Russia: US Satellite Shot a Weapons Test

Russia: US Satellite Shot a Weapons Test: "MOSCOW (AP) - Russia said Saturday that U.S. military plans to shoot down a damaged spy satellite may be a veiled test of America's missile defense system.

The Pentagon failed to provide 'enough arguments' to back its plan to smash the satellite next week with a missile, Russia's Defense Ministry said in a statement.

'There is an impression that the United States is trying to use the accident with its satellite to test its national anti-missile defense system's capability to destroy other countries' satellites,' the ministry said."

Crowds 'pick leaders to follow' - Telegraph

Crowds 'pick leaders to follow' - Telegraph: "People in crowds behave just like sheep, scientists claim, by blindly following one or two people who seem to know where they are going."

Who wants to live for ever? A scientific breakthrough could mean humans live for hundreds of years - Science, News - Independent.co.uk

Who wants to live for ever? A scientific breakthrough could mean humans live for hundreds of years - Science, News - Independent.co.uk: "A genetically engineered organism that lives 10 times longer than normal has been created by scientists in California. It is the greatest extension of longevity yet achieved by researchers investigating the scientific nature of ageing."

Senate Passes Bill to Expand U.S. Spying Powers - New York Times

Senate Passes Bill to Expand U.S. Spying Powers - New York Times: "WASHINGTON — After more than a year of heated political wrangling, the Senate handed the White House a major victory Tuesday by voting to broaden the government’s spy powers after giving legal protection to phone companies that cooperated in President Bush’s warrantless eavesdropping program."

G7 approves IMF gold sales - Italy econ minister | Business | Reuters

G7 approves IMF gold sales - Italy econ minister | Business | Reuters: "TOKYO (Reuters) - The Group of Seven rich nations on Saturday approved the sale of gold by the International Monetary Fund from April as part of a broad reform of its budget, Italian Economy Minister Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa said."

BBC NEWS | UK | Tourists warned of UAE drug laws

BBC NEWS | UK | Tourists warned of UAE drug laws: "Travellers to the United Arab Emirates are being warned about its severe drug laws which have seen dozens detained for apparently minor offences."

The Raw Story | FBI program alleged to prepare businesses for martial law

The Raw Story | FBI program alleged to prepare businesses for martial law: "A public-private partnership program on infrastructure preparedness and protection run by the Federal Bureau of Investigation allegedly has briefed its corporate members on the possibility of martial law and the use of lethal force, according to an exclusive report in the magazine The Progressive."

Putin, in Speech, Accuses U.S. of Setting Off 'New Arms Race' - washingtonpost.com

Putin, in Speech, Accuses U.S. of Setting Off 'New Arms Race' - washingtonpost.com: "MOSCOW, Feb. 8 -- President Vladimir Putin said Friday that 'a new arms race has been unleashed in the world' as the United States moves forward with a missile defense system in Eastern Europe. Russia will field new weapons in response, he said, dismissing American assurances that the missile system is not directed against Russia as merely 'diplomatic cover.'"

New Study Shows Arctic Cooling Over last 1500 years -- Signs of the Times News

New Study Shows Arctic Cooling Over last 1500 years -- Signs of the Times News: "Excerpt: 'The late-twentieth century is not exceptionally warm in the new Tornetr�sk record: On decadal-to-century timescales, periods around AD 750, 1000, 1400, and 1750 were all equally warm, or warmer. The warmest summers in this new reconstruction occur in a 200-year period centred on AD 1000."

Acupuncture might help with fertility -- chicagotribune.com

Acupuncture might help with fertility -- chicagotribune.com: "Acupuncture appears to be a useful fertility aid, according to a new report in the British Medical Journal that found pairing acupuncture with in-vitro fertilization can raise a couple's odds of getting pregnant by 65 percent."

Scientists create three-parent embryos | Health | Reuters

Scientists create three-parent embryos | Health | Reuters: "LONDON (Reuters) - British scientists have created human embryos with three parents in a development they hope could lead to effective treatments for a range of serious hereditary diseases within five years."

Torvalds pans Apple with 'utter crap' putdown - Technology - smh.com.au

Torvalds pans Apple with 'utter crap' putdown - Technology - smh.com.au: "Apple's much-touted new operating system, OS X Leopard, is in some ways worse than Windows Vista, says the founder of the Linux open source project, Linus Torvalds."

Marijuana Smoking Linked to Early Gum Disease

Marijuana Smoking Linked to Early Gum Disease: "Smoking marijuana on regular basis as a young adult can lead to gum disease by age 30 or younger, a new study led by New Zealand researchers said."

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi dies - Yahoo! News

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi dies - Yahoo! News: "THE HAGUE, Netherlands - Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, a guru to the Beatles who introduced the West to transcendental meditation, died Tuesday at his home in the Dutch town of Vlodrop, a spokesman said. He was thought to be 91 years old."

ZAP Alias | Lotus helps develop 156mph electric three-wheeler | The Sun |HomePage|News

ZAP Alias | Lotus helps develop 156mph electric three-wheeler | The Sun |HomePage|News: "The British car firm helped develop the ZAP Alias, which can do 0 to 60mph in 5.7 seconds.

That beats a Porsche Boxster.

But the Porsche costs 60,000 pounds, while the Alias is a 15,000 snip."

Q4 FEC Reports: Ron Paul Receives More Military Donations Than All Other Republicans Combined

Q4 FEC Reports: Ron Paul Receives More Military Donations Than All Other Republicans Combined: "Total military donations nearly as much as the total of all other remaining candidates - Republican and Democrat"

Q4 FEC Reports: Ron Paul Receives More Military Donations Than All Other Republicans Combined

Q4 FEC Reports: Ron Paul Receives More Military Donations Than All Other Republicans Combined: "ARLINGTON, Va. — According to newly released FEC reports, Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul has received more military donations than the other three remaining Republican candidates combined."

Indiadaily.com - American mortgage meltdown can result in the third world war between Asia and the West - 2012 or later?

Indiadaily.com - American mortgage meltdown can result in the third world war between Asia and the West - 2012 or later?

Ships did not cut internet cables: Egypt - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Ships did not cut internet cables: Egypt - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): "Egypt's transport ministry said footage recorded by onshore video cameras of the location of the cables showed no maritime traffic in the area when the cables were damaged.

'The ministry's maritime transport committee reviewed footage covering the period of 12 hours before and 12 hours after the cables were cut and no ships sailed the area,' a statement said."

Top of the Ticket : Los Angeles Times : News shocker: Ron Paul was biggest GOP fundraiser last quarter

Top of the Ticket : Los Angeles Times : News shocker: Ron Paul was biggest GOP fundraiser last quarter: "Well, it's official, ladies and gentlemen. Believe it or not, Rep. Ron Paul, the 72-year-old Texan who hardly ever gets mentioned in Republican political news and the one-time libertarian who always gets the least time on TV debates if he isn't barred completely, was, in fact, the most successful Republican fundraiser in the last three months of 2007."

Paul for President

Paul for President: "The presidential fields of both parties have narrowed, and the arguments about how we should move forward are now familiar. TAC believes that only one candidate has put forth a diagnosis of America’s current ills and has a vision to turn the country off its misguided course. That is Congressman Ron Paul, whom we endorse for the Republican nomination."

Microsoft makes $49b Yahoo bid - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Microsoft makes $49b Yahoo bid - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): "Microsoft Corp offered to buy Yahoo Inc for $US44.6 billion ($49.4 billion), in a bold bid to transform two ailing internet businesses into a worthy competitor for market leader Google Inc."

2 Communication Cables in the Mediterranean Are Cut - New York Times

2 Communication Cables in the Mediterranean Are Cut - New York Times: "One cable was damaged near Alexandria, Egypt, and the other in the waters off Marseille, France, telecommunications operators said. The two cables, which are separately managed and operated, were damaged within hours of each other."

Mideast internet outages spread to India - USATODAY.com

Mideast internet outages spread to India - USATODAY.com: "In all, users in India, Pakistan, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain were affected. Israel was unaffected by the outages because its Internet traffic is connected to Europe through a different undersea cable, and Lebanon and Iraq were also operating normally."

BBC NEWS | Health | Deep stimulation 'boosts memory'

BBC NEWS | Health | Deep stimulation 'boosts memory': "Electrical stimulation of areas deep within the brain could improve memory, early research suggests."

Egypt Has Only 40 Pct Internet After Cable Fault - New York Times

Egypt Has Only 40 Pct Internet After Cable Fault - New York Times: "CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt had only about 40 percent of its Internet capacity available on Thursday because of a disruption to an undersea cable that has also affected the Gulf region and south Asia."

Sax notes lead to off-beat boiler - Christchurch News - The Press

Sax notes lead to off-beat boiler - Christchurch News - The Press: "Inventor and saxophone player Peter Davey has come up with a device that he claims boils water in no time.

He calls it the 'sonic boiler' because he claims it uses the power of sound. How the heater actually works has confounded experts."

uwnews.org | Contact lenses with circuits, lights a possible platform for superhuman vision | University of Washington News and Information

uwnews.org | Contact lenses with circuits, lights a possible platform for superhuman vision | University of Washington News and Information: "Movie characters from the Terminator to the Bionic Woman use bionic eyes to zoom in on far-off scenes, have useful facts pop into their field of view, or create virtual crosshairs. Off the screen, virtual displays have been proposed for more practical purposes -- visual aids to help vision-impaired people, holographic driving control panels and even as a way to surf the Web on the go.

The device to make this happen may be familiar. Engineers at the University of Washington have for the first time used manufacturing techniques at microscopic scales to combine a flexible, biologically safe contact lens with an imprinted electronic circuit and lights."

IC Publications

IC Publications: "Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak held talks with Iran's parliament speaker Gholam Ali Hadad Adel on Wednesday, the first such high-level meeting since the two nations froze ties almost 30 years ago.

Hadad Adel hailed his 'very good' meeting with Mubarak, who he said had insisted on rejecting any pressure from Washington aimed at stopping the resumption of diplomatic ties.

'The fact that I'm here is proof of the improvement in relations between the Islamic republic and Egypt,' Hadad Adel told journalists."

Article | Reuters

Article | Reuters: "LONDON (Reuters) - More than one million Iraqis have died as a result of the conflict in their country since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, according to research conducted by one of Britain's leading polling groups."

The Associated Press: Poor Haitians Resort to Eating Dirt

The Associated Press: Poor Haitians Resort to Eating Dirt: "PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — It was lunchtime in one of Haiti's worst slums, and Charlene Dumas was eating mud. With food prices rising, Haiti's poorest can't afford even a daily plate of rice, and some take desperate measures to fill their bellies. Charlene, 16 with a 1-month-old son, has come to rely on a traditional Haitian remedy for hunger pangs: cookies made of dried yellow dirt from the country's central plateau."

Software Tool Strips Windows Vista To Bare Bones -- Windows Vista -- InformationWeek

Software Tool Strips Windows Vista To Bare Bones -- Windows Vista -- InformationWeek: "vLite, created by developer Dino Nuhagic, automatically removes a number of non-essential Windows Vista components in order to pare the OS's heavy footprint by half or more."

From today, feel free to download another 25 million songs - legally - Times Online

From today, feel free to download another 25 million songs - legally - Times Online: "After a decade fighting to stop illegal file-sharing, the music industry will give fans today what they have always wanted: an unlimited supply of free and legal songs.

With CD sales in free fall and legal downloads yet to fill the gap, the music industry has reluctantly embraced the file-sharing technology that threatened to destroy it. Qtrax, a digital service announced today, promises a catalogue of more than 25 million songs that users can download to keep, free and with no limit on the number of tracks."

Scientists Build First Man-Made Genome; Synthetic Life Comes Next

Scientists Build First Man-Made Genome; Synthetic Life Comes Next: "The researchers used yeast to stitch together four long strands of DNA into the genome of a bacterium called Mycoplasma genitalium. They said it's more than an order of magnitude longer than any previous synthetic DNA creation. Leading synthetic biologists said with the new work, published Thursday in the journal Science, the first synthetic life could be just months away -- if it hasn't been created already."

Iran vows to retaliate against U.S. bases in Gulf if it attacks first - Yahoo! Canada News

Iran vows to retaliate against U.S. bases in Gulf if it attacks first - Yahoo! Canada News: "CAIRO, Egypt - Iran's top military commander said Saturday that his forces would retaliate against American military bases in the Persian Gulf if they are involved in any possible future attack on Iran."

Alabama Republican Assembly Endorses Ron Paul for President: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

Alabama Republican Assembly Endorses Ron Paul for President: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance: "ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Alabama Republican Assembly (ALRA) has announced its endorsement of Texas Republican Congressman Ron Paul for President."

Calif. Firms Can Fire Medical Marijuana Users - washingtonpost.com

Calif. Firms Can Fire Medical Marijuana Users - washingtonpost.com: "LOS ANGELES, Jan. 24 -- The California Supreme Court ruled Thursday that employers can fire workers who test positive for marijuana even if they have a note from a doctor recommending its use for medical reasons.

The 5 to 2 ruling came in a state that was the first to legalize cannabis for medical use but has followed up with ambiguity and ambivalence about making it a reality."

Ahmadinejad to make landmark visit to Iraq: ministry | International | Reuters

Ahmadinejad to make landmark visit to Iraq: ministry | International | Reuters: "BAGHDAD (Reuters) - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has accepted an invitation to visit Baghdad, Iraq's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday, a landmark trip that would make him the first leader of Iran to visit its former foe."

Truth was first US casualty in Iraq war: study - Yahoo! News

Truth was first US casualty in Iraq war: study - Yahoo! News: "WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President George W. Bush and his top officials ran roughshod over the truth in the run-up to the Iraq war lying a total of 935 times, a study released Wednesday found."

Saudi Arabia to lift ban on women drivers - Telegraph

Saudi Arabia to lift ban on women drivers - Telegraph: "Saudi Arabia is to lift its ban on women drivers in an attempt to stem a rising suffragette-style movement in the deeply conservative state."

Pre-emptive nuclear strike a key option, Nato told | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited

Pre-emptive nuclear strike a key option, Nato told | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited: "The west must be ready to resort to a pre-emptive nuclear attack to try to halt the 'imminent' spread of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, according to a radical manifesto for a new Nato by five of the west's most senior military officers and strategists."

BBC NEWS | Europe | Russia warns of nuclear defence

BBC NEWS | Europe | Russia warns of nuclear defence: "Russia's military chief of staff has said Moscow is ready to use force, including pre-emptively and with nuclear weapons, to defend itself.

Gen Yuri Baluyevsky said Russia had no plans to attack anyone, but it was important that other countries clearly understood its leaders' resolve."

BBC NEWS | Health | Longer legs 'really are a draw'

BBC NEWS | Health | Longer legs 'really are a draw': "People with slightly longer legs really are more attractive to the opposite sex, a study suggests."

Weight Gain Of U.S. Drivers Has Increased Nation's Fuel Consumption

Weight Gain Of U.S. Drivers Has Increased Nation's Fuel Consumption: "Americans are now pumping 938 million gallons of fuel more annually than they were in 1960 as a result of extra weight in vehicles. And when gas prices average $3 a gallon, the tab for overweight people in a vehicle amounts to $7.7 million a day, or $2.8 billion a year."

CIA Admits Cyberattacks Blacked Out Cities -- Security -- InformationWeek

CIA Admits Cyberattacks Blacked Out Cities -- Security -- InformationWeek: "Paller said that Donahue presented him with a written statement that read, 'We have information, from multiple regions outside the United States, of cyber intrusions into utilities, followed by extortion demands. We suspect, but cannot confirm, that some of these attackers had the benefit of inside knowledge. We have information that cyberattacks have been used to disrupt power equipment in several regions outside the United States. In at least one case, the disruption caused a power outage affecting multiple cities. We do not know who executed these attacks or why, but all involved intrusions through the Internet.'"

Microsoft seeks patent for office 'spy' software - Times Online

Microsoft seeks patent for office 'spy' software - Times Online: "Microsoft is developing Big Brother-style software capable of remotely monitoring a worker’s productivity, physical wellbeing and competence.

The Times has seen a patent application filed by the company for a computer system that links workers to their computers via wireless sensors that measure their metabolism. The system would allow managers to monitor employees’ performance by measuring their heart rate, body temperature, movement, facial expression and blood pressure."

Banding together for EMI revolt - Telegraph

Banding together for EMI revolt - Telegraph: "While the value of CDs has fallen, marketing and distribution costs have grown and Mr Summers said performers could sell as many as 3m records without seeing a royalty payment."

Too much sugar-free gum linked to bowel problems | Health | Reuters

Too much sugar-free gum linked to bowel problems | Health | Reuters: "LONDON (Reuters) - Consuming too much sorbitol, a sweetener widely used in 'sugar-free' chewing gum and sweets, can cause serious bowel problems, German doctors said on Friday."

Les valeurs mat�rialistes nuisent au bien-�tre

Les valeurs mat�rialistes nuisent au bien-�tre: "Les recherches sur les rapports entre le bonheur et la richesse mat�rielle des psychologues E. Diener et D. Myers montrent clairement que les gens sont plus heureux s'ils vivent dans les pays riches plut�t que dans les pays pauvres. Cependant, une fois qu'ils ont assez d'argent pour subvenir aux besoins de base comme la nourriture, l'hypoth�que ou le loyer, etc., l'argent ne contribue pas beaucoup �am�liorer le bonheur."

Quatre saines habitudes qui prolongent la vie de 14 ans

Quatre saines habitudes qui prolongent la vie de 14 ans: "Faire de l'exercice, ne pas boire trop d'alcool, manger suffisamment de fruits et l�gumes et ne pas fumer prolongent la vie de 14 ans,"

Bush: We Could "Easily" Be In Iraq For Another 10 Years - Politics on The Huffington Post

Bush: We Could "Easily" Be In Iraq For Another 10 Years - Politics on The Huffington Post: "U.S. President George W. Bush said on Friday the United States would have a long-term presence in Iraq that could 'easily' last a decade, but that it would be at the invitation of the Iraqi government."

Can Pot Cure Cancer? | Inventor Spot

Can Pot Cure Cancer? | Inventor Spot: "Researchers Robert Ramer and Burkhard Hinz from the Institute of Toxicology and Pharmacology at the University of Rostock in Germany have found that cannabinoid compounds, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and methanandamide (MA), can cause the regression of highly invasive cancers, including cervical cancer and lung carcinoma."

ABC News: U.S.: Voices on Recording May Not Have Been From Iranian Speedboats

ABC News: U.S.: Voices on Recording May Not Have Been From Iranian Speedboats: "Today, the spokesperson for the U.S. admiral in charge of the Fifth Fleet clarified to ABC News that the threat may have come from the Iranian boats, or it may have come from somewhere else.

We're saying that we cannot make a direct connection to the boats there,' said the spokesperson. 'It could have come from the shore, from another ship passing by."

Reversal Of Alzheimer's Symptoms Within Minutes In Human Study

Reversal Of Alzheimer's Symptoms Within Minutes In Human Study: "ScienceDaily (Jan. 9, 2008) — An extraordinary new scientific study, which for the first time documents marked improvement in Alzheimer’s disease within minutes of administration of a therapeutic molecule, has just been published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation."

AFP: France is healthcare leader, US comes dead last: study

AFP: France is healthcare leader, US comes dead last: study: "WASHINGTON (AFP) — France is tops, and the United States dead last, in providing timely and effective healthcare to its citizens, according to a survey Tuesday of preventable deaths in 19 industrialized countries."

Silver-zinc battery technology poised to challenge lithium for energy density - PowerSource - Blog on EDN - 1470000147

Silver-zinc battery technology poised to challenge lithium for energy density - PowerSource - Blog on EDN - 1470000147: "Silver-zinc chemistry has three significant advantages over lithium ion, according to Dueber: It’s inherently safer because it lacks the volatile cathode makeup that leads to a thermal runaway, it’s very green since both silver and zinc are non-toxic as well as recyclable, and, perhaps most importantly, it packs 40% more energy into a battery pack than lithium ion can."

Rebiana fact sheet

Rebiana fact sheet: "For more than two decades, companies have been looking for a great-tasting, natural, zero-calorie sweetener and none were successful – until now. Rebiana, developed by Cargill and The Coca-Cola Company gives consumers natural sweetness without calories and companies a powerful new way to reduce calories in their products."

Br-r-r! Where did global warming go? - The Boston Globe

Br-r-r! Where did global warming go? - The Boston Globe: "THE STARK headline appeared just over a year ago. '2007 to be 'warmest on record,' ' BBC News reported on Jan. 4, 2007. Citing experts in the British government's Meteorological Office, the story announced that 'the world is likely to experience the warmest year on record in 2007,' surpassing the all-time high reached in 1998.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the planetary hot flash: Much of the planet grew bitterly cold."

Shocking News About Processed Meat

Shocking News About Processed Meat: "The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has just completed a detailed review of more than 7,000 clinical studies covering links between diet and cancer. Its conclusion is rocking the health world with startling bluntness: Processed meats are too dangerous for human consumption. Consumers should stop buying and eating all processed meat products for the rest of their lives.

Processed meats include bacon, sausage, hot dogs, sandwich meat, packaged ham, pepperoni, salami and virtually all red meat used in frozen prepared meals. They are usually manufactured with a carcinogenic ingredient known as sodium nitrite. This is used as a color fixer by meat companies to turn packaged meats a bright red color so they look fresh. Unfortunately, sodium nitrite also results in the formation of cancer-causing nitrosamines in the human body. And this leads to a sharp increase in cancer risk for those who eat them."

Lansing State Journal: Concealed weapons permits on the rise

Lansing State Journal: Concealed weapons permits on the rise: "Six years after new rules made it much easier to get a license to carry concealed weapons, the number of Michiganders legally packing heat has increased more than six-fold.

But dire predictions about increased violence and bloodshed have largely gone unfulfilled, according to law enforcement officials and crime statistics.

The incidence of violent crime in Michigan in the six years since the law went into effect has been, on average, below the rate of the previous six years. The overall incidence of death from firearms, including suicide and accidents, also has declined."

Why I Believe Bush Must Go

Why I Believe Bush Must Go: "Nixon Was Bad. These Guys Are Worse.

By George McGovern

Sunday, January 6, 2008"

Ron Paul's 10% In Iowa Shocks Establishment Media

Ron Paul's 10% In Iowa Shocks Establishment Media: "Ron Paul's double digit support in Iowa has shocked establishment media figures who have long derided the Congressman as an insignificant candidate with just 2 or 3 per cent of the vote. Even Fox News' own talking heads now agree that Paul should not be excluded from the upcoming presidential forum as campaign momentum builds."

BBC NEWS | Technology | One laptop project loses partner

BBC NEWS | Technology | One laptop project loses partner: "Intel has pulled out of a project to put cheap laptops in the hands of children in the developing world."

BBC NEWS | UK | Low-energy bulb disposal warning

BBC NEWS | UK | Low-energy bulb disposal warning: "The Environment Agency has called for more information to be made available on the health and environmental risks posed by low-energy light bulbs.

It says because the bulbs contain small amounts of mercury, more information about safe recycling is needed.

It also wants health warnings printed on packaging and information on how to clear up smashed bulbs in the home."

RIA Novosti - Opinion & analysis - A cold spell soon to replace global warming

RIA Novosti - Opinion & analysis - A cold spell soon to replace global warming: "Astrophysics knows two solar activity cycles, of 11 and 200 years. Both are caused by changes in the radius and area of the irradiating solar surface. The latest data, obtained by Habibullah Abdusamatov, head of the Pulkovo Observatory space research laboratory, say that Earth has passed the peak of its warmer period, and a fairly cold spell will set in quite soon, by 2012. Real cold will come when solar activity reaches its minimum, by 2041, and will last for 50-60 years or even longer."

Iowa Live Blogging: Ron Paul defeats Republican national front-runner in Iowa - Tales from the Trail: 2008

Iowa Live Blogging: Ron Paul defeats Republican national front-runner in Iowa - Tales from the Trail: 2008: "Though Paul finished fifth in the Iowa Republican caucuses, the 72-year-old maverick placed far ahead of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is running first in national polls."

Top economist says America could plunge into recession - Times Online

Top economist says America could plunge into recession - Times Online: "Losses arising from America’s housing recession could triple over the next few years and they represent the greatest threat to growth in the United States, one of the world’s leading economists has told The Times."

Charity's take from snowbank rises above $10,000

Charity's take from snowbank rises above $10,000: "A Quebec family that paid $3,550 for a snowbank in St. Eustache has found a way to make the purchase even more valuable.

The family has raised more than $7,000 extra for a children's charity by selling $25 bags of the snow to passersby as they cheerfully cleared it from Michel Levesque's property."

The Airport Security Follies - Jet Lagged - Air Travel - Opinion - New York Times Blog

The Airport Security Follies - Jet Lagged - Air Travel - Opinion - New York Times Blog: "Six years after the terrorist attacks of 2001, airport security remains a theater of the absurd. The changes put in place following the September 11th catastrophe have been drastic, and largely of two kinds: those practical and effective, and those irrational, wasteful and pointless."

Honey-drenched dressings touted as the bee's knees for wounds

Honey-drenched dressings touted as the bee's knees for wounds: "'It's been used on wounds where nothing else will work,' said biochemist Peter Molan, a professor at the University of Waikato in New Zealand who has researched honey and other natural antibiotics for 25 years.

He's found manuka honey can kill the toughest bacteria even when diluted 10 times and recommends it especially for people with weak immune systems."

Casual blogging not just lunch money now - Yahoo! News

Casual blogging not just lunch money now - Yahoo! News: "It's no longer unusual for blogs with just a couple thousand daily readers to earn nearly as many dollars a month. Helping fill the pockets of such bloggers are programs like Google's AdSense and many others that let individuals — not just major publications — tap into the rapidly growing pot of advertising dollars with a click of the mouse."

Snorting a Brain Chemical Could Replace Sleep

Snorting a Brain Chemical Could Replace Sleep: "In what sounds like a dream for millions of tired coffee drinkers, Darpa-funded scientists might have found a drug that will eliminate sleepiness.

A nasal spray containing a naturally occurring brain hormone called orexin A reversed the effects of sleep deprivation in monkeys, allowing them to perform like well-rested monkeys on cognitive tests."

New Statesman - Has global warming stopped?

New Statesman - Has global warming stopped?: "The fact is that the global temperature of 2007 is statistically the same as 2006 as well as every year since 2001. Global warming has, temporarily or permanently, ceased. Temperatures across the world are not increasing as they should according to the fundamental theory behind global warming – the greenhouse effect. Something else is happening and it is vital that we find out what or else we may spend hundreds of billions of pounds needlessly."

Mexican marijuana is still plentiful -- and cheap | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Mexican marijuana is still plentiful -- and cheap | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle: "'You never hear of people getting killed over a few pounds of marijuana, but you do over a few ounces of cocaine. Marijuana is pretty much an open market. Nobody controls it, nobody wants to control it.'"

Crisis may make 1929 look a 'walk in the park' - Telegraph

Crisis may make 1929 look a 'walk in the park' - Telegraph: "As central banks continue to splash their cash over the system, so far to little effect, Ambrose Evans-Pritchard argues things are rapidly spiralling out of their control

Twenty billion dollars here, $20bn there, and a lush half-trillion from the European Central Bank at give-away rates for Christmas. Buckets of liquidity are being splashed over the North Atlantic banking system, so far with meagre or fleeting effects."

Ron Paul will win by a landslide

Ron Paul will win by a landslide: "Republican presidential candidate and Texas Congressman, Ron Paul, can win the presidency. Contrary to the pundits and media propaganda, Ron Paul is best positioned to win the GOP nomination."

9/11 Panel Study Finds That C.I.A. Withheld Tapes - New York Times

9/11 Panel Study Finds That C.I.A. Withheld Tapes - New York Times: "WASHINGTON — A review of classified documents by former members of the Sept. 11 commission shows that the panel made repeated and detailed requests to the Central Intelligence Agency in 2003 and 2004 for documents and other information about the interrogation of operatives of Al Qaeda, and were told by a top C.I.A. official that the agency had “produced or made available for review” everything that had been requested."

FBI prepares vast biometrics database - Washington Post- msnbc.com

FBI prepares vast biometrics database - Washington Post- msnbc.com: "CLARKSBURG, W. Va. - The FBI is embarking on a $1 billion effort to build the world's largest computer database of peoples' physical characteristics, a project that would give the government unprecedented abilities to identify individuals in the United States and abroad."

Year of global cooling�-�-�The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

Year of global cooling�-�-� The Washington Times, America's Newspaper: "Al Gore says global warming is a planetary emergency. It is difficult to see how this can be so when record low temperatures are being set all over the world. In 2007, hundreds of people died, not from global warming, but from cold weather hazards."

Stanford's nanowire battery holds 10 times the charge of existing ones

Stanford's nanowire battery holds 10 times the charge of existing ones: "Stanford researchers have found a way to use silicon nanowires to reinvent the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that power laptops, iPods, video cameras, cell phones, and countless other devices.

The new version, developed through research led by Yi Cui, assistant professor of materials science and engineering, produces 10 times the amount of electricity of existing lithium-ion, known as Li-ion, batteries. A laptop that now runs on battery for two hours could operate for 20 hours, a boon to ocean-hopping business travelers.

'It's not a small improvement,' Cui said. 'It's a revolutionary development.'"

Putin named Time "Person of the Year"

Putin named Time "Person of the Year": "Putin is the fifth Russian or Soviet leader to be named Person of the Year: Gorbachev, Andropov, Khrushchev and Stalin, who was named twice."

Nation & World | Man's journey to find birth mom ends — at work | Seattle Times Newspaper

Nation & World | Man's journey to find birth mom ends — at work | Seattle Times Newspaper: "GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — For years, Steve Flaig, a delivery-truck driver at a Lowe's store here, had searched for his birth mother.

He found her working the cash register at the front of the store."

The Apostles of Ron Paul

The Apostles of Ron Paul: "Their candidate, a 72-year-old obstetrician from Lake Jackson, Texas—land of duck hunters, ranchers, and oilmen—has improbably become an Internet sensation. He counts more Facebook and MySpace supporters than any Republican; more Google searches, YouTube subscribers, and website hits than any presidential candidate; and more Meetup members than the front-runners of both parties combined. In recent months he was sought out on the blog search engine Technorati more often than anyone except a Puerto Rican singer with a sex tape on the loose"

Putin rival held in psychiatric ward 'to prevent him protesting against government' | the Daily Mail

Putin rival held in psychiatric ward 'to prevent him protesting against government' | the Daily Mail: "A Russian opposition activist has been sent to a psychiatric hospital by authorities a day before a planned demonstration.

Artem Basyrov's detention is the latest in a series of incidents suggesting a punitive Soviet-era practice is being revived under president Vladimir Putin."

Ohio Elections Official Calls Machines Flawed - New York Times

Ohio Elections Official Calls Machines Flawed - New York Times: "CINCINNATI — All five voting systems used in Ohio, a state whose electoral votes narrowly swung two elections toward President Bush, have critical flaws that could undermine the integrity of the 2008 general election, a report commissioned by the state’s top elections official has found."

Report Says That the Rich Are Getting Richer Faster, Much Faster - New York Times

Report Says That the Rich Are Getting Richer Faster, Much Faster - New York Times: "Earlier reports, based on tax returns, showed that in 2005 the top 10 percent, top 1 percent and fractions of the top 1 percent enjoyed their greatest share of income since 1928 and 1929."

Egypt and Saudi Arabia make new overtures to Iran - Yahoo! News

Egypt and Saudi Arabia make new overtures to Iran - Yahoo! News: "Cairo - Iran is suddenly enjoying a thaw with its Arab neighbors – all close US allies – in the wake of a US intelligence report that judged Iran probably suspended its work on nuclear weapons four years ago.

Regional actors, in particular, are scrambling to engage Iran diplomatically, and analysts say they have the tacit approval of the Americans."

Discovery News : Discovery Channel

Discovery News : Discovery Channel: "Nov. 29, 2007 -- The same microwave radiation that reheats pizza can be used to fry the electrical systems in cars, stopping them dead in their tracks. Emitted from a rooftop device, the radiation could be used by law enforcement officers to put an end to dangerous car chases or by military personnel as a non-lethal way of disabling vehicles that get too close for comfort. 'The idea is to warn an automobile some distance away from a high-value target like a military barrack or a communication center. If they don't comply, you just zap them and it prevents them from coming closer,' said James Tatoian, CEO of Eureka Aerospace in Pasadena, Calif."

Why bad kissers don't get to second base - CNN.com

Why bad kissers don't get to second base - CNN.com: "In a study published recently in the scientific journal 'Evolutionary Psychology,' 59 percent of men and 66 percent of women said they've been in the position of being attracted to someone -- until they kissed the person."

Ozzy Osbourne garage sale raises $800,000 for cancer - USATODAY.com

Ozzy Osbourne garage sale raises $800,000 for cancer - USATODAY.com: "LOS ANGELES (AP) — Heavy metal fans aren't usually seen making bids at high-end auctions, but they turned out in numbers to snatch up a coat with embroidered bats, sneakers with skulls on them and other items put up for sale by Ozzy Osbourne."

US officials say Iran nuclear weapons program stopped in 2003, but capability remains - International Herald Tribune

US officials say Iran nuclear weapons program stopped in 2003, but capability remains - International Herald Tribune: "WASHINGTON: Iran halted its nuclear weapons development program in the fall of 2003 under international pressure but is continuing to enrich uranium, which means it may still be able to develop a weapon between 2010 and 2015, according to a new U.S. intelligence assessment released Monday. That finding, part of a new National Intelligence Estimate on Iran, is a sharp turnaround from two years ago when U.S. intelligence agencies believed Tehran was determined to develop a nuclear weapons capability and was continuing its weapons development program. It suggests that Iran's decisions are rational and pragmatic, and that Tehran is more susceptible to diplomatic and financial pressure than previously thought, the document concluded. 'Tehran's decision to halt its nuclear weapons program suggests it is less determined to develop nuclear weapons than we have been judging since 2005,' says the unclassified summary of the secret report."

Young Chimps Top Adult Humans In Numerical Memory

Young Chimps Top Adult Humans In Numerical Memory: "'There are still many people, including many biologists, who believe that humans are superior to chimpanzees in all cognitive functions,' said Tetsuro Matsuzawa of Kyoto University. 'No one can imagine that chimpanzees--young chimpanzees at the age of five--have a better performance in a memory task than humans. Here we show for the first time that young chimpanzees have an extraordinary working memory capability for numerical recollection--better than that of human adults tested in the same apparatus, following the same procedure.'"

War critics astonished as US hawk admits invasion was illegal | Iraq | Guardian Unlimited

War critics astonished as US hawk admits invasion was illegal | Iraq | Guardian Unlimited: "International lawyers and anti-war campaigners reacted with astonishment yesterday after the influential Pentagon hawk Richard Perle conceded that the invasion of Iraq had been illegal. In a startling break with the official White House and Downing Street lines, Mr Perle told an audience in London: 'I think in this case international law stood in the way of doing the right thing.'"

Toddler fools the art world into buying his tomato ketchup paintings | the Daily Mail

Toddler fools the art world into buying his tomato ketchup paintings | the Daily Mail: "To the untrained eye, they appear to be simple daubs that could have been created by a two year old. Which is precisely what they are."

Russia pulls out of Nato arms pact | Russia | Guardian Unlimited

Russia pulls out of Nato arms pact | Russia | Guardian Unlimited: "President Vladimir Putin has withdrawn Russia from a key post-cold war international arms treaty, paving the way for the deployment of Russian forces closer to Europe. The withdrawal of Russian participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty was signed into law today. The United States, the European Union and Nato had urged Putin not to suspend the treaty, seen as a cornerstone of European security. Russia says Nato members have not ratified an amended version of the pact and accuses it of flexing its muscles near Russia's borders."

The truth about global warming - it's the Sun that's to blame - Telegraph

The truth about global warming - it's the Sun that's to blame - Telegraph: "'The Sun's radiance may well have an impact on climate change but it needs to be looked at in conjunction with other factors such as greenhouse gases, sulphate aerosols and volcano activity,' he said. The research adds weight to the views of David Bellamy, the conservationist. 'Global warming - at least the modern nightmare version - is a myth,' he said. 'I am sure of it and so are a growing number of scientists. But what is really worrying is that the world's politicians and policy-makers are not. 'Instead, they have an unshakeable faith in what has, unfortunately, become one of the central credos of the environmental movement: humans burn fossil fuels, which release increased levels of carbon dioxide - the principal so-called greenhouse gas - into the atmosphere, causing the atmosphere to heat up. They say this is global warming: I say this is poppycock.'"

High-Tech Drones Joining Miami Police Force - Miami News Story - WPLG Miami

High-Tech Drones Joining Miami Police Force - Miami News Story - WPLG Miami: "MIAMI -- The Miami-Dade police department will begin experimenting with high-tech drones as law enforcement tools beginning next year. Although the military has been using unmanned aircraft systems for years, this will be the first time they are used in law enforcement."

The Raw Story | Posthumous book claims Ford knew of CIA coverup in Kennedy assassination

The Raw Story | Posthumous book claims Ford knew of CIA coverup in Kennedy assassination: "According to the publisher of a new book, who appeared on Fox News Wednesday morning, the last living words of former President Gerald Ford fingered the CIA in the orchestration a cover-up of Kennedy's assassination."

kdka.com - Military Asks Wounded Soldiers To Return Portions Of Signing Bonuses

kdka.com - Military Asks Wounded Soldiers To Return Portions Of Signing Bonuses: "PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― The U.S. Military is demanding that thousands of wounded service personnel give back signing bonuses because they are unable to serve out their commitments. To get people to sign up, the military gives enlistment bonuses up to $30,000 in some cases. Now men and women who have lost arms, legs, eyesight, hearing and can no longer serve are being ordered to pay some of that money back."

In Basra, violence is a tenth of what it was before British pullback, general says - International Herald Tribune

In Basra, violence is a tenth of what it was before British pullback, general says - International Herald Tribune: "BAGHDAD: Attacks against British and Iraqi forces have plunged by 90 percent in southern Iraq since London withdrew its troops from the main city of Basra, the commander of British forces there said Thursday. The presence of British forces in downtown Basra, Iraq's second-largest city, was the single largest instigator of violence, Maj. Gen. Graham Binns told reporters Thursday on a visit to Baghdad's Green Zone. 'We thought, 'If 90 percent of the violence is directed at us, what would happen if we stepped back?'' Binns said."