| Seattle investors want Sonics
There is more private money. There are local investors. There are no tax hikes. There just might not be enough time to keep the SuperSonics in Seattle. A group of four local businessmen announced a proposal Thursday to buy the basketball team from its Oklahoma City-based ownership group and pay for half of a $300 million renovation of KeyArena. The offer is contingent on the sale of the Sonics or another NBA team to the group and passage of legislation by state lawmakers. It's the largest offer of private money to renovate the arena at Seattle Center thus far. "This particular announcement, we think, is a game-changer," said Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels at a news conference at his City Hall office. "We think the fact that local investors are willing to step up with the first 50 percent of the money to get the job done – as well as the incredible investment they will make to buy the team – changes the game." The proposal calls for $150 million from the four investors – Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, Seattle developer Matt Griffin, Costco CEO Jim Sinegal and wireless magnate John Stanton – that would contribute to arena improvements that directly benefit the team, such as club seating, suites and practice facilities.
Rotten to the Corps: A Question of Justice at Texas A&M
Sunrise was hours away when Zach Corcoran and three friends returned to The Exchange, an apartment complex for students in College Station. Zach and the others were drunk. The drinking had started at dinner, followed by more drinks and shots in the Northgate district, a strip of bars and restaurants across from Texas A&M University. The only sober person in the group was Leah Cook, who shared an apartment with Katherine Helle. The drinking continued at The Exchange. Leah and her boyfriend, Reid Ashton, argued in her bedroom. Zach sat in a love seat and slipped on a pair of Leah's sunglasses. Katherine stepped outside to make a phone call. About 3 a.m., Eddie Helle and his friend Steven Ramirez, both members of the Corps of Cadets, arrived at the apartment. Eddie grabbed a bar stool and sat down.
Genocide Deniers
The Combodan civil war resulted in the death of over three million people. The current US-led invasion of Iraq has resulted in the death of nearly two million people, and it still goes on. How does a historian choose to name some as holocaust, some as genocide,and some as collateral damage? Is it possible for historians to detach scholarly work from the emotions that are attached to these events? Bob, at 9:30 am EDT on October 16, 2007 .
Labor News Roundup
Eleven of the workers arrested for taking part in the May 1st event last year in Sanandaj, Iran, were sentenced to 91 days in prison and 10 strikes of the lash. Following widespread protests against these sentences by the workers concerned and the National Union of Dismissed and Unemployed Workers, the Appeal Court changed the prison sentences to monetary fines, but upheld the sentence of 10 lashes. So far, the lashing and fine sentences have been carried out in the case of three workers by the names of Seddigh Amjadi, Habibollah Kalekaani and Faares Gaviliaan. The only crime of these workers is having participated in the May Day ceremony in Sanandaj." (Infoshop News, 02/28/08) Iran: Labour activists face lashes and fines: The International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran (IASWI) writes: "The Committee in Defense of Mahmoud Salehi and the Union of Dismissed and Unemployed Workers report that the appeal court in the city of Sanandaj has sentenced 11 workers who had participated in a May Day 2007 event to 10 lashes and 200,000 toman each as a financial penalty.
Davenant boys celebrate badminton success
DAVENANT School's Year Eight badminton team have secured the County Team Championship after a 3-2 victory over favourites Colchester boys, writes James Randall. The team consisting of Tristan Taylor, Samuel Murray, Thomas Phillips, all 13, and Luke Pascoe, 14, (pictured) came from behind to claim the title. Team coach and former world champion Nora Perry said: "We have a lot going on here at the school where Badminton in concerned. "So this is a very important victory, and shows we have a very good batch of young boys coming through. "They are very keen and very competitive, they have done better than I expected them too." At two games to one down and tied at 20 points, the Davenant boys looked defeated, with Colchester needing just one point to claim the title.
Would You Like Wi-Fi With That?
If wireless Internet access is such a hot technology, why is it such a dud business? Wi-Fi hardware, which uses radio signals instead of cables to connect computers to the Net, is already in more than 10 million laptops. But try to make a buck selling connectivity. Starbucks charges up to $6 an hour for in-store T-Mobile access - not much more than a double venti Frappuccino with a raspberry shot. Though its wildly successful overpricing works for coffee, it's failing with Wi-Fi. Demand for the service averages fewer than two customers a day per store. .
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