Forums: Direct Response Television

FINDING it difficult to revise for an exam? Help could be on its way in the form of the first non-invasive way of stimulating the brain that can boost visual memory. The technique uses transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), in which weak electrical currents are applied to the scalp using electrodes. The method can temporarily increase or decrease activity in a specific brain region and has already been shown to boost verbal and motor skills in volunteers. Richard Chi, a PhD student at the Centre for the Mind, University of Sydney, and colleagues wanted to follow up on previous research...

This makes it clear just how petrified by the prospect of direct negotiations the Palestinians are: The Palestinian Authority has added new conditions for resuming direct talks with Israel, presenting new demands that in effect preclude negotiations. The stipulations stated to the BBC by PA chief negotiator Saeb Erekat reflect a previously stated strategy of waiting “a year or two” for the United Nations to recognize it as a new Arab country instead of trying to reach a compromise agreement with Israel. … Erekat told the BBC that in order for direct talks to resume, Israel also must accept former...

A CHALLENGE TO H.R. 25 [alleged fair tax] SUPPORTERS What part of our federal Constitution grants power to Congress to lay and collect a “sales tax”? I have been told by some proponents of H.R. 25 to read Article 1, Section 8, but, I do not see “sales tax” in the list of specific taxing powers granted in that part of the Constitution. I guess it’s safe to assume at this point in time the promoters of H.R.25 were pretending that a power was granted to Congress to lay and collect a “sales tax”. In addition, those who promote H.R....

The Supreme Court's refusal Monday to consider a second lethal injection case suggests the justices are not ready to decide whether the drugs amount to cruel and unusual punishment, legal experts said. The denial was issued without comment, leaving court watchers to speculate over justices' reasons for rejecting an appeal by a Tennessee death-row inmate who claims lethal injection is unconstitutional. "The Supreme Court is plainly not ready to step into the lethal injection controversy yet," said Eric M. Freedman, a Hofstra University law professor. "It's kind of a puzzle," said Kent Scheidegger, legal director of the Criminal Justice Legal...

Dr. Jonathan P. Oline waits for his commissioning ceremony to begin.  Oline received a direct commission as a lieutenant colonel during a ceremony at Headquarters, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C., April 29, 2006.   Photo by Gillian M. Albro U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jonathan Oline Heart Surgeon Restarts Career, Accepts Direct Commission By Paul D. Prince U.S. Army Special Operations Command FORT BRAGG, N.C., May 3, 2006 — Coronary specialist Dr. Jonathan P. Oline had a change of heart and a change in career. He put his 17-year private practice on hold to serve his country. The...

An independent investigator has concluded that there is ``undisputed, direct'' evidence that San Jose's top administrator knew of clandestine communication between his staff and Cisco Systems that tainted an $8 million technology contract last year. The third report in two weeks issued by San Francisco law firm Hanson Bridgett contains some of the most damning e-mails to date connecting City Manager Del Borgsdorf to problems with the contract, which was ultimately voided because it illegally favored Cisco. Included is an e-mail from Cisco about contract issues that Borgsdorf and his deputy, Ed Shikada, received June 22, three hours before the...

Zhao Ziyang, former Secretary-General of mainland China’s Communist Party, died at a Beijing hospital last Monday. Good riddance to another communist? In this case, no. Not all tigers are incapable of changing their stripes. During his tenure in China’s one and only political party, Zhao took steps that truly can be called “reforms.” Zhao's greatest moment occurred during the pro-democracy rebellion of 1989, which was centered in and around Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. He opposed the use of China’s vast military might against the peaceful protestors gathered in the square. On May 19, 1989, Zhao personally pleaded with the protestors, mostly...

Astronomers have directly observed an extrasolar planet for the first time, but are at a loss to explain what they see. More than 130 planets have been detected orbiting stars other than our own, the Sun. But because the stars far outshine the planets, all of the planets were detected indirectly - by how much they made their host stars wobble or dim, for example. Now, astronomers say they are almost certain they have snapped an actual image of an extrasolar planet. It was first seen at infrared wavelengths with the Very Large Telescope in Chile in April 2004, and...