All posts by Bill Maher

FYI, News

America’s first Openly Gay Bishop to Divorce

Gene Robinson the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopalian Church has announced via The Daily Beast that he is to divorce his partner of 25 years. The couple controversaly married in 2010 after gay marriage was legalized in the State of New Hampshire. Later Robinson was voted by the General Convention of the US Episcopalian church to become a bishop a move which shocked and angered the global Anglican community.

In his announcement Robinson writes: “Recently, my partner and husband of 25-plus years and I decided to get divorced. While the details of our situation will remain appropriately private, I am seeking to be as open and honest in the midst of this decision as I have been in other dramatic moments of my life—coming out in 1986, falling in love, and accepting the challenge of becoming Christendom’s first openly gay priest to be elected a Bishop in the historic succession of bishops stretching back to the apostles.”

Read More: The Daily Beast

FYI, Science And Technology

SUN’S MAGNETIC FIELD SET TO FLIP

Within the next few weeks the Sun’s magnetic field will complete it’s process of flipping. This is an event which takes place every 11 years and is accompanied by intense solar activity.

This solar activity could have serious implications for us, as the solar flares thrown out by the sun at this time have the potential to damage satellites and take out power grids on earth. In this age where we are dependent upon telecommunications, and the blackout of vast areas of the country could have catastrophic consequences. In 1859 the solar maximum caused, the then new technology of telegraphs, to be damaged, resulted in telegraph operators to be electrocuted, the auroras caused were seen as far south as the Caribbean; and in 1989 a solar flare resulted in the blackout of Quebec, and melted power transformers in New Jersey. Scientists will be closely monitoring the sun hoping this solar maximum will pass without incident.

Read More: BBC

FYI, News

CLEAR UP OPERATIONS TO BEGIN AT THE FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR PLANT

The Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan was severely damaged by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in 2011. Since then scientists have been battling with the damaged pant to keep the rectors cool and avoid a more serious incident.

Next month will see work beginning to remove the fuel rods from the damaged rector. This work will be the most technical and dangerous since the 2011 disaster. This year’s World Nuclear Report says the operations have the potential to cause: “by far the most serious radiological disaster to date” if it goes wrong. And warns of possible apocalyptic scenarios, including the evacuation of Tokyo.

The operations involve the removal of the spent fuel from one of the reactors. This reactor is in the most unstable condition, and scientists do not fully know the extent of damage within the reactor core. Since the disaster the reactor has had to be constantly cooled to stop a full meltdown of the plant. Every day gallons of irradiated water from this process escape the plant into the surrounding environment and into the Pacific Ocean. Once these fuel rods are removed, they will then begin work on removing the fuel rods from the other three reactors, which were also damaged. The whole process of decommissioning the site is likely to take 40 years.

Althoug the removal of fuel rods from a nuclear power station is a standard procedure the damaged Fukushima plant has so many dangers and unknowns it makes it a highly dangerous and technical procedure. Nuclear expert Professor Neil Hyatt says, “This is probably a world first in terms of the engineering challenge.”

Read More: Channel 4 News

FYI, News

GUNMAN KILLS 13 IN WASHINGTON DC

Monday afternoon a gunman went on a shooting rampage at the US Navy Yard in Washington, at least 13 are believed to have been killed. The FBI have said the gunman has been killed and has been named as 34 year old Aaron Alexis, from Fort Worth Texas. Alexis served in the US military from 2007-11.

The FBI do not have a motive for the attack.

The US Navy Yard, Washington, is the headquarters of the Naval Sea Systems Command, which engineers, purchases, builds and maintains ships and submarines for the Navy.

Read More: The BBC

FYI, News

SYRIA AGREES TO RUSSIAN PLAN TO PUT CHEMICAL WEAPONS UNDER INTERNATIONAL CONTROL

Reports out of Syria suggest that they have accepted the Russian proposal to place their chemical weapons arsenal under international control. President Obama has responded saying that if the reports are true the deal would be a “significant breakthrough”.

The UK Prime Minister, responded saying the plan must be “serious and genuine”.

Read More: The Telegraph

FYI, News

ASSAD WARNS US “EVERYTHING POSSIBLE” IF SYRIA IS ATTACKED

In an interview on US television President Assad of Syria warned the US that “everything” would be possible if the US were to strike the country. Assad also repeatedly denied claims that he had used his chemical weapons stoke pile against his own people.

“You’re going to pay the price if you’re not wise. There are going to be repercussions,” Assad told CBS television in an interview recorded in Damascus and broadcast on Monday. “It’s an area where everything is on the brink of explosion. You have to expect everything.”

Also today Russia has urged Syria to hand it’s chemical weapons over to the international community. Russia’s plan was welcomed by the US and European leaders. Since the chemical weapons attack Russia has stood by the Syrian regime, claiming that rebels carried out the attack. However, most in the international community believe the weight of evidence points to the Assad government was to blame for the attack.

Read More: France 24

Entertainment, FYI

VENICE FILM FESTIVAL OPENS IN ITALY

The Venice film festival opened this week with the premiere of the latest George Clooney film “Gravity” and a gay romantic comedy, “Gerontophilia”.

Gravity, a sci-fri thriller starring George Clooney and Sandra Bullock, opened the festival, which is the oldest film festival in the world. Gerontophilia is made by Toronto based photographer, pornographer and indie director Bruce LaBruce.

The Venice film festival does not have the protocol as the Cannes film festival, and is regarded as more adventurous than Cannes. After the Venice film festival is the massively important and influential Toronto Film Festival.

Read More: France 24

Entertainment, FYI

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO MILEY CYRUS, FATHER BELIEVES THEY ARE UNDER ATTACK FROM SATAN

Former Disney child star Miley Cyrus shocked parents and fans at her MTV VMB performance at the weekend. The 20 year old’s danced in nude hot pants, with dance moves of a highly sexual nature. After the performance the media have been quick to judge the young singer, made famous by Hannah Montana. However, many have blamed the media of hypocrisy arguing that young female performers feel obliged to push the boundaries of what is acceptable in order to be successful.

Last year Miley Cyrus father, Billy Ray Cyrus, spoke out about his concerns for his daughter, saying he feared for her life and that he believed his family were under attack from Satan. In the interview he went on to say, “Somewhere along this journey, both mine and Miley’s faith has been shaken that saddens me the most.”

Billy Ray Cyrus was highly critical of her handlers, saying that believed both his daughter and himself were used in order to generate headlines to promote her career, “some of these handlers are perhaps more interested in handling Miley’s money than her safety and her career”.

Read: Billy Ray Cyrus interview

FYI, News

HUNDREDS DEAD IN CHEMICAL WEAPONS ATTACK IN SYRIA

The medical aid charity Medecins Sans Frontieres has said it has treated around 3,600 patients in Syrian hospitals it works with who had “neurotoxic symptoms”, and they report 355 deaths.

MSF say the patients arrived at the hospitals on August 21st, the day Syrian rebel forces say the regime launched a chemical weapons attack. So far the Assad regime has denied the attacks, and has refused access to the site by UN inspectors.

MSF say they have no way to scientifically prove that the patients symptoms were caused by the use of chemical weapons, however MSF Director of Operations Bart Janssens, said “MSF can neither scientifically confirm the cause of these symptoms nor establish who is responsible for the attack,”

“However, the reported symptoms of the patients, in addition to the epidemiological pattern of the events, characterised by the massive influx of patients in a short period of time, the origin of the patients, and the contamination of medical and first aid workers, strongly indicate mass exposure to a neurotoxic agent.

“This would constitute a violation of international humanitarian law, which absolutely prohibits the use of chemical and biological weapons.”

The attack has led to wide spread international condemnation, and calls for the international community to take action against the Assad government. President Obama has previously said the use of chemical weapons would constitute the crossing of a red line and would change his calculations.

Read More: The BBC

FYI, News

MARSEILLE, FRANCE, LOCALS CALL “ON BATMAN” TO FIGHT CRIME

Desperate locals in the French city of Marseille have posted a mock advert calling on Batman to come and fight crime in the city. The call came after a week of violence, which left one pensioner dead.

Marseille has seen a surge in violent crime in recent years, mostly linked to the drugs trade.

Poverty blights to French port town, with only half the residents paying income tax.

Read More: France 24

FYI, News

GREECE WILL NEED NEW BAILOUT, ADMITS GERMAN FINANCE MINISTER

Germany’s finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, has admitted for the first time that Greece will need another bailout. Germany had been reluctant to publicly say this ahead of the countries elections in September. Any new bailout will be very unpopular in Germany.

However, it is believed that a third bailout will be considerably smaller than the previous two the country has received.

Read More: The BBC

Uncategorized

SUMMER DROWNINGS IN FRANCE NEARS 100

Sarah Jones
Since July 91 people have drowned in France’s seas, and waterways. 15 of the deaths have occurred over the last weekend alone.

The authorities in France have urged holiday makers to “take greater care and to be more responsible”.

Many are blaming the deaths on a lack of qualified lifeguards patrolling France’s waterways and beaches.

Read More: France 24

Uncategorized

SIKH’S IN ENGLAND ADVISED TO STOP PERFORMING CIVIL MARRIAGES OVER GAY RIGHTS

Sarah Jones
A Sikh advisory body, Sikh’s in England, has advised Sikh temples to relinquish their marrige licences, over fears of future litigation by same-sex couples.

Although new legislation in England is meant to protect religious groups, in provisions called the “quadruple lock”, from being compelled to perform same-sex marriages on religious grounds. It is feared the provisions are not worth the paper they are written on.

Many believe that gay rights groups will challenge the “quadruple lock” in the European Court of Human Rights, thus compelling religious groups to allow same-sex marriages on their premises, or risk legal action and the loss of their licenses.

The guidelines given to Sikh Temples recommends they relinquish their licenses meaning that the civil part of any marriage would have to be conducted in a separate ceremony to the religious one, in a council licensed venue.

Read More: The Telegraph