h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

If the Germans can do it, why not the French?

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,715408,00.html

Bundesbank Looks to Remove Controversial Board Member

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/04/saber-kushour-rape-deception-release

Person has consensual sex, realises she had anonymous sex with someone of a different race and religion, and decides to destroy years of his life with a rape charge with the complicity of the Israeli state.

Glad he's been allowed out...notice the quietness of the Western governments over this...

This is interesting:


'An American Muslim organization is asking the U.S. Army to deny a Muslim soldier’s request for conscientious objector status, accusing him of treason and urging the military to punish him to the full extent of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Pfc. Naser Abdo, a 20-year-old infantryman who joined the Army one year ago, filed for conscientious objector status in June, saying his faith and the military don't mix. . . .

But the American Islamic Forum for Democracy (AIFD) says Abdo's claim is “patently false.”

"Muslims serve with distinction throughout the United States Military and AIFD sees Abdo’s traitorous public assertions as a slap in the face to all American Muslims especially those Muslims who fight in our armed forces for the liberty and freedom guaranteed by the American Constitution," the group said in a statement it issued on Friday.


Said Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser, president of AIFD: “Abdo’s actions are an affront to every American Muslim who has proudly donned a U.S. military uniform. His assertions are not built on Islamic teachings but on a feeble adherence to the global political ideology of Islamism that threatens our security and radicalizes our Muslim youth.” '

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/09/02/islamic-group-asks-army-deny-muslim-soldiers-request-conscientious-objector/


The comments from Fox News readers are, as usual, appalling.

Senseless In Seattle:

Native wood carver shot dead by police
for carrying a knife and a piece of wood.

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Groups-air-concerns-over-police-shooting-of-knife-wielding-man-102173394.html


~jwf~

Better reporting here:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012769201_copshooting01m.html
>>
"Acting Deputy Chief Nick Metz said Tuesday that Birk was stopped in his car at a red light as he headed south on Boren when he spotted Williams walking in a crosswalk "carrying a wooden board and a knife."

"He could see the blade of the knife and the man was doing something to the board," Metz said.
<<


~jwf~

That's a tragic, tragic loss, ~jwf~, whatever the circumstances (can you tell I'm a modest devotee and slight collector of First Nations art? [Wacousta Complex])

I hesitate to question the reaction of the officer (that's what they call them down there, right?) and I expect (hope) that he is doing some serious soul (whatever that is) searching now and getting counselling. If he isn't doing some soul (whatever that is) searching then I would hope he has some serious gun-and badge-taking-away-from-him done.

But it was in broad day-light! The poor guy was crossing the street with a knife and a piece of wood. To anyone in the Western world, that would be a guy doing a bit o' whittlin', not a crazed cop killer!

I would have hoped that after two years of service, this officer would have had more and better training and experience with interactions with Native Americans (as they call them) and street people (as we call them).

I'll tell you, if I'm sitting at a red light on 118 Ave., in front of Paraiso Tropical http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=118+Ave+edmonton&gl=ca&cd=3&ei=KNaBTI-POpGSNY3v-OIM&ie=UTF8&hl=en&view=map&cid=10881579402382265225&ved=0CHEQpQY&hq=118+Ave+edmonton&hnear=&ll=53.570371,-113.480852&spn=0.002284,0.006968&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=53.570406,-113.482746&panoid=xUvdYrG7FS6huszXgeQEPg&cbp=12,84.05,,0,13.05 , and a First Nations fellow crosses in front of me with a knife and a chunk of wood at 5 in the evening, I'm most likely to think:

'bloody hell I enjoy seeing all the different sorts that make up this city!'

or:

'I wonder what he's carving? Maybe he's doing a bison, like that one in the RAM (Royal Alberta Museum) that's based on the Manitou Stone.'

or:

'I wonder if he's just come from the Haggerty Centre (http://www.ninahaggertyart.ca/home.php)?'

. . . .

and way, way down the list would be

'That's a potential criminal and I should confront him and possibly pump four slugs into his body 'cause he's got a three inch knife and a block of wood.'




I know enough about the particular inner-city neighbourhood I've been describing in my city *even though I don't live anywhere near that part of town* that I would not have acted or thought in any way like the officer in Seattle apparently reacted. I would hope, and I expect, that constables in my city know enough about their neighbourhoods, are versed well enough in community policing, that such a tragedy would not happen here.

Sadly, I'm also well aware that cock-ups happen. The officer in Seattle will have to live with his cock-up -- and it sure as hell looks like a cock-up from here. It's tragic that Mr. Williams and his talent has been taken from the rest of us. [Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator]

Earthquake strikes Christchurch in New Zealand
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/04/earthquake-christchurch-new-zealand

Didn't feel a thing...but still going shopping for an earthquake kit tomorrow.

RF

Good luck still

Chronic shortage of bricks in Dublin

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Politics/Tony-Blair-Holds-Public-Book-Signing-In-Dublin-After-Live-TV-Interview-On-RTE/Article/201009115713424?lpos=Politics_Carousel_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15713424_Tony_Blair_Holds_Public_Book_Signing_In_Dublin_After_Live_TV_Interview_On_RTE

The good news from New Zealand:

"The damages are incredibly frightening. The only thing you can say it's a miracle that no one lost their life," Prime Minister John Key told Television NZ after the quake struck with a magnitude of 7.1..."

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/100904/world/international_us_quake_newzealand

There are quite a few kiwis here at h2g2!
It's a relief to hear of no lose of life.
Wonder if we'll hear any personal accounts?


~jwf~

@ anhaga::
>> It's tragic that Mr. Williams and his talent has been taken from
the rest of us. [Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator] <<

I suspect the link was to his work at the art gallery in Vancouver and the mods
decided it was too commercial. Or too aboriginal. God forbid that native art be
shared with normal people or forced upon the innocent.


~jwf~

I don't know what link they tinkered with -- I only remember putting two in, and they're both still there. And, despite their efforts, the Nina Haggerty one still doesn't work because of the closing parenthesis. Here's the correct one: http://www.ninahaggertyart.ca/home.php



so, you came through the big blow alright, ~jwf~?

I'm OK.
Not sure about the .

http://thechronicleherald.ca/News/1200157.html



~jwf~

"I said to him, 'all right mate, where are we going then?'"

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/naked-uk-car-owner-thwarts-stunned-thief/story-e6frfku0-1225914278134#ixzz0ycPLeEYl'

~jwf~ @ 9312: >> Wonder if we'll hear any personal accounts? << http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/brunel/F2893226?thread=7737329

'A newly released study shows that regular drinkers are less likely to die prematurely than people who have never indulged in alcohol. . . .'


Here's were my comes in:

'it found that mortality rates were highest for those who had never had a sip, lower for heavy drinkers, and lowest for moderate drinkers who enjoyed one to three drinks per day.'


http://www.mnn.com/food/wine-spirits/stories/study-abstaining-from-alcohol-significantly-shortens-life


In my jurisdiction, the authorities consider something like five or more drinks a week to be an indication of possible alcoholism, not simply 'moderate' drinking.


Not that anybody seems to listen to the authorities on this subject.

Anyone remember the old BBC programme, That's Life? They often had a slot on the show where people could send in photos of their odd shaped vegetables. Here's the up to date version - A carrot that looks like Buzz Lightyear!

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/840010-buzz-lightyear-carrot-causes-buzz

ELO cellist killed by hay bale in freak van Devon crash

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-11195393

Bet that came out of the blue.