Andrew Reiff

International

Summary- 8-limbed girl has successful surgery

In India there was a girl born with eight limbs, four arms and four legs. She recently had corrective surgery to remove the extra limbs and enable her to live a normal life. The girl was two years old at the time of the surgery and the parents were tired of hiding her. She was named after the 8-limbed Hindu goddess Lakshmi. Apparently a circus had tried to buy the girl from the parents. The surgery, being far beyond the means of the parents, was done for free by the surgeon, an estimated cost of over 600 thousand dollars. There were originally two fetus's in the womb, but one died, and the other fetus absorbed the limbs of the first. This is a very rare occurrence in medicine.

Opinion-

Talk about a weird incidence. Wow eight limbs... It is incredible that she survived to have the surgery. And people thought she was the reincarnation of that god... well now she ain't cuz she just got 2 arms and 2 legs like the rest of us. Shame on that circus for wanting to buy her! That is ridiculous... and great for the surgeon who performed the operation for free... some one should give him a badge or something. I wonder what the odds of a child like this are of happening... whatever they are, this kid is destined for great things.

National

Summary- Border Fence May Cut Property

The newly authorized border fence along the US-Mexico border is planned to cut through the town of Granjeno, Texas, two miles from the official border which is the Rio Grande. Granjeno has nearly 100 houses, and the fence will cut through 35 of them. When I say cut through, I mean literally through the center of their houses, and all of those properties will have to be given up by the people currently living in them, although they will be given fair market value.

Opinion

As much as I hate to have these people lose their homes, I think it is necessary. The few will have to make sacrifices for the many, that is just the way it goes. So I feel for these people, but they are kind of weird for living like two miles from Mexico, not close to a secure crossing point. Maybe the government will have to fork over a little more than fair market value for the properties, maybe a million a pop would get em outa there faster then you can say "scat!"

International

Summary- Gunfire erupts at Venezuela University

When thousands of students protested Hugo Chavez's new constitutional amendment that would allow him to stay in office indefinitely, gunmen opened fire on them returning to their housing. At least four masked gunmen fired on the crowd, and when it surrounded their building to attack them, more gunmen riding motorcycles arrived to clear the way for the original gunmen to escape. People protested at 7 cities across Venezuela.

Opinion-

Does anyone else here think this has reasonable suspicion of foul play? Let's examine the facts... Chavez wants amendment passed... students protest amendment... then are fired upon by masked gunmen... It would be very easy to send a few secret agents to play this part, it is almost painfully obvious that Chavez is making an effort to suppress free speech in his country... prior to making himself dictator...

National

Summary- Saudi cleric condemns camel beauty contests as evil

In Saudi Arabia, an unusual event occurs quite often, the camel beauty pageant. But a Saudi Cleric has declared them evil because they waste much money on the camels instead of more worthy causes. The pageants have gotten more publicity with larger prizes every year. The camels can sell for as much as 127 thousand pounds, or about 250 thousand dollars. The cleric also said that camels were not made for pageants, but for work.

Opinion-

I am sooo sorry Mr. Hjort but I just had to do this story as soon as I saw it... I have been laughing the entire time I am writing this. It is just so funny! I have a rather inappropriate joke that I will tell you on Monday that totally explains why I find this funny. The poor camels! Oh, man I can't stop laughing. Finally the Arabs admit to what they really do in their spare time... and it is no longer make bombs... rofl...