European Parliament: less privacy, less spam

The European Parliament has voted to ban spam by adopting the opt-in system for unsolicited commercial e-mail, finally freeing the way for the entry into force of a European Parliament and Council directive concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector

News Coasters to Face G-Force Limits?

New Jersey will begin examining the possibility of placing limits on roller coaster G-forces. Pointing out that the G-forces on coasters are considerably greater than even those experienced by astronauts and race car drivers, legislators on both the state and national levels want to start reining in coaster G-forces which have been blamed for a number of injuries and deaths over the past few years — via Slashdot

Warrant Sought for the Arrest of Henry Kissinger

An attempt to have former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger arrested in Britain for war crimes has failed. Human Rights campaigner Peter Tatchell applied at Bow Street Magistrates’ Court for a warrant for the arrest of Dr Kissinger under the Geneva Conventions Act 1957. The charges alleged that the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize winner commissioned, aided and abetted and procured war crimes in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia

Beyond Good and Evil

Almost a year ago, Richard Neville wrote a provocative analysis of the dark side of Uncle Sam — a nation, he argued, hell-bent on furthering its own interests at any cost. Now, in the wake of 11 September, America has cast itself as a global crusader against terror, above the law, above criticism. But is it really on the side of the angels in a new kind of war, Neville asks — and could it have responded to the crisis in a way more in keeping with its own high ideals?

Fear factor cuts back forests

If you go down to the woods today, you are likely to come across a cleared path, a neatly manicured glen and a strategically placed water feature. Everything will be signposted and there will be few, if any, surprises. The British public’s fear of dark, imposing forests in which ghouls and goblins lurk has led the Forestry Commission to order a series of woodland makeovers

Florida Hates Families

Florida, a state run by another corrupt shrub, has implemented restrictions on gay parenting. This doesn’t just mean that if you’re gay you can’t adopt, it also means that children in happy, stable homes can be legally removed by the state because of their parents sexuality. Welcome to the land of the free