Multiple Bombings Rock Mumbai!

There's a live blog at Telegraph UK, "Reports of at least 20 dead, over 100 injured."

And at New York Times, "3 Bomb Blasts Shake Central Mumbai":

MUMBAI, India — Three bomb blasts shook the city of Mumbai at the height of the evening rush hour on Wednesday, killing at least 20 people in what Indian officials called a coordinated terror attack on the country’s economic capital.

The explosions struck central locations in the city, including the crowded Dadar neighborhood; the Zaveri Bazaar, a well-known jewelry market; and near the Opera House, according to India’s Home Ministry, which said 113 people had been injured.

The attack was the first in Mumbai since militants from Pakistan mounted large-scale assaults on hotels, a train station and a Jewish community center in November 2008, killing more than 160 people.

No immediate claim of responsibility for the Wednesday bombings was reported. India’s home minister, P. Chidambaram, said at a news conference in New Delhi that terror investigation teams had been dispatched to the blast sites.

More at the link. Also, at Toronto's Globe and Mail, "Mumbai blasts a 'co-ordinated attack by terrorists': India's home minister."

Leiby Kletzky

He was killed on his "first day of walking home by himself."

See New York Times, "Hasidic Brooklyn Boy's Remains Found; Suspect in Custody":

The search for a missing 8-year-old Brooklyn boy ended early on Wednesday when investigators discovered what they believed to be his dismembered remains in a third-floor attic refrigerator of a Brooklyn man and in a trash bin on a street, the police said. The man, who made incriminating statements, was being questioned and was expected to be charged, the police said.

The grim discovery capped two days of intense searching for the boy, Leiby Kletzky, who had disappeared while on what was supposed to be a short walk between a Borough Park school and a meeting place with his parents on Monday. Police detectives searched around his neighborhood and used helicopters to find the boy, who was part of the Hasidic Jewish community. They recovered video that clearly showed the boy alive.

In the end, the inquiry led to 466 East Second Street, in Kensington, Brooklyn, the home of the suspect, Levi Aron, 35, who was taken into custody at 2:40 a.m., said Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly.

Mr. Kelly said that the boy was lost and apparently was trying to find his way when he encountered Mr. Aron; investigators said that after a conversation, the boy entered Mr. Aron’s vehicle, a 1990 Honda Accord.

More at that link above. And also, "Reaction to the Leiby Kletzky Killing." And at Memeorandum.

Idiot Islamist Keith Ellison Attacks Rep. Michele Bachmann as 'Anti-Women'

I can't believe how bad this sounds, and from a sitting congressman. Fox & Friends' Gretchen Carlson just lays into the dude:

Via Atlas Shrugs, "MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD CONGRESSMAN HAKIM "KEITH ELLISON" MUHAMMAD (D) IN ISLAMIC MISOGYNY ATTACK ON AMERICAN WOMEN, NAMELY MICHELE BACHMANN."

New York Broome County Clerk Resigns Over Same-Sex Marriage Law

She's probably had it up to here with the rim station freaks.

See New York Daily News, "N.Y. clerk Laura Fortusky resigns in protest of gay marriage; refused to sign same-sex licenses." Also at New Yorker's Family Research Foundation, "Barker Town Clerk Resigns, Rather Than Compromise Convictions."

And Forutsky's resignation letter is at New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, "First Town Clerk Announces Resignation in Light of Gay 'Marriage' Legislation":

“The Bible clearly teaches that God created marriage between male and female as a divine gift that preserves families and cultures. Since I love and follow Him, I cannot put my signature on something that is against God. Deuteronomy 10:12 says, ‘…What does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good.’”

“I would be compromising my moral conscience if I participated in the licensing procedure. Therefore, I will be resigning as of July 21. I wanted you to know my position as I understand the marriage law goes into effect on July 24.”

Also at New York Times: "Settled in Albany, Gay Marriage Draws Opposition."

Mitch McConnell Isn't Selling Out Republicans

There was a lot of fire and brimstone on the right in response to McConnel's comments, but check WSJ, "Debt-Limit Harakiri":

Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell said yesterday he's concluded that no deal to raise the debt ceiling in return for serious spending restraint is possible with President Obama, and who can blame him? We've never thought the debt ceiling was the best leverage for a showdown over the entitlement state, and now it looks like Mr. Obama is trying to use it as a way to blame the GOP for the lousy economy.

This may have been the President's strategy all along: Take the debt-limit talks behind closed doors, make major spending cuts seem possible in the early days, but then hammer Republicans publicly as the deadline nears for refusing to raise taxes on business and "the rich."

This would explain the President's newly discovered fondness for press conferences, which he has rarely held but now rolls out before negotiating sessions. It would also explain why Mr. Obama's tax demands have escalated as the August 2 deadline nears. Yesterday he played the Grandma Card, telling CBS that seniors may not get their August retirement checks. Next he'll send home the food inspectors and stop paying the troops.

The reality is that Mr. Obama is trying to present Republicans with a Hobson's choice: Either repudiate their campaign pledge by raising taxes, or take the blame for any economic turmoil and government shutdown as the U.S. nears a debt default. In the former case Mr. Obama takes the tax issue off the table and demoralizes the tea party for 2012, and in the latter he makes Republicans share the blame for 9.2% unemployment.

This is the political context in which to understand Mr. McConnell's proposal yesterday to force Mr. Obama to take ownership of any debt-limit increase. If the President still insists on a tax increase, then Republicans will walk away from the talks.

More at that top link, and see Fred Barnes, "Republicans Introduce Plan, Go On Offensive."

VIDEO: Israel's Female Combat Hummer Operators

From the IDF:

Update on Catherine Becker O.C. Spousal Penis Attack Case

AP has video:

And at Los Angeles Times, "Woman accused of cutting off husband's penis held on $1 million bail."

And NBC LA's report is excruciatingly detailed:

When officers arrived, they found the man tied to a bed and bleeding from the groin area. He told officers the woman had given him a drug in the dinner she had made for him.

Investigators said she tied him to the bed after he fell asleep. When he awoke, the woman grabbed his penis and cut it off with a 10-inch kitchen knife, according to police. She then threw it in the garbage disposal and turned on the disposal, police said.

The 51-year-old man was hospitalized at UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange. He was listed in serious condition. Pieces of the penis were taken to the hospital, but it remained unclear whether surgeons were able to reattach it.

PREVIOUSLY: "Garden Grove's Catherine Kieu Becker Accused of Cutting Off Husband's Penis and Putting It Down Garbage Disposal."

Ezra Levant Interviews Pamela Geller

Via Blazing Cat Fur:

National League Wins Baseball's Midsummer Classic

I tuned in a little late but caught Prince Fielder's home run. I didn't think that ball was gone.

At Los Angeles Times, "National League defeats American League, 5-1, in MLB All-Star Game":

How long has it been since the National League won consecutive All-Star games? The Arizona Diamondbacks did not exist the last time it happened.

However, with Prince Fielder launching a long home run on the Diamondbacks' home field and Roy Halladay setting the pitching tone with two perfect innings, the NL posted a 5-1 victory over the American League in Tuesday's All-Star game.

Fielder was selected as most valuable player of the All-Star game, the first Milwaukee Brewers player to win that honor. The victory secured home-field advantage for the NL entry in the World Series.

The Brewers, who acquired reliever Francisco Rodriguez from the New York Mets on Tuesday night, start the second half tied for first place in the NL Central.

"Everything is awesome right now," Fielder said.

O.C. Teenager Pleads Guilty in Facebook Feud That Escalated to Violence

Online debates can get pretty nasty. And around here people have crossed the line. I'm still getting threats on RACIST = REPSAC = CASPER'S blog.

That kind of craziness never turns out well. At O.C. Register, "Teen pleads guilty in Facebook stabbing."

SANTA ANA – A teenage boy from Laguna Beach has been sentenced to a year in jail after pleading guilty to stabbing a former classmate in a feud authorities say started on Facebook.

Michael Jason Wilson, 17, avoided a possible 15-year sentence if his case had gone to trial and he was convicted of felony aggravated assault against the victim and two of his friends.

Wilson pleaded guilty Monday to felony assault with a deadly weapon with a sentencing enhancement for inflicting great bodily harm.

As part of the plea agreement, two other felony counts of assault with the same sentencing enhancements were dismissed, according to court records.

*****

According to authorities, Wilson and a former high-school classmate had an ongoing rivalry through Facebook. The dispute included text messages and e-mails, though authorities did not disclose the nature of the argument.

Wilson agreed to meet his rival, identified only as 17-year-old Julian C., at his home. Julian C. brought along three friends who waited in a nearby car.

Wilson stabbed Julian C. in the stomach with a 12-inch knife and also slashed the hands and arms of two of Julian C.'s friends when they intervened and were able to take the knife away from Wilson, according to authorities. The third friend of Julian C. was not injured.

Crazy people.

NewsBusted: 'Casey Anthony found not guilty of murder'

Via Theo Spark:

Evelyn Taft, Political Scientist

I'm watching KCAL 9 while the CA-36 results come in, and things don't look like they're turning out too well for Craig Huey (here and here).

We'll, see. And even if Huey's cooked the night's not a total loss. I'm catching up on the local weather with KCAL's Evelyn Taft, and she's a political scientist:

A Bay Area native, Evelyn Taft first lived in Los Angeles while attending the Annenberg School of Journalism at the University of Southern California. While getting her Broadcast Journalism and Political Science degrees at USC, Evelyn forecasted the weather for Annenberg’s live newscast.

Janice Hahn Alleges GOP 'Voter Suppression Activities' in 36th Congressional Runoff — UPDATED!

At Los Angeles Times, "Vote-suppression complaints filed in testy congressional election."

The California Secretary of State's special election page is here (via Dave Weigel).

Polls close at 8:00pm. Updates throughout the night.

7:00pm PST: AoSHQ links. Thanks!

8:15 pm PST: Polls have closed. Should be getting some data shortly. Meanwhile, at Politico, "CA-36: Hahn, Huey fling mud up until the end."

8:32pm PST: Robert Stacy McCain has a huge election-night roundup: "CA-36: Special Election Night HQ."

8:48 pm PST: Some results coming in with 2.7 percent of the precinct vote counted: Hahn 54.2% and Huey 45.8%.

8:52pm PST: Just saw this at Zombie's, "Janice Hahn’s last-minute sleazeball maneuvers":

And now a Memeorandum thread.

11:30pm PST: At Reuters, "Democrat takes lead in California congressional race":

A Democratic Los Angeles city councilwoman took an early lead on Tuesday in a special election to fill the liberal-leaning California congressional seat vacated by Jane Harman.

Veteran City Councilwoman Janice Hahn, whose brother James once served as Los Angeles mayor, finished first in the May 17 open primary and was favored to win the runoff race in the state's heavily Democratic 36th congressional district.

A Republican businessman with Tea Party backing had looked for an upset victory over Hahn in the district, which runs along the southern Los Angeles County coast from San Pedro to Venice. But he was falling short in early results.

Hahn had 55.1 percent of the vote to 44.9 percent for Craig Huey, with 54 of 261 precincts reporting, according to figures released by the Los Angeles County Department of Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.

And check the County Recorder's numbers. Huey's done.

Spain's San Fermin Festival Goes Topless

At Astute Bloggers: "NSFW PHOTOS: THE RUNNING OF THE BOOBS, ER UM I MEAN BULLS."

And a streaker gets gored after running with the bulls:

PREVIOUSLY: "Running of the Bulls."

Casey Anthony to Go Into Disguise

At the clip is Bill O'Reilly's compelling exchange with Nancy Grace from last night:

Also at RCP: "Nancy Grace: 'Somewhere Out There, The Devil Is Dancing Tonight'."

And from London's Daily Mail, "'She doesn't get how much people hate her': Casey Anthony considering disguises and a fake name after release." And at Fox News, "Casey Anthony Reportedly Plans to Use False Name, Disguises Upon Release From Jail."

Mila Kunis GQ Photoshoot August 2011

At the video, Mila Kunis responds to the news of Sgt. Scott Moore's invitation to the Marine Corps Ball.

And at Gentlemen's Quarterly, "A GQ&A with Mila Kunis":

Also at GQ: "...And She's Funny, Too: Photos."

Garden Grove's Catherine Kieu Becker Accused of Cutting Off Husband's Penis and Putting It Down Garbage Disposal

This is not far from home.

I guess Catherine Becker wasn't gonna give her husband the chance of reconstructive surgery. John Wayne Bobbitt's severed penis was in reusable condition after wife Lorena took a knife to it:

"It was an intact penis, very cleanly cut," recalls Jim Sehn, the urological surgeon. "It was not crushed. It was not visibly soiled."

The story's at Los Angeles Times, "Woman accused of cutting off husband's penis said he 'deserved' it," and KTLA, "Penis Attack: Wife Cuts off Husband's Penis, Tosses it in Garbage Disposal."

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (KTLA) -- A woman is under arrest after police say she drugged her husband, cut off his penis and threw it into the garbage disposal.

Garden Grove police were sent to the home in the 14000 block of Flower Street around 9 p.m. Monday night after a woman called 911 for a medical emergency, according to Lt. Jeff Nightengale. When officers arrived, they found a man bleeding from the crotch area.

The woman, identified as Catherine Becker, 48, the victim's wife, had put an unknown type of poison and/or drug into her husband's food to make him sleepy, according to Nightengale. She then tied him to the bed. When he woke up, she cut off his penis with a knife, investigators said. She then tossed the penis in the garbage disposal and turned it on.

More at the link above.

Mrs. Becker is in police custody.

I'm interested to see the feminist response: Striking a slash against the patriarchy?

Izabel Goulart Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2011

Brazilian model Izabel Goulart at Sports Illustrated.

Lovely.

Who'd You Rather? Bill Maher Sexualizes Michelle Bachmann and Sarah Palin as 'MILFs' on 'Piers Morgan Tonight'

After being called a "teabagger" for 2 and a half years, I'm kinda inured to this stuff, but this is pretty crude.

At NewsBusters, "Bill Maher Calls Palin and Bachmann MILFs on CNN."

And Big Hollywood, "‘MILF’: How the MSM Uses Popular Culture To Do Their Dirty Work."

Taxes Upon Taxes Upon...

At WSJ:

So the fondest Washington hopes for a grand debt-limit deal have broken down over taxes. House Speaker John Boehner said late Saturday that he couldn't move ahead with a $4 trillion deal because President Obama was insisting on a $1 trillion tax increase, and the White House quickly denounced House Republicans for scuttling debt reduction and preventing "the very wealthiest and special interests from paying their fair share."

How dare Republicans not agree to break their campaign promises and raise taxes when the jobless rate is 9.2% and President Obama's economic recovery is in jeopardy?

We think Mr. Boehner is making the sensible choice. No one wants to reform the tax code more than we do, but passing a $1 trillion tax increase first on the promise of tax reform later is a political trap. If the President were really sincere about reform and a willingness to keep the top tax rate at or below 35%, he'd negotiate that at the same time he does a debt deal. Mr. Boehner will have a hard enough time getting any debt-limit increase through the House, much less one that raises tax rates.

Keep in mind that Mr. Obama has already signed the largest tax increase since 1993. While everyone focuses on the Bush tax rates that expire after 2012, other tax increases are already set to hit the economy thanks to the 2010 Affordable Care Act. As a refresher, here's a non-exhaustive list of ObamaCare's tax increases ...

Continue reading.

The New York Times wants folks to believe otherwise, calling for "additional sources of revenue," but that's a laugh, after 28 months and trillions later:

RELATED: From James Pethokoukis, "Goldman Sachs: Debt default is 'extremely unlikely'."