I'm taking a few sick days. Be back when I feel like it!

Prince Ahmed bin Salman Dies
I missed this one when it happened. I wrote about the Prince earlier this year when I realized that he was the owner of a winning throughbred horse, War Emblem. I'm sorry that he has passed so young. I love stories like this, a man whose passions, not heredity, lead him to the successes that he sought in life.
[Previous coverage]

Administrative Crack Down on Illegal Workers
Until recently, many people who are in this country without a social security number have invented numbers to get past the Department of Justice requirement for employers to make sure their employees are in the country and working legally. Now, the DOJ is actually getting around to checking the submitted social security numbers, and they are notifying employers when an employee didn't match the number they gave. Sometimes, it is an honest, clerical error. But many people are losing jobs because they falsified this information, which is impacting the businesses that are losing employees. About 1/8 of employers have received this kind of letter and over 7 million employees have been addressed since the beginning of the year. The Social Security Administration and the Immigration and Naturalization Service are being factual in their handing of these cases, while special interest groups like the National Imigration Law Center are screaming about it. In 1999, there was $4.9 billion in social security taxes withheld from paychecks for people whose SSN didn't match what was on file.

NetFlix Sucess Makes Them a Target
You've got to hand it to the people at Blockbuster... they are smart about their business. First, they took on the mom & pop video stores, running them out of business with their exclusive deals with the studios. Second, they took on satellite TV services, becoming one of the largest retailers of DirecTV. And now, they are experimenting with a subscription service to knock out the impact of their newest competitor, NetFlix. The new program is called DVD Subscription Pass and it's being tested in Phoenix, Seattle, Houston, and New York right now. With video on demand services just around the corner, Blockbuster isn't letting any competition stand in their way. But NetFlix isn't fazed by this... they have just opened several regional processing centers so they can deliver their DVDs through the mail quicker across the country.
[Previous coverage]

"I See Crop Circles..."
OK, I'll stop making fun of M. Night Shyamalan's movies. But as you might expect, the interest in crop circles has risen in response to his new movie Signs. I'm planning to see it in a couple of weeks. I don't have an opinion about crop circles, and my world wouldn't be shaken one way or the other if they were unmistakenly proven true or false. But the images are pretty. Here is the latest from Quebec, Canada.

Everyone With A Stolen Debit Card Should Be So Lucky
Jacqueline Boanson had her debit card stolen by Andrew Cameron in the UK. He used the card to place two £50 (about $80) bets on horse races. He won, but the winnings were posted to the debit card that was used to make the bet. The overall effect? Her bank account balance went up by nearly $500.

Australian Grain Shipments to Iraq Refused
Recently, the government of Iraq threatened to reduce the level of wheat they import from Australia because of their military presence in the Gulf region and their political support of the US policies against Iraq. At that time, shipments were already on their way by boat. Now that the shipments have arrived, the have been refused by the Iraqis because they claim that the shipments are contaminated. The AWB Limited, the grain board, says that is the shipments are not contaminated, but indeed the refusal is political, the AWB is going to put pressure on the Australian government because of the importance of these imports. Fasten your seatbelts, the shakeout has begun.

Martha in an Orange Jumpsuit?
Looking for a belly laugh? Then read this wonderful opinion about why Martha Stewart won't be going to jail -- not because she isn't guilty, but because the Federal Bureau of Prisons isn't prepared to contain a style maven like her. In fact, about the only thing M would like about prison is the heavy use of grey, which Paul Coggins observers "...Gray is the new black..."

Was bin Laden Upset About the WTC Architecture?
Did you know that the World Trade Center incorporated Islamic sacred architectural elements? Or that the architect, Minoru Yamasaki, was a favorite of the Saudi royal family who had also designed the King Fahd Dhahran Air Terminal in the 1950s which the royal family liked so well that it appears on their currency?

Which Side of the Road is Right?
Have you ever wondered why some countries drive on the right side of the road, and other countries drive on the left? That question has been answered! Fascinating history of transportation site that gives a method to the madness. While you are there, check out the list of countries that prefer each side. And if you have any additional information, they are accepting input from visitors.

Privacy Zone Getting Smaller
Imagine that you live in a country without the separation of church and state. And imagine that it is illegal to explore many of the types of services available so easily on the Internet. Now, imagine that you are a creative business owner in that country. So you convert a back room, or maybe a hallway, into a cybercafe where your customers can pay for a slice of privacy and a chance to explore options on the Internet. Now, imagine that your country puts in new homeland defense type of laws, that require you as the operator of a cybercafe to register with the government, and then, to require ID from all of your customers. Welcome to Pakistan. Welcome to the Brave New World post-September 11.

Dream DVD Rentals? I Think So
About two years ago, when I bought my DVD player, I joined NetFlix. At first, I was incredulous -- the offer sounded too good to be true. But I've found that the company is reputable, the service is good, and the promises are delivered. In this time, the company has gone public and seems to be headed for that elite group: dot com financial success. It's a smart idea that seems to be well executed. If you are thinking about joining them, make sure that you poke around for a free trial membership offer to try-before-you-buy. I think you'll be hooked.

Back To School Tip: Bananas & Bach
With schools getting ready to start up, it is time to think about coping with that most common problem: test taking. According to the staff at the Turves Green Girls' School in the UK, the best way to prepare students for test taking is to have them eat bananas, listen to some Bach, and do some mental gymnastics. Unless you hate bananas, it can't hurt. I wonder if this works for adults preparing for difficult days on the job, too.

Virgin Blue Men Get Fair Coverage
In America, we have the NY firefighters beefcake calendar... but in the UK, they are now getting a beefcake article about the male flight attendants that work for Virgin Blue airlines. Seems that a group of the women posed for a layout in FHM magazine, and the The Sunday Telegraph decided to select the best beefcake among the male attendants. The winners are Stuart Arnolda and Fabian Lizza.

Beacon in the Desert
The Arizona/Mexico border is the place where many people attempt to enter this country illegally. (Don't get me started about the legalities of political borders...) With the conditions they encounter crossing the desert, many of them die in the process. As a humanitarian effort, especially after the deaths of a group of 14 Mexicans about a year ago (and influenced by the events of 11 September), the Yuma, Arizona division of the US Border Patrol has begun installing beacons that are 30 feet tall that allow those people crossing the desert can notify the Border Patrol that they are there and need help. So far, the beacons have been saving lives, and more are scheduled for installation.

Korean Textbook Bias Investiation Started
The Grand National Party in Korea has ordered an investigation into pro-governement (North Korea) bias found in recent history textbooks, written to support Marxist theory. They want the textbooks corrected and those responsible punished.

Demand for Universal Cell Phone Chargers
More interesting news from South Korea -- the government there is calling for all cell phone manufacturers selling phones there to come up with a universal charger so that people don't have to purhase a new charger when they get a new phone. What a great idea!

Talk About Sailors on Shore Leave...
On a recent shore leave trip to Perth, Australia, it seems that American soliders were wearing out the sex workers at a local brothel, so badly that they closed their doors so the girls could get some sleep. The madame, Mary-Anne Kenworthy, said that she would rather the US soldiers would get their leave in smaller groups so her business could keep up. The ships were the USS John C Stennis, USS Port Royal, and the USS Bridge which were returning to the US after a tour of Afghanistan in late April.

Arizona Prisoner Law Being Challenged
I live in the wild, wild west. People shopping in Circle K have guns on them. Last month, a prisoner chain gang (yup, with stripes and ankle shackles like "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?") was cleaning up the street about a half mile from my home. We have a tent city jail, and the prisoners have to wear pink boxer shorts. Oh, and we have webcams inside the jails. But I didn't know that prisoners are prevented from Internet communications. It fits, though, with the rest of Sherrif Joe's agenda. I'm not sure how I feel about it.

Hungary for Rocky Horror
OK, that's a bad pun. But I had to snicker when I found this article in the Budapest newspaper about fans of, you guessed it, the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

No Russian Word for "Frustration"
Wow. What a fascinating article. I've heard that in the Navajo language there is no word for "art" because everything is art, and that the Eskimos have a huge number of words for snow so they can describe it accurately. But this is a new fact, and totally fascinating.

Flying Sauces Being Built by Boeing
OK, maybe I exaggerate about the shape of what they are working on, but the good folks at Boeing admit that they are working on an anti-gravity airplane propulsion system in their Phantom Works division. Finally, someone admits it.

Bhutan Gets New Window on the World
It's official. In 2003, the people of Bhutan will finally be able to use the Windows operating system, thanks to a new version in the Dzongkha language developed jointly by Microsoft, The Orient Foundation, and Dzongkha Development Commission. Too bad they didn't get the Mac first!

Russian Mob's Sports Connection
I guess that with the big bucks generated by sponts, it was only a matter of time before mobsters got involved. I don't know much about the Russian mob (although I suspect I may know a few members), or about corruption around sports, so I was surprised to read about it here. Alimzan Tokhtakhounov has been arrested as being behind an ice skating medal fixing fisasco at the Salt Lake City Olympics, and no, I don't mean the pairs fisasco [previous coverage]. Another one.

Give Me A Break!
There is an uproar going on because the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill has given their incoming freshman this assignment: Read Approaching the Qur'an -- a book about the Koran, the scriptures for Muslims. This is offered in the context of understanding the events of September 11th, of getting to the heart of the issues between the US and the Muslim world. And people are complaining about the assignment, and a lawsuit has been filed by a conservative Christian organization. People are offended to be told to learn about the religion of another group of people. It's not like they are being asked to participate in Muslim prayers, or to defend their own religious choice! How can any of us understand anyone else if we are not willing to walk a few steps in their shoes? The school isn't suggesting that the students consider Islam as a personal religion choice, only that they take a few steps towards understanding these people. Bravo for the school for focusing on relevant topics. And to everyone who is complaining -- shut your ignorant mouth, and maybe if you opened up a crack in your mind, a good idea might fall in.

Patty Hearst May Testify Against SLA Member
The strange story never seems to end. Now, nearly 30 years after her kidnapping, Patty Hearst Shaw is tapped to be a witness for the prosecution against Kathleen Soliah, who had been in hiding in Minnesota as Sara Jane Olson. She is on trial for planting bombs under police cars.

Cock Flavoured Soup Mix
Maybe it's just because it is late and I haven't had much sleep, but when I ran across this product, a real product from Jamaica, I fell on the floor laughing. The jokes are running wild in my head. I'll spare you... fill in your own punch line. I'm not recommending that you buy from these guys, just showing off what made me laugh and laugh. And don't ask how I found it, either!

Cuban Missile Crisis Anniversary
In October, a conference will be held in Cuba to discuss the greatest crisis point of the Cold War, the blockade of Cuba by President Kennedy. The conference organizer, José Ramón Fernández, has invited the former advisors from that time to participate. Most of the research on this topic has explored the US and USSR activites, but this conference will also review the Cuban involvement. This event is being co-sponsored by The Center for the Study of Defense Information, the Center for Military Studies, the State Security Center for Historical Research, the Institute of Cuban History, and the Center for Studies on the United States.

End of an Era
Thanks to Kate for pointing out this one as one of the first entries in her new blog. I love neighborhood stories, and cat stories. I'll leave the rest of this to Kate to tell, since she had first hand knowledge of it.

Tombstone's Western Film Festival
I've seen my share of western films, mostly while I was growing up. Like most of America, after Blazing Saddles, I had no interest in westerns any more. But I do love local film festivals, and who knows, maybe next year I'll check out Tombstone's contribution.

How To Get To Sesame Street From Israel
An amazing story of hope. It turns out that there is a joint Israel-Palestine production of Sesame Street, but in order to translate our benign children's program to that culture, there are a few unexpected twists. But no one is giving up. What kind of a world doesn't have room for Sesame Street? Thankfully, we don't have to find out -- yet. I found the reality of this article quite illuminating.

Staying Cool
As a lifelong renter, I have always used the major household appliances provided to me with the property. That is, until I moved into my current home two years ago and had to purchase a refrigerator, washer and dryer. It was great fun looking through all of the models and deciding what options were "must have" and which were not necessary. In the end, I selected a fridge with an icemaker, and boy-o-boy do I love it! And now I understand how it works. And speaking of cool, doesn't this recipe for sangria look wonderful?

Going The Way of the Railroads
I've recently had a couple of rounds of tough time with Qwest, my local phone company. I've also had fits with MSN, who is my DSL service provider, and discovered that there really aren't any good options if I want to change my service. I've also considered switching to broadband, and maybe going to digital telephone, too. But after reading this article about the coming bad news in the cable industry, perhaps it is best not to put all of my business eggs in the same basket. Since I need my telecom services for my home office, perhaps staying put is the best strategy for now. At least that's what I read between the lines of the words from James Chanos, the guy who broke the Enron accounting fiasco, who is now writing about cable.

Internet People Searching
I'm always interested in finding new things to research on the Internet. Thanks to this article, I've been able to add a list of search engines and databases to my favorites, and add a few new tricks up my sleeve. (ouch)

Flopsy Top Gone Spikey
I like Hugh Grant's work. From the interviews I've seen with him, the small glimpses into his real personality, I suspect that I would not like the real person very much. Here's an Australian interview of the new Hugh, the evil twin of the flopsy haired bumbling Hugh, the evil twin with the spikey hair cut.

Malaysian "Tea Breaks" Running Long, Impacting Customer Service
Civil servants in Malaysia have been reminded to keep their tea breaks short so that people aren't left waiting too long for them to return to work. You've got to hand to the Malaysians, however. They have the courage to hold a National Public Complaints Management Convention. Can you imagine what would happen here if we held a conference where citizens could complain about the civil servants and government agencies we interact with?

Has Big Brother Arrived in the Amazon River Region?
Raytheon. You should recognize that name -- the defense contractor who developed the Cruise missile system that was the star of the Gulf War, and most recently announced that is it developing a laser targeting system that cuts through a loophole in the Geneva Convention that prohibits airplane systems that blind people on the ground. They have been quietly working on a surveilance project with the CIA and the government of Brazil to monitor drug activites along the Amazon River. Called the System for the Vigilance of the Amazon, it is considered the greatest scandal for President Fernando Henrique Cardoso.

Now That Is A Sweet Offer
Hershey, the chocolate people, have put their company up for sale.

Today's Theme: All About Arizona

Frank, Baby
Some pretty famous people have called Phoenix home, including David Spade, Bruce Springsteen, Cher, Erma Bombeck, Bil Keane, Stephen Spielberg, Hugh Downs, Alice Cooper, and Charles Barkley. Perhaps the most famous resident of Phoenix was Frank Lloyd Wright. Although at the time of his death, he was still living in the open desert far from the city, that land is now surrounded by Scottsdale subdivisions. His architecture school, Taliesin, opened it's western campus in 1937 and students still spend 7 months of the year learning at Taliesin West. In the summer, the campus is used for many other workshops. Tours are available all year long.

Money Crunch Closing State Parks
Everyone knows that Arizona's state government is running in the red. But if you don't live in a small town, you might not know that seven of our state parks have already been closed indefinitely, and four more are scheduled to be closed later this year. The small towns are being devastated by the loss of tourist dollars, and are fighting to have the parks reopened. Closed parks include: Catalina State Park (Tucson), Lost Dutchman State Park (Apache Junction), Mc Farland State Historic Park (Florence), Oracle State Park (Oracle), Picacho Peak State Park (Picacho), Roper Lake State Park (Safford), and Tubac Presidio State Historic Park (Tubac). Scheduled to close soon are: Lyman Lake State Park (St. Johns), Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area (Show Low), Homolovi Ruins State Park (Winslow), and Tonto Natural Bridge State Park (Payson). Other states are facing the same challenges.

Mysterious Death & Illnesses Related to Golf Courses
A very sad story about the death of 15-year-old Nils Beeman, an honors student and serious golfer who died after participating in the Junior Golf Association of Arizona tournament at two south Phoenix courses. Nine other players and gallery members have reported usual illnesses. After a week, they still don't know what killed Nils.

Living On A Heat Island
One of the myths about Phoenix is that it cools off at night. Sure, when the sun sets the temperatures drop from the 110 range, but did you know that this time of year, the LOWS are typically in the mid-90s? Yep, that's right, the low might 95! The reason for this is the fact that we live surrounded by materials that absorb heat all day long, tile roofs, asphalt, and other building materials. So while the desert may be cooler, in the city it is still scorching.

Malfunction, Not Criminal Act, Sunk the Kursk
A press release today from Russia reports that the Kursk sank because of leaking torpedo fuel, and not an attack.
[previous coverage]

Corporate Theft: Ivy League Style
Corporate theft is not a new issue. Neither is it news that Yale and Princeton are arguing. But add to that mix a bit of admitting hacking, and you have the impetus for the FBI to investigage the potential of felony charges. That's right. The head of admissions at Princeton, Stephen LeMenager, admitted that his office used the social security numbers from Princeton applicants to check out any similar admissions records for them on the Yale admissions site. The use of the student's social security numbers may be a violation of the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act, also known as the Buckley Amendment, which could result in Princeton losing federal funding. Yale was tipped off about the security breach when Princeton staff casually mentioned it during an Ivy Leage dean's meeting. LeMenager has been placed on administrative leave during the investigation.

Blinded By The Light?
Is there no limit to what people will do? Lockheed Martin and Raytheon are developing a new technology for pinpointing targets from the F35 Joint Strike Fighter airplanes that uses a laser so powerful it could blind people on the ground, even people not at the target site. Apparently, the Geneva Convention has anticipated something like this, and has a provision that prohibits blinding weapons. But this one slips through the loopholes. Who in the world could possibly think this is a good idea?

Canadians Love Being Canadian
In a new survey, 94% of the respondents said that they thought Canada was the best country in the world, or one of the best. And only 6% thought the USA was the best country. I guess that is why they aren't illegally slipping into this country across our undefended border, eh?

Don't Pack What You Don't Want Made Public
A woman is suing Delta for embarrassing her when a sex toy started buzzing in her suitcase.

Another Reason Not To Go To Prison
Did you know that our government doesn't allow the showing of R, X, or NC-17 movies to inmates? The porno I'm not surprised about, but the R movies I am. I know that most of the movies I watch are rated R, especially until a few years ago when more quailty PG-13 movies started coming out. There is a lawsuit challenging this policy, and it's being appealed. For example, they can see the Powerpuff Girls movie, but not Road to Perdition, they won't miss Men in Black or Minority Report, but will miss Lovely & Amazing.

Swiss Emails To Be Kept For 6 Months
It's hard to believe, but a new Swiss law requires ISPs to retain a log of all email traffic for six months. The contents of the emails don't have to be kept, only the sender, receiver, along with the time and date it was sent. What a lot of recordkeeping! How long until the Homeland Security people decide this is a good idea for our ISPs?

So, What Really Was Going On During The Anthrax Mailings?
According to this article, a lot of terrority wars and a real lack of cooperation. I suspect that this article is truthful. I have heard from a couple of different sources that the perpetrator of those events was found and is isolated somewhere by our government. Maybe that is true, maybe it is just more of the conspiracy theorist's bologna. Perhaps history will reveal the truth, or perhaps this event will go down in history like Jack the Ripper, where the mystery remains and rumors of the solution refuse to die.

Presidential Election Florida Recounters: Where Are They Now?
Would you believe that they have been given jobs in DC? What? You are shocked to hear this? Not me. Jeffrey Toobin has written a book about these people and their appointments. You may recognize his name... he also wrote about some of the Clinton scandals a few years ago.

Al-Qaida Website Keeps Cells Informed
Language is so important. It seems that there is a site in Arabic that is being used by member cells of Al-Qaida to share information. It makes me wish I knew Arabic.

You've Heard "Don't Mess With Texas..."
...Now Arizona has a litter campaign. You can now report drivers that you see tossing trash from a car with a special hotline. I can't wait to see what happens next! At least the traffic cameras collect evidence that a crime was committed. It's going to be the talking mouth show redeux. At least they are promising to start with awareness warnings, according to the Arizona Clean and Beautiful committee. Thanks to the Arizona Republic for making the trash an issue.

Museum of Spanish Colonial Art Opens
Another museum is opening in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This one features the Spanish Colonial period art, part of the tri-blooded culture of this ancient town, the blend of Spanish, Native American, and Northern European heritage that gives this wonderful place its unique history and atmosphere. The Museum of Spanish Colonial Art is the first of its kind in the US. If you have never been to Santa Fe, or New Mexico, you can't understand why their state slogan is "Land of Enchantment." And if you have, like me, you are always planning your next trip. [If you are fascinated by Roswell, NM, that is an entirely different sort of culture, and it doesn't really count. :-)]

Gift Registries Popular
My age and current social group have isolated me a bit from the hub-bub associated with big church weddings and the related gifting that goes along with them. Most of my friends have been through a first wedding (some have only had the one!) and the ones that are marrying again are avoiding the big, overdone wedding scene. So the wedding gifts that I have purchased over the last few years have not been for people who were registered somewhere. I have been invited to baby showers where I was told the mommy-to-be was registered. I've opted in almost every circumstance, for a gift certificate -- that most flexible of gifts that never needs to be returned. I have an Amazon wish list, but I use it to remind myself of things I've discovered on the site, and I've never shared my list with others.

Yucca Mountain Moves Forward
Without fanfare, Dubya signed the bill that puts the Yucca Mountain national nuclear waste repository plan into action, at the same time, Congress cuts the project funding. What could possibly be overfunded? Safety, perhaps? Let the lawsuits begin!
[previous coverage]

Thanks to the regulars who stop by... I've just been swamped lately. I miss doing my updates, and promise to be back on schedule in the very near future. In the meantime, I'll continue to post as time allows.

Johannesburg Newspaper Purchased by Zimbabwe Media Mogul
The Mail & Guardian has been purchased by Trevor Ncube who is the CEO of both the Zimbabwean Independent and The Standard, and has taken a stand against the media censorship in his country. The paper, formerly owned by the Guardian Media Group in London, has been losing money for some time, and Ncube hopes to turn that around. He will be the first black owner of this South African newspaper which was started in 1985, and survived attempts under apartheid to shut it down.

Baby It's Cold Inside
Occasionally, I mention the weather here in Phoenix during the summer. It's a tough time, but I always remember that if the summer's weren't so brutal, everyone would move here. I wear my ability to survive the summers as a badge of honor. Along with my high utility bills. But one person I've neglected to thank over the years is Willis Haviland Carrier, the guy who invented air conditioning one hundred years ago while working for the Buffalo Forge Co. Their client, a printer, was having trouble getting paper and ink together in the presses because of the impact of the heat and humidity on the paper until the air conditioning system was installed on July 17, 1902.

In-N-Out Burger Still Tops
Is anyone else dizzy over the new offerings at the typically boring fast food restaurants? I'm not eating there these days [I've lost more than 40 pounds since the start of the year], but I'm confused by variety and consistency of the offerings. Everyone has a new burger or two. Everyone has a new chicken burger. According to this article, the only major chain not buying into the "me-too" attitude is In-N-Out Burger, my personal favorite, which fortunately is now available in Arizona.

Taking A Summer Road Trip?
Take a few minutes to prepare your vehicle for the road and keep yourself safe!

That's Right... Duct Tape
Growing up, my Dad always had rolls and rolls of the stuff I thought he called "duck" tape. I died laughing when I found a duct tape daily calendar with a new use for the stuff each day. But when I found this site full of duct tape fashions, I knew the people involved were a bit, well.... quacky. That is, until I discovered the latest duct tape trend.... Duct Shui. Talk about milking a topic for all it is worth.

A Writing Contest Looking For Bad Writers
In this world of diversity, there truly is something for everyone. It takes a lot to surprise me, that is the only reason why I wasn't surprised to learn about the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest for Bad Writing. The winners (or is that losers?) run the gamut as well. I won't be admitting I entered next year, that is, unless I win.

Saving Heirloom Seeds
I'm so glad to see Native Seed/SEARCH making the national news. This small group in Tucson is working to save seeds from the variety of plant life, especially food plants, that were actively grown in our grandparent's generation. But today, thanks to genetic engineering and marketing demands, our produce is coming from deisgner seeds and some a smaller number of species. Without these seeds, our link to a variety of food sources would be lost. Hooray for biodiversity.

Arizona #2 in US for Working Outhouses
Thanks to Laurie Notaro for point this out in her usual humorus manner.

Today's Theme: Health & Illness


Tango Competition Starts in Finland
Blogger problems...

Canadian Border Workers Catch TB
Five immigration workers at the Canada-U.S. border crossing at Lacolle, Quebec, the busiest border crossing point in Quebec, have contracted tuberculosis from an immigrant. The woman was entering Canada from New York, and the disease was diagnosed through a routine medical examination. All of the workers were checked and the five with the disease are being treated.

West Nile Virus Spreading
Human infections were in the news the last week, with three men in the Baton Rouge, LA area contracting West Nile virus, the first three cases in the US this year, and the first ones not along the Eastern Seaboard. Birds with the virus have been found for almost two years in Ontario, so officials were watching for the spread into other Canadian provinces. In Manitoba, a dead crow was found with the virus, and in Quebec, birds were also found. Just days ago, a horse in North Dakota was found with the virus. While they are still not sure about the disease, officials do not believe that people can get the virus from contact with dead animals. Mosquitoes carry it from animal hosts, primarily birds, to humans. There is no cure at this time.

Italian Police Shut Down Anti-Catholic Site
Did you know that blasphemy is illegal in Italy? That is why the Italian police have shut down a series of websites created by a man in Rome and hosted by web services in the US. No details have been released.

Russian IKEA Building Mega-Mall
Swedish home furnishing chain IKEA is building a mall around its newest Russian store in Moscow. Retailers involved in this project include Tommy Hilfiger, Levi's and Reebok. They expect more than 25 million visitors a year.

Denver Police Caught Spying On Law-Abiding Citizens
The intelligence bureau of the Denver police has admitted to having more than 3,400 secret surveillance files, many of people who were not invesigated because of known crimes. The American Civil Liberties Union is involved, and wants to keep the materials as evidence for lawsuits against the police. This should get interesting.