Black bear attacks boy in Smokies; father also hurt

Bits:

A black bear repeatedly mauled an 8-year-old boy Monday evening near a popular motor trail on the outskirts of Gatlinburg, and an animal matching its description was later killed by park rangers.

The incident began about 7:30 p.m. when the boy, Evan Pala of Boca Raton, Fla., was playing in a creek about 300 yards from the trailhead of Rainbow Falls Trail, which is near the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Miller said.

Knox News via Instapundit

I live 100 yards from the terminus of Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. 12 Gauge is locked and loaded. Anyone want a black bear rug?

The Best Olympics Medal Count Site

Congrats to Yahoo! Sports for an awesome Olympics Medal Count page.

Clicking on the country gives the list of individual medals by event with the winner. Clicking on the event gives the final results of all contestants, and clicking on the winner sends you to their bio. Simple, elegant, and beautifully done.

I see Australia is in a three-way tie with France and Russia for fourth, but they have more Gold Medals than both. Excellent.

Iran Worried over Georgian Conflict…Tehran is concerned that the Iranian nuclear program may become a bargaining chip in resolving the question of South Ossetia.

In Iran, as in much of the world, the current conflict between Georgia and Russia is viewed as part of a bigger struggle between the West and Russia over influence in the Caucasus region.

Tehran sees Georgia as an important part of U.S. plans to increase its influence in the region — and fears that such a plan may affect them directly.

These concerns were reflected in an article published in Tabnak, owned by former Revolutionary Guards commander Mohsen Rezai. In an interview with Dr. Mehdi Senai, a politics lecturer at Tehran University, Senai said that Tehran’s nuclear program, and the international approach to resolve the dispute surrounding it, may become part of a wider agreement between the U.S. and Russia after the end of the conflict. What worries him is that “Russia’s capacity to confront the U.S. is limited.”

Iran is concerned that if Russia comes out looking bad in this conflict, it could have two negative repercussions for Tehran.

Pajamas Media

Medvedev orders ceasefire

Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian president, on Tuesday said he had given the order for Russian troops to ceasefire, ending hostilities with Georgia after a five day conflict over the breakaway enclave of South Ossetia.

“They have taken the decision to end the operation to force the Georgian authorities into peace” Mr Medvedev said during a meeting with his defence minister and army chief of staff. “The aim of our operation has been reached, the safety of our peace keepers and the civilian population has been restored…the aggressor has been punished”

Russian forces will continue active duties in the region despite the ceasefire, a senior Russian army official told Interfax.

”If we have received an order to cease fire, that does not mean that we will stop all action, in particular investigative (action), ” Anatoly Nogovitsyn, the deputy chief of the Russian armed forces said, according to an Interfax report.

“Russia is awaiting a reaction from Tbilisi to Medvedev’s order said Colonel Nogovitsyn. He said Russia would retaliate against any ‘provocation’ from the Georgian troops.

The news of the Russian ceasefire came as French President Nicolas Sarkozy, holder of the EU’s rotating presidency, arrived in Moscow in an attempt to mediate between Russia and Georgia.

Financial Times

Dmitry, puppet-boy while master is porking the his new bride, NO “the aggressor has” NOT “been punished”, but YOU will be. There is a point you will pass, you imperialist paranoid bastards, that will bring the dreams of mother Russia to an end, you having nukes will not assist you. The scenario could follow these lines:

Just as you blinked, (with a little back door dealing between JFK and Nikita) you will blink first, again. The next time, no back door deals. Check with your Americans allies within our country like, the State Department, The New Duranty York Times, I believe you will find, that U.S. missiles have been re-targeted. Shame really, as St. Petersburg and Moskva have such lovely architecture.

The Chechen’s, the Georgians and the Ukraine’s will love what is left, they may even pick through the rubble.

Wipe it off Vladimir, take a cold shower and think this through very carefully. Those U.S. missiles are geographically closer then you think. Dmitry, were I you, I’d have a serious eye to eye sitdown, with Brother Vlad.

Courtesy, a Friend

www.usawakeup.org/

Compelling.