A US man stabbed his relative after an argument over the presidential credentials of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Brothers-in-law Jose Ortiz and Sean Shurelds were arguing about the fiery contest for the Democratic nomination for president at their Pennsylvania home when the dispute escalated into violence, US broadcaster CBS said.

US authorities said Ortiz, a registered Republican and Clinton supporter, allegedly stabbed Mr Shurelds, an Obama supporter, in the stomach, CBS said.

Source: theage.com.au

A California meatpacker caught torturing cattle and processing the unfit animals for human consumption is provoking calls for reform that could prove hard to ignore.

The Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co announced on Sunday it wanted back nearly 143 million pounds (65 million kilograms) of meat -- enough to feed more than 2.2 million Americans for a year -- that it had shipped out since February 2006.

But the wrongdoings at the plant were not exposed under the watchful eye of inspectors from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Instead, the Humane Society of the United States captured employees in a gruesome, undercover videotape that was made after an apparent random decision to investigate the plant located in Chino, California.

...

The Humane Society of the United States sparked an uproar over the meatpacking plant when it released the lurid videotape showing plant workers were gouging, kicking and forcing water into the noses of cattle in order to get the animals upright.

Only cattle that can stand are considered fit to be inspected, a rule considered especially critical in preventing processing of cows infected with mad cow disease.

Source: reuters.com

In what could be described as a filesharer's worst nightmare and the RIAA's sweetest dream, Great Britain and now Australia are debating legislation that seeks to force internet service providers (ISPs) to drop customers whom are found to be downloading copyrighted material.

...

The new Aussie and British legislation calls for a three strikes policy. A first offense, which the government categorizes as accessing music, TV shows and movies illegally, would result in a warning letter from your ISP. A second offense would result in a temporary suspension of your ISP account. A third strike and you're out -- the ISP would terminate your account.

...

ISPs are unhappy with the move. National Internet Industry Association chief executive Peter Corones plans on airing his constituents’ complaints to Mr. Conroy later this week. Mr. Corones argues that current penalties are "stiff enough". In Australia downloading music can land you injunctions, damages and costs, fines of up to $60,500 for individuals and up to $302,500 for corporations per infringement and up to five years' jail -- nothing to sneeze at. Corones argues, "Internet service providers are not the enforcers of copyright."

Source: dailytech.com

A Sydney council's "Manilow method" for dispersing unruly teenagers is attracting keen interest overseas from government authorities keen on tackling anti-social behaviour.

Rockdale Council, in Sydney's southern suburbs, played Barry Manilow tunes over loudspeakers to stop youths hanging around.

In Britain, where campaigners this week called for a ban on a device in use across the UK known as "the Mosquito", which emits a high-pitched tone audible only to the young, the "Manilow method" is winning support.

...

The (Mosquito) devices emit a tone that causes discomfort to young ears, which are capable of picking up very high frequencies, but is outside the normal hearing range of people over the age of 25.

Source: theage.com.au