Mexicans Getting Ready for Day of the Dead

Mexicans are getting ready to celebrate The Day of the Dead on Novemember 1st. To prepare, many people who live in the Yucatan Peninsula are cleaning the dust off bones of their dead relatives. After the dead have been buried for a couple years, their bones are exhumed, dried, and placed in small wooden boxes that can be viewed by all. The Day of the Dead is when the souls of dead people come back to earth to visit their loved ones. The souls of children have their own day on November 2nd. On the Day of the Dead, people gather at cemetaries with food, singing, and prayers. Tomestones are decorated and graveyards are cleaned. Full Story

Video games for Halloween

Many video games have come out for to get people in the Halloween spirit. The game "BloodRayne 2" for Playstation 2 and Xbox is especially bloody and gory for Halloween. The game depicts a female heroine that is half-human half-vampire that is on a quest to rid the world of her vampire brethren. The game combines acrobatics with gun and sword play with plenty of blood and guts in the mix. Another game that gets you in the blood and gore Halloween spirit is "Mortal Kombat: Deception." This game deals with players that fight each other to the death basically. You can perform many spine tingling moves and gory action. There are many finishing moves as well that can be performed on the losing player such as removing the spinal column and skull of the loser and holding it in the air. Two other games for Halloween were "Boktai 2: Solar Boy Django" and "Godzilla: Save the Earth." Read the full article on all these games here.

Online users not as safe as they think

Most online users are not as safe as they think with viruses and spyware on their computers. Most people think that their computer will never get attacked, and that they have nothing to worry about, but many users computers are packed with viruses and spyware programs. One user had 1,000 spyware programs on his computer alone in a government study. A lot of people's virus software is outdated as well. Having outdated software makes your computer to get viruses more easily. In the study two-thirds of the users did not even have a protective firewall on their computer. Read this whole story here.

Nuclear Terrorism

Both presidential candidates, and I think most of the world, agrees that nuclear terrorism is the greatest threat for the country. Both candidates have mentioned this threat in debates and have said that they have "fundamental policy issues" that could change the course of American history. Both of the candidates have criticized eachother saying that the other wouldn't be able to handle a nuclear disaster, or that they would not act fast enough. There has been concern over whether or not a nuclear attack will be made on a U.S. city. Kerry opposes nuclear weapons completely and wants them to disappear saying no bombs no mess, and Pres. Bush thinks they need to stay out of the wrong hands.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/10/28/MNGGE9HKJ01.DTL

Twins for Julia

In Los Angeles, California, popular actress Julia Roberts was admitted to a Los Angeles hospital after experiencing early contractions. Roberts is expected to deliver twins in January and was caught off guard with these early, unsuspected pains. Her husband Danny Moder accompanied Roberts, 36, to the hospital where the contractions eventually stopped. Roberts is one of the most famous Hollywood actresses, and she will have two movies debuting in December: A romantic/comedy “Closer” and the crime sequel “Ocean’s Twelve .”

http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/10/27/people.roberts.reut/index.html

Football Game to Determine Outcome of Election

For the past 16 election years, the Washington Redskins have hosted a game at home on election week and the outcome of the game has determined the winning candidate of the presidency. The home team represents the current president (Bush) and the visiting team represents the opposite candidate (Kerry). This year, after a victory from the Green Bay Packers, it looks as though John Kerry will be the winning candidate of this years election. Will this "superstition" come true? We will have to find out Tuesday.

The real story of the game is Brett Favre. Despite his hand injury, and the re-injury of his hand, he completed the game with 20-33 pass completions and a TD pass. He helped the team win 28-14, thus leading the Packers back to where they should be.

Read the Game Summary Here

Bush, Kerry sprint to the finish

The presidential campaign continues into the last 48 hours of the race. On Sunday Kerry visited a predominantly African-American church in Dayton, Ohio, while President Bush appeared in Miami, Florida where Bush spoke both English and Spanish to his audience, in order to appeal to the many Cuban-Americans. The war continues to be the hot topic on during the rallies, both candidates appealing with their proposals for improved national security.
Keep in mind when making your final decision that each president has to work with whatever the previous president leaves him. Former President Bush made good decisions and set the way for former Pres. Clinton. All throughout Clinton's presidency all you heard was good, at least until the Monica Lewinski scandal. Now we have President Bush who is getting blamed for all the bad decisions that Clinton made. We need to give Bush a second chance, it will give him as well as this country time to reap the benefits that are coming due to his first term proposals.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/10/31/election.main/index.html

Osama Bin Laden's Reappearance

A video tape of Osama bin Laden addressing the U.S. was aired Friday by Al-Jazeera television. Bin Laden spoke of the upcoming candidates, and the reasons behind September 11th. He implied that one of the reasons behind the 9/11 attacks was in response to an attack the U.S. made in Lebanon in 1982. "The towers in America must be destroyed so that America gets a taste of what we went through," bin Laden said on the tape. He also said that President Bush's reaction to the attacks as being incompetent. The tape came out just in time for Americans to see before the election, but U.S. political analysts estimate it could be positive for Pres. Bush because the tape could make some voters not want to switch candidates.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/10/31/2003209052

Elvis Lives

Elvis is making millions! Well, his family is at least. Even after 27 years of being dead, he tops the charts of top-earning dead celebrities. Merchandising has been great for "The King." Tours of Graceland, records, and memorabilia make up a great deal of profit. His daughter, Lisa owns the Elvis Presley Enterprise and the profit is at $40 million. They are hoping to get that to rise when they come out with a new line of clothing and tv specials. Following behind Elvis as a top-earning dead celebrities are Charles Schulz, J.R.R. Tolkien, John Lennon, Dr. Seuss, and Marilyn Monroe.

UNC upsets unbeaten Miami

Miami started their day on Saturday as one of the seven unbeaten teams in the nation. By the end of the day, that record had been tarnished. Unranked North Carolina came back at the end of the game on Saturday to boot a 42 yard field goal to give the Tar Heels a 31-28 win. As much as this loss hurts to the previously 6-0 Hurricanes, the fact that they are most likely out of the race for a national title turns the bitter taste sour.

Presidential Candidates Focus on Terrorism

President Bush and Senator Kerry have been campaigning about terrorism since the race began, which is obvious to any American. With Osama Bin Laden's re-appearance, they have now added new topics on terrorism to their agenda. President Bush and his staff are warning that bin Laden's tape may be a threat to attack the U.S. before the oncoming election and is urging voters to think about who they want to defend their country for them. Sen. Kerry is promising to provide "leadership and hope" to the American people when he wins the election.
http://www.ksdk.com/news/election_article.aspx?storyid=69161

Car Bomb Kills 8 Marines

A car bomb killed eight marines outside of Fallujah today and nine others were injured. The bomb went off next to a truck. The marines were preparing for an attack on Fallujah in attempt to restore control to a group of Sunni Muslims. Another car bomb killed seven people and injured 19 in Baghdad outside of a news station. The blast collapsed the first floor of the building trapping employees inside. This attacks are occuring more and more in Iraq and the U.S. military and terrorist groups keep clashing.
http://www.kansas.com//mld/kansas/news/state/10058173.htm

80 Suicide Bombers Detected in Russia

Nikolai Patrushev, head of Russia's security service called FSB, announced last week that the government was able to unveil the plots of over 80 suicide bombers. Patrushev claims that although he cannot be precise in determining which countries they are from, the bombers clearly "had been trained on foreign soil to carry out attacks on Russia."

Russia has recently been the target for large terrorist attacks by the so-called suicide bombers. Patrushev states to the press that he recognizes the severe problem of terrorism and knows he must take drastic measures to increase the penalties for such bombers. Although the tactic has not been implemented, Patrushev suggested to legislature that confiscating the money and property of the bombers would perhaps deter them from committing the crimes. Patrushev also suggests that not only are foreign religious groups the main source of the suicide bombings, but also that the groups' governments are supporting the devilish crimes.

Patrushev believes he has taken the first step toward terminating terrorism, but that he will need the support of the Interior Minister and government for full security against the problem.

Sears Pays

Sears and Roebuck agreed to pay $500,000 for a lawn mower. Well... not for a lawn mower, but for not reporting the defects of a riding lawn mower. They agreed to pay the civil penalty after recieving 1600 complaints of gas leaking from a certain brand of lawn mowers. This happened between 1999 and 2001. The reason they got the fine is because they didn't report the problem to the Consumer Product Safety Commission within 24 hours of figuring out the problem. Noone was hurt or injured from the malfunction. Full Story

One Less CNN

CNNfn will be no longer in December. CNN is shutting down their financial news network because it can't compete with CNBC anymore. Some of it's shows like the real estate series “Open House” and “Dolans Unscripted,”will be moved to CNN. CNN is also considering going to Primetime for it's Headline News. Look for these changes in December.

CDC: Rare infection may surface in U.S.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is cautioning medical professionals to be on alert for a new sexually transmitted disease in America. Doctors and clinics everywhere are getting ready to identify and treat both gay and bisexual men that may be infected with Lymphogranuloma venereum, or LGV.
LGV had been seen in Europe very rarely until last year when numbers of those infected jumped to a large amount. This type of STD is caused by chlamydia, and some of its common effects are genital ulcers, enlargened lymph glands, flu-like symptoms, and more currently, gastrointestinal bleeding.
It is believed that LGV is passed through high-risk sexual behavior. It can be treated by three weeks of antibiotic use, but it is easily misdiagnosed. It is unknown how many cases of LGV have existed or currently do exist in the nation today.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/10/29/sex.infection.reut/index.html

Hasselhoff Drives Drunk

On Thursday, David Hasselhoff pleaded no contest to charges of driving under the influence. Hasselhoff was ordered to enroll in a six-month alcohol program, and was fined $390. Hasselhoff will also have to do several hours of community service and work through a number of license restrictions. Hasselhoff was arrested in June and charged with driving under the influence with a blood alcohol level higher than 0.08. Hasselhoff, 52, was once the star lifeguard on TV’s popular show “Bay watch”, but his career has taken a plummet. In 2002, Hasselhoff was struggling with alcoholism and checked himself into the Betty Ford Center for treatment.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/10/28/hasselhoff.dui.ap/index.html

Taking Sosa out of Chicago?

There are rumors floating in the sports world that the Mets are expressing an interest in Sammy Sosa. Could this be the last year the Chicago legend will be playing for the Cubs?

Also, Chicago Cubs analyst Steve Stone announced Thursday he was leaving WGN-TV. Chip Carey recently left also to announce games in Atlanta for the Braves with his dad.

See the Article Here

My View: It seems as though the Cubs are trying to re-build the team or start over. It will be sad to see Sammy leave if he does, but us Cub fans can only wish for the best.

City curfew after Liberian riots

Riots erupted overnight in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia. Eyewitnesses say the riots began over a dispute between religions. The riot began in the commercial suburb of Paynesville and spread throughout the capital. By morning, five churches and a mosque were destroyed along with many local stores looted. Numerous people were injured in the chaos. United Nations peacekeepers tried to suppress the riot which continued into the morning. As a result, Liberian President Gyude Bryant has issued a curfew for the entire city of Monrovia effective immediately. President Bryant leads a temporary government set up to restore order to a country stricken by 14 years of civil war. Over 15,000 UN peacekeepers are stationed in Liberia as the transition towards peace continues.

AOL sues instant message spammers

American Online said that they filed federal lawsuits accusing a number of unnamed defendants of violating federal and state laws by sending "spim" to instant message accounts and Internet chat rooms. "Spim" are bulk messages. This is the first time that AOL has taken legal action against spim specifically. AOL and its anti-spam partners Earthlink, Microsoft, and Yahoo have set up lawsuits against spam as well.

Venezuelan Media Law Criticized

A proposed media law in Venezuala called the Law for Responsibility in Radio and Television is being severely criticized by the Organization of American States as being a "gag law" that could restrict freedom of expression. This law would ban "rude" or "vulgar" language, images and sounds related to alcohol, drugs, and sex, and "psychological" or physical violence on t.v. and radio between 7am and 7pm. The proposed bill would levy huge fines or even jail time to television and radio stations if they violate the law. Additionally, the bill proposes jail time for anyone who broadcasts "false" or "imprecise" information without correcting errors. Some critics say that this law is a way for Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez to silence criticism of the government. Full Story

Sony announces its new PSP device

The Sony Corp. is coming out with a portable playstation device that is similar to gameboy and the Nintendo DS that is coming out soon. This device uses a new disk format and will be able to play games and also has movie and music capabilities. Sony plans to sell 200,000 in their initial shipment, 500,000 by the end of this year, and 1 million by March 31. Sony had expected a price about $280, but have reduced it significantly. The PSP is going to hit stores in Japan on December 12 at its new estimated price of $186.

EU Signs Constitution

Leaders of the 25 member states of the European Union signed the first European Constitution today. The historic document was signed in Rome, in the same room in which the Treaty of Rome was signed in 1957, giving birth to the European Union. In this current stage institutional disunity in the Commission threatens to overwhelm the Union. Nevertheless Europe's heads of state and government unite to bring more democracy and consolidate the people of Europe closer together.

Rape: A Weapon of War

Seventeen year old Aisha of Darfur, Sudan was violently raped last week by a troop of Arab military men. Along with five other women, Aisha barely escaped back to her shelter with her life.

War has been raging in Darfur for a while now, and rape, being one of the most popular war weapons, is the "least condemned war crime" of all. The Sudanese government, however, refuses to prosecute their soldiers even though they acknowledge what is happening. Instead, they completely deny that the rapes occurred. Also adding to the difficulty of rape being recognized as a serious crime is the fact that in Sudan, men are considered superior to women. Not only are their problems "much worse" than those of women, but they would never be brought to court, let alone be charged for a crime by a woman.

According to U.N. expert Pamela Shifman, "no woman or girl is safe". The government will continue to do nothing to stop these horrific crimes.

Ban on Human Names for Pets?

Reinaldo Santos, a Brazilian lawmaker, wants to make a ban on naming pets common human names. His reasoning for this is that some psychologists have found that when children find out they have the same name as someone's pet, they become depressed. If this bill is passed, which isn't likely, pet stores and veterinary clinics would post signs displaying the law. Those who break the law would be subject to fines and community service. Santos hopes that this bill will call attention to other efforts to protect wildlife even if it doesn't get passed. Full Story

Arms find sparks Ivorian crisis

Rebel forces in Ivory Coast were angered after discovering a truck full of weapons being smuggled through their northern territory in route to the capital. Ivory Coast currently is divided between the rebel north and the government-controlled south. Two years ago, revolutionary groups based in the north rebelled against the government. Fighting finally stopped in July's peace deal. However, the interception of weapons have led many to believe the government is preparing for war again. Political leader of the New Forces rebel group, Guillaume Soro, believes the war "is not over." He says, "For us, disarmament can no longer be a current issue, because the war is not finished and it will start again soon." The government says they have no intention of fighting again.

Nintendo sexes up its advertising

The Nintendo corporation is adding sexual tones to its advertising of its new product the DS handheld device. They are spending $40 million on this product launch. Nintendo is trying to take a more mature outlook for its new handheld device. They are trying to get away from the little kid ideal associated with other Nintendo handheld devices. Their tagline for this new product is "Touching is good". Nintendo is trying to shoot for more mature buyers and are going to put more mature content on their new device. The Nintendo DS is priced at $149.99 and hits stores November 21.

Zeta-Jones Sues Topless Club

In Los Angeles, California, Catherine Zeta-Jones is suing a Nevada topless club for using her image for advertising and promotion without her permission. The Spice House “Reno’s friendliest topless cabaret” has Zeta-Jones’s picture on several pages of its web site sometime next to partially naked women. Zeta-Jones stated that The Spice House has created the false impression that she was endorsing the sexual content involved in the club. Zeta-Jones has starred in recent films “Chicago” and “Intolerable Cruelty” and passionately demands that she doesn’t give her celebrity endorsement to this club.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/10/23/vegas.zetajones.ap/index.html

Signing of EU Constitution is Due Tomorrow

The first constitution of the European Union will be signed on October 29 in a ceremony in Rome. Nevertheless before it can be adopted, all twenty-five member nations need to ratify it either by referendum or parliamentary vote. Most of Western Europe – Ireland, The UK, Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Denmark, along with Poland and the Czech Republic will hold referendums in which the people will decide whether they accept the constitution. The Central and Northern European Union States- Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Greece and Malta will hold votes in the national parliaments which will decide the outcome of the Euro-Constitution Project.

End of the road for Georgia Guard

Georgia guard Tina Taylor missed the 2003-04 basketball season because of a knee problem. Now, another injury has ended her career indefinitely. The senior suffered a torn meniscus in her left knee at Georgia's first practice earlier this month. She has opted for her 5th surgery since 1999. One of only three players to play in all 31 games as Georgia advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 in the 2002-03 season, it has become painfully obvious to her team that it is not in Taylor's best interest to continue to play.

Campaigns bring out more stars

This week both Kerry and Bush will have "stars" with them. On the trail with Kerry is non other than Bruce Springsteen. On Thursday during a rally in Toledo, OH Springsteen will be live performing the theme song for Kerry's campaigning "No Surrender." He will also be with Kerry in Madison, WI and Columbus, OH on Thursday. Bush will be accompanied by California's famous governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in Columbus, OH on Friday. However, this will be the only traveling that Schwarzenegger will be doing with President Bush. Bush will also be visiting Michigan and Pennsylvania.
In addition to this perk, the candidates are still at a neck-to-neck run. Neither candidate can afford to lax in his campaigning. Bush is at an average 49% while Kerry is at a 47% average. While this may be the case, campaigning still continues to be brutal. Kerry continues to scare the people by bringing up the loss of the weapons of destruction, even after his top foreign policy man admitted to not knowing the facts. I really appreciate that President Bush provided the American public with the truth about the situation. In his conclusion he stated that Kerry "is denigrating the action of our troops and commanders in the field without knowing the facts. Unfortunately, that's part of the pattern of saying anything to get elected." Isn't that the truth?

Americans getting a bit taller and much heavier

The National Center for Health Statistics has new guides which are showing that as Americans are increasing in height at a normal pace, they are increasing much more in weight. Compared to back in 1960, the average height in both men and women has increased by about an inch, and the average weight has gone up about 25 pounds.
The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention is very worried about these findings. They support the rise in childhood obesity and the lack of physical fitness in the U.S. today. This will have a large impact on the health of Americans.
Judging by the examination of the BMIs of children of various ages, it was noted that most Americans start on the track to becoming overweight or obese when they are merely teenagers.
At this time, more that 60% of Americans are overweight or obese. These people are at high risk for cardiovascular disease, some cancers, and diabetes. Experts believe that the problem needs to be taken care of in childhood, and that schools need to promote healthier eating habits and exercise.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6345726/

Goodbye Curse

The Boston Red Sox sweeped the Cardinals in the world series, making it the first time since 1918 that the Sox have won the world series. The curse is broken!

The pitching staff, made up of Curt Shilling, Derek Lowe, and Pedro Martinez did not allow any runs combined in the last 21 innings of the world series.

The Red Sox became the third straight wild card team to win the World Series. Last year it was the Marlins, the year before the Angels.

Read One of the Many Articles of the Red Sox Victory

Obasanjo backs bishops over gays

Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, a born-again Christian, agrees with the African bishops in the Anglican Church in their firm stand against homosexuality. He says, "Such a tendency is clearly un-Biblical, unnatural and definitely un-African." The Anglican Church has 70 million believers worldwide with one quarter of them in Nigeria. Africa's churches are the fastest growing congregations in the world. However, a division is growing within the Anglican Church between those who support homosexuality, and those who oppose it. Many fear this division may lead to a split within the church. Kenyan Bishop Julius Kalu believes the problem lies in the instruction of ministers in foreign countries where they learn ideologies different from those in Africa. Nigerian Archbishop Akinola thinks the solution rests in Africa adopting their own, unique beliefs rather than following the beliefs from a foreign continent. However, this may widened the gap even more between African Anglican churches and foreign Anglican churches.

Hey! Party at Judge Johnson's!

Judge Faith Johnson threw a party last week at her courtroom. The guest of honor was Mr. Billy Wayne who disappeared a year ago after he was supposed to appear at trial for aggravated assault, as well as several other criminal offenses dating back to the 1980s.

Mr. Wayne nearly choked his girlfriend last November, and then fled to escape his sentence. Judge Johnson was infuriated when the jury, the defense attorneys, the prosecutors, and just about everyone else except for Mr. Wayne showed up at the trial.

Upon Wayne’s discovery in a nearby town, Judge Johnson organized a party including guests, balloons, streamers, and even a cake with Mr. Wayne’s name on it. They celebrated that Mr. Wayne was finally going to be forced to accept what had been waiting for him: a life sentence in prison. Despite how amusing the party may have been though, Judge Johnson now faces disciplinary action for misconduct. Charges, if any at all, will be issued in the following weeks.

Judge Faith Johnson threw a party last week at her courtroom. The guest of honor was Mr. Billy Wayne who disappeared a year ago after he was supposed to appear at trial for aggravated assault, as well as several other criminal offenses dating back to the 1980s.

Mr. Wayne nearly choked his girlfriend last November, and then fled to escape his sentence. Judge Johnson was infuriated when the jury, the defense attorneys, the prosecutors, and just about everyone else except for Mr. Wayne showed up at the trial.

Upon Wayne’s discovery in a nearby town, Judge Johnson organized a party including guests, balloons, streamers, and even a cake with Mr. Wayne’s name on it. They celebrated that Mr. Wayne was finally going to be forced to accept what had been waiting for him: a life sentence in prison. Despite how amusing the party may have been though, Judge Johnson now faces disciplinary action for misconduct. Charges, if any at all, will be issued in the following weeks.

Hey! Party at Judge Johnson's!

Judge Faith Johnson threw a party at her courtroom last week. The guest of honor was Mr. Billy Wayne who disappeared a year ago after he was due to show up at trial for aggravated assault as well as several other criminal acts dating back to the 1980s.

Mr. Wayne had nearly choked his girlfriend to death last November, and then fled to escape his sentence. Judge Johnson was infuriated when the jury, the defense attorneys, the prosecutors, and just about everyone else showed up to the trial except for Mr. Wayne.

Upon Mr. Wayne's discovery at a nearby town, Judge Johnson organized a party including guests, balloons, streamers, and even a cake with Mr. Wayne's name on it. It was a celebration that Mr. Wayne will finally be able to accept what has been waiting for him: a life sentence in prison. Despite how amusing the party may have been, Judge Johnson may now face disciplinary action for misconduct. Charges, if any at all, will be released in the following weeks.

Hey! Party at Judge Johnson's!

Judge Faith Johnson threw a party at her courtroom last week. The guest of honor was Mr. Billy Wayne who disappeared a year ago after he was due to show up at trial for aggravated assault as well as several other criminal acts dating back to the 1980s.

Mr. Wayne had nearly choked his girlfriend to death last November, and then fled to escape his sentence. Judge Johnson was infuriated when the jury, the defense attorneys, the prosecutors, and just about everyone else showed up to the trial except for Mr. Wayne.

Upon Mr. Wayne's discovery at a nearby town, Judge Johnson organized a party including guests, balloons, streamers, and even a cake with Mr. Wayne's name on it. It was a celebration that Mr. Wayne will finally be able to accept what has been waiting for him: a life sentence in prison. Despite how amusing the party may have been, Judge Johnson may now face disciplinary action for misconduct. Charges, if any at all, will be released in the following weeks.

Russian Navy in Cooperation with NATO

Two Russian ships from the Black Sea fleet will join operation Active Endeavor in keeping terrorism from using routes in the Mediterranean sea.
Two Russian ships have joined the two dozen NATO ships patrolling from the Bosporus to the Straits of Gibraltar, in a NATO operation to keep the Mediterranean sea free of terrorism. The operation started after Sept. 11 2001 and since than has extended to safeguard waters across the whole of the Mediterranean.
Russian officials signed an agreement with NATO for partnership in counterterrorism, but were quick to point out that this shouldn't be translated into alliance, "Any NATO country is of course neither an ally nor an enemy to us" said the defense minister Srgei Ivanov.

“Grounded for Life” Cancelled

The WB network has cancelled the “Grounded for Life” comedy show starring Donal Logue. The Season finale of the family comedy sitcom will air early next year. The WB network has opted not to pick up any more episodes than the 13 they purchased in May. “Grounded for Life” premiered in 2001 on Fox, but later it was cancelled and bought by the WB network. At the end of its run, “Grounded for Life” will have 91 episode aired, but it will not record anymore for the WB network. “Grounded for life” will be aired on ABC’s family channel next year.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/10/27/television.grounded.reut/index.html

Bulldogs Punished For Recruiting Violations

As a result of recruiting violations, Mississippi State was put on probation by the NCAA for four years, stripped of eight foootball scholarships over the next two seasons and banned from postseason play. The NCAA found that 2 former assistants and several boosters broke recruiting rules between 1998 and 2002. Mississippi admitted to secondary rule violations, but denied more serious allegations of bribing potential players with cash and other perks.

Untrained Officers Responsible for Baseball Fan Death

In Boston, a group of police shot pellets into a crowd of rowdy baseball fans after a Red Sox victory. One hit a young college student, Victoria Snelgrove, in the eye and killed her. The pellets are meant to help police control large groups of people witout causing injury. However, the two police officers that shot the pellets were not properly trained to use the weapon.

More investigation is being carried out.

Read the Full Article Here

Favre's Wife Diagnosed With Breast Cancer

To make the year even worse for Brett Favre, his wife, Deanna Favre, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She is expected to recovery fully.

Just last football season, Favre had to deal with the death of his father. This year he will be battling the horrors of cancer with his wife while battling a late season comeback to get to the playoffs.

Read the Full Article Here

Connecting the World

Nowadays, the world is connected on one basic similarity, the internet. In Africa, the Ulwazi e-learning session has started. It is a wireless broadband connection that connects South African schools with offical school teachers. The teacher can communicate to the students through a specially developed microphone. In doing this, the South Africans save time and money not having to build a massive system of wires and networking.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/internet/10/18/wireless.rural/index.html

Disappearance of explosives in question

With over 380 tons of sophisticated explosives missing from Iraq, Russia has requested the UN to investigate. In the presidential debate Kerry bashed Bush for the loss of the weapons and for not commenting about the situation. While Bush remined silent Cheney stood up and said that Kerry was "playing armchair general." The weapons are suspected to have been missing since before the war started March 19, 2003 but there is no evidence to prove this other than witnesses that stated the area stripped of weapons. For more information go to http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/10/26/iraq.explosives/index.html

Is eBay Responsible?

eBay is being taken to court once again. Roger Grace was upset about the vintage magazines he recieved after buying them off of eBay. The main question being raised is whether or not the online auction should be held responsible. Different issues that are being or have been brought up are concerning what people discuss on their forums, what is actually being sold, and what responsibilities eBay should take. These issues definately raise questions about the internet, trust, and responsibility. The case is expected to last a year.

Castro Rids Cuba of U.S. Dollar

The president of Cuba, Fidel Castro, will end circulation of the U.S. dollar in Cuba as of November 8th. Castro, who wants to rid his country of the currency of his "arch enemy," says that it won't be illegal to possess an American dollar, it just can't be used as currency. U.S. dollars can be exchanged for convertible pesos with a 10 percent commision price. U.S. credit cards are not valid in Cuba. Castro decided to make this move in responce to tighter U.S. sanctions against Cuba, including limited travel and money spending in the country. Castro announced this message on television, just days after falling and breaking two bones. Full Story

Mural Depict Crime in PA

Crime has not only become out of control in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, but also a major concern for both residents and authorities as it continues on a drastic incline. Philadelphia Mural Art's Program, however, has taken a unique stand against crime in their city; it has recently begun a project called "Healing Walls" in which victims of crimes unite to depict their survivor stories in the form of murals on the large walls of downtown Philadelphia. In addition, victims also create walls to represent the testaments of offenders.

Victoria Green, a leader of the project, supports the program whole-heartedly and believes the project is something that finally allows the community's voices to be heard in a new and dramatic way.

Colombia Blows Up Stockpiled Landmines

While dozens of blast victims looked on, Colombian armed forces blew up 6,800 stockpiled landmines on Sunday. In eight huge explotions near the rural village of Barranquilla, Colombian president Alvaro Uribe and Queen Noor of Jordan began their effort to rid the country of these weapons. Colombian pop star Juanes performed a song "Suenos," about the everyday life of a Colombian soldier and the crowd applauded as each explotion took place. Land mines have become a huge problem in Colombia because of fighting between the government and rebel armies. Colombia has the fourth highest death toll from land mines, following Chechnya, Afganistan, and Cambodia. Full Story

Amnesty: 40,000 rapes in Congo

According to human rights group Amnesty, 40,000 woman and girls have been raped in the Democratic Republic of Congo over the past six years. Although the devastating civil war that plagued the country ended in 2003, fighting and sexual violence continues in many parts of the country. Amnesty describes an example of three sisters who were raped by a total of twenty men. Sixteen year old Edith says, "Jeanette was raped by seven soldiers in the storeroom, Francine by eight soldiers in the shop. They put me in the bathroom. I fought with five of the soldiers when they tried to make my brothers watch me being raped. But they beat me so hard." Amnesty urges the Congolese government to take action against the sexual predators and to offer more help for the rape survivors. Currently the medical care for the victims is poor. There are only two eastern hospitals that can treat victims, but the hospitals are dilapidated. What a sad world.

Crack Down on Recruiting

President Bush signed a law on Friday establishing tougher penalites on sports agents who use unethical practices when recruiting athletes. The bill strengthens penalties against agents who lure student athletes in with bribes, and who make threats regarding their schools and careers. The NCAA currently has rules for sports agents, but they do not stop them from aggresively persuing athletes. The new law bars agents from giving misleading information, and also must disclose in writing that the athlete may lose NCAA eligibility after signing an agency contract. Violators of the new law could face $11,000 a day penalty.

Consumer Confidence Still Down

For the third month in a row consumer confidence and spending is down. Consumers are worried about the future when it comes to their jobs and their income. The confidence level dropped 3.9 points from September according to The Consumer Confidence Index. Did you know that consumer spending accounts for two-thirds of America's economic activity? You can also find many more key economic indicators if you follow this link for the full story.

More patients turning to Internet for organs

At this time, there are an estimated 87,000 people on the national organ transplant waiting list. Donations from the deceased aren't keeping up the vast amount of organs needed by patients. Frustrated patients and their families are beginning to turn to live donors; but surgeons, ethicists, and federal officials who oversee the system are worried that this is unfair to those on a waitlist.
The internet is now full of sites dedicated to patients looking for transplants. For the first time ever, an organ transplant has been performed on a recipient that met his donor through the internet. Officials delayed the surgery in order to make sure that there was no payment being given to the donor, as this is illegal. Officials are trying to figure out how to keep the system standing and fair.
It is being questioned whether or not healthy individuals should donate organs, as well, as it could pose them health risks later in life.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6326205/

“ The Grudge” Captures the Lead

“The Grudge” hit movie theaters everywhere last Friday, and it has already taken away the top spot from “Shark Tale” which has held the number one spot for the last three weeks. “The Grudge” is a remake of a Japanese haunted-house thriller staring Sarah Michelle Gellar. “The Grudge” was a low-budget movie which sold over 40 million tickets in its first three days of showing doubling the director’s expectations. “The Grudge” is rated PG-13 and was directed by Takashi Shimizu who stated that this remake only cost $10 million to produce.

Personal Insight: I saw “The Grudge” over the weekend and it was scary thriller similar to “The Ring.”

http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/10/24/box.office.reut/index.html

Campaigns work Wisconsin

Today both Kerry and Bush are back in Wisconsin. Kerry will be in Green Bay this morning and then will be heading to Vegas. Bush will be in Onalaska as well as Richland Center. The focus during these rallies include the economy and the war. The democratic party, including Kerry, continue to put down President Bush for mistakes that have taken place in this war. They are arguing that Bush is wrong but doesn't have to guts to admit it. On the other hand the Bush administration defends themselves and their decisions. Which shows more integrity, condemning your opponent or defending your decisions and providing new solutions?
According to polls Bush continues to hold a slight lead over Kerry overall and within the state. For more details go to http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/10/26/election.main/index.html.

Darfur peace talks open in Abuja

Peace talks concerning the conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan were held on Monday after delegates finally arrived. The meetings were to be held this past Thursday, but due to scheduling errors, the delegates arrived late in Abuja, Nigeria's capital. Meetings were held in September between the Sudanese government and the two rebel groups responsible for the conflict. However, the meetings failed as the rebelling groups declined to sign a humanitarian protocol. Over 1.5 million people have been displaced in Darfur with over 70,000 deaths due to illness and malnutrition. The European Union has agreed to provide $100 million for the relief fund, and the African Union will be sending 3,000 troops to stabilize the situation.

Wisconsin guard out on leave of absence

The likely candidate for starting guard, Boo Wade, is taking an indefinite leave of absence from the Badgers this year. The announcement was made this week by coach Bo Ryan. The reason? Apparently Wade needs to work out some personal issues before he will be ready to focus his attention on basketball. He was suspended for 2 games last season for supposedly choking his girlfriend at her apartment, and was charged with disorderly conduct. In a recent statement, Wade seemed pleased with his potential time away from the court, and chance to sort out his personal life.

The European Constitution

In four Days will be signed the European Constitution – the EU rulebook, designed to harmonize judicial procedures, rather than to create new Euro-law.

The constitution outlines what EU can and cannot do; outlines the political objectives and values and certifies that the member states confer power to the EU, rather than the opposite. Furthermore it opens the way towards deeper EU integration, but can only be adopted if all of the member states accept it. The constitution commits the member nations towards a common foreign and defense policy. It creates an EU foreign minister- to oversee diplomacy and foreign aid, and a full time EU president. It incorporates the EU charter of fundamental rights and outlines the powers of member states to object, or overturn decisions of the Commission.

Its more direct impact is to align international law cooperation, and transfer between jurisdictions.

Poll finds tight race, with little apparent change

Another update on the polls. Who's in the lead? According to a phone poll published on Monday, Bush was at 51%, Kerry was at 46% and Nader was at 1%. There was a plus or minus three margin of error. While Bush has an overall drop of no more than 1%, Kerry has an overall increase of 1-2%. The end is near, the result is unclear as to who will go home and who will live in Washington. That's today's update on the 2004 election polls. For more information go to http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/10/25/national.poll/index.html.

Poll finds tight race, with little apparent change

Another update on the polls. Who's in the lead? According to a phone poll published on Monday, Bush was at 51%, Kerry was at 46% and Nader was at 1%. There was a plus or minus three margin of error. While Bush has an overall drop of no more than 1%, Kerry has an overall increase of 1-2%. The end is near, the result is unclear as to who will go home and who will live in Washington. That's today's update on the 2004 election polls. For more information go to http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/10/25/national.poll/index.html.

Brazil Launches Rocket

On Saturday, Brazil successfully launched its first rocket since its last attempt ended in tradgedy 14 months ago. This launch was less ambitious than last year's third unsuccessful launch, when an explosion killed 21 people. This successful launch of a VSB-30 prototype renewed Brazil's ambition to become Latin America's first space power. Brazilian officials say they plan on launching more rockets in November 2005 and May 2006 to conduct experiments for Europe. Since this base is close to the equator, it is easier for rockets to lift off with less fuel and heavier payloads because they can ride on the Earth's centrifugal forces. Full Story

Lip Synch Spectacular

Last Saturday on NBC’s comedy show “Saturday Night Live”, a terrible event happened to the young pop singer Ashlee Simpson. Simpson was the co-host of SNL that night with Jude Law. Simpson had performed her huge hit “Pieces of Me” off her album Autobiography earlier, and when she went to sing her second song for the show, something horrible happened. Her band started playing, but the lyrics for “Pieces of Me” could be heard again. Simpson looked very confused as she stood on stage holding the microphone at her waist. She then left the stage 35 seconds into the performance. Her record company reports that it was a computer glitch, but Ashlee Simpson is now being accused of “lip synching” or mouthing the words of her songs which are being played on a previously recorded tape or CD. This event could be very damaging to her music as well as her television career.

Hope for infant heart transplants

Research by Dr. Lori West of the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto has now confirmed that infants can learn to tolerate organ transplants that have a different blood type by reprogramming their immune system. Infants' immune systems aren't fully developed which enables them to be able to take on different blood types in development.
This is very big news for those who are dying on the transplant waiting lists, as infants on waiting lists may now be open to more transplant opportunities. They will be able to receive transplants from a wide variety of donors and save many incompatible organs from going to waste.
The next step in West's research will be to see if there is any possible way to reprogram the immune systems of patients who are older so they will be less likely to reject an organ. It is important to keep in mind that all organ recipients, infant and adult, must still take drugs to suppress their immune systems in case of any other reactions.
This advancement is very exciting and great news.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6326180/

Packers Stomp the Cowboys - YI HAW

The Packers won in Lambeau finally on Sunday, winning against the Dallas Cowboys who have never won at the magic field. The Green Bay Packers won 41-20 with Mike Sherman still calling the plays from the sidelines since offensive coordinator Tom Rossley suffered a heart attack and was too weak to be on the sidelines calling the plays.

Favre threw two touchdown passes, Ahman Green ran for two touchdowns, and Tony Fisher threw a TD pass to Bubba Franks as a half-back option. Also, the punter Bryan Barker was not needed the whole game until nine and a half minutes to the end of the game.

Read the Full Game Summary

Pres. Bush and Sen. Kerry, Who's serious about terrorism?

The final presidential debate stirred up quite a few issues between both candidates. Kerry accused Pres. Bush of not taking Osama bin Laden seriously, quoting Pres. Bush "I'm not so concerned about him". Pres. Bush attacked John Kerry of not taking terrorism seriously enough because Kerry said he wanted to reduce terrorism down to that of prostitution. Pres. Bush also accused Kerry of being "fickle and unreliable on national security issues".
Regardless of who won the debate, it is quite obvious to me that both candidates do take terrorism very seriously, who doesn't these days? The debate showed just how sensitive a subject terrorism is, and how important of a topic it is in the running for presidency.
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11070268%255E2,00.html

Badgers' D Steps it up

On Saturday, a strong Wisconsin defense beat Northwestern 24-12. Despite the absence of Erasmus James, and other defensive players, a few young second-stringers filled in and played like starters. Their presence, the running by Anthony Davis, and the arm of John Stocco propelled the Badgers to thier first undefeated season in years. Currently at 8-0, the Badgers have their eyes on next week's game and eventually, a Bowl.

Business + Knitting?

Now, you may not think this is much for business talk, but it really is. Knitting, sewing, and crocheting are becoming more popular then ever, even among the young and the busy. There are so many wonderful fabrics and creative designs out there, that it's becoming popular to make your own scarves and blankets. This definately boosts the sales of specialty yarn and fabric shops. It's great for their business! Stores and shops are not only selling the items, but they're selling the idea and teaching others how to complete these crafts and arts. I'm glad the trend is coming back, it gives people a chance to just sit back and relax while participating in a hobby.

Could There Be Another "You" Out There?

Identity theft is an extremely serious crime that has been on the uprise over the past years. The increasing number of ID thefts proves to be a result of the increased methods of the crime. For example, most of the "early" thieves often sifted through the trash of residential homes in hope of finding personal information that would lead them to riches and glory. Now, according to ABC News, thieves are using the internet, picture phones, business documents, and almost anything they can get their hands on to steal a credit card number, social security number, or even a full identity.

Many Americans who know they have been victims of identity thefts do not take the appropriate actions in regaining their identities and putting their thieves behind bars. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, victims should not only file a police report, but also contact the Federal Trade Commission, which will clear your name and record and a major credit card corporation.

The Identity Theft Resource Center also suggests that to protect yourself against future theft, never share personal information, keep your personal information in a safe place in your home, shred financial documents before disposing of them, and overall, keep a close watch on your financial situations.

Cell phone TV

It is now possible to watch TV on your cell phone. The technology service is called MobiTV created by a company named Idetic. MobiTV has been used by Sprint's wireless network since November 2003. The monthly fee for MobiTV is $9.95 a month plus your other cell phone charges. With this service you can watch TV stories, news and sports clips, and even weather reports. The quality of the TV is pretty good and would be the same as if you were watching a video from a 56k modem. The better signal you have, the better this technology will work. You can also take pictures and videos on this type of phone.

Do you have 'Restless Legs Syndrome?'

Were you ever sitting and watching a movie or a play, or driving and you had a sudden urge to punch your leg because you had a sting of pain or discomfort? If you have, you aren't alone. If this happens to you often you may be the victim of a condition dubbed as restless legs syndrome (RLS).
At this time it is estimated that about 28 million Americans (around 10% of the population) are suffering from RLS. The majority don't even realize they may have this condition. Those who suffer complain of bouts of discomfort and stinging pains in their legs if they sit still for too long.
Many people haven't heard of RLS and it is often misdiagnosed or symptoms aren't recognized.
Some people with RLS experience a variety of symptoms that even cause them to lose sleep at night. There is currently no cure for RLS, but some medications are prescribed to relieve pains and to aid in sleep. RLS symptoms can be relieved by such things as stretching, exercising, and the use of hot and cold packs.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6256576/site/newsweek/

Iran funding terrorism?

A journalist from Tel Aviv proclaims that Iran is funding terrorism by paying Palestinian terrorist groups to attack Israeli targets. A third of the Israelis killed this year are believed to be at the hand of Lebanese Hizbollah movement, a terrorist group. Hizbollah is now a political party in Lebanon and is reported to pay $5,000 to Palestinian cells for each Israeli killed. Yassar Arafat, the Palestinian Liberation Organization founder, said that Iran is financing radical Islamist groups. Hizbollah gained popular attention after Israel withdrew from Lebanon in 2000.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/10/15/wmid15.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/10/15/ixworld.html

Back to Earth After Six Months

Two Russian and one American astronauts return safely to Earth after a 6 month tour of duty on the International Space Station.

The Russian cosmonauts Yuri Shargin and Gennady Padalka, and their American colleague Michael Fincke landed safely today with their vessel - the Soyuz TMA-4, in the Kazzakh steppe. All were in perfect health even though search teams had little difficulties finding them in the complete darkness in the steppe.
Since the tragic accident in 2003 when the shuttle Columbia burned up in reentry, the ISS has been serviced only by the return vessels Soyuz. After the safe landing astronaut Fincke contacted his family over satellite and than all crew members were rushed to a dome-hospital erected nearby.
The construction of the International Space Station is on hold until American shuttles can be brought back into service may next year, to carry new components to the station.

Think muffins and bagels are healthy?

We all can agree that doughnuts are not a very good source of nutrition. Most of us would agree that bagels and muffins are a healthier alternative, right? Not necessarily.
Doughnuts vary in amount of calories, depending on how dense they are or whether they have toppings or cream fillings. They usually range anywhere from an average 170 to 390 apiece. They usually contain about 2-5 grams of saturated and trans-fats.
In comparison, large bakery muffins currently range anywhere from 340 to 630 calories apiece without any spreads or toppings. They usually contain anywhere from 2-8 grams of saturated fat and have very little saturated fat, but when you put the amount of total fats together, it is only a bit less than what is contained in a doughnut.
Bagels can be a much healthier option if you control portion size and toppings and spreads. Normal-sized bagels usually average 300-380 calories without toppings. Bagels are relatively lower in their amount of fat averaging about 2 grams of total fats with only a small percentage of that being saturated fats. If these bagels contain cheese or chocolate, though, their amount of saturated fats and calories are dramatically increased and average about that of a doughnut.
The best thing for you to do in choosing healthier options is to manage your portions, eat consciously, and don't add toppings or spreads that will double your fat and calorie intake.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6307384/

Terrorists Want Bush Out

Charles Krauthammer of the Washington Post casts an interesting view of the upcoming election. He states the obvious that the terrorists, mainly Osama bin Laden, want President Bush out of office. President Bush's ongoing war on terrorism is why terrorists want him out of office, but attacking the homeland (America) would only push more Americans to vote for President Bush.
The terrorists have proved just how lethal their intents are by their devastating actions in Spain three days before the national election and caused their government to completely pull their troops out of Iraq. Now, the terrorists main attention is to get the U.S. out of Iraq by means of guerrila warfare.
It doesn't matter who is running against the President, the terrorists just want Bush out.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16511-2004Oct7.html

Bodies Buried on Kansas Farm

Rebecca Galaviz is one of the daughters of the man who owns the farm in Kansas where the murder investigation is taking place. Surprisingly enough, it was Rebecca herself who went to FBI investigators about a possible two dozen bodies that were murdered and buried on her father's farm. Rebecca claims that she witnessed the murders that "allegedly happened while she wad growing up". The rest of the family, including the farmer's wife and second daughter, are utterly shocked by Rebecca's behavior. They strongly ensure that no crime was ever committed on the farm, and furthermore, suggest that Rebecca is perhaps making a cry for help after her recent divorce.

Despite conflicting testimony, officials must still conduct a thorough search to satisfy the search warrant. In order to conclude the investigation, there must be no question as to whether the murders occurred or not.

Full Text

Chat Rooms: A Tool for Terrorism

Recent studies prove that although terrorists may not be sharing information about planning attacks, they are lending ideas "for everything from propaganda to offering tips on kidnapping".

After gaining extensive knowledge of these "internet actions", a program used to identify and stop terrorism through internet chat rooms, has received a grant for $157,673. With the grant, the program will monitor traffic in the chat rooms for keywords and patterns in conversations. Their aim is to unveil "hidden communities" and secret codes used by terrorists to secretly communicate.

Although the program is relatively new and has not discovered anything too alarming, it has already raised many questions of concern. The primary concern being that of privacy. The program maintains that they are not violating any laws because the only chat rooms they use surveillance on are public ones.

Somalia seeks 20,000 peacekeepers

Somalia's newly elected president, Abdullahi Yusuf, requested the African Union for 20,000 soldiers to help restore peace in his war-torn country. Since the fall of military dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, Somalia has been ruled by neighboring warlords. Yusuf believes in order for the government to regain control, it must stop the warlords and seize their weapons. EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana says the European Union would help train Somali security troops, but many believe Yusuf will not receive the troops he requests. Since the failed mission in 1993 when two U.S. helicopters were shot down, foreign nations have been leery to help. Many feel Somali political officials must first take the initiative towards peace before other countries become involved. Matt Bryden, a senior analyst for the International Crisis Group think-tank said, "The heavy lifting has to be done by the Somalis first."

Bush, Kerry work to clarify their stances

It's getting down to the wire with only 11 days to November 2, 2004 and the candidates are giving their last remarks. Kerry has chosen to focus these last few days on female voters. He has chosen family and women's issues as his topic of discussion for his finale. On the other hand Bush has chosen to focus on the distinct differences between himself and his opponent. According to the latest polls Kerry held a six point lead, 50 to 44% among registered voters. According to special report the three showdown states this year are Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida. The three states have an accumulative of 68 electoral votes and at present they are nearly evenly divided. We'll see in 11 days on November 2.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/10/22/election.main/index.html

Smelling Red

So it is final: The Boston Red Sox and the St Louis Cardinals are going to battle it out in the World Series that is going to be held in Fenway Park of Boston.

Last night the Cardinals sent the Astros home, winning 5-2 against one of baseball's most legendary pitchers, Roger Clemens. Albert Pujols was the Cardinal's hero in the 7th game of the National League Championship Game, after hitting the game tieing RBI. Later, Scott Rolen would come up to bat and hit a two-run homer, sending Pujols and himself home. Pujols, in the series, batted and outstanding .500 and was 14-for-28 in the NLCS with four homers and a team-leading nine RBI.

Read About Pujols

Read About the Game

'20,000 Uganda children abducted'

Jan Egeland, head of the U.N. humanitarian affairs says, "Northern Uganda to me remains the biggest neglected humanitarian emergency in the world." Twenty years of fighting in southern Sudan has affected northern Uganda. To find new "recruits", the Lord's Resistance Army has abducted nearly twenty thousand children and forced them to fight in their rebel movement. Egeland believes international attention and peace efforts in southern Sudan can stop this moral outrage in Uganda. Meanwhile, the Sudanese government and the southern rebels are meeting with each other again in Nigeria. The meetings appear to be making progress towards peace.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/africa/10/22/un.uganda.ap/index.html

Is Al-Qaida Recruiting Central American Gangs?

Oscar Alvarez, Honduras' most outspoken cabinet member, says that Al-Quaida is recruiting Central American gang members to "carry out regional attacks and slip terrorists into the United States." U.S. and Central American officials have found no evidence to support this claim, however. Some human rights groups have accused Alvarez of using this story to justify his severe crack-down on gangs.
The U.S. has been worried for some time that terrorists would find their way over the Mexican border. Mexican authorities are keeping a very close eye on drug and smuggling activites to prevent this from happening. There has been one confirmed report of a member of Al-Qaida staying in Central America. Suspected terrorist Adnan G. El Shukrijumah stayed in Panama for 10 days in April, 2001. Full Story

Half-Life 2 release set in November

The game Half-Life 2 has been set to be release on November 16 just in time for the holiday season. This game is the sequel of the popular game Half-Life. Half-Life 2 missed many launch dates due to hackers. Some of the code for Half-Life 2 was stolen by hackers that inflitrated the company's email. The game was suppose to be released September 30 of last year, but the hacker attacks delayed the game.

The Dream Job

Coppenhagen's Information Technology University is making serious research on the way video games are being developed and how they are morphing todays society.
Video and computer games have such a significant impact on today's young people that they are creating new cultures and societies. That is why the Coppenhagen Information Technology University has created a one of a kind Games Research Centre where people can actually do PhD-level work on computer game studies. The Danish government is sponsoring the entire project, that is why the centres' game room features huge flat wide-screen television with surround-sound system and every game console and game software available.
The centres' purpose is to study how games are made and played, so the knowledge gathered will help make games better and understand their impact in the future.

Poll: College Students Moving -Toward Kerry

According to a Harvard University study more college students than ever before are registered to vote this year. The study showed that students voted Bush as the one taking a clear stand on issues while Kerry was voted the one to best understand the problems of the people. An understanding man seems to be in higher demand that a sure man because at present Kerry ranks higher in the polls among students. Kerry ranks first with 52% while Bush trails with 39%. The race isn't over yet but we'll see in a few weeks which man proved the strongest.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/10/21/college.poll/index.html

It's Time to Buy a House!

Today the interest rate on fixed rates of 15 year and 30 year mortgages dropped to the lowest they've been in six months. Both rates have been taking strolls up and down, not knowing where to go. The 15 year fixed rate mortgage dropped from 5.14% to 5.7%, and 30 year mortages went from 5.74% to 5.69%. It may not seem like a lot to you, but believe it or not interest definately grows as the years go on, often times you end up paying double your mortage in the end. Is it worth it? I definately think so, especially when you take advantage of low interest rates.

NBC Ranked Third?

NBC has lost four consecutive weeks in a row for ratings. NBC has dominated ratings battles winning 8 out of the last 9 nine seasons, and the TV station had the momentum coming into this year of 4 consecutive winning seasons in a row. NBC’s problems started when the last show of friends was shown last May, and now NBC has no breakout hits. It is still early in the TV season, but NBC trails behind CBS and ABC. New shows such as “Joey” that were expected to capture viewer’s attention are performing poorly, and even shows like “The Apprentice” have dropped in the viewer poles. NBC is facing an excess of pressure and in order to be avoid this, NBC will have to create a new hit series that will win back viewer’s attention.

Political Filmmakers

Political matters are becoming interesting plots for filmmakers to use in their movies. Filmmakers and audiences everywhere are fascinated with political subjects in movies especially following the aftershocks of September 11th and the War on Terrorism. This political film craze was lead by Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11.” This President Bush bashing film leads all political documentaries by toping $100 million in the domestic box office. Moore states that political movies energize the voting public. Other political movies released this year are “The Manchurian Candidate” and “Team America: World Police”. Political films are an interesting way for film directors to express their political opinions.

Kazaa loses king of file-sharing

Kazaa is no longer the most popular online file-sharing software. They have been surpassed by eDonkey/Overnet network of file-sharing. EDonkey/Overnet averaged 2.54 million users a day while FastTrack, which the majority is used by Kazaa, was 2.48 million users. Kazaa has been on a steady decline every since BayTSP started monitoring file-sharing networks 18 months ago for music and film piracy, and eDonkey/Overnet has started to take over and has grown increasingly popular compared to Kazaa.

Ghana Ranked 64th Most Corrupt Country

This year's Corruption Perception Index (CPI) has ranked Ghana as the 64th most corrupt country. The index considers 146 nations and is conducted by various institutions. Ghana is traditionally among the upper end of corrupt countries. Mr. Daniel Batidam, Executive Secretary of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), believes that the new ranking shows that Ghana's corruption problem has changed very little in the past years. The countries were judged based on the "abuse of public office for private gain". This includes bribes and embezzlement. Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Paapa Owusu Ankomah believes the only way to improve the corruption situation is by reforming institutions and improving the democratic government. However, improvement requires a long term commitment. http://allafrica.com/stories/200410210571.html

Specialist returns to a Hero's welcome

Army specialist Danielle Green returned home, battered, but not beaten to Notre Dame recently. A member of the ROTC, Green first accomplished her dream of playing with the elite school before being shipped off to war. In her time at Notre Dame, the girl known as D-Smooth led her team to 4 NCAA tournaments. When she couldn't turn her love for the game into a job, she decided to join the army. While in Iraq, she unfortunately lost her left hand during combat. Now, returning to Notre Dame, she has received a hero's welcome and praise for her years at the school, and her years spent serving her country.

Castro Breaks Knee, Arm in Fall

Fidel Castro, the president of Cuba, broke his left knee and right arm after a fall Wednesday in the city of Santa Clara. After giving a graduation speech, the Cuban leader of 45 years missed a step when walking off the stage. Shortly after the fall, Castro took the microphone and assured the audience that he was ok. He was then taken to a hospital, where he said he would probably get a cast. The health of the 78-year-old president has been under speculation during the past few years because he has often appeared tired or thin on camera. The government of Cuba maintains that the president's health is a state secret and will not discuss it. The Bush admistration has used this incident to reiterate it's desire for Castro to be removed from power. State department spokesman Richard Boucher says that the Cuban people "deserve democracy". Full Story

The Cruelty of American Soldiers

The war has brought hardships to Americans and Iraqis alike. Families torn, loved ones lost in combat, and not to mention the mental and physical stress on soldiers. Is the stress, however, on our American soldiers enough to compensate for the way they treated Iraqi detainees in late 2003? Our American justice system responds with a clear "no".

Seven men from a Maryland-based military camp were charged with assult. Ivan Fredrick, the highest ranked of the men, was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to five charges of abuse. A second soldier, Armin Cruz, was sentenced to eight months in confinement. My question, which I am sure is the same question of many military authorities, is why did they do it? The accused respond that they knew the acts that they were committing were wrong, but that many of their intelligence commanders instructed them to do so, in order to get the "detainees broken". The soldiers reasoned that they would do anything to get their detainees to talk.

Although I believe that justice was done, I continue to wonder what it will take to put an end to the brutalness of war.

Eat their SOX

That is exactly what the Yankees did this last series. For the first time since 1986 the Boston Red Sox are going to the World Series after coming back from a 3-0 deficit. This is the first time in Major League Baseball history that any team has come back to win a series from being behind three games.

The Sox played with pain and determination to take the series away from the Yankees. The last time the Red Sox have won a World Series was in 1918. Will they be able to win in 2004? That is up to the supposed curse.

Read The Full Article Here

GO RED SOX!

Caesarean may raise risk of infant allergies

Dr. Sibylle Koletzko of Germany suggests that more research be done on the effects of Caesarean sections as they are becoming increasingly popular in deliveries. More and more women are asking for them, but the question is: do they pose a threat to the infant?
Studies now show that there may be a link between increased food allergies and diarrhea in newborn babies that are delivered by Caesarean.
The Children’s Hospital at Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich conducted research recently that suggests infants who were born by Caesarean are twice as likely to develop certain food allergies and intolerance than those who were born by natural birth.
At this time, researchers believe that infants aren't really harmed by this type of delivery, but research on Caesarean births will continue at the university.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6297688/

A Lifetime of Achievement

George Lucus, 60, was selected to receive the American Film Institutes (AFI) 33rd annual Lifetime Achievement Award. Lucus is famous for his “Star Wars” trilogy, but has directed other popular films such as “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “American Graffiti.” Recent recipients of the prestigious award were Jack Nicholson, Steven Spielberg, and Tom Hanks. A dinner and celebration will be held next June in honor of Lucus’s accomplishments. The celebration will involve clips of his movies and interviews with celebrities whom he worked with. Episode III “Return of the Sith” will debut in May and wrap up Lucus’s “Star Wars” prequels. http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/10/18/film.georgelucas.ap/index.html

Panthers keep their coach

Head coach of the Milwaukee Panthers, Bruce Pearl, has just signed a $1.5 million dollar contract to stay with Milwaukee for the next five years. He has a winning past with Milwaukee, having a 37-11 record in the Horizon league. He led the Panthers to the 2003 NCAA tournament, the 2004 NIT, the 2004 Horizon League title, and the 2003 conference tournament title. The panthers are hoping that their coach will once again lead them to another spectacular season in 2005.

French Law on Religious Symbols Expels Muslims from Schools

Two Muslim Girls, ages 12 and 13, were expelled from their school in Mulhouce on Tuesday, in the first application of the new law guaranteeing the constitutional right of secularism to the French citizens.
The law was voted March and was upheld on September this year for the beginning of the new school year. It bans conspicuous religious signs like Muslim head scarves, Jewish scull caps, turbans, large Christian crosses etc. on public places. The law was designed to defend France's constitutional right of secularism - the view that religious considerations should be excluded from civil affairs or public education, and was aimed mainly towards Muslim girls wearing head scarves in schools.
There are 72 cases risking expulsion among which are Sikh school boys who refuse to remove their turbans. 600 cases of defiance were recorded since the beginning of the school year but were resolved through dialogue.
Those expelled have the right to appeal in front of the head of the school, and if they are under 16, must continue their education in a private school via correspondence.

Obese patients overcome exercise challenges

Over the last decade, obesity has become a large problem in the United States. Sedentary people are recommended to exercise at least 5 days a week for a half an hour per day. Although exercise is recommended, it can be dangerous for those who are obese or overweight to jump into a regimen right away. They are 30 times more at risk of suffering heart attacks during exercise. In addition to this risk are others that are obesity-related and should be taken into consideration before an exercise program is rushed into. These include risks such as obesity-related diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and arthritis.
Fitness experts encourage obese or overweight people to "proceed with caution" and not overdo it when beginning to exercise. They recommend sedentary people to begin with smaller exercises and gradually increase to larger ones. An example would be to start off walking and increasing to jogging or running over time instead of running right away. This will especially help to reduce the risk of heart attacks associated with obesity.
Obesity is related to the second leading cause of death in the country: cardivascular disease. Exercise helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. It can create a healthy lifestyle change if people are willing to motivate themselves and put in the time and effort.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6283593/

Colombian Rebels Want Hostage Exchange

The Colombian rebel group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia wants to talk with representatives of the Roman Catholic Church regarding hostage exchange. The FARC kidnaps hundreds of people every year for randsom, and addtional people to be used as exchanges for jailed guerrillas. Catholic leaders in Colombia are promting talks between the government and a smaller rebel group, the National Liberation Army. The FARC contends that the hostages will not be released until the government releases jailed rebels. Talks have not yet begun and the two sides are far from agreement as of yet. http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americas/10/19/colombia.rebels.ap/index.html

The Sox Wear History

The Boston Red Sox defeated the New York Yankee's and are just one game away from making history. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series in the MLB. The Red Sox have won three in a row, and they play again tonight to put the team name in the record books.

Read the full bloody article HERE

My Opinion: GO SOX!

Oil's at $55 A Barrel!

Well, we thought it'd go down, but oil is currently at $55 a barrel. Why have oil prices gone up in the past month? It's because more than 22 million barrels that were being produced were damaged or lost because of Hurricane Ivan hitting the Gulf of Mexico area. That's not the only problem, there are different things going on all around the world concerning why it is we have to pay so much for gas. It's just something we have to deal with right now. The prices we pay for gas are 75% more than we paid a year ago! But don't worry, we haven't hit the highest point yet.

A Real Man

The presidential campaigning this year, as in years past, has been outright ugly. Senator Kerry continuously points out President Bush's mistakes to scare the public to vote for him. On the other hand President Bush is stepping out and standing up for what he believes is right. Bush is standing on his own two feet rather than having to throw all of Kerry's mistakes in his face. In the final debate Kerry said the three words his mother left him, when he told her his plans to run for presidency, were integrity, integrity, and integrity. It is important for a man to show integrity however, I don't see Kerry showing this integrity. A real man would stand firm in what he believes and would not need publicly condemn his opponent because a real man would have enough credibility built throughout his life. The attitude of this nation reflects its leadership. This being the case, we need to be careful about who we vote for. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Civil Unrest in Haiti Causes Problems for U.N.

Because of civil unrest in Haiti, the United Nations might be forced to divert food rations to the neighboring Dominican Republic. Tropical storm Jeanne left 100,000 people in Haiti dependent on U.N. food donations. Some shipping firms are refusing to dock in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, because there are several containers of food that are stuck there due to conflicts between the U.S.-supported government and supporters of exiled president Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The Dominican Republic is preparing to accept rations and transport them to Haiti via trucks. The Rome-based WFP says that the 100,000 Haitian flood victims it is helping will need rations for the next five months. http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americas/10/19/haiti.food.reut/index.html

Benin: General Strike for Higher Pay Shuts Down Country

The streets of Cotonou were quiet on Tuesday. Banks, schools, and most businesses were closed in Cotonou, Benin's capital and economic center, due to a workers strike. Four of the five trade union organizations in Benin planned the three day strike. They insist on "higher pay for government employees, better pensions and lower university fees." The unions feel President Mathieu Kerekou has ignored the workers' demands, but the government says they are still willing to negotiate.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200410190309.html

Rice Goes to Seattle

The Oakland Raiders traded Jerry Rice to Seattle. The trade will be finalized after Rice undergoes a physical and the league gives it's approval. Rice feels that this is better for him because the raiders are currently trying to develope their younger receivers, thus limiting Rice's role in the offense. By going to Seattle, Rice will be used as a depth receiver.


Read More from ESPN

Escalade: Most Likely to Get Stolen!

If you were a thief walking through a parking lot, what vehicle would you steal first? A Cadillac Escalade EXT or the Taurus Station wagon? Well according to the study by insurance companies this year, you'd pick the Escalade. Hey, who wouldn't? It's an awesome vehicle equipped with state of the art equipment. They're worth $53,000! Insurance companies said that the claim rate for the Escalade is 20.5 and the station wagon is .5! Coming in second highest was the Nissan Maxima.

Real Sex on European Cinemas

9 Songs - the new movie by controversial British director Michael Winterbottom, containing real sex scenes, rather than artistic simulation, will be released uncut in the UK next year.
9 Songs is only one of many movies containing real sex, released in Europe, uncut, in the past years. Among such are Irreversible starring Monica Bellucci, Bais Moi (Rape Me), Romance, La Pianniste (The Piano Teacher) and many more.
Catherine Breillat's film Romance was banned in several countries due to its graphic sexual scenes. However, in the UK, Romance was passed to its cinema release without cuts and later it was passed for video release with only one-second cut of a sexual act. Gaspar Noe’s Irreversible was so explicit that over 200 people walked out of the cinema in disgust, during its screening at the Cannes Festival.
In a similar way the people walking out of 9 Songs at this years' Cannes said that they couldn’t believe how sexually explicit it was even though they were forewarned. However the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) ruled that 9 songs will not be subject to special criteria.
"We don't normally allow depictions of unsimulated sex in an 18 film, unless they can be exceptionally justified by the context of the film," were the words of Craig Lapper, the chief assistant of the BBFC in charge of policy.

Harvard seeks to clone human embryos

Scientists from Harvard University have recently asked the prominent university's ethical review board to grant them permission to clone human embryos for the research of disease. They hope to find new ways to study and cure a variety of diseases.
Stem cell research is becoming a large political issue during this presidential campaign. President Bush recently signed an order that limits the federal assistance given to any study except for those with previously existing stem cell lines, while Senator Kerry is a supporter of stem cell research.
Stem cells are cells that can give rise to many differentiated tissues within the body. The use of embryonic stem cells could someday treat and cure a large number of diseases. This gives much hope to people with diseases such as Parkinson's or for those with spinal cord injuries. Taking a stem cell from an embryo results in the death of the embryo, and this is what makes them so controversial.
Harvard's ethical review board is considering all of the options and issues that are currently associated with stem cell research. They are being very careful in their considerations and aren't sure when they will come to a decision.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6237283/

Cell phone Jammers

Many churches, schools, government, and even some entertainment venues have installed cell phone jammers in their buildings in other countries. The Indian government started installing them in their buildings when politicians refused to shut off their phones. Many churches decided to install them as well because cell phones would interrupt mass especially at weddings. Some universities also installed these cell phone jammers as a way of preventing students from using their cell phones to cheat by text messaging or taking pictures of the tests. The cell phone jammers cost approximately $2,000 a piece and emit a low level frequency in a hundred foot radius. The jammers make cell phones have a no service or signal not available on their cell phones. As of right now there are laws against using these in the United States and most western counties, but it is very possible for those laws to be overturned one day.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6272681/

Jarrett emerges as go-to guy just in time

With top wideout Steve Smith out for the season with a broken leg, #1 ranked USC was forced to find a replacement that would perfrom just as well. Freshman Dwayne Jarrett was their answer, and it seems to many that he was actually an upgrade. His 5-catch, 139-yard, 3-touchdown game vaulted the Trojans to another win, solidifying their place on the top. Despite past problems of homesickness, dropped passes, and faulty plays, Jarett has made spectacular improvement and is now the go-to guy on the nation's strongest team.

Bush on Kerry: the final inning

I'd like to concentrate on the beginning of the article. Bush, as well as many others, points out the fact that Kerry has continuously changed his opinions and views throughout this campaign in order to comply with the audience. He's been saying whatever he thinks is necessary to win the presidency. You can see it in his speeches as well as in the debates. If a man is double-minded, his is unstable in all his ways. If Kerry can't make sound decisions now about what he agrees with and with what he disagrees with, how can we expect him to make sound decisions in the presidency.

Hottest Show on Television

ABC's new television show "Desperate Housewives" is the surprise hit of the television season. "Desperate Housewives" shows on Sunday's and has been filling the void for many "Sex in the City" fans. "Desperate Housewives" is compared to "Sex in the City" because it features four beautiful women who face the realities of the American dream. "Desperate Housewives" has shocked the television world with its popularity and has been compare with such instant hits as "American Idol" and "The Apprentice. "Desperate Housewives" is compared to the instant popularity of reality TV shows, however, it is a scripited show, which is one of the few scripted shows that has capured the nation's attention so quickly.

Terrorists in Spain Brought to Justice

Seven months after bombing, Spanish forces succeeded in capturing suspected Muslim militants after a country-wide operation.
Seven months ago, Islamic militants launched bomb attacks on trains coming into Madrid thus killing 191 people. Now 7 months later Spanish police after a raid has captured what is considered to be 20 members of a Islamic terrorist group acting inside the country. Several more were killed when their explosives blew up before police could capture them.
Spanish interior ministry officials comment that there will be more arrests as the police is closing down on an Active terrorist group.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3754910.stm

Muder: Laci Peterson

Scott Peterson stands trial for the murder of his pregnant wife, Laci.

Evidence against Mr. Peterson is strong; detectives seached his vehicle after the body was discovered and they discovered several changes of clothing, many changes of shoes, six credit cards, and thousands of dollars in cash. Suspicion continued to increase as the investigation progressed.

Mr. Peterson claims that he was framed. The investigation, however, reveals that Laci's body was dumped in the lake that Mr. Peterson coincidentally took a "soul fishing trip" to the day that she turned up missing.

Locust crisis 'could get worse'

In the past months, locusts have plagued the countries of West Africa. They have destroyed crops and provided a nuisance to the local farmers. According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the locust are migrating north towards Morocco, Libya, Algeria, and Tunisia to breed. Officials say the situation could be worse next year. Countries are urged to become prepared to meet the swarm, but a lack of funds has made the preparation process difficult.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3754492.stm

"Sexiest Woman Alive"

Angelina Jolie has been named by Esquire Magazine as being the "sexiest woman alive." Jolie was the top pick of the Esquire Magazine editors and the readers of the magazine. Jolie was followed by "Catwoman" star Halle Berry and pop diva Brittany Spears. Jolie is currently featured as the voice of Lola, a vampire fish, in the computer animated movie "Shark Tale." Jolie will next be seen as Alexander the Great's mother in the upcoming epic "Alexander." The November issue of Esquire Magazine will hit news stands this week so you can read more information about leading contenders for world's sexiest woman. http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/10/17/sexy.woman.reut/index.html

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is national Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Current statistics show that 1 out of every 3 women will have breast cancer in her lifetime. While most risk factors such as genetics are unavoidable, there are things that women can do to reduce their risk of this highly-feared disease.
Recent studies show that women who are overweight or obese are at higher risk for breast cancer after menopause. An increase in weight also increases the amount of estrogen that is produced by the body. High amounts of estrogen levels present in post-menopausal women are linked to a higher risk for breast cancer.
In connection with maintaining a healthy weight, diet and exercise are also key factors in reducing risk for breast cancer. New research shows that it is beneficial to women to include foods with vitamin D, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids into their diet. It also shows benefits of cutting out caffeine and alcohol to lower risk.
Exercise not only helps to maintain weight, but also helps to balance out levels of estrogen in the body as well. Forty-five minutes of vigorous activity at least five days a week is recommended to reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Sustaining a healthy lifestyle is very important in the reduced risk of breast cancer. It is vital for women to maintain a healthy weight, diet, and exercise regimen.

http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/94/103052.htm?pagenumber=1

Mexico Border Sparks Terrorism Concern

Mexico's new head of the federal police force said on Monday, October 15th that the Mexico-U.S. border is not allowing terrorists into America. He, Jose Luis Figueroa, said anti-terrorism efforts were his highest priority. He confirmed that the two recent incidents of terrorism scares had nothing to do with terrorism at all. He declared that the border is not a place for "fundamentalist Islam movements".http://www.team4news.com/Global/story.asp?S=2446485&nav=0w0vS7rh

Cisco and Microsoft join forces to stop viruses

Cisco and Microsoft corporation said that they have decided to work together to help their clients defend against virus attacks. Both companies are creating systems to better protect corporate computer networks. By 2007 Microsoft plans on releasing its new server software and plans on making it compatible with Cisco to increase security. This will hopefully help prevent an infected computer from infecting others. Both companies have been big targets for hackers so they hope their combined efforts will increase the reliablity of their products.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6249208/

Presidency vs. CEO

The article compares Bush's job responisbilities as our president to that of his responsibilites as a previous CEO. In order to be successful you will have to face loss, sometimes more sometimes less. There are four "big bets" listed in the article. Accordingly Bush has had only one of the three bets pay off. When looking at the presidency as a business, that is considerably successful. The ideal of course is to achieve all your goals but it just doesn't happen. This being the case his presidency should continue to give him the time necessary to fulfill the final three bets.