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“Crocodile Tears” How the Myth Came to Be

crocodile

Some rights reserved By http2007 on flickr

How many times have you heard the saying “Oh, they just were shedding some crocodile tears”?  Interestingly enough this is an ancient myth that a crocodile grieves hypocritical tears when he takes his victim and that has been brought into modern culture.   Humans do not sympathize or shed any tears over the crocodile though.  Instead the saltwater crocodile has been hunted without mercy for their skin or hide which is very valuable.

Saltwater Crocodile

The skin of the saltwater crocodile is some of the best leather that is highly sought after. It is exceptionally soft and  is very durable.  A ladies handbag in places like London can sale for $15,000 and that is at a reduced sale price! It is a noticeable symbol because of the skin and has a very high social status.  Man’s boots are another much sought after item made out of this material.

With crocodile hides being so valuable,  it has threatened the very survival of these creatures.  It has been estimated that between the years of 1945 to 1971 some 113,000 reptiles had been killed in the Northern Territory alone.  In the 1970′s the hunting of these crocodiles were limited so as to not wipe them completely out of existence.  As a result the numbers increased and it was not an endangered species in Australia anymore. The threat is still what many other endangered species are faced with and that is their natural habitat.

Farming of crocodiles

In recent times the farming of crocodiles and the emphasis of education led to conserving these animals that tourist love to visit.  These farms allow breeding so that the skin and meat can still be processed without affecting the wild crocodile population.

November 11, 2010 Posted by | Animals & Pets | , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Irish Terror Still Persists in Ireland

Fire bomb-Rioters unleashed violence in the wake of Colin Duffy's arrest

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Hostilities and conflict in Northern Ireland have been present for a long time that people these days forgot the root cause of it. John Soule, a political scientist, studying this ongoing conflict, declared that, the conflict can be considered as a ritual wherein both sides are locked in a dance and cannot pull out of it. Using observations and interviews, he also stipulated that new recruits to the terrorist movements are being fueled by hatred and motivated by the desire to avenge fallen comrades, becoming oblivious to the original political purpose of the conflict.

Collaboration With The Moderates

Governments are sometimes known to have collaboration with the moderates inside the terrorist circles. If the government offers a deal to a heterogeneous terrorist organization, the leaders of that terrorist group will not hesitate to accept that deal. However, if the deal goes right and the moderate leaders’ returns to the government, the terrorists are left into the influence of the extremists who can lead to increase activities of militant groups and widespread terrorist violence.

Nevertheless, if the deal goes smoothly, then the government can require former terrorists who switched over to their side to help in counter-terrorism efforts and with their technical know-how, can improve the government’s chance in eliminating the terrorist threat.

Terrorists Groups Are Known To Have Internal Conflicts

Terrorist groups are also known to have internal conflicts, since the moderate leaders are more likely to accept government deals than the extremists’ leaders. While extremists’ leaders lead terrorist activities, moderates are seen to engage in less violence. When the government offers a deal to the moderates, they leave the group and allow the extremists to take over making the group more dangerous than before. This results in an increase in terrorist activities utilizing all the resources left by moderate leaders who turned to the government’s side.

Big Challenges When Confronting Acts Of Violence

Democratic states these days face big challenges when confronting acts of violence considered as terrorism. An over-reactive approach to the situation can alienate the population and damage the legitimacy of the government (which becomes more damaging than the terrorists’ activities). The credibility and capability of upholding the law by the police, the military and the government will also be undermined, when they prove incapable of handling such an event. The acts of violence must be approached in a steady, careful but immediate response with a positive result to maintain public confidence.

Anti-Terrorism Crime And Security Act

In the United Kingdom, a new law was passed called the Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act after their success in handling the terrorists’ bombings and killings during the conflict in Northern Ireland. This act allows the government to detain indefinitely, without trial, a non-national suspected of being capable of or implicated in terrorist activity. However, according to the British Law Lords, they ruled that, “because only foreigners could be detained in this way, such an anti-terrorist law was discriminatory, disproportionate, and unlawful under the European Convention on Human Rights.”

References:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39343727/ns/world_news-europe/

http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/files/3271_bpsecurity.pdf

November 11, 2010 Posted by | Legal | , , , , | Leave a Comment

Technology and Crime

 

Sailors analyze, detect and defensively respond to unauthorized activity within U.S. Navy information systems and computer networks. Sailors on the watch-floor of the Navy Cyber Defense Operations Command monitor, analyze, detect and defensively respond to unauthorized activity within U.S. Navy information systems and computer networks. — Released (Text by U.S. Navy)

Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Corey Lewis , U.S. Navy

Technology has been the fulcrum of human knowledge and civilization’s progression over the millennium. Every epoch in history has been significantly defined by the use and current state of technology of its time. In fact, technology is the fruit of the human drive for knowledge. It is the culmination of man’s brilliance and ingenuity. And it has given man significant power and advantage compared to every other creature on the planet. Man’s use of technology has given him power to determine his own future, environment and opened to him a wide array of possibilities.

The Boon of Technology

However, along with the boon of technology comes its bane. It has been placed into inexperienced and unrestrained hand power beyond comprehension. Technology has given mankind much but it in turn has heaped upon humanity, pain, malevolence, conflict and death. These are the two opposing sides of technology. From this we can be certain that technology can yield good and bad. It is all up to its use and application. This is the social issue of the 21st century how much use of technology is too much and to what extent it should technology be availed of.

Evolution of Crime

Crime is as a deviance usually it is prohibited by law, and its commission is punished by the same. Crimes are done for various reasons, although the current state of 21st century society and culture point to social forces as those which compel individuals to commit crimes. Crimes are done by persons who are driven to do it or avail of it as a means to another end entirely. Certain acts of criminality are often undertaken by those who have done it in the past. The propensity for crimes is more apparent in those who have already done so.

In fact, recently a Russian prisoner orchestrated a theft from his jail cell using a mobile phone. Technology’s empowering effect also means it can be employed in crimes. Technology makes crimes easier in terms of carrying them out. Furthermore, crimes have evolved with the progression of technology. The more advanced the technology is the newer, peculiar and the least expected ways of committing crimes are created. This extensively challenges government in terms of law enforcement and crime prevention.

Government Measures

Governments, its law enforcement agencies and its crime prevention units, struggle to contain crimes. These are compounded further by the extensive use of technology in this modern age. Usually commission of crimes using technology often is not differentiated by those without and is sometimes punished similarly. This situation only heightens the use of technology in criminal undertakings.

Tougher measures are required when common day appliance becomes means by which laws are violated, rights hampered and law & order is jeopardized. Moreover, convicts should have highly restricted access to technology, especially those which have communications application.

References:

http://wap.news.bigpond.com/articles/World/2010/10/09/Russian_convict_plots_thefts_from_jail_523693.html

http://www.parliament.uk/documents/post/pn064.pdf

November 11, 2010 Posted by | Science & Technology | , , , | Leave a Comment

Debra Bowen is California Secretary of State

This photo was taken on August 6, 2007 using a Fujifilm FinePix E900 and belongs to joebeone's photostream.

EVT TTBR folks with Debra Bowen (fourth from first row, left)

Governments have Secretaries Of States. The United States of America Federal Government politically appoints its Secretary of State. United States’ Secretary Of State position stems out from its government’s Executive Branch, of which the President is the leader. The United States Department of State or State Department is the first executive department to be established; it was created in 1789 and the Secretary of State leads it. A Secretary Of State advises the President on foreign policy and diplomatic relations; analyzes and decides on treaties and agreements; manages foreign embassies; and directs, coordinates, and supervises the activities of the U.S Government and its linkages overseas. The State Secretary is directly answerable to the U.S. President.

California Secretary Of State

In 2009 California had a population of 36,961,664 from 33,871,648 in 2000. It is the most populous state in America. Its government is Republican, whose governor is Arnold Schwarzenegger. Debra Bowen is its 31st Secretary of State since January 8, 2007. She won the position against then California Secretary of State Bruce McPherson in November 2, 2006, making her the only 6th woman to be elected to a constitutional office that has a statewide range of responsibility and power since California became a state in September 9, 1850. As the incumbent California State Secretary, she leads nearly 500 people under the California State Secretary office, advocating accessibility and transparency in business, elections, legislation, and political campaigning and lobbying.

Legislative Bill AB 1624

Preceding Richard Floyd as a member of the California State Assembly, she helped pass legislative bill AB 1624. Legislative Bill AB 1624 makes available to the public for free, through ‘the largest nonproprietary, nonprofit cooperative public computer network’, information on legislative assembly schedule; pending matters on the floors of both Upper and Lower Chambers or Houses of the Legislature (the legislature passes, changes, and dissolves laws); bill analysis in connection to other bills; bill histories, statuses, and vote information in each legislative session; veto on a statutory law (policy commanding or prohibiting something); the California State’s Constitution, laws, and statutes; and all statutes made on or after the 1st of January 1993.

The information under subdivision (a) of Legislative Bill AB 1624 shall be made available to the public in the shortest possible time once the information is available in the internal information system of the Legislature while those not maintained shall be made available in the shortest possible time once the information is available to the Legislative Counsel, as stated in Subdivision (b) of the bill.

Electronic voting systems

Long before year 2000, when those running for state offices were required to post in the Internet their financial campaign reports, Bowen had been the foremost Californian member of the Legislature to have already done so in 1995. As California’s Chief Elections Officer, she oversees elections in both state and federal levels. To measure the extent of transparency and security in elections, she has been granted authority to review California’s electronic voting systems, approving Diebold Election Systems, Hart InterCivic, and Sequoia Voting Systems and annulling the use of Election Systems and Software, after its machines’ capability in securing votes were found incompetent.

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum awarded her for commissioning an in-depth review of California’s electronic voting systems a Profile in Courage Award. Through California Business Portal, Bowen provides online variegated information on business entities and networking such as ‘important documents and handbooks; searchable lists of registered businesses; and a step-by-step guide to starting a business and assistance for international businesses looking to operate in California.’ She also manages the Victims of Corporate Fraud Compensation Fund, intended to compensate as much as can be compensated and restored to the victim loss/losses incurred from corporate fraud.

Domestic Partners Registry

She is also responsible for maintaining the Domestic Partners Registry, whereby same-sex couples, independent of either of the partners’ ages, and opposite-sex couples, in which a partner is at least 62 years old, files a Declaration of Domestic Partnership with the Secretary of State, for them to be considered as domestic partners in California; the Advance Health Care Directive Registry, which gives people, who ‘cannot speak or decide for themselves’ the right to decide about his/her choice or preference regarding medical treatment and point his/her decision to loved ones and health-care providers – it follows also that a person may assign a health-care proxy for him/herself; and the Safe at Home program. The Safe at Home program grants respite and protection to victims of domestic violence, sexual assaults, stalking, and people working in clinics for reproductive health care through its confidential address program.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_government_of_the_United_States

http://www.sos.ca.gov/admin/bio.htm

November 11, 2010 Posted by | Society | , , | Leave a Comment

Panic Attacks

Panic attack medicine

Some rights reserved By Bhumi on flickr

Another name for panic attacks is agoraphobia.  Our bodies are made to respond to danger by a response we naturally have which is to panic. If you were crossing a street with a car speeding fast toward you, your natural instinct would be to run to safety. But what about having that same feeling but for no obvious reason?  Panic attacks are brought on when the brain has been deceived into thinking that there is danger. You could be in a restaurant or standing in line at a bus stop and out of the blue without warning your inner emergency switch is activated for no apparent cause!

Panic and fear

Only people who have had this happen can identify with a  feeling many describe as an adrenaline rush that races through your body and can last a few short minutes or up to an hour or more and then leaves as abruptly as it came. A person can be left  feelings of panic and fear of experiencing another one.
If your panic attacks have made you isolate yourself to your home you may be able to be helped by being exposed to therapy.  This is done by addressing what you fear and stay there until the panic goes away.  However, this should never be done by those who are known to have asthma, peptic ulcer, heart trouble, or any other similar conditions.  You should consult a doctor before trying any treatment on your own.

Some causes of panic attacks

Relaxation remedies  can help lessen the buildup of stress and anxiety.  Attitudes and low self-esteem can be a root cause of panic.  Talking to a trusted family member or friend often helps in resolving a problem that is causing you undue stress.

There are many kinds of panic related causes such as rape, child abuse and war.  But not all are brought on by trauma.  It helps to write down each one and work on them one by one instead of all at the same time. Handling them in this way could help you to identify what it is that panics you and learn to recognize and to be able to tell your doctor so that he can better know and prescribe what would be best if you needed medication for your symptoms.

November 11, 2010 Posted by | Health | , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

The Matterhorn: a Perfectly Balanced Mountain

Matterhorn in Switzerland

Some rights reserved By mer de glace on flickr

The Matterhorn which is located on the borders of Switzerland and Italy,  is one of the most photographed mountains because of it’s extraordinary peak which is perfectly balanced in proportion. It has a height of 14,692 feet with two peaks that are 330 feet apart.  The Matterhorn stands alone even though it is part of the Central Alps and has no close neighbors. This is one of the reasons that make this mountain one of the most beautifully photographed mountains world wide due to the view accessible from all around.

Elements of the Matterhorn

Despite the size of the Matterhorn’s peak it is not always found covered with snow. In the spring time the Matterhorn has a rocky side that is exposed to the sun leaving the snow like that of a skirt and that lasts year around.  Many admirers have wondered how this mountain was originated because there is no evidence of rubble.  It seems to have been washed away many thousands of years ago by such amazing forces of power that could only have added to a most extraordinary sight.

Climbing the Matterhorn

Many have attempted to climb the Matterhorn and at a great price.  Some have died in the process.  It has been estimated that there have been around 600 deaths on just this mountain alone.  Despite being experienced climbers with the right equipment and ropes that are solidly secured in the rocky walls and the narrow crevices.

Weather related conditions is the biggest danger. What may seem to be a beautiful sunny day can change so quickly without a person even realizing it.  Dark heavy clouds can come without warning and a frightening terrible storm can come raging through.

Climbers may be forced to spend the night in temperatures that can go below 30 degrees.  Another danger that presents itself is that of falling rock.  Many stones can fall because of the climber but more often it is done by natural causes.  Mostly because of ice, snow, hot temperatures, rain storms and even hot sun.  It is ever changing on the mountain and you never know until you are upon it what you might find. Many marvel at how this mountain has withstood all of this and still remains so beautiful it in perfect form.

November 11, 2010 Posted by | Miscellaneous, Society | , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Your good memories can help you create more

photos for memories

Some rights reserved By craigemorsels on flickr.com

Taking a trip down memory lane regularly helps keep you focused on the good things in life.  This is a recommended method for creating even more of those.  You have already created good memories and staying in touch with them is the key.  We forget the good memories as we labor through the daily grind of living. Here are a few tips to keep the  good memories in a place.  This  fun and easy project will keep you connected and keep your mood up and continue the cycle of creating more good things.

Things you will need

All you need is your computer, a scanner and your boxes of photos (or maybe you already got them into an album that you never look at).  If you don’t already have a scanner they can be purchased very inexpensively at an office supply store.  They get outdated quickly even though they still work great for this.  I once picked up a brand new printer/copier/scanner/fax for only $40!

Start loading the photos onto your computer.   As you are saving them make sure you put them all into the main file labeled “My Pictures” or “Pictures”.  Once there you can start organizing them into sub-files that you label.  That is just a drag and drop job.  Remember  to create a backup.   Now comes the really fun part.  Go to Smilebox, Hallmark or any other online card making site, create an “I love you” or “thinking about you” e-card or print card using those old photos  Your family and friends will love the trip down memory lane as well.   You are helping others to stay in touch with their good memories along with you!

Screen-saver option

The other step that will keep you seeing those photos daily and remembering those good times regularly is to use the photo screen-saver option.  This is easy and scrolls through every photo and video in the file you tell it (this is why you want them all in one major file).  As you are going about your day you are reminded of those wonderful memories keeping your mood up and ensuring that you always stay in touch with the wonderful memories you have already created.

November 11, 2010 Posted by | Arts & Crafts, Computers & Networking, Do it Yourself (DIY), News | , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment

   

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