News 2008-06-15 Andanh.com

Sen. Conrad Donates Money Over Loan Deal Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
— Sen. Kent Conrad said Saturday that after reviewing e-mails from Countrywide Financial Corp., he learned that company officials had provided him with preferential treatment: a discount on one loan and a waiver of a company lending rule for another.

European Union Offers Incentives For Iran Uranium Suspension Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
The European Union on Saturday presented Iran with a modified package of incentives to suspend its uranium enrichment program, but an Iran government spokesman said the country would reject the offer if it requires a halt to sensitive nuclear work.

Rice: Israel Hurts Talks Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Building Homes Weakens Peace Effort, She Says

The United States took Israel to task Saturday for a planned expansion of Jewish homes in the portion of Jerusalem that Palestinians claim for the capital of a future state.

Iraq Prepares For New Offensive Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
— Iraqi security forces began to move into the southern city of Amarah Saturday, and locals braced for the latest government offensive against the Mahdi Army militia loyal to Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

U.S., NATO Forces Hunt 870 Afghan Escapees Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
U.S. and NATO troops aided Afghan forces with reconnaissance in a hunt Saturday for 870 inmates who escaped prison after a sophisticated Taliban assault.

Warner Steps Out Of Democratic VP Race Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Former Gov. Mark R. Warner on Saturday removed himself from consideration as a vice presidential running mate for Democrat Barack Obama.

Farmers Arrested In Grain Tax Protest Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Argentine police in riot gear broke up a farmers' highway blockade Saturday, briefly arresting 19 demonstrators including a prominent leader of a three-month protest against an increase in grain export taxes.

Space Shuttle Crew Returns To Earth Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Space shuttle Discovery and its crew of seven returned to Earth on Saturday and capped a mission to the international space station.

Saudis To Discuss Oil Production Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Saudi Arabia's oil minister will address reports today that the world's largest oil-producing country is set to raise production by about 500,000 barrels per day, his adviser said.

6 Killed, 140 Injured In Japanese Earthquake Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Rescue squads and military helicopters raced to find 11 people missing after an earthquake in mountainous northern Japan sent hillsides crashing down Saturday, killing at least six and injuring more than 140.

Connecticut's First Phone Book On Auction Block Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Two years after the telephone was invented, the public was still learning how to use it. New Haven's first phone book, published by the Connecticut District Telephone Co. in 1878, offered some tips: Speak slowly and distinctly, greet the person on the other line with "Hulloa!" and end the conversation with "That is All!"

Running Heating Oil In Diesel Vehicles Can Backfire Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Running a diesel vehicle on less-expensive home heating oil just might cross the minds of drivers looking for something cheaper than diesel fuel, now nearly $5 a gallon compared to about $2.80 a gallon a year ago. Home heating oil is closer to $4 a gallon.

Dodd Defends His Own Mortgage Deals Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Sen. Christopher Dodd says there was nothing special about the 2003 mortgages on his two homes, and that he requested no preferential treatment from his lender. But it might take more than a short denial to get past this week's reports that he was one of several prominent politicians given deals by Countrywide Financial Corp. on their home loans.

Vast Fire Shakes Town Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
When Dave Hawkins arrived at M&J Auto Recycling Friday morning to sell some scrap metal, instead of finding business as usual he saw two workers running with fire extinguishers toward a garage bay.

Area Municipal Officials To Tour Trash-To-Energy Plant Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Officials of several towns that have an agreement with the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority met Friday to explore alternatives to their dependence on the agency.

School Principal In Free Speech Case Is Disciplined Herself Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
The high school principal named in a federal free speech lawsuit over a Burlington student's blog post has been disciplined for speaking a little too freely herself.

Rell Vetoes Health Pool Bill Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Pledges To Work On Better Plan Next Year

Gov. M. Jodi Rell vetoed a highly controversial "pooling" bill Friday that would have allowed municipalities and small businesses to join the state's health insurance plan — but she tempered the rejection with a pledge to work with Democrats for a better bill next year.

Project Asks Participants To Offer Comments On Religion Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
— A question from a stranger made Austin Evers and his friends wonder: How would people respond if they could speak to the church — any church?

Convicted Child Sex Abuser May Be Flight Risk, Judge Told Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Arthur Garfield Webster, who was convicted of having sex with boys in Canada in the '90s and who last month in Manchester was pulled out of a car containing minors, and underwear on the console, has indicated in jailhouse chats that he's trying to post bond and leave the country, a prosecutor said Friday.

NFL Great Brown Visits East Hartford Students Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
NFL Hall of Famer and actor Jim Brown, arguably the best running back ever, brought his game to high school graduates of his Amer-I-Can program Friday. His message was focused on attitude and appearance.

Black conservatives conflicted on Obama campaign Sat, 14 Jun 2008 19:18:00 -0400
Black conservative talk show host Armstrong Williams has never voted for a Democrat for president. That could change this year with Barack Obama as the Democratic Party's nominee.

Legislature Approves Cash Discounts On Gas Purchases Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Cash may soon be king at Connecticut gas pumps.

House Passes UConn Health Center Bailout Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
During a marathon special session that stretched into the early morning today, the state House of Representatives voted unanimously for a $22 million bailout of the financially troubled University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington.

How A Jelly Bean Trail Led To A Marriage Proposal Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Here it is, seventh-graders in Ms. Fellows' class — the chance to earn bonus points on your final French and Spanish exams. Here's the question: What will Ms. Fellows' new name be when you see her in class on Monday?

I Am Feminist; Hear Me Roar Against A Clinton Mandate Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
The recent battle over the Democratic nomination for president was an event awash in a storm of confetti and balloons — and some seriously fruity rhetoric.

'Proud Of Her Work On The Manhattan Project' Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
"Extraordinary Life" looks back each Sunday on someone whose life made a difference.

Obama: Unzipped Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
There's something slightly vulgar yet entirely fun about fashion designer Andrew Christian's Barack Obama boxer briefs , which recently went up on www.andrewchristian.com . The low-cut all-cotton briefs feature a stylized image of Obama on the front and "08" on the slim-fit rear. The designer, obviously an Obama Boy, has pledged to make a contribution to the Obama campaign for every sale of the $29 boxer briefs, which come in three colors and feature white contrast detailing. Obama supporters have at least a couple of reasons to support the style: The fashion "manties" come for a legit, hip designer; it's also probably a fortunate things for Christian that Hillary Clinton isn't the presumptive Democratic nominee (a Clinton logo probably wouldn't fly on men's undies).

Middle Child Feels Slighted Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
DEAR AMY: I am graduating from college next week. It is also the same day of my 8-year-old sister's First Holy Communion. My family has decided to go to the Communion ceremony and then come to New York (from Massachusetts) to take me to dinner.

A Doctor Shoots From The Hip Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Five days elapse before Frank's mother's hip fracture is discovered. They are five days of pain.

Six Things You Will Never Hear Your Father Say Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
For the most part, The Dot is a beer and wine drinker. Which is not to suggest The Dot drinks a lot of beer and wine. It's just that when The Dot decides to have a drink, beer and wine are the beverages of choice. Until summer. Once June rolls around, The Dot switches from beer and wine to gin-and-tonics. Or, more precisely, perfect gin-and-tonics. The perfect gin-and-tonic consists of the right proportion of gin to tonic, small ice cubes and a wedge of fresh lime. The lime is crucial, which is why The Dot is concerned about the current problems with tomatoes. What if something like salmonella hit the lime crop? What if there were no limes? Summer would be ruined. These are the types of things that keep The Dot up at night. If you are having a hard time finding limes at the moment, it is because The Dot is stocking up. The lime market should return to normal soon.

So You Think You're Funny? Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Want to win a fabulous prize from the Swag Hag and be a legend in your own mind? Then come up with a funny caption for this photo, and get it to us by noon Wednesday. Entries can be e-mailed to thedot@courant.com or snail-mailed to the Dot, Features Dept., Hartford Courant, 285 Broad St., Hartford, CT 06115.

Rope-Soap Redux Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Designer Tom Ford Offers Modern Take On A Piece Of '70s Kitsch

There was a time when soap-on-a-rope was a semi-respectable gift for dad when the other Father's Day ideas fizzled — after all, there are only so many occasions we can present Pop with a tie or golf tees.

Sex Every Day? With Your Spouse? Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
One of the last shipments to a U.S. research base in Antarctica before air service was suspended for the winter included 16,500 condoms.

Far From The Tree: On Failing My Father Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Despite my father's good example, I killed a man. To this day, I do not see myself as a murderer, but I do not see myself as innocent, either.

Seek Substance Beyond The Smears Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Partisans, prepare for disappointment and fury. Between now and Nov. 3, you'll learn something about the candidate you support that suggests a defect nestles among his attributes. The other candidate, the one whose election will visit disaster upon the community of nations, will shine a light on that flaw to the exclusion of the issues that matter most to the American people.

Why This Election Is So Critical Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
As a politician, I traveled the state for 25 years telling voters the next election would be the most critical of their lives. I was especially emphatic if my own name happened to be on the ballot. Every year I meant it. This year it's finally true.

Wilderness: A Place Apart Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
On Sept. 3, 1964, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Wilderness Act, a law whose purpose was to "establish a National Wilderness Preservation System for the permanent good of the whole people, and for other purposes." Years in the making, this law was intended to recognize not so much a place, but an idea.

Criminalizing Kids Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Zero-Tolerance Policies In Schools Only Push 'Problem Children' Down A Fast Track To Failure

Schools must keep our children safe. But zero-tolerance policies have overwhelmed common sense and turned playground scuffles into felonies.

Readers' Ways To Help Hartford Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Readers responded by letter and to www.courant.com/takeback to our invitation to comment on the recent lawlessness that brought Hartford unwanted national attention.

A Slumlord Returns Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Before Somers officials hop in bed with real estate speculator Tibor Orosz, we'd like to offer two words of advice: background check.

Let's Try To Turn Hartford Around Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
When faced with the crisis of the Great Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt determined to try things. Experiment. Get some projects rolling and see what worked. Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez faces a crisis that demands a similar response.

LOOKING AFTER BUSHNELL PARK Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Who should decide what changes are made to Bushnell Park? How should the decision be reached?

Community Needed To Help Heal Hartford Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Hartford has proven itself as a city of incredible resilience. Together, through the years, we have overcome floods, riots and economic troubles, and, despite recent events that threatened to cast a shadow on this great city, our spirit remains strong.

Woods One Behind Appleby At U.S. Open Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Even with a sore knee, Tiger Woods hit his stride Friday at the U.S. Open. It started with a shot that went under a tree and over a bunker to 18 feet. What followed was flawless golf and a 30 on the front nine at Torrey Pines that gave Woods a 3-under-par 68 and left him one shot behind Stuart Appleby.

Sparks Defeat Sun Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
This was a measuring stick game for the Sun against the consensus pick to win the WNBA title. And the measuring stick extended into overtime before Sidney Spencer hit a three-pointer with 77 seconds left that went a long way in lifting the Sparks to a 98-93 victory.

Mussina's 10th win helps Yankees beat Astros 8-4 Sat, 14 Jun 2008 22:35:00 -0400
Mike Mussina pitched six solid innings for his 10th win and helped put the New York Yankees three games above .500 for the first time this season in an 8-4 victory over the Houston Astros on Saturday night.

Youkilis homers in 10th to lift Red Sox over Reds Sat, 14 Jun 2008 19:20:00 -0400
Kevin Youkilis did it all in his homecoming. Youkilis singled, doubled and hit a tiebreaking homer in the 10th inning Saturday, rallying the Boston Red Sox to a 6-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, the team he adored as a local prep and college star and later resented when it passed him over in the draft.

143rd Yale-Harvard Regatta Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Despite the noble sentiments, contests usually do go to the swiftest, the strongest, the best conditioned and the most skillful.

Remillard, Grano Win Bouts Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
Set up with a series of stiff jabs to the chin and body, it had to be one of the purest connections of Matt Remillard's young career.

Harvard Defeats Yale in 143rd Regatta Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400
— Joe Medioli made a short list of keepsakes he'll take from his last race at Harvard.

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