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MPG PRESS RELEASE: MPG ACTIVIST AND IRANIAN JOURNALIST ALI VAHID FLEES POLITICAL PERSECUTION AFTER EXECUTION OF YET ANOTHER MPG MEMBER IN IRAN The Marze Por Gohar Party is pleased to announce that our member Ali Vahid has successfully managed to flee the political persecution that he was suffering in the Islamic Republic of Iran due to the severe threats posed to his life. Mr. Vahid was the Editor in Chief for various publications in Iran, with Nedaye Ghumes being the more prominent publication he managed. Starting six months ago, Mr. Vahid, who had been a subject of political persecution, censorship...

FrontPage Interview’s guest today is Hadi T. Ardestani, a Nuclear Waste Management Expert and a Marz-e Por Gohar Nuclear Issues Specialist. He is also a Marz-e Por Gohar Nuclear Committee Chairman and an M.S. Environmental Sciences and Management, Nuclear Waste Management Specialist. FP: Hadi T. Ardestani, welcome to Frontpage Interview. Ardestani: Thank you for giving me this opportunity to talk about the Islamic Republic of Iran's nuclear activities as a nuclear specialist in Marz-e Por Gohar and as the chairman for MPG's nuclear committee. FP: I would like to focus with you today on Iran and what we would call...

< > Say you have the ability to trade in a 10 MPG SUV for a 20 MPG crossover, or a 25 MPG car for a 50 MPG hybrid. Which switch is better for the environment? As it turns out, the former, even though one might be tempted to say that the former only improves efficiency by 10 MPG while the latter improves it by 25. Assume a 100 mile trip. The SUV will consume 10 gallons versus 5 gallons for the crossover for a net savings of 5 gallons. The car will consume 4 gallongs versus 2 gallons for...

Rising fuel prices, both in the U.S. and abroad, means that automakers can now offer similar engines in vehicles sold throughout the world. According to Automotive News, General Motors' next small car, the Chevrolet Cruze, will be offered with a new 1.4-liter force-fed four-banger, putting out between 120 and 140 horsepower and returning fuel mileage in the 40 mpg range.

NAPOLEON, Ohio - Doug Pelmear has lots of secrets beneath the hood of his black 1987 Ford Mustang on which the only outward hint of individuality is a series of stickers. But looks can be deceiving. Mr. Pelmear's 21-year-old pony car has enough technological innovation to quadruple the classic Mustang's original gas mileage while almost doubling its available horsepower. That's 80 miles per gallon and 400 horsepower, folks. And the 48-year-old electronics engineer and master mechanic is not done yet. The third-generation automotive tinkerer hopes that next year his Mustang - more specifically its engine - will help him win...

This time, a high mile per gallon number was recorded in Europe and not with a Peugeot. A group of German motor journalists managed to get 3.2 l/100 km (73 mpg U.S.) in a Skoda Fabia TDI Greenline. The car had a 1.4 TDI (diesel) engine good for 80 HP. The thirty-six journalists (we're guessing not all of them at the same time) drove the Czech subcompact for 124 km (about 80 miles), using normal highways between Austria and Germany and never going below 60 km/h (40 mph). The only "trick" they used was maintaining as constant a speed as...

Sure you want to save gas, but there's a lot of bad advice on how to do it. Some of it makes no difference, and some of it can wind up costing you. With gasoline prices hitting record levels, it seems everyone has a tip on how to save fuel. Much of the advice is well-intentioned, but in the end, much of it won't lower your gas bill. Here's a look at a few misconceptions: #1. Fill Your Tank in the Morning You may have heard that it's best to fill your gas tank in the early morning while the...

Motorheads don’t want to hear it; refuse to believe it — but ugly realities are coming down hard on the ‘09 Camaro that will very possibly cause GM to pull the plug before the first one ever rolls off the line. Doubt that? Consider the stillborn rear-wheel-drive next generation Chevy Impala — nixed because of concerns within GM about the possibility of meeting the pending (2012) 35 mpg fuel economy edict recently passed by Congress. A lighter front-drive car with a V-6 instead of a V-8 can make the cut; a V-8 RWD Impala can’t. So it’s gone. So is...

While Hyundai offers a front wheel drive minivan in the U.S. market called the Entourage, it's only available with the Korean manufacturer's 3.8L gas V-6. It gets an EPA overall rating of 18mpg, which is competitive in its segment here in North America but no great shakes overall. Overseas, Hyundai has just released a new eight-seat rear wheel drive full-sized van called the i800. The i800 gets motivation from a 2.5L four cylinder diesel engine with common rail injection. The diesel generates 170hp and 289lb-ft of torque which won't get any enthusiasts excited in this application (what enthusiast would...

Khosla Ventures has increased its investment in fuel-injection company Transonic Combustion, Inc. to become the company’s largest preferred shareholder. Transonic is an R&D-phase company developing an advanced fuel injection system for automobiles which promises to dramatically increase fuel efficiency. This fuel injection system allows engines to run on gasoline, diesel and a wide range of bio-renewables. Transonic says that a unique aspect of its technology is that it can precisely control fuel heat release during the combustion process without using spark ignition or relying on compression ignition. Although it is holding details on the technology close, Transonic says that the...

Research findings released today indicate that mid-range ethanol blends—fuel mixtures with more ethanol than 10% (E10) but less than 85% (E85)—can in some cases provide better fuel economy than regular unleaded gasoline, even in standard, non-flex-fuel vehicles. The new study, co-sponsored by the US Department of Energy and the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), also found that mid-range ethanol blends reduce harmful tailpipe emissions. Previous assumptions held that ethanol’s lower energy content directly correlates with lower fuel economy for drivers. Those assumptions were found to be incorrect. Instead, the new research suggests that there is an optimal blend level of...

--SNIP-- If you want a car that will get 100 miles per gallon of fuel, you can build your own right now. This plan is based on an idea I got from a friend, but it has worked in the past and will work again. The idea is this. Start with a small car that weighs no more than about 2000 pounds. Many small sedans and hatchbacks from Honda, Toyota, Ford, Geo, Suzuki, Nissan, and the like are available. It must have a standard transmission and a good clutch. Next, throw out (remove and sell) the 80 hp engine it...

US carmakers have said they need help in tackling the challenges the industry is facing set by global warming. The heads of General Motors, Chrysler and Ford said that measures to improve fuel efficiency were not enough and may cost thousands of jobs. They told a House of Representatives subcommittee that the car industry alone could not act on climate change. US car firms are facing major struggles as they try to reshape their business in the face of stiff competition. The car makers were joined by Toyota and the United Autos Workers (UAW) Union in the meeting with politicians...

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued new testing procedures that will cause fuel economy estimates on the stickers of new vehicles to drop an average of 12% for city driving on most 2008 model year vehicles, and 8% for highway driving, the Associated Press reported. The changes are in response to consumer complaints that fuel economy estimates often don't match real-world driving. The EPA's new procedure will take into account data from vehicle tests designed to more accurately assess high-speed driving, rapid acceleration, the use of air conditioning and driving in cold temperatures, the story said. Highly fuel-efficient vehicles are...

EPA “YourMPG” Data Reveal Diesel Vehicle Drivers Consistently Achieve Higher MPG Than Figures Displayed On Window Stickers WASHINGTON – Diesel-powered vehicles deliver more real-world miles per gallon than the numbers on new-car window stickers currently indicate, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “YourMPG” database. The findings were detailed in EPA’s “Final Technical Supporting Document” accompanying the agency’s new fuel economy labeling rule released Tuesday. The “YourMPG” data, compiled by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, includes 221 diesel drivers measuring their own fuel economy and providing their real-world MPG to an Internet database. EPA then compared this real-world data with...

WASHINGTON, DC -- Diesel-powered vehicles deliver more real-world miles per gallon than the numbers on new-car window stickers currently indicate, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's "YourMPG" database. The findings were detailed in EPA's "Final Technical Supporting Document" accompanying the agency's new fuel economy labeling rule released Tuesday. The "YourMPG" data, compiled by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, includes 221 diesel drivers measuring their own fuel economy and providing their real-world MPG to an Internet database. EPA then compared this real- world data with the projected fuel economy calculations it requires for all new cars. "As can be seen,...

Denny Klein thinks he has found a new commercial use for hydrogen technology. Working in a small, two-room shop at the Airport Business Center, Klein, 63, said he has developed a gas that speeds welding and fusing times and improves automobile fuel efficiency 30 percent. Although the technology Klein uses -- electrolysis -- has been around for decades, he said it's the form of gas that comes out of his electrolyzer and the characteristics of the gas that set his hydrogen technology apart. Klein's gas is two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen. Sound familiar? Yep, it's water. Electrolysis is...

The hydrogen economy is closer than we think. At least, that's the image portrayed by this TV news report from FOX 26 (as far as I can tell, the report aired last year, and I'm not sure which city this FOX 26 is in. For our purposes, these details don't really matter). The report focuses on Denny Klein, president of Hydrogen Technology Applications, and his water-powered car. There is some impressive imagery at work in the piece. Seeing someone pour water into an engine and getting energy out of it is pretty amazing. And slicing through metal with a water-based...

Mater Dei wins second straight gas mileage contest at IRP Indianapolis, April 25, 2006 - Evansville Mater Dei won its second straight Super Mileage Challenge at Indianapolis Raceway Park Monday, averaging more than 1,200 miles per gallon of gas. The car was designed, built and driven by its student team members. The contest was sponsored by the Indiana Mathematics, Science and Technology Education Alliance. Mater Dei won the stock class for the second straight year, improving its fuel efficiency by more than 200 miles per gallon from last year. Lafayette Harrison won the unlimited class, averaging almost 11-hundred miles per...

Expect something amazing from the next Toyota Prius — like fuel economy that pushes past the 100-mpg barrier. Due in two years as a 2009 model, the next Prius is set to be an evolution, company sources say. The hybrid will retain the same basic 1.5-liter hybrid drivetrain. But Toyota is now on a mission to do two things: drive the economy ratings skyward, and cut the associated costs by 20-30 percent.

Latest Statement of Tehran and Suburbs Public Transport Trade Union 2006-02-18 Latest Statement of Tehran and Suburbs Public Transport Trade Union English Translation by Marze Por Gohar Party Thank you all the union workers around the world that in defense to Tehran and Suburbs Public Transport Trade Union announced a solidarity day on Feb 15th 2006 and expressed their protest to anti-union activity to the authorities of the Islamic Republic. Tehran and suburb buss-driver union remind the 3 of its numerous needs 1. The Islamic Republic shall fully and officially recognize the union. 2. Without any conditions release detained union...

To provide consumers with more real-world fuel economy information when shopping for cars, SUVs, and pick-up trucks, EPA is proposing new methods to determine the city and highway mpg estimates that appear on the window stickers. The new methods will take effect for model year 2008 vehicles, which will generally be available for sale in fall of 2007. "With President Bush encouraging energy conservation, EPA is ensuring American motorists can be confident that the fuel economy estimates more closely reflect today's real world driving experiences," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "Consumers weigh a variety of factors when shopping for...

Owners of hybrid cars claim to be stealing a march on their makers by customising them to go even further for less fuel, in one case doing up to 300 miles per gallon. Green-minded enthusiasts in California are turning the popular vehicles into "plug-in cars" that can be recharged using off-peak electricity from the mains. The fuel-efficient hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius, Honda Civic and Ford Escape, have two computer-integrated engines: a petrol and an electric one. Both drive the wheels with the battery-powered motor charged up during braking and coasting. Unlike electric cars, they never need to be...

For decades, Americans have paid little attention to the fuel economy numbers on cars' window stickers -- or to whether their vehicles actually attained those mileage figures. But for hybrid car owners, impressive city and highway mileage numbers are often the primary selling point. When a hybrid's mileage falls short, the owner logically asks why the real-world figures don't match the ones listed by the Environmental Protection Agency. Consumer groups and transportation policy analysts often point to the EPA's test procedure as the cause. Critics say the test cycle, a simulated route of starts and stops to replicate city and...

WASHINGTON -- Back in the good old days when the price of gas in Seattle was a mere $1.50 a gallon, miles-per-gallon weren't so important. The number was a curiosity, the basis for bragging rights and mental exercise during long trips. That was two years ago. Today, with the price of gas pushing beyond $2.45 a gallon in the Puget Sound region and federal projections saying it will reach $3 this summer, the miles-per-gallon estimates calculated by the Environmental Protection Agency have taken on a new prominence in a nation suddenly intent on squeezing every mile out of its cars....

Transcripts of speeches given at Dr. Vafadari's memorial event The following are excerpts, transcripts and summaries from speeches given at Kasra Vafadari Memorial event that took place in Santa Monica on Saturday May 28th 2005. Roozbeh Farahanipour -Kasra is the 4th person that Roozbeh has worked with who has been killed by the Islamic Republic: first was Kourosh Aryamanesh, 2nd and 3rd were Dariush and Parvaneh Forouhar. -Kasra is not the first to be murdered by IR in France, and Kasra was a dual citizen, like Zahra Kazemi the Canadian journalist who was murdered on her assignment in the IR....

A memorial service honoring Dr. Kasra Vafadaari Directions to Santa Monica Mall WHEN: 6 P.M. Saturday, May 28 2005 WHERE: Santa Monica Mall. 395 Santa Monica Place Santa Monica, California WHO: Speakers Roozbeh Farahanipour, Faryar Nickbacht and Roxanne Ganji WHAT: Memorial service honoring Dr. Kasra Vafadaari Dear Dr. Kasra Vafadaari, your name is immortal for every true Iranian and forever in our hearts, because you too are now a part of our historical heritage: you’ve joined the ranks of history’s noblemen who have paid with their blood the price to upkeep and maintain our homeland, Iran. That is why we...

My parents made a camcorder of my children's birthday party. I have the DVD and would like to convert it to a mpg file. Is there a software to do this? Thank you.

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) - Oil prices have entered the early stages of a multi-year period of trading in which economic growth and rising demand could push oil to $105 per barrel, enough to meaningfully reduce energy consumption, Goldman Sachs analysts said Thursday. "We believe oil markets may have entered the early stages of what we have referred to as a "super spike" period -- a multi-year trading band of oil prices high enough to meaningfully reduce energy consumption and recreate a spare capacity cushion only after which will lower energy prices return," said analyst Arjun Murti. Murti said he's surprised...

Monday March 01, 2004 7:35 PM Reporting from: Kanoone Sokhan, Los Angeles, CA, USA Reported by: Sadegh Saleh of the “Marze Por Gohar Party” at www.marzeporgohar.org Name of the Speaker: Hoomer Abramian Subject: Religion, Fanaticism and Commonsense ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr. Abramian lives in Australia. He established “Persian Cultural Foundation of Australia (Bonyad-e Farhang-e Iran, Phone/Fax# +612 98234371). He is born in 1317 H.S. in Hamedan, Iran and is a graduate engineer in building architecture of University in Tehran. After the Revolution he was the head of Iranian Ashourians in Iran. When he moved to Australia in 1998 he started Iranology and...

National Geographic Society retreats The Marze Por Gohar Party is happy to announce that with the hard work of our compatriots for defending the Persian Gulf, the National Geographic Society has been forced to retreat from their earlier stance regarding the Persian Gulf. The National Geographic Society has reportedly removed the illegitimate name from its maps, however there is an asterisk now explaining that some countries use another (unrecognized) name to refer to the Persian Gulf. Though the Islamic Republic would like to have Iranians believe that the matter regarding the National Geographic’s use of an illegitimate name for the...

Iranian Journalists Escape from the Islamic Republic December 7th 2004 The Marze Porgohar Party (MPG) is pleased to announce that three of our members have successfully escaped from the Islamic Republic of Iran, following a new wave of press closures marked by a crackdown on journalists and web loggers aimed at restricting the flow of information and terrorizing the young leaders of the pro-democracy movement in the country. Mr. Babak Namdar, the MPG’s Director of Foreign Policy is now with our three members, in Turkey, discussing the situation in Iran and the future of these activists for the continuation of...

On September 23, 2004 The Marze Por Gohar Party, at an event that took place at Beverly Hills Hilton, presented the Sheikh of Qatar a letter of protest. The Chairman, Roozbeh Farahanipour, Director of Foreign Policy, Babak Namdar, Persian Gulf Specialist, Sepehr Aryannia and Oz Asemani personally delivered to Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar, a letter of protest. The two primary points raised in the letter were firstly regarding Qatar’s history of decisions that have inflicted damage on Iranians instead of the Islamic Republic, and secondly that if Qatar wants friendly relations with the Iranian people they...

Official Launching of New Suicide Terrorist Organization in Iran Promises “Holy Terror” “The September 11th incident demonstrated that in today’s world, by creating small (!) tactical incidents it is possible to attain strategic results”… “martyrdom operations …are the greatest advantage of Muslims over the superior technology of the global arrogance (the West)”. General Salami, deputy chief of operations, joint headquarters of the Revolutionary Guards Corps, at the Gathering of Seekers of Martyrdom, Tehran, June 2nd 2004. “If it is possible to cast terror into the hearts and lives of infidels (those not believing in Allah, Muhammad and foundations of Islam)...

Roozbeh Farahanipour's appearance on VOA We are happy to announce that the chairman of the Marze Por Gohar Party, Roozbeh Farahanipour will be a panelist on Voice of America\'s \"Looking at the 18th of Tir\" program. The panel will discuss various matters relating to the uprising of July 1999. This program will also be broadcasted live via VOA\'s website: http://www.voanews.com/persian/ Date: Wed. July 7th, 2004 Time: 10 - 12 AM Eastern Standard Time Title: Looking at the 18th of Tir SadeghSaleh

Monday April 19, 2004 7:30 PM Reporting from: Kanoone Sokhan, Los Angeles, CA, USA Reported by: Sadegh Saleh of the “Marze Por Gohar Party” at www.marzeporgohar.org Name of the Speaker: Dr. Zartosht Azadi Subject: The Renewal of a Culture ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Change of plan: Tonight was supposed to be started with Dr. Mohammad Mousavi Nasl’s speech about “The high value of Iranian Culture”, but since he could not attend because of a family emergency, Dr. Azadi took over. Dr. Azadi is a Society researcher and a teacher. He was graduated from the University in Tehran and is living in the US...

Marze Por Gohar and Borders Westwood are pleased to Welcome Kenneth R.Timmerman Join us as this renowned analyst on the subject of Iran discusses and signs his latest book, Preachers of Hate: Islam and the War on America. Kenneth R. Timmerman has been tracking terrorists for 20 years. In 1982, Ken was taken hostage by Yasser Arafat's Fatah guerrillas in Lebanon and spent 24 days in an underground cell under constant aerial and artillery bombardment. In 1998, he tracked renegade Saudi financier Osama Bin Ladin and his international terrorist network to the gates of the White Mountains in Afghanistan. His...

By: Setare Kaviyan For the first time in history an Iranian woman named Shirin Ebadi has been awarded with the Noble Peace Prize. This great accomplishment by Miss Ebadi was the cause of utmost bliss and pride amongst the Iranians. Iranians began seeing a new light of hope with Miss Ebadi’s accomplishment, and they believed that through her, human rights could once again be brought to Iran. Ms. Ebadi’s record was quite impressive; with being a judge during the previous regime and working diligently on human rights in Iran, particularly on the rights of women and children. With all these...

Source: MPG Subject: Opening a Case against the Islamic Republic of Iran Time 01-17-2004 01:41 The International Criminal Court (ICC) is currently the first and only treaty based institution that can try various individuals for such crimes as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The creation of the ICC presents a special opportunity to bring to light the various crimes the Islamic Republic of Iran has committed against humanity. On January 8th, 2004 the executive of the Marze Por Gohar Party, Roozbeh Farahanipour hand delivered a letter to the president of ICC, Phillip Kirche. Below you will find the...

The Marze Por Gohar Party would like to congratulate Iranians on the capture of Saddam Hussein. The apprehension of Saddam will be especially gratifying for the families of those who fought in the Iraq-Iran war. Iranians lost half a million of their compatriots during the war and since the clerical regime is anything but Iranian, damages were never pursued against Saddam. Those Iranians who lost their life during the war can now rest easier knowing that Saddam will finally have to pay for his crimes. The Marze Por Gohar Party is ready to file human rights charges against Saddam at...

"Please ... Call Me an Iranian, Not a Moslem!" Farhad Mafie "This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness." -Dalai Lama Hold on to Your Hat! Some days the Persian Gulf is referred to as the Arabian Gulf. Some days Rumi-the great Iranian poet and philosopher-is referred to as a poet from Afghanistan or a poet from Turkey. Some days Sina or Avicenna, R&#257;zi, Farabi, Birouni-the great Iranian scientists-are referred to as Arab scientists. Some days Iranian arts are...

Monday December 01, 2003 7:23 PM Reporting from: Kanoone Sokhan, Los Angeles, CA, USA Reported by: Sadegh Saleh of the “Marze Por Gohar Party” at www.marzeporgohar.org Name of the Speaker: Muhammad Arassy, Elahe Amani, Shahla Samsami, Jiela Kashef, Parto Nori-Ala Subject: The Roll and Influence of giving the Nobel Peace Price to Shirin Ebadi ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mrs. Nor-Ala, member of Writer Society, started tonight’s meeting with a poem, named: “Ensanam Man” (I’m a Human Being). This poem was made of 2 parts: Part 1: How men suppress women: “Chon Zani” (Because you’re a Woman) Part 2: A woman telling about her...

Source: MPG Subject: Roozbeh Farahanipour will be a panelist at AEI's conference Time 11-25-2003 15:29 The Marze Por Gohar Party is happy to announce that Roozbeh Farahanipour, the Executive Director of the Marze Por Gohar party, will be a panelist at next week’s AEI’s conference on Iran. The conference will take place on Wed., Dec 2nd at 11 AM. This conference will also be broadcasted live in to Iran. Below is a brief summary of the conference (courtesy of AEI’s website). Iran remains the most influential religious and political laboratory in the Middle East. A coherent U.S. strategy toward Iran...

There is another desperate attempt by Islamic Republic against real opposition. While the cleric’s information ministry (Vevak) is mimicking threatening opposition parties, the supposed opposition is talking about \"reforms\" and \"referendums\". We have repeatedly spoken about Vevak\'s honed technique of impersonating entities, and having those forged entities speak favorably about the ruling clerics. We cited the fact that the clerics know who their real enemy is, which is why they created a fake Marze Por Gohar newspaper.The two most important people responsible for this counterfeit act were Kurd, and Barhouynejad.Baghare Kurd is currently a parliament member for the Balluchistan province,and...

Source: MPG Subject: Kanoone Sokhan Time 11-14-2003 20:34 Monday November 10, 2003 7:20 PM Reporting from: Kanoone Sokhan, Los Angeles, CA, USA Reported by:Sadegh Saleh of the “Marze Por Gohar Party” at www.marzeporgohar.org Name of the Speaker:Dr. Fazlollah Rohani, Poet and Writer Subject:Birth and Development of Democracy --------------------------------------- First we start with the meaning of democracy: Demo: People Cracy: Governing We thought that democracy was born in ancient Greece, but in the 20th century, new findings proved that the first democratic system was set in the Summary, Iraq at Bein-al-Nahrein. It was used, because people asked for it and not...

A tendency within the Islamic Republic of Iran is to use misleading shortened versions of the names of Islamic organizations and personalities in order to sanitize and reactivate certain discredited entities. Heshmatallah Tabarzadi was one of the main leaders for the"Office of Strengthening the Unity of the University and theTheological Seminary" (OSUUTS), nowadays simply referred to as the"Office of Strengthening Unity". Prior to Khamenei's tenure as the "SupremeLeader" and the "Guardian Scholar" during the late 80s, college students did not have the right to form political groups. Khamenei declared that students should partake in political activities and allowed them to...

Whether the international community wants to admit it or not, it seems evident that the clerics in Iran are pursuing a nuclear program that is not purely “peaceful”. After all why would the Mullahs be chasing away IAEA inspectors from simply taking environment samples if their program is purely for civilian use? It has been our position that the Middle East should be a nuke free zone with a defensive military balance existing among all countries in the region. The same view would be applied to our beloved country Iran while we have to emphasize that Iran today is being...

Source: MPG Subject: Marze Por Gohar Party challenges Mr. Pahlavi and Mr. Khomenei to a debate Time 10-07-2003 13:54 It’s official, the grandson of Khomenei, and the son of the Shah are combining forces (using the term "forces" very loosely here). It would seem this union would come natural, after all monarchists use God to explain why there should be a king, and clerics use God to explain why there should be a theocracy. However, one can find even more parallels between the two characters then meet the eye. After nearly 25 years, Mr. Khomenei has supposedly escaped Iran. One...

Bush Approves SUV Fuel Economy Increase By H. JOSEF HEBERT, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration approved a modest increase Thursday in fuel economy for sport utility vehicles and small trucks, beginning with the 2005 model year, administration sources said. The change is the first since 1996, when Congress imposed a freeze on the federal fuel economy requirements on automakers. The Transportation Department will require fuel economy for SUVs, pickup trucks and minivans to increase by about 1.5 miles per gallon over three years beginning with the model 2005 vehicles that arrive in showrooms in late 2004,...