A concerned reader and friend wrote in to us with feelings of confusion over no 4th Elenin alignment quake event taking place, despite all the data pointing toward the likelihood of such an occurrence happening. However, after weeks of analyzing the information surrounding the comet and arriving at some startling conclusions, we've determined that a 4th alignment event did in fact happen, meaning she was not only correct in her observation, but so where many others.
We posed the question to ourselves: How could three alignments with corresponding quake events take place? How could it be such an enormous coincidence?
The answer, simply, is that it couldn't, or at the very least it would be incredibly, incredibly unlikely to happen.
We were all so hyped up on some catastrophic quake sinking Japan into the ocean or whatnot that we completely ignored the obvious: the massive 6.9 quake in India that killed at least 111 people and forced the rescue of hundreds of others.
Here's the collected evidence:
1) Huge 6.9 quake. The only reason it wasn't larger was because it was right next to the mountains. had it been in the middle of India, it would had likely amounted to a 7.x, and killed in the thousands.
2) It was in India/Nepal/China. Events in less networked regions of the world often go unreported, under reported, or outright forgotten. We may never acquire a comprehensive casualty count, and the sensor data itself in that area is also likely to be sketchy. Perhaps it was a 7.x+ quake after all, although we may never know, especially with the way "authoritative sources" handle their published data these days.
3) The event was big enough to be felt throughout India. No exaggeration, our website absolutely lit up with visitors and comments from the Indian subcontinent. Tales of fear and tremors were exchanged freely and rapidly in the comments section. That day marked our highest ever traffic in the history of our website.
4) NASA's JPL projection of the comet's path may be slightly off. Bear with me, this gets a bit complicated: The projected path of the comet during the Japan quake had it slightly behind the alignment by a few days, meaning that on NASA's projection diagram, if you looked at the "alignment" line, you'd find Elenin trailing a few days behind the date of the Japan quake. If that miscalculation was still applied, then the next quake would have been about a week or so before the next projected alignment date. Lo and behold, the projected alignment date was Sep 25-28, and the Sikkim (India) quake occurred on Sept 18. That alone is eye-opening.
5) Disintegration propaganda. Everyone was saying that nothing would happen because the comet was gone. Yet, not a single source can be found to back this up aside from conjecture by a few amateur astronomers, one of which is Leo Elenin himself. Wikipedia says the comet is still very much alive. NASA hasn't said otherwise. If anyone can point to concrete, verifiable evidence that Elenin no longer exists, please email us so we can update our own information.
All the facts and numbers are pointing at a 4th quake event connected to Elenin, and we're certainly not attempting to grasp at straws to force this to be true in order to save face. If we were wrong, and we loudly exclaimed that we wanted to be the entire time, we would be the first to admit it.
The Sikkim quake is definitely the 4th event alignment event in our observation.
Had everyone (including ourselves) not been expecting something of epic proportions, they would have connected all these dots far more easily and the quake would have been accepted as the 4th major alignment event.
We will keep a look out for a 5th event, which, if the misalignment theory is correct, should happen in early November, approximately 9 or so days prior to the next projected alignment window of November 15-18.
Keep your eyes open, everyone.
-- Matt & Lynsey
P.S. This is intended to be a discussion to help us get to the bottom of the matter, not a club to beat others with differing opinions over the head with. Disagreement is welcome as long as it's polite and respectful. Together, perhaps we can formulate an answer.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
'Cover-up' claim over Liam Fox in Dubai: I was told to deny meeting, says executive
Liam Fox’s close friend tried to cover up a controversial Dubai meeting which led to the Defence Secretary becoming embroiled in a ‘blackmail’ scandal, it was claimed last night.Adam Werritty, the beleaguered minister’s best man and former flatmate, pleaded with businessman Harvey Boulter to ‘deny’ he had held highly sensitive talks with Dr Fox at a meeting also attended by Mr Werritty.
Mr Boulter told the Mail yesterday: ‘He (Werritty) contacted me and said if anybody asks, tell them that we did not meet.
‘I said, “I can’t – that makes me look like a liar”. He was trying to make me play it down. I don’t think they wanted anyone to know Werritty was at the meeting.’ Their discussions on June 17 had focused on an ill-fated proposal to provide British troops with technology to prevent calls home being intercepted by the enemy.
The now infamous meeting was set up following talks in April between Mr Werritty and Mr Boulter, chief executive of the private equity firm Porton Capital.
Despite not being on the Government payroll or having security clearance, Mr Werritty, 33, attended the meeting at the five-star Shangri-La hotel on June 17. Incredibly, no MoD officials accompanied him to the 41st floor room. Read More
Fox grovels to save his job: Minister issues humiliating apology.. "take your friend to work day excuse must be working for him" - 10th Oct 2011
Liam Fox issued a humiliating apology last night over his working relationship with a close friend.In a desperate attempt to save his job, the embattled Defence Secretary admitted he had ‘blurred the line’ between his personal and professional life.
Despite weekend speculation that Dr Fox would be cut adrift, David Cameron took the high-risk step of backing him last night. Senior sources said the Prime Minister was ‘determined’ Dr Fox should stay in his job barring further explosive revelations.
But the Defence Secretary must still await the outcome of a report today into his dealings with self-styled ‘adviser’ Adam Werritty, his best man and former flatmate. And he faces a torrid session in the Commons, where he will report to MPs on his recent trip to Libya.
In his statement, Dr Fox admitted his self styled ‘adviser’ Mr Werritty has financial interests in the defence industry and his frequent contacts with him could have given an impression of ‘wrongdoing’.
He also appeared to accept a potential breach of the ministerial code, which states that ministers must not only ensure no conflict arises between their public duties and private interests, but also that none ‘could reasonably be perceived to arise’.
And as new questions were asked about meetings Mr Werritty attended with Mr Fox in Dubai and Sri Lanka, the Defence Secretary conceded he had allowed his professional judgment to be clouded but insisted he had done nothing wrong. Read More
Cairo Church Attack Protest Leaves 24 Dead - 10th Oct 2011
Violence in Cairo has left 24 people dead after Christians protested against an attack on a church in the Egyptian capital. Egyptian health ministry officials said more than 150 were also injured in the fierce clashes between demonstrators and security forces.
The riots on Sunday night spread to Tahrir Square and drew in thousands battling each other with rocks and firebombs.
Protesters tore up pavements to use as weapons and several vehicles were set ablaze.
According to AFP, at least 16 bodies were seen in one Cairo hospital.
Amid scenes of mayhem as the Coptic hospital filled with grieving relatives, a priest named Daud said at least five of those killed were mowed down by an army vehicle.
Other bodies allegedly bore gunshot wounds.
Egypt state television had earlier reported that three soldiers were shot dead and dozens of their comrades were wounded.
The angry Copts had protested after the burning of a church in southern Egypt. Read More
5.5 Magnitude Earthquake NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN - 10th Oct 2011
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake has struck near the East Coast of Honshu, Japan at a depth of 30.2 km (18.8 miles), the quake hit at 02:45:56 UTC Monday 10th October 2011.The epicenter was 63 km ( 39 miles) NNE of Iwaki, Honshu, Japan
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No reports of Damage or Injuries reported at this time
5.2 Magnitude Earthquake VANUATU - 10th Oct 2011
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake has struck Vanuatu at a depth of 78.1 km (48.5 miles), the quake hit at 00:54:14 UTC Monday 10th October 2011.The epicenter was 137 km ( 85 miles) Northeast of Luganville, Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No reports of Damage or Injuries reported at this time
4.7 Magnitude Earthquake OFF THE COAST OF GREECE, CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN SEA - 9th Oct 2011
A magnitude 4.7 earthquake has struck off the Coast of Greece, Central Mediterranean Sea at a depth of 39.4 km (24.4 miles), the quake hit at 21:23:09 UTC Sunday 9th October 2011.The epicenter was 124 km ( 77 miles) South of Kalamata, Greece
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No reports of Damage or Injuries reported at this time
4.9 Magnitude Earthquake SOUTH OF THE KERMADEC ISLANDS - 9th Oct 2011
A magnitude 4.9 earthquake has struck South of the Kermadec Islands at a depth of 26.1 km (16.2 miles), the quake hit at 20:28:04 UTC Sunday 9th October 2011.The epicenter was 109 km ( 67 miles) South of L'Esperance Rock, Kermadec Islands
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No reports of Damage or Injuries reported at this time
Libya: Civilians under NATO bombing – Bani Walid eyewitness to RT
Civilians fleeing Bani Walid and Sirte say the two Libyan cities fighting off the revolutionary forces are turning into a trap. The eyewitnesses told of no food, no medical aid – and no care for civilians.
Sirte is under random bombardment by the NTC forces, a woman who asked that she be identified as Selma told RT. Just a day ago, Selma fled from Bani Walid, one of the last pro-Gaddafi strongholds fighting off the attacks of the revolutionary forces. She says a mere declaration of loyalty to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi could cost your life there.
“Two guys from the rebels attacked the home of a colonel,” Selma told RT by phone from the capital Tripoli. “A man – he is a colonel – he worked with the Libyan forces. They attacked his house and they killed the man in front of his sons’ eyes, just because he supported Colonel Gaddafi. Any house that has [Gaddafi’s] green flag – they just bomb it.”
“There’s tragedy in Bani Walid: the people are suffering, there is no food, there is no water,” she added. “In Sirte, there is another tragedy as well. They actually attack the city randomly. They say, ‘We cannot enter Sirte, because there are civilians and we don’t want to attack civilians.’ It is not true, they are attacking, bombing civilians randomly. They don’t care, all they care about is that Sirte is ‘liberated.’”
Another eyewitness from Bani Walid, who asked to be identified only as Ransi, escaped to Tripoli three days ago. The man says NATO has been bombing the city indiscriminately.
“It is very dangerous,” Ransi said by phone. “NATO won’t stop bombing the area. At the beginning, they were bombing only the military [targets], but now they are not choosing between the military and civilians. People are suffering from food and water [shortages]… When I was leaving, water started to come back, but the food was still missing. There are too many people who have been killed. They don’t care about civilians.” more
Is Germany's Finance Minister Going Rogue? What could this mean for Europe?
A pall of silence fell over the German parliament as Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble went up to the lectern last Thursday. The debate over the expansion of the euro backstop fund, the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), had already been going on for over an hour. Previous speakers addressing the Bundestag had tried their hand at a number of different roles. Schäuble's predecessor in office, Peer Steinbrück of the left-leaning Social Democrats (SPD), had tried to present himself as a European statesman, whereas Rainer Brüderle, the parliamentary floor leader for the business-friendly Free Democratic Party (FDP), had vehemently attacked the opposition.Now, it was the turn of Schäuble, a member of the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU). He feigned the honest broker who tries to mediate between the parliament's legitimate demand to have a say in such important matters and the exigencies of international political crises. "No one here sees this as an easy decision," he said. The question at hand, he continued, is whether politicians are capable of "controlling these developments."
The government, it seems, is certainly able to exercise control, at least when it comes to maintaining discipline within its own ranks. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Peter Altmaier, the conservatives' parliamentary secretary, exchanged congratulatory text messages after winning the key Bundestag vote on the euro bailout fund: "Our efforts paid off." more
Ladies and Gentlemen: You are Now $2.9 Trillion Poorer!
Next week, the Nobel Prize in Economics will be awarded. A few days later, millions of Americans will start receiving in the mail their third-quarter statements for their investments, from 401k files to mutual funds and brokerages.More tech-savvy investors have already gone online to check the bad third-quarter news. This is the key takeaway: we are $2.9 trillion poorer now than we were on June 30.
Economists a while back started calling this "the wealth effect," because how consumers feel about their economic status contributes to future behavior. So, if they feel worse off in October, what effect will that have on spending and activity in November and December?
Chances are it will be negative. That could contribute to another recession or at least dampen the usual fourth-quarter holiday consumption rush.
Also, the fourth-quarter performance will have a major effect on the November 2012 presidential and congressional elections. more
Can hot air be the free fuel of the future? (Shh, don't say that too loudly!)
You don't have to be a science major to know that heat rises: Just step into an attic on a hot summer day. But what you might not know is that this basic scientific reality could also help create clean energy for entire cities.For centuries, architects have taken advantage of rising heat to help cool some structures. Solar chimneys allow the rising air to go out of the building, taking the heat with it.
Today, Australian entrepreneur Roger Davey wants to take advantage of that phenomenon -- with a twist.
He wants to create, capture and control hot air to help power cities. He plans to build a huge solar updraft tower, 2,600 feet tall, in the Arizona desert. As the hot air moves into the tower, it would turn 32 turbines, spinning them fast enough to create mechanical energy, which generators convert to electricity.
His company, EnviroMission, says such a tower can create up to 200 megawatts of power per day, enough to power 100,000 homes. He says they don't intend to put coal or nuclear or alternative power out of business, but want to be a strong, no-carbon emission supplementary source.
"One of the most important things I think that differentiates this from anything else is its ability to produce power as and when required," said Davey, chief executive and executive director of EnviroMission, the company behind the solar updraft tower.
That sets it apart from solar (not available at night) and wind energy (not available on a calm day), which he referred to as "spasmodic."
He also touted its ability to produce power without the use of water to generate electricity. Coal-fired and nuclear plants use massive quantities of water, and solar panels need to be washed frequently to keep them working well. more
Tesla Model S: Elon Musk's Electric Sedan Faster Than Porsche? (Green tech may just have some muscles to it after all)
With the Tesla Model S, Elon Musk seems to be trying to do for the electric car what Apple's iPod did for music -- make it profitable and very, very cool.Musk, a serial innovator who already started PayPal and SpaceX, has now announced a souped-up version of the Model S sedan will do zero to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. That's faster than some versions of the Porsche 911.
"Like a world-class endurance athlete, Model S was designed to be the epitome of efficiency," said Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen on the company's blog.
Electric cars have, for years, been regarded as one of those environmentally-friendly phenomena guaranteed never to happen. They were often pictured as overpriced, underpowered go-carts, with batteries that threatened to give out in the middle of the freeway on your way home.
Musk promises to change that. The Model S, Tesla has promised, will go on sale next year at a starting price around $57,000. It's not for the faint of wallet -- there are plenty of economy subcompacts out there if you're on a budget -- but the cost of gasoline is zero. You plug it in when it's parked. more
Wall Street Protesters Brewing Tea Party of the Left? Not Yet, Strategists Say
Protesters who've gathered under the banner of "Occupy Wall Street" are looking to light a movement, but as hundreds of demonstrators rally against corporate "greed and corruption," they have a long way to go before becoming a defined cause like the Tea Party, say political analysts.That's not to say they aren't trying.
In three-weeks time, the Occupy Wall Street crowd has attracted high-profile attention. It has the purported backing of unions like the Teamsters and DC-37, New York City's largest public employees union. It has attracted Hollywood types who love a good cause to drop in on; and has even generated a discussion group at a convention of liberal leaders taking place in Washington, D.C., this week.
But the movement has at least one major obstacle to becoming a political force -- the administration it would protest is on its side.
"I would simply say that to the extent that people are frustrated with the economic situation, we understand. And that's why we're so urgently focused -- trying to focus Congress's attention on the need to take action on the economy and job creation," White House spokesman Jay Carney said Monday, responding to a question about where President Obama's sympathy lies.
David Avella, president of Republican recruiter GOPAC, said protesters on the left today lack the "common enemy" they tagged during the George W. Bush administration. more
How to stop a second Great Depression
Financial markets are driving the world towards another Great Depression. The authorities, particularly in Europe, have lost control of the situation. They need to regain control and they need to do so now.Three bold steps are needed. First, the governments of the eurozone must agree in principle on a new treaty creating a common Treasury for the eurozone. In the meantime, the main banks must be put under European Central Bank direction in return for a temporary guarantee and permanent recapitalisation. The ECB would direct banks to maintain credit lines and outstanding loans, while closely monitoring risks taken for their own accounts. Third, the ECB would enable countries such as Italy and Spain to temporarily refinance themselves within limits at a very low cost. These steps would calm markets and give Europe time to develop a growth strategy, without which the debt problem cannot be solved.
This is how it would work. Since a eurozone treaty establishing a common Treasury would take a long time to conclude, in the interim the member states have to appeal to the ECB to fill the vacuum. The European financial stabilisation facility (EFSF) is still being formed but in its present form the new common Treasury is only a source of funds and how the funds are spent is left to the member states. It would require a new intergovernmental agency to enable the EFSF to co-operate with Europe’s central bank. This would have to be authorised by the Bundestag and perhaps other legislatures as well.
The immediate task is to erect safeguards against contagion from a possible Greek default. There are two vulnerable groups – the banks and the bonds of countries such as Italy and Spain – that need to be protected. These two tasks could be accomplished as follows. more
New Space Venture Could Bring Every City On Earth Within Two Hours Travel
A Formula One tycoon is linking up with KLM, the Dutch airline, to develop spacecraft that could bring every city on Earth within two hours' travel time.A British passenger was the first to buy a $93,000 ticket for a ride on an early version of the craft, providing suborbital flights for space tourists.
Michiel Mol, 42, a Dutchman who co-owns the Force India Formula One team and made his fortune in computer software, said over the weekend, "Being able to travel from London to Sydney in an hour and 45 minutes, that is the future. It is also the reason why KLM joined our firm [Space Expedition Curacao, or SXC] as a partner."
Peter Hartman, chief executive of the airline, said, "KLM supports this innovative project. The SXC program's aim is to make space flights -- the future of travel -- accessible in a responsible and sustainable way by developing and promoting new technologies."
Sir Richard Branson intends to become the first private space tourism operator, booking seats at $200,000 each for suborbital flights on his Virgin Galactic vehicles, which he hopes to begin launching as soon as 2012.
Mol intends to follow suit in early 2014 and says he has already sold 35 tickets at $93,000 for flights from the Caribbean island of Curacao. Regulatory approval is still under negotiation. more
Cell Phone Industry to Sue SF on Radiation Law (Cell phones must have radiation warnings on them)
A trade group representing the cell phone industry said Tuesday it will file a federal lawsuit challenging San Francisco's new law to provide radiation information.The suit comes the week The City's new controversial ordinance went live and after months of debate and publicity.
The ordinance requires cell phone retailers to display information about the amount of radiation emanating from cell phones and to provide fact sheets to customers who ask for them.
The CTIA said it plans to file its suit because the ordinance is trumped by federal law and it violates the industry's First Amendment rights.
The law has been discussed and debated in the City for almost two years with former San Francisco mayor and now California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom pushing its adoption.
There is some controversy about how radiation levels are measured and whether cell phone radiation poses an immediate threat at all.
Regardless, the new law gives retailers until the end of the month to comply. more
Afghan yuppies get rich on ten years of war
Business is booming, I have made good profits since the Taliban were ousted," said a smiling Sayed Habib as he showed Western dresses to young women in one of Kabul's glitziest shopping malls.Habib, 34, is one of a new generation of rich young Afghans driving flashy cars and wearing designer labels who have made fortunes in Afghanistan's war economy since the US-led invasion 10 years ago.
His shop is one of many signs that some in the Afghan capital are now very wealthy -- although Kabul's mirrored glass malls and lavish mansions often sit on dusty roads dotted with children begging for money, highlighting wider, ingrained poverty.
And despite their wealth, many of the city's yuppies are worried that the withdrawal of US-led combat forces in 2014 will mean security declines and the economic boom turns to bust.
"Not only me but every investor I know expects the bubble that created this economy will burst as soon as foreign aid is cut or when foreign troops leave in 2014," said entrepreneur Ahmad Lais.
Afghanistan receives around $15 billion annually in security and civilian aid from overseas but the figure is set to fall sharply as troops withdraw.
A US Senate committee report in June warned this could trigger "a severe economic depression".
Thousands of Afghans -- many in Kabul but also in the rest of Afghanistan -- are employed to work with the NATO-led military force and other international organisations or, like Lais, have set up businesses to provide for them.
Many more, including Habib, have seen their firms thrive as these Afghans spend their disposable income. more
Starbucks to Begin Collecting Donations to Stimulate U.S. Job Growth -- No, seriously (Although, it's more than most are doing)
Starbucks hopes customers will be willing to pay at least $5 more when they stop in for their morning cup of Joe.Starting Nov. 1, Starbucks will begin collecting donations of $5 or more from customers to stimulate U.S. job growth through its “Jobs for USA” program. The Seattle-based coffee chain is collaborating with the Opportunity Finance Network, a nonprofit that works with nearly 200 community development financial institutions to provide loans to small businesses and community groups. Starbucks says 100 percent of the donations will go toward loans for firms and organizations that can add jobs or stem job losses.
Starbucks, which pioneered how Americans drink coffee, declined to estimate how much money it plans to raise, but millions of people visit its nearly 7,000 company-owned U.S. stores each day. Customers who give will get a red, white and blue wristband that says “Indivisible.”
“This is about using Starbuck’s scale for good,” said Howard Schultz, Starbucks Corp.’s CEO.
The program is the latest effort by Schultz to address the nation’s economic woes. In August, he sent more than 200,000 Starbucks employees a memo urging them to do what they can to help business thrive. Then, he asked fellow CEOs to stop contributing to political campaigns until the nation’s leaders reached a long-term economic solution. After that, he hosted a national telephone forum, bought full-page ads in two major newspapers and started a website, Upwardspiral2011.org. more
China or the US? Make your choice
The defining geopolitical drama of the next century will be the battle for power and influence between China and America. That emerging struggle is already posing awkward choices for Asian countries, caught between the two global giants.On Monday the US senate pressed forward with a bill allowing for the imposition of tariffs on Chinese goods. Even if the protectionist drive in America now pauses for a while, this confrontational mood in the US poses a dilemma for China’s neighbours. China is now the largest trading partner for Japan, India, Australia, South Korea and most of the nations of south-east Asia. But these countries still have their most important military relationship with the US. How long can their economic and strategic interests point in different directions?
Not for long, if one is to judge by an editorial in the People’s Daily last week. The official newspaper of the Chinese Communist party took aim at “certain countries” who “think as long as they can balance China with the help of US military power, they are free to do whatever they want”.
The article was probably provoked by a statement from Japan and the Philippines, the previous day, in which the two countries promised to boost naval co-operation and implicitly disputed China’s extensive territorial claims in the South China Sea. But China’s warning could equally have been aimed at Vietnam, India, South Korea, Australia or Taiwan – all of whom have moved over the past year to strengthen military ties with America.
The irony, of course, is that it is precisely Chinese sabre-rattling, exemplified by that article in the People’s Daily, that is sending its neighbours running screaming into the arms of Uncle Sam. Until recently China seemed to be playing an intelligent waiting game – relying on its growing economic strength to draw its neighbours inexorably into a Chinese sphere of influence. Now the People’s Republic risks overplaying its hand – and so creating the anti-Chinese alliance that it both fears and denounces. more
Arrest outside White House as lawmakers debate protests
Politicians fought Sunday to cast the ongoing Wall Street protests in a very different light, with two GOP presidential candidates calling them "class warfare" and two prominent Democrats expressing support for the protesters' message.
As lawmakers took to the political talk shows, a crowd of about 100 people protested outside the White House, part of a wave of protests spreading nationwide inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement.
The Secret Service said one person was arrested and will be charged with assault on a police officer after throwing a shoe at a uniformed officer.
Lisa Simeone, one of the protest organizers, said the man was trying to throw his shoe over the fence of the White House but missed.
Most of those taking part carried an anti-war message -- something that has happened in other cities as well. Several carried signs asking President Obama to join them for a "beer summit."
Rep. John Lewis, D-Georgia, who visited a protest Saturday in Atlanta, told CNN Sunday that the protesters "want to be heard."
"And at the same time they want to speak to America, speak to people in power, to officials of the American government but also to the business community, especially Wall Street, to corporate America, to bankers. They're saying, in effect, that we bailed out Wall Street and now it's time for Wall Street and corporate America to help bail out the American people.
"People are hurting. They're in pain and they're looking for jobs. They want us to humanize the American government but also humanize corporate America." more
Officials: 20 dead as Egyptian forces clash with protesters
At least 20 people were killed Sunday when Egyptian army forces clashed with thousands of people protesting more than a week after the burning of a Coptic Christian church, officials said.Dr. Sheriff Doss, the head of Egypt's chief association of Coptics, said that 17 civilians died and 40 were injured.
In addition, three army officers were killed and at least 20 were injured, according to Alla Mahmoud, an interior ministry spokesman.
Egyptian state TV put the total death toll at 19 -- including both troops and civilians -- and reported that 183 had been injured.
The protesters -- many of them Coptics or supportive of their cause -- said they had been marching peacefully toward the Egyptian state television building, demanding equality and protection of Coptic places of worship.
"Suddenly, we were attacked by thugs carrying swords and clubs," one protester, Magdi Hanna, told CNN.
According to Mahmoud, the government official, some protesters began "firing live ammunition at the army." Military trucks were later seen burning on the street as the clashes continued. more
Five flights a WEEK hit by toxic fumes: Alerts lead to emergency landings (but passengers are kept in dark) - 9th Oct 2011
Dangerous: New data shows that passengers have not always been told when planes have had toxic fumes on board.British airlines have been hit by toxic fumes leaking on board at a rate of five flights a week unbeknown to passengers, new figures reveal.
The Civil Aviation Authority, which regulates UK airlines received 254 reports of problems in the cabin or cockpit in the latest 12-month period for which figures are available.
The data logs emergency landings, distress calls and incidents where cabin crew have had to wear oxygen masks, the Sunday Express reported.
Issues including electrical issues, problems in the cabin or cockpit have been documented without any announcements made to passengers on board at the time.
The dossier containing the data has been released just as plane manufacturer Boeng agreed an undisclosed payout to former flight attendant, Terry Williams for her exposure to contaminated air.
The mother-of-two said she suffered memory loss, and speech and vision impairment after toxic air leaked into the cabin of an American Airlines plane in 2007. Read More
Fukushima starts ultrasonic thyroid examinations for children aged up to 18 - 9th Oct 2011
The prefectural government of Fukushima on Sunday started ultrasonic thyroid examinations for children aged up to 18 when the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant began in March. In a move almost without precedent in the world, around 360,000 children in the prefecture will be examined at the Fukushima Medical University.
Parents in Fukushima have shown concern over the issue as many children suffered thyroid cancer after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
The local government plans to at first examine 4,908 children living close to the nuclear power plant, and then to complete the whole process by March 2014, officials said.
The children will go through follow-up exams every two years until they turn 20. After that, the checkups will be conducted every five years over the person's lifetime.
Detailed exams will be conducted if any pathological lesions are detected.
Many children and their parents began arriving at the university around 30 minutes before the start of the examinations at 9 a.m. Read More
D-FOX: Please contact us if you can read this.
To D-fox: if you're reading this, please contact us at thecomingcrisis@gmail.com. It's important -- we believe.
Russia 'gave agents licence to kill' enemies of the state
The Russian secret service authorised the “elimination” of individuals living overseas who were judged to be enemies of the state and ordered the creation of special units to conduct such operations, according to a document passed to The Daily Telegraph. The directive refers specifically to the European Union and western Europe and appears to be signed by the head of counter-intelligence of the FSB, the successor to the KGB.
It is dated March 19, 2003 - four years before the killing of the former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in London. It sets a provisional deadline of May 1 2004 for the new units' work to begin.
It is understood the document is also in the possession of Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command which is investigating the Litvinenko case.
A hearing is to be held next week into whether a full inquest should take place into Mr Litvinenko's death, as the Russian government has insisted that Andrei Lugovoi, the former KGB bodyguard who is a main suspect in the case, will never be extradited back to Britain.
Labelled "Secret documentation. For internal use only. Do not copy", the leaked document refers to a law on "countering extremist activities" passed eight months earlier, although that law does not refer to the use of force. more
Students to pay up to £50 an hour to attend lectures: Why not just buy a book and read it?
Figures from a range of institutions show wide variation in the amount of “contact time” with academics that undergraduates will get once tuition fees rise next year to up to £9,000 a year.In some arts subjects, the amount paid by first-year undergraduates for each hour they spend in the lecture hall or classroom will vary from £15 to £50 per hour depending on where they study.
The findings, which come as sixth-formers are deciding where to apply for courses starting next year, raise questions about what undergraduates and their parents will get for their money.
Some 17 universities provided information on the amount of teaching first year undergraduates can expect per week in English, law and biology.
They also stated their fee levels and the number of weeks in the academic year that students receive teaching, allowing the cost per hour of teaching to be worked out. more
Regular aspirin users at higher risk of sight problems (perhaps even blindness), research suggests
People who take a daily dose of aspirin are twice as likely to suffer blindness in later life, a study suggests. Researchers who tested more than 4,000 elderly people across Europe found that those who took the drug every day were twice as likely to be diagnosed with late stage age related macular degeneration as those who did not.
While the study provided no evidence of a causal link between aspirin and the condition, experts are now examining whether a regular dose somehow exacerbates the disease.
Millions of Britons are thought to take a daily dose of aspirin in order to lower the risk of suffering heart disease and strokes.
Studies have also suggested that regular small doses can help cut the risk of suffering from certain types of cancer.
But this latest study will increase concern among those who claim the drug can also have a number of damaging side effects. more
If creativity can lead to madness, is art therapy really such a good idea?
was recently at a fundraising dinner for Mind, the leading mental health charity in the UK. One of the big themes for the evening (other than Stephen Fry's investiture as president), was the idea of art as therapy. My only qualifications to write about therapy and mental illness are a rather lame 2:1 in psychology from UCL and around 9 months of in-patient care in various locked wards in 2006/7 (I add this disclaimer only because after a recent blog post on a similar subject I got enough hate mail to make the Dalai Lama feel depressed). But as an ex-inmate and artist of sorts, there is no question in my mind that in conjunction with other therapies, art or music can be a tremendous tool in dealing with various forms of mental illness from depression to Asperger's, but I wonder whether throwing oneself into creativity in order to help defeat the demons is a solution or a hindrance.During a stint in a psychiatric unit a few years ago I attended a few art therapy "classes" that, no matter how well-intentioned, made me feel hideously uncomfortable and hopelessly untalented ("using crayons, please draw a picture of your happy place where you feel safest"). Since leaving hospital I have thrown myself into a creative career and spent many hours a day rigorously practising the piano in pursuit of that career. Whilst there is of course a huge distinction between a career as an artist and art as just a hobby, I'm still very much in two minds as to whether music or art is a good therapy or if it is in fact a potentially dangerous downward spiral into madness.
Aristotle said, "Poetry demands a man with a special gift for it, or else one with a touch of madness in him." Schopenhauer wrote, "there is a side at which genius and madness touch, and even pass over into each other, and indeed poetical inspiration has been called a kind of madness."
If there is a link between creativity and madness, why use it as a treatment? Is it similar to giving someone a small dose of a virus to build up resistance to the same virus? more
The Secret Memo That Explains Why Obama Can Kill Americans
Outside the U.S. government, President Obama's order to kill American citizen Anwar al-Awlaki without due process has proved controversial, with experts in law and war reaching different conclusions. Inside the Obama Administration, however, disagreement was apparently absent, or so say anonymous sources quoted by the Washington Post. "The Justice Department wrote a secret memorandum authorizing the lethal targeting of Anwar al-Aulaqi, the American-born radical cleric who was killed by a U.S. drone strike Friday, according to administration officials," the newspaper reported. "The document was produced following a review of the legal issues raised by striking a U.S. citizen and involved senior lawyers from across the administration. There was no dissent about the legality of killing Aulaqi, the officials said."Isn't that interesting? Months ago, the Obama Administration revealed that it would target al-Awlaki. It even managed to wriggle out of a lawsuit filed by his father to prevent the assassination. But the actual legal reasoning the Department of Justice used to authorize the strike? It's secret. Classified. Information that the public isn't permitted to read, mull over, or challenge.
Why? What justification can there be for President Obama and his lawyers to keep secret what they're asserting is a matter of sound law? This isn't a military secret. It isn't an instance of protecting CIA field assets, or shielding a domestic vulnerability to terrorism from public view. This is an analysis of the power that the Constitution and Congress' post September 11 authorization of military force gives the executive branch. This is a president exploiting official secrecy so that he can claim legal justification for his actions without having to expose his specific reasoning to scrutiny. As the Post put it, "The administration officials refused to disclose the exact legal analysis used to authorize targeting Aulaqi, or how they considered any Fifth Amendment right to due process." more
Majority of IEDs are traced to Pakistan
Pakistan is the source of explosives in the vast majority of makeshift bombs insurgents in Afghanistan planted this summer to attack U.S. troops, according to U.S. military commanders.From June through August, U.S. troops detected or were hit by 5,088 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the most for any three-month period since the war began in 2001.
Those bombs killed 63 troops and wounded 1,234, Defense Department records show.
More than 80% of the IEDs are homemade explosives using calcium ammonium nitrate fertilizer produced in Pakistan, said Navy Capt. Douglas Borrebach, deputy director for resources and requirements at the Pentagon's Joint IED Defeat Organization.
"The border is a sieve," Borrebach said. "You can do your checkpoints, but that's not going to help stem the supply."
The military is working with the State Department, other U.S. agencies and Pakistan's government to prevent fertilizer from reaching the insurgents' bomb factories. more
Protectionism beckons as leaders push world into Depression
The world savings rate has surpassed its modern-era high of 24pc. This is the killer in the global system. It is why we are at imminent risk of tipping into a second, deeper leg of intractable depression. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects the savings mountain to rise yet further next year as the governments of Europe, Britain, and the US tighten belts, in unison, by up to 2pc of GDP.
This is double the intensity of the last big synchronized squeeze in 1980.
They will do so before the private sector is ready to grasp the baton, and without stimulus from the trade surplus states (Germany, China, Japan) to offset the contraction in demand.
Put another way, there is a chronic lack of consumption in the world. "This probably comes as a surprise to most people, gorged on propaganda about excessive debt and the need for retrenchment," said Charles Dumas from Lombard Street Research.
The inevitable outcome of one-sided austerity polices in the Anglo-sphere and Club Med is a self-feeding downward slide for the whole global system, a variant of 1930s debt-deflation. "Excess savers refuse to acknowledge that if world savings are demonstrably too high, healthy recovery depends on the surplus countries saving less," he said. more
Denmark Introduces ‘Fat Tax’ on Foods High in Saturated Fat
Denmark has introduced what’s believed to be the world’s first fat food tax, applying a surcharge to foods with more than 2.3 percent saturated fats, in an effort to combat obesity and heart disease.Danes hoarded food before the tax went into effect Saturday, emptying grocery store shelves. Some butter lovers may even resort to stocking up during trips abroad.
The new tax of 16 kroner ($2.90) per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of saturated fat in a product will be levied on foods like butter, milk, cheese, pizza, oils and meat.
“Higher fees on sugar, fat and tobacco is an important step on the way toward a higher average life expectancy in Denmark,” health minister Jakob Axel Nielsen said when he introduced the idea in 2009, according to The Associated Press, because “saturated fats can cause cardiovascular disease and cancer.”
But some Danes are not happy about the ‘big brother’ feeling that comes with the tax.
“Denmark finds every sort of way to increase our taxes,” said Alisa Clausen, a South Jutland resident. “Why should the government decide how much fat we eat? They also want to increase the tobacco price very significantly. In theory this is good — it makes unhealthy items expensive so that we do not consume as much or any and that way the health system doesn’t use a lot of money on patients who become sick from overuse of fat and tobacco. However, these taxes take on a big brother feeling. We should not be punished by taxes on items the government decides we should not use.” more
Sexual predators get "inventive" in Hong Kong: Be careful
Three weeks ago, a man behaving strangely in a city subway station in Hong Kong attracted the attention of police, fearing he may be a terrorist plotting a train attack.When police searched him, they found he was engaged in terror of another kind -- a camera rigged into the sole of his shoe carried pictures into a hard drive strapped to his thigh, according to local press reports. The suspect was a video voyeur, rigged to take shots up women's skirts.
"We saw the man walking suspiciously and weirdly," Bowen Leung Yiu-kwong, a senior inspector at the police's railway district, told the South China Morning Post. "He was later seen stalking a woman with his leg lifted up."
Hong Kong police have arrested 38 people for "up-skirt" photo taking on the city's Mass Transit Railway, or MTR, during the first half of this year. While that's down slightly from the 41 arrested during the same period last year, the incident shows how sexual predators are using technology to become more creative in their criminal activity.
"Some offenders [commit] 'photo under skirt' crimes by attempting to hide their activities by concealing pinhole cameras inside bags, newspapers, and even shoes which they then activate by way of connecting hand operated leads in their pockets," a press officer from the Hong Kong Police Department told CNN. more
Crony Capitalism: $737 Million Green Jobs Loan Given to Nancy Pelosi's Brother-In-Law
Despite the growing Solyndra scandal, yesterday the Department of Energy approved $1 billion in new loans to green energy companies -- including a $737 million loan guarantee to a company known as SolarReserve:
SolarReserve LLC, a closely held renewable energy developer, received a $737 million U.S. Energy Department loan guarantee to build a solar-thermal project in Nevada.
The 110-megawatt Crescent Dunes project, near Tonopah, Nevada, will use the sun’s heat to create steam that drives a turbine, the agency said today in a e-mailed statement. SolarReserve is based in Santa Monica, California.
On SolarReserve's website is a list of "investment partners," including the "PCG Clean Energy & Technology Fund (East) LLC." As blogger American Glob quickly discovered, PCG's number two is none other than "Ronald Pelosi, a San Francisco political insider and financial industry polymath who happens to be the brother-in-law of Nancy Pelosi, the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives." more
3.5 Magnitude Earthquake KATLA VOLCANO, ICELAND - 9th Oct 2011
A magnitude 3.5 earthquake has struck the Katla Volcano, Iceland at a depth of just 1.1 km (0 miles), the quake hit at 17:36:35 UTC Sunday 9th October 2011.The epicenter was 4.1 km ( 2.5 miles) North of Habunga, Iceland
No reports of Damage or Injuries reported at this time
4.9 Magnitude Earthquake KURIL ISLANDS - 9th Oct 2011
A magnitude 4.9 earthquake has struck the Kuril Islands at a depth of 80.3 km (49.9 miles), the quake hit at 16:34:08 UTC Sunday 9th October 2011.The epicenter was 188 km ( 117 miles) ENE from Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No reports of Damage or Injuries reported at this time
4.7 Magnitude Earthquake TAIWAN REGION - 9th Oct 2011
A magnitude 4.7 earthquake has struck the Taiwan Region at a depth of 15 km (9.3 miles), the quake hit at 15:54:25 UTC Sunday 9th October 2011.The epicenter was 28 km ( 17.4 miles) South of Taitung, Taiwan
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No reports of Damage or Injuries reported at this time
Occupy Sacramento continues after 20 protesters arrested - 7th Oct 2011
Authorities said 20 protesters were arrested at about 12:45 a.m. Friday when they refused to leave Cesar Chavez Plaza, the site of the Occupy Sacramento demonstration. Both police and protesters described the arrests as peaceful.
“They went without any problems or issues,” said Sgt. Andrew Pettit, spokesman for the Sacramento Police Department. “They were booked for failure to disperse after a lawful order.”
Anthony Bondi, a spokesman for Occupy Sacramento, agreed.
“It was completely violence-free,” he said Friday afternoon. “The protesters laid down and chose to be arrested.”
Despite what some protesters said they think was an overbearing police presence, Pettit said units involved were either on patrol already or “flexed” their hours to take part in the arrests.
“We had two SWAT teams, the entertainment team and three graveyard teams,” he said, noting that about 40 officers were involved. Read More
New Zealand Oil Spill Crews Face Race Against Time - 9th Oct 2011
Salvage crews are facing a race against time to off-load oil from a stranded container ship in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty. Gale force winds are forecast from Monday afternoon - which could hamper operations.
Meanwhile Prime Minister John Key has demanded to know why the vessel hit a reef in calm waters.
Officials fear the 47,000-tonne vessel Rena took will break up and sink in the North Island bay and potentially cause New Zealand's worst maritime pollution disaster in decades if the 1,700 tonnes of oil is still on board.
The crippled vessel has already leaked an estimated 20 tonnes of oil into the bay, creating a three mile slick and killing a number of seabirds.
Mr Key Key said two government inquiries were under way into how the Rena ploughed into a reef in calm conditions last Wednesday.
The accident - which occurred in an environment that is home to whales, dolphins, penguins and seals - appeared to have happened "for no particular reason", Key said.
"We want to know why." Read More
5.0 Magnitude Earthquake SOUTH INDIAN OCEAN - 9th Oct 2011
A magnitude 5.0 earthquake has struck the South Indian at a depth of 14.7 km (9.1 miles), the quake hit at 14:47:18 UTC Sunday 9th October 2011.The epicenter was 468 km ( 291 miles) Southeast from Inhambane, Mozambique
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No reports of Damage or Injuries reported at this time
4.7 Magnitude Earthquake LUZON, PHILIPPINES - 9th Oct 2011
A magnitude 4.7 earthquake has struck Luzon, Philippines at a depth of 45.7 km (28.4 miles), the quake hit at 13:25:36 UTC Sunday 9th October 2011.The epicenter was 64 km ( 39 miles) East of Baguio, Luzon, Philippines
No reports of Damage or Injuries reported at this time
4.6 Magnitude Earthquake CELEBES SEA, PHILIPPINES - 9th Oct 2011
A magnitude 4.6 earthquake has struck the Celebes Sea. Philippines at a depth of 579.4 km (360 miles), the quake hit at 21:33:54 UTC Sunday 9th October 2011.The epicenter was 275 km ( 170 miles) Southeast of Jolo Atchipelago, Philippines
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No reports of Damage or Injuries reported at this time
Execution video shows Afghan tribal justice still enforced - 9th Oct 2011
On his knees, Nawroz prays. He is a condemned man about to die in a brutal way.
His crime: The killing of his lover's husband.
The judge: A local warlord in Kand, Afghanistan.
The executioner: The victim's father.
A mobile phone video captured the grisly scene.
Many have gathered to watch this act, sitting on dusty earth, in dappled shade. Source
4.7 Magnitude Earthquake SOUTH OF JAVA, INDONESIA - 9th Oct 2011
A magnitude 4.7 earthquake has struck South of Java, Indonesia at a depth of 28.9 km (18 miles), the quake hit at 11:43:25 UTC Sunday 9th October 2011.The epicenter was 232 km ( 144 miles) North of Christmas Island
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No reports of Damage or Injuries reported at this time
Smithsonian revolt: Protesters attacked with pepper spray after storming the Washington museum and forcing closure - 9th Oct 2011
The National Air and Space Museum was closed yesterday after anti-war protesters stormed the building and were repelled by guards using pepper spray.Hundreds of people, who were demonstrating in Washington DC against a drone plane exhibit at the museum in the Smithsonian Institution - the world's largest museum complex.
Some demonstrators got past the guards and unfurled a protest banner from the upper floor before it was torn down.
Pepper spray was used against the protesters - including several women - after security guards claimed that a colleague was held by the mob.
David Swanson, 41, of Charlottesville, Virginia, said he was among dozens of people sickened by the pepper spray. He said he got sick even though he was outside the building when the spraying began
'I began choking and vomiting and got a headache,' he said.
Mr Swanson, who says he has been part of the Freedom Plaza protest, says protesters were not looking to shut down the museum but to make a point about the massive military spending and the use of deadly drones.
He said the security officers got aggressive after some protesters unfurled a protest banner inside. Read More
Liam Fox a lying Defence Secretary?... who would of ever thought it possible - 9th Oct 2011
Liam Fox is facing sensational new claims that he lied - as fellow Cabinet Ministers withdraw support from the embattled Defence Secretary.Shadow Defence Secretary Jim Murphy increased the pressure on Dr Fox last night by accusing him of not telling the truth about a highly sensitive meeting in Dubai organised by his best man and former flatmate Adam Werritty.
And today the minister came under even further scrutiny after the discovery of video footage that shows him and Werritty meeting with the president of Sri Lanka in a London hotel last year - despite his prior claims that his close friend never attended formal meetings with overseas dignitaries.
Mr Murphy says Dr Fox gave him a personal assurance that the Dubai meeting, where the Defence Secretary discussed a potential arms deal, was all above board and that a Ministry of Defence mandarin had been present.
But Mr Murphy says he was shocked to discover later that Dr Fox misled him: the meeting was brokered and attended by Mr Werritty - and no MoD officials were present.
And it comes as video footage from a Sri Lankan news channel appears to show Werritty shaking hands with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who has been accused of war crimes during the country's civil war, during a meeting at the Dorchester Hotel in early December.
The footage shows Werritty was apparently part of Fox's delegation and is present as Fox discusses ongoing peace talks with the Tamil Tigers rebel group. Read More
'Forest boy' Ray has 'never lived in the wild': Police doubt story of teenager who said he'd spent years in the woods - 9th Oct 2011
The mysterious 'Forest Boy' who claimed to have spent years in woods has never lived in the wild, according to German police.They now suspect the story of 17-year-old Ray' after examination of his clothes and tent revealed no sign they had been used for very long in the open.
The English-speaking teenager, who refuses to have his picture taken to help find his family, appeared at Berlin City Hall early last month.
He said he had lived five years in the forest with his father Ryan after the death of his mother Doreen in a car accident.
He claimed that when his father died suddenly in August he buried him among trees, and then walked for two weeks to Berlin using a compass and map.
But police and social workers began suspecting two weeks ago that his story was bogus and his motives were suspect.
They cannot understand why the only personal details he has revealed are his birthday and first name. He has told investigators he has no memory of his past.
But doctors say he is in in perfect health with no signs of amnesia or mental problems.
Ray has refused to provide a DNA sample despite a Swiss couple coming forward last week to claim he could be there grandson and agreeing to be tested. Read More
4.5 Magnitude Earthquake TARAPACA, CHILE - 9th Oct 2011
A magnitude 4.5 earthquake has struck Tarapaca, Chile at a depth of 111.7 km (69.4 miles), the quake hit at 09:55:17 UTC Sunday 9th October 2011.The epicenter was 112 km ( 70 miles) East of Arica, Chile
No reports of Damage or Injuries reported at this time
4.6 Magnitude Earthquake EAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND - 9th Oct 2011
A magnitude 4.6 earthquake has struck East of the North Island of New Zealand at a depth of 48.7 km (30.3 miles), the quake hit at 09:53:08 UTC Sunday 9th October 2011.The epicenter was 222 km ( 137.6 miles) Northeast of Gisborne, New Zealand
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No reports of Damage or Injuries reported at this time
Dalai Lama: China is built on lies, run by hypocrites - 8th Oct 2011
China is built on lies and its officials are hypocrites, the Dalai Lama said on Saturday, speaking via videophone after visa problems prevented him from joining Archbishop Desmond Tutu's birthday celebrations in South Africa. "Some Chinese officials describe me as a demon," the Tibetan spiritual leader said to loud applause as he put his index fingers either side of his head to mimic devil's horns.
"In reality, for the communist totalitarian system ... hypocrisy (and) telling lies has unfortunately become part of their lives."
He said the Chinese government was "uncomfortable" with people who tell the truth, adding that honest people live longer and he would like to attend Tutu's 90th birthday.
"At that time, don't forget to send me an invitation ... then we can test your government," he said to Tutu in an apparent reference to his visa debacle with South African authorities. Read More
