Peter Bethune Held In Solitary Confinement In Tokyo Without Communication Rights
Gary Thomason arrived in Tokyo on Sunday 14th March less than 48 hours after Peter Bethune was arrested by the Japanese Coast Guard in Tokyo harbor, to lend support to Peter and understand the local situation.
Peter Bethune, an anti-whaling activist from New Zealand, was brought back to Tokyo by the whaling ship, the Shonan Maru 2, after he boarded the ship in the southern Antarctic on Feb. 15.
Meetings were held with staff of the Japanese Coast Guard (JCG) and Tokyo Prison where Peter is being held and N.Z Embassy in Tokyo. Two written applications were presented to Tokyo Prison administration requesting interview with Peter.
The 1st application presented on Monday 15th March was rejected on the grounds that there was a "communication ban" and only Embassy staff and his lawyer could meet with Peter.
The 2nd application was presented on Tuesday morning after Gary Thomason had spent the night sitting in a wheelchair outside the prison gate in heavy monsoon rain. This application was rejected on the grounds that Peter will not be allowed communication or visitors until after his indictment. The staff at Tokyo Prison refused to provide an answer to the question as to when this date for any possible indictment.
Staff at the N.Z Embassy in Tokyo accepted a hand written letter of support prepared by Gary Thomason which will be provided to Peter's lawyer who will in turn convey this to Peter.
It is difficult at this stage to get any real idea of what will be the possible outcome other that the current single charge of trespass carried a maximum sentence of three years.
There is also no indication whether further charges will arise from the current investigation by the JCG. According to Takeo Murui who is head of Tokyo Coast Guard office which is in charge of the investigation, this is the first time that the JCG has been involved in a case of ship trespassing in international waters.
#1
It is difficult at this stage to get any real idea of what will be the possible outcome other that the current single charge of trespass carried a maximum sentence of three years.
#5
I'm just guessing here, but I think it's going to be a long time before another Greenpeace activist hops onto a Japanese whaling ship to serve a 'warrant'.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/30/2010 9:04 Comments ||
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#6
They should have tied him to a weight and tossed him over the side.
#7
I find it hard to think of this without it reminding me of that glorious piece of bulldada, the movie "The Story of Ricky".
By far the best Japanese prison, impossible martial arts, ultraviolence, fat little spoiled brat, monster, drugs, giant prison meat grinder, and mutant healing factor movie ever made.
Liquor and loud sarcasm with friends improves the quality of the movie immensely.
#9
Peter Bethune Held In Solitary Confinement In Tokyo Without Communication Rights
It was against Roman Law to crucify a Roman citizen. Outsiders, not so much. Enjoy the solitude Peter, you've bloody well earned it. Hopefully word of your punishment will make it's way back to the nest for others to ponder.
#10
Japanese prisons enforce severe discipline - no talking, prisoners count a certain way, eat a certain way, wash the dishes a certain way, and sit in their cells facing forward, eyes front, a certain way.
#11
RJ do you believe, even for a moment, that he wouldn't?
No I know he would, thus proving his hypocrisy for all to see, but the treatment in prison described here is refreshing.
We here in America should take notes, see If the treatment could be adapted here, should cut down on repeat offenders greatly.
And just maybe reduce Greenpeas to Irrelevance and the dust of history.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
03/30/2010 13:37 Comments ||
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Libyan leader Muammar Ghaddafi, who enraged Abuja after suggesting Nigeria be partitioned between Muslims and Christians, has now proposed the country is carved into "many" ethnic states, a report said Monday. Y'mean like Biafra?
His comment followed violent clashes between Muslim and Christian gangs that killed hundreds of people around the central Nigerian city of Jos and prompted Nigeria's government to question whether Libya might be sponsoring the violence.
"In fact, Nigeria's problems cannot be resolved by dividing the country into two states, Christian and Muslim," Ghaddafi was quoted as saying by the official Jana news agency.
Like the former Yugoslavia, he said, Nigeria comprises "other populations who want independence" without religious considerations.
He cited "the Yoruba people in the east and south who demand independence, the Ibo people in the west and south" as well as the Ijaws.
"Nigeria ... resembles the Yugoslav union which included several peoples, like Nigeria, and then these people gained independence and the Yugoslav union was ended in peace," said Gaddafi. "The model that fits Nigeria is the Yugoslav one."
The Libyan leader said earlier this month Nigeria should be partitioned between the Christian and Muslim communities to end its sectarian violence.
He proposed that it should follow the partition model of Pakistan, which was born in 1947 after the Muslim minority of predominantly Hindu India founded their own homeland, led by Mohammed Ali Jinnah.
"Irresponsible utterances"
Ghaddafi, until recently head of the African Union, had suggested a Christian homeland in the south with Lagos as its capital and a Muslim homeland in the north with Abuja as its principal city.
The remarks enraged Nigeria which recalled its ambassador to Tripoli over what it said was Ghaddafi's "irresponsible utterances" which had made a mockery of his calls for African integration and unity.
The Libyan leader's comments had "diminished his status and credibility," said foreign ministry spokesman Ozo Nwobu, reading from a strongly worded statement which expressed the government's "very serious concern".
The statement also accused Ghaddafi of "theatrics and grandstanding at every auspicious occasion".
Nigeria's 140 million population is almost equally divided between Muslims and Christians.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/30/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
Nigeria's 140 million population is almost equally divided between Muslims and Christians.
Okay: given that it's Ghaddafi saying this (which means by definition that it can't be a good idea), why is this actually a bad idea?
Think of the lives lost in the partition of India and Pakistan.
Think of the instability that would result as the Muslim state(s) do what Muslim states do. Think of the problems the 'Christian' states would have. Think of the problems going back and forth.
Then consider how this might lead to partition and civil war in other parts of Africa as various separatist movements gain encouragement -- why, if Nigeria can fragment, so can (fill in the blank).
Khaddafi knows what he's doing. An unstable Africa is to his benefit.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/30/2010 7:48 Comments ||
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#4
Tribal 'city-state' concept once again eh? Worked so well in the past. For a more in depth view, forget the trip to the middle east or Africa. Simply examine Detroit, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
#5
The way I see it most of Africa has two solutions to fix their political problems: (1) Split nations into ethnic-based nation-states the way Europe is. This is the gist of Ghaddafi's plan and it leads to stability within nations that has been unseen in Africa. (2) Increase the size of African states so that a single minority cannot easily dominate the others. This might mean a couple very large states. Democracy would be pretty iffy to keep such a nation together though, I don't think African states are really ready.
#6
of course, oil resources would go to the muslim state. They are the 4,378th holiest site in Islam
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/30/2010 18:55 Comments ||
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#7
Frank, if you'll check a map, you'll notice that Nigeria's oil resources are predominantly either in the Christian parts or offshore of them.
Remember that Nigeria _did_ already have a civil war where the Christian parts tried to break away... guess what side the Arab world supported at the time?
(BTW, I just checked... Qadaffi Duck's first year of rule overlapped with the last year of the Biafran War. Anyone remember what side he took at the time?)
Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia said she would soon announce an agitation programme to overthrow the government for what she said was failure to tackle power, gas and water crises.
"I will wage a movement and oust the government. I have done it in the past and am ready to take to the street again," she told a huge public rally at Laldighi Maidan yesterday.
Khaleda began her anti-government campaign from this historic city as part of her programme to address rallies at all divisional headquarters.
Terming the government adept in filing cases and making deals as well as corrupt and liar, the BNP chief said, "Given undertaking, Moeen-Fakhruddin government installed you in power but in the future people will choose their government."
She said Moeen-Fakhruddin pushed back the country by 20 years and the incumbent government is pushing the country even further.
Referring to the torture, threat and conspiracy of the Fakhruddin-Moeen government against her and her two sons, she claimed that the emergency government had tried to inject her with sedatives and send her abroad to execute the minus-two formula.
The opposition leader said she had always stated that Bangladesh is her address and she would never leave the country and abandon its people.
She slammed the present government for what she termed "leasing out Bangladesh to India".
Censuring the prime minister for agreeing to give India access to Chittagong and Mongla ports and allow corridor through Bangladesh, Khaleda Zia questioned whether Bangladesh would remain a sovereign state or become a vassal of India after these agreements.
She was also critical of the Ganges water sharing treaty with India and the government's stance on the proposed Tipaimukh dam.
"Bangladesh cannot progress by renting out seaports and roads or allowing corridor. It's a matter of shame that the prime minister has given all the advantages to New Delhi but failed to realise our rightful claim of the Tin Bigha corridor," she said.
The people no longer want to see this government in power as it failed to implement its election pledges including providing rice at Tk 10 per kg, job for one from each family and free fertiliser. She alleged that prices of essentials have gone up and law and order has deteriorated, as 10 people are killed every day.
If BNP returns to power, the country's independence and sovereignty would be protected and the crises of power and gas would be resolved while people getting jobs, she said.
She rejected the prime minister's allegation of BNP government adding not a single megawatt (MW) of electricity to the national grid.
She said the previous BNP government had added 1,500MW of electricity to the national grid during its 2001-06 tenure.
Khaleda claimed that her government had also arranged funds for generating 2,500MW of power. She said eight projects for setting up power plants were finalised but the Fakhruddin-Moeen emergency government did not implement it to put the blame on BNP and inflict sufferings to the people.
On manpower export, Khaleda said Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and the Middle East countries have stopped recruiting Bangladeshi workers but the government is busy filing cases against BNP.
She also termed militancy a tactic of the government to scare people. She said, "The government cannot stay in power or keep their masters satisfied by scaring the people."
On the proclamation of independence, Khaleda said Sheikh Mujibur Rahman did not declare independence of the country as he was arrested on the night of March 25. "Indian president and prime minister and leaders of other countries had admitted it," she claimed.
She said even Wazed Miah in his book said Bangabandhu had neither declared the independence nor handed over any written document to anyone.
Khaleda, however, said, "We respect Sheikh Shaheb [Bangabandhu] for his contribution in the Liberation War, but his party and family members have been undermining him."
Presided over by Chittagong City BNP President Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, the rally was also addressed by Khandaker Moshraff Hossian, Salahuddin Qader Chowdhury, Abduallah Al Noman, Mir Nasiruddin, Amanullah Aman, Barkatullah Bulu, M Shahjahan, Salahuddin Ahmed, Shahiduddin Chwdhury Annie, Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal and Shirin Sultana.
Opposition Chief Whip Zainul Abdin Farroque conducted the rally.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/30/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
" BNP: Agitation soon to overthrow govt " Nick Griffin will be gobsmacked at this news.
Posted by: Dave UK ||
03/30/2010 4:44 Comments ||
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#2
Oh, Bangladesh. I was in for a while before I realized they weren't talking about England. Similar complaints, I suppose.
A dying patient had to ring a hospital switchboard on his mobile to ask for a glass of water, after nurses ignored his pleas.
Officials from the South London NHS Trust have apologised to the family of Derek Sauter, who later died in hospital of pneumonia.
The 60-year-old did not receive a "proper and professional standard of care" when he was admitted with a chest infection in June 2008.
A formal investigation is being conducted into his death, after it was found his oxygen levels went unchecked for 11 hours and were 35% lower than recommended.
Ruth Sauter, the patient's daughter, said she was disgusted by the treatment her father had received. She told The Daily Mail: "His condition was not life threatening, and nurses had specific instructions to keep close tabs on him.
"'But their appalling lack of care, and cruel behaviour killed my father...It's so much worse knowing that he died alone, thirsty and scared on that ward."
After being admitted in the morning, he was given antibiotics and oxygen, but was later forced to ring his wife to tell her that he was not allowed any more water as he had earlier knocked over a cup.
After ringing the switchboard, a doctor was called to the ward, only for a nurse to tell him that the patient was "overreacting".
The hospital was unable to comment directly on the case, as it is part of the family's legal proceedings.
A spokeswoman said: "South London Healthcare NHS Trust would like to apologise to the Sauter family for the failings in care that Derek Sauter received. The trust believes that Mr Sauter did not receive a proper and professional standard of care that he and his family had a right to expect." See, patients of a socialist healthcare system do have rights after all!
One of the comments below the article:
THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS but more to do with people in the medical profession who are more interested in themselves than the care of others, despite the fact thats what they are paid to do! If they dont want the job then why do it? In the Social Services and NHS its always a case of acting too late and ignoring the basic needs of people. Its about time a firm example was made! It doesn't take a genius to be able to care about human life, just a heart!
So which system, pritheetell, put these people in these positions in the first place, and why did these people decide to apply for this job instead of another?
This system is way overworked and underpaid. Period. You get what you pay for, and this is a system with no competition.
#2
Admitted early enough in the morning to allow the wife and daughter to rush off to the shops just as they opened? Poor bugger might be better off where he's at now.
#3
It's when as a patient you're moved from the status of 'customer' to 'expense'.
This system is way overworked and underpaid. Period. You get what you pay for, and this is a system with no competition.
Then, of course, you have the American public education system which is, comparatively, not overworked or underpaid. It's the monopoly without real consequences, that we get what we pay for.
A man of 22 died in agony of dehydration after three days in a leading teaching hospital.
Kane Gorny was so desperate for a drink that he rang police to beg for their help. They arrived on the ward only to be told by doctors that everything was under control.
Is this what Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chief Diversity Officer Mark Lloyd meant when he said (on camera) Venezuelan thug dictator Hugo Chavez had begun "to take very seriously the media in his country"- while praising Chavez's "incredible...democratic revolution?"
The Associated Press (AP) late Friday night reported "Chavez criticizes US as arrests stir concern." Which plays down the lede in the headline, but gets right into it in the story itself.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Friday defended the arrest of a major TV channel owner, calling him a criminal and denying the government is carrying out an assault on press freedom.
The back-to-back arrests this week of two government opponents - including the owner of Venezuela's only remaining anti-Chavez TV channel - have drawn accusations that Chavez is growing increasingly intolerant and authoritarian as his popular support has slipped.
Opposition leaders and human rights groups condemned Thursday's arrest of Globovision's owner Guillermo Zuloaga, who was detained at an airport and released hours later after a judge issued an order barring him from leaving the country.
Zuloaga is accused of spreading false information and insulting the president at an Inter American Press Association meeting in Aruba last weekend, Attorney General Luisa Ortega said.
As the piece indicates, this is but the latest example of Chavez taking "very seriously the media in his country," in Lloyd parlance. Which is woefully at odds with freedoms of speech and the press. Which is fine with Lloyd, because so's he.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/30/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
Mugambi chews carpet in a paroxysm of frustrated envy?
#2
This is really gonna upset Hollywood-types like Sean Penn Uphisass since the station owner hasn't been summarily executed. Maybe Chavez lost his touch.
Posted by: jack salami ||
03/30/2010 11:32 Comments ||
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#3
Actually, I hear that Hollywood is going to stage a grand celebration gala. A combination of Boliviaran ecstasy and demands that Fox be given the same treatment.
Three U.S. warships and one Military Sealift Command salvage ship are on station off the Korean peninsula helping with search and rescue efforts after a South Korean patrol ship sank on Friday.
The Japan-based cruiser Shiloh, destroyers Curtis Wilbur and Lassen and the salvage ship Salvor -- carrying a team from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1 -- were ordered to help with the search after the South Korean government asked the U.S. for help, a Pentagon official told Navy Times.
Although Shiloh and Curtis Wilbur both carry the Aegis ballistic missile defense system, the official stressed that the American warships were there because South Korea asked for "support for search, recovery and salvage efforts."
The official asked not to be identified because of the delicacy of the situation involving North and South Korea.
The U.S. ships were already at sea when the South Korean patrol ship Cheonan sank on Friday as part of the international exercise Foal Eagle, the official said. The cause of the sinking is still not clear.
The South Korean news media reported Monday that as many as 22 ships, including the four American vessels, were searching and patrolling the waters above where the 1,200-ton Cheonan lay in two pieces, a bow and stern section. The South Korean navy rescued 58 sailors, including the ship's captain, after Cheonan sank Friday, but 46 remained missing.
#3
Read about her on Wiki. She is a capable ship. Here are some highlights of her career:
Between 1987 and 2001, Salvor has provided rescue or assistance to ships at sea in seven instances. Two cases involved collisions near Hawaii: the USNS Safeguard boat accident in August 1987,[7][32] and the Collision of USS Greeneville with Eihme Maru between February and November 2001.[19][33][34] Salvor also assisted in the Exxon Houston grounding near Barbers Point, Hawaii, in March 1989,[8][35] and the Kamalu barge fire in May 1989.[8] On three occasions, Salvor has assisted a ship at sea that has suffered a catastrophic equipment loss: recovering the primary towing pendant of the Ex-USS Duncan/USNS Navajo in January 1995,[14] the anchor chain of the USS Willamette in February 1995,[14] and the towed sonar array of the USS Los Angeles in June 1996.[36]
During the same time, Salvor participated in seven sea-recoveries of military aircraft submerged to depths of up to 17,251 feet:[11] an A-6E Intruder (VA-145) in Puget Sound, Washington,[9] a UH-46D Sea Knight at Wake Island,[11] a SH-60 Seahawk and a F/A-18C Hornet (VFA-22) near San Diego,[12][14] and two United States Air Force F-16 Falcons in Korean waters and the Sea of Japan.[37][38]
Other salvage operations undertaken by Salvor include repairing the propeller blades of the HMAS Darwin,[9] repairing the hull of BRP Rajah Humabon,[39] recovering a LARC-V amphibious vehicle,[40] recovering and disposing of a 1,000 pound Mark 83 bomb,[40] pumping out oil leaking from the wreck of USS Mississinewa,[21] and exploring the wreck of the USS Lagarto in the Gulf of Thailand.[41]
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
03/30/2010 20:41 Comments ||
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SEOUL, March 30 (Yonhap) -- Military divers geared up Tuesday to drill a hole into the stern of a sunken South Korean naval ship in desperate efforts to rescue dozens of missing sailors believed to be trapped inside the wreckage, officials said.
Monday evening was the end of the 69-hour window during which rescuers believed the missing crew could survive, prompting them to inject oxygen into the ship using a hose. But no sign of life was detected when they knocked on the hull with hammers in the hope of a response.
The ship's rear, which was located Monday about 50 yards from the site of the explosion and about 40 meters underwater, has been overturned at a 90-degree angle, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
"We will attempt to drill a hole in the stern to create access through which we can enter it in the hope of finding any survivors," an official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
He said the task hinges on the force of underwater currents and the muddiness of the water, which could hinder rescuers' view, and added that divers also continued to try to enter the sunken stern through crumpled doors but have made little progress.
The rescue operations are being assisted about two dozen military ships including the U.S. 7th fleet's Salvo rescue vessel and South Korea's 14,000-ton Dokdo amphibious landing ship, according to Seoul's defense ministry.
Posted by: Steve White ||
03/30/2010 00:00 ||
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Government and military officials have reportedly ruled out that an accident or collision with a reef caused the 1,200-ton Navy corvette Cheonan to sink in waters 1.8 km southwest of Baeknyeong Island near the de-facto sea border with North Korea on Friday. They say the explosion that sank the ship was strong enough to rip it in half.
But experts are divided over whether the blast could have been caused by a torpedo, floating mine or other external shock or an internal accident such as an explosion of ammunition or fuel stored in the vessel.
"The tragedy may have been caused by a floating mine, judging by the explosion in the rear of the ship as well as the situation inside the vessel before it sank and geographic conditions," a government official said. "But we cannot guess the possible cause until we are able to investigate the vessel."
Part of the Navy corvette Cheonan lies on the sea surface during search operations by maritime police in waters near the Baeknyeong Island on Saturday.
#2
It seems to me that the most likely place for damage would be somewhere along the bow of the ship. Could a mine be sucked toward the hull of a passing ship and impact it in the middle of the hull?
Could it have been a magnetic mine placed on the outside of the ship while at port or at sea? I don't think the Norks have the ability to pull this kind of operation off anywhere but in port.
Isn't the hull on these ships only about a half inch thick? Maybe the frame is strong, but given modern explosives, half an inch is like paper mache. I hope they don't put the magazines or explosives storage areas near the hull without some kind of protection in between.
#4
Ship broken in half near the middle screams "TORPEDO".
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
03/30/2010 4:52 Comments ||
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#5
Are there known deposits of methane ice down there? Perhaps they were unlucky enough to pass by as a big bubble was coming up (fast) from directly below.
Posted by: Grenter, Protector of the Geats ||
03/30/2010 9:24 Comments ||
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#6
Its fairly simple if you stick to the facts:
Shallow water. Fast currents. Ship broken apart in one explosion amidships, aft 1/3 sinks in minutes. Crew reports ship was "lifted up"
The first precludes torpedoes because it is too shallow for submersibles and CAPTOR mines. The second precludes pre-laid mines because the current makes them unmaintainable. The third precludes "accident" because internal explosion, there would be multiple explosions were that the case and the ammunition is stored fore not aft.
That leaves a mine detonation outside a minefield. And that means a mine adrift.
Alternately, there are old World War 2 large naval mines that are possibly still in the yellow sea. These are left over from the large amount of mines the US put in to strangle Japanese merchant shipping. These are old mines and quite large compared to modern ones, which would explain the massive explosion and overkill.
North Korea's silence reinforces either of these. If this were deliberate they would be screaming about imperialist aggressions and justified self defense. However a mine lost from one of their own minefields would have to be explained to the chain of command. If you were the North Korean officer in charge of the mine tenders and you gun decked the maintenance report, then its your butt that has to explain to Kim Jong Il how you lost one of the people's mines, and explain away something that could have started a war and denied Dear Leader of his western goodies. If it was an old mine, then they are probably in a hurry to inventory all their mines to make sure before they speak out.
Any way you look at it, it is likely a loose mine of indeterminate origins. End of story.
H/T to the Rantburg regulars for assembling all that info in posts over the weekend.
#7
Nothing is indeterminate, as far as any fragments or explosive residue. Even a small trace will point the finger.
My guess is a tethered mine, especially in shallows, where ships are likely to stay in well defined lanes to avoid hitting obstacles. Area denial weapons, because the Norks have been trying to muscle the South out of the disputed waters.
So would a mine have to be tethered in order to strike a moving ship halfway along the hull, or would it naturally be pulled into the side of a ship by the eddy currents generated by its passing?
Could the mine be on a timer? Were the WWII mines on a timer?
#10
I wonder if we're awaiting lab results from explosive residue?
This may be a chemical question rather than military, but is it possible to identify the source and age of an explosion? In other words, could we determine if the blast was from a WWII mine (either ours or the Japanese), a current/modern mine - either ours (ROK/US?) or the NORK, or if it was not a mine but some other external source?
Though the story indicates both possibilities, wouldn't it be already known whether the blast was internal or external?
Or, could the silence mean we (ROK/US/others - Japan?) are simply tying down the loose ends and following leads without needing to alert or divert attention?
Seems the silence stops the hesitation which precludes the accident theories.
Finally, at 1,200 tons, was this truly 1% +/- of the ROK Navy tonnage - shown in some references at 150k tons? It's not the Ark Royal or Hood, but still, a large single loss.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
03/30/2010 14:55 Comments ||
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#13
BAENGNYEONG ISLAND, South Korea (AFP) – A South Korean diver died Tuesday while trying to rescue dozens of sailors believed trapped inside a warship that sank near the North Korean border after a mysterious explosion.
Defence Minister Kim Tae-Young has said a drifting North Korean mine dating back to the 1950-53 war might have caused the blast which left 46 missing, or the North might have intentionally sent a mine floating towards the Cheonan.
Navy chief Kim Sung-Chan, in a report to the president, said the ship's munitions storage room did not appear to have exploded and "the ship was broken in two because of powerful outside pressure or an (exterior) explosion".
Dozens of divers have braved the Yellow Sea's strong currents and frigid and murky waters, trying in vain to get inside the hull. One of them, father of two Han Joo-ho, fell unconscious Tuesday and later died, the military said. Navy Lieutenant Colonel Song Moo-Jin said the divers were working "in a very vicious environment" and could stay underwater for only about 20 minutes at a depth of 40 metres (130 feet).
The Korea Herald said a naval attack which could spark a war would make little political sense for the North's regime, but noted the country's military had occasionally taken independent action. "A regional commander could have sent a mini-sub or floated mines aiming at South Korean craft, with or without the backing of the high command in Pyongyang," it said in an editorial.
#17
BTW, modern naval mines are not the old studded softball looking things from WW1. You dont run into them, you drive near them and they detonate sending a huge column of water into the hull, leveraging hydrostatic pressure to literally snap the keel and shatter the hull.
The picture you paint of "driving into the mine with the bow" is so outdated as to be humorous.
(Bloomberg) -- Consumer spending in the U.S. rose in February for a fifth consecutive month, a rebound that will require gains in employment to be sustained.
The 0.3 percent increase in purchases matched the median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News and followed a 0.4 percent advance in January, Commerce Department figures showed today in Washington. Incomes were unchanged, falling short of expectations as winter storms hurt hiring and hours worked.
Best Buy Co. and Nike Inc., which have reported higher- than-anticipated profits, are among companies that may keep benefitting as the emerging recovery gives Americans the confidence to buy. The pickup in purchases has caused the household savings rate to drop to the lowest level in more than a year, underscoring the need for more jobs to ensure the recovery is maintained.
"Considering the circumstances, this is a fine performance with the job market still not strong," said Michael Moran, chief economist at Daiwa Securities America Inc. in New York. "As the labor market comes back, we should see continued support from consumers."
Stocks and commodities rose on signs the world's largest economy will keep growing and as concern waned over the Greek government's deficit. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index advanced 0.6 percent to 1,173.35 at 11:22 a.m. in New York.
Median Forecast
The median estimate of 70 economists surveyed called for a 0.3 percent increase in spending, after an originally reported gain of 0.5 percent the prior month. Projections ranged from no change to a 0.6 percent advance.
The little change in incomes followed a 0.3 percent increase in January. The median estimate of economists surveyed called for a 0.1 percent advance. Wages and salaries were also little changed last month after climbing 0.4 percent in January.
Payrolls fell by 36,000 workers in February and the workweek shrank as blizzards in the eastern part of the country caused some plants to temporarily close. The median forecast of economists surveyed anticipate the government's employment report on April 2 will show the economy created about 180,000 jobs this month, the most in three years.
Because spending rose and incomes were unchanged, the savings rate fell to 3.1 percent last month, the lowest level since October 2008.
'Step Two'
"Step one in lifting consumer spending was the lowering of the personal saving rate," Ken Mayland, president of ClearView Economics LLC in Pepper Pike, Ohio, said in a note to clients. "That's pretty much played out. Now for step two, we need to see a good, old-fashion advance of employee compensation. Hopefully, we will begin to see that in March with the rise in payrolls."
Nike, the world's largest maker of athletic shoes, said this month that third-quarter profit more than doubled, beating analysts' estimates, as North America posted a sales increase for the first time in a year.
Best Buy, the largest U.S. electronics retailer, last week reported fourth-quarter profit that exceeded analysts' estimates as the Richfield, Minnesota-based company boosted sales by cutting prices on flat-panel TVs and offering discounts during the holidays.
Adjusted for inflation, spending also climbed 0.3 percent, the best performance since November. Price-adjusted spending on durable goods, such as autos, furniture, and other long-lasting items, fell 0.2 percent in February.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/30/2010 00:00 ||
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I guess people realise that there's no point in saving what's going to become a worthless paper.
#2
In my area we're seeing more and more low cost restaurants, aimed at the elderly, ate at one yesterday 2 pork chops a salad, a largish spoon of Corn, Peas, Iced Tea and Rolls and cornbread 16 bucks and tax for two, we'll be going back.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
03/30/2010 4:59 Comments ||
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#3
It's a far cry from Morton's, Blackthorne Inn or the Hunter's Head, but try the seniors section at ihop. In and out for less than $20. including a generous tip and taxes.
#4
BestBuy, the largest U.S. electronics retailer, last week reported fourth-quarter profit that exceeded analysts' estimates Duh. One of BestBuy's competitors (Circuit City) went out of business last year.
#5
Some pent up demand being released. Eventually you have to replace your worn out things. Personally we held off on spending anything beyond necessities as long as we could. In February we bought clothes for the first time in a long time. All off the clearance rack however.
[Al Arabiya Latest] U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has assured Turkey the White House opposes a congressional resolution labeling the World War One massacres of Armenians in Turkey as genocide, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
The ministry issued the statement after a telephone call between Clinton and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Sunday. Davutoglu pressed his U.S. counterpart to stop the resolution from advancing to a full vote at the House of Representatives, a ministry spokesman said.
Davutoglu said that blocking the resolution would be "of critical importance to eliminate the negative impact it has had" on Turkish-U.S. ties and on peace efforts between Turkey and Armenia, spokesman Burak Ozugergin said.
The United States is keen to smooth over relations with Turkey, NATO's only Muslim member, and a key ally in trouble spots from Afghanistan to the Middle East.
Turkey recalled its ambassador in Washington after a U.S. House of Representatives committee approved a non-binding resolution on March 4 calling on President Barack Obama to refer to the killings of as many as 1.5 million Armenians almost a century ago as genocide.
"Secretary Clinton emphasized that the U.S. administration opposes both the decision accepted by the committee and the decision reaching the general assembly," the statement said.
Turkey wants to be sure that Obama will not use the term genocide in an address scheduled for April 24, and has halted high profile visits by officials.
Davutoglu told Clinton the congressional committee's resolution had negatively affected efforts to improved stability in the South Caucasus.
While Turkey and Armenia are trying to normalize relations and open their shared border, progress is complicated by hostility between Armenia and Turkey's fellow-Muslim ally, Azerbaijan.
Clinton said U.S. officials hoped Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan would attend a summit in Washington next month on nuclear disarmament, the foreign ministry statement said.
Davutoglu said Erdogan would decide in the next few days whether to attend the meeting on April 13 and 14. More than 40 world leaders are expected at the summit.
Turkey has offered to use its close ties with Iran in Tehran's dispute with the West over its nuclear program, but has indicated it may not support a fourth round of U.N. sanctions being prepared by the United States and other Western powers.
More than 20 countries recognize the killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks nearly a century ago as genocide. Turkey argues that both Turks and Armenians were killed during the chaos of war and the break-up of the Ottoman Empire.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/30/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
Besides the honesty of the matter, what is the advantage of 'Genocide' resolution? Currently I don't see one and I see lots of downside.
The last eight years we should have been buddies with Turkey and working to convince as many Kurds to move from Turkey into Kurdish Iraq to help balance the Iraqi-Shia power and to eliminate some Kurdish problems in Turkey.
Hell we should have worked with Israel and Turkey to make Syria into a Kurdish state.
#3
Turkey and that window-licker, Yippy, have been tweaking us for some time. I see no reason to respect their tender humiliation reflexes. They screwed us in the GW2 northern advance refusal, and have been feeding Islamic influences in Turkey. I look forward to the next military takeover and the subsequent cleansing of Islamic leaders
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/30/2010 19:10 Comments ||
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One week before the most solemn day in the Christian year, the city of Davenport, Iowa removed Good Friday from its municipal calendar, setting off a storm of complaints from Christians and union members whose contracts give them that day off.
Taking a recommendation by the Davenport Civil Rights Commission to change the holiday's name to something more ecumenical, City Administrator Craig Malin sent a memo to municipal employees announcing Good Friday would officially be known as "Spring Holiday."
"My phone has been ringing off the hook since Saturday," said city council alderman Bill Edmond. "People are genuinely upset because this is nothing but political correctness run amok."
Edmond said the city administrator made the change unilaterally and did not bring it to the council for a vote, a requirement for a change in policy.
"The city council didn't know anything about the change. We were blind sided and now we've got to clean this mess up. How do you tell people the city renamed a 2,000 year old holiday?" said Edmond.
It didn't take long for the city the resurrect the name Good Friday. Malin was overruled today and the words "Spring Holiday" disappeared.
Good Friday commemorates the day Jesus was crucified and died. Christians celebrate his resurrection the following Sunday, Easter.
The Civil Rights Commission said it recommended changing the name to better reflect the city's diversity and maintain a separation of church and state when it came to official municipal holidays.
"We merely made a recommendation that the name be changed to something other than Good Friday," said Tim Hart, the commission's chairman. "Our Constitution calls for separation of church and state. Davenport touts itself as a diverse city and given all the different types of religious and ethnic backgrounds we represent, we suggested the change."
News of the change could not have come at more significant time in the Christian calendar. News of the name change spread through the town on Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week, becoming a topic of conversation at church services throughout Davenport.
"If you deny the idea of Good Friday then you have to deny Easter," Monsignor Robert Schmidt told ABC affiliate WQAD.
Hart said the commission had no plans to change the name of Easter Sunday, because it fell on a weekend and government offices were already closed. The commission, he said, discussed changing Christmas, but decided enough other religions celebrate Christmas too. Hart, however, could not name one.
The religious right has attacked town governments that have removed public Christmas displays, calling such practices a "war on Christmas."
City employees, beginning with local police, feared the name change would violate their union contracts with the city, which specifies Good Friday as an official municipal holiday. Employees that work city holidays are paid time and a half.
Davenport officials called the name change an "error."
"The City of Davenport will be observing "Good Friday" as a City Holiday on April 2," read a statement released today.
"City Administrator Malin, in error, forwarded the recommendation to staff for further review and action, leading to release of a holiday notice with the holiday named 'Spring Holiday,' rather than "Good Friday," read the release. Yeah, that's the ticket!
Davenport's mayor said people were right to be angry but that Good Friday would continue to be acknowledged.
"I understand why people were so upset," said Mayor Bill Gluba. "My position is we have a lot more important issues. We'll fix this and move on."
#1
The commission, he said, discussed changing Christmas, but decided enough other religions celebrate Christmas too. Hart, however, could not name one.
ROTFLMAO. "Blow it out your ass, Tom."
(CNSNews.com) -- Information technology problems at the U.S. Census Bureau could cause inaccuracies in this year's constitutionally mandated count of the U.S. population, according to government auditors.
"IT problems place the efficiency and accuracy of Non-Response Follow-Up at risk and final decennial costs remain uncertain," said Judith Gordon, the principal assistant inspector general for Audit and Evaluation at the Department of Commerce, in testimony before Congress last week.
Non-Response Follow-Up (NRFU) is the Census Bureau's program for sending people into the field to count people who have not returned mailed Census forms. The NRFU is the Census Bureau's largest operation and involves personally interviewing millions of people nationwide.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred ||
03/30/2010 00:00 ||
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Not to mention all the people filling in their race as "American" causing human data entry requirements because the form can not be machine read.
#4
"BUT WE WILL TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOU SCHEDULED HEART SURGERY." (Even though you repeatedly called and sent in to the Obamacare Beauracracy a request for a flu shot.
#5
But seriously. I have no doubt "technical diffculties" is the excuse Obama and his thugs will use to explain inaccurate Census data, that will be skewed to favor the Democrats, "the ruling party". That same excuse will be employed to explain the skewed election results in November.
#6
Excuse me folks,
but as a programmer and project leader, what is so effing difficult about the census? It is a counting program! Let people define themselves, count them by lowest common denominator, then roll up the totals.
Data collection may be difficult, and you may have a problem with "data hygene" (missing or incorrect data), but the IT aspects of this are pretty easy.
Posted by: Frozen Al ||
03/30/2010 11:43 Comments ||
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#7
Frozen Al. I too am an IT person. The "problems" associated with the system is either that an incompetant socialist is managing the system or they are claiming technical difficulties while in reality they are using basic SQL statements to change the database numbers to their favor but saying that skewed database numbers were caused by those technical problems. But data transactions are simple using SQL staements and large amounts of traffic can be handled by a simple server farm. This stinks to high heaven.
#8
Isn't there a Halliburton or Diebold subsidiary that could do this?
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
03/30/2010 16:08 Comments ||
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#9
Remeber what Obama did in the very first ten days of his presidency? Take control of the Census§ And what happenned about two weeks later: the Census office subcontracted the job to Acorn! Coincidence isn't it?
#10
If the main frames are IBM or who ever the vendor is, the vendor's Customer Engineers can resolve these issues promptly. Somethings not right here.
Benjamin Netanyahu was forced yesterday to deny reports that a close aide had described President Barack Obama as Israel's 'greatest disaster'. Horse hockey! He's our greatest disaster! But we're willing to share him with our allies.
The frantic damage-limitation exercise comes after more than two weeks of tension over Israeli construction plans in Jerusalem.
Washington has demanded that Israel freeze all settlement building in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians see as the capital of their future state. But I thought Noobama said we shouldn't be interfering in the affairs of sovereign states! Oh, I guess that doesn't apply to those he feels are doing things wrong. Like our own 57 states.
Netanyahu says he will continue to expand the new Israeli areas of East Jerusalem,already home to more than 180,000 people.
President Obama is backing the Palestinian demand that indirect talks designed to kick-start the moribund peace process cannot begin unless Israel agrees to a complete freeze.
The issue has sparked a major crisis in U.S.-Israeli relations that wrecked the first visit to the region by U.S. vice president Joe Biden earlier this month.
Last week, Netanyahu met Obama in the Oval Office, but in circumstances that Israeli commentators said recalled a visit by an unwanted 'dictator' rather than a close friend and ally.
There was no press conference, no photographed handshake and Netanyahu was forced to use an anonymous side entrance.
Half-way through the meeting, the president left Netanyahu to go and dine with his family and did not invite the prime minister to join him.
Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel's largest newspaper, said a trusted confidant of Netanyahu called Obama Israel's 'greatest disaster' alongside a scathing description of his 'humiliating' treatment at the White House.
'President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton adapted a clear Palestinian point of view,' said the anonymous aide. 'This is a sick and insane matter; it is a catastrophic situation. We are facing a hostile administration like never before.'
'The prime minister emphatically rejects the anonymous quotes about President Obama that a newspaper attributed to one of his confidants, and he condemns them,' Netanyahu said in a statement issued by his office on Sunday. Looks like Bibi's got your back, Noobama. Why don't you pull your knife out of his while you have the chance?
Speaking to the weekly cabinet session in Jerusalem yesterday, he described relations between Israel and the U.S. as 'those of allies and friends'.
'I would like to make it clear: I find these remarks to be unacceptable. They are from nobody acting on my behalf,' he said.
David Axelrod, a key adviser to President Obama, also said on Sunday that the frosty White House reception was not a calculated insult. Neither was another part of the Israeli government announcing the planned construction of another 1,500 housing units in it's own G-d damned capital. But what does that have to do with this?
'This was a working meeting among friends. And so there was no snub intended,' Axelrod told CNN. He said the two leaders were focused on practicalities, not protocol.
'This was not about formalities. This was not about a ceremonial meeting. This was a working meeting. We have a deep, abiding interest in Israel's security. And we believe the peace process is essential to that,' he said.
But many Israelis, who in polls give Obama an approval rating of less than 10 per cent, are not convinced. And if CNN would stop polling heavily democratic areas, that's probably not much lower than he would be here in the good ol' U. S. of A.
'This government has made large concessions to launch negotiations, including the possible recognition of a Palestinian state and freezing construction. All these have been disregarded, and instead the bar kept being raised,' said National Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau. And I think that illegal immigrants should be given a state inside the USA, and they should be given one wing of Congress and half the White House, too.
#3
No sense keeping the "disaster" to ourselves. We'll gladly trade you Barry for Netanyahu and throw in Axelrod and Rham along with as many GBU-82's as you think you'll need.
#8
There is probably a mistranslation of "greatest disaster".
What he probably said was something involving some of the words: "schvartzer", "schmuck", "bupkis", "dreck", "gonif", "kvetcher", "meshuggah", "nebbish", "noodge", "nudnik", "pisher", "putz", "schlemiel", "schlub", "schnook", "schnorrer", "schmedrick", or "yutz".
#13
trailing wife: Yes, but Yiddish rolls off the tongue more joyfully than Hebrew. Especially with the curses, that are truly inventive. I liked one in particular:
"May you inherit a 100 room hotel, and have a heart attack in every one of those rooms."
#15
^sigh* I studied Yiddish for one quarter at Hebrew school before giving it up. I was taking both Hebrew and German at the time, and adding the language that stood halfway between (Hebrew alphabet, Germananic language) messed me up in all three classes. And while Daddy spoke all three languages, Mama had no Yiddish at all, which meant I had no exposure at home.
I'm sure y'all are right about the richness of the language. That curse is truly impressive.
CIGARETTES may contain traces of pig's blood, an Australian academic says with a warning that religious groups could find its undisclosed presence "very offensive".
University of Sydney Professor Simon Chapman points to recent Dutch research which identified 185 different industrial uses of a pig - including the use of its haemoglobin in cigarette filters.
Prof Chapman said the research offered an insight into the otherwise secretive world of cigarette manufacture, and it was likely to raise concerns for devout Muslims and Jews.
Religious texts at the core of both of these faiths specifically ban the consumption of pork.
"I think that there would be some particularly devout groups who would find the idea that there were pig products in cigarettes to be very offensive," Prof Chapman said today.
"The Jewish community certainly takes these matters extremely seriously and the Islamic community certainly do as well, as would many vegetarians.
"It just puts into hard relief the problem that the tobacco industry is not required to declare the ingredients of cigarettes ... they say 'that's our business' and a trade secret."
The Dutch research found pig haemoglobin - a blood protein - was being used to make cigarette filters more effective at trapping harmful chemicals before they could enter a smoker's lungs.
Prof Chapman said while tobacco companies had moved voluntarily list the contents of their products on their websites, they also noted undisclosed "processing aids ... that are not significantly present in, and do not functionally affect, the finished product".
This catch-all term hid from public view an array of chemicals and other substances used in the making of tobacco products, he said.
At least one cigarette brand sold in Greece was confirmed as using pig haemoglobin in its processes, Prof Chapman said, and the status of smokes sold was unknown.
"If you're a smoker and you're of Islamic or Jewish faith then you'd probably would want to know and there is no way of finding out," Prof Chapman said.
[Straits Times] MYANMAR'S opposition party led by Ms Aung San Suu Kyi said on Monday it would boycott polls expected later this year, after the country's military rulers introduced a controversial new election law.
The National League For Democracy decided at a party meeting to refuse to register for the first polls to be held in two decades, a move that would have forced it to oust its detained leader and recognise the junta's constitution.
But the NLD now faces dissolution in less than six weeks for failing to register, according to the new legislation brought in earlier this month for the elections due to be held by the end of November.
'The National League for Democracy has decided not to register the party,' party spokesman Nyan Win said after a meeting of more than 100 senior members at NLD headquarters in the economic hub Yangon. Under the internationally-criticised election legislation, if the party had decided to sign up for the vote it would have been forced to part with Ms Suu Kyi because she is serving a prison term.
The vote is part of the government's seven-step 'Roadmap to Democracy', which also includes a controversial new constitution agreed in a 2008 referendum held days after a cyclone ravaged the country.
Mynmar's election legislation nullifies the result of the last polls held in 1990 that were won by the NLD by a landslide but never recognised by the junta. If the party had registered it would have been forced to recognise that decision.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/30/2010 00:00 ||
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seeing as how her campaign schedule was kinda curtailed....
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/30/2010 19:40 Comments ||
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[Straits Times] THAI Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told protesters on Monday he would call polls before his term ends but he refused to meet their 15-day deadline, leading to stalemate after a second day of talks.
The televised negotiations, aimed at ending weeks of disruptive rallies in Bangkok by supporters of deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra, lasted two hours, with Mr Abhisit offering the three Red Shirt representatives a compromise deal.
Mr Abhisit said he was willing to call elections as early as the year's end, one year ahead of their due date in December 2011, but the two parties parted without agreement, with the premier offering fresh discussions on Thursday.
The Red Shirts said they would discuss whether to take up that offer. 'If you want my government... to call an election before our term has ended, no problem. But we have to talk...' Mr Abhisit told the Red Shirt leaders.
'I have one year and nine months left, I want to see the economy improving, I want to see the rules of conduct and atmosphere in this country improving,' he later added.
The red-dressed movement says the government is elitist and undemocratic because it came to power on the back of a parliamentary vote after a controversial court ruling ousted Thaksin's allies from power. The group, supported mainly by Thailand's poor rural population, first gathered two weeks ago in the capital's government quarter, laying open again the country's wide social chasm following months of rival street campaigns.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/30/2010 00:00 ||
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A group of students at Trinity University is lobbying trustees to drop a reference to "Our Lord" on their diplomas, arguing it does not respect the diversity of religions on campus. Egad! Somebody put a reference to "Our Lord" on a document from Trinity University?
"A diploma is a very personal item, and people want to proudly display it in their offices and homes," said Sidra Qureshi, president of Trinity Diversity Connection. "By having the phrase 'In the Year of Our Lord,' it is directly referencing Jesus Christ, and not everyone believes in Jesus Christ."
Qureshi, who is Muslim, has led the charge to tweak the wording, winning support from student government and a campus commencement committee. Trustees are expected to consider the students' request at a May board meeting.
Other students and President Dennis Ahlburg have defended the wording, arguing that references to the school's Presbyterian roots are appropriate and unobtrusive.
Founded by Presbyterians in 1869, Trinity has been governed by an independent board of trustees since 1969 but maintains a "covenant relationship" with the church.
"Any cultural reference, even if it is religious, our first instinct should not be to remove it, but to accept it and tolerate it," said Brendan McNamara, president of the College Republicans.
McNamara pointed out that Trinity displays other signs of its Christian heritage, including a chapel on campus, a chaplain, Christmas vespers and a Bible etching on the Trinity seal.
"Once you remove that phrase, where do you draw the line?" McNamara asked.
The debate started last year when Isaac Medina, a Muslim convert from Guadalajara, Mexico, noticed the wording while looking at pre-made diploma frames in the Trinity bookstore. When Medina applied to Trinity, university staff told him it wasn't a religious institution and that it maintained only a historical bond to the Presbyterian Church.
So the godly reference "came as a big surprise," said Medina, who graduated in December. "I felt I was a victim of a bait and switch."
At first, Qureshi and Medina sought a change only for students who desired it. But university staff told them the school would not print custom diplomas, so they requested dropping the words "Our Lord" from all diplomas issued.
In January, the student government and the Muslim Student Association co-sponsored a forum to debate the issue. And in February, the Association of Student Representatives and the university's commencement and convocation committee both voted to support the change, Qureshi said.
"I honestly feel like nobody actually noticed it before," Medina said. "Now that it has been brought up, the institution is trying to find its own identity. Are we or are we not a religious institution?"
Though Trinity has historically enrolled mostly Anglo Christians, the university has taken pains to increase diversity in recent years. Since 1999, the share of international students has increased from 1 percent to 9 percent.
Medina, a former international student, said he always has felt welcome at Trinity. The chaplain on campus caters to students of all religions, and the university recently dedicated a Muslim prayer space in Parker Chapel.
"I never had the experience that Trinity was a closeted Christian institution," Medina said.
Ahlburg, who took the helm in January, said Trinity should continue to foster a diverse environment but should not ignore its cultural and religious roots.
"The fundamental issue is not so much what is on the diploma. The fundamental question is, 'Is Trinity a place that is accepting and supportive of all faiths?'" Ahlburg said.
Current students are not Trinity's only stakeholders, Ahlburg said. The university also has thousands of alumni and donors to appease, many of whom have called Ahlburg to tell him they oppose the change.
"Democracy is not letting a small number of people have their way," Ahlburg said. "Democracy is listening to the different voices and making an informed decision."
Posted by: Fred ||
03/30/2010 00:00 ||
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#1
Remedial reading and history for these folks. The first word in Trinity University is Trinity. The second is University.
#4
Oh, c'mon you guys. You know that if minority Christian students attending school in a Muslim country demanded "In the Year of Our Lord" be included on their diplomas, they'd be accommodated in a heartbeat. Right?
#7
This created some "heavy" discussion on one San Antonio radio station yesterday -- at least as I listened on the way home -- Trinity grads were calling in -- not in favor...
#10
Though Trinity has historically enrolled mostly Anglo Christians, the university has taken pains to increase diversity in recent years. Since 1999, the share of international students has increased from 1 percent to 9 percent.
#11
The answer here is simple, revoke their degrees and kick them out of school. They knowingly went to a Christian college, they don't get to change it.
#12
The straw that broke this ex Presbys faith was the contnued worship of one Frank Broyles who sits in a mansion in Louisville and writes editorials for the P magazine. His influence is unabated even after being removed as moderator by a more conservative general assembly.
#13
Getting a degree from a Christian college, named specifically for one of the central doctrines of the faith isn't offensive, but seeing "Our Lord" displayed on the diploma from the same Christian college is?
#15
This is what happens when faux indignation is paid attention to. As others have said the best out come here would be for the school to kick these ingrates out and not reimburse their tuition. Ha!
Posted by: Jefferson ||
03/30/2010 13:49 Comments ||
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#17
Scripture says that in the last days "The Lord" will be standing at the door of churches (and I suppose Christian schools) knocking on the door, seeking to be let in. Just one more such place trying to give "The Lord" the boot.
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.
A dying patient had to ring a hospital switchboard on his mobile to ask for a glass of water, after nurses ignored his pleas.
Government and military officials have reportedly ruled out that an accident or collision with a reef caused the 1,200-ton Navy corvette Cheonan to sink in waters 1.8 km southwest of Baeknyeong Island near the de-facto sea border with North Korea on Friday. They say the explosion that sank the ship was strong enough to rip it in half. 
"City Administrator Malin, in error, forwarded the recommendation to staff for further review and action, leading to release of a holiday notice with the holiday named 'Spring Holiday,' rather than "Good Friday," read the release. 
