison till October 6, 2008 for further mention. Earlier, the Police Public Relations Officer in Minna, Assistant Superintendent Richard Ogwuche, explained that Masaba was arrested following a court order but did not name the court that gave the directive.

Masaba came to the limelight recently when he claimed in an interview that he had 86 wives. Following the interview, the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, asked him to divorce 82 of them or be banished from Bida. The Etsu's directive was based on the Islamic injunction that allows a Muslim only four wives.

At a meeting held at the palace of the Etsu Nupe, with Masaba in attendance, the acting Chief Imam of Bida, Malam Yakatu Adamu, read the relevant verses of the Quran on marriage. Adamu made references to Masaba's various interviews and said that having 86 wives was an offence in Islam.

In his response, the 84-year-old Masaba said he stopped reading the Quran many years ago and sought to know why the Holy Book should limit a Muslim to only four wives. After a heated argument, the Etsu, who presided over the meeting, pronounced that Masaba was not a Muslim. ''From the facts available to us, you are not a Muslim and you are hereby given two days to divorce 82 of your 86 wives. If you fail to do so, we cannot guarantee your safety in Bida and the entire Nupe kingdom and as such, you should pack your load and leave," he said.

Subsequently, Masaba has denied reports in the media that he was planning to divorce 82 of his wives. He said there was no such plan. Rather, he said, he would take more wives if the need arose.
Posted by: ryuge || 09/16/2008 05:57 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "From the facts available to us, you are not a Muslim and you are hereby given two days to divorce 82 of your 86 wives. If you fail to do so, we cannot guarantee your safety in Bida and the entire Nupe kingdom and as such, you should pack your load and leave," he said.

That's odd. He was safe until the legal system got hold of them. Why the sudden change? /rhetorical question
Posted by: gorb || 09/16/2008 6:24 Comments || Top||

#2  Judge: "I've got my eye on 47, 22, 38, and 67. I hope he doesn't keep them"
Posted by: Frank G || 09/16/2008 7:59 Comments || Top||

#3  keeping 86 wives in his house
That must be one huge house. I only got 1 wife in my house and it's damn crowded.
Posted by: Spot || 09/16/2008 8:21 Comments || Top||

#4  It's not a house; it's a compound. African traditional polygamy generally allows each wife her own hut, for herself and her children. So Masaba has either one huge compound or, more likely, several compounds.

In order to have room for all these women, and to make the marriages in the first place, Masaba must be a man of some means and influence.

So we have a man of considerable means and some influence who questions a small section of the Quran. Hence the court is trying to make an example of him.
Posted by: mom || 09/16/2008 8:53 Comments || Top||

#5  That's one of those crimes that carries its own punishment. No prison time necessary.
Posted by: bigjim-ky || 09/16/2008 9:46 Comments || Top||

#6  Jibril, while praying the court to admit Masaba on bail because of old age and his enormous responsibility of catering for the daily needs of his over 100 children, assured the court that Masaba would not jump bail or interfere with police investigation.

Amazing. The Lawyers, in one breath, deny the guy has 86 wives, and in the other pleads for mercy because who's going to take care of over 100 of his children?

Talk about the kid who murdered his parents and pleaded for mercy because he's an orphan!
Posted by: Ptah || 09/16/2008 11:14 Comments || Top||

#7  86 wives? A hundred kids? Prison will probably be like a vacation for him.
Posted by: tu3031 || 09/16/2008 13:54 Comments || Top||

#8  Reportedly, when told he was under arrest, he said "What? I can't hear you." When they shouted that he was under arrest, he then said "Thank you!"
Posted by: Anonymoose || 09/16/2008 17:49 Comments || Top||

#9  "Sharia Court Remands Man With 86 Wives in Prison"

Why are his 86 wives in prison?

(Sorry, I'm on a grammar kick just now. The doctor says I will be better in a few days)
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy || 09/16/2008 20:28 Comments || Top||

#10  Reminds me of an old joke:

A smart but inexperienced west Texas boy wins a scholarship to Harvard.

He is lost and confused his first day on campus. He spots two upper classmen, recognizable by their sweaters, coming toward him.

"'Scuse me, fellers," says the Texan, "Can y'all tell me where the library's at?"

"Certainly, my good man," answers one of the seniors, "but first you must know that this is HARVARD, and here at HARVARD, we do not end our sentences with a preposition."

"Oh," says our hero, "Ok, then, can you tell me where the library's at, ASSHOLE?"
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy || 09/16/2008 20:34 Comments || Top||


Would-be Atheist Head Chopper To Lose Eye
A man who threatened to behead two women because they were Christians was attacked in self-defense early Saturday and injured so severely, police say, that his eye was to be removed.

Russell Bowman, who called himself an atheist, showed up with a large knife at the women's apartment in the 700 block of Tia Juana Street about 3:15 a.m., police said. Another resident grabbed a shotgun and ordered him to put the knife down. When Bowman refused and began approaching, the person hit him with the butt end of the weapon, police said.

Doctors at Memorial Hospital reportedly told police the eye would have to be removed.

Bowman, who lived in the same building, threatened the women a couple of days before the confrontation, Colorado Springs Police Lt. Pat Rigdon said. Alcohol appeared to play a role, he said. Police will likely pursue charges of felony menacing against Bowman. The investigation will be forwarded to the 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office to see if other charges are merited.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 09/16/2008 00:36 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  This guy was lucky that the resident who grabbed the shotgun did not use the business end of it.

Now he will be known as Dick Deadeye.
Posted by: Alaska Paul in Glennallen, AK || 09/16/2008 1:23 Comments || Top||

#2  We need to keep an eye on this story.
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy || 09/16/2008 4:28 Comments || Top||

#3  Sudden Jihad Syndrome seems to attract nutcases.
Posted by: gorb || 09/16/2008 6:33 Comments || Top||

#4  yeah, but he was drunk cuz he's so pious....and stuff
Posted by: Frank G || 09/16/2008 7:28 Comments || Top||

#5  Socket to him eye don't care.
Posted by: MarkZ || 09/16/2008 7:53 Comments || Top||

#6  Assuming the shotgun was loaded, its wielder unduly endangered himself and endangered the two women by using the butt.
Posted by: JFM || 09/16/2008 9:07 Comments || Top||

#7  Probably because the shotgun handler didn't want to clean up the mess afterward. Out damn spot. And then there's the paperwork. Dude you ain't worth the paperwork.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 09/16/2008 9:27 Comments || Top||

#8  Sudden Jihad Syndrome seems to attract nutcases.

You mean we can't call it sudden atheism syndrone?
Posted by: Abdominal Snowman || 09/16/2008 9:48 Comments || Top||

#9  Probably because the shotgun handler didn't want to clean up the mess afterward.

By using the butt he allowed the knife wielder to come within a few inches of striking range or even inside. We could be talking of the three dead now: the women and the guy concerned about paperwork
Posted by: JFM || 09/16/2008 10:30 Comments || Top||

#10  Right, JFM! Fairbairn & Sykes give him a failing grade.
Posted by: Scooter McGruder || 09/16/2008 13:32 Comments || Top||

#11  Now he's gonna be the butt of all the one-eye jikes.
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 09/16/2008 13:35 Comments || Top||

#12  JFM is right but the two women may have been in the way. Or the shotgun may have not been loaded. Insufficient info.
Posted by: tipover || 09/16/2008 13:54 Comments || Top||


-Obits-
Crab catcher killed by tiger
A crab catcher was killed in an attack by tiger at Kateswar Sora canal in the Sundarbans yesterday. The victim was identified as Sirajul Islam Sheikh, 40, of No 9 Sora Burigoalini village under Shyamnagar upazila.
"Here crab, here crab, here crab, here crab, here ... oh, man ..."
Posted by: Steve White || 09/16/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  In the Sundarbans, man ISN'T at the top of the food chain.
Posted by: Jolutch Mussolini7800 || 09/16/2008 0:11 Comments || Top||

#2  Tonight on The Deadliest Catch . . . .
Posted by: Mike || 09/16/2008 5:53 Comments || Top||

#3  The vast Kateswar Sora canal...
Posted by: Chris W. || 09/16/2008 10:30 Comments || Top||

#4  Now if the headline had been "Caught crabs from a cougar", it would have made sense.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 09/16/2008 14:36 Comments || Top||


-Short Attention Span Theater-
Trained dog dials 911 to save owner's life
Police officers in Scottsdale, Arizona, could hear the whimpering and barking of Buddy after receiving the 911 call. Dispatcher Chris Trott can be heard on a recording of the incident saying: "Hello, this is 911. Hello... Can you hear me? Is there somebody there you can give the phone to?"

Police were sent to Joe Stalnaker's home and after about three minutes Buddy is heard on the recording barking loudly when they arrive.

Mr Stalnaker's address was flagged in the Scottsdale system's with a notification that a trained assistance dog could call 911 when the owner was incapacitated. Police explained Mr Stalnaker adopted Buddy at the age of eight weeks from Michigan-based Paws with a Cause, which trains assistance dogs.

Buddy, now 18 months old, has been trained to press programmed buttons until a 911 operator is on the line, should his owner suffer seizure symptoms. This was the third time he has called the emergency services on behalf of Mr Stalnaker.

Scottsdale police sergeant Mark Clark said Mr Stalnaker spent two days in a hospital but has recovered from the seizure.

He said: "It's pretty incredible. Even the veteran dispatchers - they haven't heard of anything like this."

Sgt Clark added Mr Stalnaker's seizures are the result of a head injury he suffered about 10 years ago during a military training exercise.
Posted by: mrp || 09/16/2008 10:02 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Had the dog been a dachshund, it would have raided his fridge and taken his car keys for a weekend in Vegas.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 09/16/2008 11:30 Comments || Top||


Two Children Left At Hospitals Under 'Safe Haven' Law
OMAHA, Neb. -- The family of a 15-year-old boy who was left at a Lincoln hospital under the state's Safe Haven law said leaving him there was their last hope. The boy's aunt said she and his guardian have tried everything -- medication, psychiatrist, therapy and other methods. "We had to go to the next level," said Cathy Poulin. "He can be made to get help."

Poulin said the boy's mother, her sister, died several years ago. His father left him, she said, and the boy has been living with several other relatives for years. He's heading down a dangerous path, she said.

The Safe Haven law was intended for newborns. Nebraska is the only state where the law prevents penalty for the abandonment of youths up to 19 years old.

A grandmother left an 11-year-old boy at Immanuel Hospital in Omaha last weekend.

But these cases represent a misuse of the law, said Department of Health and Human Services worker Todd Landry. "Neither of these kids were in danger of being harmed themselves," Landry said.

Senator Arnie Struthman and the DHHS will review the law and make amendments where necessary to prevent hospitals from being overrun by children who are not in immediate danger.
Posted by: Beavis || 09/16/2008 08:17 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  But, but, but he was being a Butthead.
Posted by: Richard of Oregon || 09/16/2008 11:06 Comments || Top||

#2  You know, this actually is a serious problem. Seems like lots of people have pretty major difficulties with their teen kids. The parents can't get the teens to act properly but also can't kick them out and are still responsible for them. Not sure how to handle that one. The old ways, which usually involved some type of physical interaction, will now only end up getting the parent placed in jail. Very tough situation.
Posted by: Jolutch Mussolini7800 || 09/16/2008 11:53 Comments || Top||

#3  Being charged with felony child abuse for failing to care for a relative, especially those with special needs or behavioral disorders, is just plain wrong, too. It is punishing people for others' choices.
Posted by: Danielle || 09/16/2008 12:08 Comments || Top||

#4  I guess the question would be was it possible for the family to take him somewhere else, like social services. They could not handle him and they did not want him. It seems no one else did either. It's sad, but it does seem that in a day and age where the state will prosecute parents if they use the "wrong" type of discipline the state will have to step in and take over for parents who don't know how to control a child.
Posted by: Betty Grating2215 || 09/16/2008 13:11 Comments || Top||

#5  If teens want to "go bad" they will. And there's nothing you can do about it for the reasons already brought up.
Posted by: ex-lib || 09/16/2008 17:28 Comments || Top||

#6  There's a nice military school just down the road that would be happy to help lil' junior learn some of life's lessons.
Posted by: rammer || 09/16/2008 21:39 Comments || Top||


Democratic Party War Room
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 09/16/2008 01:55 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  these people are vicious - I need to donate.
Posted by: anonymous2u || 09/16/2008 3:13 Comments || Top||

#2  I've seen this overa dozen times and it gets funnier every time!
Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 || 09/16/2008 4:01 Comments || Top||

#3  See also TOPIX > CAPITAL COMMENTARY: WHY THE NEXT US PRESIDENT WILL BE A ONE-TERM PRESIDENT. Too many US-World Crises, US National-Global Ship-of- State too big, geopol consequences too risque' for any US Politico to risk more than one POTUS Term.

IOW, WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH [USSA vs USR], THE TOUGH RETIRE EARLY???
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 09/16/2008 4:39 Comments || Top||

#4  funny! And they didn't even mention the new ATodd bomb that is about to drop.

I saw the Greta interveiw last night. The guy works on the North Face in temperatures that Satan would freeze in. Greta asked him how he stayed warm and he talked about how it wasn't so bad, you just need the "right equipment" or somesuch nonsense. When Greta spoke for the listening audience when she said something to the effect that you can only bundle up so much I'm sure everyone in America was thinking that it helps to have such a hot wife to go home to. The guy won a 2000 mile snow machine race for heavensake!! Like with a broken arm or something and yet he just seemed like an all around normal guy.

sigh. Poor Obama. It's over.
Posted by: Betty Grating2215 || 09/16/2008 5:28 Comments || Top||

#5 
My favorite part of that interview was when she asked him if he'd ever been in DC and what he thought of it.  2 times and it was really historical.    Then she asked if he'd been past 1 Observatory Circle, coyly noting it's the vice presidential residence.


His response was that they dined at the White House in Feb 07 but he wasn't sure if they'd passed the VP house on the way ...   They'd just finished talking about modifications on his current snowmachine and there he was, in the same jeans and fleece jacket, matter of factly noting he'd dined with the President a little over a year ago.   Heh.
Posted by: lotp || 09/16/2008 6:00 Comments || Top||

#6  there he was, in the same jeans and fleece jacket, matter of factly noting he'd dined with the President a little over a year ago. Heh.

lol! I'm just a country boy who has to pull put on the tux for a dinner with George now and then.
Posted by: Betty Grating2215 || 09/16/2008 6:31 Comments || Top||

#7  They'd just finished talking about modifications on his current snowmachine and there he was, in the same jeans and fleece jacket, matter of factly noting he'd dined with the President a little over a year ago. Heh

Gawd how the democrats must hate this guy!
Posted by: badanov || 09/16/2008 7:31 Comments || Top||

#8  Yup.   And I loved his answer when asked what his job is like.  He noted that he appreciated the chance to work at a job that supported his family well.  He also noted several times that his kids have grown up being used to his one week home - one week away on the North Slope schedule.  I.e.  having Mom in politics / campaigning isn't something new and traumatic, their family adjusts to either parent being the one away for a while.    I don't know about other women, but IMO this is what feminism was supposed to be about - a marriage of equal partners who have different strengths and who support one another and their kids.
Posted by: lotp || 09/16/2008 8:00 Comments || Top||

#9  a marriage of equal partners who have different strengths and who support one another and their kids
That's just it, lotp. Their marriage highlights the lie that is leftism. So they hate.

BTW, anyone know what movie this was taken from?
Posted by: Spot || 09/16/2008 8:33 Comments || Top||

#10  "Downfall" IIRC
Posted by: Frank G || 09/16/2008 8:40 Comments || Top||

#11  Obama's message is much more compelling in the original German. No wonder he's so popular in Berlin.
Posted by: ed || 09/16/2008 9:16 Comments || Top||

#12  oddly enough, Hitler really was a community organizer and he wrote two books, one of which was mostly bio and the other was about 10$ bio, 90% 'policy'
Posted by: mhw || 09/16/2008 9:25 Comments || Top||

#13  Der Untergang (Downfall), made in 2004.

Allmovie entry here.

IMDB entry here.

Another creative use of the same sequence here. (Hitler was a Dallas Cowboys fan? Who knew?)
Posted by: Mike || 09/16/2008 9:52 Comments || Top||

#14  Obama and his team have nothing that connects with the common American. That alone will cause major problems. The fact that Obama and his team come off as elitist and snobbish will doom them.
Posted by: DarthVader || 09/16/2008 10:37 Comments || Top||

#15  And they didn't even mention the new ATodd bomb that is about to drop.

You are soooooooooo right!
Posted by: Sherry || 09/16/2008 12:10 Comments || Top||

#16  I want to see Todd vs Michelle race snowmachines across a 100 mile wide thawing lake... with polar bears.

Todd married a pit bull hockey mom. Barak just married a (fill in the blank to your own tastes)
Posted by: Capsu 78 || 09/16/2008 16:57 Comments || Top||

#17  Pitbull without lipstick but with a diamond stud collar.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 09/16/2008 17:45 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Tunisian convert refused Muslim burial
Officials in the city of Sfax, southeast of Tunis, refused to burry a Muslim convert in the Muslim cemetery because she did not have a Muslim Arab surname.

The decision by to bury the woman in the foreigners' cemetery stirred a legal and religious debate among city residents and is expected to extend to the whole country. The tribunal was to hold an emergency meeting Sunday to consider the case brought by the family, London-based Asharq al-Awsat reported on Sunday.

Relatives of the deceased insisted on suing the municipality to reverse its decision and allow her to be buried in the Muslim cemetery. The woman converted to Islam on August 2, 1955 with Ministry of Justice decree no. 5318 but was refused burial in the Muslim cemetery following her death on Sept. 6.

Born in Sfax in 1918 to Christian parents, the deceased woman converted to Islam in 1955 under the guidance of the city's mufti, Sheikh Mohamed al-Moheiri. She adopted the name Asia. Asia's religion was also recorded in her marriage contract when she married a Muslim man in 1980.

When Asia's family attempted to complete the paperwork required for burial, the Sfax municipality obituaries department insisted on directing the body to the foreigners' cemetery because Asia's surname was not a Muslim-Arab name, although her first name was. Asia's son-in-law, Sasi bin Younis, said he was surprised to hear the municipality's decision despite her neighbors testimony that the deceased was Muslim and had been performing all Islamic rituals since her conversion more than half a century ago.

The problem could be complicated further if Safx church officials object to burying a woman who converted away from Christianity in the Christian cemetery.
Posted by: Fred || 09/16/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "Of course we can't bury her, she is dead! We only bury alive wimmins..."
Posted by: USN, Ret. || 09/16/2008 13:42 Comments || Top||


Europe
WWI Decorated Soldier Finally Honored
Posted by: Anonymoose || 09/16/2008 00:13 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Very interesting. His family seems to have established quite a tradition of military service in their adopted country. What a great teacher too.
Posted by: JAB || 09/16/2008 1:28 Comments || Top||


Fifth Column
What Europeans are Saying about Sarah Palin
Posted by: 3dc || 09/16/2008 17:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  To put it bluntly, to the effite press an other eurotash liberal bastions of collectivism: Fuck You. You don't matter anymore.
Posted by: OldSpook || 09/16/2008 17:52 Comments || Top||

#2  Like anyone cares.
Posted by: DMFD || 09/16/2008 18:04 Comments || Top||

#3  There's a reason a lot of our ancestors left Europe, right?
Posted by: Raj || 09/16/2008 19:11 Comments || Top||

#4  What I can't understand is why ZerObama (Church of Black Power) is bringing up religion?

It's not likely to be a winner is it?
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 09/16/2008 19:12 Comments || Top||

#5  Fine, if they adore him so much, isn't there some post he could assume in the EU bureaucracy for a little while?

(FYI to the Europeans from one of his "prospective employers" on this side of the pond: He does have this habit of getting bored easily and looking for another position, preferably higher. After five months, may he assume Prime Minister-ship of one of your beautiful countries?)
Posted by: Cornsilk Blondie, formerly known as Swamp Blondie || 09/16/2008 19:26 Comments || Top||

#6  Hey, when is a Euro country gonna elect a man of color to Prime Minister or President?

{crickets chirping}

Coff coff.
Posted by: Parabellum || 09/16/2008 19:50 Comments || Top||

#7  Unless the diplomat is speaking Arabic, I am going to assume he does not speak for Europe.
Posted by: Excalibut || 09/16/2008 21:15 Comments || Top||

#8  There's a very simple explanation for the Europeans love of all things Obama. If elected, he will try to make the US more like Europe, which will in effect weaken the US. That's the reason why. They want to see us taken down a few notches (or several more) so that we are on their level. They don't like us as being the sole super power. This goes a long way in explaining their failure to stand tall against Russia, as well.

I say, tough sh*t. Deal with it. Try showing some damn gratitude for once and while you're at it, grow a pair. Heck, forget a pair, we'll just take one. Because the alternative is far worse than they could ever possibly imagine in their most terrible nightmare. WAKE UP, EUROPE!
Posted by: eltoroverde || 09/16/2008 22:16 Comments || Top||


Oh No.. Sarah has a tanning bed! heh
Posted by: 3dc || 09/16/2008 15:51 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Considering how far north parts of Alaska are I would think a tanning bed might be more common up there than down here in the lower 48.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 09/16/2008 17:11 Comments || Top||

#2  If you read the article in Us magazine, it clearly says that she paid for the tanning bed and the installation out of her own pocket.

That must be why the liberals are so shocked.
Posted by: eltoroverde || 09/16/2008 22:18 Comments || Top||

#3  Not only that but she bought it USED.

I'll but the liberals will never let *that* little factoid out.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 09/16/2008 22:26 Comments || Top||


Southeast Asia
More than 20 die in Indonesian charity stampede
At least twenty-one people were trampled to death and scores more injured when a crowd stampeded in Indonesia after thousands of people queued for a charity handout to mark the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the state news agency Antara reported on Monday.

The crush happened in the East Java town of Pasuruan when a philanthropist, identified by Antara as H. Syaichon, distributed tithes and food to a crowd of poor people. The impoverished were waiting for a food donation, known as zakat, worth about 30,000 rupiah ($3.18) each when the stampede occurred.

Some people collapsed due to a lack of oxygen in the crush, while others were trampled, the report said, adding the injured were being treated in a nearby hospital.

No good deed goes unpunished
Pasuruan Mayor Aminurrohman visited the injured at the hospital and said Syaichon had failed to coordinate his donation activities with municipal security and administration officials, according to Antara news agency.

"Syaichon`s initiative to distribute tithes to the poor was good and noble but the way he did it was wrong because it ended up with at least 21 fatalities," Aminurrohman said, adding that Syaichon was at present being questioned at the Pasuruan police office.

In previous years, his Ramadan handouts also caused some problems when dozens of people fainted, but there were no deaths, according to the report.

Witnesses said at first the distribution went smoothly and everyone received their allotment. But mayhem broke out when thousands of people arrived and rushed forward to get their ration through a narrow alley, causing many, especially elderly women, to be trampled.

Zakat, or alms, is one of the five pillars of Islam that exemplifies its focus on social and economic justice. It is obligatory for all Muslims with the means and usually paid before the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

Many poor people in mostly Muslim Indonesia depend on these funds for several months.

According to the World Bank, 18 percent of Indonesians lived below the poverty in 2006, the most recent figures available.

Posted by: Fred || 09/16/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:


Home Front: Culture Wars
Hard Times at Dropout High - 40% still manage to graduate
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 09/16/2008 13:23 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  She'll be knocked up and gone by her sophomore year. Two more mouths for the already overburdened Cal welfare system to feed. Thanks, Mexico.

No wonder everyone who can escape Cal's idiotic government and ridiculous taxes is fleeing as quickly as they can.
Posted by: Jolutch Mussolini7800 || 09/16/2008 17:27 Comments || Top||

#2  Just remembering my high school days the impression I got was, if you're not planning on going to college, high school isn't relevant. You should have already learned to read, write and do basic arithmetic by the time you finished the eighth grade. After that what is there? Trigonometry? Physics? That's fine if you're college prep but what about the kids who aren't? They don't wanna sit in school and have their adolescence prolonged by several useless years. They want jobs.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 09/16/2008 17:54 Comments || Top||

#3  Agree EU, but the 'professional educators' set it up that way to track to college. The whole system should have double tracks to include tech/vocational training starting about the ninth grade for those not interested in college but needing real skills [besides running drugs or pimping out their girls] to make a living. Coop with businesses and industries and the 'old fashion' unions that actually ran apprenticeship programs.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 09/16/2008 19:37 Comments || Top||


Science
Google Going Offshore? Literally?
Posted by: 3dc || 09/16/2008 02:13 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  mods please move to "tech" "local" ... key stuck.
Posted by: 3dc || 09/16/2008 2:23 Comments || Top||

#2  Why not? I seriously considered moving my practice onto a boat flagged offshore, billing / collecting from a tax haven, and docking only in T/J to avoid having a taxable situs in the US. Figured I could work 3 days/week and take home more than I do from my typical 6-7 day workweek played by the rules.
Posted by: AzCat || 09/16/2008 3:01 Comments || Top||

#3  SO the mavens of the free market and limousine socialist see advantages to minimal government for themselves, just not everyone else - how lefty.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 09/16/2008 7:32 Comments || Top||

#4  I suspect it would be way too expensive. In addition, salt air isn't particularly kind to computer equipment. Google needs to stick to its knitting.
Posted by: Zhang Fei || 09/16/2008 10:05 Comments || Top||

#5  I can think of a few industries that might benefit from this approach -- mostly manufacturing that's getting bogged down with environmental regulations.

Probably still cheaper to pollute Mexico and China, but still a good idea to keep in the back of owns mind.
Posted by: Iblis || 09/16/2008 12:33 Comments || Top||



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In no particular order...
Steve White
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Two weeks of WOT
Tue 2008-09-16
  Twelve Mauritanian troops dead in attack blamed on Al-Qaeda's North Africa wing
Mon 2008-09-15
  Pak Troops open fire at US military helicopters
Sun 2008-09-14
  Pakistan order to kill US invaders
Sat 2008-09-13
  30 dead, 90 injured as five blasts hit Indian capital
Fri 2008-09-12
  Kimmie recovering from brain surgery
Thu 2008-09-11
  Seven years. Never forgive, never forget, never ''understand.''
Wed 2008-09-10
  Head of al-Qaeda in Pakistain dead in Haqqani raid
Tue 2008-09-09
  Car boom attempt on Chalabi
Mon 2008-09-08
  Drones hit Haqqani compound
Sun 2008-09-07
  Mr. Ten Percent succeeds Perv as Pakistan president
Sat 2008-09-06
  Sauerland Group planned attacks in major cities
Fri 2008-09-05
  Lanka troops move to take LTTE capital
Thu 2008-09-04
  Fifteen killed in Pakistan in cross-border raid
Wed 2008-09-03
  Pakistan PM survives assassiation attempt
Tue 2008-09-02
  Two Canadians killed in Wana missile attack


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