Keeping You in the Know...

News I heard today from Harper's and various other sources:

Scientists developed a biodegradable cell phone cover that turns into a sunflower when thrown away.

Bernard Kerik withdrew from consideration to replace Tom Ridge as head of homeland security after discovering that a nanny he had employed may have been an illegal immigrant for whom he may not have paid taxes. (Of course this reason given is somehow not as big a deal as his mob ties, questionable stock options, and multiple simultaneous affairs which have been the subject of an unlawful employment practices lawsuit...for God's sake, it HAD to be that Nanny that raised an eyebrow).

The Bush Administration was tapping the phone of Mohamed El Baradei, the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency who questioned U.S. intelligence on Iraq.

Iran claimed it started working to weaponize its uranium to instigate offers of economic incentives to stop the process (evidently, you can't just ask).

Scientists were warning men not to place laptop computers on their laps since overheating the scrotum can reduce fertility (Mr. Mooch and I use desktops).

The Vatican disapproved of a nativity scene in Madame Tussaud's wax museum in London that depicted David and Victoria Beckham, aka Posh Spice, as Joseph and Mary, with George W. Bush, Tony Blair, and the Duke of Edinburgh standing in for the three wise men. "There is a tradition in which each generation tries to reenact the nativity," explained a spokesman for the Archbishop of Canterbury, "but oh deary me." (*Ahem*).

FCC Chairman Michael Powell reported to Congress that there has been a sharp rise in complaints over programing in the last year (from 350 in 2001 to 240,000 in 2003). The FCC estimated that 99.8 percent of complaints came from one conservative group: the Parents Television Council.

A report found that a federally funded program to promote abstinence in schools has been teaching students that a 43-day-old fetus is a "thinking person," abortion
can lead to sterility and suicide, touching a person's genitals can result in pregnancy, and HIV can be spread by sweat and tears. (When asked about this, Sen. Majority Leader and Medical Doctor Bill Frist would not deny the assertions).