DAILY NEWS:

[sloth]

Huskers tackling one hairy issue

COMMENTARY

By Bob Hamar

[email protected]

Published: Sunday, August 8, 2010 9:47 PM CDT

LINCOLN — How it started depends a little bit on who you ask.

Ask Nebraska defensive end Cameron Meredith and he’ll say it was all his idea.

Ask linebacker Sean Fisher and — after he says he doesn’t want to talk about it — he say that Meredith is trying to horn in on the linebacker’s territory.

Mike Knox

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8/7/2010

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“Cam is just kind of on his own,” Fisher said. “I think he just wants to do it for his own personal reasons.”

It’s kind of a hairy situation for the Huskers, one that Meredith claims to have started early this summer.

“I got my inspiration from the Wall of Fame,” Meredith said. “All those former captains, I saw Mike Knox and his mustache and thought I’ve got to bring this back. That was my inspiration.”

Knox not only had a sporty looking mustache when he played for the Huskers from 1981 to 1985, but he also played a mean linebacker.

He ended his career with 245 total tackles and came within one game of becoming the first player in Big Eight Conference history to letter on four teams that never lost a conference game.

Knox was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 2004, so if this year’s linebackers can play like him — with or without the hair on the upper lip — that would be a good thing.

The linebackers as a unit are all at least trying to grow mustaches. It’s still unclear whether this really started with Meredith or not, but it is clear that the players are having some fun with it as fall camp begins.

“I don’t even want to talk about it,” Fisher said when asked about his attempt at a mustache. “That was Alonzo Whaley’s idea I think. I kind of got hammered because everybody wanted to do it and I can’t grow a mustache.”

Yes, Fisher’s attempt at a mustache looks fairly weak at this point. Whaley’s, on the other hand, was ... well, something.

“I saw him this morning,” Meredith said. “I didn’t know what it was.”

Linebacker Will Compton attempted to shed some light on the subject when he joined reporters in questioning senior defensive back Eric Hagg on Saturday. Hagg isn’t a linebacker, but that hasn’t stopped him from growing his own mustache.

“What’s up with the mustache?” Compton asked Hagg.

“Since I play ‘Peso’ (kind of a hybrid defensive position), these guys didn’t include me, so I decided to do my own thing and get a mustache too,” Hagg said. “Because I’m a corner too, these guys didn’t want to tell me about it.”

No doubt Meredith had produced a nice mustache, but he said linebacker Graham Stoddard had made the most progress over the summer.

However, Meredith is still claiming the top spot in the mustache standings with his Ron Burgundy look.

“Obviously I’m No. 1 because I started the whole trend, trying to bring back the ‘70s style,” Meredith said, ignoring the fact that Knox played in the ‘80s. “We won championships then so hopefully this mustache will work as well.”

That’s what it’s all about for the Huskers this season. They are looking to win championships. One thing is for sure: They’re not trying to impress the ladies.

“You know this ruins your chance of ever having a date,” one reporter said to Meredith.

“I already have a girl friend so it’s all good,” Meredith said. “No worries. If I was single, now I don’t know if I’d do it.

“Everyone is asking me what’s my secret. I don’t know. I just gotta be me and grow it out.”

The Huskers should be aware that mustaches can cause some friction among teammates.

For example, Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones had a mustache last season. It’s gone now, and linebacker Travis Lewis doesn’t want to see it return.

“I’m going to shave it myself if it comes back during the season,” Lewis said last month at the Big 12 media days. “I’ll let him know. He needs a little bit of style.

“I don’t really deal with the offense. I deal with making sure the defensive guys look good, but if push comes to shove I’ll go over to their side. I’ll hold him down because I’m bigger than him and I’ll shave it off.”

How about 320-pound offensive tackle Jermarcus Hardrick holding Meredith down and so Fisher can shave his mustache off? Now that could be some fun.

Bob Hamar is sports editor for The Independent.

[MIKA27]

Another newspaper clipping.........

Some people get in the news for all the wrong reasons.

Perhaps a block of ice would have done the trick directly onto his package!

[MIKA27]

Russian heatwave 'worst in 1000 years', killing 700 people a day

THE heatwave which has caused a sanitary and agricultural crisis in Russia is the most severe in the country's history, a top meteorological official says.

The head of weather forecaster Rosgidromet said that nothing similar had been observed in the millennium history of the Russian state, which dates back to the acceptance of Christianity by ancient Russia in the late 10th Century.

"From the moment of the foundation of our country, we can say, in the last period of 1000 years, no similar heatwave has been observed neither by ourselves nor by our ancestors," Alexander Frolov said.

"This is a completely unique phenomenon," he told a televised news conference.

"There are no observations of this in the archives."

Some authorities have claimed the devastating heatwave kills 700 people a day, amid media reports of a government cover-up.

“The mortality rate in Moscow has doubled recently,” said Andrei Seltsovsky, head of the city’s health protection department.

He said the current toll compares with the usual death rate of 360 to 380, blaming “conditions caused by a long period of heat and smog.”

The announcement followed pressure from media outlets who claimed officials ordered morgues and hospitals not to reveal the full extent of the numbers of deaths caused by the hot weather.

The move was “in order to conceal their (the government's) incompetence,” Kommersant quoted an unnamed undertaker as saying.

One doctor, working with an ambulance crew, told the opposition newspaper Novaya Gazeta that emergency calls and deaths rose sharply in recent days.

“We’ve been strictly forbidden to hospitalise people except in the most extreme cases,” the doctor said, on condition of anonymity.

Over the weekend, while temperatures remained at around high 30s, the levels of deadly carbon monoxide in the Moscow air varied from three to six times more than acceptable.

The ministry for emergency situations said over 500 forest and peat fires continued to burn across Russia.

MIKA: This is terrible news indeed, why on earth are the Russian governments trying to cover up the numbers!?

[MIKA27]

Another one to balance up the bad news a little. Hope you're enjoying these.

As usual my friend, your posts are hillarious, they really make my day mate!!! Keep posting!!

[MIKA27]

And one more for the day.... Thanks Mika27, Anything to brighten the spirits of FOH members.

Thanks bster!!

[Kangaroo495]

Russian heatwave 'worst in 1000 years', killing 700 people a day

THE heatwave which has caused a sanitary and agricultural crisis in Russia is the most severe in the country's history, a top meteorological official says.

The head of weather forecaster Rosgidromet said that nothing similar had been observed in the millennium history of the Russian state, which dates back to the acceptance of Christianity by ancient Russia in the late 10th Century.

"From the moment of the foundation of our country, we can say, in the last period of 1000 years, no similar heatwave has been observed neither by ourselves nor by our ancestors," Alexander Frolov said.

"This is a completely unique phenomenon," he told a televised news conference.

"There are no observations of this in the archives."

Some authorities have claimed the devastating heatwave kills 700 people a day, amid media reports of a government cover-up.

“The mortality rate in Moscow has doubled recently,” said Andrei Seltsovsky, head of the city’s health protection department.

He said the current toll compares with the usual death rate of 360 to 380, blaming “conditions caused by a long period of heat and smog.”

The announcement followed pressure from media outlets who claimed officials ordered morgues and hospitals not to reveal the full extent of the numbers of deaths caused by the hot weather.

The move was “in order to conceal their (the government's) incompetence,” Kommersant quoted an unnamed undertaker as saying.

One doctor, working with an ambulance crew, told the opposition newspaper Novaya Gazeta that emergency calls and deaths rose sharply in recent days.

“We’ve been strictly forbidden to hospitalise people except in the most extreme cases,” the doctor said, on condition of anonymity.

Over the weekend, while temperatures remained at around high 30s, the levels of deadly carbon monoxide in the Moscow air varied from three to six times more than acceptable.

The ministry for emergency situations said over 500 forest and peat fires continued to burn across Russia.

MIKA: This is terrible news indeed, why on earth are the Russian governments trying to cover up the numbers!?

This is actually a full on natural disaster. It like - can you imagine 2 meters of snow falling in Australia suddenly. How would anyone cope. There is nothing prepared for such an event here. In fact, the Fire Authority was recently dissolved by Putin - hence the authorities want to cover up the amount of deaths caused by the fires, so Putin can't be held responsible.

I was locked in my flat all weekend, windows shut, no a/c in 40 degree heat. Wearing a surgical mask on the street. Can't ever remember Melbourne being this bad... But I wasn't there for the fires 2 years ago...

[LeafLover]

In the city of Bell, a suburb of Los Angeles, California, citizens of that city are up in arms demanding resignations of many city officials who have outrageous salaries. I.e. the city's Chief Administrative Officer has a salary of $787,000/year. Twice the salary of the President of the United States. If memory serves me correctly, the police chief was paid 450k/year for running a force of around 50 employees. Council members made 100k a year for part time work of meeting twice a month. Apparently, the Bell City Council exempted themselves from the state's salary limites.

Bell has a population of 40,000 people and statistics show that 1 in 6 live in poverty.

People are PISSED! Some officials have resigned. The mayor says he will not seek re-election and said he will finish his term without pay. The Attorney General of California is investigating them.

[MIKA27]

Cops find cat 'marinating' in car boot

Source: thedailytelegraph.com.au

POLICE say a traffic stop led to animal cruelty charges after they found a live cat "marinating" in oil and peppers in the boot of a car.

Buffalo police say officers heard the cat meowing when they stopped 51-year-old Gary Korkuc for running a stop sign on Sunday night.

They say they checked the boot and found four-year-old Navarro in a cage, his fur covered with oil, crushed red peppers and chili peppers, according to the Buffalo News.

Police say Mr Korkuc told them he did it because Navarro was ill-tempered.

Mr Korkuc was charged with cruelty and released; his phone number isn't listed.

Police say he told them he was going to cook Navarro.

Mr Korkuc also told officers a number of things that didn't make sense, including that his neutered male cat was pregnant.

Animal advocates have cleaned Navarro and put him up for adoption.

MIKA: Clearly a nutter...

[MIKA27]

Man had pea plant growing in lung

Source: thedailytelegraph.com.au

MONTHS of coughing had Ron Sveden worried that something was very wrong, but the Massachussets, man never expected doctors to tell him he had plant growing in his lungs.

Fits of coughing and a lingering feeling of listlessness sent Mr Sveden to see several doctors in Brewster.

Rounds of tests confirmed he did not have lung cancer or some kind of tumor. One finally noticed something odd, perhaps a plant, growing inside his lung, WHEC TV in Rochester, New York reported.

The culprit, as it turns out, was likely a green pea that made its way down the wrong pipe, split and then began to grow, his doctors speculated.

Doctors removed the plant, which had grown to about an inch and a half and eventually caused his lung to collapse.

One of his first meals following surgery in the hospital included a side of peas.

“I laughed to myself and ate them,” he told WHDH TV.

[MIKA27]

Iran digging graves for U.S. troops if they attack

Source: usatoday.com

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran has dug mass graves in which to bury U.S. troops in case of any American attack on the country, a commander of the elite Revolutionary Guard said Tuesday, warning that a military strike would spark an "extensive war" in the region.

The announcement appears to be a show of bravado after the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, said last week that the U.S. military has a contingency plan to attack Iran, although he thinks a military strike is probably a bad idea.

The U.S. and some of its allies accuse Iran of using its civilian nuclear program as a cover to build nuclear weapons. Iran has denied the charges, saying its nuclear program is geared merely toward generating electricity, not bomb.

The deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guard, Gen. Hossein Kan'ani Moghadam, said graves for any attacking U.S. troops have been dug in Iran's southwestern Khuzestan province, where Iran buried Iraqi soldiers killed during the ruinous 1980-88 war between the Islamic republic and Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's regime.

"The mass graves that used to be for burying Saddam's soldiers have now been prepared again for U.S. soldiers, and this is the reason for digging this big number of graves," Moghadam said, according to the semiofficial Fars news agency.

Moghadam, however, said American troops would likely not be able to set foot on Iranian soil, repeating warnings that Iran will retaliate against U.S. bases in the Gulf if there is an attack on Iran. The U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet headquarters is based just across the Gulf from Iran in Bahrain.

"I assume that the enemy will be hit in its own military bases out of our borders and will not have any chance to have its forces land in Iran," he said.

"If the U.S. decides to take a pre-emptive action and attack Iran, Iran will have no choice but to strike the American bases in the region," he said. "The heavy costs of such a war will not be just on the Islamic Republic of Iran. America and other countries should accept that this would be the start of an extensive war in the region."

The war of words has intensified between Iran and the United States after the U.N. Security Council imposed a fourth round of tougher sanctions in June in response to Iran's refusal to halt uranium enrichment, a technology that can be used to produce nuclear fuel or material for an atomic bomb.

The U.S. and Israel have said military force could be used if diplomacy fails to stop what they suspect is an Iranian nuclear weapons program.

Iran put the Guard — its most powerful force — in charge of defending the country's territorial waters in the Persian Gulf in 2008. Iran has sought to upgrade its air defense systems and naval power, saying any possible future attacks against Iran will be air and sea-based.

[MIKA27]

S. Korea warns N. Korea after artillery barrage

Source: usatoday.com

SEOUL (AP) — South Korea denounced a barrage of artillery fired by North Korea into the sea as a grave provocation Tuesday and warned that it would deal sternly with any further such acts.

North Korea fired about 110 rounds Monday near its disputed western sea border with South Korea, shortly after Seoul ended five-day naval drills staged in response to the March sinking of its Cheonan warship. North Korea has been blamed for the vessel's destruction, which killed 46 sailors.

The North denies it torpedoed the Cheonan and has warned any punishment would trigger war.

Most of the shells in Monday's barrage landed in the North's waters, but about 10 struck near a South Korean island causing no damage, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. It previously stated all artillery rounds landed in North Korean waters.

South Korea's Defense Ministry said in a statement that the move violated an armistice that halted fighting in the Korean War in the early 1950s.

"If North Korea continues its provocative rhetoric and acts, we will sternly deal with them," the ministry said.

The Korean peninsula remains technically in a state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. The U.S. stations 28,500 troops in South Korea to help protect its key Asian ally.

A U.S. State Department spokesman denounced North Korea's artillery barrage and joked that it "resulted in a lot of dead fish." P.J. Crowley also said, "We're likely to see more provocations."

He said it was unclear what North Korea was "trying to achieve through this ongoing chest-thumping."

Tension on the divided peninsula has spiked in the wake of the Cheonan's sinking.

The American-led U.N. Command, which monitors the armistice, held talks with North Korea at the Korean border village of Panmunjom on Tuesday to discuss the incident, said U.S. military spokesman David Oten.

It was the fourth such meeting since last month. The previous three ended with no major breakthroughs.

Ties between the two Koreas worsened last week when South Korea launched large-scale naval training in response to the sinking, prompting its communist neighbor to warn it would counter the maneuvers with a "strong physical retaliation."

The South Korean naval drills, which ended on Monday afternoon, followed large-scale joint military exercises with the U.S. last month off the east coast. The South Korean drills included exercises near the western sea border where the warship exploded and sank.

The area is also where the navies of the rival Koreas have fought three bloody gunbattles since 1999.

[MIKA27]

Frisky Donald Duck 'grabbed my breast'

Source: thedailytelegraph.com.au

WEB site Smoking Gun has obtained a civil suit that claims a woman was groped by Donald Duck at Walt Disney World.

The suit was filed in July by April Magolon of Philadelphia against Walt Disney Parks And Resorts.

Smoking Gun says Disney wants the case moved to federal court in Philadelphia.

The alleged groping happened in May 2008 when Magolon was at EPCOT in Orlando with her children and fiancé.

Magolon says she was approached by a Disney employee wearing a Donald Duck costume.

She claims the mascot grabbed her breast and then made "gestures" making a joke of the groping.

The suit also points to alleged past incidents at the park, including a case in 2004 when an employee dressed as Tigger assaulted two people.

Smoking Gun says Magolon is claiming negligence, battery, and infliction of emotional distress, and is seeking in excess of $50,000 in damages from Disney.

MIKA: The picture of Donald Duck beneath the articles heading just cracks me up!!

[MIKA27]

Serial semen attacker arrested

AUTHORITIES in Maryland say a man accused of squirting semen from a bottle onto two female shoppers has been linked to three more cases.

Twenty-eight-year-old Michael Wayne Edwards Jr. was arrested and charged with spraying the fluid on a shopper at a Giant Food store in Gaithersburg on July 15. Edwards was also charged in a similar incident at a Michaels craft store in Gaithersburg.

On Wednesday, Gaithersburg Officer Dan Lane said Edwards has been linked to three additional cases at the same Giant store on July 2 and July 8.

Edwards turned himself in to authorities Wednesday. A jail official said he was being held on a $50,000 bond. A message left for his attorney was not immediately returned.

MIKA: What the hell is LL Cool Jay doing by spraying people with semen!

[CanuckSARTech]

Serial semen attacker arrested

MIKA: What the hell is LL Cool Jay doing by spraying people with semen!

Hey....Ladies Love Cool Juice!!!

[MIKA27]

Hey....Ladies Love Cool Juice!!!

Or "Cool -Aid!!"

[MIKA27]

Chaouk family patriarch shot dead

Source: Ninemsn.com.au

Macchour Chaouk, the patriarch of a notorious Melbourne family, has been shot dead in the backyard of his home in the city's inner west.

Victoria Police have confirmed a 65-year-old man was killed in a shooting at the property in Geelong Rd, Brooklyn, shortly before 11am (AEST).

The area has been cordoned off while heavily armed police and ambulance crews attend the scene.

The gunman has not been found.

Footage from the Nine News helicopter showed three people crouched over a large blue blanket covering the dead man.

Three young children — aged one, three and five — were inside the home at the time of the shooting, the Herald Sun reported.

Family and friends quickly gathered outside the home, with man one reportedly yelling "who the f--- shot him?".

Initial reports that a second person may have been shot were incorrect, an ambulance spokesman said.

Ambulance crews were called to the house at 10.54am and found a man at the scene performing CPR on the victim.

When it was safe for paramedics to approach the house, they confirmed the man was dead at the scene.

Chaouk and his two sons Walid, 36, and Omar, 18, were arrested by police following a raid on the home in July.

Following the raid, police allegedly found 36 blank Australian passports, two loaded guns and ammunition at the property.

The Chaouk family has famously been engaged in a long-running war with crime rivals, the Haddara family, leading to other violent incidents.

Another of Macchour Chaouk's sons, Mohamed, was shot dead by police at the same address in 2005.

Macchour Chaouk was born in Lebanon and migrated to Sydney in 1969, before settling in Melbourne with his wife Fatma in 1974.

Chaouk was convicted of trafficking heroin in 1983 and again in 2000.

MIKA: You live by the sword, you die by the sword. Just desserts IMO.

[CanuckSARTech]

Or "Cool -Aid!!"

Well, I was going to put another J word in there, but it just wouldnt be family-friendly.

[Kangaroo495]

Chaouk family patriarch shot dead

About time.

[MIKA27]

Why women should live like a bloke

Source: thedailytelegraph.com.au

ADOPTING a few of your man's lifestyle philosophies could actually make you happier, healthier and even thinner.

They drink beer, play footy and can pass an evening in each other’s company without exchanging more than 10 words.

While women are usually overly stressed, juggling numerous roles and constantly dieting, men are generally quite happy with their lot – even if the washing hasn’t been put away and the vacuuming hasn’t been done. We look at how women could benefit from a bit of “bloke health”.

Join a team sport to alleviate worry

Most women give up on participating in team sports once they’ve left school and usually join a gym instead, says psychologist Lydia Ievleva from Sydney.

“Yet men don’t really consider their weekly game a workout: it’s a social event for them,” she says.

Being part of a team can help a woman’s health emotionally and physically. According to the University of Copenhagen, women who participated in soccer became less self-focused and more team-oriented.

Any team sport will do. “When we’re stressed, we experience an increase in the hormone oxytocin, which also increases our need for comfort and friendship,” says Ievleva. “When women are stressed, they tend to isolate themselves, rather than seeking support. Any sport which involves friendship will help women feel less alone, rather than languishing in their worries.”

Stop cleaning up and stress less

Ever noticed how men will ignore the mess and read the Sunday papers instead? It’s not that they’re lazy, it’s because they’re not focused on a specific household task at the time, says wellness coach Fiona Cosgrove.

“Women tend to view keeping a clean and tidy home as one of their main tasks of the day, compared with men’s priority of doing outdoor tasks,” she says. “Women don’t need to take everything on their shoulders, but they may need to learn how to ask for help without it coming across as nagging.”

Cosgrove suggests getting into the habit of saying, “What I would like is…” rather than “You never help out”, which puts the other person on the defensive. And be sure to give a reason. “This will appeal to men’s logical and cognitive way of thinking. Ultimately, try to avoid the blame game.”

Trust your own decisions and simplify your life

How often do you hear a man confiding in their friends? Never, right? It may drive women mad, but men’s tendency to keep their emotions close to their chest may not be such a bad thing. A study at Columbia University’s Teachers College found that those who kept their emotions in check were better adjusted and became less distressed by events.

According to Melbourne-based psychologist Dr Elizabeth Celi, women process their thoughts and problems externally and bring in as many opinions as they can, getting lost in too many details. Men, on the other hand, process internally and weigh up the facts with less emotional “contamination”.

“They get to the point, keep it real and keep it simple,” says Dr Celi.

Next time you’re in a conundrum, try mulling the problem over for a while yourself, without asking your friends’ opinions.

“You’ll be surprised how quickly you’ll come to a decision,” says Dr Celi.

Do one thing at a time and be more productive

While women simultaneously iron, cook dinner and talk on the phone, men focus on doing one job at a time, which can drive women to distraction. (Really, cook dinner - well?)

According to research from the University of California, this is because the area connecting the right part of the brain to the left is thicker in women, allowing more ideas to flow.

Dr Celi says men set boundaries and focus completely on the task at hand. “They’ll reach a resolution quickly, with time left over for the next task,” she says. “For some women, combining multi-tasking with a superwoman mentality is a recipe for going mad!”

In order to get things done, men and women should try to work together. “Women’s contextual awareness and multi-tasking tendencies can complement a man’s pinpointed processing and focused decision-making, to achieve combined goals,” says Dr Celi.

Lose the guilt about food and eat better

“If a man needs to lose weight he’ll cut down on what he eats, but he probably won’t consider himself to be ‘dieting’,” says Dr Tim Gill, principal research fellow and scientific programs manager at the Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition and Exercise at the University of Sydney.

“If a man has a day when he eats too much, he’ll probably shrug and begin his eating plan again the next day. Whereas women tend to feel that they’ve ruined their chances at weight loss if they ‘slip up’.”

Instead of lamenting that lamington, “just get back to your routine as soon as possible”.

Stop emotional eating to lose weight

Blame our hormones or the kids, but women eat three times more sweets than men. A Cornell University study found women eat sweet treats if they’re feeling down, whereas men tuck into a piece of steak. Therein lies the secret.

“Steak is protein, so you feel fuller for longer,” says Dr Gill. “Anything sugary will just spike your insulin levels, leading to abdominal fat, an unsatisfied appetite and excess kilojoule intake.”

Our hormones are also responsible for emotional eating. “The menstrual cycle does drive women to the bread bin, so you become a slave to carbohydrates to improve your mood,” says Dr Gill. He suggests sticking to three meals a day and banishing tempting treats from the house. “If you need an emotional pick-me-up, exercise is a better solution,” he says.

Commit to a goal and achieve more

Been trying to give up smoking or start exercising? If you’re a man you’re more likely to achieve your goals. In a study reported in the American Journal Of Health Behavior, men are more likely to adopt healthy changes as permanent habits.

“This may be because when a man commits to a goal, he’ll stick to it, whereas women tend to find excuses to put off lifestyle changes,” says Dr Gill.

“Write down your health goals,” says Cosgrove. “Lists appeal to a woman’s sense of responsibility, so you’ll be more likely to follow through.”

Work the weights to maintain muscle

“We’re not just getting fatter, we’re becoming less muscular,” says Dr Tim Gill.

Maintaining muscle mass is important to keep you slim, as well as preventing osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes. “As you get older, maintaining muscle mass helps to keep you stable, prevent falls and keep you mobile for longer.”

For women wanting to increase their muscle tone, it’s not necessary to lift dumbbells at the gym. “Using your own body weight is ideal,” says Dr Gill. “Try sit-ups, push-ups and hill or stair walking to build your muscle mass.”

MIKA: For those of you not wishing to read the article, it basically tells us all what we already know.... "Women are ballbreakers who think they know everything, they can't commit to a goal, think that by multitasking they can achieve more, they stress more and in turn, stress men out and, they should work out more and not binge eat"

Oh, and reading between the lines.... They should enjoy a cigar sometime.

[OZCUBAN]

How profound

[MIKA27]

Eight spectators killed in US desert race

A contestant in a night-time desert race in California lost control of his pick-up truck and plowed into a group of spectators, killing eight and injuring at least 12, officials said Sunday.

The horrific accident occurred at about 7:40 pm Saturday (0240 GMT Sunday) during the California 200, an annual event held in Soggy Dry Lake Bed near the city of Lucerne Valley in the Mojave Desert.

At least four of the injured were in serious condition and were taken by air ambulance to nearby trauma centers, fire department supervisor Tim Franke told reporters.

NBC news reported that those killed were all in their twenties or thirties, while an unspecified number of minors were among the injured.

Police did not identify the driver involved in the accident. Local reports said he needed to be escorted away from the area when spectators threatened him and began throwing rocks.

"He got airborne and when he landed, rolled over straight into the spectators," CHP officer Joaquin Zubieta said in the Los Angeles Times. "People didn't have much of a chance... to get out of the way."

According to Los Angeles broadcaster KCAL 9, the accident occurred near the start of the race, when one of the drivers failed to negotiate a jump and veered off the track into the crowd.

News footage showed the vehicle, a white pick-up truck plastered with sponsorship decals, flipped on its roof, with at least one body under a white sheet next to the vehicle.

The dry lake is located about 100 miles (165 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles. Drivers race four times around a 50-mile loop, at speeds that top 60 miles per hour, and the race typically ends before dawn the next day.

Video from last year's California 200 posted on the web shows off-road cars and pick-up trucks roaring past spectators just a few feet (meters) away on the sandy, washboard river bed, with nothing more than a rope or thin plastic sheeting between them.

"They had people lined up right along the track -- inches from the track," an unidentified spectator told NBC after Saturday night's crash. "People are way too close."

The tragedy is being investigated by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), which sent its major accident investigation team to the scene.

The race is organized each year by Mojave Desert Racing (MDR), a Southern California corporation headquartered in South El Monte.

MDR says on its website it organizes 12 desert car races per year for 20 different classes of vehicles, and provided "an exciting, rewarding, and safe environment for off-road racing in four locations: Barstow, Lucerne Valley, Ridgecrest, and Plaster City."

A flyer listed on a site indicated that fees to enter the race ranged from 200 dollars to 440 dollars.

A total of 87 drivers were registered to take part in Saturday's race, The Times said, adding that hundreds of spectators had gathered around the site where the pick-up truck landed.

[MIKA27]

'Ninja' robbers steal $US60,000 in brazen mid-day New York City diamond heist

Source: thedailytelegrap.com.au

TWO ninja-like robbers dressed head-to-toe in black pulled off a brazen, mid-day heist at a New York City Diamond District store today, tying up the owner and his son and swiping $US60,000 ($67,000) in cash and jewellery before fleeing.

The robbers, one of whom was armed, sprinted out of the Namat Inc store on West 47th St in midtown Manhattan before cops were called about 2pm - after the victims wiggled out of their binding in their second-storey shop, cops told the New York Post.

Though the cagey robbers disabled the store’s surveillance, "There are lots of video cameras on the street," said one cop at the scene.

Matt Hartley, 25, with girlfriend Macey Deleon, 22, of Westchester, said they often come to Midtown to window-shop on weekends.

"The thieves must have been pros because there are cops everywhere on the street," Mr Hartley said. "I can’t believe they can make a clean getaway like that in Midtown."

[MIKA27]

'Miracle' in Colombia jet crash

Source: Ninemsn.com.au

A Boeing 737 jetliner carrying 131 people has crashed in a thunderstorm, breaking into three pieces as it slid onto the runway on a Colombian island.

The region's governor says it's a miracle that only one person died.

Colombian Air Force Colonel David Barrero says officials are investigating reports the plane had been hit by lightning before crashing at 1.49am (1649 AEST) on Monday on San Andres Island, a resort area of 78,000 people about 190km east of the Nicaraguan coast.

San Andres governor Pedro Gallardo says 125 passengers and six crew members had been aboard Aires Flight 8520, but the only person killed was Amar Fernandez de Barreto, 68.

"It was a miracle and we have to give thanks to God," that only one person died, Gallardo said.

Officials said 119 people were treated or checked at local clinics and five of them were seriously injured.

The state government said in an email that passengers aboard the plane that left Bogota about midnight included eight US citizens and four Brazilians. They were not identified.

Passengers said the pilot had announced an impending landing and all seemed normal as the plane descended through rain and lightning.

But suddenly it hit short and then slid onto the runway on its belly as the fuselage fractured. It wound up at one end of the runway, crumpled and in pieces, as passengers scrambled or were helped to safety.

Firefighters quickly doused the beginnings of a fire on a wing, said police general Orlando Paez.

Ninety-nine passengers were taken to the Amor de Patria Hospital on San Andres, said the hospital director, Robert Sanchez.

"It's incredible. For the dimension (of the accident), there should be more," he said.

Sanchez said an initial examination indicated Fernandez de Barreto may have died of a heart attack.

Twenty other passengers were treated at another clinic, according to the national civil aviation agency.

Barrero, commander of the Caribbean Air Group, said by telephone from San Andres: "The skill of the pilot kept the plane from colliding with the airport."

He said the cause of the accident was uncertain. "You can't speculate. Lightning? A gust of wind? The investigation will say."

The airline, Aerovias de Integracion Regional SA, said in a Twitter posting that it has 20 planes, including 10 Boeing 737-100 planes.

It said it was "working and investigating with the aeronautical authorities to determine the causes of what happened".

Barrero said part of the 2380-meter runway had been closed because parts of the plane were still scattered across it. But enough was usable that air ambulances would be able to land.

Paez said by telephone that a group of police officers who had been waiting at the airport for the plane to take them back to the Colombian mainland aided in rescuing the victims.

MIKA: A miracle indeed.

[MIKA27]

Man U beat Newcastle 3-0 to start season

Dimitar Berbatov, Darren Fletcher and Ryan Giggs scored as Manchester United began their English Premier League campaign with a 3-0 home win over promoted Newcastle.

The match gave the losers a sharp reminder of the gulf in class between the Championship and the elite league.

United had a comfortable advantage over last season's Championship winners by half time even though it proved to be another frustrating night for Wayne Rooney, who remains goalless for club and country since scoring against Bayern Munich in a Champions League match in March.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was especially impressed by veteran midfielder Paul Scholes and delighted with the result against what he termed a tough outfit.

"They got into the Premier League last season by being a determined and a good unit with a good work ethic," said Ferguson.

"We were wasteful with some chances. Dimitar Berbatov could have scored three or four, but his performance was excellent. The three points is always important in your first home match. It was a steady performance."

Berbatov finished off a fine move with just over half an hour gone before Fletcher's close-range effort made it two at the interval.

And substitute Giggs extended the advantage with a third goal with five minutes remaining maintaining his extraordinary record of having scored in all 19 seasons he has played in the top flight.

Chelsea ended United's run of three successive Premier League titles with their victory last season but began their attempts to win the crown for a record 19th time in some style.

Newcastle's survival chances will never be judged on trips to Old Trafford but they showed they are well-organised and Andy Carroll looks like he might manage the step up to the top flight.

They began by managing to contain their hosts and Rooney's hopeful curled effort as the only occasion that the Old Trafford side threatened in the early stages.

And the newly-promoted side should have taken the lead when Carroll met Joey Barton's corner unmarked from six yards but glanced his header wide.

Nani had a long-range effort deflected wide and then thumped a free kick into the wall as the home side's frustration continued.

Carroll went close again with a 25-yard drive that was held by goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

Even when James Perch and Mike Williamson were guilty of slack clearances, Nani failed to take advantage for United.

But the Portuguese did force a scrambling punch from Steve Harper with a lofted cross to the far post for Berbatov.

And Rooney also lifted a shot over the bar after Berbatov headed down Antonio Valencia's cross.

But just after the half hour, the home team grabbed the lead when Valencia robbed Jonas Gutierrez in midfield, and John O'Shea fed Scholes, who slid through for Berbatov to find the corner of the net.

Barton tested van der Sar once again with a powerful strike to the near post.

But United doubled their lead before the interval thanks to fine work by Patrice Evra.

The French defender burst into the area and his low cross had too much on it for Rooney, but Fletcher fired in on the turn.

Two of the home team's veterans combined to put the game well beyond Newcastle.

A short corner was worked in-field and Scholes picked out Giggs, who found the corner with a placed volley.

[Habanakane21]

Eight spectators killed in US desert race

A contestant in a night-time desert race in California lost control of his pick-up truck and plowed into a group of spectators, killing eight and injuring at least 12, officials said Sunday.

The horrific accident occurred at about 7:40 pm Saturday (0240 GMT Sunday) during the California 200, an annual event held in Soggy Dry Lake Bed near the city of Lucerne Valley in the Mojave Desert.

At least four of the injured were in serious condition and were taken by air ambulance to nearby trauma centers, fire department supervisor Tim Franke told reporters.

NBC news reported that those killed were all in their twenties or thirties, while an unspecified number of minors were among the injured.

Police did not identify the driver involved in the accident. Local reports said he needed to be escorted away from the area when spectators threatened him and began throwing rocks.

"He got airborne and when he landed, rolled over straight into the spectators," CHP officer Joaquin Zubieta said in the Los Angeles Times. "People didn't have much of a chance... to get out of the way."

According to Los Angeles broadcaster KCAL 9, the accident occurred near the start of the race, when one of the drivers failed to negotiate a jump and veered off the track into the crowd.

News footage showed the vehicle, a white pick-up truck plastered with sponsorship decals, flipped on its roof, with at least one body under a white sheet next to the vehicle.

The dry lake is located about 100 miles (165 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles. Drivers race four times around a 50-mile loop, at speeds that top 60 miles per hour, and the race typically ends before dawn the next day.

Video from last year's California 200 posted on the web shows off-road cars and pick-up trucks roaring past spectators just a few feet (meters) away on the sandy, washboard river bed, with nothing more than a rope or thin plastic sheeting between them.

"They had people lined up right along the track -- inches from the track," an unidentified spectator told NBC after Saturday night's crash. "People are way too close."

The tragedy is being investigated by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), which sent its major accident investigation team to the scene.

The race is organized each year by Mojave Desert Racing (MDR), a Southern California corporation headquartered in South El Monte.

MDR says on its website it organizes 12 desert car races per year for 20 different classes of vehicles, and provided "an exciting, rewarding, and safe environment for off-road racing in four locations: Barstow, Lucerne Valley, Ridgecrest, and Plaster City."

A flyer listed on a site indicated that fees to enter the race ranged from 200 dollars to 440 dollars.

A total of 87 drivers were registered to take part in Saturday's race, The Times said, adding that hundreds of spectators had gathered around the site where the pick-up truck landed.

Boy, this was big news here in Los Angeles. Very unfortunate..