Criminal Intent Where None Exists

Lead exposure linked to criminal behavior. I always knew I should not lick the walls of my dorm room back in college, and a new study show a direct link between childhood lead exposure and criminal behavior later in life. The lead reseracher explains, “We have monitored this specific sub-segment of children who were exposed to lead both in the womb and as young children for nearly 30 years...We have a complete record of the neurological, behavioral and developmental patterns to draw a clear association between early-life exposure to lead and adult criminal activity.” Research points to the increase of crimes in inner-city areas, where older houses still have lead paint, and the study shows that about 55 percent of the now-grown children had at least one arrest, 28 percent involving drugs and 27 percent serious motor vehicle violations. Does anyone other than me wonder if this has to do with lead paint or just the fact that these are poor families who live in old inter-city houses that just happen to have lead paint?

In International News

Osama Bin Laden is dead! A senior government official from India said, "Yes, Osama has finally been killed and it took us 20 bullets to silence him." The elephant nicknamed "Osama bin Laden" with long white tusks, that kinda look like a beard if you are drunk and squint really hard, had killed at least 11 people and injured dozens more. Just as expected another elephant took his place and rampaged through a village in northern India, killing at least seven people and injuring 24 others before it was killed. Meanwhile the CIA cites big gains against the other Bin Laden. Recently director Hayden listed the agency's accomplishments: "Near strategic defeat of al-Qaeda in Iraq. Near strategic defeat for al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia. Significant setbacks for al-Qaeda globally." Despite all of this, some analysts say the United States has caught some breaks in the past year, benefiting from improved conditions in Iraq, as well as strategic blunders by al-Qaeda that have cut into its support base. In other words, we are not winning so much as they are just loosing.

Amazon Indians attempt terrorist attack on airplane! Of course they used arrows because this tribe is one still living in near-total isolation from the rest of civilization. Anthropologists have known about the group for some 20 years, but never provided information about their terroristic attempts until now, and only to call attention to fast-encroaching development near the Indians' home rather than to prevent future terrorism. Brazil's National Indian Foundation claims, "We put the photos out because if things continue the way they are going, these people are going to disappear." The tribes often respond violently to contact, and one person trying to help was shot in the face. One person aware of the situation said, "They don't generally have immunity to diseases common to outside society. Colds and flu that aren't usually fatal to us can completely wipe them out." So now we know how to take care of this terrorist threat!

Space News

Buzz Lightyear to fix toilet on the International Space Station? It would seem that over two weeks ago the toilet failed on the ISS, perhaps sabotage? Well the 12" tall Buzz is coming to the rescue and bringing with him Japan's Kibo lab in addition to the spare toilet pump. The bus size lab will be used for scientific research of some kind, and hopefully will not lead to the death of thousands. In addition to toilet sabotage, NASA is investigating why the 50+ year old launch pad sustained so much damage during Discovery's liftoff.

Another space surprise this week includes easy accessibility to ice on Mars, in fact the Phoenix lander is sitting on it. "We were worried that it may be 30-, 40-, 50-centimetres deep, which would be a lot of work," said one scientist. Lets just hope that no one breaks the Phoenix as Buzz will be stuck on the ISS and unable to go to Mars to fix it. Buzz is however on the task force charged with protecting Earth from any Martian terrorists should they be discovered.

Technology in Our Lives

Be ready for monkey's to commit crimes. Using only its brainpower to direct a robotic arm, a monkey grabbed a marshmallow and ate it... without asking! The chief researcher explained; "They are using a motorized prosthetic arm to reach out, grab and bring the food back to their face." If that is still too complicated, see the video bellow.

The technology behind this feat may lead to brain-powered prosthetic limbs for people with spinal cord injuries or disabling diseases that make stealing things very difficult.