Clipmarks | sahara's clips

Hungary's 'forgotten' war victims

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:07:37 GMT

clipped by: sahara
clipper's remarks: Back in his living-room, Arpad's three-year-old granddaughter, Jofie, brings me wooden elephants and antelopes to admire and stands quietly listening to our conversation.

On the table, Arpad has arranged photographs that he took on his trips east in search of the lost Hungarians.

"Maybe that one is your dad," Jofie tells him, wanting so much to be helpful and pointing to a group of men who are holding a cross on a small hill in the city of Baltsi.

"That hill," says Arpad, "is made of human bones."

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

The deportation in 1944 of thousands of Hungary's civilians to the Soviet Union, although on a similar scale to the deportation of its Jewish people to the death camps, receives little official attention in Hungary, as Nick Thorpe reports.

Arpad Kovari stands at the top of the steps at Nyiregyhaza railway station, nearly two metres tall, scanning the faces of the new arrivals from Budapest. He hides his disappointment well as I shake his hand.

He was hoping for a whole television crew, not a lone reporter, to listen to his tale of what he dares to call the Hungarian Holocaust: the deportation of some 600,000 Hungarians to Soviet labour camps after the Second World War and the death of at least 200,000 in captivity

His father was one of them.

Many graveyards

Nyiregyhaza is as rich in tombs as it is in apples. There are nine graveyards.

'Hill of human bones'

For 20 years, Arpad Kovari has been trying to persuade the Hungarian state to create a day of remembrance for the Hungarian Holocaust

'Twin Towers' Warship Launched

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:54:04 GMT

clipped by: sahara

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

A warship built with steel salvaged from the World Trade Center has been put into service in New York.

Hundreds of US Navy officers and sailors and also families of 9/11 victims attended the commissioning of the USS New York in Manhattan.

"No matter how many times you attack us, we always come back," US Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus said.

The bow of amphibious assault ship has 7.5 tonnes of melted steel from the debris of the World Trade Center.

The ship's crest includes images of the Twin Towers and features the colours of the city departments that first responded to the terrorist attacks in which nearly 3,000 people died.

About one in seven of the 361 sailors serving on the ship are from New York state, a higher percentage than would normally be the case, a Navy spokeswoman told the Associated Press news agency earlier this week.

She said there had been many requests from Navy personnel to serve on the ship.

The $1bn (£602m) ship was built in Louisiana last month.

Drowning in Debt

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:12:41 GMT

clipped by: sahara
clipper's remarks: This is from Ross Perot's site (remember him?). One of the comments at the site that I thought was really good:
"Our dollar is backed by faith, how much faith is left? Sheesh, they’re going to run out of paper, granted it’s all electronic transfer so maybe not. But man, I just don’t see how catastrophic inflation isn’t a forgone conclusion at this point."

Clip Source: perotcharts.com

Between September and October 2008, the Total U.S. National Debt increased by nearly one trillion dollars, or about 10% of the outstanding debt. Most of this increase is due to public borrowing to finance the Wall Street Bailout plan. The additional borrowing on top of the mandatory increases in programs such as Social Security (which will increase payout by 5.8% in January of 2009) represents a significant loss in financial flexibility which makes the problem of persistent deficit spending even more difficult to solve.

Clip Source: www.treasurydirect.gov

The Debt to the Penny and Who Holds It

Current

11/05/2009

Debt Held by the Public

7,588,138,019,547.78

Intragovernmental Holdings

4,402,423,425,281.70

Total Public Debt Outstanding

11,990,561,444,829.48

Clip Source: perotcharts.com

¹ The U.S. Treasury Department publishes the debt to the penny daily at Treasury Direct around 11:30am ET. The most recent number is shown here.

Total Debt Outstanding¹

$11,990,561,444,829.50

ExxonMobil Wins War For Oil In Iraq!

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:28:25 GMT

clipped by: sahara
clipper's remarks: Bidding war that is...for oil!

Clip Source: www.dailystar.com.lb

BAGHDAD: An ExxonMobil-led consortium has beaten rival Russian, French and Chinese groups to bag initial rights to develop Iraq’s West Qurna field, the Oil Ministry said, adding momentum to Iraq’s bid to unlock its oil riches. With reserves of 8.7 billion barrels, West Qurna is among the prized Iraqi fields eyed by Western oil majors as they face flat or lower output at home and stiff competition from Chinese and Indian oil companies in bidding for oilfields elsewhere.

“The consortium led by ExxonMobil, which includes Shell, won the contract to develop West Qurna Phase One oilfield,” Oil Ministry spokesman Asim Jihad said.

The initial deal was signed in Baghdad on Thursday but needs Cabinet approval before it can be finalized.

The 20-year contract is part of a raft of deals Iraq is close to formalizing in a bid to catapult itself to the world’s third largest oil producer after decades of war and economic decline.

This is a supergiant field

Holy Androgony! Gender Illusion: Contrast = Attractiveness

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:48:02 GMT

clipped by: sahara

Clip Source: gajitz.com

Holy Androgony! Gender Illusion: Contrast = Attractiveness

What gender is the face on the left? How about the one on the right? Most people would say that the picture on the left shows a woman and the picture on the right shows a man. Actually, both pictures show the same androgynous face, but with differing levels of contrast. Richard Russell, assistant professor of psychology at Gettysburg College, published a study in the scholarly journal Perception about the effects of contrast of human faces on the perception of gender. He found that faces with more contrast are seen as more feminine, while faces with less contrast are seen as more masculine.

Typically, female faces feature lighter skin than male faces, regardless of gender. However, Russell found that female lips and eyes are not correspondingly lighter, giving female faces a much higher contrast than those of males. His findings serve to illustrate why cosmetics work to make women’s faces appear more feminine

Victorian Hand-Colored Motion Picture

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:42:40 GMT

clipped by: sahara

Clip Source: gajitz.com

The Lumière brothers were pioneers of moving pictures. They started their careers working in their father’s photographic firm and would go on to make the advances that eventually lead to the beginning of the motion picture era. Their Cinematographe – a motion picture camera and projector – would be the invention that brought moving pictures to the masses.

[Video]

The above video is one of the earliest examples of colored moving pictures. There is some question about its exact date; it has been put at 1896, 1899 and 1913. Every frame had to be colored by hand, and the result is stunning. The film features Loie Fuller, a dancer who performed her “Serpentine Dance” with billowing costumes and colored lights to create the effect that is re-created in the short film from the Lumière brothers.

Report: 237 millionaires in Congress

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:04:07 GMT

clipped by: sahara
clipper's remarks: Senators’ estimated median reportable worth sunk to about $1.79 million from $2.27 million in 2007. The House’s median income was significantly lower and also sank, bottoming out at $622,254 from $724,258 in 2007.

But CRP’s analysis suggests that some lawmakers did well for themselves between 2007 and 2008, even as many Americans lost jobs and saw their savings and their home values plummet.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) gained about $9.2 million. Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) gained about $3 million, Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) had an estimated $2.6 million gain, and Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) gained about $2.8 million.

Some lawmakers have profited from investments in companies that have received federal bailouts; dozens of lawmakers are invested in Wells Fargo, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and Bank of America.
Vice President Joe Biden has often tagged himself as an original blue collar man. The CRP backs him up, putting his net worth at just $27,000.

Clip Source: www.politico.com

Talk about bad timing.

As Washington reels from the news of 10.2 percent unemployment, the Center for Responsive Politics is out with a new report describing the wealth of members of Congress.

Among the highlights: Two-hundred-and-thirty-seven members of Congress are millionaires. That’s 44 percent of the body – compared to about 1 percent of Americans overall.

CRP says California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa is the richest lawmaker on Capitol Hill, with a net worth estimated at about $251 million. Photo: AP

CRP says California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa is the richest lawmaker on Capitol Hill, with a net worth estimated at about $251 million. Next in line: Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.), worth about $244.7 million; Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), worth about $214.5 million; Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), worth about $209.7 million

All told, at least seven lawmakers have net worths greater than $100 million, according to the Center’s 2008 figures.

Venezuela Exerts It's Right To Make Own Policies

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:05:45 GMT

clipped by: sahara
clipper's remarks: The Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela stresses that the relationship between Venezuela and Iran is longstanding, peaceful and of no threat to the national security of the U.S. or of any other country.

It is not that the relationship between Venezuela and Iran poses a real threat to the United States; it is instead that some in Washington cannot move beyond viewing Latin America as part of its “backyard.” Contrary to the opinions of these policymakers, Venezuela’s foreign policy is made in Caracas – not in Washington.

At the end of his opening statement today Rep.Engel called for a reengagement of U. S. foreign policy with Latin America. We applaud his efforts, but they should be based on mutual respect. We reject the notion that Washington should have veto power over the decision of Latin American countries to engage with the rest of the world.

Clip Source: www.embavenez-us.org

23 Americans Convicted in Italy for CIA Kidnapping

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:46:33 GMT

clipped by: sahara
clipper's remarks: The Americans were accused of kidnapping Osama Moustafa Hassan Nasr, also known as Abu Omar, on Feb. 17, 2003, in Milan, then transferring him to U.S. bases in Italy and Germany. He was then moved to Egypt, where he says he was tortured. He was released after four years in prison without being charged.

The trial is the first by any government over the CIA's extraordinary rendition program, which transferred suspects overseas for interrogation. Human rights advocates charge that renditions were the CIA's way to outsource the torture of prisoners to countries where it is permitted.

Italy's government has denied involvement.

Among the Americans acquitted was Jeffrey Castelli, a former Rome CIA station chief, who prosecutors had alleged coordinated the abduction. The two other acquitted Americans were also assigned to the U.S. Embassy in the Italian capital and thus were covered by broad diplomatic immunity.

Clip Source: www.telegram.com

MILAN — An Italian judge today convicted 23 Americans of the 2003 kidnapping of an Egyptian cleric on a Milan street, in a landmark case involving the CIA's extraordinary rendition program in the war on terrorism.

Citing diplomatic immunity, Judge Oscar Magi told the Milan courtroom today that he was acquitting three other Americans.

Former Milan CIA station chief, Robert Seldon Lady, received the stiffest sentence, eight years in prison. The other 22 convicted American defendants each received a five-year sentence.

The Americans, all but one identified by prosecutors as CIA agents, were tried in absentia. Their lawyers entered innocent pleas on their client's behalf. They are considered fugitives from Italian justice.

In Washington, CIA spokesman George Little declined to comment on the convictions. He said, “The CIA has not commented on any of the allegations surrounding Abu Omar,” the kidnapped man.

The CIA has declined to comment on the case

Having More Than 3 Cats Now Requires a License

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:42:36 GMT

clipped by: sahara
clipper's remarks: In Dudley, MA.

Clip Source: www.telegram.com

What's next? A law fining you if you have more than 2.2 kids. This country is getting out of control with all their rules and restrictions.

Dudley, Mass.

Clip Source: blog.puppetgov.com

Voters last night added language to a town bylaw that will make it illegal to own more than three cats without a kennel license, though Selectman Steven Sullivan said housing three felines was already a violation.

The article came after a neighborhood feud over cats owned by Mary Ellen Richards of Kennedy Drive

Some of Mrs. Richards’ 15 cats are allowed outside, and one neighbor said the cats have ruined his yard.

The discussion at town meeting last night had Mrs. Richards warning residents that the $100 per day fines being imposed on her could also be imposed on them if they fail to get kennel licenses for their pets.

She has put her home up for sale and plans to move to a “more cat-friendly community,” but vowed to fight the fines.

Babies Taken From Parents and Sold

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:30:58 GMT

clipped by: sahara
clipper's remarks: The adoption fee was split between the orphanages and local officials, the newspaper said.

Child trafficking is widespread. A tightening of adoption rules for foreigners in 2006 has proved ineffective in the face of local corruption.

Clip Source: blog.puppetgov.com

Dozens of baby girls in southern China have reportedly been taken from parents who broke family-planning laws, and then sold for adoption overseas.

An investigation by the state-owned Southern Metropolis News found that about 80 girls in one county had been sold for $3,000 (£1,800) to foreigners.

The babies were taken when the parents could not pay the steep fines imposed for having too many children.

Local officials may have forged papers to complete the deals, the report said.

Parents in rural areas are allowed two children, unlike urban dwellers who are allowed one.

But if they have more than that, they face a fine of about $3,000 -several times many farmers’ annual income.

Nearly 80 baby girls in a county in Guizhou province, in the south of the country, were confiscated from their families when their parents could not or would not pay the fine, Southern Metropolis News said.

The girls were taken into orphanages and sold to couples from the United States and a number of European countries

The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:20:25 GMT

clipped by: sahara
clipper's remarks: The next day, Dennis said goodbye to Nubs, but he didn't forget about the dog. He began mentioning Nubs in emails he wrote to friends and family back home. "I found a dog in the desert," Dennis wrote in an email in October 2007. "I call him Nubs. We clicked right away. He flips on his back and makes me rub his stomach."

"Every couple of weeks, we'd go back to the border fort and I'd see Nubs every time," says Dennis. "Each time, he followed us around a little more." And every time the men rumbled away in their Humvees, Nubs would run after them.
On one trip to the border fort in December 2007, Dennis found Nubs was badly wounded in his left side where he'd been stabbed with a screwdriver. "The wound was infected and full of pus," Dennis recalls. "We pulled out our battle kits and poured antiseptic on his wound and force fed him some antibiotics wrapped in peanut butter."
That night, Nubs was in so much pain that he refused food and water and slept standing up.

Clip Source: www.pawnation.com

When Maj. Brian Dennis of the United States Marine Corps met a wild stray dog with shorn ears while serving in Iraq, he had no idea of the bond they would form, leading to seismic changes in both their lives. "The general theme of the story of Nubs is that if you're kind to someone, they'll never forget you -- whether it be person or animal,

In October 2007, Dennis and his team of 11 men were in Iraq patrolling the Syrian border. One day, as his team arrived at a border fort, they encountered a pack of stray dogs

"We all got out of the Humvee and I started working when this dog came running up," recalls Dennis. "I said, 'Hey buddy' and bent down to pet him." Dennis noticed the dog's ears had been cut. "I said, 'You got little nubs for ears.'" The name stuck. The dog whose ears had been shorn off as a puppy by an Iraqi soldier (to make the dog "look tougher," Dennis says) became known as Nubs.

At night, Nubs accompanied the men on night patrols

History-Making Edits, Before Photoshop

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:17:34 GMT

clipped by: sahara
clipper's remarks: While some people enjoy adding individuals to their images, others prefer to edit them out – as in the cases of these photographs of Joseph Stalin, Mao Tse-tung, Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini respectively. In each of the first three photos there was a political compatriot who, after falling from favor, was removed entirely from the scene and thus erased from a part of history. In the final image, a horse handler was edited out to convey a greater sense of grandeur. Perhaps it is simply selective and subjective, but it seems strangely fitting in some way that most of the edits of of American heroes are additive while those of other infamous world leaders are subtractive – but who knows what other manipulations we have yet to catch.

Clip Source: gajitz.com

Did you know that many of the most famous, world-changing images of all time … are entirely altered? Recent history is filled with photography techniques and controversial manipulations of original images for commercial and political use – their ranks include crying presidents, enhanced teen busts, de-smoked pop stars and creepily re-capitated soldiers. But for now, forget these Photoshops: the following incredible history-making edits to fantastic photos, from presidential body-swaps to faux-triumphant battle scenes, predate digital editing software by decades, a century or more.

Not long after, a three-part combination print was made. This clever work combines the portrait head of General Ulysses S Grant with the horse and body of a Major General and a misrepresented battle scene in the background. Not only is the context labeled incorrectly but it was also cropped, touched up and generally edited to fit a new fake history of events.

Never Before Seen Historic Photos

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:04:51 GMT

clipped by: sahara

Clip Source: acidcow.com

Cocoa Krispies To The Rescue!

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:06:46 GMT

clipped by: sahara
clipper's remarks: Apparently, Kellogg sprayed some more vitamins A, C and E on the sugary puffs as justification for the new marketing language.
Yummy!

Clip Source: blog.puppetgov.com

Kellogg Hints That Cocoa Krispies Will Save Your Kids From Swine Flu

Remember when the FDA was like, “Hey, General Mills, you’ve turned Cheerios into a drug?” This sort of reminds us of that. Now Kellogg is claiming on their new packaging that Cocoa Krispies will help your child’s “IMMUNITY.”

Last week, San Francisco sent a letter to Kellogg and to the Food and Drug Administration asking Kellogg to prove its claim. “I am concerned the prominent use of the immunity claims to advertise a sugar-laden chocolate cereal like Cocoa Krispies may mislead and deceive parents of young children,” said Dennis Herrera, the city attorney.

Kellogg says the critics are wrong. Development of the line started more than a year ago, and it was rolled out in May 2009. “It was not created to capitalize on the current H1N1 flu situation,” spokeswoman Susanne Norwitz says. “Kellogg developed this product in response to consumers expressing a need for more positive nutrition.”