Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Official: drinking improves thinking: "It is guaranteed to raise a cheer among those who enjoy a tipple: moderate drinkers are better thinkers than teetotallers or those who overindulge.
Research by the Australian National University in Canberra suggests drinking in moderation boost your brainpower. But none at all, or too much, can make you a dullard.
A study of 7,000 people in their early 20s, 40s and 60s found that those who drank within safe limits had better verbal skills, memory and speed of thinking than those at the extremes of the drinking spectrum. The safe consumption level was considered to be 14 to 28 standard drinks a week for a man and seven to 14 for a woman."
4.8.05
Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Journal reveals Hitler's dysfunctional family
Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Journal reveals Hitler's dysfunctional family: "Two historians yesterday acclaimed the discovery in Germany of a journal written by Adolf Hitler's sister, saying it offers remarkable insights into the dysfunctional nature of the Fuhrer's family."
BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Thieves steal fake Munch artworks
BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Thieves steal fake Munch artworks: "Masked thieves in Norway have stolen what they thought were three Edvard Munch paintings - but they turned out to be worthless copies.
Two unarmed men burst into Oslo's Hotel Continental, threatened staff and removed three pictures from the walls.
But the hotel had swapped the originals with duplicates after two real Munch works were stolen from the Munch Museum in the city almost a year ago.
'It's a real fiasco for the thieves,' hotel manager Siv Lunde Kolrud said."
Two unarmed men burst into Oslo's Hotel Continental, threatened staff and removed three pictures from the walls.
But the hotel had swapped the originals with duplicates after two real Munch works were stolen from the Munch Museum in the city almost a year ago.
'It's a real fiasco for the thieves,' hotel manager Siv Lunde Kolrud said."
New Scientist Breaking News - Flu pandemic: lethal yet preventable
New Scientist Breaking News - Flu pandemic: lethal yet preventable: "If Asian bird flu mutates into a form that spreads easily between humans, an outbreak of just 40 infected people would be enough to cause a global pandemic. And within a year half of the world’s population would be infected with a mortality rate of 50%, according to two studies released on Wednesday.
And yet, the models show, if targeted action is taken within a critical three-week window, an outbreak could be limited to fewer than 100 individuals within two months.
It represents the first opportunity in history to make use of new knowledge and logistics to prevent a pandemic whose potential loss of life could dwarf the horrific 1918 influenza pandemic. But, the researchers caution, we are currently far from ready to take the necessary action.
“If an outbreak occurred tomorrow, it would be devastating,” warns Neil Ferguson from Imperial College London, UK, who led one of the studies. Nature and Science have released the two studies in tandem. The authors stress that an outbreak is no longer an “if” scenario - they are now talking about “when”."
And yet, the models show, if targeted action is taken within a critical three-week window, an outbreak could be limited to fewer than 100 individuals within two months.
It represents the first opportunity in history to make use of new knowledge and logistics to prevent a pandemic whose potential loss of life could dwarf the horrific 1918 influenza pandemic. But, the researchers caution, we are currently far from ready to take the necessary action.
“If an outbreak occurred tomorrow, it would be devastating,” warns Neil Ferguson from Imperial College London, UK, who led one of the studies. Nature and Science have released the two studies in tandem. The authors stress that an outbreak is no longer an “if” scenario - they are now talking about “when”."
3.8.05
Reuters AlertNet - Americans anxious about U.S. foreign policy - poll
Reuters AlertNet - Americans anxious about U.S. foreign policy - poll: "WASHINGTON, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Americans are anxious about the direction of U.S. foreign policy and how the country is perceived overseas and a majority believe the government has been too quick to go to war, a survey released on Tuesday said.
'Contrary to conventional wisdom that the American public doesn't know and doesn't care how it is seen abroad, strong majorities' believe the U.S. image overseas is suffering and 'large majorities are worried about it,' the survey concluded.
Some 63 percent of Americans say the charge that the United States has been too quick to go to war is justified and three-quarters worry about losing trust abroad and about the growing hatred of the United States in Muslim countries, it said."
'Contrary to conventional wisdom that the American public doesn't know and doesn't care how it is seen abroad, strong majorities' believe the U.S. image overseas is suffering and 'large majorities are worried about it,' the survey concluded.
Some 63 percent of Americans say the charge that the United States has been too quick to go to war is justified and three-quarters worry about losing trust abroad and about the growing hatred of the United States in Muslim countries, it said."
Ananova - First smokeless cigarette to go on sale
Ananova - First smokeless cigarette to go on sale: "The world's first smoke and tobacco free cigarette is due to go on sale.
The cigarette has been cleared for commercial release and should be on sale early next year.
Swissmedic, the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products, has decided the NicStic is not a medicinal product and has cleared the path for its commercial production."
The cigarette has been cleared for commercial release and should be on sale early next year.
Swissmedic, the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products, has decided the NicStic is not a medicinal product and has cleared the path for its commercial production."
CNN.com - Adidas�to pay $3.8bn for Reebok - Aug 3, 2005
CNN.com - Adidas to pay $3.8bn for Reebok - Aug 3, 2005: "FRANKFURT (Reuters) -- Germany's Adidas-Salomon is to buy rival sporting goods firm Reebok in a deal worth €3.1 billion ($3.8 billion), Adidas said on Wednesday as it posted a forecast-beating second-quarter profit.
Adidas, the global number two in the sporting goods industry after Nike, is buying all outstanding shares of Reebok, the number three, for $59 per share in cash, Adidas said in a statement."
Adidas, the global number two in the sporting goods industry after Nike, is buying all outstanding shares of Reebok, the number three, for $59 per share in cash, Adidas said in a statement."
HealthDay
HealthDay: "TUESDAY, Aug. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Many Cambodian refugees living in the United States who fled the brutal Khmer Rouge regime more than two decades ago remain traumatized, a new study finds.
Almost two-thirds (62 percent) of Cambodians surveyed suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and 51 percent suffered from depression in the past year. This was six to 17 times higher than the national average for adults, according to the report in the Aug. 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association."
Almost two-thirds (62 percent) of Cambodians surveyed suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and 51 percent suffered from depression in the past year. This was six to 17 times higher than the national average for adults, according to the report in the Aug. 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association."
FT.com / Home UK - World turning its back on Brand America
FT.com / Home UK - World turning its back on Brand America: "The US is increasingly viewed as a 'culture-free zone' inhabited by arrogant and unfriendly people, according to study of 25 countries' brand reputations.
The findings, published online today, will add to concerns that anti-Americanism is hurting companies whose products are considered to be distinctly 'American'.
The Anholt-GMI Nation Brands Index found that although US foreign policy remained a key driver of hostility, dissatisfaction with the world's sole superpower might run deeper.
'The US is still recognised as a leading place to do business, the home of desirable brands and popular culture,' said Simon Anholt, author of the survey. 'But its governance, its cultural heritage and its people are no longer widely respected or admired by the world.'"
The findings, published online today, will add to concerns that anti-Americanism is hurting companies whose products are considered to be distinctly 'American'.
The Anholt-GMI Nation Brands Index found that although US foreign policy remained a key driver of hostility, dissatisfaction with the world's sole superpower might run deeper.
'The US is still recognised as a leading place to do business, the home of desirable brands and popular culture,' said Simon Anholt, author of the survey. 'But its governance, its cultural heritage and its people are no longer widely respected or admired by the world.'"
2.8.05
Bad to the Last Drop - New York Times
Bad to the Last Drop - New York Times: "London
IT'S summertime, and odds are that at some point during your day you'll reach for a nice cold bottle of water. But before you do, you might want to consider the results of an experiment I conducted with some friends one summer evening last year. On the table were 10 bottles of water, several rows of glasses and some paper for recording our impressions. We were to evaluate samples from each bottle for appearance, odor, flavor, mouth, feel and aftertaste - and our aim was to identify the interloper among the famous names. One of our bottles had been filled from the tap. Would we spot it?
Skip to next paragraph
Readers
Forum: Op-Ed Contributors
We worked our way through the samples, writing scores for each one. None of us could detect any odor, even when swilling water around in large wine glasses, but other differences between the waters were instantly apparent. Between sips, we cleansed our palates with wine. (It seemed only fair, since water serves the same function at a wine tasting.)
The variation between waters was wide, yet the water from the tap did not stand out: only one of us correctly identified it. This simple experiment seemed to confirm that most people cannot tell the difference between tap water and bottled water. Yet they buy it anyway - and in enormous quantities."
IT'S summertime, and odds are that at some point during your day you'll reach for a nice cold bottle of water. But before you do, you might want to consider the results of an experiment I conducted with some friends one summer evening last year. On the table were 10 bottles of water, several rows of glasses and some paper for recording our impressions. We were to evaluate samples from each bottle for appearance, odor, flavor, mouth, feel and aftertaste - and our aim was to identify the interloper among the famous names. One of our bottles had been filled from the tap. Would we spot it?
Skip to next paragraph
Readers
Forum: Op-Ed Contributors
We worked our way through the samples, writing scores for each one. None of us could detect any odor, even when swilling water around in large wine glasses, but other differences between the waters were instantly apparent. Between sips, we cleansed our palates with wine. (It seemed only fair, since water serves the same function at a wine tasting.)
The variation between waters was wide, yet the water from the tap did not stand out: only one of us correctly identified it. This simple experiment seemed to confirm that most people cannot tell the difference between tap water and bottled water. Yet they buy it anyway - and in enormous quantities."
Was Di bumped off because of baby? : HTTabloid.com
Was Di bumped off because of baby? : HTTabloid.com: "Diana's lover Dodi Fayed's father, Mohamed Al Fayed is convinced that a new enquiry will prove that the Princess of Wales was murdered in the 1997 car crash in Paris, because she was pregnant with his son's child.
'I was very close to Diana and I know many things from her that show this was no accident. One thing that will be shown to be true when the inquest is held is that Diana was pregnant with my son's child. The security services are clearly very nervous about the positive findings the investigation is uncovering,' Contactmusic quoting him as saying to The Daily Express.
A senior French lawyer, who is helping the inquiry into the accident, said that the princess was preparing to announce her pregnancy before her tragic death.
Official documents, which are being investigated by former Metropolitan Police chief Lord Stevens, suggest that she was murdered to prevent her embarrassing the Royal Family by having a Muslim's child.
Weeks before her accident, Diana had told reports, 'You are going to get a big surprise.'"
'I was very close to Diana and I know many things from her that show this was no accident. One thing that will be shown to be true when the inquest is held is that Diana was pregnant with my son's child. The security services are clearly very nervous about the positive findings the investigation is uncovering,' Contactmusic quoting him as saying to The Daily Express.
A senior French lawyer, who is helping the inquiry into the accident, said that the princess was preparing to announce her pregnancy before her tragic death.
Official documents, which are being investigated by former Metropolitan Police chief Lord Stevens, suggest that she was murdered to prevent her embarrassing the Royal Family by having a Muslim's child.
Weeks before her accident, Diana had told reports, 'You are going to get a big surprise.'"
AOL News - U.S. Soldier Named Sheik by Iraqi Citizens
AOL News - U.S. Soldier Named Sheik by Iraqi Citizens: "QAYYARAH, Iraq (July 31) - Sheik Horn floats around the room in white robe and headdress, exchanging pleasantries with dozens of village leaders. But he's the only sheik with blonde streaks in his mustache - and the only one who attended country music star Toby Keith's recent concert in Baghdad with fellow U.S. soldiers.
Officially, he's Army Staff Sgt. Dale L. Horn, but to residents of the 37 villages and towns that he patrols he's known as the American sheik.
Sheiks, or village elders, are known as the real power in rural Iraq. And the 5-foot-6-inch Floridian's ascension to the esteemed position came through dry humor and the military's need to clamp down on rocket attacks.
... ...
And Horn doesn't take his responsibilities lightly. He lately has been prodding the Iraqi Education Ministry to pay local teachers, and he closely follows a water pipeline project that he hopes will ensure the steady flow of clean water to his villages.
"Ninety percent of the people in my area are shepherds or simple townspeople," said Horn. "They simply want to find a decent job to make enough money to provide food and a stable place for their people to live."
To Horn's commanders, his success justifies his unorthodox approach: no rockets have hit their base in the last half year.
"He has developed a great relationship with local leaders," said Lt. Col. Bradley Becker, who commands the 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment. "They love him. They're not going to let anyone shoot at Sheik Horn." "
Officially, he's Army Staff Sgt. Dale L. Horn, but to residents of the 37 villages and towns that he patrols he's known as the American sheik.
Sheiks, or village elders, are known as the real power in rural Iraq. And the 5-foot-6-inch Floridian's ascension to the esteemed position came through dry humor and the military's need to clamp down on rocket attacks.
... ...
And Horn doesn't take his responsibilities lightly. He lately has been prodding the Iraqi Education Ministry to pay local teachers, and he closely follows a water pipeline project that he hopes will ensure the steady flow of clean water to his villages.
"Ninety percent of the people in my area are shepherds or simple townspeople," said Horn. "They simply want to find a decent job to make enough money to provide food and a stable place for their people to live."
To Horn's commanders, his success justifies his unorthodox approach: no rockets have hit their base in the last half year.
"He has developed a great relationship with local leaders," said Lt. Col. Bradley Becker, who commands the 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment. "They love him. They're not going to let anyone shoot at Sheik Horn." "
BBC NEWS | Americas | Bolton appointed US envoy to UN
BBC NEWS | Americas | Bolton appointed US envoy to UN: "President George W Bush appoints John Bolton as US envoy to the UN
US President George W Bush has formally appointed John Bolton as US ambassador to the United Nations, without waiting for approval from the Senate.
Mr Bush said Democrats had forced him to bypass Congress by using 'shameful delaying tactics' to prevent a vote.
'This post is too important to leave vacant any longer, especially during a war and a vital debate about UN reform,' Mr Bush said.
After being sworn in in Washington, Mr Bolton went to New York to start work.
At times a stern critic of the UN, he will serve there until 2007."
US President George W Bush has formally appointed John Bolton as US ambassador to the United Nations, without waiting for approval from the Senate.
Mr Bush said Democrats had forced him to bypass Congress by using 'shameful delaying tactics' to prevent a vote.
'This post is too important to leave vacant any longer, especially during a war and a vital debate about UN reform,' Mr Bush said.
After being sworn in in Washington, Mr Bolton went to New York to start work.
At times a stern critic of the UN, he will serve there until 2007."
1.8.05
Scotland on Sunday - Entertainment - Never say never, but Connery ends career
Scotland on Sunday - Entertainment - Never say never, but Connery ends career: "IT IS a decision that will horrify his legion of worldwide fans and leave grown women in tears.
Scottish screen legend Sir Sean Connery has almost drawn the curtain on his long and glittering career by revealing it would take a Mafia-style 'offer he couldn't refuse' to tempt him to make another film.
At the age of 74, Connery still manages to be Britain's highest-paid actor, commanding up to �10m per movie. But his three-year absence from the industry has prompted questions about whether the Scots star has decided to retire after half a century in Hollywood and 77 films.
Now, Connery has provided the answer. In an interview with a New Zealand newspaper, the actor says he has no time for the 'idiots' now making films in Hollywood."
Scottish screen legend Sir Sean Connery has almost drawn the curtain on his long and glittering career by revealing it would take a Mafia-style 'offer he couldn't refuse' to tempt him to make another film.
At the age of 74, Connery still manages to be Britain's highest-paid actor, commanding up to �10m per movie. But his three-year absence from the industry has prompted questions about whether the Scots star has decided to retire after half a century in Hollywood and 77 films.
Now, Connery has provided the answer. In an interview with a New Zealand newspaper, the actor says he has no time for the 'idiots' now making films in Hollywood."
BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Iran will reopen nuclear facility
BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Iran will reopen nuclear facility: "Iran is to resume the processing of uranium at a nuclear plant, breaking seals placed on the facility by the UN nuclear watchdog in late 2004.
Officials in Tehran said they had delivered a letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) explaining plans to restart uranium conversion.
The European Union, which failed to respond to an Iranian deadline to reopen talks, has urged restraint.
Iran halted uranium processing in 2004, but denies pursuing nuclear weapons."
Officials in Tehran said they had delivered a letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) explaining plans to restart uranium conversion.
The European Union, which failed to respond to an Iranian deadline to reopen talks, has urged restraint.
Iran halted uranium processing in 2004, but denies pursuing nuclear weapons."
t r u t h o u t - New York Times | The Roots of Prisoner Abuse
t r u t h o u t - New York Times | The Roots of Prisoner Abuse: "This week, the White House blocked a Senate vote on a measure sponsored by a half-dozen Republicans, including Senator John McCain, that would prohibit cruel, degrading or inhumane treatment of prisoners. Besides being outrageous on its face, that action served as a reminder of how the Bush administration ducks for cover behind the men and women in uniform when challenged on military policy, but ignores their advice when it seems inconvenient.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican who has shown real political courage on this issue, recently released documents showing that the military's top lawyers had warned a year before the Abu Ghraib nightmare came to light that detainee policies imposed by the White House and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld violated American and international law and undermined the standards of civilized treatment embedded in the American military tradition."
Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican who has shown real political courage on this issue, recently released documents showing that the military's top lawyers had warned a year before the Abu Ghraib nightmare came to light that detainee policies imposed by the White House and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld violated American and international law and undermined the standards of civilized treatment embedded in the American military tradition."
Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Terror suspect gives first account of London attack
Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Terror suspect gives first account of London attack: "One of the men accused of taking part in the failed terror attacks in London on 21 July has claimed the bomb plot was directly inspired by Britain's involvement in the Iraq war.
In a remarkable insight into the motives behind the alleged would-be bombers, Hussain Osman, arrested in Rome on Friday, has revealed how the suspects watched hours of TV footage showing grief-stricken Iraqi widows and children alongside images of civilians killed in the conflict. He is alleged to have told prosecutors that after watching the footage: 'There was a feeling of hatred and a conviction that it was necessary to give a signal - to do something.'"
In a remarkable insight into the motives behind the alleged would-be bombers, Hussain Osman, arrested in Rome on Friday, has revealed how the suspects watched hours of TV footage showing grief-stricken Iraqi widows and children alongside images of civilians killed in the conflict. He is alleged to have told prosecutors that after watching the footage: 'There was a feeling of hatred and a conviction that it was necessary to give a signal - to do something.'"
New Scientist Breaking News - Planting trees may create deserts
New Scientist Breaking News - Planting trees may create deserts: "Planting trees can create deserts, lower water tables and drain rivers, rather than filling them, claims a new report supported by the UK government.
The findings - which may come as heresy to tree-lovers and most environmentalists - is an emerging new consensus among forest and water professionals.
“Common but misguided views about water management,” says the report, are resulting in the waste of tens of millions of pounds every year across the world. Forests planted with the intention of trapping moisture are instead depleting reservoirs and drying out soils."
The findings - which may come as heresy to tree-lovers and most environmentalists - is an emerging new consensus among forest and water professionals.
“Common but misguided views about water management,” says the report, are resulting in the waste of tens of millions of pounds every year across the world. Forests planted with the intention of trapping moisture are instead depleting reservoirs and drying out soils."
31.7.05
Osprey Media Group Inc. - The Kingston Whig-Standard
Osprey Media Group Inc. - The Kingston Whig-Standard: "High-tech border pass raises alarm
Local News - Friday, July 29, 2005 @ 07:00
Kingston’s closest U.S. border crossing will employ high-tech radio frequency technology to monitor visitors from other countries who want to enter the States from Canada – a move that alarms both a Kingston privacy expert and an immigration specialist.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said this week that the crossing between Lansdowne and Alexandria Bay, N.Y., will be one of three Canada-U.S. land borders to require non-Canadians to carry wireless devices as part of a pilot project.
Travellers will be required to carry the devices as of Aug. 4.
The technology is part of US-VISIT, a billion-dollar anti-terrorism initiative launched last December that has kept about 700 criminals, including one posing as a Canadian, out of the States.
US-VISIT uses biometric information from photos and fingerprints taken from non-Canadians at border crossings to track residents from other countries who enter the U.S.
Canadian citizens are the only people in the world exempt from US-VISIT.
Travellers required to use the technology include landed immigrants living in Canada, Canadian citizens who are either engaged to a U.S. citizen or who have applied for a special business visa.
They’ll have to carry the wireless devices as a way for border guards to access the electronic information stored inside a document about the size of a large index card.
Visitors to the U.S. will get the card the first time they cross the border and will be required the carry the document on subsequent crossings to and from the States.
Border guards will be able to access the information electronically from 12 metres away to enable those carrying the devices to be processed more quickly.
Two other border crossings between Surrey, B.C., and Blaine, Wash., will also be implementing the technology as part of the pilot project.
Kimberly Weissman, spokeswoman for the US-VISIT program at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security told The Whig-Standard yesterday that the new devices can’t be tracked outside the border crossing area.
“It has a range of 10 to 15 metres,” she said. "
Local News - Friday, July 29, 2005 @ 07:00
Kingston’s closest U.S. border crossing will employ high-tech radio frequency technology to monitor visitors from other countries who want to enter the States from Canada – a move that alarms both a Kingston privacy expert and an immigration specialist.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said this week that the crossing between Lansdowne and Alexandria Bay, N.Y., will be one of three Canada-U.S. land borders to require non-Canadians to carry wireless devices as part of a pilot project.
Travellers will be required to carry the devices as of Aug. 4.
The technology is part of US-VISIT, a billion-dollar anti-terrorism initiative launched last December that has kept about 700 criminals, including one posing as a Canadian, out of the States.
US-VISIT uses biometric information from photos and fingerprints taken from non-Canadians at border crossings to track residents from other countries who enter the U.S.
Canadian citizens are the only people in the world exempt from US-VISIT.
Travellers required to use the technology include landed immigrants living in Canada, Canadian citizens who are either engaged to a U.S. citizen or who have applied for a special business visa.
They’ll have to carry the wireless devices as a way for border guards to access the electronic information stored inside a document about the size of a large index card.
Visitors to the U.S. will get the card the first time they cross the border and will be required the carry the document on subsequent crossings to and from the States.
Border guards will be able to access the information electronically from 12 metres away to enable those carrying the devices to be processed more quickly.
Two other border crossings between Surrey, B.C., and Blaine, Wash., will also be implementing the technology as part of the pilot project.
Kimberly Weissman, spokeswoman for the US-VISIT program at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security told The Whig-Standard yesterday that the new devices can’t be tracked outside the border crossing area.
“It has a range of 10 to 15 metres,” she said. "
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