Michel Thomas says:
Whats the news today? Local. Global? Tell us!

mick y Pro User says:
From the BBC website - Europe
Danube bird flu is 'fatal strain'
The bird flu virus detected in the Danube delta is the same lethal strain which struck in Asia, Romania says.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4344448.stm
From the BBC website - UK
Pillows can harbour harmful fungi
Is counting sheep or counting fungi the best way to combat insomnia?
A small thought to help you sleep when you next get your head down - a study shows the average pillow is home to a host of potentially-harmful fungi.
A University of Manchester team found up to 16 types of fungi in pillows they analysed, the Allergy journal reported.

nori_n Pro User says:
Grandmother eternal rest Tama animal Park of a lesser panda
From tokyo tama-city
NENE(female, 12 years old) of a lesser panda bred in Tama animal Park (Hino-city) became dead for the senility on 12th. I bore 16 children and was known for eminent child to hold domestically. "Wind Futoshi" of the Chiba-shi animal Park which sent for a topic as a lesser panda standing up hits a grandchild.
NENE is born in Nezunomori Park of Kitakyuushuu-shi in July, 93. I did the next garden in Tama animal Park in February, 95 and experienced nine times of birth. It is accepted an achievement of the breeding that gave birth to 10 in total consecutively for six years in 00 and receives service animal commendation. It is mother of Liquidambar formosana Liquidambar formosana equal to father of wind Futoshi.
The death was confirmed when there was not an appetite, and a person in charge of breeding did it in the morning of 12th after entering a bedroom in the evening of 11th to watch a state. Life of a lesser panda is considered to be 10-12 years old and says that true father did a natural life span. The garden thank you for "laying a lot of children". It is assumed that I want you to sleep peacefully.

nofrills says:
Today's news from Japan, 15 October 2005:
1) Drunk cop caught creeping into Saitama home
KAWAGUCHI, Saitama -- A police officer was arrested after sneaking into the premises of a local resident's home in the predawn hours of Saturday while under the influence of alcohol, police said.
Satoshi Kurano, 29, a sergeant at the Saitama Prefectural Police foreign affairs division, is accused of trespassing.
He admitted to the allegations during questioning. "I was on my way home after drinking with some colleagues. I spotted a suspicious person on the premises and attempted to catch him," he was quoted as telling investigators.

2) Lucky stargazer discovers third supernova in lifetime
NAYORO, Hokkaido -- A local astronomical observatory technician has found a supernova for the third time in his life.
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has recognized the supernova as "SN2005gl."
"I'm glad that I can tell the world about Hokkaido's beautiful starlit sky (by announcing my discovery of the supernova)," said Yasuo Sano, 45, a technician at Nayoro Astronomical Observatory.
He discovered a supernova in 1997 and another in 2002. When asked how he could find such stars, he said, "I observe the star daily, but don't try too hard. It's important to enjoy observations."

3) Landlords to get compensation for 'haunted' apartments
Landlords left with "un-rentable" properties where suicides or killings have occurred because people are too scared to move into them may now be able to receive compensation, it has been learned.
Major landlords' associations have joined forces to create a fund that will provide compensation to owners of properties where a suicide, murder or other killing has occurred, especially as home insurance does not cover these events.
Consumers have traditionally shunned such properties -- and the homes and apartments around them -- often creating enormous economic burdens for the owners.
"We're aiming to protect small-scale landlords who use savings for their post-retirement life to fund expenses of managing their apartments," said Shigeyasu Abe, head of the Aoi Kyojokai, the name given to the body that will compensate those property owners affected by untimely deaths.
"But, we're not only going to offer the compensation alone. We're also going to try hard to make sure these incidents don't occur, make mental health consultations available to tenants and build close relations with the police to try and prevent crime," he said.
Japan's suicide and murder rates are growing. Government statistics show there were 32,325 suicides in Japan last year and 1,419 murders. Of the killings, 823, or almost 60 percent, occurred inside homes.

StarrGazr Pro User says:
From New Hampshire, USA
State Monitors Rivers, Streams
Evacuated Keene Residents Return Home
Keene Pumpkin Festival Will Light Up As Planned
Annual Event To Go On Despite Floods
from WMUR local NH TV station
And from the Nashua Telegraph:
New Hampshire residents watching rising rivers
By BEVERLEY WANG, Associated Press Writer

PETERBOROUGH, N.H. (AP) - A week after heavy flooding washed away homes and claimed several lives in New Hampshire, more rain washed out numerous roads and flooded basements statewide on Saturday amid fears of more floods.
We have also had a group of Tibetian monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery in Southern India visiting with us at Rivier College in Nashua, NH building a health
Today will be the completion of the sand mandala from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Dismantling ceremony at Rivier College Memorial Arts Studio from 1-2 p.m., disbursing of sand into local body of water 2-3 p.m. (It won't be hard finding water!)

endora57 Pro User says:
Repatriated tunic returns home
An old Chilkat Brown Bear tunic repatriated by the Kaagwaantaan Clan in Klukwan made a stop in Juneau Thursday on its way home.
Sealaska Heritage Institute held a reception for the tunic, Clan Leader Joe Hotch, and other clan members.
The institute repatriated the clan treasure from the Phoebe Hearst Museum in California on behalf of the clan
During the reception, Hotch described what he said to museum officials when he picked up the tunic on Tuesday. “My grandfather’s item. I have come after you. We miss you and you will be our strength when you return. We’re waiting for you in Klukwan."
The tunic is being welcomed by the community today. (Friday)
The tunic was first spotted by Institute ethnologist Kathy Miller in November 2004 while photographing other cultural objects from Southeast Alaska held by the museum in California.The repatriation is thought to be one of the quickest on record partly because Hotch produced a photo taken in 1923 of the then clan leader wearing the tunic in Klukwan.

Some comments on the project:
quinet Pro User says:
Here's what it means to me to be one people under one sky.
When an animal dies, it maybe passes some of its life experience along to its offspring, but basically its memories die with it.
But our memories live on through our writings, our creative works, our culture, our photos.
Every human being has the opportunity to live forever through the contribution that person has made to humanity, even if it's just an out-of-focus photograph on Flickr, which will likely be remembered long than I will be.
Groups like this remind me that I'm part of something bigger than an individual bit of mortal clay and part of a fantastically creative being called humanity. The best thing I can do is contribute to the flourishing of that collective creativity. And know that the things I create will probably outlast me and the best thing I can do with them is give them up as a kind of offering or homage to the creativity I see around me.
Thanks to you all for making a beautiful shared experience!
- Thom

Tiger Empress & Vidigiani Pro User says:
I have enjoyed doing sky, earth and horizon because you get to see the beauty of all the pictures from all around the world plus it actually makes you stop and look around you to see the beauty of where you live. Great Idea Michel!!! I had lots of fun with it :)

gilowe Pro User says:
Michel, given that we all wander around with cameras anyway (I hope...embarrassed if not) your projects certainly gives me additional purpose and motivation. The projects have been challenging in turning your piece of Earth or your piece of Horizon etc into something personal. Thank you for your efforts, and of course everyone elses efforts. The photos are amazing. Keep the projects coming!!!
And the end results are spectacular!

lluisanunez Pro User says:
Oh yeah, please keep up with the project. It's been fun!

florriebassingbourn Pro User says:
This has been remarkably rewarding. Having missed "sky" and taken part in "earth", I nearly didn't bother to join in "horizon", but I'm so glad I did. It got me out for a walk with prof John (my husband) and we both found the challenge more challenging than we'd expected and it made us think and look and really get something out of our day. Yes, I'm game for more!