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Belgium investigates head-on rail collision

February 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Bart Ouvry, Belgian Foreign Department: "We have a great number of victims" An investigation has been launched into the rush-hour train collision which killed 18 people outside the Belgian capital, Brussels. Rescue workers spent all of Monday searching the twisted wreckage for victims, fearing that the death toll in the head-on crash could rise. Identification was proving difficult for some victims, officials said. Fifty-five commuters were seriously injured while a further 89 people sustained minor injuries. They had been taken to 14 hospitals in the greater Brussels area, officials said. Wreckage of the two trains that collided in Halle, near Brussels, Belgium - 15 February 2010 In pictures: Belgian train crash Passenger describes the shock Wintry scene of destruction Rescue crews had to deal with freezing temperatures and blizzard conditions when the crash happened about 0830 local time (0730 GMT) on Monday, near Halle, on the outskirts of Brussels. The front carriages smashed into each other and were forced up into the air, damaging overhead power lines. As of Monday evening, officials said 15 men and three women had been killed. Passenger Sebastien Duckers, who hit his head when he was thrown forward in the crash, told the BBC: "Everyone was frightened and there was a lot of crying and screaming. We were all in a state of shock. "There was broken glass scattered around the carriage." He saw one person trapped under wreckage. The cause of the crash was unknown, but the governor of Flemish Brabant province, Lodewijk De Witte, said one of the trains seemed to have missed a stop signal. Belgium's track operator Infrabel said it was difficult to speculate on the cause at this stage. RECENT EUROPE CRASHES 15 Feb 2010: Two commuter trains collide near Halle, Belgium, killing between 18 people 29 June 2009: Twenty-two people killed when a freight train carrying gas explodes and crashes into homes in Viareggio, Italy June 2006: At least 30 people are killed and a dozen hurt in a metro train crash in the eastern Spanish city of Valencia January 2006: At least 39 people die and 135 are injured when a train plunges down a ravine after its brakes fail in Podgorica, Montenegro October 1999: Thirty-one people are killed when a high-speed passenger train approaching London's Paddington Station collides with a local commuter train Recent Europe train crashes Belgian National Railways spokesman Jochen Goovaerts said his agency was awaiting the outcome of the investigation before discussing the cause of Monday's accident. The crashed trains may not be completely removed from the tracks for two or three days, the Brussels public prosecutor's office said, according to Associated Press news agency. Cancellations of Eurostar trains between Brussels and London, plus Thalys trains to France, Germany and Netherlands were extended into Monday as their tracks run past the crash site. King Albert II visited the scene in the afternoon with Prime Minister … [Read more...]

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Brazzers Parent Fighting $6.4 Million Forfeiture Suit

February 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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ATLANTA — The parent company of Brazzers has filed a motion to dismiss the forfeiture of $6.4 million the U.S. government is seeking after authorities traced numerous transactions involving the Canadian adult company and third-party credit card processors, including those in Israel. Brazzers, which is owned by Mansef Inc., set up an Atlanta company last year called Premium Services Inc. to facilitate payments from Mansef’s third-party credit card processors into the accounts and to allow the company to remit funds out of two checking accounts to its U.S. vendors, the company said in court papers filed last week. But federal authorities claim that Premium Services was not registered with the U.S. Department of Treasury nor with the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance as a money-transmitting business. The government noted that Premium Services has no known office building nor employees and operates at a mail drop called The Mail Room. Federal authorities say in the complaint that Premium Services for three months last year received $9.4 million in wire transfers from various sources and that much of the funds originated overseas in countries considered by law enforcement to be at high risk for money-laundering activity, such as Israel. In exhibits provided by the government, some of those Israel-based processors transacting business with Premium Services included Paygea Ltd., CAL-International, Mizrahi Tefahot Bank Ltd. and Israel Discount Bank Ltd., whose subsidiary Israel Credit Cards-Cal Ltd. was levied a $13.5 million fine in November by VISA Europe over chargebacks. U.S. authorities claim that $6.4 million in the two accounts is forfeitable under 18 U.S.C. § 981 (a)(1)(A) as property involved in or traceable to a transaction in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1960, which prohibit’s unlicensed money-transmitting buinesses. The U.S. Attorneys Office, which is trying the case, was unavailable for comment on Monday due to the President’s Day holiday. But authorities typically rely on the Bank Secrecy Act reports and record-keeping requirements to provide a paper trail, for investigations of financial crimes and illegal activities, including tax evasion, embezzlement and money laundering, Susan Ross, a Los Angeles litigator who represents Mansef, did not immediately return XBIZ calls on Monday for inquiry. But in court papers, Mansef and Premium Services claim that the two bank account were at the behest of Mansef. “Premium is not a money-transmitting business as defined in federal or Georgia state law and so it is not required to be licensed or registered as such,” a motion filed last week said. “There are no allegations, in this or any other forum, that the adult entertainment provided by Mansef is anything other than lawful and legitimate. “The government bases its entire complaint on the unsupported leap that Premium Services, because it has bank accounts into which it received deposits and from which it made disbursements, … [Read more...]

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Vivid Offers Singer John Mayer a Job

February 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. — Vivid Entertainment has made singer John Mayer a job offer. Top boss Steven Hirsch sent Mayer a letter offering him an opportunity to work with the adult entertainment company. The letter reads, “We actively pursue working with highly creative people and you obviously fit that mold. We believe your incredible talent and passion, which have touched so many, can translate into a highly erotic adult film. I think that together we can create a highly unique breakthrough film that will appeal to your millions of fans.” Vivid’s Jackie Martin told XBIZ, "We understand that John Mayer is on the road but we hope he gets word of our offer as we're all enthusiastic about the possibility of working with him.” The offer comes on the heels of Mayer’s Playboy interview where he professes his love of porn saying, "Pornography? It's a new synaptic pathway. You wake up in the morning, open a thumbnail page, and it leads to a Pandora's' box of visuals. There have probably been days when I saw 300 vaginas before I got out of bed. When I watch porn, if it's not hot enough, I'll make up back stories in my mind. My biggest dream is to write pornography." Maybe now he gets his chance. … [Read more...]

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Presidents Day – February 15th

February 15, 2010 By 3 Comments
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For more information on the the President's Day Federal Holiday please see our page on Washington's Birthday. Washington's Birthday is the official name designated to what many of us know as President's Day. During the month of February the birthday of two of our greatest President's takes place. Both George Washington who was born on Feb. 22nd and Abraham Lincoln born on Feb. 12th. However, Washington's birthday has been publicly celebrated since he was in office, before Abraham Lincoln was even born. Much of the debate over the name of the holiday springs from the fact that state's can follow their own holidays how they see fit and many of them chose to also honor Lincoln, calling the celebration President's Day. It was in 1968 that the term President's Day came up for legal consideration in the Congress but was shot down, though the holiday was moved to fall between the two President's birthdays. Again in the 1980's there was a resurgence of the term with advertisers which solidfied the holiday name in American culture. Today, few Americans perfer to call the holiday Washington's Birthday in lieu of President's Day. Educate yourself and others about the presidents of the United States. Barack Obama Barack H. Obama is the 44th President of the United States. His story is the American story — values from the heartland, a middle-class upbringing in a strong family, hard work and education as the means of getting ahead, and the conviction that a life so blessed should be lived in service to others. With a father from Kenya and a mother from Kansas, President Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961. He was raised with help from his grandfather, who served in Patton's army, and his grandmother, who worked her way up from the secretarial pool to middle management at a bank. After working his way through college with the help of scholarships and student loans, President Obama moved to Chicago, where he worked with a group of churches to help rebuild communities devastated by the closure of local steel plants. He went on to attend law school, where he became the first African—American president of the Harvard Law Review. Upon graduation, he returned to Chicago to help lead a voter registration drive, teach constitutional law at the University of Chicago, and remain active in his community. President Obama's years of public service are based around his unwavering belief in the ability to unite people around a politics of purpose. In the Illinois State Senate, he passed the first major ethics reform in 25 years, cut taxes for working families, and expanded health care for children and their parents. As a United States Senator, he reached across the aisle to pass groundbreaking lobbying reform, lock up the world's most dangerous weapons, and bring transparency to government by putting federal spending online. He was elected the 44th President of the United States on November 4, 2008, and sworn in on January 20, 2009. He and his wife, Michelle, … [Read more...]

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Taliban bombs 'slow Afghan push'

February 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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UK soldier searches for IEDs during Operation Moshtarak - 14 February Coalition forces are trying to build on their gains in Marjah and Nad Ali Improvised bombs planted by Taliban fighters are slowing Nato's big offensive in Afghanistan, military officials say. The BBC's Frank Gardner, in Kandahar, says the homemade bombs have been planted in far greater numbers than Nato had anticipated. Operation Moshtarak - targeting Taliban strongholds in southern Helmand province - has entered its third day. Earlier, the Nato commander apologised after rockets killed 12 civilians. Gen Stanley McChrystal said he "deeply regretted this tragic loss of life" and suspended use of the rocket launching system pending a "thorough review". Our correspondent says roadside bombs have slowed the advance of US troops in the area around Marjah. Insurgents still in the area are believed to be concentrated in Marjah, while those in the British taskforce area of Nad Ali, to the north east, are thought to have either put down their weapons or retreated north. 'Surge' strategy Nato intelligence chiefs believe the Taliban could be holding off attacks for a few days while they wait to see if Nato and Afghan forces are staying or leaving. General Stanley McChrystal on ''protecting the people of Afghanistan'' Nato and Afghan commanders insist they now have enough troops to hold the ground taken and will soon be bringing in hundreds of newly trained police to re-establish Afghan government control, our correspondent adds. Gen Aminullah Patiani, of the Afghan army, said nearly all the targeted territory in Marjah and Nad Ali had been taken, the AFP news agency reported. "All of the areas of Marjah and Nad Ali have been taken by combined forces. They are under our control," he said. "The Taliban have left the areas, but the threat from IEDs [improvised explosive devices] remains." Operation Moshtarak, meaning "together" in the Dari language, is the biggest coalition attack since the Taliban fell in 2001. The operation is also considered the first big test of US President Barack Obama's new "surge" strategy for Afghanistan. Moving into the centre of the town of Marjah on Sunday, US marines and Afghan soldiers came under intense fire from Taliban fighters. Insurgents were believed to be holed up in a nearby compound, so two rockets were fired by a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HMARS), a truck-mounted multiple rocket launcher. The rockets, however, veered off course and hit a house about 300m (980ft) from their intended target, killing 12 civilians, according to Nato. ANALYSIS Frank Gardner Frank Gardner, BBC News, Kandahar It's day three of the joint Nato-Afghan military operation and forces have experienced both successes and setbacks. After inserting thousands of troops by helicopter into Taliban-held territory, Nato commanders say they are so far achieving their military objectives. Meanwhile US, British and Afghan forces are having to cope with an unexpectedly … [Read more...]

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Clinton warns Iran 'becoming a military dictatorship'

February 15, 2010 By 1 Comment
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Hillary Clinton: "Together we are encouraging Iran to reconsider its dangerous policy decisions" Iran is "becoming a military dictatorship", US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said. She was speaking to students at a Qatar university during a tour of the region. She said Iran's elite army corps, the Revolutionary Guard, had gained so much power they had effectively supplanted the government. Earlier, aides revealed Mrs Clinton would press Saudi Arabia to help persuade China to support a tougher stand against Iran's nuclear ambitions. 'Supplanted' Asked if the US was planning to attack Iran, Mrs Clinton said Washington wanted to bring the world community together to agree on sanctions against the Revolutionary Guard. IRAN'S REVOLUTIONARY GUARD A member of the Revolutionary Guard stands by a mural depicting the 1979 Iranian Revolution Founded 1979 Numbers about 125,000 troops Operates independently of the regular army Controls the Basij militia, Iran's "moral police" Commercial arm involved in construction, oil exports, petrol imports, defence and transport contracts The Qods Force special unit is thought to back armed groups in Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon Source: Reuters "We see that the government of Iran, the supreme leader, the president, the parliament, is being supplanted and that Iran is moving toward a military dictatorship. That is our view," Mrs Clinton said. She also said the US would "not stand idly by" and watch Iran acquire a nuclear weapon. On Thursday, the US announced it was extending already-existing sanctions it imposed against a construction company run by the Revolutionary Guard and the general who is the company's chief officer. The profits made by the company from infrastructure projects were being funnelled back into Iran's missile and nuclear programmes, the US Treasury said. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps was set up in 1979, following the Shah's deposal, to protect the ruling system and the supreme leader from attacks from both outside and within Iran. It has extended its interests into Iran's economy, controlling a number of enterprises and industries. "Mrs Clinton is targeting the Revolutionary Guards with her rhetoric because she wants to target them with sanctions," the BBC's world affairs correspondent Paul Reynolds says. "Discussions about further measures against Iran are currently going on among security council members and the aim is to try to put a squeeze on the Revolutionary Guards as opposed to hitting at ordinary people." Chinese influence Earlier, Mrs Clinton's aides revealed she will ask the Saudis to reassure China that they will meet any shortfall in its oil needs if further UN sanctions are imposed, aides say. She will meet King Abdullah and Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal during her first visit to the kingdom. On Sunday, she urged Iran to reconsider its "dangerous policy decisions". Mrs Clinton told a conference in Qatar it was leaving the international community … [Read more...]

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Valentine's Day gift ideas: Guy Gear

February 15, 2010 By 3 Comments
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Chocolates - Credit: Ghirardelli Chocolates Chocolates are a great noncommittal gift. Get her a box that emits class, not something from the drugstore, and get her a variety box if you don't know whether she's a caramel girl or more into truffles. Relationship level: Not yet committed Dog treats When you've first met a girl, you're unlikely to know her likes, dislikes and diet restrictions. You always, however, know what kind of treats her dog (or any other pet she may have) will appreciate. Buying a gift that's healthy for her pet shows you're sensitive to her beloved buddy's well-being. Relationship level: Not yet committed Flowers While a bouquet of red roses may be a bit overzealous for a first date, other flowers may send your message perfectly. Do some research and choose carefully; gardenias denote secret love, orchids are always lovely, showing beauty and refinement, while yellow roses mean friendship. Just be sure to order your flowers early because Valentine’s Day can be a busy time for this industry. Relationship level: Works for all levels Heart-shaped pendant - Credit: Zales Heart-shaped pendant Pendants were practically designed for giving to new girlfriends: They’re sweet (but not too serious), pretty (but not distractingly eye-catching) and tailor-made to make her swoon on a daily basis. Relationship level: New romance Strawberries - Credit: Berries.com Hand-dipped strawberries Strawberries in chocolate are a trademark seduction treat; they wonderfully mix the romantic with sexual fantasy, without being as obvious as lingerie. Buy these pretty, tasty treats, and prepare to nestle down and share. Or better yet -- make them yourself. Relationship level: New romance Bed & breakfast getaway Bed & breakfasts offer a unique mix of comfort and luxury. Moreover, plenty of B&Bs offer treats like wine tours and nature walks. If you’re looking to underscore the romance in a new relationship, a getaway is the way to do it -- and you will definitely sweep a new romantic partner off her feet with a local romantic trip. Relationship level: New romance Read on for more Valentine's Day gift ideas... Gold bracelet This piece of jewelry reminds your girlfriend just how much your time with her has meant to you, while also providing her with something she’ll be more than happy to sport every day. Relationship level: Long-term relationship Espresso maker A gift that gives her one of her favorite treats right at home is thoughtful and kind. After you’ve been together awhile, it’s possible you’ll be spending lots of long mornings at her place and a coffee maker is the perfect gift to let her know how much you’re looking forward to them. Relationship level: Long-term relationship Luxury lingerie This gift sets a precedent for fun. It is a gift the two of you can share and will bring out the intimacy that your new union entails. On the whole, it is romantic and adventurous without being intimidating. Relationship level: … [Read more...]

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Mobile firms unite to offer applications

February 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Mobile World Congress The initiative was unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona Twenty-four of the largest phone operators have banded together to challenge the dominance of mobile app stores, such as that operated by Apple. The Wholesale Applications Community, as it is known, aims to make it easier for developers to build and sell apps "irrespective of device or technology". The alliance, which includes Vodafone, China Mobile and Sprint, has access to more than three billion customers. Analysts said it was an attempt by operators to "regain control of apps". However, research firm CCS Insight warned that operators "have a poor track record with this type of industry consortium". The app market is currently a lucrative business for mobile firms. Analysts at Gartner have predicted that spending on the specialist pieces of software will hit $6.2bn (£4bn) this year with the number of downloads rising to 4.5 billion from 2.5 billion last year. It predicts that downloads will top 21 billion by 2013, yielding almost $30bn. Simple approach Apple currently dominates the app market, with more than 3 billion downloaded from its app store in 18 months. Blackberry, Google, Nokia, Symbian and Microsoft all offer their own app stores. The mood this year should be grim after a 2009 that this industry like many others will want to forget Rory Cellan-Jones Mobile World Congress, Barcelona Read Rory's thoughts in full As a result, developers often have to create different versions of apps and go through separate approval processes for each individual store. The Wholesale Applications Community aims to overcome this fragmentation by offering a single "open platform that delivers applications to all mobile phone users". It aims to develop a common standard for applications in the next 12 months. As well as the 24 network operators, the work is also supported by hardware manufacturers such as LG Electronics, Samsung and Sony Ericsson, as well as industry body the GSM association. The consortium's approach to simplify application development and distribution is echoed by software firm Adobe. The company has announced that it will begin to offer its AIR platform on mobile devices, starting with phones running Google's Android operating system. AIR is currently available on desktops and allows developers to build desktop applications for services that are more commonly found in the browser. For example, there are a number of Twitter applications that use AIR. Until now it has been unavailable on smart phones. The technology could make it easier for developers to create and publish apps that can run on many different platforms at the same time. Apple has traditionally spurned some Adobe software - such as Flash - on its iPhone. However, Adobe has now built a tool that allows developers to build an app for phone running AIR and easily publish a slightly different version which should also run on the iPhone. "We enable developers and … [Read more...]

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Ask A Hot Chick: Saying I Love You

February 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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I’ve been with my boyfriend for about a month and a half and I know I love him. I am thinking about telling him ‘I love you’ on Valentine’s Day. Is it too soon to say it? ~ Sakel When the three little words “I love you” are put together they make one very big sentence. This sentence is especially big for a man to hear. It is the second scariest sentence in the world for a man to hear trailing just behind “I’m pregnant.” So how do people know when it is the perfect time to drop the “I love you” bomb on their partner? They don’t. Saying “I love you” for the first time is a risk, but people say it because the rewards outweigh the risks. People often only think about the rewards though forget about the risk though. People need to remember the possibility that the person hearing “I love you” may not feel the same way. When a person is told “I love you” for the first time, they will likely react in one of four ways: * They will be happy to hear the words and will say it back with just as much love. * They will say it back because they are still unsure how they feel, but they know they don’t want to lose their partner. * They will not say it back and will most likely start to distance them self. * They will say it back to enjoy the sexual benefits of the relationship one more time before they bail. Before saying the words “I love you,” a person needs to ask them self these questions: Am I in love or infatuated? A person should make sure it is love they are feeling and not infatuation. Nine times out of ten it is infatuation and not love that is present during the beginning stages of a relationship. Both love and infatuation have the ability to create euphoric feelings in a person so it is very easy to confuse the two. A person should think about what the partner does or doesn’t do that makes them feel like they are in love. How will my partner react? A person needs to think about how their partner might react to the words. Is it likely they are feeling the same way? Will they be overwhelmed? Are they sure that saying the words will make the relationship and not break it? What level is my relationship at? Does the partner think you two are just dating? Is it a committed relationship? Am I prepared for my partner’s reaction? It is possible the partner may not react in the way expected. A person should hope for the best, but always prepare them self for the worst. Love is a beautiful thing that is meant to be shared and embraced. It cannot be forced and is made at the will of each person. It has the power to create happiness, but it also has the power to make misery. Express your love through words with discretion, but never hold yourself back from experiencing true love. … [Read more...]

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