More Brazil, New York Times Curling
September 3, 2009
More Brazil, New York Times Curling
This new Times story focusses on icemaking guru Hans Wuthrich and why he wants to make Vancouver’s Olympic curling ice “bumpy”. There’s nothing necessarily Brazilian about this story, except for the accompanying Yannick Grandmont photo (shown above).
It is interesting to see this kind of entry-level story coming out in mid-August, given that variations of this tale will be told and retold again from about January right through the round-robin portion of the Games.
Let us pray for one thing, however: if the Times is to continue publishing curling stories – which would, of course, be fantabulous – we need to get them some new curling stock pics. Yes, January’s Brazil story (and the pics) was interesting… but that is so last season.
Incidentally, we can expect to hear of another Brazilian challenge for a berth into the 2010 Capital One World Men’s Championship in Cortina, which the United States will be expected to host again, early in the new year.
Mexico braced as hurricane nears – BBC News
August 31, 2009
Mexico braced as hurricane nears – BBC News
 ABC News |
Mexico braced as hurricane nears
BBC News Hurricane Jimena has grown into a maximum category-five storm that is threatening 20000 families on Mexico's Baja peninsula, Mexican officials say. Jimena is packing winds of 250km/h (155mph), but should weaken before it makes landfall on Tuesday or … Hurricane stronger, heads for Mexico's Los Cabos Mexico: Baja Peninsula Prepares for a Hurricane Hurricane Jimena approaching Baja; will it prove worthy of the hype? |
Obama more successful on terrorism sa… – Reuters
 CBC.ca |
Obama more successful on terrorism says security adviser
Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is having more success fighting terrorism under President Barack Obama partly because of his "radically different" approach to foreign policy, National security adviser Jim Jones said on Monday. … McCain: CIA Abuse Probe "Serious Mistake" White House Fires Back After Cheney Calls CIA Probe 'Political' Holder's duty |
Poland ceremonies mark WWII start – BBC News
 Washington Post |
Poland ceremonies mark WWII start
BBC News Leaders from Russia and Germany are among those expected at ceremonies in Poland to mark the 70th anniversary of the start of World War II. At 0445 on 1 September 1939, the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein opened fire at point blank … Russian Premier Calls Nazi-Soviet Pact Immoral Britain finally honours Polish war effort with first official memorial World War 2: For freedom against brutal aggression |
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 |
Justice to probe alleged CIA abuse – Politico.com
August 24, 2009
Justice to probe alleged CIA abuse – Politico.com
Attorney General Eric Holder has named a special prosecutor to investigate alleged CIA interrogation abuses – a move that could lead to the criminal prosecution of CIA officers and contractors and reopen the debate over how far the United States should go to get information from terror suspects
Anadarko, Okla. newspaper publishes after fire – WNYT
(AP) ANADARKO, Okla. – A fire that destroyed the building that housed The Anadarko Daily News isn’t stopping the newspaper from publishing. The Saturday morning fire that began in a bar next door to the newspaper in southwest Oklahoma destroyed the printing press and 60 rolls of one-thousand pound
Venezuela repeats at Miss Universe contest – KGO
Venezuelan Stefania Fernandez won the 2009 Miss Universe pageant in the Bahamas on Sunday night. Dressed in a flowing red gown, Fernandez embraced runner up Miss Dominican Republic as the announcement was made, and received the crown from last year’s winner, Dayana Mendoza, of Venezuela. The
NASA preps Discovery for launch Tuesday – Winnipeg Sun
The space shuttle Discovery sits on the launch pad early Monday morning Aug. 24, 2009 at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Seven astronauts are scheduled to liftoff early tomorrow morning for a trip to the international space station. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida
Venezuela repeats at Miss Universe contest – KGO
August 24, 2009
Venezuela repeats at Miss Universe contest – KGO
Venezuelan Stefania Fernandez won the 2009 Miss Universe pageant in the Bahamas on Sunday night. Dressed in a flowing red gown, Fernandez embraced runner up Miss Dominican Republic as the announcement was made, and received the crown from last year’s winner, Dayana Mendoza, of Venezuela. The
Anadarko, Okla. newspaper publishes after fire – WNYT
(AP) ANADARKO, Okla. – A fire that destroyed the building that housed The Anadarko Daily News isn’t stopping the newspaper from publishing. The Saturday morning fire that began in a bar next door to the newspaper in southwest Oklahoma destroyed the printing press and 60 rolls of one-thousand pound
Justice to probe alleged CIA abuse – Politico.com
Attorney General Eric Holder has named a special prosecutor to investigate alleged CIA interrogation abuses – a move that could lead to the criminal prosecution of CIA officers and contractors and reopen the debate over how far the United States should go to get information from terror suspects
Obamas begin Martha’s Vineyard vacation – Seattle Times
President Barack Obama played tennis with his wife and golf with his buddies Monday, starting his first vacation in office on Martha’s Vineyard, a picturesque island known as a refuge for the wealthy and privileged. Obama began the day with a workout at his rented retreat, then tennis with Michelle
Pesticides in your peaches
August 18, 2009
The smacking debate on Campbell Live
Campbell Live had an excellent programme on the smacking debate tonight. You can watch it here. Anton Blank (Te Kahui Mana Ririki) and Murray Edridge (Barnardos) represented The Yes Vote, and Sheryll Savill and Bob McCoskrie spoke for the Vote No lobby.
Everyone put their point across well. It was a well balanced progamme.
Pesticides in your peaches
Pesticides in your peaches: Tribune and USDA studies find pesticides, some in excess of EPA rules, in the fragrant fruit — chicagotribune.com:
Yet more evidence supporting the logic in extra costs of Organic produce
Preliminary 2008 U.S. Department of Agriculture tests obtained by the Chicago Tribune show that more than 50 pesticide compounds showed up on domestic and imported peaches headed for U.S. stores. Five of the compounds exceeded the limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency, and six of the pesticide compounds present are not approved for use on peaches in the United States.
These are the types of findings that have landed peaches on one environmental group’s “Dirty Dozen” list — 12 fruits and vegetables that retain the highest levels of pesticide residues — and give many consumers pause as they shop grocery aisles. It seems that peaches’ delicate constitutions, fuzzy skins and susceptibility to mold and pests cause them to both need and retain pesticides at impressive rates.
Although some pesticides in peaches were found at levels well below EPA tolerances, some scientists and activists remain concerned about even low-level exposure, especially to pregnant women and children. They point to studies, for example, that show cognitive impairment after dietary exposure to chlorpyfiros, a pesticide that showed up in 17 percent of conventional peaches tested by the USDA.
"Three amigos" summit dominated by swine flu, trade – Reuters
August 10, 2009
"Three amigos" summit dominated by swine flu, trade – Reuters
 BBC News |
"Three amigos" summit dominated by swine flu, trade
Reuters GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Aug 10 (Reuters) – Leaders of the United States, Mexico and Canada gather on Monday to present a united front to try to limit the spread of the H1N1 swine flu, but there is less unity on … Obama wrapping up summit in Mexico Obama backs Mexico's war on drugs US, Mexico Clash On Trade, Drugs |
Spanish police unsure if ETA still in Mallorca – The Associated Press
 Mirror.co.uk |
Spanish police unsure if ETA still in Mallorca
The Associated Press MADRID — Spanish authorities said Monday they aren't sure whether the armed Basque group ETA still has a unit on Mallorca following its planting of three small bombs on the Mediterranean tourist island. "We have to work on both hypotheses: that they … Majorca police hunt for woman suspected to be Eta bomber Small Blasts Rattle Tourist Sites in Majorca Police probe 'Eta cell' on Majorca |
Somali Pirates Free Italian Tugboat; No Ransom Paid – Bloomberg
 BBC News |
Somali Pirates Free Italian Tugboat; No Ransom Paid
Bloomberg Aug. 10 (Bloomberg) — Somali pirates have released 16 sailors, including 10 Italians, from a tugboat that was hijacked in April, the Italian Foreign Ministry said. No ransom was paid and Italian naval commandos are aboard the boat … Italian ship's 4-month pirate ordeal ends 16 Italian sailors freed by Somali pirates Pirate says $4 million ransom paid for Italian tugboat |
National security adviser: US believes Mehsud dead – WNYT
August 9, 2009
National security adviser: US believes Mehsud dead – WNYT
(AP) WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama’s national security adviser says the United States thinks Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud (beh-TOO-luh MEH-sood) is dead. Claims and counterclaims about Mehsud’s fate have swirled since a CIA drone strike last Wednesday on his father-in-law’s
Twitter outage traced to attacks on lone blogger in former Soviet republic – Mercury
AP Photo An employee cleans a cupcake platter at the mobile CupcakeStop in New York. For people like Lev Ekster, who runs the mobile cup cake truck in New York and uses Twitter to keep in touch with customers, the outage proved no more than an inconvenience. His event planner, who normally deals
Crist Progresses, Rubio Runs Behind – The Ledger
Gov. Charlie Crist gets a big-name endorsement every day, it seems, as his U.S. Senate campaign times the announcements to maximize the impact. Last week’s endorsement came from Al Cardenas, the former chairman of the Republican Party of Florida and a longtime lobbying force in Tallahassee. More
Where now for Pakistan's Taliban? – BBC News
August 7, 2009
Where now for Pakistan's Taliban? – BBC News
 guardian.co.uk |
Where now for Pakistan's Taliban?
BBC News Baitullah Mehsud, the feared militant commander in Pakistan, appears to have ended his career in much the same way as he had started – by keeping a low profile. Speculation about whether he is dead or alive is rife across Pakistan … Strike on Mehsud could spur stronger US-Pakistan cooperation Possible successors to Pakistan's Taliban chief Profile: Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud |
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 … How Republican Senators Voted on Sotomayor Sotomayor praised for balance History confirmed Sotomayor to be first Hispanic Supreme Court justice |
Typhoon Morakot heads for Taiwan – Aljazeera.net
 Straits Times |
Typhoon Morakot heads for Taiwan
Aljazeera.net A severe typhoon that has already caused the deaths of 12 people in the Philippines is on route for Taiwan, prompting many inhabitants to confine themselves to their homes for safety. Typhoon Morakot is expected to make landfall in eastern Taiwan in … 20000 evacuated in SE China as typhoon Morakot nears; nine … Typhoon Morakot lashes Taiwan Typhoon Whips Taiwan After Killing 11 In Philippines |
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
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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 |
