Thursday, February 21, 2008

How to drive a Range Rover Sport

Nevada earthquake leaves Las Vegas intact

At 6:16 am today a strong earthquake has struck northeast Nevada. According to the U.S. Geological Survey says the earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.3 and at a depth of 6.2 miles below the surface. The epicenter of the Nevada earthquake was about 150 miles from Salt Lake City, Utah.

Elko County Undersheriff Rocky Gonzalez said there are unconfirmed reports of damage to buildings. Las Vegas, the gambling capital of the world, has not reported any damage, however, reports estimate that over 2 million people in Nevada, Utah, Southern California and Idaho felt the earthquake. So far no injuries have been reported as a result of the Nevada earthquake.

Rioters Break Into Belgrade's U.S. Embassy

BELGRADE, Serbia -- Serb rioters set fire to an office inside the U.S. Embassy Thursday and police clashed with protesters outside other embassy buildings after a large demonstration against Kosovo's declaration of independence.

Masked attackers broke into the U.S. compound, which has been closed this week, and tried to throw furniture from an office. They set fire to the office and flames shot up the side of the building. Fire trucks arrived after the rioters had fled and swiftly put out the fire.

Serbia's President Boris Tadic, on an official visit to Romania, appealed for calm and urged the protesters to stop the attacks and move away from the streets. Tadic said that violence was "damaging" Serbia's efforts to defend Kosovo, which declared its independence from Belgrade on Sunday.

More than a dozen nations have recognized Kosovo's declaration of independence, including the United States, Britain, France and Germany. But the declaration by Kosovo's ethnic Albanian leadership has been rejected by Serbia's government and the ethnic Serbians who populate northern Kosovo.

For several days, Kosovo's Serbs have shown their anger by destroying U.N. and NATO property, setting off small bombs and staging noisy rallies.

On Thursday, the neighboring Croatian Embassy also was targeted by the same group of protesters at the U.S. Embassy, and smaller groups attacked police posts outside the Turkish and British embassies in another part of the city but were beaten back.

Elite police paramilitaries drove armored jeeps down the street outside the U.S. Embassy and fired dozens of tear gas canisters to clear crowds. The protesters fled into side streets where they continued clashing with the police.

Groups also broke into a McDonald's restaurant and demolished the interior. A number of other shops were also ransacked and people were seen carrying off running shoes, track suits and other sporting goods from a department store.

Doctors at Belgrade's emergency clinic reported treating more than 30 injured, half of whom were policemen. All were lightly injured, said Dusan Jovanovic, deputy chief of the clinic, adding that most of the injured protesters were "extremely drunk."

In Washington, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the U.S. ambassador to Serbia was at his home and in contact with U.S. officials. Security officials and Marine guards were in a different part of the compound, but nobody was inside the embassy building, he said.

"We want to strongly urge them, and we are in contact with them, to make sure that they devote the assets to deal with this situation," McCormack told reporters, referring to the Serbian government.

Serbia has "a responsibility now to devote the adequate resources to ensure that that facility is protected," he said.

Kosovo, which is 90 percent ethnic Albanian, has not been under Belgrade's control since 1999, when NATO launched airstrikes to halt a Serbian crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists. A U.N. mission has governed Kosovo since, with more than 16,000 NATO troops and KFOR, a multiethnic force, policing the province.

But Serbia _ and Kosovo's Serbs, who make up less than 10 percent of Kosovo's population _ refuse to give up Kosovo, a territory considered the ancient cradle of Serbs' state and religion.

Earlier Thursday, police estimated that about 150,000 people had attended a rally in the Serbian capital. The crowd waved Serbian flags and carried signs reading "Stop USA terror." One group set fire to a red-and-black Albanian flag.

Jesus Rey David Alfaro Tortured and Killed

Popular Mexican singer Jesus Rey David Alfaro was found murdered also with his manager and assistant. Alfaro, known as The Little Rooster, and six others were tortured, murdered and pinned with messages for the Mexican army.

The musicians, who sing “narcocorrido” songs glorifying drug traffickers, were the latest murdered in the drug war between Tijuana’s main drug trafficking group Arellano Felix and traffickers lead by Joaquin “Shorty” Guzman. At least 6 other “narcocorrido” singers have been murdered in the war.

“We believe Alfaro had links to the Arellano Felix cartel,” said an official.

A note reading “You’ll be next” was pinned to Alfaro’s body. He was found in a wasteland on the edge of Tijuana. Rope marks could be seen on his neck. Officials say they believe he Alfaro was tortured before he was shot in the head.

Atlantis - Shuttle landing (Video)

Megan Romano

Megan is about to compete at the inaugural ConocoPhillips Short Course National Championships in Atlanta, GA. This meet is a first for USA Swimming and has displaced the US Open in the quad calendar. (The US Open will now take place in the summer). For the psych sheet, news, and results, keep an eye on the news page for all the latest.

Earth's shadow crosses the moon in lunar eclipse

Canadian skies were mostly clear for Wednesday's lunar eclipse, the full moon bright in the sky as Earth's shadow crawled out from the left of the glowing sphere, ultimately turning it pale orange. Starting at 8:42 p.m. ET (7:43 p.m. CT, 6:43 p.m. MT and 5:43 p.m. PT) and lasting for three hours, the last total lunar eclipse before 2010 was visible anywhere in North America lucky enough to have clear skies, according to NASA. It was also visible in Europe and Africa.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth's shadow blocks the sun's rays from hitting the moon. The three bodies must be perfectly aligned during a full moon, a rare event because the orbits of the moon and Earth are not on the same plane.

What began around 8:30 p.m. as a faint hint of darkness at the bottom left of the moon's visible surface turned to almost complete darkness by about 9:30 p.m. The moon was completely shadowed around 10 p.m., appearing with an orange hue.

The lunar colour show lasted for about 50 minutes before turning dark brown, then returning to its usual glow.

In close proximity to the moon were the evening's other two bright lights, the planet Saturn and Regulus, a bright star. Together, the three bodies created a stunning triangle.

According to NASA's Laura Motel, the exact color of an eclipsed moon depends on the amount of dust and clouds in the atmosphere.

"If there are extra particles in the atmosphere, from say a recent volcanic eruption, the moon will appear a darker shade of red," Motel wrote in a news release.

Science centres across the country, including the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto and University of Calgary's Rothney Astrophysical Observatory, hosted free viewing parties, offering telescopes for eclipse enthusiasts to view the proceedings up close.

Wendy Wilson's new tune: Help me, 'Supernanny'

When Wendy Wilson's neighbor suggested she look into a casting call for ABC's "Supernanny," Wilson said she wasn't the slightest bit insulted.

"I said, 'No offense taken,'" Wilson told the Daily News. "I was definitely overwhelmed and there were a few questions in my mind on how to handle the older kids while dealing with infants. I did want some direction."

Wilson, of the multiplatinum trio Wilson Phillips, and her husband, Dan Knutson, have four children: Leo, 4; Beau, 3, and 6-week-old twins Will and Jesse. With the new babies in the house, the toddlers began to regress and both Wilson and Knutson were exhausted. Also, Wilson had a tour with sister Carnie planned and she worried about leaving her children for an extended period of time.

Though Wilson had seen a few episodes of "Supernanny" before allowing cameras into her home, she said she didn't know what to expect from the Supernanny herself, Jo Frost.

"I did not have any clue as to what her observation of us would be like, and that was part of the intrigue," said Wilson, who will be seen Wednesday night at 9 on ABC. "She definitely steered us into a better direction and gave us some great pointers. It was like a gift given to our family."

In the episode, Wilson admits that her parenting skills could be stricter but because of her liberal upbringing with father, Beach Boy Brian Wilson, she's a bit of a pushover.

"I really wasn't expecting to go into a therapy session," Wilson said of opening up about her father. "That part was a little bit difficult for me."

Since filming, Wilson says that she and Carnie did go on a small tour and that being away from her kids was "like torture" and "a little bit of a vacation," and that she and her husband have really latched on to some of the ideas that Frost brought into their home.

"Structure is a big one, and being prepared," said Wilson. "As well as trusting your instincts at all times, because they're usually dead-on."

Wilson and her family do plan to watch the show when it airs tomorrow, but "we're a little scared," said Wilson. "I think I'll have a blanket over my head."

And as for more children in her future?

"Absolutely not," Wilson said. "Four is plenty. I feel like right now, it's already really hard to give attention to all these children equally. Plus, the fact is I can't have more children because I had my tubes tied. That was it. I'm done."

Baby, Please Don't Go

"Baby, Please Don't Go" is a song by Big Joe Williams originally released in 1935. It has been covered by many blues and rock artists, including AC/DC, Aerosmith, Amboy Dukes, Budgie, Zakk Wylde's Pride & Glory, Paul Butterfield, The Doors, Bob Dylan, Lightnin' Hopkins, Al Kooper, John Mellencamp, Van Morrison, Ted Nugent, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Paul Revere & the Raiders, Taste, Them, Muddy Waters, and Bill Wyman.

This song explains why a man begs his wife (perhaps his girlfriend) to come back, and what the man does for loneliless if his wife/girlfriend leaves him.

Female circumcision Bill in offing

A Bill that seeks to criminalise female genital mutilation was presented in Parliament yesterday. If enacted, a person found guilty of engaging in the practice is liable to imprisonment of between seven to 10 years or a fine of not less than sh1m.

The Bill defines female genital mutilation as violation or attempted violation of the physical integrity of the female organ, either by total or partial ablation, excision, infibulations or desensitisation.

MPs on the parliamentary forum on population, food security and development, together with members of the Uganda Women�s Parliamentarians, supported the draft Bill.
�The practice is the worst form of abuse against women. It is crude and painful and it must stop,� said Margaret Baba Diri (NRM).

The document was drafted by Dora Byamukama, the director of the Law and Advocacy for Women in Uganda.

According to the draft Bill, an offender who is a member of the medical field risks losing their licence if they engage in the act.

The document does not consider beliefs, custom, tradition, ritual or consent as valid defense. The MPs, however, called for a death penalty if the victim dies.

The sh1m fine is nothing, death should be the ultimate penalty,� said Christopher Kibanzanga (FDC).

Grace Oburu (NRM) said the punishments were not prohibitive enough. She called for tougher laws.

Vicki Iseman, John McCain: 2008 Presidential Candidate Scandals

The Vicki Iseman-John McCain Allegations Aren’t the First Scandals Involving 2008 Presidential Candidates

Other Scandals Involving Candidates Include Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards
Complete Listing of DBKP Stories Involving the Candidates and Alleged Improper Behavior

DBKP Library of Political Scandals
DBKP stories involving 2008 Presidential Candidates
* Vicki Isemin-John McCain
* Hillary Clinton-Huma Abedin
* Barack Obama-Larry Sinclair
* John Edwards-Rielle Hunter

Where the Boys Are

Where the Boys Are (1960) is an American motion picture comedy, written by George Wells and based on the novel by Glendon Swarthout, about four Midwestern college co-eds who spend spring break in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The film was originally intended for the teen market, featuring sun, sand and romance.

Where the Boys Are was one of the first teen films to explore adolescent sexuality and changing American sexual mores and attitudes among college youth. Given the censorship of the day, the audience is never sure of exactly what happened to Yvette Mimieux's character in the motel room. But the story is focused on the "coming of age" of the Dolores Hart character. Thus, the film ends with a melancholy rather than a laugh. Released in the wintertime, the film inspired thousands more American college students to head to Fort Lauderdale for their annual spring break.

Veteran cowboy actor Chill Wills plays the veteran Police Chief of Fort Lauderdale. His opening speech sets the tone for the whole movie. George Hamilton plays a reluctant rich kid, and Jim Hutton who plays a wacky college kid with a penchant for hats.

The kind of cool modern jazz (or west coast jazz) popularized by such acts as Dave Brubeck, Gerry Mulligan, and Chico Hamilton, then in the vanguard of the college music market, features in a number of set pieces, as well as pop star Connie Francis, who had her introductory role as an actress in this film. Her popular title song (written by Neil Sedaka) played over the opening credits.

In the years since its release, Where the Boys Are has gradually acquired cult status, and together with the collegiate film High Time is today appreciated as a virtual time capsule of the emerging postwar Baby Boom generation, their relationship with the older generation, and the changing lifestyles of 1960s America.

An unsuccessful remake, Where the Boys Are '84, was made in 1984 by TriStar Pictures. TriStar's parent company, Sony Pictures Entertainment, led a partnership that acquired MGM in 2005; however, the rights to this film (along with the rest of the pre-1986 MGM library) are now owned by Warner Bros. and its subsidiary Turner Entertainment.

A Groovy Kind of Love

“A Groovy Kind of Love” is a pop song written by Toni Wine and Carole Bayer Sager. It is heavily based on the Rondo movement of Sonatina in G major, op. 36 no. 5 by Muzio Clementi.

The song was released first by Diane & Annita in 1965. The same year, The Mindbenders released it as their debut single and reached #2 in the UK charts.

In 1988, Phil Collins covered the song for the movie Buster. The Mindbenders' version reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and on the UK Singles Chart; Collins's version went one better, hitting #1 in both the U.S. and UK charts. The song is also played in the Friends television episode “The One with the Wedding Part 2”.