http://www.smashingames.com/games/spaceinvaders.html (Space Invaders)

Obesity Ages Men By 10 Years

A new study examining the links between obesity and testosterone has
discovered that men who gained just 30 pounds (13.6kg) lost as much
testosterone as if they'd aged 10 years, Reuters reported this week.

Scientists from the New England Research Institute tracked 1,667 men
during their study and published their findings as Australian doctors
warned that exploding obesity levels are creating an epidemic of teenagers
with man-boobs, prompting increasing numbers of Australian boys to seek
reduction surgery.

"We are getting a lot more requests for surgery for young people, and
we are refusing to do it in some cases," said Dr Rod Cooter, spokesman
for the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons Adelaide.

"Some of the expectations are unrealistic, some think they can go out
and eat whatever they like, and we'll fix it," he added (Adelaide
Advertiser).

http://www.springfrog.com/games/asteroids (Classic asteroids)

http://www.flashteroids.com (Flash asteroids)


http://samvak.tripod.com/abuse8.html (Identifying abusers: "Haughty"
body language – The abuser adopts a physical posture which implies and
exudes an air of superiority, seniority, hidden powers, mysteriousness,
amused indifference, etc. Though the abuser usually maintains sustained
and piercing eye contact, he often refrains from physical proximity (he
maintains his personal territory) . .)

http://www.bemyastrologer.com/body_language_plus.html (Limp-Wrist
Shake: 'A person who extends only the fingers or whose hand feels like a
west fish when you grasp it is saying, "I don't want to touch you; I don't
like intimacy." It's also a sign of submission and weakness. When a man
uses this handshake in a business setting, he may be indicating that he
intends to secretly manipulate the situation . . .')

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/mind/surveys/smiles (Spot the
fake smile)


http://www.skeptictank.org/hs/vanish.htm ('How to disappear in America
without a trace:' Always over-estimate the resolve of those seeking to
find you yet keep your estimations reasonable. Greatly over-estimating
your opposition can cause you to behave in predictable, patterned ways,
however. It is the predictability of your actions based upon your
opposition's controlled stimulus which can get you caught . . .')

http://www.bushrag.com (Camouflage Tips)

http://www.divine-interventions.com/baby.php (Baby Jesus buttplugs:
'Slap him on the dashboard, Use him as the ultimate pacifier or make Baby
Jesus the centrepiece of your magnificent Dildo Creche . . .')

http://www.blowfish.com/catalog/toys/symbolic_dildos.html
('high-quality silicone dildos in the shapes of religious figures. Perfect gifts for
the iconoclasts in your life . . .')

http://users.frii.com/gosplow/cgsa.html (A Christian's Guide to Small
Arms: 'The Lord Jesus Christ gave very clear instruction to His
disciples in the upper room after the Last Supper. They were to be sent on a
mission, and were to take with them certain things - moneybag, knapsack,
and sword . . .')



New York's Limelight Sold For Shops

New York nightlife received another brutal blow this week, with the
announcement that seminal superclub venue the Limelight is to be turned
into a shopping mall.

In recent years the 6th Avenue converted Episcopal church traded as
Avalon though remained best known for being the centre of Michael Alig's
club kid scene of the 90s. The club also continued to be targeted by
local police who most recently closed it down during a Halloween Party
over licensing technicalities.

The 1am raid prompted a despairing response from the venue's last chief
Ricky Mercado, who told the Village Voice' It's just like they are
saying, 'Nightclubs—get the f**k out of New York City', a prediction that
appears justified with Limelight's future.

"The landlord has decided that he doesn't want to go forward with
another nightclub," financial broker Frank Terzulli, of Winnick Realty Group
told the New York Post this week.

"He's going to cut it up for retail tenants and a restaurant with patio
seating."

Eddie Dean from rival superclub Pacha was sympathetic, telling Skrufff
'Whew, what a shame. Limelight will always be part of New York City
nightclub history'.

"I'm not quite sure what happened, but what little I've heard is the
overhead of being located on 6th Avenue was tremendous," Eddie continued.

"The costs of operating a club in New York City have been steadily
rising and the cost of being actually on 6th Avenue had to have made things
very difficult. Avalon has had great success in other cities, but
clearly New York is different," he said.

Bathroom Coffee -

Que pasa? A few of my tid bids :

India Overheats
India cannot run as fast as China without further reform
THE Indian tiger is on the prowl. This week, in an apt piece of symbolism, Tata Steel, which dates back to the days of the Raj, leapt into the league of top producers when it bought Britain's Corus, which includes the steelmaking remnants of the old imperial power. Nor is Tata alone: younger Indian companies such as Infosys and Wipro are storming international markets. Meanwhile, the world's business people and investors queue up to lavish money on India's talented engineers and computer scientists.

The roar from Delhi is echoing across Asia. After peevish years cast as China's underperforming neighbour, the huntress is now in hot pursuit. Over the past year the Indian economy has grown by an impressive 9.2%, not far behind China's 10.4%. At some point this year India's growth rate could even outpace China's; and if you measure things by purchasing power parity, India should soon overtake Japan and become the third-biggest economy, behind only America and China.

No wonder an increasing number of Indian businessmen, policymakers and economists are basking in the belief that their country is burning bright having at last broken free of its bureaucratic cage. An economy once famous for the “Hindu rate of growth”, of 3% a year, was opened up by the reforms of the 1990s, many of them pushed through by the man who is now prime minister, Manmohan Singh. His government's latest five-year plan assumes that India can sustain average growth of 9%. Who can doubt “Incredible India”, to borrow the slogan of its tourism campaign?

Tweaking the long tail

Fast growth is essential to pull millions of Indians out of poverty, so it is sad to pour cold water on this story. But that is precisely what is needed when there are so many alarming signs of overheating (see article). Across India prices are rising fast, factories are at full capacity, loans are piling up. Yes, the economic reforms of the early 1990s spurred competition, forced firms to become more productive and boosted India's trend—or sustainable—rate of growth. But the problem is that this new speed limit is almost certainly lower than the government's one. Historic data would suggest a figure not much above 7%—well below China's 9-10%.

When you mention overheating, many analysts point towards China. Yet India displays far more symptoms of the disease. Inflation has risen to 6-7% (compared with 2.8% in China); a record 99% of Indian firms report that they are operating above their optimal capacity; and credit is expanding at an annual rate of 30%, twice as fast as in China. Unlike China, India also has a widening current-account deficit—a classic sign of overheating, as domestic output fails to keep pace with surging demand. And if you are looking for a stockmarket bubble, Indian share prices have risen more than four-fold over the past four years, far more than in China. If something is not done, then a hard landing will become inevitable.

The Reserve Bank of India has been too timid in cooling down domestic demand: although one interest rate was raised this week by a quarter point, the overall rise in rates over the past two and a half years has not even kept up with consumer-price inflation. But the main focus of the government's attention should be on supply—and dismantling the many barriers that keep its speed limit below China's.

So far, reform in India has focused on setting its inventive private sector free from the world's most fearsome bureaucracy. This has unleashed entrepreneurial talent, but more change is needed. Now is the time to tackle the public sector itself. Infrastructure, such as roads and power, and public services, such as education and drinking water, are woefully inadequate and limit growth. Even as the economy has been booming, many public services have worsened. It seems incongruous that somebody can own a mobile phone, yet has to waste hours queuing for drinking water. India's top computer scientists are feted around the world, yet most children in rural areas lack the basic education needed to find more productive work. Around half of all Indian women are illiterate, compared with a ratio of around one in seven in China.

Singh's songsheet

India's rulers have two bad excuses for not dealing with those roads, schools and hospitals. The first is theoretical. Many Indian economic commentators say that further structural reforms, though desirable, are not essential to keep the economy growing at 8% or more because of the “demographic dividend”. A fast-growing working population and a falling dependency rate (thanks to a lower birth rate) will ensure more workers, more saving and hence more investment.

India's demographic structure is indeed starting to look more like that in East Asia when its growth took off. But this mechanistic view of growth assumes that demography is destiny and that economic policies do not matter. In fact, open markets, education and investment, especially in infrastructure, were the three chief ingredients of East Asia's success. Population growth by itself does not add to prosperity, unless young people are educated and new jobs are created. India needs to reform its absurdly restrictive labour laws which hold back the expansion of manufacturing particularly.

The second excuse for doing nothing is practical: there is little room to spend more on schools and hospitals. India already has one of the biggest budget deficits among the large emerging economies (as much as 8% of GDP going by the widest measure). In fact, plenty can be achieved by reform, rather than just spending. Private investors are hesitant about putting money in infrastructure, because the regulators are not independent enough of populist politicians to guarantee a decent return.

If these things can be tackled, India can indeed match China's growth. Mr Singh remains a reformer, but his government relies on the support of the communist parties and, with today's prosperity, there is no stomach to take them on. The worry is that today's overheating will need to boil over before that mindset changes.

http://www.near-death.com/jung.html (Karl Jung's near death experience:
'there was no longer anything I wanted or desired. I existed in an
objective form; I was what I had been and lived. At first the sense of
annihilation predominated, of having been stripped or pillaged; but
suddenly that became of no consequence Everything seemed to be past; what
remained was a "fait accompli", without any reference back to what had
been. There was no longer any regret that something had dropped away or
been taken away. On the contrary: I had everything that I was, and that
was everything . . .')

http://www.iands.org (International Association For Near Death Studies:
'A near-death experience (NDE) is one of the most powerful emotional
and psychological events known. Many people who have had such an
experience feel that it was the single most profound event of their lives . .
.')

http://www.near-death.com (Lots more near death experiences)

http://www.hrfq.com (Japan's newest download site)

How Do You Know When You've Found True Love?

"When it happens, it happens and it's something
stronger than the mind can deal with. Suddenly you're willing to change
absolutely everything in your life to accommodate this person and all you
can do is look at them and marvel at the miracle of their presence in
your life.

However, holding out for such a lover is like holding out until you win
the lottery as the odds of meeting this person at a time when you're
both free and willing are similarly as slim. So don't hold out or hold
back and try to have the best time you can all the time. Enjoying
yourself isn't going to stop the power of destiny."

Mexican Tattoo Kids Fight Back

A heavily tattooed Mexican man suspended himself from hooks at a public
demonstration in Mexico City last week, aimed at improving civil rights
for pierced and tattooed people in Mexico.

"In Mexico a tattooed person is the victim of all kinds of
discrimination," protest organizer Dante Salomo told local website Terra.cl, "They
don't get good jobs and are mistreated everywhere."

"Clearly there is still discrimination in Mexico, perhaps less in the
city, but certainly in the rest of the country," fellow organizer Susana
Escobar told the International Herald Tribune, "There is a lot of
discrimination against people with tattoos."

Though in countries like Britain tattoos are now genuinely mainstream
(a recent study suggested 29% of 29-34 year olds have them) in Mexico
they remain closely associated with criminality and drug addiction, the
Herald reported, reflecting body arts' long historical associations with
vice.

The pattern is repeated in Russia, according to prisoners' charity
Foreign Prisoners Support Service (FPSS), which reported recently that
prisoners continue to use tattoos to symbolise gang affiliation and crimes
committed including murder.

"From the mid-1960's to the 1980's, thirty-five million people were
incarcerated (in Russia) and of those, twenty to thirty million were
tattooed," FPSS said on their site.

"The tattoos display inmates' contempt for official justice and
retribution-- phrases and images directly mock the political system and the
absence of any possibility for "reform" within the jails,"


Scary Tattoo Links:

http://www.phaseloop.com/foreignprisoners/exp-russian_tats.html
(Foreign Prisoners Support Service: Russian Prison Tattoos: ' techniques; 'the
tattoos are painfully applied with needles and electric shavers, using
ink made from urine, soot, and shampoo. Infection from the procedure is
frequent, and death not uncommon . . .')

http://www.raptureready.com/featured/schaefer/tattoo.html ('The Mark of
Rebellion. The Bible condemns all rebellion throughout its pages and
declares that rebellion is as bad as witchcraft. (1Sam. 15:23) It is
clear that the tattoo has always been an indication of a spirit of
rebellion and deviancy on its wearers . . .')

http://bible.com/bibleanswers_result.php?id=230 ('The Bible warns us
against tattoos in Leviticus 19:28 (Amplified) which says, "Ye shall not
make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print or tattoo any
marks upon you: I am the Lord.")






Brit Girl In French Language Terror
British recruitment consultant Louise Clarke, 30, from Bath developed a
rare brain condition called Susac's Syndrome recently which caused her
to suddenly speak French all the time, according to reports in the
British press.

The former language student also developed a taste for croissants and
became so delusional she called all her friends and asked them to visit
her in Paris, the Independent revealed.

"It started with migraines and hallucinations. I eventually got so
confused that my sister took me to A&E (accident and emergency). I was
gabbling away in French at my hospital bed," she said, ""Suddenly thinking
you're French is terrifying," she added.

Her fears could soon be alleviated under a new scheme introduced by
Parisian authorities, who this week unveiled a new 'visual dictionary'
website aimed at helping Brits understand French people's shrugs, gestures
and unusual mannerisms.

The site teaches Brits how to adopt classic Parisian poses including La
Moue (in English the 'pout'), described as 'the classic way to convey
just about any negative emotion, including discontent, disdain and
disgust'.

"Start by looking bored," the pout instructions explain, "Pucker your
lips and shake your head slowly for more impact."

Anglophile Parisian Patrick from rising electro-eclectic band Chef
refused to be disappointed by Ms Clarke's alarm at being French, instead
agreeing that he's equally terrified to be French right now.

"With the spring elections coming up and knowing that we have a choice
for President between Segolene Royale in the best case and Nicolas
Sarkozy in the worst means I'm not proud to be a part of this nation right
now," he told Skrufff.

"I think it's actually frightening, as neither of them will be able to
shake up France and there's no outsider on the political scene at the
moment. Sarkozy is dangerous," he added.

http://www.cestsoparis.com ('You don't need to speak French to
understand Parisians . . .')

http://www.myspace.com/chefondagrill (Chef's (extremely unusual) new
single Toaccating is out in the New Year)

Source: - http://www.economist.com/opinion/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=E1_RGNJVPD

http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/180106 (Orgasm Fairy: warning:
NO good for work!!!)

http://www.plasticmartians.com/play.php?gameID=118 (bouncing ball game)

http://kakato-otoshi.freeonlinegames.com (Stiletto hammer game)


http://www.worth1000.com/toys/inkblot/default.asp ('Are you psychotic?
Take our certified home Rorschach Inkblot Test and find out your
innermost secrets . . .')

http://www.penddraig.co.uk/pen/tests/sanity.htm (176 question muliple
choice test, includes 'Do you have an unusual obsession for Danni
Minogue?/ Do your heroes include fascist dictators, people who have been
committed to psychiatric institutions, murderers, rapists or estate
agents?')

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/hinckley/hinckleyinsanity.htm
(Insanity legally defined)
http://www.cestsoparis.com ('You don't need to speak French to
understand Parisians . . .')

Bathroom Coffee - Thanks for that bit obout Jungian thinking. If you are interested in Jungian psychology, have you checked out - http://www.cgjungpage.org/ ? The site is a bit slow now but they have a discussion forum about Jungian thinking, amongst other things. That forum is a bit like Sajha - you get some good and interesting stuff every now and then and then nothing at other times. Like Jung and many of his ideas, there is quite a bit of material there that might appear out of whack to minds that are not initiated to pushing the boundaries of thought, but if you approach it with an open mind, you might find some of the things to be of interest.

Regards.

Wow,
BC and CH's big talks..I cannot take all these infos at one time..too intense for me :) Have a nice day u two..:)

Good Aftanoon Capn'
Yeah India is definately overheatin'. Just the other day I read an article in the Globe sayin' that all the Indians that came here during the Bubble of 98 are headin back now.

Yeah, BC I had read the < a target=new href="http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2007/02/05/indian_immigrants_enticed_to_go_home">same article - I think - pretty interesting stuff there if that's the one you were referring to.

Liked this quote:

"Let me put it this way -- after living 20 years in the Bay Area I had 80 telephone numbers in my cellphone and after living here two years I have 200," said Gandi. "Life in the US can get a bit lonely, but here there is something happening all the time. People don't wait until the weekend to party."


SNDY - Big talk? Jeez, you're not in a merciful mood today, huh? :) :P Have a good one.

:)

Well, capt. saab, sort of..not anymore though :) But I'm serious k..too intense for my saano brain :)

hahahahaha....few more titties' talk going on here :P

sndy,
here i am for not so big talks.....hahahahaha....gloomy day in here....feeling sleepy already :P..i need a nipple :P :P

LooTe

Loote - Dutty mind! :P :D

Another tid bid: China's new fighter plane


China's new jet, the J-10, which is said to match most of the world's best fighters. (The Associated Press)

- http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/08/news/fighter.php

China adds jet fighter that rivals world best

BEIJING: For more than two decades, China has labored to build its first state-of-the-art jet fighter as part of the country's drive to become a leading military power.

In December, it appeared to have closed in on that ambition when it revealed, in an unusual blaze of publicity, that its new fighter, the J-10, had entered service in the air force.

Footage of the new aircraft firing missiles and refueling in flight was shown on state-controlled television, and Chinese defense magazines have published lengthy reports with photographs of the single-engine fighter.

Although specific details about the J-10's performance and specifications remain highly classified, some Western and Chinese military experts say the successful development of this advanced, multirole aircraft could be the catalyst for China to become a leading force in military aviation.

They say that Chinese engineers, with help from Israel and Russia, had refined a design aimed at matching advanced aircraft such as the Lockheed Martin F-16, the frontline U.S. Air Force fighter that has also been sold to more than 20 countries.

More at - http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/08/news/fighter.php

nipple--> as in the bottle or mom's!!! :P..don't take my sane/wholesome feelings otherwise :P

LooTe

lol..u guys r funny :)

Loote you're such a pervert!

oh yeah? thanks, i did not know that :P. actually i did not mean NOT to be a pervert! :P

LooTe

http://www.psywww.com/books/interp/toc.htm (The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud.)

http://www.dreammoods.com (Dream symbolism and interpretation)

http://www.dreams.ca/lucid_techniques.htm (Lucid Dreaming Techniques:'Success with lucid dreaming is most likely if you recall one dream or more per night, in fact you may already be having lucid dreams and simply not remembering them. So, to increase dream recall: As you go to bed, clearly ask yourself to remember your dreams when you awaken in the morning or during the night . . .')



http://www.browserarcade.com/games/shootemup/3dswat (sniper shoot game)

http://www.eyezmaze.com/grow/cube/index.html (Very strange cube game)

http://www.armorgames.com/games/foursecondfury_popup.html (4 second multiple games)

"There is no logical basis for the prohibition of marijuana. $7.7 billion is a lot of money, but that is one of the lesser evils. Our failure to successfully enforce these laws is responsible for the deaths of thousands of people in Colombia. I haven't even included the harm to young people. It's absolutely disgraceful to think of picking up a 22-year-old for smoking pot." (www.prohibitioncosts.org) 20 century economic guru Milton Friedman, on why he believed drugs prohibition was wrong.


http://www.karmafarm.com/letter.html (Bitch letter generator, vital)

http://mary.dfki.de/online-demos/online-speech-synthesis/speech_synthesis (Robot synthesized voices site- in English and German)

http://www.netdisaster.com (destroy websites, easy and fun)

http://www.jamesmcadam.co.uk/portfolio_html/sb_table.html ('Safe Bedside Table)

http://www.home-cov.demon.co.uk/improv.htm (Improvised Self Defence Weapons)

http://www.themartialist.com/0503/pocketsticks.htm (pocket sticks)





Italy's Mother-In-Law Marriage Wrecker Reality

New research on Italy's soaring divorce rate has revealed that three
out of ten marriages fail because of the groom's 'unusually close
relationship with his mother', the Observer reported this week.

"You will see mothers crying at the weddings of their sons, but they
are not crying for joy, they are crying because they feel devastated,"
Italian psychologist. Marriage guidance counsellor Dr Anna-Maria
Cassanese told the newspaper.

"Their son has chosen another woman and it arouses very complex
feelings, including jealousy."

Dr Cassanese said young wives are having to compete with either
Mother-in-laws obsessed with staying young or overpowering nurturers who
demand payback in the form of relentless phone calls and family gatherings
and said stay-at-home 'emotionally immature' 30-something men, dubbed
'mannoni', are also to blame.

"The husband is used to being adored," she explained, "And when he
doesn't get that unconditional love from his wife, he goes running back to
his mother."

Italian electro-disco producer Andrea Doria partially agreed though
suggested young Italian women are much more responsible for provoking the
divorce crisis.

"The first thing that an Italian girl looks for is what kind of car you
drive, a bigger car means a bigger bank account so that means easy
living. But when your money finishes it's ciao, ciao, Goodbye, fug you!'"
Andrea stormed.

"My mother always said to me 'She is not right for you' about one
particular girlfriend but not because she was jealous, but because she was
absolutely right," he continued, "A mother can see that."

Currently dating an American girlfriend (who his mother approves
of) Andrea stressed he didn't mean every single young Italian woman,
though cautioned that many are lazy and ridiculously celebrity obsessed.

"Women here are completely insane," he exclaimed, "One day they want to
have a child with you, and then the next day it's 'FUG You' without
any reason. And how do you feel? Don't ask, it's futile."

Alexander Robotnick said he was equally unsurprised by the report's
findings pointing out 'there's always been a continuous fight between
mothers and daughters-in-law- and daughters, it's a well known problem in
Italy.'

The 50-something Italo-disco legend admitted his mother had regularly
rowed with his wife, as well as continuing to do his laundry and cooking
years after they'd married.

"Firstly, let me point out that my mother is now 85 and she lives alone
in Florence, 20 minutes away from me, so yes, I call her every day and
have lunch with her at least twice a week," Alexander admitted. "But
talking about younger mothers, they simply show a selfish attitude like
everybody in this fUGing present world."

"And as for the Italian phenomenon of mammone, sure, that definitely
exists, no doubt," said Alexander.

"But let me say that most Italians look on in horror when they see some
Anglo-Saxon people dumping their mums and dads in old peoples' homes
and forgetting about then," he continued, "Then whine after they have
died ''I had so many things to say to them and didn't say anything'. OK,
talk to them, now," he advised.(JUSTA LAIKA NEPAL SAASU BUHARI DHIICHUM DHIICHUM)

Another tid :) bid from the Economist.

- http://www.economist.com/images/20070210/0607LD1.jpg

America and Iran

Next stop Iran?

Feb 8th 2007
From The Economist print edition
Why George Bush should resist a Wagnerian exit from the White House

“WE ARE not planning for a war with Iran.” So said Robert Gates, America's new defence secretary, on February 2nd. You cannot be much clearer than that. With a weak and isolated president, and an army bogged down in the misery of Iraq, the American Congress and people are hardly in fighting mood. Nonetheless, and despite Mr Gates's calming words, Iran and America are heading for a collision. Although the risk is hard to quantify, there exists a real possibility that George Bush will order a military strike on Iran some time before he leaves the White House two years from now.

America and Iran have been at loggerheads ever since Ayatollah Khomeini's revolution of 1979. But four things are making this old antagonism newly dangerous. One is Iran's apparent determination to build nuclear weapons, and a fear that it is nearing the point where its nuclear programme will be impossible to stop (see article). The second is the advent of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a populist president who denies the Holocaust and calls openly for Israel's destruction: his apocalyptic speeches have convinced many people in Israel and America that the world is facing a new Hitler with genocidal intent. The third is a recent tendency inside the Bush administration to blame Iran for many of America's troubles not just in Iraq but throughout the Middle East.

Any one of these would be destabilising enough on its own. Added together, they make the possibility of miscalculation and a slide into war a great deal more likely. That is all the more so when they are combined with a fourth new source of friction between America and Iran. This is the predicament of Mr Bush. A president who is now detached from electoral considerations knows that his place in history is going to be defined by the tests he himself chose to put at the centre of his foreign policy: bringing democracy to the Middle East and preventing rogue regimes from acquiring weapons of mass destruction. Given his excessive willingness to blame Iran for blocking America's noble aims in the Middle East, he may come to see a pre-emptive strike on its nuclear programme as a fitting way to redeem his presidency. That would be a mistake.
Never attack a revolution

This newspaper supported America's invasion of Iraq. We believed, erroneously, that Saddam Hussein was working to acquire nuclear weapons. And we judged that the world should not allow a mass-murderer to gather such lethal power in his hands. In the case of Iran, the balance of risks points, though only just, in the other direction.

Even if it became clear that Iran was on the threshold of acquiring an atomic bomb, an American strike on its nuclear facilities would be a reckless gamble. Without America invading and occupying Iran—unthinkable after Iraq—such a strike would at best delay rather than end Iran's nuclear ambitions. It might very well rally support behind a regime that is at present not conspicuously popular at home, emboldening it to retaliate inside Iraq, against Israel and perhaps against the United States itself. Besides, it is far from clear exactly how dangerous a nuclear-armed Iran would be. Unlike Iraq under Saddam, Iran has a complex power structure with elements of pluralism and many checks and balances. For all its proclaimed religiosity, it has behaved since the revolution like a rational actor. To be sure, some of its regional aims are mischievous, and in pursuing them it has adopted foul means, including terrorism. But the ayatollahs have so far been shrewd calculators of consequences. There are already small signs of a backlash against the attention-seeking Mr Ahmadinejad. Like the Soviet Union, a nuclear Iran could probably be deterred.

But don't think Iran isn't dangerous

All of this suggests that in present circumstances it would be wrong for America to launch a military strike against Iran. But it would be the height of self-deception for anyone to jump to the conclusion that a nuclear-armed Iran would not be dangerous at all. It would be very dangerous indeed.

For a start, there is a danger that Iran's nuclear efforts will provoke a pre-emptive strike by Israel, which is already a nuclear power, albeit an undeclared one. For Israelis, whose country Mr Ahmadinejad says he wants to wipe off the map, it is not all that reassuring to hear that Iran can “probably” be deterred. Even if Israel were to decide against such a strike, Iran's going nuclear could destroy what is left of the international non-proliferation regime. It has proved hard enough for Arab states such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia to live with Israel's undeclared bomb; if their Iranian rival got one too, the race to copy might soon be on. On top of this is the danger that a nuclear Iran would feel safe to ramp up attempts to spread its revolution violently beyond its own borders.

Every effort should be made to stop an Iranian bomb. But there is a better way than an armed strike. In 2002 Mr Bush consigned Iran along with Iraq and North Korea to an “axis of evil”. Since 2004, for lack of good alternatives, he has been helping the efforts of Britain, France and Germany to talk rather than bludgeon Iran into nuclear compliance. Iran claims that its nuclear programme is for civil purposes only. Last year, the Europeans called its bluff by offering trade, civil-nuclear assistance and a promise of talks with America if it stopped enriching the uranium that could produce the fuel for a bomb. When Iran refused, diplomacy led in December to the imposition of economic sanctions by the Security Council.

This is a promising approach. The diplomacy at the United Nations proceeds at a glacial pace. But Iran is thought to be several years from a bomb. And meanwhile the Americans, Europeans, Russians and Chinese have at last all lined up on the same side of the argument. What is required now is a further tightening of the economic squeeze coupled with some sort of an incentive—most usefully an unambiguous promise from Mr Bush that if Iran returns to compliance with the nuclear rules it will face no attempt by America to overthrow the regime. Even then, America and Iran may be fated to lock horns in the Middle East. But the region, and the world, will be a good deal safer without the shadow of an Iranian bomb.

LOL Bathroom Coffee that was a nice one about the Italian moms-in-law.

A minor technical suggestion: dont forget to put that "- " (dash and space) before those hyperlinks - cutting and pasting is getting to be a bit exhausting :P :) But good stuff - thanks for sharing.

Ciao.;)

In keeping with the season, here's a tid bid about a Valentine's day card:

- http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2198604.html

World's dearest Valentine's card?

The Royal Mail has revealed images of what is thought to be the world's most expensive Valentine's card.



Dating back to 1790, the intricately designed Valentine filled with heartfelt messaging would fetch up to £4,000 if auctioned today.

It is currently housed at the British Postal Museum and Archive - and they have no plans of selling the card.

The card is a handmade puzzle which unfolds to reveal poetic messages - a far cry from the short notes written in today's Valentine's cards.

On the outside of the card, the inscription reads:

"My dear the Heart which you behold,

Will break when you the same unfold,

Even so my heart with lovesick pain,

Sure wounded is and breaks in twain."

Patrick O'Neill, from Royal Mail, commented: "This year Royal Mail will be delivering over 12 million Valentine's cards but probably none as romantic as the verse written inside here.

"Although the card is a valuable piece - we would never dream of selling it as can you really put a price on true love?"