>>>>Benoit Mandelbrot died a few days ago, at the age of 85 years. He is especially known for his investigations about fractals.
>>>
>>>And it was a facinating discovery.
>>>
>>>Is there any word on the Bahai folks in Iran?
>>
>>They were originally sentenced (in a show trial) to 20 years of prison. More recently the sentence was reduced to 10 years. Still unfair, considering that their crime is their religious beliefs, nothing else.
>
>Some details can be found here: http://news.bahai.org/story/793

We have a lot of problems in this country and quite a checkered history. Many would like to see some changes. Yet I am still amazed that people around the world will spend their effort criticizing this country (and pretty much focusing solely on this country) instead of speaking out against the religious persecution occurring right now in Iran or the other terrible atrocities occurring around the world. Both Clinton and Obama have spoken out about that situation and it is barely covered at all in the news:

http://www.bahai.us/SecretaryClintonCondemsSentences
http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/08/13/is_the_obama_administration_stepping_up_on_human_rights_in_iran
http://iran.bahai.us/2010/08/12/secretary-of-state-clinton-we-have-not-forgotten-the-baha%E2%80%99i-community-in-iran/

When it comes to the media here and around the world, it is like is not worth mentioning (or only giving it a small, one-time blurb) unless the atrocities involve the U.S. in some way. shameful.