footnotes

Brain or Beauty?

2009-03-25T03:36:00.005+07:00

Smart or thin? Rich or ugly? Women still conflicted. ------ Women still have a complex and contradictory relationship with their own image. According to a poll released on Tuesday, about 25 percent of 2,000 women aged 18-34 those were questioned would rather win the "America's Next Top Model" TV show than the Nobel Peace Prize. On the other question, although about 75 percent of women

'Slumdog' Kids Get Homes

2009-02-26T03:36:00.002+07:00

The two main child stars from "Slumdog Millionaire" live in real-life Mumbai slums. However, not much longer they're going to receive new homes from the authorities after the small-budget movie swept the Oscars, winning eight Academy Awards. The Mumbai homes will go to Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Ismail, who played the young roles of the movie's central characters, Latika and Salim, in the

Woman Emails while Asleep

2009-02-20T21:50:00.004+07:00

A 44-year-old sleepwalker logs onto her computer and sends out a strange invite. - According to a case described in the medical journal Sleep Medicine, a 44-year-old sleepwalker logged onto her computer and emailed out party invitations to friends. Fortean Times magazine looks at this case and several other bizarre episodes of somnambulism. A new form of somnambulism for the Internet age

And the Story Begins...

2009-01-21T01:30:00.005+07:00

Stepping into history, Barack Hussein Obama grasped the reins of power as America's first black president on Tuesday, saying the nation must choose "hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord" to overcome the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. In frigid temperatures, an exuberant crowd of more than a million packed the National Mall and parade route to celebrate

Worst Inauguration Moments

2009-01-20T13:05:00.004+07:00

Inaugurations may be full of pomp and circumstance, but they can also set the tone for where a presidency is headed. Certainly much has been said about all of the preparations for Obama's big day, but will it be a full-blown hit? We'll defer to one of the first daughters, Malia, who advised her dad while discussing his upcoming speech: "First African American president — better be good." So,

Indonesian Obama Look-Alike

2009-01-20T13:00:00.002+07:00

Indonesian photographer Ilham Anas won't be at U.S. President Barack Obama's inauguration on Tuesday. Instead he'll be starring as an Obama look-alike on Indonesian TV.Anas, 34, who from some angles bears a resemblance to the new U.S. president, shot to fame in Jakarta after Obama, 47, won the election in November, and is now earning income as an Obama double.Many Indonesians have a keen

Israeli Airstrike Kills a Top Hamas Leader

2009-01-02T09:57:00.002+07:00

An Israeli warplane dropped a 2,000-pound bomb on the home of one of Hamas' top five decision-makers Thursday, instantly killing him and 18 others, while the Israeli army said troops massed on the Gaza border were ready for any order to invade. The airstrike on Nizar Rayan was the first that succeeded in killing a member of Hamas' highest echelon since Israel began its offensive Saturday. The 49

Communist Cuba Celebrates 50 Years of Revolution

2009-01-02T09:52:00.002+07:00

Communist Cuba marked the 50th anniversary of its Revolution Thursday faced with an uncertain future, its iconic, ailing leader Fidel Castro withdrawn from power and the economy in dire straits. President Raul Castro led official ceremonies in Santiago de Cuba, the city from where his brother Fidel proclaimed victory over US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista in 1959 after 25 months of fighting

New Year's Horror

2009-01-01T21:32:00.004+07:00

Scores die in crowded Bangkok nightclub fire, kills 59 - A fierce fire ripped through a popular nightclub in the Thai capital Bangkok early Thursday as people were celebrating New Year, killing at least 59 people and injuring 184, police said. The blaze broke out after a pyrotechnic display at the Santika club in the city's Ekkamai district, a thronging entertainment area frequented by locals

When to buy? When to sell? When to divorce?

2009-01-01T21:27:00.003+07:00

Fears of a prolonged recession in China have triggered a sharp increase in divorce inquiries addressed to lawyers and financial advisers, state media reported on Monday, with timing a key issue. Wealthy spouses were keen to strike a deal while asset values were low, the China Daily quoted the director of the China Divorce Service Center, Shu Xin, as saying. "While facing tough financial times is

A War to the Bitter End

2008-12-29T21:23:00.002+07:00

Israel's air force obliterated symbols of Hamas power on the third day of its overwhelming assault on Gaza on Monday, striking a house next to the Hamas premier's home, devastating a security compound and flattening a five-story building at a university closely linked to the Islamic group. The three-day death toll rose to 315, including seven children under the age of 15 who were killed in two

Why Israel and Hamas are Fighting?

2008-12-29T20:59:00.003+07:00

On the second day of intense Israeli airstrikes that set off street protests throughout the Middle East, Hamas responded Sunday by extending the range of its rocket attacks on southern Israeli cities. The ferocity and precision of the Israeli blitz sent the Palestinian death toll to nearly 300, surprising the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, and sowing panic. Egyptian border police

Big Orders for 'Bush Shoe'

2008-12-22T09:18:00.004+07:00

A shoemaker says a lot of people are ordering what he claims is the famous projectile. When a pair of black leather oxfords hurled at President Bush in Baghdad produced a gasp heard around the world, a Turkish cobbler had a different reaction: They were his shoes. “We have been producing that specific style, which I personally designed, for 10 years, so I couldn’t have missed it, no way,” said

Iraqi Shoe-Thrower Allegedly Beaten

2008-12-22T08:44:00.009+07:00

The shoes suggested become museum pieces - A judge announced a probe Friday into the beating and bruising of an Iraqi journalist's face moments after he hurled his shoes at President George W. Bush, and said investigators destroyed the shoes in their search for explosives. The statement to The Associated Press by Dhia al-Kinani, the investigating judge, was the first official word that

`Deep Throat' Dies at 95

2008-12-20T00:41:00.003+07:00

W. Mark Felt, the former FBI second-in-command who revealed himself as "Deep Throat" 30 years after he helped The Washington Post unravel the Watergate scandal, has died. He was 95. Felt died Thursday at a hospice near his home in Santa Rosa after suffering from congestive heart failure for several months, said family friend John D. O'Connor, who wrote a Vanity Fair article disclosing Felt's

Duggar Gives Birth to 18th Child

2008-12-20T00:35:00.004+07:00

An Arkansas woman, Michelle Duggar, has given birth to her 18th child. She delivered the baby girl by Caesarean section Thursday at Mercy Medical Center in Rogers. The baby, named Jordyn-Grace Makiya Duggar, weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces and was 20 inches long. "The ultimate Christmas gift from God," said Jim Bob Duggar, the father of the 18 children. "She's just absolutely beautiful, like her mom

Accident at Copperfield Show

2008-12-20T00:25:00.004+07:00

David Copperfield's assistant sustains a severe injury during an act in his Las Vegas show. - One of David Copperfield's magician's assistants was rushed to the hospital with a severe injury during the finale performance of his MGM Grand Las Vegas show Wednesday, a rep for Copperfield tells Usmagazine.com. "During an illusion where David attempts to walk through the rotating blades of a 12-

Shoe-Throwing Incident Becomes Web-Game Hit

2008-12-19T05:09:00.003+07:00

Shoe-wielding Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi, who was catapulted to international prominence after throwing his shoes at President Bush during a press conference in Iraq, is now the star of the latest in viral Web games. "Sock and Awe" -- named after the military doctrine employed in the US operation to remove Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq -- allows players to throw shoes at a figure

New Game Lets You Play President

2008-12-19T05:06:00.004+07:00

Now you're playing with power... - Between the crushing economic crisis, a brutal war overseas, and a wealth of hot-button domestic issues, President-elect Barack Obama's life is about to become pretty challenging. And quite possibly pretty fun, too. Gamers will have a chance to find out firsthand in Commander in Chief, an upcoming computer game that turns armchair generals into desktop

Step Into Barack Obama's Shoes with "Commander in Chief"

2008-12-19T05:01:00.002+07:00

Barack Obama will take over a mess of historicial proportions when he is inaugurated in January. Gamers can get a feel for some of the issues that will be faced by the President-elect with Commander in Chief, a soon-to-be-released strategy game for the PC. AppScout previews Commander in Chief, which is being developed by Eversim, a Frech company: Players begin by selecting members of the

The £60 Millions Divorce

2008-12-17T01:17:00.001+07:00

Madonna's divorce settlement with Guy Ritchie could be worth up to £60 million. Initial reports suggested the British director would receive no cash from the singer's estimated £300 million fortune, but Madonna claims he will now get a mixture of money and property. Liz Rosenberg, Madonna's official spokesperson, said: 'I'd assume it's one of the largest payouts ever in a divorce settlement.'

Indonesia's 40 Richest

2008-12-17T01:11:00.000+07:00

FORBES ASIA closes out our annual coverage of Asia's wealthiest tycoons on a low note. The total worth for all 480 tycoons fell to $779 billion, from $940 billion, despite the fact that we added an additional list of 40 Richest. Fortunes in Indonesia have collapsed with the global economy, pushed down by a dismal stock market, off 54% since last year; plunging commodity prices; and a weak rupiah

Flying Shoes on Bush Farewell in Iraq

2008-12-15T20:13:00.002+07:00

Man throws shoes at Bush during Iraq visit -- whizzed past his head. President George W. Bush wrapped up a whirlwind trip to two war zones Monday that in many ways was a victory lap without a clear victory. A signature event occurred when an Iraqi reporter hurled two shoes at Bush, an incident the president later described as "a bizarre moment." Bush visited the Iraqi capital just 37 days

Iraqi Shoe-Throwing Reporter Becomes the Talk of Iraq

2008-12-15T20:07:00.000+07:00

The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at U.S. President George W. Bush in a supreme insult has suddenly become the talk of Iraq. The little known Shi'ite reporter said to have harbored anger against Bush for the thousands of Iraqis who died after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, had previously made headlines only once, when he was briefly kidnapped by unknown gunmen in 2007. TV reporter Muntazer

The Most Corrupt State in US

2008-12-12T02:17:00.000+07:00

Its largest city is legendary for machine-style politics and its elected leaders have been under investigation for years, but by one measure, Illinois is not even close to the nation's most-corrupt state. North Dakota, it turns out, may hold that distinction instead. Federal authorities arrested Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich Tuesday after a wiretap allegedly recorded him scheming to make money

China Sees Surge in Lifestyle Diseases

2008-12-12T02:03:00.000+07:00

He Yifan has stayed at a weight loss clinic for more than two months to shed his kilos, one of millions of people in China whose richer lives have led to unwelcome side effects such as obesity. "Some people (in China) are fat as living standards are quite good now, so people's habits are not the same as they once were," said He, 23, a graduate who reached 157 kilograms (345 pounds) while at

Jihadist Get Ready for Facebook Invasion

2008-12-12T01:46:00.000+07:00

A member of an Islamic jihadist forum who urged supporters last week to wage a "YouTube invasion" by uploading propaganda videos has called for a similar attack on popular social network Facebook. The SITE Intelligence Group, a US-based monitoring service, reported on Wednesday that the appeal for a "Facebook invasion" was made on Tuesday on al-Faloja, a password-protected jihadist forum. After

The World's Top Killer

2008-12-10T16:24:00.000+07:00

Cancer will overtake heart disease as the world's top killer by 2010, part of a trend that should more than double global cancer cases and deaths by 2030, international health experts said in a report released Tuesday. Rising tobacco use in developing countries is believed to be a huge reason for the shift, particularly in China and India, where 40 percent of the world's smokers now live. So is

Stars' Bizarre Baby Names

2008-12-10T16:09:00.003+07:00

Remember the uproar over Gwyneth Paltrow naming her daughter Apple? That seems downright quaint in 2008. Check out the new additions in the category of quirkiest baby names: BRONX MOWGLI: This year's most unusual moniker, courtesy of Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson-Wentz. He grew up near Chicago and she hails from Texas -- yet, inexplicably, the rock-star couple named their son after one of the

Facebook Diplomacy

2008-12-05T21:26:00.000+07:00

Peace maybe just a click away - Go on the Internet to make friends -- and world peace. That was the message Thursday from a New York conference on the potential power of Internet social networking tools like Facebook to counter terrorism and repressive governments. "New technology gives the United States and other free nations a significant advantage over terrorists," US Undersecretary of State

Britney's Dilemma

2008-12-05T21:14:00.000+07:00

The singer is having mixed emotions about her bust - Britney Spears wants a breast reduction. The 'Womanizer' singer has mixed emotions about her bust and wants to undergo augmentation to fit into her old stage outfits. Britney, who was seen wearing a cleavage-boosting dress at her birthday party earlier this week, is quoted as saying: 'I have a love-hate relationship with my boobs. At the

Obama Got His Telephone Hung Up

2008-12-04T22:11:00.000+07:00

Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen hung up on President-elect Barack Obama twice. Is Ileana Ros-Lehtinen a little paranoid? Maybe. On Wednesday, the Republican congresswoman got a call from President-elect Barack Obama, didn't believe it was him, and hung up on him. Twice. According to Ros-Lehtinen's flack Alex Cruz, the congresswoman received the call on her cell phone from a Chicago-based number

A Joke about Richardson Beard

2008-12-04T21:58:00.000+07:00

Bill Richardson had the first close shave of his tenure as Barack Obama's commerce secretary Wednesday -- becoming the butt of the president-elect's razor-sharp jokes about his missing beard. Richardson was asked why he had dispensed with the facial hair which helped him cut an imposing figure through a string of election-year campaign appearances, as Obama made his nomination official here. "

Mysterious 'SarkObama' Posters

2008-12-03T22:15:00.000+07:00

Mysterious posters of French President Nicolas Sarkozy inspired by an iconic Barack Obama election image have sprung up across Paris, sparking a media guessing game about the origin of the campaign. Modelled closely on a pop-art design by the US street artist Shepard Fairey in support of the Democrat's presidential bid, the dozens of posters pasted up in Paris last week show Sarkozy against a

MUMBAI: Who is to Blame?

2008-11-30T19:53:00.004+07:00

World mourns, India investigates, Pakistan denies - Indian police investigating who was behind the massive militant assault on Mumbai interrogated Sunday the only gunman who survived, as Pakistan insisted it was not involved. Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari urged India not to "over-react" after Indian and US officials suggested the militants, who killed nearly 200 people, could have been

Saddest Songs All of Time

2008-11-30T19:25:00.001+07:00

You'll surely recall these heartbreaking classics — along with the worst breakup of your life. For the last month Rock's Backpages has offered up a slew of sobworthy classics from all walks of pop. Country, soul, AOR, dance: you name the genre, we've scoured it for heartbreak greats. So get yer handkerchiefs ready... here's our tearjerking Top 20 , from the Everly Brothers to George Jones via

Mumbai Siege Ends

2008-11-29T23:49:00.000+07:00

Indian commandos kill the last remaining gunmen, ending days of terror - A 60-hour terror rampage that killed at least 195 people across India's financial capital ended Saturday when commandos killed the last three gunmen inside a luxury hotel while it was engulfed in flames. Authorities searched for any remaining captives hiding in their rooms and began to shift their focus to who was behind

Sex Means Trouble

2008-11-29T23:32:00.000+07:00

Dalai Lama says 'chastity brings freedom' - The Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual and temporal leader, on Friday said sex spelt fleeting satisfaction and trouble later, while chastity offered a better life and "more freedom." "Sexual pressure, sexual desire, actually I think is short period satisfaction and often, that leads to more complication," the Dalai Lama told reporters in a

They Just Fired Randomly

2008-11-27T23:56:00.000+07:00

Black-clad Indian commandoes raided two luxury hotels to try to free hostages Thursday, and explosions and gunshots shook India's financial capital a day after attacks by suspected Muslim militants killed at least 119 people. About 10 to 12 gunmen remain holed up inside the hotels and a Jewish center, a top Indian general said. The remaining gunmen appeared to have been killed or captured, Maj

Bigger than Jesus?

2008-11-24T20:19:00.000+07:00

The Vatican's daily newspaper marked the 40th anniversary of the "White Album" by dismissing as a "quip" John Lennon's notorious claim that the Beatles were bigger than Jesus Christ. The legendary double album -- which came out on November 22, 1968 at the height of the Fab Four's influence and popularity -- was "a magical musical anthology" from a band "full of talent," L'Osservatore Romano said

Never Forgive, Never Forget

2008-11-22T22:44:00.003+07:00

“I don’t have a Maradona doll at home that I stick pins in. Although, maybe I should get one. I can never forgive him for what he did. It was probably the best chance England had of winning the World Cup since 1966.” Photo Caption: Former England captain and now Scotland's assistant manager on Diego Maradona 'hand of God' goal---that ended England's chances at the 1986 World Cup---as

Sexiest Woman In The World

2008-11-22T22:13:00.000+07:00

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- It takes a lot of things to be sexy - but apparently a belly button isn't one of them. E! entertainment television has just named supermodel Karolina Kurkova the sexiest woman in the world. (VIEW THE PHOTOS: Karolina Kurkova) In earning the honor, the Czech-born beauty beat out fellow Victoria's Secret models Giselle Bundchen, Adriana Lima and Heidi Klum, who placed

Australia's Sex Party Takes on 'Nanny State'

2008-11-21T15:39:00.000+07:00

Australia's sex industry launched a political party Thursday, vowing to fight what it called growing conservatism in a "nanny state" -- along with global economic crisis gloom. The Australian Sex Party will run for senate seats on a platform of cheaper access to sexual dysfunction drugs and protection for porn workers against government censorship of the Internet, the founders said. They also

Americans Believe Obama can Bring Wind of Change in Fashion

2008-11-19T23:22:00.000+07:00

Barack Obama promised to bring change and may just succeed -- at least in the way Americans dress. The 47-year-old president-elect promises to fix the economy, withdraw from Iraq, and catch Osama bin Laden. If nothing else, he'll go down as the man who returned elegance to the White House. "He's incredibly well turned out and looks a lot less than 47," Robert Johnston, associate editor at the

Gone But Not Forgotten

2008-11-08T21:32:00.000+07:00

Even though comedian Bernie Mac died at the age of 50 of pneumonia this past August, he still stars in two movies opening this weekend. He not only plays opposite Samuel L. Jackson in the endearingly foul-mouthed tale of two washed-up singers in "Soul Men." But he also lends his voice to DreamWorks' animated movie "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa." Here's a look at other film stars who died before

Ex-Classmates Applaud 'Barry' Obama

2008-11-05T23:43:00.001+07:00

Former classmates in Indonesia reacted with pride and amazement Wednesday as the chubby little boy they knew as Barry made history by becoming the first black president of the United States. "It's just amazing, I mean we're so proud of him," said Dewi Asmara Oetojo, a lawmaker in Indonesia's parliament who was a school friend of US president elect Barack Obama at primary school here in the 1960s

Cheetahs on a Plane

2008-11-03T01:20:00.000+07:00

A Delta baggage worker got a bit of a fright before Halloween when she opened a jetliner's cargo door and found a cheetah running loose amid the luggage. Two cheetahs were being flown in the cargo area of a Boeing 757 passenger flight from Portland, Ore., to Atlanta on Thursday when one escaped from its cage, Delta spokeswoman Betsy Talton said Friday. "They told us a large animal had gotten out

Tragedy Strikes a 'Dreamgirl'

2008-10-26T16:10:00.000+07:00

Until recently, it seemed like this week's column would be filled with usual fodder--a couple of trials, a couple arrests, an awards show or two, some Guns N' Roses rumors, a bit of Madonna gossip, etc. But then, on Friday, tragedy struck. At 2:44pm Friday afternoon, Jennifer Hudson's brother, Jason Hudson, and her mother, Darnell Donerson, were found dead by shotgun blast in Jennifer's mother's

Elderly Woman Accused of Keeping Boy's Ball

2008-10-21T06:22:00.003+07:00

BLUE ASH, Ohio – Police in Ohio say an 89-year-old woman was facing a charge of petty theft because neighborhood children accused her of refusing to give back their football. Edna Jester was arrested last week in the Cincinnati suburb of Blue Ash. Police said one child's father complained that Jester kept the youngsters' ball after it landed in her yard. Police Capt. James Schaffer said there has

Father Takes Son to Court for Idleness

2008-10-21T06:22:00.001+07:00

LAGOS – A father took his 20-year old son to an Islamic court in northern Nigeria for idleness, asking that he be sent to prison for refusing to engage in productive activities, state news agency NAN said Friday. "He is not listening to words and he is bringing shame to my family. I am tired of his nefarious deeds. Please put this boy in prison so that I can be free," Sama'ila Tahir, a market

Drinking Mom Asks Nine-Year-Old Daughter to Drive

2008-10-21T06:22:00.000+07:00

TORONTO – An Ontario woman was charged with a traffic violation after having her nine-year-old daughter drive her home following a night of drinking. "The woman was concerned that she was unable to drive having consumed some alcohol at a social function," police said on Thursday. The child was driving the car slowly along country roads in southeastern Ontario on October 12 when police noticed how

Man Sues Strip Club over Dancer's Flying Shoe

2008-10-19T23:08:00.012+07:00

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – An angry wife or girlfriend might not be the only thing to worry about when visiting a strip club. A man suing a Pompano Beach club claims a performer's shoe flew off during a pole dance, shattered the mirrored ceiling and caused glass and the shoe to hit him. The lawsuit filed in Broward County by 35-year-old Charles Privette says the Booby Trap breached its duty when

Woman Obliges after Husband Begs to be Shot

2008-10-19T23:08:00.011+07:00

CENTENNIAL, Colo. – Authorities said a woman who shot her husband in the knee won't face charges because he begged her to do it. The Arapahoe County Sheriff's office said a 35-year-old woman accused her husband of being drunk and becoming violent during an argument. She took control of a handgun during the dispute and claimed her husband begged her to shoot him and told her to 'finish it' after

Bold Thief Leaves Police Red-Faced

2008-10-19T23:08:00.010+07:00

PERTH – Australian police have been left embarrassed after a man stole a large quantity of seized drugs from a police station. More than 2,000 ecstasy pills as well as small amounts of cocaine and amphetamine, with a street value of about A$27,000 (10,700), were stolen from an exhibit room of the Maroochydore police station in the northeastern state of Queensland, police spokesman Ben Tracey

Police Arrest a Man for Car Wash Vacuum Sex

2008-10-19T23:08:00.008+07:00

THOMAS TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Police say a Michigan man has been arrested after "receiving sexual favors from a vacuum" at a car wash. The Saginaw News reports the 29-year-old Swan Creek Township man was arrested Thursday in Saginaw County's Thomas Township, about 90 miles northwest of Detroit. Police Sgt. Gary Breidinger says a resident called to report suspicious activity at the car wash about 6:45

Iranians Eat Evidence of World Record Sandwich

2008-10-19T23:08:00.007+07:00

Iran failed Friday to register what it said would be the world's largest sandwich in the Guinness book of World Records after people rushed forward and began eating it -- before it was measured. Event organisers had planned to stuff the 1,500-metre-long sandwich with 700 kg of ostrich meat and 700 kg of chicken, and display it in a park in the capital Tehran. But as the sandwich was being

How Safe is Your City? Put It to the Bicycle Test

2008-10-12T21:56:00.002+07:00

How long will an unchained bicycle last on a city street before someone steals it? Using hidden cameras and cheap bicycles as bait, an Argentine publicist set out to gauge crime in different neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. The longer it takes for the bike to be stolen the safer the area, is his hypothesis. "It's not a statistic but in a way it shows that the places where the bicycle gets robbed

Divorce, Cambodian Couple Saw House in Half

2008-10-12T21:56:00.001+07:00

A couple in rural Cambodia has terminated their 18-year marriage with a divorce settlement that entailed sawing in two the wooden house they once shared, villagers said Friday. The husband, 42-year-old Moeun Sarim, has taken away with him all the bits and pieces of his half a house, said his 35-year-old wife, Vat Navy. "Very strange, but this is what my husband wanted," she said by phone from a

Angry about Economy? Smash Some Plates and Move On

2008-10-12T21:56:00.000+07:00

All over sunny San Diego, tough economic times have forced people to cut back on their $4 lattes and sushi dinners. But one new business is booming -- and ka-booming -- precisely because of frustration from the worst financial crisis to hit the United States in decades. Welcome to Sarah's Smash Shack, where pent-up patrons can relieve stress by hurling dinnerware and bric-a-brac against a wall,

Doctor Operated the Wrong Knee

2008-09-21T07:32:00.001+07:00

State health officials were investigating how a surgeon operated on the wrong knee of a patient Friday at the Miriam Hospital, part of a medical network that was reprimanded and fined $50,000 last year for three mistaken surgeries at another of its facilities. The latest mistake happened while a surgeon performed a knee arthroscopy, a procedure in which doctors insert a pencil-sized camera

Woman Finds 'Goldilocks' Snoring in Her Son's Bed

2008-09-21T07:32:00.000+07:00

A man was charged with burglary after he allegedly broke into a home, ate cheese from the refrigerator, made a mess in a bathroom and fell asleep on a child's bed. Tracy Mullins, 47, of Billings, was arraigned in District Court on Thursday by video from the county jail. Mullins pleaded not guilty to burglary. Judge Susan Watters set bail at $5,000 after rejecting a request that he be released

Donkey Jailed for Theft

2008-09-19T14:37:00.000+07:00

An Egyptian donkey has been jailed for stealing corn on the cob from a field belonging to an agricultural research institute in the Nile Delta, local media reported on Thursday. The ass and its owner were apprehended at a police checkpoint that had been set up after the institute's director complained that someone was stealing his crops, the state-owned Al-Ahram daily said. The unnamed

Man Clipped by Train while Lighting Cigarette

2008-09-18T19:34:00.005+07:00

A southern Illinois man will probably pay more attention the next time he lights a cigarette near railroad tracks. Authorities said 25-year-old Brandon Robles escaped serious injury early Sunday when he was clipped by a passing Union Pacific train when he stopped near the tracks for a smoke. Workers on the train told authorities they thought they'd hit a man, launching a search that included

Man with 86 Wives Detained

2008-09-18T19:34:00.002+07:00

A Nigerian Muslim court Monday detained an 84-year-old Islamic preacher with 86 wives after he failed to heed a call by local leaders to divorce all but four of them. The authorities in central Niger state charged Mohammed Bello with "insulting religious creed" and "unlawful marriages" after local chiefs and Muslim leaders gave him until September 7 to comply with Islamic sharia law, which

86 Lawyers for Man with 86 Wives

2008-09-18T19:34:00.001+07:00

A coalition of Nigerian human rights groups has mobilized 86 lawyers to defend the country's most married man, currently detained for unlawful marriages and inciting contempt of Islamic religious laws, an activist said Wednesday. "The coalition of 27 human rights groups in the north has mobilized 86 lawyers to defend Bello Masaba against the charges brought against him and the threat of

Shortest Man Meet Leggiest Woman

2008-09-17T22:58:00.000+07:00

Trafalgar Square routinely serves as a stage for mimes, jugglers and other acts, but the tourist attraction drew an exceptionally curious crowd Tuesday when the shortest man who can walk met the woman with the longest legs. He Pingping, of China, was born with a type of dwarfism. He, 20, stands precisely 2 feet 5.37 inches tall. The pair met to publicize the release of "Guinness World Records

Teenager Arrested for Wearing Low Pants

2008-09-17T22:39:00.001+07:00

A Florida judge has deemed unconstitutional a law banning baggy pants that show off the wearer's underwear, local media reported Tuesday. A 17-year-old spent a night in jail last week after police arrested him for wearing low pants in Riviera Beach, southeast Florida. The law banning so-called "saggy pants" was approved by city voters in March after supporters of the bill collected nearly 5,000

A "Very Fast Fast" Pizza Delivery Man Fined

2008-09-17T05:12:00.001+07:00

An Australian pizza delivery man gave fast food a new meaning when he was caught, and fined, for driving 53 km (33 miles) over the speed limit. The 20-year-old man, driving on a provisional driver's license, said he was speeding because he was 20 minutes late with his delivery in the tropical northern town of Townsville. Police clocked him driving at 131 kms (82 miles) in an 80 kph (50 mph) zone

Teacher Hit a Bear

2008-09-15T06:56:00.000+07:00

A middle school teacher suffered some bruising and a big scratch on his back after he struck a bear while riding his bicycle to school. Jim Litz said he was traveling about 25 mph Monday morning when he came upon a rise and spotted a black bear about 10 feet in front of him. He didn't have time to stop and T-boned the bruin. He tumbled over the handlebars, his helmet hit the bear's back and the

Police Chief Condemned for Dressed as Osama at Carnival

2008-09-12T16:23:00.001+07:00

A senior British policeman is in trouble after he dressed as Osama bin Laden at a carnival days before the seventh anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Chief Superintendent Colin Terry, who has trained police in Afghanistan, was photographed wearing a bin Laden mask, robes and traditional Arab scarf. He wore the costume at a carnival in the village of Grampound, Cornwall, on Saturday.

Lost Cat Returned Home after Nine Years

2008-09-11T07:29:00.000+07:00

A couple have been reunited with their missing cat after nine years, the RSPCA said on Wednesday. Dixie, a 15-year-old ginger cat, disappeared in 1999 and her owners thought she had been killed by a car. She was found less than half a mile from her home in Birmingham after a concerned resident rang the animal charity to report a thin and dishevelled cat who had been in the area for a couple of

"Cremated" Father Reunited with Family

2008-09-05T01:23:00.000+07:00

A father mistakenly declared dead after going missing eight years ago has been reunited with his family after his son spotted him on television, police said on Thursday. The family of John Delaney thought he had died when he disappeared in April 2000. They held a funeral and cremation after police found what they thought was his body three years later. But Delaney, 71, from Oldham, Greater

"Robin Hoods" Steal at the Store, Given to the Poor?

2008-09-05T01:08:00.002+07:00

Greek anarchists stormed a supermarket on Thursday and handed out food for free in the latest of a wave of raids provoked by soaring consumer prices. About 20 unarmed people, mostly wearing black hoods, carried out the midday robbery in the northern city of Thesaaloniki, police said. Local media have labeled the raiders "Robin Hoods" following previous raids. They take only packets of pasta,

Naked Hiker Jailed Strip

2008-09-04T01:57:00.000+07:00

A hiker, Siegfried Grawert, jailed for walking across Germany naked, has been allowed to go nude because prison clothes depress him. He was sentenced to 10 weeks in Nuremberg prison for failing to pay fines for walking around natural beauty spots in the buff. Thomas Kranig, a spokesman for the administrative court in Ansbach, said Siegfried Grawert went to jail because he "refused to pay a fine

Homicide Cops Fooled by Doll

2008-09-04T00:31:00.000+07:00

Police were trying to determine whether they were the victim of a hoax Tuesday after a "body" they found wrapped at a seaside resort turned out to be a life-sized doll. Investigators found what appeared to be human remains in a forest in Izu City, a seaside resort in central Japan, after an anonymous caller reported seeing it, a Shizuoka state spokeswoman said on condition of anonymity, citing

Wedding at Funeral Home

2008-09-03T22:38:00.000+07:00

It generally has flowers, and a clergyman is often present, but this was a first for a local funeral home. Jason and Rachael Storm held their wedding at Starks and Menchinger Family Funeral Home, where he is a funeral director. Their reception, including dinner and dancing, also was held at the funeral home. “This room is usually filled with sadness and contemplation, but today it is filled

A Nut Stucks on a Malaysian Man Penis

2008-09-02T00:46:00.000+07:00

A Malaysian welder had to have a nut removed from around his penis after an attempt to lengthen it before he gets engaged next week went embarrassingly wrong, a news report said Sunday. The nut got stuck on his penis following an erection, the Star newspaper said, forcing him to seek help at a hospital in southern Johor state. Staff from the Sultanah Aminah hospital had to drain some blood from

Sperm-killer Seat

2008-08-29T01:29:00.004+07:00

Men who enjoy warming their bottom on a heated car seat should beware, for they may also be frying their chances of fatherhood, New Scientist reports in its latest issue. Sperm production is best when the temperature of the scrotum is one or two degrees Celsius (1.8-3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) below the core body temperature of 37 C (99 F). Testicle-testing German researchers fitted sensors to

Parent's Worst Fear isn't Sex or Drinking

2008-08-24T22:39:00.000+07:00

A new survey claims the worst parents fear for their kids is not underage drinking or sexual content. An informal poll conducted by What They Play, a sort of Rotten Tomatoes site for video games, recently pointed to parents' areas of concern in video game content. The fist poll, conducted on April 4-10 this year, asked participants to select from a list of choices which item would they find

Drama in the Pool

2008-08-23T10:17:00.000+07:00

Barred from wearing suits that made them look like waterproof Christmas trees, the Spanish team took a different tack. Gangsta. They marched onto the deck at the Water Cube in costumes embroidered with a menacing cartoon character across the front and back, his cap backward and carrying a stick in a threatening manner. Somewhere, Martin Short is smiling. This is synchronized swimming, a sport

Long Life The King!

2008-08-22T16:51:00.001+07:00

With a fortune estimated at 35 billion dollars, Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the world's richest royal sovereign, and oil-rich Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi is far back at No. 2, Forbes magazine reported Thursday. King Bhumibol, 80 and, at 62 years on the throne the world's longest-serving head of state, pushed to the top of the richest royals list by virtue a

Condom Ringtone Launched

2008-08-20T21:54:00.001+07:00

A cellphone ringtone that chants "condom, condom!" has been launched in India to promote safe sex and tackle the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic. The "condom a cappella" has been designed to break down Indians' reluctance to discuss condom use and to make wearing a condom more acceptable. Organisers of the campaign, funded by the foundation, set up by Microsoft mogul, Bill Gates, and his wife,

Swimsuit Controversy

2008-08-20T03:18:00.000+07:00

Spain’s synchronised swimmers have been banned from wearing a swimsuit with embedded waterproof lights which they had hoped would give an extra sparkle to their Olympic routine. “It got very sophisticated because obviously the battery doesn’t last long and then we had to look at circuits and interrupters, so we have been working on it around two months with a crack team,” swimmer Andrea Fuentes

Why Divers Always Shower?

2008-08-14T23:17:00.002+07:00

Over the last three nights, NBC has led its primetime Olympic coverage with synchronized diving. Everyone could see, after completing a dive, competitors swim to a ladder, climb out of the pool and head immediately to a bank of showers that sit adjacent to the diving boards. Then, in full view of the crowd and NBC cameras, they shower off. Divers keep their suits on, of course, usually

Consider Nuclear Energy as a Solution to Climate Concerns and Energy Security

2008-07-30T14:01:00.001+07:00

As public opinion shifts and many more governments around the world consider nuclear energy as a solution to climate concerns and energy security, it is time to ask why it has become a more attractive option. The Institute of Physics (IOP) ran two sessions at this year’s Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF 2008) to hold a public discussion about the future for both nuclear fission and fusion as sources

Oil Prices and Climate Change Fuel Green Gold Rush

2008-07-29T18:28:00.000+07:00

Modern day prospectors are embarking on a "green gold rush" to invest in renewable energy in the face of rising oil prices and climate change. Fossil fuel prices, rising temperatures, the support of world governments and energy security concerns drove a record-setting year of renewable energy investment in 2007, according to a UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report. Achim Steiner, head of UNEP

Failure Addressing Climate Change Like Spitting in the Wind

2008-07-28T11:31:00.000+07:00

The Toyako G8 Summit held from July 7 to 9 with the participation of leaders from 23 other countries exposed the wide rift between the developed and developing worlds and failed to reach concrete agreements on key issues ranging from climate change to surging oil and food prices and the weak dollar. There were several reasons. One obviously was the lack of leadership on the part of the Group of

Scientists Fear of Climate Tipping Points

2008-07-28T10:47:00.000+07:00

A year ago, James Hansen, director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, published a study in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics concluding that just 10 more years of business as usual emissions from the burning of coal, oil and gas will make disastrous global results all but impossible to avoid. The study described various climatic possibilities called tipping points. These

Obama on Climate Change: US Needs to Set Example

2008-07-28T10:34:00.000+07:00

Pointing out that an effective foreign policy requires building a consensus, the Democratic presidential nominee, Barack Obama, has said that a country like India will not look at the issue of climate change seriously unless the wealthy nations like the US are also looking at the matter similarly. "An effective US foreign policy will be based on our ability not only to project power, but also to

Climate Change Affects on Food Security in Africa

2008-07-26T23:18:00.002+07:00

Climate change has a profound and unavoidable effect on food security in Africa, as increasing temperatures and shifting rain patterns reduce access to food across the continent. This transpired at a conference on global warming and climate change that started in Cape Town on July 21 and ended on Thursday. The discussion was organised by South Africa’s Fynbos Foundation, which aims to realise

Asia's Disaster Response in Spotlight at Security Talks

2008-07-25T19:14:00.000+07:00

Two years after Asia's top security forum vowed to develop guidelines for joint disaster relief, precious little has been done and hundreds of thousands more have died in calamities around the region. The Myanmar cyclone, China quake and Philippines ferry sinking have catapulted disaster preparedness back to the top of the agenda of the annual ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) talks in Singapore on

Changing the Climate or Balancing the Power?

2008-07-24T22:36:00.000+07:00

The main headline from the recent G-8 summit in Tokyo was that the major industrial nations agreed to reduce by half their greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, if the developing nations were also part of any new international climate control effort. The G-8 members are United States, Japan, Russia, Canada, Italy, Germany, France and Britain. Environmentalists were correct to claim that setting

2008-07-20T03:43:00.000+07:00

IN MEMORIAM Sumiasih 20 Tahun Lalu Sumiasih (60) dan putranya, Sugeng (44), akhirnya tewas di tangan tim regu tembak Kejati Jatim di Lapangan Tembak Mapolda Jatim, Jl. A. Yani, Surabaya, sekitar pukul 00.20, Sabtu dini hari (19/7). 20 tahun lalu, Sumiasih, yang ketika itu masih berusia 40 tahun, dinyatakan terbukti sebagai otak pembunuhan berencana keluarga Letkol Marinir Poerwanto. Dalam

2008-07-20T03:24:00.000+07:00

Dua Regu Tembak Akhiri Masa Penantian Sumiasih dan Sugeng - Keduanya ditembak dalam posisi duduk berdampingan - Usai sudah masa penantian Sumiasih (60) dan putranya, Sugeng (44). Terpidana mati kasus pembunuhan keluarga Letkol Marinir Poerwanto, 20 tahun silam, ini akhirnya dieksekusi oleh tim regu tembak dari Brimob dan Kejati Jatim di lapangan Mapolda Jatim, Jalan A. Yani, Surabaya, sekitar

Pesona Kumis Dalam Pilkada

2008-07-13T09:48:00.000+07:00

Pemilihan Kepala Daerah (Pilkada) secara langsung membutuhkan politik pencitraan yang kuat. Calon dipilih berdasarkan citranya di masyarakat. Repotnya, pemilih tak pernah memperhatikan apakah citra masing-masing calon ternyata kerap dimunculkan oleh pencitraan buatan. Persoalannya, para calon telah dengan sengaja memunculkan pencitraannya lewat iklan-iklan yang mengepung kehidupan masyarakat,

Si Mbok Punya “Script Writer”

2008-01-12T21:23:00.000+07:00

Konsulat Jenderal Amerika Serikat di Surabaya, Caryn McClelland, turut bermain dalam lakon “Jaka Berek Nglurug Taman Surya” bersama sejumlah pejabat pemkot yang tergabung dalam Kelompok Ludruk Urban yang dipentaskan di halaman Balai Kota Surabaya pada malam pergantian tahun baru, 31 Desember lalu. Dia memerankan karakter Mbokde Wongsodrono – yang tak lain adalah nenek Jaka Berek. Dalam

Masih Ada Sisa-sisa Peradaban di Kampung Jetis Agraria

2007-09-04T06:03:00.000+07:00

Dalam kurun waktu hampir 20 tahun, peradaban di Kampung Jetis Agraria, yang termasuk dalam lingkup wilayah RT 15/ RW 4, Kelurahan/ Kecamatan Wonokromo, Surabaya, berangsur punah. Kepunahan ini bukan terjadi akibat bencana alam – melainkan oleh pertumbuhan kota yang tidak menentu. Namun begitu, masih ada sisa-sisa peradaban di Kampung Jetis Agraria 1, satu-satunya kampung yang tersisa di wilayah

JTV Untung Rp. 2,6 M dari Bencana Lapindo

2007-03-04T01:59:00.000+07:00

Di tengah tuntutan ribuan warga korban Lumpur Panas Lapindo yang tak kunjung terpenuhi atas hak tanah tempat tinggal mereka yang telah tenggelam, ternyata sejumlah pihak telah terlebih dahulu meraup banyak keuntungan darinya. Perusahaan stasiun TV Swasta Lokal milik Dahlan Iskan, JTV, misalnya, diam-diam telah mencuri untung sedikitnya Rp. 2,6 Miliar dari bencana ini.

Ketika Carok Tak Dibalas Carok

2007-01-27T05:42:00.000+07:00

Ini adalah kisah lain tentang keluarga asal Madura yang tinggal di tanah Jawa. Enam bulan lalu (27/6), sekitar pukul 02.30 pagi, Ustad Mujib (30 tahun) ditemukan tewas di kawasan Jl. Embong Sawah, Surabaya. Tubuhnya tercabik, baju muslim yang dikenakannya bersimbah darah. Polisi mengabarkan peristiwa duka ini ke rumah orang tuanya di Jl. Randu Barat, Surabaya, dua jam kemudian, pukul 04.30 pagi.

Barang Bukti Penting Raib di Kejaksaan

2007-01-27T05:38:00.000+07:00

Kejanggalan demi kejanggalan kian tampak dalam lanjutan proses persidangan kasus pembunuhan Abdul Mujib, seorang ustad asal Madura yang tinggal di Kampung Randu, Surabaya. Pertengahan Januari lalu (11/1), Jaksa Penuntut Umum (JPU), Ika Mauludina, SH, menuntut terdakwa pelaku pembunuhan itu, Abdul Hamid, yang juga orang Madura dan masih tercatat sebagai santri korban, dengan hukuman selama-lamanya