News Briefs
Germans protest English words In a “peaceful linguistic protest,” Armin Burkhardt and other German scientists are urging the public to stop using words derived from English and use French terms instead. The professor in the German department at Magdeburg University has about 30 French replacements for English expressions, which entered the German language after World War II.
Germans protest English words
In a “peaceful linguistic protest,” Armin Burkhardt and other German scientists are urging the public to stop using words derived from English and use French terms instead. The professor in the German department at Magdeburg University has about 30 French replacements for English expressions, which entered the German language after World War II. He suggests Germans buy “billets,” not “tickets.” He is calling for “formidable” to replace “cool.” “[The protest] is meant to show that the political line of the French president and the German chancellor on Iraq have the support of the majority of the public,” Burkhardt said.
Mr. and Mrs. Russell Crowe
Monday, actor Russell Crowe married Danielle Spencer. The ceremony took place in the family chapel at his country ranch. The bride wore a Giorgio Armani gown. Crowe’s birthday/wedding bash included a cricket match and musical performances. Some reports estimate the wedding costs at $600,000.
VCU graduate schools ranked in top 60
The U.S. News & World Report 2004 rankings of America’s best graduate schools were released Friday. Twenty of VCU’s graduate programs rank nationally in the top 60. Ten programs are from the academic campus and 10 are from the medical campus.
Of these top 20 programs, 13 are ranked in the top 20 and six are ranked in the top 10. Sculpture and Nurse Anesthesia ranked No. 1 in their respective categories.
The other top-10 schools and programs are the School of the Arts, sixth, up from nineteenth previously; Graphic Design, fourth; Health Services Administration, fifth, up from eigth; and Painting and Drawing, 10th. The School of Education, the School of Nursing and the School of Medicine are also in the top 60.
Three schools carry over previous rankings: the School of Social Work, 13th; the School of Dentistry, 13th; and the School of Pharmacy, 19th.
Other VCU graduate programs ranked in the top 60 are Community Health, 18th; Rehabilitative Counseling, 20th; and Teacher Preparation, top 50.
VCU graduate programs carrying over previous rankings are Physical Therapy, 15th; Occupational Therapy, 17th; Creative Writing, 50th; Clinical Psychology, 50th; and Public Affairs, 51st.
SARS death toll rises
Severe acute respiratory syndrome has now claimed the lives of 101 people. Officials in Hong Kong fear they might see 3,000 cases in the city. In order to control the virus’ spread, China’s government might be forced to use Internet-linked cameras to enforce quarantine. The largest number of persons infected across the globe appears to be health- care workers.
Massacre in Congo town
Almost 1,000 civilians were massacred in a remote Congo town last Thursday. Witnesses reported that even women and children joined in the killing spree with guns and machetes. The two Congo tribes pitted against each other in an ethnic conflict have come to severe blows in recent months as the factions from the wider war in the Democratic Republic of Congo have become involved. The killings came hours after the Congo’s government and rebel leaders signed a deal to transition government in the capital city of Kinshasa. The murders are being called the worst atrocity in the country’s four-and-a-half-year war.
Epilepsy drug may cause weight loss
In recent obesity studies, an epilepsy drug, zonisamide, and a reduced-calorie diet may cause significant weight loss for obese adults. The study, which is in this week’s Journal of the American Medical Association, stemmed from reports of unintentional weight loss in epilepsy patients that used the drug to prevent seizures. It is not yet known how the drug stimulates weight loss. Fatigue appears to be the only side effect associated with the drug. Roughly 30 percent of U.S. adults are obese and 60 percent are overweight.
No more declawed cats in West Hollywood
Although some European nations have banned declawing, cats in the United States still undergo the procedure. West Hollywood City Council, however, has recently voted to ban the practice. Supporters of the ban said that it is unfair to declaw a cat, as it wouldn’t be able to escape from predators while it is outside. The California Veterinary Medical Association opposes the bill. The film industry said a ban on declawing big cats such as tigers could make movie sets more dangerous and costly. West Hollywood officials said they are setting precedence for the rest of the country.
Watergate papers head to University of Texas
The University of Texas is paying The Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein $5 million to archive their Watergate papers. The 75 boxes of papers from the Nixon era will be housed and made available for study at the university. Documents naming the anonymous “Deep Throat” will be kept secure at an undisclosed location in Washington until the source dies.
Baby falls from moving car
An 11-month-old baby in Michigan fell from a moving car recently. Paramedics traveling behind the car said they saw the car’s back door open as it rounded a turn. The 26-year-old father told police the child was buckled into the car seat and the car door was locked. The parents didn’t realize the baby was missing until they reached their destination. The couple is facing child endangerment charges.