Death toll in Australian wildfires rises

Damn and Double Damn ...

Disaster teams found charred bodies on roadsides and in crashed cars - grim signs of the futile attempt to flee raging wildfires fed by 60 mph winds, record heat and drought that caught even fire-savvy Australians by surprise.

As the death toll rose to 173 in Australia's worst wildfire disaster, suspicions that some of the 400 blazes were caused by arson led police to declare crime scenes in some of the incinerated towns, Victoria police said.

The fires near Melbourne in southeastern Australia destroyed more than 750 homes, left 5,000 people homeless, and burned 1,100 square miles of land, the Victoria Country Fire Service said.
Whole forests were reduced to leafless, charred trunks.
Farmland was in ashes.

The scale of the disaster shocked has a nation that endures deadly firestorms every few years.
Officials said panic and the freight-train speed of the walls of flames probably accounted for the unusually high death toll.

*****

If it is arson ...

Did you know ...

Three more American banks have collapsed in the past few days.

Detail in the Money Times.

Liars and Fools

Today's Liars and Fools are:

Faux's Brick says Obama's stimulus bill is "really truly stepping beyond socialism and starting to look at fascism"

Rove lies that he knows no-one who's talking about tax cuts only, when that's the standard repugican position

Anti-eavesdropping whistleblower Russell Tice gets the Faux News treatment, by Bill O'Really's attack crew

Faux's Brick implies that unions will have him killed

Faux's Brick compares Gore to Joseph Goebbels and drug dealers

Remember ex-shrub arse-licker Andy Card's silly complaint about the dress code in the Oval Office? It was a lie, as if you didn't already know.

Faux News trumpets non-existent "war on Christians"

Disney's Savage continues his decline into insanity

More in tomorrow's installment of Liars and Fools!

They Knew ...

Peanut Corporation of America already knew their legumes were contaminated with salmonella when they sold 32 truckloads of toxic peanuts to the USDA's school lunch program.

Details in the Washington Post.

$550 Billion Disappeared in "Electronic Run On the Banks"

The Capital Markets Subcommittee Chair, Rep. Paul Kanjorski of Pennsylvania, tells C-Span how the world economy almost collapsed in a matter of hours.

At 2 minutes, 20 seconds into this C-Span video clip, Kanjorski reports on a "tremendous draw-down of money market accounts in the United States, to the tune of $550 billion dollars." According to Kanjorski, this electronic transfer occured over the period of an hour or two.

Kanjorski: "The Treasury opened its window to help. They pumped a hundred and five billion dollars into the system and quickly realized that they could not stem the tide. We were having an electronic run on the banks. They decided to close the operation, close down the money accounts, and announce a guarantee of $250,000 per account so there wouldn't be further panic and there. And that's what actually happened. If they had not done that their estimation was that by two o'clock that afternoon, five-and-a-half trillion dollars would have been drawn out of the money market system of the United States, would have collapsed the entire economy of the United States, and within 24 hours the world economy would have collapsed."

"It would have been the end of our political system and our economic systems as we know it."

Economy Meltdown Continues

Dubai airport clogged with cars abandoned by fleeing construction workers

The roads around Dubai airport are clogged with abandoned cars left behind by guest-workers from the construction industry who are fleeing the country ahead of the economic collapse:

On the night of December 31, 2008 alone more than 80 vehicles were found at the airport. "Sixty cars were seized on the first day of this year," director general of Airport Security, Mohammed Bin Thani, told DNA over the phone. On the same day, deputy director of traffic, colonel Saif Mohair Al Mazroui, said they seized 22 cars abandoned at a prohibited area in the airport.

Faced with a cash crunch and a bleak future ahead, there were no goodbyes for the migrants -- overwhelmingly South Asians, mostly Indians - just a quiet abandoning of the family car at the airport and other places.

While 2,500 vehicles have been found dumped in the past four months outside Terminal III, which caters to all global airlines, Terminal II, which is only used by Emirates Airlines, had 160 cars during the same period...

"The construction and real estate industry has been hit following the global slowdown and the direct fallout is that professionals working in the realty industry are rapidly losing their jobs," said a senior media professional, in-charge of a realty supplement in Dubai. "In fact, my weekly real estate supplement usually had 60% advertisement and ran into 300-odd pages. In the last seven weeks, it's down to 80 pages and with fewer advertisments," he added.

Mumbai resident D Nair (name changed) had been living in a plush highrise in Sharjah for the past four years. However, the script went horribly wrong when his contract was terminated. Nair used all his credit cards to their maximum limit, shopping for people back home. He then discarded his Honda Accord before returning to India for good. Nair, who stays in a rented apartment in Navi Mumbai today, has a Rs15 lakh loan with a Dubai bank.

Indians flee Dubai as dreams crash

Magnetic duct-tape

What's better than duct-tape? Magnetic duct-tape!

It couldn't be any easier or more versatile: Just stick a few centimeters of the 19mm (3⁄4") wide patented magnetic tape to the back of your photos, posters, calendars, etc. and a matching piece on the wall, the sloped ceiling, the fridge door, office cupboard, memo board, etc. The tape strips will stick to each other magnetically. And can be just as easily taken off again. Unlike conventional removable adhesive tape, you can use this tape again and again. Ideal, for example, if you need to reposition plans and maps several times.

Self-adhesive magnetic tape

Disabled men put to work at Iowa plant for decades

State officials say 21 mentally disabled men lived for 20 years or more in an old building with boarded-up windows and nothing but space heaters for heat.

It wasn't some neglectful group home - it was the bunkhouse for Henry's Turkey Service.

The plight of the company's meat-processing workers went unnoticed for decades by the state until Thursday, when a tipster called a Department of Health Services hot line.
Governor Chet Culver said local officials were going to court to allow the state to take guardianship of the men and would launch an investigation of how the situation in Muscatine County was allowed to continue for 20 years.

"It's too soon to know the extent of the potential criminal and civil penalties and fines," Culver said at a Statehouse news conference.
"This is going to be a very extensive and thorough legal process."

The 21 men were all from Texas but had lived in Iowa for 20 years or more while working at the plant.
They lived in a 106-year-old house on a hilltop in nearby Atalissa, a town of about 300 people about 20 miles east of Iowa City.

Department of Human Services director Gene Gessow said it's clear that money was being deducted from Social Security checks the men received.
"We will have a lot more to say as we discover any more violations," Culver said.
"What we do know is that money was deducted from their paychecks for housing and other services."
Henry's Turkey Service apparently acted as the men's employer, landlord and caregiver.

Relatives showed payroll records showing that in January the company deducted $487 from one worker, Keith Brown, to pay for room and board, then another $572 for "kind care."
Keith Brown's sister Sherri Brown said her brother has $80 in savings after decades of work at Henry's.

The house was closed Saturday night.

Gessow said all 21 of the men have been placed under a protective status and in temporary housing.
Most of the men removed from the bunkhouse were in their 50s and 60s, officials said.
The issue is complicated because the men are all dependent adults.
Many have families, but those families must take legal action to become guardians of dependent adults, Gessow said.

The governor said there are indications that local officials had some knowledge of the situation.
"There are a lot of very good questions about how we got to this point," he said.
Culver said several state agencies will investigate the matter and whether other similar arrangements are operating in Iowa.
If there are, he said, "We are going to find you and shut you down."
The governor also said he probably will ask the Legislature to approve tougher penalties if such situations arise in the future.

*****

Some one should be in jail for this already! Tar and feathers is not a bad idea either!

As of this moment ...

4243 Brave men and women will not be returning from Iraq
ALIVE!

Man pleads guilty in Tennessee church shooting

In another one for the good guys ... a wing-nut is going to prison!

An out-of-work truck driver has pleaded guilty to all charges in the killing of two people and wounding of six others in a Tennessee church.

Fifty-eight-year-old Jim D. Adkisson entered the pleas this morning before Criminal Court Judge Mary Beth Leibowitz in Knoxville.
He had been scheduled to stand trial next month.

After Adkisson entered his plea, the court sentenced him to life in prison without parole.

Police say Adkisson said in a letter that he attacked the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in July 2008 because he hated liberals and gays.

The shooter fired three shotgun blasts into the congregation during a children's musical performance before members wrestled him to the ground.

Belfast environment chief bans climate change ads

This nut is an idiot.

He is way too unstable to be in charge of himself much less a governmental body - especially the government body overseeing the environment!

Northern Ireland's environment minister announced Monday he has banned the local broadcast of British government ads on climate change and denounced their energy-saving message as "insidious propaganda."

Read the rest here.

Religious wackos have no place among humans! Let alone governments.

And I Quote

A radical is a man with both feet firmly planted in the air.

~ Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Question of the Day

Today's Question of the Day comes from Jim Yeager.

He posted this over at Skippy earlier this morning:

Much has been said about how the republicans have zero ideas, zero vigor, zero vision, zero anything that doesn't involve tax cuts tax cuts tax cuts tax cuts tax cuts tax cuts tax cuts. yeah, fine. What I want to know is, since everyone who isn't an incurable dittohead now knows beyond question that none of these republicans are worth the $#!+ they spew -- not to mention that $#!+ is all they're made of, have ever been made of, and will ever be made of -- why is anyone still giving them the time of day?

Seriously, is there no holy water or garlic to be obtained in Washington whatsoever? What the f&%k?

Good point and good question, Jim.

Charity begins at home

A local United Way office realized that the organization had never received a donation from the town's most successful lawyer. The person in charge of contributions called him to persuade him to contribute.

"Our research shows that out of a yearly income of at least $500,000, you give not a penny to charity. Wouldn't you like to give back to the community in some way?"

The lawyer mulled this over for a moment and replied, "First, did your research also show that my mother is dying after a long illness, and has medical bills that are several times her annual income?"

Embarrassed, the United Way rep mumbled, "Um ... no."

The lawyer interrupts, "or that my brother, a disabled veteran, is blind and confined to a wheelchair?"

The stricken United Way rep began to stammer out an apology, but was interrupted again.

"or that my sister's husband died in a traffic accident," the lawyer's voice rising in indignation, "leaving her penniless with three children?!"

The humiliated United Way rep, completely beaten, said simply, "I had no idea..."

On a roll, the lawyer cut him off once again, "So if I don't give any money to them, why should I give any to you?"

A Blond Goes On Who Wants To Be A Millionaire

Regis: "Barbara, you've done very well so far - $500,000 and one lifeline left -- phone a friend.

The next question will give you the top prize of One Million dollars if you get it right ... but if you get it wrong you will drop back to $32,000 -- are you ready?"

Barbara: "Sure, I'll have a go!"

Regis: "Which of the following birds does not build it's own nest?

Is it........

A-Robin

B-Sparrow

C-Cuckoo

D-Thrush

Remember Barbara its worth 1 Million dollars."

"I think I know who it..but I'm not 100%...

No, I haven't got a clue. I'd like to phone a friend Regis, just to be sure.

Regis: "Yes, who, Barbara, do you want to phone?

Barbara: "I'll phone my friend Maggie back home in Birmingham."

(ringing)

Maggie (also a blond): "Hello..."

Regis: "Hello Maggie, its Regis here from Who Wants to be a Millionaire-I have Barbara here and she is doing really well on $500,000, but needs your help to be a Million.

The next voice you hear will be Barbara's and she'll read you the question.

There are 4 possible answers and 1 correct answer and you have 30 seconds to answer -- fire away Barbara."

Barbara: "Maggie, which of the following birds does not build it's own nest? Is it:

A-Robin

B-Sparrow

C-Cuckoo

D-Thrush"

Maggie: "Oh Gees, Barbara that's simple.....It's a Cuckoo."

Barbara: "You think?"

Maggie: "I'm sure."

Barbara: " Thanks Maggie." (hangs up)

Regis: "Well, do you want to stick on $500,000 or play on for the Million, Barbara?"

Barbara: "I want to play, I'll go with C-Cuckoo"

Regis: "Is that your final answer?"

Barbara: "It is."

Regis: "Are you confident?"

Barbara: "Yes fairly, Maggie's a sound bet."

Regis: "Barbara.....you had $500,000 and you said C-Cuckoo ...you're right! - You have just won ONE MILLION DOLLARS.

Here is your check. You have been a great contestant and a real gambler. Audience please put your hands together for Barbara."

(clapping)

That night Barbara calls round to Maggie and brings her down to a local bar for a celebration drink and, as they are sipping their Champagne, Barbara turns to Maggie and asks "Tell me Maggie, How in God's name did you know that it was the Cuckoo that does not build its own nest?

Maggie: "Listen Barbara, everybody knows that a Cuckoo lives in a clock."

Oh, Deer

Home broken into by 6-point buck

An intruder smashed through a picture window, alarming the family of Keith Luke during breakfast.
He found the culprit cowering behind a sofa: a deer.

The Detroit News reports the 6-point buck was bleeding when Luke found it in the study of his West Bloomfield Township home Sunday morning.
Luke said he opened the front door to let the animal leave.

"I think he was as bewildered as everyone else was," Luke said.
He said he didn't know what happened to the buck but doubts it survived its injuries.

Deer are common in the area, about 20 miles northwest of Detroit, but police say it's extremely rare for one to jump through a window.

Health News

In today's health news we find:

Drop in Breast Cancer Rates Due to Drop in HRT Use

and

Adult Fast-Food Diets Tied to Too Much TV as Teen

Quotes

Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.

~ Edmund Burke

The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.

~ Bertrand Russell

World's Worst - Beck, O'Reilly, Murdoch

Feb. 6: Worst Persons: Countdown's Keith Olbermann reports that Rupert Murdoch's company, NewsCorp has lost $6,400,000,000 in the final quarter of 2008 and is forecast to drop 30 percent in profits for the first half of 2009.

Fox News: "We Have Never Been A Company That Tolerates Facts."

*****

Well, they finally admit to the truth ... who knew they had it in them!

Dear Prudence

An original video featuring footage from the Beatles trip to India, where John Lennon met Prudence, Mia Farrow's shy sister.

So, you want to work in the computer industry

Working conditions in a Chinese keyboard factory

The National Labor Council's investigation into the working conditions at the Meitai keyboard factory in Dongguan City is just ghastly, a stinging indictment of the South China economic miracle. The workers are underpaid, cheated out of their wages, forced into overtime, subjected to brainwashing, and subjected to unsafe working conditions and denied medical assistance when they're injured. Meitai makes keyboards for Lenovo, Microsoft, HP and others.

Big Brother Is Watching

“Employees should actively monitor each other.” (Meitai factory’s Factory Regulations and Discipline, Chapter VII)

* “Infractions” punished with the loss of over two hours’ wages (fine of 10 RMB--$1.44), including for—
--“Being 1 to 5 minutes late to start a shift…”
--“Not periodically trimming fingernails, which will affect product quality.”
--“Not lining up correctly while punching time cards or at the cafeteria.”
--“Wearing work shoes outside the work room after work.”
--“Putting hands in pant pockets while inside the factory or workroom.”

* “Infractions” punished with the loss of 4 ½ hours wages (20 RMB fine, $2.88)
--“…answering a personal telephone call in the workroom.”
--“Not diligently working or raising ones head to look around when guests or cadres come to visit.”
--“Putting personal objects on the work desk.”
--“…listening to the radio while on the job.”
--“Not parking bicycles according to company regulations; riding bicycles in and out of the company in a way not in accordance with company regulations.”
--“Returning to the dorm after regulated hours [curfew].”

* “Infractions” punished with the loss of nearly seven hours’ wages (30 RMB fine--$4.32)
--“Switching beds without authorization.” (Dorm beds are assigned by management.)

* “Infractions” punished with the loss of nearly 1 ½ days’ wages (50 RMB fine--$7.20)
--“Workers who arrive over one hour late…”
--“Riding the elevator without permission.”
--“Plugging in electronics [using electricity] in the dorm room for personal use.”
--“Using the company phone to make personal calls.”
--“Producing products of low quality…”
--“Workers who…go to visit other workers during working hours.”
--“Chatting at the workstation during work hours…”
--“Entering or leaving the factory area without allowing door personnel [security guards] to inspect [search workers].”
--“Treating supervisors with an arrogant attitude…”

* “Infractions” punished with the loss of nearly three days’ wages (100 RMB fine--$14.40):
--“Leaving one’s workstation without permission…”
--“Putting up personal notices…or handing out flyers.”
--“Revealing confidential company or production-related information.”

* “Infractions” punished with firing:
--“Violating labor discipline…and not obeying the company’s work arrangements.”
--“…Taking part in illegal organizations.” [In China, this means independent unions; human, women’s and children’s rights organizations and non-state-sanctioned religious organizations.]
--“Not following the procedures spelled out by government regulations on stopping work, slowing work down, encouraging others to stop or slow down work.”
--“Missing three days of work.”
--“Disobeying China’s one-child policy.”
--“Not obeying company arrangements or directions or…collectively causing trouble as a group…”
--“Any behavior similar to that listed above or helping or colluding in such behavior.”

The Dehumanization of Young Workers Producing Our Computer Keyboard

Ancient Egyptian mass grave?

30 mummies found in newly discovered tomb in Egypt

A storehouse of 30 Egyptians mummies has been unearthed inside a 2,600-year-old tomb, in a new round of excavations at the vast necropolis of Saqqara outside Cairo, archeologists said.

The tomb was located at the bottom of a 36 foot deep shaft, announced Egypt's top archaeologist Zahi Hawass and eight of the mummies were in sarcophagi, while the rest had been placed in niches along the wall.

Hawass described the discovery as a "storeroom for mummies," dating to 640 B.C. and the 26th Dynasty, which was Egypt's last independent kingdom before it were overthrown by a succession of foreign conquerors beginning with the Persians.

The tomb was discovered at an even more ancient site dating back to 4,300-year-old 6th Dynasty.

Most of the mummies are poorly preserved and archeologists have yet to determine their identity or why so many are in a single room.
One of the sarcophagi is made of wood and bears the name Badi N Huri, but no title.
"This one might have been an important figure, but I can't tell because there was no title," Hawass" assistant Abdel Hakim Karar said.

He added that the rest of the sarcophagi - including four which are tightly sealed - have yet to be opened yet.
Karar added that it was quite unusual for mummies of this late period to be stored in rocky niches.
"Niches were known in the very early dynasties, so to find one for the 26th Dynasty, is something rare," Karar said.

Excavations have been ongoing at Saqqara for 150 years, uncovering a vast necropolis of pyramids and tombs dating mostly from the Old Kingdom, but including sites as recent as the Roman era.
In the past, excavations have focused on just one side of the two nearby pyramids - the famous Step Pyramid of King Djoser and that of Unas, the last king of the 5th Dynasty.
The area where the current tomb was found, to the southwest, has been largely untouched by archeologists.

Despite the years of excavation, new finds are constantly being made.
In December last year, two tombs were found near the current discovery.
The two were built for high officials - one responsible for the quarries used to build the nearby pyramids and other for a woman in charge of procuring entertainers for the pharaohs.

In November, Hawass announced the discovery of a new pyramid at Saqqara, the 118th in Egypt, and the 12th to be found just in Saqqara.
According to Hawass only 30 percent of Egypt's monuments have been uncovered, with the rest still under the sand.

Our Readers

Today our readers have hailed from:

Penticon, British Columbia, Canada
Lake Oswego, Oregon, United States
Vitoria, Pais Vasco, Spain
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Slidell, Louisiana, United States

Daily Horoscope

Today's horoscope says:

If all you can do is keep talking, that's good enough for now.

Can do.