News Stories

[flying ^]

tsk
this is what you get for being 'mouthy' to your mother!

*link to article about a mother killing both of her childern for being 'mouthy'.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41319561...me_and_courts/

[MeoTwister5]

Or she was out of her goddamned mind. I think the second one is more accurate.

[ganbaru]

Iran hangs Iranian-Dutch woman for drug smuggling
http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNew...70S0WS20110129

TEHRAN (Reuters) - An Iranian-Dutch woman, arrested after taking part in anti-government protests in Iran in 2009, has been hanged for drug smuggling, the semi-official Mehr news agency said on Saturday.

Not too sure what to think about this one; don't they always use the accusation of spying when they want to put someone in jail for almost no reason ?

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by MeoTwister5

Or she was out of her goddamned mind. I think the second one is more accurate.

She was probably one of the moms which Bioware tested Dead Space 2 on. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

[bladeofdarkness]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

She was probably one of the moms which Bioware tested Dead Space 2 on. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Bioware didn't make Dead space 2.

[Washu-Chan]

Diddy Sued for $1 Trillion, Blamed for 9/11 - The Hollywood Reporter

And here's what Valerie Joyce Wilson Turks looks like:



"I'm gonna sue Diddy for... ONE TRILLION DOLLARS!"

*cue laughter from judge and jury*

[risingstar3110]

Japan won the Asian Cup (the soccer one) for the fourth time... it's probably worth to mention here...

Was a bit torn for the final, but i do think Japan deserve the win as they have gotten to the final more convincingly. And the goal was beautiful as well

[justsomeguy]

Originally Posted by flying ^

tsk
this is what you get for being 'mouthy' to your mother!

*link to article about a mother killing both of her childern for being 'mouthy'.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41319561...me_and_courts/

More details here: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/jan...-in-new-tampa/

The article I linked to shows that the two kids were not delinquents, rather outstanding academically. Combining this with the expression on her face while the cops are taking her away, the clear conclusion is that the woman is completely bonkers.

And if her kids really are mouthy to her, I don't disagree with that at all. They have a right not to be stuck with a deranged murderous psycho, even if she is their mother.

[Vexx]

Originally Posted by justsomeguy

More details here: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/jan...-in-new-tampa/

The article I linked to shows that the two kids were not delinquents, rather outstanding academically. Combining this with the expression on her face while the cops are taking her away, the clear conclusion is that the woman is completely bonkers.

And if her kids really are mouthy to her, I don't disagree with that at all. They have a right not to be stuck with a deranged murderous psycho, even if she is their mother.

Aye... these were good kids apparently. Its basically just a horrible situation. and another example of our health care system utterly failing on the topic of mental healthcare (as well as most preventative care).

[SaintessHeart]

The first utter-bullshit to be published on Sunday :

Worst of euro crisis over, ministers say

DAVOS, Switzerland (MarketWatch) — European leaders have shown they’re capable of taking the steps needed to stabilize the European single currency, allowing the euro-zone to turn the corner in the sovereign-debt crisis, the region’s most powerful finance ministers told the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting on Saturday.

Noting “indications in the market of confidence,” French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said the “euro-zone has turned the corner.”

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said the euro would be “stable.”

Although the lack of a common budgetary policy had created turmoil, the euro zone is well on the way to creating the tools needed to ensure the stability of the euro after taking lessons from recent bouts of contagion and volatility, he said, in the same wide-ranging panel discussion on the economic outlook, which also included British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, World Bank President Robert Zoellick, Barclays PLC /quotes/comstock/23s!a:barc (UK:BARC 298.20, -1.20, -0.40%) Chief Executive Robert Diamond.

“We will deliver. You will see,” Schaeuble said.

European officials are debating a range of potential measures for a permanent rescue mechanism and increased coordination and monitoring of fiscal policy.

The remarks came in a week that saw French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel both use Davos to pledge a commitment to defending the euro.

The single currency has rebounded this month to trade at levels last seen in November. The rally has been fueled at least in part by increased optimism European officials are moving toward a longer-term resolution of a debt crisis that has forced Greece and Ireland to seek bailouts and threatens to push Portugal and possibly Spain.

Diamond offered a qualified endorsement, saying that the view within the banking sector is that the crisis has moved from an “acute” stage in 2010 to a more “chronic” condition today.

“I don’t think anyone is suggesting volatility in the market” is completely over, he said, later adding that the prospect of a euro break-up was now viewed as off the table.

Panel members offered a relatively upbeat outlook for global growth over the next year, with emerging economies seen leading the way.

Concerns for emerging countries have shifted to fears over overheating, inflation, asset bubbles and the potential for boom-bust, Zoellick said.

Yu Yongding, an economics professor and former adviser to China’s central bank, said he wasn’t worried about China’s short-term prospects, but acknowledged concerns over a potential real-estate bubble amid “tremendous” demand for housing.

Osborne said the unexpected 0.5% decline in British fourth-quarter gross domestic product reported earlier this week was disappointing even after taking into account the impact of bad weather. He reiterated that the government would continue to press ahead with austerity measures, arguing that trimming Britain’s debt is key to restoring long-term growth.

He said the government was attempting to remove “supply-side obstacles’ to growth. The government’s aim is to convince British companies, which are sitting on cash reserves equal to 5% of gross domestic product, to start spending, Osborne said.

Here is what they should do :

1. The British should cut down on building extra houses and convert old factories into living quarters or refurbish them for manufacturing.

2. The Germans should start making secured loans using the countries' lands as collateral. Then clean up the supply side of the equation!

3. Italy should cut back on military and housing expenditure. And do some real product exports and cut down on investment in floating financial instruments like bonds, and invest in real inventory like steel, or even cheese.

4. Ultimately, whoever is borrowing should seriously cut down on leverage because not only is it risky, it indirectly inflates the currency leveraged on. The Euro may see some hope if the borrowers FUCKING STOP OVER-LEVERAGING. Anything above 2:1 in terms of state-to-state borrowing is ridiculous - it is TAXPAYERS' MONEY, and if the position is lost the TAXPAYERS will be the one paying. Otherwise, the Euro will be dead in 3-4 years time.

[yezhanquan]

The "worst" may be over, but what will fall the euro will not be the worst, but a long period of "bad". It's enough.

[ganbaru]

Originally Posted by yezhanquan

The "worst" may be over, but what will fall the euro will not be the worst, but a long period of "bad". It's enough.

We don't know; we might get another crisis soon...

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by ganbaru

We don't know; we might get another crisis soon...

1-2 years. Minimum. We are shifting towards a buyout in the Equities market now, but that is only the start.

When the money shifts OUT, that is when we get the crisis when big corp loses all their money supply during the divesting.

[Ithekro]

Does this mean that the United Kingdoms stand on the Pound might benefit them if the Euro falls?

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by Ithekro

Does this mean that the United Kingdoms stand on the Pound might benefit them if the Euro falls?

Their economy will be hammered, but yes, their country won't descend into chaos.

Though the exchange rate of the pound leaves much to be desired after that......

[ganbaru]

Over 99 percent of south Sudan votes to separate
http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNew...70T0G820110130
I don't think than anybody could refuse the result.

[bladeofdarkness]

Originally Posted by ganbaru

Over 99 percent of south Sudan votes to separate
http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNew...70T0G820110130
I don't think than anybody could refuse the result.

last elections in Egypt (just a couple of months ago) gave the current ruling party 95% of the votes.
general rule in voting is, that if one side of the topic gets over 90% of the votes, something is off.

[yezhanquan]

Originally Posted by bladeofdarkness

last elections in Egypt (just a couple of months ago) gave the current ruling party 95% of the votes.
general rule in voting is, that if one side of the topic gets over 90% of the votes, something is off.

Last I heard, there weren't any "Thousands cheered, danced and ululated" in the Egyptian case. Mubarak couldn't pay that many people to do so.

That being said, separation is no magic bullet. South Sudan has a lot of work cut out for it.

[SaintessHeart]

Egypt, being a Muslim country, poses a threat to the world if it destabilises. Radicals will move in (Iran included) and make it another hotspot in the world.

And I wish I had more real money. So I can have tons of fun scalping oil during the middle of this week. Apparently it isn't smart to divest in a long term utility, but then again, nothing beats panic on the market.

OTOH :

Looters smash treasures and mummies in Egyptian Museum

Spoiler for text:

(Reuters) - Looters broke into the Cairo museum housing the world's greatest collection of Pharaonic treasures, smashing several statues and damaging two mummies, while police battled anti-government protesters on the streets.

Arabiya television showed soldiers, armed and in battle fatigues, patrolling the museum that houses tens of thousands of objects in its galleries and storerooms, including most of the King Tutankhamen collection. Display cases were shattered and several broken statues and porcelain figures lay on the floor.

A number of display cases appeared to have been emptied of some of their contents during Friday night's break-in.

Egypt's top archaeologist, Zahi Hawass, told state television Egyptians on the street had tried to protect the building, but that the looters had entered from above. Two mummies on display had been damaged.

"I felt deeply sorry...when I came this morning to the Egyptian Museum and found that some had tried to raid the museum by force last night," Hawass, chairman of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said.

The museum is adjacent to the headquarters of the ruling National Democratic Party that protesters torched ad earlier set ablaze in protests demanding the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak. Some was still rising from the building on Saturday morning.

I hope the curse of the pharaohs are still as potent as they say.

Tunisian Islamists show strength at chief's return

Spoiler for text:

(Reuters) - Thousands of Tunisians turned out on Sunday to welcome home an Islamist leader whose return from 22 years of exile indicated that his party would emerge as a major force in Tunisia after the ousting of its president.

The reception for Sheikh Rachid Ghannouchi, leader of the Ennahda party, at Tunis airport was the biggest showing by the Islamists in two decades, during which thousands of them were jailed or exiled by president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.

Ghannouchi was exiled in 1989 by Ben Ali, who was toppled on January 14 by popular protests that have sent tremors through an Arab world where similarly autocratic leaders have long sought to suppress Islamist groups.

Protesters in Egypt demanding an end to President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule have been inspired by the example of Tunisia. Egypt's main opposition group is also Islamist, but played no part in organizing the protests there.

Ennahda is expected to contest future legislative but not presidential elections, dates for which have yet to be set.

The Islamists were Tunisia's strongest opposition force at the time Ben Ali cracked down on them in 1989 but are thought not to have played a leading role in the popular revolt.

But at Tunis airport on Sunday, they were out in force.

Up to 10,000 young men and veiled women packed the arrival hall and car park. Some climbed trees and electricity pylons to catch a glimpse of the 69-year-old Ghannouchi, who says he has no ambition to run for state office.

"Oh great people who called for this blessed revolution, continue your revolution, preserve it and translate it into democracy, justice and equality," Ghannouchi told the crowd, to chants of "Allahu Akbar."

Ennahda supporters embraced each other in joy. A group of men performed prayers on a grass verge, a scene unthinkable in Tunisia just a few weeks ago.

Ennahda likens its ideology to that of Turkey's ruling AK Party, saying it is committed to democracy. Experts on political Islam say its ideas are some of the most moderate among Islamist groups.

SECULAR ORDER IMPOSED

Tunisia has imposed a secular order since independence from France in 1956. Habib Bourguiba, the independence leader and long-time president, considered Islam a threat to the state. Ben Ali eased restrictions on the Islamists when he seized power in 1987, before cracking down on them two years later.

The protests which dislodged Ben Ali and electrified the Arab world have largely dried up in the last few days following the announcement on Thursday of a new interim government purged of most of the remnants of Ben Ali's regime.

The security forces have tried to restore order to the capital, where confrontations between shopkeepers and protesters have indicated dwindling support for demonstrators on the part of Tunisians who want life to return to normal.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, speaking at the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, said the United Nations would be "pleased to help the people of Tunisia freely choose their leaders through timely and credible elections."

Ghannouchi told the crowd the path to democracy was "still long." "Unite and consolidate, democracy cannot happen without national consensus and development can only happen with justice and democracy," he said.

Ennahda activists wearing white baseball caps tried to marshal the crowds. Asked how they had managed to organize so quickly, one activist said: "Our activities were stopped, but you can't disperse an ideology."

Some Ennahda activists were among the political prisoners released under an amnesty granted by the interim government.

A handful of secularists turned up at the airport to demonstrate against the party, holding up a placard reading: "No Islamism, no theocracy, no Sharia and no stupidity!"

Ennahda and its supporters say they do not seek an Islamic state and want only the right to participate in politics.

"We want a democratic state," said Mohammed Habasi, an Ennahda supporter who said he had been jailed four times since 1991 for "belonging to a banned group."

"We suffered the most from a lack of democracy," he said.

Abdel Bassat al-Riyaahi, another Ennahda activist who returned from exile, said: "We were banned for 21 years ... but we came back with our heads held high.

"Thank God for the great Tunisian people."

Sounds like bad news to me. If a very religiously inclined person takes a political stance, he's a politician, not a religious leader. And what makes one think that he/she can wholly trust what a politician says?

Also,

China blocks "Egypt" searches on micro-blogs

Spoiler for text:

(Reuters) - China blocked the word "Egypt" from micro-blog searches in a sign that the Chinese government is concerned that protests calling for political reform in the country could spill into China's internet space.

Searches Sunday for "Egypt" on micro-blog functions of Chinese web portals such as Sina.com and Sohu.com -- sites comparable to Twitter -- showed phrases saying search results could not be found or could not be displayed in accordance with regulations.

More than 100 people have been killed in Egypt in five days of unprecedented protests that have rocked the Arab world.

Sunday, more than 1,000 protesters gathered in central Cairo, demanding President Hosni Mubarak step down and dismissing his appointment of a vice president.

China issued a warning to its citizens in Egypt Sunday, urging Chinese travelers to reconsider their plans or seek assistance from the Chinese government in Egypt.

Chinese state media has reported on the unrest, including coverage of the scores of deaths and Mubarak's first appointment of the vice-president, an announcement that may be a nod toward a political successor.

Friday, China's official Xinhua news agency reported that cell phone and internet access were cut in Cairo.

But China's censorship of its micro-blogs appears to be aimed at preventing events in Egypt from setting an example of political opposition at home.

China says the Internet is free and open for its 450 million users, but the government blocks numerous social networking sites like Twitter, Flickr, Facebook and YouTube, which have been used to mobilize protests around the world.

It also routinely closes sites or scrubs content considered harmful to China's security or in breach of the Chinese law.

The Global Times, a popular tabloid published by China's Communist Party, said in a commentary Sunday that democracy was not compatible with conditions in Egypt or Tunisia, and that "color revolutions" could not achieve real democracy.

Color revolutions, a term first coined to describe democracy protests in former Soviets states, lead to "street-level clamor" in African and Asian emerging democracies, the Global Times said.

Protesters in Tunisia's "Jasmine Revolution" forced President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali into exile in mid-January.

"Democracy is still far away in Tunisia and Egypt. The success of democracy takes concrete foundations in economy, education and social issues," the Global Times said.

"But when it comes to political systems, the Western model is only one of a few options," the paper said.

Sureeee.......breed the same kind of sheep with the same education, they will have the same level of stupidity. Of course democracy wouldn't work if the general populace are so easily influenced by wing groups led by charismatic self-serving nuts.

So, anyone wants a ride on the grass-mud-horse?

Nonetheless, Chinese New Year will be on Thursday.

Chinese ready for upheaval, sex in Year of the Rabbit

TRADITION AND SUPERSTITION

While such traditional beliefs are widespread in Hong Kong, Taiwan and the overseas Chinese world, they have been discouraged by the officially atheist Communist Party in mainland China.

Yet superstition is common in China, and certain popular beliefs have surged in popularity following landmark economic reforms started in the late 1970s.

Chinese cities will resound with firecrackers and fireworks during the festival, which are believed to scare off evil spirits and attract the god of wealth to people's doorsteps.

There are many taboos too. Washing your hair signifies washing away good luck, while the word for "four" is avoided, as it sounds like the word for "death."

"My father says we can't pick up the red fireworks casings from the ground in the courtyard. If we leave them it will be a good omen for next year and everyone will get wealthy," said Wang Fang, 24, a Beijing accountant.

Feng Rongxin, a 52-year-old Beijing office worker, said people born in the Year of the Rabbit must wear red clothing and jewellery to ensure good fortune, and that setting the right atmosphere at home was important.

"In my family, we'll make sure the house has a decorative rabbit feel. We'll put at least one rabbit (decoration) in the house for each member of the family, and with 14 people, that's a lot of rabbits," she said.

Chinese pet shops are reporting a brisk trade in the animals.

"Rabbits are easy to take care of. People who frequently travel for business are especially fond of owning rabbits," said rabbit seller Chen Yuan.

But People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals objects.

"There's no better time to help rabbits than during the Year of the Rabbit, and you can do so by refusing to support the pet trade that causes so many animals to suffer," the group's Maggie Chen said.

Wait. How about having this one in your house?

Spoiler for Warning : Moe:

She's not only warm and cuddly, and she brings luck AND wealth too right?

]

[ChainLegacy]

Originally Posted by bladeofdarkness

last elections in Egypt (just a couple of months ago) gave the current ruling party 95% of the votes.
general rule in voting is, that if one side of the topic gets over 90% of the votes, something is off.

In elections, yeah, since it's unlikely one candidate is THAT much better liked. But this isn't about electing someone; this actually is an issue I can see 90% of people agreeing on. Now whether it's true or not I don't know, but I don't think what you said applies.