Some people crave java shots each morning. I hunger for newsprint. And, thankfully, I get my fix in a two-newspaper town, where I savor a robust mix of stories.
If MediaNews Group were to water down the Pioneer Press, the Twin Cities would not only become more like Sanka than a Starbucks espresso roast, but a community and regional artery would be severed.
As a kid in northern Wisconsin, I spent hours at the library, where I'd often find the Saint Paul newspaper and read news and see pictures from a place that had what my hometown didn't — skyscrapers, whales, a state Capitol, pro sports and more. That newspaper opened a window.
The Twin Cities has cranked out some pretty good wordsmiths. Novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald, CBS' Eric Sevareid, "Prairie Home Companion" Garrison Keillor, NPR's Michele Norris, Thomas Friedman and Ira Berkow of the New York Times, CNN's founding anchor Mary Alice Williams and its departing anchor Aaron Brown, and Steve Rushin, Sports Illustrated's weekly lead-off hitter, have all put pen to paper here.
They, I believe — like me and every other Pioneer Press and Star Tribune reader — have benefited from twice the analyses, viewpoints, voices, angles, and pictures of most towns. But how can we be one of America's most literate communities if half of our words disappear?
1000
The program is always insulting with it's artificial voices to ? enhance ? human beings to watching the show?
1003
The drug 'issue' with Mexico is old. Fox was just going to make it leagal that's all especially since the USA won't allow Medical Marijuana.
This is just another example of border and national insecutiry. What's the name of that gamg from South America? M19 or M 13, something like that? What do you think their stock and trade is? Columbian Gold. This is nothing new. Fox was just decriminalizing from the Mexican side. He doesn't have recourse really. He doesn't have jails big enough or control of very violent border towns. Fox also recognizes there is an economy in the drug trade with the USA imports. So, Mexico just wants their courts freed up and their tourist trade intact. It's interesting thhis was a so called surprise to Bush. Interseting. I would say he is just plain out of touch.
Mexico's Fox won't sign drug law
ReutersWednesday, May 3, 2006; 8:59 PM
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican President Vicente Fox will not sign widely criticized narcotics legislation until Congress removes parts of the law that decriminalize the possession of small amounts of drugs, his office said on Wednesday.
The president's office said the law would be sent back to Congress for revision.
I love the 'attitude' regarding CNN's glibness regarding the 911 families and the Moussoui verdict. This news team insists that Moussaoi is nobody in the terrorist network and that jailing him will be the same as any other dangrous criminal in our prisons. I would be surprised that would be the case. The more domestic criminals are in, I believe it was Colorado? None of the New York Terrorists from 1003 are there. They are secured in areas that would not necessarily be a target of more terrorist attacks.
I doubt seriously the FBI that exposed Moussoui thought he was a 'small fish.' Anderson obviously forgets that Moussoui was stopped by the FBI. He was unsuccessful. He was nabbed and compromised so that he could not participate. Given those facts, Moussoui can only be a small fish if all the other 19 terrorists from 911 were.
Jerks.
Jury Decides Against Execution for Moussaoui
By NEIL A. LEWIS and DAVID STOUT
Published: May 3, 2006
ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 3 — A federal court jury spared the life of Zacarias Moussaoui today, voting to send him to prison for the rest of his days rather than condemn him to death for the carnage of Sept. 11, 2001.
The issue of preparedness and security belongs at the state level under this administration. They have proved over and over again they are unable to protect this country from everything from terrorists, to outsourcing and economic decline measured best by the direct ratio of national debt to economic improvemnt. Bush is buying an economy with debt. That is not an economy, it does't grow. It only exploits and rewards those that reap the profits from the exploitation.
The states need to formulate their own plans realizing Bush has washinged his hands of the Bird Flu Pandemic in time to do something in time. He isn't compeltely stuipd. He knows when people's lives are on the line and when he can't do anything about it. The Governors are the heroes here and it should be an election issue.
US plan aims to slow bird flu
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Americans should prepare for travel restrictions and school closures if an influenza pandemic hits, but such measures can only temporarily slow the inevitable spread of disease, the government's new flu plan says.
The White House influenza plan released on Wednesday builds on an earlier plan to combat a potential pandemic of H5N1 avian influenza, including preparations to build a stockpile of vaccines and drugs, already under way, and work to develop newer and better vaccines.
"In terms of its scope, the impact of a severe pandemic may be more comparable to that of a war or a widespread economic crisis than a hurricane, earthquake or act of terrorism," the report reads.
Mr. Firedman has been an advoccate for a gas tax a long time now. I am surprised he allowed Anderson to steer him into calling a compromised society as a bunch of addits. Addition is not the issue, it's CHOICES THAT ARE THE ISSUE. Anderson has got it "W"rong again. Thomas Freidman is incorrect as well. This issue's resolve has always been thwarted by Republicans. The Democrats, and the classic example is California, has the toughest fuel standards in the country.
My son is graduating from college and entering the business field. He wants a new car. He's right, he should have that reward for achieving a stepping stone in life. But. I have advised him to wait. The 'Flex Fuel' and cars are the best short term answer. Given there is little to know alternatives to high priced fuel, he'll be driving one of th e older carsin the family due to DIRTY FUEL alternatives sponsored by Georgie Gaa. There isn't anything 'secure' or 'predictable' or 'stable' about the future for this 2- something generation. There are Republican criminals running the country that line businesses with the promise of our children and their enjoyment in life. My son should not have to wait to make the BEST CHOICE in car buying, he did all the work. He desreves to have life by the tail. Under this Republican dominated country, he is denied MUCH of the Promise of being American.
High energy prices affect small businesses
JOYCE M. ROSENBERG
Associated Press
NEW YORK - Rebecca Boegnik has had to go ahead and raise prices, while Rebecca Herwick is keeping more inventory on hand. And Blair Whitworth's company is using technology to accomplish the tasks that used to be done on road trips.
For small business owners like these, the problems caused by soaring energy prices go far beyond filling gas tanks. Freight costs are continually rising, materials are getting more expensive by the month and travel is becoming too costly. Companies are finding whatever ways they can to cut costs, but many are faced with the prospect of raising their own prices - a move they fear could hurt their competitiveness.
Two years ago, a barrel of crude was selling for $40, an astronomical sum at the time. Now, it's in the low $70 range, while gasoline, which sold for about $1.80 in early May 2004 now costs over $3 in many places.
"It's an interesting dilemma," Boegnik said of rising prices.
1046
Anderson you are as much a loser as the Republican Party that Candy Crowley seems to advocate tolerance with. No one is interested in tunnel construction. People are interested in border security. What a jerk.
Where is the news secretary? Anderson perfer his 'cheaper' boy toy Frankenstein than flirting with the lady of the evening? This is nothing but propaganda that has nothing to d with reality and internatinal policy. You are not going to tell me Fox didn't know about the tunnels either.
Oh, here we go with the Sago Mine tragedy. $10 will get you $20 that he ends the segment with "...and carbon monoxide poisoning kills X amount of people a year as well as radon."
1052
Laura Bush and John King making politics with the National Anthem and the Bible. She as bad as her husband in that she is a political icon that can 'roll back' Georgie's opinons as that of a misguided spouse. How sweet.
Nice book shelf, is there a copy of "My Pet Goat?"
1054
There is the News Secretary. See, CNN needs a chaperone all the time. Shame on them. Do penance. Ask the Pope for absolution.
1056
There you go Anderson, nice kiss up with the very endangered Loggerhead Turtle and onto Australia, who wouldhave guessed?
1056
commercials
1059
The LA Edition. No thanks. This is nothing but advertisements for 'converting gangs.' It's always stuipd and out of context.
1100
John King in New Orleans. He's monitoring the border from your hometown, Anderson? What border? Mexican? Talk about the need for a geography lesson, huh?
Enough.
