Posted around 11 am today. I'm deleting as it had a bad link and isn't germane to what we do. I know, I know, we've had some posts on health care, but this one is inside baseball on the legal front. I'd suggest going to a legal blog for stuff like that.
This is followup to today's tinnitus article. Tinnitus caused by active duty is rated at 10% service connection by the VA. This pays $123/mo. tax free, free hearing aids and batteries for life, and Priority Group 3 at any VA Medical Center (the only copay is the $8 for an Rx, all else is no charge). Check it out.
With a flick of his wrist, the interpreter at the front of the courtroom mimed the bang of a judge's gavel, his other hand pointing to the ceiling. The crude gestures were meant to convey that the case against Juan Jose Gonzalez Luna would be heard in a higher-level court.
Gonzalez's face, however, remained vacant. Did the 42-year-old - who is deaf, mute, and illiterate, including no known knowledge of sign language - understand what had just happened?
As Gonzalez has next to no language skills, his case has baffled Montgomery County courts since his arrest on drug trafficking charges late last year. While courts have come a long way in providing access to interpreters in a host of exotic languages, no one is sure how to translate for a man who knows no language at all. They try Klingon?
Gonzalez's limited grasp began at infancy in the southern reaches of the Mexican state of Michoacán. Although uncertain of much of his client's history, Rideout thinks Gonzalez lost his hearing after a severe fever as a baby - a story reenacted through pantomime.
Detectives arrested Gonzalez Oct. 8 after a purported cross-country smuggling drive, from Las Vegas to the Philadelphia suburbs, and seized more than two pounds of cocaine from his car.
But this inability to communicate is exactly what made him a valued member of a King of Prussia-based drug trafficking ring, prosecutors say. "He makes the perfect drug mule," First Assistant District Attorney Kevin Steele said. "He can't consent to a search. He can't answer any questions about the operation."
Gonzalez has shown some limited ability to communicate. Arriving at a recent preliminary hearing, he motioned toward detectives gathered around him. He pinched at his neck as if adjusting an invisible necktie. He bent his other arm mid-torso and clenched its fist, mimicking a heavy briefcase.
"He can't talk to the judge," one detective joked. "But of course he knows how to ask for his lawyer." Lawyering up is an international language.
More at the link. Interesting case.
#1
As Gonzalez has next to no language skills, his case has baffled Montgomery County courts since his arrest on drug trafficking charges late last year.
Drug trafficking charges? How did his handlers communicate with him?
[Straits Times] NIBONG TEBAL - A RELIGIOUS school teacher has been jugged for allegedly fondling the private parts of a 14-year-old girl during a ritual to cleanse the girl of a 'spell' cast on her.
The suspect, in his 40s, from Sungai Bakap was picked up after the girl lodged a police report.
South Seberang Prai OCPD Supt Shafien Mamat said the girl claimed the teacher molested her while she was taking a bath in his house at 9am on Sunday.
Supt Shafien said she complained the teacher fondled her breasts and her private parts. She told her mother what happened and lodged a police report. the teacher was picked up and released on police bail the following day.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/13/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
Should have married her first. Even one of those temporary marriages would do.
Scientists have found a way to ease chronic ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus, by stimulating a neck nerve and playing sounds to reboot the brain, according to research published Wednesday. SEEMS TO ME I REMEMBER A FEW FOLKS HERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TINNITUS . . . . :-)
#3
Rats that underwent the pairing of noise and stimulation experienced a halt to the ringing sounds for up to three and a half months, while control rats that received just noise or just stimulation did not.
Damned taking rats. Wait... We are not in Narnia, are we?
#4
There's an inexpensive and non-invasive test that measures whether (and how strongly) the auditory nerve is transmitting electrical pulses. It's used by reputable breeders to identify any congenital hearing problems in very young puppies.
Posted by: Water Modem ||
01/13/2011 11:34 Comments ||
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#8
I'll volunteer to try it. My tinnitus is loud enough to keep me awake some nights, and it's ALWAYS THERE. It's now beginning to impact my hearing to the point I may need hearing aids. At the same time, I can hear minor noises that I used to be able to ignore. On a quiet night, I can hear the freight trains going through town when they blow their horns, six miles away.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
01/13/2011 11:37 Comments ||
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#9
This is something I never expected to see in a scientific article, but I'm glad it's there. Tinnitus affects "40 percent of military veterans". As one old warrant officer told me, many, many moons ago, military service is hazardous to your health.
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
01/13/2011 11:39 Comments ||
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#10
CTRL-ALT-DELETE for the brain, huh? I don't think so.
#14
#12 Yeah, and if they reboot your brain how do you know they won't install a new OS while they're at it?
As long as it's not made by Microsoft!
Posted by: Old Patriot ||
01/13/2011 13:29 Comments ||
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Redneck Jim, this treatment influences not the the auditory nerve but rather the brain neurons that respond to electrical impulses from the auditory nerve (among other sources). Stimulating the vagus nerve changes neurotransmitter levels. When that's done at the same time that a specific set of frequencies are played, the brain neurons reorganize how they respond to the auditory nerve signals.
#16
Tinnitus is a serious problem for my hearing, 105 and 120mm induced from tank gunnery so this is very interesting to me. But I'll wait until a few humans have had this and see if they suddenly have screen freeze or start writing checks to a Nigerian address before I let them do it to me.
#17
Old Patriot. As a former SE Asia CWII, Cobra and Huey, I agree. VA basically said "tough $hit, live with it." It never stops and at times is very distracting to the point of not hearing what people are saying to you. I guess 1446 hours within seven feet of a 1100shp turbine will do that. Oh, forgot to mention the two MaDuce we mounted in a UH-1H against the wishes of Bell Helicopter reps.
#18
Once again, I'll put in that treating tinnitus is such a big deal in acupuncture, that some of them specialize in it. I don't rightly know if they can cure it, but a lot of people appreciate a few weeks of silence.
lotp, yea they can gauge signaling, but that is not really the issue. It is how your brain interprets these signals. Or rat's brain for that matter. Without asking them how they feel, you'd never really know.
[Arab News] Massive floods shut down the center of Australia's third-largest city, sent thousands fleeing from their homes and sparked panic buying of food on Wednesday as rescuers searched for 43 people missing in flood waters.
Australia's biggest floods in a century have so far killed 16 people since starting their onslaught across northern mining state Queensland last month, crippling the coking coal industry, destroying infrastructure, putting a brake on the economy and sending the local currency to four-week lows.
The flood surge was expected to peak in Brisbane, a riverside city of two million people, before sunrise on Thursday and last for days.
"We are in the grip of a very serious natural disaster," Queensland state Premier Anna Bligh said, predicting almost 20,000 homes could be flooded at the river's peak.
"Brisbane will go to sleep tonight and wake up to scenes many will never have seen before in their lives," she warned.
The flood peak hit Ipswich, a satellite town to the west, late Wednesday. More than 1,500 Ipswich residents sheltered in evacuation centers, but others fled homes with little more than what they are wearing, as flood waters rose around the city.
Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale said the flood peaked at 19.4 meters, about a meter below expectations, saving some 6,000 homes from flooding. "It's the difference between bad news and devastation," he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/13/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
Car's nose low,water half-way up drivers door sill, "should we move (our) cars to the front of the building?"
Dipshit!
[Maghrebia] Three Mauritanian women went on trial in Nouakchott on Tuesday (January 11th) for allegedly holding two girls, ages 10 and 14, as slaves in the city's Arafat neighbourhood, ANI reported. Alleged slave-owner Oumouloumnin Mint Brahim Vall and the girls' mothers are charged with exploitation of minors.
Last Thursday, the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement (IRA) head Biram Ould Dah Ould Abeid and other IRA members were sentenced to six months in prison, for taking part in an unauthorised rally over the case. According to Mauritanian NGO SOS Esclaves and other international monitors, slavery practices persist in Mauritania.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/13/2011 00:00 ||
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[The Nation (Nairobi)] Tunisia sacked its interior minister and deployed troops in Tunis today as weeks of violent protests reached the capital and two people were reported killed in fresh festivities further south.
Security forces fired tear gas on hundreds on demonstrators in the heaviest protests yet in the capital after weeks of protests erupted in mid-December in the worst unrest against the authoritarian regime in more than 20 years.
"Shut down (your stores), shut down," bystanders urged street vendors as police fired tear gas at the entrance of the souks (markets) of the Medina in Tunis' old city where hundreds of youths chanted anti-government slogans.
In a sign of increasing government concern after rioting in Tunis overnight, troops took up positions early today at major intersections and the entrance to the city's Ettadhamen quarter where riots broke out late Tuesday.
Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi announced the dismissal of interior minister Rafik Belhaj Kacem, responsible for the police, amid criticism that security forces used excessive force against demonstrators.
The government says 21 people were killed in three days of unrest in the western Kasserine region, but labour unions and rights groups said more than 50 were dead.
Two more people were reported killed by police in the central town of Douz, where violence erupted for the first time in the spreading unrest.
Another four or five people were maimed in the gunfire, a witness told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Troops deploying in Tunis took up positions around the headquarters of the state broadcaster and a central tramway station.
Extra police and special intervention units also stood guard in a central square.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/13/2011 00:00 ||
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[Ennahar] Algeria has imported over one billion dollars (nearly 800 million euros) of brown sugar and crude oil in 2010, two commodities whose prices have soared, leading to deadly riots, said Wednesday Customs.
Imports of raw sugar reached 1 million tons for $ 495 million and 625,743 tons of crude oil for 580 million dollars, according to preliminary figures provided by the customs to the agency APS.
These amounts represent approximately one sixth of the import bill of food products in 2009, estimated at nearly $ 6 billion.
The prices of oil and sugar have seen a surge leading up to January 5 deadly riots.
To cope, the government decided to subsidize the price for a $ 260 million until the end of August.
Trade Minister Mustapha Benbada had called Sunday wholesalers to meet the price set by the state at 90 dinars (0.90 euro) for a kilo of sugar and 600 dinars (6 euros) for the 5 liter oil can. They had reached 140 dinars (1.40 euro) and 975 dinars (9.75 euros).
Rich countries in hydrocarbons, Algeria in 2010 earned more than $ 55 billion of revenue for oil and gas, up 25% compared to 2009. It had 150 billion in foreign reserves at end-July 2010.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/13/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
They should be in a much better position than we are; they're a net exporter, they have a surplus, and foreign reserves. What happened?
#2
The price of basic food items all over the world is about to spike. Agricultural setbacks are happening all over, from drought to floods. Money itself is being debased, so investors are seeking the ultimate safe haven, commodities, things (unlike gold) that you can actually eat. Even a country with a valuable export and foreign reserves still has to budget its expenditures.
Expect more riots.
#7
Much of the problem is self inflicted. It began in the '60s and '70s with Norman Borlaug's Green Revolution.
Though agriculture was booming, only four nations utterly dominated grain production. So the USDA intervened, producing any number of crossbred grains that would grow around the world.
Monsanto corporation was tasked with producing and distributing these grains to other countries basically for free. With great success, Monsanto took up the reigns and produced even better and higher yielding crops.
Then they developed Roundup herbicide, and grain which was resistant to it, which worked great, slashing labor costs to farmers. All of which was mostly free to farmers in these countries, subsidized by the US.
Then Monsanto on its own discovered that farmers were reusing that grain so that they wouldn't even have to pay the marginal cost. So Monsanto produced new types of grain, called "terminator", that had huge yields, but the grain could only be reused for seed once.
And farmers had to pay market price for it.
The third world was outraged. They demanded that Monsanto only provide good seed grain for free, not terminator seed. This was because any farmer paying for terminator would easily outsell his competitors, but he had to pay for the privilege.
And they wanted all the good stuff for free. This was the big start to the anti-GM food movement.
Both Monsanto and the USG have agreed that "tough, if you want more, you have to pay for it." And third world greed is such that they would prefer cheap imports to growing their own.
Unfortunately, cheap imports are no longer staying cheap.
#8
Borlaugh has a lot to answer for even if it was only "unintended consequences".
Today there are more Muslims in the world than than the combination of all Muslims back to Mohammed combined and it's all due to Borlaugh's "Green Revolution"
The population of Pakistan, fr instance, in the 1950's was 30 million and now it's 170 million comprising mainly of illiterate Saudi financed madras alumni whose only accomplishment is to recite the Quran by heart.
[The Nation (Nairobi)] At least six people were killed today as Ivorian police were attacked with rocket-propelled grenades in an Abidjan district largely loyal to Laurent Gbagbo's rival for the presidency.
Five of the dead were coppers, a police source said, and an AFP correspondent saw a dead security guard in the commercial capital's locked-down Abobo district, with an end to the escalating crisis nowhere in sight.
The violence came the day after two civilians and two police were rubbed out in the bastion of Alassane Ouattara, the man the world says beat strongman Gbagbo in a presidential election, after hundreds of Gbagbo troops moved in.
"We don't have an army, Gbagbo's army comes here and fires on civilians and we have no way of protecting ourselves," said one resident, who declined to give his name.
"We couldn't sleep, the children were crying all night," said another terrified resident.
Sporadic gunfire could be heard around midday as Defence and Security Forces (FDS) fired in the air to clear streets littered with at least four burnt-out vehicles and unmanned roadblocks preventing civilian traffic circulating.
An AFP correspondent saw two burntout police trucks and large pools of blood on the street and inside some buildings, where residents said security forces had been shot and taken away.
FDS troops patrolled in pick-ups mounted with heavy machine guns, sporadically firing in the smoke-filled air and sending panicked residents fleeing as tyres smouldered nearby.
The bank security guard's body lay on a rooftop where residents said he had tried to seek refuge when fighting erupted during the night. Wednesday morning his blood was still dripping into the courtyard below.
A security source told AFP that police positions had come under repeated rocket-propelled grenade attack during the night. Inhabitants said exchanges of gunfire had been heaviest between midnight and 2:00 am. The United Nations, aka the Oyster Bay Chowder and Marching Society says that over 200 people have died in the crisis so far, with African-led efforts to mediate the stand-off failing to make any visible progress as the army loyal to Gbagbo besieges Ouattara's headquarters.
The African Union's mediator is to return to Abidjan within days, while regional bloc ECOWAS has said it is prepared to send in its own troops if defiant strongman Gbagbo fails to stand down.
Residents said that security forces had entered the district early Tuesday and raided homes saying they were searching for weapons.
Gbagbo's party, the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI), on Tuesday rebuffed an offer from Ouattara's UN ambassador for his supporters to form a unity government, insisting Gbagbo's victory was "non-negotiable".
AU envoy and Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the latest in a cascade of African leaders seeking an end to the deadly stand-off, is to return to Abidjan after briefing AU Commission chief Jean Ping in Nairobi.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) bloc has said it could, as a last-resort, send in troops if talks fail.
Mr Gbagbo and his supporters are becoming increasingly isolated as international powers ramp up pressure on the strongman to step aside.
La Belle France said it will approve Ouattara's nomination as ambassador, former journalist Ali Coulibaly, on Wednesday.
Ouattara is protected at the besieged Golf Hotel in Abidjan by around 800 UN peacekeepers as well as the ex-rebel New Forces allied with his camp since troops rubbed out several of his supporters on December 16.
Meanwhile, ...back at the ranch... a top ally of Ouattara has said the country is already in a "civil war situation."
"This is what's at stake: Either we assist in the installation of democracy in Cote d'Ivoire or we stand by indifferent and allow democracy to be assassinated," Prime Minister Guillaume Soro said at a news conference, adding that more than 200 people already have been killed and 1,000 others maimed by gunfire.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/13/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
SENEGAL is calling for direct MILITARY ACTION = INVASION.
* PEOPLES DAILY FORUM > IVORY COAST ARMY SEALS OFF PRO-QUATARRA AREA, BARS UN.
[An Nahar] A French chateau where Africa's most ruthless dictator Jean-Bedel Bokassa lived after French paratroopers ousted him was auctioned Wednesday for 915,000 euros ($1.2 million).
An individual bought the residence of Bokassa, the late self-proclaimed emperor of Central Africa, for "his own and his family's personal use," the buyer's lawyer said, declining to give the man's identity.
Bokassa, who died in 1996, moved to Hardricourt chateau overlooking the river Seine near Gay Paree in 1983, after four years in exile in Ivory Coast following his overthrow by French troops in 1979.
The 550 square-metre (6,000 square-feet) residence, which comes with a gardener's lodge, a tree-lined park and a double garage, was ordered by a court to be sold.
Bokassa's son Georges, who was present at the sale, had earlier called on French President Nicolas Sarkozy to intervene to prevent what he called the plundering of his family's heritage. Time to move outta the basement and find a job, kid? Here's some career advice, most people do want fries with that...
Bokassa, who came to power in 1965, was accused of having his political rivals killed and then cooked and served to visiting foreign dignitaries or fed to lions and crocodiles in his private zoo. Well...sounds like the "family heritage" does kinda include a history in the food service industry. Put that on your resume to Le Wendys.
He was tried and sentenced to death in 1987 for atrocities committed under his rule but the current president of the Central African Republic, Francois Bozize, who seized power in a coup in 2003, formally rehabilitated him earlier this month. Yeah, outside of the cannibalism and some other...stuff, he wasn't such a bad guy. Especially for an African dictator...
Posted by: Fred ||
01/13/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
Bokassa and Idi Amin should have some interesting conversations. In Hell.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia ||
01/13/2011 19:02 Comments ||
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I mean, c'mon! Who among us hasn't eaten an opponent or two?
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/13/2011 19:26 Comments ||
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Prime Minister Netanyahu received a special invitation to the event, then, and will host a reception at the Israeli embassy in Jeddah to mark the occasion, with Pope Benedict as his guest of honour?[Arab News] Extensive arrangements are being made for a special event to showcase the rich heritage of the Kingdom for members of the diplomatic corps, according to Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA).
Prince Sultan was speaking after inaugurating the Andalusia Gardens exhibition at the National Museum on Tuesday night on behalf of Riyadh Gov. Prince Salman.
The monthlong show was organized by the Spanish Embassy in Riyadh in cooperation with the Islamic Culture Foundation of Madrid (FUNCI).
"Such an event will be able to project the right image of the Kingdom's culture and heritage," Prince Sultan said, adding that the Kingdom is keen on respecting other cultures and values while preserving its own heritage. He said the proposed show would be sponsored by SCTA in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"Spain is a country that is very close to my heart because of its rich heritage and natural beauty," the prince said, calling on the Spanish Embassy in Riyadh to give more incentives to Saudis interested in touring the country.
Prince Sultan said that the Kingdom organized the "Saudi Archaeological Masterpieces Through the Ages" exhibition recently in Barcelona under the auspices of the Spanish city's La Caixa Foundation.
"The idea for this roving exhibition, which came from a royal directive, was to hold it at a number of renowned museums in Europe and the US," he said.
"The exhibition will showcase the Kingdom's history through its antiquities and its particular importance in relation to our leadership's recent concerns for inter-religious dialogue and human communication."
Princess Adela bint Abdullah, president of the Advisory Board of the National Museum, said the exhibition was a gesture of appreciation for the Andalusians, who with their passion for gardening, benefiting from Persian to Roman cultures, had established a pattern of their own, while expressing openness for other civilizations.
She also expressed her appreciation for the keenness of Spanish society and its cultural institutions to preserve the heritage and legacy of its culture through such exhibitions.
Princess Adela said the exhibition showcases the ancient art and engineering of Andalusian gardens and aims to convey a message of cooperation to preserve the environment and historical heritage shared between the East and West.
The princess said the National Museum was established with the aim of preserving the history of the Arabian Peninsula through the study of different civilizations that lived here. The building is considered a cultural landmark of Soddy Arabia.
"It provides a modern educational environment for different segments of society and for researchers and professionals from local and international points of view. It also allows for the sharing of experiences with other Arab and international museums, and provides a focus on the role of Islamic civilization and how it has contributed to other cultures."
On the sidelines of the show, Spanish Ambassador Pablo Bravo told Arab News that his country maintains excellent bilateral relations with the Kingdom, supported by many common values and long traditions.
"We are bringing the Andalusian Gardens to Riyadh to give an opportunity to those in the Kingdom to see for themselves the beauty of this landscape and to depict the cultural affinity between the two countries," he added.
The exhibition, which he said had toured Maghreb countries, will be shown only in Riyadh in the Middle East region.
According to FUNCI President Cherif Abderrahman Jah, the exhibition demonstrates the peaceful coexistence between different cultures.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/13/2011 00:00 ||
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[Arab News] Bahrain is among the world's top 10 most economically free nations, according to the annual Index of Economic Freedom published on Wednesday by the Heritage Foundation and Wall Street Journal.
Bahrain is ranked 10th of 183 economies worldwide, up three places from last year to one behind the US and six ahead of the UK in the influential rankings. Bahrain remains the most free of 17 nations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and the only in MENA to have featured in the world's top 20 since the launch of the Index in 1995. The results of the index come in line with the aspirations of Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 under the guidance of Crown Prince and Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) Chairman Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa.
"The report cites a commitment to structural reforms and openness to global commerce that have enabled Bahrain to become a financial hub and regional leader in economic freedom," said EDB Chief Executive Sheikh Mohammed bin Essa Al-Khalifa.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/13/2011 00:00 ||
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[Ennahar] Yemeni President-for-Life Ali Abdullah Saleh has suspended from their duties Wednesday Oil Minister and the director of the national oil company because of a shortage of fuel, according to a statement posted on the website of the Ministry of Defense.
"The Minister of Petroleum and Mines, Amir al-Salem Aydarous and Director General of the Yemeni Oil Company, Omar al-Arhabi, were suspended from their duties because of fuel shortage that caused the dissatisfaction of the population," explains the text.
For a week, a fuel shortage caused long queues at petrol stations in Yemen, a country outside of OPEC, which produces some 300,000 barrels of crude per day.
The announcement of these measures comes as riots against soaring prices shake Algeria and Tunisia.
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[El Universal] "The actions of government authorities to take full control over the lives of people and the attempt to set conditions to perpetuate itself in power," as well as the approval by the outgoing National Assembly of an enabling law granting special legislative powers to President Hugo Chavez, were rebutted by the Venezuelan Bishops' Conference (CEV) in the findings of its annual meeting.
In a pastoral message called "Yearning for Union, Justice, Freedom and Peace in Venezuela," the bishops and archbishops said that the passage of the enabling law granting special legislative powers to President Chavez "ignores people's will as expressed on September 26, 2010" in parliamentarian elections."
Diego Padrón, the Bishop of the city of Cumana (northeastern Venezuela), who served as the front man of the CEV, said that the democratic system needs "a gesture of good will from President Chavez by sending the enabling law back to Parliament. If he really is a good democrat, he should give up this legal power that suppresses collective freedoms."
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From the ABC - good links to resources at the site too and further info regularly updated
--- Floodwaters recede to reveal ugly aftermath
Many suburbs across Brisbane are re-emerging as floodwaters retreat, allowing thousands of residents to make the emotional return home and begin the clean-up.
The Brisbane River has dropped to 2.4 metres after yesterday's 4.46-metre peak that left 26,000 homes either inundated or partially flooded.
Fifteen people have been confirmed dead as a result of southern Queensland's flood crisis, with the number of missing being revised down to 55. Authorities say they hold grave concerns for 12.
Energex crews worked through the night to restore power, but 65,000 homes and businesses in the south-east are still without electricity - most of those are in the Brisbane area.
The Defence Force is trucking in essential food and other supplies to the outlying suburbs of Bellbowrie and Moggill in Brisbane's west.
A Black Hawk helicopter will also drop supplies to the Mount Crosby State School.
Officials are encouraging residents to help flood-affected friends and neighbours as they begin the clean-up, while earthmoving equipment and other machinery is being organised to clear major roads of debris.
The Bremer River is also falling quickly at Ipswich where 3,000 homes were flooded. The weather bureau says the river has fallen to just over 10 metres.
Elizabeth Lusk, the owner of an optometry business in flood-ravaged Rosalie, says 1.5 metres of water came through the practice.
"It's a total write-off. The walls are warped, external walls, pretty much everything," she said.
"We have good flood insurance, but it's still not going to cover the total rebuild.
"I was expecting it to be bad; we've also got a practice in Ipswich that went under and that was better than we expected, so we were crossing our fingers.
"But this is probably twice as bad as Ipswich, so it was a bit of a shock this morning."
Unlucky break
Gourmet Market owner Norris Lewis says his business would have survived unscathed if it were not for alleged sightseers in a boat whose wake pushed a floating log into a window, smashing the glass and letting water rush in.
"Now we've got this huge clean up," he said.
"We've had 10 volunteers, we don't even know them... we've just kept up the cups of tea and sandwiches. It's a great bonding exercise."
Broncos legend Kevin Walters is in Rosalie helping with the clean-up.
"I can see lots of people from the community here helping out."
"I'm just like everybody else here today."
"What can you say? What can you do but pitch in and help?"
Rose Kelso has spent the day cleaning her aunt's house in Yeronga.
She experienced the floods of 1974 and says cleaning up as soon as possible is essential.
"We're just trying to get the mud out now and cleaning the kitchen gear that we didn't get out and getting the mud out, so that smell that we know will happen isn't too bad inside," she said.
Frustration, suspected looting
Police say residents who are in need of urgent food supplies can seek help at an evacuation centre set up at the Moggill Uniting Church.
Moggill resident Anna says people are frustrated about being isolated for so long without power.
"All our retail area in Bellbowrie is under water, is closed off, so there's no food, no petrol, no medical services, no vet, nothing.
"So people are really frustrated. All our freezers are defrosting. We can't keep milk. We're running out of supplies."
Meanwhile, at least six people have been charged with looting-related offences in Brisbane and Ipswich. Don't assume they are guilty. The "looting squads" would be hyperactively wanting to justify their jobs and these people may not have been looting at all. Only know after court hearing.
Deputy Commissioner Ian Stewart says two men and a woman have been caught by water police at the mouth of Brisbane River.
"Police intercepted these people while they were doing proactive looting patrols and located two males and a female with property in the boat which is suspected of being stolen," he said. in the chaos it is likely people can have stuff in their boats of their friends and neighbours that they are trying to save not loot. an overactive copper can not know the difference. i think it unlikely. not many people would loot in this situation
Some Brisbane residents are sleeping in their cars to keep an eye on their flooded homes.
Doods Manalansan says he has spent the past two nights in his car at Rocklea because he is concerned thieves will loot his home.
"At this moment I don't know whether we stay here or [are] going to go back there when the water is gone, or we don't know where we are going to go now - for the meantime we stay here," he said.
Banding together
Local communities across Brisbane are also banding together to start the flood clean-up.
Graceville State School in Brisbane's south-west is today hosting a community response meeting.
Richard Newsome from the school's P&C committee says residents will be able to volunteer for specific jobs, nominate areas that need urgent attention and learn the latest from local authorities.
"There's going to be a lot of people who are a bit unsure about what the immediate future looks like," he said.
"I think it'll be a meeting where people can come together and grab some solace from their friendship and hopefully then just move on and get the next step started which is the clean-up."
He says local police, the council and other community leaders will address the meeting.
"It's really an information session for the locals, but also it's a chance for people who do need help to put down their names and their addresses and the type of assistance they need and people who are willing to volunteer and have particular skills.
"We can gather their names and email addresses and that way we can start putting together taskgroups and forming little clean-up bucket and mop brigades."
Transport services
Public transport services will increase in Brisbane and Ipswich today as flooded roads reopen.
More than 160 bus routes across the city will be operating on a modified Sunday timetable.
Translink says buses, ferries and trains will be free until January 21.
Twenty-five regular routes will remain suspended until further notice, particularly in the western suburbs of Toowong and Indooroopilly and around the University of Queensland and West End.
Nightlink services will not be running.
Queensland Rail services will continue to operate hourly in and out of Brisbane's CBD where it is safe to do so.
CityCat and ferry services remain suspended until further notice.
Lord Mayor Campbell Newman says the council will try to get roads open as quickly as possible.
"Coronation Drive is basically free of floodwaters but it's covered with silt and we need to get the equipment in there and we'll be doing that today to open it up," he said.
"We've got to get the traffic signals back on, we've got to get the traffic cameras back in operation."
Me Newman says cleaning up suburban streets will require a united approach.
"We are going to ask the various volunteers with private plant equipment and our own assets, and potentially the Army, to help us do that job so people can get back into their homes," he said.
f it is allowed to be implemented, Obamacare will eventually do deep and irreparable harm to our nationÂ’s budget deficit. But while Obamacare is more of a long-term threat to fiscal health at the federal level, it is a clear and present danger to the states. Of the 34 million Americans who gain health insurance through Obamacare, over half (18 million) will receive it through Medicaid.
While Obamacare will pay for all of the benefit expansion for the first three years of the law, and 90% of it after that, Obamacare never pays for any of the state administrative costs for adding those 18 million Americans to their welfare rolls. That amounts to billions in unfunded federal mandates for states to absorb. That is why 33 Republican governors signed a letter to the White House and Congress making an emphatic appeal that ObamacareÂ’s Medicaid provisions be repealed.
It is also why the newly elected governors of Ohio, Oklahoma, Maine, and Wisconsin have all decided to sue the Obama administration in hopes of stopping Obamacare. Specifically, Gov. Mary Fallin of Oklahoma has announced that the Sooner State will pursue its own case against the law, while Govs. John Kasich (R) and Scott Walker (R) (of Ohio and Wisconsin respectively) will add their states to FloridaÂ’s multi-state suit. And yesterday, newly sworn-in state Attorney General William Schneider announced Maine would also join the the Florida litigation. That brings the number of states on the Florida suit to 23 and the total number of states suing to stop Obamacare (which includes Virginia and Oklahoma) to 25.
Gov. Deval Patrick defended his decision to sink some $60 million in taxpayer funds into a solar panel factory he once called a "symbol" of the Bay State's economic future that announced yesterday it is closing and laying off 800 workers. Well, I can't say he was lying. Sounds like a perfect "symbol" of Massachusetts' economic future under Deval's leadership.
In one of the largest direct investments in a company in state history, Patrick bet heavily on the success of Evergreen Solar Inc., located at the former Ft. Devens military base, a move that drew fierce criticism during his campaign for re-election. Yesterday, he lost that bet. Gee, they managed to hold on until just after the election...
"I'm obviously deeply disappointed," Patrick told the Herald, referring to Evergreen's decision to close the manufacturing plant. But at least I still have a job...
Asked whether it was a mistake to bet millions on the firm, Patrick said, "No, no. First of all, we have clawback provisions," referring to a series of strings attached to the tax credits and incentives, which included a $1-per-year lease at a site that would have otherwise cost millions. Ah..."clawback" provisions. Which means you'll need a crowbar to get the money back.
The Patrick administration offered Evergreen more than $76 million in incentives, but the company ultimately accepted about $58 million in aid in 2007 - the bulk of which included tax incentives and direct grants, along with a $5 million loan and a $13 million grant for infrastructure improvements to support the Devens plant. Top state officials said yesterday they were confident they would recoup "a significant portion" of the money, but would not give estimates. Yes, yes...significant! How much? Harrrrumph harrrrumph harrrrumph... Evergreen has been steadily shifting jobs to its facility in lower-cost China, Well at least somebody is getting green jobs...
but until today had indicated its Massachusetts operations would continue, giving Patrick no prior warning of the closure. Surprise!
Evergreen CEO Michael El-Hillow said another drop in solar panel prices forced the company to scrap its Devens facility."Although production costs at our Devens facility have steadily decreased, and are now below originally planned levels and lower than most Western manufacturers, they are still much higher than those of our low-cost competitors in China," El-Hillow said in a statement.
Patrick indicated little regret over the investment. He added, "I think we did what we could have and should have." Besides, it's not his money...
#2
Thanks millions. In my jurisdiction, Police Reports are only released after an FOI request that takes 7 weeks to be served. Further, witness names and quotes are censored by "analysts". And we can only apply after the case is closed. Of course, nobody informs when that happens. *&$#% big government.
In response to wondering which came first: Self-isolation or rejection.
To me, this seems like an unavoidable death spiral for someone with very limited social and communication skills combined with severe mental problems like paranoia, schitzophrenia, and lack of self control.
Seems to me he was born with problems. He probably barely made it through high school when he fried his brain with the alcohol poisoning incident in 2006 and screwed everything up beyond all hope. I wonder if that's when his psychiatric problems started to kick in. Why would his parents have paid for college unless they weren't aware of how severe his problems were?
They were probably holding onto a thread of hope that he could learn to be self-sufficent and maybe his problems would diminish in the future, and now this. I wonder if there's anything left for his parents to even communicate with as they should be able to.
I feel sad for this guy, but he can't be trusted in society ever. They may be able to lock him up until he dies, but I don't see him getting the death penalty. He'll probably spend the rest of his life being tortured by his own paranoia.
#1
Read this if you don't care about your blood pressure. I heard it yesterday and was very pissed off.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
01/13/2011 8:09 Comments ||
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#2
Though it wouldn't help with his mental illness, you kind of wonder if meeting a friendly prostitute would have made him less violent.
As weird as it sounds, there does seem to be some sociological truth in this. There is a biological theory that in human reproduction, males are problematic, as a larger pool of them helps provide better offspring, but means that the reproductive losers are a nuisance, interfering with breeding couples.
The way around this might explain the existence of prostitutes. A single prostitute can "defuse" a lot of reproductive losers and no longer reproducing males, thus taking pressure off of breeding couples.
The result is less violence by such males.
An extrapolation of this theory even helps to explain morality, and the lack thereof. Reproducing couples should be monogamous and moral, but non-reproducing people should not. This gives the best result to both groups.
#3
I read the article by Daisy Hernandez and just thought it was another word merchant fanning the flames of victimization politics--kind of like a Latino Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton.
#5
And the horror! more Mothers would be deported! And "brown" people would be even more mistreated!
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
01/13/2011 15:35 Comments ||
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#6
Can you believe we are paying for prattle like this? Her first relief that it wasn't a Latino? My first relief was when I heard they had CAPTURED a LONE gunman.
So Ms. Daisy thinks that because of a sur-name we know automatically the place of origin of an individual? Sounds like profiling and racism to me. Now I don't have my color wheel of progressive skin tones handy but who do you include in this sweeping statement of who is brown? Oh, Latino, then why not just say that - and what does she have against the Ramirez, Gonzalez, Garcias of the world? Glad it wasn't a drug runner hit, sure, but are there not people of many origins living in the area. Oh, a Gringo name, gotchya.
Professional writer huh, I'll give the benefit the slurs were meant to be ironic, the point of the article comes back to a opportunistic event to press her me me me opinion; other than being a color common-tater.
I was glad everything was brought under control rather quickly and casualties evac asap, then reflect on the losses. Personally, I was afraid after hearing the first name that everyone who ate sandwiches that day was going to flip out.
#9
*To be clear, that is not the traditional definition of ironic, or even the Morisette song definition, but the widely accepted current form meaning hip sarcasm.
Article at the WSJ that provides more details on his community college days. Raises a lot of questions. Recommended if you want more.
Posted by: Steve White ||
01/13/2011 00:00 ||
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So he began showing symptoms last Feb., at age 21. IIUC, isn't this consistent with a pretty typical onset and development of schizophrenia? Throughout, his parents were involved and aware. Law enforcement didn't have grounds to refer him to mental health - but why didn't his parents do so? He lived with them, and they had many months to observe the changes. Did they hope the problem would just go away? Or didn't realize how serious it was? I feel bad for them, but there were red flags all over the place.
They've dealt with him and the family since 2004. But there's nothing about recent stories that Mr. Loughner repeatedly made threatening phone calls. Perhaps those are kept in another file.
[Dawn] The appointment of Sardar Latif Khosa as the new governor of Punjab was challenged in the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday, DawnNews reported.
The petition, filed by a local lawyer against the appointment, stated that Khosa's selection despite the corruption allegations against him, was a violation of the Constitution's Article 62 and Article 63.
Khosa had been removed, reportedly over corruption charges, from important offices on the directives of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani -- first as the attorney general in October 2009 and later as adviser to the prime minister in July 2010.
The petition filed further stated that a corruption case against Latif Khosa had not yet been decided.
The Lahore High Court has now summoned the president of the Lahore Bar Association for assistance on January 19.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/13/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
Whoa, the LINEAR HADRON COLLIDER = self-aware like SKYNET + MATRIX???
USNS Safeguard (T-ARS 50), U.S. Navy divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One, Company 1-6 and Commander, Task Force 73 are strengthening established diving and salvage relationships with the Indian Navy as part of Salvage Exchange 2011 (SALVEX 11), the latest in a series of longstanding diving and salvage exchanges between the two countries.
Starting with Safeguard's arrival in Port Blair Jan. 4th, SALVEX 11 gives 17 U.S. and 17 Indian Navy divers the chance to improve interoperability by learning each other's equipment, discussing safety procedures, and conduct various diving operations during six days of in-port training, followed by a three-day underway phase.
"There is a lot of commonality between the U.S. and Indian Navy diving programs," said Lt. Cmdr. Derek Peterson, Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet Diving and Salvage Officer, with Task Force 73. "Some of the equipment and techniques we use are similar, SALVEX 11 helps Indian Navy and U.S. Navy divers build relationships and strengthen communication so we can work together efficiently in times of crises in the future if ever needed."
During the in-port phase, MDSU-1 divers gave the Indian Diver a tour of Safeguard and then latter given a tour of the Indian Navy's saturation diving vessel, INS Nireekshak. Sailors from both Navies conducted a joint Community Service Project, visiting with 70 children at the Sevaniketan Orphanage during their liberty period in Port Blair. While in-port, both groups of divers became familiar with each other's diving equipment, current diving operations, and core capabilities. Both Navies practiced skills used to identify submerged objects including remotely operated vehicle (ROV) operations and side-scan sonar searches.
Also while in port, Master Diver Robert Evans demonstrated "Hot Tap" procedures to divers from both countries on the fantail of Safeguard, followed by practical underwater training while the ship was pierside. The focus was on procedures used to remove fuel and oil from sunken vessels while virtually eliminating any contamination of fuel to the surrounding environment.
For the underway phase, the U.S. and Indian Navy divers, diving from Safeguard, conducted six joint surface-supply dives at depths of up to 150 feet. In a demonstration of INS Nireekshak's dynamic positioning system, the ship approached Safeguard (in a two point moor), and while in close proximity both Navies conducted surface supplied diving operations utilizing KM-37 diving helmets. Two divers from both ships descended to the sea floor, united in hand shake, and took photos commemorating the occasion. U.S. divers were later invited to witness saturation diving techniques on Nireekshak. The next day the Indian divers demonstrated surface-supplied saturation diving operations, diving from Nireekshak, at depths of 210 ft.
"Exercises are a crucial part of building working relationships with other nations for all kinds of peacetime operations and support," Peterson said, also noting that U.S. Navy divers have worked alongside divers from numerous other navies around the world in locating and recovering lost civilian and military aircraft, ships, and even supported following a natural disasters. "By training with other navies under a variety of different conditions before a request for support or tragedy, it enables the U.S. Navy to support with a quick and effective response when needed," Peterson added.
The SALVEX series with the Indian Navy began in 2005 and is held periodically, with each nation taking turns hosting. The last SALVEX, in 2009, was held at MDSU-1 in Hawaii with Indian and U.S. divers operating from the USNS Navajo (T-ATF 169) in the coastal waters of Oahu.
Safeguard is one of four rescue and salvage ships in Military Sealift Command's inventory and is crewed by 26 civil service mariners and four Navy sailors who operate the communications suite. MSC is the ocean transportation provider for the Department of Defense which operates approximately 110 non-combatant, civilian-crewed ships around-the-globe.
Posted by: john frum ||
01/13/2011 00:00 ||
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wonder if E O D methods, like removal and emplacement techniques of limpet and bottom mines in harbors were discussed?
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[Arab News] Massive floods shut down the center of Australia's third-largest city, sent thousands fleeing from their homes and sparked panic buying of food on Wednesday as rescuers searched for 43 people missing in flood waters.
[The Nation (Nairobi)] Tunisia sacked its interior minister and deployed troops in Tunis today as weeks of violent protests reached the capital and two people were reported killed in fresh 
[The Nation (Nairobi)] At least six people were killed today as Ivorian police were attacked with rocket-propelled grenades in an Abidjan district largely loyal to Laurent Gbagbo's rival for the presidency.
Prime Minister Netanyahu received a special invitation to the event, then, and will host a reception at the Israeli embassy in Jeddah to mark the occasion, with Pope Benedict as his guest of honour?[Arab News] Extensive arrangements are being made for a special event to showcase the rich heritage of the Kingdom for members of the diplomatic corps, according to Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA).
[Ennahar] Yemeni 
[El Universal] "The actions of government authorities to take full control over the lives of people and the attempt to set conditions to perpetuate itself in power," as well as the approval by the outgoing National Assembly of an enabling law granting special legislative powers to President Hugo Chavez, were rebutted by the Venezuelan Bishops' Conference (CEV) in the findings of its annual meeting. 
