Friday, June 5, 2009

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Carolita Johnson: Cars for the New Green Economy Top
 
Soccer Result Could Affect Iranian Election Top
But the clash between North Korea and Iran in Pyongyang on Saturday could be one of those occasions when the cliché actually proves true. A World Cup qualifier between the two remaining members of George W. Bush's infamous axis of evil - one fresh from a nuclear test, the other accused by some of wanting to conduct its own - sparks all sorts of international intrigue. More on North Korea
 
Andy Borowitz: Couple Arrested For Spilling CIA Secrets; Husband Was Vice-President of U.S. Top
A married couple who worked at the highest levels of the U.S. government were arrested today for revealing CIA secrets, including the identity of a CIA agent, Valerie Plame. The husband, Richard Cheney, had been employed for eight years as Vice President of the United States. The couple was taken into custody after CIA analysts pieced together a patchwork quilt of evidence against him that one agency source called "devastating." "Not only did he reveal classified information that could be helpful to our enemies, he was involved in disseminating false intelligence to sabotage the U.S.," the source said. "There's only one word for that: treason." The source added that the reason it took so long to arrest Mr. Cheney was "we couldn't find his house on Google Earth." For more, click here . More on Dick Cheney
 
Cameron Sinclair: Hats Off To A Bright Green Future Top
Roland Saekow, a product design major at University of California Berkeley just graduated. He, like many students graduating this year, has been involved in pushing the sustainable agenda. He helped to pass the Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) legislation on his campus, which generates $200,000 annually for green projects at Berkeley. He taught the Joy of Garbage for six semesters to explore the impact of our waste on the past, present and future. To top things off he served as the waste reduction manager at his housing cooperative for four semesters. The fact that their are waste reduction managers in college is mind blowing in of itself but it was his final act of college that puts him ahead of his fellow graduates. His energy efficient graduation cap. Robert added a solar panel and a wind turbine to make the worlds first graduating power plant. Check out Robert explain how it works. and watch his graduation. Congrats Robert and the new army of sustainable entrepreneurs across this nation.
 
Youth Radio -- Youth Media International: Palestinian-American Teen Reacts to Obama's Cairo Speech Top
Originally published on Youthradio.org , the premier source for youth generated news throughout the globe. By: Samr "Rocky" Tayeh On Thursday I went into the computer lab at my school to watch President Barack Obama's hour-long speech to the Arab world. While everyone else was watching music videos and socializing on MySpace I was watching Obama, full screen on YouTube. It was difficult for me to contain myself throughout the speech. I applauded, yelled, cheered and almost got kicked out for breaking the "silence" rule. I wasn't listening as an American or a Muslim, even though I'm both, I was listening as a human being. But for some reason this Obama speech didn't create a buzz in my college. Usually anything Obama says creates some sort of excitement, but this one went unnoticed. It was me asking everyone, "Did you hear the Obama Speech?" and the common reply was "No, when was it?" This morning I saw a front page article in a New York newspaper about Obama trying to unite Islam with America, and it showed a picture of a Sep-11 memorial and another of an American flag burning in some Islamic country. It pains me newspapers would contradict Obama's speech with hateful stereotypes and propaganda. The president wasn't someone my friends or I were talking about a year ago. We didn't feel included or a part of the political system. It seemed bigger than us. But with Barack Obama it's different, it feels like he's listening to our dinner conversations and actually knows what's going on. I've long dreamed of a world where we all can get along. Where the beauty of religions allows us all to understand and accept each other. President Obama makes me feel like there are other people out there who share my crazy dream of treating each other with compassion and tolerance. Can we live peacefully together? It's a question I hope people will ask themselves more and more, and it's a question I think President Obama asked on Thursday. My sister thinks the speech was just politics at work. I see it as a fresh start to a better world. Youth Radio/Youth Media International (YMI) is youth-driven converged media production company that delivers the best youth news, culture and undiscovered talent to a cross section of audiences. To read more youth news from around the globe and explore high quality audio and video features, visit Youthradio.org More on Barack Obama
 
Ari Bendersky: Summertime Is Rosé Wine Season Top
If you think pink wine is for frail old ladies who don't know anything but (gag) White Zin, it's time to think again. Rosé has stealthily made a comeback over the last few years and has found a respectable place once again with the wine world's biggest critics. For me, it's one of the best wines to drink during spring and summer due to its crisp freshness. Hell, because rosé pairs so well with a variety of food, from fish and seafood to chicken and pork to Mexican, Thai and Indian, you can drink it throughout the year. Rosés are made from any number of red grapes, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese -- although most varieties you find are made from Rhone varietals (Syrah, Grenache, Mouvedre, Cinsault) and Pinot Noir -- you'd almost have to slap yourself for suggesting to drink it with a steak or burger, but go ahead. Be crazy. You'll find that you might just like it. Traditionally, rosé is made by crushing red grapes and allowing the juice to sit with the skins for just a few days, usually around 48 hours, to allow the juice to obtain some of the color of the skins, but not enough to turn it the darker red. The skins are then removed before fermentation, allowing the juice to remain pink or light orange or raspberry red, and for the wine to obtain its crisp, fruit-filled flavor. Many rosés today, whether from France, Spain, Australia, California or South Africa (and beyond), tend to lean toward a dry, crisp palate and are perfect out on the back patio or at brunch at your favorite al fresco spot. Pick up rosé at your favorite local wine shop. Here are a few I've been enjoying lately: 2008 Ponzi Rosato (Willamette Valley, Oregon) When the moon is in your seventh house and Jupiter aligns with Mars, you're going to want a bottle of this around to celebrate (why the Hair reference, I have no idea). This is one of the most perfect rosés I've ever had, with a Georgia peach color, a robust nose offering quince, watermelon and raspberry and a well balanced, slightly creamy (likely the result of malolactic fermentation) and a rounded palate of pineapple, kiwi and strawberry. This wine is the result of grapes that were allowed to remain on 40-year-old Pinot Noir vines well into autumn after a great growing season. Available online for $17. Lucien Albrecht Cremant d'Alsace Brut Rosé NV (Alsace, France) If you're looking for something pink and bubbly, this Alsatian treasure is your newest fave. France is known for its traditional rosés and this one, made from 100 percent Pinot Noir, doesn't disappoint. The crisp palate of strawberry and cherries gives you an excuse to stay at lunch a little longer, and then suggests you just blow off the rest of the workday and go hang by a pool. Available at Sam's Wine and Spirits for $21.99 2008 La Crema Pinot Noir Rosé (Russian River Valley, Sonoma) When I had the 2007 vintage last year, I immediately fell in love. I wanted more. Unfortunately, only 350 cases were produced and it was only available directly from the winery. It had a gorgeous nose of orange zest and the citrusy palate had hints of strawberry and raspberry. The 2008 proves to be just as good -- and just as hard to get. But if you have $20 and the patience for it to show up, you will be rewarded dearly. Winemaker Melissa Stackhouse doesn't mess around with any of her Pinots -- and this wine is no exception. Available only at La Crema for $20. 2007 Murphy's Law (Columbia Valley, Washington State) I first discovered this one back on one of those rare hot nights in March and declared it my new favorite summer sipper. Its darker color, courtesy of a majority of Blaufrankish, a grape typically found in Central and Eastern Europe (the rest is made from Grenache, Pinot Noir and Cinsault), would lead you to think it would dominate your mouth with tannins, but it is surprisingly crisp and refreshing with watermelon, strawberry, orange peel and spice. While I recommend drinking this with shrimp or chicken, you could easily pair it with a juicy steak and not feel bad about it. Available at In Fine Spirits for $12.99 2008 Chateau de Campuget (Costieres de Nimes, France) The strawberry and honeydew of this Rhone blend, comprising Syrah (70 percent) and Grenache (30 percent), play nicely alongside a slight effervescence and a pretty long finish -- so the wine keeps going a bit after it goes down. The Mediterranean conditions of the vineyard , which dates back to 1640, have allowed the old vines to grow and prosper, with their roots having to dig deeper into the soil to find water beneath the round stones on the surface. These growing conditions allow the grapes to mature on the vines, producing robust wines. Available at World Market for $10.99. Kim Crawford Pansy! Rosé (New Zealand) Most of the rosé I've had from Merlot tends to be somewhat viscous, but not this. It was crisp with nice fruit -- really inspired and thirst-quenching. A darker pink color led to a tangy and bright palate of strawberry, cherry and pink grapefruit with a little zing at the end to ensure you go back for more. Unfortunately, Crawford hasn't had a recent release, but you can still find this online . Sure, you will have to pay shipping cost, but for a wine under $10, who cares?
 
McConnell Doesn't Rule Out Sotomayor Filibuster Top
WASHINGTON — The Senate's top Republican said Friday it's "way too early to know" whether his party will try to block a vote on Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation, leaving open a possibility that a so-far mild debate on her confirmation could turn bitter. Sen. Mitch McConnell appeared to break with others in his party who have said they don't foresee using Senate rules to try to stop Sotomayor. The Kentucky Republican said he believes blocking votes on judges is a "bad idea," but that Democrats established a precedent for doing so under former President George W. Bush. "I'm not predicting it. I think it is way too early to even know. But I do think if you look at all the tools available, it's clearly one of them that may or may not be employed at some point" against Sotomayor, McConnell told reporters. His comments came as Democrats and Republicans are haggling over when to begin confirmation hearings for Sotomayor, who would be the court's first Hispanic justice and third woman. Democrats are pushing for July hearings and a summertime vote; the GOP wants to wait until September, citing the judge's voluminous record during nearly 17 years on the bench. Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, the Judiciary Committee's senior Republican, has said that a filibuster is unlikely. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, head of the GOP's Senate campaign committee, has said he doesn't have the votes to sustain a filibuster and doesn't believe that Republicans want to mount one. Majority Democrats have more than enough votes to confirm President Barack Obama's first Supreme Court choice, but are one short of the 60 it would take to force a final vote if Republicans try to block it with a filibuster. Few doubt that Sotomayor will be confirmed, barring a major surprise. Conservatives sought to raise new questions Friday about Sotomayor's views on hot-button issues, including capital punishment and abortion, based on positions taken by the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund. Sotomayor served on the legal defense fund's board from 1980 to 1992. Abortion-rights opponents circulated a 1988 legal brief joined by the PRLDEF that took a position in strong support of abortion rights and argued strenuously against dismantling the underpinnings of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that established a woman's right to end her pregnancy. The brief, submitted to the Supreme Court to support a challenge to a Missouri law making it illegal to use public officials or facilities for abortions, warns of "the danger of tampering with the core framework of Roe v. Wade." The brief said doing so would disproportionately harm poor women of color. The high court ultimately upheld the Missouri law in the case, Webster v. Reproductive Health Services. There is no evidence or indication that Sotomayor had any role in drafting the brief, or the PRLDEF's decision to join it. Cesar A. Perales, now the group's president, said its board has never been involved in deciding which cases the organization takes on or matters of litigation. Board members sometimes do, however, help decide which legal issues the organization should focus on, Perales said. But abortion-rights opponents said the brief raises questions about Sotomayor's stance on Roe. "It's explicitly a pro-abortion argument," said Charmaine Yoest of Americans United for Life. "That specific case makes it very difficult for her to say that she doesn't have a position" on abortion rights. Groups on both sides of the issue have been searching in vain for evidence of where Sotomayor stands on Roe and its underpinnings, including the right to privacy. The White House says it never asked Sotomayor about the issue, although Obama said during his presidential campaign that he would never name someone to the high court who didn't believe in the right to privacy. In a voluminous response to a Senate Judiciary Committee questionnaire Thursday, Sotomayor said no one at the White House or in the administration had asked her about any issue or case that could reach the Supreme Court. Left out of that massive portfolio _ which was supposed to include any memos, reports or policy statements she has written _ is a position paper she signed in 1981 while serving on a PRLDEF task force that opposed the restoration of the death penalty in New York. That memo concludes that, "Capital punishment is associated with evident racism in our society." Sotomayor gave the Senate a 1981 letter from a PRLDEF official to then-New York Gov. Hugh Carey that contained a nearly identical statement about the death penalty, but the memo that surfaced Friday was the first evidence that Sotomayor had signed onto such a statement herself. ___ Associated Press Radio reporter Gerald Bodlander contributed to this report. More on GOP
 
Paul Klein: Summer Art Top
Summer is a wonderful time for looking at art. The weather is temperate and the galleries are eager to see us. To a large extent, the gallery (art buying) season follows that of the school year, when people's attention is focused more indoors. As a result, galleries are more prone to taking chances during the summer. For all their assumed affiliation with creativity, they are a rather conservative bunch. In summer we see more diverse offerings and art that may not be on view during the balance of the year. Often we see really good, unexpected art and sometimes we see art that the galleries are trying out. We also see a preponderance of group exhibitions, which is an easy way for the art dealers to hedge, assuming they are prone to selling less, why not diversify and hope to get lucky? I saw three really good group exhibitions. Primal , at Carl Hammer is wonderful and presented on two of the gallery's floors. Comprised entirely of drawings, mostly from the Hammer's core of represented artists, there's some really strong work by artists like Phyllis Bramson , Henry Darger , Lee Godie , Martin Ramirez , Bill Traylor , Chris Ware, Joseph Yoakum and others. The show opened last night and is very worth seeing, even if you can't attend the opening reception. Tom McCormick also has a really good group exhibition, titled 1959 , wherein all the exhibited pieces were painted 50 years ago. Some of us can remember 1959, when Alaska and Hawaii became states, the Guggenheim opened and Ben-Hur was the big movie of the year. It is curious to look at the paintings of the time and ponder how Abstract Expressionism was yielding to the Pop movement championed by Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns and very soon, Andy Warhol. It's always great to see a beautiful Joan Mitchell painting, but to a larger extent, considering what was going on in the world in 1959 and contrasting it to the art being made, and then bringing that information to the present and the microscope we focus on art and culture today. Ann Nathan has a group show of nature, flora and botanica in the works of Amy Lowry , Deborah Ebbers and Christina Haglid . All three are technically virtuous, but Christina Haglid is impressively gifted at her ability to delicately render tight images in gouache and watercolor. A timely, beautiful summer show. I'm pleased that the Chicago Artists Coalition now has an exhibition space. Long a bastion for all Chicago-area artists, it has provided lots of services for artists for as long as I can remember. This is its first effort at a permanent exhibition space. Located in Wicker Park, this opening exhibition features 30 works with 10 each selected by three unnamed, unaffiliated jurors. As expected the show is uneven, which in this case means there are some unexpected surprises. Byron Roche is presenting a one-person exhibition by the vibrant octogenarian, Leopold Segedin . Given my fascination with Chicago history and artists who work here, I am particular drawn to Segedin's trip down memory lane as he paints Chicago scenes from his youth that no longer exist. In many of them, he shows himself as an old-timer energetically dancing as he broadcasts his continued engagement. Solid. Let's go look at some art! Paul Klein
 
Star Sun-Times Columnist Rick Telander: Chicago Doesn't Deserve Olympics Top
The City of Chicago, led by Mayor Daley and a vast and tumorous army of aldermen and bagmen and yesmen and opportunists and spineless, parasitic political-machine halfwits of forms never seen outside the roiling cesspool of governmental slop-trough greed, has proven itself unworthy of something as potentially delicious and fulfilling as the 2016 Olympic Games. More on Olympics
 
New York Observer Lays Off A Big Portion Of Its Editorial Staff Top
Just days after changing editors, The New York Observer laid off a significant chunk of its employes on Friday, including as much as a third of its editorial staff.
 
Rep. Mark Kirk's Divorce To Be Finalized Top
U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk and his wife, Kimberly Vertolli, are divorcing after eight years, according to a statement issued by his office Friday: Congressman Kirk's divorce from his wife of eight years, Kimberly Vertolli, will become final on Monday, June 8. They remain friends and the legal filings related to the divorce will not be sealed. Kirk and Vertolli met at the Pentagon in 1998, according to the Lake County News-Sun , where Kirk was lead counsel for the House International Relations Committee and Vertolli was in the Navy. The North Shore Republican has been weighing running for either Senate or Governor in 2010. He has yet to announce his intentions, despite saying he would do so in May.
 

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