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Bombings hit Iraq Shia pilgrims in Karbala

February 5, 2010 By 1 Comment
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The pilgrimage has drawn millions to Karbala's Imam Hussein shrine Two suicide bombers have killed 27 people and injured dozens on the outskirts of the Iraqi city of Karbala, police reports say. About a million Shia Muslim pilgrims are in the city to visit the Imam Hussein shrine. About 60 pilgrims were killed in two other attacks this week. Friday is the last and most important day of the Arbaeen, 40 days of mourning for the Prophet Muhammad's grandson. Meanwhile, 11 people were killed in an attack on Shias in Karachi in Pakistan. Election fears Police said the Karbala attack was a double suicide bombing - two cars packed with explosives were detonated on either side of a bridge across which pilgrims were making their way in and out of the city. Some reports said the car bomb attack was followed up by mortar rounds. Provincial governor Amalheddin al-Hir told the Agence France-Presse news agency he believed that al-Qaeda militants, supported by the outlawed Baath party of former leader Saddam Hussein, had carried out the attack. The attack came despite heightened security for the pilgrimage to Karbala, which has drawn about 10 million worshippers to the Imam Hussein shrine over the past two weeks. This year's pilgrimage has already been hit twice by bombers. A bomb planted on a cart pulled by a motorbike killed at least 20 pilgrims on Wednesday as they streamed into Karbala. Bus targeted And more than 40 pilgrims were killed on the outskirts of the capital Baghdad on Monday as they began the long walk to Karbala. The bombings also raise fears of heightened sectarian violence before Iraq's March parliamentary elections. The sectarian tension has risen with the row over the banning of more than 500 candidates, many for links to the Baath party. Sunnis believe they have been heavily targeted in the exclusions, which are the subject of a legal challenge. The Pakistan attack, possibly involving a bomb on a motorcycle, targeted a bus carrying Shia Muslims to a religious procession also marking Arbaeen. In addition to the 11 dead, about 50 people were injured. The Shia-Sunni schism originates from a dispute soon after the death of the Prophet Muhammad over who should lead the Muslims. Sunnis remain the majority globally, with Shias estimated to number about 10% of all Muslims. Shias are however the majority in Iraq. … [Read more...]

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Hubble spots Pluto blushing in space

February 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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The icy, mottled world is undergoing seasonal changes Images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope have revealed some unusual and colourful changes to the surface of Pluto. Nasa says the dwarf planet on the edge of our solar system is becoming increasingly red. Its illuminated northern hemisphere is also getting brighter. Nasa's scientists believe these are seasonal changes - as the planet heads into a new phase of its 248-year-long seasonal cycle. "These changes are most likely consequences of surface ice melting on the sunlit pole and then re-freezing on the other pole," Nasa's Space Telescope Science Institute said in a statement. The overall colour is probably a result of ultraviolet radiation from the distant Sun breaking up methane on Pluto's surface. This, scientists say, would leave behind a red carbon-rich residue. But some astronomers have expressed shock at the changes. "It's a little bit of a surprise to see these changes happening so big and so fast," said Marc Buie, of the Southwest Research Institute. "This is unprecedented." In 2006, astronomers stripped Pluto of its status as a full planet, downgrading it to a dwarf planet. Further away and considerably smaller than the eight other "traditional" planets in the solar system, Pluto - at just 2,360km (1,467 miles) across - is smaller even than some moons. Nasa said: "The Hubble pictures underscore that Pluto is not simply a ball of ice and rock but a dynamic world that undergoes dramatic atmospheric changes." … [Read more...]

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Toyota mulling Prius recall after brake concerns

February 5, 2010 By 1 Comment
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Toyota's reputation could be tarnished for years Toyota is considering recalling some Prius models in Japan and the US following concerns about the hybrid's brakes, the carmaker has confirmed. The US Transportation Department is investigating braking problems in the 2010 Toyota Prius after Toyota admitted brake problems with the model. The carmaker had said it had fixed the problem in January. Toyota has already recalled more than eight million cars worldwide over concerns about accelerator pedals. "There are reasons to believe that a recall could be put in place [in the US and Japan], but it's still early hours and early days," said Toyota UK's managing director Miguel Fonseca. "There is still an investigation going on with the relevant authorities." Further investigation The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received 124 reports from drivers about the braking issue, including four of crashes. TOYOTA RECALLS: STORY SO FAR September 2007, US: 55,000 Camry and Lexus cars in floormat recall October 2009, US: 3.8m Toyota and Lexus vehicles recalled due to floormat problem November 2009, US: floormat recall increased to 4.2m vehicles January 2010, US: 2.3m Toyota vehicles recalled due to accelerator pedal problems (Of those, 2.1m already involved in floormat recall) January 2010, US: 1.1m Toyotas in floormat recall February 2010, Europe: 1.8m Toyota's in pedal recall February 2010, Japan, US: 200 reports of brake faults in new Prius. None recalled Q&A: Toyota recalls Toyota UK repairs start next week There have been no reports of any such accidents in the UK. The investigation will look into allegations of momentary loss of braking power while travelling over uneven road surfaces. As depressing the brakes further activated normal braking, Toyota said the glitch was not legally a safety hazard and said it had received no reports of any accidents related to it. 'Very disappointed' Mr Fonseca told the BBC that the braking problem was "not a defect, but a characteristic of the way the ABS system is tuned." However, he did say that "we are very disappointed to have let customers down and accept that we could have handled [the problem] better." On Thursday, the carmaker reported a net income of 153 billion yen ($1.68bn; £1.06bn) for the final three months of 2009, compared with a loss of 164 billion yen a year earlier. The firm also said it still expected higher sales and to make a profit this year, despite the heavy blow to the company's reputation. Toyota estimates its losses will reach $2bn (£1.23bn) in costs and lost sales from its worldwide recall of vehicles that might have faulty accelerator pedals, but a recall of Prius models would send this figure even higher. "The losses could escalate if it turns out that the trust and reputation the company built up over a period of decades has been demolished almost overnight," said BBC business reporter Jorn Madslien. … [Read more...]

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Blizzard headed toward mid-Atlantic region

February 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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STORY HIGHLIGHTS * Blizzard to hit Delaware, New Jersey on Friday afternoon * Storm warning issued for Baltimore and Washington starts at 10 a.m. Friday * Baltimore, Washington and northern Virginia could receive 16 to 24 inches of snow RELATED TOPICS * Winter Weather * National Weather Service * D.C. Metro Area (CNN) -- Residents in the mid-Atlantic states have rushed to stores for shovels, ice-melting chemicals and other emergency supplies ahead of a storm that is expected to wallop the region with as much as 24 inches of snow Friday. A blizzard is expected to hit New Jersey and Delaware starting Friday afternoon, while near-blizzard conditions are expected to hit Washington and Baltimore, Maryland, the National Weather Service said. Baltimore-area residents rushed for supplies late Thursday, CNN affiliate WUSA reported. Shannon Whitehead of College Park said her hardware store had sold out of snow shovels. Whitehead had little time to find supplies, the weather service predicted. A storm warning was issued for Baltimore and Washington from 10 a.m. Friday till 10 p.m. Saturday. The storm will make travel very hazardous or nearly impossible Friday night, the agency said. A blizzard warning was issued for parts of New Jersey and Delaware from 4 p.m. Friday till 7 p.m. Saturday. "Snowfall totals of 12 to 18 inches are expected near the Delaware and central New Jersey coast, with up to 24 inches expected expected over southern New Jersey," the weather service said. The blizzard will make travel extremely dangerous in New Jersey, the agency said. Snow, strong winds and poor visibility are likely, leading to whiteout conditions. Southwest Airlines canceled most flights to Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington for Friday afternoon and evening. And the storm could affect more flights Saturday and Sunday, the airline said. Amtrak has canceled most Friday service from Washington southward, it said in a statement. Baltimore, Washington and northern Virginia could receive 16 to 24 inches of snow. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, could get 8 to 12 inches. Storm warnings also covered parts of Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Indiana, Ohio and South Carolina. … [Read more...]

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TGIF – Eye Candy for Sunday

February 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Because of the Super Bowl, Sunday - I will not be updating! Yes, it's a holiday!!! So, I'm giving you your candy early!!!! TGIF - This is called, Sleepover Babes....... … [Read more...]

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Does Penis Size Matter?

February 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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In a world of supersize cars, jobs, meals, and just about everything else, it's hard to stop thinking about whether bigger is actually better for everything. Men are competitive when it comes to their ability to satisfy women, and unfortunately after years of locker-room comparisons, the go-to source of pride or shame is the size of that with which they're working. So, does penis size really matter? Well, yes, but you'll be shocked to find out for whom it really matters. Striving to be the best is par for the course; while your date-night antics don't necessarily qualify as a sport, and you won't be in the running for an Olympic medal this year, peak performance is always on your mind, especially when it comes to sex. As we all know, it takes more than height to make a great basketball player, and more than biceps to make a standout football star. The same can be said for savvy lovers who have better sex -- physical equipment isn't everything when it comes to knocking it out of the park, and women aren't shy about singing the praise of skill over size. Unfortunately, not all guys seem to believe those women so we're going to rely on science to reassure you that the size of the package isn't more important than the method of delivery. It's all in your head OK, it's time for some scientific facts and figures to put to rest some of the outlandish claims and myths circulating about whether or not penis size matters and what's normal for the vast majority of men out there. A comprehensive worldwide study of more than 40 independent penis size research projects, undertaken since 1942, has come up with a general penis size guideline. With over 11,000 participants, the survey puts the average erect size of the adult penis between 5.5 inches and 6.2 inches in length and 4.7 inches and 5.1 inches in girth. If the science doesn't do it for you, and you're still wondering "does penis size matter," then the study also took a look at perceptions of size and asked more than 50,000 heterosexual men and women how they rated their own size or the size of their partner. They found that 85% of women were satisfied with their partner's penile size, but only 55% of men were satisfied. Notice anything? The women were much more forgiving and didn't feel like they were dealing with inferior goods if they weren't being bludgeoned with porn-star worthy penises. Chances are that women within measuring distance usually have better things on their minds than finding a ruler, and if they don't, penis size probably shouldn't be your first concern. What she's thinking Do you think you could accurately identify what 5.0 inches looks like within ¼ inch? Yeah, we didn't think so. And guess what, most women couldn't do it either. The variances in the middle ranges of penis sizes only offer up about ¾ of an inch from the low-end to the high-end of the scale, including racial variances that have seeped into popular culture, but remain largely unsubstantiated in the scientific community. … [Read more...]

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Wales Auditor General Quits After Porn is Found on Laptop

February 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Resignation comes a mere 9 months after the Auditor General signed a new three-year contract; the police are now investigating the incident CARDIFF, Wales—Another one bites the dust. In the continuing global trend toward prosecuting otherwise proficient people for daring to enjoy adult content, the Auditor General of Wales has resigned after being accused of having pornography on his laptop. “Jeremy Colman, 61, who headed the Wales Audit Office which checks the accounts of public sector bodies with budgets of £19bn, was reappointed last May to his post, which carries a salary of more than £170,000,” reports WalesOnline.com. “It is understood Mr Colman’s laptop was seized after a senior official at the Wales Audit Office contacted senior officials at the National Assembly. He resigned with immediate effect, although because he was technically appointed by the Queen, she has to accept his resignation.” The position, which was created in 2005, is responsible for auditing and inspecting a range of public services, such as the Assembly Government and other public bodies, including within the National Health Service. There is no indication that the content in question was illegal, and news reports do not specify the extent to which Colman was accused of having accessed adult material at work. It is even left unclear whether or not the laptop in question was provided to him by his employer. However, Plaid Cymru AM Leanne Wood, who represents South Wales Central, where the Wales Audit Office (WAO) is located, did express alarm at his resignation and concern about the workplace politics of the WAO. “Jeremy Colman’s resignation comes as a complete shock as it was only in May last year that his contract was extended for a further three years," she said. “I have previously called for an independent investigation into the running of the Wales Audit Office and I still believe that is necessary after Mr Colman’s departure. “There have been allegations that a bullying culture exists within the office and this is an issue that will need to be addressed as a matter of urgency by his immediate successor and whoever is appointed to this key role in the long term.” While that investigation is being considered, another is underway. The Times Online now reports that the police are now investigating Colman. “We are investigating an allegation regarding computer material. Inquiries are ongoing and it would be inappropriate to comment further," a spokeswoman for South Wales Police told the paper. … [Read more...]

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Sure, They Prosecute Porn Sellers … But Buyers Too?

February 5, 2010 By 1 Comment
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Federal grand jury subpoena challenge suggests next government prosecution tactic WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Department of Justice, contrary to the hopes of many adult industry members who voted Democratic in the 2008 election, is apparently still hell-bent on prosecuting adult producers for selling adult movies to consenting adults—but thanks to the excellent legal work of First Amendment attorneys Allan Gelbard and H. Louis Sirkin, the feds may have hit a small roadblock in their continuing quest for power over porn. At issue is a case titled "In re Grand Jury Investigation of Possible Violation of 18 U.S.C. §1461 et seq," which all followers of adult legal issues will recognize as legalese for an investigation of "Mailing obscene or crime-inciting matter." As part of the investigation, the feds served several subpoenas on what is identified in the case as "Company X," owing to the fact that all grand jury proceedings are secret, and revealing any information of what went on in any grand jury hearing is punishable by fines and imprisonment. However, the legal opinion, authored by U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth, has been published, and is therefore in the public domain. According to the opinion, federal prosecutors attempted to serve four grand jury subpoenas on Company X. The first sought "the name, address, and telephone number of the businesses that processed financial transactions for Company X between December 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008"; the second, "the names, positions, hours, location of employment, home address and telephone numbers for all persons employed by Company X" for those same dates; the third, "a copy of records identifying the true name(s) and alias(es) of the owner(s) of Company X from its date of incorporation up to and including June 2008"; and the fourth, "a copy of records that show the identity of all movies sold or distributed, including the date of each transaction, payment received, and method and date of each of each shipment, from customer purchases from the website/domain name www.[_____].com between December 1, 2007 and December 15, 2007, and April 1, 2008 and April 15, 2008."[Website name redacted in original] They also wanted Company X's custodian of records to attest that the documents produced in response to the subpoenas were official company records. The company had no problem producing documents responsive to the first and second subpoenas, but balked at filling out a custodian of records form to accompany the response since the custodian, who also happens to be the company president, rightly argued that signing such forms would be a waiver of the president's Fifth Amendment right not to become a witness against him/herself. The judge ruled that the mere production of the documents by a company representative was sufficient to prove that they were, in fact, company documents. "[I]t is not clear what purpose (at least at this stage) would be served by compelling Mr. X to qualify responsive … [Read more...]

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HTML 5 Poised to Replace Flash

February 5, 2010 By 1 Comment
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LOS ANGELES — A passionate debate is currently raging among web developers over the immediate future of online content delivery, hinging on whether or not webmasters should continue to embrace Adobe Flash or adopt more modern technologies. A perennial source of contention between opinionated designers, the choices of delivery formats for text, imagery, video and beyond, have been well documented and debated, with Flash emerging as one of the crowd's favorites — as evidenced in the widespread deployment of Adobe's technology, especially in the fields of rich-media advertising and video streaming. But that's the crux of the problem: it's "Adobe's technology" — and as with any other proprietary technology offering, its interaction with other technologies depends on the vagaries of licensing minutiae as much as it does on any infrastructure limitations — hence the growing popularity of standards-based open source software. And that popularity increased again with Apple's release of the iPad, which disappointed many critical observers with its lack of Flash support — renewing the format controversy once again. The company's popular iPhone also lacks support for Flash, leaving "blue Lego blocks" to indicate missing content that was not displayed — but this was widely expected to be addressed with the iPad. "Flash in the browser provides a competitive advantage to these devices because it will enable their customers to browse the whole web," Adobe Chief Technology Officer Kevin Lynch blogged. "We are ready to enable Flash in the browser on these devices if and when Apple chooses to allow that for its users, but to date we have not had the required cooperation from Apple to make this happen." Enter into this equation the latest version of HTML, the language which is used to create most web pages, and which provides much of the functionality of Flash, but without licensing restrictions which would prevent the display of its "web standard" content types. HTML 5 offers integrated audio and video support, along with increased interactive and display functionality, among other game-changing features and presents an obvious route to open source security — but Flash will hold sway, at least until the next generation of web properties evolves, say some experts. "The Web (including video, games, animation) is too vital a platform for business, communication, and society to be in the hands of any single vendor," Opera Software's Bruce Lawson said. "But it'll be a while; there is a huge body of existing content that uses Flash." Existing content isn't the only issue, however, and neither is licensing or the lack of Flash on the iPhone and iPad — there is also the current immaturity of HTML 5 and the lack of cooperation and advancement at times of even its most vocal proponents in getting the standard fully developed and ratified. There are also other contenders such as Microsoft with its advanced Silverlight platform muddying up the waters. Adobe, … [Read more...]

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Adam & Eve Surprising Sex Survey

February 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. — A new sex study by Adam & Eve reveals some surprising results about how often Americans have sex. According to the company’s “Great American Sex Survey,” more than one-third of the respondents said they have sex once or twice a week, while the next largest group, 22 percent, said they have sex only one to three times a month. “This news is a bit disappointing to us,” said Katy Zvolerin, Adam & Eve director of public relations. “Studies have shown that a healthy sex life can lower blood pressure and improve overall health. At Adam & Eve, we encourage a sex positive relationship between loving, consensual adults.” The third highest level of respondents with 19 percent, reported they had sex 3 to 4 times a week. The next highest group at 17 percent, said they had sex “seldom” or “never.” Only 4.8 percent of the adults surveyed said they enjoyed sex five to six times a week. And around 3 percent said they had sex once or more than once a day. The web-based monthly survey, conducted by Cvent, of more than 1,000 American adults age 18 and up, was sponsored by Adam & Eve to study sexual preferences and practices. … [Read more...]

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