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21 Mar 2011 14:15

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World: Yemeni Maj. Gen. Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar defects

  • Top Yemeni General defects: Major General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar broke with the Saleh government in Yemen today, following a recent surge of violence in that’s been said to have claimed more than fifty civilian lives. The twist? Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar is also the half brother of President Saleh, and has decided to send troops to guard the civilian protesters. While the Yemeni population seems appreciative of this new ally, there are concerns about the General’s close history with Saleh, and his consequent military operations against northern Shiites, now a core of support for the uprising (some want him prosecuted for war crimes). This also makes it likely that a post-Saleh era in Yemen will be ushered in through military rule, which can make people a little nervous. (Trigger warning: Some graphic images in the clip.) source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Mar 2011 13:47

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U.S.: Diablo Canyon nuclear plant called a “near-miss”

  • 18 months until staff found a safety flaw in a CA nuclear plant source
  • » So, here’s the deal: The Diablo Canyon nuclear reactor in California is situated in what’s widely known as a rather earthquake prone area (as we illustrated a few days ago — Diablo Canyon is the reactor closest to the edge of the Pacific Ocean). Which is why it comes as such an unwelcome surprise that their emergency valves, designed to automatically pump water into the reactor core if systems fail, were flawed and would have done no such thing in such a crisis. This deficiency went undetected for eighteen months before being discovered, a lapse in the plant’s emergency response capabilities that, we imagine, the people of the surrounding area are none too pleased with.
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Mar 2011 11:20

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Politics: Leakers unite: Daniel Ellsberg says Bradley Manning just like him

  • I identify with him more than anyone else I’ve seen in the last 40 years.
  • Daniel Ellsberg • Speaking about Bradley Manning this weekend, a weekend which saw him getting arrested twice this weekend while protesting Manning’s imprisonment — once near the White House and once at Quantico brig. Ellsberg, who leaked the Pentagon Papers, says that Manning’s treatment in solitary confinement is a form of torture. “It’s giving lie to President Obama’s promise to end torture,” he said. “It’s happening right here to an American soldier in an American brig.’’ Ellsberg also gave a big up to P.J. Crowley, who argued against Manning’s treatment before getting forced out by the State Department. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Mar 2011 11:02

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Politics: Woot: Tim Pawlenty announcing presidential exploratory committee

  • Great work, T-Paw. No, we’re not talking about your announcing of a presidential exploratory committee, which you’re probably going to announce on your Facebook page later today. (He’ll be the second GOPer exploring a presidency, after Herman Cain.) No. We’re talking about you allowing us to link to these videos again. If you run for president, we expect a new video, done in a similar style, once every week. You could buy Michael Bay and give him a position in your cabinet with the amount of fundraising you could garner with a move like that. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Mar 2011 10:41

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World: Pedophilia bust update: One guy had millions of pictures. Yuck.

  • 2 million number of photos a Bosnian man recently caught in a child porn bust had in his possession, authorities say
  • 4,000 number of videos the man had; he was just one of 70,000 members of the recently-broken-up ring source
  • » And worse: The unidentified man, referred to as an “important member” of the pedophilia ring, had a suitcase full of children’s clothes. Officials say he was “producing and posting online child sexual abuse materials.” Ugh. Disgusting.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Mar 2011 10:24

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Tech, World: Google: China’s messing with users’ Gmail accounts

  • then Google reported they had been victim of cyberattacks around January of last year. Come to find out it was China. They made a big stink about it, had their access temporarily revoked in China, and eventually moved to Hong Kong. It was kind of a big deal.
  • now In the wake of potential Jasmine Revolution uprisings, Google’s now accusing China of messing with Gmail — hurting users’ abilities to send e-mails and mark them read. Google thinks China is using a vulnerability in IE to compromise Gmail’s usability. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Mar 2011 10:05

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World: Protip to U.S. soldiers: Don’t kill civilians and take “kill photos”

  • The photos appear in stark contrast to the discipline, professionalism and respect that have characterized our soldiers’ performance during nearly 10 years of sustained operations (in Afghanistan).
  • A statement from the U.S. Army • Regarding a series of photos released by German magazine Der Spiegel which show U.S. soldiers taking photos with a man illegally killed in Afghanistan. The “kill photos” were reportedly part of a large series of thousands of photos the Army has tried to keep under wraps, fearing the result could be an even bigger black mark than Abu Ghraib. Some of the soldiers are already being prosecuted for their actions, which involved defenseless Afghan civilians whose deaths were reportedly staged to look like combat casualties. But things could get far worse from here. (Also: If you want to see the photos, look elsewhere.) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

21 Mar 2011 00:17

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Politics: Max Headroom: Adm. Mike Mullen, a man of half-answers

  • Way to go, Joint Chiefs chairman: The way Adm. Mike Mullen guards his answers about Operation Odyssey Dawn is a sight to see, and it’s good to know that he got a guy like David Gregory — who won’t call you out on your BS — as a talking post. His careful answers, which sidestep any talk of timetables or what’s next, seem to focus on the idea that Gaddafi will ease up under a high level of pressure. (But they have no plans to force him to step down.) This kind of approach hasn’t worked with Gaddafi anytime in the last 40 years. Why now? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Mar 2011 00:00

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Politics: Max Headroom: Glenn Beck, Lawrence O’Donnell ignore Japan for pettiness

  • Meanwhile, while Glenn Beck and Lawrence O’Donnell are arguing/agreeing about whether or not the Japan nuclear crisis is going to end the world (it’s not), thousands have been killed, thousands more are currently without a roof over their head, and millions more could face electricity issues for months after the Japan quake seriously damaged the power grid. Good to see they’re keeping things in perspective by arguing over who’s right. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Mar 2011 23:41

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Culture: Max Headroom: Bully’s worst nightmare Casey Heynes speaks out

  • This Aussie sure showed that little punk. As you might have noticed, we didn’t post the clip du jour of the week, where Australian kid Casey Heynes, backed into a corner by a bully, pulled a Zangief-worthy move on his opponent, which (despite how violent it looked) only led to a scraped knee for the bully in question. The original clip felt exploitative. In this context, it feels less so. Australian program “A Current Affair” caught up with Heynes, who said he’s been bullied for years (even contemplating suicide), and finally snapped earlier this week. It’s soft-focus journalism, yes, but Heynes has a great head on his shoulders and a great family. And thousands of followers on Facebook. Great work. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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