7.27.08

Top Stories

Shiite Militia in Baghdad Sees Its Power Ebb
Mahdi Army announces bake sale to improve image / revenue

After Iowa Raid, Immigrants Fuel Labor Inquiries
Meatpackers get "uppity" after reading Sinclair's "Jungle"

Cocaine Sustains War Despite Rebel Losses in Colombia
Sleepless rebels ask for re-supply of disco-balls and satin shirts


QUOTATION OF THE DAY

"The armed groups are like malaria, evolving to resist eradication and killing with efficiency." - Paraquad Militia CEO "Legs" Mcneil in a speech to U.S. Military Contractors Symposium describing proposed use of wheelchairs in combat.


WORLD

In Zimbabwe Talks, Who Will Get the Real Power?
Robert Mugabe will kill for your support

At Least 29 Killed in Explosions in Indian City
Officials deny negligent over-use of curry powder and patchouli

China Doubts Bus Blasts Are Linked to Separatists
Officials claim explosions result of low-quality U.S. imports


U.S.


THE FUTURE OF READING
Literacy Debate: Online, R U Really Reading?
Teens ask WTF do U think?

BUSINESS

Congress Sends Housing Relief Bill to Bush
Prez gives relief to negligent lenders, remorse to ignorant borrowers

Can Hank Paulson Defuse This Crisis?
Treasury secretary pitches privatization of profit and socialization of risk

F.D.I.C. Takes Over 2 Banks
Chairman Sheila Bair proposes CFO garage sales to make up bad debt

Riffing On The Times 7-26-08

TOP STORIES


California Bars Restaurant Use of Trans Fats
Lipo-Surgeons March In Protest

Bush and McCain Seem to Diverge in Foreign Policy
But most suspect McCain has simply forgotten the policy


City and State Brace for Drop in Wall Street Pay
Feds clear way for Top Exec pay raises


QUOTATION OF THE DAY

"I have had a very adventurous life, but not because I have an adventurous nature or yearned for a life full of adventure. Fate just wanted it this way."
Presidential presumptive John McCain on his captivity in Viet Nam and the resulting political career

WORLD

4,000 U.S. Combat Deaths, and Just a Handful of Images
Bloodless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan frustrate photo-journalists

Power Rising, Taliban Besiege Pakistani Shiites
Further confusing presidential candidate John McCain

Hole in Fuselage Forces Qantas 747 to Land
Pilots swear it wasn't there when they took off

U.S.

OSHA Seeks $8.7 Million Fine Against Sugar Company
Lack of Federal funding causes agency to seek funds elsewhere

Prosecutors State Case in First Guantánamo Trial
Claims Bin Laden driver was evil genius behind the wheel



BUSINESS

Weight Drives the Young to Adult Pills, Data Says
Internet and Ho-Ho diet lead to unrealistic body image and drug abuse

Plummeting Resale Values Lead Chrysler to End Leases
Suburban soccer-moms pulled from their vehicles and left stranded


YOUR MONEY

Danger Lurks When Shopping for Student Loans
Bankers find new "vehicle" for driving students into bankruptcy

7-19-08

TOP STORIES

Bush, in Shift, Accepts Idea of Iraq Timeline
Says he was unaware linear time was not available to brown peoples

Felons Seeking Bush Pardon Near a Record
White-collar crime holiday slated for last day of office

A Veil Closes France’s Door to Citizenship
"We don't want people sucking fine French wine through facial fabric," says French leaders.

QUOTATION OF THE DAY

"I would never have imagined that they would turn me down because of what I choose to wear." - Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia on his colleagues' rebuffing his invitation to a "What are you hiding under your robe?" party on the mall.


WORLD

Taliban Threaten to Kill Officials Held Hostage
Taliban foreign policy nothing if not consistent

U.S. Position Complicates Global Effort to Curb Illicit Arms
Current administration uncomfortable with progress of any kind

Cuba to Grant Private Farmers Access to Land
Capitalism still better than starving to death


U.S.

AMERICAN EXCEPTION
U.S. Is Alone in Rejecting All Evidence if Police Err
Prosecutors not averse to creating evidence if needed

4 Killed as Huge Crane Topples at a Houston Refinery
Union Crane Operators blamed by Bush administration for high oil prices

Politics Has Dissidents Talking to A.F.L.-C.I.O.
Progressives continue looking for "more useful affiliation" than Democratic Party


BUSINESS

Who wants to drive a millionaire?
Billionaires see upwardly mobile millionaires as "quaint"

Cuba ends ban on private taxis
Capitalism still better than walking

Uncomfortable Answers to Questions on the Economy
Are American bankers corrupt? Yes. Will American Taxpayers bail them out? Not by choice. Will someone prevent the continued looting of the U.S. treasury by private interests? Apparently not. Should Congress be dismissed? Probably.

Trading in Soccer Talent
Athletes viable commodity for owners flirting with human trafficking.

Citigroup Posts $2.5 Billion Loss on Write-Downs
23 to 30 percent interest may be too much for economically challenged consumers. (editor - Duh)

SPORTS

REDS 5, METS 2
Reds win.

YANKEES 7, OAKLAND 1
Yankees win.

Echo of the Past, Norman Storms the British Open
Brits not calling for drug testing of ancient golf pro with unusually renewed vigor

ARTS

A High-Seas Show With Gay Family Values
U.S. Navy celebrates merger of maritime reality with Republicon rhetoric

THEATER REVIEW | 'EH George'
Words Fail Him, but Memories Can’t Be Silenced
A post-presidential Bush wrestles with the damage he's left in his wake, still unable to find the simple phrase "I'm so sorry for selling you out"


TRAVEL

Seizing the Day in Tel Aviv
"Carpe Diem" replaces "Carpe Terra" as Israeli slogan amidst emerging nuclear neighbors


JOURNEYS | VIETNAM
The Mekong, Seen Over Handlebars
Vietnamese far ahead on sustainable living and energy conservation.


EDITORIALS

Black Marks for the Red Cross
Pursuit of the general welfare makes congress look bad - insists on invasive regulations

Another Species in Danger
"Trustworthy bankers" in danger of disappearing forever, assuming they existed in the first place

Mr. Rangel’s Many Friends
Representative Charles B. Rangel has an excellent record of public service - so he must be hiding something.