Recently, the New York Times ran an article on a topic that I, like many IT professionals, have been following for several months. The article discussed the likely origin, destination and purpose of a computer virus that the Times called "the most sophisticated cyberweapon ever deployed."

Right on the heels of record rains and widespread flooding that swamped much of Queensland in northeast Australia, Cyclone Yasi—“the worst cyclone in a century” to hit the state of Queensland—tore through the same region causing widespread destruction (telegraph.co.uk, February 3, 2011).  In the United States, “a vast winter storm… blasted much of the nation” with several feet of snow, ice, high winds and freezing temperatures from Texas to Maine.

Anticipating that the Muslim Brotherhood (who would revoke Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel) might gain power in Egypt, the Israeli government recently signed a security agreement with Germany.  The agreement will expand cooperation in combating crime, terrorism and violent extremism.

Reports from the Middle East note, “There is something happening in the Arab world.  A collective voice is being heard again… rarely has there been a moment when the Middle East felt so interconnected, governments so unpopular and Arabs so overwhelmingly agree on their demand for change… The Middle East is being drawn together by economic woes and a shared resentment that people have been denied dignity and respect… For the first time in a generation…a somewhat nostalgic notion of a common 

In 2005 a U.S. federal court struck down a motion to teach “intelligent design” along with the federally mandated topic of evolution.  Since then, scientists and educators have developed evolution-based curricula to counter the growing movement questioning the validity of evolutionary theory (Education Week, November 16, 2010).  In 2008, the Council of Europe “condemned all attempts to bring creationism into Europe’s schools” (USA Today, February 11, 2008).