The Menorah outside the Jerusalem Knesset
Friday, December 23, 2005
Hanukkah Observation
Hanukkah, beginning on 25 Kislev (usually in December), commemorates the triumph of the Jews, under the Maccabees, over the Greek rulers (164 BCE) - both the physical victory of the small Jewish nation against mighty Greece and the spiritual victory of the Jewish faith against the Hellenism of the Greeks. Its sanctity derives from this spiritual aspect of the victory, and the miracle of the flask of oil, when a portion of sacramental olive oil meant to keep the Temple candelabrum lit for one day lasted for eight days, the time it took for the Temple to be rededicated.
Hanukkah is observed in Israel, as in the Diaspora, for eight days. The central feature of this holiday is the lighting of candles each evening - one on the first night, two on the second, and so on - in commemoration of the miracle at the Temple. The Hanukkah message in Israel focuses strongly on aspects of restored sovereignty; customs widely practiced in the Diaspora, such as gift-giving and the dreidl (spinning top), are also in evidence. The dreidl's sides are marked with Hebrew initials representing the message "A great miracle occurred here"; in the Diaspora, the initials stand for "A great miracle occurred there." Schools are closed during this week; workplaces are not.
Hanukkah is observed in Israel, as in the Diaspora, for eight days. The central feature of this holiday is the lighting of candles each evening - one on the first night, two on the second, and so on - in commemoration of the miracle at the Temple. The Hanukkah message in Israel focuses strongly on aspects of restored sovereignty; customs widely practiced in the Diaspora, such as gift-giving and the dreidl (spinning top), are also in evidence. The dreidl's sides are marked with Hebrew initials representing the message "A great miracle occurred here"; in the Diaspora, the initials stand for "A great miracle occurred there." Schools are closed during this week; workplaces are not.
AC 360, the Non News
The usual junk begins the 'show.' Here's Johnny.
1005
Cheney lies backed by Dana Bash. Count the dead. The world is NOT a far safer place. Jordan, Madrid, London, Luxor, Egypt, Beirut experienced two assassinations and the list goes on and on and on………
1009
Iraq - the tribute to "The Lionesses" is a repeat of a previous broadcast.
Blair: troops could begin Iraq pullout within six months
Tania Branigan in Basra and Ewen MacAskill
Friday December 23, 2005
The Guardian
Tony Blair indicated yesterday that a phased withdrawal of British troops from Iraq could begin within six months in the first official confirmation of an exit plan. Speaking during a lightning visit to Basra, his fourth in the past 12 months, Mr Blair held out the prospect of a pullout beginning in the first half of 2006.
Mr Blair refused to divulge a specific timetable, but he sounded an optimistic note and gave the clearest signal yet of British military intentions.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,16518,1673279,00.html
Get used to. We are leaving !!!!!!!!!
Australia's 270 mln aud wheat trade with Iraq in jeopardy - report
http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/afx/2005/12/22/afx2411193.html
Most think propaganda campaign in Iraq wrong
By Mark Memmott, USA TODAY
Almost three-quarters of Americans think it was wrong for the Pentagon to pay Iraqi newspapers to publish news about U.S. efforts in Iraq, a new USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll shows.
USA TODAY reported earlier this month that the Pentagon plans to expand beyond Iraq an anti-terrorism public relations campaign that has included secret payments to Iraqi journalists and publications who printed stories favorable to the USA. In some cases, the stories will be prepared by U.S. military personnel, as they have been in Iraq.
The military will not always reveal it was behind the stories, said Mike Furlong, deputy director of the Joint Psychological Operations Support Element. The global program will be part of a five-year public relations campaign costing up to $300 million.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-12-22-poll-propaganda_x.htm
Iraq war has had a crippling effect on Iraq's orange growers
By Mohammed Alawsy
Knight Ridder Newspapers
BAQOUBA, Iraq - Basim Alwan, 50, still walks the orange groves that surround the small house where he grew up. He still looks past the dark green leaves, searching for the fruit that's defined his life.
But these days he finds that fruit less often, and he's worried about what that means for his future, his community's future and even his nation's future.
"Without the orange trees, we'd be fish out of water, we'd die," he said. "We don't have any other jobs here. But since the war, the trees have been bare."
While the trees are still green and plentiful, they haven't borne enough fruit to yield a decent harvest for two and a half years, since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Bombs and bullets didn't rip the fruit from the branches, but residents still blame the war, which has affected the local economy in a surprising number of ways.
Baqouba, the capital of Diyala Province and Iraq's self-proclaimed City of Oranges, has about a quarter-million people. Just northeast of Baghdad, it marks the eastern edge of the world's oldest fertile region, a vast green crescent that cuts through the heart of Iraq's tan, dead desert.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/13467815.htm
1017
The New York Transit Strike
THIS TOOK PLACE UNDER REAGAN'S WATCH.
Caspar W. Weinberger
January 21, 1981 - November 23, 1987
15th Secretary of Defense
Reagan Administration
http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/secdef_histories/bios/weinberger.htm
AND WHERE was Don Rumsfeld during this time?
During his business career, Mr. Rumsfeld continued public service in a variety of posts, including:
Member of the President's General Advisory Committee on Arms Control – Reagan Administration (1982 - 1986);
President Reagan's Special Envoy on the Law of the Sea Treaty (1982 - 1983);
Senior Advisor to President Reagan's Panel on Strategic Systems (1983 - 1984);
Member of the U.S. Joint Advisory Commission on U.S./Japan Relations – Reagan Administration (1983 - 1984);
President Reagan's Special Envoy to the Middle East (1983 - 1984);
Member of the National Commission on the Public Service (1987 - 1990);
Member of the National Economic Commission (1988 - 1989);
Member of the Board of Visitors of the National Defense University (1988 - 1992);
Member of the Commission on U.S./Japan Relations (1989 - 1991);
http://www.medaloffreedom.com/DonaldRumsfeld.htm
Dutchman faces jail on Iraq genocide charge
22 Dec 2005 23:01:41 GMT
Source: Reuters
AMSTERDAM, Dec 23 (Reuters) - A court in The Hague will pass judgment on Friday on a Dutch businessman charged with selling chemicals to Iraq used to carry out poison gas attacks.
Frans van Anraat, 63, is charged with complicity in genocide and war crimes for supplying agents to make poison gas used by Iraq in the 1980-1988 war with Iran and against its own Kurdish population, including a 1988 attack on the town of Halabja.
If convicted, he faces a prison sentence of up to 15 years.
In a magazine interview in 2003, Van Anraat admitted to supplying the chemicals but he denies knowing they were destined for Iraq and that they would be used to make poison gas.
Prosecutors said Van Anraat delivered more than 1,000 tonnes of thiodiglycol -- an industrial chemical which can be used to make mustard gas but also has civilian uses -- to Iraq and more than 800 tonnes ended up on the battlefield.
They said he shipped chemicals from the United States to Belgium and from Belgium to Iraq via Jordan.
He also shipped chemicals from Japan to Italy, and then overland to Iraq, but defence lawyers said a key witness -- Van Anraat's Japanese business partner Tanaka -- was not reliable.
Saddam Hussein, his cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as "Chemical Ali", and others used chemical weapons including mustard gas and nerve gas in Halabja, Gukk Tapah and Bergin to target the Kurdish population, the charges against Van Anraat said.
The Halabja attack on March 16, 1988, killed an estimated 5,000 people. Some of their relatives were present during the trial.
Defence lawyers said the case was inadmissible as the chief suspect of genocide and war crimes, Saddam, is already on trial in Baghdad. Saddam has denied the charges.
Van Anraat is the first Dutchman to be tried on genocide-related charges.
Sixteen Kurdish victims from Iraq and Iran who joined the criminal trial are seeking the symbolic amount of 680 euros ($800.70) each in damages.
The United States said Iraq's suspected weapons of mass destruction were one of its main reasons for going to war in 2003, but significant stockpiles of chemical and biological arms have not been found.
Van Anraat was detained in Milan in 1989 following a U.S. request but was released after two months. He then fled to Iraq, where it is thought he stayed until the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, when he returned to the Netherlands through Syria.
Dutch officials arrested him last December as he was preparing to leave the country.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L22786584.htm
1025
Speculation regarding medical euthanasia in New Orleans.
1030
Commercials
1033
The news review. You know the 10 second flash news reel.
1034
Katrina's Home Movie - he was lucky.
1039
Alaska's 'projects' - pork and nothing else
The U.S. Senate on Wednesday night voted to approve the House-Senate conference report legislation related to the defense appropriations. Included in the conference legislation was $29 billion funding for the hurricane victims from the Gulf Coast. The vote was passed by unanimous vote.
The final appropriations bill did not include the controversial ANWR drilling. The ANWR matter has been very contentious since the drilling issue was attached to the defense appropriations bill by the House of Representatives and had angered environmentalists and most democrats in the Senate.
Earlier today, a vote on cloture of the ANWR-defense appropriations issue failed by a slight margin in the Senate.
The cloture vote put the funding for Katrina and Rita in a wild zone of uncertainty and speculation.
Before the Conference Report vote Wednesday night, the Senate voted to remove the ANWR provision from the defense appropriations.
http://www.bayoubuzz.com/articles.aspx?aid=5796
1045
Commercials
Then
Kids and Lunch
Funding to feed hungry children
As we celebrate the holidays, most of us have more food than we could ever need. During this season of giving, state Sen. Teresa Fedor, state Rep. Mark Wagoner, and I encourage each of you to stop and think of the thousands of Ohio children who have an empty dinner table.
As illustrated in a Sept. 2 Blade editorial, 120,000 children in Ohio go hungry each day and 500,000 are at risk of hunger. That's one in every six children in our state. Even more startling is that hungry children suffer a variety of devastating consequences: increased health problems, more disruptive behavior, tardiness or absence from school, and lower scores on achievement tests than their classmates.
While this news is disheartening, there is hope. The National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs, funded by the federal government, exist as a "safety net" by providing children nutritious breakfasts and lunches. Using these programs does not increase our state spending. Rather, taking advantage of them helps us maximize what funds are already available from the federal government.
Here in Lucas County, Senator Fedor, Representative Wagoner, and I have met with the Children's Hunger Alliance (a private, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to end childhood hunger in Ohio) in order to help more local schools offer school breakfast programs. We encourage parents to join us in our efforts. They should contact their child's school for information on its breakfast program, or get in touch with one of us. We can all take action. In doing so, we will help local children be prepared to learn and avoid the devastating consequences of hunger, without increasing state spending.
We can end childhood hunger in Lucas County and across Ohio. That's something we can all celebrate.
Jeanine Perry
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051217/OPINION03/512170376
1054
Commercials
END IT.
1005
Cheney lies backed by Dana Bash. Count the dead. The world is NOT a far safer place. Jordan, Madrid, London, Luxor, Egypt, Beirut experienced two assassinations and the list goes on and on and on………
1009
Iraq - the tribute to "The Lionesses" is a repeat of a previous broadcast.
Blair: troops could begin Iraq pullout within six months
Tania Branigan in Basra and Ewen MacAskill
Friday December 23, 2005
The Guardian
Tony Blair indicated yesterday that a phased withdrawal of British troops from Iraq could begin within six months in the first official confirmation of an exit plan. Speaking during a lightning visit to Basra, his fourth in the past 12 months, Mr Blair held out the prospect of a pullout beginning in the first half of 2006.
Mr Blair refused to divulge a specific timetable, but he sounded an optimistic note and gave the clearest signal yet of British military intentions.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,16518,1673279,00.html
Get used to. We are leaving !!!!!!!!!
Australia's 270 mln aud wheat trade with Iraq in jeopardy - report
http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/afx/2005/12/22/afx2411193.html
Most think propaganda campaign in Iraq wrong
By Mark Memmott, USA TODAY
Almost three-quarters of Americans think it was wrong for the Pentagon to pay Iraqi newspapers to publish news about U.S. efforts in Iraq, a new USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll shows.
USA TODAY reported earlier this month that the Pentagon plans to expand beyond Iraq an anti-terrorism public relations campaign that has included secret payments to Iraqi journalists and publications who printed stories favorable to the USA. In some cases, the stories will be prepared by U.S. military personnel, as they have been in Iraq.
The military will not always reveal it was behind the stories, said Mike Furlong, deputy director of the Joint Psychological Operations Support Element. The global program will be part of a five-year public relations campaign costing up to $300 million.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-12-22-poll-propaganda_x.htm
Iraq war has had a crippling effect on Iraq's orange growers
By Mohammed Alawsy
Knight Ridder Newspapers
BAQOUBA, Iraq - Basim Alwan, 50, still walks the orange groves that surround the small house where he grew up. He still looks past the dark green leaves, searching for the fruit that's defined his life.
But these days he finds that fruit less often, and he's worried about what that means for his future, his community's future and even his nation's future.
"Without the orange trees, we'd be fish out of water, we'd die," he said. "We don't have any other jobs here. But since the war, the trees have been bare."
While the trees are still green and plentiful, they haven't borne enough fruit to yield a decent harvest for two and a half years, since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Bombs and bullets didn't rip the fruit from the branches, but residents still blame the war, which has affected the local economy in a surprising number of ways.
Baqouba, the capital of Diyala Province and Iraq's self-proclaimed City of Oranges, has about a quarter-million people. Just northeast of Baghdad, it marks the eastern edge of the world's oldest fertile region, a vast green crescent that cuts through the heart of Iraq's tan, dead desert.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/13467815.htm
1017
The New York Transit Strike
THIS TOOK PLACE UNDER REAGAN'S WATCH.
Caspar W. Weinberger
January 21, 1981 - November 23, 1987
15th Secretary of Defense
Reagan Administration
http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/secdef_histories/bios/weinberger.htm
AND WHERE was Don Rumsfeld during this time?
During his business career, Mr. Rumsfeld continued public service in a variety of posts, including:
Member of the President's General Advisory Committee on Arms Control – Reagan Administration (1982 - 1986);
President Reagan's Special Envoy on the Law of the Sea Treaty (1982 - 1983);
Senior Advisor to President Reagan's Panel on Strategic Systems (1983 - 1984);
Member of the U.S. Joint Advisory Commission on U.S./Japan Relations – Reagan Administration (1983 - 1984);
President Reagan's Special Envoy to the Middle East (1983 - 1984);
Member of the National Commission on the Public Service (1987 - 1990);
Member of the National Economic Commission (1988 - 1989);
Member of the Board of Visitors of the National Defense University (1988 - 1992);
Member of the Commission on U.S./Japan Relations (1989 - 1991);
http://www.medaloffreedom.com/DonaldRumsfeld.htm
Dutchman faces jail on Iraq genocide charge
22 Dec 2005 23:01:41 GMT
Source: Reuters
AMSTERDAM, Dec 23 (Reuters) - A court in The Hague will pass judgment on Friday on a Dutch businessman charged with selling chemicals to Iraq used to carry out poison gas attacks.
Frans van Anraat, 63, is charged with complicity in genocide and war crimes for supplying agents to make poison gas used by Iraq in the 1980-1988 war with Iran and against its own Kurdish population, including a 1988 attack on the town of Halabja.
If convicted, he faces a prison sentence of up to 15 years.
In a magazine interview in 2003, Van Anraat admitted to supplying the chemicals but he denies knowing they were destined for Iraq and that they would be used to make poison gas.
Prosecutors said Van Anraat delivered more than 1,000 tonnes of thiodiglycol -- an industrial chemical which can be used to make mustard gas but also has civilian uses -- to Iraq and more than 800 tonnes ended up on the battlefield.
They said he shipped chemicals from the United States to Belgium and from Belgium to Iraq via Jordan.
He also shipped chemicals from Japan to Italy, and then overland to Iraq, but defence lawyers said a key witness -- Van Anraat's Japanese business partner Tanaka -- was not reliable.
Saddam Hussein, his cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as "Chemical Ali", and others used chemical weapons including mustard gas and nerve gas in Halabja, Gukk Tapah and Bergin to target the Kurdish population, the charges against Van Anraat said.
The Halabja attack on March 16, 1988, killed an estimated 5,000 people. Some of their relatives were present during the trial.
Defence lawyers said the case was inadmissible as the chief suspect of genocide and war crimes, Saddam, is already on trial in Baghdad. Saddam has denied the charges.
Van Anraat is the first Dutchman to be tried on genocide-related charges.
Sixteen Kurdish victims from Iraq and Iran who joined the criminal trial are seeking the symbolic amount of 680 euros ($800.70) each in damages.
The United States said Iraq's suspected weapons of mass destruction were one of its main reasons for going to war in 2003, but significant stockpiles of chemical and biological arms have not been found.
Van Anraat was detained in Milan in 1989 following a U.S. request but was released after two months. He then fled to Iraq, where it is thought he stayed until the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, when he returned to the Netherlands through Syria.
Dutch officials arrested him last December as he was preparing to leave the country.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L22786584.htm
1025
Speculation regarding medical euthanasia in New Orleans.
1030
Commercials
1033
The news review. You know the 10 second flash news reel.
1034
Katrina's Home Movie - he was lucky.
1039
Alaska's 'projects' - pork and nothing else
The U.S. Senate on Wednesday night voted to approve the House-Senate conference report legislation related to the defense appropriations. Included in the conference legislation was $29 billion funding for the hurricane victims from the Gulf Coast. The vote was passed by unanimous vote.
The final appropriations bill did not include the controversial ANWR drilling. The ANWR matter has been very contentious since the drilling issue was attached to the defense appropriations bill by the House of Representatives and had angered environmentalists and most democrats in the Senate.
Earlier today, a vote on cloture of the ANWR-defense appropriations issue failed by a slight margin in the Senate.
The cloture vote put the funding for Katrina and Rita in a wild zone of uncertainty and speculation.
Before the Conference Report vote Wednesday night, the Senate voted to remove the ANWR provision from the defense appropriations.
http://www.bayoubuzz.com/articles.aspx?aid=5796
1045
Commercials
Then
Kids and Lunch
Funding to feed hungry children
As we celebrate the holidays, most of us have more food than we could ever need. During this season of giving, state Sen. Teresa Fedor, state Rep. Mark Wagoner, and I encourage each of you to stop and think of the thousands of Ohio children who have an empty dinner table.
As illustrated in a Sept. 2 Blade editorial, 120,000 children in Ohio go hungry each day and 500,000 are at risk of hunger. That's one in every six children in our state. Even more startling is that hungry children suffer a variety of devastating consequences: increased health problems, more disruptive behavior, tardiness or absence from school, and lower scores on achievement tests than their classmates.
While this news is disheartening, there is hope. The National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs, funded by the federal government, exist as a "safety net" by providing children nutritious breakfasts and lunches. Using these programs does not increase our state spending. Rather, taking advantage of them helps us maximize what funds are already available from the federal government.
Here in Lucas County, Senator Fedor, Representative Wagoner, and I have met with the Children's Hunger Alliance (a private, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to end childhood hunger in Ohio) in order to help more local schools offer school breakfast programs. We encourage parents to join us in our efforts. They should contact their child's school for information on its breakfast program, or get in touch with one of us. We can all take action. In doing so, we will help local children be prepared to learn and avoid the devastating consequences of hunger, without increasing state spending.
We can end childhood hunger in Lucas County and across Ohio. That's something we can all celebrate.
Jeanine Perry
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051217/OPINION03/512170376
1054
Commercials
END IT.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Government Television - any subject except those that criticize Bush/Cheney. No mention of citizen spying or IMPEACHMENT.
0959
A CNN Exclusive and Frankenstein, the boy toy, is back. Heeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrreeeeeeeee's Johnny.
1001
Lengthy lead in. The News Round Up. (The Whip with an egotistical center.)
1002
Euthanasia on the coming holiday.
1003
Drew Griffin and his exclusive. Thursday nurses were making decisions about who would be removed from the hospital due to a ?need? for triage and who would survive. Louisiana Attorney General's Office. CNN states more than one person is being looked at regarding euthanasia. Life Care of New Orleans and Tenent Health Care are involved with the query.
1010
The New York Transit Strike - the laws governing public unions are oppressive.
An Unnecessary Transit Strike
Personally, I think New York Law is oppressive of Collective Bargaining. Across the river in New Jersey the public workers' unions are permitted to strike with notice. Those NJ unions are in large cities and in health care settings as well.
How is a union to do anything but give concessions if they can't assert their rights under collective bargaining to strike.
I think the pension issue is huge and shows a clear movement by the city away from supporting their workers rather than asking for 'participation' in an enforced payment for pensions.
The disciplinary actions are also huge. If there is overbearing performance pressure to every transit worker given the already dangerous circumstances they find themselves dealing with regularly then the job is nothing but a revolving door. There won't be pensions. The OBVIOUS fact that leads to this conclusion is that THESE are the TWO issues surrounding this strike. Where the two have common ground is the change in 'payment' to the pension fund.
No matter how much everyone likes the mayor of New York, he is still a Republican with ties to Bush who want privatization of SSI.
It seems very obvious to me what the city is 'up to' and whom pays the price of years of service only to be eliminated before they can be 'vested' enough to retire comfortably.
A unpopular position and the New York Times needs to investigate the disciplinary claims keeping in mind the people involved deserve having this issue treated with confidentiality, especially if they are "W"rongly disciplined. I would also like to know how many members of this union were dismissed before this job action could be called. I don't see this as a disciplinary matter either to relieve all those involved of their jobs. It seems to me where 'discipline' and 'pension' come together there is some solid ground of concern for these city employees.
Additionally, there is a real concern for the oppressive nature of New York law concerning public employees. I think we have the makings of a scandal. Possibly a constitutional scandal.
By the way, why shouldn't pay issues be generous considering the members are in a revolving door and never achieve the higher levels of pay rates.
1013
Commercial
New Year's Eve hosted by Anderson Cooper. Hm?
Just say no to New Year's Eve
By Anderson Cooper
Editor's note: Anderson Cooper anchors CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360°," which airs weeknights at 10 p.m. ET. He also is a regular contributor for Details Magazine. This article was published in the December 2004 issue.
If you ask me, New Year's celebrations are proof that we are essentially optimistic creatures.
Despite hundreds of years of pathetic parties, ridiculous resolutions and hellacious hangovers, we still cling to the notion that it's possible to have fun going out on New Year's Eve.
It isn't.
There's too much pressure, too many people, and too few bathrooms.
New Year's Eve always frightened me as a kid. It seemed so mysterious, so adult, like a cocktail lounge I was too little to enter.
I'd try to stay up to watch the ball drop in Times Square on TV, but inevitably I'd fall asleep.
I didn't want to be in Times Square, mind you -- I was watching Dick Clark as a kind of sociological study, trying to understand why on earth anyone would want to stand in the freezing cold, crammed next to tens of thousands of people, all of whom screamed every time someone pointed a camera in their direction.
Even in those pre-hi-def days, you could almost smell the alcohol through the TV screen. It just didn't make sense.
I was born in Manhattan, and to most residents of this thin little island, the ball drop was best left to out-of-towners, like eating at Tavern on the Green or taking the Circle Line.
Pretty lights, sure, but not for us.
I know there's a whole industry built around maintaining the lie that going out on New Year's Eve is fun, and I certainly don't want to make anyone lose his job, but let's be honest, have you ever been to a New Year's Eve party that surpassed or even came close to meeting your expectations?
I didn't think so.
If you go to a party and drink on New Year's Eve, it's inevitable: You will at some point find yourself alone and despondent, and the manic merriment and slurred singing of "Auld Lang Syne" won't help.
I don't want to sound like Scrooge McDuck, but whenever I hear that maudlin, melancholy melody on New Year's Eve I'm instantly ravaged by the twin ghosts of failures past and future.
Sadly, these twins look nothing like the Olsens.
A friend of mine who works the door at a big Manhattan nightclub always tries to take New Year's Eve off.
"It's amateur night," he explains. "All these people who never go out try way too hard to have fun. As the hours go by, they begin to realize this party isn't going to be the best ever, this night is going to end, and this next year won't be all that better than the last one. So they drink or take another pill, and that's when it gets really messy."
I was stuck in Moscow one New Year's, and about the only difference is that in Russia the party starts much earlier and the vodka is much stronger.
By the time the new year actually rolled around, my Russian host had passed out and his friends had taken off to find themselves some prostitutes.
The following year I was in London. Everyone talks about how elegant and refined the British are, but stand outside a London pub on New Year's Eve and those aren't the two words that come to mind.
Roman Vomitorium more accurately describes the scene.
Chunky lads and lasses standing in gutters spewing chunky bits and pieces, then returning inside to guzzle more Guinness. Cheerio!
Given my lifelong aversion to New Year's Eve, I was reluctant when asked two years ago to host CNN's special coverage of the ball drop in Times Square.
I was going to say no -- after all, Dick Clark has had a lock on the night for decades. But it had been a couple of years since I'd gone out on New Year's, and I figured, "What the hell?"
Dick Clark's face may not have grown older, but I have, so I decided to give New Year's Eve one last chance.
New York City sets up a stage and bleachers right in the center of Times Square, and each news organization is allotted a small spot on which to place a camera and correspondent.
On TV it looks like you are the only reporter in Times Square, but in fact you are jammed in almost shoulder to shoulder with dozens of others, many of whom seem pissed that they pulled the short straw and have to work.
A lot of the visitors who come to Times Square on New Year's have been before, but the newbies often don't know what they are in for.
First of all, it's cold -- really, really cold. I met a Spanish couple who arrived wearing denim jackets.
Within 10 minutes they seemed to be in the early stages of hypothermia, their teeth chattering like Castilian castanets. They wisely decided to go back to the warmth of their hotel and watch it on TV.
What many first-time visitors don't realize is that when they get to Times Square, they enter a maze of barricades and end up herded into pens.
Once they find a spot, they're stuck, unable to move -- much like ducks being bred for pâté.
As a reporter, there are certain Times Square traditions you are expected to adhere to.
The company that makes the ball supplies you with endless factoids about its weight and history and how it's made, so when you run out of things to talk about, you can always fall back on that.
New York's Mayor Michael Bloomberg comes by and makes the rounds of reporters. It being New Year's, you have to ask him about his resolutions.
The first time I did, he made a joke about his golf score. I should have known it was a joke, because I saw him sort of chuckle, but the truth is I don't know anything about golf, and I think I kind of stared at him blankly.
I resolved to at least attempt a smile the next year .
I started a new tradition for CNN, although I'm not sure it's going to last.
In addition to the ball drop in Times Square, we had cameras covering the Drag Queen Drop in Key West, where, at the stroke of midnight more or less, a drag queen named Sushi, sitting inside a giant ladies' shoe, is lowered from the roof of a gay bar.
We'd interviewed Sushi live a couple of times throughout the night, and by midnight ... well, let's just say that Sushi was no longer too fresh.
When she started to descend, something malfunctioned, and the shoe stalled. The last we saw of Sushi, she was crawling on all fours along the roof of the bar.
I told the director to cut away. Seeing a drag queen actually drop off a roof is not how I wanted to kick off the new year.
Say what you will about New York, but it sure does know how to throw an amazing public party.
At the stroke of midnight, when the ball has landed and the new year has begun, it is a sight and a scene that can't adequately be captured in words or by the small lens of a TV camera.
It is a hurricane of confetti and light, a clash of neon and noisemakers, a collision of past, present, and future.
It is like New York itself: noisy and messy, cold and chaotic, wildly, exasperatingly wonderful.
As a television production, the ball drop gives off so much energy that all you really have to do is let the cameras roll and get out of the way. After that first time, I've continued to volunteer to host New Year's specials for CNN.
Something very magical happens in those crowded, confetti-covered streets. There is a continuity to it, a connection between strangers, a connection from one year to the next.
I still think going out on New Year's Eve is lame, so if you can't make it to Times Square, I recommend curling up with someone and watching it on TV.
The truth is the parties and promises never quite live up to expectations. And maybe that's the whole point. It gives us something to look forward to the next year.
After all, if New Year's Eve really were the most fun night of our lives, the wildest, the best, then what would be the point of waking up the next day?
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/27/new.years.eve/
1016
A rapist on the loose
1022
The News Secretary
1020
commercials
1023
Murder in Raleigh of a man. Suspect is spouse and her teen lover.
1026
Commercials
1029
Dick Cheney and his upcoming segment. Hm.
1030
The Ninth Ward of New Orleans. Bulldozing bodies is illegal and a cover up.
1034
The airliner crash near Miami Beach.
1036
Cheney and his Mideast Trip Interruption. Breaking the tie of a Senate vote. Cheney, the bad boy. The Energy Task Force. The erosion of the Executive Office Powers. The Sixth Month extension of the Patriot Act.
NO MENTION OF 'The Government Spying Issue' or 'The National Dialogue regarding Impeachment.'
1042
Commercials
1044
Hurricane Katrina - try and keep the 'Anderson bounce' alive.
Elizabeth Cohen and the homeless that have medical problems. Cute story about Tony's Fishing Pier. Well done, Elizabeth.
1047
Commercials
1052
The Gay Marriage compliments of the Brits - and a diversion to heterosexual dilemma's of The Pre-Nup. This has to be the worst program on the television screen. I have no patience with the level of insult this 'blanding' of the news brings to the American public. It's the Non-News Cable News Networks. It's not exactly censuring the news so much as diminishing it's impact on the political 'climate of Bush.' No wonder the only 'interest' in AC 360 is the yelling. It's the only time concerns of the people are actually addressed. The odd aspect is that the 'yelling' is always focused on Democrats. I dare Anderson to yell at Cheney or Bush in an EXCLUSIVE interview.
CNN is a government focused media service. It's unfortunate it can't break out of the mold that is destroying it.
1100
A CNN Exclusive and Frankenstein, the boy toy, is back. Heeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrreeeeeeeee's Johnny.
1001
Lengthy lead in. The News Round Up. (The Whip with an egotistical center.)
1002
Euthanasia on the coming holiday.
1003
Drew Griffin and his exclusive. Thursday nurses were making decisions about who would be removed from the hospital due to a ?need? for triage and who would survive. Louisiana Attorney General's Office. CNN states more than one person is being looked at regarding euthanasia. Life Care of New Orleans and Tenent Health Care are involved with the query.
1010
The New York Transit Strike - the laws governing public unions are oppressive.
An Unnecessary Transit Strike
Personally, I think New York Law is oppressive of Collective Bargaining. Across the river in New Jersey the public workers' unions are permitted to strike with notice. Those NJ unions are in large cities and in health care settings as well.
How is a union to do anything but give concessions if they can't assert their rights under collective bargaining to strike.
I think the pension issue is huge and shows a clear movement by the city away from supporting their workers rather than asking for 'participation' in an enforced payment for pensions.
The disciplinary actions are also huge. If there is overbearing performance pressure to every transit worker given the already dangerous circumstances they find themselves dealing with regularly then the job is nothing but a revolving door. There won't be pensions. The OBVIOUS fact that leads to this conclusion is that THESE are the TWO issues surrounding this strike. Where the two have common ground is the change in 'payment' to the pension fund.
No matter how much everyone likes the mayor of New York, he is still a Republican with ties to Bush who want privatization of SSI.
It seems very obvious to me what the city is 'up to' and whom pays the price of years of service only to be eliminated before they can be 'vested' enough to retire comfortably.
A unpopular position and the New York Times needs to investigate the disciplinary claims keeping in mind the people involved deserve having this issue treated with confidentiality, especially if they are "W"rongly disciplined. I would also like to know how many members of this union were dismissed before this job action could be called. I don't see this as a disciplinary matter either to relieve all those involved of their jobs. It seems to me where 'discipline' and 'pension' come together there is some solid ground of concern for these city employees.
Additionally, there is a real concern for the oppressive nature of New York law concerning public employees. I think we have the makings of a scandal. Possibly a constitutional scandal.
By the way, why shouldn't pay issues be generous considering the members are in a revolving door and never achieve the higher levels of pay rates.
1013
Commercial
New Year's Eve hosted by Anderson Cooper. Hm?
Just say no to New Year's Eve
By Anderson Cooper
Editor's note: Anderson Cooper anchors CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360°," which airs weeknights at 10 p.m. ET. He also is a regular contributor for Details Magazine. This article was published in the December 2004 issue.
If you ask me, New Year's celebrations are proof that we are essentially optimistic creatures.
Despite hundreds of years of pathetic parties, ridiculous resolutions and hellacious hangovers, we still cling to the notion that it's possible to have fun going out on New Year's Eve.
It isn't.
There's too much pressure, too many people, and too few bathrooms.
New Year's Eve always frightened me as a kid. It seemed so mysterious, so adult, like a cocktail lounge I was too little to enter.
I'd try to stay up to watch the ball drop in Times Square on TV, but inevitably I'd fall asleep.
I didn't want to be in Times Square, mind you -- I was watching Dick Clark as a kind of sociological study, trying to understand why on earth anyone would want to stand in the freezing cold, crammed next to tens of thousands of people, all of whom screamed every time someone pointed a camera in their direction.
Even in those pre-hi-def days, you could almost smell the alcohol through the TV screen. It just didn't make sense.
I was born in Manhattan, and to most residents of this thin little island, the ball drop was best left to out-of-towners, like eating at Tavern on the Green or taking the Circle Line.
Pretty lights, sure, but not for us.
I know there's a whole industry built around maintaining the lie that going out on New Year's Eve is fun, and I certainly don't want to make anyone lose his job, but let's be honest, have you ever been to a New Year's Eve party that surpassed or even came close to meeting your expectations?
I didn't think so.
If you go to a party and drink on New Year's Eve, it's inevitable: You will at some point find yourself alone and despondent, and the manic merriment and slurred singing of "Auld Lang Syne" won't help.
I don't want to sound like Scrooge McDuck, but whenever I hear that maudlin, melancholy melody on New Year's Eve I'm instantly ravaged by the twin ghosts of failures past and future.
Sadly, these twins look nothing like the Olsens.
A friend of mine who works the door at a big Manhattan nightclub always tries to take New Year's Eve off.
"It's amateur night," he explains. "All these people who never go out try way too hard to have fun. As the hours go by, they begin to realize this party isn't going to be the best ever, this night is going to end, and this next year won't be all that better than the last one. So they drink or take another pill, and that's when it gets really messy."
I was stuck in Moscow one New Year's, and about the only difference is that in Russia the party starts much earlier and the vodka is much stronger.
By the time the new year actually rolled around, my Russian host had passed out and his friends had taken off to find themselves some prostitutes.
The following year I was in London. Everyone talks about how elegant and refined the British are, but stand outside a London pub on New Year's Eve and those aren't the two words that come to mind.
Roman Vomitorium more accurately describes the scene.
Chunky lads and lasses standing in gutters spewing chunky bits and pieces, then returning inside to guzzle more Guinness. Cheerio!
Given my lifelong aversion to New Year's Eve, I was reluctant when asked two years ago to host CNN's special coverage of the ball drop in Times Square.
I was going to say no -- after all, Dick Clark has had a lock on the night for decades. But it had been a couple of years since I'd gone out on New Year's, and I figured, "What the hell?"
Dick Clark's face may not have grown older, but I have, so I decided to give New Year's Eve one last chance.
New York City sets up a stage and bleachers right in the center of Times Square, and each news organization is allotted a small spot on which to place a camera and correspondent.
On TV it looks like you are the only reporter in Times Square, but in fact you are jammed in almost shoulder to shoulder with dozens of others, many of whom seem pissed that they pulled the short straw and have to work.
A lot of the visitors who come to Times Square on New Year's have been before, but the newbies often don't know what they are in for.
First of all, it's cold -- really, really cold. I met a Spanish couple who arrived wearing denim jackets.
Within 10 minutes they seemed to be in the early stages of hypothermia, their teeth chattering like Castilian castanets. They wisely decided to go back to the warmth of their hotel and watch it on TV.
What many first-time visitors don't realize is that when they get to Times Square, they enter a maze of barricades and end up herded into pens.
Once they find a spot, they're stuck, unable to move -- much like ducks being bred for pâté.
As a reporter, there are certain Times Square traditions you are expected to adhere to.
The company that makes the ball supplies you with endless factoids about its weight and history and how it's made, so when you run out of things to talk about, you can always fall back on that.
New York's Mayor Michael Bloomberg comes by and makes the rounds of reporters. It being New Year's, you have to ask him about his resolutions.
The first time I did, he made a joke about his golf score. I should have known it was a joke, because I saw him sort of chuckle, but the truth is I don't know anything about golf, and I think I kind of stared at him blankly.
I resolved to at least attempt a smile the next year .
I started a new tradition for CNN, although I'm not sure it's going to last.
In addition to the ball drop in Times Square, we had cameras covering the Drag Queen Drop in Key West, where, at the stroke of midnight more or less, a drag queen named Sushi, sitting inside a giant ladies' shoe, is lowered from the roof of a gay bar.
We'd interviewed Sushi live a couple of times throughout the night, and by midnight ... well, let's just say that Sushi was no longer too fresh.
When she started to descend, something malfunctioned, and the shoe stalled. The last we saw of Sushi, she was crawling on all fours along the roof of the bar.
I told the director to cut away. Seeing a drag queen actually drop off a roof is not how I wanted to kick off the new year.
Say what you will about New York, but it sure does know how to throw an amazing public party.
At the stroke of midnight, when the ball has landed and the new year has begun, it is a sight and a scene that can't adequately be captured in words or by the small lens of a TV camera.
It is a hurricane of confetti and light, a clash of neon and noisemakers, a collision of past, present, and future.
It is like New York itself: noisy and messy, cold and chaotic, wildly, exasperatingly wonderful.
As a television production, the ball drop gives off so much energy that all you really have to do is let the cameras roll and get out of the way. After that first time, I've continued to volunteer to host New Year's specials for CNN.
Something very magical happens in those crowded, confetti-covered streets. There is a continuity to it, a connection between strangers, a connection from one year to the next.
I still think going out on New Year's Eve is lame, so if you can't make it to Times Square, I recommend curling up with someone and watching it on TV.
The truth is the parties and promises never quite live up to expectations. And maybe that's the whole point. It gives us something to look forward to the next year.
After all, if New Year's Eve really were the most fun night of our lives, the wildest, the best, then what would be the point of waking up the next day?
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/27/new.years.eve/
1016
A rapist on the loose
1022
The News Secretary
1020
commercials
1023
Murder in Raleigh of a man. Suspect is spouse and her teen lover.
1026
Commercials
1029
Dick Cheney and his upcoming segment. Hm.
1030
The Ninth Ward of New Orleans. Bulldozing bodies is illegal and a cover up.
1034
The airliner crash near Miami Beach.
1036
Cheney and his Mideast Trip Interruption. Breaking the tie of a Senate vote. Cheney, the bad boy. The Energy Task Force. The erosion of the Executive Office Powers. The Sixth Month extension of the Patriot Act.
NO MENTION OF 'The Government Spying Issue' or 'The National Dialogue regarding Impeachment.'
1042
Commercials
1044
Hurricane Katrina - try and keep the 'Anderson bounce' alive.
Elizabeth Cohen and the homeless that have medical problems. Cute story about Tony's Fishing Pier. Well done, Elizabeth.
1047
Commercials
1052
The Gay Marriage compliments of the Brits - and a diversion to heterosexual dilemma's of The Pre-Nup. This has to be the worst program on the television screen. I have no patience with the level of insult this 'blanding' of the news brings to the American public. It's the Non-News Cable News Networks. It's not exactly censuring the news so much as diminishing it's impact on the political 'climate of Bush.' No wonder the only 'interest' in AC 360 is the yelling. It's the only time concerns of the people are actually addressed. The odd aspect is that the 'yelling' is always focused on Democrats. I dare Anderson to yell at Cheney or Bush in an EXCLUSIVE interview.
CNN is a government focused media service. It's unfortunate it can't break out of the mold that is destroying it.
1100
The Frequency of airline issues these days are larger than an occassional problem.
1000
Well done, John. Peaceful landing indeed.
The Jet Blue airliner was an Airbus and had to burn off it's fuel before it landed. I'm wondering what this Boeing did about it's fuel before it landed.
Flight Attendant's love to talk.
I think the aspect of the public address system, in the plane, being a 'tool' and not a matter of PR is an interesting observation by Mr. Tilmon. The aspect that it is times like this when people realize the pay a pilot receives is understandable is an unfortunate reality. Air flight is thought of as 'common place' but when one realizes what happens all along the way in a flight no matter how common place it is, is to realize exactly 'the pay' the pilots make. I am concerned about the 'trend' these planes are having. This is the third landing gear issue in a few months. Besides the Jet Blue landing gear is also Nike Plane with similar problems.
Nike plane safely on ground after landing-gear drama
By BRAD CAIN
Associated Press Writer
HILLSBORO — Nike CEO William Perez and other company executives went through a six-hour drama in the skies over Oregon on Monday as a wheel on their jet got stuck in a partially extended position, but the plane landed safely after aerial maneuvers meant to shake the wheel into landing position.
Portland International Airport and Hillsboro airport — where the Gulfstream V plane took off at 6 a.m. on a flight for Toronto — had both prepared for an emergency landing.
http://www.dhonline.com/articles/2005/11/22/news/oregon/state02.txt
There seems to be issues with maintenance.
Then there is the accidents one has yet to hear about investigations:
The wing of a seaplane that crashed off Miami Beach, Fla., is lifted by a crane on a barge from the waters of the crash site Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005. The crash on Monday killed all 20 people on board. The rest won't be raised until Wednesday, Coast Guard spokesman Dana Warr said. Rosenker called it a delicate operation because moving the plane too quickly could cause it to break under the weight of the water. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1427011
Amazing. A passenger from the Midway flight. Well done. "The doors of the landing gear and sensor problem. …. The bearings turned out to be the problem." Bearings? What are they packing the bearings in? Water? Maybe vegetable oil? Is there a problem with maintenance equipment and not the mechanics at all? A mechanic can't work miracles if they don't have quality equipment to work with. Are these airlines cutting corners they aren't supposed to? There was this 'scandal' a while back. Something about 'out sourcing' the mechanical issues. What air crash did that come out? Hm.
1038
The Midway Airliner, the Boeing, dumped the fuel. Provides for a faster landing scenario. A safer plane.
HERE IT IS. It was involving the airline crash here in North Carolina.
Are Airlines Outsourcing Safety?
Eyewitness News Investigation
Steve Daniels
(05/09/05 - RALEIGH) - An Eyewitness News investigation is uncovering a new trend in outsourcing -- the outsourcing of airline maintenance.
Some airlines have been outsourcing nearly 80 percent of their maintenance. It's a way to save money, but we've discovered disturbing safety issues at one North Carolina maintenance company.
You can hear terror in the voice of the captain on US Airways Express flight 5481.
"We have an emergency in the cockpit for Air Midwest 5481," she said on a cockpit voice recorder tape.
The plane, operated by Air Midwest, crashed in Charlotte in January 2003, killing all 21 people on board.
"It came own nose first into a fireball," said Tracy Right, who saw the crash.
Flight 5481 was headed to Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina, then to Raleigh-Durham International Airport. The NTSB blamed the crash, in part, on an outsourced maintenance company in Huntington, West Virginia. Two nights before the crash, a mechanic who had never worked on that kind of plane made a major mistake. He incorrectly rigged critical cables that control the plane.
Just last week, the president of Air Midwest, Greg Stephens, apologized to the people who lost loved ones in the crash.
"We are truly sorry and regret and apologize to everyone affected by this tragedy," he said.
Ernie Kiss has spent his career as an airline mechanic. Now he's in charged of safety at the nation's largest mechanics union. When Steve Daniels met him at RDU International Airport, he told Eyewitness News what his union members are seeing on the job.
"Approximately 84 to 90 percent of our technicians have seen mistakes made at third-party vendors," Kiss said. "We're having to re-work maintenance that is farmed out, and it's costing the carrier more to farm out than if we did it in house to start with."
In fact, our Eyewitness News investigation is uncovering disturbing safety issues at a TIMCO in Greensboro. United Airlines, Delta Airlines, Fed Ex and America West all outsourced maintenance work to TIMCO.
A source showed us pictures of a panel above the wing that flew off a United Airlines Boeing 757 on a flight leaving TIMCO.
The source says workers at TIMCO forgot to screw in panels during a maintenance overhaul. Another United plane a wide-body Boeing 767 also had serious safety problems after it left TIMCO, according to our source and documents obtained by Eyewitness News.
A panel under the wing nearly ripped off in flight. Cockpit warning lights indicated repeated problems with the slats and flaps on the wings. The cockpit control sticks were not working properly, and the emergency evacuation lighting system wasn't working properly.
"It sounds like it's a total quality management problem, there at TIMCO with their quality assurance and their lack of training," Kiss said.
We also obtained documents revealing problems on another United Boeing 767, which our source says was at TIMCO in December 2003. Pilots reported a series of cockpit warnings connected to the slats and flaps on the wings. Our source says another 767 had problems with the emergency evacuation lighting after going to TIMCO last October.
Back in 2001, the FAA fined United Airlines for work that TIMCO did on a Boeing 737. The report said TIMCO "failed to properly re-install fuel system components, rendering the aircraft unairworthy."
TIMCO would not answer our questions about the documents we obtained. They did release a statement saying TIMCO is an industry leader in safety:
"In fact, our safety standards surpass those required by both the FAA and commercial airlines. TIMCO performs millions of maintenance tasks annually. Just like airline maintenance operations, we are not immune to an infrequent service issue. If there are service issues, we are quick to investigate to determine the root cause and to implement corrections actions."
The statement also said TIMCO has an experienced, well-trained workforce.
During our investigation, we discovered the NTSB has blamed maintenance outsourcing at other companies in several other crashes, including the ValuJet crash in Miami in 1996 and the crash of an Emery cargo plane in Sacramento, Calif., in February 2000.
"It doesn't cross anybody's mind that these things are being maintained by unlicensed technicians at a third-party vendor," Ernie Kiss said. "I don't think the American flying public knows that."
Greg Stephens, the man whose company operated the US Airways Express flight that crashed in Charlotte, says his airline has learned some tough lessons.
"We have taken substantial measures to prevent similar accidents and incidents in the future, so that your losses will not have been suffered in vain," he said. Stephens also said his company is following all of the NTSB safety recommendations that emerged from the crash investigation.
United Airlines says in a statement:
"We have worked cooperatively with TIMCO for maintenance work for years. At no time has the safety of United's passengers, employees or aircraft ever been compromised. Safety -- the cornerstone of United's business -- is the company's number one priority. Outsourced and internal maintenance operations are in strict compliance with United Airlines' FAA-approved maintenance program and all applicable Federal Aviation Regulations. FAA safety inspectors and United's own Quality Assurance division also provide additional oversight to our maintenance programs."
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=investigative&id=3054470
Okay, everybody, how much of these problems are outsourced?
1054
commercials
1057
Frankenstein? John you have got to be joking? Junior Achievement's voice toy of Glitz and Glitter? This is nothing but garbage and cheap stunts. Anderson needs a permanent vacation. Heeerrreeee's Johnny !
1058
Stuff about airliners.
1105
The News Round Up.
1107
The Transit Strike. They hold out long enough the million dollar a day fine will become irrelevant.
1109
Spying of Citizens without a warrant. A letter requesting a joint investigation. It needs more than that. This is a national emergency concern. Bush is impeachable and so is Cheney. This 'poor state of repair' of this country is not a desirable position for a nation at war and an illegal war at that. We need relief from this situation as a nation concerned with the security of this nation. We don't know if this president and his administration is abusing their power to 'blunt' efforts that secure this nation that they PERSONALLY don't approve of. This abuse of power is at empowering their personal and political control over this country. That is no longer a democracy, it's a dictatorship. This abuse of power has NO PROOF of it's benefit.
1113
commercials
1116
The plane that crashed off Miami. "A great deal of science that goes along with this type of recovery, I assure you." Science? Are you sure? I thought is was all luck.
Engineers approve latest Boeing contract offer
By ROXANA HEGEMAN
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
WICHITA, Kan. -- Engineers at the Boeing Co.'s defense operations in Wichita on Tuesday overwhelmingly accepted a new contract offer that looks a lot like the one they turned down earlier this month.
In their second election, 73 percent of the engineers who voted approved of the three-year contract. The vote was 184-69 to accept the company's latest proposal.
The contract covers 788 engineers represented by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace at Boeing's defense operations in Wichita.
"The engineers were ready to move on, rather than fuss over the contract," said SPEEA executive director Charles Bofferding.
Boeing spokesman Forrest Gossett said the company was obviously pleased that engineers accepted the region-leading contract.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_KS_Boeing_Wichita.html
1119
The News Secretary
1121
Senator Stevens plays blackmail with piers.
For Stevens, drilling in Alaska is personal payback
By LAURIE KELLMAN
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
WASHINGTON -- The Incredible Hulk appeared Tuesday on the Senate floor, adorning the necktie of Sen. Ted Stevens - a familiar sign that the veteran from Alaska is pumped for the fight to open part of an arctic wildlife refuge to oil drilling.
But to hear his colleagues tell it, Stevens is more like the Grinch who would steal Christmas - and New Year's, if need be - to collect on his end of a vote-swapping deal he struck with two Democrats 25 years ago.
"A promise made is a debt unpaid," Stevens, 82, is fond of repeating. "This is a debt unpaid to this Senate, to the country, to Alaska."
Back in 1980, the deal went like this: Vote yes on setting aside 19 million acres of wilderness, said Sens. Henry "Scoop" Jackson of Washington and Paul Tsongas of Massachusetts, and Congress will support permission to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Stevens agreed. Tsongas and Jackson, meanwhile, died before Congress could grant permission to drill.
Their debt survives, Stevens insists. And he's playing procedural hardball to make the Senate pay up.
"We're going to have to face up to ANWR either now or Christmas Day or New Year's Eve or sometime," Stevens thundered from the Senate floor Tuesday, bucking criticism from drilling opponents furious that he succeeded in attaching the drilling permission to a must-pass bill to fund the military.
Off the floor, Stevens acknowledged he has little to lose by muscling opponents into this uncomfortable choice: Vote for a bill that allows arctic drilling or be seen as blocking money for troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, new aid for hurricane victims and subsidies to help the poor meet what are expected to be record winter heating bills.
"This is the toughest battle I've ever had," Stevens said Tuesday, a senatorial red handkerchief perched in a jacket pocket just inches from his surly alter ego.
The big green guy on the necktie is famous in the Senate for injecting a bit of playfulness into spending fights during Stevens' years chairing the Senate Appropriations Committee. "I've won every other battle with it on, so I'm wearing it for this one," Stevens said.
All-night sessions and a list of stalled bills have left little humor on Capitol Hill as the clock ticks toward the end of the year.
"This is, after all, Christmas!" Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., complained on the Senate floor.
The showdown vote could come as early as Wednesday.
The 1980 law doubled to 19 million acres the size of the Alaska wildlife refuge. Stevens said he supported that law only after Jackson and Tsongas promised him that Congress would later consider allowing drilling on a 1.5 million-acre tract bordering the Beaufort Sea.
Democrats disagreed on whether current senators are obligated to pay what Stevens calls a "debt" owed him by Jackson and Tsongas.
"The Grinch Who Stole the Defense Bill," they called Stevens in a news release put out Tuesday by the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee and Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.
"Every Sen. in Washington liked the defense bill a lot," they added, channeling Dr. Seuss. "But Stevens, who lives north, in Alaska, did NOT."
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_Stevens_Hurrah.html
COMMERCIALS
1124
Joe Johns
There is no such thing as 'responsible exploration.' The oil industry is exploitive and that is all it is.
The Alaskan Coastal Plain could produce more than all of Texas. ANYWHERE these days produces more than Texas. Texas is mostly DRY. Try again.
1128
Cantwell vows Senate fight to stop oil drilling
Democrat may lead filibuster to preserve Arctic refuge
By CHARLES POPE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON -- Sen. Maria Cantwell vowed Monday to keep the Senate in session until the brink of Christmas to defeat legislation that would open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling.
"If this language is allowed to stand, one of our nation's most pristine wildlife areas will be lost," Cantwell, a Democrat, said as she outlined plans by her party and its allies to defeat language offered by Alaska Republican Ted Stevens to open ANWR.
"This is nothing more than a sweetheart deal for Alaska and the oil companies," Cantwell said. "That's why I am prepared to use every procedural option available to me as a senator to prevent this language from moving forward."
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/252683_anwr20.html
commercials
1131
Passenger's perspective
1134
Jim Tilmon's perspective.
1138
The News Round Up
1139
The Happy Living Together Ever After Crowd. Good for them. 86 million single adults. The "Marriage Discrimination" issue. It's real and Bush's agenda promotes it.
Unmarried persons raise children well, too.
1143
Commercials
1146
Intelligent design is theology. Their arguments, including DNA, is very poorly put forward. It's all political. There is no basis in fact. Part of what this might be, could be good ole Texas politics. See the idea is to allow the opposition to feel confident and boastful only to be defeated later by the 'self-righteous.'
It is upto the 'MATURE' citizens of the USA to see through the political volleys laughed at in back rooms and continue to pursue the 'correct' path regardless the idiocy otherwise.
That 'type' of politics allows for the opposition to Bush/Cheney to exist regardless of their domination. It tells me the calls to impeachment are being heard and returned in ways to underhandedly control.
Impeach ANYWAY. (This is PSYOPS used by Bush/Cheney for personal agendas while telling the mlitary it is a matter of national security.)
This is a tactic of control at some levels.
This decision will make it's way to the 'pre-loaded' Supreme Court. If this country wants to promote 'Anti-Intelligence' then it has lost it's basis of validity in the greater international community of science.
The country is in sad shape. It has been lead by an Anti-American who believe in regression and not progress.
1150
Nelson Mandela. His mission never ended.
1150
Commercials
1153
Secrets.
1156
John's good night.
1157
Well done, John. Peaceful landing indeed.
The Jet Blue airliner was an Airbus and had to burn off it's fuel before it landed. I'm wondering what this Boeing did about it's fuel before it landed.
Flight Attendant's love to talk.
I think the aspect of the public address system, in the plane, being a 'tool' and not a matter of PR is an interesting observation by Mr. Tilmon. The aspect that it is times like this when people realize the pay a pilot receives is understandable is an unfortunate reality. Air flight is thought of as 'common place' but when one realizes what happens all along the way in a flight no matter how common place it is, is to realize exactly 'the pay' the pilots make. I am concerned about the 'trend' these planes are having. This is the third landing gear issue in a few months. Besides the Jet Blue landing gear is also Nike Plane with similar problems.
Nike plane safely on ground after landing-gear drama
By BRAD CAIN
Associated Press Writer
HILLSBORO — Nike CEO William Perez and other company executives went through a six-hour drama in the skies over Oregon on Monday as a wheel on their jet got stuck in a partially extended position, but the plane landed safely after aerial maneuvers meant to shake the wheel into landing position.
Portland International Airport and Hillsboro airport — where the Gulfstream V plane took off at 6 a.m. on a flight for Toronto — had both prepared for an emergency landing.
http://www.dhonline.com/articles/2005/11/22/news/oregon/state02.txt
There seems to be issues with maintenance.
Then there is the accidents one has yet to hear about investigations:
The wing of a seaplane that crashed off Miami Beach, Fla., is lifted by a crane on a barge from the waters of the crash site Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005. The crash on Monday killed all 20 people on board. The rest won't be raised until Wednesday, Coast Guard spokesman Dana Warr said. Rosenker called it a delicate operation because moving the plane too quickly could cause it to break under the weight of the water. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1427011
Amazing. A passenger from the Midway flight. Well done. "The doors of the landing gear and sensor problem. …. The bearings turned out to be the problem." Bearings? What are they packing the bearings in? Water? Maybe vegetable oil? Is there a problem with maintenance equipment and not the mechanics at all? A mechanic can't work miracles if they don't have quality equipment to work with. Are these airlines cutting corners they aren't supposed to? There was this 'scandal' a while back. Something about 'out sourcing' the mechanical issues. What air crash did that come out? Hm.
1038
The Midway Airliner, the Boeing, dumped the fuel. Provides for a faster landing scenario. A safer plane.
HERE IT IS. It was involving the airline crash here in North Carolina.
Are Airlines Outsourcing Safety?
Eyewitness News Investigation
Steve Daniels
(05/09/05 - RALEIGH) - An Eyewitness News investigation is uncovering a new trend in outsourcing -- the outsourcing of airline maintenance.
Some airlines have been outsourcing nearly 80 percent of their maintenance. It's a way to save money, but we've discovered disturbing safety issues at one North Carolina maintenance company.
You can hear terror in the voice of the captain on US Airways Express flight 5481.
"We have an emergency in the cockpit for Air Midwest 5481," she said on a cockpit voice recorder tape.
The plane, operated by Air Midwest, crashed in Charlotte in January 2003, killing all 21 people on board.
"It came own nose first into a fireball," said Tracy Right, who saw the crash.
Flight 5481 was headed to Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina, then to Raleigh-Durham International Airport. The NTSB blamed the crash, in part, on an outsourced maintenance company in Huntington, West Virginia. Two nights before the crash, a mechanic who had never worked on that kind of plane made a major mistake. He incorrectly rigged critical cables that control the plane.
Just last week, the president of Air Midwest, Greg Stephens, apologized to the people who lost loved ones in the crash.
"We are truly sorry and regret and apologize to everyone affected by this tragedy," he said.
Ernie Kiss has spent his career as an airline mechanic. Now he's in charged of safety at the nation's largest mechanics union. When Steve Daniels met him at RDU International Airport, he told Eyewitness News what his union members are seeing on the job.
"Approximately 84 to 90 percent of our technicians have seen mistakes made at third-party vendors," Kiss said. "We're having to re-work maintenance that is farmed out, and it's costing the carrier more to farm out than if we did it in house to start with."
In fact, our Eyewitness News investigation is uncovering disturbing safety issues at a TIMCO in Greensboro. United Airlines, Delta Airlines, Fed Ex and America West all outsourced maintenance work to TIMCO.
A source showed us pictures of a panel above the wing that flew off a United Airlines Boeing 757 on a flight leaving TIMCO.
The source says workers at TIMCO forgot to screw in panels during a maintenance overhaul. Another United plane a wide-body Boeing 767 also had serious safety problems after it left TIMCO, according to our source and documents obtained by Eyewitness News.
A panel under the wing nearly ripped off in flight. Cockpit warning lights indicated repeated problems with the slats and flaps on the wings. The cockpit control sticks were not working properly, and the emergency evacuation lighting system wasn't working properly.
"It sounds like it's a total quality management problem, there at TIMCO with their quality assurance and their lack of training," Kiss said.
We also obtained documents revealing problems on another United Boeing 767, which our source says was at TIMCO in December 2003. Pilots reported a series of cockpit warnings connected to the slats and flaps on the wings. Our source says another 767 had problems with the emergency evacuation lighting after going to TIMCO last October.
Back in 2001, the FAA fined United Airlines for work that TIMCO did on a Boeing 737. The report said TIMCO "failed to properly re-install fuel system components, rendering the aircraft unairworthy."
TIMCO would not answer our questions about the documents we obtained. They did release a statement saying TIMCO is an industry leader in safety:
"In fact, our safety standards surpass those required by both the FAA and commercial airlines. TIMCO performs millions of maintenance tasks annually. Just like airline maintenance operations, we are not immune to an infrequent service issue. If there are service issues, we are quick to investigate to determine the root cause and to implement corrections actions."
The statement also said TIMCO has an experienced, well-trained workforce.
During our investigation, we discovered the NTSB has blamed maintenance outsourcing at other companies in several other crashes, including the ValuJet crash in Miami in 1996 and the crash of an Emery cargo plane in Sacramento, Calif., in February 2000.
"It doesn't cross anybody's mind that these things are being maintained by unlicensed technicians at a third-party vendor," Ernie Kiss said. "I don't think the American flying public knows that."
Greg Stephens, the man whose company operated the US Airways Express flight that crashed in Charlotte, says his airline has learned some tough lessons.
"We have taken substantial measures to prevent similar accidents and incidents in the future, so that your losses will not have been suffered in vain," he said. Stephens also said his company is following all of the NTSB safety recommendations that emerged from the crash investigation.
United Airlines says in a statement:
"We have worked cooperatively with TIMCO for maintenance work for years. At no time has the safety of United's passengers, employees or aircraft ever been compromised. Safety -- the cornerstone of United's business -- is the company's number one priority. Outsourced and internal maintenance operations are in strict compliance with United Airlines' FAA-approved maintenance program and all applicable Federal Aviation Regulations. FAA safety inspectors and United's own Quality Assurance division also provide additional oversight to our maintenance programs."
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=investigative&id=3054470
Okay, everybody, how much of these problems are outsourced?
1054
commercials
1057
Frankenstein? John you have got to be joking? Junior Achievement's voice toy of Glitz and Glitter? This is nothing but garbage and cheap stunts. Anderson needs a permanent vacation. Heeerrreeee's Johnny !
1058
Stuff about airliners.
1105
The News Round Up.
1107
The Transit Strike. They hold out long enough the million dollar a day fine will become irrelevant.
1109
Spying of Citizens without a warrant. A letter requesting a joint investigation. It needs more than that. This is a national emergency concern. Bush is impeachable and so is Cheney. This 'poor state of repair' of this country is not a desirable position for a nation at war and an illegal war at that. We need relief from this situation as a nation concerned with the security of this nation. We don't know if this president and his administration is abusing their power to 'blunt' efforts that secure this nation that they PERSONALLY don't approve of. This abuse of power is at empowering their personal and political control over this country. That is no longer a democracy, it's a dictatorship. This abuse of power has NO PROOF of it's benefit.
1113
commercials
1116
The plane that crashed off Miami. "A great deal of science that goes along with this type of recovery, I assure you." Science? Are you sure? I thought is was all luck.
Engineers approve latest Boeing contract offer
By ROXANA HEGEMAN
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
WICHITA, Kan. -- Engineers at the Boeing Co.'s defense operations in Wichita on Tuesday overwhelmingly accepted a new contract offer that looks a lot like the one they turned down earlier this month.
In their second election, 73 percent of the engineers who voted approved of the three-year contract. The vote was 184-69 to accept the company's latest proposal.
The contract covers 788 engineers represented by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace at Boeing's defense operations in Wichita.
"The engineers were ready to move on, rather than fuss over the contract," said SPEEA executive director Charles Bofferding.
Boeing spokesman Forrest Gossett said the company was obviously pleased that engineers accepted the region-leading contract.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_KS_Boeing_Wichita.html
1119
The News Secretary
1121
Senator Stevens plays blackmail with piers.
For Stevens, drilling in Alaska is personal payback
By LAURIE KELLMAN
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
WASHINGTON -- The Incredible Hulk appeared Tuesday on the Senate floor, adorning the necktie of Sen. Ted Stevens - a familiar sign that the veteran from Alaska is pumped for the fight to open part of an arctic wildlife refuge to oil drilling.
But to hear his colleagues tell it, Stevens is more like the Grinch who would steal Christmas - and New Year's, if need be - to collect on his end of a vote-swapping deal he struck with two Democrats 25 years ago.
"A promise made is a debt unpaid," Stevens, 82, is fond of repeating. "This is a debt unpaid to this Senate, to the country, to Alaska."
Back in 1980, the deal went like this: Vote yes on setting aside 19 million acres of wilderness, said Sens. Henry "Scoop" Jackson of Washington and Paul Tsongas of Massachusetts, and Congress will support permission to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Stevens agreed. Tsongas and Jackson, meanwhile, died before Congress could grant permission to drill.
Their debt survives, Stevens insists. And he's playing procedural hardball to make the Senate pay up.
"We're going to have to face up to ANWR either now or Christmas Day or New Year's Eve or sometime," Stevens thundered from the Senate floor Tuesday, bucking criticism from drilling opponents furious that he succeeded in attaching the drilling permission to a must-pass bill to fund the military.
Off the floor, Stevens acknowledged he has little to lose by muscling opponents into this uncomfortable choice: Vote for a bill that allows arctic drilling or be seen as blocking money for troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, new aid for hurricane victims and subsidies to help the poor meet what are expected to be record winter heating bills.
"This is the toughest battle I've ever had," Stevens said Tuesday, a senatorial red handkerchief perched in a jacket pocket just inches from his surly alter ego.
The big green guy on the necktie is famous in the Senate for injecting a bit of playfulness into spending fights during Stevens' years chairing the Senate Appropriations Committee. "I've won every other battle with it on, so I'm wearing it for this one," Stevens said.
All-night sessions and a list of stalled bills have left little humor on Capitol Hill as the clock ticks toward the end of the year.
"This is, after all, Christmas!" Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., complained on the Senate floor.
The showdown vote could come as early as Wednesday.
The 1980 law doubled to 19 million acres the size of the Alaska wildlife refuge. Stevens said he supported that law only after Jackson and Tsongas promised him that Congress would later consider allowing drilling on a 1.5 million-acre tract bordering the Beaufort Sea.
Democrats disagreed on whether current senators are obligated to pay what Stevens calls a "debt" owed him by Jackson and Tsongas.
"The Grinch Who Stole the Defense Bill," they called Stevens in a news release put out Tuesday by the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee and Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.
"Every Sen. in Washington liked the defense bill a lot," they added, channeling Dr. Seuss. "But Stevens, who lives north, in Alaska, did NOT."
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_Stevens_Hurrah.html
COMMERCIALS
1124
Joe Johns
There is no such thing as 'responsible exploration.' The oil industry is exploitive and that is all it is.
The Alaskan Coastal Plain could produce more than all of Texas. ANYWHERE these days produces more than Texas. Texas is mostly DRY. Try again.
1128
Cantwell vows Senate fight to stop oil drilling
Democrat may lead filibuster to preserve Arctic refuge
By CHARLES POPE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON -- Sen. Maria Cantwell vowed Monday to keep the Senate in session until the brink of Christmas to defeat legislation that would open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling.
"If this language is allowed to stand, one of our nation's most pristine wildlife areas will be lost," Cantwell, a Democrat, said as she outlined plans by her party and its allies to defeat language offered by Alaska Republican Ted Stevens to open ANWR.
"This is nothing more than a sweetheart deal for Alaska and the oil companies," Cantwell said. "That's why I am prepared to use every procedural option available to me as a senator to prevent this language from moving forward."
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/252683_anwr20.html
commercials
1131
Passenger's perspective
1134
Jim Tilmon's perspective.
1138
The News Round Up
1139
The Happy Living Together Ever After Crowd. Good for them. 86 million single adults. The "Marriage Discrimination" issue. It's real and Bush's agenda promotes it.
Unmarried persons raise children well, too.
1143
Commercials
1146
Intelligent design is theology. Their arguments, including DNA, is very poorly put forward. It's all political. There is no basis in fact. Part of what this might be, could be good ole Texas politics. See the idea is to allow the opposition to feel confident and boastful only to be defeated later by the 'self-righteous.'
It is upto the 'MATURE' citizens of the USA to see through the political volleys laughed at in back rooms and continue to pursue the 'correct' path regardless the idiocy otherwise.
That 'type' of politics allows for the opposition to Bush/Cheney to exist regardless of their domination. It tells me the calls to impeachment are being heard and returned in ways to underhandedly control.
Impeach ANYWAY. (This is PSYOPS used by Bush/Cheney for personal agendas while telling the mlitary it is a matter of national security.)
This is a tactic of control at some levels.
This decision will make it's way to the 'pre-loaded' Supreme Court. If this country wants to promote 'Anti-Intelligence' then it has lost it's basis of validity in the greater international community of science.
The country is in sad shape. It has been lead by an Anti-American who believe in regression and not progress.
1150
Nelson Mandela. His mission never ended.
1150
Commercials
1153
Secrets.
1156
John's good night.
1157
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
I hope John King has a good evening
I don't agree with his political views on some issues but then that was true of Aaron. John always worked well with Aaron's team of journalists when he had "The Whip Around the World."
He's ambitious and I nearly died when he showed up at the very spot Rita was making landfall. That was a bit fool hearty.
I sincerely hope he brings equity to the evening. If not I encourage anyone who cares to write and criticize. He doesn't yell at you.
I'm tied.
Tomorrow then.
He's ambitious and I nearly died when he showed up at the very spot Rita was making landfall. That was a bit fool hearty.
I sincerely hope he brings equity to the evening. If not I encourage anyone who cares to write and criticize. He doesn't yell at you.
I'm tied.
Tomorrow then.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Andy plays, "Lets' divert reality to protect our president regardless of the truth.'
1000
About spies and me? Is my government spying on little ole me? You, betcha. They keep trying to shut down my blogs. I think there is something to this mess. I am quite confident I'm considered a subversive. I wear that designation proudly.
Frankenstein as usual.
1002
Kelly Arena - the Lewis Libby of Pakistan. Why do I always get the feeling she is the phoniest baloney in the country?
1006
The NSA. Condi Rice was in charge of the NSA at this time. Now it's Hadley. CNN won't focus on the personalities as it might hurt the politics, but, they'll victimize the 'government' and make it be the big bad Daddy to us. This is not an issue of THE GOVERNMENT. It is Bush's administration that is in question. Discrediting the government and seeking scapegoats in it's employees needs to be avoided. The issue is not about our government structure or the faithful people that work for it but this is about the lousy bastard in the Oval Office !
Oh, please. David Ensor seeks to let us know what is NOT a secret. Go to hell !
1009
Commecials
Frankenstein's influence is spreading. He's heard in nearly every crook and cranny. He works cheap.
1012
The Braunstein Tragedy. The families has my sincerest sympathy for it's pain on all sides of this crime. I would be surprised if he is still in the country.
1015
The News Secretary
1016
Heidi wants to know what life in Iraq is really like. Send her there. She'll figure it out.
1017
Commercials
1020
An exhilarating week for Anderson in Iraq. Good. Stay there. You might hone an expertise other than yelling at governors.
1021
Christian Amanpour and a very bright 13 year old. They have food. Good. Too much violence in their old neighborhood. Yeah, there are section of Newark has the same problems. She's 18? She looks like a child.
You know the streets of Iraq should be this peaceful all the time and for the life of me do I understand why it isn't EXCEPT Bush's capitalist focus returns traffic and killing for the sake of a 'normalizing' business pattern. I really want to know why Iraq is not more controlled as it is on election days. It's nonsense as far as I am concerned.
I don't know, I think Chris knows more than she is willing to say. Or allowed to say. I believe a lot of the violence of Iraq is ALLOWED for the sake of business interests. It's "W"rong.
My estimation.
Thanks, Chris.
1026
Commercials
1029
News items.
1030
Heidi is attacking PETA tonight.
1030
Rick Sanchez
Unwanted animals are euthanized by PETA. That is a surprise.
Volunteer at your local animal shelter. Most animal shelters welcome volunteers, who help walk dogs, clean cat cages, and dole out love and attention to the lost and homeless animals who wait to be reunited with their caretakers— or find new ones. Contact your local shelter for details on how to sign up.
Organize a fundraiser to support your local animal shelter or low-cost spay and neuter programs. Round up others to hold a car wash, bake sale, dog walk, or rummage sale. Donate profits to your local animal shelter or to support low-cost spay and neuter programs.
http://www.helpinganimals.com/a.html
This might be a reason why people might seek to resolve the animal confinement issues in a way some might believe compassionate rather than having them submitted to research. PETA is famous for opposing research at all costs. It might be an agenda by the extremists (AND THIS IS PURE SPECULATION) that to starve the research facilities of animals by humanely euthanizing the shelter animals will stop the practice.
Is It Helter Skelter at Your Local Animal Shelter?
Animal shelters vary greatly— by size, purpose, capacity, and their treatment of the animals in their charge. They may be operated by the government, by a local humane society, by private individuals, or by a combination of these. Some are funded by donations alone, while others receive tax money. Sometimes tax money comes with a stipulation that some animals must be turned over to experimenters. Every effort should be made to reverse such a policy, which is known as "pound seizure." Click here to find out more about pound seizure.
If you have concerns about your local shelter, size up the situation by paying a personal visit— carry a camera to photograph conditions for the animals. Find out which method(s) of euthanasia are practiced. Although PETA only advocates an intravenous injection of sodium pentobarbital, compressed cylinder gas is considered the most humane of all gassing methods. If the shelter is gassing animals, try to take photographs of the gas chamber and find out if the chamber is used to kill young, old, or sick animals, who process oxygen and carbon monoxide differently than healthy adult animals and should never be gassed.
http://www.helpinganimals.com/a-shelter.html
1040
Commercials
You know PETA really opposes animals that are allowed to multiple indiscriminately. They oppose irresponsible pet ownership. To a greater extent they oppose animal ownership at all and their confinement.
http://www.petacatalog.org/prodinfo.asp?number=AT145&variation=&aitem=2&mitem=21
1043
The tragedy of death never ends on CNN.
Are there ANY holiday programs these days?
make joins feel-good holiday fare
By Kay McFadden
Seattle Times TV critic
CHRIS HELCERMANAS-BENGE / ABC
Carol Burnett is the over-protective queen in ABC's musical "Once Upon a Mattress." When Burnett starred in the show on Broadway more than a quarter-century ago, she played the princess.
At Christmastime — holiday time — Christmastime — whatever — the message of family is pounded home. I'm still waiting for a TV classic about a single character not doomed to melt, fall off a cliff or be forced into communal celebration.
No dice. The closest we get this weekend is ABC's Disneyfied remake of "Once Upon A Mattress," a happily-ever-after musical with enough clingy-mom clichés to curdle eggnog.
But the real togetherness play of the season isn't on TV yet. It belongs to the cable industry's politically minded leaders, who this week announced a plan to offer "family tiers" of cable programming.
The move comes as Congress ponders a legislative crackdown on alleged cable indecency and bears all the fending-off marks of an industry determined to (A) self-regulate; (B) end all talk of a la carte cable; and (C) find new ways to sell shows.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/artsentertainment/2002685989_kay16.html
1048
Commercials
2005 Holiday TV Spotlight - A Christmas Carol
Although movie versions of the Dicken's classic A Christmas Carol have been remade again and again, the 1951 movie starring Alistair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge is considered by many holiday movie junkies as the definitive one.
Out of circulation for many years due to copyright and license haggles, the holiday favorite is being shown again throughout December on cable movie channel AMC.
Watch for showings of A Christmas Carol on AMC on the December 4th, December 6th, (with two airings at 4PM and 10:45PM) and again on December 20th.
Meanwhile, gather around the TV with friends and relatives to find other favorites with our Web wrap-up of what's on during the season, featuring direct links to U.S. television programming tagged especially for the holidays, plus a spotlight on what's on TV Christmas Eve & Christmas Day ...
http://www.chiff.com/home_life/holiday/christmas/whats-on-tv.htm
1051
Andy's Reporter Notebook
There is no progress. This is the year 2005. American soldiers are dying. Civilians of Iraq are dying. They didn't before. This war is unnecessary and NO, I will not change my point of view. Elections or no elections, Iraq is the biggest blunder this country has ever undertaken. A lot of people in that country are dead. If Iraq is quieter, it is because there are less to make noise. That was a goal by the way.
1054
Commercials
1058
Introduction by Frankenstein. Heeerreeee's Hollywood Andy !
1059
The news around the world.
There used to be all kinds of holiday specials. I am very surprised.
For ABC's Ratings, Christmas Time Is Here
By John Maynard
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 14, 2005; Page C07
The little round-headed kid with the zigzag-striped shirt can still pack 'em in during the holidays.
Last week's annual "Charlie Brown Christmas" special on ABC drew 15.3 million viewers Tuesday night, the show's biggest audience on ABC since it moved from CBS in 2001.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/13/AR2005121301796.html
1111
John Fisher Burns - Military commanders are commanding the people of Iraq not to squander this opportunity. That sounds like a great relationship with the people in Iraq. It tells me that the lethargy of the Iraqis is mired in the fact they are living their lives without feeling urgency about changing the status quo. These folks lived under a dictatorship. They take life as it comes.
"The Opportunity" is to bring insurgents including the Baathists into the political process. A broad based government. I think it is reaching for a standard that is unrealistic for these people. They are better off in self governing provinces of ethnic preference with clear, defined and defendable boundaries. Where the federal government of Iraq goes is irrelevant. So long as the people of Iraq are safe and maintaining a standard of life that prevents disease and human rights violation; that is the best we can hope for. One day they'll be ready to move on but for now the lack of death hanging over their heads has too seem like a relief to say the very least.
1119
I've had enough of this mess tonight. I don't consider this programming healthy. It is very Anti-American. It seeks to justify every action by a corrupt government. When the government is Anti-American there should never be any justification. Ever !
About spies and me? Is my government spying on little ole me? You, betcha. They keep trying to shut down my blogs. I think there is something to this mess. I am quite confident I'm considered a subversive. I wear that designation proudly.
Frankenstein as usual.
1002
Kelly Arena - the Lewis Libby of Pakistan. Why do I always get the feeling she is the phoniest baloney in the country?
1006
The NSA. Condi Rice was in charge of the NSA at this time. Now it's Hadley. CNN won't focus on the personalities as it might hurt the politics, but, they'll victimize the 'government' and make it be the big bad Daddy to us. This is not an issue of THE GOVERNMENT. It is Bush's administration that is in question. Discrediting the government and seeking scapegoats in it's employees needs to be avoided. The issue is not about our government structure or the faithful people that work for it but this is about the lousy bastard in the Oval Office !
Oh, please. David Ensor seeks to let us know what is NOT a secret. Go to hell !
1009
Commecials
Frankenstein's influence is spreading. He's heard in nearly every crook and cranny. He works cheap.
1012
The Braunstein Tragedy. The families has my sincerest sympathy for it's pain on all sides of this crime. I would be surprised if he is still in the country.
1015
The News Secretary
1016
Heidi wants to know what life in Iraq is really like. Send her there. She'll figure it out.
1017
Commercials
1020
An exhilarating week for Anderson in Iraq. Good. Stay there. You might hone an expertise other than yelling at governors.
1021
Christian Amanpour and a very bright 13 year old. They have food. Good. Too much violence in their old neighborhood. Yeah, there are section of Newark has the same problems. She's 18? She looks like a child.
You know the streets of Iraq should be this peaceful all the time and for the life of me do I understand why it isn't EXCEPT Bush's capitalist focus returns traffic and killing for the sake of a 'normalizing' business pattern. I really want to know why Iraq is not more controlled as it is on election days. It's nonsense as far as I am concerned.
I don't know, I think Chris knows more than she is willing to say. Or allowed to say. I believe a lot of the violence of Iraq is ALLOWED for the sake of business interests. It's "W"rong.
My estimation.
Thanks, Chris.
1026
Commercials
1029
News items.
1030
Heidi is attacking PETA tonight.
1030
Rick Sanchez
Unwanted animals are euthanized by PETA. That is a surprise.
Volunteer at your local animal shelter. Most animal shelters welcome volunteers, who help walk dogs, clean cat cages, and dole out love and attention to the lost and homeless animals who wait to be reunited with their caretakers— or find new ones. Contact your local shelter for details on how to sign up.
Organize a fundraiser to support your local animal shelter or low-cost spay and neuter programs. Round up others to hold a car wash, bake sale, dog walk, or rummage sale. Donate profits to your local animal shelter or to support low-cost spay and neuter programs.
http://www.helpinganimals.com/a.html
This might be a reason why people might seek to resolve the animal confinement issues in a way some might believe compassionate rather than having them submitted to research. PETA is famous for opposing research at all costs. It might be an agenda by the extremists (AND THIS IS PURE SPECULATION) that to starve the research facilities of animals by humanely euthanizing the shelter animals will stop the practice.
Is It Helter Skelter at Your Local Animal Shelter?
Animal shelters vary greatly— by size, purpose, capacity, and their treatment of the animals in their charge. They may be operated by the government, by a local humane society, by private individuals, or by a combination of these. Some are funded by donations alone, while others receive tax money. Sometimes tax money comes with a stipulation that some animals must be turned over to experimenters. Every effort should be made to reverse such a policy, which is known as "pound seizure." Click here to find out more about pound seizure.
If you have concerns about your local shelter, size up the situation by paying a personal visit— carry a camera to photograph conditions for the animals. Find out which method(s) of euthanasia are practiced. Although PETA only advocates an intravenous injection of sodium pentobarbital, compressed cylinder gas is considered the most humane of all gassing methods. If the shelter is gassing animals, try to take photographs of the gas chamber and find out if the chamber is used to kill young, old, or sick animals, who process oxygen and carbon monoxide differently than healthy adult animals and should never be gassed.
http://www.helpinganimals.com/a-shelter.html
1040
Commercials
You know PETA really opposes animals that are allowed to multiple indiscriminately. They oppose irresponsible pet ownership. To a greater extent they oppose animal ownership at all and their confinement.
http://www.petacatalog.org/prodinfo.asp?number=AT145&variation=&aitem=2&mitem=21
1043
The tragedy of death never ends on CNN.
Are there ANY holiday programs these days?
make joins feel-good holiday fare
By Kay McFadden
Seattle Times TV critic
CHRIS HELCERMANAS-BENGE / ABC
Carol Burnett is the over-protective queen in ABC's musical "Once Upon a Mattress." When Burnett starred in the show on Broadway more than a quarter-century ago, she played the princess.
At Christmastime — holiday time — Christmastime — whatever — the message of family is pounded home. I'm still waiting for a TV classic about a single character not doomed to melt, fall off a cliff or be forced into communal celebration.
No dice. The closest we get this weekend is ABC's Disneyfied remake of "Once Upon A Mattress," a happily-ever-after musical with enough clingy-mom clichés to curdle eggnog.
But the real togetherness play of the season isn't on TV yet. It belongs to the cable industry's politically minded leaders, who this week announced a plan to offer "family tiers" of cable programming.
The move comes as Congress ponders a legislative crackdown on alleged cable indecency and bears all the fending-off marks of an industry determined to (A) self-regulate; (B) end all talk of a la carte cable; and (C) find new ways to sell shows.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/artsentertainment/2002685989_kay16.html
1048
Commercials
2005 Holiday TV Spotlight - A Christmas Carol
Although movie versions of the Dicken's classic A Christmas Carol have been remade again and again, the 1951 movie starring Alistair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge is considered by many holiday movie junkies as the definitive one.
Out of circulation for many years due to copyright and license haggles, the holiday favorite is being shown again throughout December on cable movie channel AMC.
Watch for showings of A Christmas Carol on AMC on the December 4th, December 6th, (with two airings at 4PM and 10:45PM) and again on December 20th.
Meanwhile, gather around the TV with friends and relatives to find other favorites with our Web wrap-up of what's on during the season, featuring direct links to U.S. television programming tagged especially for the holidays, plus a spotlight on what's on TV Christmas Eve & Christmas Day ...
http://www.chiff.com/home_life/holiday/christmas/whats-on-tv.htm
1051
Andy's Reporter Notebook
There is no progress. This is the year 2005. American soldiers are dying. Civilians of Iraq are dying. They didn't before. This war is unnecessary and NO, I will not change my point of view. Elections or no elections, Iraq is the biggest blunder this country has ever undertaken. A lot of people in that country are dead. If Iraq is quieter, it is because there are less to make noise. That was a goal by the way.
1054
Commercials
1058
Introduction by Frankenstein. Heeerreeee's Hollywood Andy !
1059
The news around the world.
There used to be all kinds of holiday specials. I am very surprised.
For ABC's Ratings, Christmas Time Is Here
By John Maynard
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 14, 2005; Page C07
The little round-headed kid with the zigzag-striped shirt can still pack 'em in during the holidays.
Last week's annual "Charlie Brown Christmas" special on ABC drew 15.3 million viewers Tuesday night, the show's biggest audience on ABC since it moved from CBS in 2001.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/13/AR2005121301796.html
1111
John Fisher Burns - Military commanders are commanding the people of Iraq not to squander this opportunity. That sounds like a great relationship with the people in Iraq. It tells me that the lethargy of the Iraqis is mired in the fact they are living their lives without feeling urgency about changing the status quo. These folks lived under a dictatorship. They take life as it comes.
"The Opportunity" is to bring insurgents including the Baathists into the political process. A broad based government. I think it is reaching for a standard that is unrealistic for these people. They are better off in self governing provinces of ethnic preference with clear, defined and defendable boundaries. Where the federal government of Iraq goes is irrelevant. So long as the people of Iraq are safe and maintaining a standard of life that prevents disease and human rights violation; that is the best we can hope for. One day they'll be ready to move on but for now the lack of death hanging over their heads has too seem like a relief to say the very least.
1119
I've had enough of this mess tonight. I don't consider this programming healthy. It is very Anti-American. It seeks to justify every action by a corrupt government. When the government is Anti-American there should never be any justification. Ever !
Friday, December 16, 2005
Here you go Rob. Describe this, babe !
December 16, 2005.
0330z.
I'll give Rob Marciano a clue. See, the colors over the Arctic Circle? That is heat. It is heat from the equator brought there by the 'heat transfer systems' off both coasts of the USA.
Now.
What do you suppose happens to the frigid aire masse over the Arctic Circle when all that heat goes north?
Clue: The heavier cold air moves off the pole and down to lower latitudes.
Now, this is Rob Marciano's part. What climate phenomena is that called?
Anderson's Anti-Climax
0959
A big day in Iraq. Who cares? I suppose this is what every American died for.
1000
Anderson and Frankenstein the boy toy.
1001
The Release of al Zarqawi.
France seizes military arsenal in Zarqawi-tied probe
15 Dec 2005 18:56:49 GMT
Source: Reuters
(Adds details, background)
By Thierry Leveque
PARIS, Dec 15 (Reuters) - French police have seized large quantities of military weapons and explosives as part of a probe into an Islamic militant group said to have indirect links to al Qaeda's leader in Iraq, officials said on Thursday.
Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy told reporters the arsenal was discovered on Wednesday in a lock-up attached to a block of flats in the Clichy-sous-Bois suburb north of Paris.
Judicial sources said the haul included assault rifles, dynamite and TNT.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L15145920.htm
Tribal leader denounces Zarqawi
A senior member of the Jordanian tribe of Iraq's most wanted man says his family has severed all ties with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
The leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq angered his clan by ordering last month's triple bombing in the Jordanian capital.
Musa Khalayleh is a Jordanian MP and the second cousin of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq.
In an exclusive interview with the ABC, Mr Khalayleh says his family and his tribe have disowned Zarqawi after he masterminded last month's Amman bombings in which more than 60 people died.
He says the family has publicly proclaimed its loyalty to Jordan's ruling monarchy and to King Abdullah II.
While denouncing Zarqawi's murder of civilians, Mr Khalayleh says the insurgent leader has every right to resist the US occupation force in Iraq.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200512/s1531308.htm
I thought there might be an influence in those riots. I am sure the French believed the same and here it is. The French handled it all well.
1004
The Iraqis live euphemistically in the future. It isn't as though they are going to vote in an established country of freedom. They are voting under seige with a great deal of corruption in their country including the Bush/Cheney presence.
1007
Christiana Amanpour
About the vote. Fine.
1011
Nic Robertson. It's good to see you are still alive, Nic. Zarqawi. Hm.
As an Islamist militant, Zarqawi is violently opposed to the presence of U.S., Israeli and Western military forces in the Islamic world. In September 2005, he reportedly declared "all-out war" on Shia Muslims in Iraq [1], and has already sent numerous Al Qaeda in Iraq suicide bombers to target areas with large concentrations of Shia civilians.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Musab_al-Zarqawi
It wouldn't hurt if we lost your lousy program.
1013
commercials
Iraq Forces Captured Zarqawi A Year Ago - Released Him?
Posted on Thursday, December 15 @ 16:34:48 PST by Intellpuke (49 reads) -->Iraqi security forces caught the most wanted man in the country last year, but released him because they didn't know who he was, the Iraqi deputy minister of interior said Thursday. Hussain Kamal confirmed that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi - the al-Qaeda in Iraq leader who has a $25 million bounty on his head - was in custody at some point last year, but he wouldn't provide further details.
A U.S. official couldn't confirm the report, but said he wouldn't dismiss it.
"It is plausible," he said.
Thursday's news tops a list of reports of missed opportunities to capture the 39-year-old terrorist mastermind. An official said the military receives frequent reports of al-Zarqawi sightings, all of which are investigated.
1017
Tom Foreman - Katrina repairs. It's too late for next year !
1022
The News Secretary
1024
Commercials
1027
Col. Stephan Davis is sorry for the civilians deaths.
100,000 Iraqi civilians dead, says study
Sarah Boseley, health editor
Friday October 29, 2004
The Guardian
About 100,000 Iraqi civilians - half of them women and children - have died in Iraq since the invasion, mostly as a result of airstrikes by coalition forces, according to the first reliable study of the death toll from Iraqi and US public health experts.
The study, which was carried out in 33 randomly-chosen neighbourhoods of Iraq representative of the entire population, shows that violence is now the leading cause of death in Iraq. Before the invasion, most people died of heart attacks, stroke and chronic illness. The risk of a violent death is now 58 times higher than it was before the invasion….
… They found an increase in infant mortality from 29 to 57 deaths per 1,000 live births, which is consistent with the pattern in wars, where women are unable or unwilling to get to hospital to deliver babies, they say. The other increase was in violent death, which was reported in 15 of the 33 clusters studied and which was mostly attributed to airstrikes…
… "The remaining 58 killings (all attributed to US forces by interviewees) were caused by helicopter gunships, rockets or other forms of aerial weaponry," they write.
The biggest death toll recorded by the researchers was in Falluja, which registered two-thirds of the violent deaths they found. "In Falluja, 23 households of 52 visited were either temporarily or permanently abandoned. Neighbours interviewed described widespread death in most of the abandoned houses but could not give adequate details for inclusion in the survey," they write.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1338749,00.html
Explosion in house kills 28 in Baghdad
Mystery over blast that left 10 investigating police officers dead
Michael Howard in Sulaimaniya
Thursday December 30, 2004
The Guardian
At least 28 people - including 10 policemen - died in Baghdad yesterday in a huge explosion at a suspected militant safe-house that may have been booby-trapped.
The blast was one of the largest to hit the capital since the US bombing raids during the war to remove Saddam Hussein. US army experts estimated that 1,700lb to 1,800lb of explosives had been detonated.
Residents accounted for the majority of the fatalities and US soldiers and Iraqi troops worked through the night to pull potential survivors from the rubble.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1380792,00.html
1031
Blah, Blah, Blah.
1038
commercials
1041
Alien Abduction. Blah, blah, blah…..
1049
Commercials
1052
The third brigade.
Corporal Jimmy L. Shelton, 21, of Lehigh Acres, Fla., on Dec. 3 in Bayji from a mortar attack. Army's First Squadron, 33d Cavalry Regiment, Third Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.
http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2005/12/14/american_deaths/
1053
Barbara Starr in Mississippi with General Honore.
Mississippi Soldiers Return Home From Iraq
POSTED: 7:53 am CST December 14, 2005
UPDATED: 8:24 am CST December 14, 2005
GULPORT, Miss. -- More than 300 soldiers from the 155th Brigade Combat Team will be home for Christmas.
The soldiers, who were in Iraq for almost a year, will spend the next few days at Camp Shelby before they return home. Some of them arrived Monday in Gulfport.
The troops are expected to return for training at their respective guard armories next spring.
Their homecoming is bittersweet because 14 members of the unit were killed in Iraq.
http://www.thejacksonchannel.com/news/5532842/detail.html
Minnesotans prepare for war
by Mark Zdechlik, Minnesota Public Radio
December 5, 2005
Cody Messner says he's looking forward to going to Iraq, serving his time and coming home. He says he's focused on the mission ahead but acknowledges the sobering reality that he'll soon be in a war zone where the targets shoot back. (MPR Photo/Mark Zdechlik)
The Minnesota Army National Guard's First Brigade Combat Team is preparing for deployment to Iraq. Of the brigade's 4,000 soldiers, 2,600 are from Minnesota. The men and women are expected to ship out to Iraq this spring. They're going through training in southern Mississippi at Camp Shelby.
Hattiesburg, Miss. — Had Cody Messner, 20, not been called up for duty in Iraq, he would be at home in the southern Minnesota town of Winthrop roofing and remodeling houses and doing other construction work.
Pasted from <http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/11/28_zdechlikm_guard/>
1057
commercials
1100
Anderson and his boy toy, Frankenstein, the silent partner that can't take the show away from Andy.
Heeerrrreeeee's Hollywood Andy.
1101
Anderson and news items.
1102
Nic Robertson in Ramadi. Fine.
1107
At some point in time is there something other than 'juice' for the old stomping grounds of Tookie Williams? Between the tragets of the Inner City and Scientology I am sure the aliens are bring Santa Clause from the North.
1110
A segment on ONE of the many dynamics of Global Warming. If one is too look around the entire Earth you would find every possible 'unique' climate event that happens on 'occassional' basis. The issue is that with Global Warming they are all happening at once. The problem CNN is capable of is reiterating the information of the Atlantic Basin by the USA government because that is all the USA government is capable of being interested in.
I want to hear CNN explain the South Atlantic and South Pacific Oscillation. That can currently be understood with the Australian government.
Why not explain ALL the climate phenomina on Earth, CNN? Because you can't or you won't? Because if you did and then connected the dots you'd have a unique set of circumstances of climate change compliments of Global Warming. Jerks ! Better than that 'Chicken !' I love it when men only know what it is to have an ECONOMIC YELLOW STREAK UP THEIR BACKS !!
1114
commercials
1117
We are getting lessons in STDs. Great.
1120
The News Secretary
1121
Commercials
1124
Anderson and some more stuff.
1126
John King
1131
I am so tired of this program. It's a nothing program. I haven't learned a thing.
Commericals
1135
The No baby couple. CNN called them selfish. I don't think so.
The Baptist minister seems to think being a responsible person who does not want children in their family is actually not aspiring to grow up. According to the minister adults are supposed to replicate.
I always thought postponing the decision to bring children into a family was responsible. There is nothing wrong with being childless.
This minister is trying to intimidate people into having children. Hey, if the kids turned out like you it would definitely have been a mistake there, preacher.
1143
Commercials
No babies on the commercials?
1145
IEDs and the Buffalo. The sporken arm that finds explosive devices if they don't explode when they are lifted by the "Sporken Arm."
1150
Michael Ware and his close encounter with insurgents.
1153
The baby saved from a fire.
1156
That's it ! Wasn't into it tonight. Of course, one has to have the material to begin with. Anderson should know that by now.
A big day in Iraq. Who cares? I suppose this is what every American died for.
1000
Anderson and Frankenstein the boy toy.
1001
The Release of al Zarqawi.
France seizes military arsenal in Zarqawi-tied probe
15 Dec 2005 18:56:49 GMT
Source: Reuters
(Adds details, background)
By Thierry Leveque
PARIS, Dec 15 (Reuters) - French police have seized large quantities of military weapons and explosives as part of a probe into an Islamic militant group said to have indirect links to al Qaeda's leader in Iraq, officials said on Thursday.
Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy told reporters the arsenal was discovered on Wednesday in a lock-up attached to a block of flats in the Clichy-sous-Bois suburb north of Paris.
Judicial sources said the haul included assault rifles, dynamite and TNT.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L15145920.htm
Tribal leader denounces Zarqawi
A senior member of the Jordanian tribe of Iraq's most wanted man says his family has severed all ties with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
The leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq angered his clan by ordering last month's triple bombing in the Jordanian capital.
Musa Khalayleh is a Jordanian MP and the second cousin of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq.
In an exclusive interview with the ABC, Mr Khalayleh says his family and his tribe have disowned Zarqawi after he masterminded last month's Amman bombings in which more than 60 people died.
He says the family has publicly proclaimed its loyalty to Jordan's ruling monarchy and to King Abdullah II.
While denouncing Zarqawi's murder of civilians, Mr Khalayleh says the insurgent leader has every right to resist the US occupation force in Iraq.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200512/s1531308.htm
I thought there might be an influence in those riots. I am sure the French believed the same and here it is. The French handled it all well.
1004
The Iraqis live euphemistically in the future. It isn't as though they are going to vote in an established country of freedom. They are voting under seige with a great deal of corruption in their country including the Bush/Cheney presence.
1007
Christiana Amanpour
About the vote. Fine.
1011
Nic Robertson. It's good to see you are still alive, Nic. Zarqawi. Hm.
As an Islamist militant, Zarqawi is violently opposed to the presence of U.S., Israeli and Western military forces in the Islamic world. In September 2005, he reportedly declared "all-out war" on Shia Muslims in Iraq [1], and has already sent numerous Al Qaeda in Iraq suicide bombers to target areas with large concentrations of Shia civilians.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Musab_al-Zarqawi
It wouldn't hurt if we lost your lousy program.
1013
commercials
Iraq Forces Captured Zarqawi A Year Ago - Released Him?
Posted on Thursday, December 15 @ 16:34:48 PST by Intellpuke (49 reads) -->Iraqi security forces caught the most wanted man in the country last year, but released him because they didn't know who he was, the Iraqi deputy minister of interior said Thursday. Hussain Kamal confirmed that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi - the al-Qaeda in Iraq leader who has a $25 million bounty on his head - was in custody at some point last year, but he wouldn't provide further details.
A U.S. official couldn't confirm the report, but said he wouldn't dismiss it.
"It is plausible," he said.
Thursday's news tops a list of reports of missed opportunities to capture the 39-year-old terrorist mastermind. An official said the military receives frequent reports of al-Zarqawi sightings, all of which are investigated.
1017
Tom Foreman - Katrina repairs. It's too late for next year !
1022
The News Secretary
1024
Commercials
1027
Col. Stephan Davis is sorry for the civilians deaths.
100,000 Iraqi civilians dead, says study
Sarah Boseley, health editor
Friday October 29, 2004
The Guardian
About 100,000 Iraqi civilians - half of them women and children - have died in Iraq since the invasion, mostly as a result of airstrikes by coalition forces, according to the first reliable study of the death toll from Iraqi and US public health experts.
The study, which was carried out in 33 randomly-chosen neighbourhoods of Iraq representative of the entire population, shows that violence is now the leading cause of death in Iraq. Before the invasion, most people died of heart attacks, stroke and chronic illness. The risk of a violent death is now 58 times higher than it was before the invasion….
… They found an increase in infant mortality from 29 to 57 deaths per 1,000 live births, which is consistent with the pattern in wars, where women are unable or unwilling to get to hospital to deliver babies, they say. The other increase was in violent death, which was reported in 15 of the 33 clusters studied and which was mostly attributed to airstrikes…
… "The remaining 58 killings (all attributed to US forces by interviewees) were caused by helicopter gunships, rockets or other forms of aerial weaponry," they write.
The biggest death toll recorded by the researchers was in Falluja, which registered two-thirds of the violent deaths they found. "In Falluja, 23 households of 52 visited were either temporarily or permanently abandoned. Neighbours interviewed described widespread death in most of the abandoned houses but could not give adequate details for inclusion in the survey," they write.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1338749,00.html
Explosion in house kills 28 in Baghdad
Mystery over blast that left 10 investigating police officers dead
Michael Howard in Sulaimaniya
Thursday December 30, 2004
The Guardian
At least 28 people - including 10 policemen - died in Baghdad yesterday in a huge explosion at a suspected militant safe-house that may have been booby-trapped.
The blast was one of the largest to hit the capital since the US bombing raids during the war to remove Saddam Hussein. US army experts estimated that 1,700lb to 1,800lb of explosives had been detonated.
Residents accounted for the majority of the fatalities and US soldiers and Iraqi troops worked through the night to pull potential survivors from the rubble.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1380792,00.html
1031
Blah, Blah, Blah.
1038
commercials
1041
Alien Abduction. Blah, blah, blah…..
1049
Commercials
1052
The third brigade.
Corporal Jimmy L. Shelton, 21, of Lehigh Acres, Fla., on Dec. 3 in Bayji from a mortar attack. Army's First Squadron, 33d Cavalry Regiment, Third Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.
http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2005/12/14/american_deaths/
1053
Barbara Starr in Mississippi with General Honore.
Mississippi Soldiers Return Home From Iraq
POSTED: 7:53 am CST December 14, 2005
UPDATED: 8:24 am CST December 14, 2005
GULPORT, Miss. -- More than 300 soldiers from the 155th Brigade Combat Team will be home for Christmas.
The soldiers, who were in Iraq for almost a year, will spend the next few days at Camp Shelby before they return home. Some of them arrived Monday in Gulfport.
The troops are expected to return for training at their respective guard armories next spring.
Their homecoming is bittersweet because 14 members of the unit were killed in Iraq.
http://www.thejacksonchannel.com/news/5532842/detail.html
Minnesotans prepare for war
by Mark Zdechlik, Minnesota Public Radio
December 5, 2005
Cody Messner says he's looking forward to going to Iraq, serving his time and coming home. He says he's focused on the mission ahead but acknowledges the sobering reality that he'll soon be in a war zone where the targets shoot back. (MPR Photo/Mark Zdechlik)
The Minnesota Army National Guard's First Brigade Combat Team is preparing for deployment to Iraq. Of the brigade's 4,000 soldiers, 2,600 are from Minnesota. The men and women are expected to ship out to Iraq this spring. They're going through training in southern Mississippi at Camp Shelby.
Hattiesburg, Miss. — Had Cody Messner, 20, not been called up for duty in Iraq, he would be at home in the southern Minnesota town of Winthrop roofing and remodeling houses and doing other construction work.
Pasted from <http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/11/28_zdechlikm_guard/>
1057
commercials
1100
Anderson and his boy toy, Frankenstein, the silent partner that can't take the show away from Andy.
Heeerrrreeeee's Hollywood Andy.
1101
Anderson and news items.
1102
Nic Robertson in Ramadi. Fine.
1107
At some point in time is there something other than 'juice' for the old stomping grounds of Tookie Williams? Between the tragets of the Inner City and Scientology I am sure the aliens are bring Santa Clause from the North.
1110
A segment on ONE of the many dynamics of Global Warming. If one is too look around the entire Earth you would find every possible 'unique' climate event that happens on 'occassional' basis. The issue is that with Global Warming they are all happening at once. The problem CNN is capable of is reiterating the information of the Atlantic Basin by the USA government because that is all the USA government is capable of being interested in.
I want to hear CNN explain the South Atlantic and South Pacific Oscillation. That can currently be understood with the Australian government.
Why not explain ALL the climate phenomina on Earth, CNN? Because you can't or you won't? Because if you did and then connected the dots you'd have a unique set of circumstances of climate change compliments of Global Warming. Jerks ! Better than that 'Chicken !' I love it when men only know what it is to have an ECONOMIC YELLOW STREAK UP THEIR BACKS !!
1114
commercials
1117
We are getting lessons in STDs. Great.
1120
The News Secretary
1121
Commercials
1124
Anderson and some more stuff.
1126
John King
1131
I am so tired of this program. It's a nothing program. I haven't learned a thing.
Commericals
1135
The No baby couple. CNN called them selfish. I don't think so.
The Baptist minister seems to think being a responsible person who does not want children in their family is actually not aspiring to grow up. According to the minister adults are supposed to replicate.
I always thought postponing the decision to bring children into a family was responsible. There is nothing wrong with being childless.
This minister is trying to intimidate people into having children. Hey, if the kids turned out like you it would definitely have been a mistake there, preacher.
1143
Commercials
No babies on the commercials?
1145
IEDs and the Buffalo. The sporken arm that finds explosive devices if they don't explode when they are lifted by the "Sporken Arm."
1150
Michael Ware and his close encounter with insurgents.
1153
The baby saved from a fire.
1156
That's it ! Wasn't into it tonight. Of course, one has to have the material to begin with. Anderson should know that by now.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Andy's Most Excellant Day in Iraq
Okay, what's the point tonight after Larry's lead in with the "Reminiscent Murder of the Week"
1000
Andy's Big Day in Iraq at a polling station. A historic day in the US? What happened? There is Frankenstein, the boy toy, safest partner in the world. He could never take Andy's job away. And heerreeeee's Hollywood Andy to disclose the mystery, how is this a historic day in the USA?
1001
An empty polling station. That's impressive. Who leads in Iraq? George Walker Bush. Do I win a prize?
1002
Nic Robertson is in the danger zone.
Oh, a return to the "The Whip" What a bastard ! But, Andy keeps control of the mic. Nic and Chris stand there like mute manicans.
1003
298 Iraiqis died in the last week alone. "Where Iraiqis Rejoice waving their stained finger." Their hope an Iraq that children can roam free. Right. Hey, Anderson, have you ever seen Fahrenheit 911? The children were roaming free all over playgrounds before the first USA bombs dropped. How about that, huh?
1004
"A Seductive Promise." Baloney, there is a lot of opportunity for financial gain and corruption. Who are you trying to kid? Do you think Chalibi is in this for no reason? You call this guy a journalist or a stenographer?
This is such garbarge. Bush took until now to decide he should try another boner and say he was responsible for the false lousy intelligence to the American people and their legislature. He willingly admits the atrocity of the invasion into Iraq and he's still in office. Amazing. Denying it didn't work, so maybe with the cover of a majority legislature, admitting it might work better. This was the best headline.
Iraq intelligence wrong - but I was right to take us to war, Bush insists
· President accepts full responsibility for invasion
· Pentagon to plant pro-US stories in global media
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1667583,00.html
MAKES ME SO PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN ! NOT !!
1007
Christiana has a voice. She's in good voice tonight. "The new government must be sectarian." Right. They were right to stone the guy. Oh, I see, everyone wants the Sunnis to come out and vote. Sure, whatever you say.
Did I hear that right? Allawi doesn't see the Sunnis being killed off just yet?
1012
Andy use your inhaler.
Nic Robertson - never fails, he's always in places no one else goes. Sunni turnout is the question. One person went last time. Marines are not going to be patrolling the streets but keeping a low profile. I wonder why? Somehow in this province if the Marines approach a polling station they'll be searched before entering or WORSE.
Zarqawi - al Qaeda in Iraq - is not to attack the polling stations. Gee, I wonder what the agenda is there?
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi disowned by clan
PRINT FRIENDLY
EMAIL STORY
AM - Thursday, 15 December , 2005 08:16:00
Reporter: Mark Willacy
TONY EASTLEY: Millions of Iraqis will go to polling stations to cast their ballots today, but as they do the shadow of one man hangs over the elections.
Jordanian, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, is the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, and the country's most wanted man with a $25 million bounty on his head.
In an exclusive interview, one of Zarqawi's close relatives has spoken to the ABC. He says his family and tribe have disowned the Jordanian insurgent.
Musa Khalayleh says his clan decided to sever all ties with Zarqawi after he took responsibility for last month's triple bombings in Amman, which killed more than 60 people, mostly Jordanians.
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2005/s1531431.htm
Baghdad falls quiet as Zarqawi threatens poll
By Anton La Guardia Diplomatic Editor and Oliver Poole in Baghdad
(Filed: 15/12/2005)
Alan Philps: Baghdad Weblog
The terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi vowed to disrupt today's general election in Iraq as a nationwide travel ban was imposed to reduce the threat of car bombings.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/12/15/wirq15.xml&sSheet=/portal/2005/12/15/ixportaltop.html
It would seem according to these reports Anderson Cooper 360 is "W"rong !
1015
Commercials
1019
Ah, that pensive music. The president and his pathetic speeches.
1020
Oh, god the red headed witch is back. She attempted to interview Senator Kerry to bring out 'The Truth' but in true CNN style Heidi can't help to fail but try instead to humiliate the good Senator. He has a great deal of patience with this entire mess. I guess we know who the hate mongers are in our society.
The entire presentation is grossly edited. It has not brevity except for some very clear criticism of this LYING administration.
1024
The news secretary.
1026
Heidi is dissing Scientology again. Scientology should sue this network, already. It's call harassment.
1026
commercials
1028
Andy wants to talk about Katrina.
1028
Joe Johns. Katrina evacuees. They are angry. No doubt about that. You know I have a lot of questions regarding the construction of these houses in New Orleans. Was there ever standards similar to earthquake zones placed on these building? I have been examining some very interesting pictures of the scene in New Orleans. There is a magnificent two story wood frame house built on concrete base and pilings that is intact. This house was underwater. The trees surrounding the house are nearly bare of any foliage and the windows of this house is missing but the house is intact otherwise. Not that there isn't internal damage to the house including interrupted electrical service, but, if one didn't know Katrina ripped though the area it looks like a poorly maintained yard except for obvious missing windows. The owner has the car parked in the driveway for a clean up. It's an amazing picture. The photographer promises to discuss this more tomorrow if she's up to it.
1033
Commercials
1036
The polling stations and violence. Firing shots just because it didn't hit a target doesn't mean it wasn't violence.
1037
The Scientologists have therapies that help the 911 Rescue Workers. It's an interesting fact that seems to help them a great deal.
Ah. A basis for a man with a pregnant wife to jump for joy. A quality of life without drugs or foreign substances in a body. I'll be darn.
1042
Commercials
1044
The New York Fire Department vs. Dr. Wiznar (sp) of Scientology. Niacin therapy. Bicycling. Niacin is used in cardiac medicine as well. "Clear Body, Clear Mind." It's definitely worth a try UNDER doctor supervision which all these people were. The attending physicians might be encouraging the patients to come off the medications if they are feeling better. In fact, a serum assay is not a complete picture of any patient. Hair samples, fat biopsies do make a difference in understanding residual and perhaps latent chemistry is in the body. We know for a fact that the myelin surrounding nerves is laid down in the first year of life when an infant is exposed to vaccines. It is those latent fragments of immune response in the myelin that is believed to contribute to MS in later decades of life when 'stress' triggers an immune suppressed reaction allowing the exacerbation of these viruses into a destruction of the myelin. We know for a fact the inner lays of the brain without myelin store toxins like cocaine for the entire life of the patient. There is a strong validity to the statements regarding residual storage of toxins in the body to be released later at undetermined times. CNN practices religious bigotry. The New York Fire Department is taking a traditional route with it's personnel to prevent lawsuits.
I remind others there is no one answer for every person. There is also hope in trying new therapies. If one doesn't seek other paths of relief then they are forever cast into hopelessmess.
Can Lorenzo’s Oil help treat diseases other than ALD (adrenoleukodystrophy)?
Lorenzo’s Oil is specific to ALD, does not repair myelin, and does not have any known effect on other demyelinating disorders. In ALD presymptomatic boys Lorenzo’s Oil often (but not always) prevents the onset of the disease by stopping the body from producing the very long chain fatty acids, whose buildup leads to demyelination.
1050
commercials
1053
Andy and a day on patrol. Iraq Army commander.
commercials
1059
The next mess of an hour. The return of Frankenstein.
1100
Repeat of same mantra about Iraq and it's REPEATED elections. Anderson, these people have voted for decades under Saddam as well. The difference is that there are other corrupt people running for office other than Saddam.
1102
There we go with The Whip again. I'll tell you something, Aaron must have been a very strong and moral influence at that news agency for him to be so hated that they had to completely dismantle the entire structure of the program and then only defeat him following a Cat 5 storm. Amazing. Aaron Brown has every reason to be proud of his influence among the staff of CNN. Knowing his style he never had to force the quality so much as inspired it. You are missed Aaron. There isn't anything tonight that has been informative and I can't believe they have Nic in a very dangerous environment. I hope he is well accepted there. Ramadi, looks like a battle zone. A few blocks down the street was a police decapitation. A lot of violence, isn't there Nic. Here we go. Explosives. Nic is in the line of fire. I hope you all are happy with yourselves at CNN. Jerks !
1106
Michael Ware - zero suicide bombings in October. Ramadi is controlled by Zarqawi. Is that official? I didn't know that was an official status.
Here we go and where Representative Murtha gets his argument with these idiots. They are labeling the Sunni insurgency with the name of Zarqawi. Amazing deception. Someone want to talk to the Sunnis about this instead of listening to these bigoted talking heads?
1110
Commercials.
1114
Anderson is disappointed in the early voter turnout. He is glad Nic is safe. He's safe?
Christian is speaking. I'll be darn. The outcome of Iraq depends a lot of other factors. Will this country actually stay together. That is a huge question, isn't it? I doubt it. It's headed away from that. You ought to give Chris her own show for two hours. At least the conversation isn't 'mind speak' so much as intelligent.
1118
The news secretary
1119
153 children died from the flu. Otherwise a healthy child. What's the point here? Children die of other issues as well. Is this preventable? Is that the issue? Ah, she didn't have to die. "The flu vaccination." CDC administers the flu shot to compromised children. The elderly is a given. The flu shot isn't completely without it's dangers either.
Flu Shot Side Effects, Are There Any?
Flu shot side effects are rare according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "The risk of a flu shot causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small. However, a vaccine, like any medicine, may rarely cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. Almost all people who get influenza vaccine have no serious problems from it. "The possible flu shot side effects are:
Soreness, redness, or swelling in the area that the shot was given
Low grade fever
Headaches
Muscle aches
It is true that one can have life-threatening allergic reactions as one of the flu shot side effects, although rare. Signs that one is having an allergic reaction are: problems breathing, hoarseness, wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, rapid heartbeat, or dizziness. Anyone can have this flu shot side effect if they have severe allergies to eggs. Flu vaccines are grown in chicken egg then killed and purified to use as prevention of the flu virus.
Flu Related Topics:
Växa's Product Mentioned In This Article:
Others who can suffer from flu shot side effects are:
Those who suffer from Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)
Infants under 6 months of age
Anyone who has had severe flu shot side effects in the past
Anyone who is sick with a fever
It is not true, however, that one of the flu shot side effects is actually getting the flu. The flu vaccine uses a dead virus. Live viruses used as vaccines (nasal spay, flu mist) can cause a mild case of the flu. Flu shot side effects usually occurs in children who have never had the flu virus before.
http://www.vaxa.com/flu-shot-side-effects.cfm
1124
Anderson Cooper and Breaking News. The election workers are balloting. Buthana Mehdi should be recruited as an intelligent agent since the USA is always complaining the don't have enough people to assist with understanding the culture and language of Iraq. There you go. What's the issue?
She holds out hope for change in Iraq. It's a nice sentiment although and incomplete reality. She never once begins to speak to the corruption of people like Allawi and the dangers of her country. She copes well with her change in government, doesn't she?
1127
commercials
I think this program is over.
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