“THIS looks like Iraq, not Algeria,” declared a distraught witness to the carnage of a bombing that killed 43 police recruits in a town to the east of Algeria’s capital, Algiers, on August 19th. His words were apt. There has been a dramatic rise in attacks by Islamist extremists in the country during the past fortnight, with at least 79 people killed in various incidents across eastern Algeria, most of them in a spate of suicide bombings similar to those that have ravaged Iraq. The targets have been similar too, including police stations, a coast-guard outpost, and a bus transporting Algerian workers for a big Canadian company.
The attacks appear to be the work of Algeria’s main remaining Islamist guerrilla group, which in 2006, after contacts with al-Qaeda’s mother organisation, renamed itself al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Earlier this month it issued a chilling warning to Algeria’s pro-Western rulers: “We tell the sons of France, the slaves of America and their masters, too, that our finger is on the trigger, and the convoys of martyrs are longing to rampage your bastions in defence of our Islamic nation.”
Algeria is no stranger to violence. The civil war that erupted in 1990 and raged for a decade left as many as 200,000 dead. Exhaustion, ruthless policing and the offer of an amnesty calmed the strife. But it began to mount again last year, in a sign that the al-Qaeda brand name, along with the government’s slowness to use its windfall of oil revenue to tackle chronic problems such as the legions of resentful young people without jobs, was winning recruits.
Though estimates of AQIM’s manpower are in the low hundreds, compared to the tens of thousands of rebels at the height of Algeria’s troubles, they seem well-trained, well-financed, highly motivated and mobile. Most of the recent violence has been in the long-troubled mountain areas east of Algiers, but the group and its affiliates have struck as far afield as neighbouring Tunisia and Mauritania, as well as the heart of the capital, where last December they blew up the UN’s main office and a court building.
Population shift needed to solve Aussie 'man dams'!
If you are a female Australian looking for love, you could do worse than move to Nar Nar Goon, population 600, where single men outnumber women 12 to one.
The town, in Victoria, is one example of what an Australian demographer, Bernard Salt, calls a "man dam" - an oasis of males in a country where women increasingly outnumber men.
Mr Salt this week published a book, Man Drought, in which he identifies areas of Australia where men and women of different ages stand the best chance of finding a partner. His Love Map, or "Dater Base", reveals that single men are abundant in rural and remote areas, while the cities are awash with unattached women.
That situation - a result of women leaving the countryside in search of better jobs and lifestyles - was highlighted last week, when the mayor of Mount Isa urged "beauty disadvantaged" women to move to his Queensland mining town, where, he said, they would be assured of finding a man.
While Mr Salt decries those remarks as typical of the attitudes that prompt women to relocate to the cities in the first place, he applauds the basic philosophy. Faced with gender disparities on the scale of Nar Nar Goon, or Glenden in Queensland, where each single woman has 23 men competing for her affections, Australians need to move house, he believes.
That applies particularly to urban women who despair of meeting a soulmate. "There are man dams, little isolated reservoirs of men in suburbs across Australia, where, for some odd reason, there are more single men than single women, and you find a lot of them in rural communities," Mr Salt said. "If you find yourself in the wrong town, why not relocate to the right town, where you are in the market?"
While previous generations searched for a partner at the Saturday night dance, nowadays people resort to speed dating and internet dating. So why not date by geography? The book, which analyses statistics from the 2006 census, pinpoints the unattached man-woman ratio in every town, city and village in Australia, arranged alphabetically.
In Sydney, the decidedly nondescript neighbourhood of Auburn, in the sprawling western suburbs, is home to the largest population of single men. Of them, Mr Salt believes that electricians offer the best prospects. In fact, he recommends that Sydney women cruise the aisles of Auburn hardware stores if they are seriously looking for love.
According to the latest statistics, there are nearly 100,000 more women than men in Australia, which has a population of 21 million, and the proportion of single people has risen from 20 to 25 per cent in the past decade.
The situation is not as quite as dire for women as it appears. Until 34, they outnumber men, who in their 20s and early 30s suffer what Mr Salt calls a "Sheila shortage". But after 34, the pendulum swings the other way, and by the age of 40, there are nine per cent more single women than men available. By 50, the imbalance is 17 per cent; by 80, it is 66 per cent.
Historically, things were different. Thirty years ago, single women were a rarer commodity in Australia, thanks to immigration policies that favoured men.
The town, in Victoria, is one example of what an Australian demographer, Bernard Salt, calls a "man dam" - an oasis of males in a country where women increasingly outnumber men.
Mr Salt this week published a book, Man Drought, in which he identifies areas of Australia where men and women of different ages stand the best chance of finding a partner. His Love Map, or "Dater Base", reveals that single men are abundant in rural and remote areas, while the cities are awash with unattached women.
That situation - a result of women leaving the countryside in search of better jobs and lifestyles - was highlighted last week, when the mayor of Mount Isa urged "beauty disadvantaged" women to move to his Queensland mining town, where, he said, they would be assured of finding a man.
While Mr Salt decries those remarks as typical of the attitudes that prompt women to relocate to the cities in the first place, he applauds the basic philosophy. Faced with gender disparities on the scale of Nar Nar Goon, or Glenden in Queensland, where each single woman has 23 men competing for her affections, Australians need to move house, he believes.
That applies particularly to urban women who despair of meeting a soulmate. "There are man dams, little isolated reservoirs of men in suburbs across Australia, where, for some odd reason, there are more single men than single women, and you find a lot of them in rural communities," Mr Salt said. "If you find yourself in the wrong town, why not relocate to the right town, where you are in the market?"
While previous generations searched for a partner at the Saturday night dance, nowadays people resort to speed dating and internet dating. So why not date by geography? The book, which analyses statistics from the 2006 census, pinpoints the unattached man-woman ratio in every town, city and village in Australia, arranged alphabetically.
In Sydney, the decidedly nondescript neighbourhood of Auburn, in the sprawling western suburbs, is home to the largest population of single men. Of them, Mr Salt believes that electricians offer the best prospects. In fact, he recommends that Sydney women cruise the aisles of Auburn hardware stores if they are seriously looking for love.
According to the latest statistics, there are nearly 100,000 more women than men in Australia, which has a population of 21 million, and the proportion of single people has risen from 20 to 25 per cent in the past decade.
The situation is not as quite as dire for women as it appears. Until 34, they outnumber men, who in their 20s and early 30s suffer what Mr Salt calls a "Sheila shortage". But after 34, the pendulum swings the other way, and by the age of 40, there are nine per cent more single women than men available. By 50, the imbalance is 17 per cent; by 80, it is 66 per cent.
Historically, things were different. Thirty years ago, single women were a rarer commodity in Australia, thanks to immigration policies that favoured men.
Obama counterattacks on ‘Swift Boat’-style ads!
Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign and its allies, mindful of the lessons of the Swift boat attacks of 2004, have begun an aggressive, multi-pronged attack on an advertisement running in swing states that seeks to link the Democratic presidential candidate to former domestic terrorist William Ayers.
With threats of legal action, boycotts and a response ad launched quietly to avoid publicity, the Obama campaign has put conservative donors and television stations on notice that 2008 will not be 2004, when Sen. John F. Kerry, the Democratic nominee, waited weeks to respond to attacks on his Vietnam War record and ultimately did so ineffectively. Christian Pinkston, a spokesman for the American Issues Project, which is airing the anti-Obama ad, called the response intimidation and harassment.
With threats of legal action, boycotts and a response ad launched quietly to avoid publicity, the Obama campaign has put conservative donors and television stations on notice that 2008 will not be 2004, when Sen. John F. Kerry, the Democratic nominee, waited weeks to respond to attacks on his Vietnam War record and ultimately did so ineffectively. Christian Pinkston, a spokesman for the American Issues Project, which is airing the anti-Obama ad, called the response intimidation and harassment.
No Bounce for Obama in Post-Biden Tracking!
PRINCETON, NJ -- It's official: Barack Obama has received no bounce in voter support out of his selection of Sen. Joe Biden to be his vice presidential running mate.
Gallup Poll Daily tracking from Aug. 23-25, the first three-day period falling entirely after Obama's Saturday morning vice presidential announcement, shows 46% of national registered voters backing John McCain and 44% supporting Obama, not appreciably different from the previous week's standing for both candidates. This is the first time since Obama clinched the nomination in early June, though, that McCain has held any kind of advantage over Obama in Gallup Poll Daily tracking.
The race for president has been virtually tied since mid-August. In this period, Obama's support from national registered voters has consistently ranged from 44% to 46%. The 46% currently supporting McCain is technically his best showing since late May/early June, but is not a statistically significant improvement over his recent range from 43% to 45%. (To view the complete trend since March 7, 2008, click here.)
An analysis of historical election poll trends by Gallup Poll Managing Editor Jeff Jones shows that recent presidential campaigns have enjoyed a small (though short-lived) bounce from the running mate announcement. This includes a four percentage point bounce for John Kerry in 2004 after selecting John Edwards, a 5-point bounce for Al Gore in 2000 with his announcement of Joe Lieberman, and a 3-point bounce for George W. Bush in 2000 upon choosing Dick Cheney. Bob Dole received an extraordinary 9-point bounce in 1996 after bringing Jack Kemp onto his ticket.
All of these bounces occurred before the respective party's convention began, and in most cases the candidates received an additional boost in the polls upon completion of the convention. Thus, any increase in Obama's support in the coming days would seem to be more the result of the star-studded and well publicized Democratic national convention than the apparently lackluster Biden selection.
The official Gallup records will show that support for Obama declined by two percentage points in Gallup Poll Daily tracking (from 46% to 44%) conducted immediately before and after the Aug. 23 Biden announcement. (Because the announcement was made at 3 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23, all Gallup interviewing conducted that day can be considered post announcement.)
Today's Gallup Poll Daily tracking result includes interviewing on the first night of the Democratic National Convention (Aug. 25). However, much of this interviewing, particularly in the East and Midwest, was conducted before the prime time convention speeches by Sen. Ted Kennedy and Michelle Obama. The Gallup Poll Daily tracking results reported tomorrow may start to indicate whether voters are impressed enough by what they are seeing at the convention to give Obama the bounce that typically occurs as a result of a party's convention. -- Lydia Saad
Gallup Poll Daily tracking from Aug. 23-25, the first three-day period falling entirely after Obama's Saturday morning vice presidential announcement, shows 46% of national registered voters backing John McCain and 44% supporting Obama, not appreciably different from the previous week's standing for both candidates. This is the first time since Obama clinched the nomination in early June, though, that McCain has held any kind of advantage over Obama in Gallup Poll Daily tracking.
The race for president has been virtually tied since mid-August. In this period, Obama's support from national registered voters has consistently ranged from 44% to 46%. The 46% currently supporting McCain is technically his best showing since late May/early June, but is not a statistically significant improvement over his recent range from 43% to 45%. (To view the complete trend since March 7, 2008, click here.)
An analysis of historical election poll trends by Gallup Poll Managing Editor Jeff Jones shows that recent presidential campaigns have enjoyed a small (though short-lived) bounce from the running mate announcement. This includes a four percentage point bounce for John Kerry in 2004 after selecting John Edwards, a 5-point bounce for Al Gore in 2000 with his announcement of Joe Lieberman, and a 3-point bounce for George W. Bush in 2000 upon choosing Dick Cheney. Bob Dole received an extraordinary 9-point bounce in 1996 after bringing Jack Kemp onto his ticket.
All of these bounces occurred before the respective party's convention began, and in most cases the candidates received an additional boost in the polls upon completion of the convention. Thus, any increase in Obama's support in the coming days would seem to be more the result of the star-studded and well publicized Democratic national convention than the apparently lackluster Biden selection.
The official Gallup records will show that support for Obama declined by two percentage points in Gallup Poll Daily tracking (from 46% to 44%) conducted immediately before and after the Aug. 23 Biden announcement. (Because the announcement was made at 3 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23, all Gallup interviewing conducted that day can be considered post announcement.)
Today's Gallup Poll Daily tracking result includes interviewing on the first night of the Democratic National Convention (Aug. 25). However, much of this interviewing, particularly in the East and Midwest, was conducted before the prime time convention speeches by Sen. Ted Kennedy and Michelle Obama. The Gallup Poll Daily tracking results reported tomorrow may start to indicate whether voters are impressed enough by what they are seeing at the convention to give Obama the bounce that typically occurs as a result of a party's convention. -- Lydia Saad
The top 10 essential places to have sex ！
Grab your love life by the collar and get out of the bedroom; there's a whole world of cheap thrills and naughty sex out there. So ditch the duvet and work your way through these 10 essential places to have sex before you die.
1. In the Car
The bigger the vehicle the more scope there is for sexual adventure, but if you don't drive a Bentley have no fear. You'd be surprised at how well you can get down in the most cramped spaces. Set the satellite navigation for the local lovers lane or secluded parking lot and start steaming up those windows.
2. In the Pool
The water rushes around your genitals making both of you feel different and more exciting. The buoyancy allows great thrusting with minimum effort, and orgasm is reached with ease as the water relaxes and soothes. You can take it slow or reenact one of the steamy scenes in Showgirls. Beware as water may kill the natural lube and make entry a little difficult, but ultimately worth the effort. Aim for a hotel pool after dark rather than the local rec center unless you want a criminal record for your efforts.
3. The Cinema
It's what art films were made for, so go really late to a sexy film and choose a secluded spot. Knowing that no one can see you back there invites naughtiness. Thing is, can you cope with the shame of being caught in the beam of a torch wielded by an awkward, acne-ridden teenager suffering from a bad case of girlfriend envy?
4. Back of a Cab
Why wait until you get home? You managed to haul your drunken asses into a cab. Slip the driver a crisp note and tell him to take the scenic route as you make full use of the spacious back seat. So long as you can handle the cabbie getting his kicks as you get yours, fun for all parties ensues.
5. On a Train
Watch Risky Business for some foreplay inspiration then book two tickets on the A train to O. Find a secluded train, wait for the carriage to empty then get frisky to the swaying motion. Booking a night in a sleeper car is the less risky option for fulfilling this particular fantasy, but in essence you're still doing it aboard.
6. In the Woods
Show your appreciation for the beautiful countryside around you and get your kicks al fresco. Bend your girlfriend over a stump for earthy pleasures and let your mating call resonate through the trees. Just watch out for stinging nettles, Army reservists and rambling church groups, all instant passion killers.
7. In a Nightclub
For those times when you've met a horny new lover and all that bumping and grinding has left you both a hot mess, the average nightclub has a number of options for near-public sex. The washrooms, provided you can both sneak into one of the booths, are prime spots for a tempting splash of oral sex before going home to really explore each other's bodies. If you find a booth in a dark corner, a long skirt and an open fly can disguise all kinds of mischief.
8. On a Boat
Provided you've got your sea legs, the motion in the ocean is a chilled-out aphrodisiac. A small vessel is preferable to the cross-channel ferry (the bunks are too narrow). Slowly rocking into the sunset and diving off the side to cool off afterwards: pure bliss.
9. A Mile High
Defying the laws of physics to get two people in an airline lavatory truly marks you out as a sexual pro. Positioning is limited but rear entry is possible and promises a high chance of success. Virgin Atlantic has the most spacious toilets and even used to offer a bed for transatlantic sky-high action, but other airlines are not so sympathetic to passion. Make sure to give that proud smile as you walk back to your seat.
10. On the Beach
The crashing of waves, stars twinkling above and hot blood coursing through your veins -- what a potion for romance. So drop down and get it on as you sink into the sand. Take a blanket for maximum comfort, and be prepared to be scratching sand out of every crevice for the next few nights.
1. In the Car
The bigger the vehicle the more scope there is for sexual adventure, but if you don't drive a Bentley have no fear. You'd be surprised at how well you can get down in the most cramped spaces. Set the satellite navigation for the local lovers lane or secluded parking lot and start steaming up those windows.
2. In the Pool
The water rushes around your genitals making both of you feel different and more exciting. The buoyancy allows great thrusting with minimum effort, and orgasm is reached with ease as the water relaxes and soothes. You can take it slow or reenact one of the steamy scenes in Showgirls. Beware as water may kill the natural lube and make entry a little difficult, but ultimately worth the effort. Aim for a hotel pool after dark rather than the local rec center unless you want a criminal record for your efforts.
3. The Cinema
It's what art films were made for, so go really late to a sexy film and choose a secluded spot. Knowing that no one can see you back there invites naughtiness. Thing is, can you cope with the shame of being caught in the beam of a torch wielded by an awkward, acne-ridden teenager suffering from a bad case of girlfriend envy?
4. Back of a Cab
Why wait until you get home? You managed to haul your drunken asses into a cab. Slip the driver a crisp note and tell him to take the scenic route as you make full use of the spacious back seat. So long as you can handle the cabbie getting his kicks as you get yours, fun for all parties ensues.
5. On a Train
Watch Risky Business for some foreplay inspiration then book two tickets on the A train to O. Find a secluded train, wait for the carriage to empty then get frisky to the swaying motion. Booking a night in a sleeper car is the less risky option for fulfilling this particular fantasy, but in essence you're still doing it aboard.
6. In the Woods
Show your appreciation for the beautiful countryside around you and get your kicks al fresco. Bend your girlfriend over a stump for earthy pleasures and let your mating call resonate through the trees. Just watch out for stinging nettles, Army reservists and rambling church groups, all instant passion killers.
7. In a Nightclub
For those times when you've met a horny new lover and all that bumping and grinding has left you both a hot mess, the average nightclub has a number of options for near-public sex. The washrooms, provided you can both sneak into one of the booths, are prime spots for a tempting splash of oral sex before going home to really explore each other's bodies. If you find a booth in a dark corner, a long skirt and an open fly can disguise all kinds of mischief.
8. On a Boat
Provided you've got your sea legs, the motion in the ocean is a chilled-out aphrodisiac. A small vessel is preferable to the cross-channel ferry (the bunks are too narrow). Slowly rocking into the sunset and diving off the side to cool off afterwards: pure bliss.
9. A Mile High
Defying the laws of physics to get two people in an airline lavatory truly marks you out as a sexual pro. Positioning is limited but rear entry is possible and promises a high chance of success. Virgin Atlantic has the most spacious toilets and even used to offer a bed for transatlantic sky-high action, but other airlines are not so sympathetic to passion. Make sure to give that proud smile as you walk back to your seat.
10. On the Beach
The crashing of waves, stars twinkling above and hot blood coursing through your veins -- what a potion for romance. So drop down and get it on as you sink into the sand. Take a blanket for maximum comfort, and be prepared to be scratching sand out of every crevice for the next few nights.
Oh My God! Bigfoot in USA (Pics)
(CNN) -- A policeman and a former corrections officer say that on Friday they will unveil evidence of what they claim is their biggest find ever: the body of Bigfoot.
From left, Matthew Whitton, Tom Biscardi and Rick Dyer next to the frozen creature.
2 of 2 Matthew Whitton and Rick Dyer, a pair of Bigfoot-hunting hobbyists from north Georgia, say they found the creature's body in a wooded area and spotted several similar creatures that were still alive.
The carcass of the furry half-man, half-ape is 7 feet, 7 inches tall and weighs more than 500 pounds, they say. However, the two are not disclosing the exact location of their discovery to protect the remaining creatures.
This's CNN News, I see, Georgia ------------------------ Don't Cry!
This's CNN News, I see, Georgia ------------------------ Don't Cry!
" TBILISI, Georgia (CNN) -- The presidents of Georgia and Russia have agreed to a six-point plan to calm the conflict over Georgia's separatist territories, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said late Tuesday.
Nicolas Sarkozy, left, and Dmitry Medvedev outline the deal and the problems ahead.
The plan "cannot resolve the larger problems and issues," Sarkozy said. We need to work on those. But, obviously, it does underline and respect and guarantee Georgia's territorial integrity."
The agreement calls for an immediate cease-fire with Russian and Georgian forces withdrawing to the positions they held on August 6, before the outbreak of hostilities. It also allows displaced civilians to return home safely and opens Georgia to humanitarian aid workers.
The conflict centers on whether South Ossetia, where hostilities started last week, and Abkhazia will remain in the Georgian republic.
Speaking at a news conference in Tbilisi with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, Sarkozy said the agreement was "hammered out with the president of Russia [Dmitry Medvedev] and also the prime minister, Vladimir Putin... More"
This's CNN News, I see, Georgia ------------------------ Don't Cry!
Link CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/08/12/georgia.russia.war/index.html?eref=edition
" TBILISI, Georgia (CNN) -- The presidents of Georgia and Russia have agreed to a six-point plan to calm the conflict over Georgia's separatist territories, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said late Tuesday.
Nicolas Sarkozy, left, and Dmitry Medvedev outline the deal and the problems ahead.
The plan "cannot resolve the larger problems and issues," Sarkozy said. We need to work on those. But, obviously, it does underline and respect and guarantee Georgia's territorial integrity."
The agreement calls for an immediate cease-fire with Russian and Georgian forces withdrawing to the positions they held on August 6, before the outbreak of hostilities. It also allows displaced civilians to return home safely and opens Georgia to humanitarian aid workers.
The conflict centers on whether South Ossetia, where hostilities started last week, and Abkhazia will remain in the Georgian republic.
Speaking at a news conference in Tbilisi with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, Sarkozy said the agreement was "hammered out with the president of Russia [Dmitry Medvedev] and also the prime minister, Vladimir Putin... More"
This's CNN News, I see, Georgia ------------------------ Don't Cry!
Link CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/08/12/georgia.russia.war/index.html?eref=edition
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