The Chowdhury Times

The BBC reporter Paul Wood says "Souad Khousaim lay very still on her hospital bed and in a quiet voice wracked with pain told me she was one of the innocent victims of Sunday's raid by US special forces." she went outside to get her son when an American soldier five feet away shot her as she scremed in terror. Want to know something really funny?!? "Her husband was among the seven Syrian men who died, but hospital officials have not told her this yet. "
Americans, who think they have the right to do anything, went five miles into Syria to find Abu Ghadiya, an Iraqi Al Qaeda cell leader who has brought thousands of jihadist fighters into the country.
A loclal said that two helicopters rained bullets onto a compound while two others landed and let soldiers get out.
Within minutes after searching they were gone. All that was left were bullet casing and a few dead men that villagers say were innocent civillians. one was a nightwatchmen (Khousaim's husband) five others were all related a father and his four adult sons who had just finished laying the foundation for a house.
A relative said ""The world must see what the Americans have done here," he shouted, close to tears, while men from the village nodded in agreement. "
The world probably wont : (

Posted by chow0061 at 8:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Strib reports that Palin has the second ethics charge within months against her. this time she used state money to pay for her kids travel expenses when she didn't have the right to.
The compaints say that Palin charged the state $12,000 for her three daughterstravel when they were uninvited and then ordered that their expense forms be ammended to include official state business.
Palin has also charged the state for the girl's hotel rooms.
Palin was found in violation of state ethics earlier this month for the firing of the public safety commissioner after he refused to fire her ex-brother in law. I hate this bitch.
The latest charges have been filed by "Frank Gwartney, an Anchorage Democrat who supports Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama. Gwartney, 60, said he is fed up with "all the corruption" among Alaska's elected officials, including Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, who was convicted this week on federal corruption charges."
Gwartney says Palin ran on a self righteous campaign but she is no different than all these other fucks.

Posted by chow0061 at 8:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Strib reports that Agriprocessor, a kosher meatpacking plant, has been fined $10 million by the state of Iowa after one of America's largest immigration raids.
The company was raided because of repeated violations of Iowa's wage laws.
In their time sheets they made illegal deductions for tax/miscellaneous 3400 times.
They made illegal deduction from employees for protective clothing 96,000 times.
They failed to pay 42 employees their last paycheck.
389 people were arrested. Plant owners and managers have been charged with over 9,100 misdemeanors for hiring minors.
two human resource employees have been accused of helping illegal workers file fake documents.

Posted by chow0061 at 8:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Strib reports that Northwest Airlines is now a part of Delta Air Lines.
The merger makes Delta the worlds largest airline.
Changes will occur over the next one to 12 years.
Delta says that the merger will help them overcome the obstacles that all airlines face in these tough economic times by allowing them to be much more flexible.
Federal regulators believe that the merger will benefit consumers.
Northwest said the merger will increase job stability for their employees.
Something confusing that the Strib said was that The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which represents 12,500 Northwest ground workers, has opposed the merger, but they then said that a spokesman from IAM said that after eight years of the Bush administration the decision will greatly help consumers... they didn't provide any context and those two statements are somewhat opposing

Posted by chow0061 at 7:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Strib reports that Johnny Lee Ellis Jr. bludgeoned his girlfriend to death, then stabbed the woman's mother special needs sister to death because he "couldn't leave witnesses."
Ellis, 38, was charged with three counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Jolyn Vigen, 75, and her daughters Angela Vigen, 40, Jennifer Vigen, 35.
The police found their bodies in their Mounds View home after a concerned relative called the police because she couldn't get a hold of them.
Police picked up Ellis at a women's Minneapolis home where Ellis after seeing a news report on the murders told the women he was sorry and didn't mean to do it.
When police arrived they had to taser and tackle him before they arrested him because he began stabbing himself in the chest.

Posted by chow0061 at 6:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

City Pages advanced CSI: The Experience at the Science Museum.

The story talks about the different "crime scenes" within the exhibit. the angle is that the visitor gets to pretend that they are a real csi investigator. the only source seems to be info on the exhibit. they give the price at the end.

Posted by chow0061 at 9:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CNN reports that Obama has 277 electoral votes, McCain has 174 and 87 are up in the air. 270 electoral votes are needed to become president.
On the 7th Obama had 264 votes but since then he won over Virginia and their 13 votes, a state that has not voted democrat in 44 years.
In a CNN poll of polls Obama is favored to win 50 percent of the votes, McCain 43 percent ofthe votes and 8 percent of voters are undecided.
They stressed that this poll is a "snapshot in time" and a lot can change in 20 days.

Posted by chow0061 at 8:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The BBC reports that a Vietnamese court has sentenced a vietnamese journalist for two years for reporting on a corruption case.
Another journalist who pleaded guilty was given two years probation.
Two police officers who gave the journalists the information were sentenced to one year in jail.
The reporting brought down several high level politicians, but authorities said their reporting was innacurate and harmful. they were charged with "abusing freedom and democratic rights".
'Media watchdog Reporters without Borders has condemned the trial, calling it the Vietnamese government's "revenge" against "daring journalists who revealed embarrassing cases and brought greater freedom to the Vietnamese press". '

Posted by chow0061 at 8:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Pionneer Press ran an AP story that was written before the debate but talked about the debate as if it were something that happened.
The Strib's headline said that the debate will begin at 8 p.m.
"John McCain sought to change the course of a campaign moving decidedly in Barack Obama's direction Wednesday night in the third and final presidential debate."
Seems really wierd. The story says that the race is leaning more and more in Obama's favor and this will be McCain's last chance to win some favor.
"McCain was keenly aware of the stakes he faced after two debates in which supporters suggested he was insufficiently forceful against Obama." How does she know he "was keenly aware?" This writing does not seem like it should be in a news story.
McCain plans on criticizing Obama's tax policy. Obama has said that he will not add any taxes to anyone who makes over $250,000.

Posted by chow0061 at 7:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Strib reports that Stillwater police officer, Scott Gerald Geving, 49, kissed a motel employee and tried to get her to touch his privates all while she was on duty.
He has been charged with "a felony count of fourth-degree attempted criminal sexual conduct, gross misdemeanor fifth-degree attempted criminal sexual conduct and two gross misdemeanor counts of misconduct by a public officer for an incident that occurred on Aug. 20."
The police department says Geving has an excellent record with no disciplinary issues.
After repeatedly being told no, Geving told the woman he would be back at 3 a.m. after he was off duty. at 3:30 Geving came back in T-shirt and shorts. the woman told him to leave.
The Pioneer Press had much of the same info but at the end they added "According to the Stillwater Police Department's Web site, Geving is a certified safety-seat inspector. Residents are instructed to call him to set up an appointment to have their children's car seats inspected. "
They also had a picture of Geving and links to the criminal complaint aand the Dakota County Attorney's news release.

Posted by chow0061 at 7:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Strib reports that four men lured 24-year-old mentally disabled, Justin Hamilton, to a remote Dakota County area where they for two days last weekend they beat him, tied him to a tree, burned him and dragged him behind a motorcycle for 200 feet.
After the second day they left him unconscious for dead.
The four men were charged Tuesday. authorities say the motive for the assault may involve a 16-year-old girl Hamilton recently befriended.
Hamilton is recovering at home with his adoptive mother, who says he may lose the sight in one eye, has broken ribs and possible kidney damage. Hamiltion was a Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Baby.
'"I've seen the photographs from this particular beating, and in nearly 30 years of law enforcement, the level of beating this man took was savage. It was just savage," said Dave Bellows, chief deputy with the Dakota County Sheriff's Office.'
The Pioneer Press reports that the four men and the 16-year-old girl picked Hamilton up Friday night and took him to a secluded area where they beat him and then took him back home where they stole his x-box and wallet. On Saturday night the men found Hamilton hanging out with the girl. They took him back to the same spot and beat him again.
Another article by the Strib says that the girl, Natasha Dahn, lied about being assaulted and caused the beating. she appered in juvenile court today. prosecutors want to try her as an adult.
One of the suspects, Timothy Ketterling, is developmentaly disabled.
Two of the men are in the Minnesota National Guard.

On the Stribs website this story was one of the first to pop up, on the press it was hard to find.

Posted by chow0061 at 2:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Strib reported that on Wednesday both Franken and Coleman held press releases on how to help people save in this shitty economy. The article said that Franken jabbed at Coleman's ideas and said he would not support any private aspect of scial security.
Frankens press release, on his websites blog says that in a lot more words and alot more detail, such as who supports Franken's plans.

Posted by chow0061 at 8:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BBC reports that a US federal court has blocked a judge's order that 17 Chinese prisoners at Guantanamo Bay should be released. A district court decided it was wrong to hold prisoners that have not been charged and that there is no evidence against. The White House appealed saying the ruling "could set a dangerous precedent."
They were to be released within the US to stay with members of their community in the Washington area.
Reuters UK reports that the prisoners have remained in Guantanamo because the US cant find a country to take them.
The Uighurs, as they are called, were cleared for release in 2004. but may face persecution if released back to China.The White House doesn't want to set a precedent that would allow sworn enemies entry into the US. but there is no evidence that these 17 have any thing to do with any "enemy."
Beijing has demanded all Uighurs at Guantanamo be repatriated to China.
"Beijing has waged a campaign against what it calls their violent separatist activities. "

Posted by chow0061 at 8:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Washington Wire a blog for The Wall Street Journal had a post one hour before this posting where McCain was described as the republican vice-presidential candidate. obviously he is the presidential candidate. do blogs for such high profile publications under go the same kind of scrutiny as less high profile pubs?

Posted by chow0061 at 7:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CNN reports that a moving graph at the bottom of the screen at tuesday's debate showed that whenever a candidate threw a jab the voters reaction dipped.
It was true for both candidates. a Professor at Emory University in Atlanta said that the only people that like negative jabs are the really partisan voters, but they already know who theyre going to vote for, negativity affects the undecided voters in a... negative way. so they are actually hurting themselves whenever they try and throw even the slightest jab.
In a seperate CNN article they report that McCain is asking voters who the real Obama is? McCain asked that at a rally in Pennsylvania. he has also released a new ad attacking Obama with Obama's quotes that could have come from anywhere in reference to anything, finally saying that he is not presedential.
He is trying to campaign against Obama's trustworthiness in order to hide the real issues. The McCain campaign sent out an email on Wednesday talking about Obama's connection with Ayers, a leader of the 1970's terrorist group the weather underground.
"Those attacks don't hurt Barack Obama or me. They hurt you,Every single false charge and baseless accusation is an attempt to get you to stop paying attention to what's going on in this country. Beyond the attacks, what is John McCain really offering?" Biden said.
On Monday Obama's campaign released a web video detailing McCains involvement in the Keating Five scandal in the 1980's.
Cindy McCain said that Obama is running the dirtiest campaign in American history.

Posted by chow0061 at 7:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Assosciated Press reports that for the second time in threes days, Obama's middle name has been used in order to try and build doubts about his background, faith and campaign.
McCain and Palin had not arrived at the rally yet when the chairman used Obama's middle name twice. they didnt make any references to it. The campaign issued a statement saying they didn't condon the "innapropriate rhetoric."
Socialist, terrorist and liar were shouted at the rall by McCain supporters in reference to Obama.
CNN reports that Obama's wife is not offended my McCain's "that one" comment. She said that americans dont care about this back and forth between the candidates on stuff that doesnt matter.
"They don't care about the back and forth between the candidates. ... They want real answers about how we're going to fix this economy and get the health care benefits on track so, you know, this is part of politics,"

Posted by chow0061 at 6:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Pioneer Press reports that Lakeville police officer, Albert Reitmeier, 25, pleaded guilty in Dakota County District Court to a felony charge of using minors in a pornography and a misdemeanor charge of for the reckless use of handguns.
he is accused of getting two 17-year-old girls drunk at his party after they were invited over by one of Reitmeier's friends that knew one of the girls, then they took pictures and video of the girls as they became partially undressed.
Reitmeier did not know the ages of the girls, his friend did however.
Reitmeier will spend 30 days in jail, be on probation for four years, and lose his job.
The Strib reports that he will be on probation for three years.
Rumors of the photos and video spread at school, and a student told a police liason officer about it, which led to the seizure of Reitmeier's computer that had the evidence on it.

Posted by chow0061 at 6:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Minnesota Independent reports that Tom Petters, who is accused of being the ringleader of a multi-billion dollar fraud scheme, has made $16,000 in political donations so far this election year to politicians including "Sens. Amy Klobuchar ($5,000) and Norm Coleman ($1,600), Rep. James Oberstar ($3,300) and Sixth Congressional District challenger Elwyn Tinklenberg ($500)."
Petters faces charges of mail fraud, money laundering, wire fraud and obstruction of justice.
So far Klobuchar and Tinklenberg have given their money to charity.

Posted by chow0061 at 6:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CNN reports Obama accused the McCain campaign of trying to run a smear campaign against him, and the McCain cam responded by saying that everything they have been saying are true facts. Palin accused Obama of palling around with terrorists which is in reference to a 1970’s radical, Bill Ayers, that Obama had worked with on non profit organization in the 1990’s. Obama has released an ad accusing McCain of erratic behavior. All of this comes before their second presidential debate scheduled for Tuesday.

Posted by chow0061 at 5:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CNN reports that at a U.N. nuclear conference of 145 nations Israel was indirectly criticized for refusing to put its atomic program under international purview.
Israel is believed to have nuclear arms but has a “no tell� policy.
Iran lead the attacks against Israel at the conference.
On Saturday delegates voted 82-0 to establish the Mideast as a nuclear-free zone.
CNN reports that the U.S. and European Union blocked efforts by Muslim nations to submit a resolution more directly critical of Israel and its “nuclear capabilities.�
One question that I have is what nations this reporter is talking about when they say Muslim nations. Does he/she mean all the Mideast countries that aren’t Israel? I think its important to clarify the actual nations than to make this issue be something about religion when it very likely isn’t.

Posted by chow0061 at 5:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CNN reports that the United State militarry’s Northern Command, a unit formed after the 9/11 attacks, is dedicating a combat infantry team to deal with catastrophes within the U.S.
The First Raiders will spend 2009 as the first active-duty military unit from Northern Command. They will be based in Fort Stewart, Georgia, and focus on logistics and support for local police and rescue personnel.
The unit has been trained with law enforcement tactics, which has gotten them criticism from people saying that the military unit could be used as law enforcement.

Posted by chow0061 at 3:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Star Tribune reports that rehab specialist Ronald Martin Bateman, 61, at Courage Center has been charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct in Hennepin County District Court. It is alleged that he innapropritaely touched a female patient over the last two years and exposed himself to her this summer.
Bateman had been treating the patient since 2001 for pain from cerebral paulsy. In 2006 Bateman allegedly touched the victims private parts and after she questioned him he said the manipulation of the privates was necessary for treatment.
The Strib reports that it is unknown whether Bateman still works at Courage Center. That seems like something that would be easy enough to find out.

Posted by chow0061 at 3:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Star Tribune reports that a recent poll of 1,084 likely voters in Minnesota has Obama getting 55 percent of the votes and McCain getting 37 percent of the votes.
The last poll, taken in September, had both candidates getting 45 percent of the votes.
Obama’s surge in the state can be attributed to voters thinking that Obama is better suited to deal with the financial crisis, his performace in the first debte, and more Minnesotans considering themselves Democrats.
A CNN/Time poll taken last week had Obama ahead 54 percent to 43 percent. A USA poll had McCain ahead 47 percent to 46 percent.

Posted by chow0061 at 2:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)