What would New Year's Eve be without a little bubbly? Experts say champagne and sparkling wine maker have prepared for the Y2K onslaught. So even if you haven't made a trip to the local wine shop yet, you should still be able to find a vintage that will tickle your tongue without gouging your wallet. Or, for the discerning millennium reveler with a bit more money to burn, there are plenty of fine champagnes left with a price tag to match.

For Video Addition to this story Click Here

Source:Fastv.com

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - A second urine sample supplied by German Olympic champion Dieter Baumann also showed traces of the banned steroid nandrolone.

The gold medalist in the 5,000 meters at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, now faces a two-year ban from the German athletics federation, which announced the test result Tuesday.

Baumann has been suspended since Nov. 19, after his first sample showed traces of nandrolone 10 times over the permitted level following out-of-competition tests.

Baumann, one of the most vocal critics of doping in German sports, has denied taking any drugs.

The case took on a bizarre twist when police detected nandrolone in a toothpaste used by Baumann at his home.

The result of Baumann's so-called B sample was detected by a lab in Kreischa, one of the two labs that conducted the tests.

Source:Associated Press

The terror of terrorism is what you don't know. You can listen all you want to warnings to be vigilant. Cops can scan crowds; dogs can sniff luggage; border crossings can be tightened; you can report parcels left unattended. But if--when--it comes, you won't be warned. "We're not confident we can stop it," admits an Administration official.

Full Story Click Here

Here is a novel solution to the planet's looming global warming predicament: Just deep-six the excess greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. That, in essence, is Peter Brewer's remedy for the potentially disastrous climate changes that could disrupt the coming century. The distinguished ocean scientist says carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas emitted by power plants and the fossil-fuel industries, could be separated or captured from smokestacks and piped to the ocean. Once injected into the deep sea, the CO2 would form a hydrate, or icelike substance, creating heavy CO2 icebergs that could sit undisturbed on the ocean floor for centuries.

Full Story Click Here

As we recently reported, the U.S. State Department issued a worldwide caution to U.S. citizens traveling abroad through the start of the New Year and Ramadan. Last week, the State Department issued a new warning urging Americans who travel overseas to be "vigilant" and to avoid large crowds. Two arrests of suspected terrorists in Jordan and in the U.S. at the Canadian border have officials believing acts of terrorism may occur on U.S. soil. As the threats have become wider in scope than initially understood, extra precautions are being taken at U.S. airports and border crossings.

Full Story Click Here

BUENOS AIRES — A 55-year-old woman swam 12 miles to the Argentine coastal town of San Clemente del Tuyu after her sailboat was blown onto a sandbar and began to sink, she said Sunday.

Full Story Click Here

You're probably going to at least one party this season, whether it's a millennium bash or just a lowly office get-together. As the host or the guest, you'll find lots of offbeat goods online to liven up any celebration — or to keep your fellow partiers safe and warm.

Light up the party

The total party animal not only leads the conga line but also wears the lampshade. Thanks to inventor Jim Beklaris, a free-lance lighting technician for TV commercials, movies and videos, this year we have the lampshade party hat. This white hat, decorated with red fringe and "2000" in gold, is designed to stay put while the wearer dances on a table. Inside the lampshade is a hard hat with an adjustable strap; it accommodates most party-animal-sized heads. The hat lights up as well, but won't fry your brain. It uses 3V-krypton gas light bulbs that are equivalent in voltage to two flashlight batteries.

Rest of the Story Click Here

Dec. 21 — The cosmos — and the Internet — are conspiring to make this week's full moon a focus of intense interest. Astronomers point out that this full moon is getting a boost from two additional factors: The moon will be as close as it's been to Earth all year, and Earth will be near its closest point to the sun. The fact that it also comes during the last winter solstice before Y2K just adds to the millennial hype.

Full Story Click Here

Dec. 17 — As the year 2000 approaches faster than a speeding champagne cork, it's time to celebrate the sale of the century. Air fares, hotel rooms and cruises that were overhyped and overpriced earlier in the year are now taking the big end-of-the-year plunge. Discounts are even bigger than anyone had predicted. British Airways, for example, is offering $429 air/hotel packages from New York to London that include three nights' hotel accommodations.

Full Story Click Here

COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Water droplets trapped in bedrock in south-western Greenland, home to the oldest geological formation found on earth, may stem from oceans that existed 3.8 billion years ago, Greenland's KNR radio reported.

As most scientists agree that life began in the sea, analyses of the ancient droplets could provide clues to the composition of early oceans and thus shed light on the origin of life, KNR said in a Web site news bulletin posted this week.

It quoted the Danish Polar Center, a state-sponsored arctic research institute, as saying scientists involved in the Isua Multidisciplinary Research Project (IMRP) hoped to collect a sufficient amount of water to enable analysis.

Three years ago, studies of stone samples from Isua near Greenland's capital Nuuk indicated a high likelihood that traces of early life forms could be found in the bedrock. These would be 200 million years older than the so far oldest life forms found in South Africa.

The three-year research project at Isua aims to establish how the surface of the earth took shape nearly four billion years ago. Our planet is estimated to be about 4.6 billion years old.

Source: Reuters

SEATTLE, December 15 – The Coast Guard tried to reach a disabled motor yacht off the Washington coast Wednesday afternoon.

PETTY OFFICER Jay Bigelow said five people on board the 114-foot "Bella Casa" are okay. The boat lost power in 20-foot seas and 35-mile per hour winds and called for help Wednesday morning.

Full Story Click Here

AUCKLAND, New Zealand. Dec. 14 — The French team sealed its place in the semifinals of the America's Cup challenger series with an easy win over an absent opponent Wednesday, ensuring that Young America would not advance.

Full Story Click Here

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 14 – Three people were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard Tuesday from a 40-foot boat that sank off Reservation Point in the Los Angeles Harbor area, authorities said.

Full Story Click Here

Crews try to limit pollution Oil tanker breaks in two off France Clean-up crews try to limit pollution

ASSOCIATED PRESS

BREST, France, Dec. 13 — Anti-pollution teams have begun efforts to prevent oil from washing up on the northwest coast of France after a tanker carrying about 8 million gallons of diesel oil broke in two during rough weather.

Full Story Click Here

AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- A convincing victory moved Italy's Prada team back to the top of the leaderboard Saturday in the third round of the Louis Vuitton Cup, while the New York Yacht Club's entry climbed up two places to seventh.

The Prada Challenge, skippered by Francesco de Angelis, gained control on the starting line in its match against previously second-placed America True and maintained the advantage to take the gun by 54 seconds.

The Italian crew had monopolized the top of the scoreboard from the first round in October, until San Francisco's AmericaOne displaced them on Dec. 6, but a surprise upset defeat for the Americans by the French allowed Prada to reclaim the top spot.

Meanwhile, the New York Yacht Club's Young America team, which on Friday dropped to ninth place, came home a convincing winner against the Spanish Challenge to keep their hope of a semifinal place alive.

At the end of this round, the top six on the scoreboard progress to the semifinals, while the rest are eliminated from the series. With the top four boats now assured of their places, the battle is heating up for the two remaining berths.

In other races Saturday, Dennis Conner's Stars & Stripes defeated the Aloha Challenge, and Nippon Challenge beat Young Australia. Eleven challenges from seven nations started the Louis Vuitton Cup in October, and the eventual winner will face Team New Zealand in the America's Cup starting in February next year.

DHAKA, Dec. 11 — Nearly 50 people were feared drowned after a ferry sank in a river in southern Bangladesh on Saturday, officials said.

"RESCUERS HAVE FOUND 25 bodies, including six women and three children, and a similar number of people are missing after the ferry with about 200 passengers on board sank in the Meghna river in Bhola district," the region's deputy commissioner Mohammad Moizuddin said.

Full Story Click Here

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 10 — A Marine Corps helicopter on a training mission over the Pacific with 18 people aboard crashed and quickly sank on Thursday, and 11 were plucked from the ocean, authorities said.

INTO THE night, a dozen Navy and Coast Guard ships and six helicopters searched for seven people still missing. The CH-46 Sea Knight crashed at 1:16 p.m., 15 miles southwest of San Diego.

Full Story Click Here

Anchorage, Dec. 9- A C-130 from the Coast Guard Station in Kodiak is assisting in the search for 11 people missing in the Bering Sea.

A JAPANESE FISHING VESSEL sank Thursday about 120 miles south of Cape Navarin, Russia. Officials say 36 people were on board. Two nearby fishing boats rescued 25 people.

With each passing hour, rescuers say chances of finding anymore survivors grows slimmer and slimmer, but the Coast Guard is not giving up hope. A total of nine U.S., Russian and Japanese fishing vessels are searching the waters. A second C-130 is also being sent out to help, as well as a Japanese Coast Guard ship. The rescue effort is battling 30 foot seas and 50 knot winds.

Source: MSNBC

LITTLE ROCK, Dec. 8 - The company that operated a tourist boat which sank and killed 13 passengers was in violation of nine regulations at the time, according to a U.S. Coast Guard report.

THE COAST GUARD also blamed the owner of Land & Lakes Tours Inc. for failing to "clearly understand his responsibility ... for ensuring the safety of his vessels and the passengers they carried."

The report, issued Tuesday, cited a list of problems that led the Miss Majestic to suddenly sink May 1 on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs. Just eight of 21 people aboard survived, including the operator.

Full Story Click Here

Patricia Zengerle MIAMI, Fla., Dec. 7 - The U.S. Coast Guard intercepted six Cuban migrants suspected of hijacking a fishing boat and heading for Florida after receiving a tip from the Cuban government, U.S. and Cuban officials said on Tuesday.

A CUBAN PATROL boat followed the boat carrying the eight Cubans, six suspected hijackers and two fishermen, across the open sea on Monday, pulling away after a U.S. Coast Guard cutter arrived and tailed the fishing boat to U.S. territorial waters 11 miles south of Key West, Florida.

Full Story Click Here

It's not looking good for Young America. The New York Yacht Club's syndicate saw its chances of reaching the finals of the challenger series greatly reduced Wednesday (Tuesday in the United States) with a loss to Stars and Stripes. Young America, an early favorite, has struggled to recover since one of its two multimillion dollar boats broke apart and almost sank during a race last month. Just two races were run due to bad weather and a schedule adjustment to give the Stars and Stripes team time to repair its boat after a bulkhead ripped free of the hull on Sunday.

Source: ESPN

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Dec. 6 — AmericaOne handed Prada its second loss in 24 races in the America's Cup challenger series, beating the Italian front-runner by 23 seconds Monday

THE VICTORY, WORTH nine points, moved the San Francisco team within one point of the Italians in the 11-syndicate competition. The winner will face New Zealand next year for sailing's most prized trophy.

Full Story Click Here

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Dec. 4 — Dennis Conner's Stars and Stripes tore a bulkhead Sunday and had to pull out of its America's Cup challenger series clash against Italy's Prada.

The aft bulkhead ripped away during practice ahead of the race in 18 knot winds. It could take a week to repair the damage

Full Story Click Here

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Dec. 4 — On a day when four races were decided by under a minute, Young America had an easy victory in the America's Cup challenger series.

Young America sailed the course on its own today to win when the Swiss syndicate, Fast 2000, did not start after snapping a mast during Friday's race. The Americans picked up nine points for the win to move into seventh place in the 11-team competition.

Full Story Click Here

It's a story they'll never forget and were anxious to tell. They say the chartered boat trip to Saint Martin island started out as spectacular but turned into a stress-filled search for safety. The only secure place to be found was a school gymnasium.

"It was worse than jail," said Mary Kelington, one of the travelers. "We were stuck there. We had a guard with a gun who said, 'If you leave, I'll shoot you. It was a fabulous vacation that quickly turned into the adventure of their lives. Ten Richmonders chartered a boat for a trip to St. Martin and St. Bart islands. But when Hurricane Lenny blew through, they were forced into a school gym being used as a shelter.

Two-and-a-half days later they were still there, stranded on St. Martin island with no electricity, no water, and barely any food. "When you feel like you're at the point where you're making peace with your maker and just hope you have enough good on the book,"said Michele Trogdon, another traveler,"Then it kind of opens you up a bit."

The group says the long hours going tired, hungry and in the dark were unlike anything they ever imagined. The charter company this group used said it will return the money that was lost during their stay in the shelter. Either way, the travelers said they wouldn't hesitate to set sail again.

Things keep getting worse for Young America, which lost again on Friday (Thursday in the United States). But for one U.S. team, the future's looking pretty bright. America True, which made a major move in the second round of racing, beat still another U.S. syndicate -- Stars & Stripes -- to take over fourth place in the America's Cup challenger series. With victories now worth nine points apiece, the stakes are higher than ever after two races in the third -- and final -- round robin of racing.

Source: ESPN

Different boat, same results. Frontrunner Prada had instant success with its second yacht Thursday (Wednesday in the United States), beating the New York Yacht Club's Young America by 23 seconds in the opening race of the America's Cup challenger series third round-robin. The Italian entry, which won 19 of 20 races with a different boat in the opening two rounds, unveiled a slightly narrower version for the final round. Each victory is worth nine points in the final round.

Source: ESPN

FT. MYERS, Fla., Dec. 1 - This high-speed ferry is already more than a year late. And Buquebus has spent close to $15,000,000 dollars preparing for its arrival. But a dispute over money means there's no telling if and when the ferry will arrive.

If everything happened as planned thousands of passengers would already be taking the three-hour trip from Fort Myers to Key West on the Buquebus.

Full Story Click Here

LITTLE ROCK, Nov. 30 - The National Transportation Safety Board will hold hearings next week to discuss the safety of amphibious "duck" boats that carry more than 1 million tourists annually.

For ful story click here

Gender meaningless to woman managing Cup campaign

Nov. 30 — Sure, she's the first woman to manage an America's Cup campaign. Beyond that, though, gender means nothing to Dawn Riley

FOUR YEARS AGO, Riley was the captain of Bill Koch's grand social experiment, the first all-women's sailing team in America's Cup history. But then the gender got bent with the addition of a man to the brain trust aboard America3's boat.

For full story click here

Variation on virulent virus deletes Office documents on local, network drives, then mails itself widely

Nov. 30 — The year's nastiest computer virus has made a comeback. The so-called Explore.Zip worm, notorious because of its ability to delete huge numbers of computer files across a network, is once again rummaging through corporations. The virus has been updated to sneak around most anti-virus protection programs, and has already hit a number of Fortune 500 companies — and things could be ever worse Wednesday morning, according to an anti-virus firm.

For full story click here