“Two antibodies that enabled the severed spinal nerves of rats to be regenerated are to be tested in humans.

The antibodies have helped rats with damaged spinal cords to walk again, by blocking the action of Nogo, a protein that stops nerve cells sprouting new connections. But there were concerns about whether blocking Nogo would lead to uncontrolled neuronal rewiring in the brain or spinal cord and it was also unclear how such a therapy could be given to humans.” (New Scientist)

“Open Source iTunes Killer,” flies today: “A team led by ex-Winamp-er Rob Lord today released a preview edition of Songbird, a desktop media player that offers an open source alternative to services like Apple’s iTunes and the Windows Media Player. Instead of connecting to one locked store full of DRMmed goods, it can connect to any and all available music (and video) on the internet.

…Built on the same platform as Firefox, Songbird acts like a specialized web browser for music. It sees the online world through MP3-colored glasses — it looks at an archive of public domain ” (boing boing)

Did Bush lie today about supposed foiling of LA threat? “Today Bush said: Bush Touted Thwarting of Post 9/11 U.S. Terrorism Plot. “In a speech today, Bush told members of the National Guard Association of a foiled 2002 Al Qaeda plot to fly a plane into LA’s US Bank Tower, the tallest building on the West Coast. Bush said that the terrorist’s plan was put into place after 9/11 but “was derailed in early 2002, when a Southeast Asian nation arrested a key al Qaeda operative.” Bush added, “Subsequent debriefings and other intelligence operations made clear the intended target and how al Qaeda hoped to execute” the plot, and helped other allies capture the ringleaders.”” (Washington Post)

But in 2004: FBI Counterterrorism Official Said He Knew of No Thwarted Al Qaeda Attacks. “After a CIA official claimed last year that the government had “probably prevented a few aviation attacks against both the East and West Coasts” since 9/11, John Pistole, the FBI’s counterterrorism director, said he was “not sure what [the CIA] was referring to.”” – 9/11 Commission Testimony, 6/16/2004; New York Daily News, 6/17/04

Los Angeles Mayor knows nothing about the supposed threat: “Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Thursday he was blindsided by President Bush’s announcement of new details on a purported 2002 hijacking plot aimed at a downtown skyscraper, and described communication with the White House as “nonexistent.” “I’m amazed that the president would make this (announcement) on national TV and not inform us of these details through the appropriate channels,” the mayor said in an interview with The Associated Press. “I don’t expect a call from the president — but somebody.”” (Yahoo! News )

(via AmericaBlog)