"Okeydoke"
History…
1685, Johann Sebastian Bach, German organist and composer of the baroque era, one of the greatest and most productive geniuses in the history of Western music was born in Eisenach, Germany.
1790, Thomas Jefferson reported to President Washington in New York as the new secretary of state.
1804, The French Civil Code, later renamed the Code Napoléon, is promulgated, providing a uniform civil law.
1871, journalist Henry M. Stanley began his famous expedition to Africa to locate the missing Scottish missionary David Livingstone.
1918 Howard Cosell Winston-Salem NC, sportscaster (Monday Night Football)
1919 Geoffrey Pinnington journalist
1923 Mort Lindsey Newark NJ, orchestra leader (Merv Griffin Show)
1945, during World War II, Allied bombers began four days of raids over Germany.
1960, South African police open fire on a group of black protesters in the township of Sharpeville.
1963, Alcatraz, a federal prison for dangerous criminals in the San Francisco Bay, closes.
1965, more than 3,000 civil rights demonstrators led by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. began their march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama arrives in Montgomery five days later.
1966 Karen Lunn Cowra Australia, LPGA golfer (1993 Women's British Open)
1979, the Egyptian Parliament unanimously approved a peace treaty with Israel.
1985, police in Langa, South Africa, opened fire on blacks marching to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sharpeville shootings, killing at least 21 demonstrators.
Missing In Action
1966 BURER ARTHUR W. SAN ANTONIO TX 02/12/73 RELEASED BY DRV ALIVE AND WELL 98
1966 COMPTON FRANK R. CHATHAM VA
1966 TIDERMAN JOHN M. KANSAS CITY KS
1967 CHARVET PAUL CLAUDE GRAND VIEW WA
1968 HESFORD PETER D. MYSTIC CT
1968 STOWERS AUBREY E. JR. SENTINEL OK
1970 GONZALES DAVID VENTURA CA
1970 HUDGENS EDWARD MONROE TULSA OK REMAINS RECOVERED OCT 94 AND APRIL 95 ID MARCH 96
1970 UNDERWOOD THOMAS W. ZANESVILLE OH
Micheal Moore dot calm
Just go there !! No one else has Pinocchio Bush.
The Washington Post regarding CONFLICT OF INTEREST of Terri Schiavo and the DeLay of her death.
DeLay Defends Trip and Vote, Attacks Critics
GOP Leader Offers To See Ethics Panel
By Mike Allen and James V. Grimaldi
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, March 16, 2005; Page A01
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) yesterday launched a defense of his travel arrangements and relationships with lobbyists, offering to appear before the ethics committee to answer questions and charging that his critics were relying on "fiction and innuendo."
DeLay's efforts at political damage control followed a recent spate of news reports raising ethical questions about his fundraising and overseas travel paid for by special interests.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36954-2005Mar15.html
Environmental Impasse
Monday, March 21, 2005; Page A18
IN 1970, THE Clean Air Act was supported by liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans, including President Richard M. Nixon and Sen. Barry Goldwater (R-Ariz.). When the act was amended under George H.W. Bush in 1990, a bipartisan Congress not only supported the changes but paid close attention, decreeing precise emission allowances and timetables.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A52527-2005Mar20?language=printer
Earthquake Hits Southern Japan
One Killed, 400 Injured as Magnitude 7.0 Tremor Jolts Islands
Associated Press
Monday, March 21, 2005; Page A12
FUKUOKA, Japan, March 20 -- A powerful earthquake jolted southern Japanese islands on Sunday, killing an elderly woman, injuring 400 people and triggering landslides.
In a region still jittery from the devastating Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami in late December, authorities evacuated half the residents of a tiny island near the epicenter and warned of a tsunami, but later canceled the alert.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52376-2005Mar20.html
A Marine's Choice, A Mother's Conflict
Antiwar Parent Copes With Enlistment, Then Death
By Christian Davenport
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, March 21, 2005; Page B01
CLICK TO PLAY AUDIO: Tracy Miller reflects on the life and death of her 22-year-old son, Nicholas Ziolkowski, who was killed by a sniper's bullet in Fallujah last November. (Audio by Amanda M. Zamora - washingtonpost.com; Photo by Michael Robinson-Chavez - The Washington Post)
First of five articles
The memory remains vivid in Tracy Miller's mind: She is stepping carefully over the guys sprawled out on her living room floor, doing her best not to wake them as she heads toward the door.
The one whose legs are sticking out from under the coffee table is her son, Nicholas Ziolkowski. The others, none of whom bothered to use the blankets she offered, are the Marine Corps buddies he brought home for the weekend from Camp Lejeune, N.C.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/specials/homefront/miller_article.html
The Sydney Morning Herald
Detention and religion: PM denies Christian bias
March 21, 2005 - 12:14PM
Prime Minister John Howard today denied immigration detainees were more likely to be allowed to stay in Australia if they converted to Christianity
The Sydney Morning Herald today reported that 30 of Australia's longest-serving immigration detainees were having their cases reviewed and could be freed because they had converted to Christianity since arriving in the country.
But Mr Howard today denied there was a bias towards Christianity in immigration matters.
"There's no denominational or religious-specific clause in the administration of our immigration policy," Mr Howard told ABC Radio in Brisbane.
"Concerns about religious persecution can vary from one religion to another (and) are always factors in deciding how we deal with people," he said.
"But the idea that we would introduce something that is peculiar only to people who convert to Christianity - that's not correct."
The newspaper quoted a spokesman for Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone as saying the only reason for reconsidering the 30 cases was their new religion.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Immigration/Detention-and-religion-PM-denies-Christian-bias/2005/03/21/1111253926775.html
Detainees who find Christ may be allowed to stay
By Mike Seccombe and Linda Morris
March 21, 2005
Thirty of Australia's longest-term immigration detainees are having their cases reviewed and could be freed because they have converted to Christianity since arriving.
The Federal Government has made the move quietly as it searches for a face-saving way to soften its policy on failed asylum seekers who have been in custody for more than three years, and cannot be repatriated to their countries of origin.
It follows strong lobbying efforts by several Government backbenchers, churches and the powerful Family First party for the Government to relax its refugee policy for Christian converts.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Find-Christ-and-you-may-stay/2005/03/20/1111253889168.html
Blair was told US fixed case for war: BBC
March 21, 2005
The head of Britain's foreign intelligence agency told the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, that the case for war in Iraq was being "fixed" by Washington to suit United States policy, according to a new BBC documentary.
Nine months before hostilities began in March 2003, Richard Dearlove, head of MI6, briefed Mr Blair and a group of ministers on the US's determination to begin the invasion, says the program, which was due to be aired last night.
After attending a briefing in Washington, Mr Dearlove told the meeting that "the facts and intelligence" were being "fixed round the policy" by the Bush Administration.
The allegations against Mr Blair just weeks before an expected general election are likely to reopen a feud between the Government and the BBC. The two fell out last year over allegations by a BBC reporter that Britain "sexed up" the case for war.
The documentary argues that Mr Blair had signed up to follow President George Bush's plans for "regime change" in Iraq as early as April 2002.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/After-Saddam/Blair-was-told-US-fixed-case-for-war-BBC/2005/03/20/1111253887254.html
The Daily Star
Jordan accepts amendments to peace proposal
Syria angles for support at summit
Compiled by Daily Star staff
Monday, March 21, 2005
Arab foreign ministers met in Algiers over the weekend to fine-tune the agenda for this week's Arab summit, which includes a controversial Jordanian proposal to resurrect a plan for peace with Israel.
Under pressure from other Arab countries, Jordan accepted amendments to its contentious proposal that aimed to revise the long-standing Arab strategy to normalize relations with Israel.
Diplomats said Saturday that the initiative reaffirms the Arab commitment to peace with Israel in return for the land Arabs lost to the Jewish state in the 1967 war.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=13595
Jewish investors secretly buy Old City properties from Greek Orthodox Church
Patriarchy was reportedly unaware and has launched enquiry
Saturday, March 19, 2005
JERUSALEM: Foreign Jewish investors have paid millions of dollars to buy two large properties at Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem's Old City through a secret deal with the Greek Orthodox church, an Israeli newspaper reported on Friday.
The highly controversial deal, details of which appeared in the Maariv daily, saw a group of Jewish investors paying millions of dollars for a tract of land in Omar Ibn Khatib Square just inside Jaffa Gate, which lies at the main entrance to the Old City.
The Friday article did not give an exact purchase price for the deal.
The site is currently home to two landmark properties managed by two well-known Palestinian families: the Imperial and Petra hotels. A row of Palestinian-run shops selling tourist trinkets and memorabilia is situated on the ground floor of the two compounds.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=13574
Kuwait set for record windfall as oil income soars
For sixth year running emirate achieves budget surplus
By Agence France Presse (AFP)
Monday, March 21, 2005
KUWAIT CITY: Oil-rich Kuwait is set to post its largest budget surplus ever in fiscal 2004-05 on the back of high oil prices and a rise in production, official statistics show.
Figures posted on the Finance Ministry's Web site Saturday show that total revenues in the first 11 months of the year reached 8 billion dinars ($27.1 billion), up on the $11.25 billion projected for the whole year.
Actual oil revenues reached $25 billion, up 31 percent on the corresponding period in 2003-04 of $19 billion and almost triple the budget projection for the whole current year of $9.27 billion.
The government calculated oil income on the basis of an ultra-conservative price of $15 a barrel at a daily output of 2 million barrels.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=3&article_id=13589
Arab League must stop playing ostrich and take a stand on Syria and Lebanon
Monday, March 21, 2005
It would be appropriate that the Arab League summit in Algiers revisit the Taif process, which was endorsed by the Arab League in 1989. It achieved, after all, an Arab endorsement to try to help settle the Lebanese civil war and bring about national reconciliation.
Today the Lebanese desperately seek this reconciliation and only differ over minor aspects of the Taif Accord. All Lebanese parties have expressed a commitment to ensuring the accord's complete implementation. Even the issue of armed resistance has been put on the table by Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah as an item that is up for discussion.
The Lebanese cannot achieve the process of reconciliation on their own because the problems in Lebanon are not homegrown. Syria, Arab neglect and American influence are all involved in creating the present-day conundrum. Today, the Lebanese need a diplomatic umbrella under which they can gather for the purpose of national dialogue, which has been called for by all and sundry.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&article_id=13580&categ_id=17
Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' sells 50,000 copies in Turkey in three months
Sales reflect rise in nationalist sentiment
By Agence France Presse (AFP)
Friday, March 18, 2005
ANKARA: Cheap cover prices and a rise in nationalist sentiment have made an unlikely best-seller in Turkey of Adolf Hitler's infamous autobiography, "Mein Kampf." The book was first published in Turkey in 1939, when Axis and Allied countries were competing for Turkey's soul as they tried to woo it away from the neutrality it would maintain until the very end of World War II.
But since January, the book has sold more than 50,000 copies and is number four on the best-seller list drawn up by the D&R bookstore chain.
"'Mein Kampf' has always been a sleeper, a secret best-seller," said Oguz Tektas of Mefisto editions, one of several publishing houses to re-release the book Hitler wrote while in jail in 1925. "We took it out of the closet for purely commercial reasons." His company's sole aim, he stressed, was "to make money," which they did by slashing the cover price.
"Mein Kampf," published by about a dozen companies over the years, always sold at a fairly steady annual rate of about 20,000 copies at some 20 New Turkish Lira ($15) a copy.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=4&Article_id=13511
The Syria Times
Bush defends invasion of Iraq, anti-war protests held world-wide
President George W. Bush on Saturday defended his decision to order the invasion of Iraq two years ago, hailing the campaign as a زlandmark eventس in the history of what he called freedom.
summary: President George W. Bush on Saturday defended his decision to order the invasion of Iraq two years ago, hailing the campaign as a زlandmark eventس in the history of what he called freedom.
Though the invasion that started on March 20, 2003, remains controversial, Bush insisted in his weekly radio address that the war had made America زsaferس and was زinspiring changeس across the Middle East.
http://www.teshreen.com/syriatimes/_first.asp?FileName=20050320072533
AL chief calls on members to give full backing
Arab League Secretary General Amr Mousa called on members Saturday to give the organisation their full backing, especially in financial terms, and criticised them for foisting off their failures on it.
summary: Arab League Secretary General Amr Mousa called on members Saturday to give the organisation their full backing, especially in financial terms, and criticised them for foisting off their failures on it.
In opening remarks to foreign ministers laying the groundwork for the Arab summit here next week, Mousa said the League "needs the support of all its members," especially their material support, and challenged them to "step up to the level of events."
http://www.teshreen.com/syriatimes/_first.asp?FileName=20050320072506
Al-Shara discusses events with AL chief
The Algerian capital, Algiers, witnessed yesterday afternoon the opening of Arab foreign ministersص preparatory meeting, with the participation of Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaص, Arab foreign ministers and Arab League Secretary-General.
The Algerian capital, Algiers, witnessed yesterday afternoon the opening of Arab foreign ministersص preparatory meeting, with the participation of Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaص, Arab foreign ministers and Arab League Secretary-General.
On the sidelines of the meetings, Minister al-Sharaص received yesterday morning at his residence in Algiers AL chief Amre Moussa and held a meeting that included Mr. Moussa and Lebanese Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hamoud.
http://www.teshreen.com/syriatimes/_first.asp?FileName=20050320072438
My Favorite Ad of All Time
In Honor of Stephen Johnson at the EPA.
http://www.ericblumrich.com/animation.html
"Dust Bin America"
The Miami Herald
Shining a light on government secrecy
OUR OPINION: EFFORTS TO IMPROVE INFORMATION ACT DESERVE SUPPORT
Of all the rights that Americans value, few rate higher than the right to know what the government is up to. What you don't know can hurt you. Lately, however, it's become harder and harder to find out, thanks to the growing obsession with secrecy.
As reported in The Herald last week, the number of pages classified by the government grew to 14 million annually in 2003 from 6.5 million in 1995. Pages declassified dropped to 43 million from 204 million per year in the same period.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/opinion/11189379.htm
The Los Angeles Times
Supreme Court Declines Moussaoui Appeal
WASHINGTON — WASHINGTON-The Supreme Court today denied an appeal by Zacarias Moussaoui of the conditions limiting his access to potential witnesses in his trial in connection with the Sept. 11 attacks.
As a result his trial, delayed by appeals, appeared to be back on track. Federal District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema had said that Moussaoui's trial could begin no sooner than 180 days after final Supreme Court action, meaning that the trial could open in late September.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-032105moussaoui_lat,0,5618075.story?coll=la-home-headlines
IN BRIEF / COLORADO IN BRIEF / NEW YORK IN BRIEF / FLORIDA
Death of Disruptive Air Passenger Is Probed
Prosecutors are investigating the death of a man who was subdued by several fellow airline passengers after he became disruptive on a New York-bound flight from Los Angeles, a spokesman for American Airlines said.
William Lee, 48, was pronounced dead late Friday after he was removed from American Flight 4 at Kennedy International Airport.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-briefs21.2mar21,0,5606418.story?coll=la-home-nation
Justices Take Up Future of Net Access
A high-court case could affect how consumers get voice and video over high-speed connections.
Jim Pickrell's business — providing Internet service to about 350 residential, government and business customers — may be doomed. But he's not giving up without a fight.
While keeping two dozen servers running and stuffing billing statements into envelopes, the owner and only full-time employee of Brand X Internet Services in Santa Monica also is leading a legal attack on the cable TV industry and federal regulators.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-brandx21mar21,0,7060626.story?coll=la-home-business
On Top of the World
In a journey through the Himalaya, Michael Palin meets the mountains, which first lay him low and later lift him up.
By Michael Palin
Michael Palin may be best known for his roles in "Monty Python's Flying Circus" and the highly irreverent film "Life of Brian," but it is through his travels that many of us feel a common bond. In 1988, he undertook a globe-circling trip for the BBC that became the book "Around the World in 80 Days."
http://www.latimes.com/features/printedition/magazine/la-tm-palin12mar20,0,7270263.story?coll=la-home-magazine
The Boston Globe
Private lawyers seek more pay for representing the poor
March 21, 2005
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- The chairman of a special legislative commission says it will recommend another pay hike for private lawyers representing the poor that could boost their pay for handling felony cases by 50 percent.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/03/21/private_lawyers_seek_more_pay_for_representing_the_poor/
Sexy library worker pursues discrimination case against Harvard
By Denise Lavoie, AP Legal Affairs Writer March 21, 2005
BOSTON -- Desiree Goodwin thought she had the perfect resume to succeed at Harvard, working in the largest academic library system in the world.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/03/21/sexy_library_worker_pursues_discrimination_case_against_harvard/
Two men arraigned for separate weekend shootings
March 21, 2005
BOSTON -- Two men arrested for separate killings in a recent spate of violence pleaded innocent on Monday and were ordered held without bail.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/03/21/two_men_arraigned_for_separate_weekend_shootings/
Documentary confirms Hogzilla's existence
By Elliott Minor, Associated Press Writer March 21, 2005
ALAPAHA, Ga. -- A team of National Geographic experts has confirmed south Georgia's monster hog, known to locals as Hogzilla, was indeed real -- and really, really big.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/03/21/documentary_confirms_hogzillas_existence/
U.S. announces textile import monitoring
By Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer March 21, 2005
WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration, faced with a flood of clothing and other textiles from China, said Monday it was starting special monitoring to keep track of imports now that global quotas have ended.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/03/21/us_announces_textile_import_monitoring/
Experts: Steroid hearings will boost use
By Joe Milicia, Associated Press Writer March 21, 2005
CLEVELAND -- Steroid use among high school students is on the rise, and experts warn that the recent focus on major league baseball's drug problems will only make such use increase.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/03/21/experts_steroid_hearings_will_boost_use/
CHENEY doesn't like his friends prosecuted. All the more reason to make The USA Tax Structure 'user friendly.'
Millionaire sentenced for tax fraud
By Bonnie Pfister, Associated Press Writer March 21, 2005
TRENTON, N.J. -- A millionaire who came under fire for taking a big tax writeoff after selling rare musical instruments was sentenced to 1 1/2 years in prison Monday as part of a plea deal in an unrelated tax case.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/03/21/millionaire_sentenced_for_tax_fraud/
AT least Boston keeps up with 'THE LATEST' of the deaths. On CNN's NewsNight they are 'dribbling' soldiers identified back in January. Sharon "The Neocon Adovcate" von Zwieten is attempting to make the deaths go away. She allows only two and on a rare occasion three names to be displayed to minimize the impact the deahts BUT also at the same time THE RESPECT these people deserve. Sharon is a dishonest woman to say the least and Aaron enables the 'immoral control.' David Bohrman started the segment in honor of those in service to this country. It was never intended to be a BURDEN to the agenda of CNN or NewsNight. BUT, then again it was never intended to manipulate the hearts and minds of the public. Pathetic.
Another Union Drive on at Quebec Wal-Mart
March 21, 2005
TORONTO (Reuters) - United Food and Commercial Workers Canada said on Monday it made another attempt to unionize workers at a Quebec-based Wal-Mart
http://www.boston.com/news/world/canada/articles/2005/03/21/another_union_drive_on_at_quebec_wal_mart/
Darfur Rebels Call on Arabs to Protect Minorities
March 21, 2005
CAIRO (Reuters) - Rebels from Sudan's Darfur region want an Arab summit this week to show support for minorities in Arab countries and help bring war criminals to justice, rebel leaders said on Monday.
http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2005/03/21/darfur_rebels_call_on_arabs_to_protect_minorities/
The Chicago Tribune
Tree preservation leaves opponents with ax to grind
By Robert Channick
Special to the Tribune
Published March 21, 2005
When Deerfield resident Dave Grimm learned that the village was considering a tree preservation ordinance, he decided to stay one step ahead of the proposed law.
With expensive tree-removal fees looming, Grimm, 64, bought a chain saw and leveled a dozen trees at his Wilmot Road home.
"There were a lot of trees that gave me a problem," said Grimm, a retiree who moved to the 38-year-old brown colonial on a half-acre corner lot three years ago. "I saw the ordinance coming and I was able to get the trees down that I was worried about."
Under the proposal, slated for final approval Monday, a permit would be required to remove trees with a diameter of 8 inches or more, with a substantial replacement fee charged for large, healthy trees.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0503210167mar21,1,2445244.story?coll=chi-news-hed
Three Kids Presumed Dead in Lodge Blast
By ERIN GARTNER
Associated Press Writer
Published March 21, 2005, 11:38 AM CST
PAONIA, Colo. -- Three children missing since a powerful blast leveled a secluded mountain lodge in western Colorado are presumed dead, the sheriff said Monday as searchers began combing the rubble for their bodies.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-lodge-explosion,1,3859118.story?coll=chi-news-hed
Bishops Renew Anti-Death Penalty Efforts
By RICHARD N. OSTLING
AP Religion Writer
Published March 21, 2005, 12:14 PM CST
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops announced a new campaign against the death penalty Monday, saying they will step up lobbying and educational efforts, and buttressing their arguments with polls they commissioned that find support for executions has weakened among American parishioners.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-bishops-death-penalty,1,1735497.story?coll=chi-news-hed
12 hurt in River Rouge fire
By Bree Fowler
The Associated Press
Published March 21, 2005, 4:39 PM CST
DEARBORN, Mich. -- Spilled molten steel caused a fire and explosion Monday morning in a steel plant at the sprawling River Rouge industrial complex, injuring 12 people, officials said.
A transport vehicle that can carry up to 400 tons of molten steel was backing into a building when some of its high temperature cargo sloshed out, said William Hornberger, a spokesman for Severstal North America Inc.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-050321rougefire,1,780677.story?coll=chi-business-hed
Time Warner Settles SEC Fraud Charges
By SETH SUTEL
AP Business Writer
Published March 21, 2005, 3:29 PM CST
NEW YORK -- Closing a difficult chapter, Time Warner Inc. said Monday it would pay $300 million and restate three years of financial results to settle civil fraud charges stemming from its accounting of online advertising revenues and subscriber counts at its AOL unit.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-sec-time-warner,1,6380249.story?coll=chi-business-hed
The New Zealand Herald
Poor teeth prompt brush-up of services
22.03.05
by Martin Johnston
Children's deteriorating teeth and outdated equipment have forced the Government to plan a reorganisation of state-funded dental services.
Details and costings are not expected for three months but Health Minister Annette King says she wants new community dental clinics to provide for many preschoolers, adolescents and, crucially, low-income adults, for whom few state-funded dental services are available.
The Dental Association yesterday panned Ms King's scheme, saying existing services needed to be adequately funded.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10116575
Quake shakes lower North Island
22.03.05 11.00am
An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale shook the lower North Island early this morning.
The quake, which struck at 3.17am, was centred 10km west of Eketahuna at a depth of 30km, Geological and Nuclear Sciences said.
It was felt in the lower North Island.
There were no immediate reports of damage.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10116590
Building plan angers Palestinians
22.03.05
JERUSALEM - Israel plans to build thousands of new homes in the occupied West Bank to cement its hold on Jerusalem, Government sources said, drawing a Palestinian warning that peace efforts were at risk.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=2&ObjectID=10116537
North Korea steps up nuclear arsenal
22.03.05 7.20am
SEOUL - North Korea said Monday it has increased its nuclear arsenal to help prevent a US attack on the reclusive communist state, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=2&ObjectID=10116586
Nobel push for Sistani
22.03.05 5.20am
Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, spiritual leader of Iraq’s Shi'ites, should be given the Nobel Peace Prize for helping smooth the road toward democracy in the country, influential New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman has written.
Friedman noted that President George W. Bush’s name would likely be bandied about as a contender but it was Sistani who had insisted on a direct national election, rejecting the regional caucus proposal.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=2&ObjectID=10116545
UK ID cards cost soaring
22.03.05
As the House of Lords debates the introduction of ID cards, experts are warning the Home Office that the cost of introducing the cards could soar above its 5.5 billion ($14.2 billion) estimate.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=2&ObjectID=10116505
The weather in Antarctica (Crystal Ice Chime) is:
Scott Base
Snow
-17.0°
Updated Tuesday 22 Mar 8:59AM
The weather at Glacier Bay National Park (Crystal Wind Chime) is:
37 °F / 3 °C
Overcast
Windchill:
31 °F / 0 °C
Humidity:
33%
Dew Point:
10 °F / -12 °C
Wind:
8 mph / 13 km/h from the East
Pressure:
29.85 in / 1011 hPa
Visibility:
10.0 miles / 16.1 kilometers
UV:
1 out of 16
Clouds (AGL):
Mostly Cloudy 4900 ft / 1493 m
Overcast
Tomorrow is another day.
end.
