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Kick Assiest Blog
Wednesday, 9 August 2006
Tuesday, 8 August 2006
Five-year-old boy has 60-mile train adventure
Mood:
 surprised
Topic: Odd Stuff
 Boy, 5, has train adventure
A five-year-old boy took a 60-mile train ride because he wanted a real-life Thomas the Tank adventure. Ben Ford was walking down the road ahead of his mum and dad when he disappeared. He walked alone for half a mile and jumped on a train. He got off at Taunton in Somerset - 60 miles from his home in Teignmouth, Devon. Two girls spotted him in a car park and alerted police. According to the Mirror Dad David said: "Ben is mad about trains and Thomas the Tank Engine so he probably thought he was in the middle of some kind of Thomas adventure. "It is still quite a long way to the station for a lad of his age and he had to cross major roads and go all the way to the bottom of town. Ben clearly wanted an adventure but he gave us all a huge fright. For those hours that he was missing I just thought 'if he is gone forever I don't want to exist any more'." David and wife Sam had searched
everywhere with neighbours and called police. Neighbour Joanne Gartside, 37, said: "All hell broke loose round here. There were swarms of police officers and dogs and a helicopter." PC Austin Clarkson said: "The little boy was fine - he sat and watched the trains while we made inquiries." He then boarded a service to Exeter St David's station, where Ben was reunited with his parents. Ananova.com UK ** Boy, 5, has train adventure
Posted by yaahoo_06iest
at 4:19 AM EDT
Updated: Tuesday, 8 August 2006 4:37 AM EDT
al-Reuters ~ First Casualty Photo
Mood:
 caffeinated
Topic: Lib Loser Stories
 
Posted by yaahoo_06iest
at 3:13 AM EDT
Chief of Naval Ops accepts New EA-18G ''Growler''
Mood:
 special
Topic: News
 Full Image: Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Adm. Mike Mullen, delivers remarks during the EA-18G Growler roll out ceremony held at the Boeing Company in St. Louis. The EA-18 Growler is being developed to replace the fleet's current carrier-based EA-6B Prowler. The next-generation electronic attack aircraft, for the U.S. Navy, combines the combat-proven F/A-18 Super Hornet with a state-of-the-art electronic warfare avionics suite. The EA-18G will feature an airborne electronic attack suite based on Northrop Grumman's Improved Capability III system, a radically new jamming and information warfare system. The EA-18G is expected to enter initial operational capability in 2009.
 CNO Accepts New EA-18G Growler
From Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Mullen accepted on behalf of the Navy the EA-18G Growler in a formal roll-out ceremony at The Boeing Company's facility here Aug 3.
The Growler will replace its aging predecessor, the EA-6B Prowler, as the Navy’s air platform for electronic warfare.
“The EA-18G Growler is a first-class aircraft with a key mission at a critical time in our history,” said Mullen.
Naval aviation, he explained, has been a very integral part of the nation’s defense in both peace and war.
“As we have seen in operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, naval aviation brings revolutionary capabilities to the fight and demonstrates again and again the enduring criticality of naval air power,” said Mullen.  (View All Photos) Guests get a closer look at the EA-18G Growler during its roll out ceremony held at the Boeing Company in St. Louis. The EA-18 Growler is being developed to replace the fleet's current carrier-based EA-6B Prowler. The next-generation electronic attack aircraft, for the U.S. Navy, combines the combat-proven F/A-18 Super Hornet with a state-of-the-art electronic warfare avionics suite. The EA-18G will feature an airborne electronic attack suite based on Northrop Grumman's Improved Capability III system, a radically new jamming and information warfare system. The EA-18G is expected to enter initial operational capability in 2009. >>>>>
The Growler's speed, range and robust self-defense systems will serve as force multipliers for the joint force, Mullen noted.
"Its pilots and crews will employ Growler's systems not just to jam signals," said the CNO, "but to control all aspects of the electromagnetic spectrum to protect our troops and engage our enemies."
 Program managers and engineers saved the Navy billions of dollars, Mullen argued, by using innovative methods such as testing cutting edge technology in existing aircraft and then using the already proven F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet’s airframe to create the aircraft.
“Less than three years ago, we signed the contract, and here we are today, on schedule and under budget with a new electronic attack aircraft that exceeds every performance measure,” said Mullen.
Mullen praised the men and women flying electronic warfare missions for the Navy in the war on terrorism and stressed the importance of getting Growler to the fleet.
"This roll-out comes none too soon," said Mullen, "because as we speak, the Growler's predecessors are themselves flying vital missions over Iraq and Afghanistan, and they need to be replaced as soon as possible.
 "I recently visited some of our Prowler crews in Iraq. I can tell you that they are superb and, like all the Sailors and Marines I met there, are doing remarkable work. It is hard, grueling, vital work. In some ways and in some places, the most vital we are doing."
The CNO also acknowledged the hard work of all those involved in designing and building the Growler.
“You can be justifiably proud of this fine aircraft you have provided our Navy and nation," said Mullen. "Right now, day in and day out, naval aviators bet their lives on your aircraft, flying at sea, far from land, and in combat over some of the most remote places on earth. They are succeeding in their tough missions because of the terrific aircraft you have built for them.”
 The Growler must still undergo test and evaluation, beginning with a first flight planned in the next two weeks, a month earlier than expected.
For related news, visit the Chief of Naval Operations Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cno/. Navy News ~ Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs ** CNO Accepts New EA-18G Growler
Posted by yaahoo_06iest
at 2:30 AM EDT
Updated: Tuesday, 8 August 2006 2:58 AM EDT
Dennis Miller Returns to Fox News
Mood:
 chatty
Topic: Yahoo Chat Stuff
 Hannity & Colmes adds Miller to show
Comedian and actor Dennis Miller is joining Fox News as a contributor to "Hannity & Colmes" this autumn, according to a network executive. Miller, who did a stint on "Hannity & Colmes" in 2003 and then had his own eponymous show on CNBC, will begin weighing in on news and politics beginning Sept. 13. He also will provide commentary on the Fox News Web site. Meanwhile, CNN has hired as a contributor Alina Fernandez, the exiled daughter of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro and a critic of her father's policies. Fernandez, who left Cuba in 1993, is based in Miami. Belleville News Democrat ~ Los Angeles Times ** Hannity & Colmes adds Miller to show
Posted by yaahoo_06iest
at 12:33 AM EDT
Monday, 7 August 2006
al-Reuters Doctored Pictures
Mood:
 loud
Now Playing: LIBTARD MEDIA BULLSHIT ALERT
Topic: Lib Loser Stories
Reuters on Sunday withdrew an image of smoke rising from burning buildings after an Israeli air strike on the suburbs of Beirut on August 5, 2006 after evidence emerged that it had been manipulated to show more smoke. The manipulated image is shown on the left. The unaltered image, shown on the right, has since run. Reuters has told the photographer, freelance Adnan Hajj, that the agency will not use any more of his pictures. 
 Reuters admits to more image manipulation
News organization withdraws photograph of Israeli fighter jet, admits image was doctored, fires photographer. Reuters pledges 'tighter editing procedure for images of the Middle East conflict' Reuters has withdrawn a second photograph and admitted that the image was doctored, following the emergence of new suspicions against images provided by the news organization. On Sunday, Reuters admitted that one of its photographers, Adnan Hajj, used software to distort an image of smoke billowing from buildings in Beirut in order to create the effect of more smoke and damage. The latest image to face doubts is a photograph of an Israeli F-16 fighter jet over the skies of Lebanon, seen in the image firing off "missiles during an air strike on Nabatiyeh," according to the image's accompanying text provided by Reuters. Reuters has recalled all photos by Adnan Hajj The owner of the My Pet Jawa web log noted that the warplane in the picture is actually firing defensive flares aimed at dealing with anti-aircraft missiles. | Caught Red Handed | | Reuters admits altering Beirut photo / Yaakov Lappin | Reuters withdraws photograph of Beirut after Air Force attack after US blogs, photographers point out 'blatant evidence of manipulation.' | | Full Story |
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In addition, the Jawa blog says the flares have been replicated by Reuters, giving the impression that the jet was firing many "missiles," thereby distortion the image. "The F-16 in the photo is not firing missiles, but is rather dropping chaffe or flares designed to be a decoy for surface to air missiles. However, a close up (of) what Hajj calls "missiles" reveals that only one flare has been dropped. The other two "flares" are simply copies of the original," Shackleford wrote. "But what about the 'bombs' in the photo? Here is a close up of them. Notice anything? That's right. The top and bottom "bomb" are the same." 
Another manipuated Reuters image ^
Following the accusations, Reuters conceded that a second image it provided had been manipulated, and released a statement saying it had recalled all photos by Hajj. "Reuters has withdrawn from its database all photographs taken by Beirut-based freelance Adnan Hajj after establishing that he had altered two images since the start of the conflict between Israel and the Lebanese Hizbullah group," the statement said. The news outlet said that it discovered "in the last 24 hours that he (Hajj) altered two photographs since the beginning of the conflict between Israel and the Lebanese group Hizbullah," Reuters added. “There is no graver breach of Reuters standards for our photographers than the deliberate manipulation of an image", Reuters' statement quoted Tom Szlukovenyi, Reuters Global Picture Editor, as saying. 'Tighter editing needed' Reuters also said it would apply "tighter editing procedure for images of the Middle East conflict to ensure that no photograph from the region would be transmitted to subscribers without review by the most senior editor on the Reuters Global Pictures Desk." "Reuters terminated its relationship with Hajj on Sunday... An immediate enquiry began into Hajj’s other work," the statement said. Hajj had provided Reuters with several images from the Lebanese village of Qana, many of which have also been suspected of being staged. Other Reuters images have been called into question by blogs in the United States. A reader of the Power Line blog , Robert Opalecky, wrote: "I don't know if this has been brought to anyone's attention yet, but in a quick search of the authenticated Reuters photographs attributed to Adnan Hajj, I found the following two." 
The first Reuters image of July 24 ^ "One is from July 24 of a bombed out area in Beirut, with a clearly identifiable building in a prominent part of the shot. The second is of the exact same area, same buildings, same condition, with a woman walking past "a building flattened during an overnight Israeli air raid on Beirut's suburbs August 5, 2006," he wrote. 
Reuters' second 'Beirut attack' photo, dated August 5 ^ A film released on the YouTube video sharing website compares the two images, and appears to show striking similarities between the photograph used by Reuters on both July 24 and August 5. Y Net News.com ~ Yaakov Lappin ** Reuters admits to more image manipulation Related: REAL OR ALTERED? REUTERS PULLS 920 PHOTOS BY HAJJ
My Way News ~ Reuters ** Reuters withdraws all photos by freelancer Y Net News.com ~ Yaakov Lappin ** Reuters Employee Issues 'Zionist Pig' Death Threat
Posted by yaahoo_06iest
at 10:01 PM EDT
Updated: Tuesday, 8 August 2006 1:04 AM EDT
Sunday, 6 August 2006
Deficit estimated lowest in 4 years
Mood:
 cool
Now Playing: BUSH'S FAULT
Topic: News
Deficit estimated lowest in 4 years  WASHINGTON - The federal deficit will register $260 billion this year, the lowest in four years, reflecting a strong economy and resulting growth in tax revenue, congressional analysts said Friday.
The estimate by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office is well below its earlier predictions and also below the $296 billion White House estimate less than a month ago. Better-than-expected revenues are driving the deficit down from last year's $318 billion figure and far below the record $413 billion posted in 2004. At $260 billion, it would be the lowest since the $158 billion figure in 2002, the first deficit following four years of surpluses.  The deficit picture is even better when measured against the size of the economy, which is the comparison economists think is most important.
"At 2 percent of gross domestic product, the 2006 deficit would be smaller than the deficit recorded in the past three years -- 3.5 percent in 2003, 3.6 percent in 2004 and 2.6 percent in 2005," said the CBO report. So far this year, taxes on corporate profits are 27 percent or $56 billion higher compared to the first 10 months of last year. That reflects the strong economy. All told, receipts from corporate profits are estimated to tally two and a half times those collected in 2003, CBO said.  The budget year ends Sept. 30.
Receipts are also 20 percent higher on income and payroll taxes paid quarterly by wealthier people and small businessmen but taxes withheld in paychecks are only 8 percent higher. Tax receipts are estimated to run $223 billion higher than 2005, CBO said. The CBO estimate continues a positive trend on the deficit after a grim deficit performance during President Bush's first term. Republicans credited GOP fiscal policies centered on tax cuts passed in 2001 and 2003 and a clampdown on domestic agencies funded by Congress each year. Were it not for the war in Iraq and ongoing hurricane relief costs, the deficit would be far lower. "Even with the extraordinary circumstances of the past year -- including Hurricane Katrina and the ongoing War on Terror -- we're seeing the deficit fall," said House Budget Committee Chairman Jim Nussle, R-Iowa. "Thanks to pro-growth policies and a responsible budget blueprint, we're on the right track, but we've got to remain diligent."  Democrats said a $260 billion deficit is nothing to crow about.
"The deficit for this year will be the sixth largest in history, and will stand a long way from the $236 billion surplus recorded in 2000, the last year of the Clinton Administration," said top House Budget Committee Democrat John Spratt Jr. of South Carolina. The Bush White House has gained a reputation for overstating deficit figures early in the year in order to report better news later. In February, the White House predicted a $423 billion deficit for the current year.  On the Web: Congressional Budget Office
Yahoo News ~ Associated Press - Andrew Taylor ** Deficit estimated lowest in 4 years
Posted by yaahoo_06iest
at 12:01 AM EDT
Updated: Sunday, 6 August 2006 1:15 AM EDT
Saturday, 5 August 2006
The Coming Democratic Meltdown, Rahm Emanuel, won't even speak to Deanpeace
Mood:
 d'oh
Topic: Lib Loser Stories
The Coming Democratic Meltdown  The Howard Dean experiment at the DNC appears to have created division, distrust, and chaos, as many of us predicted last year when Dean took the job. The Washington Post reports that party leaders have begun to craft back-channels to undermine Dean's authority, bringing their efforts for a national program for the midterms to a shambles:
At a meeting last week, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) criticized Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean for not spending enough party resources on get-out-the-vote efforts in the most competitive House and Senate races, according to congressional aides who were briefed on the exchange. Pelosi -- echoing a complaint common among Democratic lawmakers and operatives -- has warned privately that Democrats are at risk of going into the November midterm elections with a voter-mobilization plan that is underfunded and inferior to the proven turnout machine run by national Republicans.  The Senate and House campaign committees are creating their own get-out-the-vote operations instead, using money that otherwise would fund television advertising and other election-year efforts. Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Rahm Emanuel (Ill.) -- who no longer speaks to Dean because of their strategic differences -- is planning to ask lawmakers and donors to help fund a new turnout program run by House Democrats. He recruited Michael Whouley, a specialist in Democratic turnout, to help oversee it. ...
 Many Democrats said that despite a favorable political climate and record-setting fundraising, the campaign to recapture the House and Senate could fall short if the organizational problems persist. "What the party really needs is to get serious about local, volunteer-based" operations, said Jack Corrigan, a longtime Democratic operative. "The last-minute, throw-money-at-it approach . . . does not really solve the fundamental failure to organize that is there. The DNC is moving in the right direction, but needs to do more, fast," he said.
Dean gave the internal version of "Yeaarrgh!!" in response, telling Democrats that "we have a big secret ... and it's going to help us win." That sounds great, but successful political campaigns keep secrets from their opponents, not from their allies. With the election coming in three months, one has to wonder when Dean plans to let his pals in on his big secret, and what exactly about grassroots organization would be so secret in any case. The big secret appears to be that Dean has been a complete incompetent at the job of party chairman. He has only raised a little over half of the funds that the RNC has gathered and only has one-quarter of the cash on hand of his rivals, a rather critical problem in the final 90 days of an election cycle. He has angered his big-checkbook donors, even George Soros, who probably lost some interest anyway when his efforts to buy the presidency fell short in 2004. The Democrats have been left with the slender reed of conservative disaffection with the GOP, and hope that the Republicans have turnout problems to mask their own problems with organization.  Now we have the different committees and activists within the party working independently, lacking coordination, and shuffling their money around to cross purposes. One of the key figures for the midterm cycle, DCCC chair Rahm Emanuel, won't even speak to the head of his own party. The party has fallen apart, thanks to Dean's incompetence and their lack of action in correcting it.
If the Democrats lose the midterms, expect to hear a lot of conspiracy theories about Karl Rove's supposedly Machiavellian power. The truth will be that the Democrats sealed their fate when they put a nutcase like Howard Dean at the head of their organization. UPDATE: I made an error in the difference between cash on hand and overall fundraising, which I have corrected, thanks to Thlime in the comments on this thread. Captain's Quarters ~ Ed Morrisey ** The Coming Democratic Meltdown 
Posted by yaahoo_06iest
at 12:01 AM EDT
Updated: Sunday, 6 August 2006 1:13 AM EDT
Friday, 4 August 2006
Fox News demolishes CNN and MSNBC in July, for the 55th straight month
Mood:
chatty
Topic: News
 Fox News Demolishes CNN and MSNBC in July
By Noel Sheppard Assume you were in an upper-management position at one of the many liberally-biased news outlets, and you read the above headline. Would it make you question what your organization was doing wrong, what Fox News is doing right, or what is wrong with America’s television news viewers? Regardless of the answer, Variety released July viewer totals for the cable news outlets, and, once again, Fox News is completely destroying the competition. In fact, some of the numbers are pretty laughable (ergo, put your drinking vessels away!): Despite FNC's declines, it still beat CNN handily in primetime, averaging 1.5 million viewers to CNN's 864,000; CNN still has a long way to go before it can be considered a serious ratings challenger. FNC won every hour of each day over CNN for the 55th straight month. It was the No. 5-rated cable network in June, behind USA, TNT, TBS and Lifetime. CNN came in 24th, MSNBC 36th.
 That deserves closer examination, doesn’t it? Fox has beaten CNN every hour of every day for 55 straight months?!? Yikes. And, FNC is the fifth-ranked network on cable? Yet, the chuckles kept coming:
"Van Susteren" was down the most of any cable news show in July, dropping 33% in total viewers and 32% in the 25-54 demographic, the most important for advertisers. Nevertheless, "Van Susteren" still came out on top of CNN's much-promoted "Anderson Cooper 360," which added 49% in total viewers during the month. "Van Susteren" averaged 1.4 million viewers during the month compared with 970,000 for "AC 360."
Imagine that. With all the focus that has been given to Cooper, including a front-page feature story in Vanity Fair, he’s getting demolished by Greta. Now that’s entertainment. But, the chuckles weren’t done yet, for the article saved the most hysterical section for the end: MSNBC also saw broad ratings gains over a much smaller base. "Hardball With Chris Matthews" was up 156% in July, but its 338,000 viewers made it a distant third to CNN's "The Situation Room" (716,000 total viewers) and FNC's "Big Story With John Gibson" (1.1 million). "Countdown With Keith Olbermann" also was up, but a feud with Fox News' Bill O'Reilly didn't help his competitive position much. Olbermann finished third in the 25-54 demo and fourth in total viewers to Headline News' "Nancy Grace."
Isn’t that delicious? Olbermann actually got beat by Nancy Grace. I don’t know about you, but I need some oxygen! Noel Sheppard's blog | login or register to post comments
Categories: Media Business | Keith Olbermann News Busters.org ~ Noel Sheppard ** Fox News Demolishes CNN and MSNBC in July
Posted by yaahoo_06iest
at 12:01 AM EDT
Updated: Sunday, 6 August 2006 12:07 AM EDT
Thursday, 3 August 2006
Hilary Duff's Free Concert for Military Families
Mood:
special
Topic: Yahoo Chat Stuff
Hilary Duff's Free Concert for Military Families  Singer and actress Hilary Duff took the stage of Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, N.C. Tuesday night in a free concert for military families.
Duff, the multi-platinum recording artist and star of Disney's "Lizzie McGuire" and movies such as "A Cinderella Story," performed "Hilary Duff Rocks for the Troops" in Fayetteville, home of Fort Bragg. Those in attendance were either in the military or have a military family member. Duff has previously made a block of tickets available for military families but decided this time to perform just for them. "I think she understands, or at least wants to try to understand, the sacrifices soldiers and their families make," said Cynthia Ivins, who brought her two children, 13-year-old Morgan and 9-year-old Denise, to the concert. Duff met with a select group of military families before the show, snapping pictures and shaking hands. More than 7,000 people attended the concert. News Max.com ~ Associated Press ** Hilary Duff's Free Concert for Military Families
Posted by yaahoo_06iest
at 1:47 AM EDT
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party time!
Lieberman loses, libtards claim he was a "right wing hero" - McKinney is out... claims "voter irregularities"... IN A DEM PRIMARY! Thanks for the election presents, libtards!!!
The clueless looney-bird leftists made actual chat posts like "Your right wing hero lost" when describing Lieberman. They then called us "nazis" and justified their punishment for Lieberman's "thought crime."
