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Friday, October 17, 2003
The Curse of the Bambino...Theeeeeeeeeeeeee Yankees Win
In 1918, Babe Ruth helped pitch the Boston Red Sox to winning their fifth World Series. The Yankees, on the other hand, had never won a championship.
George Herman Ruth left and the tables turned with a vengeance. Boston would never again win a world championship; the Yankees have won 26, so far. That would be completely understandable if Boston fielded lousy teams. But that isn’t the case. It is the manner in which the Red Sox manage to lose that gives life — and perhaps credibility — to the notion of the “Curse.”
More on the Yankees Pennant win!!!
posted by Frodgie at 9:07 AM
Thursday, October 16, 2003
Pope to give homily on 25 years
VATICAN CITY -- John Paul II marks 25 years as head of the Roman Catholic church with followers paying tribute to his hard work but fearing for the health of the 83-year-old pontiff.
The pope, who is believed to suffer from Parkinson's disease and arthritis, is to deliver a homily during Mass at the Vatican Thursday.
Thousands are expected to attend, with worshippers coming from around the world.
One pilgrim, who made the journey from the American state of Maryland, is John Landicho. He told CNN he felt "privileged" to attend the celebrations.
"He has truly been an outstanding leader of our faith."
John Paul II is the third-longest serving pontiff and has been lauded with taking the church out of the Vatican with his many miles of traveling.
posted by Frodgie at 9:40 AM
Malaysian Leader: 'Jews Rule World by Proxy'
His speech at the Organization of the Islamic Conference (search) summit, which he was hosting, drew criticism from Jewish leaders, who warned it could spark more violence against Jews.
Mahathir, who is known for his outspoken, anti-Western rhetoric, criticized what he described as Jewish domination of the world and Muslim nations' inability to adequately respond to it as he opened the meeting of Islamic leaders from 57 nations.
"The Europeans killed 6 million Jews out of 12 million, but today the Jews rule the world by proxy," Mahathir said. "They get others to fight and die for them."
Malaysia, a democratic nation which has a large non-Muslim population and does not enforce strict Islamic law, has long been a critic of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and of U.S. policy in the Middle East, including the war in Iraq and its strong backing of the Jewish state.
Mahathir, 77, who is retiring on Oct. 31, has used almost every international podium to lambaste the West for two decades, winning a reputation as an outspoken champion of Third World causes.
posted by Frodgie at 9:39 AM
U.S. Expects Win on Iraq Resolution
The U.N. Security Council (search) will vote Thursday morning on the resolution, which would authorize a multinational force under U.S. command and call for troop contributions from other countries. Plus, it seeks "substantial pledges" from the 191 U.N. member states at a donors conference in Madrid, Spain, on Oct. 23-24.
The vote is expected to be a shut out, with only Syria perhaps abstaining.
The three refused to give support for a U.N. resolution authorizing the use of force to oust deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and had differed with the United States over the timing of returning the Arab country to full sovereignty.
posted by Frodgie at 9:38 AM
Victims of the Staten Island ferry crash
The Associated Press
10/16/2003, 9:21 a.m. ET
(AP) — The 10 people killed in the Staten Island ferry crash, according to the New York City medical examiner's office:
posted by Frodgie at 9:37 AM
Staten Island ferry an icon of New York
NEW YORK (AP) -- The Staten Island Ferry, used by tens of thousands of people every day, is a familiar icon of New York City.
The fleet of bright orange vessels, which are up to 310 feet long, move about 70,000 people a day between the St. George terminal on Staten Island and Whitehall Street in Manhattan. Even the opening of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge connecting Staten Island with Brooklyn in 1964 didn't reduce the ferry's popularity with commuters.
While it's meant to be a practical way of transporting people, the 5.2-mile, 25-minute trip is also known for its scenic potential -- it passes by the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. It's the only non-automotive way off Staten Island.
People have been crossing over water between Manhattan and Staten Island since 1713; the first steamboat came into service in 1817. A railroad company ran the ferry from 1884 until 1905, when it was taken over by city government.
posted by Frodgie at 9:35 AM
Space set to become war zone, warns US general
Space may become a war zone in the not-too-distant future, a senior US military officer said today, hours after China became only the third country after the US and the former Soviet Union to put a man in space.
"In my view it will not be long before space becomes a battleground," Lieutenant General Edward Anderson, deputy commander of US Northern Command, said in response to a question at a geospatial intelligence conference in New Orleans.
"Our military forces ... depend very, very heavily on space capabilities, and so that is a statement of the obvious to our potential threat, whoever that may be," he said.
"They can see that one of the ways that they can certainly diminish our capabilities will be to attack the space systems," said Anderson, who was formerly with US Space Command.
"Now how they do that and who that's going to be I can't tell you in this audience," he said at the unclassified conference.
posted by Frodgie at 9:31 AM
Bush Praises Schwarzenegger Before Meeting
"Tomorrow I get to meet the governor-elect. I'm looking forward to it," Bush told a cheering crowd at a campaign-style speech on the economy in this central California village.
Bush said he will share with Schwarzenegger his optimism that "America's on the right path."
"I'm optimistic and I have reason to be optimistic. Our country has overcome a lot in the past several years," Bush said under bright sunshine.
Bush was here to raise more political funds and to give speeches on the economy on his way to a six-nation tour of Asia. He was to meet with Schwarzenegger on Thursday in Riverside.
Both politicians will bring their own agenda to the meeting.
The governor-elect campaigned as a Republican who could work with the White House and pledged to carry a list of demands to the federal government.
The two will meet privately and then Schwarzenegger will introduce the president at a scheduled Bush speech on the economy and the war on terror, presidential spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters aboard Air Force One as Bush flew here from Washington.
posted by Frodgie at 9:30 AM
NTSB probes fatal ferry crash
Pretty ingenious of him to go home and "try" to commit suicide. He was probably drunk, crashed the boat, though quick enough to go home, "claim to start drinking out of depression, then call the cops and threaten suicide" This way he would not have to face manslaughter charges by being accused of being high!!
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Investigators will begin questioning witnesses and crew members of a Staten Island ferry that plowed into a pier killing 10 people and injuring 42, the chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday.
The ferry slammed into a pier amid high winds Wednesday afternoon. Afterward, the ferry's captain went home and tried to commit suicide, law enforcement sources said.
He remained in critical condition early Thursday, a hospital spokesman said.
Regular service resumed Thursday morning on ferries. The crippled ferry remains at the dock. It suffered significant damage, said Ellen Engleman, the NTSB chairman, and will be moved as soon as the vessel is considered secure.
"We are looking to find the probable cause of this tragedy," said Engleman. "There are a lot of conflicting stories about what happened on the bridge yesterday."
posted by Frodgie at 9:28 AM
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
10 Dead, 34 Hurt in Staten I. Ferry Crash
NEW YORK - A Staten Island ferry slammed into a pier as it was docking Wednesday, killing at least 10 people, tearing off victims' limbs and sending passengers leaping into the water, officials said. At least 34 people were injured.
The 310-foot ferry, carrying about 1,500 passengers, plowed into the enormous wooden pilings on the Staten Island end of its run from Manhattan, reducing the front of the mighty boat to a mass of shattered planks, broken glass and twisted steel.
The crash happened on a windswept afternoon, with gusts over 40 mph and the water in New York Harbor very choppy.
"Everyone just jumped for their lives," rider Bob Carroll told TV station NY1. "It was like an absolute horror. ... The whole side of the boat looked like an opener on a can."
posted by Frodgie at 8:38 PM
Pope John Pauls 25th Anniversary!
To the world's youth: "You are my hope!'
On Sunday, 12 October, the Holy Father introduced the prayer of the Angelus and commented on the 25th anniversary of his Pontificate, 16 October. He announced to the faithful gathered in St Peter's Square that he would be celebrating a thanksgiving Mass at 6: 00 p.m. in St Peter's Square on that day. Thinking back to the first Angelus that he led with the faithful after his election, the Pope recalled his desire to "embrace in the mystery of the Incarnation... the whole future of the Pontificate, of the People of God and of the whole human family". Lastly, the Pope fondly recalled that he had established a preferential dialogue with young people from the outset and continues "to count on them", entrusting them to Mary. The following is a translation of the Holy Father's Reflection, which was given in Italian.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
1. Next Thursday, 16 October, will be the 25th anniversary of my Pontificate. At 6: 00 p.m. in St Peter's Square I will celebrate a solemn Mass of Thanksgiving. I immediately thank all those who will be joining me in prayer, thanking God for his continuous and providential help.
posted by Frodgie at 6:33 AM
Pope won't resign, cardinal says
ROME, Italy (Reuters) -- Pope John Paul has no intention of resigning despite his illnesses and wants to run the Roman Catholic Church until his dying day, a senior cardinal said on Tuesday.
"He absolutely does not feel incapacitated. He governs (the Church) with his mind and his heart,'' said Cardinal Pio Laghi.
Laghi told reporters on the sidelines of a conference that occasional rumors the pope might resign were "completely unfounded.''
The frail 83-year-old pope on Wednesday kicks off a week of activities centered around Thursday's 25th anniversary of his election in 1978 as the first non-Italian pontiff in 455 years.
posted by Frodgie at 6:32 AM
Lions, and Tigers and Bears...oh My...U.S. Issues New Warning on Terror Attacks
The bulletin states that there is "continued Al Qaeda interest in conducting attacks against the homeland.'' However, federal officials are not raising the nation's alert status, which is now at elevated or yellow.
"Recent multiple reports indicate terrorists may be poised to conduct simultaneous attacks in the near term against U.S. interests in a number of venues overseas and possibly in the United States,'' the special edition bulletin states.
"The exact timing, targets and locations of the possible attacks are unknown. Some reports indicate that a large attack could follow a series of smaller operations in the Middle East and South Asia."
The bulletin also states that Al Qaeda continues to develop plans for using aircraft against targets in the U.S.
posted by Frodgie at 6:24 AM
Sources: Gaza blast kills 3 Americans
GAZA CITY (CNN) -- At least three Americans were killed and another seriously wounded Wednesday when an explosion hit a U.S. convoy in northern Gaza near the border with Israel, according to U.S. and Israeli sources.
Palestinian sources also said all the casualties were Americans.
The three-car convoy was carrying at least 12 Americans and was escorted by Palestinian security, Israeli sources said.
According to the Palestinian sources, the explosion occurred immediately after the Palestinian police cars passed by, with the blast hitting the first U.S. vehicle in the convoy.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat offered his condolences and condemned the attack.
posted by Frodgie at 6:23 AM
Nethercutt hails Iraq's recovery
'It is a better ... story than losing a couple of soldiers every day'
Rep. George Nethercutt said yesterday that Iraq's reconstruction is going better than is portrayed by the news media, citing his recent four-day trip to the country.
"The story of what we've done in the postwar period is remarkable," Nethercutt, R-Wash., told an audience of 65 at a noon meeting at the University of Washington's Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs.
"It is a better and more important story than losing a couple of soldiers every day."
He added that he did not want any more soldiers to be killed.
Nethercutt is a member of the House Appropriations Committee that approved President Bush's $87 billion request for military and reconstruction expenses in Iraq and Afghanistan.
posted by Frodgie at 6:22 AM
China Launches Manned Space Mission
With a column of smoke, the Shenzhou 5 craft cut across a bright, azure northwest China sky at exactly 9 a.m. Wednesday (9 p.m. Tuesday EDT) and went into orbit 10 minutes later. The official Xinhua News Agency immediately confirmed the launch and said the astronaut was air force Lt. Col. Yang Liwei, 38.
"China's first manned spacecraft, the Shenzhou 5, blasted off," Xinhua said. China Central Television's Channel One, the government's flagship station, cut into its programming to announce the launch. The station later showed Shenzhou streaking into the sky and disappearing, its tracer billowing behind it.
posted by Frodgie at 6:21 AM
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