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Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce November Events

2005-11-13T11:54:00.000-08:00

Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce November Events

After Hours Biz Mixer

Tuesday, November 15, 2005 • 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Any Event Party Rentals/Catering
9251 Elk Grove Blvd.
Members and the public welcome! Mingle, network, win prizes,
and learn about a great business member of the Elk Grove
Chamber of Commerce. Bring a door prize…a great way
to promote your business!

Membership Luncheon
Friday, November 18, 2005 • 11:30 a.m.
Business Expo
Wackford Community Aquatic Complex
9014 Bruceville Rd.
Please RSVP by Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Fax to (916) 691-3810, go online at
www.elkgroveca.com or call (916) 691-3760.
$20 Members w/reservation; $25 Door
$25 Non-members w/reservation; $30 Door
(Cancellations required by Thursday preceding the luncheon. Thank you.)

Homage to A Hero

2005-10-28T12:33:00.000-07:00

Homage to A Hero
By Darren Bocksnic

History is replete with the awe-inspiring accounts of
real-life, every day hero’s, whose feats are forever
forged in our memories and whose exploits live on in
our thoughts. Their names still ring like anthems in
our ears and their life stories are the stuff that
legends are made of…

They are the Dwight D. Eisenhower’s among us who, as
the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, led the
way to victory and freed the world of Nazism and
tyranny. They are the Martin Luther King Juniors among
us who envisioned an America without prejudice and
inspired a generation to be free of racism. They are
the John F. Kennedy’s among us who as President of the
United States of America, stood down the eminent
threat of a nuclear crisis, pushed back the enemy to
his borders and finally, challenged the nation to lead
the world in space exploration.

They are the soldiers fulfilling their duty, honoring
their country, sacrificing for the freedoms we so now
enjoy. They are the Richard Collins among us, who as a Sniper Spcl
with the 3rd Infantry-21st Battlion, US Army, is now fighting for a
free Iraq and to create a Democracy where peace can
reside, progress can begin and stability in the region
can endure.

Who, leaving his faithful wife, Angela and his two
beautiful children, Dakota and Montana, ages 3 and 4, behind, performed his duty to
country sacrificially, yet wholeheartedly so that an
impoverished people may know freedom without fear.
Who, during the return from a Stryker convoy mission,
that had been engaged in a fierce firefight with insurgents, was unexpectly struck
by a suicide bomb that blew him out of the Stryker and left him flash burned, battered, bleeding, and unconscious. Since he was defending the Stryker in the vulnerable position on the rear hatch, he was exposed directly to the explosion, and consequently, the one in
his unit who suffered the most injuries.

People like Richard Collins are the real hero’s among
us whose suffering speaks of sacrificial duty and
whose injuries remind us again of the price of
freedom, but nonetheless, that the cause for freedom
is worth every cost, even if it meant his life. He was
willing to offer himself to God, country and to his
fellow man so that they too, might come to know those
things we hold dear.

The Richard Collins among us are the soldiers, whose
life story inspires generations and from which legends
are born. Their dutiful exploits are forever forged in
the forefront of our thoughts and their sacrifices
will never be forgotten…

Also See
http://www.therockchurch.us/

2005 Walk to Cure Diabetes

2005-07-29T10:47:00.000-07:00

2005 Walk to Cure Diabetes
Sunday, October 2, 2005
Check-in Time: 8:00 a.m.
Walk Start Time: 9:00 a.m.
Sacramento
Start/Finish: State Capitol West Steps
Walk Length: 5K
Walk will take place rain or shine.
For more information contact:
Northern California Inland Chapter
916-920-0790
northernca@jdrf.org

Website: http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=100599
Larry Nelson,
Regional Director of Harman Management,
along with the Northern California Inland Chapter
of the Juvenile Diabetes
Research Foundation
invite you to join us at the...
2005 Walk to Cure Diabetes
Team Captain Kick-off Luncheon
Date: Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Location: Hyatt Regency Sacramento
1209 L Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Time: 12:00 Noon
For further information and reservations,
please call JDRF at 916-920-0790
or you may fax the RSVP card to 916-920-0367
or email to northernca@jdrf.org
Please RSVP by Wednesday, August 3rd

The Northern California Inland Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) serves Northern California from Shasta to Fresno and everywhere in between! The Chapter provides valuable information about juvenile diabetes and research to people with diabetes, their families, and the general public.

The "Bag of Hope" and "Teen Pak" are available free of charge to newly diagnosed children by calling the Northern California Inland Chapter at (800) 650-7714.

JDRF holds successful events including the Walk to Cure Diabetes, Cure Diabetes Golf Tournament, and the Passport to a Cure Gala that raises much-needed funds for diabetes research.

Technology News: Science : Fuel Cells for Phones Pursued, Questioned

2005-07-06T18:37:00.000-07:00

Technology News: Science : Fuel Cells for Phones Pursued, Questioned:

If we were all using fuel cells and someone invented batteries, we would be excited about it,' Gartner Research Vice President Martin Reynolds told TechNewsWorld. 'Batteries keep setting the bar higher. Fuel cells don't look as good as they used to. It's not a breakthrough yet.'

Japanese electronics and handset giants Fujitsu and NTT DoCoMo proudly proclaimed joint development of a high-capacity micro fuel cell with recharger for mobile handsets this week, but analysts said that batteries continue to push the envelope ahead of such technologies, which have long been promised by industry.

Fujitsu and NTT DoCoMo (NYSE: DCM) Latest News about NTT DoCoMo stated that they had boosted the methanol fuel concentration of their cell from 30 percent to 99 percent, enabling better performance and longevity of the cells that require fuel cartridges.

The companies claimed the micro fuel cells offer a theoretical performance of 10 times that of today's popular lithium ion batteries Latest News about Batteries, and are equipped for high-density energy storage at levels three times greater than lithium ion.
Old Promises Unfulfilled

Rogers Sorry About Incident

2005-07-06T18:36:00.000-07:00

Rogers Sorry About Incident:

Rogers Sorry About Incident
# The Ranger pitcher apologizes for his outburst involving cameramen. He is noncommittal about All-Star game.
From Associated Press
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas Ranger pitcher Kenny Rogers apologized Wednesday for last week's incident in which he shoved two cameramen and said he had not decided whether he will play in Tuesday's All-Star game.
Rogers, who is appealing his 20-game suspension for the outburst, apologized to fans and the cameramen in his first public comments since the June 29 incident. He declined to take questions, and said he was speaking against the advice of his lawyer.

Mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer

2005-03-27T01:38:00.000-08:00

: "Mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer but its incidence appears

to be on the increase in the United States. The number of cases detected in

the past twenty years is far more than in the past. Almost all these

patients of Mesothelioma had a history of having worked in environments

where they have inhaled asbestos particles. Some have been exposed to

asbestos at home, often without being aware of it and without any immediate deleterious effect. People exposed in the

forties, fifties and sixties, when there was little awareness of the hazards

of exposure to asbestos, are now being diagnosed with Mesothelioma. This is

because of the long latency period of Mesothelioma or asbestos disease. Even

a short-term exposure of a few weeks can result in Mesothelioma after forty

years or more. The disease itself has no specific symptoms and this along

with the long latent period after exposure often results in diagnosis at a

late stage. More men are diagnosed with Mesothelioma than women and the risk

increases with age. It thus appears to be that rather than an increase in

incidence of Mesothelioma it is more an increase in the number of cases

diagnosed in the recent years.
Mesothelioma is the cancer of the mesothelium or the double-layered

membrane that protects and covers most internal organs. This is known by

different names, depending on the organs covered. Thus the lining of the

lungs is known as the pleura, and that of the heart, the pericardium. The

tunica serosa uteri cover the reproductive organs in women and all the

organs of the abdomen are protected by the peritoneum. Mesothelioma can

occur in any of these protective sacs but is more common in the pleura and

peritoneum. When the cells of the membrane lose their ability to divide in

an orderly manner and grow at the expense of the normal tissue, Mesothelioma

results."

Mesothelioma & Asbestos Cancer Resource

2005-03-27T01:24:00.000-08:00

Mesothelioma & Asbestos Cancer Resource:

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a rare disease caused as a result of malignant cancerous cells lining the patient's body cavities such as chest, abdominal region or the area surrounding the heart. It is typically associated with exposure to asbestos which has been documented in as many as 70-80% of all mesothelioma cases. This disease is very difficult to assess consistently due to the great variability in time before diagnosis and the rate of progression of malignant mesothelioma.

Even insignificant exposure to asbestos (commonly reported in such work environments as asbestos mills, mines, shipping yards, some older Navy ships or patients. homes) is known to result in mesothelioma, which in many cases does not occur for decades after initial exposure to this cancer-causing substance. In the recent years as many as 2000-3000 cases of mesothelioma have been diagnosed per year. It is also known that family members of workers exposed to asbestos can contract this disease through exposure to the worker.s clothing. Smoking greatly increases the risk of contracting mesothelioma.

Some of the earliest symptoms of mesothelioma can often be mistaken for less serious illness and are commonly overlooked. Some patients do not show any signs of sickness in the early stages of development of the disease. Most commonly the symptoms include dyspnea, pleuritic pain, lasting cough, fatigue, and weight loss. However, these can not be easily attributed to mesothelioma unless the patient is examined by their health care provider and necessary tests are done, which may include CT scans, x-rays scans, or MRI. Surgery can be one of the treatment options; however, the recurrence rate of cancerous cells is high. It is very important that the disease is diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

This disease is not linked with patient's race; however it is more common in men. Most cases of mesothelioma occur 30-45 years after initial exposure to asbestos. Once it develops, this cancer will continue to grow until it is treated.
Mesothelioma Treatment: What You Can Do

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, remember that time matters. The faster you consult your doctor and get professional care the better your chances will be of dealing with this dangerous cancer. There are three traditional methods of fighting cancerous mesothelioma: surgery, chemotherapy drugs and radiation therapy. Please contact your doctor as soon as possible to get more information.

The Courier-Mail: Teacher death fuels schools' dust fears asbestos disease mesothelioma

2005-03-27T01:16:00.000-08:00

The Courier-Mail: Teacher death fuels schools' dust fears [26mar05]: "A NORTH Queensland teacher died from the deadly asbestos disease mesothelioma after dust fell from the roof cavity on her desk on a windy day.

The teacher, employed by Education Queensland, made a successful claim against Workcover Queensland, which did not contest her claim, before dying in 2003.

Leading Queensland lung specialist Dr Maurice Heiner said yesterday the north Queensland teacher's asbestos situation was 'almost a template of what we are seeing at Moggill (State School)'.

'In the case of the teacher who has now died, there was evidence that when wind blew, (asbestos) dust would fall from the ceiling on to classroom desks and that's how the contamination occurred,' Dr Heiner said."

TWO runners are stepping up the pace mesothelioma

2005-03-27T01:13:00.000-08:00

News & Star

TWO runners are stepping up the pace to complete the challenge of a lifetime by running the London Marathon – in kilts.

In under a month’s time, friends Lucy Houston and Sarah LeBrocq will be running the 26-mile course and have already raised around £7,500 for the British Lung Foundation.

The charity funds research into lung diseases such as mesothelioma, to which Lucy lost her father Neil Gregory in March 2003.

Lucy, 38, said: “I wanted to celebrate his life and he was always fit and active and loved the outdoors, so it seemed a good way to remember him.”

Lucy and Sarah admit that neither of them could run a mile when they started, but a gruelling eight-month preparation regime means they are on target to complete the race.

Both women have young children, which has made training even more of a challenge.

Lucy, who helps run the Old Blacksmith’s Shop in Gretna Green, said: “I always watched the marathon on the TV and thought it was amazing but I could never do that.”

Sarah, 39, said: “Lucy approached me and said it would be great to run the London Marathon. I said ‘don’t be ridiculous’, so we decided to do the Great North Run.

“We did it together and there was such a great feeling and such a sense of achievement.

“When Lucy decided to do the marathon as well, I realised I would be jealous if I didn’t do it too.”

The pair admit that they are apprehensive, but determined to run the entire 26 miles in matching kilts.

To sponsor Lucy and Sarah, visit www.justgiving.co.uk/lucyhouston

Local CPA oversees asbestos trust fund

2005-03-27T01:06:00.000-08:00

Local CPA oversees asbestos trust fund: "In the case of the Halliburton subsidiaries, the company paid $2.8 billion to cover asbestos claims filed before the 2003 bankruptcy. To pay subsequent claims, Halliburton contributed 59.5 million of its shares to the trust on Jan. 20. Originally, the shares were going to be sold gradually. However, because of the trustees' fiduciary responsibilities, they sought -- and Halliburton granted -- permission to sell all.

'To be a prudent fiduciary, you've got to diversify these funds,' Gleason says. 'That was our highest priority.'

The fact that Halliburton shares have surged in recent months on speculation high oil prices will fatten the company's bottom line also made it 'an opportune time to liquidate and limit our downside in the future,' Gleason says.

'When we began this process, the stock was at $22. We sold it at $42.50,' Gleason says.

The 59.5 million shares were sold March 17 in one of the largest-ever secondary stock offerings. Proceeds of $2.5 billion were transferred by wire to the trust last week. They were placed into short-term investments until Gleason, Parker and Kahn hire investment managers to oversee the funds.

Halliburton's bankruptcy plan for its subsidiaries sets rules for paying claimants based on their medical problems. Those rules are being translated into a claim form that Gleason expects to be ready by the end of summer. Once that happens, the trust can begin the lengthy process of evaluating and paying claims, as well as making sure the $2.5 billion lasts.

The trust is managed by Trust Services Inc., a Greenville, Texas, firm that specializes in managing asbestos trusts. The firm will soon have a web page with information on the claims process and for filing a claim over the Internet, Gleason says.

In the meantime, those who believe they may be eligible to file a claim should contact their attorney or call the trust at 1-903-450-0386."

mesothelioma - the incurable asbestos-related cancer

2005-03-27T01:04:00.000-08:00

Halifax Today: News, Sport, Jobs, Property, Cars, Entertainments & More: "DISTRICT FACES A DUST 'BOMB'
DISTRICT FACES A DUST 'BOMB'
A FRESH warning that Calderdale could be facing an explosion in cases of asbestos-related disease has come from a local specialist.
Lung cancer nurse Anne Hickox has just returned from a national summit about mesothelioma - the incurable asbestos-related cancer that affects the lungs and abdomen.
Mrs Hickox, based at Calderdale Royal Hospital, said cases of mesothelioma were rising in the district and were expected to explode in the next few years.
Ninety-eight cases of mesothelioma were recorded in Calderdale by the Health and Safety Executive between 1981 and 2000, which is 38 per cent above the national average.
Of those, 82 were men, which gives Calderdale the second highest number of male cases in West Yorkshire after Leeds.
Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust confirmed eight cases had been recorded in Calderdale in the past two years, since its records were started.
The trust is so concerned figures may rocket, said Mrs Hickox, that it would be signing a 10-point charter to improve services and it would be taking part in future action days run by the British Lung Foundation.
She said: "We have had fewer than 2,000 cases of mesothelioma in the UK so far, but we know this is going to explode in the next few years.
"About 90 per cent of mesothelioma cases are related to asbestos exposure. The victims may have worked with asbestos or come into contact with people who worked with it.
"What's most worrying is that the disease has a very long shelf life. Contact could happen today and the sufferer may not have any symptoms for at least 15 years and as many as 40 years. There's a potential for a big problem."
Mrs Hickox said Calderdale could be affected particularly badly because of its industrial background. In the Pennines, asbestos manufacturing sites such as Acre Mill at Hebden Bridge could have far-reaching consequences.
In 2003 the Evening Courier called for an independent public inquiry into asbestos-related deaths linked with Cape Asbestos, which operated from Acre Mill from 1939 to 1970.
The Evening Courier also called for the release of information by Cape Asbestos and compensation for everyone affected.
Mrs Hickox said: "There's an urgent need for both professionals and the general public to be aware of the potential situation which could develop in these areas.
"If anyone who might have come into contact with asbestos develops any chest problems, they should contact their GP sooner rather than later."

February Digest 2005, Mesothelioma lawsuits and Info

2005-03-27T01:02:00.000-08:00

February Digest 2005, Mesothelioma lawsuits and Info

February Digest 2005, Mesothelioma lawsuits and Info

Political Gateway Mar 1- mesothelioma Digest. Recap of lawsuits, news, and information for the month of February relating to Asbestos and Mesothelioma.

What mesothelioma is

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer. It is a cancer of mesothelial cells. These cells cover the outer surface of most of our internal body organs, forming a lining that is sometimes called the mesothelium. So this is where this type of cancer gets its name.

Causes: Asbestos and mesothelioma

Unusually for cancer, we do know what causes the majority of cases of mesothelioma. It is most often linked to exposure to asbestos. We have known of a link between asbestos and lung disease since the beginning of the 18th century. But the link with mesothelioma has only been known since the 1960's. Unfortunately, the number of cases of mesothelioma in the UK each year is expected to rise sharply over the next 20 years because of the heavy use of asbestos in industry in the years following the second world war.

(The information above is from Cancer Research UK)

Latest Mesothelioma lawsuits as of Mar-1-2005

Dallas, TX (PRWEB via PR Web Direct) February 23, 2005 � The law firm of Baron & Budd, P.C. announces that a class action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on behalf of purchasers of Veeco Instruments, Inc. (Nasdaq: VECO) (�Veeco� or the �Company�) securities during the period between April 26, 2004 and February 10, 2005, inclusive (the �class period�). Mesothelioma

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/2/prweb212010.htm

US - Baron + Budd, P.C. -

23 February 2005 - LAWFUEL - The Law News Network - The law firm of Baron & Budd, P.C. announces that a class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona on behalf of purchasers of Hypercom Corporation (NYSE: HYC)(�Hypercom� or the �Company�) securities during the period between April 30, 2004 and February 3, 2005, inclusive (the �Class Period�). Mesothelioma

http://www.lawfuel.com/...

Settlements and News

PUBLICITY surrounding the inquiry into James Hardie contributed to a surge in the number of asbestos-related claims (Mesothelioma)lodged with one of the nation's biggest insurers.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12341257-2,00.html

As settlement talks broke down, prospects looked up for a trial involving out-of-state plaintiffs Willard and Elizabeth King of Fenton, Mo. who seek compensation for Willard's deadly asbestos-related mesothelioma. The couple filed suit June 2, 2004, alleging the disease was caused by his exposure to asbestos fibers.

http://www.madisonrecord.com/news/newsview.asp?c=144981

Verdict may cost insurance firms millions

TENS of thousands of workmen who were exposed to deadly asbestos (Mesothelioma) have had their right to compensation upheld by the High Court in a decision that will cost insurance companies millions of pounds.

http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=55&ArticleID=946907

US Hardie victim wins big payout

The confidential settlement, understood to be $250,000, is set to open the floodgates of potentially massive lawsuits against the company in the US regarding Mesothelioma

www.theaustralian.news.com.au

Halliburton to pay $30 million to area asbestos victims

The Halliburton Co. will pay $30 million to about 120 families of people who were exposed to deadly asbestos while working in shipyards, construction sites and industrial plants in the Pacific Northwest or serving on Navy ships that were serviced here....'Mesothelioma'...

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/210679_asbestos04.html

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How You Can Help Cure Mesothelioma Cancer In 3 Minutes

2005-03-27T01:01:00.000-08:00

How You Can Help Cure Mesothelioma Cancer In 3 Minutes

How You Can Help Cure Mesothelioma Cancer In 3 Minutes

In only 3 minutes, you can help mesothelioma cancer victims create and fund a $30 million per year federal program. Mesothelioma cancer currently affects thousands worldwide, but you can help combat this disease in just 3 minutes by signing a petition online. This petition asks the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee to federally fund the National Mesothelioma Research and Treatment Program at $30 million per year. You can help save the lives of thousands by digitally signing this free online petition today.

Quincy, CA (PRWEB) February 26, 2005 -- In just 3 minutes, you could be on your way to helping create and fund a $30 million per year federal program that will save the lives of thousands of people and it won’t cost you a dime.

A foundation called the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, Inc., or MARF, has been created to raise funds to be used for research on new therapies for malignant mesothelioma cancer.

Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects thousands of Americans each year. Mesothelioma cancer appears in the form of a malignant tumor that aggressively invades the linings of the lungs, abdomen, heart or testicles. Mesothelioma is thought to be created by exposure to asbestos. Research for this fatal disease is currently under funded, but that is all about to change with your help.

http://www.awakeingenterprises.com/mesothelioma/mesothelioma_cancer.html

By taking just 3 minutes of your time, you can digitally sign a petition to help generate $30 million in federal money for the National Mesothelioma Research and Treatment Program.

This program will focus upon the early detection and prevention of mesothelioma cancer, as well as areas of therapeutic research and education to ensure that a cure is discovered, and those that are suffering will suffer less.

Learn how you can help save the lives of thousands of people across America and help find a cure for mesothelioma cancer once and for all.

For additional information (or sample, copy or demo), contact:
http://www.awakeingenterprises.com/mesothelioma/mesothelioma_cancer.html.

Mesothelioma Network Web Site Launched

2005-03-27T01:00:00.000-08:00

Mesothelioma Network Web Site Launched: "The Mesothelioma Network discusses mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment, clinical trials, and medical breakthroughs. It also includes a medical glossary, lists of support groups and medical centers, legal information, and the latest news about mesothelioma.

Novato, CA (PRWEB) March 12, 2005 -- A leading litigator for asbestos victims, Brayton Purcell, recently created the Mesothelioma Network to provide mesothelioma patients and their families with the support, information, and understanding that they deserve. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. At this time, the disease cannot be cured, although some treatments may decrease pain, increase survival, or promote a better quality of life.

Located at http://www.mesotheliomasite.com , the Mesothelioma Network web site discusses mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment, clinical trials, and medical breakthroughs. It includes useful resources such as lists of physicians and medical centers that treat the disease. Because a diagnosis of mesothelioma can be so devastating, the site also contains a list of support groups for patients and their loved ones.

The Mesothelioma Network will be continually updated to provide the latest legal, legislative, and medical news concerning mesothelioma. It also includes a medical glossary and related web links for research purposes.

About Brayton Purcell
For over 20 years, Brayton Purcell has helped clients protect their legal rights in the face of devastating losses such as illness, injuries, and harm to family members. The law firm enjoys a national reputation for the high quality of its personal injury and product liability work, particularly in the area of mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other asbestos-related cancers. For more information, call 415-898-1555 or visit our firm web site at http://www.braytonlaw.com. For details about asbestos exposure, asbestosis, and other asbestos-related diseases, see our specialty web sites, Asbestos Network at http://www.asbestosnetwork.com, and Mesothelioma Network at http://www.mesotheliomasite.com

SAN FRANCISCO / Ex-Navy engineer wins asbestos suit

2005-03-27T00:58:00.000-08:00

SAN FRANCISCO / Ex-Navy engineer wins asbestos suit: "A jury has awarded $2.1 million to a 60-year-old former Navy engineer and his wife for exposure to asbestos that left him with terminal lung cancer.

Anthony and Maxlyn Cadlo of Pine Haven, Wyo., won the verdict Tuesday against John Crane Inc. of Illinois and Metalclad Insulation Corp. of Anaheim after a six-week trial in San Francisco Superior Court.

Cadlo joined the Navy in 1964, at age 18, served four years and was in combat in Vietnam. He was exposed to asbestos from the equipment and insulation he installed and removed on the ship and from dust emitted by the destroyer's guns when fired in combat, his suit said.

Cadlo was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in 2002 and is near death, the couple's lawyer, Christopher Andreas, said.

Jurors assigned one-third of the fault to the Navy, but it is immune from damages, Andreas said.

John Crane, which formerly manufactured asbestos pumps and valve packing, and Metalclad, which supplied asbestos insulation, both denied that their products caused Cadlo's cancer. The jury assigned 4 percent of the responsibility to Metalclad and 3 percent to Crane and assessed their damages at $2.1 million.

Crane's lawyer, Philip Ward, and Lisa Oberg, a lawyer for Metalclad, said they would ask Judge John Conway to reduce or overturn the verdict."

Surviving Mesothelioma, a Terminal Cancer: Paul Kraus' Remarkable Story

2005-03-27T00:54:00.000-08:00

Surviving Mesothelioma, a Terminal Cancer: Paul Kraus' Remarkable Story

Surviving Mesothelioma, a Terminal Cancer: Paul Kraus' Remarkable Story

Download this press release as an Adobe PDF document.

The Premier Edition of Cancer Monthly’s CancerWire focuses on mesothelioma and how one patient has survived a terminal diagnosis. Like Cancer Monthly, the focus of CancerWire is on treatment results. While, Cancer Monthly reports the cancer treatments results published in the peer reviewed medical literature, CancerWire reports on results that have not yet enjoyed the visibility of a major Phase I, II, or III clinical trial. This may include the extraordinary results a patient experienced by trying a new or innovative approach or the results achieved by a researcher or physician as they treat cancer patients in their hospital or clinic.

(PRWEB) March 18, 2005 – For anyone faced with a dire prognosis of cancer or any other disease, the following interview will inspire you. In the annals of cancer, mesothelioma is one of the worst possible types of cancer to have. In the words of oncologists it has a "dismal therapeutic outcome"¹ and is "an aggressive incurable tumor."² The median survival from diagnosis ranges from 6 to 18 months³. Despite this prognosis, Mr. Paul Kraus is alive nearly 8 years after he was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. What is equally remarkable is that Mr. Kraus had no orthodox cancer therapies - he opted to say 'no' to chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. Instead, Mr. Kraus made radical lifestyle changes, altering his diet, using intravenous and oral vitamins, herbs, amino acids and other immune boosting therapies and supplements, and tapping into the power of the mind-body connection.

The Interview

Cancer Monthly: Paul can you tell us when you were diagnosed and what types of symptoms you experienced that led to your diagnosis?

PK: I was diagnosed at the end of June 1997. The only symptom I had was a very bloated abdomen. I did not have any pain. I actually went into the hospital for an umbilical hernia repair and the cancer was an accidental finding. During the surgery the surgeon removed a lot of fluid from my abdomen. He also conducted a laparoscopic examination that revealed widespread metastases. He first thought that I had metastatic pancreatic cancer. It took two or three weeks for the pathology to come back from Sydney and say that in fact it was mesothelioma.

Cancer Monthly: And that diagnosis was reconfirmed by another hospital?

PK: Yes, my pathology was sent to Australia's leading pathologist in mesothelioma cases, Professor Douglas Henderson of Adelaide. They had two teams of pathologists verify and confirm the diagnosis. In fact, it was confirmed as peritoneal or abdominal rather than pleural mesothelioma. This is a very unusual subtype, even within the annals of mesothelioma.

Cancer Monthly: Does peritoneal mesothelioma have the same kind of dire prognosis as the more frequently encountered pleural mesothelioma?

PK: Yes. In fact, when we first went to a professor of oncology in Sydney, we thought that peritoneal is less dangerous than pleural. He shook his head and said, "Oh, no, oh no. In fact, in some ways it is even more difficult." To read the rest of the interview go to http://www.cancermonthly.com

Comments

Asbestos & Mesothelioma: David Chervenick, Esq., The Law Offices of Goldberg, Persky & White http://www.gpwlaw.com

I read with interest the interview with Paul Kraus. It is great to know that, for some people with mesothelioma, lives are extended and, significantly, the quality of that life is good. I have learned through my 17 years of representing mesothelioma victims that one's outlook on life and the disease is very important in extending one's life…To read the rest of David Chervenick’s comments go to http://www.cancermonthly.com

Alternative Intravenous Therapies in Cancer: Richard Kinsolving, Ph.D.,Immune Recovery Foundation http://www.immunerecovery.net/index.htm

The treatments employed by Mr. Kraus are among many of the "standards" in alternative medicine. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to ascribe the exact degree of for each individual component in a treatment, as they so seldom have been used exclusively as a single agent. Clearly, the major contributors to his favorable outcome are the intravenous ascorbic acid (vitamin C), Ukraine, and to a lesser extent, ozone…To read the rest of Dr. Richard Kinsolving’s comments go to http://www.cancermonthly.com

Cancer and the Immune System: Devin Ryerson, D.O. Pure Prescriptions www.pureprescriptions.com

After reading Mr. Kraus' interview, I found it to be both amazing and inspirational. I'm also connected to his story on a personal level. Being a cancer survivor myself and losing my father to this epidemic, I can certainly relate to what Mr. Kraus describes as a "...struggle with myself, with my constant fears and doubts." To read the rest of Dr. Devin Ryerson’s comments go to http://www.cancermonthly.com

The Mind/Body Connection: Wendy Goldner: The Wild Divine Project http://www.wilddivine.com/CancerMonthly_WildDivine/

I was impressed with Paul Kraus' ability to articulate the role the mind has in potentially contributing to disease and in helping one to overcome one's diagnosis. There is a great deal of scientific and medical literature describing how stress can pressure the body and leads to some form dis-ease. Whether it's hypertension, migraines, depression, anxiety, chronic fatigue or cancer - stress takes its toll on both the physical and mental well-being. To read the rest of Wendy Goldner’s comments go to http://www.cancermonthly.com

To subscribe to CancerWire go to: http://www.cancermonthly.com

# # #

Disclaimer - Please Read:
Of course, none of this information in CancerWire is a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment and you should always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment or making any changes to an existing treatment. No information contained in Cancer Monthly or CancerWire including the information above, should be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a medical doctor.

¹ Phase II trial of a single weekly intravenous dose of ranpirnase in patients with unresectable malignant mesothelioma. Mikulski SM, et al., J Clin Oncol. 2002 Jan 1;20(1):274-81.
² A multicentre phase II study of cisplatin and gemcitabine for malignant mesothelioma. Nowak AK, et al., Br J Cancer. 2002 Aug 27;87(5):491-6.
³ A multicentre phase II study of cisplatin and gemcitabine for malignant mesothelioma. Nowak AK, et al., Br J Cancer. 2002 Aug 27;87(5):491-6.

Yahoo! News - Podcasts Serve Up Uneven Audio Buffet

2005-03-26T21:45:00.000-08:00

Yahoo! News - Podcasts Serve Up Uneven Audio Buffet: "The great thing about the Internet is that it keeps people occupied for hours or whole days with their personal Web sites, blogs and now, podcasts. Even former VP nominee John Edwards (news - web sites) is wowing Democratic foot soldiers with a podcast of him and wife Elizabeth talking about March Madness (news - web sites), breast cancer, blogging... and, sigh, why President Bush (news - web sites)'s Social Security (news - web sites) reform plan is such a stinker."

Unlimited Long Distance Calls to the Philippines CheapCalls2Pinas.com

2005-03-22T02:52:00.000-08:00

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In U.S. media, the growing power of blogs

2005-02-14T20:42:00.000-08:00

In U.S. media, the growing power of blogs: "NEW YORK With the resignation of a top news executive from CNN, people who publish Web logs have ruined the second prominent media career in five months.
.
In September, such bloggers exposed flaws in a report by Dan Rather; he subsequently announced that on March 9 he would step down as the anchor of 'CBS Evening News.' Now, after nearly two weeks of intensifying pressure on the Internet, Eason Jordan, the chief news executive at CNN, abruptly resigned Friday after being besieged by the online community.
.
For some bloggers it was a declaration that this was just the beginning. Edward Morrissey, a call center manager who lives near Minneapolis and who has written extensively about Jordan, wrote on his blog, Captain's Quarters: 'The moral of the story: The media can't just cover up the truth and expect to get away with it - and journalists can't just toss around allegations without substantiation and expect people to believe them anymore.'
.
The controversy started when Jordan, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in late January, apparently said that he believed that U.S. military personnel had aimed at journalists and killed 12 of them. Though this statement was reported by various witnesses, there is some uncertainty over Jordan's precise language; the forum, which videotaped the conference, has not released the tape.
.
Jordan said in a statement upon his resignation: 'I never meant to imply U.S. forces acted with ill intent when U.S. forces accidentally killed journalists.'
.
Almost immediately after making that assertion, Jordan 'quickly walked that back to make it clear that there was no policy on the part of the U.S. government to target or injure journalists,' said David Gergen, who moderated the panel at Davos and who has served in the White House for the administrations of both the Republican and Democratic political parties.
.
Jordan was then challenged by Representative Bar"

NEW YORK With the resignation of a top news executive from CNN, people who publish Web logs have ruined the second prominent media career in five months.
.
In September, such bloggers exposed flaws in a report by Dan Rather; he subsequently announced that on March 9 he would step down as the anchor of "CBS Evening News." Now, after nearly two weeks of intensifying pressure on the Internet, Eason Jordan, the chief news executive at CNN, abruptly resigned Friday after being besieged by the online community.
.
For some bloggers it was a declaration that this was just the beginning. Edward Morrissey, a call center manager who lives near Minneapolis and who has written extensively about Jordan, wrote on his blog, Captain's Quarters: "The moral of the story: The media can't just cover up the truth and expect to get away with it - and journalists can't just toss around allegations without substantiation and expect people to believe them anymore."
.
The controversy started when Jordan, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in late January, apparently said that he believed that U.S. military personnel had aimed at journalists and killed 12 of them. Though this statement was reported by various witnesses, there is some uncertainty over Jordan's precise language; the forum, which videotaped the conference, has not released the tape.
.
Jordan said in a statement upon his resignation: "I never meant to imply U.S. forces acted with ill intent when U.S. forces accidentally killed journalists."
.
Almost immediately after making that assertion, Jordan "quickly walked that back to make it clear that there was no policy on the part of the U.S. government to target or injure journalists," said David Gergen, who moderated the panel at Davos and who has served in the White House for the administrations of both the Republican and Democratic political parties.
.
Jordan was then challenged by Representative Barney Frank, Democrat of Massachusetts, who was in the audience. Jordan said that he had intended to say only that some journalists had been killed by U.S. troops who did not know they were aiming their weapons at journalists.
.
Some of those most familiar with Jordan's situation emphasized, in interviews over the weekend, that his resignation should not be read solely as a function of the criticism that CNN had been receiving on the Internet, where thousands of messages, many of them from conservatives in the United States, had been posted.
.
Within days of Jordan's purported statement at Davos, many blog sites were swamped with outraged assertions that he was slandering American troops. In an e-mail message Sunday, Jordan declined to be interviewed.
.
While the bloggers are feeling empowered, some in their ranks are openly questioning where they are headed. One is Jeff Jarvis, head of the Internet branch of the U.S.-based media company Advance Publications, which publishes newspapers and magazines and has other holdings. Jarvis, who publishes a blog at buzzmachine.com, said bloggers should keep their real target in mind. "I wish our goal were not taking off heads but digging up truth," he cautioned.
.
Some in the traditional media are growing alarmed as they watch careers being destroyed by what they see as the growing power of rampant, unedited dialogue.
.
Steve Lovelady, a former editor at The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Wall Street Journal and now the managing editor of CJR Daily, the Web site of The Columbia Journalism Review, has been among the most outspoken.
.
"The salivating morons who make up the lynch mob prevail," he lamented online after Jordan's resignation. He said that Jordan cared deeply about the reporters he had sent into battle and was "haunted by the fact that not all of them came back."
.
.
.
.
It was a business executive attending the forum in Davos, Rony Abovitz, who put Jordan's comments on the map. Abovitz, 34, of Hollywood, Florida, co-founder of a medical technology company, was invited to Davos and was asked to write for the forum's first-ever Web log, his first blogging effort. In an interview Sunday, he said that he had challenged Jordan's assertion that the U.S. was taking aim at journalists and asked for evidence.
.
Abovitz asked some of the journalists at the event if they were going to write about Jordan's comments and concluded that they were not because journalists wanted to protect their own. There was also some confusion about whether they could, because the session was officially "off the record."
.
Abovitz said the remarks bothered him, and at 2:21 a.m. on Jan. 28, he posted his write-up on the forum's official blog, www.forumblog.org, under the headline "Do U.S. Troops Target Journalists in Iraq?"
.
He did not think it would get much attention. But Jordan's comments zipped around the Web and fired up the conservative bloggers, who saw the remarks attributed to Jordan as evidence of a liberal bias of the big American news media.
.
"I think he was attacked because of what he represented as much as what he said," said Gergen. He said he was troubled by the attacks on Jordan and said that his resignation was a mark of the increasing degree to which the news media were being drawn into the nation's culture wars.
.
.
.
.
On Feb. 2, Rebecca MacKinnon, who worked under Jordan when she was a producer and bureau chief at CNN, and who organized the blog from Davos, contacted Jordan after seeing that conservative blogs had picked up on his remarks.
.
"I e-mailed him and said the same people who were after Rather appear to be after you," said MacKinnon, now a research fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School.
.
Later that evening, she posted a response from Jordan, who wrote that on the panel he had meant to say that when journalists are aimed at and shot, as opposed to being killed by wayward bombs, "such a killing is a tragic case of mistaken identity, not a case of 'collateral damage."'
.
At about the same time, CNN became aware that trouble was brewing online, and in the wake of Rather's downfall, it tried to try to head off the storm. When he returned to Florida on Feb. 2 from the conference, Abovitz said he had messages from Jordan and from CNN. He sent an inquiry back to CNN but said he did not get a response.
.
Also that day, CNN's public information division sent an unsolicited e-mail message to many of those who were writing about the controversy. Someone at CNN apparently posted the same statement on several blogs.
.
The unsigned message read: "Many blogs have taken Mr. Jordan's remarks out of context. Eason Jordan does not believe the U.S. military is trying to kill journalists. Mr. Jordan simply pointed out the facts: While the majority of journalists killed in Iraq have been slain at the hands of insurgents, the Pentagon has also noted that the U.S. military on occasion has killed people who turned out to be journalists. The Pentagon has apologized for those actions."
.
Christa Robinson, the senior vice president for public relations for CNN, said CNN sent the statement to those who sent e-mail messages to CNN or had written about Jordan online. Asked if the network was consciously seeking to head off the protracted criticism that devoured Rather last fall, Robinson said that the network was acknowledging the speed with which news now travels.
.
.
The online attack of Jordan, particularly among conservative commentators, appeared to gain momentum when the story was seized on by other conservative outlets. A report on the National Review Web site was followed by editorials in The Washington Times and The Wall Street Journal, as well as by a column in The New York Post by Michelle Malkin, a contributor for Fox News, a CNN rival.
.
Abovitz, who started it all, said he hoped bloggers could develop loftier goals than destroying people's careers. "If you're going to do this open-source journalism, it should have a higher purpose," he said. "At times it did seem like an angry mob, and an angry mob using high technology, that's not good."
.
.
.
This article was reported by Katharine Q. Seelye, Jacques Steinberg and David F. Gallagher, and written by Seelye.
.
.
See more of the world that matters - click here for home delivery of the International Herald Tribune.
.
< < Back to Start of Article
NEW YORK With the resignation of a top news executive from CNN, people who publish Web logs have ruined the second prominent media career in five months.
.
In September, such bloggers exposed flaws in a report by Dan Rather; he subsequently announced that on March 9 he would step down as the anchor of "CBS Evening News." Now, after nearly two weeks of intensifying pressure on the Internet, Eason Jordan, the chief news executive at CNN, abruptly resigned Friday after being besieged by the online community.
.
For some bloggers it was a declaration that this was just the beginning. Edward Morrissey, a call center manager who lives near Minneapolis and who has written extensively about Jordan, wrote on his blog, Captain's Quarters: "The moral of the story: The media can't just cover up the truth and expect to get away with it - and journalists can't just toss around allegations without substantiation and expect people to believe them anymore."
.
The controversy started when Jordan, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in late January, apparently said that he believed that U.S. military personnel had aimed at journalists and killed 12 of them. Though this statement was reported by various witnesses, there is some uncertainty over Jordan's precise language; the forum, which videotaped the conference, has not released the tape.
.
Jordan said in a statement upon his resignation: "I never meant to imply U.S. forces acted with ill intent when U.S. forces accidentally killed journalists."
.
Almost immediately after making that assertion, Jordan "quickly walked that back to make it clear that there was no policy on the part of the U.S. government to target or injure journalists," said David Gergen, who moderated the panel at Davos and who has served in the White House for the administrations of both the Republican and Democratic political parties.
.
Jordan was then challenged by Representative Barney Frank, Democrat of Massachusetts, who was in the audience. Jordan said that he had intended to say only that some journalists had been killed by U.S. troops who did not know they were aiming their weapons at journalists.
.
Some of those most familiar with Jordan's situation emphasized, in interviews over the weekend, that his resignation should not be read solely as a function of the criticism that CNN had been receiving on the Internet, where thousands of messages, many of them from conservatives in the United States, had been posted.
.
Within days of Jordan's purported statement at Davos, many blog sites were swamped with outraged assertions that he was slandering American troops. In an e-mail message Sunday, Jordan declined to be interviewed.
.
While the bloggers are feeling empowered, some in their ranks are openly questioning where they are headed. One is Jeff Jarvis, head of the Internet branch of the U.S.-based media company Advance Publications, which publishes newspapers and magazines and has other holdings. Jarvis, who publishes a blog at buzzmachine.com, said bloggers should keep their real target in mind. "I wish our goal were not taking off heads but digging up truth," he cautioned.
.
Some in the traditional media are growing alarmed as they watch careers being destroyed by what they see as the growing power of rampant, unedited dialogue.
.
Steve Lovelady, a former editor at The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Wall Street Journal and now the managing editor of CJR Daily, the Web site of The Columbia Journalism Review, has been among the most outspoken.
.
"The salivating morons who make up the lynch mob prevail," he lamented online after Jordan's resignation. He said that Jordan cared deeply about the reporters he had sent into battle and was "haunted by the fact that not all of them came back."
.
.
.
.
It was a business executive attending the forum in Davos, Rony Abovitz, who put Jordan's comments on the map. Abovitz, 34, of Hollywood, Florida, co-founder of a medical technology company, was invited to Davos and was asked to write for the forum's first-ever Web log, his first blogging effort. In an interview Sunday, he said that he had challenged Jordan's assertion that the U.S. was taking aim at journalists and asked for evidence.
.
Abovitz asked some of the journalists at the event if they were going to write about Jordan's comments and concluded that they were not because journalists wanted to protect their own. There was also some confusion about whether they could, because the session was officially "off the record."
.
Abovitz said the remarks bothered him, and at 2:21 a.m. on Jan. 28, he posted his write-up on the forum's official blog, www.forumblog.org, under the headline "Do U.S. Troops Target Journalists in Iraq?"
.
He did not think it would get much attention. But Jordan's comments zipped around the Web and fired up the conservative bloggers, who saw the remarks attributed to Jordan as evidence of a liberal bias of the big American news media.
.
"I think he was attacked because of what he represented as much as what he said," said Gergen. He said he was troubled by the attacks on Jordan and said that his resignation was a mark of the increasing degree to which the news media were being drawn into the nation's culture wars.
.
.
.
.
On Feb. 2, Rebecca MacKinnon, who worked under Jordan when she was a producer and bureau chief at CNN, and who organized the blog from Davos, contacted Jordan after seeing that conservative blogs had picked up on his remarks.
.
"I e-mailed him and said the same people who were after Rather appear to be after you," said MacKinnon, now a research fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School.
.
Later that evening, she posted a response from Jordan, who wrote that on the panel he had meant to say that when journalists are aimed at and shot, as opposed to being killed by wayward bombs, "such a killing is a tragic case of mistaken identity, not a case of 'collateral damage."'
.
At about the same time, CNN became aware that trouble was brewing online, and in the wake of Rather's downfall, it tried to try to head off the storm. When he returned to Florida on Feb. 2 from the conference, Abovitz said he had messages from Jordan and from CNN. He sent an inquiry back to CNN but said he did not get a response.
.
Also that day, CNN's public information division sent an unsolicited e-mail message to many of those who were writing about the controversy. Someone at CNN apparently posted the same statement on several blogs.
.
The unsigned message read: "Many blogs have taken Mr. Jordan's remarks out of context. Eason Jordan does not believe the U.S. military is trying to kill journalists. Mr. Jordan simply pointed out the facts: While the majority of journalists killed in Iraq have been slain at the hands of insurgents, the Pentagon has also noted that the U.S. military on occasion has killed people who turned out to be journalists. The Pentagon has apologized for those actions."
.
Christa Robinson, the senior vice president for public relations for CNN, said CNN sent the statement to those who sent e-mail messages to CNN or had written about Jordan online. Asked if the network was consciously seeking to head off the protracted criticism that devoured Rather last fall, Robinson said that the network was acknowledging the speed with which news now travels.
.
.
The online attack of Jordan, particularly among conservative commentators, appeared to gain momentum when the story was seized on by other conservative outlets. A report on the National Review Web site was followed by editorials in The Washington Times and The Wall Street Journal, as well as by a column in The New York Post by Michelle Malkin, a contributor for Fox News, a CNN rival.
.
Abovitz, who started it all, said he hoped bloggers could develop loftier goals than destroying people's careers. "If you're going to do this open-source journalism, it should have a higher purpose," he said. "At times it did seem like an angry mob, and an angry mob using high technology, that's not good."
.
.
.
This article was reported by Katharine Q. Seelye, Jacques Steinberg and David F. Gallagher, and written by Seelye.
.
.
See more of the world that matters - click here for home delivery of the International Herald Tribune.
.
< < Back to Start of Article
NEW YORK With the resignation of a top news executive from CNN, people who publish Web logs have ruined the second prominent media career in five months.
.
In September, such bloggers exposed flaws in a report by Dan Rather; he subsequently announced that on March 9 he would step down as the anchor of "CBS Evening News." Now, after nearly two weeks of intensifying pressure on the Internet, Eason Jordan, the chief news executive at CNN, abruptly resigned Friday after being besieged by the online community.
.
For some bloggers it was a declaration that this was just the beginning. Edward Morrissey, a call center manager who lives near Minneapolis and who has written extensively about Jordan, wrote on his blog, Captain's Quarters: "The moral of the story: The media can't just cover up the truth and expect to get away with it - and journalists can't just toss around allegations without substantiation and expect people to believe them anymore."
.
The controversy started when Jordan, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in late January, apparently said that he believed that U.S. military personnel had aimed at journalists and killed 12 of them. Though this statement was reported by various witnesses, there is some uncertainty over Jordan's precise language; the forum, which videotaped the conference, has not released the tape.
.
Jordan said in a statement upon his resignation: "I never meant to imply U.S. forces acted with ill intent when U.S. forces accidentally killed journalists."
.
Almost immediately after making that assertion, Jordan "quickly walked that back to make it clear that there was no policy on the part of the U.S. government to target or injure journalists," said David Gergen, who moderated the panel at Davos and who has served in the White House for the administrations of both the Republican and Democratic political parties.
.
Jordan was then challenged by Representative Barney Frank, Democrat of Massachusetts, who was in the audience. Jordan said that he had intended to say only that some journalists had been killed by U.S. troops who did not know they were aiming their weapons at journalists.
.
Some of those most familiar with Jordan's situation emphasized, in interviews over the weekend, that his resignation should not be read solely as a function of the criticism that CNN had been receiving on the Internet, where thousands of messages, many of them from conservatives in the United States, had been posted.
.
Within days of Jordan's purported statement at Davos, many blog sites were swamped with outraged assertions that he was slandering American troops. In an e-mail message Sunday, Jordan declined to be interviewed.
.
While the bloggers are feeling empowered, some in their ranks are openly questioning where they are headed. One is Jeff Jarvis, head of the Internet branch of the U.S.-based media company Advance Publications, which publishes newspapers and magazines and has other holdings. Jarvis, who publishes a blog at buzzmachine.com, said bloggers should keep their real target in mind. "I wish our goal were not taking off heads but digging up truth," he cautioned.
.
Some in the traditional media are growing alarmed as they watch careers being destroyed by what they see as the growing power of rampant, unedited dialogue.
.
Steve Lovelady, a former editor at The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Wall Street Journal and now the managing editor of CJR Daily, the Web site of The Columbia Journalism Review, has been among the most outspoken.
.
"The salivating morons who make up the lynch mob prevail," he lamented online after Jordan's resignation. He said that Jordan cared deeply about the reporters he had sent into battle and was "haunted by the fact that not all of them came back."
.
.
.
.
It was a business executive attending the forum in Davos, Rony Abovitz, who put Jordan's comments on the map. Abovitz, 34, of Hollywood, Florida, co-founder of a medical technology company, was invited to Davos and was asked to write for the forum's first-ever Web log, his first blogging effort. In an interview Sunday, he said that he had challenged Jordan's assertion that the U.S. was taking aim at journalists and asked for evidence.
.
Abovitz asked some of the journalists at the event if they were going to write about Jordan's comments and concluded that they were not because journalists wanted to protect their own. There was also some confusion about whether they could, because the session was officially "off the record."
.
Abovitz said the remarks bothered him, and at 2:21 a.m. on Jan. 28, he posted his write-up on the forum's official blog, www.forumblog.org, under the headline "Do U.S. Troops Target Journalists in Iraq?"
.
He did not think it would get much attention. But Jordan's comments zipped around the Web and fired up the conservative bloggers, who saw the remarks attributed to Jordan as evidence of a liberal bias of the big American news media.
.
"I think he was attacked because of what he represented as much as what he said," said Gergen. He said he was troubled by the attacks on Jordan and said that his resignation was a mark of the increasing degree to which the news media were being drawn into the nation's culture wars.
.
.
.
.
On Feb. 2, Rebecca MacKinnon, who worked under Jordan when she was a producer and bureau chief at CNN, and who organized the blog from Davos, contacted Jordan after seeing that conservative blogs had picked up on his remarks.
.
"I e-mailed him and said the same people who were after Rather appear to be after you," said MacKinnon, now a research fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School.
.
Later that evening, she posted a response from Jordan, who wrote that on the panel he had meant to say that when journalists are aimed at and shot, as opposed to being killed by wayward bombs, "such a killing is a tragic case of mistaken identity, not a case of 'collateral damage."'
.
At about the same time, CNN became aware that trouble was brewing online, and in the wake of Rather's downfall, it tried to try to head off the storm. When he returned to Florida on Feb. 2 from the conference, Abovitz said he had messages from Jordan and from CNN. He sent an inquiry back to CNN but said he did not get a response.
.
Also that day, CNN's public information division sent an unsolicited e-mail message to many of those who were writing about the controversy. Someone at CNN apparently posted the same statement on several blogs.
.
The unsigned message read: "Many blogs have taken Mr. Jordan's remarks out of context. Eason Jordan does not believe the U.S. military is trying to kill journalists. Mr. Jordan simply pointed out the facts: While the majority of journalists killed in Iraq have been slain at the hands of insurgents, the Pentagon has also noted that the U.S. military on occasion has killed people who turned out to be journalists. The Pentagon has apologized for those actions."
.
Christa Robinson, the senior vice president for public relations for CNN, said CNN sent the statement to those who sent e-mail messages to CNN or had written about Jordan online. Asked if the network was consciously seeking to head off the protracted criticism that devoured Rather last fall, Robinson said that the network was acknowledging the speed with which news now travels.
.
.
The online attack of Jordan, particularly among conservative commentators, appeared to gain momentum when the story was seized on by other conservative outlets. A report on the National Review Web site was followed by editorials in The Washington Times and The Wall Street Journal, as well as by a column in The New York Post by Michelle Malkin, a contributor for Fox News, a CNN rival.
.
Abovitz, who started it all, said he hoped bloggers could develop loftier goals than destroying people's careers. "If you're going to do this open-source journalism, it should have a higher purpose," he said. "At times it did seem like an angry mob, and an angry mob using high technology, that's not good."
.
.
.
This article was reported by Katharine Q. Seelye, Jacques Steinberg and David F. Gallagher, and written by Seelye.
.
.
See more of the world that matters - click here for home delivery of the International Herald Tribune.
.
< < Back to Start of Article

Closer again

2005-01-25T21:32:00.000-08:00

Closer again
Originally uploaded by thatianek.

nice!

Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Google tunes into video searching

2005-01-25T21:14:00.000-08:00

Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Google tunes into video searching: "nternet company Google yesterday announced plans for a new service allowing users to search video content, which it claimed would revolutionise the way that people watch TV.

The company, which is branching out into new areas following its flotation last year, has launched a test version of Google Video that will allow users to search US programming from ABC, PBS, Fox News and others.

It automatically searches transcripts of the footage and brings back relevant shows. Initially, clicking on the results will only bring up still pictures and excerpts, but Google said it was working with its partners to provide full video playback.

Based on experience in the US, analysts have predicted 2005 will see the line between television and the internet become blurred as broadband connections become a mass market proposition and converged devices such as Microsoft's Media Centre take off. As such, internet companies are battling to become the gateway through which people find archived and upcoming shows."

The 55th Presidential Inauguration

2005-01-20T13:33:00.000-08:00

View from the Seats, during speech
Originally uploaded by Andrew Jay.

http://www.inaugural05.com/

The 55th Presidential Inauguration

On January 20, 2005, George W. Bush and Vice President Cheney will be inaugurated for a second term as President and Vice President of the United States. The 55th Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) organizes, plans, and executes most Inaugural celebration activities as well as works to select participants for the Inaugural parade and assign credentials to media covering the Inauguration and surrounding festivities. All Americans are invited to share in this historic celebration.

24-Hour News: Top Stories - Bush launches inaugural celebrations - sacbee.com

2005-01-18T23:28:00.000-08:00

24-Hour News: Top Stories - Bush launches inaugural celebrations - sacbee.com: "WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush launched his inaugural celebrations on Tuesday by thanking two groups that played major roles in his election to a second term - the military that prosecuted the war in Iraq and his most ardent and generous political supporters.

On the first of four days of nonstop festivities that some have criticized as too extravagant amid war, deficits and natural disaster, the president and first lady Laura Bush crisscrossed Washington into the evening to hobnob with soldiers, young Republicans and GOP bigwigs.

Bush takes the oath of office Thursday to begin his next four years in the White House."

Crime - Governor denies clemency for convicted murderer Beardslee - sacbee.com

2005-01-18T23:17:00.000-08:00

Crime - Governor denies clemency for convicted murderer Beardslee - sacbee.com: "[UPDATED: 5:45 p.m., Jan. 18] Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger denied clemency Tuesday for convicted murderer Donald Beardslee, who is now scheduled to be executed at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.

The Supreme Court denied without comment his application for a stay of execution shortly after Schwarzenegger rejected his request for clemency."

FOXNews.com - Foxlife - Four CBS Employees Ousted for 'Memogate'

2005-01-10T22:34:00.000-08:00

FOXNews.com - Foxlife - Four CBS Employees Ousted for 'Memogate': "Four CBS Employees Ousted for 'Memogate'"

IE Bugs Now 'Extremely Critical' Don't Use Internet Explorer

2005-01-10T15:53:00.000-08:00

IE Bugs Now 'Extremely Critical' Jan. 10, 2005
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An unpatched, months-old vulnerability in Microsoft's Internet Explorer is now even more dangerous, security firms warn.
By Gregg Keizer
TechWeb News

An unpatched, months-old vulnerability in Microsoft's Internet Explorer is now even more dangerous, security firms reported Monday.

Danish security vendor Secunia warned that new exploits of an earlier series of vulnerabilities in IE now let hackers compromise Windows computers without any more work than enticing users to malicious Web sites.

In August and then again in October 2004, Secunia broadcast warnings of similar threats to IE, but at the latter date posted proof-of-concept code which required the user to actually drag and drop a file within the browser to be at risk. The exploits now in the wild, said Secunia and the SAN Institute's Internet Storm Center, are automated and require no user action except visiting a hacker-constructed site.

In response, Secunia upped its assessment of the vulnerability to "extremely critical,' its most dire warning.

The three vulnerabilities noted by Secunia affect Internet Explorer 6.x, including the version bundled with Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), the massive update from last October which was touted by Microsoft as a major security upgrade.

SAN Institute's Internet Storm Center confirmed the vulnerabilities, which "will allow remote code execution on a victim's system just by visiting the [malicious] site."

The Center said it had received e-mail with a link to such a site -- users would still have to be drawn to the site -- and noted that "as of now, there is no patch available."

Secunia has posted an online test that users can run to determine if their browser is vulnerable.

Until a patch is available, IE users should consider switching browsers, said Secunia, or disabling the "Drag and Drop or copy and paste files option in Internet Explorer. Microsoft has posted a document on its support site that explains the process.

Stop using Internet Explorer now!
Download FireFox here as a secure free browser!
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http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=57700320

String of storms gives parts of Sierra most snowfall in nearly 90 years

2005-01-09T22:20:00.000-08:00

By Martin Griffith -- Associated Press Writer
Last Updated 5:59 pm PST Sunday, January 9, 2005

AP State Wire News - String of storms gives parts of Sierra most snowfall in nearly 90 years - sacbee.com
"RENO, Nev. - A moisture-laden winter storm piled snow deeper across the Sierra Nevada, stranding an Amtrak train, knocking out the Reno airport and shutting down major highways across the mountains.

The storm was the latest in a string of powerful systems that has dumped as much as 19 feet of snow in the Sierra and 6 1/2 feet in the Reno area since Dec. 28."
http://www.sacbee.com/state_wire/story/11989701p-12860111c.html

Forecasters called the series of storms the snowiest in the Reno-Lake Tahoe area since 1916.

"I've lived here for almost 40 years and I've never seen anything like it," Peter Walenta, 69, of Stateline, said Sunday. "This baby just seems to be stretching on forever. Right now I'm looking out the window and it's dumping."

Forecasters extended a winter storm warning into Tuesday across the Sierra and parts of northern Nevada, where as much as 2 more feet of snow was expected.

The latest storm had left up to 6 1/2 feet of snow in the Sierra and 2 1/2 feet in the Reno area.

"The snowbanks along Interstate 80 are about 8 to 10 feet high. It's like you're going through a maze," said Jane Dulaney, spokeswoman for the Rainbow Lodge west of Donner Summit.

A lull in the storm allowed I-80 over Donner Summit and U.S. 50 over Echo Summit to reopen Sunday after the highways were closed off and on for more than a day. The highways connect Sacramento, Calif., to the Reno-Tahoe area.

Chains or snow tires were required on most highways in the Sierra.

About 220 Amtrak passengers reached Sacramento on Sunday morning after spending the night stuck in their train in deep snow west of Donner Summit, spokesman Marc Magliari said.

One car of the California Zephyr, eastbound from Oakland, Calif., to Chicago, derailed in the snow Saturday evening. No one was hurt. Amtrak officials moved the passengers to other cars and the train reversed course and returned to Sacramento about 6 a.m.

Because of the derailment, a westbound Zephyr had to stop in Reno and its roughly 140 passengers completed their trip to California by bus.

"It's unfortunately the nature of mountain railroading that you can get delayed by a severe storm," Magliari said.

Reno-Tahoe International Airport was closed for 12 hours overnight for the second time in a week, and only the third time in 40 years, because plows could not keep up with the heavy snowfall, spokeswoman Trish Tucker said.

The storm caused dozens of flight cancellations and delays.

"It's nice to know that there are places with more snow than the Dakotas," Wendy Wollmuth said while waiting for a flight to her home in Moffit, N.D. "We're a bit spooked about being here with all this snow."

About 25 people, including some who spent six hours stuck in deep snow, were rescued Sunday morning along the eastern Sierra.

National Guard members used Humvees to pick up the stranded motorists on U.S. 395 in Washoe Valley about 20 miles south of Reno, Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Jeff Bowers said.

Some motorists became stuck in drifting snow, while others drove off the roadway because of near-zero visibility. No injuries were reported.

Three NHP patrol cars and two tow trucks also became stuck in snow while trying to assist motorists. A state plow also went off the roadway.

"We're talking real ugly conditions. In 12 years with the NHP I've never seen conditions that bad," Bowers said. "That would have been as scary as it gets to be out there alone in those conditions."

Church services and weekend high school sporting events in the Reno area were canceled. Reservations at the Arch of Reno wedding chapel were down 50 percent from a normal weekend, spokeswoman Kathy Allen said.

"It's killing us ... The weekend is the majority of our business," Allen told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

When the latest storm hit, the Reno region had still been digging out from a Dec. 30 storm that dumped as much as 4 feet of snow on the city.

"You'd have to go back to 1916 to top this sequence of storms," National Weather Service forecaster Tom Cylke said Sunday of the snow accumulation in Reno.

Sierra ski resort operators rejoiced over the snowfall, saying it would set them up for a busy Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.

Heavenly ski resort on Tahoe's south shore already has received 10 feet of snow in January, which exceeds the monthly average of about 8 feet, spokeswoman Molly Cuffe said.

Since Dec. 28, the resort has reported as much as 19 feet of snow.

"These back-to-back storms have created some of the best skiing conditions locals have ever seen. It's unbelievable how much snow has fallen in such a short period," Cuffe said.

But the storm posed a challenge to ambulance and fire crews at Tahoe, where plows were being sent out with emergency vehicles to clear clogged roads.

Washoe County, Reno and Sparks governments declared a state of emergency, and continued a round-the-clock effort to clear main roads.

Heavy snow was blamed for the collapse of a Salvation Army warehouse roof Sunday in Reno. No injuries were reported.

The U.S. Forest Service issued an avalanche advisory for the central Sierra backcountry between Yuba and Sonora passes.

Snow strands hundreds in Big Bear as storm pelts California

2005-01-09T01:18:00.000-08:00

AP State Wire News - Snow strands hundreds in Big Bear as storm pelts California - sacbee.com: "LOS ANGELES (AP) - About 180 people, including some who spent more than 12 hours stuck in deep snow in the San Bernardino Mountains, were rescued Saturday as the second of three storms pounded California that left riverbeds swollen and knocked out power to thousands of residents.

Snow up to 4 feet deep left motorists stranded along a 5-mile stretch of Highway 18 between the Snow Valley ski resort and the Big Bear dam in the mountains about 90 miles east of Los Angeles, said Tracey Martinez, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County fire department."

Newdow enlists allies, renews fight over pledge

2005-01-06T03:37:00.000-08:00

After high court's rebuff, atheist is joined by 8 co-plaintiffs in lawsuit.

By Claire Cooper -- Bee Legal Affairs Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, January 5, 2005

Michael Newdow, the Sacramento atheist who wants "under God" removed from the Pledge of Allegiance, relaunched his constitutional case Tuesday without the glitch that got it thrown out at the U.S. Supreme Court last year.

The high court obliterated Newdow's first case - and his victory in a federal appeals court - by ruling in June that he lacked "standing" to sue. He doesn't have primary custody of his daughter, whose daily exposure to the pledge in an Elk Grove public schoolroom was at the heart of the case. Therefore, said the justices, he had no right to sue on her behalf. The justices did not rule on the merits of Newdow's arguments.

This time around, Newdow is joined by eight co-plaintiffs - all custodial parents of children who are students in Northern California public school districts or the children themselves.

Alan Brownstein, a constitutional authority at the University of California, Davis, said, "Obviously, he's trying to circumvent the Supreme Court's ruling."

Newdow said his goal in the new case is to overcome the obstacle placed by the high court. "There is a case or controversy, and I'd like to have it addressed," he said.

But Brownstein said there will be other hurdles for Newdow v. Congress, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Sacramento and was assigned there to Senior U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton and Magistrate Judge Dale Drozd.

One is the sentiment to keep the pledge intact that was expressed by various Supreme Court justices in the last round.

Brownstein also mentioned the storm of criticism that was fired at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals when it ruled in Newdow's favor in 2003. Brownstein said it would be legitimate for district and circuit judges to take the public outcry into account this time.

Once again, the emergency room physician and non-practicing attorney, whose skill in making his arguments to the high court won praise from the pros last year, is the plaintiffs' only lawyer.

Newdow said he'll file similar suits on behalf of families across the nation in the coming year. The next is planned for Texas, he said.

The rewritten case is based on the First Amendment's guarantee of official neutrality regarding religion, the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause, comparable provisions in the California Constitution and the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Except for Newdow, all of the plaintiffs are identified in the complaint by pseudonyms to protect them from possible retaliation.

Some of the children assert that they don't believe in God and have suffered harassment or ostracism for objecting to the pledge.

In an interview Tuesday, a parent of one of the child plaintiffs said the third-grader has been aware of the pledge issue since Newdow's last case was in the news.

The child remarked at the time, "That's not right," and became "quite activist about it," the parent said.

The complaint identifies the child as a pantheist who doesn't believe in a personal God.

Other children "can become quite nasty ... and I daresay they have," said the parent. "You shouldn't put the child in the position of being a public spectacle because of their perceived nonconformity."

The parent claims rights as a taxpayer to have the public schools maintain religious neutrality.

Some sections of the legal complaint echo the 9th Circuit's 2003 opinion.

The plaintiffs "are all adversely affected ... by the message (the children) receive vis-a-vis their parents' religious beliefs. They are told with each reci tation that their parents' religious choices are wrong. This is an injury both to the children and to the parents," the suit argues, citing fundamental rights of privacy and "parenthood."

Newdow's own daughter isn't listed in the new case, though her school district, Elk Grove Unified, the main defendant in last year's case, is named again. A couple called Jan and Pat Doe send their child to school there. All three are identified as atheists. Other plaintiffs are identified as agnostics.

Sandra Banning, the mother of Newdow's daughter, her principal legal custodian and an avowed Christian, said through a lawyer that she continues to support the pledge "as it is." The lawyer said Banning hadn't seen the legal complaint.

Newdow is asking for a broader ruling than the one granted by the 9th Circuit, which declared the pledge unconstitutional only in public school settings. As he did in the first case, Newdow requests a declaration that the 1954 federal law inserting "under God" in the pledge is unconstitutional, and an order to delete that phrase from the pledge in all official contexts.

The complaint also asks that California be ordered to change or repeal a state law that allows recitation of the pledge as currently written in public schoolrooms.

The complaint asks, too, for a ban on the current pledge in five school districts - Elk Grove Unified, Sacramento City Unified, Elverta Joint Elementary, Rio Linda Union and Lincoln Unified in Stockton.

Officials at the Sacramento and Stockton districts said they wanted to review the complaint before commenting.

Rio Linda Superintendent Frank Porter also declined to comment on specifics. He said the pledge is recited in the district at the start of every school day, but "individuals may choose not to participate for personal reasons."

Elk Grove Superintendent Steven Ladd said in a prepared statement that the district "will again proudly defend the right of willing students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance as they have for 50 years."

But Ladd said the district was disappointed that the case would consume time, energy and resources "that we could otherwise use on behalf of children."

About the writer:

* The Bee's Claire Cooper can be reached at (415) 551-7701 or ccooper@sacbee.com.

"The Sacramento Bee - Get the whole story every day"
http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/11935939p-12823032c.html

Tsunami

2005-01-05T12:01:00.000-08:00

Tsunami
Originally uploaded by diZoo.

picture only Tsunami

Powell: Even combat didn't prepare me for tsunami horrors

2005-01-05T11:59:00.000-08:00

New York Daily News - Breaking News - Powell: Even combat didn't prepare me for tsunami horrors

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia — Not even wartime combat could prepare him for the shock of the tsunami devastation, Secretary of State Colin Powell said after inspecting the Indonesian island of Sumatra where giant waves washed away whole neighborhoods.

From a helicopter a few hundred feet above the ground, Powell could see a muddy brown moonscape Wednesday where blocks of houses and rice paddies had been.

Blackened stumps of palm trees stuck out of the muck. Trees were uprooted and strewn about. Outlines of streets were visible, the houses smashed to bits or washed away.

Tsunami: 400,000 Dead In Indonesia ?

2005-01-03T13:53:00.000-08:00

General News of Thursday, 30 December 2004: "Tsunami: 400,000 Dead In Indonesia ?"

Official Count: 135,000
... Ghana government's response - SILENCE?
... Aid on the Web: How to help | Huge aid effort
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 30 (Bernama) -- The death toll in Acheh, the region worst hit by last Sunday's tsunami, may exceed 400,000 as many affected areas could still not be reached for search and rescue operations, Indonesia's Ambassador to Malaysia Drs H. Rusdihardjo said Thursday.

He said the estimate was based on air surveillance by Indonesian authorities who found no signs of life in places like Meulaboh, Pulau Simeulue and Tapak Tuan while several islands off the west coast of Sumatera had "disappeared".

He said the latest death toll of more than 40,000 in Acheh and northern Sumatera did not take into account the figures from the other areas, especially in the west of the region.

"Aerial surveillance found the town of Meulaboh completely destroyed with only one buiding standing. The building, which belonged to the military, happens to be on a hill," he told reporters after receiving RM1 million in aid for Indonesia's Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund here Thursday.
Rusdihardjo said there were about 150,000 residents in Meulaboh, which was located 150km from the epicentre of the earthquake while Pulau Simeuleu had a population of 76,000.

BBC NEWS | Europe | Mother in photos survived tsunami

2005-01-03T12:39:00.000-08:00

BBC NEWS | Europe | Mother in photos survived tsunami: "A Swedish tourist who was pictured running into the Asian tsunami to save her family survived the catastrophe, as did her children, it has been revealed.

Newspapers around the world showed a desperate Karin Svaerd heading into the waves as other tourists fled.

On Sunday the 37-year-old policewoman told the press she survived by grabbing hold of a palm tree on the Thai beach.

But it was an agonising 10 minutes before she discovered that her husband and three children had also escaped.

'I can remember the white foam, how the surf took them up and they disappeared,' she told Britain's News of the World in an interview published on Sunday."

Stolen laptop of governor's aide hunted

2005-01-02T14:56:00.000-08:00

By Christina Jewett -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, December 23, 2004
http://www.sacbee.com/content/business/tech/story/11849179p-12736373c.html

It wasn't just anyone's laptop.

Burglars who targeted a midtown house in August made off with the Dell laptop belonging to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's press secretary, leaving police on the hunt for her computer and the culprits.

Four months later, no one has been arrested for the burglary, although court documents point to prime suspects.

Three people were charged in August in connection with some of press secretary Margita Thompson's missing property, including ID badges and a Prada bag.

Thompson told a reporter that the laptop was for personal use, but in a letter to a judge, she expressed concern about the people with whom she works.

"I was horrified to think that any of my information could have been used to imperil the safety of those public officials and personalities," she wrote in an e-mail that was read in court.

District attorney's officials said the missing computer was for work purposes, although the burglary did not appear to be politically motivated.

But political observers caution that the laptop may contain information that puts the governor in a compromising position.

Before Schwarzenegger appointed Thompson in November 2003, she was press secretary for Lynne Cheney, the wife of the vice president, and talk show host Larry King.

Former and current political press secretaries said Thompson would handle talking points, rough drafts and strategy papers.

Police and court records list other items taken: a TV, a DVD player, checks, clothes, cosmetics, bedding, a shower head and food from the refrigerator.

Sacramento police spokesman Sgt. Justin Risley said detectives are working on making arrests and recovering the computer but are giving the case no extraordinary treatment.

He said stolen laptops typically are sold on the street or taken apart and sold part by part.

Thompson said the incident was personal and not something she wanted to discuss. "I don't feel comfortable talking about a crummy experience on the record," she said. "It's not exalted because of where I work."

Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante's press secretary, Steve Green, disagrees. He said rejected drafts or strategies concerning any number of issues - for example the "girlie men" comments or allegations of groping - could find their way to the public realm.

"I would expect anything in an e-mail is 10 times as harsh as what (Thompson) says in public," Green said.

The theft of the laptop reveals the pitfalls of packing reams of information in small packages, said Henry Brady, a UC Berkeley political science professor.

He said a floppy disk was discovered in June 2002 with a strategy presentation Karl Rove used to advise President Bush's campaign.

In 2000, the laptop of Qualcomm Inc. CEO Irwin Jacobs was pilfered from a hotel meeting room. It contained five years' worth of spreadsheets, e-mails and files.

"Maybe this is an opportunity for the governor to stand up and say 'this could happen to anybody,' " said Berkeley political science professor Steven Weber. "Lets all take a step back and say, 'What kind of personal information are we carrying around that could hurt us or our friends and what can we do to secure it?' "

On Aug. 3, police arrested Lisa Michelle Phillips, 26, for using one of Thompson's checks to buy $4,558 worth of building materials at Pacific Supply in Roseville. Police later in August arrested Patricia Litsey, 32, and Joseph Bill otte, 38, on suspicion of receiving stolen goods. Phillips and Billotte have been sentenced and Litsey's case is pending.

According to court documents, Phillips implicated two people in the break-in, including a serial burglar who is currently in Sacramento County jail on unrelated charges. Risley said detectives need more evidence to make an arrest.

About the writer:

* The Bee's Christina Jewett can be reached at (916) 321-1201 or cjewett@sacbee.com.

Happy 2005 New Year Everybody!

2005-01-01T15:41:00.000-08:00

Happy 2005 New Year Everybody!

Happy Blogging for the New Year!

I am using a neww posting tool!

AP Wire | 12/28/2004 | Sports Illustrated supermodel injured in tsunami

2004-12-31T10:51:00.000-08:00

AP Wire | 12/28/2004 | Sports Illustrated supermodel injured in tsunami: "LONDON - Czech supermodel Petra Nemcova, who appeared on the cover of 2003 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, was injured and her photographer boyfriend is missing after the pair were caught up in the Asian tsunami disaster, a spokeswoman for the boyfriend said Tuesday.

Nemcova and British photographer Simon Atlee had been vacationing in the resort of Phuket when the waves swept over them on Sunday, said Atlee's agent, Eve Stoner.

'She is in hospital and he is missing. We don't have any further information than that at the moment,' Stoner said,

The Sun newspaper reported Tuesday that Nemcova clung to a tree for eight hours as the water swirled around her. It said she suffered a shattered hip and internal injuries.

Stoner said British authorities had no information on Atlee's fate.

'We are just very hopeful,' she said. 'As time goes on we are getting quite frantic and stressed about it. Our thoughts are really with Petra and Simon's family at the moment.'

'It just seems horrific, like something out of a movie,' she added.

Nemcova, 25, has appeared in magazines including Sports Illustrated, Marie Claire and Vogue, and also has modeled for Victoria's Secret.

Atlee, 33, is a well-known fashion photographer who recently shot the pictures for Nemcova's 2005 calendar."

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | TV and Radio | Ex-Playmate loses estate fortune

2004-12-31T10:32:00.000-08:00

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | TV and Radio | Ex-Playmate loses estate fortune

A court has overturned the decision to award $88m (£44.7m) to former Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith from the estate of her husband who was 90 when he died.

It is the latest twist in a nine-year battle between Smith and the son of the late oil baron J Howard Marshall II.

A court in 2002 awarded Smith the fortune but on Thursday a panel of appeal judges ruled she was not entitled to the money.

Smith married Mr Marshall in 1995, when she was 29 and he was 89.

Hannah Lei Shi

2004-12-30T18:49:00.000-08:00

Hannah Lei Shi
Originally uploaded by Tsunami Missing.

Last seen in Phi Phi Thailand

Country: Thailand
Location: Phi Phi Island
Resort: Phi Phi Princess Hotel
Height: 5'7
Weight: 115 lbs
Race: Chinese American

Please contact me at this email or 917-402-5887

thanks
Charly Cui

Hannah Lei Shi

2004-12-30T18:48:00.000-08:00

Hannah Lei Shi
Originally uploaded by Tsunami Missing.

Country: Thailand
Location: Phi Phi Island
Resort: Phi Phi Princess Hotel
Height: 5'7
Weight: 115 lbs
Race: Chinese American

Please contact me at this email or 917-402-5887

thanks
Charly Cui

Tsunami

2004-12-29T22:13:00.000-08:00

tsunami
Originally uploaded by kleversee.

It happened too fast!

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Disease 'could swamp wave zones'

2004-12-28T10:30:00.000-08:00

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Disease 'could swamp wave zones': "The number of people dying from disease following the Indian Ocean tsunami could exceed those killed in the disaster itself, a health expert warns.

Dr David Nabarro of the World Health Organisation said it was vital to get relief supplies to stricken areas to prevent a health catastrophe.

'There is certainly a chance we could have as many dying from communicable diseases as from the tsunami,' he said.

Aid workers say providing clean water is their first priority.

It is feared diseases like malaria, dengue fever and cholera could easily spread in unsanitary conditions."

'Biggest relief effort ever' as Asian disaster toll predicted to hit 45,000

2004-12-28T04:30:00.000-08:00

'Biggest relief effort ever' as Asian disaster toll predicted to hit 45,000: "The biggest humanitarian relief operation ever mounted was underway along Asia's devastated shores as the death toll from a massive earthquake and the tidal waves it unleashed was predicted to hit 45,000.
With the scale of the catastrophe still unfolding the confirmed death toll passed 27,000 in nine countries -- but Indonesia warned that it alone could have suffered up to 20,000 more fatalities on top of its official figure of 4,725 deaths.
Indonesia's Vice President Yusuf Kalla, who is in charge of coordinating relief efforts, said he estimated that '21,000 to 25,000 people' had been killed in Sunday's disaster."

Tsunami6

2004-12-27T23:31:00.000-08:00

Tsunami6
Originally uploaded by JediL1.

Tsunami6 on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
"This is a mirror of the images at ekupics.blogspot.com/"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jedil1/2608671/

Tsunami From 3rd floor

2004-12-27T23:04:00.000-08:00

Tsunami7
Originally uploaded by JediL1.

This is a mirror of the images at http://ekupics.blogspot.com I am not the owner of these images

Tsunami earthquake

2004-12-27T18:51:00.000-08:00

earthquake
Originally uploaded by Too Close Band.

Tsunami comes from the Japanese tsu (harbor) and nami (wave). Appropriate naming, as some 80 percent of all tsunamis occur in the Pacific Ocean and Japan has suffered many, some coming from as far away as South America. Tsunamis are often incorrectly called tidal waves, but tides have nothing to do with them (though the damage may be worse if a tsunami hits at high tide).

A tsunami (pronounced tsoo-nah-mee) is a wave train, or series of waves, generated in a body of water by an impulsive disturbance that vertically displaces the water column. Earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, explosions, and even the impact of cosmic bodies, such as meteorites, can generate tsunamis. Tsunamis can savagely attack coastlines, causing devastating property damage and loss of life.

Tsunamis are unlike wind-generated waves, which many of us may have observed on a local lake or at a coastal beach, in that they are characterized as shallow-water waves, with long periods and wave lengths. The wind-generated swell one sees at a California beach, for example, spawned by a storm out in the Pacific and rhythmically rolling in, one wave after another, might have a period of about 10 seconds and a wave length of 150 m. A tsunami, on the other hand, can have a wavelength in excess of 100 km and period on the order of one hour.

Yahoo! News - Asian Disaster Death Toll Passes 22,000

2004-12-27T15:33:00.000-08:00

Yahoo! News - Asian Disaster Death Toll Passes 22,000: "GALLE, Sri Lanka - Bodies washed up on tropical beaches and piled up in hospitals Monday, raising fears of disease across a 10-nation arc of destruction left by a monster earthquake and walls of water that killed more than 22,000 people. Thousands were missing and millions homeless. Humanitarian agencies began what the United Nations (news - web sites) said would become the biggest relief effort the world has ever seen."

quake tsunami Picture

2004-12-27T15:32:00.000-08:00

quake3
Originally uploaded by Bright Sam.

tsunami

tsunami after

2004-12-27T15:30:00.000-08:00

Imp-Top
Originally uploaded by Bright Sam.

Scenes from tsunami hit TN

Pondicherry, India

2004-12-27T15:28:00.000-08:00

Pondicherry, India
Originally uploaded by Gilez.

After the tsunami.

ABC News: Tidal Waves Kill More Than 550 in Asia

2004-12-26T00:35:00.000-08:00

ABC News: Tidal Waves Kill More Than 550 in Asia

ABC News: Scott Peterson Jury Recommends Death Sentence

2004-12-13T16:46:00.000-08:00

ABC News: Scott Peterson Jury Recommends Death Sentence

Mosul, Iraq

2004-12-09T08:59:00.000-08:00

pict10
Originally uploaded by Ladybird.

U.S. Army 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry soldiers look down at the bodies of six men found murdered in Mosul, Iraq, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2004

Saudi Arabian branch of al-Qaeda

2004-12-07T08:18:00.000-08:00

Bloomberg.com: Top Worldwide: "Al-Qaeda's Saudi Arm Was Behind U.S. Consulate Attack (Update1)
Dec. 7 (Bloomberg) -- The Saudi Arabian branch of al-Qaeda said it carried out the attack on the U.S. Consulate in the Red Sea port of Jeddah that left eight people dead.
A statement posted on an Islamist Web site said the attackers yesterday stormed the consulate, ``one of the bastions of the crusaders in the Arabian Peninsula,'' and referred to Fallujah, the Iraqi city captured by U.S.-led forces from insurgents last month. The statement, which can't be authenticated, was signed by al-Qaeda's Saudi arm. "

Another 1.6 inches of snow dusts valley

2004-12-06T06:47:00.000-08:00

Another 1.6 inches of snow dusts valley: "BAGHDAD, Iraq � Insurgents opened fire on a busload of laborers traveling toward a U.S. military base in Tikrit on Sunday, killing 17 of them and capping a week of violence that left at least 80 Iraqis and 20 U.S. soldiers dead.
Sunday�s assault was the latest in a series of ambushes in predominantly Sunni Muslim areas; most of the attacks have targeted Shiite Muslims, ethnic Kurds and those working with the interim Iraqi government."

Bloomberg.com: Top Worldwide

2004-12-06T06:45:00.000-08:00

Bloomberg.com: Top Worldwide: "Dec. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Saudi security forces took control of the U.S. Consulate in the country's second-largest city, Jeddah, after the mission was attacked by gunmen, the Saudi Interior Ministry said in a statement.
Three attackers were killed, and two others wounded and captured, according to the statement on the state-run Saudi Press Agency. Four Saudi guards died and local staff were taken hostage during the siege, the Associated Press said. Several Americans suffered minor injuries, AP said.
``The situation was brought under control,'' the Saudi statement said. It didn't specify who was responsible for the attack, which began at 11 a.m. local time and lasted three hours. "

Police Raid Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch

2004-12-03T15:46:00.000-08:00

Top News Article | Reuters.com: "Police Raid Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch"

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Police armed with a search warrant raided Michael Jackson's Neverland Valley Ranch on Friday, looking for evidence in the child molestation case against him, a Santa Barbara County Sheriff's spokesman said.

Investigators served the search warrant on Neverland at about 9 a.m. local time (noon EST) "as part of an ongoing criminal investigation," Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Chris Pappas said in a statement. He did not elaborate.

A spokeswoman for Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon said only that the raid was "authorized by the court." Jackson is scheduled to stand trial in January on charges that he molested a young boy at Neverland and conspired to cover up his misdeeds.

The 46-year-old pop star's lead attorney, Thomas Mesereau, and a spokeswoman declined to comment when reached by Reuters. Both are covered by a strict "gag" order imposed by the judge in the sensational case.

Bush names Nebraska governor as secretary of Agriculture

2004-12-02T09:24:00.000-08:00

Bush names Nebraska governor as secretary of Agriculture: "WASHINGTON - President Bush on Thursday selected Nebraska Gov. Mike Johanns, a Republican attorney who grew up on an Iowa dairy farm, as secretary of Agriculture to oversee the nation's farm and food programs. "

Genetically Engineered Plants Detect Land Mines

2004-12-02T08:55:00.000-08:00

: "

Genetically Engineered Plants Detect Land Mines

File this under 'Friggin' Brilliant'...

A Danish company, Aresa Biodetection, has developed genetically-modified flowers that change color when their roots come in contact with nitrogen dioxide in the soil. Explosives used in mines produce NO2 as the chemicals gradually decay. The company plans to sow fields of NO2-sniffing Arabidopsis thaliana (Thale or mouse cress) in areas riddled with long-forgotten ordinance from Angola to Cambodia.

The effort's life- and limb-saving potential is staggering: More than 100 million land mines kill or injure 26,000 people in 45 countries each year. Today's most popular detection method is poking around with a stick."

WorldNetDaily: Macy's stores boycotted for replacing 'Christmas'

2004-12-01T13:34:00.000-08:00

WorldNetDaily: Macy's stores boycotted for replacing 'Christmas': "Immortalized in a 1947 Christmas movie classic, Macy's is now the focus of a boycott campaign protesting the department-store chain's replacement of 'Merry Christmas' with politically correct greetings. "

San Francisco

2004-11-30T23:46:00.000-08:00

IU4Z4026-1
Originally uploaded by moophoto.

Fishermans Wharf Boat

Kimora Lee Simmons In Pot/Traffic Bust - July 29, 2004

2004-11-30T22:12:00.000-08:00

Kimora Lee Simmons In Pot/Traffic Bust - July 29, 2004: "JULY 29--The power of Kabbalah abandoned poor Kimora Lee Simmons this week. The bothersome wife of music titan Russell Simmons was arrested early Monday morning for pot possession and assorted vehicular infractions following a traffic stop in Saddle River, New Jersey. As seen in the below police booking photo, Mrs. Simmons, 29, was wearing a Kabbalah red string bracelet to ward off assorted evil eyes when officers pulled over her Mercedes SL-600 (suggested retail price, w/o extras: $128,220). The flimsy string did not keep Kimora out of cuffs, especially since she repeatedly ignored police directions to pull over her ride (she finally stopped the Benz in front of her Saddle River estate). Russell Simmons, who has claimed that his wife may have been the victim of racial profiling, said her rough treatment by cops left Kimora with bruised wrists. Those boo-boos, of course, have now probably been concealed by two new Cartier bracelets. (1 page) "

Kimora Lee Simmons Baby Phat

2004-11-30T22:05:00.000-08:00

The perfect choice was to bring Simmons' wife, Kimora Lee, on board as the creative director. Kimora has always been a celebrity, gleaning attention from both the fashion community and the music world. At age 13, she became the muse to the house of Chanel and its designer Karl Lagerfeld. "Dealing with Karl and seeing how he interacts with the staff gave me a different perspective that would not have had otherwise," she said in a recent interview with Women's Wear Daily. "I saw how his mind worked, how he expressed himself, not to mention that when your first job is Chanel, that plants fabulous seeds in a girl". Baby Phat reflects Kimora's buoyant energy and her strong opinions of style lent from her experiences as a model and a hip-hop socialite. From the lines' inception, Kimora has a strong hand in molding the style an imagery of who the Baby Phat woman is, from details on lingerie to treatments on denim. "We may use camouflage if it's the trend of the season, but it will be executed in our way" says Kimora Lee. "We'll put glitter or caviar on it, or do it in a softer brush pattern, but always sexy.
Baby Phat's presence as an aspirational lifestyle line for young women is emphasized just as strongly by its new marketing imagery. To enforce Baby Phat's emphasis on confident, sexy ease, fashion photographer Ellen Von Unwerth was enlisted to shoot its new advertising campaign. Von Unwerth's proficiency at creating coy, post-modern reworkings of pin-up girl imagery (a la Bettie Page) proved an ideal match for the Baby Phat image, as evidenced by the ads, starring a very suggestively posed Rhea Durham. The ads have already appeared in major magazines such as Nylon, Vibe, Honey and V.

Merriam-Webster Online

2004-11-30T15:42:00.000-08:00

Merriam-Webster Online: "Based on your online lookups, the #1 Word of the Year for 2004 was
Blog noun [short for Weblog] (1999) : a Web site that "

US News Article | Reuters.com

2004-11-30T15:34:00.000-08:00

US News Article | Reuters.com: "BOSTON (Reuters) - A four-letter term that came to symbolize the difference between old and new media during this year's presidential campaign tops U.S. dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster's list of the 10 words of the year.
Merriam-Webster Inc. said on Tuesday that blog, defined as 'a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments and often hyperlinks,' was one of the most looked-up words on its Internet sites this year.
Eight entries on the publisher's top-10 list related to major news events, from the presidential election -- represented by words such as incumbent and partisan -- to natural phenomena such as hurricane and cicada.
Springfield, Massachusetts-based Merriam-Webster compiles the list each year by taking the most researched words on its Web sites and then excluding perennials such as affect/effect and profanity. "

Yahoo! News Photos - Philippines Landslides, Flash Floods Kill Hundreds

2004-11-30T08:35:00.000-08:00

Yahoo! News Photos - Philippines Landslides, Flash Floods Kill Hundreds: "In this photo released by the Philippine Air Force, shows uprooted trees littered near a swollen river after it was hit by a storm in Infanta town, Quezon province, eastern Philippines on Tuesday Nov. 30, 2004. The death toll from landslides and flash floods in the eastern Philippines jumped to nearly 340 with 150 others missing Tuesday, most of them from a region still reeling from last week's deadly typhoon. (AP Photo/Stf. Sgt. Rey Bruna, Philippine Air Force) "

al.com: NewsFlash - Fort Rucker-based team investigates deadly chopper crash

2004-11-30T08:14:00.000-08:00

al.com: NewsFlash - Fort Rucker-based team investigates deadly chopper crash

BRUCEVILLE-EDDY, Texas (AP) — An investigation team from the U.S. Army Safety Center at Fort Rucker has been sent to the scene of a fatal helicopter crash in Central Texas. The investigation team was sent there to determine the cause of the crash that killed seven yesterday.

al.com: NewsFlash - Fort Rucker-based team investigates deadly chopper crash

2004-11-30T08:12:00.000-08:00

al.com: NewsFlash - Fort Rucker-based team investigates deadly chopper crash

2004-11-30T08:10:00.000-08:00

Music industry tries to shut Kazaa down

2004-11-29T00:01:00.000-08:00

Music industry tries to shut Kazaa down: "LAWYERS FROM the Music industry are on the attack down under as they try to close the popular P2P software network Kazaa.
An Australian federal court was told that the developers of file-swapping technology Kazaa produced the biggest music piracy system ever seen."

Marxist rebels plotted to kill Bush - The Washington Times: World - November 28, 2004

2004-11-28T23:23:00.000-08:00

Marxist rebels plotted to kill Bush - The Washington Times: World - November 28, 2004

BOGOTA, Colombia — President Bush was targeted for assassination by Colombia's biggest Marxist rebel group last week when he visited the Caribbean port city of Cartagena, a top Colombian official said yesterday.
"According to informants and various sources, we had information indicating that various members of the FARC had been instructed by their leaders to make an attempt against President Bush," Defense Secretary Jorge Alberto Uribe told reporters.
He would not reveal details of the threat.

From the top of Kawarau Bridge 2001

2004-11-28T00:01:00.000-08:00

From the top of Kawarau Bridge 2001
Originally uploaded by Agent Angelo.

It might of been better to take this route instead!
Click on the image to enlarge it.

Empire State Building

2004-11-27T23:38:00.000-08:00

Empire State Building
Originally uploaded by ajschu.

Ever since the building opened in 1931, the landmark Fifth Avenue building has been a target for people wanting to commit suicide -- at least 30 people have taken their own lives there.

Man plunges from Empire State Building - (United Press International)

2004-11-27T23:36:00.000-08:00

Man plunges from Empire State Building - (United Press International): "NEW YORK, NY, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- New York police are trying to identify a man, clad in black, who plunged to his death from the 86th-floor observation deck of the Empire State Building. "

Megan Smith, Google

2004-11-27T23:02:00.000-08:00

Megan Smith, Google
Originally uploaded by Esthr.

Google Names Nikesh Arora Vice President of European Operations

2004-11-24T01:17:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Google Names Nikesh Arora Vice President of European Operations Company Strengthens Focus on Europe, Hires Arora To Lead Growing European Business

LONDON - November 22, 2004 - Google Inc., developer of the award-winning Google search engine, today announced that the company named Nikesh Arora as its new vice president of European Operations. Arora brings 16 years of diverse management experience to Google's expanding European operations and his appointment represents Google's continued commitment to growth in Europe. Arora will join Google in December, 2004, based in London.

In this newly created role, Arora will manage and develop Google'soperations in the European market. Arora will also be responsible for continuing to create and expand strategic partnerships in Europe for the benefit of Google's growing number of users and advertisers. "The leadership and experience that Nikesh Arora brings to Google will be an invaluable asset to Google's growing European business", said Omid Kordestani, senior vice president of Google's Worldwide Sales and Field Operations. "Nikesh's proven track record of leading high performance teams and driving businesses make him the ideal candidate to take Google's European operations to the next phase of growth."Arora joins Google from T-Mobile, where he was Chief Marketing Officer and a Member of the Management Board.

At T-Mobile, Arora was responsible for all product development, terminals, brand and marketing activities of T-Mobile Europe. Arora started working with Deutsche Telekom in 1999, during which time he founded T-Motion PLC, a mobile multimedia subsidiary of T-Mobile International.Prior to his career at Deutsche Telecom, Arora held management positions at Putnam Investments and Fidelity Investments in Boston.

About Google Inc. Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a top web property in all major global markets. Google's targeted advertising program, which is the largest and fastest growing in the industry, provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com.

### Google is a registered trademark of Google Inc. All other company andproduct names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

google homepage

2004-11-24T00:32:00.000-08:00

google_tabs_homepage
Originally uploaded by FirstListing.

Google Search Engine

Autumn Reflections

2004-11-23T21:47:00.000-08:00

Autumn Reflections
Originally uploaded by Artspixels.

Reflections on the river!

Snowy bike in Hietelahti (Finnland)

2004-11-23T13:01:00.000-08:00

Snowy bike
Originally uploaded by hugovk.

Weather around the world.

Potsdamer Platz, am Start

2004-11-23T12:30:00.000-08:00

Potsdamer Platz, am Start
Originally uploaded by Alexander Becker.

City Fun!

Yahoo! News - Veteran CBS News Anchor Dan Rather to Resign

2004-11-23T11:44:00.000-08:00

Yahoo! News - Veteran CBS News Anchor Dan Rather to Resign: "Rather has been anchor for CBS's main evening news show since 1981 and won the hearts of many with his colorful language and quirky turns of phrase. He succeeded Walter Cronkite, dubbed 'the most trusted man in America' for his perceived objectivity.
But in an enormous blow to its credibility, CBS News in September said it had been deliberately misled over the authenticity of documents it aired in a story challenging Bush's military service.
'Based on what we now know, CBS News cannot prove that the documents are authentic, which is the only acceptable journalistic standard to justify using them in a report,' CBS News said in a statement at that time.
Rather, who reported the story, was forced to apologize on national television. "

Jet was to pick up Bush Sr.

2004-11-23T04:13:00.000-08:00

Jet was to pick up Bush Sr.: "HOUSTON -- A private jet coming in to Houston to pick up former president George H. W. Bush clipped yesterday as it approached the airport in thick fog, killing all three people aboard. The Gulfstream G-1159A jet, coming into Houston, went down about 6:15 a.m. in an undeveloped area two kilometres south of the airport, officials said. The former president, who is the father of President George W. Bush, had been scheduled to travel to Ecuador for a conference.
'I was deeply saddened to learn of the plane crash this morning,' Bush said through spokesman Tom Frechette. 'I'd flown with this group before and know them well. I join in sending heartfelt condolences to each and every member of their families.'
The names of the crew members were not immediately released. Airport spokesman Roger Smith said the pilot didn't indicate any problem, and the landing was routine until communications abruptly stopped. "

sacbee.com -- Politics -- Election-fraud rumors on Web refuse to die

2004-11-23T03:30:00.000-08:00

sacbee.com -- Politics -- Election-fraud rumors on Web refuse to die: "WASHINGTON - More than two weeks after Sen. John Kerry conceded defeat and urged national unity, the Internet remains ablaze with accusations and theories about voting irregularities, rigged equipment, machines that counted backward, machines that stopped counting, and all manner of possible mishap from incompetence to corruption and outright fraud.
Four in five Americans believe the election was conducted fairly, including two-thirds of all Democrats, according to a poll released Wednesday by Harris Interactive. But 16 percent are suspicious of the outcome, with more than one in four Democrats saying it was tilted, deliberately or not, toward President Bush."

Tips on Preventing Becoming the Victim of the Latest Online Identity Theft Scam - Phishing

2004-11-21T23:36:00.000-08:00

Read More>>Tips on Preventing Becoming the Victim of the Latest Online Identity Theft Scam - Phishing: "Millions of people are becoming victims of identity theft. In many cases they are becoming victims all too often by freely providing personal information online. Email 'phishing' scams seek to lure individuals into phony online sites where they can be fooled into sharing the personal information needed for a thief to steal their identities. "

Related sites:
Protect yourself fron Identity Theft click here

Mono Lake shadows

2004-11-21T21:27:00.000-08:00

Mono Lake shadows
Originally uploaded by awfulsara.

More Mono Lake

Mono sunset III

2004-11-21T21:24:00.000-08:00

Mono sunset III
Originally uploaded by awfulsara.

Mono Lake

Yahoo! News - NBA Suspends Artest for Rest of Season

2004-11-21T21:13:00.000-08:00

Yahoo! News - NBA Suspends Artest for Rest of Season: "NEW YORK - Ron Artest was suspended for the rest of the season Sunday, and two of his Indiana Pacers (news) teammates must miss a total of 55 games for fighting with fans during a melee that broke out at the end of a game against the Detroit Pistons (news). "

Boston.com / Businerss / U.S. wins $31 billion Iraq debt write-off from Paris Club

2004-11-21T16:41:00.000-08:00

Boston.com / Businerss / U.S. wins $31 billion Iraq debt write-off from Paris Club: "PARIS (AP) Major economic powers agreed to write off $31 billion of Iraqi debt on Sunday in a major breakthrough for U.S.-led efforts to get Iraq's economy back on its feet.
Months of intensive lobbying by Washington finally paid off when the other 18 members of the Paris Club agreed to wipe 80 percent of the $39 billion that Iraq owes them. The cut represents about a quarter of Iraq's total international debt.
Iraqi Finance Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi hailed what he called a ''historic agreement,'' reached after six days of talks in the French capital. "

sacbee.com -- 24-Hour News: World News -- Plane crash in China kills 53 people

2004-11-20T22:53:00.000-08:00

sacbee.com -- 24-Hour News: World News -- Plane crash in China kills 53 people: "BEIJING (AP) - A small passenger plane carrying 53 people crashed Sunday in a northern China lake immediately after takeoff, and the government said there were no survivors.
The plane crashed in Baotou, a city in the Inner Mongolia region, seconds after taking off at about 8:20 a.m., the official Xinhua News Agency said. The China Eastern Airlines flight, which was heading to Shanghai, was carrying 47 passengers and six crew members, the agency said."

Prescott Sunset

2004-11-19T23:27:00.000-08:00

Prescott Sunset
Originally uploaded by Tintypist.

Excellent Shot!

Bosque del Apache

2004-11-19T23:25:00.000-08:00

Bosque del Apache
Originally uploaded by Tintypist.

Great Water/fall Shot!

reporter Kevin Sites

2004-11-19T23:06:00.000-08:00

Subject: Fw: Incident in Iraq
Good Morning Everybody.The following is an email from my son regarding the NBC report (with embedded reporter Kevin Sites), concerning the Marine who is being investigated for "murdering" the insurgent in Fallaja. I will be sending his mail to every news program's email I can find. I find it sickening that this Kevin Sites is even allowed to be embedded with our Marines, as this isn't the first report I've heard from him that took on a decidely unfriendly tone. My son also gave me permission to release it to anyone that wants to pass it on, as long as it remains unedited.-- DarlenePMM LCPL GusTS DET-----------------------------------------------------------------------Date: Tue, 16 Nov 2004 07:27:55 -0800 (PST)From: old tymer Subject: The stories you don't hear...This is one story of many that people normally don't hear, and one that everyone does.This is just one most don't hear:A young Marine and his cover man cautiously enter a room just recently filled with insurgents armed with Ak-47's and RPG's. There are three dead, another wailing in pain. The insurgent can be heard saying, "Mister, mister! Diktoor, diktoor(doctor)!" He is badly wounded, lying in a pool of his own blood. The Marine and his cover man slowly walk toward the injured man, scanning to make sure no enemies come from behind. In a split second, the pressure in the room greatly exceeds that of the outside, and the concussion seems to be felt before the blast is heard. Marines outside rush to the room, and look in horror as the dust gradually settles. The result is a room filled with the barely recognizable remains of the deceased, caused by an insurgent setting off several pounds of explosives.
The Marines' remains are gathered by teary eyed comrades, brothers in arms, and shipped home in a box. The families can only mourn over a casket and a picture of their loved one, a life cut short by someone who hid behind a white flag. But no one hears these stories, except those who have lived to carry remains of a friend, and the families who loved the dead. No one hears this, so no one cares.This is the story everyone hears:A young Marine and his fire team cautiously enter a room just recently filled with insurgents armed with AK-47's and RPG's. There are three dead, another wailing in pain. The insugent can be heard saying, "Mister,mister! Diktoor, diktoor(doctor)!" He is badly wounded.Suddenly, he pulls from under his bloody clothes a grenade, without the pin. The explosion rocks the room, killing one Marine, wounding the others. The young Marine catches shrapnel in the face.
The next day, same Marine, same type of situation, a different story. The young Marine and his cover man enter a room with two wounded insurgents. One lies on the floor in puddle of blood, another against the wall. A reporter and his camera survey the wreckage inside, and in the background can be heard the voice of a Marine, "He's moving, he's moving!" The pop of a rifle is heard, and the insurgent against the wall is now dead.Minutes, hours later, the scene is aired on national television, and the Marine is being held for commiting a war crime. Unlawful killing.And now, another Marine has the possibility of being burned at the stake for protecting the life of his brethren. His family now wrings their hands in grief, tears streaming down their face. Brother, should I have been in your boots, i too would have done the same. For those of you who don't know, we Marines, Band of Brothers, Jarheads, Leathernecks, etc., do not fight because we think it is right, or think it is wrong. We are here for the man to our left, and the man to our right. We choose to give our lives so that the man or woman next to us can go home and see their husbands, wives, children, friends and families. For those of you who sit on your couches in front of your television, and choose to condemn this man's actions, I have but one thing to say to you. Get out of you recliner, lace up my boots, pick up a rifle, leave your family behind and join me. See what I've seen, walk where I have walked. To those of you who support us, my sincerest gratitude. You keep us alive.I am a Marine currently doing his second tour in Iraq. These are my opinions and mine alone. They do not represent those of the Marine Corps or of the US military, or any other.Sincerely, LCPL SchmidtUSMC

NewsMax.com: Inside Cover Story

2004-11-19T21:10:00.000-08:00

NewsMax.com: Inside Cover Story: "Letter From a Fallujah Marine
Once again the blogger world has stepped up to the plate to do job the mainstream media are supposed to do - but seldom bother to do anymore.

While U.S. and Arab media went-pedal-to-the-metal with the NBC video of a Marine in Fallujah committing the 'atrocity' of defending himself and his platoon against a wounded terrorist, PowerlineBlog.com has helped put the incident in perspective by publishing a letter from a brother Marine who describes just what our guys are up against. "

Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Bill Gates gets 4 million emails a day

2004-11-18T22:25:00.000-08:00

Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Bill Gates gets 4 million emails a day: "The next time you're sifting through the mortgage offers, cheap Rolex watches or dubious business proposals from Nigeria, spare a thought for Bill Gates. The Microsoft founder is the most spammed man in the world, with 4m emails arriving in his inbox each day.
Steve Ballmer, Microsoft's chief executive, told a conference in Singapore that being the world's best-known software billionaire has its down side: 'Bill receives 4m pieces of email per day, most of it spam.' "

The New York Times > Washington > Four Presidents, Past and Present, Exchange Humor and Warm Words

2004-11-18T22:23:00.000-08:00

The New York Times > Washington > Four Presidents, Past and Present, Exchange Humor and Warm Words: "Considering just how much water has passed under the political bridge that binds them, it was perhaps appropriate that four presidents sat in a downpour yesterday to dedicate Bill Clinton's presidential library. Mr. Clinton, Jimmy Carter and the two George Bushes share three decades of victories and defeats, but the day was a rare reminder that presidents, for all their differences, are neither red nor blue, just 'red white and blue,' as Mr. Clinton put it."

eBay item 3763130090 (Ends Nov-19-04 02:04:20 PST) - a blank piece of paper aka blank page

2004-11-18T21:48:00.000-08:00

This is Dumb!!!!

eBay item 3763130090 (Ends Nov-19-04 02:04:20 PST) - a blank piece of paper aka blank page

File this under: Big surprise....not!

2004-11-17T23:48:00.000-08:00

NewsTalk 1530 KFBK: "File this under: Big surprise....not!

Kevin Sites, the NBC 'journalist' who shot the video of the United States Marine capping that terrorist..... guess what, turns out he doesn't work for NBC - he is a freelancer, and he doesn't appear to be a journalist either, not in the traditional sense anyway. More in the vein of propagandist Amy Goodman and her Democracy Now! - an Internet & cable public access anti-US venom factory.

Sites, it turns out, is an anti-war activist who posts his work here: http://www.imagesagainstwar.com/index.php?display=522 and maintains a blog here: http://www.kevinsites.net/

Here is NBC defending Sites, on al Jazeera no less! http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/4F50C464-605B-48FE-B8C9-D19213A61B04.htm

Wow. Am I ever surprised.

Lemme check.

Nope."

Newsday.com - AP Regional

2004-11-17T17:16:00.000-08:00

Newsday.com - AP Regional: "NEW YORK -- An FBI informant who set himself on fire in front of the White House earlier this week played a role in at least three investigations of a network that allegedly funneled millions of dollars to terrorist groups, court documents show.

Defense attorneys said Wednesday that they are re-examining Mohamed Alanssi's role in the cases against their clients, who are accused of helping fund Osama bin Laden, al-Qaida and the Palestinian group Hamas. "

Anatomy of a Rumor

2004-11-17T11:30:00.000-08:00

Anatomy of a Rumor: "Most of us don't intend to spread a rumor, hoax, or urban legend. We intend to spread the truth.

It's fascinating, however, that in our desire to spread what we think is the truth, certain kinds of stories emerge that are repeated from person to person, year to year, century to century, and place to place. They have popularity and staying power. Yet many of them are not true.

And out of the vast amount of information available to us through radio, Television, the Internet, newspapers, books, and magazines, only a select number of stories qualify as the kind that will be forwarded from person to person. There are thousands of new and clearly true stories everyday that never end up in our email boxes. Why?

Let's explore some of the characteristics of rumors, hoaxes, and urban legends and what we can learn from them:

Because so many of them are quickly and easily spread via email, we have coined the phrase 'eRumor' to identify them."

It's Getting Cold!

2004-11-17T01:12:00.001-08:00

NGM1963_10p498-9
Originally uploaded by songssy.

How bout you?

It's Getting Cold!

2004-11-17T01:12:00.000-08:00

NGM1963_10p498-9
Originally uploaded by songssy.

How bout you?