News Headlines (131) 21 January 2013

ONLINE TODAY

► Obama starts second term in White House ceremony. WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama took the official oath for his second term on Sunday at the White House in a small, private ceremony that set a more subdued tone compared to the historic start of his presidency four years ago.

PS :: Homework for Obama : Domestic : Republicans, NRA, || Foreign Affairs: Iran, Syria, Russia, Asia

► A view of history from the voice of the inauguration. Jan. 19- Charlie Brotman has been the inaugural parade announcer for every president since 1949, and says each time it is as exciting as his first. Deborah Lutterbeck reports. The presidential inaugural ceremony is steeped in history and pageantry Eighty-five-year-old Charlie Brotman, has been the inaugural parade announcer for every president -- starting with with Harry Truman in 1949. (SOUNDBITE)(English) CHARLIE BROTMAN - INAUGURAL PARADE ANNOUNCER SAYING: "It's incredible, I can hardly believe it and even though I've done it this many times, I think it's like 64 years, from 49-2013, I still get the adrenaline going, it's not the same old same old, been there done that, not all. Every time is like the first time." President Barack Obama takes the constitutional oath of office inside the White House Sunday. On Monday Obama will take the familiar path along Constitution Avenue following the public swearing in on the steps on the U.S. Capitol-- and once again becoming a part of American inaugural history.

► Power's Punishing Impact: Power Linked to Tendency to Punish Harshly - Jan. 17, 2013 — Often, employees are shocked by what they think is a supervisor's severe reaction to a subordinate's seemingly minor transgression. The supervisors who punish them seem to be so absolutely sure that they are doing the right thing -- they have a clear sense of purpose and there are no arguments to sway them.

► Celestial Wonder Looks Uncannily Like a Manatee - by Clara Moskowitz, SPACE.com Assistant Managing Editor | Date: 19 January 2013 ||  ► Outer space nebula looks just like a manatee floating 18,000 light-years from earth. Officially dubbed Manatee Nebula in Florida ceremony - By Joshua Gardner  PUBLISHED: 19 January 2013

► 20 January 2013 - Original Batmobile sold for $4.2m at US auction 

► SOLD 4.2 Million the Original 1966 Batmobile built by George Barris auctioned off by Barret Jackson. Published on Jan 19, 2013 by TheBatfan :: This is a vid capture of the auction for the original #1 1966 Batmobile build by George Barris for the 1966 Batman tv series. This was the #1 car the car built from the 1955 Lincoln Futura prototype car. It had been owned by George since it was built for the show.. this is the first time it was ever put up for sale publicly.



► Katie Holmes hires a dating coach

► Kim Kardashian: 'Swatting' Is 'Not A Joke!'

► Marion Cotillard is Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year 


by VICE

► Football's Most Dangerous Rivalry. Published on Jul 4, 2012 :: The rivalry between football clubs Rangers and Celtic goes past typical name calling and dives into violence, racial slurs and pure hatred. The rivalry between Glasgow's "Old Firm" sides is the most famous in world football. It's the game's flagship loathing, proof of the power of the sport to inspire profound levels of tribal loyalty and a near-Pavlovian revulsion at anything to do with a rival. We examine the situation and try to get a handle on the political, religious, and national identity clashes that have shaped the rivalry, speak to fanzine editors on both sides of the divide and travel with the Bhoys' away support to a match at Tannadice.



► Death of the American Hobo (Documentary). Published on Oct 17, 2012 :: We traveled by rail to the 112th National Hobo Convention in Britt, Iowa, to see what was left of hobo life.



► Getting High Injecting Snake Venom. Published on Jan 17, 2013 :: We met with a guy who's been injecting himself with snake venom for 20 years and he looks better than ever. Have a question? Steve is doing a comments response video next week, ask him anything in the comments below! The hemotoxins which attack human blood cells in a tree viper's venom can result in an agonising death in less than 30 minutes. The neurotoxins in a cobra bite can kill a person in half that time. for the past 20 years Steve Ludwin has been sticking all this lovely deadly snake juice in a syringe and mainlining it all the way to immortality. Privately milking an array of deadly snakes including rattlesnakes, monocled cobras, and a few casual vipers thrown in to the mix, Steve has been injecting what would for any normal human be fatal amounts venom into his body since the late 80s.

The basic principle - laid out by pioneer herpetologist, Bill Haast, who died last year at the age of 100 - is that regular exposure to the venom results in the body developing an immunity. Steve claims to not only never get ill, but that cobra venom is the ultimate pick me up, with effects lasting a days after injecting, making Steve stronger, faster and more resilient. Finally it looks like mainstream scientific research might be catching up.



► World's Scariest Drug (Documentary Exclusive). Published on May 11, 2012 :: VICE's Ryan Duffy went to Colombia to check out a strange and powerful drug called Scopolamine, also known as "The Devil's Breath." It's a substance so intense that it renders a person incapable of exercising free will. The first few days in the country were a harrowing montage of freaked-out dealers and unimaginable horror stories about Scopolamine. After meeting only a few people with firsthand experience, the story took a far darker turn than we ever could have imagined.



► America's 2nd Revolutionary War.  Published on Jan 10, 2013 :: Traveling from tea parties in Texas to "Oath Keeper" rallies in Massachusetts, VICE investigates whether the country is actually on the verge of the 2nd Revolutionary War. The Department of Homeland Security classifies them as potential "domestic terrorists"; they prefer to be called patriots. As the economic crisis deepens, a growing movement of Americans is rejecting the two-party system and the mainstream media. They believe a violent revolution is imminent, and they're getting ready for it now. VICE correspondent Ryan Duffy crosses the country to meet the people on the front lines of the struggle. They include Alex Jones, a radio talk show host in Austin, Texas who is waking people up to the dangers of the corporate globalists — and has seen traffic on his websites increase dramatically in recent months. We also meet Sgt. Charles Dyer, a U.S. Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton who has taken an oath to disobey unconstitutional orders and take up arms against the government if it becomes tyrannical — and is training a citizen militia to do the same.



by Journeymanpictures

► Child Sacrifice - Uganda. Published on Dec 10, 2012  :: Uganda is a developing country with a growing economy. Yet it struggles against a widespread belief in spirits and superstition - as demonstrated by the alarming rise in incidents of child sacrifice. Considering the violence experienced by 10 year old Alan Ssemwanga, his survival is "miraculous". Whilst searching for fruit in the forest, he was attacked by two men - beaten, castrated and left to die. Yet many Ugandans support these attacks, believing that child sacrifice, "leads to happiness and wealth". Missing evidence, bribery, false statements and local police allowing suspects to skip bail all exacerbates the problem. "The law is weak", one mother despairs.



► Never Say Die - China. Uploaded on Sep 12, 2011 :: The secret of the world's oldest people.China's remote Bama County is home to a significant number of the worlds oldest people but what is the secret of a long and happy life? Today this remains the eternal unanswered question. "I don't have any secret of living a long life. You need to be a good person with a balanced mind", says Huang Xu Ping who is currently 113. According to locals, the abundance of "sunshine, clean air and water", is reason for their longevity. But with more and more tourists coming to see them could the trappings of the modern world end their old way of life? -  A Film By SBS | Distributed By Journeyman Pictures on September 2011



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Ghost Cities - China. Uploaded on Apr 18, 2011. Vast new cities are being built across China at a rate of ten a year, but they remain almost completely uninhabited ghost towns. Racing to stay ahead of the world economy, is the superpower about to implode? "There are around 64 million empty apartments in China," claims analyst Gillem Tulloch. It's all part of the Chinese government's efforts to keep its economy booming and there are plenty of people who would love to move in, but the properties are priced out of the market. It's after 2pm and in the new city of Dongguan shop owner Tian Yu Gao is yet to serve a single customer. "It's a bit boring," he sighs. His open shop is a rare sight in the Great Mall: once heralded by the New York Times as proof of China's astonishing consumer culture, today it is an eerie vista of emptiness. "It can't stay this way," insists Tulloch, "when the bubble bursts, it will impoverish vast numbers of people".


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Deadly Secret - Russia. Uploaded on Mar 22, 2011 :: February 2001 - In Russia, the toll of a terrible nuclear accident is only just emerging after years of official denial and cover-up. The truth of what occurred at the Mayak nuclear weapons plant, at the foot of the Ural Mountains, is by any measure appalling. With radioactive pollution far in excess of Chernobyl, the countryside around Mayak, including the village of Muslyumova, has been poisoned. And the people who've been forced to stay there as guinea pigs for the Russian government are dying. But for a long time, they didn't know it. The accident and its staggering after-effects were kept hidden from the villagers - and from the rest of the world - until it was too late.







► Raw: Obama Sworn in for Second Term. Published on Jan 20, 2013 ::  On the cusp of his second term, President Barack Obama took the oath of office in an intimate White House ceremony, a swearing-in ritual he will repeat on Monday before a massive crowd at the Capitol. (Jan. 20) || ► Raw: Biden Sworn in for 2nd Term. Published on Jan 20, 2013 :: The day began with a morning swearing-in ceremony for Vice President Joe Biden, committing him to four more years as the nation's second in command. (Jan. 20)  || ► Obama: Inauguration Celebrates US, Not Election. Published on Jan 20, 2013 :: President Barack Obama says his second inauguration is a celebration of the country and its citizens, not the election results. (Jan. 20)




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Raw: Thousands Gather to Watch Camels Fight. Published on Jan 20, 2013 ::  Tens of thousands of people attended the annual Camel Wrestling Championship in Selcuk, Turkey on Sunday. The event brings together 2 male camels and a female camel in heat who stands nearby as they fight for her affection. (Jan. 20)



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Raw: Delayed New Year's Day Swim in Germany. Published on Jan 20, 2013 ::  A group of more than 100 swimmers plunged into the icy waters of the Elbe river in Germany on Sunday to take part in a delayed New Year's swim. (Jan. 20)

► Latinos take on bigger role in Obama inauguration - By BRETT ZONGKER

► Obama Sworn in for 4 More Years in Office - ABC OTUS News

► Obama first two-term president to take oath of office four times 

► On 2nd term eve, Obama cites commitment to service - By DAVID ESPO | Associated Press  

► Analysis: Optimistic Obama Faces Tough to-Do List - ABC OTUS News 

► Will Climate Change Get Cold Shoulder in Obama's 2nd Term? - By Stephanie Pappas, LiveScience Senior Writer

► Tell us the TRUTH! What are your hopes, dreams, fears for the next four years? - By Yahoo! News 

► Teenager Reportedly Used AR-15 to Kill Five in New Mexico - By Connor Simpson | The Atlantic Wire 

► India's enigmatic Gandhi embraces politics in emotive speech - By Frank Jack Daniel and Satarupa Bhattacharjya

► 3-D sonar provides new view of Civil War shipwreck - By MICHAEL GRACZYK

► Which gems are even rarer than diamonds? (VIDEO)

► 'SNL' skewers Lance Armstrong, Manti Te'o, Jodie Foster (VIDEO)

► Here's How Much Cash Americans Waste Sitting in Traffic Every Day 

► The Best Performing Cities in 2012: Milken Institute


►World's happiest countries (1. Norway; 2. Denmark; 3. Sweden; 4. Australia; 5. New Zealand; 6. Canada; 7. Finland; 8. The Netherlands; 9. Switzerland; 10. Ireland) 



► The 10 Decorating Trends You Wish Would Go Away 

► Hunting pythons in the Everglades. The "Python Challenge" is organized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and nearly 800 people have signed up to hunt Burmese pythons on public lands in Florida. Experts say the invasive species is decimating native wildlife in the Florida Everglades. For the first time, the public is joining licensed hunters in the search for the snakes. (PHOTOS)

► Scotch tape portraits - Your last art project involving Scotch tape was probably back in elementary school. But photographer Wes Naman has taken the sticky office supply to a whole new level with his photography series "Scotch Tape." The portraits show faces made silly or scary by stretching them out with tape.  -- By Claudine Zap 

► Unusual hotels around the world - A look at the more unique places to spend the night. (PHOTOS) || Lounging at the Lego Hotel - North America's first ever three-story, 250-room Lego Hotel is being built in California's Legoland. (PHOTOS)

► Berlin Fashion Week - Highlights from Berlin Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 2013 in Berlin (PHOTOS) 

► Algeria hostage death toll 'rises' || VIDEO  - Mali conflict: On the front line with French troops

At least 48 hostages are now thought to have died in a siege at an Algerian gas plant, as reports say 25 bodies found at the complex on Sunday were all captives.
* Terror threat to last 'decades' - UK 
* Q&A: Hostage crisis
* Profile: Mokhtar Belmokhtar 
* UK hostages speak of ordeal

► Mali crisis: Civilians flee Islamist takeover and French bombs

► 21 January 2013 Davos 2013: 'Dynamic resilience' in a volatile world |  By Jorn Madslien BBC News

► Does 'Blue Monday' really exist?

► Merging man, mind and machine 

► Business travel gets artsy 

► Week in pictures: 12-18 January 2013 :: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-21040636

► 20 January 2013 -  In pictures: Behind Kachin rebel lines in Burma 

► 20 January 2013 - 'Quadruple helix' DNA seen in human cells | By Jonathan Amos Science correspondent, BBC News 

► 'Quadruple helix' DNA discovered in human cells. Published on Jan 20, 2013 by TechNetworkNews ||  ► James Watson: How we discovered DNA. Uploaded on May 16, 2007 by TEDtalksDirector :: Nobel laureate James Watson opens TED2005 with the frank and funny story of how he and his research partner, Francis Crick, discovered the structure of DNA. TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers are invited to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes -- including speakers such as Jill Bolte Taylor, Sir Ken Robinson, Hans Rosling, Al Gore and Arthur Benjamin. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, politics and the arts.

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Burning Man: The Documentary.  Published on Jan 20, 2013 :: ­Burning Man is an annual festival that began in 1986. Tens of thousands of people gather at the 'Playa' in Nevada's Black Rock Desert to create a temporary wooden city dedicated to community, art, self-expression and self-reliance. They depart a week later, leaving no trace whatsoever. Let it burn! (Related video :: My older post on 10 December 2012)



► Algerian hostage crisis death toll tops 80 as Al-Qaeda claims responsibility 

► 'Al-Qaeda threat used by NATO as smoke screen for re-colonization of Northern Africa' 

► Long live Syrian government-in-exile? Opposition rejects Assad's invitation to form new cabinet 

► US teen shoots and kills two adults, three children in New Mexico 

► Pro-gun activists flood US state capitals defending right to bear arms (PHOTOS)

► Design flaw in 'Lightning II' F-35B jet raises fears of lightning-induced explosions 

► Fashion's bad boy back on track: John Galliano to work for Oscar de la Renta

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Four oaths for two-termer Barack Obama. Published on Jan 19, 2013 :: When US President Barack Obama is inaugurated on Monday he will already be officially 24 hours into his second term. Under the constitution, the president must take office at noon on Sunday, January 20, so he will be sworn in on both days. In 2008, Chief Justice John Roberts made a slip when he administered the oath, so they did it again a day after, making Obama the first two term president to take it four times by January 21. Al Jazeera's Al Fisher reports from Washington D.C. ||  ► Inside Story Americas - Obama's second chance at change? Published on Jan 19, 2013 :: Ahead of US President Barack Obama's inauguration we look at what to expect from his second term. Inside Story Americas with presenter Shihab Rattansi, is joined by John Nichols, Washington correspondent for The Nation and Simon Rosenberg, president and founder of the New Democrat network. And to discuss the president's foreign policy agenda is Mark Perry author of many books including Talking to Terrorists and Steve Clemons, editor at large for The Atlantic.



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Pro-gun rallies held in US state capitals. Published on Jan 19, 2013 :: Hundreds of people have gathered in state capitals across the US days after President Barack Obama unveiled a sweeping package of federal gun-control proposals. About 2,000 people, many carrying American flags and "Don't Tread On Me" banners, turned out for the chilly outdoor rally at the New York state capitol in Albany on Saturday, while an estimated 600 people turned out for speeches in Austin, Texas. Police in Connecticut said about 1,000 people showed up on the capitol grounds in Hartford, about 80km from the site of last month's mass shooting at Newtown's Sandy Hook Elementary School. Al Jazeera's John Terrett reports from Washington DC.



► Counting the Cost - Where is the global economy heading? Published on Jan 19, 2013 :: This week on Counting the Cost, we look at the global economy and where it is heading. As China reports much anticipated growth figures we take a closer look at how that fits into the global picture and go behind the numbers with Jorge Mariscal, the chief investment officer for Emerging Markets at UBS Wealth Management. Nosizwe Nokwe-Macamo, the chief executive of South Africa's state oil company PetroSA, lays out her ideas for the future and tells us which country is the game changer for the whole region. Plus, making money in sport: The world's top golfer, Rory McIlroy, becomes the $100m man - thanks to his new friends at Nike. Counting the Cost spoke to him and the head of Nike golf, Cindy Davis. (VIDEO)

►Listening Post - Testing China's journalistic limits. Published on Jan 19, 2013 :: This week, Listening Post gets to the heart of a story that involves the Communist Party and its effort to redefine itself for a new decade under Xi Jinping. His talk of a 'Chinese Dream' envisages a new, more in-touch Communist Party that will stamp out corruption and usher in a new era of prosperity. But does that dream include a constitution that protects liberties and freedom for the press? (VIDEO)

► Indicted tycoon Kim Dotcom launches new site. Published on Jan 19, 2013 ::  Kim Dot Com, perhaps the United States' most-wanted computer geek, once operated the file sharing website 'Mega Upload'. It's estimated that it accounted for up to four per cent of the world's internet traffic. A year ago, however, US authorities had the site shut down, and charged Dot Com with piracy. He managed to escape extradition to the US, and now he's started a new website that allows users to share files - but also to choose who they share them with. (VIDEO)

Latest Headlines

■ Insurgents Hit Police Facility in Afghan Capital
■ French Airstrikes Jolt Islamists in Malian Town
■ Manti Te'o to be Interviewed by Katie Couric
■ At Least 13 Suspected Al-Qaeda Men Killed in Yemen 
■ Merkel's Coalition Loses German State Vote
■ UN: Prisoners Still Tortured in Afghan Custody
■ Flu Season Fuels Debate over Paid Sick Time Laws 
■ World's Best Big Wave Surfers Compete at Mavericks
■ NTSB: Plane Battery that Burned Not Overcharged
■ Kardashian's LA Home Target of Fake 911 Call
■ Schumer Says Senate Democrats Will Pass Budget
■ Indicted Megaupload Founder Launches New Site
■ Explorer's Rare Scotch Returned to Antarctic Stash
■ CNN: Five Dead, Teen Charged in Albuquerque



■ CNN: Man Arrested After Philadelphia Subway Push 

► Swearing Age-Old Oath, Obama Steps into 2nd Term 

* Obama's Inauguration: Who's Who in the Ceremony 
* Inaugurations: Rare and Classic Photos 

► Death Toll Climbs Past 80 in Siege in the Sahara

* Algeria Crisis Poses Dilemma for Western Oil Companies 

► For The Super Bowl, A Family Affair 

► Viewpoint: What's So Wrong About Outsourcing Your Own Job to China? 

► Roe v. Wade at 40: Why Pro-Choicers Are Losing the Abortion Fight 

Featured

► Remembering Baseball Legend Stan Musial 
► Will Self-Driving Cars Change the Rules of the Road? 

► Bo the First Pup's First Term

► by WHITEHOUSE
    The Obamas' New Dog. Uploaded on Apr 14, 2009. Bo, the Obamas' Portuguese water dog, makes his debut. White House, April 14, 2009. ||  ► "The Littlest Bo". Uploaded on Nov 30, 2011 :: This year's holidays decorations at the White House will include quite a few renderings of the first pup, Bo. Take a look at the process of making the "Button Bo", which happens to be the smallest of the litter.

► Brief ceremony begins Obama's second term

By Kathleen Hennessey and Christi Parson  - A quirk of the calendar prompts the low-key event. A more lavish public inauguration ceremony is expected to draw hundreds of thousands to the National Mall on Monday. || Full coverage 
* Advisors lay out plan for new advocacy group

► President Obama's second inauguration: When is it? 

► Obama's second inauguration a mark of progress in its own right

► First ladies' inauguration gowns 

► Atari U.S. operation files for bankruptcy 

3 PICTURES TODAY

U.S. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, January 20, 2013. Obama will take the official oath of office in a small, private ceremony at the White House on Sunday, setting a more subdued tone for his second inauguration than his historic swearing-in four years ago. REUTERS/Jason Reed

This picture taken on January 17, 2013 shows 77-year-old retired teacher Gao Yinyu exercising in his underwear at a snow-covered bathing spot in Jilin, in northeastern China's Jilin province, in a temperature of minus 25 degrees Celsius. Gao has been exercising in only his underwear every morning for more than the past decade and has rarely caught cold ever since retirement. AFP PHOTO

View inside the workshop of Ilha do Governador samba school --which this year's theme is Vinicius de Moraes-- three weeks before the start of carnival in Rio de Janeiro, on January 18, 2013. Rio's famous carnival parade at the Sambodromo will take place next February 10 and 11. AFP PHOTO / CHRISTOPHE SIMON