Blog Heap of Links for the day 13 May 2011

DEADLY suicide bomb attacks in north-west Pakistan avenging the death of Osama Bin Laden have killed 80 people. The twin blasts ripped apart the paramilitary force's training centre for the Frontier Constabulary in Shabqadar, Charsadda district. Police say both blasts were caused by suicide attacks

The family of Frankie Girard is claiming that their son's civil rights were violated after a teacher allegedly told him that hanging his picture of the American flag would offend another student. ... [Superintendent Dr. Paul Burnim said] nobody ever told Franklin the drawing was offensive, and said the only reason it wasn't hung was because Franklin was supposed to be doing other work; not drawing a picture. ... [Hmmmm]

...the 40 minutes it took to kill bin Laden and scoop his archives into garbage bags were all recorded by tiny helmet cameras worn by each of the 25 SEALs. ... Officials reviewing those videos are still reconstructing a more accurate version of what happened.... The SEALs first saw bin Laden when he came out on the third floor landing. They fired, but missed. He retreated to his bedroom, and the first SEAL through the door grabbed bin Laden's daughters and pulled them aside. When the second SEAL entered, bin Laden's wife rushed forward at him -- or perhaps was pushed by bin Laden. The SEAL shoved her aside and shot bin Laden in the chest. A third seal shot him in the head.

60-year-old Staten Island resident, a retired MTA employee, says he's spent at least that sum -- his life savings -- on 1,000 subway-car placards, and even more ads on bus kiosks and subway cars. They say: "Global Earthquake: The Greatest Ever! Judgment Day May 21, 2011." In a self-published book, "The Doomsday Code," Fitzpatrick says the Bible offers "proof that cannot be dismissed." ... If you want to set an alarm clock, the quake will happen just before 6 p.m.... book is based on the teachings of Harold Camping, an 89-year-old radio host with a poor track record of end-of-the-world prophecies....

One of the reactors at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant likely suffered a substantial meltdown of its core, operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. said Thursday, offering a fresh assessment of the reactor that suggests it came closer than the operator had previously revealed to a catastrophic meltdown. ... more than half melted...

Researchers examining the San Andreas Fault in central California have found evidence that distant earthquakes can trigger episodes of accelerated (but still very slow) slip motion, deep on the fault.

Tragedy at the copper mine of Rudna, Poland 3 miners were killed in the KGHM copper mine at Rudna, a village in the vicinity of Glogow. Rudna has 1,300 inhabitants. 10 of them were slightly injured and 2 miners had to be hospitalized. Other miners were safely evacuated. The copper mine is about 15 km from the epicenter of the earthquake (mining shafts might have been drilled towards the epicenter location). Scientist will have to study the origin of this earthquake. As this is a mining area, there is a very big possibility that the origin will be mining related.

Austin opened up the door to the dryer — it's about 1-by-1½ feet wide — and squeezed in, shutting the door behind him. As he did, some glass struck the outside of the door and shattered. For several minutes he heard the tornado pull his house apart, the sound of glass breaking, of items falling from shelves. Five minutes after things died down, an aunt, Jessica Wambold, came to the house to find him. Only then did he climb from the dryer.

The eruption of the Etna volcano in southern Italy early Thursday is connected to the earthquakes that rocked the Spanish region of Murcia, killing 12 people and injuring more than 170 others.... "We are currently witnessing an intense seismic activity in the entire Mediterranean area from Spain all the way to Malta which has a certain impact on regional volcanoes...." The eruption sent flying massive quantities of lava and volcanic ash, which spilled on the main town of Catania and other nearby villages but luckily caused no serious damage....

DC Troll on HillBuzz: ...Bottom line — Sarah controls this election decision — her process and her timing — so all please stop falling for the trap by the those above — as Sarah has said repeatedly it is WAAAY toooo early to jump in — the rule have changed folks!