‘Scientists working with the Defense Department have found evidence that a low-level exposure to sarin nerve gas — the kind experienced by more than 100,000 American troops in the Persian Gulf war of 1991 — could have caused lasting brain deficits in former service members.
Though the results are preliminary, the study is notable for being financed by the federal government and for being the first to make use of a detailed analysis of sarin exposure performed by the Pentagon, based on wind patterns and plume size.
The report, to be published in the June issue of the journal NeuroToxicology, found apparent changes in the brain’s connective tissue — its so-called white matter — in soldiers exposed to the gas. The extent of the brain changes — less white matter and slightly larger brain cavities — corresponded to the extent of exposure, the study found.’
‘British Airways has banned cabin crew from microwaving their own food after a curry exploded at 35,000 ft (10,668 metres), causing around $US40,000 ($48,790) of damage to an aircraft.
A fire extinguisher was used to tackle the blaze on April 30 on a Heathrow to Miami flight, when the high-powered microwave ignited a ready meal that a stewardess had bought from a supermarket.
“The fire lasted only a couple of seconds,” said a BA spokesman.
“As a precaution a specialist extinguisher was used in the microwave. However, at no time was there any danger to passengers or the aircraft.”‘
‘These days, data get stored on disks, computer chips, hard drives and good old-fashioned paper.
Scientists in Japan see something far smaller but more durable – bacteria.
The four characters – T, C, A and G – that represent the genetic coding in DNA work much like digital data.
Character combinations can stand for specific letters and symbols – so codes in genomes can be translated, or read, to produce music, text, video and other content.
While ink may fade and computers may crash, bacterial information lasts as long as a species stays alive – possibly a mind-boggling million years – according to Professor Masaru Tomita, who heads the team of researchers at Keio University.’
‘An artist has offered to donate his own head to an Oxford museum – if a collection of shrunken heads has to be returned to South America.
Ted Dewan has written to Oxford University’s Pitt Rivers Museum to offer his own head for shrinking.
Museums have been facing an ethical debate about whether they should keep human remains on display or repatriate them for burial.
But the museum has now turned down Mr Dewan’s offer of a replacement head.’
‘Iran is secretly forging ties with al-Qaida elements and Sunni Arab militias in Iraq in preparation for a summer showdown with coalition forces intended to tip a wavering US Congress into voting for full military withdrawal, US officials say. [..]
The official said US commanders were bracing for a nationwide, Iranian-orchestrated summer offensive, linking al-Qaida and Sunni insurgents to Tehran’s Shia militia allies, that Iran hoped would trigger a political mutiny in Washington and a US retreat. “We expect that al-Qaida and Iran will both attempt to increase the propaganda and increase the violence prior to Petraeus’s report in September [when the US commander General David Petraeus will report to Congress on President George Bush’s controversial, six-month security “surge” of 30,000 troop reinforcements],” the official said.’
‘Bay Area women now have a new option when it comes to their love lives, NBC11’s Marianne Favro reported.
Women are driving miles to Dr. Justin Salerno’s office in Vacaville to receive a shot of collagen that patients say helps them reach climax faster.
“It’s a form of human collagen we inject into the vaginal tissues where the G-spot is,” Salerno said.
Salerno is one of the only doctors in the nation offering the procedure, known as the G-Shot.
According to thegshot.com, the G-SHOT is a simple, nonsurgical, physician-administered treatment that can temporarily augment the Grafenburg spot in sexually active women with normal sexual function.’
Tonight we dine in Cleveland.
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‘Tony Blair has reiterated his backing for nuclear power as the government prepares to unveil its energy strategy.
Plans to build more nuclear power stations are expected to be among the proposals in the Energy White Paper.
An expansion of energy efficiency and renewable sources such as tide and wind power will also be detailed.
The PM says nuclear power can “underpin the security of our energy supply” but opponents say it is dangerous and will reduce investment in renewable sources.’
‘Russian prosecutors say they will refuse to extradite Andrei Lugovoi, charged by Britain in the poisoning death of Alexander Litvinenko, to London because of a constitutional ban.
Earlier Tuesday British officials said they wanted to bring Lugovoi before a British court and charge him with the “extraordinarily grave crime” of murdering Litvinenko in London last November.
“I have today concluded that the evidence sent to us by the police is sufficient to charge Andrei Lugovoi with the murder of Mr. Litvinenko by deliberate poisoning,” Director of Public Prosecutions Ken Macdonald said in London.
Litvinenko, who was a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin and had been granted political asylum in the UK, died in a London hospital last November, several weeks after he was poisoned with polonium-210.’
Followup to Radioactive killer was discovered by doctors only hours before death.
‘A California lawmaker, who favors a penalty for people caught driving while using their cell phone, reportedly caused a car accident this weekend – while she was on her cell phone. [..]
Officials say the vehicle in front of Migden was slowing down for a red light, when the senator slammed into the back of the car – which then ran into another van. [..]
Last year, Migden voted in favor of a new law that will impose a minimum fine of $20 for drivers caught using a cell phone on the road, without the aid of a hands-free device.
Migden will not be fined, however, because the new law doesn’t take effect until July 2008.’
‘A naked American tourist raised eyebrows when he went for a walk through a German city and told police he thought this was acceptable behaviour in Germany.
“We have been having unusually hot weather here lately but, all the same, we can’t have this,” a spokesman for police in the southern city of Nuremberg said today.
“The man said he thought walking around naked was tolerated in Germany.”
Many Germans enjoy nude sunbathing which is allowed in public parks. The 41-year-old was carrying his clothes in a bag when police stopped him yesterday evening after complaints from pedestrians.’
‘A Chinese grandmother has a five inch horn growing out of her forehead.
The horn curves downward and looks like the stalk of a pumpkin, reports the Yangcheng Evening Post.
Granny Zhao, 95, of Zhanjiang city, Guangdong province, says it first appeared three years ago.
“At first, it was only a mole, but it gradually grew and became like a horn,” she said.
Zhao says the horn causes her little trouble except to affect her vision slightly: “It causes me no discomfort, but blocks part of my view.”
But her family are hoping that medical experts can explain the phenomenon.’
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‘Ned Kelly, the legendary Australian bushranger who evaded police for two years before being captured and hanged in 1880, has gone missing again. His bones have vanished from a mass prison grave in Melbourne where they were believed to be buried. [..]
Pentridge closed in 1997 and the site is being redeveloped for housing, with the state conservation body, Heritage Victoria, overseeing the work. Archaeological tests were recently carried out at the mass burial site, but no human remains were found.
Archaeologists discovered evidence that the soil had been disturbed about 50 years ago, probably during major drainage works.
Ray Tonkin, the head of Heritage Victoria, said yesterday: “We now believe these remains were probably removed in the 1950s or 1960s, as part of the installation of large service pipes that took place at the prison at the time.” The remains of about 32 criminals are believed to have been lost, possibly dumped in a quarry.’
‘With scarcely a mention in the mainstream media, President Bush has ordered up a plan for responding to a catastrophic attack.
Under that plan, he entrusts himself with leading the entire federal government, not just the Executive Branch. And he gives himself the responsibility “for ensuring constitutional government.” [..]
It defines a “catastrophic emergency” as “any incident, regardless of location, that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the U.S. population, infrastructure, environment, economy, or government function.” [..]
The document emphasizes the need to ensure “the continued function of our form of government under the Constitution, including the functioning of the three separate branches of government,” it states.
But it says flat out: “The President shall lead the activities of the Federal Government for ensuring constitutional government.”‘
‘Firefighters called to a blaze at a New York apartment nearly tripped over a python before finding they were surrounded by alligators, cobras and black widow spiders, local media reported Friday.
“It felt like something out of a science-fiction scene,” fire department lieutenant Ed Ireland told the New York Post daily. “It looked like a biology lab.”
He said the first he realized something was up when he found an uncaged python near his leg as he entered a room.
The basement apartment, belonging to Tony Baez, 23, also contained frogs, turtles and tarantulas. He reportedly had permits to keep some of the animals.
Two cobras died of smoke inhalation, but the other creatures survived the blaze and were taken to an animal shelter, according to the report.’
‘Instructs dealership technicians re: understanding and servicing a radical new transmission theory. (Circa ~1990)’
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‘Twin brothers Raymon and Richard Miller are the father and uncle to a 3-year-old little girl. The problem is, they don’t know which is which. Or who is who.
The identical Missouri twins say they were unknowingly having sex with the same woman. And according to the woman’s testimony, she had sex with each man on the same day. Within hours of each other.
When the woman in question, Holly Marie Adams, got pregnant, she named Raymon the father, but he contested and demanded a paternity test, bringing his own brother Richard to court.
But a paternity test in this case could not help. The test showed that both brothers have over a 99.9 percent probability of being the daddy — and neither one wants to pay the child support.’
‘A Californian man who tried to kill his girlfriend by leaving her in a car parked across railway lines was himself killed when an oncoming train hurled the car into him as he fled.
His girlfriend survived, the Associated Press reported.
The man drove the car to the head of a line of traffic stopped at a level crossing in the San Fernando Valley neighbourhood of Sunland on Monday, police spokesman Mike Lopez said.
The man, who was seen arguing with the woman, then parked the car on the tracks and jumped out, leaving her behind, Mr Lopez said.’
‘In the emergency room at Martin Luther King Jr.-Harbor Hospital, Edith Isabel Rodriguez was seen as a complainer.
“Thanks a lot, officers,” an emergency room nurse told Los Angeles County police who brought in Rodriguez early May 9 after finding her in front of the Willowbrook hospital yelling for help. “This is her third time here.” [..]
Parked in the emergency room lobby in a wheelchair after police left, she fell to the floor. She lay on the linoleum, writhing in pain, for 45 minutes, as staffers worked at their desks and numerous patients looked on.
Aside from one patient who briefly checked on her condition, no one helped her. A janitor cleaned the floor around her as if she were a piece of furniture. A closed-circuit camera captured everyone’s apparent indifference.
Arriving to find Rodriguez on the floor, her boyfriend unsuccessfully tried to enlist help from the medical staff and county police — even a 911 dispatcher, who balked at sending rescuers to a hospital.
Alerted to the “disturbance” in the lobby, police stepped in — by running Rodriguez’s record. They found an outstanding warrant and prepared to take her to jail. She died before she could be put into a squad car.’
Update: now with the 911 call.
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‘A woman’s head was cut off in a horrific incident at a meat processing factory.
One horrified worker said: “It was absolutely appalling, like something out of a horror film — everyone here is in shock.” [..]
Bernard Hoggarth, Delico chief executive, said: “This is horrendous for her family and for everyone who was working at the factory at the time.
“It’s such a tragic incident — we’ve never experienced anything like it.”
Health and Safety Executive spokeswoman Barbara Hewitt confirmed the woman had been decapitated.’
‘This is kinda interesting too watch. A group of demonstrators are protesting against illegal immigration. A mexican decides to grab his camera and march with them for fun.’
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‘An artificial lake in El Salvador brimming with sewage and industrial waste is mystifying scientists by attracting thousands of migratory and sea birds.
Built in 1974 to drive El Salvador’s biggest hydroelectric project, the 33,360-acre (13,500- hectare) Cerron Grande reservoir collects some 3,800 metric tons of excrement each year from the sewage pipes, as well as factory run-off and traces of heavy metals like chromium and lead, the government estimates.
So scientists are puzzling over the fact that some 150,000 seabirds from more than 130 species have chosen to make the reservoir their home. At least 90 of the species are migratory birds arriving from as far away as Alaska.’
‘The mother and aunt of a legally blind 10-year-old boy were booked on cruelty charges after briefly leaving him on the side of a highway because he was misbehaving, a sheriff’s spokesman said.
A driver reported seeing someone pick up a child from the side of Interstate 12 on Wednesday about 40 miles east of Baton Rouge and put him in a van. Authorities feared they were dealing with a kidnapping, said Jason Ard, the Livingston Parish sheriff’s spokesman.
Investigators found the boy had actually been dropped off as punishment. The van traveled a short distance down the highway before the mother got out and retrieved him, Ard said. It was unclear exactly how long the child was out of the car but Ard said Friday it was probably only a few minutes.’
‘A Dutch primary school teacher dying of cancer is overseeing one last class project: her pupils are making her coffin.
Eri van den Biggelaar, 40, has just a few weeks to live after being diagnosed last year with an aggressive form of cervical cancer.
She asked the woodwork teacher, a friend, to build a coffin for her. “Why don’t you let the children make it?” replied Erik van Dijk.
Now pupils of the school in Someren, who normally plane wood for baskets and placemats, have been helping with the finishing touches. They have already sawed more than 100 narrow boards and glued them together. Only the lid needs to be completed.
The coffin now stands in the middle of one of the classrooms.’
‘A New Zealand city has unofficially renamed the local garbage dump after John Cleese following the British actor’s remark during a visit last year that he hated the place.
A sign bearing the title “Mt. Cleese” appeared recently at the Awapuni Landfill in Palmerston North after a local satirist suggested it be renamed “John Cleese Memorial Tip,” with the tag line: “All manner of crap happily recycled.”
Cleese, famous for being a member of the Monty Python comedy group, as well as the 1970s TV comedy “Fawlty Towers” and Hollywood hit “A Fish Called Wanda,” drew local ire during a show last year when he called Palmerston North the “suicide capital of New Zealand” and said he hated it.
Some lions attack a young buffalo and then have to fight a crocodile for the kill.
It seems to be going well for the lions .. until the rest of the buffalo herd arrives.
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‘Detectives in Polk County are searching for two teens believed to have stolen a box of condoms.
Investigators say that on the afternoon of Sunday, May 13, an unidentified young man was captured on video surveillance with another unidentified young man stealing a blue box of Trojan brand condoms from the Sears Essential store at 4717 South Florida Avenue in Lakeland.
When confronted by store personnel, the boys fled on foot. [..]
Anyone with information who wants to remain anonymous and be eligible for a CASH REWARD is asked to call HEARTLAND Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS.’
These guys now have their faces all over the internet as known condom thieves. 🙂
‘We’ve all heard the “official conspiracy theory” of the Death Star attack. We all know about Luke Skywalker and his ragtag bunch of rebels, how they mounted a foolhardy attack on the most powerful, well-defended battle station ever built. And we’ve all seen the video over, and over, and over, of the one-in-a-million shot that resulted in a massive chain reaction that not just damaged, but completely obliterated that massive technological wonder.
Like many, I was fed this story when I was growing up. But as I watched the video, I began to realize that all was not as it seemed. And the more I questioned the official story, the deeper into the rabbit hole I went.’
