Refinery Falls, Fashion Faux Pas

Iraq: The country’s biggest oil refinery appears to have fallen into the hands of Sunni Islamic militants after the army and helicopter gunships failed to hold them back. Black militant banners are reported to be hanging high within the refinery. Reports from the scene and the government are conflicting, with the government saying it still controls the Baiji refinery and the fighting continues. Loss of the refinery would deny fuel and a primary source of income to the government, while potentially becoming a financial goldmine for the militants.

Sacked: The US Patent and Trademark office has cancelled six federal trademarks for “Washington Redskins” because the name is “disparaging to Native Americans” and in violation of the law banning offensive trademark names. The 2-1 decision was the result of a complaint brought by five American Indians. The Redskins lawyer said, “The evidence in the current claim is virtually identical to the evidence a federal judge decided was insufficient more than ten years ago.” The team won’t have to change its name because of the ruling, but it will not have trademark protection if they lose on appeal.

World: Mexican authorities have found 28 bodies in a mass grave in the eastern state of Veracruz. They say there could be more. The region has been the battleground for warring drug dealers and is also a route for migrants headed to the US.

Nation: An 89 year old former Nazi prison guard was arrested in Virginia Tuesday on charges that he was complicit in the gassing of 216,000 Jews at the infamous Auschwitz extermination camp. Johann Breyer, who came to the US in 1952, told US authorities 20 years ago that he worked at Auschwitz, but it was against his will and he had nothing to do with the killing of inmates. New evidence found by German prosecutors resulted in a request for Breyer’s arrest and extradition back to Germany.

Out of Fashion: Dov Charney, the founder and CEO of the American Apparel affordable clothing chain has been fired by his own board. Charney, 45, is the dirty old man behind the company’s sexy ads and billboards. He’s been plagued by sexual harassment lawsuits. Charney staffs the office with beautiful women and likes to dip his pen in the company ink. The board wouldn’t give its reasons, but the LA Times quotes a source saying, “He was totally taken by surprise, which is part of the problem,” the source said. “He’s going to fight like hell to get this company back, but he won’t succeed.”

Futebol: Chile eliminated defending champion Spain 2-0 in the World Cup tournament. Chile moves on and Spain goes home.

Bateball: Dodger pitcher Clayton Kershaw threw a no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies in Los Angeles last night. A throwing error by the shortstop allowed a man on base, denying Kershaw a perfect game. It was the 12th no-hitter in LA Dodgers history and the 284th in Major League Baseball.

The Obit Page: The man who said “Think Small” in 1959 and convinced American drivers to buy the tiny Volkswagen Beetle has died at age 93. Julian Koenig was considered one of the cleverest advertising writers ever. He was involved with the Timex watch slogan, “It takes a licking and keeps on ticking.” Koenig coined “Earth Day,” taking his inspiration from the day of the first celebration, was also his birthday. When he was inducted into the Copywriters Hall of Fame in 1966 Koenig said, “The hardest thing in the world to resist is applause,” he said at his induction. “Your job is to reveal how good the product is, not how good you are, and the simpler the better.”

Boardroom Barbie: Mattel Toys has released “Entrepreneur Barbie,” a doll it hopes will be an inspiration to business success for little girls. She comes with a smartphone and a tablet, although we’d like to point out that, like all Barbies, she wears heels no real woman could walk in.

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