text:
Comments:Global economy could lose up to 51 million jobs this year, says UN agency

Well it is the end of the 13th baktun, so life as we know it is going to change drastically by 2012. I think we should just start ridding of our monetary system completely, take a step back and take a look at who makes how much for what they do. For example, an actor can make up to 20-30 million $ to make a movie, something that fun, and solely for entertainment, not survival. Or how about athletes being payed millions, to perform a form of entertainment, playing a sport they love....!!!??? Solely for entertainment, not survival. The whole thing is a circus, and thats what's wrong with it, it is run by clowns.

I feel really sorry about it. The crisis definitely affects the globe. And it just reminds us of rethinking about the system of Capitalism and true meaning of life. Does Capitalism bring all goods to us? I live in a developed territory but I don't reckon the present financial system has made any progressive contribution to every human being. Social justice is hard to be found and the situation of umployment will only get worse if people don't realize and fix themselves from being selfish and greedy, on both individual and corporate levels.

May Love and Hope Rise From the Ashes of this Dying Civilization
before industrial civilization enters the terminal stage, the endgame, finance, money and markets must seize up and wither. this is a purely abstract, numerical indication of the very real destruction and negative, this-worldly effects civilization inherently breeds.

people realize you can't eat money! liberate the planet


text:
File:Alleged Scientology promotion voice message by Bart Simpson (Nancy Cartwright).ogg

{{Non-free use rationale
 * Description = Taken from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnoMGqcN554 . (video was not relevant - basically just we should all protest Scientology and the original was taken down by Fox for copyvio [which is interesting as its questionable as to if Fox would own copyright, but IANAL]). Transcoded flv (the mp3 audio part specifically) into wav using ffmpeg, then from wav to ogg vorbis using oggenc.

I believe this is Fair use for use on Bart Simpson used to promote Scientology as It is very relevant to the subject of the article, which is news worthy. In addition, it was essentially used to get publicity for a meeting, which makes it similar to a Publicity Image (I think anyways). It is used for critical commentary of message.

On YouTube, it was published with comment: This is a 100% real message the church of Scientology has been using to promote their event/ Please protest this event Jan 31 2009 in your Bart gear. by fullofbts

Non-copyright restrictions
The "Bart Simpson" name and catchphrases may be subject to trademark laws, and are used to identify Nancy Cartwright and Twentieth Century Fox. }}
 * Source =
 * Article =
 * Portion =
 * Low_resolution =
 * Purpose =
 * Replaceability =

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/


text:
Comments:Bart Simpson used to promote Scientology

=What do you think of this usage of Bart Simpson's voice?=

Echoes of Joe Camel ?
Does anyone think this seems similar to the Joe Camel controversy ? Cirt (talk) 06:49, 29 January 2009 (UTC)

 * Only reason why they used a cartoon character. Plus Tom is too hot to use this days. --KDP3 (talk) 12:31, 29 January 2009 (UTC)

Doh. What is it with Hollywood and Scientology? The South Park episode that drove Chef off the show was brilliant and accurate.

Trapped in the Closet

Watch "Trapped in the Closet" episode

OK, maybe it left out some of the more acceptable features of the religion, but how can any faith based on alien spirits entering primitive humans be taken seriously?

Seriously. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 74.74.236.180 (talk • contribs)

Why not? I dont see how the "ideas" of Scientology is anymore ridiculous than all the other various religions. I have the same level of doubt on Scientology as any other religion.

Considering Bart Simpson is a ridiculous cartoon character, it would appear to fit right in with Scientology, a ridiculous racket of ripping off wealthy people in the guise of a religious movement. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Pete Hodge (talk • contribs)

Its not a religon its a CULT!!!!

Epic fail. Jolly Ω Janner  16:26, 29 January 2009 (UTC)

Firstly, if it is not authorized, it shouldn't be used, secondly, why would you use the voice of Bart Simpson's, from a tv show about nonsense. Wouldn't you use a better and more recognizable voice, with maybe more intelligence, considering this is to promote Scientology... —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 68.179.92.41 (talk • contribs)

Despicable
To use an icon children are susceptible to in an effort to spread the demented message of a despicable cult of dangerous individuals is utterly foul —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 128.61.105.138 (talk • contribs)

Highly misleading
Listening to the message, it sounds like the sort of thing that might have been left on an answering machine. It's an invitation to attend an event, not the preaching of Scientologist doctrine. Cartwright probably threw in some Bart expressions because that's what she's known for and to liven up the message. Wikinews and other outlets reporting this as 'Bart promoting Scientology' is a highly misleading statement of the facts, and judging by this opinions page, an unfortunate number of people have been taken in by it. --128.243.253.114 03:47, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

 * Indeed. As per the Times, who make this clear in the second paragraph of their article, this was an automated telephone message that was sent to Scientologists, inviting them to a Scientology event. In other words, the general public would never even have heard the message if someone had not put it on the net.  To claim from this that Scientology is "using Bart to promote Scientology", as though these calls talking about "spiritual levels", "auditors" and "wins" went out to 12-year-olds' cell phones, is nonsense.  —Jayen466 (talk) 22:27, 31 January 2009 (UTC)
 * What is the difference if it were sent to me or you or anyone even Scientologists? Does that make it anymore right for her to use the voice of a FOX owned TV show to promote a Scientology event? DragonFire1024 (Talk to the Dragon) 22:35, 31 January 2009 (UTC)
 * The difference is that it makes it inappropriate to liken this to the Joe Camel controversy. The Joe Camel ads were broadcast nationally and viewed by millions of people. These were calls made to a private audience.
 * I can't comment on the appropriateness of her using her character voice in this case, but there are obviously limits in how far you can go to prevent her from using her voice outside a Simpsons recording studio. Would you think it was inappropriate if she entertained children in her own family circle with Bart's voice? Probably not. Or children at a wedding she was attending? Neither, I'd say. —Jayen466 (talk) 22:46, 31 January 2009 (UTC)
 * The other thing is, obviously, that you may be unduly alarming and inflaming people. If as a result of this article, people in LA think their children will be called by the Church of Scientology, using Bart's voice, then that's obviously not a service. —Jayen466 (talk) 22:49, 31 January 2009 (UTC)

it sucks
It sucks

400,000.00 an episode?
Okay why is this such a huge number? That's the trouble with these times. Everything is so far out of whack pay scales in the millions for what doing something like playing a game...gee i wonder if someone would pay me huge amounts of cash for playing dodge ball...??? It seams as tho the more a person makes and I'll never see in a lifetime what this person brings home in a year....What a joke! Wake up people don't buy that season pass to the baseball game ... they get enough corporate money. Shame on the human race. If the shoe was on the other foot it would be a different story...

scientology is a dangerous cult and nancy cartwright and all those other air headed celebrities are enabling their abuse of their followers (google "lisa macpherson")... unless there's something more malicious going on....

its a shame!!! i dont understand how celebrities donate so much of their own money to such a organisation as scientology.

in the words of bart simpson:eat my shorts,scientology —Preceding unsigned comment added by 141.113.86.23 (talk) 09:23, 2 June 2009 (UTC)

Scientology is an evil cult.
Scientology is an evil cult.


text:
Philippine fireworks factory explosion kills at least 8, injures 70 more

January 29, 2009 A powerful blast has razed a fireworks factory 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of the Philippines capital Manila shortly before noon on Thursday, killing at least eight people and injuring more than 70 others, Cavite Governor Ayong Maliksi said.

Four of the eight fatalities have already been identified by factory officials. They are: Clodelio Iso, Rodelio Iso, Marlon Rodrin, Angelo Francisco and Gerardo Amparo. The fire was declared to be out at around 2:33 p.m. local time (UTC+8).

Most of the explosion victims were employees of the Starmaker Fireworks Factory (SFF) located in Barangay Conchu, Trece Martires City. They were rushed to the General Emilio Aguinaldo Memorial Hospital, Korean-Philippines Friendship Hospital, Treceno Medical Pavillion and Mark Jem Hospital, and are still being treated for third-degree burns and cuts from glass shards, said Ryan Lucero, acting area manager of SFF factory and the Office of the Civil Defense-Regional Disaster Coordinating Center.

Richard Rivera, SFF spokesman, said the firm meets "global security standards." Founded in 1995, the firm pioneered synchronized music and pyrotechnics, which it also exported to other countries. SFF has promised to extend aid to the blast victims. "The company is saddened over what happened," he said. The accidental fire sparked by the fireworks blast has spread to the nearby Yoshita corporation.

Several houses and a church near the fireworks factory were also damaged by the powerful blast which created several craters inside the factory's compound. One crater measured at least 200 meters wide. "It was really frightening. We scampered for safety because the ground was shaking and on fire. Then, body parts started flying around together with metal and wooden debris," said Juanito Salvatos, a gardener who was near the factory.

According to Cavite police Superintendent Reynaldo Galam, the mutilated bodies of two men and a woman were recovered outside the SFF compound near a residential area in Trece Martires city. Jonathan Seramillo, Cavite NBI medico legal officer, said a commercial area, including the Cavite Provincial Capitol, suffered damages even both are one kilometer away from the explosion site, while 2 vehicles were also damaged.

"The 10:45 a.m. explosion inside the half hectare SFF pyrotechnics compound was so loud that it was heard as far as 500 meters away from the scene of the blast," said Galam. "The explosion was so powerful that it broke window panes even at the municipal hall more than a kilometer away,” said Mayor Melencio de Sagun Jr. The explosion has also caused part of the factory roof to land more than 1.5km (1 mile) away, and toppled concrete walls.

Sagun Jr. has cited reports that "the incident stemmed from a test of fireworks that went awry," adding that the fireworks were to be delivered to the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. "The one who tested it violated a rule barring testing inside the compound," he added, and explained that the factory is inside an industrial zone. The blast has also shattered the glass of two adjacent semi-conductor plants, injuring some of the employees.

"Shockwaves shattered windows and toppled concrete fences of nearby homes, knocking out electricity and raining down unexploded fireworks in the area," said Army Col. Romeo Ucag, who assisted in putting out the blaze, adding, "he heard the explosion and saw a thick column of smoke from his post in Tanza, Cavite, six miles (10 kilometers) north of Trece Martires."

Amid thick black smoke enveloping the fireworks factory three hours after the explosion, human body parts have scattered meters away from the fireworks factory. "There are body parts scattered outside," said Galam, adding that "police and health officials were trying to account for the estimated 100 staff." According to Senior Superintendent Hernando Zafra, director of the Cavite provincial police, "they could not yet determine the cause of the explosion, which was heard by people three kilometers away from the site."

Authorities have also continued to sift through the rubble of the explosion. Zafra has said most of the victims could not be identified because their bodies have been dismembered and charred beyond recognition. Earlier, he has counted 43 people inside the factory being treated for injuries. Zafra has further noted that police arson investigators and National Bureau of Investigation officials are on the site to probe the cause of the explosion. Frederick Bragas of the OCD-RDCC 4-A said "forensic experts are now determining the identities of the fatalities."


text:
Talk:Philippine fireworks factory explosion kills at least 8, injures 70 more

I CREATED this international dire tragedy just 3 hours today Thursday, here in Philippines. Please help in publishing it. Cheers.--Florentino Floro (talk) 08:09, 29 January 2009 (UTC)

Other sources
Blast in Philippine fireworks factory kills 5-police 4 confirmed dead in Cavite factory blast Owners of Cavite fireworks factory promises aid to victims Death toll rises to 7 in Trece Martires firecracker factory blast--Florentino Floro (talk) 09:51, 29 January 2009 (UTC)

Hmm, ang bilis mo, sir.
I made a similar article, only to find out that you posted it earlier... Blakegripling ph (talk) 11:45, 29 January 2009 (UTC)

 * Hi, Blake, I created the page ( 08:08, 29 January 2009), since when I opened the PC, I saw it, louder than the November Mumbai Taj Mahal hotel terrorist explosion. I lived in Meycauayan from 1953-1989; our Bishop Artemio Casas, D.D. was there in Imus Cavite. Seems you are in Wikipedia English and do more contributions there (I did there 6,700 edits from July 2007 to Nov. 22, 2008 when I was banned when I lost the battle against my very own co-Filipino and co-Ateneo de Manila University 3 guys, its all about personal hatred and enmity nothing about Wiki. But it was a blessing in disguise, since here, my edits are published unlike there. I notice that you are from Cavite and you were away here since (00:34, 16 August 2007 - 11:40, 29 January 2009:N Explosion in Cavite suburb kills at least 7, injuries 70). Cheers--Florentino Floro (talk) 07:22, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

Review
so scary
 * Its dire tragedy. Many employees are still suffering severe burns today. Imagine roof parts flew and landed 1 1/2 kilometers and landed there, and the houses 1 kilometers away were also damages. The crater created could be filled with a school bus. Too much suffering, unprecedented.--Florentino Floro (talk) 07:22, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

Video

 * --Florentino Floro (talk) 08:12, 20 February 2009 (UTC)


text:
Comments:Iran's Ahmadinejad wants change in US policies, not 'tactics'

List your sources
The following quote from the article needs a source citation for verification purposes: "... Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, who said in October that hatred of America runs deep in Iran."

The source is Zahra Hosseinian (writing for Reuters) as far as I can tell. Zahra Hosseinian needs to share the source of information supporting her claim that Khamenei did say that in October 2008.

Hosseinian's source was likely to be an AP report published (without a by-line) in late October 2008 which refers to "Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's comments on state-run television ..."

Footage and/or a transcript of those comments does not appear to be readily available, though it is reasonable to assume Khamenei probably said something like what he's reportedly said. However even if he probably did so, the author of the article should also have clarified the situation, pointing out that Khamenei could be wrong and that the 'hatred' he spoke of may not actually run so deep within the broader Iranian population. That is, unless the author can instead point to opinion poll results showing that 'hatred of America' is highly likely to be generalised in Iran and has a significant depth of intensity across the whole Iranian population, in which case the depth of 'hatred' would be clarified.

Why should the reporters make such clarifying statements? To do less than that is to (1) unthinkingly swallow Khamenei's word as truth, and (2) risk unfairly demonising a whole civilian population (which is what warmongers tend to do).

Checking all the sources cited by the Wikinews author also reveals an noteworthy bias in some reports of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent comments.

Some news outlets (too many) are failing to report that the specific list of 'crimes' Mahmoud Ahmadinejad complains about (and seeks a US apology for) includes CIA support for the Shah's 1953 coup d'état against a popular, elected Iranian government led by Mohammed Mosaddeq, US support for the Shah and the exploitation and repression of his regime, as well as US backing of Saddam Hussein's war of aggression against Iran in the 1980s.124.181.90.146 11:30, 29 January 2009 (UTC)

 * THANK YOU! It's very important that we not forget about Operation Ajax (when the CIA dislodged Mossadegh). People always say the wrong turn in our relations with Iran was when Jimmy Carter let the revolution happen, but in reality Carter did the right thing. The mistake was dragging out an elected Prime Minister who would likely have been more liberal than the Shah. After Mossadegh was taken care of, Mohammed Reza Palhavi returned to power. Over the subsequent 25 years, the Shah became increasingly tyrannical and autocratic. Ajax is only a footnote in American history, but in Iran it meant the 25 more years of a pig. I am curious though, where did you hear that Ajax was on Ahmadinajad's list (I'd be surprised if it wasn't)?

 * 71.96.128.236 21:44, 29 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Items on the list were included in some reports. For example, the BBC did report the complaint re US support for the 1953 coup d'état, but it failed to mention the CIA's covert operation - coded TPAJAX. Nor did the BBC report mention that overthrowing Mosaddegh's government was a British idea, that Churchill championed the idea, and certainly not that the BBC had been used in Britain's 1950s propaganda campaign against Mosaddegh, nor its role in broadcasting the go-code launching the coup d'état. 124.181.90.146 11:38, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

"Real Change, not tactics"
In the name of God, the most Merciful, the most Compassionate. Indeed, a humble approach is the road that Moses always took, we must be patient. Iran has already had 70, 000 years of history and no power will take that away; we in the West however are in jeopardy of slipping into global irrelevance and the manifest hypocrisy attendant in its ignominy. Wayne Niulrana, Ulukhaktok, NT, Canada

Passive Aggression.
The demands Iran has made I feel, are excessive, but still from the point of view of most - politically correct. However, I don't believe America, even with the new administration will be able to meet them. And that this an attempt by Iran to incite renewed hatred of America (and indeed the west) in 'terrorist cells' around the globe. We'll just have to see if America actually meets these demands because, if it does, Iran will have no choice but to accept fresh beginnings otherwise Iran will be exposed as politically incorrect. 78.32.115.66 21:56, 29 January 2009 (UTC)


text:
Heat wave, industrial action cripples Melbourne railways

January 29, 2009

Commuters in Melbourne, Australia, faced chaos today as a summer heatwave and alleged industrial action by staff caused 200 trains to be cancelled. The light rail system was also disrupted by a broken down tram.

Track buckled between Jolimont and Flinders Street stations on the Melbourne loop as temperatures peaked at 43.2 degrees Celsius (109.7°F), causing local train operator Connex to send track workers out to hose rails down. The delays and cancellations caused high demand on the Connex website, which crashed under the pressure. V/Line regional train services were also affected, with coaches replacing some trains and other services working with reduced line-speeds. Connex has blamed the Australian Rail Tram and Bus Industry Union for 80% of the cancellations, saying the drivers are running an "over-zealous, fault-finding protocol" leading to serviceable trains becoming unavailable. The company and the union have been having "protracted" negotiations over the method of drivers reporting train failures, according to the ABC.

Public transport in Melbourne will run free of charge tomorrow as a gesture of goodwill.


text:
Father throws 4-year-old daughter from bridge

January 29, 2009

A 35-year-old man had been charged with murdering his daughter after allegedly throwing her from the West Gate Bridge in Melbourne, Australia.

The man, named as IT consultant Arthur Phillip Freeman, was arrested following an incident at 0910AEST (2210 UTC) where Darcey Iris Freeman, 4, fell 60m into a river. She was rescued from the water but had suffered severe injuries and died later in the city's Royal Children's Hospital. Two other children were in the car at the time of the incident. They are believed also to be the children of Arthur Freeman. Freeman and his wife, Peta, split in 2007.

Shortly after the incident, Freeman was spotted in the Commonwealth Law Courts in William Street with the two other children. He appeared to be in a distressed or confused state. He was arrested immediately and his case brought to Melbourne Magistrates' Court this afternoon.

The police say that Freeman is in an acute psychiatric state and cannot be questioned.


text:
User talk:216.99.45.60

Welcome
Thanks for experimenting with Wikinews. Your test worked, and has now been reverted or removed. Please use Sandbox for any other tests you want to do, since testing in articles may disrupt the site's working and will be reverted quickly. , welcome to Wikinews! Please refrain from using content pages for testing. Here are a few good links for newcomers on how to edit Wikinews:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews: By the way, you can sign your name on Talk pages using four tildes ( ~~~~ ), which produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! DragonFire1024 (Talk to the Dragon) 12:18, 29 January 2009 (UTC)
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title: User talk:216.99.45.60


text:
User talk:77.75.161.35

Welcome
Welcome!

77.75.161.35, welcome to Wikinews! Thank you for your contributions I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews:
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Here are some other hints and tips:

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If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! DragonFire1024 (Talk to the Dragon) 12:19, 29 January 2009 (UTC)

title: User talk:77.75.161.35


text:
User talk:74.74.236.180

Welcome
Welcome!

74.74.236.180, welcome to Wikinews! Thank you for your contributions I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews:
 * Neutral point of view - tell every side to a story in a fair and balanced way
 * Cite sources - everything in a Wikinews article must be sourced
 * Introduction - overview of the site
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 * Existing articles need expanding and checking for spelling and mistakes
 * The front page lead articles often need updating
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 * Discussions need your input
 * And of course, stories need writing!

Here are some other hints and tips:

 * I would recommend that you get a username. You don't have to log in to read or edit articles on Wikinews, but creating an account is quick, free and non-intrusive, requires no personal information (not even an e-mail address), and there are many benefits of having a username.  (If you edit without a username, your IP address is used to identify you instead.)

 * When using talk pages (the "collaboration" tab at the top of the page), or the comments pages (tab "opinions"), please sign your name at the end of your messages by typing four tildes (~~). This will automatically produce your username (or IP address) and the date.

If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! DragonFire1024 (Talk to the Dragon) 12:46, 29 January 2009 (UTC)

title: User talk:74.74.236.180


text:
Talk:Father throws 4-year-old daughter from bridge

The sources for this article vary quite widely on some of the details (the ages of the other children, for instance) so I've only mentioned items that all agree on. Additionally, the reporting of this story has been quite sensationalist in many places - the story to me seems brutal enough in the bare facts without gilding them further - so this may need to be watched for as others edit the piece. Redvers (talk) 13:02, 29 January 2009 (UTC)


text:
Starbucks Coffee set to cut 6,700 staff, 300 stores to close

January 29, 2009 Starbucks Coffee is set to close 300 stores and lay off around 6,700 employees. The announcement came after a 69% drop in quarterly profits.

The company made a profit of $64.3 million in the 13 trading weeks ending in December, down from $208.1 million last year.

Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz sent a letter to employees explaining the difficulties the company is having in the current economic climate. He placed some of the blame of the loss in sales on other companies such as McDonalds and Dunkin’ Donuts, which have been improving the quality of their coffee.

"These decisions have been made to ensure the company is leaner and prepared to endure a worsening economic climate," said Schultz in the letter.

Two-thirds of the store closures are to take place in the United States. Schultz's salary would also be reduced to $10,000 a year according to the Wall Street Journal. The closures are on top of the already 600 stores the company announced they would be closing.

Starbucks has approximately 16,000 stores internationally with around 11,000 in the U.S. There are about 172,000 employees in all areas of the company.


text:
Strike threat at UK's Northern Rail

January 29, 2009

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) is to ballot staff on strike action at the largest British rail franchise after industrial relations suffered what it calls a "comprehensive breakdown".

The RMT say that private rail contractor Northern Rail, which runs commuter rail services in the north of England, has been victimising union representatives and making unilateral changes to working conditions and payments made to staff attacked while on duty. It says that disciplinary procedures are not being followed and promises over the position of train guards when the Penistone line converts to tram-trains have not been kept. Northern say they are meeting with the union on Friday. A spokesman told the BBC, "We are looking forward to a positive meeting and are very hopeful that those issues can be resolved".

Northern, a joint venture between the Dutch state railway company Nederlandse Spoorwegen and British outsourcing company Serco, was awarded the eight years and nine months railway franchise in 2004, succeeding First North Western and Arriva Trains Northern. The joint venture also runs the Merseyrail electric trains network, based in Liverpool, which is not affected by the RMT's proposed action.

title: Strike threat at UK's Northern Rail


text: Talk:Starbucks Coffee set to cut 6,700 staff, 300 stores to close


text: Talk:Strike threat at UK's Northern Rail


text: Talk:Heat wave, industrial action cripples Melbourne railways


text:
User:Luan

I'm brazilian. Look my user page in the Wikinews in Portuguese.

pt:Usuário:Luan

title: User:Luan


text:
User talk:Joolzg~enwikinews

Welcome
, welcome to Wikinews! Thank You for posting your comments on articles. Did you know that you can also write articles for Wikinews? If you choose to help Wikinews by writing articles the links below might be helpful:

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Your account will be renamed
Hello,

The developer team at Wikimedia is making some changes to how accounts work, as part of our on-going efforts to provide new and better tools for our users like cross-wiki notifications. These changes will mean you have the same account name everywhere. This will let us give you new features that will help you edit and discuss better, and allow more flexible user permissions for tools. One of the side-effects of this is that user accounts will now have to be unique across all 900 Wikimedia wikis. See the announcement for more information.

Unfortunately, your account clashes with another account also called Joolzg. To make sure that both of you can use all Wikimedia projects in future, we have reserved the name Joolzg~enwikinews that only you will have. If you like it, you don't have to do anything. If you do not like it, you can pick out a different name.

Your account will still work as before, and you will be credited for all your edits made so far, but you will have to use the new account name when you log in.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Yours, Keegan Peterzell Community Liaison, Wikimedia Foundation 23:19, 17 March 2015 (UTC)

Renamed
 This account has been renamed as part of single-user login finalisation. If you own this account you can |log in using your previous username and password for more information. If you do not like this account's new name, you can choose your own using this form after logging in: . -- Keegan (WMF) (talk) 06:32, 21 April 2015 (UTC)

title: User talk:Joolzg~enwikinews


text:
User talk:Pete Hodge

Welcome
, welcome to Wikinews! Thank You for posting your comments on articles. Did you know that you can also write articles for Wikinews? If you choose to help Wikinews by writing articles the links below might be helpful:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews: By the way, you can sign your name on Talk and Comment pages using four tildes ( ~~~~ ), which produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome!Cirt (talk) 18:45, 29 January 2009 (UTC)
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title: User talk:Pete Hodge


text:
User talk:68.36.20.207

Welcome
Welcome!

68.36.20.207, welcome to Wikinews! Thank you for your contributions I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews:
 * Neutral point of view - tell every side to a story in a fair and balanced way
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Here are some other hints and tips:

 * I would recommend that you get a username. You don't have to log in to read or edit articles on Wikinews, but creating an account is quick, free and non-intrusive, requires no personal information (not even an e-mail address), and there are many benefits of having a username.  (If you edit without a username, your IP address is used to identify you instead.)

 * When using talk pages (the "collaboration" tab at the top of the page), or the comments pages (tab "opinions"), please sign your name at the end of your messages by typing four tildes (~~). This will automatically produce your username (or IP address) and the date.

If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome!Cirt (talk) 18:45, 29 January 2009 (UTC)

title: User talk:68.36.20.207


text:
Zimbabwe submits to popular pressure: foreign currencies now legal tender

January 29, 2009

Zimbabwe has decided to abandon its currency, the Zimbabwean dollar, in favour of other currencies.

Acting Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa announced today that Zimbabweans will be allowed to make transactions in other currencies along with the local currency. "In line with the prevailing practices by the general public, [the] government is therefore allowing the use of multiple foreign currencies for business transactions alongside the Zimbabwean dollar," he said, adding that the Zimbabwean dollar will not be removed from circulation and would be used alongside other currencies. This decision comes during the current period of hyperinflation, which has massively devalued the Zimbabwean dollar. Banknotes up to $100 trillion have been printed, despite the removal of ten zeroes from the currency last summer to try to make transactions easier. The official inflation rate, last updated in July 2008, was 231,000,000% a year, although independent estimates place the number as high as 6.5x10108, or 6.5 quindecillion novemdecillion, percent.

Up to now, only vendors with licenses were legally able to accept foreign currencies, although the practice was widespread — private businesses altogether refuse to accept the unstable Zimbabwean dollar.

Large sections of the workforce, including teachers and doctors, have gone on strike because hyperinflation rapidly renders their wages worthless. Representative groups said salaries, now measured in trillions of dollars, are insufficient to pay for even the bus fare to work.

Zimbabwe also faces other crises, including a cholera epidemic that has claimed the lives of over 3,000 people, according to statistics from the World Health Organisation.


text:
Comments:Dairy cattle with names produce more milk, according to new study

What a misleading title. The "study" asserts that cows produce more milk when given a lot of attention -- this doesn't necessarily have anything to do with naming them. This seems pretty pseudoscientific, anyway. It may be more incidental than correlative. 74.242.102.193 20:57, 29 January 2009 (UTC)

I smell an Ig Nobel in the works for these researchers. Chris Mann (Say hi!|Stalk me!) 00:06, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

Somethings missing about cow tipping!
Article does not make clear why certain cows have magnetic orientation and resist cow tipping.

Misleading...
It doesn't seem that the study claims to have established the naming of a cow as a *cause* of higher milk production, but simply a *correlation* between more milk and names. see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Correlation_does_not_imply_causation

Although this may raise some very interesting questions about links between animal health and psychological states, it frankly doesn't seem very scientific.


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Talk:Zimbabwe submits to popular pressure: foreign currencies now legal tender

Title
Should this article's title perhaps be changed? They haven't completely abandoned the currency, in fact, they're still going to print it. Can't think of a good alternative myself ... suggestions? Wikidsoup (talk) 21:26, 29 January 2009 (UTC)
 * I agree, they aren't abandoning it. I know the sources use 'abandon' but it is really not true. --SVTCobra 22:29, 29 January 2009 (UTC)
 * I'll throw out some options: Zimbabwe encourages citizens to use other currencies, Zimbabwe legalises general use of foreign currencies, hmm these really don't have a very enticing ring to them :) Wikidsoup (talk) 22:46, 29 January 2009 (UTC)
 * "Zimbabwe submits to popular pressure: foreign currencies now legal tender". Gopher65talk 23:11, 29 January 2009 (UTC)
 * i like! Wikidsoup (talk) 23:19, 29 January 2009 (UTC)
 * changed. Wikidsoup (talk) 23:21, 29 January 2009 (UTC)


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Talk:Nebraska senators may not support stimulus plan

requesting help for another source and copyediting. --BustablePolitics (talk) 21:39, 29 January 2009 (UTC)


text:
User:Babakathy

I am here

title: User:Babakathy


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User talk:Babakathy

I am not often here. If you want to send me a message I will reply much faster here.

title: User talk:Babakathy


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User talk:128.61.105.138

Welcome
, welcome to Wikinews! Thank You for posting your comments on articles. Did you know that you can also write articles for Wikinews? If you choose to help Wikinews by writing articles the links below might be helpful:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews: By the way, you can sign your name on Talk and Comment pages using four tildes ( ~~~~ ), which produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome!Cirt (talk) 22:27, 29 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Neutral point of view - tell every side to a story in a fair and balanced way
 * Cite sources - everything in a Wikinews article must be sourced
 * Introduction - overview of the site
 * Writing an article - how to write and publish a complete article
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 * Existing articles need expanding and checking for spelling and mistakes
 * The front page lead articles often need updating
 * Developing stories need finishing and publishing
 * Discussions need your input
 * Audio Wikinews could always use more contributors
 * And of course, stories need writing!

title: User talk:128.61.105.138


text:
User talk:68.179.92.41

Welcome
, welcome to Wikinews! Thank You for posting your comments on articles. Did you know that you can also write articles for Wikinews? If you choose to help Wikinews by writing articles the links below might be helpful:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews: By the way, you can sign your name on Talk and Comment pages using four tildes ( ~~~~ ), which produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome!Cirt (talk) 22:27, 29 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Neutral point of view - tell every side to a story in a fair and balanced way
 * Cite sources - everything in a Wikinews article must be sourced
 * Introduction - overview of the site
 * Writing an article - how to write and publish a complete article
 * Content guide - what's suitable for Wikinews
 * Style guide - how articles should look before publishing
 * Contents - the contents page.
 * Existing articles need expanding and checking for spelling and mistakes
 * The front page lead articles often need updating
 * Developing stories need finishing and publishing
 * Discussions need your input
 * Audio Wikinews could always use more contributors
 * And of course, stories need writing!

title: User talk:68.179.92.41


text: Talk:Red Cross urges Sri Lanka to respect lives of Tamil civilians


text:
User:MrKIA11

 Interwiki redirect This page can be found at w:User:MrKIA11.

title: User:MrKIA11


text:
User talk:MrKIA11

 Interwiki redirect This page can be found at w:User talk:MrKIA11.

title: User talk:MrKIA11


text:
Comments:Father throws 4-year-old daughter from bridge

That`s Terrible,just Aweful


text:
User talk:140.192.80.90

Welcome
Welcome!

140.192.80.90, welcome to Wikinews! Thank you for your contributions I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews:
 * Neutral point of view - tell every side to a story in a fair and balanced way
 * Cite sources - everything in a Wikinews article must be sourced
 * Introduction - overview of the site
 * Writing an article - how to write and publish a complete article
 * Content guide - what's suitable for Wikinews
 * Style guide - how articles should look before publishing
 * Contents - the contents page.
 * Existing articles need expanding and checking for spelling and mistakes
 * The front page lead articles often need updating
 * Developing stories need finishing and publishing
 * Discussions need your input
 * And of course, stories need writing!

Here are some other hints and tips:

 * I would recommend that you get a username. You don't have to log in to read or edit articles on Wikinews, but creating an account is quick, free and non-intrusive, requires no personal information (not even an e-mail address), and there are many benefits of having a username.  (If you edit without a username, your IP address is used to identify you instead.)

 * When using talk pages (the "collaboration" tab at the top of the page), or the comments pages (tab "opinions"), please sign your name at the end of your messages by typing four tildes (~~). This will automatically produce your username (or IP address) and the date.

If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! Sigma 7 (talk) 00:29, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

I noticed you added new content to the article, Illinois House impeaches Blagojevich, which is more than 24 hours old. Thanks for taking an active role in improving the content on this site. People like you who take an active role make Wikinews better for all of us — readers and writers alike.

One thing to note, though, is that Wikinews articles are not works in progress. Articles are considered historical documents reflecting the knowledge and understanding of the event at the time of publishing. Once published for more than a day or so, they should not be continually updated or modified, except to fix minor style issues (eg. spelling mistakes).

To report on new developments in an ongoing story, you can create a new article instead of just adding content to an already published, out of date article. That way your work will be seen by more people since readers tend not to revisit old news articles looking for updates.

If a published article contains a factual error, please bring it to our attention at WN:ALERT, so that a Correction notice can be added to the article, which is otherwise left unchanged.

Again, thanks for helping improve this site. Sigma 7 (talk) 00:29, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

Blagojevich
Like Sigma 7 said, please don't change old news. Instead a new article should be started. Cheers, --SVTCobra 00:30, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

title: User talk:140.192.80.90


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Wikinews interviews Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Party about the upcoming Queensland State election

January 30, 2009

With a Queensland state election coming up in Australia, many minor parties will be looking to hold balance of power and making the major parties listen to what they have to say. Daylight Saving for South East Queensland (DS4SEQ) is one of these parties.

DS4SEQ is a single issue party which, as its name suggests, advocates the implementation of daylight saving in South East Queensland. Currently Queensland runs on Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC+10).

Queensland's unicameral parliament is due for election in September, but may be held earlier. The election, like all Australian elections, must be held on a Saturday. The election campaign will run for a minimum of twenty six (26) days and a maximum of fifty six following the issue of the writs.

Wikinews held an exclusive interview with the DS4SEQ. Answering on behalf of the party was leader Jason Furze.

Interview
Why do you want to form government?

Jason Furze: DS4SEQ would like to gain a sizeable percentage of the primary vote and win a number of seats. As we are a single issue party, voting for us will send a clear message to the major parties and that is: when it comes to the issue of daylight saving, the people of South East Queensland have ben [sic] ignored for too long, and a dual time zone arrangement must be implemented.

What are the three main policies you will take into this election?

Jason Furze: DS4SEQ is a single issue political party, with the sole policy being: to have Daylight Saving Time introduced into the South East Queensland region, under a dual time zone arrangement aligned to Australian Eastern Daylight Time.

Daylight Saving is a lifestyle and business choice and one that the majority of South East Queenslanders would like to have.

We acknowledge that there are many important issues facing the State of Queensland, however, DS4SEQ do not believe that this is a valid reason to ignore the majority voice who support daylight saving. How will you address these policies?

Jason Furze: The dual time zone concept that DS4SEQ is proposing is a well thought out compromise to the current situation that obviously does not work. The dual time zone boundary is formed by the inclusion of 15 local council areas and provides a respectful view towards regional and rural Queenslanders, whilst also giving consideration to the view of the majority of residents in South East Queensland. This will allow regional and rural Queensland to continue to operate on Australian Eastern Standard time, whilst the South East Queensland region adopts Daylight Saving Time for 6 months of the year.

If you can't form government, who would you like to see do so?

Jason Furze: DS4SEQ do not offer an opinion of which Party may form the next State Government. However, what we would like to see, is for both major parties to change their thinking about Daylight Saving in Queensland, and seriously consider a dual time zone arrangement for 6 months of the year.

What should Queenslanders keep in mind, when heading to the polls?

Jason Furze: Vote # 1 DS4SEQ and number 2 whicher [sic] party you would like to govern the state. Voting DS4SEQ number 1, will not be a wasted vote, because if the Party gains a sizeable percentage of the primary vote, winning a few seats along the way, this will allow us to convince the major parties to change their thinking on the issue of daylight saving.

As demonstrated by the 2007 Queensland Government research, about 70% of constituents within South East Queensland are in favour of daylight saving. State-wide, those who are against are now the minority, and mostly reside in the regional and rural districts outside of the DS4SEQ proposed daylight saving region. It has been 17 years since the people of Queensland have had a say on daylight saving, and in this time there has been a major shift in community attitudes demonstrating an increase in support.

"It's About Time!" that the people of South East Queensland had a voice on this issue. South East Queensland we are your voice, and "It's About Time!"


text: Template:2009 Queensland Election

title: Template:2009 Queensland Election


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Category:Queensland state election, 2009

This is the  category.

Latest articles
to see the latest articles.  category=published notcategory=disputed category= count=10 addfirstcategorydate=true suppresserrors=true


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Talk:Wikinews interviews Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Party about the upcoming Queensland State election

Email interview
A copy of the email interview has been forwarded to Scoop. --RockerballAustralia (talk) 01:43, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

The Email
From: "Jason Furze"

To: "Patrick Gillett"

Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:45 PM

Subject: Re: Interview

Hi Patrick,

Thanks for taking an interest in the DS4SEQ Party. I have provided answers, which can be found below each of the questions. If you would like further information, please don't hesistate to contact me.

1. Why do you want to form gavernment?

DS4SEQ would like to gain a sizeable percentage of the primary vote and win a number of seats. As we are a single issue party, voting for us will send a clear message to the major parties and that is: when it comes to the issue of daylight saving, the people of South East Queensland have ben ignored for too long, and a dual time zone arrangement must be implemented.

2. What are the three main policies you will take into this election? DS4SEQ is a single issue political party, with the sole policy being: to have Daylight Saving Time introduced into the South East Queensland region, under a dual time zone arrangement aligned to Australian Eastern Daylight Time. Daylight Saving is a lifestyle and business choice and one that the majority of South East Queenslanders would like to have. We acknowledge that there are many important issues facing the State of Queensland, however, DS4SEQ do not believe that this is a valid reason to ignore the majority voice who support daylight saving.

3. How will you address thes policies? The dual time zone concept that DS4SEQ is proposing is a well thought out compromise to the current situation that obviously does not work. The dual time zone boundary is formed by the inclusion of 15 local council areas and provides a respectful view towards regional and rural Queenslanders, whilst also giving consideration tot he view of the majority of residents in South East Queensland. This will allow regional and rural Queensland to continue to operate on Australian Eastern Standard time, whilst the South East Queensland region adopts Daylight Saving Time for 6 months of the year.

4. Who will lead your party if you gain more than one or two seats in parliament? Jason Furze is the elected Party Leader

5. If you can't form government, who would you like to see do so? DS4SEQ do not offer an opinion of which Party may form the next State Government. However, what we would like to see, is for both major parties to change their thinking about Daylight Saving in Queensland, and seriously consider a dual time zone arrangement for 6 months of the year.

6. What should Queenslanders keep in mind, when heading to the polls? Vote # 1 DS4SEQ and number 2 whicher party you would like to govern the state. Voting DS4SEQ number 1, will not be a wasted vote, because if the Party gains a sizeable percentage of the primary vote, winning a few seats along the way, this will allow us to convince the major parties to change their thinking on the issue of daylight saving. As demonstrated by the 2007 Queensland Government research, about 70% of constituents within South East Queensland are in favour of daylight saving. State-wide, those who are against are now the minority, and mostly reside in the regional and rural districts outside of the DS4SEQ proposed daylight saving region. It has been 17 years since the people of Queensland have had a say on daylight saving, and in this time there has been a major shift in community attitudes demonstrating an increase in support. "It's About Time!" that the people of South East Queensland had a voice on this issue. South East Queensland we are your voice, and "It's About Time!"

Regards, Jason Furze Party Leader Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Party

--RockerballAustralia (talk) 02:01, 30 January 2009 (UTC)


text:
User:Lord Shivan

=User=

News
View on main page for news about this user.

Wikimedia Foundation
These are user pages on other sister projects under a unified account, Lord Shivan:
 * Wikipedia — (main )
 * Commons
 * Wikinews
 * Wiktionary
 * Wikiquote
 * Wikibooks
 * Wikisource
 * Wikispecies
 * Wikiversity
 * Meta-Wiki

title: User:Lord Shivan


text:
User talk:Lord Shivan

Welcome
--SVTCobra 02:18, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

title: User talk:Lord Shivan


text:
Australian football: Melbourne Victory win A-League grand final

March 1, 2009

Melbourne Victory has won the A-League Grand Final against Adelaide United at the Telstra Dome. Melbourne came into the match with a 6-0 (2-0, 4-0) win over Adelaide United in their two legged semi final. Adelaide United came into the match with a win against Queensland Roar in the preliminary final.

The A-League uses the Page playoff system where the winner of the major semi final (1st vs. 2nd) qualifies for the grand final, while the loser plays the winner of the minor semi final (3rd vs. 4th) for the remaining place.

Melbourne midfielder Tom Pondeljak scored the only goal for the match with a long range strike on sixty minutes.

Adelaide were reduced to ten men after ten minutes when Cristiano landed a clumsy elbow to the head of an opposing player. Melbourne was reduced to ten men twenty minutes from time when Danny Allsopp was sent off due to a late fracas.

"It was a great performance. Adelaide were great, they pushed us right to the death but I think we deserved it," Melbourne captain Kevin Muscat said. "Down to 10 men it was a very difficult game for us but the amount of courage and heart the boys showed tonight to get through the game and keep fighting to the end was fantastic. I couldn't ask any more."

"It's one of those things I guess, it changed the game, but what can you do about it now?" Adelaide Captain Travis Dodd told Fox Sports after the match. "We worked hard to keep it scoreless until half-time, to keep our discipline and keep our shape and keep doing what we were doing."


text:
Template talk:Weather World F

Colors

 * Also posted at Template talk:Weather World C. Discussion should be held there.

It's really hard to see the numbers when File:Button-Purple.svg and File:Button-Blue.svg are used. Can someone rearrange the template so that lighter colors are used? I will contact the creator of the button files to see if maybe we can get some more colors.-Runningonbrains (talk) 03:20, 30 January 2009 (UTC)
 * ✅ This should be okay now. Adambro (talk) 14:40, 28 February 2009 (UTC)

New Region
Can we get Hawaii temperatures? Drew R. Smith (talk) 02:13, 3 September 2009 (UTC)

title: Template talk:Weather World F


text:
User talk:95.161.4.10

Welcome
Welcome!

95.161.4.10, welcome to Wikinews! Thank you for your contributions I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews:
 * Neutral point of view - tell every side to a story in a fair and balanced way
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 * Introduction - overview of the site
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 * Content guide - what's suitable for Wikinews
 * Style guide - how articles should look before publishing
 * Contents - the contents page.
 * Existing articles need expanding and checking for spelling and mistakes
 * The front page lead articles often need updating
 * Developing stories need finishing and publishing
 * Discussions need your input
 * And of course, stories need writing!

Here are some other hints and tips:

 * I would recommend that you get a username. You don't have to log in to read or edit articles on Wikinews, but creating an account is quick, free and non-intrusive, requires no personal information (not even an e-mail address), and there are many benefits of having a username.  (If you edit without a username, your IP address is used to identify you instead.)

 * When using talk pages (the "collaboration" tab at the top of the page), or the comments pages (tab "opinions"), please sign your name at the end of your messages by typing four tildes (~~). This will automatically produce your username (or IP address) and the date.

If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! DragonFire1024 (Talk to the Dragon) 03:55, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

title: User talk:95.161.4.10


text:
North Korea cancels all military, political agreements with South Korea

January 30, 2009

According to media reports in North Korea, the government has severed all political and military ties with its neighbor, South Korea. The North also canceled cooperation, non-aggression and reconciliation agreements that were agreed upon in the early 1990's. N. Korea claims that the South is acting with hostile intent towards their government.

The report comes as the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea (CPRK) was quoted as saying that the South reduced North Korea to dead documents, "[pushing the two] to the brink of a war."

"All the agreed points concerning the issue of putting an end to the political and military confrontation between the North and the South will be nullified," said the CPRK in a statement which also said that there is no hope of improving relations. "They have reached the extreme point where the clash of fire against fire, steel against steel, has become inevitable."

A spokesman for the Unification Ministry of South Korea, Kim Ho-Nyoun, says the South Korean government deeply regrets the decisions made by the North.

"Our government expresses deep regret. We urge North Korea to accept our call for dialogue as soon as possible," said Ho-Nyoun. S. Korean troops were put on alert earlier last week after N. Korea issued verbal threats against the south saying they would turn them "into a sea of fire."

Both nations are still considered to be at war with each other despite a truce in 1953 after a three year armed conflict starting in 1950. Since then, the border between the two nations, called a demilitarized zone, has been heavily fortified with thousands of troops on both sides. These troops, stationed at various points, stand ready to go into battle at any time. No peace treaty was ever signed between the two nations.

N. Korea recently agreed to a total dismantlement of their nuclear research and development program. In 2007 N. Korea along with China, Japan, Russia and S. Korea, signed a pact that would end the program to receive aid in return. In August of 2008 the dismantling stalled, but N. Korea's leader Kim Jong-il says he is devoted to making the peninsula nuclear-free. The last talks between the five nations were in December 2008, which yielded no agreements.


text:
Talk:North Korea cancels all military, political agreements with South Korea

My move reason
I added "all" because I figured just some of the agreements were cancelled and was startled when the article stated all of them were declared so. I think the headline addition is NPOV, and reflects the most important and unique aspect of the story. GeorgeII (talk) 14:12, 30 January 2009 (UTC)


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Musician John Martyn dies at age 60

January 30, 2009

British singer, song-writer and guitarist John Martyn has died at the age of 60. He died while in a hospital in Ireland.

"With heavy heart and an unbearable sense of loss we must announce that John died this morning," said a statement posted on his website. The details surrounding his death are not known, but Martyn has admitted to past drug and alcohol abuse.

Martyn had to have his right leg amputated in 2003 because of a cyst, but despite the loss, he continued to play his music from a wheelchair. On December 31, 2008 during the UK's New Year's party he was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) award.

Martyn is said to be best known for his album Solid Air, made in 1973. He previously played with other music stars such as Phil Collins, who recorded an album with Martyn in 1980 titled Grace and Danger. Martyn also worked with Eric Clapton.

"John’s passing is terribly, terribly sad. I had worked with and known him since the late 1970s and he was a great friend. He was uncompromising, which made him infuriating to some people, but he was unique and we’ll never see the likes of him again. I loved him dearly and will miss him very much," said Collins in a statement to the press.

title: Musician John Martyn dies at age 60


text:
User talk:64.72.185.87

Welcome
Welcome!

64.72.185.87, welcome to Wikinews! Thank you for your contributions I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews:
 * Neutral point of view - tell every side to a story in a fair and balanced way
 * Cite sources - everything in a Wikinews article must be sourced
 * Introduction - overview of the site
 * Writing an article - how to write and publish a complete article
 * Content guide - what's suitable for Wikinews
 * Style guide - how articles should look before publishing
 * Contents - the contents page.
 * Existing articles need expanding and checking for spelling and mistakes
 * The front page lead articles often need updating
 * Developing stories need finishing and publishing
 * Discussions need your input
 * And of course, stories need writing!

Here are some other hints and tips:

 * I would recommend that you get a username. You don't have to log in to read or edit articles on Wikinews, but creating an account is quick, free and non-intrusive, requires no personal information (not even an e-mail address), and there are many benefits of having a username.  (If you edit without a username, your IP address is used to identify you instead.)

 * When using talk pages (the "collaboration" tab at the top of the page), or the comments pages (tab "opinions"), please sign your name at the end of your messages by typing four tildes (~~). This will automatically produce your username (or IP address) and the date.

If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! DragonFire1024 (Talk to the Dragon) 05:23, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

title: User talk:64.72.185.87


text:
Comments:Wikinews interviews Daylight Saving for South East Queensland Party about the upcoming Queensland State election

I hate DST. Thankfully the Canadian province that I currently live in doesn't use it (like most of the rest of the countries in the world, I might add). It's wonderful to live somewhere that is sane. I despised that ridiculous biyearly tradition of changing the time on your clocks, and readjusted your body clock. Gopher65talk 05:45, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

im up for it. --

Interesting concept for a single-issue party to take on. Nice work, RockerballAustralia! -- Zanimum (talk) 13:40, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

'As demonstrated by the 2007 Queensland Government research, about 70% of constituents within South East Queensland are in favour of daylight saving.'

This is a distortion of the Queensland Government research findings, to make it look as if support for the DS4SEQ party's split-timezone proposal is much higher than it really is.

Firstly, the 70% figure only refers to those who said they support daylight saving 'as a general concept'. This figure dropped dramatically to 60% when asked if they want daylight saving introduced to the state.

Secondly, that same research showed that only 40% of SE Queensland constituents want to split the state into a separate daylight saving zone for south-east Queensland. Another independent research study for Brisbane's 'Sunday Mail', taken at the same time (June, 2007), found that only 33% of SE Queenslanders wanted a separate daylight saving for the south-east.

I hardly call this distortion of the facts of the Queensland Government Research. Yes 69% of South East Queenslanders were in favour of the concept of DST, however 65% were in favour of the introduction of DST into their local area. But the real figure to highlight from this research, is that only 34% of respondants across all of Queensland were against the introduction of DST. On the note of a dual time zone, one of the major reasons given by respondants of the survey as to why the didn't favour that, was there was no definitive dual time zone border provided. Some of the responses were calling for as far north as Cairns, and some didn't want to include Ipswich or Toowoomba. How can one expect to guage opinion if there is uncertainty in relation to a boundary. The DS4SEQ proposal sets out the boundary clearly - as far north as Hervey Bay and west covering Toowoomba and the Darling Downs region. Susan W


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User talk:Apterygial

Hia and welcome to Wikinews:). Always nice to see Wikipedians stop on by, even if it is just for a short visit. Gopher65talk 06:12, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

title: User talk:Apterygial


text:
Post-probe, problematic peanut paste products pulled

January 30, 2009

In what the Food and Drug Administration is characterizing as one of the largest recalls in recent history, numerous types of products containing peanuts are being recalled in the United States. The FDA issued a recall on Wednesday on food items with peanut paste and other peanut products made after January 1, 2007 at a Peanut Corp. of America (PCA) center in Blakely, Georgia. The recall affects over 430 products containing peanut paste or peanut butter from the PCA plant.

U.S. federal inspectors stated salmonella was found in 12 instances at the plant. So far the incident has been linked to eight deaths, with over 500 individuals sickened from the tainted products.

U.S. Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA) has announced he will hold a Congressional hearing February 11 before the House Energy and Commerce Committee to investigate the matter. According to an FDA report, peanut products from the Georgia plant returned to the United States after being exported were prevented from reentering the country in September due to containing "filthy, putrid or decomposed substance, or is otherwise unfit for food," but the products were not tested by federal inspectors.

According to the FDA, peanut products were shipped from the PCA facility though the company knew they were contaminated. PCA asserted it was unaware products were contaminated before being shipped, and released a statement saying it had "taken extraordinary measures to identify and recall all products that have been identified as presenting a potential risk". The PCA plant has since been shut down after state and federal inspectors discovered mold, roaches, a leaky roof, and other issues at the facility.

Multiple members of Congress have made critical statements about the FDA regarding the incident. "The FDA failing to follow up after this incident, does that mean that products that are not good enough for a foreign country are still good enough for the USA?" said Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

"If the FDA discovered that there was an issue with this product inspection, why didn't they follow up on it? Why didn't they take a closer look at this facility?" asked Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). Representative DeLauro called the actions of PCA "reprehensible and criminal".

Beth Falwell, daughter of PCA's founder Hugh Parnell, told WSLS-TV, the NBC affiliate in Roanoke, Virginia, in a statement Thursday that her brother Stewart Parnell who currently runs the company would not knowingly harm his customers. She believes the FDA report documenting poor conditions at the PCA facility contains inaccuracies. Stewart Parnell did not respond to repeated attempts by The News & Advance for a comment.

Consumers can find out more information at the website of the FDA, www.fda.gov, which lists the peanut products affected. The FDA list of items containing recalled peanut products is 35 pages long. Individuals can also find out more information about the incident by calling the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at 1-800-CDC-INFO.


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Brain chemical Serotonin behind locusts’ swarming instinct

January 31, 2009

The usually inhibited desert locust Schistocerca gregaria, which wiles away the months as a solitary, insignificant grasshopper can shift into horrifying swarms due to a chemical commonly found in people’s brain, a research showed.

The solitary and gregarious phases of locusts are so different that they were considered distinct species until 1921. Scientists have known for several years that touching a solitary desert locust on the hind legs, or allowing it to see or smell other locusts, is enough to transform it into the gregarious phase. This week, Science magazine published strong scientific evidence that the behavioural and physical makeover is effected by serotonin, a carrier of nerve signals in virtually all animals.

Researchers from the University of Sydney, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge have pinpointed a single neurochemical - serotonin - as the cause of an instinctive behavioural change from the locusts' solitarious phase to become gregarious and form disastrous swarms of millions.

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, or 5-HT) is a monoamine neurotransmitter synthesized in serotonergic neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) and enterochromaffin cells in the gastrointestinal tract of animals including humans. Serotonin is also found in many mushrooms and plants, including fruits and vegetables.

In the central nervous system, serotonin plays an important role as a neurotransmitter in the modulation of anger, aggression, body temperature, mood, sleep, human sexuality, appetite, metabolism, as well as stimulating vomiting. Keeping serotonin levels high is the aim of many anti-depressant drugs. "Serotonin profoundly influences how we humans behave and interact," said co-author Dr Swidbert Ott, from Cambridge University. "So to find that the same chemical is what causes a normally shy, antisocial insect to gang up in huge groups is amazing," he explained.

Prior to swarming, the locusts undergo a series of physical changes - their body colour darkens and their muscles grow stronger. The 'Phase change' is at the heart of the locust pest problem, for locusts are one of the world's most destructive insect pests, affecting the livelihoods of 1 in 10 people on the planet. "To effectively control locust swarms, we must first understand exactly how it is that a single shy locust becomes a highly social animal that swarms," said University of Sydney Professor Steve Simpson who led the research for almost 20 years.

The 'phase change' was caused by stimulation of sensory hairs on the hind leg of locusts. Professor Simpson's team began to investigate the neurological and neurochemical basis of this effect. Dr Michael L. Anstey, of the University of Oxford, supervised by Professor Simpson, and Dr Stephen M. Rogers, part of Professor Malcolm Burrows' team at Cambridge, led the research investigating this novel field. "Here we have a solitary and lonely creature, the desert locust. But just give them a little serotonin, and they go and join a gang," said Malcolm Burrows.

Of 13 neurochemicals in locusts that were gregarious (swarming form) and solitarious (non-swarming), the only neurochemical that showed a relationship with social behaviour was serotonin. "It was clear that as locusts switched from solitarious to gregarious, the amount of serotonin in their central nervous systems also increased," explained Professor Simpson. "The next step was to determine if this relationship actually meant that serotonin was the cause of gregarious, and thus swarming, behaviour in locusts," he added.

To do this, the researchers either added serotonin or prevented the production of serotonin in locusts. The results show unequivocally that serotonin is responsible for the behavioural transformation of locusts from solitarious to gregarious. Serotonin was also found to be involved in social behaviour of species across the animal kingdom, including crustaceans, rats, and humans.

The team has found that swarm-mode locusts had approximately three times more serotonin in their thoracic ganglia, part of the central nervous system, than their calm, solitary peers. "The question of how locusts transform their behaviour in this way has puzzled scientists for almost 90 years," said co-author Dr Michael L. Anstey, from Oxford University. "We knew the [physical] stimuli that cause locusts' amazing Jekyll and Hyde-style transformation. But nobody had been able to identify the changes in the nervous system that turn antisocial locusts into monstrous swarms. Now we finally have the evidence to provide an answer," he added.

"The fact that serotonin causes the transition from a shy, antisocial animal into a party animal means that pharmacologically, gregarious locusts are on Ecstasy or Prozac," said Professor Simpson, who also explained that "(whilst a very good idea, in reality) it would be difficult to create a locust control agent that interferes with serotonin."

Professor Simpson's team has significantly discovered that "locusts offer an exemplar of the how to span molecules to ecosystems - one of the greatest challenges in modern science." He also offered an explanation on the problem of using a locust control agent: "Because social behaviour in so many animals depends on serotonin, if we used unspecific serotonin antagonists in the environment, we run the risk of affecting other processes in locusts, as well as severely impacting animals other than locusts. We would need to be sure that locusts have a unique serotonin receptor that causes phase change, which we haven't identified yet. Any locust control agent would have to be specific for this serotonin receptor in locusts."

This study, which was sponsored by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council of England, England's Royal Society, the Australian Research Council Federation, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. The scientists that the conclusions of the study will provide a hint as to how to solve the problem of locust infestations, which affect China, Africa, and Australia. Dr. Rogers said the landmark discovery has opened a new area of study into ways of blocking specific serotonin receptors, “something that would allow us to break apart these swarms before they develop.”

Charles Valentine Riley, Norman Criddle, and Sir Boris Petrovich Uvarov were also involved in the understanding and destructive control of the locust. Research at Oxford University has earlier identified that swarming behaviour is a response to overcrowding. Increased tactile stimulation of the hind legs causes an increase in levels of serotonin.

This causes the locust to change color, eat much more, and breed much more easily. Green locusts turn bright yellow and gain large muscles. The transformation of the locust to the swarming variety is induced by several contacts per minute over a four-hour period. It is estimated that the largest swarms have covered hundreds of square miles and consisted of many billions of locusts.

"Locust" is the swarming phase of short-horned grasshoppers of the family Acrididae. The origin and apparent extinction of certain species of locust—some of which reached 6 inches (15 cm) in length—are unclear. These are species that can breed rapidly under suitable conditions and subsequently become gregarious and migratory. They form bands as nymphs and swarms as adults — both of which can travel great distances, rapidly stripping fields and greatly damaging crops. Though there are about 8,000 currently known species of grasshoppers, only 12 form locust swarms.

In the history of the insect Desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) is probably the most important because of its wide distribution (North Africa, Middle East, and Indian subcontinent) and its ability to migrate widely. Adult Desert Locusts grow to between 2-2.5 inches in length, can weigh 0.05-0.07 oz, and are excellent fliers. In religious mythology, the eighth Plague of Egypt in the Bible and Torah, a swarm of locusts ate all the crops of Egypt. "The gregarious phase is a strategy born of desperation and driven by hunger, and swarming is a response to find pastures new," Steve Rogers from Cambridge University emphasises.

The extinction of the Rocky Mountain locust (Melanoplus spretus) in the late 19th century has been a source of puzzlement. Recent research suggests that the breeding grounds of this insect in the valleys of the Rocky Mountains came under sustained agricultural development during the large influx of gold miners, destroying the underground eggs of the locust. That species of locust had some of the largest recorded swarms.

In the 1915 locust plague, which lasted from March to October 1915, locusts stripped areas in and around Palestine of almost all vegetation. This invasion of awesome proportions seriously compromised the already-depleted food supply of the region and sharpened the misery of all Jerusalemites. The plague resulted in several increases to the price of food. On April 25, 1915, the New York Times described the price increases: "Flour costs $15 a sack. Potatoes are six times the ordinary price. Sugar and petroleum are unprocurable and money has ceased to circulate."

In the 2004 locust outbreak, the largest infestation of Desert Locust happened in Western and Northern Africa, affected a number of countries in the fertile northern regions of Africa. These infestations covered hundreds of square miles and involve billions of vegetation-munching insects, which repeatedly devastated agriculture, and cost huge amounts of money to control.

In November, a locusts swarm 3.7 miles (6km) long devastated parts of Australia. Along the process of their active phases, these insects can eat their own bodyweight daily, and can fly swiftly, in swarms of billions covering 60 miles in five to eight hours in search of food. Researchers are now considering the development of sprays that convert swarming locusts back into solitary insects.

“We hope that this greater understanding of the mechanisms causing such a big change in behaviour will help in the control of this pest, and more broadly help in understanding the widespread changes in behavioural traits of animals.” Malcolm Burrows said. However, according to Paul Anthony Stevenson of Germany's University of Leipzig, the discovery will not likely to a short-term pest control solution.

"To be effective, antiserotonin-like chemicals would need to be applied when the animals are solitary locusts and scarce targets in vast expanses of desert -- about three locusts per 100 square meters (1,076 sq ft)," Stevenson explained. "Current serotonergic drugs are not designed for passing through the insect cuticle and sheath encasing the nervous system, nor are they insect-selective, hence their use is ecologically unjustifiable," he added.


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Talk:Brain chemical Serotonin behind locusts’ swarming instinct

I CREATED this Serotonin discovery in locusts as cause of swarming and plagues. Please help in publishing it. Cheers.--Florentino Floro (talk) 09:11, 30 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Locust plague explained

Bugs on drugs - chemical cause of locust swarms identified --Florentino Floro (talk) 11:57, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

Category request
editprotected Following this discussion with user:Brian McNeil, would someone mind adding Category:University of Oxford and category:University of Cambridge? Thanks, Bencherlite (talk) 15:31, 3 December 2009 (UTC)

 * ✅ Blood Red Sandman  (Talk)   (Contribs) 20:55, 5 December 2009 (UTC)


text: Talk:Musician John Martyn dies at age 60


text: Talk:Israel resumes attacks in Gaza, Rice asks for war crimes investigations


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Talk:Post-probe, problematic peanut paste products pulled

This headline
This headline is very clever. It's also cloying and annoying. I'd miss the alliteration, but recommend changing it. Redvers (talk) 09:37, 30 January 2009 (UTC)
 * Nah, it's fine, gets the point across nicely. Cirt (talk) 09:38, 30 January 2009 (UTC)
 * I must say, that was very clever. Bawolff ☺☻ 20:55, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

Headline is a joke
Seriously guys, this stuff isn't funny, its just annoying. Find another outlet for your comedic antics. This reeks of small town news.

ONE non-P word?
Couldn't it be "Following probe" or something just to break the pattern? 76.117.247.55 16:13, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

 * Potentially problematic post perturbs passive posters... But seriously, Wikinews is not sterile. The headline did it's job by getting you to read an article that you would have normally ignored. ---Sigma 7 (talk)

 * "Potentially problematic post perturbs passive posters", hahaha! that's genius. 137.82.175.12 21:27, 30 January 2009 (UTC)


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Mass industrial walkouts in UK

January 30, 2009

Workers at British industrial plants are staging mass walkouts this morning.

The workers are taking unofficial action in support of a three day strike at Lindsey Oil Refinery in Lincolnshire, England. Staff have walked out at sites in Scotland, Wales and Teesside in north eastern England. The original strike was called over the awarding of a contract by refinery owners Total to an Italian company. This brought 300 Italian and Portuguese workers on to the site.

The latest reports say workers at the UK's main oil refinery at Grangemouth in Scotland have come out in sympathy, as have workers at the former ICI plant on Teesside in England and at the nearby Corus steel plant. Workers have walked out at a power station in Aberthaw in south Wales and at plants at Fidler's Ferry in Cheshire, at Lackenby in Teesside and at the gas terminals near Peterhead in Scotland and Milford Haven in Wales. A protest outside the Lindsey refinery has now dispersed but local union leaders say it will resume on Monday. The Lindsey strike continues.

Secondary industrial action has been illegal in the United Kingdom since the 1980s. However, the penalties apply only to unions organising secondary strikes, not to workers acting individually.

title: Mass industrial walkouts in UK


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Talk:Mass industrial walkouts in UK

Review

 * Perhaps this article would be better with a different title, like Mass walkouts in UK industrial plants. I'm not really sure. Bawolff ☺☻ 12:46, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

title: Talk:Mass industrial walkouts in UK


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Comments:Israel resumes attacks in Gaza, Rice asks for war crimes investigations

Thats the least the global society can do! I wonder what took them so long to admit a possibility of war cerimes! This is such a disgrace!

Timeline since ceasefire on January 18
It is important to be precise about the sequence of events when reporting a "tit-for-tat" storyline.

UN OCHA Field Updates from Gaza include reports that:

"One Palestinian farmer was killed on the morning of 18 January in Khuza'a east of Khan Yunis following the Israeli-declared cease-fire."

"On 19 January, a Palestinian farmer was killed by Israeli gunfire east of Jabalia. The same day, Palestinian militants fired a number of mortars towards Israel and also shot at Israeli troops still inside the Gaza Strip. No injuries or damage were reported."

"Four Palestinians were injured on 22 January by a shell fired from an Israeli gunboat off the Gaza coast. The same day, a house was set on fire by a shell fired from an Israeli gunboat. No injuries were reported. Also on 22 January, IDF troops shot and injured a child east of Gaza City near the border."

124.181.90.146 12:34, 30 January 2009 (UTC)
 * If you have sources feel free to add those facts into the article Soapy (talk) 17:35, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

 * The source is the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs url:http://www.ochaopt.org/ 124.181.90.146 13:33, 31 January 2009 (UTC)

War Crimes
It's about time.
 * Yeah to bad their targeting a democracy and not a terrorist group. Good job UN!--66.229.21.217 17:05, 31 January 2009 (UTC)

Inhuman
So let me get this straight. An israeli air strike killed seven schoolchildren and two others. Their excuse: a single Hamas member was riding a motorcycle nearby.

War Crimes Investigation into Israel's actions in Gaza
It's about time. Independent,impartial investigations must be done. If the US military can investigate,initate trials and punish war criminals in their own ranks then so can Israel. If Israel is a true democracy and nation that practices the "rule of law" as opposed to corruption then they will do what is right. No one should be "above the law". That was the whole point of punishing the Nazis in World War II. I hope Dr. Rice(US rep to the UN) and the UN will continue to demand investigations and not cave in to lobbist in the US. Hypocracy must end in these issues. Also, those who fire rockets into Israeli civilian areas must be held accountable to be fair to all sides. I also hope the Israeli group which recently found Israeli government involvement in covering up illegal land seizure in the West Bank will go forward with exposing the wrongdoers.

What is your stance on the UN's desire for a war crimes investigation into Israel's actions in Gaza?
Jews have been victims of genocide, since they know the effects of this cruel crime more than most people, why must they do the same to the Palestinians? and please don't say they are not, because hundreds of thousands have been driven from their homes, killed, humiliated, imprisoned and who knows what els. Was nothing learned from world war 2?


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User:山中紘治

Hello.My name is Yamanaka Koji.

I work in English is not so, we are most active in the Japanese version.For more information, please see the Yamanaka Koji mountains.

Future plans
The account was made on October 24, 2008 because it had been interested in this Wiki news ahead.

Think not wanting the edit bearing "Be detailed, comprehensible article" that will become a source of everybody in the future in mind as much as possible.

Good news and society. Not much news coverage (the accident) to capture the attention of a lot of surprising, I plan to do to convey to the reader.

Finally
Please look at the activities of the Japanese version of me.

title: User:山中紘治


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User talk:山中紘治

For feedback
Activities in English is extremely low, this has to please you as much as before.

For more information, please Yamanaka Koji up mountains.

title: User talk:山中紘治


text:
Comments:Starbucks Coffee set to cut 6,700 staff, 300 stores to close

Given Starbucks' reputation for opening stores across from their own stores I don't think anyone will actually notice a difference.

It is too bad that the economy is affecting everyone so badly. Starbucks, rather than just making coffee is a partner for the environment, the coffee growers, the community, and the culture there at Starbucks is driven by Social Responsibility. McDonald's and Dunkin can improve their drinks but they could never compete with what Starbucks is to the communities that the stores and the offices are in. I also believe that Mr. Schultz taking a pay cut, not only a pay cut, if he merely worked 40 hours a week and I know he doesn't, it would be around 4 bucks per hour. I was a new store designer for them for a few years out of the Dallas office and realizing what Starbucks actually was has kept me a loyal customer. The truth is, I am saving money and still go to Starbucks, I just cannot keep doing the latte that I love, that is where all the jokes and complaints come from about $$, I buy coffee and I do not spend more than I would at the other two places mentioned earlier. Robert


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Winners and losers on UK's East Coast rail line

January 30, 2009

The British rail regulator has announced new train services for the country's premier line.

New "open access" (unregulated and non-franchised) company Grand Northern is to be given space (known in the industry as "paths") to run three train services a day between London King's Cross and Bradford, Halifax, Wakefield and Pontefract in West Yorkshire. Grand Northern's sister open access company Grand Central was given an extra path to increase services between King's Cross and Sunderland.

The existing franchisee of the line, National Express East Coast, was given the right to run services to London from Harrogate, Lincoln and Bradford, but not provided with paths unless the government changes the contracts of the other franchises whose territory these services would cross. Two other potential open access providers had their plans rejected by the regulator. First Group's Hull Trains had wanted to start a new service, Harrogate Trains, to run from North Yorkshire to London, whilst Platinum Trains had sought paths from London to Aberdeen in Scotland.

Britain's state-owned national railway company British Rail was controversially split-up and privatized in stages between 1993 and 1997. It was replaced by a series of privately owned regional train franchises for set periods, several unfranchised open access services and a track control and maintenance company.


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User talk:93.80.205.104

Welcome
Welcome!

93.80.205.104, welcome to Wikinews! Thank you for your contributions I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews:
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If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! Bawolff ☺☻ 12:24, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

title: User talk:93.80.205.104


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Talk:Winners and losers on UK's East Coast rail line

Quick comment, should probably explain what open access means. Bawolff ☺☻ 12:54, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

Doesn't make sense
This doesn't really make sense:

"Open access refers to railways and transportation services that can be available to other interested investors, besides the owners of the companies."

I can't think how to re-write it now, but I think you've missed some words out!

 * The passage is from Wikipedia's article. Sadly, that article is badly written and trying to do three jobs at once. I removed it. I think "open access" is explained well without it - once in the article body in brackets and once at the end in more detail. That should do it. Redvers (talk) 21:13, 30 January 2009 (UTC)


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Lawmakers ask US Secretary of State for Gaza crisis help

January 30, 2009

Democrats in the United States House of Representatives have sent a letter to new Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, asking her to release funds to reconstruct agencies in the Gaza Strip.

The letter also said she should try to reason with Israel to allow people in Gaza in need of medical attention and emergency transportation between the Israel and Gaza border.

The letter, released to the AFP news agency, says "[w]e... urge you to express this concern directly to Israeli government officials". The letter says the (UNRWA) need an estimated $350 million dollars for rebuilding of Gaza and to provide relief to residents. "Failure to address this humanitarian emergency has the potential to produce a crisis of even more unspeakable proportions," the letter added, "we therefore respectfully request that the State Department release emergency funds to UNRWA for reconstruction and humanitarian assistance".

They also urged Clinton and her team to make a list of "actions taken to date and the strategy you will pursue to address the humanitarian crisis", saying "[w]ith the ceasefire now in effect, it is critical that the United States play a leading role in alleviating the suffering of civilians in Gaza and we respectfully urge your assistance in this task".

Israel began a ceasefire on January 18 after a, in an attempt to stop rocket fire into Israel by militants, but has warned that they reserve the right to resume action if the shelling of Israel did not stop.


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Comments:North Korea cancels all military, political agreements with South Korea

I hope this is "just" sabre rattling. GeorgeII (talk) 14:13, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

I hope it isn't. We know who will win if the fighting resumes and I think the North Korean people deserve a break and a chance at civilized life. —Nick 64.90.84.103