Another One Bites The Slime
The CBC is carrying the latest from Slime Wars: The Fall of the Empire
Andy Coulson, who resigned as an aide to British Prime Minister David Cameron in January under pressure over allegations of hacking during his tenure as editor of the News of the World, will be arrested on Friday, according to a report.
The Guardian said that Coulson, who had been Cameron’s communications director, has been informed by police that he will be arrested over suspicions that he knew about, or had direct involvement in, the hacking of mobile phones during his editorship.
Coulson was contacted on Thursday by detectives and asked to present himself at a police station in central London on Friday, where he will be told that he will be formally questioned under suspicion of involvement in hacking, The Guardian reported
The BBC also reported that Coulson had been told he would be arrested. Police declined to comment on the reports.
Coulson, who was editor of The News of the World between 2003 and 2007, has always denied any knowledge of the hacking.
One wonders how they managed to publish a newspaper with so many senior people who didn’t know what was happening in the news room.
Follow the money – who authorized payments to the people doing the hacking?
July 7, 2011 6 Comments
Cutting Their Losses
The BBC reports that the News of the World to close amid hacking scandal
This Sunday’s issue of the News of the World will be the last edition of the paper, News International chairman James Murdoch has said.
In the past few days, claims have been made that the paper authorised hacking into the mobile phones of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler and the families of 7/7 bombing victims.
Mr Murdoch said proceeds from the last edition would go to good causes.
Downing Street said it had no role or involvement in the decision.
The News of the World, which has been in circulation for 168 years, is the UK’s biggest selling newspaper and is famed for its celebrity scoops.
…Labour MP Tom Watson told Sky News it was “a victory for decent people up and down the land, and I say good riddance to the News of the World”.
But Justice Secretary Ken Clarke said: “All they’re going to do is rebrand it” and former deputy prime minister Lord Prescott, who alleged his phone was hacked, thought the decision was simply a gimmick.
As the ‘brand’ is now a liability instead of an asset, News Corp has dumped it and will create a new brand. The people at the top who paid for these actions are still in power.
The BBC has a list of Key People that they know about, but there is a name missing that may be more familiar to American viewers, Piers Morgan, a talking head on CNN these days. He was an editor of News of the World in the late 1990s, and if you listen to him talk about ‘celebrities’ it is easy to imagine him as a British version of JJ Hunsecker, doing whatever is necessary, legal or not, to get dirt on his targets.
July 7, 2011 2 Comments
Las Conchas Wildfire – Day 10
They are really getting control of this fire, with containment at 40% and most of the activity within the established lines. They are already starting remediation efforts in anticipation of the rains to come. This fire won’t be totally out until there is a pattern of regular rain over an extended period.
Information from the current Las Conchas Wildfire InciWeb Page
- Date Started: 6/26/2011
- Location: Jemez Ranger District, Santa Fe National Forest; approximately 12 miles southwest of Los Alamos off NM 4 at mile marker 35, New Mexico
- Cause: Falling tree hit power lines
- Size: 136,955 acres [214 miles² 554 km²] based on infrared data
- Percent Contained: 40%
- Injuries to Date: 5
- Residences: 410 threatened; 63 destroyed; 3 damaged
- Commercial Property: 45 threatened; 5 destroyed; 3 damaged
- Outbuildings: 110 threatened; 32 destroyed; damaged
- Other: destroyed
- Number of Personnel: Approximately 2,340 including hotshot crews and 55 hand crews
- Equipment: 13 dozers, 83 engines, 36 watertenders
- Aircraft: 18 helicopters, air tankers
- Incident Commander: Dan Oltrogge, Area Command Team 1
July 7, 2011 Comments Off on Las Conchas Wildfire – Day 10
Stage 6
Dinan – Lisieux
Distance: 226.5 kilometers.
The longest stage on Le Tour is a country ride through Normandy featuring two Category 3 climbs, a Category 4, and an incline at the finish.
Update: I forgot to mention the torrential rains on the stage. At least there is no worry about dehydration or sunstroke.
Thor Hushovd ( Nor – GRM – 051 ) [Yellow] 17h 36′ 57″
Philippe Gilbert ( Bel – OLO – 032 ) [Green] 144 points
Johnny Hoogerland ( Ned – VCD – 204 ) [Polka Dot] 4 points
Geraint Thomas ( GBr – SKY – 117 ) 7 [White]
Team: Garmin-Cervelo ( 051-059 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Edvald Boasson Hagen ( Nor – SKY – 114 )
Combative: Adriano Malori ( Ita – LAM – 168 ) [Red numbers]
They’ve gone 976.0 kilometers [606.5 miles] at an average speed of 42.7 kph [26.5 mph] ↑.
OVERALL STANDINGS:
July 7, 2011 Comments Off on Stage 6
In Memoriam
July 7, 2011 6 Comments
