News 2008-07-04 Andanh.com

Colombia rescue hinged on rebel disarray, payback Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:43:58 PDT
The plan was nothing if not audacious: A turncoat persuades rebels to bring together their most prized hostages and march them 90 miles through Colombia's wilderness. A month later, disguised commandos primed with acting lessons land in a helicopter and trick...

YouTube ordered to hand over viewing data Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:28:26 PDT
In a ruling that could have serious privacy implications, a federal judge has ruled that popular Internet video site YouTube must hand over details about what people watch online. The decision filed Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Louis L. Stanton in New...

Fire near Big Sur burns on as fire crews short Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:28:15 PDT
The fire that has devoured 64,305 acres near Big Sur showed no signs of letting up on Thursday - destroying three homes as residents voiced frustration that the 12-day-old blaze hasn't been contained. State officials ordered the evacuation of residents along...

Inspired by music and hoping to walk again Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:28:02 PDT
Christopher Rodriguez leaned forward in his wheelchair, pulled up his pants leg and stared at his knee. Almost imperceptibly, his kneecap moved, shifting slightly up and down. Christopher could move his leg. That small movement, which he demonstrated to a...

Obama says Iraq trip could refine his policy Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:46:54 PDT
Democrat Barack Obama struggled Thursday to explain how his upcoming trip to Iraq might refine, but not basically alter, his promise to quickly remove U.S. combat troops from the war. A dustup over war policy _ one of the main issues separating the Illinois...

Mich., Ohio storms bring flooding, power outages Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:35:41 PDT
Severe thunderstorms swept across parts of Michigan, flooding streets and cutting power to many residents. Thousands were still without power Thursday night, and Jackson-based CMS Energy Corp. said it could take until Saturday or Sunday to restore electricity...

Escaped Honduran juvenile crack dealer turns up in San Francisco Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:31:24 PDT
One of the eight Honduran juvenile crack dealers who fled from a San Bernardino County group home after being put there by San Francisco officials to shield them from deportation has been arrested back in the city, authorities said Thursday. "He is in our...

S.F. reversal means more juvvies detained longer Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:51:15 PDT
The population of San Francisco's juvenile hall is likely to spike now that the city has reversed its policy of shielding juvenile illegal immigrants convicted of felonies from federal immigration officials, city officials said today. And the undocumented...

Military: Freed American hostages in good shape Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:45:39 PDT
Three U.S. hostages rescued from Colombian rebels after more than five years in captivity are in good condition and learning how to live a normal life again, military officials said Thursday. The three U.S. military contractors _ Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes...

Off-duty Fremont cop charged in post-concert beating Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:31:10 PDT
An off-duty Fremont police officer has been charged with seven misdemeanors in connection with an alleged drunken attack on an off-duty Richmond firefighter last month after a country music concert in San Francisco, prosecutors said today. Nicholas Maurer,...

Police seek DVC arsonist Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:21:07 PDT
Pleasant Hill police released pictures today of a man suspected of burning down the police building at Diablo Valley College and are asking for the public's help in identifying him. The man set several fires about 2:25 a.m. June 23 at the police services...

Greenhouse gases a threat Pacific Ocean life, scientists say Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:30:54 PDT
Ocean waters welling up from the depths along the Pacific Coast from Canada to Mexico are threatening a wide variety of marine organisms as carbon dioxide, the major greenhouse gas, saturates the water and increases its corrosive acidity, government...

Pentagon extends tour of Marines in Afghanistan Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:16:05 PDT
The Pentagon has extended the tour of 2,200 Marines in Afghanistan, after insisting for months the unit would come home on time. The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is doing combat operations in the volatile south, will stay an extra 30 days and come...

Colombian hostages say life grew more dire Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:23:58 PDT
A meal was rice and beans. Bed was the ground under a patched plastic tarp. They bathed in rivers, and when they weren't chained by the neck to trees, they were forced on long marches to new hideouts under the jungle canopy. Hostages freed in a daring...

Coastside man whose sons died in house fire gets 3 years in prison Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:09:07 PDT
A man was sentenced to three years in state prison today on reduced charges after he was initially accused of murdering his two young sons by intentionally setting their house on fire on the San Mateo County coast in 2004. Charles Schuttloffel, 37, of San...

200 fearful Mugabe foes seek refuge at US Embassy Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:30:44 PDT
Some 200 opposition supporters crowded outside the U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe on Thursday, appealing for protection amid new reports of violence aimed at dissenters against the heavy-handed rule of President Robert Mugabe. Activists did get some good news: Two...

Air cargo firm was threatened before plane caught fire at SFO Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT
An air cargo company received a threat less than a week before one of its cargo jets caught fire at San Francisco International Airport, federal officials said today. ABX Air, a contractor for DHL, received a threat against an unspecified aircraft within a...

Firefighters gain ground on fire near Yucaipa Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:46:54 PDT
A brush fire broke out on a ridge in the San Bernardino National Forest on Thursday and grew to at least 250 acres before firefighters gained the upper hand. The fire moved up a ridge and away from homes located about a mile away. It was 15 percent contained,...

St. Luke's Hospital should be rebuilt, key panel says Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:56:06 PDT
St. Luke's Hospital, a venerable San Francisco institution for more than a century, is facing new life after teetering on the brink of closure as a full-scale medical facility. This week, a special panel concluded four months of investigation by unanimously...

Martinez police swarm across street to make arrests Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:04:29 PDT
A tip for parolees: Don't conduct drug deals when the cops are right across the street and parole agents are in town. Two parolees learned that lesson the hard way when officers descended on a Martinez motel and flushed them out, police said today. "We just...

Fourth of July Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT
Friday, July 4 Federal, state courts and offices ClosedCity and county offices ClosedBanks, savings institutions ClosedPost offices ClosedSchools ClosedStoresSome openPublic transit-- BART, MuniSunday schedule, with reroutes and extra trains for fireworks and...

S.F.: Stockton Street Tunnel lights out, again Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT
WHAT'S NOT WORKING - AGAIN Lights awry in S.F. tunnel: Tuesday afternoon, history repeated itself in San Francisco's Stockton Street Tunnel. As in the spring, an errant vehicle knocked out the conduit that helps power the tunnel's southern lights. As in the...

Lincecum defies jinx: 'SI cover kid' earns 10th win Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:48:43 PDT
You really had to see Tim Lincecum, Sports Illustrated cover boy and potential All-Star Game starter, before he pitched Thursday. He plopped his wiry body inside a small wheeled laundry cart, his knees up against his chest, as he chatted with Matt Cain and...

Track & Field trials: 400 shocker - Merritt beats Wariner Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:42:12 PDT
Ore. - Jeremy Wariner isn't invincible anymore - a point LaShawn Merritt proved once again Thursday night. Merritt pulled his second upset of the year over the world's supposed fastest 400-meter runner, pulling away from Wariner in the final 150 meters to...

A's pitchers staying stingy; Duchscherer, Street shut down White Sox Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:42:11 PDT
To appreciate how smoothly and effectively Justin Duchscherer has converted from reliever to starter, consider that his stats resemble those of the dead-ball era. In other words, when he's on the mound, runs are extremely rare. Just like in the pre-Babe Ruth...

Giants notes: 25 years later, Righetti relives his no-hitter Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:56:50 PDT
Twenty-five years ago today, Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles had pink eye. You could look it up, although Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti does not have to. He knows, because he and Nettles sat in the home dugout at Yankee Stadium late in their July 4,...

A's notes: 'Iron man' taking time off to heal hamstring Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:47:42 PDT
One of the most refreshing A's statistics through 84 games was Bobby Crosby's starts: 84. The A's played their 85th game Thursday night, and Crosby wasn't in it. The shortstop strained his left hamstring Wednesday in Anaheim and is taking time off to heal....

Wimbledon: Every sister for herself Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:21:49 PDT
The Wimbledon women's finalists are best friends, bound for life in mutual affection. They are a doubles team, still alive in the tournament. They share the same flat near the Wimbledon village. Nothing in this world could get either to say one bad word about...

Maggette now is person of interest Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:19:12 PDT
With Gilbert Arenas off the market and Elton Brand no closer to Oakland, the Warriors headed into the holiday weekend sorting through contingency plans. Golden State has reached out to forward Corey Maggette, another Clippers free agent, according to two...

Swimming trials notes: Swimmers learning to tank the pressure of elite competition Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:01:44 PDT
Dara Torres walked onto the deck Thursday morning for her first swim, the 100-meter freestyle prelims. "Wow, look how nervous she is," said a reporter who was once a high-level swimmer. To me, Torres, veteran of four Olympics and making a bold comeback at 41,...

Starting grid Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:01:44 PDT
NASCAR SPRINT CUP Coke Zero 400 Site: Daytona Beach, Fla. Schedule: Today, qualifying 1 p.m., Speed Channel; Saturday, race 5 p.m., TNT Track: Daytona International Speedway (tri-oval, 2.5 miles, 31 degrees banking in turns) Race distance: 400 miles, 160 laps...

A's On Deck Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:01:44 PDT
TODAY Opponent: At White Sox Time: 4:05 p.m. TV: CSNBA Pitchers: Blanton (4-11) vs. Buehrle (6-6) SATURDAY Opponent: At White Sox Time: 4:05 p.m. TV: Channel: 36 Pitchers: Smith (5-6) vs. Floyd (9-4) SUNDAY Opponent: At White Sox Time: 11:05 a.m. TV: WGN...

Giants On Deck Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:01:44 PDT
TODAY Opponent: Dodgers Time: 1:05 p.m. TV: CSNBA Pitchers: Lowe (5-8) vs. Sanchez (8-4) SATURDAY Opponent: Dodgers Time: 6:05 p.m. TV: CSNBA Pitchers: Park (4-2) vs. Zito (3-12) SUNDAY Opponent: Dodgers Time: 1:05 p.m. TV: CSNBA Pitchers: Stults (2-1) vs....

Wimbledon notes: Federer-Safin match stirs memories of a classic Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:01:44 PDT
, England - It's rare that a tennis match lingers in the memory, at least in any detail. The mind drifts back to John McEnroe-Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors-Aaron Krickstein, Andre Agassi-James Blake, to name a few. Roger Federer and Marat Safin, who meet today in...

Cycling boss anticipates Tour de France to be fairly clean Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:01:44 PDT
Switzerland - The head of cycling's world governing body believes it will take more than one scandal-free Tour de France to convince the public that the sport has beaten its doping problems. "This year's Tour probably will go down as one of the cleanest on...

Steve Marino takes 1-shot lead at Congressional Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:28:41 PDT
Steve Marino used to consider it a treat the few times he played Congressional as a teenager. It was a thrill on Thursday to play bogey-free in the first round of the AT&T National and shoot 5-under 65 for a one-shot lead. Marino, who grew up a half-hour away...

Hansen fails to make Olympics in 200 breast Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:59:38 PDT
Brendan Hansen clung to the lane rope, glaring at the scoreboard. No matter how long he stared, the shocking result just wouldn't go away. He wasn't first _ or even second. He won't be swimming one of his signature events at the Beijing Olympics. In the first...

Howell, Love among first in PGA to have drug tests Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:24:34 PDT
In the 237 times Charles Howell III has teed it up on the PGA Tour, he never had a round end like Thursday at the AT&T National. After signing for an even-par 70, he was handed a pink slip. Howell was among the first players chosen for testing under the tour'...

Sharks sign veteran defenseman Rob Blake Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:29:12 PDT
Rob Blake is heading up the California coast, hoping to end his stellar NHL career with a shot at another Stanley Cup title in San Jose. The veteran defenseman signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Sharks on Friday, leaving Pacific Division rival...

All-Williams final at Wimbledon; 1st since 2003 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:37:01 PDT
A spot in her seventh Wimbledon final already secured, Venus Williams headed back to Centre Court to catch the end of the next match. Scouting? Not really. More like rooting. And when Thursday's second semifinal ended, Williams stood, smiling and applauding...

Bruce Jenkins from Wimbledon Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:03:51 PDT
Each morning, Bruce Jenkins offers new observations and thoughts from Wimbledon for SFGate readers. They were flexing all over the United Kingdom this week. They were all Andy Murray, king of Scots, revealing a wiry bicep in the wake of his dramatic, five-set...

Nadal truly is the life of this party Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT
We dance the flamenco tonight. We toast Fernando Torres, the Spanish soccer team and the great Rafael Nadal. We are far, far away from American men's tennis and a women's final certain to please only the Williams family. We have passion, conflict and that...

WIMBLEDON NOTEBOOK / Williams sisters will get contrasts vs. Dementieva, Zheng in semis Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT
Two women stand before the Williams sisters in their quest to play each other in the Wimbledon final. A pair of more contrasting opponents hardly could be imagined. China's Zheng Jie, who plays Serena in the semifinals today, stands 5-foot-4 but has developed...

Pens lose Hossa, but re-sign Malkin Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT
Marian Hossa could have gotten a multiyear deal for big money and a smaller chance at an elusive Stanley Cup ring. One year in Hockeytown turned out to be a much better offer. Hossa, one of the top forwards available on the NHL free-agent market, agreed to...

U.S. TRACK AND FIELD TRIALS / Eugene proving ideal scene for pre-Beijing highlights Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT
At the halfway point of the U.S. Olympic track and field trials, we are seeing the sport at its best. This is the fourth time Hayward Field has hosted the Olympic trials and the 2008 version is benefiting from a massive influx of money from Nike, the global...

Phelps moves along his Beijing 8-track Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT
The pieces of the Michael Phelps Olympics game plan are falling into place like dabs of paint on the canvas of a master. Showing not the slightest sign of weakness, fatigue or pressure, Phelps won the 200-meter butterfly Wednesday evening, one of the least-...

Molina takes a rest, but it's only temporary Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT
Bengie Molina wasn't in the Giants' starting lineup Wednesday for the first time in more than a week, but manager Bruce Bochy said the catcher's absence doesn't foreshadow a post-All-Star-Break trend. Molina has started 69 of the Giants' 85 games, and...

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT
TODAY Opponent: Cubs Time: 4:05 p.m. TV: CSNBA Pitchers: Gallagher (3-3) vs. Lincecum (9-1) FRIDAY Opponent: Dodgers Time: 1:05 p.m. TV: CSNBA Pitchers: Lowe (5-8) vs. Sanchez (8-4) SATURDAY Opponent: Dodgers Time: 6:05 p.m. TV: CSNBA Pitchers: Stults (2-1)...

NATIONAL LEAGUE / Kuroda sterling coming off DL Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT
Hiroki Kuroda threw seven shutout innings after coming off the disabled list, and Jeff Kent had a pair of RBI doubles to lead the Dodgers to a 4-0 win at Houston on Wednesday night. Kuroda allowed five hits with one strikeout, looking strong in his first...

AMERICAN LEAGUE / Rays complete sweep of Boston Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PDT
Evan Longoria went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs as Tampa Bay beat visiting Boston 7-6 on Wednesday night to complete its second three-game sweep of the World Series champions this season. The Rays improved the best record in baseball to 52-32, rallying...

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