BLANK ROUNDS
U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Keith Holt fires blank rounds from an M-240 machine gun from an SH-60F Seahawk helicopter during an air-power demonstration for the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan in the Pacific Ocean, Nov. 21, 2008. The demonstration was one of many events for more than 1,200 friends and family members of Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group sailors. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Joseph M. Buliavac

Labels: aircraft, helicopter, M-240, photos, SH-60F, ships, US Navy, USS Ronald Reagan

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
U.S. military frets over Iraqi prisoners
US cmdr spells out Iraq mission under new pact

Operation Enduring Freedom
Rice says Afghanistan policy review nearly complete

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Modern Pirates / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
Thailand Reopens Bangkok International Airport
India Admits 'Lapses' in Mumbai Terror Attacks (Gee, ya think?)

Welcome Home!!
Azerbaijanis Complete Tour in Iraq

Troops (and Contractors) on Trial
US mulls unusual tactic as Blackwater charges loom

Other Military News
U.S. military sets high-stakes missile-shield test

Worldwide Wackos
U.S. nuclear envoy says expects hard N.Korea talks

Politics / Government
Obama's 3 Million Donors Asked to Pay Clinton Debt
Obama Raised Nearly $750M on Way to Presidency
Obama Facing Pressure From Dems
Obamamania Sweeping Country in Names, Holidays
Congresswoman 'Flabbergasted' Over Obama Hang-Up
Obama laying the groundwork for health reform
Clinton looks to loyalists for State Dept. staff
Russia's Putin makes warm overtures to Obama
Business urges Obama to loosen Cuba embargo
Democrats: Obama needs hands-on economic approach
Opposition vows to topple Canadian leader Harper
Rice: 'Well Past Time' for Mugabe to Leave
Canadian PM Suspends Parliament to Keep Power
Politics on hold as Thais pray for ailing king - Video

Illegal Immigration / Border Control
Three Americans Dead Amid Rising Violence in Mexican Border City

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
Report: Britney Spears' First Husband in Jail
Convict's Mother Goes Undercover for Months, Gets Dirt on Juror
Parents Sue School Over Cheerleaders' Nude Photo Suspension
Woman Sues Sports Bar After Getting Stuck in Toilet
Couple Charged With Torturing Shackled Teen
SPECIAL REPORT: Locked Up for Life, Part One (I'm supposed to have sympathy for this guy? Hey, here's a tip - don't get involved in a gang, and don't get involved in felonies that end up getting someone killed)
O.J. Facing Life Sentence for Robbery, Kidnapping
Boy George guilty of imprisoning male escort
Rolling Stones insider pins Altamont fracas on cops
Police chief indicted after boy killed by Uzi
Minn. teen girls charged in nursing home abuse
Police seeking 2 people in Ruffalo shooting
Ex-'CHiPs' star Estrada to patrol with Ind. police
Man allegedly attacks speed camera with pickax

Adventures in Political Correctness
Lego-Style Islamic Terrorist Sparks Outrage - PHOTOS

U.N. News
Ban Underscores Urgent Need to Address Humanitarian Needs in Zimbabwe

Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
Seeing hope for print ads
Azerbaijan Plan to Block Foreign Radio Major Step Backward

Science / Medicine and Health / Technology
FOXSexpert: 15 Enlightening Sex Facts
Toshiba to halt chip output due to weak demand
"Big Bang" collider repairs to cost up to $29 million
NASA delays robot Mars life-search mission
China, Russia to send probes to Mars next year
Climate history may explain empires' fall
Gene may open door for new sickle cell therapies
Topics: AIDS, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Technology News
"Koobface" virus turns up on Facebook
Nokia sees mobile phone sales shrinking faster
Toshiba to halt chip output due to weak demand
New videogames lure players into the kitchen Video
Industry sales good so far: Take-Two
Video: Beauty and the PC
Topics: Gears of War, Apple, Google, Media, After Bill Gates
Blogs: MediaFile

Mother Nature
Would-Be-Bride Swept to Sea During Proposal on Oregon Coast
U.S. polluters to pay record $11.8 billion in 2008: EPA
Downturn seen slowing CO2 rise
Rich, poor in dispute over rainforest cash
Wanted: Twitchers to find Europe's rarest bird
EU CO2 to drop 10 percent below 2007 levels

News from My Neck of the Woods
Giants' Pierce to meet with NYC investigators

Oddities
Fla. Man charged with Assaulting Girlfriend With Burger
Politicians may have to take breath test
Police detain 49 for "satanic" clothes

Other News of Note
Easy-to-Use 'Palm Pistol' Aimed at Elderly, Disabled (Gotta love it)
Planned Parenthood 'Gifts' Could Fund Abortion - VIDEO (Y'know, somehow I think 'gift certificates' for abortion is taking things a bit too far)

Fox News
Labor Pains Expected
World Markets Mostly Down Ahead of U.S. Jobs Report
Auto Bailout Could Be Tied to Gov't-Run Overhaul
Big 3 Consider Bailout With Strings Attached
FOX FORUM: Can We Trust Congress to Build a Better Car?
Reporter's Notebook: Capitol Hill Car Show
Oil 'May Dive to $25 Next Year'
Leader of Russian Orthodox Church Dies
Study Concludes That Happiness is Contagious
India, Russia Sign Civilian Nuclear Deal
Salvation Army Leader May Lose Job Over Forbidden Marriage

Reuters
Trading views - Video
Bailout still faces challenges: Paulson
CEOs see more pain ahead
Jobless rolls at 26-year peak
Blog: Are you worried?
No consensus
Chastened auto CEOs beg for billions
Understanding but no consensus on auto bailout - Video
Oil steadies around $44 ahead of jobs data
Global stocks struggle ahead of U.S. jobs data
Sales better than expected: Take Two
EU prosperity at stake over crisis
Bail out the buyers
U.S. job losses awaited - Video
Morgan Stanley widens Goldman Sachs loss view
BMW sales plunge, Honda quits Formula One
Glimmer of hope for Australian Christmas sales
Julius Baer CEO dies unexpectedly
Resolution says IPO raised $880 million
Chevron seen all but certain to drop Reliance stake
Guitarist accuses Coldplay of plagiarism
Awards contenders enter box office ring
What's age got to do with it? Tina Turner still terrific
Survey says work really is hazardous to your health
Travel Picks: World's 10 best secret dining clubs
Travel Postcard: 48 hours in Colombo
Southeast Asia's new nightlife capital -- Jakarta?
Hello baby! Hello Kitty welcomes Taiwan newborns
Rivers throws three TDs as Chargers rout Raiders 34-7
Spurs cruise to victory over Nuggets
Sampras back in London and relishing life
Players' union asks for injunction against suspensions
De La Hoya has style to beat Pacquiao: Dundee

Associated Press
AP IMPACT: Some bailout holdings down $9 billion
Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Alexy II dies
First NFL game in 3-D fumbles, then recovers
LT, Rivers lead Chargers to 34-7 win over Raiders
Jennifer Hudson says she's honored by Grammy nods
Avery has 3-hour hearing with NHL commissioner

NewsBlaze
Black Friday Sales Better Than Expected: Take Two
Support Our Troops, Read Their Stories
American Troops Need Your Love at Christmas & Hanukkah
Freedom Flights Arrive in Indy

CENTCOM
Canal project to 'change the face of Baghdad'
Colonel notes absence of tensions as elections near
Doctors, midwives learn maternity tips
Gates: Afghan support makes economic sense
Children return to refurbished kindergarten

USJFCOM
Command releases report examining the future - Read the report
USJFCOM, NATO reach historic first for simulation federation
Joint fires assessment teams help Army improve joint training
More about Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team

Multi-National Force - Iraq
Crocker, Odierno Statement on Ratified Security Agreement
School Opens for Children of Ghazaliya
Clean Water Flows for Millions in Sadr City
Sons of Iraq: a vote of confidence for reconciliation
Coalition Soldiers killed in SVBIED attack (Mosul)
Tip leads MND-B Soldiers to large cache in Baghdad
NPs confiscate weapons in Aamel
NPs, MND-B Soldiers detain suspected "Special Groups" criminal in Rashid

DefenseLink
TOP NEWS
Presidency Council Ratifies U.S.-Iraq Security Pact
Acquisition Policy Aims for Efficiency
Gates Will Lead New Defense Team

IRAQ NEWS
School Offers Hope for Baghdad Children
Forces Kill 4, Capture 33 Terror Suspects

AFGHANISTAN NEWS
Team Taps Sun to Light Zabul at Night
Troops Kill Two Taliban Fighters, Detain Three

FACE OF DEFENSE
Boxing Adds Punch to Soldier's Life

AROUND THE SERVICES
Army Exhibit Traces U.S. Presence in Germany
U.S. Marines Complete Haditha Dam Mission
Navy Leaders Vist USS Bataan Sailors, Marines
Ospreys Finish First Operational Deployment

MILITARY NEWS
Programs Strive to Curb Climbing Divorce Rates
DoD Seeks Nominations for Teacher Awards
Country Star Supports Troops Through Music

Weather
Afghanistan
Bost/Laskar Ghurian Herat Kabul Qandahar

Germany
Ansbach Aschaffenburg Berlin Berlin-Tempelhof Berlin/Schonefeld Bremerhaven
Darmstadt Frankfurt Frankfurt/Main Freiburg/Breisgau Garmisch
Garmisch-Partenkirchen Geilenkirchen Gelnhausen Giessen Kitzingen
Hanau Am Main Heidelberg Mainz Mannheim Nurnberg Stuttgart Trier
Wiesbaden Wurzburg

Gitmo

Guam
Agana Agana Heights Agat Andersen AFB Asan Barrigada

Iraq
Al Azamiyah Al Basrah Al Hillah Al Karkh Al Kazimiyah Al Kut
An Nasiriyah Baghdad Baqubah Mosul Najaf Nineveh Tall Kayf

Japan
Kadena Air Base Okinawa Tokyo Yokohama

Today in History
1349 - 500 Jews are massacred at Nüremberg in the Black Death riots.
1456 - An earthquake strikes Naples, killing approximately 35,000.
1492 - Columbus discovers Hispaniola (El Espanola/Haiti).
1496 - Jews are expelled from Portugal by order of King Manuel I.
1590 - Niccolò Sfondrati is chosen as Pope (Gregory XIV).
1757 - The Prussian army beats the Austrians at the Battle of Leuthen.
1766 - London auctioneers at Christie's hold their first sale.
1792 - George Washington is re-elected as U.S. President.
1798 - Government troops occupy Hasselt.
1804 - Thomas Jefferson is re-elected as U.S. President.
1813 - Lübeck surrenders to allied armies.
1831 - Former President John Quincy Adams takes his seat as a member of the House of Representatives.
1832 - Andrew Jackson is re-elected as U.S. President.
1837 - Canada faces an uprising under William Lyon Mackenzie.
1846 - C.F. Schoenbein obtains a patent for the cellulose nitrate explosive.
1848 - President Polk triggers the Gold Rush of '49 by confirming the discovery of gold in California.
1854 - Aaron Allen of Boston patents the folding theater chair.
1861 - The Gatling gun is patented.
1862 - Battle of Coffeeville, MS.
1876 - Daniel Stillson of Massachusetts patents the first practical pipe wrench; a fire at the Brooklyn Theater kills 295, either trampled or burned to death.
1879 - The first automatic telephone switching system is patented.
1881 - The 47th U.S. Congress (1881-83) convenes.
1892 - Anti-semite Hermann Ahlwardt is elected to Germany's Reichstag.
1893 - The first electric car, built in Toronto, debuts - it can go 15 miles between charges.
1905 - Henry Campbell-Bannerman becomes PM of England.
1908 - For the first time, numerals appear on football uniforms (University of Pittsburgh).
1918 - An oil refinery on Curaçao opens.
1925 - The German government of Luther falls.
1933 - At 5:32 p.m. EST, the 21st Amendment is ratified; it is the only amendment adopted to repeal an earlier amendment (18th Amendment - Prohibition).
1935 - The first commercial hydroponics operation is established in Montebello, CA.
1936 - The Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Kirghiz become constituent republics of the Soviet Union.
1941 - Sister Elizabeth Kenny's new treatment for infantile paralysis is approved; a Russian counter-offensive in Moscow drives out the Nazi army; the U.S. aircraft carrier Lexington and five heavy cruisers leave Pearl Harbor.
1942 - Seyss-Inquart orders students in Nazi-Germany to go work; the West Indies chocolate/coffee drop occurs above the Netherlands.
1944 - German troops rob all the silver coin in Utrecht.
1945 - The "Lost Squadron" crashes east of Florida, in the Bermuda Triangle.
1946 - President Truman creates the Committee on Civil Rights by Executive Order #9808.
1950 - Sikkim becomes a protectorate of India.
1952 - The worst smog ever in London kills more than 4,000.
1955 - The AFL and CIO merge, with George Meany as president; a historic bus boycott begins in Montgomery, AL.
1957 - NYC becomes the first city to legislate against racial or religious discrimination in housing market (Fair Housing Practices Law).
1960 - Ghana cuts diplomatic relations with Belgium.
1967 - Benjamin Spock and Allen Ginsberg are arrested protesting the Vietnam War.
1972 - The Australia Labour party wins the parliamentary election/
1974 - In Tehran, Iran, an airport terminal roof collapses, killing 17; the final episode of "Monty Python's Flying Circus" airs on the BBC.
1975 - NASA launches the space vehicle S-196; it fails.
1977 - Egypt breaks off diplomatic relations with Syria, Libya, Algeria, Iraq and South Yemen.
1978 - Pioneer Venus-1 begins orbiting Venus; the European Union establishes the EMS (European Monetary System).
1979 - Irish premier Jack Lynch resigns.
1982 - Seattle University Baptist Church declares sanctuary for Central American refugees
1983 - A car bomb shatters a nine-story building in Beirut, killing 12.
1984 - French colonists kill 10 Kanaken in New Caledonia.
1988 - The Shuttle Atlantis launches the world's first nuclear-war-fighting satellite; A North Carolina federal grand jury indicts PTL founder Jim Bakker on fraud and conspiracy charges.
1989 - The French TGV train reaches a world record speed of 482.4 kph.
1990 - Former Noriega aide Luis del Cid pleads guilty; Salman Rushdie, author ("The Satanic Verses" - he was ordered to death by Iran for blasphemy), appears in public for the first time in two years.
1991 - Charles Keating, Jr. (Lincoln Savings and Loan fraud), is found guilty; the "New York Daily News" files for protection under Chapter 11.
1993 - Astronauts begin the repair of the Hubble telescope in space; Rafael Caldera is elected President of Venezuela.
1997 - STS-87 (Columbia 24) lands.

Birthdays
1661 - Robert Haley, earl of Oxford / English premier (1710-14)
1782 - Martin Van Buren, 8th U.S. President (1837-41)
1824 - Titian James Coffey, Attorney General
1826 - John Benjamin Sanborn, Union Brevet Major General
1839 - George Armstrong Custer, U.S. Major General (of Little Big Horn fame)
1861 - Armando V. Diaz, Italian marshal/minister of War (1922-24)
1863 - Paul P. Painlevé, French PM (1917, 1925) / mathematician
1896 - Willem F.M. Lampe, Dutch ambassador of the Dutch Antilles
1901 - Walter Elias Disney, animator (Mickey Mouse); Werner Heisenberg, German physicist (Nobel 1932)
1902 - (Steve James) Strom Thurmond (Senator-SC)
1903 - Cecil Frank Powell, British physicist, discovered pion (Nobel 1950)
1925 - Anastasio "Tachito" Somoza Debayle, President of Nicaragua (1967-79)
1927 - Rama IX (Bhumibol Adulyadej), King of Thailand (1946- )
1932 - Little Richard (Wayne Penniman), rocker (Tutti Frutti, Lucille)
1947 - Jugderdemidiin Gurragcha, first Mongolian space traveler (Soyuz-39)
1949 - Bruce E. Melnick, Commander USCG / astronaut (STS 41, STS 49)

Passings
1212 - Derek II of Are, Bishop of Utrecht (1197-1212)
1244 - Johanna of Constantinople, countess of Flanders (1205-44)
1355 - Jan III, duke of Brabant/Limburg
1560 - King François II of France (1559-60), at age 16
1594 - Gerardus Mercator, Flemish philosopher/cartographer
1791 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, composer
1870 - Alexandre Dumas writer (The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo)
1891 - Pedro II of Alcantara, Emperor of Brazil (1831-89)
1951 - "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, of baseball's black sox scandal
1963 - Herbert H. Lehman (Governor-NY)
1992 - Sergei Aleksandrovich Yemelyanov, Russian cosmonaut
1994 - Ronald Ridout, school textbook author

Reported Missing in Action
1965
Dibble, Morris F., US Army (NY); KIA in ground combat (same incident w/Eisenberger and Upner), body not recovered

Eisenberger, George J., US Army (OK); KIA in ground combat (same incident w/Dibble and Upner), body not recovered

Hyde, Jimmy Don, USN (OK); KIA, body not recovered

Upner, Edward C., US Army (AL); KIA in ground combat (same incident w/Dibble and Eisenberger), body not recovered

1966
Begley, Burris Nelson, USAF (KY); F105D shot down, remains ID'd December, 1993 (disputed)

Warren, Arthur Leonard, USAF (OH); RF101 shot down, remains returned September, 1986

1967
Russell, Donald Myrick, USAF (ME); F105D shot down, remains returned 1994 - ID'd June, 1996

1968
Berry, John A., US Army (CO); OH6A shot down (w/Evans), KIA, body not recovered

Evans, Billy K., Jr., US Army (VA); OH6A shot down (w/Berry), KIA, body not recovered

1969
Clark, John C. II, USAF (TX); F4E shot down (w/Harrold), remains returned November, 1997

Danielson, Benjamin F., USAF (MN); F4C shot down

Harrold, Patrick K., USAF (KS); F4E shot down (w/Clark), remains returned 1997

Labels: Headlines, History