"Most newspaper article events happen anywhere from days, to months, to years before they reach publication. Consequently, most newspaper articles on this timeline are preceded by the date of the newspaper in which they appear." [E.M.] *Color Code
March 2006
2006 - Astronomic Configuration - March 1st, 2006: "Sun [10 Pisces], Moon [27 Pisces], Mercury [26 Pisces], Venus [26 Capricorn], Mars [5 Gemini], Jupiter [18 Scorpio], Saturn [5 Leo R], Uranus [10 Pisces], Neptune [18 Aquarius], Pluto [26 Sagittarius], Chiron [6 Aquarius]."
[Based on: http://www2.bitstream.net/~bunlion/bpi/ephm/E200603.html]
2006 - Dewi Sant Day - March 1st, 2006: "[....] March 1 is dedicated to St. David, the patron saint of Whales. His symbol is the leek, a variety of onion, traditionally worn in the Welshperson's hat today. [....] In fact, given that today is also Ash Wednesday, St. David - Dewi Sant - in Welsh - has been knocked off the calendar completely. [....] While preaching to a multitude, the saint got grumbles - 'I can't see you!,' 'I can't hear you!' - so he simply raised the ground into a hill, with him at the top. Problem solved. [....] In Wales [Cymru], St. David's Day is traditionally observed with singing festivals. " [Based on: Everyday section article, p. E1 & E5, S.L.P.D., 03/01/06]
2006 - Ash Wednesday - March 1st, 2006: "Ash Wednesday observed."
2006 - Google Shares Plunge? - March 1st, 2006: "Google shares plunge [as much as 13 percent] after CFO addresses fears of slowing growth [02/28/06]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. C3, S.L.P.D., 03/01/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - March 1st, 2006: "Stocks suffered their biggest losses in five weeks Tuesday on the last day of February [02/28/06] after Google Inc. lowered expectations for growth and reports on consumer confidence, house sales and manufacturing pointed to a slowing economy. [....]" [Based on: Title for Bloomberg News article, p. C4, S.L.P.D., 03/01/06]
2006 - Trivia / OPEC Oil Output? - March 2006: "The Organization of petroleum Exporting Countries ruled out any change in production at its meeting this week but has a consensus to cut output in March, oil ministers said Monday [01/30/06]. [....] Their remarks came after a meeting of the group's ministerial monitoring committee, led by Iran, which analyzes market data and makes policy recommendations to Opec. Ramirez [Venezuelan oil minister Rafael Ramirez] also said he would tell Iran's oil minister Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh that Venezuela would side with Iran in its standoff with the West over its nuclear program. 'We support Iran in its nuclear dispute,' Ramirez said. [....] In trading Monday, crude oil rose for a third session on concern that OPEC members would be unable to increase supplies enough to cover a possible disruption of shipments from Iran. [....] Crude oil for March delivery rose 59 cents, or 0.9 percent, to $68.35 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil is up 45 percent from a year ago. " [Based on: A.P. article (OPEC will keep output steady until March), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 01/31/06]
2006 - Open? / Iranian Oil Bourse - March 2006: "[....] The Iranian government has finally developed the ultimate 'nuclear' weapon that can swiftly destroy the financial system underpinning the American Empire. That weapon is the Iranian Oil Bourse slated to open in March [20th?] 2006. It will be based on a euro-oil-trading mechanism that naturally implies payment for oil in Euro. In economic terms, this represents a much greater threat to the hegemony of the dollar than Saddam's, because it will allow anyone willing either to buy or to sell oil for Euro to transact on the exchange, thus circumventing the U.S. dollar altogether. If so, then it is likely that almost everyone will eagerly adopt this euro oil system: [....] Whatever the strategic choice, from a purely economic point of view, should the Iranian Oil Bourse gain momentum, it will be eagerly embraced by major economic powers and will precipitate the demise of the dollar. The collapsing dollar will dramatically accelerate U.S. inflation and will pressure upward U.S. long-term interest rates. At this point, the Fed will find itself between Scylla and Charybdis - between deflation and hyperinflation - it will be forced fast either to take its 'classical medicine' by deflating, whereby it raises interest rates, thus inducing a major economic depression, a collapse in real estate, and an implosion in bond, stock, and derivative markets, with a total financial collapse, or alternatively, to take the Weimar way out by inflating, whereby it pegs the long-bond yield, raises the Helicopters and drowns the financial system in liquidity, bailing out numerous LTCMs and hyperinflating the economy. [....]" [Brackets text added for clarity, and Paragraph indents untranscribed - D.R.D.]
[Based on: Article (The Proposed Iranian Oil Bourse)
by Krassimir Petrov, Ph. D.]
http://news.goldseek.com/GoldSeek/1137510262.php]
2006 - Land for School Aid? / U.S.A. - March 1st, 2006: "Senators question plan to sell land for school aid" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 03/01/06]
2006 - Trivia / Mexican Miners Strike - March 1st, 2006: "Demanding greater safety, about 4,000 Mexican miners struck copper mines Tuesday [02/28/06] owned by the operator of the coal mine where 65 men died in an explosion last week. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Thousands of miners strike for greater safety), p. A7, S.L.P.D., 03/01/06]
2006 - Plans to Attack Iran? / Israel - March 2006: "Iran opened the door Sunday [12/11/05] for U.S. help in building a nuclear power plant. The offer was issued as Israel said it had not ruled out a military strike against Iranian nuclear facilities. In Washington, neither the State Department nor the White House issued any comment on the proposal. On Sunday, Israel denied a report in Britain's Sunday Times newspaper that it has plans to attack Iran in March, but officials said they would not rule out a military strike if Iran makes advances in building nuclear weapons." [Based on: News Services article (U.S. can bid on nuclear power plant construction), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 12/12/05]
*Trivia: "The United States has been flying surveillance drones over Iran for nearly a year to seek evidence of nuclear weapons programs and detect weaknesses in air defenses, according to three U.S. officials with detailed knowledge of the secret effort. The small, pilotless planes, entering Iranian airspace from U.S. military facilities in Iraq, use radar, video, still photography and air filters designed to pick up traces of nuclear activity to gather information that is not accessible to satellites, the officials said. The aerial espionage is standard in military preparations for an eventual air attack and is also employed as a tool for intimidation. [....] The drones were first spotted by dozens of Iranians and set off a national newspaper frenzy in late December [2004] over whether the country was being visited by UFOs. [....] In mid-January [2005], Iran's national Security Council met in Tehran to discuss them, according to an Iranian official. 'It was clear to our air force that the entire intention here was to get us to turn on our radar,' the official said. [....] But it did not work. 'The United States must have forgotten that they trained half our guys,' the Iranian official said. Iran's national security officials ordered their forces not to turn on the radar or come into contact with the drones in any way." [Based on article by Dafna Linzer, The Washington Post, 02/13/05]
2006 - Civil War Could Spread? / Iraq - March 1st, 2006: "A civil war in Iraq could lead to a broader conflict in the Middle East, pitting the region's rival Islamic sects against each another [other?], National Intelligence Director John Negroponte said Tuesday [02/28/06]. [....] Regionally, Saudia Arabia and Jordan could support Iraq's Sunnis, Negroponte said. And Iran, run by a Shiite Islamic theocracy, 'has already got quite close ties with some of the extremist elements' inside Iraq, he added. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Iraqi civil war could spread, Negroponte says), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 03/01/06]
2006 - Record Mergers Ahead? / U.S.A. - March 1st, 2006: "Pace of mergers suggests a record year ahead" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 03/01/06]
2006 - Truly Arrived? / Solar Minimum - March 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 - Trivia / Church vs. State, Virginia - March 1st, 2006: "A Virginia school district did not violate a teacher's free-speech rights by removing Christian-themed postings from his classroom walls, a federal judge has ruled. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Judge backs school in dispute on religion), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 03/01/06]
2006 - Skin Patch for Depression / U.S.A. - March 1st, 2006: "FDA approves skin patch for depression medicine [selegiline / Emsam]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 03/01/06]
2006 - Expected to Drop? / Airfairs, U.S.A. - March 1st, 2006: "Air fares are expected to drop in crowded sky" [Based on: Article, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 03/01/06]
2006 - More Racial Fighting / LA County Jail - March 1st, 2006: "More racial fighting erupts in LA county jail" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 03/01/06]
2006 - Spreads to Other Animals / Bird Flu - March 1st, 2006: "The deadly strain of bird flu has been found in a dead cat in Germany, officials said Tuesday [02/28/06]. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Bird flu spreads to other animals, officials report), p. A4, S.L.P.D., 03/01/06]
2006 - Senate Advances Patriot Act / U.S.A. - March 1st, 2006: "The USA Patriot Act renewal cleared a final hurdle in the Senate Tuesday [02/28/06] on its way to President George W. Bush. [....] On Tuesday, the Senate voted 69-30 to limit debate and bring the bill to a final vote that could take place as early as today. [....] After final Senate action, the House would vote on the legislation and send it to the White House. Unless Bush signs the bill by Match [March?] 10,16 major provisions would expire. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Senate advances Patriot Act, but some push for changes), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 03/01/06]
2006 - Plans Layoffs / Interstate Bakeries Corp. - March 1st, 2006: "Interstate Bakeries plans layoffs" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. C3, S.L.P.D., 03/01/06]
2006 - Sunni-Shiite Violence / Baghdad, Iraq - March 1st, 2006: "Sunni-Shiite violence [02/28/06] kills 68 in Baghdad" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 03/01/06]
2006 - Approved Executions? / Saddam Hussein - March 1st, 2006: "Documents show Saddam approved executions, prosecutors charge" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 03/01/06]
2006 - Remains Firm on Ports Deal / George W. Bush - March 1st, 2006: "Bush remains firm on ports deal" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 03/01/06]
2006 - Trivia / Abramoff Visits, George W. Bush? - March 1st, 2006: "Group [Judicial Watch] sues to check Abramoff visits to Bush" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 03/01/06]
2006 - Seeks Levee Money / Arnold Schwarzenegger - March 1st, 2006: "Schwarzenegger seeks levee money" [Based on: Title for Los Angeles Times article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 03/01/06]
2006 - Cuts Prices? / Burger King Holdings Inc., U.S.A. - March 1st, 2006: "Burger King Cuts Prices" [Based on: Article, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 03/01/06]
2006 - "Simpsons" Better Known Than American Rights? - March 1st, 2006: "'Simpsons' better known than rights [U.S. 1st Amendment Rights] , poll finds" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 03/01/06]
2006 - Trivia / Falling Foam [Shuttle Discovery] 2005 - March 1st, 2006: "16 pieces of foam tore loose in last shuttle launch [July 2005]" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 03/01/06]
2006 - Record Revenue / World Wide Technology Inc. - March 1st, 2006: "World Wide Technology Inc. of Maryland Heights [Mo.] said Tuesday [02/28/06] that its revenue reached a record $1.8 billion last year, up 25 percent from 2004. [....]" [Based on: Article (World Wide Technology hits record revenue), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 03/01/06]
2006 - Trivia / Mental Health Help, U.S. War Veterans - March 1st, 2006: "About 35 percent of Iraq War veterans seek mental health help, study finds" [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 03/01/06]
2006 - Will Close 25 Locations in UK / McDonald's Corp. - March 1st, 2006: "McDonald's will close 25 locations in the UK" [Based on: Article, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 03/01/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - March 2nd, 2006: "Stocks rallied Wednesday [03/01/06], lifting the Nasdaq composite index to its biggest gain in eight weeks, as reports on consumer spending and manufacturing reassured investors that the economy isn't slowing. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article (Stocks rebound on good spending, manufacturing news), p. C4, S.L.P.D., 03/02/06]
2006 - SEC Probe / MetLife Unit - March 2nd, 2006: "SEC probes universal life sales by MetLife unit" [Based on: Title for article, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 03/02/06]
2006 - Trivia / Saddam Hussein Trial - March 2nd, 2006: "Saddam Hussein said at his trial Wednesday [03/01/06] that only he should be held responsible for the death and destruction under his rule. The one-time president said he had ordered trials for 148 residents of a Shiite town after an assassination attempt in 1982. The people, including children, were later tortured and executed. [....]" [Based on: Los Angeles Times article (Saddam claims sole responsibility in killings), p. A11, 03/02/06]
2006 - Revelation / Pre-Katrina Video - March 2nd, 2006: "Before Hurricane Katrina struck, federal disaster officials warned President George W. Bush and his homeland security chief that the storm could breach levees, put lives at risk in New Orleans' Superdome and overwhelm rescuers, confidential video footage [08/28/05] shows. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Video shows pre-Katrina warnings), p. A1, S.L.P.D., 03/02/06]
2006 - Housing Price Hike / St. Louis, Mo. - March 2nd, 2006: "Housing prices rose 8 percent in the St. Louis area last year, the biggest gain locally in 22 years, according to a federal report released Wednesday [03/01/06]. [....]" [Based on: Title for S.L.P.D. article (Housing price hike hits 22-year high), p. A1, 03/02/06]
2006 - Recruiting in Jordan? / Al-Qaida - March 2nd, 2006: "Inmates rioted at three Jordanian prisons Wednesday [03/01/06] over the fate of two al-Qaida militants and a would-be suicide bomber. The prisoners took a highranking official hostage and injured several other police officers before the 14-hour standoff ended without major bloodshed. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Prison riots indicate that al-Qaida may be recruiting in Jordan), p. A8, 03/02/06]
2006 - Fatality / Khaled Dahdouh, Gaza Strip - March 2nd, 2006: "A fiery explosion in the middle of a busy street killed the top military commander of Islamic Jihad [Khaled Dahdouh] in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday [03/01/06]. The Palestinian militant group immediately blamed Israel, which denied involvement. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Islamic Jihad military chief is killed in blast, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 03/02/06]
2006 - Making Progress / Sago Mine Survivor - March 2nd, 2006: "Randal McCloy Jr. hasn't asked about the fate of the 12 men who entered the Sago Mine with him two months ago. And so far, his wife hasn't told him. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Mine Survivor makes progress), p. A4, S.L.P.D., 03/02/06]
2006 - Resume Military Talks / North & South Korea - March 2nd, 2006: "Koreas resume military talks" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 03/02/06]
2006 - Attacks Suspected Al-Qaida Site / Pakistan - March 2nd, 2006: "Pakistan attacks [03/01/06] suspected al-Qaida site" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A8, 03/02/06]
2006 - Nuclear Talks Deadlocked? / Iran & Russia - March 2nd, 2006: "Iran's nuclear talks with Russia deadlocked" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 03/02/06]
*Trivia: "[....] On Thursday [03/02/06], Ali Larijani accused the United States of scuttling talks in Moscow. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Iranian negotiator has angry words for U.S.), p. A6, 03/03/06]
2006 - Unannounced Afghanistan Visit / George W. Bush - March 2nd, 2006: "Paying an unannounced visit Wednesday [03/01/06] to Afghanistan, President George W. Bush vowed that al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and former Taliban ruler Mullah Mohammad Omar eventually would be apprehended. [....]" [Based on: Los Angeles Times article (Bin Laden will be caught, Bush pledges), p. A9, 03/02/06]
*Trivia: "Security for Bush visit underscores increased threat in Afghanistan" [Based on: Title for Post-Dispatch Washington Bureau article, p. A9, 03/02/06]
2006 - Warmest January in More Than 100 Years! / U.S.A. - March 2nd, 2006: "The warmest January in more than a century sent consumers to malls to spend money at the fastest clip in six months. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Warm weather gets shoppers to the malls), p. C3, S.L.P.D., 03/02/06]
2006 - No Spring Rise [Due to Drought] / Missouri River - March 2nd, 2006: "Missouri river won't get March pulse" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 03/02/06]
2006 - Declines to Order Port Deal Review / Federal Judge, U.S.A. - March 2nd, 2006: "Federal judge declines to order port deal review" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 03/02/06]
2006 - Worked Like Servants? / Ex-Aides to Rep. John Conyers - March 2nd, 2006: "Three former aides to U.S. Rep. John Conyers say the Michigan congressman made them act as personal gofers and valets while they were supposed to be working in his Detroit-area offices. [....] Ethics Committee rules prohibit members from using congressional funds to pay staffers for 'nonofficial, personal or campaign activities on behalf of the member, the employee or anyone else.' [....]" [Based on: Detroit Free Press article (Lawmaker's ex-aides say they worked like servants), p. A12, 03/02/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - March 3rd, 2006: "Stocks fell Thursday [03/02/06] after oil surged, the nation's retailers reported disappointing sales and the risk of Dana Corp.'s bankruptcy increased. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article (Oil surges, retailers disappoint, stocks slide), p. B9, S.L.P.D., 03/03/06]
2006 - TV Violence Trivia / U.S.A. - March 3rd, 2006: "Television programs aimed at children ages 5 to 10 contain, on average, almost twice as many violent incidents as prime-time shows geared toward adults, according to a study released Thursday [03/02/06] by a media watchdog group. The report - 'Wolves in Sheep's Clothing: A Content Analysis of Children's Television' - was prepared by the Parents Television Council, which analyzes profanity, sexual content and violence in the media and has filed many indecency complaints with the Federal Communications Commission. [....]" [Based on: Los Angeles Times article (TV violence / Children's shows rank worse than prime time, study finds), p. A2, S.L.P.D., 03/03/06]
2006 - Radioactive Leaks? / Illinois - March 3rd, 2006: "[....] The Illinois state's attorney's office is looking into why Chicago-based Exelon Corp. didn't report leaks of radiation into wastewater for several years. The leaks happened from the mid-1990s until 2003 at the Braidwood Generating Station in Will County. Two other plants, the Dresden station and the Byron nuclear plant, both in northern Illinois, reported leaks recently." [Based on: Wire & Staff Reports article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 03/03/06]
2006 - Domestic Terrorism? / U.S.A. - March 3rd, 2006: "A University of North Carolina graduate [Mohammed Reza Taheri-azar] accused of running down nine people on campus [03/03/06] told an emergency dispatcher he wanted to 'punish the government of the United States for their actions around the world,' according to a 911 recording released Monday [03/06/06]. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Student says he was out for revenge, tape shows), p. A4, S.L.P.D., 03/07/06]
2006 - Trivia / Civilan Casualties, Iraq - March 3rd, 2006: "Insurgency-related violence last year killed more than twice as many Iraqi civilians as Iraqi soldiers and police officers, according to Iraqi government figures obtained Thursday [03/02/06]. The civilian toll last year was 4,024 people. And in the first two months of this year, the civilian death count already stands at more than one-quarter of last year's total. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (In Iraq, civilians do most of the dying under fire), p. A11, S.L.P.D., 03/03/06]
2006 - Food Lables Warnings? / U.S.A. - March 3rd, 2006: "Hundreds of warnings on food labels could vanish under a measure moving toward approval in the House. [....]" [Based on: Wire & Staff Reports article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 03/03/06]
2006 - Nuclear Accord? / U.S.A. & India - March 3rd, 2006: "Reversing decades of U.S. policy, President George W. Bush ushered India into the world's exclusive nuclear club on Thursday [03/02/06]. Bush approved a landmark agreement to share nuclear reactors, fuel and expertise in return for India's acceptance of international safeguards. If approved by Congress, the accord will end India's long isolation as a nuclear maverick that defied world appeals and developed nuclear weapons. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Historic accord for India / Bush gives approval for nuclear program), p. A1, S.L.P.D., 03/03/06]
2006 - Restructuring Expenses / Ford Motor Co. - March 3rd, 2006: "Ford will spend $1 billion on restructuring this year [2006]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. B3, S.L.P.D., 03/03/06]
2006 - Misses Interest Payments / Dana Corp. - March 3rd, 2006: "Dana Corp's inability to make $21 million in interest payments this week prompted investors and analysts on Thursday [03/02/06] to question whether the struggling auto parts maker is moving closer to seeking bankruptcy protection. Shares of the company, based in Toledo, Ohio, fell by almost half. [....]" [Based on: Article (Dana misses payments, raising filing questions), p. B2, S.L.P.D., 03/03/06]
2006 - Vows to Keep Office / Prime Minister of Iraq - March 3rd, 2006: "Iraq's prime minister and his radical Shiite backers promised Thursday [03/02/06] to fight a bid by Sunni Arabs and Kurds to oust him, threatening to plunge the country into political turmoil and delay formation of a new government. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Prime minister of Iraq vows fight to keep office), p. A11, S.L.P.D., 03/03/06]
2006 - Opposition Candidate Arrested / Belarus - March 3rd, 2006: "An opposition candidate running in this month's presidential election in Belarus was beaten and arrested Thursday [03/02/06] when he tried to attend a conference being chaired by President Alexander Lukashenko, the former Soviet republic's longtime authoritarian ruler, according to opposition activists and journalists who witnessed the incident. [....] The country's security service, which is still called the KGB, said this week that the opposition was planning an armed coup in cooperation with foreign powers. At Thursday's conference in Minsk, the capital, Lukashenko railed against 'dark forces,' particularly the United States, that he said were aligned against him and threatening the country's stability." [Based on: News Services article (Opposition candidate is reportedly arrested), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 03/03/06]
2006 - Boycotts Hearing / Guantanamo Detainee - March 3rd, 2006: "The hearing for a Guantanamo detainee charged with conspiring to commit murder was thrown into disarray Thursday [03/02/06] after he boycotted the session and the U.S. military judge criticized the defense attorney. [....] Ali Hamza Ahmad Sulayman al Bahlul, a Yemeni who allegedly was a bodyguard for al-Qaida founder Osama bin Laden, has refused since Wednesday night [03/01/06] to attend the hearings, saying the U.S. military officer appointed as his attorney was the enemy and could not represent him." [Based on: News Services article (Chaos at hearing reveals problems with tribunals), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 03/03/06]
2006 - Call for New Katrina Inquiry? / U.S. Democrats - March 3rd, 2006: "Democrats call for new Katrina inquiry" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 03/03/06]
2006 - Behind 1981 Shooting of Pope / Soviet Union? - March 3rd, 2006: "Italian panel ties Soviets to shooting of pope [in 1981]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A9, S.L.P.D., 03/03/06]
2006 - Demanding Business Deals Disclosure / U.S. Lawmakers - March 3rd, 2006: "Lawmakers complained Thursday [03/02/06] that despite the administration's promises, they were not informed about confidential government investigations into sensitive U.S. investments by two more foreign companies. The criticism arose after disclosures that * The U.S. had started a new investigation Tuesday [02/28/06] into a business deal proposed by a second Dubai-owned company. * A previously unconfirmed investigation has taken place over an unrelated transaction by a leading Israeli software firm [Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.]. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Lawmakers demand disclosure on deals), p. A4, S.L.P.D., 03/03/06]
2006 - Suicide Car Bomber / U.S. Consulate, Karachi, Pakistan - March 3rd, 2006: "A suicide car bomber drove into a vehicle outside the U.S. Consulate in Karachi on Thursday [03/02/06], detonating a blast that killed a consular employee and three others, and wounded at least 50. [....] The attack took place shortly before President George W. Bush was scheduled to travel to Pakistan." [Based on: Washington Post article (American, 3 others die in blast at consulate in Pakistan), p. A8, S.L.P.D., 03/03/06]
2006 - Market Report - March 4th, 2006: "Stocks sputtered late in the day Friday [03/03/06], sending the Standard & Poor's 500 index to its first weekly loss in a month, after Intel Corp. cuts its sales forecast and bond yields rose to their highest level in about a year. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article, p. A30, S.L.P.D., 03/04/06]
2006 - Insurgent Attacks / Iraq - March 4th, 2006: "Attack by gunmen in Iraq kills at least 19 / Sunni insurgents are suspected. Also, political leaders try to block a full term for interim prime minister." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for Los Angeles Times article, p. A24, S.L.P.D., 03/04/06]
2006 - Sentenced / Ex-Quest Exec. - March 4th, 2006: "Ex-Quest exec [Marc Weisberg] sentenced [03/03/06 to 60 days home detention & 2 yrs. probation]" [Based on: Article title, p. A28, S.L.P.D., 03/04/06] - [Brackets text added for clarity - D.R.D.]
2006 - Leaking Oil? / Alaska Pipeline - March 4th, 2006: "Crude oil leaking from a major North Slope pipeline might have oozed over 3 to 5 acres of frozen, snow-clad tundra, prompting a major cleanup effort Thursday [03/02/06], an oil company spokesman said. [....] Neither state officials nor BP spokesman Daren Beaudo could say how much oil was spilled." [Based on: News Services article (Leaking oil spreads over tundra, firm says), p. A23, S.L.P.D., 03/04/06]
*Trivia: "[....] 'The estimated spill was 202,000 to 267,000 gallons. 'I can confirm its the largest soill of crude oil on the North Slope that we have record of,' said Linda Giguereh with the state department of Environmental Conservation. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Oil spill is called North Slope's largest), p. A26, S.L.P.D., 03/11/06]
2006 - Altered Corn / European Union - March 4th, 2006: "EU approves altered corn" [Based on: Article title, p. A28, S.L.P.D., 03/04/06]
2006 - Medicare Suit / Five U.S. States - March 4th, 2006: "Texas, Missouri and three other states [Kentucky, Maine & New Jersey] sued the federal government Friday [03/03/06], alleging they are being forced to help fund the new Medicare prescription drug program in violation of the Constitution. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Five states file suit over Medicare), p. A22, S.L.P.D., 03/04/06]
2006 - Files for Bankruptcy / Dana Corp. - March 4th, 2006: "Parts maker Dana files bankruptcy [03/03/06]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A27, S.L.P.D., 03/04/06]
2006 - Israeli Terrorists? / Nazareth, Israel - March 4th, 2006: "A distraught Israeli couple, joined by another woman reported to be their daughter, entered one of Christianity's holiest sites Friday [03/03/06] and set off explosions [firecrackers?], police said, sparking a large riot in this biblical town [Nazareth] in northern Israel." [Based on: News Services article (Israelis set off blasts at Christian holy site), p. A24, S.L.P.D., 03/04/06]
2006 - Flies to Pakistan / George W. Bush - March 4th, 2006: "Bush leaves India [03/03/06], flies to restive Pakistan." [Based on: Title for Chicago Tribune article, p. A25, S.L.P.D., 03/04/06]
*Trivia: "Rallies in Pakistani cities protest Bush's visit / One demonstration in India leads to fatal clash between Hindus and Muslims." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A25, S.L.P.D., 03/04/06]
*Trivia: "Bush lauds Pakistan's moves toward democracy / he wants Musharraf to do more to root out Taliban holdovers." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for for Knight Ridder Newspapers article, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 03/05/06]
2006 - Settlement / Research In Motion Ltd. - March 4th, 2006: "Blackberry settles for $612.5 million / Patent dispute over e-mail device had threatened a shutdown of the Blackberry system." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 03/04/06]
2006 - Sentenced / Randy "Duke" Cunningham - March 4th, 2006: "Ex-congressman gets 8 years in prison [03/03/06]." [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A21, S.L.P.D., 03/04/06]
2006 - Unaware of Dubai Call? / Sen. Hillary Clinton - March 4th, 2006: "Sen. Clinton unaware of Dubai call, she says / Her husband says he wasn't paid for consulting on the port deal." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for New York Daily News article, p. A22, S.L.P.D., 03/04/06]
2006 - Pesticide Contamination / U.S. Rivers & Streams - March 4th, 2006: "Most of the nation's rivers and streams - and the fish in them - are contaminated with pesticides linked to cancer, birth defects and neurological disorders, but not at levels that can harm humans. Pesticides were found in almost all U.S. rivers and streams between 1992 and 2001, says a study released Friday [03/03/06] by the U.S. Geological Survey, although most drinking water supplies haven't been affected. [....] Most frequently detected in agricultural streams were three herbicides used mainly on farms: atrazine, metolechlor and cyanazine. [....] Three other herbicides used commonly in cities - simazine, prometon and tebuthiuron - showed up more often in urban streams. [....] Jay feldman, executive director of Beyond Pesticides, a national research and advocacy group, said the data surrounding the nation's reliance on about 1 billion pounds of pesticides a year show 'an urgent need to strengthen policies at all levels of government and curtail pesticide use.' [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Pesticides in low levels are found in most rivers and fish, study finds) by John Heilprin, p. A23, S.L.P.D., 03/04/06]
2006 - I.D. Papers Released / Guantanamo Bay Prisoners - March 4th, 2006: "U.S. releases papers identifying Guantanamo prisoners / Associated Press won suit to obtain the names." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A21, S.L.P.D., 03/04/06]
2006 - New Red Spot? / Planet Jupiter - March 5th, 2006:
For centuries, the Great Red Spot has reigned supreme among storms on Jupiter. The anti-cyclone has 250 mph winds and is big enough to swallow two planet Earths. Jupiter has other storms, too, but none like the Great Red Spot.
Until now. A new red spot has appeared on Jupiter, about half the size of the original and nearly the same color. Amateur astronomer Christopher Go of the Philippines took its picture [see link] on February 27th: [....]
"Red Jr." was born 6+ years ago when three smaller storms collided. (Many astronomers believe the Great Red Spot was born the same way--by merger.) At first the new storm was white, the color of its progenitors, but now it is turning red, a sign of intensification. Will Red Jr. eventually grow to rival the Great Red Spot--or remain junior? No one knows. But you can watch, because both red spots are big enough to see through backyard telescopes: sky map. [see link]
[Based on: http://spaceweather.com/] - [03/05/06]
2006 - Criminal Probe / Pat Tillman Death - March 5th, 2006: "Army opens criminal probe in Pat Tillman death" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 03/05/06]
2006 - Strong Earthquake / Tonga Region - March 5th, 2006: "A strong earthquake occurred at 08:07:56 (UTC) on Sunday, March 5th, 2006. The magnitude 6.1 event has been located in the Tonga REGION."
[Based on: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/usjxam.php]
2006 - Cases Kept Sectret? / U.S. Federal Courts - March 5th, 2006: "Despite the Sixth Amendment's guarantee of public trials, the government is holding as secret nearly all records of more than 5,000 defendants who completed their journey through the federal courts over the last three years. Instances of such secrecy more than doubled from 2003 to last year. Most of these defendants are cooperating government witnesses. But the secrecy prevents the public from knowing details of their plea bargains. Although most of these defendants are involved in drug gangs, lately a very small number involve terrorism cases. [....]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article (U.S. keeps court cases secret), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 03/05/06]
2006 - Images of Auschwitz Haunt Photographer - March 5th, 2006: "Images of Auschwitz haunt man [Wilhelm Brasse] who shot the pictures" [Based on: Title for A.P. article by Ryan Lucas, p. A7, S.L.P.D., 03/05/06]
2006 - Compares Bush to Hitler? / Social Studies Teacher, U.S.A. - March 5th, 2006: "A Denver-area high school teacher whose recorded statements about President George W. Bush and U.S. foreign policy [02/01/06] sparked a national debate about classroom speech on Friday [03/03/06] backed away from plans to sue the Cherry Creek (Colo.) School District. The attorney for Overland High School social studies teacher Jay Bennish said his client held off on the lawsuit after district officials made clear that Bennish was free to talk to the news media. 'Today (Friday) he was told he could talk to the media,' said David Lane, the attorney for Bennish, who has been on paid administrative leave since Wednesday. However, Lane said, for the time being Bennish will not comment on the case. Lane said Bennish was initially told by an administrator that 'if you talk to the media, we will view this as insubordination.' " [Based on: News Services article (Teacher backs off threat to sue district), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 03/05/06]
*Trivia: "Nazi-like legislation in the works to stop Bush dissent 'dead in its tracks' before massive revolt begins as the Bush lies are coming to the surface and top officials know it. [....]" [Based on: Title for Artic Beacon article (U.S. Fascists In Washington Want To Put Muzzle On "Bad Dogs" In The Alternative Press), by Greg Szymanski, 02/23/06] - See Link: http://www.arcticbeacon.com/23-Feb-2006.html
*Trivia: "[....] Cherry Creek School Superintendent Monte Moses said Bennish's 'practice and deportment need growth and refinement.' The decision ends a monthlong dispute over Bennish's comments Feb. 1 to a 10th-grade geography class. Social studies teacher Jay Bennish was reinstated Friday [03/10/06] after more than a week on paid leave. [....] Bennish said some of Bush's State of the Union address the night before 'sounds a lot like the things that Adolf Hitler used to say.' " [Based on: News Services article (Teacher who linked Bush, Hitler returns), p. A26, S.L.P.D., 03/11/06]
2006 - Died / Dana Reeve - March 6th, 2006: "Dana Reeve died from lung cancer. She was 44."
2006 - CIA Suit / T.J. Waters - March 6th, 2006: "Ex-CIA analyst [T.J. Waters] sues agency over deletions in his book ["Class 11: Inside the CIA's First Post-9/11 Spy Class."]" [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 03/06/06]
2006 - Protestors / Thailand - March 6th, 2006: "Thai protestors alleging corruption urge prime minister to quit, plan to camp out" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 03/06/06]
2006 - Nuclear Program? / Iran - March 6th, 2006: "Iran warned the 35 nations on the International Atomic Energy Agency's board Sunday [03/05/06] that it would press ahead with full-scale uranium enrichment if the board pushes for United Nations action against it. [....] The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said Sunday that a failure by the Security Council to address Iran would 'do lasting damage to the credibility of the council.' 'The longer we wait to confront the threat Iran poses,' said the ambassador , John Bolton, 'the harder and more intractable it will become.' [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Iran says U.N. action would spur nuclear program), p. A8, S.L.P.D., 03/06/06]
*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.]
2006 - Prolonged Drought / Kenya - March 6th, 2006: "Drought [in Kenya] may force more to need food aid" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A7, S.L.P.D., 03/06/06]
2006 - Militant Attacks / Pakistan - March 6th, 2006: "Dozens are killed as militants battle Pakistani troops" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 03/06/06]
2006 - Research Award / Walter Alverez - March 6th, 2006: "A geologist [Walter Alverez] who proposed the theory that a comet or asteroid smashed into earth and killed off the dinosaurs is the winner of a top research award. [....] Alvarez told the story of his discovery in his top-selling nonfiction book in 1997, 'T. rex and the Crater of Doom.' " [Based on: News Services article (Theory on demise of dinosaurs wins award), p. A4, S.L.P.D., 03/06/06]
2006 - Rejects Al-Qaida Support / Hamas - March 6th, 2006: "Hamas officials shrugged off the support offered by al-Qaida's No. 2 leader, saying Sunday [03/05/06] that the Palestinian militant group had a different ideology than the terrorist network and won election through a moderate approach to Islam. In video aired Saturday by the Arab satellite television station Al-Jazeera, Ayman al-Zawahri called for jihad, or holy war, to reclaim Palestinian lands and implied al-Qaida's support for Hamas' refusal to recognize Israel despite international pressure since the militant Islamic group swept parliamentary elections in January. A Hamas official in the Gaza Strip, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said: 'Hamas believes that Islam is completely different to the ideology of Mr. al-Zawahri.' 'Our battle is against the Israeli occupation, and our only concern is to restore our rights and serve our people. We have no links with any group or element outside Palestine,' the official said." [Based on: News Services article (Hamas rejects offer from al-Qaida deputy), p. A7, S.L.P.D., 03/06/06]
2006 - Kerry Comments / U.S. Oil Dependency - March 6th, 2006: "Kerry [03/05/06] cites oil dependency in war on terror" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A8, S.L.P.D., 03/06/06]
2006 - Further Israeli Withdrawals? / West Bank- March 6th, 2006: "Further Israeli withdrawals could follow April elections / Acting prime minister's spokesman pledges limited pullouts from West Bank." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A7, S.L.P.D., 03/06/06]
2006 - Strong Earthquake / Mid-Indian Ridge - March 5th, 2006: "A strong earthquake occurred at 18:13:08 (UTC) on Monday, March 6th, 2006. The magnitude 6.2 event has been located in the MID-INDIAN RIDGE."
[Based on: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/usjyay.php] - [03/06/06]
2006 - Increasing Pressure? / Shiite Premier, Iraq - March 6th, 2006: "Iraqi Sunnis, Kurds increase pressure on Shiite premier" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A8, S.L.P.D., 03/06/06]
2006 - Targets Oil Exports / Nigerian Militants - March 6th, 2006: "Nigerian militants target oil exports / Militants disrupting production claim to be fighting for the interests of residents." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 03/06/06]
2006 - Cartoon Protest Rallies / Pakistan & Turkey - March 6th, 2006: "Tens of thousands of people massed in Pakistan and Turkey on Sunday [03/05/06] to protest cartoons of Islam's prophet, Muhammad, that have fired anger throughout the Muslim world. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (More rallies protest cartoons of Muhammad), p. A7, S.L.P.D., 03/06/06]
2006 - Criminal Investigation / Pat Tillman "Friendly-Fire" Death - March 6th, 2006: "Testimony will be key in fifth inquiry / The chairman of the Joint Chiefs promised the family a full review of the facts in the now criminal investigation." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 03/06/06]
2006 - Yemeni Teens Sentenced / 2003 Assassination Plot - March 6th, 2006: "Two Yemeni teenagers convicted of trying to kill the U.S. ambassador in 2003 were sentenced Sunday [03/05/06] to five years in prison. The judge said the two - Hezam Ali Hassan, 17, and Khaled Saleh, 18 - would be held in 'a special prison' because of their ages. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Teens get five years in assassination plot), p. A7, S.L.P.D., 03/06/06]
2006 - Declares War on Freedom of the Press? / George W. Bush - March 6th, 2006:
Using many of the questionable surveillance and monitoring techniques that brought both questions and criticism to his administration, President George W. Bush has launched a war against reporters who write stories unfavorable to his actions and is planning to prosecute journalists to make examples of them in his "war on terrorism."
Bush recently directed Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to use "whatever means at your disposal" to wiretap, follow, harass and investigate journalists who have published stories about the administration's illegal use of warrantless wiretaps, use of faulty intelligence and anything else he deems "detrimental to the war on terror." [....]
[Based on: CHB's Blue Blog article (Bush declares war on freedom of
the press) by Doug Thompson, 03/06/06]
*Link:
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/blog/2006/03/bush_declares_war_on_freedom_o.html
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - March 7th, 2006: "Stocks suffered their longest losing cdstreak this year as rising bond yields drove shares to a third day of declines Monday. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article, p. C4, S.L.P.D., 03/07/06]
2006 - "Blue Sun" Over Egypt - March 7th, 2006: "For the second time this year, a blue sun has appeared over Egypt. "A powerful khamaseen dust storm swept through Alexandria on March 7th," reports astronomer Aymen Ibrahem of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. "The sun shining through the dust turned blue. [....] Blue suns occur when the air fills with particles just a little larger than the wavelength of light. This makes the air behave like a filter, scattering red while allowing blue to pass. For maximum blue, the particles should all be very close to the same size--about a millionth of a meter across. Khamaseen storms are notorious for such fine dust. The spring dusty season is just beginning in Egypt. Sky watchers there should be alert for more blue suns--and blue moons, too."
[Based on: http://spaceweather.com/index.cgi] - [03/10/06]
2006 - Status / Iraqi Parliament - March 7th, 2006: "Iraq's president failed in a bid Monday [03/06/06] to order parliament into session by March 12. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Iraq's leader faces setback in bid to order parliament into session / Government formation is delayed further.), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 03/07/06]
2006 - Mutating Virus? / Bird Flu - March 7th, 2006: "As new versions of bird flu emerge, U.S. health officials say scientists must stir up a different vaccine recipe to protect people. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Mutating virus forces push for a second vaccine), p. A2, S.L.P.D., 03/07/06]
2006 - Strikes Gas & Oil / Kuwait - March 7th, 2006: "Kuwait announced Monday [03/06/06] it had discovered natural gas for the first time, in commercial quantities, as well as a new light oil. [....]" [Based on: Article (Kuwait strikes gas), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 03/07/06]
2006 - Trivia / OPEC Oil Production - March 7th, 2006: "Key OPEC members won't seek production cut / Kuwait minister says prices should start to fall next month." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. Article, p. C3, S.L.P.D., 03/07/06]
2006 - Targeted / Aryan Brotherhood - March 7th, 2006: "Prosecutors hope to smash supremicist prison gang / Aryan Brotherhood is targeted in what's believed to be the biggest capital murder case in U.S. history." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 03/07/06]
2006 - Relations / Hamas & Fatah - March 7th, 2006: "Hamas voted Monday [03/06/06] to strip Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of powers he was hastily awarded by his Fatah Party in the last session of the outgoing parliament. And in Gaza City, an Israeli missle strike killed two Islamic Jihad militants and three bystanders, including two boys. [....] A Fatah legislator said Monday's decisions would be appealed to the Palestinian Supreme Court. Abbas was elected president of the Palestinian Authority in January 2005, and his term has three years to run, regardless of the parliament's makeup. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Hamas votes to revoke powers recently granted to president / Israeli missle strike kills two militants and three bystanders, including children), p. A8, S.L.P.D., 03/07/06]
2006 - Levees Status / New Orleans - March 7th, 2006: "The White House is defending the quality of the material being used to rebuild the levees around New Orleans. And President George W. Bush got assurances Monday [03/06/06] from the Army Corps of Engineers that it was on track to restore the system by the start of hurricane season. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (White House defends work on levees), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 03/07/06]
2006 - No Foul Play? / "Diana's" Death - March 7th, 2006: "An official British inquiry into the 1997 death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in a high-speed car crash has found no evidence of foul play, a newspaper [The Daily Mail] reported Monday [03/06/06] [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Inquiry finds no foul play in Diana's death), p. A8, S.L.P.D., 03/07/06]
2006 - Strong Earthquake / Vanuatu - March 5th, 2006: "A strong earthquake occurred at 06:28:55 (UTC) on Tuesday, March 7th, 2006. The magnitude 6.2 event has been located in Vanuatu."
[Based on: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/usjzal.php] - [03/07/06]
2006 - Prison Suicide / Milan Babic - March 7th, 2006: "Serb leader [Milan Babic] kills himself in prison [03/05/06], tribunal says" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A8, S.L.P.D., 03/07/06]
2006 - G.M. Alfalfa / Monsanto Co. - March 7th, 2006: "Monsanto Co., the world's largest developer of genetically modified seeds, started selling alfalfa seed modified to resist the compamy's Roundup weed killer, expanding biotech crop offerings to five. [....] St. Louis-based Monsanto's genetically modified soybeans, corn, cotton and canola were sown on 194.6 million acres last year, according to company data." [Based on: Article (And alfalfa makes five), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 03/07/06]
2006 - Military Recruiters / U.S. Universities - March 7th, 2006: "The Supreme Court said Monday [03/06/06] that Congress had acted properly in threatening to withold federal money from universities that bar military recruiters because of the Pentagon's policy on homosexuals. In an 8-0 ruling, the justices said that by insisting that military recruiters get the same access that employers get, Congress was neither stopping the universities from protesting the policy nor asking the schools to endorse it. [....]" [Based on: Knight Ridder Newspapers article (High court rules for recruiters), p. A1, S.L.P.D., 03/07/06]
2006 - Seeking Line-Item Veto / George W. Bush - March 7th, 2006: "Bush is seeking line-item veto different from rejected version" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 03/07/06]
2006 - Risks Regional War? / Withdrawing From Iraq - March 7th, 2006: "Withdrawing too soon from Iraq risks regional war, U.S. envoy [Zalmay Khalilzad] warns" [Based on: Title for Los Angeles Times article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 03/07/06]
2006 - Threatens to List Names / Abramoff Lawyer - March 7th, 2006: "Lawyer for Abramoff threatens to list names" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 03/07/06]
2006 - Measure to Ban Abortions / Gov. Mike Rounds - March 7th, 2006: "Governor [South Dakota] signs measure to ban most abortions" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 03/07/06]
2006 - Trivia / Enron Trial - March 8th, 2006: "The architect of financial schemes that helped fuel the collapse of Enron Corp. on Tuesday [03/07/06] told a federal court jury that he had the blessing of his boss, former Chief Executive Jeffrey Skilling, for moves that let the energy-trading company hide losses and inflate profit. [....]" [Based on: Article (Ex-Enron exec fingers Skilling), p. C1, S.L.P.D., 03/08/06]
2006 - Hostage Video / Iraq - March 8th, 2006: "Two Canadians and a Briton taken hostage last fall during their Christian peace mission to Iraq were shown Tuesday [03/07/06] in a videotape on Al-Jazeera television - without the American colleague who was captured with them. [....]" [Based on: Los Angeles Times article (U.S. hostage not in video), p. A7, S.L.P.D., 03/08/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - March 8th, 2006: "The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell Tuesday [03/07/06] for a fourth day after Texas Instruments Inc. said first-quarter sales won't meet its highest forecast and a government report signaled inflation may accelerate. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article, p. C4, S.L.P.D., 03/08/06]
2006 - Trivia / U.S. Ports Deal - March 8th, 2006: "House GOP chiefs back blocking ports deal" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 03/08/06]
2006 - Protests / Nairobi, Kenya - March 8th, 2006: "Thousands protest [03/07/06] raids on newspaper, TV station [Kenya]" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A8, S.L.P.D., 03/08/06]
2006 - Sectarian Violence? / India - March 8th, 2006: "Blasts [03/07/06] in holy city in India [Varanasi] kill at least 20 / Attacks trigger fears of sectarian violence." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for Washington Post article, p. A7, S.L.P.D., 03/08/06]
2006 - Wins GOP Primary / Tom DeLay - March 8th, 2006: "Delay wins GOP primary battle [03/07/06]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 03/08/06]
2006 - Trivia / CIA Leak Case, U.S.A. - March 8th, 2006: "CIA calls Libby demand for papers a 'burden' " [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 03/08/06]
2006 - Foreign Relations / U.S. & Iran - March 8th, 2006: "At the White House, the State Department and before a friendly audience of Jewish activists, the Bush administration had an unsubtle message for the hard-line Islamic government in Iran on Tuesday [03/07/06]. [....] Speaking to the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC, Cheney did not specify what the U.S. would do but said it 'is keeping all options on the table.' American officials have said the government has no plans for military force but will not rule it out. [....]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article (Cheney, Rice warn Iran enriching nuclear fuel will have consequences), p. A7, S.L.P.D., 03/08/06]
2006 - Renews Patriot Act / U.S. House - March 8th, 2006: "House renews [03/07/06] USA Patriot Act in cliffhanger vote [280-138]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 03/08/06]
2006 - Increased Scrutiny? / NSA, U.S.A. - March 8th, 2006: "Republican members of the Senate Intelligence Committee defeated on Tuesday [03/07/06] a Democratic push to investigate a domestic espionage operation authorized by President George W. Bush. But they promised to increase scrutiny of the controversial program through a newly established subcommittee. [....] The deal announced Tuesday would establish a new subcommittee with seven members - four Republicans and three Democrats - that would get regular briefings on the domestic surveillance activities of the National Security Agency. The agency eavesdrops on calls and e-mail traffic around the world. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., the panel's chairman, and other Republicans said the White House had agreed to give members of the new subcommittee extensive access, equivalent to that previously restricted to the chairman and vice chairman." [Based on: Los Angeles Times article (Senate Intelligence Committee mixes message to Bush), p. A2, S.L.P.D., 03/08/06]
2006 - President-Elect Oscar Arias / Costa Rica - March 8th, 2006: "Oscar Arias was declared the country's president-elect on Tuesday - more than a month after the vote that gave him a razor-thin victory over his closest rival. [....] Arias, 65, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his work as a mediator to help end the civil wars that wracked Central America in the 1980s. He will take office on May 8, replacing President Abel Pacheco." [Based on: News Services article (Arias is declared winner a month after election), p. A8, S.L.P.D., 03/08/06]
2006 - Changes Pension Plan / General Motors Corp. - March 8th, 2006: "GM changes pension plan for salaried employees / Newer employees will move to a 401(k)-based plan." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 03/08/06]
2006 - 5% of U.S. Work Force / Illegal Immigrants? - March 8th, 2006: "The number of illegal immigrants in the United States has grown to as many as 12 million - accounting for about one in every 20 workers, an estimate says. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Illegal immigrants make up 5 percent of work force, study says, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 03/08/06]
2006 - Baggage Handlers OK Strike / Northwest Airlines - March 8th, 2006: "Northwest baggage handlers OK strike" [Based on: Title for Article, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 03/08/06]
2006 - Trivia / Enron Trial - March 9th, 2006: "Lay knew of impending implosion, Fastow testifies" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 03/09/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - March 9th, 2006: "Sliding oil prices lift stocks to first advance in 5 days" [Based on: Title for Bloomberg News article, p. C4, S.L.P.D., 03/09/06]
2006 - Trivia / Exxon Mobil Corp. - March 9th, 2006: "Exxon's costs will rise to about $20 billion / Oil giant wants to boost crude output by million barrels a day by 2010." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. C3, S.L.P.D., 03/09/06]
2006 - Bird Flu Testing / U.S.A. - March 9th, 2006: "U.S. will dramatically boost testing for bird flu" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 03/09/06]
2006 - Lung Cancer Trivia / U.S.A. - "[....] In 1988, the National Academy of Sciences presented the findings of its Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation VI Report: 'The Health Effects of Exposure to Indoor Radon.' It is the most definitive accumulation of scientific data on indoor radon. The report confirms that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and that it is a serious public health problem. NAS concluded that radon causes between 15,000 and 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year. [....]" [Based on: Opinion Page article (Radon gas in houses can cause lung cancer) by Colleen Beckwith, p. D10, S.L.P.D., 03/09/06]
2006 - Sues Entercom / Eliot Spitzer - March 9th, 2006: "New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has sued Entercom Communications Corp., the fourth-largest U.S. radio broadcaster, accusing the company of accepting bribes from record lables and promoters as payment for airplay. [....]" [Based on: Article (Spitzer sues Entercom), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 03/09/06]
2006 - Foreign Relations / U.S.A. & Iran - March 9th, 2006: "[....] 'The United States may have the power to cause harm and pain, but it is also susceptible to harm and pain,' Javad Vaeidi, head of the Iranian delegation to the International Atomic Energy Agency, told the agency's board during an all-day, closed door meeting in Vienna. 'So if the United States wishes to choose that path, let the ball roll.' [....] Responding to the Iranian words, White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters in New Orleans that 'provocative statements and actions only further isolate Iran from the rest of the world.' Vice President Dick Cheney said on Tuesday [03/07/06] that Iran would face 'meaningful consequences' if it does not back down. [....]" [Based on: Washington Post article (Iran threatens 'harm and pain' / Official: Iran will fight back if the U.N. imposes sanctions over nuclear program.), p. A1 & A8, S.L.P.D., 03/09/06]
2006 - Security Workers Kidnapped / Iraq - March 9th, 2006: "Gunmen wearing what appeared to be the uniforms of Iraqi Interior Ministry commandos stormed a private security company in the capital Wednesday [03/08/06] afternoon and kidnapped as many as 50 employees, a ministry official said. In an atmosphere of spiraling lawlessness, other violence killed at least 47 people across the country between Tuesday and Wednesday nights." [Based on: Washington Post article (Gunmen storm office, kidnap 50 workers as Iraq violence builds), p. A10, S.L.P.D., 03/09/06]
2006 - Trivia / Human Rights Report, U.S.A. - March 9th, 2006: "The State Department outlined human rights abuses in Iraq on Wednesday [03/08/06], including reports of torture and politically motivated killings that contrast with assessments by President George W. Bush and others of progress since the U.S.-led invasion three years ago. [....] The study, published each year since 1977, offers a comprehensive analysis of all countries in the world except the United States. The introduction calls particular attention to six countries where restrictions on rights were said to be severe: China, Cuba, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea and Zimbabwe." [Based on: A.P. article (Human rights report by U.S. cites torture, political killings in Iraq), p. A12, S.L.P.D., 03/09/06]
2006 - Trivia / Commercial Real-Estate Loans, U.S.A. - March 9th, 2006: "Fed chair says commercial real-estate loans bear watching" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 03/09/06]
2006 - Students Arrested / Alabama Church Fires - March 9th, 2006: "Three college students were arrested Wednesday [03/08/06] in connection with nine church fires in Alabama. Federal agents said the defendants claimed that the first few blazes were set as 'a joke' and that the others were started to throw investigators off the track. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (3 students are arrested in Alabama church fires), p. A2, S.L.P.D., 03/09/06]
2006 - Special Counterterrorism Troops / U.S. Embassies - March 9th, 2006: "The U.S. military command in charge of counterterrorism campaigns is putting small teams of special operations troops in U.S. embassies to support the global war on terrorism, officials said Wednesday [03/08/06]. The presence of these teams, which began at least two years ago but has not been publicly announced by U.S. Special Operations Command, was first reported in Wednesday's editions of The New York Times. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Special counterterrorism troops being placed in U.S. embassies), p. A10, S.L.P.D., 03/09/06]
2006 - Strong Earthquake / Central Mid-Atlantic Ridge - March 9th, 2006: "A strong earthquake occurred at 17:55:55 (UTC) on Thursday, March 9th, 2006. The magnitude 6.0 event has been located in the CENTRAL MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE."
[Based on: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/uskba8.php]
2006 - Authority to Regulate Food Safety / U.S. FDA? - March 9th, 2006: "House approves bill giving FDA authority to regulate food safety / The measure would negate some 200 state laws governing meat, fish, milk and more. / A provision would allow states to appeal to the FDA to preserve their authorities." [Based on: Title & Subtitles for Post-Dispatch Washington Bureau Chief article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 03/09/06]
*Trivia:
The death of Dana Reeve from lung cancer at age 44 brings to mind the one issue never discussed as a cause of cancer and other deadly diseases: the food we eat.
The book "The China Study" by T. Colin Campbell convincingly shows that large amounts of animal protein and refined sugars such as in candy, cakes and sodas, are making us sick with cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, obesity and other fatal diseases. The book includes supporting research.
Unfortunately, the profit-based food and pharmaceutical industries do not want us to have such information and never mention that a plant-based diet is important for good health and to avoid these fatal illnesses. We eat too much animal protein. Our protein needs can be fulfilled with a plant-based diet.
[Based on: Opinion Page article (Plant protein for health) by Joan Botwinick, p. D10, S.L.P.D., 03/09/06]
2006 - Rebuffs Port Deal / House Appropriations Committee - March 9th, 2006: "House panel rebuffs ports deal [62-2] / GOP-led committee attaches rejection to must-pass relief and war funding measure" [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 03/09/06]
2006 - Catholic Priests Suspected of Abuse / Dublin, Ireland - March 9th, 2006: "102 priests suspected of abuse in Dublin, archdiocese says / Since 2003, the archdiocese has been going over the personnel records of more than 2,800 priests who have worked in Dublin since 1940." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 03/09/06]
2006 - Civil War Trivia / Iraq - March 10th, 2006: "Dealing with civil war would be Iraqis' duty, Rumsfeld says" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A10, S.L.P.D., 03/10/06]
2006 - Flash Floods / Malawi - March 10th, 2006: "Flash floods from the heaviest rains in 20 years have swept the south and central parts of malawi, leaving more than 8,000 people homeless, officials said Thursday [03/09/06] There were no reports of deaths. Ironically, Malawi is now in the middle of a food shortage caused by drought last year." [Based on: News Services article (Flash floods leave more than 8,000 homeless), p. A12, S.L.P.D., 03/10/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - March 10th, 2006: "Hints of interest-rate hikes spook markets again" [Based on: Bloomberg News article, p. B7, S.L.P.D., 03/10/06]
2006 - "Bush vs. Constitution" - March 10th, 2006:
Repeatedly through our history, the liberties guaranteed by the Constitution have been threatened in war by an overreacting government and then reaffirmed in peace by calmer leadership. The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798, Lincoln’s suspension of habeas corpus, the suppression of free speech during and after World War I, the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, McCarthyism, and the wiretapping of Vietnam-era dissenters - all of these came to be seen, once fears subsided, as violations of our freedoms and embarrassments to our heritage.
[....]
The president claims an inherent power to imprison American citizens whom he has determined to be this country’s enemies without obtaining a warrant, letting them hear the charges against them, or following other safeguards against wrongful punishment guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. Under his administration, the government has engaged in inhumane treatment of prisoners that amounts to torture, and when Congress passed legislation to ban such treatment, he declared he would simply interpret the law his own way. Although the Constitution says treaties are the “supreme law of the land,” the president has abrogated them on his own. And, we now know, he ordered a secret program of electronic surveillance of Americans without court warrants.
But there is something more dangerous than any of these specific abuses and usurpations, and that is the theory of inherent powers that Bush invokes to justify most of these actions and the possibility of its being effectively institutionalized by a meek Congress and, worst of all, by a deferential Supreme Court.
[....]
Not long ago, the Supreme Court could have been counted on to restore the checks that Bush has thrust aside. But the confirmation of the president’s two nominees to the Court may now tilt it in his direction. The common element in the background of the new justices is not merely their political conservatism, but their history of support for a broad construction of executive powers.
The combined effect of a changed court and a putative state of perpetual war could radically distort our whole constitutional framework. An increasing number of congressional Republicans have recently expressed doubts about the legality of Bush’s surveillance program. The real battle, however, is about general principles applied across a wide range of policies. Of course, if the voters elect a Democratic president in 2008, perhaps even the Court’s new justices may discover constitutional reasons to limit the president’s inherent powers. I am not saying this is the only hope. But in a democracy, those who cannot imagine being out of power deserve another experience of being without it.
[Based on: Based on article - © 2006 by The American Prospect, Inc. - (Bush vs. Constitution / President Bush's conception of his own powers is even more dangerous than his specific abuses), By Paul Starr, Issue Date: 03.10.06]
2006 - Uncle Sam: "Charge It!" - March 10th, 2006:
Uncle Sam, the old coot, ought to buy one of those bumper stickers
that says: "I'm spending my kids' inheritance."
That's just what he's doing.
In fact, he's gone wild with the national credit card. The United
States will borrow about $360 billion to finance the federal budget deficit
this year, and it's probably headed higher next year.
The national debt now stands at $4.8 trillion, not counting
Social Security debt. That's up 35 percent since President george W. Bush
took office and embarked on a spree of tax-cutting while fighting a war,
filling prescriptions for old people and borrowing like mad.
Back in the old days, we could comfort ourselves with the thought
that the national debt had no major economic consequences. Afterall, we owed
it to ourselves, as the saying goes.
Not anymore. Other countries now account for 80 percent of Treasury
deby purchases. In 2001, foreigners held nearly one-third of Unckle sam's
debt, and the figure surely is higher today.
Now they're sending us their bill.
All this is detailed in new figures from the Economic Policy
Institute, a Washington think tank of contortionists who lean left on most
policy issues while simultaneously standing upright for fiscal realism.
The U.S. government now pays $83 billion a year in interest
to foreigners. At this rate, five years from now we'll be paying $181 billion
a year. That's well over double what Uncle Sam spends annually on educating,
training and providing social services for Americans.
Much of that money will go to people we don't consider close,
trusted pals. In addition to the oil sheiks, the Chinese government is among
our biggest creditors. The Chinese are stockpiling dollars - and investing
them in U.S. Treasury bonds - partly to keep their own currency low. That
artificially low currency helps keep U.S. consumer prices cheap, but at the
cost of American jobs.
The federal deficit is only part of our national spending binge.
Last year, America imported $723 billion more goods and services than it
exported, and our trade deficit is worsening rapidly.
That sort of spending leaves a lot of dollars floating around
overseas. Besides lending those dollars back to us - with interest, of course
- foreigners are buying up American businesses.
Thus, no one should be surprised that Citgo, the big oil company,
is run by the anti-American government of Venezuela. Or that a conglomerate
owned by the government of Dubai would want to run American ports.
This can go on for a very long time - but not forever. Eventually,
foreigners will lose their yen for American assets, the dollar will fall
in value and the deficits will shrink. When we reach that tipping point,
this process will probably happen gradually, easing the considerable pain
of adjustment.
Let's hope it happens before we saddle our children with monstrous
interest payments that will depress their standard of living and before corporate
America becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Someplace Else.
[Based on: Opinion Page article (Uncle Sam: "Charge It!"), p. C12, S.L.P.D., 03/10/06]
2006 - Sentenced / Marion Barry - March 10th, 2006: "Barry [Marion Barry] is sentenced [03/09/06 - to 3 yrs. probation] in income tax case" [Based on: Title for Staff & News Services article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 03/10/06]
2006 - Drops Port Takeover / Arab Firm - March 10th, 2006: "Arab firm drops port takeover / Critics are cautious / Lawmakers seek details on company's plan to transfer operations to U.S. entity" [Based on: Title & Subtitles for Knight Ridder Newspapers article, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 03/10/06]
2006 - January Trade Deficit / U.S.A. - March 10th, 2006: "The nation's trade deficit widened to another record in January as the strengthening economy attracted a surge of imported cars, household goods and petroleum products. Americans imported $68.5 billion more in goods and services than they exported at the start of the year, up 5.3 percent from December, the Commerce Department said Thursday [03/09/06]. That produced the largest deficit since October, when the trade gap swelled to $67.8 billion. [....]" [Based on: New York Times article (January trade deficit widens to another record), p. A11, S.L.P.D., 03/10/06]
2006 - Strong Earthquake / Scotia Sea - March 10th, 2006: "A strong earthquake occurred at 10:12:20 (UTC) on Friday, March 10th, 2006. The magnitude 6.1 event has been located in the SCOTIA SEA."
[Based on: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/uskcaz.php]
2006 - Practicing Democracy? / Hamas - March 10th, 2006:
Despite glaring bids to ostracize and demonize Hamas, the
Palestinian group, which swept legislative elections in January has achieved
political success of late. This week, its leaders made a high-profile visit
to Moscow. Russia deserves praise for taking the lead in reaching out to
Hamas, despite vociferous Israeli objections. Other countries seem willing
to follow suit.
Now in power, the movement is experiencing political transformation,
which should be promoted, not demoted. The fact that Hamas is at the Palestinian
helm is the result of democratic voting. This fact should be borne in mind
while this hubbub continues over the group's manifesto. The Palestinians
voted it to power and their choice must be respected. They should not be
punished for practicing democracy.
Hamas is under mounting pressure to recognize the Jewish state.
Logic dictates that this recognition should be mutual. Both sides should
be prodded to exchange reconciliatory gestures, which should clear the way
for breaking the protracted peace impasse.
[Based on: The Egyptian Gazette - Cairo article (Reward Good Behavior), p. C13 (Other Views page), S.L.P.D., 03/10/06]
2006 - Water Geysers? / Saturn Moon - March 10th, 2006: "NASA's Cassini spacecraft may have discovered water geysers on one of Saturn's moons, raising the possibility that conditions favorable for life in our solar system are much more common than once thought possible. The presence of pockets of liquid water near the surface of tiny Enceladus, a frigid ball of ice where temperatures drop to 330 degrees below zero, could mean the three ingredients for life as we know it - liquid water, heat energy and organic material - all are located there. [....] Cassini discovered the geysers as it repeatedly flew by Enceladius in 2005. The spacecraft first photographed plumes of water vapor 14 months ago, but scientists weren't sure whether the pictures were accurate or the result of a camera problem. In July, instruments aboard Cassini again detected water vapor rising from near the moon's south pole. In November, another flyby captured images from the same region that indisputably showed jets of small icy particles streaming more than 300 miles above Enceladus' surface. [....] If the theory holds up, it would make Enceladus one of four known worlds in the solar system to exibit evidence of active volcanism. The others are Earth, Jupiter's moon Io and Neptune's moon Triton." [Based on: Orlando Sentinel article, p. A8, S.L.P.D., 03/10/06]
2006 - Growing Lawlessness / Pakistan - March 10th, 2006: "[....] Western diplomats say growing lawlessness in Pakistan's tribal regions could provide more cover for militants launching cross-border attacks into Afghanistan. [....] Musharraf has deployed 80,000 troops and mounted a series of military operations over three years into Pashtun tribal domains that have resisted outside control for centuries." [Based on: A.P. article (Pakistan unrest hurts terrorism fight), p. A11, S.L.P.D., 03/10/06]
2006 - "Irresponsible Deal" / U.S. & India - March 10th, 2006:
U.S. President George W. Bush has not
handed India "The Bomb" by agreeing to sell that country nuclear technology.
That's because India has had atomic weapons for decades. But the new pact
between Washington and New Delhi undermines 35 years of nuclear arms control,
and that stark reality poses a real risk to global security.
By treating India as an acceptable nuclear partner, Bush has
signaled the U.S. is prepared to do business with "strategic partners" such
as India or Israel, even as it continues to treat Pakistan like a nuclear
pariah and blasts North Korea and Iran as threats to world peace. Why shouldn't
Pakistan or Israel now seek similar bilateral deals outside the Nuclear
Nonproliferation Treaty? And what incentive have North Korea and Iran to
comply? This is clearly a slippery slope....
Rather than cut-off deals that destroy the NPT in stages, the
"Big Five" - the U.S., Russia, Britain, France and China - plus nuclear-capable
countries like Canada ... should sell nuclear technology only to nations
agreeing not to develop weapons. That's been the NPT bargain since 1970 and
has served as a brake on the spread of nuclear weaponry, dissuading places
like South Korea and Saudi Arabia from building a bomb.
Yet Bush has agreed to sell civilian nuclear technology to India,
subject to U.S. Congress approval even though just 14 of its 22 reactors
will be under international scrutiny....
The world has had real success, under the NPT, persuading South
Africa, Brazil, Argentina and Libya to give up their bomb-making programs.
That will be a harder sell in the future, given that the U.S. has now winked
at India's bomb, after winking at Israel's bomb. And it comes at a time of
genuine concern not only about proliferation, but also about the theft of
nuclear materials and terrorism.
This is bad policy, regardless of how much India matters to
the U.S.
[Based on: Toronto Star article (Irresponsible Deal), p. C13 (Other Views page), S.L.P.D., 03/10/06]
2006 - Strong Storms / Southern Plains, U.S.A. - March 10th, 2006: "Strong storms [03/09/06] strike southern Pains" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 03/10/06]
2006 - Foreign Relations / U.S. & Latin America - March 10th, 2006: "Rice [Condoleezza Rice] accepts leftist leaders in Latin America" [Based on: Title for Staff & News Services article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 03/10/06]
2006 - Not Tied to Madrid Blasts / Al-Qaida - March 10th, 2006: "A two-year investigation into the Madrid train bombings concludes that the Islamic terrorists who carried out the blasts were homegrown radicals acting on their own rather than at the behest of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network, two senior intelligence officials said. [....] The intelligence chief said there were no telephone calls between the Madrid bombers and al-Qaida and no money transfers. The Western official said the plotters had links to other Islamic radicals in Western Europe, but the plan was hatched and organized in Spain. 'This was not an al-Qaida operation,' he said. 'It was homegrown.' The attack has been frequently described as linked to al-Qaida because a man who identified himself as Abu Dujan al-Afghani and said he was al-Qaida's 'European military spokesman,' claimed responsibility in a video released two days later. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Al-Qaida isn't tied to Madrid blasts, officials say), p. A11, S.L.P.D., 03/10/06]
2006 - Inside Solar Wind Stream / Planet Earth - March 10th, 2006: "Earth has entered a solar wind stream that could spark mild geomagnetic storms. Sky watchers in Alaska, Canada and Scandinavia should be alert for auroras tonight." [Based on: http://spaceweather.com/index.cgi] - [03/10/06]
2006 - Signs Revised Patriot Act / George W. Bush - March 10th, 2006: "Bush signs [03/09/06] revised Patriot Act near deadline" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 03/10/06]
2006 - Will Give Abu Ghraib Prison Back to Iraqis? / U.S.A. - March 10th, 2006: "U.S. will give [as soon as possible] infamous prison [Abu Ghraib, Iraq] back to the Iraqis" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A10, S.L.P.D., 03/10/06]
2006 - Bird Flu Infects Stone Martin [a weasel-like animal] / Germany - March 10th, 2006: "Bird flu virus infects another mammal species [stone martin] in Germany" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A8, S.L.P.D., 03/10/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - March 11th, 2006: "Job growth, decline in oil price give stocks a boost" [Based on: Bloomberg News article, p. A34, S.L.P.D., 03/11/06]
2006 - Died / Slobodan Milosevic - March 11th, 2006: "Ex-Serb leader dies [03/11/06] in U.N. jail / Justice Cheated? Milosevic's death, apparently from natural causes, ends with no verdict his trial on charges of war crimes." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 03/12/06]
2006 - Resignation / Interior Secretary, U.S.A. - March 11th, 2006: "Interior secretary [Gale Norton] resigns [03/10/06] from cabinet" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A24, S.L.P.D., 03/11/06]
2006 - Access to CIA Briefings? / I. Lewis Libby - March 11th, 2006: "Judge says Libby can access CIA briefings" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A26, S.L.P.D., 03/11/06]
2006 - Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter / Mars Orbit - March 11th, 2006: "NASA spacecraft [Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter] begins orbit [03/10/06] around Mars" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A25, S.L.P.D., 03/11/06]
2006 - Found Dead / American Hostage [Tom Fox], Iraq - March 11th, 2006: "American [Tom Fox] kidnapped in Iraq has been killed" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A28, S.L.P.D., 03/11/06]
2006 - Mad Cow Case? / U.S.A. - March 12th, 2006: "The Agriculture Department is investigating a possible case of mad cow disease, the agency's chief veterinarian said Saturday [03/11/06]. A routine test indicated the possible presence of the disease, said John Clifford, the USDA official. The agency would not say where the animal was from. The cow did not enter the human or animal food chain, Clifford said. The department is conducting more detailed tests at its laboratory in Ames, Iowa, and should have results in four to seven days. [....] In humans, eating meat products contaminated with mad cow disease has been linked to more than 150 deaths worldwide from variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease, a rare and fatal nerve disease. A majority of the deaths were in Britain, where there was an outbreak of mad cow disease that started in the mid-1980's. There was one case confirmed in the U.S., although the federal Centers for Disease Control believes the person got the disease while in the United Kingdom. No one is known to have contracted the disease inside the United States. [....] As of Friday [03/10/06], 644,603 of the nation's estimated 95 million head of cattle has been tested." [Based on: A.P. article (U.S. may have a mad cow case), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 03/12/06]
2006 - Convicted / Scott Jensen - March 12th, 2006: "Lawmaker [Wis. State Rep. Scott Jensen] convicted of using staff in campaign" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A7, S.L.P.D., 03/12/06]
2006 - Internet Blows CIA's Cover? - March 12th, 2006: "Internet blows CIA's cover / A newspaper's [Chicago Tribune's] computer search finds virtual directory of 2,600 employees and 2 dozen secret facilities." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for Chicago Tribune article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 03/12/06]
2006 - New National Flag / Venezuela - March 12th, 2006: "President [Hugo Chavez] raises [03/12/06] new national flag" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A8, S.L.P.D., 03/13/06]
2006 - Charged With Theft / Claude Allen - March 12th, 2006: "President George W. Bush said Saturday [03/11/06] that he was shocked and saddened to learn that former domestic policy adviser Claude Allen was charged with theft, accused of receiving phony refunds at department stores. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Ex-aides arrest shocks Bush), p. A7, S.L.P.D., 03/12/06]
2006 - "Course on Happines" / Harvard College - March 12th, 2006: "The most popular course at Harvard this semester teaches happiness. [....] Among the research findings that support the idea that happy people function better: A study of aging nuns found that those with a positive outlook in their 20s lived as much as a decade longer than those with a negative outlook, and people who were asked to keep a diary every night for six months, recording things that had gone well that day, fared better in measures of happiness, optimism, and physical health than those who did not. [....] It certainly does not hurt that Ben-Shaher, 35, raised in Israel and educated at Harvard, tells deeply personal stories to illustrate points. On Tuesday, he described how, in his senior year at Harvard, he won his dream fellowship, only to start worrying the next day about why he hadn't won a better one instead. The moral: How you see things can matter more than what actually happens. [....] He [Tal D. Ben-Shahar, the lecturer who teaches Harvard's course] proposed that perhaps a single glorious, estatic experience could change a person for the better for life - and went on to describe how students might increase the likelihood of such an experience and its aftermath, from cultivating a sense of gratitude for the beautiful things in their lives to taking the time to really listen to music." [Based on: Boston Globe article (Students flock to course on happiness) by Carey Goldbert, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 03/12/06]
2006 - Caffeine's Effect / Ruled by Genetic Trait? - March 12th, 2006: "Here's a real caffeine jolt - heart attacks might be a risk for coffe drinkers with a common genetic trait that makes caffeine linger in their bodies, a study suggests. Research on more than 4,000 people in Costa Rica found that about half had the trait and were considered 'slow caffeine metabolizers.' The other half had the opposite trait, which caused their bodies to rapidly break down or metabolize caffeine, and the coffee-drinking in this group appeared to reduce heart attack risks. [....] His study [University of Toronto researcher, Ahmed El-Sohemy] conducted with researchers from Harvard's School of Public Health and the University of Costa Rica, appeared in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Caffeine's effect may be ruled by genetic trait), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 03/12/06]
2006 - Snowstorm / Minnesota - March 13th, 2006: "[....] Monday [03/13/06] ... a late-season snowstorm canceled schools and turned the Twin Cities and Minnesota into a winter wonderland." [Based on: A.P. picture article caption, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 03/14/06]
2006 - Protests / Taipei, Taiwan - March 13th, 2006: "Marchers [Taiwan] protest [03/12/06] end to unification group" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A8, S.L.P.D., 03/13/06]
2006 - Rogue Death Squads / Iraq - March 13th, 2006: "Officials in Iraq confirm rogue death squad activity" [Based on: Title for Knight Ridder Newspapers article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 03/13/06]
2006 - Roadside Bomb / Afghanistan - March 13th, 2006: "Four U.S. soldiers perish in bombing [03/12/06 in Afghanistan" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A8, S.L.P.D., 03/13/06]
2006 - Rejects Russian Proposal / Iran - March 13th, 2006: "Iran rejects Russian proposal to resolve uranium impasse" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A8, S.L.P.D., 03/13/06]
2006 - Storms & Tornadoes / Midwest, U.S.A. - March 13th, 2006: "Powerful thunderstorms and tornadoes cut destructive paths through towns in Southern Illinois and Missouri during the weekend, marking an early start to this year's tornado season. [....]" [Based on: Article (3 killed as storms, tornadoes rake area), p. A1, S.L.P.D., 03/13/06]
*Trivia: ""Wild thunderstorms and unseasonably early tornadoes that roared in waves through Missouri and Illinois left a frightening weekend tally: 33 hours of destruction, and nine people killed. [....]" [Based on: Article (A swirling nightmare / 9 Dead in Missouri / 113 Tornadoes Reported), p. A1, S.L.P.D., 03/14/06]
2006 - Calls for Censure of George W. Bush / Sen. Russ Feingold - March 13th, 2006: "Senator [Sen. Russ Feingold] calls for censure of Bush" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 03/13/06]
2006 - Requests to Subpoena / Stephen J. Hadley & Condoleezza Rice - March 13th, 2006: "Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and national security adviser Stephen J. Hadley are among the witnesses defense lawyers want to subpoena in the case of two pro-Israel lobbyists accused of receiving classified information. There is no indication whether the judge in the case has considered the subpoena requests." [Based on: News Services article (Lobbyists' attorneys want to subpoena Rice), p. A2, S.L.P.D., 03/13/06]
2006 - Wildfires / Texas - March 14th, 2006: "Texas wildfires [03/13/06] blamed for at least 7 deaths" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 03/14/06]
2006 - Mad Cow / Alabama - March 14th, 2006: "A cow in Alabama has tested positive for mad cow disease, the Agriculture Department said Monday [03/13/06] in confirming the third U.S. case of the brain-wasting ailment. The cow never entered the food supply for people or animals, officials said. The animal, unable to walk, was killed by a local veterinarian and buried on the farm. [....] The Alabama cow had spent less than a year at the farm where it died, Clifford [John Clifford] said. Investigators are working to determine where the cow was born and raised and to find its herdmates and offspring, Clifford said. [....]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article (Alabama cow has mad cow disease), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 03/14/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - March 14th, 2006: "More than $25 billion in takeovers pushed stocks higher Monday [03/13/06] in the face of rising oil prices and bond yields. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article, p. C5, S.L.P.D., 03/14/06]
2006 - Finds Errors / Fannie Mae - March 14th, 2006: "Fannie Mae disclosed Monday [03/13/06] that it has found additional errors in its government-ordered review. The government-sponsored company, which finances one of every five home loans in the United States, said it had made 'substantial progress' toward completing its accounting review but will miss a regulatory deadline for filing its annual financial report for the second straight year." [Based on: Article (Fannie Mae finds errors), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 03/14/06]
2006 - Trivia / Saddam Hussein Trial - March 14th, 2006: "Saddam-era judge admits sentencing 148 to death / They had fair trials, he insists." [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 03/14/06]
2006 - Censured & Fined / Merrill Lynch - March 14th, 2006: "Merrill Lynch & Co. has been fined $2.5 million by federal regulators who say the Wall Street powerhouse failed to promptly provide e-mails they sought over a 16-month period. The Securities and Exchange Commission announced the settlement with Merrill Lynch, under which it agreed to pay the civil fine and also was censured by the agency." [Based on: Article (Merrill Lynch pays fine), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 03/14/06]
2006 - Growing Demonstrations / Thailand - March 14th, 2006: "Thousands demand that prime minister [of Thailand] quit" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 03/14/06]
2006 - Warmest Winter on Record / Canada - March 14th, 2006: "The winter of 2005-2006 has been Canada's warmest on record, and the federal agency Environment Canada said Monday [03/13/06] it was investigating whether it's a sign of global warming. [....] Whitewood said the last 10 winters have been warmer than normal and along with this winter reflect a trend that could be explained as global warming." [Based on: News Services article (Warm winter spurs look for global warming signs), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 03/14/06]
2006 - May be Dismissed / Moussaoui Case - March 14th, 2006: "Death penalty case against Moussaoui may be dismissed / A government lawyer violated judge's order on exposing witnesses to trial testimony." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 03/14/06]
2006 - Strong Earthquake / Seram, Indonesia - March 14th, 2006: "A strong earthquake occurred at 06:57:33 (UTC) on Tuesday, March 14th, 2006. The magnitude 6.7 event has been located in the SERAM INDONESIA."
[Based on: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/uskgap.php]
2006 - To Boost U.S. Production / Toyota & Kia - March 14th, 2006: "Toyota, Kia to boost U.S. production / Camrys will be built in Indiana; Kia plans a new factory in Georgia." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. C3, S.L.P.D., 03/14/06]
2006 - Multinational NATO Force? / Afghanistan - March 14th, 2006: "The American mission to bring order to Afghanistan is being handed to a multinational force led by the NATO alliance, a move that will subordinate U.S. troops under foreign command in a combat situation for the first time since World War II. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (NATO force will take over military operations), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 03/14/06]
2006 - Free Hospital Care for the Elderly? / Chile - March 14th, 2006: "Newly inaugurated President Michelle Bachelet said Monday [03/13/06] that all Chileans older than 60 will immediately begin receiving free care at public hospitals. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (People over 60 will get free hospital care), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 03/14/06]
2006 - Holocaust Cartoon Contest / Irainian Paper - March 14th, 2006:
An Iranian newspaper's contest for Holocaust-related cartoons has drawn entries from 200 people, with some drawings mocking the World War II slaughter. One entry shows Jews going into a gas pipeline. [....] Flugennock [American Mike Flugennock], of Washington, insisted his entry is not anti-Semitic but legitimate political criticism - because it criticizes not the Jewish people or their religion but Israeli policy toward the Palestinians. "It specifically addresses policies of the Israeli state with regard to its behavior in Palestine, and their similarities to the strategies employed by the Nazi regime in Warsaw and elsewhere," he said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. Flugennock said he saw the contest as a chance to tell the world "that there is 'another America' that sees through the policies of the Israeli state and isn't afraid of reactionaries' trying to tar them with the epithet 'anti-Semite.' " [....]
[Based on: A.P. article (Iranian paper holds cartoon contest about the Holocaust / Hundreds participating include 6 Americans, one of whom pillories Israeli policies.), p. A10, S.L.P.D., 03/14/06]
2006 - Iraq Insurgents Want Civil War / Bush Says - March 14th, 2006: "Insurgents want civil war, Bush says" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 03/14/06]
2006 - Likely Woodward Source? / Richard Armitage - March 14th, 2006: "Vanity Fair is reporting that former Washington Post executive editor Ben Bradlee says it is reasonable to assume the former State Department official Richard Armitage is likely the source who revealed the CIA operative Valerie Plame's name to Post Assistant Managing Editor Bob Woodward. In an article to be published in the magazine today, Bradlee is quoted as saying: 'That Armitage is the likely source is a fair assumption.' Armitage was deputy secretary of state in President George W. Bush's first term. In an interview Monday [03/13/06], Bradlee said he does know the identity of Woodward's source but does not recall making that precise statement to a Vanity Fair reporter. He said he has no interest in unmasking the official who first told Woodward about Plame in June 2003. [....] Bradlee, currently Post vice president at large, said he learned the source's name from someone other than Woodward. Woodward said he did not reveal the source of his friend and former boss. Woodward and Bradlee refused to disclose the source's name. Armitage did not return phone calls requesting comment." [Based on: Washington Post article (Article names 'likely' Woodward source), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 03/14/06]
2006 - Denies Stealing Ideas / "Da Vinci Code" Author - March 14th, 2006: "In a rare and reluctant public appearance, novelist Dan Brown dismissed as 'completely fanciful' on Monday [03/13/06] claims by two authors that he had stolen their ideas for 'The Da Vinci Code.' He said he hadn't even read their book until the structure of his theological thriller was already in place. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article ('Da Vinci Code' author denies stealing ideas), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 03/14/06]
2006 - Buying North Fork Bancorp. Inc. / Capital One Financial Corp. - March 14th, 2006: "Capital One to pay about $15 billion for N.Y. bank / North Fork deal follows Hibernia acquisition." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 03/14/06]
2006 - Wildfires / Texas - March 15th, 2006: "[....] Wind-blown flames have raced across more than 1,000 square miles since Sunday [03/12/06], killing at least 11 people and forcing almost 2,000 others to evacuate. Most have since returned to their homes. [....] Preliminary counts by state officials estimate 10,000 dead horses and cattle. [....]" [Based on: Title for Cox News Service article (Texas races to pound out fire), p. A2, S.L.P.D., 03/15/06]
2006 - Trivia / Google Case - March 15th, 2006: "Judge may order Google to divulge data / The judgement: Search engine operator may have to turn over some records, but most-sensitive info may be shielded." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. C1, S.L.P.D., 03/15/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - March 15th, 2006: "Stocks rallied Tuesday [03/14/06] to their highest levels since 2001 after bond yields tumbled and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. recorded Wall Street's highest earnings ever. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article, p. C4, S.L.P.D., 03/15/06]
2006 - Sectarian Revenge / Iraq - March 15th, 2006: "Sectarian revenge [Iraq] claims scores of lives" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A7, S.L.P.D., 03/15/06]
2006 - School Shooting / Nevada - March 15th, 2006: "An eighth-grader opened fire with a .38-caliber pistol Tuesday [03/14/06] outside his middle school cafeteria [Pine Middle School - Reno, Nevada], injuring two classmates, authorities said. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Student with gun wounds 2 classmates), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 03/15/06]
2006 - Trivia / U.S. Trade Deficit - March 15th, 2006: "America's deficit in the broadest measure of international trade surged to a record high of $804.9 billion last year as the U.S. went deeper into debt to foreigners. The deficit in the current account was up 20.4 percent from the previous record of $668.1 billion set in 2004, the Commerce Department said Tuesday [03/14/06]. [....] The deficit for just the fourth quarter also was a record at $224.9 billion, up by 21.3 percent from the third quarter, and reflecting a big rise in the country's foreign oil bill." [Based on: A.P. article (Trade deficit grows; retail sales decline), p. C3, S.L.P.D., 03/15/06]
2006 - Dam Break / Kauai, Hawaii - March 15th, 2006: "Earthen dam breaks [Kauai, Hawaii]; 1 dead, 7 missing" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 03/15/06]
2006 - Bird Flu Trivia / Azerbaijan - March 15th, 2006: "Azerbaijan reported three people killed by bird flu, after Myanmar announced its first outbreak of the deadly H5N1 strain in poultry. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Bird flu claims 3 in Azerbaijan), p. A9, S.L.P.D., 03/15/06]
2006 - West Bank Prison Raid / Israel - March 15th, 2006: "Israelis raid prison in West Bank, seize 6 inmates [Palestinian]" [Based on: Title for New York Times article, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 03/15/06]
*Trivia: "Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas toured on Wednesday [03/15/06] the devestated prison in Jericho where Israel spirited away six prisoners. He denounced the raid as an 'unforgivable crime.' [....] One of the prisoners is Ahmed Saadat, leader of the radical Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The PFLP claimed responsibility for the 2001 assassination of Israeli Cabinet minister Rehavam Zeevi in Jerusalem, saying it was retaliation for Israel's killing of its leader several weeks earlier." [Based on: A.P. article (Palestinian president denounces Israeli raid), p. A11, S.L.P.D., 03/16/06]
2006 - Denies Price Fix / Big Oil, U.S.A. - March 15th, 2006: "Big oil denies price fix / Senators say there isn't enough competition in the industry." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. C1, S.L.P.D., 03/15/06]
2006 - Solar Wind Stream / Planet Earth - "A solar wind stream is buffeting Earth's magnetic field. This could spark auroras tonight over Alaska, Canada and Scandinavia. " [Based on: http://spaceweather.com/] - [03/15/06]
2006 - Profit Rise / Goldman Sachs Group Inc. - March 15th, 2006: "Goldman Sachs sees profit rise 62 percent" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. C3, S.L.P.D., 03/15/06]
2006 - Trivia / Rural Living Conditions, China - March 15th, 2006: "Improving rural living conditions is vital, China's premier says / He blasts officials who have confiscated land for development." [Based on: Title for Knight Ridder Newspapers article, p. A7, S.L.P.D., 03/15/06]
2006 - Indictments / Jordan Terrorist Bombings - March 15th, 2006: "An al-Qaida leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and seven other people were indicted Tuesday [03/14/06] in Jordan's worst terrorist bombings, the attacks Nov. 9 at three hotels in Amman. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Eight are indicted in terrorist bombings), p. A9, S.L.P.D., 03/15/06]
2006 - Capital Murder Case / Aryan Brotherhood - March 15th, 2006: "The largest capital murder case in U.S. history began Tuesday [03/14/06] as federal prosecutors aim to dismantle the Aryan Brotherhood, a prison gang of white supremacists that has been linked to dozens of killings across the nation. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Prosecutors target Aryan Brotherhood), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 03/15/06]
2006 - Resignation / Prime Minister, South Korea - March 15th, 2006: "President Roh Moo-hyun accepted the resignation of his prime minister [Lee Hae-chan] Tuesday [03/14/06] after the premier set off a scandal by playing golf during a national railway strike. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Premier resigns after golf scandal), p. A9, S.L.P.D., 03/15/06]
2006 - Coached Witnesses Rejected / Moussaoui Trial - March 15th, 2006: "Judge rejects 'coached' witnesses in Moussaoui trial" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 03/15/06]
2006 - Will be Scaled Back? / Mad Cow Testing, U.S.A. - March 15th, 2006:
[....] Consumer groups argue that more, not fewer, animals should be tested. Officials haven't finalized new levels, but the department's budget proposal calls for 40,000 tests a year, or about 110 daily. "This would be a tenth of a percent of all animals slaughtered," Jean Halloran, director of food policy initiatives at Consumers Union, said Tuesday [03/14/06]. "This starts to be so small that in our opinion, it approaches a policy of 'Don't look, don't find.' " Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin said the confidence of American consumers and foreign customers was at risk. [....] Tests are done on brain tissue from cows, so animals must be killed before they can be tested. There is no test for the disease in a live animal. Since June 2004, the department has tested 652,697 cows for the disease. The nation has about 95 million cattle.
[Based on: Title for A.P. article (Despite third case, testing for mad cow disease will be scaled back as planned), p. A10, S.L.P.D., 03/15/06] - [Article paragraph indents untranscribed - D.R.D.]
2006 - Wants to Unmask Corporate Taxes / IRS Chief, U.S.A. - March 15th, 2006: "Congress should consider requiring companies to make public part or all of their tax returns to reduce cheating, Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Mark Everson said Tuesday [03/14/06]. [....] It was the first time the IRS has suggested forcing disclosure of corporate tax information. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 03/15/06]
2006 - Owe Millions in Back Taxes / Government Contractors, U.S.A. - March 15th, 2006: "Government contractors who owe millions in back taxes nevertheless bought luxury cars, boats and property. Some failed to pay taxes but gambled company money. [....] Three hearings have shown that government contractors owe $7.7 billion in taxes. Studies by the Government Accountability Office show that Pentagon contractors owe $3 billion in taxes and that nondefense contractors owe $3.3 billion. [....] Tax privacy laws bar the investigators from identifying the deliquent contractors by name. Those same protections prevent the Internal Revenue Service from sharing some tax information with agencies that negotiate contracts. The GSA asks applicants whether they have been indicted or convicted of tax evasion, but that fails to catch many companies with poor tax records." [Based on: A.P. article (Firms get government contracts despite deep tax debts), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 03/15/06]
2006 - Warns of Budget Deficit Dangers / U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman - March 15th, 2006: "Persistent large budget deficits need to be curbed because they pose risks to the country's long-term economic health, says Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. 'The prospective increase in the budget deficit will place at risk future living standards of our country,' Bernanke said. 'As a result, I think it would be very desirable to take concrete steps to lower the prospective path of the deficit.' [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Bernanke warns of budget deficit dangers), p. C3, S.L.P.D., 03/15/06]
*Trivia: "[....] The National Debt [U.S.A.] has continued to increase an average of $2.14 billion per day since September 30, 2005! [....]" [Based on: http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/]
2006 - U.S. Soldiers Murder Innocent Iraqi Civilians? / Ishaqi, Iraq - March 15th, 2006: "The scope of allegations that members of the U.S. military have killed civilians in Iraq expanded Thursday [06/01/06] beyond reports of deliberate killings in Haditha in November [2005]. In San Diego, a defense lawyer said military prosecutors were on the verge of filing murder charges against seven Marines and a Navy hospital corpsman. The case involves the fatal shooting of an Iraqi man in April [26th]. The British Broadcasting Corp. said it had found video evidence implicating U.S. forces in the deliberate killing of 11 Iraqi civilians on March 15 in Ishaqi, about 60 miles north of Baghdad. U.S. military officials in Iraq said that all coalition military personnel - 130,000 Americans and 20,000 from other nations - would undergo special training in ethics 'and the values that separate us from our enemies.' The government of Iraq said it would start its own investigation into the killings in Haditha. There, U.S. Marines are alleged to have slain two dozen Iraqis on Nov. 19. The Iraqis said they'd look into other questionable events involving Americans." [Based on: News Services article (Troops face more accusations), pp. A1 & A11, S.L.P.D., 06/02/06]
*Trivia: "A military investigation has cleared U.S. soldiers of allegations that they intentionally killed Iraqi civilians in a raid in March in a village north of Baghdad. The armed forces made the announcement Friday [06/02/06] despite dramatic video footage of slain children in the village of Ishaqi. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Inquiry clears soldiers in death of civilians / Meanwhile, allegations against Marines in 2 cases remain unresolved.), p. A28, S.L.P.D., 06/03/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - March 16th, 2006: "Stocks climbed for a fourth day Wednesday [03/15/06] after earnings from Sears Holdings Corp. exceeded estimates and a Federal Reserve survey showed steady economic growth. [....]" [Based on: Title for Bloomberg News article (Sears surprise, beige book boost stocks 4th day), p. C4, S.L.P.D., 03/16/06]
2006 - Failed Military Coup / Chad - March 16th, 2006: "Military coup fails [03/14/06] to topple president [of Chad]" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A11, S.L.P.D., 03/16/06]
2006 - 27 People Charged / Child Porn - March 16th, 2006: "Participants in an international Internet chat room [Kiddypics & Kiddyvids] transmitted live visuals of child molestation and traded thousands of pictures of child pornography, federal authorities said Wednesday [03/15/06] in announcing charges against 27 people. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (27 face molestation, porn charges), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 03/16/06]
2006 - Sues H&R Block / N.Y. State - March 16th, 2006: "New York state sues H&R Block over IRA / The $250 million fraud suit charges that the company: *steered 500,000 customers into a faulty IRA plan. *charged these customers 85 percent more in fees than they received in interest." [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. C1, S.L.P.D., 03/16/06]
2006 - Goes on Lockdown / Baghdad, Iraq - March 16th, 2006: "Baghdad goes on lockdown for parliament's first session" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A13, S.L.P.D., 03/16/06]
2006 - NASD Fine / Merrill Lynch & Co. - March 16th, 2006: "NASD fines Merrill Lynch $5 million over call centers / Agency issues investor alert about sales contests, fund switches." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for Dow Jones Newswires article, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 03/16/06]
2006 - Targeted for Death? / U.S. Judges - March 16th, 2006: "Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg says she and former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor have been the targets of death threats from the 'irrational fringe' of society, people apparently spurred by Republican criticism of the high court. [....] Worry is not limited to the Supreme Court. Three-quarters of the nation's 2,200 federal judges have asked for government-paid home security systems, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said this week. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Ginsburg says she, O'Connor have been targeted for death), p. A2, S.L.P.D., 03/16/06]
2006 - Exhorts Iraqis to Unite / Saddam Hussein - March 16th, 2006: "Saddam exhorts Iraqis to unite, fight Americans" [Based on: Title for A.P. article (New U.N. human rights body is approved over U.S. objections), p. A13, S.L.P.D., 03/16/06]
2006 - Trivia / Capsaicin vs. Prostate Cancer - March 16th, 2006: "Gentlemen, eat your chili peppers. Habanero, jalapeno, Scotch bonnet - those hot but tasty varieties of the capsicum frutescens have multiple health benefits - including the ability to drive prostate cancer cells to kill themselves, researchers announced yesterday.
According to a team from the University of California at Los Angeles and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the hot stuff in peppers - capsaicin - caused 80 percent of active prostate cancer cells growing in mice to "follow the molecular pathways leading to apoptosis," or cell death. [....]"
[Based on: The Washington Times article (Scorched
mouth, but healthy prostate) By Jennifer Harper, 03/16/06]
*Link:
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20060316-122857-9293r.htm
2006 - Depression Drugs for the Elderly / U.S.A. - March 16th, 2006: "For elderly people who suffer bouts of depression, drugs work better than psychotherapy at keeping these black spells from returning, suggests the longest study ever in patients in that age group. [....] Backed by the National Institutes of Health, the study responds to a rising trend to prescribe medicine not just to treat depression but to keep it from coming back. Results were published today in the New England Journal of Medicine. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Drugs top therapy for treating depression in elderly / Study may lead doctors to prescribe the drugs for longer periods.), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 03/16/06]
2006 - Subpoenas Served / New York Times, Etc. - March 16th, 2006: "Lawyers for I. Lewis Libby Jr. ... have served subpoenas on The New York Times Co. and a former reporter for the Times, Judith Miller. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Libby's lawyers subpoena the Times, ex-reporter), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 03/16/06]
2006 - Approved / U.N. Human Rights Council - March 16th, 2006: "The General Assembly voted overwhelmingly [170 in favor, four against and three abstentions] Wednesday [03/15/06] to replace the U.N.'s discredited human rights body with a new Human Rights Council, ignoring U.S. objections that not enough was done to prevent abusive countries from becoming members. [....] The resolution also was opposed by Israel, the Marshall Islands and Palau. Venezuela, Belarus and Iran abstained." [Based on: Title for A.P. article (New U.N. human rights body is approved over U.S. objections), p. A12, S.L.P.D., 03/16/06]
2006 - Ignored National Response Plan? / Michael Brown - March 16th, 2006: "Ex-head of FEMA ignored plan [National Response Plan] after Katrina, report says" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 03/16/06]
2006 - Won't be Charged over Cartoons / Jyllands-Posten - March 16th, 2006: "Newspaper [Jyllands-Posten] won't be charged over cartoons" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A11, S.L.P.D., 03/16/06]
2006 - Gaining Control? / Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Central America - March 16th, 2006: "Wal-Mart's Latin stake helps fuel its growth / Gaining control of central American Retail Holding feeds expansion." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 03/16/06]
2006 - St. Patrick's Day - March 17th, 2006: "St. Patrick's Day observed."
2006 - Mauritania Exodus? - March 17th, 2006: "African migrants desperate to escape from war and poverty are streaming through Mauritania to embark on a perilous ocean voyage of several hundred miles to get to Europe. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Europe to aid African effort to slow exodus), p. A16, S.L.P.D., 03/17/06]
2006 - Trivia / Wildfires, U.S.A. - March 17th, 2006: "Spring will spark more wildfires [U.S.A.], agency warns" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 03/17/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - March 17th, 2006: "The Standard & Poor's 500 index advanced for a fifth day Thursday [03/16/06], its longest winning streak since the start of the year, after a