Happy Halloween

Infomercial Special

No, I didn't watch it. Did anyone? I would have if Obama had used that spray on hair stuff on Biden's lid. That would be good TV.

Bomb Thrown at PAD Protesters

More violence in the Land of Smiles. How unfortunate. When will the King step in and sort this out?

Explosion at PAD

Nine people were wounded, one seriously, when someone threw an explosive among anti-government protesters at Makkhawan Bridge near the Government House.

The bomb was lobbed at around 3:30am from outside the gathering of members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), who have been staging anti-government protests since May 25 around the Makkahawan Rangsan Bridge, site of the explosion.

The target appeared to be a "forward post" used by internal security guards of the PAD movement, which has established its current headquarters inside nearby Government House.
PAD core leader Chamlong Srimuang blamed the attack on the government.

He said that the attack would not stop the PAD from marching on the British Embassy in Bangkok on Thursday to demand the extradition of Thai former premier Thaksin Shinwatara.

Khanit Sapitak, commander of the First Army region in and around Bangkok, described the explosive as a bomb, and denied any connection with the army.

Lt-Gen Khanit said he has contacted the police to investigate.

Army specialist Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, an outspoken anti-PAD activist, also denied any involvement in the bombing.

He said, however that it is now time for the PAD supporters to leave Government House. He added that he believes the PAD faces "a group of enemies" who are adopting guerrilla techniques.

He also said that PAD guards will die every day if the group does not withdraw from the Government House.

Maj-Gen Khattiya said there are many groups that are unhappy with the PAD seizure and occupation of Government House, and its response against high-ranking officials who have came out to warn the group for the occupation.

Canadian Jihadist Convicted

Kooky Khawaja has been convicted although not on all counts. I hope they put him away for longer than the usual ten minutes as is the tradition in Canada. (Life Sentence in Canada equals 25 years, no I'm not making that up) What they should do with Khawaja and his ilk is charge them with treason and shoot them. But then you'd have to do that to the Block-head Quebequois guys too.

Khawaja guilty on some but not all terror charges

An Ottawa software developer whom prosecutors accused of promoting a unique brand of ideological hatred has been found guilty of some terror-related charges against him, but not all.
Momin Khawaja, the first person charged under Canada's Anti-Terrorism Act, faced seven charges in connection with a foiled U.K. bomb plot.

An Ottawa judge found him guilty on five counts of financing and facilitating terrorism and two Criminal Code offences related to building a remote-controlled detonator with the intent of causing an explosion.

However, the judge said the prosecution did not prove beyond reasonable doubt that Khawaja, 29, was aware his U.K. associates planned to bomb domestic targets using the so-called Hi-Fi Digimonster detonator he built. As a result, the charges related to the detonator weren't counted as terrorism-related charges, said CTV's Rosemary Thompson, outside the courtroom.

"So he faces a very stiff sentence down the road but the one caveat in this is his lawyer did convince the judge that his client wasn't aware of plans to bomb a night club and shopping centre as this cell was planning to do," Thompson told CTV Newsnet.

Sentencing has been scheduled for Nov. 18.

Land of Not Smiles

It truly is a shame to see this sort of internal violence in Thailand as it seems so out of character for the country.

Tension Grows

Scuffles broke out and a woman was punched in the face when five pro-government supporters were grabbed and held by People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) guards who claimed they were armed and ready to incite violence.

The incident has turned up the heat between the rival camps as tensions mount ahead of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship's (UDD) next big rally on Saturday.
Political emotions have grown increasingly hostile since the PAD shut the door on proposals by academics for peace talks with the UDD.

Observers believe the Kwam Jing Wan Nee (Truth Today) mobile political talk show in Bangkok on Saturday will attract a huge crowd of UDD supporters as former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is expected to address the rally by phone from London.

Concerns are mounting the talk show could stir up emotions and create a volatile atmosphere among UDD supporters.

In what many fear could be a taste of things to come, a group of UDD supporters in red shirts were intercepted on Tuesday by the PAD guards outside the alliance's protest venue at Government House.

Four women and one man wearing red shirts with the words "Choose Samak, Love Thaksin", were caught early in the afternoon in a pick-up stuck in traffic.

The PAD guards claimed a few young men in the back of the truck fired slingshots at them. The guards were manning a protest checkpoint near Nakhon Sawan Road. They alleged one UDD member tried to hit them with an axe, but missed.

The young men escaped and the PAD guards grabbed five people in the front seat. They paraded them on the PAD stage in Government House and said the five were UDD supporters.

PAD demonstrators reacted with fury and tried to grab the five before the guards hustled them out of the grounds.

During the chaos, a male guard reportedly punched one of the women, Sombat Khayanchoomnoom, 53, in the face. She fell to the ground with her face bleeding.

Some of the PAD guards alleged Mrs Sombat and the others were carrying petrol, a knife and an axe and intended to attack PAD protesters. The UDD members denied the claim.

The guards said they found a red flag with the words "The Truth Today Show" and a cap saying "Saturday People Against Dictatorship" in the truck.

The five UDD supporters were handed over to police for questioning.

Tuesday's incident was the second involving UDD and PAD supporters. On Sept 2, they clashed near Makkawan Bridge on Ratchadamnoen avenue resulting in the death of a UDD supporter.

In the scuffle, the PAD guards were accused of taking the five and beating them near the protest security check point called the "PAD Station".

Dumb & Dumber 3: Nazi Tards

Boy, the master-race certainly has some hiring difficulties. It is sort of comforting to know the low quality of the ranks of Hitlers current crop of minions. These buffoons could hardly establish the third grade never mind the Third Reich. Even still Kudos to the FBI for busting them as it doesn't take a genius to shoot unarmed people.

Skinheads In Obama Assassination Plot

Two white supremacists who plotted a "killing spree" targeting African Americans that was to culminate with the murder of Senator Barack Obama have been arrested on a variety of federal charges. According to a court affidavit sworn out by a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent, Daniel Cowart, 20, and Paul Schlesselman, 18, began discussing the murder plot after meeting online about a month ago. In the ATF affidavit, a copy of which you'll find below, Cowart and Schlesselman "discussed the killing spree to include targeting a predominately African-American school, going state to state while robbing individuals and continuing to kill people." The pair's "final act of violence" would be an attempt to kill Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee.

The Collectivist

Hate is the Rage

People always seem baffled at how the Khmer Rouge could manage to motivate its rank and file to kill so many of its own people so cruelly. If you read "Year Zero" you can find out the back ground of it all however one thing is clear, using propaganda to work its fighters into a hate filled frenzy was a big part of it. That is why I find stuff like this frightening. Doing it in effigy isn't as far from doing it for real as you might think.

Halloween Palin Prop Sparks Controversy In WeHo

Sarah Palin is not considered to be a friend of the gay community, but the Republican vice presidential candidate seems to be looming over the West Hollywood Halloween Carnival.

First, a rumor got started that city officials were going to ban Sarah Palin drag queens at its upcoming costumed street party, which draws some 500,000 people annually.

The rumor turned out to be false, but tonight comes word that a mannequin has been outfitted to look like Palin -- with glasses, a beehive wig and a red business suit -- and is hanging from a noose outside a WeHo residence.

The display also depicts a devilish John McCain emerging from flames.

"We see people stopping and taking pictures, and the tour buses are stopping and slowing down ... people reach out and take pictures,"display creator Chad Michael Morrisette said.

However, some neighbors said the effigy is in bad taste.

"I know it's Halloween, but when you're using a vice presidential candidate with a noose around her neck, that to me has gone too far," a man identified only as "George" stated. "Whether I'm Republican or Democrat, it's not about that. It's about this and a noose, and it's just wrong." "I know if we had done it with Barack Obama, people would've probably thrown things through our windows," Morrisette said. "The image of a hanged black man is a lot more intense than the image of a hanged white woman -- for our country -- in the history of our country."

Morrisette said his display might be unacceptable any other month, but his subjects are fair game during the Halloween season.

"It should be seen as art and it should be seen within the month of October. It is Halloween. It's time to be scary. It's time to be spooky," Morrisette said.

Canadian tourist Ron Hernando, who stopped by to take a picture, said he was not shocked by the display. "This is West Hollywood, after all," he said. "It was kind of cruel, but it made me laugh, too. What can I say?"

A city spokesperson was not immediately available to comment on the effigy.

The 21st annual Halloween Carnaval will be held from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday along Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. The street will be closed for the event.

Pigeon Spies?

The Iranian Government are really a bunch of idiots. But then as they have dismissed reason in favor of bashing their foreheads on a mat five times a day talking to no one, believing any other half baked nonsense isn't surprising.

Iran busts 'spy pigeons' near nuclear site

Security forces in Natanz have arrested two suspected "spy pigeons" near Iran's controversial uranium enrichment facility, the reformist Etemad Melli newspaper reported on Monday.
One of the pigeons was caught near a rose water production plant in the city of Kashan in Isfahan province, the report cited an unnamed informed source as saying, adding that some metal rings and invisible strings were attached to the bird.

"Early this month, a black pigeon was caught bearing a blue-coated metal ring, with invisible strings," the source was quoted as saying of the second pigeon.

The source gave no further description of the pigeons, neither their current status nor what their fate will be.

Natanz is home to Iran's heavily-bunkered underground uranium enrichment plant, which is not far from Kashan.

The activity is the focus of Iran's five-year standoff with the West, which that fears it aims to develop nuclear weapons.

Tehran vehemently denies the charge.

Last year, Iran issued a formal protest over the use of espionage by the United States to produce a key intelligence report on the country's controversial nuclear programme.

Joe?

Thai Leader Refuses to Quit

I wonder if he'll be insisting he's not quitting after the next Coup? Maybe Thaskin will get him a job helping with his soccer team.

PM will not quit

Defiant Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat appealed to the nation via TV on Friday, laying out a two-month work programme as justification to reject a military "recommendation" to resign.

His statement came a day after army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda took the entire top military establishment on a TV programme to back his suggestion that Mr Somchai should resign to take responsibility for the Oct 7 clashes between police and People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) demonstrators.

"The government cannot just abandon its work and responsibility," Mr Somchai on Friday.

He had his own supporters seated alongside for the 20-minute press statement: the leaders of the six coalition parties that give the government its parliamentary majority. But there were clear signs of discontent among some coalition members, who did not voice outright support for Mr Somchai as they had in the past.

The premier said the government cannot quit now because there are three national events coming up: The funeral of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana next month, and the December celebration of His Majesty the King's birthday anniversary, and the Asean summit, to be held this year in Thailand.

The premier, however, said that the government is willing to accept results of two fact-finding panels, set up earlier this week investigate the clashes, which left two people killed and more than 400 injured.

It is currently expected the panels will work fast and report within 15 days.
Mr Somchai also told the nationwide TV audience that he had called the now-controversial special cabinet meeting on the night of Oct 6, as PAD protesters began to surround the Parliament to prevent the government from delivering its policy statement. Mr Somchai reiterated that the government debated and decided that night it would not use force to disperse the protesters.

He insisted that the government and coalition parties will continue to work together despite heavy criticism, adding that the government listens to all opinions and takes them into consideration.

"The government is elected from the people, and we listen to opinions from all sides," he said. "But we will make decisions based on the benefits of the country and the people."

Tensions Ease?

Border stays tense, but armies back off

Thailand and Cambodia yesterday agreed to joint patrols and left the more serious issue of troop reductions to the next round of talks aimed at easing tensions at their disputed border.

The decision was reached in five hours of negotiations under the Regional Border Committee between Second Army commander Lt-Gen Wiboonsak Neeparn and Cambodian Fourth Army chif Gen Chea Mon at the tourist service centre on Pha Mor E Daeng in Si Sa Ket.

Both sides will resume talks in Siem Reap next Tuesday, said Supreme Commander Gen Songkitti Chakkabatr.

At this stage, both sides will keep their troops in the area and have joint patrols, Gen Songkitti added. But he cautioned that Thai soldiers were ready to protect the country if it was invaded.
Lt-Gen Wiboonsak said joint patrols would be introduced to "prevent this kind of incident from happening again".

"We did not make much progress. Troops on both sides will stay where they are," he said.

The fighting between the two countries on Wednesday at Phu Ma Khua and Pha Mor E Daeng came after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday gave Thailand an ultimatum to withdraw its soldiers from the disputed area. Thailand insists it is part of Thai territory.

Seven Thai troops were injured and two Cambodian soldiers died in the clashes.

Army deputy spokesman Col Werachon Sukondhapatipak said no Thai soldiers were captured as claimed by Cambodia. The soldiers in the pictures were stationed at Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda near the Preah Vihear temple.

Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh called the outcome "a good result". "We understood each other," he said. "We cannot patrol individually because it could lead to a misunderstanding."

The clashes caused concern at the United Nations and among the international community
In a statement, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the two countries to "exercise utmost restraint and expedite bilateral talks so that their differences can be resolved peacefully."

There are 1,000 Thais in Phnom Penh and about 500 in Siem Reap.
Thai ambassador to Cambodia Viraphand Vacharathit said about 600 Thais had returned to Thailand after the Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday that Thais who did not need to stay in Cambodia should return to the kingdom.

Cambodian riot police were deployed in front of the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh, which was set on fire by anti-Thai rioters in 2003.

Cambodian Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said undercover police were monitoring Thai businesses to ensure their safety.

"We're protecting all Thai businessmen and citizens in Cambodia in case our people get furious and do something wrong that would not benefit either side," Khieu Sopheak said.

The current stand-off first flared in July after Preah Vihear was awarded World Heritage status, angering some nationalist Thais who claim Thailand ownership of the site.

The situation quickly escalated into a military confrontation with up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops facing off for six weeks, although both sides in August agreed to reduce troop numbers in the main disputed area.

Army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda yesterday confirmed Thai troops were ready to protect Thai soil. Air Force chief ACM Ithaporn Supawong said the air force would deploy aircraft to evacuate the remaining Thais in case of emergency.

Reinforcements

The tensions continue to build...

Troops clash on border

The army has brought in 500 reinforcements and heavy weapons and says it is ready for battle, while the Foreign Ministry claims it is prepared to take Cambodia to the United Nations and the International Court of Justice over sovereignty of the disputed border area near Preah Vihear temple.

The separate army and ministry warnings came after skirmishes yesterday in areas between Si Sa Ket's Kantharalak district and Preah Vihear in Cambodia, which escalated border tensions.

Fighting broke out in the afternoon at two flash-points at Phu Ma Khua and Pha Mor E Daeng near the ancient Hindu temple.

Seven Thai troops were wounded while two Cambodian soldiers were killed and seven others injured, according to the army. Cambodia said it captured 10 Thai troops, a claim denied by Thai military officials.

Cambodian charge d'affaires to Bangkok Ouk Sophoin was summoned by permanent secretary for foreign affairs Virasakdi Futrakul and handed an "aide memoire" accusing Cambodia of initiating the clashes.

The fighting has prompted the ministry to urge Thais in Cambodia to leave the country. Thai Airways International has prepared large aircraft to evacuate all Thais in Cambodia if the situation worsens.

There are about 1,000 Thais in Phnom Penh and about 500 in Siem Reap, according to the ministry.

Second Army commander Lt-Gen Wibulsak Neepal said Cambodia fired first into Thai bases, prompting Thai troops to retaliate. He said his unit has adjusted operational plans and redeployed troops to handle any situation, noting the military is ready to retaliate against any further aggression.

But army spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda has ordered troops to be cautious about retaliation.

"In regards to military retaliation, the army chief has instructed the troops not to escalate any fighting. That means if Cambodia uses small weapons, we will not retaliate with artillery to avoid escalating the fighting," he said.

Col Sansern said the fighting erupted about 2.30pm when Thai troops encountered Cambodian soldiers at Huay Ta Maria in Phu Ma Khua. The Cambodian soldiers were told to leave but they responded with small arms fire into a Thai base. Several kilometres away at Pha Mor E Daeng, Cambodian soldiers also fired into a Thai base.

Col Sansern said the fighting at both sites was brief.

Security around Ta Muan Thom temple and Ta Kwai temple in Surin's Phanom Dong Rak district was being stepped up with more than 500 troops and artillery from the sixth infantry division based in Ubon Ratchathani.

Cambodian Foreign Minster Hor Namhong said in Phnom Penh that "the gunfire between Cambodia and Thailand was in Cambodia's territory. Thai troops opened fire at our troops first".

"Cambodia strongly protests against these repeated and very serious armed provocations by Thailand which will lead to large-scale armed hostilities between the two countries," he said, adding a complaint would be lodged with the UN Security Council.

Hor Namhong rejected Thai figures of the casualties, saying two Cambodian soldiers were killed and two wounded.

Tension at the border rose after Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat returned from a visit to Phnom Penh on Monday during which he met Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Hor Namhong.

Afterwards, Hun Sen gave Thailand an ultimatum to leave the disputed area that day.
Mr Virasakdi said during the talks with Mr Sompong, Hun Sen had demanded Thailand withdraw all troops from the 4.6-square-kilometre overlapping area. He threatened to take the case to the Security Council and the International Court of Justice on grounds that Thailand had invaded his country.

Mr Virasakdi dismissed the threat. "Don't think that we are scared. We are ready to defend our position. A team of international legal experts has been hired and is ready," he said after meeting with the Cambodian diplomat.

The army spokesman said the situation was under control as Thai and Cambodian commanders in the areas remained in contact and were expected to negotiate to resolve the conflict.
Hor Namhong said a scheduled meeting between the two countries on the border dispute would go ahead as planned today.

Second Hand Daylight

The Thais and Cambodians had a duffy. Let's hope the Kings step in to sort this out.

Gunfire at the border

Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat urged Thai nationals in Cambodia to leave for home immediately after a Wednesday afternoon military battle along the disputed border left two Cambodian soldiers dead.

"Thai businessmen who have no need to be in Cambodia now, please rush back to Thailand," Sompong told reporters.

"We have our evacuation plan ready," he added.

In the Northeast, officials told residents of the border to be ready to move out quickly in case hostilities resume and escalate.

Thai and Cambodian troops fired rockets and small arms at each other for about 10 minutes at the border of Kantalak district, Si Sa Ket province at around 2.30pm.

The incident reportedly occurred three kilometres from Phreah Vihear temple, and at the site of an Oct 3 clash which left two Thai soldiers and one Cambodian wounded. Thailand issued an official protest to the Cambodian government over that alleged border incursion.

Cambodian army commander Brig Gen Yim Pim said fighting had "paused" after the battle, as commanders tried to negotiate a cease-fire.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said the two countries' foreign ministers were talking. Both sides said they wanted a peaceful resolution. "Cambodia is a good neighbor. We will use peaceful means. If there is violence, we have to negotiate," he said.

Cambodia’s Preah Vihear governor Prieb Tan claimed that Thailand started shooting at the Cambodian army first. Thai army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd, meanwhile, claimed that Cambodian soldiers started the shooting first by firing about seven to eight shots onto the Thai soil so Thai soldiers had to defend themselves by firing them back using small weapons.

According to Col Sansern, four Thai army rangers were wounded while one Cambodian soldier was killed in the incident.

On Tuesday, Col Sansern reiterated that Thailand would not shoot first, but warned that Thai troops were ready if Cambodian forces encroach into Thailand. The Thai army is ready to confront any incident to protect the country’s sovereignty, he said.

Meanwhile, Thailand put air force fighter jets and C-130 transport planes on alert. The C-130s have been used in a previous operation to bring Thais back home from Phnom Penh.

Conservative Minority

Harper managed to get another minority which most of the MSN in Canada is hailing as a loss. But the Conservatives gained 18 MORE seats bringing them that much closer to their goal. With another minority it is possible Canadians will be back at the polls in another few years.

Yanks are welcome to mock our process however at least Canadians are required to provide photo id and proof of address when they go to the polls.

You Won't Know the Players With Out a Scorecard!

It's the big day folks! Canada is chosing its Government for the next few years or until the next vote of non-confidence, which ever comes first. But who's running? What do they look like? What is their favorite colour? 20A4 reveals all!

No Breaks for Stephan

If the Conservatives had been in power in 2003 Canada would have probably been in Iraq too. But imagine the pounding PM Harper would have taken with that. Fighting those Taliban scum has been bad enough. Will Harper get his Majority? Only time will tell.

Dion in Neon

Stephane Dion likes sunsets and walks on the beach. He would also like to be Prime Minister. Or at least Leader of the Loyal Opposition. Or do they use the word "Loyal" now. Or was it "Royal". They certainly won't use "Loyal". That's too Anglo. Damn Anglos. Always wanting more fairly distributed ridings.

Taliban Jack at Toronto's Gay Pride Day

He wants to talk to the Taliban, the furry little Taliban... Right after the big parade. Hmmm. I wonder if the Taliban would talk to him after they found out he has gay friends. Apparently, word on the street is, the Taliban don't like gays. Those crazy guys, haven't they ever watched any movies with hot lesbo action?

Breaking Up is Hard to Do

Gilles Duceppe wants Quebec out of Canada. Canada wants Quebec out of Canada. So what's the problem. Go already and take Duceppe with you. Oh, but you know the 80% of your belle Province that is CROWN land. The stuff with all the minerals and resources? Yah, sorry we're keeping that.


Under me this will be your food, clothing and transportation

Elizabeth May would like everyone to settle down and sit in a circle around her feet. She's going to hand out heathly snacks and educational toys, then she's going to read us a tedious story from the boring books approved for children by people who forget what children are like association. Then she's going to make us live in huts and eat grass, because if living like cavemen for the collective isn't grabbing you, maybe living like cavemen for the planet will.

Thai Khmer Tension

No retreat

Cambodia claimed on Tuesday that Thai soldiers pulled back from a tense border region, but Thai officials denied making any retreat. Thailand, officials vowed, would not be the first to resort to force along the frontier.

Cambodian army Gen Chea Mon told the Reuters news agency: "They (Thailand) pulled out from our land" shortly before the so-called Phnom Penh ultimatum at noon. "The situation seems to have returned to normal. Our troops are occupying the area where the Thai troops have pulled out."

Sheer nonsense, said Thai officials. "We are still there," Prime Minister and Defence Minister Somchai Wongsawat said after a meeting with Army chief Gen Anupong Paochinda and foreign ministry officials.

Also: "We will not be the side to use force first," he told a press conference. "We will try to use negotiations."

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday shocked Thailand and foreign observers when he gave a deadline of noon on Tuesday to withdraw all its troops from an area adjacent to the Preah Vihear temple on the Thai-Cambodian border or face a "large-scale conflict."

Thai foreign ministry officials expressed surprise at Cambodia's claims that Thailand had already withdrawn its troops from the area, which has been the source of an increasingly volatile spat between the two countries since July.

"We were quite surprised by the withdrawal claim, because we think of this territory as being in Thailand, so why would we withdraw," said Thani Thongphakdi, a deputy spokesman for the foreign ministry.

In a statement issued earlier Tuesday, the foreign ministry also expressed "surprise" at Hun Sen's fighting words, noting that it went against the "sprit of neighbourliness" between fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

After his meeting with Foreign Minister Sompong Amornvivat in Phnom Penh on Monday, Hun Sen told reporters that he had warned the Thais to withdraw their troops from the disputed area around the Preah Vihear temple or face fighting.

"They must move tonight or tomorrow. If they don't ... there will be fighting," he said.
Cambodia has been pressing to have the border spat settled by a regional or international body, but Thailand has insisted it could be handled bilaterally.

Back on the 15th, Folks

Rifftrax Blog Scoop

Finally the Truth!

Bangkok Riots Continue

This is truly sad to see.

Two dead, many hurt

A man and a woman were killed and 358 other people injured during violent clashes between police and supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) yesterday, according to the Public Health Ministry.

The injured were being treated at BMA Medical College and the Vajira, Central, Chulalongkorn, King Mongkut, Siriraj, Ramathibodi, Rajavithi and Police hospitals. Ten were in serious condition with six having lost limbs.

A military forensic source said a man who lost a leg had it blown off by a ping-pong bomb in his pocket.

Deputy Metropolitan Police chief Pol Maj-Gen Jakthip Chaijinda said the loss of limbs was unlikely to have been caused by police tear gas canisters, but rather by explosive devices.
The first death yesterday was a man whose dismembered body was found thrown from a white Jeep Cherokee that had exploded. The jeep had been parked in front of the Chart Thai party headquarters on Sukhothai road, Dusit police said.

Ramathibodi hospital's forensic department identified the victim as a man aged 40 to 50, department chief, Pol Gen Wicharn Priewnim said.

Chairat Ngamjit, a PAD supporter from Nakhon Ratchasima, told police the jeep belonged to his son and he had driven it to the rally with his wife. He did not know the dead man.

The second death involved a woman in her 20s, identified as Angkhana Radappanyawut. She was pronounced dead at Ramathibodi hospital after sustaining serious chest injuries, according to hospital officials.

Assoc Prof Dr Than Supattharaphan, the hospital director, said most of the 74 people at Ramathibodi hospital were being treated for exposure to tear gas.

Among the wounded police officers, two were stabbed. One, Pol Snr Sgt-Maj Thaweep Klanniam, was struck with the sharpened end of a flag pole in the torso. The pole severed his lung.

Four other police officers were shot by PAD supporters, deputy Metropolitan Police chief Pol Maj-Gen Amnuay Nimmano said. One was shot in his chest, one in the collarbone, one in the neck and the other in his right hand. They were rushed to Vajira and Chulalongkorn hospitals.
Another policeman suffered broken legs after being hit by a car driven by a PAD supporter.

The sixth clash since yesterday morning erupted last night at the Metropolitan Police

headquarters.

The confrontation started at 10.20pm when PAD demonstrators threw bottles into the police compound, prompting the police to retaliate by firing tear gas into the crowd.

Creepy Robot Girl Causes Market Crash

Stock Markets around the world plummeted today as Japan Scientists displayed their life long dream creation - a robotic 5 year old girl. No explanation has been given as to why exactly the Japanese scientist would fashion their supposedly life-like human robot as a young girl.

"It's definitely that robot-girl" said one panicking imaginary investor. "Damn that thing is so creepy I had to sell everything I had at a loss."

This singular imaginary unconfirmed opinion contradicts earlier reports that the market drop was caused by ridiculous outfits from Pierre Cardin.

Thai Parliment Seige

Thailand continues to have big political problems which are unfortunately turning violent. A coup should be expected in the next few weeks if this continues.

PAD: Dissolve the House

The People's Alliance for Democracy locked the government inside parliament and demanded Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat dissolve the House by sunset on Tuesday or face "decisive action". PAD protesters shot and seriously wounded two policemen during a violent rescue operation of MPs and senators held hostage for hours.

The 6pm (1100GMT) deadline passed without major incident, but the site of new protests around parliament was tense.

PAD gunmen shot three policemen near the parliament. Two were in criticial condition after being shot in the chest and the collarbone respectively. The third was shot in the leg. There were no arrests.

The shooting took place during a police operation to free more than 300 hostages held by the PAD inside parliament. Police fired tear gas and laid down smoke cannisters to obscure their dramatic rescue of Members of Parliament and Senators.

The PAD had earlier "allowed" government and parliament staff and media people to leave the parliament building, but held the MPs and senators.

Police then opted to fire smoke flare and tear gas at the PAD ranks in an attempt to open a pathway to release those who were still inside the building, otherwise unable to leave.

Prime Minister Somchai, after a meeting with senior military staff which supposedly centered on the border dispute with Cambodia, was completely tight-lipped on his future actions towards the PAD. He told a brief press conference that he would not quit, but that the government will "try to solve the problem."

An explosion believed to be a bomb ripped a Jeep and killed a woman near the protest.

PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul issued the 6pm deadline threat on a fast-moving Tuesday, after police tear-gassed PAD demonstrators in the morning - and PAD struck back by besieging the parliament and kidnapping virtually the entire government and most MPs and locking them inside parliament.

Police who cleared the way into parliament on Tuesday morning stood by and watched the demonstrators regain the offensive and put a tight ring around parliament buildings.
In addition to the cabinet and more than 300 MPs and senators, the PAD also held an unknown number of government and parliament staff and media representatives hostage, and cut off lights and water to the compound without police resistance.

Mr Sondhi did not clarify what "absolute measures" PAD might take on Tuesday evening. But thousands of supporters were said to be on their way to Bangkok from up-country locations.
Back at the Parliament, most of the MPs and senators were still trapped inside the building as of Tuesday afternoon after the government delivered policy statement as PAD supporters blocked all the exits and entrances of the parliament.

House Speaker Chai Chidchob announced the closing of the joint session of the parliament at around 1pm after the government spent less than two hours to deliver its policy statement. The session was wrapped up quickly with little debate.

The opposition Democrat party once again boycotted politics, staying an arm's length from both the government and the protesters. Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said from the distant sidelines that he felt the government had no legitimacy to govern, but was unable to suggest what action it should take.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, accompanied by four to five followers, escaped the tight PAD siege on parliament by climbing ver a fence to the next-door Vimarnmak Palace, a royal site. Then, he got on board a police helicopter, which took him to the Armed Forces headquarters.

Mr Somchai was meeting late on Tuesday afternoon with chiefs of armed forces and supreme commander to discuss political turmoil.

Kids' Book

With the Big Brother / 1984 style of Obama's campaign this shouldn't come as big surprise. And after all, if Strong Bad can have a Childrens book why not Obama?

Ayes the Bomber

An outstanding piece on the Hippy Kook Ayes and his "activism".

Fire in the Night

During the April 16 debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, moderator George Stephanopoulos brought up “a gentleman named William Ayers,” who “was part of the Weather Underground in the 1970s. They bombed the Pentagon, the Capitol, and other buildings. He’s never apologized for that.” Stephanopoulos then asked Obama to explain his relationship with Ayers. Obama’s answer: “The notion that somehow as a consequence of me knowing somebody who engaged in detestable acts 40 years ago, when I was eight years old, somehow reflects on me and my values, doesn’t make much sense, George.” Obama was indeed only eight in early 1970. I was only nine then, the year Ayers’s Weathermen tried to murder me.

In February 1970, my father, a New York State Supreme Court justice, was presiding over the trial of the so-called “Panther 21,” members of the Black Panther Party indicted in a plot to bomb New York landmarks and department stores. Early on the morning of February 21, as my family slept, three gasoline-filled firebombs exploded at our home on the northern tip of Manhattan, two at the front door and the third tucked neatly under the gas tank of the family car. (Today, of course, we’d call that a car bomb.) A neighbor heard the first two blasts and, with the remains of a snowman I had built a few days earlier, managed to douse the flames beneath the car. That was an act whose courage I fully appreciated only as an adult, an act that doubtless saved multiple lives that night.

Run Away!!

'We're not going to win,' British commander says of bid to quash Taliban

Britain's top commander in Afghanistan says the war will not end in victory, the latest indication of soul-searching as Canada's allies grapple with how to handle the rising power of the Taliban insurgency.

Wasn't some spineless twit like this responsible for the first British routing in Afghanistan?

The blunt statement from Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith - "We're not going to win this war" - came just days after a leaked diplomatic cable hinted that the British ambassador in Kabul has a similarly dark forecast. The brigadier suggested that a negotiated settlement will be necessary.

Blunt? He's smoking a blunt?

Speaking to the Sunday Times, Brig. Carleton-Smith said a "decisive military victory" is not feasible and that NATO should lower its expectations about the outcome of the war. "If the Taliban were prepared to sit on the other side of the table and talk about a political settlement, then that's precisely the sort of progress that concludes insurgencies like this."
"That shouldn't make people uncomfortable," he said.

No, people should be comfortable talking to a bunch of murderous bandits who want to force their stupid beliefs on their fellow citizens. Right. Thanks for that advice. Twit.

That places Britain, with at least 3,500 troops standing alongside Canada's forces in southern Afghanistan, in direct conflict with U.S. leaders, who continue to argue strenuously that the war can only be won by substantially defeating the Taliban. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his ministers have endorsed that view, although most other NATO nations have favored negotiations.

It places one General, not Britain in conflict. I would bet my hardly earned cash that 98% of the 3,500 British troops would like to prove General Negotiations wrong.

Brig. Carleton-Smith's words are the most explicit expression yet of a view that has become
dominant in many member nations of NATO's International Security Assistance Force.

You know this how?

That view effectively isolates the United States, the biggest donor of money and troops to the war. Starting later this month, the U.S. Afghanistan strategy will be designed by General David Petreus, who devised the "surge" of extra troops in Iraq last year and who has become the head of U.S. Central Command in order to shift the country's priorities toward the Afghan war.

The British proved you can beat insurgencies in Malaysia.

Prime Minister Harper has previously sided with the Americans on such questions, refusing any suggestion of direct negotiations with the Taliban and ridiculing politicians who have suggested a political solution. Conservatives gave NDP Leader Jack Layton the nickname "Taliban Jack" for lobbying in favour of negotiations in recent years, and the moniker became popular among Canadian troops as a derisive shorthand for politicians who don't support the war.

During last week's election debate, however, Mr. Harper avoided discussing the possibility of a victory and suggested that Canada's goals now involve empowering Afghan forces rather than totally defeating the Taliban: "If we are to truly pacify that country and see its evolution, we have to train the Afghan army and police so that they are credibly able to take greater responsibility for their own security."

Well we all know who the staff at the Glob and Mule will vote for.

Negotiations should consist of the following.

a) Do you surrender?
b) No? Okay. Blam!
c) Clean up stain.

Blue Horse Shoe Loves Anacot Steel

Brussels Leads the Way

Ah... You'd think the Europeans would have learned about trying to control the free markets by the excellent job the Soviets did.

Germany takes hot seat as Europe falls into the abyss

The European Central Bank – which raised rates into the teeth of the crisis in July – has played a shockingly destructive role in this enveloping slump. Its growth predictions this year have been, and still are, delusional. Neglecting its global role, it has vastly complicated the fire-fighting efforts of Washington.

It could have offered “cover” to the US Federal Reserve this spring when Ben Bernanke was forced by events to slash rates to 2pc. It could at least have signalled an end to monetary tightening. That is how an ally ought to behave.

Instead, it stuck maniacally to its Gothic script, with equally unhappy consequences for both sides of the Atlantic, as well as for China, Japan, and India. The euro rocketed yet further, which it turn set off an oil shock as crude metamorphosed into an anti-dollar with leverage.

The ECB policy was self-defeating, even on its own terms. It merely drove headline inflation even higher, while deeper forces of underlying debt deflation pulled the real economies of Germany, Italy, France, and Spain into a recessionary vortex.

Super Creepy

This is absolutely frightening. The kids start off singing songs now they march about doing some bizarre chicken wing thing. Remember, the rank and file of the Khmer Rouge were under age of 18.

ZOOM

Khmer Rouge On Trial

Ex-Khmer Rouge on trial for killing British deminer

Phnom Penh (dpa) - Five former Khmer Rouge soldiers went on trial Friday in the Cambodian capital, charged in the 1996 murders of a British deminer and his Cambodian translator.

Briton Christopher Howes and his interpreter, Houn Hourth, were abducted along with a group of Cambodian co-workers in March 1996 by Khmer Rouge guerrillas while clearing mines near the Angkor Wat temple complex in northwestern Cambodia.

Howes, 37, a former soldier, was said to have behaved heroically during the ordeal, persuading the kidnappers to free all his colleagues except himself and Hourth.

Their fate remained a mystery for more than two years, but Scotland Yard confirmed in 1998 that they had been killed in the remote, northern former Khmer Rouge stronghold of Anlong Veng.

Among the defendants at Friday's trial was Khem Ngun, a former rebel commander who defected to the government soon after the killings. He is accused of ordering the killings.

The abduction was just one of a spate of kidnappings by the Khmer Rouge during the mid-1990s when the embattled group was attempting to shore up the movement financially with hijackings of cars and trains, abductions of foreigners and other brutal crimes.

The suspects have been charged with premeditated murder and illegal confinement and face life in prison.

The Cambodian government was accused at the time of being slow to make arrests in the killings because negotiations for Khmer Rouge leaders to defect were at a crucial stage. In November, police arrested two accused ringleaders, grabbing three more men in May.

Cambodian trials usually take one day, but judges often reserve verdicts for weeks.

Defender of the Universe

The Braughtwerst Debate

I read all the post-debate punditry so now I think I'm in the know. I know that all the conservative blogs were happy with the job Palin did and all the MSM polls, charts, opinion pieces and fortune tellers agree that Biden won. Now I need to watch a debate, or at least read the post debate round ups to figure which view is the correct one?

I'm officially give Palin the 20A4 thumbs up just because I like her style. Biden gets the big thumbs down because he reminds me of a Fire Sign Theatre skit about about bunch of drunken Senators. Or was it chicken straighteners?

I forget.

Today's Catch Phrase is...

Hey, Yorgi!

Russia sees in credit crisis end of U.S. domination

Then they knocked over the vodka bottle and woke up...

The Russian president said in a speech Thursday that the financial crisis in the United States should be taken as a sign that America's global economic leadership is drawing to a close, reiterating an argument that leaders here have been making for some time, though investors in recent weeks have been fleeing Russia and depositing money in U.S. Treasury bills.

right... American bad, Russia good...

Perhaps inevitably for a country long lectured to by the United States, Russia is using the occasion of the U.S. financial crisis to do some lecturing of its own.

Because they are so well qualified to lecture on things... like assassination and invasions...

President Dmitri Medvedev said Thursday that the U.S. crisis showed that "the times when one economy and one country dominated are gone for good." Speaking of the United States, Medvedev said the world no longer needed a "megaregulator."

Or any regulations apparently...

Russia has argued that the freewheeling Anglo-American style of capitalism is to blame for the crisis, a position echoed by Germany and other Continental European nations. Medvedev even called it financial "egoism."

Yep, its that free wheeling little guy from the Monopoly Game. It's all his fault.

A drumbeat of similar pronouncements has been heard in Russia in recent days. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin made a major speech Wednesday on U.S. financial "irresponsibility," blaming the plunge of more than 50 percent in the Russian stock market on the global economic slowdown and U.S. financial turmoil, rather than on any troubles endemic to Russia.

Troubles like Mr. Putin for example.

Debates

Two debates to watch last night and I could stand about three minutes of the US VP debate and exactly 43 seconds of the Canadian "Engrish" debate. Why am I so unable to observe such important political events such as this? Because these aren't really debates. The moderators are biased, and the debate is more akin to the cheap shot put down humour made popular by todays television situation comedy. I may as well loop Pee Wee Herman saying "I know you are but what am I?" for an hour and watch that.

Ralph Mouth

But it Works in the Third World

Voter fraud alert: More thug thizzlin’ in Ohio

Michelle Malkin points out more voter dodge in the US of A. The Thai Rak Thai party used this sort of thing as well as vote buying to win several elections in Thailand. I am surprised by the GOP Poll observers being turned away though. That has to be illegal in some way or another. The USA is certainly rushing towards officially becoming a Third World Country this way.

All Your Skype Belong To Us

Imagine this... A Communist Government is SPYING on it's country's citizens and censoring what they can see and say...

Surveillance of Skype messages found in China

A group of Canadian human-rights activists and computer security researchers has discovered a huge surveillance system in China that monitors and archives certain Internet text conversations that include politically charged words.

The system tracks text messages sent by customers of Tom-Skype, a joint venture between a Chinese wireless operator and eBay, the Web auctioneer that owns Skype, an online phone and text messaging service.

The discovery draws more attention to the Chinese government's Internet monitoring and filtering efforts, which created controversy this summer during the Beijing Olympics. Researchers in China have estimated that 30,000 or more "Internet police" monitor online traffic, Web sites and blogs for political and other offending content in what is called the Golden Shield Project or the Great Firewall of China.

The activists, who are based at Citizen Lab, a research group that focuses on politics and the Internet at the University of Toronto, discovered the surveillance operation last month. They said a cluster of eight message-logging computers in China contained more than a million censored messages. They examined the text messages and reconstructed a list of restricted words.

The list includes words related to the religious group Falun Gong, Taiwan independence and the Chinese Communist Party, according to the researchers. It includes not only words like democracy, but also earthquake and milk powder. (Chinese officials are facing criticism over the handling of earthquake relief and chemicals tainting milk powder.)

Canuck-a-vote '08

Only in Canada would you have a debate in a language that most of the country doesn't speak.

Leaders attack Harper's economic policies

Opposition leaders ganged up Wednesday night to shake Stephen Harper's claim to be the fittest leader to guide Canada through economic turbulence, criticizing him during the French-language election debate for a do-nothing attitude reminiscent to that of U.S. President George W. Bush.

"You are the economic risk," Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion said as the five party leaders sparred in the first of two debates before the Oct. 14 election. "You don't believe in the role of government in the economy. We need to have a government that believes in the role of government."

The debate, which took place at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, was seen as critical to Mr. Harper's effort to win a majority government and to Mr. Dion's efforts to revive the faltering Liberal campaign. The bout saw Mr. Harper raked over the coals, smiling thinly as his opponents did most of the talking. Although there was no gotcha moment, the multipronged barrage did appear to leave the Conservative Leader resigned to having to weather the onslaught. The Conservatives hope to capitalize on their 2006 electoral breakthrough in Quebec, but their support has stalled this past week over cuts to arts funding and proposed tougher sentences for teenagers.

Onslaught? Lets see the opposition is made up of Quebec separatists (breaking up the country is good for the economy), The NDP (Socialists), The Liberals (Corrupt Uber-Bureaucrats) and the Green Party (Luddites).

VOLTRON!

Grenade Park

Live grenade found in Washington park

Several houses in Washington were evacuated on Wednesday after a live grenade was found in a nearby park, a police spokesman said.

City and military police were dispatched to disarm the device, which was found around 8 a.m. on a playing field in Rock Creek Park about 4 miles from the White House, Park Police spokesman Robert Lachance said.

Found On Road Dead

Ford's US sales drop 34 percent in September

Tight credit, economic worries and high gasoline prices combined to cut Ford Motor Co.'s U.S. sales once again in September, with the beleaguered automaker reporting a 34 percent decline from the same month last year.

But it's not because their cars are crap...

It was Ford's worst sales month this year, and the results are a strong indication that analysts' forecasts of another dismal month will come true.

Because in a month their cars will still be crap...

Hyundai Motor Co.

who's cars are also crap...

reported its U.S. sales fell 25 percent. Other automakers are set to release their results later Wednesday.

Analysts have predicted September declines of more than 20 percent for most major automakers when compared with the same month last year as upheaval in the financial markets unnerved consumers.

The Oracles have spoken! Sparta's army can not march!!

"Consumers and businesses are in a very fragile place," Jim Farley, Ford's group vice president for marketing, said in a statement. "An already weak economy compounded by very tight credit conditions has created an atmosphere of caution."

And Ford makes crap cars that are ugly, badly made and no one wants, he failed to add...

If overall U.S. industry sales drop in September, it will be the 11th straight monthly decline when compared with the year-ago period. That would be the longest string of down months since 14 straight negative months ended in December 1991, according to Autodata Corp.

Perhaps designing good cars that people want to buy is a novel new untried approach they might look at...

Dealers from many manufacturers have said their customers are having an increasingly hard time qualifying for loans to buy autos, as banks have restricted lending because of widespread mortgage defaults that led to disruptions in the financial markets and the collapse of several banks. Plus, several automakers' finance arms have limited or discontinued leasing.
Ford sales also were hurt as buyers continued to favor small fuel-efficient cars over trucks and sport utility vehicles. Truck sales were down 39 percent, while car sales dropped 19 percent.

Illegal downloading and kids spending their money on video games was also blaimed...

The numbers do not include Ford's Volvo Cars unit.

Because those cars aren't as crap...

We Love You Big Brother

Hippy Overlords Demand Year Zero

Meat must be rationed to four portions a week, says report on climate change

People will have to be rationed to four modest portions of meat and one litre of milk a week if the world is to avoid run-away climate change, a major new report warns.

Except for inner party members...

The report, by the Food Climate Research Network, based at the University of Surrey, also says total food consumption should be reduced, especially "low nutritional value" treats such as alcohol, sweets and chocolates.

Ministry of Truth reports Choco rations up to 4% from 8%...

It urges people to return to habits their mothers or grandmothers would have been familiar with: buying locally in-season products, cooking in bulk and in pots with lids or pressure cookers, avoiding waste and walking to the shops - alongside more modern tips such as using the microwave and internet shopping.

Urge... because Mommy Dirt is COUNTING on YOU...

The report goes much further than any previous advice after mounting concern about the impact of the livestock industry on greenhouse gases and rising food prices. It follows a four-year study of the impact of food on climate change and is thought to be the most thorough study of its kind.

Who pays for these studies anyways?

Tara Garnett, the report's author, warned that campaigns encouraging people to change their habits voluntarily were doomed to fail and urged the government to use caps on greenhouse gas emissions and carbon pricing to ensure changes were made. "Food is important to us in a great many cultural and symbolic ways, and our food choices are affected by cost, time, habit and other influences," the report says. "Study upon study has shown that awareness-raising campaigns alone are unlikely to work, particularly when it comes to more difficult changes."

Why not just declair it YEAR ZERO and move everyone on to collective rice farms? It worked so well for the Cambodians.

Safe, But Not Enough