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Post by dzero on May 2, 2011 10:20:20 GMT -5
This may seem shallow or inappropriate to some but I was on twitter when I learned this news just before the speech. So for better or worse twitter is how I'll remember this day so I am going to post some memorable tweets, a few serious ones here and a few other in the joke thread.
"That speech was perfect: Terror, not Islam, symbolic, not a panacea; ongoing, not over. No planes, no smirk, no flight suit, no banners."
"Excellent speech by President Obama. I hope we as a nation find that sense of unity he spoke about, and that it isn't squandered."
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Post by dzero on May 19, 2011 14:14:33 GMT -5
This is an old story from 2000 but thought it was interesting. news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/793515.stm Friday, 16 June, 2000, 12:47 GMT 13:47 UK Survivor of slavery dies in Brazil Maria do Carmo Jeronimo, a former slave whose lack of a birth certificate prevented her recognition as the world's oldest woman, has died at the age of 129. Jeronimo died of a stroke late on Wednesday at the University Hospital in Itajuba, 300 km (200 miles) north-west of Rio. Maria do Carmo Jeronimo lived in three centuries According to church records, Jeronimo was born on 5 March 1871 in the southeastern town of Carmo de Minas, in Minas Gerais state. Brazil then was a monarchy under Emperor Pedro II, and Jeronimo, who was black, was born into slavery. She was 17 when Brazil finally abolished slavery, but never left Minas Gerais. For six decades she worked as a housemaid for the Guimaraes family, which in recent years tried unsuccessfully to have her recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's oldest woman. "They said the baptismal registry of the church in Carmo de Minas wasn't enough and demanded a birth certificate," said Agostinho Guimaraes in a recent interview. "The problem is there were no certificates back then, especially for slaves." Proof needed The publication requires a birth certificate or other undisputed proof of age, because some past claims of longevity have turned out to be false. The Guinness World Records book says the world's oldest person is Eva Morris, of Staffordshire in England, who is 114 years old. It lists the oldest man as 110-year-old Benjamin Harrison Holcomb of the United States. The oldest person ever with authenticated records was Jeanne Calment of France, who died on 4 August 1997 aged 122. Still, local record books listed Jeronimo as the world's oldest woman, and she was honoured at a Carnival parade in Rio commemorating the abolition of slavery. She also received a personal blessing from Pope John Paul II during a visit to Rio. At the age of 127, she finally saw the ocean. Resistance In her final years, Jeronimo had a series of strokes that effectively left her in a vegetative state. But her resistance surprised Guimaraes family members, who took care of her when she no longer was able to work. "We saw her go through many crises, many delicate situations and survive, " Thereza Guimaraes told the newspaper Hoje em Dia. "We ended up thinking that it would go on forever."
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Post by AngelZ on Jun 19, 2011 18:46:59 GMT -5
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Post by AngelZ on Aug 10, 2011 20:59:02 GMT -5
Ashton Kutcher has joined Hugh Laurie as the highest-paid actor on TV in America, according to a new magazine study. Both stars will earn $US700,000 ($A675,056) per episode for Two and a Half Men and House, respectively, when the two high-rated shows return to US TV next month, but Kutcher also reportedly has a deal in place, where he'll profit further if his sitcom is a hit. Kutcher is replacing fired Charlie Sheen on Two and a Half Men. However, both actors' 2011/2012 TV salaries won't match Simon Cowell's package when he kicks off his new X Factor show - the study, carried out by TV Guide magazine, suggests he's on a whopping $US75 million ($A72.33 million) per year. And the music mogul's replacement on American Idol, Jennifer Lopez, has signed a new deal to return to the talent show reportedly worth $US20 million ($A19.29 million) for the second season. Also among the big US TV earners: chat show hosts David Letterman and Jay Leno bring in $US28 million ($A27.0 million) and $US25 million ($A24.11 million) annually, NCIS star Mark Harmon ($US500,000/$A482,183 per episode), and Kutcher's Two and a Half Men sidekick Jon Cryer ($US600,000/$A578,619 per show). And no one can find enough money to keep my Eureka on the air
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Post by AngelZ on Aug 11, 2011 23:16:24 GMT -5
As long as they can be used in the Cantina!
A Pacific island far, far away gets Star Wars cash Auckland August 12, 2011
AUCKLAND. The tiny Pacific nation of Niue is set to have Luke Skywalker emblazoned on its coins, but the money will be too valuable to spend.
Star Wars, the legendary film series, will soon make its first appearance on legal tender.
But the 2000 residents of Niue, which uses New Zealand currency, will be the only people allowed to use the $NZ2 coin as legitimate money. With an actual value of more than $A100, and made of silver worth $A40 alone, the coins are unlikely to be seen at the local shops.
The coins feature images of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Darth Vader and other Star Wars characters.
The heavily aid-dependent nation will get an undisclosed royalty payment from New Zealand Mint for its involvement in the project. The set will retail for about $A450 and is expected to be hugely popular with both coin collectors and Star Wars devotees worldwide.
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Post by AngelZ on Aug 23, 2011 20:39:57 GMT -5
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Post by dzero on Aug 28, 2011 11:13:01 GMT -5
Guard on duty yesterday at Arlington National Cemetery
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Post by AngelZ on Oct 5, 2011 21:36:40 GMT -5
The father of Apple has died Regardless of your views on Apple, the guy was a visionary genius.
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Post by AngelZ on Oct 6, 2011 0:40:31 GMT -5
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Post by dzero on Dec 12, 2011 11:37:51 GMT -5
WTF? news.yahoo.com/saudi-arabia-executes-woman-convicted-sorcery-132159048.htmlRIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Saudi authorities have executed a woman convicted of practicing magic and sorcery. The Saudi Interior Ministry says in a statement the execution took place Monday, but gave no details on the woman's crime. The London-based al-Hayat daily, however, quoted Abdullah al-Mohsen, chief of the religious police who arrested the woman, as saying she had tricked people into thinking she could treat illnesses, charging them $800 per session. The paper said a female investigator followed up, and the woman was arrested in April, 2009, and later convicted in a Saudi court. It did not give the woman's name, but said she was in her 60s. The execution brings the total to 76 this year in Saudi Arabia, according to an Associated Press count. At least three have been women.
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Post by dzero on Feb 1, 2012 23:41:11 GMT -5
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Post by AngelZ on Feb 2, 2012 2:04:57 GMT -5
Priceless!
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