KANSAS CITY'S BREAKING NEWS: Two Injured After Motorcycle Chase - Crash

Just heard a Lee's Summit paramedic unit taking a male to an area trauma center with what appears to be not life-threatening injuries.

The paramedic says the man "was a passenger on a motorcycle being pursued by police on Lee's Summit Road when the cycle crashed- speeds were about 70 m.p.h.."

Haven't heard the medical condition on the cycle's driver or why they 'rabbited' from police.

UPDATE: Police are saying that "the motorcycle was stolen out of Kansas City" at 10:22 pm..

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Icy Death - New York Teen Dies From Muscle-Pain Ointment

It's reportedly rare- but people DO die from using too much muscle anti-inflammatory cream apparently.

So rare that this happens in fact- the news media reports it took the medical examiner "2 months" to determine the cause.

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AP Research Says C.E.O. Pay Raises Astronomical

Why sure!
This Associated Press article on the research that media organization did does not open my eyes much to what I had already seen.

That's why the corporate a-holes are a) moving jobs to countries with cheaper labor costs- b) cutting American jobs altogether- or c) if you HAVE a decent corporate job you've likely seen paltry pay raises (eaten up at the gas pump at Big Oil's whim) at best.

The rich keep getting richer then there's the rest of us sheep.

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Watchdog Group Says Google's Privacy Practices Worst

According to this article- "London-based Privacy International" rated Google the lowest score of all when it came to consumer snooping and Internet privacy violations.

Maybe I better start "Yahooing" things instead of "Googling" them.

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Urban Hospitals- Emergency Rooms- Closing

I don't know how many of you are aware of this and this AP article points it out- but inner-city hospitals and their ER's continue to close nationwide.

Locally- there are not that many 'Level-1 or 2' trauma centers available. Some of the most populous counties in the Metro- Johnson County KS at more than a half-million residents for instance - has but one trauma center- Overland Park-Regional Med Center.

In fact- there are only 2 trauma center-designated hospitals on the Kansas side- the other being K.U. Med Center.

Independence-Regional Medical Center recently closed their northwest Independence, MO. hospital in the older part of the city and opened a new campus- "Centerpoint"- located in the more-affluent far southeastern part of that suburb.

Except for Centerpoint- none of the at least half-dozen hospitals built around the Kansas City area in the past 10 years have a trauma center.

If you get badly hurt on a weekend night- there not be many trauma centers in the entire Metro K.C. area that are even open.

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AP: "Civil Rights Leader Charged With Incest"

No comment- geez- read for yourselves.

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Man In Wheelchair Goes On Wild Ride Stuck On Semi

Unbelievable - but this poor guy with MD was reportedly crossing an intersection when the light changed.
The semi never saw him started rolling with the guy in his wheelchair stuck on the front grill of the 18-wheeler.
The man in the wheelchair wasn't hurt- but reportedly took a weird ride "for several miles up to 50 m.p.h.."

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Bush- Pope Talk About Iraq While 6 Die In Prison Bombing

Of course Pope Benedict XVI and his guest were all smiles as they reportedly discussed (and asked forgiveness?) the Middle Eastern Mess GW got us into among other items I'm sure.

Meanwhile- 12 Iraqui soldiers die in a roadside bomb and terrorists turned on their own detained in a southern Iraq prison- 6 die - none reported to be Americans who've had a relatively light week death-wise.

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The Kansas City MetroRegion Overnight News and Weather Report - Saturday, June 09, 2007

*** "DOUBLE-SHOOTING" VICTIMS SHOW UP AT KC-MO HOSPITAL ***

>>> Police reported this at 1:45 am and serious injuries are indicated- but no further on this incident.

Several other shootings and cuttings were reported in KC-MO overnight- but those victims who were found had minor injuries.

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*Large Garage Fire Investigated in KC-MO Northland*

... It was 5:42 am when a KC-MO Fire department investigator driving north on the Chouteau bridge reported to a dispatcher "a large column of smoke" north of him.

A minute later- five KC-MO Fire companies are rolled to a that fire in what resulted to be a large garage in the rear of a house in the 3100 block of Northeast 39th Street.
No injuries were reported- but the structure appears to be nearly a total loss.

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* Wakarusa Music Festival Fine (Watch The Brown Acid) *

...People seem to be behaving themselves (surrounded by law enforcement)- at least on the overnight watch- at Clinton Lake's annual Wakarusa Music Festival.

One male in his 20's was transported by Douglas County KS. EMS to a hospital in Lawrence early Saturday morning for a bad acid (LSD) trip- but that was the only medical problem I heard took such a trip- so to speak.

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<><><>OVERNIGHT WEATHER<><><>

Clear skies- calm winds and temperatures in the mid to upper 50's made for great sleeping weather- for most people- MetroRegion-wide overnight.

Mostly clear skies and light winds today will make for a great Saturday across the area with some changes beginning Sunday.

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First with Metro Kansas City Breaking News - NBC41 ACTION NEWS.
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Iraq War 'Peace Mom' To Sell Land Near Bush Ranch

The AP reports that Cindy Sheehan- the Gold Star mother who spoke out in protest of Bush's Folly (Iraq "War")- is selling the tract of land she bought near Bush's ranch used for a constant protest.

Ms. Sheehan recently gave up on her effort to end Bush's Folly (much like the Democrats) after more than 2 years of vociferous protest against it (much unlike the Democrats).

The sale was reportedly to a California talk-show host- Bree Walker- who has a Kansas City connection with KYYS-102 FM in the middle 1970's.
Walker was going to turn the land "into a permanant peace memorial."

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AP: "al-Qaida Group Declares Holy War Against India."

Yet another wonderful development (not) in world affairs.

What Rodney King said during the 1992 L.A. riot ... "can't we all just" something-or-other?

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KANSAS CITY'S WEATHER: NWS-SPC: Slight Severe Storm Risk Sunday

You can see by the map of the latest "Day-2 Convective Outlook (AC)" by the Storm Prediction Center that the "slight risk" severe storm area forecast for Sunday runs from around Kansas City northward into the northern Plains- upper Mississippi River valley and extreme western Great Lakes into southern Canada.

All present model forecasts indicate any thunderstorms at all Sunday in the Kansas City MetroRegion will be scattered in coverage- but could fast become severe in intensity.

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News Media Focuses On Faux-Celebrity While America Crumbles

There are a VAST number of issues the news media in America could be taking on.

You- the reader- could make a list of items that could use close news media scrutiny and investigation.

Instead- the news media is fixated on some person- famous for what I don't know except X-rated Net vids- who has neither done anything for nor enriched our daily lives.

I'm boycotting newscasts for about a week - until hopefully these news producers can quit wasting our time with this California bimbo.

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Gingrich Says '08 Lost For GOP If Candidate Another Bush

Yes folks - even Newt realizes your party can't foist on to The People another stubborn- intractable- seemingly out-of-touch and clueless man as candidate for President of The United States.

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Bush Seeking New Military Yes-Man

Anyone with 1/16th of a clue knows the "war" in Iraq is a lost cause.

Bush keeps replacing his Joint Chiefs of Staff - man don't wanna' know the war's a lost cause and he does NOT want anyone on his staff with 1/32nd the military intelligence to keep telling him so..

By God we'll fight these terrorists if it costs every American their son, daughter, husband or wife. Not to mention the Iraqui sacrifices.

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Atlantis Takes Off Okay - Debris Falls During Launch

The space shuttle Atlantis took off on time.
It's reported however some debris - most likely foam - fell from the external tank during the ascent.

NASA people say none of the debris hit the shuttle. We'll find out on re-entry.

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Bush's Missile Defense: Damn The Statesmanship - Full Speed Ahead!

Bush is going ahead as he previously planned on deployment of an Eastern Europe missile defense system.

No doubt this news is really going to piss of Russia's Putin since he had offered some alternatives.
I am not seeing what good it does to further piss-off Putin - but then again I didn't see why we couldn't wait until the U.N.'s final report and conclusion on those Terrible Weapons Of Mass Destruction in Iraq and- in the first place- what Saddam had to do with terrorism since al Quaida didn't like him either.

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"Letters From Funk's Front Porch" I

Since I supported and gathered at least half a dozen vote for our new Mayor Funkhouser- what better way to document "The Funk's" progress the next 4 years by reprinting the emailed "letters" Mark and Gloria send out.
Here is the first in the series:

Notes From Funk’s Front Porch
8 June 2007

Dear Folks,

All the excitement over the election and taking office is wearing off and the Mayor’s office is feeling more normal these days. Matching faces to names is coming easier and a homey feel is more apparent when you walk through the office doors. This is a relief to everyone, but it’s especially good for our guests as it seems they are nervous enough coming up for a meeting in the Mayor’s Office without having to deal with all of us being newbie’s too.

There is a buzz around town. We’re getting feedback from the community every day about how things feel much different . . . much better, already. People are hopeful that Funk is going to do what he set out to do. And he will. This city is going to look a lot different four years from now – most importantly, it’s going to be noticeably more inclusive.

Ruthie Bates is doing a bang-up job screening Board & Commission applications. You should see how organized she is; her binders are like works of art. Because of her diligence, Funk is going to announce his appointments to the Parks Board at a press conference at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 11, at the playground in Troost Park, on Tracy Street, just south of East 31st Street.

Again, if you are interested in becoming more involved with your city government, please go to the city’s website at www.kcmo.org and click on the Boards and Commissions link to apply for one of the positions.

Honda of Tiffany Springs has graciously offered to provide, at no charge, a Honda Civic Hybrid for the Mayor’s use during his term of office. Since this will not be a contract with the city and will in no way cost the city any money, Funk is accepting the car and will report it as a personal gift through the Missouri Ethics Commission (Italics mine-GKM). The only problem that I can see with this is if my 6’8” man can fit through the door of a Civic; as it is now, he folds himself into his Corolla, and the Civic is smaller than that.

We are ready to move the newsletter to a new host site. If you would like to continue to receive our weekly newsletters, please click on the following link,
http://funksfrontporch.com /enewsletter.asp, and it will direct you to the new site’s sign-up page.
You only need to type in your email address to continue to receive the newsletter, but if you would like to provide your name, address, phone number and a password to manage your subscription, we are optionally accepting that information as well.
Please note that unless you sign-up for the newsletter with the link above, you will not be able to continue to receive this newsletter each week.
With this change comes a new email address for the newsletter. You can respond to the newsletters either at funksfrontporch@gmail.com or at mayor@kcmo.org. That’s all for this week.

We hope you and yours are well.

All the best,
Gloria & Mark

Computer Problems Cause "Severe" East-Coast USA Flight Delays

The AP reports that the FAA "tried to re-route" some of Atlanta's failed computer functions to Salt Lake City- but then that computer failed.

It appears air traffic nationwide is screwed up on one of the heaviest-volume travel days of the week.

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Investigator Says C.I.A. Ran Secret Prisons

European investigator Dick Marty's report is said to cite "unnamed CIA sources."

Sure hard to keep secrets these days- but it never stops anybody from trying.

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U.S. Consumer Confidence At A "10-Month Low"

Ya think?

When you're paying anywhere from 60 to 90 cents more per gallon than gasoline was 7-months ago - when you're paying more weekly on your grocery bill - when you saw your well-paid job replaced by a lower-paying one- sure your confidence in your personal economic affairs and those in general are going to drop.

The AP reports this "drop in consumer confidence" - as if we need a weatherman to tell us which way the wind is blowing.

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Kansas City, KS River Victims "Found"

KC-KS Fire department crews went looking in the Kansas River for 2 people who reportedly became separated from their personal water craft ("SeaDoo") around 9:45 am this morning.

Those 2 people have been reported "accounted for" as of 10:12 am - apparently uninjured - and mutual-aid assistance from the KC-MO F.D. was cancelled.
-----

Around 10 am - five KC-KS fire companies were called to a house on fire in the 900 block of Freeman. It's was a working fire- now out- in a lived-in but unoccupied house.

No reports of any firefighter injuries and an investigator is on-scene to determine a cause.
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Passport Fiasco Allowed "Temporary Reprieve"

Okay - Bush finally (halfway) does SOMETHING to actually HELP Americans by issuing a temporary halt to having to have a passport to fly into Canada or Mexico.

You still have to have a receipt that you've applied for a passport and you will still be subject to complete baggage and other extra security checks.

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Kelsey Smith Murder Suspect Had MySpace Internet Page

Very few serious Internet users don't have a MySpace site.
Mine's Bo's MySpace but I haven't been there since late '06 - I prefer the blog and keep the party line of MSN Live Messenger open mostly 24/7.

I digress - Hall - suspect in the abduction & murder of Kelsey Smith and who knows who else
had a MySpace page of his own - it's reported by the Associated Press and other news media outlets.

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'Panic Button' Feature Needed On Cell Phones

I have long wondered why cellphone manufacturers do not have emergency or 'panic' buttons on cellphones.

A clearly-marked button on the phone when pressed- located on the phone for instant access-would send out a signal or beacon until the battery was removed from the phone- much like emergency buttons on current police & fire radios.

I think this would be a very valuable device - especially when a person is being kidnapped and has few if any other options.

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Missing Belton Teen's Website

Like Kelsey Smith - Kara Kopetsky - the missing Belton teenager - has a Website dedicated to finding her.

That site is www.FindKaraKopetsky.com

If anyone anywhere has any information on Kara's whereabouts or disappearance - please contact those on that website - Belton, MO. police or hell - even this author - I'll be more than happy to pass it on.

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Stepfather Drowned Child For Insurance

I hate stories like these.

The AP reports that in the winter of 2003- Seattle firefighters pulled a drowned 3-year-old girl from a pool.

Authorities at the time stated the man- "Joel Zellmer" seemed too calm- "and mostly dry" when they arrived to rescue the girl.

Now- the authorities know why. And Zellmer reportedly has done things to other stepchildren of other mates he's had.

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Two-Million Old Tires Off Florida Coast Killing Coral Reef

Even when Man tries doing somthing right he does it wrong.

More than 2-million tires were dumped off Florida coasts in the early-1970's thinking the tires may encourage coral reef growth.

Turns out- the tires were killing off the reefs and continue to do so. The military is slowly pulling the tires out of the water - "1,600" of the 2-million so far.

One HAS to wonder what the entire COST of this fiasco is. Your tax dollars at waste.

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Teen Drives Car Into Long Island Shopping Mall

According to the AP story - the 19-year-old driver smashed into the main doors- drove down several of the mall's concourses in his car - then stopped and got out of his car to "make a speech."

That man was restrained by a mall patron until police arrived. The cops made a speech to the man too- "You have the right to remain silent...."

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Storms Scoot Until Late Weekend

Once again - the Kansas City MetroRegion survived another bout of severe weather with very little damage.

For thousands in the mid-south part of the Metro itself - it also brought little or no rain. The raingauge here at the Newscenter read zilch.

Thunderstorms - some possibly severe - should return to our area later in the weekend as the front that passed through Friday morning returns northward as a warm front.

The NWS' Storm Prediction Center has the K.C. MetroRegion in a "slight risk" Sunday and Monday.

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U.S. Senate Immigration Bill Derailed

If it were raining on the heads of our esteemed Senators - they would engage in a long and lengthy debate on whether it was indeed rain falling or if somebody was urinating on them.

Now that much-needed immigration bill has been tabled.

Our two-parties of "leaders" in D.C. are NOT debatable - they represent special interests and the legislative gridlock of our nation.

Is America ready for a 3rd-political party yet?

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Teen's Murder Suspect Had Wife- Child

Twenty-six year old Edwin Hall- arrested for the murder of Overland Park abducted teen Kelsey Smith - has a wife and young son and lived in a house in suburban Olathe.

It's said Hall never knew Smith- whom he allegedly kidnapped from a shopping center parking lot last Saturday night. Authorities found the body of Kelsey Smith Wednesday afternoon in Longview Lake.

Police are also looking into whether Hall may know the whereabouts of a missing Belton teen - Kara Kopetski.

Ms. Kopetski has been missing for more than a month.

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NWS-SPC: Tornado Watch No. 362 IL-KS-MO

This watch - that includes Metro Kansas City and the northeastern through southern MetroRegion - is in effect until 4 am Friday morning.

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KANSAS CITY'S BREAKING NEWS: Wind Damage Reported In Raymore

Raymore police and South Metro Fire in Raymore are reporting damage - apparently from high winds- that has caused M-58 highway in Raymore to be "closed for another 45 minutes to an hour" a Raymore police officer said at 9:21 pm..

A strong thunderstorm moved through Raymore about 9 pm..

There is reported to be "a power pole down across (M-) 58" and tree limbs down as well as possible damage to cars in a parking lot on the east side of Raymore. There might have been some roof damage to a strip shopping center as well - that has not been confirmed yet.

A tornado watch continues for the entire Metro until 10 pm - areas east and south will soon see a new watch to extend into the early morning hours of Friday.
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KANSAS CITY'S BREAKING WEATHER: Flash-Flood Warning In Metro

A Wyandotte County KS. storm spotter "at 102nd & Swartz Road in Edwardsville" reports "2.57-inches of rain have fallen since about 3pm this afternoon.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING is in effect until 1 am Friday for Wyandotte and northern Johnson counties in Kansas and southern Platte & Clay counties in Missouri.

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KANSAS CITY'S BREAKING WEATHER: Flash-Flooding Possible In Parts Of Metro

People living in Wyandotte and north- northwestern Johnson counties Kansas and southern Platte- Clay- Ray and northern Jackson counties in Missouri should be alert for the next several hours of torrential rains due to repeat thunderstorms over the same areas - and possible localized flasH-flooding.

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TORNADO WATCH No. 359 - KS-MO

THIS WATCH INCLUDES THE ENTIRE KANSAS CITY METROREGION - KANSAS CITY - LAWRENCE - ST. JOSEPH- WARRENSBURG - LEXINGTON- CHILLECOTHE.

TORNADO WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE FOR WT 359
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK 155 PM CDT THU JUN 7 2007

TORNADO WATCH 359 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS

. KANSAS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE
ANDERSON COFFEY DOUGLAS FRANKLIN JOHNSON LEAVENWORTH LINN LYON MIAMI OSAGE WYANDOTTE

. MISSOURI COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE
ADAIR BATES BENTON BUCHANAN CALDWELL CARROLL CASS CHARITON CLARK
CLAY CLINTON COOPER DAVIESS DEKALB GENTRY GRUNDY HARRISON HENRY
HOWARD JACKSON JOHNSON KNOX LAFAYETTE LEWIS LINN LIVINGSTON MACON
MARION MERCER MONROE MORGAN PETTIS PLATTE PUTNAM RANDOLPH RAY SALINE SCHUYLER SCOTLAND SHELBY ST. CLAIR SULLIVAN

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NWS/SPC: Public Severe Weather Outlook - IA-IL-MI-MN-WI

PUBLIC SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK

NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK 0440 AM CDT THU JUN 07 2007

...HIGH RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED OVER PARTS OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY AND THE WESTERN GREAT LAKES LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT...

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OK IS FORECASTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG TORNADOES ALONG WITH WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL OVER PARTS OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY AND THE GREAT LAKES LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT.

THE AREAS MOST LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THIS ACTIVITY INCLUDE EASTERN IOWA- NORTHERN ILLINOIS- UPPER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN- EASTERN MINNESOTA- WISCONSIN.

SURROUNDING THE HIGH RISK AREA- THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM PARTS OF THE UPPER AND MIDDLE MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY INTO THE CENTRAL GREAT LAKES.

AN UNSEASONABLY STRONG WEATHER SYSTEM CONTINUES TO EJECT OUT OF THE ROCKIES AND ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PLAINS TODAY- WITH ASSOCIATED SURFACE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM LIFTING ACROSS NORTHERN MINNESOTA.
IN RESPONSE...VERY STRONG LOW LEVEL AND UPPER LEVEL WINDS WILL OVERSPREAD A LARGE PART OF THE MIDDLE U.S. AND SUPPORT EXTREMELY STRONG WIND SHEAR FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.
THIS WILL SET THE STAGE FOR A POSSIBLE OUTBREAK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS- INCLUDING TORNADOES...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.
STRONG AND DAMAGING TORNADOES ALONG WITH WIDESPREAD WIND DAMAGE ARE EXPECTED IN THIS REGION.

AS HEATING AND SURFACE MOISTURE INCREASE THROUGH THE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON- THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BECOME MORE SUPPORTIVE OF THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING OVER PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA.
SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD AND INTENSIFY QUICKLY THROUGH THE DAY ACROSS MUCH OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY- WITH DEVELOPMENT OCCURRING SOUTH-SOUTHWESTWARD ALONG A SURFACE COLD FRONT ACROSS EASTERN IOWA AND POSSIBLY NORTHEASTERN MISSOURI BY LATE IN THE DAY.
EXTREME SHEAR WILL SUPPORT SUPERCELLS AND FAST MOVING LINES OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THIS REGION- WITH POTENTIAL FOR AN OUTBREAK OF TORNADOES AND DAMAGING WINDS AS STORMS RACE EAST-NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH THE EVENING INTO THE GREAT LAKES. LARGE HAIL WILL ALSO BE COMMON WITH THESE STORMS.

THIS IS POTENTIALLY A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

THOSE IN THE THREATENED AREA ARE URGED TO REVIEW SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY RULES AND TO LISTEN TO RADIO- TELEVISION- AND NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR POSSIBLE WATCHES- WARNINGS- AND STATEMENTS LATER TODAY.

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Human Rights Groups Say More Than 3 Dozen People "Secretly Imprisoned" By United States

A report issued today by a coalition of human rights organizations - Amnesty International- Human Rights Watch- and four other groups- say as many as "39" people may be "secretly imprisoned."

At least "21 of those were reported to have been "confirmed by two or more independent sources" says an Amnesty International spokeswoman in the Associated Press dispatch.

What was it our parents used to tell us - if you do such and such you're no better than so and so? This admonishment was always associated with bad behavior.

Well - I wish I had Bush and his cronies' ear- I'd 'Give 'em Hell Harry' with that old saying. If nothing else- for PATRIOT Acts I and II- Iraq- Etc..

I wouldn't put it past this Administration to have participated in secret jailings either.

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Kelsey Smith Found Dead - Suspect Arrested

The body of Kelsey Smith was found late Wednesday afternoon in Longview Lake.

A suspect has been arrested - a "26-year-old Olathe man."

My deepest condolences to Kelsey's family and friends.

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KANSAS CITY WEATHER: High Winds Causing Power Outages

South winds have been gusting as high as 50 m.p.h. across Metro Kansas City this afternoon.

The high winds have brought tree limbs down on power lines throughout the older portions of the Metro - particularily midtown and northeast K.C..

One call just received was "a tree down on power lines and a car" in the 5000 block of Wabash. A fire department pumper on the scene reports "a large tree down on a large power line- live- and Wabash's blocked" there - but no injuries.

The winds should subside toward sunset as we enjoy some of the warmest temperatures - oddly enough - since late April.

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What's Your Bid? Bob Barker's Last 'The Price Is Right'

People began getting in line at CBS's 'Television City' in Los Angeles Saturday - just for the chance to see Bob Barker's last taping today of the TV game show 'The Price Is Right.'

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KANSAS CITY'S BREAKING NEWS: BANK ROBBERY IN EDGERTON, KS.

This has just occurred - there are no other details yet.
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Map Of New Area Being Searched For Kelsey Smith

(Map Courtesy of Google Maps)

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Search For Missing Overland Park Teen Focuses On Missouri Side

In a live press conference presently being televised here in Kansas City - police and FBI authorities are now searching the area around Longview Lake in far southeastern KC-MO for the Overland Park teenager - Kelsey Smith - abducted from a shopping center's parking lot last Saturday night.

More as developments break....

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KANSAS CITY'S BREAKING NEWS: Shooting In KC-MO - House Fire In Belton

Police in KC_MO are reporting "non life-threatening injuries" to an "18-year-old male named Brandon" shot in the 5600 block of Prospect.

Police are looking for "a black male suspect who left on foot" from the incident that was reported at 11:41 am.

------

Fire companies from South Metro and West Peculiar fire departments are assisting suburban Belton, MO. fire units on a house fire in the 400 block of Shawn.

The firefight is underway at this moment and there is no word on occupancy of the structure on fire.

UPDATE: Fire command reported at 11:59 am that "all occupants are out" safely and that fire crews were going on "defensive" mode (surround and drown) to fight the wind-whipped flames.

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Two Charged In Separate U.S. Sex Incidents

Since mass media began - sex has been used to sell everything. It's virtually everywhere on every channel on television.

Sex is SO pervasive in American society UNDER the surface - you can titillate but don't openly express yourself or let yourself be swept up in sex's strong primal urges.

Here are two cases where people have reaped unwanted results from what American society so readily sows.
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Roller Shoes Plus Kids Equals Injury

"The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission" reports "around 1,600 emergency room visits" last year - mostly from children wearing the "trendy" shoes.

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Local Blogger Calls Out KC-MO T.I.F. King

The article's at 'kctifed.com' where Mr. Warren Erdman - head of the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and a chief official in the Kansas City Southern Railroad - gets called out by the author.
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Kansas City's Light Rail

A fellow local blogger at kclightrail.com has a good article on our continuing effort to put light rail transit BACK in Kansas City.

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No - Really? Complaints Up About The L.A.P.D.?

They tried to keep the Keystone Cops single back in the day.
People were afraid they might marry and have children - who in turn might become police officers.

Los Angeles, CA. continues to pay for that mistake.

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AP: "Iran Seizes 3 Finns in Persian Gulf"

That's a bonafide AP story. I'm thinking had Iran seized 4 Finns- they would have had an even $20.

(Pah-Dumph!)

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Indiana Teen Nails School Building During Driving Lesson

The teenager was having a driving lesson with her Dad Sunday in the Jasper, IN. high school school parking lot when she lost control and plowed into the school building.

The mishap caused "$50,000" damage to the school and "$3,500" in damage to Dad's S.U.V. - but no one was hurt (expect for pride).

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A Hard Man Is Good To Find

A New York man is suing the maker of a health drink - claiming it - ahem - er - made him stay at attention.
A guess a little lawsuit money would help - eh - relax the situation.

BFG ! (Big Fatherly Grin)

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"D-Day" - The 63rd Anniversary

It was do or die June 6, 1944.

Either the Allies or Hitler would prevail as thousands of troops stormed onto the beaches of Northern France.

A very important day in the Free World today is - the contract of our freedom was signed in blood by those brave soldiers that died 63 years ago.

Australia - Belgium - Canada - France - Belgium- Netherlands - United Kingdom, - United States and all free nations of the world - please take a moment of your day today for silent thanks.

Those we freed under Axis rule - please remember those countries above did not defeat you - they liberated you.

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NWS-SPC: Public Severe Weather Outlook

PUBLIC SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK 0540 AM CDT WED JUN 06 2007

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED OVER PARTS OF THE NORTHERN PLAINS LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT...

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OK IS FORECASTING A MODERATE RISK FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS OVER PARTS OF THE NORTHERN PLAINS LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT.

THE AREAS MOST LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THIS ACTIVITY INCLUDE A SMALL PART OF NORTHWEST IOWA WESTERN MINNESOTA MUCH OF SOUTHERN AND EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA NORTHEAST INTO CENTRAL NEBRASKA MUCH OF SOUTH DAKOTA

SURROUNDING THE MODERATE RISK AREA...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MUCH OF THE REMAINDER OF THE NORTHERN INTO CENTRAL PLAINS.

A VERY STRONG UPPER LEVEL TROUGH LOCATED OVER THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST THIS MORNING...ACCOMPANIED BY UNSEASONABLY STRONG DEEP LAYER WIND FIELDS...IS FORECAST TO MOVE INTO THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PLAINS LATER TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT.
A STRONG SURFACE LOW WILL DEVELOP AND TRACK FROM SOUTHEAST MONTANA TOWARD SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA BY THURSDAY MORNING.

SOUTHERLY LOW LEVEL WINDS WILL ALLOW MOISTURE TO RETURN RAPIDLY NORTHWARD ACROSS THE PLAINS AHEAD OF A DRY LINE WHICH WILL DEVELOP EASTWARD INTO THE WESTERN PART OF THE PLAINS. UNSEASONABLY COLD AIR ALOFT ATOP THIS INCREASING SURFACE MOISTURE WILL CONTRIBUTE TO FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.

AN AREA OF WARM AIR LOCATED JUST OFF THE SURFACE WILL LIMIT THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT UNTIL LATE TODAY AS STRONG HEATING AND LIFTING AHEAD OF APPROACHING WEATHER SYSTEM COINCIDE. THE APPROACH OF THE UPPER TROUGH WILL SUPPORT THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT INITIALLY ACROSS WESTERN PARTS OF THE NORTHERN PLAINS DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON.

STRONG WIND FIELDS CHANGING DIRECTION WITH HEIGHT WILL BE SUPPORTIVE FOR SUPERCELLS PRODUCING TORNADOES...LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.

INITIAL THUNDERSTORMS WILL THEN EVOLVE INTO A SQUALL LINE THIS EVENING THROUGH TONIGHT. THIS SQUALL LINE WILL TRACK NORTHEAST TOWARD THE EASTERN DAKOTAS/FAR NORTHWEST IOWA AND WESTERN MINNESOTA AND LIKELY PRODUCE A GREATER THREAT FOR DAMAGING WINDS.

THOSE IN THE THREATENED AREA ARE URGED TO REVIEW SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY RULES AND TO LISTEN TO RADIO...TELEVISION...AND NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR POSSIBLE WATCHES...WARNINGS...AND STATEMENTS LATER TODAY.

..PETERS/EVANS.. 06/06/2007

Flight Of Mercy Cost 6 Lives

This is the plane rented by the University of Michigan Health Systems that crashed about 6 miles off Milwaukee into Lake Michigan on Monday.

The aircraft was headed back to Michigan with a donor organ - with a patient waiting on the operating table. Now - the patient could die too - according to UMHS officials.

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Bush Draws More Fire From GOP Hopefuls Than Dems

In tonight's CNN GOP debate in New Hampshire - GOP presidential candidates came down hard and often on their party's - and the country's - "leader."

Yet - to a person - they support "Bush's Folly.

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Poster For Missing Overland Park Teen- Kelsey Smith

ABDUCTED!!! HAVE YOU SEEN THIS PERSON?

Kelsey Smith Age: 18 Height: 5’6”
Weight: 120 Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Brown

Last seen at Target 97th & Quivira Saturday, 6/2 7:00 pm. She was wearing a pink tank top, black cotton shorts, and tennis shoes.

She was driving an ‘87 grey Buick Regal with a Nebraska 30 day plate on the front.

If you’ve seen Kelsey or the car call 816-474-TIPS with ANY anonymous information or
Overland Park Police 913-895-6300.

Reward of ($25,000) for her safe return

WWW.FINDKELSEY.COM

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Aurora, IL Teen Charged In Felony After High School Food Fight

"...a little expensive" says one high school senior after the food fight last Thursday. It was reported "200" students were in the cafeteria of the 3,000-student West Aurora High School at the time.

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More Than 1,500 Guitarists Wail "Smoke On The Water" For Record

It happened Sunday in the K.C. T-Bones baseball park in Kansas City, KS..

A promotion by FM station KY-99.7 (formerly KY-102) was to break the record of the number of guitarists playing the same song at the same time.

Reportedly- "1,683" guitarists showed up - some from as far away "as California and Germany."

The former record of this type was last set in 1994 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada by 1,323 people.

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Overland Park Police Have Video Of Young Woman Attacked - Missing

It's reported to be "poor quality video" but a picture nonetheless of someone pushing Kelsey Smith into her car in the Target store parking lot in suburban Overland Park, KS..

The four local TV news stations have also been running video of a male "person of interest" recorded on store security cameras leaving just after the 18-year-old Smith did.

Kelsey Smith - who graduated from high school just 2 weeks ago - disappeared Saturday night. Her car was found empty by her grandparents in an Oak Park Mall parking lot about 2 hours after she disappeared.

I've been told of near-like encounters of this type of abduction by other female friends over the years. Why it is wise to have a friend or family along if at all possible.

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Libby Takes The Fall - Rove and Armitage Walk

Looks like ole Scooter will get two and a half years "for lying and obstructing the CIA leak investigation."

Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and White House political adviser Karl Rove were also part of the CIA leak but weren't charged.

More to come - I'm sure....

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Correction On The KC-MO Police Officer Shot Story

It now turns out that the "14-year-old boy" who shot a cop as KC media outlets reported this morning is actually 18-years-old.

Also- the male's mother reportedly showed up at the scene shortly after he was captured. Police think he had been in contact with her by cellphone.

Mama should have been slapping her son upside the head - being a better mother altogether - instead of lying about his age to police.

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KANSAS CITY NEWS: Fourteen-Year-Old Shoots Police Officer

This incident started around 3:00 am Tuesday morning - when a KC-MO patrol officer tried to pull over a car on a traffic stop in east Kansas City.

The driver of the GM "Camaro I.R.O.C" car sped away - and during the chase the officer hears that car had been carjacked in KC-KS on Monday.

The fleeing driver suddenly stops the IROC under the I-70 bridge on Sterling - jumps out of the car and opens fire on the officer right behind him. The officer is hit in the ankle and fires back - missing the shooter who runs off.

After an about 30-minute search - a police dog sniffed the "14-year-old male suspect" out of an outbuilding in someone's backyard.

Do you hold these kinds of young felons in juvenile detention facilities?

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Dateline Kansas City: Anti-War Marine May Get A General

And flip off a few colonels and majors too.

Seriously - it's been "suggested" in the military tribunal's hearing of Marine Cpl. Adam Kokesh who participated not only IN Bush's Folly (Iraq) but then protested agin' it - the man just be given "a general discharge."

Kokesh had already been given an honorable discharge from his active duty in Bush's Quagmire. Later - he showed up at a D.C. anti-war rally "in military fatigues" sans any marking insignias.

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Diary Of Jewish Teen Girl From Nazi-Occupied Poland Unveiled

For those that still don't believe "The Holocaust" ever took place - and the rest of us who do believe - a diary from a teenaged Jewish girl in Poland - turned over just last year - is being displayed in Israel's Holocaust museum.

Shalom - ALL peoples.
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Most Of Russia's 'Valley of Geysers' Lost To Huge Landslide

Lesson 1: Mother Nature gives and takes back.

A massive landslide "about a mile long and 600 feet wide" according to a statement in the AP article - has devastated most of one of Russia's most popular natural attractions.

The good news: No one was physically injured.

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KANSAS CITY'S BREAKING NEWS: KC-MO Fire Department Busy

There have been 2 working fires in the past hour - one an apartment building in Midtown and another a house in south-midtown.

The 2:36 am fire in the apartment building sent fire companies initially to the wrong address. Dispatchers gave the address as the "1400" block of East Linwood - but the fire was actually in the 2000 block of Linwood.
There was about a 5-minute delay in units going to the right place.

When fire crews arrived- heavy smoke was reported on the upper floor of the multi-story building.

Fortunately- any occupant injuries have been very minor and the fire was mostly contained to the top floor with water & smoke damage elsewhere in the building.

No word yet on the number of any displaced residents.

-----

Just before 3 am - five fire companies responded to a house fire in the 7300 block of Charlotte.

Three small streams were used on that fire with no reports of injuries.

Both fires are under investigation.

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Cases Of Two Held At Guantanamo Thrown Out

Much as America overreacted after Pearl Harbor in 1941 - our government overreacted after 2001.

IF the American justice system is so great- WHY did we have to throw it out? Well- 2 judges didn't see it that way - they "threw out" 2 cases that were being held in Bush's 'kangaroo court.'

THE TERRORISTS HAVE WON WHEN AMERICAN CITIZENS LOSE FREEDOMS AND THEIR RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS.

I realize this doesn't bother anyone really- until it's YOUR rights taken away of course....

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Washington Woman Who Drove Into Crowd Was Drugged

That's what authorities have said according to the Associated Press. The suspect was found to have smoked crack cocaine and has been denied bail.

The 30-year-old woman- with a 7-year-old child in her car - plowed into a street festival in Washington D.C. on Sunday. Thirty-five people - including children - were injured

The good news are that none of those injured remained hospitalized - including the 2 police officers who sacrificed their motorcycles and themselves trying to stop the woman's car - going an estimated "70 m.p.h." when she drove into the crowd.

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Bad Weather Day Wednesday In Central U.S. Plains States

A moderate risk of severe thunderstorms - tornadoes- large hail- strong winds and heavy rains will exist tomorrow (Wednesday) from north central Kansas to south-central North Dakota - according to the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, OK..

Included is most the the eastern halves of Nebraska and South Dakota - along with very small parts of surrounding Iowa & Minnesota.

(Click on map for a larger image)

The main action for the Kansas City MetroRegion is still holding off until Thursday - the very latest on all that will be posted here as it's received.

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A Gay Mayor For Dallas, Texas?

Dallas provokes images of the manly Texan to me - a guy dressed in a western shirt- well-worn blue jeans and boots.

Not with a paisley-colored Stetson and a purple bandanna.

Well- if Ed Oakley wins the runoff later this month- Dallas becomes the San Francisco of Texas - the whole South perhaps.

Seriously - I can give a hoot less about anyone's sexual preferences as long as they can do the job they were hired or elected to.

Time shaven't changed that much since I made 'Animal Crackers.'
Things are just more in-the-open now, movies are in color and celebrities don't seem to have to have DONE anything to get that classification....

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Illegal Immigrants Having Their Children Smuggled Into U.S.

This is a surprise? If mom & dad are here - why not the children? Aunts & Uncles? Fifth cousins 14-times removed?

Law-abiding Americans have to wait until retirement it seems to even get a passport.
Well this traveller has seen the light.

Just hire some woman and get me a Volkswagon-sized baby stroller and plop myself in it.

"Passport? Why Mr. Customs man- he's only a baby" "Baby ma'am? With a moustache?"

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Captain's Promise: No Celebrity News

Unless they die or make some really IMPORTANT news.

Geez- soon the mainstream news media will be following EVERY spoiled- brattish kid around for news stories.

I'm really curious who watches that crap all the time?
Makes we wonder if I should have wrote a book just because I met Elvis Presley once.

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AP: F.B.I. Says We're Being Robbed - Murdered More In Big Cities

In a "preliminary" report- the Federal Bureau of Investigation says the nation's robberies (not including oil companies) has increased a whopping 6-percent since last year.

Overall "violent crime" is up 1.3-percent - homicides in metro areas of 1 million residents or more went up 6.7-percent but dropped in the smaller metros & cities by almost 12-percent.

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KANSAS CITY'S BREAKING NEWS: WESTSIDE KC-MO DEATH UNDER INVESTIGATION

Shortly before noon - a person came into Kansas City, Missouri Fire department's Station 7 on West Pennway to report "a dead person" in a parking lot in the 2000 block of Jefferson.

Central patrol police responded moments later as well as detectives. No results heard yet on a very preliminary investigation.

-----

Serious injuries are reported in a "2-car" accident on Northwest 64th Street at I-29. Traffic on I-29 itself is not affected.

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AP: "Australian PM Promises Greenhouse Target"

Prime Minister John Howard has said he will use chlorofluorocarboned spray-paint and non bio-degradable plastics to paint massive targets on top of Australian greenhouses.

Afterwards - the Australian and U.S. Air Force will use the greenhouses for bombing practice.

---

Okay I'm kidding - here's the REAL AP story from Down Undah.
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AP: Troop Increases In Iraq Not Helping Much

Maybe I should crypticly restate my interpretation of the Associated Press article as "Hey, but we're providing more targets for the terrorists."

Nope- I have people with people over there. Not the least funny.

Don't be surprised if this news leads - in incredible irony - to a request for even more U.S. (National Guard) troops being sent there.

Unbelievable how incredibly much was and continues to be not thought out when Bush got us into this folly in Iraq.

Dammit - I support the citizens in our military to the max. Their families included by God.
And I want those troops back with their families on an extended leave - OUT and AWAY of another Vietnam's harms' way.

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Not Exactly Jed Finding Crude While Shooting For Some Food - BUT...

In this world of cold realities - here's a warming story that at least makes this 'boomer' think of simpler times.

A Michigan Boy finds a wooden box buried in his grandma's garden. In it are some old items - including newspapers from that great year of 1952.

They don't know who owned Grandma's property before she did - but if they can't find out they're going to re-bury the box with some newly-added items - for some future gardener to discover.

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One Of China's Darkest Moments -Tiananmen Square

Thanks to a fellow blogger the Gateway Pundit - I'm made aware that today is not only the 65th anniversary of WW-II's Battle of Midway - but also the 18th anniversary of the Chinese government's murder of it's own citizens in Peiking/Beijing's Tiananmen Square.

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W-G-A-F ABOUT P-H

Are you with me folks?

Are you tired of hearing about P-H (I won't even spell out her name I'm so tired of hearing it) going to to hoosecow?

What did P-H EVER do that made her worthy of the NEWS time she gets -especially what little actual news-time the local stations give us?

Save "celebrity" news for the tabloid shows/channels.

Unless they die or do something that benefits Mankind (no mention of Paul Newman giving a chunk to an Ohio college for scholarships).

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Severe Storm Threat Forecast Mid Through Late Week In Central U.S.

This is from the National Weather Service's (NWS) Storm Prediction Center (SPC).
The Kansas City MetroRegion is denoted by the big light blue dot in the middle of the map.

Try to follow the lines that mark the different days - 4 (Thurs-Fri) through 6 (Sat-Sun) - that all or part of the KC Metro is under a severe storm risk.

At the SPC site is also the Day 3 (Wed-Thur) risk area.
The K.C. MetroRegion is under a slight risk of severe storms that day as well - and areas northwest of us in Nebraska and South Dakota a higher or moderate risk area.

(Click on map for a larger image)

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$27 Million Feeds A LOT Of Hungry People

Or it may house them - educate them.

Billy Graham recently dedicated a "$27-million" edifice to himself.

Maybe it's just me - but if I was "a man of God" I'd put MY worldly riches to work doing God's work for the less-fortunate. None of these fancy churches or self-indulgent memorials.

Wait - maybe I'm a "man of God." What little I make I already give away to those who need it more.

Then again maybe not. I consider myself an agnostic. (grin)

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Do You Want To Be A Millionaire?

If you've had sex with a political figure - Larry Flynt - publisher of that so-enlightening magazine Hustler - will pay you a cool mil to tell all.

(Wonder if the offer expires by the first Tuesday in November '08?)

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Hey Murderer - See How Funny THIS Is!

AS the official pulls the switch.

Yeah- a Texas 'Death Row' inmate who is set to die for killing his 2 neighbors wants to go out telling jokes.

Well Patrick Knight - no need to TELL any jokes before your sentence is carried out - because you ARE a joke.

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Democrats Pontificate At "Debate"

I've been riding the Donkeys so hard lately you'd never know I used to be a Harry Truman-Democrat.

With all respect to The Man From Independence - they've had to install a rotisserie in Harry's grave because he's been spinning around so much in it.

Regardless - all the Democratic candidates who would want to rule us and pick up what's left after Bush leaves got together Sunday night for a "he-said- she-said" thing.

They can talk all they want - say whatever to try to get our vote but remember - ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.

And we- The People - are watching your every vote.
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German Chancellor Merkel: "Violence is no way to solve things...."

This statement was made regarding all the thousands of protesters at the G-8 Summit in Heiligendamm, Germany.

Please Ms. Chancellor - brush up on your HISTORY.

Violence has solved things on this planet since the beginning of time.
Many have discovered violence is a way to attract attention to whatever cause - since the rich & powerful usually either dismiss those that "work within the system" or any change happens as fast as gasoline prices drop.

Our evolution as a species depends on evolving beyond violence - greed - blindness to the plight of those at the bottom - those who will eventually rise and dispose of the blissfully ignorant at the top.

Violence begats violence.

Talk to us again Chancellor - when violence such as WARS - fought by the people and not by the rich & powerful leaders who START them - cease.

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Credit Numbers Low? 'Piggyback!'

This is a weird setup to me - you'll have to read the story.
Basically- a person with the unattractive lower credit numbers can somehow be added to people with much-better credit ratings's credit cards - for a price of course.
The person being added on never sees ANY personal numbers or information of the person that added them.
Confused? Let me try explaining astrophysics in the next post....

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Talk About Devotion - Wife Nurses Husband Out Of 19-Year Coma in Poland

This is definately a story that has a screenplay of flashbacks with syrupy strings playing.
Where can I find a woman like that - with money? Who will wash some socks for me? ...

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Southeast New Mexico and Southwest & Central Texas - Look Out!

PUBLIC SEVERE WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
0104 PM CDT SUN JUN 03 2007

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED OVER PARTS OF THE SOUTHERN PLAINS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...

THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER IN NORMAN OK IS EXPECTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS OVER PARTS OF THE SOUTHERN PLAINS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

THE AREAS MOST LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE THIS ACTIVITY INCLUDE EXTREME SOUTHEAST NEW MEXICO AND SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL TEXAS

SURROUNDING THE MODERATE RISK AREA - THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM THE SOUTHERN HIGH PLAINS EASTWARD INTO PARTS OF THE SABINE RIVER VALLEY OF WESTERN LOUISIANA

NOCTURNAL THUNDERSTORM COMPLEX THAT TRAVELED ACROSS NORTHERN AND EASTERN TEXAS THIS MORNING LEFT A BOUNDARY THAT HAS STALLED ALONG A MIDLAND- BROWNWOOD- HUNTSVILLE TEXAS LINE BY EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.
RELATIVELY CLEAR SKIES IN WAKE OF THIS THUNDERSTORM CLUSTER ALONG/NORTH OF THIS BOUNDARY WILL CONTRIBUTE TO INCREASINGLY UNSTABLE CONDITIONS THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS EVIDENCE OF AN UPPER LEVEL IMPULSE OVER NEW MEXICO. AS THIS SYSTEM APPROACHES - THE THUNDERSTORMS ALREADY FORMING OVER NM WILL INTENSIFY AS THEY MOVE INTO THE INSTABILITY AXIS OVER TEXAS DURING THE MID-LATE AFTERNOON.

GIVEN THE RELATIVELY STRONG SHEAR THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE...THE INITIAL THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY BECOME SUPERCELLS AND HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE VERY LARGE HAILSTONES...LARGER THAN 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER - OVER SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO AND PARTS OF THE PERMIAN BASIN OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS.

TORNADOES WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE AS THE STORMS INTERACT WITH THE OUTFLOW BOUNDARY THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING.

LATER IN THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT - THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONGEAL INTO ANOTHER MESOSCALE COMPLEX. INCREASING NORTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT AND MAGNITUDE OF INSTABILITY AHEAD OF THE THUNDERSTORMS SUGGEST THAT DAMAGING WINDS WILL BECOME MORE OF A THREAT OVERNIGHT FROM PARTS OF SOUTHWEST THROUGH CENTRAL TEXAS.
BY DAYBREAK MONDAY - EASTERN EXTENT OF THE THUNDERSTORMS MAY REACH THE I-35 CORRIDOR FROM WACO ( - AUSTIN) TO NEAR SAN ANTONIO.

THOSE IN THE THREATENED AREA ARE URGED TO REVIEW SEVERE WEATHER SAFETY RULES AND TO LISTEN TO RADIO- TELEVISION AND NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR POSSIBLE WATCHES...WARNINGS...AND STATEMENTS LATER TODAY.
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When America Shined: Monday Marks 65th Anniversary Of The Battle Of Midway

The Battle of Midway was a very important and pivotal victory for the American Navy.

It was a much needed victory - it was just less than 7 months since the Japanese decimated Pearl Harbor.

The Navy brass put all of what cards they had left on the table in that battle in June 1942.

Combinations of strategy- timing- sheer luck and perhaps destiny allowed us to take out 4 aircraft carriers and 4 other ships, nearly 300 planes and almost 5,000 men.

America lost 1 carrier, almost 150 planes and a little more than 300 men in the sea battle.
It changed the Japanese military offense to a defensive mode from then on.

Today- Midway is a wildlife refuge - containing but a dozen human overseers.

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AP: Sex On The Internet

This seemingly 10,000th article on this shopworn subject deals mainly with how the women of today are dealing with their sexuality and the Internet - as well as "reality TV" which to me are a contradiction of terms.

"And I thought the webcam and headset was just for casual conversation Doris."

Heh.

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Another Actor As President?

Yeah- that guy who - among other roles - played that authorative control tower chief in the Bruce Willis motion picture 'Die Harder' is considering running next year for the G.O.P..

Fred Thompson's a pretty good actor - according to the AP article - kind of ho-hum in his political career.

I like Fred. But even Barney Rubble would look better in the White House right now.

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Ever So Fresh Amsterdam, Nederlands!

Earlier today American time - 2,000 naked men and woman participated in a series of photo shoots in and around this 'liberalized' (certainly by Puritanical American double-standards)Holland city - that I know at least one Texan holds dear to his heart.

For those wanting "companionship" - there's an established "red-light" district (do NOT try to take photos there!).

You can smoke your joints and have your drinks in the bars there.
Do NOT drive afterwards - they come down (and rightfully so) very hard on even first-time offenders.

From friends I've chatted with in Holland - the very stiff penalties are justified they think. These friends are people in their 20's and 30's.
Jack and Louise impressed upon me that their government assumes the citizens a greater freedom in return for the citizens' greater responsibility.
Of course that is also higher taxes. They have universal health care for their people.

What American city would allow all that much less 2,000 naked people to converge in one place for non-explicit-sex photographs?

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Weather Correction

Okay - I was busy doing news all night and didn't really examine the weather forecast models as completely as I usually do.

I said below in the Overnight Weather section of the local news report we could get a couple of days to dry out.

That may not be true.

A 'cold-core' low pressure in Iowa could produce scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms later today (cold air aloft that warm, humid air rises into).

A small system shooting southeast from Canada in the northwest flow could do the same Monday afternoon.

And now- it appears an even stronger system could produce more showers and storms late Tuesday.

I commented a few weeks ago to a fellow weather-geek how the weather pattern this year was looking somewhat similar to the Summer of 1993.

This morning's weather models are making that look more so over the next couple of weeks at least with a strong upper low pressure "retrograding westward from the Hudson Bay."

Stay tuned - things could get interesting this summer....

Big Sunspot Developing

It's labeled "Sunspot 360" and it's coming around one of the sun's horizons to face Earth.

This spot could produce "X-Class (obscene?) solar flares" and- according to Spaceweather.com - "A big eruption could trigger ion storms, radio fadeouts and, if all goes well, auroras."

This looks to be one of the largest sunspots in at least several months (I check daily) and if the flares are powerful enough - they could pose hazards to satellites as well as those in the space station.

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The Kansas City MetroRegion Overnight News and Weather Report - Sunday, June 03, 2007

*** DEATH IN LAWRENCE, KS. UNDER INVESTIGATION ***

>>> Lawrence fire, EMS and police responded at 6:05am to a call of "un unresponsive" person at "The Salvation Army- 946 New Hampshire."
About 5 minutes later - EMS reports that person D.O.A.. While probably a death from natural causes- police are investigating nonetheless.

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** Tonganoxie, KS. Incident Overcomes Four - Including 2 Children **

...The call came into the newscenter at nine minutes after midnight Sunday morning - "a strong odor coming from the house" in the 900 block of Shawnee in that southwestern Leavenworth County, KS. community.
When fire units arrived - the find & report "3" then "4" people overcome by the unidentified "odor." Among those overcome were "a 3 and a 5-year-old."
None of those overcome are heard transported to any medical facility and the source & type of the "odor" is never reported.

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*Police Investigate Liberty.MO. Playground Fire*

Liberty fire units responded to a call of "playground equipment on fire" at "Park Lane & Wellington Way" during the midnight hour.
A police officer who responded ordered a detective and said "2 white males were seen walking in the area" of the incident.

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<><><>OVERNIGHT WEATHER<><><>

Skies were variably cloudy overnight with light winds from the west-northwest and temperatures that fell into the upper 50's by dawn.

We'll get a few days to dry out - then more showers and thunderstorms move into the K.C. MetroRegion by late week. There could be severe weather with the storms by Friday and - with a frontal system stalling in the area early next weekend - increasing chances for more heavy rains and possibly flooding problems.
Temperatures will again remain around normal for early June or maybe a bit above normal until late week - highs in the 80's with lows in the 60's.

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First with Metro Kansas City Breaking News - NBC41 ACTION NEWS.
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Man Eats 59 Hot Dogs In 12 Minutes

The California dude breaks the record - winning of all things - "a year's supply of hot dogs."

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Another Car Bomb Near Baghdad

This one is in "an open-air market" in a town northeast of Baghdad. The AP reports "at least 10" dead and "more than two dozen" injured.
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AP: Democrats Lie Again

As the newly-elected Dems said they were going to act on Bush's Folly (Iraq) and other things like 'pork-barrel' spending - it's all just another lie from politicians to get your vote.

Third-party anyone?
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Space Shuttle Atlantis May Be Grounded

It seems the union who "represents 570 shuttle program workers" has received a vote from it's membership authorizing the union to strike.

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Kansas City Gasoline Prices Continue To Drop

And it's about f-ing time too!
A Quik Trip store east of Hillcrest on 87th Street was advertising a gallon of the lowest-grade of regular at $2.99.
Prices lower by pennies - raises by nickels & dimes. F-you Big Oil!

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Sunbathers Warning - Google Is Taking Pictures

Google's new "Street View" photos are raising privacy concerns.

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