This attack on a Pakistani police academy sounds insane

19 people died in the incident, including eight police, three civilians and eight militants; 90 were wounded in the attacks
14 militants attacked the scene, throwing grenades and taking hostages before being stopped by police in armored vehicles source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

Model prisoners Charles Manson’s followers in the late 1960s – the ones who killed Sharon Tate and numerous others – appear to no longer be a danger to society. They all have spotless prison records; they all seem to show remorse and personal responsibility for their crimes. Yet, Susan Atkins (who’s terminally ill), Charles “Tex” Watson (who’s a minister), Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten probably will never be let out of prison.
No shot at parole? Despite the records, what’s working against them is the sensationalism of their crimes. They keep going up to parole boards, only to get shunned. There are reasons it makes sense to let them go: Prisons are expensive. California’s broke. But it may not be enough. For the record, Tate’s sister doesn’t want them paroled, saying the slayings were “so vicious, so inhumane, so depraved, that there is no turning back.” source

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Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

He was healthy. Very healthy, actually. He rode bikes, he played drums in a rock band, yet Tim Eves couldn’t handle the physical activity of the Nintendo Wii’s popular “Wii Fit.” The twentysomething Brit collapsed and died in front of his girlfriend and best friend. Yikes. :( source

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We think we can have a successful U.S. auto industry.
But it’s got to be one that’s realistically designed to weather this storm and to emerge — at the other end — much more lean, mean and competitive than it currently is.
President Barack Obama • On Face the Nation yesterday morning; the president and his administration feel that the automakers (particularly Chrysler, who seems to have given up hope for anything but a merger) are not doing enough to aggressively restructure their companies in the face of impending doom. • source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

60 days for General Motors to restructure in a way that doesn’t suck; if it doesn’t, the bailout funds go dry.
30 days for Chrysler to complete its merger with Fiat; if it doesn’t, they’re going to die and likely get sold off. source

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30 Mar 2009 10:30