Scientist stuns experts by saying trees worsen greenhouse effect

Scientist stuns experts by saying trees worsen greenhouse effect: "Hamburg- A leading expert in Germany has spawned a major scientific debate by claiming that trees put millions of tons of methane into the atmosphere every year exacerbating the greenhouse effect. Amid controversy, Dr Frank Keppler of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry has reaffirmed findings by his team in Mainz, Germany, in January 2006 that they had detected methane exhaled from living

plants. "

Law enforcment access to Internet communications expanded - NJ.com: Star-Ledger updates

Law enforcment access to Internet communications expanded - NJ.com: Star-Ledger updates: "Effective today, broadband providers and Internet phone companies must open their networks for lawful intercepts of e-mails, calls and other electronic communications.

Authorities hail the move as an important step to combat terrorism and crime. Critics call it another erosion of personal freedoms."

Don't Do It, Mr. President

Don't Do It, Mr. President

Strange but True: Helmets Attract Cars to Cyclists: Scientific American

Strange but True: Helmets Attract Cars to Cyclists: Scientific American: "Although you might not want to leave your protective gear at home, just know that if you do, drivers will be a lot more scared of hitting you."

Putin likens U.S. foreign policy to that of Third Reich - Print Version - International Herald Tribune

Putin likens U.S. foreign policy to that of Third Reich - Print Version - International Herald Tribune: "MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin of Russia obliquely compared the foreign policy of the United States to the Third Reich in a speech Wednesday commemorating the 62nd anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany, in an apparent escalation of anti-American rhetoric within the Russian government."

The Sun Online - News: Cap gives you full kip in 3hrs

The Sun Online - News: Cap gives you full kip in 3hrs: "SCIENTISTS have devised a way to cram a good night’s kip into THREE HOURS.

They have created a machine placed above the head like a “cap” that puts wearers in deep sleep."

Daily Express: The World's Greatest Newspaper :: News / Showbiz :: The easy way to boost your brain

Daily Express: The World's Greatest Newspaper :: News / Showbiz :: The easy way to boost your brain: "WIGGLING your eyes from left to right helps to boost your memory...and it doesn’t cost a penny.

Scientists say the eye movement fires up both the left and right hemispheres of the brain at the same time."

Japanese developers find way to create hot rice with cold water - MSN-Mainichi Daily News

Japanese developers find way to create hot rice with cold water - MSN-Mainichi Daily News: "TSUKUBA, Ibaraki -- An environmental consulting firm and other developers here have come up with a non-perishable food pack that creates steaming hot rice with the simple addition of cold water."

Lesbians twice as likely to be obese | The Daily Telegraph

Lesbians twice as likely to be obese | The Daily Telegraph: "LESBIANS are twice as likely as heterosexual women to be overweight or obese, which puts them at greater risk for obesity-related health problems and death, US researchers said."

Ebola-like virus killing fish in Great Lakes - USATODAY.com

Ebola-like virus killing fish in Great Lakes - USATODAY.com: "A deadly Ebola-like virus is killing fish of all types in the Great Lakes, a development some scientists fear could trigger disaster for the USA's freshwater fish."

The CFL mercury nightmare

The CFL mercury nightmare: "How much money does it take to screw in a compact fluorescent light bulb? About US$4.28 for the bulb and labour -- unless you break the bulb. Then you, like Brandy Bridges of Ellsworth, Maine, could be looking at a cost of about US$2,004.28, which doesn't include the costs of frayed nerves and risks to health.

Sound crazy? Perhaps no more than the stampede to ban the incandescent light bulb in favour of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)."

Greenhouse effect is a myth, say scientists | the Daily Mail

Greenhouse effect is a myth, say scientists | the Daily Mail: "Research said to prove that greenhouse gases cause climate change has been condemned as a sham by scientists.

A United Nations report earlier this year said humans are very likely to be to blame for global warming and there is 'virtually no doubt' it is linked to man's use of fossil fuels.

But other climate experts say there is little scientific evidence to support the theory.

In fact global warming could be caused by increased solar activity such as a massive eruption."

The Raw Story | Retired Lt. General declares Bush 'seems to have gone AWOL'

The Raw Story | Retired Lt. General declares Bush 'seems to have gone AWOL': ""I am not now nor have I ever been a Democrat or a Republican. Thus, I do not speak for the Democratic Party. I speak for myself, as a non-partisan retired military officer who is a former Director of the National Security Agency. I do so because Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, asked me.

"In principle, I do not favor Congressional involvement in the execution of U.S. foreign and military policy. I have seen its perverse effects in many cases. The conflict in Iraq is different. Over the past couple of years, the President has let it proceed on automatic pilot, making no corrections in the face of accumulating evidence that his strategy is failing and cannot be rescued."

Taiwan stung by millions of missing bees - Yahoo! News

Taiwan stung by millions of missing bees - Yahoo! News: "Over the past two months, farmers in three parts of Taiwan have reported most of their bees gone, the Chinese-language United Daily News reported. Taiwan's TVBS television station said about 10 million bees had vanished in Taiwan."

newsobserver.com | Death toll excludes bombs

newsobserver.com | Death toll excludes bombs: "WASHINGTON - U.S. officials who say there has been a dramatic drop in sectarian violence in Iraq since President Bush began sending more American troops into Baghdad aren't counting one of the main killers of Iraqi civilians.

Car bombs and other explosive devices have killed thousands of Iraqis in the past three years, but the administration doesn't include them in the casualty counts it has been citing as evidence that the surge of additional U.S. forces is beginning to defuse tensions between Shiite and Sunni Muslims."

Iran: US seeks to undermine regime | Jerusalem Post

Iran: US seeks to undermine regime | Jerusalem Post: "According to the official Iranian news agency, the official, who deals with defense issues, said that no American would be safe from Iran's long-range missiles.

'We are prepared to fire tens of thousands of these missiles every day,' he said."

Clinton: US might have to confront Iran | Jerusalem Post

Clinton: US might have to confront Iran | Jerusalem Post: "Democratic presidential candidate and New York Senator Hillary Clinton said Tuesday that it might be necessary for America to confront Iran militarily, addressing that possibility more directly than any of the other presidential candidates who spoke this week to the National Jewish Democratic Council."

GM crop failure a warning, says US adviser. 30/11/2005. ABC News Online

GM crop failure a warning, says US adviser. 30/11/2005. ABC News Online: "A former agricultural adviser to US presidents says the failure of a genetically modified field pea trial should act as a warning for future GM crop testing.

The 10-year CSIRO trial was abandoned when tests found the peas were making mice seriously ill.

Dr Charles Benbrook, who advised presidents Carter, Bush senior, Reagan and Clinton says the field pea trial failure shows current GM crop testing is grossly inadequate."

'Little girl Rambo' Jessica Lynch decries US propaganda | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited

'Little girl Rambo' Jessica Lynch decries US propaganda | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited: "The former US private Jessica Lynch today condemned what she said were Pentagon efforts to turn her into a 'little girl Rambo', and accused military chiefs of using 'elaborate tales' to try to make her into a hero of the Iraq war."

World powers may be ready to consider Tehran's enrichment program - Israel News, Ynetnews

World powers may be ready to consider Tehran's enrichment program - Israel News, Ynetnews: "The United States, Russia, China and the European Union are for the first time ready to listen to an Iranian proposal that would allow Tehran to keep some of its uranium enrichment program intact instead of mothballing it completely, government officials said Tuesday."

Press TV

Press TV: "Israel was criticized for firing cluster bombs in Lebanon in the final three days of the conflict, when both Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to a ceasefire. Israel says its use of the munitions was in line with international law. "

Official University of Alberta DCA Site

Official University of Alberta DCA Site

"DCA is an odourless, colourless, inexpensive, relatively non-toxic, small molecule. And researchers at the University of Alberta believe it may soon be used as an effective treatment for many forms of cancer.

Dr. Evangelos Michelakis, a professor at the U of A Department of Medicine, has shown that dichloroacetate (DCA) causes regression in several cancers, including lung, breast, and brain tumors"

Al-Qaeda‘planning big British attack’-News-UK-TimesOnline

Al-Qaeda‘planning big British attack’-News-UK-TimesOnline: "He claims the operation will be on ‘a par with Hiroshima and Naga-saki’ and will ‘shake the Roman throne’. We assess that this operation is most likely to be a large-scale, mass casualty attack against the West."

50% Good News Is the Bad News in Russian Radio - New York Times

50% Good News Is the Bad News in Russian Radio - New York Times: "MOSCOW, April 21 — At their first meeting with journalists since taking over Russia’s largest independent radio news network, the managers had startling news of their own: from now on, they said, at least 50 percent of the reports about Russia must be “positive.”

In addition, opposition leaders could not be mentioned on the air and the United States was to be portrayed as an enemy, journalists employed by the network, Russian News Service, say they were told by the new managers, who are allies of the Kremlin."

Catholic Church buries limbo after centuries - Yahoo! News

Catholic Church buries limbo after centuries - Yahoo! News: "VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Roman Catholic Church has effectively buried the concept of limbo, the place where centuries of tradition and teaching held that babies who die without baptism went."

Cannabis compound slows lung cancer in mice - health - 18 April 2007 - New Scientist

Cannabis compound slows lung cancer in mice - health - 18 April 2007 - New Scientist: "The active compound in marijuana, THC, can slow the growth of lung tumours and reduce the spread of the cancer in mice, a preliminary study reveals."

BBC NEWS | Health | Cutting salt 'reduces heart risk'

BBC NEWS | Health | Cutting salt 'reduces heart risk': "Eating less salt can cut cardiovascular disease risk by a quarter and fatal heart disease by a fifth, work shows."

Former Mossad chief: Kill Ahmadinejad | Jerusalem Post

Former Mossad chief: Kill Ahmadinejad | Jerusalem Post: "Western countries must unite in an effort to assassinate Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, former head of the Mossad Meir Amit said on Wednesday night.

'Even though in the past I have been opposed to assassinating Arab leaders, this case is different because it alone is the center of the nuclear issue,' Amit told the weekly Kfar Chabad magazine set be published on Thursday."

BBC NEWS | UK | England | 'Talking' CCTV scolds offenders

BBC NEWS | UK | England | 'Talking' CCTV scolds offenders: "'Talking' CCTV cameras that tell off people dropping litter or committing anti-social behaviour are to be extended to 20 areas across England."

McClatchy Washington Bureau | 04/18/2007 | Administration pursued aggressive legal effort to restrict voter turnout

McClatchy Washington Bureau | 04/18/2007 | Administration pursued aggressive legal effort to restrict voter turnout: "WASHINGTON - For six years, the Bush administration, aided by Justice Department political appointees, has pursued an aggressive legal effort to restrict voter turnout in key battleground states in ways that favor Republican political candidates."

Chinese make first artificial snowfall | International News | News | Telegraph

Chinese make first artificial snowfall | International News | News | Telegraph: "China claimed yesterday to have caused a snowfall for the first time as part of its increasingly ambitious attempts to control the weather."

Hurricanes to Be Sapped, Not Strengthened, by Warming?

Hurricanes to Be Sapped, Not Strengthened, by Warming?: "Climate change could lead to stronger wind shear, a weather pattern that weakens hurricanes, a new study says. Some previous, widely publicized studies have linked global warming to stronger hurricanes."

Ramazzini - Portal on the research and prevention of cancer - portale sulla ricerca e prevenzione del cancro

Ramazzini - Portal on the research and prevention of cancer - portale sulla ricerca e prevenzione del cancro: "A second study conducted by the European Ramazzini Foundation (ERF) confirms the carcinogenicity of aspartame."

Internet radio dealt severe blow as Copyright Board rejects appeal

Internet radio dealt severe blow as Copyright Board rejects appeal: "A panel of judges at the Copyright Royalty Board has denied a request from the NPR and a number of other webcasters to reconsider a March ruling that would force Internet radio services to pay crippling royalties. The panel's ruling reaffirmed the original CRB decision in every respect, with the exception of how the royalties will be calculated. Instead of charging a royalty for each time a song is heard by a listener online, Internet broadcasters will be able pay royalties based on average listening hours through the end of 2008.

The ruling is a huge blow to online broadcasters, and the new royalty structure could knock a large number of them off the 'Net entirely."

Digital Journal - Candidate says US going bankrupt

Digital Journal - Candidate says US going bankrupt: "Presidential candidate Ron Paul, campaigning in Iowa, says that the US is going bankrupt.
Speaking to a group of supporters at the University of Iowa, the Republican candidate said that:

'As time goes on, our country will realize that we can't afford to pay all the promises we've made.'

He said that our entitlements programs, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and our monetary policy are causing such a drain on the country's finances that in the very near future our trading partners abroad will lose confidence in the dollar and then there will be a very severe financial crisis, possibly worse than the Great Depression of the 30's. "

Are mobile phones wiping out our bees? - Independent Online Edition > Wildlife

Are mobile phones wiping out our bees? - Independent Online Edition > Wildlife: "The theory is that radiation from mobile phones interferes with bees' navigation systems, preventing the famously homeloving species from finding their way back to their hives. Improbable as it may seem, there is now evidence to back this up."

YouTube - Trump: Bush is the Worst President in History

YouTube - Trump: Bush is the Worst President in History: "Trump: Bush is the Worst President in History"

Bush Renews Call for 'Culture of Life' | World Latest | Guardian Unlimited

Bush Renews Call for 'Culture of Life' | World Latest | Guardian Unlimited: "``We must continue to work for a culture of life where the strong protect the weak and where we recognize in every human life the image of our creator,'' Bush said."

Custodians of chaos

Custodians of chaos: "Custodians of chaos

In this extract from his forthcoming memoirs, Kurt Vonnegut is horrified by the hypocrisy in contemporary US politics"

Scotsman.com News - Police chief- Lockerbie evidence was faked

Scotsman.com News - Police chief- Lockerbie evidence was faked: "A FORMER Scottish police chief has given lawyers a signed statement claiming that key evidence in the Lockerbie bombing trial was fabricated.

The retired officer - of assistant chief constable rank or higher - has testified that the CIA planted the tiny fragment of circuit board crucial in convicting a Libyan for the 1989 mass murder of 270 people."

Former Bush Speechwriter Hints at 9/11 Inside Job

Former Bush Speechwriter Hints at 9/11 Inside Job: "Victor Gold is a veteran GOP campaign operative who worked closely with George H.W. Bush on his presidential campaign and also co-wrote his autobiography. He was also tasked with writing the profiles for Dick and Lynn Cheney for the official Inauguration program in 2001.

In his new book, Invasion of the Party Snatchers: How the Neo-Cons and Holy Rollers Destroyed the GOP, Gold slams the current administration and exposes their zeal for creating a pretext for a war that was planned many years in advance."

The prospect of all-female conception - Independent Online Edition > Science & Technology

The prospect of all-female conception - Independent Online Edition > Science & Technology: "Women might soon be able to produce sperm in a development that could allow lesbian couples to have their own biological daughters, according to a pioneering study published today.

Scientists are seeking ethical permission to produce synthetic sperm cells from a woman's bone marrow tissue after showing that it possible to produce rudimentary sperm cells from male bone-marrow tissue."

Mankind 'can't influence' climate | NEWS.com.au

Mankind 'can't influence' climate | NEWS.com.au: "MANKIND is naive to think it can influence climate change, according to a prize-winning Australian geologist.

Solar activity is a greater driver of climate change than man-made carbon dioxide, argues Ian Plimer, Professor of Mining Geology at the University of Adelaide and winner of several notable science prizes.

“When meteorologists can change the weather then we can start to think about humans changing climate,” Prof Plimer said.

“I think we really are a little bit naive to think we can change astronomical and solar processes.”"

Astronomers find water out of this world | COSMOS magazine

Astronomers find water out of this world | COSMOS magazine: "WASHINGTON: The first evidence of water in the atmosphere of a planet outside our own Solar System has been discovered by U.S. astronomers.

The find suggests that many planets orbiting other stars may also harbour water, a key building block of life."

Iacocca: Where Have All the Leaders Gone? | The Second (2nd) Great Depression

Iacocca: Where Have All the Leaders Gone? | The Second (2nd) Great Depression: "We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, 'Stay the course.' Stay the course? You've got to be kidding."

Russia threatening new cold war over missile defence | Russia | Guardian Unlimited

Russia threatening new cold war over missile defence | Russia | Guardian Unlimited: "Defence experts say there is little doubt that the real target of the shield is Russia. 'The geography of the deployment doesn't give any doubt the main targets are Russian and Chinese nuclear forces,' General Vladimir Belous, Russia's leading expert on anti-ballistic weaponry, told the Guardian. 'The US bases represent a real threat to our strategic nuclear forces.'"

US forces to 'wall off Baghdad streets' | Herald Sun

US forces to 'wall off Baghdad streets' | Herald Sun: "US FORCES in Baghdad are planning to seal off vast areas of the city with barricades, effectively imprisoning the inhabitants of neighbourhoods, according to The Independent."

Ananova - Swan feeds fish at zoo

Ananova - Swan feeds fish at zoo: "A swan in a Chinese zoo feeds its fish friends every day to the amazement of visitors."

Cigarettes, coffee may lower Parkinson's risk: South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Cigarettes, coffee may lower Parkinson's risk: South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "People who smoke cigarettes and drink lots of coffee are less likely to get Parkinson's disease than their family members who don't indulge in caffeine and nicotine, a new seven-year study shows."

Schoolchildren to be fingerprinted in Big Brother-style shake-up | the Daily Mail

Schoolchildren to be fingerprinted in Big Brother-style shake-up | the Daily Mail: "Up to 5.9million children face having their fingerprints taken by schools in another move towards a 'Big Brother' society.

Pupils will have to hand over their biometric details simply to borrow library books or gain access to school dinners."

Diets damage health, shows biggest ever study | the Daily Mail

Diets damage health, shows biggest ever study | the Daily Mail: "The world's largest study of weight loss has shown that diets do not work for the vast majority of slimmers and may even put lives at risk.

More than two-thirds pile the pounds straight back on, raising the danger of heart attack, stroke and diabetes.

Indeed most dieters end up heavier than they did to start with, the researchers found."

Now you see it: forgotten magic manual contains original da Vinci code - World

Now you see it: forgotten magic manual contains original da Vinci code - World: "AFTER lying almost untouched in the vaults of an Italian university for 500 years, a book on the magic arts written by Leonardo da Vinci's best friend and teacher has been translated into English for the first time.

The world's oldest magic text, De viribus quantitatis (On the Powers of Numbers), was penned by Luca Pacioli, a Franciscan monk who shared lodgings with da Vinci."

The Raw Story | Halliburton winds up Iran work

The Raw Story | Halliburton winds up Iran work: "US oil services giant Halliburton said Monday it had wrapped up its work commitments in Iran and was no longer conducting any projects in the Islamic republic.

Halliburton announced in January of 2005 that it was shutting-down its Iran operations, but would honor existing 'contractual commitments' until they were fulfilled.

'Halliburton announced today that all of its contractual commitments in Iran have been completed and the company is no longer working in Iran,' the firm said in a brief statement."

Xinhua - English

Xinhua - English: "WASHINGTON, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The Bush administration allowed Ethiopia to complete a secret arms purchase from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in an apparent violation of UN sanctions aimed at punishing Pyongyang's nuclear test, the New York Times reported on Sunday."

Russian General Says U.S. Continues Preparations for Iran Strike - NEWS - MOSNEWS.COM

Russian General Says U.S. Continues Preparations for Iran Strike - NEWS - MOSNEWS.COM: "“Preparations to strike Iran’s strategic facilities continue. Three major groups of U.S. forces are still in the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf. Altogether, they have up to 450 cruise missiles on alert,” the general said.

“Military operations against Tehran will begin with the launch of at least two unexpected strikes using Tomahawk cruise missiles and air power in order to disable Iran’s air defense capabilities,” he said.

“According to our data, up to 150 aircraft are to be involved in each strike on Iran. Land-based air defense systems will be disabled in the first place, then mobile short-range systems, which Tehran has (including some 30 new systems),” he said."

Iran Says It's Able to Make Nuclear Fuel | World Latest | Guardian Unlimited

Iran Says It's Able to Make Nuclear Fuel | World Latest | Guardian Unlimited: "With great honor, I declare that as of today our dear country has joined the nuclear club of nations and can produce nuclear fuel on an industrial scale,'' Ahmadinejad said."

Iraq 101: Aftermath - Long-Term Thinking

Iraq 101: Aftermath - Long-Term Thinking: "Our study yields one resounding finding: The rate of fatal terrorist attacks around the world by jihadist groups, and the number of people killed in those attacks, increased dramatically after the invasion of Iraq. Globally there was a 607 percent rise in the average yearly incidence of attacks (28.3 attacks per year before and 199.8 after) and a 237 percent rise in the fatality rate (from 501 to 1,689 deaths per year). A large part of this rise occurred in Iraq, the scene of almost half the global total of jihadist terrorist attacks. But even excluding Iraq and Afghanistan—the other current jihadist hot spot—there has been a 35 percent rise in the number of attacks, with a 12 percent rise in fatalities."

'Fish Man' completes Amazon River swim. 08/04/2007. ABC News Online

'Fish Man' completes Amazon River swim. 08/04/2007. ABC News Online: "A Slovenian man has become the first person to swim the entire length of South America's Amazon River.

Martin Strel, 52, completed the 5,265-kilometre swim from Peru to Brazil in 66 days."

Belief in Reincarnation Tied to Memory Errors - Yahoo! News

Belief in Reincarnation Tied to Memory Errors - Yahoo! News: "People who believe they have lived past lives as, say, Indian princesses or battlefield commanders are more likely to make certain types of memory errors, according to a new study."

NPR : Evangelists and Environmentalists Join Forces

NPR : Evangelists and Environmentalists Join Forces: "All Things Considered, January 21, 2007 � A group of leading scientists and evangelicals have chosen to put aside their differences on how the world came to be and join forces to protect its future. They've formed a coalition and are lobbying Capitol Hill on environmental issues.

Richard Cizik is the vice president of the National Association of Evangelicals. He believes God made the world in matter of days. Eric Chivian is a biochemist from Harvard University who maintains that man evolved from matter over billions of years.

Chivian says that, before meeting each other, Cizik may have thought of him and other scientists as 'latte-sipping, Prius-driving, endive-munching, New York Times-reading snobs. And we might have seen them as Hummer-driving, bible-thumping, fire-breathing…'

'…snake-handling fundamentalists,' Cizik finishes.

Unlikely allies? Perhaps. But that's exactly what they've become in their mutual quest to fight global warming."

Opium for the people: Extraordinary move to legalise poppy crops - Independent Online Edition > Asia

Opium for the people: Extraordinary move to legalise poppy crops - Independent Online Edition > Asia: "The 'IoS' can reveal Tony Blair is considering calls to legalise poppy production in the Taliban's backyard. The plan could cut medical shortages of opiates worldwide, curb smuggling - and hit the insurgents"

BBC NEWS | Health | Blood groups 'can be converted'

BBC NEWS | Health | Blood groups 'can be converted': "Scientists have developed a way of converting one blood group into another.

The technique potentially enables blood from groups A, B and AB to be converted into group O, which can be safely transplanted into any patient.

The method, which makes use of newly discovered enzymes, may help relieve shortages of blood for transfusions."

NASA - New Phenomena on the Sun

NASA - New Phenomena on the Sun: "March 21, 2007: It's enough to make you leap out of your seat: A magnetic vortex almost as big as Earth races across your computer screen, twisting, turning, finally erupting in a powerful solar flare. Japan's Hinode spacecraft recorded just such a blast on Jan. 12, 2007."

Ananova - Return of the lovesick swan

Ananova - Return of the lovesick swan: "The swan that fell in love with a peddle boat is back courting its plastic lover after spending the winter in a local zoo."

British backtrack on Iraq death toll - Independent Online Edition > Middle East

British backtrack on Iraq death toll - Independent Online Edition > Middle East: "British backtrack on Iraq death toll
By Jill Lawless
Published: 27 March 2007

British government officials have backed the methods used by scientists who concluded that more than 600,000 Iraqis have been killed since the invasion, the BBC reported yesterday.

The Government publicly rejected the findings, published in The Lancet in October. But the BBC said documents obtained under freedom of information legislation showed advisers concluded that the much-criticised study had used sound methods.

The study, conducted by researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and the Al Mustansiriya University in Baghdad, estimated that 655,000 more Iraqis had died since March 2003 than one would expect without the war. The study estimated that 601,027 of those deaths were from violence.

The researchers, reflecting the inherent uncertainties in such extrapolations, said they were 95 per cent certain that the real number of deaths lay somewhere between 392,979 and 942,636."

Smokers make poorer workers, studies say

Smokers make poorer workers, studies say: "Smokers take an additional eight days of sick leave a year and are more likely to perform poorly in the workplace compared with non-smokers, according to two new studies published today.

Smokers in Sweden took almost 11 extra days off sick compared with their non-smoking colleagues, researchers at the Free University of Amsterdam found. They analyzed national data on sickness absence in 14,000 workers between 1988 and 1991.

The number was adjusted to account for smokers' tendency to choose riskier jobs and have poorer underlying health, bringing the difference to just below eight days a year, said the researchers, led by Petter Lundborg. "

Mercury in energy-saving bulbs worries scientists - washingtonpost.com

Mercury in energy-saving bulbs worries scientists - washingtonpost.com: "NEW YORK (Reuters) - There's an old joke about the number of people it takes to change a light bulb. But because the newer energy-efficient kinds contain tiny amounts of mercury, the hard part is getting rid of them when they burn out.

Mercury is poisonous, but it's also a necessary part of most compact fluorescent bulbs, the kind that environmentalists and some governments are pushing as a way to cut energy use."

WLBZ2.com - Israeli Pro-Marijuana Party Tells Supporters: No Pot On Passover

WLBZ2.com - Israeli Pro-Marijuana Party Tells Supporters: No Pot On Passover: "A pro-marijuana party in Israel is advising its religious supporters to abstain during Passover. The Green Leaf party says cannabis is among the substances Jews are forbidden to consume during the week-long festival that begins Monday."

Owner says dog saved her with 'Heimlich' - Yahoo! News

Owner says dog saved her with 'Heimlich' - Yahoo! News: "Debbie Parkhurst, 45, of Calvert told the Cecil Whig she was eating an apple at her home Friday when a piece lodged in her throat. She attempted to perform the Heimlich maneuver on herself but it didn't work. After she began beating on her chest, she said Toby noticed and got involved."

Annotation of UFOs flew over Phoenix in '97, Symington says | www.azstarnet.com �

Annotation of UFOs flew over Phoenix in '97, Symington says

British backtrack on Iraq death toll - Independent Online Edition > Middle East

British backtrack on Iraq death toll - Independent Online Edition > Middle East: "British government officials have backed the methods used by scientists who concluded that more than 600,000 Iraqis have been killed since the invasion, the BBC reported yesterday.

The Government publicly rejected the findings, published in The Lancet in October. But the BBC said documents obtained under freedom of information legislation showed advisers concluded that the much-criticised study had used sound methods."

BBC NEWS | Health | Aspirin 'aids women's hearts'

BBC NEWS | Health | Aspirin 'aids women's hearts': "Healthy women who take a low to moderate dose of aspirin could reduce their risk of dying early, particularly from heart disease, a study suggests."

Blair escalates pressure on Iran to release sailors - Los Angeles Times

Blair escalates pressure on Iran to release sailors - Los Angeles Times: "LONDON -- British prime minister Tony Blair today warned that Britain is prepared to move to 'a different phase' if Iran does not quickly release 15 British sailors being held for an alleged incursion into Iranian waterways."

Sewage 'tsunami' kills four in Gaza

Sewage 'tsunami' kills four in Gaza: "At least four Palestinians drowned in a tsunami of raw sewage on Tuesday when a water treatment reservoir burst, flooding a village in the northern Gaza Strip."

Wired News: Pentagon Preps Mind Fields

Wired News: Pentagon Preps Mind Fields: "The U.S. military is working on computers than can scan your mind and adapt to what you're thinking."

France puts secret UFO archive online - USATODAY.com

France puts secret UFO archive online - USATODAY.com

Scientists Say UK Drug Classification System Is Flawed

Scientists Say UK Drug Classification System Is Flawed: "A new UK study suggests that the current UK drug classification system of A, B, and C of the Misuse of Drugs Act is flawed and should be replaced by an evidence-based system of potential harm that would place alcohol and tobacco higher than cannabis and ecstasy."

Study: Alcohol, Tobacco Worse Than Drugs - washingtonpost.com

Study: Alcohol, Tobacco Worse Than Drugs - washingtonpost.com: "LONDON -- New 'landmark' research finds that alcohol and tobacco are more dangerous than some illegal drugs like marijuana or Ecstasy and should be classified as such in legal systems, according to a new British study."

Navy Lacks Plan to Defend Against `Carrier-Destroying' Missile - Yahoo! News

Navy Lacks Plan to Defend Against `Carrier-Destroying' Missile - Yahoo! News: "March 23 (Bloomberg) -- The
U.S. Navy, after nearly six years of warnings from
Pentagon testers, still lacks a plan for defending aircraft carriers against a supersonic Russian-built missile, according to current and former officials and Defense Department documents.

The missile, known in the West as the ''Sizzler,'' has been deployed by China and may be purchased by Iran."

Independent Online Edition > Americas

Independent Online Edition > Americas: "Marilyn Monroe may have been tricked into killing herself as part of a plot hatched with the knowledge of the former US attorney general, Robert Kennedy, according to a secret FBI file.

The document, uncovered by an Australian film director, Philippe Mora, suggests Monroe was 'induced' to make a suicide attempt, in the belief she would be found in time, and her stomach pumped. Instead, it suggests, she was left to die by staff and friends, including the actor Peter Lawford, who was married to Kennedy's sister, Patricia."

His energy bill is $0.00 - Yahoo! News

His energy bill is $0.00 - Yahoo! News: "EAST AMWELL, N.J. - Mike Strizki lives in the nation's first solar-hydrogen house. The technology this civil engineer has been able to string together – solar panels, a hydrogen fuel cell, storage tanks, and a piece of equipment called an electrolyzer – provides electricity to his home year-round, even on the cloudiest of winter days."

Revoking The F�hrer's Passport: Hitler May Be Stripped of German Citizenship - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News

Revoking The F�hrer's Passport: Hitler May Be Stripped of German Citizenship - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News: "Almost 62 years after his death, Adolf Hitler could lose his German citizenship. A German politician from Braunschweig wants to revoke the Nazi leader's 1932 naturalization -- as a 'symbolic step.'"

Stenop, Low Cost Glasses by Nacho Marti

Stenop, Low Cost Glasses by Nacho Marti: "Stenop are correcting glasses designed to poor people around the world with vision problems that can't afford expensive crystal glasses."

FOXNews.com - Wassup! Princes Pull Phone Prank on Queen Elizabeth II - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News

FOXNews.com - Wassup! Princes Pull Phone Prank on Queen Elizabeth II - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News: "LONDON — Princely pranksters William and Harry have been accused of recording a bogus message on Queen Elizabeth II's answering machine.

The pair were asked for help by their regal gran when she was baffled by the technology.

But she was reported to be mortified when she heard the end result.

'Hey wassup!' their message said. 'This is Liz. Sorry I'm away from the throne.'"

BBC NEWS | Health | Coffee 'no boost in the morning'

BBC NEWS | Health | Coffee 'no boost in the morning': "That morning latte or espresso may not be the pick-me-up people think it is, a study has revealed.

University of Bristol researchers say the caffeine eases withdrawal symptoms which build up overnight, but does not make people more alert than normal."

Alcohol and tobacco are deadlier than ecstasy, report warns | UK News | The Observer

Alcohol and tobacco are deadlier than ecstasy, report warns | UK News | The Observer: "The government is to be urged to consider a controversial plan to reclassify drugs according to the harm they do. The new ranking system would see alcohol placed high on the scale because of its links to violence and car accidents. Tobacco, estimated to cause 40 per cent of all hospital illnesses, would also come before the class-A drug ecstasy."

Scientists break speed of light

Scientists break speed of light: "Scientists have finally exceeded the speed of light, causing a light pulse to travel hundreds of times faster than normal.

It raced so fast the pulse exited a specially-prepared chamber before it even finished entering it."

Researchers surprised to find no link between marijuana, lung cancer / Study's findings apply even to heavy pot smokers

Researchers surprised to find no link between marijuana, lung cancer / Study's findings apply even to heavy pot smokers: "The largest study of its kind has unexpectedly concluded that smoking marijuana, even regularly and heavily, does not lead to lung cancer.

The new findings 'were against our expectations,' said Dr. Donald Tashkin, a UCLA pulmonologist who has studied marijuana for 30 years.

'We hypothesized that there would be a positive association between marijuana use and lung cancer and that the association would be more positive with heavier use,' he said. 'What we found instead was no association at all, and even a suggestion of some protective effect.'"

Mars Melt Hints at Solar, Not Human, Cause for Warming, Scientist Says

Mars Melt Hints at Solar, Not Human, Cause for Warming, Scientist Says

UFO science key to halting climate change: former Canadian defense minister - Yahoo! News

UFO science key to halting climate change: former Canadian defense minister - Yahoo! News: "OTTAWA (AFP) - A former Canadian defense minister is demanding governments worldwide disclose and use secret alien technologies obtained in alleged UFO crashes to stem climate change, a local paper said Wednesday."

Chinese Scientists Control Pigeons

Chinese Scientists Control Pigeons: "Chinese scientists have succeeded in implanting electrodes in the brain of a pigeon to remotely control the bird's flight, state media said."

Vitamins A and E shorten, not lengthen life, review suggests

Vitamins A and E shorten, not lengthen life, review suggests: "The antioxidant supplements beta carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin E may increase the risk of death rather than helping health, a new review suggests.

In Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers in Denmark concluded some of the most common antioxidants increase the risk of dying, based on their analysis of 68 studies on more than 25,000 people."

Tennessee Center for Policy Research

Tennessee Center for Policy Research: "Gore’s mansion, located in the posh Belle Meade area of Nashville, consumes more electricity every month than the average American household uses in an entire year, according to the Nashville Electric Service (NES).

In his documentary, the former Vice President calls on Americans to conserve energy by reducing electricity consumption at home.

The average household in America consumes 10,656 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year, according to the Department of Energy. In 2006, Gore devoured nearly 221,000 kWh—more than 20 times the national average."

US generals ‘will quit’ if Bush orders Iran attack-News-World-Iraq-TimesOnline

US generals ‘will quit’ if Bush orders Iran attack-News-World-Iraq-TimesOnline

Jesus: Tales from the Crypt - The Middle East Blog - TIME

Jesus: Tales from the Crypt - The Middle East Blog - TIME: "Brace yourself. James Cameron, the man who brought you 'The Titanic' is back with another blockbuster. This time, the ship he's sinking is Christianity.

In a new documentary, Producer Cameron and his director, Simcha Jacobovici, make the starting claim that Jesus wasn't resurrected --the cornerstone of Christian faith-- and that his burial cave was discovered near Jerusalem. And, get this, Jesus sired a son with Mary Magdelene."

For First Time, Chimps Seen Making Weapons for Hunting - washingtonpost.com

For First Time, Chimps Seen Making Weapons for Hunting - washingtonpost.com: "Chimpanzees living in the West African savannah have been observed fashioning deadly spears from sticks and using the tools to hunt small mammals -- the first routine production of deadly weapons ever observed in animals other than humans."

Independent Online Edition > Health Medical

Independent Online Edition > Health Medical: "Campaigners against genetically modified crops in Britain last are calling for trials of GM potatoes this spring to be halted after releasing more evidence of links with cancers in laboratory rats."

Australia says lights out to incandescent bulbs

Australia says lights out to incandescent bulbs: "Australia has announced it will ban incandescent light bulbs in three years in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, becoming the first country to do away with this technology, which has been in use for more than a century."

CNN - Asteroid on course for near-collision with Earth - March 11, 1998

CNN - Asteroid on course for near-collision with Earth - March 11, 1998: "CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (CNN) -- Astronomers say a mile-wide asteroid described as 'the most dangerous one we've found so far' may be on course for a near-miss -- or even a collision -- with Earth in the year 2028.

Some astronomers say the asteroid will come within 30,000 miles of the Earth, and they agree with Dr. Brian Marsden of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) who says, 'Chances are it will miss' Earth.

'The chance of an actual collision is small, but one is not entirely out of the question,' says a notice filed by the IAU."

WTO | NEWS - WTO Announces Formalized Slavery Model for Africa - Press 388

WTO | NEWS - WTO Announces Formalized Slavery Model for Africa - Press 388