Decent News, February 2003

Some of the more decent news in the world: hopeful, courageous, funny, or just cool. A few are not pleasant, but are stories I think need to be heard. The following are all LINKS to external sites. Some links (e.g., many boston.com, many NY Times) stop working after a few days; some do not. URLs are added when appropriate (not necessarily daily).

Also on this page: News to Think Over

Study: Heart after exercise test can predict death risk CNN.com 2/27/03

Fred Rogers, host of 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood', dies of cancer at 74 AP at Boston.com 2/27/03 - a tribute to a remarkable lifetime of service.

Cahill to donate a kidney to sister AP at Boston.com 2/25/03

Author says the act of forgiveness transcends hatred, regains dignity Boston Globe 2/25/03 ''When we reach out with empathy, we are doing what the perpetrator was unable to do. Whenever evil occurs, someone somewhere must stop the cycles of violence, and must stop the cycles of evil.''

Monarch butterflies rebound in Mexico CNN.com 2/21/03 (some good and bad news)

Octopus gets in a twist over shrimp CNN.com 2/24/03

Denver security screeners develop kid-friendly process with smiley faces, puppets AP at Boston.com 2/25/03...

Not exactly news, but worth reading: Why Nerds Are Unpopular 2/2003 at paulgraham.com

HEALTHBEAT: Experimental implant under the scalp zaps away crippling headaches AP at Boston.com 2/18/03

Montana farm town turns out to care for 170 dogs seized at border crossing AP at Boston.com 2/18/03 (see also Camp Collie)

A class by herself: As head of Brearley School, Stephanie Hull strives to help girls achieve Boston Globe 2/18/03

Alzheimer's studies cite fats, antioxidants Boston Globe 2/18/03

Diarrhoea bug may protect against cancer BBN News 2/11/03

Hospital Prescribes Food to Aid Children's Growth NY Times (reg. req'd) 2/10/03

The Little Giant's Rise Holds China's Interest NY Times 2/9/03 (Reg. req'd)

Rockets' Yao Ming carries Asians in America to new heights AP at Boston.com 2/8/03 (a nice change of pace after the comments by Coble.)

MIT students seek low-tech, low-cost solution to water-borne illness AP at Boston.com 2/8/03

In Africa, Free AIDS Drugs and Talk of Life NY Times 2/4/03 (free reg. req'd)

A Shuttle Leader Is Ready 'to Go Fly Again' NY Times 2/7/03 (reg. req'd) ...Colonel Eileen Collins: "I love to fly. I believe in the mission of the space program."

Wedding ring returned from vacuum cleaner AP at Boston.com 2/5/03 short, sweet, silly

For a Resolute Girl, Traditions of India Imposed No Limits NY Times (reg. req'd) 2/3/03 (Tribute to a Columbia astronaut) `"Whatever you believe in, do - just follow your dreams," Neha Sharma, 18, recalled her saying. "Don't worry about whether people encourage you."'

What Women's Sports Can Be NY Times (reg. req'd) 2/3/03

Finding Happiness: Cajole Your Brain to Lean to the Left NY Times (reg. req'd) 2/4/03 and Investigating the Mind

Korean Teams Cross Sticks, Not Swords at Asian Games NY Times (reg. req'd) 2/4/03

News to Think Over
And Pray About....

New lessons from a look at Hitler's rise 5/15/03 Particularly: "Ed Gernon, an executive producer, lost his job last month after telling TV Guide that the social climate in Germany during Hitler's rise was similar to that in the United States as it headed into war with Iraq." Might the action of firing him be another step down the same road?....

The press and freedom: some disturbing trends courier-journal.com 4/20/03

Groups Fault Rule on Automatic Detention NY Times 3/31/03 Yes, we are the land of the secret tribunal. "One Sudanese woman, who said she had fled to the United States to escape slavery that she lived under in Kenya for 14 years, said she was handcuffed, placed in leg shackles and paraded through the Newark International Airport after she filed for asylum in November 2001." `Referring to the automatic detention of new applicants, the woman, who was once jailed for a month in Iraq, said, "That's horrible. It's not much different than what I went though in Baghdad."'

Bush Administration Wins Court Victory on Guantanamo Detentions NY Times 3/12/03

Plastic Invades Ocean KGO-TV from 11/12/02 ...pretty alarming and really disgusting.

Rep. Howard Coble's support of the internment of American citizens during WWII....

NASA Dismissed Advisers Who Warned About Safety NY Times 2/3/03

Current Decent News

Decent News for January 2003

Decent News for December 2002

Decent News for November 2002

Decent News for October 2002

Decent News for September 2002

Decent News for August 2002

Decent News for July 2002