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WikiLeaks

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange breaks cover but will avoid America

US desperate to ask hacker what he knows of classified messages about Iraq and Afghanistan wars

Julian Assange of WikiLeaks spoke to the Guardian in Brussels after emerging from a month in hiding

The elusive founder of WikiLeaks, who is at the centre of a potential US national security sensation, has surfaced from almost a month in hiding to tell the Guardian he does not fear for his safety but is on permanent alert.
Julian Assange, a renowned Australian hacker who founded the electronic whistleblowers' platform WikiLeaks, vanished when a young US intelligence analyst in Baghdad was arrested.
The analyst, Bradley Manning, had bragged he had sent 260,000 incendiary US state department cables on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to WikiLeaks.
The prospect of the cache of classified intelligence on the US conduct of the two wars being put online is a nightmare for Washington. The sensitivity of the information has generated media reports that Assange is the target of a US manhunt.
"[US] public statements have all been reasonable. But some statements made in private are a bit more questionable," Assange told the Guardian in Brussels. "Politically it would be a great error for them to act. I feel perfectly safe … but I have been advised by my lawyers not to travel to the US during this period."
Assange appeared in public in Brussels for the first time in almost a month to speak at a seminar on freedom of information at the European parliament.
He said: "We need support and protection. We have that. More is always helpful. But we believe that the situation is stable and under control. There's no need to be worried. There's a need always to be on the alert."
Manning is being held incommunicado by the US military in Kuwait after "confessing" to a Californian hacker on a chatline, declaring he wanted "people to see the truth".
He said he had collected 260,000 top secret US cables in Baghdad and sent them to WikiLeaks, whose server operates out of Sweden. Adrian Lamo, the California hacker he spoke to, handed the transcripts of the exchanges to the FBI.
Manning was promptly arrested in Baghdad at the end of last month and transferred to a US military detention unit in Kuwait. He has been held for more than three weeks without charge.
Assange said WikiLeaks had hired three US criminal lawyers to defend Manning but that they had been granted no access to him. Manning has instead been assigned US military counsel.
While WikiLeaks declined to confirm receipt of the material from Manning, it has already released a film of a US Apache helicopter attack on civilians in Baghdad.
It has also posted a confidential state department cable on negotiations in Reykjavik over Iceland's financial collapse and is preparing to disclose much more material, including film of a US attack that left scores of civilians dead in Afghanistan.
The material is believed to derive from Manning, although WikiLeaks does not reveal its sources and its operations are designed to mask the source of the files it receives.
Prominent US whistleblowers and lawyers have advised Assange to stay out of the US and to be ultra-careful about his travel and public appearances. "Pentagon investigators are trying to determine the whereabouts of [Assange] for fear that he may be about to publish a huge cache of classified state department cables that, if made public, could do serious damage to national security," US web paper the Daily Beast reported 10 days ago.
"We'd like to know where he is – we'd like his co-operation in this," a US official was quoted as saying.
Daniel Ellsberg, who leaked the Pentagon Papers – a top secret study about the Vietnam war – in 1973, spoke to the Daily Beast.
He said: "I would think that [Assange] is in some danger. Granted, I would think that his notoriety now would provide him some degree of protection."
Assange said: "Some fear for my life. I'm not one of them. We have to avoid some countries, avoid travel, until we know where the political arrow is pointing."
He added that WikiLeaks had been trying, "unsuccessfully so far", to contact Manning in Kuwait.
"Clearly, a young man is detained in very difficult circumstances with the allegation he is the whistleblower. We must do our best to obtain freedom for him."
Regarding his own predicament, Assange said the US state department had signalled it was not seeking any WikiLeaks people because the Pentagon's criminal investigations command had assumed the lead role in the case.
Apart from preparing much more material for release, WikiLeaks is planning to publicise a secret US military video of one of its deadliest air strikes in Afghanistan in which scores of children are believed to have been killed in May last year.
The Afghan government said about 140 civilians were killed in Garani, including 92 children. The US military initially said that up to 95 died, of whom about 65 were insurgents.
US officials have since wavered on that claim. A subsequent investigation admitted mistakes were made.
In April WikiLeaks released the Baghdad video, prompting considerable criticism of the Pentagon.
The film was edited and produced in Iceland where Assange spends a lot of his time and which last week prepared the most radical and liberal freedom of information legislation anywhere in the world.
Birgitta Jonsdottir, an Iceland MP and anti-war activist who led the drive for the new laws, co-produced the WikiLeaks version of the Baghdad video.
"I worked on it 18 hours a day through the Easter holidays," she said.
Jonsdottir, a close associate of Assange, said the WikiLeaks founder "went into hiding when the story of Manning's arrest was published".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jun/21/wikileaks-founder-julian-assange-breaks-cover

Comic-Con Is Back!

(CBS) CBS heroes and the anti-heroes of Showtime will make their mark at Comic-Con 2010 in San Diego.

It runs from July 21-25.

The CBS presence, through panels, a booth, autograph signings and a joint "Fandemonium" party with Entertainment Weekly, will provide Comic-Con fans with multiple opportunities to engage with CBS and Showtime Networks' popular stars and creative teams.

"The Early Show" will be there. S[ecial correspondent and "Superfan" Tyler McGill will mix with the ultimate fans of pop culture and report live from the convention on Friday, July 23. It will be his fourth special assignment for the show since his on-air debut last month, when he discussed his 218-mile walk from Boston to New York to win Celtics playoff tickets.

The Showtime and CBS panels will include a session on the three-time Emmy Award-nominated and Peabody Award-winning series "Dexter"; a special Showtime anti-hero panel featuring the stars and creative talent behind some of television's most subversive characters, including "Weeds," "Nurse Jackie" and "Californication"; a session on the highly-anticipated return of the iconic series "Hawaii Five-0"; and CBS's "Teching Out on TV" panel comprised of stars who play the beloved tech-geek characters on "NCIS," "NCIS: LA" and "Criminal Minds," to be joined by both the creator and technical expert behind "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation."

Entertainment Weekly and CBS will jointly celebrate all things pop culture -- including the fans -- at their "Fandemonium" event on Thursday, July 22. The party will bring together stars from CBS's primetime line-up, EW.com bloggers Michael Ausiello and Jeff "Doc" Jensen, and fans attending the convention for an evening of fun, food, drinks and a live Q&A moderated by Entertainment Weekly Managing Editor, Jess Cagle.

At the CBS booth, a fun mix of CBS and Showtime talent and producers will sign autographs. Among many giveaways and contests will be the chance to win a vacation getaway to the filming location of "Hawaii Five-0," on the island of Oahu. The cast will be on-hand exclusively to sign free, specially-produced Comic-Con-"Hawaii Five-0" collectors' posters.

Since no one would savor Comic-Con more than the brilliant and quirky characters on the phenomenally popular CBS comedy series "The Big Bang Theory," it's more than fitting that, in conjunction with Warner Bros. Television, the celebrated series' cast will interact with fans at the CBS booth, the Warner Bros. booth and the CBS/Entertainment Weekly "Fandemonium" party. On Friday, July 23, the cast will participate in Warner Bros. Television's "The Big Bang Theory" panel.

Those who can't attend Comic-Con can follow the extensive on-site video and text coverage on CBS Interactive's TV.com and Gamespot.com. TV.com's editorial team will provide round-the-clock coverage of the biggest news on the hottest television shows at the convention, including interviews and coverage broadcast from the CBS booth on the exhibit floor. GameSpot.com, covering Comic-Con from a video game perspective, will feature stage demonstrations as well as interviews with the biggest movers and shakers in the gaming industry.

Additionally, Showtime Networks' SHO.com is launching a dedicated Comic-Con micro site that will host the season five "Dexter" trailer and content from the anti-hero panel, both to be showcased after their respective panels.

Showtime's anti-hero messaging will be prominently featured throughout Comic-Con with high-impact advertising both inside and outside of the convention center. The official lanyards for the over 130,000 Comic-Con attendees will be branded by Showtime's anti-hero creative, and in a media company first, so will every shuttle bus at Comic-Con.

Showtime will also launch "Dexter Game On" DexterGameOn.com, an interactive game exclusively for Comic-Con where players will step into Dexter's mind and unlock content from season five.
As devoted "Dexter" fans know, all of Dexter's victims are marked with a small incision on their right cheek, and fans at Comic-Con can show their love for the series by sporting a "Dexter" cheek slash tattoo. SHOWTIME will distribute over 100,000 lick-'n-stick tattoos throughout all four days of Comic-Con.

Fans are encouraged to take pictures of themselves at various locations around the convention and upload them to the "Dexter Game On" site. As they play throughout the weekend, gamers have the chance to unlock exclusive content and pick up "Dexter"-themed merchandise including season four DVDs.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/07/16/earlyshow/leisure/main6684608.shtml

I-580 Oakland shooter Byron Williams was Tea Party sympathizer

According to Bob Egelko and Henry K. Lee of the San Francisco Chronicle, the man who terrorized Oakland (causing Adams Point residents to take to online chat rooms about the helicopter and shooting noise) was a parolee named Byron Williams who hated left-wing politicians and had on a bullet-proof vest. In other words, a Tea Party sympathizer.
That he was on the Oakland stretch of I-580 may have been no accident, considering Oakland's a hot bed of left-wing political activity. Byron Williams also reads like a Tea Party sympathizer, and not exactly the warm and fuzzy kind. More like the kind that wants to harm you if you disagree with him.

Rush Limbaugh's a Tea Party hero

Is this what we're coming too? A Northern California man who's mother says was upset by "the way Congress was railroading through all these left-wing agenda items." Another Tea Party-type nut?
Doesn't that sound something like Joe Stack, the man who flew his plane into the Austin, Texas IRS Building earlier this year and who was called a Tea Party sympathizer? Or how about the Tea Party Express' Mark Williams, who just last week wrote a racist blog post against the NAACP? Someone white, male, generally middle-aged, at times not economically successful or comfortable, and angry, and who wants to take a gun or a plane (or a blog) to wreck society? All because they say they don't like the left wing political agenda (whatever that is, since the left can't seem to agree on things), when the real issue is they can't get a good job? Rush Limbaugh, this is your fault.
As I've written before, the USA's got to fix this economy, and the only fast way is with another stimulus package. But I will put a finer point on it: the GOP has two problems: it's becoming known by the company it draws in loony-bin angry older white men like Rush Limbaugh and who want to harm people either mentally or physically, and really because their own economic lot isn't great (except for Rush, who makes a half-billion off hate), and the GOP is not helping President Obama fix the economy. So the GOP and the Tea Party, and its extremist expressions of hate for liberal politics are in a way responsible for encouraging the actions of i-580 Shooter (now he has a title) Byron Williams, and for Joe Stack too.
The GOP better look at itself and start being part of the solution, because it and Fox News are helping to produce domestic terrorists at an alarming rate. Republicans can't just ignore the Tea Party Express, it must totally repudiate it, and the actions of its most hateful members. Fox News has to stop being the place where people like Byron Williams and his Mom get their half-basked anti-American-government ideas, and, I assert, become so riled up they take action against America and its people.

Mel Gibson Roars Oral Sex Demands in Newest Tape

Mel Gibson Roars Sex Demands in Fourth
Telephone Attack on Oksana

In RadarOnline.com's fourth blistering Mel Gibson audio rant, the actor literally roars (think tape two) for oral sex while threatening to burn the house down.

"I deserve to be b***n first! Before the f***ing Jacuzzi! Okay? I'll burn the goddamn house up, but b**w me first!" Gibson, 54, thunders, so enraged that he's left panting for breath.

Oksana Grigorieva, 40, also apparently sought the number of Gibson's therapist, giving him more ammo to unload. "Don't you ever speak to him! Find your own g*****n therapist! Because you've got problems more than me!"

Oksana maintains supreme calm throughout the new three-minute tape.
Gibson seems to be raging over an incident that occurred with Grigorieva the evening before (honestly, it's hard to tell). "I should've woken you up and said f****ng b**w me b***h!" Mel explodes. "I should've f***in' woken you up and said, 'B**w me!' You would've liked that better, yeah? But you need the g****n sleep!"

Oksana defends herself, saying she waited in bed for him but fell asleep. This sends Mel careening off the deep end once more: "Waited and waited! What, two and a half f***ing minutes?! You're f***ing snoring. Don't you dare."

The couple have restraining orders filed against each other and are warring for custody of 8-month-old daughter Lucia. "You're a liar and you're dishonest and you're f***ed up! So you stay the f*** away from me! Take care of your f***ing son and I better have my daughter! I just want my daughter and a maid! It's a lot less f***ing trouble! They clean up after themselves, they make your g*****n bed, which you did not! You don't have to worry about emotional blackmail or any of the other bull***t you put me through. I just need a nice woman to look after my beautiful daughter."

In the previous tapes, Gibson admits to punching Oksana and threatens to kill her -- "I'll put you in the f*****g rose garden you c**t! You understand that? Because I'm capable of it." Sources tell TMZ that incidents also occurred in February and that Grigorieva spoke to deputies on Monday.

The pair broke up in April after dating for a little over a year. At the time, Grigorieva was quoted as merely saying, "We have split up, suddenly and recently ... Unfortunately, I cannot give you the reason. But you will find out everything quite soon."

The couple made their first public appearance only a few weeks after Gibson's wife of over 30 years, Robyn, filed for divorce. Gibson has seven children from that marriage. Grigorieva has a son, Alexander, from a previous relationship with actor Timothy Dalton.

http://www.popeater.com/2010/07/14/mel-gibson-tapes-rant/?sem=1&ncid=searchusnews00000004&s_kwcid=TC|11111|mel%20gibson%20tape||S||6021996513

David Villa

Spain had just defeated Portugal 1-0 and Vicente del Bosque was standing at the side of the pitch, a microphone under his moustache, when the camera panned back. There, over his shoulder in the stands at the Green Point Stadium was a banner. On it was the slogan: "¿¡Luis, por qué no te callas?!" Luis, why don't you just shut up?!
Fat chance. There was no way Luis Aragonés was going to shut up. After all, he was being paid for commentating on Spain for the TV channel Al Jazeera; for the duration of the World Cup talking is his job. Besides, he seemed to quite enjoy putting the boot into del Bosque, the man he reckoned had jumped into his job with indecent haste. Still, at least this time the former Spain coach would surely have something positive to say.
Spanish fans had grown annoyed with Aragonés' attacks on the man who followed him into the Spain job. When he said that Spain's opening match defeat had been "coming for some time," most considered his jibes bitter and opportunistic. Famously bad-tempered, he was still furious at his departure from the national team and sour at the way the RFEF handled the appointment of del Bosque, his successor.
And yet while they rallied around the current coach, while they appealed for unity and sniped at the snipers, bit-by-bit some Spanish fans and media commentators were struck by a worrying thought: what if the former coach was right? This had not been the best of World Cups so far. They had been beaten and even when they won they didn't win the right way. Their precise, short-passing style has been described as tiki-taka, roughly "touch-touch" but some suggested it had deserted them. There was tiki but no taka.
Spain didn't look much like, well, Spain.
Tuesday night, at last, it did. Certainly by the end, it did. Before the match Aragonés said that he didn't have much confidence in Spain. By the end of it, everyone else did. Before the game, he said Portugal might win "quite easily." By the end of it, Spain had. By the end of it, everyone was delighted. An occasionally nervy, heavy-legged first half -- the opening 10-minute burst apart -- gave way to an impressive second.
At half time, Spain had dominated possession but not found a way through against a side that had kept 20 clean sheets in their last 25 games. David Villa had drawn the best save but the chances had not been clear cut. Fernando Torres still looked some way off the pace, his touch deserting him. Worse, at the other end, Iker Casillas had twice fumbled what looked like routine catches. He redeemed himself by being very alert, quickly off his line to break down a swift Portuguese attack -- but that only served to increase the feeling of vulnerability.
Some could not help being reminded of the opening match against Switzerland, when a sucker punch, a goal that looked like a slapstick comedy routine, had condemned Spain to only its second defeat in 50 games. Everyone was looking at the possible changes, demanding them. Some wanted an extra midfielder to give them fluidity -- Cesc Fàbregas or David Silva. Some wanted a winger -- Jesús Navas or Juan Manuel Mata. Most wanted one less defensive midfielder, to jettison Sergio Busquets or Xabi Alonso in favor of a creative force. And many wanted Torres off.
Few wanted Torres off for Fernando Llorente. It was a change that implied no change in terms of formation and approach; another physical center forward to occupy the defenders. More of the same. But that was the change Vicente del Bosque went for. Patience, he had decided, was a virtue. Others may have doubted Spain but afterwards del Bosque, his voice hoarse said: "On the inside, we think we have been playing well. We weren't worried." There was no need to panic. He has insisted over and over that, despite arguments to the contrary, there has been no diluting la selección's style, even if there have been variations added. He has not committed treason against it.
Soon patience -- and the introduction of Llorente, who was excellent -- had its reward in the form of the kind of goal that many Spanish commentators like to think is the typical Spanish goal. There was plenty of tiki and this time there was plenty of taka too, Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta cleverly combining in the tightest of spaces to release Villa for his fourth of the tournament -- taking him level at the top of the charts. Top scorer at Euro2008, he is on course to be top scorer at South Africa 2010.
The moment the ball went in, the game was over. The moment the ball went in Spain became Spain. But Spain had been given the chance to become Spain by being Spain in the first place. If you see what I mean ... Portugal had to react but it couldn't. Not because the Portuguese are a bad side -- although they are not especially good and they're certainly not a team built to carry the game to the opposition; their tactics consist of waiting for the counterattack -- but because once the Spanish are in front they are an exceptional one.
There have been many myths built around tika-taka. Such as the insistence that at Euro2008, Spain relied solely on neat passing and short balls, never going direct and never opting for pace or power -- resources that are often treated as if they are somehow morally inferior. Another is that tiki-taka is a route to goal, a purely offensive tactic. In fact, it is a defensive one too. Spain defends with the ball; few teams, perhaps none, can kill a game better. On Tuesday, Portugal could not even begin to find a way back into the game. Why? Because it just could not get near the ball to attack Spain.
Eased of the burden of having to score, Spain settled into a mesmerizing rhythm. The final 20 minutes were frustrating for the Portuguese; they were gripped by impotence. "Spain move the ball well, they keep possession and they scored the goal," said the Portugal manager Carlos Queiroz, with a resignation that suggested that he knew that victory had become impossible the moment Villa found the net.
Spain played a proper team, theoretically one of the tournament's strongest, and while a first goal for Portugal would certainly have changed things, it was a convincing win. In the end the Spanish boasted over 60 percent of the possession and had 10 shots on target to Portugal's three. The confidence, dented in the first three games, flooded back. Vicente was vindicated; the players, too.
When the final whistle went, the commentator shouted out: "We have seen the best of Spain, the Spain of the European Championships. We could not be happier." Down on the touchline, his pitch side reporter was talking to del Bosque, who dared to admit that his team was hopeful of "making history." Meanwhile, over on the other channel, Luis Aragonés said: "After half time Spain had possession and confidence. Quite honestly, they surprised me." But this time no one was listening.

iPhone 4 Problems

UPDATE: Apple has acknowledged the antenna problem. Steve Jobs told one iPhone 4 owner to hold it differently. He told another that "there is no reception issue. Stay tuned."
Original: Apple's iPhone 4 is off to a rough start (sales numbers, excepted).
The phone is barely in the hands of consumers, and there have been widespread gripes from early adopters. Some of these aren't one-off whines either--in one case, they involve a legitimate concern that seems to affect every unit.
The biggest complaint to emerge is that the phone's signal strength drops when a user grips the phone by the metal antenna band. Gizmodo has over a dozen videos of users showing off this problem.
We've run the same test on our phone. When we held the phone in front of us in our left hand with our fingers touching the metal band, the bars representing signal strength dropped from 5 to 1 in less than a minute.
The problem appears to involve finger-contact on certain parts of the metal band. When we switched the phone to our right hand (which put our fingers in different positions), the signal strength remained the same.
This is a strange error. Assuming the signal strength actually affects the quality of phone calls, Apple had better be able to fix this problem with a firmware update, or it will likely have millions of irate customers.
Other reported iPhone 4 problems are of the one-off type. They include screens shipping with discoloration, including yellowing in the bottom right corner and fragility. The iPhone has already been scratched by at least one user, and another user says s/he dropped an iPhone from a foot up and the glass back of the phone shattered.
Apple will likely sell 1+ million units today, so the scratched, broken, and yellow phones don't seem much of a concern (although any other company would be catching hell for them). The reception problem, however, could be a big issue.

http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-4-problem-2010-6

England, and so, its Germany in the Last 16

With a sort of grim inevitability, England will play Germany on Sunday. England performed really well to finally get off to winning ways this Afternoon, but as did USA just about, which put England second in the group. A stunning German winner means its the old enemy in the next round. I know, I know. You aren’t looking forward to it. Germany looked fantastic in their opener against Australia, were robbed of at least a draw in the second game, and did enough in the third.
The Germans are not invincible. If we play to our full strength, we’ve got every chance I think. And while there is no team I would hate to be knocked out by, there are fewer teams I’d love to see us beat. Especially on penalties.

Ah yes penalties. Its pretty tempting to conclude that those might come up on Sunday night. How sweet would it be to finally beat the hoodoo against the Germans?
I’m saying lets be realistic, but lets be positive. I mean, what the hell. No-one in this tournament has stood really far out just yet, and maybe we can have a run at it. We’ll probably have Argentina in the next round, and I think that’s winnable. But lets not get ahead of ourselves. Its Germany, Sunday, and its not as bad as you think.
We’re unbeaten, and the only goal we’ve conceded was a freak goal. We’ve reasons to be cheerful if we can start playing well as well.

http://england.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2010/and-so-its-germany-in-the-last-16.html

France World Cup

Les Bleus broke our hearts…and (as fans) we deserve better

With the events over the past few days, its easy to feel like the Bleus have turned their back on the fans

*Post written to the tune of Everybody Hurts by REM…audio at bottom of post (below the jump)*

Please note: The timeline of events has been updated thanks to additions and clarifications made in the comments section of the post. Credit to Justin and Sandrahn!

I’ve been a fan of the Bleus since 1998, ever since the team’s glorious World Cup win in Paris – I became a passionate fan of the Bleus after their infamous first round exit in the 2002 World Cup. But, the feeling of losing so miserably after such joyous feelings and high expectations upset me, and formed my desire to follow the team until the day they would avenge the past and win the World Cup again. With each year I’ve become more enthralled with the Bleus- and though I joined the France-mania in 1998, I’m hardly a fair weather fan who jumped on the bandwagon. Since 2002,I can count the number of games I’ve missed on one hand. At times, it’s even mysterious to me how I have developed such a strong connection with Les Bleus. There have been a lot of times when I could have abandoned the team because the Bleus are not always an easy team to love. Growing up in Texas (the founder of freedom fries), it was hardly a passion that was encouraged and I’m pretty sure I was the only one on the France bandwagon. Even outside of those cultural issues, both the French Football Federation’s as well as the team’s performances and behavior the past decade have alienated even their most ardent supporters. In 2006, France fans were given a brief reprieve when they managed to string together 3 magnificent performances in a row (Spain, Brazil, Portugal) to make it to the finals of the 2006 World Cup in Germany. For reasons we all know, we did not win that Cup. And it is clear that without a miracle, we will not win it this year either. And it breaks my heart. Really.

There are differences in fans’ dedication levels. Bandwagon or fair-weather fans will get excited and follow teams only when they’re playing well or during big competitions such as the World Cup. But hardcore fans get very connected emotionally and dedicate themselves to the team every year, despite its record. These people experience powerful emotions from watching the team and support them through the ecstasy of winning and the agony of defeat. These are the types of fans which seemingly live and die with their favorite teams and athletes. In any match, scenes of one fan throwing back their head in desperation are juxtaposed against the opposition’s supporters jumping up and down in jubilation. While the Mexican fans broke our their sombreros and tequila (before you accuse me of breaking out an ethnic stereotype, some of them actually did that), France fans experienced a barrage of emotions: sadness that their team was most likely going home in the first round, anger that the players didn’t seem to care, confusion over why a team of talented players could create neither a credible offense or defense and frustration that had the FFF made changes in 2008, this could have been avoided.

That bond is a two-edged sword. A win by your favorite team can pick you up, but a loss is demoralizing (to say the least). Beyond losses, fans can feel a personal connection to players, which is why when even “off the field” scandals like Frank Ribery’s occur, fans can feel betrayed. There’s a lot in my relationship with the Bleus that I’m not proud of. I’ve cancelled lunches and dates at the movies because a game was on. My temper has snapped like a twig more than a few times and I’ve yelled at everyone in the room when the pundit misrepresented or distorted game or a player, or when one of my friends had the audacity to chat during a game. Of course if we won, it’s shots for everybody…

As a France fan, I’ve experienced many great and unforgettable moments. But as Bleus supporters know too well, there have been too many moments when they find a way to break your heart. When I saw Fabio Cannavaro and the rest of the Italian team raise the Cup in 2006 and heard the celebration from the Spanish fans in 2008, it was gut-wrenching. But neither of those can compare to what I have felt since the game against Mexico on Friday.

Since then, the shit has really hit the fan and I have felt more like I was watching a soap opera unfold rather than a team of world-class professionals participate in one of the biggest events in their career. While it was clear going into this tournament that all was not well, I never would have imagined that things would spiral out of of control this quickly. We all knew Domenech was not the right man to lead the Bleus for this tournament – that was abundantly clear in 2008. But, for reasons they have yet to explain, the FFF declared he was the appropriate man for South Africa. Since then, the atmosphere surrounding a team has resembled a country about to break into civil war. The FFF were pitted against both the public and the their famous alumni who repeatedly (every chance they got) denounced the FFF and Domenech. For most of the two years, Domenech has taken a majority of the hits and criticism. And while he is certainly not blameless by any means, surely we can all agree that there is enough blame to go around. But the lack of transparency and the team’s insistence of shrouding everything in secrecy has made it difficult to determine how to assign the blame. Instead, we are left to put the pieces together by a dramatic press corps who seem more interested in selling papers than writing the truth, a team of players whose oversized egos result in them constantly deflecting and blaming everyone else, Domenech who is clearly clueless and has no clue what is going on and how to fix it as well as the Federation who appear willing to do almost anything to salvage their reputation. And yet none of these people appear willing to take any responsibility for the position we are in now. And what position is that, you ask? Let’s just summarize the events of the last few days…

http://france.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2006/les-bleus-broke-my-heart-but-its-time-to-move-on.html

At least 12 hurt after Chicago subway fire

CHICAGO (BNO NEWS) — At least twelve people were injured after a fire broke out in the Chicago subway near Chicago Station on Sunday afternoon, authorities said.
The fire broke out at around 5 p.m. local time when railroad ties caught fire, creating large amounts of black smoke. The fire, in which no trains were involved, was extinguished nearly an hour later.

Chicago Fire Department spokesman Richard Rosado said at least 12 people sustained injuries, including five people who were taken to area hospitals in a critical condition. A Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) worker who sustained smoke was among the injured.
CTA spokeswoman Catherine Hosinski said power was cut off to the Red Line at 5.10 p.m., and said trains are being re-routed to the elevated tracks between Fullerton and Cermak-Chinatown.
“The Chicago Fire Department is on scene and is inspecting the tracks,” Hosinski said.
The cause of the fire is being investigated.

http://wireupdate.com/local/at-least-12-hurt-after-chicago-subway-fire/

BP 'small people' comment causes anger along Gulf

VENICE, La. — The "small people" of the Gulf Coast have a humongous message for oil giant BP: They're tired of the company's big-time executives making insensitive comments.
On Wednesday, BP Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg told reporters in Washington: "I hear comments sometimes that large oil companies are greedy companies or don't care, but that is not the case with BP. We care about the small people."
Orange Beach, Ala., Mayor Tony Kennon laughed when he heard Svanberg's remark.
"They can call me small, miniature, they can call me anything they want. Just write the check and send it to us," he said.
But Justin Taffinder of New Orleans was not amused.
"We're not small people. We're human beings. They're no greater than us. We don't bow down to them. We don't pray to them," Taffinder said.
Svanberg is Swedish, and his comments — in English — may have been an unintentional slight. He uttered the remark to reporters following a joint press conference with President Barack Obama — who had spoke of the small business owners, the fishermen and the shrimpers affected by the spill.
But coastal residents already were angry over the oil spill disaster and at BP CEO Tony Hayward's earlier comments that he "wants his life back."
Asked about the chairman's remark, BP spokesman Toby Odone told The Associated Press in an e-mail that "it is clear that what he means is that he cares about local businesses and local people. This was a slip in translation."
Lyn Ridge, 47, ferried reporters to see oil clean up operations Wednesday in a bay at Plaquemines Parish. He just shook his head when told about the "small people" comment.
Ridge describes himself as "commercial contractor that can't find work and driving boat trying to make a living." To make matters worse, Ridge figures his house on the water in Myrtle Grove has lost half it's value due to the oil spill.
"They can say he didn't mean it that way, but that's how they think of us," Ridge said. "They can't keep their foot out of their mouth," he added referring to another BP executive's desire to have his life back.
In Alabama, Terry Hanners, who owns a small construction company in Gulf Shores, said the chairman's remark revealed something about BP's frame of mind.
"These BP people I've met are good folks. I've got a good rapport with them," said Hanners, 74. "But BP does not care about us. They are so far above us. We are the nickel-and-dime folks of this world."
Kennon said he is relieved that BP agreed to put $20 billion in an escrow fund, and joked, "They better be lucky I called off the invasion of 10,000 rednecks with their rifles headed toward England anyway."

Pre-Order iPhone 4 Now !

Apple Store is back! and guess what? It is now accepting pre-orders for the new iPhone 4. For those of you who want the new full white iPhone 4 are out of luck for now as currently only the black one is available for pre-order.

iPhone 4 is available in two sizes: the 16GB model which costs US $199 and the 32GB model which costs US $299. iPhone 3GS 8GB is also available for pre-order for just US $99. All these devices will ship on 24th June 2010.
Apple iPhone 4 was earlier unveiled by Steve Jobs at WWDC 10 along with iOS 4 (formerly iPhone OS 4). iOS 4 will be available for public download on 21st June.
Head over to Apple Store now to pre-order yours before it gets too late !

http://www.redmondpie.com/pre-order-apple-iphone-4-now/

Texas Pac 10

AUSTIN, TEXAS — The Big 12 is alive and kicking.

The University of Texas on Monday said it was staying in the Big 12, followed moments later by pledges from Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M to remain in a league that had seemed to be falling apart last week when Nebraska (Big Ten) and Colorado (Pac-10) decided to leave over the next two years.
The Texas announcement came shortly after Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott confirmed to The Associated Press in an e-mail that Texas had declined an invitation to become the 12th member of his conference. Scott said Texas president William Powers Jr. told him "the 10 remaining schools in the Big 12 Conference intend to stay together."
Powers wouldn't give any details about why the school decided to stay put when asked by the AP. The school has scheduled a news conference for this morning.
A person with direct knowledge of discussions among the Big 12's remaining members said Texas is clear to set up its own TV network and keep all proceeds in exchange for remaining in the Big 12. The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because nothing has been finalized, said details were still being worked out.
The fate of the conference born in 1996 when the Big 8 merged with four members of the Southwest Conference has been at risk for days, and Texas emerged as the key to the Big 12's survival. The Pac-10 courted Texas and other Big 12 South Division schools, while Texas A&M reportedly expressed interest in going to the Southeastern Conference barring a better offer.
"Texas A&M is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference and will continue to be affiliated with the conference in the future," school president R. Bowen Loftin said in a statement.
Officials at Oklahoma State and Oklahoma issued similar statements, with OSU president Burns Hargis singling out Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe for his "bold moves and intense efforts."
Beebe did not return messages seeking comment Monday.
The news that the Big 12 survived spread quickly.
"That's great news," said Scott Drew, whose Baylor men's basketball team advanced to the South regional final in the NCAA tournament a few months ago. "Obviously, we're very excited and pleased about the 10 schools staying together. It will be great to continue the rivalries and traditions."
Texas A&M had represented another wild card, with school officials meeting with Pac-10 and SEC officials in recent days. If the Aggies are serious about leaving for the SEC, no matter what Texas and the others decide, would that prompt the Longhorns, Sooners and the rest to decide the Big 12 is not worth saving with only nine members?
Texas A&M regent Gene Stallings said Monday he wants the Big 12 to survive and would vote to keep the Aggies in the league if they don't get a much better offer. Stallings told The Associated Press that keeping the Big 12 together "would tickle me to death."

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100614/SPORTS53/6140354/Texas-announces-plan-to-remain-in-Big-12

Helen Thomas

Helen Thomas issued the following statement today: “I deeply regret my comments I made last week regarding the Israelis and the Palestinians. They do not reflect my heart-felt belief that peace will come to the Middle East only when all parties recognize the need for mutual respect and tolerance. May that day come soon.” (June 4, 2010)

Listen Up, Mr. President
Helen Thomas has covered the administrations of ten presidents in a career spanning nearly sixty years. She is known for her famous press conference closing line, "Thank you, Mr. President," but her most recent book she trades deference for directness. Thomas holds nothing back in "Listen Up, Mr. President," a witty, history-rich lesson plan of what it takes to be a good president. Combining sharp observation and dozens of examples from the first presidency through the forty-fourth, the book outlines the qualities, attitudes, and political and personal choices that make for the most successful leaders, and the least. Calvin Coolidge, who hired the first professional speechwriter in the White House, illuminates the importance of choosing words wisely. William Howard Taft, notorious for being so fat he broke his White House bathtub, shows how not to cultivate a strong public image. John F. Kennedy, who could handle the press corps and their questions with aplomb, shows how to establish a rapport with the press and open oneself up to the public. Ronald Reagan, who acknowledged the Iran-Contra affair in a television address, demonstrates how telling hard truths can earn forgiveness and even public trust. By gleaning lessons from past leaders, "Listen Up" not only highlights those that future presidents should follow but also pinpoint what Americans should look for and expect in their president. Part history lesson, part presidential primer, "Listen Up, Mr. President" is smart, entertaining, and exceedingly edifying.

Watchdogs of Democracy?The legendary journalist and bestselling author, Helen Thomas, delivers a hard-hitting manifesto on the precipitous decline in the quality and ethics of political reportage—and issues a clarion call for change. In the course of more than sixty years spent covering Washington politics, Helen Thomas has witnessed firsthand a raft of fundamental changes in the way news is gathered and reported. Gone are the days of flying in Air Force One with JFK, as she once did. Now, Thomas sees a growing—and alarming—reluctance among reporters to question the government and probe for the truth. The result has been a wholesale failure by journalists to fulfill what is arguably their most vital role in contemporary American life—to be the watchdogs of democracy. Today’s journalists, to hear Thomas tell it, have become subdued, compromised lapdogs. Watchdogs of Democracy? provides readers with rich historical perspective on the roots of American journalism, the circumstances attending the rise and fall of its golden age, and the nature and consequences of its current lapses. Drawing on her peerless knowledge of Washington politics, as well as frank interviews with leading journalists past and present, Thomas delivers a powerful discourse on the state of political reportage—as well as a welcome and inspiring demand for meaningful and lasting reform.

http://helenthomas.org/

Nebraska to join Big Ten

The Big Red will be joining the Big Ten.
A source with knowledge of the expansion talks has confirmed to the Tribune that Nebraska will be invited to apply for Big Ten membership, a mere formality in the process. An announcement is expected Friday.
The league has not determined, the source said, whether it will remain at 12 schools or expand to 14.
Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said Sunday that the league "could act and act again" -- meaning that expansion could occur in phases..
Clearly, Delany knew that Nebraska, facing a loyalty ultimatum from the Big 12, would need resolution this week.

The Big Ten remains interested in both Notre Dame and Rutgers, and Delany appears willing to wait for a final response from the Irish.

A source at Notre Dame, though, indicated that the school likely has "moved on," with another saying that a top Notre Dame official assured the Big East that it intends to keep teams such as men's and women's basketball in the league.

If that's the case, the Big Ten appears likely to cap at 12 teams.

Part of the Big Ten's motivation to add only one school is its desire to avoid being viewed as responsible for causing college football Armageddon.

Texas officials have indicated that if Nebraska leaves, the Big 12 would dissolve, with Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Colorado poised to join the Pac-10.

The New York Times reported that top officials at Texas and Texas A&M will meet Thursday in a final effort to keep the league intact. Adding a school such as TCU would do just that.

Those Big 12 talks -- and the potential breakup of the league -- could affect Nebraska's financial penalty and whether the Cornhuskers can join the Big Ten by 2011.

Nebraska had been hell-bent on joining the Big Ten, a source said, and the interest was mutual. The Big Ten gets a huge name to boost its brand and it gives the league three of the five winningest Division I programs in history (along with Michigan and Ohio State; the other two are Notre Dame and Texas).

It allows the conference to form two divisions and create a conference title game, addressing Penn State coach Joe Paterno's criticism that the league now takes a siesta in December.

One logical projection would have Nebraska, Iowa, Northwestern, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota in the West and Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Michigan State, Purdue and Indiana in the East.

While it creates marquee, TV-friendly games such as Nebraska-Iowa and Nebraska-Wisconsin, expanding to 12 won't do much to stretch the reach of the Big Ten Network, which became profitable in its second year by attracting 45 million TV households.

Nebraska is a state of 1.8 million people and its largest TV market, Omaha, ranks 76th nationally with around 410,000 TV homes. That's smaller than Toledo.

Tom Osborne, the Nebraska athletic director who coached the Cornhuskers to national titles in 1994, '95 and '97 (shared with Michigan), said during a recent radio appearance that the school was not motivated by a publicly perceived beef with Big 12 rival Texas.

"This decision is not going to be based on animosity or petty jealousy," Osborne said. "You're talking about something that could maintain for the next 75-100 years

The Big Red will be joining the Big Ten.
A source with knowledge of the expansion talks has confirmed to the Tribune that Nebraska will be invited to apply for Big Ten membership, a mere formality in the process. An announcement is expected Friday.
The league has not determined, the source said, whether it will remain at 12 schools or expand to 14.
Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany said Sunday that the league "could act and act again" -- meaning that expansion could occur in phases..
Clearly, Delany knew that Nebraska, facing a loyalty ultimatum from the Big 12, would need resolution this week.

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/06/reports-nebraska-ready-to-join-big-ten.html

Gulf Oil Spill Florida

Florida fears contamination

A sunny afternoon on the coast of West Florida turned gloomy Thursday with the dread that a strong wind could push sticky, toxic petroleum onto its sugar-sand beaches and wildlife-rich wetlands. It felt like the sobering moments before a hurricane’s impact: Florida's governor, attorney general and chief financial officer and a U.S. senator dashed to the Pensacola area for briefings and inspections. Boat crews hurried to finish installing or repairing floating oil barriers.

Reports that sheen and tar balls -- or “oil balls” as they are often called around Pensacola -- have drifted to within half a dozen miles of the coast put the outer tentacles of the spill at its closest to Florida since crude began to spread across the Gulf of Mexico on April 22, in the wake of BP's catastrophic deep-sea well blowout.

On Thursday, Mike Newell converted his prized deep-sea charter fishing boat into a mud-dredging machine. He has had to cancel a month’s worth of outings because of federal closures of fishing areas -- now nearly a third of the gulf’s U.S. waters. Instead of hauling in blue marlin, he will now ferry scientists, beginning today, to dredge up samples of the gulf’s bottom to test for toxic crude.

“They told me I could be doing this for six days or six months,” said Newell, 63. “I just hope they don’t hang us out to dry. Our fishing season is over -- done.”

Wisteria Marchant, a Pensacola artist, brought her two preschool daughters to the beach Thursday, fearing it was the eve of a disaster. “My daughters’ lives will be defined by pre-spill and post-spill,” Marchant said.

U.S. Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, commander of the spill response, acknowledged in a media briefing that winds were driving crude oil north and east. “This is a collection of spills, not a monolithic spill,” Allen said. “It is approaching the southern areas of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida."
To defray Florida’s expenses preparing for oil damage, Gov. Charlie Crist on Thursday formally asked BP for an additional $50 million on top of $25 million BP has already paid. “It is critical that Florida be provided the resources to respond swiftly and effectively to safeguard our shores and estuaries from the continued potential impact to our shores,” Crist said in a letter to BP America President Lamar McKay. Money wasn’t the only focus. During visits to emergency operation centers, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) repeated his call for President Obama to order the military to take control of efforts to fight the spill. “If the oil continues to gush, you’re going to have so much oil out there it’s going to be one massive operation,” Nelson said. “There’s one organization that is unique to be able to do that, to have the command and control and to have the capability to coordinate the public sector and private sectors. And that’s the military.”

Moments before a helicopter tour with Crist, Florida Atty. Gen. Bill McCollum criticized a lack of equipment to keep the spill away from Florida shores, including boats equipped to skim oil from the water’s surface. He also found fault with "the absence of anyone on the ground to make an actual decision. Everything has to go back to a central command in Mobile [Ala.] and it takes a lot longer.”

The state's chief financial officer, Alex Sink, called for federal intervention of another sort -- compensating businesses distressed by the ripple effect of absent vacationers and beach-goers. She said two dozen owners of small businesses in Pensacola describe losses of “tens and sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars” and yet have received little compensation from BP.

“I think it’s time for BP to be out of the picture,” Sink said. “The federal government needs to come in here and provide immediate compensation for these businesses who are getting ready to lay off employees. BP is not the party to be making the decisions yes or no about the livelihood of these businesses.”

-- Kevin Spear in Pensacola Beach
Photo: Ibises in the Florida surf. Much of the state's wildlife is dependent on mangrove swamps and other wetlands along the coast. Credit: Everglades Foundation/Brian Call Photography

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2010/06/gulf-oil-spill-florida-politicians-.html

McDonald's

Parents worry about recall of McDonald's Shrek' glasses

Lorena Ortiz worries about toys, jewelry - and now "Shrek" glasses - getting recalled because of toxic metals.

With two small children at home, Oritz, of Fort Worth, Texas, worries about products that should be safe for them to use.

"We keep hearing about this more and more often," she said. "They should check to make sure it's safe. It's a responsibility they have."

This week, McDonald's was the latest company to pull items off shelves, in this case 12 million "Shrek"-themed glasses. The company is asking customers to stop using the glasses and is preparing to offer refunds starting Tuesday.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission said that cadmium was found in the painted design and that "long-term exposure to cadmium can cause adverse health effects."

That comes on the heels of other items restricted because of lead concerns, ranging from Miley Cyrus necklaces and bracelets pulled by Wal-Mart last month to dirt bikes and recreational vehicles for youths restricted last year because of a federal rule geared to keeping lead-filled toys out of children's hands and mouths.

"There's a concern," said Luis Ortiz, Lorena's husband, who said his family doesn't have any "Shrek" glasses. "It's getting unsafe for little things that should be safe."

HEALTH CONCERNS

The concern is the lead levels.

A child who consumes significant levels of lead can develop brain damage, kidney damage, colic, anemia and muscle weakness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cadmium, a byproduct of smelting metals such as lead and zinc, is used in products including paints, plastics and rechargeable batteries and is found in cigarettes. Low levels are in water, air and foods such as fruits and vegetables that may be grown in soil that has cadmium.

"Cadmium is very carcinogenic," said Stathis Meletis, professor and chairman of materials science and engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington. "A child can touch it, and it can transfer from the child's hands, if they don't wash their hands, into the body."

Long-term exposure to cadmium can cause problems in brain development for the very young and lead to kidney failure or bone softening. Anyone with concerns that a child has had lengthy exposure to cadmium should contact a doctor, Meletis said.

In 2008, Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, limiting the amount of lead allowed in toys or products for children to 600 parts per million. That led to the restriction of dirt bikes and even older children's books printed with ink that contained higher-than-allowed levels of lead. As for cadmium, no more than 75 parts per million are allowed in paint for children's toys.

VOLUNTARY RECALL

In the McDonald's case, a pigment in paint used on the "Shrek: Forever After 3D" collectable glasses contained cadmium. The 16-ounce glasses came in four designs - Shrek, Fiona, Puss n' Boots and Donkey - and had been sold for $2 each at McDonald's restaurants nationwide since last month, according to the safety commission.

They were manufactured by ARC International of Millville, N.J.

"We believe the "Shrek" glassware is safe for consumer use," McDonald's USA spokesman Bill Whitman told The Associated Press. "However, again to ensure that our customers receive safe products from us, we made the decision to stop selling them and voluntarily recall these products effective immediately."

The cadmium level came to light after someone tested the glasses and told U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif. Speier has proposed federal legislation to strictly limit cadmium in jewelry.

McDonald's officials said on their website that they had an accredited third-party laboratory test the glasses before they were sold to the public and that those results showed that the glasses were "in compliance with all applicable federal and state requirements at the time of manufacture and distribution."

But company officials said they decided a voluntary recall of the glasses would be appropriate.

Mia Sowell of Fort Worth doesn't have any "Shrek" glasses but wouldn't be especially concerned if she did.

"I try not to worry about it," said Sowell, who has a 6-year-old son. "I think these days people are overly worried about things. I was born in 1970, and I'm sure I had a lead-based crib.

"I think we are making (children) too soft, worrying about every little thing," she said. "If there's no significant problem, I don't worry about it."

RECALLS

Starting Tuesday, customers may get directions on how to return the "Shrek" glasses and get a refund by visiting www.mcdonalds.com/glasses or calling 800-244-6227. In recent years, many items for children have been recalled or restricted, including:

2010

January: The "Princess and the Frog" necklaces featuring pendants of metal crowns or frogs were recalled from Walmart stores because of high levels of cadmium. The necklaces were imported by FAF Inc. and sold between November 2009 and January.

March: "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" themed bracelets made by Buy Rite Designs of Freehold, N.J., and sold at dollar stores were recalled because of high levels of cadmium. The company has since gone out of business.

May: Cost Plus recalled Moroccan tea glasses because of "excessive" levels of lead in the coloring; Claire's Boutiques recalled children's "best friends" metal charm bracelets because of higher-than-allowed levels of cadmium.

2009

Toys or items with more than 600 parts per million of lead were deemed off-limits. That restricted the sales of items such as dirt bikes and recreational vehicles for youths. Items such as children's books printed before 1985, which likely used ink containing lead pigments, were off-limits.

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/06/07/1998242/parents-worry-about-recall-of.html

N.B.A. Finals

Kevin Garnett of the Celtics goes up for a shot against Pau Gasol
of the Lakers during the first quarter.

Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images Kevin Garnett of the Celtics shooting over Pau Gasol of the Lakers during the first quarter.

After the Lakers’ strong showing in a victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the N.B.A. finals, Pau Gasol described Kevin Garnett’s game as having “lost some of his explosiveness” and said Garnett was more of a “jump shooter” after a knee injury and two years since the team’s last played in the finals.
Garnett needed little added incentive. But however honest and innocent Gasol’s words were, they will be used as motivation in Game 2 as the Celtics try to even the finals before the series shifts to Boston.
This is Boston’s Catch-22. When they play well, it is because they are experienced. When they falter, it is because they are old. Which way they — and particularly Garnett — play tonight will be a large indicator of how the rest of the series will evolve.
As you follow along with us, here are some other plots to watch for:
Can Boston’s Ray Allen stay on the court? The Celtics need him to guard Kobe Bryant, but they need his offense even more. In Game 1, Allen never got into a rhythm after he picked up two quick fouls. He played only 27 minutes and finished with 12 points.
Whose bench will win out? The Lakers’ bench did not have much of an impact in Game 1 and Lamar Odom also had foul trouble. Boston’s bench of Rasheed Wallace, Nate Robinson, Tony Allen and Glen Davis needs have more of a positive impact in Game 2 and play better than the Lakers’ bench, which can either disappear or play splendidly on a nightly basis.
The power numbers. Before Game 1, Celtics Coach Doc Rivers told his players that if they outrebounded the Lakers, they would win. The Celtics lost on the backboard and the scoreboard by large numbers. Boston was also outscored in second-chance points, 16-0.
Can Kobe Bryant get open? Two years ago, Bryant couldn’t get anywhere without being flanked by Celtics defenders. In Game 1, Bryant got to his sweet spots with ease and picked apart the Celtics. Boston will have to adjust. Look for Bryant to be double-teamed early in Lakers’ possessions.
Can Rajon Rondo get going? Bryant is credited with playing him well defensively, although without anyone other than Paul Pierce shooting well for Boston, Rondo is not nearly as effective. If he can get into the lane, it will open up opportunities for other Celtics.

http://offthedribble.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/live-analysis-of-game-2-of-the-n-b-a-finals/

Israel attacks Gaza

The activists returned to a hero's welcome early Thursday with Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc saying they faced "barbarism and oppression" but returned with "pride." Hundreds of relatives and supporters burst into applause outside the airport, chanting "God is Great!"

Three air ambulance planes, carrying several wounded activists, have landed in Ankara earlier.

Israel has come under harsh international condemnation after its commandos stormed a six-ship aid flotilla Monday in international waters, setting off clashes that killed nine activists and wounded dozens.
William Hague, the foreign secretary, said he was "seriously concerned" at the seizure of British nationals in international waters.
He added that nine had still not been seen by consular staff, and complained of the difficulty in gaining access to the other 28.
"We are urgently pressing the Israeli government to resolve this situation within hours," Mr Hague said. "There is real, understandable and justified anger at the events which have unfolded.
"In some cases consular staff have been having to go to the prison at Beersheva, hammer on doors and ask people if they are British. It has been a chaotic situation, it is completely unsatisfactory."
Earlier in the day the prime minister, David Cameron, said the attack was "completely unacceptable".
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, last night rejected criticism of the raid, saying the flotilla was “directed by terrorists”.
In a statement broadcast from his office, Mr Netanyahu said the blockade was needed to prevent missile attacks against Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. “If the blockade had been broken, it would have been followed by dozens, hundreds of boats. Each boat could carry dozens of missiles.”
He said the Israeli takeover of five of the boats went relatively calmly, but on the Mavi Marmara “we saw an action directed by terrorists affiliated with Hamas. This was not the Love Boat.”
“There was an attempt to lynch Israeli soldiers,” he said. “Are these peace lovers, pacifists? These are supporters of terrorism, extremists.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/turkey/7799376/Gaza-flotilla-attack-first-detainees-arrive-in-Istanbul.html

Turkey maintains push for Israel sanctions

Israel said Tuesday it would not lift an embargo against Gaza despite new demands from Turkey that it be sanctioned for a battle on a ship that tried to break the Israeli blockade. The clash left nine activists dead and several soldiers wounded.

Turkey kept up the pressure on the United Nations to sanction Israel for a raid on the Turkish-flagged ship, part of an aid flotilla trying to reach Gaza. Turkey called the raid a "massacre," but Israel insisted it was within its rights to defend itself.

"Gaza is a terror state funded by the Iranians, and therefore, we must try to prevent any weapons from being brought into Gaza by air, sea and land," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday, according to Israeli media.

MORE: U.N. condemns Israeli flotilla raid, calls for investigation

The aftermath of the raid threatens to complicate the Obama administration's efforts to restart peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, analysts said Tuesday.

"This is the zenith of the tension," said Jonathan Schanzer, an analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington think tank. "The fear now is that the tension from this will spill over."

The White House said it supports a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an inquiry into the incident but did not condemn Israeli actions. "We are greatly supportive of their security," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said. "That's not going to change."

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said he was unhappy with the response.

"This is a criminal act," he said. "We don't need to make an investigation to see this."

Several Turks were among the pro-Palestinian activists killed after Israeli commandos dropped onto the deck of the Mavi Marmara on Monday to alter its course.

Video of the raid provided by Israel showed each commando being attacked as he was lowered by helicopter. People used metal pipes and bats, according to Israel. One soldier was thrown overboard by the activists and another tossed onto a deck 30 feet below before the commandos requested to use live fire, according to the Israeli Defense Forces.

Seven commandos were injured; two shot, it said.

Israel said 679 people were arrested and about 50 of those had left the country voluntarily. Those who refused to cooperate remained jailed.

Greta Berlin of the Free Gaza Movement, which helped organize the flotilla, said two other boats were due to confront the Israelis this week.

"This initiative is not going to stop," she said from the group's base in Cyprus.

Hamas, which took over Gaza in 2007, seeks the destruction of Israel and has fired thousands of rockets into Israeli towns. The blockade has been enforced by Israel and Egypt to prevent Hamas from obtaining weapons. Egypt said Tuesday it was temporarily opening its border with Gaza to allow in humanitarian aid.

Schanzer said the incident would make it difficult for President Obama to push for peace talks between Israel and Palestine anytime soon.

"They're going to have to get through this difficult period, and then the president will have to make the assessment whether we're even in an environment where the Muslim world will back continued talks," he said.

Turkey's Islamic-rooted administration, led by Tayyip Erdogan, has emerged as a leading voice against Israel and has backed Iran's attempts to thwart U.N. sanctions over its nuclear program. Erdogan empathizes with the Hamas-led government in Gaza, which has largely been ostracized by the United States since coming into power in 2007, said Henri Barkey, a Middle East analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington.

"This situation could enhance Turkey's opposition to any sanctions against Iran," Barkey said.

Barkey said Turkey has given de facto backing to one of the relief organizations, known as IHH, that sponsored the flotilla. The Israeli government has banned IHH, because it says the group has ties to terror organizations. Schanzer said IHH is connected to another aid group, Union of Good, an organization the U.S. Department of Treasury designated in 2008 a terrorist-sponsoring group funneling money to Hamas.

Barkey said Erdogan makes no apologies for his sympathies to Hamas.

"What the Turks are doing is trying to put their own stamp on international politics, and they're doing it very quickly and in a very dramatic way," Barkey said.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2010-06-01-gaza-flotilla_N.htm