World News Random, Random

**rabbit** · 09-29-2009, 05:11 PM

For random news around the world.

**rabbit** · 09-29-2009, 05:14 PM

I thought this was beyond hilarious.

A few weeks ago, Gaddafi submitted a proposal to the U.N. to abolish Switzerland and divide it up along linguistic lines, giving parts of the country to Germany, France and Italy. Although the motion was thrown out because it violates the U.N. Charter, which states that no member country can threaten the existence of another, some Swiss leaders are still concerned that Libya could use its yearlong presidency of the U.N. General Assembly, which began on Sept. 15, to keep up Gaddafi's vitriolic attacks on their country.

The newspapers abound with tongue-in-cheek comments from readers who not only question Gaddafi's sanity, but also wonder how Switzerland would be divided up if the Libyan leader's motion were to be taken seriously. "Who is going to get the Matterhorn?" a reader asked in the Lausanne daily Le Matin. "Linguistically it belongs to Germany, but geographically it borders Italy." Another reader in Le Matin said he is "scandalized that Austria is not getting its fair share," while a Geneva resident wrote that he doesn't want his region to be annexed to France and asked about the possibility of linking it to French-speaking Quebec instead.

http://www.time.com/time/world/artic...926053,00.html

**Drop-shot** · 10-08-2009, 06:41 AM

Venezuela's Hugo Chavez has achieved legal recognition of his urban-civilian militias and now are legally an attack force. Reminds me of the Nazis.

They can be deployed at his command when he considers fit. The project had already been rejected by a peoples referendum in '07.

http://www.infobae.com/contenidos/47...icia-callejera

Also, Iran has issued its first death sentence against one of the protestors earlier this year against the election results. 200 remain imprisoned.

http://www.infobae.com/contenidos/47...ra-Ahmadinejad

**missinandre** · 10-08-2009, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by Drop-shot

Venezuela's Hugo Chavez has achieved legal recognition of his urban-civilian militias and now are legally an attack force. Reminds me of the Nazis.

They can be deployed at his command when he considers fit. The project had already been rejected by a peoples referendum in '07.

http://www.infobae.com/contenidos/47...icia-callejera

Also, Iran has issued its first death sentence against one of the protestors earlier this year against the election results. 200 remain imprisoned.

http://www.infobae.com/contenidos/47...ra-Ahmadinejad

This is depressing. I'm going to tennis random random

**Drop-shot** · 10-10-2009, 05:26 PM

Better news:
Turkey and Armenia advance in their bilateral relations.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_turkey_armenia

**Ti-Amie** · 10-13-2009, 01:11 PM

This cloud was seen over Moscow a few days ago. Guess I'd better lay off Doctor Who and Torchwood for awhile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHOPxVM6oIw

**Kirkus** · 10-13-2009, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by Ti-Amie

This cloud was seen over Moscow a few days ago. Guess I'd better lay off Doctor Who and Torchwood for awhile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHOPxVM6oIw

WTF is that!?

That's just too damned creepy.

**Drop-shot** · 10-13-2009, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by Kirkus

WTF is that!?

That's just too damned creepy.

One of the comments on youtube said it was an atmospheric phenomenon.

YET, here's something truly weird from last week just outside my city.
supposedly a cow being abducted by a UFO. The picture makes it look like an out of focus bird, but watch the video that puts the white blot in proportion to the trees, and there's no way it'a a bird.

http://www.rosario3.com/noticias/ens...px?idNot=58593

**JTContinental** · 10-13-2009, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by Ti-Amie

This cloud was seen over Moscow a few days ago. Guess I'd better lay off Doctor Who and Torchwood for awhile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHOPxVM6oIw

I can't watch YouTube at work, but is it the green cloud? If so, it was making its way around China last month, too. Apparently, I just missed it in Shanghai.

**craighickman** · 10-13-2009, 01:52 PM

I never understood why we think we're the only "ones" in the entire universe.

That image makes me think of the wonderful film Contact.

**Kirkus** · 10-13-2009, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by JTContinental

I can't watch YouTube at work, but is it the green cloud? If so, it was making its way around China last month, too. Apparently, I just missed it in Shanghai.

Here, JT.

**Drop-shot** · 10-13-2009, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by craighickman

I never understood why we think we're the only "ones" in the entire universe.

That image makes me think of the wonderful film Contact.

I certainly don't... I've been putting off a thread on the subject.

**Kirkus** · 10-13-2009, 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by craighickman

I never understood why we think we're the only "ones" in the entire universe.

That image makes me think of the wonderful film Contact.

I love Contact! It's one of the few stories that makes "life out there" believable.

"I guess I'd say if it is just us... seems like an awful waste of space."
-- Ted Arroway

**mmmm8** · 10-13-2009, 02:56 PM

The explanation the weather agency gave (it's in the video description) - that it was a tornado that didn't end up happening seems right to me...

The cow one is really weird, though

**jjnow** · 10-13-2009, 02:59 PM

Originally Posted by Kirkus

I love Contact! It's one of the few stories that makes "life out there" believable.

"I guess I'd say if it is just us... seems like an awful waste of space."
-- Ted Arroway

I love the movie too. To me, it's the most thoughtful flim on the subject. No explosions or Armageddon situations, but logical discussion and theory. And you can't go wrong with Jodie Foster.

I'd also recommend reading Carl Sagan's novel it was based on (same title). He goes into much greater detail (though always understandable) on the mathematical/physical aspect of the plot. My English teacher junior year of high school lent me a copy. This reminds me I never actually gave it back to him, along with Ordinary People and Their Eyes Were Watching God. He maybe has a warrant out for me in SC.