Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by Gr3yL3gion

Woman PC, 25, 'spent night in hotel with boyfriend

Gr3yL3gion — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 16:13:23 +0800

QUOTE

A police officer set up a secret night of passion with her boyfriend while he was wanted for questioning, a court heard today.

PC Kayley Newman, 25, failed to arrest Dominic Diop, 23, after arranging an illicit rendezvous at the Hotel Ibis London Docklands in east London, Southwark Crown Court was told.

Newman, who was based at Harrow Police Station in north-west London, allegedly knew 'full well' police had been trying to track down her lover since October 25 2011.

She messaged Diop on Facebook to arrange the 'clandestine' tryst before meeting him on November 13 2011, the court heard.

But Diop was not arrested until November 21 when he was recalled to prison to complete an earlier sentence. He was clocked driving dangerously without a licence or insurance while he was at large.

Newman and her lover have admitted exchanging scores of illegal calls and text messages while he was being held at HMP Pentonville in north London between November 21 2011 and January 28 2012.

In one letter to her boyfriend, unearthed after his cell was searched, she wrote: 'It's always fun staying in hotels with you, I get lots of kisses and cuddles and I wear you out', jurors heard.

She penned another note saying: 'I can't believe someone told the police where you were. It makes you not trust anyone doesn't it or trust people you thought were your friends.

'Have you p***** anyone off? It's well bad, someone must not want you around.'

Police wanted to speak to Diop after he was arrested in August 2011 for possession of cannabis while on licence, Claire Howell, prosecuting, said.

A further arrest warrant was issued after he failed to turn up at a hearing at Stratford Magistrates' Court in east London on November 2 in relation to the drug allegations.
Location: The illicit rendezvous was arranged at the Hotel Ibis (above) in east London, jurors were told

Location: The illicit rendezvous was arranged at the Hotel Ibis (above) in east London, jurors were told

Diop was also wanted in relation to two burglaries committed days later on November 4 and 7, jurors heard.

'In November 2011, Kayley Newman arranged a clandestine meeting in a hotel with her then boyfriend,' Ms Howell said.

'The reason she is here is because she was a police officer and he at the time was a wanted criminal.

'She left the hotel and went straight back to work that morning and she said not a word to any of her colleagues about where she was.

'She knew Dominic Diop and telephone evidence makes it clear they were certainly in regular phone contact with each other and it is accepted they were in a relationship.
In the dock: Newman has admitted exchanging scores of illegal calls and text messages while he was being held in prison after his arrest

In the dock: Newman has admitted exchanging scores of illegal calls and text messages while he was being held in prison after his arrest

'Certainly they were contacting each other regularly from August 2011.'

The pair arrived at the Hotel Ibis separately after Newman booked the suite in her own name, to avoid Diop's name being on the hotel records, Ms Howell said.

Newman left the hotel around 6am and went straight to a shift at Harrow Police Station at around 8am, while Diop checked out at about 9.20am.

'Did she tell any of her colleagues she knew exactly where this man was? No', said Ms Howell.

'Had she done, they would probably have been able to go to the hotel and arrest him then and there. The prosecution do not need to prove how Kayley Newman knew Dominic Diop was wanted.

'The prosecution say it's really obvious she knew, in fact, he probably told her and that's how she knew.'

The messages posted by Newman on Facebook demonstrated she was 'well aware' Diop was wanted, Ms Howell said.

'She was loyal to her boyfriend but as a police officer, Kayley Newman has a responsibility to members of the public and she didn't fulfil her responsibility in this case.

'The prosecution say what she did was serious, this man was wanted. He went on to commit criminal offences because she didn't do her job properly.'

Newman, who has since been sacked, was arrested on January 31 last year. In a prepared statement, she accepted spending time with Diop but insisted she didn't know he was wanted at the time.

'All the evidence in this case is she knew full well he was a wanted man', added Ms Howell.

Giving evidence, Newman insisted she did not know that Diop was wanted by police and claimed he too was unaware officers were searching for him.

'It's always fun staying in hotels with you, I get lots of kisses and cuddles and I wear you out'

What Kayley Newman allegedly wrote to Dominic Diop in a letter

She told how her job 'meant a lot to her' and she wouldn't 'throw it away' to meet a wanted suspect.

Smartly dressed in a dark suit, Newman told the jury: 'I don't believe he knew, I don't think he would meet me if he knew he was wanted, knowing how much my job means to me.

'I don't think he would have risked coming to meet me.'

But the court heard Diop had arranged for his friends to 'scope out' the hotel prior to their arrival on November 13 2011.

Newman claimed a message to her friend, Terri, which said: 'Dom's boys went to the hotel before me to check I hadn't told the feds', was nothing more than a joke.

'Dominic likes to think he is a bit of a gangster and the police want to know everything he is doing,' she said. ‘He likes to think he is something special but from my point of view I know it's rubbish.'

Newman insisted she was being 'sarcastic' when questioned about a love letter she wrote to Diop in prison, saying: 'I can't believe someone told the police where you were. It makes you not trust anyone doesn't it, or trust people you thought were your friends.'

She told the court: 'He always said his friends were like family and I was saying you can't trust them.'

But the jury heard the letter also said: ‘I miss you so bad, I just want you here. I promise I will wait for you and make you happy, as long as you promise to be good in there and write to me every day.'

Newman and Diop exchanged more than 1,000 calls and text messages after he was recalled to prison to complete an earlier sentence for robbery, jurors heard.

'I miss you so bad, I just want you here. I promise I will wait for you and make you happy'

What Newman allegedly told Diop

Cross examining Newman, prosecutor Claire Howell told her: 'You felt loyalty to him (Diop), didn't you?'

Newman replied: 'Not as far as my job was concerned. My job means a lot to me, more than to throw my job away to meet someone who was wanted.'

She insisted she would have alerted her supervisor had she been aware Diop was being hunted.

Newman also claimed she was unaware that she was committing a crime by having conversations with Diop on an illicit mobile phone while he was behind bars.

Ms Howell said: 'You pleaded guilty to having over 1,000 calls with Mr Diop while he was in prison using a mobile phone, which was a criminal offence.

She replied: 'I was not aware calling Dominic back on his mobile phone was illegal. I was aware you are not allowed to have a mobile phone in prison and that's why I pleaded guilty to that offence.'

But Ms Howell told Newman: 'If your job means so much to you, you would not have been calling a prisoner on an illegal mobile phone more than 1,000 times.'

Newman, of Barnet, north London, denies misconduct in a public office. She and Diop, of East Ham, east London, have admitted conspiracy to cause the transmission of an image or sound from prison.

The trial continues.

SOS

Even policewomen fall for bad boys.

Lawsuit: Prostitutes beat NJ woman in Fla. hotel

Gr3yL3gion — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 09:49:45 +0800

QUOTE

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A vacation getaway to a swanky South Beach hotel turned into a nightmare for a southern New Jersey woman when she was mistaken for a hooker and beaten up by actual prostitutes who saw her as competition, the woman and her husband claim in a federal lawsuit.

Thirty-four-year-old Anna Burgese asserts in the lawsuit filed last Friday in Camden that a group of women she believes were prostitutes attacked her in the lobby of the W Hotel in Miami Beach in January as she and her husband, Joseph, were returning from a night out. Burgese says she was violently attacked from behind and slammed into a wall, then thrown to the ground. She was taken to the hospital for her injuries, attorney Lance Rogers said.

Worse, the suit claims, hotel staff failed to detain the attackers and even helped them escape by putting them in a taxi. The hotel was aware of previous violent episodes and failed to take precautions to protect hotel guests, according to the suit.

"The Hotel fosters a prostitute-friendly environment where prostitutes are permitted to market themselves on the premises, as evidenced by, among other things, the reviews left on various travel websites by former guests," the lawsuit contends. "It is believed and therefore averred that, in the past, prostitutes have become violent with guests and/or visitors on the Hotel's premises and in the surrounding area."

The suit names Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and charges negligence, premises liability, assault and loss of consortium and seeks punitive and compensatory damages. The amount of damages sought wasn't specified in the filing, but Rogers said he is seeking a "sizable" award.

"She was violently and brutally attacked," Rogers said. "There was blood on the floor. She was thrown into a granite wall and thrown on the ground."

A Starwood spokesman said the company regrets the incident and that Burgese was injured.

"The safety and security of our guests is our paramount priority, and we are taking this situation very seriously," spokesman Trey Sarten said in an email. "Due to pending litigation, we are unable to comment further at this time."

Sarten added in a subsequent email that the hotel disputes the claim that multiple people attacked Burgese.

Rogers said the couple, who live in Medford, had stayed at the hotel several times previously and had eaten dinner and gone to a club on the hotel premises before they were attacked. Joseph Burgese was on crutches because of a leg injury and tried to fend off the women with his crutches, Rogers said.

According to the police report, Burgese was walking through the lobby when one of the women grabbed her from behind and tackled her to the ground. Police asked Burgese whether she said anything to the alleged attacker, but Burgese insisted it was unprovoked.

Joseph Burgese separated the women and hotel security escorted the suspect outside into a waiting cab, according to the report.

Police later photographed Anna Burgese's bruised knee, right elbow and cut to her bottom lip.

The Burgeses were on vacation abroad Tuesday, Rogers said.

Sos

What happened to prostitutes that are victims of human trafficking?

Villa Samadhi

Gr3yL3gion — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:59:21 +0800

http://www.villasamadhi.com.my/

Anybody stay here before? Is the facilities and environment any good for a weekend getaway?

My workout journal

Gr3yL3gion — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 22:51:31 +0800

Target to lose 20kgs in 4 months, already lose 10 in last 3 months.

Currently no fixed routine, just hired a trainer that will guide me in losing my weight. Used to train before a few years back until I had a slipped disc while squating in wrong form or heavy weight.

Today just did this under the guidance of my trainer.

3 x 20 x 30kgs back squat.
3 x 20 x 70kgs machine leg press
3 x 15 x 15kgs leg press

Compound Exercise
3 x 10 x 50kgs machine leg press + 3 x 10 x 50kgs machine calf raise

3 x 10 x 30 kgs calf raise.

Thanks for the support. Please share your opinions.

As for food, is it advisable to take just only whey protein + fat burner in order to lose weight fast? Any easier way to prepare food that will achieve my goals?

What do you think about paleo diet?

Butthurt People

Gr3yL3gion — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 16:51:03 +0800

[YOUTUBE]fHMoDt3nSHs[/YOUTUBE]

This is what I think,

Gr3yL3gion — Thu, 31 May 2012 15:42:56 +0800

[YOUTUBE]8r1CZTLk-Gk[/YOUTUBE]

QUOTE

Honestly, that's what I call a cool story bro. Such a riveting tale, I honestly copy and pasted it to word, saved on my hard drive, backed it up on a jump drive, drove to the bank, put the jump drive in the safe deposit box, and will leave it there until my kids turn about 12 (when they can actually state their age, and ask what it is I'm showing them), when I will pick it up, put it in an old USB drive reader and relay this cool story to them and tell them, "kids, this is what a cool story should look and sound like...not like the stories your generation tells.

Malaysian Police

Gr3yL3gion — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 19:29:14 +0800

Source

QUOTE

In Almunia and Lukas Fabianski you’ve got a choice in consistency between a Malaysian police officer refusing a bribe, or drug cartels in Mexico taking a day off from murder.

For Bazaar Ramadan

Gr3yL3gion — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:35:44 +0800

Halal food?

Heard that those Malays made a killing selling food in bazaar, sell liao don't need to work for the whole year.

Love at first sight?

Gr3yL3gion — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 11:31:32 +0800

This is not a troll post.

Brief description: I am what most people would normally described as a socially inept. I am a 2 year recovering oneitis, a short fling and a 7 year oneitis in the past looking for the opportunities to meet and befriend new people through real life. Personality wise I believe the following links describe me the best in regards of my take on my personal relationships or friendships.

http://www.personalitypage.com/INTJ_rel.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INTJ

QUOTE

In forming relationships, INTJs tend to seek out others with similar character traits and ideologies. Agreement on theoretical concepts is an important aspect of their relationships. By nature INTJs can be demanding in their expectations, and approach relationships in a rational manner. As a result, INTJs may not always respond to a spontaneous infatuation but
wait for a mate who better fits their set criteria. They tend to be stable, reliable, and dedicated. Harmony in relationships and home life tends to be extremely important to them. They generally withhold strong emotion and do not like to waste time with what they consider irrational social rituals. This may cause non-INTJs to perceive them as distant and reserved;
nevertheless, INTJs are usually very loyal partners who are prepared to commit substantial energy and time into a relationship to make it work.

As mates, INTJs want harmony and order in the home and in relationships. They are the most independent of all types. They will trust their intuitions about others when making choices of friends and mates, even in the face of contradictory evidence and pressures applied by others. The emotions of an INTJ are hard to read, and neither male nor female INTJs are apt to express emotional reactions. At times, both will seem cold, reserved, and unresponsive, while in fact INTJs are almost hypersensitive to signals of rejection from those for whom they care. In social situations, INTJs may also be unresponsive and may neglect to observe small rituals designed to put others at their ease. For example, INTJs may communicate that time is wasted if used for idle dialogue, and thus people receive a sense of hurry from an INTJ which is not always intended. In their interpersonal relationships, INTJs are usually better in a working situation than in recreational situations.

The set:
Recently I've been going through an epiphany phase and trying to broaden my social circle and get out of my comfort zone. Last weekend I've invited one of my mates to go out for a drink and he in return brought out one of his new colleagues to introduce to me. My friend described this new colleague as a person who has a weird sense of fashion and at first he rated her at most a 6/10.

As it turns out, the person that we met that night isn't as what he's described outside of work and we both can agreed on the she's an 8-9/10. Instead of being my wingman that night, my player wannabe already attached friend relentlessly trying to hit on her by dropping many praises, sexual innuendos on and on while I tried to participate on small talk and amogging him from time to time without being too rude or appearing desperate for attention. While our set that night did tried to cope with his directness politely I have a feeling that she might be hesitant to drag on further as my "wingman" keep talking on how hawt the way she dresses that night. We ended the night as the girl politely excuses herself as she has work the following day, or so I think(it could be true, but generally i think it's an excuse).

The short term goal: My friend managed to get her to add him on a social networking site(He has her number as they are colleagues, and I think it wouldn't be wise to get her number from him as well as getting her number that night itself as I wouldn't want to repeat the mistakes my friend did) and I am thinking of ways on how to reintroduce myself to her again as I do think that I didn't managed to leave her much of an impression that night as I'm trying to downplay myself as my friend desperately trying to get her attention. Is there any ways of adding her and introduce myself as not to scare her off by appearing too despo? I plan to get her number first and see if there's any way to take her out solo or with a group of friends.

The long term goal: While it's a good start for me to get out of my comfort zone for quite some time, I do think the girl mentioned above fits most of the criteria I would have like in a person based on first impression. For me it's a plus if I could get further, but nonetheless I would appreciate any advice of "optimizing" my game plan as not to fall into the past mistakes I've been into.(Being inanimate, expressionless, cool and detached is some of the description most girls that knew me would say about me.)

TLDR: Social retard seeking advice on how to approach a girl.

I'm grateful if some of the sifus here would provide me some guidance, thanks again.

[WTA] New born mixed breed pups

Gr3yL3gion — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:30:03 +0800

Hi,

My dog just gave birth to a bunch of puppies a couple of weeks ago. Last few days I brought a few friends to my home to have a look at it as a few of them might want to adopt a pup of their own.

Before they go one of the friend told me that puppies of mixed breed origin have a higher chances of developing skin diseases, thought she couldn't elaborate much on it as well.

So I wanna ask is there any sifus here are familiar with dogs and might wanna explain on what to look out for puppies that is mixed breed.

Thanks

Cold

Gr3yL3gion — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:00:31 +0800

This place is so cold,
Everything's a shithole
Evacuate soul

[H]Gundrak

Gr3yL3gion — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:46:08 +0800

Wanna ask, is there anybody from horde side of Gundrak here?

Currys and PC World staff to be investigated after

Gr3yL3gion — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 11:34:03 +0800

QUOTE

Around 3,000 people have become members of the Facebook discussion group in which past and present employees post messages about customers.

Some of the discussion boards were titled "A******* customers!", "Really Stupid Customers!" and "Some customers are really really stupid" in which customers are branded "retards" and "t****".

Other discussion boards had names such as "Chatting up customers" and "The sale of goods act (as amended by customers)" and included posts which said customers deserved a "punch" and asked whether staff should be allowed to "cattle prod" customers.

DSG International, the shops' parent company, is understood to have launched an investigation into the abuse after some staff posted messages under their real names.

One member of the group even boasted of having a sexual relationship with a female customer after he found her on MySpace using details from a sale.

One post, full of misspelt, in response to a customer asking for a discount read: "Short answer: No. Long answer: No and go f*** yourself you hardfisted, smallwalleted, annoying, iggnorant tightfisted f***tard."

A spokeswoman for DSG International, said some comments on the unofficial "DSGI Employees" group page were posted by former members of staff.

A statement read: "We have clear guidelines for staff and will investigate any alleged abuse of customers.

"Delivering excellent customer service is at the forefront of everything we do, and so we are very disappointed a small number of our colleagues have made these comments on a social-networking website.

"We will take the necessary action with any staff found to be acting inappropriately."

Earlier this year it emerged that Marks and Spencers staff ridiculed had ridiculed their customers as "idiots and cheap little b*******" in another Facebook group.

Tesco staff also branded shoppers "moronic" and "smelly" on a similar forum and Waitrose launched an investigation after they found descriptions of customers as "pikey skanks" on the same website.

British Airways took action against staff who complained about their customers' "stupid American accents" on Facebook.

Virgin was also embarrassed when employees labelled some fliers "chavs".

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/face...n-Facebook.html

Facebook is serious business.

BO ban for park visitors.

Gr3yL3gion — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:24:23 +0800

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england...rey/8209684.stm

QUOTE

Rollercoaster riders at a Surrey theme park are being banned from putting their arms in the air - after complaints about body odour.

Notices have been put on scary rides at Thorpe Park and staff have been issued with deodorant sprays for customers.

Director Mike Vallis said visitors had complained about BO during a previous hot spell this year.

A spokesman said: "People may say it's all a publicity stunt but we take our customer feedback seriously."

Mr Vallis said the combination of hot weather and exciting rides could produce the unpleasant side-effect of an excess of body odour.

"The human body reacts to being scared and being thrilled by sweating a bit more," he said.

"We are asking people to keep their arms down in the present hot spell.

"In some extreme cases we may even ask people to move to the back of the train so the whole ride doesn't have to go through a cloud of someone else's BO."

The spokesman added there was no question of banning people with body odour from the park's rides - which include Stealth, Colossus and Nemesis Inferno - but they would be spoken to quietly and asked to use a deodorant before riding a rollercoaster.

Italian banks may take ham and wine as collateral

Gr3yL3gion — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:20:35 +0800

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/1...anks-collateral

QUOTE

Minister backs plan to accept high-quality wines and prosciutto from struggling producers

Tom Kington in Rome
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 19 August 2009 17.01 BST

Italian bank vaults may soon resemble well stocked delicatessens if a plan goes ahead to accept expensive wines and dry-cured hams as collateral on bank loans from crisis-hit producers.

The idea, which was launched this week by an influential Italian bank chairman and wine producer, was backed by an Italian minister and follows the tradition of Italian banks storing massive wheels of parmesan cheese as loan collateral.

"We've done it with cheese, why not with prosciutto and good wines like Brunello di Montalcino and chianti classico?" said Gianni Zonin, chairman of the Banca Popolare di Vicenza and head of wine producer Zonin.

"This is a great idea, it has my blessing," said Luca Zaia, the Italian agriculture minister.

The Italian bank Credito Emiliano has long stored hundreds of thousands of parmesan wheels, worth about ¤300 each, in warehouses as collateral while they age.

Since the bank can sell the cheese if creditors default, it can afford to offer low interest rates to an industry which is suffering from recession and supermarket discounting.

Legs of cured ham, or prosciutto crudo, weighing about 10kg, can sell for hundreds of euros after months of curing in controlled conditions, while bottles of Brunello di Montalcino are regularly snapped up for the same amount.

"We may start off with accepting wine as collateral, but I would prefer the Italian banking association to launch an industry-wide scheme which involves a range of products," said Zonin. "This will help producers in times of crisis as well as when the economy picks up."

Zaia said he would take the matter up with the Italian treasury minister.

"Apart from meeting the need of companies for liquidity, this proposal also recognises that our true gold reserves are the excellent products we make in Italy," he said.

Can I use belacan as collateral?

People steal meat from wild lions

Gr3yL3gion — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:19:04 +0800

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/...000/8167681.stm

QUOTE

Matt Walker
Editor, Earth News

Lions in Cameroon are having their kills stolen from under their noses by hungry villagers.

Incidences of such kleptoparasitism, the stealing of food from another, usually occur between top predators such as lion, hyena and cheetah.

But people are increasingly getting in on the act, conservationists say.

They suspect the practice may be much more common than thought, and are concerned that it could threaten the dwindling numbers of lions in Cameroon.

An account of one particular incident where local villagers were caught stealing meat from a lion kill has been published in the African Journal of Ecology.

On the morning of the 28 March 2006, biologist Marjolein Schoe of Leiden University in The Netherlands and colleagues were tracking a male lion fitted with a radio collar in Benoue National Park, in the Northern Province of Cameroon.

They found him and a collared female lion both feeding on a newly killed Western hartebeest antelope.

As Schoe's vehicle approached, both lions fled into nearby thicket where they remained hidden until the researchers left.

Around 5pm that afternoon, the researchers returned to the site of the kill.

As they arrived, they encountered several local villagers, who also ran away and hid in the bush.

All the remaining meat on the hartebeest carcass had been stripped away by knife, leaving only the head, feet and a few remains. Leaves also littered the carcass, suggesting that the whoever had cut away the meat had used leaves to package it.

Near to the hartebeest also lay a wooden pole, further evidence that people had been scavenging from the kill.

"Marjolein Schoe was involved in fieldwork and she actually made this field observation. She was surprised and angry actually that people had chased off the lions," says colleague Hans de Iongh of Leiden University, who is also a member of the World Conservation Union's Cat Specialist Group and the African Lion Working Group.

"Although this observation did not fit in the main objective of the [original] study, we decided to publish it, since such events are rarely observed."

Large predators, such as lions, spotted hyenas, African wild dogs and cheetahs routinely steal fresh kills from one another, a behaviour known as kleptoparasitism.

But de Iongh says he has come across another incidence in Cameroon's Waza National Park where people chased away lions from a newly killed roan antelope, before taking the meat.

Further research by de Iongh, Schoe and colleague Barbara Croes also suggests that the practise of stealing lion kills may be more prevalent than thought.

"From interviews with Bororo herdsmen, we have learned that it is a common habit among this tribe to chase away lions from fresh kills, with sticks or with fire," says de Iongh.

Other lion researchers across Africa have also provided de Iongh's team with anecdotal reports of people stealing meat from lion kills.

"This suggests that it may be more common practice than we think," says de Iongh.

People are stealing the meat to get an easy source of protein, say the researchers, as lions may be wary enough of people to be easily scared off their kills.

But the researchers fear that stealing the lions' food may have a detrimental impact on the big cats.

"We believe that the impact of this kind of behaviour might be significant on lion populations, since lions have to spent an enormous energy effort to capture the same amount of prey, if their prey gets stolen," says de Iongh. "This may have a serious impact on a lion population which is already under serious stress by human encroachment and may eventually contribute to more rapid extinction."

In Waza National Park, for example, the population of lions is thought to have declined from 50 to 60 animals in the 1990s to between 12 and 20 in 2008, when the last survey was conducted.

Considering that an estimated six lions are killed each year by livestock owners and poachers, de Iongh and his colleagues fear that lions in the park are on the verge of going extinct.

Soon they'll eat wild lions as well.

One in Nine Americans on Food Stamps

Gr3yL3gion — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 07:41:42 +0800

QUOTE

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - For the first time, more than 34 million Americans received food stamps, which help poor people buy groceries, government figures said on Thursday, a sign of the longest and one of the deepest recessions since the Great Depression

Enrollment surged by 2 percent to reach a record 34.4 million people, or one in nine Americans, in May, the latest month for which figures are available.

It was the sixth month in a row that enrollment set a record. Every state recorded a gain in participation from April. Florida had the largest increase at 4.2 percent.

Food stamp enrollment is highest during times of economic stress. The U.S. unemployment rate of 9.5 percent is the highest in 26 years.

Average benefit was $133.65 in May per person. The economic stimulus package enacted earlier this year included a temporary increase in food stamp benefits of $80 a month for a family of four.

Food stamp enrollment

Month Total

May 34.409 million

April 33.758 million

March 33.157 million

February 32.556 million

January 32.205 million

December 2008 31.784 million

November 2008 31.097 million

October 2008 31.050 million

September 2008 31.586 million (Reporting by Charles Abbott; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/reuters/2009/0...STAMPS-USA.html

In China, DNA tests on kids ID genetic gifts

Gr3yL3gion — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:57:54 +0800

QUOTE

CHONGQING, China (CNN) -- At the Chongqing Children's Palace, experts are hoping to revolutionize child-rearing with the help of science. About 30 children aged 3 to 12 years old and their parents are participating in a new program that uses DNA testing to identify genetic gifts and predict the future.

When Director Zhao Mingyou first heard about the technology earlier this year, he instantly knew it could be a success in China.

"Nowadays, competition in the world is about who has the most talent," said Zhao. "We can give Chinese children an effective, scientific plan at an early age."

The test is conducted by the Shanghai Biochip Corporation. Scientists claim a simple saliva swab collects as many as 10,000 cells that enable them to isolate eleven different genes. By taking a closer look at the genetic codes, they say they can extract information about a child's IQ, emotional control, focus, memory, athletic ability and more.

"For basketball, we can test for height and other factors," said Dr. Huang Xinhua, a leading scientist on the project. "We also test listening ability so that can tell us if (the child) might be talented at music."

DNA testing has been used more widely to determine susceptibility to genetic disease. The test can identify mutations in the genetic code that lead to certain disorders, allow patients to assess risk levels and decide whether they want preventative treatment. For example, the test can identify cancer genes that may make a woman more likely to develop breast or ovarian cancer. Some women have decided to have a mastectomy based on DNA test results and family history.

But according to Chinese scientists, this is the first time the test is being offered to children in China to help discover their natural talents.
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* Will China create DNA prodigies?
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* In-depth: China

For about $880, Chinese parents can sign their kids up for the test and five days of summer camp in Chongqing, where the children will be evaluated in various settings from sports to art. The scientific results, combined with observations by experts throughout the week, will be used to make recommendations to parents about what their child should pursue. Photo See photos of the summer camp and testing »

Dr. Huang said the testing can even help project careers down the road.

Examining one child's results, he told CNN: "This child is very thoughtful and focused, so I suggest she go into management."

Clinical psychologist Dr. Rob Blinn said the DNA test can be accurate but only "within a sort of limited field" and that results will not be "dramatic."

"You're not going to be able to predict that someone's going to be like the next Einstein. It's more like this person may have an IQ that's maybe 5 or 10 points greater than this other person because of the absence or presence of these particular genes," he said.

Still, parents are convinced it will help their child. It is no secret that China's one-child policy often produces anxious and ambitious parents with high expectations for their only child.

"China is different from Western countries," said Yang Yangqing, the lab's technical director. "There is only one child in our families so more and more parents focus on their children's education and they want to give them the best education."

Along with parents, the Chinese government is also interested in giving talented children an early start on their careers. Children as young as two are regularly hand-picked by the government to represent China on the international stage.

Future gymnasts, musicians, and basketball players are sent to rigorous training camps and specialized sports schools, and sometimes paid a government salary.

There has been speculation China's basketball hero, Yao Ming, was born of an arranged marriage between two well-known basketball players, in hopes of bearing an athletic superstar. Yao and his family have denied these reports. In an autobiography, Yao wrote that his parents actually discouraged him from playing the sport.

"My parents never wanted me to become a professional player," Yao wrote. "They wanted a better life for me."

Yao did start playing when he was nine years old. Three years later, he moved into Shanghai's provincial sports academy where he lived and trained full time.

"My parents agreed only because playing basketball in a junior sports school can improve your chance of getting into college; it counts as extra points on the college entrance exam."

Yao's family reportedly received special stipends from the government to purchase extra food. His success story may well be on the minds of parents in Chongqing.

"It's better to develop her talents earlier rather than later," Chen Zhongyan said of her four-year-old daughter, who is attending the genetics camp. "Now we can find when she is young, and raise her based on what her natural gifts are."

Her daughter, Lai Hongni, has already shown a strong aptitude for dancing, while four-year-old twin boys Luo Lianzhao and Dong Liangtong appear to be good at drawing.

"This way we can really understand our kids," said the twins' father, Mr. Dong, referring to the program.

In the end, are these parents giving their kids a head start or taking a shortcut? Critics of the program said such analysis has frightening implications.

"Kids, especially at younger ages, they need to have fun, they need to enjoy themselves, they need to find meaning in life," Dr. Blinn said. "They need to have rich deep emotional interchange with their families and parents."

"Whether it's really good for a two- or three-year-old to be sent off to a camp to be genetically tested, you know, and put in this track so early in life, I have some real doubts about whether that's in the child's best interest," Blinn added. "It seems to be more in the parents' best interest."

But Chen Zhongyan said: "We only have good intentions for (our daughter). We think this will help her."

It is fair to say many of the kids in Chongqing looked like they were having fun, whether they were jumping on ping pong tables, drawing or playing interactive games.
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"I want to be the president of China," said three-year-old girl, Liu Xiao Liao. "Then people will be scared of me."

It seems that some of children may have grand ambitions all of their own.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/08/0...ref=mpstoryview

China wanna create master race liao.

Does anybody know where can I get quinoa?

Gr3yL3gion — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:04:32 +0800

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinoa

Dolphin released into the sea

Gr3yL3gion — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:34:44 +0800

Sharks attack released dolphin near Tampa Bay

QUOTE

The emaciated bottlenose dolphin had pneumonia in December when humans found him stranded on Anclote Key. His skin was dotted with minor shark bites. One long, clean cut to his tail suggested damage from a fishing line.

He was roughly 6 years old and they called him Dunham. For seven months, they nursed him at a Panhandle rehab center. By June, he was swimming strongly and hunting down live fish they threw in his 50-foot pool.

About 100 dolphins and whales get stranded each year in the southeastern United States. Most die quickly or end up in aquariums. Only a handful get a second crack at freedom, and it's always a risk.

Dunham's chance came Tuesday morning, when proud and excited handlers released him off the Dunedin Causeway, carrying a radio collar so they could follow him in boats and monitor his progress.

He seemed a little stiff after a long van ride the night before, but he quickly picked up the pace and headed south. Dunham's handlers beamed as the dolphin returned to nature.

A few hours later, nature would break their hearts.

• • •

Dunham the dolphin's return to the wild was set in motion weeks ago at Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City Beach, part of the federal government's marine mammal stranding network.

He had been sent there from Clearwater Marine Aquarium after his stranding. Gulf World officials could not be reached for comment, but Diane Young, the Clearwater aquarium's director of animal care, described his rehabilitation.

He was given antibiotics, anti-fungals, antacids and vitamin supplements until Gulf World staff weaned him off about three weeks ago, Young said.

Human contact was kept to a minimum. Herring, sardines and other fish were tossed into his mouth when he was sick. After his health improved, live fish were tossed in the pool so he could hunt them.

Young said she didn't know how much Dunham's nursing cost, but "it's very expensive to rehabilitate animals," she said.

"He almost died a couple of times, but he was such a fighter, he stuck it out,'' said Blair Mase, stranding coordinator for the National Marine Fisheries Service. "I was up there visiting him last week. He looked really good. He had good body weight. He was feisty. He looked ready to go.''

• • •

On Monday night, he was sent by van back to Clearwater. Early Tuesday morning, about a dozen people eased him from a stretcher and into the water near the eastern terminus of Dunedin Causeway.

His dorsal fin was slathered with zinc oxide and a radio transmitter attached so his handlers could keep track of him after he was released about 8 a.m.

Mase, who is based in Miami, received updates by phone.

"He was going real slow at first. That's to be expected with the long transport. He was in the van for hours overnight. It's expected that he would be a little stiff.''

Then he picked up the pace and "started acting like a wild dolphin,'' Mase said. He sidled up to a pod of other dolphin for a few minutes but did not join them.

About three hours into the release, Dunham headed into shallow water near a spoil island in the Intracoastal Waterway. Fish were jumping there, said Young, one of about eight people following in two boats. His followers thought he was going to feed, Young said.

It was a good sign.

Then they saw him tussle with something. When he surfaced, his skin showed signs of shark bites and he was bleeding. One shallow bite between his pectoral fin and tail was the size of a hand, Young said.

People on the boats discussed what to do for about 10 minutes. If they jumped into the water to help, sharks might attack them as well.

Then Dunham surfaced again, this time with a large bite that penetrated his blubber down to his diaphragm. An 8- to 9-foot tiger shark swam nearby.

"By the time we witnessed the first one and got a really good visual to assess the wounds, the second attack was already happening,'' Young said. "It just happened so fast.''

A veterinarian who had worked with Dunham for months was summoned from the mainland. Gulf World's boat made it to the shallows in 20 to 30 minutes. Nothing could be done to save the wounded dolphin. Dr. Lydia Staggs injected a mild sedative and, a minute later, a lethal dose of Beuthanasia.

• • •

Brent Winner, a shark expert for Florida's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, examined photos of the wounds and said Dunham was most likely attacked by several sharks of different species, but that the largest wound was consistent with a medium-sized tiger shark.

Tampa Bay and nearby inland waters are full of sharks, Winner said.

"When something like this happens, there are all sorts of signals in the water, like blood or vibrations or sound. Any predator in the area is going to come and check that out. Unfortunately, that's what led to this incident.''

Every release into the wild involves risk, Mase said. In a California case a few years back, an injured seal had become a public cause, with many people donating money for his rehabilitation. On the day of release, donors, volunteers and onlookers gathered in boats near Catalina Island to watch him go.

What they saw was a killer whale throw him into the air and eat him right after he hit the water.

"Sometimes we can't stop nature in its course,'' Mase said. "That's what happened today and it's very sad. All the time and effort that was made into making this animal better and release it into the wild.

I iz sad.