A real fecal storm's a-brewin'

Germany's standard dictionary has included a vulgar English term, used by Chancellor Angela Merkel among others, as an acceptable German word. Duden, the equivalent of the Oxford English Dictionary in the UK, said it was reflecting the common use of the word "shitstorm" among Germans. The word, which is used in German to denote a public outcry, seems to have caught on during the eurozone crisis. And speaking of public outcries, Mohammed Morsi has insisted he remains the legitimate president of Egypt, as mass protests claimed more lives in the capital, Cairo. In a late-night TV address, Mr Morsi rejected an army ultimatum that the crisis be resolved by today (local time). Mr Morsi said he would not be dictated to and urged protesters to remain peaceful. However, at least 16 people died at one pro-Morsi rally overnight. That does not fit my definition, or anyone else's, of a peaceful protest. But it's still better news than a flight that got diverted unnecessarily. That's right, Bolivian President Evo Morales's plane had to be diverted to Austria amid suspicion that US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden, who is reportedly seeking asylum in Bolivia and 20 other countries to avoid extradition to the US, was on board. Officials in both Austria and Bolivia said Mr Snowden was not on the plane. France and Portugal reportedly refused to allow the Moscow-Bolivia flight to cross their airspace after they had closed their airspace over the "huge lie" that Mr Snowden was on board. I'm sure they meant well, but this is just overkill. What if every single flight in the world is diverted over something silly like that? Nobody would get anywhere if that rubbish became a habit.