which do YOU like better?

Rumsfeld Handshake Proves Popular


With Defense Secretary Rumsfeld making “appeasement” the big buzzword of the month, the George Washington University’s National Security Archive notes that its single most-downloaded file is now the once-classified batch of documents, photos and video documenting Rumsfeld’s handshake and meeting with Saddam Hussein in December 1983. President Reagan had sent Rumsfeld to Baghdad to help restore diplomatic ties with Iraq and aid Baghdad in its fight against Iran

“Rumsfeld meeting Saddam has now far outpaced the previous winner, which was Elvis meeting Nixon,” says Thomas Blanton, director of the archive, which collects and posts significant declassified documents under the Freedom of Information Act............

(The National Security Archive
Saddam Hussein greets Rumsfeld in Baghdad, 1983)

i guess they didn't listen to their math teachers

who said math indeed would come into play later

1 + 1 = 2 NOT 1

U.S. count of Baghdad deaths excludes car bombs, mortar attacks

By Mark Brunswick and Zaineb Obeid McClatchy Newspapers
BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. officials, seeking a way to measure the results of a program aimed at decreasing violence in Baghdad, aren't counting scores of dead killed in car bombings and mortar attacks as victims of the country's sectarian violence.
In a distinction previously undisclosed, U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Barry Johnson said Friday that the United States is including in its tabulations of sectarian violence only deaths of individuals killed in drive-by shootings or by torture and execution.
That has allowed U.S. officials to boast that the number of deaths from sectarian violence in Baghdad declined by more than 52 percent in August over July.
But it eliminates from tabulation huge numbers of people whose deaths are certainly part of the ongoing conflict between Sunni and Shiite Muslims. Not included, for example, are scores of people who died in a highly coordinated bombing that leveled an entire apartment building in eastern Baghdad, a stronghold of rebel Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
Johnson declined to provide an actual number for the U.S. tally of August deaths or for July, when the Baghdad city morgue counted a record 1,855 violent deaths.
Violent deaths for August, a morgue official told McClatchy Newspapers on Friday, totaled 1,526, a 17.7 percent decline from July and about the same as died violently in June. ...........

i wonder how much this senate report cost???

WE knew this all along. it was OBVIOUS. we the people have to speak out. OUST this administration, the king and his court. they are liars and profiteers who care NOTHING for the people of america. NOTHING.

Senate: Saddam saw al-Qaida as threat


By JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press Writer Fri Sep 8, 7:48 PM ET
Saddam Hussein regarded al-Qaida as a threat rather than a possible ally, a Senate report says, contradicting assertions President Bush has used to build support for the war in Iraq.
Released Friday, the report discloses for the first time an October 2005 CIA assessment that before the war, Saddam's government "did not have a relationship, harbor or turn a blind eye toward" al-Qaida operative Abu Musab al-Zarqawi or his associates.
Saddam told U.S. officials after his capture that he had not cooperated with Osama bin Laden even though he acknowledged that officials in his government had met with the al-Qaida leader, according to FBI summaries cited in the Senate report.
"Saddam only expressed negative sentiments about bin Laden," Tariq Aziz, the Iraqi leader's top aide, told the FBI.
The report also faults intelligence gathering in the lead-up to the 2003 invasion.
As recently as an Aug. 21 news conference, Bush said people should "imagine a world in which you had Saddam Hussein" with the capacity to make weapons of mass destruction and "who had relations with Zarqawi."
Democrats contended that the administration continues to use faulty intelligence, including assertions of a link between Saddam's government and the recently killed al-Zarqawi, to justify the war in Iraq.
They also said, in remarks attached to Friday's Senate Intelligence Committee document, that former CIA Director George Tenet had modified his position on the terrorist link at the request of administration policymakers..........

...............In June 2004, Bush defended Vice President Dick Cheney's assertion that Saddam had "long-established ties" with al-Qaida. "Zarqawi is the best evidence of connection to al-Qaida affiliates and al-Qaida," the president said.
The report concludes that postwar findings do not support a 2002 intelligence report that Iraq was reconstituting its nuclear program, possessed biological weapons or had ever developed mobile facilities for producing biological warfare agents.
"The report is a devastating indictment of the Bush-Cheney administration's unrelenting, misleading and deceptive attempts to convince the American people that Saddam Hussein was linked with al-Qaida," said Sen. Carl Levin (news, bio, voting record), D-Mich., a member of the committee. ............

douglas graveline

we're happy you are home mr gaveline!

East Hartford Marine Receives Purple Heart

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. -- A 21-year-old marine from East Hartford received a purple heart Thursday for his bravery.
Douglas Graveline was driving a tank in Fallujah on Dec. 20, when enemy forces bombed the vehicle.
He said he remembers nothing about the incident. He was knocked unconscious almost immediately and woke up in the hospital with serious injuries............................

and this previous post on the whole family........

a shout out to this family

japanalia eiko

has opened a store in back of the cvs on farmington avenue (actually it's on whitney street) in hartford. it's called japanalia on one

their grand opening was yesterday (i didn't attend) but i stopped by today early afternoon. WONDERFUL clothing, WONDERFUL bargains.

i got a denim swing jacket (i'm planning on sewing a knitted patch of some kind on the back. that will come MUCH later, the holidays are fast approaching and i have to concentrate on making things for others), a shirt AND the most wonderful cape-type thing. it is not something i can describe. it's made out of fleece (mine is deep green) and is just all slit up. i will take a picture of it soon. it's something i actually had in mind to make out of felt, but that would take forever (hand made felt of course) and cost a small fortune. the original price of the cape type object DID cost a small fortune BUT i got it marked down AND i got an additional discount for paying in cash (or check. just through tomorrow, saturday)

if you're in the hood, stop by and check them out. VERY unique clothing. very wicked cool woman working there as well

i can certainly attest to the traffic problems in hartford

due to the accident on i-84 yesterday (thursday) afternoon. i left work sometime between 2 and 2:30 and was driving west on farmington avenue. the traffic coming east on farmington avenue (diverted from the highway) was HORRENDOUS. there were all sorts of cops at intersections (sisson avenue was closed to traffic coming FROM farmington avenue, but open going ON to farmington avenue. nasty nasty nasty. tons of tractor trailers. what a MESS. i did stop at the half door for a beverage and a bowl of soup and watched all of the irate drivers on sisson.). the line of cars extended all the way from hartford into west hartford. i hear capitol avenue was no better off either. to those families and friends of the injured and killed, my thoughts go out to you. (there was also an accident on the berlin turnpike i believe)

Serious Accidents Snarl I-84, Route 15

The Hartford Courant September 7 2006, 7:06 PM EDT Police reported two major accidents Thursday afternoon - a fatal crash on Interstate 84 East in Hartford and a collision with a critical injury on Route 15 North in Berlin.Both highways were closed until the accidents were cleared.Investigators are still releasing very few details, but said a man was severely injured when he was hit by a tractor trailer around 2:15 p.m. on Route 15. Northbound traffic backed up quickly, and police advised motorists during the rush hour to take alternate routes.Traffic on Interstate 84 East in Hartford and surrounding streets was snarled for hours this afternoon after a multi-vehicle accident resulted in the closure of all lanes and claimed the life of one person, officials said.The accident was reported to authorities about noon on I-84 East between exits 46 and 48.Most of the traffic exited the highway onto Capitol, Farmington, Sisson avenues, and South Whitney Street, only to find that Hartford Police officers were controlling the traffic signals on those city streets, officials confirmed. Twelve Hartford traffic officers were directing traffic that backed up on the city streets............

what the HELL is up with this woman???

what the hell was she thinking? well i guess in this case, she wasn't thinking AT ALL

Mom Tangles With Cop At Manchester School
By JIM FARRELL The Hartford Courant September 6 2006, 3:23 PM EDT
MANCHESTER -- A police officer was injured when he tried to stop a mother who officers say refused to cooperate as she raced to drop her child off at school this morning.The woman stopped her vehicle briefly, but then rolled up her window on the policeman's arm and drove 80 feet as he ran alongside to avoid being dragged, according to a police report.Sol Marie Perez, 32, of 151 School St., faces charges including reckless endangerment, assault on a police officer, traveling too fast in a school zone and two counts of risk on injury to a minor.Her two children, ages 7 and 13, were in the car with her, according to police, who said Officer Bernie Hallums suffered bruises to his upper right bicep and abrasions to his right hand and wrist."It's unfortunate," said Troy Monroe, the principal at Illing Middle School, which on Wednesday put new traffic enforcement policies into effect because of severe congestion in the parking lot on Tuesday, which was the first day of classes. "The new policy prevents parents and guardians from entering the lot between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m., with police instead directing drivers toward traffic cones designating a drop-off zone on East Middle Turnpike..........

my thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Pfc. Nicholas A. Madaras

HARTFORD, Conn. --An Army private from Wilton was killed Sunday in Iraq when an explosive device blew up near his patrol, the Defense Department announced Tuesday.
Pfc. Nicholas A. Madaras, 19, died in Baqubah when the bomb detonated near his patrol, which was dismounted, military officials said. He was the third member of the military from Connecticut to be killed in Iraq since Aug. 25.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell ordered that U.S. and state flags remain at half staff to honor Madaras and Marine Lance Cpl. Philip A. Johnson, 19, of Enfield, who was also killed Sunday in Iraq.
Madaras was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division based in Fort Carson, Colo.
"This is a tremendously sad day for Connecticut," Rell said in a statement. "In fact, combined with our recent loss of Marine Cpl. Jordan Pierson, the past several days have been very sad ones for the people of our state."
Johnson was killed Sunday morning with one other Marine as his unit was traveling from Ramadi, family spokesman Ron Jackman said. Pierson, 21, of Milford, was killed Aug. 25. in Al Anbar province when he was shot during combat operations.
Pierson was to be buried Wednesday in Arlington National Cemetery.
Madaras' family declined to comment Tuesday. Funeral arrangements were pending...........

log cabin baby blanket (three stages so far)

i'm making for my boss and his wife. i'd best hurry, little noah was born this weekend.

i am mostly using kettle dyed malabrigo merino i got at sit-n-knit in west hartford center. the colors are wonderful and the yarn is fairly soft as well. the middle square is a lumpy bumpy mix of wool and silk. i do NOT recommend using this type of yarn for log cabin knitting. the stitches are very hard to pick up (so i'm not going to repeat it's use). i think i'm going to use some lovely noro i have to do some embroidery (chain stitch i think) where the yarns join. i think i'm also going to single crochet the noro around the completed blanket as a border.


update update update: FINISHED BLANKET

monday september 5th - shrooms and stumps

well it's tuesday now, but these were taken yesterday afternoon

just a caution if you use atm machines

(i actually use this one from time to time. not often, it's not my bank but the location is convenient to me. of course i'm only going to use atms in well lit areas with people around and ONLY during the day)

West Hartford Police Search For Robbers

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- West Hartford police are searching for two men they said tried to force people to withdraw money from an ATM at the Sovereign Bank.
They are looking for a white male, approximately 17-18 years old, about 5 feet, 5 inches to 5 feet, 6 inches tall who has short black spiked hair. He was wearing a red and white short-sleeved shirt and jeans. He had a bandana over his face. The other suspect was described as a 6-foot -ta ll black male in his early 20s with a muscular build. The suspect was described as having no facial hair, having a bald or shaven head, wearing a blank tank top, white belt, black jeans and a black winter hat on his head.
Police said they tried to force victims to withdraw money but no money was obtained

my thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Lance Cpl. Philip Alexander Johnson

Marine from Enfield killed in Iraq
September 4, 2006
ENFIELD, Conn. --A 19-year-old Marine from Enfield was killed in Iraq over the weekend, a family friend confirmed Monday night.
Lance Cpl. Philip Alexander Johnson died Sunday morning with one other Marine as his unit was traveling from Ramadi, family spokesman Ron Jackman said.
Ramadi, about 70 miles west of Baghdad, is considered one of Iraq's most dangerous cities and is patrolled by hundreds of Marines. The Marines are confined to bases during the day and return to the streets at night.
His parents, Louis and Kathy Johnson, were notified by the military Sunday night, Jackman said. Jackman said Johnson apparently was killed in a roadside attack.
A Pentagon spokesman said more information on the details of his death would be released Tuesday. The Department of Defense policy is to make details available 24 hours after the family has been notified.
Johnson is the second Marine from Connecticut to die in Iraq in just over a week. Cpl. Jordan Pierson, 21, of Milford, was killed Aug. 25. A memorial service for Pierson was held Monday. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
A 2005 graduate of Enfield High School, Johnson was fulfilling a lifelong dream of becoming a Marine, said those who knew him. He joined the Westover Young Marines when he was 11 and remained with the unit through high school.
"He started real early, which gave him a big heads up on everybody," Jackman said.................

senator dodd, i don't like bolton either

yet another choice by king george and his court, who is an embarrassment to the united states of america

Dodd Fights To Get Bolton Out Of U.N.

By DAVID LIGHTMAN Washington Bureau Chief September 4 2006 WASHINGTON -- John Bolton has been the public face and voice of the United States during the recent crises in the Middle East and Iran. Beginning this week, Sen. Christopher Dodd will renew his dogged campaign to get that face out of the picture.Bolton, the United States ambassador to the United Nations for the past year, has not been confirmed formally for the job by the U. S. Senate, and members will try again when they return from their summer recess today.But Dodd, who almost always goes along with administration nominees from either party, has been a fierce critic of Bolton for years, and does not plan to let up.He intends to address the Senate Democratic Caucus to make his case, make a speech to the full Senate and argue against approval by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee when it meets Thursday."My objection isn't that he's a bully," said Dodd, D-Conn., when Bolton appeared before the committee recently, "but that he's been an ineffective bully and can't win the day when it really counts."Mr. Bolton clearly has an aversion, in my view, to being diplomatic or to building consensus for U. S. positions," Dodd went on, "and that is deeply troubling to me."Dodd's view has strong support among Democrats and some interest groups. "I've never seen a more weird public figure than John Bolton. He is the complete ideologue," said Larry Birns, director of the Council on Hemispheric Affairs...........