A court lifted the ban on identifying the only arson suspect so far in Australia's recent deadly wildfires, and authorities urged people not to target him in their rage over the disaster's more than 180 deaths.
The case of Brendan Sokaluk, a 39-year-old man accused of lighting one of hundreds of fires that swept southern Victoria state on February 7th, went before a court packed with media and onlookers, but he chose to stay in police protective custody rather than attend.
Sokaluk was arrested Friday and charged with one count of arson causing death and one of lighting a wildfire in connection to a blaze known as the Churchill fire.
He faces a maximum sentence of 25 years on the first charge, and 15 years on the second.
He was also charged with possessing child pornography, which carries a 5-year maximum sentence.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Isn't Life Grand ...
A wonderful commentary on the current 'state of affairs' of our lives from Louis C.K.
Earthquake shakes Alaska's Prince William Sound
A number of communities reported feeling a 4.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Alaska's Prince William Sound region.
The Alaska Earthquake Information Center says Valdez and Glennallen were among communities that felt the 10:35 a.m. Sunday quake.
The earthquake was centered about 33 miles north of Valdez.
There are no reports of damage.
The earthquake was not linked to an active volcano more than 200 miles to the southwest.
But volcanologist Dave Schneider says seismic sensors at Mount Redoubt picked up the quake's signal.
The Alaska Earthquake Information Center says Valdez and Glennallen were among communities that felt the 10:35 a.m. Sunday quake.
The earthquake was centered about 33 miles north of Valdez.
There are no reports of damage.
The earthquake was not linked to an active volcano more than 200 miles to the southwest.
But volcanologist Dave Schneider says seismic sensors at Mount Redoubt picked up the quake's signal.
Hooked on Facts
Six facts for the day:
Americans eat nearly 100 acres of pizza a day - That's approximately 350 slices per second.
More than 150,000,000,000 pieces of mail are delivered in the US each year.
Real diamonds can be made from peanut butter.
People who ride rollercoasters have a higher chance of a blood clot in the brain.
Cold water weighs more than hot water.
The average lifespan of a peasant during medieval times was 25.
Bonus fact: More than 400,000 homes in America still lack indoor plumbing.
Americans eat nearly 100 acres of pizza a day - That's approximately 350 slices per second.
More than 150,000,000,000 pieces of mail are delivered in the US each year.
Real diamonds can be made from peanut butter.
People who ride rollercoasters have a higher chance of a blood clot in the brain.
Cold water weighs more than hot water.
The average lifespan of a peasant during medieval times was 25.
*****
Bonus fact: More than 400,000 homes in America still lack indoor plumbing.
One Thing ...
One thing they never tell you about child raising is that for the rest of your life, at the drop of a hat, you are expected to know your child's name and old old he or she is.
Environmental News
Scientists are struggling to understand the climatic conditions behind the unusually severe drought that has wreaked havoc on southeastern Australia. new research suggests the answer might lie in the Indian ocean.
More at Living on Earth.
Accelerated global warming could ignite tropical forests and melt the arctic tundra, releasing billions of tons of greenhouse gas that could raise global temperatures even more, a member of the Nobel prize-winning intergovernmental panel on climate change warned.
More in the Palo Alto Weekly
More at Living on Earth.
Accelerated global warming could ignite tropical forests and melt the arctic tundra, releasing billions of tons of greenhouse gas that could raise global temperatures even more, a member of the Nobel prize-winning intergovernmental panel on climate change warned.
More in the Palo Alto Weekly
Items in the News
Sick workers, Guardsmen blame KBR.
Ten contractors and dozens of national guardsmen — including a dying senior officer — allege that Houston-based KBR knowingly allowed them to be poisoned by cancer-causing chemicals at a Basra water plant where they were making repairs to keep Iraq’s oil fields pumping during the war.
More in the Houston Chronicle
Xe
From the "You can't put lipstick on a pig and expect it to be a beauty queen" Department:
Blackwater Worldwide Changes Its Name to Xe; Same Mercenaries, but Now with More “Aviation Support”
Blackwater Worldwide Changes Its Name to Xe; Same Mercenaries, but Now with More “Aviation Support”
Blackwater Worldwide is still protecting U.S. diplomats in Iraq, but executives at the beleaguered security firm are taking their biggest step yet to put that work and the ugly reputation it earned the company behind them.Blackwater said Friday it will no longer operate under the name that came to be known worldwide as a caustic moniker for private security, dropping the tarnished brand for a disarming and simple identity: Xe, which is pronounced like the letter “z.”
It’s a rare surrender for a company that cherished a brand name inspired by the dark-water swamps of northeastern North Carolina, one that survived another rebranding effort about a year ago, following a deadly shooting in Baghdad’s Nisoor Square. The decision to give it up underscores how badly the Moyock-based company’s brand was damaged by that incident and other security work in Iraq.
Our Readers
Some of our readers today have hailed from:
Biloxi, Mississippi, United States
Moscow, Moskva, Russian Federation
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Bismark, North Dakota, United States
Paris, Ile-De-France, France
Biloxi, Mississippi, United States
Moscow, Moskva, Russian Federation
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Bismark, North Dakota, United States
Paris, Ile-De-France, France
Daily Horoscope
Today's horoscope says:
Friends can point out an area that you've been overlooking.
Cool! It always helps to know what I have been overlooking.
Friends can point out an area that you've been overlooking.
Cool! It always helps to know what I have been overlooking.
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