| Fischer faces council challenge from businessman Ivie
FARMINGTON — Since announcing his candidacy for City Council District 2, local business owner Dennis Ivie has attended City Council meetings and met with department heads in city government. "We usually just hear about the hot spots, but it's been really nice to visit with the top employees," Ivie, 59, who also serves on the city's Planning and Zoning Commission, said. "I have a totally different perspective on what's going on ... we need help to do more good things." But incumbent Mary Fischer pointed to her 20 years of experience as a city councilor. "I don't need any on-the-job training," she said. "I have a great understanding of the issues and ... I can assume the duties immediately." Fischer and Ivie are the two candidates up for election in District 2, which generally is located on the west side but slices into the center of the city.
Emma's Date Rejection
So we got, like, way overexcited at pics of Emma Watson and Johnny Borrell together last week. But boo, hiss - the lady herself says that they's nothing in them. Talk about pouring ice-cold water on our romantic-minded fire. Emma was pictured with Razorlight rocker Johnny last week at the Vanity Fair and Burberry bash. It was just one of the many trendy engagements the actress has been snapped at of late, as she paves her way towards adulthood and even greater fame than before. Anyway, it might have been a case of our hearts running away with our minds, but we were convinced there could be some potential there between the sweet gal and the wild boy - aka Emma and Johnny. But, says the star, it just ain't true.
Man is charged in secret videotaping of woman at his Gardena job
Charges were filed Tuesday against a former Gardena aerospace parts manufacturing worker who allegedly videotaped a female colleague as she used the company restroom. Ryan Dale Castillo, 30, is accused of planting a mini-camera to record a woman he had a crush on, according to Gardena police Detective Todd Fox. Castillo was charged with a felony count of unauthorized access to computers and three misdemeanors of invasion of privacy by secretly filming, according to Deputy District Attorney Jodi Link. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum of six years and four months behind bars, Link said. Castillo has remained free on $30,000 bail since his Dec. 11 arrest at his home in an unincorporated area near Harbor Gateway. He is scheduled to appear in Torrance Superior Court on March 17 for arraignment.
Not-so-funny gales to hit Ted Fest
Father Ted worshippers had better brace themselves this weekend as storm force winds whipping all coastal areas today head west. The week-long Ted Fest, marking the 10th anniversary of the filming of the last episode of the hugely successful comedy series, has brought fun and frivolous shenanigans to Kilfenora village in Co Clare this week. But with the action set to move tomorrow to Inis Mór off the Galway coast for the grand finale of celebrations, Fr Ted disciples - eagerly awaiting the Craggy Island World Cup and Buckaroo speed dating - will have their sense of humour firmly tested as gale force winds blow in. Careful now. Met Éireann says southwesterly gales will gradually veer west and northwest this afternoon with winds, gusting from 80 to 120km/h in exposed areas, expected to reach storm force on coasts.
Lynch mob hacks Kenyan policeman to death
A 3,000-strong mob armed with bows and arrows, spears, clubs and machetes has murdered a police officer in the violence-hit Rift Valley region of western Kenya. The lynching took place near Ainamoi, after the officer was accused of wounding a civilian when police fired on protesters yesterday. Peter Aliwa, a police commander, said it was the first reported killing of a policeman in the violence that has raged in Kenya since disputed elections a month ago. "The police officer injured three attackers before he was overpowered and lynched on the spot," he said. The police have shot scores of people in riots and protests accross Kenya since Raila Odinga, the opposition leader, accused President Kibaki of rigging his re-election on December 27. .
The porn supremacy
Many talked of spicing up their sex lives. One older man said that, at his age, he needed porn to get aroused. Some men saw porn as a sexual release, although others disagreed with this theory. Said one man: "Thing is, if you're not getting any, you ain't got a girlfriend . . . then you're gonna start exploding if you don't get something." Several men argued that women in porn held the power. ("It's the guys that are actually used as the tools," said one.) Women worried that most porn focused on men's desire. "You always see the male being pleasured," said one. Another woman described a lot of porn as men's fantasies. While the blokes could be "slobs", the women were "perfect" - large-breasted, tanned and shaved. Still, several women said they did not find porn degrading.
Bush urges Republican Party to unite
Here is a link to excerpts from that interview- http://www.counterpunch.org/brzezinski.html ZB revealed that CIA support for the mujaheddin had started before the 1979 Soviet invasion. Its purpose was to instigate a Soviet invasion, leading the Soviet Union into a Vietnam-War like conflict. Brzezinski viewed the end of the Soviet empire as worth the cost of strengthening militant Islamic groups. Last summer, ZB endorsed Obama for president. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/24/AR2007082402127.html What on earth was Obama thinking when he chose ZB as one of his foreign policy advisors??? http://www.nysun.com/article/71123 Why hasn't any journalist questioned Sen. Obama about his choice of ZB as one of his top foreign policy advisors? .
SNL touts balance in political sketches
Saturday Night Live's" Feb. 23 broadcast, its first of 2008, drew a 36 percent bigger crowd than its season-to-date average, according to Media Life Magazine. And Sen. Hillary Clinton, or more likely one of her advisers, were among those taking notes. That broadcast featured a CNN debate in which deferential reporters tripped over themselves to accomodate Sen. Barack Obama's every need.
Does this mean the show's political clout is on the rise...again?
Time will tell, but Mr. Michaels promises politics will play an "enormous" role in the rest of the "SNL" season. He adds the show may produce separate political specials in the fall during the final lap of the presidential race.
And who knows which politician might turn up in a sketch next.
A lesson in turtles
Notice about comments: Charleston.net is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Charleston.net does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not charleston.net. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "suggest removal" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Full terms and conditions can be read here. .
Lower assessments
The Kane County assessor knows of the falling property values nationwide and in Kane County.Yet my and all my neighbors’ assessed valuation for taxes due in 2008 have increased 6 percent.Property owners across the United States are clamoring for county governments to reassess the values of their homes because of these falling values.I have complained to the Kane County assessor’s office several times and always get the same stock answer: "Your neighbor’s home sold this for this, so we assume your house has increased the same."The assessor’s assistant does not care that the seller might have installed new carpeting, granite fixtures, etc., that drove up the price and I did not, but he still values my and your home higher because of what others are selling for.This, as most agree, is an archaic, unfair and, frankly, stupid way to squeeze the taxpayers.We challenge the assessments of the homes in Kane County for taxes due in 2008.
UPDATE: Suspected drugging
THE CASE: A waiter at a Ruby Tuesday restaurant on Garden of the Gods Road noticed a man putting a suspicious substance in the drink of a woman he was eating dinner with Jan. 3. The waiter took the drink and called Colorado Springs police, who later determined the substance was Diazepam — a mild tranquilizer prescribed to reduce anxiety and relax muscles. THE SUSPECT: Robert Lawrence Psaty, 56, was arrested Feb. 14. He was on a date with the woman that night, according to police, whom he had met through a dating service. After his arrest, Psaty was immediately put on leave from his job as a mental health clinician at the Colorado Mental Health Institute in Pueblo. WHAT’S NEW: Prosecutors on Wednesday filed two felony charges against Psaty: assault by drugging a victim and attempting to have someone induce a controlled substance by fraudulent means.
Growth can be a nightmare
It's fortunate that Poway's Town Center project has been delayed ("Poway puts town center, park remodeling projects on hold," Feb. 14). Now this controversy can be once again a hot topic in the next City Council election. Restaurants and small shops in the area are already going out of business. Why add more? Just fill up the ones that are sitting there now empty. The Poway Wal-Mart is only a couple of blocks from the proposed town center, and word is out that it is planning to expand to a Wal-Mart Supercenter, even though there is not nearly enough parking in the area. Why on earth would anyone think that a La Jolla-style cafe-and-boutique sort of shopping center would thrive amid affordable housing projects and next to a super Wal-Mart? And how can Valley Elementary School possibly be safe and focused on learning when it's surrounded by a shopping mall? .
Yourcodenameis:milo/The Rakes/Editors/The Explosion : London Koko
Tonight Club NME is a riot of cultural cross fertilisation. It's a glorious United Nations of rock sub-cults as punk-metal fans rub shoulders with the moody trenchcoat brigade and romantically sullen emo kids. There's even a few rockabillys hanging out by the bar. In fact the only thing this lot has in common is an uncommon way with dress. Boy, is this crowd well turned out? Beautiful jewelled skirts shimmer, razor-sharp fringes threaten to scythe innocent passers-by and all manner of charity shop trash is thrown together in an orgy of elegant slumming. Amid all the freaks, geeks and indie chic, four of rock's youngest upstarts are looking to catch some eyes and ears. All the way from Boston MA, The Explosion's pop-punk energy, ahem, blasts things off. ‘Here I Am' and ‘I Know' from forthcoming third album ‘Black Tape' rock like early Green Day with politics, as a thousand chiming guitars get chainsawed and some guy called Bush gets a hounding.
|
