| Neal's blog
In light of recent events it seems appropriate to take a look back at some memorable words spoken by a great man in 1963: I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
MORGAN: Awkward, unkempt and irreplaceable
This past Tuesday, 22 states held nominating contests to help decide the Democratic and Republican parties' presidential nominations. This coming Tuesday marks the birth of Abraham Lincoln. Time in between, and great admiration for the 16th president of the United States, has had me paging through biographies, searching the Internet, reading about the past and comparing it to the present. From what I've read, it was the Supreme Court setting back the clock on human rights with its Dred Scott decision and repeal of the Missouri Compromise that made Lincoln return to politics. That's rather noble, considering what inspires politicians today. In 1858, when the Illinois State Republican Convention nominated Lincoln to run against Stephen Douglas for the U.S.
Beefeater revamp lifts Whitbread
Leisure group Whitbread said its Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants have seen sales pick up despite an uncertain consumer outlook. The two chains' like-for-like sales of 0.8% for the 50 weeks to February 14 compared with the 0.4% reported in November. Whitbread, which has spent £45 million on an overhaul of its 129 Beefeaters, said it was gaining higher margins across its restaurants. The group's overall trading was spearheaded by its Premier Inn hotel chain, which enjoyed comparative sales growth of 10.5% over the period. The company, which also saw strong sales growth from its Costa Coffee chain, saw overall like-for-likes increase 5.7%. Shares rose almost 7% as investors welcomed the update. Chief executive Alan Parker said: "These results show that trading in our businesses has been resilient and we continue to perform well." Panmure Gordon analyst Douglas Jack held out hopes of more to come from the restaurant business following Whitbread's "strong" update.
Memoirs of an ex-Jihadi
He speaks of a peculiar void in the lives of Muslim teenagers growing up in mono-cultural ghettoes of Britain, reflecting on his own upbringing as the child of immigrants. What is it to be British? What unites us? Is it a pint at the local pub? Well, I dont fit in. Is it dating and the disposing of partners willy-nilly? Well, I still dont fit in. Husain embraced radical Islamism by first joining the Pakistan-based Jamaat-e-Islami, and then finally moving on to the Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT) during his college years. Indoctrination into these groups included reading books such as Sayed Qutbs Milestones and believing in the ultimate goal of a transnational Islamic caliphate, with a policy of jihad. His fellow group members introduced him to the word kaffir (non-believer). These were the same members who drove around illegally without the compulsory car insurance, simply because it was seen as supporting the kaffir economy. Some of his peers have gone on to become terrorists, including Majid Nawaz, the young Briton arrested in Alexandria in 2002 for attempting to reactivate the HT in Egypt (where the group is currently banned).
Ex-Unit 5 teacher pleads guilty to molesting second-graders
White could be sentenced in April to as many as 70 years in prison on the 10 counts in the two counties.White was in Urbana on Wednesday morning and admitted to eight counts involving nine students at the Thomas Paine School in Urbana. The 27-year-old faces 21 to 56 years in prison on those charges.White was in Bloomington later Wednesday to plead guilty to two counts of sexual abuse involving two girls at Colene Hoose Elementary School in Normal. He faces an additional six to 14 years for those charges.Champaign County State's Attorney Julia Rietz said after the crowded court hearing Wednesday morning that parents of the children were pleased with the outcome of the case and that their children would not be forced to testify against White.“First and foremost, this plea gives closure to these little girls and their families," Rietz said.McLean County First Assistant State's Attorney Kim Campbell declined to comment on the case until after White is sentenced.In the later hearing, White told McLean County Judge Charles Reynard he understood the McLean County sentence could be consecutive to the prison term he will receive in Champaign County.Under the terms of the plea agreement, White cannot receive probation.The deal spares White a jury trial that was scheduled to begin Monday in Decatur, where the trial on the Champaign County charges was moved because of extensive media attention.White answered “Yes, sir" each time Champaign County Judge Harry Clem asked if he understood the individual charge to which he was pleading guilty.“It was the hardest thing he's ever done in his life," defense lawyer Brett Olmstead later said in Bloomington of White's decision to plead guilty after two weeks of plea negotiations.The plea deal kept the children from having to testify and spared White the possibility of a life sentence.A statement read by Rietz on Wednesday detailed each incident that White admitted occurred in a secluded corner of his second-grade classroom with nine girls from August 2005 to December 2006.
Huskies hire Donatell
Willingham confirmed that he did first offer the job to UCLA's DeWayne Walker, and also said he talked to "a lot'' of candidates before settling on Donatell. Donatell said the rest of the defensive staff will remain intact, with Randy Hart staying at defensive line coach, Chris Tormey as linebackers coach and J.D. Williams as secondary coach. .
Britney Stays Put While Her Lawyers Go Back to Court
Jamie and Lynne visited their daughter at UCLA Medical Center on Saturday. Following the completion of her 72-hour psychiatric evaluation, it was decided that her time in the hospital will be extended for 14 more days. Even while Britney is away getting help, her legal matters are a mess as usual. Her lawyers were supposed to go to court with Kevin's attorneys today to discuss visitation rights, but the hearing was postponed. This afternoon, however, her divorce lawyers will be in the courtroom to try to get control of Britney's finances and medical decisions taken away from her father. Even though Britney is locked away, we're not surprised she is still making tons of headlines. .
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