2MSN.net

Just a few hours ago, the crowds protesting against President Hosni Mubarak, were met by a massive throng of government supporters. These supporters, dressed in civilian clothing quickly turned things violent as they stampeded in (someo on horses, some on camels) lashing whips, hurling stones, and tossing firebombs into the once peaceful crowd. In the ensuing chaos, 3 were killed while 600 more wounded, many of which were foreign journalists.

But though these violent perpetrators hope to seem like fierce loyalists supporting the country and President Mubarak, most anti-government demonstrators have their doubts. Most believe these pro-government aggressors to be nothing more than a private army of petty thugs and mercenaries hired to punish those who would challenge the president.

Though terrible as these acts are, the demonstrators had been given warning by the Egyptian military to abandon Tahrir Square in the days before. They claimed that “violent groups” were coming to set fire to the square. Instead of leaving, the protesters stayed and were thus met with violence. The link between these violent groups and Mubarak became clear when the military did not interfere.

But even though these tactics might have some protesters scared, these violent acts have only strengthened the people’s resolve to oust President Mubarak. This the first major out break of violence since the revolution began. Who’s to say if it’s the last. It may not be considering Mubarak has been in power for the last 30 years. Making a man give up that kind of authority will be a difficult task. Power is hard to relinquish. It’s even harder to take away. It’s times like these I am grateful that I live in a nation still governed by the rule of law that remains un-suffocated by tyranny, bureaucracy, and corruption. The United States may have a little in each category but I’d say we’re pretty lucky. I wish the people of Egypt the best and hope that they can achieve a peaceful resolution to all this.

Recently posted on MSN.com was a story from MSNBC about the possibility of cloning a woolly mammoth. A team of scientists from Russia, America, and Japan have began banding together to start trying to revive and reintroduce a viable woolly mammoth baby back into the world. They plan to take 40,000 year old Woolly Mammoth ova (eggs from the mammoth’s uterus) recovered from the frozen remains of Mammoth corpse and injecting it into an African Elephant ova. This would mean that a modern day elephant would be giving birth to the creature.

The main Japanese scientist heading the project has already been able to clone domesticated animals from corpses already 16 years old. Though in this case, he’ll be dealing with DNA over 40,000 years old. Unlike we might imagine, the frozen corpses of these Mammoths didn’t just freeze until scientists found them eons later. They have been through freezes and thaws over and over, leaving the DNA badly damaged fragments. Cloning offspring from these samples is more than likely impossible though there is a slim chance it could work.

But more importantly than “if” is “should.” Should we be trying to revive dead animals in the first place? One major problem to all this would be the thousands of nonviable offspring that might be brought to term before getting the process right and finally producing a healthy living specimen. There are definitely several animal rights issues surrounding this issue as well considering all the Elephant mothers who would have to bear the stillborns and dead fetuses before everything pays off.

Beyond that, there are several issues here worth exploring. Is our technology sophisticated enough to pull off such a feat? Would the clone survive? Would it be ethical and moral to bring an extinct animal into a world where it was the only one of its kind? And finally, will this one day be applied to humans? These are serious matters that will probably be discussed for decades.

Though we’d like to blame our kids’ ADHD on that brain-rotting TV or the hours spent on the computer, the blame falls on the parents. The parents’ genes of course. ADHD has been proven to be caused by genetics. However, MSN has posted an article about some food additives that might potentially make the symptoms of ADHD worse. These food additives are mostly colorings and dyes that are aggravate hyperactivity.

Quoting several doctors, it seems though that not everyone has come to consensus about the possible side effects of these dyes. Voices for and against are both represented in the article. But some of the doctors who support the claims that these additives were putting ADHD children at risk, are actually petitioning the FDA to ban these dyes in food altogether. In Europe, the EU has plans to start requiring warning labels on food if they contain these ingredients.

These additives include Blue No. 1 (Brilliant blue), Blue No. 2 (Indigotine), Green No. 3, Orange B, Red No. 3 (Carmoisine), Red No. 40 (Allura red), the food preservative Sodium benzoate, Yellow No. 5 (Tartrazine), and Yellow No. 6 (Sunset yellow).

Sadly, these dyes and additives are in almost every snack, chip, soda, and piece of candy out there on the shelves. But with these ingredients in so many different products, is it really possible to pinpoint these as the culprit to making children more hyperactive? Couldn’t it be the sugar, the carbs, the caffeine in other products that bring on more severe ADHD? According to MSN’s source, Catherine Ulbricht, “There’s inconclusive evidence that food additives actually cause ADHD, but some research suggests that they may be linked to exacerbated symptoms in people who already have ADHD.” So in the final evaluation, it might be too close to tell if these additives are really responsible. Until further research can be done, it looks like the jury is still out.

Coming out of Colombus Ohio recently is the man with the Golden Voice. For ten years Ted Williams had been homeless living just off a main stretch of Ohio freeway. During his daily routine, he wrote up a cardboard sign explaining his God-given talent for voice. As if by providence a journalist drove by, saw the sign, and decided to film Mr. Williams speaking. His improvised radio voice was captured on video and put up on Youtube where it soared to over 5 million views almost overnight.

Since, Ted Williams has become an instant success. He’s appeared on the Today show, been paid thousands of dollars for radio sound bytes, and just scored a deal to be the official voice of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

This rags to riches story really is the embodiment of the American dream. The man had been in trouble with drugs and alcohol for nearly a decade when two years ago he decided to change his life around. His struggle to become sober and to make something of himself has paid off and in a big way.

Ted thanks God for his recent circumstances. We thank him for not hiding his talents under a bushel. This story shows that anything can happen, that miracles are possible, and America truly is the land of opportunity.