January 2007 - Today's World

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Today's World - January 2007

Courage, Dreams, & Women With Money

January 28th 2007 16:42

FROM BOB:
NEWS:

British and Canadian explorers have become the first to reach the geographical center of the continent of Antarctica. Through extreme winds and sub-zero temperatures, the group, hauling 264 pound sleds, and by kite skiing, traveled 1,056 miles to reach Antarctica’’s ““Pole of Inaccessibility.””

VIEWS:

It would seem a prodigious feat. I guess there are still “Firsts” out there to be conquered. Nice going people. We could even say "Cool"
NEWS:

In Malaysia, two farmers contesting a three year old cow’s parentage have agreed to DNA tests to determine which owns the animal.

The cow is said to be worth about $572. The DNA tests will cost $914, to be shared by each. It is reported that even after DNA testing, a determination may not be reached as the two potential mother cows came from the same herd.

VIEWS:

Let’s see: $914 divided by 2 = $457, and the results may likely not be determinative for a cow worth $527. These guys could go to Nevada and probably get better odds if they are so intent on gambling. The SuperBowl is coming up. They could bet on that

NEWS:

Forbes List of Ten Richest Women in Show Business:

1. Oprah Winfrey - Talk show hostess
Net worth - $1,500,000,000 - that’’s a BILLION AND A HALF, folks!
Age: 52 and single

2 J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter’’s creator
Net worth - $1.000,000,000
Age: 40 - married

3. Martha Stewart - Domestic Diva
Net Worth - $638,000,000 (fluctuating daily - of course, they all fluctuate daily)
Age:64 - single

4. Madonna - Pop tart, singer, actress and a little bit of everything
Net worth - $325,000,000
Age 48 - married

5. Celine Dion - singer

Net worth - $250.000,000
Age: 38 - married

6. Mariah Carey -singer
Net worth - $225,000,000
Age 36 - single

7. Janet Jackson - singerNet worth - $150,000,000
Age 40 - single

8. Julia Roberts - actress
Net worth - $140,000,000
Age 39 - married

9. Jennifer Lopez - singer
Net worth - $110,000,000
Age 38 - married

10. Jennifer Anniston - actress
Net worth - $110,000,000
Age 37 - single

VIEWS:

Five out of the ten richest women in show business are single and five are married Which ones are doing their share for mankind with all that money? Oprah and J.K. Rowling have BILLIONS!!! You go, um, girls.
NEWS:

The National and American Football Conferences Championships were decided Sunday with the Chicago Bears walloping the New Orleans Saints by a score of 39 - 14. The Indianapolis Colts squeaked by the New England Patriots 38 -34, in a game that had something for everybody, including touchdowns by a backup Defense Tackle (inserted into the offense) and a Center.

VIEWS:

The second game between the Colts and the Patriots was as exciting a game as you could hope for - not being decided until the very end. So, it’s the Bears versus the Colts in the SuperBowl on Sunday, February 4, 2007. Nuff said about the SuperBowl - there will be plenty of hype coming from all the media for the next two weeks.
NEWS:

Eric Nerhus, while diving off Cape Howe, about 250 miles south of Sydney, escaped a 10-foot shark's attack by poking the animal in its eye after it had already chomped on his head once and was preparing for another bite.
Mr. Nerhus, 41 suffered serious injuries to his head, left arm (broken) and body, but escaped with his life. Eric’s 25 year old son pulled him from the water and rushed him to the hospital. An average of 15 shark attacks occur annually in Australia -- one of the highest rates in the world -- and just over 1 per year are fatal.

VIEWS:

I am not a fighter - last serious fight I got in was when I was twelve years old (I’m now 65), and a 7th grader (I was in the 8th grade) was using foul language in the presence of some girls and I challenged him. Well, he beat the living daylights out of me, and I decided I better do my arguing with my mouth and not my fists. Anyway, like all of us, I have been in a few dicey situations - just by being in the wrong place at the wrong time- and although never having had to resort to it - have thought the best way to incapacitate a foe would be a quick poke him in the eye. Like the old saying “It beats a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.”
CLICHE OF THE Above board
1. Meaning: Legal, out in the open, activities not concealed.
Example: All of my business dealings have been above board. At least all that you know about.
Origin: Early trading ships would hide illegal cargo below the ship's deck. Legal cargo could be placed in plain view on deck, or above the boards of the deck
JOKE OF THE DAY: The Laws of Golf
LAW 1: No matter how bad your last shot was, the worst is yet to come. This law does not expire on the 18th hole, since it has the supernatural tendency to extend over the course of a tournament, a summer and, eventually, a lifetime.

LAW 2: Your best round of golf will be followed almost immediately by your worst round ever. The probability of the latter increases with the number of people you tell about the former.

LAW 3: Brand new golf balls are water-magnetic. Though this cannot be proven in the lab, it is a known fact that the more expensive the golf ball, the greater its attraction to water.

LAW 4: Golf balls never bounce off of trees back into play. If one does, the tree is breaking a law of the universe and should be cut down.

LAW 5: No matter what causes a golfer to muff a shot, all his playing partners must solemnly chant "You looked up," or invoke the wrath of the universe.

LAW 6: The higher a golfer's handicap, the more qualified he deems himself as an instructor.

LAW 7: Every par-three hole in the world has a secret desire to humiliate golfers. The shorter the hole, the greater its desire.

LAW 8: Topping a 3-iron is the most painful torture known to man.

LAW 9: Palm trees eat golf balls.

LAW 10: Sand is alive. If it isn't, how do you explain the way it works against you?

LAW 11: Golf carts always run out of juice at the farthest point from the clubhouse.

LAW 12: A golfer hitting into your group will always be bigger than anyone in your group. Likewise, a group you accidentally hit into will consist of a football player, a professional wrestler, a convicted murderer and an IRS agent -- or some similar combination.

LAW 13: All 3-woods are demon-possessed.

LAW 14: Golf balls from the same "sleeve" tend to follow one another, particularly out of bounds or into the water (See Law three).

LAW 15: A severe slice is a thing of awesome power and beauty.

LAW 16: "Nice lag" can usually be translated to "lousy putt." Similarly, "tough break" can usually be translated "way to miss an easy one, sucker."

LAW 17: The person you would most hate to lose to will always be the one who beats you.

LAW 18: The last three holes of a round will automatically adjust your score to what it really should be.

LAW 19: Golf should be given up at least twice per month.

LAW 20: All vows taken on a golf course shall be valid only until the sunset.
WORDS TO LIVE BY
ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
TWO. Be with a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their
conversational skills will be as important as any other.THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.FOUR. When you say, "I love you," mean it.
FIVE. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.
SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight; it is a real thing.
EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams have nothing.
NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way
to live life completely.
TEN.. In disagreements, fight fairly; no name calling.
ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.
TWELVE. Talk slowly, but think quickly.
THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to
answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"
FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great
risk.
FIFTEEN. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze., no matter
whether or not you know you know them or how far away they are,
SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson
SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for
others; and responsibility for all your actions.
EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship
NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
TWENTY-ONE. Spend some time alone.
This is a list that I think I will print every so often.
THANKS AGAIN FOR READING, STAY SAFE AND COME BACK

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Michelle Kwan Hi Fives China, But the Missiles?

January 25th 2007 01:31

NEWS
Michelle Kwan, America's most decorated figure skater, having won the world championship five times and Olympic silver and gold, has become a successful diplomat.
Kwan was offered the job of Public Diplomacy Envoy, after a White House dinner with Chinese President Hu Jintao, U.S. President George W. Bush and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Kwan told Rice she was studying political science at the University of Denver. Rice, who earned her Ph.D. at Denver, later made her the offer.

Michelle, of Chinese descent, recently visited China in her new role. After hearing a girls choir sing the school's anthem: “Dandelion, dandelion flying to the east, flying to the west; floating in the breeze around the world; landing on the ground without a sound ... making friends wherever we go, sending down roots wherever we are,” she became teary-eyed.

Said Zheng Hong, principal of Dandelion School in Beijing, visited by Kwan said “She skates, she's Chinese, she's Disney and she's magic.”

Kwan waded into the crowd and surprised a young boy, Luo Haoming: "Hi. How are you? Nice to meet you. Give me “five’’," said she; the boy smiled and instantly gave her ‘‘five”.
VIEWS:
Nice going, Michelle! It would seem you are a natural: “Give me five,” huh? It would seem the term is now world-wide. Isn’t it wonderful that a new(?) friendly greeting has gained attention over the entire world. Friendly greetings, that’s the way to begin a good relationship. Maybe the Muslim Sheik in Australia who exhorts children to become “Martyrs” (see a previous story) could learn from Michelle Kwan - who knows? Again, kudos to Michelle Kwan.
NEWS:
The United States said China conducted a test earlier this month in which an old Chinese weather satellite was destroyed by a missile. This has raised concerns in Asia and the United States about the rising militarization of space and prompted governments to demand explanations from Beijing, while Russia expressed skepticism about the test.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said he was unaware of such a test. Liu Jianchao told reporters that he couldn't comment on the reports because he had no knowledge of such a test. He said China supported the peaceful use of space.

Still, officials in Japan and Australia immediately demanded China explain its actions.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, who was in New York, said Sydney opposed the test and had called upon Beijing's ambassador to Australia, Madame Fu Ying, for an explanation. He told reporters Friday that Sydney had not yet heard back from the Chinese government.
Downer expressed several concerns about the Chinese test.

"First of all, the destroyed satellite's causing damage to other satellites," Downer told reporters outside Australia's U.N. Mission after his first meeting with the new U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

"Secondly, it's well known that satellites have important military applications, as it raises questions about this whole issue of the militarization of outer space. ... The Chinese have always opposed the militarization of outer space, so that's why we look forward hearing what they say about the issue."
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tokyo has asked Beijing for an explanation and stressed the importance of the peaceful use of space. "We must use space for peace," he told reporters. "We are asking the Chinese government about the test."

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro also criticized Beijing for failing to give advance notice to Tokyo. He also suggested that Tokyo doubted the test was conducted for "a peaceful use."

Yasuhisa Shiozaki, Japan's top government spokesman, suggested that China's lack of transparency over its military development could trigger suspicions about its motives in the region.
In Britain, Prime Minister Tony Blair's spokesman voiced concerns that the debris from the test could strike other satellites orbiting the earth.

"We have concerns about the impact of debris in space and have expressed that concern," Blair's official spokesman said, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government policy. He added "the manner in which this test was conducted is inconsistent with the spirit of China's statement to the U.N. and other bodies on the military use of space."
Dana Perino, deputy White House press secretary, said Friday that Chinese officials have not yet responded to concerns expressed by the U.S. "We do want cooperation on a civil space strategy, so until we hear back from them or have more information, I don't have any more to add," she said.

South Korea has also conveyed its concerns to China, according to the Foreign Ministry.

But Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said he was skeptical about the reported test.
"I'm afraid that it didn't have an anti-satellite basis. And, maybe, it's good that it didn't," Ivanov said in televised remarks, adding that Russia was against the militarization of space.
A Russian military expert, Maj. Gen. Vyacheslav Fateyev, was critical of the test but added that "it shows that Beijing has a strong capability," ITAR-Tass news agency reported
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tokyo has asked Beijing for an explanation and stressed the importance of the peaceful use of space. "We must use space for peace," he told reporters. "We are asking the Chinese government about the test."
VIEWS:
Anyone remember the recent James Bond movie where a renegade Russian general used a satellite to destroy a satellite tracking station in Russia. Zounds, this sounds very similar. Chinese representatives don't know anything about it; yeah, sure. Russia says "What missile? What satellite? There's a county named China?" Does the ostrich really bury its head in the sand when it wants to avoid what is? Sounds awfully like a military thing to me!!

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The Value of Life

January 19th 2007 23:07

NEWS:
Brothers Albert and Peter Kottke, after deciding to take the “long way” on a hiking trip into the remote Gila National Forest in New Mexico, found a woman who had been lost while hiking, for five weeks.
The woman, Carolyn Dorn, 52, from South Carolina, had left for a two week camping trip with two weeks worth of food. She found herself trapped on the wrong side of the Gila river, after rain and snow had so swelled it that crossing was very difficult, if not impossible. She chose to stay put.

The brothers gave Ms. Dorn, for whom the search had been called off two weeks before, food, hot soup, cheese and a book for her to read while they hiked out for help.
That hike took one and one-half days and covered some 20 miles. A helicopter was dispatched to pick up the lost camper who was thereafter taken to a hospital. There is no report as to her condition other than her being weak and dehydrated.
VIEWS:
WOW!!! Five weeks lost and rescued. Five weeks on two week's food. Add this to miracle stories of 2007 - WOW, FIVE WEEKS!!!

NEWS:
Following the lead of Sheikh Taj El-Din Hilaly, (the Imam of Australia's biggest mosque who, in November 2006, said unveiled women were like uncovered meat - justifying rape), Sheik Feiz Mohammed, head of the Global Islamic Youth Centre, in Sydney's western suburbs, has urged children to be martyrs for Islam. He referred to Jews as pigs, igniting condemnation by government officials and further straining the nation’s tensions with Muslims.

Fiez said “We want to have children and offer them as soldiers defending Islam, Teach them this: There is nothing more beloved to me than wanting to die as a mujahid.. Put in their soft, tender hearts the zeal of jihad and a love of martyrdom.”

The Australian government and ethnic leaders, including Muslims, condemned Feiz's comments on Thursday. “The importation of hatred into Australia is totally unacceptable. These remarks and the others before them are condemned by the government." acting Attorney-General Kevin Andrews told reporters.

Said Vic Alhadeff, chief executive of Jewish Board of Deputies in the state of New South Wales.: "Hate speech such as these remarks by Sheik Mohammed has no place in Australian society and must be vigorously condemned by all,”

VIEWS:

Right: Take these "sort, tender hearted children and make monsters out of them. How can any leader of people exhort his followers to make children (YES, CHILDREN) “martyrs”? Does that mean put them in the driver’s seat of these suicide vehicles and send them crashing into places that the Sheik does not think should be there?
Another question: how can people allow themselves to be “lead” by such minds. One wonders how the Sheik would react if a Jewish leader said something as radical towards the Muslims? And finally, it is interesting to note that the Sheik has not chosen to be a "martyr"
THIS IS TRULY MIND BOGGLING!!!

CLICHE OF THE DAY: Wing and a prayer
Meaning: hopeful but with few assets or chances
Example: He is riding that worn out bicycle on a wing and a prayer
Origin: During World War I when airplanes were still new and a novelty, a flyer landed safely with a badly damaged wing. All were amazed that he hadn't crashed. Another pilot coined the phrase when he said only “a wing a prayer brought you back.”
JOKE OF THE DAY:
A woman phoned the repairman because her clothes washer had broken down. The repairman was unable to get to her that evening. They made arrangements for him to come over the next day, with the woman to leave the key under the mat, as she had to go to work.
She told the repairman that she had a large rottwieler (dog) and a parrot. “The dog won't bother you, but do not talk to the parrot under any circumstances.”
Sure enough, the dog, named ‘‘Killer’’ left the man alone, while he repaired the washing machine, but all during the repairs the parrot cursed, screamed and yelled at him.
After finishing the job, the repairman couldn’t resist saying to the bird “Stupid bird.” The parrot immediately chimed in “Get him, Killer.”
MORE “MURPHY-LIKE LAWS”:
When all else fails, read the instructions.
The degree of technical competence is inversely proportional to the level of management
The best things in the world are free --- and worth every penny of it.
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Sex appeal is 50% what you've got and 50% what people think you've got

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Of Football and Presidential Games

January 19th 2007 22:42

NEWS:
The chase for the SuperBowl Championship has dwindled down to four teams; the Chicago Bears, the Indianapolis Colts, the New England Patriots and the New Orleans Saints.
The games this Sunday will decide who will go to the SuperBowl, with the Patriots playing the Colts and the Bears playing the Saints. It will all finally be decided on Sunday February 4, with Sunday’s winners then playing in the SuperBowl on Sunday, February 4, 2007 in Miami, Florida.
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Time Delay For The Post Office, But Not The Doomsday Clock

January 17th 2007 23:26

NEWS:
Ned Hethington , a retired police chief , living in West Ashley, North Carolina recently received a faded postcard of an old waterwheel addressed to Mrs. M.K. Hethington, which was mailed from Hendersonville, N.C. and had a one-cent stamp postmarked June 28 1949, over 57 years ago. The postcard read “It is very hot up here. I thought this picture would cool you off by looking at it. Please write. Miss you. Aunt Olie Orr is going to take me around to see all the mountain. How is everyone. Margie.” The retired Police Chief later determined the Mrs. M.K. Hethington was May King Hethington, his great aunt who died in 1972, and that the sender was Margery Gilreath, a second cousin who died in 1985.
The post card was addressed to Chief Hethington’s great aunt on “King Street” of a city or town (name undisclosed) “several miles” from the Chief’s residence.
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Madonna, Electricity and China

January 16th 2007 17:52

NEWS:
On the David Letterman show Madonna has called for more adoptions from Africa despite the controversy surrounding her attempts at adopting a Malawian child. She said she was “saving a life” by taking in the one-year child.
VIEWS:
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Beautiful Green Homes

January 16th 2007 16:29

This site, Living Homes/ , features one of the companies listed in the Wired article referenced below. Talk about beautiful “green”. Building well, living well

“THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY to construct a house is to build it in a factory. This reduces a home's "embodied energy" –– the amount of power expended in its fabrication and construction. And conventional homebuilding is dirty work. From the fuel used by commuting workers to onsite diesel generators, the construction and operation of homes and other structures generates 40 to 50 percent of all the greenhouse gases in the US, according to the US Energy Information Administration. On top of that, studies suggest that more than half of a home's leftover materials –– drywall and lumber –– winds up in landfills. Plus, as anyone who has ever remodeled a kitchen knows, construction work isn't exactly high tech. Raw materials are dropped off at the building site and then assembled by hand with hammers and saws. The so-called material systems approach developed by Kieran and Timberlake banishes this primitive model. Better still, it's future-proof: Homes may be built to last, but the modules of material systems structures are built to be upgraded.” Wired.comThis is from Wired Online.
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Brave Survivors and Loose Cannons

January 13th 2007 19:38

NEWS:

Lance Armstrong, one of cycling's all-time greats and possibly the world's best known cancer survivor, founded the Lance Armstrong Foundation with the goal of inspiring and empowering people with cancer.
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Snap Decisions Often Best

January 9th 2007 21:01

NEWS

Dead birds falling from the sky? Thousands of dead birds have fallen from the skies over Esperance, 725km southeast of Perth, and no one knows why. New holland and singing honeyeaters, yellow throated miners, wattle birds, some dead hawks, crows and pigeons have been dropping into peoples’ yards.
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P's & Q's, Terrorists & Murphy's Laws

January 9th 2007 02:57

NEWS:
Follow up regarding the stolen rocket launchers (see previous column):
A Sydney biker belonging to Australia’’s biggest outlaw bike gang, the ““Rebels””, is now suspected of being playing a part in the rocket launcher theft involving alleged Sydney arms dealer Taha Abdulrahman and his clients - one of whom is a terror suspect. .
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Murphy's Law

January 7th 2007 20:02

NEWS:
In only the second reported computer hacking case in Venezuela, a 17 year old boy living in a poor neighborhood in Western Carabobo State has been detained by authorities after hacking into 23 different government web sites, including the Vice President’’s office.
The youth also hacked the investigative police and the national guard, as well as posting photos of Venezuela’’s President Hugo Chavez and Cuba’’s Fidel Castro.
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