ATF: Skinhead assassination plot targeting Barack Obama disrupted
By Kenneth R. Bazinet and James Gordon Meek DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Updated Monday, October 27th 2008, 9:59 PM
Brandon/AP
Barack Obama
WASHINGTON - Two alleged skinheads were charged Monday in a far-fetched plot to launch a "killing spree" aimed at beheading black students and then shooting Barack Obama.
The racist teens demonstrated little supremacy in their nutty plan to "dress in white tuxedos and wear top hats during the assassination attempt," the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said.
A federal official told the Daily News: "It was only aspirational."
RELATED: EARLY VOTING SKYROCKETS
Daniel Cowart, 20, of Bells, Tenn., and Paul Schlesselman, 18, of West Helena, Ark., wanted to steal weapons from a gun store and shoot at the black Democratic presidential nominee from their car while driving toward Obama at high speed. They were to bankroll the plot by robbing a house, but got scared off by a dog, court papers said.
The pair was arrested and charged by the ATF with illegal possession of a sawed-off shotgun and making threats against Obama.
The Secret Service's Tennessee field office did not notify Obama's protective team of the plot, ABC News reported, indicating it had not posed a serious threat.
Had Obama's life been in danger, the Secret Service would have filed the charges, officials noted.
Cowart and Schlesselman, who had recently met on the Internet, were noticed by local cops after decorating their getaway car with swastikas and racial epithets. The ATF said they discussed shooting 88 people and beheading 14 African-Americans.
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Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Body found in SUV, unknown if it's Hudson's nephew
By RUPA SHENOY, Associated Press Writer Rupa Shenoy, Associated Press Writer – 6 mins ago
CHICAGO – Police searching for Jennifer Hudson's missing 7-year-old nephew found the body of a young black boy in an SUV Monday. There was no confirmation on the identity of the body.
Hudson's nephew, Julian King, hasn't been seen since Friday, when Hudson's mother and brother were found shot to death in their home. Police issued an Amber Alert for Julian, who lived in the home, and were looking for a 1994 white Chevrolet Suburban.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's office and Chicago Police Department sent officials to the scene of a white SUV, which reportedly has a license plate matching the number listed on an Amber Alert issued for Jennifer Hudson's missing nephew, on the city's West Side Monday. Police refused to comment.
Television footage showed police vehicles escorting a flatbed tow truck as it took the SUV away from the scene with the body still inside.
Hudson, the Oscar-winning actress offered a $100,000 reward for her nephew's safe return. He is the son of her sister, Julia Hudson.
The Amber Alert listed William Balfour, the estranged husband of Julia Hudson, as a suspect in a "double homicide investigation." Balfour, 27, has not been charged in the slayings. He is not the boy's father.
Police said they did not have a motive for the killings but called the case "domestic related."
Balfour was taken into custody Friday by Chicago police for questioning in the killings. On Sunday, he was transferred to the Illinois Department of Corrections "based on his active parole violation unrelated to this investigation."
Records from the Corrections Department show Balfour is on parole and spent nearly seven years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking and possessing a stolen vehicle.
Corrections spokeswoman Januari Smith said Balfour would probably remain in state custody until the Illinois Prisoner Review Board looked at his case. She would not say where Balfour was being held.
It was unclear whether Balfour had an attorney Sunday, but his mother, Michele Balfour, has denied he was involved the killings or in Julian's disappearance.
On Sunday evening, in a statement from publicist Lisa Kasteler, the singer appealed to the public for help, offering the reward and asking any information be given to Chicago police.
"Jennifer and her family appreciate the enormous amount of love, support and prayers they have received while she and her family try to cope with this tragedy and continue the search for Julian," the statement said.
Hudson, who won an Academy Award for best supporting actress in 2007 for her role in "Dreamgirls," was in Chicago with her family during the weekend, her sister said. The medical examiner's office confirmed Hudson identified the bodies of her mother, Darnell Donerson, 57, and 29-year-old brother, Jason Hudson. The deaths were ruled homicides.
___
Associated Press writers Caryn Rousseau and Sophia Tareen contributed to this report.
CHICAGO – Police searching for Jennifer Hudson's missing 7-year-old nephew found the body of a young black boy in an SUV Monday. There was no confirmation on the identity of the body.
Hudson's nephew, Julian King, hasn't been seen since Friday, when Hudson's mother and brother were found shot to death in their home. Police issued an Amber Alert for Julian, who lived in the home, and were looking for a 1994 white Chevrolet Suburban.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's office and Chicago Police Department sent officials to the scene of a white SUV, which reportedly has a license plate matching the number listed on an Amber Alert issued for Jennifer Hudson's missing nephew, on the city's West Side Monday. Police refused to comment.
Television footage showed police vehicles escorting a flatbed tow truck as it took the SUV away from the scene with the body still inside.
Hudson, the Oscar-winning actress offered a $100,000 reward for her nephew's safe return. He is the son of her sister, Julia Hudson.
The Amber Alert listed William Balfour, the estranged husband of Julia Hudson, as a suspect in a "double homicide investigation." Balfour, 27, has not been charged in the slayings. He is not the boy's father.
Police said they did not have a motive for the killings but called the case "domestic related."
Balfour was taken into custody Friday by Chicago police for questioning in the killings. On Sunday, he was transferred to the Illinois Department of Corrections "based on his active parole violation unrelated to this investigation."
Records from the Corrections Department show Balfour is on parole and spent nearly seven years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking and possessing a stolen vehicle.
Corrections spokeswoman Januari Smith said Balfour would probably remain in state custody until the Illinois Prisoner Review Board looked at his case. She would not say where Balfour was being held.
It was unclear whether Balfour had an attorney Sunday, but his mother, Michele Balfour, has denied he was involved the killings or in Julian's disappearance.
On Sunday evening, in a statement from publicist Lisa Kasteler, the singer appealed to the public for help, offering the reward and asking any information be given to Chicago police.
"Jennifer and her family appreciate the enormous amount of love, support and prayers they have received while she and her family try to cope with this tragedy and continue the search for Julian," the statement said.
Hudson, who won an Academy Award for best supporting actress in 2007 for her role in "Dreamgirls," was in Chicago with her family during the weekend, her sister said. The medical examiner's office confirmed Hudson identified the bodies of her mother, Darnell Donerson, 57, and 29-year-old brother, Jason Hudson. The deaths were ruled homicides.
___
Associated Press writers Caryn Rousseau and Sophia Tareen contributed to this report.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Mike Bloomberg should run for City Council
Mike Bloomberg should run for City Council
Thursday, October 2nd 2008, 2:40 AM
Why doesn't he just run for City Council?
Really. No joke.
The Council has the final say on the budget, and he would be a shoo-in for speaker. Any invaluable and irreplaceable fiscal guidance Mayor Bloomberg might offer in this financial crisis could just as easily come from Speaker Bloomberg.
Guidance from Speaker Bloomberg would not be muddied by him going against term limits set by the electorate, limits he ardently supported until he neared one.
RELATED: BLOOMBERG, QUINN KEEP TERM MEETING HUSH-HUSH
If he finds the prospect of becoming a councilman too humbling, he can tell himself he is only following the example set long ago on the federal level by John Quincy Adams.
Our sixth President, Adams went from the White House to the House of Representatives, where he served for 17 years, becoming the leading foe of slavery.
RELATED: WHO MAYOR MAY NOT SURVIVE
"No person can be degraded by serving the people as representative in Congress," Adams once declared.
Before an assassin struck, John F. Kennedy said that upon reaching the two-term limit set for Presidents, he would follow Adams' example and be a congressman from Massachusetts.
Kennedy ascribed to Adams' view that any respected former chief executive who became a duly elected member of a legislative body "instead of degrading the individual would elevate the representative character." Bloomberg's stature would elevate the office of speaker, and the entire Council. A new mayor would be hard-pressed to ignore fiscal advice from Speaker Bloomberg.
RELATED: BETTER GET READY FOR ROUGH RIDE & LAWSUITS, SAY EXTENSION FOES
Adams should be a particular inspiration for Bloomberg, who has long decried partisan politics. Adams considered political parties a curse, believing government should follow the best interests of the governed.
As mayor, Bloomberg has worked against political self-interest in favor of the larger good, notably the smoking ban, which will save tens of thousands of lives.
The city is much better off as a result of Bloomberg's tenure as mayor. He is far superior to any of his would-be successors, who are more reminiscent of that other Addams family, the one created by a dark-humored cartoonist.
Bloomberg was particularly astute and steadying when the fiscal crisis struck, having shown foresight - a rare facility among present-day politicians.
Anyone who needed a reminder yesterday of how vital he remains only had to take a stroll from City Hall down through the Financial District.
The Stock Exchange, the Federal Reserve Bank, the AIG building - the very pavement seemed shaken. Tourists were taking snapshots of the big bull that now seems less a symbol than a relic at a time we need the financial wisdom and foresight of Bloomberg more than ever.
Beyond the end of Broadway was the harbor, and there stood a figure that remains a symbol of what makes us great no matter what the markets do, a symbol that humbles even the mightiest among us. As in all times of adversity, the Statue of Liberty seemed to stand even straighter, her torch shining even brighter.
At the core of the freedom and democracy she symbolizes is respect for the will of the people as expressed by voting.
The people of our city have voted twice on term limits, first in favor of establishing them, later against scrapping them.
If the people want them done away with, the way to do it is by popular ballot, not through a Council vote by members who will also be extending their jobs.
Such a hustle would demean the Council, just as Bloomberg would elevate it by joining its ranks.
Mike for City Council! From ---nydailynews 10-23-08
Thursday, October 2nd 2008, 2:40 AM
Why doesn't he just run for City Council?
Really. No joke.
The Council has the final say on the budget, and he would be a shoo-in for speaker. Any invaluable and irreplaceable fiscal guidance Mayor Bloomberg might offer in this financial crisis could just as easily come from Speaker Bloomberg.
Guidance from Speaker Bloomberg would not be muddied by him going against term limits set by the electorate, limits he ardently supported until he neared one.
RELATED: BLOOMBERG, QUINN KEEP TERM MEETING HUSH-HUSH
If he finds the prospect of becoming a councilman too humbling, he can tell himself he is only following the example set long ago on the federal level by John Quincy Adams.
Our sixth President, Adams went from the White House to the House of Representatives, where he served for 17 years, becoming the leading foe of slavery.
RELATED: WHO MAYOR MAY NOT SURVIVE
"No person can be degraded by serving the people as representative in Congress," Adams once declared.
Before an assassin struck, John F. Kennedy said that upon reaching the two-term limit set for Presidents, he would follow Adams' example and be a congressman from Massachusetts.
Kennedy ascribed to Adams' view that any respected former chief executive who became a duly elected member of a legislative body "instead of degrading the individual would elevate the representative character." Bloomberg's stature would elevate the office of speaker, and the entire Council. A new mayor would be hard-pressed to ignore fiscal advice from Speaker Bloomberg.
RELATED: BETTER GET READY FOR ROUGH RIDE & LAWSUITS, SAY EXTENSION FOES
Adams should be a particular inspiration for Bloomberg, who has long decried partisan politics. Adams considered political parties a curse, believing government should follow the best interests of the governed.
As mayor, Bloomberg has worked against political self-interest in favor of the larger good, notably the smoking ban, which will save tens of thousands of lives.
The city is much better off as a result of Bloomberg's tenure as mayor. He is far superior to any of his would-be successors, who are more reminiscent of that other Addams family, the one created by a dark-humored cartoonist.
Bloomberg was particularly astute and steadying when the fiscal crisis struck, having shown foresight - a rare facility among present-day politicians.
Anyone who needed a reminder yesterday of how vital he remains only had to take a stroll from City Hall down through the Financial District.
The Stock Exchange, the Federal Reserve Bank, the AIG building - the very pavement seemed shaken. Tourists were taking snapshots of the big bull that now seems less a symbol than a relic at a time we need the financial wisdom and foresight of Bloomberg more than ever.
Beyond the end of Broadway was the harbor, and there stood a figure that remains a symbol of what makes us great no matter what the markets do, a symbol that humbles even the mightiest among us. As in all times of adversity, the Statue of Liberty seemed to stand even straighter, her torch shining even brighter.
At the core of the freedom and democracy she symbolizes is respect for the will of the people as expressed by voting.
The people of our city have voted twice on term limits, first in favor of establishing them, later against scrapping them.
If the people want them done away with, the way to do it is by popular ballot, not through a Council vote by members who will also be extending their jobs.
Such a hustle would demean the Council, just as Bloomberg would elevate it by joining its ranks.
Mike for City Council! From ---nydailynews 10-23-08
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Drinking and e-mailing don't mix: Google service aims to keep you from typing things you'll regret
Drinking and e-mailing don't mix: Google service aims to keep you from typing things you'll regret
By Tracy Connor Daily News Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 8th 2008, 4:00 AM
Getty
Why did I press 'Send'?! A new service from Google aims to help eliminate those drinking-and-typing moments you regret the next morning.
Manhattan resident Matt Brand remembers the night he came home drunk and sent his ex-girlfriend an e-card suggesting, in crude terms, that he still carried a torch for her.
"It was a Saturday night and I was loaded," said Brand, 33, who works in advertising. "I haven't heard back from her since."
So when Brand heard about a new feature of Google's Gmail service called Mail Goggles - designed to prevent people from e-mailing while intoxicated - he signed up.
"I do that kind of stuff all the time," he said. "You're incredibly impulsive at three in the morning."
The safeguard works like this: Gmail users can set it to turn on during their danger times - say, midnight to 5 a.m. on weekend nights.
To send a message during that period, they first have to answer a series of math questions - a cinch if they're sober, all but impossible after eight Heinekens.
Get one problem wrong and you won't be allowed to fire off that e-mail telling your boss what you really think of her or that topless photo to the guy in the next cubicle.
Bad at math? Not to worry. Google's version of a Breathalyzer lets the user set the difficulty level of the questions.
Gmail engineer Jon Perlow said personal experience spurred him to create the feature, which debuted Monday.
"Sometimes I send messages I shouldn't send," he wrote on Google's official blog.
"Like the time I told that girl I had a crush on her over text message. Or the time I sent that late night e-mail to my ex-girlfriend that we should get back together....
"Hopefully, Mail Goggles will prevent many of you out there from sending messages you wish you hadn't."
Of course, it can't stop you from posting that photo on Facebook
tconnor@nydailynews.com
By Tracy Connor Daily News Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 8th 2008, 4:00 AM
Getty
Why did I press 'Send'?! A new service from Google aims to help eliminate those drinking-and-typing moments you regret the next morning.
Manhattan resident Matt Brand remembers the night he came home drunk and sent his ex-girlfriend an e-card suggesting, in crude terms, that he still carried a torch for her.
"It was a Saturday night and I was loaded," said Brand, 33, who works in advertising. "I haven't heard back from her since."
So when Brand heard about a new feature of Google's Gmail service called Mail Goggles - designed to prevent people from e-mailing while intoxicated - he signed up.
"I do that kind of stuff all the time," he said. "You're incredibly impulsive at three in the morning."
The safeguard works like this: Gmail users can set it to turn on during their danger times - say, midnight to 5 a.m. on weekend nights.
To send a message during that period, they first have to answer a series of math questions - a cinch if they're sober, all but impossible after eight Heinekens.
Get one problem wrong and you won't be allowed to fire off that e-mail telling your boss what you really think of her or that topless photo to the guy in the next cubicle.
Bad at math? Not to worry. Google's version of a Breathalyzer lets the user set the difficulty level of the questions.
Gmail engineer Jon Perlow said personal experience spurred him to create the feature, which debuted Monday.
"Sometimes I send messages I shouldn't send," he wrote on Google's official blog.
"Like the time I told that girl I had a crush on her over text message. Or the time I sent that late night e-mail to my ex-girlfriend that we should get back together....
"Hopefully, Mail Goggles will prevent many of you out there from sending messages you wish you hadn't."
Of course, it can't stop you from posting that photo on Facebook
tconnor@nydailynews.com
Monday, October 06, 2008
Health Department ads in subways stress curbing calorie count
Health Department ads in subways stress curbing calorie count
BY KATHLEEN LUCADAMO DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU
Monday, October 6th 2008, 12:32 AM
Two of the nutrition-emphasizing ads (above and below) that debuted Monday.
Now there's no escape from warnings to get back on that diet and eat less - even underground.
Starting Monday, New Yorkers squeezed into crammed subway cars will find brightly colored ads cautioning them to limit food intake to 2,000 calories a day
See Link---to Harlem Community Organizers.
BY KATHLEEN LUCADAMO DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU
Monday, October 6th 2008, 12:32 AM
Two of the nutrition-emphasizing ads (above and below) that debuted Monday.
Now there's no escape from warnings to get back on that diet and eat less - even underground.
Starting Monday, New Yorkers squeezed into crammed subway cars will find brightly colored ads cautioning them to limit food intake to 2,000 calories a day
See Link---to Harlem Community Organizers.
European, Asian markets plunge on crisis fears
European, Asian markets plunge on crisis fears
By EMILY FLYNN VENCAT, AP Business Writer 1 hour, 57 minutes ago
LONDON - Asian and European stock markets plunged Monday as government bank bailouts in the U.S. and Europe failed to alleviate fears that the global financial crisis would depress world economic growth.
Investors took scant comfort from Washington's passage of a US$700 billion plan to buy bad assets from banks and other institutions to shore up the financial industry on Friday because of the uncertainty still hanging over the details of the deal and the degree to which it will help.
Britain's benchmark stock index, the FTSE 100, lost 220.11 to 4,760.14 — a 4.42 percent fall. The declines were led by the banking industry, with the mining and oil industries also suffering drops. HBOS PLC's share price dropped 15.7 percent, while the Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC fell 13.6 percent.
Germany's DAX index fell 4.22 percent to 5,552.27. France's CAC-40 index dropped 4.85 percent to 3,882.81. In Russia, the RTS stock index tumbled more than 7 percent in first 20 minutes of trading.
Over the weekend, many European governments moved to save troubled banks, and made more promises to protect depositors from the credit crisis.
Germany on Sunday agreed a 50 billion euros (US$68 billion) package to bail out Hypo Real Estate, the country's second-biggest commercial property lender, after a rescue plan by private lenders fell apart.
France's BNP Paribas SA committed to taking a 75-percent stake in troubled European bank Fortis N, and Sweden and Denmark followed Ireland and Britain in raising the amount of savers' deposits guaranteed by the government.
Britain's treasury chief Alistair Darling said he was "ready to do whatever it takes" to get the country through the credit crunch, and was looking at a "range of proposals."
But analysts said that, like the U.S. plan, the lack of detail in many of Europe's moves failed to restore investors' confidence, resulting in the stock market tumbles. "What the markets need are some more details about exactly when and how these plans are going to come in," said Richard Hunter, head of British equities at Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers, "And they need some proof that some of these measures are taking hold."
Across Asia, all markets were also in the red. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index fell to its lowest level in 4 1/2 years, sinking 4.25 percent to 10,473.09.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index slid 5 percent to 16,803.76. Markets in mainland China, Australia, South Korea, India, Singapore and Thailand also fell sharply. Indonesia's key index plummeted 10 percent, it's biggest one-day drop ever.
See Yahoo Finance----10-6-08
By EMILY FLYNN VENCAT, AP Business Writer 1 hour, 57 minutes ago
LONDON - Asian and European stock markets plunged Monday as government bank bailouts in the U.S. and Europe failed to alleviate fears that the global financial crisis would depress world economic growth.
Investors took scant comfort from Washington's passage of a US$700 billion plan to buy bad assets from banks and other institutions to shore up the financial industry on Friday because of the uncertainty still hanging over the details of the deal and the degree to which it will help.
Britain's benchmark stock index, the FTSE 100, lost 220.11 to 4,760.14 — a 4.42 percent fall. The declines were led by the banking industry, with the mining and oil industries also suffering drops. HBOS PLC's share price dropped 15.7 percent, while the Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC fell 13.6 percent.
Germany's DAX index fell 4.22 percent to 5,552.27. France's CAC-40 index dropped 4.85 percent to 3,882.81. In Russia, the RTS stock index tumbled more than 7 percent in first 20 minutes of trading.
Over the weekend, many European governments moved to save troubled banks, and made more promises to protect depositors from the credit crisis.
Germany on Sunday agreed a 50 billion euros (US$68 billion) package to bail out Hypo Real Estate, the country's second-biggest commercial property lender, after a rescue plan by private lenders fell apart.
France's BNP Paribas SA committed to taking a 75-percent stake in troubled European bank Fortis N, and Sweden and Denmark followed Ireland and Britain in raising the amount of savers' deposits guaranteed by the government.
Britain's treasury chief Alistair Darling said he was "ready to do whatever it takes" to get the country through the credit crunch, and was looking at a "range of proposals."
But analysts said that, like the U.S. plan, the lack of detail in many of Europe's moves failed to restore investors' confidence, resulting in the stock market tumbles. "What the markets need are some more details about exactly when and how these plans are going to come in," said Richard Hunter, head of British equities at Hargreaves Lansdown Stockbrokers, "And they need some proof that some of these measures are taking hold."
Across Asia, all markets were also in the red. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index fell to its lowest level in 4 1/2 years, sinking 4.25 percent to 10,473.09.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index slid 5 percent to 16,803.76. Markets in mainland China, Australia, South Korea, India, Singapore and Thailand also fell sharply. Indonesia's key index plummeted 10 percent, it's biggest one-day drop ever.
See Yahoo Finance----10-6-08
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