Ken Mehlman… conservative queer…

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Ken Mehlman’s gay? Say it ain’t so!

washingtonpost.com - Thur 26 Aug ‘10

Apparently Ken Mehlman, former head of the Bush/Cheney reelection campaign and RNC national chair, is gay.

Say it ain’t so, Ken!

All those years I slept with a poster of Ken Mehlman in my bedroom, right between my pictures of Elton John, Harvey Milk and Oscar Wilde. I bought a Ken doll because I thought it would resemble Ken Mehlman. It did, a little, but only when I nestled it next to my RNC barbie. “What a stud that Ken is!” I would murmur to myself as I tucked a slice of wedding cake under my pillow. “I can’t wait until he opens up his eyes and see the truth about himself that everyone else sees: I’m perfect for him!”

This is almost as devastating as when I found out that James Buchanan might have been gay! Or when they came out with that biography of Abraham Lincoln that described what it would have been like if the biographer had been able to discover any evidence that Abraham Lincoln was gay. That was already too close!

It’s not that I don’t have gaydar. Sometimes, in the middle of meetings, I get distracted by the sense that someone in the building might be gay. It’s like having a spider-sense, except that instead of swinging from buildings to rescue the guy in question, I spend the next several months attempting to date him.

But Ken! He had that winsome smile, and that winsome tendency to discuss important, weighty things like ballot referenda and Dick Cheney.

Sure, it’s great that he’s being true to himself after 43 years. But couldn’t he have broken it to me more gently? He could have done something to hint at his orientation, like sneaking into a Pride parade or becoming the outspoken head of a national anti-gay organization. But Ken always seemed so moderate.

I guess it’s true what they say. All the good men are gay — and/or Republican.

Jew banker parasite…

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Link to a page with a series of old clips exposing one branch of the sons if hell…

dprogram.net - Wed 25 Aug ‘10

Strange hexagon at north pole of Saturn…

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Editor’s Note…
The stories and links below were sent in by a reader…

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Power outages hit D.C. area after storms; 2 dead

WASHINGTON (AP) — Crews worked Monday to restore electricity to thousands after powerful storms barreled through the nation’s capital and surrounding areas, killing two people and downing power lines and countless trees.

The Sunday storms cooled things off after a nearly two-week heat wave but left widespread damage in the city and suburbs, authorities said.

Pepco reported more than 240,500 customers were still without power early Monday in Washington and neighboring Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland. Because the damage was so widespread, there was no timetable for most places to be back on line, Pepco spokesman Clay Anderson said.

Not only were power lines down, but electric poles were broken and numerous transformers were damaged, he said.
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NOTE:  These are different events in DC

DC Area Hit with 800 Lightening Strikes
8-12-08 - 4:00 AM-5:30 AM - Severe Storm Cell Moves Into Region Waking People in Maryland, DC and Virginia. Doppler Radar Shows Over 800 Hundred Cloud to Ground Strikes within 15 Minutes of the Main Band of the First Storm Cell. At times it seemed like sunlight, as Loud Thunder, Heavy Rain, and Very Impressive Lightning Moved Through Northern Virginia, Washington Metro Area and Frederick, MD. Since I was awake, I decided to film the light show.

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Shocking Number of Plane Crashes
With 10 plane crashes in the first 11 days of August, I wondered is this unusually high? I decided to investigate and was shocked to see so man statistics stack up. My search was nearly complete when news of Tuesday’s Alaskan crash hit the airwaves.

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Mother Nature Playing an ‘Evil Hand’ of Global Natural Disaster

Aug. 6 (Bloomberg) — Floods have killed thousands in Asia and left millions homeless from Pakistan to North Korea, while fires and drought in Russia have roiled global markets and a tropical storm bears down on Bermuda.

Asian devastation may stretch aid efforts as crops are destroyed at a time of soaring wheat prices, caused in part by Russia’s decision to ban grain exports through Dec. 31. Raw- sugar futures also rose in New York on speculation that Russia may import more to offset drought losses.

In the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Colin reformed and is bearing down on Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of 45 miles (75 kilometers) per hour, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. The storm is expected to drop as much as 5 inches of rain on the island nation starting tomorrow.

“Mother Nature is playing a very evil hand,” Peter McGuire, managing director at CWA Global Markets Pty., said in a telephone interview from Sydney today. “It’s always the poor that suffer.”

August 06, 2010, 3:50 PM EDT

Australian Crops at Risk From Reliance on Wild Bees

Cloned Beef Causing Uproar in Britain Traced to Wisconsin Cow

It’s Begun: Obamacare Closes Pain-Treatment Program

Parts of Mexican Border “Too Dangerous” to Patrol

Australian Survey Buoy Anomalies Offer New Evidence That Planet X is Approaching from the South

Mass Coral Die-off Triggered by 93-Degree Ocean

Pakistan Flood Homeless Toll Put at 4+ Million

In Grip Of Drought, Floods, Niger Faces Hunger Crisis

Locusts, Fires, Droughts, Bizarre Weather and Food Shortages

Bizarre Weather Of 2010 Set The Stage For A Major Global Food Shortage In 2011

Dust-Bowl Bust Haunts Wheat Farmers

Wheat-Crop Scare Rattles Global Nerves

Severe Weather Threatens World Food Supply

Apocalypse 2010: The year of earthquakes, oil spills, floods, heat waves and other ecological catastrophes Part 2

Fierce Storms Blow Away Heat Wave – Russia Looked Ready to Exchange One Natural Disaster for Another

How Drought and Floods Will Hit Food and Clothing Prices

Rice Production Threatened by Rising Temps

Ukraine to Limit Grain Exports Due to Drought: Official

Wholesale Prices Rise on Higher Food Costs

Record Jump in Food Prices Keeps Inflation High

Australia’s Wheat in Urgent Need of Rain

World Food Shortage 2010 - 2011 - Famine

GM Crops: Catastrophe in the USA. A Lesson for the World

Pakistani Floods: Worse Disaster Yet to Unfold

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Heat probably killed thousands in Moscow: scientist
(Reuters) - Several thousand Muscovites are thought to have died in July alone from this year’s unprecedented heatwave and August could add more fatalities, a Russian scientist said on Tuesday.
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The plague found in more wild animals
August 19th, 2010 6:46 pm ET

Prairie dog
Photo: fws.gov
The deadly bacterium that causes the plague has been in different animals in different parts of North America in the past week.

In the Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, Canada, parks officials are warning the public of the finding of dead plague infected prairie dog.

And in the Sierra Nevada, an unspecified rodent was found in the Plumas Eureka State Park which also tested positive for plague.

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More offices see bedbug infestations

Our abusive boss isn’t the only vermin in the office.

Defying their reputation as a scourge of households, blood-sucking bedbugs are creeping into a growing number of cubicles, break rooms and filing cabinets.

Nearly one in five exterminators have found bedbugs in office buildings in the U.S., according to a recent survey of extermination firms by the National Pest Management Association and the University of Kentucky. That compares with less than 1% in 2007

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Storm-caused “fire tornado” burns 8,000 acres
By The Denver Post
Posted: 08/20/2010 01:00:00 AM MDTUpdated: 08/20/2010 02:19:47 AM MDT

A “fire tornado” caused by lightning and thunderstorms Wednesday burned nearly 8,000 acres of public and private land in Moffat County, officials said Thursday.

Crews have contained the Alkali fire. The blaze was first reported at 4:15 p.m. Wednesday.

The “fire tornado” or “fire whirlwind” whipped across the sagebrush late Wednesday afternoon, throwing out embers that ignited rangeland in all directions, said BLM spokeswoman Lynn Barclay.

About 50 firefighters will patrol the smoldering site of the blaze about 10 miles north of Maybell overnight, because more turbulent weather capable of producing lightning was expected in the region covered in dry, late-summer brush, according to the Bureau of Land Management.

The fast-moving blaze burned mostly private land, including an outbuilding at a ranch, and about 800 acres of federal land. There were no reported injuries, according to the BLM.

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Storms black out 84,000 Michigan homes, businesses
DETROIT — About 65,400 Michigan homes and businesses remain without power after thunderstorms delivering winds gusting up to 75 miles per hour knocked down trees and power lines, damaged roofs and blacked out about 84,000 customers.

DTE Energy Co. spokesman Scott Simons says Friday about 64,000 customers remain without power after the storm blacked out 82,000 on Thursday. Most are in Macomb County, northeast of Detroit.

CMS Energy Corp. spokeswoman Debra Dodd says most of the company’s 1,400 customers who remain without power are in Genesee County. That’s down from about 2,000.

The National Weather Service issued tornado warnings Thursday night, but no funnel clouds were confirmed. Weather service officials are expected to survey damage on Friday.

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Flood threat eases as rivers recede in Nashville
The Cumberland River rose because of heavy rain upstream from Nashville, lapped at a grassy riverbank in the city, then began receding without flooding.

WEATHER GALLERY: Upload your summer flood photos
After reaching a crest of 34 feet about 6 p.m. Thursday, the river had fallen by more than 6 feet by dawn Friday. Flood stage is 40 feet.

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More towns go under water, 150,000 evacuated as Pakistani floods wash into the south
SUKKUR, Pakistan –  SUKKUR, Pakistan (AP) — About 150,000 Pakistanis were forced to move to higher ground as floodwaters from a freshly swollen Indus River submerged dozens more towns and villages in the south, a government spokesman said Saturday.

Officials expect the floodwaters will recede nationwide in the next few days as the last river torrents empty into the Arabian Sea. Survivors may find little left when they return home, however: The waters have washed away houses, roads, bridges and crops vital to livelihoods.

Already, 600,000 people are in relief camps set up in Sindh province during the flooding over the past month.

As the latest surge approached, “We evacuated more than 150,000 people from interior parts of Sindh in the past 24 hours,” said Jamil Soomro, a spokesman for the provincial government. The floods submerged new areas in Thatta district.

At a relief camp in the Sukkur area, some victims said it was difficult to get the food dropped off by relief trucks.

“I am a widow, and my children are too young to get food because of the chaos and rush,” said Parveen Roshan. “How can weak women win a fight with men to get food?”

Nearby, a doctor treated a boy whose back was injured after someone pushed him during a scramble for food at a truck.

The floods have affected about one-fifth of Pakistan’s territory, straining its civilian government as it also struggles against al-Qaida and Taliban violence. At least 6 million people have been made homeless and 20 million affected overall. The economic cost is expected to run into billions of dollars.

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Holiday washout: Britain hit by torrential rain and 40mph gusts
By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 3:18 PM on 23rd August 2010

Comments (127)
Add to My Stories
Britain is on flood alert today after torrential rain and gale force winds battered parts of the UK, shutting roads and washing out weekend getaways.

Up to 4cm (1.5in) of rain fell overnight in areas of southern England - more than half the normal monthly total - with 40mph winds adding to the unseasonal blast.

Holidaymakers face more unsettled conditions through the week, potentially bringing a blustery curtain down on the traditional summer period.

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B.C. faces one of worst wildfire years

That’s not snow falling from the sky in British Columbia. It’s ash. And even in this province, where residents are accustomed to the annual onslaught of wildfires, it’s a rare site to behold.

“For the most part people try to remain positive. To some extent we accept it as part of our new world order,” said Al Richmond, director of central B.C.’s Cariboo Regional District.

In what’s shaping up to be one of the worst years on record, any amount of optimism is welcome. A total of 272,000 hectares of forest have burnt in the province so far, 70,000 on Wednesday and Thursday alone, said Forest Service spokesperson Gwen Eamer. The annual average up to to-day’s date is 90,000 hectares.

Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/toronto/Province+faces+worst+wildfire+years/3427135/story.html#ixzz0xV9z6vAD

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Updated August 18, 2010

52 Dead Seals “Corkscrew-Cut”
Have Washed Up in Scotland and England.   Report upcoming.
“The seals have all suffered terrible injuries,
but at the moment we have no idea what caused them.
It is not a natural occurring phenomenon and we would like
to hear from anyone who can come up with an explanation.”
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Update August 12, 2010 - Now New Jersey Has Massive Fish Kill.

Huge Fish Kills in Massachusetts and Mississippi.

“It looked like a foam coming in. It’s scary! We were swimming
in this since last week and it was wonderful. Nice and clean.”
- Christine Cummings, Highs Beach, Delaware Bay, New Jersey
“It’s really creepy. It’s a small island (Fairhaven, Mass.).
The whole beach is coated. It’s nasty.”

- Eric Borgeson, father of four, Fairhaven, MA

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August 7, 2010 - Ice Four Times Larger Than Manhattan
Breaks Off Greenland Glacier.

“The freshwater stored in this ice island could keep the Delaware
or Hudson rivers flowing for more than two years. It could also
keep all U.S. public tap water flowing for 120 days.”

- Andreas Muenchow, Ph.D., Ocean Science and Engineering, Univ. of Delaware
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‘Super-Extreme’ Weather Is the Worst on Record

Jakarta. Indonesia has been experiencing its most extreme weather conditions in recorded history, meteorologists warned on Wednesday as torrential rains continued to pound the capital.

All regions across the archipelago have been experiencing abnormal and often catastrophic weather, an official from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said.

“We have reached a super-extreme level of weather this year, the first time in our history, and this is much worse than what we experienced back in 1998, when the La Nina caused extreme weather in the country,” Edvin Aldrian warned.

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Fatal cloudburst devastates Himalayan desert town
15:12 17 August 2010 by Anil Ananthaswamy
Even as the world’s attention was focused on the floods in Pakistan, a rare and extreme cloudburst devastated the Himalayan town of Leh in Ladakh, India – normally one of the driest regions on Earth.

Heavy rainfall is common elsewhere in the Himalayas, but not in Ladakh. The region lies in the rain shadow of the high mountains, making it a cold, high-altitude desert. According to the Indian Meteorological Department, Ladakh receives an average of about 15 millimetres of rain during August.

But between 1.30 and 2 am on 6 August, a cloudburst hit Leh. It led to flash floods and mudslides, washing away houses that weren’t built to withstand such rainfall. More than 150 people have died and hundreds more are missing.

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Cracks in the System: Egg Recall Reveals FDA Flaws
The salmonella egg recall is one of the largest of its kind in recent history, according to the Food and Drug Administration, but is it also a sign of a broken regulatory system?

The recall, which now includes 380 million eggs, has spread to ten states.
According to some food safety experts, the answer is a resounding yes.

“Clearly it’s a broken system in need of new regulation. This mega-recall is a perfect example of a reaction to a problem, but what we need is preventive control,” says David Acheson, managing director of food safety at Leavitt Partners, a Utah-based consulting firm headed by former health and human services secretary Michael Leavitt.

Almost 2,000 reported illnesses stretching back to May are thought to be connected to this salmonella outbreak, and the nationwide recall surged to nearly 500 million eggs Friday after

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2010 Record Breaking Year for Tornadoes

GREENLEAF, Wis. (AP) — The National Weather Service says the recent thunderstorm that passed through northeastern Wisconsin included a brief tornado.

The weather service says the twister touched down Friday just south of Greenleaf in Brown County.

Meteorologist Scott Cultice tells the Green Bay Press-Gazette the tornado had winds up to 95 mph. It was categorized as weak on the intensity scale.

The storm began about 4:20 p.m. It destroyed a metal barn and other farm structures, and also snapped or uprooted numerous trees.

The tornado is the 39th reported this year across the state. That’s the third most since meteorologists began keeping records. There were 62 tornadoes reported in 2005, and 43 in 1980.

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Britain hit by torrential rain and gale force winds
Parts of Britain have been hit by torrential rain and gale force winds as forecasters warned of more downpours to come.
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From an email we received…
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This final example is from an Unemployed-Friends user identified as Faith1028.  Be warned that this one will shake you to your core if you have any sensitivity at all.  As you read this, keep in mind that this kind of thing is literally happening to millions of Americans these days….
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“HI, y’all! This is my story. I’m from Chicago.

I lost my job 11.06.09 – I did my best to remain positive & confident that I would get a job by the end of November.

December 2009 – Still no job. I’m getting food stamps (LINK card) & Unemployment Benefits. Not much money at all, but I’m surviving. Thanks to all this stress, my stomach has been burning and/or been painful daily for all December. I puked my guts out on the 26th.

January 2010 – My stomach is still hurting every day. I had to close out my savings account. I haven’t told my slumlord or my fellow tenants that I lost my job; I go on pretending I’m still going to work everyday. Unfortunately on the 26th, I got my eviction notice. I called the office to ask why. The response was “I don’t know.” I became hysterical. I’ve no job, no money, no family/friends to help. (I have many *relatives*, but no *family*.) I truly believed my only alternative was suicide. I wanted to say good-bye to my brother (my only sibling), but we haven’t spoken to each other for over 4 years; I no longer have his address/phone number. I found him on Facebook. I didn’t bring up my situation because I felt he wouldn’t care. We exchanged a few messages and that was it. I haven’t heard from him since. Good riddance.

February 2010 – Someone found a family that I can stay with for only $250/month! My own room! They turned out to be aquaintances of mine. Vegetarian, too! At least I have a place to stay. I’d rather live alone, but, hey, I’m desperate! ­ And I’m not too crazy about the bedbugs. OW!

June/July 2010 – Thanks to daily/nightly use of citrine crystals since 30 May, I have no more stomach problems!

Thanks to weekly use of a natural (green!) pesticide from PlusNaturalEnzymes.com, I no longer have a problem with bedbugs! However…

Mid-June, my Unemployment Benefits ran out. Of course, I’m still looking for a job! What am I supposed to do – put a gun to someone’s head and force them to hire me? As of this date, I have $12 left to my name; $0 in my chequeing account. I recently reapplied for and am now receiving food stamps. Before I got my food stamps back, I’ve eaten whatever (Vegetarian!) food I can get, even stuff I’m allergic to. As a result, I’ve become sick: cold-like symptoms, pain in lower intestines…and a rash over my arms, legs, & neck. Oh, does it itch! At least my food allergies are not life-threatening.

Needless to say, my depression has gotten worse.

I am really trying hard to remain positive ­ and alive.
But why? Is it really all worth it?

I haven’t paid July’s rent, and the people I’m staying with are getting very *impatient*; I fear I’ll be evicted again! The money is coming! It’s not my bloody fault!

Someone on Twitter sent me a link to this site. I know I’m not the only one suffering; some folks have already committed suicide. I don’t want to die, but I don’t want to be homeless, either. I am so bloody scared.

Just give me money that my tax dollars paid for!
–Or better yet: GIVE ME A BLASTED JOB!!”

The really sad thing is that there are countless other stories just like these being posted all over the Internet all the time.

People are hurting.

People are losing hope.

So how did we get here?

Well, it turns out that the “haves” have figured out that they really don’t need the “have nots” after all.  Incredible advances in technology have increasingly enabled employers to replace humans with machines and computers.  In addition, as we have detailed previously, millions upon millions of middle class American jobs are being shipped off to China and to dozens of third world nations where workers are more than happy to work for less than a tenth of what an American worker would make.

All of those jobs that have been lost to technology and that have been sent overseas are not going to come back.  The hordes of long-term unemployed that we are seeing now is just the beginning.  It is going to get a lot worse.

So the next time you hear a hard luck story from an unemployed American, don’t look down on that person.

You might be next.

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By TOM ALEX • talex@dmreg.com • August 24, 2010

www.desmoinesregister.com - Tues 24 Aug ‘10

Des Moines police are trying to determine what led to a series of attacks outside the Iowa State Fairgrounds over the weekend that included the assault of two police officers.

At least three people were arrested Friday through early Monday morning. Other arrests may occur as officers investigate the incidents, officials said.

There are indications that some of the fights - which appear to involve mostly teenagers and young adults - were racially motivated, police said.

“We don’t know if this was juveniles fighting or a group of kids singling out white citizens leaving the fairgrounds,” Sgt. Lori Lavorato said. “It’s all under investigation, but it’s very possible it has racial overtones.”

Officials announced last week that they were stepping up security outside the fairgrounds after a series of attacks Aug. 14 that included a pair of stabbings. Investigators are still investigating those assaults and victims intend to pursue charges.

Sgt. David Murillo stated in a report on Friday night, “On-duty officers at the fairgrounds advise there was a group of 30 to 40 individuals roaming the fairgrounds openly calling it ‘beat whitey night.’ ”

Jammie Carroll, 36, of Polk City, was seriously injured in the 3000 block of East Grand Avenue Friday night after a group of people beat him up, causing severe injuries to his eyes, cheekbones and nose, Murillo wrote. Carroll is white, and many of the suspects are black, police said.

State Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad, D-Des Moines, who has worked to fight gang-related violence, said he doesn’t have enough information to decide if the fights were racially motivated. He said police comments that race was involved could miss other factors, such as nonracial taunting.

“Unfortunately, like any other city, you have certain parts of town that individuals congregate in,” Abdul-Samad said. “You have those that go into that area with no problem, and those who cannot.”

He added, “We of course need to work on race relations. If anyone says we don’t, they are playing games with themselves.”

State Fair spokeswoman Lori Chappell said she had few details about the incidents. Police had increased security near the western edge of the fairgrounds specifically, she said.

The fair, which drew more than 960,000 visitors over 11 days, ended when the gates closed at 1 a.m. Monday.

About 10:30 p.m. Sunday, two police officers were attacked as they waded into a combative crowd outside the fairgrounds’ main gates at East 30th Street and Grand Avenue.

Sgt. Richard Schuett and reserve Officer Lynn Hubbs both complained of head, neck and back pain after being punched from behind while trying to make arrests.

“There were pockets of people fighting,” Schuett said. “People were leaving the fair and they were walking into the middle of them. We were trying to move people along but some of them wouldn’t move.”

A police report says Schuett “was on the ground fighting with his suspect, and several other females began to attack him.” Another officer grabbed one of the attackers and tried to make an arrest, but she spun away.

Officers sprayed chemical deterrent and deployed a stun gun while trying to gain control. Two teenage girls were taken into custody for questioning following that incident.

Also Sunday night and early Monday:

- Beth Longen, 25, of Des Moines was at the gas pumps at the QuikTrip store, East 30th Street and University Avenue, taking video of the crowd when she was assaulted about 11:20 p.m., police said. A 17-year-old girl allegedly slapped Longen and threatened her in front of police officers. The teen was one of several taken to police headquarters and later released to parents.

- Earl Tice, 17, of Des Moines was attacked near East 30th Street and Grand Avenue about 9:45 p.m. Sunday. He told officers he was jumped while leaving the fair. Tice was having X-rays taken at a hospital when police took a report from his mother. Officials said he had been kicked and punched.

- Officers arrested Daveion Trell Smith, 18, of Des Moines on a charge of disorderly conduct. Police said they observed him with a large group of people, yelling and gesturing and trying to start a fight with another group of people. He was warned and told to leave the area, police said.

- Kiera Agee, 18, of Des Moines was charged with disorderly conduct. Police said they told her several times to leave the area. She allegedly responded by swearing at police. She was arrested and was taken to jail.

- Ashley Robinson, 18, of Des Moines was charged with interference with official acts. Police said they were doing paperwork in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant near the fairgrounds when Robinson walked up demanding answers to questions. Police were holding several suspects there at the time. She was ordered to leave the area. When she refused, she was taken into custody.

Laurie Christensen, a resident of Walker Street near the fairgrounds, said she’s never seen such hostility around the fairgrounds.

Groups “have been openly taunting the police - in the street right to their faces,” she said. “We found some of them that ran from the police hiding in our backyard.”

Register staff writer Perry Beeman contributed to this article.

Patrick Henry…

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www.historyplace.com - Mon 23 Aug ‘10

The History Place - Great Speeches Collection

Following the Boston Tea Party, Dec. 16, 1773, in which American colonists dumped 342 containers of tea into the Boston harbor, the British Parliament enacted a series of Acts in response to the rebellion in Massachusetts.

In May of 1774, General Thomas Gage, commander of all British military forces in the colonies, arrived in Boston, followed by the arrival of four regiments of British troops.

The First Continental Congress met in the fall of 1774 in Philadelphia with 56 American delegates, representing every colony, except Georgia. On September 17th, the Congress declared its opposition to the repressive Acts of Parliament, saying they are “not to be obeyed,” and also promoted the formation of local militia units.

Thus economic and military tensions between the colonists and the British escalated. In February of 1775, a Provincial Congress was held in Massachusetts during which John Hancock and Joseph Warren began defensive preparations for a state of war. The British Parliament then declared Massachusetts to be in a state of rebellion.

On March 23rd, in Virginia, the largest colony in America, a meeting of the colony’s delegates was held in St. John’s church in Richmond. Resolutions were presented by Patrick Henry putting the colony of Virginia “into a posture of defense…embodying, arming, and disciplining such a number of men as may be sufficient for that purpose.” Before the vote was taken on his resolutions, Henry delivered the speech below, imploring the delegates to vote in favor.

He spoke without any notes in a voice that became louder and louder, climaxing with the now famous ending. Following his speech, the vote was taken in which his resolutions passed by a narrow margin, and thus Virginia joined in the American Revolution.

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Patrick Henry - Liberty or Death!

No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope that it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen, if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve.

This is no time for ceremony. The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty towards the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.

Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?

For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth — to know the worst and to provide for it. I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years, to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House?

Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with these warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation — the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motives for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies?

No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us; they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer on the subject? Nothing.

We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves longer.

Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament.

Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope.

If we wish to be free — if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending — if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained, we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!

They tell us, sir, that we are weak — unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot?

Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of the means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us.

The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable — and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come!

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, “Peace! Peace!” — but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!

Patrick Henry - March 23, 1775

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Blago Verdict: Guilty On 1 Of 24 Counts (Lying To FBI); November Fallout?

by Ken Rudin

www.npr.org - Mon 23 Aug ‘10

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), on trial on corruption charges, has been found guilty by a federal jury, but on just one of the 24 counts of which he was charged.

A Chicago jury said he was guilty of lying to the FBI.  But as for the 23 other counts, which included racketeering, conspiracy, mail fraud and an attempt to sell a vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder, the jury was deadlocked.

Federal Judge James Zagel said he would declare a mistrial on the 23 charges.  Prosecutors said they would retry the former governor on those charges “as quickly as possible.”

Blagojevich, a former Chicago congressman who was elected to the first of two terms as governor in 2002 — replacing Republican George Ryan, who himself went to prison on corruption charges — was impeached by the Illinois state legislature and removed from office in January 2009.  He was succeeded in office by Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, a fellow Democrat.

Democrats had feared that a long, drawn out trial extended into the fall would seriously hamper their efforts to retain Quinn and keep the Senate seat, held by Barack Obama until he was elected president and currently represented by Roland Burris, who was appointed by Blagojevich.  State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, who has his own ethics problems, is the Democratic candidate in November.

Today’s verdict spares the Democrats that distraction.  And, for today at least, it’s a victory of sorts for the ex-gov.  But if the government retries its case, as it pledges to do, then the specter of Blagojevich hanging over the Illinois elections — and hurting Democratic hopes in the process — may not have gone away.

Wealthy figures and celebrities dropping like flies…

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indyposted.com - Mon 23 Aug ‘10

Prominent NASCAR sponsor and Window World CEO, Todd Whitworth died Friday from an unknown cause, World Wide New Network is reporting.

Whitworth, 40, died unexpectedly at his home this morning.

Family and friends are now confused as to how Whitworth died since it came so suddenly. Because of his sudden death, WWNN is reporting that doctors are now holding off on finding the cause of death.

Blair Ingle, President of Window World, voiced sympathy about the sudden loss of Whitworth. Ingle is shocked by his surprising death.

Racer John Andretti said his heart is feeling heavy when he heard the sad news and that Whitworth wasn’t just a sponsor, he was a good friend of his. Whitworth was a great friend and is “deeply sadden by his sudden loss.” Whitworth and Andretti met a couple years ago and instantly became part of the Andretti family.

WWNN is reporting that two teams will run a memorial decal on all the cars at Daytona this weekend in honor of Whitworth. The drivers will also wear black bands on the sleeves of their uniforms.

Franklin Graham defending obama’s faith…

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Monday August 23, 2010
Categories: Best Of Beliefnet

blog.beliefnet.com - Mon 23 Aug ‘10

On the heels of a poll last week indicating that a growing number of Americans incorrectly believe President Obama is Muslim, evangelist the Rev. Franklin Graham commented on the confusion over the president’s faith.

“I think the president’s problem is that he was born a Muslim, his father was a Muslim,” Graham told CNN’s John King. “The seed of Islam is passed through the father like the seed of Judaism is passed through the mother. He was born a Muslim, his father gave him an Islamic name.” Full interview

Graham, who said he believes Obama is now a Christian, prayed earlier this year with the president alongside his father, renowned evangelist and presidential religious adviser Billy Graham.

But are comments like this planting the Obama-as-Muslim seed? The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life conducted the poll before the president spoke out about the proposed Islamic community center and mosque in lower Manhattan, which has become a national issue.

Does it matter what the president’s faith is? Share your thoughts on whether statements such as Graham’s suggest a religious litmus test.

Read more: http://blog.beliefnet.com/communitynews/2010/08/franklin-graham-obama-was-born.html#ixzz0xRJYwOcd

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Kenyan sentenced to 9 years in prison for trying to make deal with Tanzanian witchdoctors

www.msnbc.msn.com - Sun 22 Aug ‘10

DAR ES SALAAM — A Kenyan man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for trying to sell an albino man to witchdoctors in Tanzania, local media reported Thursday.

A magistrate’s court in northwest Tanzania sentenced 28-year old Nathan Mutei on Wednesday, after he pleaded guilty to charges of human trafficking and abduction with intention to sell an albino man, also Kenyan, for 400 million Tanzanian shillings ($263,000).

At least 53 albinos have been killed since 2007 in the east African nation and their body parts sold for use in witchcraft, especially in the remote northwest regions of Mwanza and Shinyanga, both gold-mining regions where superstition is rife.

The victims’ blood and body parts are used for potions. Witchdoctors tell their clients that the body parts will bring them luck in love, life and business.

There are around 170,000 albino people, who lack pigment in their skin, eyes and hair, living in Tanzania.

“For the offence of human trafficking, you will go prison for nine years, or pay a fine of 80 million shillings. For the second offence, you will go to prison for eight years,” Mwanza resident magistrate Angelous Rumisha was quoted as saying by the privately owned Mwananchi newspaper.

Mutei’s sentences will run simultaneously for each count, meaning that he will spend only nine years in a Tanzanian prison after he failed to pay the fine.

Mwananchi reported that Mutei was arrested on Aug. 16.

Elections

A Tanzanian albino group applauded the court’s judgment, but called for tougher punishment for offenders.

“We are happy with the quick conclusion of the trial, because these cases have been dragging on for too long,” Zihada Ali Msembo, secretary general of the Tanzania Albino Society, told Reuters.
Story: Albinos in East Africa fear for lives after killings

“However, we feel that nine years in jail is such a lenient sentence. This man should have been sentenced to life in prison because he knew very well that this poor albino he was trying to sell would have been butchered,” he said.

Tanzania is due to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in October. The Tanzania Albino Society fears there could be a new wave of killings in east Africa’s second largest economy ahead of the vote.

It is common for some politicians to visit witchdoctors during elections in belief that their powers will boost their chances of victory.

“There is talk around the country that the entire albino population could be wiped out by the time the general election is over. We don’t know whether or not to believe these stories, but albinos are now certainly living in fear,” Msembo said.

The killings have soiled Tanzania’s reputation for relative calm in the region and have been condemned by the United Nations and European Union.

In neighboring Burundi, at least 11 albino people have been killed since last year. So far 13 people have been convicted, including one who received a life sentence.