Clipmarks | tommy2balmy's clips

US pays Uganda to arm Somali fighters

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:34:40 GMT

clipped by: tommy2balmy
clipper's remarks: The UPDF, which is in Somalia as part of an African Union peacekeeping force to the country, is said to have been paid up to $10 million (Shs21b) for arming and training the TFG fighting force. This is the first time the arms-for-cash deal is being made public and the revelations could mean that the UPDF was violating the neutral terms of its peacekeeping mandate by arming one of the combatants.

Clip Source: www.monitor.co.ug

ON THE SPOT: UPDF peacekeepers serving in Somalia. The US govt has been paying Uganda to arm Somali govt fighters. FILE PHOTO

Ugandan troops in Mogadishu have been secretly selling guns and ammunition to Somalia’s struggling Transitional Federal Government on behalf of the United States government, Daily Monitor can reveal.

Explaining American assistance to the TFG during a recent press briefing to US journalists in Washington, D.C., a top US State Department official said Uganda has been supplying arms to Somali troops and picking dollars from Washington.

Lt. Gen. Katumba Wamala, the commander of the UPDF Land Forces, who has been overseeing the deployment of Ugandan troops to help stabilise Mogadishu, told Daily Monitor that “it is Washington that is giving the arms to Somalia. “The only thing we have done is to be the link to pass those weapons to TFG because the Americans cannot be on the ground to do this themselves.”

Tags: uganda, us, somalia, arms deal, updf

Wal-Mart shopper cited for dropping f-bomb

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:26:14 GMT

clipped by: tommy2balmy
clipper's remarks: So much for free speech.

Clip Source: galvestondailynews.com

Marshal cites shopper for dropping f-bomb

Fridge said she went with her 2-year-old daughter and mother to Wal-Mart on Aug. 4 to buy batteries just in case Edouard left the county without electricity the following day.

The family went to the sporting goods section, and Fridge saw there were no lantern batteries on the shelf.

She turned to her mother and said, “They don’t have any f---ing more.”

“All of the sudden he comes from around the corner two to three feet away and said, ‘You need to watch your mouth,’” Fridge said.

Fridge said she walked away to leave, but Decker told her she needed to come to his car and started to pull out his handcuffs.

La Marque Fire Chief Todd Zacherl said Decker went to the store to buy an inflatable mattress in case firefighters needed somewhere to sleep after the storm.

“You just can’t go off swearing and hollering. You just can’t do it,” Zacherl said.

Fridge said she would be more careful about what she says in public from now o

Tags: free speech, oppressive authority, cursing

Lawyer Dreier as bad as Madoff?

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:34:19 GMT

clipped by: tommy2balmy
clipper's remarks: Government seeks 145 year sentence in fraud case.

Clip Source: cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com

Updated, 2:05 p.m. | The government has recommended that a federal judge in Manhattan impose a 145-year sentence on Marc S. Dreier, the prominent New York lawyer who has pleaded guilty to a fraud scheme that bilked hedge funds and other investors out of at least $400 million.

In a submission on Wednesday to the judge, Jed S. Rakoff of Federal District Court, federal prosecutors quoted statements by the judge himself at Mr. Dreier’s guilty plea in May, that the lawyer “has shown that he is to be ranked with those who have committed some of the most egregious frauds in history” and that “he has disgraced the venerable profession of law.”

The sentence request is just five years less than prosecutors sought — and a judge imposed — on Bernard L. Madoff, who pleaded guilty to orchestrating the largest Ponzi scheme in history.

Mr. Dreier, 59, is to be sentenced on Monday.

“This conduct, and the resulting harm, is especially deserving of a lengthy prison sentence,” prosecutors said.

Tags: dreier, lawyer, scam, fraud, madoff

The Bag Newspaper

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:47:30 GMT

clipped by: tommy2balmy
clipper's remarks: The future of newspapers?

Clip Source: englishrussia.com

In one Russian town they have started publishing newspapers on… plastic bags that you get in grocery stores.

The edition is always fresh, so each time you get back from the store you can get your portion of news, puzzles and even ads before sending the piece of plastic into trash bin.

Tags: newspapers, odd, russian

Parade of Russian Brides ( in pictures)

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:44:26 GMT

clipped by: tommy2balmy
clipper's remarks: Just for fun

Clip Source: englishrussia.com

512 Russian Brides

Yes, 512 Russian brides gathered for a Russian Bride Parade to show west that in Soviet Russia they have Bride Pride.

Tags: russia, russian brides, bride parade

Another "faith healing" tragedy

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:35:46 GMT

clipped by: tommy2balmy
clipper's remarks: A very sad story

Clip Source: www.oregonlive.com

A photo of Ava Worthington and father Carl Brent Worthington taken in the month before her death that was shown in court this week.

OREGON CITY -- Ava Worthington's weakened and worsening condition was so serious that her parents should have called 9-1-1 a full day before the toddler died, a pediatrician who specializes in infectious diseases testified Thursday.

In fact, Raylene and Carl Brent Worthington ignored several red flags that, if heeded, would have saved their 15-month-old daughter's life, said Dr. Sayonara Mato, a pediatric hospitalist with Legacy Emanuel Hospital & Health Center.

Ava died at home on March 2, 2008, of pneumonia, a blood infection and complications from a cyst that interfered with her trachea and esophagus.

The Worthingtons, members of an Oregon City church that practices faith healing, are charged with criminal mistreatment and second-degree manslaughter for failing to provide adequate medical treatment for Ava.

Tags: religion, parent's rights, children's rights, faith healing

Catholic charity CARITAS supplied LRA rebels

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:35:22 GMT

clipped by: tommy2balmy
clipper's remarks: Why in the world would CARITAS agree to supply the thugs of the Lord's Resistance Army with food and supplies? How much are they getting paid by the "international sponsors" for fulfilling this contract? Is it worthwhile to give murderous thugs an incentive?

Clip Source: allafrica.com

At the age of 27, Lily Atong has lived most of her life as a captive and wife of Joseph Kony, the enigmatic and rarely seen leader of the rebel Lord's Resistance Army, LRA.

She has three children by Kony - one named George Bush, after the former US president though it is unclear which - and has survived despite being held by the Ugandan rebel group for two extended periods.

Her second and most recent escape from the rebel army, currently holed up in the remote northeastern corner of the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, came last December when the rebels were attacked by the Uganda army.

"Life in the LRA camp was not bad before the attack. We had lots of food from CARITAS. We planted beans, groundnuts, sweet potatoes, peas and other crops for food. Everything was peaceful."

The Catholic Church aid agency CARITAS was contracted by international sponsors to supply food, water and materials to the rebels as an incentive for them to continue negotiating and stop raiding villagers.

Tags: lra, catholic church, joseph kony, rebels, uganda, lord's resistance army

Nigeria's ruling PDP dissociates itself from US plot remark

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:57:52 GMT

clipped by: tommy2balmy

Clip Source: allafrica.com

THE ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dissociated itself from the statement by the deputy national chairman, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed, accusing the government of the United States, US, of plotting with the opposition in Nigeria to destabilise the country.

Mohammed had claimed that the US government and its embassy in Nigeria were conspiring with the opposition to cause confusion and destabilize the government of President Umaru Yar'Adua.

According to the deputy national chairman, the US embassy was planning to organise a meeting with the pro-democracy groups in Nigeria and President Barack Obama while in Ghana for his state official visit.

But the party in a statement signed by the national publicity secretary, Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali, in Abuja, yesterday, dissociated the PDP from the views expressed by Mohammed against the backdrop that there was no time the issue was discussed at any level or organ of the party

, adding

the statement at best represents his personal opinion.

Tags: nigeria, pdp, bello mohammed

Report calls for $400 billion debt cancelation

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:37:53 GMT

clipped by: tommy2balmy

Clip Source: allafrica.com

The Jubilee report, A New Debt Crisis - Assessing the Impact of the Financial Crisis on Developing Countries, warned that even before the effects of the global slowdown began to be felt, the World Bank had calculated that 38 of 43 indebted countries "required substantial debt cancellation" to meet the needs of their people.

"Today developing countries' debt stocks stand at a staggering US$2.9 trillion, and every day the poorest countries pay the rich world almost US$100 million in debt repayments," the Jubilee report said.

"Jubilee Debt Campaign estimates that at least US$400 billion should be cancelled for around 100 countries if they are to be able to pay for essential services for their people without having to tax those below the poverty line."

The debt crisis afflicting the developed world was in many ways a mirror image of the debt albatross developing countries had been unable to shake in the past few decades, the report commented.

Tags: economic crisis, world bank, third world, developing countries debt, debt

Hot and Wet Legal Action

Thu, 28 May 2009 15:18:44 GMT

clipped by: tommy2balmy
clipper's remarks: "Not wanting to push her too fast, he rode her easy.... She got hot and wet, but too wet."

Clip Source: abovethelaw.com

Michael Krieger of Clear Marine Ventures has filed a breach of contract suit against boatmaker Brunswick Corporation and a host of other characters -- including MarineMax -- involved in the maintenance of his boat. MarineMax's defense attorney, Jack Kallen, decided to have some fun in describing the nature of Krieger's relationship with his sea vessel.

Her glossy exterior, sculpted body, sophistication, bloodlines, not to mention the accolades of how she could perform, intrigued him, piqued his curiosity (para. 13-15; Exs A. and B. to second amended complaint). Needless to say, he needed to know more, meet her, ride her. He was excited

Suitable arrangements were made. Not wanting to push her too fast, he rode her easy (para. 36, 37). With her prominent front pushed up, her rear somewhat down, her performance was somewhat hesitant and resistant. But he was told she was a maiden, that he'd be her first owner (para. 40, 47).

Tags: suggestive lawsuit, law porn, law, legal, odd

Obama envoy for Sudan heads to China for talks

Mon, 25 May 2009 06:15:57 GMT

clipped by: tommy2balmy
clipper's remarks: Hard to be too optimistic regarding a solution to Darfur crisis in Southern Sudan but at least an effort is being made.

Clip Source: allafrica.com

President Barack Obama's special envoy for Sudan, Major General J. Scott Gration, will hold a series of talks in the next week with a range of countries including China in an attempt to forge a common approach to the crisis in Darfur.

A State Department spokesman Ian Kelly, announced in Washington, DC, on Friday that Gration would in the next week visit China, Britain, France and Doha in Qatar - the site of Sudanese peace talks.

China's perceived influence on the Sudanese government in Khartoum makes its involvement in the peace process in Darfur a critical issue.

In Doha, Gration would join a meeting of special envoys on Sudan from China, Russia, Britain, France, and the European Union, Kelly said.

Kelly said that in London Gration would reconvene a group called the "Sudan troika," comprising Norway, Britain and the U.S.

In Paris, Gration would urge Sudan Liberation Army faction leader Abdul Wahid al Nur to join the Darfur peace process.

Tags: obama, sudan, darfur, china, gration

Mother revives son but gets ticket

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:19:23 GMT

clipped by: tommy2balmy
clipper's remarks: "It is absolutely shocking to discover that Richmond Council's parking office cannot find it in their hearts to rescind a parking fine incurred by a desperate mother who had no choice if she was to save the life of her child. We are so appalled we struggle to find the words."

Clip Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Mother given parking ticket "for reviving her severely disabled son"

A mother who says she stopped her car on a pavement to revive her profoundly disabled son, was given a £100 parking ticket.

Penny Batkin, 40, says that Richmond Council has refused to back down over the fine despite receiving a letter of explanation from her, supported by her GP.

She says she was taking her son, Freddie, 4, to the Shooting Star children's hospice in Hampton when he began gasping for breath and turning blue.

Mrs Batkin,

said her son is unable to walk or talk and has frequent seizures. "I was so furious when I got the letter. I could hear him gasping in the back seat. My immediate reaction was to pull over and deal with him. I had to release him from the rear passenger seat and resuscitate him. I was away from the busy traffic on a wide pavement and would not have restricted anyone walking past."

The council's appeals' officer quoted a section of the Highway Code in a written response to her letter.

Tags: government oppression, absurdity, parking violation, england, big brother

Gambian government terrorizes citizens with witch-hunts

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 07:18:06 GMT

clipped by: tommy2balmy
clipper's remarks: In Makumbaya many residents did not want to speak to journalists for fear of reprisals.

"I cannot talk to you (...) it is not that I don't want to explain my ordeal to you but because I don't want to be arrested," a woman in her fifties told AFP.

Gambia, the smallest country on the African mainland, has been ruled by Jammeh since he grabbed power in a bloodless coup in 1994. In recent years it has come increasingly under fire over its poor human rights record.

Jammeh's opponents, real and perceived, also find themselves subjected to daily rights violations including torture and unlawful arrests, human rights organisations say.

Many in rural Gambia are have fled to neighbouring Senegal to escape the witch hunts.

Clip Source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

MAKUMBAYA, The Gambia - In this remote village residents are still shaken by their abduction and forced treatment with potions in one of the bizarre witch hunts that are occurring throughout the west African country.

The calm of this rural community, a collection of old huts and houses some 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the capital Banjul, was shattered last week when so-called witch hunters arrived with armed men and rounded up residents.

"We were arrested on Monday March 16 in our village by armed personnel who accompanied some so-called witch hunters to our village and taken to Kololi (close to Banjul)," a 63-year-old man from the village told AFP.

Amnesty said last Wednesday that up to 1,000 people had so far been kidnapped and held. After being forced to drink potions that make them hallucinate and behave erratically they are released, according to the human rights watchdog.

Reports are now surfacing that many women were also raped during their detention.

Tags: gambia, witch hunts, government terror

Moscow's Sin Monument (Pics)

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:19:33 GMT

clipped by: tommy2balmy
clipper's remarks: Very interesting

Clip Source: englishrussia.com

The Sins Monument

This monument in Moscow city depicts the children (standing in the middle) surrounded by filthy grown ups - each grown up has its own flaw or sin, one of the most common sins of the modern society, together they like stand around the innocent children that have nowhere to go - going to either side would lead to some kind of attachment.

“Prostitution”

“Drug abuse”

“Thievery”

“Alcohol abuse”

“Ignorance”

“False knowledge about the world around”

“Indifference”

“Violence propaganda”

“Sadism”

“For those who have short memory”

“Child labor abuse”

“Poverty”

Children are made of something resembling gold in the beginning and their eyes are tied up, and there is nobody in the whole world who could teach them right because everyone has some of those flaws, thus cannot teach how to avoid all.

Tags: sin monument, mosow, russia, russian

Do taxpayers really own 80% of AIG?

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 04:46:42 GMT

clipped by: tommy2balmy

Clip Source: www.concurringopinions.com

As to the ownership notion, a Trust whose sole beneficiary is the Treasury Department owns a series of AIG preferred stock (called Series C) that is convertible into AIG common stock that would represent 77.9% of AIG’s outstanding common shares, if converted.

But surely the “taxpayers” do not own that stock and certainly have no right to elect AIG’s directors. The Trust does. That Trust, in turn, is managed by three Trustees. These people are appointed by Treasury, not by taxpayers.

Furthermore, to the extent that the Trust functionally controls nearly 80% of the voting shareholder power of AIG, it is a controlling shareholder. That means that the Trust owes fiduciary duties to AIG and its other stockholders, including the common stockholders. Those include 10% holder Maurice Greenberg, former CEO who is implicated in the conduct that has caused the company’s catastrophic crisis.

Tags: aig, bailout, economic collapse, scam