On May 29, the French will vote for the EU constitution. A "non" vote in one of the most pro-Union countries will probably spell the end for this particular draft, if not delay further the process of European intergration for many years to come. At the moment polls suggest a small lead for those opposed to the constitution, including an unholy alliance of Right and Left wing groups.

In a recent article, the German philosopher Jürgen Habermas has urged the European Left to vote "yes" for a European constitution. His point is a simple one - the only way to protect the "European social model" against the excesses of neo-liberal economic reform is through the political will of united Europe, one strong enough to resist the globalisation agenda which is being dictated by the U.S. As we know, the individual nation-state is powerless to counter the pressures of global market forces in this respect. But on a European scale the Left will have the opportunity to push for their own economic agenda in favor of proper regulations.

Dinitia Smith
New York Times News Service

Evolutionary scientists have never had difficulty explaining the male orgasm, closely tied as it is to reproduction.

But the Darwinian logic behind the female orgasm has remained elusive. Women can have sexual intercourse and even become pregnant - doing their part for the perpetuation of the species - without experiencing orgasm. So what is its evolutionary purpose?

Over the last four decades, scientists have come up with a variety of theories, arguing, for example, that orgasm encourages women to have sex and, therefore, reproduce, or that it leads women to favor stronger and healthier men, maximizing their offspring's chances of survival.

But in a new book, Dr. Elisabeth A. Lloyd, a philosopher of science and professor of biology at Indiana University, takes on 20 leading theories and finds them wanting.
[..]
The female orgasm, she said, "is for fun."

Από το σημερινό ΕΘΝΟΣ (3η Σελίδα)

Οπως είπε και ένας από τους "εγκλωβισμένους" του Πολυτεχνείου: "Ευτυχώς, η κυβέρνηση δεν μπορούσε να κάνει πολλά πράγματα, και έτσι βγήκαμε ζωντανοί..."

In a commendable example of original reporting and service journalism, today Sports by Brooks tells its readers the very sad story of former Croatian National Rhythmic Gymnastics Champion Stefany Hohnjec.

At the tender age of 18, Stefany finds herself no longer able to compete in gymnastics because of a tragic glandular problem that has caused her to gain nearly twenty-five pounds - almost entirely in her breasts. In clinical terms, her boobs freaking exploded.

Just a few years ago Miss Hohnjec was a (flat as a) board member of the Eastern European Regional Itty Bitty Titty Committee, as well as a world class gymnast. But today, sadly, she is neither. Hohnjec has been forced into retirement by the oppressive weight of her newly gigantic gazongas, each of which has grown larger and heavier than her head. Hohnjec’s entire center of gravity has been thrown off, and since rhythmic gymnastics does not add points for mammary undulation, jiggling, gainaxing, or general bodaciousness, she’s out. At the age of 18, her gymnastics career is over.

Scientists begin to unlock the secrets of papyrus scraps bearing long-lost words by the literary giants of Greece and Rome

By David Keys and Nicholas Pyk

For more than a century, it has caused excitement and frustration in equal measure - a collection of Greek and Roman writings so vast it could redraw the map of classical civilisation. If only it was legible.

Now, in a breakthrough described as the classical equivalent of finding the holy grail, Oxford University scientists have employed infra-red technology to open up the hoard, known as the Oxyrhynchus Papyri, and with it the prospect that hundreds of lost Greek comedies, tragedies and epic poems will soon be revealed.

In the past four days alone, Oxford's classicists have used it to make a series of astonishing discoveries, including writing by Sophocles, Euripides, Hesiod and other literary giants of the ancient world, lost for millennia. They even believe they are likely to find lost Christian gospels, the originals of which were written around the time of the earliest books of the New Testament.

WND columnist subject of 6,000-word story, strange photo

The new issue of Time magazine hitting the streets today boasts a cover story on conservative flamethrowing WND columnist and author Ann Coulter – and a cover photo some fans are calling "bizarre."

Coulter told Matt Drudge last night Time used a more flattering photo of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il.

While the story itself, written by Time's John Cloud, is generally quite favorable, Coulter and her fans are focused on the strange cover photo that seems to distort the image of the tall, thin, blond pundit.
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Coulter is compared with other conservatives on the scene – from Rush Limbaugh to Sean Hannity to George Will and Thomas Sowell.

"But no one on the right is so iconic, such a totem of this particular moment," writes Cloud. "Coulter epitomizes the way politics is now discussed on the airwaves, where opinions must come violently fast and cause as much friction as possible. No one, right or left, delivers the required apothegmatic commentary on the world with as much glee or effectiveness as Coulter. It is almost impossible to watch her and not be sluiced into rage or elation, depending on your views. As a congressional staff member 10 years ago, Coulter used to help write the nation's laws. Now she is far more powerful: she helps set the nation's tone."

TODAY The Sun launches a campaign to save two of Britain’s most outstanding monuments — Jordan’s boobs.

Yesterday the model revealed she wants to have surgery to reduce the much-loved landmarks. It left many upset the national treasures will be lost for ever. Often open to the public, the silicon edifices have become one of Britain’s biggest attractions. But Jordan — who boosted her original 32B assets to 32FF — now says they are "a little big."

Last night the National Trust reluctantly insisted they would be unable to step in to preserve the massive monuments. Spokesman Julian Lloyd said: "Our remit is to preserve places of outstanding natural beauty – so we will have to pass on this." Now it’s up to readers to Save Jordan’s Giant Jugs – so e-mail your support today.

Surely, it's only a matter of time now before someone sets up a website that lets you vote online for the next pope. There have been quite a few articles on how the next pope needs to be hip to technology and new media, and certainly the old pope blessed the internet and was an early adaptor - the Vatican has had a website since 1999. In these past days, journalists were informed of the Pope's health and eventual passing by official Vatican SMS messages.

On 3QuarksDaily a reader suggests a wiki with information about each candidate, and a feedback system that helps the 117 cardinals come to a decision. e-Democracy meets the Catholic church. "Do we even need the Church or can we DIY this?" asks Cory Doctorow on BoingBoing. It may seem silly now, but I sincerely believe this will happen someday. How else would you poll 1 billion Catholics around the world? The difficult part is getting the Church to care what they think in the first place.