The World News--contributions welcome, the story behind the story Options

[Dhyana]

Petition to pardon Alan Turing:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-16061279

[Homer]

Goodbye, Kim.

View at Youtube

[Dhyana]

About hapless toads and clever corvids:

When toads explode

[Kalisurfer]

About hapless toads and clever corvids:

When toads explode

You have to love the Corvids, so much more smarter than one could ever suspect, and the exploding toads, wow!

[babu]

About hapless toads and clever corvids:

When toads explode

You have to love the Corvids, so much more smarter than one could ever suspect, and the exploding toads, wow!

Just see what happens when you get too puffed up. "I am the strength of the strung and the intelligence of the corvids." geeter

[ePiTau]

the toads shall inherit the earth
--psalter

[Brainiac]

Haha, amazing!

Netherlands to close prisons for lack of criminals

The Dutch justice ministry has announced it will close eight prisons and cut 1,200 jobs in the prison system. A decline in crime has left many cells empty.

During the 1990s the Netherlands faced a shortage of prison cells, but a decline in crime has since led to overcapacity in the prison system. The country now has capacity for 14,000 prisoners but only 12,000 detainees.

Deputy justice minister Nebahat Albayrak announced on Tuesday that eight prisons will be closed, resulting in the loss of 1,200 jobs. Natural redundancy and other measures should prevent any forced lay-offs, the minister said.

The overcapacity is a result of the declining crime rate, which the ministry's research department expects to continue for some time.

Belgian prisoners

Some reprieve might come from a deal with Belgium, which is facing overpopulation in its prisons. The two countries are working out an agreement to house Belgian prisoners in Dutch prisons. Some five-hundred Belgian prisoners could be transferred to the Tilburg prison by 2010.

The Netherlands would get 30 million euros in the deal, and it will allow the closing of the prisons in Rotterdam and Veenhuizen to be postponed until 2012.

[Brainiac]

Government changes Free School model funding agreement to ban creationist schools

The British Humanist Association (BHA) has welcomed a new revision of the model funding agreement for Free Schools by the Government in order to preclude ‘the teaching, as an evidence-based view or theory, of any view or theory that is contrary to established scientific and/or historical evidence and explanations.’ This highly significant change has been made in order to ban creationism from being taught in Free Schools, and prevent creationist groups from opening schools. The change follows the BHA coordinating the ‘Teach evolution, not creationism!’ campaign, which called for this precise change.

In September, the BHA came together with thirty leading scientists and science educators including Sir David Attenborough, Professor Richard Dawkins and Professor Michael Reiss, and five national organisations to launch ‘Teach evolution, not creationism!’, which called on the government to introduce statutory guidance against the teaching of creationism and garnered significant press coverage. The BHA also launched a government e-petition making the same call, which has now garnered over 20,000 signatures.

In subsequent written correspondence with civil servants, the BHA stated that ‘Our concern is for the government to make absolutely clear that there is no chance it will ever accept [creationist Free School] bids, or allow any state-funded school to teach creationism as science, anywhere in the curriculum, and this is only possible through a change in the law… we would support any adjustment to the model funding agreement to add a statement [to this effect]… Could we request that the next time the [Free School] model funding agreement is reviewed, our desire for this point’s inclusion is considered?’

BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson commented, ‘We congratulate the government for taking this significant step to prevent creationist Free Schools. There is still further work to be done to ensure that all schools, not just Free Schools, are prevented from teaching creationism, to include evolution in the primary National Curriculum, and to ensure evolution’s teaching in all schools. We look forward to working with the government and all those who care about rational and evidence based education to achieve these additional changes.’

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I wonder how this will impact the current and planned ISKCON schools in the UK? Also others such as the Swaminarayan school. As far as I know, the ISKCON schools are primary schools so there won't be much science teaching (although secondary ("high") schools are planned). The Swaminarayan school is both a primary and secondary school though.

[Gerard]

In Holland we don't follow the world news anymore at the moment; there is a far more important issue at hand, the biggest party we have here:


Wikipedia



Dutch hopes grow for 125-mile speedskating race

MIKE CORDER, Associated Press
Monday, February 6, 2012



THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Sports events across Europe are falling victim to the continent's deep freeze, but the Dutch are ecstatic, hoping that the revered "Eleven Cities" speedskating race can be staged later this month for the first time in 15 years.

The race, held along a 125-mile (200-kilometer) network of canals connecting 11 towns and cities in northern Friesland province, would cause a national frenzy, drawing thousands of participants and more than a million spectators. It was last held in 1997.

Wiebe Wieling, chairman of the Frisian Eleven Cities Association, told a nationally televised news conference on Monday that organizers hope to hold the event, known by its Dutch name "Elfstedentocht," but added: "The weather will determine what happens next."

He said ice is still too thin along southern parts of the route over which some 16,000 participants will skate if the race goes ahead.

But the national weather service forecasts freezing temperatures at least through Friday, fueling hopes.

"We want nothing more than to organize the 'Elfstedentocht,'" Wieling told reporters. "We have been waiting 15 years and we're doing all we can."

As nations across Eastern Europe have been gripped by cold weather and heavy snow for more than a week, the Netherlands has had temperatures of -14 Fahrenheit (-10 Celsius) or lower and little snow.

The grueling race is one of the most deeply cherished Dutch traditions. Though people have skated along frozen Friesian canals for centuries in cold winters, the race — first officially organized in 1909 — has only been staged 15 times.

It is open only to members of the Frisian Eleven Cities Association, which holds a draw each year to establish who is allowed to take part. The invitation-only nature and its rarity only adds to the allure.

Winners become overnight celebrities in this country where speedskating is one of the most popular winter sports and the thousands of others who finish forever cherish the small enameled cross they are awarded. Participants are given a card at the start that they have to get stamped at stations along the route to prove they have covered the entire course.

The last man to win the race, farmer Henk Angenent, completed the 1997 event in six hours, 49 minutes. The winner of the 1963 race — which was held in extremely cold and windy conditions — took just under 11 hours.

Some skaters have started training just in case the event gets the go-ahead, including Dutch Olympic speedskating champion Mark Tuitert, who is used to skating far shorter races on immaculately groomed indoor ice.

"Busy sharpening skates, rummaging through layers of clothes, training soon for the elfstedentocht. I'VE GOT THE FEVER," the 1,500-meter Vancouver Games champion tweeted.

Regional association managers met late Sunday to take stock of the route — the first such meeting since 1997. They will meet again Wednesday evening to discuss the conditions.

The news in the north was good: "I have rarely seen such beautiful ice," said association "ice master" Jan Oostenbrug.

But in the southwest, where snow that fell Friday formed a blanket that slowed ice growth, the ice is still too weak.

One official sank through the frozen surface of a lake that forms part of the route Sunday, Oostenbrug said.

It was "almost like frosting — when you step on it you sink through the top. You can't skate on that," said Wieling.

Volunteers took to the ice Monday along parts of the route and used shovels to scrape the layer of snow off the ice, in an attempt to increase the chances of the race going ahead.

[Kalisurfer]

In Holland we don't follow the world news anymore at the moment; there is a far more important issue at hand, the biggest party we have here:

[size=4]Dutch hopes grow for 125-mile speedskating race

Wikipedia

I'll be rooting for you Gerard, for they did not call you crazy legs at the academy for nothing, but please, leave the jet pack at home this time!

[babu]

I actually know quite a bit about Dutch culture having watched the movie "Hans Christian Anderson" when I was 8 years old so I am well acquainted with this winter skating on the frozen canals. I also sometimes eat the ice cream "Fruzen Gladje." Gerard, just wondering if when you are hanging out with your friends if you all do "Thumbelina" reenactments?

[Gerard]

I actually know quite a bit about Dutch culture having watched the movie "Hans Christian Anderson" when I was 8 years old so I am well acquainted with this winter skating on the frozen canals. I also sometimes eat the ice cream "Fruzen Gladje." Gerard, just wondering if when you are hanging out with your friends if you all do "Thumbelina" reenactments?

Anderson is Danish, and I think Fruzen Gladje is fake Swedish but you were close, same continent. Unfortunately no, we never do reenactments of the (Danish) "Thumbelina". But thanks for asking!

Perhaps this what you thought of with the winter skating on canals?




(that is an American book)

But there is skating on the Amsterdam canals now, although is more like standing around than skating.

[Gerard]

I'll be rooting for you Gerard, for they did not call you crazy legs at the academy for nothing, but please, leave the jet pack at home this time!

Thanks Kali.
Temperatures are rising! The atmosphere is getting feverish and the ice growth last night was only half an inch! If it goes on, it will have to be on Sunday, probably the only chance. Keep rooting, we need it, we do want to show the world what is really important in life.

And yes, I will be on my old skates again.

[attachment=11179:ice_skates.jpg]

[babu]

I actually know quite a bit about Dutch culture having watched the movie "Hans Christian Anderson" when I was 8 years old so I am well acquainted with this winter skating on the frozen canals. I also sometimes eat the ice cream "Fruzen Gladje." Gerard, just wondering if when you are hanging out with your friends if you all do "Thumbelina" reenactments?

Anderson is Danish, and I think Fruzen Gladje is fake Swedish but you were close, same continent. Unfortunately no, we never do reenactments of the (Danish) "Thumbelina". But thanks for asking!

Perhaps this what you thought of with the winter skating on canals?




(that is an American book)

But there is skating on the Amsterdam canals now, although is more like standing around than skating.

Gerard, I think you are right, I can't keep my Hans straight.

[babu]

..

Totally agree.

[babu]

So shy does Kalisurfer reenact Thumbelina pastimes, he's Polish?

[babu]

So shy does Kalisurfer reenact Thumbelina pastimes, he's Polish?

"Kali reenacts Thumbelina pastimes cuz he's Polish." meta

[Kalisurfer]

So shy does Kalisurfer reenact Thumbelina pastimes, he's Polish?

"Kali reenacts Thumbelina pastimes cuz he's Polish." meta

"Kali does react to reenacting Thumbelina pastimes with his cuz who is also Polish but never converted from Islam to Catholicism due to the hated Russian Talmud scholar who could not understand the fuss about Prabhupada secretly being a KBG agent that came to the United States to pacify the revolutionary hippies who were intent on political chaos but instead chose to become pacified vegetarians who liked to consider themselves kshatriyas as long as they never had to actually fight anyone unless they eventually became senile old hippies who started forums while eating Jewish knishes as their naked gross feet were exposed and twitching under the flickering fluorescent lights by the TV that blared the World News as only the BBC could broadcast it while the writer chose to not use any punctuation in his one long run-on sentence that will most likely be used as ammunition by this cyber stalker to make a point that is sharp and cuts like a knife spreading Dutch chocolate on a Danish that for some reason still has remnants of a kosher pickle imported from Zionist Israel sitting atop a mound of Kraft American Cheese that is totally the best in the world if you do it the right way and not Norway all the way to the Finnish for we all know that God really does bless America when it remembers him as Krishna due to all the old devotees who sang on street corners pretending they were 15th century Bengalis until they became repercussionists writing quotes in the thread titled Editing a post in the The Word New - Contirbutions Welcome as indeed I did and thank you too for staying with me till the very end!" — the Late Kalisurfer

[Gerard]

I always thought the Hare Krishnas were actually CIA agents, or red monkeys, one of the two, although the one does not exclude the other, and, O Late Kalisurfer (or should that be Latte Kalisurfer? I always figured you for a latte type of person, we even had a thread on latte art) please bear in mind that one cannot spread Dutch chocolate on a Danish; it's too hard, it won't spread, can't be done, sorry, I've tried.

[Kalisurfer]

I'll be rooting for you Gerard, for they did not call you crazy legs at the academy for nothing, but please, leave the jet pack at home this time!

Thanks Kali.
Temperatures are rising! The atmosphere is getting feverish and the ice growth last night was only half an inch! If it goes on, it will have to be on Sunday, probably the only chance. Keep rooting, we need it, we do want to show the world what is really important in life.

And yes, I will be on my old skates again.

[attachment=11179:ice_skates.jpg]

Temperatures rising, no, not now, ... what to do? I know, I'll gather some cold hearted people that I have met in my lifetime and send them immediately to stand on all the street and canal corners in Holland that are in need of being kept frozen. Not sure what happened to your skates, but as I remember it, you made them yourself from the leftovers we found in back of a Polish Deli in Hamtramck, Michigan and constructed that amazing pair of ice skates that took you across the Great Lakes in the wisp of a blur, where to this day, the Wisconsin fishing town of Kenosha changed it's name to "Crazy Legs" in honor of your feat by feet upon the treacherous icy conditions of Lake Superior. May the races begin on time, and may father and mother winter keep your waterways frozen.