U.S. to Hunt Down Afghan Drug Lords Tied to Taliban - NYTimes.com

U.S. to Hunt Down Afghan Drug Lords Tied to Taliban - NYTimes.com: "“We have a list of 367 ‘kill or capture’ targets, including 50 nexus targets who link drugs and the insurgency,” one of the generals told the committee staff. The generals were not identified in the Senate report, which was obtained by The New York Times."

Sacked – for telling the truth about drugs - Health News, Health & Families - The Independent

Sacked – for telling the truth about drugs - Health News, Health & Families - The Independent: "The Government's drugs tsar was forced to resign last night for stating his view that cannabis, ecstasy and LSD were less harmful than the legal drugs tobacco and alcohol."

Alcohol is worse for you than Ecstasy, says drugs tsar | Mail Online

Alcohol is worse for you than Ecstasy, says drugs tsar | Mail Online: "Ecstasy, LSD and cannabis are less dangerous than alcohol and cigarettes, the Government’s chief drug adviser claims today.

Professor David Nutt is calling for a new ‘index of harm’ to warn the public about the relative dangers of various substances.

He says alcohol should rank fifth, behind only cocaine, heroin, barbiturates and methadone, while tobacco should rank ninth, ahead of cannabis, LSD and Ecstasy.

His comments are likely to prove explosive, given the seniority of his position.

Curry kills gullet cancer cells - Telegraph

Curry kills gullet cancer cells - Telegraph: "Scientists based at the Cork Cancer Research Centre in Ireland treated oesophageal cancer cells with curcumin – a chemical found in the curry spice tumeric."

A federal about-face on medical marijuana -- latimes.com

A federal about-face on medical marijuana -- latimes.com: "New Justice Department guidelines order federal drug agents to cease arresting or charging patients, caregivers or suppliers who are conforming with state law."

The BBC’s amazing U-turn on climate change – Telegraph Blogs

The BBC’s amazing U-turn on climate change – Telegraph Blogs: "I think the BBC wanted to slip this one out quietly, but a Matt Drudge link put paid to that. The climate change correspondent of BBC News has admitted that global warming stopped in 1998 – and he reports that leading scientists believe that the earth’s cooling-off may last for decades."

EXCLUSIVE: Obama agrees to keep Israel's nukes secret - Washington Times

EXCLUSIVE: Obama agrees to keep Israel's nukes secret - Washington Times: "President Obama has reaffirmed a 4-decade-old secret understanding that has allowed Israel to keep a nuclear arsenal without opening it to international inspections, three officials familiar with the understanding said."

Homegrown Pot Threatens Mexican Cartels - CBS News

Homegrown Pot Threatens Mexican Cartels - CBS News: "Stiff competition from thousands of mom-and-pop marijuana farmers in the United States threatens the bottom line for powerful Mexican drug organizations in a way that decades of arrests and seizures have not."

BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | What happened to global warming?

BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | What happened to global warming?: "For the last 11 years we have not observed any increase in global temperatures."

Ahmadinejad has no Jewish roots | Meir Javedanfar | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

Ahmadinejad has no Jewish roots | Meir Javedanfar | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk: "Rumours that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's family converted to Islam from Judaism are false. In fact, they are proud Shias"

JADA Study Proves Fluoridation is Money down the Drain

JADA Study Proves Fluoridation is Money down the Drain: "Children's cavity rates are similar whether water is fluoridated or not, according to data published in the July 2009 Journal of the American Dental Association by dentist J.V. Kumar of the NY State Health Department(1), reports NYSCOF."

New bio-power plant will power 3,000 homes from food scraps | Mail Online

New bio-power plant will power 3,000 homes from food scraps | Mail Online: "A new renewable energy plant that will power 3,000 homes using food scraps, has been announced today."

Tehran times : Blackwater involved in Bhutto and Hariri hits: former Pakistani army chief

Tehran times : Blackwater involved in Bhutto and Hariri hits: former Pakistani army chief: "TEHRAN - Pakistan’s former chief of army staff, General Mirza Aslam Beg (ret.), has said the U.S. private security company Blackwater was directly involved in the assassinations of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto and former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri."

Forecast: A cooling trend on climate change

Forecast: A cooling trend on climate change: "Average global temperature is rising at 1.40C per century, not the 3.90C indicated by the IPPC models. We are in the seventh year of global cooling. Sea levels, despite messages to the contrary, are rising at normal rates – eight inches per century – much less than the IPPC models suggested. There has been no significant rise in sea levels over the last four years. Arctic sea ice, currently in its summer state, is more extensive in 2009 than it was in 2007 and 2008. Antarctic sea ice is at record high. Global sea ice shows relative stability over the last thirty years. While CO2 levels are rising, the rate of growth has slowed considerably – the IPPC suggested that CO2 levels would grow at around 468 parts per million (ppm) per century, when in fact the observed growth in CO2 is 204 ppm per century – less than half of the IPPC model suggestion."

Inside the Apocalyptic Soviet Doomsday Machine

Inside the Apocalyptic Soviet Doomsday Machine

GMO Scandal: The Long Term Effects of Genetically Modified Food in Humans [Voltaire]

GMO Scandal: The Long Term Effects of Genetically Modified Food in Humans [Voltaire]: "An editorial in the respected American scientific monthly magazine, Scientific American, August 2009 reveals the shocking and alarming reality behind the proliferation of GMO products throughout the food chain of the planet since 1994. There are no independent scientific studies published in any reputed scientific journal in the world for one simple reason. It is impossible to independently verify that GMO crops such as Monsanto Roundup Ready Soybeans or MON8110 GMO maize perform as the company claims, or that, as the company also claims, that they have no harmful side effects because the GMO companies forbid such tests!"

EclippTV :: Video :: Cancer Cured in Canada, But Big Pharma Says NO WAY!

Video :: Cancer Cured in Canada, But Big Pharma Says NO WAY!

Scientists pull an about face on global warming

Scientists pull an about face on global warming: "Latif is one of the leading climate modellers in the world. He is the recipient of several international climate-study prizes and a lead author for the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). He has contributed significantly to the IPCC's last two five-year reports that have stated unequivocally that man-made greenhouse emissions are causing the planet to warm dangerously.

Yet last week in Geneva, at the UN's World Climate Conference--an annual gathering of the so-called 'scientific consensus' on man-made climate change --Latif conceded the Earth has not warmed for nearly a decade and that we are likely entering 'one or even two decades during which temperatures cool.'"

UN body urges Israel to allow nuclear inspection - Haaretz - Israel News

UN body urges Israel to allow nuclear inspection - Haaretz - Israel News: "The non-binding resolution, which passed for the first time in 18 years of attempts thanks to more developing nation votes, voiced concern about 'Israeli nuclear capabilities' and urged the International Atomic Energy Agency to tackle the issue."

Charlie Sheen demands to speak to Barack Obama over 9/11 government 'cover-up' | Mail Online

Charlie Sheen demands to speak to Barack Obama over 9/11 government 'cover-up' | Mail Online: "Charlie Sheen has provoked outrage with claims that the U.S. government was behind the September 11 terror attacks.

Ahead of today's eighth anniversary of the atrocities that killed 3,000, the Hollywood star has insisted there was a cover-up.

And he has appealed to President Barack Obama to hold a new investigation into the attacks on the World Trade Centre towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington DC."

How did he do THAT? Derren Brown predicts winning lottery numbers... and he'll reveal his method on Friday | Mail Online

How did he do THAT? Derren Brown predicts winning lottery numbers... and he'll reveal his method on Friday | Mail Online: "On Wednesday at 10.35pm, having boasted for days that he would predict the six main ball numbers in the midweek National Lottery draw, Brown went on-air, live across all Channel 4's terrestrial and satellite channels."

Teenager invents �23 solar panel that could be solution to developing world's energy needs..made from human hair | Mail Online

Teenager invents solar panel that could be solution to developing world's energy needs..made from human hair | Mail Online: "A new type of solar panel using human hair could provide the world with cheap, green electricity, believes its teenage inventor.

Milan Karki, 18, who comes from a village in rural Nepal, believes he has found the solution to the developing world's energy needs.

The young inventor says hair is easy to use as a conductor in solar panels and could revolutionise renewable energy."

Extreme steel 'Velcro' takes a 35-tonne load - tech - 04 September 2009 - New Scientist

Extreme steel 'Velcro' takes a 35-tonne load - tech - 04 September 2009 - New Scientist: "A square metre of the new fastener, called Metaklett, is capable of supporting 35 tonnes at temperatures up to 800C, claim Josef Mair and colleagues at the Technical University of Munich, Germany. And just like everyday Velcro it can be opened up without specialised tools and used again."

BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | Herbs 'can be natural pesticides'

BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | Herbs 'can be natural pesticides': "Common herbs and spices show promise as an environmentally-friendly alternative to conventional pesticides, scientists have told a major US conference."

World's climate could cool first, warm later - environment - 04 September 2009 - New Scientist

World's climate could cool first, warm later - environment - 04 September 2009 - New Scientist: "Forecasts of climate change are about to go seriously out of kilter. One of the world's top climate modellers said Thursday we could be about to enter 'one or even two decades during which temperatures cool."

BBC NEWS | Europe | Dutch police in cannabis mix-up

BBC NEWS | Europe | Dutch police in cannabis mix-up: "A triumph for Dutch police quickly turned out to be an embarrassing mistake after they destroyed what they thought was a field of cannabis plants."

Alberto Gonzales, the Concert Opera (No, We’re Not Kidding) - Law Blog - WSJ

Alberto Gonzales, the Concert Opera (No, We’re Not Kidding) - Law Blog - WSJ: "But if law and politics is your bag (and we know that you know that it is), you might be intrigued enough to take a flyer on The Gonzales Cantata, a concert opera about Alberto Gonzales’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearings."

Global warming and the sun -- latimes.com

Global warming and the sun -- latimes.com: "Recent studies seem to show that there's more to climate change than we know."

Global News Blog � Blog Archive � Who is funding the Afghan Taliban? You don’t want to know | Blogs |

Who is funding the Afghan Taliban? You don’t want to know | Blogs |: "In Afghanistan, one of the richest sources of Taliban funding is the foreign assistance coming into the country.

Virtually every major project includes a healthy cut for the insurgents. Call it protection money, call it extortion, or, as the Taliban themselves prefer to term it, “spoils of war,” the fact remains that international donors, primarily the United States, are to a large extent financing their own enemy."

Mexico and Argentina move towards decriminalising drugs | World news | guardian.co.uk

Mexico and Argentina move towards decriminalising drugs | World news | guardian.co.uk: "Argentina and Mexico have taken significant steps towards decriminalising drugs amid a growing Latin American backlash against the US-sponsored 'war on drugs'.

Argentina's supreme court has ruled it unconstitutional to punish people for using marijuana for personal consumption, an eagerly awaited judgment that gave the government the green light to push for further liberalisation.

It followed Mexico's decision to stop prosecuting people for possession of relatively small quantities of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other drugs. Instead, they will be referred to clinics and treated as patients, not criminals.

Brazil and Ecuador are also considering partial decriminalisation as part of a regional swing away from a decades-old policy of crackdowns still favoured by Washington."

Daily Express | UK News :: ‘I’ll reveal true identity of bomber’

Daily Express | UK News :: ‘I’ll reveal true identity of bomber’: "AN AMERICAN citizen is to be named by the Lockerbie bomber as the man who really carried out the terrorist attack on Pan Am Flight 103."

Cellphones Cause Brain Tumors, Says New Report By International EMF Collaborative

Cellphones Cause Brain Tumors, Says New Report By International EMF Collaborative: "A new report, 'Cellphones and Brain Tumors: 15 Reasons for Concern, Science, Spin and the Truth Behind Interphone,' was released today"

Cannabis: Potential treatment for skin disorders?

Cannabis: Potential treatment for skin disorders?: "The researchers expressed excitement that cannabinoids might provide future treatment for inflammatory skin disorders, pruritus, and certain types of skin pain, but warn that more research is necessary to gain further insight into the physiology of cannabinoid receptors in the skin. Kupczyk, Reich, and Szepietowski also acknowledge recent observations showing cannabinoids as a potential anti-tumor drug."

Pure food obsession is latest eating disorder | Society | The Observer

Pure food obsession is latest eating disorder | Society | The Observer: "The obsession about which foods are 'good' and which are 'bad' means orthorexics can end up malnourished. Their dietary restrictions commonly cause sufferers to feel proud of their 'virtuous' behaviour even if it means that eating becomes so stressful their personal relationships can come under pressure and they become socially isolated."

[Demonstration of fluoride systemic absorption sec...[Rev Esp Salud Publica. 2009 May-Jun] - PubMed Result

[Demonstration of fluoride systemic absorption sec...[Rev Esp Salud Publica. 2009 May-Jun] - PubMed Result: "The use of fluoride dentifrice is related to a significant increase of the fluoride concentration in urine in children."

Portugal's drug policy: Treating, not punishing | The Economist

Portugal's drug policy: Treating, not punishing | The Economist

BBC NEWS | Europe | Fake Dutch 'moon rock' revealed

BBC NEWS | Europe | Fake Dutch 'moon rock' revealed: "A treasured piece at the Dutch national museum - a supposed moon rock from the first manned lunar landing - is nothing more than petrified wood, curators say."

Placebos Are Getting More Effective. Drugmakers Are Desperate to Know Why.

Placebos Are Getting More Effective. Drugmakers Are Desperate to Know Why.: "It's not that the old meds are getting weaker, drug developers say. It's as if the placebo effect is somehow getting stronger."

CCTV helps solve just ONE crime per 1,000 as officers fail to use film as evidence | Mail Online

CCTV helps solve just ONE crime per 1,000 as officers fail to use film as evidence | Mail Online: "Only one crime is solved a year for every 1,000 CCTV cameras, police admitted yesterday.

The startling figure comes in a Scotland Yard report which warns that a network that can capture individuals as many as 300 times a day is failing to improve public safety.

Officers found that the million cameras covering London have helped clear up barely 1,000 crimes."

PETER MCKAY: Lockerbie, trade deals and a rats' nest of lies | Mail Online

PETER MCKAY: Lockerbie, trade deals and a rats' nest of lies | Mail Online: "The nationalist regime in Scotland says it took the decision after 'due process'. They're proud that compassion is a feature of their independent legal system.

But we're entitled to suspect they were also having doubts regarding the safety of al-Megrahi's conviction, revelations about previous evidence, facts that were withheld and the outcome of a new appeal."

Features : Explosives analysis concludes semtex theory "scientifically implausible" in Pan Am 103 explosion : THE FIRM : SCOTLAND'S INDEPENDENT LAW JOURNAL

Features : Explosives analysis concludes semtex theory "scientifically implausible" in Pan Am 103 explosion : THE FIRM : SCOTLAND'S INDEPENDENT LAW JOURNAL: "A scientific analysis of the Crown's discredited theory that approximately 1lb of semtex contained in a Toshiba radio caused the destruction of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, has concluded that the notion is 'scientifically implausible.'"

Cecile Brossard awaits sentence for murder of Edouard Stern during sadomasochistic sex - Telegraph

Cecile Brossard awaits sentence for murder of Edouard Stern during sadomasochistic sex - Telegraph: "The more serious charge of premeditated murder was curiously dropped in February, in a move widely viewed as a compromise to prevent Miss Brossard from dragging top French public figures into the trial."

Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi to 'show his innocence' in autobiography - Times Online

Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi to 'show his innocence' in autobiography - Times Online: "Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi, the Lockerbie bomber, is writing his autobiography to “proclaim his innocence” by disclosing new information behind Britain’s deadliest terrorist attack, The Times has learnt."

Lutherans lift barrier for gay clergy -- latimes.com

Lutherans lift barrier for gay clergy -- latimes.com: "The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is the second major Christian group in a month to liberalize policies on the ministry."

UK to share fingerprints with Canada, Australia - ZDNet.co.uk

UK to share fingerprints with Canada, Australia - ZDNet.co.uk: "The Home Office has started sharing fingerprint data with Canada and Australia for the purpose of checking deeper into the backgrounds of migrants under suspicion."

Father still seeking Lockerbie truth after 20 years - Telegraph

Father still seeking Lockerbie truth after 20 years - Telegraph: "Unlike many of the American families of victims on the flight from London to New York — and, indeed, President Barack Obama — Swire was vocal in applauding the release of the only man convicted of the outrage, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, who is terminally ill.

“I am a Christian, so I would hope that, even if I was convinced that Megrahi was guilty, my Christian compassion and forgiveness would extend to wanting to see him die with his family around him in Libya,” he says. “But I am convinced Megrahi is innocent.”"

DNA could be faked by criminals, new study claims - Telegraph

DNA could be faked by criminals, new study claims - Telegraph: "In experiments, a team of Israeli scientists were able to obliterate all traces of DNA from a blood sample and add someone else's genetic material in its place.

The process was so successful that it fooled forensic scientists who carry out DNA fingerprinting for American courts.

The findings threaten to undermine the key forensic technique, which has secured thousands of convictions in Britain and around the world."

Exposure to nanoparticles is related to pleural effusion, pulmonary fibrosis and granuloma -- Song et al., 10.1183/09031936.00178308 -- European Respiratory Journal

Exposure to nanoparticles is related to pleural effusion, pulmonary fibrosis and granuloma - European Respiratory Journal: "Polyacrylate, consisting of nano particles, was confirmed in the workplace. Pathological examinations of patients' lung tissue displayed non-specific pulmonary inflammation, pulmonary fibrosis and foreign-body granulomas of pleura. By transmission electron microscopy, nano particles were observed to lodge in the cytoplasm and caryoplasm of pulmonary epithelial and mesothelial cells, but also locate in the chest fluid. These cases arouse concern that long-term exposure to some nano particles without protective measures may be related to serious damage to human lungs."

Mexico Legalizes Drug Possession - NYTimes.com

Mexico Legalizes Drug Possession - NYTimes.com: "MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico enacted a controversial law on Thursday decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other drugs while encouraging government-financed treatment for drug dependency free of charge."

Families' reaction: 'Too many questions are still unanswered' - Home News, UK - The Independent

Families' reaction: 'Too many questions are still unanswered' - Home News, UK - The Independent: "In contrast to their American counterparts, relatives on this side of the Atlantic have remained sceptical of the evidence brought against Megrahi and voiced support for the decision to release him, although they spoke of their frustration that his decision to abandon his appeal may mean the true culprits are never brought to justice."

Cannabis treats prostate cancer, study finds

Cannabis treats prostate cancer, study finds: "Following the growing interest in medical benefits of cannabis, a new study finds that the compound can help fight prostate cancer."

Paul Armentano: If Pot Prevented Cancer You Would Have Read About It, Right?

Paul Armentano: If Pot Prevented Cancer You Would Have Read About It, Right?: "Writing in the August issue of the journal Cancer Prevention Research, investigators from Rhode Island's Brown University, along with researchers at Boston University, Louisiana State University, and the University of Minnesota reported that lifetime marijuana use is associated with a 'significantly reduced risk' of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma."

420butts - Marijuana’s Impact On Brain Function “Minimal,” New Study Says

420butts - Marijuana’s Impact On Brain Function “Minimal,” New Study Says: "Investigators concluded, “Minimal evidence of major effects of cannabis on brain structure has been reported,” noting that Marijuana users and controls perform similarly on cognitive tasks."

Pictured: Incredible watercolour paintings by boy aged just SIX | Mail Online

Pictured: Incredible watercolour paintings by boy aged just SIX | Mail Online

Council for Secular Humanism

Council for Secular Humanism: "Incredibly, President George W. Bush told French President Jacques Chirac in early 2003 that Iraq must be invaded to thwart Gog and Magog, the Bible’s satanic agents of the Apocalypse.
Honest. This isn’t a joke. The president of the United States, in a top-secret phone call to a major European ally, asked for French troops to join American soldiers in attacking Iraq as a mission from God."

Popular Insect Repellent Deet Is Neurotoxic

Popular Insect Repellent Deet Is Neurotoxic: "ScienceDaily (Aug. 6, 2009) — The active ingredient in many insect repellents, deet, has been found to be toxic to the central nervous system. Researchers say that more investigations are urgently needed to confirm or dismiss any potential neurotoxicity to humans, especially when deet-based repellents are used in combination with other neurotoxic insecticides."

The World's Rubbish Dump: A Garbage Tip that Stretches from Hawaii to Japan | CommonDreams.org

The World's Rubbish Dump: A Garbage Tip that Stretches from Hawaii to Japan | CommonDreams.org: "Curtis Ebbesmeyer, an oceanographer and leading authority on flotsam, has tracked the build-up of plastics in the seas for more than 15 years and compares the trash vortex to a living entity: 'It moves around like a big animal without a leash.' When that animal comes close to land, as it does at the Hawaiian archipelago, the results are dramatic. 'The garbage patch barfs, and you get a beach covered with this confetti of plastic,' he added."

Samuel S. Epstein: An Overdue Ban On A Dangerous Sweetener

Samuel S. Epstein: An Overdue Ban On A Dangerous Sweetener: "Under the explicit provisions of the 1958 Delaney Law, which requires an automatic ban on carcinogenic food additives, it is anticipated that Dr. Margaret Hamburg, the newly appointed FDA Commissioner and inspiring public health advocate, will promptly ban the continued use of aspartame."

White House calls Ahmadinejad elected leader of Iran | Reuters

White House calls Ahmadinejad elected leader of Iran | Reuters: "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House called Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the 'elected leader' of Iran on Tuesday when asked whether President Barack Obama recognized the Iranian president after the country's disputed election."

Herbal remedy really does cure a cold - Times Online

Herbal remedy really does cure a cold - Times Online: "Fans of echinacea have long sworn that it can ward off the common cold, a claim that has been dismissed this as a matter of faith. Now scientists say that the herbal remedy really works, giving believers the pleasure of watching the cynics swallow their words. An analysis of the evidence has found that taking the remedy more than halves a person’s chances of catching a cold and shortens the length of a cold by an average of 1.4 days."

Researchers produce cells they say are identical to embryonic stem cells - Los Angeles Times

Researchers produce cells they say are identical to embryonic stem cells - Los Angeles Times: "Scientists in China use cells from adult mice to breed new mice. The breakthrough results are hailed as an advance toward eliminating the need for fetal stem cells in a variety of applications."

Researchers Find Caffeine Effective Alzheimer’s Treatment

Researchers Find Caffeine Effective Alzheimer’s Treatment: "While a number of advanced Alzheimer’s drugs and treatments have been developed in recent years, University of Florida researcher Gary Arendash believes coffee drinkers -- and other caffeine consumers -- are not just protecting themselves, but actually treating symptoms that might appear.

“The study gives evidence that caffeine may be a viable treatment for established Alzheimer’s disease and not simply a protective strategy,” Arendash said."

Women spend nearly one year deciding what to wear - Telegraph

Women spend nearly one year deciding what to wear - Telegraph: "Choosing outfits for work, nights out, dinner parties, holidays, gym and other activities means the average female will spend 287 days rifling through their wardrobe."

Liquorice: A new role in battle to beat cancer | Mail Online

Liquorice: A new role in battle to beat cancer | Mail Online: "Liquorice could offer valuable protection against sunburn and skin cancer..."

'Fountain of youth' drug can extend life by a decade | Mail Online

'Fountain of youth' drug can extend life by a decade | Mail Online: "A miraculous 'elixir of youth' which could extend the human life span by more than a decade is being developed by scientists.

The anti-ageing pill was created from a chemical found in the soil of Easter Island - one of the most remote and mysterious places on the planet.

In tests on animals, the chemical increased life expectancy by a staggering 38 per cent."

07.09.2009 - Tremors on southern San Andreas Fault may mean increased quake risk

07.09.2009 - Tremors on southern San Andreas Fault may mean increased quake risk: "BERKELEY — Increases in mysterious underground tremors observed in several active earthquake fault zones around the world could signal a build-up of stress at locked segments of the faults and presumably an increased likelihood of a major quake, according to a new University of California, Berkeley, study."

UN Backs Drug Decriminalization In World Drug Report

UN Backs Drug Decriminalization In World Drug Report: "In an about face, the United Nations on Wednesday lavishly praised drug decriminalization in its annual report on the state of global drug policy."

BBC NEWS | UK | Northern Ireland | Supplement 'slows down blindness'

BBC NEWS | UK | Northern Ireland | Supplement 'slows down blindness': "High doses of antioxidants found in fruit and veg could slow sight loss in elderly people, according to research."

Robert Fisk: Iran's day of destiny - Middle East, World - The Independent

Robert Fisk: Iran's day of destiny - Middle East, World - The Independent: "Fisk witnesses the courage of one million protesters who ignored threats, guns and bloodshed to demand freedom in Iran"

Crops under stress as temperatures fall - Telegraph

Crops under stress as temperatures fall - Telegraph: "Our politicians haven't noticed that the problem may be that the world is not warming but cooling, observes Christopher Booker."

Close encounter of the rock kind: Schoolboy survives direct hit by meteorite travelling at 30,000mph | Mail Online

Close encounter of the rock kind: Schoolboy survives direct hit by meteorite travelling at 30,000mph | Mail Online: "Gerrit was left with a scar on his hand, making him one of only a handful of people to have been struck directly by a meteorite."

Music speeds recovery - The Irish Times - Tue, Jun 09, 2009

Music speeds recovery - The Irish Times - Tue, Jun 09, 2009: "PATIENTS RECOVERING from heart surgery who were given music to listen to through headphones while they were still asleep and on ventilators, spent about three and a half hours less in an American intensive care unit (ICU) than patients receiving normal post-operative care, according to recent research."

Pouring cold water on global warming - Environment, News - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Pouring cold water on global warming - Environment, News - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk: "There is now irrefutable scientific evidence that far from global warming the earth has now entered a period of global cooling which will last at least for the next two decades.

Evidence for this comes from the NASA Microwave Sounding Unit and the Hadley Climate Research Unit while evidence that CO2 levels are continuing to increase comes from the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii."

DailyTech - NASA Study Acknowledges Solar Cycle, Not Man, Responsible for Past Warming

DailyTech - NASA Study Acknowledges Solar Cycle, Not Man, Responsible for Past Warming: "A study from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland looking at climate data over the past century has concluded that solar variation has made a significant impact on the Earth's climate. The report concludes that evidence for climate changes based on solar radiation can be traced back as far as the Industrial Revolution."

Medical bills underlie 60 percent of U.S. bankrupts: study | Health | Reuters

Medical bills underlie 60 percent of U.S. bankrupts: study | Health | Reuters: "WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Medical bills are behind more than 60 percent of U.S. personal bankruptcies, U.S. researchers reported on Thursday in a report they said demonstrates that healthcare reform is on the wrong track."

Life, health insurers invest big in tobacco - Yahoo! News

Life, health insurers invest big in tobacco - Yahoo! News: "WASHINGTON (AFP) – Major US, Canadian and British life and health insurance companies have billions of dollars invested in tobacco companies, a study published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine said."

Stem cells used to restore sight for corneal disease sufferers | The Australian

Stem cells used to restore sight for corneal disease sufferers | The Australian: "Although the novel technique was used to reverse blinding corneal disease, it promises to be a quick, painless and cheap treatment for other visual disorders. It may even be useful for repairing damaged skin, the researchers reported today in the journal Transplantation.

The team leader, UNSW stem cell scientist Nick Di Girolamo said: “We're quietly excited. We don't know yet if (the correction) will remain stable, but if it does it's a wonderful technique”."

Technology Review: Five-Dimensional Data Storage

Technology Review: Five-Dimensional Data Storage: "A new light-responsive material could lead to discs the size of today's DVDs that store four orders of magnitude more data. Traditional DVDs and CDs store data on their surface in two dimensions, and holographic discs can store it in three. Now researchers have for the first time demonstrated what they call a five-dimensional optical material. It can record data in three spatial dimensions and in response to different wavelengths and polarizations of laser light."

What if global-warming fears are overblown? - May. 14, 2009

What if global-warming fears are overblown? - May. 14, 2009: "... despite those green-sounding credentials, Christy is not calling for draconian cuts in carbon emissions. Quite the contrary. Christy is actually the environmental lobby's worst nightmare - an accomplished climate scientist with no ties to Big Oil who has produced reams and reams of data that undermine arguments that the earth's atmosphere is warming at an unusual rate and question whether the remedies being talked about in Congress will actually do any good."

'US special squad killed Benazir' | Pakistan | News | Newspaper | Daily | English | Online

'US special squad killed Benazir' | Pakistan | News | Newspaper | Daily | English | Online: "NEW YORK (Online) - Former prime minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto was assassinated on the orders of the special death squad formed by former US vice-president Dick Cheney, which had already killed the Lebanese Prime Minister Rafique Al Hariri and the army chief of that country.
The squad was headed by General Stanley McChrystal, the newly-appointed commander of US army in Afghanistan. It was disclosed by reputed US journalist Seymour Hersh while talking to an Arab TV in an interview.
Hersh said former US vice-president Cheney was the chief of the Joint Special Operation Command and he clear the way for the US by exterminating opponents through the unit and the CIA. General Stanley was the in-charge of the unit."

Marijuana Chemical May Fight Brain Cancer

Marijuana Chemical May Fight Brain Cancer: "April 1, 2009 -- The active chemical in marijuana promotes the death of brain cancer cells by essentially helping them feed upon themselves, researchers in Spain report.

Guillermo Velasco and colleagues at Complutense University in Spain have found that the active ingredient in marijuana, THC, causes brain cancer cells to undergo a process called autophagy. Autophagy is the breakdown of a cell that occurs when the cell essentially self-digests."

White House Czar Calls for End to 'War on Drugs' - WSJ.com

White House Czar Calls for End to 'War on Drugs' - WSJ.com: "WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration's new drug czar says he wants to banish the idea that the U.S. is fighting 'a war on drugs,' a move that would underscore a shift favoring treatment over incarceration in trying to reduce illicit drug use."

Schwarzenegger: Time To Debate Legalizing Pot | Political Hotsheet - CBS News

Schwarzenegger: Time To Debate Legalizing Pot | Political Hotsheet - CBS News: "In the last week or two, proposals to legalize medical marijuana have advanced in Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

But Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has taken a significant step further, saying on Tuesday that it's time to debate legalizing marijuana for recreational use in California.

'I think it's time for debate,' he said in response to a reporter's question. 'I think all of those ideas of creating extra revenues -- I'm always for an open debate on it.'"

Controlling Robots With Your Brain Closer Than You Think

Controlling Robots With Your Brain Closer Than You Think: "Honda’s amazing new technology connects thoughts inside a brain with robotics and seems straight out of a weird sci-fi flick."

Change is a cold certainty | The Australian

Change is a cold certainty | The Australian: "Zinchenko's vessel, the Spirit of Enderby, was commissioned in January last year to retrace the steps of the great Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton, marking the century of his Nimrod expedition of 1907-09.

Spirit of Enderby was blocked by a wall of pack ice at the entrance to the Ross Sea, about 400km short of Shackleton's base hut at Cape Royds. Zinchenko says it was the first time in 15 years that vessels were unable to penetrate the Ross Sea in January. The experience was consistent with his impression that pack ice is expanding, not contracting, as would be expected in a rapidly warming world. 'I see just more and more ice, not less ice.'"

Cold Fusion Is Hot Again - CBS News

Cold Fusion Is Hot Again - CBS News: "(CBS) Twenty years ago it appeared, for a moment, that all our energy problems could be solved. It was the announcement of cold fusion - nuclear energy like that which powers the sun - but at room temperature on a table top. It promised to be cheap, limitless and clean. Cold fusion would end our dependence on the Middle East and stop those greenhouse gases blamed for global warming. It would change everything.

But then, just as quickly as it was announced, it was discredited. So thoroughly, that cold fusion became a catch phrase for junk science. Well, a funny thing happened on the way to oblivion - for many scientists today, cold fusion is hot again.

'We can yield the power of nuclear physics on a tabletop. The potential is unlimited. That is the most powerful energy source known to man,' researcher Michael McKubre told 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley."

Why night owls are cleverer and richer than people who get up early | Mail Online

Why night owls are cleverer and richer than people who get up early | Mail Online: "It has long been held that the early bird catches the worm. But it is the night owl that lasts the distance, research shows."

The Road to Area 51 - Los Angeles Times

The Road to Area 51 - Los Angeles Times: "Colonel Hugh 'Slip' Slater, 87, was commander of the Area 51 base in the 1960s. Edward Lovick, 90, featured in 'What Plane?' in LA's March issue, spent three decades radar testing some of the world's most famous aircraft (including the U-2, the A-12 OXCART and the F-117). Kenneth Collins, 80, a CIA experimental test pilot, was given the silver star. Thornton 'T.D.' Barnes, 72, was an Area 51 special-projects engineer. And Harry Martin, 77, was one of the men in charge of the base's half-million-gallon monthly supply of spy-plane fuels. Here are a few of their best stories..."

The $5 solar oven at News: Breaking Health News

The $5 solar oven at News: Breaking Health News: "Inventor Jon Bohmer has created a $5 oven made out of cardboard boxes"

Fingerprinting Blank Paper Using Commodity Scanners | Freedom to Tinker

Fingerprinting Blank Paper Using Commodity Scanners | Freedom to Tinker: "This paper presents a novel technique for authenticating physical documents based on random, naturally occurring imperfections in paper texture. We introduce a new method for measuring the three-dimensional surface of a page using only a commodity scanner and without modifying the document in any way. From this physical feature, we generate a concise fingerprint that uniquely identifies the document."

Daily pill that halts Alzheimer's is hailed as 'biggest breakthrough against disease for 100 years' | Mail Online

Daily pill that halts Alzheimer's is hailed as 'biggest breakthrough against disease for 100 years' | Mail Online: "A new drug halts the devastating progress of Alzheimer’s disease, say British scientists.

It is said to be more than twice as effective as current treatments.

A daily capsule of rember, as the drug is known, stops Alzheimer’s disease progressing by as much as 81 per cent, according to trial results."

Ice bridge holding Antarctic ice shelf cracks up | Environment | Reuters

Ice bridge holding Antarctic ice shelf cracks up | Environment | Reuters: "OSLO (Reuters) - An ice bridge holding a vast Antarctic ice shelf in place has shattered and may herald a wider collapse caused by global warming, a leading scientist said on Saturday."

www.data-yard.net

www.data-yard.net - NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A new study adds to the previously reported evidence that cigarette smoking protects against Parkinson's disease. Specifically, the new research shows a temporal relationship between smoking and reduced risk of Parkinson's disease. That is, the protective effect wanes after smokers quit.

Rise of sea levels is 'the greatest lie ever told' - Telegraph

Rise of sea levels is 'the greatest lie ever told' - Telegraph: "But if there is one scientist who knows more about sea levels than anyone else in the world it is the Swedish geologist and physicist Nils-Axel M�rner, formerly chairman of the INQUA International Commission on Sea Level Change. And the uncompromising verdict of Dr Morner, who for 35 years has been using every known scientific method to study sea levels all over the globe, is that all this talk about the sea rising is nothing but a colossal scare story.

Despite fluctuations down as well as up, 'the sea is not rising,' he says. 'It hasn't risen in 50 years.' If there is any rise this century it will 'not be more than 10cm (four inches), with an uncertainty of plus or minus 10cm'. And quite apart from examining the hard evidence, he says, the elementary laws of physics (latent heat needed to melt ice) tell us that the apocalypse conjured up by
Al Gore and Co could not possibly come about."

Russia backs return to Gold Standard to solve financial crisis - Telegraph

Russia backs return to Gold Standard to solve financial crisis - Telegraph: "The Gold Standard was the anchor of world finance in the 19th Century but began breaking down during the First World War as governments engaged in unprecedented spending. It collapsed in the 1930s when the British Empire, the US, and France all abandoned their parities.

It was revived as part of fixed dollar system until US inflation caused by the Vietnam War and 'Great Society' social spending forced President Richard Nixon to close the gold window in 1971.

The world's fiat paper currencies have lacked any external anchor ever since. It is widely argued that the financial excesses and extreme debt leverage of the last quarter century would have been impossible - or less likely - under the discipline of gold."

Medical journal says Pope distorting condom facts | Reuters

Medical journal says Pope distorting condom facts | Reuters: "LONDON, March 27 (Reuters) - A prestigious medical journal on Friday accused Pope Benedict of distorting scientific evidence to promote Catholic doctrine by saying that condoms increase the spread of AIDS.

The Lancet in an editorial called on the Pope to retract the comments made last week, saying anything less would be an immense disservice to the public and health advocates fighting to contain the disease."

Harvard Aids expert says Pope "correct" on condoms and spread of HIV -Times Online

Harvard Aids expert says Pope "correct" on condoms and spread of HIV -Times Online: "The head of a Harvard-based AIDs prevention centre says the Pope is “correct” to claim that condom distribution risks aggravating the transmission of HIV."

Daily Express | UK News :: Oily fish 'can stop cancer'

Daily Express | UK News :: Oily fish 'can stop cancer': "EATING oily fish just once a week could help men to survive prostate cancer, scientists revealed yesterday.

A study shows a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids found in fish such as herring, salmon and mackerel could prevent development of the deadly disease.

The oils are also believed to be able to block the spread of existing tumour cells, acting as a kind of treatment."

BBC NEWS | Health | Steaming hot tea linked to cancer

BBC NEWS | Health | Steaming hot tea linked to cancer: "Drinking steaming hot tea has been linked with an increased risk of oesophageal (food tube) cancer, Iranian scientists have found.

The British Medical Journal study found that drinking black tea at temperatures of 70C or higher increased the risk."

Want to live longer? Cut back on red meat - CNN.com

Want to live longer? Cut back on red meat - CNN.com: "'This is the biggest and highest quality study like this,' says Barry M. Popkin, Ph.D., from the University of North Carolina, who wrote an editorial accompanying the study, which was published Monday in Archives of Internal Medicine. 'They collected the diet data very carefully, and it's saying to people, 'You don't have to eat red meat every day.' '"