Jonathan Francis Sterner Lemnitzer

National: Woman Receives Huge Fine in Court

Summary: Jammie Thomas, a 32 year old woman from Minnesota has been
fined $222,000 for sharing 24 songs online, a cost of $9,250 per song. She could
have been fined millions of dollars fro allegedly sharing over 1,000 songs. She is the
first person accused of illegal file-sharing to fight the case in court. Millions of
people share songs illegally and only a fraction of them are prosecuting, but those
who are prosecuted face a stiff penalty.

Opinion: Considering it's known Thomas has been sharing over 1,000 songs and
yet she is only be charged for 24 is miracle for her, if she was charged for every
song she would go bankrupt for life. I think the music industry has a right to
prosecute people who download illegally including me i have downloaded thousands
of songs, I don't like that the fines are so stiff, but there are ways to do it without
getting caught and the fact that so many people do it lessens the risk of being singled out.
The music industry should take the hint that people are tired of spending tons
of money when its available for free.

International: Spain Arrests Leaders of Basque Group

Summary: The Spanish government said it had arrested 22 people in the town
of Segura, in Spain's northern Basque region. The arrested allegedly make up the
entire leadership of Batasuna a banned Basque separatist party. In recent months
the Spanish government has cracked down on the group arresting key members and
the former leader. The government says the party is a front for the Basque
terrorist group Eta. Earlier this year the Eta called off a 15 month ceasefire, the
group is blamed for the deaths of at least 800 people in a 40 year campaign to
create a Basque homeland.

Opinion: If the party really is just a front for the Eta than I think it is a good
thing the leadership was arrested, however I am not sure how conclusive the
evidence is which links Batasuna to the Eta separatists. It is very possible the
Spanish government would rather not have a party which supports Basque
independence and would move to outlaw the party on those grounds alone who
knows.

International: Elder Statesmen Condemn Sudanese Government

Summary: The visiting group of senior diplomats dubbed "The Elders" including
Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter, and Nelson Mandela's wife, harshly criticized
the Sudanese governments role in the genocide taking place in Darfur. The diplomats
have been meeting with regional and national leaders in an attempt to create a
productive dialog and end the years of killing which have left over 200,000 people
dead and has displaced more than 2.5 million people.

Opinion: The situation in Darfur is tragic and it serves as a harsh reminder
of the failure of the international community to act swiftly. The crisis in Darfur
has gone on and on despite media attention and pleas for help. It has taken the UN
years so approve sending a peacekeeping force and who knows when the boots will be
on the ground. In the meantime the US is two involved in Iraq and Afghanistan
to have much impact on the situation and the the government in Khartoum is
being bolstered by oil exports mainly to China.

National: Ky. Officials sue OxyContin makers

Summary: Ky Attorney General Greg Stumbo and Pike County officials filed
a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma L.P. the makers of the popular painkiller. The
lawsuit seeks reimbursement for costs incurred by drug treatment plans, law enforcemnet,
and prescription payment through Medicaid and Ky's own medical program. The
makers of the drug said they would vigorously fight the charges in court and that they
expect to prevail.

Opinion: Oxycontin is one of the strongest painkillers ever made, it is also
very addictive, combined it is a perfect recipe for abuse. The company has
admitted it pressured doctors to over prescribe the drug and downplayed it's
addictive qualities, by revealing that the company shares responsibility in the
deaths, addiction, and crimes caused by the drug and must be held responsible.d