Lev Navrozov emigrated from the Soviet Union in 1972 He settled in New York City where he quickly learned that there was no market for his eloquent and powerful English language attacks on the Soviet Union. To this day, he writes without fear or favor or the conventions of polite society. He chaired the "Alternative to the New York Times Committee" in 1980, challenged the editors of the New York Times to a debate (which they declined) and became a columnist for the New York City Tribune. His columns are today read in both English and Russian.
When I mention, say, the development in China of nano super weapons, capable of winning war without waging it (as Sun Tzu, the ancient Chinese strategist would have put it), some of my readers ask me in their e-mails—respectfully and good-naturedly—whether I can adduce the proofs of that apocalypse of the West I envisage.
I have been told by a Chinese that the Chinese “Manhattan Projects,” developing post-nuclear super weapons, are located deep in the rocky mountains so that nobody could drill a hole in the walls, in the floor and/or the ceiling to get a glimpse into what is being done within. ...   more »

By MARTHA IRVINE and ROBERT TANNER,
The young teacher hung his head, avoiding eye contact. Yes, he had touched a fifth-grader's breast during recess. "I guess it was just lust of the flesh," he told his boss.
That got Gary C. Lindsey fired from his first teaching job in Oelwein, Iowa. But it didn't end his career. He taught for decades in Illinois and Iowa, fending off at least a half-dozen more abuse accusations.
When he finally surrendered his teaching license in 2004 - 40 years after that first little girl came forward - it wasn't a principal or a state agency that ended his career. It was one persistent victim and her parents.
Lindsey's case is just a small example of a widespread problem in American schools: sexual misconduct by the very teachers who are supposed to be nurturing the nation's children.
Students in America's schools are groped. They're raped. They're pursued, seduced and think they're in love.
An Associated Press investigation found more than 2,500 cases over five years in which educators were punished for actions from bizarre to sadistic.
There are 3 million public school teachers nationwide, most devoted to their work. Yet the number of abusive ...   more »

Millions of Americans have no idea they will need to make a change when television goes digital in 2009.
On Feb. 17, 2009, it could snow all across America. Not outside, but in living rooms, on TV sets. That's the date when broadcasters will switch to digital transmission, rendering millions of standard analog TVs useless. Consumers can avoid this whiteout, but only if they're prepared.
And there's the challenge: How to inform the roughly 20 million households relying exclusively on analog sets that pull in their reception for free, through rabbit ears or a rooftop antenna. Analog TVs that receive cable or satellite will not be affected.
Consumers who own these sets don't necessarily need to know why the federal government is mandating the change (to free up the airwaves for other purposes, such as wireless and public-safety communications – though added benefits are better pictures and more channels). But they do need consistent and unbiased information on what to do and they need to be able to act on it.
With fewer than 18 months to go, though, 56 percent of viewers with analog sets have never even heard of the switch. The General Accountability Office, the government watchdog, ...   more »

Spokesman: 'It's not a place to post things or make displays'
Members of the U.S. military have been vilified for their service and have faced criminal charges for battlefield decisions and congressional accusations of rampant "hate crimes." Now a California post office also has banned photographs of local soldiers who are defending their country.
"It's an emotional issue and people look at their post office as a hub of the community, but the post office is there to do postal business and it's not a place to post things or make displays,” postal spokesman Richard Maher told the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
The newspaper reported that "a customer" had complained that the display, which over the years has featured dozens of photos of troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, including many whose relatives use the Paso Robles Post Office, was pro-war.
The "complaint" made its way to the regional post center, where officials asked Paso Robles postmaster Mike Milby to remove them, for being in violation of a rule against displays of non-postal business material.  
Signs at the countor this week said: "We are being forced to remove the pictures from our wall of our boys and girls in ...   more »

By Michael Stott Reuters - Thursday, October 18 06:17 pmMOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Thursday for a powerful parliament, his likely future power base, and unchanged policies after he leaves the Kremlin.(A
Putin's intentions after his second presidential term ends next year have attracted intense interest following his decision to head the candidates' list of United Russia, the biggest political party, and consider becoming a future prime minister.
"In 2007 and 2008 we have parliamentary and presidential elections and there will be a different person in the Kremlin," Putin said in a three-hour question-and-answer session with citizens televised live.
"In these conditions it is extremely important to preserve a stable path of development for our state and the continuity of decisions taken in the past few years... It is vital that parliament is effective."
Putin spent most of the session talking about domestic, bread-and-butter issues such as pensions, wages, schools, prices and investment in Russia's crumbling infrastructure.
With an eye on a parliamentary election in December, Putin repeatedly hailed Russia's strong economic growth and improved living standards. He promised higher pensions to help fight runaway inflation, which is heading for double digits this year.
Speaking to ...   more »

By News Agencies    
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana will hold talks with
Iran's new nuclear negotiator Saeid Jalili next week in Rome, Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema confirmed Saturday.
Iran's nuclear head Ali Larijani resigned Saturday and was replaced by Deputy Foreign Minister Jalili.
"My information is that despite the resignation of Ali Larijani ... he will come to Rome with his successor to attend the meeting," D'Alema said during a press conference in Beirut along with his French and Spanish counterparts.
The meeting is expected to take place in Rome Tuesday.
Solana had held three rounds of talks with Larijani, aiming to help solve dispute over Iran's nuclear programme. Solana last met with Larijani in June in Lisbon.
An Iranian Government spokesman, Gholam Hossein Elham, did not give a specific reason for Larijani's resignation other than to say he wanted to focus on other political activities.
"Larijani had resigned repeatedly. Finally, the president accepted his resignation," Elham told reporters.
The United States and some of its allies accuse Iran of secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons. Iran denies the claim, saying its program is for peaceful purposes including generating electricity.
Elham stressed that Iran's nuclear policy ...   more »

Warns that 'enemy bases' would be targeted after any possible attack
 Other side of Iran
Sept. 13: NBC’s Richard Engel gives a glimpse of Iran many Americans never see.  
 Unseen Iran
27 years after the revolution, conservatives rule Iran. But Western culture still seeps in. Click to see images. 
TEHRAN, Iran - Iran is capable of firing 11,000 rockets into enemy bases within the first minute after any possible attack, state-run television quoted a top Revolutionary Guards Corps commander as saying Saturday.
Gen. Mahmoud Chaharbaghi, the missile commander of the Guards, said Iran has identified all enemy positions and was prepared to respond in less than a minute to any possible attack.
"Enemy bases and positions have been identified. ... The Guards ground force will fire 11,000 rockets into identified enemy positions within the first minute of any aggression against the Iranian territory," the television quoted Chaharbaghi as saying.
Chaharbaghi did not specifically identify the bases or the enemy and did not refer to arch foes Israel or the United States by name. But the U.S. has 40,000 troops on various U.S. bases in other Persian Gulf countries and 20,000 in Mideast waters. Another 160,000 U.S. troops are in neighboring ...   more »

Celebrating 'winter' year after controversial tree removal
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport installing "winter trees" this Christmas season (Courtesy Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
After unceremoniously removing all of its Christmas trees in the middle of the night last year, the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport this season will dispense with any religious symbols and just celebrate "winter."
A panel that formed after the Port of Seattle Commission removed the airport's 17 red-ribboned trees, decided the new decorations will feature a grove of birches in Dacron snow, hung with crystals and mirrors to reflect low-energy lights, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported.
The port drew international attention last year when its five elected commissioners reacted to a lawsuit threat by a rabbi who wanted to erect a menorah alongside the largest of Christmas trees.
As WND reported, Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky said, contrary to widespread news reports, that he never intended to have the trees removed. The Jewish leader said he was horrified by the decision, which spurred anti-Semitism and angry accusations. The port returned the trees about a week later after Bogomilsky told officials his organization, the Northwest Friends of Chabad-Lubavitch, a Hasidic Orthodox group, was not going to sue.
This year, however, the port is taking no chances. ...   more »