Noted

Post by **noreply66** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 9:23 am

Utah,which in 1970 was 98 % white,is now 16.5% Hispanic and is considered one of the nation's most immigrant-friendly states.largely because of the influence of the Mormon Church,the state has established"newcomer schools" to help immigrants adjust,allows the undocumented to drive legally with a "driving privileges card," and lets them attend public universities and pay in-state tuition.

USA Today

Post by **noreply66** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 9:12 am

It's official: The continental U.S. this year experienced the hottest summer since the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s and the second hottest since record-keeping began,in the 19th century,federal scientists reported.Eight of the past 10 summers had above-average temperatures.

Bloomberg News

Post by **noreply66** » Sun Oct 01, 2006 5:10 pm

Electroconvulsive (electroshock) therapy has made a comeback for people whose depression or other mental illness defies medication and other conventional treatments. More than 100,000 Americans get electroconvulsive therapy every year.

The Boston Globe Magazine

Post by **noreply66** » Tue Oct 03, 2006 8:49 am

Since 1990,federal records show,airplanes have collided in the air or on runways with 1,492 ducks,63 turtles,35 mule deer,16 moose,14 alligators,and seven iguanas.

The Dallas Morning News

Post by **noreply66** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 8:20 am

U.S. military deaths in Iraq and Afganistan now exceed the death toll of Sept.11,which killed 2,973 victims in New York,Washington,D.C. and Pennsyvania.The 2,674th military Fatality occurred in Iraq last week.

Post by **noreply66** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 9:31 am

A 2-year-old book by radical political theorist Noam Chomsy shot to No.1 on Amazon's best-seller list last week,after Venezuelian President Hugo Chavez held up a copy of Chomsky's book during his fiery speech at the United Nations.

The New York Times

Post by **noreply66** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 9:16 am

A survey of 32 business schools in the U.S. and Canada has found that 56 percent of MBA candidates had cheated on exams at least once in the last year,compared with 47 percent of non-business students.

The Philadelphia Inquirer

Post by **noreply66** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 9:22 am

In December,Donald Rumsfeld will surpass Robert McNamara as the longest serving defense secretary in U.S. history.

USA Today

Post by **noreply66** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 8:47 am

The Average American home now has more TV sets than people. The tyypical American household has 2.55 people and 2.73 televisions.Half of American homes have three or more sets.

Associated Press

Post by **noreply66** » Thu Oct 12, 2006 8:38 am

Due to nonexistant regulation and unscrupulous vendors,some 500 people a day in China get severely ill or die from food poisoning.

Los Angeles Times

Post by **noreply66** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 9:22 am

Authorities are having trouble monitoring the U.S.-Canadian border because they can't locate it.Much of the 5,525-mile border is overrun with woods and dense brush that obscures the markers and monuments that denote the actual border.If you can't find it ,said U.S. border comissioner Dennis Schornack,then you can't secure it.

Associated Press

Post by **noreply66** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:27 am

The new Iraqi government has passed a series of laws criminalizing speech that ridicules the government.In the last year, about a dozen Iraqi jouralists have been charged with offending public officials; they face up to seven years in prison.

The New York Times

Post by **noreply66** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 8:55 am

Venice's population has shrunk from 171,000 in 1951 to 62,000 today,as residents are driven away by soaring real estate costs,food prices,and hordes of tourists.On many days,the number of tourists in the city is more than double the number of Venetians,International Herald Tribune

Post by **noreply66** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 8:21 pm

Republicans control 49 of the 50 congressional districts with the highest rates of married couples.Democrats represent all 50 districts with the highest rates of adults who have never married.

USA Today

Post by **noreply66** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 9:02 am

Detainees at Guantanamo have gained an average of 20 pounds since their capture,due to a lack of exercise and a meal plan that offers them 4,200 calories a day about twice the amount recommended for heathy adults. One detainee has doubled in weight,to 410 pounds.

Associated Press

Post by **noreply66** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 7:44 am

Tucked away in last years military spending bill was a lump sum of $20 million to fund a national celebration "for commemoration of success" in Iraq and Afghanistan. Left unspent,the money has been rolled over into this years budget.

Post by **noreply66** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 7:46 am

Under the Bush administration's faithbased initiative,98.3 percent of the $1.7 billion in federal funds awarded to religious organizations has gone to Christian groups.Jewish organizations got 1 percent;Muslim organizations 0.34 percent;and interfaith groups,0.16 percent.

The Boston Globe

Post by **noreply66** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 8:02 am

U.S. air travelers reported a record-high 437,000 lost bags in August,a 33 percent increase over the same month a year ago. Airlines blame the new security restrictions on carry-on bags,which prompted a 20 percent jump in the amount of checked luggage. USA Today

Post by **noreply66** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 3:27 pm

Spain's interest in bullfighting is waning,especially among young people.Polls show that 70 percent of Spaniards have no interest in bullfighting,up from 40 percent in 1970.Arenas are now often half-empty.

Chicago Tribune

Post by **noreply66** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 3:02 pm

More than five years after Islamic terrorists infiltrated and attacked the U.S. on 9/11,only 33 FBI agents have even a limited proficiency in Arabic.None of the Arabic speakers work in sections of the bureau involved in countererrorism.

The Washington Post