World Stunned as Vincent Price Turns Up Alive and Sexually Fit in Austria

Creeepy...Yet another women-locked-in-basement-for-decades story comes out of Austria. This one even more perverse than the last one.

AMSTETTEN, Austria — Austrian police have arrested a 73-year-old man who they say kept his daughter locked in a cellar for 24 years and fathered seven children with her, three of whom never emerged into daylight from their prison until now.

With stories like this coming out Austria, you would think we'd have more than just our one lone Austrian reader.

Mushrooms, Smoking Bans and Decibel Readers

A few delayed thoughts after a recent trip across the Atlantic

Amsterdam -- I was confident that the last time I was in the city in May '07 it would be the final time I was able to sit quietly in a corner of a cafe, stoned out my mind while chain-smoking Camels and slowly drinking beers. Not the case. Despite what I "reported" here, the full ban was delayed until this summer leaving cafes, pubs, restaurants and coffee shops full of smoke for another few months. It was a nice a surprise to see that the country had delayed the ban yet again, coming awful close to delaying the smoking ban as many times as I've delayed taking the LSATS. I challenge them to beat my record.

Government buildings, i.e. airports, train stations, schools, (I think schools, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong), etc have been smoke-free since the start of '08. I also noticed a few more restaurants and hotels that had Non-Smoking sections, or were completely smoke-free than in my previous trips.

So, what else was I wrong about? Turns out you can still buy mushrooms from smart shops. From everything I had read it sure looked like wet mushrooms had joined dry shrooms and were banned. Not the case. At least from what I can piece together from my trip.

I have no idea what the actual change in law was. Getting an answer -- about anything -- from a smart shop worker is painful. Excruciatingly painful. Next to impossible to get him to move off his stool, let alone answer a question with a coherent answer. Googling, and casual encounters with locals (even ones I know) got me nowhere. So if anyone has a answer for me, post it in the comments section.

Paris -- I don't have much to say about Paris. I've never been a big fan of the city and on this trip I was only passing through for a night; just enough time to get loaded in a small Scottish bar up an alley that was a very hospitable place to spend a night drinking. A few quick thoughts though -- My buddy and I were in a taxi. Well not really a taxi, it was just what we would call a "hacker" over here. This guy spots some guy on the street getting arrested for smoking a joint and goes on a tirade about how they have no freedom in the country anymore, it's becoming all law and order since Sarko, etc -- "If I was to smoke a cannabis joint in my car, I should be able to." I always love to patiently listen to these types of complaints from foreigners, and then explain that in the US we shoot pot smokers. The looks you get are priceless.

Also -- I noticed in the bar that they had a digital decibel reader above a closet door, so I asked the bartender what the deal was. Turns out that every bar is mandated to have a decibel reader, and if the noise level reaches something like 90dec. the music automatically shuts off. I double-checked to see if this was required by law, and she nodded. I'm guessing it's a city thing. Fascinating. No smoke, no loud noise. Drink your booze while you can.....

Brussels -- Unattractive women and great beer. There are worse combinations in this world...

Do Privacy Rights Extend To Internet Sex Auctions?

In one of those stories where you think there has just gotta be more going on than what is being reported, a woman is suing a Web site to learn the identity of the man who impregnated her.

She has narrowed it down to six guys she met on an online sex auction. And, no, she never got their names:

BERLIN (Reuters) - A woman in Germany who became pregnant after an online sex auction has won a court battle to force the Web site that hosted the sale to reveal the names of the winners, so she can find out who's the father.

Six different men won Internet auctions to have sex with the woman in April and May last year. They were only known to her by their online names, a spokesman for a court in the southwestern city of Stuttgart said Wednesday.

"The woman wanted to discover which one of the men had made her pregnant," the spokesman said. "So she needed their contact details. Of course, if they're not willing to go along with the gene test, she'll have to take them to court."

The woman asked the site's operator to reveal the true identity of the men, but it refused, citing a confidentiality clause in its terms and conditions.

The court ruled in her favor, saying the child's right to know who its father was took precedence.

I don't know what it is but the weirdest stories of this type always seem to come from Germany. It must be something in the bratwurst.

Read the story here.

EU to Assist Dictator in Chad

For all the crap the U.S. takes over Iraq from Europe the old world should really examine some of their own foreign policy decisions. The nations of France and Ireland have promised about 2,000 troops to act as a buffer between Chad and Darfur.

One of the main fears here is that instability will danger aid workers, but Sudan and Chad have been engaged in a constant power struggle. One of the unintended side consequences will be to further insulate the regime of Idriss Deby in Chad. Story from the BBC.

Biofuels Damaging the Environment

The BBC released a story that indicates that the EU is worried about how biofuel production is damaging the environment because of deforestation. Land that produces biofuels is also being blamed for higher food prices. Is the EU just getting this news now?

Furthermore, a new report from the Royal Society questions how much biofuels actually decrease carbon emissions. The EU's target of 10% of road fuel coming from biofuels maybe reconsidered due to this study. Energy is always going to be a dirty business and there will be no easy way out.

Britons to Make More Money than Yanks

The BBC reports that, for the first time since the 1800s, Brits will make more money than Americans by 250 pounds. This caps a dramatic swing over the past 15 years, the last time that the UK was mired in an economic recession.

There is a sunny side for Americans. Cheaper foods and services will allow yanks to retain their purchasing power advantage over their colonial oppressors. Hurray for a weak currency!

Sarko Hooks Up with Another Supermodel

You can take French President Nicholas Sarkozy off of Foreign Policy's 'hot' list of eligible world leaders.

The lucky lady is Carla Bruni, an Italian supermodel and pop-star. They made this fairytale romance public at Disneyland Paris. Background story on Bruni from The Times.

My work computer must not like pictures very much, so here again is a Google search link for pictures of this Italian.

Tymoshenko Update!

Yulia Tymoshenko has regained her rightful place as Prime Minister of Ukraine. She narrowly won her second term, nonconsecutive, in a 226-450 vote. Story from the BBC.

If you would like to read the Ukrainian perspective over biased English publications take a gander at this Ukrainian newspaper online called Interfax. I have no idea what it says, but I am sure this story is on there someplace. Be Warned, the alphabet is a bit ugly.

Blogger is being stupid and not letting me put up a picture of Yulia, so here is the link to a Google search of pictures, Enjoy!

Swiss Canton Votes "No" On Roads, Sewers, Running Water, Education, Health And Civilization

Via Cato@Liberty:

Obwalden has become the first Swiss canton to adopt a flat income tax rate, with more than 90 per cent of the electorate voting in favour of the move. The decision, announced by the authorities after a vote on Sunday, comes after a court ruled the canton’s previous degressive tax model unfair. From next January Obwalden will impose a rate of 1.8 per cent on all categories. The new model also exempts the first SFr10,000 ($8,700) of income from taxation, a measure designed to benefit those on lower incomes the most.

Based on the information on this page, the Swiss tax system is still fairly complex (although apparently relatively simple). But Switzerland and much of Eastern Europe seem interested in lowering taxes and inviting investment.

Will the resulting prosperity teach the USA a lesson?

Mind Your Own Business, Spain

Irish airline Ryanair has released a for-charity calendar featuring its "air hostesses" (flight attendants, I guess) in bikinis. And this aerospace engineer simply can't think of a better combination than bikini-clad Irish women and 737s.

But a Spanish government-funded women's rights institute is not happy.

MADRID, Spain: Spain's government-run Women's Institute has labeled a 2008 calendar for low-cost airline Ryanair featuring bikini-wearing air hostesses as sexist and said it would be sending letters of complaint to Irish and EU authorities.

The institute, which defends women's rights, said that while the fact that the proceeds from calendar sales would go to charity was positive, the photographs "represent the stewardesses as sexual objects" and "reinforce discriminatory stereotypes."

"It is significant that that only women are used, in a sector in which there is a considerable percentage of men," the institute, which is part of the Labor and Social Affairs Ministry, said in a statement.

I guess Spain thinks that Ryanair is the first to think of selling a calendar featuring scantily-clad women. I mean, hasn't this made it to Spain yet?

No word yet on whether the EU is actually going to act on this. But this is one thing about a multi-nation continental "government" that worries me. Spain could have prevented the calendar from being sold within its borders and called it a day. But now it wants papa EU to (presumably) prevent Ryanair from selling its calendar period.

Let's hope the EU gives this Spanish government organization the same treatment that the Spanish king gave Hugo Chavez.

U.S. and Germany Snuggle Up

Bush has a new best friend and its not that dashing Frenchman. Its the European leader everybody forgets about, German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The Washington Post indicates that they act like a couple of chatty teenagers who can get enough of each other. The two often talk about Iraq, Iran, and global warming, a topic that Merkel was able to woo Bush.

The relationship blossomed during a romantic weekend getaway at Crawford, Texas, better known as the Paris of the the Crawford region. Why doesn't Bush invited Mahmoud there? I'd love to read that blog entry.

Gisele Knows What the Fed Does Not

I am old enough to remember stagflation, odd and even number gas rationing and Carter's fireside chats.

Here we go again. The dollar has plummeted in value from 0.85 Euros to 1.46. That is a relative loss of 72%. This a major economic catastrophe in the works, as the unstable dollar is causing lender countries like China to dump dollars.

If China and other surplus nations stop buying our debt then we are toast, as our debt just hit a record of $9 trillion. Watch the debt clock here.

Then we have oil at $100 a barrel, which is triple for US consumers since 2000 but only double for Euro nations, as their currency is strong.

The Fed, instead of lowering interest rates, should have raised them to maintain the value of our currency. Inflation and the loss of confidence in the dollar are not so good for the economy.

Even Tom Brady's supermodel girlfriend understands this as she now demands payments in the Euro and not the greenback. Why does not Ben Bernanke know what Gisele does? And will Tom Brady demand his salary in Euros?

Weekend International Links

The U.S. adds over 100,00 jobs, calming economic fears. International Herald Tribune

EU criticizes the pace of Turkey's reform, slowing any possible entry into the Union. IHT

"To engaged in aggressive personal diplomacy" is Obama's stance on Iran. New York Times

Hollywood writers call for strike against studios on Monday at midnight. Financial Times.

Floods inundates 70% of the Mexican state of Tabasco. LA Times

Putin cuts two-thirds of the international observing force from Russia's December elections. MSNBC

Cocaine Use Soars in Europe

European officials are attempting to stem the rise of cocaine use in Spain and Britain particularly. Studies indicate that 10 million people or 3% of the population in Europe have used the drug. Authorities are stepping up efforts to apprehend smugglers, but new routes are always being explored. The newest hot spot is West Africa NPR reports.

This story mainly regurgitates old news of coke being an acceptable party drug of the upper-class. Its depressing, but is the news media really that slow?

EU in Trade Deficit with China

The United States isn’t the only country to have an uneven balance of trade with China. EU Trade Commissioner, Peter Mandelson, is worried about the very same problem for Europe. The trade deficit is increasing at the astounding rate of 10 million pounds an hour, leading Mandelson to comment that China’s industry is “to some extent, out of control.” Now it looks like Europeans are worried about the fairness of Chinese trading policies. Story from the BBC.

Polish Politics: the Most Entertaining in Europe

If the Polish Women's Party secures any seats in the upcoming round of elections, I may have to order Polski C-Span. In what maybe the best political advertising campaign of all time the Polish Women’s Party has taken to posing in the nude on their party posters. Time add a bunch of candidates to the world leaders I’d like to bone list.

Alas, it looks like the Polish Women's Party will need all the help they can get to defeat the dastardly Law and Justice Party ruled by the Kaczynski twins. Sounds like the makings of a really bad soap. For the finer points on Polish Politics go check out Foreign Policy’s Passport.

Europe Wants a Stronger Dollar

The Financial Times reports that at the next G7 meeting Eurozone policy makers will push for a stronger dollar by taking a stance against the volatile global currency markets. Why is Europe so worried? It seems that Europe is unwilling to shoulder burden of existing global imbalances.

Tomislav Damjanovic: Making Money through War

Serbia based arms dealer Tomislav Damjanovic has supplied arms to conflict zones all over the world. An illuminating story in the International Herald Tribune goes into some detail on the life of a real arms broker. It is not quite a how to guide on how to make money from war, but a story on how to outwit the UN (not difficult). However, it looks like things are over for Tomislav Damjanovic. He is currently attempting to restructure his operation into a legitimate air-freight business.

The Disintegration of Belgium

A New York Times story reports on the growing movement in the Kingdom of Belgium for the breakup of the state into two separate entities. This situation has been steadily building for the past three months. A mutual distain between the Franco-Belgiums and the Flemish populations has existed since the formation of the state as a buffer to French expansion in 1830.

The economic ramifications, if this occurs, could be large. The economies of the two regions are interwoven and Flanders must subsidize the poorer French speaking regions. Another example of lazy Frenchmen.

Good Luck Taking My Horse on Man Porn From Me

Sure, this is from Brussels -- home to great beer, ugly people and the bureaucratic nightmare that is the EU -- but I think we have more of this "cracking down" on the Internet to come, even in America. It might not work, and we've seen regimes in Iran, and China have a tough time exerting control over the Internet, but that doesn't mean guys with ties won't give it a go and fuck a lot of shit up in the process.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Internet searches for bomb-making instructions should be blocked across the European Union, the bloc's top security official said on Monday.

[...]

"I do intend to carry out a clear exploring exercise with the private sector ... on how it is possible to use technology to prevent people from using or searching dangerous words like bomb, kill, genocide or terrorism," Frattini told Reuters

Full article here. And as a bonus - since we here at TtP think Internet freedom is mostly about being able to watch whoever we want have sex with whomever they want -- on demand no less -- I give you our Bestiality tag, complete with the always popular Is Sheep Fucker a Sex Offender? post....Enjoy.

Brits Allowed to Still Order Pints

Good news from the NY Times today-

BRUSSELS, Sept. 11 — Britons and the Irish can still down a pint of beer, walk a mile, covet an ounce of gold and eat a pound of bananas after the European Union ruled today that the countries could retain measurements dating back to the Middle Ages.

Under a previous European Union plan, Britain and Ireland would have been forced to adopt the metric system and phase out imperial measurements by 2009. But after a vociferous antimetric campaign by British skeptics and London’s tabloid press, European Union officials decided that an ounce of common sense (or 28.3 grams) suggested that granting a reprieve was better than braving a public backlash.

A point that article does not make is that the metric system, while good for use in science, is difficult to comprehend on a practical basis in everday application. This is because its base units of measurement are so infitesimal. It is much easier to understand a recipe that calls for 3oz of butter versus 84.9 grams. In contrast, its secondary units of measurement are too large. The average American woman is about 5'3" inches which equates to only 1.7 meters.

Anyway, this is a victory against an increasingly totalitarian EU. It's too late for Steve Thoburn, though.

A British grocer, Steve Thoburn of Sunderland, became known as the “metric martyr” when he was convicted in 2001 of measuring fruits and vegetables in pounds and ounces instead of kilograms. A court gave him a six-month conditional discharge. He died of a heart attack in 2004 just days after learning that his appeal to the European Court of Human Rights against a conviction for using nonmetric scales in his market stall had been rejected.

The Finns Stop Making Films

Oh unions, so much drama. Its like an episode of The Hills, but with fat white men. In a turn that will have global implications, Finnish film-makers are on strike to protest a lack of government assistance for their craft. Worst of all, the BBC reports, this will have the greatest effect on art house and independent productions. Think of all of the major cultural contributions that will be lost! Films like Laitakaupungin valot must be made at any cost. There go Ben’s pretentious musings on Finnish cinema.

EU Economic Growth

In a continent usually associated with stagnant economic policies. The European Union has been able grow, but with varying degrees of success. Who was the biggest winner? Slovakia, with a second quarter growth rate of 2.4%. Some countries, while they are not specified in the article from Financial Times, only had growth rates of 0.2%. There are some concerns of the sustainability of growth with the U.S. subprime market and of a strong Euro hurting exports. Its all good, but I still won’t be sold on the EU until Germany doesn’t invade France for 100 years.

Arrested For Letting One's 18 Year-Old Drink at Home, And Other Absurdities of American Life

The US law that increased the drinking age from 18 to 21 by enforcing federal penalties against states that did not comply might be among the worst of the laws that Reagan signed and encouraged. Parents who let their otherwise adult children imbibe in their homes are being increasingly prosecuted, as the long arm of the law only grows longer. A woman accused of allowing her 18-year-old son to drink at her birthday party is the first person to be arrested by the Nassau (NY) county police under a new law.

Karen Dittmer was arrested under the Social Host Law, which was enacted July 17, Nassau County police said Monday.

Dittmer, 45, is accused of allowing her teenage son and several other underage guests to drink beer Sunday evening at a party for the party held in the backyard of her West Hempstead home.

Even worse, in Virginia a mother and father were each sentenced to 27 months in jail for allowing alchohol at a party for their 16 year-old.

In this season of senior proms and graduation parties, the story of the couple is a cautionary tale for parents if they plan to serve alcohol -- or look the other way. It comes at a time of increased concern about the effects of drinking and driving and underage binge drinking, which is on the rise. Although 27-month sentences are rare, parents are increasingly being held criminally responsible for underage drinking under their roofs, even if they are not aware that it is going on...Kelly and Robinson -- the boys' stepfather -- were charged with nine misdemeanor counts each of contributing to the delinquency of a minor resulting from the August 2002 backyard birthday bash. Both were originally sentenced to eight years, but the sentences were reduced to 27 months. The case was appealed to the Virginia Supreme Court and then the U.S. Supreme Court, which recently declined to hear it.

It is appalling that US courts would criminalize what is accepted in most of the world and actually send parents to jail for doing what Europeans do as a matter of course.

Berlusconi is Money

From the Guardian:[emphasis mine]

Silvio Berlusconi's famously stormy marriage looked as though it was heading back into choppy waters yesterday, two months after his wife humiliated him into a public apology for flirting with TV showgirls.

An Italian magazine announced it was to publish photographs of the media tycoon relaxing with no less than five young women at his Sardinian villa. In one picture he is shown with a girl on each knee. In others, he is seen walking hand in hand with one or more of his guests.

[...]

The photos are likely to refuel a debate about the interaction between paparazzi and public figures in a country where politicians have been discreetly protected. Oggi, which is published by the same group as Corriere della Sera, was criticised last month for failing to publish photos showing the spokesman for Romano Prodi's centre-left government talking to a transvestite streetwalker from inside his car

Cheap trannys, beautiful young Italian women -- what's not to like about Italian politics?

Via The Corner, where Andrew Studdaford points out that Berlusconi is 70 years old. Brilliant. Full article here.

Note: Interestingly enough, when you do a google image search for "Berlusconi" the first pic is a full frontal, of what appears to be the former prime minister. See for yourself.

Hey, Look. French Politics is Just as Stupid as American Politics

From the BBC:

Sarkozy in row about paedophiles

[...]

In a weekend interview for Philosophie magazine, Mr Sarkozy said he was "inclined to believe that people are born paedophiles, and it's also a problem that we don't know how to treat this pathology".

[...]

Centrist candidate Francois Bayrou, currently third in the polls behind Mr Sarkozy and Ms Royal, said Mr Sarkozy's comments about paedophiles were "terribly worrying" and "chilling".

[...]

Socialist candidate Segolene Royal said his view that some people were "born paedophiles" was "extremely serious".

I thought -- with that headline -- Sarkozy was coming out for pedophilia. I've talked about politicians fearing even coming close to the Drug War, but an association with pedophilia, maybe an endorsement from NAMBLA. Now that's a bold political move. Could it be dangerous? Or could it be dangerously amazing?

In other news...Why haven't we had a pedophilia tag before now?? And does the British spelling read classier than the American?? And how long until the feds confiscate my hard-drive?? Yuck, I wouldn't even want the job of going through the nightmare that is my hard-drive. The files...Oh the files they would find...

Full article here.

Drug Policy Redux

The RSA just released a report (links to the full report and summaries are on the left hand side once you clicked through the link) on Britain's drug policy. Current effectiveness, areas for potential change, etc. It's about what you would expect out of one of these reports; very heavy on the public and social welfare scheme theme as the proper movement in drug policy. Subsidize the drug abusers to the point that you are provided housing, drugs, and the tools they need to continue the abuse. All provided by the tax-payers. Great way to reduce dependency. Don't worry, I won't go on about that topic; it has been discussed at length over the past few weeks in both TtP posts and the comments section and I really don't have anything new to add to the debate anyway.

However, I will note that I was thrilled to see this declaration that I'm pulling directly from the report via the Scotsman.

"The use of illegal drugs is by no means always harmful any more than alcohol use is always harmful. The evidence suggests that a majority of people who use drugs are able to use them without harming themselves or others."

Good to hear. Now back to the bad stuff in the report. I'm reminded of that old adage of replacing one addiction with another...

The two-year RSA Commission on Illegal Drugs argued that Britain's drug laws should be replaced by a system which recognises that drinking and smoking can cause more harm.

[...]

The harm caused by substances, including alcohol and tobacco, rather than outdated classifications should be at the heart of future drugs laws.

It's never ending. One step forward, two steps back.

You Might be a Terrorist If...

UK police in Manchester are promoting a new "anti-terror drive", complete with a tip-line and a slogan, that I kid you not, reminds citizens that "You don’t have to be sure. If you suspect it, report it.”

How do you know to report someone as a terrorist? Besides the obvious tell-tale signs of a funny name with a lot of vowels coupled with wires and TNT strapped to their chest. Well for those tough-to-tell cases vigilant citizens have a handy questionnaire to help decide who gets reported to the authorities. Some of the questions included are:

* Do you know anyone who travels but is vague on where they're going?

* Do you know someone buying large or unusual quantities of chemicals for no obvious reason?

* Handling chemicals is dangerous, maybe you've seen goggles or masks dumped somewhere?

* Do you know someone who visits terrorist-related websites

Full article here

Headline of the Day

Britons ignorant about sex, survey reveals.

UK Decap Plot Charges Unraveling

What possible reason could Muslims in the West have to distrust government?

A man arrested in Birmingham terror raids told how police grilled him over a drawing by his five-year-old daughter – but failed to mention an alleged kidnapping plot.

More here and here.

It's About Time I Started Visiting New Continents Anyways

Since the EU may ban smoking.

An EU-wide ban on smoking in public spaces could be put in the pipeline after the European Commission on Tuesday (30 January) launches a debate on whether to introduce a piece of smoke-free legislation binding on all member states.

EU health commissioner Markos Kyprianou is to issue a so-called green paper that takes a favourable view of the examples set by Ireland, Italy, Malta and Sweden on public smoking.

There are two options laid down in the commission's paper, seen by EUobserver.

A most stringent approach envisages "a total ban on smoking in all enclosed or substantially enclosed workplaces and public places, including means of public transport".

Restrictions could also be extended to "outdoor areas around entrances to buildings and possibly to other outdoor place where people sit or stand close to each other, such as open air stadiums, bus shelters or train platforms", the paper says.

The second option—and "a less effective one" according to the commission's paper—proposes "exemptions granted to selected categories of venue", e.g. hospitality establishments that do no serve food.

More here.