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Bizarro Earth

Brazil Suspends Chevron's Drilling Rights

Peter Murphy
Reuters
Wed, 23 Nov 2011 22:30 UTC
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© Reuters/Rogerio SantanaAn aerial view shows oil that seeped from a well operated by Chevron at Frade, on the waters in Campos Basin in Rio de Janeiro state November 18, 2011.
Brazil's government suspended Chevron Corp's drilling rights until Chevron clarifies the causes of an offshore oil spill, the latest twist in a political firestorm threatening the U.S. company's role in Brazil's oil bonanza.

The decision on Wednesday came as the head of Chevron's Brazilian unit testified before Brazil's Congress, where he apologized for the November 8 spill that leaked about 2,400 barrels of oil into the ocean off the coast of Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil's National Petroleum Agency said it decided to halt Chevron's drilling rights after determining there was evidence that the company had been "negligent" in its study of data needed to drill and in contingency planning for abandoning the well in the event of accident.

The agency, known as ANP, also rejected a request from Chevron made before the leak to drill wells in the deeper subsalt areas in the Frade field where the spill occurred. The field is located in the oil-rich Campos Basin and is the only block in Brazil where Chevron produces oil as the operator.
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Wall Street

Mexico: More than 20 bodies found in Guadalajara

E. Eduardo Castillo
Associated Press
Thu, 24 Nov 2011 09:45 UTC
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© UnknownGeographic area of Mexico pointing out where the state of Jalisco and city Guadalajara are located.
More than 20 bodies were discovered early Thursday in vehicles abandoned in the heart of Guadalajara, Mexico's second-largest city and the site of the recent Pan American Games, an official said.

that the bodies were found early Thursday in three vehicles left near the Milennium Arches, one of the most recognizable landmarks in the western city, an official with the prosecutor's office in the state of, where Guadalajara is located, told The Associated Press. He spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information.

The arches stand less than a 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) from the Expo Guadalajara events center, the site of both Pan Am Games events and the Guadalajara International Book Fair, which opens Saturday and describes itself as the world's most important Spanish-language book fair. The fair's website said it was expecting more than 600,000 visitors from around the world.

Guadalajara was flooded with police and soldiers during the Pan American Games and was spared significant violence.
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Heart - Black

US, Ohio: Missing Ohio man could be 3rd Craigslist victim

Andrew Welsh- Huggins
The Associated Press
Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:00 UTC
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© The Associated Press/FBIThis is an undated hand out photo of Timothy Kern of Massillon, Ohio provided by the FBI. Kern, missing since Nov. 13.
A man missing since Nov. 13 answered a Craigslist help-wanted ad that police say was actually a deadly scheme to lure people to a nonexistent farm job so they could be robbed, his family said.

Timothy Kern's father called the outlook "pretty grim" and Kern's son said his father had been murdered. The missing man, who would be the scheme's third known victim, had called the job offer "strange" in a Facebook post.

Two people are in custody, but law enforcement officials have released few details because of a gag order.

Kern was promised $300 a week, a trailer and a truck for the job near Caldwell in southern Ohio, his father, Jack Kern, told The Associated Press on Tuesday. He said his son was excited about the job because of the chance of bettering his life.

In a Facebook post on Nov. 10, Tim Kern wrote: "Just got one of the strangest job offers. A good offer but strange. The job is to watch over 680 acres south of cambridge. Odd jobs and such but mainly just secure it. Trailer, utilities, salary. Drawbacks? No cell phone service, kids are up here, and i have to move this sunday."

Jack Kern, of Massillon, said his son was rarely out of touch and often texted and called family members.

"We're holding hope, but pretty grim, I think," he said.
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Beer

New York, US: Controversial "Anti-Semitic" Vodka Billboard Taken Down in New York City

Eric Pfeiffer
The Sideshow
Thu, 24 Nov 2011 09:07 UTC
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© The New York Times
A billboard for Wodka vodka in NYC has been taken down and destroyed after complaints that the advertisement's message is anti-Semitic.

The New York Times reported that the billboard featured a long-haired dog wearing a yarmulke and another dog wearing a Santa hat with the words, "Christmas quality, Hanukkah pricing," alongside the photo.

The backlash against the billboard was nearly instantaneous. Ron Meier, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, called it "crude and offensive."

"To use the Jewish holiday in dealing with issues of money is clearly insensitive and inappropriate," Meier told the paper.

Brian Gordon, head of MMG, the advertising company behind the billboard, said the billboard's message was not intended to be offensive.
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Megaphone

US: Megyn Kelly's pepper spray comments spark backlash

Mike Krumboltz
The Upshot
Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:00 UTC
Pepper spray, its effects, and its appropriateness continue to be top of mind in the media.

Following the protests at UC Davis, during which Occupy protesters were sprayed with pepper spray by a campus police officer, Fox News commentator Megyn Kelly went on the Bill O'Reilly show.

Kelly appeared to downplay the physical effects of pepper spray. Kelly said pepper spray is "like a derivative of real pepper. It's a food product essentially."

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Arrow Up

US: Passenger forced to stand for seven hours on U.S. Airways flight because of 400-pound man sitting next to him

Lee Moran and Mark Duell
The Daily Mail, UK
Thu, 24 Nov 2011 03:52 UTC
  • Arthur Berkowitz flying from Anchorage to Philadelphia
  • One of longest possible domestic flights without a stop
  • Said it was dangerous as he couldn't use his seatbelt
  • Obese man said 'I apologise, I'm your worst nightmare'
The passenger who had to stand during a seven-hour flight because of a morbidly obese man sitting next to him has today spoken about his ordeal.

Arthur Berkowitz, 57, said his 400lb neighbour on US Airways Flight 901 from Anchorage to Philadelphia made it impossible to get into his seat.

The obese man spilled over into Mr Berkowitz's personal space and he could not move because the plane was full so he was forced to stand up.

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© AlamyDangerous: Passenger Arthur Berkowitz had to stand for a seven-hour flight after a morbidly obese man next to him made it impossible for him to sit down
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Heart

US: Dozens of rabbits found along Colorado roadside


The Associated Press
Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:00 UTC
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© unknown
Animal advocates are trying to find out why someone apparently left dozens of rabbits along a road in Colorado Springs.

Someone spotted the white bunnies Sunday and members of the Dream Power Animal Rescue and other people helped round them up.

The Gazette reports that the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region is investigating and offering a $500 reward for information in the case.

Many of the bunnies went to animal shelters, but about 20 were taken home by people who helped rescue them.

Source: The Gazette
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Green Light

US: Why was Michelle Obama Booed at a NASCAR Race?

Mark Whittington
Yahoo! Contributor Network
Thu, 24 Nov 2011 03:50 UTC
Michelle Obama
© unknown
First lady Michelle Obama, along with Vice President Biden's wife Jill Biden, was presented as grand marshals of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Finale in Miami. Obama was booed by some members of the crowd.

While stipulating the NASCAR crowd is hardly part of President Barack Obama's base of support, the unpopularity of an American president rarely translates to his wife. Mrs. Obama enjoyed a 63 percent positive rating in a recent CNN poll, while her husband languishes in the mid-40s.

It would not be too difficult to overanalyze this incident. Sports fans tend to be raucous, especially after they have been well lubricated. It is possible the NASCAR crowd would have booed the Second Coming if it came before the big race.

On the other hand, Mrs. Obama has delved into controversy in her pet cause of getting people to eat healthy. Recently she opined that her favorite meal was steak and arugula. It seemed to be a somewhat Marie Antoinette type of statement. A lot of families in these difficult times are hard pressed to afford hamburger, not to mention steak.
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Fish

US: Massachusetts Fishermen Snare 881-Pound Tuna, Feds Take It


The Associated Press
Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:00 UTC
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© The Associated Press/NOAAThis Nov. 12, 2011 photo released by NOAA and provided by Stephanie Rafael shows fishing boat owner Carlos Rafael in New Bedford, Mass., with an 881-pound tuna.
It's the big one that got taken away.

Local fishing boat owner Carlos Rafael was elated when one of his trawlers snared an 881-pound bluefin tuna earlier this month.

But the joy was short-lived. Federal fishery enforcement agents seized the fish when the crew returned to port Nov. 12.

Rafael had tuna permits but was told catching tuna with a net is illegal.

Instead, it's got to be caught by handgear, such as rod and reel, harpoon or handline.

"We didn't try to hide anything," Rafael told The Standard-Times newspaper of New Bedford, a famous whaling era port 50 miles south of Boston. "We did everything by the book. Nobody ever told me we couldn't catch it with a net."
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Info

Kenyan runner in Alaska loses feet to frostbite

Yereth Rosen
Reuters
Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:03 UTC
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© Amanda Umberger/University of Alaska Anchorage/ScreengrabMarko Cheseto won several honors for the University of Alaska Anchorage athletics team.
A top college runner from Kenya who spent two days lost in an Alaska snowstorm earlier this month had to have both of his feet amputated due to frostbite, the University of Alaska, Anchorage said on Monday.

Marko Cheseto, a two-time NCAA All-American runner, disappeared on November 6 after leaving the university campus during a heavy storm. He walked into a campus hotel more than 48 hours later severely hypothermic and suffering from frostbite.

Both of the 28-year-old star athlete's feet later had to be amputated because of severe frostbite, the university said.

Cheseto, in his first public statement since he was found, thanked the university, city and volunteers who searched for him during his "troubled times".

"As some may know, I've been going through a lot of personal issues," the runner said in a statement released through the university.
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