Things In The News #01

Did anyone feel the 5.0 Earthquake centered near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada? I slept through it.

http://www.theglobea...article1615293/
Geologists answer questions on Wednesday's quake
by Jen MacMillan
Globe and Mail
Published on Wednesday, Jun. 23, 2010 6:39PM EDT
Last updated on Thursday, Jun. 24, 2010 9:19AM EDT

As a magnitude 5.0 earthquake hit eastern Canada Wednesday afternoon, readers flocked to the Globe’s liveblog to talk about their experiences and join in a discussion with Canadian experts. Below is an edited transcript of the Q&A:

Jen MacMillan: I've got Alexander Cruden from University of Toronto, geology professor, on the line to take some of your questions.

First up, I've asked him about the likelihood of aftershocks.

Dr. Cruden: There will be smaller aftershocks but they're normally of lower magnitude than the main event. The probability of a similar sized earthquake is not very high. That's a general rule of thumb.

Comment From Guest: when was last time Toronto [had an] earthquake? sometime 2003-2005?

Dr. Cruden: There are periodic earthquakes around Toronto. There was a 5.5 quake under Lake Ontario about 8 years ago. And there was a 3.3 in Georgian Bay about three years ago. And there are low-level magnitude earthquakes all around the Great Lakes fairly regularly.

I believe the 5.5 quake was felt all around the GTA and Hamilton.

Comment From Guest: How can an earthquake in 1732 be [calculated] on the Richter scale?

Dr. Cruden: Obviously there weren't seismologists in 1732. They rely on written records and people's descriptions of the event. There were Europeans living in the region at the time and records of the damage so they come up with a guesstimate of the magnitude.

Comment From Michael Ranney: Is it simply the depth of the quake that has resulted in such a large shake radius, or is there something else in the nature of this quake that has caused it to be felt such a large distance?

Dr. Cruden: Yes, there is a correlation between the depth and the radius of the area where you would actually feel vibrations. The information I have is between 18 km and 19 km and that's quite deep.

Comment From Guest: As a general rule, at what magnitude does an earthquake begin to cause major structural damage to buildings?

Dr. Cruden: It depends on what the buildings are sitting on. If they're on solid rock, you're probably looking at 6 and above as likely to cause damage. But if they're sitting on unconsolidated sediment with rock underneath, you have this chance of something called ground acceleration. That amplifies the seismic waves travelling at the surface. So you could potentially get damage at magnitude 5 and above if you have that kind of acceleration.

Comment From Guest: Is there a fault line here in Eastern Canada that caused this earthquake?

Dr. Cruden: I'd call it a zone of weakness. It's called the western Quebec seismic zone. It's not a specific fault like the San Andreas fault. It's a zone a few kilometres across. Maybe 50 km across. It goes from Montreal from Temiskaming.

Comment From James: How did the CN Tower hold up in the earth quake?

Dr. Cruden: Structures like that are incredibly overengineered. When it was designed, it was designed to withstand a major earthquake. The whole foundation is actually designed with that in mind, and with a collision with an aircraft in mind... The CN Tower sits on this huge concrete slab underground that covers a massive area, much bigger than the actual footprint you see of the CN Tower. It's made of bendy, reinforced concrete.

But I wouldn't have wanted to be at the top of the CN Tower today.

Comment From Heidi: How long after an earthquake can you still expect to feel aftershocks? An hour? Several hours?

Dr. Cruden: Normally, it's a matter of days.

Comment From Guest: how is the position of Ottawa downtown i.e. is it on top of solid rock or unconsolidated sediment with rock underneath

Dr. Cruden: It's a mixture - a fair amount of the city is on or close to bedrock but particularly in the Ottawa Valley there are some areas that are built on soft sediment. I know there are people at the University of Ottawa that have been specifically studying the risk for ground acceleration in the Ottawa Valley area.

Jennifer MacMillan: Dr. Cruden, thanks so much for your time today. One last question, to sum up what a lof of our commenters have been asking us: Should we be concerned about a stronger earthquake or aftershocks?

Dr. Cruden: One thing to appreciate is that the earthquake occurred in the area that is the area of highest seismic risk in Eastern Canada. Toronto is not close to it... The area in Eastern Canada pales in comparison to the seismic risk areas on the west coast of Canada and the U.S. and in Indonesia.

Jennifer MacMillan: Thanks again to Dr. Cruden for his time today, and to everyone for their questions. .
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Queen Elizabeth II Inspects International Naval floatila gathered to celebrate the Canadian Navy's 100th Anniversary

The Queen sailed past columns of ships from Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, the Netherlands, the United States, Brazil and the United Kingdom to mark the Canadian navy's 100th birthday. Prince Phillip wore the uniform as a Canadian Admiral for the first time - a very nice touch. :D

Queen Elizabeth is spending this week in Canada to attend a number of special Canadian events before her visit to the USA. Her Royal Majesty is a very energetic 84 year old.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100629/wl_ca...itainroyalsnavy

Queen Elizabeth II helps celebrate Canadian navy's 100th
Tue Jun 29, 4:42 pm ET

OTTAWA (AFP) – Queen Elizabeth II marked the 100th anniversary of Canada's navy by taking part Tuesday in an international fleet review at the port of Halifax, on the Atlantic coast.

Dressed in white with a marine blue hat, Canada's titular head of state inspected 28 warships gathered for the celebration from Canada, Britain, the United States, France, Germany, Denmark, Brazil, the Netherlands and elsewhere.

The Canadian vessels still bear the initials HMCS -- Her Majesty's Canadian Ship.

More than 5,000 seamen aboard the frigates, aircraft carriers and other vessels saluted and shouted "Hip hip Hurray" as each of their ships passed by Her Majesty, accompanied on the deck of HMCS St John's by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife.

The Canadian Navy, which started out with two cruisers purchased from England, each assigned to fisheries patrols off Vancouver and Halifax, has grown over the past century into a fleet of 33 destroyers, frigates, submarines, supply ships and coast defense vessels.

During World War II, the Canadian Navy contributed to the Battle of the Atlantic. SIO additions:
Canada entered WW2 with 13 ships, of which only six were destroyers, and 3,500 sailors in the Royal Canadian Navy, nearly half of whom were part-time reservists. Canada rose to the task of protecting Trans-Atlantic convoys crossing the ocean, by building new escort vessels in a hurry. The small 60 metre/200 foot Corvettes fit the bill.

(more at Suite101: Canada in Battle of the Atlantic Ocean http://canadianhistory.suite101.com/articl...#ixzz0rn3qN4xy)

By war's end, the RCN had become the world's third-largest navy with 373 ships and over 110,000 members. The losses at sea included 1,600 Canadians of the Merchant Marine, eight of them women. Over 2,000 members of the Royal Canadian Navy were lost with the sinking of 24 warships. More than 900 army and air force members were also killed in the Battle of the Atlantic, the longest-running battle of World War Two.

(Read more at Suite101: Canada in Battle of the Atlantic: The Longest-Running Battle of WWII Took Place in the Atlantic Ocean http://canadianhistory.suite101.com/articl...#ixzz0rn3ClDcE)

The city of Halifax was established by the British Empire in 1749 after taking control of the region from the French. In its early history, it was the primary North Atlantic base of the Royal Navy.

It is now the home port for the Canadian Navy's Atlantic fleet.

The queen is visiting Canada with her husband Prince Philip.

During her 22nd official tour of the country, the 84-year-old monarch will travel to parliament and address the nation on Canada Day on Thursday.

She will also travel to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where she is expected to attend a horse race, and then wrap up her tour in Toronto, where she is due to visit Research in Motion, the maker of the popular Blackberry handset.
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http://www.canada.co...6836/story.html
Queen inspects massive naval armada as royal tour begins in Halifax
By Richard Foot, Canwest News Service
June 29, 2010

HALIFAX — Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip paid tribute to Canada's navy in grand and historic style on Tuesday, sailing amid an armada of 30 warships assembled for her inspection in Halifax Harbour.

Bedford Basin, the great bay at the head of this East Coast port, looked much the way it did during the Second World War, when vast convoys of merchant and military ships gathered there before making their treacherous, trans-Atlantic voyage to resupply the war effort in Europe.

On Tuesday, however, the ships formed a modern flotilla of aircraft carriers, cruisers and destroyers from Canada, the U.S., Britain and five other nations — a rare gathering of naval might that has come to Halifax this week to celebrate the Canadian navy's 100th anniversary.

For more than an hour the Queen and Prince watched from the deck of the Canadian frigate HMCS St. John's as they sailed past ship after ship — the Queen rising from her seat in recognition of each one — as their crews in turn saluted and cheered from the decks.

The warships were festooned with colourful signal pennants, while onboard the St. John's, a huge flag — the Queen's Canadian colours — flew from the mast.

The International Fleet Review, as it's called, ended on the Halifax waterfront, where about 1,000 well-wishers had gathered on harbour piers to catch a glimpse of the royal couple, on the second day of their summer visit to Canada.

The Queen — wearing a navy blue hat and white silk dress — and the Prince, wearing for the first time a Canadian naval uniform, walked off HMCS St. John's cheered by both its crew and by spectators onshore.

The Queen last reviewed the Canadian fleet in 1959, in both Montreal and Halifax. The navy's current commander, Vice-Admiral Dean McFadden, called her review on Tuesday a moment of "cardinal importance to Canada's navy."

"We are so deeply honoured that you remember us again," he said.

After stepping ashore the Queen unveiled a plaque commemorating HMCS Sackville, the last remaining wartime corvette from the Battle of the Atlantic — and now a floating museum.

With Prince Philip, she also greeted dozens of waiting naval veterans, including 90-year-old Daniel Brownlow, who fought in both the Second World War and Korea.

"She was interested in my medals," said Brownlow, who first saw Elizabeth II decades ago in Edmonton, when she was still a princess.

"It was great to finally meet her in person," he said. "She seems like a lovely lady."

The Queen also shook hands with Judy McMillin, who was invited to Halifax from Toronto for the occasion, because her late father Ron had served as a sonar operator on board HMCS Sackville.

"I first saw the Queen years ago when I was an eight-year-old Brownie," said a beaming McMillin. "I thought she looked terrific today. She's a lovely lady and very gracious."

The Queen's visit wasn't a happy occasion for everyone. There were no walkabouts with the public on Tuesday — contrary to the promises of organizers — which disappointed hundreds who turned out and waited hours behind security barricades, in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the monarch.

After the royal motorcade left the ceremony, throngs of confused and disappointed people wandered through the downtown, with exhausted children at their sides.

Lorraine King and her friends had travelled to Halifax from Prince Edward Island for Tuesday's royal visit.

"We've never seen her, and we thought this was the perfect opportunity," she said. "It was always on my list of things to do in life. So we're very disappointed. All we could see of her was this tiny speck, the size of an ant, coming down the steps of the ship."

The next chance to see the Queen in public will be in Ottawa, where she and Prince Philip travel on Wednesday. They are scheduled to visit the new Canadian Museum of Nature and the National Art Gallery, and will participate in Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill on Thursday.
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http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/uk/...-the-UN-Roundup
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visit Canada and the UN
Jun 28, 2010, 19:32 GMT

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip arrived in Canada Monday at the start of a nine-day tour of North America, which will also include an historic address by the monarch to the United Nation General Assembly in New York.

In Canada, the queen, 84, and Prince Philip, 89, will travel to Halifax, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Toronto, before winding up the tour in New York on July 6.

The queen, who last visited Canada in 2005, will have talks with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, join in the Canada Day celebrations on July 1 as well as marking the centenary of the Canadian navy.

'It is always a high honour to host a royal visit. This visit by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will be a celebration of our shared heritage and values, which are enduring sources of pride for millions of Canadians,' Harper said in advance of the visit.

As the sovereign of the leading Commonwealth nation, the queen has paid regular visits to Canada, the current one being her 24th.

On July 6, the queen will give an historic address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where she will be welcomed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

The queen is expected to make an appeal for world peace during her address to the 192-member general assembly, where she delivered her first speech on October 21, 1957, when she was 31 years old.

The queen and Prince Philip are also due to visit Ground Zero, the memorial of the devastation caused by the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001.
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One more story about the Royal visit to the 100th Anniversary of the Canadian Navy.
The Queen reviews flotilla of international warships
The Queen reviews flotilla of international warships
Updated: Tue Jun. 29 2010 9:30:59 PM
The Canadian Press

HALIFAX — Loud cries of "hip, hip hooray" rose above Halifax's storied harbour Tuesday as the Queen sailed on a Canadian frigate past a flotilla of international ships during a ceremony that harkened back to the days of wartime convoys.

Hundreds of sailors cheered, saluted and swirled their white caps as Queen Elizabeth stood on the deck of HMCS St. John's and waved to crew aboard more than two dozen ships anchored in the harbour for an international fleet review.

The Queen and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, rose each time they passed by the frigates, destroyers and an aircraft carrier and smiled as sailors sang out their cheers.

"This ship has done a great deal of preparation as have they all and it's very nice to have the day come off as an absolute success," Vice-Admiral Dean McFadden, commander of Canada's navy, said aboard St. John's, which carried the Queen and other dignitaries through the harbour.

"It has been quite a while since we've had her, so this really means a great deal to us."

The Queen sailed past columns of ships from Canada, Denmark, Germany, France, the United States, Brazil and the United Kingdom to mark the Canadian navy's 100th birthday.

The rare scene was reminiscent of wartime Halifax, when vessels massed in the harbour before heading overseas in convoys.

Sitting under a white awning on the port side of the frigate, the Queen chatted often with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter, their wives, and Prince Philip during the almost two-hour sailpast.

She sat with a royal blue fleece blanket on her lap as a biting wind swept through the harbour.

A 21-gun salute from HMCS Charlottetown signalled the start of the fleet review, a tradition dating back to the 1700s when British royalty saw fleets off to war.

The Queen briefly toured the ship's bridge with the prime minister as the warship sailed under the city's two bridges and past the British aircraft carrier Ark Royal, the USS Wasp, an imposing American assault ship, and the Canadian submarine HMCS Corner Brook.

Hundreds of people, including construction workers atop buildings, children and navy personnel, lined the waterfront to wave, cheer and sing God Save the Queen as her ship sailed past.

Ann Clarke, 75, of Bristol, England, was one of the many onlookers who came to the waterfront to watch the spectacle.

Clarke, who described herself as a staunch monarchist, said the fleet review was a great event, although hard to see in the gloomy overcast.

"It would be nice if the sun was shining, which we haven't seen much of since we've been here," she said.

Jane Henson said it was important for her to view an event that would add to the city's rich naval history.

"They (the ships) are very impressive -- it is really great to see them," said Henson.

Sea King helicopters and a Cormorant buzzed overhead as the Queen disembarked for the unveiling of two plaques commemorating the navy's centennial and Canada's naval memorial, HMCS Sackville.

Murray Knowles, a retired navy lieutenant-commander from Halifax, presented the duke with a tie from the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust after displaying the plaque for the Sackville, the last of 120 Royal Canadian Navy corvettes that served during the Second World War.

The corvettes played a key role in protecting convoys during the Battle of the Atlantic, one of the longest campaigns of the war.

"I'm deeply honoured to have met the Queen on this occasion," said Knowles, 94, who served six years aboard corvettes and minesweepers during the war.

Andre Rousseau, who served on corvettes and torpedo boats during the war, said he had a quick word with the duke, who asked why he wasn't wearing a medal for the Battle of the Atlantic.

"Well I said I served more in Europe, so I said if you look closely ... I have the little bar," he said during an interview on the jetty. "He's got a sharp eye. I didn't think he was going to notice, but he did."

Rousseau said he was moved by the Queen's presence.

"For us it was out of this world to have her here because she's such a nice person and she represents Canada as well as her own country," he said.

Before the fleet inspection, the Queen -- who wore a blue straw hat wrapped in a band of white ribbon, and a white silk coat with blue bows on the sleeves and pockets -- attended an official luncheon at Canadian Forces Base Halifax. She also wore a white bow-shaped brooch, set in blue sapphires and diamonds, that belonged to the Queen Mother.

Outside, sailors in their dress whites and children with flowers waited for the 84-year-old Queen's arrival.

The fleet review is one of the highlights of the Queen's 22nd visit to Canada, which will take her to Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg and Waterloo, Ont., over nine days.

Canada's aerobatic team, the Snowbirds, was scheduled to be part of a multination flypast that was to include vintage aircraft and Hornet fighter jets. But poor visibility on a misty day in Halifax caused the flypast to be cancelled.

Fleet reviews were originally done as a show of military strength.

Princess Margaret conducted the first fleet review in Canada in July 1958 to mark British Columbia's centenary, and 11 months later the Queen reviewed Canadian and American warships near Montreal at the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Queen Elizabeth reviewed 30 ships and submarines of the Royal Canadian Navy in Halifax harbour later in 1959.

The Defence Department says a fleet review was held on the east and west coasts in 1985 to mark the navy's 75th year.

The Queen and Prince Philip attended a reception Tuesday night that showcased Nova Scotia culture through musical performances.

The Queen walked along a red carpet that stretched the length of the large waterfront hall, stopping periodically to chat with some of the 1,500 invited guests.

Dexter told the crowd that the Queen's visit would be cherished for years to come.

"The importance of the monarchy to Nova Scotia has been apparent in the thousands of delighted faces I have witnessed during this historic tour," the premier said.

Anna Ludlow, a 27-year-old fiddler with the group Drum, said she was extremely nervous as she waited to perform.

"But she has a very unique presence and so when she came, everything fell into place and it was amazing," she said.
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Serial Stabber Arrested at Airport Before he could flee the US.

http://abcnews.go.co...ory?id=11382102
Serial Stabber Suspect Arrested in Airport Trying to Flee to Israel
- Elias Abuelazam Arrested in Connection to 18 Stabbing Attacks; Was Cited During Spree at Least Twice and Released
By LEE FERRAN, COURTNEY CHAPMAN and JOHN WETENHALL
Aug. 12, 2010

An Israeli-Arab arrested for attempted murder as he was waiting to board a flight to Israel is believed to be the serial killer who stabbed 18 men -- murdering five of them -- in recent months, police said today.

Elias Abuelazam, 33, was apprehended Wednesday night at Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport as he waited for his flight to leave the country, officials said. He was tracked to the airport after investigators followed a new lead that originated in Michigan.

"The person that we believe is responsible is off the street," Leesburg, Va., Police Chief Joseph Price said today.


Serial Killer Suspect Caught, Released, Caught, Released, Caught Again

Though he finally was charged, the airport arrest was not the first time police stopped Abuelazam during the stabbing spree. At least twice in recent weeks, police in Michigan and Virginia nabbed him, with police in Virginia even spotting possible murder weapons.

In both cases, the authorities let him go, apparently failing to peg him as a suspect in the stabbings.

In one incident, Abuelazam was charged with providing alcohol to a minor on the evening of July 29 in Genesee County, Mich., according to court records on file in the 67th District Court there.

The citation came the same day as an early morning attack in the area now considered part of the stabbing spree.

Abuelazam was supposed to appear in a Mount Morris, Mich., court room on the charge on Aug. 4, but he failed to show up. The 67th District Court still has Abuelazam's Florida driver's license, which he surrendered at the time of his citation in lieu of posting bond, according to the Genesee County Prosecutor's Office.

In another incident, last week, Abuelazam was picked up in Arlington, Va., for failing to stop at a stop sign, Genesee County prosecutor David Leyton said.

During a background check, police discovered he had an oustanding warrant for misdemeanor assault. While he was booked and placed in a holding cell, police impounded his car. During a search, police found a knife in the driver's side door and a hammer, two weapons victims of the attacks had described.

But at that point, there had been no known attacks in Virginia and Abuelazam was released and the car was returned to him, Leyton said.

"The Arlington police certainly had no idea" about the prior attacks, Leyton said.

Abuelazam finally was caught for good as he was trying to board a Delta flight bound for Tel Aviv, Israel, federal officials said. He was waiting in the gate area to board when the Transportation Security Administration alerted Delta to hold the plane while authorities got in place.

Airport employees then paged Abuelazam over the intercom and, when he came to the desk, he was taken into custody without incident, an Atlanta Police Department report said.

Abuelazam has been charged one count of assault with intent to murder in connection with a July 27 attack in Flint, Mich. Though that charge can carry a life sentence, further charges are expected as the investigation continues, Leyton said.

Police believe Abuelazam may be behind 18 knife attacks beginning in May that spanned Michigan, Virginia and Ohio. Five of the victims died from their wounds -- David Motley, 31, Emmanuel A. Muhammad, 59, Darwin Marshall, 43, and Arnold R. Minor, 49, all of Flint, and Frank Kellybrew, 60, of Flint Township, Mich., according to The Associated Press.

The serial stabber was blamed for as many as 20 attacks at one point, but police determined two of the reported assaults were not likely linked to the serial stabber.


Many of the Serial Stabbings Victimized Black Men

Most of the stabbing victims were black men, but Leyton declined to say the attacks were racially motivated.

"We don't have a motive yet but, as you know, many times the motive doesn't appear until later in the investigation," Leyton said. "Jury instructions don't require us necessarily to have a motive."

Leyton added that a police hotline on the case received more than 500 tips, including the one that sent police looking for Abuelazam.

Abuelazam, who was born in Israel and is of Arab descent, was living in the U.S. legally and has been linked to cities across the country.

Police believe he came to Michigan in May, just days before the attacks began.

"He was a good guy. He was a friendly guy. He was a nice guy," Abuelazam's one-time boss, Abdullah Farah, said today. "He said he was leaving to see some relatives and he never came back."

Investigators believe Abuelazam had an uncle in the Flint, Mich., area as well as a sister in Virginia, Leyton said. He had lived in Leesburg, where he worked at a mental health clinic before traveling to Michigan.

Wendy Brooks told ABC News that she worked with Abuelazam at the Piedmont Behavioral Health Center in Leesburg for several years until 2002 when they both left the facility. She said it was a very stressful job where they frequently had to subdue mentally unstable and violent teenagers, and he was a "gentle giant" whose behavior was marked by patience and restraint.

"He seemed to always treat the kids nicely, followed the rules," Brooks said. "From what I saw, he was never too aggressive. ... I think he was smart. He wasn't quick to react."

At times, she would even seek out Abuelazam "to just kind of talk about a situation. He would sit there and take the time to do it."

Brooks was particularly surprised to find that most of his alleged victims were black.

"It's crazy. I never would've imagined anything like that. I'm a young black female," she said, adding that she gave him a ride home once.

Prior to the attacks, Auelazam had several run-ins with the law including several traffic violations, a check fraud charge and unlawful possession of a weapon. In 2008 he was arrested and held for obstruction of justice. He spent at least one month in jail for a fraud conviction in California.

Abuelazam's ex-wife, who lives in Texas, told The Detroit News she, too, was shocked by the arrest, but hadn't spoken to her ex-husband for a while.

Though the attacks took place from late May through early August, Leyton said law enforcement acted quickly.

"The first two crimes were homicides. The first one was in May and then about a month later was the second one. For those first two, we had absolutely no statement, no suspect, no evidence, no witness. So we had nothing right there," he said. "When we began to see the pattern emerge in late July, that's when everybody said 'This is what we have.'"

Leyton said if Abuelazam waives extradition he could be returned to Michigan as soon as Friday, but could also face charges in other states.


Victims of Serial Stabber Describe Similarities

One of the victims, Richard Booker, 49, recently was released from a Flint hospital where he has been for the last three weeks after being stabbed. He told ABC News that he has 68 staples throughout his back and belly and has slash wounds on his arms because he tried to prevent the man from "cutting off his face."

"I've never hurt so much in my life, never come so close to death," Booker told ABCNews. "I was about dead."

Booker, who is white, dismisses the notion that the attacks are racially motivated.

"I'm obviously not black. The guy's just a stone cold killer," Booker said.

Booker was stabbed five times, including a roughly 12-inch-long vertical slash from below his belly button all the way up his chest. He lost eight pints of blood from his wounds.

Antwoine Marshall, who was attacked two weeks ago, described a similar experience and similar wounds. He told ABC News he was stabbed six times in his stomach and chest.

"It's a very, very violent type of crime," Leyton told "Good Morning America" Wednesday. "Maybe he's enjoying watching them suffer, maybe he's enjoying watching them wriggle around in pain. But we really don't know what he's thinking, and we won't until we bring him in and talk to him."

More than 450 tips flooded in to authorities in Flint, where 16 of the attacks and all of the fatalities have occurred, according to Michigan State Police 1st Lt. Gene Kapp. Leesburg and Toledo police have also received tips.

The link between the attacks, which began in May, was not apparent until recently.

"There's similarities in many things. The weapon used, the suspect, the area," Kapp said Wednesday. "Those similarities cannot be ignored."

Victims have told police the crimes occurred when they were alone, and the suspect approached them asking for directions or help with his car. Then, he stabbed them with an edged weapon, police say.

Booker's story matched this one. He said the man asked him for help opening the hood of his SUV.

The suspect is a white male in his 20s or 30s who stands roughly 5 feet 11 inches tall to 6 feet 2 inches tall, and weighs approximately 180 to 210 pounds. He frequently wears a baseball cap during the attacks, according to police.

Capp said the authorities formed a task force made up of all the law enforcement agencies in Michigan's Genesee County, including the Flint Police Department, the Michigan State Police and the FBI.

Police say the suspect has been seen driving a dark green Chevy Blazer SUV with a model year ranging from 1995-2005 with rust and dents on the hood. Leesburg police released a video on Tuesday that shows a vehicle matching that description driving through a parking lot allegedly stalking one of his victims.

ABC News' Michael S. James, Jason Ryan, Diane Boozer, Steve Osunsami and Lisa Stark contributed to this report.
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Swede Sets the World Record Speeding Fine - roughly one million dollars!

http://www.bbc.co.uk...europe-10960230
Swede faces world-record $1m speeding penalty
12 August 2010 Last updated at 18:49 ET

A Swedish driver who was caught driving at 290km/h (180mph) in Switzerland could be given a world-record speeding fine of 1.08 million Swiss Francs ($1million or £656,000), prosecutors say.

The 37-year-old, who has not been named, was clocked driving his Mercedes sports car at 170km/h over the limit.

Under Swiss law, the level of fine is determined by the wealth of the driver and the speed recorded.

In January, a Swiss driver was fined $290,000 - the current world record.

Local police spokesman Benoit Dumas said of the latest case that "nothing can justify a speed of 290km/h".

"It is not controllable. It must have taken 500m to stop," he said.

The Swede's car - a Mercedes SLS AMG - has been impounded and in principle he could be forced to pay a daily fine of SFr 3,600 for 300 days.
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I just saw on the BBC International Report on Detroit's PBS station that the upcoming Commonwealth Games being held in New Delhi, India are being protected by patrols of trained Langur monkeys (and their handlers) to protect against gangs of wild Macaque monkeys.

Monkeys are sacred in India because of the monkey god Hanuman. Indian people tolerate the presence of wild Macaque monkeys stealing food and their acts of intimidation against people. These wild Macaques are afraid of the much larger Langurs, so they stay away from the areas being patrolled by trained Langur monkeys.

Wouldn't it be easier in the long run to get rid of the Macaque monkeys?


Trained monkeys guard athletes at Commonwealth Games
Trained monkeys guard athletes at Commonwealth Games
Trained langur monkeys are being deployed by organisers of the Commonwealth Games to prevent wild animals infesting sporting venues in Delhi.
By Martin Evans
Published: 11:35AM BST 28 Sep 2010

The highly intelligent primates have been patrolling stadiums and accommodation blocks to scare off other wildlife including wild monkeys, dogs and even snakes.

Handlers from miles around the Indian capital have been drafted in to patrol the athletes' village as the final preparations are made for the games.



Some teams threatened to boycott the competition after complaining that the accommodation was inhabitable and overrun with animals.

One shocked South African competitor even discovered a deadly cobra snake in his room.

Heavy monsoon rains have caused flooding near the Games Village causing many snakes to seek refuge.

Commonwealth Games organisers have also been particularly concerned by the arrival of packs of wild monkeys which have been creating a nuisance around the venues by stealing food and attacking humans.

Langur monkeys are noted for their intelligence but also their aggression and are highly effective in deterring other animals from taking up residence.

The Commonwealth Games are due to get under way at the weekend and will be officially opened by the Prince of Wales.
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[url="http://www.nowpublic.com/sports/langurs-hired-monkey-security-2010-commonwealth-games-2684894.html"]http://www.nowpublic.com/sports/langurs-hired-monkey-security-2010-commonwealth-games-2684894.htmlhttp://www.nowpublic...es-2684894.html[/url]
Commonwealth Games 2010: Monkey vs Monkey
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Among the threats facing the 2010 Commonwealth Games: marauding gangs of monkeys. In India, monkeys run amuck, causing damage to property and sometimes attacking people. The Commonwealth Games' organizing committee cannot risk visiting athletes getting attacked by rogue monkeys, so they're trying an innovative solution: hire bigger monkeys to act as simian bouncers.

Macaques: Can the Langurs Stop Them?

Enter the langur.

Langurs are larger monkeys, and officials are hoping that they will be suitably aggressive if approached by the smaller Rhesus macaques, which are both loathed by those who maintain infrastructure and protected by devout Hindus. It's no joke: Delhi Deputy Mayor S.S. Bajwa fell to his death from a rooftop after he was attacked by macaques.

28 langurs are on staff, as it were, and 10 more have been brought in from a neighboring province.

"They are there for the monkey problem. They will be moving outside the stadiums," Devender Prasad, an inspector from the enforcement department of the NDMC, told AFP.
Wildlife has so far posed major headaches for the under-fire organisers, with stray dogs found in venues and a snake captured at the tennis complex.
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Here's a bit of odd Entertainment news! Dennis Quaid's older brother Randy is seeking refugee status in Canada due to persecution in the US. :blink:

http://news.aol.ca/c...3_lnk1%7C179599
Randy Quaid Seeks Refugee Status in Canada

U.S. actor Randy Quaid and his wife Evi are seeking refugee status in Canada, telling an Immigration and Refugee Board hearing in Vancouver that they fear for their lives in the U.S.

The Quaids told the hearing Friday that eight of their close friends had been killed in recent years and they now felt endangered themselves.

Evi Quaid said friends such as actors David Carradine and Heath Ledger were "murdered" under mysterious circumstances and she's worried something will happen to her husband.

"We feel our lives are in danger," she said.

"Randy has known eight close friends murdered in odd, strange manners ... We feel that we're next."

Ledger was nominated for an Oscar for his lead role in the movie Brokeback Mountain. He died in January 2008 from an accidental overdose.

Carradine was star of the hit 1970s television series Kung Fu and also had a movie career before he hanged himself in Thailand last year. He was 72.

The Quaids were released late Friday after posting bonds of $10,000 each.

The couple were arrested Thursday after Vancouver police were called for assistance concerning an incident near West 41st Avenue and Yew Street.

"While checking the identity of a man and a woman at that location, they learned that the two were wanted on outstanding warrants from the United States," said police in a statement issued on Friday morning.

"The pair were held for CBSA in the Vancouver jail, and they were turned over to [the] Canada Border Services Agency this morning at 10:30. As there are no Canadian charges or offences committed, the names of the two individuals cannot be released."

Wanted on $500,000 warrants

The Quaids are facing felony burglary charges and misdemeanour counts in the U.S. for allegedly moving back into and vandalizing a home they once owned in Santa Barbara, Calif. Both are wanted on $500,000 bench warrants issued by judge Donna Geck in Santa Barbara.

Randy Quaid won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for an Emmy for his portrayal of U.S. President Lyndon Johnson in LBJ: The Early Years, but he's perhaps best known for his roles in the National Lampoon's Vacation movies as well as Brokeback Mountain and Independence Day.

He is the older brother of actor Dennis Quaid.

With files from The Canadian Press
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http://www.popeater.com/2010/10/22/randy-quaid-arrested-canada/
Randy Quaid and Wife Evi: Third Arrest in Six Months
By PopEater Staff
Posted Oct 22nd 2010 05:12PM

Fugitive actor Randy Quaid and wife Evi were arrested in Canada following Santa Barbara-issued arrest warrants after both were no-shows at a court hearing Monday. Randy, 60, and Evi, 47, were located and arrested in Vancouver, British Columbia on Wednesday afternoon, CTA.ca reports.

The dodged court hearing came as aftermath to the Quaids' September arrest for allegedly squatting in their onetime home, where they apparently weren't living quietly -- a contractor reportedly showed police "more than $5,000 in damages" he believed the Quaids caused to the guest house. The two were previously arrested in April for failing to pay a $10,000 hotel bill.

The Quaids are set to appear at a Canadian Immigration and Refugee Board hearing. They were held in a Vancouver jail until being released to border agents at 10:30AM Friday.

Randy, older brother to actor Dennis Quaid, is a 1973 Oscar-nominee mired in a slew of legal troubles in recent years:

• The 'Independence Day' star sued Focus Features in 2006, claiming producers lured him to join the cast of 'Brokeback Mountain' for little pay, before the film went on to gross more than $80 million at the domestic box office.

• Quaid was expelled from the stage performers' union, Actors Equity Association, after he allegedly missed rehearsals for a play in 2007; the Seattle cast reported inappropriate behavior, and some close to the couple believe lawsuits stemming from the incident triggered the duo's criminal exploits.

• In 2009, the Quaids were accused of running out on a $10,000 California hotel bill and, after repeatedly skipping court dates, were finally tracked down in Texas and extradited.
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Britain's Prince William announces engagement to Kate Middleton

MSN | Outlook, Office, Skype, Bing, Breaking News, and Latest Videos
Royal wedding! Prince William, Kate Middleton announce engagement
Pair to marry in the spring or summer of 2011, official statement says
11/16/2010 11:56:38 AM +00:00

LONDON — Britain's Prince William is to marry his long-time girlfriend Kate Middleton in London in 2011, the royal family said on Tuesday.

The pair will wed in the spring or summer, according to a statement from the prince's official residence Clarence House. Recent speculation about the site of the event has focused on Westminster Abbey, where the funeral for prince's mother, Princess Diana, was held in 1997.

"Further details about the wedding day will be announced in due course," the statement said.

The prince, second in line to the throne, proposed during an October vacation to Kenya, it added.

"Prince William has informed The Queen and other close members of his family," the statement said. "Prince William has also sought the permission of Miss Middleton's father."

Visions of a royal wedding
After they're married, the couple will live in north Wales, where Prince William is currently serving with the Royal Air Force.

The couple are both 28 and met more than eight years ago as students at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

Visions of a royal wedding have been stoked by the visit several weeks ago of Kate's parents — Michael and Carole Middleton — to Balmoral, Queen Elizabeth II's 50,000-acre estate in Scotland, for a weekend of shooting hosted by Prince William with the queen's approval. It marked the first time the Middletons had been invited to such an intimate royal gathering.

The event sent Britain's tabloids into a tizzy and prompted bookmakers to lower the odds at Britain's legal betting shops, reflecting the conventional wisdom that Middleton would soon be a princess, and in line to become queen. The bookies even predict a wedding for the two 28-year-olds this summer.

Britain's royal watchers said the hunting invitation was a way of welcoming the middle class Middletons into the very highest realm of British society. Middleton is not from the aristocracy: Her parents worked for British Airways before founding Party Pieces, a successful party-supply business.

But her background is acceptable, and perhaps even an advantage, as the British monarchy prepares to modernize and streamline in an age of austerity.
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Would-be Terrorists Arrested In Denmark
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/12/29/denmark-terror-arrests.html?ref=rss#ixzz19LGFFn2O

Danish, Swedish police arrest terror suspects
Last Updated: Wednesday, December 29, 2010 | 12:58 PM ET
The Associated Press

Five people have been arrested — four in Denmark, one in Sweden — for allegedly planning terror attacks against a newspaper that printed the controversial Prophet Muhammad cartoons.

The Danish Security and Intelligence Service, known as PET, said three of the four men arrested in Denmark were residents of Sweden and had entered the country during the night of Tuesday to Wednesday. The fifth suspect was a 37-year-old Swedish citizen of Tunisian origin living in Stockholm.

Jakob Scharf, the head of PET, said the arrests in Denmark were made after close co-operation with Swedish police.

"An imminent terror attack has been foiled," Scharf said, describing some of the suspects as "militant Islamists." He said that more arrests could not be ruled out.

Scharf said they considered the attack had been thwarted and that "there was no need to raise the terror threat alert level" in Denmark.

PET said the group had been planning to enter the building where the Jyllands-Posten daily has its Copenhagen news desk and had wanted "to kill as many of the people present as possible."

The other three suspects living in Sweden were a 44-year-old Tunisian citizen, a 29-year-old Lebanese-born man and a 30-year-old whose origin was not immediately known. The final suspect was a 26-year-old Iraqi asylum-seeker living in Copenhagen, PET said.

The four men face preliminary charges of attempting to carry out an act of terrorism. They will face a custody hearing Thursday.

The men were arrested in Greve, south of Copenhagen, and Herlev, west of the Danish capital. During the raids, police found an automatic weapon, a silencer and live ammunition, PET said.

Danish Justice Minister Lars Barfoed described the planned attack as "terrifying."

"The group's plans to kill as many as possible is very frightening and is probably the most serious terror attempt in Denmark," Barfoed said.

The head of Sweden's security police, Anders Danielsson, said that "it has been possible to avert a serious terror crime in Denmark through efficient and close co-operation between PET and the [Swedish] security police."

Danielsson said the suspects who are residents in Sweden are also being investigated for suspected terror crimes in that country.

Zubair Butt Hussain, a spokesman for the Muslim Council of Denmark, called the plan "extremely worrying."

The organization "absolutely condemns any act of terrorism regardless of the motives and motivations that may lie behind," Hussain said.

There have been at least three attacks against the Danish newspaper or Kurt Westergaard, the artist who drew the most contentious of 12 cartoons published by the daily in 2005 as a challenge to perceived self-censorship.

"The foiled plot is a direct attack on democracy and freedom of press," Westergaard told the German tabloid Bild. "We may not and won't let anyone forbid us to criticize radical Islamism. We may not be intimidated when it comes to our values."

The drawings plunged Denmark into turmoil in early 2006 with massive and violent protests in Muslim countries where demonstrators said the drawings had profoundly insulted Islam.
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There are reports on TV and the internet about the death of 44-year-old Alireza Pahlavi, the youngest son of the deposed Shaw of Iran at his home in Boston.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap...-6EXNQ?docId=4c2d647ecbf44a71b26ccc692c59ad2c
Iran exiles mourn lost era in death of shah's son
(AP) – 1 hour ago

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Messages of mourning and anger poured out from Iranian emigres Wednesday as word spread of the apparent suicide of the youngest son of the country's late monarch.

The reported death of 44-year-old Alireza Pahlavi at his home in Boston resonated through Iranian communities around the world as more than just of moment of grief, symbolizing for many another lost link to the era before the 1979 Islamic Revolution toppled the Western-backed shah.

In Iran, the official Islamic Republic News Agency carried a brief story that was the most-viewed early Wednesday. The website of state-run Press TV carried a factual account of the death under the headline: "Son of ex-dictator of Iran kills himself."

Websites and social media outlets — which have become the lifeline for Iran's opposition movements — also became the main forums for the reaction to the death of Pahlavi, who had reportedly struggled with depression since his sister died in a drug overdose nearly a decade ago.

For years, he had immersed himself in academia and let his older brother, Reza Pahlavi, take the main political role as a figurehead for Iranian exiles. There was no apparent political link to the death.

On the official website of Reza Pahlavi — who announced the death of his brother — some of the postings were a study in the frustrations of Iranian emigres. The messages offered condolences, but many veered into rage that the Islamic theocracy ruling Iran remains strongly in control and how the emigres' dreams of returning to Iran are still distant.

"Where is God's justice? Hell is too nice of a place for those who took our country and caused this much suffering," said one post.

The shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, died of cancer in Egypt a year after he left Iran shortly before the defeat of his remaining forces in 1979. The new Islamic state quickly became an arch-foe of the United States after militants — angered over American aid to the shah — stormed the U.S. Embassy and held 52 hostages for 444 days.

The shah's family, meanwhile, sought haven in exile and many members eventually settled in the United States, where they carry no real political weight in the Iranian opposition.

The monarch's youngest son, Alireza, was born in Tehran, then attended schools in New York, Cairo and western Massachusetts before going on to study music at an undergraduate at Princeton University, ancient Iranian studies as a graduate student at Columbia University and postgraduate work at Harvard University.

But he apparently struggled with depression following the death of his sister Leila in 2001, who was found in a London hotel room at age 31 after overdosing on barbiturates.

"Once again, we are joined with mothers, father and relatives of so many victims of these dark times for our country," his brother wrote on his website, announcing the death.

Pahlavi's depression "grew over time — his departure from Iran, living in exile, the death of his father and then his sister to whom he was very close," said Nazie Eftekhari, who works in Reza Pahlavi's office in Washington and is a close family friend.

"The deaths were a huge blow to him," she said.

In Boston, police said they found a man dead from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound shortly after 2 a.m. Tuesday at a home in the city's South End neighborhood.

Police would not confirm the man's identity, but a law enforcement official who was not authorized to release the man's identity and asked for anonymity confirmed that the man was Alireza Pahlavi.

A police officer was seen late Tuesday afternoon going in and out of Pahlavi's Boston apartment and speaking with family representatives, who would not talk to reporters.

A neighbor, Dan Phillips, 42, said he did not know Pahlavi personally but recognized his picture and described him as someone who was very social and "who always dressed very dapper."

"I would always see him walking around here and he used to wear blue jeans and a blazer," Phillips said.

Trita Parsi, the president of the National Iranian American Council, said in a statement that "the Iranian-American community was deeply saddened by the news of this tragedy.

"There are many divisions in the community, but on a day like this, I think we are all united in our sympathy with the Pahlavi family for their tragic and painful loss," Parsi said.

Reza Pahlavi, who is based in the U.S., has spoken out in opposition to Iran's clerical regime. But he carries almost no influence among Iran's current opposition leaders, such as Mir Hussein Mousavi, who have challenged the ruling system after the disputed re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June 2009.

The protests and clashes after the vote marked the worst internal unrest in Iran since the Islamic Revolution.

Pahlavi will head to Boston on Wednesday, Eftekhari said, and she expected his mother, the former empress Farah Pahlavi, who's in Paris, to go as well.

Eftekhari said no funeral arrangements have yet been made.

Associated Press writers Denise Lavoie, Bob Salsberg and Russell Contreras in Boston; Scheherezade Faramarzi in Beirut, and Matthew Barakat in McLean, Va., contributed to this report.
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Screen Actors Guild Honours 94 year old Ernest Borgnine with Lifetime Achievement Award! :cool:

The Oscar winning Best Actor for the film "Marty" in 1955 still works as Mermaid Man in the Nickelodeon cartoon "SpongeBob SquarePants" and he made a cameo in last year's action film "Red." :D

http://www.cbsnews.c...9-10391698.html
Ernest Borgnine Gets Lifetime Achievement Award at SAGs
January 31, 2011 12:14 AM
Posted by Joyce Lee

LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) Veteran actor Ernest Borgnine took home the SAG Awards' most prestigious accolade during Sunday night's star-studded event.

The 94-year-old actor of screen favorites like "Marty," "McHale's Navy" and "The Poseidon Adventure" received a standing ovation when he was presented with the Life Achievement award.

"There are millions of those in the world who would love to be in our shoes. We are a privileged few who have been chosen to work in this field of entertainment," Borgnine, whose career spans over 70 years in TV and film, said when accepting his award.

"I hope that we will never let our dedication to our craft fail and that we will always give the best we possibly can to our profession so people can enjoy us in later years," he added.

Borgnine, a World War II veteran, is still acting. He provides the voice of Mermaid Man in the Nickelodeon cartoon "SpongeBob SquarePants" and he made a cameo in last year's action film "Red."

"Comedy is just part of this man's wonderful career," said his "McHale's Navy" co-star, Tim Conway, who introduced him Sunday.

Morgan Freeman, who appeared with him in "Red," presented a misty-eyed Borgnine the award, pronouncing the old adage: "Life is what you make of it."
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The Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Pre-Wedding

Queen Elizabeth has bestowed new Royal titles to William and Catherine (Kate) for their wedding.
William becomes HRH Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus.
Catherine becomes HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Strathearn and Baroness Carrickfergus.

The gathering at the church was in cloudy weather, but when the bride arrived, the sun came out. The wedding party arrived in luxury cars such as Rolls Royce, Bentley, and Jaguar, but will depart in carriages.

Prince William and his Best man, Prince Harry are the first of the wedding party to arrive at the church.

Prince William is dressed in the uniform of Colonel of the Irish Guard, featuring a scarlet jacket, a bright blue sash of The Order of the Garter, gold sword slings (without an actual sword inside) and a forage cap (reminiscent of the red serge military outfit of the Napoleonic era). He also wore the Wings of the Royal Air Force, the Garter Star and the Golden Jubilee Medal.

Best man Harry is dressed in the uniform of Captain of the Household Cavalry featured aiguillettes, a cross-belt and gold waist belt with sword slings, but no sword, and a forage cap. He also wore the Wings of the Army Air Corps and Golden Jubilee and Afghanistan campaign medals. The uniform is reminiscent of the black military outfits of the Napoleonic era.
http://www.people.com/people/package/artic...ss-topheadlines

I saw Sir Elton John & his partner David Furnish, David Beckham & wife Victoria, and current British Prime Minister John Key arrive. Victoria features nor expressions doesn't look good. Beckham is wearing a medal with his tuxedo. He seems to be carrying a top hat.

Kate's mother Carole Middleton meanwhile wore a knee-length sky blue wool crepe coat dress by the late Catherine Walker, the favourite designer of William's late mother, Diana.

Read more:
http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Photos+Ro...5626/story.html
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Queen+win...l#ixzz1IflMSxYA

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall look like they are very happy.
Camilla is very close to both William and Kate, and has been involved in helping them to plan the wedding," Royal expert Angela Rippon says. "…Kate has become very fond of her, especially as she has been able to talk at some length about the sort of life she is going to be leading now that [Kate] is joining 'The Firm.'"

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall wore a champagne silk dress, topped with a hand-embroidered duck-egg blue and champagne coat by Anne Valentine. Her broad white hat is by milliner Philip Treacy.
His Royal Highness Charles, The Prince of Wales is wearing the Royal Navy Number One Dress Ceremonial Dress blues and a Royal Naval Sword on his left side. The Prince of Wales has held the rank of Admiral of the Royal Navy since 2006. His uniform included the blue sash of The Order of The Garter, a Garter Star, the Order of the Garter Thistle star, the Neck Order and the Order of Merit medals.

Read more: http://ca.eonline.com/uberblog/b238590_pri...l#ixzz1IfgDt1ii


Queen Elizabeth arrives second to last, accompanied by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The 85-year-old monarch arrived at Westminster Abbey to cheers dressed in a single crepe wool primrose dress with hand-sown beading at the neck in the shape of sunrays, and a double crepe wool tailored primrose coat designed by Angela Kelly. She matched the outfit with a crepe hat with hand-made silk roses and apricot coloured leaves, and wore Queen Mary's True Lover's Knot diamond brooch pinned to her coat. Prince Philip is dressed in the uniform of Colonel-of-the-Regiment of the Grenadier Guards, a scarlet tunic and dark blue trousers with a red stripe and sword worn on the left. Accessorising the uniform is the blue sash of The Order of The Garter, a Garter Star and others.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Queen+win...l#ixzz1IfkviuY4

Catherine and her father are the last to arrive. She looks great, dressed more modern and less extravagant in style than Princess Diana.

The Wedding

The service is about to start. Kate has arrived and is being escorted up the aisle by her father. The bride is dressed in a white lace wedding gown by was designed by Alexander McQueen's designer Sarah Burton. The bride's train is about 8 feet long. It isn't as long as Princess Diana's was.
http://www.people.com/people/package/artic...0485848,00.html


http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/royal-..._blog.html#kate

http://cmsimg.freep.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bil...xW=640&Border=0
 
President Obama announces the killing of terrorist leader Osama bin Laden right now.

At 23:40 pm EDT, President Obama addressed the nation affirming earlier confirmation by US officials that Osama bin Laden had been killed in a covert operation in Abbottabad, Pakistan, 150km north of Islamabad. Obama indicated this was done by a small team that acted on his orders on that date.

After careful monitoring of a compound suspected to be bin Laden's residence in Pakistan, the President was informed today that bin Laden had been found. The President ordered U.S. military forces sent across the border of Afghanistan to launch an attack.

Pakistani officials confirmed that bin Laden was killed in Pakistan by the U.S. military, possibly by a headshot while leaving from a mansion. The body was recovered by the U.S. military and is currently in its custody.

Spontaneous crowds are gathering in the streets of America celebrating the death. The world stock markets are reacting favourably to the news.


http://www.washingto...ZyVF_story.html
Osama bin Laden killed by U.S. forces in Pakistan

By Philip Rucker, Karen DeYoung and Ernesto Londono,
Published: May 1

Osama bin Laden, the longtime al-Qaeda leader and chief architect of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, was killed Sunday by U.S. forces, President Obama announced late Sunday night.

Acting on an intelligence lead that first surfaced last August, Obama said he authorized an operation to kill bin Laden, 53, who was hiding in a compound deep inside Pakistan. The president, in a rare Sunday night address to the nation, said U.S. forces killed bin Laden during a firefight and captured his body.

Bin Laden's killing comes nearly a decade after al-Qaeda orchestrated attacks on New York and the Pentagon that killed nearly 3,000 Americans. Obama said Sunday's development would "bring justice" to bin Laden.

"His demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity," he said.

The president said that no Americans were harmed in the attack and that U.S. forces "took care to avoid civilian casualties."

"Today's achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people," Obama said. "The cause of securing our country is not complete, but tonight we are once again reminded that America can do whatever it is we set our mind to. That is the story of our history."

Obama said the operation took place in Abbottabad, a city of about 100,000 in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, about 100 miles north of Islamabad. Named for a British military officer who founded it as a military cantonment and summer retreat, it is the headquarters of a brigade of the Pakistan Army's 2nd Division.

Bin Laden had long eluded U.S. forces throughout George W. Bush's presidency, and the former president said Sunday that he congratulated Obama and the military and intelligence personnel who "devoted their lives to this mission."

"They have our everlasting gratitude," Bush said in a statement. "This momentous achievement marks a victory for America, for people who seek peace around the world, and for all those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001. The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done."

Obama said he had instructed Leon Panetta, the CIA chief who last week was nominated to succeed Robert M. Gates as defense secretary, to make the capture and killing of bin Laden the top priority of the U.S. mission in Afghanistan.

Obama said that he was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden's whereabouts in August 2010, but that it took U.S. intelligence officials "many months" to run down the lead. Last week, Obama said he determined that there was enough intelligence to take action and authorized the operation to go after bin Laden.

Obama's announcement on Sunday seemed to electrify Washington and indeed the country. Senior congressional leaders issued statements commending the military for the capture.

"Today, the American people have seen justice," House Homeland Security Chairman Peter King (R-N.Y.), whose Long Island district lost many in the 2001 attacks, said in a statement. "In 2001, President Bush said, 'We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail.' President Bush deserves great credit for putting action behind those words. President Obama deserves equal credit for his resolve in this long war against al-Qaeda."

Minutes after the news broke, hundreds of people rushed to the White House to celebrate. Many were George Washington University students who were cramming for finals when someone alerted an entire dormitory building after seeing a bulletin on television.

"I feel like relief," said freshman Molly Nostrand, 19, who was a fourth-grader in 2001. "After 10 years, it's a sense of closure in a way."

Those who arrived early to the impromptu street celebration sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" in roars and chanted "USA!" Many brought American flags and some put together signs.

"Ding, Dong, Bin Laden is Dead," one read.

A group of waved a "Bush-Cheney 2000" election poster.

"I think it's an accomplishment for the U S of A," Richard Indoe, 73, a farmer from Ohio said, shortly after filming a few seconds of the revelry using a flip cellphone. "Too bad this didn't happen during George W. Bush's time."

As the crowds broke out into songs such as "God Bless America," some in the crowd took stock of the toll that terrorism has taken on the West over the past decade.

"It's very emotional for us," said British tourist Sara Powell-Davies, 39. "A friend's sister was killed in the train attacks," in London in July 2005.
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http://www.theglobea...article2006299/
U.S. operation killed Osama bin Laden, Obama says
Tu Thanh Ha and Anna Mehler Paperny
Globe and Mail Update
Published Sunday, May. 01, 2011 10:47PM EDT
Last updated Sunday, May. 01, 2011 11:45PM EDT

Osama bin Laden is dead and his body has been recovered by U.S. authorities, U.S. President Barack Obama said Sunday night.

Mr. Obama made the dramatic announcement shortly in a hastily called, late-night appearance at the White House.

He said a small U.S. operation he authorized last week killed Mr. bin Laden after a firefight. He said that he was briefed last August about a lead to Mr. bin Laden's whereabouts.

"He was a mass murder of Muslims," Mr. Obama said, insisting that the United States is not at war against Islam.

Various news organizations had reported earlier that sources in the White House and in Pakistan had confirmed bin Laden's death almost a decade after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon.

A crowd of hundreds gathered outside the White House to celebrate, chanting, "USA, USA."

Officials have long believed Mr. bin Laden, the most wanted man in the world, was hiding a mountainous region along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Mr. bin Laden was killed at a compound inside Pakistan.

The Saudi-born al-Qaeda leader became both the face of global terrorism and a symbol of the futile efforts to seek it out and fight it.

While his death is a victory for the anti-terror crusade by the U.S. and its allies, it's unlikely his demise will end the now-fractured network of terror cells that reaches across the world.

Counter-terror experts have noted al-Qaeda has grown into a more fragmented movement, its violent ideas having been franchised over to local allies who can operate without a central, larger-than-life figurehead leader.

"Al-Qaeda is an organization that evolved into an ideology, with Osama bin Laden's message receiving widespread attention in the Muslim world," said Peter Bergen, one of the rare Western journalists who has met Mr. bin Laden in person.

"Clearly, the ideology will survive Osama bin Laden's death."

Al-Qaeda has farmed out attacks to regional players in East Africa, Asia, the Caucasus and the Middle East, local radical partners it inspired and funded over the years, said Rohan Gunaratna, author of Al Qaeda: Global Network of Terror.

"It will be a messy blow to the main al-Qaeda structure but the threat of terrorism will continue."

At the same time, there are other examples of terrorist groups losing momentum after the capture of their charismatic leader.

After Turkey seized Abdullah Ocalan of the Kurdistan Workers Party, an initial wave of retaliatory attacks eventually petered and his supporters ended their armed campaign. In Peru, the arrest of Abimael Guzman Reymoso of the Shining Path decimated the violent Maoist movement.

Mr. bin Laden reached out to various associated groups, such as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the Philippines, Jemaah Islamiah, elsewhere in southeast Asia, the Salafi Group in Algeria and other insurgents in Indonesia and Yemen. These groups provided not only a striking capacity but also training facilities, filling in for the loss of al-Qaeda's camps in Afghanistan.

"These groups play an equally important role. We are seeing terrorist capability in the regional, local Islamic radical groups," Mr. Gunaratna said.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, al-Qaeda has been severely crippled, losing its sanctuary in Afghanistan. Top operational planners have been captured -- such as Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Abu Zubaydah -- or killed, such as Muhammad Atef. More than 3,000 alleged members or supporters have been arrested, more than of 600 of whom are now languishing in indefinite detention at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The U.S. and its allies have seized massive caches of weapons, handbooks and, more importantly, computers, videotapes and other electronics such as satellite and cellular phones that can be examined to retrace their former owners' activities and whereabouts.

Financial regulators have frozen tens of millions of dollars in assets from individuals and groups alleged to be raising funds for terrorism.

But al-Qaeda's brand of terror hasn't been put out of business. It has been accused of having a hand in everything from deadly 2002 bombings in Bali that left hundreds dead to the recent uprisings in Libya and Yemen to last week's bombing in Marrakesh, which killed 15 people in the usually peaceful country's deadliest attack since 2003.

- with reports from Reuters, Associated Press
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I just read that an organ transplant patient wasn't happy with his life, so he sought out his transplant surgeon, exchanged words, then shot him to death. Then the man took his own life with a gunshot.

Police Search for Clues in Fla. Doctor Murder-Suicide
Police Search for Clues in Fla. Doctor Murder-Suicide
By ROB NELSON and KEVIN DOLAK
June 1, 2011

Orlando police are probing a stunning murder-suicide after a surgeon was shot dead in a Florida hospital parking lot by one of his organ transplant patients.

Dr. Dmitry Nikitin was shot dead outside the Florida Hospital in Orlando Thursday afternoon by 53-year-old Nelson Flecha, who then walked to another level of the parking structure and turned the gun on himself, police said.

Flecha approached Nikitin, 41, as the doctor left the hospital after just finishing his shift. As he walked towards his car he was confronted by his former patient, who received a liver-kidney transplant performed by Nikitin a year ago at the same hospital.

The two men reportedly talked briefly before Flecha pulled a gun and killed the surgeon, firing several rounds. Shortly thereafter he took his own life.

Multiple weapons were reportedly found of the scene, and Lt. Barbara Jones of the Orlando Police Department told Reuters that video from cameras at the garage confirmed the theory that the tragedy was a murder-suicide.

"There is no rational reason to cold-bloodedly kill another human being," Jones said.

Authorities haven't released the video footage.

The Russian-born doctor immigrated to the United States in 1996, seeking a better life for himself and his family. He was a husband and father of four children -- his youngest son just 3 years old.

An organ transplant specialist, Nikitin successfully performed the transplant on Flecha, Nevertheless, neighbors say that Flecha remained an angry and bitter man.

Neighbors of Flecha who spoke with ABC News Orlando affiliate WFTV said that he was active and moving around, with no visible side effects from the surgery, but they also say he was still grumpy and angry.

Flecha, who had no prior criminal history, was also listed as a missing person out of Bronx, N.Y., but he's been living in Florida since 2010, according to WFTV.

Investigators say that they might have to subpoena Flecha's medical records to get a better sense of his motive and why this tragedy took place.
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Assisted suicide advocate Dr. Jack Kevorkian, known as Dr. Death for helping more than 100 people end their lives has passed away early on Friday at age 83, his lawyer said.

Kevorkian died at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, where he had been hospitalized for about two weeks with kidney and heart problems, said Mayer Morganroth, Kevorkian's attorney and friend.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/03/us-kevorkian-idUSTRE7523JP20110603
"Dr. Death," Jack Kevorkian, dies at 83
By Mike Miller

DETROIT | Fri Jun 3, 2011 5:20pm EDT

DETROIT (Reuters) - Assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian, known as "Dr. Death" for helping more than 100 people end their lives, died early on Friday at age 83, his lawyer said.

Kevorkian died at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, where he had been hospitalized for about two weeks with kidney and heart problems, said Mayer Morganroth, Kevorkian's attorney and friend.

The Detroit Free Press reported that Kevorkian, previously diagnosed with liver cancer, died from a blood clot that lodged in his heart.

Kevorkian, a pathologist, was focused on death and dying long before he ignited a polarizing national debate over assisted suicide by crisscrossing Michigan in a rusty Volkswagen van hauling a machine to help sick and suffering people end their lives.

Some viewed him as a hero who allowed the terminally ill to die with dignity, while his harshest critics reviled him as a cold-blooded killer who preyed on those suffering from chronic pain and depression. Most of his clients were middle-aged women.

"Dr. Jack Kevorkian was a rare human being," his longtime attorney Geoffrey Fieger told reporters on Friday. "It's a rare human being who can single-handedly take on an entire society by the scruff of its neck and force it to focus on the suffering of other human beings."

Kevorkian launched his assisted-suicide campaign in 1990, allowing an Alzheimer's patient to kill herself using a machine he devised that allowed her to trigger a lethal drug injection. He was charged with first-degree murder in the case, but the charges were later dismissed.

Fiery and unwavering in his cause, Kevorkian made a point of thumbing his nose at lawmakers, prosecutors and judges as he accelerated his campaign through the 1990s, using various methods including carbon monoxide gas. Often, Kevorkian would drop off bodies at hospitals late at night or leave them in motel rooms where the assisted suicides took place.

He beat Michigan prosecutors four times before his conviction for second-degree murder in 1999 after a CBS News program aired a video of Kevorkian administering lethal drugs to a 52-year-old man suffering from debilitating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease.

STILL IN PUBLIC EYE

Kevorkian was imprisoned for eight years. As a condition of his parole in 2007, he promised not to assist in any more suicides.

He himself had appealed to leave prison early because of poor health, but said he did not consider himself a candidate for assisted suicide.

Kevorkian did not leave the public eye after his exit from prison, giving occasional lectures and in 2008 running for Congress unsuccessfully.

An HBO documentary on his life and a movie, "You Don't Know Jack," starring Al Pacino, brought him back into the limelight last year.

Born in the Detroit suburb of Pontiac, Kevorkian taught himself the flute and was a painter. Well read in philosophy and history, he cited Aristotle, Sir Thomas More and Pliny the Elder in his arguments for why people should have the right to die with dignity.

In a June 2010 interview with Reuters Television, the right-to-die activist said he was afraid of death as much as anyone else and said the world had a hypocritical attitude toward voluntary euthanasia, or assisted suicide.

"If we can aid people into coming into the world, why can't we aid them in exiting the world?" he said.

Doctor-assisted suicide essentially became law in Oregon in 1997 and in Washington state in 2009. The practice of doctors writing prescriptions to help terminally ill patients kill themselves was ultimately upheld as legal by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Kevorkian was first dubbed "Dr. Death" by colleagues during his medical residency in the 1950s when he asked to work the night shift at Detroit Receiving Hospital so he could be on duty when more people died.

His career was interrupted by the Korean War, when he served 15 months as an Army medical officer.

After the U.S. Supreme Court permitted states to reinstate the death penalty in 1976, Kevorkian campaigned for performing medical experiments and harvesting the organs of death row inmates -- with their consent -- before their executions.

(Reporting by Mike Miller in Detroit and James Kelleher in Chicago; Writing by David Bailey; Editing by David Lawder and Greg McCune)
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I got a chuckle out of the sub-headline for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Better Life Index:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43287918/ns/bu...list/?gt1=43001
U.S. doesn't make cut for happiest nations list
Feel good about yourself and your life? There's a chance you might be Danish

By Michael B. Sauter, Charles B. Stockdale, Douglas A. McIntyre
24/7 Wall St.
updated less than 1 minute ago 2011-06-05, Eastern Daylight Savings Time 22:32:59

What makes people happy? The question, which has been debated by philosophers for centuries, now is being tackled by international bureaucrats and the results are interesting, to say the least.

24/7 Wall St. analyzed the new Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Better Life Index to objectively determine the happiest countries in the world. The Index is based on 11 measurements of quality of life including housing, income, jobs, community, education, the environment, health, work-life balance, and life satisfaction. We made "life satisfaction" the cornerstone of our index because it is as good a proxy for "happiness" as the survey provides. We then compared "life satisfaction" scores to the other measurements to find those economic and socio-political realities that had the highest and lowest correlation to happiness.

The happiest people in the developed world get loads of social services without having to work too hard. Having abundant natural resources, a thriving services sector and a fairly homogeneous population helps as well. The OECD study no doubt would have had different results had it included politically unstable countries in the Middle East or large emerging economies where political unrest threatens to bubble over such as China.

24/7 Wall St. also looked at one critical factor that the OECD study overlooked — economic stability. Our measure of this was total national debt as a percent of GDP. The figure helps determine a country's ability to maintain present tax levels and social services. Odds are that countries with high debt-to-GDP ratios are more likely to need austerity policies to reign-in their government spending. Otherwise, their debt costs will soar.

Nations with long-term economic strength can also afford to support employment, education, and make health care widely available. Happiness viewed in this way means that people are more likely to feel better about themselves in Norway, which has almost no debt and great social services, than in Greece, which must slash entitlement spending or risk defaulting on its debt.

Old, stable nations of northern Europe took five of the top 10 spots on our list. These include Finland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Norway, and Denmark. Switzerland is also on the list and has many characteristics in common with the Scandinavian countries. The resource-rich, English-speaking countries of Australia and Canada made the cut as well. Noticeably absent from the list are any OECD nations in Latin America, southern and eastern Europe and Asia. Many of the southern European nations like Greece, Portugal, and Spain are in economic trouble and have high unemployment. The employment and education opportunities are not as good in Mexico as in Canada, nor is the access to high-quality health care. Japan and South Korea each have stable societies, but the people in both countries tend to work long hours and have limited leisure time.

The happiest countries seem to be places where there is a good balance of work and leisure time. Not all nations can afford to keep unemployment low through government subsidies. Not all countries can afford to provide universal medical coverage. Not all countries can afford to educate almost all of their children, which in turn supports extremely high literacy rates and builds a population of skilled workers.

The ten nations on this list are rich in natural resources or highly developed service sectors. These are assets which are in short supply worldwide, and that bolsters the foundations of the economies in these countries. Money alone doesn't buy happiness, but it sure helps.

This is the 24/7 Wall St list of the Ten Countries With The Happiest People, most of which have bought and paid for prosperity because their economies have allowed them to do so.

10. Austria
Life satisfaction score: 8.39
Debt as a percentage of GDP: 65.7 percent (23rd lowest highest)
Employment Rate: 7.87 (9th best)
Self-reported health: 6.57 (19th best)
Employees working long hours: 8.01 (24th best)
Disposable income: 5.34 (3rd best)
Educational attainment: 8.43 (13th best)
Life expectancy: 7.58 (13th best)

Austria has the one of the highest levels of scores for disposable income (the amount of money the household earns after taxes) in the OECD. Roughly 72 percent of Austrians between the ages of 15 and 64 are working, compared to the OECD average of 65 percent. Only 1.13 percent of working-age Austrians have been unemployed for more than a year, compared to an average of 2.7 percent across the 34 OECD nations, which contributes to the country's long-term employment. According to the OECD's latest economic outlook report, Austrian businesses have largely avoided having to implement layoffs to offset the effect of the recession, employing practices like "labor hoarding" which reduces working hours and requires workers to work part-time and share job shifts.

9. Israel
Life satisfaction score: 8.71
Debt as a percentage of GDP: 74.7 percent (26th lowest)
Employment Rate: 4.23 (25th best)
Self-reported health: 8.29 (10th best)
Employees working long hours: 5.05 (29th best)
Disposable income: n/a
Educational attainment: 8.46 (12th best)
Life expectancy: 8.24 (8th best)

Israel is an outlier among OECD nations because it has a relatively high life satisfaction score, but performs poorly for many of the 19 quality of life measurements. For example, Israel has the sixth worst scores for student reading and the fourth worst scores for long hours worked, with 0.23 percent of workers maintaining extremely long hours compared to a OECD average of less than .1 percent. However, Israel's score for household wealth (which measures the total worth of a family's income and property after liabilities) is the fifth-highest across all nations on this list. Each household has an average estimated wealth of more than $62,000, compared to an average of less than $37,000. Part of the reason is low taxes — the country has an income tax rate of 6.3 percent of GDP, the sixth-lowest in the OECD.

24-7 Wall Street: The 10 costliest floods in American history

8. Finland
Life satisfaction score: 8.71
Debt as a percentage of GDP: 41.6 percent (15th lowest)
Employment score: 6.77 (14th best)
Self-reported health: 6.25 (21st best)
Employees working long hours: 9.32 (9th best)
Disposable income: 4.38 (15th best)
Educational attainment: 8.43 (13th best)
Life expectancy: 6.92 (18th best)

For many of the metrics considered by the OECD for its "Better Life Initiative," Finland ranks about average. The country stands out in a few categories, however, causing it to rank eighth best for "life satisfaction." The category in which Finland does the best is education. Finnish students have the second best reading skills among students in all OECD countries, behind only South Korea. According to OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment, literacy is one of the most reliable predictors of economic and social well-being. In 2009, the average student in Finland scored 536 out of 600 in literacy. The OECD average is 493. The quality of Finland's educational system can be attributed to the high respect the country shows its teachers. Teaching is "one of the most sought-after professions in the country," according to the OECD. Finland also scores very well regarding the work-life balance. Citizens work almost 100 fewer hours per year than the OECD average. Also, 76 percent of mothers are employed once their children begin school — the fifth highest rate. This implies that mothers in Finland are largely able to balance family life and work.

7. Switzerland
Life satisfaction score: 9.03
Debt as a percentage of GDP: 20.2 percent (5th lowest)
Employment score: 10 (best)
Self-reported health: 8.51 (6th best)
Employees working long hours: 8.83 (17th best)
Disposable income: 5.3 (5th best)
Educational attainment: 9.35 (8th best)
Life expectancy: 9.45 (2nd best)

Switzerland has roughly the same level of life satisfaction as Israel, but unlike the Middle Eastern country, it scores near the top in most of these quality-of-life indices. The small, wealthy country bordering France and Germany scores in the top ten for nine out of the 20 OECD measurements, and in the top 20 for all but three. Swiss residents have the second-highest life expectancy in the OECD (82.2 years) and the highest rate of employment (79 percent of working-age residents). Switzerland also has a high rate of mothers who are employed after their children begin school — 79 percent compared to an OECD average of 65 percent. The Swiss government subsidizes maternity leave for pregnancy and for up to 16 weeks following birth, which may provide an incentive for businesses to employ pregnant women.

6. Sweden
Life satisfaction score: 9.03
Debt as a percentage of GDP: 33.7 percent (9th lowest)
Employment score: 8.18 (6th best)
Self-reported health: 8.19 (11th best)
Employees working long hours: 9.86 2nd best)
Disposable income: 5.02 (10th best)
Educational attainment: 9.06 (10th best)
Life expectancy: 8.35 (7th best)

Sweden excels in a number of categories which make the lives of its citizens easier. The most striking of these is outdoor air quality, for which Sweden has the best out of all OECD countries. According to the Swedish government, its goal is that "the air should be so clean that no damage is inflicted on people's health, and animals, plants and cultural values." Swedes have an above-average trust in their political institutions and above-average voter turnout for elections. The country also has the second highest level of "governmental transparency when drafting regulations," further evidence of trust in the government. People in Sweden generally have a good balance between work and personal life. They certainly are not overworked, as only 0.01 percent of the population put in more than 50 hours a week on average, the second lowest amount among these countries.

5. The Netherlands
Life satisfaction score: 9.03
Debt as a percentage of GDP: 51.8 percent (20th lowest)
Employment score: 8.79 (4th best)
Self-reported health: 8.45 (7th best)
Employees working long hours: 10.0 (the best)
Disposable income: 4.86 (12th best)
Educational attainment: 7.19 (19th best)
Life expectancy: 7.25 (16th best)

Ninety-one percent of Dutch residents report being satisfied with their lives, more than any other country in the OECD. This is likely due in part to high scores for personal life and a good balance between work and leisure. In some countries, such as Turkey and Estonia, that figure is more than 10 percent. Dutch citizens also spend 70 percent of their day on personal care, leisure, eating and sleeping, the third-most of any country. This amount of leisure time reflects the national policy of work equality that comes from sharing of labor. In the 1980's, less than 40 percent of the country's working-age women were employed. That number is now more than 70 percent as a result of aggressive gender equality laws called the "emancipation plan."

4. Australia
Life satisfaction score: 9.03
Debt as a percentage of GDP: 10.9 percent (3rd lowest)
Employment score: 8.05 (8th best)
Self-reported health: 9.18 (4th best)
Employees working long hours: 6.96 (28th best)
Disposable income: 5.16 (8th best)
Educational attainment: 6.62 (22nd best)
Life expectancy: 8.68 (3rd best)

Australia's performance varies when it comes to quality of life measurements. Seventy one percent of Australians reportedly trust their political institutions, compared to the OECD average of 56 percent. Australia also had the highest voter turnout among registered voters for the most recent election on record — 96 percent. Australians are also generally in good health. The country's average life expectancy is two years longer than the OECD average. Tobacco consumption has also decreased by 50 percent since 1983, giving the country one of the lowest rates in the world and greatly reducing the risks of many chronic diseases. The country fares worse in other categories, however. Fourteen percent of employed people in the country work more than 50 hours a week on average, one of the highest percentages in the OECD. Joblessness for single-parent families is also a major problem in Australia, affecting more than 50 percent of such families in 2009. According to the OECD, if the problem is not addressed, that number will increase 20 percent over the next 25 years. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, however, overall unemployment, which was 4.9 percent as of April 2011, is the best it has been since January 2009.

3. Norway
Life satisfaction score: 9.35
Debt as a percentage of GDP: 26 percent (third lowest)
Employment score: 8.98 (3rd best)
Self-reported health: 8.34 (9th best)
Employees working long hours: 9.47 (5th best)
Disposable income: 5.82 (2nd best)
Educational attainment: 8.37 (15th best)
Life expectancy: 7.69 (12th best)

Eighty-four percent of Norway's population is currently satisfied with their lives, compared to an average OECD rate of 54 percent. There are likely several reasons for this, as the Scandinavian country scored very well for housing, disposable income, and employment. Seventy-five percent of Norway's working-age population is employed, and only 0.34 percent of the population has been unemployed for more than a year. This is the one of the best rates in the OECD. Norway has the second highest disposable income among all countries on this list, behind only the United States. The average person across all 34 OECD nations works an average of 1,739 hours per year. The average Norwegian works just over 1,400 hours per year as the result of aggressive labor laws. For example, the country recently imposed sanctioned paternity leave, according to the International Labor Organization.

2. Canada
Life satisfaction score: 9.68
Debt as a percentage of GDP: 36 percent (11th lowest)
Employment score: 7.86 (10th best)
Self-reported health: 9.73 (2nd best)
Employees working long hours: 9.28 (10th best)
Disposable income: 5.16 (8th best)
Educational attainment: 9.39 (6th best)
Life expectancy: 7.8 (10th best)

Canada scores extremely well in the majority of metrics used to calculate "well-being." The country has the tenth greatest life expectancy of all OECD countries. Furthermore, 88 percent of people in Canada report being in "good health," compared to the OECD average of 69 percent. Although this is a subjective measure, it is "a good predictor of people's future health care use," according to the OECD. Education is also exceptional in the country. Eighty-seven percent of the population have received a high school degree or more, compared to the OECD average of 73 percent. In addition to this, the country has one of the highest literacy rates in the world. Canada is also relatively safe, with the lowest rate of reported assaults. The country's homicide rate, while higher than many other OECD countries, is still lower than the OECD average.

1. Denmark
Life satisfaction score: 10
Debt as a percentage of GDP: 39.5 percent (14th lowest)
Employment score: 8.4 (5th best)
Self-reported health: 7.37 (15th best)
Employees working long hours: 9.72 (3rd best)
Disposable income: 4.0 (18th best)
Educational attainment: 7.39 (18th best)
Life expectancy: 5.71 (25th best)

Danish residents have consistently rated themselves as the happiest in the world for years in several different studies. This is in some ways surprising, considering the Scandinavian country received only average scores for several metrics that other highly satisfied countries consistently perform well in. For example, Denmark's 26 percent income tax as a percent of GDP (the highest in the OECD) has resulted in an average disposable income of $27,080 compared to the OECD average of $36,800. This places Denmark among the bottom half of developed countries for disposable income. The country also ranks in the bottom third life expectancy and just average in self-reported health. However, Danes have one of the strongest senses of friendship and community, with 97 percent reporting they had someone other than a family member that they could rely on. Danish culture and government policy is one of the most leisure-friendly. Denmark's citizens spend more than 16 hours each week on leisure time, the second-highest rate in the OECD. The government also subsidizes a full year of maternity leave.
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Clarence Clemons, Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band Saxophonist has had a stroke. I hope that he recovers.

I'm surprised that he is 8 years older than the 61 year old Springsteen.

mashceleb.com is for sale | HugeDomains
Clarence Clemons, Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band Saxophone Mainstay, Suffers Stroke
Jun 13th, 2011 - E! Online

The Big Man is ailing. Clarence Clemons, the iconic saxophonist of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, has suffered a stroke while at his home in Florida.

The 69-year-old rocker is said to be seriously ill after having the stroke earlier Sunday evening, according to several confirmed reports. There is no information yet on his current condition or the severity of the stroke.
Click to expand...

At some point during an E-Street Band gig, Springsteen will introduce his saxman with a rousing bit of bluster, teasing the crowd about "something essential, something important, something big." He might talk about how they met at an Asbury Park nightclub (that's the truth). Or about a supernatural occurrence, how Clemons appeared like Zeus with a horn (that's open for debate).

And if you're lucky, then Springsteen will sing those magic words, "and the Big Man joined the band," and the place will erupt. And Clemons will tear off an enormous solo, a triumphant blurt of freedom that sounds like a '69 Chevy with a 396 roaring out of a blue-collar town — and the crowd will erupt again.

All hail the Big Man.

"Everybody calls me Big Man," says Clemons, on the phone and on the way to another tour stop. Fans, friends, bandmates: He's the Big Man to every last one of them. And no, he never gets tired of it. "That's the life I chose. And that's part of my life."
Click to expand...

From February 2011's "Rolling Stone article:
Exclusive: Clarence Clemons Opens Up About Health Problems, Future Of E Street Band
Clarence Clemons Opens Up About Health Problems, Future of E Street Band 'I'm going to keep going 'til I'm not there anymore'

By Andy Greene
February 24, 2011 7:35 AM ET

Towards the end of Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band's 2009 world tour, fans noticed that saxophonist Clarence Clemons looked like he was having a rough time. He often sat through much of the show and seemed to have difficulty getting on and off the stage.

"That last tour was hell," Clemons tells Rolling Stone. "Pure hell." In the previous few years before the tour Clemons had his knees and hips replaced, but he was still in a lot of pain – and the constant travel didn't make it easier. "The tour was wonderful musically," he says. "But I knew when it was done that I had to have more surgery."

In the past year Clemons had both knees replaced (again) and spinal fusion surgery. "The timing was perfect because it didn't interfere with a lot of stuff that was going on in my life," he says. "It made me stronger, and for the past year I've been in physical therapy a few days a week working my ass off to get back in shape. I'm walking better now, though I still use a cane and crutches. But now I'm having hip problems again. I don't know why."

Clemons hasn't heard anything official from Springsteen about a 2012 tour. "I know nothing and I've heard nothing," he says. That being said, "those [2012 tour] rumors feel true. I always say we're going to do it again though."

Despite his medical issues (and his 70th birthday next January), Clemons says that virtually nothing will keep him off the road with Springsteen if a tour does indeed happen. "As long as my mouth, hands and brain still work I'll be out there doing it," he says. "I'm going to keep going 'til I'm not there anymore. This is what's keeping me alive and feeling young and inspired. My spiritual teacher Sri Chinmoy told me that my purpose in life is to bring joy and light to the world, and I don't know any better way to do then what I'm doing now."

Clemons plays on the new Lady Gaga album, and he hopes he'll have the chance to perform live with her at some point. "If she asked I'd love to," he says. "If Bruce and Gaga both needed me around the same time I don't know if you could hold me down to the ground. If both of 'em came to pass in the same year or two years it would just be...I can't even think like that. [laughs] It would be so crazy. The thing I'd really love to do is have the chance to go out with both of them."
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Prince William and his bride Kate are warmly received in Ottawa, June 30, 2011 on their first royal tour as a married couple.
It's an honour for Canada to be the first Commonwealth country to be chosen to visit by the future King & Queen.

Upon their arrival, William and Kate went straight from the airport to the National War Memorial, where they laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The Prince spoke in English and in French, Canada's two official languages. Tomorrow the royal couple will participate in Canada Day festivities such as new Canadian Citizenship ceremony.

They will be in Canada for an 8 day visit, then travel on to the U.S.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/0...s-advancer.html
Will and Kate warmly received in Ottawa
CBC News Posted: Jun 30, 2011 12:19 AM ET
Last Updated: Jun 30, 2011 10:53 PM ET

Crowds in Ottawa warmly welcomed Canada's newlywed prince and his wife Thursday as William and Kate kicked off their first royal tour since their spring nuptials.

Thousands gathered at the National War Memorial and Rideau Hall, the two sites for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's public appearances on the first day of their eight-day tour.

The royal couple seemed to take their time with the people they met, smiling and engaging with veterans, children and other onlookers who lined metal security fences in downtown Ottawa.

The Rideau Hall audience, who heard William's first speech in Canada, cheered when he started his remarks in French, and laughed when he joked that he will improve in the language as the trip progresses.

William was last in Canada when he was 15 years old. The prince said he and Kate are "delighted" to be on their first trip together to Canada. William said they spoke before their wedding about their desire to visit a country their families love.

"We have been looking forward to this moment for a very long time. And before we were married, we had a longing to come here together," he said.

"The geography of this country is unsurpassed and is famous for being matched only by the hospitality of its peoples. We are so very excited about having this opportunity to experience both — and learn much more about this amazing country."

The prince spoke in French for about half of his brief speech.

Kate is not expected to speak officially on this tour.

Rideau Hall broke, or raised, William's personal flag for the first time during this appearance.

Kate and William, the second in line to the throne of Britain and the Commonwealth realms, were greeted by Gov. Gen. David Johnston and his wife, Sharon, who also hosted a barbecue Thursday evening with 120 youth.

The guests at the 6 p.m. ET barbecue were young Canadians who have made their mark serving their communities. It was supposed to be held outside but moved indoors because of rain in Ottawa.

The royal couple met and chat with the guests before sitting down for a meal presented by culinary students. Five people ages 17 to 31 formed a receiving line to greet William and Kate, who separated for more mingling over dinner. Kate went with Prime Minister Stephen Harper while William went with Johnston for the meal, which consisted of small plates featuring Canadian ingredients.

The savoury menu included Salt Spring Island goat cheese and rhubarb beignets, Quebec cheese and Saskatoon fruit wine fondue, potato-crusted Alberta yak tartar, and dried Ontario pear and bitter chocolate cream cups.

Upon their arrival, William and Kate went straight from the airport to the National War Memorial, where they laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Harper and his wife, Laureen, mingled with onlookers before the couple arrived.

The group stood at the base of the memorial, chatting until the playing of Last Post, then observed two minutes of silence. The crowd was quiet.


They then took a few minutes to walk down the line of veterans sporting berets and medals as people shouted "We love you, Kate."

The crowd cheered with excitement as the couple approached them and began saying hello and shaking hands on either side of the red carpet.

"This will never be erased from my memory," said Alice Hamid, 14, breathless from the excitement.

"I told him he was gorgeous and he blushed a little," Cecile Dumont said. "For me this is a dream come true. I've loved William since he left St. Mary's hospital in 1982.

"I'm a huge royal fan. I loved Lady Diana," she said. She said when she heard the couple were coming to Canada, she immediately booked the day off work.

Dumont is planning on spending the night on Parliament Hill so she can get a prime spot for the royal couple's appearance there Friday.

Crowds gathered early
After getting off a Canadian Forces plane just after 2 p.m., the couple talked briefly and comfortably with officials on hand to greet them, including Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, RCMP Commissioner William Elliott and other dignitaries.

An official at Rideau Hall estimated there were 6,000 people waiting for William and Kate by the time they were due to arrive.

At the National War Memorial in Confederation Square, many in the crowd had arrived as early as 6 and 7 a.m. to get prime spots along the red carpet.

Wearing classic dark suits, the royal couple boarded a flight at Heathrow Airport at 6:20 a.m. ET Thursday. Kate was sporting a navy blazer from Toronto designer Smythe les Vestes over a dress by French label Roland Mouret.

She stepped off the plane at Ottawa's Macdonald-Cartier Airport in a form-fitting black and white dress and her hair pulled back casually. The BBC reported the knee-length dress is by Canadian-born, British-based designer Erdem Moralioglu.

The couple will launch Canada Day festivities on Friday with a citizenship ceremony.
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