I note from this poll that while a huge (and increasing) proportion of USians distrust Muslim politicians (38%), they reserve their especial disdain for atheist politicians (52%). Atheism is a particular concern for white...

The World Health Organization said earlier this month that SARS had been contained globally, but experts believe it may return with colder weather … the General Accounting Office warned that in a large-scale outbreak,...

Before it achieves sentience! Researchers have created what they call a new class of creative beings: “the semi-living artist”. Gripping three coloured markers positioned above a white canvas, a robotic arm churns out drawings...

Trying to beat the traffic can prove dangerous for Baghdad citizens… Task Force 20, the special unit hunting Saddam and his inner circle, botched a raid Sunday night on a house in another part...

So not quite finished killing off one branch of the Hussein clan, the US now finds itself enmeshed in a quagmire of twisty little Husseins, all alike… The apparent heir to the Iraqi throne,...

So finally the DEA is getting around to banning salvia divinorum, a particularly potent hallucinogenic mint shrub that’s been rising in popularity for the past few years. What I find funniest about this classic...

And who says public defenders don’t have a sense of humour? As part of a defence of a loud and obnoxious schoolkid, this guy submitted a history of “fuck” to the court, complete with...

Apparently the US Army in Iraq is now resorting to kidnapping civilians and using the implied threat of violence against them to capture Iraqi suspects. Is this flagrant violation of Iraqi civilians’ human rights...

So they are spinning off Joey from Friends. Good luck with that. I expect it to be as successful as Joanie Loves Chachi. Could Matt LeBlanc be the new Tony Danza?

THE final parallel with 1929 is a more general one; it has broadly to do with tax reduction and investment incentives. In the Coolidge years, as noted, Andrew Mellon reduced taxes on the affluent....