"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
August 2006
2006 - Astronomic Configuration - August 1st, 2006: "Sun [9 Leo], Moon [26 Libra], Mercury [21 Cancer], Venus [15 Cancer], Mars [5 Virgo], Jupiter [9 Scorpio], Saturn [14 Leo], Uranus [14 Pisces R.], Neptune [18 Aquarius R.], Pluto [24 Sagittarius R.], Chiron [6 Aquarius R.]."
[Based on: http://www2.bitstream.net/~bunlion/bpi/ephm/E200608.html]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - August 1st, 2006: "Wall Street withstood a spate of profit-taking Monday [07/31/06], with stocks suffering only modest losses as investors locked in gains from last week's rally. The major indexes finished July mixed. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Uncertainties give Wall Street the wobbles), p. C4, S.L.P.D., 08/01/06]
2006 - Surgery / Fidel Castro - August 1st, 2006: "Castro cites surgery [abdominal surgery], hands reins to brother temporarily / Statement says he requires several weeks to recuperate." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A9, S.L.P.D., 08/01/06]
2006 - Daylight Raid / Baghdad, Iraq - August 1st, 2006: "Gunmen dressed in military fatigues burst into the offices of the Iraqi-American Chamber of Commerce and a nearby mobile phone company Monday [07/31/06], seizing 26 people in a daylight raid in a mostly Shiite area of the capital. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Gunmen seize 26 in Baghdad raid), p. A9, S.L.P.D., 08/01/06]
2006 - Quarterly Loss / Tyson Foods Inc. - August 1st, 2006: "Meat glut gives Tyson Foods a punch in the gut / Company also expects a loss for fiscal year." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for Bloomberg News article, p. C3, S.L.P.D., 08/01/06]
2006 - Accept More Buyouts / Delphi Workers - August 1st, 2006: "More Delphi workers accept buyouts" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 08/01/06]
2006 - Tropical Storm Chris / Atlantic Ocean - August 1st, 2006: "After a brief lull, the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season was beginning to heat up with the development of Tropical Storm Chris in the Western Atlantic, which was poised to become a hurricane as it skirted just north of the Leeward Islands on August 1, 2006. The third tropical depression of the Atlantic season formed in the evening of July 31 just to the east of the Leeward Islands. The tropical depression strengthened into a weak tropical storm the morning of August 1, and was given the name Chris. Chris moved in a northwest to west-northwest direction, keeping the center just to the north the Leeward Islands. [....]"
[Based on: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13744]
2006 - Iran Resolution Passed / U.N. Security Council - August 1st, 2006: "The U.N. Security Council passed a weakened resolution Monday [07/31/06] giving Iran until Aug. 31 to suspend uranium enrichment or face the threat of economic and diplomatic sanctions. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Iran is given a month to suspend enrichment), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 08/01/06]
2006 - Widening Israeli Ground Offensive / Lebanon - August 1st, 2006: "Israelis reject any truce with Hezbollah / Security cabinet approves widening ground offensive." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 08/01/06]
2006 - Reject Contract Offer / Flight Attendants, Northwest Airlines Corp. - August 1st, 2006: "Northwest flight attendants reject contract offer [07/31/06]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 08/01/06]
2006 - Public Debt / U.S.A. - August 2nd, 2006: "The Outstanding Public Debt [U.S.A.] as of 02 August 2006 at 10:13:22 PM GMT is: $8,448,289,468,792.98. The estimated population of the United States is 299,225,495 so each citizen's share of this debt is $28,233.86. The National Debt has continued to increase an average of $1.68 billion per day since September 30, 2005! Concerned? Then tell Congress and the White House!
[Based on: http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - August 2nd, 2006: "Inflation concerns dragged down stocks for a second day Tuesday [08/01/06] after reports on consumer spending and manufacturing revived speculation that the Federal Reserve may keep raising interest rates." [Based on: Bloomberg News article, p. C4, S.L.P.D., 08/02/06]
2006 - Rise in Violence / Iraq - August 2nd, 2006: "Rise in Iraqi violence raises alarm; 70 more die [08/01/06]/ U.S. gears up for offensive to take back streets from gunmen, militias." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A10, S.L.P.D., 08/02/06]
2006 - Settlement / Conseco Inc. - August 2nd, 2006: "[....] The lawsuit, filed in 2004, alleged that Conseco Life Insurance Co. forced clients to pay higher premiums on some universal life policies or surrender them for cash to burnish the parent company's finances. The suit sought unspecified damages and claimed the practice enabled the suburban Indianapolis company to add $360 million to its balance sheet." [Based on: Article (Conseco settles suit), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 08/02/06]
2006 - Holes in Pentagon's 911 Story? - August 2nd, 2006: "Some staff members and commissioners of the Sept. 11 panel concluded that the Pentagon's initial story of how it reacted to the 2001 terrorist attacks might have been part of a deliberate effort to mislead the commission and the public rather than a reflection of the fog of events on that day, according to sources involved in the debate. [....] 'We to this day don't know why NORAD (the North American Aerospace Command) told us what they told us,' said Thomas Kean, the former New Jersey Republican governor who led the commission. 'It was just so far from the truth. ... It's one of those loose ends that never got tied.' [....] For more than two years after the attacks, officials with NORAD and the FAA provided inaccurate information about the response to the hijackings. Authorities suggested that U.S. air defenses had reacted quickly, that jets had been scrambled and that fighters were prepared to shoot down United Airlines Flight 93 if it threatened Washington. In fact, the commission reported a year later, evidence showed clearly that the military never had any of the hijacked airliners in its sights." [Based on: Washington Post article (Some on 9/11 panel found holes in Pentagon's story) by Dan Eggen, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 08/02/06] - [Paragraph indents untranscribed. - D.R.D.]
2006 - Trivia / Lead Regulation, U.S.A. - August 2nd, 2006: "A trade association representing lead smelters and battery manufacturers wants the federal government to give up its main tool for regulating airborne lead - a proposal that is drawing fire in Missouri. [....] The EPA was sued in 2004 by the Missouri Coalition for the Environment and state Attorney General Jay Nixon, who wanted the agency to review - and preferably tighten - its air emission standards for lead. Both suits stemmed from concern about pollution from Doe Run Co.'s smelter in Herculaneum, Mo., the largest source of lead air emissions in the nation. [....] Lead has been linked to brain damage and behavioral disorders and developmental problems in children, as well as reproductive difficulties and high blood pressure in adults. [....] Doe Run spokeswoman Christi Dixon acknowledged that her company is a member of the trade association. But she said Doe Run was not involved in drafting the letter." [Based on: Post-Dispatch Washington Bureau article (Trade group wants lead off pollutant list / Association represents smelters, battery manufacturers.) by Gillian Gillers, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 08/02/06]
2006 - Volcanic Activity / Java, Indonesia - August 2nd, 2006: "In early August 2006, Merapi Volcano and Semeru Volcano acted up simultaneously. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) flying onboard NASA’s Terra satellite took this picture [see link] of the volcanoes on August 2, 2006. Although both volcanoes emitted plumes, each plume was distinct. In this image, Merapi’s plume (in the west) is a steady stream of ash and/or steam. Seremu’s plume (in the east) shows discrete bursts of activity that appear as puffballs of ash and/or steam, connected by a very thin stream. Semeru’s plume appears to shift direction, first blowing to the west, then to the south. Each volcano is topped by a hotspot, outlined in red, where the satellite sensor detected ground surface temperatures much hotter than the surroundings. In fact, numerous hotspots dot the island of Java in the top image. Thermal hotspots can result both from volcanoes and fires. [....]"
[Based on: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13750]
2006 - Settlement / Travelers Insurance Co. - August 2nd, 2006: "Travelers [St. Paul Travelers Insurance Co.] settles bid-rigging claim for $77 million / Deal ends probes by Connecticut, New York and Illinois." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 08/02/06]
2006 - Deeper into Lebanon / Israeli Forces - August 2nd, 2006: "Israel poured up to 10,000 armored troops into south Lebanon on Tuesday [08/01/06] and separately sent commandos deep into the eastern Bekaa Valley, where they raided a Hezbollah-run hospital and captured guerrillas during pitched battles, a major escalation of the three-week-old war. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Israeli forces push deeper into Lebanon), p. A1, S.L.P.D., 08/02/06]
2006 - Typhoon Prapiroon / Eastern Pacific - August 2nd, 2006: "Typhoon Prapiroon formed in the eastern Pacific on July 31, 2006, off the coast of Luzon, the northernmost of the Philippine Islands. The tropical depression strengthened to storm status in the next day after crossing Luzon, and reached typhoon status by early August 2 as it continued east-northeast across the South China Sea towards the Asian mainland. The storm system was blamed for some six deaths in the Philippines as it crossed the island. As of August 3, it was predicted to make landfall in southern China not far from Hainan Island packing forecasted winds around 115 kilometers per hour (73 miles per hour). Fishing boats have been ordered into port and rescue teams are being prepared for possible flooding and landslides. [....]"
[Based on: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13749]
2006 - Signs of Lung Aging / 911 Rescuers, New York - August 2nd, 2006: "Respiratory function has been so severly compromised in some World Trade Center rescuers that, as the fifth anniversary of the attacks approaches, experts are reporting a dramatic aging effect in the lungs of firefighters and others. [....] The research was conducted by lung specialists at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx." [Based on: News Services article (Sept. 11 rescuers show lung aging, experts say), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 08/02/06]
2006 - Must Turn Over Phone Records / The New York Times - August 2nd, 2006: "Federal prosecutors investigating a leak about a terrorism funding inquiry can see the phone records of two New York Times reporters, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday [08/01/06]. [....] The case involved stories written in 2001 by Times reporters Judith Miller and Philip Shenon that revealed the government's plans to freeze the assets of two Islamic charities, the Holy Land Foundation and the Global Relief Foundation. Prosecutors claimed the reporters' phone calls to the charities seeking comment had tipped the organizations off about the government investigation. U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald asked the Times for information about the source of the reports in 2002, then threatened to subpoena phone company billing records in 2004. The newspaper sued to block any such effort, saying prosecutors might use the records to fish for information about the Times' sources for a long list of stories." [Based on: A.P. article (Court says newspaper must turn over phone records), p. A4, S.L.P.D., 08/02/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - August 3rd, 2006: "Stocks rallied Wednesday [08/02/06] after profits at Procter & Gamble Co., the country's largest maker of consumer products, and Time Warner Inc., the world's biggest media company, beat analysts' estimates. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article (Stocks rally after P&G, Time Warner post profit gains), p. B4, S.L.P.D., 08/03/06]
2006 - Imperialism par excellence - August 3rd, 2006:
The United States invaded Iraq without United nations approval, and the invasion was based on lies. Now, the United States suggests that the United Nations do something to repair the damage in the Middle East.
Israel can have nuclear weapons, but Iran can't; India can develop nuclear energy, but Pakistan is a "grave concern"; North Korea must stop testing weapons, but the United States recently tested weapons that shot rockets 5,000 miles.
Israel can protect itself with an overreaction to two kidnappings, but any nation that wants to defend itself against Israel is a terrorist. My, my.
Aren't all these wars about trying to "get even" with nations who have governments that will not deal with the United States? It's about money and power, that's all. U.S. imperialism par excellence. In other words, it's about the oil and following U.S. rules. After all the deaths, pain and suffering caused by the United States, the United States still makes demands on other nations.
[Based on: Opinion Page article (Imperialism par excellence) by Marlene DiFiori Locke, p. D10, S.L.P.D., 08/03/06]
2006 - Mudslide / Sothern Mexico - August 3rd, 2006: "Mudslide [08/02/06] kills 11 as it crushes two homes [southern Mexico]" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A14, S.L.P.D., 08/03/06]
2006 - 2nd-Quarter Loss / Ford Motor Co. - August 3rd, 2006: "Ford doubles 2nd-quarter loss in filing [08/02/06]" [Based on: Title for Bloomberg News article, p. B3, S.L.P.D., 08/03/06]
2006 - Murder Allegations / Haditha, Iraq - August 3rd, 2006: "An initial U.S. military investigation supports allegations that American Marines deliberately shot 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha in November, a Pentagon official said Wednesday [08/02/06]. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Inquiry backs Haditha allegations), p. A17, S.L.P.D., 08/03/06]
2006 - Continued Fighting / Israel & Hezbollah - August 3rd, 2006: "Hezbollah intensifies rocket attacks / Israel pursues guerrillas in Lebanon by land." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A16, S.L.P.D., 08/03/06]
2006 - Will Double 30-Year Bond Auctions / U.S.A. - August 3rd, 2006: "Treasury [U.S.A.] will double number of 30-year bond auctions" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. B3, S.L.P.D., 08/03/06]
2006 - Soccer Field Bombings / Baghdad, Iraq - August 3rd, 2006: "Bombs exploded on a soccer field Wednesday [08/02/06], killing 11 young people. At least 42 other people - two of them Americans - died elsewhere in sectarian or political violence. Still, Iraq's president said plans are on track for Iraqis to take over security. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Bombings on soccer field kill 11 in Iraq), p. A17, S.L.P.D., 08/03/06]
2006 - Moved to Launchpad / Space Shuttle Atlantis - August 3rd, 2006: "Atlantis is moved [08/02/06] to launchpad for next shuttle mission" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 08/03/06]
2006 - Four Fraud Convictions Reversed / Ex-Merril Lynch & Enron Figures - August 3rd, 2006: "Fraud convictions of 4 ex-Merrill Lynch Enron case figures reversed" [Based on: Title for Bloomberg News article, p. B1, S.L.P.D., 08/03/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - August 4th, 2006: "Stocks rallied Thursday [08/03/06] to two-month highs after a report showing that slower growth for service industries, the biggest part of the economy, reduced expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates next week. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article (Stocks jump after report shows service industry slowdown), p. C8, S.L.P.D., 08/04/06]
2006 - Recall / Ford Motor Co. - August 4th, 2006: "Ford recalls [08/03/06] 1.2 million trucks, SUVs over fire hazard" [Based on: Title for Bloomberg News article, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 08/04/06]
2006 - Rebel Fighting / Sri Lanka - August 4th, 2006: "Fighting between Sri Lanka, rebels kills 20 civilians [08/03/06]" [Based on: Title for Los Angeles Times article, p. A14, S.L.P.D., 08/04/06]
2006 - Israeli Offensive / Gaza Strip - August 4th, 2006: "Dozens of Israeli tanks pushed deep into the Gaza Strip, and aircraft fired missles at Palestinian militants Thursday [08/03/06], killing eight people in heavy fighting that mirrored the Israeli offensive against Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon" [Based on: A.P. article (Israeli forces push into Gaza Strip), p. A12, S.L.P.D., 08/04/06]
2006 - Pro-Hezbollah Rally / Baghdad - August 4th, 2006: "Pro-Hezbollah rally [08/04/06] planned for Baghdad" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A16, S.L.P.D., 08/04/06]
2006 - On Edge of Civil War / Iraq - August 4th, 2006: "Iraq teetering on edge of civil war, generals warn [08/03/06] Congress" [Based on: Title for MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS article, p. A15, S.L.P.D., 08/04/06]
2006 - Continuing Violence / Afghanistan - August 4th, 2006: "Four soldiers, 21 civilians killed [08/03/06] as Afghanistan violence continues" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A11, S.L.P.D., 08/04/06]
2006 - Most Cartwheels / St. Paul Minnesota - August 4th, 2006: "In front of the state capitol in St. Paul, Minn., a group of people try to set the world record Thursday [08/03/06] for most cartwheels performed at one time." [Based on: St. Paul Pioneer Press / The Associated Press picture caption, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 08/04/06]
2006 - Suspicious Powder / New York Times - August 4th, 2006: "A second envelope with suspicious white powder and a Sept. 11 image recently arrived at the New York Times, this time with a St. Louis postmark, according to Reuters News Service. Weeks earlier a similar letter raised fears of an anthrax attack but was found to be harmless. The envelope with the St. Louis postmark was discovered Monday [07/31/06]. City authorities determined the substance inside was 'nonhazardous,' a Times spokeswoman told Reuters. The letter was addressed by hand to the newspaper and had no return address, according to Reuters. It was not addressed to a specific person." [Based on: Staff & Wire Reports article (Powder in envelope is called 'nonhazardous'), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 08/04/06]
2006 - Continuing Conflict / Israel & Lebanon - August 4th, 2006: "Hezbollah rockets kill eight people on war's deadliest day [08/03/06] for Israel / Four Israeli soldiers also are killed. Planes pound south Beirut." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A12, S.L.P.D., 08/04/06]
2006 - Targets Hezbollah Money in Paraguay / U.S.A. - August 4th, 2006: "U.S. targets Hezbollah money in remote area of Paraguay" [Based on: Title for Washington Post article, p. A13, S.L.P.D., 08/04/06]
2006 - Trivia / Prewar [Iraq] Intelligence Probe, U.S.A. - August 4th, 2006: "[....] The committee expects to vote on releasing the two completed reports next month, after Congress returns from its summer break. The Bush administration still must declassify the information in them before the reports can be released. [....]" [Based on: MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS article (Drawn-out probe of prewar intelligence takes step forward / Senate committee has finished two reports, with three more to go.), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 08/04/06]
2006 - Rejects Minimum Wage Bill / U.S. Senate - August 4th, 2006: "Senate rejects bill [56-42] to raise wages, cut estate tax" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 08/04/06]
2006 - Aims to Freeze Islamic Charity's Assets / U.S.A. - August 4th, 2006: "U.S. aims to freeze Islamic charity's [Philippine and Indonesian offices of the International Islamic Relief Organization] assets / Branches of the organization are accused of funding terrorist attacks." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A13, S.L.P.D., 08/04/06]
2006 - Settlement / American-Amicable Life Insurance Co. - August 4th, 2006: "The Securities and Exchange Commission and a group of state insurance regulators said Thursday [08/03/06] that a company in Texas will pay up to $70 million to settle allegations that it targeted military personnel with a deceptive sales program. Since 2000, about 57,000 U.S. military service members purchased the Horizon Life product from American-Amicable Life Insurance Co. and its affiliates, and most earned little or nothing on their investment. [....] The company neither admitted nor denied the SEC's allegations, but will discontinue sales of Horizon Life. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (SEC settles with firm targeting military members / Complaint says sales agents promised to make them millionaires.), p. C10 (last article, last page of Business section), S.L.P.D., 08/04/06]
2006 - Biggest Leveraged Buyout / Computer Chip Industry - August 4th, 2006: "Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and Silver Lake Partners agreed to buy Royal Philips Electronics NV's semiconductor unit for $4.4 billion in the biggest leveraged buyout in the chip industry's history. [....]" [Based on: Article (Group pays $4.4 billion for Philips chip unit), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 08/04/06]
2006 - No Link? / Moderate Drinking & Alzheimer's Disease - August 4th, 2006: "[....] 'There is little proof of permanent neurological effects' from mild to moderate alcohol consumption, said John Morris, neurological professor at Washington University [Mo.]. He defines moderate drinking as one to two drinks every day or two. [....] 'Daily alcohol use had no influence on the development of Alzheimer's disease or the rate at which the disease progresses,' Monique Williams wrote in an e-mail from Madrid, Spain, where she presented the findings at a recent conference. [....] The Washington U. researchers are the first to study longterm effects of alcohol on memory within the same individuals. Williams presented the study last month." [Based on: Title for Article (Alzheimer's disease, drinking not linked, study says / Moderate alcohol consumption doesn't influence dementia, researchers say.), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 08/04/06]
2006 - Ordered to Leave Afghanistan / S. Korean Christian Aid Organization - August 4th, 2006: "Government [Afghanistan] orders exit of S. Korean Christian aid organization [Institute of Asian Culture & Development] / Group denies allegations that it was seeking to undermine Islamic culture." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A11, S.L.P.D., 08/04/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - August 5th, 2006: "Stocks dropped Friday [08/04/06] as concern that the Federal Reserve's interest-rate increases may cause slower economic growth outweighed anticipation that the central bank will avoid raising rates next week. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article (Fears of Fed's effects, Apple concerns depress markets), p. A34, S.L.P.D., 08/05/06]
2006 - Trivia / EPA Pesticide Study - August 5th, 2006: "EPA pesticide study finds no risk to health / Conclusion follows decade-long review of 31 substances sprayed on fruit, other crops." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A25, S.L.P.D., 08/05/06]
2006 - Israeli Airstrikes / Gaza Strip - August 5th, 2006: "Four Palestinians are killed, 5 wounded in Israeli strikes [08/05/06]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A27, S.L.P.D., 08/05/06]
2006 - Resignation / ATF Chief, U.S.A. - August 5th, 2006: "Amid spending inquiry, ATF chief steps down" [Based on: Title for Washington Post article, p. A26, S.L.P.D., 08/05/06]
2006 - Guilty Plea / Ex-White House Aid - August 5th, 2006: "Ex-White House aide [Claude Allen] pleads guilty of theft" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A26, S.L.P.D., 08/05/06]
2006 - Two Arrested / Phoenix Shootings - August 5th, 2006: "Two arrested in Phoenix killings / Men are suspected in the apparently random shootings of 23 people; six died." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for Los Angeles Times article, p. A24, S.L.P.D., 08/05/06]
2006 - Guilty Plea / Former Newsday Publisher - August 5th, 2006: "Former Newsday publisher [Robert Johnson] pleads guilty [08/04/06] in porn case" [Based on: Title for Newsday article, p. A26, S.L.P.D., 08/05/06]
2006 - Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych / Ukraine - August 5th, 2006: "Premier's win forces alliance with ex-rival [Viktor Yanukovych]" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A29, S.L.P.D., 08/05/06]
2006 - Disrupt Flow of Humanitarian Aid / Israeli Airstrikes, Lebanon - August 5th, 2006: "Israeli strikes [08/04/06] disrupt flow of humanitarian aid" [Based on: Title for MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS article, p. A27, S.L.P.D., 08/05/06]
2006 - Draft Resolution / U.N. Security Council - August 6th, 2006: "The United States and France agreed Saturday [08/05/06] on a draft Security Council resolution that seeks a full halt to fighting in Lebanon. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (U.N. meets on plan to halt fighting in Lebanon), p. A2, S.L.P.D., 08/06/06]
2006 - Foreign Relations / Pakistan & India - August 6th, 2006: "Pakistan, India eject one another's diplomats" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A14, S.L.P.D., 08/06/06]
2006 - Imminent Israeli Airstrikes / Sidon, Lebanon - August 6th, 2006: "Dozens killed in fighting as Israel authorizes offensive to continue / Israel warns residents of Sidon, Lebanon's third-largest city, to leave ahead of imminent airstrikes." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 08/06/06]
2006 - Moderate Earthquake / Bonin Islands, Japan Region - August 6th, 2006: "A strong earthquake occurred at 18:60:40 (UTC) on Sunday, August 6th, 2006. The magnitude 5.8 event has been located @: BONIN ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION." [This earthquake was initially (08/07/06) listed as measuring 6.0] - [D.R.D.]
[Based on: http://earthquakes.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/usrbax.php] - [08/08/06]
2006 - High Levels of Pesticide? / PepsiCo &
Coca-Cola India - August 6th, 2006:
India's top court has asked Coca-Cola and Pepsi to describe
the ingredients in the soft drinks they sell here [India] amid allegations
the drinks contain high levels of pesticide.
The Supreme Court notice on Friday [08/04/06] came days after
a New Delhi-based independent research body said it found samples of Coke
and Pepsi contained pesticide residue that was 24 times above the limits
set by the Bureau of Indian Standards.
The Center for Science and Environment in New Delhi said it
carried out tests on 57 samples taken from 11 soft drink brands made by Coca-Cola
India and PepsiCo India.
Offices of Coca-Cola and PepsiCo were closed Saturday [08/05/06]
and none of their officials could be reached for comment.
Both companies denied the charges earlier in the week.
[Based on: News Services article (Court says soda makers must disclose ingredients), p. A14 (last page, last article in section "A" of the Sunday paper), S.L.P.D., 08/06/06]
2006 - 911 Investigators Doubted Pentagon's, FAA's Veracity - August 6th, 2006: "9/11 investigators cite doubts of Pentagon's, FAA veracity" [Based on: Title for A.P. article by Hope Yen, p. A8, S.L.P.D., 08/06/06]
2006 - Embezzlement Scheme / Catholic Archdiocese Consultant - August 6th, 2006: "Ex-archdiocese consultant [Joseph DeRusso] admits [08/04/06] embezzling funds" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 08/06/06]
2006 - Calls for End to all Nuclear Weapons / Mayor of Hiroshima - August 6th, 2006: "Mayor [Tadatoshi Akiba] calls [08/06/06] for end to all nuclear weapons [on 61st anniversary of the world's 1st atomic bomb attack]" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 08/07/06] - [Brackets text added - D.R.D.]
2006 - Trivia / David Passaro - August 7th, 2006: "U.S. civilian [David Passaro] going on trial in beating of Afghan detainee" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 08/07/06]
2006 - Resumes Vigil / Cindy Sheehan - August 7th, 2006: "Mother [Cindy Sheehan] who lost son in war resumes vigil [08/06/06]" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 08/07/06]
2006 - Strong Earthquake / Vanuatu - August 7th, 2006: "A strong earthquake occurred at 22:18:55 (UTC) on Monday, August 7th, 2006. The magnitude 6.8 event has been located @: VANUATU."
[Based on: http://earthquakes.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/usrcb2.php] - [08/08/06]
2006 - Three Typhoons / Pacific Ocean - August 7th, 2006: "Three different typhoons were spinning over the western Pacific Ocean on August 7, 2006, when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this image [see link]. The strongest of the three, Typhoon Saomai, formed in the western Pacific on August 4, 2006, as a tropical depression. Within a day, it had become organized enough to be classified as a tropical storm. While Saomai was strengthening into a storm, another tropical depression formed a few hundred kilometers to the north, and by August 6, it became tropical storm Maria. Typhoon Bopha formed just as Maria reached storm status and became a storm itself on August 7. As of August 7, the University of Hawaii’s Tropical Storm Information Center predicted that Bopha and Saomai would continue on tracks that would take each into China, while Maria would move northwest across the southern end of Japan. Saomai was predicted to gather strength, while Maria and Bopha were projected to remain near their current strengths. [....]"
[Based on: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13754]
2006 - Geomagnetic Storm / Planet Earth - August 7th, 2006: "A solar wind stream hit Earth this morning, sparking a geomagnetic storm. The arrival of the stream was unexpected, but the auroras it produced were a pleasant surprise." [Based on: http://spaceweather.com/]
2006 - Volcanic Activity / Mount Etna, Italy - August 7th, 2006: "One of the most consistently active volcanoes in the world, Sicily’s Mount Etna has a historical record of eruptions dating back to 1500 BC. This astronaut photograph captures plumes of steam and possibly ash originating from summit craters on the mountain: the Northeast Crater and Central Crater, which includes two secondary craters (Voragine and Bocca Nuova). Locals heard explosions coming from the rim of the Northeast Crater on July 26, 2006, and the plumes shown in this image are likely a continuation of that activity. The massive 3,350-meter-high volcano is located approximately 24 kilometers north of Catania, the second largest city in Sicily, and dominates the city’s northern skyline. [....]"
[Based on: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13759]
2006 - Vows to Expand Enrichment / Iran - August 7th, 2006: "Iran vows [08/06/06] to expand uranium enrichment" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 08/07/06]
2006 - "Dead Zone" / Northwest Coast, U.S.A. - August 7th, 2006: "Bottom fish and crabs washing up dead on Oregon beaches are being killed by a recurring 'dead zone' of low-oxygen water that is larger than in previous years and may be triggered by global warming, scientists said. There are signs it is spreading north to Washington's Olympic Peninsula. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article ('Dead zone' spreads on northwest coast, littering the beaches with fish, crabs), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 08/07/06]
2006 - Continued Hostilities / Israel & Lebanon - August 7th, 2006: "12 Israeli soldiers, 3 others killed in Hezbollah's deadliest attacks / Lebanese reject proposal to end fighting, in part because it lets 10,000 Israeli soldiers remain." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 08/07/06]
2006 - Volcanic Activity / Luzon Island, Philippines - August 7th, 2006: "A volcano in the Philippines sent six explosions of ash about a half-mile into the air Monday [08/07/06], prompting authorities to evacuate tens of thousands of people. About 35,000 villagers were being evacuated Monday, and an additional 20,000 people will be moved out if there is a major eruption, said Gov. Fernando Gonzalez of Albay province, about 210 miles southeast of Manila on Luzon Island." [Based on: News Services article (Ash from volcano prompts evacuations), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 08/08/06]
2006 - Cut in Half / North Slope Oil Production, Alaska - August 7th, 2006: "Half the oil production on Alaska's North Slope was being shut down Sunday [08/06/06] after BP Exploration Alaska, Inc. discovered severe corrosion and a small spill from a Prudhoe Bay oil transit line. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Field's oil production will be cut in half), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 08/07/06]
*Trivia: "BP pipeline repairs may close key crude source for months / Work could push gas prices higher; U.S. considers opening reserve." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. Article, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 08/08/06]
2006 - GM Sues Delphi - August 8th, 2006: "GM sues bankrupt Delphi" [Based on: Title for Article, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 08/08/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - August 8th, 2006: "Stocks dropped Monday [08/07/06] for a second day as crude oil surged above $77 a barrel in New York, highlighting the potential for higher energy prices to restrain the economy. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article (Crude surge, fed-guessing extend market shyness), p. C4, S.L.P.D., 08/08/06]
2006 - Privacy Breach / AOL - August 8th, 2006: "AOL apologizes for privacy breach / What happened: The company released Internet search terms of more than 650,000 subscribers. / The mistake: User names were substituted with numeric identification, but the queries may contain personally identifiable data." [Based on: Title & Subtitles for A.P. article, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 08/08/06]
2006 - Trivia / Baghdad Militia - August 8th, 2006: "U.S., Iraqi soldiers fight militia in Baghdad led by radical cleric [Muqtada al-Sadr]" [Based on: Title for Los Angeles Times article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 08/08/06]
2006 - Trivia / War in Lebanon - August 8th, 2006: "Attacks by Israel kill 55 in Lebanon [08/07/06] / Arab League officials join in rejecting U.S.-backed proposal." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS article , p. A8, S.L.P.D., 08/08/06]
2006 - Settlement / Martha Stewart - August 8th, 2006: "Martha Stewart settles with SEC over insider trading charges for $195,000" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 08/08/06]
2006 - Fined / A.G. Edwards & Sons Inc. - August 8th, 2006: "NYSE fines A.G. Edwards $900,000 over fees / Exchange says brokerage didn't make customers 'clearly aware in writing' that program was not appropriate for some." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for article, p. C1, S.L.P.D., 08/08/06]
2006 - Completed Cabinet / Afghanistan - August 8th, 2006: "Afghanistan's Parliament approved President Hamid Karzai's choices for the vacant portfolios in his cabinet on Monday [08/07/06], as his U.S.-backed government struggled with a resurgent Taliban militia and floods in the south. The slots had been left empty when parliament rejected five of the 25 people Karzai initially chose in April. The completed Cabinet is the first approved by the parliament since it was elected last year. All the new ministers were educated abroad." [Based on: News Services article (Parliament's action completes cabinet), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 08/08/06]
2006 - Major Oil Spill / Lebanese Coast - August 8th, 2006: "Among the casualties of the conflict between Lebanon and Israel in the summer of 2006 was the Mediterranean. Israeli raids in mid-July on the Jiyyeh Power Station released thousands of tons of oil along the Lebanese coast, perhaps rivaling the Exxon Valdex accident in 1989. By August 8, the spill covered approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles). The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) flying onboard NASA’s Terra satellite took this picture [see link] on August 15, 2006. The United Nations, the European Union, and the International Maritime Organization planned a meeting for August 17 to discuss cleanup operations, which had been delayed by the fighting between the neighboring countries. [....]"
[Based on: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13785]
2006 - Trivia / U.S. Rape Investigation, Iraq - August 8th, 2006: "American soldiers took turns raping a 14-year-old Iraqi girl, and one of them put a bullet through her head after killing her parents and 5-year-old sister, an Army investigator testified Monday [08/07/06]. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Soldiers took turns at rape, investigator says / Hearing is held in killing of Iraqi family.), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 08/08/06]
2006 - Trivia / Radioactive Tritium Leak, Illinois - August 8th, 2006: "AmerenUE acquires land near plant [Braidwood Generating Station in Illinois] leak / Deal was made before disclosure in June that radioactive tritium had leaked along pipeline." [Based on: Title for Article, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 08/08/06]
2006 - Unions Growing? / Wal-Mart Stores, China - August 8th, 2006: "Employees at two more Wal-Mart stores in China have formed unions, raising the number to four amid efforts by labor officials to have the U.S. retailing giant's 60 Chinese outlets unionized, an official newspaper said Monday [08/07/06]. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Union grows at China's Wal-Marts / Group focuses more on worker, company relations rather than wages, benefits.), p. C3, S.L.P.D., 08/08/06]
*Trivia: "Wal-Mart seeks talks with labor group in China after employees vote for union / Workers at five stores have formed unions, and the labor group is pushing to organize all 60 of China's Wal-Mart outlets." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. B3, S.L.P.D., 08/10/06]
2006 - May Harm Fetal Brains? / Ultrasound Scans - August 8th, 2006: "Ultrasound scans may harm fetal brains / But medical benefits are real, group says." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 08/08/06]
2006 - Could Aid Stem Cell Study / Planarian Flatworm - August 8th, 2006: "The planarian's stem cells enable it to grow an entire new worm from a tiny piece of almost any part of its body." [Based on: Picture caption for Article (Worm could aid study of human stem cells), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 08/08/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - August 9th, 2006: "Stocks dropped for a third day Tuesday [08/08/06] on the prospect that the Federal Reserve may resume raising interest rates later this year. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article (Stocks fall as Fed leaves room for further rate hikes), p. D4, S.L.P.D., 08/09/06]
2006 - Brazilian Gangs Battle Police - August 9th, 2006: "[....] Criminals thought to be under orders from gang leaders behind bars mounted 100 new attacks against government institutions and businesses in Sao Paulo state through early Tuesday [08/08/06], officials said. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Brazilian gang battles police for 2nd day), p. A7, S.L.P.D., 08/09/06]
2006 - Sectarian Killings / Baghdad, Iraq - August 9th, 2006: "At least 33 killed in Iraq, 20 in Baghdad blasts / U.S. plans to spread out forces in Baghdad to deter sectarian killings." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 08/09/06]
2006 - Banned / Roadside Camping, Texas - August 9th, 2006: "Bans on roadside camping and parking are constitutional, a federal judge ruled, blocking protestors from pitching tents or placing portable toilets in ditches near President George W. Bush's ranch. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Judge lets stand ban on roadside camping), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 08/09/06]
2006 - Emergency Response Drill / St. Louis, Mo. - August 9th, 2006: "The massive emergency response drill at Busch Stadium on Wednesday [08/09/06] started not with a bang but with a downpour [of rain]. [....]" [Based on: Article (Disaster is the name of the game at Busch) by Greg Jonsson, p. C1, S.L.P.D., 08/10/06]
2006 - More Israeli Soldiers? / Southern Lebanon - August 9th, 2006: "Israel prepared Tuesday [08/08/06] to dispatch thousands more soldiers to southern Lebanon in an effort to end Hezbollah rocket attacks on northern Israel. [....]" [Based on: MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS article (Israel prepares to beef up ground forces in Lebanon) by Warren P. Strobel & Carol Rosenberg, p. A7 (last article of section "A"), S.L.P.D., 08/09/06]
2006 - Primary Loss / U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman - August 9th, 2006: "Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman conceded defeat Tuesday [08/08/06] in his bid for the Democratic nomination for a fourth term. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Sen. Liberman loses bid for fourth term), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 08/09/06]
*Trivia: "Top Democrats drop support for Lieberman after primary loss / Senator presses on with independent bid." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 08/10/06]
*Trivia: "[....] The Lieberman campaign denied speculation among liberal Web pundits that the centrist Democrat's Web site had simply crashed because it used a low-budget Web host unable to handle the volume." [Based on: News Services article (Crash of lieberman's Web site draws inquiry), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 08/16/06]
2006 - American Obesity Linked to Soda, Sugary Drinks - August 9th, 2006: "Americans have sipped and slurped their way to fatness by drinking far more soda and other sugary drinks during the past four decades, a new scientific review [see: the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition - 08/08/06] concludes. An extra can of soda a day can pile on 15 pounds in a single year. The 'weight of evidence' strongly suggests that this sort of increased consumption is a key reason that more people have gained weight, the researchers say. [....] Unlike other carbohydrates, the main sweetner in beverages - high-fructose corn syrup - doesn't spur production of insulin to make the body 'process' calories. Neither does it spur leptin, a substance that helps to moderate appetite. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (New study links American obesity to soda, sugary drinks), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 08/09/06]
2006 - 50th Anniversary / Anti-Apartheid March, South Africa - August 9th, 2006: "Thousands of women marked on Wednesday [08/09/06] the 50th anniversary of a famed anti-apartheid demonstration. But celebrations were sourced by the reality that poverty, AIDS and crime have replaced political oppression as the scourge of South Africa. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Grim conditions frame S. African celebration / Anti-apartheid march of 1956 is marked amid poverty, AIDS crisis.), p. A11, S.L.P.D., 08/10/06]
2006 - Will Remove Name from November Ballot / Tom DeLay - August 9th, 2006: "DeLay will remove his name from ballot" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 08/09/06]
2006 - Ash Plumes / Manam and Langila Volcanoes, Papua New Guinea - August 9th, 2006: "On August 9, 2006, two volcanoes in the region of Papua New Guinea emitted plumes at the same time. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite managed to catch both volcanoes in the act. [....]"
[Based on: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13774]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - August 10th, 2006: "Stocks closed lower Wednesday [08/09/06], after an early-session rally sparked by strong earnings from Cisco Systems Inc. and Walt Disney Co. was undone by worries about economic strength. [....]" [Based on: MARKETWATCH article (Rally gives way as economic worries loom), p. B6, S.L.P.D., 08/10/06]
2006 - The Pentagon's "Second 911" (?) -
One essential feature of "defense" in the case of a second major attack on America, is "offense", according to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff: "Homeland security is one piece of a broader strategy [which] brings the battle to the enemy."(DHS, Transcript of complete March 2005 speech of Secr. Michael Chertoff)
In the month following last year's 7/7 London bombings, Vice President Dick Cheney is reported to have instructed USSTRATCOM to draw up a contingency plan "to be employed in response to another 9/11-type terrorist attack on the United States". Implied in the contingency plan is the certainty that Iran would be behind a Second 9/11.
This "contingency plan" uses the pretext of a "Second 9/11", which has not yet happened, to prepare for a major military operation against Iran, while pressure was also exerted on Tehran in relation to its (non-existent) nuclear weapons program.
What is diabolical in this decision of the US Vice President is that the justification presented by Cheney to wage war on Iran rests on Iran's involvement in a hypothetical terrorist attack on America, which has not yet occurred:
The plan includes a large-scale air assault on Iran employing both conventional and tactical nuclear weapons. Within Iran there are more than 450 major strategic targets, including numerous suspected nuclear-weapons-program development sites. Many of the targets are hardened or are deep underground and could not be taken out by conventional weapons, hence the nuclear option. As in the case of Iraq, the response is not conditional on Iran actually being involved in the act of terrorism directed against the United States. Several senior Air Force officers involved in the planning are reportedly appalled at the implications of what they are doing—that Iran is being set up for an unprovoked nuclear attack—but no one is prepared to damage his career by posing any objections. (Philip Giraldi, Attack on Iran: Pre-emptive Nuclear War , The American Conservative, 2 August 2005)
Are we to understand that US, British and Israeli military planners are waiting in limbo for a Second 9/11, to extend the war beyond the borders of Lebanon, to launch a military operation directed against Syria and Iran? [....]
[Based on: GlobalResearch.ca Article segment (The Pentagon's "Second 911" - "Another [9/11] attack could create both a justification and an opportunity to retaliate against some known targets"), by Michel Chossudovsky, 08/10/06]
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=CHO20060810&articleId=2942
2006 - Top of Dependability Survey / Toyota - August 10th, 2006: "Toyotas come out on top of dependability survey; luxury cars are losing edge" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. B3, S.L.P.D., 08/10/06]
2006 - Strike? / Northwest Airline Attendants - August 10th, 2006: "Northwest Airlines Corp. said Wednesday [08/09/06] that a strike by its flight attendants could force it into liquidation and asked a judge to bar a walkout. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article (Northwest asks judge to bar strike by flight attendants), p. B2, S.L.P.D., 08/10/06]
2006 - Trivia / Typhoon Saomai, China Coast - August 10th, 2006: "The most powerful typhoon to hit China in five decades [Typhoon Saomai, with winds up to 135 mph] raged across its southeastern coast Thursday [08/10/06], capsizing ships and destroying homes after 1.5 million people evacuated. At least 111 [as of 08/12/06, at least 150] people were killed and 80 injured. [....] Torrential rain was forecast in the next three days as the typhoon churned inland across crowded areas where Tropical storm Billis killed more than 600 people last month." [Based on: A.P. article (Powerful Typhoon lashes China), p. A8, S.L.P.D., 08/11/06]
*Trivia: "Typhoon [Saomai] death toll rises to 295, more expected" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 08/16/06]
2006 - New Israeli Ground Offensive / Lebanon - August 10th, 2006: "Israel approved a big new ground offensive into southern Lebanon in an effort Wednesday [08/09/06] to damage Hezbollah and halt most rocket attacks before the U.N. Security Council demands a cease-fire. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Israel OKs ground offensive into Lebanon), p. A11, S.L.P.D., 08/10/06]
2006 - Erasing Process? / Kenneth Lay Felony Convictions - August 10th, 2006: "Lawyers for Enron Corp. founder Kenneth Lay took their first official step Wednesday [08/09/06] toward erasing his felony convictions in light of his death last month. If U.S. District Judge Sim Lake does as expected and vacates Lay's convictions, federal prosecutors no longer would be able to seize millions they say Lay gained from participating in Enron's fraud because the company founder's criminal convictions would no longer exist." [Based on: Article (Lay's lawyers begin erasing process), p. B2, S.L.P.D., 08/10/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - August 9th, 2006: "Stocks rose for the first time in five days Thursday [08/10/06] as better-than-expected earnings and lower oil prices helped overcome renewed concerns about the threat of terrorism" [Based on: Bloomberg News article (Stocks rise for first time in five days on earnings, oil), p. D4, S.L.P.D., 08/11/06]
2006 - Suicide Bomber / Iraq - August 11th, 2006: "Bomber's belt detonates [08/10/06] near mosque [Imam Ali Mosque], killing 35 / Other attacks around Iraq bring death toll for day to at least 48." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for New York Times article, p. A12, 08/11/06]
2006 - Died / Mike Douglas - August 11th, 2006: "Television talk-show host Mike Douglas died Friday [08/11/06] - on his 81st birthday." [Based on: A.P. article (Longtime TV show host Mike Douglas dies at 81), p. A25, S.L.P.D., 08/12/06]
2006 - Flash Flood Trivia / Ethiopia - August 11th, 2006: "The death toll from Ethiopia's worst-ever flash floods [08/05/06?] climbed to 250 Thursday [08/10/06] and was expected to rise as crews searched for more bodies, authorities said. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Flooding blamed for 250 deaths), p. A9, S.L.P.D., 08/11/06]
2006 - Trivia / Federal Deficit, U.S.A. - August 11th, 2006: "The federal deficit through July is running well below the rate last year, paced by strong revenue growth, the Treasury Department said Thursday [08/10/06]. Through the first 10 months of this budget year, the deficit totaled $239.7 billion, an improvement of 20.8 percent from the same period a year ago, when it was $302.8 billion. The deficit in July totaled 33.2 billion, down sharply from $53.4 billion in July 2005." [Based on: Article (Revenue makes big dent), p. B2, 08/11/06]
2006 - IBM Acquisition / Filenet Corp. - August 11th, 2006: "IBM Corp., in its largest acquisition in four years, has agreed to buy FileNet Corp. for $1.6 billion, expanding its software unit as sales decline at other divisions. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article (IBM spends $1.6 billion to bolster software offerings), p. B2, 08/11/06]
2006 - Trivia / Alzheimer's & "Aging" - August 11th, 2006: "Scientists have discovered molecular janitors that clear away a sticky gunk blamed for Alzheimer's disease - until they get old and quit sweeping up. [....] The discovery was published Thursday [08/10/06] in the journal Science. It centers on a tiny roundworm called C. elegans. [....] About 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer's, a toll expected to more than triple by 2050 as the population grays. Nobody knows what causes Alzheimer's. The lead suspect is a gooey protein called beta-amyloid. All brains contain it, although healthy cells somehow get rid of access amounts. But beta-amyloid builds up in Alzheimer's patients. Thursday's study reveals one way that cells fend off amyloid buildup, and that natural aging gradually erodes that detoxification process. Dillin's [Dr. Andrew Dillin, a biologist at California's Salk Institute for Biological Studies] team used roundworms that produce human beta-amyloid in the muscles of the body wall. As the worms age, amyloid builds up until it eventually paralyzes them; they can wiggle only their heads. Then the researchers altered genes in a pathway called insulin/IGF-1, long known to be key in controlling life span. Making the worms live longer protected them from paralysis. So in slowing down normal aging, something also slowed the buildup of toxic amyloid. But what? Enter those cellular janitors, two proteins in that gene pathway. One, named HSF-1, breaks apart amyloid and disposes of it, the researchers discovered. Natural aging slows HSF-1. Another protein called DAF-16 jumps in to help buy a little more time, by clumping extra amyloid together in a way that makes it less toxic." [Based on: A.P. article (Alzheimer's discovery centers on roundworm), p. A8, S.L.P.D., 08/11/06]
*Trivia: "Americans have sipped and slurped their way to fatness by drinking far more soda and other sugary drinks during the past four decades, a new scientific review [see: the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition - 08/08/06] concludes. An extra can of soda a day can pile on 15 pounds in a single year. The 'weight of evidence' strongly suggests that this sort of increased consumption is a key reason that more people have gained weight, the researchers say. [....] Unlike other carbohydrates, the main sweetner in beverages - high-fructose corn syrup - doesn't spur production of insulin to make the body 'process' calories. Neither does it spur leptin, a substance that helps to moderate appetite. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (New study links American obesity to soda, sugary drinks), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 08/09/06]
*Trivia: [....] 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]
*Trivia: "Scientists have discovered a variant gene that leads to a sizable extra risk of Type 2 diabetes and is carried by more than a third of the American population. [....]" [Based on: New York Times article (Variant gene carries extra diabetes risk) by Nicholas Wade, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 01/16/06]
*Trivia: "Women who drink nondiet soda or fruit punch every day gain weight quickly and face a sharply elevated risk of getting diabetes, according to a major study released Tuesday [08/24/04]. [....] 'The message is: Anyone who cares about their health or the health of their family would not consume these beverages,' said Walter Willet of the Harvard School of Public Health, who helped conduct the study. [....] Although the study involved only women, the researchers believed that the risks also hold for men. [....] The sugar and beverage industries said the study was flawed." [Based on: Washington Post article by Rob Stein, 08/25/04]
*Trivia: "Coke and Pepsi, trying to add fizz into their soda sales, will launch new brands that taste like their flagship drinks but contain half the sugar, carbohydrates and calories. [....] The new drinks contain the standard high-fructose corn syrup that sweetens regular soda but in smaller amounts. The corn syrup is supplemented with Splenda, a no-calorie, no-carbohydrate sweetner made from sugar. [....] Pepsi says a 12-ounce can of Edge has 20 grams each of sugar and carbohydrates, and 70 calories, compared with regular Pepsi's 41 grams each of sugar and carbohydrates, and 150 calories." [Based on A.P. article, 05/05/04]
*Trivia: "Researchers say they've found more evidence of a link between a rapid rise in obesity and a corn product [high-fructose corn sweetener] used to sweeten soft drinks and food since the 1970s." [Based on: A.P. article, 03/26/04]
*Brain-Wasting Diseases [etc.] Timeline:
2006 - Movie Release / "World Trade Center" - August 11th, 2006: "Top movies at U.S. and Canadian theaters Aug. 11-13, with studio, weekend gross, total gross and number of weeks in release, as compiled by Exhibitor Relations Co: [....] "World Trade Center," Paramount, $18,730,762, $26,531,879, one week. [....]" [Based on: Everyday Page article (TOPS AT THE BOX OFFICE), p. E4, 08/18/06]
2006 - Strong Earthquake / Guerrero, Mexico - August 11th, 2006: "A strong earthquake occurred at 14:30:40 (UTC) on Friday, August 11th, 2006. The magnitude 6.1 event has been located @: GUERRERO, MEXICO."
[Based on: http://earthquakes.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/usrgaw.php] - [08/12/06]
2006 - Strong Earthquake / Simeulue, Indonesia- August 11th, 2006: "A strong earthquake occurred at 20:54:12 (UTC) on Friday, August 11th, 2006. The magnitude 6.2 event has been located @: SIMEULUE, INDONESIA."
[Based on: http://earthquakes.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/usrgb2.php] - [08/15/06]
2006 - Buyout Trivia / Andarko Petroleum Corp. - August 11th, 2006: "Shareholders for Kerr-McGee Corp. approved a $16.4 billion buyout agreement Thursday [08/10/06] with a subsidiary of fellow oil and naturasl gas producer Anadarko Petroleum Corp. Houston-based Andarko announced in June that it would buy Oklahoma City-based Kerr-McGee and pay $4.7 billion to buy Denver-based Western Gas Resources in a move to more than double its annual sales. Kerr-McGee stockholders will get $70.50 per share in cash for each share of common stock." [Based on: Article (Kerr-McGee OKs buyout), p. B2, 08/11/06]
2006 - Settlement / Citigroup Global Markets Inc. - August 11th, 2006: "Securities regulators have ordered a division of Citigroup Inc. to pay $1.1 million in fines and restitution for allegedly allowing more than 100 of its brokers to submit false disability claims for customers so thay they wouldn't have to pay certain mutual fund fees. The National Association of Securities Dealers on Thursday [08/10/06] announced the settlement with Citigroup Global Markets Inc., which agreed to pay $400,000 in civil fines and $715,000 in restitution to affected mutual fund companies." [Based on: Article (Citigroup unit settles), p. B2, 08/11/06]
2006 - Thwarted / "911-Style" Terrorist Plot, England - August 11th, 2006: "British authorities said Thursday [08/10/06] that they had thwarted an advanced terrorist plot to blow up airplanes flying from Britain to the United States, using liquid explosives that would have escaped airport security. [....] Intelligence officials said they believed some plotters remained at large, requiring increased airport security. [....] Officials said the plot bore the hallmarks of al-Qaida and involved links to plotters in Pakistan. [....]" [Based on: New York Times article (British police seize 24 men) by Alan Cowell & Dexter Filkins), pp. A1-A5, S.L.P.D., 08/11/06]
*Trivia: "The plot had been in the works for months, and its goal was horrific. One after another, according to investigators, planes would have exploded in the sky, sending hundreds of men, women and children to their deaths. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (To some, plot looks like 'the Big One' feared since 9/11), by Paul Haven, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 08/11/06]
*Trivia: "It all began with a tip: In the aftermath of the subway bombings in London on July 7, 2005, British authorities got a call from a worried Muslim, reporting general suspicians about an acquaintance. [....] Investigators eventually pieced together enough information from a blizzard of stakeouts, tips and wiretaps to make clear that something big was in the works - and that the 'plotters' preparations were nearing an end. [....] British officials suspect that as many as 50 participants and accomplices were involved, U.S. law enforcement officials said. Internet searches made by the suspects suggested that they had considered targeting up to 10 flights, investigators said. [....] Counterterrorism officials said the basic outline of the conspiracy had been known for several months. Investiagtors from New York to Islamabad said they had been briefed by their British counterparts last year. British and U.S. law-enforcement authorities decided against breaking up the cells right away in the hope that they could learn more about the origins of the network and assemble evidence for prosecutors. But U.S. and British investigators suddenly decided this week to close down the operation after becoming increasingly worried that there were other bombers they had failed to locate or identify, U.S. officials said. [....] British officials would not say if they were able to recover any physical evidence or bombmaking material. Neither would they describe what kind of liquid explosives the suspects were planning to use. [....] Pakistani officials said Thursday [08/10/06] that they had been informed about the plot by their British counterparts in December and have actively assisted with the investigation. 'We were in the loop since the blip appeared on the radar screen in London last year,' a senior Pakistani intelligence officials said. [....]" [Based on: Washington Post article (Vague tip from worried Muslim started inquiry), by Craig Whitlock & Dafna Linzer, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 08/11/06] - [Paragraph indents untranscribed - D.R.D.]
*Trivia: "[....] For the first time in the United States, the threat assessment level on trans-Atlantic flights was raised to its highest - 'red.' As was the case in Britain, stringent new security measures were enforced. [....]" [Based on: Post-Dispatch Washington Bureau article (Bomb plot foiled / But repercussions are felt on both sides of Atlantic), by Philip Dine, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 08/11/06]
*Trivia: "[....] Although it is unclear how close the plotters were to acting, or how capable they were of carrying out the attacks, intelligence and law enforcement officials have described the planning as well advanced. [....]" [Based on: (sentence from) New York Times article (British officials are willing to wait, watch terrorism suspects) by Philip Shenon and Neil A. Lewis, p. A13, S.L.P.D., 08/13/06]
2006 - Hydrogen-Powered Car / General Motors Corp. - August 11th, 2006: "GM concept car [Sequel?] is powered by Hydrogen" [Based on: Title for Article, p. B2, 08/11/06]
2006 - Civil Fraud Charges / Former Endocare Inc. Exec's - August 11th, 2006: "The Securities and Exchange Commission said Thursday [08/10/06] it has filed civil fraud charges against two former Endocare Inc. executives for orchestrating a fraud in 2001 and 2002. The SEC accused Paul Mikus, a former chief executive, and John Cracchiolo, a former chief financial officer, of booking false sales and understating or delaying expenses in order to inflate earnings." [Based on: Article (SEC sues 2 executives), p. B2, 08/11/06]
2006 - Lawsuit / Law Defining "Family" / Black Jack, Missouri - August 11th, 2006:
An unmarried couple and their three children,
who were denied an occupancy permit in Black Jack [Mo.] because they failed
to meet the city's definition of family, are taking their fight to court.
Their lawsuit, filed Thursday [08/10/06], comes as Black Jack's
City Council reviews a plan by Mayor Norman McCourt to amend the city's housing
ordinance. The ordinance prohibits more than three people from living together
in single-family housing unless they are related by "blood, marriage, or
adoption." [....]
[Based on: St. Louis Post-Dispatch article (Law defining 'family'
in Black Jack spurs suit) by Norm Parish & William C. Lhotka, p. C1,
S.L.P.D., 08/11/06]
*Trivia: "Black Jack revises housing regulation [08/15/06] / Rule barred unmarried couple with children from getting permit." [Based on: Title for article, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 08/16/06]
2006 - Trivia / Sunspot 904 - August 12th, 2006: "Every time you look, it's less familiar. Sunspot 904 is growing and changing shape at a remarkable rate. At the moment it resembles a dumbbell with planet-sized weights: [....]" [Based on: http://spaceweather.com/index.cgi] - [08/12/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - August 12th, 2006: "Stocks fell Friday [08/11/06], ending their first losing week in a month, after a surge in retail sales suggested the Federal Reserve will resume raising interest rates. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article (Surge in retail sales stokes Fed rate hike fears), p. A34, S.L.P.D., 08/12/06]
2006 - Hospitalized / Cindy Sheehan - August 12th, 2006: "Anti-war demonstrator Cindy Sheehan was hospitalized Friday evening [08/11/06] for dehydration and exhaustion after fasting for more than a month and protesting earlier this week in 100-degree weather. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Anti-war protestor Sheehan is hospitalized), p. A25, S.L.P.D., 08/12/06]
2006 - Peaking / Perseid Meteor Shower - August 12th, 2006: "The Perseid meteor shower is peaking now. If it's dark where you live, be alert for shooting stars." [Based on: http://spaceweather.com/index.cgi] - [08/12/06]
2006 - Israeli Drone Strike / Lebanese Refugee Convoy - August 12th, 2006: "7 killed [and 22 wounded] as Israeli drone strikes Lebanese refugee convoy [08/11/06]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A27, S.L.P.D., 08/12/06]
2006 - Guilty Plea / Bristol-Myers Grand Jury Member - August 12th, 2006: "Bristol-Myers grand jury member [Jason Smith] pleads guilty [08/11/06]" [Based on: Article title, p. A32, S.L.P.D., 08/12/06]
2006 - Sentenced to Home Detention / Former Wal-Mart Exec. - August 12th, 2006: "Thomas M. Coughlin, the former vice chairman at Wal-Mart Stores Inc., on Friday [08/11/06] was sentenced to 27 months of home detention, avoiding a prison term after admitting he falsified expense reports to buy liquor, care for his dogs and upgrade his truck. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article, p. A31, S.L.P.D., 08/12/06]
2006 - Bipolar Sunspot 904 - August 13th, 2006: "Bipolar sunspot 904 hasn't actually erupted, not in a big way, but it is crackling with promise. "The two giant spots look like whirlpools of gasoline," says photographer Larry Alvarez of Flower Mound, Texas. He took this picture [see link] on August 13th: [....]"
[Based on: http://spaceweather.com/] - [08/15/06]
2006 - Fierce Offensive / Tamil Tigers, Sri Lanka - August 13th, 2006: "Tamil rebels start fierce offensive [08/12/06]" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 08/13/06]
2006 - Israeli Forces / Deep into Southern Lebanon - August 13th, 2006: "By air and by land, thousands of Israeli troops plunged deep inside southern Lebanon Saturday [08/12/06] and charged toward the Litani River battling Hezbollah fighters, even as the United Nations brokered a Monday morning cease-fire. [....]" [Based on: MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS article (Israeli forces charge as cease-fire looms), p. A1, S.L.P.D., 08/13/06]
2006 - Reversible? / Macualr Degeneration Damage - August 13th, 2006: "Drug [Lucentis - at $2,000 a monthly dose] reverses macular degeneration damage" [Based on: Title for New York Daily News article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 08/13/06]
2006 - Internet User's Queries / "Big Brother" is Watching? - August 13th, 2006: "[....] Many people might not realize that every time they enter a word or phrase into an online search engine, they leave behind a trail of clues about themselves. 'You are turning over when you do searches ... a lot of information,' said Ari Schwartz, of the Center for Democracy and Technology, a nonprofit public policy organization. 'It seems as though you're just dealing with a computer, but in reality, on the other side, that information will be stored and collected. We forget that sometimes.' The public got a sharp reminder recently when AOL, an Internet service company, released more than 20 million search queries made by 658,000 customers over a three-month period. AOL posted the data on its research site in late July as part of what a spokesman called 'an innocent enough attempt' to provide academic researchers with information to help develop new research-related tools. To provide anonymity, the data assigned numbers rather than names to users. But many queries provided plenty of hints that made it easy to identify many of those seeking the information. Some were obvious, like names, Social Security numbers and addresses. Others are more of a road map, such as interests, local businesses, medication, doctors. 'It was obviously not appropriately vetted, and if it had been, it would have been stopped in an instant,' AOL spokesman Andrew Weinstein said in a prepared statement. The company, based in Dulles, Va., pulled the data Aug. 6 and apologized. By then it was too late, privacy experts say. [....]" [Based on: St. Louis Post-Dispatch article (Be careful what you type in here: / Clues from your online searches could provide an unintended peek in here:) - article contained an illustrated picture of the human brain, by Phillip O'Connor, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 08/13/06] - [Paragraph indents untranscribed to save space - D.R.D.]
*Commentary:
Years ago a test subject exposed to
sensory stimulation was made to move his arm and his leg by scientists who
targeted specific areas of his brain. In response, the test subject declared
in effect that "You can make me move my arm. You can make me move my leg.
But you can't make me want to." The investigators concluded that they were
still not able to determine the location of the human mind, or whether or
not it was absolutely "located" within the human brain.
As further evidence and testimony to the previously attested
fact, people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and/or other physical
disabilities have constantly demonstated how they are in fact more than
the contents of their brains. Consequently, to suggest that a person's
physical actions are a true reflection about the intricate workings and/or
makeup of their minds, this is at best a gross testimony in alliance with
extreme prejudice on the part of human objective observervation. In the extreme,
such types of intentionally covert human speculation could only effectively
serve to assassinate the true essential character and makeup of individual
constitution. Nothing could be more further from the truth, more degrading
or more potentially manipulative than to imply that all "people" are
NOT created equal. Or to imply that Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
are NOT the unalienable constitutional rights of every single person living
within the United States of America.
[D.R.D., a.k.a. Etznab
Mathers]
2006 - Shortage of Fuel / Iraq - August 14th, 2006: "Shortage of fuel is worst since ouster of Saddam / Ripple effect raises cab fares, cost of food, other goods in Iraq" [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 08/14/06]
2006 - Cease Fire? / Israel & Lebanon - August 14th, 2006: "Offensive barrage on eve of cease-fire [08/13/06] / Fighting rages on: Israel, which lost 29 soldiers over the weekend, bombs Beirut. Hezbollah fires 250-plus rockets, the most in one day. / Will the truce stick?: Both sides endorse it, but questions remain about how they would behave during the time needed to assemble a U.N. force." [Based on: Title & Subtitles for MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS article, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 08/14/06]
*Trivia: "[....] U.N. experts say up to one million cluster bombs dropped by Israeli aircraft in the July-August war against Hezbollah remain unexploded in south Lebanon, where they continue to threaten civilians. At least 24 people have died in cluster-bomb explosions since the war ended Aug. 14." [Based on: News Services article (U.N. accuses Israel of planting mines), p. A10, S.L.P.D., 11/26/06]
*Trivia: "[....] During that conflict [Summer 2006], Hezbollah fired nearly 4,000 rockets at northern Israeli towns, killing 40 Israeli civilians." [Based on: Article (Rockets from Lebanon [01/08/08] hit northern Israeli town [Shlomi]), p. A8, S.L.P.D., 01/10/08]
2006 - Threatened Extinction / Amphibians? - August 14th, 2006: "[....] In the next five to ten years, about half of the different kinds of animals that make up the class known as amphibians probably will become extinct. There are about 6,000 known species in the class of amphibians: frogs, toads and salamanders take in most of them. As I write this, 32 percent of those 6,000 are threatened, and another 23 percent are believed to be threatened. [....] There is a fungus, which was born in Africa, that is sweeping our planet. It's called the chytrid fungus, and wherever it arrives, it kills about 80 percent of the amphibians in the area within a year. It is lethal only at certain altitudes, so it won't destroy all of the world's amphibians, but more than half is a pretty conservative estimate. [....] The skin of amphibians is more permeable than ours - things pass through it fairly easily - so they have developed some unique biological strategies to protect themselves. For example, their skin produces a wide variety of substances that kill microbes and viruses. Last year 14 of these substances, taken from just a handful of different frog species, were tested in a lab; three of the 14 showed a remarkable capacity to completely inhibit HIV infection. I was surprised that a discovery that shows such promise for inhibiting the mucosal transmission of AIDS didn't make the news, but maybe I shouldn't be: The fact that we're going to have some very silent nights on this planet in just a few short years hasn't attracted much attention, either. [....] It is not too late to save many - perhaps most, maybe even all - of the amphibians. They are comparatively easy to find and keep healthy in zoos and aquariums until it's safe to release them back into the wild. [....]" [Based on: Other Views Page article (What do we lose if we lose the frogs?) by president and chief executive of the St. Louis Zoo, Jeffery P. Bonner, p. B9, S.L.P.D., 08/14/06] - [Paragraph indents untranscribed to save space - D.R.D.]
2006 - Exercise Helps Mild Hypertension? - August 14th, 2006: "The short-term spike in blood pressure that comes with moderate exercise doesn't harm the hearts of healthy older people with mild hypertension, new research shows. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Exercise helps people with mild hypertension, new research shows), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 08/14/06]
2006 - Attacks Kill Dozens? / Shiite Area, Iraq - August 14th, 2006: "Car bombs and a rocket barrage killed at least 57 people and wounded at least 148 in a crowded and predominantly Shiite neighborhood of Baghdad late Sunday [08/13/06], authorities said. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Attacks kill dozens in Shiite area of Baghdad), p. A4, S.L.P.D., 08/14/06]
*Trivia: "Americans, Iraqis disagree on cause of weekend blasts / U.S. military blames gas line explosion; Iraq says attack was launched from Sunni neighborhood. [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article), p. A8, S.L.P.D., 08/15/06]
*Trivia: "Bombs were source of deadly blast in Iraq / U.S. officials reversed an earlier explanation that an accidental gas explosion was the cause." [Based on: Title for Washington Post article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 08/16/06]
2006 - In Talks with Insurgent Army / Uganda - August 14th, 2006: "Uganda asked Sunday [08/13/06] for international monitors to observe any cease-fire it reaches with the Lord's Resistance Army, which has led a 19-year insurgency. Negotiations between the government and the rebel group are under way. Uganda says it is waiting for a comprehensive deal before it agrees to a cease-fire. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Uganda is in talks with insurgent army), p. A8, S.L.P.D., 08/14/06]
2006 - Prisoners Broadcast Video / Brazil Prison - August 14th, 2006: "Brazil's most notorious organized crime group kidnapped a television reporter and forced his station to broadcast a video Sunday [08/13/06]. The members demanded improvements in Brazil's prison system. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (TV station broadcasts video from kidnappers), p. A8, S.L.P.D., 08/14/06]
2006 - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad / "60 Minutes" Show - August 14th, 2006: "[....] In an interview airing Sunday [08/13/06] on '60 Minutes,' Ahmadinejad said it was hezbollah that had a right to defend itself in its war with Israel. Even so, he said Iran joined others in calling for an immediate cease-fire only to have it thwarted by U.S. support for Israel. [....] 'Look at the makeup of the American administration, the behavior of the American administration. See how they talk down to my nation,' Ahmadinejad said. 'They want to build an empire. And they don't want to live side by side in peace with other nations.' " [Based on: A.P. article (Iran blames U.S. for growing violence), p. A7, S.L.P.D., 08/14/06]
2006 - Lamont Surprised by Lieberman, Cheney Claim - August 14th, 2006: "Democratic Senate nominee Ned Lamont says he was surprised by claims by Sen. Joseph Lieberman and Vice President Dick Cheney that his views could embolden terrorists. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Lamont surprised by Lieberman claim), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 08/14/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - August 15th, 2006: "Stocks rose Monday [08/14/06] as declining oil prices and a cease-fire in Lebanon helped rekindle confidence in an economy burdened by inflation pressures. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article (Stocks rise as falling oil, cease-fire ease inflation fears), p. C4, S.L.P.D., 08/15/06]
2006 - Fatal Flooding / Ethiopia - August 15th, 2006: "Flood [Ethiopia] kills at least 125; hundreds remain missing" [Based on: Title for News Services article), p. A7, S.L.P.D., 08/15/06]
*Trivia: "Flooding from 11 days of heavy rain has killed at least 626 people across Ethiopia, and authorities Wednesday [08/16/06] braced for a rising death toll as overwhelmed rescuers struggled to locate missing villagers. [....]" Based on: Title for News Services article), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 08/17/06]
2006 - Corporate Consolidation / U.S.A. - August 15th, 2006: "Corporate consolidation now turns to supply chain / Companies are buying up suppliers in an effort to control costs." [Based on: Title for W.S.J. article, p. C1, S.L.P.D., 08/15/06]
2006 - Strong Earthquake / Fiji Region - August 15th, 2006: "A strong earthquake occurred at 23:53:47 (UTC) on Tuesday, August 15th, 2006. The magnitude 6.1 event has been located @: FIJI REGION."
[Based on: http://earthquakes.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/usrkcj.php] - [08/16/06]
2006 - Bird Flu Virus? / Lake Erie Swans - August 15th, 2006: "Virus found in two Lake Erie swans may be bird flu" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 08/15/06]
2006 - Kidnapped Oil Workers / Nigeria - August 15th, 2006: "American oil worker is among four kidnapped [Nigeria]" [Based on: Article title, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 08/15/06]
2006 - Major Recall / Dell Computer Batteries - August 15th, 2006: "Dell recalls 4.1 million notebook PC batteries [because they can overheat and catch fire]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. C1, S.L.P.D., 08/15/06]
2006 - Tropical Storm Wukong / Japanese Islands - August 15th, 2006: "Tropical Storm Wukong formed in the western Pacific on August 12, 2006 as a tropical depression. Within a day, it had become organized enough to be classified as a tropical storm and earn its name. Wukong is the name of the Monkey King in a Chinese legend, 'Journey to the West.' As of August 15, it was projected to cross the southern end of the Japanese Islands on August 18. It was not predicted to become significantly more powerful, according to the Shanghai Daily News. [....]"
[Based on: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13781]
2006 - Cure in Sight? / Macular Degeneration - August 15th, 2006: "Cause of eye disease [macular degeneration] may be in sight" [Based on: Article title, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 08/15/06]
2006 - Scenes of Destruction / Israel & Lebanon - August 15th, 2006: "[....] The conflict killed nearly 950 people - 791 in Lebanon and 155 on the Israeli side, according to official counts. The conflict displaced 500,000 Israelis and about 1 million Lebanese. The truce took effect at 8 a.m. Monday .... It largely held through its first day, although skirmishes killed six Hexbollah guerrillas. [....] A United Nations force that now has 2,000 peacekeepers in south Lebanon is to grow to 15,000 soldiers. Lebanon's army will send in a 15,000-man contingent. [....] In the 34-day clash, Hezbollah is believed to have suffered heavy casualties. Although the group says only 68 fighters were killed, Israel put the number closer to 400. Olmert also claims his army largely destroyed Hezbollah's arsenal. [....] The Israelis said they had lost 118 in combat. The civilian toll was enormous - 692 in Lebanon and 39 in Israel. And damage to Lebanese infrastructure was sure to run into billions of dollars. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Returning Lebanese are shocked by scenes of destruction) by Steven R. Hurst, p. A10 (last page of section "A"), S.L.P.D., 08/15/06] - [Paragraph indents untranscribed - D.R.D.]
2006 - Moved out of White House / U.S. Press Corps - August 15th, 2006: "Press corps moves [1st time in 100 years] operations out of White House [08/14/06] to allow for repairs [for the next nine months]" [Based on: Title for A.P., p. A3, S.L.P.D., 08/15/06] - [Brackets text added for clarity - D.R.D.]
2006 - Claims 29-Foot Cross / U.S. Department of Defense - August 15th, 2006: "President George W. Bush on Monday [08/14/06] signed a law transfering a 29-foot-tall Latin cross high on a hill in San Diego from the city to the federal government, stepping into a long-running dispute over the separation of church and state. [....] The legislation Bush signed essentially uses eminent domain to transfer the memorial land from city ownership to the Department of Defense. The private group that built the cross, the Mount Soledad Memorial Association, will continue to maintain it. Judges in state and federal courts have repeatedly ruled that the cross violates the California Constitution." [Based on: News Services article (Bush signs law to transfer disputed cross), p. A4, S.L.P.D., 08/15/06]
2006 - Withdraw from November Primary / U.S. Rep. Bob Ney - August 15th, 2006: "[....] Ney announced that he would withdraw from the race a week ago, citing the strain of a growing corruption investigation that had focussed for months on his dealings with lobbyists. The six-term congressman [Republican] denies any wrongdoing and has not been charged. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Primary will determine Rep. Ney's replacement / Ohio congressman denies any wrongdoing in corruption case.), p. A4, S.L.P.D., 08/15/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - August 16th, 2006: "Stocks ended higher Tuesday [08/15/06], with the Standard & Poor's 500 index at its best level in 2 1/2 months, as a tame inflation report allayed fears of further interest rate increases to come, and shifted the focus away from concerns over slowing economic growth." [Based on: MARKETWATCH article (Investors react positively to latest inflation report), p. D4, S.L.P.D., 08/15/06]
2006 - Abducted Journalists / Gaza Strip - August 16th, 2006: "Palestinian security forces hunted for two abducted Fox News journalists Tuesday [08/15/06], and the Palestinian president and prime minister intervened in an attempt to gain their release. [....] American reporter Steve Centanni, 60, and New Zealand camerman Olaf Wiig, 36, were seized by gunmen Monday [08/14/06] near the headquarters of the Palestinian security services." [Based on: News Services article (Palestinians help search for abducted journalists), p. A4, S.L.P.D., 08/15/06]
2006 - Moves to Protypes / Future Combat Systems - August 16th, 2006: "Boeing Co's Future Combat Systems passed its most important milestone this year and can move into its next phase of development, in which prototypes are designed and tested, U.S. Army officials said Tuesday. [....] Future Combat Systems is a new family of manned and unmanned vehicles that are linked by high-speed digital communications, unmanned drones and new combat radios." [Based on: Article (Future Combat Systems moves to prototypes), p. D2, S.L.P.D., 08/15/06]
2006 - Volcanic Eruption / Tungurahua Volcano, Ecuador - August 16th, 2006: "Dozens of people were missing, hundreds of families were evacuated, and three villages were gone in the wake of an eruption of the Tungurahua Volcano in mid-August 2006. A month earlier, the volcano affected nearby residents and agriculture, but this eruption was worse. According to news reports, a serious eruption began on August 16, 2006, sending a column of volcanic ash 8 kilometers (5 miles) into the sky and raining lava and hot rocks on the surrounding area. Nothing remained of the villages of Chilibu, Choglontuz, and Palitagua, and the flow of lava and molten rock blocked the Patate, Puela, and Chambo Rivers. As of August 18, at least five people had died, and more casualties were expected. [....]"
[Based on: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13791]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - August 17th, 2006: "Stocks climbed to a three-month high Wednesday [08/16/06] as the smallest increase in consumer prices since February and a drop in crude oil reassured investors that the Federal Reserve is taming inflation. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article (Indexes hit 3-month highs as inflation slows, oil falls), p. C4, S.L.P.D., 08/17/06]
2006 - National Scandal? / Israel - August 17th, 2006: "[....] Halutz [Israeli air force Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz] said he had asked his secretary to call his banker before he learned of the abduction [of Ehud Goldwasser & Eldad Regev]. It was a coincidence that the sell order [of his $27,500 stock portfolio?] came after Israeli soldiers stormed into Lebanon in a failed effort to free the soldiers. [....]" [Based on: MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS article (Stock sale timing lands Israeli general in hot water), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 08/17/06]
2006 - Continued Violence / Iraq - August 17th, 2006: "Bombs kill 21 in Baghdad [08/06/06]; gunmen attack governor's office in Basra" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A9, S.L.P.D., 08/17/06]
2006 - Arrest / JonBenet Ramsey Case - August 17th, 2006: "Almost 10 years after JonBenet's murder: An arrest [0816/06]/ Suspect Held Overseas: Former teacher [John Mark Karr] is being held in Thailand on unrelated sex crimes. The American had lived in Georgia." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 08/17/06]
2006 - Becoming Public / New 9/11 Tapes - August 17th, 2006: "New 9/11 tapes show confusion, desperation" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 08/17/06]
2006 - Resists Investigation? / Earl Wims - August 17th, 2006: "Ex-Engineered Support board member resists investigation / Earl Wims received subpoena [recently] in look at option backdating." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for Article, p. C1, S.L.P.D., 08/17/06]
2006 - Ancient Figurines / Shaanxi, China - August 17th, 2006: "Archaeologists have unearthed two 2,500-year-old terra cotta figurines that are possible predecessors to the statue the army buried with China's first emperor, state media reported. the 4-inch-tall figurines were made by the nation of Qin before its ruler unified China in 221 B.C., the China Daily newspaper and Xinhua News Agency said this week. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Unearthed figurines are 2,500 years old), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 08/17/06]
2006 - Already Rebuilding Lebanon / Hezbollah - August 17th, 2006: "Only days fater guns fell silent, Hezbollah has emerged as the lead player in the cleanup in the towns and villages of Southern Lebanon. [....]" [Based on: Los Angeles Times article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 08/17/06]
2006 - Disturbance? / London-to-Washington Flight - August 17th, 2006: "Disturbance [08/16/06] on plane [by claustrophobic passenger pacing up and down the isle muttering the word 'Pakistan') draws fighter jets" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 08/17/06]
2006 - Court Case Trivia / Cancer Treatment, U.S.A. - August 17th, 2006: "Teen [Abraham Cherrix] wins court case [08/16/06] over cancer treatment [for Hodgkin's disease]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A11, S.L.P.D., 08/17/06]
2006 - Border Opened for Animals to Roam / 3 African Nations - August 17th, 2006: "3 African nations [South Africa, Mozambique & Zimbabwe] open border so animals can roam / Plan is to create 14,000-square-mile park spanning the countries." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A12, S.L.P.D., 08/17/06]
2006 - On the Rise / Drug-Resistant Staph Infections, U.S.A. - August 17th, 2006: "Study shows rise of drug-resistant staph infections" [Based on: Title for Los Angeles Times article, p. A11, S.L.P.D., 08/17/06]
2006 - "Mistaken Release?" / AOL Subscribers' Search Requests - August 17th, 2006: "The backlash against AOL's recent release of its subscribers' search requests continued Wednesday [08/16/06] as a privacy rights group, the World Privacy Forum of San Diego, filed a Federal Trade Commission complaint alleging the breach was intentional. AOL spokesman Andrew Weinstein repeated earlier descriptions of the breakdown as a 'mistaken release' by a bumbling researcher." [Based on: Article, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 08/17/06]
*Trivia: "AOL executive leaves, 2 other workers are fired over privacy breach" [Based on: Title for A.P. Article, p. D1, S.L.P.D., 08/22/06]
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - August 18th, 2006: "Stocks rose Thursday [08/17/06] for a fourth day as a profit forecast from Hewlett-Packard Co., the world's second-largest personal computer maker, exceeded projections and oil fell to $70 a barrel for the first time since June. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article (H-P outlook, drop in oil prices boost markets), p. B8, S.L.P.D., 08/18/06]
2006 - Convicted / David Passaro - August 18th, 2006: "Contract worker [CIA contract worker David Passaro] is convicted [08/17/06] of assaulting Afghan" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 08/18/06]
2006 - Pensions Overhaul / U.S.A. - August 18th, 2006: "Bush signs legislation [08/17/06] overhauling pensions for workers" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 08/18/06]
2006 - Car Bombings / Baghdad, Iraq - August 18th, 2006: "10 die in Baghdad car bombings [08/17/06]; 2 more GIs killed" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A12, S.L.P.D., 08/18/06]
2006 - Legal Setbacks / Merck & Co. - August 18th, 2006: "Merck suffers two big setbacks in Vioxx lawsuits [08/17/06] / New Jersey judge overturns verdict in drug maker's favor: New Orleans jury orders $51 million payment." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. B2, S.L.P.D., 08/18/06]
2006 - Lebanese Army / South Lebanon - August 18th, 2006: "Villagers throwing rice and Hezbollah guerrillas holding banners welcomed the country's army to south Lebanon on Thursday [08/17/06] after a nearly 40-year absence. And the first airliner landed at Beirut airport since fighting began more than a month ago. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Lebanese in south welcome their army), p. A9, S.L.P.D., 08/18/06]
2006 - Hurricane Hector / Eastern Pacific - August 18th, 2006: "Hurricane Hector formed in the eastern Pacific on August 15, 2006. Within a day, it had become organized enough to be classified as a tropical storm and earn its name. As of August 18, Hector was a moderately powerful Category 1 hurricane, traveling across the eastern Pacific. At that time, it was not expected to develop much additional power or to make landfall. [....]"
[Based on: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13792]
2006 - Dire Forecast / U.S. Federal Deficit - August 18th, 2006: "Although the federal deficit will shrink dramatically this year, it will total $1.76 trillion over the next decade, the Congressional Budget Office says. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Congressional Budget Office makes dire forecast on deficit), p. A4, S.L.P.D., 08/18/06]
2006 - Burial Site Found / Srebrenica Massacre - August 18th, 2006: "The bodies of more than 1,000 victims of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre have been exhumed from the largest mass grave found to date in Bosnia-Herzegovina, forensic experts said Thursday [08/17/06] [....] The team has exhumed 144 complete and 1,009 partial skeletons. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Srebrenica massacre burial site found), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 08/18/06]
2006 - U.S. Airstrike Condemned / Afghanistan - August 18th, 2006: "President Hamid Karzai condemned a U.S. airstrike Thursday [08/17/06] that Afghan officials said killed 10 border policemen. Sixteen other people died in violence around the country, including an American soldier killed by a Soviet-era land mine. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (U.S. airstrike is condemned), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 08/18/06]
2006 - Deceived the Public / U.S. Cigarette Makers - August 18th, 2006: "Cigarette makers deceived public, judge [U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler] rules / But penalties don't include billions sought by the government." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 08/18/06]
2006 - Released After Five Years / Sept. 11 Detainee - August 18th, 2006: "Sept. 11 detainee [Benemar Benatta] released after five years" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 08/18/06]
2006 - Ruled Unconstitutional / U.S. Warrantless Surveillance Program - August 18th, 2006: "A federal judge in Detroit [Anna Taylor Diggs] ruled Thursday [08/17/06] that the National Security Agency's warrantless Surveillance program was unconstitutional. [....]" [Based on: Washington Post article (Judge rejects wiretap program), p. A1, S.L.P.D., 08/18/06]
*Trivia: "Judge [Anna Taylor Diggs] in case on wiretaps has ACLU ties" [Based on: Title for New York Times article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 08/23/06]
2006 - Insider Trading Charges / Former DHB Industries Inc. Exec's - August 18th, 2006: "Two former executives of DHB Industries Inc., [Former CFO Dawn Schlegel & COO Sandra Hatfield] a major supplier of body armor to the U.S. military and police forces, were arrested on Thursday [08/17/06] on insider trading charges, authorities said. [....]" [Based on: Article (Two are arrested on insider trading charges), p. B2, S.L.P.D., 08/18/06]
2006 - Trivia / Flight "93" - August 19th, 2006:
[....]
But let us examine the evidence — so that you can come to your own conclusion. The massive impact caused the entire plane to disappear 30ft deep into the earth, telescoping down on itself and crushing everyone and everything inside the fuselage beyond recognition.
However, the absence of any significant debris — including tailplane and wings — bewildered witnesses, relatives and, more importantly, some crash experts.
They found it hard to believe that an airliner up to 155ft long, with two engines each weighing more than six tons, could have penetrated the ground so completely as to utterly disappear. Had it, in reality, been blown to pieces in mid-air?
CERTAINLY, it is unclear how a single piece of fuselage the size of a dining room table could have been recovered from a marina in Indian Lake, a couple of miles away from the crash site — unless it fell from the sky during an aerial break-up.
But a bigger mystery is why the engines went missing.
Considering their weight, they should have plunged deep into the earth along with the rest of the airliner.
Yet they weren’t in the crater and only a one-ton segment of an engine was ever recovered, again more than a mile from the crash site. The FBI said, unconvincingly, that it had ‘bounced’ there.
The FBI also claimed metal fragments found up to eight miles away could have been carried there by the wind, even though the breeze was very light.
Witnesses said nothing was left at the crash site, yet the FBI belatedly claimed to have made two sensational discoveries — a red bandana and a passport allegedly belonging to the hijackers.
Very conveniently, these turned up as prosecution evidence earlier this year at the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui, the socalled 20th hijacker and only terrorist to be convicted over the 9/11 atrocities.
[....]
[Based on: Article segment (London Daily Mail: Flight 93 'was shot down') Daily Mail/ROWLAND MORGAN | August 19 2006] - see links:
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/august2006/190806shotdown.htm
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=401315&in_page_id=1770
2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - August 19th, 2006: "Stocks rose for a fifth straight day Friday [08/18/06], with the Nasdaq logging its biggest weekly point gain in more than four years. [....]" [Based on: MARKETWATCH article (Weeklong rally advances Nasdaq 106 points), p. B8, S.L.P.D., 08/19/06]
2006 - Bomb Scare / British Plane - August 19th, 2006: "Bomb scare [08/18/06] makes jetliner [Excel Airways Boeing 767] land in Italy [after a passenger found a handwritten note on an air-sickness bag that read, 'There is a bomb on board this flight.']" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A29, S.L.P.D., 08/19/06]
2006 - Geomagnetic Storm / Planet Earth - August 19th, 2006:
Last night, a geomagnetic storm sent spectacular auroras rippling across Scandinavia: "It was almost scary to see the 'flames' in the sky," says Chris Folde of Selbu, Norway. "I've never experienced anything like it."
Across the border in Sweden, the auroras had competition from the midnight sun. No problem. "The display was so strong, I was able to take many pictures," says Patricia Cowern of Porjus, Sweden: [....]
What caused all this? Around mid-day on August 19th, the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) tipped south, opening a crack in Earth's magnetic defenses. Solar wind poured in and fueled the display.
[Based on: http://spaceweather.com/] - [08/21/06]
2006 - Hezbollah Helps Bombing Victims / Lebanon - August 19th, 2006: "In an embarrassment to the Lebanese government, Hezbollah started handing out crisp $100 bills Friday [08/18/06] to residents who lost their homes in the Israeli bombing campaign - $12,000 to each claimant at a school in south Beirut. There were no lines and no waiting at the Shahed School in Bourj el-Barajneh neighborhood. [....]" [Based on: Article (Hezbollah helps out bombing victims with American cash), p. A26, S.L.P.D., 08/19/06]
2006 - U.S. Court Backing / Agent Orange Claims - August 19th, 2006: "[....] The court order, issued Wednesday [08/16/06], reverses the Veterans Affairs Department's denial of benefits for Jonathan L. Has. He argued that clouds of the toxic defoliate, which the U.S. sprayed on Vietnamese jungles, drifted out to sea, engulfing his ship and landing on his skin. The Veterans Affairs Department said Friday [08/18/06] that it was reviewing the opinion." [Based on: Article (Court backs veterans on Agent Orange claims), p. A25, S.L.P.D., 08/19/06]
2006 - Approved for Making Cold Cuts Safer / Virus Spray? - August 19th, 2006: "[....] Consumers won't be aware that meat and poultry products have been treated with the spray, Zajac [Andrew Zajac] added. The Department of Agriculture will regulate the actual use of the product [the president & CEO of manufacturer Intralytix Inc. is John Vazzana]." [Based on: A.P. article (Virus spray is approved for making cold cuts safer to eat), p. A25, S.L.P.D., 08/19/06] - [Brackets text added for clarity - D.R.D.]
2006 - Ten Commandments Display / Haskell County, Oklahona - August 19th, 2006: "[....] The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that religious displays on government property are not inherently unconstitutional and must be considered on a case-by-case basis." [Based on: Article (Judge allows monument of ten Commandments), p. A25, S.L.P.D., 08/19/06]
2006 - Shows Up??? / Unapproved Genetically Altered Rice, U.S.A. - August 19th, 2006: "Unapproved genetically altered rice [LLRICEE 601] shows up [trace amounts found 07/31/06 in samples taken from commercial samples of long-grain rice harvested in 2005]" [Based on: Article (by Rachel Melcer) Title, p. A30, S.L.P.D., 08/19/06] - [Brackets text added for clarity - D.R.D.]
*Trivia: "The European Union on Monday [08/21/06] asked the U.S. government to supply details of an unapproved, gene-modified rice made by Bayer CorpScience AG that was found in U.S. rice supplies and may prompt an EU import ban. [....] Bayer field-tested the modified rice from 1998 to 2001, and it tainted the 2005 crop. In response to a similar incident last year, the EU banned U.S. corn imports. Meanwhile, the Japanese government on Saturday [08/19/06] banned imports of U.S. long-grain rice after the announcement late last week of the gene-modified rice. Japan was the second-largest buyer of U.S. rice in the last five years, trailing only Mexico. [....] Mochan [EU spokeswoman Antonia Mochan] said she did not know whether the taineted rice had been exported to Europe. Last year, the EU blocked U.S. imports of corn animal feed for 10 days after Syngenta AG said it had accidentally sold an experimental engineered corn that was planted on 37,000 acres in four U.S. states. In 2004, the EU ended a six-year moratorium on approving gene-altered crops, overriding consumer concerns that biotech crops may harm human health and the environment. [....] In 2005 the U.S. exported 224,000 metric tons of rice to the 25-nation EU, worth about $82 million, 198,000 tons of which was long-grain rice, the European Commission said. The Agriculture Department and the Food and Drug Administration concluded there are 'no human health, food safety or environmental concerns associated with the rice,' Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said Friday [08/18/06]." [Based on: News Services article, p. D2, S.L.P.D., 08/22/06]
2006 - Trivia / U.S. Anthrax Vaccine - August 20th, 2006: "Almost five years later after a deadly series of mailed anthrax attacks prompted warnings that a new anthrax vaccine was 'urgently needed,' the nation's nearly $1 billion effort to develop the drug is in trouble. The company, VaxGen, is about a year behind schedule on its latest contract, the first and biggest under the federal antiterrorism program Project BioShield. And the delay could grow by at least another year because of a dispute with the government over how the vaccine should be tested. [....]" [Based on: San Jose Mercury News Article (Quest for anthrax vaccine hits some hurdles), p. A7, S.L.P.D., 08/20/06]
2006 - Strong Earthquake / Kuril Islands - August 20th, 2006: "A strong earthquake occurred at 03:01:06 (UTC) on Sunday, August 20th, 2006. The magnitude 6.0 event has been located @: KURIL ISLANDS."
[Based on: http://earthquakes.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/usrqah.php] - [08/22/06]
2006 - Major Earthquake / Scotia Sea - August 20th, 2006: "A major earthquake occurred at 03:41::47 (UTC) on Sunday, August 20th, 2006. The magnitude 7.1 event has been located @: SCOTIA SEA."
[Based on: http://earthquakes.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/usrqal.php] - [08/21/06]
2006 - Trivia / U.S. Torture Coverup, Vietnam War - August 20th, 2006: "When contacted recently at his home in Colorado, Herbert declined to be quoted about the Army investigation, except to say: 'If they'd really taken action about the bad apples and been honest about it ... then they wouldn't be arguing about Abu Ghraib and different places today.' " [Based on: Title & Subtitle for Los Angeles Times article (Military covered up torture by soldiers in Vietnam War / Army tried to discredit whistleblower [Lt. Col. Anthony B. Herbert], records show), p. A16 (last article, last page of Sunday paper), S.L.P.D., 08/20/06]
2006 - Israeli Raid / Hezbollah Stronhold, Deep in Lebanon - August 20th, 2006: "Israelis test truce, strike deep in Lebanon [08/19/06]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A11, S.L.P.D., 08/20/06]
2006 - Seized in Israeli Raid [08/19/06] / Nasser Shaer - August 20th, 2006: "[....] The Israelis have arrested eight Hamas Cabinet ministers and more than two dozen lawmakers, including the speaker of parliament, since late June. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Israelis seize Hamas leader in raid), p. A14, S.L.P.D., 08/20/06]
2006 - Potentially Deadly Asteroids / Inner Solar System - August 20th, 2006: "[....] Experts say that the inner solar system has about 1,100 such bodies that are at least a half-mile across and that any one of them could unleash a global cataclysm capable of killing millions. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Astronomers seek to avert a deadly collision), p. A4, S.L.P.D., 08/20/06]
2006 - Next Threat to U.S. Airliners? / Shoulder-Fired Missles - August 20th, 2006: "Is this the next threat to U.S. airliners? [picture of man aiming a shoulder-fired missle] / Shoulder-Launched Missles - Northrop Grumman is testing a system that disrupts the missle's guidance system." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for Article (front page headline), p. A1, S.L.P.D., 08/20/06]
2006 - New Illness / Missouri - August 21th, 2006: "New illness [Southern tick-associated rash illness] has WU researchers tracking ticks" [Based on: Article Title, pp. A1&A3, S.L.P.D., 08/21/06]
2006 - Military Exercise / Iran - August 21th, 2006: "10 short-range missles [Saegheh] fired [08/20/06] in military exercise [Iran]" [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A7, S.L.P.D., 08/21/06]
2006 - Trivia / EA-18G Growler - August 21th, 2006: "The EA-18G Growler, the world's most advanced electronic attack aircraft, recently completed its first flight [08/15/06]. Under budget, under weight and ahead of schedule, the EA-18G is a vital asset, critical to neutralizing threats and protecting our warfighters. The St. Louis EA-18G Team is proud to fly this remarkable aircraft and to meet or exceed all performance requirements of our U.S. Navy customer." [Based on: Full-page picture add/article (EA-18G. UP FOR THE FIGHT.), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 08/21/06]
2006 - Under Way / 2nd Saddam Trial - August 21th, 2006: "Second Saddam trial gets under way today / This one centers on the tens of thousands killed in the Iraqi army's offensive against the Kurds in the 1980s." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 08/21/06]
2006 - Hurricane Ioke / Pacific Ocean - August 21st, 2006: "Hurricane Ioke formed started life, as all tropical cyclones do, as a depression. After forming August 19, 2006, the depression quickly developed into a tropical storm, the threshold for earning a name. Ioke is the Hawaiian word for the name Joyce. Storms and hurricanes in the central Pacific are unusual, but they occur often enough for there to be a naming convention, applied by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu. The last named central Pacific storm was Huko in 2002. Ioke rose all the way to hurricane strength in less than 24 hours.
This image [see link] of Hurricane Ioke shows the powerful Category 4 hurricane as it was passing south of the Hawaiian Islands. The image was taken by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite at 20:45 UTC (9:45 am HST) on August 21, 2006, and shows the horizontal pattern of rain intensity within Ioke. [....]"
[Based on: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13800]
2006 - Trivia / Sex-Slave Industry, U.S.A. - August 21th, 2006: "Arrests at brothels along East Coast shine light on sex-slave industry in U.S." [Based on: Title for A.P. article , p. A2, S.L.P.D., 08/21/06]
2006 - Snipers Target Shiite Worshippers - August 21th, 2006: "Snipers took aim at multitudes of Shiite Muslim worshippers marching through the besieged capital Sunday [08/20/06], killing at least 22 and injuring hundreds in a vivid illustration of the sectarian violence driving Iraq toward open civil war. [....]" [Based