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Income rises more than tax for Charles

Thu, 28/06/2007 - 10:50 by MT Bureau

London -- Prince Charles saw his income rise by 28 percent last year, to about $30 million, but his taxes only went up $275,800, The (London) Daily Mail reported.

Information about the prince's income was revealed Wednesday in an annual report, the newspaper said.

Much of the prince's income is offset by expenses for funding Clarence House, his London office and residence. His income also covers travel expenses for official business.

Public says sexuality is predetermined

Thu, 28/06/2007 - 09:25 by MT Bureau

Atlanta -- A new poll shows 56 percent of people in the United States don't believe a person can change their sexual orientation.

The results of the latest CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey compares to 2001 when 45 percent said orientation couldn't change. In 1998, 36 percent held that belief, CNN said Wednesday.

The margin of error is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.

Poison ivy getting bigger, stronger

Thu, 28/06/2007 - 09:16 by MT Bureau

Washington -- U.S. researchers say increased carbon dioxide is helping poison ivy grow bigger faster.

"Even with a small change in CO2, poison ivy increased its biomass," U.S. Department of Agriculture plant physiologist Lewis Ziska told ABC News.

The study, which will be published this summer, said high-CO2 plants produce a more allergenic form of urushiol, which causes the itching.

Nike shoes are British criminals' favorite

Thu, 28/06/2007 - 08:28 by MT Bureau

London -- A new database used by British police show Nike shoes are popular with criminals as they represent a large portion of shoeprints left at crime scenes.

Using its new Footwear Intelligence Technology system, Britain's Forensic Science Service found six of the top 10 shoeprints left at crime scenes are from Nike footwear, the Mirror reported Wednesday.

Mathematician John Todd dead at 96

Thu, 28/06/2007 - 07:52 by MT Bureau

Los Angeles -- Mathematician John Todd, a pioneer in numerical analysis and computing, died Thursday at age 96 at his home in Pasadena, Calif.

Todd, an emeritus professor at the California Instate of Technology, helped shape the foundation for today's computer science field, Caltech said in a news release.

Todd, who was born in Ireland and raised in Belfast, served with the British Admiralty during World War II. He is referred to by some as the "Savior of Oberwolfach" for preventing the destruction of the Mathematical Research Institute at Oberwolfach in Germany.

Britain removes prostitutes in name only

Thu, 28/06/2007 - 07:41 by MT Bureau

London -- The British government recently decided to drop the term 'common prostitute' from its legal lexicon, deciding to call such offenders 'persons' instead.

The word change, a last motion by the government of outgoing Prime Minister Tony Blair, was paired with legislation allowing convicts who are again found to be involved with the sex trade to avoid harsh penalties, the Daily Mail said Wednesday.

Tourist attacked by alligator at 6th hole

Wed, 27/06/2007 - 10:27 by MT Bureau

Venice, Fla. -- A visitor to Florida learned how hazardous water hazards can be when he was attacked by an 11-foot alligator on the sixth hole of a golf course.

Bruce Burger reached into a pond to retrieve a ball at the Lake Venice Golf Course, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported. He felt something biting on his right arm and trying to pull him into the pond.

WH statement: That's not what Bush meant

Wed, 27/06/2007 - 10:06 by MT Bureau

Washington -- U.S. President George Bush Tuesday apparently misspoke when he told a briefing on immigration the current reform bill provides for amnesty.

The White House press secretary's office issued a statement saying that's not what Bush meant when he told the briefing at the Executive Office Building: "You know, I've heard all the rhetoric -- you've heard it, too -- about how this is amnesty. Amnesty means that you've got to pay a price for having been here illegally, and this bill does that."

Burger-eating title disputed

Wed, 27/06/2007 - 09:54 by MT Bureau

Ann Arbor, Mich. -- The owner of a burger joint in Ann Arbor, Mich., had to decide who really holds the title as the Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger eating champ.

On Sunday, Nick Gavrizi, a resident of Texas on a visit in his former home of Ann Arbor, decided it would be fun to see if he could beat the record set this month by hometown hero James Rocker. Gavrizi got 43 burgers down, three more than Rocker.

New York student suing to overcome an 'F'

Mon, 25/06/2007 - 10:26 by MT Bureau

New York -- A 27-year-old man is suing New York's Columbia University for a failing grade he received on a recent exam, alleging school officials acted unfairly.

Nicholas Perrino said he was forced to miss an exam when his grandparents became ill and is now suing the Ivy League school to regain entry to its School of Nursing, the New York Post said Sunday.

Straw no Rushdie fan

Fri, 22/06/2007 - 10:38 by MT Bureau

London -- British Parliament leader Jack Straw sympathizes with Muslims' distress over honors given author Salman Rushdie but disagrees with those who want him dead.

The Times Online reported Thursday the former foreign secretary condemned the idea that Rushdie should be targeted for death for writing the 1988 novel "The Satanic Verses." Calls for Rushdie's death were rekindled when the queen of England bestowed knighthood on the author last weekend.

Archeologist says Holy Grail is in Rome

Fri, 22/06/2007 - 08:41 by MT Bureau

Rome -- An Italian archeologist says the Holy Grail -- a cup used by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper -- is buried beneath a church in Rome.

Alfredo Barbagallo said ancient records show the cup is buried in a chamber beneath the Basilica of San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura, one of the seven churches Christian pilgrims used to visit when they came to Rome, The (London) Telegraph said Thursday.