Etc...

Hey, I don't feel that way

Official relations between the US and Brazil have been warmer than they are today, but that doesn't mean the leftist government of South America's largest nation is among those wishing President Bush were dead. For example, earlier this month, Minister of Culture Gilberto Gil, one of his nation's all-time greatest singers, came out of retirement to perform in a series of concerts. But during the first, as he reprised one of his most famous hits, he was unaware that behind his back the producers were screening a visual of the US leader with a noose around his neck and the words: "Die, Bush. Die." The audience applauded enthusiastically afterward. But when Gil learned what had happened, he sent his spokesman out to explain that the image had been used without his permission and demanded that it not appear again.

Predicting world's future: people, people everywhere

World population is expected to rise almost 50 percent by midcentury, with developing countries accounting for the bulk of the increase, statistics compiled by the private Population Reference Bureau suggest. If projections hold, developing countries will surge 55 percent, compared to 4 percent in industrialized countries. Meanwhile, in some developed countries, notably Japan, the population is projected to shrink. Japan may lose 20 percent of its population, the data suggest. The five largest countries by population (in millions unless otherwise noted), and the top five in 2050, with projected populations and the percentage of increase for each:

Largest now
1. China 1.3 billion
2. India 1.1 billion
3. US 294
4. Indonesia 219
5. Brazil 179
Largest in 2050
1. India (+50%) 1.6 billion
2. China (+11%) 1.4 billion
3. US (+43%) 420
4. Indonesia (+41%) 308
5. Nigeria (+224%) 307