Lunch Time Links 8/17

Alabama Authorities Put Real Life Walter White On Most Wanted List

"The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office has placed Walter White on their priority list of the county's most wanted," The Tuscaloosa News reports. "White, 55, was on probation for a 2008 charge of making methamphetamine when he was arrested on similar charges in Bibb County earlier this year." 

Russian Court Imprisons Pussy Riot For Hooliganism

Three members of Russian female punk rock band Pussy Riot were sentenced to two years in prison Friday after they were found guilty of hooliganism for performing a song critical of President Vladimir Putin in a church. 

The five months they have spent in detention since their arrests in March count toward the sentence, Judge Marina Sirovaya said.

More Than 30 Killed In Police Crackdown At South African Mine

Police opened fire on thousands of machete-wielding workers on strike at a South African mine, killing more than 30, authorities said Friday, in one of the bloodiest post-apartheid attacks in the nation. 

South African police said 34 people were killed and 78 others wounded in the attacks Thursday. The National Union of Mineworkers said 36 were killed.

Robin van Persie, Man U Ink 4-Year Deal

Dutch striker Robin van Persie on Friday completed his move to Manchester United in a four-year deal, saying it was an "honor" to sign with the club. 

"I am looking forward to following in the footsteps of so many great strikers, bringing my experience and playing my part to help the team compete for the biggest trophies in the game. I can't wait to get started," he said Friday. 

United confirmed the club had agreed on a fee with Arsenal on Wednesday evening, and the Dutch striker underwent a successful medical exam on Thursday before the final elements of the transfer were wrapped up. The deal, reportedly worth 24 million pounds ($38 million), has been done in time for Van Persie to go straight into Sir Alex Ferguson's squad for Monday's opening Premier League clash at Everton.

Fast And Furious Has Gotten Interesting

Via The Blaze

A high-ranking Mexican drug cartel operative currently in U.S. custody is making startling allegations that the failed federal gun-walking operation known as “Fast and Furious” isn’t what you think it is.

It wasn’t about tracking guns, it was about supplying them — all part of an elaborate agreement between the U.S. government and Mexico’s powerful Sinaloa Cartel to take down rival cartels.

The explosive allegations are being made by Jesus Vicente Zambada-Niebla, known as the Sinaloa Cartel’s “logistics coordinator.” He was extradited to the Chicago last year to face federal drug charges.

Zambada-Niebla claims that under a “divide and conquer” strategy, the U.S. helped finance and arm the Sinaloa Cartel through Operation Fast and Furious in exchange for information that allowed the DEA, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies to take down rival drug cartels. The Sinaloa Cartel was allegedly permitted to traffic massive amounts of drugs across the U.S. border from 2004 to 2009 — during both Fast and Furious and Bush-era gunrunning operations — as long as the intel kept coming.

This is egregious. I would like to see Issa go after Bush administration officials (specifically Alberto Gonzales) to go along with the justifiable pressure on Eric Holder and the Obama administration. And anyone on the left saying "See! This is all Bush's fault!" needs to shut up. The death tolls in the Mexican Drug War went from 9601 from 2006-2008 combined to over 11000 in 2010 alone. Obama took a Bush administration policy and escalated it with fervor. Just like he did with every other policy.

And for some perspective, this is like President Hoover's administration funneling guns to Al Capone's Chicago Outfit for intelligence on its rivals like the North Side Gang and the Genna brothers, and then Roosevelt coming in and ramping it up to an unprecedented level.

If these charges are true (which I don't doubt), it should put new context for those who are in support of the Drug War. It has never been about getting rid of drugs. It's been about controlling them. Looks like they're getting their wish. At least until another cartel decides to make a play for Sinaloa power and violence escalates again. Maybe the Romney administration will supply them if that happens.

Friday Fictioneers: The Blight Cometh: Part Two

© Lura Helms 2012

The Blight Cometh: Part Two

Two weeks passed. Two horrifying weeks as the blight began to spread across the area. Bill and Steve began hearing reports from other parts of the state being overrun. It was relentless.

Ever changing. Ever growing. Ever destroying.

When they met the biologist, Rebekah, in the capital, she insisted on coming with them. That's when they made the harrowing discovery.

"It's just destroying everything in its path," Rebekah said, dazed by the dying landscape.

Steve sighed heavily. "Yeah. This used to be nothing but trees. Now all that's left is the one in the middle."

"Which is peculiar, don't you think?" asked Rebekah.

A loud snort came from behind them. The duo turned to look at an eye-rolling Bill. "This whole thing is peculiar."

Rebekah regarded for a moment, and then turned back to Steve. "Can I borrow your binoculars?" she asked. Steve handed them to her and lit a cigarette. She zoomed in on the solitary tree. "There seems to be an odd growth on it."

"Not surprising," Bill replied. "Oaks like that sometimes have weird branches growing out from crooks."

The binoculars fell from her face, her eyes like saucers. She turned slowly to Bill. "Do they usually move?"

Steve's cigarette hit the ground unnoticed.

Follow me on Twitter @Jake_Collin

Prompt For For This Week's Friday Fictioneers

Here is this week's prompt for Friday Fictioneers, courtesy of Madison Woods. Come join us over at her blog.

It'll be fun fun fun!

My Friday Fictioneers entries.

Local Governments Don't Get It

Via NBC News:

Governments Mull Radical Solution To Underwater Mortgages: Seize Them

Mario Anzuoni / Reuters

With millions of homeowners still "under water," some local governments are considering a novel solution: condemning their mortgages through the power of eminent domain. 

“Federal programs have not been very successful at all, and the private programs have been of limited help,” said Gregory Devereaux, administrator for San Bernardino County, explaining the government's decision to consider eminent domain, a plan the mortgage industry considers the equivalent of the nuclear option. The hard-hit county's board of supervisors is expected to meet Thursday to consider proposals to help homeowners, including the possible use of eminent domain.

This is patently idiotic and dangerous.

1) It's highly illegal and immoral for any government to step in nullify a contract between two parties when there has been no instances of fraud, let alone force one party to accept terms it did not agree to, basically screwing them out of money.

2) This will set a dangerous precedent for future homeowners, giving incentive to not act with responsibility when making the choice on whether or not to purchase a house.

But what can you really expect from people who have zero respect for or knowledge of economic and contract law?

Lunch Time Links 8/16

Here are today's Lunch Time Links:

Diplomatic Fury As Ecuador Grants Asylum To Wikileaks Founder Assange

Ecuador granted asylum to Julian Assange on Thursday, expressing fury at a threat by Britain to seize the WikiLeaks founder at its London embassy.

 Powerball Ticket Worth $337 Million Sold In Michigan

A winning ticket in the $337 million Powerball drawing has been sold in Michigan. 

The winning numbers in the Wednesday night drawing were 6, 27, 46, 51, 56 and Powerball 21.

The Michigan Lottery says the ticket was sold a Sunoco gas station in Lapeer, about 45 miles north of Detroit. 

There was no immediate word about the identity of the buyer.

 Mortgage Rates Up For A Third Straight Week

Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages ticked up for the third straight week, staying slightly above record lows. Cheap mortgages have helped fuel a modest housing recovery this year.

Former Georgia Coach Charged With Running Ponzi Scheme

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has announced that Jim Donnan, a former University of Georgia head coach is being charged with conducting an $80 million Ponzi scheme which includes other coaches and former players among its victims. 

Seven American Soldiers Killed In Afghan Chopper Crash

Seven American soldiers were killed Thursday when the Black Hawk helicopter they were traveling in crashed in southern Afghanistan, U.S. officials told NBC News. 

Three Afghan soldiers and an Afghan interpreter were also killed, bringing the total number of dead to 11, officials said. 

Two Deputies Killed, Two Wounded In Louisiana Shooting

Two law enforcement officers died and two were injured in a series of apparently linked shootings early Thursday in LaPlace, Louisiana, authorities said. 

The first shooting happened in a parking lot at a steel plant, Sheriff Mike Tregre said. The second happened when officers went to a nearby trailer park to investigate the first shooting and were ambushed by a man armed with what the sheriff described as an assault rifle, he said.

And I have some big news myself!

I've Got Big News

Since April, my ever so lovely wife, decided to make the announcement on Facebook (without telling me), I figured I'd make the announcement here.

APRIL IS PREGNANT!!!

Whew! I've been holding that news in for a while. And before anyone starts asking about paternity, let me cut you off there. According to April, only my grape-sized (at the moment) guy(s) and/or gal(s) could cause her this much misery. She does say the sweetest things.

I am extremely excited. Extremely nervous, but also extremely excited. The time of Noah's pregnancy was far from spectacular for us (I was young, stupid, and a complete asshole), so I'm really happy that I get to go through all the pregnancy stuff this time. 

The best thing so far, though (in my opinion at least), is how Noah has taken to his prospective role of Big Brother with gusto. Everything he does that is him "growing up," he attributes to "being a brother." He's even getting a little bit of practice with his new cousin Brinley. He's excited.

"I'm gonna be a brother. Can someone say 'scapegoat?'"

On a somewhat sad side note (say that fast), my office will be transformed into a nursery. I will miss it when it is gone. We had some good times.

And for those who may have noticed my "guy(s) and/or gal(s)" distinction, well, there was a reason. You see, April is a fraternal twin. We all know that this isn't completely uncommon. As of 2009 there were 33.3 twin births for every 1000 births. What makes this fun for us is that April's mother, Merri, is also a fraternal twin. And the cherry on top of the twin cake is that both April and her mother were the second twin. Since it's been scientifically proven that women with family history of fraternal twins have higher chances of producing more fraternal twins, we are preparing for this. Well, we're trying to. The thought of two babies kind of scares me right now.

So that's my big news. April is pregnant, and I can't wait.

Christie To Give Keynote; Rubio To Introduce Romney

"What if they don't have any food carts?"

via Fox News

Mitt Romney chose Paul Ryan for his running mate, but he's making sure to find major convention roles for the other short-listers.  

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, two of Romney's rumored top choices for the job, will have prominent speaking roles at this year's Republican National Convention. Christie has been awarded the coveted keynote address, while Rubio will introduce Romney on the closing night, sources told Fox News.  

Republicans formally announced Tuesday morning that Christie, who considered a 2012 presidential bid of his own before endorsing Romney, would speak in the prime slot in Tampa later this month. Rubio has been tapped to introduce Romney on Thursday night of the convention. GOP officials tell Fox News Rubio is already on a third draft his remarks.

Still no word if Ron Paul will be getting a slot to speak, but I have little hope that it will happen. Looks like there is need for another counter-convention like in St. Paul in 2008.

As for Christie and Rubio, I'm trying to figure out how a gun control supporting governor from New Jersey and a big government representative from Florida are conservative, but then again, the Republicans nominated Mitt Romney, who gets to own this, and he in turn selected Paul Ryan for his VP, who voted for TARP and the auto bailouts.

I guess the Republicans really don't want the libertarian vote.