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28. august 2003
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London blackout
London experienced a 30 minute widespread power outage around 7PM local time today, causing around 250,000 commuters to be trapped in the underground and rail system. The outage also caused chaos on the roads as traffic lights were out.
There was no evidence of terrorism, and an investigation is launched to find out the cause of the blackout.
At any rate, it was strange it followed so close to the extensive blackout in the northeastern US and parts of Canada.
11:59:08 PM 
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The French government aims at holiday
Many French are outraged after the government carefully floated a proposal to sacrifice one of the country's 11 national holidays to finance a much-needed improvment in healthcare. Even among those who are open to the idea, the question remains, which holiday?
Transport Secretary Dominique Bussereau said he opposed abolishing a May 8 holiday that celebrates the end of World War II in Europe, or Christmas, or Armistice Day on Nov. 11, when fighting stopped in World War I.
"Definitely not May 8, because it left quite a few memories; not December 25 because I want Christmas presents," he said.
May I suggest Bastille Day?
2:35:40 PM
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Mugabe builds palace in impoverished Zimbabwe 
President Robert Mugabe, who has pushed Zimbabwe into chaos and bancrupcy, is not much affected by poverty personally. He is currently building a £6 million (~US$9.5M) retirement home.
Contractors are working feverishly on the fittings while two lakes built for Mr Mugabe on the southern boundary have begun to fill.
The residence offers more than three acres of accommodation, mostly on three floors, including two-storey reception rooms, an office suite, and up to 25 bedrooms with adjoining bathrooms and spas.
The Chinese-style roof is clad with midnight blue glazed tiles from Shanghai. The ceilings were decorated by Arab craftsmen.
Mr Mugabe's mansion is more than three times the size of his present official residence and his offices at State House.
The cost of the building begs for some explanantion, especially as Mugabe during 23 years in power earned less than $1 million in total, officially at least. Last year, as millions of his countrymen fell into desperate poverty, he increased his salary by 1000 per cent, but it is still not close to pay for his new mansion.
1:18:46 PM
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No smiles, please, we're Canadian
Canadians are prohibited from smiling on their passport photos. Applicants must submit photographs maintaining 'neutral expressions.'
The Canadian Passport Office says that means no smiling, frowning, glaring or grimacing.
That may be hard to do after they've heard about this rule.
9:32:14 AM
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— British and German tourists the worst
A poll of hotel and catering staff label Germans as the rudest tourists, with British tourists a close second. 23% said the Germans were the worst, while 22% pointed to the British.
Many British tourists were described as "drunken, yobbish, and spitting", with frequent displays of "arrogance" and "ignorance" when on holiday abroad.
However, an older worldwide poll by online travel service Expedia, placed Germans on top of the most well-regarded tourists. The British, however, were called the worst tourists in that test, with the Irish and Israelis trailing.
The older poll placed Norwegians as the 5th most popular tourists, along with Swedes (!) and the French (!!!).
9:17:18 AM
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Arafat is blocking the peace process
A very good overview of the latest developments in the Palestinian Authorities, from the BBC no less.
Arafat has appointed Jibril Rajoub as national security adviser to sideline Abu Mazen's security minister Mohammed Dahlan, meaning two persons will compete about power over the countless official paramilitary groups in the tiny country. The reason is of course that Arafat will retain all power in his own hands. And he surely has no interest in following the peace plan.
The article also gives a good background on the intense corruption of the PA.
5:51:57 AM
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Women gamers outnumber boys
You think the typical player of video games is a young boy? Think again. According to a poll released by the Entertainment Software Association, more women over 18 than young boys are now playing video games, and the average game player is 29 years old.
3:38:02 AM
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Man burns own car after failing driving test
Adrian from Focsani in Romania was so outraged after failing a driving test that he poured petrol on his new car, a Volkswagen Polo that he had received as a birthday present from his family, and put it on fire.
He told National newspaper: "When I came home I thought I saw the car laughing at me. So I put gas on it and lit it up. Who needs it anyway."
Let me guess: He failed the test because he could not control his temper in the traffic?
2:38:15 AM
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Astrologers blame Mars, not terrorists, for Bombay blast
Indian astrologers are convinced that the proximity of Mars to the Earth is the real culprit of the Bombay car bombings, which killed 52 people.
Astrologers believe the current positions of the moon, Mars, Saturn and Rahu -- an imaginary malefic planet in the horoscope -- bode ill for the near future, with the Indian government due to make wrong decisions and the public responding violently.
Astrologer R.L. Kanthan told The Times of India that the spell of misfortune will not ease until September 20 with the movement of Mars, the planet that "portends violence, wars, bloodshed and combat".
I don't know what is worse. That these morons actually believe this, or that they are using the tragedy to promote their quack ideas.
1:10:59 AM
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© Copyright 2003 Jan Haugland.
Last update: 01.09.2003; 14:10:55.
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This is my blogchalk:
Norway, Bergen, Norwegian, English, Jan, Male, 31-35.
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