Security officials ignore Flight 253 witness

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/officials+ignore+Flight+witness/2414002/story.html
'I don't even get a call to check up,' Dollard resident Shama Chopra says.
MONTREAL – It has been almost two weeks since Shama Chopra witnessed the failed attempt to blow up a plane en route to Detroit.
On Christmas Day, she handed water bottles to passengers who had jumped the would-be bomber, on fire after trying to detonate an explosive device. Chopra, 54, was sitting four rows from the Nigerian suspect and feels that she has a story to tell.
But so far, no security official from Canada or the U.S. has called to speak to the Dollard des Ormeaux resident about her harrowing experience, and she doesn't understand why.
"If I had died, I'm sure there would have been many statements (from Canadian officials)," said Chopra, who volunteers at the Hindu Mandir Temple in Dollard. "Now I survived, and I don't even get a call to check (how I'm doing)."

Corporate Media Says Body Scanners Increase Privacy

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/that-naked-image-at-airport-security-actually-enhances-your-privacy/article1421473/
"Let me be controversial by saying the millimetre-wave scanner actually enhances privacy."

7 million lost jobs: Gone forever?

http://money.cnn.com/2010/01/07/news/economy/jobs_outlook/index.htm
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- A two-year string of job losses appears to be near an end, if it hasn't ended already.
But most economists don't expect the employment picture to significantly improve anytime this year -- or over the next few years for that matter.
The unemployment rate, which stood at 10% in November, is expected to stay uncomfortably high for the foreseeable future. Some experts even suggest that the labor market won't be able to fully recover from the 7.2 million jobs lost since the start of 2008 before another recession and round of job losses.

BBC: Should we bring back rationing?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8445824.stm
It's 70 years since WWII rationing was brought in and many pass comment on the contrast between the current obesity epidemic and those healthier days of dearth. But how did people handle rationing and could we use the lessons to fight obesity now?

Another Melamine-Tainted Milk Scandal in China

http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_china/2010-01-04/148242373937.html
A new milk safety scandal has broken out in China.

Authorities in Shanghai have closed a dairy company and arrested three executives, after milk products were found to contain high levels of the toxic industrial chemical melamine.

According to the state-run Shanghai Daily, melamine was found in milk powder and condensed milk made by the Shanghai Panda Dairy Co. Ltd.

Melamine is a toxic chemical used for making plastic. When added to food it can make the protein content appear higher, but it’s highly detrimental to human health.

Britain must launch GM food revolution, says chief scientist

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jan/06/gm-food-revolution-government-scientist
UK scientists need to urgently develop 'a new and greener revolution' to increase food production, says the government.
Britain must embrace genetically modified crops and cutting-edge developments such as nanotechnology to avoid catastrophic food shortages and future climate change, the government's chief scientist will warn today.

GMO FOODS?

Cell Phone Radiation Is Actually Not Bad For Us Now, It Prevents Brain Disorders

http://preventdisease.com/news/
Yet another ridiculous study out of the University of South Florida claims that cell phone radiation actually protects against brain disorders rather than cause them.
It's another version of researchers promoting junk science at its best. The ludicrous study only done in mice, suggests that long-term exposure to electromagnetic frequencies (EMF) associated with cell phones may actually protect against, and even reverse, Alzheimer's disease.

Student arrested over "Nobama" sticker gets settlement

http://www.denverpost.com/commented/
The Denver Post
January 7, 2010
A Dakota Ridge High School student who wore a "Nobama" sticker taped across the front of his shirt prior to an appearance by Michelle Obama will receive $4,000 from Jefferson County authorities, the ACLU of Colorado announced today.
The $4,000 settlement agreement with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department and the Jefferson County School District avoided a potential lawsuit, according to a news release from Taylor Pendergrass, ACLU staff attorney.

Geithner’s New York Fed Told AIG to Withhold Details on Bailout

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aXIvW4igKV38
Jan. 7 (Bloomberg) -- The Federal Reserve Bank of New York, then led by Timothy Geithner, told American International Group Inc. to withhold details from the public about the bailed-out insurer’s payments to banks during the depths of the financial crisis, e-mails between the company and its regulator show.

TSA Agent: "I am god, I’m in charge."

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local-beat/TSA-Security-Agent-Arrested-at-LAX-80858482.html

They are the first line of defense in airport security but two troubling incidents involving TSA agents at LAX are raising concerns.

A TSA agent was arrested on January 3rd in Terminal One at LAX, a source told NBCLA. He had just gotten off duty and was behaving erratically, saying, "I am god, I’m in charge." 

Calls for 'speed-limiting' cars

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7803997.stm

Speed-limiting devices should be fitted to cars on a voluntary basis to help save lives and cut carbon emissions, according to a new report.

The government's transport advisers claim the technology would cut road accidents with injuries by 29%.
The device automatically slows a car down to within the limit for the road on which it is being driven.
But campaign group Safe Speed warns against its use, saying it encourages drivers to enter a "zombie mode".
Ministers are planning to help councils draw up digital maps with details of the legal speed on every road.

Switzerland millionaire hit by record speed fine

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8446545.stm

A Swiss millionaire has been handed down a record speeding fine of $290,000 (£180,000) by a court.

The man was reportedly caught driving a red Ferrari Testarossa at 137km/h (85mph) through a village.
The penalty was calculated based on the unnamed motorist's wealth - assessed by the court as $22.7m (£14.1m) - and because he was a repeat offender.

NCTC director Michael Leiter remained on ski slopes after Christmas Day airline bombing attempt

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics
WASHINGTON - The top official in charge of analyzing terror threats did not cut short his ski vacation after the underwear bomber nearly blew up an airliner on Christmas Day, the Daily News has learned.

Michael Leiter, director of the National Counterterrorism Center since 2007, decided not to return to his agency's "bat cave" nerve center in McLean, Va., until several days after Christmas, two U.S. officials said.