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Saudi Arabia's Beheading of a Nanny Followed Strict Procedures Rizana Nafeek, a young nanny from Sri Lanka, was beheaded by sword this week in Saudi Arabia, punishment for allegedly killing a baby in 2007 when she was believed to be just 17. The execution has spurred international outcry, given Nafeek's age at the time of the incident and her limited access to a defense attorney. The beheading has also shined a light on the Arab kingdom's medieval system of punishment, which includes cutting the hands off thieves, executing women accused of adultery, and flogging men accused of being gay. Few...

Two very different news stories stood out for me recently. The first was the story of the killing of 26 innocent women and children at the school in Connecticut. The other was a story out of Iowa where a panel of judges said that a dentist could fire his assistant for being too attractive. At first blush the two stories couldn't be more different. On the one hand you have a story of depraved indifference to human life, a real world example of pure evil. On the other you have a story of a dentist who’s not disciplined enough to...

A back-in-the-day soda shop in St. Paul has been busted for selling cigarettes -- made of candy. Lynden's, on Hamline Avenue near Cretin-Derham Hall High School, said a city inspections official came in last week and gave the shop a warning and added that a misdemeanor citation -- with a $500 fine -- would be next if the non-carcinogenic confections continue to be sold. "We got busted [Dec. 19] by the City of St. Paul. Oops," the shop tweeted. Candy cigarettes, bubble gum cigars and bubble gum made to look like chewing tobacco have been among a host of vintage...

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 12 (HealthDay News) -- New York City's controversial proposal to regulate restaurant sales of large sugary drinks is coming to a head, with the city's Board of Health scheduled to decide the measure's fate on Thursday. Mayor Michael Bloomberg's self-appointed board is expected to pass the measure, effectively prohibiting city restaurants, delis, sports facilities, and street vendors (but not grocery stores or convenience stores) from selling sweetened beverages in servings exceeding 16 ounces. The mayor has framed the issue as an urgent public health effort to combat obesity, saying the goal is to help New Yorkers make better...

For more than a century, Norland College in Bath, England, has trained young women to be elite caregivers to the world's wealthiest children. This year, though, the famous nanny school is taking on something new: a male student. Michael Kenny, 18, is the first young man to enroll in the elite school's Bachelors of Arts program in Early Childhood Studies, which they offer in association with the University of Gloucestershire.

NEW YORK - New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg offered a full-throated defense of his proposed ban on large-size sugary sodas on Friday, calling criticism of the proposal "ridiculous" and saying his city is again leading the way in taking on critical health issues. Coca-Cola, the world's largest soft-drink maker, assailed the proposal in a statement on Thursday. "New Yorkers expect and deserve better than this,' the Coca-Cola statement said. "They can make their own choices about beverages they purchase." Meanwhile, New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, a Democrat, told The New York Post on Thursday that he was...

Today it’s just the Happy Meals in San Francisco.Before long McDonalds and the rest of the obesity inducing profiteers willbe put out of business and we will all be eating tofu burgersgarnished with organic tomatoes on pita bread. Yummy! -Vince First Lady Michelle Obama: told critics that her "Lets Move" program to fight obesity was never about big government. "That's not really what Let's Move has ever been about," she responded, when asked about her critics, adding that her goal was to give parents the right tools they needed to make "choices that are right for them." "But this...

Private buses will have to get a permit from now on if they wish to drive into New York City. This gives the city the Local lawmakers and the Department of Transportation joined forces to make the first of its kind system a reality. In addition to issuing permits, the new legislation will designate pick-up and drop-off locations and require the city to consult with community boards about new stops. "The volume of intercity buses on our streets is overwhelming. These buses idle, they make noise and they create dangerous conditions on our roadways," said Manhattan Councilwoman Margaret Chin. Calls...

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Once, long ago, Evie looked after "Barry" Obama, the kid who would grow up to become the world's most powerful man. Now, his transgender former nanny has given up her tight, flowery dresses, her brocade vest and her bras, and is living in fear on Indonesia's streets. Evie, who was born a man but believes she is really a woman, has endured a lifetime of taunts and beatings because of her identity. She describes how soldiers once shaved her long, black hair to the scalp and smashed out glowing cigarettes onto her hands and arms. The...

(Reuters) - Will the baby boomers be the only generation to retire with 401(k) plans? It could happen. Last week many of the nation's biggest thinkers on retirement got together in a Senate hearing room to discuss the future of pensions and retirement. There were representatives of unions, employers, financial services providers, government agencies and consumer groups. And the only thing they all seemed to agree on was this: The 401(k) plan has been sort of a failure. Those are strong words, and probably overstate the case. Current and future retirees now have some $4.3 trillion for retirement that wouldn't...

A North Carolina mom is irate after her four-year-old daughter returned home late last month with an uneaten lunch the mother had packed for the girl earlier that day. But she wasn’t mad because the daughter decided to go on a hunger strike. Instead, the reason the daughter didn‘t eat her lunch is because someone at the school determined the lunch wasn’t healthy enough and sent it back home. Yes, you read that right. The incident happened in Raeford, N.C. at West Hoke Elementary School. What was wrong with the lunch? That’s still a head-scratcher because it didn’t contain anything...

EU officials concluded that, following a three-year investigation, there was no evidence to prove the previously undisputed fact. Producers of bottled water are now forbidden by law from making the claim and will face a two-year jail sentence if they defy the edict, which comes into force in the UK next month. Last night, critics claimed the EU was at odds with both science and common sense. Conservative MEP Roger Helmer said: “This is stupidity writ large. “The euro is burning, the EU is falling apart and yet here they are: highly-paid, highly-pensioned officials worrying about the obvious qualities of...

EU bans claim that water can prevent dehydration Brussels bureaucrats were ridiculed yesterday after banning drink manufacturers from claiming that water can prevent dehydration. EU officials concluded that, following a three-year investigation, there was no evidence to prove the previously undisputed fact. Producers of bottled water are now forbidden by law from making the claim and will face a two-year jail sentence if they defy the edict, which comes into force in the UK next month. Last night, critics claimed the EU was at odds with both science and common sense. Conservative MEP Roger Helmer said: “This is stupidity writ...

Now that Casey Anthony has been found not guilty of murdering her daughter Caylee, she faces a civil lawsuit from a woman who says Anthony falsely accused her of kidnapping the girl...

It's not unusual for the federal government to provoke widespread retching among its citizens, but it rarely does so intentionally. The new warning labels required on cigarette packs, however, have that goal. Designed to evoke disgust with smoking, they may also induce revulsion at excessive uses of power. The old cigarette warnings inform consumers of straightforward facts, such as: "Smoking Causes Lung Cancer, Heart Disease, Emphysema, And May Complicate Pregnancy" and "Quitting Smoking Now Greatly Reduces Serious Risks to Your Health." Thanks in part to such labels, Americans today fully grasp that smoking is unsafe. But the point of the...

I wish I could give my grandkids the childhood that I had. As a kid I thought I was depressed, abused, mistreated (especially by my sister), overworked, exploited, deprived, ignored, etc…ad infinitum. My grandkids should be so lucky. I learned what makes things work. What it takes to catch a fish. What to do about the things that do not work. I learned about manners, morals, and how to be true to your self. I learned a work ethic kids today will never know. I learned how to stand up for myself and be responsible for my actions. [snip]The...

No French fries. Or freedom fries for that matter. The New York City Health Department has issued new guidelines banning fried foods from its work-sponsored meals, telling employees to cut bagels and muffins in half, and saying that if cakes are served for a celebration, they can’t be coupled with cookies. According to the Health Department, it’s about being consistent. The Daily News explains: "Employees also got a bright-colored brochure stipulating what can and can’t be served at meetings and parties. "Tap water is a menu must when food or drinks are served. Other beverages must be less than 25...

The American Lung Assoc. gives Santee a failing grade for tobacco control, the Mayor responds. I am writing in response to the American Lung Association's (ALA) March 4 letter (see the letter in the media box) regarding Santee's overall grade of "F" in their annual State of Tobacco Control Report Card. They may see it as a grade of "F" from their perspective, as our being graded a failure; I see this grade of "F" from our perspective as being the highest grade for "FREEDOM" we could earn. In Santee we believe in life liberty and the pursuit of happiness....

The Soggies have finally won: Cap'n Crunch is quietly sailing into retirement. Long derided by health experts for its high sugar content – a single serving contains 12 grams – the cereal is no longer being actively marketed by Quaker, DailyFinance reports. It appears parent company Pepsico is forcing the good Cap'n to walk the plank. Cap'n Crunch was once the No. 1 breakfast cereal, but pressure from the White House and health activists is having an effect on how PepsiCo and other food companies peddle their products to kids. Sales of the cereal were down 6.8 percent in 2010.

New York Fast Food Calorie Information Law Has Little Effect (New York, NY) -- A New York City law that mandated calorie information be displayed in fast food restaurants has had little effect. A New York University study found the labels don't really influence food choice. Researchers say ten-percent of those polled before the law went into effect noticed calorie labeling in restaurants. While awareness surged to about half after the signs went up, only about a quarter of those who saw the signs said it mattered to them. The reason for the policy was that if you had more...