NEWS!!!! On August 13, our local newspaper the Press Democrat in perhaps a moment of editorial distraction surprised it's readers by publishing actual news above the fold on the front page! The title of their piece, "Board endorses idea of corporate sponsors in SR schools" sums it up, so to speak. It seems that after starving California's public schools for decades, the school boards are turning to the one segment of society that still has cash to throw around.

Great dancing.

Secret report implies that US violated international law.
The International Committee of the Red Cross concluded in a secret report that the Bush administration's treatment of al-Qaeda captives "constituted torture," a finding that strongly implied that CIA interrogation methods violated international law, according to newly published excerpts from the long-concealed 2007 document. Read more...

California schools are in need of a federal bail out to backfill money cut by the state. What, if anything, does the federal stimulus package have to offer schools?
School districts in Southern California scramble to review, balance and amend their budgets in light of the state budget crisis. This balancing act has many school districts asking questions about infusions of federal money. Because the state cuts dramatically impact school district budgets, which has about an 84 percent budget for salaries, many teachers were served with pink slips this month.

Unemployed workers outraged over charges to inquire on benefits.
First, Arthur Santa-Maria called Bank of America to ask how to check the balance of his new unemployment benefits debit card. The bank charged him 50 cents.
He chose not to complain. That would have cost another 50 cents.
So he took out some of the money and then decided to pull out the rest. But that made two withdrawals on the same day, and that was $1.50.