Luke_Wilbur

Bank Robbery at 5000 Connecticut Avenue, NW At approximately 10:50 this morning, Tuesday, June 29, 2004, at least two men, wearing ski masks and armed with automatic rifles, entered the SunTrust Bank located at 5000 Connecticut Avenue, NW. Once inside, the gunmen demanded and obtained an undetermined amount of cash. During the commission of the robbery at least one of the gunmen discharged his weapon, apparently into the air. The suspects fled in a van operated by another subject who fled south on Connecticut Avenue, NW. The van was located a short distance away, set ablaze, in the 2500 block of Northampton Street, NW. The suspects are only described as males, wearing ski masks, fatigues and armed with what appear to be automatic assault rifles. This robbery marks the sixth bank robbery since January that appear to have been possibly committed by the same suspects. Members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Prince George’s County Police and Metropolitan Police Department are conducting a joint investigation. The other bank robberies were: January 22, 2004 Bank of America, 5911 Blair Road, NW March 5, 2004, Riggs Bank, 7601 Georgia Avenue, NW May 10, 2004, Chevy Chase Bank, 3601 St. Barnabas Road, Temple Hills, MD May 27, 2004, Chevy Chase Bank, 5823 Eastern Avenue, Hyattsville, MD June 12, 2004, Industrial Bank, 2012 Rhode Island Avenue, NE The Federal Bureau of Investigation is offering a $50,000 reward for information that leads to the identification, arrest and conviction of the suspects responsible for these robberies. Anyone with information about the identities or whereabouts of these suspects or sees them should take no direct action, but call the FBI at (202) 278-2000 or the Metropolitan Police Department at (202) 727-9099.

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In the last six months, have you received an e-mail message associated with a phishing scam? Yes (13) 86.67% No (2) 13.33% Total of votes: 15 Have you been fooled by a phishing scam? Yes (0) 0% No (16) 100% Total of votes: 16 Do you believe that you have divulged personal data by replying to a phishing site? Yes (0) 0% No (16) 100% Total of votes: 16 Do you know someone else who has fallen victim to a phishing site? Yes (2) 12.5% No (14) 87.5% Total of votes: 16 Better enforcement of existing anti-fraud laws Not useful (2) 12.5% Somewhat useful (3) 18.75% Useful (4) 25% Very Useful (3) 18.75% Most Useful (4) 25% Total of votes: 16 Better enforcement of existing privacy laws Not useful (2) 12.5% Somewhat useful (7) 43.75% Useful (3) 18.75% Very Useful (2) 12.5% Most Useful (2) 12.5% Total of votes: 16 New anti-phishing legislation Not useful (6) 37.5% Somewhat useful (4) 25% Useful (4) 25% Very Useful (1) 6.25% Most Useful (1) 6.25% Total of votes: 16 More widespread deployment and use of authentication technologies by Web site owners Not useful (2) 12.5% Somewhat useful (2) 12.5% Useful (2) 12.5% Very Useful (8) 50% Most Useful (2) 12.5% Total of votes: 16 Building more effective authentication technology into browsers Not useful (1) 6.25% Somewhat useful (2) 12.5% Useful (3) 18.75% Very Useful (6) 37.5% Most Useful (4) 25% Total of votes: 16 Educating users Not useful (0) 0% Somewhat useful (1) 6.25% Useful (3) 18.75% Very Useful (1) 6.25% Most Useful (11) 68.75% Total of votes: 16 Anti-Phishing Working Group Not important (1) 6.25% Somewhat important (1) 6.25% Important (3) 18.75% Very important (4) 25% Don´t Know (7) 43.75% Total of votes: 16 OATH Initiative for Open Authentication Not important (1) 6.25% Somewhat important (0) 0% Important (2) 12.5% Very important (3) 18.75% Don´t Know (10) 62.5% Total of votes: 16 TECF -- Trusted Electonic Authentication Forum Not important (1) 6.67% Somewhat important (1) 6.67% Important (2) 13.33% Very important (1) 6.67% Don´t Know (10) 66.67% Total of votes: 15 Electronic Authentication Partnership Not important (1) 6.67% Somewhat important (0) 0% Important (3) 20% Very important (1) 6.67% Don´t Know (10) 66.67% Total of votes: 15 Microsoft Not important (4) 25% Somewhat important (5) 31.25% Important (3) 18.75% Very important (4) 25% Don´t Know (0) 0% Total of votes: 16 Verisign Not important (2) 12.5% Somewhat important (4) 25% Important (5) 31.25% Very important (4) 25% Don´t Know (1) 6.25% Total of votes: 16 Liberty Alliance Not important (0) 0% Somewhat important (0) 0% Important (3) 18.75% Very important (2) 12.5% Don´t Know (11) 68.75% Total of votes: 16 OASIS Not important (0) 0% Somewhat important (0) 0% Important (3) 18.75% Very important (2) 12.5% Don´t Know (11) 68.75% Total of votes: 16 Internet2 Not important (1) 6.25% Somewhat important (2) 12.5% Important (4) 25% Very important (1) 6.25% Don´t Know (8) 50% Total of votes: 16 Internet Engineering Task Force Not important (0) 0% Somewhat important (0) 0% Important (5) 31.25% Very important (10) 62.5% Don´t Know (1) 6.25% Total of votes: 16 National governments Not important (3) 18.75% Somewhat important (4) 25% Important (6) 37.5% Very important (2) 12.5% Don´t Know (1) 6.25% Total of votes: 16 International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Not important (3) 18.75% Somewhat important (5) 31.25% Important (3) 18.75% Very important (3) 18.75% Don´t Know (2) 12.5% Total of votes: 16

Internet scammers casting about for people’s financial information have a new way to lure unsuspecting victims: They go “phishing.” Phishing is a high-tech scam that uses spam or pop-up messages to deceive you into disclosing your credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security number, passwords, or other sensitive information. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), phishers send an email or pop-up message that claims to be from a business or organization that you deal with – for example, your Internet service provider (ISP), bank, online payment service, or even a government agency. The message usually says that you need to “update” or “validate” your account information. It might threaten some dire consequence if you don’t respond. The message directs you to a Web site that looks just like a legitimate organization’s site, but it isn’t. The purpose of the bogus site? To trick you into divulging your personal information so the operators can steal your identity and run up bills or commit crimes in your name. The FTC, the nation’s consumer protection agency, suggests these tips to help you avoid getting hooked by a phishing scam: If you get an email or pop-up message that asks for personal or financial information, do not reply or click on the link in the message. Legitimate companies don’t ask for this information via email. If you are concerned about your account, contact the organization in the email using a telephone number you know to be genuine, or open a new Internet browser session and type in the company’s correct Web address. In any case, don’t cut and paste the link in the message. Don’t email personal or financial information. Email is not a secure method of transmitting personal information. If you initiate a transaction and want to provide your personal or financial information through an organization’s Web site, look for indicators that the site is secure, like a lock icon on the browser’s status bar or a URL for a website that begins “https:” (the “s” stands for “secure”). Unfortunately, no indicator is foolproof; some phishers have forged security icons. Review credit card and bank account statements as soon as you receive them to determine whether there are any unauthorized charges. If your statement is late by more than a couple of days, call your credit card company or bank to confirm your billing address and account balances. Use anti-virus software and keep it up to date. Some phishing emails contain software that can harm your computer or track your activities on the Internet without your knowledge. Anti-virus software and a firewall can protect you from inadvertently accepting such unwanted files. Anti-virus software scans incoming communications for troublesome files. Look for anti-virus software that recognizes current viruses as well as older ones; that can effectively reverse the damage; and that updates automatically. A firewall helps make you invisible on the Internet and blocks all communications from unauthorized sources. It’s especially important to run a firewall if you have a broadband connection. Finally, your operating system (like Windows or Linux) may offer free software “patches” to close holes in the system that hackers or phishers could exploit. Be cautious about opening any attachment or downloading any files from emails you receive, regardless of who sent them. Report suspicious activity to the FTC. If you get spam that is phishing for information, forward it to spam@uce.gov. If you believe you’ve been scammed, file your complaint at www.ftc.gov, and then visit the FTC’s Identity Theft Web site at www.consumer.gov/idtheft to learn how to minimize your risk of damage from ID theft. Visit www.ftc.gov/spam to learn other ways to avoid email scams and deal with deceptive spam. The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

Hey tittsworth, Did you get the tickets? Did you have a good time?

Did you know that residents of the District of Columbia don't have the full voting rights that other American citizens enjoy? That's because the District of Columbia is not a state. There are more than 700,000 people living in D.C. but they have no voting representation in Congress! Why? That's a good question. The population of D.C. is larger than that of four states. Residents of D.C. pay over a billion dollars annually to the federal treasury, more total federal taxes than 9 states. District residents have fought and died in every war since the War for Independence, and during Vietnam, D.C. had more casualties than 10 states, and more killed per capita than 47 states. 1993 New Columbia Admissions Act Act would have granted DC statehood. It failed to pass in the House and was not brought up in the Senate. Do you think this is fair?

Hello Chronicle, Why don't you post some samples of your poetry here and I will make sure to show them off to some members of our DC Art Community.

Older women using estrogen-alone hormone therapy could be at a slightly greater risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), than women who do not use any menopausal hormone therapy, according to a new report by scientists with the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS). The scientists also found that estrogen alone did not prevent cognitive decline in these older women. These findings from WHIMS appear in the June 23/30, 2004, Journal of the American Medical Association*. "These studies further support last year's recommendations that menopausal hormone therapy should not be used to prevent cognitive decline or dementia in older postmenopausal women," stated Judith A. Salerno, MD, MS, Deputy Director of the National Institute on Aging (NIA). "Women should follow the Food and Drug Administration's recommendation that those who want to use menopausal hormone therapy to control their menopausal symptoms should use it at the lowest effective dose for the shortest time necessary." The latest findings were reported by WHIMS Principal Investigator Sally A. Shumaker, PhD, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and her colleagues at the 39 study sites. This research was funded by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, which manufactures Premarin™, the conjugated equine estrogens used in this trial, and Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. WHIMS is a substudy of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Hormone Trial, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The National Institute on Aging (NIA), a component of NIH, has been involved in reviewing the current findings as the lead NIH institute on age-related cognitive change and dementia. The WHI Hormone Trial using estrogen plus progestin was stopped early in July 2002 when researchers found an increased risk of breast cancer, along with greater risks of heart disease, stroke, and blood clots, and determined that these risks outweighed the benefits of reduced risks of hip fracture and colorectal cancer. In May 2003, WHIMS investigators reported the results of the estrogen plus progestin part of their memory substudy**. They found that estrogen plus progestin increased the risk of probable dementia in women 65 and older and did not preserve cognitive function. This part of WHIMS was also stopped in July 2002. At the end of February 2004, the remaining parts of the WHI Hormone Trial and WHIMS, the estrogen-alone components, were halted because results were showing an increased risk of stroke and no reduction in the risk of heart disease in the women using estrogen alone. Scientists further believed that continuing the study until its planned conclusion next year would probably not add new information. In April 2004, the WHI investigators reported that they found an increased risk of blood clots, but no significant effect on breast or colorectal cancer and also a reduced risk of fractures in those women using estrogen alone. Now, the WHIMS scientists have evaluated the cognition and dementia data from the estrogen-alone part of the trial. Some 2,947 women age 65 to 79 at the beginning of the trial received estrogen alone (a daily dose of 0.625 mg of Premarin™) or a placebo. (The women received estrogen alone because they had all had hysterectomies at some time before beginning the study. A progestin is used with estrogen in menopausal hormone therapy in any woman with a uterus to prevent thickening and, sometimes, cancer of the lining of the uterus, the endometrium. Because the uterus is removed in a hysterectomy, there is no need for progestin when women who have had hysterectomies use menopausal hormone therapy.) Participants were determined to be dementia free before they were enrolled in WHIMS. At the beginning and then annually for the more than 5-year average duration of the trial, WHIMS participants were evaluated to determine if they might have developed dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). All women received the Modified Mini Mental State Exam (3MSE), and those suspected of having dementia also received an extensive clinical evaluation by a specialist physician. At the end of the study, the risk of dementia in the estrogen-alone group was 49% higher than the risk in women using the placebo. That is, among 10,000 women using conjugated equine estrogens, 37 could be expected to develop dementia, compared to 25 in 10,000 women using the placebo — 12 extra cases of dementia in every 10,000 women using estrogen alone each year. This increased risk was not statistically significant. Last year WHIMS scientists reported a 105% increase in the risk of dementia in older women using estrogen plus progestin compared to those using a placebo. That means, on average, each year in 10,000 women over age 65 using estrogen plus progestin there might be 45 cases of dementia compared to 22 cases in 10,000 older women on placebo. Almost half of the dementia cases in the estrogen-alone study — 46% in older women using estrogen alone and 47% of those in older women using the placebo — were Alzheimer's disease (AD). Similarly, in the estrogen plus progestin study, 50% of the cases in older women using estrogen plus progestin and 57% of those in older women using placebo were classified as AD. A second article on general cognitive function *** from Mark A. Espeland, PhD, and other WHIMS investigators appears in the same issue of JAMA. It reports that beginning estrogen-alone hormone therapy after age 65 can have a small negative effect on overall cognitive abilities and that this negative effect may be greater in women with existing cognitive problems. The differences in scores on cognitive testing for the estrogen-alone and placebo groups were statistically significant, but the differences were so small that they are not considered clinically relevant by the investigators. As with the earlier WHI and WHIMS result reports, these increases in risk must be viewed in perspective. Significant increases in risk are important for public health officials who are concerned with large groups in the population, where a small increase could have health implications for millions of people. For an individual woman, however, the increased risk is still quite small. (A detailed discussion of risk is presented in the NIA Fact Sheet, Understanding Risk: What Do Those Headlines Really Mean?, available online at http://www.niapublications.org/engagepages/risk.asp.) Further, these findings relate to women age 65 and older taking this particular estrogen-alone hormone therapy. The cognitive risks and benefits for younger women using Premarin™ or other estrogen formulations are unknown. Any younger woman who is considering menopausal hormone therapy because of her menopausal symptoms should talk to her doctor about how the various Women's Health Initiative study findings relate to her own medical history and treatment. General information on menopause, menopausal hormone therapy, and the Women's Health Initiative can be found on the NIH home page, www.nih.gov, by clicking on the link "Menopausal Hormone Therapy," or by going directly to www.nih.gov/PHTindex.htm.

The National Library of Medicine, a part of the National Institutes of Health, announces a new Web site to address the health concerns of the 4 million Americans who claim American Indian or Alaska Native ancestry. The site, "American Indian Health," is at <http://americanindianhealth.nlm.nih.gov>. Because special populations have different health needs, the Library has created several specialized sites, for example, for Asian Americans, those living in the Arctic and far north, senior citizens, and Spanish-speaking Americans. (These are all available from <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases>.) American Indian Health addresses the special needs of this population. Research shows that Native Americans are 2.6 times more likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites of a similar age. American Indians also have a greater mortality risk for tuberculosis, suicide, pneumonia, alcoholism, and influenza than the average population. American Indian Health brings together pertinent health and medical resources, including consumer health information, the results of research, traditional healing resources, and links to other Web sites. Much of the information has been assembled from other National Library of Medicine resources such as PubMed and MedlinePlus. "The National Library of Medicine is interested in reaching out to populations with special needs," said Donald A.B. Lindberg, M.D., Library director. He notes that, for Native Americans, the NLM has a history of attending local powwows and making health information available during those events.

On Thursday June 24th, 10 cities across the country will host benefit screenings of Academy Award-winning filmmaker Michael Moore’s controversial new documentary Fahrenheit 9/11, winner of the coveted Palme d’Or at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. The film will be shown in New York, San Francisco, Miami, Chicago, Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, Denver, Portland, Boston, and Seattle (all at 7:30 PM local time). All proceeds from the screenings will go to benefit local non-profit organizations such as “September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows” and “Military Families Speak Out”. Fahrenheit 9/11 is a searing examination of the Bush administration's actions in the wake of the tragic events of 9/11. With his characteristic humor and dogged commitment to uncovering the facts, Moore takes a closer look at the Bush family connections with Saudi Arabia, shows never-before seen footage of the war in Iraq and events leading up to it, and highlights the national media’s reduction to mere cheerleaders for the administrations war policy. It also shows a humorous, if not disturbing look at the Congress’ passage of the Patriot Act, and offers a compelling look at what families of soldiers in the field are dealing with at home. Lions Gate Films will release the film nationally on June 25th. Click Here to View the Trailer!

The world witnessed the dawn of a new space age today, as investor and philanthropist Paul G. Allen and Scaled Composites launched the first private manned vehicle beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. The successful launch demonstrated that the final frontier is now open to private enterprise. Under the command of test pilot Mike Melvill, SpaceShipOne reached a record breaking altitude of 328,491 feet (approximately 62 miles or 100 km), making Melvill the first civilian to fly a spaceship out of the atmosphere and the first private pilot to earn astronaut wings. This flight begins an exciting new era in space travel,” said Paul G. Allen, sole sponsor in the SpaceShipOne program. “Burt Rutan and his team at Scaled Composites are part of a new generation of explorers who are sparking the imagination of a huge number of people worldwide and ushering in the birth of a new industry of privately funded manned space flight.” The historic flight also marks the first time an aerospace program has successfully completed a manned mission without government sponsorship. “Today’s flight marks a critical turning point in the history of aerospace,” said Scaled Composites founder and CEO Burt Rutan. “ We have redefined space travel as we know it.” “Our success proves without question that manned space flight does not require mammoth government expenditures,” Rutan declared. “It can be done by a small company operating with limited resources and a few dozen dedicated employees.” A large crowd watched the momentous flight live from the grounds of the Mojave Airport, joining millions of others around the world who tuned in by television, radio, and the internet. Dignitaries attending the event included U.S. Representative Dana Rohrabacher, the Commanding Officer of Edwards Air Force Base, General Pearson and the China Lake Naval Air Warfare Center, Admiral Venlet; former astronaut Buzz Aldrin, and Konrad Dannenberg, one of Werner Von Braun’s lead scientists on this country’s original space development effort. Hundreds of media representatives were also on hand to record history in the making.

The beheading of Kim Sun-il, a 33-year-old Korean working in Iraq, by an Islamist group with links to al-Qaeda is the latest in a spate of incidents where Islamic militants have kidnapped and then decapitated their hostages. While hostage-taking is itself not a new tactic, its use with modern communication technologies has given militants a new deadly weapon in their arsenal. Kim was kidnapped two days after another al-Qaeda-linked group decapitated an American hostage, Paul Johnson, in Saudi Arabia. A month ago, Nick Berg, an American working in Iraq, was kidnapped and then beheaded. Let your voice be heard that the citizens of the world will not accept this unholy shameful tactic.

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Friendly fire probably killed former National Football League star Army Cpl. Pat Tillman in Afghanistan on April 22, U.S. Central Command officials announced in a news release today. The release said that while an investigation made no specific finding of fault, the results indicate Tillman died "as a probable result of friendly fire while his unit was engaged in combat with enemy forces." Tillman's unit was ambushed by 10 to 12 enemy fighters with small arms and mortar fire, resulting in an intense firefight lasting about 20 minutes. The CENTCOM release said the incident took place on "very severe and constricted terrain with impaired light conditions." Following initial contact, the release continued, Tillman left his vehicle and moved into position to suppress enemy fire. "There is an inherent degree of confusion in any firefight," the release said, "particularly when a unit is ambushed, and especially under difficult light and terrain conditions which produces an environment that increases the likelihood of fratricide." In the release, CENTCOM officials expressed regret and emphasized that the circumstances of Tillman's death do not diminish the value of his service and sacrifice. "Corporal Tillman was shot and killed while responding to enemy fire without regard for his own safety," the news release said. "He focused his efforts on the elimination of enemy forces and the protection of his team members." Tillman, 27, was deployed with the 75th Ranger Regiment from Fort Benning, Ga. Inspired by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, he left a $3.6 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals on the table to enlist in the Army and become a Ranger. He held the rank of specialist when he was killed, and received corporal stripes posthumously.

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Huge Profits And Huge PR Campaign Expected For SNNW All Week, Fax Campaign Is Expected To Begin Wednesday So Get In Today On Tuesday Immediately! Current Price : $0.03 3-5 Days target: $0.15 2 Weeks Target: $0.19 The Sun Network Group, Inc SNNW - Big Profits Expected Immediately! The stock is expected to explode on 26th of May and the days after. All Technical Indicators Say - Get SNNW @ 10- 15 cents! Significant short term trading profits in SNNW are being predicted, great news already issued by the company and big PR campaign on the way in the next few days. Huge News: Sun Network Group and Legend Mobile Enter into Marketing Agreement for Myracemobile How many times have you seen good stocks but you couldn't get your hands on them in the right moment? We are alerting you to a special company with a unique product that is set to be profiled by many newsletters in the next 5-10 days -- this is your chance to get in! Great News Release - Just Released May 21st, 2004 - Sun Network Group and Legend Mobile Enter into Marketing Agreement for Myracemobile SNNW - Sun Network Group's Radio X is a nationally syndicated radio network that it owns and operates, in partnership with Sports Byline USA, the #1 sports talk radio network in the US. RTV is a proposed new television network that will produce and distribute TV versions of top rated radio programs. We Expect some strong demand for this stock in the near future! Get on Board now and enjoy some great profits with SNNW For Further Details And Press Releases Go To: http://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/quickchar...b=SNNW&x=14&y=7 This Is Your Chance To Get In Today Cheap Before It Goes Crazy, So Buy It Up Now Before Wednesday! **Forward-Looking Statements Information within this email contains "forward looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21B of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, goals, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward looking statements." Forward looking statements are based on expectations, estimates and projections at the time the statements are made that involve a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those presently anticipated. Forward looking statements in this action may be identified through the use of words such as: "projects", "foresee", "expects", "estimates," "believes," "understands" "will," "part of: "anticipates," or that by statements indicating certain actions "may," "could," or "might" occur. All information provided within this email pertaining to investing, stocks, securities must be understood as information provided and not investment advice. Emerging Equity Alert advises all readers and subscribers to seek advice from a registered professional securities representative before deciding to trade in stocks featured within this email. None of the material within this report shall be construed as any kind of investment advice. Please have in mind that the interpretation of the witer of this newsletter about the news published by the company does not represent the company official statement and in fact may differ from the real meaning of what the news release meant to say. Please read the news release by yourself and judge by yourself about the details in it. In compliance with Section 17(, we disclose the holding of SNNW shares prior to the publication of this report. Be aware of an inherent conflict of interest resulting from such holdings due to our intent to profit from the liquidation of these shares. Shares may be sold at any time, even after positive statements have been made regarding the above company. Since we own shares, there is an inherent conflict of interest in our statements and opinions. Readers of this publication are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and expectations involving various risks and uncertainties, f_E1y05f(_2xCJ78a19wJ6L that could cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward- looking statements.

Google faces a difficult task if it tries to transplant its successful web search business to the desktop. The Mountain View, Calif.-based company is reportedly preparing to release downloadable software that enables people to search for text and files stored on their computer's hard drive. The move would dramatically expand Google's search business beyond the web while taking direct aim at Microsoft, which is itself getting ready to take on Google's dominance in web search with its own technology. "It's clearly a pre-emptive move," said Richard DeSilva, a senior associate partner at venture firm Highland Capital. Although Google would not confirm the existence of the project, called "Puffin", industry watchers have expected such a move for some time. Having announced plans last month for a $2.7 billion initial public offering of its stock, Google is accelerating efforts to increase revenue and expand into new markets on a number of fronts. By broadening into desktop file search, Google would put two businesses to the test. First, it would expand its web-search advertising - its primary source of revenue, with sales of $914 million last year - to an ad-supported application running on the desktop. That would put Google much closer to controversial companies such as Claria (formerly Gator) and WhenU, which have been caught up in a growing consumer backlash against adware and spyware products. Second, Google would take what it's learned in building an enterprise search application and bring it to the masses. That's no easy task, considering that Google failed to storm the enterprise search market when it introduced the Google Search Appliance in September 2002. The product makes up a fraction of its business. The Microsoft factor But desktop file search poses vastly different problems than web search does, and the company could easily be trumped by operating system makers such as Microsoft, whose Windows software runs on more than 90 percent of the world's PCs. Microsoft's OS dominance has been credited in the past with helping the software giant muscle into fresh territory by bundling new features in Windows - a key allegation the U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust suit, filed against the company in October 1997. In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing announcing its IPO, Google flagged potential Microsoft tactics as a possible threat to its business on the web. In an overview of risk factors facing the company, Google speculated that the software giant could one day seek to interfere with its ability to index certain kinds of documents on the web. Such concerns are even more pertinent when it comes to the desktop, where Microsoft holds powerful levers to promote its own products over those of rivals. According to a report in The New York Times, Google will try to fulfill an unmet need among PC users for tools to easily find information across multiple applications on the hard drive - searching through email, text documents in various formats, music, and photos files, for example. Consumers would likely be the primary audience for such a tool, but it could easily infiltrate workplaces, too. Apple already offers an elegant tool built into Mac OS X to perform many of these tasks, but it only works on its own Macintosh line of computers, which account for less than 5 percent of the market. Although Microsoft includes desktop search software as part of Windows, it is unwieldy, and most users rely instead on self-managed file folders to organize their archives. Microsoft is working on updating the next version of Windows - Longhorn - to allow people to search text, files and the web within many applications. However, that version isn't slated for release until after 2006. Rough road ahead? Google could establish a foothold - and a competitive edge - in this desktop search market by getting in early with free consumer software, supported by advertising. Also, it could broaden its advertising into a much more intimate PC environment, off the web, where people spend at least 50 percent of their time. Yet the company would instantly encounter new challenges. AltaVista, now owned by Yahoo, was among the first to take a stab at desktop search, but its product failed to catch on. Since then, a slew of companies have developed downloadable software applications to address the problem, including Copernic, Groxis, Enfish, 8020 and X1 Technologies. None have gathered critical mass. Research firm IDC has estimated that sales of software for search represented a $617 million market in 2003. "It's a tough market, lots of companies have come and gone," said Andrew Feit, a senior vice president of marketing for corporate search technology provider Verity. Although Google has mainly avoided controversy over its web search ads, it runs the risk of alienating consumers if it misplays its hand in a downloadable application that aims to sort through private material, critics say. Adware companies such as Claria and WhenU are trotting out new desktop applications to appeal to consumers and support their ad businesses. Claria and WhenU began by bundling their advertising software with other popular file-sharing applications so they could increase the number of people they might track for ad purposes. These companies monitor people as they surf the web and send targeted ads based on their behavior. The practices have landed them and many others in court, where they have argued for their right to deliver ads to the websites of their customers' rivals. In a sign of growing overlap between web search advertising and ad-supported desktop tools, Yahoo's Overture subsidiary has struck a deal to display tiny text advertisements through Claria and WhenU. State and federal governments are now interested in regulating and perhaps even banning adware and its more controversial cousin, spyware. Utah has already enacted such a law, and the U.S. House of Representatives and the Federal Trade Commission have convened hearings on the issue in the last few weeks. Google may be backing self-regulation in advance of widespread laws. This week, the company released a set of suggested principles for software makers to follow when writing programs that embed themselves on internet users' PCs. The guidelines propose that an application should follow simple rules of politeness: It should admit what it's doing, permit itself to be disabled and not do sneaky things like leak personal information. Yet even if it applies such best practices, Google could still land in hot water. Given that the company already has access to information about people's search histories and web surfing behavior and will do so about their email communications through its upcoming Gmail service, Google could take heat from privacy advocates and consumers. The company already makes the Google Toolbar, Deskbar and other products for Windows that transmit some information about web surfing behavior back to its servers. Under proposed laws, these tools could be regulated, as would its upcoming ad-supported desktop search software. "What's happened is that there's a trend of going from search to publishers to the desktop. After looking at the beginning of that market with Claria, the question is: How do you make it a consumer experience that they not only want, but also aren't offended by?" Highland's DeSilva said. Those concerns over embedded software are unlikely to affect Microsoft, whose upcoming integrated search tools will probably be kept free from advertising. Software challenges Google also faces considerable hurdles in the technology side of desktop search. "So many people equate search with Google, but in fact, there's an entirely different market for enterprise search software. And it is a complex problem to solve," said Sue Feldman, a vice president of content technologies research for IDC. Google introduced an application for searching corporate intranets and desktop files two years ago. But the software makes up less than 5 percent of the company's business, or less than $48 million last year, according to the company's IPO filing. While Google has a couple hundred enterprise customers, it hasn't been as successful in that sector as it has in search and advertising. Google has become popular because it's helped to improve web search by delivering fast, relevant results. But its formulas for the web that rely on the link structure of web pages are unlikely to translate well to the PC environment, as files and documents on the PC don't contain an inherent link structure. One answer is to embed a common sticky note to applications and documents that would let people label these with a few keywords. That would make it easier to retrieve the files down the road. Application makers such as Adobe Systems and OS makers such as Microsoft are in a prime position to develop such tools. Another approach, now under development by Microsoft, is to create intelligent documents with XML (Extensible Markup Language) links. These would enable people to input information into one document and funnel that data to other, relevant applications. Search tools would be built in, so related information could be found in disparate applications. Autonomy, Convera and Verity are all companies that are working to solve these enterprise search problems and typically offer much more robust technology than Google's enterprise technology. Google's system tends to focus on simplicity and works particularly well with HTML-based documents. "Google's real challenge will be in adoption: getting people to download and install it," independent analyst Matthew Berk said. "In order to search your hard drive, you need to install something that's pretty intrusive, that can reach deep down into your machine."

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Six Israeli soldiers were killed by a land mine during a raid in Gaza City. On Tuesday morning, Israeli forces entered Zeitun, a Gaza neighborhood known as a Hamas stronghold, in a hunt for weapons factories. Security sources said a landmine was detonated alongside an Israeli armored personnel carrier, setting off ordnance carried by engineering troops inside. Six soldiers were killed in the explosion. As Israeli forces struggled to extricate the casualties, they battled Gaza gunmen, killing at least four Palestinians. Hamas claimed responsibility for the ambush. (JTA) - Senate backs anti-Semitism monitoring The U.S. Senate passed legislation requiring the State Department to report on acts of anti-Semitism around the world. The Global Anti-Semitism Review Act passed the Senate last Friday. The act mandates that the government report annually on harassment and acts of physical violence against of Jews in each country and the governmental responses, as part of its annual reports on international religious freedom and human rights. The bill awaits action in the U.S. House of Representatives. (JTA) - House passes Iran bill The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill urging countries to cut ties with Iran until it opens its nuclear weapons program to inspectors. Pro-Israel groups lobbied for the bill, which called on Europe, Japan and Russia to cut their ties with the Islamic republic. The bill now faces Senate debate after its 376-3 House passage May 6. "None of us can close our eyes to the ominous and growing danger posed by the government of Iran," said House Minority Whip Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.). "It is a committed enemy of the State of Israel, our staunch ally and the lone democracy in this most volatile region." (JTA) - Churches press Bush on fence Some U.S. Christian leaders are calling on President Bush to ask Israel to protect access to Christian sites. Churches for Middle East Peace, in a letter to the president last Friday, said Israel's West Bank security barrier is "damaging Christian institutions and the daily livelihood of individual Christians." In addition, the church leaders are concerned about delay of visas for clergy and church personnel to travel to Israel and attempts to tax church organizations in the country. The group is made up of 50 leaders of evangelical and mainline Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox churches and church-related organizations. (JTA) - JINSA wants Rumsfeld to stay The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs is pushing for Donald Rumsfeld to keep his job. The U.S. defense secretary is under pressure from some Democrats to resign after photographs surfaced of Iraqi prisoners being abused by American soldiers. While deploring the prisoner abuse, JINSA said Rumsfeld's resignation would be a "far greater tragedy." "Secretary Rumsfeld's strong and dedicated leadership is needed now more than ever," said Tom Neumann, JINSA's executive director. "His resignation at this critical time of transition in Iraq would have consequences far greater, and far more tragic for Iraq and the United States, than the regrettable abuse of prisoners." (JTA) - Racist community service White supremacist David Duke, released from jail, is doing his community service with his "white civil rights group." Duke was released to a halfway house in Louisiana last month after serving a year in jail for fraud. "My work-release plan was approved in the normal channels," Duke told The New York Times on Monday. The Web site for Duke's group, the European-American Unity and Rights Organization, says the group is an answer to the NAACP, the Anti-Defamation League and other anti-European American organizations. (JTA) - Confession sparks controversy Israeli police and the Shin Bet security agency traded blame over a false confession extracted from an Israeli Arab terrorist suspect. Tarek Nujeidat was indicted for the July 2003 murder of an Israeli soldier based on a confession in which he also implicated two other Arabs. But the trio was released Sunday after new evidence pointed to other suspects. Nujeidat, who was interrogated by both police and the Shin Bet, told reporters his confession was false and forced. Police said their investigators merely picked up the questioning from where the Shin Bet, which takes priority in security cases, left off. Shin Bet officials insisted Tuesday that their interrogators were convinced of the three Arabs' innocence months ago and made this clear to police, who nonetheless kept the suspects in custody. A legal source said the Justice Ministry could make it mandatory to record interrogations to avoid such controversy in the future. (JTA) - Brother of Rabin assassin questioned The brother of Rabin assassin Yigal Amir was questioned on suspicion of threatening the lives of Israeli officials. Sagiv Amir, a 20-year-old infantry sniper, was interrogated and released this week after the Shin Bet received reports of threats against Israeli politicians that he allegedly made during conversations with friends, security sources said. His lawyer accused the Shin Bet of overzealously scrutinizing Amir, whose brother Yigal was jailed for life for killing Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995. (JTA) - Torahs join the army A group of U.S. rabbis recently donated 10 Torahs for use by Israeli soldiers. One Torah brought over by the rabbis from the National Council of Young Israel is less than 12 inches high and will be used on an Israeli submarine. During the past three years, the group has sent 100 Torahs to the Israel Defense Forces. The Torahs were donated by U.S. individuals and synagogues. (JTA) - Hebrew scholar dies at 93 Hebrew scholar Samuel Iwry, an authority on the Dead Sea Scrolls, died Saturday in Baltimore at age 93. Iwry wrote the first doctoral dissertation on the scrolls, which shed light on Judaism and the origins of Christianity. He also was one of the world's leading Hebrew scholars. Born in Poland, Iwry was a direct descendant of the Ba'al Shem Tov, the founder of Chasidism. (JTA) - Rally against anti-Semitism planned in Paris France's main anti-racist organization called for a demonstration against anti-Semitism in Paris on Sunday. Following a wave of attacks on Jewish targets in recent days, SOS Racisme, a group set up in the 1980s to combat the rise of the far-right National Front, said it is calling "on all citizens to march on Sunday in order to show that French society unequivocally says 'no' to anti-Semitism." In a statement issued Monday, the organization said that "anti-Semitism was not a Jewish affair but a scourge which every sincere anti-racist has to fight." French Jewish groups say that since the outbreak of the Palestinian intifada, they generally have had to tackle anti-Semitism without the support of mass demonstrations supported by groups outside the organized Jewish community. (JTA) - Three jailed in Jordan Jordan jailed three people for plotting to attack U.S. and Israel tourists. One of three men jailed Monday is a nephew of a known Al-Qaida leader. The men were sentenced to three years in jail. (JTA) - Slain Chechen leader reached out to Jews Chechnya's assassinated president sought Jewish help last year in monitoring his election. During a visit to the United States last September, Akhmad Kadyrov, who was killed Sunday by a bomb in the Chechen capital, met with Rabbi Marc Schneier, president of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, to ask for a delegation of three or four "Jewish leaders" to monitor October elections in his country. Schneier turned Kadyrov down and advised him that Jewish participation was impossible since the election was slated for Yom Kippur. "He said he'd provide a synagogue, would get a cantor," Schneier said. "He was very committed to having some Jewish participation. He viewed this more as a Jewish-Muslim opportunity than a United States-Chechnya exchange." Kadyrov served as Chechnya's chief Islamic religious leader and commanded Chechen nationalist forces against the Russians during the mid-1990s, before switching allegiance to the Russians when fighting broke out anew in 1999. (JTA) - Soldier accused of killing British activist An Israeli soldier went on trial for killing a British student in the Gaza Strip last year. Tom Hurndall was shot in the head while trying to help Palestinian children move out of the line of fire in April 2003. He never regained consciousness and died in London nine months later. The soldier accused of killing him, Sgt. Idier Wahid Taysir, is pleading not guilty to six counts, including manslaughter and obstruction of justice. (JTA) - Sniffer dog laid to rest The Israeli army laid a bomb-sniffing dog to rest with a full military funeral. The funeral Monday was for Toska, a 3-year-old sniffer dog, who was killed last Friday on the Lebanese order in an attack that killed one Israeli soldier and wounded eight others. Toska, a Malinois dog a type of Belgian shepherd was part of the Pups for Peace program, an American-Israeli initiative that trains 90 dogs to detect explosives and identify bombers in Israel. (JTA) - Israeli film wins in N.Y. An Israeli movie shared the Best Documentary award at the Tribeca Film Festival. "Arna's Children," co- written by Juliano Mer Khamis and Israeli filmmaker Danniel Danniel, shared the documentary prize at the third annual film festival in New York City. The film one of some 250 films from 42 countries featured at the festival tells the story of Mer Khamis' mother, Arna Mer, who led a theater group for Palestinian children in the West Bank city of Jenin. (JTA) - P.A. says it will hold elections The Palestinian Authority said it would hold municipal elections within the next year. Before Monday's announcement, the P.A. Cabinet always had linked elections to an Israeli withdrawal from West Bank cities. The elections will began in Jericho, the quietest of West Bank cities, a P.A. official said. (JTA) - Israeli Embassy trial delayed The trial in Australia of a man accused of plotting to bomb the Israeli Embassy was delayed for a week. The trial of Jack Roche, a convert to Islam, was delayed Monday after several jurors read a newspaper article on the subject that defense lawyers argued would compromise their impartiality. (JTA) - 'Pianist' director honored in Rome Roman Polanski, Academy Award-winning director of "The Pianist," received an honorary doctorate from a university in Rome. The Literature and Philosophy Department of Sapienza University honored the Polish-born filmmaker with a ceremony Monday in recognition of "the fundamental relationship of a Polish Jewish intellectual and artist to the entirety of European culture." The department recently introduced a course on Slavic-Jewish relations. Polanski, who survived the Krakow Ghetto during the Holocaust, fled the United States after being convicted in 1978 of having sex with a 13-year-old girl. (JTA) - Neo-Nazi party illegal in Argentina A neo-Nazi party in Argentina was declared illegal and will not be allowed to participate in elections. Judge Rodolfo Canicoba Corral made the decision regarding the New Triumph Party last Friday. "The group's identification with the regime created by Hitler is fundamental" and its ideology is incompatible with the country's constitution, Corral said. (JTA) - Pennsylvania philanthropist dies Muriel Mallin Berman, a philanthropist for many Jewish causes, died April 13 in Allentown, Pa., at the age of 89. Along with her husband, Philip, she supported many Jewish causes, including the American Jewish Committee, the Jewish Publication Society, Hadassah and Hebrew University. She also was a generous supporter of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. http://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/article...s/world/aaa.txt

The Joint Committee of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dailogue and the Permanent Committee of Al-Azhar for Dialogue with Monotheistic Religions, established in Rome in 1998 met on the topic, “Avoiding Generalisation in Speaking of the Other’s Religion or Community”. The public session began at the Pontifical Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies. The Committee came into being as the result of a special agreement with Cairo’s Al-Azhar Institute. A statement by Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue said that the joint committee “ provides a forum for exhanges on matters of mutual interests, such as the defence of human dignity and human rights and the promotion of mutual knowledge and respect among Catholics and Muslims. Archbishop Fitzgerald and Sheikh Fawzy al Zafzaf, president of the Al-Azhar Committee are co-presidents of the joint panel. The Committee meets at least once a year, alternately in Cairo and in Rome.

It‘s not certain when Smarty Jones will ship to Baltimore for the 129th running of the PreaknessStakes®, but the truth is, he’ll be here tonight! The flight from Louisville carrying the Kentucky Derby winner will land at Baltimore-Washington Airport at approximately 6:00 p.m. and then the colt will be transported by van to his base at Philadelphia Park. Smarty’s first visit to Baltimore will be brief, as his only stop will be at the Harbor Tunnel Toll Plaza, which is south of the downtown skyline. His motorcade will skirt the eastern edge of the city and continue north to Pennsylvania via Interstate 95. The first undefeated Derby winner since Seattle Slew in 1977 has caught the nation’s attention and will grace the cover of this week’s edition of Sports Illustrated. “This is bigger than I ever imagined,” said trainer John Servis from Louisville this morning. “It has been crazy, but I’m having the best time of my life.” Servis said the plan is for Smarty Jones to get back on the track at Philadelphia Park on Thursday morning. “He’s doing great,” added the trainer. “I see no reason why we wouldn’t be heading to the Preakness. This story is great for our industry.” The field for the middle jewel of the Visa Triple Crown continues to change as Kristin Mulhall has indicated that Cheiron will not run in the Preakness, reducing the number of probables to seven: Smarty Jones, Lion Heart, The Cliff’s Edge, Borrego, Rock Hard Ten, Eddington and Water Cannon. Derby runner-up Lion Heart continued his preparation for the Preakness with a light jog at Keeneland. “So far, so good,” trainer Patrick Biancone told the Keeneland media relations office. “We are right on schedule.” Rock Hard Ten returned to the track for the first time since April 26 as Jason Orman’s charge went seven-furlongs at Churchill Downs in 1:25.80. “He worked well and came out of it good,” said Orman. “We are hoping that having a fresh horse will be an advantage.” Water Cannon will make his final work for the Preakness at Bowie Training Center on Saturday morning with regular rider Ryan Fogelsonger. Since adding blinkers the Linda Albert trainee has won five straight, including the Tesio Stakes at Pimlico on April 17. “He’s doing really well,” said Albert. “We are all excited and going to have a good time. This is a once in a lifetime experience.”

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On April 25, 2004, an estimated 1,150,000 gathered on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to give an urgent wake-up call to government leaders: women’s lives are at risk and lawmakers should stop intruding on a woman’s right to access critical reproductive health services. View event here: http://dcpages.com/gallery/view_album.php?...on-Rights-March