The James Logan Courier

By Tim Johnson
McClatchy Newspapers (MCT)

BEIJING — The discreet outdoor sign is gone from the Starbucks coffee shop in Beijing's most famous historical site, the Forbidden City.

But the outlet there is generating sudden heat on the Internet and in newspapers, sparked by a journalist who contends that its presence is "obscene" and a "trashing of Chinese culture."

"All I want is for Starbucks to move out of the Forbidden City peacefully, quietly. And we'll continue enjoying Starbucks elsewhere in the city," said Rui Chenggang, a popular television anchorman who set off the drive.

By Tuesday, the issue hit the front page of the high-selling Beijing News, and Rui's personal blog on the matter drew a half-million page views and thousands of responses, many of them nationalistic calls for the removal of the Starbucks outlet.

By Bill Ferguson
McClatchy Newspapers (MCT)

I can't understand why anyone would want to run for president. Who in their right mind would willingly open himself up to the kind of scrutiny and criticism that a person has to endure just to compete for what is probably the most difficult, stressful job in the world?

Obviously some people do covet the position badly enough to try to run that bruising gauntlet because every four years a number of high-profile politicians throw their hats in the ring. I guess we should be grateful that is the case, but it's painful just to watch the process chew people up and spit them out sometimes.

By Christina Jewett
McClatchy Newspapers (MCT)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Ten employees of KDND were fired Tuesday and the "Morning Rave" morning radio show has been cancelled in wake of a water-drinking contest Friday that left a woman ill hours before she died, apparently of water intoxication.

Jennifer Lea Strange, 28, drank one and three-quarters of a gallon of water — according to another contestant — Friday morning during a "Hold your Wee for a Wii" contest in which competitors had to drink as much water as they could without going to the bathroom for a Nintendo game system.

From Rick LaPlante, New Haven Schools Public Information Officer

One teacher is getting money for a treasure chest, an aquarium, a suitcase and other props that she can use to help English language learners understand classroom stories. Two others will be able to buy puppets that will help them promote dialogue, critical thinking and problem-solving as part of their lessons. Still others will purchase extra books, learning games, science materials and supplies for school and community gardens.

By Bobbi Maas, Courier Staff Writer

Logan prevailed 2-0 in a well-matched game with Irvington Thursday.

Logan‘s focus led to their victory; it blurred the talents of the other team. The crowd was engaged in the game and their excitement seemed to increase Logan‘s drive.

Huddie William Ledbetter (January 20, 1888 - December 6, 1949) was an American folk and blues musician, notable for his clear and forceful singing, his virtuosity on the twelve string guitar, and the rich songbook of folk standards he introduced. He is best known as Leadbelly or Lead Belly.

Although his most commonly-played instrument was the twelve string, he could also play the piano, mandolin, harmonica, violin, concertina, and accordion. In some of his recordings, such as in one of his versions of the folk ballad "John Hardy", he performs on the accordion instead of the guitar.

The topics of Lead Belly's music covered a wide range of subjects, including gospel songs, blues songs about women, liquor, racism, folk songs about cowboys, prison, work, sailors, cattle herding, dancing, and songs concerning the newsmakers of the day, such as President Franklin Roosevelt, Adolf Hitler, the Scottsboro Boys, and multi-millionaire Howard Hughes.

Watch Lead Belly and play "Pick a Bale of Cotton," free from youtube.com