Friday, November 13, 2009
Wikinews interviewed author Marc Headley about his new book Blown for Good, and asked him about life inside the international headquarters of Scientology known as “Gold Base“, located in Gilman Hot Springs near Hemet, California. Headley joined the organization at age seven when his mother became a member, and worked at Scientology’s international management headquarters for several years before leaving in 2005.
Wednesday, March 9, 2022
On Tuesday, United States President Joe Biden announced a ban on imports of oil, gas and coal from Russia after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began last month.
Biden said: “the United States is targeting the main artery of Russia’s economy.” He also acknowledged that many allies would not be able to follow suit with similar bans.
“The decision today is not without cost here at home,” Biden continued. “Putin’s war is already hurting American families at the gas pump. Since Putin began his military build-up at Ukrainian borders, just since then, the price of gas at the pump in America went up 75 cents and with this action it’s going to go up further. I’m going to do everything I can to minimize Putin’s price hike here at home.”
Countries in Europe rely more heavily on fuel imports from Russia than does the United States. In the announcement from the US White House, Biden frequently termed the invasion as Vladimir Putin’s war.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
A new 154-page Government Accountability Office (GAO) report says seven federal departments together spent US$1.6 billion on 343 contracts with public relations firms, advertising agencies, and media organizations, as well as individuals involved in such activities.
Congressional Democrats requested the report after several incidents surfaced in which journalists or commentators were paid to promote the Bush administrations programs, but did not disclose the financing, so called payola. In one case, Armstrong Williams was paid $186,000 for promotions of President Bush’s No Child Left Behind law. The administrations position was that an agencies’ mission includes spreading information about federal programs.
At that time, the GAO had independent objections to the ready-to-air news stories the administration’s provided to TV stations in order to promote it policies. The administration claimed the burden of disclosure falls to the TV stations.
Congress has now inserted a provision into an annual spending bill requiring federal agencies to include “a clear notification” within the text or audio of a prepackaged news story that it was prepared or paid for by the government.
Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) said “Careful oversight of this spending is essential given the track record of the Bush administration, which has used taxpayer dollars to fund covert propaganda within the United States.”
The seven agencies covered by the report are Commerce, Defense, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Interior, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs.
Submitted by: Tony Lu
How do you trust dentist when you get different opinions by different dentists is something that many of us have asked at one point or another about any service. But when its your dentist you’d assume that they would know what they are talking about. We may not like going to the dentist but its something that is essential and we aim for as simple a process as possible.
So if you go to the dentist and they tell you that the surgery or procedures that need to be done are lengthy or expensive you may want to get the opinion of another dentist. Never be worried about telling your dentist this, if they’re genuine then they have nothing to worry about. By doing this you’ll also be able to make a more informed and hopefully wiser choice about what really needs doing to your teeth or gums, if anything at all.
Off you go to another dentist then only to get told that the procedure you need to have done by the first dentist doesn’t have to be that expensive or even worse that it doesn’t really need to be done at all. Now you’re wondering who to believe but there is usually a good reason for the differences. Some dentists may think that an uneven bite merely doesn’t look nice whereas another may feel that it could have a negative affect on the health of your teeth or gums in the long run.
So this is where it boils down to opinion, dentist number one may feel that getting braces will just make your teeth look nicer and isn’t necessary but if the unevenness does start to give you problems physically then they will do something about it, dentist number two may err more on the side of prevention and want to stop any chances of those problems ever occurring.
And now you’re at a point where you need to make a decision, read up and do some research, look online or speak to people who have had similar procedures done. Ask both dentists the same questions, why does it need to be done? Can it be done cheaper or in another less invasive way? You should judge them on the answers they give you and if you feel they are being truthful or if what they say really makes sense or if it sounds like they’re going for the most expensive options.
When you see a second or subsequent dentist that gives you different answers never be afraid to point out to them that another qualified dentist has told you something different. Explain what they said and ask that particular dentist if they can help by explaining why their opinion differs.
Unless it seems very obvious that a dentist is merely out to get your money the main reasons that dentists opinions may differ is that they may have been to different colleges or universities where the training was different. They may even prefer one technique over another such as preferring to use metal braces as opposed to using thin veneers.
So make sure to ask questions, do research and ask others who may go to the same dentists, did they feel like they were being pressurised into spending more than normal? If the answer is yes then its best to avoid that dentist.
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Monday, March 7, 2022
Cricket Grand Final match ups on Australia’s Sunshine Coast have been set, with many being made through washed out semi finals.
Three games scheduled the be played at Burpengary, Morayfield, and Wamuran were unable to proceed when the local government, Moreton Bay Council, closed access to any sporting grounds in their region. The games affected were the Division 3 game between Burpengary and USC, the Division 1 game between Caboolture and Maroochydore, and the Division 4 game between Wamuran-Stanley River and Palmwoods.
No play was possible on either ground at the Glasshouse Mountains grounds, as the sports club that controls the facilities did not allow them access. Games affected were the Division 4 game between Glasshouse and Maroochydore, and the Division 5 game between Glasshouse and USC.
One ground in Palmwoods got a game on. The Division 5 game at between Palmwoods and Cooroy-Eumundi at the Palmwoods Sports Reserve nearly had a first innings result on day 1. The home side batted first scoring 92. Cooroy were 52 for the loss of 9 wickets. Palmwoods would get the last wicket on Sunday.
The main ground in Tewantin, Read Park, was deemed too water logged after an inspection by both teams in the Division 1 game between Tewantin Noosa and Glasshouse. Tewantins Division 6 side managed to get 61 overs in on Sunday against Yandina before lighting became a factor. That match concluded in a draw.
USC and Palmwoods got enough play in for a first innings result. The home side chased down the 86 required for that result an hour before the scheduled lunch break. Palmwoods would concede the match about 20 minutes prior to the interval.
USC all-rounder George Bagshaw said: “We bowled well, bowled them out for about 86 and yeah, did the rest with the bat. [We] certainly dug in; Me and Trav[is Bell] put on a good partnership and, yeah, good for the rest of the boys to get it done this morning.”
Monday, June 30, 2008
After auctioning off his entire life on eBay for A$399,300 (€244 912.148) Ian Usher says he is “a little bit disappointed” at the final selling price.
The 44-year-old British immigrant living in Perth, Australia, put all of his worldly belongings up for sale on the popular auction website, including his three-bedroom house and all its contents, his car, motorcycle, jetski, skydiving gear, and his job at a rug store, for which he offered a two week trial period. He even offered introductions to his friends living in Perth.
Usher made the decision to sell his life after his five-year marriage suddenly ended. On his website, alife4sale.com, he explains that “despite my life being busy and fulfilled, I still miss my wife so much. Everything in my home is a reminder of the wonderful past we shared. So, after a year in this house I decided that it is time to sell it and move on.”
| It was as much about moving on as it was about selling it for as much as I could get. | ||
During the 7 day auction, which ended on Sunday, there were several bogus bids which brought the sale price as high as A$2.2 million, but the final price ended up at A$399,300, which was around A$100,000 less than Usher had hoped for. “I’m a little bit disappointed, but I’m still excited. It’s still enough to move forward and do what I said I was going to do, which is move on to the next part of my life,” Usher said. “It was as much about moving on as it was about selling it for as much as I could get.”
According to Reuters, the winning bidder, whose username is “mslmcc”, also lives in Australia, and has a 100 percent feedback rating. Usher says he hasn’t yet been able to figure out who the buyer is, because of the TV crews lined up in front of his home. “I’m trying to find some time to get on the computer and check it out … I haven’t looked (up) anything about them yet,” he said.
Usher now plans to go off in search of a new life. His initial plan, as he describes on his website, was to just walk out his front door with just his wallet and a passport and board a train, with no idea of where to go. He has since launched 100goals100weeks.com, which will document his attempt to complete 100 of his life goals in a span of 100 weeks. Some of these goals include getting a pilot’s license, climbing the Eiffel Tower, learning to play the didgeridoo, and shaking hands with billionaire Richard Branson.
“I was pretty aimless when I started this, and I had a vague notion of adventure, but I’ve come up with a much more solid plan, which is still very adventurous,” Usher says. He invites anyone who is interested to join him on his adventures.
Submitted by: Mr Michael Ryan
There is nothing better than holidays where you get to spend time with your loved ones. Holidays are always special because you are away from the hustle and bustle of your daily professional life and you get to do what you want. You can go on a much needed vacation, you can spend quality time with friends or you can simply laze around and sleep. In short it is the perfect time to do whatever you want without any kind of boundary.
With the winter holidays coming, one of the major festivities is also round the corner. Christmas is celebrated the world over with much fan fare. The main spirit of this festivity is to give and receive gifts. And when you are planning to gift something special to your loved ones, you need to take extra care to wrap it up in a special way as well. Gift wrappers are not enough. You need Holiday ribbon too. These ribbons are created keeping in mind the need of the hour. The market is full of different types of ribbons ranging from delicate designed ones to bold prints. There is something for everyone. Depending on your need and requirement you need to select the one that you would like to purchase.
You can check out printed ribbon. They come in different shapes and sizes with interesting designs as well. You can take you pick from the ones that have Christmas tree designed on them to the ones that come with images of Santa Claus and snow. These ribbons can be broad as well. If you want ribbons that are sleek and slim in look and finish then search accordingly. You are sure to find many that will meet your specifications.
Chevron ribbon is another popular option. They come in interesting colors red, green, pink, yellow, blue, orange, mauve and so on. This ribbon has a typical wavy design which makes it look interesting and offbeat from the regular staff.
Instead of visiting the traditional stores and search for these ribbons, you can easily purchase them from online stores. There are many stores that deal only in different types of holiday ribbons. Check these stores out as you will come across a greater variety. If you want you can opt for customized ribbons as well. All you got to do is contact the service provider and inform them about what you are looking for. Provide them with clears specifications so that they can go ahead and create the desired ribbon. There are many online stores that offer this facility.
So what are you waiting for? Check out these online stores today. Select the ribbon that you would like to buy. Now check out some cool YouTube videos that teach you how to use the ribbons to gift wrap. Use these tips and tricks to gift-wrap your gift with your chosen ribbon. Go ahead and make the most of this festive season with these holiday ribbons. They are stylish, unique and offbeat.
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Saturday, January 26, 2008
A 16-year-old male from Novato, California has been arrested in Tennessee over allegations he intended to hijack a commercial passenger airliner in the United States.
The boy, who was unnamed due to his age, was a passenger on board Southwest Airlines Flight 284 from Los Angeles to Nashville on Tuesday, with his parents reporting him missing at 11:30 am the same day. Although he remained calm throughout the flight and made no hijacking attempt, authorities report he had handcuffs, duct tape and yarn inside the aircraft cabin with him. Although his arrest was only made public on Friday, it is reported that he was detained immediately on reaching Nashville International Airport.
George Bolds, a spokesman for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said that the items were “suspicious” and that the boy had informed the FBI he had indeed intended to hijack the aircraft. An FBI agent told reporters that he felt the plot was ill-conceived, saying “His plan had a low probability of success.”
The FBI also conducted a search of his home on Thursday, finding in his room “a photograph of the inside of a small aircraft, something you’d find in a bookstore.”
Subsequent to his arrest he pled guilty on Friday to a “delinquent act,” according to local officials. A juvenile court judge ordered him to be returned to California for continued perusal of that charge as well as others set to be made. He is currently in Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center in Nashville.
Authorities believe that the teen was suicidal, but the FBI dismissed earlier reports alleging that he intended to crash the airliner into a Hannah Montana concert in Lafayette, Louisiana.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
The summit of more than 70 African and European Union nations has opened in Portugal with an acknowledgement that conflicts, human rights violations and poverty continue to pose challenges. Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates opened the summit on today, calling it a meeting of equals in a community of nations that shares a historic duty.
The Portuguese leader promised a frank and open discussion with no taboos. This was seen as a reference to issues such as conflicts and human rights violations in Africa as well as historical injustices in Euro-African relations.
The chairman of the African Union, Ghana’s President John Kuofor, said the relationship between Africa and Europe during the past 500 years has been unhappy, characterized by the slave trade, colonialism and apartheid. He said a new relationship is needed to correct what he called a historic inhumanity.
“The real significance of the Africa-EU summit must therefore be to lay the foundations of a new partnership based on mutual respect and a genuine commitment to pursue the mutual interests of our two continents,” he said.
The leaders are to establish a new strategic partnership with eight priority areas. These include peace and security, governance and human rights, economic development, environmental degradation, migration and trade.
The President of the African Union Commission, Alpha Oumar Konare, said the relationship must avoid charity, paternalism and false promises.
He says no one will solve Africa’s ills for it. Africa must play the game of globalization but not unilateral globalization based solely on market forces. Konare said the new partnership must develop ways to address this issue.
Efforts to hold the Africa-EU summit have been thwarted for the past five years by a dispute over Zimbabwe‘s human rights record. President Robert Mugabe‘s invitation this year prompted a boycott by Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain, Zimbabwe’s former colonial ruler.
Human rights activists have protested that summit leaders are ignoring suffering and oppression on the continent. And opponents of globalization said the summit’s approach to boosting trade would aggravate poverty.
European leaders have been intent on holding the meeting because of competition for Africa’s markets coming from China, India and other emerging nations.
byAlma Abell
Homeowners sometimes find themselves with extra square footage. This is usually amidst a patio or backyard setting. The overall appeal of these locales is fascinating. You’re going to find that they can be retrofitted with a lot of different options. As you look at the different options that you have for outdoor space, don’t dismiss the notion of having a kitchen outside. Outdoor kitchens are interesting in that they provide the best of a lot of different elements outside. If you aren’t quite sure, consider some of the alluring aspects of this option that you’ll want to consider.
Entertaining With Culinary Elements
First and foremost, consider the culinary options that you will have in place. When you have a full outdoor kitchen, you could do a lot more than just grill some steaks. Imagine getting a lot more done. For instance, what if you wanted to do a mixed menu? Some things grilled, some things baked, and others boiled? You can do it all if you have the right equipment in place, and that’s where this comes shining through. This brings together entertaining options that you wouldn’t be able to do otherwise.
The Visual Design
There’s nothing quite as amazing as having a nice open concept kitchen. Now, multiply that by 10 and you will see that outdoor kitchens can absolutely give you a thrill. This concept goes beyond the ability to just cook and entertain. There’s a visual element to this that is absolutely stunning. You’re going to find that it will come into play when you want to sell your home. Selling your home with this in place will draw the eye, and give you a little more wiggle room in terms of asking price.
The Concepts
For those that aren’t sure what outdoor kitchens consist of, you’ll definitely want to look at the possibilities. If you have a lot of space, you could have a full scale culinary range. From installing ovens, burners, grills, and sinks to putting in islands, you have a lot of diverse opportunities to explore. This includes the additional elements of tile, stone, and more that can accent your existing patio or decking.
At the end of the day, kitchen renovations don’t have to be isolated to just the interior of your home. You could use existing, outdoor spaces to create outstanding concepts. Kitchens can bring about so much, especially if you want to entertain. If you want to have friends over, or just have a family get together, you can easily do so when you have outdoor area to cook, entertain and more. Installation is a matter of working with a good crew and contractor. Once all the pieces are put into place, you’ll wonder how you managed without it all.
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