Cornell moves into the driver #39;s seat for Mars rovers

ITHACA, NY Control of the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity has gradually shifted from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, to Cornell University in upstate New York.


Munch Museum will stay closed until 05

OSLO, Norway - Oslos Munch Museum could remain closed until June 2005 while officials upgrade its security system following a brazen daylight robbery in August of two Edvard Munch masterpieces.


Notebook: Spurrier #39;s news may affect UW job search

No sooner had the news hit yesterday that Steve Spurrier was pulling himself out of consideration for a return trip to Florida than speculation began to rumble around Seattle that maybe that means the ol #39; ball coach is headed to UW.


Notebook: Cardinals #39; Williams files for free agency

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Woody Williams filed for free agency yesterday after the team told his agent it will decline his \$8 million option and pay him a \$900,000 buyout.


Roddick, Henman upset at Paris Masters

Top seed American Andy Roddick and defending champion Tim Henman both crashed out of the Paris Masters in the third round on Thursday.


Wizards welcome Bobcats to NBA

Basketball returned to Charlotte as the Bobcats opened their first season Thursday night with a 103-96 loss to the Wizards. Replacing the Hornets after they moved to New Orleans


Nuggets snag win this time

The Nuggets and the Timberwolves, who exchanged words and cheap shots in a playoff series in April, met again Thursday night at the Pepsi Center.


Don #39;t blame Manuel, yet

You walk around feeling like your team is messing this up, that they #39;re doing it wrong, that the Phillies are doomed to unending futility - even when they do something right.


ATHLETICS: I CAN #39;T LET ATHENS AGONY DESTROY MY LIFE

PAULA RADCLIFFE insisted last night that her Olympic disaster will not  quot;ruin my life quot; as she bids to rebuild her career.


United seeks pension cuts

Pay and benefits are included in the proposal to pare another \$2 billion in annual costs. United Airlines, still trying after two years to emerge from bankruptcy, officially proposed terminating its employee


JP Morgan, Cazenove agree joint venture deal

Cazenove and JP Morgan have agreed a joint venture that effectively ends 181 years of independence for the UK stockbroker. The new venture, to be called JP Morgan Cazenove


MPAA to sue Net pirates

Warning that film piracy represents the greatest economic threat to the movie industry in its 100 year-plus history, the Motion Picture Association of America announced Thursday that it plans


Study of nicotine addiction advances

Scientists have said for decades that nicotine is a major addictive component in cigarettes. But exactly how chemical dependency results from nicotine #39;s interaction


Drastic changes to Scream museum

The Munch Museum in Oslo could be shut until next summer while it introduces drastic security measures after the theft of its most famous painting.


Planets in dazzling array; conjunction peaks next week

Early morning joggers, dog-walkers and commuters are enjoying a dazzling predawn light show in the eastern sky this week. Jupiter and Venus, the two brightest planets visible


Former Chelsea Football Club star will return to football

Adrian Mutu has vowed to rebuild his career after being sacked by Chelsea Football Club and banned for seven months. Mutu received the worldwide ban from football after failing a routine drugs test.


Notes: NCAA #39;s Brand wants fiscal responsibility

With a package of academic reforms in place, the NCAA #39;s next crusade will address what its president calls a dangerous drift toward professionalism and sports entertainment.


Radcliffe out to put Athens in rearview mirror

Paula Radcliffe holds the world record for both the marathon and the 10K. She won the world championships half-marathon three times in the last five years.


Putin approves ratification of Kyoto Protocol

RBC, 05.11.2004, Moscow 10:01:15.Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into law the federal bill on the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, adopted by the State Duma of Russia on October 22, 2004 and approved by the Federation Council on October 27


Cazenove, JP Morgan Unveil Joint Venture

Cazenove and JP Morgan Chase  amp; Co. unveiled a joint venture that effectively ends 181 years of independence for the UK stockbroker and gives a big boost to the US investment bank #39;s UK presence.


Retailers grin over Oct. sales

But as the holiday shopping season approaches, discounters aren #39;t so optimistic about the jingle in their pockets. BY ANNE D #39;INNOCENZIO.


IBM Builds Worlds Fastest Computer

A partially assembled prototype of a new IBM supercomputer set a record of 70.72 trillion transactions per second earlier this week.


Hitman: Blood Money announced

quot;80 of Americans could correctly name the first President Bush #39;s pet dog Millie, but only 15 knew that both President Bush and the challenger, Bill Clinton, favoured the death penalty quot; Link.


Shaq is hot stuff

Basketball star Shaquille O #39;Neal could not have made a better home debut for his new club the Miami Heat. The American Airlines Arena felt the full force of the  quot;Shaq Attack quot; as a record crowd of more than


Henman targets Houston

Tim Henman is already looking forward to the Masters event in Houston and believes he has a good chance of finishing the tennis season on a high.


VENUS NARROWLY AVOIDS UPSET

Venus Williams barely kept alive her hopes of qualifying for next week #39;s WTA Tour Championships. Williams, seeded fifth, survived a third-set tiebreaker to outlast Yuilana Fedak of the Ukraine, 6-4 2-6 7-6


Locals take Spurrier decision in stride

Upon hearing the news that Steve Spurrier turned down the chance to return to the University of Florida, Southwest Florida Gator Club president-elect Corbyn Hightower exchanged a few calls and e-mails with fellow Gators.


Nuggets battle past T-wolves in overtime

The plan seemed simple Thursday for the Denver Nuggets in their home opener: make someone other than Kevin Garnett beat them. It worked until the fourth quarter.


Jail sought for  #39;JI bomb tutor #39;

INDONESIAN prosecutors today called for a two-year prison term for a man accused of using his science degree and Islamic militant experience to run bomb workshops and plot terror attacks on Western interests.


Bush rally continues, with Dow soaring 177

The Bush rally roared into a second day yesterday, with a big assist from oil that pushed blue-chips to their biggest gain in 13 months.


Oil price drops below \$49 mark

Oil futures prices plunged by more than \$2 a barrel Thursday, continuing a sell-off that began last week amid rising US supplies of crude and expectations of a surge in heating oil production before winter arrives.


Backs off drastic fare  amp; service plans

The MTA unexpectedly has withdrawn its doomsday plan to raise fares, slash service and pink-slip workers. New Yorkers had been told to prepare for the worst, including a nearly across-the-board hike in discount MetroCard prices.


Cazenove in JP Morgan deal

Cazenove and JP Morgan Chase have unveiled a joint venture that effectively ends 181 years of independence for the UK stockbroker and gives a big boost to the US investment bank #39;s UK presence.


Three Bid on Australia National Bank Units

As many as three European banks may have submitted bids to purchase National Australia Bank #39;s two units in Ireland, newspapers reported Friday.


Virginia Convicts NC Spammers

A North Carolina man and his sister became the first two people convicted of a felony for sending fraudulent unsolicited commercial e-mail.


Solaris source code schedule slips

The server and software company had planned to release its new version of the Unix operating system by the end of the year -- source code and all.


Microsoft to step up music sales effort

Microsoft hopes to more than double its presence in the European online music market by launching its MSN Music Service in seven more countries, the Financial Times reported.


Clarke eyeing first win

Darren Clarke had his first tournament victory of 2004 in his sights today as he topped the leaderboard after the opening round of the \$6million Tour Championship in Atlanta.


Spurrier to UF: Look elsewhere

All the hype and speculation came to an end Thursday when Steve Spurrier, once considered the leading man for the Florida job, removed his name from the pool of candidates to replace Ron Zook, who was fired Oct.25.


United prepare for a flood

London - Here #39;s the good news for Manchester City: Manchester United will be without lethal striker Ruud van Nistelrooy for this weekend #39;s crosstown derby at Old Trafford.


Japan air profit up on overseas demand

Japan Airlines Corp, Asia #39;s largest carrier, may say second-quarter profit more than doubled as waning concerns about SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) boosted travel overseas.


Trio of Hot New Games Victimized by Piracy

A month before the video game #39;s scheduled release this coming Tuesday, illegal copies of the hot sci-fi action title  quot;Halo 2 quot; were already circulating on the Internet.


Middlesbrough Football Club boss hails perfect team

Steve McLaren was delighted with his Middlesbrough Football Club players after their 2-0 win over Lazio last night.  #39;Boro won the game 2-0 with goals in each half from Dutch international Bolo Zenden and could


Judge freezes \$500 million linked to Xelan

A federal judge in San Diego yesterday froze more than \$500 million in bank accounts linked to the San Diego financial planning firm Xelan, whose aggressive tax shelters had run afoul of the Internal Revenue Service.


City poised to give

If the Jets #39; West Side stadium proposal somehow loses state financing, the city has got its back. City officials have agreed to assume the state #39;s \$300 million contribution to the proposed


Studios to sue net movie swappers

Hollywood film studios are to sue people who swap pirated copies of films over the internet. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) said the civil suits would seek damages of up to \$30,000 (16,300) per film.


Cry foul over NBA

Millionaire basketball players want to bounce a Harlem community center where thousands of kids come for after-school help every year, a group charged yesterday.


#39;Boro, Magpies notch UEFA group wins

LONDON -- Boudewijn Zenden scored twice as European rookie Middlesbrough beat Lazio 2-0 in the group stage of the UEFA Cup yesterday.


Peugeot and Citroen to pull out of racing

Peugeot and Citroen are to withdraw from the world championship at the end of 2005, the PSA group that owns them announced yesterday, just two days after Ford reaffirmed its commitment to the competition.


Crystal Palace v Arsenal

Crystal Palace defender Fitz Hall is doubtful with a knee problem, but boss Iain Dowie will leave it until the last minute before making a decision.


Fool #39;s gold or silver lining?

Meb Keflezighi knows what people think. That he #39;s foolish for running the IMG New York City Marathon on Sunday. That 70 days isn #39;t enough time to recover after his emotional performance at


Arafat #39;s passing could remove roadblock to US peace efforts

The Bush administration is preparing a strategy for resumed Mideast peacemaking that rests heavily on an emerging core of Palestinian leaders taking charge of keeping order and nurturing an embryonic government.


Threats to Dutch Politicians After Killing

Several leading Dutch politicians have been threatened with death since the killing of a filmmaker critical of Islam, media reported on Friday.


US jets, artillery hit Fallujah

American jets and artillery batteries launched attacks on the insurgent-held city of Fallujah yesterday, hitting targets in the run-up to what could be a major assault on the Sunni- dominated town.


Barroso makes limited changes to Commission

Incoming European Commission President Jose Manuel Duro Barroso yesterday announced the new line-up of his EU executive team, aimed at resolving a row that has left Brussels in limbo.


Oracle faces the masses at OpenWorld

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Oracle is set to kick off its OpenWorld developer conference in San Francisco on Monday, with analysts expecting announcements about product enhancements and at least some words about the company #39;s long-running, \$9.2 billion


Stock buybacks not always a good sign

Investors who see company buybacks of stock as only good news may be overlooking the damage that certain share repurchases can do to companies #39; financial health.


U.S. Forces Set for Imminent Assault on Iraq's Falluja (Reuters)

Reuters - The U.S. military sealed off Falluja on\Friday and launched a night of air strikes on the rebel city\ahead of an assault seen as critical to the interim\government's attempt to pacify Iraq before January polls.


Trio of Hot New Games Victimized by Piracy (AP)

AP - A month before the video game's scheduled release this coming Tuesday, illegal copies of the hot sci-fi action title "Halo 2" were already circulating on the Internet. It's had a lot of company lately.


Study reports jump in SUV ownership

Between 1997 and 2002, the number of sport utility vehicles in Oregon increased 36 percent, according to data released by the US Census Bureau.


IBM Supercomputer Again Claims Record (AP)

AP - A  #36;100 million supercomputer being built to analyze the nation's nuclear stockpile has again set an unofficial performance record  #151; the second in just over a month.


United Airlines Seeks Staff Concessions (Reuters)

Reuters - United Airlines is expected to ask a\bankruptcy judge to let it extract new concessions worth  #36;725\million a year from employees as it seeks to reorganize, the\Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing unnamed sources.


Chirac Denies He Refused to See Iraq's Allawi (Reuters)

Reuters - French President Jacques Chirac said\on Friday he had not refused to meet Iraqi interim Prime\Minister Iyad Allawi after reports he was snubbing the Iraqi\leader by leaving an EU meeting in Brussels early.


Chiefs' Holmes on Track for 32 Touchdowns (AP)

AP - One year after scoring an NFL-record 27 touchdowns, Priest Holmes sometimes has trouble getting out of bed the morning after a game.


Seeking Edge, Hoop Teams Try Video Game (AP)

AP - Simplice Njoya, a University of Memphis basketball forward, sat hunched over a laptop, testing an idea first studied on Israeli fighter pilots. The premise: Skills he picks up playing a complex computer game can make him a better ball player.


Afghan Kidnappers Meet on Fate of U.N. Hostages (Reuters)

Reuters - Leaders of an Afghan militant group\holding three U.N. workers hostage met on Friday to decide\whether to kill them or extend a deadline for authorities to\meet their demands, a member of the leadership council said.


REVIEW: Device Lets You Record Radio Shows (AP)

AP - Call it TiVo for the radio. A new  #36;70 device called RadioShark lets you record your favorite AM and FM radio shows to your home computer and enjoy them later either from the desktop or a portable device.


Time for Alternative Minimum Tactics

By now, most people have at least heard of the AMT, but those who still think of it as what it was intended to be -- a special tax to make sure rich people pay at least something to the government -- are badly out of date.


Ex-Student Indicted on Hacking Charges (AP)

AP - A former University of Texas student was indicted on charges he hacked into the school's computer system and stole Social Security numbers and other personal information from more than 37,000 students and employees.


Cazenove, JP Morgan Unveil Joint Venture (Reuters)

Reuters - Cazenove and J.P. Morgan Chase   Co.\unveiled a joint venture that effectively ends 181 years of\independence for the UK stockbroker and gives a big boost to\the U.S. investment bank's UK presence.


Taipei Plans City-Wide Wi-Fi by End 2005 (Reuters)

Reuters - Taipei plans to make wireless Internet\access available across the Taiwan capital by the end of 2005,\joining a small number of cities offering Wi-Fi networks.


Jobless Claims, Productivity Growth Dip (Reuters)

Reuters - Fewer Americans filed jobless claims\last week and growth in worker productivity slowed sharply in\the third quarter, government data showed on Thursday, hinting\that conditions in the sluggish U.S. labor market have\improved.


Shaq a big draw in home debut for Heat (AFP)

AFP - Shaquille O'Neal making his home debut for Miami before a record crowd, scored 17 points and created plenty of chances for his teammates as the Heat defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 92-86 in a National Basketball Association Game.


Nokia Says Handset Market to Slow, Share to Rise (Reuters)

Reuters - Nokia (NOK1V.HE), the world's\largest mobile phone maker, expects slowing mobile phone growth\in 2005 but plans to launch more phones next year and regain\lost market share, the company said on Thursday.


Giants Pitcher Pleased by Honor From Peers (AP)

AP - Jason Schmidt figures he probably lost his chance at the NL Cy Young Award when he strained his groin covering first base back in August.


Nokia Plans 40 New Handsets for 2005 (AP)

AP - Nokia Corp., the world's largest mobile phone maker, plans to bring 40 new handsets to the market next year as it seeks to expand its already dominant market share amid increased competition from rivals Motorola Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. and Sony Ericsson.


Chidambaram says possible to raise GDP growth to 7-8 pct (Reuters)

Reuters - Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram said on Friday it was possible to raise average economic growth to 7-8 percent in the next 12 years and the country was set to become an economic superpower.


United Aims to Replace Pension Plan (AP)

AP - United Airlines' workers are getting formal details on how the bankrupt company wants to replace their traditional pension with a 401(k)-style benefit plan  #151; plus further steep reductions in pay and other benefits.


Drug Test Sidelines Mutu for Seven Months (AP)

AP - Former Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu was suspended for seven months and fined about  #36;35,000 by the English Football Association on Thursday after testing positive for cocaine.


Linux Networx Lands  #36;40 Million Funding (TechWeb)

TechWeb - Linux Networx closed on a  #36;40 million funding and unveiled a new scalable storage system engineered for use with its Linux Networx computing systems.


Martens not guilty, says her days in assisted suicide movement are over (Canadian Press)

Canadian Press - DUNCAN, B.C. (CP) - Evelyn Martens, found not guilty Thursday of helping two British Columbia women commit suicide, said her days in Canada's assisted suicide movement are over.


Holiday Outlook Brightens for Retailers (AP)

AP - The outlook for the holiday season brightened Thursday as many of the nation's retailers reported an improvement in sales in October. Discounters, however, had another month of lackluster results as their customers cut back their spending again.


Southern Miss Looks to Extend Win Streak (AP)

AP - Southern Mississippi hasn't lost a Conference USA game in nearly two years, but some Golden Eagles players aren't all that impressed.


Microsoft To Issue Early Warnings For Patch Tuesday (TechWeb)

TechWeb - The software maker will provide a summary of planned security bulletins three days in advance.


Venus Advances at Advanta Championships (AP)

AP - Venus Williams needed a third-set tiebreaker to defeat 87th-ranked Yuliana Fedak, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (4) in the second round of the Advanta Tennis Championships on Thursday night.


A So-So Debut For Microsoft's Blog Service

Microsoft made a belated entrance into the "blogosphere" Thursday, unveiling a free Web-log publishing service one day after Merriam-Webster proclaimed "blog" the word of the year.-Leslie Walker


Sun Capital buys Honeywell unit (TheDeal.com)

TheDeal.com - The performance fibers business makes high-strength polyester fibers at plants in North Carolina and France.


Bush Vows No Letup in Iraq, War on Terror (AP)

AP - Bolstered by a hard-fought election victory, President Bush says the United States will vigorously pursue wars in Iraq and against terror and will not retreat from trying to spread democracy through the Middle East.


World of Warcraft coming Nov. 23 (MacCentral)

MacCentral - Blizzard Entertainment on Thursday confirmed earlier speculation that its long-anticipated massively multiplayer online role playing game World of Warcraft will be released this month. Blizzard expects World of Warcraft to be available in stores on November 23, 2004, released simultaneously for Mac OS X and Windows.


Elizabeth Edwards Has Breast Cancer (AP)

AP - Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards, was diagnosed with breast cancer the day her husband and Sen. John Kerry conceded the presidential race.


Congressional Republicans to Push Stem-Cell Issue (Reuters)

Reuters - California voters' approval of a  #36;3\billion ballot measure this week to fund controversial\stem-cell research gives new life to a similar effort in the\U.S. Congress, moderate Republicans said on Thursday.


Democrats Have Bad Case of the Blues (AP)

AP - After losing back-to-back presidential elections, Democratic leaders are trying to figure out how to make the party more relevant to mainstream Americans and keep it from slipping into perpetual minority-party status.


Three Hold Lead at Tour Championship (AP)

AP - The leaves have transformed into a sparkling array of colors. There's a bit of a chill in the air. The golf season is coming to a close. Vijay Singh just loves this time of year.


Researchers Grow Sperm Nursery Cells from Mice (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. researchers said on Thursday\they had found sperm nursery cells in mice, grown them in lab\dishes and used them to father baby mice.


Scientists Close in on Source of Cosmic Rays (Reuters)

Reuters - An international team of astronomers\believe they have solved a mystery that has been perplexing\scientists for 100 years -- the origin of cosmic rays.


Tin of Ancient Roman Cosmetic Cream Found in UK (Reuters)

Reuters - When it comes to cosmetics, the ancient\Romans knew what they were doing.


Dollar Struggles Above Record Lows

LONDON (Reuters) - The dollar struggled just above this  year's record low against the euro on Friday amid worries about  the health of the U.S. economy but caution ahead of U.S. jobs  data later in the day limited its moves.


Rehnquist More Likely to Step Aside Now (AP)

AP - President Bush's re-election makes it more likely Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist will retire soon. And Republican gains in the Senate mean the president has more flexibility to nominate another strong conservative to fill that vacancy and other federal judgeships.


Adviser: Britain Hopes to Push U.S. on Climate Change (Reuters)

Reuters - Britain hopes it can exert influence on\reelected President Bush and push the United States to do more\to combat climate change, the British government's chief\scientist said on Thursday.


Study: Antarctic Wildlife Facing Food Shortages (Reuters)

Reuters - Global warming and disappearing sea ice\in the Southern Ocean are causing food shortages that could\threaten Antarctic whales, seals and penguins, scientists said\Wednesday.


Venus Leads Seeds Into Advanta Quarter-Finals

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Venus Williams and Vera Zvonareva  registered second-round victories at the Advanta Championships  in Philadelphia Thursday to remain in the chase for places in  next week's lucrative end-of-season tournament.


France Suspends Hunting to Save Orphaned Bear Cub (Reuters)

Reuters - France suspended hunting in\the western Pyrenees on Wednesday to save a bear cub orphaned\when his mother, the last female bear native to the region, was\killed by hunters earlier this week.


Cazenove, JP Morgan Unveil Joint Venture

LONDON (Reuters) - Cazenove and J.P. Morgan Chase   Co.  unveiled a joint venture that effectively ends 181 years of  independence for the UK stockbroker and gives a big boost to  the U.S. investment bank's UK presence.


Putin keeps IT-date with Infosys

BANGALORE: Russian President Vladimir Putin, on a visit to the Infosys campus on Sunday, said that India and Russia should work together on innovative new technologies, with the younger generation taking the lead.


Roddick, Henman Bounced from the Paris Masters

PARIS (Reuters) - Top seed Andy Roddick and holder Tim  Henman, their minds perhaps on next week's Masters Cup, bowed  out of the Paris Masters in the third round Thursday.


U.N.: Sudan Forces Relocating Refugees (AP)

AP - The Sudanese security forces surrounded several camps in the war-torn region of Darfur on Tuesday, relocated refugees against their will and denied access to humanitarian groups, the United Nations said. Sudan denied closing off the camps but said angry Arab tribesmen gathered in the area.


WADA: Botched Tests Allowed Hamilton to Keep Olympic Gold

TORONTO (Reuters) - A series of errors and  misunderstandings led to the botched drug test that resulted in  American cyclist Tyler Hamilton retaining his gold medal from  the Athens Olympics, said a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)  report Thursday.


Stocks Rally as Oil Prices Drop

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks extended their  post-election rally on Thursday, pushing the S P 500 to its  highest close for more than two years as oil prices tumbled  below \$49, while tobacco and food company Altria Group Inc.  MO.N surged after saying it may split itself up.


Astronomers Untangle Black Hole Radiation (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - Astronomers sifting through \the radiation signals emanating from a distant black hole have separated the \emission into its two component parts, a key step in understanding how such \massive objects work.


Retail Sales Rise Is Biggest in Months

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cooler weather drove U.S. shoppers  into stores in October, with top retailers reporting their  biggest rise in sales in months, but whether this points to a  strong holiday season remains an open question.


Control of Mars Rovers Shifts to Cornell (AP)

AP - Because his job involves driving around on Mars all day, Cornell University astronomer Steve Squyres is glad he no longer has to make a cross-country commute to get home.


Spurrier Withdraws Name from Florida Vacancy

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Sports Network) - Steve Spurrier will  not coach the Florida Gators again after he withdrew his name  from consideration in the process to select a new head football  coach at the university.


Titan: A Good Mystery (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - When was the last time you read a good mystery novel, or munched popcorn while watching a mystery flick at your local theater? Odds are, either of these entertainments set you back at least  #36;10 and lasted a few hours. For a lesser price, we're all participating in cracking a real mystery #x2014;what's beneath the clouds that cover Saturn's moon, Titan?


Mars Rovers Get Mystery Power Boost (AP)

AP - As NASA's Mars rovers keep rolling past all expectations of their useful lives, scientists have a happy mystery: For some reason one of the vehicles has actually gained power recently.


Digital Temblors: Computer Model Successfully Forecasts Earthquakes (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - A Southern \California earthquake forecast based on computer models has successfully \pinpointed the location of nearly every major temblor to hit the region over the \last four years.


Chirac Denies He Refused to See Iraq's Allawi

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - French President Jacques Chirac said  on Friday he had not refused to meet Iraqi interim Prime  Minister Iyad Allawi after reports he was snubbing the Iraqi  leader by leaving an EU meeting in Brussels early.


Deer, Raccoons Are the Top Crop Raiders (AP)

AP - Purdue University researchers who set up cameras in fields to catch wild animals in the act of gobbling up crops found that deer and raccoons  #151; not wild turkeys, as many farmers believe  #151; are the greediest crop-raiders.


Possible Source of Cosmic Rays Found (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - Astronomers have produced the first truly useful image ever of something in space using gamma rays. It's a picture only an astronomer could love, but it appears to help solve a century-long mystery.


Pioli may be Browns #39; best bet

The Browns pulled the plug on Davis 3 years into his ill-fated tenure as coach and general manager, leaving the franchise searching for answers about its direction.


Program Turns Restaurant Food to Compost (AP)

AP - Haute cuisine is going green in a program that recycles restaurant and household food scraps into high-grade compost for Northern California farms and vineyards.


Mystery of Magnetic Stars Solved (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - While you may never have pondered the similarity between a common bar magnet and a \  star, nbsp;astronomers do, and they believe they have figure out why the two disparate bodies are \  sometimes strikingly similar.


Scientists Search for War Remnants in Ga. (AP)

AP - Dragging radar equipment behind a farm tractor, scientists Thursday scanned an old rail yard for buried artifacts from Savannah's bloody Revolutionary War battle in 1779.


Phillies Name Manuel as Their New Manager

PHILADELPHIA (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Phillies  introduced Charlie Manuel as their 51st manager on Thursday  afternoon. The 60-year-old Manuel was one of eight candidates  interviewed for the job.


All Geared Up to Serve

The presidential inauguration is typically the most lucrative single week for the city's hospitality industry in any four-year span.


Ivory Coast Opposition Targeted, War Fears Grow

ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Militant supporters of Ivory Coast's  president attacked opposition party headquarters overnight in  the main city Abidjan as fears grew of a slide into full-scale  war in the world's top cocoa grower.


432-Year Search: Lost Star Found (SPACE.com)

SPACE.com - Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe spotted a new star in the sky on Nov. 11, 1572, and astronomers have been trying ever since to figure out exactly what happened. The case appeared to be solved last week.


Serie A wrap: Milan close on Juve - Inter thump Messina

Inter Milan has climbed to fourth after thrashing Messina 5-0 at the San Siro where Adriano scored a first half hat-trick. Sinisa Mihajlovic and Christian Vieri completed the


Bush, Retailers Drop in Oil Prices Give Markets Boost

Wall Street continued its post-election rally Thursday as oil prices dropped by more than \$2 a barrel and President Bush outlined plans for a second term.


Study: Penguin, Seal Food Source Shrinks (AP)

AP - A key food source for Antarctic seals, whales and penguins has declined about 80 percent since the 1970s in ocean waters near the Antarctic Peninsula, researchers report.


Insurance Executives Fired in Bid Probe

NEW YORK, Nov. 4 -- Companies caught up in New York state Attorney General Eliot L. Spitzer's investigation into rigged bids and kickbacks in the insurance industry began firing and suspending executives charged with or suspected of involvement in the alleged wrongdoing.


Mets and Randolph Launch a New Era

Willie Randolph walked into Shea Stadium on Thursday and was introduced as the first African-American manager of a major league team in New York.


Lonard wins Australian PGA Championship

COOLUM, Australia - Australian Peter Lonard won the Australian PGA Championship by two strokes for his third tournament title in as many weeks on Sunday.


Scientists Intrigued by Rare Dead Whale (AP)

AP - The body of a whale resembling a giant dolphin that washed up on an eastern Australian beach has intrigued local scientists, who agreed Wednesday that it is rare but are not sure just how rare.


Unshaken by Loss, Nets Extend Frank

The Nets announced that Coach Lawrence Frank had signed a long-term contract extension that one league official said was guaranteed for three years.


Judge Refuses to Delay Rouse Shareholder Vote

A Howard County judge yesterday rejected an effort to delay Rouse Co. shareholders from voting on whether the company should sell itself to a Chicago mall developer.


Upscale Hotel Planned in Prince William County

Developers announced plans Thursday for a large hotel and conference center to be built on an environmentally sensitive bluff overlooking the Potomac.


Memphis Has No Days of High Air Pollution (AP)

AP - Memphis didn't have a day of excessive air pollution during the seven-month ozone season for the first time in seven years.


Haas Lines Up Perfect Ending to Season

Shooting a three-under-par 67 in windy conditions, Jay Haas, who will turn 51 next month, was locked in a first-place tie at the Tour Championship .


BP and Sinopec in retail tie-up

Oil giants BP and Sinopec are to open 500 petrol stations in Zhejiang, east China, as part of a joint venture.


Researchers Get Grant for Vaccine Study (AP)

AP - A research team has been awarded a  #36;3.5 million federal grant to use a molecular detective technique to study and potentially improve the military's anthrax vaccine.


Waging 'inner jihad' on an empty stomach

In the final days of Ramadan, a Muslim reporter grapples with the double standard for female pilgrims.


Scientist Stephen Hawking Decries Iraq War (AP)

AP - Britain's most famous scientist, Stephen Hawking, condemned the U.S. led invasion of Iraq as a "war crime" and said Tuesday it was based on lies.


Aid workers increasingly a target in conflict zones

The group holding three foreign aid workers in Afghanistan says it will decide Friday whether to kill them.


Price war hurts telecoms firm MCI

MCI, which as Worldcom became the world's largest corporate bankruptcy, sees losses balloon to \$3.4bn thanks to a price war.


Championship tour rolls on

For a guy who last weekend said he wasn't coming and kept tour organizers in suspense until showing up just hours before the team's charter flight was due to depart from Los Angeles, Manny Ramirez acted mighty happy to be in Japan.


India power shares jump on debut

Shares in India's largest power producer, National Thermal Power Corp, rise 13 on their stock market debut.


Summary: Penguin Food Source Declines (AP)

AP - REPORT FINDINGS: Stocks of krill, a shrimp-like crustacean, have declined about 80 percent since the 1970s in ocean waters near the Antarctic Peninsula.


Stuck in the middle

The last time we saw the guys in the horned helmets, they were standing numbly in Nawlins while their star-spangled rivals carried Adam Vinatieri off the Superdome floor. The Patriots have earned another set of championship rings since then and strung together a 21-game winning streak. And the St. Louis Rams have gone on a jolting carnival ride that still ...


EADS boosted by Airbus orders

European aerospace group EADS reports higher-than-expected profits, boosted by sales in its Airbus plane-making subsidiary.


Ill., Mich. Want New Federal Isotope Lab (AP)

AP - Like most of us, politicians don't know much about isotopes. But because they know something about money and jobs, lawmakers from Illinois and Michigan are locked in a battle to convince the federal government that their state and not the other one is the perfect place for a new lab devoted to these unstable atomic forms.


Brown may miss target, PwC says

Gordon Brown may miss his golden rule on public borrowing because of a shortfall in corporate tax revenues, a new study says.


Chirac 'snubs' Allawi at EU talks

Iraqi interim leader Iyad Allawi is to meet EU leaders, but France's president says he is too busy to attend.


UK house market 'losing impetus'

UK house prices fell by 1.1 in October, confirming a softening of the housing market, the UK's biggest mortgage lender says.


UNH Center to Study Stormwater Treatment (AP)

AP - A new research center at the University of New Hampshire hopes to help reduce a huge threat to water quality nationwide: stormwater carrying pollutants into streams, wetlands and coastal harbors.


Dillon is not yet up to speed

Corey Dillon , who missed last Sunday's game against Pittsburgh with a thigh injury, was held out of practice again yesterday.


Cahoot hit by web security scare

A security loophole at internet bank Cahoot allowed customers to view other people's accounts, a BBC investigation reveals.


Ex-East Timor governor acquitted

\The only person to begin serving his jail sentence for the 1999 violence in East Timor is cleared on appeal.


Fatalism? It's an old frame of mind

quot;Hey, there. You look so happy. Red Sox fever still got you? quot;  quot;Nope. Over and done with that. quot;


Broadband in the UK growing fast

Britons are signing up for broadband net connections in greater numbers than ever, figures by BT show.


Restoration Said May Help Gulf of Maine (AP)

AP - Improved fish passage on the Penobscot River and recovery of a salt marsh on the west branch of the Pleasant River could bring environmental benefits to the Gulf of Maine, according to a new report.


Nigeria union calls second strike

Nigeria's main trade union says it will hold a second general strike which could target oil production.


Zholtok death shakes hockey world

Latvian and NHL hockey players and fans were saddened yesterday after national star Sergei Zholtok died while playing in Belarus.


Experts Study Skeletal Remains in Utah (AP)

AP - Archaeologists have begun excavating ancient skeletal remains believed to be those of five people, probably Anasazis.


Convictions in Enron fraud trial

Four former Merrill Lynch employees and an ex-Enron executive are found guilty of artificially inflating the energy firm's profits.


Key New England games

HOFSTRA (4-4) vs. MAINE (4-4) When, where: Tomorrow, 2 p.m., at Orono, Maine. Last season: Maine won, 44-21. Comments: Maine is coming off a 35-34 loss to Massachusetts. TB Marcus Williams rushed for 175 yards on 28 carries to lead a Black Bear offense that accumulated 451 yards. Ron Whitcomb completed 22 of 33 passes with 1 TD and 1 ...


Study: Bears Kill More Elk Than Wolves (AP)

AP - Grizzly and black bears killed a majority of elk calves in northern Yellowstone National Park for the second year in a row, preliminary study results show.


Receiver refused to lose grip

The way Larry Lester sees it, there wouldn't be any ups without the downs. The triumphant highs just wouldn't be worth savoring without first having experienced the devastating lows.


UN condemns Ivory Coast bombing

The UN says government air strikes on rebel-held territory in northern Ivory Coast is a "major violation" of a truce.


UMass draws support

There are some people who think the University of Massachusetts basketball team is a contender in the Atlantic 10 this season. The Minutemen received 12 first-place votes and were projected for a third-place finish in the East Division in the league's men's preseason poll with voting from coaches and the media.


Trouser traders scent foul play

China protests against a US investigation that could lead a to trade war over China's cotton trouser trade.


Hopefuls in the homestretch

It's still a month from the final vote, but make no mistake, the Heisman Trophy race is heating up. Starting tomorrow, and continuing through the first week of December, the candidates will strut their stuff.


Rare White Rattlesnake Finds Home (AP)

AP - A white rattlesnake that was found on a Meade County ranch 19 miles southwest of Faith has landed in the private collection of Denise and Chris Alverson of Rapid City.


Germany unveils debt cut measures

The German government announces a series of measures to rein in its public deficit, including proposing scrapping one public holiday.


Fighting over Brown

Jan. 14: NU offers Brown a contract extension through 2009 and a raise after Holy Cross offers him its head coaching position.


India and Iran in gas partnership

A major Indian state-owned oil company signs up to a joint venture to  develop a gas field and liquefaction plant in Iran.


Brennan has the last word

He was, as usual, ready with a monologue that played well in Burlington or Barre or anywhere else in a state where he has become a beloved figure, known for his quick wit and engaging personality.


Study Links Tree Rings to Global Warming (AP)

AP - Did global warming spur severe drought in the Western United States? A new study co-authored by a tree-ring researcher at the University of Arizona shows a possible connection.


Bentley, C.W. Post expect to have berth marks

With most Division 2 teams preparing for their final regular-season games, the NCAA playoff picture is beginning to take shape.


Japan warns of prison crowding

Japan's prisons are at their most crowded in years, a result of rising crime and longer sentences.


SFO to investigate BAE contracts

The Serious Fraud Office investigates allegations of false accounting in connection with contracts between the Saudi Arabian government and three firms, including BAE Systems.


Louisville holds off Memphis

Eric Shelton scored his fourth touchdown with 37 seconds left, and No. 14 Louisville held off Memphis, 56-49, last night.


India raises petrol pump prices

The Indian government increases retail prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas to bring them in line with recent global rises.


Failed Mars Probe Blamed on Lack of Funds (AP)

AP - A failed European mission to land a probe on Mars last year was hampered by late funding from the British government and tensions between groups conducting the flight, a parliamentary committee said Tuesday.


Saving grace

Matt Reis has never easily accepted the apprentice goalkeeper's role. Reis has been battling the label of backup, though that has been his position for most of his collegiate and professional career. But Reis's profile could be changing after he saved two penalty kicks as the Revolution eliminated the Columbus Crew from the MLS playoffs last Sunday. Reis ...


Football: Uefa Cup round-up

Sasa Ilic hits a hat-trick for Partizan Belgrade in a 4-0 win over Egaleo, plus Thursday's other matches.


Textiles boost Bangladesh exports

Bangladesh's exports have risen by more than a quarter, boosted by clothing sales, a government report says.


Researcher Risks Killer Snails for Study (AP)

AP - Jon-Paul Bingham puts his life on the line every week for the sake of science. One wrong move, and he could become the hapless victim of a snail attack that could kill him.


Late charge lifts Wellesley

Seedings don't matter. At least that's what Wellesley field hockey coach Chris Molonea tried to convey to her players as they faced fourth-seeded Somerset yesterday in Division 1 South tournament action.


A national league

The Red Sox are the newest champions to grace the cover of a Wheaties box. But with what the team was paid for the deal, it couldn't even buy a box of Wheaties.


Alaska's Lone Elephant Getting Treadmill (AP)

AP - Animal handlers agonized over the issue for more than a year: the wisdom of moving Alaska's only elephant away from the only home she has ever known. Nine elephant experts were consulted from zoos and animal parks in the United States and Canada, and a decision was made: Maggie stays.


Matt Nuzzo

Everett's Matt Nuzzo is a four-year starter at quarterback with an amazing 39-1 record. Everett's all-time passing touchdown leader, Nuzzo is this week's Q  amp; A.


Gold Fields fate now in the hands of shareholders

Mining giant Gold Fields will know after a crucial shareholder vote on Tuesday if it has succeeded in ending a cheeky hostile takeover bid by its rival Harmony to create the world #39;s largest gold producer.


Cassini Sending Back Data on Saturn Moon (AP)

AP - Scientists say the Cassini spacecraft is sending back evidence that Saturn's planet-size moon Titan has some familiar features, but that it still remains one of the strangest worlds.


Dead Black Watch soldiers named

The three Black Watch soldiers killed in a suicide bomb attack in central Iraq are named.


Electric plan could hit consumers

Greater Boston businesses and homeowners buckling under soaring gasoline and heating costs could get socked with up to \$800 million a year in new electric costs under a proposed federal policy change, Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly warned yesterday.


This week's schedule

TODAY'S GAMES Division 1 CATHOLIC -- St. John's Prep at Malden Catholic, 6. GREATER BOSTON -- Somerville at Malden, 6:30; Cambridge at Medford, 7; Everett at Peabody, 7; Revere at Waltham, 7.


Farming Killer Cone Snails a Risky Affair (AP)

AP - Jon-Paul Bingham puts his life on the line every week for the sake of science. One wrong move, and he could become the hapless victim of a snail attack that could kill him. Bingham, a biochemist at Clarkson University, is a self-described "conehead" whose livelihood depends on scuba diving for tropical marine cone snails and coaxing them to discharge their venom in his laboratory.


Citizens plans push to get customers to switch banks

Citizens Financial Group, New England's second-largest bank, plans to launch today an aggressive effort to encourage customers to switch banks.


Arthritis drug warnings 'ignored'

\An arthritis drug should have been taken off the market years before it was finally withdrawn, say researchers.


Markets surge on oil drop, election

Wall Street bounded higher for the second straight day yesterday as investors reveled in sharply falling oil prices and the probusiness agenda of the second Bush administration. The Dow Jones industrials gained more than 177 points for its best day of 2004, while the Standard  amp; Poor's 500 closed at its highest level since early 2002.


Awesome power of Iceland volcano

A volcanic eruption in Iceland has set off tremors and prompted officials to warn pilots to avoid flying through gasses emitted by the blast.


Productivity growth slows

The productivity of America's workers grew at a 1.9 percent annual rate in the third quarter, the smallest gain since late 2002, the government reported yesterday.


Supercomputer breaks speed record

\The US is poised to push Japan off the top of the supercomputing charts with an IBM prototype Blue Gene machine.


Mitchell has leg up on rematch

Sharmba Mitchell knew he shouldn't have been going into a boxing ring two years ago. He should have been going into an operating room.


Dynogen enters drug licensing deal

Dynogen Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Waltham said it licensed a late-stage drug candidate from Mitsubishi Pharma Corp. Terms weren't disclosed. The compound, pumosetrag, is thought to be helpful to patients suffering from a variety of gastrointestinal conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome. Dynogen, a privately held firm, said it plans to start new clinical trials with pumosetrag next year. Mitsubishi, part ...


This weekend on TV, radio

TODAY AUTO RACING 4 p.m. -- NASCAR Nextel Cup Checker Auto Parts 500 qualifying at Avondale, Ariz., Speed Channel 5 p.m. -- NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Chevy Silverado 150 at Avondale, Ariz., Speed Channel PRO BASKETBALL 7:30 p.m. -- Celtics vs. Indiana at the FleetCenter, FSN, WWZN (1510) 8 p.m. -- Houston at Memphis, ESPN 10:30 p.m. -- San Antonio at ...


Local firm in pact to turn corn to plastic

Plastic made from corn could soon be widely available, the result of a joint venture signed yesterday between a small Cambridge company with MIT roots and Archer Daniels Midland Co. , the multibillion-dollar agribusiness.


Shaq turns up Heat at home

Shaquille O'Neal made sure the arena was filled. Dwyane Wade took care of sending the record crowd home happy.


Merck could suffer from Vioxx lawsuits

NEW YORK -- Already wounded by the withdrawal of its Vioxx pain reliever from the market, Merck  amp; Co. must now contend with hundreds of lawsuits over the drug's side effects -- lawsuits that threaten to further damage the company's finances and reputation.


Fremont settles with Spitzer, SEC

Fremont Investment Advisors has agreed to pay \$2.1 million in restitution and \$2 million in civil penalties to end federal and state mutual fund timing cases, New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer said yesterday.


Note on slain filmmaker's body makes threat on Dutch politician

THE HAGUE -- A letter left on the body of a Dutch filmmaker killed in Amsterdam contained death threats against a politician and was signed by a suspected terrorist group, the justice minister said yesterday, as police pressed an investigation into radical Islamic groups.


Antiterror change urged in Europe

WIESBADEN, Germany -- European investigators need to have sharper tools and share intelligence better to be able to apprehend suspected terrorists faster, French and German officials said yesterday.


Wizards Play Spoiler

Antawn Jamison leads a balanced scoring attack as the Wizards get off to a 2-0 start after spoiling the Charlotte Bobcats' NBA debut Thursday night with a 103-96 win.


United Seeks an Additional \$2 Billion in Cost Cuts

United Airlines told its unions that it wanted to terminate its four pension plans and seek additional wage and benefit concessions.


Journey Nears an End

Fletcher's Cove -- one of the best fishing holes in the country -- has been in the Fletcher family since the Civil War, but will soon be handed over to the National Park Service.


Soldiers say they watched 'chaos' as Iraqis looted munitions

LOS ANGELES -- Explosives were looted from the Al Qaqaa ammunitions site in Iraq while outnumbered US soldiers assigned to guard the materials watched helplessly, soldiers told the Los Angeles Times.


Ace Dismisses 2 Executives in Response to Inquiry

Ace Ltd., a Bermuda insurer that is a subject of the New York attorney general's investigation into the insurance industry, dismissed two executives.


Shaq Wins Home Debut

Shaquille O'Neal scores 17 points and Dwyane Wade adds 28 as the Heat defeat the Cavaliers 92-86 in Shaq's home debut with Miami.


Spurrier Pulls Out

Former Gators and Redskins coach Steve Spurrier removed his name from consideration Thursday to replace Ron Zook at Florida.


Service Bundling Sweeps Up

ServiceMaster profitably bundles services and pays a healthy 3.5 dividend.


Davis Gets a Grip

Vernon Davis has used his size and athleticism to develop into an explosive downfield target at the tight end position for the Terrapins.


Arafat's Condition Is Deteriorating, Reports Indicate

Conflicting reports that the Palestinian leader was fighting for his life touched off a flurry of political activity in Jerusalem and Ramallah.


Cardinals Outgun Tigers

Eric Shelton scores his fourth touchdown from one yard out with 37 seconds left, and No. 14 Louisville holds off Memphis, 56-49, Thursday night.


No More Clubbing

Maryland opens its season against Division II Bryant University, instead of a club team, after a new NCAA rule prohibiting those exhibitions.


Colonials Favored

George Washington and Saint Joseph's were picked to win their respective Atlantic 10 divisions in a poll of men's basketball coaches and media.


MCI Could Become a Value

The company says its revenue is stabilizing. If so, a value stock is in the making.


Despite G.O.P. Gain, Fight Over Judges Remains

Although Republicans made significant gains on Election Day, their majority of 55 senators still falls five votes short of the 60 needed to break a Democratic filibuster.


Singh Hangs Close

Despite missing half his fairways and a half-dozen putts inside 12 feet, Vijay Singh grinds out a 1-under 69 to stay within three shots of the lead at the Tour Championship.


Oldest Profession Is Still One of the Oldest Lures for Young Nigerian Women

For nearly 20 years, the women of Benin City, Nigeria, have been going to Italy to work in the sex trade.


T. Batista a Free Agent

Third baseman Tony Batista officially files for free agency Thursday, becoming the most significant member of the new Washington franchise to do so.


Reasons to Like Four Seasons

The luxury hotel manager doubles earnings for the second straight quarter.


Clemens Still Not Sure

Roger Clemens tells reporters he is very close to retirement but has yet to make a decision on whether he will play next season.


George Walker Bush, Jr., Re-elected President of the United States

Former alcoholic and functional illiterate George W. Bush has won re-election and will retain his office as 43th President of the United States of America, despite a proven inability to pronounce the word "nuclear".    The final tally of electoral votes was updated live throughout election day, 02 November 2004, by Andrew Tanenbaum of Electoral-Vote.com, where he stayed up all night hopefully tabulating the votes, only to sob bitterly at the sheer monstrous ratfuckery of it all.  He then asked to be excused to the bathroom, from which a single gunshot was later heard.


Confusion Marks Reports on Arafat

PARIS, Nov. 4 -- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat remained critically ill at a military hospital near here late Thursday night after slipping into unconsciousness on a day dominated by rumors, confusion and false reports that he had died.


An Introduction to Scoring Baseball Games

Now that the 2004 major league season is officially over, baseball fans typically gravitate to another sport to get them through the winter,     until spring training comes around the next year.      However, I see this downtime as the perfect opportunity for fans, young and old, to get themselves acquainted with how to score a baseball     game, in preparation for the coming season.  This article will introduce the reader to how to score a baseball game for themselves.


Finding Courage at Iraq Field Hospital

Doctors and injured troops traumatized by suicide bombing prepare for possible battle in Fallujah, which insurgents have controlled for six months.


Electoral College Change Without Amendments

The electoral college has produced controversial decisions six times in the history of the United States.      Such election results produce calls for changes to     the Constitution.  Amending the Constitution is     a difficult and complicated process. Only 27 Amendments have passed in over     200 years.     Here are some changes that can be made to the system without amending the Constitution.


Australian Says Practicality Key in Iraq

An Australian security expert suggests Americans should focus on training national forces and meeting such basic needs of citizens as food and jobs in Iraq.


Understanding Aviation

There are those few uninformed that spread ill will about commercial aviation. As is the case in just about anything, people who have no understanding of something love to pick it apart. I'm sure we all know someone who refuses to fly. Their reasons most likely include "I just don't feel safe on those things." The fact is, really, that airline travel is exceedingly safe, and becoming ever safer. I will try to explain exactly why this is. I'd also like to introduce general aviation, and relate what I know about the future of air travel. It is a sad fact that the general public knows very little about aviation, and yet has so much to say about it.


Al Qaeda claim to 9-11 Bodes Ill

If you haven't heard it yet, you soon will.  Osamma has finally claimed responsiblity for 9/11.  I think, however, that it's a really bad sign. I think it means that all of the goodwill that flowed to the US In sympathy for the attack has now been fully squandered -- and probably much more.


A Tale of Two Osamas

There are some interesting, and telling, differences between the CNN translation of Osama bin Laden's speech, and Aljazeera's.


Why YAML?  Why not?

I started a simple project a while back; all I needed to do was store some information about stuff around the office, and since it's a small office, I thought that a RDBMS system was overkill.  So I decided to go with XML.  After creating a document, I then decided to fight with XML DTDs, and tried to fight with both XML DOM and XML SAX for Python, I finally decided on an approach that built dictionaries using SAX, as described here.    After messing with it for a while, I decided there had to be a better way.  Almost by accident, I stumbled upon YAML.


Hillary Rosen Loves Larry Lessig (and other improbable tales)

In Wired, Hillary Rosen, the former head of the Recording Industry Ass. of America, writes of her love affair with... no way dude. Yep. Larry Lessig, her long time foe who started the Creative Commons.


The Rumors on the Internets

A shadowy group of nerds calling themselves Internets Vets for Truth have collected a pile of video clips related to the current US election. Named after Bush's statement in the second debate, "I hear there are rumors, uh, on the internets," the site includes clips from Going Upriver, Fahrenheit 9/11 (also available for download here), and a number of other odds and ends. If you haven't already been saturated by enough media this year, here's your chance to see the greatest hits.


Rojo Hits 1 Million Feeds

\\"We are happy to announce  that Rojo passed the million feed mark\today. This means that we are now regularly indexing and updating over 1\million RSS and Atom feeds--and all of them are searchable via Rojo. If you\are not already a Rojo user but would like to be during our beta trials, you\can be invited by a friend or request an invite from us here."\\Rojo  is now aggregating and indexing 1 million feeds.  To be precise exactly\1,000,239 feeds.\\This makes Rojo one of the largest feed search engines on the market today!\\The ability to have feeds pre-indexed means that when you join Rojo you'll\already have access to the feeds you need and a high probability that an archive\will exist.  Th ...\\


Karzai Officially Declared Winner

KABUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 3 -- President Hamid Karzai on Wednesday was officially declared the winner of Afghanistan's first-ever democratic presidential election more than three weeks after votes were cast, giving him a five-year mandate to try to steer this country out of a quarter-century of civil war and strife.


Latin American Leaders Discuss Haiti

Brazil will send additional peacekeepers to help restore order in Haiti and boost the 4,000- force to 5,500, a top government official said at a summit of Latin American leaders.


In AD 2004

\\(Second term was beginning.)\\<Kerry> What happen ?\\<Edwards> Somebody set up us the bomb.\\<Edwards> We get Ohio exit poll.\\<Kerry> What you say?!\\<Edwards> Fox News turn on.\\<Kerry> It's you !!\\<Bush> How are you gentlemen !!?\\<Bush> All your ballots are belong to us.\\<Bush> You are on the way to election defeat.\\<Kerry> What you say !!?\\<Bush> You have no chance to win make your time.\\<Bush> Ha Ha Ha Ha ....\\<aminorex> take off, every zogby\\<aminorex> for great justice\\Thanks coderman and #inforanarchy!\\


Fujimori on List Blocking Entry to U.S.

Former President Alberto Fujimori is on a watch list barring his entry to the United States because of allegations of corruption during his decade-long authoritarian regime, a U.S. diplomatic official said.


US Group Seeks to Defuse Venezuela Funding Row

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - A Washington-basedpro-democracy group said on Thursday it wanted to defuse a rowwith leftist President Hugo Chavez, who has accused the U.S.Congress-funded organization of backing efforts to topple him.


More Election Response

\\More and more bloggers are waking to the news:\\Lessig : \\...\\"Bush has won the popular vote. And it would take a freak of nature to imagine\the 220,000 provisional ballots would fall strongly enough to shift Ohio. He\will win the College. He is our President - legitimately, and credibly."\\"Our criticism of this administration must now focus narrowly and sharply: on\the policies, not on the credibility of the man."\\Joi Ito :\\"As Larry says, "It's over. Let it go." Jon is saying, "Don't complain -\organize!" Although the previous post about the wacky voting system is\interesting, it's unlikely that any sort of recount or technicality will\change the fact that today, the people of the Uni ...\\


Another Four Horrible Years.

\\I'm not sure what to think about this news.  I'm still stunned. I woke up this\morning feeling betrayed, and shocked.\\How could so many Americans be out of touch with reality?  How could so many\Americans be so intolerant?  How could the Iraq war go unpunished?\\The answer is that this is probably not the America I call home.\\Kerry might not have been perceived better than Bush by most Americans but its\clear that if this election were between Bush and *NOT* Bush - NOT Bush would\have won in a landslide.\\The silver lining might be that Bush will have to deal with the problem he\created in Iraq.  This doesn't sit well with me as more Americans and Iraqis\will die in a needless war.\\In the ...\\


No More Books

\\I spent today packing up everything I own.  I'm moving into a new apartment in\two weeks and the movers need to have everything in boxes.\\About 60 of the weight from everything I own is due to books.  Probably\equivalent to the weight of one dead tree.\\Its just a data!  Theres no reason to have it in meatspace format!  I can't\compress it!  I can't search it!  I can't create a backup copy!  Books are evil!\\Thats it.  I'm done.  No more.  From here on out I'm only going to own at a\maximum of 20 books (hopefully less).  \\I'm either going to use Safari  or sell the book once I'm finished reading\them.  If there's anything I need I'll just paste it into my personal wiki and\use permalinks. ...\\


Power Struggle

Darfur's Janjaweed militia aren't the only ones sowing chaos and death. Meet the two rebel factions threatening yet another civil war


EDS again postpones Q3 earnings report

An ongoing review of its Navy Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) contract has forced embattled services provider Electronic Data Systems Corp. (EDS) to again postpone its financial report for its third fiscal quarter, the company said Wednesday. EDS also announced its audit committee is conducting an internal investigation on a separate matter.


French Plays Defense

With its native tongue losing to English as the global lingua franca, France is fighting back


A Lapdog Bares its Fangs

By scuttling the new Commission, the European Parliament has finally proved to Brussels and the national capitals that it can bite as well as bark. Why thats good for the E.U.


No style points, only a win for Illini

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Illinois has played much better and has looked much better. But in grinding out a 72-60 victory over Arkansas before 13,140 rabid Razorbacks fans, the fifth-ranked Illini took another important step Saturday.


Salesforce.com unveils Winter '05 at user conference

SAN FRANCISCO -- At the Dreamforce 2004 Salesforce.com user conference on Monday, the company that says "just say no to packaged applications" continued to expand on its strategy of tightly integrating its hosted solution with in-house enterprise applications.


BEA touts industry-specific solutions initiative

BEA Systems on Monday is rolling out its BEA Enterprise Solutions program, featuring the companys Solution Frameworks initiative to link BEA WebLogic Platform with partners products for deployment of SOAs (service-oriented architectures).
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Spam Is Finally a Crime

Siblings are the first ever to be convicted for sending boatloads of junk e-mail pushing bogus products. Also: Microsoft takes MSN music download on a Euro trip....  Nokia begins legal battle against European counterparts.... and more.


XM Makes a RadioPod

The satellite radio company gears up to clean up in the portable player market. Also: United States lays a clear line against internet gambling   hellip;.  Outsourcing continues without a hitch    hellip;. and more.


Meyer makes it official

Florida announces that the Utah coach will become the head coach of the Gators next season. By MIC HUBER. GAINESVILLE -- Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley was able to fall asleep Friday night for the first time in a long time.


Pols, Don't Count on Recounts

The 100,000 electronic voting machines in use in Tuesday's election have a big downside: Candidates who dispute the results won't have a way to conduct a meaningful recount. Analysis by Kim Zetter.


China Cracks Down on I-Cafes

Internet cafes that fail to enforce the strict rules governing their use are being shut down by the government. Also: Companies worry that the spyware buck will stop with them   hellip;.  High-tech outsourcing to India continues    hellip;. and more.


Smart Web Changes World

The Gartner-sponsored ITXpo symposium in France sets itself to identify long-term technology trends that are altering sectors like travel, marketing and investing. More web-enabled mobile devices and a smarter internet are key players.


Brazilians Hot For Broadband

Betting on strong demand for high-speed internet access in the next few years, Brazilian phone companies are rushing to set up for a broadband boom.


3D patent suit extended to Dell, HP, IBM, Sony, others

PC makers targeted as list of allegedly infringed patents grows


Sugar Bowl will leave Tigers with bitter taste

If theyd lost a game, they would understand. If they hadnt won their conference championship game, they wouldnt argue. If theyd even ever really struggled to win, they could see being left out on the championship picture.


Dollar Struggles Before U.S. Jobs Report

LONDON (Reuters) - European stocks jumped to fresh 6-month  highs on Friday, buoyed by lower oil prices and a strong rally  on Wall Street, but the dollar hung close to record lows  against the euro ahead of key U.S. jobs data.


MPAA to Sue Over Movie File Sharing

The movie industry announced Thursday it will file its first wave of lawsuits later this month against those it alleges are illegally sharing copyrighted films on the Internet, joining the music industry in its fight against piracy. -The Washington Post


Microsoft E-Mail Looks Like Spam to Some

For a year, Microsoft Corp. has extolled the virtues of the Can-Spam Act, which Congress passed in late 2003 to crack down on purveyors of unwanted bulk e-mail.  But some think the software giant is engaged in its own spamming.
\\-The Washington Post


Third-Quarter Loss \$3.4 Billion for MCI

MCI Inc. Thursday reported a loss of \$3.4 billion during its third quarter, reflecting its recent decision to write down the value of its telecommunications network.
\-The Washington Post


Jury Finds 2 Guilty of Felony Spam

Two North Carolina residents Wednesday became the first people in the nation to be convicted on felony spamming charges after a Loudoun County jury found that they flooded tens of thousands of America Online e-mail accounts with unsolicited e-mail, prosecutors said. -The Washington Post


FBI Pursuing More Cyber-Crime Cases

The FBI is adding more Internet crime suspects to its top lists of wanted criminals, signaling a growing interest in cracking down on cyber-crime. -washingtonpost.com


Tech Investors See Brighter Future

Investors cheered a final verdict on the outcome of the presidential race, leaving behind their fears of a 2000-style election and boosting markets, especially stocks perceived to benefit from a continued Bush administration. -washingtonpost.com


Bloggers Gain Attention In 2004 Election

Traffic on Web logs -- blogs for short -- and other political sites skyrocketed on Election Day, creating online audiences rivaling those of traditional media organizations. -Leslie Walker


XM Satellite Radio's Loss Narrows

XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. said Thursday its third-quarter loss narrowed due to a sharp revenue increase from the company's growing subscriber ranks.


Time Warner Plans for Settlement

Time Warner Inc. said Wednesday that it is creating a \$500 million reserve in response to the federal investigations of its America Online unit and that it also will restate AOL Europe's financial results for 2000 and 2001.
\-The Washington Post


Citigroup Unit Violated Its Fiduciary Duty

Arbitrators have awarded \$75,000 to a longtime WorldCom Inc. employee who argued that bankers contributed to her financial losses by profiting from their relationship with the struggling company and its chief executive at the same time they administered a stock-options program for WorldCom workers.
\-The Washington Post


Huang to Push For a Research Institution

Eugene Huang  is an introvert who's on an extended lecture circuit, a high-level government official who dislikes politics and, as of Oct. 1, one of the youngest state Cabinet secretaries in the nation.


Cazenove links up with JP Morgan

Cazenove, one of Britain's last independent investment banks, joins forces with US banking giant JP Morgan.


How to Make the Right Call on Cell Plans

Wireless phone service can't be purchased on price alone -- first, you need to decide which carrier to go with, since not all offer the same service. -Rob Pegoraro


Annual Cell Phone Guide

Fast Forward columnist Rob Pegoraro was online to discuss The Washington Post's annual cell phone guide.


'San Andreas' Among Best Games

"Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" is an epic homage to the West Coast gang culture of the early 1990s. Yes, parents, there's way too much violence and profanity here for the kids. For those of us 18 and older, though, it's among the best video games this year.


Supercomputer breaks speed record

The US is poised to push Japan off the top of the supercomputing charts with an IBM prototype machine.


World 'will act on climate gases'

International action on climate change will eventually come, a leading UK environmental thinker says.


Kovalainen stuns competition in

com staff writers. The 2004 World Series by Nissan champion stunned the competition and the crowd at the Stade de France in Paris to walk away with the Race of Champions trophy.


Scientists lift veil on Beagle 3

The team behind the Beagle 2 mission has unveiled its design for a successor to the British Mars lander.


Minister upbeat on climate change

The US may change its stance on global warming despite George Bush's re-election, says UK minister.


Cyprus planes to destroy locusts

Cyprus begins aerial spraying to eradicate swarms of crop-destroying locusts that have arrived from Africa.


Roman cosmetic secrets revealed

A 1,800-year-old sealed pot of ointment found in London last year was most probably a cosmetic foundation.


Antarctic food web under threat

The shrimp-like krill that feed so many Antarctic species, such as whales and penguins, is in big decline, say researchers.


Supernova produces cosmic rays

Astronomers claim to have found the first firm evidence that cosmic rays can come from stars that have exploded, or supernova remnants.


Sarin 'Gulf war syndrome cause'

\Gulf war syndrome may have been caused by exposure to the nerve gas sarin, according to reports.


BALCO founder goes public in sports steroids scandal

But on national television Friday night, and in a first-person story posted on a magazine #39;s Web site, the alleged mastermind of the BALCO sports doping scandal seemingly


China aims for five days in orbit

\China's second manned space flight  will carry two astronauts into space and will orbit the Earth for five days.


Nasa to resume shuttle missions

The US space agency says it hopes shuttle flights, suspended since the Columbia disaster, can begin next May.


Cloning of flies is latest buzz

Flies are the latest animals to be cloned, the journal Genetics reports.


Climate gas cuts 'are affordable'

Tackling climate change will cost far less than the pessimists suggest, a British scientist says.


Fury at killing of Pyrenean bear

French environmentalists condemn hunters who shot one of the last female brown bears in the Pyrenees.


Arctic heads into warmer future

The Arctic is undergoing rapid and possibly irreversible climate change, says a major report.


Male Fish Producing Eggs in Potomac River

In the Potomac River scientists and anglers have uncovered male smallmouth bass growing eggs. The reason is a mystery, but clues point to estrogen-enhanced sewage.


Hairy Legs Help Bugs Walk on Water

Water striders do what few other animals can: They walk on water. How the freshwater insects pull it off has baffled scientists #151;until now.


Spellbinding Planets

You won't want to miss this:  Venus and Jupiter, the two brightest planets, will be beautifully close together just before sunrise on Thursday, Nov. 4th, and Friday, Nov. 5th.


Actor Ewan McGregor on Globe-Spanning Motorbike Adventure

This summer movie actors Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman wrapped up a motorcycle trip across Europe, Asia, and North America. In an interview, they discuss the open road, cranky border guards, and roadside hygiene.


Kite-Assisted Expeditions Cover New Ground #151;Fast

Earthbound adventurers outfitted with special kites and harnesses are using wind power to reach some of the most remote spots on the planet.


Fed-up Americans eyeing Canada?

Canadian officials are reporting that their government's immigration Web site has been swamped with traffic since George W. Bush gave his acceptance speech on Wednesday. Missing Links


Housing market  #39;heading for stagnation #39;

The housing market will stagnate rather than slump, economists insisted after figures from the Halifax revealed a 1.1 per cent drop in prices last month.


Cazenove joins forces with JP Morgan

Cazenove, the Queen #39;s broker, today effectively called time on 181 years of independence when it announced a joint venture with the US banking giant JP Morgan.


Singapore Shares End Slightly Higher

Singapore shares ended slightly higher Friday in a session dominated by Singapore Telecommunications Inc., which fell sharply following news of a placement of its shares by parent Temasek Holdings.


Reliving Lewis and Clark: An Adventure in Its Own Right

Reenactors following in the footsteps of the Lewis and Clark expedition are encountering weather and experiences that are making the modern journey an adventure in its own right.


Workplace blues in election aftermath

Tech industry workers find that the election's outcome is affecting workplace morale, concentration.<br /> Photo: Company president holds morale meeting


Apple kit rated five out of five by... er... Apple

AppleStore buyers' ratings scheme limited to non-Apple products


Are Electronic Voting Machines Reliable?

Hoping to avoid the problems of dimpled ballots and hanging chads, election officials around the U.S. will rely on electronic voting machines for tomorrow's presidential vote. But are the machines secure?


The case for women in the technology business

Interview IBM's Rebecca George fights her corner


Antarctic Lakes: 145 and Counting, Scientists Say

Deep beneath the Antarctic ice sheets are at least 145 lakes that may be teeming with microscopic organisms similar to those that could be thriving beneath the ice on Jupiter's moon Europa.


Photo: Company president holds morale meeting

Tim Farrelly held a meeting for his San Francisco staffing company Wednesday to raise morale after John Kerry lost the presidential election.


Microsoft wants servers to drive Office sales

Looking to give customers a reason to upgrade to Office 12, Microsoft will further tighten ties between its desktop and server software.


First US Spam Conviction

A man was convicted in a Virginia court on Wednesday of sending AOL users millions of unsolicited emails using fraudulent email address is facing nine years in prison after becoming the first person to be convicted under new anti-spam laws.


What triggers nicotine dependency? Revealing study

Nicotine is a major addictive component in cigarettes, scientists said. However, how chemical dependency results from nicotine #39;s interaction with brain cells still largely stumps the experts.


Microsoft to help users prepare for patching

Microsoft has promised to give advance notice of its monthly security updates to customers to help them prepare to install related software patches.


Blizzard dates World Of Warcraft in US and Down Under

Blizzard has finally confirmed a launch date for its long-awaited massively multiplayer title World Of Warcraft, with North America, Australia and New Zealand all getting the game on November 23rd.


#39;Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas #39;: one wild ride

It #39;s been copied by rivals, disparaged by social critics, attacked by politicians and snapped up - check the sales numbers after just one week on the shelves -y gamers.


Lost faith in Internet Explorer? Try another browser

Microsoft has won the browser wars, but a battle is raging for the runner-up spot and one of the contenders has recently been refreshed.


Munch Museum to Stay Closed Well Into 2005

Oslo #39;s Munch Museum could remain closed until June 2005 while officials upgrade its security system following a brazen daylight robbery in August of two Edvard Munch masterpieces.


Nokias smartphones

Nokia unveiled three new megapixel handsets this week in a further move towards its long-term bid to take a 40 share of the market.


IBM ups investment in modular-software push

Firm's new consulting service supports services-oriented architecture, an emerging software-development model.


Vijay stalking the leaders in Atlanta

Atlanta - The world #39;s top three golfers were all within striking distance of the leaders after the first round of the Tour Championship in Atlanta on Friday.


Turin 2006 president to resign

quot;This is equivalent to a lack of faith in the work carried out up until now, quot; said Castellani in a statement.  quot;For this reason I have decided to offer my resignation as president to the board on November 24th


Manchester United Football Club in Figo link

Portugese superstar Luis Figo could be a Manchester United Football Club target if he is not offered a new Real Madrid deal. The 33-year-old midfielder is out of contract at the end of 2006 and is hoping to


RUUD SCORES

Sparta defender Jiri Homola has admitted his ability to not see a man dressed in red standing 6 #39; 2 quot; in height cost his team dear on Wednesday night.


Enough points to go around

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Eric Shelton scored his fourth touchdown with 37 seconds left, and No. 14 Louisville held off Memphis 56-49 on Thursday night.


Teske well placed in Japan

Australia #39;s Rachel Teske is three shots behind the leaders after the opening round of the LPGA tournament in Otsu, Japan. Teske shot a 6-under-par round of 66 to trail co-leaders Chihiro Nakajima of Japan and Sweden #39;s Annika Sorenstam, who are 9-under.


Social responsibility in dollars and cents

When tech companies want to do the right thing, Ernst Ligteringen is the man they increasingly turn to for advice.


Arafat #39;s health raises questions about Mideast

As Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat clung to life Thursday, many in the West began to hope -- not for his death, but for the possibility that peace might follow it.


Militants attack army unit in Thailand, killing one soldier

A group of suspected militants armed with M-16 assault rifles attacked an army unit protecting Buddhist monks at a temple in Thailand #39;s southernmost province of Narathiwat early Friday, killing one soldier, police said.


Cahoot hit by web security scare

A security loophole at internet bank Cahoot allowed customers to view other people's accounts.


Open-source details hold up Solaris release

Sun will release the source code of its operating system, but those eager for details may have to wait until early 2005.\


SugarCRM to launch on-demand service

With its open-source model, the company has the potential to shake up the industry, one analyst says.


Gadget show heralds MP3 season

Some gadget lovers might be disappointed this Christmas as experts predict a shortage of iPod minis.


Slim PlayStation triples sales

Sony PlayStation 2's slimmer shape has proved popular with UK gamers, with 50,000 sold in its first week on sale.


EDS delays earnings again

Auditor KPMG says it isn't ready. Struggling IT services giant is also probing its bonus plan.


Seamen sail into biometric future

A luxury cruise ship in the Caribbean is the unlikely setting for tests of biometric ID cards for seafarers.


US duo in first spam conviction

A US brother and sister become the first people criminally convicted of sending spam e-mail.


Earnings alert: Write-downs widen DirecTV's loss

Plus: Time Warner net income slips...Cell phone unit shores up Verizon...Gateway trims loss in third quarter...EDS delays earnings.


Adobe dipping toes into desktop Linux waters

Job postings reveal company's increasing Linux involvement, even if Photoshop won't run on open source anytime soon.


Queen sell pirate music to fans

Queen are tackling piracy by offering fans the chance to legally download pirate recordings.


Madagascar Readies More Protected Nature Sites (Reuters)

Reuters - Madagascar has identified the\additional forests, wetlands and marshes it wants to protect\under a plan to triple the size of its nature reserves by the\end of 2008, a global conservation group said on Friday.


US blogger fired by her airline

The US airline attendant suspended over postings on her blog, or online diary, has been fired by her employers.


MP calls for eBay 'gun crackdown'

A dossier purportedly showing the sale of illegal firearms on eBay is to be handed to the home secretary.


Inuit language finds home on net

Inuit living in Canada can finally have their say on the web as their native tongue is offered online.


Linux cluster companies attract new funds

Venture capitalists are lavishing money on the fashionable Linux supercomputing concept--but smaller firms face much larger rivals.


Late surge to US campaign sites

US election websites saw a late surge in traffic as polling stations prepared to open, report traffic monitoring firms.


Winners and losers (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - Republicans were the clear winners Tuesday as President Bush won re-election and the party expanded its majorities in both the Senate and House of Representatives. Democrats emerged from the polls with a bad case of the "blues" and a mandate to figure out what went wrong.


Asian telecom firms come together

Seven Asian mobile phone firms are joining together to form an alliance that will invest \$30m to \$40m in new technologies.


Carphone lifted by buoyant sales

Strong sales of new mobile phone models boosts profits at Carphone Warehouse but the retailer's shares fall on concerns at a decline in profits from pre-paid phones.


Sun marketing exec heads to start-up Azul

Shahin Khan has joined start-up Azul Systems, which builds computing hardware to accelerate the execution of Java software.


IBM revs supercomputer in rankings race

Blue Gene/L performance likely to far outpace NEC's Earth Simulator in contest of high-powered machines, News.com has learned.\<br /> Photos: SGI's rival Columbia supercomputer


Consumers 'snub portable video'

People want to listen to music while they are on the move, rather than watch video, research suggests.


SIA: Chip sales to hit record, flatten

Semiconductor sales will reach \$214 billion this year, a new record high. But next year will be about the same.


Intel devising chip line for consumer electronics

A new group of processors could put the chipmaker inside your set-top box.


Dossier: Bob Bells review of the 2004 season

The Renault F1 Teams chassis Technical Director reviews a hard-fought season, which saw the team meet its objectives and prepare for the future.


GTA sequel is criminally good

The newest release in the GTA franchise, San Andreas, could be the best yet,


Intel looks to the high end

roundup The firm makes over its Pentium 4 Extreme Edition and gets ready to unveil a new top-of-the-line Itanium 2 for servers.\<br />\ Photo: Dell's 'Extreme' machine\


Dell closing in on plans for new U.S. plant?

North Carolina legislators are to discuss a proposed package of incentives for the PC maker during a session set for Thursday.\<br /> Photos: Inside Dell's Austin assembly plant


Putin Makes First Visit to Turkey (AP)

AP - Vladimir Putin headed to Turkey on Sunday for the first official visit by a Russian president, looking to boost a growing economic relationship that is turning a longtime foe into a newfound trading partner.


Afghan Kidnappers Meet on Fate of U.N. Hostages

KABUL (Reuters) - Leaders of an Afghan militant group  holding three U.N. workers hostage were meeting on Friday to  decide whether to kill them or extend a deadline for  authorities to meet their demands, a member of the leadership  council said.


AMD's slow but steady market share gains

Fifteen percent, then 15.5 percent, and now 15.8 percent. AMD is gaining back lost ground, Mercury Research says.


Taipei Plans City-Wide Wi-Fi by End 2005

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taipei plans to make wireless Internet  access available across the Taiwan capital by the end of 2005,  joining a small number of cities offering Wi-Fi networks.


Radio Shack exec joins AMD board

David Edmondson, president and COO of the retailer, has been elected to the board of the chipmaker.


Nokia Says Handset Market to Slow, Share to Rise

NEW YORK/HELSINKI (Reuters) - Nokia NOK1V.HE, the world's  largest mobile phone maker, expects slowing mobile phone growth  in 2005 but plans to launch more phones next year and regain  lost market share, the company said on Thursday.


Exploit code makes IE flaw more dangerous

Program targets vulnerability, prompting security firm Secunia to issue "extremely critical" rating.


Microsoft Expands European Music Download Business

LONDON (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp launched its MSN music  download service in eight new European countries on Thursday in  an attempt to fend off a recent expansion push by archrival  Apple Computer's iTunes.


Microsoft: Security requires teamwork

The software giant also tells European customers that it is making progress with efforts to limit security attacks against its products.


Verizon to Buy NextWave Licenses for \$3 Billion

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Verizon Wireless said on Thursday that  it had signed an agreement with NextWave Telecom Inc. to  purchase all of its airwave licenses for \$3 billion.


16 candles for first Internet worm

In 1988, a student unleashed a self-replicating worm that halted thousands of computers--and lit a fire under online security.


Programs: 'Larry' Series Is Still Behaving Badly

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Reuters) - As founder and president of  PRUDES (People Revolted by Unnecessary Depictions of Eroticism  and Sexuality), I am shocked -- shocked! -- by "Leisure Suit  Larry: Magna Cum Laude."


Virus report points to profit-hungry hackers

Trend Micro report validates concern in security industry that malicious hackers are more interested in money than fame.


ID cards to double U.K. passport fees

Costs tied to the country's controversial biometric ID card plan will cause the price of new passports to soar.


Nokia Challenges Sagem, Vitelcom on Patents

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Nokia has taken legal action against  small European handset makers Sagem and Vitelcom on allegations  of patent infringements, the world's largest mobile phone maker  said on Thursday.


Air of Expectation Is Heavy as G.I.'s Itch to Prove Their Mettle in Falluja

Urban warfare drills are taking place in and around Falluja, Iraq, where the Marines expect to lead an all-out attack soon.


Psst...now it's Cisco source code up for sale

The Source Code Club hackers are back, selling what they claim are files of Cisco firewall software.


Trying to Catch a Falling Currency

Although Americans vacationing in Europe may be howling over higher prices in hotels and restaurants, the adverse impact of the rapidly declining US dollar has fallen mainly on foreigners, at least so far.


IE exploit is top of the hacks

Attacks via an Internet Explorer flaw are more common than any other hacking technique, a security firm has found.


PluggedIn: Can Radio Kill the Digital Music Star?

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A funny thing happened on the way  to the consumer electronics store.


Microsoft debates spoofing as security flaw

Microsoft rejects claims from security researchers that a spoofing technique discovered on Internet Explorer is a vulnerability.


Special jet flies Bell to family

FORMER McDonald #39;s boss Charlie Bell will be flown home to Australia in a specially-equipped jet at a cost of nearly \$400,000. The Sydney boy who grew up to run the world #39;s biggest fast food franchise was diagnosed


Cell Phones Increasingly Used to Snap the News

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Twice in one month the biggest Dutch  newspaper published front-page pictures shot by amateur  photographers using their mobile phones, showing how advances  in technology can assist traditional media in gathering news.


Qwest rides VoIP train to new destinations

The local phone giant is ready to enter new territories with business-class voice and data services.


Cisco target of patent lawsuit

A small company claims that Cisco stole its intelligent routing technology, and the company's lawyer is looking for a big pay-out.\


Net Banking Fraudsters Step Up the 'Phishing' Scam

LONDON (Reuters) - Fraudsters have developed a potent new  computer program that steals Internet banking customers'  details by duping them into opening up a bogus e-mail, a  British security firm said Wednesday.


Openwave names new CEO

Former Inktomi chief David Peterschmidt replaces Don Listwin, who will continue to be vice chairman.


Sprint in Talks with Qualcomm on TV to Cellphones

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sprint Corp. is in talks with Qualcomm  Inc. about using a network the chipmaker is building to deliver  live television to Sprint mobile phone customers, Chief  Operating Officer Len Lauer said on Tuesday.


SBC, BellSouth let their fingers do the walking

Companies are buying YellowPages.com and will expand it into a nationwide online business directory.


Iran has nuclear talks in Europe

Iranian and European officials meet in Paris in a bid to finalise a compromise on Iran's nuclear programme.


Photos: Networks of tomorrow

New communications technology could spawn future products. Could your purse tell you to bring an umbrella?


Children killed in Gaza explosion

Two Palestinian children are killed in disputed circumstances in an explosion in southern Gaza.


Dollar Struggles Before U.S. Jobs Report (Reuters)

Reuters - European stocks jumped to fresh 6-month\highs on Friday, buoyed by lower oil prices and a strong rally\on Wall Street, but the dollar hung close to record lows\against the euro ahead of key U.S. jobs data.


Cisco, MIT look from lab to market

New communications technology could spawn futuristic products. Could your purse tell you to bring an umbrella?<br />\ Photos: Networks of tomorrow\


Post-election rally rolls

Amid falling oil prices, stocks climb for 2nd straight day as Dow closes at highest level since Sept. 14. BY PRADNYA JOSHI. Stocks kept climbing higher yesterday as oil prices retreated and investors continued


Europe follows US rally

European shares opened higher on Friday, boosted by a strong post-election rally on Wall Street overnight and a fall in oil prices to a five-week low.


Nokia plans 40 new models in  #39;05

HELSINKI: Nokia, the world #39;s largest mobile phone maker, plans to bring 40 new handsets to the market next year as it seeks to expand its already dominant market share amid increased competition from rivals Motorola, Samsung Electronics and Sony Ericsson.


2nd UPDATE: Temasek Cuts SingTel Stake; Raises S\$800M

SINGAPORE (Dow Jones)--Singapore #39;s state-owned investment company Temasek Holdings Pte Ltd. Friday said it sold a 2 stake in Singapore Telecommunications Ltd.


Verizon Wireless to buy NextWave #39;s licenses for \$3 bn

NEW YORK, November 5 (newratings.com) - Verizon Wireless, a joint venture of Verizon Communications (VZ.NYS) and Vodafone Group, has reached an agreement to acquire all of NextWave #39;s airwave spectrum licenses for about \$3 billion.


P2P for cell phones: Reach out and share something

Next year, wireless operators will debut ways to share a favorite ring tone. But don't expect a Napster free-for-all.


Time Warner Cable mulling wireless

Company's looking at ways to offer wireless phone service, executives say. The move is targeted at the Baby Bells.


Napster offers service to AT T Wireless users

The service lets users of the Audiovox SMT5600 smart phone download an unlimited number of songs for \$14.95 monthly.


Convicted spammer gets nine years in jail

Two spammers have been convicted of three charges of sending thousands of junk e-mails through servers located in Virginia. Jeremy Jaynes was sentenced to nine years in prison and Jessica DeGroot was fined \$7,500 (4,075).


Enter the World of Warcraft, soon

In a simultaneous cross platform release, multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft will go on sale in North America on November 23, and here in the UK  quot;shortly after quot;.


LOTS OF HOOP-LA IN HARLEM EVICT SUIT

November 5, 2004 -- A Harlem community group says the National Basketball Players Association has unleashed a full-court press to try to bounce them out of their offices.


RFID royalties suspended for testing

Intermec Technologies will not seek payments for patents in the radio tracking technology for 60 days. Why?


Hensby, Appleby close

Aussies Mark Hensby and Stuart Appleby are just two shots off the lead after the first round of the elite 30-man Tour Championship in Atlanta.


No New Worries for Boro

Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren has no new injury worries for Sundays visit of Bolton. Midfielder Ray Parlour came through the full 90 minutes of last nights UEFA Cup Group E victory over Lazio


Staying home for dream job

The pinstripes were a brighter blue, the cap featured an orange NY, but Willie Randolph, a Yankees icon, seemed right at home yesterday when he was introduced at Shea Stadium as the new manager of the Mets.


On to what really matters

Step outside the University of Alabama football complex this week and it wasn #39;t hard to find distractions. The Mike Shula vs. Sylvester Croom debate.


Observers speculate on Mideast peace process without Arafat

When Rabbi Jonathan Gerard traveled to Israel in 1996 his group took a bus to the border of Gaza and, led by armed Palestinian guards through throngs of Palestinians, met with Yasser Arafat.


Chirac to skip EU meeting with Allawi

Jacques Chirac, the French president, is to miss an EU summit meeting today with the interim Iraqi prime minister, Ayad Allawi. Aides to Mr Chirac, an opponent of the US-led war, denied the move was a snub


Iran faces tough talks with EU big three

TEHERAN - The third round of nuclear talks with Iran and the European Union trio of Britain, France and Germany will be  quot;tough and complicated quot;, an Iranian spokesman said Friday.


Lebanese hostage freed in Iraq

Two Lebanese held hostage in Iraq for more than two months have been freed and returned home, officials said in Beirut Friday. Marwan Kassar and Mohammed Hussein, who had been working in Iraq for the Lebanese


Taiwan issues shooting report, but mystery remains

Taiwan released on Friday the full report by a top US forensic expert on the election-eve shooting of President Chen Shui-bian but it offered few clues on who was responsible for the mysterious attack.


At posh hotels, iPod a high-tech mint on the pillow

Apple's digital music player becomes the latest amenity at swank hotels, and ups its status as a pop-culture icon.<br /> Photo: Preloaded iPod in your next hotel room?


Gateway looks to pump up direct sales

How about a \$269 server? PC maker turns on rebates, special offers to breathe life into its direct-sales efforts.


Apple store takes reviews--but not of its own stuff

Apple will brook no criticism of its offerings on its new product review page--but praise and pan other makers' stuff all you like.


Mac developer looks to Windows to escape Tiger

With Apple planning to offer similar features in its next version of OS X, programmer Arlo Rose moves Konfabulator to Windows.


Screen shots: Election night gadgets

Among the devices used was a futuristic plasma monitor designed by three technology companies specifically for CBS.


Intel, Microsoft team to tout digital home

Tech giants set to launch TV, print, cinema and online ad campaign to market the digital lifestyle.\<br /> Photos: Microsoft's Media Center 2005 launch


Newscasters show off election-night gadgetry

Among the devices used was a futuristic plasma monitor designed by three technology companies specifically for CBS.\<br />\ Screen shots: Election night gadgets


PalmOne ponders Microsoft, Linux options

Handheld maker looks beyond Palm OS with quiet tests of other operating systems, News.com has learned.


US jobs and sales figures indicate weakening economy

The US Labor Department on Friday issued its employment report for November, showing slower job growth than had been expected. Only 112,000 new jobs were created, compared to forecasts of 180,000.


Photo: The Audiovox SMT5600 smart phone

AT #38;T subscribers using the SMT5600 can now get songs downloaded to their handsets via the Napster to Go service.


Gateway closes AOL chapter with stock buyback

Plan to repurchase \$315 million in shares owned by Time Warner marks end of deal dreamed up at height of Internet appliance vogue.


Microsoft investigating reports of new IE hole

Microsoft is looking into reports this week of a serious buffer overflow vulnerability in its Internet Explorer Web browser, but has not yet seen malicious code that exploits the reported flaw.


Reporter's notebook: The e-voting debate brought home

Computerworld's Dan Verton went to the polls on Tuesday, cast his vote electronically without a hitch, and yet came away from the experience wanting something more than an "I voted" sticker.


Wisconsin ruling could set \$300M precedent on modified apps

A Wisconsin judge's refusal to order the state to refund sales tax paid by a Neena, Wis., company on a customized SAP AG rollout could relieve the state from paying out more than a quarter of a billion dollars in tax refunds to software users.


Offshoring company looks to make programmers obsolete in legacy conversion

An Indian company claims its software automatically converts legacy applications written in old languages such as Cobol and Pascal to modern languages such as C and Java.


Global chip sales headed for tough times in 2005

Global semiconductor sales next year are expected to total \$215.3 billion, up just 1.2 from this year, according to a forecast released this week by an industry group that tracks global chip sales.


EDS again postpones Q3 earnings report

A continuing review of its troubled Navy/Marine Corps Intranet contract forced embattled services provider EDS to again delay its third-quarter financial report.