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I grew up in a small city in the New York suburbs. My parents scrimped and saved to give us a saner life than in the Bronx. Unlike most other towns in the county, our area was diverse, with a wealthy population in opulent estates; a middle class group (mine); and a large, low income population, mostly comprised of black residents. In the 60's, liberal policy makers conceived of forced busing so that deprived kids could enjoy tonier surroundings. The utopians envisioned the dazzling spectacle of ethnic bonding. At my elementary school, the black kids arrived each day by bus...

July 30, 2008 - The Massachusetts Senate passed the National Popular Vote bill on third reading (and engrossment). Immediately beforehand, a crippling amendment was defeated by a vote of 27 to 9. Under Massachusetts legislative procedures, an additional vote is required in both the House and Senate to transmit the bill to the Governor. Although this vote was on the agenda on the session's last day (July 31), no action was taken. On July 9, 2008, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed the National Popular Vote bill. National Popular Vote bill passes Massachusetts House 116-37 Massachusetts House of Representatives On...

Sixteen years after Brett Favre came to the Packers, he is returning for a seventeenth season. He has had a great career with our organization and although we built this year around the assumption that Brett meant what he said about retiring, Brett is coming back. We will welcome him back and turn this situation to our advantage. Frankly, Brett’s change of mind put us in a very difficult spot. We now will revise many actions and assumptions about our long-term future, all predicated on Brett’s decision last March to retire. As a result of his decision, we invested considerably...

Senator McCain gave a speech in Portland, Oregon Monday reiterating and explaining his longstanding support for a “cap-and-trade” approach to global warming. He proposes that the government require reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions but allow companies to trade emissions credits, supposedly creating an efficient, market-based distribution of the regulatory burden. Support for this policy is the biggest mistake his campaign has made so far. Early in this speech, Sen. McCain ran through a litany of woes that we can expect from global warming: “reduced water supplies, more forest fires than in previous decades, changes in crop production, more heat waves afflicting...

120 soldiers of the Royal Malay Regiment have become the first all-Islamic Company to provide a British monarch's ceremonial guard. Report by Shell Daruwala. RMR soldiers during Changing of the Guards The Royal Malay Regiment soldiers with Members of the Welsh Guards during the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace on Friday 2 May 2008 [Picture: Sergeant Mick Howard RLC] At Buckingham Palace today, Friday 2 May 2008, red jackets and black bearskins were replaced by pristine white tunics, brocade 'sampins' and gold-banded 'songkoks', when the Malay Regiment changed guards with 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.

Kosovo separatists plan Greater Albania referendum December 26, 2007 SERBIANNA A senior official with the newly elected Kosovo Albanian political party says that a referendum for unification of Kosovo to Albania is a possibility after the separatist Albanian regime in Kosovo unilaterally declares independence and Western powers recognize them, reports Kosovo Albanian paper Koha Ditore. Member of PDK Presidency, Nait Hasani said that after declaring independence a referendum to join Albania is a distinct possibility because citizens of Kosovo and Albania are one nation. "First there should be supervised independence as proposed by Ahtisaari. But it is known that Kosovo...

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- As a city councilman, Ahmed Aboutaleb, the son of a Moroccan clergyman, helped immigrants find jobs, put their toddlers in school to learn Dutch and doled out stern advice: integrate or leave. On Thursday, Aboutaleb is being sworn in as a junior minister in the Dutch Cabinet. Joining him will be Nebahat Albayrak, a Turkish-born member of parliament. They are the first Muslims to reach the inner core of political power in the Netherlands, and are among only a few immigrants to rise to even second-rung Cabinet positions in Western Europe. Albayrak and Aboutaleb are among immigrants...

TEL AVIV -- Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah said yesterday that he would not have ordered the July 12 seizure of two Israeli soldiers had he known it would provoke a war that leveled Shi'ite villages and neighborhoods throughout Lebanon.     "We did not think, even 1 percent, that the capture would lead to a war at this time and of this magnitude. You ask me, if I had known on July 11 ... that the operation would lead to such a war, would I do it? I say no, absolutely not," he told Lebanon's New TV station.     The sheik also...

For the first time in history, a book is written to provide information on the Aramaic language of the Qur'an. For over fourtheen centuries, Muslims have been told erroneously that the language of the Qur'an is Arabic. The Eastern Syriac dialect of Aramaic is dominant in the Qur’an, and many chapters are borrowed from the Hebrew Bible, but were misinterpreted by Muslim commentators. Not understanding the Aramaic language of the Qur’an, and not being familiar with the development of its revelations, Muslim commentators rendered erroneous interpretations to the book. Such erroneous interpretations led to the rise of Islamic fundamentalists, like...

Shepard Smith eyewitness report on O'Reilly: Mayor Ray Nagin intervened today to help tourists (many foreigners) staying at the upscale W hotel downtown escape New Orleans ahead of many of the people in the Superdomw. Tourists were shipped in buses to the Superdome and other connecting buses took them to safety. Black Mayor Ray Nagin favors "W" tourists. Imagine that headline after all the racist garbage thrown at the President.

P.E.I. opens doors to Katrina victimsBroadcast News September 02, 2005 CHARLOTTETOWN -- Premier Pat Binns says people on Prince Edward Island want to open their doors to Americans displaced by hurricane Katrina. Binns says at least 50 Islanders have expressed interest in providing housing. He says he's been in contact with Canada's ambassador to the U.S., Frank McKenna, and David Wilkins, the U.S. ambassador to Canada. No word yet on whether the Americans will take P.E.I. up on the offer.

WASHINGTON (CP) - U.S. Agriculture Secretary Michael Johanns took immediate steps to reopen the border to Canadian cattle late Thursday after a federal appeals court dismissed arguments that imports could spread mad cow disease. American officials have already been in contact with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to prepare certifying cattle for shipment, said Johanns. Canadian officials expected trucks to roll next week to take cows south for the first time since May 2003 when Canada discovered its first case of mad cow. The unanimous decision by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was released...

ATLANTA, GA, Mar. 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. government announced Friday its decision sell nuclear-capable Lockheed-Martin F-16 C/D strike fighter aircrafts to Pakistan. While the deal still needs congressional approval, given that the Republicans control both houses of Congress, the sale is unlikely to face any roadblock.

Flannery O'Connor Country The amazing story of how Ashley Smith stopped Brian Nichols's killing spree. Thursday, March 17, 2005 12:01 a.m. EST Go to the link to see the pics Noonan found so inspiring.

Based on the extensive quotations cited in the complaint, it appears a safe bet that Mackris, 33, recorded some of O'Reilly's more steamy soliloquies. For example, we direct you to his Caribbean shower fantasies. While we suggest reading the entire document, TSG will point you to interesting sections on a Thailand sex show, Al Franken, and the climax of one August 2004 phone conversation.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- President Bush, seeking to mobilize religious conservatives for his reelection campaign, has asked church-going volunteers to turn over church membership directories, campaign officials said on Thursday. In a move sharply criticized both by religious leaders and civil libertarians, the Bush-Cheney campaign has issued a guide listing about two-dozen "duties" and a series of deadlines for organizing support among conservative church congregations. A copy of the guide obtained by Reuters directs religious volunteers to send church directories to state campaign committees, identify new churches that can be organized by the Bush campaign and talk to clergy members about...

She's going to prison for a year and a half By Steven Kreytak AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Friday, June 11, 2004 With one hand in her pocket and the other gripping a four-pronged cane, the bespectacled, 66-year-old former secretary looked up at the federal judge Thursday and apologized. Mary Ilene Guthrie made no mention of what prompted her to make $329,435 in charges on her boss's credit card over four years. The bulk of the charges were made at the QVC home shopping network, according to court documents, but Guthrie offered no explanation for what she bought. Guthrie simply noted that she...

I am watching 60 Minutes and I am utterly shocked that the Amdinistration would allow Woodward unlimited access. This is just stunning. Sometimes this administration behaves so stupidly it is baffling.

EVERETT, June 12, 2003 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] has decided that the 7E7 will be the first commercial jet ever to have a majority of the primary structure -- including the wing and fuselage -- made of advanced composite materials. Following months of intensive study and analysis, the company has selected a graphite combined with a toughened epoxy resin as the main composite. The wings will also include TiGr composites -- a combination of titanium and graphite. Titanium is a strong metal known for its light weight and durability. Graphite is a stable form of carbon.Over the past year and...

MIDI - BAND ON THE RUN (fairly long intro) Peacenicks on a bus trip…thought it was a party They would be protectors They're there for Saddam…defending Saddam Oh, yes…they'd help Saddam Oh, yes…they came for Saddam Why they're so motivated, who knows Just what goes on inside of their head I can't wait for a MOAB to blow Every one of them soon would be dead Maybe they didn't count on that They hoped they'd be preventing a war They are foolish and very naïve They did not know what would be in store Would they die or would...