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Kosovo honors former US president with statue
This 11 foot tall statue of former president Bill Clinton was unveiled on November 1, 2009, in Pristina, Kosovo. (photo: AP/Nimani)
On Sunday a statue was unveiled in Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, honoring a man many ethnic Albanians consider integral to their fight for independence - former U.S. president Bill Clinton.
“I never expected that anywhere, someone would make such a big statue of me,” Clinton told the crowd of thousands who stood in the cold, waving flags and cheering.
The statue is gold plated, stands 11 feet tall, and depicts Clinton waving and holding a folder with his name and the date March 24, 1999, engraved on it. It was erected on a street named after Clinton, who gave a speech at the unveiling of his new statue. He thanked the Kosovars and called for them to set aside the past and work together with minority groups to build their new country.
As president, Clinton ordered NATO air strikes on Yugoslavia on March 24, 1999, helping to end a wave of genocide that claimed the lives of 10,000 Albanians and displaced some 800,000 more. Kosovo was officially recognized as a state by 62 countries in the UN last year. 
“He is our savior. He saved us from extermination,” sculptor Izeir Mustafa told an interviewer in 2007. “I was thrilled by the work because I know what he did for us.”
Palin not amused by Letterman’s joke about daughter
David Letterman has angered Republicans, women's groups, and others with his jokes about one of Sarah Palin's daughters getting "knocked up." Letterman admits the joke was in poor taste. Image from msnbc.
Animosity has sprung up between Alaskan Gov. Sara Palin and late night TV comedian David Letterman over some misunderstood jokes made on Monday night’s show.
“One awkward moment for Sarah Palin at the Yankee game,” Letterman said, “during the seventh inning, her daughter was knocked up by Alex Rodriguez.”
His joke was intended to reference Bristol, the oldest of Palin’s daughters and mother to Palin’s first grandchild, but it was Willow, 14, who went to Yankee Stadium with her mother during a recent trip to New York. Because of this, Letterman has come under fire from women’s rights organizations and children’s advocacy groups for a joke which some say encouraged statutory rape.
Letterman has since apologized for his bad taste and tried to set the record straight, in his usual tongue-in-cheek way, even inviting Palin to appear on his show. He insists his joke was not aimed at the minor, and would never joke about such a serious topic.
A through a message posted Thursday on the Republican mother of five’s Facebook page, Palin refused both the invitation and the apology.
“The Palins have no intention of providing a ratings boost for David Letterman by appearing on his show. Plus, it would be wise to keep Willow away from David Letterman,” the message said.
Man gives birth to second child
Thomas and Nancy Beatie show off first child, daughter Susan Juliette, to Barbara Walters last November.
The man who made headlines around the world last year for giving birth has done it again. Thomas Beatie, 35, and his wife Nancy now have two babies and lots of press coverage.
Of course there’s more to this story than a catchy headline. Although legally a man since his sex change procedure in 1998, he was born Tracy Beatie and lived as a woman until his 20’s. He even competed in the Miss Hawaii competition. What makes this story possible is that he still has female reproductive organs.
“Growing up I really didn’t have a perception of myself [as a girl],” Beatie said.
Nancy and Thomas were married in 2003, after which the couple decided they wanted children, but Nancy was unable to conceive. Thomas stopped taking testosterone, and through artificial insemination, Thomas conceived and carried daughter Susan Juliette, born last June.
Now the Oregon family has grown again, adding a newborn son via the same process. The boy has yet to be named.