February 14, 2008 The free-content news source that you can write! Page 1

Top Stories Wikipedia Current Events International Space Station. The Space Station's Nitrogen Tank Former Major League Baseball Assembly (NTA), was successfully pitcher Roger Clemens testifies to replaced with a new one, launched the United States House aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis, Committee on Oversight and which is currently visiting the Government Reform regarding station, on mission STS-122. The performance enhancing drugs. old tank will be returned to Earth •The Iraqi Parliament adopts an aboard the Shuttle. The NTA forms accord on the budget, detainees part of the Space Station's cooling Australian Parliament and federalism, setting provincial system. apologises to the Stolen elections for late 2008. Generations The spacewalk was successful, and •The Swedish government rejects the primary task of changing the Billy West, voice of Ren and the Nord Stream underwater tank was completed ahead of Stimpy, Futurama, on the natural gas pipeline from Russia schedule, allowing the astronauts rough start that shaped his to Germany. to perform several secondary life •Hezbollah commander Imad tasks, which included the From the hands of an alcoholic Mugniyah is killed by a bomb installation of thermal covers on abusive father to battling drugs to attack in Damascus, Syria. the newly installed Columbus creating Ren and module, and inspection of •Prime Minister Kevin Rudd issues Stimpy, Philip Fry, micrometeoroid shields on the a formal apology to the and some of the most Destiny module. memorable characters Indigenous Stolen Generation on behalf of the Parliament of on television, Billy American astronaut Rex Walheim Australia. West has come a long and German astronaut Hans way in life. In an •Ch K-Run's Park Me In First, Schlegel, both of the STS-122 unflinchingly candid a.k.a. Uno wins Best in Show at crew, left the ISS Quest airlock at interview, David Shankbone and the Westminster Kennel Club Dog 14:27 GMT, and re-entered it at West discuss his journey. Show, the first beagle to win the 21:12, after six hours and 45 show. minutes of extra-vehicular activity. This is the 103rd spacewalk to be Featured story •An explosion in Vancouver, made as part of the International British Columbia destroys two 'Top Model' winner Jaslene Space Station programme, and the restaurants. Police confirmed Gonzalez on her career and second of three planned for the explosion was the result of arson, being a Latina role model STS-122 mission. Wikinews talks with the fire was set inside the taco restaurant and an accelerant set America's Next Top Meanwhile, NASA have announced off the explosion. Model's first Puerto that the STS-122 mission has been Rican winner, Jaslene extended by one day. Landing is Gonzalez, about her Astronauts replace ISS now scheduled for next childhood, what makes nitrogen tank in spacewalk Wednesday, at 13:59 GMT. The her a strong individual, Two astronauts have performed a extension will give the astronauts and what television show her spacewalk, or EVA, to replace a extra time to finish activating the abuela would want her to go on. depleted nitrogen tank in the Columbus module, a process which Integrated Truss Structure of the has been delayed due to computer

If you would like to write, publish or edit articles, visit en .wikinews.org Thursday, February 14, 2008 Wikinews Page 2 problems aboard the module. freedom of the citizens who are freedoms we can reinstall in responsible for their actions. This America the faster we will grow. Wikinews interviews U.S. is guaranteed by the constitution The smaller the government Libertarian presidential and made possible by the rule of involvement in business the better candidate Bob Jackson law and limited government. The business will produce. I would Wikinews held an exclusive government must be returned to propose to redefine the tax system interview with Bob Jackson, one of the people and to the authority as it is a barrier to personal and the candidates for the Libertarian granted in the constitution. I truly economic growth. With a smaller Party nomination for the 2008 U.S. believe that, with the help of the government a tax system like the presidential election. people, I have the background and "Fair Tax" would be great for ability to guide a transition to expanded economic success. Jackson, an engineer, believes that return the federal government he can win the Libertarian back to the Constitution. My plan WN: Do you think that you have a nomination and, though it is is being developed and described good shot at getting the unlikely, the White House as well. in the web page Libertarian nomination? If so, do www.bobjackson.org. you think it's possible that you He believes that the strength of could be in the White House this America is based on the maximum WN: If elected, how would you time next year? freedom of citizens who are handle Iraq? Mr. Jackson: I do believe that I responsible for their actions. Mr. Jackson: The United States have an excellent chance to gain "This", he says, "is guaranteed by should declare victory in Northern the Libertarian nomination the Constitution and made possible Iraq and let the Kurds control their because my experience is best for by the rule of law and limited fledgling democracy. We should governance at the federal level. It government." stabilize the Shi areas of Iraq into is possible but not probable for areas that they can control so that victory at this time. However, If He has plans for Iraq and the the United States would have the electorate finds non leader economy, as well as "correcting a another friendly ally. This would Senators from a dysfunctional dysfunctional government, a real also be a victory. We should help government are only a choice energy policy and a better national the rest of Iraq areas to gain their between the lesser of two evils, defense." control and if that is not done in a and they understand the reasonable time we should let Libertarian alternative, I can be Interview them decide their own future elected. WN: Why do you want to run for without our help. The United president? States should remain strong in this WN: There are thousands reading Mr. Jackson: During the past 40 world and help freedom flourish this right now. What could you say years it has become abundantly wherever possible. We have a to convince them to give you their clear that both the Democrats and committed enemy that wants to vote? Republicans covet expanded destroy the United States by “a Mr. Jackson: I believe that the government without regard to death of a thousand cuts”. The strength of this country is based fiscal responsibility and personal United States can prevail against on the maximum freedom of the liberty as guaranteed by the this aggression through better citizens who are responsible for Constitution. The vicious attacks leadership. their actions. This is guaranteed by among them show that their only the constitution and made possible objective is to gain personal power WN: How would you handle the by the rule of law and limited and their only difference is over economy? government. The government which part of the government Mr. Jackson: I would concentrate must be returned to the people should grow the fastest. Tragically on getting federal spending and to the authority granted in the we no longer have an effective two balanced within a reduced budget. constitution. I truly believe that, party system. The Libertarian This would allow America to bring with the help of the people, I have party is the only alternate party to the two most powerful forces for the background and ability to the bring balance and responsibility economic success, free enterprise president and guide a transition to back to the government. and the profit motive, forward to return the federal government I believe that the strength of this build a better and ever improving back to the Constitution. country is based on the maximum economy. The more personal I am an Eagle scout. That means

If you would like to write, publish or edit articles, visit www.wikinews.org Thursday, February 14, 2008 Wikinews Page 3 that I am trustworthy, Loyal, example a video clip that was hang out together....We enjoyed Honest, Prepared, trained and I apparently being shown before the being around each other and being help others at all times. I am evening news, which in his words together," states Gonzalez. responsible for my actions and I linked the DAP with street take full advantage of my personal violence. Her grandfather was the director freedoms. That is – I have always of a local dance group, Viva La been a Libertarian. The five year term of parliament Gente, which Gonzalez credits with I am an engineer – weigh all the would have come to its regular impacting her life positively. facts and make the best solution end on May 16, 2009, more than a that works. 100% vrs 51%. I have year from now. By law the election "I was a dancer for 12 years and better broad based business, of the new parliament must be life revolved around dancing. I was citizen and community credentials held at the latest 60 days after the a very active girl, and was always than any other candidate. I have preceding one is dissolved. involved with my grandfather's unequalled energy and drive. dance studio. The whole family Check my web page The actual date on which the polls was. My aunts, my cousins – bobjackson.org Particularly review are to be held is to be announced everyone took part in my plans for correcting a tomorrow. performances and were involved in dysfunctional government, a real the group...That's how we spent energy policy and a better national 'Top Model' winner Jaslene our summers, and we looked defense. Gonzalez on her career and forward to being outside, dancing being a Latina role model salsa, hip hop, merengue," states Malaysian Prime Minister Jaslene Gonzalez is not your Gonzalez. Through her dissolves Parliament, makes typical model. She rose to fame involvement in the dance studio, way for elections after winning Cycle 8 of America's Gonzalez's horizon was broadened Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Next Top Model, and since then, significantly, and her humanitarian Ahmad Badawi today announced has been aggressively tapping into streak began to deepen. the dissolution of the Parliament of the fashion industry. As a result of Malaysia. Badawi, also known her Latin background, Gonzalez "We were always constantly informally as Pak Lah, has been has been successful at marketing traveling. We traveled to Mexico to expected for some time to call for herself both in the English- poor villages where we gave parliamentary elections. speaking and Spanish-speaking performances to give back to the worlds. However, Gonzalez is community," said Gonzalez. Only yesterday, the Prime Minister much much more – a fighter, a had responded to journalists that humanitarian, and a good Latin Ironically, ANTM gave her the he would do "no such thing" today. granddaughter. opportunity to overcome her own difficulties and to further help In a response to the Born in Chicago to a Latina those in need. "I went in there, announcement, Parliamentary mother, and a Puerto Rican-born without knowing that I was in an Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang father, Gonzalez had, in many abusive relationship. They were expressed his regrets on the time ways, a typical U.S. Latino the ones that brought that up to of calling elections, as it, in his experience – her tight knit family, me...they felt I was emotionally words, "showed insensitivity and grandparents, and spirituality destroyed, they wanted me to get disrespect to the Chinese New played an intrinsic part in her support," commented Gonzalez. Year celebrations". upbringing. While the ANTM staff was supportive, she also credits her life Another opposition figure, Lim "I went to an all-girl Catholic long dream for helping her get out Guan Eng of the Democratic Action school and grew up with tons of of the abusive relationship. Party (DAP), made a statement family.....My family was very close condemning what he called the knit and supportive. They were "Having a dream and having a goal misuse and abuse of the media involved in my life everyday. So in life, is the most important thing "where only negative news about there was so much joy in every I did in my life. Because of that I the DAP and the opposition are little occasion.....Every Sunday we manoeuvred my way to that published, whereas positive news would go to my grandmother's dream. I knew I was better than is ignored". He cited as an house where we [the family] would that, I wanted to be happier,”

If you would like to write, publish or edit articles, visit www.wikinews.org Thursday, February 14, 2008 Wikinews Page 4 stated Gonzalez. appreciate in other woman. "I find Huckabee shifts campaign to women beautiful. I find a girl with Wisconsin Soon after winning ANTM, no makeup, not worrying about Republican presidential hopeful Gonzalez became a spokesperson her style and appearance, I find Mike Huckabee moves his for Liz Claiborne and the National that sexy. I find confidence campaign to Wisconsin today after Domestic Violence Hotline, and beautiful...Its so simple. It's being being defeated by John McCain in began traveling the country natural and confident," said the Washington, Maryland and reaching out to women. Gonzalez. Virginia primaries last night.

"We had several meetings, and As a role model, she has two key Tonight, Huckabee will attend a they asked me to be a pieces advice that she offers rally in Pewaukee. Tomorrow he spokesperson. I was so happy and women: nurture your mind with will be making stops in Madison, blessed to help women, to have positive thoughts, and identify and La Crosse, Wausau and Green Bay. that title. It's something I want to foster the principles in life you do, besides modelling....I enjoy value. As of this writing, he has 217 sharing my personal experiences delegates compared to front because I can educate them, but I It is not surprising to see why runner John McCain, who has 827, can also save someone's life. It's Gonzalez's family is proud of her. more than tripling Huckabee. something precious, it's a gift," "My family is so funny. They are so stated Gonzalez. happy. I've never seen them so The Wisconsin primary, for both full of life. My mom acts like she Democrats and Republicans, is on Abuse is not the only obstacle won. My grandmother screams 'mi February 19. Jaslene has had to face. Growing flaca' every time she sees me. up Latina had its own set of They are so proud. Especially my German court upholds difficulties. "Being a minority is a grandparents. I was practically surveillance of Scientology challenge no matter what," states raised by them. To see them see A German court has upheld a Gonzalez. you so happy and successful, there ruling from a lower court, couldn't be a better feeling," said sanctioning the monitoring of the However, Gonzalez also states that Gonzalez. Church of Scientology by being a Latina has many positive Germany's intelligence services. aspects in regards to her She adds that her grandparents profession. "As a Latina, you have would be extremely happy if she The North Rhine-Westphalia the advantage of being a Latina. appeared on Cristina, the Spanish- Higher Administrative Court in Not only do you have this language talk show whose host is Münster ruled that there is enough corporate job, but you can relate referred to as "the Spanish Oprah information present to continue to to many groups as a person." Winfrey." allow Germany's intelligence agencies to monitor Scientology When asked if the fashion industry In the coming years, Gonzalez activities, asserting that the forces Latina models to change plans to continue on the path she organization and its members have certain aspects about themselves, is on. She wants to continue ambitions contrary to Germany's she remarks that focuses on gracing the magazine covers, as democratic order. The agency always staying true to herself. well as dedicating herself to which monitors Scientology in "Modeling is a difficult job because helping young teens develop self Germany is called the Federal of what you go through. 80% of growth and esteem. "Every time I Office for the Protection of the the time it's a no...When I go in, I wake up, God gives me the Constitution, and has had the go in like me, I don't have to opportunity to be a better Church of Scientology under change anything. Any time I get a me...Life gets better as it goes surveillance in Germany since chance to show who I am, I do. I by." 1997. am a Spanish girl, trying to pursue my dreams. I try to be the best I This is the third in a series of “There are concrete indications can be," remarked Gonzalez. articles with America's Next Top that Scientology's activities are to Model contestants. implement Scientology's program It is that same confidence and will in Germany and to expand more to succeed that she seems to and more Scientology's principles

If you would like to write, publish or edit articles, visit www.wikinews.org Thursday, February 14, 2008 Wikinews Page 5 in government, economy and organization's campaign to so as to do what it is there for: to society.” —North Rhine-Westphalia disseminate Scientology principles protect the German constitution Higher Administrative Court worldwide. The project is called and the basic rights of the people". "Operation Planetary Calm". A The ruling stated: "There are brochure was sent to the office of The Church of Scientology took concrete indications that German Interior Minister Wolfgang German authorities to court in Scientology's activities are to Schäuble, whose office monitors March 2003, seeking to stop implement Scientology's program Scientology and other groups further surveillance of their in Germany and to expand more deemed a threat to Germany's organization. In a November 2004 and more Scientology's principles constitution. ruling, a court in Cologne upheld in government, economy and the legality of the German society". The court did not rule on When the Church of Scienotology government's surveillance of the whether or not the organization opened new headquarters in Berlin Church of Scientology. should be considered a religion, in January, opponents of saying that was irrelevant to the Scientology protested outside the The United States Department of ruling. The German government building and accused the State has criticized Germany for its considers Scientology a business, organization of brainwashing its surveillance of Scientology in its and not a religion. members. In December, annual Human Rights Report. Germany's top security officials The court cited "numerous stated that they believe Writers Guild of America ends indications" that "central Scientology is in violation of the strike constitutional values such as the German constitution, and Hollywood writers have voted to dignity of mankind and the right to requested state officials to end a three-month strike that equal treatment would be investigate whether they have crippled film and television suspended or restricted," in a sufficient information to ban the production. Scientology society. The statement organization in Germany. released along with the court's Yesterday, Patric Verrone, decision also said that "In “Despite over 10 years of intrusive president of the Writers Guild of particular, there is the suspicion investigation and harassment of America West, said they will end that in a scientological society only Scientologists, not one shred of the 100-day strike. "The Scientologists would enjoy civil evidence has been uncovered to membership has voted. Writers rights". justify this politically motivated can go back to work," Verrone investigation.” —Karin Pouw, said. During the court proceedings the Scientology spokeswoman German court heard testimony Nearly 3800 members of the guild, concerning anti-democratic Scientology spokeswoman Sabine both the east and west coast statements made by L. Ron Weber said that the organization unions cast their ballots in New Hubbard, the American founder of will appeal the ruling. Karin Pouw, York City and Los Angeles, with Scientology who died in 1986. The public affairs director for the more than 92 percent voting to court did not find any evidence Church of Scientology end the strike. The writers will be that the organization had International told the Associated back to work today and new distanced itself from Hubbard's Press: "Despite over 10 years of episodes of televisions series statements. Certain statements intrusive investigation and should come as early as four to six made by Hubbard detail how to harassment of Scientologists, not weeks. harass ex-members and critics of one shred of evidence has been Scientology. Scientologists uncovered to justify this politically The strike occurred over the presented other writings by motivated investigation". A streaming of television, movies Hubbard, and asserted that he was statement released by the Church and other creative work over the a peaceful person and was being of Scientology in Germany said: Internet and how writers should be quoted out of context. "The German Federal Office for the paid for that content. Under a Protection of the Constitution tentative agreement, the writers Other evidence considered by the should finally end this farce and would get a maximum flat fee of court included "The Way to turn its attention to real enemies $1,200 per program in the first Happiness" brochures, part of the of the Constitution and real danger two years, then two percent of a

If you would like to write, publish or edit articles, visit www.wikinews.org Thursday, February 14, 2008 Wikinews Page 6 distributor's gross revenue in the Billy West, voice of Ren and bits to cheer up his cowed mother, third year. Stimpy, Futurama, on the ravaged by the fact she could not rough start that shaped his life stop her husband's abuse of young The strike ended after Ren and Stimpy. Bugs Bunny. West. "I was the whipping boy and entertainment company heads Philip J. Fry and Professor Hubert she would just be reduced to tears including, Leslie Moonves, the CEO Farnsworth on Futurama. Sparx. a lot of times, and I would come in of CBS, Peter Chernin, the Bi-Polar Bear. Pop Eye. Woody and say stuff, and I would put out president of News Corporation and Woodpecker. You may not think little bits just to pull her out of it." Robert A. Iger, the CEO of The you have ever heard Billy West, Walt Disney Company and union but chances are on a television But West has also enjoyed the officials such as Verrone and program, a movie, a commercial, sweet. His career blossomed as his executive director David Young or as Howard Stern's voice guru in talent for creating entire histories worked out a deal. the 1990's, you have heard him. behind fictional characters and West's talent for creating creatures simply by exploring Moonves said the deal was a fair personalities by twisting his voice nuance in his voice landed him at one to according to the Associated has made him one of a handful of the top of his craft. You may never Press. When speaking to the voice actors—Hank Azaria and the again be able to forget that behind entertainment publication Variety, late Mel Blanc come to mind—who the voice of your favorite he said, "I think there was some have achieved celebrity for their character, there is often an miscommunication early on. It was talent. Indeed, West is one of the extraordinary life. important that we started few voice actors who can speaking eye to eye. Ultimately, impersonate Blanc in his prime, Below is David Shankbone's getting the percentage of including characterizations of Bugs interview with renowned voice streaming revenue was important Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd actor Billy West, who for the first to (WGA), and I understand it." and other characters from Warner time publicly talks about the Bros. cartoons. horrors he faced in his childhood; The end to the strike means his misguided search for answers Hollywood's annual celebration, What is the fulcrum in Mr. West's in anger, drugs and alcohol; and the Academy Awards, can go life that led him to realize a talent the peace he has achieved as one ahead as scheduled, February 24. to shape personalities with his of America's most recognizable The threat of picketing writers had voice, and how did the discovery voice actors. reduced the Golden Globes last of that gift shape him? David month to a news conference. Sid Shankbone found that like many The use of celebrities for voiceover Ganis, the president of the great comedians, West faced more David Shankbone: You’re known Academy of Motion Picture Arts sour early in life than he did for speaking about the use of and Sciences and the executive sweet. The sour came from a famous actors to do voice-over. producer of this year's 80th physically and emotionally abusive What is your central problem with Academy Awards, Gil Cates, will alcoholic father ("I could tell you their use? hold a news conference today to the kind of night I was going to Billy West: My problem is that if reveal their plans for the award have from the sound of the key in they were judged by the same show since there will not a be the door or the way the car pulled standards we were, that we have picket line in front of the Kodak up."), to his own problems with to try and get work with, they Theatre where the award show will drug and alcohol use ("There is a would be pretty piss poor as voice be held. point that you can reach in your performers. life where you don’t want to live, The strike stopped production of but you haven’t made the decision DS: What standards are those? dozens of television shows and to die."). BW: The standards are that you slowed production on movies. One have a really special voice that you Los Angeles economist says it cost If sin, suffering and redemption can go around and do that voice the local economy at least $3 feel like the stages of an endless and make a living that people just billion. However, the city of Los cycle of American existence, instantly love it. Nobody is just Angeles believed losses to only be West's own redemption from his instantly in love with the usual around $380 million. brutalized childhood is what helped suspects. Voices that we see in the shape his gift. He performed little cartoon movies now.

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DS: Like Robin Williams? someone of your caliber come in, doing it the way that you would do BW: No, he’s different, he and actually shape the voice it. It’s not good business as far as understands character. I mean he around the character and then I’m concerned. It’s not my part of understands characterization and they’ll present it to the celebrity as town. voice changes. And so does Mike the template? Myers and so does Eddie Murphy. BW: Yeah, and sometimes you’ll DS: Has your speaking out on this actually hear stuff that you issue hurt you in any way? DS: Jerry Seinfeld as well in Bee actually thought of during the BW: In what way? Movie? audition, because you have to BW: No, that’s not it because he‘s really be on your toes. DS: In your career? doing a character that looks BW: No. exactly like him and sounds DS: Are you paid for that? exactly like him. I mean, Will BW: Not really. Only a couple gigs DS: There’s no reaction against it Smith does characters that are did I ever get paid to scratch a from the studios or from the ….? drawn to look like him and sound movie for a celebrity that was BW: No they don’t give a shit like him. I wish I had that luxury. going to do it. The stuff that goes which voice-over person is in the Nobody draws a character that on at auditions is despicable. alleyways beating the piss out of looks like me and sounds like me the other one to get a gig. I mean, for me to just step in and be the DS: Are there legal remedies that they don’t care. They really don’t. perfect person for the role. You you could pursue for that? know what I mean? BW: No. I gotta prove it. I used to Iconic characters and choosing bring a tape recorder around with projects DS: What’s the solution? Not to do me, but still, it’s like trying to fight DS: You discussed in an interview characters around stars? city hall. It is what it is. But that’s issues about the weight of the BW: The thing is, I don’t have an my real issue with it is that this is character’s legacies, such as Pop- issue with the fact that these an Area 51 for experienced voice- Eye or Bugs Bunny. You had said movies are being made. If I could over people who do create that every time they do one of audition for them and I didn’t get characters and not just do who these they say, 'this time it’s going them, I still wouldn’t have an issue and what they are. It takes away to be different. We’re putting the with them. But this is the thing: from the creative process. teeth back in those characters. they audition us for these movies Nobody is going to tell us what we and then they play it for the A-list DS: There was a similar issue can’t write and what we can write.' people, for these celebrities, so involved with Crispin Glover. They And you said they always blow it. they can strip my talents’ abilities had taken a likeness of one of his How do they blow it? and kind of toss them over to the earlier roles. I think it was Robert celebrity just to make it look Zemeckis Then they tried to pass BW: They pander. Slowly they better than it would be. And I’m it off later as him and he sued take away the aspects of what not a teacher. Not a paid teacher. them for doing that. Are you made those characters who and I don’t like that stuff. familiar with that situation? what they were. In other words, BW: It only means anything to me cartoons contained sometimes “They audition us for these movies if he won. gratuitous violence with the and then they play it for the A-list squash and stretch animation. people, for these celebrities, so DS: He did. Sometimes it was gratuitous. But they can strip my talents’ abilities BW: Oh, he did! That’s very that was only an aspect of the and kind of toss them over to the similar. But the thing is, if you cartoon. When you start stripping celebrity just to make it look could prove that. You can’t prove away those things that made it a better than it would be.” that somebody deliberately took full dimension character, you’re —West on laying down cartoon the stuff and tossed it off to some going to have Xeroxes of it in characters in auditions, only to person that’s acting. But it’s a every way including creativity. The have a celebrity end up doing the dirty business and I won’t do it worst mistake Warner Brothers voice with the quirks West's voice anymore. I never really quite got ever did was make all these introduced. what it’s all about. It’s to show up characters friends, because then and to sound exactly like the you took away the dynamic. Elmer DS: They’ll have you come in, or character and to read it, yet you’re wanted to kill Bugs Bunny. There

If you would like to write, publish or edit articles, visit www.wikinews.org Thursday, February 14, 2008 Wikinews Page 8 was no question in anybody’s needed a concerted effort to give it at a softball game I started calling mind. Sylvestor wanted to kill a voice, a look. These characters the plays like an old-time Tweetie. There was no question in are actors, they look like sportscaster. You would think anyone’s mind, unless you wanted themselves, but they’re doing it people would like that. But it to say, “He just wanted to eat him. with cartoon and computer would be met with, 'Who do you He didn’t want to kill him.” Go processing. This is where it’s think you are?' figure that out. There was danger going. involved, and some life truths DS: You would feel a compulsion involved. When you’re telling the DS: With computer animated to do the plays in a voice? truth, you’re really dealing with voices? BW: Yes. And I definitely wanted comedy. If you don’t have the BW: No, no, no. The stars will to get approval. Every kid wants truth on your side, then comedy never go away. Let’s start there. If that. But I would do those things can’t spring from it, unless you they have to become cartoons because I heard the radio and I have some weird hydroponic they will, because it’s a trend in would listen to what people garden that doesn’t need any of the industry that these kinds of actually had to say. I just had my the standard things that it takes to movies make more money than own approach to everything. Every grow something. the regular ones do, for the most little town weirdo like me grows up part. And they have no use for to come to the Mecca of weirdos, DS: How do you choose a project, people that can create any kind of which is Hollywood. or does the project choose you? a character that’s shaped to BW: It works both ways. I get whatever you want. That’s not DS: I’m not a voice actor, but offers for stuff. If it looks like a useful in this case. there’s times I’ll hear a person say good offer, I’ll take it. I’m not a a phrase. I covered the Iranian snob. I love working, and every Discovering his talent president speaking at Colombia for now and then somebody will say, DS: Do you remember a time in Wikinews and I watched these “Why did you do that?” You know your life when you started dueling ideologues who were what? It’s none of your business. recognizing your talent for being normal citizens. One of them was All I owe you is a good able to shape your voice into this large black woman with a performance. memorable characters? bible yelling at this secular Jewish BW: I never really noticed. It was guy. I recorded these voices. She DS: Where do you think voice just so natural to me. What I used had one of those voices that I just acting is going? It doesn’t seem to do was hide it because no one couldn’t get out of my head. She like it’s ever an art that’s going to would say anything. When just kept going, “You’re evil. lose its place, but do you see it somebody’s mind got blown You’re going to burn in Hell.” I diminishing? Is it on a downturn? around you, they just resented found myself saying it aloud over Is it on an upturn? Is it idling? you or would find a reason to not and over and over again because BW: What they’re doing slowly is like you. What happened was, I her voice and what she said made they’re going to have to turn the grew up thinking that everybody such an impression on me that I celebrities and actors into could do it, but that they were just wanted to imitate it. There was cartoons, slowly but surely, too cool to do it. such a history behind that voice. because it’s the look that people She probably could have just said, are seduced by. It’s almost as if DS: You had a talent that seemed “Buy Tide detergent,” and I would they like watching animation more very trite to you, but very few still be saying it over and over and than they do live action because of other people could do it and you over again. all the farms of kids being fostered didn't recognize that? BW: Sure. That’s what I mean to love computer-generated BW: Yeah. I didn’t even think that about some people having images. If you don’t do this, if you it was something that was gifted naturally quirky voices. You’ve don’t start turning all of the upon me. I mean I never thought heard people in your life, like you celebrities into cartoons, we’ll lose of it like that. I thought everybody meet a girl, a full-grown woman, our star system. It’s better to have was exactly the same. And then I who goes [in high pitched squeal], their likenesses with their voices would hear that nobody was doing “I wanted to ask you.” And you go, rather than trying to act out the kinds of thing that I did and I 'Drop the act. Is this a put-on?' something that sprung from began to feel weird and I retreated And I go, “Shit, you should be someone’s imagination that for various reasons. If I showed up doing cartoons!”

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"It was a horror chamber where I what an alcoholic authority figure would be. She talked to the grew up" was going to do. teacher and they went out in the DS: Is how you developed your BW: I was like an alien; I was an hall. My mom came and I went talent when you were younger observation unit, trying to study with her to the airport. It was like based upon imitating others? You the human condition, not going on a trip. We got out of would hear things that would leave consciously, but because I had to. Detroit, Michigan and we were on impressions on you and you would I could tell you the kind of night I a plane to Boston. Me and my two want to imitate them? But why was going to have from the sound brothers. One was a baby and the would you want to imitate them? of the key in the door or the way other one was like, gosh, he had BW: Because I had no role models. the car pulled up. I was hyper to be seven or six because I was My dad was a certifiable psycho vigilant. So all I was, was this unit about eleven. This was back in and he made my life a living hell from space that had nothing but 1963. and it was a horror chamber where data gathering and sensory I grew up and when I grew up. equipment. DS: When did you come to a The guy used to beat the daylights realization that your voice was out of me left and right, for any DS: What was your dad’s reaction something that you wanted to turn random reason. He was a raving to your doing voices? into a career? alchie. I grew up with him making BW: It didn’t register on the radar fun of me. I was forced to retreat because, number one, I wasn’t “I’d go out and kick the shit out of into a world where I couldn’t get really doing it in the time I spent some little cat or something, just hurt or beat up or anything like with him. The other thing was that like you know, smack it... In a that. he was a frustrated talent. He weird way, in a weird permutation could sit down at the piano and of the whole situation, to me that just start playing it, having no was supposed to be love. Cause “[My father] used to beat the lessons or training. He could do why would your parent hit you, daylights out of me left and right, dialogs and he could do voices. He hurt you? Why? It never makes for any random reason. He was a was very funny, you know, among sense to a kid. And they all used raving alchie. I grew up with him his friends and all that. He was to say, 'It’s because I care about making fun of me. I was forced to also a musician, a drummer. And I you.' But I got over that stuff and retreat into a world where I became a musician except I wasn’t what I did was start to hurt couldn’t get hurt or beat up or a drummer, I was a guitar player. myself.”—West on abusing animals anything like that.” The thing is, he could never make to deal with his own abuse —Billy West on beginning to do it pay. All he had was a string of voices jobs. Driving a beer truck then BW: It never was a realization. I driving a soda pop truck then started playing trumpet in grade DS: It was escapism ...? driving an ice cream truck. You school when I was ten years old BW: Well yeah. You gotta know what I mean? Like a Ralph and I liked the idea of going on understand, it was like I was a Kramden kind of thing. stage and playing. And I was in a little kid. I’m not a magical being. couple of plays in school and I My dad tried to kill me about DS: Where was your mom during really liked that world. I felt totally fifteen times. all this? at home with it cause you had to BW: She was trying to make a be ready for anything and you had DS: So when you would escape household and trying to keep the to be vigilant and you had to be on into those voices, you felt a sense place as sane as she possibly your toes, which actors need as of safety? could. skill and survival tools. So it was BW: Yes. 'Cause I was surrounded the perfect place for me to be. It’s by things that wouldn’t be a threat West moves to Boston after his not like I was a hollow, empty to me. parents divorce vessel. I had plenty of things DS: It doesn’t sound like she was percolating inside and all that, but DS: And things that you could very successful. I needed to be where I to be control through your own voice. BW: She had to leave him. She where I felt good and I never fit in BW: Yes. came into the sixth grade one day. with other kids. I only had, like, I saw my mother at school and I two friends, maybe one, who was, DS: Whereas you couldn’t control was mortified like any other kid “You like that comic book too?”

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You know, that kind of stuff. angry. He was abused as a child BW: No, not really. I had a mean Getting called faygot by any and he lived in a matriarchal streak. But I’m such a dyed-in- random goon. situation with his mother and her the-wool animal lover. I’ve always sister and then her mother and had pets. I would be so filled with DS: Did you say fay or faggot? there were all these big German …. anger and rage that on my way to BW: No, it’s faggot, but they I don’t know, like real staunch school, it was literally a “kick at would pronounce it fay-got, you [people], angry and punishment- the cat” as they used to say. know, in Boston. Faygot. What are inclined. He liked to dish out You’re angry and you don’t know you, faygot? What are you, queer? punishment …. where to direct it. You’ll kick a wall that has wet paint on it. That’ll DS: Do you think that’s had any DS: What would make you the one teach them. And hurt yourself lasting effect on you? that he would unleash that upon doing it. I’d go out and kick the BW: Well, I can now get crazy as opposed to your brothers? shit out of some little cat or without being angry or raging BW: Because I could do little something, just like you know, because I know how to do it. things that he seemed to be smack it. You know, go over and Everything you do has to come threatened by. go to pet it, then whack it because from something real. You have to that’s all I knew. In a weird way, tap into something. Otherwise, DS: Like what? in a weird permutation of the there’s nothing to grab hold of if BW: I could draw. He was an whole situation, to me that was you’re a watcher or a listener or artist. I could pick up a pen and supposed to be love. Cause why whatever. There’s nothing for you start drawing immediately. He was would your parent hit you, hurt there. It’s no fun for the audience. a musician, a drummer. Then, I you? Why? It never makes sense learned to play guitar when I was to a kid. And they all used to say, DS: They say that all great ten years old. He didn’t sit right “It’s because I care about you.” comedians typically have with any of these things. Plus, he But I got over that stuff and what extraordinary tragedy in their was very jealous of me because I did was start to hurt myself. lives, and they develop their my mother loved me more than humor as a response to it. him. DS: How so? BW: Yes, but I developed mine a BW: I started drinking and doing lot of the times to comfort my DS: An oedipal issue? drugs when I was about 21. I was mom. Because she saw the way I BW: Well, yeah, but it happened playing in a band and it was all was being treated. Not so much from Day One. He resented part of the picture, you know. It my brothers, but I was the eventually the fact that I was born could be rosy for you. You couldn’t whipping boy and she would just 'cause I took away his mommy. survive anywhere else, but in a be reduced to tears a lot of times, band you were like golden. I used and I would come in and say stuff, DS: What is your relationship with to punch walls, cause ruckuses and I would put out little bits just your brothers like? Did they see and get into fights wherever I to pull her out of it. this going on? Did they feel bad for went. You know, throw things at you? people. DS: Even though you were BW: Only my other brother. He's hurting, it would hurt you to see dead now. He bore witness to an Rehabilitation and sobriety her hurting over you. awful lot of stuff and he, himself, DS: How did you stop the fights BW: Yes. And you know, I could was the brunt of an awful lot of and the drugs? take a beating. I finally learned stuff that I teased him and BW: I had to go to rehab. I had a how to just galvanize myself where bothered him, 'cause it trickled job in radio. I stopped playing you just totally like disassociate down. music. I tried to do some standup and your body can sit there and comedy, but I don’t have the get smacked around and punched How West dealt with his father's discipline for it. I used to just go or whatever and your mind is a abuse out there and not care if I died or million miles away. DS: You said your father was a lived or whatever. You know, I’d victim of abuse himself and that just say stuff. I was always DS: What made you the whipping pattern often repeats. How did you searching. I just couldn’t go up boy? stop that pattern? Was it through there and do twelve minutes and BW: Well my dad was very very your voice work? pretend like I’d just thought of it,

If you would like to write, publish or edit articles, visit www.wikinews.org Thursday, February 14, 2008 Wikinews Page 11 you know, for three years. BW: No, no. It wasn’t that. They get yourself together and you wouldn’t just grab me and throw mean well and things are going DS: Are you still sober? me up against a wall and say, okay, it’s like, 'Well, it had to be BW: Oh yeah. I’ve been sober for “Listen, you little fuck, you’re that way.' The universe obviously 22 years. But I had to go into going to rehab.” I got away with had to teach me something. rehab. I had a series of car this kind of behavior and it was accidents. I almost got killed one awful because I was terrorizing DS: Do you believe in a higher night but I just walked away from people. Not during the day. At power? it chuckling, smashed. night. And stories. There would BW: Yes I do. I don’t know what it always be stories and then it is. I just think its some higher would make the papers. You know, form of energy and some sort of “I got away with this kind of that kind of stuff. I finally cracked being, but I can’t embody it in my behavior and it was awful because up a car and I was in for non- mind. But I know I have a one to I was terrorizing people. Not payment of rent and the judge one, kind of a spiritual connection during the day. At night. And says, 'I don’t care about this non- to whatever that is. See I was stories. There would always be payment of rent thing, but you’re raised, I had Catholicism shoved stories and then it would make the doing a week in Charles Street Jail down my throat. I was an altar papers.”—West on his wilder days. for this DWI that you never boy. I knew the mass in Latin. answered for.' This was before the DS: Were you at a point where advent of computers. Now, they DS: Me too. you didn’t necessarily want to die, press a button and it spits out BW: Really? but you just didn’t care if you everything. But back then, you lived? could screw up in one town and DS: I didn’t know the mass in BW: That’s pretty much it, yeah. then go to another town and do Latin, but I was an altar boy and I You put your finger on it. There is exactly the same thing and they had Catholicism shoved down my a point that you can reach in your could never put them together face, but I’m 33, so Vatican II had life where you don’t want to live because everything was on paper. happened. but you haven’t made the decision BW: Yeah, and then you get to die. DS: Now it’s all electronic. "Father PreCum" trying to give you BW: But I wasn’t proud of that. a massage and shit like that. DS: Whatever happens happens. That was the lowest point of my BW: Yeah. You let the wind blow life. But I’ve been sober for longer DS: The priest at my church got a you around. I have a zillion than I was a user. Twenty-two nun pregnant and my mother, who stories. I should write a book. years. was the president of the PTA at my These are stories that you think, Catholic grade school, helped 'No, that couldn’t be true. That Is West glad he experienced deliver the baby and keep the couldn’t possibly be true.' I was in addiction? whole thing hidden. radio around the same time too. I DS: Are you in some way glad that BW: Really? went back to playing music in the you went through the drug and early eighties after a hiatus. I alcohol abuse? DS: Yeah. And he’s still the priest. started playing again with a couple BW: I could ask you the same BW: I think it’s probably a guy of people and I was also working thing and I don’t mean to pull a masquerading as a nun, if you’re radio but I was in a constant "Donald Rumsfeld," interviewing talking about priests. blackout. And people said I was myself. But I could ask you the good on the radio. I don’t know same thing. Are you glad? Because West on his career what I did or said. I just used to if you are where you are and it DS: Where do you see yourself come in there and turn the place seems okay, then you had to have now in your career? upside down. I was too good to gone through those things for you BW: Exactly where I want to be. fire. But they didn’t know what to to be the total sum of your You know, I feel bad for kids who do with me, you know. I’d come in experiences which led you to the want to be voice-overs. They will in the middle of a night— very spot and the very phone always be needed. I always you’re talking on. You know what I encourage them. They’re always DS: And that would almost egg mean? And so it’s almost like no going to need what you offer. And you on? matter what you did, if you finally you can make a living if you’re

If you would like to write, publish or edit articles, visit www.wikinews.org Thursday, February 14, 2008 Wikinews Page 12 really good. But there’s only so far stand-up. That term wasn’t DS: It’s confusing because you you can go now. Before, the sky popular much before the look like somebody like Dick was the limit. There wasn’t these seventies. Then you started Cheney, who has this lesbian rigged fights standing in your way. hearing these stand-up comics. daughter, who’s in a gay marriage 'Cause right now, it’s like a rigged When I was a kid and when I was and now has a baby with her fight. You can still audition and get a teenager, doing comedy meant partner, and you just don’t know great satisfaction on the job as a you were interrupting somebody’s how the situation exists. It’s hard voiceover. And that’s all I ever dinner in a restaurant. There was to comprehend. That Mary Cheney really wanted to be. no comedy clubs per se. But the exists in the Republican party, and turning point—it’s called survival. that she seems to be fine with that Ren Hoek from Ren and Stimpy. It’s like being a cockroach. You existence and even works for it. But I did aspire to do animations evolve or die. When I was kid I BW: I know, it’s almost like it that required voice work. And I’ve thought everybody was like me shouldn’t be possible, yet it is. And done some of it and then this and all these people I hang with these guys are thumping their trend set in. And believe me we are going to be running the chests about it. I don’t go for that. don’t get the kind of money those country and I couldn’t have been It’s like saying you don’t approve people get for doing voices. It’s more wrong. of who and what your daughter is rather odd to me. At some point I by birth. I’ll never understand realized many years ago—I was a West on politics that. And, again, Cheney is only teenager in the sixties, protesting DS: Well they are. It’s just things like six or seven years older than with the long hair, running around have changed. me. You know what I mean? Like with the hippies—I realized when I BW: I’m way older than a lot of where the f did this shit come looked at all the guys we were these guys by the way, that are from? supposed to hate so much and out there. But to me they look like resent, I kind of analyzed what old men with bad breath and Billy West on modern American complacency was, and they dandruff. society seemed complacent to me. They DS: Has the Iraq War affected you reached a point in their lives where DS: Who are you talking about? much as a person? they felt good about themselves BW: Republicans. BW: Yeah, totally. I watched the and just cause a bunch of kids whole Vietnam thing go down and come along that were popping DS: Yeah. it’s the exact same thing. You drugs and accusing you of this and BW: You know, the guys that are think we would learn, but we don’t that and being the man and running things. They don’t look because the proof of that is there’s everything, you think your feelings like people that came from my Holocaust deniers to something states are never going to change. generation at all. I’m as old as Karl that happened a couple years And I used to say they’re Rove, or any of those idiots and before I was born, that there was complacent. But the thing is that it’s like, 'Where did you come extermination. Now there’s people everybody that’s born pretty much from?' It’s still the same old that aren’t sure whether that has to reach that point where geezers that hide behind religion happened or not, no matter how they’re looking down the barrel of and family values, and then many shoes are piled up and down their own complacency. You gotta they’re messing with guys in in Washington, D.C.. like do a little gear shifting. men’s rooms and scandal prone because that’s sort of what the DS: Teach the controversy. Make DS: At what point was that for party is famous for. I hated those it appear there are two sides to you? guys and I didn’t grow up to be every fact. BW: When I stopped drinking, of one. But then I watch all these BW: Yeah, but there ain't two course. But I couldn’t play music people from my generation just sides to science. And when you in the way I wanted to play it suddenly morph into that and I’m start banning science and real anymore. I would have been like a still in a state of shock. Where did knowledge, then you’re in George parody of myself. So that didn’t these Donna Reeds and these little Orwell land. The pretense of it all seem truthful to me. Trying to do Breck girls, St. Pauli girls that are really bothers me. I hate sitting comedy seemed truthful to me, filled with Republican ideology there, talking to a guy that’s but then, like I told you before, I come from? It’s like they’re young. looking me right in the eye, and didn’t have the discipline to do What is this, you know. he’s lying to me. I hate when

If you would like to write, publish or edit articles, visit www.wikinews.org Thursday, February 14, 2008 Wikinews Page 13 adults play pretend. I hate it more women in the theater. It’s a pass- Estate. That was the idea that you than anything. The only time I fail society. It’s like, in my opinion, owe your readers. You’ve been want to play pretend is when I can the guy that can fart the national entrusted to deliver news to them play like a child and not make it anthem and is famous is totally and even if it’s an editorial or an into an ideology. I know I go way equal to someone else who interview, the idea is to get as off the subject, but I have a lot to actually has talent and worked much true information so people say and a lot of people say, as far their ass off and became famous can decide for themselves. I don’t as the animation and the for having a gift. But it can be care if the interviewer’s biased. If I celebrities and all that, you know, debated. It’s like you’re saying get enough information, I have a I’m not so outspoken. Maybe not there’s good art and bad art. Then chance to be biased or not. everybody talks about it, but what there’s like, well define art. It’s am I going to do? It’s the truth. endless. It’s infinite. [edit] Billy West on telling it like it is DS: Do you think we live in a fear- DS: And you think that they are based society now? equal? DS: Are your voices an attempt to BW: It’s no secret to anybody, BW: No, of course not. understand reality? unless you fell off a potato truck BW: Well yeah. All I was presented somewhere. Back-street America. DS: You’re saying in today’s with was life as it was culture they are equal? deconstructing and disintegrating. DS: What is the reasoning behind BW: Both can be famous. That’s And I had to pick up whatever questions like, 'Aren’t you afraid of not the kind of fame that I would pieces I had off the floor and try to saying such-and-such thing?' want and the other kind of fame is put it together in a way that made BW: Because the person is usually a certain flavor of misery too sense to me. I don’t know if I’m fear-driven himself and totally because there’s a trade-off that making myself all that clear. understands the consequences of you lose your personal life. I spent telling the truth. You don’t get enough time in the fantasy world. “I really love what I do and I don’t rewarded for it, let’s put it that I don’t watch reality shows. These want people to think I’m sitting way. are the kind of people I couldn’t here angry all the time. I’m wait to get away from in high absolutely happy and I like what DS: Are you optimistic? school and I’m going to chronicle my life has become. But I still will BW: I’m optimistic about my own their stupid adventures, you start feeling weird if somebody life and things changing for the know? I don’t live there. I don’t asks me a question and I can’t tell better. I don’t pin my existence on watch television. the truth about it. I’m just telling it the industry. I really don’t. Some like it is.” people, without their fame, they DS: I don’t have cable, so I know —Billy West would just roll up into a ball and how you feel. bounce away and I’m like a BW: Yeah, but even if I had cable, reluctant famer, if you know what satellite, everything, I don’t watch DS: No you are. I mean. Celebrity means nothing television. I surround myself with BW: Yeah, I’m telling you stuff to me. The word means nothing to things that edify me, not because that I never said to anybody. me. I don’t know if I said this. I it’s there. I’m an information probably already did because I’ve freak. I’m a news freak. But it’s DS: Well it’s good. been talking so long. But if you got to be truthful news and that’s BW: You’re like the Barbara fart the national anthem you can why I’ll go to the BBC News on the Walters of your generation. And be a celebrity. It’s bloodless. It’s Internet. There’s less pressure I’m not going to protect an image artless. It’s Godless. But, fuck, with the truth teller over there. I don’t really have. Nobody wants that’s what people want. And the to hear what I really think about idea that the word celebrity and DS: It’s amazing when you hear politics. I totally understand it. It’s the word diva has been watered the BBC interview British like, every night is opening night if down into any girl with a belly politicians. We find it shocking that you’re a performer. Okay that’s button now and some gold chain they’ll say things like “Aren’t you done. Now what? I mean if around her neck can be a diva. It essentially lying when you say everyone had to answer that doesn’t matter why they call the that?” standard in their job. "Now what great talents divas, you know BW: But that was the Fourth are you going to do?" Because I

If you would like to write, publish or edit articles, visit www.wikinews.org Thursday, February 14, 2008 Wikinews Page 14 don’t get told what to do. I BW: Yeah. That’s the real reason. Barack Obama and John audition for everything because if That’s cool. They finally got that in McCain sweep Potomac states' you want to work you’ve got to there. For a while there it was like, primaries audition. Some people call me out He was going to be Invader Zim, Barack Obama, the junior senator of the blue and say, 'We just want but he didn’t make the cut. He from Illinois and 2008 US you,' which is very nice and I wasn’t Invader Zim and somebody presidential candidate has swept worked really hard for that status. else was. That’s so stupid to me. all three of today's Democratic But I still audition for everything. Rick Horowitz was a friend of contests in the "Potomac There’s a show coming up called mine. He was better at it than I primaries" consisting of the Rahan and there’s a 26 episode was. That’s a fact of life. Instead nation's capital, Washington, D.C. commitment on that. I’ll be of printing what I didn’t do. I and the bordering states of starting that soon. I can’t tell you mean, there should be a link to the Virginia and Maryland. much about it because I’ve only list of voice credits, if you can find read the auditions, the lines I was one. You know a complete one. Obama led in the Virginia polls 67 supposed to do. And the other percent, while in the District of thing is Futurama is going to keep DS: There’s a link to your official Columbia, he lead 76 percent over me busy for awhile even though all web site on there. And there’s also opponent, New York senator the voice-over work is done. a link to Voicechasers database Hillary Clinton's 24 percent. This There’s lots of projects that are and a link to Internet Movie sweep gives him a slight lead over related to it. And I’m still doing the database and a link to an interview Clinton in the delegate count. M&Ms. I really love what I do and I with you on CNBC. Meanwhile, the Clinton campaign don’t want people to think I’m BW: Oh. The Donny Deutsch lost an aide today, as campaign sitting here angry all the time. I’m interview. That was weird too. I aide Mike Henry resigned making absolutely happy and I like what mean I really love Donny Deutsch, light of a small staffing crisis my life has become. But I still will but he kept asking, 'What it’s like within the campaign as Clinton start feeling weird if somebody making all of this money?' Because just replaced her campaign asks me a question and I can’t tell that’s what the show is. It’s about manager Patty Solis Doyle with the truth about it. I’m just telling it finance or something. I mean, I Maggie Williams. Doyle remains like it is. know the guy. I actually used to with the campaign as a senior work for him because he had advisor. DS: That's perfect. I will send you Deutsch Advertising, when I was a link to the interview when it is doing commercials. But he had to Meanwhile, John McCain, the published. keep the money thing going senator from Arizona and 2008 US BW: That would be fine. I’d because that’s the channel presidential candidate has swept appreciate it. There’s so much basically. His show was about that all three of today's Republican wrong on Wikipedia, like that I got and I was embarrassed. I mean, contests in the Potomac primaries. booted off the Stern show. I feel a now that you’ve got millions McCain obtained a slim margin of lot of dehumanized lie dispensers because we know that you’re victory over opponent, former get a hold of these things and just working. I’m in the same boat you Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee make it so. Believe me, there’s are Donny. As far as your house in Virginia and had a lead over this very small but very active goes, you want what’s yours and Huckabee by nine points in the group of posters that want to keep what touches yours to avoid District. dancing in the pet cemetery with encroachment. And it’s never animal corpses. enough because fate keeps George Bush meets with Mali throwing stuff at you and nobody president Amadou Touré DS: It doesn’t say anything knows what it’s like to pay a seven George W. Bush, president of the negative about the Stern show. It figure tax, in quarters over a year. United States met with the Malian just mentions the characters that You wind up about the same President Amadou Touré you did and that you were on except that you have more stuff yesterday. Mr.Bush said that he there. And the only thing it says is than most people. "was touched by the [Malian] that “Billy has since claimed that President's concern about the life he left the Stern show because of the average citizen in Mali," and WXRK management refused to that he is "proud to be standing give him a sufficient pay raise.” side-by-side with you [Amadou

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Touré]." from the Jyllands-Posten the public defender assigned to the Muhammad cartoons controversy. Tunisians. Mr.Bush started the press conference after the meeting by On September 30, 2005, Jyllands- The government and the PET has saying that one of the reasons he Posten a Danish newspaper, yet to present their case in court. wants to work with Mali is published twelve cartoons As a result, it is unknown what "because they've agreed to fight depicting the prophet Muhammad. evidence there is of a plot. Also, it corruption, and support the The paper solicited the cartoons is unknown if the men were under education and health of its for an article that explored "self- orders from groups outside of citizens." He added that he censorship" with regards to Denmark, as has been speculated believes Mali is "a country that's criticism of Islam. One of the by media. committed to the rights of its cartoonists that responded was people," and that the United Kurt Westergaard, who contributed However, Scharf says that the pre- States is "proud to be standing an image of Muhammed with a emptive police action "was to side-by-side with you. [the Malian turban that looks like a bomb. prevent a planned killing of one of President]." Mr.Bush also thanked the cartoonists behind the Touré "for his hard work in helping PET says that Westergaard was Muhammed-drawings." The his citizens deal with HIV/AIDS." the target of an alleged plot to primary objective was not to jail or murder him. At 4:30 a.m. CET deport anyone, but to prevent a Mr.Bush said that in the meeting (UTC+1), in a pre-dawn raid, they murder. they spent "a fair amount of time arrested three men in Aarhus, talking about the dangers of Denmark. The men, two Tunisians The Prime Minister of Denmark, radicals and extremists associated and one Danish citizen of Anders Fogh-Rasmussen, with groups like al Qaeda." He said Moroccan origin, are suspected of commented: "Unfortunately, this that they also discussed the "need planning to kill Westergaard. case shows, that in Denmark, too, for close cooperation to protect the there are groups of extremists, innocent people from those who PET commissioner Jakob Scharf who do not recognize and respect murder the innocent in order to said, "The purpose of the the founding principles upon which achieve their dark political vision." clampdown was to prevent a the Danish people's government is terror- related homicide. The built." Mr. Touré said in the press clampdown occurred after a long conference after the meeting that period of surveillance." Meanwhile, the editors-in-chief at he "would like to convey to the the three biggest newspapers in President of the United States the The Danish citizen has been Denmark have seen the alleged sympathies and solidarity of the released. It is thought that this plot as a threat to their freedom of people of Mali because of the means that the evidence against speech. These papers are Jyllands- destruction caused by the tornados him is not very strong. However, Posten, Politiken og Berlingske in some of the southern states of the 40-year-old man "will continue Tidende. To reassert their rights the United States." He continued to be of interest for the PET" says they all plan to republish the by saying that "the [US] President Scharf. controversial Muhammad drawings had some initiatives not only for on Wednesday. Mali, but also for Africa, which we The two other men, said to be 25 [the Malian government] believe and 36 years of age, and who by "We must in Danish media send a are historical initiatives." all accounts were in Denmark clear and unambiguous message legally, face deportation back to to all, that might get the same Danish police arrest three in Tunisia. They are due to remain in insane thoughts, as those who cartoonist murder plot custody until a judge can review would attack Kurt Westergaard," In the early hours of Tuesday, their case on Thursday. "I have no says Berlingske Tidende chief- Denmark's Politiets idea about what is going to happen editor Lisbeth Knudsen. Efterretningstjeneste (PET) next. The ball is in the court of (Danish Security Intelligence PET, and they are they ones who Westergaard, who is 73 years old, Service), arrested three people for need to start talking and explain has been under police protection their connection to an alleged plot the meaning of all this. I have no since he received death-threats to murder one of the cartoonists idea what the next step is," said shortly after the original

If you would like to write, publish or edit articles, visit www.wikinews.org Thursday, February 14, 2008 Wikinews Page 16 publication of the cartoons. "I fear the Opposition Leader's speech, a country.” for my life, when the police tell me majority of the audience in the there are certain people who are Great Hall and Federation Square After the formal apology, Rudd working with concrete plans to kill turned their backs. gave a speech in which he referred me," he says. There are more images in the to specific members of the Stolen photo gallery. Generation, and also addressed Australian Parliament The Apology some common arguments against apologises to the Stolen The motion was presented to the the apology. Generations house as the first item of business A motion has been passed in the at 9 a.m. on the second day of the He told the story of Nanna Parliament of Australia to make a new Parliament. It was read by Nungala Fejo, an Aboriginal formal apology to the Stolen Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and woman born in the late 1920's. Generations. Thousands of people said (in part): "She remembers her earliest converged on Canberra, the capital “For the pain, suffering and hurt of childhood days living with her city, to witness the event. Many these Stolen Generations, their family and her community in a Indigenous people set up camp on descendants and for their families bush camp just outside Tennant the lawns outside Old Parliament left behind, we say sorry, Creek. She remembers the love House at the site of the Tent and the warmth and the kinship of Embassy which has been on the To the mothers and fathers, the those days long ago, including site since Australia Day 1972. brothers and the sisters, for the traditional dancing around the breaking up of families and camp fire at night. She loved the The front doors of Parliament communities, we say sorry. And dancing," Mr Rudd said. "But then, House opened at 7:30 a.m. with for the indignity and degradation sometime around 1932, when she many people queuing from before thus inflicted on a proud people was about four, she remembers 7 a.m. to gain a place inside. With and a proud culture, we say sorry. the coming of the welfare men .... the House of Representatives What they had not expected was public gallery packed, about a We today take this first step by that the white welfare men did not thousand people watched a live acknowledging the past and laying come alone. They brought a truck, telecast of the event on screens claim to a future that embraces all two white men and an Aboriginal that had been set up for the event Australians. stockman on horseback cracking in the Great Hall. A special area his stockwhip. The kids were was set up at the front of the Hall A future where we harness the found; they ran for their mothers, for members of the Stolen determination of all Australians, screaming, but they could not get Generation. Thousands of others Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to away ... Tears flowing, her mum watched outside Parliament House, close the gap that lies between us tried clinging to the sides of the gathering on the lawns of in life expectancy, educational truck as her children were taken Federation Square. Some achievement and economic away to the Bungalow in Alice, all members of the crowds wore t- opportunity. in the name of protection." shirts with the word "Thanks" on the front. Many more people A future where we embrace the Mr Rudd criticised the former watched at venues across the possibility of new solutions to government for refusing to country. enduring problems where old apologise. "These stories cry out to approaches have failed. be heard; they cry out for an Crowd building in the Great Hall. apology. Instead, from the nation’s A future based on mutual respect, parliament there has been a stony, All living past Prime Ministers, with mutual resolve and mutual stubborn and deafening silence for the exception of John Howard, responsibility. more than a decade," he said. were in the chamber to witness the apology. A future where all Australians, Responses whatever their origins, are truly Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson The Prime Minister's speech was equal partners, with equal spoke in Parliament after Kevin received warmly by the crowds opportunities and with an equal Rudd. He reiterated the apology and received a long standing stake in shaping the next chapter made by Rudd. "We formally offer ovation at its conclusion. During in the history of this great an apology to those Aboriginal

If you would like to write, publish or edit articles, visit www.wikinews.org Thursday, February 14, 2008 Wikinews Page 17 people forcibly removed from their heritage and his sister-in-law was families through the first seven a member of the Stolen As the live telecast began it decades of the twentieth century," Generations. Regarding Dr started to rain. This didn't deter he said. Nelson's speech he said that the the participants, who sheltered Opposition Leader "had not learnt under ponchos and umbrellas. Nelson had a different take on the and understood the fundamental Rudd's apology was met by cheers issue of inter-generational issues" and said that he had and applause. The crowd booed at responsibility. "Our generation presented a "begrudging apology". the mention of former Prime does not own these actions, nor Minister John Howard. should it feel guilt for what was A member of the Stolen done in many, but not all cases, Generations interviewed by The sound of the live telecast was with the best of intentions," he Wikinews said that she had turned down after Rudd's speech, said. "But in saying we are sorry - personally resolved the issues in so that the Lord Mayor of the City and deeply so - we remind her life and had made a success of of Sydney, Clover Moore could ourselves that each generation it, but was pleased that the Nation speak. She acknowledged the lives in ignorance of the long term had made the apology. She said traditional owners of the land and consequences of its decisions and that she did not turn her back on declared her support for the actions. Even when motivated by the Opposition Leader as she apology, but also said that it was a inherent humanity and decency to believed that it was better to listen first step only and that there was reach out to the dispossessed in to what people said and then take much work to be done on the way extreme adversity, our actions can from it what was useful. Another to reconciliation. "For the first have unintended outcomes." Indigenous person said that he felt time, we have acknowledged the that people would leave the event history of this country, and the Nelson spoke against with a spirit of hope and optimism. privilege to live in this country," compensation to children forcibly Of Dr. Nelson's speech he said that she said. "But we have to ask removed from their parents. the Opposition Leader: "...had us ourselves: what's the cost of that "There is no compensation fund, for a nano-second and then he lost privilege? Who paid the price?" nor should there be. How can any us. He lost the spirit." sum of money replace a life "In our hearts we know the costs, deprived of knowing your family?" Live telecast whether in child-abuse, in petrol The audience at Redfern sniffing in remote communities, In the Great Hall the crowd grew Community Centre in Sydney and drugs, and alcohol in the city uncomfortable during the applaud at the conclusion of Kevin districts." Opposition Leader's speech and Rudd's speech the majority of the audience stood Today in History and turned their backs to the Thousands of people gathered 1876 – Electrical engineer Elisha screens on which he was being throughout the country to watch a Gray and inventor Alexander broadcast. As the speech telecast of the apology. Graham Bell each filed a patent for progressed a slow clapping began the telephone, starting a which drowned out Dr. Nelson's In Sydney, 1,000 people gathered controversy on who invented the speech. the Redfern Community Centre in telecommunications device first. Redfern, an inner city suburb that 1949 – Asbestos miners began a The crowds in Federation Square, is a focal point for Sydney's labour strike around Asbestos, the gardens outside Parliament aboriginal community. The event Quebec, Canada, considered one House, also turned their back on was organised by the City of of the causes of the Quiet the Opposition Leader. Sydney and number of Indigenous Revolution. organisations. 1989 – A fatwa was issued for the One of the first to stand and turn execution of Salman Rushdie for his back in the Great Hall was An aboriginal smoking ceremony authoring The Satanic Verses, a Chris Osborne, representing the was performed before the telecast, novel Islamic fundamentalists State Executive of the United and attendees were welcomed to considered blasphemous. Services Union of N.S.W. Mr. the land by a member of the 1989 – The first of at least twenty- Osborne told a Wikinews reporter Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land four Medium Earth Orbit satellites that his son had Aboriginal Council. in the satellite constellation of the

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Global Positioning System was About Wikinews launched into orbit. We are a group of volunteer journalists 2005 – Former Prime Minister of whose mission is to create a diverse Lebanon Rafik Hariri was community where citizens from around assassinated when explosives were the globe (including you) can detonated as his motorcade drove collaborate to report the news on a past the St. George Hotel in wide variety of current events. By Beirut, sparking the Cedar making our content perpetually available for free redistribution and use, Revolution in Lebanon. we hope to contribute to a global digital February 14 is Valentine's Day, commons. Feast of St. Brigid of Kildare in Eastern Christianit Got news and no computer? Call the Wikinews Hotline Quote of the Day +1-866-653-4265 (toll-free in the U.S.) Love suffers long and is kind; love +1-202-742-5918 does not envy; love does not (outside the U.S.) parade itself, is not puffed up; +44-871-218-6397 does not behave rudely, does not (U.K. / Europe) seek its own, is not provoked, License thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License. Articles bears all things, believes all things, published in this Print edition were hopes all things, endures all created by Wikinewsies. Other content things. released under the GNU Free Love never fails. But whether there Documentation License. are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they To view a copy of the CC-BY license, will cease; whether there is visit: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ knowledge, it will vanish away. For or send a letter to we know in part and we prophesy Creative Commons in part. But when that which is 543 Howard Street, 5th Floor perfect has come, then that which San Francisco, California, 94105, USA is in part will be done away. To view a copy of the GFDL, visit: When I was a child, I spoke as a http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html child, I understood as a child, I Wikipedia Current Events thought as a child; but when I http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Current_events became a man, I put away childish Today in History http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page things. For now we see in a mirror, Quote of the Day dimly, but then face to face. Now I http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Main_Page know in part, but then I shall know Word of the Day http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Main_Page just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, About Wikinews Print Edition these three; but the greatest of For more information about Wikinews these is love. ~ Paul of Tarsus Print Edition visit: http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Wikinews:Print Word of the Day osculation n 1. The action of kissing. 2. A kiss.

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