| JEFF WOLF: NASCAR deserves slap for decision at Fontana
When a driver runs afoul of NASCAR's laws, he is summoned to its rolling traffic court parked in the infield where one-sided justice often is handed down. When Casey Mears arrives at Las Vegas Motor Speedway today for Sprint Cup qualifying and practice, he should order NASCAR officials to his hauler and give them a dose of their judicial medicine. Mears could have been killed or seriously injured after NASCAR allowed racing to resume Sunday at the rain-plagued event in Fontana, Calif. On the 22nd lap, Mears drove over water on the track and slid into the outside guardwall before his car was turned on its side when hit by another driver, whose car burst into flames. Fortunately, neither driver was injured. .
Beijing's Water Cube welcomes first head of state visitor
BEIJING, Feb. 29 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua toured China's National Aquatic Center, also known as the Water Cube, on Friday, becoming the first head of state to visit the flagship Olympic venue for water events. "I'm impressed by the engineering achievements that the Water Cube has made," said Yar'Adua after his visit. "I think all the athletes participating in the Beijing Olympic Games will have the same feeling." Four and a half years in construction, the Water Cube with bubble-like exterior was completed on Jan. 28. Previously a chemistry teacher, Yar'Adua was interested in the filtration methods and was told it uses active carbon to filter the water instead of chemicals. Later Yar'Adua was given an introduction to the National Stadium, or the Bird's Net.
Port Angeles man accused of Craigslist scam
Police have arrested a Port Angeles man for stealing thousands from users of the Web site Craigslist.org. Investigators said the man used bad checks to buy diamond rings on the site, scamming a number of victims from Seattle to Everett. It all began with one engagement ring. A Snoqualmie man posted an ad on Craigslist, asking for $5,400 for the ring. Police say the Port Angeles man saw the posting as an opportunity to cash in. "He portrayed himself as a jewelry broker from Elegance Jewelry Design and so the victim met with him (and) they looked at the ring through a jewelry glass," said Rebecca Munson with the Snoqualmie Police Department. The two struck a deal at $5,200 and the suspect wrote the seller a business check.
Will 'Amnesty' Sink McCain?
The perennial controversy over what to call McCain's amnesty is silly. Every program in the world that has allowed illegal immigrants to stay has been called an "amnesty." McCain himself called it "amnesty" as recently as May 2003, when he told the Tucson Citizen "I think we can set up a program where amnesty is extended to a certain number of people who are eligible … Amnesty has to be an important part ..." But once the focus-group results were in, "amnesty" became a four-letter word. ...[snip] Real Straight Talk would be to say "Sure, it's an amnesty, but we don't really have any choice" ... P.S.: The McCain, post-focus-group argument is that it can't be "amnesty" if it has some requirements--e.g., to pay a fine, learn English, etc. But it turns out that Ronald Reagan's 1986 "comprehensive" reform, which he and everyone else called an "amnesty," had requirements too, including payment of fees.
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