US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday hailed a landmark deal on transferring police and justice powers from London to Northern Ireland, saying it will help cement the decade-old peace process.

In a statement, Clinton, who visited Belfast in October to try to break the deadlock on the powers transfer, said she planned to host talks in Washington next week with Northern Ireland’s leaders about “the way forward.”

On Tuesday members of the Northern Ireland Assembly voted 88 in favor of the devolution deal and 17 against, the latter all unionists who want the province to remain part of Britain.

The chief US diplomat commended the lawmakers for endorsing the deal, which she called an “important step for the peaceful and prosperous future for all of the people of Northern Ireland for generations to come.”

Devolution will “mark a major milestone” in achieving the aims of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and the 2006 Saint Andrews Agreement and “will help cement the hard-won gains of the past decade,” Clinton said.

“The journey is not over, and real challenges remain,” she warned.

“I encourage all parties to work together in a spirit of cooperation and compromise as they continue the road toward a full and lasting peace,” she added.

She pledged continued US support for a peaceful, prosperous and shared Northern Ireland, saying there will be deeper cultural exchanges and business relationships.

Clinton said the US economic envoy to Northern Ireland, Declan Kelly, is working to promote economic growth, international investment, and “other new opportunities” in the British province.

“And I look forward to meeting with Northern Ireland?s leaders next week in Washington to discuss the way forward together,” Clinton said, apparently referring to Peter Robinson, the first minister and his deputy, Martin McGuinness.

Thanks AFP.

From global pop sensation to high fashion model, is there anything Madonna can’t do? Apparently not. Joining forces with Iconix Brand Group, Inc. (the company behind such labels as Candie’s and Badgley Mischka), the Queen of Pop is set to take the fashion world by storm with the launch of her own style empire, called MG Icon. “Joining forces with Iconix to bring my fashion ideas to consumers is very exciting for me,” says Madonna in a press release. First up will be a junior collection, appropriately labeled Material Girl. Launching exclusively at Macy’s stores and Macys.com in August 2010, Material Girl will include apparel, footwear, handbags and jewelry — all retailing from $12-$40. The collection was inspired and designed by both Madonna and her daughter Lourdes along with the in-house fashion team at Iconix Brand Group. And come 2011, Madonna plans to add beauty and fragrance options to her juniors line, so stay tuned for more details on Madonna’s growing fashion brand. For now, we’re counting down the days till we see what cutting-edge designs this quirky mother-daughter team come up with!

Thanks People.

A 32-year-old Kentucky woman who said she didn’t know that she was pregnant delivered her newborn son on the floor of her laundry room by herself and even cut the umbilical cord. Kelly Bottom told The Advocate-Messenger that she also picked up her other son from school and stopped in at the baby’s grandmother’s house to show her the infant before going to the hospital Thursday.

The newspaper reported the mother and baby were discharged from the hospital Monday after checking in Thursday night.

Bottom said the baby, named Brian Keith Sims, weighed 6 lbs., 15 oz. at birth.

Thanks My Way.

Kansas authorities said an injured man pulled over during a traffic stop told officers he was beaten for using Monopoly money to purchase drugs.

The Wichita Police Department said the 33-year-old man, whose name was not released, was bleeding from the head when he was pulled over Thursday and told officers he had recently used Monopoly money to purchase several hundred dollars worth of crack cocaine, KSDK-TV, St. Louis, Mo., reported Tuesday.

“The man from whom he had bought the drugs was upset and invited him over to his house and upon arrival struck him in the head several times with a handgun and other people jumped into the fray,” police spokesman Gordon Bassham said.

Police said the victim’s injuries were not life threatening and he has stopped cooperating with the investigation. However, officers said they are still searching for the man’s attackers.

“That was not a get-out-of-jail-free card,” Bassham said.

Thanks UPI.

The rare spirits that went under the gavel at a recent online auction in New Zealand weren’t aged brandies or hard-to-find liqueurs.

Instead, two glass vials purportedly containing the ghosts of two dead people sold for $2,830 New Zealand dollars ($1,983) at an auction that ended Monday night.

The “ghosts” were put up for bidding by Avie Woodbury from the southern city of Christchurch. She said they were captured in her house and stored in glass vials with stoppers and dipped in holy water, which she says “dulls the spirits’ energy.”

She said they were the spirits of an old man who lived in the house during the 1920s, and a powerful, disruptive little girl who turned up after a session with a spirit-calling Ouija board. Since an exorcism at the property last July led to their capture, there has been no further spooky activity in the house, she said.

The auction attracted more than 214,000 page views and dozens of questions before the winning bid, Trademe auction site spokesman Paul Ford said Tuesday. The name of the winning bidder was not released.

Woodbury said that once an “exorcist’s fee” has been deducted, the proceeds of the spirit sale will go to the animal welfare group the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Thanks My Way.

It sounds fishy but a New York City pet shop owner says it’s true. Buttkiss, the black pacu he owns, is 43 and weighs 20 pounds. A pacu is a breed that’s related to the piranha. Steve Gruebel owns Cameo Pet Shop in Queens. He got Buttkiss in 1967 when he was just a wee thing. He sold him a year later when Buttkiss was two inches long. But in 1970, Buttkiss was returned when he outgrew the buyer’s tank.

Buttkiss lives in only a four-foot-long, 75-gallon tank. Gruebel said he’s afraid to move him because he may not survive the changing environment.

Buttkiss is beginning to show his age. He has arthritic gills and glaucoma in his right eye.

Thanks My Way.

The Secretary of State will present the International Women of Courage Awards March 10 in Washington, D.C. Tonic talks to one of the inspiring, life-risking honorees. Simply put: Courage personified.

Being courageous is an admirable trait. It’s something that we all aspire to, and encourage in others. But courage, like beauty, is often in the eye of the beholder. To some, deciding to become a parent is the largest act of courage they will ever face. Others may have to muster up strength to battle domestic abuse. Some fight the morning simply to go to a job they hate each and every day. Still others face danger, imprisonment, and even death for causes they believe in, yet continue to be fearless. In all cases, it is determination, bravery, and a strong sense of spirit that pull us through.

This week, in conjunction with National Women’s History Month, ten women will be acknowledged for being fearless, courageous, and relentless when it comes to advocating women’s rights and social justice. Since 2007, the International Women of Courage Award is the Department of State’s only award recognizing women leaders around the world. A ceremony will be held on March 10 when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presents the awards to the honorees.

The women hail from many different countries, all struggling with rampant humanitarian injustices. “These ten women have overcome personal adversity, threats, arrest, and assault to dedicate themselves to activism for human rights,” said Melanne Verveer, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues in a press release. “From striving to give more voice to politically underrepresented women in Afghanistan to documenting human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, these heroic individuals have made it their life’s work to increase freedom and equality in the world.”

One of the honorees, Jestina Mukoko, Executive Director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) and broadcaster for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, is determined to accurately document the human rights abuses in her country and expose them to the international community. The ZPP reports include violence against women and politically-biased food distribution. During the deep political turmoil of the 2008 election, Mukoko was arrested, tortured, and forced to confess to an alleged terrorist plot. As her case became well-known, villagers concerned themselves with the status of Mukoko’s situation. She has brought much awareness to the injustices flourishing in the country. Her case is a huge marker in the fight against violence and government oppression. She bravely leads the way in defending human rights in one of the world’s most oppressive countries.

Tonic: Why do you feel it is important to document human rights abuses in your country?

Mukoko: At some stage in the future people will be called to account for their actions. The victims and the perpetrators will have an opportunity to deal with it in their conscience.

Tonic: After your arrest, how did you find the strength to continue to stand up for what you believe in?

Mukoko: When that happened it was a harrowing experience and when I found out about the networks and campaigns on my side, I realized there is a story. Going through that made me understand what it means to be abducted, what it means to be imprisoned for what you did not do. I met a lot of people in a similar situation and I began to understand how it helps to talk to someone else, and how talking can help other people.

The Definition of Courage

“One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.”- Maya Angelou

Webster’s defines courage as mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. How come some people seem born to exemplify courageousness in the most powerful sense of the word, while others become more cautious and fearful in the face of adversity?

Tonic: Do you believe some people are naturally more courageous than others or is it a learned trait for everyone?

Mukoko: I believe it is something that happens because we are working with other people. We could not be courageous without other courageous people around us. I am humbled because I work through a network of very courageous people.

Tonic: What motivates you to get out of bed each morning to face another day?

Mukoko: A few years back I was taking care of my growing son, when his father died. I prayed, “Lord, keep me so I can look after this young man.” At 19, he is now beginning to do his own work and there is still a lot happening in my country. I am able to contribute and it will make a difference one day.

Women’s History Month

March is Women’s History Month, and this year happens to be the 30^th anniversary. The theme for 2010 is “Writing Women Back into History.” So often our history books revolve around accomplishments by men. The National Women’s History Project began in the 80s when a mere 3 percent of the text in school books made note of women’s accomplishments, and completely neglected the strides made by minority women or those in male-dominated fields such as math and science.

Fortunately, women have come a long way. The role of the female is being recognized as a vital part in growing a nation’s economy and communities. A recent report by Deloitte and Forbes Insights shows how women are slowly, but surely, becoming more prominent in government, and, therefore, influencing more active female roles in the private sector. In the report, Ambassador Amina Chawahir Mohamed of Kenya said, “If you educate a man, you educate an individual. If you educate a women, you educate a community.”

Tonic: Has there been a woman, from the past or present, who has inspired you?

Mukoko: My mother has given me inspiration. My father died when I was 5 and my mother was able to mold me into the woman I am today. I hope the Lord can give her many more days.

Tonic: Your work will have an effect lasting much longer than our lifetime. What would you say to encourage other women to fight tirelessly for what they believe in?

Where I come from that is not easy. It means putting your life at risk. You have to believe there will be a realization in the future that what you are fighting for will be recognized and respected. Do not compromise what you believe in for anything.

The Other Award Recipients

The other award winners include: Shukria Asil (Afghanistan) who works to advance the government’s responsiveness to women; Colonel Shafiqa Quraishi (Afghanistan), Director of Gender, Human, and Child Rights, recruits women to work in the Ministry of the Interior and works to increase benefits to women in the workforce, such as childcare, health care, and security; Androula Henriques (Cyprus) fights the buying and selling of women in the sex trade, has developed an anti-trafficking network, and advocates for institutional change; Sonia Pierre (Dominican Republic) aims to end anti-Haitian discrimination; Shadi Sadr (Iran) advocates women’s legal rights and, as a lawyer herself, has successfully overturned the prosecution of many women sentenced to execution; Ann Njogu (Kenya) is a leader in Kenya’s constitutional reform and collected data used to launch an investigation into government corruption; Dr. Lee Ae-Ran (Republic of Korea) advocates for human rights in North Korea and provides aid to North Korean refugees; Jansila Majeed (Sri Lanka) focuses on minority and women’s rights as well as those of internally displaced persons; Sister Marie Claude Naddaf (Syria) is working to advance social services for women, especially those in the face of domestic violence, homelessness, or trafficking.

Thanks Tonic.

David E. Kelley’s new NBC drama pilot “Kindreds” is starting to take magnificent shape with the likes of Oscar-winner Kathy Bates landing in the lead spot.

The Hollywood Reporter claims that Bates is in final talks to play a curmudgeonly former patent lawyer. How badly does Kelley want Bates to play the part? Well, it was originally written for a man, Harry Korn, but is being reworked for the talented actress who appeared on an episode of Kelley’s legal hit “LA Law.”

Oscar viewers just got a strong reminder of Bates’ acting ability when the horror montage showed her slamming James Caan’s foot with a sledgehammer from Stephen King’s famed movie “Misery.” She also had a recurring role on NBC’s “The Office,” playing Jo Bennett, the Marge Schott-inspired new owner of Dunder-Mifflin.

The parts of the misfits are falling into place. THR reports Brittany Snow has landed one of the leads. Snow will play an assistant and key member of the firm.

Thanks DFW.

Conservative commentator Ann Coulter appeared on “The Joy Behar Show” on CNN Headline News to talk about, among other things, the new book by Karl Rove. Coulter said the book by the former top advisor to ex-President George W. Bush would be an interesting read, but it’s not at the top of her reading list.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuTY6MXxS5k

A dozen centuries-old shipwrecks—some of them unusually well-preserved—have been found in the Baltic Sea by a gas company building an underwater pipeline between Russia and Germany.

The oldest wreck probably dates back to medieval times and could be up to 800 years old, while the others are likely from the 17th to 19th centuries, Peter Norman of Sweden’s National Heritage Board said Tuesday.

“They could be interesting, but we have only seen pictures of their exterior. Many of them are considered to be fully intact. They look very well-preserved,” Norman told The Associated Press.

Thousands of wrecks—from medieval ships to warships sunk during the world wars of the 20th century—have been found in the Baltic Sea, which doesn’t have the ship worm that destroys wooden wrecks in saltier oceans.

The latest discovery was made during a search of the seabed east of the Swedish island of Gotland by the Nord Stream consortium, which is building a 750-mile (1,200-kilometer) pipeline in the Baltic Sea.

The 12 wrecks were found in a 30-mile-long and 1.2-mile-wide (48-kilometer-long and 2 kilometer-wide) corridor, Nord Stream spokeswoman Tora Leifland Holmstrom said.

The heritage board said three of the wrecks have intact hulls and are lying upside-down at a depth of 430 feet (130 meters).

Swedish marine archaeology experts analyzed pictures of the wrecks and determined that they could be of a high historic value.

“The content can tell us a lot about everyday life during that time,” Norman said.

It’s unclear whether any of them will be salvaged but the board said it hopes they will be explored by divers—though Norman added many of them are at a depth that would require very advanced and costly diving operations.

The Nord Stream consortium, which plans to start construction in April, has promised to make sure its activities don’t damage the wrecks. The area where they were found is in Sweden’s economic zone, but not in the planned route of the pipeline, Leifland Holmstrom said.

The Nord Stream project, in which Russia’s OAO Gazprom holds a 51 percent stake, has uncovered scores of other objects during seabed searches of the route, including about 80 sea mines and a washing machine, she said.

Last year, parts of a 300-year-old ship were salvaged from Germany’s Bay of Greifswald to clear a path for the pipeline, which expects to carry some 1.9 trillion cubic feet (55 billion cubic meters) of natural gas a year.

Sweden’s most famous maritime discovery, the royal warship Vasa, is housed in a popular museum in Stockholm where visitors can admire the ship’s details, down to the flashing teeth of the carved lions that adorn its elaborate exterior. The Vasa was raised from the Stockholm harbor in 1961, 333 years after it sank on its maiden voyage.

Thanks Breitbart.

An Ohio State University janitor who received a bad job evaluation shot two supervisors in a campus maintenance building, killing one of them, then fatally shot himself, officials said Tuesday.

Nathaniel Brown, 51, who was hired in October and was still on probation, arrived for work at the nation’s largest university dressed in dark clothing, a hooded sweat shirt and a backpack, then opened fire in an office suite using two handguns, campus Police Chief Paul Denton said.

About a half-dozen other employees were in the building when the shooting began, he said. He described the shooting as work-related and said Brown recently received a poor performance evaluation, though he declined to say whether that was the motive.

No students were hurt, and classes went on as scheduled.

The shooting was first reported at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday. Police tactical units surrounded the building and found Brown with a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a garage bay, Denton said. He was pronounced dead at a campus hospital several hours later.

Brown had been scheduled to work his normal third shift, Denton said.

One of the victims, building services manager Larry Wallington, 48, died at the scene. The other, operations shift leader Henry Butler, 60, was in stable condition at Ohio State University Medical Center, officials said.

Denton declined to say whether other employees were targeted. Police also didn’t describe the contents of Brown’s backpack.

The other employees in the building at the time have been offered grief counseling, Denton said.

“This is a tragic event, and our hearts go out to all of the families,” said Vernon Baisden, assistant vice president for public safety.

Police released two 911 calls. In one, a caller tells the dispatcher that he pulled into the garage and heard gunshots. He identifies Brown as the shooter and says Brown was in the process of being fired.

Ohio State spokeswoman Shelly Hoffman declined to comment on Brown’s employment status, saying the issue remained under investigation.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether the university had conducted a background check on Brown, who was released from prison in 1984 after serving about five years on a charge of receiving stolen property.

Ohio State’s policy on background checks depends on the type of job position, Baisden said.

Both shooting victims had worked for the university for about 10 years. Family members reached Tuesday declined to comment.

Graduate student Kiernan Gordon, 31, said he found out about the shootings from his wife, who called him on his cell phone while he was driving to campus. He said he didn’t have any concerns about his own safety.

“Ohio State is really a city unto itself, and like any city it has problems unto itself,” Gordon said.

More than 55,000 students attend the university’s main campus in Columbus. The maintenance building is next to a power plant and across the street from Ohio Stadium, home to the university’s football team.

Thanks Breitbart.

These two squirrels looked like astronauts after putting coconut shells on their heads.

The pair look more like starved spacemen tucking into the tropical treats at the back of Jane Robert’s home in Fareham, Hants.

Miss Roberts, 46, leaves out two coconuts a week and suspends them on pieces of string from her washing line and watches her furry friends dig in.

She said: “The first time I saw them feeding I nearly died laughing, they looked like a pair of astronauts and even now I can not stop chuckling every time I see them.

“I make a large hole in the coconut so they can get to the flesh. They cannot get enough of them.

“I worry they might get stuck up there one day but they are clever little things.”

Thanks Telegraph.UK.