=== Todays Toon ===
Sir Ninian Martin Stephen, KG, AK, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, QC (born 15 June 1923) was the 20th Governor-General of Australia and a Justice in the High Court of Australia.
=== Bible Quote ===
“Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.”- Joel 2:23=== Headlines ===
Two Wounded, Gunman Killed in Fort Bliss Shooting
A gunman is dead after he opens fire at a convenience store at the Fort Bliss Army base in Texas, injuring two people.Obama Plays Defense Over Biz Credentials
The president takes to televised forum to clear the air over his economic plans, defending tax policies and drawing accusations from Republicans that he's stressing image over action
GOP Ready to Roll Out Formal Agenda
After months of being bashed for having no agenda, Republican leaders are gearing up to unveil a detailed 'governing document' of their own
Chicago Man Arrested in Attempted Bomb Plot
A man arrested for allegedly placing a backpack he thought contained an explosive near Wrigley Field also talked about poisoning Lake Michigan and assassinating the city's mayor, according to a federal complaint
Breaking news
Elderly couple found dead in holiday homePOLICE responding to reports of a strong odor found an elderly British couple dead in their vacation home on a Spanish island.
'Murder suicide' shooting at army fort
A US army fort in Texas was locked down after officials confirmed a shooting took place yesterday.
North Korean succession to be decided
A RARE meeting of North Korea's ruling communist party expected to pave the way for an eventual leadership succession will be held late this month, state media announced on today.
BHP extends Potash offer
BHP has extended the period of its offer for Canadian fertiliser maker Potash Corp following a notice from regulators.
Dollar trades at two-year high
THE dollar opened higher today following speculation the Reserve Bank may lift the cash rate again before the end of the year.
Legal action against Holocaust denier
A POLISH group will lodge a case before the courts against controversial British historian David Irving for denying the Holocaust.
Minks 'starved to death' in wage dispute
EMPLOYEES at a mink farm are starving their animals to demand unpaid wages, the farm's owner said.
Rudd rejects 'PM in exile' label
FOREIGN Minister Kevin Rudd has brushed off opposition claims his new role is that of "prime minister in exile".
Man caught drink driving on lawn mower
A NEW York man attempted to get round his drunk driving ban by riding his lawn mower to the store to buy beer, bemused cops revealed Yesterday.
Wall Street surges to four-month high
US STOCK markets surged overnight, propelled by news that the country officially exited recession in June 2009.
NSW/ACT
US-style poll trial by LaborPREMIER Kristina Keneally wants American-style primaries that would allow voters to choose Labor candidates in some seats.
L-plate drivers are slow learners
THE number of L-platers who chalk up demerit points before getting their full licence has more than doubled in the past two years.
'A voice made me have sex'
A "DEMONIC" voice claiming to be "King Russell" told a blindfolded woman to have sex to rid herself of a black magic curse, jury told.
Actor's low act assault sentence
VETERAN actor Steve Bisley was ordered to perform 300 hours of community service for assaulting his ex-wife Sally Burleigh.
Rent rise 'will cancel out pension'
NSW pensioners are in danger of seeing their annual pension increase gobbled up by an increase to public housing rents.
Property criminal jailed one year
AN unlicenced real estate agent who stole from his clients' trust accounts has been jailed for at least a year. Read more here.
Shot policeman finally at home
UNDER grey skies Constable William Crews was farewelled in the home town that shaped him.
We pay for church's tipple
A CHURCH has been given $2.5 million of taxpayers' money to build a hall with a liquor licence that keeps nearby residents awake.
A shocker for electric bills
MORE than 138,000 people in NSW can't pay their energy bills, with the number of customers deferring their plans soaring. In depth: Cut Power
Taking the low road to disaster
THE NSW Government has delayed 60 major road projects by at least five years; some for even longer.
Queensland
Patel appeal delisted due to funding issueJayant Patel's appeal against manslaughter convictions and sentence has hit funding problems and was delisted in the Court of Appeal this morning.
Cop drove while twice the limit
A TOWNSVILLE police officer has been charged with drink driving after recording a blood-alcohol content more than twice the legal limit.
Soggy holidays to continue
PERSISTENT drizzle has replaced the heavy falls over much of eastern Queensland and is set to hang around.
Stolen Games medals found by workers
THE STOLEN medals of Commonwealth Games champion cyclist Ashley Hutchinson have been found.
University and TAFE to merge
PREMIER Anna Bligh has given her tacit approval to a proposed merger between CQUniversity and the Central Queensland Institute of TAFE.
Hive beetle hurts bee numbers
AN African beetle is waging war on Australian bees, with researchers warning it could damage the beehive industry and push up food prices.
Mayor spruiks satellite city benefits
A CUTTING-EDGE residential community bigger than Gympie would "show the world" what the Sunshine Coast could deliver, the region's mayor Bob Abbot said yesterday.
Coast's top cop OK with freebies
SURFERS Paradise's top cop saw nothing wrong with his officers receiving free drinks at nightclubs and half-price McDonald's meals.
Four cops shot by own Tasers
FOUR police officers have managed to Taser themselves in the six months since the controversial devices were first rolled out.
Rock pelters put brakes on trains
SPEEDS have been slashed on the rail line between Beenleigh and the Gold Coast amid concerns about trains being pelted with rocks and other objects.
Victoria
Teens caught after joyride crashTWO 14-year-old girls allegedly stole a car and crashed it into a tree in Melbourne’s north early this morning.
Faith in the Saints
After a 44-year premiership hiatus, most Saints admit they may still need some help from above to shoot down the Magpies.
Knife's edge rescue from car wreck
MOTORISTS used a knife to cut free a driver choking on his seat belt after a horrific fatal crash on the Monash Freeway yesterday.
Suki stuck in a spin
A BURMESE kitten names Suki suffered being trapped through a full-wash cycle in her family's front-loading machine on Friday.
Police spotlight on hot spots
POLICE have named Victoria's top 20 localities for drink-drivers and warned they will focus on them to fight the road toll.
Police recruits fast-tracked
POLICE recruits will get just 10 weeks training before being sworn in and sent to stations in a push to fast-track their deployment.
Mali jealous of new baby elephant
Sibling rivalry in the elephant enclosure will provide Melbourne Zoo visitors with extra entertainment during school holidays.
Bid for frozen stiffs
VICTORIA is in the running to host the next cryonics facility in the hope of one day bringing humans back to life.
Hannah moved to tears on tour
Daryl Hannah sprinkled a little Hollywood stardust on Kinglake when she took a tour of the bushfire-ravaged community.
Northern Territory
Man punches crocodile to save mateMAN miraculously survived crocodile attack after his mate punched the massive saltie
South Australia
Taxi driver punched, car stolenA MAN armed with a knife punched a taxi driver and stole his car early this morning at Blair Athol.
School cancer cluster probe
REPORTS of a "cancer cluster" at Port Lincoln High School will be investigated. Staff at the school raised the issue during an investigation of breathing difficulties.
Arsenic found in school's soil
CONTAMINATED soil containing arsenic - possibly asbestos - lay exposed at a rural school for weeks, raising concerns from parents for their children's health.
Judge warned shot criminal
AN armed robber killed by police at Forestville was warned by a judge the "guillotine would come down" on him if he kept committing crime, court records show.
Foley back in leadership mix
TREASURER Kevin Foley has found a new lease of political life, heightening speculation he is ready to take over from Premier Mike Rann.
$8m shock for wombat rescue team
IN a real-life fairytale, an American millionaire has bequeathed $8 million to the Mannum-based Wombat Awareness Organisation.
Shots in the dark terrify parents
AS two police bullets tore through Paul Quinn's torso, parents in surrounding homes pushed their children to the floor to protect them.
Water runneth over into Lower Lakes
WATER is flowing between the Lower Lakes for the first time in more than two years after the Narrung embankment prematurely gave way.
State may take over new RAH project
DELAYS are predicted for the new Royal Adelaide Hospital, as the Government hints it may take over the $1.7 billion project.
Heaven nightclub to open Wednesday
HEAVEN nightclub has won its battle to reopen on Wednesday following a last minute closed court hearing.
Western Australia
Pilots to sue over nosediveQANTAS pilots involved in two terrifying nosedives over WA that caused more than 100 injuries have joined a lawsuit against aircraft manufacturers Airbus.
Call for dengue vaccine volunteers
WESTERN Australia is spearheading the effort to produce a vaccine for dengue fever, the potentially life-threatening infection spread by mosquitoes.
Man dies in farm rollover
AN elderly man died last night when his vehicle rolled over on a farming property at Bonnie Rock, 346km east of Perth.
Whale watching season kicks off
THE whale watching season has kicked off with a splash as humpbacks make their southern migration near Rottnest.
Do you know the Mosman Park rapist?
THIS is the man being sought over the rape of a 19-year-old nanny in Mosman Park, which has left the upmarket suburb in self-imposed lockdown.
Tasmania
Nothing new=== Journalists Corner ===
Bill Clinton Goes 'On the Record'How Clinton's Global Initiative is taking on poverty and public health problems worldwide. Greta sits down with former President Bill Clinton.
===
Obama's Working Strategy!
How the president's latest plan will get America back on the job and how much it could cost YOU. We have answers and insight.
===
An All-New 'Factor'
It's an all-star lineup on the Factor - Bernie Goldberg, Juan Williams, Brit Hume and Mary Katharine Ham are all here!
===
On Fox News Insider:
John Bolton on President Ahmadinejad's Visit to New YorkRep. Mike Pence on Winning the Values Voter Presidential Straw Poll
Will Congress Pass Proposed Amnesty Bill?
Tony Dungy and Jerome Bettis on How to be an All Pro Dad
=== Comments ===
The Truth About Higher TaxesBY BILL O'REILLY
Because I am a simple man, I am going to cut through the gibberish on taxes as best I can. Here we go.
President Obama wants to end the Bush tax cuts, raising the federal income tax rate on Americans earning above $200,000 a year. But the president says he is not going to ask Americans earning less than $200,000 for more tax money.
THE QUESTION: Is that true?
Mr. Obama wants a new tax code after Congress throws the Bush deal out the window. But it's not a lock the president gets that because some Democrats are rebelling. In the House, there are now at least 31 Democrats who want to keep the Bush tax rates in place. The president also has trouble in the Senate on the issue.
So there may very well be a stalemate, and if Congress does nothing, the Bush tax cuts expire on January 1, 2011. That would mean tax rate increases across the board and things like the thousand-dollar deduction for each dependent child would disappear.
So once again, the president is caught between "Barack and a hard place." If Congress does nothing, which could very well happen, everybody gets blasted. If the president gets his tax code in, then the wealthy will pay much more and most other people will break about even, unless you have a lot of interest income, which will be taxed at a higher rate under Obama's vision.
Those who want to keep the Bush rate argue that no tax increases should be imposed while the economy is fragile because it takes dollars away from consumers, who's spending is vital.
AND ONE FOOTNOTE HERE: The city of Los Angeles is reporting that it received $111 million in government stimulus money, but was able to create or save only 55 jobs. Fifty-five! That's an average of $2 million per job, if you can believe it. Our tax dollars at work.
That's why many voters are furious with the Obama administration. Billions of stimulus money spent and little to show for it.
The November election is all about money. Right now most Americans do not have confidence in the president or the Democratic Party. Therefore they are likely to vote for the Republicans. It is as simple as that.
===
TOONFRIGHT
Tim Blair
Try to imagine what you might have to do to end up receiving death threats.
It isn’t actually that easy. Maybe you’d have to double-cross someone over a million-dollar heroin sale, but even then you’d probably expect death rather than mere death threats. It kind of goes with the territory, if you’re mixing with drug dealers.
Or maybe you’ve upset some outlaw bikie gangs, which is in the same general area. This happened to me in the early 1990s, after I exposed a low-rent bikie blackmail scam. Impressively, the gang was able to locate my unlisted interstate phone number. They subsequently issued a sequence of elaborate promises, none of which came true, as me remaining alive proves.
Both of these threat-receiving methods involve considerable effort. But now there’s a simpler way to attract pledges of execution. All you need to do is draw a cartoon. Or – simpler yet – just talk about drawing a cartoon. Soon you’ll be on the end of threats so serious that the FBI will advise you to quit your job, change your name and get out of town.
Just ask cartoonist Molly Norris. If you can find her. Here’s Molly’s story.
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GAIA’S DIRTY DISHES
Tim Blair
Every green “advance” – from slower hybrid cars and unproductive wind turbines to dimmer CFL lights and absurd household garbage recycling schemes – is always a step backwards. So it is too with eco-detergent:
“My dishes were dirtier than before they were washed,” one wrote last week in the review section of the website for the Cascade line of dishwasher detergents. “It was horrible, and I won’t buy it again.”Too bad the reformulated product, like everything green, doesn’t work. Interestingly, US politicians are now opposing CFL lights – known in Australia as Turnbulbs.
Another consumer wrote: “This is the worst product ever made for use as a dishwashing detergent!”
Like every other major detergent for automatic dishwashers, Procter & Gamble’s Cascade line recently underwent a makeover. Responding to laws that went into effect in 17 states, including Washington, in July, the nation’s detergent makers reformulated their products to reduce what had been the crucial ingredient, phosphates, to just a trace.
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NOTHING CAN EVER BE THE SAME
Tim Blair
Nicole Krauss pens the blurb of the year:
Very rarely, a few times in a lifetime, you open a book and when you close it again nothing can ever be the same. Walls have been pulled down, barriers broken, a dimension of feeling, of existence itself, has opened in you that was not there before. To the End of the Land is a book of this magnitude. David Grossman may be the most gifted writer I’ve ever read; gifted not just because of his imagination, his energy, his originality, but because he has access to the unutterable, because he can look inside a person and discover the unique essence of her humanity. For 26 years, he has been writing novels about what it means to defend this essence, this unique light, against a world designed to extinguish it. To the End of the Land is his most powerful, shattering and unflinching story of this defense. To read it is to have yourself taken apart, undone, touched at the place of your own essence; it is to be turned back, as if after a long absence, into a human being.Also, it has pretty flowers on the cover.
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THE EVOLUTION OF CHARLES
Tim Blair
Phase one: Charles Johnson believes the infiltration of sharia law into the West is happening at a breakneck pace. He sees sharia law coming to a bank near you – and to airports and universities. He agrees that sharia law is at the cultural and legal front of the global jihad.
Phase two: Charles Johnson apologises for his previous views and explains in detail why he was wrong about sharia law.
Phase three: Charles Johnson, having recanted, ridicules those who are concerned about sharia law.
There’s just one little problem. I can’t find a post from Charles to illustrate phase two.
===
BURQADJUSTED
Tim Blair
Photoshopper Cmac improves a shot from the weekend’s yay for burqas rally:
And one more:
===HOW SWEDE IT IS
Tim Blair
An election shock in Sweden:
The Sweden Democrats stunned political observers at the weekend, winning seats for the first time and placing them in the position to give voice to their anti-immigration platform …Then again, it’s possible that Swedish voters have rejected intolerance. Some code words follow:
Swedish media said the election results mark a dramatic shift for a country known for its tolerance and pro-liberal policies.
The Sweden Democrats have become a force to be reckoned with in Swedish politics. They accuse the government of failing to properly address the immigration issue, and point to the large numbers of migrants that live in enclaves totally cut off from Swedish society.By “immigrants”, “migrants” and “ethnic groups”, our correspondent may just be referring to … Presbyterians.
These people do not learn Swedish, they argue, thus creating tension between diverse ethnic groups while, at the same time, draining the welfare system.
In a town like Malmo, where 30% of the population was born abroad, the Sweden Democrats have attracted significant support among the Swedish-born population. The latest polls put their popularity nationwide at 7.6%, enough to win 26 parliamentary seats out of 349.Leftists are furious, of course. Any criticism of non-nationals tends to inflame them, even when the values of those immigrants are opposed to the values of Western liberals. On which Mark Steyn writes:
Too many people in the free world have internalized Islam’s view of them. A couple of years ago, I visited Guantanamo and subsequently wrote that, if I had to summon up Gitmo in a single image, it would be the brand-new copy of the Koran in each cell: To reassure incoming prisoners that the filthy infidels haven’t touched the sacred book with their unclean hands, the Korans are hung from the walls in pristine, sterilized surgical masks. It’s one thing for Muslims to regard infidels as unclean, but it’s hard to see why it’s in the interests of us infidels to string along with it and thereby validate their bigotry. What does that degree of prostration before their prejudices tell them about us? It’s a problem that Muslims think we’re unclean. It’s a far worse problem that we go along with it.(Via Goldie in Jakarta)
===
WE WIN AGAIN
Tim Blair
Worship Australia, planet:
Australia is trailing the rest of the world in climate change policy and risks becoming uncompetitive, a leading climate change economist says.Oddly, this doesn’t feel like a defeat.
“There is no risk of Australia taking a leadership position,’’ said Cameron Hepburn, a senior research fellow at the University of Oxford.
“We are so far behind the post we risk coming last.’’
(Via Walter Plinge)
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