I’m trying a little experiment here.We get so many news tips nowadays that we are unable to use more than 5% of them. A lot of the stories I leave out are interesting and important, but I don’t have time to write posts about them.
However, I do have time to clip the URL, the headline, and a snip from each and paste it into a text document. This morning I wrote a script that reads the text document and makes it into a post, in a format that will at least be readable and have links to the sources.
It’s not the most esthetically appealing way to display the information, but it does keep the tips from going to waste. I’ll include anything I judge to be even moderately significant. These are in no particular order.
Let me know if you don’t think this is a good use of this space.
The stories below are from yesterday’s batch; late tonight I’ll attempt to do the same with today’s material.
Thanks to Insubria, C. Cantoni, Steen, TB, and all the other tipsters who sent these in.
MIDEAST: OLMERT CABINET RE-EXAMINES ISRAEL-HEZBOLLAH ACCORD
(ANSAmed) — TEL AVIV, JULY 8 — The government of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will be summoned again next week to discuss the prisoner swap agreement with the Lebanese Hezbollah mediated by Germany. The principle agreement has already been signed, but according to today¿s media, Israel is not satisfied with the report of Hezbollah on the destiny of Ron Arad, the Phantom pilot who was reported missing after falling in the area of Sidon in 1986. According to media speculations, Hezbollah write they have investigated the accident in detail and believe that Arad died in Lebanon many years ago. They claim they still do not know where he was buried. Israel insists on receiving more information such as the list of people questioned by Hezbollah in the process of writing the report. Meanwhile the exhumation of the bodies of 190 Hezbollah militants continues in a cemetery in the Galilee. In the middle of next week, if no other obstacles appear, the remains will be returned to Lebanon together with five prisoners: Druse Samir Kuntar and four Shiites. In exchange, Israel will receive two soldiers kidnapped by Hezbollah two years ago, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser. Hezbollah has so far refused to give any details on their destiny, but Israel presumes they are dead. (ANSAmed).
2008-07-08 11:08
This country to so pro-Muslim it is giving succour to the extremists who would destroy us
by Melanie Phillips
Three years after the London Tube and bus bombings, it is alarming beyond measure to record that Britain is even now sleepwalking into Islamisation. Some people will think this is mere hyperbole. However, that’s the problem. Britain still doesn’t grasp that it is facing a pincer attack from both terrorism and cultural infiltration and usurpation.
Italy: New sites canvassed for Milan’s crowded mosque
Milan, 7 July (AKI) — Uncertainly surrounding the future of one of Italy’s main mosques continued on Tuesday as the northern region of Lombardy canvassed new sites for its relocation.
The Lombardy Region, which surrounds the city of Milan, produced a list of around 50 possible new locations for a larger mosque in the city and surrounding areas.
Middle East: Investment bank expands operations in region
Riyadh, 8 July (AKI) — One of the world’s largest investment banks, UBS, will expand its operations in the Middle East by opening a new office in Saudi Arabia and applying for a licence to operate in Qatar.
The bank was granted ‘conditional authorisation’ by the Saudi Capital Market Authority, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.
France to extradite ex-terrorist. Sarkozy urges Berlusconi to have Petrella pardoned
- - - - - - - - -
(ANSA) — Tokyo, July 8 — French President Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed on Tuesday that France will extradite to Italy a former member of the Red Brigades (BR) terrorist group who was arrested in a Paris suburb last August.
Marina Petrella, 54, was convicted by an Italian court in 1992 of the 1981 murder of a police officer and was wanted for other crimes, including kidnapping and armed robbery.
Spain: Funding for new Afghan unit to fight Taliban
Madrid, 8 July (AKI) — Spain is to spend 22 million euros in the next two years for the creation of an Afghan battalion to fight the Taliban.
Firsts in sectarian conflict
Nader Shukry
An illicit affair between a 17-year-old Coptic man and an 18-year-old Muslim married woman from the town of Tamiya in Fayoum resulted in Muslim demonstrations and the torching of Copts’ property last week. A Coptic-owned supermarket, timber store, and kiosk were torched, an attempt was made to set a gas station aflame but the fire was quickly put out. Two Coptic-owned cars were damaged, and two young men attacked.
SPAIN: ‘NO’ TO RELIGIOUS STATE FUNERALS ABOLITION, ZAPATERO
(ANSAmed) — MADRID, JULY 8 — Spanish Socialist Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is committed to turn into law the progressive principles approved by the 37th Socialist congress on secularity, immigration and abortion, but stopped the Socialist proposal to abolish the Catholic rite in state funerals. The socialist Prime Minister yesterday opposed a proposal ruled polemical, defending “the right of the families” of the deceased to taking last leave of their bodies “with the solemnity conferred by the religious acts” to the state funerals, El Pais wrote today on its front page. Zapatero, however, announced that he will prepare the necessary acts for the removal of the religious symbols from schools and public offices. The first initiative which will be turned into a law is that related to the granting of voting rights to immigrants. However, a law that will renew the twenty-year legislation on abortions will be prepared by 2010, introducing law terms and meanwhile the Socialist government will approve a decree to protect the privacy and identity of the women who undergo voluntary pregnancy termination. (ANSAmed).
IMMIGRATION: LAMPEDUSA RECEPTION CENTRE RISKS COLLAPSE
(ANSAmed) — LAMPEDUSA (AGRIGENTO), JULY 8 — After the arrivals in the past hours of three boats carrying illegal immigrants the first reception centre in Lampedusa is again on the brink of collapse. The facility is about to admit the last 318 immigrants rescued this morning by the coast guard. This brings to over 1,200 the number of immigrants in the centre, almost double its maximum capacity. A plan for their transfer is about to be launched as on June 28, 2008 when, in one day alone, some 900 illegal immigrants were transported by air to other reception centres throughout Italy. Following the latest arrivals the number of immigrants in the reception centre has reached 1,256. No transfers are planned for today despite the overcrowding of the structure. The prefecture of Agrigento has prepared a plan which envisages for tomorrow the transfer of at least 100 immigrants on the ferry to Porto Empedocle. Again tomorrow, at least three flights will take off for other reception centres in Italy. Some 600 illegal immigrants arrived on the island today over a period of a few hours, in three groups. The first one included 290 non-EU citizens, who were sighted by an Atlantic airplane, while they were 50 miles off the coast, crowded in a boat. They were rescued by the Vega della Marina ship, and then were escorted at the port by a patrol boat of the Finance Guard. A few hours later another wooden boat with 318 illegal immigrants aboard, including many women and children, was intercepted and rescued some 20 miles south-east of the island by two units of the Coast Guard. A total five immigrants in poor health, including two women and two children, were transported on a quick patrol boat; the others were transferred to the ship Saetta headed to the port. Some 47 illegal immigrants, including nine women, who were approaching Lampedusa aboard a boat, were rescued some 40 miles south of the island by patrol boat Vega della Marina Militare, the same boat which in the night had rescued 290 immigrants intercepted by the Atlantic airplane. Finally, another boat carrying other 26 immigrants landed in the island this afternoon. The immigrants were rescued by the Coast Guards. (ANSAmed).
Netherlands Completes Lisbon Treaty Ratification
THE HAGUE, 09/07/08 — Dutch approval of the Treaty of Lisbon has become a fact. After the Lower House, the Upper House also voted for the treaty yesterday.
Only the Socialist Party (SP), small Christian party SGP and the Party for the Animals (PvdD) refused to lend their approval. The Party for Freedom (PVV) was also against it, but it is not represented in the Upper House.
Italy: Iranian student leader to thank Rome mayor
Rome, 8 July (AKI) — Ali Afshari, one of Iran’s prominent student leaders, will arrive in Rome on Wednesday to thank Rome’s Mayor, Gianni Alemanno, for his support for jailed student activists.
He will also meet members of the media at a press conference organised by Giuseppe Marra Communications at its Rome headquarters and moderated by deputy-director of Adnkronos International, Ahmad Rafat.
TURKEY: NO TO MOSQUE, ST SOPHIA TO REMAIN MUSEUM
(ANSAmed) — ROME, JULY 8 — St Sophia of Istanbul, a former Christian basilica converted in a mosque in 1453 and transformed into a museum by Ataturk in 1934, will remain a museum open to all visitors, despite the proposal to be made mosque again.
Swiss nationalist force referendum on minaret ban
GENEVA (AP) — Swiss nationalists are forcing a popular vote on whether to ban the construction of Muslim minarets — a proposal that, if approved, could clash with Switzerland’s constitutionally protected right to freedom of religion.
19 comments:
GENEVA (AP) — Swiss nationalists are forcing a popular vote on whether to ban the construction of Muslim minarets — a proposal that, if approved, could clash with Switzerland’s constitutionally protected right to freedom of religion.
This is great. Revolutionary.
It's good to have stories and news like these. But isn't it possible to have a special section of the blog for them?
Baron,
I like what you have done. It gives me a chance to scan the stories and pick ones I want to read. It should give a wider distribution of the article, for instance I will take some of them I like and send them on to my E mail list.
Regards
The Unbeliever
Fitzgerald has an interesting piece over at JihadWatch explaining several reasons (like, the Swiss have clocks) why Muslims don't actually need the minarets.
Except as a sign of domination over the area.
Bingo!
Hmmmm ... you will, of course, be putting Charles out of business.
But you know that don't you.
Personally I like this way of spreading news, provided you can keep up your usual blogging - and its quality.
A thread devoted to a daily round-up of links is very useful.
About the upcoming Swiss referendum:
Judging from reading Swiss news and opinions from Swiss people, I estimate that the proposal will be rejected 70% to 30%, sadly. But it's always good to keep pestering people about the danger of Islam, so that hopefully, one day, they will eventually get it.
It might be of interest to you, that in 2009 or 2010 there will probably be another referendum about repealing Switzerland's hate speech law (the required number of signatures to force a popular vote has not yet been reached). The Swiss had voted to muzzle themselves in a referendum in 1994, 55% to 45%, let's hope that in the meantime they have become smarter.
Here's a tidy little corker we can add to the list:
G8 summit: Gordon Brown has eight-course dinner before food crisis talks
Some money lines from the article:
[emphasis added]
The Prime Minister was served 24 different dishes during his first day at the summit – just hours after urging the world to reduce the "unnecessary demand" for food and calling on British families to cut back on their wasteful use of food.
The dinner consisted of 18 dishes in eight courses including caviar, smoked salmon, Kyoto beef and a "G8 fantasy dessert".
The banquet was accompanied by five different wines from around the world including champagne, a French Bourgogne and sake.
The dinner came just hours after a "working lunch" consisting of six courses including white asparagus and truffle soup, crab and a supreme of chicken.
On the flight to the summit, Mr Brown urged Britons to cut food waste as part of a global drive to help avert the food crisis.
Dominic Nutt, of Save the Children, said: "It is deeply hypocritical that they should be lavishing course after course on world leaders when there is a food crisis and millions cannot afford a decent meal to eat.
Mr Brown arrived at the G8 summit held on the holiday island of Hokkaido in northern Japan on Monday morning.
He arrived on a plane chartered from Texas, America, which had to fly empty for thousands of miles to pick up the Prime Minister and his entourage.
On the flight to the summit, the Prime Minister urged British people to cut food waste and "reduce unnecessary demand".
The Prime Minister's spokesman declined to comment on the menus.
Menu to follow!
I very much like the idea of your posting tips that we can click on. You do not have to add commentary to every news item... that would be impossible.
I welcome your new approach which lets us click and then comment. If a news item gains a lot of response from your readers then you could make a comment. Win/win!
(watching my spelling...) Babs
Any gluttons for punishment will enjoy the menu:
G8 summit: The eight-course menu
Eight courses (with translations by the Japanese Government)
[culinary notes added by Zenster]
Theme: Hokkaido, Blessings of the Earth and Sea
First course:
Amuse-bouche
Corn stuffed with caviar
Smoked Salmon and Sea Urchin "Pain Surprise style"
[Lox and “uni”, most likely in a “chaufroid” (hot-cold)presentation.]
Hot Onion Tart
[Unable to locate her name.]
Winter Lily Bulb and Summer Savory
[Garlic and onions are all members of the lily family. The "Winter Lily Bulb" was probably some sort of seasonal shallot with a PhD.]
Second course:
Folding Fan Modeled Tray decorated with Bamboo Grasses for Tanabata Festival
[Tanabata is a Japanese adaptation of a Chinese folkloric tradition that celebrates star-crossed lovers.]
Kelp-flavoured cold Kyoto Beef shabu-shabu, asparagus dressed with sesame cream
[“Kyoto beef” is probably an oblique reference to Japan’s famous Kobe beef, called “wagyu” in America. The kelp is most likely “kombu”, a seaweed rich in natural glutamates which increases the (fifth taste bud) sensation of “umami”, or rich “mouth-feel”. “Shabu-shabu is a traditional Japanese hot pot. The “sesame cream” is probably a gussied up tahini sauce.]
Diced fatty flesh of Tuna Fish, Avocado and Jellied Soy Sauce, and Japanese Herb "Shiso"
[“Toro” or “otoro” tuna belly (US$60.00 / pound ) in an avocado studded soy aspic with “shiso”, an edible nettle whose slightly mint-flavored leaf is used as a top note accent.]
Boiled clam, tomato, Japanese Herb "shiso" in jellied clear soup of clam
Water Shield and Pink Conger dressed with Vinegary Soy Sauce
[Water shield, Latin name: Brasenia schreberi, AKA water target or dollar pad, most likely used for its gelatinous undercoating. “Pink Conger” is probably a juvenile stage of a fresh water eel.]
Boiled Prawn and Jellied Tosazu-Vinegar
[Tosazu is a soy sauce dipping mixture laced with bonito (“katsuo”) and vinegar.]
Grilled Eel rolled around Burdock strip
[Burdock root is similar to carrot. When pickled for use in sushi it is called, “Yama Gobo”]
Sweet Potato
Fried and Seasoned Goby with Soy Sauce and Sugar
[Probably yellowfin goby, a prized variety of this common fish that is considered a delicacy in Japan.]
Third course:
Hairy Crab "Kegani" Bisque Style Soup
[Latin: Erimacrus isenbeckii, variously known as the “horsehair crab”, “kegani” or “hairy crab” it is a relative of the Chinese mitten crab.]
Fourth course:
Salt-Grilled Bighand Thornyhead with Vinegary Water Pepper Sauce
[Latin: Sebastolobus macrochir, a fish similar to red snapper known as “kichji rockfish” possessing large forward fins and a crest of dorsal barbs.]
Fifth course:
Poele of Milk Fed lamb from "Shiranuka" flavoured with aromatic herbs and mustard and roasted Lamb with "cepes" and Black Truffle with emulsion sauce of Lamb's stock and pine seed oil
[Poele is a braising technique also known as “butter roasting”. Shiranuka is a hill district on the Eastern side of Hokkaido. “Cèpes” (Latin: Boletus edulis) is the French term for the now well-known porcini mushroom.]
Sixth course:
Our special selection Cheese, lavender honey and caramelized nuts
Seventh course:
G8 Fantasy dessert
[You can safely bet it wasn’t pie and ice cream.]
Eighth course:
Coffee served with Candied Fruits and Vegetables
Wines:
Le Reve Grand Cru Brut/La Seule Gloire Champagne
[US$147.00 per bottle]
ISOJIMAN Junmai Daiginjo Nakadori (Sake)/Isojiman Shuzo Shizuoka[US$83.00 per bottle]
Corton Charlemagne 2005/Louis Latour Bourgogne
[US$149.00 per bottle]
Ridge California Monte Bello 1997
[US$125.00 per bottle]
Tokaji Essencia 1999 from Hungary
[US$475.00 per bottle 500 ml. w/ 2.9% alcohol]
One might think that Gordon Brown would know better than to talk with his mouth full of truffled milk fed spring lamb.
(Hat Tip: Wretchard at Belmont Club)
Baron,
Maybe you should add a roster of good articles on the left side of the web site, where the Pajama Media stuff was before...
Your articles would be the attraction anyhow...
Good idea, Baron.
The news never stops, like those who would oppress us.
Here's a good piece to add by Robert Spencer.
The Stealth Jihad Of Britain.
There are three possible problems with a sidebar feed.
1. If it's based on a news service, it would use an external script, and would thus slow down our load time. Maybe not as much as PJM ads, but some. We had a Breitbart headline feed for a while, but we git rid of it for that reason.
2. If it's based on a news service, it would also leave out a lot of what I'm using. The wire services miss a lot of what AKI, ANSAmed, etc. pick up. That's why those agencies are so useful.
Coming up in the queue for tonight is a brief synopsis in English by TB of an article that's in Danish. That would not be found on any wire service news feed that I know of.
3. If the sidebar section were to be the same items that I post here, I would have to manually reconstruct the template every night to do it -- not going to happen!
I'm afraid we're stuck with the current setup until I get rich and can afford to hire a web programmer to do the things which are outside of my skill set.
Baron,
I actually consider this solution better. Side bars are fancy things, that's why people want them. But I prefer to being able to browse the articles in proper wide text. And it also deserves to be part of the main feed.
This is a good feature, and I look froward to perusing it often.
Regarding minarets, it bears noting that on Dec. 12, 1997, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan added his own lines to a 1912 Turkish poem at a public gathering in Siirt, Eastern Anatolia:
"Mosques are our barracks,
domes our helmets,
minarets our bayonets,
believers our soldiers.
This holy army guards my religion."
The report in which Erdogan's poesy appeared may be seen at:
http://www.eurozine.com/pdf/2003-10-16-senyener-en.pdf
"Mosques are our barracks,
domes our helmets,
minarets our bayonets,
believers our soldiers.
This holy army guards my religion."
You are supposed to interpret this poem in a spiritual, metaphorical, symbolical way. Barracks, helmets, bayonets, soldiers, army are figures of speech related to "inner spiritual struggle".
Interesting info, Zenster. Don't our world leaders treat themselves well. I've never had an eight-course dinner in my entire life (though I honestly wouldn't be opposed to it at all...)
Baron, I like this new feature for news. I don't think it should be a sidebar thing, in my opinion. It's fine as a blog post like this.
Ja, Baron, eine sehr gute Idee hier
noch ein mal, bitte....
This is great, one stop shopping instead of having to go to LGF, Brussels Journal and Jihad Watch to catch everything.
In contrast with other commenters, I'm not unconditionally happy with this novelty. Following the news is worthwhile indeed, but one of the main attractions of GoV has always been the well selected and/or edited articles that form the basis for a lot of interesting debate. Following the news is a somewhat different activity.
And worthwhile indeed. EuropeNews is entirely dedicated to doing just this, and I personally believe more in specialized blogs for the various purpose than the one-stop approach that others favor.
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