Floatin' Powa News Service: Clean Your Cuckoo Clock

Go Simcha:
Filmmakers weigh in on Toronto Israel flap

TORONTO -- Now it's getting personal. Canadian filmmaker John Greyson's decision to pull his short film from the Toronto International Film Festival has provoked a growing feud among Canadian filmmakers.

Veteran Canadian documentary maker Simcha Jacobovici, who was born in Israel, said Greyson should test his sympathy for the Palestinians by screening his short film about the 2008 Sarajevo Queer Festival in Tel Aviv and on the West Bank. "He will be invited to screen the film at the local (Tel Aviv) cinematheque. He can then walk around with the same sign down the streets of Palestinian Ramallah. He should document the experience on video and then enter it into next year's TIFF -- posthumously," Jacobovici said.

Veteran Canadian film producer Robert Lantos ("Sunshine," "Being Julia") was equally dismissive Thursday of Greyson's protest as he defended the Toronto festival's decision to spotlight Tel Aviv and Israeli filmmakers. "I have no doubt that both the festival and its patrons will survive John Greyson's boycott and will do just fine without seeing his short documentary, 'Covered,' " he said. Lantos argued that the Toronto festival has not known "political censorship" since Ontario film censors in 1978 attempted to cut scenes from his opening night film "In Praise of Older Women."

"Since then, the (Toronto) festival has been free from the pressure of those whose fascist agenda is to impose their views on others, stifle the voices they don't like and interfere with people's right to see whatever they wish and make up their own minds. Until now," he argued.

Lantos pointed to the irony of Greyson's gay-friendly film possibly being freely screened in Israel, a country the Canadian filmmaker condemned. "Then again, perhaps he (Greyson) is just an opportunist eagerly leaping on the 'Israel apartheid' bandwagon in order to garner more attention for his film than it would have ever received had it played at the festival," the veteran producer added.

Jacobovici added that he won't be able to attend the Toronto festival as he'll be in Israel, and invited Greyson to join him for a tour. "Of course Israel, like Canada, is not a perfect society. But the question is, why does my fellow Canadian documentarian choose to so publicly align himself with forces of apartheid, totalitarianism and intolerance against the only democracy in the area?" he questioned.

NYT: US Rebukes Israel Over Settlement Plan
Ucccchh!

Aide: Netanyahu considering settlement freeze
Simcha for PM! Naked Archaeology Akbar!

Madonna lights Sabbath candles with Israel PM
AGGGGGGGGGHH! Nightmare!

Fatah, Hamas to hold separate talks with Egyptian leadership

Hamas chief in Cairo for talks on unity deal

Hamas leader, Iranian president affirm close ties

Rabbi: Fonda, Glover Support Destruction of Israel
Naturally! All the cool kids are doing it!

Fruit Inspector #9 reporting for duty:

In a joint press conference with President Chavez following the talks, President Bashar al-Assad said that his meeting with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was very fruitful.

SNIP

President al-Assad clarified that there was a strong desire in the countries and peoples of Latin America to President al-Assad clarified that there was a strong desire in the countries and peoples of Latin America to develop strong relations with the Arab world. On the peace process, the President said "I explained to President Chavez our stance regarding the peace process.. the stances of Venezuela and Latin America are generally not far from our stances.. all of us know President Chavez stances… every Arab citizen follows Venezuela stances regarding the Palestinian issue, the Golan, the Israeli aggression on Lebanon in 2006 and on Gaza last December.

The President underlined that the Syrian stance which is committed to peace means the full restoration of the land to the June 4th, 1967 line. "For us, all Israeli governments are similar...since 1991 untill today nothing serious has been achieved in the peace process, so the difference among them is in tactics and appeqarcne, but the essence is one....and the Israeli opinion polls assert that the Israelis in general are not ready yet for peace since they don't want to return the land completely" to thier owners, " President al-Assad said. his Excelelncy pointed out "in general, Israel is not prepared neither in the present time nor in the forseable future to achieve peace.'

President al-Assad said, "Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip is a genocide committed against all Palestinians with no exception. I discussed with President Chavez how to take a move on the international level to try to urge part of the world, at least, to lift this unjust siege imposed on the Palestinian people." President al-Assad added, "We did not talk about the international community because the term 'international community' today implies a limited number of big powers which want and seek to dominate the world and the international politics and economy. We rather talked about an international movement including the countries that may take a just attitude in this regard."

President al-Assad made clear "When we talk about the international community in the prevailing meaning, it implies domination on the international organizations. Syria and Venezuela call for reforming these organizations in order to move from the stage of international chaos to the international order stage." President al-Assad went on to say that he briefed President Chavez on last year's indirect negotiations between Syria and Israel, adding that Syria showed continued interest in the peace but Israel proved once again that it was not serious about the peace process.

Syria: Chávez Says Israelis Must Reject 'Genocidal' Leaders

Iraq strengthens Syria border force

Iran determined to mediate between Iraq and Syria

Syria and Kuwait exchange pleasantries
Problem is they find dead Juden most pleasant.

EU close to agreeing offer to Syria on ties
Glow Ball peace through dead Juden! Surrender to Iran through Syria!

Ayoon Wa Azan (The Cause Can Only Be Resolved Through War)

The entire state of Israel is nothing more than an illegal outpost established in the land of Palestine. A few days ago, Reverend Desmond Tutu affirmed what we have been saying for 50 years now, that the Palestinians were the ones who paid the price for the Holocaust. He quoted a German diplomat who had expressed to Tutu a similar view. In the meantime, Abu Mazen and the other senior members of the Palestinian National Authority are touring Europe and the wider world to do their utmost in promoting their cause, and letting the world see their plight.

VIDEO: Tariq Ramadan: "Islam is a European Religion"

Kareem Shora, who was appointed to the DHS by Bruno Says:

In the letter to Ambassador Sheinwald, ADC National Executive Director Kareem Shora said, “We are confident that a comprehensive legal investigation is being conducted by British authorities. However, this anti-Muslim attack during the Holy Month of Ramadan must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” The letter continued, “We are assured that British authorities will use all available legal means to classify this as a hate-motivated attack and report it to the appropriate agencies monitoring anti-Muslim intolerance including the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).”

Former Palestinian Terrorist Embraces Jesus, Jews
Silly headline. Jesus IS Jews.

Saada eventually made his way to the United States to attend school. By that point, he had given up on waging violent jihad, but he still hated Jews.

Palestinians, Lebanese Shi'ites forced to leave UAE

A number of Palestinians and Lebanese Shi'ites have been forced to leave the United Arab Emirates in recent months, Palestinian and Lebanese officials said on Friday. Hussam Ahmed, head of the Refugee Affairs Department in the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by the Islamist group Hamas, said hundreds of Palestinians had been dismissed from their jobs in the UAE for security reasons. "(This is) an operation of mass displacement of Palestinians in the UAE, especially those of Gaza origins, without known reasons other than security pretexts," he said in a statement issued in Gaza on Thursday, citing the UAE town of al-Ain.

Evolution of Global Islam

September 11 attack, a watershed in deciding the co-evolution of various civilizations, can be interpreted as the biggest plea by radical Muslims to eliminate liberals from Islam. The American reaction in the form of attack on al-Qaeda-Taliban combine in Afghanistan and Pakistan and later invasion of Iraq is just what hardliners wanted. The radicals, by creating stakes for the US, have created stakes for themselves. The radicals are directing Islam towards the Islam of early era, while the Americans are cashing it by creating space for themselves in not-yet inflated Islamic world.

The Radicalization is not an ex nihilo creation, coming out of nothing. It is conscious and intrinsic part of Islamic culture. It can not be termed as flaw of distribution, either. The on going fighting among the maximally un-equals in Afghanistan and Pakistan is imperative for the spread of radical Islam. The fact is that Pentagon and allied forces can not be defeated, but the purity of Islam would win. The hard line Islam wants a bigger space and will definitely come into equilibriums with the liberal ideologies. The radicalization of Islam is a natural adjustment towards the West dominated GATT and an inevitability, in the light of the beginning of the end of oil. The matter-of-fact is that it is Islam, the purest one, which would save the Muslims in not-so-welcome, post-oil era.

Persecution of Christians in Pakistan

Recently I received three communications, one from NWFP and the others from somewhere near Lahore. The letters were from prominent Christians in two different provinces. I quote the letters sans the real names of the senders and their exact locations.

“I am feeling very pity and difficult from where should I start and for what I would start I/we are in such a vicissitudes which even have stuck the brain to think and act. You may find this email very strange! But I/we are in Trauma. Dear you are very well aware about the circumstances we are going through particularly one can imagine as a minority what would be our situation in this time (state of war) and one even do not know for what reason he/she has been assassinated. Anyway we were and are not living but struggling to live or fighting for our survival.

Every second day brings something new in our country and we get in new crises namely War against Terror, political, judiciary, water, power, food, fuel and blab blab…; the law n order situation is never ever under control. The Government supremacy is nowhere in the country and their transgressions have taken us further in worse situation. I would say this is totally a potpourri Govt. On the other end the inflation really has broken the back born of individual’s budget.

"Moderate" Iranian Ayatollah: "time to export the revolution"

Iran's late revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini coined the phrase "exporting the revolution." Khomeini, who died in 1989, remains a figure much revered by all political groups, but such language is rarely used by Iran's present-day leaders.

"In our Islamic society, if we want to hurt people's prestige in our remarks ... then it would lead to a fire which hurts everyone," Kashani told Friday prayer worshippers in Tehran, in a clear reference to domestic political feuding. "It is now the time to export the revolution ... it is not the time to treat each other like this," he said in a sermon broadcast live on state radio. "Such remarks cause damage to the Islamic society and prevent the export of the revolution."

Kashani is seen as a moderate cleric who rarely makes politically controversial remarks.

Oil India, Partners May Invest $5 Billion in Iran Gas Block

Chavez backs Iran nuclear strategy

Iran and the Yemen battlefront

Yemeni forces have been fighting Shiite unrest within the country since early August. On Monday, the Yemini government summoned the Iranian ambassador over alleged media bias toward Shiite rebels in Yemen. The same day, the Gulf Cooperation Council (gcc) restated its support for the Yemeni government. The real issue here is the growing concern among Arab countries about Iran’s rising influence in the region.

Karzai Brother Denies Election Accusations

Rift with Karzai worsen as NATO air strike kills 95

Pashtuns lose patience with the court of King Karzai

Election in Afghanistan takes an unpredictable turn
Unpredictable?

Mr Karzai has been so tarnished by presiding over a corrupt and dysfunctional government that he now lacks the credibility and legitimacy to deal with Afghanistan’s daunting problems in a second term.

UN to host post-election summit in Kabul

Nuclear Energy Becomes Part of China-US Talks, Official Says
More Uranium to warm yer Glow Balls!

“Nuclear is going to be more of a focus in future trips” to negotiate with China, he said yesterday in an interview. “It’s an important part of the solution to the global warming problem.”

Shanghai Surprise
Stupid Gwylo! SURPRISE!

CNPC accelerates oil tank construction

China's Energy Revolution

Special Economic Zones on the Lines of China!

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Thursday called upon the Chinese to invest in Karnataka since the Government led by him would set up Special Economic Zones on the lines of China. Addressing an investors' meet at the Chinese capital, Mr. Yeddyurappa said the Government of Karnataka encourages the establishment of special economic zones. "We have brought out SEZ policy, to support the same. We would like to ensure a healthy growth of SEZs. The Government is serious in attracting industrial investments to tier II & III cities, in order to, achieve balanced regional development and decongest Bangalore," he said. Karnataka is holding the Global Investors Meet in January 2010 in Bangalore.

Costa Rican watchdog approves refinery deal with China

Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei under 'spy probe' in Australia

Australia’s national security service is investigating Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, whose legitimacy had been debated by intelligence chiefs in the US, Britain and India, for employing technicians in Australia with direct links to the People’s Liberation Army.

Japan's new leader backs "fiscal regulation"

"I am not turning to socialism," he said. "I just want to improve Japanese people's livelihood.

Kalam's vision 2020 for Andamans: Atomic Power Station, Nuke Sub
See? The Glow Ball needs more Uranium!

The Andaman and Nicobar group of islands straddle the strategic seaway leading to the Malacca straits. The A & N Islands are separated from the mainland by more than 1,000 kms but are placed at close proximity to a number of littoral states in the Bay of Bengal and stretching to the Indian Ocean. The archipelago comprises 572 small and big islands, of which only 36 are inhabited. The islands, which comprise 30 percent of the country’s EEZ, have a potential reserve of Oil and Natural Gas besides being a great resource of marine life.

US envoy Bosworth arrives in S. Korea on six-party talks

North Korea: Uranium Program Near Completion

Pakistan 'developing' advanced Nuclear facility

A new report claims that Pakistan is developing “more advanced nuclear technology”, while India has in recent days signalled the need for new tests – marking a growing arms race in the subcontinent.

Russia won't agree to curbs on technology transfer to India

Ties with others not at Russia's expense: Patil

Moscow: India on Friday sent out a strong signal to Russia that it must not harbour any disquiet on account of India's engagement of the United States

Missing channel pirate ship carried Russian arms for Iran

A CARGO ship that vanished in the Channel was carrying arms to Iran and was being tracked by Mossad, the Israeli security service, according to sources in both Russia and Israel.

Avoiding SPDS:

A Russian writer who contradicted some authorities by suggesting that the hijacked cargo ship Arctic Sea was carrying something other than timber was fired after he fled Russia because of threats, he told CNN Friday.

3 police killed in southern Russia blast

Russia kills man 'planning Moscow suicide attack'

Putin involved 1999 bombings, GQ bans article in Russia

In the new September issue of GQ magazine, war journalist Scott Anderson exposes the truth that former President and current Prime Minister of Russia was involved in the 1999 apartment bombings.

In September 1999, Chechan separatists committed heinous terrorist attacks against the Russian Federation. Hundreds of people were killed; terrorists took over a school in Beslan and more than 100 people died in a Moscow theater. Putin took over for Boris Yeltsin and immediately began a crackdown against the terrorists and a second war was started against Chechnya. Scott Anderson, and several others from before, claims that Vladimir Putin was involved in the attacks or had prior knowledge beforehand.

Waiting for Putin

The aerodrome was so secretive that for years the U.S. intelligence community (usually viewing the facility from several miles up via satellite imagery) did not even know its real name. They referred to it as "Ramenskoye," the name of one of the villages that adjoin the mammoth site. The USSR is gone, but LII today is still surrounded by more barbed wire, minefields, and guard patrols than a World War II concentration camp. And this forbidding exterior was only the opening act this year in a heavily stage-managed play that left the air show attendees waiting for Putin--and simultaneously hoping he would leave MAKS as soon as possible so we could all get back to work.

Russia, China, Brazil endorse India's stand on protectionism

Abdul Rahman, Dirt Nap Tango Dancer:

I met him there recently, after running a gauntlet of seven checkpoints manned by increasingly edgy fighters. He and his commanders sat on two rows of red cushions. Rahman, known to his men as Mawlawi Sahib, gave an impression of shyness, but was keen to show off his allies in jihad, foreign fighters from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. "This is the commander of the Uzbek troops," he said, pointing at a man with a round face. "And this," he said, pointing at another, "is our brother, the commander of the Turkmen troops." Four Chechen fighters are reported to have been with Rahman when he was killed.

Name schools, institutes after me, Kazakh leader says
Me, Forever, Infinity!

Kazakh Activist's Sentence Over Accident Draws Outcry

Research and Markets: Kazakhstan Mining Report Q3 2009

UNDP and Samruk-Energo to develop renewable energy in Kazakhstan

Turkmenistan ratchets up rhetoric in Caspian dispute with Azerbaijan

Chavez to visit Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan Says It Won't Recognize AUCA

A spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat, William Stevens, says Turkmenistan does not recognize the Bishkek-based American University in Central Asia (AUCA) as an institution of higher learning.

'Ghost bus' takes Uzbeks on a shady ride to Russia
On Uzbek Ghost Bus Soviets Ride You

On paper, the bus does not exist. It has no schedule and no route. It shows up mysteriously -- and just as mysteriously, the dozens of men who await it know when it is coming. Every year, the ghost bus, and its many cousins throughout Uzbekistan, transports hundreds of migrants to Russia, crossing two state borders and 2,200 miles of steppe, desert and farmland. The men it carries do not exist on the books, either. But Russia needs their labor, and they need the money. Russia's enormous oil wealth and its plummeting population have turned it into the world's biggest immigration destination after the United States, attracting 10 million to 15 million labor migrants a year from former Soviet states.

Oil Prices Edge Higher

GOING PUBLIC: Promise Of Oil Could Fuel Cobalt IPO

Cobalt is backed by several seasoned private-equity investors, including Carlyle Group, Riverstone Holdings, and Goldman Sachs Group

UK Stocks Rise, Led by Mining Companies

Commerce Resources (CCE) jumps on rare earth zone discovery
TANTALUM!

Mining South African into the ground

Research and Markets: Namibia Mining Report Q3 2009

Wall Street's Champs And Chumps

Behind Credit Suisse is Goldman Sachs, BNP Paribas, a French bank, Santander, a Spanish bank, and Deutsche Bank.

US Geithner To Attend BRICS Meeting
Yah as I reported in the last FPNS post he was not invited and had to go beg Vlad for a pass.

Mantega said Geithner had asked to take part in the meeting in order to persuade BRIC governments to provide new resources to the International Monetary Fund through its New Arrangement to Borrow.

BRICs push for greater IMF clout

BRAZIL FINMIN MANTEGA: BRICS FAVOUR USING BONDS TO BOOST IMF

Pranab begins BRIC meetings, India asked to plug IMF funding hole
Plug mah hole, Pranab!

China to Buy Up to $50 Billion in IMF SDRs

BRICs pledge $80 bln to IMF, seek overall quota increase

Analysts point to variance in BRICs

The Lehman Brothers collapse: The Global Fallout

Iceland, Latvia and Pakistan are among the economies that suffered most in the wake of Lehman's meltdown, prompting the fall of a government, popular protests and rising extremism

Another Government Mortgage Entity Is Blowing Up

In essence, the mortgage market currently is nearly completely dominated by conforming mortgages that are sold to Fannie/Freddie (which are GSEs, technically private but implicitly backed by the government) or other mortgages that may remain on the books of lenders but are insured by FHA. In either case, it’s offloading risk from private companies that are making the decisions and onto the government.

American Monetary Institute 2009 Conference: “We Shall Prevail”
STFU YOU CRAZY SPLEEN!

Henry Kissinger wrote in the Washington Post on August 19, 2009, that keeping China as a friend to the West is essential for the “New World Order."

The world’s most important gathering of monetary reformers takes place each year in Chicago at the American Monetary Institute’s annual conference. This year’s event takes place September 24-27 at Roosevelt University. Chairing the conference is Stephen Zarlenga, AMI director and author of the landmark book The Lost Science of Money. For information and the list of speakers, including monetary economist Michael Hudson, see the AMI website.

Who made the most in the '08 campaign?

CQ’s analysis is perhaps most interesting for the light it sheds on the salaries paid by party committees and political action committees, rather than the occasionally misleading sums paid by candidates to staffers. The five biggest salaries went to employees of committees, with former MoveOn.org executive director — and current board president — Eli Pariser topping the list at $299,000.

Obama Must Not Surrender to Russia on Missile Defense
He must not but he is and he will.

Reports in the Polish media strongly suggest that the Obama Administration is about to abandon its plans for "third site" missile defense installations in Poland and the Czech Republic. Abandoning the third site would represent a huge turnaround in American strategic thinking on a global missile defense system and a massive betrayal of two key U.S. allies in Eastern and Central Europe. Such a move would also significantly weaken America's ability to combat the growing threat posed by Iran's ballistic missile program and would hand a major propaganda victory to Moscow.

US sees progress on nuclear arms deal with Russia

Obama panders to Islam (again)

Muslims are what make America great, if President Obama is to be believed. At a White House interfaith dinner honoring Ramadan on Tuesday, he said that "the contribution of Muslims to the United States are too long to catalog because Muslims are so interwoven into the fabric of our communities and our country." We would be intrigued to see that long list and to learn more about how Muslims have been part of the woof and warp of America.

Wisconsin bishop defends Kennedy funeral

Performing abortions doctor's 'mission'?

UNFPA Drops Name From UNESCO Sex-Ed Guide Pushing Abortion on Children

The Truth about Labor Day

The philosophical conflict embodied in Labor Day dates to the earliest days of the nation’s history. In 1625, just five years after the first Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock, a rival settlement called Merry Mount was founded at the site of present-day Quincy. The inhabitants of Merry Mount shunned Puritanical injunctions and embraced the pleasures of the flesh. They drank great amounts of whiskey and beer and shamelessly fornicated.

At the beginning of each May they erected a maypole, a pagan invention that had become the symbol of fun in villages across England, and danced around it with libidinal abandon.Merry Mount’s population of hedonists grew faster than the godly brethren of the Puritan settlements, threatening to create a new land that looked less like the Puritans’ vision of a pure society and more like their version of hell. So in 1628 the elders in nearby Plymouth Colony sent Captain Myles Standish and a force of men armed with muskets and swords to wipe their competitors from the earth. The Puritan army quickly conquered Merry Mount, arrested its leaders, and chopped down the maypole.

WE ARE TO CHOP DOWN THEIR ASHERAH POLES

Group wants Tulsa to explore seizing land to halt tribe's plan

A group that has fought previous plans to build a bridge across the Arkansas River between Tulsa and Jenks is urging the City Council to explore condemning the land the Muscogee (Creek) Nation wants to develop on the river's banks.

Michael Covey, spokesman for the South Tulsa Citizens Coalition, told the council Thursday evening that the river corridor master plan calls for the tract of land on the northeast edge of the river east of Yale Avenue and south of 121st Street to be a large park. "We've spent millions of taxpayer dollars to come up with this plan, and now we have a potential bridge and commercial development," he said.

Covey, who is an attorney, said that under United States law, the land can be condemned for a public purpose.

Appeals Court Upholds Federal Supremacy Over Utah County

In a ruling with national impact, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals decided Monday that a Utah county may not override federal rules meant to protect wildlife, streams, archeological sites, wilderness and monuments by relying on unproven highway rights of way.

Utah in talks for nuclear waste deal

EnergySolutions Inc. said Friday it is in settlement talks with Utah aimed at getting the state to drop its objections to importing foreign nuclear waste for disposal in the state. The company wants to import as much as 20,000 tons of low-level radioactive waste from Italy through the ports of Charleston, S.C., or New Orleans. After processing in Tennessee, about 1,600 tons would be disposed of in the desert about 70 miles west of Salt Lake City.

If approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, it would be the largest amount of radioactive waste ever imported into the country. "We believe that it is in the best interest of the state, the citizens of Utah and EnergySolutions to settle this matter and we hope the state considers this proposal," EnergySolutions spokesman Mark Walker wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press."Since this issue is still before the court and in settlement discussions it would be inappropriate to comment further." he wrote.

Republican Rep Sez: Feds should support Tennessee uranium-enrichment project

Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., called on the Energy Department to approve loan guarantees for USEC's proposed uranium-enrichment plant in Oak Ridge, Tenn., a project that he sees as important to the manufacturing and nuclear industries. The federal agency asked USEC and its contractors to address technical problems to expedite the approval process and boost their chances of getting financial support, but that would delay the project for six to 18 months. Wamp's statement comes after some USEC employees were warned of job cuts, with more possible if the venture does not get the promised $45 million in funding.

Residents near Fermi to get anti-radiation pills

FLA: State regulators to hold meetings on FPL nuclear plant expansion costs

CO: Town passes measure opposing uranium mine

The Nunn town board has passed a resolution opposing a planned uranium mine near the northern Colorado town.

VA firm seeking to mine uranium to pay for study

Bruno and the Sleeping Watchmen

The sleeping guards were employees of FJC Security, a contractor used by the Port Authority, which operates all bridges leading into Manhattan.

Bruno's Swine Flu Agitprop

The government is warning about a possible massive outbreak of swine flu this winter. Speaking on NBC's "Today" Show, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said there will be a big influx of flu cases before the vaccine is ready.

She stated that because of the expected vaccine shortage, employers should have a plan ready to deal with filling employee shortages. Napolitano emphasized there won't be mandatory vaccinations required and states will be in charge of how to distribute the vaccine.

She said those most susceptible to the flu, such as school-age children and the elderly, will get first priority for flu shots. On a related subject, Napolitano said there's no truth to the rumors that Homeland Security is talking with the airlines about banning sick passengers. She stated they have met with airline officials about making hand-washing easily available and that airlines will make the decision about who can board their planes.

NJ Alert – A Homeland Security Preparedness Role Model

New Jersey continues to lead the way in Homeland Security preparedness. Last month we featured a story on legislation that will mandate all public and nonpublic schools in the state to conduct monthly homeland security drills.

White House Discloses All Agency Waivers

Three of the 10 waivers were granted to individuals in the Justice Department regarding the internal inquiry into the government’s case against former Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska). Attorney General Eric Holder, Deputy Attorney General David Ogden and Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer were given waivers to be able to review the materials and be involved in the decision-making process for how the department will resolve the internal inquiry.

DoD Acquisition Chief Received Ethics Waiver

The Obama administration in May cleared DoD acquisition chief Ashton Carter to participate in department business involving Textron, which he once advised, waiving a portion of its strict ethics rules, according to government documents released late Sept. 3.

Carter, like other Obama appointees, signed a pledge to adhere to the administration's beefed-up ethics rules, which it implemented almost immediately upon taking office in late January. The rules bar appointees for two years from taking part in government decisions involving private-sector entities for which they did work.

Obama gave AG ethics waiver to probe Stevens case

Bolden, a former astronaut, was an SAIC consultant and a GenCorp director. Bolden must stay out of contract decisions involving the companies and out of ...

San Diego's SAIC Emerging as Key Player in Nation's CyberSecurity

Telecommunication Towers for the Military Industry

Ecuadorean Judge Steps Down in Chevron Amazon Suit

A judge presiding over a $27 billion environmental lawsuit against Chevron Corp. in Ecuador stepped down from the case after the company claimed video recordings it obtained show he’s already decided to rule against it.

Kanlaon Volcano shows restiveness
Restiveness! Yeah me too.

Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Occidental has shown a remarkable rise in its seismic activity for the last eight days. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) revealed in a bulletin Thursday that it has recorded 257 volcanic earthquakes in Mt. Kanlaon from August 23 to September 1. The seismic activity was notably higher than the usual levels that generally vary from 0 to 4 events detected in 24 hours during quiet periods, Phivolcs said. One of these quakes occurred at 5:26 p.m. on August 23, and was felt at Intensity 2 in Barangay Ara-al, La Carlota City. Another tremor occurred at 10:27 p.m. on August 30 and was felt at Intensity 3 in La Castellana and Intensity 4 in the cities of La Carlota and Bago. Phivolcs said the epicenters of the quakes were all located at the northwest slope of the volcano.

Richard Dawkins Talks About His New Book In Diverse Places

Earthquakes in diverse places:

5.4 Quake - Albania

4.4 Quake ~ Portugal

5.0 Quake ~ Guam

5.4 Quake - South Africa

5.8 Quake ~ Peru

4.6 Quake ~ Costa Rica

4.6 Quake ~ Andaman Islands

6.1 Quake ~ New Zealand

3.0 Quake ~ Arizona

AltaRock geothermal project hits snag

And they noted that AltaRock failed to mention the Basel earthquake in a report it was required to file before commencing drilling

AltaRock suspends Geysers drilling project

In Basel, Switzerland, and other parts of the world where the EGS technology is used, it has been known to trigger earthquakes

Akrotiri, Santorini: the "Minoan Pompeii" - part 4