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I'd like some help with alternative cancer sources/websites. In May, the surgeons at Columbia Presbyterian in NY removed a malignant tumor from my neck. The pathology report redefined the tumor as less dangerous than first thought and it is more treatable. (Neuro-endocrine vs squaomish cell) Please don't turn this into an opinion post, I just need some direction. If you have first hand experience with natural/nutritional/homiopathic treatments, I'd like to hear from you e-mail. I'm not going with slash/burn/poison........ Thanks for the look. Kahoutek

BEIJING -- U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez took a hard stance on China's rampant counterfeiting of American products as he kicked off his first official trip to China yesterday. "Intellectual property rights are not up for negotiation, and frankly, abuse of intellectual property rights is not acceptable," he told businessmen, adding that China's rampant counterfeiting of American products was the top trade problem. "Intellectual property rights violations are a crime, and we don't believe we should be negotiating crimes with our trading partners."

Kerry's dodges "At this point, it comes as no surprise. John Kerry is releasing all his military records — but then again, he isn't," Boston Globe columnist Joan Vennochi writes. "During an interview [Monday] with Globe editorial writers and columnists, the former Democratic presidential nominee was asked if [he] had signed Form SF 180, authorizing the Department of Defense to grant access to all his military records." the columnist said. " 'I have signed it,' Kerry said. Then, he added that his staff was 'still going through it' and 'very, very shortly, you will have a chance to see it.'...

The insurgency in Iraq is increasing the demand for U.S. military snipers. Brian K. Sain, a Texas-based police sniper, is spearheading a private effort to supply the key ingredients to U.S. soldiers in Iraq. Mr. Sain heads Americansnipers.org, which has raised about $400,000 from the private sector — including major corporations and wealthy Hollywood celebrities — to help supply equipment to Marine and Army snipers. Just this week, Mr. Sain received a request from a Marine in Fallujah asking for his group to provide him with a scope and bipod for his standard-issue M-16. "I have an M-16 A4, I...

The News-Times/Carol Kalif Maria-Cinta Lowe, right, executive director of the Hispanic Center of Greater Danbury, confronts Peter Gadiel, who was speaking for the Connecticut Citizens for Immigration Control. Lowe was escorted out of the meeting. DANBURY — They packed the long, wide room, squeezing into folding chairs, standing against the walls and brimming with passion over one of the city's most burning issues. Illegal immigration. At times, the more than 170 people — men and women, young and old — applauded the speakers, shouted encouragement and even booed when one dissident walked out in protest. In a crowded American Legion...

HONOLULU (AP) -- The only whale-dolphin mix in captivity has given birth to a playful female calf, officials at Sea Life Park Hawaii said Thursday. The calf was born on Dec. 23 to Kekaimalu, a mix of a false killer whale and an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin. Park officials said they waited to announce the birth until now because of recent changes in ownership and operations at the park. The young as-yet unnamed wholphin is one-fourth false killer whale and three-fourths Atlantic bottlenose dolphin. Her slick skin is an even blend of a dolphin's light gray and the black coloring of...

By any measure, these are difficult times for the mullahs in Tehran. They have watched as popular revolutions have toppled autocratic regimes in Ukraine, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan, and U.S. military power has led the way in replacing dictators next door in Iraq and Afghanistan with nascent democracies. Since this year's State of the Union address -- in which he said that America "stands with" the Iranian people as they stand for their freedom and denounced the regime for "depriving its people of the freedom they seek and deserve" -- President Bush has continued to insist on far-reaching change that would...

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Four male models who appeared in an ad campaign against domestic violence are suing New York City, saying the posters stayed up beyond the agreed time, leading people to think they really were wife beaters. Christopher Dorm, Triple Edwards, Daniel Royer and Javier Velarde appeared in posters throughout the city to promote awareness of domestic violence. The men were pictured behind bars with captions such as "Successful executive. Devoted churchgoer. Abusive husband." The four agreed to the October 2002 photo shoot on the condition that the ads be posted only in New York City buses and...

TOKYO (AFP) - An underwear maker celebrated the birth of Japan's first new professional baseball team in 50 years with a commemorative bra shaped like baseballs each bearing the team mascots. The bra is made of synthetic leather and has dolls of the team's furry mascots "Clutch" and female "Clucchina" clutching the side of each bra cup turned baseball. Completing the theme, the bra is trimmed with a real eagle's feather, underwear maker Triumph said. The single commemorative bra will be sold by an internet auction closing Wednesday, a day ahead of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles' home debut in...

Pretend you're a clothing-store owner. Your government discovers the women's clothing you sell is priced higher than your men's apparel, and declares your "gender-based pricing" not only illegal, but a human-rights violation. Never mind that women's clothes generally are more expensive to produce. Never mind that women generally want more choices than men, which adds to your overhead. Never mind that some women actually willingly pay a lot more for certain brands. Never mind all the other economic laws that go into the pricing of goods and services. The government says if you charge women more for clothing, you're no...

HARTFORD — Restaurants in the state might be able to cash in on poker's popularity under one legislator's proposal. The bill would allow restaurants to sponsor poker and other card games or tournaments to draw customers. The establishments could use the card games only as a way to attract new customers and not for direct profit. "It's a good way to get customers," said Jim Farrel, spokesman for the Connecticut Restaurant Association that supports the legislation. "The restaurants won't be benefiting from the gambling, but will be benefiting from new people coming in. As we know, poker is now a...

DANBURY — Behind the counter at the Mill Plain Package store Wednesday afternoon, Ilda Palinka was disturbed to hear Gov. M. Jodi Rell wants the state to pass the largest cigarette tax increase in its history. "You've got to be kidding me," said Palinka, 43, of Danbury. "The state keeps taxing us to death. How many times have they done it already?" On Wednesday, Rell proposed raising the state's $1.50-per-pack cigarette tax by 74 cents. She also proposed increasing the tax on other tobacco products from 20 percent to 90 percent of the wholesale price and adding 15 percent to...

HARTFORD -- A proposal to roll back Connecticut’s ban on smoking in bars, restaurants and bowling alleys barely a year after it took full effect encountered fierce opposition at a legislative hearing Tuesday. But the bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Leonard C. Greene, R-Beacon Falls, and a several owners of bars and bowling alleys insisted that many establishments are losing business to private clubs and casinos where smoking remains legal. "Why not allow a smoker a place to go if a business wants to cater to him?" Greene repeatedly asked witnesses at the hearing conducted by the legislature’s General Law Committee....

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - A Swedish police officer has confessed he robbed a bank and later investigated the crime himself, telling reporters at the time police had no clues. A court in the central town of Bollnas Monday officially charged the 36-year-old for the armed robbery on Dec. 17, court documents said Tuesday, adding he had pleaded guilty. The amount of money stolen was not disclosed but was described as sizeable. An hour after the crime the police officer returned to the bank as a leading police investigator handling the case. Colleagues became suspicious when he bought a new car in...

Drivers representing more than 100 major auto racing championships and a record 29 Daytona Prototypes will make up the strongest starting grid in American sports car history for the 43rd anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona on Feb. 5-6 at historic Daytona International Speedway. "Without exaggeration, you would have to say this is probably the best depth of a field that I've ever seen, even in the GTP heyday when there were probably 15 or so (Porsche) 962s. There weren't this many cars within this tight of a group," said Butch Leitzinger, a three-time Rolex 24 champion who'll co-drive the No....

Getting Real On Immigration Law Immigration: Is President Bush headed for a fight with members of his own party in Congress? Not if he's smart, and not if he has been listening to the people. We refer, as one example, to the people of Arizona. In November, they passed a ballot initiative that requires proof of citizenship for voter registration. This week, the law went into effect after getting a green light from the Justice Department.

"Heroes Act Needed to Adequately Compensate Military Families for Combat Loss" Congressman Terry Everett, R-Alabama, will introduce legislation when the House reconvenes later this month to enhance death benefits for military service members who lose their lives in combat. Everett says the legislation, known as the Honoring Every Requirement of Exemplary Service (HEROES) Act, is needed to adequately compensate military families for the combat loss of their loved ones who are defending America. Congressman Everett, chairman of the House Armed Services subcommittee on Strategic Forces, called the Heroes Act the least that the nation could do to honor those who...

Why “Frogs”? Our pet name for the French. Is it really so bad to refer to an entire nation of people as frogs? Last summer, when I was giving a speech on Franco-American relations — shortly before the publication of Our Oldest Enemy: A History of America's Disastrous Relationship with France — I made a frog joke. It involved a stuffed pig, a barbeque, and, well, you sort of had to be there. But it was definitely a quip about the French. The audience snickered, though a few people exchanged nervous glances. They clearly wondered if it was appropriate to...

DANBURY — Some Victoria's Secret bras worn by Danbury area women could be hot — in more ways than one. Twice in the past two weeks, police said, shoplifters have struck the local outlet of the store known for its sexy lingerie and centerfold-quality models, getting away with thousands of dollars worth of bras on each occasion. In the latest incident last Wednesday, the manager of the store at the Danbury Fair mall reported seeing three people, two men and a woman, acting suspiciously in an area from where an estimated 90 bras, valued at between $3,000 and $3,500, were...

The MHA is pleased to welcome our fellow drunkards to join in our crusade for the revoking of pants. The militant homebrew association is devoted to booze in all its forms, but most especially home brew. Whether from home malted barley or rotting fruit found in the dumpster, home brew tastes better cause its free. All governments are slowly rolling over for the new religion "health". Whilst not exactly bad in itself, health is being used as a foul trump card, already cigarettes are on their way towards being banned with "helath" overriding all other arguments. Bar tenders are harassed...