More than 100,000 people have signed a petition to the White House to deport Canadian pop singer Justin Bieber and revoke his green card

Here we go again. More than 100,000 people have signed a petition to the White House to deport Canadian pop singer Justin Bieber and revoke his green card — meaning he can't come back to the USA.
Chances of this happening: Close to zilch.
But everyone will have fun with it anyway. After all, it's another opportunity to vent outrage, feigned or otherwise, at the increasingly idiotic misbehavior by 19-year-old Bieber, ranging from allegedly egging a neighbor's house in California (a possible felony) to drag racing and DUI in Florida (a possible misdemeanor).
(The Associated Press reported his attorney filed paperwork Wednesday in Miami-Dade County in which Bieber pleaded not guilty to charges of DUI, resisting arrest and driving with an expired license, according to court records.)
The anti-Bieber petition, punctuation mistakes included, reads: "We the people of the United States feel that we are being wrongly represented in the world of pop culture. We would like to see the dangerous, reckless, destructive, and drug abusing, Justin Bieber deported and his green card revoked. He is not only threatening the safety of our people but he is also a terrible influence on our nations youth. We the people would like to remove Justin Bieber from our society."
The petition, created Jan. 23, is on the White House's We the People site, which promises that if at least 100,000 people sign any given petition, no matter how ridiculous, the White House will respond officially. So far, more than 136,000 people (and counting) have signed the Bieber petition but no word yet from the White House.
Just for comparison's sake, a similar "Deport Him!" petition was filed on the We the People site against CNN's British-born Piers Morgan at the end of 2012 because some people were upset about something he said - actually a rant - against guns on his TV show. That petition got 109,000 signatures; Morgan is still here and still on CNN.
But this should be no surprise. Foreigners can't be deported or lose their right to live in the USA merely for expressing their First Amendment rights. They can be deported if convicted of a serious felony but that hasn't happened in Bieber's case, and may not ever.
Even then it's hard, never mind that this almost never happens to rich and famous foreigners from Canada or Britain. And besides all that, it's not in the White House's power, no matter who's president, to just deport people on the strength of a petition no matter how many have signed.
But it certainly gives a glimpse of one aspect of the state of public opinion about Bieber. It doesn't help that a "Don't Deport Bieber" petition has only about 1,500 signatures.
"Stop Justin Bieber from getting deported. He is a human being and he makes mistakes. He does not deserve this," reads the title on that plea, created Jan. 25.
"The media sees the bad side of him. Please. He's saved so many lives. Including mine. A lifesaver, Shouldn't deserve this," it concludes.
Source:http://www.wkyc.com

talian appeals court convicted former exchange student Amanda Knox and her ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito

Florence, Italy (CNN) -- An Italian appeals court convicted former exchange student Amanda Knox and her ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito on murder charges Thursday night.

Prosecutors said the couple had killed Meredith Kercher in November 2007. They were convicted two years later of murder, but those charges were overturned on appeal in 2011.

A judge said Thursday that Knox, also convicted of slander, was sentenced to 28 1/2 years in prison. Sollecito's sentence was 25 years.

Knox, an American, said her conviction would bring no consolation to the Kercher's family

"I am frightened and saddened by this unjust verdict," she said in written remarks. "Having been found innocent before, I expected better from the Italian justice system. The evidence and accusatory theory do not justify a verdict of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. ...There has always been a marked lack of evidence."

She called the legal proceedings a travesty.

"This has gotten out of hand. Most troubling is that it was entirely preventable," she said. "I beseech those with the knowledge and authority to address and remediate the problems that worked to pervert the course of justice and waste the valuable resources of the system."

It is unlikely that Knox, who lives in Seattle, Washington, will return to Italy to serve additional prison time because U.S. law dictates that a person cannot be tried twice on the same charge, a legal expert told CNN. He believes that if Italy were to ask for extradition, U.S. officials would deny the request.

"She was once put in jeopardy and later acquitted," said Sean Casey, a former prosecutor who is now a partner at Kobre & Kim in New York. "Under the treaty, extradition should not be granted."

Presiding judge Alessandro Nencini has 90 days to write his arguments behind the jury's ruling. Once that is out, lawyers have 90 days to appeal.

Kercher, 21, of Great Britain, was found partially nude in a pool of blood in the house she shared with Knox in the picturesque town of Perugia, where both women were exchange students.

Knox has said she is afraid to return to Italy, where she spent four years behind bars.

"I will become ... a fugitive," she told Italian daily La Repubblica this month, when asked what she would do if she was found guilty in the second trial.

Italy's Supreme Court in March overturned the pair's acquittals, saying that the jury did not consider all the evidence and that discrepancies in testimony needed to be answered.

The case was sent to a retrial in Florence.

Dressed in a purple sweater with sunglasses nestled on his collar, Sollecito made it to the tribunal for the morning session and was expected to return for the verdict, but his attorney, Luca Maori, said that his Italian client would not be coming back to court.

Amanda Knox retrial verdict: Six things to know

Ruling unclear

The retrial began in September, refocusing international attention on the case that grabbed headlines in Italy, Britain and the United States -- but neither Knox nor Sollecito were present in court.

It has renewed questions about the effectiveness of Italy's justice system, given widespread doubts over the handling of the investigation and key pieces of evidence.

Both Knox and Sollecito have maintained their innocence.

Timeline: Kercher murder case

'Fugitive'

Knox, 26, and Sollecito, 29, were convicted in 2009 of killing Kercher, who was found with more than 40 stab wounds and a deep gash in her throat.

Prosecutors say she was held down and stabbed after she rejected attempts by Knox, Sollecito and another man, Ivory Coast-born Rudy Guede, to involve her in a sex game. Guede is the only person in jail for the murder, and many aspects of the crime still remain unexplained.

Speaking on Thursday, Knox's defense team asked for an acquittal.

Knox has always denied murdering Kercher and has maintained she is not guilty in a written statement to the Florence court.

"I must repeat to you. I'm innocent. I did not rape, I did not steal ... I did not kill Meredith," Knox said in a lengthy e-mail presented by her lawyer to the court in December.

Sollecito was in the Dominican Republic at the start of the retrial but returned to Italy.

In November, he took to the stand to make a spontaneous declaration, saying the charges against him were "absurd."

"For me, it's a nightmare that goes beyond imagination," he said of what he's been through.

'No one remembers Meredith'

The case has dragged on for more than six years, frustrating attempts by Kercher's family to discover the truth about her death. The three trials have done little to clear up mysteries surrounding the details of the murder.

"They are tired of this long trial and they want justice," Francesci Maresca, attorney for the Kercher family, said.

The Kercher family welcomed the retrial ruling, Maresca said in March, adding they believed the ruling that acquitted Knox and Sollecito was "superficial and unbalanced."

They believe more than one person was in the room when Kercher was killed, he said.

"No one remembers Meredith, while the two defendants write books, speak to the media and earn money," Maresca told the court in closing remarks last month.

Ferguson advocates for Knox

One person who has been advocating for Knox is Ryan Ferguson -- the Missouri man who walked free last November after being imprisoned for nearly a decade. He was wrongly convicted of murdering a newspaper editor, and a state appeals court overturned his conviction.

"We kind of had this connection in the sense that we've been through this justice system ... It's relatively the same. We've been through this, and there's not a whole lot of people" who've had the same experience, he told CNN's "New Day."

"So it's cool and we can kind of just talk to each other. She wanted to reach out and say if you need to talk to anybody, if you need any help, I'm here for you. If not, I completely understand. So that's how we began communicating."

Asked about Knox' current state of mind, he said she's staying positive.

"She seems to be doing very well. I'm impressed with her. It's so daunting at this time," he said. "Within 48 hours she should know her fate. You can't start living life until they actually clear you and until you're free essentially. So I'm amazed how she's doing. She's working hard on school and continuing life the best she can. She believes the courts are going to do the right thing based on the facts. I agree."

Source:http://edition.cnn.com

the Lunar New Year and the Chinese Year of the Horse

It’s the Lunar New Year and the Chinese Year of the Horse. The horse is part of a 12-year-cycle of animals that make up the Chinese zodiac. These interact with the five elements: wood, metal, fire, water, earth. 2014 is the year of the wood horse, taking over from the year of the water snake.
GET READY TO RUMBLE
It will be a fast year full of conflicts according to some astrologers, who see wood as providing fuel for the energetic horse sign. The later part of the year is “yin fire”, increasing the potential for heated clashes even more. Feng shui practitioner Raymond Lo told Reuters: “The upcoming Horse year is also a 'yang wood' year, when people will stick more to their principles and stand firm. So it is hard to negotiate or compromise as there are more tendencies for people to fight for their ideals.”
BAD FOR BUSINESS?
If you have a business involving wood or fire you will do well, according to Canadian Feng Shui expert Paul Ng. This includes lumber companies, agriculture and media companies. Property companies won’t do as well and as the horse is a galloper, the potential is for the prices to gallop downwards over the first six months. However, supported by the fire element in the latter half of the year they may gallop back up, according to Lynn Yap, Singapore’s Feng Shui Queen. Metals and waters will do badly: this will affect metal mining and precious metals as well as fishing. Financial business also have the potential to be unstable. We could have predicted that one though.

WATCH OUT FOR VOLCANOES
Countries in the Southern Hemisphere, like South Australia and South America may experience gunfire as well as volcanoes, because “ the fire energies are so strong” according to Chinese astrologer and Sydney Feng Shui master Lok Tin, who spoke to the Sydney Morning Herald about his predictions for the coming 12 months.
LIE LOW IF YOU’RE A HORSE.
When horse meets horse, the natural Ying-Yang opposition is no longer balanced and thus over the next year horses are due some tense situations and pressure in their personal life. However Foon Chik, of the Feng Shui Society says it is not that simple and meeting your own sign can be a time for self-reflection.
WHAT IF YOU’RE NOT A HORSE?
Well, what animal you are depends on what year you were born in and how the characteristics of this creature interact with the horse.
 
Foon Chik, of the Feng Shui society has compiled her predictions, reproduced here with her permission. You can read them in full here or flick through the gallery below.
Source:http://www.independent.co.uk

Elvira Devinamira dari Jawa Timur dinobatkan menjadi Putri Indonesia 2014

Solopos.com, JAKARTA — Elvira Devinamira dari Jawa Timur dinobatkan menjadi Putri Indonesia 2014 di malam final di Plenary Hall Jakarta Convention Center, Rabu (29/1/2014) malam. Putri Indonesia 2013 Whulandary Herman menyematkan mahkota yang sudah diembannya selama setahun belakangan kepada sang penerus.
Sementara itu, Runner Up II Putri Indonesia diraih finalis asal Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta Estelita Liana dan Runner Up I jatuh pada kontestan asal Sumatra Selatan Elfin Pertiwi. Elvira berhasil mengalahkan 37 finalis Putri Indonesia lain yang mewakili tiap provinsi di Indonesia.
Dari 38 finalis disaring lagi menjadi 10 besar yang meliputi perwakilan dari Sumatra Selatan, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta, Jawa Tengah, DKI Jakarta 2, Jawa Timur, Jambi, Papua, DKI Jakarta 5, Gorontalo dan Sumatera Barat. Ke-10 itu dikerucutkan menjadi 5 orang, yaitu Rakhmi Wijiharti dari Jawa Tengah, Noorzabilla Bambang S dari DKI Jakarta 2, Estelita Liana dari Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta, Elvira Devinamira Wirayanti dari Jawa Timur dan Elfin Pertiwi dari Sumatera Selatan.
Dari 5 besar, terpilihlah perwakilan dari Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta, Jawa Timur dan Sumatera Selatan yang memperebutkan gelar Putri Indonesia 2014 dan mengikuti Miss Universe 2014, Putri Indonesia Lingkungan, dan mewakili ajang Miss International 2014 untuk Runner Up I dan Putri Indonesia Pariwisata dan mewakili ajang Miss Supranational untuk Runner Up II.

Source:http://www.solopos.com

Penjualan pernak-pernik perayaan Imlek berlipat bagi pedagang di Petak Sembilan, Glodok, Jakarta Barat, dengan peningkatan omzet mencapai 300%

Metrotvnews.com, Jakarta: Penjualan pernak-pernik perayaan Imlek seperti kertas angpau, hiasan shio, ataupun lampion membawa rezeki berlipat bagi pedagang di Petak Sembilan, Glodok, Jakarta Barat, dengan peningkatan omzet yang mencapai 300%.

"Pemasukan saya bisa tiga kali lipat. Per harinya saya dapat pemasukan dari transaski jualan sekitar satu juta rupiah dari kertas angpao ini, dan pernak-pernik lainnya," kata pedagang yang datang dari Surabaya, Paijo (35), di Petak Sembilan, Jakarta, Kamis (30/1).

Bahkan, dua minggu menjelang Imlek, omzet penjualan pernak-pernik yang didominasi kertas angpau itu bisa mencapai lebih dari Rp2 juta per hari. Pada hari biasa, pedagang yang akrab dipanggil Jojo itu mengaku menjual obat-obatan herbal, hanya mendapat Rp300 ribu per harinya.

"Saya jual kertas angpaonya dengan harga Rp4.000 per kotak, tapi sekarang karena sudah mau Imlek, harganya diturunin, jadi Rp10 ribu dapat empat," kata Jojo, yang mengambil stok dagangan di Pasar Asemka, Jakarta Barat.

Pedagang pernak-pernik lainnya, Novriyanti mengaku, mampu meraih peningkatan omzet empat kali lipat menjadi Rp4 juta per hari, dibandingkan pemasukan Rp1 juta per hari ketika menjual perkakas rumah tangga pada hari biasa.

Pemasukan Novriyanti yang jauh melebihi Jojo, disebabkan karena wanita berusia 24 tahun itu juga menjual makanan khas Imlek seperti dodol China, yang dia banderol Rp25.000 per kilogram.

Menurut dia, penjualan dodol China juga tak kalah dengan kertas angpao. Per harinya, Novriyanti dapat menjual 50 kilogram dodol China.

"Jika sudah begini, saya bisa terus berjualan pernak-pernik Imlek, sampai semua barang dagangan habis, walaupun hingga hari-hari setelah perayaan Tahun Baru Imlek berakhir," ujarnya.

Menurut Ketua RW 01 Glodok, Tamansari, Jakarta Barat, Ferry Setyawan, jumlah pedagang dan pengunjung yang akan beribadah ke dua vihara besar di Petak Sembilan, akan semakin ramai hingga Kamis malam.

Dia prediksikan, jumlah warga yang beribadah ke dua vihara besar yakni Vihara Dharma Bhakti dan Dharma Jaya akan mencapai 10 ribu orang dan datang dari berbagai daerah di luar Jakarta. (Antara)Source:http://www.metrotvnews.com

FPI tidak akan mencabut gugatan terhadap Asmirandah dan Jonas Rivanno

JAKARTA -- Front Pembela Islam (FPI) menegaskan tidak akan mencabut gugatan terhadap Asmirandah dan Jonas Rivanno. Meskipun pasangan sinetron itu mendatangi kediaman rumah Ketua FPI Depok, Habib Idrus Al Gadhri di Kawasan Kampung Lio Pancoranmas, Depok, Rabu (29/1) malam.

Idrus dengan tegas mengatakan tidak akan mencabut laporan tersebut dan membiarkan kasus tersebut diproses secara hukum. "Kami tetap proses ini secara hukum, agar menjadi pelajaran buat seluruh masyarakat bahwa agama apapun tak dapat dipermainkan," jelas Idrus, Kamis (30/1).

Seperti diketahui, Jonas dan Asmirandah dilaporkan oleh pihak FPI Depok karena diduga telah melakukan penistaan agama terhadap suatu agama. Jonas dan Asmirandah diduga melanggar Pasal 156a KUHP.

Penistaan agama yang dimaksud FPI adalah saat Jonas mengingkari Ke-Islamannya saat menikahi Asmirandah untuk pertama kalinya. Kepada media saat itu, Jonas membantah telah memeluk Islam.

Dalam perkembangannya, Jonas dan Andah mengajukan pembatalan pernikahan. Tapi keduanya kemudian menikah lagi di luar negeri.

Gonjang-ganjing pasangan ini kian membuncah setelah beredar foto Asmirandah dan Jonas yang diduga sedang berada di salah satu Gereja. Asmirandah dikabarkan kini pindah agama. (abu/jpnn)

Source:http://www.jpnn.com

Gempa yang bersumber di Jawa Tengah,getarannya terasa di Jawa Barat.

Gempa yang bersumber di Jawa Tengah, diklaim terasa getarannya hingga beberapa titik di luar provinsi termasuk hingga Jawa Barat.

Badan Meteorologi dan Geofisika menyatakan gempa berkekuatan 6,5 pada Skala Richter itu berasal dari di barat daya Kebumen, Jawa Tengah dengan kedalaman 48 kilometer sekitar pukul 12.14 WIB.

Gempa tidak berpotensi tsunami namun tak urung sempat memicu kepanikan warga yang merasakan goncangannya.

"Tadi lampu goyang semua, begitu pula meja dan perabot agak bergeser tidak tahunya gempa," kata Heru Setiyono yang sedang berjaga di RSUD Kebumen, kepada Dewi Safitri dari BBC.

Setelah sempat berhamburan ke luar gedung, Heru dan kawan-kawan akhirnya masuk kembali dan bekerja seperti biasa.

"DibandingkanKlik (gempa) Jogja (tahun 2006) dulu, ya ini masih kalah jauh kerasnya," tambahnya santai.

'Bikin pusing'

Di Wates yang berjarak sekitar 100km dari Kebumen, guncangan juga terasa cukup kencang.

"Tadi kita langsung pada lari keluar dari kantor, Alhamdulillah tidak ada kerusakan," kata Ajun Komisaris Dua (Pol) Sudibyo yang sedang bertugas jaga di Polres Wates.

Informasi dari sejumlah pembaca BBC Indonesia menyebut gempa turut dirasakan guncangannya di Jogja, Magelang, Solo, Kudus, Brebes, Tegal, selain di Kebumen sendiri.

Ella Akmal Ali Al-hanif menulis di halaman komentar Facebook BBC: "Saya dari Kebumen Lumayan kencang dan bikin pusing kepala".

Sementara Herman Zamani yang berada di Kawasan Monumen Jogja Kembali menulis jamaah shalat Dzuhur di masjid setempat bubar karena gempa.

".. diriku dan jama'ah masjid muqorobin setelah sholat dhuhur dan waktu do'a.. (goyangan getaranya..) para jama'ah pun lomba lari keluar masjid...".

Di luar Jawa Tengah getaran dilaporan dirasakan pula di Cilacap, Pangandaran, Sumedang, Subang dan Bogor di Jawa Barat.

Belum ada laporan kerusakan maupun korban jiwa akibat gempa ini.

Source: