Jobless rate at 9.7 pct.; 216K jobs lost in Aug. – Forbes
September 4, 2009
Jobless rate at 9.7 pct.; 216K jobs lost in Aug. – Forbes
WASHINGTON — The unemployment rate jumped almost half a point to 9.7 percent in August, the highest since 1983, reflecting a poor job market that will make it hard for the U.S. economy to begin a sustained recovery. While the jobless rate rose more than expected, the economy shed a net total of 216
Orbiting junk likely to pass space station safely – Yahoo News
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A piece of orbiting junk was expected to pass near the international space station Friday, but NASA said it would stay a safe distance away from the station and docked shuttle. The old rocket part was expected to pass within two miles of the shuttle-station complex late
Guest: Many wept during Jackson’s California funeral – Chattanooga Times Free Press
GLENDALE, Calif. — Paris Jackson wept as she stepped into the mausoleum where her father, Michael, was to be entombed. Katherine Jackson, overcome by sorrow, turned back when she was faced with her son’s final resting place. On a sultry Thursday evening, amid a sea of white flowers and with a
Texas police: 2 teens killed in attempted break-in – La Crosse Tribune
Police in Texas say a group of teenagers were trying to break into a home when a resident opened fire and killed two of the youths. San Marcos Police Chief Howard Williams says the shootings happened shortly before 2 a.m. Friday. He says two 16-year-olds died and a third teenager was seriously
Deet bug repellent ‘toxic worry’
September 3, 2009
Rodney Hide to resign over Maori seats
post has been updated
Rodney Hide says he will have to resign as minister if Auckland gets Maori seats on the super council, as it is fundamentally against the culture of New Zealand. He even said it won’t threaten the stability of government as Act will still provide confidence and supply.
He’s wrong about the seats. He’s partially right about the stability; as the Maori Party also provides confidence and supply, stability wont be threatened even if Act withdraws its support.
My take is simply this: Auckland should get the seats.If Hide wants to resign it is up to him, but he`d be a hypocrite not to if Auckland get the seats. Audrey Young said this in October last year
Act’s Rodney Hide put his weight behind the Maori Party last night, supporting any move to entrench the Maori seats on the basis that what was good for the general seats should apply to the Maori seats too.
Whereas here he says the Maori seats are ” just wrong”. If they are just wrong, why support entrenchment and stand ACT candidates in the Maori electorate at the 2008 election?
Deet bug repellent ‘toxic worry’
BBC NEWS | Health | Deet bug repellent toxic worry 
Health expert Yvonne Bishop-Weston Nutritionist London says “The issue is not so much whether this particular toxin is dangerous but how it interacts in human body the with the cumulative cocktail of toxins in our modern lifestyles. There’s little actual scientific proof that individually they affect our fertility and nervous systems or have an effect on escalating cancer rates but it’s basic common sense to avoid these toxins where possible. The residues from non organic food we eat, the water we drink, cosmetics we use and the chemicals used in our workplace and at home all add up. It’s good living assurance advice as opposed to ill-health insurance. Look for Deet Free Alternative Insect Repellents!”
The study reported by the BBC in the open access journal BioMed Central Biology shows deet works in the same way as paralysing nerve gases used in warfare.
Deet (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) was developed by the US Army in 1946 following its experience of jungle warfare during the second world war, then registered for use by the general public in 1957.Deet has been in use for decades and is found in most of the commonly used repellents to ward off mosquitoes.
About 200 million people use deet-based repellents every year and over 8 billion doses have been applied over the past 50 years.
The researchers also found that deet interacts with carbamate insecticides, used in agriculture, increasing their toxicity.
In research deet blocked an enzyme called acetylcholinesterase, whose job is to control one of the main chemical messengers used by the nervous system.
Buy Now.
DEET FREE insect Repellent
TV show contestant delayed flight aft… – The Associated Press
August 28, 2009
TV show contestant delayed flight aft… – The Associated Press
 Sydney Morning Herald |
TV show contestant delayed flight after wife died
The Associated Press BUENA PARK, Calif. — A reality contestant wanted in the gruesome murder and mutilation of his ex-model wife didn't start his 1000-mile dash for his native Canada until 24 hours after her body was found and he moved out of his penthouse and picked up … Police say slain model's car showed evidence of a struggle Condition of Dead Model Jasmine Fiore's Car Suggests Bloody Fight 'Person of interest' questioned in model's slaying |
Q+A: Japan opposition may face dilemm… – Reuters
 Washington Post |
Q+A: Japan opposition may face dilemma on US security ties
Reuters TOKYO (Reuters) – The opposition Democratic Party of Japan, which looks set to win Sunday's national election, has vowed to forge a more equal alliance with the United States while keeping ties with Washington at the center of … Japan jobless rate hits new high Japanese economy hit by 'double nightmare' Candidates make appeals ahead of Japan elections |
Two Koreas to restart family reunions – AFP
 Boston Globe |
Two Koreas to restart family reunions
AFP SEOUL — South and North Korea agreed Friday to restart a reunion programme for families divided by their 1950-53 conflict, in the latest sign of an easing of tensions after more than a year of hostility. The reunions will be held from September 26 to … Two Koreas to restart family reunions Deal 'close' on Korean reunions Report: SKorea seeks joint fan squad with NKorea |
CIA Will Cover Legal Fees – Washington Post
 HotIndieNews.com |
CIA Will Cover Legal Fees
Washington Post CIA Director Leon Panetta decided Thursday that the agency will ensure legal representation for case officers who become caught up in investigations of alleged interrogation abuses of detainees at overseas locations, … Abuse Issue Puts the Justice Dept. and CIA at Odds Obama Could Face Trouble Over CIA Investigation Administration to Investigate Torture |
White House Sharply Increases Project… – Washington Post
August 25, 2009
White House Sharply Increases Project… – Washington Post
 FOXNews |
White House Sharply Increases Projections of Future Deficits
Washington Post The $787 billion economic stimulus package President Obama signed earlier this year is likely to cost "tens of billions of dollars" more than expected, helping to drive projections for next year's budget deficit to $1.5 trillion, … SCENARIOS: Impact of US budget reports Deficit Projection Goes Through Roof White House, Congress projects record deficits |
Most recent SAT scores show dispariti… – USA Today
 News Channel 7 |
Most recent SAT scores show disparities by race, gender, income
USA Today Average national SAT scores for the high school class of 2009 dropped two points compared with last year, a report out today says. And while the population of test takers was the most diverse ever, average scores vary … SAT scores dip for high school class of 2009 Washington SAT scores down a bit from last year Top 25 Georgia high schools by average SAT scores` |
Palestinian PM seeks aid for embryo s… – Reuters
 ABC News |
Palestinian PM seeks aid for embryo state
Reuters RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) – An international airport for a future state of Palestine, national institutions and new rail links were listed by the Palestinian prime minister on Tuesday in a government program needing foreign … World Agenda: Netanyahu's Europe charm offensive is one big … Three Gazans killed in Israeli airstrike, tension escalates Pro-Palestinian protesters gather at Brown's office in London |
Obama appears to be serious about hav… – Los Angeles Times
 FOXNews |
Obama appears to be serious about having fun on vacation
Los Angeles Times On Martha's Vineyard, it's golf today with the first lady and friends. Tomorrow, more golf. A pile of books to read. In between, the Fed chief is renominated. Then it's back to relaxing. By Christi Parsons Reporting from Oak Bluffs, Mass. … Martha's Vineyard's African American Legacy Obama's privacy top priority President Obama on Vacation |
Off the dole – and back into WINZNational
August 13, 2009
Off the dole – and back into WINZ
National is recruiting staff off the benefit and into case management because too many people are becoming unemployed. Of the extra 300 staff, 206 are to be focussed on “finding jobs” and the rest are going to be answering phones. Could that mean they are going to be case managers or work brokers. Because case managers are not focused on finding people jobs, they are focused on paying people money.
Last year there was hardly one work broker per WINZ Office. And those answering phones merely put people through to answerphones or make appointments for case managers. Ever tried to ring a case manager that actually picks up the phone? Case managers have appointments wall to wall every day. They are over-worked, under-trained, over-stressed and under-valued.
But most of those who are employed will not be focusing on finding jobs, as the media claims. They will be focusing on putting people into short term courses and the like – and some will be irrelevant courses that most beneficiaries will not want to go on, and will not benefit from.
Report: NASA can’t keep up with killer asteroids – Morris County Daily Record
August 13, 2009
Report: NASA can’t keep up with killer asteroids – Morris County Daily Record
WASHINGTON (AP) — NASA is charged with spotting most of the asteroids that pose a threat to Earth but does not have the money to complete the job, a U.S. government report says. That is because even though Congress assigned the space agency that mission four years ago, it never gave NASA the money
Youkilis takes his medicine – Boston Globe
Accepting the judgment but showing no regret for his actions, Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis last night began serving the five-game suspension Major League Baseball handed down as punishment for him charging the mound and tackling Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello Tuesday. Youkilis, who had never
Man charged in 1980 killings of Wis. couple claimed he was reformed after life of crime – WTKR
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Edward Wayne Edwards’ days of hitchhiking across the country, stealing cars, robbing gas stations and forging checks were behind him when he was released early from the federal prison in Lewisburg, Pa., in 1967. The self-described ladies man, who appeared on the FBI’s Ten Most
Immune system cancer found in young 9/11 officers – Associated Press
August 10, 2009
Immune system cancer found in young 9/11 officers – Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) — Researchers say a small number of young law enforcement officers who participated in the World Trade Center rescue and cleanup operation have developed an immune system cancer. The numbers are tiny, and experts don’t know whether there is any link between the illnesses and toxins
Obama calls health care part of ‘new foundation’ – Mohave Daily News
WASHINGTON – Using better-than-expected jobs numbers to press his top domestic priority, President Barack Obama is arguing that overhauling the health care system is essential to the country’s economic well-being. Republicans said the high unemployment rate – 9.4 percent in July – shows how families
At least 40 killed in Iraq bomb blasts – Belfast Telegraph
At least 40 people have been killed in a series of bomb explosions across Iraq this morning. The deadliest of the attacks was a double truck bombing in Khazna village, near the northern city of Mosul, which killed at least 23 people. The blast appeared to target a Shi’ite ethnic group called the
G.M. to Try Selling New Cars on eBay – New York Times
General Motors and eBay are expected to announce Monday that hundreds of G.M.’s California dealers will let consumers haggle over the prices of new cars and trucks through the online marketplace. G.M. last month had put out a statement heralding such a partnership, but at the time, eBay denied
Canada's PM to visit White House – Washington Post
August 7, 2009
Canada's PM to visit White House – Washington Post
 CTV.ca |
Canada's PM to visit White House
Washington Post AP TORONTO — Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will visit the White House next month to meet with President Barack Obama. The Prime Minister's Office said Friday that Harper has accepted an invitation to visit the White House on Sept. 16. … Phila. Officer Attempts Background Check On Obama Prime Minister Stephen Harper will visit White House on Sept. 16 Harper to visit Washington Sept. 16 |
Republicans, Democrats agree: Too many jobs being lost – MarketWatch
 BBC News |
Republicans, Democrats agree: Too many jobs being lost
MarketWatch WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) – America's two political parties don't agree on much, but there's one thing they do concur on: Even one job lost is one job too many. After the Labor Department reported on Friday that the economy … US Economy: Payroll Losses Slow, Unemployment Rate Declines Street Surges As Job Losses Slow Stocks Get Boost From Better-Than-Expected Jobs Data |
Sotomayor Wins Confirmation – Washington Post
 FOXNews |
Sotomayor Wins Confirmation
Washington Post Sen. Al Franken announces the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to be associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Sotomayor won confirmation Thursday afternoon on a 68 to 31 vote. By Amy Goldstein and Paul Kane The Senate, in a vote laden … Sotomayor's swearing in to court set for Saturday Cameras Come to the Supreme Court – In HD, No Less Sonia Sotomayor Confirmed for Supreme Court |
Analysts predict billions in benefits from 'Cash for Clunkers' – CNN
|
Analysts predict billions in benefits from 'Cash for Clunkers'
CNN WASHINGTON (CNN) — The "Cash for Clunkers" program will continue with a $2 billion supplement that some analysts say could provide a boost of billions of dollars more as it reverberates through the economy. This gas guzzler was traded in at a Ford … Senate passes $2 billion 'Cash for Clunkers' extension Obama Signs 'Cash for Clunkers' Extension 'Cash for clunkers' gets $2B boost |
Throwing Stones: behind the scenes
August 6, 2009
Throwing Stones: behind the scenes
An exclusive online excerpt of that story follows… in a bit.
The show tells the tale of five women trying to stay afloat amidst the chaos of life: demanding children, high-maintenance husbands, mortgages that keep them awake at night, uninspiring jobs, and all the challenges that come from being a wife, a mother and more significantly, a woman.
And all is forgotten, all is left behind, when they meet weekly at the West Kildonan Curling Club in Winnipeg.
The show uses the principles of curling as a metaphor for life. Patti (played by Academy Award winner Patty Duke) believes that all the lessons, rules and wisdom you need in life, you can learn from curling. Every episode begins with Patti philosophizing about one aspect of curling. It is this principle of curling and its larger application to life that is explored in each episode.
Throwing Stones was an original pilot developed and produced for the CBC. We heard earlier this spring that CBC had turned down the show, due to both the economy and new programming guidelines. This, of course, totally sucks.
But it also means that the pilot will be airing on July 15 – this Wednesday – with very little publicity or promotion. As such, the show producers are asking curlers to tune in on July 15 and, if you like the show, send your feedback (ie. your righteous anger) directly to CBC via this webpage.
So do tune in. Meanwhile, here’s an excerpt or two from Jill Officer’s behind-the-scenes column back in November… which you would have received, along with the photo above (taken by Joey Isford) if you had subscribed to The Curling News …
Patti Duke, the Hail Mary and 21 bucks an hour
This was my first experience as an actress – no wonder it’s called acting; you’re not really doing anything, at least for the “extras” on set, which is where I fit in. A curling-themed pilot for a CBC TV series was being shot on location at West Kildonan Curling Club in Winnipeg. The rink was turned into a film set in September when film producers took over the building, painted some touch-ups and set up shop for three days of shooting
The series stars Oscar winner and three-time Emmy Award winner Anna Marie “Patty” Duke. Well, she at least *edited to prevent spoilers*
Weeks before the shoot, an email circulated by a local casting company (and editor gk) was asking for female curlers between the ages of 20 and 60 to bring their skills to the set as background curlers. Given that the pay started at $21 an hour (overtime was more) I thought, hey, why not? That way I could throw a few rocks, see what this was all about and, of course, have something to write about for
The call time for us “skilled” workers was about 9:00am. I showed up to find a number of my fellow local competitors – Chelsea Carey, Kaleigh Strath, Cheri-Ann Loder, Jill Proctor – and many more. For some of the younger girls like Kaleigh, it was a chance to change their status as a starving student – for a couple of weeks anyway – and make a few hundred bucks in a day even though they had to skip class to do it. Can you blame them? Heck no!
As extras, even we had to go through wardrobe, make-up and hair. Wardrobe was a challenge. We were asked to bring clothing with no logos and we couldn’t bring anything black, white or red. That was a problem for me as it would be for many competitive curlers who have sponsor logos plastered all over their curling gear and the stuff that doesn’t have logos consists of the popular colours of… black, white or red.
I raided my closets of sweatshirts, curling clothes, etc, but I couldn’t find anything that fit the rules. The only logo that was approved was Asham, but even then my Asham sweatshirts were red and black. Ugh! I eventually had to raid mom’s closet where I found a plain pink sweatshirt that ended up being my wardrobe of choice by the pros.
After pretending to talk to someone, doing monotonous tasks in the background, faking yelling “hurry” while my pretend teammates avoided the huge lighting equipment that covered half of our sheet, playing cards in the downtime and then basically being on the ice for five hours straight not really doing anything – including never throwing a rock – it was time to call it a wrap for the day, some 14 hours later!
We think actors and other entertainers live the good life, but getting a taste of what it’s like to be on a film set has proven to me that it’s not all that easy. Granted we didn’t get the golden treatment, like our own trailer nor a bed to rest our head on, but having to “hang around” all day is, believe it or not, absolutely exhausting. By 11:00pm my legs were stiff, my back ached and the sound of “that’s a wrap” was enough to make me peel right out of there despite the discomfort I was feeling.
Imagine that, huh? I could write the headline for gk right now: “Elite athlete isn’t even in good enough shape to stand around for 14 hours.”
Really though, I would challenge any high-performance athlete – from any sport – to stand in the cold for hours on end, dressed for a regular curling game, but not doing any throwing or sweeping. Somehow I think anyone would feel the same way.
I wonder how Connie Laliberte fared: as the “consultant” helping out the production crew, she was there longer than anyone, but at least she had things to do… including setting up
I was so exhausted after the first day I was actually thankful I didn’t return to the miming, standing around in the cold and passing time.
I was, however, thankful for the $350 cheque that arrived in the mail a few weeks later.
Hackers attack Twitter, Facebook also slows down – WTOP Radio
August 6, 2009
Hackers attack Twitter, Facebook also slows down – WTOP Radio
NEW YORK (AP) – A hacker attack Thursday shut down the fast-growing messaging service Twitter for hours, while Facebook experienced intermittent access problems. Twitter said in its status blog Thursday morning it was “defending against a denial-of-service attack,” in which hackers command scores of
US stocks slip after jobless claims report – Forbes
Investors made few major moves in the stock market while they awaited the government’s July employment report. Stocks posted modest losses Thursday as the Labor Department’s report dominated trading for a third day. The report is due early Friday. A stream of disappointing July sales numbers from
Cubs Minor Leaguer Julio Castillo Gets 30 Days In Jail For Injuring Fan – Huffingtonpost.com
DAYTON, Ohio — A judge has ordered a minor league pitcher to serve 30 days in jail and three years’ probation for injuring a fan when he threw a baseball during a melee in Dayton last year. Twenty-two-year-old Julio Castillo (HOO’-lee-oh cas-TEE’-yoh) had faced up to eight years in prison
