Displaying 2,161 To 2,190 Of 18,974 Comments Ok, it seemed unfair to make you wait, so here is the answer to the Trivia question. The particles and dish towel fibers inside the Champagne glass, according to the scientists at the University of Reims in Champagne-Arderine, France. They found that if a glass is totally smooth and debris-free, carbon dioxide molecules in Champagne would not bubble up, they would evaporate without ever being seen Ok, that was a tough question I admit so promise to find some easier ones soon. Will be back with updates in the morning. Until then stay safe and warm or cool and dry. See you all soonish. » Posted By Kalima On January 9, 2014 @ 3:15 am It’s around 7C here now, so not that bad except for the fact that it’s raining, but for saying it’s a brand new door with cold and icy drafts, it is rather annoying. Don’t worry, I’ll give the answer in my next updates and it will be as clear as a bell. 🙂 » Posted By Kalima On January 8, 2014 @ 7:28 pm Quick reply to the trivia kes, and I’ll be back as soon as the guy has fixed our front door as there are times I can’t get back in because it’s sticking. It’s sticking because last year he fiddled around with the packing to fix a draft. Back to the trivia question, it’s not what you wash it with, it’s what you dry it with. 🙂 Be back soonish and take care. 0 is still very cold. » Posted By Kalima On January 8, 2014 @ 6:32 pm Hi KT, did you read my hint? » Posted By Kalima On January 8, 2014 @ 12:56 am Good Morning everyone. All good things must come to an end, and the noisy construction workers are back next door since yesterday. Amazing that a house so much smaller than ours is taking almost twice as long to complete. Have a good day wherever you may be. Take care, be safe, stay warm and comfy or cool and dry. Sayonara from my cool afternoon corner of Tokyo. Mata ne. A few stories and opinions from around the globe. Japan Nuclear Fuel files for safety checks of fuel reprocessing plant http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140107p2g00m0dm051000c.html —- Power companies may have raised prices too much under renewable energy system http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140106p2a00m0na011000c.html —- EDITORIALS Rising tides and drowning citizens http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2014/01/05/editorials/rising-tides-and-drowning-citizens/ —- Kudos to her, I understand how she feels about paying Tepco because I feel the same, but at the moment have no other option than to heat the house with gas this winter therefore halving our electricity bill. ‘Solar girl’ sheds reliance on Tepco for spartan life on the edge of the grid —- PICTURE OF THE DAY Firefighting skills http://www.japantoday.com/category/picture-of-the-day/view/firefighting-skills INTERNATIONAL NEWS Yvonne Fletcher murder: Government allegedly intercepted order from Gaddafi to ‘cover streets of London with blood’ but failed to act —- An invasion of privacy and very stupid because there are so many who don’t have access to, or use computers, especially in the rural regions. Your life in their hands: is the care.data NHS database a healthy step or a gross invasion of patient privacy? —- Betting-shop machines sucking cash out of communities … this is what predatory capitalism looks like While giving councils greater powers to block new gambling shops, it would be better to cut the maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/06/betting-shop-machines-predatory-capitalism —- At last, a law to stop almost anyone from doing almost anything Protesters, buskers, preachers, the young: all could end up with ‘ipnas’. Of course, if you’re rich, you have nothing to fear http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/06/law-to-stop-eveyone-everything —- Sketch: George Osborne, prophet of gloom The Chancellor gives a speech at a factory in Warwickshire announcing the need for a further £12billion in cuts to welfare spending —- Ouch!! Angela Merkel out of action for three weeks after breaking pelvis in ‘low-speed’ skiing accident —- Francois Hollande makes drastic U-turn on tax cuts and welfare in bid to save presidency —- French workers at Goodyear tyre plant take bosses captive Workers in Amiens take two managers hostage at plant billed for closure in bid to keep factory open or win ‘enormous’ pay-offs http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/06/french-workers-bosses-hostage-goodyear-amiens —- Cool!! Wind power was Spain’s top source of electricity in 2013 Surge in wind power and hydropower drives emissions down by more than 23%, reports BusinessGreen http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jan/06/wind-power-spain-electricity-2013 —- Winter Olympics: Russia launches Sochi security clampdown http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25633632 —- US Senate confirms Janet Yellen to lead Federal Reserve http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25631756 —- Obama Announces Gun Control Actions Two new executive actions will make it easier for states to provide information about mentally ill individuals to the federal background check system. —- Chicago’s ban on the sale of firearms ruled unconstitutional Judge says measure went too far in preventing buyers and dealers from engaging in lawful acquisitions and lawful sales http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/07/chicago-ban-firearms-ruled-unconstitutional —- The 7 Worst Moments Of Liz Cheney’s Aborted Senate Campaign http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2014/01/06/3121381/liz-cheney-ends-campaign/ —- Koch Groups Alone Raised More In 2012 Than Candidates Spent During Entire 2000 Presidential Election http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2014/01/06/3121881/400-million-kochs/ —- New Ad Campaign Criticizes Senators for Support of Health Law A conservative advocacy group backed by the billionaire Koch brothers said Thursday it will spend $2.5 million on television advertisements targeting three vulnerable Democratic senators. —- Canada accused of hiding child abuse evidence Documents detailing abuse at schools for aboriginal children taken from their families were withheld, say victims. —- Syrian rebels launch attack on al-Qaeda Local Islamist brigades and more secular militia have joined forces to take on al-Qaeda group that has spread into Syria from Iraq —- Egypt’s ousted cabinet seeks ICC arbitration Law suits filed against military rulers accused of murder, unlawful imprisonment, torture, and persecution. —- African migrants stage Tel Aviv protests against Israel’s new detention law Thousands protest against law permitting Israeli authorities to detain migrants without valid visas indefinitely http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/06/african-migrants-protests-israel-detention-laws —- Israeli protests: a refugee’s story As tens of thousands of migrants demonstrate in Tel Aviv, one man describes what happened when he went home to Sudan http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/06/israel-refugees-protest-sudan —- Gunmen kill 30 people in Nigerian village, says official Member of state house assembly says residents were shot and dozens of houses set alight in Shonong http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/06/gunmen-kill-30-people-nigeria —- S Sudan and Sudan ‘consult on oilfield force’ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25628582 —- Iran not invited to Syria peace talks Tehran brushes off US offer of possible sideline role in Geneva 2 conference, calling it a matter of “honour” —- Iraqi army in tense stand-off at Fallujah Government has called on residents of Fallujah, one of two cities seized by al-Qaeda, to drive out militants themselves —- US speeds up drone and missile deliveries to Iraq The Pentagon said that Washington would accelerate delivery of 100 more Hellfire missiles —- India sex case: Ex-judge AK Ganguly quits rights panel http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-25625270 —- If we needed any more proof that the Taliban are not human then this would it. What kind of coward monster would ask his 10 year old sister to commit a suicide bomb attack?. Afghan girl ‘found with suicide vest after brother convinces her to attack’ Afghan police say the 10-year-old alleged bomber was persuaded to carry out a suicide attack by an older brother —- Australian state of Queensland adopts populist, hard-line laws ‘reminiscent of Soviet Russia and Hitler’s Germany’ —- China plans new privately financed banks http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25633383 —- Kim Jong-un’s aunt reported to be dead Kim Jong-un’s aunt, a former North Korean regime stalwart and the wife of executed general Jang Song-taek, is reported to have either died of a heart attack or committed suicide http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/10553603/Kim-Jong-uns-aunt-reported-to-be-dead.html TRIVIA QUIZ Today’s question. What makes a glass of Champagne fizz? Hint: It might surprise you. Think of washing and drying glasses. —- The Blind Hero: New film tells of ‘unsung Schindler’ Otto Weidt who saved Jews from Nazi death camps —- Afghani domestic violence against women rises While women are protected under Afghan law, State rarely brings culprits to justice, leading to a growth in violence. —- Kohistan ‘honour’ killing: Pakistani woman Rukhsana Bibi relives horror http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24540073 —- Fracking contamination more common than US states report, says new review In at least four energy boom states, AP found hundreds of complaints about well-water contamination from oil or gas drilling —- Pope Francis gives Catholic Church gentle revolution http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25466403 —- La Belle Epoque: Paris 1914 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25619822 —- Who, What, Why: What are frostquakes? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-25620598 —- The 10 best broth recipes Whether built around beef or shellfish, or swimming in lentils or chickpeas, a helping of broth is guaranteed to chase away your winter chills – and goes great with crusty bread http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/jan/04/broth-recipes-10-best —- In pictures: US ‘big freeze’ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25619009 —- Pictures of the day: 6 January 2014 —- Day in pictures: 6 January 2014 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-25620239 —- 10 photo highlights of the day We bring you a selection of top photographs from around the world http://www.theguardian.com/news/gallery/2014/jan/06/10-photo-highlights-of-the-day » Posted By Kalima On January 7, 2014 @ 1:30 am Good morning Nirek, just after 9pm here. I agree about the cultivation but it seems so odd in China where up to now they have been so strict about drugs and quite recently arrested a Japanese tourist who was in possession of hash. Wonders will never cease I suppose, and they need that money to boost their military so that they can continue to bully and terrorise the region. Great to find you here and I’ll be posting updates again tomorrow morning if you are interested. Take care and have a good day. Be safe. Goodnight from Tokyo. Peace. » Posted By Kalima On January 6, 2014 @ 4:09 am Hello kes. Well I didn’t expect that you would traipse through those snow drifts to leave a comment here today, but I’m glad that you did and that you still have your Internet connection. Stay warm and safe. About the shortage of doctors and nurses in NHS. You would think that the author of that article had been circling space in an old space capsule for the last two years because this is such old news. It was a firing of almost 7,000 qualified nurses so what did they expect would happen? What the Tories were hoping for happened. The breaking down of an institution that gave everyone whether rich (although the rich would be going to Harley Street in droves) or poor, a quality access to healthcare, you know the one that Thatcher kicked and strangled for years but couldn’t quite finish off.. So why the surprise, I can’t see RedFace and Fatty jumping in to say they made a terrible mistake because this mess is what they have been planning for years, and I wish that news sources would be more bloody honest and stop acting as if it wasn’t expected. They annoy me. I loved those black and white photos too, in fact I could sit quite happily and look at them all day long. The faces, expressions and often the street views and the clothes they are wearing, take me back to that time as if I had actually been there. Maybe I have, and I’m older than I thought. 😉 The Pope calling the nuns in Spain made my day. No airs or graces there, just a spontaneous leaving of a message on their answer phone because he wanted them to know he had called. Wonderful! Your answer to the trivia question is correct kes, and well done. The United States would not permit women to compete in events in which they couldn’t wear long skirts. Wonder which old geezer decided on that nonsense. Had they worn long skirts, the weight of them once wet would have probably made them go under and drown. Must have been Republicans deciding what’s best for those poor, fragile women. 🙄 A great way to start the new year, kes. 🙂 I hope the snow stops soon and that you have enough of everything until this cold front lifts. Take care, stay warm and comfy, and please stay indoors. » Posted By Kalima On January 5, 2014 @ 11:35 pm Good Morning everyone and welcome to your Sunday. Today is the last day of the New Year’s holiday here in Japan, and I can’t really say I’m sorry even though it has been wonderfully quiet in our little street. Tomorrow the traffic sounds start again and on Tuesday the first rubbish collection of the year, which will no doubt bring a smile on my face when it’s gone. Posting this a bit early as it’s hubby’s last day off and we have to Skype with my sister in London before we watch our Sunday film. Have a good day wherever you may be. Take care, be safe, stay warm and comfy or cool and dry. Sayonara from my very cold corner of Tokyo. Mata ne. Sunday’s Bits & Bobs TEPCO allows contractors to dip into ‘labor fund’ increase http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140105p2a00m0na004000c.html —- TEPCO seeks refunds of evacuation payments from employees, rejects ADR settlement http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140104p2a00m0na005000c.html —- Abe steps on Washington’s toes http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/01/04/national/abe-steps-on-washingtons-toes/#.Usj2VKVMIfE —- Planes, trains full as return rush clogs transport —- Why does Japan love fictional characters so much? http://www.japantoday.com/category/arts-culture/view/why-does-japan-love-fictional-characters-so-much Back to Rising Damp? One million rented homes in private sector are substandard —- If you want to curb immigration, pay workers a living wage Cheapskate employers are importing what too often looks like serf-labour instead of hiring ethically at home http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/02/curb-immigration-pay-workers-living-wage —- Of course we have known this for the last two years or more after the huge Cameron firing fiasco which was intended to do just this. NHS hospitals suffer staffing crisis on top of scandals Telegraph survey shows significant shortages of senior doctors and nurses in the NHS —- What a miserable way to spend Christmas. Social care cuts stranded 18,500 patients in hospital over Christmas NHS hit by £4.8m bill after lack of provision means more patients cannot be discharged – and more face long waits on trolleys http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jan/05/care-cuts-strand-thousands-hospital-christmas —- Good Lord!! Military-style discipline to raise standards in state schools Former soldiers without degrees will be fast-tracked into teaching and more cadet force units will be established as part of a dramatic expansion of a “military-style” ethos in English state schools —- Silly woman. National Archives: Margaret Thatcher was days from calling out troops during miners’ strike, documents show Ministers considered ordering an emergency recall of Parliament to pass a new law giving extra powers for soldiers to replace striking workers, papers from 1984 made public by the National Archives disclose —- Irish free to sue British nuclear operators over contamination —- Basque Eta ex-inmates recognise ‘damage’ from violence http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25605457 —- Winter Olympics: Russia to allow protests in special zone http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25604220 —- ‘Polar vortex’ grips the US in coldest temperatures in decades The United States is spending the first days of 2014 in the grips of record-breaking cold and snow as freezing Arctic winds sweep across the country —- Barack Obama pushes Congress to act on lapsed unemployment benefits As US Senate prepares to vote on extension of benefits bill, president stresses economic consequences for nation at large http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/04/obama-unemployment-benefits-restore-congress —- How long before the penny finally drops for these voters? Leading Republicans’ states among worst hit by jobless benefits cuts Analysis shows rolling cuts to unemployment benefits will severely hurt constituencies of prominent GOP leaders http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/04/republicans-unemployment-benefits-cuts-bill-voters —- US economy losing ‘up to a $1bn a week’ after jobless benefits cut • Harvard economist warns of ‘fiscally irresponsible’ decision http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jan/03/us-economy-losing-1bn-jobless-benefits-cuts —- Senator Spends Vacation Day With Homeless Man To Learn About The Challenges He Faces http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2014/01/02/3110541/homeless-chris-murphy/ —- 50 Years Later, War on Poverty Is a Mixed Bag The debate over the government’s role in creating opportunity and ending deprivation has flared anew, with inequality as acute as it was in the Roaring Twenties and the ranks of the poor and near-poor at record highs. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/05/business/50-years-later-war-on-poverty-is-a-mixed-bag.html —- Banished for Questioning the Gospel of Guns A longtime columnist for a gun magazine questioned when the regulation of guns became infringement of the right to bear arms. He was quickly fired, squelching any debate. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/05/business/media/banished-for-questioning-the-gospel-of-guns.html —- Mayor Bill De Blasio challenges New York’s millionaires with higher taxes Democrat takes office with an agenda to help support the city’s grindingly poor against the super-rich http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/04/bill-de-blasio-new-york-mayor-inaugurated —- Nine dead after attackers dressed as police enter Mexican prison Six gunmen disguised as policemen enter Mexican prison in Guerrero leaving nine dead and a prison guard and one of the attackers in hospital with serious wounds Al-Qaeda-linked Isis under attack in northern Syria http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25606370 —- Médecins Sans Frontières reports staff seized in Syria International medical organisation Médecins Sans Frontières say five of their staff members have been uncontactable for days after being taken “allegedly for questioning” —- Fears of retaliatory attacks in Lebanon after al-Qa’ida chief dies in army hospital —- Crackdown by security forces ‘alienating many young Egyptians’ —- Murder of Briton may spell end of Libyan oil industry Executive’s killing alarms expats, raising concern that jihadist militia actions will accelerate exodus of foreign workers http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/05/murder-briton-libya-oil-industry —- Direct talks on South Sudan open in Ethiopia http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25599192 —- Fallujah falls under Al-Qaeda control in blow for Iraq security Key Iraqi city has fallen into the hands of Al-Qaeda group ISIL after days of fierce fighting —- Construction workers die in Goa building collapse http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25605455 —- Parents of India gang rape victim seek justice http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-25590769 —- Renewed violence in Bangladesh ahead of disputed election Bangladesh was hit by renewed violence, with two more people killed on the eve of elections on Sunday —- The neglect of Kabul’s disabled war veterans From flesh-eating mice to unhealthy food, war-disabled Afghans complain of poor health care. —- Maybe the government should smoke it, it might make them a little less of an aggressive bully in the region. As cannabis is widely legalised, China cashes in on an unprecedented boom —- Did Kim Jong Un feed his uncle to dogs? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-echochambers-25597324 —- Indonesian volcano erupts more than 50 times Authorities extend danger zone around Mount Sinabung, where eruptions have forced evacuation of more than 20,000 people. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2014/01/indonesian-volcano-erupts-20141524335918586.html TRIVIA QUIZ The first question of 2014. Why were there no U.S. competitors in 1912 when swimming events for women were introduced at the Olympics? HINT: Modern Day Iran. —- Is it 1914 all over again? We are in danger of repeating the mistakes that started WWI, says a leading historian —- Crime and punishment: Why throwing away the key doesn’t work —- One Marine’s Dying Wish by Frank Bruni The military found dishonor in Hal Faulkner’s homosexuality. He didn’t want that senseless verdict to survive him. —- Shocking! Exporting Grandma to Care homes abroad http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-25438325 —- I have read about this some time ago but reading it again makes it even more reprehensible and unforgivable. Crisis in South Africa: The shocking practice of ‘corrective rape’ – aimed at ‘curing’ lesbians —- Brave Miss World One woman’s fight against rape, and the lives she has touched. Watch the trailer here: http://www.bravemissworld.com/ —- 😀 Love it! Pope Francis’s voicemail: ‘I wanted to say Happy New Year. I’ll call back’ The Pope has surprised a group of Spanish nuns by leaving them an answerphone message when they did not answer the phone —- Pushinka: A Cold War puppy the Kennedys loved http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24837199 —- John Wesley Powell: The one-armed explorer http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25491932 —- Nigel Slater’s mushroom recipes Rich and evocative of the forest, dried mushrooms will work their magic in everything from a rich ragout to a nourishing broth. Perfect for these dark days http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/jan/05/nigel-slaters-mushroom-recipes —- 1914: life before war – in pictures The world was soon be plunged into the horror of war, but in the early months of 1914 in Britain, the carnage of the trenches seemed unimaginable http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2014/jan/04/1914-life-before-war-in-pictures —- Mark Seliger’s greatest portraits – in pictures If you are a star, Mark Seliger will have photographed you – and that includes presidents. “I had this idea of photographing him from the front and back. Obama’s only concern was that the back angle would ‘make his ears look huge’.” Now 54, Seliger is one of the world’s most in-demand photographers – he’s shot 125 covers for Rolling Stone magazine and has worked with the likes of Tony Bennett, Anne Hathaway, Jimmy Carter, David Bowie and Uma Thurman. http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2014/jan/05/mark-seliger-photography —- Animal photos of the week: 3 January 2014 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/earth/10549319/Animal-photos-of-the-week.html —- The week in pictures: 3 January 2014 —- Week in pictures: 28 December 2013 – 3 January 2014 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-25588141 —- The Observer’s 20 photographs of the week The best photography in news, culture and sport from around the world this week » Posted By Kalima On January 5, 2014 @ 12:29 am Hello Fergie1, and a very Happy New Year to you. Hope it will be a good one. Yes, the New Year’s Day bash was a great success and they ate everything in sight except for our five felines. 😉 Our nephew and me made a great team, he brought the dishes in and I washed them up. I ate standing up in the kitchen with my elbows on the counter, and reminded myself of my German grandmother only joining the table after everyone had finished. To make sure she had something to eat, I left her some of mine, usually the veggies that I didn’t like, but it’s the thought that counts. An hour after they left, I crumbled onto the sofa and woke up in time to go to sleep again. Hubby is off until the 6th so our New Year’s holiday is not over yet. How odd that we like the same drink. Mine used to be Bacardi coke when I was out dancing. Loved dancing so much that I always took off my high-heeled shoes, often red, and forgot them at the club. Funnily enough, they always knew they were mine, and I always got them back. Then I got a duodenal ulcer, and my Bacardi coke days came to an end. Six months later when the hole in my stomach had healed, I switched to vodka orange, but if someone served one that tasted like orange flavoured dish water, I turned into a banshee. At home one is enough. The glass is tall and hubby makes them strong enough to drive a tractor on. Needless to say that it only happens a few days a week now as I vowed that I would never suffer again with a hangover, and I haven’t. Hope they can do something about your broken femur soon, using a stick is really a drag, especially when one has problems with their eyesight. I’ve managed to get mine stuck in some very strange places, and once it was knocked out of my hand by a passing car, and the car behind drove over it breaking it into two pieces. Thankfully I wasn’t far from our front door at the time. Take care and hope to see you here again soon. » Posted By Kalima On January 3, 2014 @ 11:32 pm Hello kes, and I’m so glad that you are home in the warm instead of out there. -13c? -19c? Where on earth are you, Siberia? I have always said that those of the 1% who don ‘t pay their dues in taxes are like murderers. The poor who pay more taxes than they should and are now being cheated of their benefits should they lose their jobs, are having to go without food to feed their children or make a choice between going hungry or staying warm in the long winter months. Do we starve or freeze to death is not a decision anyone should have to make while the rich are getting richer with a government who don’t give a damn. Some lose their homes completely and end up on our streets. Under these conditions how many get sick and die or commit suicide that we never know about? Yes, the rich being protected by the government because they are personal friends or regular campaign donors, are murderers. This nonsense of not increasing their taxes because they might take their businesses abroad is total BS because the government will make sure they get that money by increasing everyone else’s and cutting social safety nets like conservatives always do. Cameron and Osborne are big fat liars. It is hopeful that people like Ms. Warren, your own Mr. Brown in Ohio and a few others will fight inequality head on this year, something I am sure that your President would do if he had a decent Congress instead of the bought and paid for cowardly whiners that are there now. I had read and I think linked to a story about child slavery in Haiti here last year. The difference was that it was linked to a bogus adoption agency that was a front for child trafficking for American couples to “adopt” children to work for nothing in their homes. It was heartbreaking as well because the kids didn’t complain as they thought their lives were so much better than the poverty they had known at home. *sigh* Rice and cheese go very well together by the way. About the Skype hacking, I’m working on a new language for us to use. Give me a few weeks to perfect it, ok? 😉 Stay safe and warm and please don’t venture out in the storms and those unbelievable temps. See you soon. » Posted By Kalima On January 2, 2014 @ 9:03 pm Good Morning everyone and let me wish all of our members and readers a very Happy New Year. Here we had a very dry evening on the 31st knowing we would be toasting the New Year in the following morning with family. I was in bed just after the Australian New Year which was 10 something here in Japan. Woke up just after midnight to use the “little girl’s room”, wished myself a Happy New Year, had a mug of tea, and went back to sleep. The morning was a blurred rush before the in-laws arrived. They actually enjoyed the change of traditional food to my European cooking, and to prove it the plates were empty after each course. Can’t have any better praise than that. 🙂 The feline tribe after seeing so many coming all at once, spent the morning and afternoon in their room sleeping, but once alone again, their complaints lasted until it was time to sleep again. All in all a pleasant New Year’s Day but now I could sleep for a week. Hope that you all managed a safe and smooth slide into. 2014, and look forward to you popping by again this year too. Have a good second day of 2014 wherever you may be. Take care, be safe, stay warm and comfy or cool and dry. Sayonara from my cool corner of Tokyo. Mata ne. A few stories and opinions from around the globe Low-lying communities looking to move to high ground face hurdles —- Japan’s population falls by a record 244,000 in 2013 —- Best wishes and prayers for the new year —- Japan Post delivers more than 1.829 billion New Year cards —- Opposition within Chinese gov’t to Beijing’s new air defense identification zone http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20131231p2a00m0na010000c.html —- PICTURE OF THE DAY Packed in http://www.japantoday.com/category/picture-of-the-day/view/packed-in-4 INTERNATIONAL NEWS Energy firms paid £4bn more for power than market rate, claims Labour Big six firms deny inflating prices to make extra profits from their own plants or striking expensive deals to detriment of consumers http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jan/01/energy-firms-big-six-labour —- 300,000 poor people live more than 1km from free cash machine Labour MP Frank Field says figures show it is ‘time to take the gloves off’, with not enough progress in poorer areas http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jan/01/poor-people-free-cash-machines —- Finance’s hold on our everyday life must be broken The rampant capitalism that has brought the market into every corner of society needs to be reined in http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/01/finance-hold-everyday-life-broken-capitalism —- François Hollande concedes taxes ‘too heavy’ in admission that annoys all sides in France French president’s vague promise of lower taxes in future infuriates French households facing tax rises —- Pope Francis tells world to listen to ‘cry for peace’ Pontiff uses Vatican new year message to say too many people are indifferent to war, violence and injustice http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/01/pope-francis-cry-for-peace-vatican —- Palestinian ambassador to the Czech Republic Jamel al-Jamal killed in Prague blast —- Latvia becomes 18th state to join the eurozone http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25567096 —- Ukraine’s far-right Svoboda party hold torch-lit Kiev march http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25571805 —- White House watches anxiously as Obamacare comes into effect • Healthcare reform effective from 1 January http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/01/obamacare-medicaid-insurance-exchanges-personal-mandate —- New Report Undermines Claims That Millions Will Lose Coverage Due To Obamacare http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/12/31/3109041/10000-lost-coverage-obamacare/ —- New Yorkers share their hopes for city led by mayor Bill de Blasio Many inauguration attendees feel De Blasio means the beginning of a new era. ‘I just wanted to be a part of it,’ said one young woman who waited out in the cold to watch the proceedings. But New Yorkers are a tough crowd, and they expect their new mayor to get to fulfil his progressive campaign promises http://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2014/jan/01/new-yorkers-mayor-bill-de-blasio —- Chief Justice Warns Sequestration Cuts Already Threatening Public Safety http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/01/01/3109311/john-roberts-sequestration/ —- The left is animated by the battle against growing inequality.. —- The Campaign for a Bigger Paycheck Raising the minimum wage is good politics and even better economics. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/02/opinion/the-campaign-for-a-bigger-paycheck.html —- Disgraceful!! £2m: average pay award for JP Morgan’s top staff in 2012 revealed Banks disclose figures in dying hours of 2013 to comply with new European rule demanding information on bankers’ pay http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/jan/01/2m-average-bonus-jp-morgan-bankers —- 2014 Kicks Off With Gun Crimes Across The Country http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/01/01/3109721/year-starts-gun-violence/ —- Syria: deadly attack on Aleppo bus Missile strike kills at least 10 people, capping a year of bloodshed in Assad regime’s war with rebels http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/01/syria-deadly-attack-on-aleppo-bus —- Skype social media platforms hacked by ‘Syrian Electronic Army’ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25572771 —- Arrested al-Jazeera journalist’s health causing concern, says Egyptian lawyer Mohamed Fahmy to be moved to hospital facility as rebuke over charges brought against him and two other journalists grows —- Egypt protests: Two die in violence in Alexandria http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25572511 —- Israel raids on West Bank homes condemned Reported rise in soldiers using Palestinian homes for mock raids in West Bank, as Kerry prepares to resume peace talks. —- Israel pushes for African migrant deportation African asylum seekers say Israeli efforts to repatriate them violate their human rights. Israel government tortures Palestinian children by keeping them in cages, human rights group says —- Israeli-Palestinian talks: perpetual motion The too common style of ‘evenhandedly’ blaming both sides is casuistry and should be labelled as such http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/01/israeli-palestinian-talks-editorial —- It’s odd, I thought he had already died. Ariel Sharon’s condition ‘deteriorating sharply’ after eight-year coma Former Israeli prime minister could die in a matter of days if kidney problems continue to worsen, local media reports suggest —- Deadly car bombs strikes hotel in Somali capital Mogadishu A day after Islamic rebels linked to al-Qaeda warn of attack two car bombs at Mogadishu hotel popular with foreigners and government officials kill at least six people —- South Sudan atrocities on the rise, says UN Special representative says political rivals must pull the country back from the brink as large numbers of bodies discovered in conflict’s main battlegrounds —- Iraq suffers its deadliest year since 2008 UN says 8,868 Iraqis killed in 2013, with one NGO predicting 2014 could be bloodier as militants exploit sectarian tensions http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/01/iraq-2013-deadliest-year-since-2008 Just the sort of people they need running the country. 😯 Iraqi militia that kidnapped and killed British hostages to contest elections Kidnappers who seized Peter Moore and put his bodyguards to death are joining mainstream politics despite continuing murder inquiry —- Appalling! New protests after suicide of 16-year-old gang-raped twice in Calcutta Gangsters who twice raped a 16-year-old girl and threatened to kill her father unless she dropped the charges had ’political patronage,’ says veteran women’s rights campaigner —- Pervez Musharraf misses court date for treason trial Ex-Pakistan president and head of army misses hearing after his lawyers claim explosives were found near his home http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/01/pervez-musharraf-misses-court-treason-trial —- China’s growth and manufacturing output decline as property prices soar Data comes after studies showing real estate prices rising and detailing the mounting debts of local authorities http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/01/china-growth-manufacturing-decline-property —- So, I wonder what he says about his aunt? North Korea: Kim Jong-un hails powerful uncle’s execution as ‘removal of factional filth’ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/north-korea-kim-jongun-hails-uncles-execution-as-removal-of-factional-filth-9032588.html Why India’s brick kiln workers ‘live like slaves’ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-25556965 —- A Girl’s Escape by Nicholas Kristof A week spent following a Haitian teenager turns up some shocking, and heartbreaking, details of life as an unpaid child laborer. —- The Chinese farmer who amputated his own leg http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-25211346 —- Money has corrupted us. We no longer understand what it’s worth It’s time we made money do what we want, rather than letting it diminish and degrade us http://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/jan/01/money-corrupted-us-understand-worth —- Letter Tied to Fight for Independence Is Found in Museum’s Attic A 12-page plea for reconciliation addressed to the people of Britain in 1775 was discovered in a folder with colonial-era doctor’s bills at the Morris-Jumel Mansion in New York. —- Delbert Tibbs – obituary Delbert Tibbs was a drifter wrongly sentenced to death by an all-white jury who later campaigned against capital punishment http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10546080/Delbert-Tibbs-obituary.html —- Carrying On a Presidential Tradition, One Leisurely Round at a Time During his winter vacation in Hawaii, President Obama has played golf seven out of his 12 days here, for as much as six hours at a time. —- Antarctic rescue of Akademik Shokalskiy ship begins http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25573096 —- World’s climate warming faster than feared, scientists say Scientists say the world’s climate is warming faster than feared because previous predictions were too “optimistic” and overestimated the cooling impact of clouds —- Nigel Slater’s rice with cheese recipe Crisp and creamy, savoury, delicious – vegetarian comfort food at its best http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/dec/31/rice-cheese-vegetarian-recipe-nigel-slater —- Photographer of the year: Goran Tomasevic The Guardian’s photo team have chosen Goran Tomasevic, of Reuters, as their agency photographer of the year. We look back over his work in 2013 including coverage of the conflict in Syria and the Westgate shopping centre attack in Kenya http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2014/jan/01/agency-photographer-goran-tomasevic —- New Year fireworks from around the world – video http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/video/2014/jan/01/new-years-eve-fireworks-around-world-video —- New Year 2014 in pictures: Fireworks and celebrations around the world —- Pictures of the day: 1 January 2014 » Posted By Kalima On January 2, 2014 @ 1:05 am HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and your loved ones, AB. Have missed you and you have so much catching up to do as kes now has a walk in closet full of tiaras and brownie points. Have missed you muchly. Hope to see you soon and hugs for everyone, especially, Schneaker. » Posted By Kalima On January 2, 2014 @ 12:35 am Hi AdLib, and a very HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and your family. Well actually, that’s the Saitos next door, we weren’t ready for our close up. I saved you a place but I suppose you just had to finish that last jug of champagne. Btw, I cleaned up your mess and expect a bonus this year. No instant ramen this time, ok?? See you soon. » Posted By Kalima On January 2, 2014 @ 12:31 am Thank you kes for so many different things, and let the New Year be a very special year for you in every possible way. HAPPY NEW YEAR! » Posted By Kalima On January 2, 2014 @ 12:26 am Hello Fergie1, I will stay awake long enough to shout out Happy New Year to you in Australia, and then sleep like a log until my New Year, after a generous glass of vodka and orange, that is. I enjoyed our chat tremendously too and look forward to many more in the New Year. Stay safe and hope your New Year is a great improvement on the last. Take care, and yes do have a peek at the articles whenever you have time because there are some very good opinion pieces and human interest stories that never age. Oh, I also do a Trivia Quiz, where you can join kes and AB and sometimes, AdLib and KT, in winning virtual tiaras or brownie points. We have a lot of fun here, so please join us. HAPPY NEW YEAR Fergie1, be well, and all the very best. » Posted By Kalima On December 31, 2013 @ 12:26 am Happy New year from Mr. & Mrs. K ….. oops sorry, wrong picture. 😉 YOI OTOSHI YO!! Good Morning everyone. Well here we are near the end of another year that personally I will be glad to see behind me. It’s the time to wish all of our wonderful Planeteers and our faithful readers around the world, a very HAPPY NEW YEAR. Thank you for your continued support of what we do here, and a special thank you for those who visit here at Morning Blog to read what I hope some of you have found interesting. May the New Year bring you peace, joy, hope, faith in the future, and understanding. May the world wake up to stop the hunger, suffering and wars killing so many of our brothers and sisters on our planet. Let 2014 be a year of change that we can see and be grateful for. We can live in peace, we just have to try that much harder to rid our world of the greed and toxic materialism that has permeated every nook and cranny of even the poorest nations. Have a wonderful trip into 2014, and look forward to seeing you all on the other side. Sayonara from my cold corner of Tokyo where I have finally finished the New Year’s preparations, and now want someone to fan me and peel me some grapes. Mata ne. Yoi Otoshi yo!! Einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr 2014! Happy New Year! P.S. Had to do this early as I will be away from the computer for most of tomorrow. » Posted By Kalima On December 31, 2013 @ 12:12 am Hi kes, you said the magic word, Trump, and here he is. [img]https://planetpov.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Image2.jpg[/img] I’ll be back to answer this when I get a few minutes, it’s last minute shopping today and I’m in a bit of a panic as usual with my list. Thanks for all of your good wishes and your support here during this year. Have a special New Year dear kes, you certainly deserve it. I’ll be in touch. Take care. I dedicated this to you in the Music Thread but it will be hard to find, so here it is again. Edith Piaf – Non, Je ne regrette rien
» Posted By Kalima On December 30, 2013 @ 5:55 pm Good Morning everyone, and welcome to your Sunday. Well tomorrow the fun starts as I try to finish off a few projects before the new year so that I won’t enter it feeling guilty. Then preparation of one of the dishes for the 1st of January when the whole “K” family will be arriving at our doorstep hungry. Then fun of taking things out of the freezer to make room for the food I have already cooked, followed by the cold process of trying to fit everything in again like a jigsaw puzzle. Tuesday will be the last shopping day until the 5th of January because everything closes here. My kitchen is full of Post it stickers to make sure I don’t forget anything, but I always do. Tuesday is also our last trash day until the 6th, so I will be scrambling and stumbling to make sure that every last bit is thrown out. The only bright side is that our neighbourhood, which is usually noisy, will be so very peaceful. Heaven for five days, I can hardly wait. 😀 I will be here briefly on your 31st to wish you all well, and then I will see you when I emerge from behind the stacks of plates to be washed after 10 hungry people have eaten their fill. Have a good day wherever you may be. Take care, be safe, stay warm and comfy or cool and dry. Sayonara from my cold corner of Tokyo. Mata ne. Sunday’s Bits & Bobs Safety check of Rokkasho nuke facility sought —- Abe’s shrine visit raises risk of conflict, analysts say —- Kyoto temple gets ready for new year celebration with test ring of temple bell http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20131228p2a00m0na011000c.html —- PICTURE OF THE DAY Year-end bargains http://www.japantoday.com/category/picture-of-the-day/view/year-end-bargains As long as the Tories remain in power, the poor will remain poor with millions more joining them. Low hopes for a happy new financial year in 2014 —- Mortgage rise will plunge a million homeowners into ‘perilous debt’ High prices leave borrowers exposed as it emerges that 13 million people paid for Christmas on credit http://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/dec/28/mortgage-rise-homeowners-perilous-debt —- Food banks: cowardly coalition can’t face the truth about them Conservatives cannot admit a real fear of hunger afflicts thousands http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/28/coalition-wont-face-fact-of-food-banks —- Big society? Cutting welfare to ‘aid recovery’ is just a big lie Heartless policies are merely adding to the plight of the needy. It is imperative that Labour does not follow the coalition’s example http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/dec/29/big-society-cutting-welfare-coalition-big-lie —- Way to go Cameron! Funding axed for clean-up of toxic land http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/funding-axed-for-cleanup-of-toxic-land-9028637.html —- Capitalism: legislation is the only way to ensure morality in the market Waiting for a moral consensus to emerge will take far too long for the UK’s poorest citizens http://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2013/dec/29/the-big-issue-morality-and-capitalism —- Northern Ireland deal ‘must be struck by Monday’ One of independent chairs of all-party talks aimed at easing simmering violence says agreement is extraordinarily close http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/dec/28/northern-ireland-deal-must-be-struck-monday —- Ukraine opposition calls for mass protest Activists plan to drive a motorcade to the residences of three top leaders and deliver a call for their resignation. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2013/12/ukraine-opposition-protest-20131228171118830873.html —- Benefits Ending for One Million Unemployed A federal emergency program, in place since 2008, had provided up to 47 weeks of supplemental unemployment insurance payments to jobless Americans looking for work. —- No Cheer for the Jobless Federal unemployment benefits expire while Congress enjoys a holiday. —- A Lifeline Just Ran Out For 1.3 Million Unemployed People http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/12/28/3105511/unemployment-benefits-expire/ —- The Elected Bullies The archetype of the politician who uses power to punish enemies and reward supporters is well known in politics. Here are some examples. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/29/opinion/sunday/the-elected-bullies.html —- Academics Who Defend Wall St. Reap Reward Wall Street paid academic experts — and gave money to their universities — whose research supported the financial community’s views on commodity trading. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/28/business/academics-who-defend-wall-st-reap-reward.html?_r=0 —- A Deadly Mix in Benghazi http://www.nytimes.com/projects/2013/benghazi/ —- Syria unlikely to meet December 31 deadline on chemical weapons UN and weapons watchdog say ‘important progress’ has been made on destruction of Syria’s chemical weapon stockpile but efforts need to be intensified to meet internationally set deadlines —- Aleppo suffers ‘barrel bomb’ attack that kills dozens A barrel bomb attack on rebel quarters of Aleppo has killed at 25 in the latest atrocity visited on the city by the Syrian regime —- In pictures: Molhem Barakat, the teenage photographer killed In Syria —- Lebanese opposition calls for investigation into Chatah murder Demand over killing of ex-minister comes before long-awaited trial at The Hague over murder of Rafik Hariri http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/28/lebanon-opposition-mohamad-chatah-rafik-hariri-murder —- Fire exchanged on Israel-Lebanon border http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25540693 —- The politicians’ sons, the gold dealer and the pop star: a Turkish tale of corruption Recip Tayyip Erdogan’s formula for success has returned to haunt him as a corruption probe threatens to bring his empire down —- Egypt: student killed as Islamists battle with police at Cairo university Pro-Muslim Brotherhood protesters claim police stormed al-Azhar campus in Cairo ‘to beat up and detain students’ http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/29/egypt-student-killed-azhar-battle —- Sunni monarchs back YouTube hate preachers: Anti-Shia propaganda threatens a sectarian civil war which will engulf the entire Muslim world World View: There is now a pool of jihadis willing to fight and die anywhere —- South Sudan rebel leader dashes ceasefire hopes Riek Machar, whose insurgents have taken control of the country’s biggest oil fields, has suggested a ceasefire proposed by president Salva Kiir would not be credible —- Ugandans fear curse of oil wealth as it threatens to blight ‘pearl of Africa’ Oil drilling may bring benefits in healthcare and education, but critics are concerned about corruption and the effect on wildlife http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/29/ugandans-oil-blight-pearl-africa —- Five killed in gunfight during raid on home of Iraqi MP Brother of Sunni Muslim MP killed in incident that threatens to further inflame sectarian tensions in Iraq —- Indian train fire kills more than 20 Children among fatalities after busy train catches fire en route from Bangalore to Nanded http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/28/indian-train-fire-kills-bangalore-nanded —- Suspected US drone strike kills ‘three foreign militants’ Drone fired two missiles at a home in a northwestern tribal region of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan, Pakistani officials said http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/26/us-drone-strike-kills-three-militants —- Antarctic ship: New bid to free vessel trapped in ice http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25540040 —- China: More than 500 resign over election fraud http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25536426 —- China ends reeducation through labour and loosens one child policy National People’s Congress officially allows couples to have a second child if one parent is an only child and scraps reeducation labour system —- Thai protester shot dead as political crisis deepens http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25534217 TRIVIA QUIZ The answer to the question “How many children did Bob Cratchit have in Charles Dickens holiday classic “A Christmas Carol”? is, 6. Tiny Tim, Peter, daughters Martha and Belinda, and two unnamed younger children, a boy and a girl. Trivia questions will be back in the New Year. —- Pope Francis can heal the Catholic Church ‘Time’ magazine’s Person of the Year appeals to believers and atheists alike with a message that could bring redemption to a troubled faith http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/pope-francis-can-heal-the-catholic-church-9028539.html —- Why Wasps are an endangered species in the US Once the elite, tracing their lineage to the Pilgrim Fathers – America’s white Anglo-Saxon Protestants’ grip on power is weaker than ever —- The end of a Deep South way of life http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25430384 —- Gerda Taro: The forgotten photojournalist killed in action http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25108104 —- Experience: I inherited a giant hole in the ground ‘We couldn’t find it at first. I don’t know how, because when we looked over a gate we saw this massive crater in the ground, like a UFO had crash-landed’ http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/dec/28/experience-inherited-giant-hole-in-ground —- Bet you weren’t surprised when James Bond came out (of the Tardis) All the news we have to look forward to in 2014, including a thrilling royal scandal http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/29/david-mitchell-the-year-ahead —- Words for the Dumpster The most annoying locutions of the year. —- The silly list: A look back at the most ridiculous moments that summed up 2013 —- The morning after: Bill Granger’s New Year’s Day hangover cures —- Ruby Tandoh’s rosemary pecan pie and farinata recipes A powerful herb with the capacity to bulldoze all other flavours, rosemary can also be subtle and sensual. Here are two recipes – one American, one Italian – deploying it to perfection http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/dec/28/ruby-tandoh-rosemary-pecan-pie-farinata-recipe —- Pictures of the year 2013: space —- World news pictures of the year 2013: part 3 —- World news pictures of the year 2013: part 4 —- The Observer’s 20 photographs of the year From the image of an evicted Roma family sheltering from a storm to the death of Nelson Mandela, the world’s leading photojournalists describe how they captured 20 defining images from 2013 http://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/gallery/2013/dec/28/observer-20-photos-of-the-year » Posted By Kalima On December 29, 2013 @ 1:30 am Hello again Fergie1, I said I would come back to reply to your comment, and today will be the last quiet day I will have before the preparations for our New Year’s Day celebrations start. The in-laws, 8 of them, are coming on the first, the first time in over 20 years and the first time i’ve entertained more than two people in as many years. I’m out of practice and a tad nervous but at least I can cook everything before they arrive, then hope for the best. Your story about your friend sounds oh so familiar. In my case when I suddenly had to cancel a dinner invitation, and then another, they just dropped me and stopped calling even though I had warned them this would happen. One even went further to tell me that I was no fun anymore. It was a time of great change in my life, and the acceptance of my circumstances for me. It also made me see clearly who my real friends had been, so I found a new life without them. I never beg. I’ve dedicated a song to you on the Music Thread, no explanations needed I think. Be well and see you soon. Hope to post a few stories here in the morning. Take care. » Posted By Kalima On December 28, 2013 @ 7:07 pm Oh Fergie1, he’s singing in my mother tongue, how wonderful. Thank you. I will come back to answer this when I’m not already horizontal and ready to sleep. So see you soon, and have a great January the 1st. So what if we’re a little slower, who cares? P.S. I did write the Duke of York, and then realised my mistake so came back to change it. 🙂 Gute Nacht. » Posted By Kalima On December 28, 2013 @ 6:35 am Hello pinkpantheroz, how nice that you found my little corner here, welcome. I try to do updates every day as I have for the last four years but because of emerging paywalls, I sometimes can’t bring the news stories, opinion pieces and human interest stories I want to when I want to, and that’s a bit frustrating. Still you will find me here most mornings after having spent my afternoon finding the most interesting stories to bring to any member who wants to travel around the world with me. Personally I think that President Obama is the best thing to happen to America in decades, too bad that some Americans are too blind to see it. Compare him to other leaders around the world, especially to Cameron and our RW “trouble causer” here in Japan who will raise the consumption tax to 10% next year in a country where everything is already expensive, and the corporations will not be affected, but we ordinary tax payers will because it applies to everything, even our groceries. Then give me President Obama any day of the week. Christmas was quiet and hubby was working so we just managed to have our Christmas Eve dinner together as always, and it was fun because we found the time to talk and laugh. Thank you for your New Year’s wishes and hope your New Year will be happy, healthy and interesting. Cheers!! » Posted By Kalima On December 27, 2013 @ 1:19 am Hello Fergie1, great to find you on my patio in this shady corner of The Planet. I feel the same, it’s been refreshing to talk with you and find out we have so much in common, and I have you to thank for making it so enjoyable. So thank you. I always imagined that in another 10 years from now, hubby would retire, pass his crown to our nephew, and we would travel again to places like Bali where we shared so many memories and dreams for our future. Then maybe revisit Majorca, where we spent our honeymoon, I drank the tap water (you can imagine the next two days)and came back to London unable to sit for long because of a burned behind. My hair which had been burgundy when we arrived, was bright orange on our return. It was the weirdest honeymoon to have had, but as always we laughed about it for years. The odd thing about the friends who knew me in better times when I could flutter everywhere like a butterfly and never tire, is that when they returned to Tokyo to visit, it was they who could not come to terms with how I had had to change. In fact a dear Swiss friend of ours, cried for almost her one week stay with us and I was having to comfort her. By the time she left again for Europe, I had managed to convince her that the only thing that had changed was on the outside. I use a stick, I have a visible limp on bad days, I can’t open bottles or tins, and sometimes my hubby has to cut my food for me, but heck, I’m still me. My wheelchair which I hated, has been stored in my brother-in-law’s garage for the last 5 years and I would be happy never to have to see it again. Please do look into the Kindle books and the Cloud Reader on the Kindle books page at Amazon, it’s as bright as reading on your computer, you can bookmark your pages and go back any time you have a few minutes even if you only manage to read a few pages at a time. I’m sure you will love it as much as I do. We didn’t dine with Presidents but attended some wild embassy parties, club and restaurant openings, and in at the Albert Hall in London, my hubby did a show opened by the Duke of Kent. 😆 I don’t know if that counts, I wasn’t there because one of our felines was very sick. I miss those wonderful evenings chatting with friends until dawn. Now I get sleepy before midnight and no one could pay me enough to keep my eyes open. We can’t know what the New Year will bring, but we can try to be positive that it could be better than the last two or three, and that is what I plan to do as soon as the clock strikes midnight on the 31st. Here is wishing that you can do the same. Like Dorothy in Oz, I will click my red fluffy slippers together three times as I say “It will be a better year. It will be a better year. It will be a better year”. Please be “de-jinxed”. When you find someone to do that, see if they can come over here to do the same for me. Take care and I wish you a safe slide into 2014, and a comfy landing on the other side. 😀 » Posted By Kalima On December 27, 2013 @ 12:28 am Good Morning everyone. Hoping that you are recovering from the holidays and feeling ready to start the new year in only another 5 days. I know that I am. Not a big eater since I was a child, I ate too much on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and my stomach has been protesting ever since. Blame hubby, he brought the cake that finally finished me off. Hey! NO THANK YOU MEANS NO THANK YOU!! Have a good day wherever you may be. Take care, be safe, stay warm and comfy or cool and dry. Sayonara from my cool evening corner of Tokyo where we are expecting icy rain. Mata ne. A few stories and opinions from around the globe. They should never be allowed to operate another plant, ever, but of course this is a RW government, and the safety of the people is of no real concern to them. However, money is. State-backed fund agrees on new Tepco rehab plan, including reactor restarts —- I doubt their independence from either this government or the nuclear industry. Top nuclear regulator holds rare talks with ruling party politician http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20131226p2g00m0dm029000c.html — All they have to do is to remove the remains of war criminals to another location and the problems this causes with neighbouring counrties when a undiplomatic PM visits the shrine would be solved. This has been going on since I came here. Abe is just another hot head on the list of many, all conservative btw. Abe’s Yasukuni visit could cast dark shadow on Japanese diplomacy http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20131226p2a00m0na004000c.html —- A new growth industry: professional housekeeping http://www.japantoday.com/category/kuchikomi/view/a-new-growth-industry-professional-housekeeping INTERNATIONAL NEWS The family: for richer, for poorer Before David Cameron starts subsidising wedding ceremonies for middle England, he should remember his duty to families who have little apart from each other http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/25/the-family-for-richer-for-poorer —- A probable reason for their arrest in the first place may have been part of a plan to make Putin seem human. He failed because we know it’s a scam. Russia formally drops criminal charges against Arctic 30 Greenpeace activists —- The Putin way. Activist and journalist who organised pro-EU protests in Ukraine assaulted and hospitalised in separate incidents —- US and Canada scramble to restore power to half a million homes Death toll from ice storm rises to 27, including many from carbon monoxide poisoning as residents try to heat freezing homes http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/26/us-canada-restore-power-half-million-homes —- Obamas Celebrate Christmas in Hawaii The president took a break from opening gifts with his family and spoke to about 580 troops at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii, praising them for their service. —- Stories Add Up as Bully Image Trails Christie A history of perceived revenge on Gov. Chris Christie’s critics includes an ex-governor who lost police protection, a professor who lost financing and a mayor’s town that became gridlocked. —- Obamacare Sign Ups Soar Just Before Deadline, As Record 2 Million Visit Healthcare.gov http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/12/25/3103841/obamacare-sign-ups-soar-just-deadline/ —- Justice Department Calls In The Big Guns To Stop Voter Suppression —- Wow!!! That’s dumb. McDonald’s Tells Workers Not To Eat Fast Food http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/12/25/3103961/mcdonalds-advises-employees-eat-fast-food/ —- Floods leave 50,000 Brazilians homeless Torrential rains in southeastern Brazil has left 32 people dead in two states. —- Syria: Assad regime’s barrel bombs kill more than 400, claim monitors A continuing barrel bomb assault by President Bashar al-Assad’s Syrian air force on Aleppo has now claimed more than 400 lives, monitors said —- Three Turkey ministers resign over bribery scandal, and one calls for Prime Minster Recep Erdogan to step down —- Egypt declares Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation —- Egypt deploys armed units after car bomb attack kills 13 Combat units given permission to use live ammunition if necessary after car bomb at police headquarters causes worst loss of life on country’s mainland for years —- Two dead in Israel-Gaza border violence http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25509644 —- The Coming Intifada We Palestinians are living through the worst situation in years. —- UN votes unanimously for more peacekeepers for South Sudan amid reports of mass graves, extrajudicial killings and rapes —- Christmas Day bombings in Baghdad kill 37 —- Trouble in Goan paradise as Africans beaten and harassed Africans living there say India’s ‘hippie paradise’ is turning into an apartheid —- Bangladeshi workers still missing eight months after Rana Plaza collapse Anger among relatives of victims who say authorities have not handed back bodies and are not paying them compensation http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/25/bangladesh-workers-missing-rana-plaza —- Bomb scare turns start of Musharraf treason trial into pantomime Friends say Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan’s former military, is in good spirits despite facing death penalty if found guilty for his role in declaring state of emergency —- Jailed British Ahmadi Masood Ahmad in Pakistan blasphemy appeal http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25498545 —- Taliban attack American embassy in Kabul on Christmas Day Rockets fall inside compound in early morning strike as foreigners celebrate holiday in Afghanistan —- Australia’s treatment of refugees is ‘cruel and mean-spirited’ One of Australia’s most prized novelists, British-born Alex Miller, has denounced his adopted country over its treatment of refugees, saying that his original experience of Australians as welcoming and generous “doesn’t seem to be true any more” —- Chinese smugglers ‘dig tunnel to Hong Kong’ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-25514768 —- God Lord, he must be into his dad’s stash of expensive spirits. So he woke up the next day and asked “where is Uncle Jang Song-thaek”? That must have been quite a memorable hangover. Kim Jong-un: North Korean leader ‘was very drunk’ when ordering executions —- Thai protesters clash with police in Bangkok http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25517281 TRIVIA QUIZ Today’s question. How many children did Bob Cratchit have in the Charles Dickens holiday classic “A Christmas Carol”? —- Pope’s Christmas wish: hope for a better world As wars rage around the world, Pope Francis says everyone should strive to be peacemakers —- A year in hiding in wartime Florence http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25463904 —- Hakan Yaman: ‘They hit me and gouged out my eye with something sharp’ Minibus driver set upon by police after getting caught up in Turkey’s Gezi Park protests vows to seek justice http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/25/hakan-yaman-lost-eye-gezi-park-protests-turkey —- Is Mikhail Kalashnikov in Hell? The man was confident he would not go there —- Come dine with me: Couple respond to pensioner James Gray’s newspaper advert for company on Christmas Day —- $40 Million Compensation Fund For Bangladesh Factory Victims Formed Without The Help Of Any U.S. Companies http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/12/24/3103211/bangladesh-american-companies-40-million-fund/ —- Christmas ghost stories: Ofodile by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie A sleeping brother, a piercing cry, a lost key: award-winning novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie unravels a mystery http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/dec/25/christmas-ghost-stories-chimamanda-ngozi-adichie —- An Ode to Spam It’s so nice to open your email and find so many holiday messages full of good cheer, and, of course, the pleas from people you’ve never met in desperate need of a money transfer. —- Famous Harlem choir stages a comeback http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25456906 —- I loved this first picture when I saw it some time ago and posted it here, and still love it now. Funny animals of 2013 – in pictures A selection of amusing images from the animal kingdom captured by photographers over the past 12 months —- World news pictures of the year 2013: part 1 —- Year in pictures 2013 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-25304395 —- In pictures: Christmas around the world http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-25509845 —- Christmas Day around the world – in pictures From patriarchs to a prince and the pope, at beaches, zoos and army bases, people from all walks of life across the globe celebrate Christmas —- The best photographs of 2013 – in pictures Extreme weather, terrorism, political protests, an emotional film star and the exit and entrance of two popes. The Guardian’s features picture editor selects the images that defined 2013 … and the obligatory selfie shot http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2013/dec/25/best-photographs-2013 » Posted By Kalima On December 26, 2013 @ 1:13 am My dear kes, wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas, and what a special holiday it will be after your difficult journey this year. Well done, and the New Year is waiting for you just around the corner. 🙂 Keep warm, enjoy your family and celebrate. This year has been nothing short of a miracle in so many ways. Take care and see you soon. » Posted By Kalima On December 24, 2013 @ 8:24 pm You too Sally, have a good one and give your eyes and fingers a bit of a break. Put your feet up and let someone spoil you. Happy Holidays to you and yours. See you later and goodnight from Tokyo. » Posted By Kalima On December 24, 2013 @ 4:59 am Wishing all our members and readers Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas. Hoping that you can all spend this festive season with family and friends. I’ll be back with the regular international news and stories on the 26th. Until then take care, be safe, and stay warm and comfy or cool and dry. Sayonara from my Christmas Eve evening corner of Tokyo. Mata ne. Nat King Cole & Frank Sinatra “The Christmas Song” https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1Km2M-nOiM8 » Posted By Kalima On December 24, 2013 @ 2:00 am Good Morning everyone. Well I had a quiet enough Sunday for a change and hope you all have the same. Have a good Sunday wherever you may be. Take care, be safe, stay warm and comfy or cool and dry. Sayonara from my cool evening corner of Tokyo. Mata ne. Sunday’s Bits & Bobs I hope they have some expert help from around the world to advise them. Japanese tend to think of asking for help as a sign of weakness, but they are dealing with the safety of all of us living here on the island and I hope they don’t forget that. Tepco to create firm for decommissioning —- Sounds suspiciously like the U.K. Regional economic funding to fall 40% Fiscal 2014 budget includes ¥610 million cut for municipalities —- New volcanic island in Ogasawara chain doubles in size —- 4 China ships intrude into Japan waters around Senkaku Islands http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20131222p2g00m0dm007000c.html —- PICTURE OF THE DAY Helping hand http://www.japantoday.com/category/picture-of-the-day/view/helping-hand-7 How disgraceful! Hungry in Cameron’s Cotswolds: Beyond the 4x4s and classy shops of the PM’s own constituency, a food bank is alarmingly busy —- He’s a bloody coward! Charities condemn Iain Duncan Smith for food bank snub Requests for meetings with work and pensions secretary to discuss growing crisis have been refused http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/dec/21/iain-duncan-smith-food-banks-charities —- Hunt hasn’t a clue. NHS chief admits to dismay at Jeremy Hunt’s meddling NHS England chairman Sir Malcolm Grant reveals frustration at health secretary’s attempts to micro-manage service http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/dec/21/nhs-service-jeremy-hunt-malcolm-grant —- Fracking protests head north as activists mass on proposed Manchester shale gas exploration sites The Telegraph can reveal that the leading campaigners against “fracking” in the North West have no connection to the area —- Withdrawal from EU justice programmes could see British charities lose millions, ministers warned —- Insanity! Fifty new nuclear plants could be goal in official energy plans Documents submitted to Department of Energy and Climate Change raise questions regarding future energy policy http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/dec/21/nuclear-plants-energy-plans —- Investigation vow on 25th The UK, US and Libyan governments vow to work together to reveal “the full facts” of the Lockerbie bombing as memorial services are held. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-25479717 —- IRA sniper Bernard McGinn found dead in Ireland 56-year-old shot Lance Bombardier Stephen Restorick, the last British soldier to be killed before the Good Friday agreement http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/21/ira-sniper-bernard-mcginn-found-dead —- Mikhail Khodorkovsky reunion: son Pavel speaks after decade of separation Pavel Khodorkovsky tells of the moment he was reunited with his father: “My daughter just ran out to him. She got the first hug – but that was cool with me” —- French President François Hollande isolated over conflict in Central African Republic —- No Job Land: a bleak reminder of Spain’s unemployment crisis No Job Land video a poignant reminder of the economic difficulties many families are suffering in Spain —- New hardline abortion law prompts protests across Spain —- National intelligence chief declassifies Bush-era documents on NSA programs • James Clapper documents relate to bulk collection origins http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/21/national-intelligence-bush-era-nsa-documents —- Nearly Four Million Low-Income Americans Now Have Health Coverage Under Obamacare http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/12/20/3097351/medicaid-enrollment-obamacare/ —- Wall Street Journal Op-Ed Bemoans The End Of White Rule In The United States —- Cuba’s Raul Castro calls for ‘civilised relations’ with US http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-25479795 —- Syria rebels take back strategic hospital in Aleppo http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25479725 —- British doctors leave for Syria despite Abbas Khan death Ambulances to be driven into war zone and used as makeshift clinics http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/21/british-doctors-syria-abbas-khan —- Turkey corruption investigators charge 16 with links to Erdoğan Two ministers’ sons and bank chief accused of taking or arranging bribes as inquiry into graft targets PM’s circle http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/21/turkey-corruption-investigators-charge-16-erdogan —- Middle East leader of the year? You’d be surprised… World View: In a period of failure for many, one man is on the up and up. And he’s no friend of the West —- Ousted Egypt president Mohamed Morsi to face third trial Morsi is one of 130 people who escaped from jail during 2011 uprising against Hosni Mubarak who will face trial http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/21/ousted-egyptian-president-mohamed-morsi-third-trial —- Fleeing workers tell of brutal killings as South Sudan edges towards civil war Foreign oil workers in Juba tell of a power struggle that is taking the new nation to the brink http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/22/south-sudan-juba-civil-conflict —- Mozambique airline captain ‘intentionally’ crashed plane The plane went down in torrential rains in the swamps of Namibia’s Bwabwata National Park on November 29 —- Politically bankrupt China dare not tolerate freedom of the press Even as China’s leaders promise a more liberal future for the country, they are suppressing those who would tell the truth http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/22/china-journalism-suppression-of-truth —- Why Dennis Rodman should not be friends with Kim Jong-un – by a survivor of the North Korean gulag Kim Jong-un’s comic book villain image belies the very real horrors of North Korea – and foreign celebrities should have nothing to with him, a says survivor of the North Korean gulag —- ‘Hundreds’ of Jang’s relatives sent to gulags by North Korean regime After Kim Jong-un regime ordered the execution of his uncle, it is reported that hundreds of his relatives have now been sent to prison camps —- Thai opposition to hold fresh mass rally in Bangkok http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25483401 The gathering storm: A look back on middle-class Europe’s last carefree Christmas before the onset of World War One —- In Abu Dhabi, they call it Happiness Island. But for the migrant workers, it is a place of misery Off the coast of Abu Dhabi, a stretch of sand is being turned into a cultural hub of global renown, featuring a new Louvre, Guggenheim and New York University. But the migrant workers creating it are being paid a pittance and living in squalor http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/22/abu-dhabi-happiness-island-misery —- It pains me to live in a country, Uganda, that hates gay people and ‘indecent’ women Homosexuals, mini-skirted women, even people who refuse to become informants – Uganda’s tough new laws target them all http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/22/uganda-gay-laws-target-gays-women —- Vikram Seth: India’s gay sex ban is against our tradition of tolerance ‘Incensed’ author says Indian supreme court reinstatement of law curtailing LGBT rights is an attack on millions of people http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/20/vikram-seth-india-supreme-court-ban-gay-sex —- Conservative groups spend up to $1bn a year to fight action on climate change • Author: ‘I call it the climate-change counter movement’ http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/dec/20/conservative-groups-1bn-against-climate-change —- “Classy” PR. Top PR exec Justine Sacco under fire for sending racist tweet before flying to Africa —- How dare amateur drinkers blight my season? In the two weeks prior to Christmas, these legions of the damned stalk our cities and taverns http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/22/kevin-mckenna-curse-amateur-drinker —- IN PICTURES: LONDON THROUGH THE AGES —- Animal photos of the week: 20 December 2013 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/earth/10530574/Animal-photos-of-the-week.html —- The week in pictures: 20 December 2013 —- Week in pictures: 14-20 December 2013 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-25468899 —- The Observer’s 20 photographs of the week The best photography in news, culture and sport from around the world this week http://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/gallery/2013/dec/21/photography-nelsonmandela » Posted By Kalima On December 22, 2013 @ 1:50 am Good Morning everyone. It was such a cold and rainy day here, that in order to see anything you needed to put all the lights on or tie a torch to your forehead. I decided to do neither and dropped off for a few hours in my afternoon. Tomorrow will be a rather busy day and evening, so I will see you again on Sunday. Have a good day wherever you may be. Take care, be safe, stay warm and comfy or cool and dry. Sayonara from my dark late afternoon corner of Tokyo. Mata ne. A few stories and opinions from around the globe. They are all the same here. Can’t trust any of them. Tokyoites rap Inose over money scandal —- Health ministry to seek criminal prosecution of Novartis —- I’ve heard NZ is very nice. Up to 23,000 may die in major Tokyo inland quake: government prediction —- About # 1, my in-laws don’t mind. 😀 10 little-known rules for eating Japanese food http://www.japantoday.com/category/food/view/10-little-known-rules-for-eating-japanese-food —- PICTURE OF THE DAY Come on guys, what’s with those beards? Window workers http://www.japantoday.com/category/picture-of-the-day/view/window-workers INTERNATIONAL NEWS Scores injured after partial ceiling collapse at Apollo Theatre in London’s West End —- MI6 officers told to ignore Geneva convention breaches, Gibson report finds British intelligence officers were told to ignore evidence of breaches of the Geneva convention when detainees from Iraq and Afghanistan were being interrogated in 2002, a report by the aborted inquiry into alleged British complicity in torture has found. —- Charity is a fine thing, but it can’t justify the wealth of the 1% The rich pretend the option is the status quo or outright communism. But giving is no excuse for gross inequality http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/20/charity-cant-justify-inequality —- This woman is bile inducing. French far-right politician Jean Marie Le Pen fined for racist Roma remarks —- Huh???? 😯 Vladimir Putin: Soviet leader Joseph Stalin was no worse than Oliver Cromwell —- Vladimir Putin pardons oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky in Amnesty Jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky to be pardoned, according to announcement following Vladimir Putin’s marathon press conference —- The Czar”, isn’t that what we have been calling him here since before the last stolen election? The tsar shows mercy, but the message remains the same: Don’t mess with me President Putin’s amnesty is a strategic bid the clear the decks before the world’s eyes turn to Russia for the most expensive Games in history, writes author and journalist John Kampfner —- Good. White House says it would veto Iran sanctions bill Twenty-six US senators introduced new Iran sanctions legislation, despite an intense White House lobbying campaign —- Raising The Minimum Wage To $10.10 Would Boost Growth By $22 Billion http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/12/19/3091141/minimum-wage-gdp-jobs/ —- In The Wealthiest Area Of The Country, 7 Homeless People Have Frozen To Death This Winter http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/12/18/3081571/bay-area-homeless-deaths/ —- New Mexico becomes 17th US state to legalise same-sex marriage • State’s highest court rules gay marriage ban unconstitutional http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/19/new-mexicos-highest-court-rules-gay-marriage-legal —- Boy Scouts lose support from donor Lockheed Martin over anti-gay policy After reviewing philanthropy standards, aerospace giant will cease funding the Boy Scouts due to its ban on gay adult leaders http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/19/boy-scouts-lockheed-martin-anti-gay-policy —- The Gun Report: December 19, 2013 A day in the life of armed America. —- India’s Misplaced Outrage Indians seem incensed that one of their diplomats was arrested, instead of being concerned about the treatment of a domestic worker. —- Canada approves ‘homophobic’ law school http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25457975 —- Fidel Castro hails brother Raúl’s handshake with Barack Obama Cuba’s retired political father figure says his brother, the president, met US leader at Nelson Mandela’s funeral http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/19/fidel-castro-raul-handshake-barack-obama-editorial —- Cuba lifts 50-year-old car import ban End of the road for 1950s vintage cars as restrictions are lifted in Cuba —- Syria ‘abducting civilians to spread terror’, UN says http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25445355 —- Al-Qaeda certainly do a lot of boasting and claiming. Al-Qaeda’s head in Syria claims they are winning civil war Abu Mohammed al-Golani insists victory for al-Qaeda in Syria will come “in a matter of days” —- I suppose they are winning hearts and minds with this outrageous behaviour too. Al-Qaida-linked group accused of torture in areas of Syria it controls Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant has carried out summary killings and flogged children as young as 13, says Amnesty http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/19/al-qaida-linked-group-accused-torture-syria-amnesty —- Dr Abbas Khan’s mother accuses Syrian regime of killing son to spite Britain The mother of a British doctor who died in a Syrian prison has accused the regime of killing her son out of anger at the British government —- Right. Wonder how much that cost them? Hosni Mubarak sons and ex-PM acquitted in corruption trial Egyptian court clears Gamal and Alaa Mubarak and Ahmed Shafiq over sale of plot of land in 1995 http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/19/hosni-mubarak-sons-acquitted-corruption-egypt —- Nepalese worker in Qatar: ‘I didn’t get a single rupee in six months’ Ram Kumar Mahara says he was not paid for 12-hour shifts on sites building the infrastructure for 2022 World Cup http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/19/nepal-worker-exploitation-qatar-football-world-cup —- Central African Republic atrocities escalate amid rampaging rival militias UN envoy Samantha Power calls for urgent action as Human Rights Watch charts killings by Muslims and Christians http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/19/central-african-republic-atrocities-escalate-un —- South Sudan’s conflict could spread across the border As the fighting spreads to the oilfields, Khartoum may attempt a military intervention. We are praying for a peaceful solution http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/19/south-sudan-conflict-spread-border-khartoum —- Three suicide bomb attacks target Shia pilgrims in Iraq http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25449793 —- Pollution from China grounds flights in Tibet Smog makes the world-famous Potala Palace nearly invisible from a few miles away —- Hagel: China warship action ‘irresponsible’ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25459570 —- Maybe they should start naming names and send the bill to the politicians and powerful people who use them. China’s sex workers face paying for their incarceration Beijing may have abolished ‘re-education through labour’ camps, but rights groups say parallel ‘custody and education’ system remains http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/19/china-sex-workers-pay-incarceration —- Oh Lord, not again. Could someone hand Kim a strong laxative? He looks positively in agony. North Korea threatens to attack South ‘without notice’ Pyongyang sends fax threatening to attack South Korea without warning after leader’s photo is set on fire during anti-Pyongyang rallies in Seoul —- Philippines mayor shot dead in airport attack Ukol Talumpa, who had survived previous assassination attempts, and his wife among four killed at Manila terminal http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/20/philippines-mayor-shot-dead-in-airport-attack TRIVIA QUIZ Today’s question. What are you afraid of if you have cryophobia? HINT: Brrrrrr —- Hijab: A woman’s rite of passage in Iran At nine, Iranian schoolgirls are handed a chador and ushered into public life… and its paradoxes http://www.theguardian.com/world/iran-blog/2013/dec/19/iran-hijab-islamic-veil —- Bangladesh 1971: Revisiting the scene of my grandfather’s murder http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25430717 —- The Sochi Games are leverage to force Russia to back down on homophobia As a former Olympian, I think it’s fair to ask if it’s morally just that the next Olympics Games are being held in a country that has taken away the basic rights of a entire class of people —- Google reveals sharp rise in requests for removal of political content • Annual transparency report has Turkey with most requests http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/dec/19/google-transparency-report-political-content —- This is the reason I have never turned on my Location on Google. Google was one of the companies at the meeting with President Obama whining about trust and privacy. Are you laughing yet? Google reads all of your private emails and says it’s users are not entitled to any privacy. Hypocrisy on parade. Google’s Location History Browser Is A Minute-By-Minute Map Of Your Life http://techcrunch.com/2013/12/18/google-location-history/ —- Chinese journalists face Marxist ideology exam Exam to be based on 700-page manual that prohibits published reports from featuring comments that go against party line http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/19/chinese-journalists-ideology-exam-media —- Unlocking the scrolls of Herculaneum http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25106956 —- DNA from a 50,000 year old toe shows Neanderthals were highly inbred —- Pictures of the day: 19 December 2013 —- Day in pictures: 19 December 2013 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-25448459 —- 10 photo highlights The Guardian’s head of photography brings you a selection of top photographs from around the world http://www.theguardian.com/news/gallery/2013/dec/19/10-photo-highlights —- Picture Desk Live Best pictures of the day – live The Guardian’s photo team brings you a daily round up from the world of photography http://www.theguardian.com/news/2013/dec/19/best-pictures-of-the-day-live » Posted By Kalima On December 20, 2013 @ 2:00 am Hello kes, thanks for coming by on such a busy day. Yes the pole has gone and now hubby can see the neighbour’s second floor windows and a bit of blue sky through the tangle of cables on the new pole. 😆 No, we didn’t get any snow but lots of cold rain since last night. Of course most of the fracking will be done in areas where the poorer people are living because they don’t have a say as far as Cameron is concerned, they don’t vote Conservative anyway. Our beautiful green belt that attracts thousand of tourists a year will be devastated of course and end up looking like molehills, so I wonder how much money this government will have lost in tourism by the time they have dug up 40% of the island, caused earthquakes and killed many people through toxic drinking water pollution? Do you think they would tell us? Tomasky makes an excellent point about the reasons for the difference in the “hate” from both sides. The Left has very good factual reasons to dislike rather than hate as they see the country being destroyed by Republican maniacs, and the Right just hate everything the President does for the sake of hating it because they hate the black man in the WH. N. Korea just has another insane tyrant in the driver’s seat. I do feel very sorry for the citizens who really have no other choice than to worship the fat nutcase. Of course Dr. Abbas Khan didn’t commit suicide, he was probably tortured to death. Oh kes, you were close with your Henry but it was William Shakespeare, in Henry 1V. The phrase is used in PART 1, ACT 11, SCENE iii, when Hotspur describes a nobleman’s character as nothing more than “a dash of skim mild”. I’ll give you half the points for your “Henry” though. 😀 Take care, have a peaceful day if possible, and see you again soon. » Posted By Kalima On December 19, 2013 @ 12:09 am Good morning everyone. Well, no more pole dancing for me, they dug up the old utility pole today, and carted it off to the pole cemetery. We can see much better now, although unfortunately it’s only the neighbour’s second floor windows. This is Tokyo after all. 🙂 Have a good day wherever you may be. Take care, be safe, stay warm and comfy or cool and dry. Sayonara from my dark afternoon corner of Tokyo. No snow yet. Mata ne. A few stories and opinions from around the globe. Japan decides on new process to find radioactive waste disposal site —- Fukushima residents to vacate last evacuation center by year-end http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20131218p2g00m0dm081000c.html —- Well what do you know, conservatives are the same the world over. Abe is just another rich-man’s puppet lining the party coffers. Heavy tax hit on households http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2013/12/17/editorials/heavy-tax-hit-on-households/ —- 4,200 firms hit over labor violations —- Santa takes gourmet dinner to nuclear evacuees http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/santa-takes-gourmet-dinner-to-nuclear-evacuees INTERNATIONAL NEWS Just wait for the disasters to start. 40 per cent of Britain to be made available for fracking —- Of course you won’t hear the Tories admitting that they made a balls-up. One-in-five redundant NHS staff rehired Thousands of NHS staff who received payoffs for redudnancy have been rehired, MPs told http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/nhs/10523932/One-in-five-redundant-NHS-staff-rehired.html —- Well heck, when asked, George Osborne said that he had never visited a food bank. Of course he hadn’t, he’s a bloody millionaire. With so many citizens depending on food banks, wouldn’t you think that the arsehole who is making all the cuts would at least take a look at what his policy is doing to so many? Wishful thinking of course because he doesn’t care. Government under fire for rejecting European Union food bank funding Critics say Conservative anti-EU ideology being put ahead of needs of the poor after UK officials turn down subsidy http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/dec/17/government-under-fire-eu-funding-food-banks —- Food poverty: so, which of the hungry poor most ‘deserve’ charity help? And explosion of demand for food aid in the wealthy south-east of England is confronting hard-pressed charity workers with tricky ethical dilemmas —- Good to hear that others were outraged by this case too. Sir James Munby: Caesarean mother case shows need for “radical change” in family courts The case of a mother whose baby was taken away following an enforced caesarean is an “irrefutable demonstration of the pressing need for radical change” in the family courts, senior judge says —- Merkel becomes third postwar German chancellor to be sworn in for third term Grand coalition has challenging agenda of European reforms, switch from nuclear to renewable energy, and minimum wage http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/17/angela-merkel-sworn-in-german-chancellor —- ‘Tightrope walker’ and ‘trapeze artist’: François Hollande is a wimp at home and a warrior in Africa —- Italy’s president fears violent insurrection in 2014 but offers no remedy —- Sickening! Outcry in Italy over video of naked refugees being disinfected in public Parliamentary speaker Laura Boldrini condemns treatment of migrants seen stripping naked at Lampedusa reception centre http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/17/italy-outcry-naked-refugees-sprayed-scabies —- ‘It is worth it and it is right’: A year of living dangerously for the prosecutor taking on the Mafia —- Love it!! Sochi Winter Olympics: US to send openly gay athletes as part of delegation US will not send any top officials to Russia for the Winter Games, in what is being considered a pointed snub to President Putin —- Ukraine opposition demands Russia agreement details http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25426305 —- Putin is such a dirty little bugger. Ukraine receives half price gas and $15 billion to stick with Russia Russia has struck a series of agreements with Ukraine to seal a strategic partnership with its neighbour at the expense of European eastward expansion —- Budget Deal Offers a Reprieve From Washington Paralysis The bipartisan budget deal may not be a cure-all for the gridlock in Washington, but it provides a much-needed break in the inaction. —- Gunman kills one, injures two in Reno hospital shooting One of the victims of the latest mass US shooting was a female doctor —- So how do they think the rest of the country feels about their unscrupulous antics? Feeling besieged, tea party groups steel for battle The movement, which is facing low popularity in polls, is hoping to strengthen its grass-roots efforts.. —- The Facebooking of Economics by Paul Krugman These are the good old days. —- Why Obama’s Haters Are Worse Than Bush’s The left’s critics of the Bush presidency are no match to today’s paranoid right, as this week’s insane innuendo—from the Hawaii plane crash to The Handshake—perfectly illustrates. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/12/14/why-obama-s-haters-are-worse-than-bush-s.html —- What A Year: 45 Fossil Fuel Disasters The Industry Doesn’t Want You To Know About http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/12/17/3056321/year-fossil-fuel-disasters/ Syria conflict: Aleppo strikes ‘overwhelm’ hospitals http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25421672 —- British prisoner Dr Abbas Khan found dead in Syrian jail days before he was due to be handed over to MP George Galloway —- Number of foreign fighters in Syria nearly doubles Jihadis from Europe taking up arms against the Assad regime show largest increase, a new report says —- Syria’s chemical weapons to travel by guarded convoy before destruction Unprecedented two-week operation will see 500 tonnes of cargo travel by road and cargo ship to Italian port by end of the year http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/17/syria-chemical-weapons-destruction-plan —- Lockerbie bombing: Muammar Gaddafi sidekick faces questioning Abdullah Senussi, who was director of Libya feared military intelligence wing, is currently in jail in Tripoli http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/dec/17/lockerbie-bombing-muammar-gaddafi-intelligence-chief —- Tunisia marks third anniversary of uprising Three years on, protests over lingering economic woes are still taking place in impoverished town of Sidi Bouzid. —- Saudi Arabia using arrests and beatings ‘to scare online critics’ Human Rights Watch report says government targets internet commentators and journalists to try and crush talk of reforms http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/18/saudi-arabia-arrests-online-critics —- Migrant workers ‘going hungry’ in Qatar Amnesty International urges officials to intervene to help labourers collect up to a year’s worth of overdue salaries. —- Hundreds dead in South Sudan clashes About 15,000 people have sought refuge in UN compounds around Juba since the troubles started on Sunday —- Lokpal bill: Indian lower house to pass anti-corruption law http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-25426284 —- China confirms US warship near-collision http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25426245 —- Kim Jong-un’s nephew placed under police guard at French university Added security follows purging of high profile figures in North Korea —- Good Lord, couldn’t he just have divorced her? Where is Kim Jong-un’s wife? The wife of Kim Jong-un, Ri Sol-ju, has not been seen in over two months – leading to speculation about her welfare http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/10523656/Where-is-Kim-Jong-uns-wife.html —- Singapore to deport 53 foreign workers over riot http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25426243 —- UN: Burma opium production rises again http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25426270 TRIVIA QUIZ Yesterday’s answer. Greenland, from Denmark Although the sale of the world’s largest island never materialised, the U.S. was able to establish military bases there. Sorry AB, but thanks for trying. Today’s question. Who coined the phrase skim milk. HINT: Hotspur. —- AUDIO SLIDESHOW How photographs told the story of the Vietnam War http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-24992606 —- Arab uprisings: The view from Yemen, Egypt and Sudan http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25405477 —- Chemicals Found In Water At Fracking Sites Linked To Infertility, Cancer http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/12/17/3073851/chemicals-fracking-water/ —- Chinese investors ‘buying’ US green cards for $1m http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25374638 —- Last orders looming for Trappist beers as Belgium’s band of brotherly brewers dies off —- Stunning!! Photographer Maurizio Pignotti’s stunning timelapse images of the solar system —- Day in pictures: 17 December 2013 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-25413603 —- 10 photo highlights The Guardian’s picture editor brings you a selection of top photographs from around the world http://www.theguardian.com/news/gallery/2013/dec/17/10-photo-highlights » Posted By Kalima On December 18, 2013 @ 2:00 amComments Posted By Kalima
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For more from the Guardian picture desk today see our live blog
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• Benefits for long-term unemployed allowed to expire last week
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The photographer knew exactly how he wanted to capture Barack Obama when he took his portrait in 2011:
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• Disclosure comes in response to federal court order
• Obama concedes NSA bulk collection may be unnecessary
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