| Indonesia cracks down on ‘train surfing’ with concrete balls Posted: 17 Jan 2012 08:30 PM PST JAKARTA (BNO NEWS) -- Railway staff in Indonesia have begun hanging concrete balls above railway lines in an effort to try to stop commuters from riding the roofs of trains, the Jakarta Globe reported on Wednesday. The grapefruit-sized concrete balls, which could deliver deadly blows to the head, were installed above railway lines a few centimeters (inches) above the top of carriages at points where trains enter or pull out of stations. Authorities hope the balls will be enough to deter defiant roof riders. Railway staff previously attempted to stop 'train surfing' by spraying roof riders with red paint, threatening them with dogs, and even appealing for help from religious leaders. "We've tried just about everything, even putting rolls of barbed wire on the roof, but nothing seems to work," said Mateta Rizahulhaq, a spokesman for the state-owned railway company Kereta Api. The first balls were being installed on Tuesday near a train station just outside the capital of Jakarta and others were to be placed near railway crossings, the Jakarta Globe reported. Asked about worries that the balls could hurt or even kill roof riders, Rizahulhaq insisted that wasn't really his problem.
"They don't have to sit on top," he said, as quoted by the newspaper. "And we've already told them, if the train is full, go to the office. We will be happy to reimburse their tickets." Trains are usually packed with passengers, especially during the rush hour. Many people move to the roof to avoid paying for a ticket or to escape the overcrowded carriages. (Copyright 2012 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved. Info: sales@bnonews.com.) 
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| Canadian naval officer accused of spying for Russia Posted: 17 Jan 2012 08:24 PM PST TORONTO, CANADA (BNO NEWS) -- A Canadian naval and intelligence officer is accused of sharing classified information with a foreign entity, prosecutors announced on Tuesday. He is believed to have provided the information to Russia. Sub-Lt. Jeffrey Paul Delisle, 40, joined the Canadian Forces Reserves in 1996 and entered regular forces in 2001. He currently worked at HMCS Trinity, where he would have had access to sensitive information about Canada's weapons systems and those of partners such as the United States and other NATO member states. According to court documents, Delisle is believed to have shared classified information with a foreign entity since July 2007 until his arrest. He is believed to have shared the information from various cities in Canada, depending on his place of work at the time. In violation of the Criminal Code of Canada, Delisle "did commit a breach of trust in connection with the duties of his office," a court document stated, adding that he "did, without lawful authority, communicate to a foreign entity information that the Government of Canada is taking measures to safeguard." Delisle, a Royal Canadian Navy sub-lieutenant and intelligence officer, was arrested over the weekend after he was caught sharing classified information last week. CBC News cited sources as saying that the foreign entity is believed to be Russia. Other details were not immediately released by the court. Observers said it is likely that the trial will take place behind doors with few, if any, details released to the public. Delisle could face up to life in prison if found guilty. (Copyright 2012 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved. Info: sales@bnonews.com.) 
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| Occupy Protesters Join Lumumba Commemorations Posted: 17 Jan 2012 06:46 PM PST Activists around the world have celebrated the legacy of the assassinated former Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, on the day of his killing 51 years ago.
In Washington, members of the so-called Occupy movement joined pan-Africa militants in honoring a former leader who they say also tried to take a stand against big corporations.
Protesters gathered around a "Free Congo, Patrice Lumumba" sign outside the White House Tuesday, chanting the rallying cry that has come to characterize the U.S. Occupy movement: "We are the 99 percent."
The movement says it represents people fighting against elites of the U.S economic and political structure, those they call the "1 percent."
Tuesday's demonstration was called "Fulfilling the Legacy of Patrice Lumumba," in honor of the leader of Congo's anti-colonial struggle. The former postal clerk and independence activist in the Belgian Congo rose to become the country's first elected prime minister in 1960, before being deposed in an army-led coup, imprisoned and executed by firing squad.
Speakers at the protest accused multi-national corporations of colluding with elites in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. They said corporations and Congolese leaders have for decades plundered natural resources without benefiting local populations, something they say Lumumba tried to stop.
One of the speakers, from the Friends of the Congo organization, Maurice Carney, said there also is growing interest for Lumumba's legacy among opposition activists in Africa, who believe elections are being rigged in favor of candidates who do not question existing economic and security arrangements.
"There is just a new global sense of activism and within that environment people search for figures that can best exemplify that so, Lumumba is one such figure, particularly among people who are looking at the question of independence on the African continent or activism on the African continent," said Carney. "Lumumba is the quintessential example in that he gave his life in such a brutal fashion to fulfill that pursuit."
Another speaker, Netfa Freeman, from the Washington-based Institute for Policy Studies, said he sees similarities between Lumumba and the slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., whose U.S. holiday was celebrated Monday.
"One I think was being able to speak to the masses of the people and also having the courage to stand up to the powers that be and not only say what is comfortable for them to hear or to accommodate the powers that be but just be honest and say what needs to be said no matter what setting," said Freeman.
U.S. events to celebrate Patrice Lumumba also took place in the southern city of Atlanta and culminated in New York City, with a late-night concert.
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| Runners Challenge Themselves in Marathons Posted: 17 Jan 2012 06:20 PM PST <!--AV--> A day after the US Olympic Marathon trials in Houston this past Saturday, several hundred people took part in other races based on the 42-kilometer Marathon that has been part of the modern Olympics since they began in 1896. There was a half marathon race and less strenuous events for disabled people and children. Many runners participated as a way of testing their own personal performance.
Most participants in the Chevron Houston Marathon came out early in the morning with no expectation of winning.
They were running either the full marathon or a half-marathon course for personal reasons.
This was the 29th full marathon for Craig Lippert, who came here from the northern US city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, partly to get away from the winter cold. "I wanted some warm weather. The last long run we did, it was six degrees (Farenheit, -14 Celcius), so Houston has warm weather, it was gorgeous out there today, and I loved the course," he said.
After completing their run, participants went inside the George Brown Convention Center where they could meet with family and friends and check their performance on computers that displayed completion times for each registered runner.
For 47-year-old Denia Puerto, it is all about keeping fit, even as she gets older. "The older you get, the more disciplined you are. So, I think you get better and better and, yeah, I think I can keep it up," she said.
25-year-old Kristi Beneae enjoys the support of family members as she seeks to develop her athletic potential. "I think setting a personal goal and trying to achieve that is what motivates me, and, also, I would eventually like to qualify for the Olympic trials, so that is kind of my goal down the road," she said.
Daniel Kysela and his wife Julia came here from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to participate and to watch the Olympic trial runs. They also had a chance to meet US Olympic Marathon team member Josh Cox. "Everybody out there really wants to get to that level, so it is great to get to talk to somebody like that, and they encourage you and give you advice on how to get closer to that level," said Kysela.
But most people don't take it quite that seriously.
For some runners, this can also be a social event.
Marisa, Tina and Sasha each had personal fitness goals when they started running on the streets of Pearland, Texas, but after they met, they began running together as friends.
"It started off personal and then it became camaraderie," said Marisa.
"Yes, the people you run with and the relationships you make are like no other," added Tina.
Over the past 30 years, there has been a huge increase in the number of Americans completing a marathon run, and the number of yearly events held around the country has increased from around 200 to more than 600.
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| Comic Book Heroes Expand Their Reach Posted: 17 Jan 2012 06:08 PM PST <!--AV--> Marvel Comics has entertained people for decades with characters like Spiderman, the Hulk and Captain America. But with the growing popularity of video games and Internet entertainment, comic book creators have had to expand the settings and themes of their stories. They are now bringing their characters and stories to various parts of the United States.
Fans from all over Houston and beyond came to the 8th Dimension Comic Book Store to meet the author and artist who created Marvel Comics new series "Scarlet Spider," which is set right here.
"On behalf of the city of Houston, thank y'all for incorporating us," said a woman.
Scarlet Spider is the Houston-based character that was, er, "spun off" from Spiderman, and 18-year-old fan Stephanie Burgess recognizes some of the downtown settings.
"Looking through this was pretty cool because I see some of the buildings, they look pretty familiar," said comic book fan Stephanie Burgess.
It was a good business day for store owner Jeremy Bulloch, who is also excited about having a comic book story set in his home town.
"I own a comic shop, but first and foremost I am a comic book fan, so as a fan I am super-excited that this is going on," said Bulloch.
Bulloch says having a series like this also helps sales of older comics, which often sell well above their original cost as they become attractive to collectors.
"The collector mentality is a big part of the comic book industry and what makes comic books fun," he said.
These books attract young and old readers.
"My folks had a grocery store and we would stand in front of the comic books stand and go through all of them," said a woman.
Many fans say they enjoy the depictions of fantastic characters and the worlds they inhabit.
The author of the new Scarlet Spider series, Christopher Yost, tries to make those elements resonate with readers.
"I think comic books are the new mythology and if you look at movies and video games, so many of the big summer blockbusters are based on comic books," said Yost.
Most of Marvel Comics' super heroes are based in New York, but the company is now establishing new characters in other cities, like Houston, where Yost sees lots of possibilities for story lines.
"Houston seemed like a good place because, A, it is a place the Marvel universe has not seen before and, B, with its proximity to Mexico and its proximity to the Gulf, it has a lot of new opportunities," he said.
Yost says a future episode will have scenes set on an oil rig in the nearby Gulf of Mexico.
Artist Ryan Stedman used online images for scenes in the first part of the series, but relatives who live here in Houston will be taking him around for a firsthand look.
"We are going to look at all the stuff and I am going to take pictures and try and get a good feel for the city so that I can do more of those little details that I think are so important," said Stedman.
But, given concerns about U.S. education, shouldn't young people be reading "real books?" Not according to fourth grade teacher and comic book fan Debbie Cook.
"Reading is reading, whatever you can do to get them to be better at reading, understanding - I encourage them to read anything they can," said Debbie Cook.
So, there you have it, comic books can be good for you, although Jeremy Bulloch says "fun" is still paramount.
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