Environmentalists claimed victory on Wednesday after the publisher of the Victoria’s Secret catalog agreed not to use paper from an area of Western Canada that is home to threatened caribou herd. U.S. retailer Limited Brands also agreed to increase the amount of recycled paper used in its catalogs, and to increase the environmental standards it requires in buying paper produced from logging in the boreal forests that stretch across northern
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So, Is Everybody Gone? [Dan Collins]
Phew! Well, I win, Jeff. It only took me a couple of months. Those guys had me going there, for a while.
Remains of St. Paul [Dan Collins]
Vatican archaeologists have unearthed a sarcophagus believed to contain the remains of the Apostle Paul that had been buried beneath Rome’s second largest basilica. The sarcophagus, which dates back to at least A.D. 390, has been the subject of an extended excavation that began in 2002 and was completed last month, the project’s head said this week. “Our objective was to bring the remains of the tomb back to light
Sitzpinklers Move to Ban Krampus [Dan Collins]
As Christmas nears, Austrian children hoping for gifts from Santa Claus will also be watching warily for “Krampus,” his horned and hairy sidekick. In folklore, Krampus was a devil-like figure who drove away evil spirits during the Christian holiday season. Traditionally, he appeared alongside Santa around December 6, the feast of St. Nicholas, and the two are still part of festivities in many parts of central Europe. But these traditions
CNET Man’s Missing Body Found, Dead in Oregon [Dan Collins; UPDATED]
Body of Missing Man Found Dead in Oregon A San Francisco man who got stranded in the snowy wilderness with his family nearly two weeks ago was found dead Wednesday in a mountain creek, authorities said. James Kim’s body was discovered in Oregon’s snowy Coast Range two days after his wife and two daughters were rescued from their car, stuck on a remote road. Kim had set out on foot
Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn Split Atoms with Their Minds! [Dan Collins]
Jennifer Aniston & Vince Vaughn Split Oh, wait. I misread that. They just split. Neither of the Break-Up stars was receiving enough publicity, explained their spokespeople.
Water On Mars? [Dan Collins]
Nasa says it has found “compelling” evidence that liquid water flowed recently on the surface of Mars. The finding adds further weight to the idea that Mars might harbour the right conditions for life. The appearance of gullies, revealed in orbital images from a Nasa probe, suggests that water could have flowed on the surface in the last few years. But some scientists think these fresh gullies could also have
Russian Media: UK “Panic”
From the BBC: The three main national networks, Rossiya, Channel One and NTV, all led their Thursday evening bulletins with extensive coverage of the radiation alert and reports from their London correspondents. The state TV channel Rossiya kicked off its bulletin in hard-hitting style. ”Panic in London,” observed its presenter. “British special services are monitoring five aircraft that may have traces of deadly polonium-210.” Later in the bulletin, the same
Can Someone Please Explain “Value Added”? [Dan Collins; UPDATED]
A Norwegian appeals court has ruled that striptease is an art form and should therefore be exempt from value-added tax (VAT). The owners of the Diamond Go Go Bar in Oslo had refused to pay VAT of 25% on entry fees as tax authorities demanded. The local authority had taken the club to court over its refusal to pay tax. Lawyers for the club’s owners argued that striptease dancers were
Paris Hilton Wants Kids Soon [Dan Collins]
The partying heiress says that hanging around with her new best friend, Britney Spears, and Spears’ two tykes has made her want to reproduce. “It’s been my dream to have four babies by 30,†the 25-year-old heiress announced, reports Life & Style Weekly. And Hilton thinks she’s highly qualified for motherhood, explaining: “I look after animals, so I’d have a lot to give my kids.†Look, I’m not a eugenicist,
