30.9.05
Biology News: Plasma pencil sharpens up
Biology News: Plasma pencil sharpens up: "Think of it as a miniature light sabre. Scientists have unveiled a 'plasma pencil', a handheld device that generates a thin plume of charged gas that can kill bacteria, and could one day etch away tumours without damaging surrounding tissue."
Juggling kids, career can wreck female sex drive - Sexual Health - MSNBC.com
Juggling kids, career can wreck female sex drive - Sexual Health - MSNBC.com: "LONDON - The sex drive of women plummets sharply as they juggle the increasing demands of partners, children and careers, researchers said on Thursday."
Top News Article | Reuters.com
Top News Article | Reuters.com: "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush's job approval has risen after slumping to new lows on criticism of his handling of deadly Hurricane Katrina, two polls showed on Thursday.
Bush's approval rating climbed to 45 percent in a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll taken September 26-28, up from 40 percent in a similar poll taken a week ago.
A Fox News poll also showed Bush with a 45 percent approval rating. That survey, taken on September 27-28, showed a rise in Bush's standing compared to a mid-month poll that gave him a 41 percent approval rating.
A high-profile response by Bush to Hurricane Rita, the latest storm to hit the Gulf Coast region, appeared to give him a lift."
Bush's approval rating climbed to 45 percent in a CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll taken September 26-28, up from 40 percent in a similar poll taken a week ago.
A Fox News poll also showed Bush with a 45 percent approval rating. That survey, taken on September 27-28, showed a rise in Bush's standing compared to a mid-month poll that gave him a 41 percent approval rating.
A high-profile response by Bush to Hurricane Rita, the latest storm to hit the Gulf Coast region, appeared to give him a lift."
BBC NEWS | South Asia | US soldier sentenced for abuses
BBC NEWS | South Asia | US soldier sentenced for abuses: "A US military interrogator has been sentenced to five months in prison for assaulting a detainee in Afghanistan who later died."
29.9.05
BBC NEWS | Americas | Inside the secretive Bilderberg Group
BBC NEWS | Americas | Inside the secretive Bilderberg Group: "The chairman of the secretive - he prefers the word private - Bilderberg Group is 73-year-old Viscount Etienne Davignon, corporate director and former European Commissioner.
In his office, on a private floor above the Brussels office of the Suez conglomerate lined with political cartoons of himself, he told me what he thought of allegations that Bilderberg is a global conspiracy secretly ruling the world.
'It is unavoidable and it doesn't matter,' he says. 'There will always be people who believe in conspiracies but things happen in a much more incoherent fashion.'"
In his office, on a private floor above the Brussels office of the Suez conglomerate lined with political cartoons of himself, he told me what he thought of allegations that Bilderberg is a global conspiracy secretly ruling the world.
'It is unavoidable and it doesn't matter,' he says. 'There will always be people who believe in conspiracies but things happen in a much more incoherent fashion.'"
First Trio "Married" in The Netherlands | The Brussels Journal
First Trio "Married" in The Netherlands | The Brussels Journal: "The Netherlands and Belgium were the first countries to give full marriage rights to homosexuals. In the United States some politicians propose “civil unions” that give homosexual couples the full benefits and responsibilities of marriage. These civil unions differ from marriage only in name.
Meanwhile in the Netherlands polygamy has been legalised in all but name. Last Friday the first civil union of three partners was registered. Victor de Bruijn (46) from Roosendaal “married” both Bianca (31) and Mirjam (35) in a ceremony before a notary who duly registered their civil union."
Meanwhile in the Netherlands polygamy has been legalised in all but name. Last Friday the first civil union of three partners was registered. Victor de Bruijn (46) from Roosendaal “married” both Bianca (31) and Mirjam (35) in a ceremony before a notary who duly registered their civil union."
Wired News: Nun Terrorized by Terror Watch
Wired News: Nun Terrorized by Terror Watch: "Sister Glenn Anne McPhee is a busy woman.
As the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' secretary for education, Sister McPhee oversees Catholic education in the United States, from nursery school through post-graduate. Her job includes working with the Department of Education, speaking frequently at conferences and scrutinizing religious textbooks to clear them with the teachings of the church.
For nine months in 2003 and 2004, Sister McPhee also took on the task of clearing her name from the government's no-fly list, an endeavor that proved fruitless until she called on a higher power, the White House."
As the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' secretary for education, Sister McPhee oversees Catholic education in the United States, from nursery school through post-graduate. Her job includes working with the Department of Education, speaking frequently at conferences and scrutinizing religious textbooks to clear them with the teachings of the church.
For nine months in 2003 and 2004, Sister McPhee also took on the task of clearing her name from the government's no-fly list, an endeavor that proved fruitless until she called on a higher power, the White House."
PC Pro: News: Stones' new record sells on secure memory card
PC Pro: News: Stones' new record sells on secure memory card: "The Rolling Stones' latest album, A Bigger Bang, will be the first to be released in the new flash memory card format developed by SanDisk."
28.9.05
Man Takes Citizenship Oath, Wins Lottery | theledger.com
Man Takes Citizenship Oath, Wins Lottery | theledger.com: "A man who immigrated from Kenya to the United States found prosperity beyond his expectations on the day he became a U.S. citizen.
Shortly after Moses Bittok, of West Des Moines, took the oath of citizenship on Friday, he discovered he had a $1.89 million winning ticket from the Iowa Lottery's Hot Lotto game."
Shortly after Moses Bittok, of West Des Moines, took the oath of citizenship on Friday, he discovered he had a $1.89 million winning ticket from the Iowa Lottery's Hot Lotto game."
National Enquirer
: "Bush is under the worst pressure of his two terms in office and his popularity is near an all-time low. The handling of the Katrina crisis and troop losses in Iraq have fueled public discontent and pushed Bush back to drink.
A Washington source said: "The sad fact is that he has been sneaking drinks for weeks now. Laura may have only just caught him — but the word is his drinking has been going on for a while in the capital. He's been in a pressure cooker for months.
"The war in Iraq, the loss of American lives, has deeply affected him. He takes every soldier's life personally. It has left him emotionally drained.
The result is he's taking drinks here and there, likely in private, to cope. "And now with the worst domestic crisis in his administration over Katrina, you pray his drinking doesn't go out of control."
Another source said: "I'm only surprised to hear that he hadn't taken a shot sooner. Before Katrina, he was at his wit's end. I've known him for years. He's been a good ol' Texas boy forever. George had a drinking problem for years that most professionals would say needed therapy. He doesn't believe in it [therapy], he never got it. He drank his way through his youth, through college and well into his thirties. Everyone's drinking around him.""
A Washington source said: "The sad fact is that he has been sneaking drinks for weeks now. Laura may have only just caught him — but the word is his drinking has been going on for a while in the capital. He's been in a pressure cooker for months.
"The war in Iraq, the loss of American lives, has deeply affected him. He takes every soldier's life personally. It has left him emotionally drained.
The result is he's taking drinks here and there, likely in private, to cope. "And now with the worst domestic crisis in his administration over Katrina, you pray his drinking doesn't go out of control."
Another source said: "I'm only surprised to hear that he hadn't taken a shot sooner. Before Katrina, he was at his wit's end. I've known him for years. He's been a good ol' Texas boy forever. George had a drinking problem for years that most professionals would say needed therapy. He doesn't believe in it [therapy], he never got it. He drank his way through his youth, through college and well into his thirties. Everyone's drinking around him.""
27.9.05
Britain, UK news from The Times and The Sunday Times - Times Online
: "“In general, higher rates of belief in and worship of a creator correlate with higher rates of homicide, juvenile and early adult mortality, STD infection rates, teen pregnancy and abortion in the prosperous democracies.
“The United States is almost always the most dysfunctional of the developing democracies, sometimes spectacularly so.” "
“The United States is almost always the most dysfunctional of the developing democracies, sometimes spectacularly so.” "
26.9.05
BBC NEWS | Magazine | Out-of-body or all in the mind?
BBC NEWS | Magazine | Out-of-body or all in the mind?: "One in 10 people has had an out-of-body experience, yet scientists know very little about the phenomenon. Researchers say a new study could bring us closer to the ultimate question of what happens when we die."
FOXNews.com - Foxlife - Out There - Out There: Man-Made Hurricanes?
FOXNews.com - Foxlife - Out There - Out There: Man-Made Hurricanes?: "Global warming? Act of God? Nope, says one Idaho weatherman — Hurricane Katrina was part of a man-made plot against America.
Scott Stevens, a meteorologist who for nine years has been forecasting the weather on KPVI-TV (search) in Pocatello, says the Yakuza — the Japanese mafia — is using a Russian-made electromagnetic generator to launch terrific storms against the U.S. mainland.
The devastation of New Orleans was in revenge for the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Stevens explains on his Web site. He says it will soon be used again against another major American city.
'A battle in the skies is waged daily. Some battles are won and others lost. We yet know not which,' Stevens writes on the front page of his site. 'For years this massive global project has been under way, but only now is it making it to the forefront of the consciousness of those with curious minds.'
Rumors have long circulated of a secret Soviet weather weapon, but Stevens told the Idaho Falls Post Register he became convinced it existed after noticing strange patterns in a Montana cold front in 2004."
Scott Stevens, a meteorologist who for nine years has been forecasting the weather on KPVI-TV (search) in Pocatello, says the Yakuza — the Japanese mafia — is using a Russian-made electromagnetic generator to launch terrific storms against the U.S. mainland.
The devastation of New Orleans was in revenge for the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Stevens explains on his Web site. He says it will soon be used again against another major American city.
'A battle in the skies is waged daily. Some battles are won and others lost. We yet know not which,' Stevens writes on the front page of his site. 'For years this massive global project has been under way, but only now is it making it to the forefront of the consciousness of those with curious minds.'
Rumors have long circulated of a secret Soviet weather weapon, but Stevens told the Idaho Falls Post Register he became convinced it existed after noticing strange patterns in a Montana cold front in 2004."
The Korea Times : Seoul to Build Combat Robot
The Korea Times : Seoul to Build Combat Robot: "Defense and communications technicians will team up to develop a mobile combat robot to fight alongside human soldiers on the battlefield, the government said Wednesday.
Officials heading the project said they have requested 33.4 billion won ($32.4 million) in funding between 2006 and 2011 to develop the horse-like robot for deployment.
According to design blueprints released during a meeting of science-related ministers, the robot will have six or eight extendable legs with wheels allowing it to move like an insect over uneven terrain.
The robot will be armed with various weapons and will operate both by remote control and its own artificial intelligence system."
Officials heading the project said they have requested 33.4 billion won ($32.4 million) in funding between 2006 and 2011 to develop the horse-like robot for deployment.
According to design blueprints released during a meeting of science-related ministers, the robot will have six or eight extendable legs with wheels allowing it to move like an insect over uneven terrain.
The robot will be armed with various weapons and will operate both by remote control and its own artificial intelligence system."
Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | 600 barrels of loot found on Crusoe island
Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | 600 barrels of loot found on Crusoe island: "The archipelago is named after Robinson Crusoe, but perhaps it should have been called Treasure Island.
A long quest for booty from the Spanish colonial era appears to be culminating in Chile with the announcement by a group of adventurers that they have found an estimated 600 barrels of gold coins and Incan jewels on the remote Pacific island.
'The biggest treasure in history has been located,' said Fernando Uribe-Etxeverria, a lawyer for Wagner, the Chilean company leading the search. Mr Uribe-Etxeverria estimated the value of the buried treasure at US$10bn (�5.6bn)."
A long quest for booty from the Spanish colonial era appears to be culminating in Chile with the announcement by a group of adventurers that they have found an estimated 600 barrels of gold coins and Incan jewels on the remote Pacific island.
'The biggest treasure in history has been located,' said Fernando Uribe-Etxeverria, a lawyer for Wagner, the Chilean company leading the search. Mr Uribe-Etxeverria estimated the value of the buried treasure at US$10bn (�5.6bn)."
USATODAY.com - Army investigating new allegations of prisoner abuse
USATODAY.com - Army investigating new allegations of prisoner abuse: "The Human Rights Watch report detailed severe, routine beatings of detainees by the 82nd Airborne Division. One of the sergeants told the group that military intelligence personnel, eager for information, often instructed soldiers to 'smoke' detainees — called Persons Under Control or PUCs — during questioning, according to the report. 'Smoking' prisoners meant physically abusing them until they lost consciousness.
Frustrated soldiers would often beat the Iraqis as a stress release, the sergeant said.
'In a way it was sport,' the sergeant said. 'One day (another sergeant) shows up and tells a PUC to grab a pole. He told him to bend over and broke the guy's leg with a mini-Louisville Slugger, a metal bat.'
The soldier said anything short of death was acceptable. 'As long as no PUCs came up dead, it happened,' he said. 'We kept it to broken arms and legs.'"
Frustrated soldiers would often beat the Iraqis as a stress release, the sergeant said.
'In a way it was sport,' the sergeant said. 'One day (another sergeant) shows up and tells a PUC to grab a pole. He told him to bend over and broke the guy's leg with a mini-Louisville Slugger, a metal bat.'
The soldier said anything short of death was acceptable. 'As long as no PUCs came up dead, it happened,' he said. 'We kept it to broken arms and legs.'"
25.9.05
Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Country is hurtling towards disintegration, Saudis warn
Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Country is hurtling towards disintegration, Saudis warn: "The Saudi government yesterday warned that Iraq is hurtling towards disintegration and that an election planned for December is unlikely to make any difference. The government said it was delivering this bleak assessment to both the US and British administrations as a matter of urgency.
Saudi fears of a break-up were voiced by Prince Saud al-Faisal, the foreign minister, in an interview with Associated Press published yesterday, and at a meeting on Thursday night with the US media, including the New York Times and the Washington Post. He said: 'The impression is gradually going toward disintegration. There seems to be no dynamic now that is pulling the country together. All the dynamics there are pushing the people away from each other.'
His comments are the most pessimistic about Iraq to be made in public by a Middle East leader in recent months.
Prince Saud, who is meeting Bush administration officials in Washington, said his government warned the US before the war of the consequences of the invasion but was ignored. 'It is frustrating to see something that is clearly going to happen, and you are not listened to by a friend, and soon harm comes out of it. It hurts.'"
Saudi fears of a break-up were voiced by Prince Saud al-Faisal, the foreign minister, in an interview with Associated Press published yesterday, and at a meeting on Thursday night with the US media, including the New York Times and the Washington Post. He said: 'The impression is gradually going toward disintegration. There seems to be no dynamic now that is pulling the country together. All the dynamics there are pushing the people away from each other.'
His comments are the most pessimistic about Iraq to be made in public by a Middle East leader in recent months.
Prince Saud, who is meeting Bush administration officials in Washington, said his government warned the US before the war of the consequences of the invasion but was ignored. 'It is frustrating to see something that is clearly going to happen, and you are not listened to by a friend, and soon harm comes out of it. It hurts.'"
VOA News - China Issues New Rules for News Websites
VOA News - China Issues New Rules for News Websites: "China has imposed new rules on Internet news sites in another step to regulate web sites in the country.
The official Xinhua news agency says the new regulations are effective immediately.
It says Internet news sites and content must provide information that is beneficial to the public and state. It added that sites are prohibited from spreading news that goes against China's security and public interest.
Chinese authorities closely monitor Internet content and remove sites they believe are inappropriate. China also requires people to register their websites and blogs."
The official Xinhua news agency says the new regulations are effective immediately.
It says Internet news sites and content must provide information that is beneficial to the public and state. It added that sites are prohibited from spreading news that goes against China's security and public interest.
Chinese authorities closely monitor Internet content and remove sites they believe are inappropriate. China also requires people to register their websites and blogs."
Independent Online Edition > Invest & Save : app1
Independent Online Edition > Invest & Save : app1: "Britain's leading retailers are slowly but surely retreating from cash - and the financial services industry is keen to help. Tesco and Marks & Spencer have in recent weeks suggested they may introduce tills - or even stores - where customers have to pay by plastic. And the plastic providers are introducing new products to speed up the move towards a cashless society."
Independent Online Edition > Americas : app5
Independent Online Edition > Americas : app5: "US forces have fired so many bullets in Iraq and Afghanistan - an estimated 250,000 for every insurgent killed - that American ammunition-makers cannot keep up with demand. As a result the US is having to import supplies from Israel."
S'abonner à :
Messages (Atom)