notthenews

One man's view of the news

Madiba (Mandela) Let Us Down

admin | March 10, 2010

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has launched an astonishing attack on Nelson Mandela, accusing the former president of failing black people.
via allAfrica.com: South Africa: Madiba Let Us Down.
Oh boy!

Alien invaders introduced

admin | March 9, 2010

Japanese knotweed was first introduced to the UK by the Victorians as an ornamental plant, but it soon escaped from gardens and began its rampant spread and costs the UK over £150m a year to control and clear.
A natural predator, a small insect in the weed’s native home of Japan could also help to control it [...]

Pitbull Law – Have your say

admin | March 9, 2010

With the growing number of dog attacks in the past few years, many resulting in bad injuries and even death, the government launches a public consultation today on proposed changes to the current dangerous dogs laws. The measures  include:

Extending the current law to private property
Removing or extending the list of banned dogs
Introducing dog control orders
Making [...]

Wow, Dogs Understand Doggy Growls

admin | March 9, 2010

Dogs understand the meaning of different growls, from a rumble that says “back off” to playful snarls made in a tug-of-war game.
via Grrr… whats Step away from the bone in dog? – life – 08 March 2010 – New Scientist.
No sh*t, Sherlock!

Is teaching the last choice profession?

admin | March 8, 2010

According to a story on the BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8550506.stm), the number of men applying for teacher training has risen sharply because of the recession, says the body responsible for training teachers.  There was a 52% rise in the number of men wanting to be primary school teachers – more than 4,700 in 2009/10, up about 1,500 [...]

Eat according to your Genes

admin | March 5, 2010

“The emerging field of ‘nutrigenomics’ looks at how food interacts with genes. It has long been known that people react to certain nutrients differently according to their genetic makeup. Lactose intolerance, for example, is more common among Asians and Africans than of people of North European descent.”
The story is at BBC News – DNA test could [...]

Readers will pay for ‘quality’ journalism

admin | March 4, 2010

“Publishers should have more balls, they should have more confidence about what they’re doing,” is how Rob Grimshaw, managing director of FT.com put it.
“If they put their mind to it then they can produce compelling products online which people will pay for.”
via BBC – dot.Rory: FT to papers: Readers will pay for quality journalism.
My money [...]

Polygamy – who says its wrong?

admin | March 4, 2010

“In the UK, to be married to more than one person at a time is illegal. But the Zulu ethnic group, of which Mr Zuma is part, practises polygamy by tradition.”
Raed more @  BBC News – How do Zulus explain polygamy?.
I would respectively put foward that the imposition of one’s values on those who do [...]

Aborigines mulling nuclear proposal on tribal land

admin | March 3, 2010

The Australian federal government has identified a remote cattle station north of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory as a likely site to build Australia’s first nuclear waste dump.  The identified site is on tribal land and is causing contreversy within the community.   The government assures the community  that the nuclear dump would not be built [...]

Made for each other

admin | March 3, 2010

A US couple has spent the first night of married life in separate prison cells after the bride attacked the grooms former lover after the wedding.
via BBC News – Newly-weds spend honeymoon night in prison.
Fills you with confidence that this is a marriage made in heaven, don’t it?  Obviously birds of a feather this couple.