#2
Imprisoned for life is a good second option. What is the total cost to the government for a Marine corporal versus for imprisonment? (Including health care, weaponry, training, administrative costs, etc and so forth.)
New photos appear to show Britney Spears shopping for a photo op pregnancy test Tuesday at a California Rite Aid store.
The photos purportedly show Spears, 26, and her 35-year-old photographer boyfriend Adnan Ghalib at the Studio City store together, and Spears scanning the shelves of pregnancy tests. (The photos were released by Ghalib's own photo agency, FinalPixx, and posted on People magazine's Web site.)
Thereby demonstrating that she was actually better off with Whatsisname.
TMZ sez the the Rite Aid parking lot was swarming with paparazzos, but only the dude from Adnan's agency got the interior shots. Plus its not as if Brit doesn't have a *stack* of EPTs in her bathhouse...
How long before Adnan starts hitting on the little sister?
Posted by: Fred ||
01/17/2008 00:00 ||
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btw - Adnan's still married. Nice
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/17/2008 7:05 Comments ||
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#2
There's your cultural divide: In the muzz world, Brit's behavior would provoke an "honor killing." Here in the west, any really self-respecting father would just shoot himself over her behavior.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
01/17/2008 9:47 Comments ||
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Residents insist Greenland's freezing temperatures don't mean global warming has been called off. They hope!
While the rest of Europe is debating the prospects of global warming during an unseasonably mild winter, a brutal cold snap is raging across the semi-autonomous nation of Greenland. "Nuclear Winter"
On Disko Bay in western Greenland, where a number of prominent world leaders have visited in recent years to get a first-hand impression of climate change, temperatures have dropped so drastically that the water has frozen over for the first time in a decade. Notice how the term "Climate Change" is replacing the term "Global Warming". That way if we enter an Ice Age it can be blamed on man.
'The ice is up to 50cm thick,' said Henrik Matthiesen, an employee at Denmark's Meteorological Institute who has also sailed the Greenlandic coastline for the Royal Arctic Line. 'We've had loads of northerly winds since Christmas which has made the area miserably cold.'
Matthiesen suggested the cold weather marked a return to the frigid temperatures common a decade ago. How can this be. Oh, the humanity!
Temperatures plunged to -25°C earlier this month, clogging the bay with ice and making shipping impossible for small crafts, according to Anthon Frederiksen, the mayor of the town of Ilulissat, where Disko Bay is located. 'On the other hand, it's an advantage for fishermen who rely on dogsleds for transportation,' Frederiksen said. Put away your Bikinis and break out the dogsleds.
The mayor cautioned against thinking that the freezing temperature indicated that global warming claims were overblown. He noted that a nearby glacier had retracted more in the past two decades than in recorded history. How far back is recorded history of the local glacier?
'We Greenlanders have acclimated to changing conditions over the past 1100 years,' said Frederiksen. 'Temperatures change at regular intervals.' What, there were other Global Warming periods in the last 1100 years!
Although Greenland's capital, Nuuk, and much of the island saw temperatures drop below -25° C yesterday, milder temperatures appeared to be on the way in the near future. Al Gore sighs in relief.
Police in cities throughout Kenya used tear gas and batons Wednesday to quell opposition supporters on the first day of a three-day nationwide strike against the government of President Mwai Kibaki.
Kenya's political crisis now in its third week after a disputed Dec. 27 election touched off a wave of ethnic violence that killed more than 600 people and displaced more than 250,000 shows few signs of ending soon.
Populist opposition leader Raila Odinga maintains that Mr. Kibaki stole the election, and numerous mediation efforts by top global statesmen have failed to bear fruit. Yet the solution may come from a combination of internal fatigue and international pressure on Kenya's two top political leaders who, until now, have seemed unwilling to budge. "There's no doubt Kenya needs a constant internal dynamic and international pressure to get these two sides to the negotiation table," says Francois Grignon, head of the Africa program for the International Crisis Group in Nairobi. "Had it not been for a robust statement of the US, the EU, and international election observers, and the similar reports of domestic observers, we might have a situation like under the days [of former President Daniel arap Moi], where there was blatant rigging, but there was no strong stand by the international community."
High-level mediation efforts by US Undersecretary of State Jendayi Frazier, Nobel Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and African Union head John Kufuor may not have provided a quick end to the crisis, but they were not without results either, Mr. Grignon says. Shuttle diplomacy between the president and the opposition, during the Kufuor mission, did produce a draft document that discussed many of the major political issues. In the end, hard-liners around Kibaki persuaded him not to sign the agreement.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/17/2008 00:00 ||
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A Moroccan appeal court on Tuesday upheld the convictions of six men jailed for homosexual acts after video images of a man dressed as a woman dancing at a party sparked street protests and a police investigation, lawyers said.
The six were arrested in late November after rumours spread that a party they had held in the northern town of Ksar el Kebir was really an illegal gay wedding.
The national press pounced on the story, and Islamist groups condemned what they saw as an attack on public morals and demanded an official investigation. Hundreds of angry residents marched through Ksar el Kebir to demand "justice" and put pressure on the authorities to hand out harsh sentences.
The six men were found guilty and given jail sentences by a lower court last month. They had all pleaded not guilty. The appeal court upheld a 10-month sentence against the party's alleged organiser, identified as F., for homosexuality and the illegal sale of alcohol, defence lawyer Mohamed Sebbar said.
The five others had their jail terms cut to between two and four months from between four and six months, he said. All six had pleaded not guilty to the charges. "It's a very severe judgment because this case is empty," said Sebbar. "There is no proof that these men practised homosexuality in the affair of Ksar el Kebir."
"Lewd or unnatural acts" between people of the same sex are crimes under Moroccan law and those found guilty face between six months and three years in jail and a fine of up to 1,000 Moroccan dirhams.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/17/2008 00:00 ||
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I have never understood the logic of imprisoning men for homosexual acts. The punishment does not discourage this sort of behavior.
#4
Precedence? How bout them male belly dancers in egypt; that weddings in gaza; the taliban photos, camel beauty contests, etc. Probably only arrested because they were noticably drinking/drunk otherwise would be hailed as 'thanks be that there were no deliciously tempting whores at that party cuz when they get that bee hive dance going shakin and a spinnin..oops, I did it again.'
LILONGWE - Malawi has given Taiwanese officials 30 days to leave the country after it cut diplomatic ties with the island nation in favour of China, a local newspaper reported on Wednesday. We have been given 30 days in which to pack and leave Malawi but also have an option of asking for more days, Elliot Jiang, spokesman for the Taiwanese embassy in Lilongwe, was quoted as saying in the Daily Times.
Jiang said about 40 jobs held by Malawians at the embassy and at its technical mission would be lost immediately.
Malawis Parliamentary Committee on International Relations has summoned the minister of foreign affairs to explain the decision to switch to China, one report said. We will ask the Minister to share information on how they came up with the decision. Maybe we could have found ways of keeping Taiwan after such a long relationship, parliamentary committee chairperson Muhammad Lali told The Nation newspaper.
The committee is dominated by opposition lawmakers who have had a fractious relationship with President Bingu wa Mutharikas administration, but analysts doubt they can do much to reverse the decision.
The impoverished southern African nation cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan two days ago after 41 years and established links with China, which has become a major economic power in Africa and regards Taiwan as a renegade breakaway province.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/17/2008 00:00 ||
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ION, DEFENSE NEWS > CHINA DEVELOPING ANTI-SHIP BALLISTIC MISSLES. Anti-USN CV DF-21C's. Will the Navy's NIMITZ-class = CVN21 see a return of the VA-5 VIGILANTE nuke attack bomber?
#2
MVARIETY OP-ED > TAIWAN ELECTIONS COULD BRING CHANGES TO RELATIONS WITH PACIIFC ISLANDS. A new rapprochment = entente btwn Taiwan + China may induce China to stop challenging Taiwan's desire for Pacific collusion wid island nations, and harbringer new joint Taiwan-PRC dev ventures in the Pac region.
#1
But - radiation! It's bad! How could anyone be against de-radiating our environment? A real government would shut down all radioactivity, and ban it from ever entering the country.
#2
Like solar radiation. How many people die every year from skin cancer created by sun exposure? Government needs to get a control on that too. I'm sure someone can gen up some numbers on the cost and work days lost to society and government caused by ignoring this danger. Just need to motivate ignorant journalists and MSM talking heads people to spread panic the word.
#4
While the snark is appreciated, Rantburgers should understand Chalk River is a research reactor, not a reactor generating nuclear power (we have a number of this at Pickering just outside Toronto). The closure was mishandled because not because "radioactivity is dangerous" but because closing the reactor without thinking through the consequences meant cancer patients risked doing without the medical isotopes Chalk River was producing. Closing the reactor caused risk to life and hence the firing.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
01/17/2008 9:50 Comments ||
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#7
Canada is the US's sole supplier of these isotopes, delaying local heart scans and other crucial medical tests because the supply ran dry. The environmentalists are probably responsible for this as they have allowed no new nuclear plants to be built, whether for power or not. I think we are being very short-sighted by being so dependent upon foreign suppliers and investment and need to rebuild America so we can be independent and self-sufficient regardless of how the wind changes direction around the world.
#4
Lessee - we got a white man who was declared "the first black president, a black man who has been declared "not black enough" by the usual suspects, a woman who is said to have bigger balls than most men. Where's the candidate who is accused of only "claiming" to be gay?
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
01/17/2008 9:44 Comments ||
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#6
So the Clintons are trying to shut down the labor vote in Vegas by lawsuit because the largest, the Culinary Union supports Obama. It should get more interesting before it plays out.
#7
If you are going to get someone to paint establishment, it might as well be williamnardo di skanki - I hear the frescos he left in the oval office are to die for.
Governor Romney lessened expectations in the Palmetto State today while campaigning here ahead of this Saturdays first in the south primary. South Carolina has traditionally been the road to the White House for GOP contenders, but the former Massachusetts governor is only spending a day and a half here before going to Nevada ahead of their caucuses, which are also on Saturday: There are 24 delegates in South Carolina and there are 34 delegates in Nevada, and my guess is that our time will be related to the fact that Im fighting to get the nomination. Im not looking for gold stars on my forehead like I was in first grade. I want delegates.
Romney addressed 500 retirees here focusing on a broken Washington. But after the event, while talking to reporters he downplayed expectations saying this is McCain territory: Im going to be campaigning hard here in South Carolina. I think Senator McCain has a very strong lead here. Hes the clear frontrunner. It would be an enormous surprise if we were able to win here, Romney continued, this is a state Id expect Senator McCain has pretty well wrapped up, and so Im going to spend time here to try and strengthen my position, but Im also going to be spending time in Nevada and spending time in Florida and then we go on to 22 other states.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/17/2008 00:00 ||
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The man dropped tens of millions of dollars trying to get gold stars in Iowa and New Hampshire. The lying sack of sh*t.
#2
There are 5 electoral votes in Nevada and 8 in South Carolina.
So, mr romney, are you smarter than a 1st grader? Seems to me that a candidate would want to at least stop in and say hi, and especially not call them less important than new hampshire (4 EVs). Doesn't matter to me I'm not voting for any northeasterner politician anyways - you hear me GOP? - doctors required to ask kids about their parents guns, forced health insurance, amnesty, gun control, debates, about official state desserts, makes me sick. Also, tired of this vague 'Washington is broken' bs rhetoric. Seems to me the broken part of the federal government is the congress.
Slightly off topic, but along with crazy governors, our own sebelius will be giving the dissenting democrat opinion after the State of Union address.
#3
If you know ahead of time you probably won't pick up any of those eight SC delegates (NOT electoral votes, and there are quite a few more delegates than electoral votes), but you have a VERY good chance of picking up the majority of the Nevada votes, I'd go to Nevada, too.
Frankly, I'd LOVE to see the top five split the SC vote evenly among them, then have Fred win Florida. That would put the entire nation in play to select the Repuglycon presidential contender. The Dummycritter field of three idiots deserve one another, but the nation doesn't deserve ANY of them.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
01/17/2008 20:20 Comments ||
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Not too sure why this shakes up the race. He was expected to win Michigan. The question was by how much -- and whether McCain would somehow beat him out. Answers: 9 points and no.
He's ahead right now on the delegate count, and is likely to be so after South Carolina and Nevada. I think that's called, 'front-runner'.
Mitt Romney gets first major win
McCain comes in second in Michigan, followed by Huckabee
Next contests on Saturday: Dems face off in Nevada, Republicans in S.C.
Clinton, the only Democratic front-runner on ballot, barely wins over "uncommitted"
Posted by: Fred ||
01/17/2008 00:00 ||
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For her analysis of the repub runners, see Ann Coulter today @ http://www.anncoulter.com/
#2
The Dems are really afraid of Romney. He's very hard to attack. The media kept saying Michigan was a "must win" for Romney. Why didn't they say that for Thompson? How 'bout Rudy? Or Paul? Only Romney had that distinction. And after placing a strong second in both New Hampshire AND Iowa, and outright taking Wyoming, you wouldn't think Michigan was do or die for any of them. The media was hoping for a Romney loss so they could try to derail the campaign as best they could. Of course their not-so-secret plan is to help the weakest Republican become the nominee.
Clinton is the only top-tier candidate on the ballot in Michigan's Democratic primary
Some Democratic leaders urge Obama, Edwards supporters to vote "uncommitted"
Obama and Edwards agreed to leave their names off the primary ballot
Under state law, supporters of other candidates cannot cast write-in votes for them
Posted by: Fred ||
01/17/2008 00:00 ||
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Look for a big press in Congress to 'legalize' all those undocumented unauthorized foreigners in our borders cause the youth vote isn't buying into the Donk establishment. It's the last chance to hold off the demographic death of the 'ancient regime'. "To sacrifice the future to preserve the past"
#2
The only good thing about obama's winning the nomination is that we won't have to worry about Hillary winning the presidency.
I'm not sure she won't somehow manage to pull it off through machine tatics, but it's starting to look bleak for her. The left is turning on her now and so is the media. There is so much wrong with that woman - mentally and ethically. It only takes a tiny bit of foucs by the media to turn off all but the most blind deaf and dumb supporters.
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.
New photos appear to show Britney Spears shopping for a 
Residents insist Greenland's freezing temperatures don't mean global warming has been called off.
Police in cities throughout Kenya used tear gas and batons Wednesday to quell opposition supporters on the first day of a three-day nationwide strike against the government of President Mwai Kibaki. 
A Moroccan appeal court on Tuesday upheld the convictions of six men jailed for homosexual acts after video images of a man dressed as a woman dancing at a party sparked street protests and a police investigation, lawyers said.
Governor Romney lessened expectations in the Palmetto State today while campaigning here ahead of this Saturdays first in the south primary. South Carolina has traditionally been the road to the White House for GOP contenders, but the former Massachusetts governor is only spending a day and a half here before going to Nevada ahead of their caucuses, which are also on Saturday: There are 24 delegates in South Carolina and there are 34 delegates in Nevada, and my guess is that our time will be related to the fact that Im fighting to get the nomination. Im not looking for gold stars on my forehead like I was in first grade. I want delegates.
