Jorge Rodriguez Gets Shmit-Canned from WQAM
by FZ2878
It was a sad day for South Florida radio Thursday, when the listening community learned that the rumors had come to fruition, and Jorge Rodriguez, producer and longtime sidekick for the Neil Rogers Show had been “shmit” canned from 560 WQAM.The subject of Jorge’s forced departure from the show had been surfacing so often that many listeners in the audience thought that it was some kind of shtick to fill airtime. What made it even harder to believe was Neil’s claim that “Norma Can’t”, his attorney and agent had written his contract to give Neil the right to choose his own producer. Apparently Norma lived up to his name, “You Fairy!” If anyone should be fired, it should be that “Ass-clown” Norma. Of course even that would be too late to help Jorge. |
CDC swine flu report is ‘gross underestimate’
by Joe Byrne
The Center for Disease Control’s official report of 4,714 cases of confirmed or probable swine flu could be underestimating the impact of the disease by around 45,000 cases, according to the deputy director of the CDC’s influenza division.In a press conference yesterday, Dr. Daniel Jernigan took note of the difficulty in estimating how many Americans are infected with either seasonal or novel influenza(like swine flu) at any given time. “With the amount of activity we are seeing now, it is a little hard to know what that means in terms of making an estimate of the total number of people with flu out in the community.” However, when asked how many actual cases of influenza might currently exist nationwide, Jernigan acknowledged that the CDC numbers represented a gross underestimate. He told journalists, “if I had to make an estimate, I would say…probably upwards of maybe 100,000.” |
It’s official: Military tribunals will return, says Obama
by Agence France-Presse
President Barack Obama has revived Bush-era military tribunals for top Guantanamo Bay terror suspects that he once branded a “failure,” but proposed new rules on evidence and detainee rights.Rights campaigners reacted angrily, warning the move would prolong the “injustice” of the war on terror camp, days after Obama dismayed some backers by deciding to oppose the release of photos of Iraq and Afghan prison abuses. |
CIA on Pelosi: She's lying
by Dan De Luce
The CIA director strongly rejected accusations the agency had misled US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi about alleged torture of detainees amid a political uproar over the conduct of the "war on terror.""Let me be clear: It is not our policy or practice to mislead Congress. That is against our laws and our values," spy agency chief Leon Panetta said in a statement to Central Intelligence Agency employees. |
Cuban gays dance conga against homophobia
by Andrea Rodriguez
HAVANA -- President Raul Castro's daughter led hundreds of Cuban gays in a street dance Saturday to draw attention to gay rights on the island.Participants formed a carnival-style conga line around two city blocks to beat the of drums, accompanied by costumed stilt-walkers. Events also included educational panels and presentations for books, magazines and CDs about gay rights and sexual diversity. |
Treasures Lost to Time
by Bob Herbert
Shaquille O’Neal, already a basketball legend, was speaking in his soft, husky voice about men with names like Woody Sauldsberry, Cleo Hill and Ben Jobe.“Some of these guys, I’d never heard of in my life,” he said. “So I guarantee you the younger players have never heard of them.” |
Guns, Geysers and Mr. Reid
by Gail Collins
Whenever life feels dark and difficult, it’s always helpful to think about people who have it worse. Be thankful, for instance, that you’re not one of those co-pilots for regional airlines who make $16,000 a year and have to commute from Seattle to Newark. Or a person currently riding in a plane with a $16,000 co-pilot in the cockpit. Be thankful you aren’t a Chrysler dealer. Or Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. |
What's So Funny about Washington?
by Michael Winship
A joke is a sometime thing, as wide as a church door or as delicate as a rose. The right or wrong word, too many or too few, their placement or emphasis can determine whether it's a total dud or fall down funny; the difference, as Mark Twain said, between the lightning bug and lightning. |
Caught in a Lie: US is Using White Phosphorus in Afghanistan as a Weapon
by Dave Lindorff
When doctors started reporting that some of the victims of the US bombing of several villages in Farah Province last week--an attack that left between 117 and 147 civilians dead, most of them women and children--were turning up with deep, sharp burns on their body that "looked like" they'd been caused by white phosphorus, the US military was quick to deny responsibility. |
Mule Diddlers of the World - Unite!
by Jaime O'Neill
There's a guy running to become Governor of Georgia who says he'd sacrifice his livin' breathin' son to help end abortion. There was a time when the irony in that gubernatorial candidate's position might be a mite obvious, but given how dadgum dumb we've gotten as a nation after eight years with the village idiot as our leader, chances are lots of people in Georgia and throughout the land might miss the collision of thought that occurs when people are almost eager to whack an existing kid in order to spare one not yet born. |
Moscow police detain scores at gay pride rally
by David Nowak
MOSCOW (AP) -- Riot police broke up several gay rights demonstrations in Moscow on Saturday, hauling away scores of protesters hours before the capital hosted a major international pop music competition.No injuries were reported, but the detentions could damage Russia's desire to be seen as a modern nation as it holds the finals of the Eurovision song contest, a cultural event televised around the world. |
Consumer price drop is biggest since '55
by Ben Rooney
Government says 0.7% annual decline is the largest in nearly 54 years. Monthly prices unchanged.NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- A key index of prices paid by consumers fell at the sharpest rate since August 1955 due to historically low energy prices, the government said Friday. |
Spanish probe paints grim picture of Gitmo abuse
by Muriel Kane
According to journalist Jeremy Scahill — best known for his investigations of mercenary firm Blackwater (now Xe) — an ongoing Spanish investigation is painting a devastating picture of the brutality exercised by the US military over detainees at Guantanamo and elsewhere. |
ACLU: Obama’s revival of tribunals strikes blow to rule of law
by Agence France-Presse
Human rights groups reacted with anger and disappointment Friday to President Barack Obama’s revival of special military trials of terror suspects, saying the system was flawed beyond repair.In announcing the return of the military commission system devised by former president George W. Bush, Obama also proposed reforms that he said would restore them “as a legitimate forum for prosecution, while bringing them in line with the rule of law.” |
Afghan probe: US strike killed 140 people, many children
by Stephen C. Webster
U.S. air strikes on Afghanistan’s Farah province on May 4 left 140 dead, an Afghan investigation has concluded. According to reports, 118 of the victims were women and children, the youngest an 8-day-old baby boy.“Afghans have heard promises from the US before that they would take all possible steps to avoid civilian casualties,” Human Rights Watch’s Asia director, Brad Adams, said in a statement. |
Florida officials: 43 children zapped by stun gun during prison tour
by Stephen C. Webster
According to information released Saturday by the Florida Department of Corrections: During “Take Our Children to Work Day” events at three prison facilities, 43 children were hit with stun guns while others were exposed to tear gas.“Three prison guards have been fired, two have resigned and 16 more employees — from corrections officers to a warden — will be disciplined due to the incidents that unfolded April 23, said DOC Secretary Walt McNeil,” reported The Miami Herald. “An investigation is ongoing. |
