Saturday, October 28, 2006
Official gets tough treatment
BOGOTA, Colombia (Reuters) - Beware Colombian bureaucrats, your president is watching.
Famed for his tough approach, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe went one step further Thursday when he ordered a local official suspected of corruption arrested as he sat in the audience listening to the presidential speech.
Uribe, who has led a U.S.-backed crackdown on leftist rebels and the cocaine trade, has earned a no-nonsense reputation since first coming to office more than four years ago with a promise to crush the country's four-decade insurgency.
Speaking in the port city of Buenaventura, Uribe accused the city mayor's secretary of trying to get a naval officer to hand over a captured stash of cocaine and ordered police to detain the shocked official sitting in front of him.
"You are unworthy to carry out your duties," Uribe said wagging his finger as two plainclothes officers escorted the official out of the hall. "The government cannot do battle when someone in a position as important as yours lacks patriotism."
Police later released the man pending an investigation into the charges.
Uribe, whose father was killed during a rebel kidnap attempt, was re-elected in May after Colombians praised him for reducing violence. The bespectacled, U.S.-trained lawyer backed off from possible talks with guerrillas after charging them with setting off a car bomb in Bogota last week.
Critics say Uribe has not done enough to curb human rights abuses and corruption in the military and wonder whether his hardline stance can really end the country's conflict.
Famed for his tough approach, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe went one step further Thursday when he ordered a local official suspected of corruption arrested as he sat in the audience listening to the presidential speech.
Uribe, who has led a U.S.-backed crackdown on leftist rebels and the cocaine trade, has earned a no-nonsense reputation since first coming to office more than four years ago with a promise to crush the country's four-decade insurgency.
Speaking in the port city of Buenaventura, Uribe accused the city mayor's secretary of trying to get a naval officer to hand over a captured stash of cocaine and ordered police to detain the shocked official sitting in front of him.
"You are unworthy to carry out your duties," Uribe said wagging his finger as two plainclothes officers escorted the official out of the hall. "The government cannot do battle when someone in a position as important as yours lacks patriotism."
Police later released the man pending an investigation into the charges.
Uribe, whose father was killed during a rebel kidnap attempt, was re-elected in May after Colombians praised him for reducing violence. The bespectacled, U.S.-trained lawyer backed off from possible talks with guerrillas after charging them with setting off a car bomb in Bogota last week.
Critics say Uribe has not done enough to curb human rights abuses and corruption in the military and wonder whether his hardline stance can really end the country's conflict.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Vermont College goes green with cow manure
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Vermont's Green Mountain College is getting greener with a new program that uses cow manure to generate power.
The 750-student Green Mountain College in Poultney aims to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by joining Central Vermont Public Service's Cow Power program, which harvests waste from local farms.
"This initiative helps the college do its part to address global warming by reducing its carbon emissions by approximately 3500 metric tons per year, or the equivalent of removing 758 passenger cars, from use for a year," the liberal arts college said in a statement Thursday.
The program capitalizes on a common byproduct from one of the northeastern state's top industries, with a typical Vermont dairy cow producing around 13 gallons of manure daily, according to Cow Power spokesman Steve Costello.
Vermont boasts the highest cow-to-people ratio in the United States, with 300,000 cattle and calves and just over 600,000 people, according to state figures.
High U.S. fuel costs have spurred biofuel and other alternative energy and sustainable initiatives in the world's top oil consumer.
The 750-student Green Mountain College in Poultney aims to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by joining Central Vermont Public Service's Cow Power program, which harvests waste from local farms.
"This initiative helps the college do its part to address global warming by reducing its carbon emissions by approximately 3500 metric tons per year, or the equivalent of removing 758 passenger cars, from use for a year," the liberal arts college said in a statement Thursday.
The program capitalizes on a common byproduct from one of the northeastern state's top industries, with a typical Vermont dairy cow producing around 13 gallons of manure daily, according to Cow Power spokesman Steve Costello.
Vermont boasts the highest cow-to-people ratio in the United States, with 300,000 cattle and calves and just over 600,000 people, according to state figures.
High U.S. fuel costs have spurred biofuel and other alternative energy and sustainable initiatives in the world's top oil consumer.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Vampyre club seeks new recruits
LONDON (Reuters) - Vampyres are prowling for new recruits in London as Halloween approaches to partake in wild parties, trips to Transylvania and bat spotting nights -- but coffin-dwelling, blood drinkers need not apply.
With a penchant for custom-made fangs, striking make-up and gothic clothes, members of the London Vampyre Group (LVG) say it's their fascination with the romantic notion of vampires, rather than any darker intent, that draws them together.
"People who think they're un-dead, hundreds of years old, or that you have to drink blood if you're interested in the dark side of things, we can put them right on that," LVG's Mick Smith, 57, told Reuters in an interview in a London pub.
"The drinking of blood is a taboo. It's a point of view that we don't tend to represent, but we think it is something that should be articulated," said Smith, wearing a somber black suit.
They may be conservatively attired lawyers or computer programmers by day, but Vampyres are transformed by flamboyant clothes after dark for the Dance of the Damned Vampire Ball and Requiem of the Resurrected parties with gothic belly dancing.
The Halloween Goth Ball in the northern English town of Whitby, where Bram Stoker was inspired to write "Dracula," is a major calendar fixture. Trips are planned to the Czech Republic's gothic castles and ossuaries, and to New Orleans, setting for Anne Rice's "Interview with the Vampire."
FANG FIXATION
"I'd always been fascinated by vampires, they are often portrayed as powerful and beautiful. It's the romanticism of it all," said Rebecca Summers, 35, social secretary of LVG which was formed about 12 years ago, a splinter group from parent organization The Dracula Society.
With a penchant for custom-made fangs, striking make-up and gothic clothes, members of the London Vampyre Group (LVG) say it's their fascination with the romantic notion of vampires, rather than any darker intent, that draws them together.
"People who think they're un-dead, hundreds of years old, or that you have to drink blood if you're interested in the dark side of things, we can put them right on that," LVG's Mick Smith, 57, told Reuters in an interview in a London pub.
"The drinking of blood is a taboo. It's a point of view that we don't tend to represent, but we think it is something that should be articulated," said Smith, wearing a somber black suit.
They may be conservatively attired lawyers or computer programmers by day, but Vampyres are transformed by flamboyant clothes after dark for the Dance of the Damned Vampire Ball and Requiem of the Resurrected parties with gothic belly dancing.
The Halloween Goth Ball in the northern English town of Whitby, where Bram Stoker was inspired to write "Dracula," is a major calendar fixture. Trips are planned to the Czech Republic's gothic castles and ossuaries, and to New Orleans, setting for Anne Rice's "Interview with the Vampire."
FANG FIXATION
"I'd always been fascinated by vampires, they are often portrayed as powerful and beautiful. It's the romanticism of it all," said Rebecca Summers, 35, social secretary of LVG which was formed about 12 years ago, a splinter group from parent organization The Dracula Society.
"It gets you out of that mundane world. And if you can live forever and remain beautiful then most people would want to do that," said Summers, who works as a business consultant.
With flowing black hair, red lips and a range of corsets, bustles and PVC outfits in her wardrobe, she says her work colleagues are unperturbed by her fixations with vampires and vampire myths which go back thousands of years and occur in almost every culture around the world.
But persuading her husband to ditch his "Coldplay" CD collection and have fangs fitted is a bigger challenge, said Summers, who carries her own set of sharp teeth in her handbag.
Few LVG members believe that the blood-sucking maniacs portrayed in Hollywood horror movies are roaming London's streets, wearing black capes and sucking blood from humans and animals to maintain immortality.
But some do believe in vampire-like personalities.
"There are people who believe in psychic vampires, that there are people who act as vampires, are very predatory, they take energy from other people," said Summers.
"You do get the odd strange people who believe they need to drink blood to survive. I've only had email dealings with them."
LVG is keen to project vampire fans in a positive light after coming under scrutiny several years ago when a German woman, convicted with her partner of a satanic murder, said she became a vampire at so-called "bite parties" in London.
"In one sense, we have a positive social function -- rectifying bad ideas," said Smith, who edits LVG's Chronicles magazine, with articles on vampires in literature, coffin-shaped sleeping bags and the "Vindicator" agony aunt advice.
"For me the most horrific things that happen in the world are on the news every day, not what you see in a horror film."
With flowing black hair, red lips and a range of corsets, bustles and PVC outfits in her wardrobe, she says her work colleagues are unperturbed by her fixations with vampires and vampire myths which go back thousands of years and occur in almost every culture around the world.
But persuading her husband to ditch his "Coldplay" CD collection and have fangs fitted is a bigger challenge, said Summers, who carries her own set of sharp teeth in her handbag.
Few LVG members believe that the blood-sucking maniacs portrayed in Hollywood horror movies are roaming London's streets, wearing black capes and sucking blood from humans and animals to maintain immortality.
But some do believe in vampire-like personalities.
"There are people who believe in psychic vampires, that there are people who act as vampires, are very predatory, they take energy from other people," said Summers.
"You do get the odd strange people who believe they need to drink blood to survive. I've only had email dealings with them."
LVG is keen to project vampire fans in a positive light after coming under scrutiny several years ago when a German woman, convicted with her partner of a satanic murder, said she became a vampire at so-called "bite parties" in London.
"In one sense, we have a positive social function -- rectifying bad ideas," said Smith, who edits LVG's Chronicles magazine, with articles on vampires in literature, coffin-shaped sleeping bags and the "Vindicator" agony aunt advice.
"For me the most horrific things that happen in the world are on the news every day, not what you see in a horror film."
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
City sets underwear rule for firefighters
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) - A Canadian city under pressure for alleged sexual harassment within its fire department has ordered firefighters to wear only boxer-style underwear.
Richmond, British Columbia will spend C$16,000 ($14,200) to buy six pairs of underwear for each firefighter in a bid to make firehalls in the suburb of Vancouver more gender neutral, a newspaper reported on Tuesday.
"We supply firefighters with various pieces of gear such as gloves, now it's underwear," city official Ted Townsend told the Vancouver Sun, saying it was part of the "integration of the sexes in the workplace."
A recent investigation of the department described its workplace culture as "characterized by juvenile and hostile behavior" toward female firefighters by their male colleagues.
Firefighters strip off most of their clothes in order to don protective gear when responding to fire alarms, although Townsend said the city is considering buying gear that can be put on over regular uniforms.
Richmond, British Columbia will spend C$16,000 ($14,200) to buy six pairs of underwear for each firefighter in a bid to make firehalls in the suburb of Vancouver more gender neutral, a newspaper reported on Tuesday.
"We supply firefighters with various pieces of gear such as gloves, now it's underwear," city official Ted Townsend told the Vancouver Sun, saying it was part of the "integration of the sexes in the workplace."
A recent investigation of the department described its workplace culture as "characterized by juvenile and hostile behavior" toward female firefighters by their male colleagues.
Firefighters strip off most of their clothes in order to don protective gear when responding to fire alarms, although Townsend said the city is considering buying gear that can be put on over regular uniforms.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Eyelash transplants set to sweep nip tuck world
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Think you've seen it all when it comes to cosmetic surgery?
Look more closely. Eyelash transplant surgery wants to become the new must-have procedure for women -- and the occasional man -- convinced that beauty is not so much in the eye of the beholder as in front of the eye itself.
Using procedures pioneered by the hair loss industry for balding men, surgeons are using "plug and sew" techniques to give women long, sweeping lashes once achieved only by glued on extensions and thick lashings of mascara.
And just like human hair -- for that is the origin -- these lashes just keep on growing.
"Longer, thicker lashes are an ubiquitous sign of beauty. Eyelash transplantation does for the eyes what breast augmentation does for the figure," said Dr Alan Bauman, a leading proponent of eyelash transplants.
"This is a brand new procedure for the general public (and) it is going to explode," Bauman told Reuters during what was billed as the world's first live eyelash surgery workshop for about 40 surgeons from around the world.
Under the procedure, a small incision is made at the back of the scalp to remove 30 or 40 hair follicles which are carefully sewn one by one onto the patient's eyelids. Only light sedation and local anesthetics are used and the cost is around $3,000 an eye.
The technique was first confined to patients who had suffered burns or congenital malformations of the eye. But word spread and about 80 percent are now done for cosmetic reasons
Look more closely. Eyelash transplant surgery wants to become the new must-have procedure for women -- and the occasional man -- convinced that beauty is not so much in the eye of the beholder as in front of the eye itself.
Using procedures pioneered by the hair loss industry for balding men, surgeons are using "plug and sew" techniques to give women long, sweeping lashes once achieved only by glued on extensions and thick lashings of mascara.
And just like human hair -- for that is the origin -- these lashes just keep on growing.
"Longer, thicker lashes are an ubiquitous sign of beauty. Eyelash transplantation does for the eyes what breast augmentation does for the figure," said Dr Alan Bauman, a leading proponent of eyelash transplants.
"This is a brand new procedure for the general public (and) it is going to explode," Bauman told Reuters during what was billed as the world's first live eyelash surgery workshop for about 40 surgeons from around the world.
Under the procedure, a small incision is made at the back of the scalp to remove 30 or 40 hair follicles which are carefully sewn one by one onto the patient's eyelids. Only light sedation and local anesthetics are used and the cost is around $3,000 an eye.
The technique was first confined to patients who had suffered burns or congenital malformations of the eye. But word spread and about 80 percent are now done for cosmetic reasons
For many women, eyelash surgery is simply an extra item on the vast nip tuck menu that has lost its old taboos.
More than 10 million cosmetic procedures -- from tummy tucks to botox -- were performed in the United States in 2005, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. The figure represents a 38 percent increase over the year 2000.
Erica Lynn, 27, a Florida model with long auburn hair, breast implants and a nose job, had eyelash transplants three years ago because she was fed up with wearing extensions on her sandy-colored lashes.
"When I found out about it, I just had to have it done. Everyone I mention it to wants it. I think eyelashes are awesome. You can never have enough of them," Lynn said.
Bauman, who practices in Florida, does about three or four a month. Dr. Sara Wasserbauer, a Northern California hair restoration surgeon, says she has been inundated by requests.
"I have been getting a ton of eyelash inquiries ... If I had $10 dollars for every consultation, I'd be a rich woman."
The surgery is not for everyone. The transplanted eyelashes grow just like head hair and need to be trimmed regularly and sometimes curled. Very curly head hair makes for eyelashes with too much kink.
More than 10 million cosmetic procedures -- from tummy tucks to botox -- were performed in the United States in 2005, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. The figure represents a 38 percent increase over the year 2000.
Erica Lynn, 27, a Florida model with long auburn hair, breast implants and a nose job, had eyelash transplants three years ago because she was fed up with wearing extensions on her sandy-colored lashes.
"When I found out about it, I just had to have it done. Everyone I mention it to wants it. I think eyelashes are awesome. You can never have enough of them," Lynn said.
Bauman, who practices in Florida, does about three or four a month. Dr. Sara Wasserbauer, a Northern California hair restoration surgeon, says she has been inundated by requests.
"I have been getting a ton of eyelash inquiries ... If I had $10 dollars for every consultation, I'd be a rich woman."
The surgery is not for everyone. The transplanted eyelashes grow just like head hair and need to be trimmed regularly and sometimes curled. Very curly head hair makes for eyelashes with too much kink.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Prisoners wed after peephole courtship
ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Two prisoners in an Ivory Coast jail who courted and fell in love through a peephole in an iron door have been released for a few hours to get married, one of their jailers said Friday.
Roland Guy Bouabre, serving a 3-year sentence for stealing a bicycle, courted Emilie Yobouet, who was given a one-year sentence for kidnapping a child, while he was delivering groceries for her to cook.
He would take the groceries to the iron door and then a guard would deliver them.
"You can find love in all kinds of places -- even prison," Daloa prison guard Norbert Bah told Reuters by telephone.
Yobouet completed her sentence two days after the wedding but brings food to the jail each day to supplement her husband's meager prison diet.
"He eats much better now," said Bah.
Roland Guy Bouabre, serving a 3-year sentence for stealing a bicycle, courted Emilie Yobouet, who was given a one-year sentence for kidnapping a child, while he was delivering groceries for her to cook.
He would take the groceries to the iron door and then a guard would deliver them.
"You can find love in all kinds of places -- even prison," Daloa prison guard Norbert Bah told Reuters by telephone.
Yobouet completed her sentence two days after the wedding but brings food to the jail each day to supplement her husband's meager prison diet.
"He eats much better now," said Bah.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Lawyer invents way to spy on nannies
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Just as trucking companies put signs on their vehicles asking the public to report unsafe drivers, parents can now put license plates on their baby strollers to get feedback on the behavior of their nannies.
Jill Starishevsky, a mother of two and a New York prosecutor, launched HowsMyNanny.com on Thursday, which sells stroller license plates that have a unique number and include the Web site address so the public can anonymously report good or bad nanny behavior.
The parents, who pay $50 for a plate, receive an e-mail alerting them to the report, which they access on the Web site (http://howsmynanny.com//default.aspx) using a password.
"It's a tool to empower the parents and to protect the parents and the children, it's not a tool to work against nannies. It's just a tool to give parents peace of mind," said Starishevsky, a lawyer who prosecutes child abuse and sex crimes.
Starishevsky said she came up with the idea after she saw a nanny in a New York city park who for at least an hour ignored the two young girls she was looking after.
"I was so frustrated," said Starishevsky. "How do I tell the mother that these kids could have run into the street, they could have been taken away at the hand of a stranger."
The most recent data from the U.S. Department of Labor shows that in 2004 there were about 1.3 million childcare workers across the United States, of which about 21 percent worked in private households.
"People keep asking me if this is because I am a mom do I want to do this or is it because I am a prosecutor? My answer is I think it's both," Starishevsky said.
Jill Starishevsky, a mother of two and a New York prosecutor, launched HowsMyNanny.com on Thursday, which sells stroller license plates that have a unique number and include the Web site address so the public can anonymously report good or bad nanny behavior.
The parents, who pay $50 for a plate, receive an e-mail alerting them to the report, which they access on the Web site (http://howsmynanny.com//default.aspx) using a password.
"It's a tool to empower the parents and to protect the parents and the children, it's not a tool to work against nannies. It's just a tool to give parents peace of mind," said Starishevsky, a lawyer who prosecutes child abuse and sex crimes.
Starishevsky said she came up with the idea after she saw a nanny in a New York city park who for at least an hour ignored the two young girls she was looking after.
"I was so frustrated," said Starishevsky. "How do I tell the mother that these kids could have run into the street, they could have been taken away at the hand of a stranger."
The most recent data from the U.S. Department of Labor shows that in 2004 there were about 1.3 million childcare workers across the United States, of which about 21 percent worked in private households.
"People keep asking me if this is because I am a mom do I want to do this or is it because I am a prosecutor? My answer is I think it's both," Starishevsky said.
