The James Logan Courier

By Ray McDonald, VOA News

McDonalds has dropped a million-selling rapper from its nationwide concert series.

Citing controversial lyrics, the fast-food giant has released Twista from an appearance in its 10-city series of free concerts across the United States.

The rapper - who reportedly once worked at McDonalds - is known for his lightning-fast delivery in such hit songs as "Overnight Celebrity" and "Slow Jamz," his collaboration with Jamie Foxx and Kanye West. He has used profanity and referenced drugs in some of his lyrics.

By Shelley Schlender, VOA News

Boulder, Colorado —In the United States, food that's grown locally and organically -- without the use of man-made fertilizers and pesticides -- is becoming increasingly popular with consumers. But the supply of organic foods is not keeping up with demand. This is an important issue among farmers and organic industry leaders.

Colorado farmer Anne Cure employs methods that are not in wide use in the U.S. Take her contented flock of quacking ducks and clucking hens. Instead of being caged indoors, night and day, they are kept in a large fenced yard with plenty of places to explore.

By Polya Lesova
MarketWatch (MCT)

NEW YORK — In a landmark victory, Pratibha Patil will become India's first female president after she won almost two-thirds of the votes cast by state assemblies and the country's parliament on Saturday, according to media reports.

Patil, 72, the candidate of the governing Congress Party, defeated incumbent Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, the candidate of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, reports said. Patil's candidacy was supported by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi.

From wikipedia:
Ana Maria de Jesus Ribeiro da Silva di Garibaldi (1821- August 4 1849) was the Brazilian-born wife and comrade-in-arms of Italian revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi. Their partnership epitomized the spirit of the 19th century's age of romanticism and revolutionary liberalism.

South American adventures
Anita Ribeiro was born into a poor family of Azorean Portuguese descent, of herdsmen and fishermen in Laguna in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, a year prior to that country's independence from Portugal. She was raised by her mother Aninha do Bentão, who apparently had been abandoned by her husband, Bento "Bentão" Ribeiro da Silva. Anita married Manuel Duarte Aguiar in 1835.

Read more about the lives of Anita and Guiseppe Garibaldi, free from Google Books.