BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - Half of European citizens speak a second language, according to a European Union survey released Friday. The poll, conducted in June across Europe, found that tiny Luxembourg had the highest percentage of bilingual citizens, with 99 percent of those questioned saying they could master a conversation in a second language. Hungary had the lowest number with 29 percent of its citizens able to speak another language. Britain was second last with 30 percent. The survey also found that almost eight out of 10 students - ages 15-24 - can have a normal conversation in at least one foreign language. In the United States, by contrast, 9 percent of Americans speak both their native language and another language fluently, according to a U.S. Senate resolution designating 2005 the ``Year of Foreign Language Study.''
The poll, conducted in June across Europe, found that tiny Luxembourg had the highest percentage of bilingual citizens, with 99 percent of those questioned saying they could master a conversation in a second language.
Hungary had the lowest number with 29 percent of its citizens able to speak another language. Britain was second last with 30 percent.
The survey also found that almost eight out of 10 students - ages 15-24 - can have a normal conversation in at least one foreign language.
In the United States, by contrast, 9 percent of Americans speak both their native language and another language fluently, according to a U.S. Senate resolution designating 2005 the ``Year of Foreign Language Study.''
War critics dismissed as 'urban intellectuals'. Most Britons want troops out, poll shows Tony Blair will signal this week that Labour should abandon "urban intellectuals" who deserted it over the Iraq war. As the party's conference begins in Brighton today he is determined to face down growing pressure for a withdrawal of British troops. He believes Labour will lose if it seeks to win back middle-class voters who protested against the war at the last election and can rely instead on its heartland to remain in power. Mr Blair's hardline stance comes as a poll released last night showed that a majority of Britons wanted UK troops to pull out. Senior military, diplomatic and intelligence figures added their voices to the protest last night. The Prime Minister's determination to ignore the issue was made clear yesterday when party managers stifled a proposed debate on Iraq.
Tony Blair will signal this week that Labour should abandon "urban intellectuals" who deserted it over the Iraq war. As the party's conference begins in Brighton today he is determined to face down growing pressure for a withdrawal of British troops.
He believes Labour will lose if it seeks to win back middle-class voters who protested against the war at the last election and can rely instead on its heartland to remain in power.
Mr Blair's hardline stance comes as a poll released last night showed that a majority of Britons wanted UK troops to pull out. Senior military, diplomatic and intelligence figures added their voices to the protest last night.
The Prime Minister's determination to ignore the issue was made clear yesterday when party managers stifled a proposed debate on Iraq.
Gordon Brown has vowed to continue Tony Blair's programme of reform if he becomes the next Labour leader. The chancellor said there was "no going back" as change was needed to ensure Britain could compete internationally. And writing in the Sunday Times on the day the Labour Party conference starts in Brighton, he said he was planning a "home-owning, share-owning democracy". The BBC's Norman Smith said his words would disappoint those who had hoped he would reverse Mr Blair's reform agenda. Some would also see echoes of the ethos of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, the BBC political correspondent added.
The chancellor said there was "no going back" as change was needed to ensure Britain could compete internationally.
And writing in the Sunday Times on the day the Labour Party conference starts in Brighton, he said he was planning a "home-owning, share-owning democracy".
The BBC's Norman Smith said his words would disappoint those who had hoped he would reverse Mr Blair's reform agenda.
Some would also see echoes of the ethos of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, the BBC political correspondent added.
British troops will start a major withdrawal from Iraq next May under detailed plans on military disengagement to be published next month, The Observer can reveal. Britain has already privately informed Japan - which also has troops in Iraq - of its plans to begin withdrawing from southern Iraq in May, a move that officials in Tokyo say would make it impossible for their own 550 soldiers to remain. The increasingly rapid pace of planning for British military disengagement has been revealed on the eve of the Labour Party conference, which will see renewed demands for a deadline for withdrawal. It is hoped that a clearer strategy on Iraq will quieten critics who say that the government will not be able to 'move on' until Blair quits. Yesterday, about 10,000 people demonstrated against the army's continued presence in the country. The document being drawn up by the British government and the US will be presented to the Iraqi parliament in October and will spark fresh controversy over how long British troops will stay in the country. Tony Blair hopes that, despite continuing and widespread violence in Iraq, the move will show that there is progress following the conflict of 2003.
Britain has already privately informed Japan - which also has troops in Iraq - of its plans to begin withdrawing from southern Iraq in May, a move that officials in Tokyo say would make it impossible for their own 550 soldiers to remain.
The increasingly rapid pace of planning for British military disengagement has been revealed on the eve of the Labour Party conference, which will see renewed demands for a deadline for withdrawal. It is hoped that a clearer strategy on Iraq will quieten critics who say that the government will not be able to 'move on' until Blair quits. Yesterday, about 10,000 people demonstrated against the army's continued presence in the country.
The document being drawn up by the British government and the US will be presented to the Iraqi parliament in October and will spark fresh controversy over how long British troops will stay in the country. Tony Blair hopes that, despite continuing and widespread violence in Iraq, the move will show that there is progress following the conflict of 2003.
It may be the oddest tale to emerge from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Armed dolphins, trained by the US military to shoot terrorists and pinpoint spies underwater, may be missing in the Gulf of Mexico. Experts who have studied the US navy's cetacean training exercises claim the 36 mammals could be carrying 'toxic dart' guns. Divers and surfers risk attack, they claim, from a species considered to be among the planet's smartest. The US navy admits it has been training dolphins for military purposes, but has refused to confirm that any are missing. Dolphins have been trained in attack-and-kill missions since the Cold War. The US Atlantic bottlenose dolphins have apparently been taught to shoot terrorists attacking military vessels. Their coastal compound was breached during the storm, sweeping them out to sea. But those who have studied the controversial use of dolphins in the US defence programme claim it is vital they are caught quickly. Leo Sheridan, 72, a respected accident investigator who has worked for government and industry, said he had received intelligence from sources close to the US government's marine fisheries service confirming dolphins had escaped.
Experts who have studied the US navy's cetacean training exercises claim the 36 mammals could be carrying 'toxic dart' guns. Divers and surfers risk attack, they claim, from a species considered to be among the planet's smartest. The US navy admits it has been training dolphins for military purposes, but has refused to confirm that any are missing.
Dolphins have been trained in attack-and-kill missions since the Cold War. The US Atlantic bottlenose dolphins have apparently been taught to shoot terrorists attacking military vessels. Their coastal compound was breached during the storm, sweeping them out to sea. But those who have studied the controversial use of dolphins in the US defence programme claim it is vital they are caught quickly.
Leo Sheridan, 72, a respected accident investigator who has worked for government and industry, said he had received intelligence from sources close to the US government's marine fisheries service confirming dolphins had escaped.
First I thought this is a joke, but it seems to be true. Maybe the Bushistas are right, there is no evolution or maybe we are in a phase of devolution - I don't know, but to me we really are missusing nature in every way possible.
An extraordinary appeal to Americans from the Bush administration for money to help pay for the reconstruction of Iraq has raised only $600 (£337), The Observer has learnt. Yet since the appeal was launched earlier this month, donations to rebuild New Orleans have attracted hundreds of millions of dollars. The public's reluctance to contribute much more than the cost of two iPods to the administration's attempt to offer citizens 'a further stake in building a free and prosperous Iraq' has been seized on by critics as evidence of growing ambivalence over that country. This coincides with concern over the increasing cost of the war. More than $30 billion has been appropriated for the reconstruction. Initially, America's overseas aid agency, USaid, expected it to cost taxpayers no more than $1.7bn, but it is now asking the public if they want to contribute even more.
The public's reluctance to contribute much more than the cost of two iPods to the administration's attempt to offer citizens 'a further stake in building a free and prosperous Iraq' has been seized on by critics as evidence of growing ambivalence over that country.
This coincides with concern over the increasing cost of the war. More than $30 billion has been appropriated for the reconstruction. Initially, America's overseas aid agency, USaid, expected it to cost taxpayers no more than $1.7bn, but it is now asking the public if they want to contribute even more.
Four decades ago, the Kaczynski twins were blond scamps trying to steal the moon in a film for Soviet-bloc children. By tonight, Lech and Jaroslaw may be half-way to becoming Poland's two most powerful men. The child stars became adult Solidarity activists, then split with the movement to become Poland's most daring political deal-makers before emerging as the tough-talking conservative campaigners whose party is fighting for victory in today's general election. As President Alexander Kwasniewski, a former communist and a friend of George Bush and Tony Blair, sees his allies in the ruling Democratic Left Alliance sunk by a tide of sleaze, Poland's right is set for a landslide victory. Opinion polls have the Jaroslaw Kaczynski-led Law and Justice party (PiS) vying for victory with the business-orientated Civic Platform (PO) in today's vote, and see Lech Kaczynski closing on the Civic Platform chief Donald Tusk a fortnight ahead of the presidential elections.
The child stars became adult Solidarity activists, then split with the movement to become Poland's most daring political deal-makers before emerging as the tough-talking conservative campaigners whose party is fighting for victory in today's general election.
As President Alexander Kwasniewski, a former communist and a friend of George Bush and Tony Blair, sees his allies in the ruling Democratic Left Alliance sunk by a tide of sleaze, Poland's right is set for a landslide victory.
Opinion polls have the Jaroslaw Kaczynski-led Law and Justice party (PiS) vying for victory with the business-orientated Civic Platform (PO) in today's vote, and see Lech Kaczynski closing on the Civic Platform chief Donald Tusk a fortnight ahead of the presidential elections.
Two centre-right parties are expected to defeat Poland's governing ex-communists in parliamentary elections on Sunday. The polls are Poland's first since joining the European Union in May 2004. Since the break-up of the Soviet bloc 16 years ago political power in Poland has alternated between parties which emerged from the Solidarity movement and the ex-communist Democratic Left Alliance. Despite this, the general strategy pursued by Poland has been remarkably consistent: integration with Western institutions like Nato and the EU the creation of a market economy with a strong element of social welfare an eastern policy aimed at establishing a belt of friendly countries between Poland and Russia
The polls are Poland's first since joining the European Union in May 2004.
Since the break-up of the Soviet bloc 16 years ago political power in Poland has alternated between parties which emerged from the Solidarity movement and the ex-communist Democratic Left Alliance.
Despite this, the general strategy pursued by Poland has been remarkably consistent:
integration with Western institutions like Nato and the EU
the creation of a market economy with a strong element of social welfare
an eastern policy aimed at establishing a belt of friendly countries between Poland and Russia
US forces have fired so many bullets in Iraq and Afghanistan - an estimated 250,000 for every insurgent killed - that American ammunition-makers cannot keep up with demand. As a result the US is having to import supplies from Israel. A government report says that US forces are now using 1.8 billion rounds of small-arms ammunition a year. The total has more than doubled in five years, largely as a result of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as changes in military doctrine. "The Department of Defense's increased requirements for small- and medium-calibre ammunitions have largely been driven by increased weapons training requirements, dictated by the army's transformation to a more self-sustaining and lethal force - which was accelerated after the attacks of 11 September, 2001 - and by the deployment of forces to conduct recent US military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq," said the report by the General Accounting Office (GAO). Estimating how many bullets US forces have expended for every insurgent killed is not a simple or precisely scientific matter. The former head of US forces in Iraq, General Tommy Franks, famously claimed that his forces "don't do body counts".
A government report says that US forces are now using 1.8 billion rounds of small-arms ammunition a year. The total has more than doubled in five years, largely as a result of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as changes in military doctrine.
"The Department of Defense's increased requirements for small- and medium-calibre ammunitions have largely been driven by increased weapons training requirements, dictated by the army's transformation to a more self-sustaining and lethal force - which was accelerated after the attacks of 11 September, 2001 - and by the deployment of forces to conduct recent US military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq," said the report by the General Accounting Office (GAO).
Estimating how many bullets US forces have expended for every insurgent killed is not a simple or precisely scientific matter. The former head of US forces in Iraq, General Tommy Franks, famously claimed that his forces "don't do body counts".
His admission, which has outraged environmentalists on both sides of the Atlantic, flies in the face of his promises made in the past two years and undermines the agreement he masterminded at this summer's Gleneagles Summit. And it endangers talks that opened in Ottawa this weekend on a new treaty to combat climate change.
The U-turn will inevitably bring accusations that he has, once again, sold out to Mr Bush, just at the time that the US President is coming under unprecedented pressure to change his policy in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Last week the UK Government's chief scientific advisor, Sir David King, said that global warming might have increased their severity.
Damn. Do the politicians have any responsibility?
The US on Friday called for reform of the International Monetary Fund's weighted voting system and appeared to hint at the need for a single European Union seat on the IMF's board. Tim Adams, the US Treasury's top international official, said the IMF faced questions about its relevance as an international lender at a time when developing countries were increasingly building up large foreign exchange reserves. As a result, the financial quotas at the IMF, which determine each country's voting weight, needed to be reformed so that each country had a "rightful stake" in the institution. "The quotas for many fast-growing emerging markets are much smaller than the IMF's own calculations would suggest they should be," Mr Adams told a conference on IMF reform, organised by the Institute for International Economics, the influential Washington think-tank.
Tim Adams, the US Treasury's top international official, said the IMF faced questions about its relevance as an international lender at a time when developing countries were increasingly building up large foreign exchange reserves.
As a result, the financial quotas at the IMF, which determine each country's voting weight, needed to be reformed so that each country had a "rightful stake" in the institution.
"The quotas for many fast-growing emerging markets are much smaller than the IMF's own calculations would suggest they should be," Mr Adams told a conference on IMF reform, organised by the Institute for International Economics, the influential Washington think-tank.
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) -- A diet free of animal products and low in fat may help trim the waistline without the task of strict calorie watching, a new study suggests. Researchers found that of 64 postmenopausal, overweight women, those assigned to follow a low-fat vegan diet for 14 weeks lost an average of 13 pounds, compared with a weight loss of about 8 pounds among women who followed a standard low-cholesterol diet. ... Vegan diets eschew all animal products, including dairy and eggs, in favor of fruits and vegetables, grains, nuts and beans. Although high-protein weight-loss regimens have painted carbohydrates as the enemy, a number of studies have found that vegetarians and vegans, who tend to eat a lot of fiber- and vitamin-rich carbohydrates, are much less likely to be overweight than meat-eaters. Women in the current study found the vegan diet easy to follow, according to Barnard, because they were not asked to count calories or keep tabs on portion sizes. They were, however, told to avoid added oils, nuts and seeds to keep their fat intake down. Women in the comparison group followed a diet based on National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines, which meant restricting fat to less than 30 percent of calories and protein to about 15 percent of calories. ... Based on dietary records the women kept, both groups ended up reducing their calorie intake by almost 400 calories per day, on average. But those on the vegan diet lost more weight. Despite the restrictions of going vegan, Barnard maintained that it's easy to take on the lifestyle. "Just eat fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains," he said. "Everything you're eating is good for you."
Researchers found that of 64 postmenopausal, overweight women, those assigned to follow a low-fat vegan diet for 14 weeks lost an average of 13 pounds, compared with a weight loss of about 8 pounds among women who followed a standard low-cholesterol diet.
... Vegan diets eschew all animal products, including dairy and eggs, in favor of fruits and vegetables, grains, nuts and beans. Although high-protein weight-loss regimens have painted carbohydrates as the enemy, a number of studies have found that vegetarians and vegans, who tend to eat a lot of fiber- and vitamin-rich carbohydrates, are much less likely to be overweight than meat-eaters.
Women in the current study found the vegan diet easy to follow, according to Barnard, because they were not asked to count calories or keep tabs on portion sizes. They were, however, told to avoid added oils, nuts and seeds to keep their fat intake down.
Women in the comparison group followed a diet based on National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines, which meant restricting fat to less than 30 percent of calories and protein to about 15 percent of calories.
... Based on dietary records the women kept, both groups ended up reducing their calorie intake by almost 400 calories per day, on average. But those on the vegan diet lost more weight. Despite the restrictions of going vegan, Barnard maintained that it's easy to take on the lifestyle. "Just eat fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains," he said. "Everything you're eating is good for you."
Good to know that allopathic medicine is finally noticing what has been basic knowledge to the 'natural health' approach and that these findings will be published in the American Journal of Medicine.
It appears that Hurricane Rita caused minimal disruption to the Houston oil industry while the fate of other US Gulf Coast refineries is less clear. The energy department in Washington said it was "cautiously optimistic" about Houston after the giant storm made less inland impact than feared. But a refinery in Port Arthur seemed to have been seriously damaged and two in Louisiana may also have been hit. Rita shut all Gulf crude oil production and much natural gas output. However, it seems to have caused much less damage to the industry than last month's storm.
The energy department in Washington said it was "cautiously optimistic" about Houston after the giant storm made less inland impact than feared.
But a refinery in Port Arthur seemed to have been seriously damaged and two in Louisiana may also have been hit.
Rita shut all Gulf crude oil production and much natural gas output.
However, it seems to have caused much less damage to the industry than last month's storm.
Hurricane Rita has slammed into evacuated towns and oil refineries in the swamplands of the Texas-Louisiana border, stripping roofs off buildings, cutting power to more than 1 million homes and flooding New Orleans again. But Federal Emergency Management Agency chief David Paulison says no deaths have been reported and the damage is less severe than expected. "Every mayor that we have talked to is crediting the evacuation for the fact that we have no reported deaths at this time," Mr Paulison told a press conference. Rita spared Houston, the fourth-largest US city, a direct hit. But oil city Beaumont, Texas, gambling-and-chemicals centre Lake Charles, Louisiana and many of the largest US refiners came into the storm's path. Some refiners were hopeful they would find little damage from Rita.
But Federal Emergency Management Agency chief David Paulison says no deaths have been reported and the damage is less severe than expected.
"Every mayor that we have talked to is crediting the evacuation for the fact that we have no reported deaths at this time," Mr Paulison told a press conference.
Rita spared Houston, the fourth-largest US city, a direct hit.
But oil city Beaumont, Texas, gambling-and-chemicals centre Lake Charles, Louisiana and many of the largest US refiners came into the storm's path.
Some refiners were hopeful they would find little damage from Rita.
Tens of thousands of people packed downtown Washington yesterday and marched past the White House in the largest show of antiwar sentiment in the nation's capital since the conflict in Iraq began. The demonstration drew grandmothers in wheelchairs and babies in strollers, military veterans in fatigues and protest veterans in tie-dye. It was the first time in a decade that protest groups had a permit to march in front of the executive mansion, and, even though President Bush was not there, the setting seemed to electrify the crowd. Signs, T-shirts, slogans and speeches outlined the cost of the Iraq conflict in human as well as economic terms. They memorialized dead U.S. troops and Iraqis, and contrasted the price of war with the price of recovery for areas battered by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Riffs on Vietnam-era protests were plentiful, with messages declaring, "Make Levees, Not War," "I never thought I'd miss Nixon" and "Iraq is Arabic for Vietnam." Many in the crowd had protested in the 1960s; others weren't even born during those tumultuous years. Protest organizers estimated that 300,000 people participated, triple their original target. D.C. Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey, who walked the march route, said the protesters achieved the goal of 100,000 and probably exceeded it. Asked whether at least 150,000 showed up, the chief said, "That's as good a guess as any.
The demonstration drew grandmothers in wheelchairs and babies in strollers, military veterans in fatigues and protest veterans in tie-dye. It was the first time in a decade that protest groups had a permit to march in front of the executive mansion, and, even though President Bush was not there, the setting seemed to electrify the crowd.
Signs, T-shirts, slogans and speeches outlined the cost of the Iraq conflict in human as well as economic terms. They memorialized dead U.S. troops and Iraqis, and contrasted the price of war with the price of recovery for areas battered by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Riffs on Vietnam-era protests were plentiful, with messages declaring, "Make Levees, Not War," "I never thought I'd miss Nixon" and "Iraq is Arabic for Vietnam." Many in the crowd had protested in the 1960s; others weren't even born during those tumultuous years.
Protest organizers estimated that 300,000 people participated, triple their original target. D.C. Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey, who walked the march route, said the protesters achieved the goal of 100,000 and probably exceeded it. Asked whether at least 150,000 showed up, the chief said, "That's as good a guess as any.
On both sides of the Atlantic, two mothers who lost sons in Iraq have launched campaigns to end the conflict. One camped outside George Bush's ranch. The other stood in the general election. This week, they came face to face for the first time. Along the sunbaked sidewalk of Pennsylvania Avenue came the sound of singing. It was music from an earlier generation, but as relevant now as it ever was. "All we are saying is give peace a chance," chanted the group of demonstrators as they made their way to the north-west gates of the White House. "All we are saying is give peace chance." At the head of the huddled group was Cindy Sheehan, the woman whose soldier son, Casey, was killed in Iraq last year and whose campaign to demand an explanation for the war from President George Bush took her to the gates of his Crawford ranch, made headlines around the world and - seemingly almost single-handedly - re-energised the US peace movement. At her side was Rose Gentle, a woman whose son, Gordon, was also killed in Iraq and who has launched a similarly relentless campaign to demand answers from Prime Minister Tony Blair. "It's exciting to be here, to let George Bush know what we think about the war," Mrs Gentle said moments afterwards, standing at the junction with 17th Street, carrying a photograph of her son wearing his uniform of Royal Highland Fusiliers. Asked if she thought he would have approved of her campaign, she glanced at the photograph of the young man, 19 years old, and replied: "Gordon would have wanted this. His pals are still there [in Iraq] and he would have wanted them home safe. They still keep in touch." She added: "Those young boys don't know who's with them or who's against them. People think we are against the troops but we are for them - we want them home safe. Once they're dead, the [authorities] don't want to know them. For a 19-year-old with just 24 weeks basic training to be sent to Iraq..."
Along the sunbaked sidewalk of Pennsylvania Avenue came the sound of singing. It was music from an earlier generation, but as relevant now as it ever was. "All we are saying is give peace a chance," chanted the group of demonstrators as they made their way to the north-west gates of the White House. "All we are saying is give peace chance."
At the head of the huddled group was Cindy Sheehan, the woman whose soldier son, Casey, was killed in Iraq last year and whose campaign to demand an explanation for the war from President George Bush took her to the gates of his Crawford ranch, made headlines around the world and - seemingly almost single-handedly - re-energised the US peace movement. At her side was Rose Gentle, a woman whose son, Gordon, was also killed in Iraq and who has launched a similarly relentless campaign to demand answers from Prime Minister Tony Blair.
"It's exciting to be here, to let George Bush know what we think about the war," Mrs Gentle said moments afterwards, standing at the junction with 17th Street, carrying a photograph of her son wearing his uniform of Royal Highland Fusiliers. Asked if she thought he would have approved of her campaign, she glanced at the photograph of the young man, 19 years old, and replied: "Gordon would have wanted this. His pals are still there [in Iraq] and he would have wanted them home safe. They still keep in touch."
She added: "Those young boys don't know who's with them or who's against them. People think we are against the troops but we are for them - we want them home safe. Once they're dead, the [authorities] don't want to know them. For a 19-year-old with just 24 weeks basic training to be sent to Iraq..."
The first of the celebrations marking the 500th anniversary of the Papal Swiss Guard has taken place in Lucerne with ceremonial pomp. Justice Minister Christoph Blocher made the keynote speech, commending the guards - who are responsible for the pope's safety - on their loyalty and for being true to their word. Blocher added that the men were exemplary, saying that they typified Christian values. The very fact that the Swiss Guard was celebrating 500 years in business showed that they had withstood the test of time, Blocher said. The security force came into being on June 21, 1505, when the then Pope Julius II asked the neighbouring region to quickly send 200 food soldiers to protect the Vatican Palace. The first 150 guards set off that autumn for Rome, arriving in January 1506. This arrival date is regarded as the institution's birthday.
Justice Minister Christoph Blocher made the keynote speech, commending the guards - who are responsible for the pope's safety - on their loyalty and for being true to their word.
Blocher added that the men were exemplary, saying that they typified Christian values.
The very fact that the Swiss Guard was celebrating 500 years in business showed that they had withstood the test of time, Blocher said.
The security force came into being on June 21, 1505, when the then Pope Julius II asked the neighbouring region to quickly send 200 food soldiers to protect the Vatican Palace.
The first 150 guards set off that autumn for Rome, arriving in January 1506.
This arrival date is regarded as the institution's birthday.
Also, yesterday was gorgeous here, and got to see the Swiss juvenile (age 8-12) baseball championship yesterday, between Wittenbach Vikings and the Thur Hunters, won by the Vikings 5-2. Great game...and fun for an American to see the Swiss picking up baseball as a sport. Then went and saw the Cirque d'Soleil in Zurich, ("Dralion") which was styled after the chinese acrobatic show...lots of fun! "Once in awhile we get shown the light, in the strangest of places, if we look at it right" - Hunter/Garcia
Well, we will soon see how the vote goes. I voted yes, but very half-heartedly, but voting no would have felt the same way. I have been even considering handing in an empty ballot, to show that I am not happy with both solution but still am doing my civic duties, as far as I know they are also counted but not published.
So Long and Thanks for the Fish de soj
Hey folks, you may have noticed I've been gone for most of a week now. I've been right here at home, just not online. And yes I've been busy, but not that busy. The truth is that someone decided to ruin all the fun for all of us and butt their nose into my private business. I've always had my two lives separated - my offline world and my online one. That's the way I wanted it and that's the way I set it up and I've got my own reasons for it. And someone decided to ruin all the fun and be a smug ass about it and go to incredibly great lengths to find out where I "live" online. And they managed to do it, and now they're all snide about it. This happened on Tuesday I think, and I've been sitting here all week trying to figure out what to do about it. I love writing, I really do - it's not even about the money or the "job" of it, it's part of who I am. But I can't do it if I can't write in peace. Everyone else in my offline world knows this and respects this. But it just takes one bad apple to spoil the barrel I guess, right? So what does this mean? It means it's over. It means it's finished. Kaput. FTS and everything I've worked on for the past two years is gone. I've spent all week trying to figure out a way I can do keep this place but I don't see how I can do it. So effectively immediately, this blog is no more. And you won't find me writing on the frontpage anywhere else either. I've written emails to them and explained it as best as I could because it's not their fault. Not at all. I asked people in my offline life to stay out of my online world and everyone did it except for one person who supposedly "cares about me" and everything else. Well fuck that.
The truth is that someone decided to ruin all the fun for all of us and butt their nose into my private business. I've always had my two lives separated - my offline world and my online one. That's the way I wanted it and that's the way I set it up and I've got my own reasons for it. And someone decided to ruin all the fun and be a smug ass about it and go to incredibly great lengths to find out where I "live" online. And they managed to do it, and now they're all snide about it.
This happened on Tuesday I think, and I've been sitting here all week trying to figure out what to do about it. I love writing, I really do - it's not even about the money or the "job" of it, it's part of who I am. But I can't do it if I can't write in peace. Everyone else in my offline world knows this and respects this. But it just takes one bad apple to spoil the barrel I guess, right?
So what does this mean? It means it's over. It means it's finished. Kaput. FTS and everything I've worked on for the past two years is gone. I've spent all week trying to figure out a way I can do keep this place but I don't see how I can do it.
So effectively immediately, this blog is no more. And you won't find me writing on the frontpage anywhere else either. I've written emails to them and explained it as best as I could because it's not their fault. Not at all. I asked people in my offline life to stay out of my online world and everyone did it except for one person who supposedly "cares about me" and everything else. Well fuck that.
It's very sad news.
And Fran, it makes you our supreme news gatherer now! In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
Peace! "Once in awhile we get shown the light, in the strangest of places, if we look at it right" - Hunter/Garcia
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Smoke O'er The Water
