The promise of stem cell research
Stem cells are relatively undifferentiated cells, that is, they have no specific tissue function. They are capable of self-renewal or of being stimulated to develop into specialized (differentiated) cells.
Weird fun
There’s pleasure on so many levels in Robert Altman’s “Prairie Home Companion,” it’s hard to know where to begin.
Anti-Flag delivers strong politics
I remember when Joe Strummer, the late punk rock icon and member of The Clash, participated in the Boston Marathon. Speaking of the grueling training required for it, he explained nonchalantly to one reporter: “I like the insanity of getting up early in the morning to train.”
THIS WEEK IN LABOR
IRS fires estate tax auditors Maximum rage on minimum wage JwJ urges: ‘Hang up on Verizon Wireless’ Healthy progress for 676
Workers charged for chairs, pencils
I landed my first job out of college at a financial institution. What I did not realize is that I was about to receive an education of a different kind.
WORLDNOTES
Mexico: Copper giant fires 2,000 workers Italy: Notables seek extradition of terrorist Mali: Poor People’s Summit demands debt relief Japan: 30,000 protest U.S. nuclear ship Philippines: Unions under siege
Mercosur promotes South American unity
Closing the 30th summit of Mercosur, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the new president of the 15-year-old South American trade association, observed, “Many still don’t realize that we have changed the political profile of our America, and we are changing the social profile.”
Venezuelas Communists hold party congress
CARACAS — More than 3,000 Venezuelans filled the Poliedro, the auditorium here where the Communist Party of Venezuela opened its 12th National Congress on July 20.
Secessionists roil waters in Bolivia
As it prepares for the Constituent Assembly that begins on Aug. 6, Bolivian President Evo Morales’ government faces divisions and the prospect of protracted struggle.
Mexican media works overtime for Calderon
MEXICO CITY — While evidence of election irregularities and fraud mounts, it is hard to find news of this in Mexico’s mass media, especially television. On the contrary, the media here, with few exceptions, is downplaying or ignoring evidence of electoral wrongdoing and is trying to persuade the population that the July 2 elections were fair.
