[appalachian_dweller]

Hi Liz,
Could you, would you provide hightlights for us cube-dwellers?

[JustPiper]

Chgo Sun-Times
CIA chief defends prewar efforts
February 5, 2004

BY KATHERINE PFLEGER ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON-- In his first public defense of prewar intelligence, CIA Director George Tenet said Thursday that U.S. analysts had never claimed Iraq was an imminent threat, the main argument used by President Bush for going to war.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cia05.html

[JustPiper]

Chgo Sun-Times World Briefs

Politics behind Iraq attacks

Maj. Gen. Raymond Odierno, commander of the Army's 4th Infantry Division, said Wednesday that recent attacks in Iraq are the work of groups seeking to sabotage -- or gain leverage in -- a future independent Iraqi government that is due to take power by July.


Mad cow panel wants new rules

An international panel convened by Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman after the first U.S. case of mad cow disease called Wednesday for more restrictions on cattle feed, saying there's likely undiscovered cases among the nation's cattle.

[JustPiper]

» THE MOB AND POLITICS

Did feds kill off the mob?

A mere decade ago, the Chicago Outfit's political wing still had an address: Room 2306 of the Bismarck Hotel, at Randolph and LaSalle, the 1st Ward offices of Committeeman John D'Arco Sr. and Ald. Fred Roti, a made member of the mob.


» FOLLOWING THE MONEY: THE MOB

The new Chicago mob: who's in charge, how it makes money and what it does with the cash-- a pittance compared with the days of Al Capone.

Mob's latest trend: farming out hits to gang-bangers

The new 'Outfit'

» GANGS AND POLITICS

Candidates lean on gang members to get out the vote
Come Election Day, gang members across the city will likely trade their baseball caps and street colors for white shirts and ties.

16th Ward rivals embrace the help
Gangs are a fact of life in this rundown pocket of Chicago's South Side. They're on the street corners. In the classrooms. And they campaign for Baskin and 16th Ward Ald. Shirley Coleman.

One gang-banger's political past
They never actually asked their neighbors to vote for their candidate. They didn't have to.


» FOLLOWING THE MONEY: GANGS

The investigation focuses on the millions of dollars that gangs make, the businesses they buy and the expensive toys they flash.

Dope sales build secret empires

http://www.suntimes.com/special_sections/crime/index.html

[JustPiper]

Iraq's Top Cleric Survives Assassination Attempt
37 minutes ago Add Top Stories - Reuters to My Yahoo!

By Khaled Farhan

NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraq (news - web sites)'s most powerful Shi'ite cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, survived an assassination bid on Thursday when gunmen opened fire on his entourage in the sacred streets of Najaf, a security aide said.

The assassination attempt comes days before a team of United Nations (news - web sites) electoral experts is due to arrive in the country to assess the feasibility of holding early elections along the lines that Sistani has demanded.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040205/ts_nm/iraq_sistani_dc

[JustPiper]

We all have children here and I felt this an important interjection on the subject matter because no matter what we tell our kids, often they do not listen! I am sad Carlie took that shortcut through the parking lot, she did not deserve this! But let's face it we need to scare our kids into knowing all the things a kidnapper will use beyond the cute little dog and your parents sent me.

{{{Keep your children safe from strangers}}}

Former FBI agent Clint Van Zandt offers street-smart advice for parents and children to guard against abductionUpdated: 12:11 p.m. ET Feb. 04, 2004

The abduction of 11-year-old Carlie Bruscia is every parents' nightmare — you're not there, even for a moment and a stranger approaches your child. Would your child know what to do? There are precautions you can take as a parent, and information and skills you can teach your child to prevent an abduction. Former FBI agent Clint Van Zandt lectures on child and family safety and offers the following tips to keep your children out of harm's way.

Do not get into any car unless your parents personally tell you to do it.

Stay away from anyone who follows you on foot or in a car. You do not need to go near a car to talk to the people inside.

Grown-ups and other people who need help should not be asking children for help; they should be asking older people.

Grown-ups should not be asking you for directions or to look for a "lost puppy" or telling you that your mother or father is in trouble and that they will take you to them.
Quickly get away from anyone who tries to take you somewhere and yell or scream: "This man (or woman) is trying to take me away," or "This person is not my father (or mother)."

You should use the buddy system and never go places alone.
Always ask your parents' permission to leave the yard or play area or go into someone's home.

Never hitchhike or try to get a ride home with people unless your parents have told you it is okay to ride with them.

People should not ask you to keep a special secret. If they do, tell your parents or teacher.

Tell anyone who wants to take your picture, "No," and tell your parents or teacher.

No one should touch you on the parts of the body covered by your bathing suit, nor should you touch anyone else in those areas. Your body is special and private.

You can be assertive, and you have the right to say, "No" to someone, including adults and even relatives or friends who try to take you somewhere, touch you, or who makes you feel uncomfortable in any way.

Many parents use a special code word that only the child knows to convey a message should someone other than a parent ask a child to accompany them anywhere.

You can have your child practice a special yell. It is low, loud and long. It tells the person trying to hurt the child, "I know what to do! I'm not an easy victim!" It tells everyone within the sound of the child's voice, "I need help!" It gets the child going, it breaks the spell. A child should not panic and freeze, thereby becoming immobile in an emergency. When you yell you take a deep breath, thereby getting oxygen and energy to your brain and muscles. A child's yell can give him (or her) courage and get his feet moving to run away.

Going beyond this I will say for our kids to know self-defense, even the basics could save their lives. My kids were taught young and it pays off!

This animal looked to have a gun in his right hand he pulled out of his pocket and I've told my kids better to yell FIRE and how to pull away from a creep and get shot maybe in the leg etc at a distance! This guy does not wan t o draw attention to himself by shooting!

[JustPiper]

Anyone have the details on the evacuation of an Atlanta PO for a package found with a white powder per MSNBC