| More deaths, more rescues, more promises. "US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has become the first senior Western official to arrive in Haiti after the earthquake that flattened the capital. Mrs Clinton told the Haitian people that the US would be "here today, tomorrow and for the time ahead". Tens of thousands of people were killed and survivors have grown desperate as they wait for aid to arrive. The UN has meanwhile confirmed the head of its mission in Haiti has been found dead in the rubble of its headquarters. Earlier, Chinese rescuers told the Xinhua news agency that the body of Hedi Annabi, a Tunisian, had been recovered from the building in Port-au-Prince at 1422 local time (2022 GMT) on Saturday."
We know Explorer sux, but dangerous? "The German government has warned web users to find an alternative browser to Internet Explorer to protect security. The warning from the Federal Office for Information Security comes after Microsoft admitted IE was the weak link in recent attacks on Google's systems. Microsoft rejected the warning, saying that the risk to users was low and that the browsers increased security setting would prevent any serious risk. However, German authorities say that even this would not make IE fully safe."
This is not the kind of technology upgrade the FBI was supposed to make. "A Spanish politician has said he was shocked to find out the FBI had used his photo for a digitally-altered image showing how Osama Bin Laden might look. Gaspar Llamazares said he would no longer feel safe travelling to the US after his hair and parts of his face appeared on a most-wanted poster. He said the use of a real person for the mocked-up image was "shameless". The FBI admitted a forensic artist had obtained certain facial features "from a photograph he found on the internet"."
Why we oppose the whole concept of private "servants." "A lawsuit filed by a former maid worker for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been attacked by his wife, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper says. Sarah Netanyahu said the lawsuit was "false and replete with slander and fabrications". The prime minister's wife claimed her former maid, Lillian Peretz, was treated "with warmth and love". However, Ms Peretz, 44, said she was maltreated and humiliated by the Netanyahus. "Sarah Netanyahu abused me, paid me less than minimum wage, didn't pay my social benefits, forced me to work Saturdays even though I observe Shabbat [the Jewish rest day]," the former housekeeper was quoted as writing in the suit filed at the Tel Aviv labour court."
Seeking honesty and competence in Kabul. "The Afghan parliament has rejected 10 of 17 new cabinet nominees suggested by President Hamid Karzai. The vote comes two weeks after MPs turned down most of Mr Karzai's first choices, dealing him a serious blow. Two key posts were approved - Mr Karzai's former security adviser Zalmay Rasul as foreign minister and Habibullah Ghalib as justice minister. However, MPs backed only one of the three women nominees, Amina Afzali, as work and social affairs minister. The two women put forward for the posts of public health and women's affairs were rejected. The BBC's Mark Dummett, in Kabul, says Mr Karzai had hoped to have his new cabinet in place before a crucial donor conference in London on 28 January, but that now appears impossible."
The power of FOIA. "US authorities have released the names of 645 prisoners held at Bagram air base in Afghanistan in response to a freedom of information lawsuit. The lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sought documents related to the detention and treatment of prisoners at the base. The ACLU said vital details about the prisoners had been withheld. US officials had previously refused to publish the list. One lawyer said the move was "completely unprecedented". Melissa Goodman, a lawyer at ACLU, said the publication of the names was "an important step toward transparency and accountability at the secretive Bagram prison". But she said it was only a first step."
The water quality in Florida is so bad .... "In a move cheered by environmental groups, the federal government on Friday proposed stringent limits on ``nutrient'' pollution allowed to foul Florida's waterways. The ruling -- which will cost industries and governments more than a billion dollars to comply -- marks the first time the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has intervened to set a state's water-quality standards. ``I'm thrilled,'' said Linda Young, director of the Clean Water Network, an advocacy group. ``It is something that will ultimately start restoring Florida's waters.'' The agency issued the proposed regulations after reaching a settlement in August with five environmental groups that sued the federal government in 2008 for not enforcing the Clean Water Act in Florida."
Boxer leads three republicans by single digits Carly Fiorina is the closest to the incumbent, trailing by just three. She leads Chuck DeVore by six and Tom Campbell by four.
Shadegg's retirement could throw his seat to a Democrat The move prompted Congressional Quarterly to change the rating from "Safe Republican" to "Leans Republican," but the DCCC is salivating, now listing the AZ 3rd as one of its top takeover targets, and a crowded, divisive Republican primary could create an opening for the Democratic candidate. Don't forget the teabagger influence, either. Remember the NY 23. That dynamic could be repeated here.
A year after Flight 1549 inspired us all the passengers and crew reunited, and it was the little things that mattered, something as simple as a pair of socks stand out for Beth McHugh. "My feet were blue. I had little nylons on and this young woman said, 'Take those off. You have to.' She took off her boots and gave me her socks. They were still warm. They were like a million dollars to me." McHugh still has those socks. And probably always will - she has no idea who the woman was."
A State Funeral for Togo football officials killed in Angola "A funeral ceremony has been held in the Togolese capital, Lome, for the two football officials killed in Angola ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations. ... The service was attended by Togo's president, Angola's foreign minister and surviving team members, including captain Emmanuel Adebayor. ... A BBC correspondent says it was a moving ceremony attended by hundreds of mourners and relatives."
"I" is for "Iran." And also "Intimidation." "Iranian authorities have warned opposition supporters against using text and e-mail messages to organise protest rallies. ... The country's police chief said these systems were monitored and people misusing them would be prosecuted. ... Gen Ismail Ahmadi Moghaddam also said opposition supporters should not think internet proxies would protect them."
What have you done, Virginia? "Despite his controversial remarks this week tying Haiti's devastating earthquake to the country's "pact to the devil," televangelist Pat Robertson still attended Bob McDonnell's gubernatorial inauguration prayer breakfast today. McDonnell, who was sworn in as Virginia's new Republican governor today, attended law school at Robertson's Regent University and took some heat on the campaign trail over his graduate thesis. Although Robertson went to McDonnell's prayer breakfast this morning, he was not given the honor of sitting behind the governor on the podium during the actual ceremony." Well, so long as he wasn't given the honor of sitting directly behind the governor on the podium it's okay. [/snark] Actually, it's worse. The craven old goat is still there, just hidden from the view of decent people.
Here is what needs to be done...take the DLC out behind the barn, put two behind it's right ear, drive a stake through it's heart, skin it, draw and quarter it, then hang the pieces No more DLC DINOs, Harold Ford. We hate your kind and always have. If we wanted to vote for republicans we would vote for republicans. (Or Evan Bayh.) And that is why you aren't getting any traction in New York, and you won't, either. Because people are on to you assholes. Finally and at long last, they're onto you.
And finally...
If Raging Grannies can do it, so can you - so get off your ass and protest. "These grannies aren't in South Florida for the sun and shuffleboard. ``We should definitely include a song about gay adoption,'' said Evelyn Shobin, 66, addressing a group of crochet-clad ladies gathered for the monthly meeting of the South Florida Raging Grannies. They don their ``granny garb'' -- bonnets, flowery hats, aprons and orthopedic shoes -- and rally on street corners, parks and municipal meetings on issues ranging from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to overdevelopment. ``I could be sitting on the beach, eating cookies or something,'' Shobin said. ``But I want to fight to ensure a better future . . . I'm still out there, because sadly the kids now aren't.'' The ladies are hoping their voices will be amplified this weekend as more than 70 other Raging Grannies from throughout the United States and Canada convene upon Delray Beach for the Raging Grannies ``UnConvention.'' ``These oldies but goodies still have some fight left in them,'' Shobin said." |
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Best New SoapBlox - 2008
