MADISONVILLE, Tenn. -- A Monroe County election official says the chairman of the local election commission has been found dead after his car was discovered burning.
James R. Brown, the election administrator for the county, said Monday that the body of Monroe County Election Commission Chairman Jim Miller was discovered by firefighters after they extinguished the blaze on Saturday night.
A Monroe County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman said Monday that investigators are awaiting preliminary autopsy results.
"He's dead, Jim."
"Dr. Quincy, how do you do it?!?"
Sweetwater attorney John Cleveland released a statement from Miller's family in which Vicki Miller thanked those who had offered her family condolences in the death of her husband.
The election administrator said Miller became chairman of the commission in April.
An alleged pervert has been arrested in Germany over allegations that he used malware to hack into webcams and spy on schoolgirls.
The unnamed hacker from the Aachen region allegedly invaded the privacy of 150 youngsters, German news service DPA reports.
The scheme was uncovered by Thomas Floß, from the association of data protection advisors, after he examined the computers of girls who noticed their machines were behaving erratically. He found evidence of a Trojan program, which spread using ICQ.
Subsequent analysis traced communications from compromised systems back to the alleged suspect's home. Police discovered a number of live feeds running when they raided his residence.
Cases of miscreants using spyware to gain control of webcams and spy on youngsters have been recorded in Cyprus, the UK and Spain, among other countries, before.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/19/2010 09:57 ||
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After the US Ambassador to Kuwait, Deborah Jones, claimed that no journalist has ever been jailed in US history for expressing political views, putting forward a $5,000 bet to anyone who could prove that any US administration had jailed a journalist for expressing political opinions, local newspaper Al-Rai has taken up the challenge. When Al-Rai suggested to Ambassador Jones that the recent dismissal of longtime CNN reporter Octavia Nasr over her expression of condolences on the death of Shiite scholar Mohammad Fadlallah disproved this claim, Ambassador Jones insisted that this was a separate issue and that any private institution in the US has the right to take whatever action it deems fit against an employee who has violated company policy.
Ambassador Jones made the wager after condemning the recent imprisonment of Kuwaiti columnist Mohammad Al-Jassem by a local court. In a bid to win the bet, Al-Rai cited several cases in which journalists were jailed in the US, not necessarily for statements of opinion but for refusing to disclose certain information, which the paper would qualify as their being imprisoned for political viewpoints.
In 2005, the paper pointed out, New York Times journalist Judith Miller was jailed after refusing to reveal her sources in a case that led to the exposure of CIA officer Valerie Plame. Preliminary investigations in this case revealed that officials of [former US President] George W. Bush's administration had intentionally leaked Plame's identity as retaliation for the stance taken by her husband, Ambassador Joseph Wilson, when he criticized the exaggeration of intelligence information on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, which was used to justify the 2003 invasion. Miller was released after three months of imprisonment when it was revealed that the source who leaked the information was Lewis 'Scooter' Libby, the Chief of Staff for former US Vice President Dick Cheney.
As anyone who knows the actual story understands, this paragraph's version of these events is a grotesque distortion combined with outright lies. No mention of Richard Armitage? What a surprise!
Scooter Libby didn't reveal Plame; even the special prosecutor admitted that. Libby was convicted for perjury, not for violating national security.
Meanwhile, Al-Rai continued, a simple online search revealed a notorious case in US history, back in 1734,
Erm, in 1734 there was no United States, just a bunch of English and other colonies, and would not be for two generations. So this example doesn't count. So sorry, dear Kuwaiti journalist.
when American journalist John Peter Zenger was imprisoned after writing articles in the New York Weekly Journal in which he attacked the "corruption" of the then-New York governor who allied himself with the British colonists. This case is, however, not considered by most to be a violation of the laws of journalistic freedom in the US since it took place prior to the nation's declaration of independence in 1776.
How clever of the Kuwait Times journalist to figure that out.
Another case, however, this time in 1847, saw New York Herald journalist John Nugent imprisoned, initially in the Capitol Building by Senate members, after he refused to reveal his sources in leaking confidential details of the Guadalupe-Hidalgo agreement that ended the US-Mexican war, which was still classified as a top secret document at the time. Nugent was subsequently jailed for a month without trial, although he was later released over concerns about his health.
Three years before this, in 1844, another American journalist, Richard Hargreaves, was accused of defamation against the chairman of the board of trustees of St. Clair County, Illinois, based on a report published in the Belleville News Democrat, in which Hargreaves accused the chairman of fraud and of lying to voters.
It is awfully cute that the denizens of a country formed as a protectorate of the British empire, which gained independence in the long-ago, heady days of 1961, finds significance in the two cases it can find in 1844 and 1847 respectively. That'll certainly put us in our place!
In 1991, meanwhile, four journalists were jailed for a number of hours
Hours? Oh dear me, what a tragedy!
after they failed to testify in the trial of former South Carolina Senator J.M. 'Bud' Long, who was charged with corruption. In a similar incident in 1949, journalist Liza Abraham was jailed for 22 days for abstaining from supplying her testimony concerning an interview she previously conducted with a US official facing corruption charges.
Most recently, meanwhile, freelance journalist Joshua Wolfe was jailed in 2006 after refusing to hand over a collection of videotapes he recorded in July 2005 which reportedly showed a suspect setting a police car on fire. In this case, Wolf spent 226 days in jail after opting to exercise his constitutional right under the first amendment to freedom of speech.
What do all of these examples have in common? A failure to meet the original terms of the bet.
Al-Rai argued that the above cases all offer proof that American journalists have indeed previously been jailed for reasons connected to their political stance and is claiming to have won the bet put forward by Ambassador Jones, who has so far failed to respond to the newspaper's foolish claim.
Was any connection demonstrated to exist between the incarcerations and the 'political stance' of the journalists? How the hell would Al-Rai know what their political stances were in the first place? Weak.
#1
In all fairness, Al-Rai has little reason to doubt that the Obama administration would concede to points that make the US look bad - despite the points being false - if they thought there were some sort of political advantage in it for them.
The state Legislature is poised to give final approval this week to a new law intended to bypass the Electoral College system and ensure that the winner of the presidential election is determined by the national popular vote.
Both the House and Senate have approved the National Popular Vote bill. Final enactment votes are needed in both chambers, however, before the bill goes to the governor's desk, the Globe reported last week.
Governor Deval Patrick's press office didn't immediately return a message this morning seeking comment on whether he would sign the bill, if it makes its way to his desk.
Under the proposed law, all 12 of the state's electoral votes would be awarded to the candidate who receives the most votes nationally.
Supporters are waging a state-by-state campaign to try to get such bills enacted. Once states possessing a majority of the electoral votes (or 270 of 538) have enacted the laws, the candidate winning the most votes nationally would be assured a majority of the Electoral College votes, no matter how the other states vote and how their electoral votes are distributed.
Illinois, New Jersey, Hawaii, Maryland, and Washington have already adopted the legislation, according to the National Popular Vote campaign's website.
Supporters of the change say that the current Electoral College system is confusing and causes candidates to focus unduly on a handful of battleground states.
Critics say the current system is not broken. They also point to the disturbing scenario that Candidate X wins nationally, but Candidate Y has won in Massachusetts. In that case, all of the state's 12 electoral votes would go to Candidate X, the candidate who was not supported by Massachusetts voters.
The measure passed both branches of the Legislature in 2008 but did not make it all the way through the process.
#1
My first reaction to this article is to wonder this: Where is the empirical evidence that this law would make the system work better? How do I know that the results of this law would be better than, say, going back to having state legislatures elect our national Senators?
In other words, most would agree that it is appropriate to strike a proper balance between republican (with a lower case 'r')and democratic (with a lower case 'd') tendencies in our government. Why should I believe that moving the weight further over to the democratic side of the scale is necessarily good? In what way is having candidates focus on battleground states less desirable than the alternative? Is this proposal an attempt to sound 'well-intentioned' by people who have no idea about the ramifications and unintended consequences the law would entail?
#2
".. say that the current Electoral College system is confusing and causes candidates to focus unduly on a handful of battleground states."
The 'majority rules' way means candidates only need to focus on major population States. And the difference is...? Sounds like algore is still crying about not carrying TN in '00.
#3
".. say that the current Electoral College system is confusing and causes candidates to focus unduly on a handful of battleground states."
The 'majority rules' way means candidates only need to focus on major population States. And the difference is...? Sounds like algore is still crying about not carrying TN in '00.
Posted by: Secret Asian Man ||
07/19/2010 18:51 Comments ||
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#5
The traditional argument against direct elections is that the advertising imperative would render rural and flyover areas irrelevant to the candidates, who would concentrate all their attention in the top ten to twenty media markets. More bang for the media buck.
However, as the older TV generation slowly dies off, and as people access more and more of their political info through servers rather than via braodcast signals, I'm not sure that objection still holds. As Barry and now Palin have shown, you can raise money nationally and overnight without spending anything on TV ads.
#7
If enacted, this states law would seem to undercut the power of the electorate of Massachusetts. Why would you specifically campaign in Mass, when they award their electoral votes based on national results?
Posted by: Super Hose ||
07/19/2010 20:56 Comments ||
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#8
So if you live in Mass. don't bother voting. Your legislature and the other states will decide for you.
#9
Funny thing is, it would have had Mass' votes going for Bush II in the reelection of 04, despite being Kerry's home state.
Its a fundamental difference between democrat who promote the rule of the mob, and those who wish to keep our Republic of Laws where individuals are paramount.
Building near Oregon's rivers could get much tougher under a federal court settlement that forces the Federal Emergency Management Agency to consider the damage its flood insurance ends up doing to wild salmon and steelhead.
The Audubon Society of Portland, Northwest Environmental Defense Center and other environmental groups sued FEMA last year over its issuance of flood insurance in Oregon. The suit said the agency encourages floodplain development by providing coverage without considering the effect on fish listed under the Endangered Species Act.
In Washington, where the changes along Puget Sound are nearly final, builders worry that they will add more uncertainty and stymie economic development, said Mike Pattison, government affairs manager for the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties. "Tell us where we can build, not just where we can't," Pattison said. "That's something regulatory agencies lose site of."
Posted by: Bobby ||
07/19/2010 10:09 ||
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#1
...said Mike Pattison, government affairs manager for the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties. "Tell us where we can build, not just where we can't," Pattison said. "That's something regulatory agencies lose site of."
I don't think they do lose site of that, Mr. Pattison. The unspoken answer, in the minds of the Fundamentalist Enviromentalist is "Nowhere."
Posted by: Grenter, Protector of the Geats ||
07/19/2010 10:32 Comments ||
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#2
Oregon and Federal EPA will not let land owners do anything to assist flood control within fifty feet of a creek. That means no thinning of trees, cleaning of channels, ect. The stream is holy to them and must not be influenced by man.
During the floods this Spring (Eastern Oregon) the region of Richland, Halfway, Hells Canyon had extremely heavy flooding. Of course stream channels, ditches, roads and bridges were destroyed. It doesn't help when channels have filled in over the years and cannot hold the waters. Then those huge trees on stream banks (that were not thinned) plug drainage and bridges, blocks the flood waters in the "established" drainage.
NOTE: The NEW channels are well outside the old established channels. So much for pristine waters. Now the locals are repairing destroyed property and doing the channel maintenance that should have been done 10-15 years ago.
#3
ION CHINA'S THREE GORDES DAM > its FLOOD CONTROLS are repor about to get a REAL-TIME TEST of oper ability + function, etc. thanks to the recent bad weather + regional glacial melts.
As per various MSM-Net criticisms of its preliminary + curr engineering design + construx, BEIJING IS CROSSING ITS FINGERS IN HOPES THAT EVERYTHING GOES AS INTENDED.
* ALso, NORTH KOREA > is planning to release excess flood water into South Korea.
#4
As per usual these days, tw; "Things are ABSOLUTELY absurd" today. I've broad shoulders. So, blame it all on me. It's your little impotent show. What a waste.
Posted by: Herman Cain is my hero ||
07/19/2010 1:23 Comments ||
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#3
So, the SCM pounds upon some 'fear' of someone related to the KKK is associated with the Tea Party, but couldn't put a quarter of the time in on the relationship between Obama and Ayers.
#4
The NAACP is worried about "Racist" organizations?
Their very name proclaims THEY are a "Racist" organization?
So if they really want to end Racism they need to Immediately disband and reconstitute under a Non-Racist Name.
If they don't they are only abusing the "Racist" accusation for their own profit.
And are proving it by their very "Racist" Name. (No whites allowed, by charter.)
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
07/19/2010 11:37 Comments ||
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#5
How about this as a new name?
People for America, no racism there.(No mention of Color, ANY Color)
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
07/19/2010 11:39 Comments ||
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#6
Kwitcher bitchin', folks. Is it fair? No. Is this nice? Nope. But this is how politics is played in the big leagues. If the Tea Partiers want to win elections, then they're going to have to up their game, a lot, and in a hurry.
They throw curveballs in the bigs. Spitballs, too. So quit whining and keep your eye on the ball.
If this means constantly scrutinizing or even vetting every single statement issued in the name of each and every Tea Party-labeled organization to erase any possible taint of racism, then you g0ddamn well have to do it. Because otherwise, you lose in November.
Personally, I would never have welcomed open, documented neo-Confederate loons like Rand Paul and his goofy dad into this organization. Stick to the high road, and also the intelligent road. Expel the nuts. Again, the alternative is losing in November.
[Al Arabiya Latest] Gaza's Hamas rulers are banning women from smoking water pipes in cafes, claiming it violates tradition and leads to divorce.
"The police have decided to ban women from smoking water pipes in open, public places because it is against our customs, traditions and social norms," interior ministry spokesman Ihab al-Ghussein told AFP.
The smoking of water pipes loaded with sweetened tobacco, also known as nargileh or shisha, is popular in cafes across the Arab world and was one of the few remaining leisure activities left in the isolated coastal strip.
Police spokesman Ayman Batneiji said Sunday that officers are enforcing Gazan traditions. He said husbands often divorce women seen smoking in public
The owners of several large cafes along Gaza's beachfront said that in recent days they were ordered to stop serving the water pipes altogether, before police clarified that the ban only applied to women and minors.
"We received orders from the police to stop serving shisha without any further details," said Abu Ahmad, the owner of one such cafe who asked not to be identified, adding that he is not currently serving shisha to anyone.
Over the weekend even Gaza's main hotels, which largely cater to diplomats, foreign aid workers and journalists, had stopped serving water pipes.
A police officer speaking on condition of anonymity insisted the ruling only applied to women and children but said there may have been a "misunderstanding" by some policemen.
Few women in Gaza's conservative society smoked water pipes in public before the ban, though some would indulge at hotel restaurants or in private.
Gazans flock to the territory's beaches during the summer break, packing dozens of outdoor cafes that serve non-alcoholic drinks and water pipes.
Most of Gaza's cinemas and bars were torched after the outbreak of the 2000 Palestinian uprising, or intifada, and alcohol is strictly banned.
The Islamist Hamas movement has taken only limited steps to impose Islamic law on Gaza since it seized power in June 2007 but has tried to curb the mingling of the sexes in public places.
Earlier this year Hamas banned men from working in women's hair salons, and the police regularly interrogate young couples to make sure they are married.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/19/2010 00:00 ||
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Indonesia's Muslims learned on Friday they have been praying in the wrong direction, after the country's highest Islamic authority said its directive on the direction of Mecca actually had people facing Africa.
Muslims are supposed to face the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia during prayer and the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) issued an edict in March stipulating westward was the correct direction from the world's most populous Muslim country.
"But it has been decided that actually the mosques are facing Somalia or Kenya, so we are now suggesting people shift the direction slightly to the north-west," the head of the MUI, Cholil Ridwan, told Reuters. "There's no need to knock down mosques, just shift your direction slightly during prayer."
Ridwan said Muslims need not fear that their prayers have been wasted because they were facing the wrong way.
"Their prayers will still be heard by Allah," he said.
Said Agil Siradj, head of Indonesia's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama, told English language newspaper the Jakarta Globe that the confusion showed the MUI issued edicts too fast and that this was a lesson for them.
The MUI has, in the past, issued controversial edicts banning Muslims from chanting during yoga, and from smoking.
Indonesia is a majority Muslim but officially secular country.
#1
I could make up a Monty Python skit about this.
"OK sorry, I meant to point this way to pray."
"Oops so sorry, I really meant this way."
"Now just turn a little more to your left....a little more....just a smidgen more..OK perfect"
Posted by: Mr. Bill ||
07/19/2010 21:41 Comments ||
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#2
Adjust pitch and yaw at the same time- that's asking a lot.
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.
An alleged pervert has been arrested in Germany over allegations that he used malware to hack into webcams and spy on schoolgirls.
After the US Ambassador to Kuwait, Deborah Jones, claimed that no journalist has ever been jailed in US history for expressing political views, putting forward a $5,000 bet to anyone who could prove that any US administration had jailed a journalist for expressing political opinions, local newspaper Al-Rai has taken up the challenge. When Al-Rai suggested to Ambassador Jones that the recent dismissal of longtime CNN reporter Octavia Nasr over her expression of condolences on the death of Shiite scholar Mohammad Fadlallah disproved this claim, Ambassador Jones insisted that this was a separate issue and that any private institution in the US has the right to take whatever action it deems fit against an employee who has violated company policy.
