Source: U.S., U.K. at odds over timing of arrests - "British officials knowledgeable about the case said British police were planning to continue to run surveillance for at least another week to try to obtain more evidence, while American officials pressured them to arrest the suspects sooner. ... In contrast to previous reports, one senior British official suggested an attack was not imminent, saying the suspects had not yet purchased any airline tickets. In fact, some did not even have passports." -- That's interesting.
Which Travelers Have 'Hostile Intent'? Biometric Device May Have the Answer - "The biggest challenge in commercializing Cogito is reducing false results that either implicate innocent travelers or let bad guys slip through. Mr. Shoval's company has conducted about 10 trials in Israel, including tests in which control groups were given terrorist missions and tried to beat the system. In the latest Israeli trial, the system caught 85% of the role-acting terrorists, meaning that 15% got through, and incorrectly identified 8% of innocent travelers as potential threats, according to corporate marketing materials. The company's goal is to prove it can catch at least 90% of potential saboteurs -- a 10% false-negative rate -- while inconveniencing just 4% of innocent travelers."
Chertoff: U.S. Should Review Terror Laws - " "What helped the British in this case is the ability to be nimble, to be fast, to be flexible, to operate based on fast-moving information," he said. "We have to make sure our legal system allows us to do that. It's not like the 20th century, where you had time to get warrants."" -- I am a man without a country.
9/11 Detainee Released After Nearly Five Years - ""Now I'm not the same person," he said. "When I came to the United States, I was optimistic. I had so much energy. That's not the case now."" -- This story should anger Americans.
Bush: 'We live in troubled times' - "President Bush, meeting his national security advisers, said Monday that "we live in troubled times" but he expressed confidence about protecting the nation from harm." -- Funny that America created these "troubled times". Enemies are wanted, then created.
Fear and Smear - "An evil symbiosis does exist between Muslim terrorists and American politicians, but it is not the one Republicans describe. The jihadists need George W. Bush to sustain their cause. His bloody crusade in the Middle East bolsters their accusation that America is out to destroy Islam. The president has unwittingly made himself the lead recruiter of willing young martyrs. More to the point, it is equally true that Bush desperately needs the terrorists. They are his last frail hope for political survival. They divert public attention, at least momentarily, from his disastrous war in Iraq and his shameful abuses of the Constitution. The "news" of terror--whether real or fantasized--reduces American politics to its most primitive impulses, the realm of fear-and-smear where George Bush is at his best."
A Convenient Threat - "Dick Cheney was certainly farsighted when he declared Wednesday that Ned Lamont's victory over Joe Lieberman would comfort ``Al Qaeda types." Voila! Only a day later, Al Qaeda was revealed as plotting to bring down 10 planes! ... We will face this story line between now and the November election, and beyond: As the terror threat rises, you can't trust critics of the Bush administration to keep America safe. The war in Iraq, the nuclear designs of Iran, Hezbollah's rocketing of Israel, new diabolical tactics by Al Qaeda, and the general ideological and military menace of militant Islamism, are all jumbled into a single all-purpose word -- waronterror. And if you're against the Bush strategy, you are of course with the terrorists."
White House: Lesser Bird Flu May Be Here - " Scientists have discovered the possible presence of bird flu in wild mute swans in Michigan _ but it does not appear to be the worrisome, highly pathogenic strain, the White House announced Monday." -- But we've got to keep up the fear factor!
In evolution, Americans are big non-believers - "The study's authors say that after decades of debate it seems the American public is more confused than ever on the issue of evolution. Over the past 20 years, the number of Americans unsure about their stand on evolution has tripled from 7 per cent in 1985 to 21 per cent in 2005. Jon Miller, the professor who authored the study, said religious fundamentalism in the United States has fuelled skepticism in evolution. “When you compare the U.S. to Europe, it's clear we're way out in right field by ourselves,” said Mr. Miller. “There is a different protestant movement in this country, one that often rejects science. It's different than that of Europe and certainly of Canada.” ..."Now more than ever we're seeing the politicization of this issue and others like stem cells, the morning after pill and global warming. Republicans do it because it works.” Mr. Miller said the results of the study are concerning and paint a grim portrait of American science education."
Non-Christians need not apply - "Thanks to President Bush and his plan to Christianize the nation's provision of social services, one's relationship with Jesus Christ has become a real resume booster. ... But some of these new employers have a shocking job requirement - only Christians need apply. ... It said that the applicant must be "a believer in Christ and Christian Life today, sharing these ideals when the opportunity arises." Apparently, experience and qualifications are secondary. ... Forget the proverbial wall. Here it is, church and state working hand-in-glove, with tax money and the government-sanctioned intolerance as the prize. Meanwhile, money is flowing into religious coffers without anyone watching. ... Just another example of how, under this president, I hardly recognize my country anymore." -- Where's the comet?
Evangelicals urge museum to hide man's ancestors - "Powerful evangelical churches are pressing Kenya's national museum to sideline its world-famous collection of hominid bones pointing to man's evolution from ape to human."
Pope says Church not a string of "nos" - "Pope Benedict said in an interview aired on Sunday that Catholicism should not be seen as a "collection of prohibitions" because of bans on gay marriage, abortion and contraception but as a Church with positive values. ... "Christianity, Catholicism, isn't a collection of prohibitions," the 79-year-old Pope said. "It's a positive option ... We've heard so much about what is not allowed that now it's time to say: we have a positive idea to offer ..."" -- It still boils down to nothing but belief. And just because you may believe in something, doesn't mean that it is right.
Game over for toy guns in heart of the old west - "Alarmed by rising gun crime in Dallas, named the most dangerous city in America by the FBI, and by shootings nationwide by police of offenders carrying toy weapons, councillors have advanced a plan to ban replica firearms."
Study Finds Immigrants Don't Hurt U.S. Jobs - "High levels of immigration in the past 15 years do not appear to have hurt employment opportunities for American workers, according to a new report."
Can you afford to stay alive? - "More patients are confronting this wrenching decision as the latest generation of pricier cancer drugs and heart implants stretches out the final months of advanced disease. Is the chance for several more months of life - maybe a year or more with luck - precious enough to spend a small fortune? Extraordinary care for dying patients can make for inspiring medicine, but its extraordinary costs make it an increasingly debated choice to promote public health."
What's in My Food? - "When you dig into a strawberry Yoplait yogurt, take a moment to contemplate where the beautiful pink color comes from. Strawberries? Think again. It comes from crushed bugs. ... You won't find "crushed bugs" on the list of ingredients for any of these foods, however. ... Food activists are trying to change disclosure requirements."
Chipped Passports Coming Monday - "Despite ongoing privacy concerns and legal disputes involving companies bidding on the project, the U.S. State Department plans to begin issuing smart chip-embedded passports to Americans as planned Monday."
Plasma screens threaten eco-crisis - "Our insatiable appetite for the big picture is threatening the planet. A scientist has warned that if half of British homes buy a plasma-screen TV, two nuclear power stations would have to be built to meet the extra energy demand."
Original moon landing film lost - "The original film footage of astronaut Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon, one of the most important artifacts of the 20th century, has been lost." -- How does something like this happen?
Pluto on the chopping block - "Nearly 2,500 astronomers from 75 countries gathered in Prague Monday to come up with a universal definition of what qualifies as a planet and possibly decide whether Pluto should keep its planet status." -- Poor little Pluto. It gets no respect.
Quote of the Day
"With or without religion, good people can behave well and bad people can do evil; but for good people to do evil -- that takes religion."
~ Steven Weinberg
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