NEWS#2

USA KIDS DO GOOD AGAINST TOP COUNTRIES

ZAKARIA, F (2006) NEWSWEEK1/9/ 37

Singapore is #1 in Math and Science scores. The youngsters are the best in the world. However, they don’t do as well in the real world as American kids. How come? The minister of education indicates that Singapore students learn rote memory and test taking.

When they get in the real world, they have problems solving problems. American kids learn problem solving all the time. And so, they do better in the real world. Further, doing well is honored in the states, but not Singapore.

Where Americans falls short is teaching the talented among the poor. So, numerous opportunities are lost for this group.

LIFE AFTER LIMBO

Van Biennia, D. (2006) TIME/1/9/68

A little baby is born and dies immediately. The priest has not had a chance to baptize it. The church can not perform a mass for the child, because it automatically will not go to heaven. In the early days, the baby would go straight to hell. Then came LIMBO. It is or was a cheery place that was pleasant, but it is on the far reaches of heaven. It would not be reunited with loved ones. The new Pope is now in the process of dropping limbo. Babies that die before baptism go straight to heaven. As generous as that may seem, it also raise problems in Catholic theology.

Can others who are not baptized go to heaven? Is Gandhi in hell? How about Martin Luther? The Dali Lama?

Another question deals with abortion. Abortion is a huge issue, but a larger issue for Roman Catholics. Aborted babies do not have a chance at baptism. Thus, they die and go to limbo. Now an aborted or unborn can go to heaven. Will this change by the Pope diminish the sting of the aborted? Or the mother?

TOO SLOW FOR CANCER

Healy (2006) U.S NEWS & WORLD REPORT/ 1/9/58

The party line for the public is that Cancer researchers are making great strides in fighting cancer. Oh? About 40% of us will die of cancer if we lived into advanced age... What is going on behind the scene is a zoo. Research is haphazard and uncoordinated. Many different projects are going on in different directions. The same happened in the 80’s over the Human Genome Project. Finally, the Department of Energy took over the project organized it and we have a resolution today. We need one department to take over and set priorities and put out turf wars.

DRUMMING UP BUSINESS FOR DEMOCRATS

DUNHAM, R (2006) BUSINESS WEEK/1/9/39

The Democratic Party is strapped for cash and organization. It continues to lose elections, thus the party is now widening the door for those who can run for office. It is attracting rich, culture conservatives and pro-business types that can win elections in selected districts. These same individuals feel the Republican Party has gone too far to the Right. So, nearly all non-far right individuals are welcomed. After the election, the Democratic Party will continue to move to the right as has the country. There may be a party orthodoxy, but it is hard to find.

GOLD RUSH

GROW, B. (2006) BUSINESS WEEK 1/9/69

E-gold has been around for awhile. However, these computer transactions back by real gold are now being misused. Drug dealers, organized crime, and related are now using the system to launder money and it is hard to track.

ANTI-HACKER MAJOR

ORCHOWSKI, P. (2006) COMMUNITY COLLEGE WEEK, 12/19/3

A community college in Maryland has created a major in cyber security. Enrollees will not only learn the fundamentals, but learn how to fight back against hackers.