"Climategate" Leak Report Vindicates Scientists

clipped from www.cbsnews.com An independent British report into the leak of hundreds of e-mails from one of the world's leading climate research centers has largely vindicated the scientists involved, a finding many in the field hope will calm the global uproar dubbed "Climategate." While Russell's report said there was no evidence to show Jones or any other scientist had subverted the peer-review process, it did revisit the now infamous e-mail exchange between Jones and a colleague in which the climatologist refers to a "trick" used to "hide the decline" in a variable used to track global temperatures.

AVERAGE FEDERAL TAX RATES

clipped from www.cbo.gov Average Federal Tax Rates The federal tax system is progressive--that is, average tax rates generally rise with income. Households in the bottom fifth of the income distribution (with average income of $18,400, under a broad definition of income) paid 4.0 percent of their income in federal taxes. The middle quintile, with average income of $64,500, paid 14.3 percent of that income in taxes, and the highest quintile, with average income of $264,700, paid 25.1 percent.

Google victorious in Viacom's YouTube lawsuit

clipped from www.marketwatch.com A federal judge has ruled in favor of Google Inc. in the company's courtroom battle with Viacom Inc. over alleged copyright violations on Google's YouTube video service. Judge Louis Stanton wrote in a 30-page ruling filed in New York on Wednesday that Google /quotes/comstock/15*!goog/quotes/nls/goog (GOOG 481.50, -0.55, -0.11%) qualifies for so-called "safe harbor," and is therefore granted summary judgment that it's protected against Viacom's "claims for direct and secondary copyright infringement." Google said in a statement posted online that the ruling is "an important victory not just for us, but also for the billions of people around the world who use the web to communicate and share experiences with each other."

U.S. Scores Dead Last Again in Healthcare Study

clipped from www.alzheimersreadingroom.com Americans spend twice as much as residents of other developed countries on healthcare, but get lower quality, less efficiency and have the least equitable system, according to a report released on Wednesday.....

Resveratrol a Compound Found In Red Wine Neutralizes Toxicity Of Proteins Related To Alzheimer's

clipped from www.alzheimersreadingroom.com An organic compound found in red wine — resveratrol — has the ability to neutralize the toxic effects of proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease, according to research led by Rensselaer Professor Peter M. Tessier. The findings, published in the May 28 edition of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, are a step toward understanding the large-scale death of brain cells seen in certain neurodegenerative diseases.....

McDonald's faces lawsuit over Happy Meals

Kids seem to do a good job of over ordering without the toys.

clipped from www.latimes.com Weeks after a Silicon Valley county became the first in the nation to ban toys from McDonald's Happy Meals and other food promotions aimed at children, a public health watchdog group called on the fast food giant to remove the playthings from all its meal packages. Citing toys aimed at promoting the latest "Shrek" movie, the Center for Science in the Public Interest said that the plastic promotions lure children into McDonald's restaurants where they are then likely to order food that is too high in calories, fat and salt.

Nashville police drop thousands of domestic violence cases

Should get interesting.

clipped from content.usatoday.com Nashville police drop thousands of domestic violence cases During the past four years, Nashville police have dropped thousands of investigations into domestic violence, according to an investigation by The Tennessean. In one such instance last year, an officer closed the case by saying the victim "doesn't wish to prosecute at this time." Accompanying the report were pictures of the woman's black-and-blue arms. At least two victims told The Tennessean that they wanted to press charges but that detectives said their cases "had already been closed — because the victim refused to cooperate."