Scary Russian Sochi Show...

Performers take part in opening ceremony for 2014 Sochi Winter…

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/performers-part-opening-ceremony-2014-sochi-winter-olympics-photo-163132713.html

Ghostly Figure In Photo A Sign From God? Pastor Thinks So

A pastor and his wife believe a ghostly figure that appeared in the background of a photograph is a sign from a higher power.CBS2’s Stacey Butler reports that a man named Radu, who didn’t want to appear on-camera, took a photo of a co-worker two weeks ago at an Irvine warehouse.

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/02/06/ghostly-figure-in-photo-a-sign-from-god-pastor-thinks-so/

Just In: @crimewatchnowgc: Explosion in benowa# still waiting to see what the cause is

Explosion in benowa# still waiting to see what the cause is
— crime watch now GC (@crimewatchnowgc) February 8, 2014

› Gold Coast Blog

Vladimir Putin "satisfied" with #Sochi2014 opening ceremony

4 Rings And A Snowflake Russian Olympics 2014

› Gold Coast Blog

USA Wins The First Gold Medal Of The Olympics

Sage Kotsenburg (@sagekotsenburg) wins gold in Snowboard #Slopestyle! First U.S. Medal at #Sochi2014!
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 8, 2014

Slopestyle has been the talk of the Olympics since Shaun White dropped out at the last minute, calling the course too dangerous.
Well, that didn't hurt the U.S. because the Americans have taken home the very first gold medal of the Olympics.

 www.businessinsider.com

Australia: Search continues for man taken by shark in waters west of Adelaide [Video]

An Adelaide man is missing after a shark attack in waters west of Adelaide.

Source - Yahoo

› Gold Coast Blog

So was the castaway a cannibal?

The shocking rumours surrounding the disappearance of fisherman's companion

He has spent much of the week recuperating at a luxurious, government-owned beach resort, from which he will be flown home to El Salvador via Honolulu when he is deemed fit enough to travel, probably early next week. At the grieving Cordoba family’s ramshackle home, however, Ezequiel’s brother Enemias, 27, told me: ‘Before he is allowed to go back to his country, we believe he must first be brought here to meet us. If he refuses, my mother hopes to ask our governor personally to force him to come. ‘I need to look Alvarenga in the eyes as he describes how my little brother spent his last hours and minutes, and explains exactly how he died. All my family feel the same way.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Clint Eastwood saves man from choking

 'I was looking at him and couldn't breathe'

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Clint Eastwood added another starring role at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am – life saver.

Eastwood attended a volunteer party on the eve of the PGA Tour event when he noticed tournament director Steve John choking on a piece of cheese. The 83-year-old actor quickly performed the Heimlich maneuver Wednesday night at the Monterey Conference Center.

“I was drinking water and eating these little appetizers, threw down a piece of cheese and it just didn’t work,” John said Friday. “I was looking at him and couldn’t breathe. He recognized it immediately and saved my life.”


(AP)

US vows to defend Japan against China

Washington (AFP) - Secretary of State John Kerry vowed Friday that the United States would defend Japan against attack including over islands claimed by China as tensions boil between the Asian powers.

Kerry, who said he would visit China next week, met in Washington with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and reaffirmed the 1960 treaty that commits the United States to protect its ally.

Yahoo News

‘Safe’ levels of neurotoxin found in seafood may cause kidney damage

A chemical commonly found in seafood may lead to kidney damage – even at levels considered safe for human consumption, a new study in mice has revealed.  In light of these findings, researchers are calling for more regulation of the neurotoxin, domoic acid, hoping that officials will reconsider how much is safe to eat.

Fox News

› Gold Coast Blog

Restaurant service is really going down the tubes nowadays!

I was in a local restaurant the other day when I saw the waiter bringing me the steak I ordered. He had his thumb over the meat as he was carrying it on the plate.

"Are you crazy?" I complained, "You have your hand on my steak!"

“What?" answers the waiter, "You want it to fall on the floor again?



› Gold Coast Blog

ORTH: 10 Undeniable Facts About Woody Allen Sexual-Abuse Allegation...

...#2 Allen had been in therapy for alleged inappropriate behavior toward Dylan with a child psychologist before the abuse allegation was presented to the authorities or made public. Mia Farrow had instructed her babysitters that Allen was never to be left alone with Dylan....

  http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2014/02/woody-allen-sex-abuse-10-facts

Something Jehovah Witness's Will Not Tell You About The Bible They Use...

Jehovah Witness's Bible Is The New World Translation 

The watch tower bible and track society's bible - A Completely Fraudulent Translation

Believe it or not, Jehovah Witnesses where brought into a  public hearing and had to confess they did know Greek or Hebrew and just made it up as they went along.. Seriously?

The watch tower bible and track society had a couple of things that hold their doctrine together

Jesus is not the God the son or the second person of the Trinity

There is no such thing as eternal punishment for the wicked (Hell)

So they translated the parts in the bible referring to this dictating what they wanted you to believe

Even Secular scholars put the New World Translation at the bottom of the barrel. 

Jehovah Witnesses The watch tower bible and track society is a clearly a CULT

How Can I Witness To A Cult Member?

When talking to a cult member you keep them on one subject, and ask them ONE question. 

WHO IS JESUS? great to ask this with Jehovah witnesses and Mormons.

*Note: once said by a Jehovah Witness "If you can prove to me Jesus is God i still will not worship him" sometimes you just cant get anywhere with a cult member

› Gold Coast Blog

Thousands of Queensland jobs heading overseas, And going to one country in particular..

UP TO 280,000 Queenslandjobs will go to the Philippines in the next 10 years as businesses flee Australia's high-wage, high-cost economy.

About 4500 Queensland jobs went to the Philippines last year, with one expert predicting that figure could double in 2014.

http://m.couriermail.com.au/business/queensland-jobs-outsourced-to-philippines-by-the-hundreds-of-thousands/story-fnihsps3-1226820940889

Communist Imagery Makes a Big Comeback at Sochi Games

The 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, officially kicked off Friday with a massive ceremony celebrating the host country’s storied history.

From Peter the Great to “Swan Lake,” many of Russia’s finest figures and achievements were given a chance in the spotlight.But the Russians also paid tribute to the country’s reigning political doctrine of the 20th century: communism.
The Blaze

What The Biggest Loser doesn't want you to know...

...You probably think we spent all day everyday working out in the Biggest Loser house. Wrong. No one ever worked out for more than two and a half hours a day. You really can't do much more than that if you're training hard.

They want the drama, the tears, the fights, the tears, the triumphs and the tears. Producers would push you to cry because that's what makes good TV. They continually asked questions like "Do you miss your kids?" Needless to say, I broke down more than once.

It's a show, what do you expect?

http://mobile.news.com.au/entertainment/former-biggest-loser-contestant-andrew-cosi-costello-reveals-the-truth-about-the-weight-loss-show/story-e6frfmq9-1226820498768

Sochi opening ceremony: How was Vladimir Putin's television screen showing all five Olympic rings?

Russia endured its first embarrassment as hosts of the Winter Olympics on Friday when a dramatic representation of the Olympic rings failed during the opening ceremony.A centre-piece of the ceremony, five lit snowflakes were suspended in mid-air in the Fisht Olympic Stadium, as can be seen on the television in this photo of Vladimir Putin in his presidential suite..

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/winter-olympics/10625401/Sochi-opening-ceremony-How-was-Vladimir-Putins-television-screen-showing-all-five-Olympic-rings.html

Worst winter rainfall since 1766 in parts of Britain

Britain announced emergency funding Thursday to cope with devastating floods after what officials said had been likely the worst spell of winter rainfall in at least 248 years.

Prime Minister David Cameron's government has faced criticism for its handling of a crisis that has left swathes of the country under water, with a key railway line washed away. http://www.spacedaily.com/m/reports/Worst_winter_rainfall_since_1766_in_parts_of_Britain_999.html

STUDY: Violent video games leave teens 'morally immature'...

Spending hours playing violent video games stunts teenagers' emotional growth, a study has found.It is thought that regular exposure to violence and lack of contact with the outside world makes it harder for them to tell right from wrong. They also struggle to trust other people, and see the world from their perspective.

Daily Mail

U.S. government has increased $6.666 trillion since President Barack Obama took office

Obama's debt has increased $6.666 trillion...

The debt of the U.S. government has increased $6.666 trillion since President Barack Obama took office on Jan. 20, 2009, according to the latest numbers released by the Treasury Department. - See more at: http://m.cnsnews.com/news/article/ali-meyer/debt-6666-trillion-under-obama#nationaldebt

http://m.cnsnews.com/news/article/ali-meyer/debt-6666-trillion-under-obama#nationaldebt

5 million watched online creation debate featuring Queenslander Ken Ham

The tally is in, the web connections totaled, and according to officials with Answers in Genesis an estimated five million people watched this week’s livestreamed debate between their chief, Ken Ham, and evolutionist Bill Nye, of “Science Guy” television program fame.And that’s a conservative figure, Ham told WND, because there’s really no way to know how many people were there for the more than 13,000 groups – from families to universities – that signed in to watch the event streamed through YouTube and other channels.The total audience could have been as high as 10 million, he noted

http://mobile.wnd.com/2014/02/5-million-watched-online-creation-debate/?cat_orig=politics

See How an Emotional Jay Leno Said Goodbye to ‘The Tonight Show’ After 22 Years

BURBANK, Calif. (AP) — Jay Leno has said goodbye to “The Tonight Show” before, but not like this. The comedian became tearful and choked up Thursday as he concluded what he called the “greatest 22 years of my life.”

Video

Leno brought his show full circle with Billy Crystal, who was his first guest in May 1992 and his last guest Thursday. Crystal played ringmaster at one point, calling on Oprah Winfrey, Jack Black, Kim Kardashian, Carol Burnett and others for a musical tribute to Jay with a “Sound of Music” song parody.“So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye. If Fallon tanks you’ll be back here next year,” sang Jack Black.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/02/07/see-how-jay-leno-said-goodbye-to-the-tonight-show-after-22-years/

Students Find Way To Secretly Smoke Marijuana In Class

Students Secretly Smoke Pot During Class With 'Vapor Pens'...

LAKEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4) – A device is making its way into schools to hide the smell and smoke of marijuana.Students are using vapor pens, and they’re using them in classrooms. It’s becoming a problem at Lakewood High School.“I’ve seen people in my math class and they’ll be sitting there with the teacher and they’ll be smoking it and they won’t even know,” said Jack Maestas, a student at Lakewood High.

http://denver.cbslocal.com/2014/02/05/students-find-way-to-secretly-smoke-marijuana-in-class/

REPORT: Putin's Girlfriend May Light Olympic Torch...

With the Sochi Winter Olympics opening Friday, the person chosen for a key element in the opening ceremony has not been revealed.But a new report is stating that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s rumored girlfriend may be lighting the Olympic flame at the Fisht Stadium near the Black Sea. http://washington.cbslocal.com/2014/02/06/report-putins-girlfriend-may-light-sochi-olympic-torch/

Hollywood shrugs off Woody Allen abuse claims

http://m.hollywoodreporter.com/news/woody-allen-sex-abuse-allegations-677168#!/entry/view/id/34960

‘Abortion is sacred!’: Bare-breasted Femen activists attack Madrid cardinal

MADRID, February 4, 2014 (LifeSiteNews.com) –Topless Femen activists attacked the Archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal Antonio Rouco Varela, this past Sunday night as he got out of his car and tried to enter a Madrid parish to celebrate Mass. The activists blamed the cardinal for the Spanish government’s bill seeking to restrict abortion. http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/abortion-is-sacred-bare-breasted-femen-activists-attack-madrid-cardinal/

New surveillance technology can track everyone in an area for several hours at a time

As Americans have grown increasingly comfortable with traditional surveillance cameras, a new, far more powerful generation is being quietly deployed that can track every vehicle and person across an area the size of a small city, for several hours at a time. 

[ excerpt ] ..Shooter and victim were just a pair of pixels, dark specks on a gray streetscape. Hair color, bullet wounds, even the weapon were not visible in the series of pictures taken from an airplane flying two miles above.

But what the images revealed — to a degree impossible just a few years ago — was location, mapped over time. Second by second, they showed a gang assembling, blocking off access points, sending the shooter to meet his target and taking flight after the body hit the pavement. ...http://m.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/new-surveillance-technology-can-track-everyone-in-an-area-for-several-hours-at-a-time/2014/02/05/82f1556e-876f-11e3-a5bd-844629433ba3_print.html

How the White House Responded When Asked Why a Muslim Brotherhood Lobbyist Met With Obama and Biden

“Mr. Al-Tikriti was brought to the meeting by the Iraqi delegation to serve as a translator for Speaker al-Nujaifi,” White House National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden told TheBlaze. “I’d refer you to the Iraqi government for more information on his role.”

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/02/06/why-did-a-muslim-brotherhood-lobbyist-meet-with-obama-and-biden-the-white-house-tells-theblaze-to-ask/

Teens who killed man 'because they were bored' testify

Oklahoma teen 'who was in the front seat when his friend shot an Australian baseball player said that they thought the gun was filled with BLANKS'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2551834/Oklahoma-teen-seat-friend-shot-Australian-baseball-player-said-thought-gun-filled-BLANKS.html

‘Six Californias’ plan doable, could be on November ballot

Splitting California into six states would be complicated and time-consuming but not impossible, according to a state analysis.Tim Draper, the multimillionaire Silicon Valley venture capitalist behind the proposal, said he was encouraged by the California legislative analyst’s report, declaring that dividing the nation’s largest state is “clearly legal and doable.”

http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/4/six-californias-plan-difficult-but-doable-assessme/

'Kerry Has Declared War On God'

A group of rabbis wrote in an open to letter to US Secretary of State John Kerry that he had declared war against God through his current mediation efforts and said he must cease such activities to avoid divine punishment. http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Kerry-has-declared-war-on-God-say-hardline-rabbis-warn-of-divine-punishment-340419

The mystery of the North Star: Astronomers baffled to find Polaris is getting BRIGHTER...

Astronomers have discovered that Polaris, the north star, is getting brighter.They say the star has suddenly reversed two decades of dimming.It is expanding at more than 100 times the rate they expected - and nobody is sure why.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2552530/The-mystery-North-Star-Astronomers-baffled-Polaris-getting-BRIGHTER.html

Muslim Brotherhood Leader Meets Obama in White House

A senior member of the Muslim Brotherhood was recently hosted at the White House for a meeting with President Barack Obama, prompting an outcry from critics of the global Islamist organization.Anas Altikriti, a top British lobbyist for the Muslim Brotherhood whose father heads Iraq’s Muslim Brotherhood party, recently met with the president and Vice President Joe Biden as part of a delegation discussing problems in Iraq.

http://freebeacon.com/muslim-brotherhood-leader-meets-obama-in-white-house/

Sochi Residents Where Ordered to Surrender Their Pillows to Athletes...

Sochi was Running Out of Pillows

Four days before the Winter Games began, Sochi staffers were looking for a few goose men

http://www.vocativ.com/02-2014/sochi-running-pillows/

'Science Guy' Bill Nye Responds to Claim He Attacked Christians, Says 'It's Difficult to Respect What Seems Like Irrational Thinking'

“Science guy” Bill Nye told TheBlaze Wednesday that he’s feeling good after his face-off last night with creationist Ken Ham. He also responded to accusations that he attacked Christians during the debate, claiming that he was merely focusing on the importance of embracing science rather than strictly Biblical tenets.“My supporters have been very supportive. I’ve gotten messages from all sorts of people saying, ‘Maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing to go into the lion’s den,’” Nye said.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/02/05/science-guy-bill-nye-responds-to-claim-he-attacked-christians-says-its-difficult-to-respect-what-seems-like-irrational-thinking/

4,406 record cold temperatures in January; 1,073 Snowfall records in US...

http://wx.hamweather.com/maps/climate/records/4week/us.html?cat=maxtemp,mintemp,snow,lowmax,highmin

Scientists warn of bird flu virus found in humans for first time

One woman died and another person has been diagnosed with an infection from a bird flu virus that has never been seen in humans before, according to a study released on Wednesday in British medical journal The Lancet. Chinese scientists cautioned in the journal about the pandemic potential of the new avian influenza H10N8 virus, citing the continued spread of other bird flu strains.  http://www.lse.co.uk/AllNews.asp?code=p1x6gdig&headline=Scientists_warn_of_bird_flu_virus_found_in_humans_for_first_time

Rare 'frost quakes' startle Midwest

Chuck Herron heard the loud thud, then another and another. It sounded like someone was dropping big snowballs on the roof of his home.The house is more than 100 years old and creaks, Herron said, "but I'd never heard anything like that before.".... http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_25068691/rare-frost-quakes-startle-midwest?source=rss&cid=dlvr.it

Scientists talk of 'pandemic potential' after first confirmed human death from new strain of bird flu...

Chinese scientists have said the “pandemic potential” of a new strain of bird flu “should not be underestimated” after the first known human infection resulted in the death of an elderly woman.

The new strain is a variant of a virus known as H10N8, which scientists believe may have originated in wild birds, and later spread to poultry.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/scientists-talk-of-pandemic-potential-after-first-confirmed-human-death-from-new-strain-of-bird-flu-9107345.html

Queenslander Ken Ham debates...

Ham and Nye stuck to their lines in prepared speeches that made this anything but a debate. After five-minute opening statements, Ham and Nye had 30 minutes to offer arguments backed with photos and charts. "I feel like I'm in science class," WKRC-TV reporter Angenette Levy said on Twitter during Ham's presentation.

"I think the believers will stay believers,"  One observer said. "No one's going to walk out of here saying, 'I changed my mind.' That's not going to work."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/02/04/creation-museum-debate-nye-ham/5215173/

New Zealand prime minister proposes removing Union Jack from flag

New Zealand may be trading its Union Jack logo for a silver fern on the country's national flag.Senior government ministers are set to meet next month to discuss holding a referendum on making a major change to the nearly 150-year-old blue ensign flag design, the Australian Associated Press reported. http://world.foxnews.mobi/quickPage.html?page=26179&external=2521610.proteus.fma

Hoffman's pal: 'We were gay lovers'

Troubled Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman had a secret gay relationship with the screenwriter who found his body after he apparently overdosed on heroin, according to a bombshell report Wednesday.“We were homosexual lovers. We had a relationship,” David Bar Katz told the National Enquirer.Katz said he said often saw Hoffman, 46, use drugs and witnessed him smoking freebase cocaine on Saturday night, shortly before his tragic death.Read more at http://mobile.wnd.com/2014/02/hoffmans-pal-we-were-gay-lovers/#JidagjBBVMiR8gpe.99

http://pagesix.com/2014/02/05/pal-who-found-philip-seymour-hoffman-dead-we-were-gay-lovers/?_ga=1.69058130.23580399.1365880527

In Sochi, Russia, Don’t Touch The Water

When Chicago Tribune reporter Stacy St. Clair, who is covering the Winter Olympics for the newspaper, arrived at her hotel, she was informed that there was a problem with the water and it had been shut off.Then hotel staff delivered an ominous warning: “Do not use on your face because it contains something very dangerous.”Her tweet about the situation has gone viral. http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/02/04/in-sochi-russia-dont-touch-the-water/

US demographer Harry Dent predicts Australian real estate market bubble to burst and prices to drop 50 per cent

AUSTRALIA'S real estate market is in a bubble that will burst and wipe out up to half the value of property, a leading US economist has predicted.And Melbourne will join Sydney as the hardest hit.

Harry Dent, a widely respected economist and demographer who has predicted a range of economic events including the 2008 global financial crisis, pointed to falling affordability in Melbourne and Sydney where prices are ten times the average income."Bubbles ultimately peak when the people buying can't afford to buy it," Mr Dent said...

http://m.couriermail.com.au/news/us-demographer-predicts-hit-to-aussie-home-prices/story-fnihsrk2-1226818290817

Call for Calm After $3 TRILLION Global Stock Wipeout...

Panic is making an enemy of telephones for Catherine Yeung, the director for equities at Fidelity Investment Management Ltd. in Hong Kong.“My children hate that BlackBerry,” said Yeung, whose clients have been calling amid two weeks of declines that erased$3 trillion from global stocks. She’s advising calm, noting that profits are rising and shares just got a lot less expensive. http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-04/goldman-to-fidelity-call-for-calm-after-global-stock-wipeout.html

Real Life Obamacare Small Business, Benefit-Shifting Example

Here is an interesting video regarding the effects of Obamacare on all the employees at at Simonetta's auto repair shop in Pennsylvania. The video was made by a local TV station.A couple premiums dropped, but most went up, some by huge amounts. In every case deductibles soared. Every person involved is worse off than before. 

Video story - http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/real-life-obamacare-small-business.html?m=1

Angry Ute Driver: Cyclists warned off Springbrook after reports of ute targeting riders

SPRINGBROOK has become a no-go zone for cyclists after warnings were circulated about a driver in a white utility targeting riders.Several near misses have been reported by cyclists in the past year involving the ute and local man Mark Aldous was hit by a vehicle of the same description late last year.The hit and run left him with several broken bones and he has only just got back on his bike.

http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/gold-coast/cyclists-warned-off-springbrook-after-reports-of-ute-targeting-riders/story-fnj94idh-1226817970154

Sea of red: $25 billion wiped out..

More than $25 billion was wiped off the value of the Australian market on Monday as shares suffered their biggest daily fall since August.

The local sharemarket had its worst day in six months, losing more than $25 billion in value amid a global sell-off, while the dollar received a boost after the RBA dropped its easing bias.

www.brisbanetimes.com.au

Ex-US soldier, 96, reunites Holocaust prisoners he set free..

Frank Towers, even at 96, still recalls the stench of the prisoner train when its doors were opened nearly seven decades ago. “Not to be believed,” he said. 

It was April 13, 1945, when the U.S. Army’s 30th Infantry Division, to which Towers belonged, freed prisoners from the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany who had been packed onto a train 40 to 50 cars long bound for Theresienstadt. They had been on the train for six days before it was stopped at a railway siding near Farsleben over a bureaucratic dispute.

www.timesofisrael.com

STUDY: Steroid Use Much Higher Among Gay and Bi Teen Boys

Gay and bisexual teen boys use illicit steroids at a rate almost six times higher than do straight kids, a “dramatic disparity” that points up a need to reach out to this group, researchers say.

Reasons for the differences are unclear. The study authors said it’s possible gay and bi boys feel more pressure to achieve a bulked-up “ideal” male physique, or that they think muscle-building steroids will help them fend off bullies...More

Experts: Heroin Is A Public Health Crisis

In the aftermath of the death of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, some experts say the heroin problem is now an epidemic — both nationally and here in Minnesota.

Hoffman was found dead in his New York City apartment over the weekend. Reports say he was found with a needle in his arm and bags of heroin discovered near his body...More

› Gold Coast Blog

PAPER: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Why Did Nobody Care?

It says everything about the prevalence of drug culture in the entertainment industry that when Philip Seymour Hoffman admitted to going into rehab early last summer, it barely caused a ripple in British newspapers... www.independent.co.uk

› Gold Coast Blog

Study: Nearly half of ALL Australians swap naked pictures..

Nearly half of all adult Australians have received a sexting message or photo on their mobile phone while about one in four admit to sending them to either a partner, an ex-partner, a stranger or a work colleague.
 
The details of Australia's sexting habits are revealed in McAfee's Lust, Relationships and Technology survey released today.

The research shows that 47 per cent of men and 38 per cent of women have received sext messages and 38 per cent had sent them. 

www.couriermail.com.au

› Gold Coast Blog

Dow sinks 300+ points - All Ords -87.8

U.S. stocks were hammered on Monday, with benchmark indexes falling through key support levels after a gauge of factory activity disappointed, heightening concern about the economy before Friday's monthly jobs report.

cnbc.com
www.asx.com.au

› Gold Coast Blog

Gold Coast mayor threatens 'Bieberfitti' hotel

Now, the Brisbane Times reports the hotel has refused to comply and has gone so far to promote a graffiti competition on its Facebook page, for budding artists wanting to display their skills on another wall of the hotel.

The “Bieberfiti” includes highly colourful Pacman-style ghosts, disembodied faces and even a Spongebob Squarepants-style creature.

brisbanetimes.com.au
QT Surfers Paradise facebook Page



› Gold Coast Blog — Queensland Australia

Clive Palmer: "My wife doesn't vote for me"

Gold Coast businessman-turned-politician Clive Palmer has revealed, his own wife does not vote for him.

..www.mygc.com.au


› Gold Coast Blog — Queensland Australia

Top Islamic Leader Calls on U.S. to Wage ‘Jihad for Allah’ the god of islam

A video of Dr. Yusuf al-Qaradawi calling on the U.S. government to wage jihad for Allah in Syria, is currently making the rounds on Arabic media and Facebook, to mockery and dismay. In the recorded speech, Qaradawi—one of the most influential Islamic clerics in the world, spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, author of over 100 books on Muslim doctrine, and head of the International Union of Muslim Scholars—sarcastically thanks the U.S. for supporting the “freedom fighters” in Syria, adding that “Allah willing, your [U.S.] aid will increase.”  

http://balfourpost.com/top-islamic-leader-calls-on-u-s-to-wage-jihad-for-allah/

Obama to O'Reilly: Fox News Reason for My Problems..

President Barack Obama twice blamed Fox News Channel for misinforming the public on issues that have bedeviled his presidency in the past year during a pre-Super Bowl interview with the network's Bill O'Reilly.

The two sat down in the White House on Sunday for a live pregame interview that started about 4:35 p.m. and aired for about 10 minutes.

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/barack-obama-blames-fox-interview/2014/02/02/id/550431?ns_mail_uid=2449605&ns_mail_job=1554687_02032014&promo_code=165BB-1

Does one have to believe Jesus is the Messiah of Israel to be saved?

John 20:30-31 NKJV

And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

Case closed

Some say all you have to do is believe in Jesus, not so

'Full House' Actress Details How She Became a Christian and Just How Much Her Faith Impacts Her Career

Since taking the role of D.J. Tanner on the mega hit “Full House” television series in 1987, Candace Cameron Bure has enjoyed a successful acting and writing career.

Bure, now 37 and the author of the new “Balancing It All: My Story of Juggling Priorities and Purpose,” told TheBlaze that her Christian faith defines who she is, guiding her actions both on and off screen.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/02/03/full-house-actress-details-how-she-became-a-christian-and-just-how-much-her-faith-impacts-her-career/

'Breathtaking' Corruption Across EU

The extent of corruption in Europe is "breathtaking" and it costs the EU economy at least 120bn euros (£99bn) annually, the European Commission says.EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem has presented a full report on the problem.

She said the true cost of corruption was "probably much higher" than 120bn.Three-quarters of Europeans surveyed for the Commission study said that corruption was widespread, and more than half said the level had increased.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26014387

Did You Know There Are Certain Days of the Week Where You Lose More Weight?

According to research by Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab in conjunction with Finnish institutions,participants in a study almost always lost weight during the work week and gained it during the weekend.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/02/03/did-you-know-there-are-certain-days-of-the-week-where-you-lose-more-weight/

Young man collapses and dies after competing in gruelling Hell of West triathlon in Goondiwindi...

A YOUNG man collapsed and died after a triathlon in Queensland's southwest at the weekend.Thomas Lyons, 21, competed in the Hell of West triathlon in Goondiwindi on Sunday, collapsing just after crossing the finish line.

http://m.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/thomas-lyons-died-after-competing-in-gruelling-hell-of-west-triathlon-in-goondiwindi/story-fnihsrf2-1226817057720

Aussie 'Glory Hole' Finger Cleaner Super Bowl Doritos ad.. Why didnt they like it? Seriously?

So called "Aussue" gross humour is ...gross!

The Bond University graduate produced the Aussie Doritos Finger Cleaner ad, the only Australian finalist among five selected from around the world for the Doritos Crash The Super Bowl contest.

Their ad involved a man sticking an orange finger through a hole in the wall to be cleaned, only for the audience to learn someone was licking it clean on the other side.

http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/gold-coast/aussie-finger-cleaner-super-bowl-doritos-ad-too-gross-for-american-viewers/story-fnj94idh-1226817192903

Study: Third-Hand Smoke Exposure As Deadly As Smoking

A new study from the University of California, Riverside finds that the third-hand smoke that has soaked into the surfaces, objects and environment around people becomes increasingly toxic over time.

Third-hand smoke is defined as the second-hand smoke that is allowed to settle on objects in any environment. Non-smoking children, co-workers, spouses and friends of smokers breathe in such carcinogens left in rooms exposed to smokers

http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2014/02/03/study-third-hand-smoke-exposure-as-deadly-as-smoking/

Worldwide cancer cases expected to soar by 70% over next 20 years

The biggest burden will be in low- and middle-income countries. They are hit by two types of cancers – those triggered by infections, such as cervical cancers, which are still very prevalent in poorer countries that don't have screening, let alone the HPV vaccine, and increasingly cancers associated with more affluent lifestyles "with increasing use of tobacco, consumption of alcohol and highly processed foods and lack of physical activity", writes the World Health Organisation director general, Margaret Chan, in an introduction to the report.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/feb/03/worldwide-cancer-cases-soar-next-20-years

Sochi orders killing of all stray dogs...PETA Rips Joe Namath For Over-The-Top Fur Coat..

A pest control company which has been killing stray dogs in Sochi for years told The Associated Press on Monday that it has a contract to exterminate more of the animals throughout the Olympics.

http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/24616387/sochi-city-hall-orders-killing-of-stray-dogs

dogs...PETA Rips Joe Namath For Over-The-Top Fur Coat...
PETA        ✔ @petaFollowTOO many. RT @a_ryan88 Yo @peta, how many animals died to make Joe Namath's fur coat?

London Housing Market Shows Rising Bubble Risk as Asians Buy

London’s housing market is beginning to show “bubble-like conditions” as overseas investors bid up prices and buyers take on more debt to purchase properties, according to a report today by the EY Item Club.

Homeowners are now borrowing as much relative to their income to purchase real estate in the U.K. capital as they were before the financial crisis, the London-based group sponsored by EY, formerly Ernst & Young, said.

http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-03/london-housing-market-shows-rising-bubble-risk-as-asians-pile-in.html

Short honeymoon for Australia premier

Abbott has got off to bad start as prime minister thanks to combination of mistakes, bad luck and failure to make it clear what his government stands for..

http://m.ft.com/cms/540b1184-8979-11e3-abc4-00144feab7de.html

Addiction Expert Weighs In On Hoffman’s Death..

"Even after long periods of sobriety, people who struggle with addiction can be one drink or drug away from possible death"

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/02/02/addiction-expert-weighs-in-on-hoffmans-death/

Drinking during pregnancy a crime?

Lawyers plan to take a test case to the Court of Appeal over claims that children harmed in the womb by their mother's drinking should receive compensation as victims of crime

Harming an unborn child by consuming alcohol during pregnancy could be classified as a crime if an unusual legal challenge succeeds.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10612818/Drinking-alcohol-during-pregnancy-could-be-ruled-a-crime.html

Sandy Hook Killer Had 'Movie Depicting a Man/Boy Relationship' on His PC...

The state's attorney report on the horrific murders at  the Sandy Hook Elementary School by shooter Adam Lanza found no "conclusive motive" for his actions but did document unsettling facts about the 20-year-old killer, including computer files he kept on the rights of pedophiles, a movie about man/boy love, instant messages concerning "homosexual fantasies," numerous mass murder documents, and a computer game entitled "School Shooting."...

http://m.cnsnews.com/news/article/michael-w-chapman/sandy-hook-killer-had-movie-depicting-manboy-relationship-his-pc

BREAKING: A man has been found dead in the bathroom of the Bounty Hotel in Bali..

@9NewsPerth: BREAKING: A man has been found dead in the bathroom of the Bounty Hotel in Bali. The cause of death is unknown at this stage. #9News

First teams arrive in Sochi as Russia races to finish...Australia Bans athletes from leaving Olympic zones..

Sochi (Russia) (AFP) - The organisers of Sochi Olympics on Sunday raced to finish all the hotels for the start of the Games in less than a week, as Australia banned athletes from leaving the Olympic zones due to security worries.

The Games, the biggest event Russia has hosted since the fall of the Soviet Union, are to get under way on February 7 at a ceremony starting at 2014 local time (1614 GMT) that is expected to project Russia’s status as a world and sporting power...More

Obama Blasts FOXNEWS In Testy O'Reilly Interview... "OK, ..you’ve got a long list of my mistakes"

Things turned tense quickly today between President Obama and Bill O’Reilly in their Super Bowl pregame interview.

“OK, Bill, you’ve got a long list of my mistakes,” Obama said to The O’Reilly Factor host near the start of their 10-minute live interview on Fox.

That remark — in response to a question from O’Reilly whether it was the biggest mistake of Obama’s presidency when he told Americans no one would lose their healthcare under Obamacare — was one of a number of points on which the two butted heads.. More

Blowing the lid off Chinese New Year's dirty 'little woman' secret...

(London Telegraph) Around a year ago, both Chinese and western media went into a frenzy over the term “leftover women”, officially defined as “unmarried women over the age of 27″ by the Chinese Ministry of Education in 2007. The label, far from being stamped out by enraged feminists for its derogatory categorisation of women, has instead been popularised by the Chinese media and is widely used in today.

But a more insidious relative of the “leftover women” label, one that has failed to generate the same media furore, is “female PhD” – referring to women who are studying for or have completed a doctoral degree. While in the West the term may imply intelligence and accomplishment, its use within China is often laced with a social stigma that infers a headstrong personality lacking in femininity and attractiveness. Perhaps more disturbing is how the phrase has been used interchangeably with “the third gender”, a highly demeaning label that objectifies educated women as sexless and abnormal beings.

With Chinese New Year being celebrated throughout the coming week in China – local families host a weeklong diary of events and activities from New Year’s Day, on Saturday – what is traditionally a refreshing and restorative time has in recent years become a dreaded undertaking for many single women (and men)...More

Read more www.telegraph.co.uk

US The Long-Term Unemployment Crisis Is Out of Control

In his recent State of the Union address, President Obama underscored the plight of the long-term unemployed, entreating Congress to renew the now-expired emergency unemployment benefits that expired at the end of December.

 In addition, he has persuaded 300 large U.S. corporations to sign a pledge stating that they will not discriminate against the long-term unemployed in their hiring practices.  

..More

Moscow shooting: Gunman 'neutralised', kills two

An armed man who entered a Moscow school and took more than 20 students hostage has been "neutralised", Moscow police say.

The man killed one police officer and one biology teacher, police said. Another policeman was shot and injured. The hostages he took have been released, police said. Half the school pupils have been released, but the rest remain in their classrooms, for their own safety, local police have told the BBC.

BBC

Queensland's third cyclone in a week..

‘‘At the moment all we have to worry about is localised flooding because we’re getting a hell of a lot of rain up here,’’... ‘All the street are starting to turn to rivers. ‘The drains can’t keep up. ‘Right around the township area is swampland - once they fill up, the water has got nowhere to go and Kowanyama becomes its own little island.’’ Kowanyama Mayor Robert Holness said

Mr Holness said locals were unfazed by the cyclone, as the township had been isolated for three weeks and locals were stocked up on fuel and food.

‘‘It doesn’t really cause anything up here. We go through it every year, but if it gets any bigger than that we might start worrying.’’

More - www.brisbanetimes.com.au

› Gold Coast Blog

Third Banker, Former Fed Member 'Found Dead' Inside A Week

For the third time in the last week, a senior financial executive has died in what appears to be a suicide.

As Bloomberg reports, following the deaths of a JPMorgan senior manager (Tuesday) and a Deutsche Bank executive (Sunday), Russell Investments' Chief Economist (and former Fed economist) Mike Dueker was found dead at the side of a highway in Washington State.Police said the death appeared to be a suicide.

So, with stocks a mere 4% off their highs, Why are so many high ranking and well respected bankers committing suicide?

Full Story

Ex-Cyclone May Re-Form To Threaten The Southeast Queensland Coast

AS ONE cyclone crosses the Cape, the weather bureau is on alert for an ex-cyclone that might re-form to threaten the southeast

Weather bureau forecaster Gordon Banks said that by about Thursday Edna should be east of about Rockhampton.

``We're not sure where it will go from there,'' he said. ``It should go south or southeast, but some models do bring it closer to the Queensland coast.

``It is unlikely that it will come all the way back but it should produce some strong winds and showers for the southeast by the end of the week.''

www.couriermail.com.au


› Gold Coast Blog — Queensland Australia

Here Comes 3rd Cyclone Fletcher, And Its Moving Fast

OFFICIALS are scrambling to warn 55 cattle stations and about 30 professional barramundi fisherman of the fast-moving Cyclone Fletcher brewing in the Gulf of Carpentaria. 
 
It is travelling at 19km/h towards the coast near the prawning port of Karumba.


 More

Seahawks Defeat Broncos, 43-8, in Super Bowl XLVIII #SuperBowl2014

The Seattle Seahawks have won their first Super Bowl title, crushing the favored Denver Broncos 43-8.

Linebacker Malcolm Smith returned an interception of Peyton Manning 69 yards for a touchdown late in the first half Sunday, and Percy Harvin returned the opening kickoff of the second half 87 yards for another TD.

The Seahawks led 36-0 before Denver finally scored on the last play of the third quarter.

Fox News

› Gold Coast Blog — Queensland Australia

Philip Seymour Hoffman Found Dead With Needle in Arm

Philip Seymour Hoffman, the Oscar-winning actor who played everything from a maverick CIA agent to a drag queen to a Catholic priest, has died.

He was 46. Hoffman was found in the bathroom of his Manhattan apartment at 35 Bethune St. in the West Village neighborhood of Manhattan this morning, according to the New York Police Department, which is investigating.

The cause of death has not yet been determined, but a law enforcement official tells ABC News heroin was found at the scene and a needle was sticking out of Hoffman's arm.Results from the NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner on the exact cause of death are expected on Monday.

http://abcnews.go.com/m/story?id=22335771&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.drudgereport.com%2F

Read This Extremely Disturbing Open Letter and You May Never Look at Famous Hollywood Legend the Same Way Again

For more than two decades, legendary Hollywood director Woody Allen has been battling allegations that he sexually abused his adoptive daughter, Dylan Farrow. The claims first surfaced in 1993 and they have reemerged periodically ever since.

However, on Saturday the alleged victim at the center of the case publicly wrote about it for the very first time.

In an open letter published on Nicholas Kristof’s New York Times blog, Farrow details her extremely disturbing account of what happened in a “closet-like attic” when she was only a child. It should be noted that Allen was never prosecuted and has denied any wrongdoing.

Full Story

An Open Letter From Dylan Farrow More

Peso panic shakes throne of Queen Cristina Fernández de Kirchner

Argentina's president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, and her ministers blame foreign 'vultures' for an economic meltdown as power cuts hit Buenos Aires and goods vanish from supermarket shelves

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/01/argentina-peso-crisis-shakes-queen-cristina

People slow to react are more likely to die prematurely, study finds

When the researchers -- all from the University of Edinborough -- went back to compare participants' response times with their likelihood of being among the dead, they detected a clear pattern: for those with slow reaction times, each standard deviation that separated an individual's performance from the group's average increased his or her likelihood of dying by 25%.

Those who were slower than the group average by four standard deviations were twice as likely as those whose performance was average to have died over the 15-year follow-up period.High variability in response time was also linked to a higher risk of death in the study. But those with high variability in response-time also tended to be the same people who response time was slower-than-average.

http://touch.latimes.com/#story/la-sci-sn-reaction-time-premature-death-20140131/

Facebook looks to nab Twitter's 'second screen' crown in Super Bowl

This Super Bowl will be a major test for Facebook, which has spent the past year rolling out new features designed to close the gap with Twitter. The Menlo Park, California-based company has hired a team, including former TV producers, to help broadcasters extract insights about the Facebook users watching their programming, such as how a team's fans breakdown by gender or geographic region.For the Super Bowl, Facebook will team directly with Fox Sports, the network owned by Twenty-First Century Fox Inc , which is airing the game, to showcase pre-game chatter from Facebook and Instagram users alongside typical game stats.

A specially created website will chart user data and comments in real time. The company has also actively encouraged athletes such as Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams to post commentary on the game to Facebook - athletes frequently use Twitter to sound off.

http://news.yahoo.com/facebook-looks-nab-twitter-39-39-second-screen-120000564--nfl.html;_ylt=AwrTWfxazOtSLXQAk8rQtDMD

Third Banker, Former Fed Member, “Found Dead” Inside A Week

If the stock market were already crashing then it would be simple to blame the dismally sad rash of dead bankers in the last week on that - certainly that was reflected in 1929. However, for the third time in the last week, a senior financial executive has died in what appears to be a suicide.  

http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-30/russell-investments-chief-economist-dueker-found-dead.html

Shots, blasts as Thai protest rivals clash on election eve

Bangkok — Violence erupted in Bangkok on Saturday, the eve of tense Thai elections, with explosions and heavy gunfire breaking out in clashes between pro- and anti-government protesters, according to an AFP journalist.Bystanders, security personnel and journalists raced to take cover in a north Bangkok shopping mall after a man pulled an assault rifle from a bag and began spraying bullets during a stand-off between government supporters and scores of opposition demonstrators, an AFP reporter at the scene said.The firing went on for at least one hour.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g3nN19owuWUIG_ulZ9D7baTaOzCQ?docId=ae2120b3-8638-4853-8ede-88a6356c8310

Breaking: Heavy gunfire and explosions break out in Bangkok on even of Thai elections -- @AFP reporter

@JeromeTaylor: Breaking: Heavy gunfire and explosions break out in Bangkok on even of Thai elections -- @AFP reporter

Ukraine unrest: Australian video journalist Demjin Doroschenko says he was hit with rubber bullets, stun grenades

An Australian video journalist says he was struck by rubber bullets while documenting violent clashes between police and protesters in Ukraine last week.

At least six people have been killed and hundreds reportedly injured during two months of demonstrations which have gripped the former Soviet country.

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-01/australian-journalist-says-the-unprotected-targeted-in-ukraine/5232720

Grandmother Reveals 5 Most Chilling Moments From the Now-Infamous Indiana Exorcism House

Latoya Ammons isn’t the only person speaking out in great detail about demonic forces she believes attacked her family. Her mother, Rosa Campbell, appears in newly-released video from the police investigation in which she, too, shares terrifying details about the Indiana home.

We already know some of the family’s claims about the so-called “portal to hell,” but footage of Rosa explaining the finer details provides additional insight — informational tidbits that add disturbing new layers to an already complex story.

In a video secured by The Daily Mail, Campbell offered up some chilling details. Here are five of her claims:

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/01/31/grandmother-reveals-5-most-chilling-moments-from-indiana-exorcism-house-hint-heels-twisting-eyes-rolling/

Black activists scathing response to Obama's speech: We're better off without you, 'just quit'

A group of black Chicago activists, also known as community organizers, were asked for their opinion of the Obama presidency after he delivered his State of the Union address Tuesday.

Their answers, unlike those from MSNBC, were brutally honest.“We’d be better off with you cutting off your presidency right now,” Mark Carter, an activist with Voices of the Ex-Offenders (VOTE) said. “Just quit.”

http://www.bizpacreview.com/2014/01/30/black-activists-scathing-response-to-obamas-speech-were-better-off-without-you-just-quit-97555

Jesus show outrages Christians...

Try that with Muhammad and see what happens....

Calls to cut controversial Come Heckle Christ show from Adelaide Fringe Festival program

http://m.couriermail.com.au/news/calls-to-cut-controversial-come-heckle-christ-show-from-adelaide-fringe-festival-program/story-fnihsrk2-1226815578833

Anxious Gold Coast parents keep watchful eye on their children's first days at school via WebCam

Instead of hovering around and peeking through the classroom windows, first-time parents of pre-prep students at The Southport School were able to log on from work or home to watch to watch a secure live stream of their children settling in...

 GC Bulletin

› Gold Coast Blog

Did BOM Drop The Ball? North Queensland residents not warned of #Cyclone #Dylan

A REVIEW into the Bureau of Meteorology's cyclone warnings and updates has been ordered after widespread criticism it failed keep residents informed as Tropical Cyclone Dylan hit the coast near Bowen. 
 
Residents in Bowen and Airlie Beach weren't told by the bureau the cyclone had made landfall until more than one hour after the event.

Read More Gold Coast Bulletin

› Gold Coast Blog

More #Cyclones on the way for North #Queensland

Two more cyclones could form around north Queensland in coming days, but are unlikely to pose huge risks to locals.

Full Story


› Gold Coast Blog — Queensland Australia

Study: Liberals drink more alcohol than conservatives

The study by Pavel Yakovlev and Walter P. Guessford of Duquesne University in Pennsylvania shows a direct correlation between political beliefs and the demand for alcohol. 

http://m.theweek.com/article.php?id=255855

Joe Namath: Human Body 'Just Not Designed' To Play Football; Admits Dealing With Brain Issues...

New York Jets legend Joe Namath says he’s “improved” after going through “some things medically” that could be tied to concussions suffered during his playing days.

Namath made the comments in a CBS interview to be aired the morning of Super Bowl XLVIII.

“I’ve seen some things on my brain. But I’ve had some treatment, and I’ve improved,” Namath told Rita Braver of “CBS Sunday Morning.”

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/01/31/joe-namath-says-hes-had-brain-related-medical-issues/