SNIPPETS

JANUARY 29,  2010

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - Argentina's president thinks eating pig meat is really sexy. Many people in this beef-loving nation reacted with surprise Thursday after Cristina Fernandez promoted pork in a speech during which she not only said pork is better than Viagra, but suggested she's personally proven it.

That is not exactly outreach to the Muslim world.  Watch the fatwahs start pouring in.

JANUARY 28,  2010

MOSCOW (Reuters) – A city in Russia's south is selling its bronze statue of Vladimir Lenin, the founder of the Soviet Union, as it can no longer afford the cost of repairs, Russian media reported Wednesday.  The 14-tonne, balding figure has stood upright with one arm outstretched -- one of several typical Lenin poses -- in the main square of Voronezh, some 500 km (311 miles) southwest of Moscow, for 60 years, state-run Vesti-24 television showed.  But the city-owned company responsible for his upkeep has gone bankrupt and is looking for a new owner who can afford present repairs costing 1.5 million roubles, popular daily Komsomolskaya Pravda reported.

Well, let's see.  They could ask Jane Fonda, Michael Moore, Oliver Stone and a number of prominent American "academics" for some financial help.  Ring up Bill Ayers, Obama's radical pal from Chicago.  His father was a corporation executive who probably left a bundle.

JANUARY 27,  2010

HERTFORD, England, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Bosses at a British recruitment firm said they were shocked when a government job center rejected an ad for discriminating against people who aren't "reliable."  Nicole Mamo, 48, director of Devonwood Recruitment in Hertfordshire, said she was shocked when the government-run Job Center rejected her ad for applicants who "must be very reliable and hard-working," the Daily Mail reported Tuesday.  Mamo said she called the center to find out why her advertisement was rejected.  "She said it was because they could have cases against them for discriminating against unreliable people," Mamo said.

Maybe there won't always be an England.

JANUARY 26,  2010

MOSCOW (Reuters) - An unemployed construction worker alarmed Kremlin guards when he tried to barge past them for what he said was a meeting with the Russian president to become his son-in-law, a popular daily reported on Thursday.  He was promptly informed that Dmitry Medvedev only has a single teenage son and was then taken to a psychiatric hospital on Wednesday evening, Komsomolskaya Pravda said.

At least the guy has family values.

JANUARY 25,  2010

MEMPHIS, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- A Tennessee man was charged with aggravated burglary and theft after allegedly leaving his wallet on the stairwell of a home he targeted, police said.  "It's not often that an alleged criminal might leave a calling card," said Shelby County Sheriff's Office spokesman Steve Shular. "This one happened to have not only a name and address, but a picture I.D. of the suspect."

I think the burglar should get a suspended sentence for showing such courtesy.

JANUARY 24,  2010

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- The leader of a Swedish political party has stirred up debate after being photographed with an expensive designer handbag, local media report.Social Democrat party leader Mona Sahlin and leaders of other political parties were featured in a group photograph, thelocal.se reported Saturday.  Sahlin is pictured with an $828 Louis Vuitton handbag, which has drawn both criticism and support from politicians and commentators, the news Web site said.

Another representative of the oppressed masses.

JANUARY 23,  2010

NEW YORK, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- The married president of tech firm Oracle is featured on a billboard in New York's Times Square that was apparently put up by his ex-girlfriend.  The billboard, which has copies elsewhere in New York as well as Atlanta and San Francisco, depicts Charles Phillips and his former long-time girlfriend, YaVaughnie Wilkins, embracing with their names listed and the caption: "You are my soulmate forever," the New York Daily News reported Friday.

Depends on what "forever means."  Remember when Times Square was famous for New Year's Eve and victory celebrations.  Now it's the crossroads of revenge. 

JANUARY 22,  2010

LONDON (Reuters) - International hotel chain Holiday Inn is offering a trial human bed-warming service at three hotels in Britain this month.  If requested, a willing staff-member at two of the chain's London hotels and one in the northern English city of Manchester will dress in an all-in-one fleece sleeper suit before slipping between the sheets.  "The new Holiday Inn bed warmers service is a bit like having a giant hot water bottle in your bed," Holiday Inn spokeswoman Jane Bednall said in an emailed statement to Reuters.

Question:  Does the bed warmer remain once the guest gets in?

JANUARY 21,  2010

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A Michigan university has released its 34th annual list of words and phrases ripe for banishment from the English language, including "green" and "maverick."  "Green" -- including variations "going green," "building green," "greening," "green technology" and others -- received the most nominations this year, the school said.  Two additional environmentally themed entries, "carbon footprint" and "carbon offsetting," also made the list.

Somehow, that list makes me optimistic.