One of Europe’s main contributions to the James Webb Space Telescope – an instrument that will help identify the first stars to shine in the Universe – is built and ready to ship to the US.

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‘First light’ instrument ready

Virgin Media takes its website offline after an attack by hacktivists angered by The Pirate Bay access ban.

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Virgin Media suffers hack attack

The use of a photograph of Madeleine McCann to advertise holidays on an independent website is described as “vile” by the travel firm.

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Madeleine photo use dubbed ‘vile’

Our founding fathers and mothers of American literature mostly made their home in Concord, Mass., during the middle of the 19th century, and besotted English majors have told stories about them over the years: Read full article > >

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Book World: ‘Miss Fuller’ by April Bernard

I have some advice for Julia , the Obama campaign’s mythical gal who is guided through life by the nanny state: Never work for Jack Welch. Welch, the former head of General Electric, stirred the pot this week at a gathering of women executives with tidbits of wisdom such as: “There’s no such thing as work-life balance. . . . [Instead] there are work-life choices, and you make them, and they have consequences.” Read full article > >

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Jennifer Rubin: Jack Welch, Julia and the fallacy of working women ‘having it all’

In 2012 Webby awards.

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‘Daily Beast’ Wins Best News Site

Cheri Young explained to jurors Monday how she was drawn into a web of deceit to help John Edwards.

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Wife to Edwards Aide to Testify a Second Day

A few months before Osama bin Laden’s death, Web sites linked to al-Qaeda ran excited commentary about a proposed new killing machine dubbed the “human lawn mower.” The idea was to attach rotating blades to the front of a pickup truck and drive the contraption into crowds. Read full article > >

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Bin Laden’s last stand: In final months, terrorist leader worried about his legacy

A senior Environmental Protection Agency official resigned Sunday in an effort to end the furor over his remarks two years ago that the EPA should make examples of polluters the way Romans crucified people to quash rebellions. Read full article > >

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EPA official who compared enforcement to crucifixion resigns

D.J. Taylor , a British writer of formidable accomplishments — several well-received novels, as well as biographies of William Makepeace Thackeray and George Orwell — but little known in this country, has pulled off an impressive and wholly engaging feat in “ Derby Day .” Set in London and environs during a few weeks in the reign of Queen Victoria, it is not merely a work of historical fiction but one written in a language appropriate to its time — i.e., it is a Victorian novel, the prose of which brings to mind Thackeray (of course) and Dickens, yet never smacks of cuteness or contrivance. It is delicious fun and can be read purely as such, yet it is also a serious novel about a society caught between the familiar and the new, in which “the world is changing” and leaving many people behind. Read full article > >

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“Derby Day” by D.J. Taylor

Microsoft has rushed out a fix for a serious bug that affected its Hotmail webmail service.

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Fast fix for Hotmail password bug

Companies that do not do enough to keep their websites secure are to be named and shamed to help improve security.

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Insecure websites set to be named

The home and email addresses of 38,000 entrants to the London Marathon were accidentally published on the organisers’ website, the BBC discovers.

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Marathon runners’ details leaked

5@5 is a daily, food-related list from chefs, writers, political pundits, musicians, actors, and all manner of opinionated people from around the globe. As Earth Day, April 22, approaches, we encourage you to consider how you can reduce your carbon footprint and live more sustainably . When you dine at restaurants — which some of us do on a daily basis — it may seem hard to eat healthfully, let alone sustainably, but this isn't necessarily true. Clean Plates founder and nutritionist Jared Koch has some suggestions to put sustainable dining within your reach. Five Ways to Dine More Sustainably for Earth Day … and Every Day: Jared Koch 1. Try to order meat from animals that were pastured, and choose seafood that was caught or farmed sustainably “More and more restaurants are serving meat from pastured animals, that are often referred to as 'grass-fed.' Pastured animals get to go outside and munch on grass. It might not sound like a big deal, but it has a very beneficial effect on the surrounding environment (and the animals themselves). Factory farmed animals are cooped up together and produce significantly more pollutants than pastured livestock that help fertilize the soil they graze upon and support new grass growth. Also, it takes a significant amount of fossil fuel to grow and deliver the grain used to feed livestock. Grass? You just need some rain. As an added benefit to your health, pastured animals are also more likely to come from farms that don’t use hormones or antibiotics. As I learned from the Seafood Program Director of the Blue Ocean Institute, both wild-caught and farmed fish can be ocean-friendly depending on the fishing and farming methods. But how can you tell while scanning a menu? Download the constantly updated Seafood Watch app from Monterey Bay Aquarium (it even has a sushi guide), or text the Blue Ocean Institute at 30644 with the message FISH and name of the fish in question; they’ll text you back with an assessment and more sustainable alternative (if necessary).” 2. Try a vegetarian or vegan dish (Yes, I'm talking to you, meat eaters) “You don't need to be a vegetarian or vegan to be healthy or eat sustainably; simply ordering a vegetarian or vegan meal once in a while has a very positive environmental impact. In general, the less meat we consume, the lighter our carbon footprint. Who knows, you might even enjoy it and feel better afterward.” 3. Select dishes with produce that is locally grown and organic (or at least pesticide-free) “Local produce travels a shorter distance, retains more of its nutrients and tastes better. Organic farming practices support healthier soil and air, and ensure you won't ingest the pesticides used in conventional farming. Soy products, corn and canola oil are very likely to contain GMOs (genetically modified organisms) unless they're organic, so be sure to investigate before you order.” 4. Skip the bottled water “American landfills are overflowing with single-use water bottles. Fortunately, some restaurants are starting to filter their own water now, which makes the choice easy. If you want to avoid tap water and insist on a bottle, try to make the most local choice possible: Choose bottled water from the U.S. instead of water shipped across the globe.” 5. Don’t waste food “Restaurant portions can be super-sized; while I don't want to encourage you to overeat and finish your plate, I do suggest you think twice before sending your leftovers to the trash. Food waste in the U.S. has become a big problem. It's increased the carbon footprint of trash delivery services and created excessive landfills that release large amounts of methane into the air. If leftovers aren't for you, take your box and hand it to a homeless person on your way home, or leave the container on top of a trash bin for someone to find. Don't forget: These small changes, made on a consistent basis, will have a positive impact not only for your personal health but the health of the planet too.” Is there someone you'd like to see in the hot seat? Let us know in the comments below and if we agree, we'll do our best to chase 'em down.

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5@5: Dine more sustainably for Earth Day and every day

It was a few minutes before midnight, and we’d just ordered a fresh round of drinks at a neighborhood bar. It was nearing the hour when bad decisions are usually made, and this one could be our costliest. Read full article > >

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An African safari on a Web travel deals whim: Smart buy or into the lion’s den?