Don't Get Mad Masta Whitey - We's Good Niggas!

As I sit here and barf while listening to this sermon-pusher, the Reverend Eugene Rivers is on Morning Joe on MSNBC spittin' his schickt to Mika and Joe on how African-Americans are God-fearing, patriotic Americans who would tell some radical black man or woman in a minute to go back to Africa if you don't like this country. How Rev. Wright doesn't speak for them; he's a madman, an abomination, and all about himself, threatening to bring down the best thing that's ever happened to black people in America by claiming to represent the black church. Rev. Rivers was even courteous enough to point out that Rev. Wright doesn't even work for a black denomination but a white one instead. He was even nice enough to hold out Mika's chair while she sat back down (after a verrrry warm reception of him by Mika and Joe), what a nice guy.

Like I said, I barfed. I like Mika and Joe, watch them all the time. Joe is probably one of the most likable Repubs I know, a once prodigy of the Newt Gingrich cultural revolution legislature of the late 1990s. And Mika, daugher of Zbrignev Brizinski, Jimmy Carter's National Security Advisor, is just sweet, cute and very open-minded about things. And the Reverend sounds like he's probably a hip dad from listening to him.

But, it all sounds soooo familiar, like in early 1960s familiar, when other respectable members of the black community, the black elite of that time, also were sought out by journalists and news media to denounce the rants and raves of another Reverend, as well as a couple of other religious figures of the time, saying they were madmen, abominations, and threatening the well-being in this country of good, God-fearing, love-America Negroes. They too were castigated, thrown under the bus, by these respectable men and women.

As we all know by now, with respect to those leaders, namely Dr. Martin Luther King, Malik el-Haaj Al Shabazz (you white boys, or in his case you devils, know him as Malcolm X), Adam Clayton Powell (whitey did their best to throw him under the bus of Congress by not seating him after winning re-election in 1967; it didn't work) and others, THEY WERE DEAD WRONG. Those leaders, and their then-controversial views, are the standard by which most if not all of Americans live by today. When Malcolm X noted that the violence that America perpetrates around the world would come back and hit us (i.e. "chickens coming home to roost") we found out in spades (no pun intended) on September 11, 2oo1. Americans of all races claim to revere the courage, strength and words of Dr. King in so many ways and examples. Adam Clayton Powell paved the way for the powerful Charlie Rangels, David Pattersons, and possibly the Barack Obamas.

To now hold that a Reverend Wright, as controversial as he may be and damaging to Barack's campaign, does not enunciate the frustrations Black America still feels, as they sit and watch today's news, about how 3 cops were aquitted for shooting 50 bullets at an unarmed Sean Bell in New York, about how black defendants in Texas, the most incarcerated state in America and most of the world, get the death penalty 30% more likely than whites, to hear that Katrina victims, most of whom are black, after getting the shaft on federal relief for 3 years, may owe money back because of some private contractor, to continue to earn 58 cents to a white man's dollar, is hypocritical BULLSHIT, ma'brotha. It smacks of a time when you were cowering to white power, instead of speaking truth to power. Martin understood that. Malcolm understood that. They had the courage so many of us all lack, to speak out. That's why they're dead.

Fearful blacks will live long, but will not prosper. A Profile in Courage to stand tall and face the truth may die in body, but never in spirit.

Rove's Up To Mischeif - AGAIN!

He just can't help himself, it's his game. And obviously fascinated in the project like his own chess board, Rove is trying to steer his train through the wreck again by giving some free advice to Barack Obama. In his latest Newsweek column, he tells the Illinois senator that his once-strong candidacy has gotten weaker, commenting "you're making mistakes and making people worry."

Rove has previously used his column space in Newsweek and the Wall Street Journal to dole out advice to the candidates. He is now arguing the salient point for most whites, specifically that the uproar over his former pastor's remarks and Obama's comments about some small town Americans has "reinforced the growing sense you don't share Middle America's values. He also cites Obama's comments about flag pins and his relationship with 1960's radical Bill Ayers as evidence Obama is out of touch with ordinary Americans.

But the longtime Republican political strategist offers Obama six suggestions for how he can reignite his presidential campaign, starting with shaking up his stump speech, which he says sounds "old and out of touch."

Personally, on this I agree with Rove. The 'yes we can' speech needs more nourishment. I finished the appetizer and the table has been cleared. Where's the beef? I need it now.

Rove also suggests Obama sharpen his repudiation of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's controversial sermons, pledge to name specific Republicans to his administration, and spend more time back in the Senate to burnish his chops as legislator. Obama, Rove says, also needs to stop responding to Clinton's attacks and offer more concrete policy proposals.

On these points, Obama should follow suit in this order: (1) stop responding to Clinton's attacks (2) get into participation in some bipartisian legislation that will show his responsiveness to Republicans as soon as possible. He should ignore the Rev. Wright thing with a forceful "No comment", or "he does not speak for me or my campaign" and stick the middle finger at the press, and do this NOW.

"You have talent, intelligence and tapped into something powerful early in your campaign. But running for president is unlike anything you've ever done," Rove writes. "While you'll almost certainly win the nomination, Democrats are nervous about the fall. You've given them reasons to be.”

That depends on which 'Democrats' you're talking about, Rovie. Of course you know, the older white folks. This is another distraction. White people who are looking for any excuse not to vote for a black man (experience, his gaffs, etc.) WILL FIND ONE!! So it doesn't matter what you name the reason, it will be sufficient pretext to have an out when you are accused of being a racist. What we have learned from this primary is that Democrats are a diverse group of people who are not always on the same side, not unlike the Republicans this year.

But in the case of the Dems, their high-falluting song of liberalism, which suggests tolerance, is not so tolerant as it appears.

Many of these Dems are suburban and urban working and middle-class whites (that would be everyone from the poor white trash mechanic of Bridesburg or Dix Hills to the jewish 2nd or 3rd generation lawyer or accountant who lives in White Plains or Dresher) who do not vote with black Dems in local races, especially if the candidates are classic Breyer's Vanilla & Chocolate Ice Cream flavors.

The resistance to Obama is not just small town America. Some of these suburbanites live in diverse towns and know black people, but are nevertheless closet racists who purport to be 'liberal', as if they love black people, when in fact they can't see past the color from the trees when dealing with the concept of being led by a black person.

Below are just some of the interesting comments and thoughts I found on a blog on CNN. ~

April 28th, 2008 6:10 pm ET

Why does Rove want Obama to win?

Because Obama's the only Democrat who can lose to Cain.

All the nonsense stops when the two final candidates debate side-by-side.

That's where people see Obama at his worst - as a kid with three weeks of U.S. Senate experience who doesn't understand the basics of foreign policy, education, economics, the environment, etc.

That's why he won't debate Hillary one-on-one . . . he'll look like an idiot.

April 28th, 2008 6:15 pm ET

That's it CNN, let's keep on building a false sense of momentum for Hillary Clinton while you continue to paint Obama with as much negative press as you can manage. How much is Hillary paying you guys to ignore her comment about 'obliterating' Iran's 65 million person population, or the fact that she used Bin Laden in a television ad to attack a member of her own party, or that she lied not once, but at least two times about coming under sniper fire in Bosnia, or that her story about the woman dying because she couldn't afford healthcare was not factual or all the way true, or that she tried to tie Obama with a former member of Weather Underground negatively but her husband pardoned two of them controversially upon exiting his presidency. You guys at CNN are despicable! Free press? What's that???

April 28th, 2008 6:14 pm ET

These pundits are idiots. HILLARY CAN"T WIN w/o the majority of black votes in the general election. Swing states are considered swing b/c whites are split and usually it's the black turnout that can make the difference. She sold herself to the devil so she is finished. She pissed off the most dedicated base of the party. She can't win the South and Penn and Ohio will swing to the moderate Republican McCain. Even blacks will vote for him. He kinda remind us blacks of an Eisenhower type. Eisenhower was a republican but received a substantial amount of black votes in 1956 b/c of his supportive stance of sending federal troops to protect the Little Rock 9. All the conspiracy theorists are saying she really wants it 2012. So her plan is to destroy Barack and let McCain get 1 term. Funny thing is the lady is awful when she plans. Hey whatever happen to the "Inevitable Candidate"? Remember that!!!!

Seven comments from a neighbour:

* 'the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing'.stay focused.
* do not fall into any of the traps that the bad guys are throwing along your trail.
* challenge any attacks coming your way. the clinton's are vulnerable.remember that in this country ,civility and kindness are also percieved as a sign of weakness.
* bring back some of the enthusiasm you showed us until not too long ago. positive vibes are contagious.
* exploit connections from the clinton's team with jeremiah wright and/or farrakhan (also ed rendell, rev marcia dyson, shiela jackson lee, didn't the clintons invited jeremiah right to the white house during the impeachment procedures?)
* you are the front runner,close this deal. do not try to keep everybody happy…if you do this, nobody will be happy.
*you have what it takes, lead us to the place where changes will take place.

April 28th, 2008 6:51 pm ET

I agree with one thing Rove suggests. An Obama Chuck Hagel ticket is unbeatable in Nov. An absolute indication of reaching across the isle.

...this one is wacked but brutal:

who asked you, you miserable, bloated criminal?

obama shoud be giving YOU advice on what it takes to get your soul back from beelzebub and become HUMAN again!!!

if we want advice from an immoral, win-at-no-costs-US-citizens-and-constitution-be-dammed creep, we'd ask rush or cheney or penn or hagge… see, there's this way of living your life where you do things with INTEGRITY and WITHOUT CHEATING, you repubs should look into it, it's really a much more fulfilling and happy existence!!!

stick a fork in you, YOU SOUL-LESS REPUBS ARE DONE, BABY!!!!!! BUH-BYE repubs, dont let the door hit ya, where beelzebub split ya!!!!!

...and this one is brutally true:

April 28th, 2008 5:28 pm ET

mmmm and we should listen to him why????
because he tells clinton how to run her dirty campaing? all one has to do is listen to Limbaugh and his followers for 10 minutes and one can tell who is clinton working with and for…………..

hillary grew up republican she is a republican, but none will say it………..
the hunger for power has no end no name and no limits………..

No more billarys.

Chicago Tribune - "Factor military duty into criticism"

By Lawrence Korb and Ian Moss
April 3, 2008

In 1961, a young African-American man, after hearing President John F.
Kennedy's challenge to, 'Ask not what your country can do for you, but
what you can do for your country,' gave up his student deferment, left
college in Virginia and voluntarily joined the Marines.

In 1963, this man, having completed his two years of service in the
Marines, volunteered again to become a Navy corpsman. (They provide
medical assistance to the Marines as well as to Navy personnel.)
The man did so well in corpsman school that he was the valedictorian
and became a cardiopulmonary technician. Not surprisingly, he was
assigned to the Navy's premier medical facility, Bethesda Naval
Hospital, as a member of the commander in chief's medical team, and
helped care for President Lyndon B. Johnson after his 1966 surgery. For
his service on the team, which he left in 1967, the White House awarded
him three letters of commendation. What is even more remarkable is that
this man entered the Marines and Navy not many years after the two
branches began to become integrated.

While this young man was serving six years on active duty, Vice
President Dick Cheney, who was born the same year as the Marine/sailor,
received five deferments, four for being an undergraduate and graduate
student and one for being a prospective father.

Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, both five years younger
than the African-American youth, used their student deferments to stay
in college until 1968. Both then avoided going on active duty through
family connections.

Who is the real patriot? The young man who interrupted his studies to
serve his country for six years or our three political leaders who beat
the system? Are the patriots the people who actually sacrifice
something or those who merely talk about their love of the country?
After leaving the service of his country, the young African-American
finished his final year of college, entered the seminary, was ordained
as a minister, and eventually became pastor of a large church in one of
America's biggest cities.

This man is Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the retiring pastor of Trinity United
Church of Christ, who has been in the news for comments he made over
the last three decades. Since these comments became public we have
heard criticisms, condemnations, denouncements and rejections of his
comments and him. We've seen on television, in a seemingly endless
loop, sound bites of a select few of Rev. Wright's many sermons.

Some of the Wright's comments are inexcusable and inappropriate and
should be condemned, but in calling him 'unpatriotic,' let us not
forget that this is a man who gave up six of the most productive years
of his life to serve his country. How many of Wright's detractors, Rush
Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly to name but a few, volunteered for service,
and did so under the often tumultuous circumstances of a newly
integrated armed forces and a society in the midst of a civil rights
struggle? Not many.

While words do count, so do actions. Let us not forget that, for
whatever Rev. Wright may have said over the last 30 years, he has
demonstrated his patriotism.

Lawrence Korb and Ian Moss are, respectively, Navy and Marine Corps
veterans. They work at The Center For American Progress. Korb served as
assistant secretary of Defense in the Reagan administration.

Obama Dug A Hole, But Clinton and McCain May Fall In It

Senator Obama made as usual a phopah on his way to the eve of the Pennsylvania election, saying to a chic crowd in San Francisco, in explaining his still slightly lagging lead behind Senator Clinton, that Pennsylvania voters in small towns may be bitter, and resentful of those not like themselves in look or feel, turn to gun or religious rights for soul food. As has been the case this eventful but actually short primary season, Clinton stands a chance to live another day by tearing into these remarks and branding Obama unelectable because the GOP will barbeque him. Hey, he's already braised medium already on the grill. I think he's ready.

The Republicans of course seized on this, and branded his remarks as elitist and not mindful of the lives of middle America, as they struggle with job loss and cultural encroachment. They did the same with John Kerry in 2004, and it worked on his Massachusetts narrow assz. It may work on Obama's, as his world traveler, Harvard-educated and sinceforth upper middle class African American urbane persona is the anthesesis of their lives. In tune, the Clinton campaign, expecting this GOP response, rolled up alongside and made a sweep with its surrogates like Evan Bayh, who in Indiana sent a message to the superdelegates that they should be careful who they choose to run in November against McCain. We even heard from our favorite east coast pot-belly, Fast Eddie Rendell, former mayor and DA of Philadelphia, former DNC chairman (who made a couple of verbal gaffs that embarrased the Dems in 2000) and current governor/Clinton supporter/hoping to get his judge wife a Supreme Court appointment-or-himself a job in the Clinton administration, who had his two cents to say:

“People in rural Pennsylvania don’t turn to guns and religion as an escape,” Mr. Rendell said. “Hunting and sportsmanship are long-established traditions here, and people of faith founded the commonwealth and continue to live here. What the senator has done is essentially misread what is actually happening in Pennsylvania.”

But in response, J. Richard Gray, the mayor of Lancaster PA and an Obama supporter, said that this is not what Mr. Obama meant. In his view, Mr. Obama was trying to say that Republicans take emotional matters like guns and religion and try to use them to divide people. “He’s saying the use of those issues as wedge issues plays on the bitterness that people have and diverts attention from the real economic issues, like the disparity between the wage earner and the rich.”

And that, my friends, is the bottom line issue: whether or not to allow the political extremists, who are more interested in holding onto power than they are about you and me, to control the electorate with fears of differences that has been the road to the White House for so long.

Mr. Gray also said Mr. Obama was right that voters are bitter. He pointed to a recent poll that found 81 percent of voters believe the country is on the wrong track, and said that Mrs. Clinton sounded like “a Pollyanna” in saying that workers were optimistic. “I don’t know who she’s been talking to,” Mr. Gray said.

Gray may have taken the lead in redirecting the energy of an Obama gaff, like he himself did with the Rev. Wright scandal, into another opportunity to talk real straight talk about what is going wrong in this country. The wrong track we're on is one of fear, not hatred, one of ever-significant economic disparity and fraud by our leaders both in business and government, not fear of the economic engine of China which our leaders are feeding everyday.

It's time for Straight Talk, Folks; Straight Truth.

BREAKING F@*&N NEWS!!!

Now this is some news! There is a video out NOW about Hillary Clinton's (the Clinton family, for that matter) about some illicit campaign contributions and perhaps other matters which links The Clintons to the dubious spiral into bankruptcy of Stan Lee Media, the Marvel Comics-inspired comib book multimedia company started by Marvel Comics (and Spider-Man creator) Stan Lee and a gentleman named Peter Paul. Lee was not involved, but Paul, a significant Clinton contributor during her 2000 U.S. Senate run in New York and who absconded funds and stock options derived from alleged insider-trading when Stan Lee Media went into bankruptcy in California, was a felon who fled to Brazil to escape incarceration, and who now tells the story in a 1-hour online documentary on how corrupt the Clintons may be. Check it out:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7007109937779036019

Double Standard? Law designed to stop drug dealers applied diiferently here

5 Pot plants but they keep the house

By Peter Mucha

Inquirer Staff Writer

Why the burglar alarm went off, Steve Haver still doesn't know. But while Haver and his wife, Karen, were away in the Poconos on the morning of July 8, 2006, Reading police searched the couple's semidetached three-story home and found five pot plants growing under lights.

Because of that discovery, the Havers were soon caught in a swirl of legal decisions that overturned their lives, prompted questions about the enforcement of marijuana laws, and served as a lesson to homeowners with burglar alarms.

Steve Haver spent a weekend in jail on $1 million bail, wound up with a felony conviction for drug manufacturing, lost his driver's license for six months, and expects to lose his job as general manager of the performing arts center at Penn State's York campus. His wife Karen, who was also arrested lost her job as manager of the Sovereign Performing Arts Center in Reading. But, authorities won't seize their house - just the growing equipment.

Under Pennsylvania law, property can be seized by police in connection with a felony drug arrest, and police not only seized the growing apparatus but former Berks County District Attorney Mark Baldwin filed for forfeiture of the house. Steve Haver described it as an "1895 Romanesque revival semidetached rowhome," last appraised at $137,000. Oh joy, how Norman Rockwellesque; whitey puleeze!

Police routinely, especially where the amount of drugs is above the legal threshold or there is evidence of intent to distribute, go after the house and take it. There are also similar federal laws, although a conviction is warranted under federal law for a forfeiture sale of such house; unknown if PA law has the same requirements. Law enforcement in Philadelphia and Chester, like this approach as a way to take the homes, sell for cash to use in future drug stings, and send a strong deterrent. But they also evict innocent people from the home, like children and parents or disabled persons, who may not have been aware of be able to control such activities at their home, with little regard for their future welfare.

But this was the exception. As part of a settlement approved Monday by Berks County Judge Jeffrey K. Sprecher, prosecutors withdrew that request while the Havers, through their attorney, agreed to forfeit the seized equipment. Explanation for this discretionary ignorance of the law? "It was a rather sophisticated growing operation," Shchuka said. "... It wasn't like somebody went to Home Depot and bought some peat moss." Besides five three-foot-high plants, police found a high-powered lighting system, a self-contained water system, a fan with a dehumidifier, and devices for measuring temperature and testing soil, Shchuka said.

On Feb. 29, Haver, now 47, pleaded guilty "to put an end to this thing," he said yesterday. The same day, his wife, 38, began a 30-day probationary period in a program under which charges have already been dismissed. So in this case, unlike the urban experience in such cases, the homeowners gets to keep their house through a plea bargain, move back in, and the wife gets charges dropped and a month's probation. Sweeeet.

"I anticipate losing my employment, losing my health insurance, losing my educational benefits, nine credits away from getting an MBA," Steve Haver said. Awwww - such tears. Gimme a break. This drug-dealing bitch is currently on administrative leave from the the university, who is of course tight-lipped about the outcome or details. His contract likely won't be renewed at the end of June, Haver said.

But check out the community reaction:

Haver is rankled by Pennsylvania marijuana laws and how they are sometimes enforced, noting "I don't think your average citizen has any idea how destructive and draconion our justice system has become". How so? It worked for him; he gets his house back after a plea-bargained lawyer-brokered conviction for a felony drug offense, while others go homeless.

Another interesting reaction is the community, who has been sympathetic, sending emails and postcards from across the country, sticking kind notes in the door. A neighbor even donated to his legal defense. Can't get that kinda love in the ghetto.

"People in the community have generally been supportive and have been appalled at the direction this has taken," Haver said. As Chris Matthews would say: HA! I'm sure these same law-n-order folks would not have any sympathy for similar violators in North Philly.

Ironically, buying marijuana from a dealer can be a misdemeanor, while growing some at home leaves a person open to felony manufacturing charges. A judge ruled over a year ago that the search was valid, he added.

After their arrest, the couple spent three days in jail because a magistrate, stepping in on a Saturday, set enormous bail, $1 million for him, half as much for her, he said. The following Monday, Judge Sprecher, seeing no great threat, lifted the bail entirely and the couple were released, he said. Was there really at that time enough information available to warrant such discretion? No, but unfortunately bail is all too often loosely prescribed both in city and rural jurisdictions in Pennsylvania.

The former prosecutor didn't have to attempt to seize the house, defense attorneys for the Havers said. Laws were broken, but "there should be penalties and they should be appropriate, but they weren't". Shchuka disagreed. "I don't have a problem with that charge at all," he said. Filing for forfeiture of the house was also justified, in case investigators found evidence of drug dealing, he said. "The house was properly frozen while the criminal case was pending, but without more evidence of drug dealing forfeiture wasn't warranted," he said.

Steve Haver said he's uncertain what he'll be doing next. Maybe he'll write a book about his case, he said. The Caucasian end game is always the same: book deals and the Today show. For people of color, the game ends in jail and broke. Go figure...

UHHHH....this shit is DEEP!!!!!!

No i just can't think of it fast enuf! yes yes yes the freaks were deep in the streets last night. here are some highlights from the NYPD Daily Blotter, as published in the New York Post on Friday, April 4 2008:

Manhattan
a homeless man was arrested for slapping and robbing his ex-girlfriend on the Upper East Side, auhorities said yesterday.

Victor Rodriguez, 59, old, and major deep, was living "in or behind a Dumpster" near the apartment building - and get this - of his ex's on 94th and 1st.

apparently dude was mad. he bitch-slapped her in front of the building, took her purse and lifted $40 and rolled. like as if he just don't get no respect, an 'anonymous caller' (guess who most likely?) called the cops and told them they could find asshole sleeping in the Dumpster (as in trash dumpster) which he was. charged with assault & robbery, he was arraigned Monday per the Manhattan D.A.'s office.

think that's hot? click on the title of this article to get the next Amazing Story......

Mugabe Loses Parliament in Zimbabwe

A man repairing a bicycle tire sat next to torn posters of President Robert G. Mugabe in Harare, Zimbabwe on Wednesday (thanks Desmond of AFP).

Emmanuel Chitate/Reuters - Zimbabweans in Umguza listened Tuesday for news. After three days, no results had been announced in the presidential election.

Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/AP = Morgan Tsvangirai, who appears to be leading in Zimbabwe’s presidential election, speaking to reporters in Harare on Tuesday.

Philimon Bulawayo/Reuters - President Robert G. Mugabe of Zimbabwe in March.

HARARE, Zimbabwe — President Robert G. Mugabe and his ruling party have lost control of the nation’s Parliament, election returns showed on Wednesday, giving new impetus to the bigger question: Does that foretell a loss of the presidency itself, the job he has held tightly for the past 28 years?

As this nation waited in frustration a fourth day without official results in its presidential race, the main opposition party of Morgan Tsvangirai announced its own final tally, proclaiming victory with 50.3 percent of the vote to Mr. Mugabe’s 43.8 percent — just barely enough to avoid a runoff. Zimbabwe now waits to see if the official count matches the opposition’s, knowing it would not require a very heavy thumb on the scale to force another round of voting three weeks from now.

There were signs that Mr. Mugabe has endorsed a second vote, which, while not as humiliating as an outright defeat, would still seem a difficult pill for a man who has held power for 28 years and considers himself the father of the nation. Wednesday morning’s edition of The Herald, the state-run newspaper, reported that “the pattern of results” shows that no candidates “will garner more than 50 percent of the vote, forcing a re-run.”

The newspaper, considered a mouthpiece for Mr. Mugabe, published no actual election totals from Saturday’s vote and attributed its conclusion to analysts. But it likely means that ruling party insiders have urged the president not to give up his — and their — power, either convincing Mr. Mugabe to keep on fighting or at least to maintain the option.

Even so, the election commission confirmed Wednesday that the balance of power had fatefully shifted in Parliament, long a bastion of support for Mr. Mugabe. With only 11 races to be declared, the Movement for Democratic Change, the opposition party, had 106 seats in all, including one for an allied independent, in the 210-seat assembly. Mr. Mugabe’s party — known as ZANU-PF — had only 93 seats and among its losing candidates were seven of the president’s cabinet ministers.

But the presidency remains another matter. A businessman with close connections to the party hierarchy, speaking only on condition of anonymity, said the president had met Tuesday evening first with the chiefs of military and intelligence and then with key members of his cabinet and the party presidium. “They urged him to go to the bush,” the businessman said, meaning that in a runoff the party would employ tactics of intimidation and bloodshed that had worked well in earlier campaigns, especially in rural areas that can be closed off to opposition candidates.

And You thought you were having a BAD DAY BREAKIN' BAD

Man Who Allegedly Threw Molotov Cocktails At Police To Be Arraigned

A Queens man who police say later told them he was having a bad day is scheduled to be arraigned today on charges he attacked a man with a machete and then threw Molotov cocktails at police. Felipe Velasquez, 21, faces a number of charges, including attempted murder, assault, and arson. Police say it all started when a 45-year-old man was attacked with a machete on 123rd Street near Hillside Avenue yesterday evening. He fought off Vasquez, his alleged attacker, with an umbrella. Police say Velasquez then retreated to a nearby roof where he began throwing Molotov cocktails -- one of which hit an unmarked police car. Officers were eventually able to subdue the man and bring him into custody.

The Star Trek Times

NASA, via Associated Press - The Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle approached the International Space Station on Monday in a rehearsal for a docking scheduled for Thursday.

Managers of the International Space Station on Wednesday cleared Europe’s new Jules Verne cargo ship for its first docking with the orbiting research outpost.

A New Supply Ship for the Space Station

After assessing results of two days of trial maneuvers around the station, including having the two craft close to within 36 feet of one another, the Mission Management Team of international partners in the project gave approval for an attempt on Thursday to link the ships.

The Jules Verne, named for the visionary French author, is the first of a new class of robot station supply ships called Automatic Transfer Vehicles or A.T.V.’s. The robot ship was built by the member nations of the European Space Agency as one of Europe’s major contributions to the international station.

“We have proven that Jules Verne’s systems are safe, reliable and ready to dock to the station,” John Ellwood, the A.T.V. Project Manager for Europe said after getting approval to proceed. “Everyone has worked very hard to get to this point.”

The Jules Verne is scheduled to dock with the station’s Russian-built Zvezda service module on Thursday at 10:41 a.m. Eastern time, and then firmly lock in place about a half-hour later. If for some reason the linkup does not occur as planned, the next attempt will be made on Saturday, Mr. Ellwood said.

The ship maneuvers and dock itself automatically using GPS and optical guidance systems for close approach to the station. A twin laser system fires pulses of light at reflectors positioned on the end of Zvezda to aim the craft towards the space station. The rendezvous and docking are monitored from a control center in Toulouse, France, in cooperation with the Russian space station control center near Moscow and the NASA center in Houston.

Extra precautions are necessary because the robot ship, which weighs 21 tons on Earth, could do substantial damage to the station in a collision or other mishap.

The Jules Verne, launched on March 9, is 32 feet long and 14.6 feet wide at its largest diameter, is equipped with four solar arrays arranged in an X shape spanning 73 feet. It has four large aft engines and a series of smaller thrusters for maneuvering and fine control. It is the first of at least five robot cargo craft that the Europeans will dispatch to the station, carrying 7.5 tons of fuel, oxygen, food, clothing, equipment and other essentials.