Last week I wrote about the DEA and narcosubmarines.

Today, the DEA helped Ecuadoran police seize one.

The DEA says (received by e-mail, no link yet, press release should be available here soon):

As a result of DEA intelligence, Ecuadorian authorities were able to seize the vessel before it was able to make its maiden voyage. This is the first seizure of a clandestinely constructed fully operational submarine built to facilitate trans-oceanic drug trafficking.

I'm not sure why this is a first. In 2008, when Captain Nemo was arrested, police said they found two and destroyed them. More on Captain Nemo here.

The World Cup went WWE this week when Argentina, particularly its insane coach Maradona, and Germany (who knew the Germans liked to talk trash?) spent the past few days exchanging insults.

The cards will be out early for this must see game. I like Argentina.

Spain plays Paraguay in the afternoon.

Another holiday weekend arrives. Anyone have any special plans?

Paris Hilton has been cleared in South Africa of possessing a joint. It looks like it will be a slow news weekend, a good time to kick back and do something different. But what?

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

In response to today's horrendous employment report, the the White House spin is appalling:

Today’s employment report shows continued signs of gradual labor market recovery. Private nonfarm payroll employment increased by 83,000 in June and the unemployment rate fell two-tenths of a percentage point to 9.5%. June marks the sixth month in a row that private sector employment has increased. These continued signs of healing are important, particularly given the recent volatility in world markets and the mixed behavior of other recent economic indicators. However, much stronger job gains are needed to repair the damage caused by the financial crisis and put the millions of unemployed Americans back to work.

This is sheer nonsense. 652,000 left the work force this month. Only 82,000 private sector jobs added. This is unbelievable nonsense from the White House. And to no avail. No one believes it. The White House's delusions on the jobs issue is a clear and imminent threat to the political prospects of the Democrats, in 2010 and 2012.

Speaking for me only

Markos Moulitsas and Daily Kos have filed their federal lawsuit against Research 2000 alleging the weekly polls Daily Kos commissioned from them included phony and falsified data. You can read the lawsuit here. Attorney Adam Bonin (pro hac vice) and Nathan Dooley of COZEN O'CONNOR in LA are representing Markos and Kos Media, LLC in the suit which has been filed in the federal district of Northern California.

A few days ago, I read some blogposts on the suit and got the general gist of what happened, but not being a statistician, I got lost by reading their findings.

Adam and Nathan do a great job with the civil complaint. They understand judges aren't statisticians, and write in simple language that lawyers and lay people can understand. (Theoretically, after all, since these cases are usually settled, juries don't hear most of them. But you can never be sure, so you better be able to break down the tech talk to something they can relate to. Adams succeeds very well at this.

Here's how. [More...]

World Cup -Brazil v. Netherlands this morning. Should be a great game. I like Brazil.

Wimbledon - Berdych v. Djokovic as we speak. Nerdych up a set. Later, Nadal v. Murray. A match to watch.

Tour de France - Prologue time trial tomorrow morning from Rotterdam (temporarily moved to France this year.) Stages 1 through 3 will take the peloton through the Netherlands and Belgium - cobbles and the Ardennes. After heading back to France, through the Alps and the Pyrennees, the Tour finishes on the Champs Elysees July 25.

Open Thread.

Vicki Pelaez, a reporter with El Diaro, has been granted bail in the Russian spy case.

The judge said there was no evidence she had been trained as a spy and she is a U.S. citizen. Her husband is Juan Lazaro, who according to the Government, waived his Miranda rights and confessed. He also said his name is not Juan Lazaro but refused to reveal his identity.

Peruvian news articles have been filled with articles about Ms. Pelaez, since much of her family is there and she used to work for El Diaro in Peru.

A niece of Mr. Lazaro in Uruguay denies he is a spy and says the family will be coming to the U.S. to see what is going on.

(Disclosure: BTD says Ms. Pelaez worked for him at El Diaro in the 90s.)

Glenn Greenwald wrote about the whole Godwin's Law thing regarding his latest spat with Joe Klein and appears to have experienced a "Marshall McLuhan moment," as Godwin himself explains Godwin's Law:

Ezra Klein writes:

[I]magine if Congress is able to extend the deficit-busting Bush tax cuts but not unemployment benefits. But that, of course, is what most people think they're going to do. This will be a test for any politician who claims to care about the deficit. If they're willing to let the tax cuts expire -- a tough decision, given the politics of taxes -- it's good evidence that they're serious about cutting the debt. If they're not willing to let the cuts expire, it's irrefutable evidence that they're not.

(Emphasis supplied.) A test for everyone, not just the pols. The most famous "deficit hawk" is Peter J. Peterson. Does anyone think he will be opposing a tax cut for the rich? You think he'll have David Walker out there beating the drums against a tax cut for the rich? Me neither.

Speaking for me only

Open Thread.

The Portland Police Bureau has announced:

The Portland Police Bureau has made the decision to re-open the case regarding the allegations brought forward against Mr. Al Gore. Consistent with our policy regarding open investigations, the Police Bureau will not be commenting on any additional specifics regarding this case at this time.

Earlier today, I predicted no one would want to hear more from the accuser, who has now come forward, identified herself and said she's willing to file a police report.

No reason has been given for the Portland police department's decision. It could just mean they will hear her out, and then make the same decision: No probable cause a crime was committed by Gore. Or, maybe they will let her make a statement and then charge her with false reporting. Or, maybe they will decide there is a prosecutable case. Seems doubtful to me. [More...]

Tim Masters was wrongfully convicted of first degree murder in 1999 and sentenced to life in prison. The murder occurred when he was 15. He was charged in 1998. He was freed in 2008, after serving 10 years in prison, when DNA evidence was tested that excluded him and pointed to another suspect.

Today, the grand jury in Larimer County Colorado indicted the lead detective on his case, James Broderick, on eight counts of perjury. The Indictment is here. Broderick focused on Masters since 1987 when he first interviewed him, and never changed his mind. Prosecutors initially cleared him of misconduct (the current prosecutor said he was guilty of malfeasance, not misfeasance) but new evidence came to light suggesting Broderick lied about his involvement in the investigation, both in affidavits and on the witness stand.

DNA finally showed Masters was not guilty. At trial, there was no physical evidence linking Masters to the crime, and other evidence was withheld or destroyed. [More...]