Monday, August 5, 2013

Bangkok braces for political street protests

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Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-08-04-Thailand-Politics/id-4cc9b37f039146f4ab80ba374eb79fb2

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Icona Pop Thinks Robin Thicke's 'I Love It' Cover Is 'Sexy'

'You wanted to go into a bedroom and make love,' the Swedish duo rave about Thicke's sensual cover before their Lollapalooza set.
By Gil Kaufman

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1711774/icona-pop-robin-thicke-i-love-it-cover.jhtml

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Franklin heads off to college with 6 gold medals

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) ? Missy Franklin can't wait to head to college.

Boy, will she have some stories to tell the other freshmen.

And a lot of gold to show off.

With one last swim at the world championships, Franklin stamped her name in the record book and joined a club that is even more exclusive.

Before Sunday, the only swimmers to win six events at either a worlds or an Olympics were Michael Phelps, Mark Spitz, Ian Thorpe and Kristin Otto.

Now, there's Franklin, who earned her sixth by swimming the leadoff leg for the U.S. in the 400-meter medley relay, the final event of the championships in Barcelona.

Yet somehow, the eternally optimistic 18-year-old left everyone with the impression that she's capable of even more.

"I had some really great races that I'm really proud of, and there's still a bunch where I have a lot of room to improve," Franklin said. "So I'm really excited for the next year and the year after that and all the years following those."

She was heading home to Colorado for a much-deserved break, but not for too long.

In less than three weeks, she's got another life-changing event ? the start of her freshman year at Cal-Berkeley.

"We already have our room colors coordinated and ordered our fridge and microwave, so it just feels more real every second," Franklin said. "I can't wait for the experience."

She'll gain a new coach, working with Teri McKeever at Cal after a long relationship with Todd Schmitz, and is looking forward to trying some new things.

The immediate goal is improving in the 100 freestyle, the only event Franklin swam all the way through at this meet and didn't win.

She settled for fourth, just missing a medal but improving on her fifth-place showing at the London Olympics.

The result will surely provide plenty of motivation heading to the 2015 worlds in Russia and, of course, the 2016 Rio Olympics.

U.S. women's coach Dave Salo suggested Franklin may want to move up to try the 400 free.

While Franklin said she's not especially driven to match Phelps' record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, there will surely be at least some discussion about coming up with another event to add to the seven she swam at both worlds and the last Olympics.

"I'm perfectly happy with the amount of events that I have now," Franklin said. "But a lot can change, so we'll see what happens."

Franklin became the winningest female swimmer at a world meet, eclipsing the record shared by Tracy Caulkins, who won five times in 1978, and Libby Trickett, who matched that in 2007.

Six golds is rarified territory, indeed.

Phelps won six at the 2004 Athens Olympics, seven at the 2007 worlds and, of course, his mammoth haul in 2008, eclipsing Spitz's mark of seven at the 1972 Munich Games.

Otto won six golds at the 1988 Seoul Olympics ? an accomplishment since clouded by revelations of rampant doping in East Germany ? and Thorpe claimed a half-dozen victories at the 2001 worlds.

Now, there's Franklin.

She completed a grueling week in which she started out planning to swim in eight events.

She dropped out of the 50 backstroke, a non-Olympic event, after a lackluster showing in the preliminaries, wanting to focus on more important races.

She put up a personal best in the 100 freestyle, but she's still not quite good enough to contend for victory in that specialized event.

Otherwise, it was all gold.

Franklin outdid her performance last summer, where she was one of the biggest Olympic stars with four golds and a bronze.

"I just wanted to see where I was after London," she said. "It's kind of an unknown year. There are so many things that can happen."

Amazingly enough, Franklin was not even chosen as the top female swimmer of the meet. That award went to 16-year-old teammate Katie Ledecky, who won four golds and set two world records.

She claimed the trophy based on a formula that doesn't count the relays and gives bonus points for world marks.

No complaints from Franklin.

"It could not go to a better person," she said. "I am sooooooo proud of Katie. She was absolutely unbelievable. I think she has probably been my absolute favorite swimmer to watch ever."

Right back at you, Ledecky said.

"Missy deserves it probably more than I do," the 16-year-old said. "Missy had an incredible week. We are all so proud of her. What she did this week, we were sitting there in awe."

Without a doubt, the future of the U.S. team is in good hands, even if Phelps doesn't come back. The winningest Olympian ever retired after the London Games, but there's been speculation he's planning to get back in the pool before Rio.

Ledecky was 4 for 4 in Barcelona, nearly setting a world record in the 400 free and taking down the marks in the 800 and 1,500. She also joined Franklin on the winning 800 free relay team.

So much for those records that were supposed to stand for decades after rubberized suits were banned in 2009.

"The women have said, 'Poo-poo on that, we're going to break world records,'" Salo said. "Missy, Katie and Ruta (Meilutyte, a 16-year-old Lithuanian who broke two world records in Barcelona) are all really young women who don't know anything about high-tech Jakeds and plastic suits. They don't even know what that's all about. They think we're silly when we bring it up anymore.

"So it's a real exciting time for the women."

Especially for Franklin.

College is next.

Rio is just three years away.

"I think I'm going to add the mile ... see what happens. For sure," Franklin said, with a big laugh. "Oh my gosh, I would be drowning and (Katie) would already be finished."

Somehow, we doubt that.

___

Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/franklin-heads-off-college-6-gold-medals-071359980.html

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Sunday, August 4, 2013

China's wine boom of little profit to giant pandas and small farmers

7/26/2013

Media Outlet: The Guardian

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/conservationinternational/intheNews/~3/swjVFjCPgO0/Chinas-wine-boom-of-little-profit-to-giant-pandas-and-small-farmers.aspx

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Shark found at door of 'Sea Dog' pub on Nantucket

In this photo provided by pub manager Jimmy Agnew, a dead shark lies at the entrance of the Sea Dog Brew Pub Thursday morning, Aug. 1, 2013 in Nantucket, Mass. It was not known how the shark arrived at the door of the pub. It was removed by the town's department of public works. (AP Photo/Jimmy Agnew)

In this photo provided by pub manager Jimmy Agnew, a dead shark lies at the entrance of the Sea Dog Brew Pub Thursday morning, Aug. 1, 2013 in Nantucket, Mass. It was not known how the shark arrived at the door of the pub. It was removed by the town's department of public works. (AP Photo/Jimmy Agnew)

(AP) ? A cleaning crew has found an unexpected mess after arriving at Sea Dog Brew Pub on Nantucket: a 5-foot-long shark blocking the door.

Pub manager Jimmy Agnew says he doesn't know why anyone would have dumped the sea creature there.

Nantucket's public works department hauled the dead shark away after its discovery around 7 a.m. Thursday.

But Agnew said the pub fielded calls and questions all day long after word got out about the land shark.

He said a comedian whose band performs at the pub also posted a series of jokes about it on Facebook.

One suggested the shark went to Sea Dog "to meet his chums."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/aa9398e6757a46fa93ed5dea7bd3729e/Article_2013-08-02-US-ODD-Nantucket-Land-Shark/id-cbc98028c4df40e3bdcfe0efa5dfd200

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The need to address homelessness in the Seattle mayor's race

Editor?s note: Osa Hale, a Western Washington University student, is an opinion intern this quarter.

I live in the University district. Every morning, on my walk to the bus stop, I encounter a few different types of people. There?s the neighbor walking the dog and taking out the trash; there are the morning joggers, and there are the people sleeping under the awning of the University Christian Church and lining up for the food bank.

There are more than 8,800 people known to be homeless in King County, according to the 2012 One Night Count, a point-in-time census conducted by the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness. Nearly one-third of these people are minors, and at least 400 of them are young adults.

The next Seattle mayor has the responsibility of finding the most cost-effective and thorough way to help these people. The candidates had a few things to say about that task. Everyone made it clear how complex the issue is. But it isn?t enough to talk about why it is so hard to fix this problem. Comprehensive actions need to be taken.

Sen. Ed Murray

State Sen. Ed Murray

For example, state Sen. Ed Murray emphasized the importance of getting people into housing that meets their needs, whether that is a short-term home to get them back on their feet, or a facility that could care for individuals living with mental illness. Murray mentioned the State Housing Trust Fund, saying it was a program he has helped push money into in an effort to help the homeless. The fund has put nearly $1 billion dollars into housing projects since 1987. If elected mayor, Murray said, he would try to create a partnership that would connect the fund with the private sector and nonprofits.

Current Mayor Mike McGinn also mentioned government-funded housing efforts, explaining in a written statement that he would like to renew the Seattle Housing Levy, which was passed in 2009, and focused on making apartment buildings available to low- to moderate-income renters, including people who were formerly homeless.

Mayor Mike McGinn

Mayor Mike McGinn

Another common theme among the candidates was a need for more coordination among nonprofits, private institutions and government to help the homeless. One can only hope this is something that will be a true priority, rather than one more collection of buzzwords that gets tucked away once a leader takes office. Lance Dickie made a similar argument in his November 8, 2012 column.

Homelessness doesn?t exist in a vacuum; every city resident is touched by it in some way, and it usually is not a pleasant experience.

In 2010, the Seattle City Council was faced with an ordinance that would have banned people from a variety of panhandling offenses, including repeatedly begging after getting turned down. This rule would have had a $50 violation fee. It nearly passed; the council passed it before it was vetoed by Mayor McGinn, according to this Seattle Times news story.

Many of us have found ourselves in situations with homeless people when we have felt unsafe or annoyed. That is understandable. However, it is unreasonable to think a rule that skirts the limits of the First Amendment is the answer to the problem of street civility that naturally occurs in areas of high-density homelessness.

Treat the cause, not the outcome. Homelessness won?t be stopped by only helping people once they hit rock bottom. The mayor has a responsibility to make the city a place where people can get and keep jobs, making a living wage. City leaders must keep a watchful eye on the minimum-wage debate going on in SeaTac right now, as described in this news article from July 25.

The future mayor must also look further, and demand a greater federal safety net for low-income families and individuals. Lance Dickie weighed in on what politicians can do to pragmatically fight homelessness in this column from 2011.

Former Seattle City Councilman Peter Steinbrueck

Former Seattle City Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck

This combination, of providing resources for people living on the streets and taking preventative measures with those who are on the brink of homelessness, is what Peter Steinbrueck characterized as ?closing the door at the front end, and opening the door on the back end.? It attacks the problem from both sides.

Civic leaders need to make this issue a real priority. Substantial support for nonprofits that are already making a difference is the bare minimum. The future mayor should look at the problem holistically, and try to help the homeless and those hovering just above the poverty line, by putting money into the housing levy and the trust fund. While a tent city cannot last forever, the evicted residents of Nickelsville must be handled carefully, not abandoned as soon as they leave Highland Park Way. The Seattle Times editorial board expressed similar concerns in its June 16 editorial.

There may be some people who will always be homeless, who choose the life of a vagabond or who will refuse all help. But those people are in the minority. I see men and women in their 20s, my age, begging for change every day. Nickelsville was built in large part by families, couples, and people with pets, who cling to each other to maintain a shred of normalcy in a situation that was not a part of the plan. In a country where some have reached Alpine heights of wealth, it is shameful for us to turn a blind eye to those who are in the depths of poverty. Steinbrueck thinks that Seattle is a compassionate city, ready to set an example in helping the homeless. I would like to believe he is right.

If you are interested in the mayoral candidates? positions on street civility, here are edited excerpts of their answers to a Seattle Times editorial board questionnaire. Ed Murray, Bruce Harrell and Doug McQuaid did not participate in the questionnaire.

1 Peter Steinbrueck

Architect, former City Council member

"We need more visible policing, foot patrols, neighborhood policing, and more proactive policing in downtown and in the parks.? There is a role for more eyes on the streets, perhaps a community alert system that you can sign up for on your cell phone.

"Some of the street issues and civility concerns are beyond what the SPD alone can control. We need a triage approach, with specialized responses for the homeless, mentally ill and drug addicts. The complete answer will require other interventions and social services."

2 Mike McGinn

"There are some public safety issues that we cannot arrest our way out of. That's why we partnered with King County, Department of Corrections, the ACLU and many other regional agencies to launch Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD). LEAD targets known and repeat low-level drug offenders Downtown and connects them with services like housing, job training, and services to fight their addictions. Similarly, I?ve expanded funding for the Seattle Youth Violence Initiative and other programs to aid in preventing crime among at-risk youth.

"I also launched the Center City Initiative in 2011 to tackle the difficult problem of how to deal with low-level street disorder. ...

"As a coalition of business interests, agencies, and other stakeholders, we also lobbied for more funding for preventive social service programs in Olympia."

3 Mary Martin

"We are for decriminalizing drug use. We are for treatment for those with drug addictions. We also advise all who want to seriously fight to advance the? interests of the working class to not take illegal drugs.

"The working class needs jobs to unify our class and to build solidarity and confidence in ourselves and each other."

4 Kate Martin

web_KateMartin"We must have streets that are welcoming to women and children. ...

"I'll introduce a panhandling by permit program.? Panhandling exacerbates many problems and often fuels the very problems that put these folks on the streets.? The status of folks that need social services, a job, and a roof over their head are not elevated from their status by panhandling. Vendors of Real Change, who are at the very least taking a responsible step toward creating income for a better life, would be able to get a permit as available.? Quantities of permits would be limited.? The permit would not be for corners and the legal locations by permit would change daily so as not to overly burden any particular business owner or resident."

5 Joey Gray

Information-systems specialist

Joey Gray 2"We need a mayor who sets and maintains consistent, fair policies across the city in its response to all concerns. We need a tone that itself exemplifies civility, professionalism, and that engenders respect from the top."

6 Charlie Staadecker

Charlie Staadecker 2"There needs to be a higher police presence in the affected areas. Increased foot patrols and bike police need to be put in place for each segment of the City.

"We need to accept that some of these people need help. There needs to be more opportunities for individuals to seek treatment for alcohol and drug abuse. Those committing violations need to be subject to warnings, and the possibility of removal, by the police. The response should depend on the level of disorder, but the consequences individuals face need to be very clear."

Source: http://blogs.seattletimes.com/opinionnw/2013/08/02/seattle-election-mayor-homelessness/?syndication=rss

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Roses to Bennington Babe Ruth 15U All-Star baseball team

Saturday August 3, 2013

ROSES and good luck to the Bennington Babe Ruth 15U All-Star baseball team, which is playing in the regional tournament in Newtown, Conn., beginning today. ROSES to the Town of Bennington for taking into account a number of business owners? concerns by delaying water main construction along Northside Drive until after the fall foliage/peak tourist season. Some Northside Drive business owners gathered Wednesday night to protest imminent water main work at the Orchard Road/Hicks Avenue intersection. Most agreed that having the road torn up during the fall and winter months would hurt business. The project has been delayed until spring, Town Manager Stuart Hurd announced Friday.

ROSES to Mount Snow for expanding and bettering its mountain bike trails. A recently-completed advanced trail, the freestyle-oriented "Super Trail," contains tabletop jumps, hips, drops and steep berms that can challenge riders of all levels. Known mainly for its winter-sports offerings, Mount Snow has been a warm-weather draw to downhill mountain bike enthusiasts for more than 25 years.

ROSES to the organizers of the fifth annual Lee Goldsmith Memorial soccer Tournament, to be held August 10 in Willow Park. The tournament is in honor of Lee Goldsmith, a form Mount Anthony Union High School soccer player who died of cancer in 2009. Cost is $70 per co-ed or all-male teams. To register, call Jeremy Neill at 802-823-5969 or email jneill@svsu.org.

ROSES to new legislation, the "flexible pathways" bill, that affords high school students in Vermont added opportunities for a postsecondary education. A highlight of Act 77, which was passed in the recent legislative session and signed into law by Gov. Peter Shumlin last month, the bill allows high school students one free college course in each of their junior and senior years. Students earn college credit for this coursework, which can help them get a jumpstart on their future college careers.

ROSES to Teens for Change, a group that is giving back to local businesses that have supported the program through donations. The program gives kids of all backgrounds a place to spend time and participate in activities. On a recent summer day, members of the group were seen washing windows at the Gamers Grotto on Main Street.

ROSES to the organizers of the 35th Annual Southern Vermont Art and Craft Festival for bringing the event to Bennington. After being hosted for more than three decades by Hildene in Manchester, the festival has a new home in Bennington, bringing with it tourist dollars and recognition of our beautiful town. Enjoy the festival at Camelot Village on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn more at www.craftproducers.com.

ROSES to Burr and Burton Academy Football Coach Jason Thomas for winning the honor of leading Vermont against New Hampshire in the annual all-star game. Thomas will have two of his own players in the game -- quarterback Jake Stalcup and receiver Chris Redding. "It?s great for our school to be recognized and our players and coaches," Thomas told the Banner.

~Michelle Karas

Source: http://www.benningtonbanner.com/editorials/ci_23787595/roses-bennington-babe-ruth-15u-all-star-baseball?source=rss

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