There are conflicting reports coming from different sources on whether or not Sarkozy actually fainted while jogging, but he was transported by helicopter to a military hospital after “feeling faint” at the end of his nearly one hour long run.
An official stated that the 54 year-old president, suffered a minor vasovagal episode - a loss of consciousness which can be provoked by such causes as hyperthermia, dehydration or stress. The vagal nerve is a major nerve that runs from the abdomen to the brain and controls several functions.
Professor Xavier Jouven, a cardiologist at Georges Pompidou Hospital in Paris, said such episodes were caused by a fall in arterial pressure and heartbeat frequency. "The two together mean you get less blood going to the head, you don't feel well and you need to lie down," he said.
"It's benign, it's frequent and it's common with sportsman just as they end their physical effort."
Claude Gueant, general secretary of Mr Sarkozy's private office, said the president was "well' and "talking normally with carers" at the hospital, which was cordoned off by a police.
"He's okay, he's hungry, he's complaining," said Patrick Balkany, a member of Mr Sarkozy's Union for a Popular Movement.
Fascinating story out of New Jersey. At last count, 44 people have been swept up in a federal probe that uncovered political corruption, human organ sales and money laundering from New York to Israel.
Law enforcement personnel, with the assistance of a cooperating witness, first infiltrated a pre-existing money laundering network that operated internationally between Brooklyn, Deal, N.J. and Israel and laundered at least tens of millions of dollars through charitable, non-profit entities controlled by rabbis in New York and New Jersey.
One criminal Complaint charges a Brooklyn man, Levy Izhak Rosenbaum, with conspiring to broker the sale of a human kidney for a transplant, at a cost of $160,000 to the transplant recipient. According to the Complaint, Rosenbaum said he had been brokering the sale of kidneys for 10 years.
Among those charged in criminal Complaints are:
Peter Cammarano III, the newly elected mayor of Hoboken and an attorney, charged with accepting $25,000 in cash bribes, including $10,000 last Thursday, from an undercover cooperating witness.
L. Harvey Smith, a New Jersey Assemblyman and recent mayoral candidate in Jersey City, charged along with an aide of taking $15,000 in bribes to help get approvals from high-level state agency officials for building projects
Daniel Van Pelt, a New Jersey Assemblyman, charged with accepting a $10,000 bribe.
Dennis Elwell, mayor of Secaucus, charged with taking a $10,000 cash bribe
Anthony Suarez, mayor of Ridgefield and an attorney, charged with agreeing to accept a $10,000 corrupt cash payment for his legal defense fund.
Louis Manzo, the recent unsuccessful challenger in the Jersey City mayoral election and former state Assemblyman, and his brother and political advisor Robert Manzo, both with taking $27,500 in corrupt cash payments for use in Louis Manzo’s campaign.
Leona Beldini, the Jersey City deputy mayor and a campaign treasurer, charged with taking $20,000 in conduit campaign contributions and other self-dealing in her official capacity.
Eliahu Ben Haim, of Long Branch, N.J., the principal rabbi of a synagogue in Deal, N.J., charged with money laundering of proceeds derived from criminal activity.
Saul Kassin, of Brooklyn, N.Y., the chief rabbi of a synagogue in Brooklyn, New York, charged with money laundering of proceeds derived from criminal activity.
Edmund Nahum, of Deal, N.J., the principal rabbi of a synagogue in Deal, charged with money laundering of proceeds derived from criminal activity.
Mordchai Fish, of Brooklyn, N.Y., a rabbi at a synagogue in Brooklyn, charged with money laundering of proceeds derived from criminal activity. His brother, also a rabbi, was charged as well.
*Amanda Rodrigues was arrested Sunday, now her sister Flavia, her attorney, and police have chimed in with their theories. First Amanda:
According to police, Rodrigues told them she thought her husband had committed suicide or that someone had entered the apartment and killed him.
Next, Flavia:
Rodrigues' sister, Flavia, told the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo there is "no way she could have strangled a man of that size."
Well sure there is. Police have said that Gatti was found with a head injury from a sharp object. Add to that, he was drunk - it probably wouldn't take much force. Amanda should find a better lawyer, if all he can come up with is the same lame excuse as Flavia.
"She is fragile, young and skinny -- how could she kill a boxing champion?" Avelino said. "When she awoke, she presumed he had committed suicide. But she had nothing to do with it."
The cops are not buying it.
Teixeira said police do not think anyone else entered the apartment and killed Gatti -- he said there were no signs of forced entry and electronic locks indicated nobody else had entered the room aside from Rodrigues and Gatti.
The investigator said Rodrigues told them she thought her husband had committed suicide or that someone had entered the apartment and killed him. Teixeira ruled out both scenarios.
end of update 1~
update 2 ~
July18,2009
Gatti’s circle speaks
The Toronto Star provides a glimpse into the stormy relationship between Amanda and Arturo. The story paints Rodrigues as an insecure and vindictive woman. One example is the recounting of an incident that occurred at party. While discussing children, Amanda Rodrigues referred to Arturo’s daughter from a previous relationship, as “retarded” and that she looked “like a mongoloid”.
According to those interviewed, in addition to attacking an innocent child, Amanda Rodrigues also enjoyed spreading rumours about Gatti’s siblings. Some believe she was only after Arturo’s money. Gatti’s lawyer, John Lynch:
Two days after signing a pre-nuptial agreement, and then getting married in Las Vegas, Rodrigues began insisting he cancel it, he said. A few weeks later, the couple entered Lynch's office and Gatti asked for a copy. "He made a show of ripping up the copy in front of her, so she was happy," Lynch said. (The dramatic act carried no force of law.)
Rodrigues also complained about the amount of child support Gatti provided for his daughter, Sofia. When Amanda approached her husband, asking him to finance her own fashion line, Gatti refused.
Finally, she wanted to start her own fashion line. "Gimme a break," Lynch said. "I think he was smart enough to say, `I'm not giving you millions to start a fashion line because you have a whim.'"
Sad news out of Brazil. Fan favourite Arturo Gatti, 37, has been found dead at the Porto de Galinhas resort in northeastern Brazil. The two time world champion arrived at the posh resort on Friday, with wife Amanda Rodrigues, 23, and their 10 month young – son, Arturo Jr.
Rodrigues discovered the Canadian fighter lifeless early Saturday morning and alerted authorities. Foul play was suspected from the start of the investigation. Gatti was found in his underwear with blood stains on his neck and the back of his head. In an initial police statement, police investigator Edilson Alves told The Associated Press that it was unclear how the 37-year-old died. "It is still too early to say anything concrete, although it is all very strange," Alves said.
Also found at the scene was a bloodied purse strap which was used to strangle Gatti, according to a police spokeswoman.
Rodrigues was taken into custody Sunday after giving contradicting statements. Investigators also wondered how the woman, originally from Brazil, could spend 10 hours in the same hotel room and not notice her husband was dead. One of the couple’s friends said their marriage was in trouble.
Four-time world champion boxer Acelino (Popo) Freitas, who is from Brazil, told Globo TV's website that he was close to the couple and that he "knew they were having some sort of problem and were about to separate."
Arturo “Thunder” Gatti was known as a “blood and guts” warrior in the Boxing world and I was, am, a fan of the way he fought. He was by no means a technical fighter, in fact his defensive abilities were non-existent, but you knew when he stepped into the ring he was gonna leave it all there, no regrets, and I admire that. Of the half dozen or so fights I watched, I don’t remember one where Gatti wasn’t cut, his face bloodied early, and thinking, “this is going to be a short one.” But he had other ideas, much to the chagrin of his opponents.
Gatti received Ring Magazine's “fight of the year” honours four times throughout his career. His professional record ended with
40 wins
31 by knockout
9 losses
Some reaction
Micky Ward
“I can’t believe it,” Ward said by phone from his home in Lowell, Mass. “I really can’t believe it. I don’t know what to think or what to say. [Actor] Chuck Zito just called me about it around five o’clock and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I know it happened and it’s still hard to believe.
“I’m walking around in a daze. I’m just dazed by it all. You fight a guy, you go to war with them, and there is a respect there. But with me and Arturo, it was greater. There was a real bond between us. It’s why hearing this, hearing what happened to Arturo is like a piece of you is gone, because we shared so much of everything in the ring. We were friends, close friends.”
Main Events President Kathy Duva
“I’ve been through a lot in life and I’ve learned how to keep it together, but this is a tough day, it’s a challenge,” “His entire boxing career he fought with us; we’ve known him since he was 17,” “It’s just an unspeakable tragedy.”
“I was sitting with him at the postfight press conference — I can’t remember which one — and I looked at his hand and it was three times the normal size,” Duva said. “He gave me this goofy grin and he said: ‘Yeah, I know. We’ll party tonight and I’ll go to the hospital tomorrow.’ ”
Many considered Gatti reckless, in and out of the ring. I’m guessing that was part of his appeal as well.
h/t to my favourite Canadian blogger over at the Great Orange Satan,
MsLibrarian. Your hockey team still sucks, but I won’t hold that against you.
MsLibrarian reports on how Canadian band The Sons of Maxwell, went about pressing United Airlines to accept responsibility for mishandling the group’s instruments . And for the majority of folks who have had to engage airline officials in this capacity, I imagine they would agree that it can be a very frustrating experience.
According to lead songwriter Dave Carroll, the band was on their way to Nebraska for a one week gig back in April 2008. The flight path included a stopover in Chicago, where while waiting to deplane, Carroll says a fellow traveller cried out- “My god they’re throwing guitars out there.” One of Dave’s band members immediately looked out the window and witnessed his own guitar being thrown by one of United’s baggage handlers. Carroll’s $3500 Taylor was thrown just before.
Obviously the guys were concerned at this point, but when they tried to alert United Airlines staff, the games began. Here is a taste of Dave’s adventure. For complete details, follow the link.
I immediately tried to communicate this to the flight attendant who cut me off saying: “Don’t talk to me. Talk to the lead agent outside”. I found the person she pointed to and that lady was an “acting” lead agent but refused to talk to me and disappeared into the crowd saying “I’m not the lead agent”. I spoke to a third employee at the gate and when I told her the baggage handlers were throwing expensive instruments outside she dismissed me saying “but hun, that’s why we make you sign the waiver”. I explained that I didn’t sign a waiver and that no waiver would excuse what was happening outside. She said to take it up with the ground crew in Omaha.
So after reaching the breaking point, Dave decided to do what comes naturally. (no, he didn’t hunt them down one by one ) He wrote a song about the incident and made a video, titled,
United Breaks Guitars. And it’s pretty good, too!
In my final reply to Ms. Irlweg I told her that I would be writing three songs about United Airlines and my experience in the whole matter. I would then make videos for these songs and offer them for free download online, inviting viewers to vote on their favourite United song. My goal: to get one million hits in one year.
And guess what? It only took one youtube video to get United’s attention. Via the Herald
Robin Urbanski, a spokeswoman for Chicago-based United, said late Tuesday afternoon that the airline has changed its course and wants to speak with Mr. Carroll today to settle the matter. She declined to comment further until she spoke to him.
“This has struck a chord with us,” she said.
“We’re going to contact him directly.”
~update
Dave Carroll has posted a youtube video informing those following his story about the latest developments. In response to United Airlines monetary mea culpa, Dave asks that the company donate the money to a charity of their choice. He also defends United's spokeswoman, Ms. Irlweg, saying that some of the comments posted on youtube were unfair and she was just doing her job. He even looks forward to 'sharing a laugh with her over all this'
hmm, after watching
this video, it seems the snapshot may have been a little deceiving. It’s not really clear, whether or not Obama snuck a peek, but it looks as though Sarkozy might be doin some splainin tonight.
Lol, Michelle is gonna be pissed! Yes I know it’s not the same as starting a war with cherry picked information, however, I thought I might get a jump on the Rethuglicans.
While at a photo-op in L’Aquila, Italy, Obama was busted checking out a junior G8 delegate as she walked by. And I mean busted. Flanked by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the snapshot shows Obama turning to his right so as to get a perfect view of the woman’s assets.
Sarkozy seems to be getting a kick out of it as well. The photo can be viewed here. Barack, dude, I certainly don’t blame you for checking her out, but come on, all eyes are on you all the time. Be a little
more careful. The Republicants will probably make a big deal out of this, but that’s only because you were looking at a hot female and not some underage boy, so don’t sweat them. But think of your family. It is disrespectful to them.
Oh, and I’m sure Fixed news host, Alisyn Camerota, will defend you. She certainly didn't think it was a big deal when one of her co-hosts was busted.
A three-judge panel has ruled a federal judge overreached when he decided wingnut pharmacists in Washington State had the right to refuse selling Plan B, based on their religious beliefs. The case has been sent back to the District Court for another look.
Plan B is labelled as an emergency contraceptive, designed to reduce the risk of pregnancy within the first 72 hours of sexual intercourse. Pharmacists who refuse to sell the product claim the procedure is akin to abortion, which is absolutely ridiculous. I suppose the next logical conclusion would be to describe the use of condoms as performing abortions as well.
According to assistant attorney general for Washington state, Joyce Roper, the new ruling means that pharmacies will have to stock up and distribute the drug immediately. There are other legal wranglings involved in this case and they will also be looked at.
I would also like to point out that two of the three judges on the panel were appointed by none other than dubya.
The other by Clinton. Here is part of what they had to say.
The right to freely exercise one's religion "does not relieve an individual of the obligation to comply with a valid and neutral law of general applicability," the 9th Circuit panel wrote.
"Any refusal to dispense -- regardless of whether it is motivated by religion, morals, conscience, ethics, discriminatory prejudices, or personal distaste for a patient -- violates the rules," the panel said.
sarah palin has stepped down as governor of Alaska! Speculation is that she will focus on a run for the White house, but nothing has been confirmed or denied at this point , with little information being put out.
“It is my duty to always protect our great state,” Ms. Palin said in a statement released by her office. “With that in mind, my family and I determined that it is best to make a difference this summer, and I am willing to change things, so that this administration, with its positive agenda, its accomplishments, and its successful road to an incredible future, can continue without interruption and with great administrative and legislative success.”
A Republican source close to her political team told CNN's John King that it was a "calculation" she made that "it was time to move on." The governor's "book deal and other issues" were "causing a lot of friction" in her home state, the source said, adding that he believes she is "mapping out a path to 2012."
The DNC has responded to sarah's "bizarre" behavior.
"Either Sarah Palin is leaving the people of Alaska high and dry to pursue her long shot national political ambitions or she simply can't handle the job now that her popularity has dimmed and oil revenues are down," DNC spokesman Brad Woodhouse said.
"Either way, her decision to abandon her post and the people of Alaska who elected her continues a pattern of bizarre behavior that more than anything else may explain the decision she made today."
Sources told NBC's Andrea Mitchell that Palin is out of politics for good.
sweet jesus, this woman is annoying. here is video of her lame speech.
Bonus: video of norm getting absolutely pwned by George Galloway.
Wow, that was a tight race! Of almost 2.9 million votes cast, only 312 wound up separating Franken (Democrat) and Coleman (Douchbag) from becoming the next Senator from Minnesota. Following an eight month legal battle which saw the incumbent Coleman take a 206 vote lead, a unanimous state Supreme Court ruled in Al’s favour. (hello! activist Liberal judges, anyone?)
With Franken’s victory, the Democrats have crossed the filibuster threshold Republicans would likely employ to obstruct any proposed legislation that would contradict their moral beliefs. Things like Universal health care, letting the evil gays marry, taking science classes - anything that might actually move the country forward. Although, even with Franken becoming the 60th senator, there is still no guarantee the D’s will push through their agenda. The conservative Democrats seem to have a difficult time moving forward as well. Time will tell.
As unreasonable as it may seem, having to wait 8 months for a winner to emerge, I would say the more disturbing aspect is the amount of money these two spent. Combined, Coleman and Franken injected 50 million dollars in pursuit of the seat. I’ve heard it said “if you’re rich, we’ve got the best legal system in the world”. I suppose the same holds true with democracy.
And now without further adieu, Coleman having his ass handed to him. Here is a taste.
"Now, Senator, I gave my heart and soul to oppose the policy that you promoted. I gave my political life's blood to try to stop the mass killing of Iraqis by the sanctions on Iraq which killed one million Iraqis, most of them children, most of them died before they even knew that they were Iraqis, but they died for no other reason other than that they were Iraqis with the misfortune to born at that time. I gave my heart and soul to stop you committing the disaster that you did commit in invading Iraq.
And I told the world that your case for the war was a pack of lies.
“I told the world that Iraq, contrary to your claims did not have weapons of mass destruction. I told the world, contrary to your claims, that Iraq had no connection to al-Qaeda. I told the world, contrary to your claims, that Iraq had no connection to the atrocity on 9/11 2001. I told the world, contrary to your claims, that the Iraqi people would resist a British and American invasion of their country and that the fall of Baghdad would not be the beginning of the end, but merely the end of the beginning.
"Senator, in everything I said about Iraq, I turned out to be right and you turned out to be wrong and 100,000 people paid with their lives; 1600 of them American soldiers sent to their deaths on a pack of lies; 15,000 of them wounded, many of them disabled forever on a pack of lies.
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