The Cleveland Bottled Water Party

That just doesn't have the ring of, "The Boston Tea Party", but it will have to do I supposed. The latest tempest in a water bottle, so to speak, is an advertisement for Fiji bottled water. Running in several national magazines, the ad reads, "The label says Fiji because it's not bottled in Cleveland". Which is catchy, I suppose. But it kind of ticked off Cleveland, as you might imagine.

CLEVELAND - It's Cleveland vs. Fiji in a war of water and words. Fiji Water, based in Los Angeles and a favorite of Hollywood celebrities, has angered Clevelanders with a new national advertisement that pokes fun at the city that's tried for decades to overcome a muddied reputation when it comes to h20.

"The label says Fiji because it's not bottled in Cleveland," says the full-page ad running in magazines such as Esquire.

After seeing the ad, public utilities director Julius Ciaccia ordered the bottled water tested.

The results: 6.31 micrograms of arsenic per liter in the Fiji bottle, said Cleveland water quality manager Maggie Rodgers. Cleveland tap water as well as bottled brands Aquafina, Dasani and Evian had no measurable arsenic.

"Before you take a cheap shot at somebody, know what you're talking about," said Cleveland water commissioner J. Christopher Nielson.

Fiji president Edward Cochran grew up near Cleveland. He said the ad was his idea and his hometown needs to lighten up.

"It is only a joke," he said. "We had to pick some town."

Cochran said Cleveland's tests were not independent and his company's analysis shows Fiji's arsenic levels never exceed 2 micrograms per liter.

Of course there is a bit of history regarding the Cuyahoga River which flows through Cleveland. This is from 1952:

But things have improved a bit since then. Still, I think Fiji hurt itself with the ad, given the arsenic levels the test indicated. Fiji and old lace, anyone?

Jelly Jam

The animal uprising took another strange turn this week when squadrons of jellyfish viciously attacked the cooling water intakes at the Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Shizuoka prefecture, Japan. The heaving mass of gelatinous monsters jammed up the intakes and caused the plant to reduce power.

"It's the first time we have had to lower power output because of jellyfish," a Chubu Electric Power Co. spokesman said.

The water intake at Chubu Electric's Hamaoka power plant in Shizuoka prefecture, about 150 km (90 miles) southwest of Tokyo, stopped automatically on Wednesday when the slippery customers got blocked in a filtering device.

Without enough seawater coming in to the cooling system, Chubu Electric had to lower the output of two of the reactors at the plant to 60-70 percent of capacity.

Output returned to normal by the evening after the company removed the jellyfish, the spokesman said.

And as if that wasn't enough to frighten you, more giant jellyfish are attacking the Japanese fishing industry!

Japan's fishing communities have been plagued by schools of giant jellyfish in recent years, prompting local governments to seek new ways to dispose of the problem.

Just wait until they send the whales against the intakes. That'll be ugly.

You’d Think They’d Learn

One thing Patterico has shown time and time again is that he knows how to read his site IP logs. This talent has led to several exposures of sock-puppetry which have been thoroughly publicized (*cough* Hiltzik). Yet some people seem to either not be able to remember Patterico's expertise or somehow think they won't get busted.

As it appears that it has happened again. Patterico has found evidence - on multiple blogs - of what very much appears to be sock-puppetry on the part of Mr. Glenn Greenwald.

Boy, we sure do have a dedicated Glenn Greenwald fan there.

Or should I say “fans”?

Because these comments are, after all, from three completely “different” people. Again: the first comment is from a guy named “Ellison.” And the second is from a different guy, named “Sam Mathews.” And the third is from a different guy still — one named “Wilson.”

But here’s the weird part: they all sound so very similar! All of these various fans of Glenn Greenwald seem very familiar with his curriculum vitae. And they seem to emphasize the same points. His New York Times best seller. His amazing success in just 9 months of blogging. The fact that Senators read from his blog during Senate hearings! The fact that he breaks stories that appear on the front pages of newspapers!

And here’s the very weirdest part of all: Ellison’s IP address is the very same IP address as that of one Glenn Greenwald.

The coincidences are . . . extraordinary.

But this is where I should really turn things over to Ace, who is blogging this amazing coincidence as we speak — and who has some relevant screenshots (one of which I just e-mailed to him).

Why, just compare the IP address in this Ace screenshot of a comment from “Ellison” to the IP address in this Patterico screenshot of a comment from one Glenn Greenwald.

They sure seem like the same IP address to me. And I’m guessing that the evidence will continue to roll in as the day goes on.

Dan? Jeff? Do you have anything to say?

Whereupon it is time to break out the world famous Magic-8 Ball Photography and Septic Service, Inc. photo and ask the pertinent question? Have you seen this Hiltzik Greenwald person?

UPDATE: Ace of Spades, Riehl World View, OTB, TRUA, Confederate Yankee, RedState,

Ethiopia Prepares To Enter Somalia

The AP headline says that Ethiopia is set to "invade" Somalia, but since the troops are going there at the request of the shaky Somalian interim government, that word doesn't apply. The Islamic "militia" that controls Southern Somalia is threatening to take the city that houses the interim government.

The militiamen, who hold most of southern Somalia, deployed hundreds of fighters outside the town where the largely powerless government is based and said they planned to seize it.

"We have the responsibility to defend the border and the Somali government. We will crush them," Ethiopia's Minister of Information, Berhan Hailu, told The Associated Press.

Seizing the town of Baidoa would give the Islamic militia — which the United States has linked to al-Qaida — the uncontested authority over most of Somalia.

Somali transitional President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed is allied with Ethiopia, and has asked for its support. Ethiopia has intervened militarily in Somalia in the past, and hundreds of Ethiopian troops have been spotted along the countries' border in recent weeks.

The Islamic "militia" has already shown the world what reasonable people they are by killing Somalis who watched World Cup soccer.

Bipartisan Support

The New York Times has an article about campaign contributions to the Lieberman campaign. It makes much of the fact that many of his donors usually favor Republicans (most are quite small donations, by the way). Now, none of this is unusual where a long-term office holder has broad bipartisan support. But it lets the NYT jump in more or less on Lamont's side by planting a bit of innuendo.

He is drawing financial support, not unexpectedly, from interest groups that typically gravitate to incumbents. Mr. Lamont has received no contributions from political action committees, something his campaign boasts about. Instead, Mr. Lamont’s largest contributor is himself: He has already spent $2.5 million of his own money, and yesterday announced that he would personally match every dollar donated to his campaign over the Internet.

Anyone looking for evidence of Mr. Lieberman’s bipartisan appeal can find it in his roster of recent contributors, which includes organizations that traditionally give more to Republicans. They include engineering and construction firms, some with contracts in Iraq. Those firms include Bechtel, Fluor International and Siemens, which support Republicans 64 to 70 percent of the time, according to data compiled by PoliticalMoneyLine, which tracks campaign and lobbying activities.

As I mentioned, it's not at all unusual for an incumbent to draw money from sources that may traditionally lean toward another party.

Mr. Lieberman sits on the Armed Services Committee and so would be expected to draw contributions from defense firms. Also, his senior position on the Environment and Public Works Committee partly explains the donation from the contractors’ association, said Stephen E. Sandherr, the group’s chief executive, who added that other factors come into play when backing a candidate.

“We also look at where they are on tax policy, regulatory policy, being responsive to our members in our states,” Mr. Sandherr said. “He listens. He’s very responsive to our industry.”

The Ohio law firm, Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, which supported both Mr. Lieberman, for re-election to his Senate seat, and George W. Bush in 2000, did not respond to a message yesterday. Neither did the Hardwood Federation, which represents the lumber industry and gives to Republicans about 80 percent of the time. That national group, whose president runs a hardwoods company in Connecticut, has contributed $7,500 to Mr. Lieberman.

“It doesn’t mean much to us,” said Sean Smith, Mr. Lieberman’s campaign manager. “If people give us money because they support us, that’s great. But Joe Lieberman is under no obligation to support them. We’re just trying to keep up with the money machine that Lamont is.”

Mr. Lieberman’s political action committee contributions were dwarfed by the donations he received from individuals, which accounted for just over $1 million between March and July.

I can't remember ever seeing an article that details who contributed to a primary campaign before. And this report presents, in great detail, who is giving and how much. Pretty low class on the part of the Times, I think.

UPDATE: And in a move sure to be greatly apprecieated by the Koz Kidz, Bill Clinton will be campaigning for Lieberman.

Undercover Work

A policewoman in New Zealand has given up her part-time job after her work was uncovered.

She was working part time as a hooker.

While prostitution is legal in New Zealand and police are allowed to take approved second jobs, a top officer said sex work and police work don't mix.

The policewoman had worked for a limited time as a prostitute in the northern city of Auckland before her clandestine activity was uncovered, police said. Her name and rank have not been made public.

Police media communications manager Jon Neilson said he understood the officer had taken up "secondary employment due to financial difficulties," but had not sought police approval to work in the sex industry.

She has been counseled over the matter, which "under police procedures …. amounts to a censure," said Deputy Police Commissioner Lyn Provost.

"I can assure the public that … this type of secondary employment would never be approved given that the type of work is inappropriate and incompatible with policing," Provost said.

A spokeswoman for the New Zealand Prostitutes' Collective said that depending on the brothel in which she worked, the police officer could have earned 500 New Zealand dollars (US$312) on a busy night.

I'm sure the brothel owners were sorry to see her go. Now they'll have to get their own set of handcuffs.

Hezbollah Continues Rocket Attacks

Hezbollah continued to rain rockets down on civilian targets in Northern Israel today.

A series of rocket attacks near Moshav Avivim on the Israeli-Lebanese border sent residents into bomb shelters on Thursday morning.

Five rockets also landed in the Upper Galilee in a renewed rocket assault from Hizbullah cells in south Lebanon. Five rockets also landed in Safed and two Katyushas fell near Tiberias. No casualties or damage were reported in any of the attacks.

Residents of Nahariya and the Galilee north of the Acre-Amiad road were instructed Thursday morning to remain indoors, inside fortified rooms or bomb shelters.

Earlier on Thursday morning, an alert siren sounded in Tiberias warning residents to remain in protected areas.

A warning siren in Haifa early Thursday appeared to be connected to rocket falls elsewhere, since there were no reports of rockets hitting the city.

Love Or Money

You decide. The Times of India reports on a lawsuit between two Indian families living in Massachusetts. In a case of matchmaking gone really bad. The Indian tradition of Matchmaking between families is still alive and well for families who have lived in the US for many years, even ones who have become naturalized citizens.

Last month, Vijai B. Pandey, 60, of Belchertown, Mass., filed a civil complaint in state court against Lallan and Kanti Giri of Boyds, Md., charging them with fraud, conspiracy and violation of civil rights, and claiming $200,000 in damages.

The Giris had apparently proposed marriage between the Pandeys' 37-year-old son, Pranjul, and their niece, Savita Giri, who resides in India. In a complaint dated June 7, Vijai Pandey said he and his wife had been looking for a wife for their son, whom he described as "extremely handsome and fair complexion[ed] and spoke English."

The Giris, he claims, assured him that their niece was "equally beautiful with fair complexion and a good match and spoke English."

The Pandeys then became "heavily involved by long telephone calls to India talking to Savita, her mother and sister." On Aug. 22, 2003, Lalita Pandey, his wife, and Pramila, his daughter, accompanied Pranjul on the visit to see the prospective bride.

"They were extremely shocked to find out that Savita was ugly with dark complexion and protruded bad teeth and couldn't speak English to carry on conversation," Pandey states in his complaint.

One wonders how the Pandleys became heavily involved in telephone calls and only discovered the lack of English conversational skills when Savita arrived. And were photographs not exchanged? Well, on with the story then.

According to the lawsuit, the families have known each other since 1979, when they had all lived to Amherst, Mass. Pandey said that he had, at that time, been a successful man, with an "in-ground pool, Lincoln car, etc.," and that Lallan Giri used to reverently call him "Bhagwan," which means God in Hindi.

Since then, however, the tables have turned. Lallan Giri was promoted to vice president of his company and started, according to Pandey, "boasting with his 'Beamer' (BMW)." Pandey, on the other hand, ended up filing for bankruptcy in July 2005.

In his lawsuit, Pandey asks the Giris for the compensation they promised, as well as additional compensation for willfully misleading him, for "uninvited, unannounced and imposing visits," and for causing Pandey "mental anguish, pain, fear, sleeplessness, anxiety, depression, and other difficulties and injuries." The Giris have apparently declined to compensate the Pandeys for their loss.

Ahem. We report. You figure it out for yourself.

India Banning Some Blogs

The Indian government has taken steps to ban certain blogs. Indian bloggers are not at all happy with the action.

The country's 153 internet service providers (ISP) have blocked 17 websites since last week on federal government orders.

Some of these sites belong to Google's Blogspot, a leading international web log hosting service.

Indian bloggers say that the decision is an attack on freedom of speech.

A number of them have started filing petitions under the country's new landmark freedom of information law which gives citizens the right to access information held by the government.

Bloggers say the ban has meant that people do not even have access to blogs like the one set up to help the relatives of the victims of the recent train bombings in Mumbai (Bombay), www.mumbaihelp.blogspot.com.

And reaction from the Times of India's own blog is very negative indeed.

Closer home, the paranoia that has set in the government in the aftermath of the criticism it received for policies like being soft on terror, foreign policy flip-flops and reservations has made it take this rather draconian step. It seems that the government instead of trying to listen to the voice of the people wants to gag it. This is not the first time that the Congress has tried to breach the freedom of speech. The Indira Gandhi government was notorious for what it did to the media during the emergency. With remnants of the ‘Young Turks’ of the time still very much present in the decision-making of this government, it is easy to see where the idea got its origins. The government fears that the communally loaded messages of some blogs are detrimental for the nation’s fragile communal harmony. While one must concede that there are a few rotten apples in every sphere, to typecast blogging, per se, as being anti national, is a bit over the top. If anything, blogging initiates healthy debate, which must be encouraged in every democracy. And if the government cannot stand the heat of what its citizens have to say, then they should do a rethink on their policies rather than go after the voice that has raised an opinion. The government has also pointed out to the banning of blogs that can cause damage to relations with other nations. The reality is that a blog is just an opinion; it does not have the power to alter the mood of a foreign nation to become hostile towards us. Rather it is politicians on both side of the divide that spread hatred towards our own citizens or other nations, a vitriolic Narendra Modi or Pravin Togadia, or a narrow minded Arjun Singh are more detrimental to this country than any blog.

The UPA with this order to gag the web and trying to alter the Broadcast Bill to make it more stringent towards the media is unnecessarily venturing into areas where it is bound to face tough resistance. This at a time when they should be more concerned about the nations’ security and the rising tensions within its own alliance. By trying to curb freedom of expression they might ultimately manage to antagonize the last remaining support for itself and thereby hasten the downfall of its very existence with out of sync policies like blocking blogging and gagging the media.

This is real censorship and India should lift this ban. (One thing I was very interested to learn because of this story breaking is that there are an estimated 50 million internet users in India. Wow - that is a low number for such a huge population.)