26. desember 2004

Orange hopes Ukraine's re-run presidential election is now well under way. Most people expect a clear and decisive win to reformist Yushchenko, but we know from experience that elections can be full of surprises. This may be the most important election campaign of 2004, deciding whether one of the largest countries in Russia's alleged sphere of influence becomes a real democracy, or stays in post-communist limbo under a Kremlin puppet. Update: There are more than 12,000 observers in Ukraine for the re-run, more than twice the number in the troubled first runoff. The polls close in a couple of hours. The first official results are expected from 23:00 local time (21:00 UST/GMT, 16:00 EST). Update 2: Yushchenko has claimed victory, as incomplete official results show him 18 percentage points ahead. It's a landslide! With 34% of the vote counted, the opposition candidate has 57.2% against 39.1% for prime minister Yanukovych. The turnout is 76.9%. Two exit polls has Yushchenko ahead by 15 and 20 points respectively. 2:09:55 PM    comment []  trackback []

Great earthquake kills thousands An 8.9 magnitude earthquake off Indonesia has generated giant tsunamis that has swept South-East Asia and killed thousands. In Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand survivors are telling about a massive wall of water sweeping away boats, people and buildings. The official death tolls are now at above 3000. The earthquake is the most powerful reported in the world in over 40 years. PS: Here it is on the World-Wide Earthquake locator. As you can see there were a number of aftershocks as well. PS 2: Amazingly, on December 26 last year, 30,000 people were killed by an Earthquake, in Bam in Iran. One of the big stories of xmas day was survivors recalling their losses. PS 3: In one of those uncomfortable coincidences life gives you, I went to bed yesterday after inquiring a lot about tsunamis, related to 2004 MN 4. Update: According to everything I've heard, experts expect the death toll to increase dramatically. The official numbers are now at around 4000. Update 2: USGS data on this earthquake. Update 3: The death toll is now at 11,500. Remote fishing villages all across the Indian ocean were particularly vulnerable to the tsunami, and reports from these areas will be the last to come in. Update 4: The quake has been upgreaded to magnitude 9.0. On a logarithmic scale like Richter's, that is a bit. 1:43:09 PM    comment []  trackback []

Some belated xmas craziness If you remember Badger Badger Badger with dread, you are certainly having second thoughts about checking out this xmas version: Santa Badgers. Blame Dean. 3:30:11 AM    comment []  trackback []

We thought Afghanistan had enough dangerous substances Mike Field in Minnesota is a big supplier of the infamous Norwegian speciality lutefisk, normally shipping between 200 and 300,000 pounds every year to customers across the US. This year, however, he has received a new challenge, as a US serviceman of Norwegian heritage can't take the thought of xmas in Afghanistan without lutefisk. One lutefisk-loving soldier has ordered 25 pounds of the pungent lye-soaked fish to be shipped to Afghanistan as a "treat" for military personnel there. "This is a first for this little outfit," said Field, owner of Mike's Fish and Seafood Inc. The order came from Mike Lindemoe, a serviceman with the U.S. Army stationed in Afghanistan -- and yes, Lindemoe is the one who called it a "treat," Field said. Field said that Lindemoe told him he wouldn't mind if it costs $50 a plate -- he wants the lutefisk. Field said he's never met Lindemoe, but he knows that he's a regular customer from International Falls who prepares lutefisk for dinners sponsored by churches and organizations such as the Sons of Norway. Field also is exploring the security issues that might come up. Laughing, he wondered how drug-sniffing dogs might respond to a package of the strong-smelling lutefisk. Field said that because Lindemoe will probably serve the lutefisk to fellow soldiers, he's sending it free of charge. And Field admits he's been teased by some who suggested that the lutefisk might be mistaken as something meant for the enemy. Maybe Rumsfeld has just approved some particularly nasty interrogation techniques. I blame Norwegian-American John Ashcroft, even if he has resigned. 2:28:03 AM    comment []  trackback []

© Copyright 2005 Jan Haugland. Last update: 01.01.2005; 02:39:25.