OSLO (Reuters) - A man was caught by Norwegian customs carrying a tarantula in his bag, and a further 14 royal pythons and 10 albino leopard geckos taped to his body, media reported Monday. The 22-year-old Norwegian was stopped in a routine check by Kristiansand customs after arriving on a ferry from Denmark, newspaper Faedrelandsvennen reported. Is that a snake in yer pants or are ya just happy to see us?
Customs found the tarantula, before deciding to give him a full body search that revealed 14 stockings -- one for each snake -- taped around his torso, top selling tabloid VG said. Snakes in a Sock. What a movie plot!
Reptile smuggling is not uncommon in Norway, which prohibits people holding many reptile species as pets, but office manager Helge Breilid at Kristiansand customs was quoted by VG as saying customs officers had been "horrified" by Sunday's catch. He's a cold-blooded criminal!
"Customs officers quickly realized the man was smuggling animals, because his whole body was in constant motion," Breilid told VG. I got the Heebie-jeebies!
*shudder*
When the man dropped his pants, the officers laughed out loud and pointed found 10 cans taped to his legs, each containing a lizard, he said.
The man was still being held by police Monday, Kristiansand police attorney Johann Martin Kile told VG, adding he would be released upon agreeing to pay a 12,500 Norwegian crowns ($2,256) fine.
The reptiles were handed over to a security firm until Norwegian authorities decide what to do with them, Breilid said.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
10/28/2009 16:07 ||
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#1
OK, someone has to do this:
"I'm getting tired of these @#$%^&* snakes in my @#$%^&* socks!"
Posted by: Mike ||
10/28/2009 17:10 Comments ||
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#2
... after arriving on a ferry from Denmark, newspaper Faedrelandsvennen reported.
You know, just know, some hack is already writing the script for "Snakes on the Ferry" for a SyFy [formally knows as SciFi] Channel Saturday night drivel made for TV movie.
#4
Ah yes, the SyFy channel. New pronunciation, to match the spelling, is Sih'fee. Does anyone remember when it was clever to call the genre Scientifiction?
#6
Robert Heinlein preferred the term "speculative fiction". I agree "SyFy" is stupid, wasn't the change was due to "SciFi" not being a copyright-able name?
#7
If only the asstards would actually write SCIENCE Fiction, I've seen 3 good lately, out of hundreds of slasher and horror movies deliberately mislabeled.
ALIEN Is a prime example, pure slasher.
Even a couple of very good animated
"Robot City" and "WALL-E"
Then a few good ones
"Surrogates"
"I Robot" (Heinlein)
and a remake of "Omega Man"
(hasn't Will Smith turned into a fine actor?)
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
10/28/2009 22:46 Comments ||
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(CNN) -- California police investigating the alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl have arrested five people, a police spokesman said Wednesday.
Three juveniles and two adults are in custody in connection with the assault, said the Richmond police spokesman, Lt. Mark Gagan. Authorities have described the incident as a 2œ-hour assault at the Richmond High School campus in suburban Oakland.
Gagan said police arrested three of the suspects Tuesday night, and he said police expect to make further arrests.
Investigators say as many as 20 people were involved in or stood and watched the crime outside the high school's homecoming dance Saturday night.
Police posted a $20,000 reward Tuesday for anyone who comes to them with information that helps arrest and convict those involved in the alleged assault.
"We will be making arrests continually as we develop probable cause," Gagan said. "With this number of people implicated in the incident, we're going to be making arrests on an ongoing basis."
As many as 10 people were involved in the assault in a dimly lighted back alley at the school, while another 10 people watched without calling 911 to report it, police said.
A 1999 California law makes it illegal not to report a witnessed crime against a child, but the law applies only to children 14 and younger.
"We do not have the ability to arrest people who witnessed the crime and did nothing," Gagan said. "The law can be very rigid. We don't have the authority to make an arrest."
Charles Ramsey, a member of the Richmond school board, said the school district bears some responsibility for the attack. School administrators and police apparently weren't watching the area as they should have, Ramsey said.
The school said it would hold a safety meeting for parents and students Wednesday evening to address the alleged assault.
The victim was found unconscious under a bench shortly before midnight Saturday, after police received a call from someone in the area who had overheard people at the assault scene "reminiscing about the incident," Gagan said.
The girl was flown by helicopter to a hospital, where she was admitted in critical condition. She was in stable condition Tuesday, police said.
Investigators canvassed the community with fliers, which included the reward offer, hoping to identify more suspects Tuesday.
"There is one individual in custody who has made some spontaneous statements that have led me to believe that he is culpable for what happened," Richmond police Lt. Johan Simon said.
Nineteen-year-old Manuel Ortega, described as a former student at the school, was arrested soon after he fled the scene and will face charges of rape, robbery and kidnapping, police said.
A 15-year-old was later arrested and charged with one count of felony sexual assault. Other arrests followed.
"Based on witness statements and suspect statements, and also physical evidence, we know that she was raped by at least four suspects committing multiple sex acts," Gagan said.
"As people announced over time that this was going on, more people came to see, and some actually participated," Gagan said.
The attack occurred on school grounds as the annual homecoming dance was under way inside the school Saturday night, authorities said.
Denver police have crushed a car belonging to a man who pleaded guilty to attempting to sexually assault a child.
Police destroyed the vehicle of Balazs Toth, 37, on Tuesday, saying it's a public nuisance.
The former Roman Catholic school teacher received a 90-day jail sentence in the case, in which he was accused of going online to try to lure a child to a McDonald's parking lot for sex in December.
Police say a vehicle can be considered a public nuisance in Denver if it is used to attempt a sexual assault. Toth was sentenced in June. Child sex offense, too light a sentence, police revenge. FAIL all around.
A 52-year-old Lindenhurst resident annoyed his neighbors by hanging a Nazi swastika flag from the chimney of his house - until his mother made him take it down.
At least one neighbor called Suffolk police Sunday night to complain that the symbol of hate was hanging in public view from the home on 41st Street. Property records and neighbors say the home is occupied by Richard Greggs.
Though police said they are not investigating Greggs, Commissioner Richard Dormer said, "While courts have upheld the rights of these individuals to promote these disgusting symbols, all decent people must denounce it vigorously."
The complaints generated enough media attention that Greggs' mother, 75, who also lives at the brown-shingled cape house, ordered him late Sunday to remove it. "And get back in the basement where you belong, Junior!"
"Jawhol, mein Mamafuehrer!"
"And cut it out with the Sergeant Schultz imitation. Goose-step like that again and I'll cook your goose!"
"I'm sorry, Mom."
"Don't 'sorry' me, buster. Why can't you get a job and a wife like all the other boys your age?"
Posted by: Mike ||
10/28/2009 17:10 ||
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For most of us, the word "secession" conjures up images of the Civil War, Southern belles, and the Confederate flag. But for one Wisconsin town, secession has a whole other meaning.
In 1967, state cartographers made a grievous error when creating the official state map of Wisconsin. An unlabeled dot lay between Lakes Poygan and Winnebago - the village of Winneconne had disappeared.
After alerting Governor Knowles of the error, Chamber of Commerce president Vera Kitchen was particularly dissatisfied with his response. A secret committee of villagers began plotting a public relations effort to put Winneconne back on the map. In a nation-wide contest, Kitchen challenged participants to figure out the best way to do so.
Two former Wisconsin residents, Kay Klipstine and Janice Badtke, made the winning proposal that Winneconne should secede from the state. The rest is history. In preparation for secession, officers of the Sovereign State of Winneconne were named, a flag was created, and festivities planned. The skunk was named official animal of the Sovereign State of Winneconne, poison ivy the flower, and the dodo its official bird.
Secession began on July 21, 1967. At 4 p.m., Governor Knowles placed an apologetic phone call to Winneconne officials and promised the error would be fixed on all 1968 maps. He also ordered that a new road sign be erected at the junction of highways 41 and 110 to point the way to Winneconne.
Although reunited with the state of Wisconsin, Winneconne commemorates this historic event with its annual Sovereign State Day celebration.
#3
If the story inquestion had happened in Illinios there would of been 50 patronage jobs created to put the town back on the map
Posted by Cheaderhead
Credible in Illinois only if all industry had fled due to heavy workman's compensation insurance rates and most of the major streets required tolls.
#2
TOPIX > NORCAL Blogs - THE SUN DEFINES THE CLIMATE: AN ESSAY FROM RUSSIA [long].
GLOBAL COLING will continue, an ICE AGE will come > ONLY REAL ISSUES IS THE MAGNITUDE OF SAME + SUN'S ACTIVITY-PHASES DURING SAME. DEPTH = TROUGH OF SUN'S DECLINING IRRADIANCE may be firstly seen = observ circa Year 2040???
All of EARTH = GOVTS-SOCIETIES should rightly fear the drop in global temperatures as 80% of human populations will be affected.
#3
Ummm, Joe, hasn't anybody told you yet that "Global warming" is a Hoax?
The one thing that cannot be changed is the Sun's output, and the Major climate moderating element is water vapor (Yes Clouds) that there HAS NOT been any Human caused change at all.
(Faulty measurement and Hysteria)
That the amount of carbon dioxide means absolutely nothing, it's what trees and plants "Breathe" and is entirely self correcting (More CO@ more plant life)
Sorry to have to tell you, but You've been scammed.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
10/28/2009 22:24 Comments ||
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Raw sewage contains disease pathogens and toxins, impairs the respiratory functions in water life, and causes algae blooms. And cruise ships are dumping it just off shore, possibly washing up on the beach near where your family is vacationing.
Nightmare fiction? Hardly.
Though most travelers dont know about this practice, environmentalists tell Foxnews.com this kind of wastewater dumping is all too common for the cruise industry: Federal lawsuits have been filed against the cruise ship companies. The U.S. Coast Guard and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have cracked down on the firms. For years, legislators have tried to get a new bill passed which would reign in the hazardous practices. Indeed, one proposed by Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.) was introduced just days ago.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the cruise industry has grown at double the rate of the rest of the travel industry. The average cruise ship has the capacity for as many as 7,000 passengers and crew members; the boats are floating cities, with restaurants, hair salons, dry cleaners and entertainment venues.
During a typical week, EPA says, a cruise ship with 3,000 passengers can generate 200,000 gallons of waste and sewage and 1 million gallons of gray water from showers and drains.
As the vessels leave port and turn back out to sea, the ships engineers dump tons of raw human waste, as well as all of the gray water accumulated during the week-long cruise. That water pollution kills fish and other marine life, and creates a massive algae bloom, despoiling the pristine waters.
The cruise industry trade group, The Cruise Lines International Association, counters this harsh criticism, last week stating that it has been a leader in the maritime industrys effort to reduce its environmental footprint. Members of the group include the big brand names of the cruise ship field, like Carnival Cruise Lines, Disney Cruise Line, and Celebrity Cruises.
The trade group says ships of its member companies received an average sanitation score just above 97 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The minimum score required for sanitation safety and public health is 85. The industry also says it has done a lot for water conservation aboard its vessels.
Critics dont think thats enough, however. They claim the ships go out to sea, 12 miles beyond the U.S. shoreline (and beyond federal jurisdiction), and release the waste, threatening sea life and the public health of coastal communities.
No one knows exactly whats thrown overboard. Raw sewage contains a lot of disease pathogens and toxins, says Dean Navjoks, a environmental policy expert with Yadkin Riverkeeper, Inc., a water advocacy group. It impairs the respiratory functions in water life. It causes algae blooms. This has become a priority for the environmental community.
A report released earlier this decade by the U.S. Government Accounting Office (GAO) determined that, from 1993 to 1998 alone, cruise ships were involved in 87 confirmed cases of discharges of wastes into U.S. waters, and have paid more than $30 million in fines to the government. The Department of Justice prosecuted Royal Caribbean in 1999, and the company pled guilty to a total of 21 felony counts in six U.S. jurisdictions, agreeing to pay a record $18 million in criminal fines.
Navjoks notes that the cruise industry more recently agreed with Alaskan authorities to reign in its water pollution footprint and install adequate sewage treatment facilities aboard all ships that made port in Alaska. The rules went into place in 2006 and serve as something of a role model for national efforts now, Navjoks adds.
Some experts think that there are other reasons that the cruise ship water pollution issue is now getting this level of high-profile attention. Environmental groups finally have an administration and Congress that are amenable to this, says Bruce Pasfield, a partner in Alston & Birds environmental and land use litigation practice group, in Washington D.C., and former prosecutor in the DOJs environmental crimes unit. From what I can see, this kind of legislation has been tried, unsuccessfully, in a number of legislative sessions.
The move could also been seen as part of the current administrations economic policies, notes Joseph A. Morris, a former associate attorney general in the DOJ and Reagan White House lawyer. Populism, says Morris, point out that it's easy to beat up on cruise-takers as rich, leisure-time-laden parasites.
Morris also thinks this may be yet another veiled attack on senior citizens, who make up such a huge proportion of American cruise takers.
But others argue the technology to treat human waste at sea has grown cheaper in recent years, since so many cruise lines have already purchased it for their Alaska operations. The cost would be about $7 per passenger, and would, it is conceded, likely be passed along to passengers in the form of higher ticket prices.
The industry should get credit for its good water conservation stewardship and the other good things they have done for the health of the passengers, says Neesha Kulkarni, a legislative associate at environmental advocacy group Friends of the Earth. But you also have to look at their total environmental footprint.
#3
I still get a rush when a pretty Blonde (Or brunette) walks by.
As I get older the availible Girls are far more numerous.
Hell my own daughter and Grand daughter are both beauties.
One day at work (Machineshop) My daughter stopped in to say hello.
I got teased by my co-workers who didn't know who she was,(RRROWR) They thought I had a girlfriend on the side,
when I told my wife we all laughed about it and didn't tell my co-workers she was my daughter let 'em wonder.
Told them around three years later, they were at least embarressed. All that time they thought I had a sweetie and a wife.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
10/28/2009 23:00 Comments ||
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#4
I'll worry about it after all the fish are trained to use flush toilets.
Posted by: ed ||
10/28/2009 23:11 Comments ||
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[Al Arabiya Latest] From "King of Kings" to "Imam of Muslims," Muammar Gaddafi has given himself many titles but it seems his latest title is script writer as Libya's president works on a TV series to tackle Islamophobia, press reports said Tuesday.
The series will start off in the Arab world and move to Europe and Asia and will show the audience the types of problems Arabs face and defend Islam from continuous attacks, the London-based Asharq al-Awsat reported.
The focus will be on oppression, dictatorship and the relationship between the people and the regimes as well as the strong ties between Muslims and Christians in the Arab world.
Muslim: We tie, you are tied.
The script will be adapted to TV by Syrian writer Fadel Affash and directed by Syrian director Ziad al-Rayes and is expected to air next year during the holy month of Ramadan, when TV ratings soar as people live a less active life style.
Although this is the first time an Arab leader writes a script for TV, this is not the first time Gaddafi has showcased his writing skills.
In 1975, Gaddafi published his now renowned "Green Book," which presents his views on democracy and outlines his idea of Islamic Socialism. The book rejects the modern form of democracy and instead promotes the concept of direct democracy based on the formation of popular committees.
Gaddafi has also written "Years of Torture and Oppression," which recounts the suffering of the Libyan people under the Italian occupation. The novel was supposed to be made into a movie and was worked on for two years before filming was stopped for unknown reasons.
It had a strong theme but no plot no car chases.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/28/2009 00:00 ||
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#6
I, for one, can't wait to watch this nutjob follow up on his outstanding performance at the UN. I'm sure it will be a hit (and a hoot) on the Memri website.
Nairobi - A mob in central Kenya on Monday beheaded two suspected members of the Mungiki, a gang itself famous for decapitating its victims, police said.
The two young men were beheaded and had their fingers chopped off during the incident which took place in the town of Karatina, where 29 people were killed in April in clashes between Mungiki members and local vigilantes.
"The two suspected Mungiki sect members were hacked to death by a mob which we have been told was backed by members of a vigilante group," national police spokesperson Erick Kiraithe told reporters.
"An investigation was launched but no suspect has been arrested," he added.
Twenty-one men who had been charged over the April violence were freed on Friday alongside former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga.
Once a pseudo-religious group of dreadlocked youths who worshipped spirits in Mount Kenya and embraced rituals such as female circumcision, the Mungiki has evolved into an extortionist gang notorious for beheading its victims
The UN says Hutu rebels of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) have attacked in an area of the Democratic Republic of Congo, killing at least ten civilians.
The incident happened over the weekend when the rebels ambushed civilian vehicles in the eastern province of North Kivu, Reuters reported.
A UN-backed radio station put the civilian death toll at 10 in the area, where there has been surge in attacks over the past few months.
More than 1,000 civilians have been killed in the region since Congo launched an offensive against the FDLR in January.
The UN-backed operation has been criticized for provoking reprisal attacks by the FDLR against civilians.
In the eastern Congo, the Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels and Rwandan Hutu rebels of the FDLR have caused untold suffering for thousands of civilians.
Thr Great Lakes region has been destabilized since the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, which some LRA members participated in.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/28/2009 00:00 ||
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#2
ION TOPIX > SOMLAI PM SAYS HIS COUNTRY IS A SAFE HAVEN FOR AL QAEDA [recruit, regroup, re-arm, + for planning new attacks throughout Country + African regions].
A Japanese warship collided with a cargo ship off southern Japan yesterday, injuring three crew members and starting fires on both vessels. The JS Kurama and the South Korean container vessel Carina Star collided in the Kanmon Strait, some 500 miles southwest of Tokyo. Last night, there was still smoke coming from the vessel, which has 360 crew members on board, though authorities said that fires were under control.
Defence officials said that the destroyer suffered a damaged bow, but was capable of returning to port unaided. Toshimi Kitazawa, Japans Defence Minister told a press conference: We deeply apologise to people for causing concern. We will quickly find out what caused the accident.
Posted by: Steve White ||
10/28/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
Foggy night,Radar operator dozing or radar turned off, Karunch.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
10/28/2009 1:06 Comments ||
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#2
Suggested alternate title:
"Japanese Destroyer Captain Says 'Sayonara' To His Career"
Posted by: Ricky bin Ricardo (Abu Babaloo) ||
10/28/2009 1:44 Comments ||
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#6
Cheeze! You'd think they they could find someone who knew how to drive those things. Them being Japanese, and all. They still do make the best American cars don't they?
Posted by: Richard of Oregon ||
10/28/2009 15:31 Comments ||
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#7
They still do make the best American cars don't they?
yep, in places like Ohio, Tennessee, etc.
A little more speed and the IJN JS Kurama could've had shot at most shipping tonnage sunk [during peacetime] for a destroyer at 350MT for the Carina Star.
#10
OOOPSIES, Forgot PAKISTANI DEFENCE FORUM > PAKISTAN TO DEV NEW ICBM WID 7000-KM RANGE [ + beyond?].
PDF POSTER > opined that PAK needs such LRBMS iff it is to becom a SUPERPOWER.
DITTO for CHINIA as per its TRADITIONAL GEOPOL, etc. ISOLATIONISM, includ SOCIOCULTURAL HOMOGENIETY. ALL GREAT EMPIRES IN WORLD HISTORY HAVE BEEN HETEROGENOUS = "COSMOPOLITAN", aka PLURALIST + DIVERSIFIST.
Iff CHIN REFUSES TO GIVE UP ITS ISOLATIONISM > goes far to explain "SINK THE TIRPITZ"[altern >"DAMBUSTERS"] SCENARIOS in future? US-CHIN WAR, i.e. INLAND COMMANDO, MILTSRIKES STRATEGIC OPERS AGZ THREE GORGES + RIVERINE MILBASES INSIDE CHIN'S DEEP INETERIOR???
OLD DREAM/VISIONS > I'mma pretty sure curr = future former SECDEF GATES = USN won't be sending any OWG ALL-FEMME/BABE USN SUBMARINES AGZ THESE TARGETS.
[Cue BENNY HILL HAND-SALUTE = "RESTLESS EYE" here].
New Yorkers are fleeing the state and city in alarming numbers -- and costing a fortune in lost tax dollars, a new study shows.
More than 1.5 million state residents left for other parts of the United States from 2000 to 2008, according to the report from the Empire Center for New York State Policy. It was the biggest out-of-state migration in the country. The vast majority of the migrants, 1.1 million, were former residents of New York City -- meaning one out of seven city taxpayers moved out.
"The Empire State is being drained of an invaluable resource -- people," the report said.
What's worse is that the families fleeing New York are being replaced by lower-income newcomers, who consequently pay less in taxes.
Overall, the ex-New Yorkers earn about 13 percent more than those who moved into the state, the study found.
And it should be no surprise that the city -- and Manhattan in particular -- suffered the biggest loss in terms of taxable income.
The average Manhattan taxpayer who left the state earned $93,264 a year. The average newcomer to Manhattan earned only $72,726. That's a difference of $20,538, the highest for any county in the state. Staten Island was second, with a $20,066 difference.
It all adds up to staggering loss in taxable income. During 2006-2007, the "migration flow" out of New York to other states amounted to a loss of $4.3 billion.
The study used annual US Census reports, which showed which states had increased population, combined with Internal Revenue Service data, which show which states, cities and counties had lost people.
While New York City and the state were the losers, the Sunshine and Garden States were winners. more than 250,000 New Yorkers who lived in and around the city fled to Florida. Another 172,000 city taxpayers ended up in New Jersey. So another explanation is that the snow-birds are leaving to Florida and the families with kids move to Joisey ... Why all the moving vans?
The center, part of the conservative Manhattan Institute, blames the state's high cost of living and high taxes. The study also revealed surprising details about how city residents moved from borough to borough.
Manhattan lost 64,480 taxpayers, and more than half -- 34,383 -- went to The Bronx. Brooklyn lost 68,951 taxpayers -- including 43,688 who went to Staten Island.
The study also had some good news. The peak loss of New Yorkers was in 2005, when nearly 250,000 residents left the state. But last year, only 126,000 left, the lowest figure over the eight-year period. Their property values are upside down and they can't afford to move anymore.
#4
So long as when these elitist coasties land, they put to use that whole understand foreign cultures mindset and become like the locals. I'd hate to spill the beans but we do have great sushi out here: Rocky Mountain Oysters, fresh and uncooked, ripe for your eclectic palattes.
#6
Their property values are upside down and they can't afford to move anymore.
We see that out here in Greensburg. Property value there has quadrupled because greensburg is now "Greensburg!". Sounds great? Taxes are rediculous, so much so that people cannot afford to live there even with what would be considered a top third income level job, but cannot sell because nobody can afford to move there.
It is the green liberal social engineering project handed to them on a golden platter, and is steroid injected test tube baby gone spider man villian bad. Seriously, people should do a study on it. Why does some shitkicker flyover town matter to the real US city dwellers? Well its that attitude which is one aspect of the problem, but to continue it is because what has been done with Greensburg is what the plan is for the whole of the United States via EPA. It is happening right now with the house tax credits, artificially inflating land value until the end of the year to justify property value taxes. It is happening right now with the stifling of traditional energy sources in favor of wind and solar, basically arguing that the two in the bush is better than the one in your hand. If they do you a favor and answer your question about how far away the bush is they tell you its 42.
People need to be asking before we give up the meal in our hand for the two in the bush is 42 what? Inches? Yards? Miles? How far will I have to go to get my two meals in the bush and will it still be there when I arrive? If you don't ask that question and get the answer, you will end up walking over the horizon for pie in the sky while they stay where you two met, chuckling to themselves while eating the meal you voluntarily gave up, muttering "Stupid country rubes."
AACHEN, Germany (AP) Decades after he confessed to shooting three Dutch citizens, a former Nazi death squad member went on trial on Wednesday for their killings in 1944. The defendant, Heinrich Boere, was able to evade prosecution for years, first by fleeing the Netherlands and then because German courts ruled he could not be extradited. He was listed No. 6 on the Simon Wiesenthal Centers most-wanted list.
Mr. Boere, 88, was brought into the courtroom in a wheelchair and had a doctor by his side as the proceedings began. He faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison if convicted of the killings while part of an SS death squad.
Did his victims get life?
Mr. Boere, the son of a Dutch man and a German woman, confessed to the killings to Dutch authorities when he was in captivity after the war, but then he fled. He was sentenced to death in absentia in the Netherlands in 1949; the sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.
In 1983, a German court refused to send him to the Netherlands because he might have German citizenship as well as Dutch, and Germany then had no provision to extradite its nationals. Another German court refused in 2007 to make him serve his Dutch sentence in a German prison because he had been absent from his trial and therefore unable to defend himself.
So all one need do to stop a legal sentence is abscond. Curious legal system those Y'urp-peons have ...
Efraim Zuroff, the top Nazi hunter at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, applauded prosecutors for pushing to bring the case to trial.
This sends a very powerful message that the passage of time in no way diminishes the guilt of murderers, and that old age should not protect the killers of civilians, he said in a telephone interview. Boeres victims and their families are just as worthy of obtaining justice today as they were right after he committed his crimes.
The trial was suspended Wednesday for several days, before the formal charges against Mr. Boere were read aloud, so the five-judge panel could consider a defense motion to have the lead prosecutor, Ulrich Maass, removed from the trial. The defense argued that Mr. Maass had made statements to the Dutch and German press that called his objectivity into question. Mr. Maass said the allegations were unfounded.
Mr. Boere was 18 when he joined the SS in late 1940, only months after German forces had overrun his hometown, Maastricht, and the rest of the Netherlands. After fighting on the Russian front, he returned to the Netherlands as part of Silbertanne, a unit of largely Dutch SS volunteers like himself who were given the task of killing their countrymen for resistance attacks on collaborators.
In statements after the war that are expected to form the basis for the prosecutions case, Mr. Boere detailed the killings almost shot by shot.
That would seem to be a problem for the defense ...
His lawyers have declined to say how they will try to counter the confession, but they could argue that their client was simply following orders.
Which is no defense.
In a 2007 interview with the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad, Mr. Boere said that he was sorry for what he had done but that it was another time, with different rules.
Posted by: Steve White ||
10/28/2009 23:00 ||
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In a repeat of Monday, Radovan Karadzic again boycotted his trial and refused to appear in court to face charges of genocide and war crimes stemming from the 1992-95 Bosnian war. That did not stop the trial from going ahead. This time, Presiding Judge O-Gon Kwon moved quickly into session. He said Karadzic regrettably chose his course and now must face the consequences.
"In light of the accused voluntarily and unequivocally waiving his right to be present at these proceedings, the chamber is of the view that this hearing can proceed in his absence," Kwon said.
Prosecutor Alan Tieger wasted no time, dramatically launching into the case he intends to present. He started off with the Srebrenica, where the 1995 massacre of about 8,000 Muslim men and boys took place. He said shortly after the largest mass murder since World War II, the supreme commander of its forces was telling his parliament how he ordered that attack.
"This case, your honors, is about that supreme commander. A man who harnessed the forces of nationalism, hatred and fear to implement his vision of an ethnically separated Bosnia. Radovan Karadzic," Tieger said.
Posted by: Steve White ||
10/28/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
GITMO DETAINEES + KARADZIC > and any ddesired future OWG-NWO, UN-BASED ICC is WAY BEHIND THE BALL ON BOTH, AND ONLY GETTING/SINKING FURTHER AWAY, regardless of the merits.
Amid discussions by EU foreign ministers about the need for strong leadership, Swedish EU commissioner Margot Wallström has called for the appointment of a woman to serve as EU president. "I think it should be a woman," Wallström said at a press conference in Luxembourg on Monday in response to a question about who might be appropriate for the as-yet-to-be-created position.
As the commissioner for institutional issues within the EU, Wallström's portfolio includes the Lisbon Treaty which, once signed by the Czech president Vaclav Klaus, will create the post of EU president.
"Look at the names mentioned," she said, referring to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Dutch Prime Minister Jan Balkenende.
"From a democratic point of view it reduces that 52.6 percent of women to a minority...and I don't think this is acceptable in the European Union of 2009. I think we have competent, good women that could be mentioned and nominated."
Former Irish president Mary Robinson ruled herself out of the running at the weekend, citing her interest in pursuing the fight against global warming.
Lithuania, however, suggested it could nominate the female ex-Latvian president Vaira Vike-Freiberga.
Wallström's current term as European Commissioner for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy comes to an end on February 1st, 2010 and her future plans remain uncertain.
According to the Svenska Dagbladet (SvD) newspaper, Wallström is in negotiations with the United Nations over a possible high ranking position related to women's rights.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/28/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
And she knows just the woman for the job.
Posted by: ed ||
10/28/2009 0:39 Comments ||
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#2
D *** NG IT, THATS NOT OWG MADONNA = PHOEBUS CYNTHEIA [Sun God Appolo's Twin Sister] = JOSEPHINE BONAPARTE = ......@ BABES OF THE APOCALYPSE > WHAT IN DURB-NATION IS GOIN ON AROUND HERE!
#3
"From a democratic point of view it reduces that 52.6 percent of women to a minority...and I don't think this is acceptable in the European Union of 2009. I think we have competent, good women that could be mentioned and nominated."
To be as perfectly representative as possible, it should be the most average person in the EU - athe woman who lives closest to the union's geographic centre. Well, the woman closest who has the most average colour skin tone. And income. And number of children.
#1
Lots of people wanted this to fail. Check all the general topic blogs that usually have an orgasm over anything space-related and note the sound of crickets. Whatever the bureaucratic outcome down the road, good for the propellerheads at NASA today...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
10/28/2009 16:12 Comments ||
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#2
It's another shuttle; it'll cost hundreds of millions of dollars per _flight_.
Whether this test is a success or a failure, the whole program is built around the idea that the main problem with the shuttle is that it was reusable and there is nothing whatsoever wrong with building large solid rockets to launch really big payloads into orbit.
This first-stage plus dummy cost 400 million dollars. If the completed vehicle is cost-comparable to the shuttle, it'll cost about 600-800 million per launch.
Imagine if the air force conducted close air support by crashing F-22's into enemy targets.
#4
"Imagine if the air force conducted close air support by crashing F-22's into enemy targets."
You mean like the IraniansPakistanisRussiansChineseSyrians NorKs, Thing? ;-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
10/28/2009 20:43 Comments ||
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#5
I'm sorry to say, but it all looks so lacking in real innovation.
Rivets FFS.
It's still at heart a big firework. Maybe I'm just on a downer today but I feel real innovation in launches will only come with some market driven innovation.
#6
Solid rockets are far cheaper and safer than liquid fuel rocket engines. The Space Shuttle's solid boosters are around $40M each, the R&D paid for and reusable, though it's probably cheaper to just throw them away.
Posted by: ed ||
10/28/2009 21:50 Comments ||
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#7
I would love to drop a bug in NASA's ear and use the Dummy load to loft "Rods from God" into orbit, 40 tons is a lotta kaboom if done right, say one ton each? That's equal to 40 nukes, and a hell of a lot cheaper as well.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
10/28/2009 22:35 Comments ||
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A preliminary study conducted by the state government into the deaths caused by the H1N1 influenza virus has revealed that the pathogen is now affecting patients more virulently and is producing newer reactions in the body. The study has also thrown up a perplexing fact--two-thirds of those suspected to have died of swine flu did not have the virus, despite showing all clinical symptoms.
A key discovery is that the virus, which was initially causing a bacterial infection, is now causing a more potent viral infection.
"The viral is now leading to a condition called hyalinisation of alvelar membrane, or thickening of the lung wall by deposition of proteins. Due to this, oxygen supply is severely affected, and even ventilators have been of little help," said Dr Pravin Shingare, joint director, Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER).
The state experts have found that the deaths between August 3 and 25 were largely due to formation of pus on the membrane lining the lungs. "During that period, deaths were caused mostly due to a secondary bacterial infection," said a professor who was involved in the study.
But the deaths caused thereafter were the result of deposition of proteins on the membrane. "The deposition is more severe in the case of recent deaths. It leads to the thickening of the membrane, and therefore oxygen cannot not pass into the body at all," the professor said.
Jamkar said that another interesting finding of the state experts has been that two-thirds of the influenza H1N1 patients who died actually tested negative for the virus. "As many as 36 suspected cases who died were later found negative for the virus," he said.
#1
Doc, correct me if I am wrong, but is this related to the cytokine storm caused by overreaction of the Beta activated immune response? Meaning we should see antibodies and interferons against a virus.
If it were cell mediated, the Tc would lyse the crap out of things, and the Ts would eventually shut down that feedback loop, which is more purely destructive, not stimulative of tissue deposits.
This almost sounds like what I remember as opsonization, except that its happening to the simple squamous tissue in the epithelial linings of the alveoli instead of a pathogen. That and the hyaline tissue is being deposited instead of antibodies.
FYI for those not having had physiology, hyaline tissue is what cartilage is frequently built from in the upper portions of the brachia all the way to the bronchioles. Its not supposed to be in the respiratory bronchioles nor in the lung lobules or alveolar area at all.
This sounds more like a bacteria, maybe an opportunistic one, instead of a virus unless it has some sort of retroviral styel activating pathway that kicks on an autoimmune response on the proteins in respiratory membrane epithelials, causing the body to treat them like upper respiratory tract tissue instead of lung tissue.
Whatever the case is, this sure is a damned odd turn at this stage.
#2
Hmm, in simpler terms: Whats happening is the very flexible and thin (less than one micro meter, only one cell thick) lining of the air sacs in the lungs is becoming layered with a cartilage-like tissue, which makes it less flexible, and worse, it makes it thicker and less permable to gases like O2 and CO2. This interferes with the ability of the lungs to efficiently accomplish gas exchange. Meaning the body cannot dump CO2 all that well, and cannot absorb O2, because the tissue is simply too thick for the blood to get oxygen through and dump carbon dioxide out.
#3
Our household has the svine flu, hell, our entire city has it, and as usual, my wife zipped through it like a minor cold and it hit me like a freight train. The hallucinations got pretty interesting until they finally took me to the ER and old sawbones give me a coupe of bags of fluid and the full court press of TamiFlu.
Now all that remains is lethargy,the occasional chill and a much worse chest cough than I had with this flu in its first stages. And wouldn't ya know it, it's the first week of rifle season, and now to boot the History channel is showing nothing good this week.
#4
OldSpook: This one just beats all. A cytokine storm response causes inflammation so profound you can see it on an X-Ray. And the common opportunistic bacteria all cause necrosis. This leads me to suspect an opportunistic virus, like herpes (but likely not herpes), which can cause protein accumulation. But this is stabbing in the dark.
Generally influenza doesn't kill directly, it instead alters the immunity of the lung so as to allow bacterial infection (pneumococcus, staphylococcus) and pneumonia.
'Cytokine storm' is the situation in which the virus provokes an over-exuberant response from the innate immunity cells in the lung; these release cytokines and chemokines which in turn facilitate an overwhelming inflammatory response.
Understand that cytokine release, properly controlled, is a good part of the inflammatory response: we get more immune cells to the right place and have them activated to sequester and quell the viral infection. When it goes haywire and is far more than needed, one gets damage to the lung cells and structures.
Now cytokine storm isn't completely understood and so I wouldn't use the terms 'opsonization', etc. But part of the damage that may occur is a fibrotic response to inflammation. We see this, for example, in 'adult respiratory distress syndrome', a response to infection, trauma, etc in which there is first flooding (edema) of the lung followed by (if not treated) fibrosis. That can be fatal. Without knowing what happened in the H1N1 cases I can't say, but I could imagine a similar response with thickening of the alveolar membranes (and their eventual fibrosis and destruction).
It's certainly possible for such a reaction to occur in the absence of a superimposed bacterial infection.
I need to hear more about this, and I'm sure our critical care group will be looking into it. As OS notes, it's ominous.
Posted by: Steve White ||
10/28/2009 14:10 Comments ||
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#6
I still have my notes from the Avian flu and other flu discussions here at Rantburg. Do the recommendations still hold, or should we be doing something more/different to control the cytokine storm response?
My notes then were:
o Cold-eeze brand zinc gluconate lozenges at least 3x/day, refraining from food or drink for an hour afterward
o Large quantities of ordinary cranberry juice
o Vitamin D-3 (Cholecalciferol) not vitamin D-2
o Wash hands with soap or use alcohol sanitizer 6x/day
o GSE grapefruit extract, sold in health food stores as a calcium supplement, as a surface decontaminant: add a tablespoon to the water of a room vaporizer/humidifier to disinfect the air and room surfaces.
o the sick person to wear a dust mask to prevent the spread of infected droplets from sneezing/coughing
The things I know to use against inflammation are aspirin, Co Q-10, resveratol (red wine extract).
When I took the trailing daughters to get their seasonal flu shots, it was recommended that those eighteen years and older also get a pneumonia vaccine, which trailing daughter #1 dutifully did. While a good thing overall, will that help in this particular situation?
#7
two-thirds of the influenza H1N1 patients who died actually tested negative for the virus.
As I recall that is consistent with a cytokine storm. The immune system does knock out the virus, but doesn't recognize that it has for some reason and goes into 'overdrive' trying to kill the virus causing the c storm.
#9
tw, Steve's the Doc, I'm just a kibitzing nurse wannabe. But all-in-all the pneumonia vaccine is probably a good thing (that's what's causing the deaths - flu just opens the door).
Whats alarming is that the virus isn't showing up in a large enough number of the fatalities, so the morbidity mechanism is different from other known issues.
This means its something other than the flu virus, and its also not like the usual bacterial or known viral pathogens that destroy the lung capacity in this sort of illness scenario. And *that* is what caught my attention - and it's raising the hackles on people far more educated than I (like Doc Steve).
#10
TW and SW: The latest recommendation against secondary infections is Avelox (Rx) (tablets):
http://www.rxlist.com/avelox-drug.htm
Other bits: long term arsenic exposure can be deadly in this case, because it has been observed to inhibit pathogen recognition, followed by an immune overreaction. Not much of a problem due to tight EPA standards in drinking water in the US, fortunately.
There is an effort to develop an OTC cocktail of cytokine inhibitors enough to prevent the onset of ARDS, with the most promising being inhibitors for H-1, H-2, ACE and Prostaglandin in combination.
Considerable success has been found using external blood oxygenation to substantially reduce mortality. No mention of oxygen therapeutics augmentation, however.
Odd statistical observations are first that some Hispanics seem to be more prone to severe infections, and high mortality among the very young, those with other medical conditions, and strangely, older, healthy children who had a day or so before their disease went acute, been strenuously exercising.
#12
Sorry folks, I only read the first few replies before asking the question, it may have been answered by Steve White and Phil_b in replies 5,7,8. Still sounds like there a ton of unknowns.
#13
tipover: often it is oxygen deprivation. The lungs have been so damaged that the internal organs can't get enough oxygen. Otherwise, fluid buildup in the lungs, secondary bacterial infection from one of several bacteria, and the exacerbation of other medical conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease.
#14
TW
zinc is good but should be consumed in less than 50mg a day (FedReg) I'd use no more than 20 - throughout the day in small doses -(it can cause stomach distress)
cranberry juice is a wonderful source of vit C and anti oxidants
be careful with vit D it is a oil sourced vit and is not washed out of your system easily if you take too much..
always wash your hands../.
grapefruit extract is sold this way because of its acidic qualities (and pricey ones) white vinegar will work the same - albeit more smelly..
dust masks have negligible effects .. there are medical grade masks available with more price and imo little value..
#15
dust masks have negligible effects .. there are medical grade masks available with more price and imo little value..
Largely a myth. Flu is spread primarily by contact (touch) with the mucous membranes. Anything over the nose, mouth and eyes will work to prevent this contact (hospital workers excepted).
#16
And for those of you not familiar with Dengue shock syndrome (DSS), also referred to as dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), which looks remarkably like cytokine storm.
The dengue virus serotypes are named dengue type 1,2,3, and 4. The four serotypes are extraordinarily similar, but have different strains of dengue virus. If an individual is infected with one serotype, then s/he has immunity to that virus. However the immunity applies to only that virus not to the others. Exposure to one serotype, in fact causes the individual to be more susceptible to dengue shock syndrome. The immunity produces specific antibodies to prevent the virus from attaching to the macrophage cells, which is the target cell that dengue viruses infect. If an individual is infected with a second serotype of dengue virus the bodys immune system will trigger, thinking that it is the serotype of the first infection. The antibodies attach to the serotype, assuming they are doing their job, however the virus still exist and continues to infect the person. This condition is known as antibody dependent enhancement. The person persists to be infected resulting in dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome.
#18
regardless, IMA quitn licking keyboards and doorknobs and sech
Posted by: Frank G ||
10/28/2009 21:44 Comments ||
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#19
linker: Several important notes. Zinc gluconate, patented by Cold-Eeze, is readily uptaken by the mucous membranes where it is needed. Other forms of zinc are not. Zinc inhibits viral reproduction inside cells.
Cranberry juice is specifically because it has been shown to inhibit virus adhesion to cells in some other viruses, and may do so in influenza.
Vitamin D3 has toxicity at 30-50,000 IU daily for a few weeks. Some people are sensitive to as little as 3,000 IU, but most people aren't. Vitamin D has several mechanisms shown to interfere with viruses, including a breakdown product that erodes viral coats.
Grapefruit extract is specifically for its ionic calcium, not its acidic properties. Unlike zinc, it oxidizes viruses like bleach.
Dust masks will stop the drops of moisture on which viruses travel, so are quite effective for most people. N95 masks are for those who must work around infected people a great deal. In which case they also need protective glasses to prevent optic viral uptake.
Viruses travel by air optimally at 40F and low humidity. At higher temperatures and humidity, they become increasingly dependent on surface contact contamination.
#20
# 6, TW, I have to use very potent cocktail of anti-oxidant/free radical scavengers to keep me alive.Almost daily I use the following:
1. Natural Astaxanthin, 10 mg softgel (from vitacost.com, item number 844197013258, cost 17.99 for 60 softgels)
2. CN Pine Bark extract 90%, 100 mg (from americannutrition.com. cost 15.99 for 120 vcaps)
3. Alka-Seltzer, twice a week ( contains aspirin and bicarbonate that scavenges nitric oxide free radicals) or daily low dose (80 mg) aspirin and sparkling water.
4 A regular multivitamin plus mineral with zinc.
5. A small dash of turmeric powder (curcumin, the yellow spice in Indian curry)
All of the above are safe and available over the counter.
Comedian Larry David is under attack from critics who say he pushed the mocking of religion and Christian belief in miracles over the edge in the latest episode of his HBO series "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Anyone threaten to cut his head off? No? Humph, some 'attack' ...
On the show's most recent installment, which aired Sunday night, David's character urinates on a painting of Jesus Chris, causing a woman to believe the painting shows Jesus crying.
Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, responded to the episode, saying David should "quit while he's ahead," and that the show is proof that the comedian's best years are behind him.
"Was Larry David always this crude? Would he think it's comedic if someone urinated on a picture of his mother?" Donohue said in a statement. "This might be fun to watch, but since HBO only likes to dump on Catholics (it was just a couple of weeks ago that Sarah Silverman insulted Catholics on "Real Time with Bill Maher") and David is Jewish, we'll never know." Wonder what the response would have been if he'd urinated on a picture of Mohammad (PTUI) ...
During Sunday's episode, David, who created, wrote and produced "Seinfeld," visits a bathroom in a stranger's home and splatters urine on a picture of Jesus. Instead of wiping it off, David leaves the restroom. Minutes later, a woman enters the bathroom and concludes that Jesus is crying. She then summons her mother to the bathroom, where both women kneel in prayer.
"When David and Jerry Seinfeld (playing himself) are asked if they ever experienced a miracle, David answers, 'every erection is a miracle,' Donohue's statement continued. "That's what passes for creativity these days."
Calls to HBO seeking comment were not immediately returned.
The episode, "The Bare Midriff," primarily revolves around David's assistant and her belly-revealing attire. According to the show's Web site, a "new pill" increased David's urine flow, leading to the "misunderstanding about a miraculously weeping Jesus."
HBO promoted the controversial scene on the show's site, complete with a "squirm-o-meter" that ranked the urine incident, ahead of David's confronting his assistant about her exposed midriff.
CNN, which invented the cable news network more than two decades ago, will hit a new competitive low with its prime-time programs in October, finishing fourth -- and last -- among the cable news networks with the audience that all the networks rely on for their advertising. CNN used to serve up news. It wasn't too unfair, too unbalanced, and it had nothing to fear...
The official monthly numbers will be finalized at 4 p.m. Monday and will include results from Friday. CNN executives conceded that will not change the competitive standing for the month. CNN will still be last in prime time. That means CNN's programs were behind not only Fox News and MSNBC, but even its own sister network HLN (formerly Headline News.) Formerly the little brother of CNN...
Three of its four shows between 7 and 11 p.m. finished fourth and last among the cable news networks. That was the first time CNN had finished that poorly with its prime-time shows. The results demonstrate once more the apparent preference of viewers for opinion-oriented shows from the news networks in prime time. Rather it demonstrates that viewers prefer their news separate from the presenters' opinions...
CNN has steered opinion hosts like Nancy Grace to HLN, while maintaining more news-oriented shows on CNN itself. When news events are not being intensely followed, CNN executives acknowledge, viewers seem to be looking for partisan views more than objective coverage. I watched CNN a couple years ago when I was out of the country -- everything else was in Spanish. I was surprised at how bad it had become...
Individually, the CNN shows were beaten resoundingly by all the Fox News programs, but also lost to all of the MSNBC programs, including a repeat of Keith Olbermann's 8 p.m. edition of "Countdown," which beat the 10 p.m. hour of CNN's signature prime-time program, "Anderson Cooper 360."
Again that was a first. Mr. Cooper had 211,000 viewers to 223,000 for Mr. Olbermann's repeat. That meant Mr. Cooper finished fourth and last in the 10 p.m. hour because, besides being well behind the leader, Greta Van Susteren, who had 538,000 viewers, he was also beaten by a repeat of Nancy Grace's 8 p.m. show on HLN, which averaged 222,000.
For the month, CNN averaged 202,000 viewers between the ages of 25 and 54 -- the group that television news organizations use as their basis of success because of their advertising sales. That was far behind the dominant leader, Fox News, which averaged 689,000. But it also trailed MSNBC, which had 250,000 viewers in that group and HLN, which had 221,000.
The only CNN show from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. that did not finish last was Larry King, which was third, ahead of the new Joy Behar show on HLN. But Sean Hannity's show on Fox News had a huge lead with 659,000 viewers in that age group. Second was Rachel Maddow on MSNBC with 242,000.
Mr. King averaged 224,000 and Ms. Behar 181,000.
At 7 p.m. CNN's host, Lou Dobbs was fourth, barely beaten by Jane Velez Mitchell on HLN, 166,000 to 162,000. The big winner was Shepard Smith on Fox with 465,000 viewers. Second was Chris Matthews and "Hardball" on MSNBC, with 179,000 viewers.
CNN's performance was worst in the 8 p.m. hour. Bill O'Reilly on Fox News continued his long dominance with the biggest numbers of any host, 881,000 viewers. Mr. Olbermann, with his first-run program, was second with 295,000. Close behind was the first edition of Ms. Grace's show with 269,000. Campbell Brown on CNN trailed with only 162,000.
CNN executives emphasized that the network continues to draw more viewers than all its competitors except Fox News when all hours of the day are counted. CNN released a statement Monday saying, "CNN's ratings are always going to be more dependent on the news environment, much more so than opinion-based programming especially in prime time."
Posted by: Fred ||
10/28/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
Looks like poor Ted is gonna have to tighten his belt another notch.
Posted by: ed ||
10/28/2009 0:42 Comments ||
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#2
Why watch CNN when you already know what's going to happen?
#5
When news events are not being intensely followed, CNN executives acknowledge, viewers seem to be looking for partisan views more than objective coverage.
That's right! Keep those heads down the hole and keep slurping that Kool-Aid.
#6
The International CNN broadcast in airports and bars abroad and the Caribbean is pure propaganda. Fox is a breath of fresh air and I try to patronize those establishments if there is a choice.
#7
LE5091 is exactly right, turn off the airport cnn station and really get a gauge on how few people watch that channel. Same with newspeak and docters' offices, USAtoday/NYT and hotels.
#8
LE5091 is certainly right. Not just propaganda, but whiny, annoying and loud at the same time.
To the airport management: I don't need to be assaulted with noise the entire time I'm in your facility. I'm really just looking for some peace and quiet while I wait to board an aluminum mailing tube. I can read a book or a magazine; I can listen to my iPod; I can chat with a friend. Turn the damned TVs off. Thank you for your attention.
Posted by: Steve White ||
10/28/2009 11:14 Comments ||
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#9
I haven't really watched TV for a year. Everything on it seems to suck!
This is why I watch reruns of McHales Navy and Bob Newhart
#10
It will be interesting to see if ted picks up the reins at CNN again. He's sharp and he could turn things around. Or he might swing it further left and hasten it's demise. The question is which Ted Turner is going to show up for work. If the flaming Liberal Ted barges into CNN's executive offices, he'll leap frog MSNBC going even further left and CNN will quickly die. If instead, Mr. Turner, the Capitalist, walks into his old office, I predict a major remake of CNN. Basically, he will copy what is successful about Fox, package it in a nice liberal suit and resuscicate. The key is if he can regain the audience's trust that they are getting the truth from him.
Posted by: Richard of Oregon ||
10/28/2009 15:25 Comments ||
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curse the whole gambit. And yes, screw you too ted.
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.
(CNN) -- California police investigating the alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl have arrested five people, a police spokesman said Wednesday.
Raw sewage contains disease pathogens and toxins, impairs the respiratory functions in water life, and causes algae blooms. And cruise ships are dumping it just off shore, possibly washing up on the beach near where your family is vacationing.
[Al Arabiya Latest] From "King of Kings" to "Imam of Muslims," Muammar Gaddafi has given himself many titles but it seems his latest title is script writer as Libya's president works on a TV series to tackle Islamophobia, press reports said Tuesday. 
Nairobi - A mob in central Kenya on Monday beheaded two suspected members of the Mungiki, a gang itself famous for decapitating its victims, police said.
The UN says Hutu rebels of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) have attacked in an area of the Democratic Republic of Congo, killing at least ten civilians. 
New Yorkers are fleeing the state and city in alarming numbers -- and costing a fortune in lost tax dollars, a new study shows. 
Amid discussions by EU foreign ministers about the need for strong leadership, Swedish EU commissioner Margot Wallström has called for the appointment of a woman to serve as EU president. "I think it should be a woman," Wallström said at a press conference in Luxembourg on Monday in response to a question about who might be appropriate for the as-yet-to-be-created position.
CNN, which invented the cable news network more than two decades ago, will hit a new competitive low with its prime-time programs in October, finishing fourth -- and last -- among the cable news networks with the audience that all the networks rely on for their advertising.
