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Revolutionary Guards Say They'll Crush Protests
Today's Headlines
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-Lurid Crime Tales-
MS-13 implicated in take-over robbery & murder in ABQ
A take-over robbery & shooting occured on 6/20 in Albuquerque at a crowded local Denny's. Albuquerque Police said one of the two captured murder suspects in belongs to the violent MS-13 Gang.

The FBI labels the group as exceedingly violent. One arrested suspect had the digits "503" shaved into the back of his scalp. 503 is the country code for El Salvador. The FBI claims that gang members identify themselves through 503 or gang tattoos on their chest.

Police said they don't consider this weekend's shooting gang related. "They committed a heinous crime. And the fact that they killed someone while they were committing that crime, I think that's more important than what gang affiliation they have," a former Bernalillo County deputy said.

KOAT reported Albuquerque police said they're now calling on other law enforcement organizations to step in and help with the case. Officials said the suspects in custody are not cooperating and haven't given any information to help them go after other gang members.
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 06/23/2009 15:32 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  "Officials said the suspects in custody are not cooperating"

They need a little "crossfire" in their lives, the RAB perhaps?
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 06/23/2009 18:09 Comments || Top||

#2  had the digits "503" shaved into the back of his scalp. 503 is the country code for El Salvador

Don't these people have phone books?
Posted by: SteveS || 06/23/2009 19:57 Comments || Top||

#3  I'd help him out with a Craftsman Router, make sure that 503 stays on him the rest of his short life
Posted by: Frank G || 06/23/2009 20:09 Comments || Top||

#4  Note well, that the Democratic controlled legislature and Governor Bill Richardson (D-NM) just repealed the death penalty in the state. Unilateral disarmament in face of a ruthless group of thugs and terrorists. MS-13 now has more influence than the sovereign government of New Mexico. Try getting witnesses who face a death penalty without trial, due process, or appeal.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/23/2009 21:22 Comments || Top||


-Obits-
HEEEEEERE'S eternity
Ed McMahon died at a hospital in Los Angeles this morning, his agent said. The 86-year-old TV personality and former "Tonight Show" sidekick died this morning at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in California, agent Howard Bragman said today. McMahon, who is best known for his role as Johnny Carson's No. 2 on the late-night show, was hospitalized for several weeks in intensive care earlier this year with pneumonia and other illnesses.

The famous TV pitchman — who is responsible for bringing the infamous "Heeeere's Johnny!" line into the pop culture lexicon — has promoted a number of products through the years such as Budweiser, American Family Publishers' sweepstakes and, most recently, Cash4Gold.com in a self-deprecating Super Bowl commercial. McMahon also hosted the popular syndicated talent competition "Star Search."

But the Hollywood legend fell on hard times recently and became embroiled in financial trouble. His home was reportedly to be placed on the auction block later this month after he fell behind $644,000 on his $4.8 million mortgage. He recently settled lawsuits against a hospital and doctors over difficulties stemming from the broken neck he suffered in fall of 2007. In 2002, he sued various insurance companies and contractors over mold in his house and collected a $7 million settlement.

And from his Wiki bio, something that was once common to read about celebrities:

During World War II, McMahon was a fighter pilot in the United States Marine Corps serving as a flight instructor and test pilot. He was a decorated pilot and was discharged in 1946, remaining in the reserves. After college, McMahon returned to active duty. He was sent to Korea in February 1953. He flew unarmed O-1E Bird Dogs on 85 tactical air control and artillery spotting missions. He remained in the Marine Corps Reserve, retiring with the rank of Colonel in 1966 and was then commissioned as a Brigadier General in the California Air National Guard.
Rest in peace, Ed. God Bless.
Posted by: Beavis || 06/23/2009 09:24 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I had the pleasure of working with Col McMahon when he would bring his Philadelphia Marine Reserve squadron to MCAS Beaufort for summer training. At the time he was flying the FJ3 Fury.

Ed was already doing work with Johnny Carson on a show called "Who Do You Trust". Col McMahon was always a nice guy and never full of himself. He was also a big guy so the FJ3 cockpit proved a little cramped for him.

Semper Fi Colonel McMahon, USMCR

Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 06/23/2009 12:34 Comments || Top||

#2  I believe he played football at Boston College with my uncle Don Aubrey--a bomber pilot in the Pacific.
Posted by: Richard Aubrey || 06/23/2009 13:36 Comments || Top||

#3  Obviously a patriot and a talented performer. Seems to also be a genuinely good guy with many charity appearances. RIP, sir
Posted by: Frank G || 06/23/2009 20:12 Comments || Top||


-Short Attention Span Theater-
Murdoch Names Rebekah Wade Chief Executive Officer of News International
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--News Corporation today announced the appointment of Rebekah Wade to the role of Chief Executive Officer of News International. In her new role, she will assume responsibility for the day-to-day operations of News International, covering all five titles, The Sun, The Times, The Sunday Times, News of the World and thelondonpaper. Ms Wade will continue to report to James Murdoch, News Corporation’s Chairman and Chief Executive, Europe and Asia, who will additionally become Executive Chairman of News International. Both appointments will be effective 1 September 2009.

Wade has been Editor of The Sun, the UK’s most popular newspaper, for over six years. Prior to that, she spent three years as Editor of the UK’s leading Sunday tabloid, News of the World. A new Editor of The Sun will be announced later in the summer.

Announcing Ms Wade’s appointment, James Murdoch said: “Rebekah combines enormous editorial talent with commercial and strategic creativity at the highest level. I know that in this new role she will make a huge contribution to the business of journalism and to News Corporation’s continued role as a pacesetter in this incredible business.”

Ms Wade said: “Our titles are among the best in the world thanks to an unrelenting focus on high quality journalism that connects with its readers. At such a crucial time for the newspaper industry, I am honoured to have the opportunity to work with the exceptional team here and believe that we have an exciting future.”

Rupert Murdoch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, News Corporation, said: “Rebekah is a great campaigning editor who has worked her way up through the company with an energy and enthusiasm that reflects true passion for newspapers and an understanding of the crucial contribution that independent journalism makes to society. Her promotion reflects the importance of journalism to this business
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 06/23/2009 14:15 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Not Your Typical Slasher Flick - Funny
Posted by: Anonymoose || 06/23/2009 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Hollywood, meet reality.
Posted by: no mo uro || 06/23/2009 5:51 Comments || Top||

#2  I love it, 20 rounds full auto from the hip, with around 10 hitting dead on, she's practiced.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 06/23/2009 8:36 Comments || Top||


-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
Good News Alert: New All-Time Lows for Both CBS & ABC Evening Newscasts
Breaking: TVNewser has learned the CBS Evening News has once again set an all-time low last week with 4.89 million Total Viewers and 1.42 million A25-54 viewers. But it was also the lowest (since records began in the 1991-'92 season) for ABC's World News with Charles Gibson. The Gibson program drew 6.42 million Total Viewers and 1.77 million A25-54 viewers.
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 06/23/2009 14:02 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Awwww!
Posted by: tipover || 06/23/2009 16:23 Comments || Top||

#2  More coverage of Barry, Rahm, Pelosi and cadre should bring them back up in no time. Live streaming vid from the Oval Office, Residence bedroom, Bo's pen, Marine one, etc. No worries!
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/23/2009 16:32 Comments || Top||

#3  Besoeker, with that grouping and love-fest, it should be:

Live steaming vid from the Oval Office

Sorry, but after the ABC "Here I'm cramming this Healthcare down your throat" telethon from the White House. I couldn't help myself.
Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 || 06/23/2009 16:49 Comments || Top||

#4  Authoritarian Socialist propaganda isn't very watch-able...

Who Knew?
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 06/23/2009 18:00 Comments || Top||

#5  There's the off button...yep, easy as abc.
Posted by: Muggsy Glink || 06/23/2009 20:23 Comments || Top||

#6  4.89 million Total Viewers and 1.42 million A25-54 viewers

Explains why every commercial is for adult diapers and erectile disfunction. Network news, like 60 minutes, has hitched itself to an audience with one foot in the grave. Can't die quick enough in my opinion.
Posted by: ed || 06/23/2009 20:35 Comments || Top||

#7  Don't worry - Perky Couric sez the transvestite community will save the CBS Evening News.
Posted by: Pappy || 06/23/2009 20:55 Comments || Top||

#8  Perky just opened with "Tonight, the President's strongest words towards Iran's (leaders)"

I think it was "leaders", but I was mid channel change to Fox - I can't take more than 5 seconds of the lying beyotch
Posted by: Frank G || 06/23/2009 21:04 Comments || Top||

#9  all the news that's worth anything IMHO can be found on this website.
Posted by: Broadhead6 || 06/23/2009 23:05 Comments || Top||


Arabia
Brisbane woman raped then jailed for sex in United Arab Emirates
From late last week.
A BRISBANE woman was jailed for eight months in the United Arab Emirates for claiming she was raped by three men after her drink was spiked in a hotel bar. The woman, identified only as Amanda, said she ordered one drink from the bar in the United Arab Emirates hotel she was staying, but then remembered nothing until waking up the next afternoon.

Amanda, interviewed on ABC radio this morning, said she was arrested after reporting her rape to police and later sentenced to 11 months' jail for having illicit sexual relations and one month for consumption of alcohol.

"I don't remember anything except for having that drink ... in one way that's a good thing but from what happened following, it's still an extremely traumatising,'' she said.
Sounds like the rapist put something in her drink ...
She was released five months ago after securing a royal pardon after serving eight months, and is now home in Australia. She said the jails were overcrowded, inmates were often beaten and the water was frequently turned off.

Amanda said she had extensively researched the customs of the largely Muslim country before living there, but was not aware of the laws surrounding women and sex and drinking.
Guess her research wasn't that 'extensive' ...
"It was such a glamorous lifestyle and at the moment there are so many Australians working over there,'' she said. "It is a very glamourous lifestyle and you can make a lot of money but unfortunately there's the other side that people just aren't aware of.''

She said four high-ranking muslim men had to witness penetration to prove a rape charge, so women who reported rapes were typically seen as confessing to illicit sexual relations or prostitution.

"I can move on, and I'm working on that, part of my process is to help other people with awareness of what's going on and making changes,'' she said.

Amanda met with several state MPs this week to tell her story.

Amnesty International's Michael Hayworth said he sent a letter to United Arab Emirates officials, asking them to comply with United Nation's Women's Rights Conventions and remove discriminatory laws.
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 06/23/2009 12:52 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Hard way to learn about women's rights in UAE.
Posted by: Richard of Oregon || 06/23/2009 13:51 Comments || Top||

#2  Hard way to learn about women's rights in UAE

Very hard, considering there isn't much to learn.
Posted by: gorb || 06/23/2009 23:05 Comments || Top||

#3  "Amnesty International's Michael Hayworth said he sent a letter to United Arab Emirates officials, asking them to comply with United Nation's Women's Rights Conventions and remove discriminatory laws."

GFL on that one.

Was the letter strongly worded?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 06/23/2009 23:23 Comments || Top||


Caribbean-Latin America
Air France Black Box Signal Located
A weak signal from the flight data recorders of the Air France jet that crashed into the Atlantic killing all 228 people on board have been located, French newspaper Le Monde reported on its web site Tuesday.

According to the report, French naval vessels picked up a weak signal from the flight recorders on Monday and that a mini submarine has been dispatched to try and find the "black boxes" on the bottom of the rugged ocean floor.

An Air France spokeswoman told Reuters she could not confirm the report. The Transport Ministry and the air accident investigation office was not reached immediately for comment.

The "black boxes" may contain vital information that could help explain what happened when the Airbus A330 aircraft crashed into the sea en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris on June 1. Locator beacons, known as "pingers", on the flight recorders send an electronic impulse every second for at least 30 days. The signal can be heard up to 2 km (1.2 miles) away.

French vessels involved in the search operation include a nuclear submarine with advanced sonar equipment and a research ship equipped with mini submarines.

The remote location in the Atlantic as well as the depth and surface of the ocean floor have made the search especially difficult and the wreckage could lie anywhere between a depth of 1 km (0.6 miles) and 4 km (2.5 miles).
Posted by: Sherry || 06/23/2009 02:42 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Other reports indicated that none of the recovered bodies were wearing life jackets. Appears something catastrophic happened very quickly and without warning at altitude. This entire event is beginning to look very suspect.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/23/2009 8:47 Comments || Top||

#2  They located the beacon. Not necessarily still attached to the box.
Posted by: mojo || 06/23/2009 12:04 Comments || Top||

#3  A colleague just sent the following along with two very, very disturbing photos which I have not attached. Totally unconfirmed. I have no way of checking the validity:

AIR FRANCE CRASH PHOTOS....2 photos before Death....

Feel so sad for all the passengers including the extraordinary photographer, who kept his cool even in his last moments of life and took this photo.

Hats off to him!!! The world saw the disappearance of an A330 Air Frane during a trans Atlantic flight between Rio to Paris.
Two shots taken inside the plane before it crashed. Unbelievable!

Photos taken inside the aircraft.....

The two photos attached were apparently taken by one of the passengers before the aircraft crashed. The photos were retrieved from the camera's memory stick. You will never get to see photos like this. In the first photo, there is a gaping hole in the fuselage through which you can see the tailplane and vertical fin of the aircraft.

In the second photo, one of the passengers is being sucked out of the gaping hole.

These photos were found in a digital Casio Z750, amidst the remains.

Although the camera was destroyed, the Memory Stick was recovered. Investigating the serial number of the camera, the owner was identified as Paulo G. Muller, an actor of a theatre for children known in the outskirts of Porto Alegre.. It can be imagined that he was standing during the turbulence,

he managed to take these photos, just seconds after the tail loss the aircraft plunged.
The structural stress probably ripped the engines away, diminishing the falling speed,
protecting the electronic equipment but not unfortunately the victims.

Paulo Muller leaves behind two daughters, Bruna and Beatriz.

Posted by: Besoeker || 06/23/2009 12:44 Comments || Top||

#4  MODS: My apologies. Appears the above is a <strong>HOAX. Please delete. Found it all on line with a disclaimer. Some very sick minds here, again, my apologies.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/23/2009 13:18 Comments || Top||

#5  Besoeker. I checked out the photos in question. Season 1 of "Lost". It's all sad enough, who needs people doing this crud.
Posted by: Total War || 06/23/2009 13:31 Comments || Top||

#6  Besoker even fooled a Bolivian news organization
Posted by: Beavis || 06/23/2009 13:47 Comments || Top||


Mexico sends additional troops to Juarez
[Iran Press TV Latest] Mexico sends 1,500 additional soldiers to its northern borders to contain rising drug violence after initial troop deployment failed to effectively address the problem.

The northern border city of Ciudad Juarez has witnessed an upsurge in drug-related violence in recent weeks despite earlier reports that troop presence in the flashpoint city had caused a reduction in drug-related crimes.

Some 5,000 soldiers were deployed in the city in March.

The additional soldiers will begin patrolling the city on Monday, said Enrique Torres Valadez, the spokesman for the joint security operation of soldiers and state police in Ciudad Juarez, AP reported.

Victor Clark, a drug-trafficking expert based in Tijuana, claimed that troops had not been able to settle the ongoing problem in the city, blaming the failure on the lack of an effective drug intelligence program in the army.

"I see two wars, the visible and the invisible one. The visible one is the dead that the media reports on every day, but the dead are just cheap labor," said Clark, director of the Binational Center for Human Rights in Tijuana. "The invisible one is ... the business class and the politicians who really benefit from the millions that the drug trade generates."

"The army had not carried out profound intelligence work," he added. "In Juarez, they have not dared to touch that level of organized crime."

President Felipe Calderon has used 45,000 Mexican armed forces to crackdown on drug trafficking and violence across the country. The operations have resulted in the arrest of several cartel members.

Ciudad Juarez, which witnessed 1,600 drug-related killings last year, has had almost no high-profile arrests.

More than 10,800 people have been killed in drug-related violence since Calderon launched his anti-drug operations in December 2006.
Posted by: Fred || 06/23/2009 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The El Paso Times points out "it's 7,500 soldiers plus 2,300 federal police officers. That's 9,800 law enforcers who haven't ebbed the rampant killings. There have been 130 just this month, and 2,300 in the past 18 months."
Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 || 06/23/2009 17:34 Comments || Top||


Europe
Islam headed for legal equality with Christianity in Germany
Calls are growing in Germany for Islam to be granted the same legal status, rights and duties as other recognised religions, with the idea forming the main focus for this week’s Islam Conference. Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble of the conservative Christian Democratic Union has said this is his long-term aim, while the Greens this week urged the conference to take concrete steps in that direction. But a number of formalities have to be fulfilled for the German constitution to recognise Islam as an official religious community, including the ability to provide teachers to give children education in state schools about their faith.

The Muslim communities in Germany are still a way away from this, Schäuble recently told the Tageszeitung. He said the conference was, “a fair way along the road to reaching the point of being able to offer religion classes at schools to Islamic children. We have developed a more exact understanding together that one can only introduce religion classes in a partnership.” He acknowledged the fact that the state governments have jurisdiction over education, and are far from accepting the idea of putting Islamic religion classes on an equal footing with Catholic and Evangelical classes. But he said, “This process needs time. There are model projects in many federal states where Islamic children are taught something about their religion, with school subject Islam.

“The Islam conference has also, more to the point, defined conditions under which Islamic religion lessons can be introduced when the Muslims want it – and then the question remains whether Muslim organisations will fulfil these conditions. “So, for example, existing associations such as the Islam Council, are religious associations, but not a religious community as far as the constitution is concerned. Religious instruction is needed for that.”

The Green Party this week drew up a discussion paper which set out further conditions which any formalised religious community would be expected to fulfil. This included active campaigning for religious freedom of non-Muslims, as well as working for the rights of Muslim women, and against anti-Semitism and against homophobic violence.

Germany’s Bishops’ Conference has also spoken out in favour of the long-term legal equality of Islam. Its secretary Hans Langendörfer wrote in a piece for the Tageszeitung it was, “fundamentally desirable that the Muslim community be set on a legally equal level as the Christian Churches. Above all, the status of a ‘legal public corporation’ is not a right exclusive to the churches.”
Posted by: ryuge || 06/23/2009 06:32 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  On second thought, maybe this isn't such a bad idea. Perhaps public school religion classes would do for Islam what they've done for Christianity: kill it off.
Posted by: Spot || 06/23/2009 8:21 Comments || Top||

#2  I don't see any way they could be "Equal" Christians do NOT advocate murdering anyone who's non-christian.

And don't believe in "Forceful" conversion, if you convert under coertion, it's NOT VALID.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 06/23/2009 8:30 Comments || Top||


Great White North
Fondly, Greenland Loosens Danish Rule
NUUK, Greenland -- The thing about being from Greenland, said Susan Gudmundsdottir Johnsen, is that many outsiders seem to have no clue where it actually is. "They say, 'Oh, my God, Greenland?' It's like they've never heard of it," said Ms. Johnsen, 36, who was born in Iceland but has lived on this huge, largely frozen northern island for 25 years. "I have to explain: 'Here you have a map. Here's Europe. The big white thing is Greenland.' "

But Greenland, with 58,000 people and only two traffic lights, both of them here in the capital, is now securing its place in the world. On Sunday, amid solemn ceremony and giddy celebration, it ushered in a new era of self-governance that sets the stage for eventual independence from Denmark, its ruler since 1721.

The move, which allows Greenland to gradually take responsibility over areas like criminal justice and oil exploration, follows a referendum last year in which 76 percent of voters said they wanted self-rule. Many of the changes are deeply symbolic. Kalaallisut, a traditional Inuit dialect, is now the country's official language, and Greenlanders are now recognized under international law as a separate people from Danes.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Steve White || 06/23/2009 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I was taught the Vikings misnamed "Iceland" which is green, and "Grenland", whih is mostly ice, on purpose to deter invaders.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 06/23/2009 0:23 Comments || Top||

#2  Weren't Muslims there first?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 06/23/2009 1:10 Comments || Top||

#3  Do they have leftists there? I'm looking to move to a place that doesn't discriminate against Vikings, and that has no leftists.
Posted by: Snorri Sturlusson || 06/23/2009 7:04 Comments || Top||

#4  The Danes probably got had enough of subsidizing every man, woman and child to the tune of $11,000 per year. That's a lot fish exports to take up the slack.
Posted by: ed || 06/23/2009 7:34 Comments || Top||

#5  RJ, Greenland was green at the time. Didn't last, though.
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 06/23/2009 7:54 Comments || Top||

#6  Was green compared the rock of Iceland. Then Gaia Global Cooling set in. Not that you'd know given that according to the 'experts' and MSM, climate change has only occurred in since the on set of the industrial age.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 06/23/2009 8:28 Comments || Top||

#7  Ed, the white guilt reparations subsidy will continue under semi-independence. For a first move, expect a foreign orchestrated media campaign to shut down the vital US base at Thule way up on the northwest coast. The Danish parliament will technically still have control over this but it shouldn't be too hard to get an irresistable local uproar going over it, with the Danes caving in deference to strident pronouncements from the "independent" parliament.
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy || 06/23/2009 8:33 Comments || Top||

#8  Fondly... solemn... giddy...

Good lord, are there no editors left at the NYT?
Posted by: Parabellum || 06/23/2009 8:39 Comments || Top||

#9  You're right, Para, this is loaded with throbbing purple prose, like the travel diary of some 1920s debutante.

Thrillingly, the Greenlandic government now gets to call itself by its Inuit name, Naalakkersuisut
Not much excitement in this reporter's life, I guess.

"Its harbor is impossibly quaint and its views breathtakingly beautiful;"
...just to die for, simply divine and so simpatico, like Cuzco in the springtime....

Greenland's new, charismatic prime minister, Kuupik Kleist,
....and so charming and well-spoken for, well, you know.
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy || 06/23/2009 9:34 Comments || Top||

#10  This reminds me of a story from the heyday of dead tree media, the 1920s.

A big NYC paper sent an eager young reporter to western Pennsylvania to cover some damaging floods.
The neophyte soon wired his first report, opening with the immortal words, "God sat on a hill and laughed as the town of (whatever) died in the raging torrent."
Within minutes, the hard-boiled editor wired back, "Forget flood. Interview God. Get pictures."
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy || 06/23/2009 9:57 Comments || Top||

#11  I think the editors were playing a game of Mad Libs, using their "Look! Pygmies!" Story Template #149.
Posted by: Grenter, Protector of the Geats || 06/23/2009 9:59 Comments || Top||

#12  We can call this one "The Abominable Snow-job."
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy || 06/23/2009 10:02 Comments || Top||

#13  Look, if you want a country more suited for humans and their damn thermophilia there's still lots of land available in the Sahel. In the meantime could y'all please kindly stop complaining about those few lands at the fringe of the world that are still habitable by my people without _too much_ of an air conditioning bill?
Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain || 06/23/2009 10:07 Comments || Top||

#14  LOL! Thing wins today's Award For Snark(tm).
Posted by: Scooter McGruder || 06/23/2009 10:12 Comments || Top||

#15  Cuzco is indeed beautiful in the spring time.
Posted by: Gromosing tse Tung9384 || 06/23/2009 11:09 Comments || Top||

#16  Good lord, are there no editors left at the NYT?

Sure. But they can only do that when they're not working in the mailroom.
Posted by: Pappy || 06/23/2009 11:57 Comments || Top||

#17  global warming is rapidly melting the mighty icecap that covers some 80 percent of Greenland's 840,000 square miles

Citation? OR are facts not important?

There is no water to melt the ice from below due to lack of warmth, except at lower altitudes near the coast where warm currents melt the bottoms, so it must be melted from above. The cooling always exceeds the warming for solid ice at reasonable altitude. Since Greenland is at lower latitude than the pole, the Solar insolation can be significantly higher. If a strong enough warmer wind blows in from the sea, the sea ice and lower altitude edge of the Greenland ice sheet may melt, and has melted many times before (why do you think it is called Greenland). Ice melting at the very edge has led to scare scenes of massive melting, but it cannot happen at the higher altitudes (where almost all of the ice volume is located) at temperature variations that are happening, or that are even projected to occur by the scare models.
Posted by: Lagom || 06/23/2009 14:17 Comments || Top||


Science & Technology
Boeing 787 Dreamliner faces yet another delay
Boeing's 787 Dreamliner airplane is facing yet another delay, the company announced Tuesday, this time saying it needed to reinforce a section of the aircraft before starting test flights.

The 787 is a medium-size plane that is expected to become the backbone of airlines' long-haul fleets, replacing the Boeing 767.

Boeing has not set a new date for the airplane's first flight, the company statement said.

"It will be several weeks before the new schedule is available," the statement added.

"Structural modifications like these are not uncommon in the development of new airplanes," Scott Carson, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said in the statement.

The aircraft manufacturer originally announced it would deliver the Dreamliner in May 2008, and has delayed it at least three times before.

Airlines such as Qantas, British Airways and Continental intend to use the 787 to open up new "long, thin routes" -- long routes with fewer passengers than carried by the enormous 747.

At least 700 orders for Dreamliners were placed by the time it announced its third delay, in April 2008.

The delays mirror the problems that Boeing rival Airbus has had in delivering the A380 superjumbo, which suffered two years of delays and cost overruns before making its first flight in October 2007. The A380 and the Boeing 787 serve different needs for airlines, and so are not in competition with each other -- though both are the current stars for their respective manufacturers.

In January, Boeing reported it ended 2008 with 662 new net commercial airplane orders, giving it a backlog of unfilled commercial orders of more than 3,700 airplanes. While that was down sharply from the record 1,413 net orders in 2007, that year's orders marked the third-straight record year for new orders.

Boeing, one of the few employers that added workers through the nationwide labor market downturn last year, announced in January it will cut 4,500 jobs this year, undoing the employment gains it achieved in 2008.

The job cuts in Boeing's Commercial Airplanes division will take employment in the unit back to 63,500, about where it stood a year ago.
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 06/23/2009 14:31 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Original link site did not pay their bills. Here's the Pic.

Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 06/23/2009 15:45 Comments || Top||

#2  Is that the cockpit or the gameroom?
Posted by: Vinegar Crearong2947 || 06/23/2009 15:54 Comments || Top||

#3  More Bad News For Boeing: Sea Launch Files For Bankruptcy
Commercial satellite-launch services provider Sea Launch, which is 40% owned by 787 on time manufacturer extraordinaire, Boeing, filed for bankruptcy last night in Delaware (09-12513). The Long Beach company which has used the Kazakhstan Baikonur Space Center for rocket launches in the past, has listed liabilities of over $1 billion.

What is hilarious is that just last week, the Company launched a $245 million one-year Term Loan underwritten by Citigroup. Is Citi doomed to have the worst luck of any investment bank for ever and ever? For what it's worth, Goldman only provides loans to soon to be bankrupt companies (ahem, Movie Gallery) if they file for chapter with at least a one month lag post refi (and long after the bank has syndicated the loan to unwitting, dimwitted credit PMs who have to generate 15% returns in 3 months or the Exit sign it is).

At least gullible investors in the recent TL issue (yielding between L+200-350) be happy that it is guaranteed by Boeing, which after its 5th 787 launch delay may be better off changing its business model to focus on making space ship launch pads.
Posted by: tipper || 06/23/2009 16:07 Comments || Top||

#4  You fly it standing up with Nintendo Wii Nunchucks.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 06/23/2009 16:14 Comments || Top||

#5  One would hope most of those overhead indicators don't require operating switches as most are out of reach unless you remove the seat belt and stand up.
Posted by: tipover || 06/23/2009 16:34 Comments || Top||

#6  Where's the beerholder?
Posted by: CrazyFool || 06/23/2009 18:18 Comments || Top||

#7  Same yoyos that tried to foist a POS Tanker off on the Air Force. Boeing used to build great aircraft, no so much anymore.
Posted by: OldSpook || 06/23/2009 23:40 Comments || Top||


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iran's 'Angel of Freedom' Neda Soltan
Relatives and friends of Neda Soltan, the 26-year-old protester who's become an international symbol of Iranian resistance, wanted her to be remembered for her love of music and passion for travel.

"She was a person full of joy," the Los Angeles Times quotes her music teacher and close friend Hamid Panahi, who was among mourners at her family home. "She was a beam of light. I'm so sorry. I was so hopeful for this woman."

Details continue to emerge Tuesday about the murdered protester nickamed "Angel of Freedom," after graphic videos of her apparent murder at a Tehran protest hit the Internet.

Images of Soltan's bloody death on Saturday have galvanized the country and many insist on speaking out about this young woman and who she was, despite authorities banning anyone from mourning her.

Neda was reportedly gunned down during protests in the capital city. Videos posted on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter show her bleeding from the nose and mouth as a crowd tries unsuccessfully to stanch the flow and save her life.

The video also shows a moving clip of a man identified as Panahi cradling her head and yelling out, "Neda, don't be afraid. Neda, stay with me. Neda stay with me!”

• Click here for photos. (WARNING: Graphic)
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 06/23/2009 15:30 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Is that a cross around her neck?
Posted by: CrazyFool || 06/23/2009 16:10 Comments || Top||


Iran: MPs eye legislation to ban stoning
[ADN Kronos] Iranian lawmakers are mooting legislation that would outlaw harsh punishment methods such as stoning and amputations, Iran's official news agency IRNA said on Monday. Ali Sharokhi, who is the president of the Iranian judiciary commission said MPs are eyeing legal amendments to make illegal stoning, cutting off the hands of thieves, amongst other 'Islamic' punishments.

Currently, stoning, or lapidation is a legal punishment for crimes such as adultery, prostitution, and incest.

The last reported stoning in Iran was in December 2008 of two Iranian men and one Afghan man who dug himself out and escaped the stoning in the northeastern area of Iran. These stonings were confirmed by Judiciary spokesman Ali Reza Jamshidi in January 2009.

In stonings in Iran, men are buried to the waist and women are buried to the shoulders. Then stones are hurled until the prisoner dies or escapes.
Posted by: Fred || 06/23/2009 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran

#1  Ooh, lapidation sounds soooo much better. Hopefully the MPs are going to need to rely on this in the near future.
Posted by: gorb || 06/23/2009 0:33 Comments || Top||

#2  But shooting innocent, unarmed girls on the street is still OK.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 || 06/23/2009 12:10 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
"Too Patriotic" Kansas Teacher Gets Job Back
During a meeting last September with Assistant Principal Jan Gentry, Latham claims Gentry mentioned his school-affiliated Web site, which she called "too patriotic." The site had links to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the Air Force, the U.S. Army and other military-and history-related sites.
Imagine having the gall to link to these right wing extremist sites.
A high school teacher in Kansas who claimed his contract was not renewed due to his conservative political views has been reinstated. Tim Latham, 44, who was told that his school-affiliated Web site was "too patriotic," will return this fall to the 2,000-student Lawrence High School in Lawrence, Kan., where he'll continue teaching American history and government for a second consecutive year. Since the contract renewal became official late last week, Latham, a teaching veteran of 20 years, said he's received countless well-wishes from students and teachers alike.

"My cell phone just went off again," Latham told FOXNews.com on Tuesday. "I have received well over 1,000 e-mails, comments on my Facebook page, personal letters and phone calls, not only from all over the country, but from all over the world. I even had a guy who wrote me from China, saying he could see this happening in China, but not here."

Latham, who was criticized by a student for not airing President Obama's inaugural address during class, filed a grievance with his school district earlier this month after he was told in April that his contract would not be renewed.

The married father of three had claimed school officials violated his contract by not conducting proper reviews -- four 20-minute in-class evaluations throughout the year -- and said school administrators were looking for a way to get rid of him due to his personal politics. But Latham was informed last Thursday by District Superintendent Randy Weseman that there were "inconsistencies in the evaluation process" and that his contract would be renewed for 2009-10.

Latham said he was not surprised. "I thought that if they followed the letter of the contract and if they looked at all the evidence, there was no other result that could happen," he said. "It had to happen."

Weseman confirmed to FOXNews.com that Latham will be back next year. He said administrators erred by not conducting enough in-class evaluations. "To make a long story short, they didn't do what they were supposed to," Weseman said. "Obviously there are implications to procedures not being followed."

Latham conducted himself in a "respectful and dignified" manner throughout the process, Weseman said, adding that the "injustice" claimed by Latham had been confirmed.

During a meeting last September with Assistant Principal Jan Gentry, Latham claims Gentry mentioned his school-affiliated Web site, which she called "too patriotic." The site had links to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the Air Force, the U.S. Army and other military-and history-related sites.

He claimed the critiques took a personal turn in October, when class lessons began focusing on the presidential race between Obama and John McCain. One unidentified student has complained to Gentry that Latham had been too critical of Obama.

"I had been called into [Gentry's office] and was told I was picking on Obama in class," Latham said earlier this month. "But I didn't cover anything else that wasn't already covered by anybody else in the news."

Latham also said that Gentry asked him about a "McCain-Palin" bumper sticker on his car. "She said, 'I don't know how you could support that woman,'" Latham said. "That was the beginning of what was going on. They were trying to find a reason to get rid of me."

Latham said a condition of his reinstatement would be that Gentry would not conduct his evaluations any longer, Weseman said. Gentry could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Chloe Mercer, who graduated Lawrence High School last month, said Latham's class was her favorite and said he was fair despite his decision not to show Obama's inauguration in class.

"He chose not to show it, but he printed out Obama's speech and we read it and discussed what we felt was good about it," Mercer told FOXNews.com earlier this month. "[Latham] was fair. He listened to all sides of every issue. He actually made print-outs of every candidate and how they felt on certain hot-button issues.
Posted by: GolfBravoUSMC || 06/23/2009 15:11 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  so I'm assuming all these odd ball comments are some kind of test run for a comment-spawning bot?
Posted by: Angoter Hatfield1147 || 06/23/2009 15:53 Comments || Top||

#2  That's what we mods have been thinking which is why we're killing them as fast as we find them.
Posted by: Steve White || 06/23/2009 16:30 Comments || Top||

#3  MODS: Excellent effort on the Computer Network Defense. Please initiate the Rantburg Computer Network Offense program as soon as possible.
Posted by: Besoeker || 06/23/2009 16:38 Comments || Top||

#4  Fire up the ICE box, boys.
Posted by: mojo || 06/23/2009 17:51 Comments || Top||

#5  For those not familiar with that part of the country: Lawrence, KS is a little slice of San Francisco that broke off, drifted eastward, lodged in the midwest and has festered there. Personally I cheered wildly during the Day After though I was somewhat disappointed that Lawrence wasn't completely vaporized.
Posted by: AzCat || 06/23/2009 20:11 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
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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.
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Two weeks of WOT
Tue 2009-06-23
  Revolutionary Guards Say They'll Crush Protests
Mon 2009-06-22
  Guardian Council: Over 100% voted in 50 cities
Sun 2009-06-21
  Assembly of Experts caves to Fearless Leader
Sat 2009-06-20
  Iran police disperse protesters
Fri 2009-06-19
  Khamenei to Mousavi: toe the line or else
Thu 2009-06-18
  Iran cracks down
Wed 2009-06-17
  Mousavi calls day of mourning for Iran dead
Tue 2009-06-16
  Hundreds of thousands of Iranians ask: 'Where is my vote?'
Mon 2009-06-15
  Tehran Election Protest Turns Deadly: Unofficial results show Ahmedinejad came in 3rd
Sun 2009-06-14
  Ahmadinejad's victory 'real feast': Khamenei
Sat 2009-06-13
  Mousavi arrested
Fri 2009-06-12
  Iran votes: Not a pretty sight
Thu 2009-06-11
  Gitmo Uighurs in Bermuda
Wed 2009-06-10
  Foopy becomes first Gitmo boy to stand trial in US
Tue 2009-06-09
  Truck bomb and gunnies attack 5-star Peshawar hotel

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