Jenjie

A hamster has survived almost unscathed after spending several minutes passing through an industrial shredder. The rodent is thought to have got into a skip of rubbish that was taken to Recyclo recycling plant in Flintshire. It survived a giant shredder used to destroy waste such as washing machines and was found in a sorting area with no injuries other than a sore foot. The hamster, named Mike, has been adopted by Liam Bull, 10, whose father Craig works at Recyclo. Liam said: "I can't believe he's still alive after what happened, but he's doing fine now." The hamster's ordeal, which lasted around four minutes, began when it arrived at the plant in Sandycroft, probably aboard one of the many skips of waste which arrive there daily. As well as surviving the giant shredder, Mike passed through a rotating drum and vibrating grids before he was discovered by staff. The plant's general manager, Tony Williams, said: "We deal with 300 to 400 tonnes of dry waste a day from all over Cheshire, Flintshire and Wrexham. "Some of the material is shredded and then goes through a series of conveyor belts and grids that enable smaller pieces of waste to fall through. "It seems that the hamster was small enough to pass through the blades of the shredder, but big enough to pass along the trammel without falling through an aperture. "We don't get very much animal activity here, but we're delighted Mike survived and is now being cared for." http://www.bbc.co.uk

Parts of New Orleans had been sinking much faster than previously thought before Hurricane Katrina hit last August, new research suggests. Subsidence may explain why some levees were easily breached by floodwaters, the study in the Nature journal says. It argues some very low-lying areas of the US city should not be rebuilt, describing them as "death traps". US engineers say the city is prepared for the start of the hurricane season, which "officially" begins on Thursday. However, some storm experts think the work of rebuilding the levees is incomplete. US meteorologists say there could be up to five major storms during 2006, but the season will not be as devastating as 2005. Last August saw Hurricane Katrina sweep across five US states, killing more than 1,300 people. 'Death traps' The study published on Thursday in the international scientific journal was produced by a University of Miami team. It is based on new satellite radar data taken from 2002 to 2005, which shows that New Orleans sank by an average of 0.22 inches (0.5cm) a year during that period. But the study says some low-lying areas are subsiding by more than one inch (2.54cm) a year - raising concerns about the city's future. The scientists name overdevelopment, drainage and natural seismic shifts as the main causes. "My concern is the very low-lying areas," said lead author Tim Dixon, geophysicist at the University of Miami. "I think those areas are death traps. I don't think those areas should be rebuilt," he said. The study says the areas of the city most at risk are Lakeview, Kenner and St Bernard Parish. According to the report, one of the city's levees has sunk by more than 3 ft (0.91m) since its construction three decades ago. "The people in St Bernard got wiped out because the levee was too low. It's as simple as that," said co-author Roy Dokka from the Louisiana State University. The study says the new evidence should be taken into account when rebuilding the city's defences. http://www.bbc.co.uk

A US state is to enlist web users in its fight against illegal immigration by offering live surveillance footage of the Mexican border on the internet. The plan will allow web users worldwide to watch Texas' border with Mexico and phone the authorities if they spot any apparently illegal crossings. Texas Governor Rick Perry said the cameras would focus on "hot-spots and common routes" used to enter the US. US lawmakers have been debating a divisive new illegal immigration bill. The Senate has approved a law that grants millions of illegal immigrants US citizenship and calls for the creation of a guest-worker programme, while beefing up border security. But in order to come into effect, the plan must be reconciled with tougher anti-immigration measures backed by the House of Representatives, that insist all illegal immigration should be criminalised. The issue has polarised politics and US society. Right-wing groups have protested against illegal immigrants, while millions of people marched in support of them last month. Free number The Texas governor announced his plans for streaming the border surveillance camera footage over the internet at a meeting of police officials on Thursday. "A stronger border is what Americans want and it's what our security demands and that is what Texas is going to deliver," Mr Perry said. The cameras will cost $5m (£2.7m) to install and will be trained on sections of the 1,000-mile (1,600km) border known to be favoured by illegal immigrants. Web users who spot an apparently illegal crossing will be able to alert the authorities by telephoning a number free of charge. Mr Perry, a Republican, is running for re-election in November. Deployment dispute Meanwhile, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has sent National Guard soldiers to his state's border with Mexico, ending a weeks-old dispute with US President George W Bush. President Bush announced plans on 14 May for thousands of soldiers from the Guard to be sent to bolster security along the Mexican border. Mr Schwarzenegger had opposed the plan, describing it as a "Band-Aid solution" - or a temporary fix. He said he did not want to place his state's National Guard soldiers - many of whom would have already served in Iraq - under additional strain. On Thursday, the governor said he would send the soldiers to the border and the cost of the deployment would be shouldered by the federal government. Meanwhile, a group of US civilian volunteers that has been patrolling the Mexican border began last week building a fence along a section of the frontier. The Minutemen group started erecting the fence on privately-owned land in Arizona on Saturday, saying it is "doing the job the federal government will not do". The Minutemen are allowed to report illegal crossings to border police but have no right to arrest suspects. Human rights groups have accused the group of xenophobia towards illegal immigrants - but the group denies this. http://www.bbc.co.uk

Celebrity spoon-bender Uri Geller has discovered a house he bought on eBay, formerly owned by Elvis Presley, has been sold to someone else. The vendors have now sold the property, which Presley lived in before he moved to Graceland, to a foundation set up by music producer Mike Curb. Geller made a winning bid for the Tennessee house of $905,100 (£481,000) on eBay in May. "We are absolutely, mind-blown angry. Of course we're going to sue," he said. It is not known how much Curb paid to the sellers, a married couple, for the four-bedroom home which Presley bought in 1956 with royalties from Heartbreak Hotel. The rules of auction website eBay may make it difficult for Geller and his two business partners, lawyer Pete Gleason and jewellery-maker Lisbeth Silvandersson, to pursue a breach of contract claim. "The platform we provide in real estate really serves to generate interest," said eBay spokeswoman Catherine England. "It isn't a legally binding contract," she added. Geller had been planning to turn the house into a museum for the public. After the eBay auction last month, Geller said he was delighted. "We are unbelievably pleased. This is a piece of history," he said at the time. Geller met Presley in Las Vegas in the 1970s when the rock 'n' roll star asked him to perform his spoon-bending trick. Presley lived in the home with his parents and grandmother but only stayed for a year because his career began to take off and police were frequently called to handle the crowds of fans outside. In the short time that Presley lived there, he had a granite swimming pool installed in the garden, which at 15 metres (50 feet) in length was the largest residential pool in the city at the time. He also added a den and housed his motorcycles in a separate building. The hall contains original wallpaper adorned with musical notes, which was uncovered during renovations. A Life magazine article published five months after Presley bought the house contained pictures of teenage girls sitting with their ears pressed to his bedroom wall. They were also picking through the grass in his garden for souvenirs. In March 1957, Presley moved to Graceland, the home with which he would become synonymous. http://www.bbc.co.uk

Concern is growing for a man who has not been seen since Middlesbrough's defeat in the Uefa Cup final. Gary Cowan, 44, from Hartlepool, disappeared more than three weeks ago after watching the match at a friend's house in the town. Police have followed up possible leads in Sheffield and Denmark but said they had come to nothing. They were carrying out another search of his house on Saturday to try to find out where he might have gone. Dogs left A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: "It's a mystery and one that is disturbing both us and his friends." It is not thought Mr Cowan returned home after watching the match at a house in Chatham Gardens, Hartlepool, on 10 May. His two dogs were left in the house without food. There have been two reported sightings of him, in Hartlepool and Darlington, but both were unconfirmed. His mobile phone was last used in the Sheffield area, but not since 25 May. Searches there and in Copenhagen, where it is thought he could have gone to work, drew a blank. Police said the disappearance was out of character and they said they were concerned. They appealed for him or anyone else who knows where he is to get in touch, saying he had nothing to fear from the police http://www.bbc.co.uk

India extends Da Vinci Code ban The government of the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh has banned the release of the Hollywood film The Da Vinci Code. "The release of the movie could have led to demonstrations and trouble," said Andhra Pradesh's special chief secretary, Paul Bhuyan. Andhra Pradesh is the seventh Indian state to have banned the screening of the film, which was released in May. The movie, which portrays Jesus as married, is based on Dan Brown's book. Christians only make up one percent of Andhra Pradesh's 80 million people. Pleased "The minority organisations have pointed out that the film's storyline attacked the very heart of the Holy Gospel, destroying the divinity of Jesus Christ," said Mr Bhuyan. Roman Catholic Bishop Marampudi Joji, based in Andhra Pradesh's capital Hyderabad, welcomed the ban. "We appreciate the decision and we are grateful to the state government," he said. Other Indian states which have banned the film include Nagaland, Punjab, Goa and Tamil Nadu. The movie opened in India to a mixed reception at the end of May.

Saturday morning. jack is still asleep. little fella is having a disco today. from the sound of his dad's post, he hasn't got long til he joins the angels

today is friday! Jack is going on holiday!! this is what Jack's Dad had to say today. http://www.sportnetwork.net/boards/read/s97.php?f=99&i=210994&t=210994&sid=97

Do actually have to have a clue about what's going on to play? I have no idea how good half the teams are!!!!

couple cut short their holiday after their teenage son telephoned to say he had blown up their house. Sean Davey, 18, of Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk, left a basket of laundry on top of the electric cooker and did not notice the hob had been switched on. A fire spread to a deodorant can which exploded, blowing out the windows and lifting the roof off the bungalow. Structural work to the building is estimated at £20,000, with £15,000 more to repair fire and smoke damage inside. Sean's mother Joanne Bray and her husband Paul cut short their holiday in Scotland when they heard about the fire on Sunday evening. Son forgiven Ms Bray said: "It's not mentionable what I said to him. "Sean had taken some washing out of the machine and put it on to the hob, which somehow got switched on. "He hadn't cooked for three days so we know he hadn't left it on. Our dog could get onto the units so she might have knocked it on. "Then a bag of shopping by the side had an aerosol can in it and caboom." The family cannot live in the house until the repair work has been carried out. But Ms Bray said he had forgiven her son: "He is alive. He wasn't in the house - that's the most important thing." http://www.bbc.co.uk

Today we're having a lovefest on the Smile of Wight! Jack sends his love to all. http://www.sportnetwork.net/boards/read/s97.php?f=99&i=210716&t=210716&sid=97

No news yet today. the last couple of days its been arriving about 10:30ish. I'll be in work then so will update when I get home. Hope Jack's having a good sleep, and am intrigued to know what today's plan is.

I told you in the post. Its Jack's flag. It says in the middle of the picture, its Jack's flag. If you'd read the links on the first page, you'd know about Jack. You'd also have seen what this thread was about and why people were asking you if you'd actually read the first post.

except for the fact that you've forgotten the "Next On Lost" bit which shows that they're taking you right back to the start, and are going to show you the last 48 days from the point of view of the tails survivors!!! so you'll end up back at the point where ana lucia shoots shannon

its not just the people on the boards, its the rugby players & clubs too. Jack's flag has flags donated by some of the clubs, some of which have been signed by the players. Carlos Spencer (Northampton Saints & All Blacks) has left a message on his website. http://www.carlosspencer.co.nz/my_diary/premiership05063.phtml#31may

According to amazon.co.uk the Glastonbury DVd will be out on July 17th. http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000FDEVSO/qid=1149069305/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_10_1/202-7862714-9707014

Jack is still asleep. So today we're going out for sweets. Jack's Dad is off to an old-fashioned sweet shop for something you can't have every day.

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!! bad, bad, bad srciptwriters. that was very naughty and i don't think I'm going to forgive you.

time to start saving money http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000FG69MC/ref=br_lf_li_1_2/202-7862714-9707014

campioni!!

they've got pretty interesting looking feet though!!!! I was reading something on Digital Spy in the Big Brother forum, and I think someone put a Lost spoiler in there. they were comparing Big Brother to Lost, and mentioned 2 people dying!! I hope its not true!!

Imagine that you were at work just before Christmas and you found a memo spelling out your death. Something like this: “Assassin: ‘Permission to kill X.’ Boss: ‘Yes, she’s a trouble-maker, always demanding more rights for colleagues. She must be eliminated, but postpone it till after Christmas.’” No, this is not fiction. Surreal as it may sound, this was how Shirin Ebadi found out what her government was planning for her. The exchange took place between a government minister and a member of a death squad. Only it was not Christmas. This was in Iran, during Ramadan — the holy fasting month for Muslims. Despite the fear she felt, Ebadi walked back home, prepared dinner for her family in between domestic chores, put her two little girls to bed and only then mentioned to her husband that “something interesting happened to me at work today . . .” Iran Awakening is a riveting memoir by Ebadi, the Iranian lawyer, activist, writer, dissident and recipient of the Nobel peace prize in 2003. In it she recounts the changes that have engulfed Iran from the days of the shah to the Islamic revolution, through her own experiences and those around her. A judge at the age of 23, Ebadi describes the spirit of the 1979 revolution thus: “It seemed in no way a contradiction for me — an educated professional woman — to back an opposition that cloaked its fight against real-life grievances under the mantle of religion . . . Who did I have more in common with? An opposition led by mullahs who spoke in the tones familiar to ordinary Iranians, or the gilded court of the shah, whose officials cavorted with American starlets at parties soaked in French champagne?” Millions thought like her and participated in the revolution — which would eventually alienate them as it too lost course and veered towards the same corruption and repressiveness it set out to eradicate in the first place. Ebadi quickly realised that the revolution demanded her defeat as a free woman. Within a month, her rights were being eroded. It began with the “headscarf invitation”, and progressed to the imposition of full black chadors. Stripped of her right to work as a judge, she was reduced to serving as secretary in the court over which she had presided. Further repressive laws chipped away what few rights women still had in this new macho society. A woman’s life was worth half that of a man’s, as was her testimony in court. She needed permission to divorce her husband and automatically lost custody of children to the father, no matter under what circumstances the divorce took place. As I read her book I kept wondering why a people which had successfully ousted the shah was unwilling to revolt against Ayatollah Khomeini’s brutal and suffocating regime. The answer, of course, was that it was not Khomeini’s revolution that united the Iranians, but Saddam Hussein and his American supporters. During wars and invasions, defence of the homeland becomes a sacred mission and Iran during the Iran-Iraq war of 1980 was no exception to the rule. Inflamed nationalism replaced all feelings of grievance and betrayal by the revolution. But wars and repression also trigger mass exodus. Many of Iran’s brightest were among those who fled to better lives in Europe, Canada or the United States. Ebadi was not among them. She decided to stay and fight the system from within, making it her mission to beat the mullahs at their own game. Ebadi’s battle was in the courtrooms. She set herself to learn and master the 7th-century Islamic jurisprudence from which many of the mullahs’ draconian laws derived. She eventually got a licence to practise law in 1992, devoting herself to defending women and children in politically sensitive cases. In doing so, she began to highlight human rights abuse in Iran. She rapidly achieved international recognition, something this formidable woman, who is now 59, saw as a vital aspect of her work. She used her rising profile abroad and increased understanding of the power of the media to put pressure on the state over its refusal to reform laws at home. But in doing so she also incensed the mullahs, and spent 25 days in solitary confinement in the notorious Evin prison in Tehran. Prison did not break her, and she emerged if anything more determined to advocate human rights and to prove to fundamentalists in her country and to secular critics outside that human rights and freedom are not in conflict with Islam. Perhaps as importantly, she strongly argues that change in Iran must come peacefully from within when the Iranians are ready, and not when the West decides it should be so. Hala Jaber is a foreign correspondent for The Sunday Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk

how well do you get on with your parents? can you sit down with your Mum, and explain to her? worth talking to her, letting her know that you're not having sex, and that even if you were you'd be taking precautions. plus, you have to bear in mind that you're their little girl. in the same way that we hate the thought of our parents having sex (the stork dropped me off!!!!), they also don't like the thought of their kids having sex!!

Police sent reinforcements to the troubled northern Paris suburbs today after a night of rioting revived fear of a return of the violence that raged through France’s immigrant housing estates last autumn. In another sign of France’s continuing racial tension the Government also ordered a high-level police inquiry into an anti-Semitic black extremist group which staged an aggressive march through the historic Jewish quarter of the capital at the weekend. Seven policemen were injured in the four hours of fighting last night in the town of Montfermeil which involved some 400 local officers and national riot police. In the fiercest clashes since last autumn, police fired rubber bullets and stun grenades against youths, many masked and wielding baseball bats. About 100 youths hurled projectiles and petrol bombs at police and public buildings and attempted to storm the home of Xavier Lemoine, the conservative mayor of the town. The violence was sparked by the arrest of a suspect in the beating of a bus driver earlier this month. The Montfermeil violence spread into the edge of neighbouring Clichy-sous-Bois, the flashpoint for last year’s riots. Two youths were electrocuted there in October while hiding from police in an electricity substation. Dominique Perben, the Transport Minister, called the overnight incident a reminder of last year’s riots, in which 10,000 vehicles and 200 public buildings were torched. "The question of the suburbs is a question for the entire political class," said M Perben. We must have the courage to look things in the face." More than 400 teenagers and young men were sent to jail after the riots, but community leaders have complained that little has been done to answer the grievances of the alienated young in the high-unemployment estates. Montfermeil has been a focus of tension since Mayor Lemoine decreed a bylaw last month that banned teenagers from circulating in groups of more than three, and required those under 16 to be accompanied by an adult in the centre of the town. A court quashed the bylaws after protests from civil liberties groups. The Socialist opposition blamed Mayor Lemoine for fostering the violence in his town with his attempt to restrict the movements of youths. "No act of violence can be excused... but the Mayor of Montfermeil has created a local situation which is a factor in the violence," said Francois Hollande, the Socialist leader. "If you stigmatise the young to the point of not allowing them to gather in groups of more than three... you have a context which can unfortunately become favourable for this type of rioting." Politicians and Jewish organisations united today in condemning the acts of the so-called Tribu KA black supremacy group which has come to light this week. About 30 muscular men in black garb staged a show of force, intimidating passers-by last Sunday in the rue des Rosiers, the Jewish quarter in the Marais district. "They were all tough guys, wearing black bandannas - it was really organised, they had a camera and were filming everybody," one witness said. Members of the group were also reported to have visited sports centres in search of activists in two hardline Jewish youth groups, Betar and the Jewish Defence League. On its website, which was taken offline today, Tribu K accused the Jewish groups of staging racist attacks against blacks during marches held in tribute to a young Jewish man who was tortured to death on a mainly black housing estate last winter. Nicolas Sarkozy, the Interior Minister, today promised tough legal action against the group when he met Roger Cukierman, the head of the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions (CRCIF). http://www.timesonline.co.uk

the tv guide in the paper today makes it sound like it is! :\ This is what I found on the C4 site, but the newspaper said something about tragic events unfolding. Can't remember what the exact quote was.