Free speech and Chick-fil-A

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino vowed to block Chick-fil-A's effort to open an outlet in that city. But the freedom to express unpopular viewpoints must be protected too.

The Muppets are well within their rights to shun Chick-fil-A after the chain restaurant donated to anti-gay groups and its president, Dan Cathy, made statements implying a strong, biblically-based stand against same-sex marriage. They're private, um, puppets. But public officials have a responsibility to carry out their ministerial tasks fairly and evenhandedly — and to uphold the principle of free speech — whether or not they like a business executive's social or political stances. We disagree heartily with Cathy, but are far more troubled by the reaction of Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, who vowed to block Chick-fil-A's effort to open an outlet in that city.

Cathy's recent pronouncements on marriage provoked a storm of protest as well as support. Jim Henson Co. announced it would sign no more deals to feature its toys at the chicken restaurant. There were threats to boycott the company's food. Others swore to boycott the Muppets.

Boycotts are a time-honored way for consumers and groups to express their views through their spending power, though it's worth noting that just as Americans have split along more divisive lines politically, so have their shopping habits. Some people won't travel to Utah because of Mormon support for Proposition 8; others won't step foot in aJ.C. Penneybecause of its ads featuring same-sex couples. As both a private citizen and a prominent public figure, Menino is welcome to abstain from fried chicken sandwiches and urge others to do likewise.

VIDEO: Chick-fil-A makes a controversial statement about gay marriage

It's a different matter if he attempts to trample the free-speech rights of others by using the power of his office to fight against a business license for Chick-fil-A. Menino suggested that it would be appropriate to block the chain from opening in Boston because Cathy's views amount to discrimination. That would rightly apply if Chick-fil-A were to refuse service to gay customers; the city has a right and an obligation to prevent discriminatory actions against its residents and visitors. But there's no evidence that any such thing has occurred.

Menino referred derisively to Chick-fil-A's possible plans to open a restaurant along the city's Freedom Trail, considering Cathy's stand on marriage freedom. That too misreads law and history. It was the freedom to express politically unpopular views and to oppose such views that the Founding Fathers fought to establish. Boston used to be known as the prudish place most likely to ban anything outside of a set of strait-laced moral beliefs. Without freedom to express once unpopular viewpoints — in this case, full civil rights for gay and lesbian couples — Massachusetts wouldn't have become the first state to recognize same-sex marriage.

Yankees acquire Ichiro for two prospects

SEATTLE -- The trade that Ichiro Suzuki had quietly lobbied his former club to complete became reality on Monday, bringing the icon's era to an abrupt end on an overcast afternoon at Safeco Field.

Within a matter of hours, Ichiro had introduced himself to his new Yankees teammates, tried on uniform No. 31 for size and settled into the eighth spot in the batting order, both a fresh beginning and emotional goodbye for the Emerald City fan favorite.

"I'm going from a team having [some of] the most losses to a team with the most wins, so it's been hard to maintain my excitement in that regard," Ichiro said through an interpreter.

Ichiro's voice quivered as he spoke of the support he has received since joining the Mariners in 2001, saying he was "overcome with sadness" at the thought of never wearing a Seattle uniform again.

But Ichiro said he recognized he no longer fit on a young and rebuilding Mariners club, approving the trade to the Yankees because he believes it offers him a good chance at winning a World Series title.

"I think he's going to fit in great," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He made the decision to want to make a move. Because he was on board with it, I think he's excited about it. I don't think this will be a real big adjustment for him."

The pieces of the deal came together so quickly, Girardi had been planning to put together his usual lineup before team brass told him to wait. As Ichiro stepped in for his first at-bat as a Yankee, he bowed and doffed his helmet before lining a single to center field off Kevin Millwood.

The Yankees sent right-handers D.J. Mitchell and Danny Farquhar to Seattle to complete the deal, and will assume just $2.5 million of Ichiro's contract until he is eligible for free agency next year. The Yankees designated outfielder Dewayne Wise for assignment to create room for Ichiro.

"This was something that was a surprise," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "It's an opportunity. I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out for us, because I do think he can really help us. I look forward to seeing if that's the case or not."

While Ichiro's performance has dipped at age 38 and he is no longer the impact player who notched 2,533 hits with Seattle, the Yankees are hoping he can simply step in and be a complementary piece to replace the injured Brett Gardner, who hasn't played since April 17 and is out for the season.

"I've enjoyed playing against him for 11 1/2 years; he's someone I've always admired from afar," Yankees captain Derek Jeter said. "I've had the opportunity to play with a lot of great players throughout the years. I'm looking forward to playing with him."

Ichiro is playing right field for now, as the Yankees expect to get Nick Swisher back from a left hip flexor strain when they return to the Bronx on Friday. Ichiro said that he does not have much experience in left field, but the thought does bring fond memories.

"I haven't played left for a long time, to be honest with you, but the last time I played left was a playoff game -- my first playoff game in Yankee Stadium [in 2001], so it's a very memorable position for me for that reason," he said.

Cashman said that the initial trade winds formed in conversations between Mariners president Chuck Armstrong and Yankees president Randy Levine. Cashman and his Mariners counterpart, Jack Zduriencik, hammered out the final agreement on Monday.

"This was a conversation that stood above the general managers," Cashman said. "Randy asked me, 'Would you have an interest in Ichiro? There might be something that could make sense.' From there we went."

As he was welcomed into the clubhouse, Ichiro shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with CC Sabathia and Phil Hughes before hugging Freddy Garcia, a former Seattle teammate. Alex Rodriguez called Ichiro a "great guy."

Rafael Soriano, who also played with Ichiro in Seattle, jokingly admonished the outfielder, "Don't be late for stretch. 5:30." He heeded Soriano's warning; Ichiro was on time, jogging out of the third-base dugout to shrieks and cheers from his old home crowd.

Ichiro spent some of his time on Monday discussing uniform numbers with Rob Cucuzza, the club's equipment manager. Ichiro's No. 51 may be iconic in Seattle, but when embroidered on pinstripes, it evokes Bernie Williams -- and no Yankee has worn it since. Ichiro yielded, selecting No. 31 instead.

"Of course No. 51 is a special number to me, but when I think about what 51 means to the Yankees, it's hard for me to ask for that number," Ichiro said. "I'd like to have a new number and then make that my own."

Now in his 12th big league season, Ichiro switched clubhouses batting .261 with four home runs, 28 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 95 games for Seattle. He believes that coming to New York will rejuvenate his performance.

"Of course, that is my intention," Ichiro said. "Especially looking at how the Yankees are doing right now, I just want to do whatever I can to be helpful to the Yankees."

Yankees acquire Ichiro for two prospects

SEATTLE -- The trade that Ichiro Suzuki had quietly lobbied his former club to complete became reality on Monday, bringing the icon's era to an abrupt end on an overcast afternoon at Safeco Field.

Within a matter of hours, Ichiro had introduced himself to his new Yankees teammates, tried on uniform No. 31 for size and settled into the eighth spot in the batting order, both a fresh beginning and emotional goodbye for the Emerald City fan favorite.

"I'm going from a team having [some of] the most losses to a team with the most wins, so it's been hard to maintain my excitement in that regard," Ichiro said through an interpreter.

Ichiro's voice quivered as he spoke of the support he has received since joining the Mariners in 2001, saying he was "overcome with sadness" at the thought of never wearing a Seattle uniform again.

But Ichiro said he recognized he no longer fit on a young and rebuilding Mariners club, approving the trade to the Yankees because he believes it offers him a good chance at winning a World Series title.

"I think he's going to fit in great," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He made the decision to want to make a move. Because he was on board with it, I think he's excited about it. I don't think this will be a real big adjustment for him."

The pieces of the deal came together so quickly, Girardi had been planning to put together his usual lineup before team brass told him to wait. As Ichiro stepped in for his first at-bat as a Yankee, he bowed and doffed his helmet before lining a single to center field off Kevin Millwood.

The Yankees sent right-handers D.J. Mitchell and Danny Farquhar to Seattle to complete the deal, and will assume just $2.5 million of Ichiro's contract until he is eligible for free agency next year. The Yankees designated outfielder Dewayne Wise for assignment to create room for Ichiro.

"This was something that was a surprise," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "It's an opportunity. I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out for us, because I do think he can really help us. I look forward to seeing if that's the case or not."

While Ichiro's performance has dipped at age 38 and he is no longer the impact player who notched 2,533 hits with Seattle, the Yankees are hoping he can simply step in and be a complementary piece to replace the injured Brett Gardner, who hasn't played since April 17 and is out for the season.

"I've enjoyed playing against him for 11 1/2 years; he's someone I've always admired from afar," Yankees captain Derek Jeter said. "I've had the opportunity to play with a lot of great players throughout the years. I'm looking forward to playing with him."

Ichiro is playing right field for now, as the Yankees expect to get Nick Swisher back from a left hip flexor strain when they return to the Bronx on Friday. Ichiro said that he does not have much experience in left field, but the thought does bring fond memories.

"I haven't played left for a long time, to be honest with you, but the last time I played left was a playoff game -- my first playoff game in Yankee Stadium [in 2001], so it's a very memorable position for me for that reason," he said.

Cashman said that the initial trade winds formed in conversations between Mariners president Chuck Armstrong and Yankees president Randy Levine. Cashman and his Mariners counterpart, Jack Zduriencik, hammered out the final agreement on Monday.

"This was a conversation that stood above the general managers," Cashman said. "Randy asked me, 'Would you have an interest in Ichiro? There might be something that could make sense.' From there we went."

As he was welcomed into the clubhouse, Ichiro shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with CC Sabathia and Phil Hughes before hugging Freddy Garcia, a former Seattle teammate. Alex Rodriguez called Ichiro a "great guy."

Rafael Soriano, who also played with Ichiro in Seattle, jokingly admonished the outfielder, "Don't be late for stretch. 5:30." He heeded Soriano's warning; Ichiro was on time, jogging out of the third-base dugout to shrieks and cheers from his old home crowd.

Ichiro spent some of his time on Monday discussing uniform numbers with Rob Cucuzza, the club's equipment manager. Ichiro's No. 51 may be iconic in Seattle, but when embroidered on pinstripes, it evokes Bernie Williams -- and no Yankee has worn it since. Ichiro yielded, selecting No. 31 instead.

"Of course No. 51 is a special number to me, but when I think about what 51 means to the Yankees, it's hard for me to ask for that number," Ichiro said. "I'd like to have a new number and then make that my own."

Now in his 12th big league season, Ichiro switched clubhouses batting .261 with four home runs, 28 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 95 games for Seattle. He believes that coming to New York will rejuvenate his performance.

"Of course, that is my intention," Ichiro said. "Especially looking at how the Yankees are doing right now, I just want to do whatever I can to be helpful to the Yankees."

Yankees acquire Ichiro for two prospects

SEATTLE -- The trade that Ichiro Suzuki had quietly lobbied his former club to complete became reality on Monday, bringing the icon's era to an abrupt end on an overcast afternoon at Safeco Field.

Within a matter of hours, Ichiro had introduced himself to his new Yankees teammates, tried on uniform No. 31 for size and settled into the eighth spot in the batting order, both a fresh beginning and emotional goodbye for the Emerald City fan favorite.

"I'm going from a team having [some of] the most losses to a team with the most wins, so it's been hard to maintain my excitement in that regard," Ichiro said through an interpreter.

Ichiro's voice quivered as he spoke of the support he has received since joining the Mariners in 2001, saying he was "overcome with sadness" at the thought of never wearing a Seattle uniform again.

But Ichiro said he recognized he no longer fit on a young and rebuilding Mariners club, approving the trade to the Yankees because he believes it offers him a good chance at winning a World Series title.

"I think he's going to fit in great," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He made the decision to want to make a move. Because he was on board with it, I think he's excited about it. I don't think this will be a real big adjustment for him."

The pieces of the deal came together so quickly, Girardi had been planning to put together his usual lineup before team brass told him to wait. As Ichiro stepped in for his first at-bat as a Yankee, he bowed and doffed his helmet before lining a single to center field off Kevin Millwood.

The Yankees sent right-handers D.J. Mitchell and Danny Farquhar to Seattle to complete the deal, and will assume just $2.5 million of Ichiro's contract until he is eligible for free agency next year. The Yankees designated outfielder Dewayne Wise for assignment to create room for Ichiro.

"This was something that was a surprise," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "It's an opportunity. I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out for us, because I do think he can really help us. I look forward to seeing if that's the case or not."

While Ichiro's performance has dipped at age 38 and he is no longer the impact player who notched 2,533 hits with Seattle, the Yankees are hoping he can simply step in and be a complementary piece to replace the injured Brett Gardner, who hasn't played since April 17 and is out for the season.

"I've enjoyed playing against him for 11 1/2 years; he's someone I've always admired from afar," Yankees captain Derek Jeter said. "I've had the opportunity to play with a lot of great players throughout the years. I'm looking forward to playing with him."

Ichiro is playing right field for now, as the Yankees expect to get Nick Swisher back from a left hip flexor strain when they return to the Bronx on Friday. Ichiro said that he does not have much experience in left field, but the thought does bring fond memories.

"I haven't played left for a long time, to be honest with you, but the last time I played left was a playoff game -- my first playoff game in Yankee Stadium [in 2001], so it's a very memorable position for me for that reason," he said.

Cashman said that the initial trade winds formed in conversations between Mariners president Chuck Armstrong and Yankees president Randy Levine. Cashman and his Mariners counterpart, Jack Zduriencik, hammered out the final agreement on Monday.

"This was a conversation that stood above the general managers," Cashman said. "Randy asked me, 'Would you have an interest in Ichiro? There might be something that could make sense.' From there we went."

As he was welcomed into the clubhouse, Ichiro shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with CC Sabathia and Phil Hughes before hugging Freddy Garcia, a former Seattle teammate. Alex Rodriguez called Ichiro a "great guy."

Rafael Soriano, who also played with Ichiro in Seattle, jokingly admonished the outfielder, "Don't be late for stretch. 5:30." He heeded Soriano's warning; Ichiro was on time, jogging out of the third-base dugout to shrieks and cheers from his old home crowd.

Ichiro spent some of his time on Monday discussing uniform numbers with Rob Cucuzza, the club's equipment manager. Ichiro's No. 51 may be iconic in Seattle, but when embroidered on pinstripes, it evokes Bernie Williams -- and no Yankee has worn it since. Ichiro yielded, selecting No. 31 instead.

"Of course No. 51 is a special number to me, but when I think about what 51 means to the Yankees, it's hard for me to ask for that number," Ichiro said. "I'd like to have a new number and then make that my own."

Now in his 12th big league season, Ichiro switched clubhouses batting .261 with four home runs, 28 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 95 games for Seattle. He believes that coming to New York will rejuvenate his performance.

"Of course, that is my intention," Ichiro said. "Especially looking at how the Yankees are doing right now, I just want to do whatever I can to be helpful to the Yankees."

Sally Ride: The celebrity-shy, first US woman in space

Sally Ride loved everything about space. What she didn't like was being the first American woman to experience it.

It took years — if not decades — for her to get comfortable with her galactic status.

What drew her out was her San Diego-based education company, Sally Ride Science, which promotes science and math careers for girls and young women. She was determined to give back and she did, a thousand times over before her death on Monday at age 61.

The Soviet Union had been lofting female cosmonauts into orbit going back to the flight of Valentina Tereshkova in 1963, who orbited the Earth for almost three days.

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Ride burst onto the public stage 20 years later when NASA chose her to be the nation's first woman in space.

With her catchy space-flying name and rock-solid science credentials, Ride inspired females the world over with her historic shuttle flight in 1983, five years after she and five other women gained entry to NASA's exclusively male astronaut club.

Some of those girls who looked up to Ride, way back when, went on to become astronauts themselves. Ride, a physicist, proved that women could be equal partners in space and that they, too, could aspire to such heights.

Ride was intensely private, though, and spurned the news media.

Her astronaut ex-husband, Steve Hawley, recalled Monday how she found herself "a very public persona," and "it was a role in which she was never fully comfortable."

"While she never enjoyed being a celebrity, she recognized that it gave her the opportunity to encourage children, particularly young girls, to reach their full potential," Hawley said in a statement.

In all, Ride flew just twice in space, both times aboard Challenger. A third shot at orbit vanished when the Challenger blew up. She found herself investigating the 1986 launch accident and in 2003 was back on a presidential panel looking into Columbia's destruction during its trip back to Earth, the echoes, as she put it, coming in loud and clear.

She lamented the fact that on the 20th anniversary of her record-breaking spaceflight, she was presiding over yet another shuttle tragedy.

Yet she said she'd jump at the chance to fly again on a shuttle, even after such horrific events, provided she could skip all the hard work that went into a mission.

There were times, though, that she wished she hadn't been first. Her female astronaut colleagues back then said they were glad it wasn't them.

The scrutiny, in and outside NASA, was off the scale. Ride was bombarded with sexist questions by reporters before her maiden voyage.

One newsman asked whether Ride wept when things went wrong. Another reporter asked if she planned to have children, and another wondered if she'd wear a bra in space. "There is no sag in zero-g," she replied.

At one point, Ride complained, "It's too bad this society isn't further along and this is still such a big deal."

She refused this reporter's request for an interview on the 10-year anniversary of her flight, but accepted a chance at reminiscing on the 20th.

"It was a huge honor," Ride said in an interview with The Associated Press in 2003. "On the other hand, it sure did complicate things. I'm the sort of person who likes to be able to just walk into the supermarket and not be recognized. I can do that most of the time now."

"A lot of people recognize the name. Very few recognize my face. That's very good," she said, laughing. "That is very good."

Ride was encouraging and highly supportive when astronaut Eileen Collins became the first female shuttle pilot and, consequently, commander back in the 1990s.

Collins was among the young women inspired by Ride's courageous journey and, like so many others, were stunned to learn of her death.

"Sally left us too soon," Collins said in a statement put out by NASA. "God Speed Sally, you will be greatly missed."

Amelia Earhart: Why the mystery continues

Today Google celebrates the 115th birthday of aviatrix Amelia Earhart – and one of the great unsolved 20th-century mysteries. Sorry, Amelia, no birthday present this year. But it's not been for a lack of trying.

Throughout the years there have been a number of search attempts to find Earhart or wreckage of her plane. Now 75 years after she vanished in her Lockheed Model 10 Electra over the Pacific Ocean, the most recent hope of finding evidence of Earhart's plane is fading.

Discovery News reported last week that a $2.2 million expedition by The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR) came to an end due to the challenges of exploring a steep, underwater coral cliff.


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You remember, a couple of months ago, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held a press conference, and gave an boost to the credibility to the TIGHAR hunt for Earhart's plane.

TIGHAR researchers believed that when Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan went missing July 2, 1937, they made an emergency landing on a reef near the uninhabited island Nikumaroro.

“Everything has pointed to the airplane having gone over the edge of that reef in a particular spot and the wreckage ought to be right down there,” Rick Gillespie, the founder and executive director of TIGHAR, told The Associated Press in early July. There were reports of a 1937 British photo that showed the wreckage of the plane in the background.

“We’re going to search where it ‘should be,’” he said. “And maybe it’s there, maybe it’s not. And there’s no way to know unless you go and look.”

But last week, TIGHAR called off the expedition because of the difficulty of searching the reef. The slope of the reef was quite steep, and it was filled with nooks, crannies, caves, and crevices. One researcher at TIGHAR questioned the feasibility of the search.

In addition, two "targets" – which they thought could have been part of the wreckage of Earhart's plane – turned out to be a large coral boulder and a piece of the keel from The Norwich City, a well-known ship wreck.
“Given what we now know about this place, is it reasonable to think that an airplane which sank here 75 years ago is findable?” asked Patricia Thrasher, TIGHAR’s president, in an interview with Discovery News. “It would be easy to go over and over and over the same territory for weeks and still not really cover it all." And added Thrasher: "The aircraft could have floated away, as well.”

The TIGHAR search, funded in part by Discovery Channel and FedEx, began on July 3, and was scheduled to last about 26 days. Since 1989, TIGHAR has conducted 10 expeditions near Nikumaroro Island, which is part of the Pacific nation of Kiribati.

TIGHAR researchers say that significant finds on Nikumaroro lead them to continue to believe Earhart and Noonan may have survived as castaways there for some time. They found a zipper from the 1930s, a cosmetic bottle – possibly for anti-freckle cream – and human bone fragments.

Other researchers who have been involved in searching for clues to Earhart’s disappearance say TIGHAR has been looking in the wrong place. Earhart, who was attempting to become the first woman to circumnavigate the globe, had planned to stop and refuel on Howland Island. Some say she wouldn’t have had enough fuel to make it to Nikumaroro, which is about 400 miles southeast of Howland Island.

They also point to Earhart’s last radio transmission; it is thought that when Earhart made her last radio call she was within 75 miles of Howland Island, though the surrounding area has been comprehensively searched.

TIGHAR points to other radio signals they say came from Nikumaroro; radio signals that at the time were dismissed as a hoax and then forgotten.

“Radio distress calls believed to have been sent from the missing plane dominated the headlines and drove much of the US Coast Guard and Navy search,” Gillespie told Discovery News. “When the search failed, all of the reported post-loss radio signals were categorically dismissed as bogus and have been largely ignored ever since.”

Other artifacts found throughout the years point to long-term habitation on the island. Broken pieces of glass could have been used as cutting or scraping tools, and large numbers of fish and bird bones near ash and charcoal deposits suggest someone was surviving on the island.

Researchers also found a pocket knife, part of a man’s shoe, and part of a woman’s shoe, all thought to be clues to Earhart’s disappearance.

Other rumors have included a theory that Earhart was really a spy for the US, and was captured by the Japanese.

Baring hard evidence, for now it seems, Earhart's disappearance will remain as mysterious as ever.

Christine Welch No.1 American Chinese Pop Singer

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