Doar's Semi-Daily

Scene: Bahrain protests

2012-04-23T04:50:22Z

The Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix went ahead as scheduled despite continuing anti-government protests in and around the capital city of Manama according to the BBC ().
The event was questionable until the government announced that it had security under control. Guards and armored vehicles have been steadfast sights at the beautiful race track which features some of the highest performance vehicles in the road framed by picturesque sands and palm trees.
It was a stark contrast to scenes else where in the city.
Protests had picked up on Saturday after a man was found dead on a rooftop, killed in overnight classes with security forces. Burning tire barricades and impediments of other sorts have been reported west of the city.
Sebastian Vettel ended up taking the Grand Prix despite Kimi Raikkonen's valiant efforts through the mid laps.

Scene: Roadless Dutch City

2012-04-23T04:29:42Z

The town of Giethoorn in the Netherlands is known as 'The Green Venice' because of its verdant countryside and reliance upon canals according to the BBC ().
For Giethoorn has no roads. It arose as a matter of practicality, given that the town lies below sea level.
So Giethoorn became a town of canals where every family has at least one boat, and children grow up learning to sail before they can walk (as the local legend goes).
There are, just like any system of transit, complications. But the citizens are adaptable, and when the waterways freeze over, the Dutch strap on their ice skates and run their errands that way.
There is a serenity and tranquility about the place that surely comes from the absence of car traffic and being surrounded by water.

Woman fights robber with keys

2012-04-23T04:15:20Z

A 76-year-old Texas woman fought her attacker with her car keys while going into a gas station according to CNN ().
The woman, Lorraine Moody, was on her way to get a $1000 dollar money order to pay her rent, when a Hispanic man jumped in her way, brandishing a knife.
"I kept on telling him, 'No, you're not getting my purse,'" said Moody. "He then called me the 'b' word."
Well, he ended up getting her purse, but not before Moody cut him across the face with her car keys. Angry at her defiance, the robber cut her on the arm and leg before leaving.
What made matters worse was that the staff of the gas station refused to help her or call 911.

Woman stabbed in downtown parking lot

2012-04-23T04:06:05Z

A 28-year-old woman was stabbed at a downtown Minneapolis parking lot at 4:00 p.m. Thursday according to CBS .
The woman is recovering from a wound to the stomach at the Hennepin County Medical Center, and is expected to be all right.
The suspect was captured on security footage, appearing to be between 30 and 40 years old with a slight build. He was a wearing a black suit when he committed the crime.
The police are currently investigating possible relationships and motives, but are currently calling the incident "random."
The stabbing comes after four weeks of continued drops in crime downtown.

Controversy over proposed Minnesota wolf hunt continues

2012-04-23T02:31:14Z

The Minnesota legislature proposed a season for wolf hunting this year, replacing what was initially going to be a five year moratorium after their removal from the Endangered Apecies Act according to KARE 11 (http://www.kare11.com/news/default.aspx).
Delisted in January, the wolf population once down to 300 or 400 wolves, is thought to be up to 3,000.
Animal rights groups, such as Howling for Wolves, and the Ojibwe tribe have come out against the proposed hunting season.
"One of my greatest concerns is if we shoot the alpha males and females," said Robert Shimek, a Ojibwe tribe spokesperson. "We leave pack management up to juveniles." This, some fear, could lead to more problematic wolf packs.
Yet many who have experienced the results of a wolf attack firsthand, such as killings of sheep, cattle or pets, are for the proposed season.

6-Year-Old girl missing in Arizona

2012-04-23T02:14:38Z

A 6-year-old girl went missing this morning in Tuscon, Arizona according to CNN (http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2012/04/22/dnt-az-girl-mising.kgun).
At 8:00 a.m. Isabel Mercedes Celis's father went to check on her, finding her room empty, at which point the police were notified.
The search has been intense with a block by block grid search, air support from police helicopters, and the deployment of bloodhounds to try and pick up her scent.
"Everything goes through your mind," said Justin Mastromarino, the girl's uncle. "You're angry, you're upset, you're frustrated, and you're confused."
Police are still trying to piece together what happened that morning, and have stated that they are going to add additional detectives to the case.

Jamaican economy still struggling

2012-04-23T01:22:27Z

Officials from the International Monetary Fund are due to meet with Jamaican government ministers in Washington to discuss the future of Jamaica's economy, according to Nick Davies of the BBC ().
Jamaica is $18 billion dollars in debt, making it one of the world's most debt ridden countries.
The last decade has seen Jamaica's mining and agriculture revenues steeply decline, with the export of bananas all but completely collapsing. Tourism is one of the few bright spots, logging over 3 million visitors last year.
Many in Jamaica see a push towards manufacturing as the only solution to country's ongoing economic woes.
The meeting with the IMF will focus on debt management with Jamaica expected to ask for help on the matter.

Mali Unrest Continues

2012-04-02T02:32:58Z

Amadou Sanogo, the leader of the March 21 coup in Mali, has vowed to restore the rule of Mali's 1992 constitution amid fears of sanctions according to the BBC.
Ecowas, a West African trading bloc, issued a deadline for Malian troops to return to their barracks says Reuters. While that has been agreed to in principle, no timeline has emerged from coup leadership.
Sanctions from Ecowas could include a shutdown of Mali's borders, freezing of assets and the withholding of credit.
The army initially took to the streets over the manner in which ousted president, Amadou Tourmani Toure, was handling the Tuareg rebels in the north of the country.
Sunday saw more swaths of northern Mali overtaken by the Tuareg rebels, as they seized Timbuktu, the third of three regional hubs to fall in the same number of days.

The Miami Heat's Struggles Continue

2012-04-02T01:21:32Z

The Boston Celtics, led by Rajon Rondo's fifth triple-double of the year, beat the visiting Miami Heat 91-72 Sunday afternoon according to CBS Sports.
The Miami Heat, normally one of the most offensively efficient teams in the NBA, struggled from the field, shooting only 34.8 percent.
The Celtics are riding a post-All Star period that has seen them surge to the top of the Atlantic Division and win seven of their last ten games (ESPN).
In addition to Rondo's triple-double, Boston got 23 points from their captain, Paul Pierce. Lebron James led the way for the Heat, also scoring 23 points. This loss means that the Heat have dropped seven of their last ten on the road.
"It's definitely a string of issues on the road," James said. "We've got to be more mentally tough."

New plan for Vikings stadium

2012-04-01T22:34:53Z

A new plan for a downtown Minneapolis Vikings stadium was released on Sunday afternoon according to the Star Tribune.
However, this plan, hoped to rouse the stalled State Legislature, might lead to an increased financial burden for Hennepin County and the team in a plan that needs almost $1 billion dollars of total funding.
The proposal seeks to placate charitable gaming officials who wanted more tax relief on the nearly $398 million in funds that are to come from electronic bingo and pull tabs in area establishments (Star Tribune).
Thus far the process has been marred by debate and delays. If a new stadium is not built fans fear the team would move from Minnesota to greener pastures.
What is more, MinnPost reports that if a new stadium is not erected, the state stands to lose $500 million.

Thunder crush Bulls

2012-04-01T21:51:57Z

The Chicago Bulls seemed sluggish in Oklahoma City Sunday afternoon, as the Thunder checked the league leading Bulls 92-78 according to ESPN.
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook led the way for Oklahoma City, scoring 26 and 27 points respectively. The league MVP, Derrick Rose, sat for his tenth consecutive game.
The Thunder's offensive potency beat up Chicago's strong defense, shooting 48.6 percent from the field, while holding the Bulls to 33 percent.
Chicago was within striking distance for the first half before getting hit by a 31 point Thunder outburst in the third quarter, trailing at one instance by 30 points (Chicago Tribune). The Bulls were only able to close the gap in the fourth quarter when the Thunder pulled their starters.
"We had a problem to start the game, a problem at the end of the first quarter, a problem at the end of the second quarter, problems to start the third quarter," said Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau. "Against a quality team, you can't overcome that."

Boxing writer Bert Sugar dies at 75

2012-03-25T23:45:52Z

Boxing writer Bert Sugar died Sunday of cardiac arrest at the age of 75 in Mount Kisco, N.Y., according to the Associated Press via ESPN.
Known for his always donning a fedora and smoking cigars, Sugar is credited with writing over 80 books on boxing and in 2005, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
"Bert was obviously a showman in the way he did things outwardly, very flamboyant," said Jack Hirsch, the president of the Boxing Writers Association of America. "But in quiet moments I found him to be an extremely modest individual."
Born in Washington, D.C., Sugar became a lawyer before working in advertising. It was not until the 1970s that Sugar began delving into writing.
"Around ringside, it's not going to be the same with Bert not there," Hirsch said.

Influential black congregation leader Rev. Curtis Herron dies at 80

2012-03-25T23:19:33Z

Rev. Curtis Herron led the Zion Baptist Church, one of Minneapolis' largest black congregations, for forty years and used his influence to affect social change, dying March 18 at 80 according to the Star Tribune.
A native of Kansas City, Kan., Herron moved his family to Minneapolis in 1970 after graduating form the University of Kansas and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Early on at Zion, Herron organized boycotts against Carson Pirie Scott and Dayton's for their mistreatment of black customers.
His most memorable piece of activism came in 1999 when he was among those arrested for protesting the demolition of public housing in north Minneapolis. "Just because you're under attack doesn't mean that you aren't protected," Herron was quoted as saying in regards to times of trouble.
Herron's son, Brian, a former Minneapolis City Council Member who plead guilty to extortion in 2001, now leads the church.

John Billman, former Minnesota Gopher football player and World War II veteran, dies at 92

2012-03-25T22:28:50Z

John Billman, a World War II veteran and two-time national football champion under legendary Minnesota Gopher coach Bernie Bierman, died March 16 at the age of 92 according to the Star Tribune.
Raised in northeast Minneapolis, Billman enrolled at the University of Minnesota in 1939, playing football under Bernie Bierman before graduating with a degree in mortuary science in 1942.
He then enlisted in the Navy, serving as the captain of a PT boat in the South Pacific.
"Dad was so proud that he served his country, although he never talked about war stories," his daughter, Jennifer Redmond, said to the Star Tribune. "But his favorite TV show was 'McHale's Navy'."
Retiring from his mortuary business in 1983, Billman traveled the world with his wife Kit, while involving himself in philanthropy, starting fellowship and scholarship programs for horticulture, athletics, international studies, cancer research and Navy ROTC.

Legendary Darts Player Jocky Wilson Dies at 62

2012-03-25T22:04:24Z

Jocky Wilson rose to prominence in 1982 after winning the World Championships, then again in 1989, dying yesterday at 62 of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the BBC reports.
Born in 1950 in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, Wilson learned to play the game in local bars, getting serious about the sport in his mid-20s, and turning professional in 1979. From then until 1991 Wilson had a stretch where he made at least the quarter-finals every year at the World Championships.
"He was such a good laugh to be with," said 15-time world champion Phil Taylor, said. "People talk about the great characters in darts and he's one of the greatest." Wilson was sometimes known to remove his dentures while playing.
Wilson left the game in 1995 and entirely receded from the limelight.
"I'm just an ordinary working boy," Wilson said in 1990. "Mixing with people is what I'm good at. Even if I had a million quid, I'd do the same."