It’s time to think pragmatically, and you’ll need some good survival strategies for negotiating the big hurt. Read more »

KATHMANDU (Reuters) – Officials at Nepal’s state-run airline have sacrificed two goats to appease Akash Bhairab, the Hindu sky god, following technical problems with one of its Boeing 757 aircraft, the carrier said Tuesday. Read more »

These electric CityCars designed by the Media Lab at Massachusetts Institute of Technology are perhaps the perfect fix for dense urban jams. Grab a CityCar to your destination, then deposit it at another CityCar site located at shopping and culture centers.

Go to original.

Left: Aphthovirus genome map
Biologist-entrepreneur J. Craig Venter has just published almost all 6 billion letters, or 96 percent, of his own personal genetic code in the journal PLoS Biology. From diseases to personality traits, it’s the most comprehensive human genome to date.

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The relaxing of restrictions on the use of the weapons comes despite warnings that they could trigger a heart attack in youngsters. Until now, Tasers — which emit a 50,000-volt electric shock — have been used only by specialist officers as a “non lethal” alternative to firearms. — Go to original by Jason Lewis, Daily Mail

Cartoonist is still winning awards for paper that let him go Chicago Reader

Scott Nychay, who lost his Northwest Herald editorial cartoonist job last October, was recently recognized in AP and Illinois Press Association contests. “Nychay called IPA and the AP to explore the possibility of renouncing his awards,” writes Michael Miner. “Not to sound ungrateful, but he didn’t much like the idea of the Herald entering him without his permission and basking in his triumphs.”
– Poynteronline Romenesko QuickLink this item: A129314

On Thursday morning, a male festival participant was found dead, hanging from the inside of a two-story tent, according to Mark Pirtle, special agent in charge for the Bureau of Land Management, the federal agency that awards the use permit to Burning Man and oversees law enforcement duties. The apparent suicide would be the festival’s first in its 21-year history, Pirtle said. He added that the man had been hanging for two hours before anyone in the large tent thought to bring him down.”His friends thought he was doing an art piece,” Pirtle said.

Go to original by Justin Berton, San Francisco Chronicle Staff Writer

Evan Knappenberger, left, with Adam Kokesh, said involuntary extension “makes no sense.” (By Haraz N. Ghanbari — Associated Press)

Evan Knappenberger is like many young post-Sept. 11 Army enlistees who went from high school into the military for patriotic reasons. He wanted to spread democracy, to topple Saddam Hussein, “to do something to affect the world in a good way,” the freckled 22-year-old says.

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More than two dozen House members and senators have used the August recess to travel to Iraq in the hope of getting a firsthand view of the war ahead of commanding Gen. David H. Petraeus’s progress report in two weeks on Capitol Hill.

At one point, were trying to discuss the state of Iraqi security forces with Iraq’s national security adviser, Mowaffak al-Rubaie, but the large, flat-panel television set facing the official proved to be a distraction. Rubaie was watching children’s cartoons.

When Moran asked him to turn it off, Rubaie protested with a laugh and said, “But this is my favorite television show,” Moran recalled.

Porter confirmed the incident, although he tried to paint the scene in the best light, noting that at least they had electricity.

“I don’t disagree it was an odd moment, but I did take a deep breath and say, ‘Wait a minute, at least they are using the latest technology, and they are monitoring the world,’ ” Porter said. “But, yes, it was pretty annoying.”

Go to original by Jonathan Weisman, Washington Post Staff Writer

The askSam Drink Recipes is a collection of over 11,000 mixed drink and cocktail recipes. Complete with title, glass type, complete drink ingreditents and even instructions on how to mix the drink. If you have a full copy of askSam you can download the file and add your own drinks or cocktails and even add notes, modify existing drink recipes and more. This is a perfect database for anyone wanting to mix drinks at home, bartenders, or anyone just looking for a laugh (the names are very creative). Go to free searchable version

Current New Yorker cartoons are now online.

NEW YORK AUG 17, 2007 (Reuters Health) – Premenopausal women who are very physically active — especially those who put in the most work around the house — may be cutting their risk of developing cancer of the uterine lining.

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I just received an invitation to “the industry’s first BlogWorld and New Media Expo.” Press credentials are open only to accredited members of the professional media and will require submission of articles and verification that you intend to write for a publication on the conference. – Stephen Wellman, InformationWeek