Those crazy American conspiracy theorists who live up trees with guns and drink their own pee don’t seem quite so crazy anymore.

Verizon scandal: Barack Obama's national security state is now beyond democratic control

It turns out that a “secret court order” has empowered the US government to collect the phone records of millions of users of Verizon, one of the most popular telephone providers – a massive domestic surveillance programme and a shocking intrusion into the lives of others.

For the first time in history, being an AT&T customer doesn’t seem such a bad thing after all.Of course, it isn't the first time that a US administration has spied on its own people. The origins of this particular order lie first in the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and then in Section 215 of the Patriot Act, backed by George W Bush and passed by Congress after 9/11. Normally, domestic surveillance only targets suspicious individuals, not the entire population, but in 2006 it was discovered that a similarly wide database of cellular records was being collected from customers of Verizon, AT&T and BellSouth
Verizon scandal: Barack Obama's national security state is now beyond democratic control – Telegraph Blogs

Entrepreneurs pray more, see God as personal, researchers find

American entrepreneurs pray more frequently, are more likely to see God as personal and are more likely to attend services in congregations that encourage business and profit-making, according to a study by Baylor University scholars of business and sociology.  

"Entrepreneurs take on tasks that are yet unproven," said Mitchell J. Neubert, Ph.D., associate professor and Chavanne Chair of Christian Ethics in Business in Baylor's Hankamer School of Business. "We know they are praying more, but we don't know yet what they're praying about. It might be for the wisdom to navigate uncertainty. It could be 'Please give me more success,' or 'Give me more energy to work a 25-hour day.'" Entrepreneurs pray more, see God as personal, researchers find

Device detects drugs, sparks privacy fears, powerful enough to detect woman painting her nails or bug spray used

A GOLD Coast man has invented a device that alerts rental property owners when their apartments have been hijacked by criminals to cook drugs.The device, known as Owner's Eye, is already being used in 11 Gold Coast holiday homes -- with many more on the way.The Owner's Eye uses sophisticated sensors to monitor levels of noise and gas in rental properties without notifying renters. Creator and former airline manager John Critchley said his device protected property owners against criminal activities.  Device detects drugs, sparks privacy fears Local Gold Coast News | goldcoast.com.au | Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Surfers Suspected of Posting Fake Shark Warning Signs on CA Beaches...

Shark Warning signs started popping up at popular beaches in Santa Cruz and Capitola Thursday.But they are fake, according to state park rangers.It wasn't clear who posted the signs or why.The bottom of the notice gave a possible clue. It told surfers to "surf Cowells instead." NBC Bay Area : Fake Shark Warning Signs Posted in Capitola, Santa Cruz

12 Clear Signals That The U.S. Economy Just Might Really Slow Down

Many of the same patterns that we witnessed during the last major economic downturn are starting to repeat themselves. In fact, many of the things that are happening right now have not happened in quite a few years. For example, manufacturing activity in the U.S. has contracted for the first time in four years. The inventory to sales ratio is the highest that it has been in four years. Average hourly compensation just experienced the largest decline that we have seen in four years.  12 Clear Signals That The U.S. Economy Is About To Really Slow Down

Defendants cheered at 'show trial' of anti-Putin protesters...

Supporters clapped and chanted "Freedom" in a Moscow courthouse on Thursday as 12 Russians went before a judge charged with mass disorder during a protest against President Vladimir Putin. Defendants cheered at 'show trial' of anti-Putin protesters

Hungarians unite as 'worst-ever' floods threaten Budapest...

Hungarians are setting aside their differences in a race against time to defend their historic capital Budapest and other areas from what the prime minister predicted will be the "worst floods of all time".

As water levels broke records in the west ahead of an expected peak on Monday, thousands of volunteers joined soldiers and emergency workers -- often crossing traditional social boundaries to make some unlikely alliances -- to roll up their sleeves and don rubber boots. Hungarians unite as 'worst-ever' floods threaten Budapest - FRANCE 24

Last Days: 8th graders caught 'sexting' in U.S.

The superintendent of Duxbury Schools says school officials have made a disturbing discovery – eighth graders “sexting.”Superintendent Ben Tantillo tells WBZ NewsRadio 1030,

late last week they learned some middle school girls – mostly eighth graders – were sending suggestive, inappropriate pictures to boys. Duxbury Officials Investigate Discovery Of ‘Sexting’ 8th Grade Students « CBS Boston

'Uhhh…Uh…Uhhh….People!' Obama at Total Loss for Words When Staff Forgets His Speech

President Obama strolled out to the podium today in San Jose, CA and was immediately at a loss for words.

Not only did the President not have teleprompter, his aides forgot his speech.“My remarks are not sitting here,” the President declared awkwardly.  “I’m uhhh….people….oh goodness….uhhhh...folks are sweating back there right now.”President Obama, who’s often mocked for an over-reliance on scripts, shifted uncomfortably smiling for several moments buying time. An aide sprinted out with a hard copy of the speech, tripping at one point, adding to the drama.

'Uhhh…Uh…Uhhh….People!' Obama at Total Loss for Words When Staff Forgets His Speech - Fox Nation

NFL champ skips WH visit because Obama said ‘God bless’ Planned Parenthood

“I’m very confused by [Obama's] statement,” he explained. “”For God to bless a place where they’re ending 330,000 lives a year? I just chose not to attend.”  (good on ya mate)

Retired Baltimore Ravens center Matt Birk, who won a Super Bowl with the team last year, skipped the team’s visit to the White House due to President Obama’s support for Planned Parenthood.“I have great respect for the office of the presidency but about five or six weeks ago, our president made a comment in a speech and he said, ‘God bless Planned Parenthood,’” Birk, a former Minnesota Viking, told a local Minnesota sports blog .

NFL champ skips WH visit because Obama said ‘God bless’ Planned Parenthood | Mobile Washington Examiner

2 men in Taiwan indicted on charges of planting cyanide-tainted bombs on a high-speed train and at a lawmaker's office.

The devices failed to explode.The Xinbei Prosecutors' Office said late Thursday that Hu Tsung-hsien arranged for Chu Ya-dong to place two pieces of luggage at each location.

Each had a timer meant to set off an attached gas can and release toxic cyanide into the air.

2 men indicted over failed cyanide bombings of high-speed train, lawmaker's office in Taiwan | Fox News

New Zealand lawmaker resigns duties after spy leak

–  A New Zealand politician suspected of leaking a report on the country's spy agency has stepped down from his ministerial duties.

His resignation came after an inquiry into the leak found that Dunne had exchanged 86 emails with Fairfax Media reporter Andrea Vance in the two weeks before Vance published a scoop on the report. Dunne refused to turn over all the emails to the inquiry.... more》  New Zealand lawmaker resigns from duties after he's suspected of leaking spy agency report | Fox News

Kevin Rudd's a lunatic: Latham

FORMER Labor leader Mark Latham says Kevin Rudd is a "once in a century egomaniac" who should have been expelled from the party, as the former prime minister stokes leadership tensions once again.Mr Rudd stole the limelight from Julia Gillard again today while campaigning in Geelong with local MPs Darren Cheeseman and Richard Marles. Kevin Rudd's a lunatic, says Mark Latham | The Australian

China hacked into Obama and McCain's 2008 campaigns...

The U.S. secretly traced a massive cyberespionage operation against the 2008 presidential campaigns of Barack Obama and John McCain to hacking  units backed by the People’s Republic of China, prompting  high level warnings to Chinese officials to stop such activities,  U.S. intelligence officials tell NBC News. Chinese hacked Obama, McCain campaigns, took internal documents, officials say - Open Channel

A new study shows that 40 minutes of intense exercise, 3x a week for 10 weeks Improves Fitness and Health

Short, Intense Workouts Improve Fitness and Health

Don’t complain that you do not have enough time to gain the health benefits of exercise. A new study shows that forty minutes of intense exercise, three times a week for 10 weeks:
* increased VO2max,
* lowered blood pressure,
* lowered blood sugar levels,
* reduced body fat, and
* lowered total cholesterol, the bad low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and the oxidized LDL cholesterol that forms plaques in arteries. 

VO2max measures the maximal ability to take in and use oxygen. It is a measure of fitness level that also predicts how long a person is likely to live (Med Sci Sports Exerc 1999;31: S646–662).

Melburnians wake to flash flooding after heavy rain overnight

HEAVY rain has pelted Melbourne causing minor flooding across the state. 
 
Motorists have been told to be careful on the roads after flooding was reported on St Kilda Rd near the Arts Centre, Nepean Hwy in Mentone, Ascot Vale Rd in Moonee Ponds and Forest Rd in Boronia.

The SES has taken 12 calls for help since midnight.

Read more: heraldsun.com.au

Gold Coast Diner: Vinegar for her hiccups, Oven cleaner picked by mistake - Woman In Intensive Care

A woman was hospitalised after staff at a Gold Coast restaurant mistakenly gave her oven cleaner in a bid to cure her hiccups.

The staffer intended to give the woman a tablespoon of vinegar for her hiccups, but a small bottle of oven cleaner was picked up by mistake. The mix up left the woman in intensive care. END

Read more: www.brisbanetimes.com.au

How much do you know about a heart attack? Take The Quiz!

Heart Attacks  - Do you know the answers to the following Questions? 

1. Most heart attacks occur suddenly, without any warning.

   The correct answer is: False
   About two-thirds of victims are warned well in advance by episodes of chest pain, shortness of breath, or fatigue. But the heart attack itself may seem sudden. Symptoms include a prolonged crushing pressure, fullness, squeezing, or pain in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back. Often the pain radiates to the neck or arms. Heart attack also is associated with sweating or chills, shortness of breath, nausea, and cold, clammy skin.
   
   

2. The medical term for heart attack -- myocardial infarction -- means "death of heart muscle."

   The correct answer is: True
   When one of the arteries that supplies blood flow to the heart (the coronary arteries) becomes blocked, the flow of fresh, oxygenated blood to the heart stops. If it lasts too long, the starved heart tissue dies. This defines a heart attack.
   
   
   

3. Blood clots cause most heart attacks.

   The correct answer is: True
   Research has confirmed that the sudden formation of a blood clot in an already narrowed vessel triggers nearly all heart attacks.
   
   
   

4. Alternative medicine is more effective than traditional methods in treating heart attacks.

   The correct answer is: False
    A heart attack must be quickly addressed with standard drug and surgical therapy. Alternative medicine, however, may be valuable in prevention and recovery.
   
   
   

5. Heart attack sufferers require a lengthy period of convalescence.

   The correct answer is: False
    People recovering from heart attacks are encouraged to get on their feet as soon as possible and start a gentle exercise program. Always follow your doctor's recommendations on types of exercise and how much you can do.
   
   
   — Resource - Webmd

NSA taps in to internet giants' systems to mine user data, secret files reveal

Top secret PRISM program claims direct access to servers of firms including Google, Facebook and Apple - Companies deny any knowledge of program in operation since 2007

The National Security Agency has obtained direct access to the systems of Google, Facebook, Apple and other US internet giants, according to a top secret document obtained by the Guardian.

The NSA access is part of a previously undisclosed program called PRISM, which allows officials to collect material including search history, the content of emails, file transfers and live chats, the document says.

The Guardian has verified the authenticity of the document, a 41-slide PowerPoint presentation – classified as top secret with no distribution to foreign allies – which was apparently used to train intelligence operatives on the capabilities of the program. The document claims "collection directly from the servers" of major US service providers.... More - guardian.co.uk

Researchers: Carbon emissions helping to make Earth greener

(New Scientist) The planet is getting lusher, and we are responsible. Carbon dioxide generated by human activity is stimulating photosynthesis and causing a beneficial greening of the Earth’s surface.

For the first time, researchers claim to have shown that the increase in plant cover is due to this “CO2 fertilisation effect” rather than other causes. However, it remains unclear whether the effect can counter any negative consequences of global warming, such as the spread of deserts.

Recent satellite studies have shown that the planet is harbouring more vegetation overall, but pinning down the cause has been difficult. Factors such as higher temperatures, extra rainfall, and an increase in atmospheric CO2 – which helps plants use water more efficiently – could all be boosting vegetation.

Carbon emissions helping to make Earth greener - New Scientist - New Scientist