More weird stuff from Zimbobland.
Susan Dhliwayo claims she pulled her car over recently to pick up a group of male hitchhikers and they refused to get in, because they feared they were going to be raped.
"Now, men fear women. They said: 'we can't go with you because we don't trust you'," 19-year-old Miss Dhliwayo recounted.
Local media have reported victims of the highway prowlers being drugged, subdued at gun or knife point even with a live snake in one case given a sexual stimulant and forced into repeated sex before being dumped on the roadside.
The sperm hunters first surfaced in the local press in 2009 but police have only arrested three women, found with a plastic bag of 31 used condoms in October. The attacks have continued since they were nabbed for allegedly violating 17 men.
"We do not have the exact number of confirmed cases," said national police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena. "These cases occurred mostly when the victims were hitchhiking and boarded private vehicles. We encourage people to use public transport."
The sperm's exact use is not clear but is thought to be intended for "juju" or traditional rituals to bring luck anything from enhancing good fortune, boosting business or preventing a criminal from being detected. It is also not known why the semen is taken forcibly from strangers.
"It's really an issue which is mind boggling," said University of Zimbabwe sociologist Watch Ruparanganda, who believes it is a lucrative business. "It's quite a big mystery. Obviously we know (it is) being used for rituals."
Ruparanganda said he was astonished to discover seven years ago that semen appeared to have become a tradable commodity, while doing research for his doctoral thesis among Harare street youth who told him that businessmen would take them to hotels, give them new clothes and ply them with booze.
They were then told to pick a prostitute and to hand over the used condom after sex. "It just shows there's some big racket somewhere, some big guys driving everything, but they are in the background and using these ladies," said Ruparanganda.
The Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association criticised the practice. "We believe that this is a form of witchcraft. So we are totally against the idea," said spokesman George Kandiyero. "It has really frightened people," he said. "It has really brought in a bit of shock because normally it was the other way round, normally we know of men raping women, not women raping men."
A Zimbabwean women's rights group has criticised the spotlight shifting to male rape victims, and paid for a newspaper advert to deplore that violence against women in the country is not met with the same degree of shock.
The three women linked to the case, meanwhile, have stirred much attention and public anger. Audiences pack into the dreary courtrooms each time they appear in the dock, and one of their lawyers said they have received death threats. No law in Zimbabwe criminalises rape by women so the trio, arrested with one man, face 17 counts of aggravated indecent assault, though no trial date has as yet been set.
Dumisani Mthombeni, a lawyer for two of the women and the man, complained that five months after their arrest, prosecutors have yet to produce DNA test results, a charge sheet or witness statements but nonetheless have "paraded (the women) on national television as female rapists". "We have not been given anything nothing," Mthombeni said. "We believe they don't want us to go to trial because they arrested the wrong people."
The case has triggered a mix of shock, intrigue and humour such as one newspaper cartoon showing a nude hitchhiker hoping to be picked up by a female driver but also fear among some men.
"Of course we are scared," said a 26-year-old hitchhiker on a highway south of Harare, adding he would not get into a car driven by a woman. "Even if she's old, we can't."
[An Nahar] Spain's second largest city Barcelona on Wednesday said it would soon outlaw street prostitution, imposing fines on both hookers and their clients.
The city hall said the new rules were expected to come into play in May.
Prostitution is not illegal in Spain and a number of parties on the municipal council suggested a change in the law was needed rather than a municipal edict.
Currently street prostitution is only illegal in the city if it is carried out near schools or churches.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2012 00:00 ||
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[Daily Nation (Kenya)] Grammy-winning pop legend Whitney Houston died from accidental drowning in her hotel bathtub after taking cocaine which could have triggered a heart attack, coroners said Thursday.
Houston, who died at age of 48 in the bathtub of a Beverly Hills hotel room last month, likely had some kind of heart attack which caused her to slip under the water, said the LA County Coroner's office.
"You have a heart condition exacerbated by cocaine use which, combined, resulted in her drowning," spokesman Craig Harvey told AFP, adding: "We feel that there was a heart event, complicated by cocaine use," before she drowned.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2012 00:00 ||
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#3
The Daily Nation is queer about links. If you really want to read the original, do a google search with the headline in quotes plus "daily nation". It'll pop right up.
#7
"Bathroom djinn" > Just as Osama had Babe-vs-Babe probs between his assorted Wives, Osama's favorite MTV Babe Whitney also has had her share wid the Men in her life. e.g. tabloids from Yarns back whom alleged romantic/sexual improprieties between Her + the "Son" whom is now dating her daughter.
It amazea me how GUAM TAOTAMONAS, Etal. could forewarn or predict these Events many years andor decades in advance - you try not to believe that People + Govts could behave or act as alleged by the Ghosts, etal. but then thingys come along or occur to make you think "ZOOOMG, THEY WERE RIGHT"!?
#8
It's a good thing so few heed the Taotamonas, JosephM, or the entire fabric of causality would be destroyed. Truly, we have much to be grateful for.
[Bangla Daily Star] A biological clue to male baldness has been discovered, raising the prospect of a treatment to stop or even reverse thinning hair.
In studies of bald men and laboratory mice, US scientists pinpointed a protein that triggers hair loss.
Drugs that target the pathway are already in development, they report in the journal Science Translational Medicine. The research could lead to a cream to treat baldness.
Most men start to go bald in middle age, with about 80 percent of men having some hair loss by the age of 70. The male sex hormone testosterone plays a key role, as do genetic factors. They cause the hair follicles to shrink, eventually becoming so small that they are invisible, leading to the appearance of baldness.
Now, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have analysed which genes are switched on when men start to go bald. They found levels of a key protein called prostaglandin D synthase are elevated in the cells of hair follicles located in bald patches on the scalp, but not in hairy areas.
Mice bred to have high levels of the protein went completely bald, while transplanted human hairs stopped growing when given the protein.
Prof George Cotsarelis, of the department of dermatology, who led the research, said: "Essentially we showed that prostaglandin protein was elevated in the bald scalp of men and that it inhibited hair growth. So we identified a target for treating male-pattern baldness.
Aaaaaargh. Prostaglandins are NOT proteins! They are lipids synthesized from fatty acids. Fer cryin' out loud Perfesser...
You mean I shouldn't buy a blow dryer?
"The next step would be to screen for compounds that affect this receptor and to also find out whether blocking that receptor would reverse balding or just prevent balding -- a question that would take a while to figure out."
Aha! I smell a grant opportunity.
The inhibition of hair growth is triggered when the protein binds to a receptor on the cells of hair follicles, said Prof Cotsarelis. Several known drugs that target this pathway have already been identified, he added, including some that are in clinical trials.
The researchers say there is potential for developing a treatment that can be applied to the scalp to prevent baldness and possibly help hair regrow.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2012 00:00 ||
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#1
I know why men go bald. Their hair falls off.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
03/24/2012 9:06 Comments ||
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No, Deacon, it doesn't fall off, it just slides down - into ears, nose, onto back etc.
#3
"The researchers say there is potential for developing a treatment that can be applied to the scalp to prevent baldness and possibly help hair regrow."
Isn't that called Rogaine?
Posted by: Barbara ||
03/24/2012 11:12 Comments ||
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Aha! I smell a grant opportunity.
..follow the money. This smells like crony capitalism for barbers.
[Bangla Daily Star] For the second time in two months, Api Khatun of Shailkupa upazila in Jhenidah came under acid attack on Thursday night allegedly by her former husband and co-wife.
This time, her face was severely burnt, doctors say. She was first rushed to Jhenidah Sadar Hospital. As her condition deteriorated, the hospital authority yesterday referred her to the burns unit at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
She hails from Bhagabannagar village under Shailkupa.
Mother of the victim, Latifa Begum said the same culprits carried out the attack around 10:30pm on Thursday when Api was sleeping at the house.
Api returned home on March 15 from the DMCH burns unit after treatment for two months. The 15-year-old girl first came under acid attack on January 8 when the left side of her body got burnt.
On January 9, the victim's family filed a case with Shailkupa Police Station accusing four people including Api's former husband Ershad Ali and former co-wife Lailee begum. Police are yet to arrest any one of them.
But since then, she was threatened with dire consequences to withdraw the case.
Victim's father Laltu Mondol said Api was married to Ershad of the same village in July last year. Following torture by her co-wife Lailee, Api divorced him in October. She took admission to class eight again at Bhatoi Secondary School in Shailkupa.
Lailee in association with her husband and other relatives threw acid on Api being suspicious that her husband was continuing relation with Api, claimed the father, adding that he filed a GD (general diary) with Shailkupa police on Thursday.
Api told journalists at Jhenidah Sadar Hospital in a feeble voice that she had requested the administration to take necessary steps against the culprits.
Resident Medical officer Dr Rashed Al-Mamun of Jhenidah Sadar Hospital confirmed that Api was burnt with acid.
Officer-in-Charge Ahsan Habib of Shailkupa Police Station admitted the incident. "The accused are hiding after the first incident. We are trying to nab the culprits," he added.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2012 00:00 ||
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Nuevo Leon state PRI leader, Francisco Herrera Leon asked to think carefully where and with whom they want to go the PRI, because we must "keep preparing for what comes, without faltering or giving in."
"There is no room for hesitation or for the simulation, ours is a ship bound with crew and captain at the helm. Nobody has to lose, all together we will come to fruition," he said.
The remarks was given at the monument erected in memory of Luis Donaldo Colosio Murrieta, during the eighteen years after his death.
Alsoin attendance were the sector leaders and organizations of the PRI, members of the CDE, local MPs, candidates for elected federal and Ali Jesus de la Torre, the PRI candidate to the State Government,
Leo Herrera said Donaldo Colosio was a demanding critic who never betrayed his convictions.
"He understood very clearly that the art of politics lies not in the graceful flight of their ideological convictions, but in strengthening their competitive edge."
After the assassination of Donaldo Colosio, the entire upper tier of PRI, who were serving in then president Carlos Salinas de Gartari's cabinet was disqualified from replacing Colosio as the PRI candidate. Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon was the best least worst choice for PRI candidate president of the republic.
#4
good guy, as I remember it. They caught a lone gunman, but his motives were unclear, and there were two shots - a Mexican JFK conspiracy?
Posted by: Frank G ||
03/24/2012 14:26 Comments ||
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A charismatic Kennedyesque figure whose ideas of true change and reform within the PRI frightened its leaders (el dinosarios). An inside job by frightened party old-timer. There is a large memorial to him in his hometown of Magdalena, Sonora - a couple hours south of Tucson. Conspiracy theorists also suggest the PRI was also afraid of the rise of another Sonoran dynasty: tough edged northeners ruling over the soft mannered chocolate eaters of the south. RIP Don Colosio.
#6
One theory about the assassination advanced by Mexian novelist Carlos Fuentes and others is that Mexican president Carlos Salinas de Gortari commissioned the murder because Donaldo Colosio was drifting away from PRI ideology and drifting left.
But that theory is absurd because the upper echelons of PRIists had to know they would be out of the running were Colosio to be killed.
My theory is that someone from the left had him killed, either from the then nascent mainstream leftist PRD, many of whose members suffered horribly at the hands of previous PRI politicians during the Dirty War, or it was the Zapatistas, whose guerilla war was shut down by a one two punch of Mexican national government action and military action just three months before.
[Dawn] Germany on Friday swore in new president Joachim Gauck, who warned the government that it had a historical obligation to help Europe's weakest members as they struggle to stay financially afloat.
Gauck, the first head of state from the former communist east, delivered the impassioned appeal to members of parliament and Chancellor Angela Merkel ...current chancellor of Germany. She was educated in East Germany when is was still run by commies, but in 1989 got involved with the growing democracy movement when the Berlin Wall fell. Merkel is sometimes referred to by Germans as Mom... in the light-flooded chamber of the Reichstag parliament building.
"We must keep saying yes to Europe," said Gauck, who was elected president by a special assembly with an overwhelming majority on Sunday.
"Particularly in times of crisis, the tendency to retreat to the level of the nation state is very common.
European unity is however impossible without the life's blood of solidarity. Particularly in the crisis, we must dare to have more Europe."Gauck, 72, said that languishing under the Nazi and then the communist dictatorships had made the notion of a united Europe living in peace, freedom and prosperity a driving force of his political awakening.
"Europe was the promised land for my generation," he said.
"For my grandchildren, Europe has long been part of their day-to-day reality, with freedom across borders and the opportunities and concerns of an open society. This reality is an achievement, not only for my grandchildren."
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2012 00:00 ||
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bit confused. what's the role of the President vs. that of the chancellor?
Posted by: Otto Untervehr6460 ||
03/24/2012 14:56 Comments ||
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Chancellor is prime minister. President is an elected figurehead, like Queen Elizabeth II, only without the bloodlines or the lifetime tenure.
[Dawn] A woman police officer of the city has accused two men of accosting her near Westridge late Wednesday night in an attempt to kidnap her.
In her complaint filed with the Race Course cop shoppe on Thursday, SHO Bushra Batool alleged that the two men, one of whom claimed to be her husband, in a white-colour car blocked her car while she was on her way home around 11:30 pm with her brother.
Unable to move, she said she locked her car and refused to roll down the window at their demand. Angry, the two attacked her car and smashed its windscreen and tried to kidnap her.
Ms Batool, who heads the only Women Police Station in Rawalpindi, identified one of the alleged stalkers as Sardar Shafqat Hussain, who claims to be her husband. She said she would recognise his accomplice too in an identification parade.
"Sardar Shafqat Hussain wanted to kidnap me. They beat up my brother and threatened me with dire consequences," she said. Race Course police booked Sardar Shafqat Hussain on the criminal charges pressed by Ms Batool.
According to police sources, Sardar Shafqat already had filed a complaint against her with Regional Police Officer (RPO) Rawalpindi claiming that she had been living with him for the last four years under `Mutaa` (temporary marriage) arrangement. He claimed he had given her over Rs2.5 million and a large quantity of gold which she had not returned him.
Despite repeated efforts, SHO Bushra was not available for comments. Race Course police said no arrests had been made yet.
Sardar Shafqat Hussain`s complaint against her has meanwhile been sent to CPO office for further proceeding.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2012 00:00 ||
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#1
Ahhh, the benefits of a modern, progressive civil society.
Sounds like someone has a Palimony suit or breach of contract or maybe prostitution without a license.
File under "culture of violence."
[Dawn] Former Pakistain captain Shahid Afridi attacked and slapped a fan at Bloody Karachi ...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It may be the largest city in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous... airport after he returned home from Dhaka where Pakistain won the Asia Cup final against Bangaldesh on Thursday.
Pakistain television channels showed Afridi, wearing a pink T-shirt, first push a youth to the ground and then slap him before his brother intervened and pulled him away in a melee on Friday night.
The incident took place shortly after Afridi had spoken to the media and praised Bangladesh for their outstanding performance in the Asia Cup final.
The footage showed Afridi heading for a waiting car when he turned around and attacked the youth and then pointed his finger at another man before his brother stepped in.
Afridi told news hounds he had lost his temper because his young daughter Ajwa had been pushed to the ground.
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2012 00:00 ||
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[An Nahar] Lebanese authorities are weighing up what action to take after a group of newly recruited policewomen showed up for training wearing the hijab, a security official said on Friday.
The policewomen, numbering nearly 40 and all reportedly Shiites, were among hundreds who sat for an exam to join the Internal Security Forces earlier this year.
But when they turned up for their first training exercise this week, they wore the hijab, an Islamic headscarf, which goes against the military's code of conduct, the security official told Agence La Belle France Presse.
A government official said several of the policewomen had agreed to remove the garment, but about 20 refused and did not take part in the training session.
"According to the military code of conduct, whether it be for the police, army or general security, all religious symbols are not allowed," said the security official.
"Any symbols linked to a community or religion are banned, whether it be a cross, a veil or any other symbol," he added. "We are simply applying the law."
Posted by: Fred ||
03/24/2012 00:00 ||
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Jihad Turk, and if you don't believe a guy with the name Jihad, well then who will you believe
director of religious studies at LA's Islamic Center of Southern California, says that of the roughly 750,000 Muslims living in Southern California, just 30,000, or about 4%, regularly attend Friday prayer. And when I interview members of the center's offshoot, the Muslim Establishing Communities of America (MECA), whose target demographic is unaffiliated young adults, they say there are few Muslim institutions where they feel comfortable.
Younger Muslims say they don't like the gender segregation at prayers and the imams imported from other countries who repeat the same Friday sermons, known as Khutbahs, week after week. the author of the article generalizes this to all moslems in the US but gives no info about anything but LA
Posted by: Lord Garth ||
03/24/2012 00:00 ||
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Kids always rebel against their parents' values. What chance does the promise of 72 virgins in the afterlife stand against a makeout session with Ms. Mary Jane Hotpants out behind the bleachers?
Girls, cars, computers, MTV, alcoholic beverages - America just seethes with infidel hotness. Just try and keep up with that, Islamo-biatches!
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[An Nahar] Spain's second largest city Barcelona on Wednesday said it would soon outlaw street prostitution, imposing fines on both 
Grammy-winning pop legend Whitney Houston died from accidental drowning in her hotel bathtub after taking cocaine which could have triggered a heart attack, coroners said Thursday.
[Bangla Daily Star] A biological clue to male baldness has been discovered, raising the prospect of a treatment to stop or even reverse thinning hair.
For the second time in two months, Api Khatun of Shailkupa upazila in Jhenidah came under acid attack on Thursday night allegedly by her former husband and co-wife.
[Dawn] A woman police officer of the city has accused two men of accosting her near Westridge late Wednesday night in an attempt to kidnap her.
