[Emirates 24/7] Jared Loughner, the gunman accused of trying to assassinate a US congresswoman and killing six people in Tucson, pleaded not guilty "Wudn't me." to all 49 new charges against him on Wednesday. It wuz him.
He entered the pleas in his first court appearance in Tucson itself, after prosecutors announced new indictments against him last week following the January 8 Arizona shooting spree.
Sitting quietly, the 22-year-old listened as the 49 counts including multiple murder charges were read to him. "Jared Lee Loughner, is that your true name?" a court official asked.
"Yes, it is" Loughner answered, his voice soft but audible.
Dressed in a tan prison jump suit, his hair grown out since his last court appearance, Loughner sat, showing little reaction, as Judge Burns heard a lengthy argument seeking public access to records in the case.
His lawyer Judy Clarke acknowledged the considerable time before Loughner's trial would begin.
"We are still months away from trial, your honor," said Clarke, whose past clients include the so-called Unabomber, jugged for life in 1998 after a 17-year campaign of parcel-kabooms which killed three.
Loughner was initially indicted in January on three counts of trying to kill US politician Gabrielle Giffords and two of her aides in the shooting outside a supermarket, which also left a federal judge dead.
The new indictments, announced on Friday, include charges for the killing of nine-year-old Christina Taylor Green, the youngest victim, hailed as an inspiration by President Barack B.O. Obama in a memorial just days after the massacre.
In Wednesday's hearing Judge Larry Burns ruled to seal at least some of the court records, including search warrant records. Local media had requested the records be made public.
Previous hearings had been held in the state capital Phoenix. Arizona judges were disqualified from hearing the case, because of one of their colleagues was among those killed. Judge Burns is from Caliphornia.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/11/2011 00:00 ||
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In an elaborate attempt to discredit Falun Gong in the eyes of Western politicians, individuals in China sent e-mails to a U.S. senator's office as well as officials in New Zealand disguised as messages from Falun Gong representatives. A diabolically clever plan, and they would have gotten away with it, too . . . but they outsourced the drafting to a direct e-mail marketing firm in suburban Ibadan, Nigeria . . .
One message sent to a U.S. senator's office, which contained threatening and irrational language, was sent from an IP address traced to a government complex in Hubei province. The message dated January 12, 2011 was disguised as having been sent by Erping Zhang, one of Falun Gong's main spokespersons. Following a brief introduction thanking the senator's office for past support, the note makes a series of unusual demands including that the senator and his family should practice Falun Gong. It then ends with a threat to "launch our numerous supporters in your state and Large number of practitioners to veto you and your team in the next round" if these steps are not taken.... Gotta admire that fluent ESL turn of phrase.
Actually, I'm thinking that next time I write a letter to one of my senators or congresscritters, I'm going to threaten to launch numerous supporters and practitioners to veto him/her/it and his/her/its team in the next round. That'll have 'em quaking in their Guccis.
Posted by: Mike ||
03/11/2011 10:48 ||
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#1
Thanks for putting the text of the article inline. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to read it, as the linked source is obviously blocked.
#4
Not faked. That's Hillcrest. I worked on a steel bridge over Washington street there in '94, working at night. Halloween night there was one of the weirdest things I've ever seen
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/11/2011 15:35 Comments ||
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#1
Someone at the house tells us, one of the reasons the cops are there is because Charlie allegedly violated the temporary restraining order Brooke Mueller obtained ... which prohibits Charlie from possessing weapons.
[Arab News] If you think Charlie Sheen has been "winning" media attention these past few weeks, you'd be right.
The now former "Two and A Half Men" star has topped all Internet and social media discussions since the beginning of 2011, beating out buzz and controversy surrounding the iPad, singer Lady Gaga and US President Barack B.O. Obama, according to a survey released on Tuesday by the Global Language Monitor.
"Charlie Sheen...is everywhere. The growing pervasiveness of social media only enhances this global echo chamber," said Paul J.J. Payack, president and chief word analyst for the Global Language Monitor. Payack used an algorithm to analyze the top 20 persons (or things) of interest on blogs, Internet-only news sites and social media sites like Twitter and YouTube between Jan. 1 and March 8, 2011. Sheen was first, followed by Apple's iPad, Lady Gaga, Obama and Tea Party favorite Sarah Mama Grizzly Palin. ... the babe libs love to hate ...
But the wayward TV star ranked just 18th among the top 75,000 traditional print and electronic media sites covered in the survey. Obama, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and deposed Egyptian geriatric President Hosni Mubarak were the top three persons of interest on the traditional media list, "which shows what happens when you have an editorial process that helps discern which news is most significant for the reader," Payack said.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/11/2011 00:00 ||
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Run! Run for YOUR FRIGGIN LIVES!!!
On March 19, the moon will swing around Earth more closely than it has in the past 18 years, lighting up the night sky from just 221,567 miles (356,577 kilometers) away. On top of that, it will be full. And one astrologer
The journalist didn't think to interview an astronomer instead? You know, a real scientist...
believes it could inflict massive damage on the planet. Geez, like it did...eighteen years ago?
But then the moon wasn't reflecting the light of the sun from its full face. That makes a difference, donchaknow.
Richard Nolle, a noted astrologer who runs the website astropro.com, has famously termed the upcoming full moon at lunar perigee (the closest approach during its orbit) an "extreme supermoon." Better pay attention. He's not just an astrologer, he's a "noted" astrologer...
When the moon goes super-extreme, Nolle says, chaos will ensue: Huge storms, earthquakes, volcanoes and other natural disasters can be expected to wreak havoc on Earth. Pestilence. He left out pestilence. And famine. (It should be noted that astrology is not a real science, but merely makes connections between astronomical and mystical events.) Hmmmmmmmm? Does Al Gore know about this?
But do we really need to start stocking survival shelters in preparation for the supermoon? Coming up next: Supermoon To Ravage Earth; Women, Minorities Hardest Hit...
The question is not actually so crazy. In fact scientists have studied related scenarios for decades. Even under normal conditions, the moon is close enough to Earth to make its weighty presence felt: It causes the ebb and flow of the ocean tides. The moon's gravity can even cause small but measurable ebbs and flows in the continents, called "land tides" or "solid Earth tides," too. The tides are greatest during full and new moons, when the sun and moon are aligned either on the same or opposite sides of the Earth. Wow. So you're saying this only happens, like, 24 times a year? And yet, I'm not dead...
According to John Vidale, a seismologist at the University of Washington in Seattle and director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, particularly dramatic land and ocean tides do trigger earthquakes. "Both the moon and sun do stress the Earth a tiny bit, and when we look hard we can see a very small increase in tectonic activity when they're aligned," Vidale told Life's Little Mysteries, a sister site to SPACE.com. Or not. I'll need a lot more grant money to know for sure...
At times of full and new moons, "you see a less-than-1-percent increase in earthquake activity, and a slightly higher response in volcanoes." Well, there ya go. Supermoon science is settled. I say we spend billions for green jobs and high speed rail.
And cheesemaking, because it's about the moon.
The effect of tides on seismic activity is greatest in subduction zones such as the Pacific Northwest, where one tectonic plate is sliding under another. William Wilcock, another seismologist at the University of Washington, explained: "When you have a low tide, there's less water, so the pressure on the seafloor is smaller. That pressure is clamping the fault together, so when it's not there, it makes it easier for the fault to slip." According to Wilcock, earthquake activity in subduction zones at low tides is 10 percent higher than at other times of the day, but he hasn't observed any correlations between earthquake activity and especially low tides at new and full moons. Vidale has observed only a very small correlation. But we're not astrologers, so what do we know?
What about during a lunar perigee? Can we expect more earthquakes and volcanic eruptions on March 19, when the full moon will be so close? It depends. I'll have to call Halliburton and see what's on the schedule...
The moon's gravitational pull at lunar perigee, the scientists say, is not different enough from its pull at other times to significantly change the height of the tides and thus the likelihood of natural disasters. "A lot of studies have been done on this kind of thing by USGS scientists and others," John Bellini, a geophysicist at the U.S. Geological Survey, told Life's Little Mysteries. "They haven't found anything significant at all." Vidale concurred. "Practically speaking, you'll never see any effect of lunar perigee," he said. "It's somewhere between 'It has no effect' and 'It's so small you don't see any effect.'" Lemme guess, that noted astrologer dude sent you over, right?
The bottom line is, the upcoming supermoon won't cause a preponderance of earthquakes, although the idea isn't a crazy one. Actually, it sounds like it is...
"Earthquakes don't respond as much to the tides as you'd think they would. There should actually be more of an effect," said Vidale. Yeah, that's a stumper. Add that to the grant proposal, Johnson.
Most natural disasters have nothing to do with the moon at all. The Earth has a lot of pent up energy, and it releases it anytime the buildup gets too great. The supermoon probably won't push it past the tipping point, but we'll know for sure, one way or the other, by March 20. Yeah, I'll either be dead or will have completely forgotten this story...
#10
It's interesting that the more scientific proponents of this theory note that these earthquakes don't happen when the Moon is closest to Earth, but in a window of several days on either side of that time.
However, if you take that complete time frame, as a week or more, and apply it across any group of days in a year, you will probably start to note an imaginary correlation.
#11
DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > [USGS Geophysicist John Bellini] "SUPERMOON" DID NOT CAUSE [Sendai = East Japan]JAPANESE EARTHQUAKE + TSUNAMI.
LUNAR PERIGEE = "MOONAGEDDON" not supposed to occur 03/19th, not 03/11th.
HMMMMM, HMMMMM, so-o-o IOW, COMET APOHIS 2029/30-2036, + other Russian-discovered Space Rocks, is still in the running for the RACE TOWARDS MOONAGEDDON.
We missed our QUANTUM + SPACE CALCULUS OWG-STANDARDIZED MATH EXAMS back in 2024, didn't we???
Or twas it 2027 - don't remember anything after CANCUN SPRING BREAK ???
#12
Iff the 1990's-2005 NET is any measure, I suspect we will still be getting PCorrect-Deniable, "Cannot confirm or Deny", official "NO COMMENT" from NASA-JPL, ETC. whether APOPHIS slams into the Moon or not.
D *** NG IT, MORIARITY, DIDN'T THE COLD WAR TEACH YOU ANYTHING, ALWAYS "TRUST THE RUSSIANS/SOVIETS" - NOT OUR OWN US GOVT. - WHEN IT COMES TO INCOMING SPACE ROCKS + INVADING SPACE BUGS!
#3
NYT has reported an aftershock of 7.4. Hawaii Civil Defense "Evacuate all coastal areas immediately. Waves up to 6 feet expected to hit Hilo and Haleiwa at 2:59 a.m." [0759 EST]
USGS site has some interesting maps.
Amazing live videos taken from aircraft showing tsunami activity & fires in Japan.
Coincidentally (or not) at 0358 EST a 4.6 earthquake hit the Kilauea volcano area in Hawaii, no tsunami warning due to that. Tsunami warning or advisory for the entire west coast of the US & Canada Watch/warning/advisory definitions here
Posted by: Water Modem ||
03/11/2011 9:26 Comments ||
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#13
Sendai Petrochemical plant ablaze
Posted by: Water Modem ||
03/11/2011 9:29 Comments ||
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#14
RT on the tsunami and the 4 nuke plants hit...Fukushima cooling system fails after Japan quake
Posted by: Water Modem ||
03/11/2011 9:40 Comments ||
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#15
The Japanese papers don't appear to be keeping up with English Translation (understandable)...
Run the papers through google translate
Do a google search on: Japan english news
then back off the english links and run through Google Translate..
Example provide this as input to Translate: http://www.asahi.com
Remember to click to translate from Japanese to English (or your language of choice)
Posted by: Water Modem ||
03/11/2011 9:57 Comments ||
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#16
According to the agency, the tsunami was observed in a wide range mainly from Hokkaido to Kyushu Tohoku region.
3:00 pm on 50 minutes, Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture, including 7.3 meters of the tsunami was observed, in a town 52 minutes at the four 4.2 m Ibaraki, 21:03 Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture, the 4.1-minute meters, at the same time reached more than 4 meters in the city of Miyako, Iwate Prefecture.
In addition, the GPS floating offshore wave gauge is at 3 pm in the 12th minute off Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, 6.8 m, at the same time as 6.3 m off Miyako, 14:03 pm off the coast of Miyagi prefecture
Kesennuma 6 m min was observed. The main tsunami height 39 minute presentation follows at 6:00 pm.
3.5 m [Hokkaido] Erimo town, Iwate Prefecture Tokachi Port 2.8 meters [3.2 meters];
Ofunato Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture; over 3.3 m -
2.2 m - Choshi, Chiba Prefecture; Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture - Yokohama City - Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture -
1.6 m - 1.4 m - 1.7 m Owase, Mie Prefecture] Shirahama, Wakayama - 0.9 m [2] Port Susaki, Kochi Prefecture.
2 m - 1.4 m - Miyazaki Prefecture - Kagoshima Prefecture -
Miyazaki port city of Amami, Okinawa - 1.1 m - 0.3 m Zyou
Posted by: Water Modem ||
03/11/2011 10:01 Comments ||
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#17
No news about how Yokosuka and 7th fleet are doing?
#18
A person I know from the net - in Japan - says: Kisennuma city is a sea of fire. Google Map of Position
Wikipedia says pop is 73,403 and it is a sister city of Seattle.
Industry
Kesennuma relies on tourism and commercial fishing, the latter being what the city is known for, especially its tuna, pacific saury and skipjack tuna production, keeping the fishing port very active. It also has a shark fin fishery.
Posted by: Water Modem ||
03/11/2011 10:15 Comments ||
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Posted by: Water Modem ||
03/11/2011 10:21 Comments ||
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#20
If you live in the Chicago Area NHK is live right now on over the air channel 20-3
The firestorm video is awful!
Posted by: Water Modem ||
03/11/2011 10:28 Comments ||
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#21
20 KPH carries a fire/embers just fine. At about an acre fire creates its own winds. Buildings have a way of making wind corridors. Smoke is your first concern. Get the crap out of downwind.
#24
Same Japanese person came back with the following:
Odaiba did have some fire.
Yokosuka and other sea sides might caught many roads and some homes/ building damages. Transport system is halted everywhere.
Chiba was hit on roads and homes. Oil plant got burst there.
Bridges are not safe for the next day and given warning for potential earthquakes during the next 1 month.
Everywhere nearby sea side will be recommended to avoid.
Aomori, Hokkaido, and Iwate - with unknown people and deth numbers, it has reached around 1,000 people. Together with mad slide and other disasters, I'd expect 5,000 people may be dead.
Tonight, it is way below zero C. I saw many old ones who could not escape, on TV, shivering for cold.
I am sure there are many trapped in water and mad filled homes and other places - mother with babies, old ones and those immobile. I hope to god to keep eyes and warmth for them. They may not survive tonight.
I have watched a white ban with wiper moving was in running water, pushed to the sea. So as an old man pushing his cycle away from sea side. People were shouting at him to get away.
I am not sure if people were there for the next 2 mins, but if there were, likely, 100% sure that they are dead now.
Posted by: Water Modem ||
03/11/2011 12:38 Comments ||
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#25
Barry's on now. "Too bad about Japan. But let's talk about gas prices...".
The Japanese will be thrilled about that. What a buffoon.
#30
I'm sure all our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this .
Seems BO had a toke on a pipe before he spoke... That man couldnt have made a worse hash (s'cuse the pun) of sorting his priorities out if he tried . Surely he could have hosted another spin session for petrol prices and other tangents he went off on ..
Posted by: Oscar ||
03/11/2011 12:58 Comments ||
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#31
In the ?/answer BO spent more time lecturing the Pubs about how they have to give in to him on the budget than he did on Japan.
Posted by: Water Modem ||
03/11/2011 13:12 Comments ||
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#32
Jesus, does he babble on or what? I'm screaming "SHUT THE FUCK UP!" at my TV.
Thank God for TOTUS!
#35
From the article cited in #34: "In Guam, the tsunami snapped mooring lines to two attack submarines, Houston and City of Corpus Christi. Tug boats immediately responded. Both subs are safe and under the control of the tug boats, Joint Region Marianas posted on its Facebook page. No injuries have been reported."
1830 GMT: An official in Crescent City, in northern California, tells the Times-Standard newspaper that the city's harbor "has been destroyed" by tsunami waves triggered by the quake in Japan. "Thirty-five boars have been crushed and the harbor has major damage, major damage," but no injuries have been reported, Councilman Rich Enea says.
1937 GMT: Teen pop idol Justin Bieber has sent a tweet of solidarity with Japan to his eight million Twitter followers. It says: "Japan is one of my favorite places on earth... it's an incredible culture with amazing people. My prayers go out to them. We all need to help."
21:37 Reports suggest possibility of radiation leak at nuclear power station at Fukushima. Evacuatino zone extended to six miles. Radiation said to be at eight times normal levels.
#48
The Japanese could have some serious problems if the batteries that operate the pumps give out and they cannot get the backup diesel generators up and going. If they have a loss of coolant--the reactor could have a meltdown. I pray they don't.
#54
Drudge is saying the 8.9 has been bumped up to a 9.1 I have relatives visiting Okinawa...they are supposed to be connecting back to the US through Japan...instead of returning today, it looks like Wednesday...maybe.
#56
Actually, I stayed in Hagatna/Agana out of curiosity, to see iff any tidal wave will indeed occur as well as to "compare notes" as per old Personal Dreams/Visions of mine ["KAMALEN Event"], + dare God to kill His own Madonna Fan, etc. etc.
* GUAM TSUNAMI WATCH, later TSUNAMI WARNING > any "first wave(s)" vee the Japan/Sendai Quake was anticipated to hit Guam circa 03/11 7:09PM Guam time last Nite. AFAIK Mall + Stores along Guam's Route 4 in Hagatna started shutting down immediately around 6:15-6:30PM.
Personally I wasn't expecting any big waves anyway given WESTPAC UW GEOGRAPHY + OCEAN PATTERNS, REGIONAL HISTORY, + in lessor NATURAL SURFACE OBSTRUCTION VIA THE TAMUNING = EAST AGANA PENINSULA. IMO NW Guam from AAFB + NWR Ritidian Point, to Hotel Row-Harmon Cliffline + Tamuning Peninsula would had absorbed the brunt of any wave from Japan = Sendai Quake.
I did observe Guam Police cars [flashing blue sirens] speed past escorting a number of mixed group of DOE, Tourist Buses, prob headed towards Guam's Hotel Row to evacuate tourists from Hotels there.
Guam is more likely to experience large or massive tidal waves iff SPACE ROCKS = COMET APOPHIS impacts the Pacific Ocean near HAWAII, NORPAC or EAST ASIA.
* See HISTORY CHANNEL'S "MONSTER WAVES" [Killer, Rogue,+ Monster Tidal Waves, wid SPACE THREATS being deemed the MOST DANGEROUS/POTENT OF 'EM ALL].
LASTLY, ON A SEPARATE NOTE, I BELIEVE GUAM DID EXPERIENCE A FEW "PRE-QUAKES" PRIOR TO THE TIME OF THE JAPAN/SENDAI QUAKE, albeit the former have not been officially acknowledged or reported yet in the local Medias, e.g. GUAM MASS TRANSIT BUS SUDDENLY SHAKING HARD WHILE UP AT DEDEDO PUBLIC HEALTH NRHC + AGAIN LATER IN TRAFFIC.
Other signs also, espec POST-MIDNITE, OFFSHAPED SKY LIGHTS + AURORAE OER GUAM-WESTPAC INCLUDING IN THE STRATEGIC DIRECTION OF JAPAN + NE ASIA.
OTOH a lot of good-sized Quakes + other Phenomenon have gone un-reported in the local Medias - I'm not sure why that is.
DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT? PCORRECTNESS? PROTOCOLS?
I do believe that iff NASA-JPL + Other Agencies, Perts are going to be publicly forecasting alleged "TECHS/GRID" = "CIVILIZATION" DAMAGING-IFF-NOT-DESTROYING SOLAR STORMS-FLARES come 2012 or after, then IMO the US-World should expect to see + experience HIGH-MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKES SIMILAR TO SENDAI OR WORSE.
The Good News is there's no universal scientific consensus on how the SUN, EARTH BEHAVED DURING EARTH'S PAST "GREAT EPOCHS", NOW GLOBAL WARMING-CLIMATE CHANGE; THE BAD NEWS IS THE SAME.
[WALTER "AND THATS THE WAY IT IS..." CRONKITE here].
[Arab News] King Mohammed VI said Wednesday that Morocco will revise its constitution for the first time in 15 years, aiming to strengthen democracy in the face of a push across the Arab world.
In a rare TV and radio speech to the nation, the popular monarch said a new commission would suggest constitutional revisions to him by June, and the overall project would be put to Moroccan voters in a referendum.
"By launching today the work of constitutional reform, we embark on a major phase in the process of consolidation of our model of democracy and development," said the king, wearing glasses, a sober black tie and a dark suit. He was flanked by his brother, Prince Moulay Rachid, and his 7-year-old son, Crown Prince Moulay Hassan.
Some Moroccans poured into the streets of Rabat, the capital, to celebrate after the speech, blaring car horns and waving the North African country's single-star flag.
But the overall reaction to the country's first constitutional revision since 1996, and the first since Mohammed VI took the throne following his father's death in 1999, wasn't immediately clear. The speech, which was only announced hours earlier, came as many people in the football-crazy country tuned in to watch the latest European Champions League contests.
A major question was whether the constitutional changes on tap will involve the highly contested Article 19, which largely underpins the near-absolute power that the king has in Morocco. It enshrines the monarch as "the defender of the faith" -- Islam -- and "guarantor of the perpetuation and the continuity of the state," as well as respect for the constitution.
Many labor unions, political parties and human rights ... which are not the same thing as individual rights, mind you... groups have clamored for changes to the constitution for years, and Article 19 has been one of their main targets.
Still, the breadth of the king's address suggested a major reworking is in the offing.
The wide-ranging efforts aim in part to devolve greater power to Morocco's regions, improve the independence of courts, and ensure that the prime minister is selected by the majority party in parliament, he said.
The king said women's rights and political participation -- already a mainstay of his previous reforms -- would be strengthened, such as ensuring through law that men and women have equal access to elective positions.
The plan would aim to broaden individual freedoms, solidify the rule of law and strengthen human rights. The king also said he was committed to a "strong push" to revive the country's reform ambitions.
Morocco has so far avoided the persistent unrest that brought down regimes in fellow north African countries Tunisia and Egypt. Five people, however, died in violence linked to protests across the country on Feb. 20.
The main target of those protests was parliament, where many Moroccans fear their voices aren't heard. Few Moroccans question the monarchy, which has existed for centuries -- and Mohammed enjoys broad admiration and respect.
The king did not make any direct reference to the upheaval that has swept across North Africa and elsewhere.
An ally of both Europe and the United States, Mohammed VI is widely seen as a reformer compared to his iron-fisted father Hassan II -- though human rights in the country have faced criticism.
Last October, Human Rights Watch reported that suspects jugged under Morocco's counterterrorism laws are routinely subjected to human rights violations. The government denied those allegations.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/11/2011 00:00 ||
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[The Nation (Nairobi)] Ivory Coast's incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo ... President of Ivory Coast since 2000. Gbagbo lost to Alassane Ouattara in 2010 but his representtive tore up the results on the teevee and Laurent has refused to leave despite the international community's hemming, hawing, and broad hints... rejected Thursday a proposal by an African Union panel to solve the country's months-old leadership crisis, his delegation said.
"We think this is an unacceptable proposal," said former prime minister Pascal Affi N'Guessan, who chairs Gbagbo's Ivorian Popular Front and is part of the delegation the incumbent sent to Addis Ababa.
He was speaking to news hounds at the AU's headquarters in Addis Ababa after a special panel of five African heads of state informed Ivory Coast's presidential rival of their decision, which was not immediately made public.
The panel of five African heads of state was meeting to finalise resolutions to end the West African country's crisis triggered by the disputed November 28 presidential elections.
Gbagbo has refused to give up power to his rival Alassane Ouattara who is recognised by the international community, including the AU, as the winner of those polls.
"The panel made a proposal we categorically reject. This proposal brought nothing to the table that we did not already know," N'Guessan said.
He argued that the results announced by the electoral commission for the November polls were flawed and deplored that the international community had rushed to recognise Ouattara's victory.
"Unfortunately, we observed that the panel appeared satisified with reiterating what we already know. The panel is incapable of giving us the reasons on which their decision is based," N'Guessan said.
"If this initiative does not yield relevant and irrefutable proposals that are sufficiently convincing, we fear that the African Union will in a way contribute to completing the coup that began in 2002 and has evolved into an electoral coup with the latest presidential elections," N'Guessan said.
He was referring to an uprising against Gbagbo in 2002, while he was travelling outside the country, which triggered a deadly civil war.
Ouattara travelled to Ethiopia for the first time since the elections, but Gbagbo stayed behind.
The AU panel was to present its proposals later Thursday at a meeting by the continental body's Peace and Security Council.
The panel comprises Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, South Africa's Jacob Zuma, Tanzania's Jakaya Kikwete, Chad's Idriss Deby and Burkina Faso's Blaise Compaore.
US President Barack B.O. Obama said in a statement on Wednesday that it was "time for former President Gbagbo to heed the will of his people, and to complete a peaceful transition of power to President Ouattara."
He also condemned the escalating violence that has left around 370 people dead since the dispute broke out over the results of the November polls, which had been seen as a chance to end a protracted political crisis.
With Ouattara in Ethiopia, Gbagbo wasted no time in trying to gain ground at home.
His government announced that all overflights and landings by UN and French forces in the country were banned.
"Aircraft of the United Nations, aka the Oyster Bay Chowder and Marching Society mission in Ivory Coast and those of the (French forces) are banned from overflights and landing throughout the territory of the Republic of Ivory Coast," a statement read on television said.
The move left a question mark hanging over Ouattara's ability to return from Addis Ababa.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/11/2011 00:00 ||
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Qatar is on the verge of issuing a new media law that will give more freedom to the press by curbing censorship, banning jail of journalists and restricting the suspension of newspapers to court, according to press reports.
The Ministry of Culture has drafted the new law which is to be approved by the cabinet and endorsed by the country's Emir, Sharq daily said.The paper published what it said were excerpts of the new law, which will give greater freedom to the press unless in cases which threaten national security.
"The new law frees the media sector from any censorship to encourage the principle of freedom of press in handling issues as long as such issues do not threaten the country's security," the paper said.
"Under the new law, there will be no suspension of newspapers and other media organs unless there is a court order...journalists will not be jugged and will have the right to disclose their sources only in court."The paper said the law calls for the formation of a journalists committee and sets new terms for the appointment of editors in chief and other media staff.Applicants seeking to set up a new media project must hold the Qatari citizenship and must not be below 21 years old.The paper said the new law is not applicable to government-run media institutions and authorizes the Ministry of Culture to issue licences for all press establishments except online papers and websites."The new law bans all journalists from accepting donations, grants and other financial facilities," the paper said.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/11/2011 00:00 ||
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[Arab News] The cigarette packs piled into prominent displays behind store counters and supermarket checkouts in England can't be missed. They occupy prime retail real estate, helping to keep addicts hooked and quitters tempted.
But the government announced a ban on them Wednesday, a move that will keep cigarettes hidden away and make it just a tad more difficult for smokers to find their fix.
"We cannot ignore the targeting of young people through these displays," England's chief medical officer Sally Davies said in a statement, adding the can't-miss-it advertising encourages teens "to start smoking at an age when they are less able to make an informed choice." England is following the lead of countries such as Iceland, Ireland and Canada, all of which have already forced cigarettes under the counter. Finland is also planning to introduce a ban on over-the-counter advertising in 2012, and a similar ban went into force in Norway at the beginning of last year.
That last ban even applies to imitation tobacco products such as chocolate cigarettes and licorice smoking pipes.
Cigarette packs in the UK already carry gruesome images of cancer-ridden lungs, corpses and tumors. Authorities are still mulling proposals to impose generic packaging on all tobacco products -- a move that would force cigarette makers to use plain, logo-free packs, aside from health warnings.
Australia is already working toward a generic packaging system. If it followed suit, England would be the first nation in Europe to do so.
Meanwhile, ...back at the ranch... the English display ban drew predictable responses from both sides of the tobacco wars, with health groups cheering and retailers grumbling.
The Association of Convenience Stores said the new regulations would impose 40 million pounds ($65 million) in costs as owners dismantled displays and refit counters, while the National Federation of Retail Newsagents described it as a "betrayal of our nation of shopkeepers." Both groups argued that there was no evidence to show such a ban would help improve public health.
Doctors disagreed. The British Medical Association said it was "very pleased" with the announcement, citing research which it said showed that a display ban would play "a key role in discouraging children from smoking and ... also help smokers quit." The association's only complaint was about the deadline -- which forces larger stores to take down their displays by April of 2012 and gives smaller stores an extra three years to comply with the ban.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/11/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
Whatever. How about torching those poppy fields first?
[The Nation (Nairobi)] Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Thursday proposed to visiting US Vice President Joe Foreign Policy Whiz Kid Biden ... an example of the kind of top-notch Washington intellect to be found in the World's Greatest Deliberative Body ... that Russia and the United States take the "historic step" of abolishing visas between the two countries.
"If the United States and Russia agree to implement a visa-free regime before Russia and the European Union, then this would be a historic step in our relations," Putin told Biden.
"This would break all the old stereotypes between Russia and the United States."
Efforts by Russia and the European Union to agree visa-free travel between the two sides have continued for years without making substantial progress.
This appears to be the first time Putin has suggested cancelling visas with Moscow's main Cold War foe.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/11/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
Won't happen. The decreasing number of eligible, sober, free of commitment-phobia males in the population is going to keep the female population from sharing the goods with a population that has a disproportionate number of competitors (3:43). If you think they're going to just let this be outsourced like jobs to China, you ain't seen nothing yet.
Posted by: Anna Chapman ||
03/11/2011 5:01 Comments ||
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#4
Next what we need is a bridge across the Bering Strait so we can have automobile traffic between Alaska and Siberia. Think about it. You could drive across the bridge and be in Siberia. Then you could drive all the way to Africa or England if you wanted. How cool would that be? Of course, the Ruskies could drive across the bridge and be in Alaska too...without needing a visa!
Hell, if things keep going the way they are you might have Alaskans driving across the bridge just to buy cheap gas in Russia.
#6
Ha ha. Commercial and cultural ties aside, the feminists will NEVER let this happen. The supply of high-quality Russian women trying to marry American men is simply too much to deal with. As a matter of fact, they got a law passed making international marriage agencies almost illegal. Gotta keep our American men for American women, and keep out the competition. Because honestly, who else other than an American man would be dumb enough to marry an American woman? 50% divorce rate with 90% of divorces initiated by women (70% by choice and 20% by her choosing to be unfaithful).
Prime minister Naoto Kan declared a nuclear emergency as his trade minister admitted that a radiation leak might occur at the Fukushima power plant.
The reactors cooling system failed after the 8.9-magnitude tremor hit northern Japan at 2.46pm local time. Pressure in the reactor was rising despite the US Air Force flying extra coolant to the plant.
Japan's massive earthquake caused a power outage that disabled a nuclear reactor's cooling system, triggering evacuation orders for about 3,000 residents as the government declared its first-ever state of emergency at a nuclear plant.
At least 1,000 people were feared dead last night after the superquake 81 miles out to sea triggered a tsunami that sent a 30ft wall of water crashing into Japans Pacific coast.
#2
2259 GMT: Japan's nuclear plant operator Tokyo Electric Power says a second of its atomic plants in an earthquake-hit area is experiencing reactor cooling problems, Kyodo News reports.
2242 GMT: The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says there are problems with two reactors at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, where Kyodo news has reported radiation levels 1,000 times greater than normal.
Fukushima I NPP, often referred to as Fukushima Dai-ichi, is a nuclear power plant located in the town of Atlantis in the Futaba District of Fukushima Prefecture. With six separate units located on site with a combined power of 4.7 GW, Fukushima I is one of the 25 largest nuclear power stations in the world.
The earthquake knocked out power at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, and because a backup generator failed, the cooling system was unable to supply water to cool the 460-megawatt No. 1 reactor. Although a backup cooling system is being used, Japan's nuclear safety agency said pressure inside the reactor had risen to 1.5 times the level considered normal.
The utility, which also operates reactors at the nearby Fukushima Daini plant, later confirmed that cooling ability had been lost at three of four reactors there, as well as a second Fukushima Daiichi unit. The government promptly declared a state of emergency there as well.
TOKYOThe most devastating earthquake to hit Japan in at least 300 years rocked the country on Friday afternoon, triggering a 10-meter tsunami that violently engulfed cars and other objects in its path in northern Japan, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes and setting off tsunami warnings for 53 countries around the world.
The quake, one of the five biggest in history with a magnitude of 8.9, caused mass panic around Tokyo, where workers evacuated their buildings and power was cut off at 4.1 million households in Tokyo and neighboring prefectures. The natural disaster could derail the country's nascent economic recovery and increase Japan's already massive public debt, which is 200% of gross domestic product.
[The Nation (Nairobi)] The Dalai Lama announced on Thursday he would step down as political head of Tibet's exiled government, but continue to push the Tibetan cause in his key role as its spiritual figurehead.
In a speech on the anniversary of a failed uprising in 1959 against Chinese rule, the Dalai Lama said he would seek an amendment allowing him to resign his political office when the exiled Tibetan parliament meets next week.
"As early as the 1960s, I have repeatedly stressed that Tibetans need a leader, elected freely by the Tibetan people, to whom I can devolve power," he said in Dharamshala, the seat of Tibet's government-in-exile in northern India.
"Now, we have clearly reached the time to put this into effect."
China, which brands the 75-year-old Nobel peace laureate a "splittist" bent on Tibetan independence, responded by accusing him of playing "tricks" to deceive the international community.
"He has often talked about retirement in the past few years. I think these are his tricks to deceive the international community," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told news hounds.
"The government-in-exile is an illegal political organisation and no country in the world recognises it."
While the Dalai Lama will retain the more significant role of Tibet's spiritual leader, the move marks a watershed in the history of the Tibetan movement and its long and largely fruitless struggle against Chinese rule.
The Dalai Lama was just 15 when he was appointed "head of state" in 1950 after Chinese troops moved into Tibet. He decamped his homeland in 1959 after the unsuccessful uprising.
His temporal duties are largely ceremonial and the Dalai Lama had already pronounced himself "semi-retired" following the first direct election in 2001 of a prime minister as the formal head of the exiled government.
The Dalai Lama's remaining political power is now likely to be devolved to the prime minister, boosting the role's profile.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/11/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
Cheap, Mass-producable, Consumer-centric "Nuclear" is what the USA + our future OWG-NWO will need for successful Deep-Space Exploration + ultimately Colonization.
"Green" is for Human Space Colonies - you know, Earth.
D *** NGED TIME, SPACE TOURISTS + RIGEL UNIVERSITY, ETC. INTERSTELLAR SPRINGBREAKERS!
[Iran Press TV] Republican politicians in the Wisconsin Senate have approved Governor Scott Walker's plan to curb the rights of public sector unions, prompting protesters to storm the state capitol.
In a hastily-arranged special conference committee, Republicans voted 18 to 1 for restrictions on collective bargaining by public employees that Walker has insisted are needed to help the state's cash-strapped municipalities deal with a projected $1.27 billion drop in state aid over the next two years, Rooters reported.
The politicians stripped out the parts that required the presence of their 14 absent fellow wardheelers.
The measure will now go to the Republican-controlled state assembly, which is expected to vote on the matter on Thursday.
News of the vote drew angry shouts from the protesters outside the chamber. The protesters were trying to force their way inside as police pushed back from the building doors.
Senators then left the chamber under police escort.
Governor Walker has insisted throughout the weeks-long battle that the only way to close the state's gaping budget deficit was to eliminate collective bargaining rights so that public workers cannot fight pay and benefit cuts.
He began sending layoff notices to 1,500 state workers last week and has ordered the state police to arrest the 14 Democratic senators who decamped to Illinois on February 17 to help prevent the passage of the bill.
His proposal, however, has sparked a major confrontation with organized labor and the largest protests in Wisconsin since the Vietnam War.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/11/2011 00:00 ||
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It seems that the public unions view their unions first behind country--no matter that the rest of us are paying for their gravy train of benefits. The folks out here are paying for benefits for unions that they themselves don't receive (or expect).
#3
Two things I look forward to: 1) to see how many people remain in the union when it becomes an option and 2) The next election cycle. I men if this is so unpopular, the Demoncrats will will big and reverse the bill. I kind of wonder why NOBODY points out that there is a DEMOCRATIC process and it seems that only the DEMOCRATS are preventing well democracy.
#4
This is only the first of many worker's rights to be repealled. Expect the floodgates to open in most states now.
If you are not a wage-slave yet, you most likely will be soon. You are happy now, but even if you are a business owner or retired this will affect your family, friends and community.
I hope you are all happy with the eventual outcome of this, I think it will end VERY badly for all workers.
#5
The only slaves here are the taxpayers. By law and cohesion they must pay their taxes or face loss of liberty or property. Even if they become 'run away' slaves it doesn't seem to bother the operators of the state to pursue them across state lines.
When the taxpayer exists to serve the interests of those who run the place, it's a slave state. When the state exists to serve the taxpayers, it's a free state.
This is no longer a Tea Party. This is an abolitionist movement.
#6
Throger Smith8971, I love a good reduction to absurdity argument. Because public unions are out of control, cutting them down to size necessarily means that we're going back to the Triangle Shirtwaist Company and 128-hour weeks for 8 year old children. *groan*
Here's one: Hitler was a vegetarian. If you're a vegetarian too, that means you support fascism. Down with vegetarians!
#7
Some day it may be possible for young people in Wisconsin to become medical doctors and make as much money as the unionized bus drivers or prison guards make now.
#8
Somebody mentioned yesterday how the denizens of DU were going berserk as a result of the Wisconsin Senate action. Being curious, I decided to pay them a visit. My oh my, such language. It certainly was an eye opener! Now it seems that Throger has decided to pay a visit to Rantburg. Thanks for stopping by, Throger. Come around any time. It seems one of their favorite pastimes here is bantering with members of the loyal opposition. The sad part is that none of them can ever stand the heat for very long. Anyway, we wish you and your comrades long and happy lives as you price yourselves out of the global labor market. Maybe there will be enough of us left with jobs to pay your unemployment benefits.
#9
I'm not from DU and I'm not making apocolyptic claims, but this will not be the only right that they take from American workers. Who consquently have less rights already than most of the first world. They rammed it through, think they'll quit now? We'll see, but I seriously doubt it.
#10
Umm.. sorry but living the plush-life and an early retirement on the backs of taxpayers is not a *right* - just as living it on the backs of plantation slaves of the old south is not a right.
You have the exact same right to pursue happiness and wealth as the next guy - you do ***NOT*** have the right to the same *OUTCOME*.
You still have bargaining rights - its called the BALLOT BOX!
You have the right to petition the government.
You have the right of 'free' association.
You have the right of 'free and peaceful' assembly.
You have the right to vote in elections.
You have no right to demand equal status with a sovereign lawfully elected government.
You have no right to obstruct that government in its assembly and execution of its authority and duties.
You have no right as a non-sovereign entity to a portion of people's pay.
#13
Ummmm - #9 Knuckles - re-read the Bill of Rights (presuming you ever read it the first time) and point out to us exactly where the "right" to public unions that rob the taxpayer blind is found.
We'll wait.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
03/11/2011 17:51 Comments ||
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How about a right to decide whether you wanna join a union or not?
Army Secretary John McHugh has ordered the nine to have non-judicial punishment for failing to report unusual behavior on the part of the protected religious minority officer.
The nine were in Hasan's chain of command at Walter Reed hospital, so it is likely that several of them had minimal exposure to Hasan. And in an equally empty gesture, Secretary McHugh ordered the training and evaluation of all other Army medical doctors to be examined, in case there are any other doctors with profiles identical to Hasan.
Several US senators have likewise deplored the inability of either the DoD or the FBI to see into the future or accurately psychoanalyze potential threat individuals based on their unobserved off duty behavior.
Note: this last paragraph might generously be called a paraphrase. Or perhaps an 'interpretation'.
#2
Scapegoats for the institutionalized atmosphere of political correctness that pervades the service. "We have to protect our phoney baloney jobs here, gentlemen! We must do something about this immediately! Immediately! Immediately! Harrumph! Harrumph! Harrumph!"
#3
P2k is spot on. McHuch's CYA actions are abhorent and disgusting. Had any rater or senior rater signed off on a referred OER, or requested a "Commander's Inguiry" or an AR 15-6 on this piece of garbage, they would have had it stuck right up their asses and they knew it. Behold the rich and bountiful harvest of Affirmative Action and Political Correctness. Allen be praised!
Commanders of TRADOC and AMC to be relieved. Secret... (until yesterday) DoJ study indicates faulty US Army Armored Personnel Carriers and poorly trained drivers are now to blame for 1992 Ruby Ridge standoff and 1993 Waco affair. BATF, FBI HRT sharpshooters and shore-based Maritime Hostage Negotiators finally exhonerated.
#7
#5 Damned if they did and damned if they didn't.
It seems that in this insane world of PC, officers are in a lose-lose situation. "Protected religious minority." There's such a thing? Obviously this is code for non-Christian or Jewish.
#8
Just after the Ft. Hood shooting, Gen. Casey said he hoped this wouldn't hurt diversity, "Which is our strength".
IOW, if you see a Muslim with appalling performance and demonstrated nutcasery, he doesn't want to hear about it. Message received.
There were various reports that some of the raters and reviewers or others associated with the bastard had said they didn't want to report accurately because they'd be accused of Islamophobia.
Seen any other religious group getting the consideration Muslims get? They have successfully, and for the first time afaik, combined threats of violence and victimization.
As to protected classes. The first two women to graduate Navy F14 school did so with failing grades. One blew and approach and was killed and the other was grounded for unsafe flying.
There are protected groups. So far, with a few exceptions, it has been possible to review/rate gays. Now with the end of DADT, a downcheck is going to risk accusations of homophobia.
"...Hasan's move toward violent Islamist extremism "was on full display to his superiors and colleagues during his military medical training, according to the reports findings. One instructor referred to Hasan as "a ticking time bomb."
"Not only was no action taken to discipline or discharge him, but also his Officer Evaluation Reports sanitized his obsession with violent Islamist extremism into praiseworthy research on counterterrorism ""
Left unsaid is WHY those reports were written the way they were. An honest investigation would have stated that the people doing the officer fitness were afraid of being called 'anti-diversity' or 'islamophobic'.
Posted by: Lord Garth ||
03/11/2011 9:47 Comments ||
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#8 It seems that in this insane world of PC, officers are in a lose-lose situation.
Yes. I've wondered many times what I would've done if I'd been in that situation. First, I would've asked to meet with "cool" battalion/brigade commanders or their XOs. Meaning, those who I knew from private conversations thought all that PC stuff was a bunch of counterproductive BS (and there are always at least a few). I would've expressed my concerns verbally and in writing, told them to take it up the chain, and reminded them that the fallout if anyone got killed due to inaction would be much worse than offending some prissy EEO desk jockeys beforehand.
And then I would've regarded my duties as discharged, ensured that I never had to interact with the nutjob of concern, and washed my hands of it. Would that have been enough? I don't know.
#13
It seems that in this insane world of PC, officers are in a lose-lose situation.
Only if you cop out, there are PFCs that can work the reg system like champs, IMO, so Officers who have so much more power at their disposal have even less leeway on being lame, IMO.
If I worked with Hasan, I would have gone to the JAG office, and asked a CPT or Colonel over there to aid me in drafting a letter with the pertinent concerns and information backed up with all the regs Hasan was in violation of, and characterization of his misconducts on general principle. I would have spent hours looking through regs to pull out as many as I could I knew he violated, so I could take them to the JAG and save them some time when I handed them a stack of regs. We could discuss the relevancy of different regs and pick out the applicable ones. They could comb through what I did and spiff up the research.
Next, I would send the letter up the chain. Meanwhile, I'd keep my dress greens extra pressed and at the ready so I could show up for the Court Martial to testify against Hasan. And I would push for the paperwork to go through the chain. Some things are worth putting self interest on the back burner, because in the long run, it is worth it.
Posted by: Fire and Ice ||
03/11/2011 10:56 Comments ||
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In medicine and medical training there is no room for ineptness , no matter what .
Professional misconduct and ineptness should have been dealt with correctly and nipped in the bud during his post graduate core training . He was flawed from day one , and should have been dismissed/struck off medical records , probably in his first post grad year , if not in his formative years at med school , if someone had the balls and professional conduct
These people have blood on their hands and I hope they pay the price
Posted by: Oscar ||
03/11/2011 13:16 Comments ||
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#15
if someone had the balls and professional conduct Sometimes that means a professional discharging his duty will lose his own job, but that's the way it is, life is not fair.
#18
Hasan's professional conduct was appalling, Islamonutjobbery notwithstanding.
Officers come up for promotion every so often. Bad reviews mean you don't get promoted. Passed over twice--when I was in,maybe different now--and you're out. Should have happened, Islamicnutjobbery notwithstanding.
Except islamonutjobbery was his cover.
Posted by: Richard Aubrey ||
03/11/2011 17:56 Comments ||
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Tel Aviv - Italian poet Dante Alighieri will be among the subjects of 'bagrut', the exam to obtain the official Israeli matriculation certificate. From this year, secondary education students in Israel can choose the Italian language and culture for the first time as a subject of their exam. A small "revolution" which confirms the role of the Italian language among the subjects officially recognized by Israeli schools, due to the success of experimental courses organized by the Italian Cultural Institute in Tel Aviv since 2006. . . Me, I'd rather have Greeks & Romans, but, maybe, next
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.
[Arab News] If you think Charlie Sheen has been "winning" media attention these past few weeks, you'd be right.
The quake struck around 237 miles northeast of Tokyo. A tsunami warning has been issued for Japan, Russia and the Mariana Islands.
Laurent Gbagbo
[Arab News] The cigarette packs piled into prominent displays behind store counters and supermarket checkouts in England can't be missed. They occupy prime retail real estate, helping to keep addicts hooked and quitters tempted.
Joe 
