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27 Nov 2011 11:28

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U.S.: Will convicted RFK shooter Sirhan Sirhan get another day in court?

  • His lawyers say there’s evidence of a second gunman. There are conspiracy theories around the other Kennedy shooting, too, and the man who went to jail for that one could get a second chance to defend himself thanks to fresh evidence discovered by his defense lawyers. “The state suppressed, destroyed and withheld a great deal of evidence,” claims lawyer William F. Pepper, who personally knew Robert F. Kennedy in the 1960s. He worked with fellow lawyer Laurie D. Dusek on the case. Their take? A second gunman put Sirhan Sirhan up for the fall, believing he would be more likely to get convicted due to the fact he was Arab, and the second man used hypno-programming to keep Sirhan in check, essentially making him an unwilling participant in the assassination. Furthermore, they say that the convicted shooter’s gun never actually hit Kennedy. Sirhan’s attorneys say in court papers claim the state “refuses to acknowledge that hypno programming/mind control is not fiction but reality and has been used for years by the U.S. military, Central Intelligence Agency and other covert organizations.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

27 Nov 2011 10:43

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World: Who fired first in Saturday’s deadly NATO airstrike on Pakistan?

  • claim Pakistani officials claim that Saturday’s early-morning NATO airstrike on two military posts along the border came after Afghan forces fired on them, unprovoked. The airstrike allegedly killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.
  • rebuttal However, Afghan military officials claim this wasn’t the case; they reacted to fire reportedly coming from a Pakistan military outpost, then called for NATO to come in. “It was a response to incoming fire,” one official said. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

27 Nov 2011 10:21

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World: Arab League approves tough sanctions for Syria amidst unrest

  • Changes that Could hit the government and its people financially: Weeks after the Arab League suspended Syria over its handling of anti-government protesters, the influential regional organization ratcheted up the sanctions — with member countries agreeing to stop transactions to and from the country’s central bank and cutting off funding for infrastructure projects. The Syrian government has called foul on the sanctions, claiming on state television that the moves are “unprecedented measures aimed at the Syrian people.” Meanwhile, the violence that led to the sanctions continued unabated on Sunday. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

26 Nov 2011 19:10

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U.S.: Phony Craigslist jobs ad proves deadly for unsuspecting victims

  • offer An ad looking for farmhands around northeast Ohio drew intrest from a handful of people. One described the ad as a “good offer but strange.”
  • problem The area listed in the sketchy ad did not actually have a farm; instead, the property is owned by a coal-mining company that often rents it out to hunters. Hmm …
  • reality Whoever put up the ad tried to rob and kill the unsuspecting victims. At least two people were found dead; another got away. Two suspects are in custody. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

25 Nov 2011 20:19

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U.S.: National Day of Listening: An anecdote from SFB’s Chris Tognotti

  • While I’ve had many teachers with whom I’ve felt close, and many who helped my academic instincts thrive, none had the impact on my true life’s experience that Carla Zilbersmith did. A theater director and improv teacher at my community college, as well as an evocative vocalist, Carla helped me better understand not only who I am, but urged me to push against the boundaries of my own comforts and fears. In fact, she made me promise her I would. Carla died on May 17th, 2010, after being diagnosed with ALS two years prior — she was 47 years old. I miss her dearly. I still can’t hold back the tears when one of her songs play on my iPod, and I’m skeptical as to whether that will ever change. I loved her, and for the dedication she had to improving my life and those lives around her, I will never forget. (Just a reminder to all: We’re taking your submissions too. Read more here.)
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

25 Nov 2011 16:12

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About: National Day of Listening: An anecdote from SFB’s Ernie Smith

  • I went through a lot between the ages of 15 and 21. Heck, my entire family did. By the time I reached age 21, I had lost two parents and a grandparent. With regards to school, I’ll remember two things: The high school teacher who left me out in the cold when my grandmother died and the professors who were there when my mom died. Without dwelling too much on the first one, let’s focus on the second. I was a J-School student at Michigan State University, learning about graphic design at the time — that thing that eventually became my career. As a coping mechanism, I was back in school less than 24 hours after my mom’s funeral. The professor in my publication design class, Darcy Greene, was aware that my focus would fade at times, but she kept me motivated. She (and another professor in the same department, Cheryl Pell) helped me build my skill set, noticed this whole talent thing I’m rumored to have, and helped me get my first job in journalism. And in the process, they got me through a tough year … on an upswing. I can never thank them enough for that. (Just a reminder to all: We’re taking your submissions too. Read more here.)
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

25 Nov 2011 11:38

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Biz, U.S.: Off the table (for now): The AT&T merger with T-Mobile

  • what After a long back-and-forth with the government over the implications of the merger, AT&T said Thursday (that’s right, on Thanksgiving!) that they would not pursue FCC approval of a merger with T-Mobile.
  • why It looked very unlikely to get through regulators’ clutches. The merger would have effectively marginalized Sprint in the market, leading the FCC to call a hearing on the merger, and the DOJ to file an antitrust suit.
  • however Both AT&T and T-Mobile have much to lose from the stunted deal — AT&T in penalty fees (reaching into the billions) and lost infrastructure, T-Mobile in declining business. They will probably try again soon. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

25 Nov 2011 08:14

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U.S.: WTF: Competitive shopper at Wal-Mart pepper sprays rivals

  • I heard screaming and I heard yelling. Moments later, my throat stung. I was coughing really bad and watering up.
  • Porter Ranch, Los Angeles, California Wal-Mart customer Matthew Lopez • Describing what happened after another customer, who authorities say was “competitive shopping,” pepper sprayed 20 people (including children!) in an attempt to beat everyone else at getting stuff. Considering, you know, this incident and this incident, the usage of pepper spray seems incredibly ironic. Authorities are looking for the person who sprayed her fellow shoppers in efforts to buy a new Xbox 360 or something similar. Humanity sucks sometimes. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 Nov 2011 12:02

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U.S.: Arizona plane crash: Mother notified after her three children killed

  • They were spending Thanksgiving with their father. Last night’s deadly plane crash in Superstition Mountains, a rugged patch of mountains east of Phoenix, was especially sad because of the time of year. Six people died, including three children and three adult men. The mother of the children, who was not on the plane, was notified by authorities late Wednesday. “The mother is a pilot herself,” noted Elias Johnson of the Pinal County Sheriff’s Department. “She understands when a plane crashes at 230 miles an hour … directly into the face of the mountain … and when it’s a fiery crash,” the odds of survival are low. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 Nov 2011 11:32

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World: Egyptian military won’t give up power, won’t delay elections over unrest

  • We will not relinquish power because of a slogan-chanting crowd. Being in power is not a blessing. It is a curse. It’s a very heavy responsibility.
  • Egyptian Maj. Gen. Mukhtar el-Mallah • Emphasizing that the Egyptian military has no plans to relinquish power before the elections take place. Another general noted that, despite the recent unrest, the military had no plan’s to delay Tuesday’s parliamentary elections: “We will not delay elections. This is the final word,” said Gen. Mamdouh Shaheen, who, along with el-Mallah, is a member of member of the ruling military council.  source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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