December 18 2007 The free­content news source that you can write! Page 1

WHO says spread of Bird Flu vet and his other two brothers security forces, in countries where among humans limited subsequently recovered. the pandemic is starting. He says the vaccines also would be used to Doctor Heymann says H5N1 vaccinate people in areas The World Health Organization remains an animal disease. He surrounding a contaminated zone (WHO) says limited human-to- says there have been only to try to contain the virus and stop human transmission of the H5N1 occasional instances where it from spreading. avian influenza virus may have human-to-human infections have occurred in Pakistan, but it says occurred. the threat of further spread Rajeev Bagga & Natalia Deeva appears to have stopped as no The World Health Organization named as "2007 Deaf new infections have been reported reports at least 209 people have Sportsman and Sportswoman for two weeks. died worldwide from the virus, of the Year" most in Indonesia. Scientists fear Assistant Director-General of the the H5N1 or another as yet To encourage the performance of World Health Organization and top unidentified virus could mutate deaf athletes, the International bird flu expert, Doctor David into a form that could easily Committee of Sports for the Deaf Heymann, says a team of WHO spread the disease among (ICSD) recently announced the top experts has completed an humans. 10 finalists for the "2007 WIDEX investigation into an outbreak of Sportsman and Sportswomen bird flu in Pakistan. He says tests Doctor Heymann says there were Award". Rajeev Bagga and Natalia were carried out among a group of three avian flu pandemics in the Deeva were named by the jury as people who became infected with last century and other pandemics "Deaf Sportsman and the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus before then. He says there is a Sportswoman of the Year". in October. clear understanding in the scientific community that there will According to icCoventry from Doctor Heymann says an analysis be another pandemic of influenza. England and the ICSD, Bagga of the information is not yet performed excellently in recent complete, but preliminary results "We do not know what virus will badminton matches, never losing indicate there was human-to- cause that, but we know there are important matches in his human transmission of the virus. avian influenza viruses out there international career, which began He says there could have been a and those viruses could cause a in 1989. He was known as a good common source of the infection. pandemic eventually," he explained. "As long as H5N1 is sportsman; always accepting "The team feels, we have not seen circulating anywhere in the world, referees' judgments, regardless of all their evidence yet, but they feel there is a chance that that virus their accuracy. that this could be an instance of can, either through an adaptive Recently in the 2nd World Deaf close contact of human-to-human mutation or re-assortment, cause a Badminton Championships in transmission in a very pandemic. The problem is nobody Germany, Bagga offered to give up circumscribed area and not can quantify that risk." his silver medal in men's single sustained," he explained. "Just like class after the tragic news of his happened in Indonesia and in Doctor Heymann says countries former Lithuanian teammate Thailand." have to be prepared to take action when a pandemic strikes and that Andirus Jankus' death in a car Nine people, including five the World Health Organization is accident. This touched the hearts brothers, became infected with the stockpiling H5N1 vaccines. of many people, both deaf and H5N1 bird flu virus in a small town able. north of Islamabad. One was a vet He says they would be used to Best Sportswoman, Deeva, involved in culling sick poultry. Two vaccinate essential populations, participated in the "2007 World of his brothers fell ill and died. The such as health workers and Deaf Swimming Championships" in

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Taiwan and broke 3 world records slated to appear in a 2008 film. regular worshipper at Mass with in the same day. Also in this his family and in recent months he championship, she won 4 gold Indian Air Force jet catches fire and has been following a programme of medals. crashes after refuelling at Biju formation to prepare for his Patnaik Airport reception into full communion ... Sacha Baron Cohen retires My prayers are with him, his wife Borat alter ego and family at this joyful moment in A jet trainer belonging to the their journey of faith together." Indian Air Force (IAF) caught fire Sacha Baron Cohen, the British during takeoff from Biju Patnaik The Archbishop of Canterbury actor and comedian known for his Airport in Orissa after refuelling Rowan Williams, senior archbishop characters Borat Sagdiyev and Ali and crashed. The pilot escaped of the Church of England said, G, told Britain's Daily Telegraph on unharmed. "Tony Blair has my prayers and Friday that he was officially retiring good wishes as he takes this step The aircraft was one of four flying the aforementioned characters. in his Christian pilgrimage." The reason for this, he said, is from Kalaikunda airbase in West because of the public becoming Bengal to Hyderabad in Andhra Ann Widdecombe, of the too knowledgeable of him and his Pradesh. They had made a Conservative Party, was more alter egos. scheduled stop at Biju Patnaik for cautious. "If you look at Tony refuelling. After this was Blair's voting record in the House "It is hard, and the problem with completed, three of the aircraft of Commons, he's gone against success, although it's fantastic, is successfully took off and Church teaching on more than one that every new person who sees continued, but the fourth caught occasion. On things, for example, the Borat movie is one less person fire and crashed on the runway at like abortion," she said. "My I 'get' with Borat again, so it's a about 11:30 a.m. IST (UTC+5:30). question would be, 'has he kind of self-defeating form, really," changed his mind on that?'" Cohen stated. The aircraft was a Surya Kiran aerobatics demonstration team Tony Blair, who has yet to release Borat Sagdiyev is a Kazakhstani display jet. any official comments, said in a journalist with anti-Semitic and BBC documentary last month: "You The pilot ejected from the aircraft misogynist viewpoints, and Ali G is know you can't have a religious and was uninjured, whilst the a "gangsta" from the "Staines faith and it be an insignificant aircraft was attended by Aircraft ghetto". aspect because it's, it's profound Rescue and Firefighting vehicles. When posing as Borat or Ali G, about you and about you as a Cohen would conduct interviews human being." He also said that he Former UK prime minister Tony Blair with unsuspecting people who had avoided discussing his converts to Catholicism believed that the interviews and religious views out of fear of being the character were genuine. He called "a nutter. would ask questions designed to Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of make the interviewee look foolish the United Kingdom, has left the Oldest surviving US WWI or ignorant. He has showcased this Church of England and joined the veteran dies method in the television program Roman Catholic Church. Da Ali G Show and the faux- Blair, currently the special envoy J. Russell Coffey, the oldest documentary Borat: Cultural for Quartet on the Middle East, has surviving United States veteran of Learnings of America for Make long been attending mass with his First World War (WWI), has died. He Benefit Glorious Nation of wife and four children, who are all was 109. Kazakhstan. Catholic. Cardinal Cormac Murphy- Coffey's death was announced by Cohen generated much O'Connor received Blair into full the Smith-Crates Funeral Home in controversy from the nation of communion with the Catholic North Baltimore, Ohio. According to Kazahkstan, who claimed that Church during Mass at the United States Department of Borat portrayed a negative image Archbishop's House, Westminster, Veterans Affairs (USDVA), he is the of the country's people. He also on Friday. last remaining veteran of the war garnered lawsuits from the Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor said, "I in Ohio. He was also one of just unknowing participants of his act. am very glad to welcome Tony three remaining US WWI veterans. Cohen's third persona, a gay Blair into the Catholic Church ... Coffey, who was born on Austrian reporter named Bruno, is For a long time he has been a September 1, 1898, never saw

If you would like to write, publish or edit articles, visit www.wikinews.org Wednesday, December 23 2007 Wikinews Page 3 armed conflict as he enlisted in Open Source "TV Browser" "This title contains the most October 1918, just one month prior project drops 16 channel explicit sex we've ever seen in a to Germany and The Allies signing listings in face of usage fees celebrity video. Jessica clearly has a ceasefire deal. As a result, he more talent than just singing." failed to complete basic training in The electronic programme guide, Vivid spokesperson Jackie time to enter battle. He left Ohio TV-Browser, announced their Markham has said the footage was State University, where he had intention to remove 16 private tv- created earlier this year and was been studying, in order to join the channels on January 1st, 2008. purchased by the company two army. These include the German months ago from an unidentified He had two elder brothers, both of channels ProSieben, RTL Television third party. Markham said Jessica's whom saw combat, and for some and Sat.1. attorney has not contacted them time he expressed regret at having According to a press release by the and she is unsure if any proceeds not being able to join the war, TV-Browser team, the collecting will reach Sierra. although in April 2007 he told the society VG Media plans to collect a The tape also shows her making Associated Press "I think I was usage fee for channel-program- abusive comments about other good to get out of it.". data in EPGs beginning next year. contestants, such as Carrie He returned to education at New Users will be charged between Underwood, who has gone on to York University, where he earned a 0.02 and 0.04 € cents per page- have some success. doctorate. He went on to follow a view with a minimum fixed fee of career of playing baseball at a at least 2000€. semipro level, as well as teaching The Open-Source-project can not Featured Story-Israel Journal: students at both college and high and does not wish to pay this fee; Is Yossi Vardi a good father to school level. He also raised a developers are considering his entrepreneurial children? family; however, his wife and showing certain programme daughter have both since died. He highlights from the channels in Wikinews reporter David once said to his daughter Betty Jo question. Larsen, who died in September, Shankbone is currently, courtesy of that he would prefer to be A petition has been started to the Israeli government and friends, remembered for what he had done convince VG Media to abandon this visiting Israel. This is a first-hand rather than his age. "He told me charge fee. account of his experiences and 'Even a prune can get old.'" she may — as a result — not fully once said. comply with Wikinews' neutrality policy. Please note this is a Preview of sex tape starring He continued to drive until the age journalism experiment for former 'American Idol' finalist of 104, and lived alone until the Wikinews and put constructive Jessica Sierra is released age of 106. After that, he moved criticism on the collaboration page. into the Blakely Care Center nursing home, where he resided Vivid Entertainment has launched This article mentions the until his death. The funeral home a new website previewing a Wikimedia Foundation, one of its did not disclose the location of his celebrity sex tape they have projects, or people related to it. death. obtained staring former American Please note that Wikinews is a Idol finalist Jessica Sierra. project of the Wikimedia A cause of death is yet to be Foundation. established, although it is known 22-year-old Sierra is a resident of Tampa and reached the final of the he had been in poor health since Dr. Yossi Vardi is known as Israel's show's fourth season in 2005. The October. 'Father of the Entrepreneur', and film she stars in will be released as he has many children in the form According to the USDVA, the other a full-length DVD entitled Jessica of technology companies he has surviving veterans are Frank Sierra Hardcore. The tape shows helped to incubate in Tel Aviv's Buckles, 106, of Charles Town, her having sex with a man thought booming Internet sector. At the West Virginia and Harry Richard to be Jessica's boyfriend. Landis, 108, of Sun City Center, offices of Superna, one such Florida. Steven Hirsch, co-chairman of company, he introduced a Vivid, who are also responsible for whirlwind of presentations from his a recent release featuring Kim baby incubators to a group of Kardashian said in a statement, journalists. What stuck most in my

If you would like to write, publish or edit articles, visit www.wikinews.org Wednesday, December 23 2007 Wikinews Page 4 head was when Vardi said, "What data that could be influenced by a knowledge that somebody, is important is not the technology, variety of factors (since there was somewhere, is profiting from but the talent." Perhaps because no clinical control). The study whatever you give. Second, with he repeated this after each young found American kids are far more Wikipedia it is very easy for a Internet entrepreneur showed us confident that they have done well person to type in a few sentences his or her latest creation under than their Korean counterparts, about a subject on an article about Vardi's tutelage. I had a sense of even when the inverse is true. The the Toshiba Satellite laptop, but to déjà vu from this mantra. A casual Times adds in the words of a answer technical problems a reader of the newspapers during Harvard faculty psychologist who person is experiencing seems like the Dot.com boom will remember a intoned, “Self-esteem is based on a different realm. But is it? “It’s a glut of stories that could be called real accomplishments. It’s all beautiful thing. People really want "The Rise of the Failure"; people about letting kids shine in a to help other people,” said the whose technology companies had realistic way.” But this is not the presenter, who marveled at the collapsed were suddenly hot first time the self-esteem community that has already commodities to start up new generation's proponents have developed on Fixya. “Another companies. This seemingly been criticized. difference from Wikipedia is that paradoxical thinking was talked we have a premium content Vardi clearly would find himself about as new back then; but even version of the site.” Their premium encouraged by Dweck's study, Thomas Edison—the Father of site is where they envision making though, based upon how often he Invention—is oft-quoted for saying, their money. Customers with a seemed to ask us to keep our eyes "I have not failed. I have just found problem will assign a dollar on the people more than the ten thousand ways that won’t amount based upon how badly products. That's not to say he has work." they need an answer to a question, not found his latest ICQ, though and the expert-editors of Fixya will Vardi's focus on encouraging his only time—and consumers—will share in the payment for the brood of talent regardless of the tell. resolved issue. Like Wikipedia, practicalities stuck out to me For a Web 2.User like myself, I was reputation is paramount to Fixya’s because of a recent pair of most fascinated by Fixya, a site experts. Whereas Wikipedia editors "dueling studies" The New York that, like Wikipedia, exists on the are judged by how they are Times has printed. These are the free work of people with perceived in the Wiki community, sort of studies that confuse knowledge. Fixya is a tech support the amount of barnstars they parents on how to raise their kids. site where people who are having receive and by the value of their The first, by Carol Dweck at problems with equipment ask a contributions, Fixya's customers Stanford University, came to the question and it is answered by rate its experts based upon the conclusion that children who are registered "experts." These experts usefulness of their advice. The site not praised for their efforts, are the equivalent of Wikipedia’s is currently working on offering regardless of the outcome's editors: they are self-ordained extended warranties with some success, rarely attempt more purveyors of solutions. But instead manufacturers, although it was not challenging and complex pursuits. of solving a mystery of knowledge clear how that would work on a According to Dweck's study, when a reader has in their head, these site that functioned on the work of a child knows that they will receive experts solve a problem related to any expert. praise for being right instead of for something you have bought and tackling difficult problems, even if Another collaborative effort do not understand. From baby they fail, they will simply elect to product presented to us was cribs to cellular phones, over take on easy tasks in which they YouFig, which is software designed 500,000 products are “supported” are assured of finding the solution. to allow a group of people to on Fixya’s website. The Fixya collaborate on work product. This business model relies upon the is not a new idea, although may good will of its experts to want to Only one month earlier the Times web-based products have help other people through the produced another story for parents generally fallen flat. The idea is ever-expanding world of consumer to agonize over, this time based on that people who are working on a appliances. But it is different from a study from the Brookings multi-media project can combine Wikipedia in two important ways. Institution, entitled "Are Kids efforts to create a final product. First, Fixya is for-profit. The Getting Too Much Praise?" Unlike They envision their initial market altruistic exchange of information Dweck's clinical study, Brookings to be academia, but one could see is somewhat dampened by the drew conclusions from statistical the product stretching to fields

If you would like to write, publish or edit articles, visit www.wikinews.org Wednesday, December 23 2007 Wikinews Page 5 such as law, where large litigation problems: first, WiMAX, which is through Rome, its desirability may projects with high-level of able to provide Internet access to be limited. collaboration on both document people for miles within its range. Whether Vardi is a smart parent for creation and media presentation; There is already discussion all over his encouragement, or in fact in business, where software aimed the Internet as to whether this propping up laggards, is something at product development has technology will eventually make only time will tell him as he generally not lived up to its WiFi obsolete, negating the need attempts to bring these products promises; and in the science and to find "hot spots" for a group of of his children to market. The look engineering fields, where multi- friends. Taiwan is already testing of awe that came across each media collaboration is quickly an island-wide WiMAX project. The company's representative becoming not only the norm, but a second problem is if good whenever he entered the room necessity. Samaritans are more easily provided the answer to the located, instead of just happened- For the popular consumer market, question of Who's your daddy? upon, how many will keep their Superna, whose offices hosted our WiFi access free? It has already meeting, demonstrated their cost- become more difficult to find saving vision for the Smart Home people willing to contribute to free (SH). Current SH systems require a Internet. Even in Tel Aviv, and large, expensive server in order to elsewhere, I have come across coordinate all the electronic Sorry no Non­Wikinews content is several secure wireless users who appliances in today's air- featured in this edition named their network "Fuck Off" in conditioned, lit and entertainment- an in-your-face message to About Wikinews saturated house. Such freeloaders. We are a group of volunteer journalists coordinating servers can cost whose mission is to create a diverse upwards of US$5,000, whereas Another child of Vardi's that the community where citizens from around the Superna's software can turn a Brookings Institution might say globe (including you) can collaborate to US$1,000 hand-held tablet PC into was over-praised for self-esteem report the news on a wide variety of current household remote control. but lacking real accomplishment is events. By making our content perpetually AtlasCT, although reportedly Nokia available for free redistribution and use, we offered to pay US$8.1 million for hope to contribute to a global digital Israel's Technion is the lifeblood of the software, which they turned commons. its technological sector, and also down. It is again a map-based Yossi Vardi's alma mater. software that allows user- Got news and no computer? generated photographs to be Call the Wikinews Hotline There were a few start-ups where uploaded to personalized street +1­866­653­4265 Vardi's fatherly mentoring seemed (toll­free in the U.S.) maps that they can share with more at play than long-term +1­202­742­5918 friends, students, colleagues or practical business modeling. In the (outside the U.S.) whomever else wants to view a hot market of WiFi products, WeFi +44­871­218­6397 person's slideshow from their is software that will allow groups of (U.K. / Europe) vacation to Paris ("Dude, go to the users, such as friends, share icon over Boulevard Montmartre knowledge about the location of and you'll see this girl I thought free Internet WiFi access, and also was hot outside the Hard Rock provide codes and keys for certain Cafe!") Aside from the idea that hot spots, with access provided many people probably have little only to the trusted users within a interest in looking at the photo group. The mock-up that was journey of someone they know shown to us had a Google Maps- ("You can see how I traced the esque city block that had green steps of Jesus in the Galilee"), it is points to the known hot spots that also easy to imagine Google are available either for free (such coming out with its own freeware as those owned by good that would instantly trump this Samaritans who do not secure program. Although one can see an their WiFi access) or for pay, with e-classroom in architecture access information provided for employing such software to allow that location. I saw two long-term students to take a walking tour

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