Oil roared to a new record over $90 on Thursday as tight inventories and fresh signs OPEC will shrug off calls for additional oil from big consumer nations sent prices up more than 3 percent. Full Article.

The next diet craze may be the apple diet.

A new study shows an apple a day keeps the calories at bay. People who ate an apple about 15 minutes before lunch consumed almost 190 fewer calories than when they didn't have the apple.

Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM) shares hit $104.50 today then closed around $105 factoring after-hours activity. That's a new 12 month low for Toyota shares and if you think $100 for a single share is expensive, think again, this is Toyota. Full Article.

Bank of America Corp (BAC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Wednesday said it planned to eliminate 3,000 jobs, and shook up its corporate and investment bank after a dismal quarter at that unit led to a 32 percent drop in overall profit. Full Article.

Haunted by the Hurricane Katrina legacy, the White House is scrambling to make sure the California wildfires don't become another public relations nightmare for President Bush.

His administration, faced with the worst U.S. natural disaster since Katrina, has shifted into high gear to show it learned its lesson from the federal government's botched handling of the storm that devastated New Orleans in 2005. Full article.

The Super Bowl could be played in London one day, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said.

The Miami Dolphins and the New York Giants will play a regular season NFL match at London's Wembley Stadium for the first time on October 28 but the sport's biggest game has never been held outside the United States. Full Article.

A house made of recycled bottles has given a Bolivian family a much-needed sturdy dwelling while combatting trash build-up.

Many parts of Bolivia lack sanitary services to deal with disposable products like plastic bottles and bags and the homes from recycled materials keep non-biodegradable products from ending up in rivers or strewn across fields.

U.S. space agency NASA on Tuesday confirmed it will try to launch the space shuttle Discovery on October 23 on a construction mission to the International Space Station, ruling out a need to replace possibly defective heat shield panels. Full Article.

President Vladimir Putin made clear to Washington on Tuesday that Russia would not accept military action against Iran and he invited Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Moscow for talks.

Putin made the invitation to Ahmadinejad, shunned by the West which fears his nuclear program is a cover for building atomic weapons, after meeting him and leaders of other Caspian Sea states who ruled out any strikes on Iran from their region. Full Article.

Traditional practices such as puberty rituals, bodily decorations and courtship ceremonies take place all over the world. These practices are often the symbols that demonstrate how we belong to a particular cultural group. There are some practices that have implications for your sexual well being.

Female genital mutilation (FGM)

Also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision, FGM is a traditional practice in some cultures. FGM is any procedure which involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or any other deliberate injury to the female genital organs. This procedure is explained within terms of cultural or religious practices, but remains a serious health hazard to those women who are subjected to it.

The immediate medical risks include severe pain, shock, haemorrhage, infection, urine retention and ulceration of the genital area. The long term consequences include cysts and abscesses, damage to the urethra, infection and infertility. Sexual intercourse may well be painful. Many suffer in silence, but may well have serious physical and psychological reactions to FGM in any form.

These significant health risks to women raise serious doubts about the cultural and religious significance and importance of continuing this practice.

FGM is illegal in some countries. Family Planning Associations are closely monitoring the risks to women's health that FGM causes. If you have any concerns about this issue contact your national FPA

Male Circumcision

In order for this procedure to be safe, it must be performed in clinically hygienic conditions, with sterilised instruments and by practitioners who are fully aware of the health risks and pain association with this medical procedure. (see also checklist)

Dry sex

Dry sex is a sexual practice which involves penetrative vaginal sex where the woman has a dry vagina. Sometimes herbs are used to increase the dryness. Dry sex increases the risks of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Dry sex can also make sex a painful experience for women. There is a widely held belief that women who have moist vaginas are sexually 'immoral'. Women's vaginas become moist naturally in order to assist penetrative sex. Most women are able to produce this natural lubrication. Being 'ready for sex' does not mean that you are ready for sex with anyone, and not being 'ready for sex' i.e. dry, is very painful for the woman.

Meditating for just 20 minutes a day for five days helped to increase energy and decrease anxiety and stress, as measured by levels of stress hormones, a small study found. Full article.

Every year nearly half a million women have abortions in the Philippines despite pregnancy terminations being illegal and taboo. Full story.

Boeing Co on Wednesday pushed back first deliveries of its 787 Dreamliner by at least six months as it struggles to assemble the new lightweight, carbon-composite plane. Full article.

A 14-year-old student shot and wounded two adults and two students at a high school near downtown Cleveland before killing himself. Full Article.

An Indian inventor has found a novel way of helping the poor - by turning old junk into a reliable piece of machinery that can walk and talk.

Feroz Siddiki has spent two years developing the IRobo and hopes it will eventually rival more expensive robots like Asimo made by the Japanese company Honda.

Oct 8 - Stem cell researchers Mario Capecchi, Martin Evans and Oliver Smithies won the 2007 Nobel prize for medicine or physiology

The prize awarders said the discoveries made by the three have led to a new branch of medicine known as gene targeting. This enables certain genes to be turned off "allowing scientists to establish the roles of individual genes in health and disease".

# Dr. Mario Capecchi, Nobel Prize Winner in Medicine And Physiology

Disgraced sprinter Marion Jones has accepted a two-year ban after admitting to the use of a prohibited substance and has relinquished the five Olympic medals she won at the 2000 Sydney Games, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said on Monday.

After years of denial, the American sprinter told a U.S. court on Friday that she had taken the banned substance known as the "clear" from September 2000 through to July 2001 in violation of the rules of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and USADA.

Jones, 31, also pleaded guilty to two counts of providing false statements to federal investigators and will be sentenced in January.

Jones's two-year ban began on Monday, the day she accepted the suspension, USADA said.

"The outcome of this story is a valuable reminder that true athletic accomplishment is not obtained through cheating and any medal acquired through doping is only fool's gold," USADA chief executive Travis Tygart said in a statement.

Jones is also disqualified from all competitive results obtained on and subsequent to September 1, 2000, and must forfeit all medals, results, points and prizes from that date, the anti-doping agency said.

Her lawyer, Henry DeDippo, confirmed she had already returned the five Olympic medals.

Jones, who announced her retirement on Friday, won three gold medals in the 100 and 200 meters and 4x400 meters relay and bronzes in the 4x100 meters relay and long jump at the Sydney Games.

"She apologizes to her competitors and hopes the record books will be amended to accurately reflect their achievements," a source close to Jones who did not wish to be identified told Reuters.

According to Department of Justice authorities, when interviewed by federal officials in California Jones denied having taken performance-enhancing drugs.

Officials said she made other false statements during their investigation into the activities of the Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative (BALCO), and to New York federal agents investigating a check fraud/money laundering scheme.

Tygart said the efforts of those involved in the investigations was greatly appreciated because of their "steadfast commitment to exposing the full truth of the BALCO doping conspiracy and their willingness to partner with USADA to hold accountable those who cheat their fellow competitors and sports fans".

Cardinal Vidal celebrating the Holy Mass with the prisoners.

Manny Pacquiao scored a unanimous decision over Marco Antonio Barrera in their WBC super featherweight clash in Las Vegas on Saturday, bringing the curtain down on the Mexican idol's career.

Pacquiao, who retained his WBC International championship title with the win, was ahead 118-109 on two judges' scorecards, and 115-112 ahead on the other.

It was Pacquiao's second victory over Barrera after an 11th round TKO in November 2003.

"It was a good fight," said Pacquiao.

"It was different from our first fight. He is a good, smart boxer. I knew he'd have to box me, and that's what he did."

Although the bout was widely expected to be explosive, it was frequently tactical, with Barrera working behind a steady jab and circling to his left to stay away from Pacquiao's powerful southpaw left hand.

However, after a relatively cautious opening four rounds, the fight came to life in the fifth.

Barrera landed an uppercut, Pacquiao responded with a left hand and the two exchanged furious combinations against the ropes.

The sixth round saw more toe-to-toe action but in the following rounds Pacquiao increasingly asserted control, moving to his right to cut Barrera off and unloading flurries of punches before the Mexican could counter.

In the 11th, a solid left hand from Pacquiao drove Barrera to the ropes but he fought back with a flurry before being hurt again with another right-left combination.

As referee Tony Weeks moved in to separate them from a clinch, Barrera threw a punch on the break, causing Weeks to halt the action and deduct a point.

"He has such a strong defense, it was difficult to break through," Barrera admitted after the fight.

"I'm sad because I lost the fight, and he didn't land many punches. He didn't hurt me. I thought I controlled the fight with my left hand."

The former three-times world champion confirmed his intention to retire from boxing.

"Honestly, this was my last fight," he said.

Come back here to read about The Culture of the World. I will be writing topics more about how local ceremonies, traditions, practices, celebrations, etc. affect the community and the world outside.

Understand first of all that there IS a difference between price and value. Price is the amount you are asking for the property. Value is buyer perceived, and this perception of value is influenced by many factors such as location, features, condition, comparison to other purchase option, etc. By attending to details that can have a positive impact on the value, sellers can significantly increase their chance of attracting qualified buyers willing to pay the asking price

Some tips to achieve a positive impact on value are:

• Perceived size impacts value, even more so than actual square footage. Open floor plans make a room feel bigger than larger spaces with smaller rooms. Showing property that is furniture free, or at reduced clutter, helps to make the space feel bigger.

• Vacancy increases sale-ability. Property is easier to show and easier to sell, and quicker to take possession of when it is vacant at the time it is offered for sale. Evidence of problems to take possession of the property -- such as encroachments, or tenants who wont allow buyer tours -- negatively impact value. Vacancy also helps the buyer walk through the property imagining ownership. Sellers should remove personal trinkets and family pictures as well as being conveniently absent during a buyer tour.
• Cosmetics are important.
  • Fresh paint will always add more value than it costs.
  • Clean or new carpet/flooring adds more value than it costs.
  • Landscaping adds more value than it costs. At the very minimum, make the entrance area neat.
  • If you can, add some colorful flowers and new sod.
• Take care of the obvious! The spot on the ceiling from the roof leak takes thousands of dollars from the perceived value and the offer price.
• Condition affects value. Do a seller's home inspection to identify and fix the problem BEFORE closing. No point holding up your check a few extra days; plus a failed buyer's inspection could cost you the sale. Buyers will often bargain down your asking price to accomodate for property condition and repairs.
• If you can, remodel/update the kitchen and master bathroom. These two areas have a big impact on home buying decisions.
• Strategic renovations impact value and your bottom line. Don't spend more money to renovate the place than you can recapture in value on the sales price.

BY Technology Writer

SAN FRANCISCO - The "Fake Steve Jobs" blogger who jealously guarded his anonymity for nearly a year will soon embark on a publicity tour to tout his forthcoming book.

Forbes magazine editor Dan Lyons had intended to publish "oPtion$: The Secret Life of Steve Jobs" under a pseudonym. But in August, after a reporter with The New York Times exposed the satirical alter-ego of Apple Inc.'s CEO, Da Capo Press revamped the galley and added a biography on the back flap.

Meanwhile, a publicity executive at Cambridge, Mass.-based Da Capo Press called bookstores and arranged readings in the San Francisco area around the Nov. 1 publication — a book tour hadn't been planned because his identity was supposed to remain secret.

Lyons is not planning extensive travels elsewhere, however. Da Capo told him it was too late for a big tour — and Lyons lamented that the book might bomb outside of Silicon Valley. Lyons' isn't even hopeful about his hometown of Boston.

"Being too insiderish — it's my biggest concern," Lyons told The Associated Press. "Maybe it's one of those things where if I had a couple more months to make another pass, I could find a way to make it more universal."

Lyons, who wrote "oPtion$" at night and on weekends, belted out the 248-page book in four months to get it to bookstores before the holidays.

The fictional work chronicles Jobs through the stock options backdating scandal in 2006, and it includes appearances by Bono, Al Gore, Hillary Clinton and Bill Gates (who appears in Jobs' crucifixion nightmare).

Lyons — far humbler than Fake Steve Jobs — still seems incredulous of his success. His blog is popular among techies worldwide.

"People in India and Russia, what do they get out of it? Do they really know who all these characters are?" Lyons asked. "My brother-in-law gets most of the jokes, but he's an engineer — he's in optics, but still."