News (Page 2) -- May 17, 2006

Is the Bush Administration Planning a Nuclear Holocaust? - "At no point since the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6th, 1945, has humanity been closer to the unthinkable, a nuclear holocaust which could potentially spread, in terms of radioactive fallout, over a large part of the Middle East. All the safeguards of the Cold War era, which categorized the nuclear bomb as "a weapon of last resort" have been scrapped. "Offensive" military actions using nuclear warheads are now described as acts of "self-defense"."

U.S. stocks tumble; Nasdaq erases gain for year - "U.S. stocks plummeted, with the Nasdaq erasing its gains for the year, on Wednesday on increased concern about inflation and interest rates."

FBI Secret Probes: 3,501 Targets in the U.S. - "The letters require telephone companies to keep secret even the existence of the request for records."

Telephone Records are just the Tip of NSA's Iceberg - "These cutting edge tools -- some highly classified because of their functions and capabilities -- continually process hundreds of billions of what are called "structured" data records, including telephone call records and e-mail headers contained in information "feeds" that have been established to flow into the intelligence agencies."

New Presidential Memorandum Permits Intelligence Director To Authorize Telcos To Lie Without Violating Securities Law - "Ordinarily, a company that conceals their transactions and activities from the public would violate securities law. But a presidential memorandum signed by the President on May 5 allows the Director of National Intelligence, John Negroponte, to authorize a company to conceal activities related to national security. (See 15 U.S.C. 78m(b)(3)(A)) There is no evidence that this executive order has been used by John Negroponte with respect to the telcos. Of course, if it was used, we wouldn’t know about it."

Senate OKs Border Fence, Backs Citizenship - "The Senate endorsed a chance at citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants Wednesday but also voted to build 370 miles of triple- layered fencing along the Mexican border in increasingly emotional debate over election-year immigration legislation."

Study guide for U.S. citizenship test omits freedom of press - "A set of flashcards designed to help applicants for U.S. citizenship learn basic civics has become one of the most popular items sold by the Government Printing Office. But the $8.50 flashcards — which contain questions and answers from the actual citizenship exam — won't help immigrants learn much about the role of the press in American democracy. Question 80 asks, "Name one right or freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment." The answer lists freedom of speech, religion, assembly and the right to petition the government — but omits freedom of the press."

Youths torn from camps, forced to fight - "Children as young as 13 are being forced into combat by Sudanese rebels who take the youngsters from squalid refugee camps in neighboring Chad, CNN has learned."

INTEREST RATES CROSSING CRITICAL THRESHOLD - "We are crossing a critical threshold beyond which the U.S. government could begin to lose control over rising interest rates, and ultimately, the entire economy."

Bush Administration: Time to Face Traffic - "The transportation secretary unveiled a strategy to reduce congestion that included privatizing roads, putting tolls on busy roads and designating corridors for development to speed movement of truck and rail freight. ... Democrats criticized the plan's reliance on privatizing roads and charging tolls to use them."

Another Waco Brewing In Sleepy Texas Town Of Eldorado - "Mankin said the controversy surrounds the nation's largest polygamist sect and its leader, Warren Jeffs, who was recently put on the FBI's 10 most wanted list for allegedly abusing and raping a child." -- On the FBI's 10 most wanted list for allegedly abusing and raping a child? How many other people should then be placed on the FBI's 10 most wanted list? This seems far fetched to me.

White House Intern Needed, Must Have Skills - "Majority of American public seek intern to rescue future of American democracy."

Da Vinci Code Actor: Bible Should Have 'Fiction' Disclaimer - "If "The Da Vinci Code" was already feeding the flames of controversy with its challenge to the basic tenets of Christianity, actor Ian McKellen managed to pour a refinery tank's worth of gasoline on the fire on this morning's 'Today' show, asserting that the Bible should carry a disclaimer saying that it is "fiction.""

Judge Strikes Down Ga. Ban on Gay Marriage - "A judge has struck down Georgia's ban on same-sex marriages, saying a measure overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2004 violated a provision of the state constitution that limits ballot questions to a single subject."

Forever Pregnant - "New federal guidelines ask all females capable of conceiving a baby to treat themselves -- and to be treated by the health care system -- as pre-pregnant, regardless of whether they plan to get pregnant anytime soon. Among other things, this means all women between first menstrual period and menopause should take folic acid supplements, refrain from smoking, maintain a healthy weight and keep chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes under control."

Dying comet swings past Earth - "A comet that has broken up catastrophically will swing past Earth on Thursday. It will be the nearest approach by any comet in the past two decades."

Abstinence Greeting Cards - "Want to tell someone you care about that they're worth waiting for? Send one of these unique abstinence greeting cards. Available in notecard size, these cards will get your message across. Choose from three different designs."