US – Tuesday, February 9
Plant blast under investigation
Federal investigators headed to Connecticut yesterday to determine the cause of an explosion at an unfinished power plant that killed at least five workers and hospitalized dozens of others.
 
Pressure grows for sanctions
International pressure for new sanctions against Iran grew yesterday after Tehran announced plans to make higher-enriched uranium and add 10 nuclear sites in a year, raising Western fears it wants to develop atom bombs.
 
Stern: I’d do ‘Idol’ for $100M
Howard Stern took to his radio show yesterday to address the rumors that he’s a possible replacement for Simon Cowell for the next season of “American Idol.” To sum it up? He’s not going for it.
 
Dancing while the skinny lady sings
You’ve heard of the jukebox musical? David Parsons and singers AnnMarie Milazzo and Tyley Ross of the East Village Opera Co. offer a jukebox opera, playing nightly at the Joyce. Eleven Parsons dancers share the stage with Milazzo and Ross, who clutch microphones cranked to 11 and stroll through the action. On the recorded soundtrack, three drummers create a wall of sound so loud you — well, I — want to hide under the seat. Digital video of abstract patterns, natural landscapes and stunning architecture change for each song.
 
‘Free’ ad leads to fraud suit
NEW YORK. A Wisconsin college student is suing credit firm Experian — the brains behind the ubiquitous FreeCreditReport.com jingles — for fraudulent advertising after she inadvertently signed up for a monthly $14.95 monitoring service.
 
Let me count the ways ...
‘Tis the season for writing love letters. But that can be a daunting endeavor, especially when you’re not sure where to start. Should you put it in verse, use flowery language, get erotic? As with almost anything in life, the simpler you keep it, the easier (and often better) it will be. It doesn’t sound that romantic, but think of your love letter as a laundry list of the reasons why you adore your sweetheart. It’s kinda like Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet 43: “How do you love your partner? Count the ways!” Here’s how to do it without rhyming or pulling out a thesaurus:
 
Published 23:36, June the 22nd, 2009
 

Neda’s death inspires women across globe

Bloody footage provides a new face in the fight for women’s rights

Women around the globe are adopting Neda as the face for their cause.Women around the globe are adopting Neda as the face for their cause.
Photo: DAVID MCNEW/GETTY IMAGES
 

 
 

The gruesome shooting death of 26-year-old Iranian student Neda Agha-Soltan — caught on video and spreading virally across the globe — has not only further inspired women in Tehran, it has become a worldwide rallying call.

Within hours of hitting the Internet, the “Neda” video ignited public outrage. “I promise you: I will call my daughter after you, Neda,” reads one Twitter post. 

And while the video is an urgent call for governmental change, no group is more charged than the women of Iran, who are at the forefront of the movement. News reports, blogs and videos show veiled women standing in protest to the conditions imposed upon them by society within their country.

“Iranian women have nearly a century of activism behind them,” said Mahnaz Afkhami, a former Iranian minister for women’s affairs and founder of a group devoted to women’s rights. “[For three decades] women have organized themselves, created Web sites, gained skills, increased their numbers at universities, and pushed back against government imposed limitations on their rights.”

Sarah Farnam, 26, an American whose parents left Iran in the 1970s, was moved by the video, which she posted on Twitter.

“I was crying when I saw it,” Farnam said. “The world must see this. It no longer was an Iranian issue. It struck a human chord.”

 
 
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MMMpod
The February MMMpod features conversation from Ozzy Osbourne. Michael Emerson from "Lost" tells us about his days enjoying punk rock in Boston. We also dig up an old interview from the late great Howard Zinn. We have a song from Delta Spirit and The Soft Pack, who tell us where they got their name.

 
 
Metro Life Panel