Wino

SAN FRANCISCO -- The California Supreme Court poured cold water on skinny-dippers today, allowing state parks officers to enforce a ban on nudity at state beaches, including those that have been informally designated as "clothing-optional." The court unanimously denied review of a lower-court ruling upholding a May 2008 decision by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's parks director, Ruth Coleman, to allow officers to cite nude sunbathers on a portion of San Onofre State Beach in Orange County where they had previously been undisturbed. Coleman's action revoked a policy announced in 1979 by then-Parks Director Russell Cahill, who said officers would wait until someone complained before enforcing regulations that forbid public nudity at state parks and beaches. Under that policy, officers who got a complaint would tell the nudist to put on a swimsuit or leave for the day. Otherwise, they took no action as unclad sunbathers and swimmers congregated in isolated sections of state beaches from San Diego to Eureka. Read more: http://www.sfgate.co...L#ixzz0UiKvhFMz

Interesting how modern gadgets change the world. By Abdi Sheikh MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Somali courtship was different in Hassan Aden's day. When he was a teenager, you gave the girl's parents 11 camels and an AK-47 assault rifle as bride price and then waited respectfully. Now, the 55-year-old said, a mobile phone service that seems to be the only thing working in the failed Horn of Africa state is helping drive a rise in elopements, pregnancies out of marriage and a steady erosion of Somalia's conservative values. "The youth of today enjoy modern technology, fast transportation and free-of-charge marriages," Aden, a store owner, told Reuters at a coffee shop in the capital Mogadishu. "Today, even reasonable boys pay just $50 bride price and a copy of the holy Koran after making the girl pregnant or seeing her secretly for months." In a drought-ravaged land where rebels are trying to topple a fragile government, gun battles break out almost daily and nearly 20,000 civilians have been killed since the start of 2007, cheap mobile communications are one happy diversion. The entrepreneurial spirit of Somalis, born out of two decades of anarchy, as well as an absence of taxes, have helped domestic mobile companies thrive despite the chaos. Many older residents say the prevalence of handsets and such cheap tariffs -- among the lowest in the world -- is making the lives of youngsters unrecognizable. A month of local calls costs about $10. International calls can go for $0.30 a minute. The cheap calls and extended mobile network in the Horn of Africa nation make it easier for Somalis to get in touch with willing partners and arrange quick assignations. "ONLY LIFE WE HAVE" Traditional Somali marriages used to be long-planned, intricately arranged affairs normally determined by clan and sub-clan elders. But some now prefer a less formal kind of marriage, which is essentially elopement, because they do not have the economic means to face a prospective father-in-law. Bile Farah, 25, said marriages nowadays have become more of an "entertainment." "I don't think I'd be sane if it were not for the 'Qudbasiro', free-of-charge secret marriages," the unemployed secondary school graduate told Reuters, sitting cross-legged on a ragged mattress and sending a text message with his phone. "I've divorced nine women already. Voluntary brides and cheap phone services -- it is the only life we have." Unsurprisingly, such behavior is frowned upon by hardline Islamist al Shabaab insurgents who rule over much of central and southern Somalia and want to impose their own austere version of Sharia law on the whole country. They have banned elopement in the areas under their control. But for Halima Osman, a Mogadishu mother-of-three, the mobile phone helped her run away with the love of her life. "I am very proud. I would not have these three kids if it were not for the cheap calls and elopement," the 20-year-old told Reuters, covering her face with a scarf. She said her sister lived a "dog's life" being beaten for seven years after being married to an old man against her will. "She suffered. But you can just dial a number or pick up a ringing phone. You make an appointment then elope. Life is so easy if you are lucky." Aden, the shop owner, said he was shocked when his own daughter eloped and gave birth to a child with a young man he had never met. But he also had a confession. "I enjoy this lifestyle myself, to some extent," he said. Apart from an older wife in a "far away" region, he said he had three younger spouses in the capital: one through an arranged marriage and the other two "secretly." "I call them day wives, because we usually have to meet discreetly during the daytime -- the other one will take it out on the children if I'm missing from her nightly roll call," he said. "But the recent insecurity has favored us. You hear gunfire -- and you have an excuse to be absent." http://news.yahoo.co...lecoms_marriage

Although these answers are from school children from the age of 9-15, they are still very stupid. One in 20 schoolchildren thought Adolf Hitler was a coach of the German football team, a survey said. And one in six youngsters said they thought Auschwitz was a Second World War theme park while one in 20 said the Holocaust was a celebration at the end of the war. The survey for a veterans' charity also found one in 10 thought the SS stood for Enid Blyton's Secret Seven, and one in 12 believed the Blitz was a European clean-up operation following the Second World War. http://www.telegraph...0-children.html

Yes, indeed. A dozen Big Macs and a couple dozen Krispy Kreme donuts a day may do it. I was thinking more in the line of depression or other psych problems. Genetics and metabolic issues are also a big factor, as well as thyroid problems. How about environmental factors? Living in the USA may make a big difference in how a person eats. You do not often see a 500 pound man in Thailand.

The name of the US Army Major is Malik Nadel Hasan and was a psychiatrist. CNN reports that the two apprehended suspects have been questioned and released. The authorities are still questioning a third soldier that may be involved. The shooter was a mental health professional that may have been disturbed that he was about to be sent to Iraq. This is a terrible tragedy and my heart goes out to the soldiers, their families and friends.

That was a good one. A real big LOL.

Looks like the Lazy Boy Corportation nixed the auction. I think the bid was up over $43,000 and now they have to start over at a $1,000. The eBay auction for that infamous motorized “La-Z-Boy†came to an end faster than a speeding recliner because of a catfight over the name La-Z-Boy. But never fear — the incredibly awesome machine is up for sale once again. The company that makes chairs beloved by lazy boys everywhere took exception to police in Proctor, Minnesota, linking its good name to a glorified lawn mower confiscated from convicted drunk driver Dennis LeRoy Anderson. Police put the wild ride up for sale last week, but La-Z-Boy Corp. pulled the plug one day before the bidding — which had topped $43,700 — was to end. Police Chief Walter Wobig told us the listing came down at 11 a.m. Monday, about the same time he got a fax from La-Z-Boy. http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/11/la-z-boy/

Where in the article did it say that? I guess you can gather that Lulu owns the sister company and lives in the US. In the above post, I meant to say Universal Placement International Inc and not Pars International Placement Agency. What are you smoking? I didn't read about any little nuggets about junkets.

Ann Coulter and Hannity are the two conservatives that I cannot stomach. I believe these two that are on the top ten list of people spewing the vilest verbal diarrhea.

The latest report said that US Major Malik Nadal Hashan opened fire with two handguns at Fort Hood Readiness Center. Reports say there have been ten fellow soldiers, one civilian police officer killed and 31 additional soldiers wounded. Major Hashan has been shot and killed bringing the dead, at this time, to 12. Two additional soldiers may have been shooters. They have been apprehended and are being held and questioned. US Army Major Hashan is believed to be about 39 or 40 years old. No motive has been determined, yet.

The water would not be so bad, but the talc, rice paste or flour is another subject.

I have never experienced a waxing and don't plan on trying it. Sounds like toture to me, even if you use soft and strip wax. Yikes!

I should think Polanski's lawyers think it is possible, otherwise they would not waste their time in making the offer.

If I were a billionare, I might do it, since $4.4 million would be a drop in the bucket.

Gross. I still think the jury went overboard on sentencing 31 years in prison. Many are not sentenced that long on a murder charge.

My thoughts exactly. I would not think it healthy for a person so young to lift weights.

I feel sorry for a person that size. I wonder what the underlying causes might be?

Some of it is not intelligent thought but still very popular with many people believing it is gospel truth. "Nah, I have been there a few times. I've got no problem with Walmart " Proof that you are not an elitist. I doubt that you would want to call yourself an elitist. If so, you would have old George W in your group and I don’t think you would like that. I have seen segments of Leno’s street interviews. Although extremely funny, it is also sad to think people can be that dumb. In this US democracy, it is difficult for the elitist groups to shepherd the masses in one direction, although the media has influence and it seems Fox network has much of that influence. I think it wise to keep in tune and understand what the other side is saying.

An elitist would never stoop to shopping at Walmart. They are too good for that.

Not much the authorities can do to Filipinos living abroad. I don't have the details but it seems a stretch to me to hold the school administrators responsible for outrageous fees the teachers willingly paid to a third party. Maybe PARS International Placement Agency can be brought to justice if the evidence shows some wrong doing.

And I guess you never shop at Wal-mart!

When they are hot, they are even better. You can't beat a fresh donut and a good cup of coffee.

Let us hope that happens. The junta has released Sui Kyi from her house arrest in the past. I am hopeful they will be bold enough to give her the freedom she deserves.

The article said, “Teeranu Wipuchanin, a 43-year-old former stock trader, was arrested at Bangkok's international airport after returning from a trip overseas. She told reporters after her arrest that she translated an article from financial news and data provider Bloomberg LP, which attributed the market's decline to rumors about the king's health, and posted it online. "Everybody on that day wanted to know what caused the market to fall," Ms. Teeranu said. A spokeswoman at Bloomberg's corporate headquarters in New York didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday.†That sounds quite innocent to me. She is a former stock trader. She merely translated a Bloomberg financial new article. In this case, it seems quite innocent to me.

How can this happen? I don’t think any “tea money†was paid here. The guy is charged with 103 counts, a judge dismisses half of them and a jury acquitted the former judge on the rest. How does the jury explain the evidence of semen on the carpet? All of it sounds very fishy to me. “In a surprise verdict, a jury acquitted former judge Herman Thomas of sexual abuse, attempted sodomy, and assault related to allegations that he brought inmates to his chambers for sex and spankings. The judge insisted that he brought the men to his office to “mentor†them, but prosecutors put forward evidence of semen on the carpet and testimony of numerous former inmates that they had sex with him or allowed him to spank them for lenient treatment†http://jonathanturley.org/2009/10/27/judge-herman-thomas-acquitted/