| The Teardrop Monument Apparently the arrogance of the Bush administration really did know no bounds. I was not aware of the monument that is pictured at the link before a tipster sent it my way today. A gift from Russia, constructed there of titanium and bronze then disassembled and shipped over - much like the Statue of Liberty was built in and gifted to us by France - the Teardrop Monument is ten stories tall and inscribed with the names of the victims of that terrible day. Instead of erecting this monument at or near ground zero, this generous gift, a very large and symbolic outreach, was spurned. It does not even stand in New York. Instead, it was re-assembled on an old dock across the harbor, at the old "Military Ocean Terminal", in a run down part of New Jersey. It was dedicated on September 11th 2006, with former President Clinton stepping in to save the day, because the Bush administration wanted nothing to do with a gift from Russia.
I'm guessing Limbaugh's call screener got an ear full after this guy got through A republican from Chicago called in today and took him to the woodshed, accusing him of being brainwashed, and even calling him out for being a draft dodger.
Israel tests anti-missile defense system The intercept of a dummy missile was the 17th test of the Arrow system, a U.S.-Israeli joint venture. Israeli defense officials said the interceptor was an upgraded Arrow II, designed to counter Iran's Shahab ballistic missile.
Kumar goes to the White House Kal Penn, the actor who played Kumar in the Harold and Kumar movies, is taking a side trip into public service. He has been offered the job of associate director in the office of the public liaison and he has accepted.
Here is a lagging economic indicator All over the country, auctions of the contents of storage units are on the rise as people who can no longer afford to keep up the monthly rental fees, and the contents reflect the economic picture - trendy clothes, high-end appliances, plasma televisions, items that indicate that until recently the owners were well to do, or at least lived like they were. "What we are selling now is indicative of higher-income people than what we were selling in the past," said Rich Schur of Schur Success Auction Services in Colorado Springs, Colo. "Clearly these are people who fell on hard times."
This is a first Juliet Eilpern and Mary Beth Sheridan, reporters for the Washington Post, in an article today called out WaPo op-ed columnist George Will, by name, for peddling lies about sea ice and climate change. This part blew my hair back: The new evidence -- including satellite data showing that the average multiyear wintertime sea ice cover in the Arctic in 2005 and 2006 was nine feet thick, a significant decline from the 1980s -- contradicts data cited in widely circulated reports by Washington Post columnist George F. Will that sea ice in the Arctic has not significantly declined since 1979. (emphasis mine) To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time that news reporters have overtly called out an opinion writer for their own publication for being a lying hack.
It's official - Ted Stevens' conviction is history Judge Emmett Sullivan this morning officially vacated the conviction, but that was just the beginning. The Judge called the misconduct on the part of the prosecutors the most egregious that he had seen in 25 years on the bench, and he took the rare step of starting a criminal contempt proceeding and appointed an outside attorney to conduct the investigation into allegations of misconduct. Whether they face criminal charges or not, they are going to be out tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees - and I sincerely hope that they will be relieved of their licenses to practice law, too.
Why do they always come slithering back after they slink away in disgrace? The latest disgraced congresscritter to make overtures about returning to public life is Vito Fossella, whose drunk driving arrest last year unraveled his dual life and second family. The republican caucus doesn't seem too keen on him trying to mount a comeback, a move he said when he left he wouldn't make - one told Mary Ann Akers of the Washington Post that the caucus is "taking him at his word." That translates to 'he said he was done with electoral politics and we pray he meant it.'
Fujimori draws a 25 year sentence in murder and kidnapping trial Former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori was convicted today of "crimes against humanity" and handed a 25 year prison sentence for his part in kidnappings and murders committed by his security forces when he was president of the Andean nation in the 90s while his government battled the Shining Path guerrillas. He fled to Japan in 2000 to avoid prosecution on corruption charges, and became the first head of state extradited to stand trial after he snuck into Chile, was arrested and extradited to Peru to face the consequences of his actions. Human rights activists called it a precedent-setting verdict that upheld the ideal that violent abuses cannot be ignored under the banner of fighting terrorism. (Are you paying attention to this George Bush and Dick Cheney?)
Video shows G20 'protester' who died being assaulted by policeman The 47-year-old man who was found dead in London's financial district during last weeks G20 summit and attendant protests is shown on the video walking with his hands in his pockets, not resisting nor even speaking to the police before an officer with a baton sets upon him from behind, striking him in the leg and pushing him to the ground. The video was shot by an American in London on business who attended the protest out of curiosity. "The primary reason for me coming forward is that it was clear the family were not getting any answers," the New Yorker told The Guardian when he gave them the video. Another witness reported seeing the police assault the 47-year-old newspaper seller who was merely on his way home from work. "A riot police officer had already grabbed him and was pushing him," the witness said. "It wasn't just pushing him - he'd rushed him. He went to the floor and he did actually roll. That was quite noticeable."
Democratic candidate wins race to replace Emanuel Mike Quigley, former Cook County Commissioner, skated to victory in today's special election to fill the vacant seat in the IL 05. The seat has been vacant since Rahm Emanuel became President Obama's Chief of Staff.
The mortgage industry was so utterly corrupt that at least one street gang got in on the action Two dozen people have been indicted for racketeering and other charges in a mortgage fraud investigation that was based in San Diego and led by the leader of the Lincoln Park street gang. The indictment alleges that the gangster, Darnell Bell, netted $9 million dollars off the scam. Using his position in the gang, he recruited straw buyers for 220 properties, worth a total of at least $100 million. His status in the gang was relevant not sp much to running the real estate scam as it was to managing the people who took out the loans. Another defendant, Stanley Gentry, let the conspirators use his real estate license in exchange for a $10,000 monthly payment and a percentage of the commission and broker's fees from each purchase, prosecutors said.
In other news, dog bites man Whocouldaknowed that big oil wouldn't be on board with President Obama's green initiatives?
...and finally...
Ted Kennedy threw out the first pitch at Fenway today The baseball season is underway, and Senator Kennedy, who is battling brain cancer, threw out the first pitch of the season to enthusiastic cheers from the crowd. |
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