"Most newspaper article events actually happen anywhere from days, to months, to years before they ever reach publication. Consequently, most newspaper articles on this timeline are naturally preceded by the date of the newspaper in which they appear. For clarification, the actual date for any event will generally appear [in brackets] next to the event itself. Furthermore, some of the events on this timeline [for which I have yet to acquire an exact date] may not be listed in perfect chronological order, by day or month." [E.M.]
February 2006
2006 - Solar Minimum? - February 2006: "In February, the sun did something remarkable - nothing. Solar activity dipped to a 10-year low while sunspots were nowhere to be found on 21 of February's 28 days. Solar minimum has truly arrived." [Based on: http://spaceweather.com/] - [03/02/03]
2006 - Astronomic Configuration - February 1st, 2006: "Sun [12 Aquarius], Moon [19 Pisces], Mercury [16 Aquarius], Venus [16 Capricorn R.], Mars [22 Taurus], Jupiter [17 Scorpio], Saturn [7 Leo R], Uranus [9 Pisces], Neptune [17 Aquarius], Pluto [25 Sagittarius], Chiron [4 Aquarius]."
[Based on: http://www2.bitstream.net/~bunlion/bpi/ephm/E200602.html]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - February 1st, 2006: "Stocks stumble as Fed mumbles of future rate hikes" [Based on: Title for Bloomberg News article, p. C3, S.L.P.D., 02/01/06]
2006 - No Plane Hit the Pentagon? - [Based on: http://thewebfairy.com/911/pentagon/]
*Commentary: "Congress authorizes [September (14th?) 2001] use of force for war on terrorism." [D.R.D.]
2006 - Rights Group Sues AT&T - February 1st, 2006: "Rights group sues AT&T for cooperating with NSA" [Based on: Title for Los Angeles Times article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 02/01/06]
2006 - Trivia / Foreign Relations, Iran - February 1st, 2006: "Iran warns that referal to U.N. will mean 'diplomacy is over' " [Based on: Title for Los Angeles Times article, p. A14, S.L.P.D., 02/01/06]
2006 - Consumer Confidence? / U.S.A. - February 1st, 2006: "Job market elevates consumers' confidence / But survey finds Americans increasingly worried about future." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. C5, S.L.P.D., 02/01/06]
2006 - Oil Production Trivia / OPEC - February 1st, 2006: "OPEC will keep production of crude oil steady, deciding Tuesday [01/31/06] that its current output was enough to fuel an energy-hungry world as Iran pledged that it won't withold its oil because of a standoff with the West over its nuclear program. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Oil cartel will maintain current production levels), p. C5, S.L.P.D., 02/01/06]
*Trivia:
[....] As stated by David Hudson in one of his related lectures: "You literally start the superconductor flowing by applying a magnetic field. It responds to this by flowing light inside and building a bigger Meissner Field around it. You can put your magnet down and walk away. Come back a hundred years later and it is still flowing exactly as when you left it. It will never slow down. There is absolutely no resistance; it is perpetual motion and will run forever."
Just as the ex-general Electric scientists had deducted, a monoatomic (single atomized) superconductor could enable the perfect environmentally friendly fuel-cell, and Hudson struck his deal to supply their newly established independent company, Giner Inc., with the ready material. It is not difficult to imagine that trouble would ensue once this news became more widely known. Superconducting fuel-cells might be the perfect alternative to pollution from combustion engines on the ground, on sea, and in the air. It is something that we would all welcome, and has to be the solution for the future. But, in the short term, what would become of the mighty oil industry which underpins the world economy? It would, of course, collapse, and there are too many powerful vested interests to allow that to happen in a hurry. In 1989, at a high point of excitement and enthusiasm, David Hudson made plans to build an extensive plant for the ORMEs enterprise. But at the same time, moves were afoot in the corridors of industrial power to thwart his interests, along with the environmental and health interests of us all. [....]
[Based on: Lost Secrets of the Sacred Ark, by Laurence Gardner, (2003), pp. 166-167]
*Trivia:
[....] ... David [David Hudson] was finally obliged to write, in November 2000, that he had been "regulated out of existence." [....]
[Based on: Lost Secrets of the Sacred Ark, by Laurence Gardner, (2003), pp. 173] - [Brackets text added - D.R.D.]
2006 - Trivia / West Bank Evictions - February 1st, 2006: "Israelis prepare to block West Bank evictions / Hundreds of protestors swarm settlement." [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A13, S.L.P.D., 02/01/06]
*Trivia: "200 hurt as Israelis clear out one of their settlements [02/01/06]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A12, S.L.P.D., 02/02/06]
2006 - Trivia / Katrina Relief, New Orleans - February 1st, 2006: "New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin opened the city's convention center to Hurricane Katrina evacuees seeking shelter without ensuring that food and water would be available, according to documents released Tuesday [01/31/06]. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (New Orleans provided shelter without water), p. A2, S.L.P.D., 02/01/06]
2006 - Bio-Vaccine / Dow AgroSciences LLC - February 1st, 2006: "Using technology discovered at Washington University [Mo.], Dow AgroSciences LLC has developed the first plant-made animal vaccine approved for sale in the United States. The Indianapolis-based subsidiary of Dow Chemical Co. said Tuesday [01/31/06] its vaccine to protect poultry from Newcastle disease was approved by the U.S. Agriculture Department's Center for Veterinary Biologies. Newcastle is a contagious, fatal viral disease. [....]" [Based on: S.L.P.D. article (Dow biovaccine could bring windfall to Washington U.), p. C2, 02/01/06]
2006 - Guilty Plea / Ex Wal-Mart Executive - February 1st, 2006: "A former Wal-Mart Stores Inc. vice chairman who was a protege of founder Sam Walton pleaded guilty to fraud and tax charges Tuesday [01/31/06], admitting that he stole money, gift cards and merchandise from the retailer. [....]" [Based on: Article (Ex Wal-Mart exec Coughlin pleads guilty), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 02/01/06]
2006 - Seeking New Funding Sources / Hamas - February 1st, 2006: "Hamas is seeking new funding sources" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A13, S.L.P.D., 02/01/06]
*Trivia: "[....] In the first major challenge to Hamas, Israel froze on Wednesday [02/01/06] the transfer of about $45 million owed to the Palestinians, while Egypt called on the Islamic group to give up violence. The Israeli decision deepened a financial squeeze for the Palestinian Authority. But Palestinian officials said they had arranged emergency funding from Arab allies. [....] Hamas maintains that all of Israel - as well as the West Bank and Gaza Strip - belongs to the Palestinians. The United States and the European Union have said millions of dollars in aid could be in jeopardy unless Hamas renounces violence and recognizes Israel's right to exist. [....]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A12, S.L.P.D., 02/02/06]
2006 - Settlement / Former Citigroup Executive - February 1st, 2006: "A former senior executive of Citigroup Inc. has agreed to pay $2.7 million to settle insider trading charges by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Victor Menezes sold about $29 million in Citigroup stock in March 2002, a few weeks before the banking giant reported a substantial charge against its books, according to the SEC. [....]" [Based on: Article (Former Citigroup exec will pay $2.7 million), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 02/01/06]
2006 - Arrested / Cindy Sheehan, U.S. Capitol - February 1st, 2006: "[....] Sheehan was charged with demonstrating in the Capitol building [01/31/06], a misdemeanor, said capitol Police Sgt. Kimberly Schneider. [....] Schneider said Sheehan had worn a T-shirt with an anti-war slogan to the speech [State of the Union speech] and covered it up until she took her seat. Police warned her that such displays were not allowed, but she did not respond, the spokeswoman said. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Cindy Sheehan arrested in gallery), p. A10, S.L.P.D., 02/01/06] - [Brackets text added for clarity - D.R.D.]
*Links: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/2/1/31944/23746
2006 - Settlement / Roman Catholic Diocese, Kentucky - February 1st, 2006: "A judge approved a settlement of up to $85 million Tuesday [01/31/06] between sexual abuse victims and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington, one of the largest deals the church has reached with American parishioners who were molested by the clergy. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Kentucky diocese agrees to one of largest settlements in sex abuse cases), p. A2, S.L.P.D., 02/01/06]
2006 - DRS Buyout / Engineered Support Systems Inc. - February 1st, 2006: "DRS Technologies Inc. said Tuesday [01/31/06] that it has completed the acquisition of Engineered Support Systems Inc. of Cool Valley [Mo.] in a cash-and-stock deal valued at nearly $2 billion. [....]" [Based on: Article (DRS completes buyout of Engineered Support), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 02/01/06]
2006 - Rate Hike / U.S. Federal Funds Interest Rate - February 1st, 2006: "Greenspan oversees one last interest rate hike [to 4.5 percent]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. C6, S.L.P.D., 02/01/06] - [Brackets text added for clarity - D.R.D.]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - February 2nd, 2006: "Google's slide limits Boeing stock boost" [Based on: Title for Bloomber News article, p. C4, S.L.P.D., 02/02/06]
2006 - Scrapped / Sony Aibo - February 2nd, 2006: "The world's first mass-marketed robot, Sony's Aibo, recognizes its owners' faces and is programmed for sympathy, like a canine companion. Its eyes light up in red to show anger, green to convey happiness. It even learns its own name. [....] Like so many things Sony has made over the years, the Aibo is a niche product. And because Sony is pulling the plug on robot production as part of a major restructuring, so goes the Aibo. [....] An Aibo can understand 100 words and phrases and recognize three people's faces." [Based on: A.P. article (Sony takes its $2,000 Aibo for a walk to the scrap heap) by Yuri Kageyama, p. C6, S.L.P.D., 02/02/06]
2006 - Security Council Action? / Iran - February 2nd, 2006: "EU Drafts call for Security Council action" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A10, S.L.P.D., 02/02/06]
2006 - Feeding Tube / Ariel Sharon - February 2nd, 2006: "[....] In Jerusalem, doctors inserted a feeding tube in Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stomach on Wednesday [02/01/06]. Sharon, 77, has been in a coma since he suffered a stroke Jan. 4. The stomach procedure was further evidence that he is likely to be incapacitated for a long time. Long-term care specialists and a U.S. authority on comatose patients have examined Sharon in recent days. Experts say his chances of regaining consciousness or a meaningful level of activity are slim." [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A12, S.L.P.D., 02/02/06]
2006 - Telegrams Stop / Western Union - February 2nd, 2006: "Western Union puts STOP to telegrams" [Based on: Article title, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 02/02/06]
2006 - Observed / "Groundhog Day" - February 2nd, 2006: "Among famous hibernators are groundhogs such as Punxsutawney Phil, who came out of his torpor Thursday [02/02/06] in Pennsylvania and saw his shadow. As legend has it, that means six more weeks of winter." [Based on: Getty Images picture caption, p. A7, S.L.P.D., 02/03/06]
2006 - Returning / 30Year Bond, U.S.A. - February 2nd, 2006: "30-year bond makes its return next week" [Based on: Article title, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 02/02/06]
2006 - Strong Earthquake / Fiji Region - February 2nd, 2006: "A strong earthquake occurred at 12:48:43 (UTC) on Thursday, February 2, 2006. The magnitude 6.6 event has been located in the FIJI REGION. (This event has been reviewed by a seismologist.)"
[Based on: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/usiram.php]
2006 - E-Mails Lost? / U.S. White House - February 2nd, 2006: "Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald is raising the possibility that records sought in the CIA leak investigation could be missing at the White House. The prosecutor in the criminal case against Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff said in a letter Jan. 23 that not all e-mail had been archived in 2003 - the year the administration exposed the identity of undercover CIA officer Valerie Plame. Attorneys for defendant I. Lewis ... Libby accused prosecutors this week of withholding evidence that Libby's camp says it needs to mount a defense. [....] The Presidential Records Act, passed by Congress in 1978, made it clear that records generated in the conduct of official duties belong not to the president or vice president, but to the government. The national Archives takes custody of the records when the president leaves office. 'Bottom line: Accidents happen, and there could be a benign explanation, but this is highly irregular and invites suspicion,' said Steve Aftergood, director of the Federation of American Scientists government secrecy project. 'A particular subset of records sought in a controversial prosecution have gone missing,' Aftergood said. 'I think what is needed is for the national archivist to ascertain what went wrong and how to ensure it won't happen again.' " [Based on: A.P. article (White House e-mails might have been lost), p. A2, S.L.P.D., 02/02/06]
2006 - Lobby Reform Trivia / U.S.A. - February 2nd, 2006: "House moves to restrict lobbying / Ex-representatives who now work as lobbyists, and their spouses who are lobbyists, are now barreed from the House floor or the members' gym." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 02/02/06]
2006 - George W. Bush / Grand Ole Opry - February 2nd, 2006: "Bush carries themes to Grand Ole Opry / President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura Bush, wave to a crowd Wednesday [02/01/06] at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tenn." [Based on: Title for Knight Ridder Newspapers article & AFP / Getty Images caption, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 02/02/06]
2006 - Left Bankruptcy / United Airlines - February 2nd, 2006: "United Airlines left bankruptcy Wednesday [02/01/06], a leaner and more cost-efficient carrier in the wake of a painful restructuring that lasted a record 1,150 days. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (United is wheels up after record time in bankruptcy), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 02/02/06]
2006 - Coal Mines Shutdown? / West Virginia - February 2nd, 2006: "W. Virginia governor calls for shutdown of mines" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A8, S.L.P.D., 02/02/06]
2006 - Insurgent Attacks & Saddam Trial Trivia / Iraq - February 2nd, 2006: "Bombings in Baghdad kills eight men / Meanwhile, Saddam's defense boycotts his trial and calls for the judge's removal." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 02/02/06]
2006 - Attacks Cancel Infrastructure Projects? / Iraq - February 2nd, 2006: "Attacks cancel many infrastructure projects / Kidnappings, killings and sabotage in Iraq have raised security costs for contractors, an audit finds." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 02/02/06]
2006 - Bigger Than Pluto / 10th Planet [2003 UB313] - February 2nd, 2006: "Scientists say they have confirmed that a so-called 10th planet discovered last year is bigger than Pluto. The astronomers who found the icy, rocky body - informally called 2003 UB313 - had reported only a rough estimate of its size. [....] Details were published in today's issue of the journal Nature." [Based on: News Services article ('10th planet is bigger than Pluto, scientists say), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 02/02/06]
*Trivia: "An icy ball discovered last year in the outer solar system is only slightly larger than Pluto, casting doubt on previous estimates that the so-called 10th planet was significantly larger, scientists reported Tuesday [04/11/06]. Previous estimates by ground-based telescopes suggested the object known as 2003 UB313 was 30 percent bigger than Pluto. But the latest measurement by the Hubble Space Telescope is probably more accurate, said Michael Brown of the California Institute of Technology." [Based on: News Services article (Scientists downsize so-called 10th planet), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 04/12/06]
2006 - Grabs More of U.S. Market / Asian Automakers - February 2nd, 2006: "Asian automakers grab more of U.S. market" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. C3, S.L.P.D., 02/02/06]
2006 - U.S. Assurance / No Prisoner Transfers, Switzerland - February 2nd, 2006: "[....] Switzerland asked the United States whether Swiss territory was used for detainee transfers and delayed renewing U.S. authorization to use its air space until it recieved an answer, the Swiss Foreign Minister said. The United States 'confirmed that Swiss air space or Swiss airports where [< typo?] not used for prisoner transfers,' the Swiss Foreign Ministry said in a statement. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (U.S. gives assurance on prisoner transfers), p. A10, S.L.P.D., 02/02/06] - [Brackets text added for clarity - D.R.D.]
2006 - Continued Eruption / Augustine Volcano, Alaska - February 2nd, 2006: "The Augustine Volcano in Alaska continued erupting on February 2, 2006. The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) reported a continuous plume of volcanic ash emitting from the volcano, accompanied by low-level explosions and pyroclastic flows. The observatory warned that sudden eruptions producing ash clouds as high as 7,600 meters (25,000 feet) could occur without warning. [....]"
[Based on: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13344]
2006 - Charge Dropped / Unlawful Conduct, Cindy Sheehan - February 2nd, 2006: "Capitol Police dropped a charge of unlawful conduct against antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan on Wednesday [02/01/06]. They apologized for ejecting her and a congressman's wife from President George W. Bush's State of the Union address for wearing T-shirts with messages [number of people dead, etc.] about the Iraq war. 'The officers made a good faith, but mistaken effort to enforce an old unwritten intrepetation of the prohibitions about demonstrating in the Capitol,' Capitol Police Chief Terrance Gainer said in a statement Wednesday. [....] A foreign-born American citizen who was the guest of Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., also was taken by police from the gallery." [Based on: News Services article (Police apologize, drop charge against Sheehan), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 02/02/06] - [Brackets text added for clarity - D.R.D.]
*Links: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/2/1/31944/23746
2006 - Proposed Settlement / Roman Catholic Diocese, Spokane, Washington- February 2nd, 2006: "The Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane has offered a $45.7 million settlement to 75 people who say they were molested by priests. Bishop William Skylstad publicly apologized Wednesday [02/01/06] to the victims 'for the terrible wrongs inflicted on you in the past.' He urged catholics to accept the proposed settlement. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Catholic diocese offers settlement in abuse case), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 02/02/06]
2006 - Trivia / Enron Trial - February 3rd, 2006: "Skilling misled analysts, ex-Enron exec testifies / Mark Koenig says $726 million loss was disguised as profit." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. B2, S.L.P.D., 02/03/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - February 3rd, 2006: "Stocks, buffeted by a report of rising inflation and terrorism threats, tumbled Thursday [02/02/06] after Tyco International Ltd. and Comcast Corp. forecasts failed to meet estimates" [Based on: Bloomberg News article, p. B8, S.L.P.D., 02/03/06]
2006 - Unseasonably Warm / U.S.A. - February 3rd, 2006: "Above-par Winter / January was unseasonably warm across much of the U.S." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 02/03/06]
2006 - U.S. Espionage? / Venezuela - February 3rd, 2006: "President Hugo Chavez said Thursday [02/02/06] that Venezuela is expelling a U.S. Navy officer for allegedly passing secret information from the Venezualan military to the Pentagon. He warned that he will throw out all U.S. military attaches if further espionage occurs. He also accused Navy Cmdr. John Correa of encouraging Venezuelans to overthrow his government. The U.S. embassy denied any of its military attaches had done anything wrong. The case surfaced last week when Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel said a number of active and retired Venezuelan military officers were caught passing information to the Pentagon. Chavez's announcement Thursday marked his government's sharpest accusations yet, and was the first time Correa was mentioned publicly by name." [Based on: News Services article (Navy officer is expelled for alleged espionage), p. A15, S.L.P.D., 02/03/06]
2006 - Trivia / Wars & Storm Aid, U.S.A. - February 3rd, 2006: "The administration said Thursday [02/02/06] that it would ask Congress for $120 billion more for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and $18 billion more for hurricane relief this year. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Billions are sought for wars, storm aid), p. A2, S.L.P.D., 02/03/06]
2006 - In Tatters? / Palestinian Economy - February 3rd, 2006: "The Palestinian Authority put off paying the January salaries of 137,000 government employees Thursday [02/02/06] for at lest two weeks as it struggles to find new sources of funding. The Palestinian Authority needs $116 million to cover the monthly payroll. It was already in danger of falling short on payday before Israel announced Wednesday [02/01/06] it would hold up $45 million in January taxes it was to transfer to the authority. The Palestinian economy is in tatters after five years of violence with Israel. Unemployment is 23 percent, about 43 percent of the population lives in poverty. Government salaries support many extended families." [Based on: News Services article (Government workers' pay is delayed), p. A15, S.L.P.D., 02/03/06]
2006 - Trivia / Mad Cow Safeguards, U.S.A. - February 3rd, 2006: "Investigators could not determine whether beef slaughterhouses and packing plants obeyed safeguards designed to keep mad cow disease from reaching humans, an Agriculture Department audit found. The audit, released Thursday [02/03/06], turned up a case of mad cow disease last year in a Texas cow. The department's inspector general didn't find that at-risk nerve tissues had entered the food supply. But investigators found it impossible to say whether slaughterhouses were following the rules, according to the report." [Based on: News Services article (Audit questions mad cow safeguards), p. A11, S.L.P.D., 02/03/06]
2006 - Intelligence Officials Say Little / U.S.A. - February 3rd, 2006: "The nation's top intelligence officials resisted pressure to provide more details about a controversial domestic eavesdropping program Thursday [02/02/06]. [....] They refused to say in public session how many Americans had been targeted or how many e-mails and phone calls had been intercepted. [....] Bush administration officials have said the program is limited to eavesdropping on U.S. residents who are in contact with people overseas suspected of having links to al-Qaida. 'This was not about domestic surveillance,' Negroponte said. 'It was about dealing with the international terrorist threat in the most agile and effective way possible.' [....] The Senate Judiciary Committee is planning hearings next week on the issue. Officials complained that the exposure of that operation and others by news organizations have hampered the CIA and other intelligence agencies. [....]" [Based on: Los Angeles Times article (Intelligence officials say little), p. A2, S.L.P.D., 02/03/06]
2006 - Critical Caricatures / Prophet Muhammad - February 3rd, 2006: "A clash between Western democratic values and religious sensitivities grew Thursday [02/02/06] as Muslims reacted angrily to wider publication of caricatures of the prophet Muhammad. A Danish newspaper first published the drawings in September. Now they have appeared in newspapers in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and even Jordan. Muslims hold that any depiction of God and the prophets is blasphemy. They're outraged at the drawings, one of which depicts Muhammad wearing a bomb as a turban. [....]" [Based on: Los Angeles Times article (Caricatures of Prophet Muhammad enrage Muslims), p. A14, S.L.P.D., 02/03/06]
2006 - Reauthorization Deadline / U.S. Patriot Act - February 3rd, 2006: "[....] The deadline for reauthorizing the bill was moved, from Dec. 31 to Feb. 3, timing that could prove a problem for the White House." [Based on: New York Times article p. A1 & A4, S.L.P.D., 12/23/05]
*Trivia: "The House agreed Wednesday [02/01/06] to extend the USA Patriot Act for a month while conservative Republicans and the White House work out changes intended to protect people from government intrusion. The GOP-controlled House used a voice vote to keep the law in effect until March 10, giving negotiators more time to come up with a deal. The Senate was expected to follow before the law expires Friday [02/03/06]. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (House votes one-month Patriot Act renewal), p. A4, S.L.P.D., 02/02/06]
2006 - U.S. House Majority Leader / John Boehner - February 3rd, 2006: "[....] GOP members picked Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, as their No. 2 leader in a topsy-turvy election that Blunt, R-Mo., had been expected to win. [....]" [Based on: Post-Dispatch Washington Bureau article (Fresh face isn't Blunt's), p. A1, S.L.P.D., 02/03/06]
2006 - Free Trade Negotiations / South Korea & U.S.A. - February 3rd, 2006: "United States, South Korea start free trade negotiations" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. B11, S.L.P.D., 02/03/06]
2006 - Want GOP Bank Records / DeLay Prosecutors - February 3rd, 2006: "Prosecutors investigating former House majority Leader Tom DeLay on felony conspiracy and money laundering charges are seeking bank records for the Texas Republican Party. [....] DeLay and two associates are accused of funneling $190,000 in corporate contributions to seven GOP state candidates in the November 2002 general election, a violation of Texas law." [Based on: News Services article (DeLay prosecutors want GOP bank records), p. A11, S.L.P.D., 02/03/06]
2006 - Strong Earthquake / Andaman Islands, India- February 3rd, 2006: "A strong earthquake occurred at 20:34:13 (UTC) on Friday, February 3, 2006. The magnitude 6.1 event has been located in the ANDAMAN ISLANDS, INDIA REGION. (This event has been reviewed by a seismologist.)"
[Based on: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/usisa1.php]
2006 - Class-Action Suit / Christine Todd Whitman - February 3rd, 2006: "A federal judge blasted former Environmental Protection Agency chief Christine Todd Whitman on Thursday [02/02/06] for reassuring New Yorkers soon after the Sept. 11 attacks that it was safe to return while toxic dust was polluting the neighborhood. U.S. District Judge Deborah A. Batts refused to grant Whitman immunity against a class-action suit brought by residents of lower Manhattan and Brooklyn who said they were exposed to hazardous materials from the collapse of the World Trade Center towers. A call to a spokeswoman for Whitman was not immediately returned." [Based on: News Services article (Federal judge criticizes former EPA chief), p. A11, S.L.P.D., 02/03/06]
2006 - Tapped Phones Trivia / 2004 Olympics, Greece - February 3rd, 2006: "Mobile phones belonging to the prime minister and other top Greek government and military officials, as well as the U.S. embassy, were tapped for nearly a year in the weeks before the 2004 Olympic games, the government said Thursday [02/02/06]. Most of Greece's top military and police officers were also targeted. Government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said at a news conference that it had not been possible to identify who was behind the tapping. He said spy software had been installed in the central switching system of Vodafone, the mobile telephone provider that served the targets." [Based on: News Services article (Officilas' phones were tapped, government says), p. A15, S.L.P.D., 02/03/06]
2006 - Settlement / PG&E - February 4th, 2006: "PG&E Corp. said it has agreed to a $295 million settlement of lawsuits related to the use of chromium at three of the company's gas compressor stations. [....]" [Based on: Article (PG&E settles suits), p. A32, S.L.P.D., 02/04/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - February 4th, 2006: "Stocks retreat 2nd day on inflation fears" [Based on: Title for Bloomberg News article, p. A34, S.L.P.D., 02/04/06]
2006 - Creation / Revelations 13 - February 4th, 2006: "Creation date for Revelations 13, an etymology research journal page by D.R.D., alias Etznab Mathers."
2006 - Sunken Ferry / Red Sea - February 4th, 2006: "Rescue boats hunted for hundreds of people feared dead in the Red Sea a day after the sinking of a ferry. Of the 1,400 aboard - most of them Egyptian workers returning from Saudi Arabia - only 324 had been rescued by early today [02/04/06]. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Egypt says sunken ferry lacked enough lifeboats), p. A27, S.L.P.D., 02/04/06]
*Trivia: "Authorities have found the so-called 'black box' of the Egyption ferry that sank in the red Sea earlier this month, killing more than 1,000 people, the transport minister said Tuesday [02/21/06]. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Ferry's 'black box' is found on sea floor), p. A11, S.L.P.D., 02/22/06]
2006 - Tropical Cyclone Boloetse / Madagascar - February 4th, 2006: "[....] Tropical Cyclone Boloetse initially formed in the western Indian Ocean and traveled west, crossing the island of Madagascar as a tropical storm in late January 2006, with moderately strong rains. The storm intensity declined to tropical-depression strength as it crossed the mountainous ridgeline that runs along the eastern shore of Madagascar. However, once the storm system reached the warm waters of the Mozambique Channel, the tropical depression re-organized and built up enough strength to become a tropical cyclone. Once there, the storm reversed direction and headed southeast, taking it across Madagascar once again. It struck a glancing blow over the island’s southern tip on February 4, 2006. [....]"
[Based on: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13352]
2006 - Expelled From U.S.A. / Venezuelan Diplomat - February 4th, 2006: "Responding to Venezuela's expulsion of a U.S. naval officer from Caracas, the State Department on Friday [02/03/06] declared a senior Venezuelan diplomat [embassy chief of staff, Jeny Figueredo Frias] persona non grata and gave her 72 hours to leave the United States. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (U.S. expels diplomat from Venezuela), p. A29, S.L.P.D., 02/04/06]
2006 - Sunni Warning / Civil War? - February 5th, 2006: "Slayings prompt Sunni warning of civil war" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A7, S.L.P.D., 02/05/06]
2006 - Superbowl 40 [XL] / U.S.A. - February 5th, 2006: "The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks 21 to 10 to win Superbowl XL."
2006 - Eavesdropping Trivia / U.S.A. - February 5th, 2006: "Most people targeted for eavesdropping are dismissed, experts say" [Based on: Title for Washington Post article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 02/05/06]
2006 - Guerilla Attacks / Afghanistan - February 5th, 2006: "Guerrillas mount multiple attacks across Afghanistan" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A7, S.L.P.D., 02/05/06]
2006 - Bible Courses / Public Schools - February 5th, 2006: "Some public schools offer courses on the Bible" [Based on: Title for article by Tim Townsend, p. A1 (Front Page), St Louis Post-Dispatch, 02/05/06]
2006 - Intercepted Plane / Bush's Ranch - February 5th, 2006: "Two fighter jets forced a small plane to land after the pilot flew too close to President George W. Bush's ranch in central Texas while he was spending the weekend there. [....] The pilot was interviewed and sent on his way, said Tom Mazur, a spokesman for the Secret Service in Washington." [Based on: News Services article (Jets intercept plane over Bush's ranch), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 02/05/06]
2006 - Strong Winds / Western Washington - February 5th, 2006: "Winds cut power to homes and businesses in western Washington on Saturday [02/04/06] .... [....] The wind raced through Seattle at 45 mph, with gusts higher than 50 mph, the national Weather Service said. Gusts of more than 60 mph were recorded on the Olympic Peninsula, west of the city. One woman died when a tree fell on her car, authorities said." [Based on: News Services article (Strong wind batters western Washington), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 02/05/06]
2006 - Vote to Report Iran to U.N. Security Council - February 5th, 2006: "Sending a message of global concern over Iran's nuclear ambitions, the United Nations' atomic energy watchdog voted Saturday [02/04/06] to report Iran to the U.N. Security Council. The International Atomic Energy Agency's governing board voted 27 to 3 in favor of a European-sponsored resolution to haul Iran before the Security Council. [....]" [Based on: Knight Ridder Newspapers article (U.N. atomic energy agency votes to report Iran to Security Council] by Hannah Allam, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 02/05/06]
*Trivia: "Iran drops cooperation with nuclear agency [02/05/06], leaves room for talks" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A7, S.L.P.D., 02/06/06]
*Trivia: "WHILE PRIVATE GUNRUNNERS CONTINUE TO THRIVE, THE WORLD'S BIGGEST ARMS SUPPLIERS ARE THE U.S., U.K., RUSSIA, FRANCE AND CHINA. - THEY ARE ALSO THE FIVE PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL." [Based on: Widescreen Movie [DVD]: Lord of War [2005], starring Nicolas Cage, etc.]
*Trivia: "Estimated number of nuclear warheads as of 2004: Russia - 16,000 [down from 32,000]; U.S.A - 10,350 [down from 45,000]; China - 400; France - 350; United Kingdom - 200; Israel - 200; Pakistan - 24-48; India - 30-35; North Korea - 6-8? The last four countries on this list [Israel, Pakistan, India & North Korea] are not signatories to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty." [Information based on: N.G.M., August 2005, pp. 104-105]
*Trivia: "Egypt's foreign minister on Saturday [08/27/05] turned down a request from the world's nuclear watchdog to sign a treaty banning the testing of nuclear weapons, saying Israel should first join a separate agreement calling for a halt to the spread of atomic bombs. The refusal by Israel to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty has also made the Middle East more insecure, Ahmed Aboul Gheit was quoted by Egypt's semiofficial Middle East News Agency as saying. Aboul Gheit's comments came in a letter to Tibor Toth, the new executive secretary of the commission that oversees the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty." [Based on: News Services article, p. A13, S.L.P.D., 08/28/05]
*Trivia: "Nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu was arrested by Israeli police Friday [11/18/05] after visiting the West Bank, authorities said. The former technician at Israel's main nuclear reactor last year completed an 18-year prison sentence for revealing Israel's nuclear capability to a British newspaper in 1986. Based on Vanunu's evidence, including photos, experts said at the time Israel had the world's sixth largest stockpile of nuclear weapons. Israel neither acknowledges nor denies having a nuclear weapons' program, following a policy of nuclear ambiguity. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Israeli police arrest nuclear whistleblower), p. A32, S.L.P.D., 11/19/05]
*Trivia:
The dream of freeing the Middle East, in its entirety, of all weapons of mass destruction should not lose its holistic character. Attempts or proposals forwarded by Western and regional powers - or regional parties on behalf of international players - to divide the issue up into separate parts are certain to harm the collective interest of the region in attaining comprehensive security and stability.
During the past few years, Israel has insisted that its nuclear capacity - which remains subject to a policy of ambiguity, even before the world's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency - should only be dealt with in the context of a comprehensive settlement concerning its disputed occupation of Arab territories. Unfortunately, this disingenuous call has received significant international support, especially that Israel is not a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to which all other Middle Eastern states - Iran included - are party.
Moreover, this stipulation was received with little Arab opposition - with the exception of Arab states bordering Israel. Further dividing the collective security issue, Arab countries in North Africa and the Gulf have pursued separate security arrangements, with some involving heavy U.S. participation in the Gulf.
Thus, it was disturbing to hear official statements coming out of the Gulf Cooperation Council summit this week putting clear emphasis on the issue of Iran's nuclear energy aspirations and a less than plain emphasis on Israeli nuclear weapons....
The language ultimately adopted in the final communique of the GCC summit on the need to free the entire Middle East is the right line to pursue but must be pursued comprehensively....
[Based on: Other Views page article (Really Nuke Free) by Al-Ahram, Cairo, p. C13, S.L.P.D., 12/30/05]
2006 - Plans to Fight "Root" of Terror / U.S. Pentagon - February 5th, 2006:
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has completed a new, classified counterterrorism strategy that for the first time orders the armed forces to focus on nine areas identified as necessary for any terrorist network to operate, senior Pentagon officials say.
Dated Feb. 1, signed by Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and endorsed by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, the strategy document orders the Defense Department to find and attack or neutralize terrorist leaders, their havens, financial networks, methods of communication and ability to move around the globe.
It also orders the armed forces to focus on terrorist information-gathering systems, personnel and ideology. The document orders the armed forces to defeat terrorists, specifying that doing so requires "continuous military operations to develop the situation and generate the intelligence that allows us to attack global terrorist organizations."
An unclassified version was provided to The New York Times by a senior Pentagon official. A military officer said that among the classified parts were the specific terrorist networks and leadership to be targets, and protected timelines for those missions.
Success will be achieved, the document states, when "violent extremist ideology and terrorist attacks" are "eliminated as a threat to the way of life of free and open societies," and with the establishment of "a global environment that is inhospitable to violent extremism, wherein countries have the capacity to govern their own territories" and "have in place laws, information sharing and other arrangements that allow them to defeat terrorists as they emerge."
The document establishes a formal system for measuring counterterrorism efforts, with a review of success or failure on nine target areas every six months. The reviews are intended to determine whether more terrorists are being captured, killed or persuaded to give up their violent struggle than are being developed.
[Based on: New York Times article (Pentagon plans fight against terrorist
roots), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 02/05/06]
*Trivia: "[....] 9/11 Was an 'Inside Job' to Justify Three Wars -
America – Caught on Video Red Handed – World Wide 9/11 Truth Movement
Grows Daily! [....]" [Based on post by: Phil Jayhan on 03/23/05 02:19 AM]
See link:
[Based on: http://www.911wasalie.com/phpwebsite/]
*Commentary: "Congress authorizes
[September (14th?) 2001] use of force for war on terrorism."
[D.R.D.]
2006 - 1st Meeting / Mahmoud Abbas & Ismail Haniyeh - February 5th, 2006: "Hamas holds its first meeting with Palestinian president" [Based on: Title for Knight Ridder Newspapers article, p. A14, S.L.P.D., 02/05/06]
2006 - Urges Push for War on Terrorism / Donald Rumsfeld - February 5th, 2006: "Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld pushed Saturday [02/24/06] for unity in the fight against terrorism, telling a meeting of the world's top security officials that 'a war has been declared on all of our nations and on our people.' [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Rumsfeld urges allies to push war on terrorism), p. A8, S.L.P.D., 02/05/06]
2006 - Danish & Norwegian Embassies Burned / Damascus - February 5th, 2006: "Thousands of Syrians enraged by caricatures of Islam's revered prophet burned the Danish and Norweiian embassies in Damascus on Saturday [02/24/06]. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Embassies are burned over caricatures of prophet), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 02/05/06]
2006 - Trivia / Steve Fossett - February 6th, 2006: "Fossett hopes to set record for longest flight" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 02/06/06]
2006 - Bus Bombing / Pakistan - February 6th, 2006: "Bomb explodes [02/05/06] on bus in Pakistan; at least 13 die" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 02/06/06]
2006 - Church Fires / Alabama - February 6th, 2006: "Alabama churches regroup after fires [last week] ravage buildings" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 02/06/06]
*Trivia: "Fires hit 4 more churches in Alabama [02/07/06]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 02/08/06]
2006 - Oil Spill / Totowa, New Jersey - February 6th, 2006: "A ruptured tank spilled more than 9,000 gallons of refined oil into a river Sunday [02/05/06], causing an eight-mile oil slick, authorities said. At least two water companies stopped taking water from the Passaic River after the 9 a.m. spill, said Passiac County Sheriff's Department spokesman Bill Maer. The leak started at a factory in Totowa, about 20 miles west of New York City. Oil was flowing 'like a spout' into the water, said Sheriff's Department Capt. James Hearney." [Based on: News Services article (Oil tank spill causes eight-mile slick), p. A4, S.L.P.D., 02/06/06]
2006 - Israeli Payment / Palestinian Funds - February 6th, 2006: "Israel agreed Sunday to hand over $54 million in tax and customs revenue to the Palestinians. [....] Israel collects millions of dollars in taxes and customs duties for the Palestinians, transferring the funds to the Palestinian Authority monthly. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Israel says it will turn over $54 million to Palestinians / But similar payments will be cut off when the Hamas government takes over, officials say.), p. A7, S.L.P.D., 02/07/06]
2006 - Escaped / Jamal Ahmed al-Badawi - February 6th, 2006: "Plotter of Cole attack [Jamal Ahmed al-Badawi] is among escapees in Yemen" [Based on: Title for New York Times article, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 02/06/06]
2006 - Trivia / Government Surveillance, U.S.A. - February 6th, 2006:
President Bush's State of the Union address reiterated his defense
of the now-infamous NSA surveillance scheme, assuring us that the initiative
targets terrorists and does not intrude on the lives of law-abiding
Americans. According to recent polls, half of the American public trusts
the president, agreeing that warrantless spying on some citizens is necessary;
a similar percentage fears that the government's behavior threatens their
civil liberties.
Based on what we know so far, Americans have reason to be concerned.
[....]
First, it is not at all clear that the NSA program is, as Bush
describes it, a narrowly targeted "terrorist surveillance program." In a
press briefing in December, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said that it
extends beyond "al-Qaida and its affiliates" to any person or organization
who is "working in support of al-Qaida." That phrase is extremely broad,
not narrow, and omits anything that would qualify as meaningful guidelines
limiting the scope of NSA's actions.
Based on Gonzales' description, the NSA could spy on people
or groups that it says are supporting terrorism based on nothing more than
public comments. And, in fact, FBI reports released earlier this year revealed
that the NSA provided the bureau with tips about Americans that were unrelated
to terrorism and proved meaningless.
This renders suspect the president's claims that surveillance
has been, is and will remain limited only to al-Qaida and its affiliates.
Second, the NSA surveillance scheme is only one of several
surveillance operations initiated by the Bush administration in recent years.
Under the Patriot Act, for example, the FBI has used what are called national
security letters to require American citizens who might be, at best, tangentially
related to a terrorism investigation to turn over telephone, financial and
other records. Such letters are not subject to court oversight, and people
who receive them are not allowed to reveal that they have been contacted.
Similarly, the Pentagon operates the Talon database, which it
kept secret until last year. This program is supposed to gather and store
only information regarding potential threats to military facilities, although
it turns out that Talon also has been compiling data on peaceful protestors.
Viewing the NSA surveillance scheme in this broader context should make us
question the Bush administration's desire - even its ability - to limit its
surveillance operations to just what is necessary to ensure security. Indeed,
history and psychological research suggest that when such surveillance is
not subject to independent oversight, it expands over time.
Government surveillance abuses in the 1960s and 1970s - which
eventually gave birth to the 1978 FISA law and the court-warrant requirements
at the heart of the current controversy - did not spring forth fully formed.
As with many scandals, things started slowly and, to some extent, with good
intentions.
The abusive operations began in the 1940s and '50s and focused
on such credible threats such as Soviet Communism. Over time, however,
overzealous executive officials kept expanding their definitions of who and
what posed a danger to country; eventually, thousands of innocent groups
and individuals were targeted, often for doing little more than protesting
government policies. [....]
History also teaches us that information gathered is information
that eventually is used. The surveillance scandals of the past destroyed
lives of many innocent Americans who were wrongly identified as subversives
or tainted by meaningless associations and forced to defend themselves before
loyalty boards and in congressional hearings. Legitimate organizations attempting
to exercise guaranteed American rights were discredited and destroyed.
[....]
Maintaining the current practice, which places blind faith in
executive officials to engage in and police their own behavior, is folly.
[Based on: Other Views page article (Without oversight, abuses are inevitable) by Christina Wells, p. B7, S.L.P.D., 02/06/06] - Christina Wells is the Enoch N. Crowder Professor of Law at the University of Missouri School of Law in Columbia.
2006 - Jury Selection Begins / Zacarias Moussaoui Trial - February 6th, 2006: "Jury selection will begin today in trial of 9/11 firgure [Zacarias Moussaoui] / The only issue is whether he is put to death by injection or gets life in prison" [Based on: Title & Subtitle for New York Times article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 02/06/06]
2006 - Ancient Cave Art / Vilhonneur Forest, France - February 6th, 2006: "Cave drawings thought to be older than those in the famed caves of Lascaux have been discovered [December 2005] in a grotto in western France, officials from the Charente region said Sunday [02/05/06]. A first analysis by officials from the office of cultural affairs suggests the drawings were made some 25,000 years ago, said Henri de Marcellus, mayor of the town of Vilhonneur where the cave is situated. He said, however, that the date needed further investigation before it could be confirmed. Cavers exploring a part of a grotto in the Vilhonneur forest made the discovery in December [2005], the local newspaper Charente Libre reported Saturday [02/04/06]. The famed Lascaux Cave in Montignac, in the Dordogne region of southwestern France, has long been considered one of the finest examples of cave paintings. The art dates back 13,000 years, as does cave art in Altamira, in northwestern Spain. However, the Chauvet cave, discovered in the mid-1990s in southeastern France, features some 300 examples of Paleolithic animal art dating back in some cases 31,000 years." [Based on: News Services article (Ancient cave art is found in France), p. A8, S.L.P.D., 02/06/06]
2006 - Danish Embassy Torched / Beirut, Lebanon - February 6th, 2006: "Mob torches Danish Embassy [02/05/06] in Beirut / Violence over cartoons reportedly kills one and injures 30. Rioters rampage through Christian neighborhood." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 02/06/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - February 7th, 2006: "Stocks were little changed Monday [02/06/06] in this year's slowest trading day on the New York Stock Exchange as the market failed to recover from last week's losses. [....]" [Based on Bloomberg News article (Stocks stagnate on slowest "06 trading day), p. C4, S.L.P.D., 02/07/06]
2006 - Trivia / Moussaoui Trial - February 7th, 2006: "Moussaoui thrown out of courtroom / Terrorist plotter faces sentencing trial that will determine whether he lives or dies." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 02/07/06]
2006 - Trivia / LGV Chlamydia - February 7th, 2006: "A particularly bad strain of Chlamydia that's rarely seen in this country [U.S.A.] appears to be slowly spreading among gay and bisexual men, increasing their chances of getting or spreading the AIDS virus. This sexually transmitted disease is called LGVchlamydia. In Europe, some countries have confirmed dozens of cases. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Strain of Chlamydia spreads in gay men, raising HIV risk), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 02/07/06]
2006 - Trivia / U.S. Eavesdropping - February 7th, 2006: "Senators challenge Gonzales on eavesdropping / Attorney general won't say whether president has authorized any other actions without court approval." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for Knight Ridder Newspapers article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 02/07/06]
2006 - Egyptians Attack Ferry Firm - February 7th, 2006: "Hundreds of Egyptians attack offices of firm whose ferry sank" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 02/07/06]
2006 - Foreign Relations / Egypt & Hamas - February 7th, 2006: "[....] A Hamas official said that for now, the group would abide by past agreements that Palestinian leaders had made with the Israelis but would stop short of recognizing Israel. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Egypt presses Hamas to recognize Israel, to no avail), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 02/07/06]
2006 - Trivia / $2.77 Trillion Budget, U.S.A. - February 7th, 2006: "President George W. Bush sent Congress on Monday [02/06/06] a $2.77 trillion budget that favors tax cuts and national security and squeezes domestic programs. [....]" [Based on: Knight Ridder Newspapers article (Defense, debt continue to grow), p. A1, S.L.P.D., 02/07/06]
*Trivia: "The $2.77 TRILLION budget that President George W. Bush presented to Congress Tuesday [02/07/06] represents $9,233 in spending for every man, woman and child in the United States. What are you getting for your nine grand? Based on a breakdown supplied in the 2006 federal budget, the biggest share of your money, about $1,976, is buying Social Security for older Americans. Another $1,071 will pay for their health care; $711 will pay for health care for the poor and disabled. You'll pay about $646 in interest on the national debt and about $1,228 for other mandated programs such as food stamps and pensions. So far, 61 percent of your money is spent, and unless your entitled to a government benefit, you haven't received anything but the warm feeling of having helped your fellow citizens. But now the government's going to spend $1,828 to buy you the protection of the most powerful military force in the history of the world, although the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are being carried off the books. With your last $1,728, you're getting everything else the federal government provides, from air traffic controllers and the FBI to a program for combating whirling disease in Montana trout. [....]" [Based on: Opinion Page article (The president already has it on cruise control), p. B8, S.L.P.D., 02/08/06]
*Trivia: http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/
2006 - Trivia / 1st Human Face Transplant - February 7th, 2006: "The woman [Isabelle Dinoire] who got the world's first face transplant showed off her new features Monday [02/06/06]. She also showed off her scar - a faint, circular line of buckled skin around her nose, lips and chin. But where she once had a gaping hole caused by a dog bite, she now has a face. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Woman with a new face tells her hope: 'I want to have a normal life again'), p. A4, S.L.P.D., 02/07/06]
2006 - Violent Protests / Images of Muhammad - February 7th, 2006: "Hundreds of protestors hurled stones and firebombs at the Danish Embassy in the Iranian capital Monday [02/06/06] to protest publication of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Thousands worldwide violently protest over images of Muhammad), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 02/07/06]
2006 - Planet-Seeking Missions Delayed / U.S.A. - February 7th, 2006: "NASA has delayed two programs to search for planets capable of supporting life and will instead focus on developing a new manned spacecraft to return to the moon in the next decade. The delayed missions are known as SIM PlanetQuest and Terrestrial Planet Finder. They aim to determine whether there are Earthlike planets beyond our solar system with conditions suitable for life or developing in that direction. [....] The dual Terrestrial Planet Finder telescopes were originally scheduled to lift off in 2016 and 2019. They would use the information by SIM to photograph those planets to look for evidence of life. That program has been indefinately postponed." [Based on: A.P. article (Two planet-seeking missions are delayed), p. A7, S.L.P.D., 02/07/06]
2006 - Forced to Step Down / Head of CIA Center - February 7th, 2006: "The head of the CIA's counterterrorism center [Robert Grenier] was forced to step down Monday [02/06/06] over concerns that he lacked aggression in leading the pursuit of terrorist organizations, intelligence officials said." [Based on: Los Angeles Times article (Head of CIA center is forced out of post), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 02/07/06]
2006 - Artery-Clogging Greese / U.S. Hospital French Fries? - February 7th, 2006: "After analyzing french fries in the cafeterias of 20 of the nation's top hospitals, including two in St. Louis, a watchdog group on Monday [02/06/06] released the not-so-surprising results: It found fat in every single order of oil-soaked potatoes. And it wasn't just any fat. The group found trans fat, the king of artery-clogging grease. [....] Locally, CSPI looked at french fries at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children's Hospital. Both hospitals' Web sites urge people to limit trans fats. The french fries at both hospitals ranked in the middle of the 20 hospitals for trans fats. Both hospitals began phasing out the trans fats in their foods in December, said Natalie Allen, a registered dietician with BJC HealthCare. The process will be completed by next month. [....] Trans fats are created when hydrogen is added to vegetable oils to make them more shelf stable. They're considered particularly dangerous because they not only decrease good cholesterol levels, they increase bad cholesterol levels. Trans fats are found naturally in some food like dairy products and meat. [....]" [Based on: Article (Trans fat found in two area hospitals), p. C1, S.L.P.D., 02/07/06]
2006 - Approved for Sale / Mavera High Value Corn with Lysine - February 7th, 2006: "Renessen LLC said Monday [02/06/06] that it has received Agriculture Department approval to begin selling the first crop genetically modified with added benefits for use in animal feed. Bannockburn, Ill.-based Renessen is a joint venture of Monsanto Co. of Creve Coeur and Gargill Inc., of Wayzata, Minn. The product, Mavera High Value Corn with Lysine, initially will be sold through Monsanto's Asgrow brand of seeds. It also will contain the YieldGard Corn Borer genetic trait, developed by Monsanto to ward off destructive pests. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Monsanto venture's altered crop gets approval for sale), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 02/07/06]
2006 - Demands Removal of Surveillance Cameras, Etc. / Iran - February 7th, 2006: "Iran told the International Atomic Energy Agency to remove surveillance cameras and agency seals from sites and nuclear equipment by the end of next week, the U.N. watchdog agency said Monday [02/06/06]. Iran's demands came two days after the agency reported Iran to the Security Council over its disputed atomic program. In a report to the agency's 35-member board, agency head Mohamed ElBaradei said Iran also announced a sharp reduction in the number and kinds of inspections agency experts will be allowed." [Based on: News Services article (Iran demands removal of nuclear seals, cameras), p. A4, S.L.P.D., 02/07/06]
2006 - FEMA Trivia - February 8th, 2006: "[....] Under the elder george Bush, FEMA was used as a dumping ground for political cronies, with predictable results. Descriptions of FEMA's response to Hurricane Andrew in 1992 sound just like the response to Katrina: For three days, FEMA was nowhere to be found, and when it finally arrived its relief efforts were utterly incompetent. [....] George Bush the younger restored the practice of stuffing FEMA with cronies; the agency reverted to impotence and incompetence. [....] What happened to FEMA starting in 2001 is typical: Politicization and cronyism have become standard operating procedure throughout the federal government, even when the need for professionalism is obvious. Recall how unqualified political loyalists were sent to run Iraq during the crucial first year. That's one main reason Bush has failed at everything he's tried except cutting taxes - and winning elections. [....]" [Based on: Other Views page article (Are we really content with incompetence?) by Paul Krugman, p. B9, S.L.P.D., 02/08/06]
2006 - Cartoon Controversy - February 8th, 2006: "Three die in NATO clash with Afghans protesting drawings of Muhammad / Iran suspends economic ties with Denmark, where the drawings were first published." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 02/08/06]
*Trivia: "[....] The problems began on Sept. 30 when Jyllands-Posten, one of Denmark's largest newspapers, printed 12 editorial cartoons that included images of characters purporting to be Mohammed. The newspaper's culture editor said he had solicited the drawings after an author of an upcoming book about Mohammed was unable to find anyone willing to illustrate it. [....] More extreme Islamists took the cartoons, added some grossly offensive images that had not been published, and circulated them in the Middle East, whipping up outrage. Muslim countries recalled ambassadors from Denmark. Countries throughout the Middle East launched a widespread and, by most accounts extremely effective economic boycott of Danish companies. In January, the cartoons were reprinted in Austria in a gesture of solidarity with the Danes, in support of press freedom and in defiance of the mounting Muslim protests. Early this month, the images were reprinted again, this time by newspapers in Germany, France, Italy, Belgium and Spain. In Jordan, a Muslim country with some degree of press freedom, the weekly journal Shihan published the cartoons last Thursday in an effort to focus debate and ridicule the quality of the drawings. The editor, Jihad Momani, was fired and arrested. [....] Over the weekend, the diplomatic missions of Denmark, Norway and Sweden in Damascus were set ablaze. In Beirut on Sunday, a crowd estimated at 20,000 set fire to the Danish embassy and terrorized neighborhoods. At least one protestor died, and scores of police, firefighters and demonstrators were injured. On Monday, protestors threw rocks and firebombs at the Danish and Austrian embassies in Tehran, and several protestors were reported killed Tuesday [02/07/06] as they attacked the offices of Norwegian NATO troops stationed in Afghanistan. [....] Newspapers, magazines, television programs and Web sites always have more material available to them than they choose to distribute, 'choose' being the operative word. If a government controls what can and cannot be distributed, it's called censorship. If a media outlet decides for itself what to include and exclude from its products - whether for journalistic or economic reasons, out of respect for possible sensitivities of some readers or concern about possible impact on its community - it's called editorial judgement. Here in the United States, at least two major newspapers in the last week - the Austin-American Statesman and the Philadelphia Inquirer - chose to publish one of the original Danish cartoons to illustrate stories about the contoversy and violence. Other papers, including the Post-Dispatch, have decided that the images aren't necessary to communicate the story. It's called judgement. In choosing to solicit and publish cartoons of Mohammed purely to defy Islamic traditions, Jyllands-Posten and the European papers that followed in its footsteps exercised their freedom. They also exercised atrocious judgement." [Based on: Other Views page article (Freedom to publish - and not to publish / The violence over cartoons of Mohammed is as outrageous as the decision to print them in the first place.) by Eric Mink, p. B9, S.L.P.D., 02/08/06] - [To save space, paragraph indents were not transcribed - D.R.D.]
*Trivia: "On Thursday [02/09/06] the independent, student-run newspaper at the University of Illinois reprinted six of the 12 disputed cartoons. [Based on: Los Angles Times article, p. A10, S.L.P.D., 02/10/06]
*Links: http://www.israelshamir.net/English/Satanic.htm
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - February 8th, 2006: "The Standard & Poor's 500 index tumbled Tuesday [02/07/06] to the year's low after Toll Brothers Inc., the largest U.S. builder of luxury houses, said 2006 sales will be less than its most recent forecast. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article (S&P's house collapses around Toll Brothers), p. C4, S.L.P.D., 02/08/06]
2006 - "Lost World" / Indonesia - February 8th, 2006: "Amid 2 million acres of pristine tropical forest in Papua, scientists find dozens of exotic new animal species and large mammals that have been hunted to near-extinction elsewhere. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article, pp. A1 & A12, S.L.P.D., 02/08/06]
2006 - Trivia / E-Cycle, St. Louis - February 8th, 2006: "[....] 'A tremendous amount of obsolete electronics out there are ending up in our landfills,' said Laura Yates, regional coordinator for e-cycle [St. Louis]. 'We don't need to be burying all that.' [....] Federal law requires businesses and institutions to recycle certain kinds of electronics, but individuals can toss them in the trash. Yates said computers usually contain four to eight pounds of lead and small amounts of cadmium, mercury and arsenic. Yates said federal studies estimate that about two million pounds of computer equipment is junked annually. Much of that ends up in the trash or is sent overseas for disposal to China or other countries that lack strong environmental laws. [....]" [Based on: Article (Now there's an easier way to recycle old computers) by Tim O'Neil, pp. B1 & B10, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 02/08/06]
2006 - Trivia / GM Stock Divedend - February 8th, 2006: "GM chops stock divedend in half" [Based on: Article title, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 02/08/06]
2006 - Adhesive Darts / LA Police - February 8th, 2006: "LA police will test adhesive darts to track fleeing cars" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 02/08/06]
2006 - Trivia / GM Foods, Europe - February 8th, 2006: "The World Trade Organization has ruled that the European Union broke international trade rules by stopping imports of genetically modified foods, officials said Tuesday [02/07/06]. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Genetically modified foods get boost), p. A1, S.L.P.D., 02/08/06]
2006 - Dell Tests Google Software - February 8th, 2006: "Dell Inc., the world's largest maker of personal computers, is testing software from Google Inc. and may distribute the programs on its PCs, a move that would be a blow to Microsoft Corp. The test includes a Google-powered Dell home page, Google Toolbar, Dell spokesman Jess Blackburn said Tuesday [02/07/06]." [Based on: Article (Dell tests software from Google for distribution), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 02/08/06]
2006 - Suicide Bomber / Afghanistan - February 8th, 2006: "Suicide bomber kills 13 in Afghanistan" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 02/08/06]
2006 - Trivia / Windows OneCare Live - February 8th, 2006: "A New security service from Microsoft Corp. will charge users $49.95 a year to better protect its Windows operating system from spyware, viruses and other attacks. Microsoft plans to release the product in early June. Called Windows OneCare Live, the subscription service will compete with security products made by traditional Microsoft partners, including Symantec Corp. and McAfee Inc., its aim is not to run those companies out of business. [....] Anyone who signs up for the test by April 30 can buy the paid service for just $19.95 per year. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Microsoft will release paid protection), p. C6, S.L.P.D., 02/08/06]
2006 - Fatality / Sheik Kamal Nazal, Iraq - February 8th, 2006: "Gunmen kill Sunni leader [Sheik Kamal Nazal] in Iraq" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 02/08/06]
2006 - Fourt-Quarter Profit / Coca-Cola Co. - February 8th, 2006: "Coca-Cola Co., the world's biggest soft-drink maker, said fourth-quarter profit fell 28 percent after it increased marketing to halt a decline in U.S. soda sales. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article (Coke pours more money into marketing), p. C3, S.L.P.D., 02/08/06]
2006 - Trivia / Borrowing Rate, U.S. Consumers - February 8th, 2006: "Consumers, weighed down by high debt loads and low savings rates, increased borrowing last year by the smallest amount in 13 years, the Federal Reserve reported Tuesday [02/07/06]. [....] The Fed report showed the increase last year in credit card debt and other types of revolving credit was just 2.6 percent, the smallest in 23 years." [Based on: Article (Borrowing rate rises by smallest figure in years), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 02/08/06]
2006 - Great Bear Rainforest / British Columbia - February 8th, 2006: "Canada unveiled a 16-million acre preserve Tuesday [02/07/06], including parkland covering an area twice the size of Yellowstone, teeming with grizzly bears, wolves and wild salmon. The Great Bear Rainforest is the result of an accord between governments, aboriginal First Nations, the logging industry and environmentalists. It will stretch 250 miles along British Columbia's rugged Pacific coastline. Premier Gordon Campbell said 4.4 million acres would be protected outright and managed as parkland, with another 11.6 million run under a management plan to ensure sustainable forestry. Yellowstone National Park is 2.2 million acres." [Based on: News Services article, p. A8, S.L.P.D., 02/08/06]
2006 - Bird Flu / Africa - February 9th, 2006: "Bird flu has been discovered on a poultry farm in northern Nigeria, health officials said Wednesday [02/08/06] - the virus's first known appearance in Africa. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Bird flu virus spreads to Africa), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 02/09/06]
2006 - Died / Alan Shalleck - February 9th, 2006: "[....] The body of Shalleck [Alan Shalleck], 76, was found Tuesday [02/07/06] covered in garbage bags in the driveway of his mobile home. Police said it was there for at least a day before a maintenance man discovered it. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article ('Curious George' collaborator is found dead), p. A8, S.L.P.D., 02/09/06]
2006 - Elections Trivia / Nepal - February 9th, 2006: "Candidates backed by Nepal's king swept the country's first election in seven years, officials said today [02/09/06]. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (King's candidates sweep election), p. A10, S.L.P.D., 02/09/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - February 9th, 2006: "Stocks had their biggest gains in more than a month on Wednesday [02/08/06] after a sales forecast from Cisco Systems Inc. suggested the profit outlook for technology companies may be improving." [Based on: Title for Bloomberg News article (Rosy Cisco outlook, oil price drop lift stocks), p. C4, S.L.P.D., 02/09/06]
2006 - Take Off / Steve Fossett - February 9th, 2006: "Millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett soared out over the Atlantic in an experimental airplane Wednesday [02/08/06] on a quest to break the 25,000-mile record for the world's longest aircraft flight. [....]" [Based on: Night Ridder Newspapers article (Fossett takes off in hopes of breaking flight record), p. A2, S.L.P.D., 02/09/06]
*Trivia: "Fuel leak [02/09/06] adds to Fossett woes as flight falters" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 02/10/06]
2006 - Trivia / ADHD Deaths? - February 9th, 2006: "Twenty-five people died and 54 suffered serious cardiovascular problems after taking drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder between 1999 and 2003, the government says. [....] The FDA report also includes data on 26 more deaths between 1969 and 2003 in ADHD drug patients. Those include death by suicide, intentional overdose, drowning, heatstroke and from underlying disease. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (25 died after taking attention deficit drugs), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 02/09/06]
*Trivia: "[....] A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel voted in favor of the 'black box' warning after hearing about the deaths of 25 people, including 19 children, who had taken the drugs. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Forceful warning is urged for attention deficit drugs), p. A1, S.L.P.D., 02/10/06]
2006 - Trivia / Budget Cuts, U.S.A. - February 9th, 2006: "Bush signs bill cutting Medicare, Medicaid spending / He calls on Congress to rein in cost of benefit programs." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 02/09/06]
2006 - Complications Trivia / Prozac - February 9th, 2006: "New research has linked the use of Prozac and other similar antidepressants during pregnancy to yet another complication in newborns: an uncommon but life-threatening lung problem. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Prozac use is linked to lung disorder in newborns), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 02/09/06]
2006 - Trivia / U.S. Surveillance Details - February 9th, 2006: "White House gives House panel some surveillance details" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 02/09/06]
2006 - Decline / U.S. Cancer Deaths - February 9th, 2006: "For the first time in more than 70 years, annual cancer deaths in the United States have fallen. [....] The number of cancer deaths dropped to 556,902 in 2003, down from 557,271 the year before, according to a recently completed review of U.S. death certificates by the National Center for Health Statistics. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (cancer deaths in U.S. decline), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 02/09/06]
2006 - Shiite Holiday / Feast of Ashoura - February 9th, 2006: "Observed this date in history: the holiest day in the Shiite calendar, the feast of Ashoura." [E.M.]
2006 - Nerve Agent Scare / U.S. Capitol - February 9th, 2006: "Nine senators were among 200 people who were held in a Capitol parking garage Wednesday night [02/08/06] after a security sensor indicated the presence of a nerve agent in their office building. Later tests proved negative. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (False alarm traps senators in garage), p. A4, S.L.P.D., 02/09/06]
2006 - Trivia / Military Health Care, U.S.A. - February 9th, 2006: "[....] The Defense Department's escalating health care costs - estimated at $37 billion this year - threaten to cut into funds used to train and equip U.S. troops, Rumsfeld told the Armed Services Committee. [....] The defense department's health care costs have almost doubled from $19 billion in 2001. Rumsfeld said a big culprit is the escalation of benefits added by Congress, often without hearings. [....] Using what Rumsfeld called a conservative projection, military health care costs likely will reach $64 billion in fiscal 2015, accounting for 12 percent of the Pentagon's budget. Health care costs were 4.5 percent of the Pentagon's budget in 1990. [....] Rumsfeld and the Joint Chiefs of Staff agree that the current military health care system is unsustainable and propose that military retirees pay higher premiums and more for certain out-of-pocket expenses. Any cutbacks face stiff opposition in Congress, where paring benefits for soldiers in a time of war is potential political suicide. Earlier this week, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., criticized proposed increases for military retiree healthcare. [....]" [Based on: Article (Military health care plan eases pressure), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 02/09/06]
2006 - Trans Fat / McDonald's French Fries - February 9th, 2006: "McDonald's french fries just got fatter - by nutritional measurement. The world's largest restaurant chain said Wednesday [02/08/06] its fries contain a third more trans fats than it previously thought, citing results of a new testing method it began using in December. That means the level of potentially artery-clogging trans fat in a portion of large fries is eight grams, up from six, with total fat increasing to 30 grams from 25. Trans fats are thought to cause cholesterol problems and increase the risk of heart disease." [Based on: Article (McDonald's finds more trans fat in french fries), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 02/09/06]
2006 - Trivia / Asbestos Bill, U.S. Senate - February 9th, 2006: "The White House gave a lukewarm endorsement Wednesday [02/08/06] to an asbestos bill in the Senate, saying it has serious concerns about some parts of the legislation to create a $140 billion fund for paying victims and ending their lawsuits. The bill's sponsor, Judiciary Committee chairman Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., acknowledged there are problems. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (White House cautious on asbestos fund bill), p. A4, S.L.P.D., 02/09/06]
2006 - "Sell" Rating? / General Motors Corp. - February 9th, 2006: "GM stock falls after Deutsche issues 'sell' rating" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. C3, S.L.P.D., 02/09/06]
2006 - Lawsuits Trivia / Nortel Networks Corp. - February 9th, 2006: "Nortel may pay $2.4 billion to end suits" [Based on: Title for Bloomberg News article, p. C3, S.L.P.D., 02/09/06]
2006 - Resignation / George Carlton Deutsch III - February 9th, 2006: "George Carlton Deutsch III resigned his job as a NASA public affairs spokesman this week after it was learned that he did not, as he claimed on his resume, graduate from Texas A&M University. That a 24-year-old government flack lied on a resume would not normally be cause for comment. But Mr. Deutsch, a presidential appointee, had caused a stir by trying to limit NASA's top climate scientist's speaking engagements and interviews on the threats posed by global warming. Mr. Deutsch also insisted that every reference to the 'Big Bang' on a NASA Web site being developed for middle-schoolers include the word 'theory,' so as not to preclude intelligent design in the creation of the universe. After several scientists complained about political interference, NASA Administrator Michael D. Griffin ordered a review of agency policies on communicating science to the public. While it is gratifying to see a pipsqueak acolyte for the Flat Earth Society get his comeuppance, a more important issue remains: The Bush Administration still belongs to the Flat Earth Society. 'On Climate, the public has been misinformed and not informed,' said Dr. James E. Hansen, NASA's top climate scientist. 'The foundation of a democracy is an informed public, which obviously means an honestly informed public. That's the big issue here.' Indeed." [Based on: Opinion Page article (Sacking a NASA flack), p. D12, S.L.P.D., 02/09/06]
2006 - Ineffective for Prostates? / Saw Palmetto - February 9th, 2006: "Saw palmetto found ineffective for prostates" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 02/09/06]
2006 - Ant-Drug Program / Student Screening, U.S.A. - February 9th, 2006: "President George W. Bush's administration on Wednesday [02/08/06] unveiled its 2006 anti-drug program, a campaign that encourages more high schools to screen students and urges teens to live above the influence of drugs and peer pressure. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Anti-drug program pushes student screening), p. A2, S.L.P.D., 02/09/06]
2006 - Apologizes for Slavery / Church of England - February 9th, 2006: "The Church of England voted Wednesday [02/08/06] to acknowledge its role in the slave trade. The General Synod voted unanimously to commemorate next year's 200th anniversary of Britain's abolition of slavery by apologizing to the descendants of slaves for its role in the injustice. [....] Britain abolished slavery on March 25, 1807." [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Church of England apologizes over slavery), p. A10, S.L.P.D., 02/09/06]
2006 - Volcanic Activity / Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat - February 9th, 2006: "The Soufriere Hills Volcano on the island of Montserrat produced a plume of volcanic ash on February 9, 2006. This event was part of a continuing pattern of intermittent eruptions from the volcano. [....]"
[Based on: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13362]
2006 - Scrutinizing the Bible - February 10th, 2006:
Regarding "Some public schools offer courses on the Bible" (Feb. 5): I see nothing wrong with offering elective courses on the Bible when taught as part of an English literature class. The various groups that have endorsed "The Bible and Its Influence" appear to have the right idea. It is not surprising that some conservative scholars and religious organizations have criticized the class. They are concerned that their views will not hold up to critical scrutiny. Heaven forbid that such a Bible course might make students think for themselves. The fundamentalists are concerned that such a class would cause their children to lose their faith. If that were the case, their faith must not have been very strong to start with.
These courses are elective, not required. Perhaps fundamentalists such as Phyllis Schlafly and Joyce Meyer can issue an edict insisting that none of their followers take this "blasphemous" Bible course. It is curious that Ms. Schlafly and Ms. Meyer refuse to name the nine public school districts in Missouri that are teaching their brand of Bible study. They also refuse to provide a copy of the curriculum. It makes one wonder what they are trying to hide.
[Based on: Opinion Page article (Scrutinizing the Bible) by Mel Myers, p. B10, S.L.P.D., 02/10/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - February 10th, 2006: "Stocks went into a tailspin Thursday [02/09/06] after a Federal Reserve official indicated interest rates will keep climbing." [Based on: Bloomberg News article (Stocks spiral downward after official's remark), p. D9, S.L.P.D., 02/10/06]
2006 - Agrees to Settle / AIG Inc. - February 10th, 2006: "AIG agrees to settle N.Y. lawsuit for $1.64 billion" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. D1, S.L.P.D., 02/10/06]
2006 - Serious but Stable / Ariel Sharon - February 10th, 2006: "Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon underwent a CT scan that showed he remained in serious but stable condition Thursday [02/09/06], the hospital said. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Sharon remains serious but stable), p. A12, S.L.P.D., 02/10/06]
2006 - Venture Capital Fund / NASA - February 10th, 2006: "NASA, which last month sent a spacecraft on a journey to Pluto, plans to spend as much as $11 million this year to start a venture capital fund to invest in new technologies that can be used for missions and programs. [....] NASA is interested in biomedical technology for exploration missions, and robotic and communications systems that could help humans in space, according to a document on the U.S. agency's Web site." [Based on: Article (NASA starts up fund), p. D2, S.L.P.D., 02/10/06]
2006 - Mistrial Declared / Ex-Cendant Chief's Trial - February 10th, 2006: "Mistrial is declared in ex-Cendant chief's [Walter Forbes] trial" [Based on: Article title, p. D2, S.L.P.D., 02/10/06]
2006 - Denied Entry to U.S. / French Biotech Critic - February 10th, 2006: "French critic [Jose Bove] of Monsanto biotech products is denied entry to U.S." [Based on: Title for Post-Dispatch Washington Bureau article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 02/10/06]
2006 - Kidnapped / Egyptian Military Attache - February 10th, 2006: "Palestinians kidnap Egyptian military attache [02/09/06]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A9, S.L.P.D., 02/10/06] - [Brackets text added for clarification - D.R.D.]
2006 - Appears in Hostage Video / Jill Carroll - February 10th, 2006: "Kidnapped journalist [Jill Carroll] appears calm in video [aired Thursday, 02/09/06]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A8, S.L.P.D., 02/10/06] - [Brackets text added for clarification - D.R.D.]
*Trivia: "The kidnappers of American journalist Jill Carroll have threatened to kill her unless their demands are met by Feb. 26, the owner of a Kuwaiti TV station that has aired a new tape of the hostage said Friday [02/10/06]. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (New deadline is reported in journalist's kidnapping), p. A31, S.L.P.D., 02/11/06]
2006 - Suicide Bomb / Shiite Ceremony, Pakistan - February 10th, 2006: "Bomb [02/09/06] bloodies Pakistani town / Attack on Shiite holiday and riot that follows kill more than 20, wound over 50." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A7, S.L.P.D., 02/10/06]
2006 - Says he Met with Bush / Jack Abramoff? - February 10th, 2006: "Abramoff says he met with Bush, editor [Kim Eisler] says" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 02/10/06]
2006 - Had Blessing of Superiors? / I. Lewis Libby - February 10th, 2006: "Libby had blessing of his superiors, court papers say / Cheney aide said he had approval to provide secret information to press." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 02/10/06]
2006 - Revelation of '02 Terror Plot / Los Angeles - February 10th, 2006: "Bush gives details of terror plot targeting LA in '02 / Timing of revelations sparks suspicion he has political motives" [Based on: Title & Subtitle for Knight Ridder Newspapers article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 02/10/06]
2006 - New Tomb Discovered / Valley of the Kings, Egypt - February 10th, 2006: "A newly discovered tomb in Egypt's Valley of the Kings - the first to be found since King Tut's in 1922 - contains five sarcophagi with mummies. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (New Tomb is discovered in Egypt's famed Valley of the Kings), p. A10, S.L.P.D., 02/10/06]
2006 - "Enormous Concern" / Escaped Terrorists, Yemen - February 10th, 2006: "U.S. Navy joins search for escaped prisoners [23 escaped terrorists from Yemeni prison]" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A12, S.L.P.D., 02/10/06] - [Brackets text added for clarification - D.R.D.]
2006 - Opening Ceremony / 20th Winter Olympics, Turin Italy - February 10th, 2006: "The opening ceremony for the 20th Winter Olympics began Friday evening [02/10/06] in Turin, Italy."
2006 - Tactics Changed Against Hunger Strike Detainees? / Guantanamo Bay, Cuba - February 10th, 2006: "U.S. changed tactics against hunger strikes, detainee [Fawzi al-Odah] says" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A7, S.L.P.D., 02/10/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - February 11th, 2006: "Surplus, oil help markets eke out weekly gain" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A38, S.L.P.D., 02/11/06]
2006 - Trivia / U.S. Trade Deficit - February 11th, 2006: "Trade deficit closes 2005 at $725.8 billion" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A36, S.L.P.D., 02/11/06]
2006 - Car Bomb / Baghdad, Iraq - February 11th, 2006: "Car bomb kills [02/10/06] at least eight outside Baghdad mosque" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A31, S.L.P.D., 02/11/06]
2006 - Trivia / Hurricane Katrina Relief - February 11th, 2006: "Former federal disaster chief Michael Brown said Friday [02/10/06] that he told the White House on the day that Hurricane Katrina howled ashore about massive flooding in New Orleans, He said that he had warned that 'we were realizing our worst nightmare.' Brown told senators that on the day in question, Aug. 29, he had dealt directly with White House officials, including chief of staff Andrew Card. He also said officials from the Department of Homeland Security had received regular briefings that day. Administration officials have said they were unaware of the severe damage until after the storm had passed. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article, p. A24, S.L.P.D., 02/11/06]
2006 - Need to Reduce Dealers / GM & Ford - February 11th, 2006: "GM and Ford say they need to reduce dealers" [Based on: Article title, p. A36, S.L.P.D., 02/11/06]
2006 - Scientific Breakthrough / Solar Power Technology - February 11th, 2006: "In a scientific breakthrough that has stunned the world, a team of South African scientists has developed a revolutionary new, highly efficient solar power technology that will enable homes to obtain all their electricity from the sun. This means high electricity bills and frequent power failures could soon be a thing of the past. [....]"
[Based on: Article by Willem Steenkamp, 02/11/06] -
[See Link]
[Note: This article was originally published on page 1 of Saturday Argus
on February 11, 2006 ]
[http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=143&art_id=vn20060211110132138C184427]
2006 - Iraqi Prime Minister? / Iraq - February 12th, 2006: "Shiites are unable yet to agree on new Iraqi prime minister" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A7, S.L.P.D., 01/12/06]
2006 - Dissolved Parliament / Italy - February 12th, 2006: "Italy dissolved its parliament on Saturday [02/11/06] and scheduled elections for early April, opening what promises to be a bitter campaign pitting Premier Silvio Burlusconi against a strong center-left opponent." [Based on: News Service article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 01/12/06]
2006 - Abramoff Ties / Harry Reid? - February 12th, 2006: "Reid [Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid] had series of ties to Abramoff / Correspondence and billing records show that the lobbyist [Jack Abramoff] billed clients for two dozen meetings with the office of the Democratic leader." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 01/12/06] - [Brackets text added for clarity - D.R.D.]
2006 - Trivia / 'Hostages of Zionism' - February 12th, 2006: "Iran leader says 'hostages of Zionism' should pay heavy price for cartoons" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A7, S.L.P.D., 01/12/06]
2006 - Nor'easter / U.S. East Coast - February 12th, 2006: "Nor'easter threatens to shut down East Coast" [Based on: News Service article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 01/12/06]
2006 - "PERSONALITY DISORDER?" - February 12th, 2006:
Article 43: PERSONALITY DISORDER? Kate Mucci 02/12/06 © 2006
The major news organizations are beating the drums of war for another conflagration, this time against Iran because it "may" have nuclear capability some time in the future. As this first started, I thought, “The American people aren’t going to fall for that again. The Neocons have blown it this time!”. I truly thought Americans had learned their lesson, but it seems I am sadly mistaken. Listen to the callers on conservative talk shows. Listen to people on the street. They’re parroting the spin, saying we better watch those Iranians because they could send a nuclear warhead over here any minute.
Didn't anybody learn anything from the debacle with the “intelligence” on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction? All reliable, rational scientific evidence said that there were no WMDs. Yet the drums entrained the populace to chant “war, war, war”. And war we got, in spades. With no end in sight.
Despite all the proof that the administration lied and deliberately twisted evidence to suit their own purposes and that of Halliburton and other war-enriched corporations, the hypnotized sheep are once again chanting “war, war, war”. Once again, the facts are being twisted to suit the agenda of the President and his cronies when all reliable, rational unbiased evidence says there is no way Iran could have nuclear weapons capability for at least ten years. And even if they could, isn’t that a little like the pot calling the kettle black? The U.S. is using illegal nuclear and conventional weapons in Iraq and Afghanistan, and is therefore breaking every law in the book. The whole thing is so hypocritical it defies belief.
But the big question is, how can the American people continue to be suckered by these guys? How can people who are intelligent enough to raise families, hold down jobs, maybe even get to retirement age without major mishaps fall for the lies that Bush and friends spin into webs of deception? How do these people get caught, like so many brainless flies, in the same sticky web again and again?
The answer came in a flash from a Psychology 101 class taken thirty-something years ago. Maybe these guys doing the manipulating are in fact masterful sociopaths! The sign of a true sociopath is someone who can manipulate with impunity and con people into trusting and believing them even in the face of evidence that they are crooks.
In the face of no other plausible explanation as to how seemingly intelligent people can repeatedly fall for the machinations of the conmen in power, I submit that the American people are the victims of an administration full of manipulative sociopaths. How else could the President, the VP, and the rest of them commit such despicable acts and then blithely ignore every call to stop?
In this day of Political Correctness, it’s called “anti-social personality disorder”. Various psychiatric journals and websites have set out the identifiers of the condition, but one of the easiest to navigate is www.mentalhealth.com. Check it out yourself. The disorder shows a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of the rights of others as indicated by three or more of the following:
1. Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are ground for arrest. – Well, Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Gonzalez each fit those criteria. Not only have they illegally wiretapped American citizens, they have authorized torture and the use of extraordinary extradition to send captives to be tortured in other countries. According to the Geneva Conventions and our domestic laws – those are all crimes. Additionally, their involvement in the incidents of September 11, 2001, is treasonous, and each and every one of them should be tried accordingly.
2. Deceitfulness as indicated by repeated lying, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure. Where do we begin? No one in this administration is capable of telling the truth. Calling the Los Angeles Library Tower the “Liberty Tower”, and saying that illegal wiretapping prevented an attack upon it in 2003 is a lie. There is no “Liberty Tower”. There was no attack planned, because there is no Liberty Tower, so how could it be thwarted? This was all a set up to con the dissenters into going along with the illegal wiretap activities.
Gonzalez said to Congress during hearings last week, “President Washington, President Lincoln, President Wilson, President Roosevelt, have all authorized electronic surveillance on a far broader scale.” Geez, man, if you’re going to lie, at least make it believable!
3. Impulsivity or failure to plan ahead. Since they had no plan on how to rebuild or get out of Iraq, or to capture Osama bin Laden, then I would say Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld are all a “yes” in this category.
4. Irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults. This administration has done nothing but pick fights. Bush and buddies had planned before ever taking office to go into Iraq. Now they’re picking another fight with Iran, and are rattling sabers against Syria. Reports abound from insiders at the White House that King George is very testy these days, throwing tantrums and keeping everyone but his closest advisers (read conspirators) away.
5. Reckless disregard for safety of self or others. Since none of them seem to care one whit about the American people, and keep sending young soldiers into battle without proper protection, it seems certain that Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld have no regard for the safety of anyone, well, except each other. But my guess is that, if push came to shove, and one of them had to rat on the others to save his own skin, he’d leave his compatriots rotting in the quicksand.
6. Consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations. Since this administration took over, this country has gone 8.2 trillion dollars in debt. President Bush has taken more time off than any president in recent memory, and Cheney disappears on a regular basis.
7. Lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another. I don’t really have to even address this one, do I? These guys have never admitted their mistakes, illegal acts, or lies. Not once. Every single person in the Bush administration has shown an incredible lack or remorse for killing innocent women and children, for holding in captivity indefinitely people who have been charged with no crime, or for failing miserably when Americans needed help during a national disaster. They continue to deny that their spying on American citizens without a warrant is illegal, and in fact make every excuse possible. These people have no heart, and no conscience.
The men running this country right now seem to qualify in more than three of the above criteria. That tells me that they are very dangerous. You cannot rationalize with anyone with an anti-social personality disorder, so calling them on illegal or immoral acts means nothing. Threatening them with jail means nothing. They don’t care if they get caught because they feel immune to any repercussions. What’s truly frightening is that they have their fingers on the nuclear button. And they have control of the Judiciary and the media. Mix them up with fundamentalists here and in the Arab world, and we have a recipe for disaster.
The only chance we have is to get them out of there. Impeachment, Indictment, doesn’t matter.
But we cannot allow whoever takes their place to be the same. Maybe the solution is something President Bush wanted for the children of America. Instead of mental health screenings of little kids, how about psychiatric evaluations for everyone in Washington?
Kate Mucci is co-host and producer of Out There Television, a weekly program airing throughout the U.S. and Europe on broadcast television, and worldwide on the web. www.outtheretv.com, You may write to Kate at outtheretv@aol.com
2006 - Cuts Trip Short / Steve Fossett - February 12th, 2006: "Fossett cuts trip short, but sets mark for longest [26,389 miles] nonstop [about 76 hours] flight" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 01/12/06] - [Brackets text added for clarity - D.R.D.]
2006 - Losing Water? / American West - February 12th, 2006: "American West is losing its supply of water" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 01/12/06]
2006 - Bird Flu / Italy, Greece, Bulgaria - February 12th, 2006: "Bird flu is found in Italy, Greece, Bulgaria" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A10, S.L.P.D., 01/12/06]
2006 - Foreign Relations / Moscow & Hamas - February 12th, 2006: "Hamas says delegation will visit Moscow this month" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A7, S.L.P.D., 01/12/06]
2006 - Top Economic Threat / Oil Prices? - February 12th, 2006: "G-8 officials call oil prices top economic threat" [Based on: Title for Bloomberg article by Simon Kennedy, p. A15, S.L.P.D., 01/12/06]
2006 - Emergency Surgery / Ariel Sharon - February 12th, 2006: "Sharon has emergency intestinal surgery [02/11/06]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A7, S.L.P.D., 01/12/06]
2006 - President-Elect Fatmir Sejdiu / Kosovo - February 12th, 2006: "Kosovo lawmakers elect new president [Fatmir Sejdiu]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article by Simon Kennedy, p. A15, S.L.P.D., 01/12/06]
2006 - Conclusion / "Cyber Storm" Wargame, U.S.A. - February 12th, 2006: "The government has concluded its 'Cyber Storm' wargame, its biggest-ever exercise to test how it would respond to devestating attacks over the Internet from anti-globalization activists, underground hackers and bloggers. [....] There was no impact on the real Internet during the weeklong exercise, which ended Friday [02/10/06]." [Based on: News Service (Wargame finds new enemy: Bloggers) article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 01/12/06]
2006 - Starved for Energy / Iraq - February 13th, 2006: "Starved for Energy / Billions spent on reconstruction can't keep Iraq's lights on / Chronic power problems have become litmus test on U.S. promises of a better life." [Based on: Title & Subtitles for A.P. article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 02/13/06]
2006 - 10th Church Fire / Alabama - February 13th, 2006: "10th church fire [Alabama] is ruled an arson" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 02/13/06]
2006 - Video / British Beating Iraqis - February 13th, 2006: "Video appears to show British beating Iraqis" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A7, S.L.P.D., 02/13/06]
2006 - Hunting Accident / Dick Cheney - February 13th, 2006: "Cheney shoots fellow hunter [Harry Whittington] in accident [02/11/06]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article by Nedra Pickler, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 02/13/06]
*Trivia: "Bush knew of Cheney incident hours after shooting in Texas" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 02/14/06]
*Trivia: "Authorized accounts of Cheney acident are full of discrepancies" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 02/19/06]
*Links: http://www.infowars.com/articles/us/cheney_shooting_coverup_in_progress_ballistics.htm
2006 - "Detention Camp Jitters" / U.S.A. - February 13, 2006: [Article by Maureen Farrell - see link]
[http://buzzflash.com/farrell/06/02/far06003.html]
2006 - Trivia / "News Consumer" U.S.A.? - February 13th, 2006: "State Dept Tells 'News Consumers' How To Read, Think" [Based on: Title for rense.com article By Ted Twietmeyer, 02/13/06 - see link]
[http://www.rense.com/general69/statedep.htm]
2006 - Record Snow Storm / Northeast, U.S.A. - February 13th, 2006: "A record-breaking storm buried sections of the Northeast under more than 2 feet of snow on Sunday [02/12/06], marooning thousands of air travelers. The National Weather Service said 26.9 inches of snow had fallen in Central Park - the most for a single storm since record-keeping started in 1869. The old record was 26.4 inches, set in December 1947. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Great White Way / Storm pelts NYC, the Northeast) by Nedra Pickler, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 02/13/06]
2006 - Prime Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari ? / Iraq - February 13th, 2006: "Iraqi Shiites' pick for prime minister [Ibrahim al-Jaafari] roils other groups" [Based on: Title for Knight Ridder Newspapers article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 02/13/06]
2006 - Prosecution Trivia / Bagram, Afghanistan - February 13th, 2006: "Prosecution effort stumbles in detainee deaths / Stiffest sentence so far is 5 months; several soldiers were acquitted." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for New York Times article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 02/13/06]
2006 - Multichambered Tomb Uncovered / Greece - February 13th, 2006: "Archaeologists have unearthed a massive tomb in the northern Greek town of Pella, capital of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia and birthplace of Alexander the Great. The eight-chambered tomb dates to the Hellenistic Age between the fourth and second century B.C. and is the largest of its kind ever found in Greece. The biggest multichambered tombs until now contained three chambers." [Based on: News Services article (Tomb is largest uncovered in Greece), p. A7, S.L.P.D., 02/13/06]
2006 - Tropical Cyclone Vaianu / Tonga Islands - February 13th, 2006: "Tropical Cyclone Vaianu was threading its way through the Tonga Islands on February 13, 2006, when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Aqua satellite captured this image [see link] at 1:45 UTC (1:45 p.m. local time). At this time, Vaianu was heading south through the chain of islands, knocking out electricity in many areas, as well as flattening crops such as bananas, mangos, and breadfruit trees. Flooding in low-lying areas shut down the capital, Nuku'alofa, for two days as stores barricaded their doors and windows to protect them from battering winds. The cyclone had peak sustained winds of around 140 kilometers per hour (85 miles per hour), but the storm center where these peak winds were observed was well away from the Tonga and Fiji Islands. [....]"
[Based on: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13369]
2006 - Alleged Torture / Guantanamo Bay, Cuba - February 13th, 2006: "U.N. report alleges torture at Guantanamo" [Based on: Title for Los Angeles Times article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 02/13/06]
2006 - Authenticated Photo / Jack Abramoff & George W. Bush - February 13th, 2006: "Photo of Bush, lobbyist [Jack Abramoff] is authenticated" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 02/13/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - February 14th, 2006: "Stocks fell Monday [02/13/06] on anticipation that Ben Bernanke, in his initial Senate testimony as Federal Reserve chairman, will reaffirm the central bank's policy of raising interest rates as government reports provide new evidence of a robust economy. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article (Bernanke's testimony weighs on market), p. C4, S.L.P.D., 02/14/06]
2006 - Suicide Bomber / Iraq - February 14th, 2006: "Bomber in Iraq [02/13/06] kills 10, injures 40, including women and children" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. C3, S.L.P.D., 02/14/06]
2006 - Trivia / Valentine's Day - February 14th, 2006: "In the mid-third century, Rome was involved in one of its many wars and, as tends to happen in any country at war, the math-as-survival dynamic had kicked in: As more men died, fewer signed up. Military recruiting efforts weren't going very well. Married men of the day didn't want to leave their families to fight the good fight, and young men in love wanted to stay home with their sweethearts. In a stroke of sub-genius, the Roman emperor Claudius unilaterally forbade marriage, thinking such a move would change things and that men would once again sign up for military service. But a local Roman priest named Valentine defied the emperor's dictate and secretly continued to marry people in his church. As you might expect, word got around about Valentine's actions. The emperor and his minions undoubtedly were performing today's equivalent of tapping Valentine's phone and reading his e-mails to find out what treason he was commiting in the name of love. Then as now, leaders didn't react well to dissidence and minority opinions; Valentine was arrested, shackled and taken to a Roman prison. He languished for a long time in the dungeon of that prison, eventually dying a horrible, lonely death on February 14th in the year 270, possibly having been beheaded. It's fair to assume that the demise of the priest named Valentine was not altogether pleasant. Eventually, he was sainted by the church, and by the middle of the 18th century we were celebrating his day. [....]" [Based on: Title for Other Views Page article (Would that love were simple) by Kurt Ullrich, p. B7, S.L.P.D., 02/14/06] - [Paragraph indents not transcribed - D.R.D.]
2006 - Asbestos Trivia / U.S.A. - February 14th, 2006: "[....] Millions of American workers were exposed to asbestos, many by companies that failed to warn them or provide adequate protection. Since the early 1980s, corporate defendants have paid out more than $70 billion, and at least 80 companies have gone bankrupt. Among them is the Manville Corp., which supplied much of the asbestos used in the United States. [....] A Rand Institute study estimates that it will cost more than $200 billion to compensate all those harmed by asbestos. [....] Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., deserves credit for many years' effort to find a solution that protects businesses from bankruptcy and compensates injured workers. But the FAIR bill that's being debated this week still doesn't live up to its name. [....]" [Based on: Opinion Page article (No Fair), p. B6, S.L.P.D., 02/14/06]
*Trivia: "Asbestos trust fund bill is pulled - for now" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 02/15/06]
2006 - Falling Oil Prices? / U.S.A. - February 14th, 2006: "Oil futures fell Monday [02/13/06] and analysts said retail gasoline prices soon may dip below $2 a gallon in some parts of the country. However, traders said any relief probably would be short-lived, warning of an upturn in prices come spring. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Falling oil prices won't last long, analysts say), p. C3, S.L.P.D., 02/14/06]
2006 - President Rene Preval? / Haiti - February 14th, 2006: "Preval's supporters start to claim control in Haiti" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A7, S.L.P.D., 02/14/06]
*Trivia: "[....] The most recent election results, posted Monday [02/13/06], showed Preval had 48.76 percent of the vote with 90 percent of ballots counted. He would need 50 percent plus one vote from the Feb. 7 election to avoid a runoff election in March." [Based on: Title for A.P. article (Haiti will review election; Preval decries tally), p. A7, S.L.P.D., 02/15/06]
*Trivia: "U.N. police rushed Wednesday [02/15/06] to recover official voting bags, marked ballots and other election material found in a garbage dump. Supporters of presidential candidate Rene Preval marched through the capital, claiming fraud. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (U.N. retrieves ballots, other Haitian election material from dump), p. A12, S.L.P.D., 02/14/06]
2006 - Should Resign? / Dick Cheney - February 14th, 2006: "Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean said Monday [02/13/06] that Vice President Dick Cheney should resign if he ordered a top aid to leak classified information to the news media to defend the invasion of Iraq. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Dean says Cheney might have to resign), p. A4, S.L.P.D., 02/14/06]
2006 - Gloomy Scenario / Google Inc. - February 14th, 2006: "Google Inc.'s stock price fell by more than 4 percent Monday [02/13/06], accelerating a recent shift in sentiment that has caused once-ebullient investors to become more cautious about the online search engine leader. Barron's cast the largest pall on Google with a report outlining several risks that threaten to squeeze its profit margins and cut its market value in half. [....]" [Based on: Article title (Gloomy scenario kicks Google further downstairs), p. C1, S.L.P.D., 02/14/06]
2006 - Trivia / Cheney Hunting Accident - February 14th, 2006: "Secret Service stalls and delays for Cheney / Cover-up in progress and Shotgun ballistics don’t match-up!" [Based on: Infowars | February 14, 2006, By Kevin Smith - see link]
[http://www.infowars.com/articles/us/cheney_shooting_coverup_in_progress_ballistics.htm]
2006 - Expanded Power / Mahmoud Abbas - February 14th, 2006: "Palestinian lawmakers expand Abbas' power" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A8, S.L.P.D., 02/14/06]
2006 - Tuning Kids Into the iPod / U.S.A. - February 14th, 2006: "After bemoaning the emergence of the iPod as children's latest must-have toy, toy makers are now looking at the digital music player as their own marketing strategy. After the success last year of Zizzle Inc.'s iZ and Hasbro Inc.'s I-Dog, both of which can be hooked up to Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod, competitors are coming up with their own iPod-friendly products, aimed at preteens. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Toy makers are tuning kids into the iPod / Instead of competing, some manufacturers are offering accessories.), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 02/14/06]
2006 - Trivia / McDonalds French Fries - February 14th, 2006: "And another thing about McDonald's fries: They're not gluten free. Not long after disclosing that its french fries contain more trans fat than thought, McDonald's Corp. said Monday [02/13/06] that wheat and dairy ingredients are used to flavor the popular menu item - an acknowledgement it had not previously made. The presence of those substances can cause allergic or other medical reactions in food-sensitive consumers. McDonald's had said until recently that its fries were free of gluten and milk or wheat allergens and safe to eat for those with dietary issues related to the consumption of dairy items. But the fast-food company quietly added 'Contains wheat and milk ingredients' this month to the french fries listing on its Web site." [Based on: Article (McDonald's adds gluten to its trans fat fries), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 02/14/06]
2006 - U.N. Questioning? / U.S. Secret Prisons - February 14th, 2006: "EU may question U.S. officials on prisons" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 02/14/06]
2006 - Leave Hotels / Hurricane Katrina Evacuees - February 14th, 2006: "Evacuees leave hotels after FEMA stops paying" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 02/14/06]
2006 - Introduced / Mandatory Draft Bill, U.S.A. - February 14th, 2006:
On February 14, 2006, Congressman Charles Rangel (Democrat - NY) introduced a bill (Universal National Service Act of 2006 - HR 4752 IH) aiming at drafting everyone - men and women alike - from the ages of 18 to 42 into the military for a minimum period of 2 years.
Or to quote the bill: "To provide for the common defense by requiring all persons in the United States, including women, between the ages of 18 and 42 to perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes."
The House is to convene on June 6 (06/06/06] to debate and possibly adopt this bill, that is, unless a vast public outcry succeeds in derailing this insanity, which you can do by writing a letter of protest to your congress person through
http://www.conservativeusa.org/mega-cong.htm or
http://www.webslingerz.com/jhoffman/congress-email.html
Phone calls are even better. The numbers of all US Representatives are at:
http://clerk.house.gov/members/index.html
If you question the validity of this bill, go to:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h109-4752 http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.R.4752
[Based on: rense.com article (Mandatory Draft Bill
Snuck In - To Be Debated 6-6-6), 06/04/06]
*Link: http://www.rense.com/general71/dd.htm
2006 - WTO Deadline? / Unfair U.S. Tax Break - February 14th, 2006: "WTO gives U.S. 3 months to end 'unfair' tax break" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 02/14/06]
2006 - Nuclear Talks Postponed / Iran & Ru