Newstablet Edition - 18/02/11 http://www.LibertyNewspost.

com

Boehner gets a taste of Republican budget-cutting zeal in

Congress
Thomas Ferraro (Front Row
Washington)
Submitted at 2/17/2011 4:09:29 PM
House Speaker John Boehner got
hit by the deep budget-slashing he
advocates as the top Republican
in Congress.
Many of Boehner’s fellow House
Republicans, including a number
of those backed by the anti-
establishment Tea Party, voted on
Wednesday to end a weapons
project backed by Boehner in his
home state of Ohio.
Boehner, who promised to bring
wide-open debate to the House
when he was elected its speaker
last month, tried to brush off the
setback.
“I am committed to the House
working it’s will, and it did
yesterday,” Boehner told his
weekly news conference on
Thursday.
“This is not about me. This is not
about my district,” he said.
“This ought to be about the U.S.
House speaking on the behalf of
all Americans, both Democrats
and Republicans,” he added.
The House voted to defund the
weapons project as part of its bid
to cut at least $61 billion from
U.S. spending this fiscal year and
trim the growing federal debt —
creating what they say will be a
healthier and more job-friendly
environment.
On a vote of 233-198, the House
agreed to deny $450 million for
the continued development of an
alternative engine for the F-35
Joint Strike Fighter.
Republicans were almost split on
the project, which is opposed by
the Pentagon and the White
House. Democrats voted nearly 2-
to-1 to kill it.
Loss of the project would cost
jobs in Ohio, at least in the short
term, something that Boehner has
said will be part of the price of
shrinking the government and the
U.S. debt.
Earlier this week, Boehner drew
fire in taking a hard line on
prospects of federal workforce
losses stemming from Republican
job, whether they are a federal
employee or not.
“But come on. We are broke.
We’ve got to make tough
decisions.
“The American people sent their
representatives here to
Washington to make tough
decisions on their behalf. We
know that we can’t continue to
borrow 40 cents for every dollar
the federal government spends.”
For more Reuters political news,
click here.
Photo credit: Reuters/Jay LaPrete
(Boehner in Ohio last month)
This entry passed through the
Full-Text RSS service — if this is
cuts. your content and you're reading it
“ S o b e i t , ” B o e h n e r s a i d , on someone else's site, please read
prompting complaints he was our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
callous. content-only/faq.php
Asked about the comments on Five Filters featured article:
Thursday, Boehner said: “Listen, I Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
don’t want anyone to lose their The Crosshairs.

Wis. police hunt Dem. leader, protests continue (AP)

(Yahoo! News: Most Popular) AP - The Wisconsin State Patrol the Capitol to delay the near- bargaining rights for public days.
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:49:01 AM was dispatched Friday to find a certain passage of a bill to end a workers, a measure that's attracted
Democratic state senator who fled h a l f - c e n t u r y o f c o l l e c t i v e thousands of protesters for four
2 Headline/ Newstablet Edition

Washington Extra – Royal news

Tabassum Zakaria (Front Row China’s next leader from an Deepwater Horizon rig that could
Washington) unpublished WikiLeaks batch of have prevented the missteps that
Submitted at 2/17/2011 5:57:25 PM diplomatic cables. led to the massive Gulf of Mexico
Here are our top stories from oil spill, but they were not
Calling Bahrain. Washington today… consulted, the White House oil
As is increasingly the case, the Cables show U.S. sizing up spill commission said. In an
United States is finding that China’s next leader expanded report on the causes of
talking pro-democracy is one What does the United States the drilling disaster, the
thing. Dealing with the aftermath make of Xi Jinping, the man commission released new details
of uprisings another. widely expected to take over from about the events that preceded the
U.S. officials have been on the Hu Jintao late next year and lead BP accident. The commission’s
t e l e p h o n e w i t h o f f i c i a l s i n China for the next five or 10 investigators said workers failed
Bahrain urging restraint after years? An unpublished WikiLeaks to ask a knowledgeable company
police attacked anti-government batch of U.S. diplomatic cables engineer who was visiting the rig
protesters. portrays the 57-year-old Xi as about unexpected results from a
The tiny Gulf kingdom that is untainted by corruption — he is critical negative pressure test on
home of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth referred to as “Mr. Clean” — and the rig.
Fleet becomes another U.S. ally in disdainful of China’s nouveau For more of this story by Ayesha
the Middle East seeing unrest riche and consumer culture. He is Rascoe, read here.
with protesters wanting their also depicted as an elitist who Geithner warns of market risk on
leaders gone. believes that the offspring of debt limit fight
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Maoist revolutionaries are the A delay in raising the $14.3
telephoned Bahrain’s Foreign rightful rulers of China. trillion statutory debt limit could
Minister Sheikh Khaled bin For more of this special report by make markets price in risks of a
Ahmed al-Khalifa. Defense Paul Eckert, read here. default and undermine economic
Secretary Robert Gates spoke by U.S. concern grows over Bahrain, recovery, Treasury Secretary
telephone with Crown Prince a key Gulf ally Timothy Geithner said. Congress
Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al- The United States urged has routinely raised the limit, but
Khalifa. Bahrain’s government to show Republicans have threatened not
Other royal news. President restraint amid deepening concern to unless Democrats agree to cut
Barack Obama and first lady over unrest in the country, home spending. “We cannot afford to let
Michelle Obama are going to visit to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet and the markets lose any confidence
the Queen of England in May. a strategic ally on oil supply lines that ultimately the Congress will
(They are not going to THE f r o m t h e G u l f . A s a n t i - act well in advance of any time
WEDDING which is in April, government protests rock the that we’re going to hit the limit,
they weren’t invited – gasp!) Middle East, the White House, because that would be
Remember all the commotion Secretary of State Hillary Clinton catastrophic, and cause grave
about Obama giving the British and the Pentagon all urged damage to the expansion
monarch an iPod during his visit Bahrain’s leaders to pull back telephone call with Bahrain’s those killed or prayer services. underway,” Geithner said.
to Buckingham Palace in 2009? a f t e r p o l i c e a t t a c k e d Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled For more of this story by Andrew For more of this story by David
Wondering whether it will be an d e m o n s t r a t o r s i n t h e G u l f bin Ahmed al-Khalifa and Quinn and Phil Stewart, read here. Lawder, read here.
iPad this time. kingdom’s worst violence in emphasized that violence should BP workers could have prevented Taxing offshore profit up for
Be sure to read Paul Eckert’s d e c a d e s . C l i n t o n s a i d s h e not occur on Friday, when many rig accident-report
special report on the U.S. view of expressed her “deep concern” in a in Bahrain may attend funerals of BP had workers on the doomed WASHINGTON page 3
Newstablet Edition
WASHINGTON
continued from page 2
debate-US aide
The debate over overhauling the
corporate tax system will have to
include whether to cut taxes on
profits earned abroad, a Treasury
Department official said. Michael
Mundaca, assistant secretary for
tax policy and a White House
point man on revamping the
corporate tax code, also said that
corporate tax reform could be
done before individual tax reform.
His comments are friendly to
corporate America, which
contends that it has been hobbled
internationally by being saddled
with the second-highest corporate
tax rate in the world.
For more of this story by Kim
Dixon, read here.
Dodd-Frank tensions headline
U.S. Senate hearing
Republicans escalated their push
to delay and defund the Dodd-
Frank Wall Street reforms as top
regulators warned the Senate
Banking Committee of a staff and
funding crunch. The chiefs of
major agencies that are writing
hundreds of rules told the panel
that they need more money to
carry out the law. For investors
and Wall Street, the Senate
hearing represented another act in
a long-running drama that
analysts expect will lead to few, if
any, changes in the Dodd-Frank
reforms due to political gridlock.
For more of this story by Sarah
N. Lynch and Christopher
Doering, read here.
Bank regulators see flaws in debit
fee crackdown
Banking regulators
acknowledged flaws in plans to
cut debit card processing fees,
adding to pressure on the Federal
Reserve to modify how it
implements part of the Dodd-
Frank financial law. Sheila Bair,
chairman of the FDIC, cited the
likelihood that lower debit
transaction fees would force
smaller banks to make up for lost
revenue with higher account fees
for customers. Fed Chairman Ben
Bernanke, also testifying to the
Senate Banking Committee, said
the exemption for small banks in
Dodd-Frank might not be
effective.
For more of this story by Dave
Clarke and Maria Aspan, read
here.
Consumer prices show inflation
turning up
U.S. core consumer prices rose at
the quickest pace in 15 months in
January, suggesting a long period
of slowing inflation had run its
course. Economists largely agreed
inflation had bottomed but they
said the turnaround in prices was
unlikely to be so swift as to
trouble policymakers at the
Federal Reserve, who are still
pumping money into the
economy.
For more of this story by Lucia
Mutikani, read here.
House to vote on debt idea,
healthcare funding
Conservative Republicans are
pushing a congressional
amendment to give the Treasury
Department the ability to avoid a
debt default if U.S. borrowing
authority runs out, highlighting
possible dire consequences of
political gridlock over
government spending. The plan
by first-term Republican
Representative David Schweikert
would require Treasury to keep
making debt payments if
Congress fails in the coming
months to raise the limit of the
amount the United States can
borrow.
For more of this story, read here.
US asks: How big an Afghan
army can we afford?
President Obama’s government is
unsure whether the U.S. can
afford a further buildup of Afghan
security forces, Defense Secretary
Robert Gates said. Speaking
before a Senate committee, Gates
pointed to the $12.8 billion called
for in Obama’s fiscal year 2012
budget to pay for training of
Afghan security forces and said
“you cannot do that indefinitely.”
“The issue is under discussion in
no small part because of the
question of sustainability. How
big an army can we afford?”
Gates asked.
For more of this story by Phil
Stewart and Susan Cornwell, read
here.
Chances of closing Guantanamo
jail very low -Gates
Defense Secretary Robert Gates
said prospects for closing the
Guantanamo Bay detention camp
were “very, very low” given
broad opposition in Congress.
President Obama has so far not
been able to meet his promise to
close Guantanamo, but the White
House said this week he remained
committed to doing so. The
facility has drawn international
condemnation for the treatment of
detainees.
For more of this story, read here.
Apple’s Jobs to attend Obama
meeting
Apple Chief Executive Steve
Jobs, who is on medical leave
from the company, will attend a
meeting in California with
President Obama, a source
familiar with the meeting said.
Facebook founder Mark
Zuckerberg and Google Chief
Executive Eric Schmidt will also
attend the meeting. Jobs, a
pancreatic cancer survivor,
stepped away from Apple on
medical leave last month. It was
the third time in seven years that
Jobs has taken leave for health-
related reasons.
For more of this story by Patricia
Zengerle and Gabriel
Madway,read here.
What we are blogging…
Who to blame for a U.S.
government shutdown?
Never mind that it hasn’t
happened yet. Lawmakers want to
make sure everyone knows who is
responsible if it does. If Congress
deadlocks over spending for the
rest of this fiscal year and forces a
shutdown of government services
when the money runs out on
March 4, who will be to blame?
Democrats and Republicans may
not agree on much, but they do
agree on one thing – if the
government shuts down it will be
the other party’s fault.
For Donna Smith’s full post,
click here.
From elsewhere…
U.S. China envoy to decide on
White House run soon
3
Jon Huntsman, the departing
ambassador to China, will likely
decide on a possible bid for the
2012 Republican presidential
nomination “in the next couple of
weeks,” his brother, head of
chemicals maker Huntsman Corp,
said. Huntsman, a popular former
governor of Utah, told President
Obama last month that he would
resign from his ambassadorship in
April. Speculation has swirled
that he would run for president.
“He’ll be announcing that soon,
one way or the other, I hope in the
next couple of weeks,” Peter
Huntsman said.
For more of this story, read here.
U.S. city to get RoboCop statue
with fan funding
From sci-fi cult film, to Twitter
phenomenon to Detroit landmark-
in-the-making. Plans for a statue
honoring RoboCop, the half-man,
half-machine crime fighter of the
1987 movie, are moving ahead
after a group of artists and
entrepreneurs in Detroit,
Michigan raised more than
$50,000 via Facebook and an
online fund-raising site.
For more of this story, read here.
For more stories from our
Washington correspondents visit
www.reuters.com and stay
informed.
Photo Credit: REUTERS/Hamad
I Mohammed (A Bahraini woman
holds a picture of Prime Minister
at pro-government rally in Riffa;
Cranes move at the Bahrain Pearl
Roundabout to clear the tents set
up by protesters in Manama)
WASHINGTON page 4
4 Headline/ Top News/ Food/
Who to blame for a U.S. government shutdown?
Donna Smith (Front Row
Washington)
Submitted at 2/17/2011 2:15:26 PM
Feb 17, 2011 15:15 EST
Never mind that it hasn’t
happened yet. Lawmakers want to
make sure everyone knows who is
responsible if it does.
If the U.S. Congress deadlocks
over spending for the rest of this
fiscal year and forces a shutdown
of government services when the
money runs out on March 4, who
will be to blame?
Democrats and Republicans may
not agree on much, but they do
agree on one thing – if the
government shuts down it will be
the other party’s fault.
The two sides have been going
back and forth on the possibility
of a government shut down for
weeks. House Speaker John
Boehner opened up a fresh round
of the blame game on Thursday.
“We have some Democrats here
on Capitol Hill threatening to shut
down the government rather than
to cut spending and to follow the
will of the American people,”
WASHINGTON
continued from page 3
This entry passed through the Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
Full-Text RSS service — if this is The Crosshairs.
your content and you're reading it
on someone else's site, please read
our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article:
Boehner said at a news
conference.
The government has been
running on a series of short-term
“continuing resolutions” that keep
spending mostly at last year’s
levels and Boehner said he would
not agree to another short-term
spending plan without spending
cuts.
Senate Democratic Leader Harry
“If Senator Reid is unwilling to
listen to the American people and
cut spending in a temporary
(continuing resolution), he will be
responsible for the government
shut-down he and Senator
(Charles) Schumer are rooting
for,” Steel said.
It’s never too early on Capitol
Hill to start pointing fingers.
Photo credits: REUTERS/Joshua
Roberts (House Speaker John
Boehner speaks to the
Conservative Political Action
Conference)
REUTERS/Jim Young (Senate
Majority Leader Harry Reid and
Senator charles Schumer)
This entry passed through the
Full-Text RSS service — if this is
R e i d q u i c k l y r e s p o n d e d t o your content and you're reading it
Boehner’s comments and put the on someone else's site, please read
ball back in the Republican court. our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
“I am disappointed that Speaker content-only/faq.php
Boehner doesn’t believe he has Five Filters featured article:
the votes to avoid a government Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
shutdown, unless his members get The Crosshairs.
their way on all of their
demands,” Reid said.
Boehner spokesman Michael
Steel returned the volley.
Republicans challenging unions
in state capitols (AP)
(Yahoo! News: Most Popular) are beginning to usher in a new
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:01:59 AM era of labor relations that could
result in the largest reduction of
AP - Republicans who swept into power in decades for public
power in state capitols this year employee unions.
with promises to cut spending and
bolster the business climate now
Newstablet Edition
Wis. police hunt
Dem. leader, protests
continue (AP)
(Yahoo! News: Most Viewed)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:49:01 AM
AP - The Wisconsin State Patrol
was dispatched Friday to find a
Democratic state senator who fled
the Capitol to delay the near-
certain passage of a bill to end a
half-century of collective
bargaining rights for public
workers, a measure that's attracted
thousands of protesters for four
days.
Bahrain security
forces fire tear gas
on protest (AP)
(Yahoo! News: Most Popular)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:43:44 AM
AP - Soldiers fired tear gas and
shot heavy weapons into the air as
thousands of protest marchers
defied a government ban Friday
and streamed toward the landmark
square that had been the symbolic
center of the uprising against the
Gulf nation's leaders.
The Best Fast Food
Breakfasts
(Cooking Light: Editor's Picks)
[ fivefilters.org: unable to retrieve
full-text content] Make healthy
choices on-the-go with these
better fast food options.
Newstablet Edition Top News/ 5

Middle East protests: live - Telegraph.co.uk

(Top Stories - Google News)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:37:12 AM

Latest
16.34 The UN human rights chief
Navi Pillay has condemned the
response of security forces against
protestors in the Middle East and
North Africa as "illegal and
excessively heavy-handed".
The nature and scope of the
human rights violations taking
place in several countries in the
region in response to those who
are largely demonstrating
peacefully for their fundamental
human rights and freedoms, is
alarming
16.27 Nic Robertson from CNN
tweets:
several blocks now separate
police from group of about a
hundred protesters.. uneasy calm
prevails.
A victim of the violence in
Bahrain
16.19 Witnesses on the ground
tweet that tanks are firing directly
on civilians:
They use direct shots to people
by tank and holykabters. We need
urgent and immediate
international interference by UN
force now because he got shot in his head. Islamists tried to set light to a unhurt. Contrast between Egypt, where
16.17 A witness in Manama And there are more than three street of brothels in Tunis but 15.50 There are still no people have revolted against govt,
speaks to al-Jazeera about today's injured. They will pass away in a were dispersed by police using confirmed reports of any dead and Bahrain and Libya, where
crack down: few hours because... they have got helicopters. from the shootings in Bahrain, but those govts still assert power
"[There were] only bullets. They shot... near their chest or near 15.58 Al-Jazeera recently emergency sources have reported violently.
didn't give us any [indication] so their heart." reported during a live broadcast up to four deaths while a number 15.46 Banker Redha Haji tweets
that we could just run away from 16.10 Hospital sources in Aden that a Telegraph reporter may of reports claim there are several from Bahrain:
them. They just started shooting have reported two further deaths have been wounded during the people in a critical condition with Hard to hold back tears. This is
us. Now there are more than 20 as a result of the Yemen protests. violence in Bahrain. We are gunshot wounds to the head. not real. Not happening. We hear
injured in the hospital. One guy, 16.07 Elsewhere, protests pleased to confirm this was 15.48 Evan Hill, Al Jazeera
he has already passed away continue across the Arab world. incorrect and Adrian Blomfield is English producer, tweets: MIDDLE page 6
6 Newstablet Edition
MIDDLE
continued from page 5
things like this happen in other
places not our home #bahrain
#lulu
15.42 Al Jazeera is reporting that
ambulances are unable to reach
the wounded at the scene of the
shooting in Manama, Bahrain. A
number of victims is badly in
need of treatment but the chaos is
preventing medics from reaching
them, the station reports.
15.41 Bahrain's crown prince has
promised dialogue once a state of
calm returns, the AFP reports.
15.34 Adrian Blomfield
summarises the events of the past
hour in Manama:
Security forces have won the day,
the protesters, who were entirely
peaceful, at least those I saw, have
been utterly routed and bloodied.
This was a third violent response
from the regime. Will it cow the
protesters into submission or
enrage them further?
15.33 Al-Jazeera reports a
"massive number of casualties"
from the bloody exchange in
Bahrain, many of them with
gunshots to the head.
15.29 A clarification on my 15.13
entry (now edited) - AP reported
five people had died in yesterday's
violence in Bahrain. The latest
report from Nic Robertson
indicates the death toll from
today's clashes could be as high as
four.
15.22 Nic Robertson of CNN
tweets:
#Bahrain: ambulance driver tells
us 4 dead in latest clashes near
Pearl Roundabout
15.19 Moving briefly to Yemen,
Reuters's latest report says the
explosion earlier killed one person
and wounded 28. More updates as
and when they reach me.
15.13 Hospital officials in
Manama have told the AP there
are at least 20 people injured,
some seriously.
15.07 Here's the latest from
Adrian Blomfield on the ground
in Manama:
Headlong panic amid repeated
bursts but I think this is tear gas
and stun grenades. Hundreds
fleeing now. Very strong tear gas,
Israeli stregth. Army fanning out
now.
And he's just sent another update:
They are certainly firing from
high rise buildings but though
there have been helicopters I saw
nothing shot. Police now on
streets not army - I couldn't see
them becuse of the tear gas.
15.06 At the hospital in Bahrain,
Nick Kristof tweets:
Patients pouring into ER, along w
tear gas . Chaos. Tr gas grenades
thudding in bckground
15.02 Al-Jazeera reports that the
continuing live gunfire is coming
from the army rather than the
police. There are no reported
deaths but the hospital is
"overwhelmed" with wounded
protesters, the vast majority of
whom have head wounds, a
source says.
In another worrying
development, some of the gunfire
has come not from the ground but
from a helicopter overhead, the
news channel reports.
14.59 Several reports on Twitter
are suggesting machine gun fire
has been heard at the Pearl
roundabout - it is not clear
whether this was fired into the air
or not.
14.53 Police in Manama have set
up strongholds in buildings and
are shooting at protesters outside
amid widespread panic, Adrian
Blomfield reports:
Security forces seem to have
taken up position in buildings and
are firing out. Sound and injuries
to one man I have seen consistent
with live fire.
An ambulance worker tells The
Telegraph he has seen 15 to 20
wounded, including one shot in
the head.
14.48 More updates from
Bahrain, where Associated Press
writer Hadeel Al-Shalchi tweets:
Protesters were carrying flowers
saying they wanted to deliver it to
police. Were shot instead. Blood
on street now #bahrain
14.42 In Bahrain the situation is
now critical as shots continue to
ring out. Adrian Blomfield writes:
" Please help us, they are killing
us", screams a young woman near
Pearl. Shots don't seem to have
beaten back the protesters though,
even though a number of people
have been wounded.
More shooting. "I can't believe
our own army are killing us",
screams one man as people duck
for cover.
Nick Kristof of the New York
Times has also tweeted a
worrying update from the clashes
at Salmaniyah hospital:
Police attacking protesters here at
hospital in #Bahrain. Tear gas
inside. Panic.
14.36 Back in Libya, it appears
the three deaths (see 14.28) have
resulted from a separate jailbreak
attempt to the one earlier in
Benghazi.
The AFP reports security forces
killed three convicts as they tried
to escape from El-Jedaida prison
near the capital Tripoli.
14.33 Breaking news of gunfire
in Manama, Bahrain, from Adrian
Blomfield:
Shooting coming from Pearl
roundabout. Not intensive but
ambulances rushing towards
scene
14.28 Three people have died in
an attempted jailbreak in Libya,
according to the AFP. Earlier it
was reported that several
prisoners had escaped from from
Al-Kuifiya prison in Benghazi,
1,000km east of Tripoli, after a
mutiny. It is not yet clear whether
the reported deaths resulted from
the same incident.
14.27 The grenade responsible
for two deaths in Yemen earlier
today was thrown by someone in
a speeding car that carried
government registration plates,
the AFP reports.
A local official said the two
people in the "government car"
have been identified, but would
not give details of their political
affiliation.
14.23 Adrian Blomfield has filed
a report from Bahrain where
protesters have reached the
Salmaniyah hospital:
Thousands of anti regime
protesters have converged on
Manama's Salmaniya hospital
chanting slogans calling for the
overthrow of the Prime Minister.
Speakers are telling them that the
Government prohibited
ambulances from rescuing the
injured for several hours at the
height of the violence. Pearl
roundabout itself is ringed by
troops, tanks and armoured
personnel carriers.
14.21 Germany's president,
Christian Wilff, has cancelled a
trip to Bahrain later this month
after the government's aggressive
response to protests in the
country, The Guardian reports.
His spokesman Olaf Glaeseker
said the president was insistant
that "freedom of assembly and
freedom of speech in Bahrain
must be fully guaranteed."
14.19 Hadeel Al-Shalchi,
Associated Press Middle East
Correspondent, tweets:
Thousands marching towards the
Salmaniyah hospital in #Bahrain
14.16 Egyptian demonstrators
may be celebrating today but the
country's manufacturers have cut
output and flights have been
cancelled in a sign of the effect
the continued strikes and protests
are having on the country.
The Egyptian central bank has
extended its shutdown while
factories have closed amid fears
strikes will spread.
The military-backed government
has slashed its forecast for
economic growth and the army
urged Egyptians on Monday not
to strike, appealing to their sense
of national duty.
14.02 More from Adrian
Blomfield, the Telegraph's Middle
MIDDLE page 7
Newstablet Edition
MIDDLE
continued from page 6
East Correspondent in Bahrain:
Earlier today thousands attended
the funerals of two of the dead in
the poor Shia village of Sitra. The
body of one of the dead, Ali
Ahmed al-Moumen, was covered
in lacerations to arms, legs and
torso.
People at the funeral vowed that
they would continue peaceful
protests despite the violence.
13.56 It's very hard to stack up
what is happening in Libya due to
the unreliability of official and
unofficial reports, but exile
groups who earlier claimed to
have taken control of the eastern
city of al Bayda now say
government militias are fighting
back.
The government forces have
swelled and are attacking to
retake the city, but the people are
fighting back with whatever
weapons they can find, the Swiss-
based Libyan Human Rights
Solidarity group told Reuters in
Geneva.
13.53 The picture in Yemen is
changing by the minute due to the
sheer volume of reports of clashes
in several cities. Here's the latest
summary from the Associated
Press:
Anti-government demonstrators
clashed with supporters of
Yemen's longtime ruler and riot
police, who fired tear gas and
shots in the air to disperse the
crowd on what organizers called a
"Friday of Rage" across the
country.
In the city of Taiz, what appeared
to be a hand grenade was thrown
at a group of protesters, seriously
wounding at least eight people in
the blast and stampede that
followed, witnesses said.[Other
reports indicate two have died -
see 13.50]
Riots also flared overnight in the
southern port of Aden with police
shooting to death one
demonstrator after cars and a local
government building were set
ablaze, officials said.
It was the eighth straight day of
protests in Yemen inspired by
uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia
13.50 Reports on the grenade
attack in Yemen are becoming
more and more severe. The death
toll has risen to two, according to
a medic who spoke to the AFP.
13.45 Adrian Blomfield, the
Telegraph's Middle East
Correspondent, reports from
Bahrain:
Things may be quieter in Bahrain
today, but the anger of the
protesters has only grown after
the deaths of three of their number
at Manama's Pearl Roundabout.
Opposition leaders I have spoken
to say that the army's decision to
open fire on unarmed people as
they slept constitutes a crime
against humanity and they hope to
take the matter to the International
Criminal Court.
13.41 The situation in Bahrain
and Libya is so worrying that
France has suspended exports of
security equipment to the
countries.
Foreign Ministry spokesman
Bernard Valero said:
"Authorisations for the export of
security equipment bound for
Bahrain and Libya were
suspended yesterday...[French
authorities] expect the authorities
in Bahrain to translate the
promises they have made into
action."
13.39 Elsewhere in Cairo, several
hundred protesters have been
holding a "sorry, president" rally
for the ousted Hosni Mubarak.
They chanted: "The people want
to honour the president" and
"Mubarak, we love you. We will
never forget you," just a few
kilometers from Tahrir Square
where hundreds of thousands
celebrated his departure.
13.36 While tragedy unfolds in
Yemen, the mood in Cairo is
altogether different. Here's the
scene in Tahrir Square:
13.34 The chaos in Yemen is
evidenced by the conflicting
reports coming out of the country.
On Twitter Jalal Aljazeeri, a
blogger, writes:
8 dead. 400 injured. 70 missing. I
think I've seen the devil
13.31 Heavy clashes in Aden in
southern Yemen have seen three
anti-government protesters killed
in gunfire, Al Jazeera reports,
with witnesses reporting that
police were firing shots in the air.
13.25...and now Reuters is
reporting that one person was
killed by the grenade (see 12.14),
according to witness reports.
13.23 A further update on the
hand grenade attack in Yemen-
the AFP and Al-Jazeera report
that as many as 25 people may
have been injured in the incident
in Taez earlier, a day after three
people were killed in the southern
city of Aden.
13.22 Meanwhile Wael Ghonim,
the Google executive who was
one of the most prominent voices
in Egypt's uprising, has reportedly
been banned from taking the stage
in Tahrir Square by security
guards.
The AFP reported that Ghonim
tried to take the stage, but was
held back by men who appeared
to be guarding the influential
Muslim cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi.
13.20 The chaos in Tripoli
continues as a local newspaper
editor tells Agence France Presse
that several prisoners have
escaped from Al-Kuifiya prison in
Benghazi, 1,000km east of
Tripoli, after a mutiny.
Ramadan Briki, the chief editor
of Quryna, said the escapees set
fire to the local prosecutor's
office, a bank and a police station.
13.07 This is the man at the
centre of the dispute in Bahrain:
pro-government protesters pray
behind a picture of the King
Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa during
Friday prayers
12.59 People across the Middle
East are recording their thoughts
on Twitter as change sweeps
across the region. Here's a small
selection:
angryarabiya: migran workers of
Bahrain , this gov is the reason we
and u are oppressed. Dont join the
pro-gov rally no matter how much
they pay u plz.
salehnass:(in Bahrain) there is
some good in all of this, even if
we don't see it yet. Maybe in a
few yrs.
mahagaber: The spirit in #tahrir
is undescribable!! Elation and
7
celebration! Chants of freedom &
pride! Hold your head up high
you're Egyptian! #jan25
12.56 Reuters has a fuller
account of that earlier attack in
Yemen in which eight people
were injured. A car reportedly
drove up to anti-government
protesters before a passenger
threw a grenade from the window.
A witness said:
The car got close to the square
and someone threw a bomb that
exploded in the middle of the
protesters, it was terrifying
Several Ambulances were
scrambled to Hurriya square,
where the attack happened as
10,000 protesters called for an end
to President Ali Abdullah Saleh's
three decade rule.
12.51 Back to Libya, and anti-
government protesters claim to
have taken control of the city of al
Bayda, in the east of the country,
after being joined by local police.
These reports have not been
independently verified.
Giumma el-Omami of the Libyan
Human Rights Solidarity group
told Reuters: "Al Bayda is in the
hands of the people...The city is
out of the control of the
(Muammar) Gaddafi regime."
12.46 Now violence has erupted
in Jordan, where eight people
were injured in clashes between
pro- and anti- government
protesters at a demonstration
calling for more freedoms and
lower food prices.
On the seventh straight day of
protests about 2,000 anti-
MIDDLE page 8
8 Newstablet Edition
MIDDLE
continued from page 7
establishment demonstrators
calling for reduced powers for the
king and the chance to elect
cabinet members were trailed by
about 200 government supporters
chanting: "Our blood and souls,
we sacrifice for you Abu Hussein"
in honour of King Abdullah II.
Tareq Kmeil, a student at the
protest, told the Associated Press:
"They beat us with batons, pipes
and hurled rocks at us. We tried to
defend ourself, to beat them back.
"Police didn't do anything to
protect us. Police forces just stood
on the side watching us getting
beaten."
12.39 Medical sources in Libya's
second city, Benghazi, have told
the Agence France Presse agency
that fourteen people died in
clashes between security forces
and anti-government protesters on
Thursday.
A further 16 were killed in Al-
Baida, according to Human
RIghts Watch.
12.36 CNN's International
Correspondent Mohammed
Jamjoom tweets from Sana'a
where violence appears to be
escalating:
Saw approx 100 progovt gang
members chase antigovt protesters
n Sana'a-many gang members
threw rocks, some wielded
daggers #yemen
12.33 Blogger Saad Abedine
tweets an astonishing aerial
photograph of Cairo's Tahrir
Square, where the crowds show
no sign of dispersing.
Cairo celebrating. There w the
Friday of rage, departure,
challenge n 2day, the Friday of
Victory. http://yfrog.com/h4q47tfj
12.29 Emile Hokayem, Mideast
analyst at the International
Institute for Strategic Studies,
tweets from Bahrain that clashes
have taken place near the hospital
in Manama:
Went to Karzakan. Quiet after
this morning funeral. Now back to
Manama. Hear some clashes by
salmaniyah hospital
12.14 Things are taking a turn for
the worse in Yemen, where
crowds of rival demonstrators
have gathered in three cities
including the capital, Sana'a.
Tens of thousands of protesters
have gathered in Hurriya
(Freedom) Square in Taiz, a city
120 miles south of Sana'a, many
chanting "Down with the dictator,
down with oppression".
Eight people have been injured in
the city after a hand grenade was
thrown at anti-government
protesters, according to Reuters.
12.07 Supporters of the
government in Iran have called
for the execution of opposition
leaders at Friday prayers in
Tehran after last week's
demonstrations.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, the
hardline cleric, said the opposition
leaders have lost their reputation
among people and are practically
"dead and executed," and
worshippers chanted for their
actual executions, the Associated
Press reported.
12.05 Meanwhile commentators
in the American media have
called for the US government to
put more pressure on Bahrain to
push through political reform.
America's Fifth Fleet, which
guards oil shipping lanes in the
Gulf, is based in the Bahrain
leading to concerns in the US
about the ongoing unrest.
The New York Times editorial
described the King of Bahrain as
"the latest autocrat to choose
brutality, rather than reform, to try
to silence his people's demands
for a more just government."
The Washington Post wrote:
"The brutality is unlikely to
restore stability to the Persian
Gulf nation, even in the short term
- and it poses a direct threat to
vital interests of the United States.
"Not only is the crackdown likely
to weaken rather than strengthen
an allied government, but the
United States cannot afford to
side with a regime that violently
represses the surging Arab
demand for greater political
freedom."
12.01 Here's a fuller version of
that ominous statement from
Libya's Revolutionary
Committees:
The response of the people and
the Revolutionary Forces to any
adventure by these small groups
will be sharp and violent.
The power of the people, the
Jamahiriya (government by the
masses), the Revolution and the
leader are all red lines, and
anyone who tries to cross or
approach them will be committing
suicide and playing with fire.
11.58 In Libya state television
has been broadcasting footage of
Col Gaddafi been cheered by
crowds at a raly in Tripoli on
Friday morning, the BBC reports.
Banners carry the slogans
"Gaddafi, father of the people"
and "the crowd supports the
revolution and its leader".
11.53 Abdulla Almannai, a
Bahrain-based journalist, tweets:
Demonstrators hve a table w/
what they claim r sound gren
&rubber bullets used on hospital
grounds http://yfrog.com/
h0bu1kbj
11.49 Martin Chulov, Iraq
correspondent for The Guardian,
tweets from Bahrain:
At pro-govt rally in Manama. (I
thought the army had banned
public gatherings) lots of flags,
pics of leaders. Thousands of
tooting cars.
11.40 The situation in Libya
could be turning worse. Libya's
Revolutionary Committees, a
pillar of Colonel Muammar
Gaddafi's regime has warned of a
"swift and violent" response to
"adventurers" demonstrating
against the establishment.
Protesters against the government
have taken control of several
cities in the east of the country but
at a cost of several lives,
opposition groups claim.
A video on YouTube shows
protesters in Tubruq tearing down
a monument representing
Gaddafi's green book, a summary
of his politics.
The independent Quryna
newspaper has also published
pictures that it claims show
protesters with gunshot wounds
being carried to hospital in a
trolley. These are reportedly from
yesterday, when the newspaper
says seven people were killed and
many more wounded during
protests in Benghazi. (Click the
British flag in the top right hand
corner of the website for a
translation).
11.29 In Libya the head of the
Arab League, Amr Moussa, has
denied the group was given a
formal request to reschedule a
summit planned for Iraq in March,
after claims from Libya that the
event would be postponed due to
the unrest in the region.
The meeting on March 29 is seen
as crucial for the reintegration of
Iraq into the Arab world.
Libya's official news agency Jana
reported that there had been a
decision to postpone the summit
because of "the circumstances in
the Arab region".
Asked if it had been delayed,
Moussa told Reuters: "I haven't
received any formal request."
11.25 Some more quotes from
Egyptian cleric Sheik Youssef el-
Qaradawi speaking earlier in
Tahrir Square:
The illegitimate can never defeat
the truth.
I congratulate the youth. They
knew that the revolution will win
in the end.
The revolution is not over, until
we have a new Egypt.
He also called for a new
government and the release of all
political prisoners.
11.22 Back to Cairo and an
activist in Tahrir Square has
posted a series of photographs
showing the huge numbers
praying in Tahrir Square:
MIDDLE page 9
Newstablet Edition
MIDDLE
continued from page 8
Endless sea of people praying
#tahrir http://yfrog.com/gy6e2sj
11.19 In Yemen the preacher at a
university mosque where
protesters were gathered spoke
out against the torture and beating
of protesters, claiming: "we have
been living for 30 years without
purpose or hope".
The crowds then marched
towards the presidential palace
chanting anti-government slogans,
despite attempts by riot police to
stop them, the Associated Press
reports.
11.09 In Tahrir Square al-
Qaradawi, the Sunni cleric who
led prayers, led "absent funeral"
prayers in honour of "all victims
slain under Mubarak's 30 year
rule", according to Al-Jazeera.
A few years ago he was refused a
visa to Britain with the foreign
office claiming "The UK will not
tolerate the presence of those who
seek to justify any act of terrorist
violence."
11.05 Meanwhile I'm getting
more pictures from Bahrain and
the funeral of Mahmoud Maki
Abu Taki, 22, who died during
clashes between Bahraini anti-
government protesters and riot
police.
11.04 Al Jazeera reports that
Tahrir Square is "more packed
than it has ever been" in the past
18 days as prayers draw to a
close. The crowds spill out well
into each of the side streets.
11.01 Nicholas Kristof, the New
York Times columnist, reports
that protesters in Bahrain are
planning a "huge march" in the
coming days to regain control of
the Pearl Roundabout in Manama:
Opposition leaders in #Bahrain
tell me they are planning a huge
march in next few days to retake
Pearl Roundabout.
That could lead to a major,
violent confrontation. And
opposition says the march could
be as early as tomorrow. Stay
tuned.
10.57 Bahrain's national
television station is broadcasting
footge of a pro-government rally
winding through the streets, but
CNN's Nic Robertson reports that
the funeral procession for those
killed on Thursday is still on the
march as well:
#Bahrain: funeral procession still
threading thru streets, for well
over an hour, two miles walk so
far, nearing graveyard now
#Bahrain: funeral, everyone
crying at graveyard, at least 1000
here, possibly 2000, singing
farewell
10.53 Sheikh Yousef al-
Qaradawi, an influential Sunni
cleric, has led prayers in Cairo's
Tahrir Square to loud cheers from
crowds. His sermon was expected
to focus on telling the faithful
about the importance of their role
in building a free and democratic
society, Reuters reports.
10.48 The Telegraph's video team
can bring you footage from
Bahrain and Libya:
Bahrain mourners denounce
country's rulers
Demonstrators burn bins in
Tripoli
10.44 An update from Libya,
where Reuters reports soldiers
have been deployed on the streets
of Benghazi after the deaths of up
to 24 protesters overnight.
Leader Muammar Gaddafi - who
designated yesterday a day of
protest - reportedly made a brief
appearance at Green Square in the
centre of Tripoli earlier, but did
not speak.
10.42 A Bahraini Shiite man
mourns over the body of a
relative, who was killed the day
before during violent police raid
on anti-regime protesters.
10.39 A video uploaded to
YouTube and broadcast on Al-
Jazeera earlier appears to show a
protester being shot in Libya.
Please note this clip contains
graphic and potentially distressing
images.
10.34 Breaking news from
Yemen, where Al-Jazeera reports
pro- and anti-government
protesters have clashed in Sana'a.
An ominous development after
calls for a "Friday of rage" in
Yemen from people writing on
social networking sites.
Earlier today there were reports
that a third demonstrator was
killed after crowds set fire to the
municipal building in the southern
city of Aden.
10.32...and Sally Sami, a human
rights campaigner in Cairo,
tweets:
"the muslim brotherhood is
dominating the #tahrir sq. I am
one of extremely few unveiled
women"
10.29 That image below (10.22)
may not be a universal picture in
Cairo, judging by Egyptian
blogger Mahmoud Salem's latest
tweet:
"I managed to pss through army
barricades without getting ided or
searched. Hmmm"
10.27 Friday prayers have begun
in Cairo, where tens of thousands
have poured into Tahrir Square.
10.25 More details are coming in
on those potentially inflammatory
comments earlier by Sheikh Issa
Qassem in Bahrain. The
influential cleric - who rarely
intervenes into day-to-day politic
- told his audience they "should
not be silent and should be in the
streets", according to a Shi'ite MP.
10.22 Women in Cairo pass
through a security checkpoint
trying to reach Tahrir Square for
prayer
10.18 CNN's Nic Robertson
tweets from the funeral in
Bahrain:
"placard on car carrying coffin:
Ecclestone are souls of our sons
the price for you(r) formula 1
does this increase your profits ?"
10.02 Staying with Bahrain, the
country's top Shi'ite cleric has
described the police attack which
killed five protesters as a
"massacre" and claimed the
government has shut the door to
dialogue.
His comments came at a mosque
in a Shi'ite village in the north
west of the country after
thousands gathered for prayers.
09.58 William Hague earlier
distanced Britain from the
situation in Bahrain, telling the
Today programme there was no
evidence the country was using
British-made products to crack
down on protesters:
We have no evidence that they
9
have been used...I'm not relaxed
about it - we have very strict
export licensing criteria in this
country.
We do not sell material to other
countries that are likely to used
for internal repression or to fuel
regional or international conflicts.
09.53 In Britain, the chairman of
a parliamentary group has
described Bahrain as a "maturing
democracy" where the king has
"total commitment to reform."
Conor Burns, chairman of the all-
party group for the kingdom of
Bahrain, said:
This is not the 'ripple' or 'domino
effect' seeking democracy
following on from events in Egypt
and Tunisia...Bahrain is a
maturing democracy.
There is no doubt about his
majesty's total commitment to
reform, religious tolerance,
openness and transparency.
09.45 Nicholas Kristof of the
New York Times tweets:
" If #Bahrain King Hamad took
the money he spends on PR firms
hassling me and spent it on his
people, he might be more
popular."
09.33 Demonstrations are also
taking place in Iraq, where 1,000
protesters have blocked a bridge
in Basra. This week at least five
people have died in violent
clashes in the country.
09.27 The situation in Cairo is
calmer, where the throngs have
gathered with smiles on their
faces to celebrate the departure of
Hosni Mubarak last week. A
MIDDLE page 14
10 Top News/ Newstablet Edition

Wis. union bill nears one vote, but not in Senate - msnbc.com
(Top Stories - Google News) threatened to lay off up to 6,000 projected state budget deficit. Friday. the protests by calling in sick,
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:40:01 AM state workers if the measure does Democrats who disappeared Neil Graupner, a 19-year-old forcing school districts —
not pass. Estimated savings$30 Thursday at first kept their technical college student from including the state's largest,
MADISON, Wis. — Republicans million by July 1 and $300 whereabouts secret, then started to Madison, said he was planning to Milwaukee Public Schools — to
were hoping Friday that state million over the next two years to emerge to give interviews and fan stay until the matter is settled. cancel classes.
troopers would be able to send a address a $3.6 billion budget the protests. "The fact that the Democrats have The Wisconsin Journal-Sentinel
message to Democrats boycotting s h o r t f a l l . B a c k g r o u n d T h e While the Senate was paralyzed, walked out, it shows they're reported that organized labor was
a vote on a bill that would end a proposal marks a dramatic shift the Assembly met on Friday. listening to us," he said late planning a national campaign to
h a l f - c e n t u r y o f c o l l e c t i v e for Wisconsin, which in 1959 was Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald, R- Thursday as he prepared to spend support the local activists.
bargaining rights for most public the first to pass a comprehensive Horicon, said he hoped the the night at the Capitol. National AFL-CIO president
workers in this state. collective bargaining law for Assembly would vote on the bill • Richard Trumka was expected to
State Senate Majority Leader public employees and was the later in the day. • Wis. union bill nears one vote, join a rally outside the Capitol at
Scott Fitzgerald said he asked birthplace of the national union But Assembly Democratic but not in Senate Updated 7 noon.
Gov. Scott Walker to send two representing all non-federal public Minority Leader Peter Barca minutes ago 2/18/2011 4:38:29 One sign taped to a statue outside
state troopers to the home of Mark employees. When voters last year shouted from the floor after his PM +00:00 Wisconsin the Capitol compared the
Miller, the top state Senate e l e c t e d G o v . W a l k e r , a n microphone was shut off that Republicans hope that state governor to former Egyptian
Democrat. He said he believes the outspoken conservative, along Democrats plan to fight to the troopers will send a message to leader Hosni Mubarak, who
troopers were en route. with GOP majorities in both "bitter end" to stop the bill. Democrats boycotting a vote on a stepped down last week after
• What's at stake in Wisconsin legislative chambers, it set the Opponents of the bill packed the bill to end the collective weeks of mass protests against his
What bill would do 1) Eliminate stage for a dramatic reversal of Assembly gallery as Democratic bargaining rights for most public three-decade rule. The sign read,
collective bargaining rights for the state's labor history. National lawmakers introduced protesters workers in this state. Full story "Impeach Scott Mubarak!"
most public workers. So while significance New Republican from their districts and thanked • Updated 20 minutes ago 2/18/ Despite the groundswell of
unions still could represent those governors and legislatures in other them for their efforts. The crowd 2011 4:25:42 PM +00:00 Judge in support, it seems Democrats are
workers, they would not be able states have proposed cutting back applauded and waved their hands Loughner case to mull release of merely delaying the inevitable —
to seek pay increases above those on public employee costs to silently. records Republicans say they have the
pegged to the Consumer Price reduce budget shortfalls, but Several hundred protesters were • Few states follow mental health votes to pass the bill — yet the
Index unless approved by a public Wisconsin's move appears to be in the building early in the gun law protesters are undeterred.
referendum. 2) Unions also could the earliest and most extensive. morning, with the ranks expected • NYC stabbing suspect due in "I always expect the worst, but at
not force employees to pay dues Source: Associated Press and to swell as the day progressed. Brooklyn court the least I figure this would lead
and would have to hold annual Reuters Many of them spent the night in • Drugs vanish from government to such larger strikes that it would
votes to stay organized. 3) Local the Capitol and another large rally forensic lab be a bad move for Republicans
police, firefighters and state The Wisconsin Constitution was planned around noon. and Scott Walker," Graupner said.
troopers would retain their prohibits police from arresting As many as 25,000 students, In an interview with Milwaukee
collective bargaining rights. 4) legislators while they're in teachers and prison guards have The protesters chants of "Kill the t e l e v i s i o n s t a t i o n W T M J ,
Public workers would have to pay session. Fitzgerald said he just turned out at the Capitol this week Bill!" and "Recall Walker Now!" P r e s i d e n t B a r a c k O b a m a
half the costs of their pensions wants to send a message to Miller to protest, standing shoulder-to- could be heard throughout the day compared Walker's bill to "an
and at least 12.6 percent of their — if he's even home — that he shoulder in the building's and long past dark. They beat on assault on unions."
h e a l t h c a r e c o v e r a g e . T h a t must bring his caucus back to hallways, sitting cross-legged drums and carry signs deriding Senate Republicans planned to
represents an average of 8 percent Madison. across the floor and making it Republican Gov. Scott Walker try for a vote again Friday. With
increase in state employees' share With Democrats saying they difficult to move from room to and his plan to end collective 19 seats, they hold a majority in
of pension and health care costs. won't return before Saturday, it room. Some have brought along bargaining for state, county and the 33-member chamber, but they
In exchange, public employees was unclear when the Senate sleeping bags and stayed through local workers, except for police, are one vote short of the number
were promised no furloughs or would be able to begin debating the night. Union organizers firefighters and the state patrol.
layoffs. Gov. Scott Walker has the measure meant to ease a expected yet more to gather Hundreds of teachers have joined WIS. page 15
Newstablet Edition Top News/ 11

DEMOCRATS: EMBOLDENING AMERICA'S ENEMIES

AND TERRIFYING HER ALLIES SINCE 1976 (Ann
Coulter)
(Yahoo! News: Most Viewed) developing them. lives in Egypt; Obama created a Ahmadinejad's election. Nicaragua and Minnesota.)
Submitted at 2/17/2011 5:00:00 PM By my calculations, that means pyramid scheme known as When it came to Iran, however, Democrats are all for meddling in
as of March 2008, Israel would ObamaCare. To win Obama's the flame of democracy didn't other countries -- but only
The Middle East is on fire again, have been gone and Saddam support, maybe Mubarak should burn so brightly in liberal hearts. provided a change of regime will
and crazy Muslims with funny would have been in total control have dropped the whole Even when the Iranian protester, harm U.S. national security
names aren't helping things -- of the Middle East. "president" thing and called Neda, was shot dead while interests.
Mahmoud, ElBaradei, al-Banna, Thanks, liberals! himself "czar." Obama seems to standing peacefully on a street in Time and again, Democrats'
Barack ... But they were shocked by like czars. Tehran, Obama responded by ... fecklessness has emboldened
The major new development is Mubarak. Liberals angrily cited Or he should have announced going out for an ice cream cone. America's enemies and terrified
that NOW liberals want to get rid the high unemployment rate in that Egypt was going to blow But a mob of Egyptians start its allies, which I believe was the
of a dictator in the Middle East! Egypt as a proof that Mubarak $500 billion on a high-speed decapitating mummies, and actual slogan of the State
Where were they when we were was a beast who must step down. bullet train nobody wanted. Obama was on the horn telling Department under Jimmy Carter:
taking out the guy with the rape Did they, by any chance, see the You know another country where Mubarak he had to leave. Obama "Emboldening America's enemies,
rooms? January employment numbers for Obama wasn't interested in didn't acknowledge Neda's and terrifying her allies, since
Remember? The one who had the United States? The only democracy? (I mean, besides the existence, but the moment 1976."
gassed his own people, invaded employment sectors showing any U.S. when it comes to health care Egyptians started rioting, Obama For 50 years, Democrats have
his neighbors and was desperately g r o w t h a t a l l a r e m e d i c a l reform?) That's right -- Iran. said, "We hear your voices." harbored traitors, lost wars, lost
s e e k i n g w e a p o n s o f m a s s marijuana cashiers, Hollywood Iran is ideal for democracy: It has He can hear their voices? He continents to communism,
d e s t r u c t i o n ? T h e g u y w h o sober-living coaches and "Spider- a young, highly educated, pro- couldn't hear the voices of the tea hobnobbed with the nation's
emerged from a spider hole M a n : T u r n O f f t h e D a r k " Western population, and happens partiers, and they were protesting enemies, attacked America's
looking like Charlie Sheen after a understudies filling in for maimed to be led by a messianic, on the streets of Washington, D.C. allies, and counseled retreat and
three-day bender? cast members. Holocaust-denying lunatic. But as long as Obama can hear surrender. Or as they call it,
Liberals couldn't have been less Are we one jobs report away Liberals say: Why upset that the voices of protesters in Cairo, "foreign policy."
interested in removing Saddam from liberals rioting in the street? apple cart? Much better to support why doesn't he ask them what As Joe McCarthy once said, if
Hussein and building a democracy Mubarak supported U.S. policy, tumult and riots against our allies they think about ObamaCare? liberals were merely stupid, the
in Iraq. So it's really adorable used his military to fight Muslim than our sworn enemies. Maybe the Egyptians can change laws of probability would dictate
seeing them get all choked up extremists and recognized Israel's When peaceful Iranian students his mind. that at least some of their
about democracy now. Say, as right to exist. Or as the left calls were protesting Mahmoud The fact that liberals support decisions would serve America's
long as liberals are all gung-ho it, three strikes and you're out. Ahmadinejad's stolen election in democracy in Egypt, but not in interests.
about getting rid of out-of-touch, Obama was so rough on the 2009, we didn't hear a peep out of Iraq or Iran, can mean only one This entry passed through the
overbearing dictators, how about Egyptian leader, the Saudis Obama. The students had good thing: Democracy in Egypt will Full-Text RSS service — if this is
we start with Janet Napolitano? reportedly had to ask him not to reason to believe the election had be bad for the United States and your content and you're reading it
Why did they want to keep humiliate Mubarak. (You know, been rigged. In some pro- its allies. (As long as we're on the on someone else's site, please read
Saddam Hussein in power again? like Chinese President Hu did to Ahmadinejad districts, turnout subject, liberals also opposed our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
Yes, that's right -- because he Obama.) In fact, Mubarak may be was more than 100 percent. democracy in Russia, East content-only/faq.php
didn't have stockpiles of weapons the only despot Obama didn't bow Wait, no, I'm sorry -- that was Al Germany, Czechoslovakia, Five Filters featured article:
of mass destruction. Their big to. Franken's election to the U.S. Yugoslavia and all the Soviet Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
argument was that Saddam was You'd think Mubarak and Obama Senate from Minnesota. But there satellite states, China, Vietnam, The Crosshairs.
five long years away from would be natural allies. Mubarak was also plenty of vote-stealing in North Korea, Cuba, Grenada,
12 Top News/ Newstablet Edition

Kinison friend says comic fathered child (AP)

(Yahoo! News: Most Viewed) accident in California in 1992, La "Sam and Carl lived a lifestyle court Thursday shows La Bove loss of Kinison, sent La Bove
Submitted at 2/17/2011 10:09:43 PM Bove is hoping that the release of that was pretty promiscuous," Bill has a zero percent probability of spiraling for several years, he
child support obligations will Kinison said. being her father. Additional tests said. He attempted suicide, and he
LOS ANGELES – A longtime allow him to drive himself to gigs He also acknowledged large done using samples from drank heavily.
friend of Sam Kinison said from now on. hurdles that La Bove will face in Kinison's two brothers, one of "Alcohol was the only way to get
T h u r s d a y t h a t h e r e c e n t l y Success is not guaranteed, said trying to get his name cleared, whom is now dead, show a 99.8 through my shows," he said.
obtained DNA testing that shows Michael McCormick, executive although he said he understood percent chance that she is related Bill Kinison said La Bove
the late comedian fathered a director of the American Coalition why he was doing it. to them. refused DNA testing at the time
daughter with his ex-wife and that for Fathers & Children, which is "I'd want to get that off me too," La Bove said he hopes that the and other measures recommended
he hopes the revelation will free aiding La Bove in his case. The he said. woman, who declined comment by the attorney.
him from years of unpaid child 52-year-old comic will have to McCormick said La Bove's fight Thursday, will one day be able to He also said his late brother died
support penalties. show that he was coerced into should be aided by a 2004 benefit from the late comic's a million dollars in debt and the
Comic Carl La Bove filed a signing the 1998 agreement. California appellate court ruling estate. It is controlled by Bill estate makes only modest
petition Thursday to try to In his court filings, he claims he that states the government should Kinison, who La Bove accused earnings now. "We barely keep it
invalidate a nearly 13-year-old was not fully informed of his correct mistakes in child support Thursday of forging estate solvent," Bill Kinison said. He
agreement requiring him to make r i g h t s b e f o r e s i g n i n g t h e actions and "minimize the harm planning documents and said a biopic on Sam Kinison has
payments for the girl, who is now agreement. In an interview, he and correct any injustice to that providing him with an attorney been contemplated for more than
21 years old. As of 2009, La Bove said that his divorce from his ex- person." who coerced him into signing a a decade, but he doesn't know if it
owed nearly $188,000 in back wife took six years and that his Despite all that, La Bove's 1998 agreement requiring him to will ever be made.
child support, according to a attorney never suggested he prospects for success are unclear, make child support payments. The paternity testing and the
statement filed with his petition. challenge the paternity of the McCormick said. "He's really in "His attorney had an interest in prospect of having the child
The debt has left La Bove child, even though his then-wife legal limbo." not representing him zealously," support debts erased have given
without a driver's license, a had told him that Kinison was the A hearing on La Bove's petition McCormick said. La Bove hope that he'll be healed
passport and shoddy credit, he girl's dad. is scheduled for March 29. Bill Kinison denied La Bove's completely.
said. Kinison's brother, Bill, took a La Bove said he has a good accusations. "There's no validity "The stage is the only place I have
But he said any animosity he felt D N A t e s t t h a t s h o w e d t h e relationship with the young to that," he said. my freedoms," he said.
toward Kinison for sleeping with likelihood that his famous brother woman who is likely Kinison's "Why would I get him an attorney This entry passed through the
his now ex-wife during Kinison's was the young woman's father. He daughter. He said it wasn't until period, if I was going to keep Full-Text RSS service — if this is
hard-charging heyday in the late said Thursday evening that while she showed up at one of his anything hidden?" he said, also your content and you're reading it
1980s is gone. he had never met her, there were performances three years ago that asking why he would take a DNA on someone else's site, please read
"I learned to forgive him for his indications that the brash comic he had an opportunity to try to set test years later. our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
actions," La Bove said outside a was her father. the record straight on who her La Bove said DNA testing was content-only/faq.php
d o w n t o w n L o s A n g e l e s "She looks like she'd be Sam's father was. never considered during his Five Filters featured article:
courthouse Thursday. daughter," Bill Kinison said. "She wants me to have my life divorce, even though for years he Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
A comedian who opened for He noted that his brother and La back," La Bove said. "She is my said he had been told that Kinison The Crosshairs.
Kinison for years and was with Bove both had lifestyles akin to best friend's daughter." was the girl's father, not him.
him when he died in a car rock stars during his lifetime. DNA testing submitted to the The revelation, along with the

Regulators probe Apple subscription plan: source (Reuters)

(Yahoo! News: Most Viewed) Reuters - Regulators have begun generated by the sale of online familiar with the plans.
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:16:47 AM an inquiry into Apple Inc's plans subscriptions through its App
to take a cut of the revenue Store, according to a person
Newstablet Edition Top News/ 13

Security Forces in Bahrain Fire on Mourners and Journalists -

New York Times
(Top Stories - Google News)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:12:13 AM

Hassan Ammar/Associated Press

Protesters fled during an assault
by Bahrain security forces in
Manama on Friday. More Photos
»
MANAMA, Bahrain —
Government forces opened fire on
hundreds of mourners marching
toward Pearl Square Friday,
sending people running away in
panic amid the boom of
concussion grenades. But even as
the people fled, at least one
helicopter sprayed fire on them
and a witness reported seeing
mourners crumpling to the
ground.
It was not immediately clear what
type of ammunition the forces
were firing, but some witnesses
reported live fire from automatic
weapons and the crowd was
screaming “live fire, live fire.” At
a nearby hospital, witnesses
reported seeing people with very
serious injuries and gaping
wounds, at least some of them wounded. The official quoted a crackdown by police. administration in the United States. But since Thursday
caused by rubber bullets that witness as saying that the shooters Minutes after the first shots were uncomfortable position of dealing morning, security forces have
appeared to have been fired at were from the military, not the fired, forces in a helicopter that with a strategic Arab ally locked shown little patience with the
close range. police, indicating a hardening of had been shooting at the crowds, in a showdown with its people. protesters, first firing on
Even as ambulances rushed to the government’s stance against opened fire at a Western reporter The protests in Bahrain started demonstrators sleeping in Pearl
rescue people, forces fired on those trying to stage a popular and videographer who were Monday, inspired by the Square early Thursday morning,
medics loading the wounded into revolt. filming a sequence on the latest overthrow of autocratic killing at least five, and then
their vehicles. The mourners who were trying to violence. governments in Egypt and shooting today at those who
A Western official said at least march on symbolic Pearl Square At least seven people had died in Tunisia. The Bahraini government gathered to mark an earlier death.
one person had died in the were mostly young men who had clampdowns before Friday’s initially cracked down hard, then The violence appeared to be
mayhem surrounding the square, been part of a funeral procession violence. backed off after at least two
and reports said at least 50 were for a protester killed in an earlier The chaos has left the Obama deaths and complaints from the SECURITY page 20
14 Top News/ Technology/
MIDDLE
continued from page 9
military band is playing patriotic
music to cheers from the crowd.
09.24 In Iran, worshippers and
regime-backers have gathered for
Friday prayers where they
demanded the execution of
opposition leaders who officials
claim are leading a rebellion
against the Islamic establishment.
Crowds chanted:"Death to
Mousavi! Death to Karroubi!
Mousavi, Karroubi should be
hanged!"
09.20 Fears of chaos in Libya
may be eased by reports that the
centre of Benghazi, the country's
second city. Ramadan Baraki,
editor of the independent Libyan
newspaper Quryna, tells the BBC:
"I was just in the centre of
Benghazi. It is very quiet right
now. There is only a small group
of about 100 protesters in front of
the court building right now. They
have just arrived. There are a lot
of security personnel on the
streets."
09.18 Jonathan Rugman, Channel
4's foreign affairs correspondent,
tweets:
'Father of Bahraini shot dead
yesterday: "King Hamad has
broken his contract with the
people and must leave. We need
your help, America."'
Islamists attack Tunis red light
district: police (AFP)
(Yahoo! News: Most Viewed)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:47:55 AM
AFP - Islamists tried Friday to set
light to a street of brothels in
09.10 In Egypt crowds are once
again gathering in the central
Tahrir Square, where sources on
Twitter report a group of men are
planting orange trees.
"A group of men are planting
Orange trees in the middle of
#Tahrir." - Sharif Kouddous,
journalist for Democracy Now!
09.05 The Telegraph's Con
Coughlin explains why Middle
Eastern leaders are so keen to halt
the protests while the west seeks
to fan the flames.
08:35 In Egypt, a nationwide
"Victory March" is expected,
which is intended to be both a
memorial to the 365 people who
died in Cairo and a reminder to
the military of the power of the
people. It will be interesting to see
how the authorities react.
08:02 The Bahrain Formula One
Grand Prix could be cancelled if
the political unrest does not ease
soon, Bernie Ecclestone, the head
of the sport, has said. It is due to
be the first of the new season on
March 11. Bahrain has been a
venue for F1 for six years and the
sport has done much to raise the
profile of the tiny nation.
We'll make a decision by
Tuesday or Wednesday. If things
stay as they are today, the answer
Tunis but were dispersed by
police and the military using (CNET News.com)
helicopters, a police official said.
is no."
Bernie Ecclestone, F1 chief
07:50 There are still contrasting
reports of the number of dead in
the Bahrain protests of
Wednesday night/Thursday
morning. Al Jazeera and Reuters,
for example, are saying four,
while other agencies, including
Agence France Presse, are saying
three. Last night, Channel 4 News
reported five.
07:41 The thorny question facing
Western politicians remains, as
commentators have noted,
whether it is better to have
stability in the region or
democracy. In Egypt, there are
still questions over whether the
success of the "freedom
revolution" could lead to the
Muslim Brotherhood
strengthening anti-Western
stances in the government. While
in Bahrain, there are concerns that
such liberal moves could end up
with stronger Iranian influence
among the rulers.
07:30 The BBC has just reported
that, in Libya, security forces
fired on protesters in Benghazi
last night and doctors counted 10
bodies. Further reports suggest 24
dead nationwide.
07:26- The Guardian has reported
GPS for kids who play hooky
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:19:40 AM
[ fivefilters.org: unable to retrieve
that British crowd control
weapons were used in the Bahrain
crackdown, including tear gas and
stun grenades.
07:23- In Bahrain, funerals are
underway for the dead of
yesterday's protests. There is
currently no sign of the security
forces in the immediate area,
according to local reports. Fingers
crossed they don't make
themselves known - I'm not sure it
would go down well.
07:16- Good morning. We're
going to be using this space to
keep abreast of developments in
the Middle East as they happen
today. If you didn't see our
collation from yesterday, you can
view it here. Previously
• Bahrain protests: live
• Egypt protests: live
This entry passed through the
Full-Text RSS service — if this is
your content and you're reading it
on someone else's site, please read
our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article:
Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
The Crosshairs.
full-text content] President
Obama names Intel's Paul Otellini
to his Council on Jobs, Motorola
moves up the launch for its Atrix
Newstablet Edition
Bones suggest
ancient Britons
used skulls as cups
Submitted at 2/18/2011 8:51:00 AM
Bones found in Gough's Cave in
Somerset suggest ice age Britons
used human skulls as drinking
cups, bowls and containers.
The three skulls belong to two
adults and one child, and have
been carbon-dated to around
14,700 years ago. This means
they come from the Cro-Magnon
people, who were very early
homo sapiens that roamed about
ancient Europe.
These people, who are thought to
have been very similar in
appearance to modern humans,
were sophisticated hunter-
gatherers, known to make tools
and create cave art. But despite
burying the dead with complex
rituals and graves, they apparently
had no qualms about sipping a
brew from a recently deceased
pal's braincase. Continue
reading...
4G smartphone, and a pilot
program will see if GPS can keep
students in school.
Newstablet Edition Business/ Technology/ 15
WIS.
continued from page 10

necessary to conduct business.
The GOP needs at least one
Democrat to be present before any
voting can take place. The
measure needs 17 votes to pass.
Speaking on CBS' "The Early
Show" on Friday morning,
Walker urged the Democrats to
return to Madison and face the
vote.
"The state senators who are hiding
out down in Illinois should show
up for work, have their say, have
their vote, add their amendments,
but in the end, we've got a $3.6
billion budget deficit we've got to
balance."
The Assembly also planned to be
in session Friday and could take
up the bill first if the Senate
remains in limbo.
Senate rules and the state
constitution say absent members
can be compelled to appear, but it
does not say how.
"We left the state so we were out
of the reach of the Wisconsin state
patrol, which has the authority to
round us up and bring us back to
the legislature," state Sen. Mark
Miller told ABC's "Good Morning
America" from an undisclosed
location Friday.
Sen. Tim Cullen said he and
other Democrats planned to stage
their boycott until Saturday to
give the public more time to speak
out against the bill.
"The plan is to try and slow this
down because it's an extreme
piece of legislation that's tearing
this state apart," said Sen. Jon
Erpenbach, who was with
Democratic senators in northern
Illinois on Thursday before they
dispersed.
Walker, who took office last
month, called the boycott a
"stunt." He vowed not to concede.
"It's more about theatrics than
anything else," Walker said.
Some Democrats elsewhere
applauded the developments as a
long-awaited sign that their party
was fighting back against the
Republican wave created by
November's midterm election.
"I am glad to see some
Democrats, for a change, with a
backbone. I'm really proud to hear
that they did that," said
Democratic state Sen. Judy Eason
-McIntyre of Oklahoma, another
state where Republicans won the
governorship in November and
also control both legislative
chambers.
First Thoughts: Upside down in
Wisconsin
Story: Stimulus turns two: What's
changed?
Thursday's events were
reminiscent of a 2003 dispute in
Texas, where Democrats twice
fled the state to prevent adoption
of a redistricting bill designed to
give Republicans more seats in
Congress. The bill passed a few
months later.
The proposal marks a dramatic
shift for Wisconsin, which passed
a comprehensive collective
bargaining law in 1959 and was
the birthplace of the national
union representing all non-federal
public employees.
In addition to eliminating
collective-bargaining rights, the
legislation also would make
public workers pay half the costs
of their pensions and at least 12.6
percent of their health care
coverage — increases Walker
calls "modest" compared with
those in the private sector.
Republican leaders said they
expected Wisconsin residents
would be pleased with the savings
the bill would achieve — $30
million by July 1 and $300
million over the next two years to
address a $3.6 billion budget
shortfall.
With 19 seats, Republicans hold
a majority in the 33-member
Senate, but they are one vote short
of the number necessary to
conduct business. So the GOP
needs at least one Democrat to be
present before any voting can take
place. Once the measure is
brought to the floor, it needs 17
votes to pass.
The Associated Press contributed
to this report.
This entry passed through the
Full-Text RSS service — if this is
your content and you're reading it
on someone else's site, please read
our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article:
Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
The Crosshairs.
'Horsey' makes
your bicycle
look like a horse
Submitted at 2/18/2011 9:02:00 AM
A Korean designer named Eungi
Kim has put together a frame for
bicycles that lets you pretend that
you're an equestrian. In Kim's
own words: "'horsey' is an
attachable bicycle ornament/
accessory which makes one's
bicycle look horsey!"
It's one of the shortlisted design
entries for Designboom's Seoul
Cycle Design Competition 2010,
which was organised in
collaboration with the Seoul
Design Foundation. Continue
reading...

JPMorgan: Upside and Downside Scenarios

Trefis (BloggingStocks) commercial banking, asset margins for its retail banking JPMorgan: Upside and Downside
Submitted at 2/18/2011 11:30:00 AM management, investment banking, business. However, a weak Scenarios originally appeared on
consumer lending and credit economic recovery has resulted in BloggingStocks on Fri, 18 Feb
Filed under: JPMorgan Chase cards. Its main competitors a decline in average interest 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see
(JPM) include Bank of America ( BAC), earning deposits and presents a our terms for use of feeds.
JPMorgan ( JPM) is one the Wells Fargo ( WFC), Goldman potential concern for the Permalink| Email this| Comments
largest and most diversified bank Sachs ( GS), Deutsche Bank ( multinational bank.
in the U.S., and offers services DB) and Morgan Stanley ( MS). decline in provisions for credit Continue reading JPMorgan:
s u c h a s r e t a i l b a n k i n g , JPMorgan has benefited from a losses that raised operating Upside and Downside Scenarios
16 Top News/ Technology/ Newstablet Edition

TV reporter speaks about speech problem at

Grammys (AP)
(Yahoo! News: Most Viewed) blurry. I knew something wasn't cheek went numb, my hand went migraines since a child but never
right, but I just thought I was numb, my right hand went numb suffered an episode like this
The Samwer Brothers
Submitted at 2/18/2011 8:35:12 AM
tired. So when I opened my and I started to cry. I was scared. I before, Charles said. Make A Killing After
LOS ANGELES – A TV reporter mouth, I thought, 'This is more didn't know what had gone on and Branson, a Los Angeles native Selling Facebook Stake
who lapsed into gibberish during than just being tired. Something is I was embarrassed and fearful. and two-time Emmy nominee,
a live shot outside the Grammys terribly wrong.' I wanted to say, "I was scared, nervous, confused, worked at the CBS affiliate in From 2008
said she was terrified when it 'Lady Antebellum swept the exhausted, and in an evening Sacramento before joining KCBS. Mike Butcher (TechCrunch)
happened and knew something Grammys.' And I could think of dress in the back of an Prior to that, she was a reporter Submitted at 2/18/2011 9:46:26 AM
was wrong as soon as she opened the words, but I could not get ambulance." and anchor at TV stations in Palm
her mouth. them coming out properly." She returned to the KCBS-TV Springs and Santa Barbara. The three Samwer brothers
KCBS-TV reporter Serene Branson, who was diagnosed newsroom on Thursday. A telephone message left with behind the highly successful
Branson's incoherence Sunday with migraine aura, said watching Most people with migraines don't KCBS was not immediately European Founders Fund in
fueled Internet speculation that herself in the clip is "troubling." have any warning. But about 20 to returned Thursday. Germany have sold their shares in
she suffered an on-air stroke. But Kerry Maller, a KCBS producer, 30 percent experience sensations ___ Facebook, according to a report in
doctors at the University of told "The Early Show," "You before or during a migraine CBS is a division of CBS Corp. the German press.
California, Los Angeles, where could see in the tape she's trying attack. ___ Marc, Oliver and Alexander
she went to get a brain scan and to talk." "A migraine is not just a Online: Samwer (who also own the
blood work done, ruled it out. Maller, who was on-location with headache. It's a complicated brain http://bit.ly/Smya German language Deutsche
Doctors said she suffered a type the veteran reporter, said, "After event," said UCLA neurologist This entry passed through the Startups tech news site) sold their
of migraine that can mimic the live shot, she dropped the Dr. Andrew Charles, who Full-Text RSS service — if this is shares because “we are at the
symptoms of a stroke. microphone and got very examined Branson. your content and you're reading it early stages” and their
Branson told CBS' "The Early w o b b l y . " The most common sensations on someone else's site, please read requirement for capital for their
Show" in an interview Friday that The station quickly cut away and include seeing flashes of light or our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/ existing investments has “roughly
she was terrified, scared and B r a n s o n w a s s w a r m e d b y zigzag patterns. In Branson's case, content-only/faq.php tripled”, according to Oliver
confused, and didn't know what photographers and her field she felt numbness on the right Five Filters featured article: Samwer.
was going on. producer. She was examined by side of her face that affected her Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In There appear to be no figures for
"I knew something wasn't right as paramedics and recovered at speech, Charles said. The Crosshairs. how much their stake was worth
soon as I opened my mouth," she home. "She was actually having the but we can confidently say they
said. "I hadn't been feeling well a Branson recalled, "They sat me headache while she was having have made their money back.
little bit before the live shot. I had down immediately. I dropped the these other symptoms," he said.
a headache, my vision was very microphone. Right after that, my Branson told doctors she has had

Christian World Adoption

noreply@blogger.com (Ad
ServeRSS) (AdServRSS Feed)
Christian World Adoption is one
of the largest international
adoption agencies in the United
States. Since 1991, Christian
World Adoption has placed
thousands of children from
Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and
Latin America. These children
now enjoy the love and security of
a forever family. Christian World
Adoption currently offers
adoption programs in Bulgaria,
China, Ethiopia, Guatemala,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia
and Ukraine. Explore our website
to learn more about international
adoption. Then, when you’re
ready, call our friendly adoption
counselor, toll free, at
1.888.97ADOPT.
Newstablet Edition Top News/ Technology/ 17

Egypt's New Military Rulers Launch Official Facebook Page,

Attract 75,000 Fans in 24 Hours
Neal Ungerleider (Fast the Egyptian military's role in Human rights activists note that
Company) safeguarding reform. the Egyptian military is still
Submitted at 2/18/2011 11:27:41 AM The most recent post on the committing physical and sexual
Facebook page received 4,500 abuse on prisoners and detainees
The Higher Council of the comments within 24 hours. User in custody. Egyptian activist
Egyptian Armed Forces have set comments show a wide range of groups still believe dozens of
up an Arabic-language Facebook responses that seem to indicate January 25 protesters, mostly
page and it's already a big hit. the uncertainty felt in post- belonging to Islamist groups, are
The new military rulers of Egypt revolution Egypt: Bassem Gamil: currently in custody.
have just launched an official us all proud and honored and The decision to launch the new
Facebook page. As of Friday cherished and love for this great Facebook page came on the heels
morning United States time, the army protector of the revolution, of a viral internet video campaign
page, titled (Supreme Council and protection of the shield and to revive Egyptian tourism.
of the Armed Forces), already had the guarantor of the corruption For Internet observers in the
more than 75,000 followers on trial, whatever its location and West, the most important
Facebook. state-building at the hands of the takeaway is the fact that the
The Egyptian junta's Facebook honorable Egyptian military turned to
page has extremely high traffic, Wafa Ahmed: God save our Facebook for dissemination of
w h i c h i s u n u s u a l f o r heroes of the Egyptian forces propaganda rather than the larger
governmental Facebook pages- Almshalp world champions and web. In fact, the official Egyptian
—a symbol of just how highly Charfaih O God, the greatest Armed Forces webpage seems
social networking sites are valued forces in God, I love you and all stuck in the late 1990s. For the
by the young Egyptians who the Egyptians of the state in order to preserve Marshal Hussein Tantawi, who Egyptian junta, the future is clear:
forced Hosni Mubarak out of Mohammed Abdallah Elwazeer: our economy In order to achieve has emerged as the junta's most If you want to reach the masses,
power. want a national project this must be a decision for each visible public face, the page was you stick with Facebook.
The Egyptian Armed Forces' Ahmed Nabil Elahmady: Peace point of a deterrent and will established in order to facilitate For more stories like this,
Facebook wall consists of two to all of you ....Long live our adhere to stop working and it is... “fruitful cooperation in the follow@fastcompany on Twitter.
posts, both photos of Arabic- beloved Egypt We must all User comments on the Facebook coming period with the Email Neal Ungerleider, the
language communiques affirming resume and resume work from page are, of course, written honourable sons of Egypt who author of this article, here.
t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f # j a n 2 5 now Disengagement should all sit primarily in Arabic. would lead to stability and
movement protesters and stating -ins in all sectors and institutions According to Egyptian Field security.”

British Sea Power plans Kinect-augmented webcast

Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:12:00 AM
Post-punk naturalists British Sea
Power will be commandeering
the Roundhouse in London at the
end of the month to record a
webcast enhanced by augmented
reality, provided by a hacked
Kinect sensor.
It's part of a series of online
broadcasts -- the Roundhouse
BlackBox series. There won't be
an audience at the Roundhouse
for the show -- instead, you'll
need to watch it online through
MySpace. It'll all be edited,
recorded and broadcast live, and
an archived version will be
available to stream following the
show. Continue reading...
18 Top News/ Technology/ Newstablet Edition

Social Network Tackable Turns Rubberneckers Into Mini

Media Moguls
Gregory Ferenstein (Fast monetization out later. When
Company) asked if they could take a cut of a
Submitted at 2/18/2011 11:00:01 AM freelance assignments, Luke
adamently opposed any freelance
Tackable is creating a location- payment system. The company
based social network that allows believes that paid freelancing
anyone to create reporting destroy users' innate enjoyment of
assignments and search for hyper- reporting. Economic
local news. psychologists describe this effect
In the near future, the power to as“crowding out,” when the
have an army of iReporters like introduction of money
CNN or TMZ will be open to inadvertenly eclipses
local newspapers, nonprofits, contributions that previously
political organizations, and even needed no incentive. Second,
corporations. Silicon Valley Luke believes that an incentive
startup, Tackable, allows any system will inevitably be gamed
organization to post hyper-local with bogus submissions. “Every
news assignments, which users single platform is hackable. If
can then search, by location, as there is some kind of money to be
eyewitness reports roll in. made, someone will find a way to
Though still in beta, Tackable hack it.” Tackable would sooner
imagines a social network where in China,” says Luke, “you pull interested in crowdsourcing their nation-wide efforts to not be distracted by a system they
users can follow a tailored set of the map over to Beijing and in, 15 eyewitness accounts of the Gulf- millions of politics junkies cannot control.
unfolding events in a Facebook- /20 seconds, what you’re seeing is spill aftermath. Media attention throughout the country. Tackable is currently seeking
like newsfeed. Co-founder, Luke photos taken from the streets of waned soon after the oil leak was There’s even future plans for use m o r e p a r t n e r s h i p s a n d h a s
Stangel, tells Fast Company that Beijing.” c a p e d . Y e t , a d e v a s t a t e d by brands. One could imagine ambitious plans for the future of
location “is the most logical way [youtube SJK3706_Tsc] c o m m u n i t y r e m a i n s , a s d o Bieber fanatics tracking their idol news. Certainly, with the industry
to organize live information.” The Harvard University’s Nieman thousands of frustrated citizens along his movie premier schedule, in a state of flux, anything is
current options, hoping that an Journalism Labs did a thorough who would eagerly share their or Red Hot Chili Pepper fans possible.
existing media outlet is covering review of the iphone app earlier (fascinating) stories. Additionally, v i e w i n g t h e b a n d ’ s c r a z y Follow Greg Ferenstein on
an event or trying to comb this week. So, Tackable shared political organizations, such as backstage antics as they tour. Twitter or email him.
through raw social network data s o m e o f t h e m o r e e x c i t i n g Obama’s Organizing for America, How will Tackable make money?
oneself, are still imperfect. possibilities with Fast Company. will “absolutely” be able to Like many intrepid entrepreneurs,
Instead, “if there’s an earthquake For instance, Greenpeace is exploit Tackable to broadcast Luke imagines they will figure

Donate to World Vision

noreply@blogger.com (Ad times by grant funds, and can
ServeRSS) (AdServRSS Feed) mean the difference between life
and death for hungry children.
Your gift to provide seeds, tools, and training will be multiplied 4
Newstablet Edition Top News/ Business/ 19

Telekinesis 2.0
David Zax (Fast Company)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:58:34 AM
A team of researchers in
Switzerland brings brain-
computer interfaces to the next
level--by making them less
exhausting. And a team in
Germany makes them scarier--by
showing that you can even use
them to drive a car.
Telekinesis is tough work. Brain-
computer interfaces are
increasingly becoming a reality,
enabling neuro-prosthetics, brain-
powered wheelchairs, and even
thought-controlled pinball
machines. The problem, though,
is that using brain-computer
interfaces (BCIs) can require an
exhausting level of concentration,
and are rarely able to be
effectively used for more than an
hour (which is okay for the
pinball dilettante, but hardly so
for the quadriplegic).
Now a research team at the Ecole
Polytechnique Federale de
Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland
is working to solve this problem,
by engineering BCIs that allow
users to rest their brains--and even
to multitask.
Typically, even simply telling a
brain-powered wheelchair to
"keep going straight" requires
intense focus. But the Lausanne
researchers, headed up by Jose del
R. Millan (whom we've written
about here before), have figured
out ways to ease the user's
cognitive burden. They've
developed a statistical analysis
program that helps the BCI read
the subject's mental intention.
When the subject really wants to
deliver a command, the computer
detects that. When the subject
actually wants to be thinking
about something else, the
computer detects that too. The
group demonstrated this approach
recently in Washington, DC,
showing how users could read
aloud while delivering commands
to the BCI.
In a video explaining the recent
advances, Millan says: "The next
step in improving mental control
over long periods time is to
integrate information about the
cognitive state of the subject."
[youtube The_oE_Ztm8]
He has his work cut out for him,
apparently, because it's not just
wheelchairs and tiny robots that
we'll be controlling with our
minds in the future. We also learn
today that computer scientists in
Germany have made it possible to
drive a car with your thoughts. "In
our test runs, a driver equipped
with EEG sensors was able to
control the car with no problem--
there was only a slight delay
between the envisaged
commands and the response of the
car," said Raúl Rojas, of the
AutoNOMOS project at Freie
Universität Berlin. A video,
below, helpfully cautions that you
should "never try this at home."
[youtube iDV_62QoHjY]
Follow Fast Company on Twitter.
[Photos: EFPL]

Whatever Happened To Deflation?

Dean Baker (Business Insider) inflation hawks would consider economy is suffering from a and -2.0 percent with a 2.0 current rise in commodity prices
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:46:32 AM acceptable. lower than desired inflation rate, percent inflation rate). If the was to be expected as the dollar
Still, it is worth noting that the which limits the effectiveness of inflation rate falls below zero (i.e. would drift lower as a result of the
The Bureau of Labor Statistics possibility of deflation seems to monetary policy. Given the we get deflation), this problem U.S. trade deficit and also demand
reported that consumer prices rose have disappeared from the scene. severity of the downturn we gets worse, but the drop in the in China and other fast growing
0.4 percent in January. On closer Since this possibility featured would like a large negative real inflation rate from 0.5 percent to - developing countries created
inspection this should not be any prominently in many discussions interest rate (e.g -0.6 percent) . 0.5 percent is no worse than the scarcity for many products.
big deal. Core inflation rose by of the economy in the period However, nominal interest rates drop from 1.5 percent to 0.5 Anyhow, given how fears of
just 0.2 percent in the month. The i m m e d i a t e l y f o l l o w i n g t h e cannot go below zero. percent. deflation had once featured so
main driver of the higher inflation financial crisis, it probably would This means that the real interest It was also predictable that there prominently in discussions of
was a big jump in energy prices. be worth some brief mention of its rate can't fall below the negative would not be persistent deflation economic policy it is worth some
However even with this jump the passing. of the inflation rate (e.g, with a in the United States. Wages are noting of their passing.
overall CPI is only up by 1.6 The issue of deflation has zero nominal interest rate, the real sticky downward, which made it Join the conversation about this
percent over the last year, a level consistently been misrepresented interest rate would be -1.0 percent unlikely that core prices would story »
that all but the most loony in economic reporting. The with a 1.0 percent inflation rate actually start falling. Also, the
20 Business/
SECURITY
continued from page 13
transforming the demands of the
protesters who early on were
calling for a switch from an
absolute monarchy to a
constitutional one. On Thursday,
the opposition withdrew from the
Parliament and demanded that the
government step down. And on
Friday, the mourners were
chanting slogans like “death to
Khalifa,” referring to King
Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa.
The protests here, while trying to
mimic those in Egypt and Tunisia,
add a dangerous new element:
religious division. The king and
the ruling elite of Bahrain are
Sunni, while the majority of the
population are Shiites, who have
been leading the demonstrations
and demanding not only more
freedom but equality.
The king is distrustful enough of
his Shiite subjects that many of
his soldiers and police are
foreigners hired by the
government.
On Friday, in the village of Sitra,
south of Manama, a crowd of
thousands accompanied the
coffins of Ali Mansour Ahmed
Khudair, 53, and Mahmoud
Makki Abutaki, 22, both killed by
shotgun fire on Thursday.
The coffins were carried on the
roofs of two cars as a man with a
loudspeaker led the crowd in its
chants from the bed of a pickup
truck, alternating between calls to
the faithful — “There is no God
but God” — with political
messages such as “We need
constitutional reform for
freedom.”
In the sun-scorched, sandy
cemetery with its crumbling white
headstones, the bodies were laid
to rest on their sides so that they
faced the Muslim holy city of
Mecca in Saudi Arabia. “Have
you seen what they have done to
us,” said Aayat Mandeel, 29, a
computer technician. “Killing
people for what? To keep their
positions?”
After the burials, the crowds
moved off to a major mosque for
noon prayers on the Muslim holy
day, an occasion that has provided
a focus for protests elsewhere in
the region. But it was not clear
whether religious leaders would
urge them to continue their
demonstrations.
Nadim Audi contributed
reporting from Manama, Robert
F. Worth from Washington, and
Alan Cowell from Paris.
This entry passed through the
Full-Text RSS service — if this is
your content and you're reading it
on someone else's site, please read
our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article:
Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
The Crosshairs.
Newstablet Edition
Analyst Calls: BRCD, CREE,
DUK, HRL, MOLX, RTN,
SPWRA, VCLK, WTW ...
Eric Buscemi (BloggingStocks) from sell at Duncan-Williams.
Submitted at 2/18/2011 11:00:00 AM • Alnylam ( ALNY) to buy from
neutral at Roth Capital.
Filed under: Analyst Reports, • Weight Watchers ( WTW) to
A n a l y s t U p g r a d e s a n d equal weight from underweight at
Downgrades, Analyst Initiations Morgan Stanley.
Analyst Upgrades • Raytheon ( RTN) and Toreador
• Air Products ( APD) to buy Resources ( TRGL) to outperform
from hold at Deutsche Bank. from sector perform at RBC
• Zimmer ( ZMH) to outperform Capital.
from neutral at RW Baird.
• SunPower ( SPWRA) to buy Continue reading Analyst Calls:
from hold at Jefferies. BRCD, CREE, DUK, HRL,
• Brocade ( BRCD) to buy from MOLX, RTN, SPWRA, VCLK,
h o l d a t W u n d e r l i c h a n d a t WTW ...
ThinkEquity. Analyst Calls: BRCD, CREE,
• Duke Energy ( DUK) to neutral D U K , H R L , M O L X , R T N ,
from underperform at BofA/ S P W R A , V C L K , W T W . . .
Merrill. originally appeared on
• NewStar Financial ( NEWS) to BloggingStocks on Fri, 18 Feb
outperform from market perform 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see
at Keefe Bruyette. our terms for use of feeds.
• Hormel Foods ( HRL) to hold Permalink| Email this| Comments
from sell at Soleil.
• Inspire Pharma ( ISPH) to hold

Cotton Closes Above $2 per Pound as Market Remains in

Chaos
Connie Madon on the ICE exchange closed at of the three months, the longs take Chaos originally appeared on
(BloggingStocks) $2.1102 per pound, up the 7 cent delivery from the shorts who BloggingStocks on Fri, 18 Feb
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:30:00 AM daily limit, the Financial Times deliver their cotton, and zero 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see
reported. The market opened limit contracts are left. our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Major Movement, up at $2.1102. That means that Continue reading Cotton Closes Permalink| Email this| Comments
I n d u s t r y , M a r k e t M a t t e r s , you cannot buy cotton even if you Above $2 per Pound as Market
C o m m o d i t i e s , A g r i c u l t u r e wanted to. The market is frozen. Remains in Chaos
The cotton market is in a state of Commodities are much different zero sum game. Contracts usually Cotton Closes Above $2 per
chaos. On Friday, March cotton from stocks. Commodities are a last for three months. At the end Pound as Market Remains in
Newstablet Edition Business/ 21

CFTC – SEC Joint Commission Report Part Deux

Joe Saluzzi & Sal Arnuk imposed by high levels of order the effects. b. Enact rules that provide greater short as ten minutes
(Business Insider) cancellations, including perhaps WOW. Look into obligations for certainty as to which trades will ii. allowing the halt to be
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:43:21 AM requiring a uniform fee across all internalizers too? While we don’t be broken when there are multi triggered as late as 3:30 pm and
Exchange markets that is assessed hold particularly valuable any of stock aberrant price movements, iii. using the S&P 500 Index as
Summary of the Joint CFTC/ based on the average of order these affirmative obligation rules, and the triggering mechanism.
SEC Recommendations cancellations to actual it is nice to see that they are c. Implement minimum quoting This makes immense sense. IT is
R e g a r d i n g R e g u l a t o r y transactions effected by a market acknowledging how damaging the requirements by primary and not a Dow world, after all, and
Response to the Market Events of participant. internalizer model has been. supplemental market makers that more importantly it is easier to
May 6th, 2010 This is a win that they are They also feel at a minimum that effectively eliminate the ability of coordinate the many S&P 500
The report is out. Click here to recommending ANY type of internalizers should price improve market makers to employ “stub related instruments.
read the 14 page report. The Joint cancellation fee. However we by 50 mils. This is an quotes” 6. The Committee supports the
CFTC/SEC committee makes 14 note that when you read the accommodation for crossing pools 2. The Committee recommends SEC’s “naked access” rulemaking
recommendations which they wording carefully, it will not be a that tend to trade larger blocks, that the Commissions require that and urges the SEC to work closely
intend to focus on to ensure the recommendation for a fee on all and when they trade sub-penny, the pause rules of the Exchanges with FINRA and other Exchanges
integrity of our connected market cancellations; rather it will be a they trade in the middle of the and FINRA be expanded to cover with examination responsibilities
place. We would like to highlight recommendation for a fee on spreads (half a penny). THIS IS all but the most inactively traded to develop effective testing of
the 3 recommendations that we cancellations that exceed a firms HUGE. listed equity securities, ETFs, and sponsoring broker-dealer risk
think are “news” today, and that “normal pattern”. Lots of wiggle 12. The Committee recommends options and single stock futures management controls and
we have particularly expressed room here folks. that the SEC study the costs and on those securities. supervisory procedures.
concern about over recent years: 11. The Committee recommends benefits of alternative routing 3. The Committee recommends 7. The Committee recommends
Recommendations 10, 11, and 12, that the SEC conduct further requirements. In particular, we that the SEC work with the that the CFTC use its rulemaking
which deal with order cancellation analysis regarding the impact of a recommend that the SEC consider Exchanges and FINRA to authority to impose strict
fees, internalization, and trade-at b r o k e r - d e a l e r m a i n t a i n i n g adopting a “trade at” routing implement a “limit up/limit supervisory requirements on
rules. privileged execution access as a regime. The Committee further down” process to supplement the DCMs or FCMs that employ or
Missing in the report, however, is r e s u l t o f i n t e r n a l i z i n g i t s recommends analysis of the existing Pause rules and that the sponsor firms implementing
any discussion of proprietary customer’s orders or through current “top of book” protection Commissions clarify whether algorithmic order routing
e x c h a n g e d a t a f e e d s , t h e preferencing arrangements. The protocol and the costs and securities options exchanges and strategies and that the CFTC and
proliferation of exchanges, or S E C ’ s r e v i e w s h o u l d , a t a benefits of its replacement with single stock futures exchanges the SEC carefully review the
minimum order life. Also, this minimum, consider whether to (i) greater protection to limit orders should continue to trade during benefits and costs of directly
report is a stark contrast to the adopt its rule proposal requiring placed off the current quote or any equity limit up/down periods. restricting “disruptive trading
September 30th report, which that internalized or preferenced increased disclosure of relative 4. The Committee recommends activities “with respect to
focused more extensively on an orders only be executed at a price liquidity in each book. that the CFTC and the relevant extremely large orders or
algorithm trading eMini futures materially superior ( e.g., 50 mils They want to look into protecting derivative exchanges evaluate strategies.
from a large money manager. The for most securities) to the quoted Depth Of Book! This is big also. whether a second tier of pre-trade Algo providers may have an
HFT community, at that time, best bid or offer, and/or (ii) Their other points, which were risk safeguards with longer obligation to develop procedures,
focused on that aspect of the r e q u i r e f i r m s i n t e r n a l i z i n g widely expected, follow: timeframes should be instituted and have responsibility for, the
report extensively. This report is customer order flow or executing 1. The Committee concurs with when the “five second limit” does actions of their clients, and how
an improvement, as it does begin preferenced order flow to be the steps the SEC (working with not attract contra-side liquidity. those clients interact with the algo
t o e x a m i n e s t r u c t u r a l subject to market maker the Exchanges and FINRA) has 5. The Committee recommends technology.
inefficiencies and risks in our obligations that requires them to taken to that The Commissions evaluate 8. The Committee recommends
current market structure. execute some material portion of a. Create single stock pauses/ the present system-wide circuit that the SEC evaluate the
10. The Committee recommends their order flow during volatile circuit breakers for the Russell breakers and consider: potential benefits which might be
that the SEC and CFTC explore market periods. 1000 stocks and actively traded i. reducing, at least, the initial
ways to fairly allocate the costs A related concern has to do with ETFs1 trading halt to a period of time as CFTC page 22
22 Business/ Newstablet Edition

Wall Street Man: I Put Some BS About Yoga On My Resume

And I Got A Job In Private Equity
Katya Wachtel (Business decided to include that he was an private golf club three times a
Insider) advanced yoga-doer on his week with his work peers, get
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:44:00 AM resume when he was trying to find really hammered, have four or
a job. Apparently it always got a five martinis. Now he’s going
Apparently everything about positive response. home or going to work out.”
business is getting healthier. From the NYP, “An executive might use golf as
Remember how the new 3 “I put advanced yoga practitioner an icebreaker with a potential or
martini-lunch is the power- . . . just some bulls - - t at the existing client... but yoga makes
breakfast? bottom of the resume. All these more sense for an executive
Well bonding with your own boss guys were like, ‘Oh, I do yoga, seeking to take a pre-existing
now has a healthy twist too. come here, let me show you my relationship to the next level,”
According to the New York Post, yoga mat in the office,’" he said. explains Hedin.
more corporate youngsters are “I think it automatically marks Of course not all Wall Street
using yoga to climb the corporate you as slightly alternative, chieftans will have converted to
ladder. creative and modern...” yoga yet. If you're trying to get a
According to the NYP, Now he practices yoga with his job with Dan Loeb for example,
Corporate consultant Amy Hedin boss on the Upper East side each definitely put "avid surfer" on
has noticed that more of her week. your CV. Steve Cohen? Yep, he's
clients are using yoga to boost We're not sure if yoga could ever a golf man ( although he won't say
their careers, partly because replace the sport of choice for you're actually taking a swing -- voicing your opinions on shorting no to a tennis star).
they’ve realized that connecting financial high-fliers: a game of for business chat. A p p l e m i d - c l a s s , y o u ' d b e Don't miss if each bank were a
over cocktails and beer can do golf. But yoga is less time consuming silenced, if not removed. sports team... >
more harm than good. Especially because the beauty of and a lot more convenient. But apparently for some it's a Join the conversation about this
And there's a Wall Streeter that golf is that it's a talking sport; However, it's also introspective great way to earn brownie points. story »
can testify to this. His name is Jay there's plenty of time en route to and often quiet (apart from the Here's one example of a convert:
Solomon. the next hole, or the next green -- instructor and lots of loud “I have one client in particular
Soloman, who's in private equity, in fact, any time other than when breathing). In fact, if you began who said he would go to this one
CFTC
continued from page 21

gained by changes in maker/taker
pricing practices, including
building in incentives for the
Exchanges to provide for “peak
load” pricing models.
Extra Rebates! Extra Fees! They
will explore “what if” rebates
were greater during times of
stress, and “what if” it were more
expensive to hit bids.
9. The Committee recommends
that the SEC evaluate whether
incentives or regulations can be
developed to encourage persons
who engage in market making
strategies to regularly provide buy
and sell quotations that are
“reasonably related to the
market.”
Will any mandated obligation
outweight potential huge losses?
Reasonably related to the market?
How do they deal with a quote
that can be cancelled before you
hit it? Will firms like Getco have
a huge advantage since their
technology is the fastest (and their
colo the best)?
13. The Committee recommends
that the Commissions consider
reporting requirements for
measures of liquidity and market
imbalance for large market
venues. Join the conversation about this
14. The Committee recommends story »
that the SEC proceed with a sense
of urgency, and a focus on
meaningful cost/benefit analysis,
to implement a consolidated audit
trail for the US equity markets
and that the CFTC similarly
enhance its existing data
collection regarding orders and
executions.
Newstablet Edition News Wire/ 23

URGENT: Wisconsin GOP Asks Gov To Use Police to

Summon Top Dem
(FOXNews.com) unions by pressing the cost-saving including prisons, running. tough for unions and public sector to work today and the millions of
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:29:53 AM legislation. Republicans who swept into employees." taxpayers they represent."
"I think we're focused on power in state capitols this year In Wisconsin, new Gov. Walker The confrontation comes as
The top Republican in the balancing our budget. It would be with promises to cut spending and is going for it all -- the organized labor is reeling from a
Wisconsin state Senate has asked wise for the president and others bolster the business climate now elimination of collective steady loss of members in the
Gov. Scott Walker to send state in Washington to focus on are beginning to usher in a new bargaining rights for public private sector. The public sector,
troopers after Democratic leader balancing their budget, which era of labor relations that could employees plus sharp increases in with about 7.6 million members,
Mark Miller as Democrats boycott they're a long ways from doing," result in the largest reduction of their health care and pension now account for the majority of
a vote on a bill that would end Walker told Fox News. power in decades for public payments. His plan advanced workers on union rolls, according
collective bargaining rights for In a White House interview with employee unions. quickly to the Republican-led to the federal Bureau of Labor
unionized public employees. WTMJ-TV on Wednesday, But as massive public protests Senate, despite several days of Statistics.
Senate Democrats have been Obama joined the raging budget and legislative boycotts in protests that drew tens of Among union leaders, a sense of
missing from the Capitol for a day battle in Wisconsin, taking big Wisconsin this week have shown, thousands of demonstrators to the crisis is growing. Labor is
and a half. Senate Majority labor's side. the Republican charge can be Capitol. Then Senate Democrats preparing to spend at least $30
Leader Scott Fitzgerald says he "Some of what I've heard coming fraught with risk and suddenly fled the state Thursday, million to fight anti-union
has asked Gov. Scott Walker to out of Wisconsin, where you're unpredictable turns as politicians bringing the legislative process to legislation in dozens of states,
send two state troopers to Miller's just making it harder for public try to transform campaign ideas a halt. according to internal budget
home in Monona. He says he employees to collectively bargain into action. At a news conference Thursday numbers reviewed by The
believes the troopers are en route. generally seems like more of an The question GOP governors and afternoon, Walker said he's Associated Press. They're
The Wisconsin Constitution assault on unions," Obama said. lawmakers are now facing is willing to talk to the senators who lobbying local officials,
prohibits police from arresting "And I think it's very important exactly how far they can go want to force Walker and GOP organizing public rallies, working
legislators while they're in for us to understand that public without encountering a backlash. lawmakers to negotiate revisions phone banks and buying
session. Fitzgerald says he just employees, they're our neighbors, Do they merely extract more to the bill. television and newspaper ads in a
wants to send a message to Miller they're our friends." money from school teachers, "I'm going to tell them they get desperate attempt to swing public
-- if he's even home -- that he "I think everybody's got to make prison guards and office workers paid to come to work, and they opinion.
must bring his caucus back to some adjustments, but I think it's to help ease their states' budget should be coming to work," he "Plans are being put into place to
Madison. also important to recognize that problems? Or do they go at the told reporters. silence workers, lower their
The Wisconsin State Assembly, public employees make enormous very core of union power by Walker went "On The Record" wages, cut their benefits and
meanwhile, was poised to vote contributions to our states and our abolishing the workers' right to with Fox News' Greta Van increase the likelihood that they
Friday morning on the bill that citizens," he continued. bargain collectively? Do they try Susteren Thursday night and will suffer injuries and fatalities at
would force public workers to pay But Walker said the demands on to impose changes by reiterated his appeal for the work," said Gerald McEntee,
half the costs of their pensions public employees are "modest" steamrolling the opposition, or by senators to return to Wisconsin. president of the American
and at least 12.6 percent of their compared with those in the coming to the bargaining table? "Democracy doesn’t come by Federation of State, County and
h e a l t h c a r e c o v e r a g e . I t ' s private sector, and are meant to "The consequences will be rolling hiding out in another state," he Municipal Employees. "It is
projected to save the state $300 prevent a shutdown, which could forth for many, many years," said said. "I made a personal appeal happening at a breakneck pace
million over the next two years. result in 6,000 state workers not James Gregory, director of Center for all the senators to come back." and too little attention is being
Walker, trying to close a $3.6 getting paid. for Labor Studies at the In a statement he released earlier, paid."
billion budget gap, fired back on "We're at a point of crisis," the University of Washington. "The Walker, said the actions of the Labor plans to spend large
Friday at President Obama, who governor said, adding that he battle lines have been drawn and lawmakers were "disrespectful to amounts of money on battles in
accused the Republican governor would call out the National Guard will be replicated around the the hundreds of thousands of
of unleashing "an assault" on if needed to keep state operations, country. This is going to be very public employees who showed up URGENT: page 25
24 News Wire/ Technology/ Newstablet Edition

Bahraini Troops Reportedly Open Fire on Protesters

(FOXNews.com) military forces in key areas and is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th necessary because the they face systematic
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:29:53 AM checkpoints on main roadways. Fleet and the centerpiece of the demonstrators were "polarizing discrimination and poverty and
"The regime has broken Pentagon's efforts to confront the country" and pushing it to the are effectively blocked from key
MANAMA, Bahrain – Bahraini something inside of me ... All of growing Iranian military "brink of the sectarian abyss." roles in public service and the
troops fired into crowds of anti- these people gathered today have ambitions in the region. Speaking to reporters after an military.
government protesters in the had something broken in them," The capital and other areas emergency meeting with his Gulf Shiites have clashed with police
c a p i t a l o f M a n a m a F r i d a y , said Ahmed Makki Abu Taki, remained under the close watch of counterparts in Manama to before in protests over their
reportedly killing at least four w h o s e 2 7 - y e a r - o l d b r o t h e r the military and police — which discuss the unrest, he called the complaints. But the growing
people at Pearl Square. Mahmoud was killed in the pre- includes various nationalities violence "regrettable," said the numbers of Sunnis joining the
At least 20 people were wounded dawn sweep through the protest from around the region under a deaths would be investigated and latest protests have come as a
in the shooting. camp in Manama's Pearl Square. policy by Bahrain's ruling system added that authorities chose to surprise to authorities, said Simon
This latest violence comes as "We used to demand for the prime to give citizenship and jobs to clear the square by force at 3 a.m. Henderson, a Gulf specialist at the
thousands of funeral mourners minister to step down, but now other Sunnis to try to offset the — when the fewest number of Washington Institute for Near
c a l l e d f o r t h e d o w n f a l l o f our demand is for the ruling Shiites, who account for about 70 people would be in the square — East Policy.
Bahrain's ruling monarchy as family to get out." percent of the population. "to minimize any possibility of "The Sunnis seem to increasingly
burials began Friday after a Outside a village mosque, several Soldiers guarded the capital's casualties." dislike what is a very paternalistic
deadly assault on pro-reform thousands mourners gathered to main areas and placed roadblocks Many of the protesters were government," he said, adding that
protesters that has brought army bury three men killed in the and barbs wire around Pearl sleeping and said they received the crackdown was
tanks into the streets of the most crackdown. The first body, Square and other potential little warning of the assault. More "symptomatic" of Gulf nations'
strategic Western ally in the Gulf. covered in black velvet, was gathering sites. Work crews were than 230 people were injured, response to crises. "As far as the
The cries against Bahrain's king passed hand to hand toward a busy trying to cover up the protest some seriously. Gulf rulers are concerned, there's
and his inner circle reflect an grave as it was being dug. graffiti. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert only one proper way with this and
escalation of the demands from a Amid the Shiite funeral rites, On Thursday, Bahrain's leaders Gates said Washington must that is: be tough and be tough
political uprising that began by many chanted for the removal of banned public gatherings in an expand efforts for political and early."
only asking for a weakening of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa attempt to keep the protest economic reforms in places such The Associated Press contributed
the Sunni monarchy's hold on top and the entire Sunni dynasty that movement from re-igniting. But as Bahrain. "There is an urgency to this report.
government posts and addressing has ruled for more than two the underlying tensions in Bahrain to this," he told the Senate Armed This entry passed through the
discrimination by the Shiite centuries in Bahrain, the first run even deeper than the Services Committee. Full-Text RSS service — if this is
majority in the tiny island nation. nation in the Gulf to feel the rebellions for democracy that Elsewhere, the European Union your content and you're reading it
The mood, however, appears to pressure for changes sweeping the began two months ago in Tunisia and Human Rights Watch urged on someone else's site, please read
have turned toward defiance of Arab world. and later swept away Hosni Bahraini authorities to order our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
the entire ruling system after the There were no security forces Mubarak in Egypt and is security forces to stop attacks on content-only/faq.php
brutal attack Thursday on a near the mosque on the island of challenging old-guard regimes in peaceful protesters. Five Filters featured article:
protest encampment in Bahrain's Sitra, where three of those killed Libya and Yemen. The protesters had called for the Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
capital Manama, which left at had lived. In the government's first public monarchy to give up its control The Crosshairs.
least five dead, more than 230 The White House has expressed comment on the crackdown, over top government posts and all
injured and put the nation under "strong displeasure" about the Foreign Minister Khalid Al critical decisions and address deep
emergency-style footing with rising tensions in Bahrain, which Khalifa said Thursday it was grievances by Shiites, who claim

COFFEE, CHOCOLATE, TEA

noreply@blogger.com (Ad Coffee At its Best
ServeRSS) (AdServRSS Feed) Visit Starbucks
zChocolate.com Mighty Leaf
Newstablet Edition News Wire/ 25
URGENT:
Bahraini troops open fire at protesters continued from page 23

Florida, Indiana, Michigan,

(Reuters: Top News) with crowds demanding an end to calling openly for street protests. “buckshot”? I think you meant Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio,
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:41:34 AM President Ali Abdullah Saleh's 32- The violence was the worst in the “birdshot” which is used for Missouri, New Hampshire,
year rule. Saudi-allied Gulf island kingdom killing birds with a shotgun and Maine, Pennsylvania and
A protester runs for shelter after And in Libya, soldiers were in decades and a sign of the generally not lethal to a human Wisconsin. Unions see their goal
Bahraini security forces opened deployed in the streets of the nervousness of the Sunni royal from a distance. JohnTheApostle as not just playing defense -- as
fire at protesters marching country's second city Benghazi family, long aware of simmering wrote: opponents chip away at
towards the Pearl Square in a f t e r t h o u s a n d s o f p e o p l e discontent among the majority Has anyone contemplated the real bargaining rights -- but going on
capital Manama February 18, demonstrated overnight over the Shi'ites. issue behind Bahrain’s supposed offense to try to educate the
2011. killing of what U.S.-based Human Thousands gathered at a mosque peace protests! public about the role of unions.
C r e d i t : R e u t e r s / H a m a d I Rights Watch said were at least 24 in the village of Sitra, south of Hello? But last fall's midterm elections,
Mohammed protesters on Wednesday and Manama, for Friday prayers and Royal family (Suni) population which brought the defeat of many
B y C y n t h i a J o h n s t o n a n d Thursday. the funerals of three of those majority (Shia) Iran majority union-supported candidates and
Frederik Richter The unrest in the region -- killed. "The people want the fall (Shia) Anyone get my drift? victories by pro-business
MANAMA| Fri Feb 18, 2011 particularly worries about its of the regime," they cried. If and when the Shia’s get control Republican adversaries, show the
11:34am EST possible impact on oil giant Saudi "Justice, freedom and of Bahrain you can be sure in difficulty the unions face in a
MANAMA(Reuters) - Bahraini Arabia -- helped push Brent crude constitutional monarchy." kissing the American 5th Fleet’s climate shaped by the sour
troops shot at demonstrators on prices to a 28-month high of $104 In a loyalist demonstration in Naval Base situated there economy. In many states,
Friday and wounded many, a a barrel on Thursday. Manama, hundreds of pro- goodbye! Republican governors have
former Shi'ite lawmaker said, as It was a factor in gold prices government supporters, waving This in turn will leave Saudi blamed unions in part for the state
government crackdowns on extending early gains to five-week flags and pictures of the king, Arabia ( the world’s biggest oil budget crisis by negotiating flush
protests in the Middle East and highs. By Friday afternoon, Brent streamed through the streets, local export nation) vunrenable! benefit packages for public
North Africa turned increasingly was just over $102 a barrel. TV footage showed. Kinda’ has Ahmadinejad’s sent workers that have forced states to
violent. In Bahrain, Jalal Firooz, of the The army in Bahrain, a country all over it, don’t you think? slash aid to schools, social
While millions of Egyptians Wefaq bloc that resigned from of 1.3 million people of whom We need to wake up to the real services and important services.
celebrated their ouster of Hosni parliament on Thursday, said 600,000 are native Bahrainis, had world around us people! The Associated Press contributed
Mubarak after 30 years, protesters demonstrators, marking the death issued a warning to people to stay If and when Iran takes control of to this report.
elsewhere, inspired by their of a protester killed earlier this away from the center of the middle eastern oil exports, the This entry passed through the
s u c c e s s , w e r e e n g a g e d i n week, had made for Pearl Square, capital. west is doomed! Full-Text RSS service — if this is
struggles against their own where army troops opened fire. • Share this This entry passed through the your content and you're reading it
authoritarian rulers. "There are many casualties, some • Link this Full-Text RSS service — if this is on someone else's site, please read
In Bahrain, troops shot at are critical," he said. Police had • Digg this your content and you're reading it our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
protesters near Pearl Square on no immediate comment. • Email on someone else's site, please read content-only/faq.php
Friday and wounded many, a Thousands of Bahraini Shi'ites • Reprints our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/ Five Filters featured article:
former Shi'ite lawmaker said, a turned out on Friday to bury those content-only/faq.php Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
day after police forcibly cleared a killed in Pearl Square. alreaud wrote: Five Filters featured article: The Crosshairs.
protest camp from the traffic Bahrain's most revered Shi'ite What you’all over there in the Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
circle in Manama, killing 4 people cleric, Sheikh Issa Qassem, Middle East need in these feudal The Crosshairs.
and wounding more than 230. described the police attack as a monarchies is a modern day
At least two people were killed in " m a s s a c r e " a n d s a i d t h e version of the Magna Carta…
Yemen when security forces and government had shut the door to fwupow wrote:
pro-government loyalists clashed dialogue, but stopped short of Are you sure about the
26 News Wire/ Technology/ Finance/ Newstablet Edition
Bright Contemporary
China rejects key G20 imbalance indicators Bungalows - The Villa
Geldrop by Hofman
(Reuters: Top News) financial crises and economic Chinese central bank governor two sources involved in the
Submitted at 2/18/2011 9:44:49 AM shocks, they need to set up a Zhou Xiaochuan said Beijing negotiations said. Dujardin Revitalizes a
certain amount of reserves," he would decide the pace of the • Share this
French police patrol outside said. appreciation of the yuan on its • Link this
Tired Type (GALLERY)
F r a n c e ' s F i n a n c e M i n i s t r y The hardline Chinese stance own and would not be swayed by • Digg this (TREND HUNTER - The Latest
buildings on the eve of the start of highlighted splits over how to pressure from other countries. • Email Trends)
the G20 Finance Ministers and define economic imbalances and Simply adjusting exchange rates • Reprints Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:27:01 AM
Central Bank Governors' Meeting prescribe action to avoid future would not influence Asians'
at the Bercy complex in Paris f i n a n c i a l c r i s e s , a l t h o u g h savings behavior, he said. AAAAANDRE wrote: ( TrendHunter.com) The
February 17, 2011. negotiators said several "A reform of the international “Loose monetary policy in the bungalow has a long global
Credit: Reuters/Charles Platiau compromise proposals were under monetary system is in order so as developed world is pushing history and many manifestations,
By Toni Vorobyova and Gernot discussions. to prevent the over-concentration capital into emerging economies” so it's refreshing to see it
Heller Japanese Finance Minister of foreign assets in one particular So basically, they are just redefined once again in the Villa
P A R I S | F r i F e b 1 8 , 2 0 1 1 Yoshihiko Noda said he was not currency," he said in a reference sucking us dry!? Pete_Murphy Geldrop by Hofman Dujardin
10:44am EST sure there would be any to the dollar, urging greater use of wrote: Architects. This delightful
PARIS(Reuters) - China rejected agreement this weekend on a set IMF Special Drawing Rights Germany and China, nations dwelling can be found...
plans to use real exchange rates of indicators, as G20 president instead. more heavily dependent than
and currency reserves to measures France had hoped. TWO-STEP nearly any other on maintaining
global economic imbalances, "It is uncertain whether the Germany, the world's number big trade surpluses to gainfully
Desktop Vacation Ads -
casting doubt on the ability of countries will agree on all two exporter after China, said it employ their bloated labor forces, The Copa Airlines
Group of 20 major economic indicators, but I think agreement had no problem with including a are resisting the rebalancing. Escape Campaign Takes
powers to reach agreement at a on some is possible," Noda told balance of payments indicator as What a surprise.
meeting on Friday. reporters. "From working group part of a set of five measurements. The U.S. doesn’t need the G20 to
You Away from Your
Speaking shortly before the start discussions, I get the impression Deputy Finance Minister Joerg rebalance the economy. All it Computer (GALLERY)
of the two-day meeting of finance countries are now split in half Asmussen said a "vast majority" needs is to bid farewell to the (TREND HUNTER - The Latest
ministers and central bankers, about their opinions." of G20 countries wanted a deal all World Trade Organization and Trends)
Chinese Finance Minister Xie Differences over the causes of five indicators. return to the sensible application
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:15:02 AM
Xuren also said the G20 should and ways to cure global economic One European source said a of tariffs to assure a balance of
use trade figures rather than imbalances were also on display possible compromise could trade. ( TrendHunter.com) Computer
current account balances to assess at a public debate among the involve listing the other indicators This entry passed through the desktop wallpaper is a great way
economic distortions. world's top central bankers on -- exchange rates, currency Full-Text RSS service — if this is to achieve a bit of a visual
"We think it is not appropriate to Friday. reserves, public debt and deficits, your content and you're reading it vacation while at work, but the
use real effective exchange rates Bank of England Governor and private savings -- while on someone else's site, please read Copa Airlines Escape campaign
and reserves," Xie said at a Mervyn King, reflecting the view making clear the prime focus our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/ encourages you to step away from
meeting with Russian, Brazilian of many Western policymakers, would be on current accounts. content-only/faq.php the on-screen landscape and
and Indian counterparts, who s a i d t h e w o r l d r i s k e d Another option mooted by deputy Five Filters featured article: towards...
collectively make up the BRIC protectionism or another financial finance ministers would be to give Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
g r o u p o f m a j o r e m e r g i n g crisis if policymakers failed to China an opt-out from the balance The Crosshairs.
economies. reduce currency distortions and of payments criterion, allowing it
"Emerging markets, to deal with other imbalances. to use its trade balance instead,
Families budget to be £2,500 worse off this year
(Finance News - Business news Half of the 3,000 Britons least £25 a week less to spend this worse off.
from the UK and world) surveyed think they will have at year and may be £50 a week
Newstablet Edition News Wire/ Culture/ 27

Bernanke: Don't blame easy money for capital swings

(Reuters: Top News) the Group of 20 leading to better reflect market
Submitted at 2/18/2011 8:52:23 AM economies. fundamentals and increase their
However, he said that although efforts to substitute domestic
Chairman of the Federal Reserve policy-makers in the emerging demand for exports," he said.
Ben Bernanke talks to Senators at markets clearly face challenges, The argument that greater
the Senate Banking Committee on such concerns should be weighed currency flexibility is necessary to
Capitol Hill in Washington against stronger emerging market right imbalances is a recurring
February 17, 2011. growth and steps emerging theme for U.S. officials who have
Credit: Reuters/Larry Downing economies themselves can take. persistently sought to pressure
By Rie Ishiguro and Gui Qing Central bankers and finance China to allow its yuan currency
Koh ministers of economies that make to float more freely against the
PARIS| Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:52am up 85 percent of the world's dollar.
EST economy are trying to smooth U.S. officials say that by keeping
PARIS(Reuters) - U.S. Federal i m b a l a n c e s o f t r a d e a n d the yuan weak, the Chinese
Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke investment to ensure steadier government is supporting an
defended easy money policies in economic growth and prevent export-led economy that leads to
advanced economies against the shocks like the recent crisis. its large trade surplus with the
charge they are overheating The United States is under fire United States.
emerging markets, saying factors not only for ultra accommodative Washington wants to keep the
such as exchange rate rigidity are monetary policy, but for a gaping spotlight on the yuan at the G20.
also to blame. budget deficit that raises concern • Share this
Speaking ahead of an economic that if left unchecked, it could • Link this
summit in Paris that will include some day lead to default. Bernanke did not mention less prone to cycles of boom and • Digg this
m a n y c r i t i c s o f t h e F e d ' s Bernanke's own unorthodox $600 inflation concerns directly except bust. • Email
aggressive bond buying program, billion bond buying initiative to say that strong demand in In comments similar to ones he • Reprints
Bernanke acknowledged that launched in November has stirred emerging markets is contributing has made in the past, the Fed
s t r o n g c a p i t a l f l o w s f r o m harsh criticism from countries to global commodity price chairman said faster growth in This entry passed through the
advanced economies to emerging around the world, and he has used increases, something which emerging markets is one factor Full-Text RSS service — if this is
markets may be having negative international venues to defend it affects the most advanced driving strong capital flows into your content and you're reading it
spillover effects. before. economies as well. those economies. Furthermore, on someone else's site, please read
"Capital flows are once again U.S. quantitative easing measures Gradually smoothing global emerging market policy-makers our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
posing some notable challenges have been attacked for driving imbalances of trade and have tools at their disposal -- content-only/faq.php
for international macroeconomic down the value of the dollar, investment is a top priority for including exchange rate Five Filters featured article:
and financial stability," he said in h u r t i n g e m e r g i n g e c o n o m y G20 officials. Officials have set adjustment and monetary policy -- Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
remarks prepared for delivery to a e x p o r t s a n d i n f l a t i n g a s s e t themselves the goal of drawing up to prevent overheating, he said. The Crosshairs.
Banque de France event in Paris bubbles, and the Fed chairman a list of indicators to measure "Countries with excessive and
before meetings of the finance can expect to hear about it from imbalances, with the aim of unsustainable trade surpluses will
ministers and central bankers of his counterparts at the summit. making growth more stable and need to allow their exchange rates

HDTV Pictures
(HowStuffWorks Daily Feed) [ fivefilters.org: unable to retrieve item on the market. Do you know
Submitted at 2/18/2011 8:00:56 AM full-text content] HDTVs are one what is available?
of the more popular electronics
28 News Wire/ Technology/ Finance/ Culture/ Newstablet Edition
Breathtaking Beige
Dog Owners Barking Mad Over Insurance Fashions - The Zang Toi
AW11 Collection Turns
Mandate Drab to Fab
(GALLERY)
(FOXNews.com) another way to get at it," said Rob less-populated areas. Wiehl said dog owners need not
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:29:53 AM Sexton, vice president of the U.S. Trial Attorney Herb Subin said worry, and predicted a dog (TREND HUNTER - The Latest
Sportsmen's Alliance. The group, he thinks the proposal is a great insurance law wouldn't survive a Trends)
Dog owners in Texas are hot which works with sporting dogs, idea. court challenge.
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:38:02 AM
under the collar over a proposal calls the bill "unnecessary and "It's the same as driving a car," "The whole issue of mandating
that would require them to buy unreasonable" and has asked Subin told FoxNews.com. "If you insurance is being dealt with right ( TrendHunter.com) The Zang Toi
$100,000 insurance for their Texas sportsmen to actively want to have the chance to have a now in federal courts with AW11 collection has done a
pooches. oppose it. dog that could cause an injury to healthcare, and the latest decision brilliant job of reinvigorating the
And they've vowed not to roll McClendon says she's just trying someone else then the government says that it's not constitutional to warm beige color appearance.
over and play dead for what to take a bite out of a loophole. has a very strong interest to make mandate health insurance. So how The fashion house's runway show
t h e y ' r e c a l l i n g y e t a n o t h e r "Existing Texas law allows a dog sure their citizens have the ability could you mandate insurance for proved to impress the masses, and
example of needless nanny-state 'one bite' without making the to be compensated." your dog?" she told it's no wonder with all of the...
legislation. owner responsible. However, it is But pet expert and author Wendy FoxNews.com.
House Bill 998, introduced by clearly not working to resolve Diamond said the same argument Wiehl said the law already holds
state Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon, problems with dog bites," she told can be made for children. dog owners responsible for any Rachel Bilson Spends
D-Texas, would require owners of FoxNews.com. "According to "There are more bullies at school damage done by their dogs. And a Day in LA With
unleashed, un-neutered male dogs county animal-control personnel, playgrounds than dog fights in victims of dog attacks that haven't
over 20 pounds to carry a liability over 400 dog bites occur in San dog parks," Diamond insisted. been properly compensated can Hayden Christensen
insurance policy of at least Antonio each month." "The government is overreaching always sue. Allie Merriam (PopSugar)
$100,000. Violations would be McClendon said one of the with the proposed bill ... when "Most homeowner's insurance
Submitted at 2/18/2011 7:53:32 AM
classified as a misdemeanor, and victims was a member of her they demand liability insurance on policies already cover dogs," she
punishable by a fine up to $500. d i s t r i c t w h o w a s s e r i o u s l y children then this will be fair." added. "The whole thing is Rachel Bilson went back to her
McClendon said large, un- attacked by a dog whose owner The Heartland Institute's Charlie ridiculous." LA home yesterday after a
neutered dogs present the highest was not willing to help pay for the Vidal added that if McClendon is This entry passed through the meeting, and Hayden Christensen
risk for property damage and resulting medical bills. trying to reduce dog attacks, she's Full-Text RSS service — if this is was seen heading into her house
injuries to others, and that owners "Situations like this would be barking up the wrong tree. your content and you're reading it shortly after. The couple, who got
should be held more responsible remedied under this bill, as "While Jones McClendon wants on someone else's site, please read engaged in 2009 but announced a
for their dogs' behavior. insurance would help cover to protect people from large dogs, our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/ split in August, apparently
But getting HB 998 passed -- the medical expenses incurred as a her proposal would do just the content-only/faq.php starting dating again late last year.
bill is currently under review by result of a dog attack," she said. opposite. Dog owners, knowing Five Filters featured article: They'll be together to celebrate
committee -- will be no walk in McClendon added that a revision that they are insured against any Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In Hayden's big 30th birthday on
the park. of the bill is being drafted to wrongdoing their dog does, will The Crosshairs. April 12th, as he joins the ranks of
"There is a movement inside the a p p l y t h e l a w o n l y w i t h i n take less care to ensure that Rex is the many stars marking the
animal rights lobby to try to force incorporated municipal areas; it a good boy," Vidal wrote on the milestone this year. Rachel will
mandatory spay and neuter laws would also exclude dog owners in institute's blog. have Hayden's support as she
across the states, and this is just hunting and sporting activities in Fox News Legal Analyst Lis returns to TV in a Josh Schwartz
G20 Paris: Bernanke defends easy money policy and calls for currency reform project called Hart of Dixie, and
continues to promote her new
(Finance News - Business news US Federal Reserve Chairman ahead of the G20 leaders meeting in calling for currency reform. Edie Rose line of home goods.
from the UK and world) Ben Bernanke defended his in Paris, and joined Bank of View Slideshow ›
country's easy money policy England Governor Mervyn King
Newstablet Edition News Wire/ Culture/ Finance/ 29

Antioxidants Boost Male Fertility Top 10

(Epoch Times | All headlines)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 8:34:18 AM
words, antioxidant takers were
about four times as likely to
Alternative
By Dr. John Briffa Created: Feb
impregnate their partners
compared to those taking
Housing Ideas
18, 2011 Last Updated: Feb 18, placebo.) (HowStuffWorks Daily Feed)
2011 None of the studies reported Submitted at 2/18/2011 8:00:56 AM
BLUEBERRIES: This fruit is a evidence of harmful effects of the
good source of antioxidants. antioxidant therapy. As housing prices rise and people
(Photos.com) Infertility is not an Meta-analyses of this nature are become more concerned about
insignificant problem, and sperm- never perfect, especially when their environmental footprints,
related issues play a part in about amassing studies of quite different green construction has been
half of all cases. Low levels of methodologies (for example, gaining popularity. Green
sperm, malformed sperm, and different treatments in different construction can include
sperm that are not mobile enough combinations). However, this mainstream features, like a green
all can contribute to subfertility in review does at least strongly roof, or more unique material,
men. suggest that antioxidant treatment such as wood pallets. In general,
One factor that is thought to lead has significant potential to though, what makes a building
to sperm issues is oxidative these studies varied a lot. In some, associated with a 485 percent e n h a n c e m a l e f e r t i l i t y a n d eco-friendly are the materials that
stress—damage caused by entities a single agent was used. In others, increased incidence of live birth. improve the success rates of go into the structure and the
known as free radicals, which are agents were combined together. (In other words, antioxidant takers assisted-reproduction techniques attention paid to energy usage in
natural by-products of many The agents themselves varied were about five times as likely to such as IVF. its design.
processes in the body, including considerably and included zinc, have a live birth compared to Dr. John Briffa is a London- Green builders use recycled or
metabolism. vitamin E, vitamin C, L-carnitine, those taking placebo.) based physician and author with low-impact components to create
Free radicals can be quenched by and selenium. All couples in these Admittedly, this finding was an interest in nutrition and natural energy-efficient homes, and you
substances called antioxidants studies were undergoing assisted based on only 20 live births, m e d i c i n e . H i s w e b s i t e i s can construct green homes in any
(including many nutrients). This r e p r o d u c t i v e t e c h n o l o g i e s (small numbers), which make the D r B r i f f a . c o m number of ways, using materials
has led some researchers to assess ( A R T s ) , s u c h a s i n - v i t r o findings less robust than if we This entry passed through the like reclaimed shipping containers
t h e e f f e c t o f a n t i o x i d a n t fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine were looking at significantly Full-Text RSS service — if this is or even clay and straw. In this
treatments on fertility in men. insemination (IUI). bigger numbers. your content and you're reading it article, we'll look at some unique,
“ A n t i o x i d a n t s f o r M a l e Amassing all the studies together, Rate of pregnancy was also on someone else's site, please read eco-friendly alternative housing
Subfertility” was published in the t h e C o c h r a n e r e s e a r c h e r s assessed, and this time the our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/ ideas.
Cochrane Database of Systematic attempted to assess if antioxidant n u m b e r s w e r e l a r g e r ( 9 6 content-only/faq.php This entry passed through the
Reviews 2011, Issue 1. This therapy appeared to have any pregnancies in total, from 15 trials Five Filters featured article: Full-Text RSS service — if this is
article was a review of 34 studies benefits on fertility outcomes. and a total of 964 couples). Here, Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In your content and you're reading it
t h a t r e p o r t e d t h e u s e o f They found that compared with rates of pregnancy were found to The Crosshairs. on someone else's site, please read
antioxidants in treating male p l a c e b o , t r e a t m e n t w i t h be 418 percent higher in those our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
infertility. antioxidant supplementation was taking antioxidants. (In other content-only/faq.php
The antioxidant agents in each of Five Filters featured article:
Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
'Most green funds hold oil companies' The Crosshairs.
(Finance News - Business news For the majority of funds in the 'ethically screened' funds and
from the UK and world) UK we do not see much conventional funds
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:08:08 AM difference in stock selection, or
performance, between UK
30 News Wire/ Culture/ Newstablet Edition
Natalie Portman Sticks
The Practical Entrepreneur: Real Estate Close to Home in the
Run-Up to the Oscars
Investments (Part 2) Allie Merriam (PopSugar)
(Epoch Times | All headlines) That is entirely up to you. Keep in Submitted at 2/18/2011 7:44:02 AM

Submitted at 2/18/2011 7:36:13 AM mind that price isn't everything.

Often it is the peripheral list that Natalie Portman threw on her
IDEAL SPACE: The interior of will make or break a deal. jacket for a walk in NYC
an apartment at AQUA Luxury There may be a disagreement yesterday. She was out enjoying
Oceanfront Condominiums is about an option clause; say you some warmth in the city, which
seen during a party presented by want to lease for three years and was a great change from the frigid
Hamptons Magazine at AQUA you want an option to renew for a weather she's endured all Winter.
Luxury Oceanfront further five years at the same rent. Natalie's fiancé Benjamin
Condominiums July 2009 in Long You may ask for the right to Millepied is often by her side for
Beach, New York. Once you have sublet the premises, or you may her strolls, but this time she went
found the (almost) ideal space, the stick in the right of first refusal on out solo. She and Benjamin are
time has come to negotiate. (Rob the property should the owner apparently expecting a son, and
Loud/Getty Images for Niche decide to sell. Natalie has been staying in the
Media) Manny Drukier has been in Big Apple to prep for their special
You have been searching for, and business from manufacturing to delivery. She skipped out on last
found the (almost) ideal space. publishing, retail to real estate, Sunday's BAFTAs in London,
The time has come to negotiate. order to get the place in shape. run the risk of being asked to and stocks to stockpots for the where her Black Swan director
Allow me to say at the outset that Ask that the owner contribute vacate on six months notice. past 60 years. He is the author of Darren Aronofsky picked up her
the perfect space with a 100 toward the cost of improvements. However, do not dismiss out of two books and resides in Toronto, best actress statue. She will,
percent perfect lease does not It all depends on if you are hand a lease that contains a Canada. though, head West in time for the
exist. You will compromise on negotiating in a rising market or demolition clause, make inquiries This entry passed through the Oscars, and all eyes will certainly
some matters and the landlord in a recession. be on the star and the dress she
into the probability of it taking Full-Text RSS service — if this is
will give in on others. If you are One clause that may pop up in a place in the near future. The your content and you're reading it chooses for Hollywood's biggest
dealing through a real estate lease is a demolition clause. If demolition may be far off. on someone else's site, please read night. View Slideshow ›
broker, they will prepare the offer you are offered a location in a If you are unfamiliar with leases, our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
to lease. The offer will be based high traffic area at a reasonable before signing you will want to content-only/faq.php
on what the lessor has listed as rate, it may be because of the give it to a lawyer to look over. Five Filters featured article:
their asking price. You are free to demolition clause. If you intend to However, a lawyer cannot help Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
make whatever changes you wish, i n v e s t a l o t o f m o n e y i n you decide if the premises are The Crosshairs.
that is offer a lower price, or renovations you do not want to right for you at the price asked.
demand a period of free rent in

Little Black Box Powers Your Mobile Devices with AA

Batteries [Stuff We Like]
Whitson Gordon (Lifehacker) We've shown you how to make charge and power all your USB space. More »
Submitted at 2/18/2011 8:00:00 AM your own battery-powered USB devices with a few AA batteries,
charger, but if you aren't up to the task, the Little Black Box will and without taking up much
Newstablet Edition News Wire/ Technology/ 31

Chinese Lantern Festival Comcast launching 24-

(Epoch Times | All headlines)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 6:45:44 AM hour 3D channel
Lantern Festival 2011 in Taiwan.
(Courtesy of Miaoli Government)
Lantern Festival 2011 in Taiwan.
Sunday
(CNET News.com) that figure to jump to 8 million
(Courtesy of Miaoli Government)
One of lantern trucks 2011 in Submitted at 2/18/2011 9:31:50 AM this year, with 5 million of those
Taiwan. (Courtesy of Miaoli units sold to customers in the U.S.
Comcast is ushering in the launch The research firm indicated that
Government) According to the
of a 24-hour 3D channel by so far, "year-one adoption of
Chinese tradition, the celebration
enlisting the help of Kings of 3DTV is running at a far quicker
of Chinese New Year will
Leon and the National Hockey rate in most territories than it did
continue until the Lantern
League. for high-definition."
Festival, which is on 15th day of
The cable provider said yesterday Although few people have 3D
the first lunar month. It is usually
that starting at 3 p.m. PT on sets, Comcast said it has seen an
another high point of the
Sunday, its new Xfinity 3D uptick in viewers watching 3D
celebration. Lantern Festival is
channel will begin broadcasting. content. The company reported
also called Yuanxiao Festival. It is
The channel will start with an yesterday that it has served over 1
on February 18th this year.
airing of the 2011 Tim Hortons million 3D video-on-demand
History of the Lantern Festival
on the fifteenth day of the first day of the first lunar month NHL Heritage Classic, pitting the streams.
There are many legends about the
month. The Emperor was so throughout China. It is the first Montreal Canadiens against the But trouble remains in the 3D
origin of the festival.
pleased that he ordered people to night of the year for people to see Calgary Flames outdoors at market.
One story was from time of
display lighted lanterns on that a full moon. At this time, many McMahon Stadium in Calgary. A Deloitte study released in
Qinshihuang (259-210 BC), the
night since it was said that the colorful lanterns will be hung out After the game is over, Comcast September found that 83 percent
first emperor to unite the country.
power of Buddha could dispel for people to appreciate. People plans to broadcast a Kings of of consumers do not believe 3D is
It was believed the God of
darkness. enjoy the brightly lit night. It is Leon concert from Hamburg, enough to make them want to buy
Heaven was born on the fifteenth
Since then, all subsequent q u i t e a n i m p r e s s i v e s i g h t ! Germany. a new television. Worst of all for
day of the first month. Since the
emperors ordered splendid Families will get all their families From there, the channel will vendors and 3D providers like
God of Heaven controlled the
ceremonies each year. The lantern united in the joyful atmosphere broadcast 3D programming 24 Comcast, 31 percent of
destiny of the human world and
displays would last for 3 days in and eat Yuanxiao. hours a day. Comcast said that it respondents said 3D does nothing
decided when to inflict drought,
the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) Story about Yuanxiao plans to show content ranging to "enhance their entertainment
storms, famine or pestilence upon
and 5 days in the Song Dynasty This entry passed through the f r o m " h a u n t e d c a s t l e s " t o experience."
human beings, the emperor would
(960-1279 AD). It then became an Full-Text RSS service — if this is documentaries on "the depths of This entry passed through the
pray specially to the God of
important festival that could be your content and you're reading it the ocean." Full-Text RSS service — if this is
Heaven for favourable weather
celebrated together by people on someone else's site, please read So far, few consumers in the U.S. your content and you're reading it
and good health on that day.
from all social classes. Many our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/ are able to capitalize on Comcast's on someone else's site, please read
Another popular story tells the
colourful glass and even jade content-only/faq.php new channel. According to a our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
Emperor Mingdi (57-75 BC) of
were used to make lanterns, with Five Filters featured article: Futuresource Consulting survey content-only/faq.php
the East Han Dynasty who sent a
figures from folk tales painted on Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In released in November, just 4 Five Filters featured article:
scholar to India for Buddhist
the lanterns. The Crosshairs. million 3DTVs were likely sold Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
scriptures. After journeying
Today, the displaying of lanterns around the world in 2010. The Crosshairs.
thousands of miles, the scholar
is still a big event on the fifteenth However, Futuresource expects
finally returned with the scriptures
32 World News/ Newstablet Edition

The Realist Prism: Middle East Democracies Can Be U.S.

Friends
(World Politics Review: Articles) by events in Asia over the past 30 Saudi Arabia nor China would be strong lobby with deep roots even under conditions of "peace,"
Submitted at 2/18/2011 1:11:00 AM years. As a series of pro- able to fill that gap at this time. either in Egypt's business Egypt is Israel's 38th-largest
American East Asian states James Carville's dictum, "It's the community or among ordinary export market, well behind even
As waves of unrest continue to democratized, the pro-democracy economy, stupid," rings true even Egyptians. Economic ties could more distant Latin American and
roil the Middle East, there is a activists who came to power -- more in 2011 Egypt than in 1992 provide some ballast in the Asian countries. Indeed, Israel
great deal of uncertainty as to who in some cases had been jailed America. The next Egyptian relationship, but are limited. exported more to Jordan, a
what the future might bring. Will by their authoritarian predecessors government must cut down on Egypt exports some $300 million country with only a fraction of
a successor to former President -- maintained ties with the U.S., a waste and find ways to stimulate in natural gas to Israel, meeting Egypt's population. Ruth Linde, a
Hosni Mubarak in Egypt maintain pattern most noticeable in Korea job creation. Jeopardizing the 40 percent of Israel's needs -- but former adviser to Israeli President
the peace treaty with Israel, and Taiwan. This is because while golden lifeline to Washington will making up the bulk of Egyptian Shimon Peres, concluded, "The
cooperate in isolating Hamas in g o v e r n m e n t s c h a n g e d , not be in its interests. exports to Israel and more than key to normal relations is
the Gaza strip and maintain the fundamental interests did not. So the Camp David accords half of the roughly $500 million economic and financial ties. If
intelligence relationship with the South Korean democrats may should remain intact. But there are in bilateral trade conducted in there are only two [key business
United States? And should a h a v e r e t a i n e d l i n g e r i n g no guarantees that a post-Mubarak 2010. Growing Israeli demand relationships], it is easier for
revolutionary regime overthrow resentments against Washington government would do much more and Egypt's need for revenue Egypt to annul them. If there is a
the Khalifas in Bahrain, will it for doing too little on their behalf than honor the letter of the pact. A could lock this relationship in critical mass, it is less easy to let
reject the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet during the period of dictatorship - new Egyptian government might place, especially if Israel go."
from the island? - but facing a hostile North Korea, follow the Pakistani model of renegotiated the price higher and So while there is no incentive to
Most prognostications on the and with the country's economic accommodating Washington: imported greater volumes. On the restart hostilities, neither is the
region's future assume that prosperity linked to its good fulfilling certain requests, offering other hand, rising regional Egyptian business community
revolutions that depose status quo relations with the United States, only grudging cooperation in demand for energy could give going to lobby for retaining close
g o v e r n m e n t s a u t o m a t i c a l l y they were not going to burn other areas and in some cases Egypt, in a few years, other export political and security ties with
reverse the policies of their bridges with Washington out of working actively against alternatives. Israel -- and, by extension, with
p r e d e c e s s o r s . O n e o f t h e spite. American interests. This is in part The "Qualified Investment Zone" the United States.
criticisms being directed at the Applying that to Egypt, the because, like in Pakistan, U.S. program, under which Egyptian Over in Bahrain, the fall of the
O b a m a a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , f o r question is whether there are policies do not have sufficient manufacturers can export duty- monarchy might threaten the U.S.
instance, is that the continued overriding Egyptian interests that "buy-in" on the part of the free goods to the U.S. that use military presence, but the Kyrgyz
embrace of Mubarak right up to would cause a future government Egyptian population. Most Israeli components, is a good precedent shows that governments
his resignation has made it more to continue the policies of Hosni Egyptians probably acknowledge scheme for trying to create greater can rise and fall without
difficult for any subsequent Mubarak. The picture is mixed. In the necessity of not denouncing linkages between the two impacting the operations of a key
democratically elected Egyptian terms of retaining the formal the peace treaty with Israel, but countries' business communities. American military facility -- so
government to work closely with peace treaty with Israel, Dov won't see much reason to actively But QIZ factories -- primarily in long as the new government sees
the United States, especially if its Zakheim bluntly concludes, "The support Israeli and U.S. security the textile industry -- only employ an interest in continuing the
leaders were imprisoned or Egyptian military knows that it interests either. a fraction of Egypt's labor force, relationship. When the
otherwise oppressed by the ancien dare not break with the United It is striking the extent to which and Israel itself tends to focus on governments of former Presidents
regime. States; it has 1.3 billion (foreign Egypt remains unintegrated with directly exporting manufactured Askar Akayev and Kurmanbek
But the assertion that U.S. aid) reasons for not doing so. In Israel. Yes, there is a treaty, and goods to the advanced global Bakiyev were both overthrown by
support for undemocratic regimes particular, it knows that rupturing there are government-to- economies, rather than producing popular uprisings, observers in
e n s u r e s t h a t d e m o c r a t i c the 1979 peace treaty with Israel government contacts. But the components and raw materials. Washington criticized the Bush
successors will be enemies of the will mean the end of American trilateral U.S.-Egypt-Israel To give an idea of how little
U.S. has been called into question economic assistance." Neither relationship has engendered no business these two neighbors do, REALIST page 34
Newstablet Edition World News/ 33

Somali Piracy Offers Opportunity for Korean Détente

(World Politics Review: Articles) may have also helped improve the mission." cargo ship thanked the South own sailors and could offer real
Submitted at 2/18/2011 1:19:00 AM South Korean navy's credibility, He added that the Proliferation Korean navy for its protection by assistance to the North, all against
with the Asia Times suggesting Security Initiative, under which radio. While that particular move a common enemy. Even if a joint
It was recently reported that that the bold operation would, at Western ships can interdict did little to reduce inter-Korean rescue attempt is out of the
Somali pirates have been holding l e a s t t e m p o r a r i l y , " s i l e n c e vessels suspected of carrying tensions -- North Korea tested its question for now, inter-Korean
the crew of the North Korean domestic criticisms" of naval illegal cargo, has put limits on second nuclear device that month discussion and collaboration on
c a r g o s h i p C h i l s a n b o n g competence. North Korea's willingness and -- Pyongyang has shown state- the issue could help reduce
Cheonnyeonho since it was North Korea has had nine of its ability to move soldiers and level gratitude to the U.S. in tensions where they currently run
captured last March. Ten months vessels captured since 2006, and weapons. "North Korea would similar circumstances. at their highest -- between the two
on, the ship remains detained, paid $3.5 million to free the North likely also weigh the risks of In late 2007, a U.S. naval vessel countries' navies.
with hefty ransom demands likely Korean-crewed MV Theresa VIII failure to be very high when cruised to the support of a North When the next round of inter-
still outstanding. With no records last year. With last week's inter- compared with the recent Korean cargo ship, the Dai Hong Korean military talks takes place,
for the vessel found at maritime Korean military talks ending in Republic of Korea (ROK) effort," Da, after it repulsed a boarding it would be prudent for both South
insurance tracker Seasearcher, the debacle, Pyongyang could now be he concluded. "Public failure and attempt by Somali pirates. On that Korean and North Korean
possibility that its crew may now considering its own brazen rescue humiliation, in comparison with occasion, U.S. sailors were commanders to choose a common
b e f a c i n g a b a n d o n m e n t i s mission, for similar reasons. Such the ROK, is not something that invited on board the North Korean issue upon which to build trust.
becoming ever more likely. an operation could conceivably they want -- especially at the ship to provide medical assistance Piracy in the Gulf of Aden is a
However, given South Korea's kill two birds with one stone. A present." to wounded crewmen, with one problem that plagues both nations,
dramatic rescue of one of its own high-profile and successful With the prospect of a unilateral report even suggesting some of making it an ideal starting point
vessels captured by pirates in operation would send a chilling North Korean rescue mission well the seriously injured were airlifted for inter-Korean détente.
J a n u a r y , t h e c a s e o f t h e message to Seoul -- without the off the radar, Pyongyang and by the U.S Navy to nearby Tad Farrell is director of NK
Chilsanbong now offers the risk accompanying a direct Seoul, if serious about improving Yemen. This remarkable News, a North Korea news and
Koreas an opportunity for military p r o v o c a t i o n - - w h i l e a l s o relations, should now view the cooperation did not go unnoticed information resource for
cooperation at a time of increasing North Korea's plight of the Chilsanbong in Pyongyang. In a rare professionals, academics and
increasing tension. bargaining power in future Cheonnyeonho as an opportunity occurrence, North Korea's state students. He holds a master's
Thanks to close-range combat military talks. However, this for naval cooperation. Indeed, news agency, KCNA, released a degree in nonproliferation and
skills accrued from decades of outcome remains highly unlikely, intelligence permitting, an inter- statement saying, "We feel international security from Kings
training to fight North Korean as Pyongyang knows. Korean rescue mission could both grateful to the United States for its College London. He is using a
ships, South Korea's raid in According to Joseph Bermudez, serve to reduce naval tensions assistance given to our pseudonym due to restrictive
January was a major success, an expert on the North Korean while increasing Korean crewmen. This case serves as a press freedoms in North Korea,
resulting in the death or capture of military, with the exception of deterrence vis-à-vis other would- symbol of the DPRK-U.S. where he sometimes travels.
13 Somali pirates and the rescue some submarines, the North be pirates in the region. It would cooperation in the struggle against Andrew Pascoe is an Australian
of all 21 hostages. In a further Korean navy has never operated also help out what now looks like terrorism." freelance journalist who covers
show of firm-handedness, South outside regional waters. "The an otherwise forgotten crew. With the crew of the Chilsanbong business and politics. He has been
Korea quickly flew the captured DPRK has employed merchant While a radical approach, it Cheonnyeonho still awaiting published widely in Australia and
pirates to Seoul to face trial. The vessels since the 1960s to carry would not be the first time South rescue after 10 months of for such global publications as
well-publicized rescue mission weapons, advisers and Special Korea has helped its neighbor to captivity, and evidence suggesting Agence France-Presse, China
may have been an intentional Operation Forces personnel the north: The same destroyer that funds to pay a ransom may be Dialogue and Paydirt. He is a staff
attempt by South Korea to restore throughout the world," Bermudez dramatically rescued the ROK hard to dig up in Pyongyang right journalist at NK News.
naval deterrence over North noted. "They could certainly vessel in January also chased now, cooperation with Seoul may Photo: Nimitz-class aircraft
Korea following the sinking of the attempt to do so in this case. Somali pirates away from a North be the only way North Korea can carrier USS John C. Stennis and
Cheonan and the shelling of However, they completely lack Korean cargo ship near Yemen in hope to recover the vessel and its naval vessels from the Republic
Yeonpyeong Island by North t h e i n t e l l i g e n c e - c o l l e c t i o n May 2009. That time, a North crew. South Korea has shown
Korean artillery. Domestically, it capabilities to plan such a Korean crew member on the remarkable skill in recovering its SOMALI page 34
34 Technology/ Culture/ Obituaries Newstablet Edition
REALIST SOMALI
continued from page 32 continued from page 33

and Obama administrations for
hitching the future of the Manas
airbase, vital to U.S. military
operations in Central and South
Asia, to the unreliable wagons of
dictatorial regimes. The new
Kyrgyz governments initially
threatened to close the Manas
facility in retribution, but the
importance of the U.S. presence
combined with the revenue
banked from American rental
payments and the subsidiary
spillover effects from operations
at Manas proved to be too
important. Each time, careful
renegotiation of the base's lease
provisions and adjustments of the
contracts for base services -- to
change from companies tied to the
old regime to those favored by the
new -- led Bishkek to renew the
American lease to the base.
So the real consideration in
examining the situation in Bahrain
is whether the presence of the
U.S. military has brought
concrete, tangible benefits to
LIFE's photographic history of computing
Kelly Guimont (TUAW)
ordinary Bahrainis, particularly
the members of the Shiite
community.
My colleague at the Naval War
College, John Schindler, argues
that "several decades of U.S.
policies towards the Middle East
are unraveling in real time, before
our eyes." Events certainly are
demonstrating that Washington's
ability to shape governments to
our liking is limited. The old
pattern was to find a leader who
was amenable to the U.S. agenda
and then to coax or bribe him to
commit to it. In the new Middle
East, the task will be much harder
because it will require building a
community of interests, so that
populations are vested as
shareholders in U.S. policies.
Egypt and Bahrain may be the
first test cases as to whether this
can be done.
Nikolas K. Gvosdev is the former
editor of the National Interest, and
a frequent foreign policy
commentator in both the print and
free iPad app.
broadcast media. He is currently
on the faculty of the U.S. Naval
War College. The views
expressed are his own and do not
reflect those of the Navy or the
U.S. government. His weekly
WPR column, The Realist Prism,
appears every Friday.
Secretary of Defense Robert
Gates escorts Bahrain's Crown
Prince Sheik Salman bin Hamad
al-Khalifa, the commander-in-
chief of the defense forces of
Bahrain, into the Pentagon, May
2010 (Defense Department photo
by R. D. Ward).
This entry passed through the
Full-Text RSS service — if this is
your content and you're reading it
on someone else's site, please read
our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article:
Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
The Crosshairs.
of Korea stream in formation in our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
the Pacific Ocean, March 2009 content-only/faq.php
(U.S. Navy photo by Spc. 3rd Five Filters featured article:
class Josue L. Escobosa). Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
This entry passed through the The Crosshairs.
Full-Text RSS service — if this is
your content and you're reading it
on someone else's site, please read
Rent Splitting Calculator
Helps You Split Rent Fairly
Between Roommates [Rent]
Whitson Gordon (Lifehacker)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 7:30:00 AM
If you move into a house or
apartment with multiple people, it
can be difficult to split up
rent—especially if everyone's tool will help you divvy the
rooms have different shapes, burden with no fuss. More »
sizes, and anoyances. This little
Bill Monroe, former
'Meet the Press'
host, dies (AP)
(Yahoo! News: Obituaries)
staffer at the monthly LIFE from Submitted at 2/17/2011 2:40:54 PM

Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:00:00 AM LIFE puts together galleries from 1996 to 2000.
time to time around various LIFE's photographic history of AP - Bill Monroe, who hosted the
LIFE Magazine was a great themes, and one that might be computing originally appeared on long-running Washington political
magazine in its day. Since ceasing relevant to your interests is A TUAW on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 television show "Meet the Press"
monthly publication in 2000 and Brief History Of Computing. 10:00:00 EST. Please see our for nearly a decade, died
c l o s i n g a s a n e w s p a p e r Starting with the abacus and terms for use of feeds. Thursday at a Washington-area
supplement in 2007, the brand working through history to get to Highlights include a couple of Source| Permalink| Email this| nursing home.
itself appears on the occasional current events (I won't give away Steves, a guidance computer from Comments
"special issue" and has continued the ending!), it's an interesting the Apollo space program and the
showcasing images on its website. look at how technology has first iPod.
You can also browse the LIFE evolved on the computing front Which image is your favorite?
archives through the lovely and over the last 5,000 years. P.S. Our own Mike Rose was a
Newstablet Edition Technology/ 35

Android Gingerbread & Honeycomb China Telecom close to

Will Combine to Form Ice Cream inking deal with Apple
Sarah Perez (ReadWriteWeb) "Chrome OS is unrelated to
for the CDMA iPhone 4
Submitted at 2/18/2011 9:11:26 AM mobile phones. Chrome OS is for
netbooks and PCs." However,
At this week's Mobile World said Schmidt, "over time, we're Kelly Hodgkins (TUAW)
Congress in Barcelona, Google's working on merging them." Submitted at 2/18/2011 11:00:00 AM

former CEO, now Executive Whether or not Google will

Chairman, Eric Schmidt delivered actually be able to accomplish In a research note, Ticonderoga
a keynote address where he Securities analyst Brian White million total wireless subscribers.
such a feat is unknown, but it's
revealed the future of the Android suggest China Telecom is close to Currently, China Unicom is the
interesting to hear that its vision is
mobile operating system. completing a deal with Apple to sole carrier of the iPhone 4 in
to have just one operating system
Currently, there are two distinct carry the CDMA iPhone 4. White China and is the #2 carrier in the
for all devices - desktops,
versions of Android: Android 2.3, cites a report on Chinese website Asian country with 167 million
notebooks, netbooks, tablets, TVs,
code-named "Gingerbread" for NetEase that claims one branch of wireless subscribers. China
mobile phones and more. Details
smartphones and a newer, tablet- Android, but also Chrome OS, on Ice Cream the wireless operator is already Telecom comes in third place
optimized version of Android 3.0 Google's browser-based desktop In the nearer future, what can we accepting pre-orders for the with 90 million subscribers,
called "Honeycomb." Schmidt OS. CDMA iPhone 4. He also refers which according to White,
expect from the combined
says that the two separate versions "I apologize for the confusion," versions of Gingerbread and to a microblog post, reportedly accounts for almost 58 percent of
will be merged in the next release said Schmidt in response to the Honeycomb? According to an from a China Telecom employee, the world's estimated 550 million
of Android. question. He blamed the speed of interview between PhoneScoop proclaiming that the first CDMA CDMA customers. The remaining
Sponsor innovation at Google for the and Google Android Engineering iPhone call has been placed on its carrier, government-controlled
Android Confusion causing the situation - different Director Dave Burke, Ice Cream network. China Mobile, has a whopping
The next version of Android is teams were working on the will bring Honeycomb's "Action "It is unclear how pre-orders are 584 million subscribers and is
expected to be called "Ice Cream" d i f f e r e n t v e r s i o n s o f t h e s e Bar" to Gingerbread. This is the available before an official rumored to be negotiating with
or perhaps "Ice Cream Sandwich," operating systems at the same bar that brings the contextual, app announcement has been made by Apple to develop an iPhone
but Schmidt did not confirm the time. Chrome OS Will Also -specific buttons to the top of the the two companies," White writes, compatible with the carrier's
naming. All he said was that the M e r g e w i t h A n d r o i d , S a y s screen. "however, the key takeaway is future TD-LTE network.
follow-up release will start with S c h m i d t that the relationship between China Telecom close to inking
Burke also said that
an "I" and will be named after a After responding that the two Honeycomb's "System Bar" (the Apple and China Telecom is deal with Apple for the CDMA
dessert. concurrent versions of Android bar at the bottom) may not come clearly moving in the right iPhone 4 originally appeared on
This information came up during would be merged in the next to phones, but would remain a direction, and we believe that a TUAW on Fri, 18 Feb 2011
the Q&A session at the end of his release, Schmidt also offhandedly tablet-only feature. The hologram- deal will eventually be announced 11:00:00 EST. Please see our
k e y n o t e a s S c h m i d t t o o k mentioned that Chrome OS would esque visual styling found in this year." terms for use of feeds.
questions from the audience. In e v e n t u a l l y b e m e r g e d w i t h Honeycomb will arrive in Ice A deal with China Telecom Source| Permalink| Email this|
this case, the audience member A n d r o i d , t o o . would help Apple break further Comments
Cream, though, as will
had asked for clarity on the many In explaining the differences Honeycomb's multi-tasking app into China's telecom market, the
different variations of Google's between Android and Chrome switcher functionality. Discuss largest in the world with over 842
operating systems - not just OS, Schmidt put it simply:
36 Technology/ Newstablet Edition

Obama dines with Jobs, Zuckerberg, other tech honchos

(CNET News.com)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:19:36 AM
President Obama talks jobs and
the economy with some of the
nation's top tech leaders.(Credit:
The White House)
In a dinner meeting last night, the
president and 12 of the country's
leading technology executives
discussed such hot-button issues
as jobs, education, and how to get
the U.S. economy back on track.
Joining the meeting with Obama
were CEOs including notably
Apple's Steve Jobs, Facebook's
Mark Zuckerberg, Oracle's Larry
Ellison, Google' Eric Schmidt,
Yahoo's Carol Bartz, Cisco
Systems' John Chambers,
Twitter's Dick Costolo, and
NetFlix's Reed Hastings.
Other participants were well-
known venture capitalist John
Doerr, Stanford University
president John Hennessy, former
Genentech CEO Art Levinson,
and Steve Westly, founder of the
Westly Group.
President Obama chats with
Facebook CEO Mark
Zuckerberg.(Credit: The White
House)
Hosted in their Woodside, Calif.,
home by Doerr and his wife Ann,
the dinner was private and not
open to the press, but the White
House has released some details
of the conversation.
Focusing on the administration's
objectives, the president discussed
his ideas for investing in research
and development, creating more
incentives for companies to
expand and hire workers, and the
goal of doubling U.S. exports
over the next five years as one
way to support jobs.
The topic of education was also
high on the list as the group
chatted about the need for new
investments in schools. With an
emphasis on tech, the president
and his dinner companions
discussed ways to encourage
people to study and pursue careers
entrepreneurship, increase U.S.
exports, and get people back to
work, according to the White
House. Obama also expressed
interest in ongoing discussions
with the group as a way of sharing
new ideas to create jobs and
stimulate the economy.
The president continues his focus
on technology today as he takes a
tour an Intel plant in Oregon and
meets with CEO Paul Otellini to
discuss the company's efforts to
invest in STEM to create more
high-tech jobs. Obama also plans
to appoint Otellini to a panel of
experts set up to offer the
administration advice on creating
jobs.
i n s c i e n c e , t e c h n o l o g y , This entry passed through the
engineering, and math, also Full-Text RSS service — if this is
known as STEM. Obama also your content and you're reading it
t a l k e d u p h i s n e w S t a r t u p on someone else's site, please read
America initiative, designed to our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
b u i l d p a r t n e r s h i p s b e t w e e n content-only/faq.php
universities and the private sector Five Filters featured article:
to help kick start new businesses. Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
The meeting was part of an The Crosshairs.
ongoing series of conversations
with the business sector on how to
strengthen the economy, support

LG Optimus 3D gets hefty price ahead of April release

Chris Davies (SlashGear)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 8:39:22 AM
LG’s Optimus 3D was always
going to fall on the expensive
side, with its dual 5-megapixel
camera array and glasses-free 3D
screen, but we’re still a little
surprised by retailer Expansys‘
pre-order price. According to the
listing, the Optimus 3D will be
£514.99 ($835) when it arrives on
April 25.
That’s the SIM-free and carrier-
unlocked price, naturally, so if
you head down to your carrier of
choice they’ll probably be heavily
subsidizing it in return for a two-
year agreement. Still, from our
hands-on with the Optimus 3D at
MWC 2011 earlier this week,
we’re not sure the 3D
functionality is quite worth the
expense.
[ via Android Community]
Relevant Entries on SlashGear
• Release date set for Optimus
Maximus
• LG Optimus 2X pre-orders
taken for Feb 21 release
• Optimus 103 to cost $1,200 –
geeks squeal WTF?!
• Optimus Upravlator finally
breaks cover – Updated!
• Optimus Minimus swaps OLED
for glue-based custom keyboard
Newstablet Edition Technology/ Culture/ 37

Facebook Shares Are Worth Almost Three Times More Than

Tweets For E-Commerce
Leena Rao (TechCrunch) was able to directly attribute sales the higher value of a Facebook
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:50:40 AM to the original action and took the share over a Tweet. Eventbrite
total revenue attributed to each recently reported that a share with
White label daily deals platform action and divided it by the total Facebook friends results in $2.52
and TC Disrupt finalist ChompOn n u m b e r o f s h a r e s / T w e e t s . worth of ticket sales whereas a
is releasing some interesting data ChompOn is working with 50 Twitter share is only worth $0.43.
today comparing the value of partners including Blackbook As we wrote back then, Facebook
shares, Tweets, likes and follows Magazine, JDeal and the wine and email most closely match
in the context of e-commerce. v e r t i c a l o f f l a s h s a l e s s i t e your real friends. In the context of
Using data from the sites that it B e y o n d t h e r a c k , t o p o w e r events, this produces better
powers daily deals for, ChompOn Groupon-like crowdsourced conversions. But it’s interesting to
examined the conversion rate and coupons see that in terms of commerce,
a c t i o n f o r d e a l s s h a r e d o n By comparison, ChompOn says Facebook again provides a higher
Facebook and Twitter. the value of a Facebook like is $8 and subtracting out purchases And it’s important to note that this value than Twitter in terms of
According to the startup, the and the value of a Twitter Follow made through shares/Tweets as analysis does not capture the long conversions. CrunchBase
value of a Facebook share is $14 is $2. For likes and follows, well as purchases made through -term value of customers over Information ChompOn
and the value of a Tweet is $5. ChompOn estimated attribution direct traffic. Of course this data time. Information provided by
For shares and tweets, ChompOn by looking at traffic references is a bit tenuous and anecdotal. We’ve seen other data that shows CrunchBase

Data Nerds Will Nerd Out Over What Postrank's

Doing With Data Now
Marshall Kirkpatrick company is tracking social media For Postrank to start its own blog
(ReadWriteWeb) engagement with all kinds of highlighting content engagement
Submitted at 2/18/2011 9:43:56 AM things. trends across industries, funneling We're Kicking Our
Yesterday Postrank announced websites. This is super smart and readers into more in-depth reports
Social media analytics company the expansion of its browser plug- should be a great read. w h i c h f u n n e l t h e m f u r t h e r Shoes Off in This
Postrank has found two new ways in to include Google search Sponsor t o w a r d s b e c o m i n g p a y i n g Week's Open Thread
to make use of the massive pile of results, so that select Google We use Postrank every day here customers, is very smart. It [Open Thread]
d a t a i t c o l l e c t s e a c h d a y results will now be appended with at ReadWriteWeb for basic news should be fun for us as readers,
c o n c e r n i n g s o c i a l m e d i a data about their social media too. Adam Pash (Lifehacker)
research, but we also use it at
engagement with web content. engagement. (See screenshot special times to rank engagement Stories told based on analysis of Submitted at 2/18/2011 8:30:00 AM
Postrank scores pieces of content b e l o w . ) T o d a y , P o s t r a n k for ourselves across news and interlinking URLs produced by
by the number of comments they l a u n c h e d a n e w d a t a b l o g : social media: I think there's a You've been working your
opinion sites covering particular keyboard fingers to the bone this
receive, the number of times they tracking variable social media topics. See, for example, our use future in that.
a r e s h a r e d o n T w i t t e r , engagement between players in Discuss week. Take a little time to
of Postrank to track the top yourself in this week's open
bookmarked on Delicious, linked various industries, like auto geolocation blogs.
to by blogs and much more. The manufacturers or newspaper thread. More »
38 Technology/ Newstablet Edition

Apple's revenue tops mobile market,

but share sinking inPulse Smart Watch
Chris Ward (TUAW)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 9:30:00 AM
finally shipping
Apple's revenue increased a mere
131.9% over that of 2009 -- the
for RIM's Blackberry and
Google's Android stores.
Google Android market is the But Apple will be happy that they Chris Davies (SlashGear) -inch 96 x 128 resolution color
There are those who will consider record holder, rising a whopping still earned around five times Submitted at 2/18/2011 8:52:48 AM OLED display, Bluetooth 2.1,
it bad news for Apple that their 861.5% from $11 million to $102 more than Blackberry, Nokia and vibration motor, 52MHz ARM7
share of the total smartphone App million -- but that represents an Android put together -- and that's It’s taken inPulse a little longer CPU and 32KB of storage for
Store market shrank by over 10% increase of more than a billion just from apps. Don't forget that than expected, but the company’s apps. The 150 mAh battery is
last year -- but there probably dollars in revenue for Apple Apple also manufactured and sold Bluetooth watch for remotely good for up to four days use, and
won't be many sleepless nights in ($769 million to $1,782 million) all the devices running those apps c o n t r o l l i n g a B l a c k B e r r y recharges by microUSB.
Cupertino at the news, since in one year. in the first place. s m a r t p h o n e i s n o w f i n a l l y [ via BerryReview]
Apple's App Store still sells over The trend will likely continue in [Via Engadget] shipping. Priced from $149.99, Relevant Entries on SlashGear
8 2 % o f a l l a p p s u s e d o n future years, with Apple's revenue Apple's revenue tops mobile the watch has now opened up its • InPulse BlackBerry Bluetooth
smartphones. increasing while its market share market, but share sinking horizons to other platforms, too, watch gets pictured; shipping
Although Apple's massive decreases, simply because there originally appeared on TUAW on including certain Android phones imminently
US$1.782 billion app revenue w i l l b e m o r e a n d m o r e Fri, 18 Feb 2011 09:30:00 EST. and jailbroken iPhones. • Allerta inPulse BlackBerry
(that's right, $1,782,000,000) competition in a marketplace they Please see our terms for use of Functionality ranges from Watch Shows Up Again
includes apps sold to both iPhone basically invented. The combining feeds. previewing incoming messages, • inPulse smartwatch one step
and iPad owners, it dwarfs by of the Nokia Ovi Store and the Source| Permalink| Email this| email and caller ID, to remotely closer to release
more than 10 times nearest rival W i n d o w s 7 m a r k e t p l a c e i s Comments c o n t r o l l i n g i T u n e s a n d • inPulse BlackBerry Bluetooth
Blackberry's $165 million take for scheduled for this year and next PowerPoint presentations and watch up for preorder; won’t ship
2 0 1 0 . I n p e r c e n t a g e t e r m s , and will offer keen competition even monitoring server ping until Feb 2010
times. inPulse also offers a free • inPulse BlackBerry Bluetooth
SDK for Windows, OS X and smartwatch breaks cover
Linux, so that owners can write
their own code.
As for the hardware, there’s a 1.3
Newstablet Edition Technology/ Culture/ 39

Lance
Armstrong:
Cycling legend
(Holy Kaw!)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:08:00 AM

Seven-time Tour de France

champion and cancer survivor
Lance Armstrong formally
announced his retirement from
cycling on Wednesday. The 39-
year-old athlete from Texas had
initially retired from cycling in
2005, but returned in 2009 to
finish third in the Tour his first
year back. This time, Armstrong
says his retirement is final.
Obama Meets With the Real Leaders of the • "Today, I am announcing my
retirement from professional
cycling in order to devote myself
World (Photos) full-time to my family, to the fight
against cancer and to leading the
Marshall Kirkpatrick Facebook, Twitter, Apple, topics for the future of humanity. Sponsor foundation I established before I
(ReadWriteWeb) Google, Yahoo and other leading Seriously, the future of being Cheers! May your wealth and won my first Tour de France," he
Submitted at 2/18/2011 9:43:54 AM tech companies (but no Microsoft, human on this planet is likely to power beyond wealth and power said in a statement.
ouch) to discuss global media be built using Google data bring you enough beneficence and
What does the President of the disruption, OTA installs for the crunching tools, to spread through good will to outweigh the myopic Take a look back at the storied
United States say to the unelected Bohemian Grove iPad app and the Facebook and Twitter and to be insanity of your positions and the career of this seven-time Tour de
leader of a teaming populace fast risk of inflation in Farmville. interfaced with through iPhones, speed and scope of the changes France winner.
a p p r o a c h i n g t h e e q u i v a l e n t Who knows what they talked iPads and cheaper devices that you're standing at the front of. Full story at Discovery News.
population, but half his age? about? Until someone spills the follow their lead. This kind of Now please someone bring us a More news from Discovery
Thanks for following me on beans on Quora, all we can do is meeting ought to happen more killer Facebook app for the iPad! Communications.
Facebook? Watch out for Zynga, s p e c u l a t e . H o p e f u l l y t h e often. The other picture from the P h o t o s b y Permalink| Leave a comment »
I don't trust them? Barack Obama discussion leaned forward into the White House Flickr account is photographer@petesouza. Discuss
met yesterday with CEOs from future and hit on some substantive posted below.
40 Technology/ Culture/
Sony Ericsson’s 4G Android tablet prototype
spotted
Chris Davies (SlashGear)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 7:59:20 AM
We were only just talking about
Sony Ericsson’s Android tablet
plans, and now shots of what
could be the company’s 4G
prototype have emerged from
deep in the TDIA MWC 2011
booth. NieuweMobiel spotted the
slate – branded with the TD-LTE
4G used by China Mobile, the
carrier which Sony Ericsson has
already said it is working with –
complete with a front-facing 3.0-
megapixel webcam and what’s
estimated to be a 6 to 7-inch
touchscreen.
Full specifications are unknown,
What Are President Obama, Zuck, Jobs And
Other Silicon Valley Tech Stars Toasting To?
Leena Rao (TechCrunch)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 9:59:29 AM
The White House has just posted
several photos from President
Obama’s dinner with a number of
Silicon Valley’s technology CEOs
and leaders yesterday evening. As
you can see from the photos, the
star studded invitee list included
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg,
Apple CEO Steve Jobs, Yahoo
CEO Carol Bartz, Cisco’s CEO
John Chambers, Twitter CEO
Dick Costolo, Oracle CEO Larry
Ellison, Netflix CEO Reed
but TDIA did confirm that the
slate runs – or will run; it’s not
clear if it’s a functional unit or
not, and was shown turned off –
an unspecified version of
Android. TD-LTE is also being
Hastings, Genentech Chairman
Art Levinson; Google CEO Eric
Schmidt; former state controller
and venture capitalist Steve
Westly Doerr, and Stanford
University President John
trialled in Germany, so this might
not be solely a device for the
Chinese market.
In fact, the Sony Ericsson slate
may not be released at all; it could
well only be a test device. That’s
Hennessy. The event was held at
Kleiner Perkins partner John
Doerr’s home.
The “cheers” photo above is a
little cheesy, but as you can see,
both Steve Jobs and Mark
Newstablet Edition
probably not a bad thing, given
the bulky casing and the fact it
apparently has a resistive
touchscreen.
Relevant Entries on SlashGear
• Sony Ericsson Vivaz 2 (aka
Hallon) gets pre-announce
preview
• Xperia X8 Android 2.1 update
rolling out now Job vs. Hobby:
• ICD Ultra Android tablet gets
fondled How much can
• Sony Ericsson’s XPERIA X8
ships, Android 1.6 proudly on
board
you make?
(HowStuffWorks Daily Feed)
• Tiny Sony Ericsson XPERIA
Submitted at 2/18/2011 8:00:56 AM
leaks with 1GHz processor punch
We've all had those days when
we feel like a cube monkey and
think, "there must be a better way
to make money!" Well, there
might be a hobby that not only
makes you money, but makes you
more money than your current
job. Test your knowledge and see
Zuckerberg got the prime seats at what hobbies might pay your bills
the table, both seated next to in our quiz.
President Obama. And the candid Earn a point for every right
of picture of the President answer! Save your score at the
engaged in conversation with end of the quiz.
Zuckerberg is also a priceless This entry passed through the
shot. It’s interesting that the Full-Text RSS service — if this is
White House chose to release that your content and you're reading it
particular photo to the public. on someone else's site, please read
Any guesses as to what Obama, our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
Zuck, Bartz, Jobs and the rest are content-only/faq.php
toasting to? Five Filters featured article:
Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
The Crosshairs.
Newstablet Edition
Honor, the Mideast Rebels--and Us
(AEI.Org: Articles)
Submitted at 2/17/2011 5:00:00 PM
Finally, the national conversation
about democracy is relatively
mature and serious. Save for some
TV news anchors, just about
everyone seems to understand that
democracy is tricky.
That skepticism was hard earned.
The last decade provided painful
lessons for everyone, on both
sides of the ideological aisle.
Liberals, who were once naively
optimistic about democracy
promotion, turned dour when
President George W. Bush
became naively optimistic about
it. Then supporters of Bush's
freedom agenda learned a tough
lesson from, among other things,
the disastrous but democratic
elections that put a terrorist junta
in charge of Gaza.
Hence the irony of so many small
-d democrats' quietly celebrating
the fact that Egypt is living under
undemocratic martial law, rather
than democratic Islamic law as
interpreted by a Muslim
Brotherhood caliphate.
This new consensus -- that
democracy is about more than
lever pulling on Election Day -- is
progress.
Democracy is essential to a
liberal order, but it's less
important than the rule of law,
honest courts, individual rights
(including property rights) and the
institutions -- legal and cultural --
that nurture them.
Modernity brings prosperity,
which fuels an insatiable appetite
for respect, and that demand for
respect is what topples tyrannies.
Bush famously proclaimed that
the desire for freedom burns in
every human heart. I'm
sympathetic to such notions and
the statecraft that drives such
pronouncements. But what drives
the urge for liberty?
The notion that we all crave
personal liberty is a fairly new
one. Most calls for freedom over
the centuries have been in the
context of national, not personal,
liberation. The 20th century began
with an atrocious war allegedly
fought over something called "self
-determination," but the "self" in
question wasn't the id, ego or
super ego but referred to the
captive nations of Europe.
Freedom fighters have generally
battled for the collective right to
fly a national flag, not the
individual right to burn one.
The great change, as Francis
Fukuyama wrote in his book "The
End of History and the Last Man,"
has been the evolution of
individual self-determination.
Fukuyama borrows a term,
"thumos," from the ancient
Greeks to explain the
transformation. Thumos, or
"spiritedness," encompasses the
instinct for justice, respect,
integrity.
"People evaluate and assign worth
to themselves in the first instance
and feel indignation on their own
behalf," he writes. "But they are
also capable of assigning worth to
other people, and feeling anger on
behalf of others."
Indignation, the driving passion
of all revolutions, shares a root
with dignity, a person's (and a
people's) sense of self-worth. A
major cause of Mideast political
stagnation, for instance, has been
that Arab and Muslim dictators
have linked their people's self-
respect with the Palestinians'
plight.
More positively, in our country,
the civil-rights movement and the
women's movement were, at their
core, what Harvard philosopher
Harvey Mansfield has called
"honor-seeking movements."
To understand continuity
between the old conception of
liberty and the modern one, you
need to understand that freedom
in the West mostly means "free to
be me." Freedom in much of the
rest of the world remains "free to
be us."
The genius of liberal democracy
is that it allows both conceptions
to flourish simultaneously, often
in healthy tension. Far from
perfect, liberal democracy offers
the most people the most respect
possible.
The tumult throughout the
Mideast is a generational
conflagration between different
conceptions of thumos -- old and
modern, Muslim and nationalist,
collective and individual. In the
long run, I'm not too worried
about liberal democracy's
prospects in the Middle East.
Modernity brings prosperity,
which fuels an insatiable appetite
for respect, and that demand for
respect is what topples tyrannies.
I'm more concerned about what's
happening here. Thumos is
evolving in Western democracies,
which is not the same thing as
saying it's improving.
Our fiscal woes, not to mention
the riot of dysfunction that often
goes by the name political
correctness and the thu mos on the
cheap that we call the self-esteem
industry, are in no small part
attributable to the perversion of
our sense of self-worth. For
millions of Americans, it seems
that respect must be paid in the
form of cash tribute. How else to
explain the sanctity of our aptly
named "entitlement" system?
Great civilizations die when the
people believe their personal
dignity demands more than the
society can possibly provide.
Sadly, that conversation has
barely begun.
Jonah Goldberg is a visiting
scholar at AEI.
Photo Credit: Flickr user
logan.brown/Creative Commons
This entry passed through the
Full-Text RSS service — if this is
your content and you're reading it
on someone else's site, please read
our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article:
Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
The Crosshairs.
Policy/ TV/ 41
Reporter Serene Branson
Suffered 'Migraine
Aura,' Not a Stroke
Chris Harnick (TV Squad)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 4:45:00 AM
Filed under: TV News Serene
Branson, the CBS reporter who
flubbed her lines on Grammy
night, did not suffer a stroke but
rather a migraine aura.
Doctors had previously
diagnosed Branson with a
complex migraine, but according
to a report in the Los Angeles
Times, Branson suffered a
migraine aura. Symptoms for a
migraine aura include visual,
language and sensory problems.
Branson said she suffered from
blurred vision and numbness and
tingling in her face and hands,
two key symptoms of migraine
aura according to Dr. Andrew
Charles, director of UCLA's
headache research and treatment
program.
Permalink| Email this| Linking
Blogs| Comments
42 Policy/ Culture/ Products/ Newstablet Edition

Dupes of False Innovation
(AEI.Org: Articles)
Submitted at 2/17/2011 5:00:00 PM
Is there real innovation in
banking and finance, or just
endless, cyclical repetition of
massively costly bust.
A while ago, the Financial Times
had a contest to come up with the
best word for the opposite of a
"bubble." My entry was a
"shrivel"-which did not win. The
squared" and "SIVs" were merely
new names for lending long and
borrowing short, as the "GSE"
charters of Fannie Mae and
Freddie Mac were for running at
extreme leverage. All these ways
Questions of
Health - from
history, we have: mutual funds,
deposit insurance, futures Consumer Reports
exchanges, stock exchanges and Press Room (Consumer
central banks. Reports)
True innovations shape and
constrain but cannot prevent the Submitted at 2/17/2011 9:00:59 PM

credit enthusiasms and mistakes?
James Grant, an acerbic
chronicler of the foibles of
financial markets, argues that,
though science and engineering
are progressive, finance is
cyclical. Writing in the 1990s
about the 1980s, he observed: "In
technology, therefore, banking
has almost never looked back. On
the other hand, this progress has
paid scant dividends in judgment.
Surrounded by computer
terminals, bankers in the 1980s
committed some of the greatest
howlers in American financial
history."
And how about the bankers of the
21st century? Surrounded by
vastly more computer power,
supplied with reams of data and
informed by Nobel Prize-winning
financial theories, they made even
more egregious mistakes. They
created, as we all know so well,
an amazing bubble, an
international panic and a
winning entry was a "bunge."
This was drawn from "bungee
cord," the idea being that you
experience a terrifying free fall
but do in the end reach bottom
and bounce back. Financial
innovation has a lot in common
with this pattern.
In every boom, we hear about
"creative" new financial products.
For example, the Clinton
administration's homeownership
strategy in the 1990s called for
"creative mortgages." An extreme
example of this sort of "creativity"
was the "option ARM" mortgage,
on which you did not even pay all
the interest due, thus, in effect,
borrowing more every month-and
this additional borrowing was
booked as income by the lender!
Such products are not real
innovations. They are merely new
names for diminishing credit
standards, running up leverage
and increasing risk.
In the same fashion, "CDOs-
of increasing old risks by new
names bring the same inevitable,
sad end. They are all illusory as
innovations.
I propose to distinguish between
illusory and real financial
innovations. Real innovations turn
ideas into institutions that endure.
Real innovations occur much less
frequent than cyclical illusory
innovations, of course, because it
is hard to do something truly new.
Nonetheless, they do happen.
Here are some real innovations
from fairly recent financial
experience: interest rate swaps.
TIPS (these inflation-indexed
Treasury securities make it harder
for the government to cheat savers
through inflation, a worthy
achievement), senior-subordinated
securitizations, money market
mutual funds, automated teller
machines, general-purpose charge
and debit cards and the 30-year,
fixed-rate mortgage.
From further back in financial
next new ideas, and so on forever.
Questions of Health - from
The combination of true and
Consumer Reports This month,
illusory innovations ensures that
Consumer Reports' medical
financial markets are always in
experts answer reader questions
transition.
about nasal sprays diminishing
The constant challenge to
one's sense of smell, and the
bankers and all financial actors is
healthfullness of colored rice.
to try to separate real innovations,
Questions of Health - CR Podcast
which will last and be productive,
Subscribe now!
from the illusory ones, which will
S u b s c r i b e t o
tempt them once again to
ConsumerReports.org for expert
overexpand credit, triggering a
Ratings, buying advice and
credit collapse. Alex J. Pollock is
reliability on hundreds of
a resident fellow at AEI.
products. Update your feed
Photo Credit:Flickr user/amy/
preferences
Creative Commons
This entry passed through the
Full-Text RSS service — if this is
your content and you're reading it
on someone else's site, please read
our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article:
Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
The Crosshairs.

Like us, early humans ran the gamut

(Holy Kaw!)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:01:00 AM
Although they did not act
“modern,” new evidence suggests
humans living in East Africa
200,000 years ago were as
complex in their behavior as
humans living today.
John Shea, an anthropologist at
Stony Brook University, asserts
that some of the behaviors
associated with modern
humans—specifically our
capacity for wide behavioral
variability—did occur among
“Comparing the behavior of our
most ancient ancestors to Upper
Paleolithic Europeans holistically
and ranking them in terms of their
‘behavioral modernity’ is a waste
of time,” argues Shea. “There are
no such things as modern humans,
early humans. just Homo sapiens populations
with the capacity for a wide range
of behavioral variability.
Full story at Futurity.
More research news from top
universities.
Photo credit: John Shea, Stony
Brook University
Permalink| Leave a comment »
Newstablet Edition Policy/ Economy/ Food/ 43

"The Quran Is Our Law; Jihad Is Our Whatever Happened To

Way" Deflation?
(AEI.Org: Articles) Egypt in 1928 by Hassan al- commentators to encourage the Dean Baker (Money Game) However, nominal interest rates
Submitted at 2/17/2011 5:00:00 PM Banna; its history of terrorism; its American government to engage Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:46:32 AM cannot go below zero.
violent offshoots such as al with the Brothers as legitimate This means that the real interest
For a sense of the kind of Egypt Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jamait The Bureau of Labor Statistics
partners in Middle Eastern affairs. rate can't fall below the negative
the Muslim Brotherhood wants, Islamiya, Islamic Jihad, Hamas reported that consumer prices rose
This article is available in full by of the inflation rate (e.g, with a
start with its motto. and others across the Muslim 0.4 percent in January. On closer
subscription to the Wall Street zero nominal interest rate, the real
'Allah is our objective; the world. Readers may also recall the inspection this should not be any
Journal. The full text will be interest rate would be -1.0 percent
Prophet is our leader; the Quran is brutal crackdowns on the Brothers big deal. Core inflation rose by
posted to AEI.org on Tuesday, with a 1.0 percent inflation rate
our law; Jihad is our way; dying by autocratic regimes in the February 22, 2011 just 0.2 percent in the month. The and -2.0 percent with a 2.0
in the way of Allah is our highest Middle East--particularly in Egypt main driver of the higher inflation
Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a resident percent inflation rate). If the
hope." So goes the motto of the under Nasser and in Syria during scholar at AEI. was a big jump in energy prices. inflation rate falls below zero (i.e.
Muslim Brotherhood. the Hama massacre of 1982. However even with this jump the
Photo Credit: Flickr user Messay we get deflation), this problem
What's extraordinary about this As a result of these crackdowns, overall CPI is only up by 1.6
Shoakena/Creative Commons gets worse, but the drop in the
maxim is the succinct way that it t h e B r o t h e r h o o d r e n o u n c e d percent over the last year, a level
This entry passed through the inflation rate from 0.5 percent to -
captures the political dimension of violence in the 1970s (after that all but the most loony
Full-Text RSS service — if this is 0.5 percent is no worse than the
Islam. Even more extraordinary is Nasser's regime executed the inflation hawks would consider
your content and you're reading it drop from 1.5 percent to 0.5
the capacity of these five pillars of Islamist philosopher Sayyid Qutb acceptable.
on someone else's site, please read percent.
faith to attract true believers. But in 1966) and started a gradual Still, it is worth noting that the
our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/ It was also predictable that there
the most remarkable thing of all is p r o c e s s t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n possibility of deflation seems to
content-only/faq.php would not be persistent deflation
the way the Brotherhood's motto c o n v e n t i o n a l p o l i t i c s . T h i s have disappeared from the scene.
Five Filters featured article: in the United States. Wages are
seduces Western liberals. renunciation--and the Since this possibility featured
Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In sticky downward, which made it
Readers of this paper are familiar Brotherhood's involvement in the The Crosshairs. prominently in many discussions unlikely that core prices would
with the genesis of the Muslim Egyptian uprising, neither violent of the economy in the period actually start falling. Also, the
Brotherhood: its establishment in nor dominant--has prompted some immediately following the current rise in commodity prices
financial crisis, it probably would was to be expected as the dollar
Top Ingredients for Quick Cooking be worth some brief mention of its
passing.
The issue of deflation has
would drift lower as a result of the
U.S. trade deficit and also demand
(Cooking Light: Editor's Picks) savor to foods while adding zero Brown Rice in China and other fast growing
calories and zero saturated fat. This entry passed through the consistently been misrepresented developing countries created
We've identified 20 ingredients With this list of gold-standard Full-Text RSS service — if this is in economic reporting. The scarcity for many products.
that get our creative juices quick-cooking ingredients in your content and you're reading it economy is suffering from a Anyhow, given how fears of
f l o w i n g , f r o m f r e s h , hand, we also provide 20 easy on someone else's site, please read lower than desired inflation rate, deflation had once featured so
superconvenient products like recipes perfect for busy nights. our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/ which limits the effectiveness of prominently in discussions of
bagged baby spinach, to go-to We hope these inspire you to content-only/faq.php monetary policy. Given the economic policy it is worth some
pantry standards like organic stock your own pantry and Five Filters featured article: severity of the downturn we noting of their passing.
canned black beans, to high-flavor experiment further. Fast, fresh, Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In would like a large negative real Join the conversation about this
spice-rack heroes like smoked and healthy can be something The Crosshairs. interest rate (e.g -0.6 percent) . story »
paprika, which gives a bacon-y else, too—fun. Next Boil-in-Bag
44 Economy/
Is Shale Oil The Answer To Peak Oil?
Gail E. Tverberg (Money Game)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:21:00 AM
Readers have been asking
questions about a couple of shale
oil articles recently. One is an AP
article called New drilling method
opens vast oil fields in US.
A similar article is a CNBC
article titled Massive New US Oil
Supply – ‘Peak Oil’ Fears
Overblown? Both of these
articles talk about the extraction
of shale oil in the Bakken and
other locations, using horizontal
wells and hydraulic fracturing.
According to the AP article:
Companies are investing billions
of dollars to get at oil deposits
scattered across North Dakota,
Colorado, Texas and California.
By 2015, oil executives and
analysts say, the new fields could
yield as much as 2 million barrels
of oil a day — more than the
entire Gulf of Mexico produces
now.
This new drilling is expected to
raise U.S. production by at least
20 percent over the next five
years. And within 10 years, it
could help reduce oil imports by
more than half, advancing a goal
that has long eluded
policymakers.
There are several questions that
might be asked:
1. Is this really a new drilling
technique?
2. How likely is the 2 million
barrels a day of new production,
and the 20% increase in US
production, by 2015?
3. Can this additional oil supply
really reduce the US’s imports by
over half?
4. How much of a difference will
this oil make to “peak oil”?
Let’s take the questions in order.
1. Is this really a new drilling
technique?
No., this is not really a new
drilling technique. According to
Wikipedia, hydraulic fracturing
was first used in the United States
for stimulating oil and gas wells
in 1947. It was first used
commercially in 1949.
Directional drilling, including
horizontal drilling is almost as
old, but it was not widely used
until downhill motors and
semicontinuous surveying became
possible. The techniques have
gradually been refined, as oil and
gas companies have used them
more and supporting technologies
have been better developed.
A major reason we are using
these techniques is because much
of the easy-to-extract oil has
already been extracted. Horizontal
drilling and hydraulic fracturing
are more expensive, but can be
used to get out oil that would be
inaccessible otherwise. The hope
is that oil prices will be high
enough to make these techniques
profitable.
2. How likely is the 2 million
barrels a day of new production,
and the 20% increase in US
production, by 2015?
That is a good question. There is
certainly a lot of drilling for oil
being done now. According to
Baker Hughes, 805 rigs are now
involved in oil drilling. This is
above the oil rig high point in
1987. (Natural gas rig counts are
down recently, so much of this
rig count increase seems to
represent a re-purposing of rigs.)
Active rigs in North Dakota have
also increased greatly. (These rigs
are include both oil and natural
gas, but with the Bakken and
Eagle Ford plays in North
Dakota, it seems as though most
would be oil rigs.)
There are several reasons why the
hoped for increase might not be
realized, however. These include:
Inadequate infrastructure. One
Newstablet Edition
question is whether inadequate
infrastructure will prove to be a
roadblock to meeting ambitious
production goals in five to 10
years. The AP article quoted
above mentions that currently oil
is being transported to market by
rail and truck, and drilling
companies have erected camps for
workers. If infrastructure
problems are already being
reached, before the ramp-up
really takes place, a person
wonders how much of an obstacle
these considerations will be in the
future.
Inadequate price. What tends to
happen when there isn’t adequate
transportation for the oil is the
selling price of the oil tends to be
depressed, relative to other types.
As of February 8, the spot price
for Brent was $99.25; the spot
price for West Texas
Intermediate (WTI) was $85.85,
and the spot price for North
Dakota Sweet was $65.61. The
target discount rate relative to
WTI is quoted as being 10%
(because it is a light oil), but the
actual price seems to be much
lower.
It is easy for operators to assume
that the price differential will get
better, and also that the prices of
other types of oil will continue to
rise. But all of these things are by
no means certain. High oil prices
tend to send the economy into
recession, so world prices may not
rise as much as hoped–they may
oscillate instead, rising, then
SHALE page 45
Newstablet Edition
SHALE
continued from page 44
putting the economy into
recession and falling again. Also
the differential of North Dakota
types of crude to Brent may stay
low for an extended period, if
infrastructure issues cannot be
worked out.
Optimism before drilling. There
are many unknowns before
drilling including how quickly oil
production from individual wells
will decline, how long wells will
prove to be economic, what
proportion of wells will have high
production, and the level of oil
and gas prices in the future. It is
natural for those who are trying to
get others to invest in these
ventures to base their assumptions
on an optimistic view of the
future. If experience with shale
gas in Texas is any clue, once
realities start setting in, the level
of drilling may decline, and
overall production, after an initial
run-up, may decline. If this
happens, it will be very difficult
to meet the ambitious goals
presented.
Large amount of increase
required. If we look at a graph of
countrywide US oil production, it
has been decreasing prior to an
uptick in 2009 and 2010. Bakken
oil production (in ND +MT) is
shown near the bottom of Figure
4. It appears as a thin blue line
that was a bit thicker back in the
late 1980s, became thinner for
many years, and now is a bit
thicker (reaching an average of
about 370,000 barrels a day in
2010). Getting that line, or that
line plus some other areas that
are only starting up, to increase by
2 million barrels a day, to
2,370,000 per day by 2015, would
be a tall order.
Likely other declines at same
time. US crude oil production has
been headed downward for a long
time–actually since 1970, not just
since 1985 shown on the graph
Figure 4. If overall production is
to be increases by 2 million
barrels a day by 2015, it will be
necessary to overcome these
declines, as well as add 2 million
barrels a day of new production.
What happens is that each year,
more and more oil fields and oil
wells within oil fields become non
-economic. These are closed.
Also, what is extracted is an oil-
water mix, and the proportion of
oil tends to fall over time. This
means that if a given volume of
oil-water mix is processed from a
well, each year the well will yield
less oil and more water.
There has been discussion of
raising taxes on oil companies.
Raising taxes on oil companies
tends to raise the number of wells
that are non-economic.
According to Figure 5, about
85% of US wells are now
producing less than 15 barrels a
day, and about 15% of wells are
moderate rate wells, producing
15 to 1,600 barrels of oil
equivalent a day. Only a small
percentage are high rate wells. If
tax rates increase, some of them
will be closed. New wells will
also become less economic, and
some wells will not be drilled
that would otherwise be drilled.
So a person would expect an
increase in taxes on oil companies
to result in a step down in
existing production. Many of the
oil companies affected will be
small–their only business may be
a few wells producing less than 15
barrels a day. The amount of oil
produced by so-called stripper
wells is about 900,000 barrels a
day.
Another area where there is risk
of decline is Alaska. The Trans-
Alaska Pipeline System is
suffering from issues related to
low flow and corrosion. Major
upgrades to the system may be
needed, including heating the
line, to keep it operational. At
some point, the amount of “fixes”
to the Alaska pipeline will exceed
the value to be gained from
shipping the oil, and the whole
system may need to be closed
because of low flow. The current
flow through the pipeline is
640,000 barrels a day.
3. Can this additional oil supply
really reduce the US’s imports by
over half, in ten years?
US oil consumption reached its
maximum level in 2005. Figure 5
shows a breakdown into its major
components.
The crude layer in blue is the
same countrywide crude oil
production as shown in Figure 4.
The purple layer on the top is
imports (minus exports), so net
imports, based on EIA data. The
layer I have called miscellaneous
is everything else that goes into
what is reported as “liquids.”
Recently, the miscellaneous
category has been about one-half
natural gas liquids, one-quarter
ethanol, and one-quarter “refinery
gain”–that is the expansion that
occurs when the US refines crude
oil. The “miscellaneous” items
are products that provide less
energy per barrel than oil. Many
people believe that these
additional items have been
included in “liquids” figures to
make US oil production look like
it is performing better than it
really is.
Natural gas liquids. I am
suspicious that quite a bit of the 2
million barrels a day of additional
production by 2015 that is being
forecast is not really oil. Instead, I
expect it will be natural gas
liquids. This currently represents
about half of the “miscellaneous”
layer in Figure 6. Natural gas
liquids (NGLs) include propane,
butane, and other gasses. It may
very well that much of the recent
increase in “oil” drilling rigs is, in
fact, primarily for NGLs, since
there has been a great deal of
recent interest in liquids-rich
gasses. In fact, some articles talk
about the possibility of falling
prices for NGLs, because of a
possible supply-demand
imbalance, if production of these
ramps up.
An increase in NGLs would be of
lesser benefit than oil, because it
is not directly substitutable for oil,
and is a cheaper product.
Initially, it would mostly make
home heating for those using
propane cheaper, but then tend to
drive NGL developers out of the
market. Unless NGLs can
cheaply be converted to higher
priced oil products (and refinery
capacity can be added quickly to
45
accomplish this), it would seem
like a drop in prices would
quickly put an end to the NGL
ramp-up.
Imports. Figure 7 shows a graph
of US net imports–that is the top
layer on Figure 6–by themselves.
(On all of these graphs, the data
for 2010 is through November,
but I have estimated December,
to give an approximate 2010
value.)
It seems to me that oil imports
really depend on what the US can
afford for imports–how high the
price is, how much oil for export
is on the world market (which
helps determine the price), and
whether the US is in recession
because of high oil prices. Oil
imports were increasing up until
2005; now they are decreasing.
This decrease in oil imports
reflects the fact that oil in the
world export market peaked in
2005, as much as anything else.
High oil prices (and layoffs
indirectly related to high oil
prices) have made it difficult for
people to afford goods and
services that require oil in their
production (vacation trips, new
homes, new cars, many other
types of goods). As a result, US
demand for oil products has
dropped to the point where our
imports have dropped each year
since 2005.
In my view, if additional US oil
is produced, it actually helps
increase US demand for oil
products–in fact for all products.
More people are employed, and
SHALE page 46
46
SHALE
continued from page 45
this puts more money into the
economy. It also helps keep
world oil prices from escalating as
fast as they would otherwise. The
net effect is that I would expect
higher US oil production to
increase US imports (or maybe,
keep imports from falling as
fast), because they will help keep
the US out of recession. I am sure
some will disagree with me on
this, however.
US oil imports have declined
about 25% in the five years since
2005. In the next ten years, I
would expect oil imports to
continue to decline, regardless of
what we do, because the amount
of oil on the world market will
continue to drop, and oil
importers will tend more and
more to be in recession. It is not
clear how much US oil imports
will drop, but a 50% drop in the
next 10 years would not seem all
that unlikely, regardless of what
we what we produce, because of
oil exporting countries will tend
to consume more, and more
countries will shift from being
exporters to importers. We are
currently importing 9.4 million
barrels a day, so a reduction by
half by 2020 would be a
reduction of 4.7 million barrels a
day.
Responding to the initial
assertion that the oil ramp-up will
permit a reduction by half of oil
imports by 2020. If somehow over
the next ten years, we could really
produce 4.7 million barrels of oil
to offset the decline in oil imports
that we will likely be losing
because of declines in the world
export market, that would be
wonderful. But at most, what it
looks like the author of the AP
article is looking for is a mixture
of NGLs and crude oil that might
ramp up to 2 million barrels a day
by 2015, and 4.7 million barrels a
day by 2020, in addition to
compensating for whatever other
declines we might be
encountering.
If the mixture is heavily NGLs, it
seems as though refineries will
need to be reconfigured to adjust
the NGLs to permit reformation
into longer-length chains, to
make the NGLs truly substitutable
for oil. I do not know how
feasible such a step would be, or
what the “energy cost” would be.
It would really be the net oil
addition, after the conversion
process, that would be of interest.
4. How much of a difference will
this oil make to “peak oil”?
It seems to me that whatever
additional oil and NGLs are
produced will have a much
bigger impact on the US economy
than it will have on “peak oil.”
Adding more energy, if it can be
done at a price that is affordable,
will be help keep the US out of
recession, and thus keep
employment up and demand for
energy products up.
We have known for a long time
that a huge amount of oil is
available, in forms that are
increasingly difficult to extract.
The question, in my view, is how
much of this huge amount of oil is
economic to extract. This is
closely related to Energy Return
on Energy Invested (EROEI). At
some point, oil becomes too
expensive to extract; it just puts
the economy into recession, or
worse. A schematic diagram of
what happens is shown in Figure
8:
We have known about the
Bakken oil shale and the many
other shales that have NGLs for a
long time. There are also many
other types of oil that we know
about (such as ultra-deepwater,
polar, oil-shale) that are quite
expensive to extract, both in terms
of price in dollars and in terms of
resources required. The resources
required are not just the direct
resources of drilling–they also
include pipelines that might not
be used for very many years, and
even local refineries, which again
might not be used for many years,
and training for workers. With
respect to NGLs, if they are to be
used as “regular” oil, they will
need unification, perhaps with
catalytic reforming, if they are to
be used as longer-chain
hydrocarbons, which are the
higher-priced, more desirable,
product. The big question is
whether these processes can be
made to be economic. If we ever
get to the point where more
energy is consumed in these
processes than we get out at the
end, the processes are clearly
losers.
To me, each decision to drill a
new well, or to start a new field,
or even to continue pumping
from an existing well, is based on
the economics of the day. Some
fields or potential wells or new
wells drop below the “Non-
economic” line on Figure 8, as tax
rates rise. Others rise about the
non-economic line, as technology
improves. But by and large, the
vast majority of oil resources that
we know about will forever lie
below the non-economic line. The
assumption that oil prices will
rise high enough to allow us to
extract all of these oil sources is
based on an incomplete
understanding of the situation. At
some point, the costs (and energy
demands) of extraction and
processing just become too high,
relative to the benefits. Demand
can never rise high enough to
produce the high prices required
for extraction. Ultimately,
production will fall, not from a
lack of resources, but from
inadequate demand for high-
priced oil from low quality
resources.
The manner in which Figure 8
fits in with Hubbert’s Curve is not
directly obvious. Most “liquid” oil
will tend to be in the upper
“economic” triangle. Most “solid”
forms of oil will tend to be in the
bottom portion of the triangle.
(Hubbert’s Curve is usually
applied only to the liquid portion
of oil resources.)
But within this general
breakdown, the edges will be
determined by economics–does it
make financial sense to use a
particular tertiary recovery
method on a particular liquid-oil
field? Is it economic to extract
something that is not quite liquid
oil (like NGLs) and transform it
to something that might operate
vehicles?
Newstablet Edition
One thing that is definitely
different about Figure 8,
compared to Hubbert’s Curve, is
a different implication regarding
how much is left, when the non-
economic line is reached.
Hubbert’s Curve discussion talks
about half of the oil being gone,
when decline starts. There is no
such implication with Figure 8.
Operators will continue to extract
oil that can be extracted at low
price (high EROI), even as more
and more new types of extraction
fall below the non-economic line.
But it seems quite likely that
much less than half of the low-
priced (high EROEI) oil will be
left, when we start running into
difficulties with new oil types
falling below the non-economic
line.
To me, the big question is
whether Bakken oil shale, other
oil shales, and all of the
additional NGLs can really be
made economic. If they can, and
the amount of oil extracted raised
to the hoped-for 2+ million
barrels a day by 2015 and 4.7+
million barrels a day by 2020, the
new oil sources may help to keep
recession away for a while longer.
But if not, we are likely nearing
the point where limited oil supply
will push us more and more into
recession. I am doubtful that the
new oil shale sources can ramp
up as quickly as hoped, but there
is at least some glimmer of hope
that these fuels will help keep the
day of reckoning away a bit
longer.
SHALE page 48
Newstablet Edition Economy/ Politics-Right/ 47

Gallup Survey Pegs Mid-February U.S. Unemployment at

10%; Analysis of the Jobs and Unemployment Situation
noreply@blogger.com (Michael -February
Shedlock) (Mish's Global Underemployment, in which
Economic Trend Analysis) Gallup combines part-time
Submitted at 2/17/2011 11:34:00 AM workers wanting full-time work
Gallup says the unemployment with the U.S. unemployment rate,
rate is 10.0%. However, that is a surged in mid-February to 19.6%
"without seasonal adjustment". -- mostly as a result of the sharp
On the same basis, the BLS has increase in those working part
the January unemployment rate at time but wanting full-time work.
9.8%. Underemployment now stands at
The "official" unemployment rate basically the same place as it did a
from the BLS is 9.0%, seasonally year ago (19.8%).
adjusted. The Jobs Situation Now Versus a
Please consider Gallup Finds Year Ago
U.S. Unemployment Up to 10.0% The unemployment rate in mid-
in Mid-February February is 0.8 percentage points
Unemployment, as measured by lower than it was at this time a
G a l l u p w i t h o u t s e a s o n a l year ago, compared with a 1.1-
adjustment, hit 10.0% in mid- point improvement at the end of
February -- up from 9.8% at the January. This suggests that jobs
end of January. are less available now than they
Numbers reflect rolling averages were in January.
for the 30-day periods ending on More troubling, however, is the
the 15th and last day of each surge in underemployment. On
month from January 2010 through this broader basis, current job
February 15, 2011. conditions are barely improved
The percentage of part-time from what they were at this time
workers who want full-time work last year. Essentially, what has
worsened considerably in mid- happened over the past year is
February, increasing to 9.6% of that some people who were
the workforce from 9.1% in unemployed got part-time jobs but
January. are still looking for full-time
Part Time Workers Wanting Full work. This is not much to show
Time Jobs for a year in which many macro-
Underemployment Surges in Mid economic indicators showed
Moreover, were it not for millions
dropping out of the labor force,
the unemployment rate would be
11%.
Here is one final thought. How
much taxpayer money is wasted
by thousands of BLS workers
putting out constantly-revised
results when we can easily get
results of high quality from the
other places for far cheaper?
improvement. .8% drop year over-year in Mike "Mish" Shedlock
This is likely why Gallup's self- unemployment and a rise of .6% h t t p : / /
reported spending remains stuck in part-time workers wanting a globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.
i n " n e w n o r m a l " e v e n a s full-time job. com
consumer optimism continues to Gallup notes the year-over-year Click Here To Scroll Thru My
hit new highs. Jobs remain the trend in unemployment is rising. Recent Post List Mike
key to getting the U.S. economy This should not be surprising. "Mish" Shedlock is a registered
m o v i n g , a n d m i d - F e b r u a r y Many retail companies did not let investment advisor representative
underemployment results suggest go workers in January that they f o r S i t k a P a c i f i c C a p i t a l
little or no progress is being hired for the Christmas season. Management. Sitka Pacific is an
made in that regard. Analysis of It was on that basis I suggested asset management firm whose
the Jobs Situation last November and December we goal is strong performance and
The best comparison of statistics could see a couple of "hot low volatility, regardless of
i s n o n - s e a s o n a l l y - a d j u s t e d months" at the beginning of the market direction. Visit http://
numbers to the same month a year year. We did not see it in jobs, but w w w . s i t k a p a c i f i c . c o m /
ago. I added blue circles on the it sure showed up in the large account_management.html to
charts to show. drop last month in the BLS l e a r n m o r e a b o u t w e a l t h
While the BLS and Gallup both s e a s o n a l l y - a d j u s t e d m a n a g e m e n t a n d c a p i t a l
have non-adjusted unemployment u n e m p l o y m e n t r a t e . preservation strategies of Sitka
rate dropping nearly a percent Now, unless corporations are Pacific.
from a year ago, the Gallup about to go on a hiring spree, (and
results suggest that much of that I doubt they are), I would expect
drop is from part-time hiring. To unemployment rate to at least tick
be more precise Gallup shows a up to the 9.5-9.6% area again.

If We Lose Bahrain
Nichole Hungerford (FrontPage Obscure to most Americans, but Middle Eastern country
Magazine » FrontPage) vitally important to the American
military, the tiny island nation of Bahrain has become the latest
48 Economy/ Newstablet Edition
SHALE
Japan's Social Security Panel Wants to Double Sales continued from page 46

Gail Tverberg is a writer and

Taxes; Tax Cut Independents Win Local Elections in speaker about energy issues. She
is especially known for her work
with financial issues associated
Landslide; Japan's Debt Trap Has No Escape with peak oil. Prior to getting
involved with energy issues, Ms.
noreply@blogger.com (Michael Raising the sales tax may have two major parties and revived Mike "In Tokyo" notes Japan Tverberg worked as an actuarial
Shedlock) (Mish's Global political consequences. Kan’s public doubt about the nascent Wasted$78 Billion on Global consultant. This work involved
Economic Trend Analysis) Democratic Party of Japan lost two-party system. Warming Research in six years. performing insurance-related
Submitted at 2/18/2011 3:15:00 AM elections for the Upper House of 'It is the beginning of the collapse Given a 200% Debt-to-GDP analyses and forecasts. Her
After decades of foolishly parliament in July after he floated of the two-party system,' Minoru ratio, the world's worst aging p e r s o n a l blog is
fighting deflation, Japan is broke. the idea of raising the levy. When Morita, a veteran political analyst, demographics, and with Social ourfiniteworld.com. She is also an
Social Security now consumes a the tax was last raised in 1997, the said. Security consuming 53% of editor of The Oil Drum.
whopping 53% of government economy went into recession. The independents, Hideaki government spending, Japan is in This post originally appeared on
spending and that number will More than 60 percent of voters Omura, and the Nagoya Mayor a debt trap with no possible Oilprice.com.
rise. b e l i e v e r a i s i n g t h e t a x i s T a k a s h i K a w a m u r a , w h o escape. Join the conversation about this
A government panel now says necessary while 35 percent campaigned for tax cuts, defeated Japan's debt crisis is rapidly story »
Doubling of Sales Tax Needed to disagree, according to a Yomiuri candidates endorsed by the big coming to a head, and few are See Also:
Shore Up Finances. newspaper survey published Jan. parties in the Aichi gubernatorial even watching. • The Military Is Preparing For
Japan needs to more than double 16. The paper polled 1,069 people election and the mayoral race. Mike "Mish" Shedlock Peak Oil, And Civilian
its 5 percent consumption tax to on Jan. 14-15 and didn’t provide a For the DPJ, a first indication of h t t p : / / Authorities Are Not
s h o r e u p t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’ s margin of error. 60% Favor Tax t h i n g s t o c o m e w e r e t h e globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot. [ P R E S E N T A T I O N ]
finances given soaring debt and Hike? November municipal polls in com • Former BP Exec: Here's Why
welfare costs, a member of Prime I was startled to see 60% in favor Matsudo, a Tokyo suburb. Of the Click Here To Scroll Thru My P e a k Oil Is Real
Minister Naoto Kan’s tax and of a tax hike. However, my friend 11 candidates the party fielded, Recent Post List Mike [ P R E S E N T A T I O N ]
social security panel said. Mike "In Tokyo" Rogers explains: only two won. "Mish" Shedlock is a registered • It Will Take 131 Years To
“I don’t think an increase to 10 " What a load of rubbish. I'm sure Another crushing defeat seems investment advisor representative Replace Oil, And We've Only Got
percent is enough,” former that survey was taken somewhere almost inevitable in upcoming f o r S i t k a P a c i f i c C a p i t a l 10
Financial Services Minister near Kokaigijicho. That's where nationwide local elections in Management. Sitka Pacific is an
Hakuo Yanagisawa said yesterday all the government offices all are. April. asset management firm whose
in an interview at his office in There's no regular working or In the latest Kyodo News agency goal is strong performance and
Tokyo. “Our discussions must be retired Japanese person in their opinion survey, 19.9 per cent of low volatility, regardless of
based on new realities right mind who agrees with a those polled supported Kan's market direction. Visit http://
Concern over Japan’s rising debt, sales tax hike." cabinet, down 12.3 points from w w w . s i t k a p a c i f i c . c o m /
the largest in the developed world, Sales Tax Cut Proponents Win mid-January, and 63.4 per cent account_management.html to
prompted Standard & Poor’s to Landslide Victories disapproved of the cabinet, up 9.5 l e a r n m o r e a b o u t w e a l t h
cut the country’s credit rating last Those seeking evidence that points. Japan's Debt Trap Has No m a n a g e m e n t a n d c a p i t a l
week. Social security costs in Mike "In Tokyo" has it correct Escape preservation strategies of Sitka
Japan, the world’s most rapidly need only read Japan's two-party As in the US, voters in Japan are Pacific.
aging society, have risen more system is collapsing Tokyo - fed up with taxes. However,
than 60 percent since 2000 and L a n d s l i d e v i c t o r i e s f o r Japanese revenues are not only
will account for 53 percent of independent candidates in local running dry, but in reverse.
government spending in the fiscal elections in central Japan earlier Proving that government
year beginning in April. this month shocked the nation's stupidity has no upper bounds,
Newstablet Edition
CREDIT SUISSE: Even Long-Term
Bulls Should Start Consolidating
Soon
Cullen Roche (Money Game)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:38:40 AM
Although they’re still very
bullish about 2011 (S&P year-end
target of 1,450) Credit Suisse says
the near-term could prove
challenging. They are not calling
for a large correction, but expect
the market to digest some of the
recent gains. They are reducing
their overweight equity position.
The four reasons they are calling
for consolidation:
• Euphoria – close to but not
quite there yet
• The Fed changing the language
in the statement
17 Best Freezable Recipes
(Cooking Light: Editor's Picks)
Preparing double or even triple
recipes and freezing portions for
later means you don't have to
cook every night to have a
delicious and nutritious meal on
the table. And some food is better
suited to freezing and reheating
Economy/ Culture/ Food/ 49
• Disappointment on an expanded rebalancing of global growth
EFSF or ESM
• Oil and food inflation falls
• Raising rates/ tightening away
liquidity too much in Europe
• Core Europe delivers fully the
• Another rise in food prices Grand Plan
forcing more tightening in
emerging markets
• Overheating concerns in China
dissipate, as food inflation falls
• Spare capacity in OPEC being
much lower than estimated
Hipster strip club
• A continued asset allocation
Ultimately, however, they remain shift into equities
very bullish about the macro
coming to NYC
(Holy Kaw!) joint guys,” Quirarte told New
picture. They see 5 potential Join the conversation about this
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:28:00 AM York Magazine’ s Alice Gregory.
catalysts that will help drive the story » Gregory astutely noted that
market towards their 1,450 target: Stripping gets ironic with a newly Quirarte made the statement while
• Ongoing recovery and revamped club coming to New standing “mere feet from a
York. The former meat- polished pole.”
processing facility on Clarkson
Street between West and
Let’s play “Give that strip joint a
name!” Suggestions: “Ironic
t h a n o t h e r s . F o r e x a m p l e , This entry passed through the Washington will feature adult Nipple Tassles,” “I Stripped
casseroles, soups, chilis, and meat Full-Text RSS service — if this is entertainment of the hipster Before Stripping was Cool,” or
loaf all stand up to the freezer your content and you're reading it variety. “Tube Socks and Granny
well and most cooked dishes will on someone else's site, please read Owners Matt Kliegman and Panties.”
keep for two to three months in our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/ C a r l o s Q u i r a r t e i n s i s t t h e Full story at NY Mag.
the freezer. Here, find our picks content-only/faq.php entertainment line-up, including All the top news out of New
for the best freezer-friendly Five Filters featured article: topless go-go dancers, doesn’t York.
recipes. Next Pork and Herbed Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In necessarily make the club a Photo credit: Fotolia
White Beans The Crosshairs. typical strip joint. “We’re not strip Permalink| Leave a comment »
-joint owners. We’re not strip-
50 Economy/ Culture/ Finance/ Newstablet Edition

European Sovereign Debt Crisis in Rachel Weisz Reunites

Pictures; Nothing Solved Yet, Credit With Her Ex as Daniel
Stress Close to All Time Highs
noreply@blogger.com (Michael
Shedlock) (Mish's Global
Economic Trend Analysis)
Submitted at 2/17/2011 2:28:00 PM
The ECB and EU want everyone
to believe there will not be
haircuts on sovereign government
debt. The market refuses to
believe that and so do I.
If there was no risk of default,
then government bond yields
would all be the same. Instead,
please follow this progression of
current yields on 10-year
government debt.
click on any chart to see a sharper
image
Germany 3.237%
France 3.615%
Belgium 4.23%
Italy 4.731%
Spain 5.455%
Portugal 7.41%
Ireland 9.148%
Greece 11.859%
In spite of all the yapping by
ECB president Jean-Claude
Trichet and others, the European
sovereign debt crisis remains near
its most stressed levels, and the
Economics: the key to happy couples' division of labor
nospam@example.com (Dory
Devlin, Shine staff)
(Financiallyfit on Shine)
Submitted at 2/17/2011 4:02:55 PM
Housework—who does what, source of many a recurring
when, and how often—is the marital complaint. Splitting
Craig Jets to LA
Allie Merriam (PopSugar)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 8:22:40 AM
Rachel Weisz took a walk in
NYC with her ex-fiancé, Black
Swan director Darren Aronofsky,
yesterday in NYC. The former
couple have put on a united front
since splitting last year, staying
close for the sake of their son
Henry. She stayed behind in the
Big Apple as her current flame,
Daniel Craig, jetted across the
upcoming drama Dream House,
country and landed in LA. Rachel
will be busy in the coming months
and Daniel were apparently side
with their careers. Daniel will be
by side to show some love on
back on set shooting the next
Valentine's Day by dancing and
James Bond, and there are rumors
above set of charts proves it. low volatility, regardless of kissing the night away at The Rachel may even join the
Mike "Mish" Shedlock market direction. Visit http:// Box. It was their latest holiday production as his on-screen
h t t p : / / w w w . s i t k a p a c i f i c . c o m / together, after being snapped in enemy. View Slideshow ›
globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot. account_management.html to England around Christmas. Both
com l e a r n m o r e a b o u t w e a l t h Daniel and Rachel, who star in the
Click Here To Scroll Thru My m a n a g e m e n t a n d c a p i t a l
Recent Post List Mike preservation strategies of Sitka
"Mish" Shedlock is a registered Pacific.
investment advisor representative
for SitkaPacific Capital
Management. Sitka Pacific is an
asset management firm whose
goal is strong performance and
chores 50/50 often seems like the
answer, but couples who do
often…
Newstablet Edition Culture/ 51

Helpful Mutations Didn't Sweep Through Early Humans

Tina Hesman Saey (Wired Top
Stories)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 9:30:00 AM

Humans probably didn’t get

swept up in evolution.
Scientists have favored a model
of evolution in which beneficial
gene mutations quickly and
dramatically sweep through a
population due to the evolutionary
advantages they confer. Such
mutations would become nearly
universal in a population. But this
selective sweep model may not be
accurate for humans, a new study
indicates. Human evolution likely
followed a more subtle and
complicated path, say population
geneticists Molly Przeworski of
the University of Chicago and
Guy Sella of Hebrew University
of Jerusalem and colleagues.
Computational analysis of 179
genomes belonging to people
from Europe, Asia and Africa
reveal that selective sweeps have
been rare in human evolution, the
researchers report in the Feb. 18 asking what other signatures of surrounding the beneficial indicate that “very few of these dramatic effects on evolutionary
Science. selection may be present.” mutation. mutations came into the fitness to go global.
“I’m convinced,” says Andrew In the study, the researchers The researchers searched for such population in the mode of a Good evidence does exist for
Clark, a population geneticist at based their analysis on the idea troughs of genetic diversity selective sweep.” The researchers some mutations that did undergo
Cornell University. Clark was that when a gene containing a around genes carrying mutations didn’t find evidence of selective selective sweeps in humans, such
among the first to find evidence beneficial mutation becomes more that would change an amino acid sweeps in regions of the genome as those for skin pigmentation,
that selective sweeps can shape common over successive building block in the protein built that change how genes are turned hair and teeth morphology and the
evolution. The idea of a favored generations it drags along big from the gene — a sign of on and off either. genetic change that allows adults
gene sweeping in to save the swaths of neighboring DNA. A functional importance. The team It may have been difficult for in some populations to digest the
evolutionary day is so attractive sweep would happen so quickly reasoned that if the genetic selective sweeps to take hold in milk sugar lactose. But those
that other forms of natural that individual changes in the changes were really beneficial, humans because of demographics, examples are the exception rather
selection have been largely nearby DNA wouldn’t have time they ought to have deeper troughs Clark says. People are scattered than the rule in human evolution.
ignored, he says. The new study to accumulate, so everyone in a than mutations that don’t alter throughout the globe, so a “We have beautiful examples of
could change that. “I think this population would end up with amino acids. beneficial mutation would have a selective sweeps. But there are not
will be taken to heart and people essentially the same genetic “But in fact, we found very little long way to spread. Such a
will take a step back and start signature in the DNA regions difference,” says Sella. That could mutation would have to have HELPFUL page 53
52 Culture/ TV/ Newstablet Edition

Go Inside the $56 Billion 'Black' Budget

Adam Rawnsley (Wired Top makers at the National
Stories) Reconnaissance Office in the
Submitted at 2/18/2011 9:00:00 AM blandly-named “Selected
Activities in Other Procurement,
The Pentagon dropped its $533 Air Force” funding line. The NIP
billion budget this week. Some budget request was officially
line items get a thorough public disclosed for the first time this
debate — like stealth jet engines year, and so you’re likely looking
and soldier health care. Others at some of its$55 billion in these
have opaque names like line items.
“RETRACT MAPLE,” and are With that kind of book-keeping,
totally hush-hush. Welcome to the it’s worth wondering if all of the
Defense Department’s classified, Defense Department’s secret cash
or black, budget. It appears to be is stashed in the places we’re
about $56 billion, the same as last looking for it. As transparency
year, less some inflation. guru Steven Aftergood tells
This may only be the tip of an Danger Room,”It’s designed to be
iceberg of secret funds (more obscure.”
about that in a sec). But we’d like Photo: Flickr/ DOD
your assistance in mapping out See Also:
that icy tip. So, with help from the This entry passed through the
procurement and research obscure. The services slap The pencil pushers in Arlington
Center for New American Full-Text RSS service — if this is
development, testing and together the most random of play all kinds of tricks with the
Security’s Travis Sharp, we’ve your content and you're reading it
evaluation budgets. Find each nouns to make their code names. line items to keep outsiders from
put together this spreadsheet. Feel on someone else's site, please read
budget’s classified total (about The Army’s fond of prefixing its guessing where, exactly, the black
free to add, subtract and edit it — our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
$19 billion each for operations black projects with “TRACTOR” budget actually gets spent. Some
kind of like a classified cash content-only/faq.php
and procurement and $18 billion (“TRACTOR JUTE,” of the National Intelligence
Wiki. Five Filters featured article:
in research), add them together “TRACTOR EGGS,” etc) and the Program, a component of the
Finding the Pentagon’s secret Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
and you’ve got a ballpark black Navy has a slight tendency for country’s intelligence budget, gets
money in the budget involves a bit The Crosshairs.
budget. animal imagery with “COBRA hidden away inside the
of document diving and some
It’s in research and development JUDY” and “Pilot Fish.” Pentagon’s ledger. For years, the
back-of-the-envelope calculations.
budget where you can find the But don’t think that this is Department stashed a chunk of
A number of programs labeled
bureaucratic poetry of black necessarily all of the Pentagon’s the CIA’s cash and its share of
“classified” are tucked away into
project code names at its most secret cash. funds for the secret satellite-
the operations and maintenance,

Kiefer Sutherland Eyes Return to TV Drama With 'Touch'

Catherine Lawson (TV Squad) star Kiefer Sutherland is thinking in May 2010. Permalink| Email this| Linking
about heading back to TV drama.
Submitted at 2/18/2011 2:35:00 AM In true Kring fashion, 'Touch' Blogs| Comments
According to deadline.com he's will contain otherworldly
Filed under: Reality-Free, TV in talks to take the lead role in elements. It is reportedly centered
News In news that could spell 'Touch,' the new drama pilot from on a father who "discovers that
doom for the much-rumored '24' 'Heroes' creator, Tim Kring, and Kring's first new on-spec script his autistic, mute son can predict
movie, it's been announced that 20th Century Fox TV. It marks since 'Heroes' was canceled back events before they happen."
Newstablet Edition Culture/ Daily Word/ 53

Three Years Later, GM Answers Sync's Call

Chuck Squatriglia (Wired Top market for in-car connectivity has knobs consumers are used to.
Stories) grown. Ford has consistently MyFord Touch, on the other hand,
Submitted at 2/18/2011 9:00:00 AM updated and expanded Sync, places all of the controls on the
forcing Toyota, Hyundai and screen. GM also claims its voice
Three years after Ford made itself others to play catch up. recognition software is superior to
the leader in vehicle connectivity GM boss Dan Ackerson, who has Ford’s.
with Sync, General Motors has a background in communications, Photo: Emile Wamsteker /
answered the call with MyLink. has made improving vehicle Chevrolet. Micky Bly, executive
The system builds upon GM’s electronic systems a priority. director of GM global vehicle
excellent if limited OnStar to MyLink follows GM’s unveiling engineering, unveils MyLink in
provide text messaging, e-mail of a gadget that makes OnStar New York.
and traffic advisories in addition available to the 20 most popular This entry passed through the
to online services like Pandora vehicles, including the Toyota Full-Text RSS service — if this is
and Stitcher. Like Sync, the Camry and Honda Accord. your content and you're reading it
G e n e r a l ’ s s y s t e m l i n k s t h e MyLink will be offered on the on someone else's site, please read
d r i v e r ’ s c e l l p h o n e t o t h e Chevrolet Volt(of course) and our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
v e h i c l e ’ s v o i c e - r e c o g n i t i o n Equinox models later this year Reports called the latest iteration, LaHood. content-only/faq.php
software, audio system and navi and expand to other models in MyFord Touch, “ a complicated Still, General Motors doesn’t Five Filters featured article:
for fully integrated infotainment. 2012. No word yet whether it will distraction when driving.” The think MyLink will be distracting. Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
General Motors pioneered in-car be standard equipment or an safety of such systems has The system uses a seven-inch The Crosshairs.
telematics when it unveiled added-cost option. become a hot-button issue, one LCD screen that GM claims is
OnStar in 1996, but it has lost For all of its success, Sync has getting a lot of attention from easier to navigate than Sync’s
ground to Ford’s Sync as the not been infallible. Consumer Transportation Secretary Ray screen, and it retains the control
HELPFUL
continued from page 51 Psalm 107:1 (02-18-11)
many of them, and our results to more elaborate models,” your content and you're reading it (Verse of the Day) loving and his love will not wear
suggest [there are] not many more Przeworski says. on someone else's site, please read out, grow old, fade away, or need
Submitted at 2/18/2011 2:00:00 AM
to come,” Przeworski says. “Our Selective sweeps may have been our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/ repair. My Prayer... Thank you, El
results do not suggest that more important in the evolution of content-only/faq.php Give thanks to the LORD, for he Shaddai, the great Almighty. You
adaptation was rare. Many protein some other species, though. Sella Five Filters featured article: is good; his love endures forever. have given me your grace, you
changes in humans may well have and colleagues recently reported Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In — Psalm 107:1(NIV) Thoughts have showered me with your
been adaptive. What our results evidence that selective sweeps The Crosshairs. on Today's Verse... What do we blessings, and you have promised
indicate is that the dominant mode happen often in some fruit flies. have that won't wear out, break, that your love for me will live
of adaptation was not the classic Image: DNA profile of a human. die, go out of style, or need beyond the shadows of my few
sweep,” she says. (Flickr/ micahb37) repair? We can rejoice and give days on earth. Thank you for
“In looking for the genetic See Also: thanks, because our life and our forever. In the name of Jesus my
mechanisms of adaptation in the This entry passed through the future are tied to the Eternal Lord. Amen.
human lineage we’ll have to turn Full-Text RSS service — if this is Father, the creator of the heavens Note: El Shaddai means "God
and maker of our world. Not only A l m i g h t y " o r " G o d o f t h e
is God good, he is good to us. But M o u n t a i n s . "
more than just being good, he is
54 Politics-Left/
Soldiers fire on protesters in Bahrain
Paul Owen, Mark Tran, Owen
Bowcott, Adam Gabbatt (The
Guardian World News)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:43:57 AM
• Bahrain: 20 injured as shots
fired at protesters
• Egypt: protesters return to Tahrir
Square
• Libya: reports claim up to 50
killed
• Yemen: crowds demonstrating
in Sana'a and Taiz
• Protesting in Middle East? Send
us a voice recording
• Read a summary of events so far
4.44pm - Egypt Egypt has
approved the passage of two
Iranian warships through the Suez
canal, Reuters is reporting.
It was reported earlier today that
Egypt was considering Iran's
request to allow the warships
through – believed to be the first
time the country has made such a
request since 1979. Reuters
reported that Israel's foreign
minister has described the move
as "provocative".
"Egypt has agreed to the passage
of two Iranian ships through the
Suez Canal," a security source
said.
State TV and the official news
agency subsequently reported the
news, without citing sources. An
army source earlier said the
Defence Ministry was considering
a request by the Iranians to allow
the naval ships to cross the
strategic waterway.
4.38pm - Bahrain: In this video
from earlier today in Bahrain
gunfire can be heard as three men
who have apparently been shot
are carried away.
__
4.32pm - Bahrain: Martin Chulov
is tweeting from Salmaniya
hospital in Manama. A man
admitted with gunshot wounds
has just died, Martin says.
•@martinchulov Just seen one
man in hosp hit with live round in
the head. In terrible shape. Not
expected to live.
•@martinchulov Man shot in the
head just died.
4.24pm - Bahrain: Lots of tweets
flying around about medical
treatment being denied in
Manama. Reports unconfirmed as
yet.
@BahrainRights doctors from
Salmanya hsptl just confirmed to
AlJazeera the army are not
allowing ambulances to enter the
area to save the injured #bahrain
4.14pm – Egypt: The Google
executive who was arrested for
his role in the Egyptian uprising
was barred from speaking on
stage in Tahrir Square today, AFP
is reporting.
The news agency says Wael
Ghonim, who played a key role in
using the internet to spark the
uprising against Hosni Mubarak,
was prevented from accessing the
stage by men who "appeared to be
guarding" Yusuf al-Qaradawi –
the influential Muslim
Brotherhood figure.
"Ghonim, who was angered by
the episode, then left the square
with his face hidden by an
Egyptian flag," AFP reported.
4.02pm – Libya: Pro-democracy
activists from cities where
protesters have already taken
control are reported to be
converging on Benghazi to
confront the regime. Much of the
violence is being blamed on
"mercenaries" brought in from
neighbouring Chad. Eastern Libya
has traditionally been less loyal to
the Gaddafi government.
ShababLibya tweets:
More reports now coming from
Derna: people headed to Benghazi
with weapons from Police to fight
Mercenaries, its all out war
#Libya #Feb17
4.01pm: Mark Tran has been
speaking to Martin Chulov in
Manama. He says:
The worst fears have played out
to some extent. A small group of
villagers marched to Pearl Square
... They were beaten back. There
were a large numbers of shots
fired. Most of them were warning
shots fired in the air ... We're told
it was only 100 or so villagers
walking on the area; that was
perceived as being something far
more significant by the security
forces, who had laid siege to that
part of town, which is in central
Manama. We understand that the
shots were fired in the air, but we
also believe that a couple of
people have been injured ... They
absolutely will not tolerate any
dissent and nor will they tolerate
demonstrators returning to Pearl
Square ... It appears that [now]
they [the security forces] have
retreated back to their positions.
_ outbreak of violence in Manama.
The audio quality is not great;
apologies.
3.51pm – Bahrain: According to
Reuters, Lebanon's Hezbollah-run
al-Manar television quoted a
doctor at Salmaniya hospital in
Manama as saying 25 wounded
had been admitted, two of them
with serious wounds. Witnesses
said about 20 police cars had
driven toward Pearl roundabout
and shooting was still going on.
3.48pm – Libya: Opposition
groups claim the first signs of
revolt are beginning to spread to
the capital, Tripoli. Earlier reports
suggested that security police had
surrounded the mosques to make
sure protesters did not begin
congregating.
libyanfsl tweets:
Imams in the mosques of Tripoli
refuse to read the sermons given
to them by regime #Feb17 #Libya
3.47pm – Bahrain: According to
my colleague Martin Chulov in
Bahrain, the latest outbreak of
violence occurred when a few
hundred people marched to Pearl
roundabout, prompting the
security forces to fire shots into
the air. But a number of people
were injured and have been taken
to hospital; the hospital was at one
point surrounded by riot police,
sparking a moment of panic.
3.45pm – Bahrain: Al-Jazeera is
reporting the shootings in
Manama were carried out by the
army rather than the police.
3.40pm – Bahrain: Nick Kristof
of the New York Times has been
tweeting furiously about the
Man in blood drenched shirt just
walked in. Drs outraged, helping
Newstablet Edition
me get stories and video.
#Bahrain
Worst injuries from those at Deh
marching toward Pearl. Many
head wounds. Unsure if live fire
or rubber bullets.
ABt 20 patients so far, 1 nr death.
Ambulances say many many more
casualties but they are denied
access.
3.30pm – Bahrain: My colleague
Laura Oliver was just listening to
a Dr Ghassan from Salmaniya
hospital in Manama speaking on
al-Jazeera. He sounded very
distressed, and said:
The hospital is full of casualties.
All the medical staff are running
off their feet. It's hard to
accommodate all these casualties;
we are full. It's unbelievable
scenes, it's indescribable.
When asked how many had died
or were injured he said it was
uncountable and confirmed that
protesters had been hit by tear gas
and bullets:
It's very difficult to count the
number of casualties ... They were
thrown on the road; there are tens
if not hundreds of people still on
the road. The ambulances can't
access them ... These people are
innocent; they don't hold machine
guns, they don't hold swords, they
are innocent protesters.
People coming to the hospital
told him that the majority of the
shots were to the head "in order to
kill – patients with brains
shattered, their skulls are full of
bullets. This is indescribable. This
SOLDIERS page 55
Newstablet Edition
SOLDIERS
continued from page 54
country is a peaceful country," he
said, before describing the
situation as like a war zone.
3.23pm – Bahrain: Reuters has
now filed on the shootings near
Pearl roundabout in Manama.
Bahraini troops shot at protesters
near Pearl roundabout today and
wounded several, a former Shia
MP said, a day after police
forcibly cleared a protest camp
from the traffic circle in Manama.
Jalal Firooz, of the Wifaq bloc
that resigned from parliament on
Thursday, said demonstrators had
been elsewhere in the city,
marking the death of a protester
killed earlier this week when riot
police had fired tear gas at them.
The demonstrators then made for
Pearl roundabout, where army
troops who took it over after the
police raid on Thursday, opened
fire, he said. Police had no
immediate comment.
3.13pm – Bahrain: The
Associated Press's Hadeel al-
Shalchi has filed her first report
on the shootings at Pearl
roundabout. She says at least 20
people were injured, some
seriously:
Soldiers fired tear gas and shot
heavy weapons into the air Friday
as thousands of protest marchers
defied a government ban and
streamed toward the landmark
square that has been the symbolic
centre of the uprising against the
Gulf nation's leaders.
Hospital officials said at least 20
people were injured, some
seriously. Ambulance sirens were
heard throughout central Manama
a day after riot police swept
through the protest encampment
in Pearl roundabout, killing at
least five people and injuring
more than 230.
An Associated Press cameraman
saw army units shooting anti-
aircraft weapons above the
protesters in apparent warning
shots and attempting to drive
them back from security cordons
about 200 yards (200m) from the
square.
The clash came just hours after
funeral mourners and worshippers
at Friday prayers called for the
toppling of the western-allied
monarchy in the tiny island
nation, which is home to the US
navy's fifth fleet.
The cries against King Hamad
bin Isa Al Khalifa and his inner
circle at a main Shia mosque and
at burials for those killed in
Thursday's crushing attack reflect
an important escalation of the
political uprising, which began
with calls to weaken the Sunni
monarchy's power and address
claims of discrimination against
the Shia majority in the tiny island
nation.
The mood, however, appears to
have turned toward defiance of
the entire ruling system after the
brutal crackdown on a protest
encampment in Bahrain's capital,
Manama, which led the
government to put the nation
under emergency-style footing
with military forces in key areas
and checkpoints on main roads.
"The regime has broken
something inside of me ... All of
these people gathered today have
had something broken in them,"
said Ahmed Makki Abu Taki at
the funeral for his 23-year-old
brother, Mahmoud, who was
killed in the pre-dawn sweep
through the protest camp in
Manama's Pearl roundabout. "We
used to demand for the prime
minister to step down, but now
our demand is for the ruling
family to get out."
3.08pm – Senegal: Associated
Press reports a man setting
himself on fire in front of the
presidential palace in Senegal on
Friday, the latest self-immolation
on the African continent.
Tunisia's mutiny that ousted
President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
was touched off by a struggling
26-year-old university graduate
who lit himself on fire after police
confiscated his fruit and vegetable
cart in December. Other self-
immolations then quickly spread
elsewhere in northern Africa and
the Middle East.
3.05pm – Bahrain: Protesters are
calling for the minister of health
to resign. There were rumours he
had done so yesterday.
3.02pm – Bahrain: Al-Jazeera is
reporting a number of patients
with head wounds coming in to a
Bahraini hospital.
2.59pm – Bahrain: In the
comments SandyBh has heard
from a protester outside
Salmaniya hospital in Mananma.
Just talked to somebody who's in
Salmaniya hospital protests.
Reports of new wounded coming
to the hospital. Daih protests,
reportedly intending to head for
Lulu roundabout, might have been
attacked.
Live ammunition shot - ppl in
salmaniya are pleading...
international community silent
Person from Salmaniya hospital:
ambulances are withheld, not
allowed to carry wounded from
daih protest
2.56pm – Bahrain: Reuters is
corroborating what Hadeel Al-
Shalchi has been saying about
gunfire near Pearl roundabout (
see 2.48pm) .
Shots were heard on Friday in the
area of Pearl Square, a day after
Bahraini police forcibly cleared a
protest encampment from the
traffic circle in Manama,
witnesses said. The circumstances
of the shooting after nightfall
were not clear and there was no
immediate word on any
casualties.
2.54pm – Bahrain: The
Associated Press has more on the
violent turn of events in Bahrain:
Security forces have fired tear
gas on thousands of protest
marchers in Bahrain's capital after
angry calls to topple the gulf
nation's monarchy. Some
demonstrators are moving in the
direction of Pearl Square today, a
day after riot police swept into the
area to destroy an Egypt-style
protest encampment. At least five
people were killed in that attack.
Witnesses say they saw some
casualties in the clashes today.
2.50pm – Bahrain: Bernie
Ecclestone is taking flak on social
networking websites for
comments the Formula One chief
has made in a BBC interview
about whether the Bahrain Grand
Prix should be postponed.
55
We scheduled [the 1985 Belgian
Grand Prix] later. We may be able
to do the same with this one. I
hope we don't have to do
anything, I hope things will just
carry on as normal. Obviously
some people were killed, nobody's
happy with that, I'm quite sure.
Let's hope that this all blows
away. In these parts there's always
been skirmishes. Perhaps it's a bit
more than that.
2.48pm – Bahrain: Some
disturbing tweets from Associated
Press's Hadeel Al-Shalchi in
Manama, suggesting things have
turned very violent there.
Gunshots fired into #bahrain
protesters, injured have fallen as
they try to enter pearl square
Army firing live ammo from anti-
aircraft guns from APC's at
protesters #bahrain
Protesters were carrying flowers
saying they wanted to deliver it to
police. Were shot instead. Blood
on street now #bahrain
2.42pm – Libya: Benghazi,
Libya's second city, appears to be
the scene of a trial of strength
between protesters and Gaddafi
loyalists. Lawyers and other pro-
democracy supporters have rallied
outside the main courthouse. One
of the president's sons, Saddi, is
said to be trapped in the city.
EnoughGaddafi tweets:
Saadi Gaddafi reported to be
hiding in Birka military barracks
in #Benghazi, protesters headed
towards barracks #feb17 #Libya
2.37pm – Bahrain: Associated
Press and AFP are both reporting
SOLDIERS page 56
56
SOLDIERS
continued from page 55
that security forces have fired tear
gas at protest marches in
Manama, the capital of Bahrain.
2.35pm – Bahrain: In the
comments, SandyBh provides
some updates from Bahrain:
Another protest is right now
being held outside the Salmaniya
hospital by the doctors,
expressing shock and demanding
answers for attack on both
protesters and medics and answers
why doctors and ambulances were
prevented from reaching wounded
...
Just got an SMS, commemorators
in Daih might be heading to Pearl
Roundabout later on.
SandyBh is also suggesting that
the pro-king/pro-government
protests involve a lot of foreigners
/non-Bahrainis.
2.25pm – Bahrain: In the
comments, SandyBh gives some
details of what the protesters in
Sitra are up to:
The last I talked to somebody
who was in the morning funeral
procession in Sitra (attended by
20,000-30,000), he told me that
people are heading for the village
Daih to attend the last day of
funeral processions for the first
martyr, Ali Moshami'i, who was
murdered last Monday. (Note:
funeral processions usually take
three days in Bahrain.) Dunno
where they will go from there!
2.17pm - Bahrain: President
Christian Wulff of Germany has
cancelled a trip to Bahrain later
this month in response to the
government's heavy-handed
treatment of demonstrators. Olaf
Glaeseker, a presidential
spokesman, said Wulff insisted
that "freedom of assembly and
freedom of speech in Bahrain
must be fully guaranteed." Wulff's
trip to Bahrain was part of a tour
to the region taking in Kuwait and
Qatar.
1.49pm – Bahrain: Mark Tran
has just been on the phone to
Martin Chulov who's in Manama.
Martin says the organisers of the
protests have taken a tactical
decision not to head to Pearl
roundabout, scene of violent
clashes in the early hours of
Thursday morning, for what
would been a showdown with the
security forces. He adds, however,
that there is talk of a protest at the
roundabout tomorrow.
"There was no showdown today
but there will be one as both sides
have painted themselves into a
corner," says Martin.
1.37pm - Algeria: A weekend of
rallies and gatherings calling for
democracy is planned in the oil-
rich Magreb state, the Guardian's
Anglelique Chrisafis writes,
despite protest remaining banned
in Algiers.
An umbrella group of civil
society groups, some independent
trade unionists and small political
parties have organised fresh
demonstrations to end the
authoritarian rule of the president,
Abdelaziz Bouteflika, and the
military generals.
In a statement, the group's
committee said: "Despite the
warlike offensive in place in and
around the capital, thousands of
citizens broke through the wall of
fear."
Demonstrators said people now
felt less scared of taking to the
streets. The protest organisers said
the government's offer to lift the
state of emergency was a red
herring as it could simply be
replaced by an even more
repressive anti-terrorist law.
Last weekend 30,000 police
saturated the capital to prevent
2,000 people demonstrating. Riot
police blocked off roads,
harassed, beat and arrested
hundreds of people who had
gathered.
Read Angelique's full dispatch
from Algeria here.
1.29pm - Yemen: One person
was killed when a hand grenade
was thrown at anti-government
protesters in Taiz earlier, Reuters
is reporting.
Eight people were initially
reported to have been wounded in
the attack, which came when a car
drove up to protesters and a
passenger threw a grenade out of
the window.
1.18pm – Egypt: Jack Shenker
writes from Cairo's Tahrir Square:
The million-strong crowd in
central Cairo is still swelling as
Hamza Namira – a musician
famous for his political lyrics –
kicks off a concert in one corner
of the square. The atmosphere
remains festive, with much
humour on show. One young man
is holding aloft a placard reading:
"We thought Mubarak was going
to hell - turns out it was only
Sharm El Sheikh," while another
is brandishing a big hidden
camera alongside a banner that
reads: "Only joking Hosni:
You've been framed."
Nearby a group of people have
put a neat but gruesome twist on
one of the most popular chants of
the anti-government uprising:
"Ahum ahum ahum, Al Masryeen
ahum." It means: "Here, here,
here, the people of Egypt are
here," but now they've swapped
"the Egyptians" for "Habib Al
Adly" – Egypt's hated former
interior minister who was arrested
earlier today – and are pointing
down to a dead sheep in the road.
Also on display are a number of
flags expressing solidarity with
other anti-government uprisings
erupting across the Middle East –
one piece of fabric managed to
cleverly combine the national
colours of about six different
neighbouring countries. Gamal
Fahmi, a satirical writer for the
popular independent daily
newspaper Al Dostour, told me:
"What happened in Egypt is
echoing across the Arab world. I
am absolutely certain more of the
old regimes will fall."
1.16pm – Libya: Here's a
sequence of images showing
protesters in Tubruq, Libya,
destroying a monument to
Muammar Gaddafi's "green book"
of political philosophy ( see
11.21am).
_ protesters was around 200, but
1.15pm: A useful Yemen Twitter
list.
1.13pm – Egypt: Nancy Messieh,
who wrote the poem mentioned at
10.58am, has been in touch to
explain why she wrote it and what
she thinks the future holds for her
country:
Newstablet Edition
I wanted to write the poem
because I wanted to honour what
happened in Tahrir, and
throughout the country. I wanted
to make a contribution, and that
was the best way I knew how.
And most importantly I don't
want people to forget about what
we went through to get to where
we are today.
There's still so much work to be
done in Egypt, so much change
that is waiting to happen, but I
refuse to be anything but
optimistic and am grateful that I
get to be a part of it. It's hard to
say what the immediate future
holds, there are so many different
elements at play in the arena now
and very little time to prepare for
free and fair elections. I think that
is where have to all put our focus
and energy – in ensuring that we
have a constitution that honours
the January 25 demands and the
chance, for the first time ever, to
elect our president.
1.13pm – Egypt: Gallery of
Egyptian demonstrations today.
1.12pm – Libya: Amateur video
footage of Libyan protests.
1.11pm – Morocco: Giles
Tremlett on Sunday's planned
protests in Morocco.
1.07pm – Egypt: Earlier we heard
that the number of pro-Mubarak
ianinegypt, an independent film-
maker based in the country,
reckons there were significantly
more than that at the protests
across the river from Tahrir
Square.
SOLDIERS page 57
Newstablet Edition
SOLDIERS
continued from page 56
The number of pro-Mubarak
protesters throughout the day,
coming and going, were probably
around 2 thousand. #jan25 #egypt
1.06pm – Iraq: A protest against
treatment of protesters in the
Middle East is under way in
London for the second day in a
row, with 25 people entering the
offices of the Kurdistan Regional
Government on Edgware Road,
this morning to protest against
deaths in northern Iraq yesterday
Iraq.
"We shouted at them [staff in the
office]: you no longer represent
the Kurdistan people. You should
no longer stay in the office,"
Dashty Jamal, general secretary of
the International Federation of
Iraqi refugees, told the Guardian.
Jamal said since being ejected by
police he and fellow protesters
have remained outside the KRG
offices demonstrating. A larger
protest at the same location has
been called for 3pm today, he
said, with "over 100" expected to
attend. The protesters will
demonstrate outside the office
from 9am until 6pm every day up
to and including Monday.
Two people were killed in
Kurdistan and 40 wounded after
police shot at a crowd of people
demonstrating against corruption
and high unemployment.
Yesterday hundreds of pro- and
anti-Gaddafi protesters clashed
outside the Libyan embassy in
London.
12.52pm: Here is a summary of
events so far:
• Bahrain: After the funerals of
protesters killed in recent
violence, demonstrators were
expected to head back to
Manama's Pearl roundabout. Tens
of thousands turned out for the
funeral of Mahmood abu Taki (
see 10.30am). The protesters'
demands seem to be getting more
radical, with calls for the
monarchy to be removed ( see
11.33am).
• Egypt: An estimated 1 million
people have gathered in Tahrir
Square in an event celebrating the
fall of Hosni Mubarak and putting
pressure on the army to include
demonstrators in the country's
transition to democracy ( see
12.21pm). Yusuf al-Qaradawi, a
controversial cleric, gave a
strikingly non-sectarian speech.
• Libya: Reports claim up to 50
people have been killed in anti-
government protests in the east of
the country – but it is very hard to
verify information from Libya.
Reports claim al-Bayda has been
taken over by anti-government
protesters. But there was little
sign of anti-Gaddafi feeling in
Tripoli, where the Libyan leader
paraded among crowds of
supporters ( see 12.17pm).
• Yemen: Crowds are
demonstrating against Ali
Abdullah Saleh, the president, in
the capital, Sana'a, and elsewhere.
The biggest demonstration – tens
of thousands of people – was in
Taiz, where reports said eight
people had been wounded by a
hand grenade ( see 12.12pm).
• Jordan: Eight people have been
injured in Amman in clashes
between pro- and anti-government
demonstrators ( see 12.28pm).
• Iran: There were calls for the
execution of opposition leaders (
see 12.03pm).
12.28pm – Jordan: Eight people
have been injured in Amman,
Jordan, in clashes between pro-
and anti-government
demonstrators, in the seventh
Friday in a row of unrest there.
About 2,000 people protested,
according to the Associated Press,
with students from the growing
Jaayin – or I'm Coming –
movement chanting: "We want
constitutional reforms; we want a
complete change to policies."
12.24pm – Libya: Reuters is
corroborating our report that al-
Bayda has been taken over by
protesters:
Anti-government protesters have
seized control of the eastern
Libyan city of al-Bayda after they
were joined by some local police,
two separate Libyan exile groups
said on Friday.
"Al-Bayda is in the hands of the
people," Giumma el-Omami of
the Libyan Human Rights
Solidarity group told Reuters.
"The city is out of the control of
the [Muammar] Gaddafi regime,"
said Fathi al-Warfali of the
Libyan Committee for Truth and
Justice.
The reports, which the two
groups said were based on their
own telephone contacts with the
city of some 250,000 people,
could not be independently
verified.
12.21pm – Egypt: Jack Shenker
is in a "baking hot" Tahrir Square
in Cairo for today's "day of
victory" demonstration. He says
some estimates place the crowd
there at over 1 million people, and
says it is certainly just as packed
as it was during the 18 days of
protests that preceded Hosni
Mubarak's exit.
Jack listened to the speech made
by Yusuf al-Qaradawi– seen as a
father figure of the Muslim
Brotherhood – and says it was
well received:
He was making particularly non-
sectarian points. He went out of
his way to praise the role Coptic
Christians played in Tahrir, the
way in which Christians and
Muslims prayed together and
protected each other. As a man
who is not particularly known for
his non-sectarian views, that was
very welcome.
Jack said he interviewed a Coptic
Christian protester after the
speech who said he had been
"reassured" by the speech and was
not worried about the prospect of
an Islamist-dominated Egyptian
parliament in the future as he felt
sure there would be no oppression
of the Christian minority.
_ "I don't think Libya is comparable
12.20pm – Yemen: A bit more
from Yemen from Reuters:
Crowds of rival demonstrators
thronged the Yemeni capital and
two other cities on Friday in a
show of strength between
President Ali Abdullah Saleh's
supporters and those demanding
an end to his 32 years in power.
In the biggest display of anti-
government feeling, tens of
thousands of protesters gathered
in Hurriya (Freedom) Square in
Taiz, about 200km (120 miles)
57
south of the capital Sana'a,
witnesses said.
"Down with the dictator, down
with oppression," chanted the
demonstrators, who have camped
out for days in imitation of
Egyptian demonstrators in Cairo's
Tahrir Square.
At least 10,000 Saleh loyalists
also took to the streets of the busy
commercial city.
12.17pm – Libya: Reuters sends
some interesting reports from
Libya. Their reporter is based in
Tripoli rather than Benghazi,
where much of the unrest has
taken place.
Libya watchers say an Egypt-
style uprising is unlikely because
the government can use oil cash to
smooth over social problems and
Gaddafi is widely respected,
though support for him is weaker
in the Cyrenaica region around
Benghazi.
"For sure there is no national
uprising," said Noman Benotman,
a former opposition Libyan
Islamist who is based in Britain
but is currently in Tripoli.
to Egypt or Tunisia. Gaddafi
would fight to the very last
moment," he said by telephone
from the Libyan capital.
Tight controls on media and
communications in Libya made it
difficult to assess the extent of the
violence. But on Friday unverified
reports on social network sites
said up to 50 people had died.
There was no official comment on
the violence.
SOLDIERS page 58
58
SOLDIERS
continued from page 57
Gaddafi's opponents say they
want political freedoms, respect
for human rights and an end to
corruption. Gaddafi says Libyans
enjoy true democracy.
State television showed several
hundred pro-government
supporters holding a rally in
Tripoli's Green Square before
dawn. As Gaddafi arrived, he
stood up through the sunroof of
his limousine and waved to the
crowd.
12.14pm – Egypt: Reuters has
interviewed demonstrators in
Cairo's Tahrir Square. Mohamed
el-Said, 28, from Port Said, said:
This is a serious message to the
military. After today, it will be
more than obvious to them that if
they don't protect the revolution
and respond to the people's
demands, the next time people go
down to Tahrir won't be to
celebrate victory, but they will
bring their blankets with them like
before.
12.12pm – Yemen: More from
Yemen. Eight anti-government
protesters in Taiz were wounded
today when an assailant threw a
hand grenade at them, opposition
sources and witnesses said,
according to Reuters. Several
ambulances rushed to the city's
Hurriya Square where protesters
have camped out for days.
12.10pm – Yemen: Tom Finn,
the Guardian's man in Yemen, is
at the university in Sana'a, the
capital, where protests against the
president have been staged for the
last eight days. Tom says while
the protests are continuing, a
group of around 400-500
supporters of Ali Abdullah Saleh,
armed with sticks and rocks, have
gathered and are sporadically
driving away the anti-Saleh
demonstrators.
There is a clear difference in age
between the two sides, in a
country where half the population
is under 15, Tom reports:
When you see the two sides
standing off against each other,
the age gap is very much
apparent; the anti-Saleh protesters
generally are much younger, lots
of them speak English, whereas
the pro-Saleh supporters are much
more middle-aged, traditionally
dressed guys.
_ chanted for the removal of king
12.03pm – Iran: Thousands of
government supporters called for
the execution of opposition
leaders at Friday prayers in
Tehran this morning, the
Associated Press reports.
Hardline cleric Ayatollah Ahmad
Jannati said during the Friday
prayers that the opposition leaders
have lost their reputation among
people and are practically "dead
and executed," while worshippers
chanted for their actual
executions.
Janati proposed more restrictions
on Mir Hossein Mousavi on
Mahdi Karroubi, opposition
leaders who are under house
arrest, but still managed to
organise the largest opposition
protest in more than a year on
Monday.
"Their communications with
people should completely cut.
They should not be able to receive
and send message. Their phone
lines and internet should be cut.
They should be prisoners in their
home," he said.
11.44am – Egypt: The Guardian's
video desk have sent this clip of
Egyptians gathering in Tahrir
Square this morning.
_ demonstrating across the country
11.37am – Bahrain: Here's a
gallery of pictures of the Bahraini
funeral protesters.
11.33am – Bahrain: From
Bahrain, the Associated Press
reports on the changing nature of
the protests, with anger now
directed at the monarchy itself.
Here's an extract:
Amid the Shia funeral rites, many
and the entire Sunni dynasty that
has ruled for more than two
centuries in Bahrain, the first
nation in the Gulf to feel the
pressure for changes sweeping the
Arab world.
"The government has shaken
something inside us all and we
have lost all trust in it," Mohamed
Ali, 40, a civil servant, said as he
choked back tears. "Our demands
were peaceful and simple at first.
We wanted the prime minister to
step down. Now the demands are
harsher and have reached the
pinnacle of the pyramid. We want
the whole government to fall."
In another funeral in the Shia
village of Karzkan, opposition
leaders urged protesters to keep
up their fight but not to seek
revenge.
"We know they have weapons and
they are trying to drag us into
violence," said Sheik Ali Salman,
the leader of the largest Shia
party, al-Wifaq, whose 18 MPs
have resigned in protest from the
40-seat parliament to deepen the
political crisis.
11.33am – Yemen: The
Associated Press is reporting tens
of thousands of Yemenis
today in the eighth day of protests
there. There were riots over night,
with protesters in Aden setting
fire to a local government
building and a demonstrator shot
dead by police, according to local
officials. The protesters are
calling for Ali Abdullah Saleh, the
president, to step down after 32
years as president. On social
media sites demonstrators are
calling for a "Friday of rage"
today.
In Sana'a, the capital, the
preacher at the university mosque
where many protesters had
gathered spoke out against torture
and beatings of demonstrators and
said "we have been living for 30
years without purpose or hope".
The crowds then marched
towards the presidential palace
chanting anti-government slogans,
despite attempts by riot police to
stop them. There were also
demonstrations elsewhere in the
city by the president's supporters.
In the past few days the two
groups have clashed.
Saleh's promises not to run for re-
election in 2013 or to set up his
son as his heir have failed to quiet
the anti-government storm
sweeping Yemen and other
nations in the region.
The Yemeni president is an
important US ally in fighting al-
Newstablet Edition
Qaida. The terror group's Yemen-
based offshoot has been linked to
attacks beyond Yemen's borders,
including the failed attempt in
December 2009 to blow up a
Detroit-bound aeroplane.
11.26am – Egypt: Associated
Press is reporting "tens of
thousands of flag-waving
Egyptians" in Tahrir Square for
"the Friday of victory and
continuation". The news agency
quotes Sheik Youssef el-
Qaradawi as saying: "The
revolution is not over, until we
have a new Egypt." AP gives this
report of what's happening in the
square:
People flooded the square ahead
of prayers, even though a main
access road was blocked by an
army jeep and a barricade, and
those entering on foot had to
present identification to soldiers.
The atmosphere was festive, as
organizers hoped it would be,
maintaining the upbeat spirit of
the earlier protests. A military-
style brass band marched through
the crowd, while a few vendors
sold vuvuzelas, the buzzing horns
that became the soundtrack to the
World Cup in South Africa last
summer.
"We came here because we are
excited about Egypt and the
revolution," said 48-year-old
Ashraf Abdel-Azim, who made
his way to the square with his
wife, Nadwa, and their 9-year-old
son, Ahmed. "We want freedom
and change, so we are happy to
see it coming."
SOLDIERS page 59
Newstablet Edition
SOLDIERS
continued from page 58
His wife had prepared a
handwritten cardboard sign. "The
people want to cleanse the
country of corruption," it read.
The three young children of
Nizar Mohammad and his wife,
Rasha, were caught up in the
patriotic fervour of the moment
with Egypt's red, white and black
flag painted on their faces. They
carried small flags, too.
"We want our kids to see where
all of this happened," Rasha
Mohammad said.
Despite Friday's festivities, the
situation in Egypt remains
unsettled amid labor unrest and
worries the military council
running the country won't
implement promised reforms.
Wael Hassan, a 32-year-old
dentist who participated in the
Cairo protests and witnessed
major clashes on 28 January, went
to Tahrir Square on Friday and
captured the anxiety many
Egyptians have about the future.
"For me, it's not a celebration. It's
a message to the army and the
government that we're still here
and we will still protest, that we
won't stop until we see a civilian
government, not a government
appointed by Mubarak himself,"
he said, a reference to the former
president's confidants in the
transition government.
11.21am – Libya: Al-Jazeera's
live blog features video footage
on YouTube showing protesters in
the city of Tubruq tearing down a
"green book" monument on
Thursday. The green book was
written by Muammar Gaddafi,
outlining his political philosophy.
11.16am – Egypt: Gsquare86 has
posted this image of people
praying in Tahrir Square to
Twitter, saying simply:
"Speechless." Prayers have just
finished.
11.11am – Libya: The local
privately-owned Quryna
newspaper in Benghazi has
published pictures of what it says
are demonstrators with gunshot
wounds being carried by a trolley
into the local hospital. You can
translate the website using a
button at the top right. The
translation produced this report:
Cyrene [the newspaper] has
learned from an official security
source that seven victims died and
a number were wounded after
being shot during protests in the
city of Benghazi on Thursday
evening.
The source said security forces
used live bullets to discourage
demonstrators after protests
marked by violence and brutality.
The source said police stations
and the headquarters of the city's
administrative authority had been
burned. A number of cars -
including seven police cars - were
also set alight.
On Thursday, protesters burned a
police station in Ras Obeida and
the headquarters of the local
revolutionary committee. Tyres
were also set alight in a number of
places, on the most violent day
since protests began on Tuesday.
Demonstrators spread out in a
number of districts of Benghazi.
They were demonstrations in
Geleanp, and Ras Obeida, and in
the administrative area. Mr Abdul
Jalily, 20, said gunfire was heard
for the first time in those areas.
Witnesses said that security
forces broke up a protest held in
Gamal Abdel Nasser Street in
central Benghazi a few hours
ago, deploying tear gas canisters
and firing live bullets into the air
for the first time since the protests
began.
Cyrene was unable to establish
the number of critically injured
among the wounded.
11.05am – Libya: Anti-Gaddafi
demonstrators have taken over
several cities in eastern Libya but
have suffered scores of deaths,
according to exiled opposition
groups in London.
Government troops have
withdrawn from al-Bayda, the
scene of earlier confrontations,
and protesters have blocked the
runway to prevent military
reinforcements arriving, the
National Front for the Salvation
of Libya maintains.
Mohamad Ali Abdalla, the
deputy director of the NFSL, said:
I was told that there were 13
deaths in the city of al-Bayda
alone last night and six more in
Benghazi.
In al-Bayda, the city has been
taken over and protesters are
dismantling the runway to stop
any military planes landing.
In total, there have been 30
deaths in Benghazi since
demonstrations began on January
15th. Some of those who died
were injured citizens who had
been taken to al-Jala hospital in
Benghazi.
Members of the revolutionary
committee were shooting the
injured who were brought in. I
was told this by a nurse in al-Jala
Hospital.
The government's revolutionary
committee headquarters have
been captured in other places, the
FNSL claimed. In Ajdabiya, in
north-eastern Libya,
demonstrations were in charge of
the city.
There have been few
demonstrations further west
nearer to the capital, Tripoli. In
the western mountains, nearer to
Tunisia, protesters have also been
out on the streets.
Several opposition sites have
reported that Gaddafi's regime has
been relying on French-speaking
soldiers, or "mercenaries" drawn
from neighbouring Chad to crack
down on the demonstrations ( see
9.16am).
11.03am – Bahrain: leildehat
tweets on a pro-government rally
in Bahrain:
pro gov rally next to al fateh
mosque is being protected by
security forces. couldn't get more
inhumane than this... #bahrain
11.01am: My colleague Jack
Shenker in Cairo tells me this is
the T-shirt all the Tunisian
hipsters are wearing right now:
As Jack says: "So much for Arab
solidarity."
10.58am – Egypt: This poem, For
Tahrir, For Egypt by Nancy
Messieh, has been doing the
rounds on Twitter. Here's an
extract:
The world watched as we were
called
traitors
59
and on television screens
in homes, doors locked refusing
to let in
the truth,
men spit scorn into cameras
and women screamed into their
phones
eyes and hearts full of rage
unable to understand
that Tahrir was theirs, for them,
while government eyes showed
only what they wanted
us to see
the sun setting over the Nile
10.52am – Egypt: ianinegypt
tweets: "This is the most packed
I've seen Tahrir. There could be a
million people today."
Sandmonkey, the blogger who
rose to prominence through his
reporting of the anti-Mubarak
protests in Egypt – and was
arrested during the
demonstrations– is in Tahrir
Square tweeting away:
At a cafe right next to tahrir.
People looking for places to pray
coz of how crowded it is.
10.51am – Bahrain: One our
commenters, ccopenhaver, who
was living in Bahrain until
recently and is in regular contact
with friends there, states the case
for the monarchy.
There is also a significant rally to
support King Hamad in Bahrain at
Al Fateh mosque in Juffair today
after Jummah prayers. Why are
we not hearing anything about
this? Much of the country,
although renouncing the use of
violence by security forces,
support the king and are against
SOLDIERS page 60
60
SOLDIERS
continued from page 59
the protests, where is the coverage
of both sides? We are only getting
news of the protesters, especially
by Mr Nicholas Kristof, who is
tweeting ignorant comments
about the king's spending and
popularity. What many people
may not know is that the king is
able to provide every Bahraini
citizen with free healthcare,
education, etc without ever asking
for a cent in taxes. "Poverty" in
Bahrain is not even close to
comparable to what we see in
Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, etc.
10.46am: My colleagues on the
Guardian's video desk have put up
this clip of the protesting Bahraini
mourners.
_ and his role within the Muslim
10.43am – Libya: Libya's state
news agency says Muammar
Gaddafi has toured the capital,
Tripoli, trying to rally loyalists
amid widening anti-government
protests, according to the
Associated Press news agency.
The state news agency Jana says
that Gaddafi's convoy toured
Tripoli late Thursday to rally
support. A pro-Gaddafi online
paper says a son of Gaddafi has
visited security forces in eastern
region where many of the protests
took place to offer financial help.
10.37am – Egypt: Yusuf al-
Qaradawi, a leading Muslim
Brotherhood figure, is giving a
sermon at Friday prayers in Tahrir
Square. Shadihamid, who is
tweeting snippets of al-Qaradawi's
sermon, reports that there is
"definitely a more religious crowd
here".
shadihamid points out:
A million people praying behind
a leading Islamist cleric in tahrir
sq... That'll be sure to get
Americans nervous #jan25
Al-Qaradawi was refused a visa
to enter the UK three years ago,
the Foreign Office saying the UK
"will not tolerate the presence of
those who seek to justify any acts
of terrorist violence or express
views that could foster inter-
community violence".
Reports say al-Qaradawi has told
the square that "Egypt taught the
world about revolutions", which is
perhaps a little discourteous to
Tunisia.
Der Spiegel has a good
background piece on al-Qaradawi
Brotherhood.
10.35am – Bahrain: Al-Jazeera
has a powerful report from a
hospital in Bahrain where people
voice incredulity and anger at the
response of the security forces to
their protests.(Warning: there is
disturbing footage.)
10.30am – Bahrain: In the
comments, goonerinoman, who
sent some very interesting first-
person reports from Bahrain
yesterday, has this from the
funeral of Mahmood abu Taki.
Just got back from Sitra for the
funeral of Mahmood abu Taki.
Very sad scenes. I would not like
to estimate the numbers but
maybe 20,000. A huge raft of
emotions from sadness and
grieving to retribution and hatred.
Lots of uses of the word martyr
over the mosque tannoy. After the
funeral it looked like they were
preparing to protest. A hardcore
of around 5,000 waited whilst
others went their separate ways.
_ protester killed in Yemen.
10.28am – Bahrain and Yemen:
The Committee to Protect
Journalists in New York says the
authorities in Bahrain and Yemen
have escalated their physical
attacks on the press in order to
censor coverage of spreading anti-
government protests.
In Bahrain, ABC reporter Miguel
Marquez was beaten early
Thursday while covering a violent
attempt by authorities to clear
Lulu Square (Pearl Square) in
Manama by what he described as
"a gang of thugs". Marquez can be
heard shouting "journalist" while
being attacked in an audio
recording posted on the network's
website. His camera was
confiscated. Several journalists
also reported today that Bahraini
authorities are barring journalists
from entering the country.
New York Times columnist
Nicholas Kristof tweeted:
"Bahrain barring journalists from
entry at airport. King Hamad
doesn't want witnesses to his
brutality." Roy Gutman, a foreign
desk editor for McClatchy
Newspapers, told CPJ that
McClatchy reporter Nancy
Youssef was denied entry to the
country. In Yemen, photographers
and camera operators were
targeted today by pro-government
supporters at anti-government
protests. At least four
photojournalists were attacked,
beaten, and had their cameras
confiscated.
10.25am: More links from
commenters and those on Twitter:
• A report from today of a
Protesters in Yemen's southern
port city of Aden have set fire to
the municipal building and a third
demonstrator was killed,
witnesses said, as protests
stretched into an eighth day.
Hundreds of protesters also
demonstrated in the country's
second largest city, Taiz,
demanding the removal of the
president, a key US ally in
battling al Qaida.
• A video of a shooting in Libya,
purportedly from yesterday (via
ZahratTrabli).(Warning: video is
graphic and disturbing.)
10.24am – Yemen: Al-Jazeera is
reporting clashes between pro-
and anti-government
demonstrators in Sana'a. There
have been calls on social
networking sites for a "Friday of
rage" in the country.
10.22am: Reuters is reporting
that Amr Moussa, the head of the
Arab League, said the group had
not received any formal request to
reschedule an Arab summit
planned for Iraq in March, after
Libya said it would be postponed
due regional circumstances.
Asked if it had been delayed,
Moussa told Reuters: "I haven't
received any formal request,"
adding that the meeting planned
for 29 March was still proceeding
as scheduled.
10.16am – Bahrain: With the US
navy's fifth fleet headquartered in
Bahrain, there is much at stake for
the Obama administration. The
US secretary of state, Hillary
Newstablet Edition
Clinton, yesterday telephoned her
Bahraini counterpart to express
her "deep concern" after riot
police stormed a protest camp.
Here's what the White House
spokesman said yesterday:
We believe that people have
universal rights, including the
right to peaceful assembly. So we
continue to urge the government
of Bahrain to show restraint in
responding to peaceful protests.
The government of Bahrain has
the responsibility to maintain
peace and security for its citizens
and to hold accountable those
who utilise excessive use of force
against peaceful demonstrators.
10.13am – Egypt: Al-Jazeera
English is showing a huge crowd
gathered in Tahrir Square – the
numbers look similar to those we
saw last Friday, when Mubarak
finally made his exit. People are
waving banners and chanting, and
Al-Jazeera reports that the army
has been handing out celebratory
flags to protesters.
Gsquare86, a blogger who
attended many of the protests
which finally ousted Mubarak, is
back in the square to celebrate the
day of vVictory and tweeting
energetically:
It is so awesome to reunite with
my new friends from Tahrir, we
spent 18 days that changed our
lives together, and now reunited :)
There are reports that there are
now 200 pro-Mubarak protesters
gathered in Mohandiseen in Cairo
– but their demonstration is also
peaceful. Elsewhere there are also
SOLDIERS page 61
Newstablet Edition
SOLDIERS
continued from page 60
thousands of people celebrating
on the streets in Alexandria.
10.02am: Useful links from
commenter orlandobeetle:
• Map of pro-democracy protests
in Libya(via Twitter user
arasmus).
• Videos reportedly of unrest in
Tunisia yesterday.
9.59am: We are looking for your
first-person accounts of protests
where you are.
Now you can record your own
Audioboo voice recording and
send it straight to us.
Click here to record an
Audioboo.
Log in using your Audioboo or
Twitter account.
If you don't have one, log in
using these details:
Username: GuardianMEaudio
Password: GuardianMEaudio
Then click "start recording/
upload file".
Once you have recorded your
file, we will listen to it and post
the most interesting ones on this
blog.
9.49am – Iraq: Reuters is
reporting that Iraqi politicians are
making attempts to head off the
kind of popular uprising seen
elsewhere in the Middle East.
They are buying sugar, diverting
money from fighter jets to food,
giving free power, and cutting
their own pay. Reuters reports:
Iraqis have long protested against
poor government services. But
demonstrations against food,
power and water shortages have
mounted in recent weeks and
some protesters are now voicing
direct anger at prime minister
Nouri al-Maliki's new
government.
Gala Riani, a Middle East analyst
with IHS Global Insight, said:
Certainly from the steps they
[politicians] are taking it would
seem that they are nervous. Iraq
has experienced relatively big
protests in the past related to the
poor state of public services
without taking such a big move as
increasing electricity subsidies.
Wayne White of the Middle East
Institute said:
Maliki's almost panicked
response to this new unrest
demonstrates the extent to which
he feels insecure: a man who is
well aware that he obtained his
second term as prime minister
primarily through guile,
stubbornness, and help from
Tehran.
But Ranj Alaadin of the Next
Century Foundation pointed out
some key differences between
Iraq and Tunisia or Egypt:
The Tunisian/Egyptian uprisings
revolved around a desire for
regime change and free and fair
elections. Iraq has a
democratically elected coalition
government that's representative
of the Iraqi society, as opposed to
having one ruling individual or
family and ruling elite. It is very
difficult to coordinate and execute
an uprising against a government
that is so diverse and
heterogeneous.
9.36am – Bahrain: An earlier
peevish tweet from the New York
Times's Nick Kristof:
If #Bahrain King Hamad took the
money he spends on PR firms
hassling me and spent it on his
people, he might be more popular.
9.33am – Egypt: Thousands have
gathered in Tahrir Square. CNN
reports"waving flags and beating
drums" as they celebrate on
today's "day of victory".
There is a counter pro-Mubarak
rally, Sherine Tadros, al-Jazeera
English's correspondent, tweets.
There are around 100 pro-
Mubarak supporters gathered,
Tadros reports, carrying banners
reading: "Forgive us, father, for
the actions of our brothers."
Tadros says most of the crowd in
Tahrir Square for the day of
victory celebrations "don't really
know why they [the pro-Mubarak
brigade] are here".
9.30am – Bahrain: Reuters has a
report from the funeral procession
with good detail. Here's an
extract:
Inside a mosque, men washed the
body of 22-year-old student
Mahmoud Abu Taki, whose
shoulder was peppered with
buckshot. "He told me before he
went there: 'Don't worry, father, I
want freedom,'" said his father,
Mekki Abu Taki, 53.
"This is a failed government,"
said Abu Taki, a real estate
company manager. "Of course the
protests will continue. The
government here is like people of
the jungle."
The bodies of his son and of Ali
Mansour Khudeir, 58, were then
draped in red and white Bahraini
flags and placed on top of two
vehicles which drove slowly
through the streets.
"Trial, trial for the criminal gang,"
the crowd shouted. "Justice,
freedom and constitutional
monarchy." A brief attempt to
start a chant of "Death to al-
Khalifa" fizzled.
There was no visible police
presence in Sitra, although a
helicopter circled overhead.
9.27am – Libya: Muammar
Gaddafi's family appears to be
taking a prominent role in
suppressing the revolt. The news
agency Reuters has been told that
Saadi, a son of the president, is
heading to the eastern city of
Benghazi, the flashpoint in the
latest round of demonstrations (
see 8.39am). Reuters reported:
The resident also said Saadi
Gaddafi, a businessman son of the
Libyan leader, had been on local
radio and said he was coming to
Benghazi to take over as mayor of
the city and protect the people
there. Funerals of those killed
were expected in Benghazi and Al
Bayda on Friday, and could act as
a catalyst for further protests.
9.21am – Bahrain: Nicholas
Kristof of the New York Times
tweets from Bahrain:
Vast throngs here at Darraz
mosque in #Bahrain. Crowd
chants "Death to al-Khalifa." No
police in sight.
Calling for the death of royal
figures seems a significant
escalation. The king of Bahrain is
Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa and
the prime minister of 40 years is
Shaikh Khalfa bin Salman Al
Khalifa, a member of the royal
family; four-fifths of the 25-man
cabinet are also members of the
family.
61
9.16am – Libya: There are
repeated claims that Muammar
Gaddafi's regime is relying on
"mercenaries" from central
African states, such as Chad, as
shock troops to break up
demonstrations. The latest
casualty figure, according to
Human Rights Watch, places the
number of dead at 24.
LibyanThinker:
Mercenaries operating in #Libya
have been confirmed to be
#French speaking Africans from
CHAD. #feb17 #Tripoli
#Benghazi
fustat:
At least 24 people killed by sec
forces - Libya: Security Forces
Fire on 'Day of Anger'
Demonstrations (HRW) http://
bit.ly/f340xD #Feb17
9.11am – Bahrain: Mark Tran has
been talking to Martin Chulov,
who has been attending a funeral
rally in a suburb of Bahrain. He
says tens of thousands of people
have been peacefully attending
the event, but there could a
showdown later on when the
mourners march to Pearl
roundabout.
This is where there protesters
were attacked by security forces
on Wednesday night, leading to
several fatalities. Martin says the
demands of the demonstrators
have escalated significantly and
are now targeting the monarchy
itself. However, Martin says there
has no evidence whatsoever of
any anti-American sentiment.
Bahrain is the headquarters of the
SOLDIERS page 62
62 Food/
SOLDIERS
continued from page 61
American navy's fifth fleet.
There's been a large funeral
procession through a suburb of
Sitra, which swelled to around
30,000 as people moved through
the streets. They were carrying the
body of one of the people killed in
a pre-dawn raid on the tent city
yesterday. The rally has now
arrived at a cemetery for burial.
People are standing around; it's
been very peaceful so far. They
plan to regroup and march on
Pearl roundabout ... If that
happens then we are setting the
scene for a showdown the security
forces.
_ thousands of mourners called for
8.54am – Egypt: There is a sense
of deja vu watching al-Jazeera
this morning as Egyptians gather
once again in Cairo's Tahrir
Square. The key question is how
the army will react to today's
protests – and whether they mark
the moment when the goals of the
demonstrators and those of the
army begin to part company.
This morning the Muslim
Brotherhood, the formerly banned
Islamist group, urged Egyptians to
protect the revolution that toppled
Hosni Mubarak from those who
wanted to "kidnap it and its
accomplishments".
Mohamed Badie, the leader of
the group, which this week said it
would form a political party,
sought to reassure Egyptians
about his organisation's influence.
He said the Brotherhood would
not seek the presidency or a
parliamentary majority in free and
fair elections promised by the
military council ruling the
country.
"[The Brotherhood] has no
appetite for the presidency, or a
majority or temporal positions,"
he said.
8.39am: Good morning.
Governments around the Middle
East are bracing themselves for
protests and violence today as the
unrest in the region continues to
spread. Bahrain
In Bahrain this morning many
the downfall of the monarchy as
they began burying the dead after
an assault on protesters at
Manama's Pearl roundabout on
Wednesday night which left five
dead. Today's calls for the king to
go were seen as an escalation of
demonstrators' demands; the
uprising began with calls for a
weakening of the Sunni
monarchy's hold on top
government posts and measures to
address discrimination against the
Shia majority. Two funerals have
taken place, with one more to go
this morning – after which
protesters plan to march to Pearl
roundabout, something that may
cause a confrontation with police
and security forces. Libya
In Libya, soldiers were deployed
on to the streets of Benghazi, after
thousands took to the streets
overnight to protest about security
forces killing an estimated 24
demonstrators. The city was quiet
this morning, but a witness
reported shooting last night and
the BBC said 10 people had been
killed. Funerals are expected
today that could act as a catalyst
for further protests. Pro-
government supporters were also
out on the streets this morning.
Crucially, there was little sign of
anti-government protest in
Tripoli, the capital. Ian Black has
more on yesterday's protests here.
Egypt
Thousands of Egyptians gathered
for prayers this morning and a
planned victory march through
Cairo's Tahrir Square, the site of
the protests that led to the fall of
the president, Hosni Mubarak, a
week ago today. The
demonstrations will also act as a
warning to the army – which took
power after Mubarak stepped
down – that protesters want to
take a more active role in the
country's transition to democracy.
Yemen
New protests are also expected
today in Sana'a, Yemen's capital.
Yesterday saw a sixth day of
clashes between pro-democracy
protesters and government
loyalists in the country.
Demonstrators want to get rid of
President Ali Abdullah Saleh,
who has ruled for 32 years but is
seen by Washington as an ally in
its fight against al Qaeda militants
based in Yemen. Iraq
About 1,000 protesters in Basra,
the southern Iraqi city, are
demonstrating to demand better
services from the government,
jobs and improved pensions. They
warned that today's protest would
be peaceful, but others in the
future might not be. At least five
people have been killed at protests
throughout the country this week.
Our correspondents throughout
the region and Middle East
experts and reporters in London
will be keeping you updated
throughout the day.
• Arab and Middle East protests
• Middle East
• Egypt
• Bahrain
• Yemen
• Libya
• Iraq
• Algeria
Paul Owen Mark Tran Owen
Bowcott Adam Gabbatt
guardian.co.uk© Guardian News
& Media Limited 2011 | Use of
this content is subject to our
Terms & Conditions| More Feeds
Newstablet Edition
Pineapple
Glazed
Ham Balls
(Simply Recipes)
Submitted at 2/17/2011 4:38:46 PM
Where to begin with these? Hank
and I got an inkling to do a more
"retro" recipe, and somehow we
ended up with ham balls.
Pineapple glazed ham balls. Let's
just say the jokes were flying
today, Hank being the boy's boy
that he is and never ceasing to
look for opportunities to make me
blush. What are ham balls?
Meatballs, made with ham,
ground pork, and in our version,
bacon. Slathered with a sweet
and sour glaze of pineapple juice,
brown sugar, ketchup, mustard,
and vinegar. (We were thinking
about calling them "Hawaiian
meatballs", because they're sort of
like a meatball version of that
classic Hawaiian pizza with
pineapple and ham. But what if
people in Hawaii don't make
meatballs like this? So, back to
where we started.)
Continue reading "Pineapple
Glazed Ham Balls" »
Newstablet Edition Politics-Left/ Travel/ Finance/ 63

Court blocks prisoners' vote claim

Robert Booth (The Guardian Cameron has said the idea of amend the 1983 act. Though the honouring the government's
World News) allowing convicts to vote makes subject matter of each is the same international obligations".
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:14:17 AM him "physically ill" and last week – the enfranchisement of prisoners "It cannot therefore be said that if
MPs voted overwhelmingly to – the role of the courts and of the the incompatibility were removed
Almost 600 prisoners denied keep the ban and urged the legislature are distinct ... he would then have the vote," said
right to vote in 2010 general g o v e r n m e n t t o d e f y a n "This judgment is to the effect the judge. "All would depend on
election have launched legal o u t s t a n d i n g r u l i n g t o g i v e that, applying those laws, how, legitimately, parliament
action prisoners the vote, made in 2005 including the Human Rights Act chose to legislate. He might well
Are Young Adults
An attempt by hundreds of by the European court of human 1998, a prisoner will not succeed remain outside the scope of the Being Set on the Road
prisoners to win compensation rights in Strasbourg. before a court in England and franchise."
after being barred from voting in The government has previously Wales in any claim for damages He concluded: "I hold that there
to Financial Failure?
last year's general election has said it has no choice in the long or a declaration based on his are no reasonable grounds in nospam@example.com
been thrown out by the high court. run but to allow all except the disenfranchisement while serving domestic law for bringing a claim (Quizzle.com) (Financiallyfit on
Mr Justice Langstaff said on most serious offenders to vote or his sentence." for damages or a declaration for Shine)
Friday there were "no reasonable face sanctions from the Council of The judge said the fact that the being disenfranchised whilst a Submitted at 2/17/2011 7:04:25 PM
grounds in domestic law" for the Europe and claims worth tens of 1983 act was incompatible with a prisoner. A lot of young adults are already
claims for damages, led by Paul millions of pounds. prisoner's rights under the "Statute precludes it. Case law is heading down the road to
Hydes who was convicted in July Jason Coppel, acting for the European convention arose against it. European authority is financial hardship. Many will
2009 of burglary, robbery and Ministry of Justice, said the cases because of the blanket nature of against the payment of have problems with credit due to
firearms offences for which he should be struck out as they were the ban, as previous cases made compensatory damages in respect
was serving life with a minimum "misconceived and bound to fail". clear. Those cases expressly of it. A claim for a declaration is
term before parole of four years He said any remedy must be
and 265 days. sought at the Strasbourg court.
recognised that a state had a wide
margin of appreciation in deciding
not hopeless, but difficult."
• UK criminal justice
Diplomat
Claims have been launched in Convicted prisoners are excluded
county courts nationwide by 585 from voting in the UK by the
serving prisoners, with another Representation of the People Act
the category of case or prisoner
for whom a restriction on the right
to vote would not be a
• Prisons and probation
• European court of human rights
• Electoral reform
intervenes in
1,000 potential cases in the 1983, which has been held as
pipeline, Langstaff heard in incompatible with article one of
disproportionate interference with
his rights generally. Robert Booth
Assange case
London before handing down his the European convention. He said it was not obvious if Paul guardian.co.uk© Guardian News Esther Addley (The Guardian
ruling against the prisoners. Giving his ruling, Langstaff said: Hydes, the lead claimant, would & Media Limited 2011 | Use of World News)
The decision is a boost to the "The case was heard a day before be in a category that would be this content is subject to our Submitted at 2/18/2011 9:54:36 AM
government and MPs who oppose parliament debated whether it enfranchised "however the margin Terms & Conditions| More Feeds
a change in the law. David should introduce legislation to of appreciation be exercised in Australian ambassador to Sweden
seeks assurances that WikiLeaks
World's Best Airport Bars founder will be treated fairly
The Australian ambassador to
(CONCIERGE.COM: LATEST Frescobaldi Wine Bar in Rome to Sweden has written to the
TRAVEL FEATURES) taking a luxurious dip at Pool Bar country's justice minister seeking
Submitted at 2/17/2011 3:05:53 PM in Singapore. assurances that Julian Assange,
the WikiLeaks founder, would be
Why wait until you land to start best ways to spend your layovers treated justly under Swedish and
your vacation? Explore the seven and delays, from sipping grappa at international law, should he be

DIPLOMAT page 64
64 TV/ Newstablet Edition
DIPLOMAT
continued from page 63

extradited there.
Assange, an Australian citizen, is
currently fighting extradition from
Britain to Sweden over allegations
of rape, sexual assault and sexual
molestation made by two women
in August last year, which he
denies. He will learn within days
whether his attempt to resist the
European arrest warrant has been
successful.
His letter to Sweden's minister
for justice, Beatrice Ask,
ambassador Paul Stephens writes,
is to convey the Australian
in confirming his identity to the
press against Swedish custom for
accused sex offenders, and issuing
a warrant without charge. The
Swedish custom of hearing
evidence in sex abuse cases in
private is, they say, "a flagrant
denial of justice".
They also argue that extraditing
the Australian to Sweden would
be a breach of his human rights,
suggesting this would make more
likely his onward extradition to
the US, where a number of
politicians have called for his
likelihood of an appeal from one
side or the other, whatever his
judgment.
Earlier this month Assange, who
is currently on bail in the UK,
appealed to the Australian prime
minister, Julia Gillard, to "bring
me home". "There have been
outrageous and illegal calls to
have me and my staff killed, clear
cases of incitement to violence,"
he said in a video message to
supporters in Melbourne. "Yet the
Australian government has
condoned this behaviour by its
That's the whole principle of
justice, that the law works in the
same way whoever breaks it."
The government had had no
discussions with the US regarding
Assange's case, she said, but she
did not believe that the conduct of
WikiLeaks in leaking the cables
had been contrary to Swedish law.
Exclusive: Online Soap
"People can have opinions about The Bay Looking For a
what is in the information, but TV Home
Swedish regulations on freedom
of speech and press are very Michael Logan (TVGuide.com:
liberal … the publisher is not Breaking News)
liable." Submitted at 2/18/2011 9:17:00 AM

government's "expectation that, imprisonment, or worse, over diplomatic silence." • WikiLeaks

should Mr Assange be brought
into Swedish jurisdiction, his case
would proceed in accordance with
due process and the provisions
prescribed under Swedish law, as
well as applicable European and
international laws, including
relevant human rights norms".
He does not state what reasons, if
any, Australia might have for
seeking such assurances.
Assange's lawyers argue that the
conduct of the Swedish prosecutor
has been "illegal and/or corrupt"
WikiLeaks' publication of leaked
US embassy cables. Such a move
would carry a "real risk" of
Assange being confined in
Guantánamo Bay or facing the
death penalty, according to a
skeleton argument released last
month by his legal team.
Assange will learn his fate on
Thursday, when chief magistrate
Howard Riddle will deliver his
judgment on the extradition
warrant. The magistrate has
already spoken of the strong
The Swedish justice ministry
declined to comment on the
Australian ambassador's letter,
saying only that the judiciary is
independent and the established
norm is that ministers never
comment on ongoing court cases.
Speaking to the Guardian earlier
this month, Ask said there had
been no political influence on any
of the decisions taken by Swedish
prosecutors in the Assange case.
"Meeting the law, each one of us
is worth as much as one another.
• Julian Assange The Bay
• Australia He saved the Daytime Emmys
• Sweden when no one at ABC, CBS or
NBC wanted to produce them
Esther Addley anymore. Now Jim Romanovich,
guardian.co.uk© Guardian News o f A s s o c i a t e d T e l e v i s i o n
& Media Limited 2011 | Use of International, plans to work his
this content is subject to our magic on the hot internet sudser
Terms & Conditions| More Feeds The Bay. Romanovich tells TV
Guide Magazine that ATI has
acquired the soap star-studded
series — created by Gregori J.
EXCLUSIVE: page 65

Meet the Press Host Bill Monroe Dies at 90

Joyce Eng (TVGuide.com:
Breaking News)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 9:05:00 AM
Bill Monroe
Bill Monroe, a former Meet the
Press host, has died. He was 90.
Monroe died Thursday at a
Washington-area nursing home
following complications from
hypertension, according to The
Hollywood Reporter.
A New Orleans native and
Tulane University graduate,
Monroe served in the Air Force
during World War II before
beginning his television
journalism career at his hometown
NBC affiliate, WDSU.
See other celebrities we've lost
this year
In 1961, Monroe moved to NBC's bureau chief. He worked
on the Today show, winning a
Peabody Award in 1972, and
served as one of four regular
weekly panelists on Meet the
Press. He succeeded Lawrence
Spivak as Meet the Press host in
1975, becoming the show's fourth
moderator. He left the post in
1984.
Washington, where he became Monroe, whose wife died in
2008, is survived by four
daughters and five grandchildren.
This entry passed through the
Full-Text RSS service — if this is
your content and you're reading it
on someone else's site, please read
our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article:
Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
The Crosshairs.
Newstablet Edition
EXCLUSIVE:
continued from page 64
Martin — with plans to sell it as a
half-hour cable or syndicated
program to air in 2012.
"Even though more and more
people are gravitating to the web,
TV is still the place to reach the
widest audience," says
Romanovich. "This is a little risky
but I'm a huge fan of The Bay and
have great respect for Gregori and
his cast and crew. They've poured
their hearts and souls into this
project and I want to help grow
them an audience."
The Bay hit the web last
September to terrific reviews and
features a staggering array of
current and former suds faves,
including Mary Beth Evans,
Charles Shaughnessy, Martha
Madison and Matthew Ashford(
Days of Our Lives), Lane Davies
and Nicolas Coster( Santa
Barbara), Real Andrews and Lilly
Melgar ( General Hospital), Marie
Wilson( As the World Turns),
Jade Harlow (Passions) and
Tristan Rogers( The Young and
the Restless).
Martin will re-edit the Bay
webisodes (each running seven to
eight minutes) into a package of
13 half-hour shows. "We'd like to
get it on a cable station such as
WGN or TV Guide Network or
Hallmark — that's the audience
for this," says Romanovich. "At
the very least, we feel confident
we can get it on key independent
stations around the country, such
as KTLA in Los Angeles, as well
as affiliates in smaller markets.
There are also great possibilities
overseas."
Romanovich is equally hopeful
ATI will helm the Daytime
Emmys for a third year in a row.
NATAS recently announced that
the 2011 awards will be presented
June 19 in Las Vegas, yet failed to
mention any TV deal. Will CBS
agree to air the show as it did last
year?
"It looks good," Romanovich
TV/ 65
says. "CBS was very pleased with
the look of last year's show as
well as the ratings, but there are
still details to be ironed out for it
to work for all of us. It's a very
difficult and expensive show to
do, and we certainly don't want to
do less than we did last year. If
anything, we want to do more!"
Subscribe to TV Guide Magazine
now!
This entry passed through the
Full-Text RSS service — if this is
your content and you're reading it
on someone else's site, please read
our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/ Craig Ferguson on Stand-Up,
content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article:
Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
Theme Shows and Sitting
The Crosshairs. Out the Late-Night Wars
Joel Keller (TV Squad) wants. And his improvisational
Submitted at 2/18/2011 5:30:00 AM monologue and casual, off-the-
cuff interview style has drawn
Filed under: Reality-Free, raves. Of all the late-night hosts,
Features, Celebrity Interviews Ferguson seems to be the most
Craig Ferguson has said it before, comfortable in his own hosting
and he's sticking with his story: skin.
He is definitely not interested in Calling in to promote his new
starting or participating in another stand-up special,'Craig Ferguson:
Late Night War. Does This Need to Be Said?',
"In order for there to be a war which premieres on the EPIX
there would have to be something network Saturday at 8PM ET, we
here that I was desirous of talked about the way he writes
capturing. And there isn't," he told stand-up, his love of dancing to
me yesterday. Britney Spears, and how he really
On'The Late Late Show With sees himself. But first, there was a
Craig Ferguson' every weeknight, need to congratulate him on a big
he gets to dance to a modified event in his life.
'Doctor Who' theme, banter with a Permalink| Email this| Linking
robotic sidekick and pull out Blogs| Comments
naughty puppets whenever he
66 TV/ Products/
Meet the Cast of Disney’s High
School Musical Spin-Off Madison
High
Robyn Ross (TVGuide.com:
Breaking News)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:46:00 AM
Madison High, Leah Lewis
If Disney's new series Madison
High has any of the success of its
predecessor, High School
Musical, then remember these
names: Luke Benward, Leah
Lewis and G Hannelius.
Benward, Lewis and Hannelius
have been cast in the pilot, which
begins shooting in March, Disney
announced Thursday. Alyson
Reed reprises her High School
Musical role as the kids' teacher,
Ms. Darbus.
In the spin-off, a group of High
students at Madison High build a Benward, 15, won the lead role on someone else's site, please read
new theater program under the of Devin Daniels, a motocross our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
tutelage of Ms. Darbus. The new racer looking for a new hobby. content-only/faq.php
troupe must create an original Lewis, 14, will play Peyton Hall, Five Filters featured article:
musical production based on their a formerly home-schooled tennis Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
lives.
Report: Disney Channel fast- Wednesday Malone, a precocious
tracks musical series Madison
Newstablet Edition
Daily electronics deals
Paul Eng (Consumer Reports) Console + Kinect bundle + $25
Submitted at 2/18/2011 5:53:26 AM Amazon Credit $299.99, free ship
Daily electronics deals
Today's electronics deals,
courtesy of The Consumerist:
Neither Consumer Reports nor
The Consumerist receive anything
in exchange for featuring these
s t a r l e t i n t h e m a k i n g . T h e • Buy.com: Samsung TL500
deals; the posts are intended to be
remaining roles of queen bee 10MP 3X Digital Camera (f/1.8
purely informational. These deals
Cherry O'Keefe, stage manager lens, 3in Articulating AMOLED
are often fleeting, with prices
Harvey Flynn and Colby Baker, LCD) $299 Free Shipping
changing or products becoming
artistic anime fan, have yet to be • Newegg: OCZ RevoDrive
unavailable as the day progresses.
cast. 120GB MLC Internal Solid State
These posts are not an
Madison High will feature four P C I - E D r i v e ( R A I D 0 ,
endorsement of the featured
original songs written by SandForce) $279.99 Free
products or the Web sites that sell
songwriters that include former S h i p p i n g
them—though some of the sites
American Idol judge Kara • Tanga.com: 7-Port USB
may be included, and
DioGuardi and Matthew Gerrard( O c t o p u s H u b F o r $ 4 . 9 9
recommended, in our Ratings of
Hannah Montana). • ArtsCow.com: 3 Custom 20" x
retailers for computers and other
Lester Lewis( The Office) is set 30" Canvas Prints for $20 + free
major electronics(both available
to write and executive-produce shipping
to subscribers). Price shouldn't be
the series with Paul Hoen( Camp • Dell: Dell 15.6" Laptop Dual
your only criterion. Be wary of
Rock 2) directing. Core 2.3GHz, 3GB DDR3
lower-priced deals that seem too
This entry passed through the M e m o r y , 3 2 0 G B D r i v e f o r
good to be true, and check return
Full-Text RSS service — if this is $ 3 9 9 . 9 9 w / F r e e S h i p p i n g
policies for restocking fees and
your content and you're reading it • Dell: Dell Dual Core 3.0GHz
other gotchas.
Desktop PC w/ 17" LCD Monitor For general buying advice for
for $329 + Shipping many of the products on sale
above, check out our free Buying
Entertainment Guides. Subscribe now!
• Amazon: The Social Network S u b s c r i b e t o
champ. Hannelius, 12, plays The Crosshairs. Blu-ray $17 (normally $35) ConsumerReports.org for expert
• Amazon: The Universe S5 Blu- Ratings, buying advice and
ray $16 (normally $40) reliability on hundreds of
• Amazon: PS3 Slim 160GB products. Update your feed
Console + Killzone 3 game preferences
$299.99, free ship
• Amazon: Xbox 360 4GB Slim
Newstablet Edition
VuPoint 4x6 Digital Photo Scanner
(Woot! - One Day, One Deal)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 12:00:15 AM
Hey Ryan! I fixed your scanner!
What your memories needed was
forward, y’know. Try it out!
Here, send this one through.
“This is my baby picture. I
wouldn’t add this to Facebook. I
just want a digital copy in case
• This scanner supports SD and
SDHC memory cards up to 32GB
(sold separately)
• Scan images with resolutions up
to 300 dpi
• Power Source: AC Supply
• Image Sensor: CIS
• Media Size: A6- 4” x 6”
• Format: JPEG
• Color Depth: 48-bit
Products/ 67
Truck tire testing
update: Judging a
comfortable riding tire
Consumer Reports Shopping
Blog (Consumer Reports)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 7:35:54 AM

some judgment!
“What…what are you talking
about? What did you do to my
VuPoint 4x6 Digital Photo
Scanner?”
I improved it!
“No, you couldn’t have. See, I
bought it because it already had
everything I wanted. It let me
scan and organize photos and
receipts and stuff. It has auto-
feed AND auto-crop. It even has
Optical Character Recognition to
convert text into an editable
format. I can use SD and SDHC
memory cards on it. It’s fine. It
didn’t need improving. What did
you do?”
Well I’ve been formulating some
basic AI constructs for awhile
now, and I added one to your
scanner. So now it not only does
all that scanny stuff, but it rates
all your scanned photos!
“That’s not a feature of my
scanner. That’s not a feature
anyone would ever want. Why
would I want my photos rated by
a machine? Rated for what?”
Coolness! You might start
updating some of these to
Facebook or something. You
want to put your best digital foot
this photo gets damaged later.”
Just try it!
Fine.
bzzzt
I don’t think it’s-
“Just wait.”
RESULTS COMPLETE:
PHOTO IS SUPER LAME. NO
ONE LIKES UGLY BABIES.
“See how awesome that is?!”
Ugly baby?
Warranty: 90 Day VuPoint
Condition: New
Features:
• Scan and organize your photos,
business cards, receipts, postcards
and more for your personal use
• Allows you to easily scan color
and black and white images up to
4x6 inches and .5mm max
thickness to a JPEG file
• This scanner features an auto-
feed mechanism with an auto crop
feature so you can keep your
scanning going without
interruptions
• Optical Character Recognition /
OCR software allows you to
easily convert your text to an
editable format – OCR software is
compatible with Windows 2000
SP4, XP, and Vista, but it is not
Mac compatible
• Enjoy a steady work flow – this • Media Type: Photo – Plain
scanner works at approximately 5 Paper Truck tire testing update: Judging
seconds per image a comfortable riding tire
• Optical Resolution: 1800 dpi
• This scanner can handle card • Scan Color: Color The truck tires we're currently
stock up to about 0.5mm thick testing are designed for light-duty
• Scan Speed: approx 5 seconds
• When you connect the VuPoint pickups and SUVs, and they
• Hardware Resolution: 1800 x
Digital Print Scanner into your 1200 dpi include 12 winter, 13 all-terrain
PC, it shows up on your menu as and 23 all-season models. After
• Memory Cards Supported:- SD,
a mass storage device, same as a SDHC and MMC- MS, MS Pro/ the snow finally stopped falling,
digital camera – no additional we were able to go to our next
Pro Duo/ MS Duo, RS-MMC, xD,
software is required to start p h a s e
Mini/Micro SD (adapter required, i n t h e
scanning not included) program—subjectively assessing
the ride comfort, noise, and
Additional Photos: Minimum System Requirements: general steering feel for these
• Power Button, Status/Card • Windows 2000, XP, Vista or 7; tires. The ride course, done on our
Indicator and Guide Lever Mac OS 10.5 or higher 4.5-mile circuit at our proving
• Orientation Mark and Feeding ground, has an assortment of
Slot In the box: smooth and rough road courses,
• Power Port, Mini-USB Port, • VuPoint PS-CA6-VP-BXW 4x6 including asphalt and concrete
Output Paper Slot and Memory Digital Photo Scanner surfaces, with speeds typical of
Card Slot • USB Cable city and secondary streets, as well
• Package Contents • Power Adapter as highway driving. (See our tire
• Packaging • Sensor Cleaning Swab buying advice and ratings.)
• Anti-curl Sheath We're using a 2010 Chevrolet
Technical Specifications: • Calibration Card Tahoe as our test vehicle with two
• USB: Yes • Business Card Organizer evaluators swapping driving
• Product Type: Sheetfed Scanner Software CD chores. During this phase, neither
• Platform Support: PC • User Manual driver knows what tires are on the
• Weight (Approximate): 8 oz truck, and the results are
• Dimensions: 1.80” H x 6.10” W Discuss this product averaged. And even though our
x 1.50” D Price: $19.99 I want one! drivers have calibrated butts,
• Input Voltage: 110 V AC- 220 based on many years of
V AC professional test experience, on
rare cases when we get
contradicting ratings. If so, we
retest.
We're often asked what we're

TRUCK page 69
68 Products/ Newstablet Edition

Toy Fair 2011: Day Three: The Very Best Of: Part Two
(Woot! - One Day, One Deal) guys wanted to see a Thundercat,
Submitted at 2/17/2011 1:00:00 PM you'd just watch the show online!
I personally like finding brand
We're down to the wire on our new things to enjoy, and I hope
Toy Fair 2011 coverage. Scott's you do too, so that we can both be
wrapping up his final Best-In- very happy with Puppet Heap.
Show picks. What gems could he Much like the beloved Muppets of
possibly have saved for last? old, the Puppet Heap characters
Best Thing You Didn't Need But all have their own lives and
Now Do stories and short video segments,
The Flickering Fireplace and boy, does their world look
combines the power of a fantastic. The butcher is pretty
nightlight with the joy of a circuit much a sausage, his shop is a can
board, creating a classy desk toy of ham, his daughter has a doll
that won't make you look like a that looks just like she does, and
manchild. Yes, yes, we can all "Old Scratch" lives in a pot-
love our Glow-In-The-Dark bellied stove with a steamy kettle
Batman Heads in private, but on top.
sometimes one just has to pretend Puppet Heap's world seems most
to be a grown-up. like some old classic movie come
More after the jump! to life, but if I had to pigeon-hole
Best Self-Actualized Appendage it, I'd say "Tim Burton meets Mr.
The Hand Runner from Fantasma Rogers' Land of Make Believe"
Toys is a remote control… well, I would be an acceptable
don't have to explain this. All you simplification. I absolutely loved
need to know is that this Thing visiting the booth and watching
can stick to walls and ceilings as the films and hopefully we'll be
it zips around looking for the
access to the CEO of terror. blueprints and turn them into real, Sure, I make fun of stuff for a scoring an interview with the
pirate that got away. Anybody can
Best Excuse honest-to-goodness models. Turn living, but deep down, I'm a total designers sometime soon. Without
get a remote control car or
Hog Wild knows that a rubber them the right way, maybe you'll sucker for heartwarming family a doubt, my favorite part of Toy
helicopter!
band shooter is going to get find a secret map of the Vatican! moments. So I really liked finding Fair 2011.
Best Bedtime Buddy And so, slightly before the
maximum use in the home or Most Delicious Santa Clues. This box of holiday
Too many people try to fight off weekend, we bid a warm goodbye
school. But how does one justify There's no point to stocking up cheer contains everything you
the ghosts and Draculas with t o o u r T oyFair 2011 blog
sneaking it past security? Well, by on gold if you never get to need to add to the Christmas
night lights and lullabies. Sure, coverage. Be sure to check out the
adding a pen and a quick-release unwrap it. With your very own Morning excitement. And there's
you can catch more flies with special video recap on Monday's
keychain, this weapon of mass c h o c o l a t e c o i n p r e s s f r o m no harm in a little stage dressing.
honey and all that, but everybody podcast, and if you think Scott
annoyance suddenly becomes an Diamant Toys anybody can turn C'mon, you think the real Santa
knows: when you've got a missed something great, let us
instrument of learning. Highly the included bag of chocolate into would ever leave his glasses
problem with the staff, you ask know in the comments below!
accurate, long-distance learning. foil wrapped candy. The method behind?
for the boss! So Squishables beats He's only half-dead so we could
Best Design seems as safe as an E-Z Bake Best In Show
the scary things at their own game
Even though their site isn't Oven, and as long as you don't try Yeah, well, maybe the rest of the make him run a few laps or
with this cuddly plush Cthulhu.
operational yet, Crown Prince to corner the market, it's SEC press just went to talk about the whatever.
Help your child fhtagn peacefully
International's upcoming line of proof. Thundercats and hit the bar, but I TOY page 69
through the night by giving them
DaVinci toys take his basic Most Class don't see the point in that. If you
Newstablet Edition
TRUCK
continued from page 67
looking for on these drives. Here
are the main subjective factors we
consider:
On-center steering feel is a
handling characteristic and is
included the overall handling
rating with avoidance maneuver
and cornering grip. We look at
how well the tire communicates
with the road. For example, a
good tire will have steering that
feels natural. We answer these
questions: Does the car turn when
the wheel is turned? Does the car
turn at the same rate of steering
input? Do constant steering inputs
need to be made to keep the car in
the lane? Over the years, we've
found that a good tire is easy to
drive. In contrast, not-so-good
tires have a dead zone and may
require early steering or excessive
input to make a turn. The worse
tires give a feel like towing a
trailer with the car swaying as you
turn right to left.
Ride comfort is rated in two
parts: isolation to road roughness
and reaction to impacts, such as
potholes. We also look at how
composed the car is over uneven
surfaces. In short, a good tire will
have a ride with slow, controlled
motions, and it will absorb minor
road imperfections and damp out
large bumps. On the other hand,
poor riding tires are jittery over
rough roads, tend to crash into
bumps, and cause excessively side
-to-side motions.
Noise is a characteristic that
many consumers complain about,
and, from our experience, is
related to the tire and tread
pattern, car, road coarseness, and
tire condition (based on tire care).
We assess loudness but also
observe the pitch of the noise at
various speeds and road textures.
A quiet tire goes unnoticed or is at
least overshadowed by the
vehicle's engine and wind noise.
Noisy tires can make driving a
chore with grating whine at speed
and a loud hum when slowing
down or speeding up.
We saw it all in this group of
tires. Overall, though, we're happy
to see comfortable and quiet tires,
as well as those with good
steering precision, in each of the
categories: all season, all terrain,
and winter. Performance levels in
the all-season group were fairly
tight, with most providing a
comfortable and quiet ride and
many had good, direct steering
feel. All-terrain and winter tire
performace is bit more diverse, no
doubt compromised by their
aggressive tread designed for off-
road and winter grip. Most offered
a good ride, but some were
exceptionally noisy and offered
mediocre steering feel.
We'll see how some of these
trade-offs turn out in our
expansive all-weather testing and
share our findings as testing
continues.
— Gene Petersen
Related:
Truck tire testing update: No
winter blues in CT
Winter tires: Comparing stopping
distances in snow Next Steps
• Tire Buying Advice:
• Types of Tires|
• Tire Features|
• Tire Brands
All Tire Ratings Subscribers can
view and compare all Tire
Ratings. Recommended Tires
Look at the ones that we chose as
the best of the best. Subscribe
now!
S u b s c r i b e t o
ConsumerReports.org for expert
Ratings, buying advice and
reliability on hundreds of
products. Update your feed
preferences
Sports/ 69
TOY
continued from page 68
NFL, Union Agree to
Federal Mediation in
Labor Dispute
Dan Graziano (FanHouse Main)
Submitted at 2/17/2011 2:26:00 PM
Filed under: NFL Labor
Negotiations Well, the NFL and
the NFL Players' Association have
finally managed to agree on
something in their ongoing labor
dispute. They've agreed to let the
federal government into the
discussions.
The Federal Mediation and
Conciliation Service announced
Thursday that the two sides in the Association," Cohen said in a
NFL's collective bargaining statement released by the agency.
negotiations have agreed to "At the invitation of the FMCS,
submit to federal mediation under and with the agreement of both
the purview of FMCS Director parties, the ongoing negotiations
George H. Cohen beginning will now be conducted under my
Friday in Washington, D.C. This auspices in Washington, D.C.,
doesn't mean the dispute is any commencing Friday, February 18.
closer to being settled, but it does Due the to extreme sensitivity of
mean the sides are talking again in these negotiations and consistent
the hopes of getting a new CBA with the FMCS's long-standing
deal done before the current one practice, the Agency will refrain
expires March 3. from any public comment
"I have had separate, informal concerning the future schedule
discussions with the key and/or the status of these
representatives of the National negotiations until further notice."
Football League and the Players
70 Products/ Sports/
Toy Fair 2011: Day Three: The Very Best Of:
Part One
(Woot! - One Day, One Deal)
Submitted at 2/17/2011 11:00:00 AM
Well, we made it. You've lived
vicariously through us, and we've
felt important through you. Like a
mosquito and a bare forearm, we
joined together to become
something more than we were
before. And now we're leaving
and you've got malaria. But at
least you'll know what we
consider to be the very best of
Toy Fair 2011.
After the jump, Scott makes his
first picks. Join him, won't you?
Best Toy House
With segments that can work
alone or be stacked (as per the
first photo up at the top there)
Tree Blocks offers your toys a
sweet base of operations. Put this
thing with some Flash Gordon
figures and you've got yourself an
adventure!
Best Portable Foliage
My Pet Plant from Fascinations
arrives as soil, sapling and bullet-
shaped case. Put them all
together, add a little water and
time, and you've got a living thing
for a necklace. If you're too
successful, you can even repot it
when it gets big and start all over
from scratch.
Best Business Card Holder
This honor goes to Taiwanese
puzzle maker Lonpos for their
easy-to-read card dispenser. No
more awkward moments for
exhausted buyers as they scramble
to remember who's who! Now just
grab and glance and seal the deal
politely. It's good design, and I
gotta say, the puzzles were also
well made.
Best Give-Away Tie In
Lots of booths had free candy,
but only the Monkeying Around
booth kept things topical.
Monkeying Around's offering was
the largely forgotten art of dot-to-
dot books, so that jar of candy
Dots fit in very nicely. Also, their
dot-to-dot books range from the
simple to the complex, so they're
good for any age of line lover.
Best Way To Label Your Work
Mug
Jumpin Banana's Toxic set looks
dangerous, but that green stuff is
actually safely between layers of
plastic. When chilled, the scary
nuclear bits help keep your drink
at the right temperature, and it
looks pretty cool besides. Who
doesn't want to do a Gamma shot?
Best Passengers
Hape impresses me every year
with something wonderfully
crafted, and this year is no
exception. This wooden rocket
has plenty of astronaut room, a
hand-cranked elevator, some
space debris for surface mining
fun, plus a robot and an alien.
Why can't the real space program
still be this cool?
Best Light Show
Laser Pegs is sort of a cross
between Tinkertoys and Lite
Brite. Each piece is a colorful
light (and some even flash) that
connects to another colorful light.
Long pegs, round pegs, big
circles, u-shaped joints, they all
interlock and fit on the base,
which can run on plug or
batteries. What you end up with is
some future-city that can be the
world's coolest nightlite.
Michelangelo's David is great and
all, but did anyone ever see it
glow?
ToyFair 2011 is almost
complete… but not just yet! So
keep an eye out for the second
half of our Best Of awards later
today. We gotta build suspense.
Newstablet Edition
NFL, NFLPA
agree to mediation
for labor dispute
ESPN.com news services
(ESPN.com)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 9:39:25 AM
Updated: February 18, 2011,
10:39 AM ET
NEW YORK -- Two weeks from
the expiration of the collective
bargaining agreement, the NFL
and its players' union agreed
Thursday to mediation in their
labor dispute.
The Federal Mediation and
Conciliation Service, an
independent U.S. government
agency, will oversee negotiations
in Washington beginning Friday.
"Any time that both sides of
negotiations can get together,
whether through conventional
means of bargaining or mediation,
to come to an agreement that can
benefit all parties, it is a good
thing," NFLPA president Kevin
Mawae told The Associated Press
in an e-mail. Future Of The
League
In a guest column, NFL rep Greg
Aiello outlines the league's
problems with the CBA and ways
to fix the system as the game
moves forward. Story
With the CBA expiring on March
3, NFLPA executive George
Atallah breaks down how the
players and the union view the
crucial talks. Story
• Sando: 10 things to know
• NFL Labor: Topics page
Friday will be the first of seven
NFL, page 72
Newstablet Edition
New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks set to meet Carmelo
Anthony of Denver Nuggets this weekend, report says
Marc Stein and Chris
Broussard (ESPN.com)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:05:56 AM
Updated: February 18, 2011,
11:05 AM ET By Marc Stein and
Chris Broussard
ESPN.com
New Jersey Nets owner Mikhail
Prokhorov, through his
spokeswoman, has publicly re-
stated last month's proclamation
that his team is done chasing a
trade for Carmelo Anthony.
"Mikhail has not changed his
mind," Ellen Pinchuk told The
Associated Press in an e-mail
Thursday.
But sources close to the situation
told ESPN.com that the Denver
Nuggets-- after widespread
reports on Wednesday said the
Nets have indeed rejoined the
New York Knicks in trying to
trade for Anthony -- are operating
under the assumption that
Prokhorov and Anthony will
finally meet face-to-face at All-
Star Weekend in Los Angeles.
The Nuggets would encourage
that meeting, sources said,
because trading with New Jersey
has always appealed more to the
Nuggets than dealing with the
Knicks, since Denver is known to
covet Nets rookie Derrick Favors
more than any other player who's
been made available to them in a
saga that dates to mid-September.
Sources say the Nuggets,
furthermore, remain well aware
that New Jersey will not consent
to an Anthony trade, no matter
what is agreed upon between the
teams, unless Anthony agrees to
sign a three-year, $65 million
contract extension with the Nets
as part of the swap.
The New York Daily News
reported on Friday that the Knicks
also are scheduled to meet with
Anthony this weekend in Los
Angeles. The Daily News said the
meetings will be similar to the
ones Creative Artists Agency,
which represents Anthony and
LeBron James, set up for James
last summer in Cleveland.
Before Prokhorov so forcefully
announced on Jan. 19 that he was
pulling the Nets out of the
Anthony chase, New Jersey was
pressing hard to secure a face-to-
face meeting with the All-Star
forward so the Russian billionaire
and Nets minority owner Jay-Z
could directly sell Anthony on the
team's future in Brooklyn and
address Anthony's presumed
reluctance to sign the extension in
hopes of getting him to change
that stance.
Sources told ESPN.com on
Thursday night that Prokhorov,
despite Pinchuk's statement, has
been negotiating directly with
Nuggets ownership this week
while awaiting confirmation of a
meeting where the Nets might
finally be able to lobby Anthony
to abandon his longstanding
determination to be a Knick.
The trading deadline is Thursday
at 3 p.m. ET.
Yahoo! Sports reported Thursday
night that the Nets, in the latest
iteration of the trade, are prepared
to send Devin Harris, Troy
Murphy, Ben Uzoh and four first-
round picks along with Favors to
Denver for Anthony, Chauncey
Billups, Shelden Williams,
Melvin Ely and Renaldo
Balkman. Photos: Carmelo
Anthony's career
Stay in Denver? Go to N.Y. or
L.A.? As MeloDrama plays out,
enjoy photos of
a star's career: Carmelo Anthony
But sources told ESPN.com that
not all of those picks would wind
up in Denver's hands. At least one
of the first-rounders is earmarked
to be packaged with Murphy to a
third team -- either in this trade or
in a separate deal -- because the
Nuggets have maintained for
months that they're unwilling to
absorb Murphy's $12 million
expiring contract for luxury-tax
reasons. The Nets and Nuggets
have engaged numerous teams
over the course of the season --
including Minnesota, Cleveland
and Detroit -- in an attempt to find
a landing spot, other than Denver,
for Murphy.
It remains to be seen how the
Knicks will respond to the latest
apparent threat from their
neighbors in New Jersey. The
Nets possess assets that have kept
them in the hunt for Anthony
despite the fact that it's an open
secret around the league that
Madison Square Garden is
Anthony's preferred destination.
The Knicks have been reluctant
for months to part with promising
youngsters such as Danilo
Gallinari and rookie swingman
Landry Fields, believing that
gutting their roster to get Anthony
makes little long-term sense. Yet
one source close to the situation
echoed the rising belief that
Walsh might have no choice if
Knicks owner James Dolan, as
many observers anticipate, takes a
Melo-at-all-costs stance as many
observers anticipate.
"Don't forget Donnie is still trying
to get a contract extension," said
the source, suggesting that finding
a way to acquire Anthony now,
whatever the Knicks give up,
might be the clincher for Walsh to
get his own extension.
Yet it's believed that Anthony
once and for all can squash New
Jersey's interest if he tells
Prokhorov himself that he doesn't
want to sign the extension with
the Nets. Prokhorov longs to have
a full-fledged star in place before
the franchise's planned move to
Brooklyn for the 2012-13 season,
but New Jersey can't give up
assets such as Favors and multiple
draft picks without knowing it has
Anthony locked up for the long
term. Nets blog
Looking for more information on
the Nets? ESPNNewYork.com
Sports/ 71
has you covered. Blog
Sources said that New York and
New Jersey, entering All-Star
Weekend, were the only two
teams seriously engaged with the
Nuggets in Anthony talks.
One source said that the Dallas
Mavericks-- long considered right
there with Houston at the top of
the list of teams willing to gamble
on trading for Anthony without
his signature on a contract
extension -- have been sufficiently
convinced that Anthony remains
determined to ultimately be a
Knick. The source said that the
Mavs have thus decided that
there's no way they could include
prized young guard Roddy
Beaubois in a trade with Denver
because keeping Anthony beyond
this season will be so difficult.
The Nets have remained quietly
confident all season, despite the
collapse of multiteam near-deals
for Anthony in September
(involving Charlotte and Utah)
and January (Detroit), that
Anthony eventually would agree
to extend with them after meeting
with Prokhorov and Jay-Z. The
Nets also have to sell Anthony on
their plans going forward,
particularly how they plan to add
a top-flight teammate such as
Chris Paul, Deron Williams or
Dwight Howard.
ESPN.com reported Wednesday
that Anthony, meanwhile, has
NEW page 73
72
NFL,
continued from page 70
straight scheduled days of
negotiations between the league
and the players' union.
Meanwhile, the union is seeking
to make public details from
negotiations between the NFL and
television networks that resulted
in a deal that pays the owners $4
billion, regardless of whether
games are played in 2011, the St.
Paul Pioneer Press has reported.
A federal judge in Minneapolis
will hear arguments Thursday
morning on a union appeal over a
ruling that allows the league to
retain the rights fees, according to
the newspaper.
Attorneys for the NFLPA also
have asked Judge David S. Doty
to unseal 34 pages of case
documents beforehand.
Arbitrator Stephen Burbank
rejected a union complaint last
month that alleged the NFL
structured the contracts so it
would be guaranteed money even
if there were a lockout in 2011 --
while not maximizing revenue
from other seasons, when the
league would have to share that
income with players.
The union said that violated a 17-
year-old agreement between the
sides that stipulates the league
must make good-faith efforts to
maximize revenue for players.
The NFL and NFLPA agreed to
meet twice a week two weeks
ago, yet have met only once since.
"Personally, I would be surprised
if they met more than two or three
days in a row," one source
familiar with the talks told ESPN
NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
FMCS director George H. Cohen
can make suggestions and
recommendations, but he has no
authority to impose settlements.
Coming to an agreement on a new
collective bargaining agreement
still will be up to the two parties.
"Our agency director will be
working with the parties to assist
them in reaching a voluntary,
mutually acceptable agreement,"
FMCS public affairs director John
Arnold said in a telephone
interview with The Associated
Press.
After holding separate
discussions with representatives
from the league and the union,
Cohen said both sides accepted an
invitation from his agency to get
involved in the stalled
negotiations.
"Due to the extreme sensitivity of
these negotiations and consistent
with the FMCS's long-standing
practice, the agency will refrain
from any public comment
concerning the future schedule
and/or the status of those
negotiations until further notice,"
Cohen said.
The collective bargaining
agreement between the league and
the players expires at 11:59 p.m.
ET March 3. Last week, talks
broke down, leading to the
cancellation of one planned
session.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told
the AP in an e-mail: "We are now
in mediation."
The league also switched an
owners meeting from Fort
Lauderdale, Fla., on March 3, to
Chantilly, Va., March 2-3.
In a statement, NFLPA
spokesman George Atallah said:
"The NFLPA has always focused
on a fair collective bargaining
agreement through negotiations.
We hope that this renewed effort,
through mediation, will help the
players and owners reach a
successful deal."
Indianapolis Colts center Jeff
Saturday, an executive board
member of the NFLPA, told
ESPN's "NFL Live" on Thursday
that he was "excited" about the
prospect of entering mediation.
"It can do nothing but help,"
Saturday said.
The biggest issue separating the
owners and players is how to
divide about $9 billion in annual
revenues. Under the old deal, the
owners receive $1 billion off the
top, and they want to increase that
to $2 billion before players get
their share.
Among the other significant
points in negotiations: the owners'
push to expand the regular season
from 16 games to 18 while
reducing the preseason by two
games; a rookie wage scale; and
benefits for retired players.
The NFL and union went more
than two months without holding
any formal bargaining sessions,
until a meeting Feb. 5, the day
before the Super Bowl.
The NFL filed an unfair labor
practice charge against its players'
union with the National Labor
Relations Board on Monday.
The league's filing said the union
"consistently has failed to confer
in good faith" during negotiations
for a new contract and the union's
"conduct amounts to surface
bargaining and an anticipatory
refusal to bargain."
Aiello told the AP the mediation
would not have an effect on the
NLRB complaint.
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim
Irsay recalled the last CBA
negotiations in 2006, which
resulted in a deal that the owners
opted out of in 2008.
"Since the last time, things have
broken off and guys have gone
their separate ways," Irsay said
Thursday. "I remember that
happened the last time and [then-
commissioner] Paul Tagliabue
ended up texting [union chief]
Gene Upshaw and said, 'Why
don't we get back together.' So
you never know when something
positive can happen and
something good can get done.
"I don't have a strong anticipation
something will get done before
[March 3], but I think it's
possible."
Player sources told ESPN senior
NFL analyst Chris Mortensen that
last week's talks ended after
owners walked away from the
negotiating table when the
NFLPA proposed to take an
average of 50 percent of all
revenue generated by the league.
However, other sources familiar
with the talks told Mortensen and
Schefter that the negotiations
broke off when the union
characterized its documents as an
"illustration" that NFL officials
believed represented a proposal
for revenue sharing between
owners and players.
The FMCS website says it
"provides free mediation services
Newstablet Edition
in contract negotiation disputes
between employers and their
unionized employees. All the
parties have to do is make a
request."
Cohen, who said in a statement
that the negotiations will be
conducted "under my auspices," is
no stranger to sports mediation.
He was involved in Major League
Soccer's talks with its players'
union and a work stoppage was
avoided last year.
Cohen also has worked with the
players' associations for Major
League Baseball and the NBA,
and was an adviser to the NHL
players' union before joining the
FMCS.
The FMCS also became involved
in negotiations during the 2004-05
NHL lockout, and a 2005 dispute
between the U.S. Soccer
Federation and its players.
"Our ultimate goal is a new
CBA," Atallah wrote Thursday on
his Twitter feed. "I will not
discuss any details about the next
set of negotiations. We are
observing a strict media
blackout."
Some players, however, were
commenting moments after the
announcement.
"NFL and NFLPA agreeing to
meet with a federal mediator is a
real positive step," Vikings tackle
Bryant McKinnie said on his
Twitter account. "Let's see if he
can get them to make actual
progress."
Added player agent Drew
Rosenhaus: "Exciting news to see
NFL, page 73
Newstablet Edition
NEW
continued from page 71
grown frustrated with New York's
inability to complete the trade and
corresponding reports that New
York is hesitant to surrender
Gallinari and/or Fields for him.
Knicks Blog
Looking for more information on
y o u r K n i c k s ?
ESPNNewYork.com has you
covered. Blog
Representatives at CAA pushed
for the meeting between Anthony
and Dolan, sources said. They
also said Anthony wants to know
how badly the Knicks want him,
as well as what the franchise's
plan to build around him will be
going forward, such as whether it
will have the money to add a
Chris Paul or Deron Williams in
the summer of 2012. ESPN.com
reported earlier that Anthony has
been frustrated because it appears
that the Knicks have taken his
desire to play for them for
granted.
NFL,
continued from page 72
the NFLPA & the Owners talking
again through the mediation
process -- a productive step in the
right direction!"
Information from The Associated
Press was used in this report.
This entry passed through the
Full-Text RSS service — if this is
your content and you're reading it
on someone else's site, please read
Sources close to Anthony have
long maintained that the 26-year-
old wants so badly to wind up in
New York that he'd be willing to
opt out of the final year of his
current contract and become a
free agent this summer, even if
that meant potentially losing
millions of dollars under the terms
of the next collective bargaining
agreement. But Anthony's
willingness to leave significant
money on the table has seemed to
wane as the Thursday trade
deadline draws nearer.
ESPN.com also reported
Wednesday that Denver likes
Wilson Chandler, Gallinari, Fields
and Timofey Mozgov and wants
two, if not three, of those players
as well as Knicks point guard
Raymond Felton in exchange for
Billups. There also have been
numerous reports that such a deal
would also include a first-round
pick from Minnesota going to
our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article:
Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
The Crosshairs.
Denver -- with the Wolves
acquiring Anthony Randolph
from the Knicks -- but New York
is clearly reluctant to part with so
much of Amare Stoudemire's
supporting cast.
Marc Stein is a senior NBA
writer for ESPN.com. Chris
Broussard is a senior writer for
ESPN The Magazine. The
Associated Press contributed to
this report.
This entry passed through the
Full-Text RSS service — if this is
your content and you're reading it
on someone else's site, please read
our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article:
Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
The Crosshairs.
Boy Who Refused to
Wrestle Girl Might End
Up Wrestling History
Instead
David Steele (FanHouse Main)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 9:37:00 AM
BOY page 74
Sports/ 73
Miss USA Signs on for
WWE Tough Enough
Brian Fritz (FanHouse Main)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 9:08:00 AM
Filed under: Pro Wrestling It was
just last May when Rima Fakih
used her looks and personality to
become Miss USA. Now, she's
hoping to show off her tough side
in the wrestling ring.
That's because Fakih will be one
of the participants in the
upcoming season of WWE"
Tough Enough" where she will
compete against a group of people
with the winner becoming a
WWE Superstar or Diva. on her face.
"I am thrilled to have the She has been a wrestling fan for
opportunity to battle for a title in her entire life. In fact, she
an entirely different competition," appeared on WWE " Raw" last
said Fakih in a press release. November where she crowned
"Miss USA is an incredible honor Sheamus as the latest King of the
that's provided invaluable Ring.
experience which will Her looks and notoriety got her
undoubtedly help me as I push my on the show but it will be
performance and athletic skills to interesting to see if she likes
the limit. I look forward to taking bodyslams and dealing
learning if I have the mettle to with the bumps and bruises of
make it in WWE." wrestling.
"Tough Enough" will premiere on Brian Fritz| Twitter:@BrianFritz|
Monday, April 4th on the USA E-mail: btrfritz@gmail.com
Network. Brian Fritz has covered wrestling
Obviously, it's a no-brainer for for FanHouse since Jan. 2010.
the WWE since she will get some Reporting live from events
mainstream coverage at least for including WrestleMania, he
the first few weeks of the show. provides year-round coverage.
And if she won it would quite the Previously, he covered wrestling
story everywhere to see Miss and mixed martial arts for The
USA exchanging headlocks and Orlando Sentinel.
clotheslines rather than appearing
at various car shows and parades
waving to people with a big grin
74 Sports/ Gaming/ Newstablet Edition
BOY
continued from page 73

The whole country now knows
who Joel Northrup is, which is
what can happen when someone
is cast as either a hard-headed,
backward-thinking coward or a
courageous hero of his religious
faith.
As a 10th-grader, yet.
So, you sure hope that his father,
Jamie, gave his son sound advice
that truly is going to benefit him
not just now, but for the rest of his
life. Because it's Joel Northrup --
a sophomore competitor in the
Iowa state high school wrestling
tournament who defaulted his
match this week rather than
wrestle against a girl -- who will
have to live with it.
And he's the one who will have to
hope he landed on the right side
of history.
Plenty before him, in similar
circumstances and much older,
more experienced and mature,
made their choices with the same
absolute certainty and clarity, and
were applauded for their
insistence on standing by their
beliefs. And, as enough time
passed, they ended up looking like
fools, stubbornly and selfishly
holding onto an idea whose time
had already passed, or was in
desperate need of passing.
Dixie Walker and many of his
The Walking Dead episodic
Brooklyn Dodgers teammates are
no longer around, but young Joel
might want to read up on them.
game will be 'multi-
Walker, in particular, was just as
certain, back in 1947, that it was
in his best interest, holding to his
longstanding beliefs and vital to
his business and personal life in
his home state of Alabama, to not
have a Negro as a teammate. It
would ruin him, he was certain.
His customers would desert him,
his friends and associates would
shun him, and he had a right to
make a post-baseball living and
make his home where he felt most
comfortable and welcome.
"You're right! You're entitled to
that!'' his supporters cried.

Spring training 2011: Detroit Tigers' platform,' expected Q4 2011

Christopher Grant (Joystiq) multi-platform, multi-title"

Miguel Cabrera's DUI arrest won't be
distraction, Jim Leyland says
Associated Press (ESPN.com) will have no effect on the team's
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:31:00 AM ability to contend in the American
League Central.
Updated: February 18, 2011, There has been no sign of
11:31 AM ET Cabrera around the team's spring
LAKELAND, Fla. -- The Detroit training complex.
Tigers are back on the field, one Pitchers and catchers have been
day after the team was stunned by working out this week, but the full
the news of slugger Miguel team doesn't take the field until
Cabrera's arrest on suspicion of Saturday.
drunken driving. Tigers general manager Dave
Manager Jim Leyland says Dombrowski said Thursday he
emphatically Friday that Cabrera's wasn't sure when Cabrera would
troubles won't be a distraction and report to camp, and there was no
Submitted at 2/18/2011 11:45:00 AM partnership; and Telltale is aiming
for a Q4 2011 release, so you
As rumored, and confirmed should be seeing something this
yesterday, Telltale Games is year. As for what platforms
a d a p t i n g R o b e r t K i r k m a n ' s they're targeting, IGN reports that
update from the team Friday zompocaplytic comic series - and the agreement covers "PC, Mac,
morning. now AMC television series - The consoles, handhelds, mobile and
C o p y r i g h t 2 0 1 1 b y T h e Walking Dead into an episodic social gaming media." So pretty
Associated Press video game series. That's a lot of much everything.
This entry passed through the series. The Walking Dead episodic
Full-Text RSS service — if this is The first details are trickling out game will be 'multi-platform,'
your content and you're reading it of last night's Telltale event in San expected Q4 2011 originally
on someone else's site, please read Francisco, and here's what we appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18
our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/ know about TWD so far: It's Feb 2011 11:45:00 EST. Please
content-only/faq.php "definitely episodic," Kirkman see our terms for use of feeds.
Five Filters featured article: says; it will be a "multi-year, Permalink| Email this| Comments
Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
The Crosshairs.
Newstablet Edition Gaming/ 75

inFamous 2 saves the day on June 7, Hero Edition

confirmed
Griffin McElroy (Joystiq)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 11:28:00 AM

The identity of the gaming

industry's first big 2011 summer
blockbuster has been revealed:
Sony Computer Entertainment
and Sucker Punch Productions
have announced that the follow-
up to 2009's ionically-charged
sandbox title, inFamous, will hit
U.S. store shelves on June 7. The
publisher also confirmed that the
inFamous 2 Hero Edition is a real
thing you'll be able to buy for
$99.99, which nets you the game,
an 8.5-inch statue of Cole, a
• Shoppers at Best Buy can grab a of E3, ensuring that we'll have to Continue reading inFamous 2
replica messenger bag, a mini-
character skin modeled after go the better part of a week after saves the day on June 7, Hero
comic, the game's soundtrack and
inFamous' antagonist, Kessler. its release without playing it. We Edition confirmed
a bevy of vouchers for
• Pre-orders at GameStop net you hope you guys don't mind inFamous 2 saves the day on
downloadable content.
the telekinetic "Lightning Hook" showing a little solidarity by June 7, Hero Edition confirmed
If you want to snag said content
power. holding off your enjoyment until originally appeared on Joystiq on
without springing for the deluxe
• Walmart is offering pre- we get back. (Or, at the very least, Fri, 18 Feb 2011 11:28:00 EST.
edition, it's been broken down
orderers the radical-sounding just don't Tweet about it. Please?) Please see our terms for use of
piecemeal as pre-order bonuses
"Electrocution Grenade" ability. Check out all the pre-order feeds.
from various retailers:
bonuses and pack shots you can Permalink| Email this| Comments
Personally, we think it's totally handle in the gallery below!
• Folks who reserve the game on
awesome that they chose to Gallery: inFamous 2 - Bonuses
Amazon will get the 24K Gold
release the game on the first day and Box Art
version of Cole's "Amp" weapon.
76 Gaming/ Politics/ Newstablet Edition

Al Cardenas, New CPAC Head,

Impresses
Matt Lewis (Politics Daily) " three-legged stool" of the and so they'll fit within the tent of
Submitted at 2/18/2011 9:35:00 AM conservative coalition what we stand for. . . . So we'll do
(encompassing social our best to be inclusive while at
Columnist When it was c o n s e r v a t i v e s , f i s c a l the same time adhering to the
announced that former Florida conservatives, and national principles that Ronald Reagan
Republican Party Chairman Al security conservatives). dreamed about and we've been
C a r d e n a s w o u l d h e a d t h e The controversy threatened to following. Leadership matters,
American Conservative Union -- mar the annual event, with the and since being elected to head
the group which organizes the rhetoric becoming heated at times. the ACU just over a week ago,
Conservative Political Action But Cardenas' style and eloquence Cardenas has proven a calming
Conference (CPAC) -- I was may help change that. He was force.
skeptical. recently on C-SPAN ( around the What is more, he has eloquently
After all, Cardenas is a lobbyist eight-minute mark) discussing the presented a nuanced argument for
Dragon Quest VI: Realms who endorsed Charlie Crist over GOProud controversy.
Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate in Here's what he had to say:
why CPAC should remain open to
anyone who wants to attend --
Florida. And he was elected to We're going to make sure that while simultaneously remaining
of Revelation review: head a conservative organization? organizations that adhere to our
But just as Speaker John Boehner beliefs get invited. So that
true to conservative policy
positions.

Slime and Punishment has, thus far, exceeded my includes GOProud or anybody
expectations, Cardenas has, thus else, so we're going to go through
In short, Cardenas is saying: We
don't care who you are; we care
JC Fletcher (Joystiq) something that you'd notice even far, also impressed me with his a vetting process to see what they what you believe in.
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:55:00 AM if you weren't coming off of calm leadership style. stand for. Maybe, just maybe, this issue
Dragon Quest IX, and something As you may know, CPAC has If you are a group, this has got will finally be resolved by the
Dragon Quest VI: Realms of that is only exacerbated for those been plagued recently by a nothing to do with orientation -- if time CPAC rolls around next
Revelation should not have been who are. c o n t r o v e r s y s u r r o u n d i n g you're a group of straight couples year.
released after Dragon Quest IX. Gallery: Dragon Quest VI (2/17) GOProud -- a gay conservative that advocate for gay marriage, This entry passed through the
While it's somewhat unfair to Continue reading Dragon Quest organization whose high-profile then that's not within the scope of Full-Text RSS service — if this is
compare the two just because the VI: Realms of Revelation review: involvement with CPAC led some what we believe that the three legs your content and you're reading it
DS releases came out within a Slime and Punishment prominent socially conservative of the stool of the movement are. on someone else's site, please read
year of one another, the proximity Dragon Quest VI: Realms of groups to boycott the conference So it's got nothing to do with the our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
o f t h e s u b t l y m o d e r n i z e d , Revelation review: Slime and this year. orientation. It has got to do with content-only/faq.php
streamlined Dragon Quest IX Punishment originally appeared The controversy essentially pitted the principles that you advocate. Five Filters featured article:
makes it impossible not to notice on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 those who believe CPAC should There are of gays in America that Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
just how much a product of its 10:55:00 EST. Please see our provide a "big tent" versus those don't advocate the gays-in-the- The Crosshairs.
time Dragon Quest VI is. terms for use of feeds. who value the preservation of the military issue or gay marriage,
It's not a bad game, but it's Permalink| Email this| Comments
certainly not a friendly game --
Newstablet Edition
Rep. Michele Bachmann, Stay Out of My Bra
Sarah Wildman (Politics Daily)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 9:36:00 AM
Dear Representative Bachmann:
I am part of the "nanny state."
You don't know me. Nor, as far
as I know, do you know any of
the women I see each week at my
daughter's preschool: moms of
toddlers and infants, many of
whom have had the good fortune
of knowing their mothers' milk.
Though, I'm sure, plenty of your
constituents are me.
I understand you, too, breast-fed.
Mazel tov. I'm so glad it worked
for you, for your children, for
your family.
But I can't help but wonder --
after you falsely claimed the
government of buying breast
pumps for everyone, and decried
the new IRS tax deduction for
pumps and other nursing supplies
-- what you remember of that
time. ("I've given birth to five
babies and I breast-fed every
single one," you told Laura
Ingraham on her radio show. "To
think that government has to go
out and buy my breast pump . . .
that's the new definition of a
nanny state.") When you were
breast-feeding, did you ever have
to leave your baby? I mean, not
leave but, you know, go outside.
Alone. You know what I mean.
During those heady early months,
when you sometimes feel like a
full-on cow, when the feedings
come fast and thick, and you are
Politics/ 77
constantly pressing on your many), perhaps the chance at a
breasts to see which one seems few months on the breast will give
fuller. The months when the those kids a boost they sorely
feedings are hot 'n' heavy. need. Maybe those immunities
Did you, as I did, stick with will keep those kids in school a
obsessive fealty to the American few extra days, instead of out
Academy of Pediatrics sick.
recommendation to serve those Usually the phrase "breast-
five children nothing but breast feeding controversy" swirls
milk for the first six months of around the rights of mothers to
life? feed their children in public, safe
Actually, it's not important what from harassment, not from
you did. Keep it at home. whether the bit of extra cash they
But you and I know that the one can save by using pre-tax dollars
saving grace of sanity for so many to purchase their pumps
women, the one thing that allows contribute to "nanny states" or
provides freedom with a bit less potential for obesity. It might
them to get back to work, to force anyone into joining La
guilt. It gives control. It allows even make a child smarter. If a
support their families, but also to Leche League.
her to continuously stay with her pump allows a woman enough
(dios mio!) step outside alone But I suspect you know that.
decision to breast-feed even if she freedom to consider breast-
once in awhile -- to get back to So please, Rep. Bachmann, stay
can't do every single feeding. (It's feeding past her paltry maternity
the gym, to have a beer with a out of my bra. And I promise not
not fun. It's so much nicer to leave, how is that not a public
friend -- is a breast pump. to chortle if you deduct the cost of
snuggle up with baby, every time, health imperative?
Could it be that allowing flex all five of your children's glasses,
but that's just not always Granted, kids in America who are
spending accounts and tax braces (and even the gasoline you
practical.) born into homes with water that is
deductions to ease the burden of bought to take them to and from
Did you then stick with the clean and futures that are bright
those pricey Medela pumps appointments). Because all of that
regime, even after your child first often start out with enough
(alongside, it must be emphasized, you have not questioned.
tasted gummy baby cereal, advantages that the differences
flex spending that can be spent on All the best,
progressed through sweet potatoes aren't that big between babes who
Lasik eye surgery, voluntary Sarah
and onto yogurt? Did you keep on are formula-fed and those who
sterilizations, and orthodontics, This entry passed through the
keeping on, until a year or take only the breast. No one need
and a flashy pair of new Full-Text RSS service — if this is
beyond? force herself to be chained, nipple
prescription sunglasses, among your content and you're reading it
Actually, I don't care if you did. to mouth, for 12 months or 24
many, many other things) allows a on someone else's site, please read
But I did. And a lot of mothers I months, or even just six months if
woman to meet the nutritional, our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
know did, are doing, will do, have it will cause her undue stress, if
preventative health needs of her content-only/faq.php
done. her milk doesn't come in, if her
newborn as well as her own Five Filters featured article:
It's tiresome to reiterate all the body and soul and mind aren't into
needs? Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
health benefits of breast-feeding, it.
A breast pump means not only The Crosshairs.
but here they are: It gives And for those children who are
that a woman can work. It means
antibodies. It prevents asthma, not born into privilege in this
a woman can determine when and
allergies, appears to reduce the country (and there are far too
how she feeds her child. It
78 Politics/
'Gang of Six' in Senate Working Behind Scenes
on Debt Reduction Plan
Tom Diemer (Politics Daily)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 9:30:00 AM
Correspondent While a high-
decibel debate on immediate
spending cuts rages in the House,
a small group of senators that
some call the "Gang of Six" is
working quietly on a serious long-
range plan to reduce the nation's
trillion-dollar-plus budget deficits.
Taking a cue from the Obama
administration deficit-reduction
commission, the bipartisan outline
calls for higher taxes and across-
the-board limits on spending, the
Wall Street Journal reports.
Although the plan is still in the
works, it could surface as early as
next month. Four of the senators
were members of the National
Commission on Fiscal
Responsibility and Reform, which
in its report called for difficult
steps that would trim deficits by
some $4 trillion over a decade.
The recommendations last
December sought a higher
retirement age for Social Security,
more needs-tests for Medicare
benefits, cuts in defense spending
and scaling back cherished tax
breaks, such as the home
mortgage deduction.
The "gang" includes four
commission members who
supported that report: Sens. Dick
Durbin (D-Ill.); Kent Conrad (D-
N.D.); Tom Coburn (R-Okla.),
and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho). Sens.
Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Saxbe
Chambliss (R-Ga.) are also part of
the private discussions. And they
have clout: Durbin, as majority
whip, ranks second in the Senate
Democratic hierarchy. Conrad is
chairman of the Budget
Committee.
Newstablet Edition
"Everything has to be on the
table," Coburn said in a Post op-
ed piece. "There can be no sacred
cows and pet priorities. Most of
all, the American people have to
know that we are willing to
sacrifice our political careers in
order to do the best thing for the
country. We have to resist the
tendency to play 'gotcha' politics
and, for once, unite behind the
theme, and reality, that our
survival depends on the decisions
we must make." Filed Under:
Senate, House, Democrats,
Republicans, Budget, Taxes,
Using the commission report as a
Social Security, Obama
guide, the senators plan to
Administration, Congress, Deficit,
eventually introduce a bill that
Jobs, Medicare, Economy
would direct congressional
This entry passed through the
committees -- the workhorses on
Full-Text RSS service — if this is
Capitol Hill -- to begin
your content and you're reading it
implementing some of the
on someone else's site, please read
recommendations as they craft
our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
and reauthorize legislation, the
content-only/faq.php
Washington Post said. With a
Five Filters featured article:
2013 deadline in mind, the
Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
tentative plan would target cuts in
The Crosshairs.
discretionary spending, overhaul
the tax code and reform Social
Security, Medicare and other
entitlements.
Newstablet Edition Politics/ 79

Wisconsin's Walker to Obama: Butt Boehner: Walker

Out of State Business ‘Daring to Speak Truth’
(Newsmax - Inside Cover) long ways from doing.” — excluding police, firefighters (Newsmax - Inside Cover)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 5:52:34 AM The White House political and state troopers — would have Submitted at 2/18/2011 4:54:56 AM
operation, Organizing for to pay half of their pension costs
Friday, 18 Feb 2011 11:52 AM America, got involved in the and at least 12 percent of their Friday, 18 Feb 2011 10:54 AM
By Jim Meyers Wisconsin dispute on Monday. healthcare costs. They would lose By Dan Weil
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has And the president's political bargaining rights for anything House Speaker John Boehner
fired back at President Barack machine worked closely with state other than pay. firmly backs Wisconsin GOP
Obama for meddling in his state and national union officials to get Walker maintains that the Gov. Scott Walker in his effort to
government’s ongoing battle with thousands of protesters to gather measure would save $300 million reform public workers’ collective
public sector unions. in Madison, the state capital, on over the next two years to help bargaining rights, The Hill
On Thursday, Obama accused Thursday, The Washington Post close a $3.6 billion budget gap. reports. Walker is pushing for
Republican Walker of unleashing reported. © Newsmax. All rights reserved. increased contributions by state
an "assault" on unions in pushing But Walker insisted: “We’re not This entry passed through the workers to benefits and pension the White House, the president
emergency legislation that would going to be intimidated by people Full-Text RSS service — if this is plans and limits to collective has chosen to attack leaders such
nullify collective-bargaining c o m i n g i n f r o m o u t s i d e o f your content and you're reading it bargaining rights for some. as Gov. Walker, who are listening
agreements affecting most public Wisconsin trying to tell us what on someone else's site, please read “Republicans in Congress — and to the people and confronting
employees. On Friday morning, we need to do to balance our our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/ reform-minded GOP governors problems that have been neglected
Walker told Fox News: “I think budget. content-only/faq.php like Scott Walker, Ohio’s John for years at the expense of jobs
we’re focusing on balancing our “The bottom line is, we got Five Filters featured article: Kasich and New Jersey’s Chris and economic growth."
budget. It would be wise for the elected to do a job.” Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In Christie — are daring to speak the © Newsmax. All rights reserved.
p r e s i d e n t a n d o t h e r s i n Under the plan proposed by The Crosshairs. truth about the dire fiscal This entry passed through the
Washington to focus on balancing Walker, who took office six challenges Americans face at all Full-Text RSS service — if this is
their budget, which they are a weeks ago, most public workers levels of government, and daring your content and you're reading it
to commit themselves to solutions on someone else's site, please read
that will liberate our economy and our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
help put our citizens on a path to content-only/faq.php
prosperity," Boehner said in a Five Filters featured article:
statement. Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
"I’m disappointed that instead of The Crosshairs.
providing similar leadership from
80 Politics/ Politics-Right/ Newstablet Edition

Walker to Obama: Stay Union Fascism on Full Display

Rich Trzupek (FrontPage
Out of State Business Magazine » FrontPage)
Submitted at 2/17/2011 10:45:26 PM
(Newsmax - Inside Cover)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 5:04:34 AM The hypocrisy of the American
left is on full display in the heart
Friday, 18 Feb 2011 11:04 AM of America, as the teachers’ union
By Dan Weil in Wisconsin continues to show
President Barack Obama is how it will use any tactic, no
intervening in Wisconsin’s policy matter how reprehensible, to try
debate, and the state’s GOP Gov. and get its way. Threats,
Scott Walker isn’t happy about it, intimidation, violent imagery and
Politico reports. Obama is taking inflammatory rhetoric – all of the
the side of state employees, as sorts of tactics that the left and the
Walker seeks to take away some their budget, which they are a
long ways from doing.” mainstream media routinely
of their collective bargaining accuse conservatives of using –
rights in an effort to balance the Obama has deployed his political are on full display in Madison.
budget. operation to support the public
But, rather than condemning such
Instead of intruding on a state’s employees. behavior, left wing champions
rights as it seeks to correct its © Newsmax. All rights reserved. from Barack Obama to Michael
fiscal imbalance, Obama would This entry passed through the Moore are falling over themselves
do well to address the federal Full-Text RSS service — if this is to show solidarity with the
g o v e r n m e n t ’ s o w n d e f i c i t , your content and you're reading it teachers’ union.
projected at $1.65 trillion for this on someone else's site, please read Protesters carried signs likening
year, Walker says. “I think we’re our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/ Wisconsin governor Scott Walker
focused on balancing our budget,” content-only/faq.php to Adolf Hitler and Hosni
he said on Fox News Friday Five Filters featured article: Mubarak. One protester carried a
morning. “It would be wise for Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In placard that posed the question
the president and others in The Crosshairs. “why do Republicans hate
Washington to focus on balancing people?” while others likened
Walker’s budget cutting efforts to
rape. He was called a dictator by
some and an image of the
governor was overlaid with
crosshairs by at least one
protestor. A rent-a-mob marched
on the governor’s home. None of
this behavior seems to bother
leaders on the left, no more than
the same kind of extremist
rhetoric and actions concerned
them when the left directed it
towards George W. Bush for the
better part of eight years.
Wisconsin state senator Randy
Hopper, a Republican, told
National Review that he and his
colleagues have been receiving
threats of a physically violent
nature, and that law enforcement
has stepped in to protect the
homes and businesses of
Republican legislators in the
Dairy State. And how does the
President of the United States
react to all this? Barack Obama,
after all, called for more civil and
respectful political debate in
America just a few short weeks
ago. Here’s what the President
had to say in an interview with
Milwaukee’s WTMJ:
“Some of what I’ve heard coming
out of Wisconsin, where you’re
just making it harder for public
employees to collectively bargain,
generally seems like more of an
assault on unions. I think it’s very
important for us to understand
that public employees, they’re our
neighbors, they’re our friends.”
Leftist hero Michael Moore was
less circumspect, tweeting:
“Madison is the new Cairo!
Wisconsin teachers, nurses,
firefighters — shut the state
down! All of working America is
with u!” Like the Madison
teachers who are effectively
engaged in an illegal strike,
Obama, Moore and all of the rest
of the left don’t understand what’s
happening in Wisconsin any
better than they grasp what
previously happened in New
Jersey. It’s not about education,
it’s not about collective
bargaining and it’s not about
freedom and democracy. It’s
about the future of America, it’s
about unsustainable debt and it’s
about making sure that our
children have the same kind of
opportunities that we were blessed
with.
Newstablet Edition Politics-Right/ 81

‘A Great and Mighty President’

Robert VerBruggen historian Ron Chernow, who presidents that dignity. Notice last He declared martial law and to mediate a foreign war.”
Submitted at 2/18/2011 2:00:40 PM recently published a one-volume year’s kerfuffle over comedian suspended habeas corpus -- which After World War II, the
biography of the first president. Jon Stewart’s calling President was unconstitutional -- to win the American people’s confidence in
P atrick Henry opposed the “One can make the argument that Obama “dude.” Civil War. the presidency declined. After the
Constitution as vehemently as he the office was forged for George Nonetheless, Washington also Lincoln’s greatest contribution, disastrous presidencies of Lyndon
opposed tyranny. Indeed, at the W a s h i n g t o n . ” A t t h e established an egalitarian however, was his intellectual Johnson, Richard Nixon, and
Virginia ratifying convention in Constitutional Convention in tradition: the presidential effort on behalf of the Union, Jimmy Carter, the people
June 1788, he argued they were 1787, most delegates assumed he inauguration. “There’s no Wood contends. “The question of perceived the presidency as weak.
the same thing. “Besides the would be the first executive, and requirement in the Constitution,” the Civil War is not why the That perception changed,
expenses of maintaining the they outlined the president’s Chernow notes, “only that he take South seceded,” he argues. “The however, after Ronald Reagan
Senate and other house in as much responsibilities in the Constitution the oath of office. Washington question is why the North cared. took the oath of office.
splendor as they please,” he with him in mind -- that is to say, decides he’s going to take the oath Lincoln voiced that care: If we “The most obvious and dramatic
railed, “there is to be a great and rather vaguely. Unlike the lengthy in the open air before the fail, then self-government fails. effect of his inauguration was the
mighty president, with very Article I, which enumerates the multitude. He decides to make an By the middle of the 19th century, restoration overnight -- it really
extensive powers -- the powers of legislature’s tasks, Article II is inaugural address. He decides that there were no republics left in the was overnight -- of American self
a king.” short and vague. inaugural address should be world, so he was voicing the ideal -confidence and patriotism,”
Three months before, Alexander “That was extremely important,” broadly thematic. He took the that came out of Jefferson.” Morris argues. “It’s one thing he
Hamilton, writing as “Publius” in Chernow adds, “because we had oath of office with his hand the on #ad#By saving the American and TR had in common: It was a
t h e N e w Y o r k P a c k e t , h a d just fought a war against the abuse Bible. Basically, we still hew experiment, Lincoln allowed a personal dignity and they
d e f e n d e d t h e p r o p o s e d of executive power. Washington’s closely to the pattern of that day.” future president, Theodore embodied the national dignity as
presidency. “The executive presence at the Constitutional An open-air celebration was not a Roosevelt, to turn an agrarian well as its force.”
authority, with few exceptions, is Convention and this assumption foregone conclusion. The Senate, republic into a world power. The other quality Morris
t o b e v e s t e d i n a s i n g l e emboldened the delegates to for instance, did not open its “Roosevelt made the presidency emphasizes is Reagan’s courage.
magistrate,” he wrote. “If, in this create a very powerful office, one doors to the public until 1794. into the office of an international “Before him, every president
particular, there be a resemblance s o p o w e r f u l t h a t T h o m a s Thomas Jefferson, however, gave statesman,” says historian seemed to be scared of the Soviet
to the king of Great Britain, there Jefferson and others were alarmed the office much more of a populist Edmund Morris, who recently Union -- terrified of it,” he says.
is not less a resemblance to the by its scope.” flavor, says historian Gordon released the final installment of “Reagan seemed to instinctively
Grand Seignior, to the khan of Washington wielded that power Wood. “He saw himself as his three-volume biography of the understand that it was a
Tartary, to the Man of the Seven effectively: creating a national speaking for the people; I don’t 26th president. ramshackle system, a house of
Mountains, or to the governor of bank, negotiating an unpopular think Washington saw it that way Roosevelt succeeded in this effort cards that just had to be tipped
New York.” treaty with Great Britain, and at all,” Wood observes. Unlike largely because of his over and then it would crumble.”
#ad#Both men were right. The e x t i n g u i s h i n g t h e W h i s k y Washington, who held weekly cosmopolitan personality. He had Reagan was the last president
president assumed very extensive R e b e l l i o n i n w e s t e r n levees reminiscent of those held four grand tours of Europe before who strengthened the office,
powers. But even with them, no P e n n s y l v a n i a . B u t h e a l s o by European courts, “Jefferson serving as president, spoke Morris says: “Clinton was much
occupant of the office has yet answered a fundamental question really threw all that out and German and French fluently, and more accommodating with
resembled a king -- at least not -- one whose answer we take for opened himself to the people” -- boasted an enormous range of Congress and the latest Bush was
considerably. For this good granted today: How is a president sometimes answering the White international acquaintances. “The much more controversial. But
fortune, we owe a large debt to supposed to act? “Washington House’s door in his slippers. climax of his presidency was the Reagan somehow managed to
the men who have held the office. decides that, basically, the #page#It was Jefferson’s example awarding of the Nobel Peace hold it all together.”
No man had a greater influence president won’t stop by your that Abraham Lincoln most Prize in 1906, which he got for Our government is not a one-man
on the presidency than its original house for dinner,” Chernow quips. admired. “All honor to Jefferson,” mediating the end of the show -- nor should it be. But
occupant. “The office of the “The office would have a certain the 16th president once wrote. Of Russo–Japanese war,” Morris unlike a congressman or a senator,
presidency was not only forged by d i g n i t y a n d d e t a c h m e n t . ” course, Lincoln enhanced the notes. “To date, he’s the only
G e o r g e W a s h i n g t o n , ” s a y s Americans still afford their presidency’s power immensely. president who’s ever been asked GREAT page 83
82 Politics-Right/
Unequal Protection You Can
Believe In
Robert VerBruggen
Submitted at 2/21/2011 3:00:36 AM
T wenty-eight of these United
States -- encompassing 164
million people, 53 percent of
America’s population, and 285
Electoral College votes-- are
suing the federal government to
stop Obamacare. This litigation
challenges the constitutionality of
Obamacare’s mandate that
individuals purchase health
insurance. The U.S. Supreme
Court is likely to decide, once and
for all, whether the Constitution’s
Commerce Clause empowers
Congress to force Americans to
conduct commerce.
Shattering the Obamacare Death
Star, however, may require
slamming it from multiple
directions. Hence, an additional
legal strategy should address this
law’s apparent violation of the
14th Amendment’s Equal
Protection Clause -- which
explicitly applies to the states, but
which the Supreme Court has
more or less hitched onto the
federal government as well.
#ad#Obamacare is not being
enforced equally at all. As of
February 9, the Obama
administration had granted 915
waivers, mainly to influential
organizations, major companies,
and pro-Democratic labor unions.
Those less lucky or less well
connected have a different option:
Obey Obamacare.
According to the Health and
Human Services Department,
these waiver recipients claim that
complying with new “annual
dollar-limit requirements” would
cost their group health plans
“either a large increase in
premiums or a significant
decrease in access to coverage.”
But unlike the objective income
brackets that trigger diverse tax
rates, “large” and “significant” are
subjective criteria. This gives
HHS bureaucrats ample
opportunity to treat the insured
unequally.
Major waiver recipients and their
enrollees include the Carpenters
Health and Welfare Fund
(20,500), Service Employees
International Union Local 25
(31,000), Darden Restaurants
(34,000), Aetna (209,423),
CIGNA (265,000), and the United
Federation of Teachers (351,000).
Union members represent 43.1
percent of the 2,443,047 enrollees
included in these waivers.
“Obamacare was sold as all
benefit -- no downside,” Rep.
Cliff Stearns (R., Fla.) said
Wednesday at a waiver-focused
House oversight hearing. And
now, “2.5 million people literally
need to be protected from the
devastating effects of
Obamacare.”
“The selective dispensations to
Obamacare’s mandates that
Obama so far has given to various
special interests -- especially his
union friends -- fly in the face of
the Constitution’s Equal
Protection Clause,” says Roger
Pilon, the libertarian Cato
Institute’s vice president for legal
affairs. “But they’re just the other
side of the ‘Cornhusker
Kickback,’ the ‘Louisiana
Purchase,’ and other last-minute
shenanigans that Obama and
congressional Democrats
employed to get this travesty
passed in the first place.”
“The very interests who supported
this law and helped ram it through
Congress are now applying for
waivers,” Betsy McCaughey,
president of Defend Your
H e a l t h c a r e ( With Obamacare, familiarity
defendyourhealthcare.us), told the
Conservative Political Action
Conference in Washington on
February 12. “If government has
the power to grant waivers, it has
the power to deny them and
destroy any business. Americans
never should have to slink and
slither to the White House for
exemptions, like supplicants.”
McCaughey will ask President
Obama to give waivers to
everyone who requests them via
her website.
#page#While Democrats hail this
new law as the greatest medical
innovation since the tongue
depressor, these 915 waivers may
be the most compelling argument
against Obamacare yet. After
Democrats ignored the screams of
the populace and jammed this
catastrophe down our throats, they
argued that Americans soon
would love this gargantuan law.
“It’s very obvious that people
have a lack of understanding of
our health-care-reform bill,”
Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid of Nevada said last August.
“The more people learn about this
bill, the more they like it.”
#ad#Democrats have it backward.
breeds contempt. Nearly one year
Newstablet Edition
after its enactment, 57 percent of
Americans want Obamacare
repealed, while only 38 percent
oppose repeal, according to a
February 12–13 Rasmussen
Reports survey of 1,000 likely
voters. (Margin of error: +/– 3
percent.)
Meanwhile, rather than clamor to
accelerate Obamacare, unions,
corporations, and other prominent
players secure the priceless
waivers that are their passport out
of this mess. Instead of cheerful
passengers aboard a luxury liner,
those who know Obamacare best
resemble terrified Vietnamese
huddled atop the U.S. Embassy,
praying for seats aboard the last
chopper out of Saigon, just steps
ahead of the marauding Viet
Cong.
--- New York commentator Deroy
Murdock is a nationally
syndicated columnist with the
Scripps Howard News Service
and a media fellow with the
Hoover Institution on War,
Revolution, and Peace at Stanford
University.
Newstablet Edition
Ronald Reagan and the African American
Michael Potemra
Submitted at 2/21/2011 3:00:02 AM
R onald Reagan, who narrowly
lost the Republican party’s
presidential nomination in 1976,
realized that his party needed to
broaden its base into a durable
coalition that would help its
members win and maintain office
at the local, state, and national
levels. Speaking before a
gathering of conservatives in
Washington, D.C., on Jan. 15,
1977, just five days before Jimmy
Carter took the oath of office,
Reagan emphasized this point,
stating:
The New Republican party I
envision is still going to be the
party of Lincoln and that means
we are going to have to come to
grips with what I consider to be a
major failing of the party: its
failure to attract the majority of
black voters.
It’s time black America and the
New Republican party move
toward each other and create a
situation in which no black vote
can be taken for granted.
Throughout the late 1970s,
Reagan continued to exhort fellow
Republicans to face this problem,
and he worked to win the black
vote after he won his party’s
presidential nomination in 1980.
Speaking at the Urban League
convention in New York on Aug.
5, 1980, he proclaimed, “I am
committed to the protection and
enforcement of the civil rights of
black Americans. This
commitment is interwoven into
every phase of the programs I will
propose.”
#ad#Two days earlier, Reagan
had given a speech at the Neshoba
County Fair in the town of
Philadelphia, Miss., where civil-
rights workers James Chaney,
Andrew Goodman, and Michael
Schwerner had been murdered in
1964. His statement that “I
believe in states’ rights”
concerned Rev. Andrew Young,
who said, “Code words like
‘states’ rights’ and symbolic
places like Philadelphia, Miss.,
leave me cold.” Young asked, “Is
Reagan saying that he intends to
do everything he can to turn the
clock back to the Mississippi
justice of 1964?”
For decades, Reagan had
discussed the tenets he considered
to be fundamental to the
constitutional functioning of the
United States. Instead of using
code words in his speeches,
Reagan expressed his deeply held
principles in straightforward
language.
Did these words hurt him as he
was attempting to extend his
reach? Not with the majority of
voters.
On Election Day 1980, Reagan
outperformed Carter among most
categories of U.S. citizens,
winning 51 percent of the popular
vote to Carter’s 41 percent. In
1976, Jewish voters had supported
Carter two-to-one; in 1980, only
45 percent of them backed Carter,
with 39 percent voting for
Reagan. Carter’s support from
Protestants diminished from 46
percent in 1976 to 39 percent in
1980; 54 percent of Protestants
voted for Reagan. In 1976, 57
percent of Catholics voted for
Carter, but in 1980, Carter’s
portion of the Catholic vote was
46 percent while Reagan’s was 47
percent.
In the 1980 race, Reagan was
backed by 26 percent of
Democrats, 55 percent of
independents, and 86 percent of
Republicans, and he was popular
with many other categories of
voters -- except for nonwhites,
who remained loyal to the
incumbent. In 1976, 85 percent of
nonwhites voted for Carter; in
1980, he won 86 percent of the
nonwhite vote. In 1980, Reagan
received 10 percent of the
nonwhite vote while John
Anderson, the third-party
candidate, won 2 percent.
No Republican president or
presidential candidate has
successfully ascertained an
effective way to extend the
party’s reach to black voters.
Discussing principles such as the
rights of states outside of a larger
political context has the sound of
code language and does not
broaden one’s base. Reagan
understood that fact and his fall
1980 campaign focused sharply
on the economy and defense.
Though it was too late to sway the
black vote, Reagan was building
upon his vision of a Republican
party organized around
conservative principles as a means
of broadening the tent. It was a
vision he talked about frequently
as he assumed leadership of his
party and the conservative
movement in the late 1970s.
Reagan established the rhetorical
base for a broader tent. It is time
for the party to realize his vision.
--- Kiron K. Skinner is the co-
author of Reagan, in His Own
Hand and other books. She is on
the advisory board of the George
W. Bush Oral History Project,
teaches international relations at
Carnegie Mellon University, and
is a research fellow at the Hoover
Institution.
Politics-Right/ 83
GREAT
continued from page 81
who must represent his district or
state, the president must represent
the entire nation. He must look
out for the whole. For that reason,
we put so much emphasis on
choosing our presidents correctly
-- and on celebrating those who
served us well.
It was the second president, John
Adams, who blessed the White
House by praying, “May none but
honest and wise Men ever rule
under this roof.” Our best
presidents understood that good,
wise leaders in despotic
governments were unexpected
boons -- and in free governments,
absolute necessities.
--- Brian Bolduc is a William F.
Buckley fellow at the National
Review Institute.
84 Politics-Right/ Newstablet Edition

Cutting Spending Means More, Not Fewer Jobs

J.D. Foster, Ph.D. (The government. If this were true, inconvenient truth that deficits
Foundry: Conservative Policy then we would be doomed. have to be financed by borrowing,
News.) Fortunately, it’s not true. It’s not and by government borrowing
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:30:27 AM even wrong as a matter of more there is less saving left in
Posted February 18th, 2011 at exaggeration. Cutting spending the economy for the private
11:30am in Ongoing Priorities now is probably the most pro-jobs sector. So government spending
Print This Post policy Congress can enact goes up, private spending goes
The debate in the House of quickly, especially given the down, and total demand is shifted
Representatives over spending budget deficits we now face. but not increased.
cuts has left many observers The issue is ultimately What the economy needs now is
utterly unraveled. Exhibit A: the straightforward: The President relief from Washington’s
President’s veto threat. and his allies suggest that one can predations and relief from
The core of the threat is that if he stimulate the economy through Washington-created uncertainties, Islam’s “Uncovered
is presented a bill that cuts increased deficit spending. The
spending in ways or amounts he notion is to increase total demand
foremost of which derives from
the record budget deficits
-Meat” Excuse for
national anthem.
doesn’t like “ while continuing to b y i n c r e a s i n g g o v e r n m e n t Curiously, if the Administration e x p e c t e d u n d e r P r e s i d e n t Sexual Assault
burden future generations with demand. If this worked, then the really believed its own theory that O b a m a ’ s p o l i c i e s . C u t t i n g Nonie Darwish (FrontPage
debt, the President will veto the fiscal surge of the past two years the spending stimulus boosted the spending and thereby restoring Magazine » FrontPage)
bill.” On this basis, apparently the should have been sufficient to put economy, then the President’s our nation’s fiscal house provides
Submitted at 2/17/2011 10:43:10 PM
President would veto his own the economy into overdrive. It own budget would put him in a credit markets some assurance
budget proposal. According to the didn’t. state of raw panic. According to that the United States government The news that 60 Minutes
President, his budget is full of As the Administration has his figures, the deficit declines as intends to change course before journalist Lara Logan had been
painful spending cuts and heavily repeatedly tried, one can misuse a share of our economy from a crashing headlong into financial brutally sexually assaulted and
burdens future generations with sophisticated economic models to record 10.9 percent in 2011 to 4.6 reality, and it provides taxpayers beaten in Egypt among chants of
rapidly mounting debt. demonstrate that increased deficit percent in 2013. By their theory, some assurance that they won’t be “Jew” really hit home. As a
The President’s outside chorus spending stimulated the economy. this represents a power blast of asked to pay for Washington’s teenager and young woman in
has come equally unhinged. Take, This folly is reminiscent of the fiscal restraint portending almost excesses. Egypt, I remember having to
for example, the claim by the joke about the economist stuck on sure recession. Either they do not This entry passed through the endure the humiliation of being
Economic Policy Institute that a deserted isle with nothing but believe the deficit forecast they Full-Text RSS service — if this is pinched and groped in crowded
cutting $100 billion from the canned food to eat and no can released February 14, or they do your content and you're reading it buses and streets of Cairo.
President’s budget request for opener. When asked how he not believe in demand-side on someone else's site, please read Onlookers are usually indifferent,
f i s c a l y e a r 2 0 1 1 , a s t h e survived, he replied, “I assumed a stimulus. They can’t have it both our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/ some even laugh, leaving women
Republicans originally pledged, can opener.” These models ways. content-only/faq.php in Muslim society even more
would destroy 994,000 jobs. If assume that deficit spending is As I testified before a House of Five Filters featured article: ashamed of their bodies. Women
this were true, then we would stimulative, so, of course, that’s R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s O v e r s i g h t Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In who do not wear Islamic clothes,
truly be as addicted economically what they show. I may assume I Subcommittee earlier this week, The Crosshairs. such as Christians and foreigners,
to a rapidly growing budget as can outrun Olympic sprinter demand-side stimulus has failed, are even more vulnerable. In
President Obama’s recent budget Usain Bolt. But my assumption as it always does, because the Cairo, hearing a passing car
suggests. If this were true, we doesn’t put me on the victory theory conveniently excludes the yelling the “f” word or “whore” to
could never slow the growth in stand complete with flag and a woman and then speeding up in
the busy traffic is not uncommon.
In times of uprisings and
ISLAM’S page 85
Newstablet Edition Politics-Right/ 85
ISLAM’S
The Dirty Little Secret About De- continued from page 84

revolutions, it is not uncommon only when she reports and

Funding Obamacare for the mob mentality to take

over, resulting in assaults and
even killing of journalists. But
condemns immodest women,
turns against her sisters and
agrees with a misogynist culture
Ernest Istook (The Foundry: conservative groups in the
Conservative Policy News.) what happened to journalists in that blames the female victims
Conservative Action Project have
Egypt, including Logan, was an and not the predators.
Submitted at 2/18/2011 9:30:24 AM unitedly stated that the next-best
outrageous violation of police It was also reported that crowds
strategy is defunding. As their
Posted February 18th, 2011 at duty; instead of helping the yelled “Jew” at Logan. That does
report states,“The safest route for
10:30am in Health Care Print This foreign victims, the police added not surprise me, since a call that
legislatively combating
Post to the abuse by hours of someone is a Jew has a meaning
Obamacare is to defund it. Now
Several members of Congress, unnecessary and abusive in Muslim countries. It means
that the statute has been declared
like Rep. Denny Rehberg (R, MT) interrogation of the victims they are fair game for assault or
unconstitutional, Congress should
and Rep. Cathy McMorris themselves. worse; it means they are
use the power of the purse to deny
Rodgers (R.-Wash.) are offering Egypt and many Muslim subhuman and deserve whatever
funding for the individual
amendments that would prevent countries have a terrible record of happens to them. Muslim
mandate, employer mandates, and
any new spending from being sexual harassment. According to a scriptures are full of
writing the 100s of regulations
used to implement Obamacare. survey conducted in 2008 by an commandments to kill Jews
need to impose Obamacare. Such
Good for them. Those are Egyptian Women’s rights group, wherever they are and according
legislation will not in any way
important additions to the big 83% of Egyptian women have to Islamic law, female captives in
jeopardize the ongoing litigation
spending bill pending in been sexually harassed. The battle are automatically divorced
efforts.”
Congress. numbers for foreign women is a from their husbands and can be
It’s good that a federal judge has
But here’s the dirty little secret: staggering 98%. Most of the men sexually enslaved by their captors.
declared Obamacare
Much of Obamacare is being of the health care legislation, unconstitutional, but the White in the survey admitted they have Mohammed himself, who is
implemented with money that was rather than included in a separate House insists it’s going forward harassed women and most of viewed as the ideal example for
already appropriated last year. appropriations bill as is the anyway. It’s good that the House them blamed it on women for men, in all his battles against non-
T h e s e b i l l i o n s a r e a l r e a d y normal practice. dressing provocatively. What is Muslims allowed sexual
may cut off any new money to
available for bureaucrats to put The details are in a Congressional implement Obamacare. But worse is that the majority of enslavement of women captives.
Obamacare into force. Research Service report issued unless Congress deals with the pot women in the survey believe that Such Islamic history lessons send
Denying additional funding for last October, “ Appropriations and of money already provided, we women who dress immodestly the wrong message to Muslim
Obamacare does not de-fund the Fund Transfers in the Patient won’t meet the goal of defunding deserve the harassment. men and influence how they view
huge amounts it already is using Protection and Affordable Care Obamacare. Muslim culture has succeeded in and relate to women and take
for implementation. That requires Act (PPACA).” CRS devotes This entry passed through the turning women against each other away any feeling of guilt or
additional action. seven pages to describing the Full-Text RSS service — if this is and away from defending their shame.
Even though the last Congress b i l l i o n s o f d o l l a r s a l r e a d y your content and you're reading it human rights and dignity. The
failed to pass other appropriations appropriated and which the on someone else's site, please read system rewards women who turn
bills (creating the need for the Obama Administration even now our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/ on other women who do not
c u r r e n t l y - p e n d i n g s p e n d i n g is spending to promote that law. content-only/faq.php follow Sharia. A Muslim woman
measure), that former Congress Conservatives agree with the Five Filters featured article: is given her much-craved respect
DID provide billions to get American people that Obamacare Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
Obamacare launched. The money should be repealed. Short of The Crosshairs.
was directly appropriated as part outright repeal, leaders from 32
86 Politics-Right/ Publishing/
Protestors in Libya Demand Change Worldwide weekend of
Morgan Roach (The Foundry:
Conservative Policy News.)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:00:03 AM
sports
Posted February 18th, 2011 at
11:00am in American Leadership
Print This Post
The pro-democracy
demonstrations that continue to
rattle the Arab world have landed
in Libya.
In a country where government
dissent is dealt with by an iron
fist, anti-government activists are
demanding change. Since seizing
power in 1969, President
Muammar Qadhafi is one of the
most unpopular and authoritarian
tyrants in the Middle East. After
holding on to power through
repeated coup attempts, Qadhafi
has repressed Libya’s secular
opposition and crushed the Libyan
Islamic Fighting Group.
While Tunisia and Egypt
experienced rising food prices and
a decline in living conditions,
thereby contributing to public
outrage, Libya’s oil wealth has
cushioned its people against such
effects. However, corruption and
waste are rampant, and these
problems—combined with severe
limitations on civil liberties—are
contributing factors in recent
demonstrations.
On Wednesday, the regime
quickly attempted to disperse
activists. Reports of snipers firing
Newstablet Edition
Mariko Fritz-Krockow (The be on Cricket. Rather, they will be
Scribd Blog) on a different kind of round
Submitted at 2/18/2011 12:00:26 AM sporting field. Drivers like Kurt
Busch and Jeff Burton will duel it
February 18, 2011 out while Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will
This weekend will be a big try to come from behind in “The
sporting weekend all around the Great American Race”, the
world. In the US, eyes will be on Daytona 500, this Sunday! Our
the racetrack as rally cars feel the Daytona 500 collection has your
need for speed at the Daytona trip to the racetrack covered with
500. Much of the rest of the the 2011 Insiders Guide and the
world’s eyes with be on the pitch, seating chart. And if you don’t
watching their countries batting it know what those cars are doing,
out in the Cricket World Cup. going around and around, check
Tomorrow, #2 ranked India will out “ NASCAR for Dummies”!
face #8 ranked host country No matter where in the world you
upon crowds as well as numerous States has emphasized that Bangladesh in the opening match are this weekend, there will be a
a r r e s t s a n d b e a t i n g s h a v e countries experiencing public of the 2011 Cricket World Cup.
sporting event for you!
surfaced. Despite this, protestors unrest should “take specific The following day New Zealand Mariko Fritz-Krockow,
continued their demonstrations a c t i o n s t h a t a d d r e s s t h e will face Kenya and Sri Lanka
Community and Content Manager
through today. But, according to aspirations and the needs and will go up against Canada. Currently reading “ Cricket
one Libyan official“there’s hopes of their people. … Libya Defending champion, England,
Facts”
nothing serious here. … These are would certainly be in that same will play the Netherlands on Entry filed under:
just young people fighting each category.” After 40 years of Tuesday. The rules of Cricket are
Announcements. Tags: .
other.” Clearly, the regime has not authoritarian rule, it’s time for extensive and so it’s ok if you This entry passed through the
noticed the effects of “young Libya to take much-needed steps need to brush up on them. Go
Full-Text RSS service — if this is
people” instituting change across toward democracy. ahead and check out some Cricket your content and you're reading it
the Middle East. This entry passed through the facts or information on batting.
on someone else's site, please read
As seen by recent events across Full-Text RSS service — if this is It’s all in our ICC Cricket World our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/
the region, the more oppressive your content and you're reading it Cup, 2011 collection. After all,
content-only/faq.php
governments attempt to suppress on someone else's site, please read it’s good to stay on top of the Five Filters featured article:
o p p o s i t i o n m o v e m e n t s , t h e our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/ second most played sport in the
Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In
stronger that opposition becomes. content-only/faq.php world! The Crosshairs.
Qadhafi is the longest ruling Five Filters featured article: Unlike most other former British
dictator in the Arab world, and Collateral Damage - WikiLeaks In colonies, the eyes of the US won’t
it’s time for a change. The United The Crosshairs.
Newstablet Edition Social Media/ 87

How Social Media Helped Toy Story 3 Win at the Box Office
Christina Warren (Mashable!) and Pixar made it clear that the animation of a Latin dance
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:04:45 AM individuals in their twenties number.
would be a big target for Toy This aspect of the campaign felt
The Behind the Social Media Story 3. The TV and print the most false to us. As funny as
Campaign Series is supported by campaigns for the film largely Spanish Buzz is in Toy Story 3,
Oneupweb, an award-winning targeted families and younger the tie-in with Dancing with the
agency specializing in search children. In an interesting move, Stars just feels awkward. The fact
marketing, social media and however, Disney ran a parallel that the appearance received little
design for mid-to-enterprise level campaign targeting twenty- coverage even across movie and
brands. Download Oneupweb’s s o m e t h i n g s v i a F a c e b o o k , Disney-focused blogs indicates
free whitepaper, “The Bloody Y o u T u b e a n d m o v i e b l o g s . that perhaps this wasn’t the
Truth about Social Media.” In March of 2010, Disney and strongest part of the campaign.
Toy Story 3 was one of the P i x a r a n n o u n c e d s p e c i a l The Results
biggest films of 2010. As Pixar’s cliffhanger screenings of Toy Toy Story 3 was a huge hit with
11th full-length film, the third and Story 3 at college campuses critics, and with fans. The film
final chapter in the world of Buzz around the country. has gone on to gross over$1
Lightyear and Woody hit theaters Using Facebook, students with a Bear“vintage” YouTube in late April 2010, immediately billion dollars worldwide, making
in June 2010. valid college ID could sign up for commercials. Purportedly from opened up a wave of press and it the most successful animated
Months before that, Disney and special screenings of the film. the 1980s, these ads oozed blog coverage that extended far film of all time.
Pixar embarked in a wide-scale These screenings were 65 minutes nostalgia. From the lighting to the beyond the typical movie news Even before the film’s release, it
marketing blitz that covered in length and designed to whet clothing, the ads could easily be cycle. The ads worked because it seemed inevitable that Toy Story
television, print and social media. viewers appetites for the final mistaken for something from gave viewers a look into the the 3 would be nominated — if not
Using Facebook and YouTube to release in June 2010. 1983. To add to the effect, the alternate reality of an animated win — the Academy Award for
help promote the film, the studio Targeting college students and clips were given a “bad tracking” film — while also acting as a Best Animated Feature. For
raised awareness and successfully doing special campus screenings VHS effect. genuinely cool Internet video. Disney, however, that’s not
targeted demographics that don’t was the first sign that Disney was Directed by Chris Cantwell, the Moreover, the ads managed to enough. In November, Walt
traditionally flock to Disney serious about targeting socially two ads were shot in high- p r o m o t e t h e f i l m w i t h o u t Disney Studios Chairman Rich
animated feature films. savvy audiences. definition. The Toy Story 3 Blu- promoting it. The advertisements Ross launched a tongue-in-cheek
In the following, we take a closer Pixar and Disney also targeted ray edition features a 90-second were for a new character in the Oscar campaign for the biggest
look at the Toy Story 3 social older Generation X viewers with “making-of” clip showing the ads Toy Story universe. This award in Hollywood: Best
media campaign. The Campaign its “Groovin’ with Ken” character both untreated and then treated for character is integral to the film, P i c t u r e .
For Toy Story 3, Disney and profile. The clip, which is very YouTube. however his role in the story is Speaking with Pete Hammond at
Pixar heavily marketed the film Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous The details in post-production — not revealed from the faux ads. Deadline, Ross said:
across different demographics. in its approach, introduces as well as the decision to release The faux ads were successful “With this movie we wanted to
Pixar films are unique in that they audiences to the character Ken. the clips on YouTube — made the enough that Disney released an come up with a campaign that
typically appeal to broader Voiced by Michael Keaton, Ken Lotso spots a viral sensation. actual collector’s edition Lotso kept our aspirations clear but at
audiences and skew older than is one of the funniest characters in To date, the main Lotso clip has toy in the fall of 2010. Targeting the same time used a tongue-in-
other animated films. Thanks to the film. been viewed more than 1 million Adults cheek approach. It’s all to
films like The Incredibles, WALL Here’s the YouTube clip: times on YouTube — and we A marketing tie-in between Toy recognize the quandary which is
-E and Up, it’s not uncommon to Going Viral imagine that number can be Story 3 and Dancing with the that no animated picture had won
see more adults than children In April 2010, Disney and Pixar multiplied several times to Stars aired in May 2010. Airing Best Picture, so we used only Best
p a c k e d i n t o t h e a t e r s w h e n raised the ante for social media counter the variants and copies on the Disney-owned ABC, a Picture images to reflect that. I
watching a Pixar movie. campaigns everywhere with the floating around the web. special segment showcased how
From the very beginning, Disney release of the Lots-o’Huggin’ HOW page 88
These ads, which were released Dancing with the Stars influenced
88 Technology/
HOW
continued from page 87
feel very confident we have a
movie everybody loves, and I
want to make sure with our
support and our campaign that
people don’t feel the consolation
prize is the appropriate prize for a
movie like Toy Story 3. I think
people will look at the ads and
feel it’s very Pixar and very
Disney. At the same time it’s very
clear. Toy Story 3 is a Best
Picture. Vote for it. Please.”
The campaign continued to run
through January, and Disney has
compiled a gallery of the
campaign posters. This Oscar
campaign is really a cut above.
When Oscar nominations were
announced last month, Toy Story
3 received five nods — including
Best Picture, Best Animated
Feature and Best Adapted
Screenplay. Toy Story 3‘s
chances at taking home Best
Picture are a long shot, though —
it’s only the third animated film in
history to secure a Best Picture
nomination.
In the end, the campaigns for the
film before, during and after its
release have solidified Toy Story
3‘s role in history, both as a film
and as a case study for effective
uses of social media and viral
marketing. Series Supported by
Oneupweb
The Behind the Social Media
Campaign Series is supported by
Oneupweb, an award-winning
agency specializing in search
marketing, social media and
design for mid-to-enterprise level
brands. Download Oneupweb’s
free whitepaper, “The Bloody
Truth about Social Media” to
learn how to cut through the
clutter and be sure to catch up
with them on Facebook and
Twitter.
More Business Resources from
Mashable:
- HOW TO: Create a World-Class
Online Community for Your
Business
Newstablet Edition
- How Social Data & Mobile Tech
Can Improve the Retail
Experience
- 5 Creative Facebook Places
Marketing Campaigns
- Top 9 Job Sites to Bookmark for
Your Career Search
- Twitter for Brands: 6 Winning
Strategies to Learn From
More About: Behind the Social
Media Campaign Series, Film,
MARKETING, movie marketing,
Movies, toy story 3
For more Business & Marketing
coverage:
• Follow Mashable Business &
Marketing on Twitter
• Become a Fan on Facebook
• Subscribe to the Business &
NoteSlate teased with new
Marketing channel
• Download our free apps for
product shots, moves one step
Android, Mac, iPhone and iPad
away from vaporware status
Richard Lai (Engadget) are here to stay as well, though we
Submitted at 2/18/2011 11:16:00 AM should point out that there's a $30
alternative, already available,
Look, you can't say no to a $99 from Improv Electronics for those
electronic ink drawing tablet, but who need nothing more than just
to believe that that his here doodling. Otherwise, keep an eye
NoteSlate has any chance of out for the NoteSlate come June.
retailing at that price you'd also [Thanks, Eddie]
need the naiveté of a child who Filed under: Tablet PCs
accepts free candies from NoteSlate teased with new
strangers. While we remain product shots, moves one step
skeptical, said tablet's website has away from vaporware status
just been updated with a new originally appeared on Engadget
stash of product shots and an in- on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 11:16:00
depth walkthrough, which are EDT. Please see our terms for use
kinda convincing if you ignore the of feeds. Permalink| NoteSlate|
price tag. The mono-color models Email this| Comments
Newstablet Edition
Internet Restricted in Bahrain as
Protests Escalate
Sarah Kessler (Mashable!)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:19:08 AM
As protests continue in Bahrain,
data suggests that access to many
websites has been restricted there.
Arbor Networks, a security
research company that tracks
Internet traffic, told The New
York Times on Friday that traffic
into and out of Bahrain has
dropped between 10% and 20%
below expected levels. Traffic
normally only drops that low
during natural disasters or global
sporting events.
The graph below shows
Bahrain’s Internet traffic levels
this week compared to average
traffic levels during the previous
three weeks. The traffic this week
has been significantly lower than
usual. Arbor Networks told The
Times that it couldn’t absolutely
rule out technical difficulties as a
cause for the drop, though the
most likely cause was blocked
websites.
A Harvard University website
that crowdsources reports of
inaccessible webpages shows that
many sites, including
bahrainonline.org and
bahrainrights.org, have been
reported to be inaccessible. But
almost all of the reports were
made before the protests in
Bahrain started.
Last month, Egypt blocked
websites like Twitter and
Facebook in response to unrest
before blocking the Internet
altogether(See that graph here).
The success that Egyptian
protesters had in ousting former
president Hosni Mubarak despite
these drastic digital measures is
often cited as enhancing the
confidence of protesters in
Bahrain, Algeria and elsewhere in
the Middle East.
While data suggests that Bahrain
is restricting the Internet in
response to unrest in the same
way Egypt did, Arbor Network’s
Internet traffic data shows nothing
out of the ordinary in Algeria’s
Internet traffic (at least between
February 10 and 13).
More About: algeria, Arbor
Newtworks, bahrain, Egypt,
Internet block, protests
For more Social Media coverage:
• Follow Mashable Social Media
on Twitter
• Become a Fan on Facebook
• Subscribe to the Social Media
channel
• Download our free apps for
Android, Mac, iPhone and iPad
Social Media/ 89
A Search Engine Entirely
Dedicated to Vinyl:
Awesome or Anachronistic?
Brenna Ehrlich (Mashable!) I actually use. And while Amazon
Submitted at 2/18/2011 10:48:58 AM has a pretty extensive vinyl
catalogue, I’d much rather support
Not everyone has an awesome smaller sites like Boomkat and
neighborhood record store run by Insound because I think what they
an obsessive, borderline recluse do for music is really important.”
who can suggest a disc based on Remember Musikki, the search
the way you walk and your choice engine that centers entirely around
of drink. finding bands? Well, Find You
That’s why engineer Lucas Some Vinyl operates by the same
Hrabovsky created Find You principle. Say you wanted the new
Some Vinyl, a search engine for Radiohead album on vinyl — all
finding records, at Music Hack y o u h a v e t o d o i s s e a r c h
Day in New York City. “Radiohead, The King of Limbs,”
“I’ve been building up my vinyl and the service will hypothetically
collection recently, and I was tired tell what record stores carry that
of having to search a wide range disc, and provide a direct link to
of different sites every time I was the “Buy” page.
curious looking into an album, Right now, this hack is not fully
new or old,” Hrabovsky says. “As b u i l t o u t — s i n c e i t w a s
massive as they are, services like constructed in a weekend — and
Google Shopping don’t generally SEARCH page 90
link to the online vinyl stores that
90 Technology/ Newstablet Edition
SEARCH HUAWEI
continued from page 89 continued from page 90

only contains results from
Amazon, Insound, Interpunk and
Boomkat. Still, we can imagine it
becoming useful once Hrabovsky
adds more results and tightens up
the UI a bit.
“I’m definitely very interested in
finding other sites to fold in,”
Hrabovsky says. “I’ve worked on
fixing most of the bugs and
adding a few new features.”
Photo courtesy of Flickr,
hell*yeah
More About: find-you-some-
vinyl, music, music-hack-day- | Email this| Comments
nyc, vinyl
For more Media coverage:
• Follow Mashable Media on
Twitter
• Become a Fan on Facebook
• Subscribe to the Media channel
• Download our free apps for
Android, Mac, iPhone and iPad

Caption Contest: Obama has dinner with tech industry CEOs

Vlad Savov (Engadget) education, and research spending. Tim: "Zuck, it's like Final Club,
Submitted at 2/18/2011 11:30:00 AM We're not here for that, though, except with the President."
we're here to drop zingers about Caption Contest: Obama has
Barack Obama is a president well one all-powerful dude and his big- dinner with tech industry CEOs
known for being in touch with time CEO buddies. originally appeared on Engadget
technology, so it's no surprise to Thomas:"Here's to project on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 11:30:00
see him wining and dining the Soylent Green." EDT. Please see our terms for use
i n d u s t r y ' s b i g g e s t d e c i s i o n Joe:"This sure beats the Four of feeds. Permalink| The White
makers. Larry Ellison, Eric Loko Summit we held last House (Flickr)| Email this|
Schmidt, Carol Bartz, Mark summer on the White House a 'kill switch' on this party." Nilay:"Gentlemen, Ballmer has Comments
Zuckerberg, and yes, even Steve lawn." Paul:"At this very moment we're neutralized the Finnish threat."
Jobs joined el presidente for an Chris:"So let's just jam through millions of miles from a doomed Richard Lai:"Drink up, kids -- it's
informal dinner on Thursday to this dinner real quick." planet Earth!" Dance Central time!"
discuss important things like jobs, Josh T:"I hope no one authorizes

Huawei IDEOS X3 hands-on (video)

Myriam Joire (Engadget) downmarket, and the X5 is HSPA plus quadband EDGE hands-on (video)
Submitted at 2/18/2011 11:53:00 AM looking to bring high-end features radios, all powered by a 1200mAh Continue reading Huawei IDEOS
to the mid-end, the X3 is aimed battery. Contrary to its siblings, X3 hands-on (video)
Yesterday at MWC we got our squarely at bread-and-butter the X3 is not a Google Experience Huawei IDEOS X3 hands-on
hands on the Huawei IDEOS X3, devices like the LG Optimus T. device, and runs a custom skin on (video) originally appeared on
an Android 2.3 phone slotted right Spec-wise, you'll find a 3.2-inch top of Gingerbread. See our Engadget on Fri, 18 Feb 2011
between the IDEOS / Comet we HVGA capacitive touchscreen, pictures in the gallery below and 11:53:00 EDT. Please see our
reviewed recently and the X5 we Q u a l c o m m M S M 7 2 2 7 C P U jump the break for our first terms for use of feeds. Permalink|
saw at CES. While the original (likely 600 MHz), 256GB of camera, front-facing camera, impressions and hands-on video.
IDEOS took Android significantly RAM, 3.2 megapixel autofocus WiFi b / g / n, and dualband Gallery: Huawei IDEOS X3 HUAWEI page 90