Burma: hit by a cyclone, a 12-foot tidal wave and incompetent governmentwetkarma.Posted to Scoop on Tue May 06, 2008 at 06:37:54 PM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.Cyclone Nargis has delivered a severe blow to the nation of Burma, with tens of thousands of people reported dead (most recent reports suggest up to 50,000 people have been killed) and over a million homeless and now without food as the category 3 cyclone pushed a massive tidal surge over the Irrawady delta sweeping away entire villages and leaving the coastal plain of Burma under water. The city of Rangoon is without electricity or water with the military dictatorship seemingly unable to react in the face of mass devastation. Whether aid efforts can avert a further humanitarian disaster remains to be seen as Burma's relationship with the rest of the world is notoriously bad. (26 comments) Comments >> |
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It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got Death's StingEtcetera, Wed May 7.MayorBob.From bungee jumping to all sorts of extreme sports -- people do crazy things because the thrill achieved by risking one's life makes the experience worth it. Would the experience still be worth it if the risk were removed? Is it even the same experience? These questions are being raised in Japan by a group of merchants involved in the fugu trade. Put quite plainly, if you eat a dish of fugu or puffer fish which hasn't been prepared properly, you can die. But now they're selling non-poisonous fugu. The merchants involved in selling the toxic versions are upset at the potential loss of business. They also pose the question of whether living a risk-free life is a life at all. (8 comments, 485 words in story) Full Story |
Is That "Let's Refuel America" or "Let's Refool America"?Business, Thu May 8.MayorBob.Chrysler LLC has a problem. They have a whole bunch of fuel-inefficient pickup trucks, vans, and SUVs in their inventory and gas prices show no signs of retreating from the neighborhood of (US)$4.00 a gallon. What the company needs is a way to make operating a gas guzzler attractive to the motoring public. In a sort of "turning lemons into lemonade" way, Chrysler says it's offering to do a solid favor for Americans and, in return, reduce their inventory of gas guzzlers. But, some who have looked beyond the company press release on the "Let's Refuel America" offer say that the only one gaining any favor is Chrysler. (6 comments, 528 words in story) Full Story |
None Hit BlundersMusic, Thu May 8.Steve Urkel.Those bands that never quite took off. (5 comments, 37 words in story) Full Story |
Why Should Hillary Go?
MayorBob.
Posted to Politics on Fri May 09, 2008 at 11:26:02 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.
Hillary Clinton says she's in it "until a nominee is selected." The numbers are stark and they weigh against her. In order for her to win she needs to sweep up almost all the remaining delegates (superdelegate and pledged by primary vote). This is an impossibility. Therefore, the only thing she can accomplish by not bowing out is to possibly deny Senator Barack Obama a first ballot win and hope she might be able to win on a subsequent ballot. Despite the dismal prospects, Clinton continues to soldier on.
(4 comments, 476 words in story) Full Story
Parliament To Give Cannabis The Skunk-eye
MayorBob.
Posted to Legal on Fri May 09, 2008 at 06:42:49 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.
Britain's Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, announced the UK is reclassifying cannabis. It is currently a Class C drug and, in the future, it will be classified a Class B drug. The difference is that possession of a Class C drug tops out at two years behind bars, while getting caught with a Class B drug could cost you five years of your life. Smith said the government's decision, which still requires parliamentary approval, is part of a "relentless effort" to protect the nation's young people.
(0 comments, 438 words in story) Full Story
Dead Because You Follow Your Doctor's Orders
MayorBob.
Posted to SciTech on Tue May 06, 2008 at 03:07:28 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.
For Timothy Garon, the marijuana use was absolutely necessary. Ever since he was diagnosed with Hepatitis C and his liver began failing, his daily usage enabled him to battle nausea and abdominal pain and stimulate his appetite. Beyond that, it was entirely legal as Washington is one of those states with a law saying a doctor can prescribe its use for exactly the purposes that Garon put it to. Perversely, the thing that made life bearable for the 56-year-old Seattle musician during his wait for a transplant also sealed his fate. Tim Garon is dead today because a medical committee at the hospital, which could have performed the liver transplant, kept his name off the transplant list. Their reason - Tim Garon was a drug user.
(18 comments, 508 words in story) Full Story
Big Brown Delivers Derby - Derby Delivers Death To Eight Belles
1fastdog.
Posted to Sport on Sun May 04, 2008 at 08:43:56 PM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.
Promising race horse extraordinaire, Big Brown, demolished the field and put himself in the position to make a legitimate run at the Triple Crown with his historic run at the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby.
(17 comments, 523 words in story) Full Story
Gas or Electric?
skeeter1.
Posted to Etcetera on Mon May 05, 2008 at 11:48:29 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.
Small yard tools, that is. Not cooking.
I used to be a big fan of two-stroke outdoor gizmos, but one-by-one, I'm getting rid of all of them.
(2 comments, 139 words in story) Full Story
No Mothers Day Card For This Mother
MayorBob.
Posted to Etcetera on Sun May 04, 2008 at 08:10:04 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.
Laurie Williamson presented herself as a totally involved, concerned mother whose kids had medical problems. Over a ten year period, she took her kids from one doctor to the next, pointing out a variety of physical maladies she said the children were suffering. The children, ages 8, 11 and 13 now, showed symptoms of the afflictions that Williamson told the doctors the children were suffering. The doctors responded by ordering medical treatments and, sometimes surgeries, to treat them. As it turned out, it was all a lie as Laurie Williamson made up the medical maladies, coached the children to act like they were really ill, and collected a whole bunch of money from the state and people who bought into her tales of woe. All that is at an end as the 40-year-old Spring, Texas woman is facing the next 15 years behind bars.
(1 comment, 585 words in story) Full Story
The World's Top Public Intellectuals
MayorBob.
Posted to Etcetera on Sat May 03, 2008 at 11:18:54 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.
Foreign Policy wants your help selecting the top public intellectuals of our time. They begin with a list of who they view as the top 100 and ask readers to vote for their top five votes. The top 20 vote getters will be listed in the July/August issue of the magazine.
(22 comments, 302 words in story) Full Story
What's In A Name? Were You Born There Or Are You Just Gay?
MayorBob.
Posted to Legal on Fri May 02, 2008 at 10:29:10 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.
Lesbos is the third-largest island in Greece. The natives (as well as those who emigrated from there) commonly refer to themselves as Lesbians. A problem has arisen because a Greek gay pride group chose to incorporate the "L" word into its title. A group of Lesbians have taken umbrage and are pursuing legal action against the gay pride group. At issue is who should have the right to call themselves lesbians: the gay women of the world or the 100,000 people living on the island plus the 250,000 expatriates who call Lesbos home.
(4 comments, 417 words in story) Full Story
