US – Saturday, March 20
Final push is on for health care reform
Democrats in the House of Representatives on Thursday predicted weekend passage of a sweeping health care overhaul that budget analysts said would cut the U.S. deficit over 10 years and dramatically expand health coverage.
 
Pakistan charges U.S. 5 with terror
A Pakistani court formally charged five young Americans of plotting terrorism in the country yesterday, their lawyer said, in a case that has raised alarm over the danger posed by militants using the Internet.
 
James admits to ‘poor judgment’
Sandra Bullock is having quite a week with her dogs. On Thursday, husband Jesse James released a statement to People magazine about the affair rumors swirling around the couple, stating that a “vast majority” of the allegations are “untrue and unfounded,” but says, “It’s because of my poor judgment that I deserve everything bad that is coming my way.
 
THE WEEK THAT WAS
This week, the news community ate up the story of world’s fattest mom Donna Simpson — who, reports claim, actually hopes to increase her already ample girth to claim a new record.
 
‘Free’ ad leads to fraud suit
NEW YORK. A Wisconsin college student is suing credit firm Experian — the brains behind the ubiquitous FreeCreditReport.com jingles — for fraudulent advertising after she inadvertently signed up for a monthly $14.95 monitoring service.
 
The key to Kyoto
Kyoto’s temples and Geisha culture are legendary, but this city is no slouch when it comes to mixing in a large slice of contemporary, too.
 
Published 18:31, March the 17th, 2009
 
Pope Benedict XVI, left, made his comments as he left Europe for AIDS-ravaged Africa.Pope Benedict XVI, left, made his comments as he left Europe for AIDS-ravaged Africa.
Photo: GETTY IMAGES
 

Pope: Condoms kill

But AIDS campaigners say church dogma will cost African lives

 
 
Arianna says

"No matter how overwhelming the evidence, there are always a few true believers who just won't admit they're wrong.  To have Pope Benedict leading the flat-earth anti-condom chorus while flying to a place where 22 million people are infected with HIV boggles the mind."

 

 Campaigners battling to stem the avalanche of deaths from AIDS in Africa last night blasted Pope Benedict XVI for saying the use of condoms made the crisis worse.
 
As he prepared for his first trip to Africa as pope, Benedict said AIDS “is a tragedy that cannot be overcome by money alone, and that cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems.”

But Rebecca Hodes, of South Africa’s Treatment Action Campaign said last night: “His opposition to condoms conveys that religious dogma is more important to him than the lives of Africans.”

With the number of practicing Catholics dwindling in the developed world, Africa is seen as vital to the Church’s future. The pontiff started his visit in Cameroon yesterday and will visit Angola.

In 2003, a Vatican official wrongly said the AIDS virus could escape through tiny holes in condoms.

Medical workers advocate the use of condoms to help prevent the spread of AIDS, which has killed more than 25 million people on the African continent since the early 1980s.   

 25M Number of AIDS-related deaths on the African continent since the early 1980s.

 
 
 
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MMMpod
The March MMMpod features conversation and music from Surfer Blood and The Allman Brothers Band (There's a double-bill you're not too likely to see. However, Gregg Allman does mention Hannah Montana!). We also speak with Vampire Weekend and the Dropkick Murphys.
 
 
Metro Life Panel