The Daily News
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay says he found no victims of sweatshops, sex slavery or forced abortions on the Pacific island of Saipan in the mid-1990s. But Carmencita Abad says that’s because DeLay did not want to see them.
“My answer is, Mr. DeLay, I am that person,” Abad said in a telephone interview. “I am an example of an individual who can prove that the accounts of sweatshop labor and forced prostitution are not just allegations but true accounts of working conditions in the Marianas Islands when Mr. DeLay traveled there and turned a blind eye to our misery.”
. . .
The press conference was sponsored by the Campaign for a Clean Congress, a national organization, the Harris County AFL-CIO and Houston Interfaith Worker Justice. It was called, in part, to counter claims DeLay made last month when he told The Daily News that there were no human rights violations taking place on Saipan in the 1990s.
As he entered Tuesday’s luncheon, DeLay was again asked about the allegations. “The workers there were very well treated,” he said. “There may have existed some problems in certain instances, but not when I was there.”
. . .
In the 1990s, Abramoff, a close associate of DeLay’s, was paid millions by the garment industry and the indebted Saipan government to keep the federal government from forcing the territory to adopt the federal minimum wage or U.S. immigration laws. DeLay carried that fight to Capitol Hill — despite the fact that Republican Sen. Frank Murkowski was pushing reform legislation.
Monday, June 06, 2005
Sunday, June 05, 2005
US Ambassadors Flee Out of Uzbekistan
PRAVDA
The situation in Uzbekistan becomes more and more serious every day. The tension in the republic may soon explode and take the form of either a civil war or a national revolution. The USA has already started withdrawing its embassy from the republic, fearing possible terrorist attacks. The US Department of State was informed about possible terrorist acts against US interests in Uzbekistan. As a result, several employees of the US embassy in Uzbekistan were allowed to leave the republic.
The message from the US Department of State recommended other American citizens to refrain from trips to Uzbekistan. The document from the State Department reminds of last year's terrorist acts in the republic. Suicidal terrorists blew up their bombs near the embassies of the USA and Israel in Uzbekistan's capital, Tashkent. According to the USA, several Islamite organizations conduct subversive activities in Uzbekistan: The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, al-Qaeda, the Union of Islamic Jihad and the Islamic Party of Eastern Turkestan.
It is worth mentioning that the US Department of State has released similar warnings before too. A special report from the US embassy in Tashkent, which was published on May 28th, said that extremists were preparing attacks against several American objects in the republic.
The USA has its own interests in the countries of the Soviet Union, as well as in the Asian and Mideastern regions on the whole. George W. Bush stated that democracy was on march in the whole world. According to Bush, recent revolutions in post-Soviet states of Georgia and Ukraine, as well as revolutions in Iraq and Lebanon have marked only the start of the process. The US president stated that America takes the reformers' side, hoping that they will be able to stop the growth of tyranny and terrorism.
The situation in Uzbekistan becomes more and more serious every day. The tension in the republic may soon explode and take the form of either a civil war or a national revolution. The USA has already started withdrawing its embassy from the republic, fearing possible terrorist attacks. The US Department of State was informed about possible terrorist acts against US interests in Uzbekistan. As a result, several employees of the US embassy in Uzbekistan were allowed to leave the republic.
The message from the US Department of State recommended other American citizens to refrain from trips to Uzbekistan. The document from the State Department reminds of last year's terrorist acts in the republic. Suicidal terrorists blew up their bombs near the embassies of the USA and Israel in Uzbekistan's capital, Tashkent. According to the USA, several Islamite organizations conduct subversive activities in Uzbekistan: The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, al-Qaeda, the Union of Islamic Jihad and the Islamic Party of Eastern Turkestan.
It is worth mentioning that the US Department of State has released similar warnings before too. A special report from the US embassy in Tashkent, which was published on May 28th, said that extremists were preparing attacks against several American objects in the republic.
The USA has its own interests in the countries of the Soviet Union, as well as in the Asian and Mideastern regions on the whole. George W. Bush stated that democracy was on march in the whole world. According to Bush, recent revolutions in post-Soviet states of Georgia and Ukraine, as well as revolutions in Iraq and Lebanon have marked only the start of the process. The US president stated that America takes the reformers' side, hoping that they will be able to stop the growth of tyranny and terrorism.
The situation in Uzbekistan becomes more and more serious every day. The tension in the republic may soon explode and take the form of either a civil war or a national revolution. The USA has already started withdrawing its embassy from the republic, fearing possible terrorist attacks. The US Department of State was informed about possible terrorist acts against US interests in Uzbekistan. As a result, several employees of the US embassy in Uzbekistan were allowed to leave the republic.
The message from the US Department of State recommended other American citizens to refrain from trips to Uzbekistan. The document from the State Department reminds of last year's terrorist acts in the republic. Suicidal terrorists blew up their bombs near the embassies of the USA and Israel in Uzbekistan's capital, Tashkent. According to the USA, several Islamite organizations conduct subversive activities in Uzbekistan: The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, al-Qaeda, the Union of Islamic Jihad and the Islamic Party of Eastern Turkestan.
It is worth mentioning that the US Department of State has released similar warnings before too. A special report from the US embassy in Tashkent, which was published on May 28th, said that extremists were preparing attacks against several American objects in the republic.
The USA has its own interests in the countries of the Soviet Union, as well as in the Asian and Mideastern regions on the whole. George W. Bush stated that democracy was on march in the whole world. According to Bush, recent revolutions in post-Soviet states of Georgia and Ukraine, as well as revolutions in Iraq and Lebanon have marked only the start of the process. The US president stated that America takes the reformers' side, hoping that they will be able to stop the growth of tyranny and terrorism.
The situation in Uzbekistan becomes more and more serious every day. The tension in the republic may soon explode and take the form of either a civil war or a national revolution. The USA has already started withdrawing its embassy from the republic, fearing possible terrorist attacks. The US Department of State was informed about possible terrorist acts against US interests in Uzbekistan. As a result, several employees of the US embassy in Uzbekistan were allowed to leave the republic.
The message from the US Department of State recommended other American citizens to refrain from trips to Uzbekistan. The document from the State Department reminds of last year's terrorist acts in the republic. Suicidal terrorists blew up their bombs near the embassies of the USA and Israel in Uzbekistan's capital, Tashkent. According to the USA, several Islamite organizations conduct subversive activities in Uzbekistan: The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, al-Qaeda, the Union of Islamic Jihad and the Islamic Party of Eastern Turkestan.
It is worth mentioning that the US Department of State has released similar warnings before too. A special report from the US embassy in Tashkent, which was published on May 28th, said that extremists were preparing attacks against several American objects in the republic.
The USA has its own interests in the countries of the Soviet Union, as well as in the Asian and Mideastern regions on the whole. George W. Bush stated that democracy was on march in the whole world. According to Bush, recent revolutions in post-Soviet states of Georgia and Ukraine, as well as revolutions in Iraq and Lebanon have marked only the start of the process. The US president stated that America takes the reformers' side, hoping that they will be able to stop the growth of tyranny and terrorism.
Mystery Road Metal Baffles Japan
TOKYO, Japan (AP) -- Thousands of sharp-edged pieces of metal have been found protruding from roadside guardrails around Japan and authorities are investigating the bizarre phenomenon, officials and media said on Saturday.
About 24,000 knife-shaped pieces of metal have been found stuck in guardrails in all of Japan's 47 prefectures (states) in the past week, Kyodo News agency and major newspapers reported, quoting police and local officials.
The ominous-looking metal fragments have been repeatedly shown on television and photographs of them have been published in newspapers, as the nation puzzles over the mystery.
"It's eerie," the Asahi newspaper said Saturday. "Why are such objects, so many of them, all over the country? If they had been intentionally installed, it's a serious crime."
The Land and Transport Ministry's Web site said it will launch a nationwide investigation. The ministry also asked witnesses for information.
About 24,000 knife-shaped pieces of metal have been found stuck in guardrails in all of Japan's 47 prefectures (states) in the past week, Kyodo News agency and major newspapers reported, quoting police and local officials.
The ominous-looking metal fragments have been repeatedly shown on television and photographs of them have been published in newspapers, as the nation puzzles over the mystery.
"It's eerie," the Asahi newspaper said Saturday. "Why are such objects, so many of them, all over the country? If they had been intentionally installed, it's a serious crime."
The Land and Transport Ministry's Web site said it will launch a nationwide investigation. The ministry also asked witnesses for information.
Harness Racing Results for 06-04-05
Record since 04-26-05
Win (48)
Place (17)
Show (4)
Out of the Money (12)
BET
CHECK RESULTS
****************************
Cal-Expo
Race # 7
Horse: LEAVNONA JATEPLANE (Won)
Post Position: # 2
Race # 10
Horse: TRUE BELIEVER (Won)
Post Position: # 4
********************
The Meadowlands
Race # 12
Horse: HE’S ALL THAT (Place)
Post Position: # 7
********************
Northfield Park
Race # 3
Horse: CAMBEST PRINCE (Won)
Post Position: # 5
*******************
Pompano Park
Race # 10
Horse: TIPS ANOY (Won)
Post Position: # 4
****************************
Scioto Downs
Race # 11
Horse: NATURALLY NOBLE (Place)
Post Position: # 6
****************************
Woodbine
Race # 10
Horse: LEADING X AMPLE (Won)
Post Position: # 7
Win (48)
Place (17)
Show (4)
Out of the Money (12)
BET
CHECK RESULTS
****************************
Cal-Expo
Race # 7
Horse: LEAVNONA JATEPLANE (Won)
Post Position: # 2
Race # 10
Horse: TRUE BELIEVER (Won)
Post Position: # 4
********************
The Meadowlands
Race # 12
Horse: HE’S ALL THAT (Place)
Post Position: # 7
********************
Northfield Park
Race # 3
Horse: CAMBEST PRINCE (Won)
Post Position: # 5
*******************
Pompano Park
Race # 10
Horse: TIPS ANOY (Won)
Post Position: # 4
****************************
Scioto Downs
Race # 11
Horse: NATURALLY NOBLE (Place)
Post Position: # 6
****************************
Woodbine
Race # 10
Horse: LEADING X AMPLE (Won)
Post Position: # 7
Laugh Your Ass Off
No joke: next time you eat a medium sized square of chocolate try to find something to make you laugh for 10 to 15 minutes and it'll help you burn off the calories. ABC News reports:
Researchers at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, recruited 45 pairs of friends, shut them in a room decorated like a cheap hotel scientifically known as a metabolic chamber played them comedy clips on a TV screen and measured how many calories they burned when they laughed.
The researchers separately tested seven pairs of male friends, 17 pairs of female friends and 21 mixed couples.
"We didn't tell them that the goal of the study was to measure laughter, because then they might have forced it and forced laughter is regulated by a totally different part of the brain. We wanted it to be genuine laughter," said the lead researcher, Maciej Buchowski, director of bionutrition at Vanderbilt.
The participants were shown various things, starting with staid landscapes and working up to comedy video clips. The result?
They burned 20 percent more calories when laughing, compared to not laughing," Buchowski said.
"Then we calculated what would happen if somebody laughed for 10 or 15 minutes a day and we found that it was up to 50 calories, depending on your body size and the intensity of the laughter."
That means that if you laugh for 10-15 minutes a day, you'd burn enough calories to lose two kilograms (4.4 pounds) in a year, Buchowski said.
Saturday, June 04, 2005
Bolton Alleged To Be Behind Illegal Firing
Yet another news story has surfaced to give a big, fat black eye to John Bolton — but in hard-nosed political terms will it really matter in terms of derailing his likely approval as the new U.S. Ambassador to the UN?The latest comes from the Washington Post and, as usual, it doesn't instill in readers an impression that Bolton is the Best OR the Brightest — and again raises the question: you mean to tell us that the Republican party and State Department don't have ANY other candidates that would be easier to confirm and more qualified than this one?
The latest:
John R. Bolton flew to Europe in 2002 to confront the head of a global arms-control agency and demand he resign, then orchestrated the firing of the unwilling diplomat in a move a U.N. tribunal has since judged unlawful, according to officials involved.
A former Bolton deputy says the U.S. undersecretary of state felt Jose Bustani "had to go," particularly because the Brazilian was trying to send chemical weapons inspectors to Baghdad. That might have helped defuse the crisis over alleged Iraqi weapons and undermined a U.S. rationale for war.
Bustani, who says he got a "menacing" phone call from Bolton at one point, was removed by a vote of just one-third of member nations at an unusual special session of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), at which the United States cited alleged mismanagement in calling for his ouster.
The United Nations' highest administrative tribunal later condemned the action as an "unacceptable violation" of principles protecting international civil servants. The OPCW session's Swiss chairman now calls it an "unfortunate precedent" and Bustani a "man with merit."
"Many believed the U.S. delegation didn't want meddling from outside in the Iraq business," said the retired Swiss diplomat, Heinrich Reimann. "That could be the case."
Bolton's handling of the multilateral showdown takes on added significance now as he looks for U.S. Senate confirmation as early as this week as U.N. ambassador, a key role on the international stage, and as more details have emerged in Associated Press interviews about what happened in 2002.
A spokeswoman told AP Bolton, keeping a low profile during his confirmation process, would have no comment for this article.
Bolton has been criticized for supposed bullying of junior U.S. officials and for efforts to get them fired. Bustani, a senior official under the U.N. umbrella, says Bolton used a threatening tone with him and "tried to order me around."
None of this instills confidence in Bolton. But by now the question is: will all the news stories, talking head's skepticism, reservations voiced by any Republicans matter? This vote has become a matter of honor for the White House and, in real political terms, they've backed themselves into a corner where they truly MUST win it.
It was bad enough for the White House that the "nuclear option" (temporarily) fizzled, making Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and President George Bush look like outmanuevered lovers of divisiness/polarization rather than compromise/unity. It now is a cold political fact of life that if Bush loses this one it'll be a big political body blow.
Can we also assume that some GOPers who might have thought of splitting with Bush over Bolton nomination will now go along with him on this one to help preserve his (and their) political clout? There is no question that coming on the heels of the nuclear option and Terri Schiavo issues a Bolton defeat would be a blow to Bush's power on Capital Hill. Bottom line: Bolton's nomination will trickle through (unless something worse comes up).
The latest:
John R. Bolton flew to Europe in 2002 to confront the head of a global arms-control agency and demand he resign, then orchestrated the firing of the unwilling diplomat in a move a U.N. tribunal has since judged unlawful, according to officials involved.
A former Bolton deputy says the U.S. undersecretary of state felt Jose Bustani "had to go," particularly because the Brazilian was trying to send chemical weapons inspectors to Baghdad. That might have helped defuse the crisis over alleged Iraqi weapons and undermined a U.S. rationale for war.
Bustani, who says he got a "menacing" phone call from Bolton at one point, was removed by a vote of just one-third of member nations at an unusual special session of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), at which the United States cited alleged mismanagement in calling for his ouster.
The United Nations' highest administrative tribunal later condemned the action as an "unacceptable violation" of principles protecting international civil servants. The OPCW session's Swiss chairman now calls it an "unfortunate precedent" and Bustani a "man with merit."
"Many believed the U.S. delegation didn't want meddling from outside in the Iraq business," said the retired Swiss diplomat, Heinrich Reimann. "That could be the case."
Bolton's handling of the multilateral showdown takes on added significance now as he looks for U.S. Senate confirmation as early as this week as U.N. ambassador, a key role on the international stage, and as more details have emerged in Associated Press interviews about what happened in 2002.
A spokeswoman told AP Bolton, keeping a low profile during his confirmation process, would have no comment for this article.
Bolton has been criticized for supposed bullying of junior U.S. officials and for efforts to get them fired. Bustani, a senior official under the U.N. umbrella, says Bolton used a threatening tone with him and "tried to order me around."
None of this instills confidence in Bolton. But by now the question is: will all the news stories, talking head's skepticism, reservations voiced by any Republicans matter? This vote has become a matter of honor for the White House and, in real political terms, they've backed themselves into a corner where they truly MUST win it.
It was bad enough for the White House that the "nuclear option" (temporarily) fizzled, making Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and President George Bush look like outmanuevered lovers of divisiness/polarization rather than compromise/unity. It now is a cold political fact of life that if Bush loses this one it'll be a big political body blow.
Can we also assume that some GOPers who might have thought of splitting with Bush over Bolton nomination will now go along with him on this one to help preserve his (and their) political clout? There is no question that coming on the heels of the nuclear option and Terri Schiavo issues a Bolton defeat would be a blow to Bush's power on Capital Hill. Bottom line: Bolton's nomination will trickle through (unless something worse comes up).
Arnold's new strategy, based on polling, to create a "phenomenon of anger"
LAT
In the latest such call, a few days ago, Schwarzenegger's media expert, Don Sipple, outlined a strategy "based on a lot of polling" to create a "phenomenon of anger" among voters toward public employee unions. Firefighters, police officers, teachers and other state-paid workers have become the governor's harshest critics this year.
"The process is like peeling an onion," Sipple said, describing a multi-step plan for persuading voters that public-worker unions are "motivated by economic self-interest" instead of "doing the best job for the state."
The Thursday discussion, involving multiple contributors and three top Schwarzenegger strategists, offered a rare glimpse of the governor's "donor maintenance" effort: insider information, solicitous compliments, invitations to exclusive parties. It was also a window on the governor's attack strategy ahead of an expected Nov. 8 special election.
In the latest such call, a few days ago, Schwarzenegger's media expert, Don Sipple, outlined a strategy "based on a lot of polling" to create a "phenomenon of anger" among voters toward public employee unions. Firefighters, police officers, teachers and other state-paid workers have become the governor's harshest critics this year.
"The process is like peeling an onion," Sipple said, describing a multi-step plan for persuading voters that public-worker unions are "motivated by economic self-interest" instead of "doing the best job for the state."
The Thursday discussion, involving multiple contributors and three top Schwarzenegger strategists, offered a rare glimpse of the governor's "donor maintenance" effort: insider information, solicitous compliments, invitations to exclusive parties. It was also a window on the governor's attack strategy ahead of an expected Nov. 8 special election.
Richest Are Leaving Even the Rich Far Behind
NYT
When F. Scott Fitzgerald pronounced that the very rich "are different from you and me," Ernest Hemingway's famously dismissive response was: "Yes, they have more money." Today he might well add: much, much, much more money.
The people at the top of America's money pyramid have so prospered in recent years that they have pulled far ahead of the rest of the population, an analysis of tax records and other government data by The New York Times shows. They have even left behind people making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
....
President Bush said during the third election debate last October that most of the tax cuts went to low- and middle-income Americans. In fact, most - 53 percent - will go to people with incomes in the top 10 percent over the first 15 years of the cuts, which began in 2001 and would have to be reauthorized in 2010. And more than 15 percent will go just to the top 0.1 percent, those 145,000 taxpayers.
The Times set out to create a financial portrait of the very richest Americans, how their incomes have changed over the decades and how the tax cuts will affect them. It is no secret that the gap between the rich and the poor has grown, but the extent to which the richest are leaving everyone else behind is not widely known.
When F. Scott Fitzgerald pronounced that the very rich "are different from you and me," Ernest Hemingway's famously dismissive response was: "Yes, they have more money." Today he might well add: much, much, much more money.
The people at the top of America's money pyramid have so prospered in recent years that they have pulled far ahead of the rest of the population, an analysis of tax records and other government data by The New York Times shows. They have even left behind people making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
....
President Bush said during the third election debate last October that most of the tax cuts went to low- and middle-income Americans. In fact, most - 53 percent - will go to people with incomes in the top 10 percent over the first 15 years of the cuts, which began in 2001 and would have to be reauthorized in 2010. And more than 15 percent will go just to the top 0.1 percent, those 145,000 taxpayers.
The Times set out to create a financial portrait of the very richest Americans, how their incomes have changed over the decades and how the tax cuts will affect them. It is no secret that the gap between the rich and the poor has grown, but the extent to which the richest are leaving everyone else behind is not widely known.
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