US Fires Continue

Fires continue to burn throughout the western and north central US, with thirty some fires currently burning hundreds of square miles.

In Washington, the Table Mountain and Wenatchee River fires have combined to be burning one hundred and eight square miles. Three thousand firefighters have been committed there to those two fires, alone. Some residents have been urged to evacuate. Chris Seelye of Darby, Montana, collapsed whilst fighting the Klone Fire, in Washington.

Wyoming has seen nearly a dozen fires popup in and around Yellowstone National Park, though none of them have grown very large. The biggest there is only four square miles. Parts of the park have been closed due to the extreme fire danger.

Focus on Idaho has turned on the Karney Fire, which has scorched nearly five hundred acres, and is nearing Boise. That fire is believed to have been deliberately set. Around two hundred firefighters, aided by aircraft, are battling the blaze there. The state is facing about a dozen other fires as well.

Efforts against the Sawtooth Fire, in Montana, have been aided by cooler weather and a drop in winds. The calmer settings have allowed for helicopters to join in the fight.

Anti America Protests Continue in Pakistan

Around five thousand protesters marched in Islamabad, Pakistan, as protests over an anti Muslim film, continue on Thursday.

Police and security forces blocked their routes as they aimed at the US, British, and French embassies.

The marchers responded by throwing stones, bottles, and other objects at the officers, who used tear gas in attempts to stop the assault.

As injuries on both sides occurred, the military was called in and their presence backed by tanks and helicopters was enough to make the mob withdraw.

Other protests were carried out throughout the country, though the capital's was by far the largest and most violent.

Remembering: JFK's Joint US Soviet Moon Proposal

On September 20, 1963 President John F. Kennedy shocked the world when he proposed a joint moon mission with the Soviet Union.

Hostilities were at one of the lowest points between the two countries and the interest in going to the moon was fading, as the price tag kept growing.

Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko met the proposal with gladness, but never committed to it.

In Washington the idea was met with hostility, the space race was one of the fore points of American policy.

The world would never find out what could have happened if the two powers had joined for the moon mission, as two months later, on November 22, JFK was assassinated.

His successor, Lyndon B Johnson would immediately scrap the idea, ensuring that the US went to the moon alone.

Tunisia Bans Protests Over French Cartoons

Interior Minister Ali Larayedh announced that the Tunisian government is banning protests over a satirical piece in a French publication.

The cartoons make fun of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and violence against French embassies is considered likely.

France has ordered all embassies and government buildings, throughout twenty countries, in the Middle East, North Africa, and southern Asia.

Both the French and Tunisian governments are worried about a repeat of what recently happened to American, German, and British buildings.

Toronto's Mayor Doesn't Know Where Detroit Is

US politicians aren't the only ones who fail at geography.

Whilst touring Chicago, Toronto Mayor Bob Ford wandered the streets, inviting people to visit Toronto. When he ran into a couple that had been to Canada, he naturally asked where.

They told him, "The part where you go across Detroit and the river." Ford responded, "Oh, Manitoba. Have you ever been to Winnipeg?"

For those unaware, Detroit is across from Windsor, Ontario. Winnipeg, Manitoba is a bit further west.

Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz told the CBC that, "I'll be very definitive in telling him where Winnipeg is and what a great city Winnipeg is." He then defended Ford saying, "You know what? I think I've seen presidents of the United States make blunders like that too, so he's not the first politician to do that."

Gay Marriage Bill Fails in Australia

Gay marriage in Australia took a huge hit, on Wednesday.

The House of Representatives voted 98-42 against a bill that would have allowed for homosexuals to marry in Australia.

Marriage is defined as being between a man and a woman, in the land down under.

The same law will be voted on by the Senate, next week, despite not passing the house.

Colorado Springs Police Looking for Bank Robbers

Police in Colorado Springs are searching for two robbery suspects.

Three people held up three banks over one hour, on Wednesday, in downtown Colorado Springs.

To help with their escape, they threw some of the money in front of the last bank, as a distraction.

One person is already in custody, after an arrest at the Antlers Hotel.

6 Million Americans Will be Fined Under Obamacare

Congressional budget analysts released information, on Wednesday, that to some is shocking, to others is what they've been saying for a while, and others yet had been denying.

Once Obamacare is fully in place, around six million Americans, mostly in the middle class, will be fined via a tax penalty, for not having had insurance.

In 2016, the average penalty would be $1,200.

The data is from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, who in 2010 had said that it would only be four million people.

This all the more shows the blatant lies of Obama, who promised that no single person making less than $200,000 a year, or couples who combine for $250,000, would see a tax increase.

Furthermore, the great majority of those fined, nearly eighty percent, would be people making less than $55,850 or less for an individual and $115,250 or less for a family of four.

Tal Abyad Crossing Captured by Syrian Rebels

Rebels seized a border crossing from Syrian government troops, along the Turkish border, on Wednesday.

Heavy fighting had been happening, over the Tal Abyad crossing, since early Tuesday.

This marks the third border crossing, with Turkey, that the rebels have captured.

The captures are key, as they secure supply routes for the rebels, especially for weapons.

It also gives them safe zones that they control.

Nationally Respected Arizona Sheriff Dead

Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever died unexpectedly last night. According to reports, Sheriff Dever was involved in a single car accident near Williams, Arizona in Coconino County at around 7pm on September 18, 2012.

Sheriff Dever, though a local county sheriff, had national level attention. As sheriff of the border county where rancher Robert Krentz was assassinated by a drug and human trafficking cartel, Dever was among those conservative law enforcement leaders to support several landmark laws in Arizona. Among those laws were the controversial SB1070, the Arizona law that requires local police to enforce federal immigration laws, and Arizona's state law that removed the requirement for a permit to carry a concealed firearm.

Other key events Sheriff Dever's leadership impacted greatly include the 2011 Monument Fire that consumed Palominas, half of Hereford, much of the Coronado National Forest, and several small towns between Sierra Vista and the Mexican border.


The Official Cochise County Sheriff's Office  press release:

From the Sheriff's Office

It is with deep sadness and regret that the Cochise County Sheriff's Office must advise the following:

Sheriff Larry Dever was involved in a one vehicle accident near the town of Williams on Tuesday September 18, 2012 at approximately 7:00 pm. As a result of this accident Sheriff Dever was fatally wounded and did not survive. The Coconino County Sheriff's Office is in charge of the investigation.

The Dever family is aware that many will want to make contact with the family to express their condolences, however, they request that no calls be made to them at their personal residence. The Cochise County Sheriff's Office will relay all messages to the family directly. God bless the Dever family.

Condolences can be added to the Sheriff's Office Facebook page:

Please direct all calls, cards, etc to the Cochise County Sheriff's Office:

             205 N Judd Dr

                      Bisbee AZ 85603

Phone	(520) 432-9500
Email	=   Sheriff-Tips@cochise.az.gov
Website

 Original article and personal reflections posted at Mental Aikido. .