6
POPSRussia Nullifies French-Brokered Armistice With Georgia 
-- are implemented by Russia only in the sense that it no longer shoots or bombards Georgian troops and civilians. Russian troops, however, are blowing up bridges and other infrastructure on Georgian highways and railways, destroying Georgian military bases deep inside the country, and looting local Georgian civilian administrations at gunpoint -- all of this under the Sarkozy-brokered armistice. Point 3 in the agreement, “free access for humanitarian assistance and permission for refugees to return,” has also been torn apart. Access is impeded by Russia’s de facto naval blockade of Georgia’s coast and interdiction of cross-country transport in Georgia, continuing under this “armistice.” The few U.S. Air Force humanitarian assistance flights can not possibly cope with the magnitude of the task. The agreement’s 4th point, “Georgian troops are to return to the places of their regular stationing,” seems largely compromised by the devastation of those bases deep inside Georgia.......
2
POPSVladimir Putin Dictator for Life. The word "democracy" may be preserved as a nod to world opinion, but the weight falls entirely on the adjective, "sovereign," which in this case is clearly a euphemism for "we'll do things our own way, and don't butt in." As prime minister Putin controls Russia's government. His new job gives him sweeping powers over the Duma, Russia's lower house, where United Russia has 315 out of 450 seats, as well as over regional legislatures, also dominated by the party. Analysts say Putin's longterm strategy is to return as president in 2012, and by becoming party chairman, Putin has made himself virtually unsackable.
0
POPSOhio Unclaimed Money A million dollars Ohio unclaimed funds owed to 3 million residents and businesses that have lost track of their financial assets. An Ohio unclaimed money search will likely turn up lost cash for people on state's unclaimed property list.
7
POPSNBC Olympics Web Site Awards West Bank to “Palestine”
Today's Reuters story about Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's peace offer to the Palestinians gets wrong the basic history of Palestine. Under the proposal, Israel would return to the Palestinians some 92.7 percent of the occupied West Bank, plus all of the Gaza Strip In fact, it is impossible to "return" West Bank land to the Palestinians, as they never were the sovereigns of this territory. http://blog.camera.org/archives/2008/08/updated_reuters_rewrites_ruler.html Before 1967, when the West Bank came into Israeli hands, the territory was ruled (and annexed) by Jordan. Prior to that, it was under British rule. Before that, it was Ottoman territory. The Egyptians ruled for some time, as did the Mamluks, the Crusaders, Arab Caliphs, and a number of other ancient empires. But the Palestinians are not on this list. So while the West Bank could technically "return" to Jordanian or British sovereignty, it could not, however, return to Palestinian sovereignty.
0
POPSTileStack Remember that great application that used to come with all Macs called HyperCard? Ever wished it would return, only better? Well say hello to TileStack!
0
POPSCuckoo's Nest Revisited Kids don't get in trouble, they're put in trouble. Adolescent sex offender treatment and registration laws become a modern witch hunt. Bad laws win elections, destroy lives.