Print edition for October 24, 2005

Editorial: Thriller? Or mind control?: Can't happen? Don't be so sure. The co-author of "The Karasik Conspiracy," an as-yet unpublished suspense novel, asserts that the book was commissioned by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). The book's original plot revolved around terrorists poisoning prescription drugs that Americans buy from Canada. Kenin Spivak, the co-author, told the Toronto Globe and Mail that the goal of the book was to "scare Americans into opposing the importation of low-cost prescriptions from Canada."

Letter: Can't say what a Democrat would have done: It is probable that that president would have done something different, at any rate. And as we all do here in America, some of us would have liked it and some of us would not.

Letter: Intelligent design is not science: Would any benevolent designer have created cancer? If there was an intelligent designer it is obvious that the designer must have been evil or at least flawed in designing. Strabala would probably avoid explaining this by saying his designer "works in mysterious ways," so an explanation would not be necessary.

Gorsky sees stars with 'Miracle in the Desert': When artist Vladimir Gorsky finished his epic work "Tapestry of Centuries," the piece was an 18-foot collage that features 350 leaders, philosophers, heroes and dictators who have shaped the world since the birth of Christ until 1999.

Tipping the scales of fair play by IRS: By Liz Benston; When Margaret Neuman opened her mail last month, she received an unwelcome surprise: a letter from the IRS claiming she owed nearly $2,500 in taxes and penalties based on tips she received in 2003 as a waitress at the Palms.

High-tech text message notes FEMA fumble: Benjamin Grove and Suzanne Struglinski; Federal Emergency Management Agency employees did heroic work following the levee breach in New Orleans caused by Hurricane Katrina in August, but overall the agency did not do its job, a FEMA employee told a Senate panel Thursday.

10 reasons Steve Wynn may close the art gallery at his Las Vegas resort: Barry M. Horstman; 10. Grew tired of people asking, 'Where's the black velvet 'Elvis With a Tear' "?

Columnist John Katsilometes: A New Orleans treasure not reaching the masses: The young man at the booth in the Lady Luck parking garage Friday night wanted to know if I was staying at the hotel. "No," I said. "I live here." It is was not the first time I've told a stranger working in a booth downtown that I live in Las Vegas.

There is nothing to fear, not even the chicken itself: State and local officials are reassuring nervous Nevadans that despite all of the publicity about bird flu, they can feed wild birds around their homes, and they can eat cooked chickens and turkeys without fear of catching any avian diseases.

Schoolchildren at a crossroads: David Kihara; -- Responsible for providing crossing guards, as needed, to 135 CCSD elementary schools.

Columnist Ron Kantowski: Bruised but upbeat Jarrod Jackson and the beating he took: Jackson wobbled over to the where the cameras and microphones were, as if he had just climbed off a horse that didn't care to be ridden. He was asked if he had ever taken a worse pounding than the one the Utah defense had just administered during a 42-32 victory over the Rebels.

Flashpoint for Oct. 24, 2005: Maybe he was just being honest. When Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson said last week that as governor he would propose legislation to ban abortion except in rare cases if Roe vs. Wade were overturned, he may have damaged himself in a Democratic primary. Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus' campaign brought out the confetti. Gibson's spinners were like Tasmanian devils trying to back off the statement. Gibson could have been more noncommittal. But he wasn't. And so this goes to a fundamental issue for him. It's one thing for Titus to try to fudge positions to try to move to the ...

Editorial: The girth of a nation: The legislation is a small portion of a bigger picture in which weight-related issues are growing as quickly as our waistlines. About 65 percent of Americans are overweight, which includes an estimated 4 million who are considered obese or at least 100 pounds overweight.

Allegiant links small-town America: velotta@lasvegassun.com; SANFORD, Fla. -- There's an eerie quiet at Orlando Sanford International Airport on this warm and humid Wednesday morning.

Columnist Jeff Haney: The popularity of parlay cards and tips on when to hold them and when to run: The popularity of parlay cards among Las Vegas sports bettors continues to thrive.

Crosswalk death prompts debate over middle schools: By Emily Richmond; When 11-year-old Amanda Aragon was run over by a motorist as she used a crosswalk to make her way to Sawyer Middle School, her death renewed debate over the policy of not providing crossing guards at middle schools.

Editorial: The lost art of Las Vegas: The Wynn Collection features masterworks from the 16th through 20th centuries, including "Le Reve" by Pablo Picasso. The resort owner was first in bringing fine art to the Las Vegas Strip when he opened the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art in 1998 to display his personal collection, then valued at more than $300 million.

Green's days filled with gratitude at country's revival: Singer/songwriter Pat Green is riding the wave of a resurgence in country music popularity.