It used to be places like Bell Labs did what we do," says NIST researcher Eric Cornell. "Their day is passing."

Where NIST comes in for criticism is around the edges of its research. And this year, with a new administration in the White House, that faultfinding has turned to action. After years of ideological quarreling in Congress over NIST's precise role, George W. Bush's budget blueprint this March called for a "reassessment" of the agency's cash grant program, initiated in the 1980s to support advance-guard research that businesses wouldn't support themselves.

Whole Foods getting rid of plastic bags in all stores

Whole Foods Market Inc. has expanded its ban on disposable plastic bans to include all of its 270 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

"Central to Whole Foods Market's core values is caring for our communities and the environment, and this includes adopting wise environmental practices," says A.C. Gallo, co-president and chief operating officer for Whole Foods. "More and more cities and countries are beginning to place serious restrictions on single-use plastic shopping bags since they don't break down in our landfills, can harm nature by clogging waterways and endangering wildlife, and litter our roadsides.

Congress Strong-Arming Baseball? That's Foul.

Rep. Christopher Shays, the Yogi Berra of the latest (but alas not last) round of unintentionally comic congressional hearings on steroids, should have headed to the showers after his opening line last Tuesday: "This is almost surreal to me."

He got that much right. The whole performance-enhanced proceeding called to mind an earlier episode of mind-blowing ballpark bizarreness, when Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis hurled a no-hitter in 1970 while tripping on LSD. Few scenes could be stranger than watching the senior citizens on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform -- an invention of Newt Gingrich's revolution that was designed to prune back the federal government's reach, not stick its nose into the nation's locker rooms -- attempt to justify government intrusion into a private sporting league, let alone understand basic chemistry or baseball history.

September 2003

Do your staff know your corporate policies? Patent obstacle lifted for cheap drug imports Teenage MSBlaster suspect arrested Apple sued over Rendezvous trade mark 192.com in database rights dispute with Royal Mail Overbroad subpoenas sent to ISPs may be criminal Vote on EU software patents delayed – again Court refuses 192.com access to full electoral register Palm's PDA patent decision upheld Coalition to fight on-line identity theft HMV and OD2 sued over European download patent Teleworking guidelines for employers from the DTI SCO to invoice commercial Linux users AT&T files racketeering suit against WorldCom Air passenger details won't travel to US, says EU Business process outsourcing – reality strikes ID theft hit 9.9 million Americans last year, says FTC Mousetrapping typosquatter faces criminal trial Workplace monitoring needs EU regulation, says study Wholesale broadband prices to drop again, says BT Microsoft settles antitrust case with rival OS company Global privacy report is the most comprehensive ever Amnesty for file swappers expected from RIAA Regulatory framework gets easier for mobile operators Pop-up ad success was down to consent Music industry sues 261 file-swappers IBM sued by 200 for workplace injury and death delete me National DNA database proposed by police Hacker Lamo surrenders WorldCom reaches deal with opposing creditors First UK ruling under new rules on e-mail marketing Worm suspects charged by UK police P2P in the dock over child porn file-sharing RIAA settles file-sharing suit with 12 year old Law seeks 'deposit' of web sites with UK libraries Jamming camera phones to create Safe Haven Windows flaws du jour; patches served Microsoft ordered to recover deleted e-mail Anti-spammers get richer than spammers Data retention: Government ignoring feedback? Enterprise Act corporate insolvency changes now in force Snoopers' Charter diluted; critics unconvinced Fraudsters go 'phishing' at Barclays Beatles' Apple sues Jobs' Apple over iTunes Microsoft rethinks Explorer after patent ruling Electronic contracts need voluntary rules, says ICC Cabinet reluctance on ID cards Verizon begins appeal over RIAA subpoenas Legal barriers to e-commerce – EU consultation Director personally liable for company patent infringement Community trade marks hit language barrier Data retention: ISPs voice concerns US grants three year extension to ICANN VeriSign attacked for profiting from typo monopoly Digital TV is not accessible to the disabled Europeans comfortable with electronic payments Hard drive makers sued over size deception Spam and cookie rules in UK law from December ISP sues apartment block for Wi-Fi sharing Will file-swappers be sued in UK? “Hopefully not," says BPI OUT-LAW wins top legal industry award EasyJet reservation system on trial ICANN asks VeriSign to suspend Site Finder service delete this page First jury conviction under US digital copyright law Decision time for European software patent directive Microsoft kills chat to protect children Passengers sue US airline for privacy violations Software patents limited by European Parliament vote Streaming patent holder disables adult sites Fonts need a licence – industry campaign begins HP offers Linux indemnities to customers Congress overrules court on Do-Not-Call Registry Game blamed for murder, $100 million lawsuit likely World's toughest spam laws may be invalid Lloyds TSB faces £100 million bill over mis-selling Electronic evidence – new guidelines for police IBM expands counterclaim against SCO London lawyers in trouble over unfit e-mail Grid computing switches on, making history or hype .

Klepfer steps down from Action Greensboro post

Bob Klepfer, who was hired as executive director at Action Greensboro in the summer of 2006, will resign his post, effective Jan. 1, 2008, the organization said.

Wireless in the Antarctic

Now limping back to Tasmania from the Antarctic under limited engine power, the 79-member scientific crew of an Australian icebreaker has gotten a first-hand lesson just how isolated you can be and still be in touch with the world.

In the early hours of 22 July, a major engine-room fire aboard the 3,900-ton Class A icebreaker Aurora Australis left it powerless in the dark Southern Ocean, just 100 nautical miles from the Antarctic coast. The research and supply ship was on a rare venture into the bitter-cold southern winter to do marine research.

Within minutes of the fire breaking out, vessel Captain Tony Hansen sent out a distress signal via the Inmarsat A satellite system to Hobart, Tasmania, headquarters of the Australian Antarctic Division and the ship's owner, P&O Polar Australia Pty.

Gwinnett's 12Stone church features glitzy amenities, Starbucks

Besides the large auditorium, there are "living rooms" for small groups, the 12Stone Cafe and a 425-seat auditorium for latecomers or families with sick children — with a live feed from the worship service. The staff expects the cafe to provide a quiet place for people to connect in deeper conversation, Ronne said.

To that end, congregants are encouraged not to bring children into the worship experience center, where the message and the medium are specifically for adults. Instead, parents may drop off their children in a venue to receive an age-appropriate message and activity.