Private investigator Anthony Pellicano convicted in Hollywood wiretap scheme; victims grateful

The nine-week trial of Hollywood private investigator Anthony Pellicano often had seamy plot lines and suspense worthy of a movie: death threats, offers of murder and extramarital affairs.

But for those who believe they were targets of Pellicano's ruthless tactics, reality could be terrifying. Their cars were vandalized, their homes broken into and, worst of all, they say, their private conversations were wiretapped.

On Thursday, they welcomed the 64-year-old private investigator's conviction on racketeering and wiretapping charges.

"We are certainly relieved," said actor Keith Carradine, whose phones prosecutors say were wiretapped by …

Dr. Wilbur F. Britt, 73, Glenview neurosurgeon Navy veteran served on ship in S. Pacific for two years

Dr. Wilbur F. Britt chose a career in neurosurgery for the samereason many people shy away from it.

"He said it was the most challenging thing he could think of," Dr.Britt's son, Derrick Britt, said.

Dr. Britt, of Glenview, died of pancreatic cancer July 28 atGlenbrook Hospital. He was 73.

A neurosurgeon for almost 40 years, Dr. Britt was a well-liked,talented doctor whose wry sense of humor was matched only by hisskill on the golf course, relatives said.

"He shot a 67 one day, which is an unbelievable score, and one ofhis golfing cronies called from Italy in the middle of the night whenhe heard," Derrick Britt, 37, said. "The first thing Bill …

Funding Science in America: Congress, Universities, and the Politics of the Academic Pork Barrel

Funding Science in America: Congress, Universities, and the Politics of the Academic Pork Barrel. By James D. Savage. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1999. 256 pp. Cloth, $49.95; paper, $19.95. ISBN: cloth 0-521-64315-5, paper 0-521-79461-7.

Reviewed by Marcel C. LaFollette

During fiscal year (FY) 2000, academic earmarking-the practice of awarding money via special legislative provision rather than by merit review-set an all-time record. University pork-barrel appropriations exceeded $1 billion, far outstripping even FY1999's remarkable $797 million.

Funding Science in America probes the origins and dynamics of this practice, combining economic analysis of …

Polls apart: Why polls vary on presidential race

Barack Obama is galloping away with the presidential race. Or maybe he has a modest lead. Or maybe he and John McCain are neck and neck.

Confusing? Sure, thanks to the dueling results of recent major polls.

In the past week, most surveys have shown Democrat Obama with a significant national lead over Republican McCain. Focusing on "likely voters" _ as many polling organizations prefer this close to Election Day _ an ABC News-Washington Post survey showed Obama leading by 11 percentage points. A Wall Street Journal-NBC News poll had the same margin, while the nonpartisan Pew Research Center gave Obama a 14-point edge.

But others had the race …

Gold up

Gold for current delivery closed at $1107.40 per troy ounce Friday …

Caption Only [Color Photo: THAT'S THE TICKET: Bring your Cubs ticket stub...]

Caption …

SKorean official travels to NKorea to monitor aid

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A South Korean official will help monitor the distribution of humanitarian aid to North Korean children for the first time in three years, the Seoul government said Friday.

He is the first South Korean government official to travel to Pyongyang to monitor aid distribution since conservative President Lee Myung-bak took office in 2008 with a tough policy toward North Korean aid. The visit is seen as a key sign that relations are improving after years of tension.

The divided Korean peninsula remains in a technical state of war because their three-year conflict ended in 1953 with an armistice, not a peace treaty.

Relations have been particularly …