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Border Patrol agent gunned down in southern AZ
Today's Headlines
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-Short Attention Span Theater-
Saudi wife disguised as a young man arrested
I think we've actually seen this play...
[Emirates 24/7] A Saudi woman named Portia stole from her husband and ran away from her house to live with men for two months, disguised as an Emirati young man who had run away from his family before she was seized by police, a local daily reported on Tuesday.

The unnamed woman, in her 30s, cut short her hair and wore men's clothes before fleeing her house in the western town of Alqunfudah to the nearby Red Sea port of Jeddah, where she lived with a family of four men for nearly two months, the Arabic language daily Okaz said.

She had used her husband's cash card to withdraw SR5,000 and drive all the way to Jeddah, where she met a member of that family, the paper said.

"She lived with that family for nearly two months, posing as an Emirati young man who had decamped his family in the UAE because of a dispute over their lifestyle...she was driving a car through Jeddah streets and going to mosque to pray with men...she then went to the Jeddah Islamic Guidance Centre and sought help from its director as a man having a problem," Okaz said.

"The woman was later exposed and jugged by police. She has been jugged pending trial on charges of theft, fleeing her house and imitating men...she will also be referred to the psychiatry hospital for examination."

Okaz did not say how the woman was uncovered or why she had decamped her husband.
Posted by: Fred || 12/15/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  did not say how the woman was uncovered

Maybe she was uncovered by being seen uncovered?
Or maybe it was the mess she made at the urinal (though I'm not sure she'd do significantly worse than some men.)
Posted by: Glenmore || 12/15/2010 9:18 Comments || Top||

#2  Resetting cookie.... :-(
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 12/15/2010 12:23 Comments || Top||


Africa North
Egypt Ex-MPs Announce 'Alternative' Parliament
If they're not careful the coppers will thump knobs on their 'alternative' heads. Hosni's a pretty bare-faced dictator.
[An Nahar] Egypt's new parliament convened for the first time on Monday, as about 20 opposition politicians defeated in disputed legislative polls announced the formation of their own rogue legislature.

The new parliament re-elected Fathi Srour as speaker ahead of a formal opening session on Sunday, while prominent opposition figure and independent MP Mustafa Bakri read a statement on the creation of the "People's Parliament."

Bakri and other legislators, including from the opposition Mohammedan Brotherhood and the liberal Wafd party, stood on the steps leading to Egypt's State Council.

The State Council or Maglis al-Dawla is the court authorized to settle administrative disputes concerning the exercise of public power.

The rogue MPs pledged allegiance to respect the constitution and said their alternative parliament would reflect the will of the people.

Two dozen protesters also joined the politicians outside the court, some of them holding placards saying the November 28 and December 5 parliamentary elections should be nullified.

"Blatant fraud: Nul. Nul. Nul," said one sign.

Others held up a white banner that read: "This is the coffin of fairness and transparency."
Obama could use one of those banners for the White House porch.
A coalition of rights groups which monitored the vote has called for the dissolution of the new parliament.

The ruling National Democratic Party of geriatric President Hosni Mubarak clinched control of four-fifths of the new parliament, securing 420 of 508 seats, while independents garnered 70 seats and the opposition trailed far behind with 14 seats.

Wafd secured six seats although it had boycotted the second and last round of voting along with the Mohammedan Brotherhood on December 5.

The Mohammedan Brotherhood won a fifth of seats in parliament at the last election in 2005 and none in the last polls.
Posted by: Fred || 12/15/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Africa Subsaharan
US says sanctions possible against Ivory Coast
Why's it only "possible"? Laurent lost the election and he refuses to hand over control to his successor.
(KUNA) -- The B.O. regime said Tuesday that Cote DIvoire may face economic sanctions unless President Laurent Gbagbo gives up his seat to president-elect Alassane Ouattara.

"We are continuing to encourage President Gbagbo to step down and pave the way for an orderly transition," said State department front man Philip Crowley.

"We are looking for ways of, if necessary, putting pressure on him and those around him who are denying the will of the people of Cote DIvoire. So that is something that is certainly an option thats available to us," Crowley said of the possibility of sanctions, adding that will remain a possibility depending on the decisions that he makes.

Cote DIvoire government says it will take control of state institutions by the end of the week if incumbent president, Laurent Gbagbo, who also claimed victory in last month's election, continues to refuse to step down.

Meanwhile,
...back at the ranch...
the European Union has ramped up international pressure Monday by approving financial and travel sanctions on Gbagbo and his allies if he continues to cling to power.
Posted by: Fred || 12/15/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  This tempest in a literal teapot should be left to steam away without our even "Noticing" it.

Much like two Squirrels fighting over a nut is beneath notice.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 12/15/2010 12:28 Comments || Top||

#2  Of course.

African? Check.
Poor? Check. Violent? Check.
Ex-colony of France? Check.

Cut 'em off, Charlie...
Posted by: mojo || 12/15/2010 13:51 Comments || Top||

#3  On the contrary, RJ. We have one man duly elected as president, and the one that lost deciding HE "won" and refusing to step down. He's assumed dictatorial powers, using the rule of force rather than the government of reason. There's also a very good reason for US to be concerned: Cote d'Ivore is a very RICH country, with iron, diamonds, copper, zinc, and a dozen other cash exports. That could pump a lot of money into the hands of people that wish to cause as much harm as possible to the United States. That is a much less likely scenario under the duly-elected Ouattara than under the crooked pol Gbagbo. Besides, Africa doesn't need another "president for life". There's been enough murder and mayhem from the ones we've already seen, and it HAS affected the US. There is nowhere too small that it doesn't have some impact on the world at large, from Nauru (phosphates) to Russia (oil and gas).
Posted by: Old Patriot || 12/15/2010 13:52 Comments || Top||

#4  Foggy bottom did such a wonderful job with Honduras.
Posted by: Skunky Glins**** || 12/15/2010 20:28 Comments || Top||


Gbabgo troops blockade rival's headquarters
Actual elected presidents don't need to stage coups...
[Daily Nation (Kenya)] Troops loyal to defiant Cote d'Voire leader Laurent Gbagbo laid siege on his rival Alassane Ouattara's headquarters on Monday, in the first armed standoff of the west African nation's two-week-old crisis.

As EU foreign ministers in Brussels agreed measures against Gbagbo and his senior supporters, the incumbent deployed troops and gendarmes on access routes to Ouattara's United Nations-protected waterfront hotel base.

Gbagbo and Ouattara both declared themselves president in the wake of last month's disputed election. Ouattara has been recognised by the international community, but Ivorian army chiefs continue to back Gbagbo.

Pro-Gbagbo security forces blocked roads to the hotel from around midday until nightfall, then fell back into more discreet positions to monitor the situation, while allowing traffic to pass, witnesses and soldiers said.

A 10:00 pm to 5:00 am curfew remained in place on Monday, state television said, and will be prolonged from Tuesday for at least another week while being reduced in duration to the hours between midnight and 5:00 am.

Show of force
If the show of force outside the Abidjan hotel was designed to intimidate the Ouattara camp it failed. His prime minister, former rebel leader Guillaume Soro, announced a plan to retake government headquarters by Friday.

Former rebel fighters from the New Forces (FN) armed with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades took up defensive positions around the waterfront Hotel Golf, alongside UN peacekeepers equipped with armoured vehicles.

At around midday, a few hundred metres away, gendarmes and elite troops loyal to Gbagbo took control of two positions on the road running past the hotel, effectively controlling access to Ouattara's base in the port city.

The loyalist forces were equipped with trucks mounted with machine-guns and had rocket-launchers of their own, but there was no sign they were preparing to launch an assault and the situation was calm by nightfall.
Posted by: Fred || 12/15/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1 



Posted by: Uleatch Dribble8106 || 12/15/2010 13:51 Comments || Top||

#2  This is a time where napalm could be used so "persuasively". Seeing a column of armored vehicles suddenly become flaming coffins does a number on one's sense of personal security. Too bad we (the entire Western world) are too soft-hearted to use this very useful modern tool to its best advantage.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 12/15/2010 13:56 Comments || Top||


Arabia
Blatter says gays should refrain from sex during 2022 World Cup in Qatar
Posted by: tipper || 12/15/2010 07:16 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under:

#1  HS coach said the team should refrain before games too - but he never thought to specify gays in his prohibition.
Posted by: Glenmore || 12/15/2010 9:21 Comments || Top||

#2  Sounds like SC Justice Breyer on DC gun rights. Can you take the Metro to Maryland from Qatar?
Posted by: Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division || 12/15/2010 9:36 Comments || Top||

#3  Great PR - "soccer, it's a gay thing..."
Posted by: M. Murcek || 12/15/2010 10:58 Comments || Top||

#4  Maybe you dipwads should have thought of that before choosing Qatar for a host nation?

Or maybe it will be an intense learning experience for the world in 2022 about muzzie intolerance?

My prediction: Much wailing and gnashing of teeth, scapegoat sacrifice, nothing changes and is quickly forgotten.
Posted by: DarthVader || 12/15/2010 11:03 Comments || Top||

#5  Alternate headline: "Once again, multiculturalism eats its own head."
Posted by: Iblis || 12/15/2010 11:37 Comments || Top||

#6  If the pope had requested that gays refrain from sex during a World Cup held in Rome, do you suppose that Mr. Blatter would have been equally deferential? The analogy may not be perfect, but it's close enough to make the point.
Posted by: ryuge || 12/15/2010 11:59 Comments || Top||

#7  #3 Great PR - "soccer, it's a gay thing..."
Posted by M. Murcek


Just ask any rugby player.
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/15/2010 12:59 Comments || Top||

#8  Or else what?
Posted by: swksvolFF || 12/15/2010 13:00 Comments || Top||

#9  This just in:
Qatar No Longer Under Consideration For Figure Skating Championship

;-P
Posted by: ryuge || 12/15/2010 13:30 Comments || Top||

#10  Then 9 months later, a drop in birthrate, right?
What choo lookin' at?
Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 || 12/15/2010 17:41 Comments || Top||

#11  Geez, AA - give some warning, willya?

Now I've got to go scrub my eyes with Brillo....
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 12/15/2010 19:12 Comments || Top||


Caribbean-Latin America
Venezuela's Chavez requests rule by decree powers for 12 months
Lost an election? Just have the lame duck legislature vote a measure saying you can do anything you want.
[El Universal] Vice President Elías Jaua announced that the draft Enabling Law submitted to the National Assembly will be effective for 12 months and will allow President Hugo Chavez to have special decree powers to address the emergency caused by heavy rains in Venezuela.

The Venezuelan Vice President said that after the expected approval of the draft Enabling Law, "the first decree-laws will be passed in 15 days."

"The President has requested (special decree powers) for 12 months in order to create a package of laws required to address a serious crisis, which is mainly the result of structural causes that still keep Venezuelan people trapped in poverty. Natural phenomena occurred in the last decade due to the global climate change have worsened this crisis," Jaua said.
Posted by: Fred || 12/15/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under: Commies

#1  Heil Chavez?
Posted by: Water Modem || 12/15/2010 10:36 Comments || Top||

#2  What a great idea!
Posted by: Uleatch Dribble8106 || 12/15/2010 13:49 Comments || Top||

#3  I wonder how many decades "12 months" will extend to.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 12/15/2010 14:06 Comments || Top||

#4  In 12 months it will rain again.
Posted by: European Conservative || 12/15/2010 14:32 Comments || Top||

#5  Hugo Chavez: now so progressive that he's become a fascist... or is that redundant?

I can't quote Mein Kampf chapter and verse or anything (it's amazingly tedious), but I'm pretty sure the blueprint for what Chavez is doing is in there.
Posted by: Secret Master || 12/15/2010 15:15 Comments || Top||

#6  "Night of the long knives" can't be far off...
Posted by: PBMcL || 12/15/2010 15:49 Comments || Top||


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Alleged Putin paramour on cover of Russian Vogue
The newly appointed editor of Russian Vogue has courted controversy by putting Vladimir Putin's alleged mistress on her first front cover.

Posted by: Beavis || 12/15/2010 07:03 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


China-Japan-Koreas
South Korea stages evacuation drill
Posted by: rammer || 12/15/2010 19:21 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Down Under
Aussie Navy closes for Christmas, families first in new year
In the Navy
NAVY chiefs battling a staffing crisis have taken the unprecedented step of ordering a two-month shutdown over Christmas, and have told personnel with child-care problems that they can work from home.

The navy has also ordered all ships not deployed on operations home for Christmas to try to combat a 2020 shortfall in trained personnel.

In addition, the number of sailors forced to stay on board ships docked in their home port on "duty watch" as sentries will be reduced from previous levels of 15 to 20 people to a skeleton staff.

Instead sensors and alarms will be used to guard the ships, with the ultimate aim being to do away with the need for any people at all.

Navy chiefs say the drastic measures are part of a plan to combat recruitment problems by creating a more family-friendly environment.

All local commanders have also been ordered to allow personnel affected by the ABC Learning child-care crisis more flexible working arrangements - and to work from home if necessary - until they have found alternative care.

Defence, like most of the public service, relies on ABC Learning for child-care services for its workers. Hundreds of children of navy personnel have been affected by the collapse of the child-care giant.

Navy chiefs, in a communication to all local commanders, directed that "following the announcement that ABC child care has gone into receivership", they must be "understanding of this stressful situation as the new working year approaches".

"Local commanders are to make every effort to negotiate flexible working arrangements that allow families to manage their commitments at home and at work until the situation is resolved," the directive says.

The stand-down period will run from December 3 to February 3, and will be a permanent arrangement every year.

This Christmas 500 navy personnel will remain deployed overseas and in waters north of Australia. If an emergency occurs, other personnel will be ordered back to work.

But thousands of sailors who might previously have been deployed on ships over December and January on exercises or training activities will not be this year, and will be able to take longer than usual holidays.

The extraordinary measures are a part of an initiative called "New Generation Navy" aimed at attracting and retaining more staff by changing the culture of the navy and improving the work-life balance of personnel.

The navy loses 11 per cent of its workforce every year and last financial year only achieved 73 per cent of its full-time recruitment targets.

The Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Russ Crane, told the Herald "this program is about, where I can, providing an opportunity for our people to have a good break.

"This is about generating some space and taking advantage of an opportunity for [personnel] to be able to have a bit of time to spend with their families at home, a bit of time to spend with their mates."

He added: "It's about getting a culture in place that's about working smarter not harder, and I think we owe that to our people.

"By doing that I believe we can significantly reduce some of the separation rates we're seeing at the moment."

Leading Seaman Christine van Lieshout is a mother of three whose husband is also in the navy.

She believes the new Christmas arrangements will be "fantastic".

A reservist at navy headquarters at Russell in Canberra, Leading Seaman van Lieshout recalls spending Christmas in 2003 alone with her children because her husband, a chief petty officer, was on deployment to Christmas Island.

"That was pretty horrible," she said. "We were basically watching everyone else with their families … we received a phone call late in the afternoon from him and that was Christmas."

This year Leading Seaman van Lieshout and her husband, Rodney, will both go on leave on December 19, and will spend the holidays with their children Daniel, 16, Ashley, 11, and Stephanie, 13.

Her husband has just returned from a six-month deployment in the Gulf, during which time he missed his children's birthdays, Father's Day and a confirmation.

"The children have not had an opportunity to see their dad very much, so having the opportunity to have Rodney home a lot longer is fantastic because it gives them bonding time and takes a bit of pressure off me."

She said the initiatives were "fantastic for a lot of people".

Posted by: tipper || 12/15/2010 21:01 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:


50 believed dead at Christmas Island
It may slow down the Muslim invasion of Australia a little bit, but then again, maybe not.
ABOUT 50 asylum seekers were believed dead after their boat was smashed to pieces in violent seas off western Australia, the Royal Flying Doctor Service said, with 36 others injured.

"We understand, and it's not confirmed, that there are about 50 dead, and about 33 walking wounded,'' said Flying Doctors' spokeswoman Lesleigh Green, adding that they expected to pick up another three critically ill passengers.

Three asylum seekers are believe to be critically injured and will be airlifted to Perth.

Rough seas off Australia's northwest coast are continuing to hamper rescue, recovery and aid efforts hours later.

An Indonesian fishing vessel, believed to have been carrying up to 80 people from Iraq and Iran - including women and children - smashed into a cliff face at Christmas Island, about 2600km northwest of Perth.

Acting Prime Minister Wayne Swan said he had briefed PM Julia Gillard, who is on holiday, about the situation and said the rescue was on-going.

"We've just had a tragic incident," he said. "It will be some time before we have a clear picture of these events and their consequences."

"A number of people have been rescued and sadly ... a number of bodies have been retrieved."

Two planes from the Australian Flying Doctor Service were expected to fly from Perth to Christmas Island later Wednesday, but may not be able to land because of monsoonal weather conditions in the area, Sky News reported.
Posted by: tipper || 12/15/2010 06:52 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  are they muslims and if so is this supposed too be bad news?
Posted by: chris || 12/15/2010 8:22 Comments || Top||

#2  God doing the work government won't.
Posted by: Excalibur || 12/15/2010 8:57 Comments || Top||

#3  The drowning of innocents is always bad, Chris.

Check at the dry cleaners: you might have left your humanity there with your shirts.
Posted by: Steve White || 12/15/2010 9:10 Comments || Top||

#4  Excalibur and Chris, the definition of a jerk, according to Sidney J. Harris, is a person unable to look in a mirror and shudder at what he sees there.

Do not wish evil on anyone.
Posted by: mom || 12/15/2010 10:18 Comments || Top||

#5  There was an article on Facebook (don't have a link) that said a lot of Christians were fleeing the Middle East for anywhere they think they'll be welcome. I KNOW the Christians in Indonesia are looking for a way out, especially those in West Irian. Some of them have been hiking the 700 miles to Papua New Guinea. These refugees may be Muslim, but there's an equal chance they're Christians fleeing oppression.
Posted by: Old Patriot || 12/15/2010 13:39 Comments || Top||

#6  It really doesn't matter what religion they are, or even whether they had a right to flee to Australia or not: this is horrifying and tragic.
Posted by: Secret Master || 12/15/2010 15:09 Comments || Top||

#7  More of the same can be expected, if boats are still leaving Indonesia for Christmas Island. The summer wet season is in full swing and the seas North and West of the W.A. coast are a cyclone (hurricane) breeding area. Even the standard daily storms are extremely violent- a friend was managing some buildings up that way, and after a storm he would have to go up on the roof and clean off all the jellyfish.
Posted by: Grunter || 12/15/2010 16:44 Comments || Top||

#8  Check at the dry cleaners: you might have left your humanity there with your shirts.
The present Labor Government was trying to show its "humanitarian" and "compassionate" side when it started piling "sugar" on the table which lured these asylum shoppers to their death. But that's OK because good intentions which give you a warm fuzzy feeling is more important than good outcomes which sounds so mature and fuddy duddy.
Posted by: tipper || 12/15/2010 17:17 Comments || Top||

#9  I doubt that anyone on Rantburg agrees with the Australian government's asylum policy, Tipper. But unlike Excalibur and Chris, most of us don't find 50 basically innocent men, women, and children being drowned to be a cause for pithy comments.
Posted by: Secret Master || 12/15/2010 17:43 Comments || Top||

#10  Secret Master,
Well over a thousand of there asylum shoppers have drowned in the last ten years being ferried in leaky fishing boats by people smugglers, from Indonesia.
They have been told over and over till people are blue in the face not to cross or bring their children with them. But will they listen? Not a bit of it. Just more lies from the kuffar, they say.
Well they might listen now with plenty of footage of the disaster. If they don't listen, there is only the Darwin Award left for them.
Posted by: tipper || 12/15/2010 20:34 Comments || Top||


Europe
Berlusconi survives crucial confidence vote
"Who is Silvio?
What is he, that all our voters commend him?
Holy fair and wise is he,
Such grace did heaven lend him,
That he might admirèd be."

[Emirates 24/7] Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Tuesday scraped through a crucial confidence vote in parliament, overcoming one of the most serious crises in his 16-year political career. Berlusconi won with a razor-thin majority, as 314 politicians voted in his favour with 311 against and two abstentions in the 630-seat Chamber of Deputies lower house.
Posted by: Fred || 12/15/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:


Home Front: Politix
Shameless: Democrats' 1.1T, 1,900 page budget bill
Hey, even with 6500 earmarks, spending "only" increases by 2%!

It just shows the amazing restraint of the bunch of tone-deaf pigs that makes up our Congress.

Good riddance.
Posted by: gorb || 12/15/2010 11:31 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  James,

Any comment?

Karl,

I am just aghast at how shameless Pelosi and Reid are. They've flown the entire party to a major fatal crash site and they don't realize that all they are doing is piling up more campaign issues to use against the survivors.
Posted by: Karl Rove/James Carville || 12/15/2010 11:42 Comments || Top||

#2  On the first day of the next Congressional session, I'd like to see Boehner march across the Mall with a gavel twice the size of Pelosi's big prop gavel. He should go through a crowd of people clearly parodying disgruntled liberals and then he should hold a press conference claiming that he was called a honky (which he should refer to as 'the h word').

I'm serious! Can you imagine the hysterical media fury? And the greater the reaction, the more juicy soundbites to make the left look ridiculous. I think most independent voters would be amused (and hopefully enlightened) and we know that Republicans would enjoy it.

Make it so. *clap, clap*
Posted by: ryuge || 12/15/2010 12:16 Comments || Top||

#3  Better yet, since you got stuck actually doing the budget that was "deemed past", vote to remove all funding for all programs were not on last years budget. Even better, freeze the government up totally by floor reading bills.
Posted by: newc || 12/15/2010 16:28 Comments || Top||


India-Pakistan
Kazmi terms removal a conspiracy
Is there anything in Pakistain that's not a conspiracy? They conspire over their corn flakes, fergawdsake!
[Dawn] The sacked Minister for Religious Affairs, Hamid Saeed Kazmi, on Tuesday maintained that his removal had come becuase of the slanging match between him and another minister, and not on corruption charges.

Speaking at an urs ceremony on the outskirts of Lahore, he termed his removal a conspiracy by a "particular lobby which was after me from the outset".

"All my defence, which came from respected people like Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, fell on the deaf ears. Had there been any truth in the corruption charges, I would have resigned myself. I feel relaxed after the removal as a big load has been lifted," Mr Kazmi said.

"Rumors were preferred over facts, but everything will become clear soon," Mr Kazmi said, terming the 'campaign' against him a "trial by media".

The former federal minister, who belongs to the Barelvi school of thought, gave a call to Ulema and Mashaikh to unite to lend support to the people of their sect who attain high positions.
Posted by: Fred || 12/15/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Pakistan PM sacks ministers over war of words
When you've got a Minister of Religious Affairs you know you're going to have people making faces at each other. They tend to cast curses on Ministers of Science and Technology, who in turn tend to use the words "yokel" and "hick" when discussing them.
[Emirates 24/7] Pak Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani sacked two cabinet ministers on Tuesday for engaging in a protracted and public war of words over a corruption scandal.

Gilani's office announced in a short statement that Science and Technology Minister Azam Swati and Religious Affairs Minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi had been removed from their portfolios.

Swati and Kazmi had been locked in a row over a scandal that reportedly implicated Kazmi's ministry in graft while booking accommodation for around 80,000 Pak pilgrims to Mecca.

The sacked religious affairs minister said he was innocent of any wrongdoing.

"There is no proof of corruption against me... My hands are clean," Kazmi told a televised public gathering in the eastern city of Lahore.

Gilani's office said Education Minister Sardar Assef Ahmad Ali and Labour Minister Syed Khursheed Shah have taken on the religious affairs and information technology portfolios respectively.

There was no immediate announcement on who would take over the science portfolio.

The cabinet consists of 54 ministers and deputy ministers after the removal of Swati and Kazmi, a senior government official told AFP.
Posted by: Fred || 12/15/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan


Science & Technology
Compound In Turmeric Spice Found To Be Neuroprotective Against Traumatic Brain Injury
A synthetic derivative of the curry spice turmeric, made by scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, dramatically improves the behavioral and molecular deficits seen in animal models of ischemic stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Two new studies suggest that the novel compound may have clinical promise for these conditions, which currently lack good therapies.

Ischemic stroke is the leading cause of disability and the third leading cause of death of older people in the United States, while TBI is the leading cause of death and disability in both civilians and military personnel under the age of 45; in particular, it is the major cause of disability in veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. In both conditions, those who survive frequently have serious behavioral and memory deficits.

There is no clinically documented treatment for TBI.
The big question is must it be given *before* the injury, or can it be given *after* the injury?
Easy enough to sprinkle over food, like the spice it came from, so easily added to MRIs as a little packet like salt and pepper.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 12/15/2010 15:17 || Comments || Link || [8 views] Top|| File under:

#1  It also comes in capsule form - I use it to keep arthritic inflammation down.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 12/15/2010 20:45 Comments || Top||


Another Strike Against Green Energy in California
Federal judge Larry Burns is expected to rule on Wednesday whether a $2 billion solar project can be built on 10 square miles of federal land east of San Diego. The Quechan tribe, is arguing that the land was set aside for conservation and that the project could harm its natural and cultural resources.
So could a butterfly flapping its' wings in China.
San Diego Gas & Electric had hoped the project, which is designed around mirrored dishes that concentrate the sun's heat onto Stirling engines, would help meet the state's requirements for green energy.

The Irish-backed companies behind the project have spent $20 million so far, Gannon told the judge.
Gotcha!
They were hoping to get construction started before Dec. 31 to qualify for up to $600 million in federal grants, but that's highly unlikely, she said.
Posted by: Bobby || 12/15/2010 06:29 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  designed around mirrored dishes that concentrate the sun's heat onto Stirling engines.

Surprisingly sound idea, for Caliphornia, but a Boiler running conventional Steam turbines would work better,
I own a smsll operating stirling, and the effency sucks.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 12/15/2010 12:23 Comments || Top||

#2  Jim: where did you commercially acquire a Stirling engine, how much did it cost, and how do I get one?
Posted by: Secret Master || 12/15/2010 15:27 Comments || Top||

#3  Hmmmmmmm. I've lived all my 51 years in San Diego County and have NEVER heard of this tribe....
Posted by: Frank G || 12/15/2010 21:58 Comments || Top||

#4  I've lived all my 51 years in San Diego County and have NEVER heard of this tribe....

The Quechan is the part of the Sicuyan tribe that didn't get the slot machines.

/SoCal humor
Posted by: Pappy || 12/15/2010 22:24 Comments || Top||

#5  I think they're an offshoot of the Hekawi's...
Posted by: tu3031 || 12/15/2010 22:31 Comments || Top||


Yahoo to lay off more than 600 staffers-sources
It's sad to see this happen, but Google's become a verb because it's got the best search engine in the business. Nobody "yahoos" anything.
[Emirates 24/7] Yahoo Inc plans to lay off more than 600 employees as early as Tuesday, two sources familiar with the situation said on Monday.

The cuts would represent between 4 percent and 5 percent of the Internet portal's overall staff, which totaled 14,100 at the end of September according to Yahoo's website.

The layoffs come two years into Chief Executive Carol Bartz's tenure as Yahoo works to grow its revenue amid tough competition from Google Inc and Facebook.

Yahoo declined to comment.

Technology blog AllThingsD wrote earlier this month that Yahoo planned to cut 650 employees, and the New York Times newspaper reported on Monday that the cuts could take place as soon as Tuesday.
Posted by: Fred || 12/15/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Saying no to Microsoft worked out so well for AOL, and now it's Yahoo's turn...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 12/15/2010 13:16 Comments || Top||

#2  "It's sad to see this happen, but Google's become a verb because it's got the best search engine in the business. Nobody "yahoos" anything."

True, but I use Bing almost exclusively now, if for no other reason that Guuggle's ignoring American patriotic holidays in its endless "recognition" on its logo of every other kind of holiday and birthday. Bing works great.

I can't remember ever using Yahoo. On purpose, anyway.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 12/15/2010 20:49 Comments || Top||

#3  Lycos, AltaVista, Dogpile, Yahoo...
Posted by: CrazyFool || 12/15/2010 22:14 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
McNanny state sues McDonalds over toys in happy meals
A mother of two from Sacramento, Calif., says that McDonald's uses toys as bait to induce her kids to clamor to go to McDonald's and to develop a preference for nutritionally poor Happy Meals. With the help of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, today the mom, Monet Parham, is filing a class action lawsuit aimed at stopping McDonald's use of toys to market directly to young children. The suit will be filed in California Superior Court in San Francisco shortly after the court opens for business Wednesday morning.

According to Parham, the main reason her six-year-old daughter, Maya, asks to go to McDonald's is to get toys based on Barbie, i-Carly, Shrek, or Strawberry Shortcake. The food seems almost beside the point to the kids, says Parham, because the toy monopolizes the attention of Maya and her two-year-old sister Lauryn.
How about you exercise good parenting and actually be a PARENT to your kid instead of a self-entitled fucktwit? These people need to be shipped to China or any other authoritarian country and kept out of ours.
Posted by: DarthVader || 12/15/2010 17:25 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Princess, let me introduce you to a word my boy says often. It's "NO".

Really, you can use it, too! Sure, the kid will have a spaz, probably out in public. But here comes the really clever part....you ignore the temper tantrum and wait 5 minutes.

Then you can feed the twerps some real food (no, not that gawdawful texturized vegetable protein crap....something that came from a farm, not a lab....). Lather, rinse, repeat.

And turn off the damn telly while you're at it.
Posted by: Swamp Blondie || 12/15/2010 21:32 Comments || Top||

#2  surely McDonalds has the financial backing and lawfare expertise to crush this woman, her attys and demand compensation. Just DO IT
Posted by: Frank G || 12/15/2010 21:54 Comments || Top||

#3  surely McDonalds has the financial backing and lawfare expertise to crush this woman, her attys and demand compensation. Just DO IT
Posted by: Frank G || 12/15/2010 21:54 Comments || Top||

#4  sorry about the stuttutter
Posted by: Frank G || 12/15/2010 22:03 Comments || Top||

#5  Same playbook they went after tobacco companies.
Posted by: swksvolFF || 12/15/2010 22:05 Comments || Top||

#6  Why doesn't she have the kid sue? She seems to run the show in the Parham household.
Or, here's an idea, how about you eat someplace else...Monet?
Posted by: tu3031 || 12/15/2010 22:10 Comments || Top||

#7  dunno about Mickey D having the guts to actually shut this pos off: it didn't work for the coffeein the crotchbitch (twice) now we get little warnings that tell us : Warning coffee may be hot.
Posted by: USN,Ret || 12/15/2010 23:54 Comments || Top||


US: Cancun agreement "fundamentally consistent" with US objectives
That's always assuming US objectives include wholesale demolition of jobs and industrial base.
(KUNA) -- A senior US official welcomed on Tuesday the Cancun agreement over climate change saying it is "fundamentally consistent" with US objectives.

"The resulting Cancun agreement advances each of the core elements of the Copenhagen Accord. Specifically, it anchors the accord's mitigation pledges by both developed and developing countries in a parallel manner," said Special envoy for climate change Todd Stern in a press briefing about the outcome of the United Nations, aka the Oyster Bay Chowder and Marching Society climate change conference in Cancun, Mexico.

"It outlines a system of transparency with substantial detail and content, including international consultations and analysis, this will provide confidence that a country's pledges are being carried out and help the world keep track of the track that we are on in terms of reducing emissions," he added.

Representatives from more than 190 nations met in Cancun over the last two weeks for the 16th conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate change. The Cancun agreement launches a new green climate fund and a framework to reduce deforestation in developing countries in addition to a committee to promote international cooperation.

Stern said that the Cancun agreement is fundamentally consistent with US objectives and noted that the United States is pleased that the parties showed the flexibility and pragmatism that was necessary to make progress in each of these areas.

"This package obviously is not going to solve climate change by itself, but it is a very good step and a step that is very much consistent with US interests, and will help move the world down a path toward a broader global response to changing to stopping climate change," he added.

Stern further praised the constructive role of India in Cancun mentioning that India was very much faithful to its own national interests and faithful to its role in the G-77, but at the same time creatively looking for solutions to difficult issues in the negotiation in a way that could bring in developing countries. He said developing countries "are not a monolithic group at this point."
Posted by: Fred || 12/15/2010 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  James,

The only way we can control the climate would be to figure out a way to put a rheostat on the sun.

Karl,

Crap almighty, you have paleontologists announcing they have fossil evidence of global warming over 100 million years ago and these boneheads are saying that man is the cause? Geez, I suppose it was all of those SUV's and coal fired power plants the T-Rex's were using.

James,

Coal is the T-Rex.
Posted by: Karl Rove/James Carville || 12/15/2010 11:40 Comments || Top||

#2  The only way we can control the climate would be to figure out a way to put a rheostat on the sun

Now that would be a real disaster, just who controlls it, Pray tell?
the Equatorial regions want it down and the Arctic wants it up.

Hell think of your own home thermostat and the constant war TOO HOT (Him) TOO COLD (Her) there's no winning that fight.
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 12/15/2010 12:34 Comments || Top||

#3  I say, in a matter of pursing all carbon goals, is to render all the people at the agreement carbon neutral in Cancun. Saves tons of carbon immediately by not letting them fly back, and in the long term as they will not be using carbon at all.

Win/win!
Posted by: DarthVader || 12/15/2010 12:38 Comments || Top||



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Two weeks of WOT
Wed 2010-12-15
  Border Patrol agent gunned down in southern AZ
Tue 2010-12-14
  Another man arrested for plotting bomb attack on DC Metro
Mon 2010-12-13
  Six police among 13 killed in Iraq suicide attacks
Sun 2010-12-12
  Yemen jails 12 Qaeda members
Sat 2010-12-11
  Car Explodes in Stockholm, Gas Cannisters & Second Blast Involved
Fri 2010-12-10
  India's ambassador gets pat-down at US airport
Thu 2010-12-09
  Pakistan suicide attack kills 17: police
Wed 2010-12-08
  Lashkar-e-Jhangvi claims suicide kaboom on Balochistan chief minister
Tue 2010-12-07
  50 dead, 120 maimed in Mohmand double kaboom
Mon 2010-12-06
  Pirates hijack Bangladeshi ship in the Arabian sea
Sun 2010-12-05
  150 killed in Nigeria's oil delta
Sat 2010-12-04
  Officers killed in deadly Nairobi attacks
Fri 2010-12-03
  Nigeria charges 65 in oil region kidnappings
Thu 2010-12-02
  Senior Afghan Officials Release Top Taliban Fighters for Bucks
Wed 2010-12-01
  Iraq arrests 50 suspected militants


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