You filed for bankruptcy and you're out of debt. You're ready to start over. But your credit report is saying "not so fast." Illegal practices are forcing consumers to pay money they don't owe.

The threat of war in Iraq is driving increasing numbers of Americans to British and international news web sites in search of the broader picture. BBC News Online and Guardian Unlimited traffic is growing dramatically, and many new users are Americans.

Hormone Replacement Therapy was touted as the magic bullet that would keep women young forever. Studies showed that it could ward off osteoporosis and heart attacks in older women. By 2001, 15 million women were taking estrogen. Then the other shoe fell.

Exposing your unborn baby to classical music will make her smarter. Fact or fiction? It's pure fiction, based on a misinterpreted study of college students, wishful thinking, and the promotional efforts of a very lucrative cottage industry.

Want to cut your cost of living and thumb your nose at big business? Join the freegans. "'Freegans' are a growing subculture that has opted out of capitalism by cutting spending habits and living off consumer waste."

"Fair use exceptions to U.S. copyright laws account for more than $4.5 trillion in annual revenue for the United States, according to a report issued on Wednesday by the Computer and Communications Industry Association."

"The Greenland ice cap is melting so quickly that it is triggering earthquakes as pieces of ice several cubic kilometres in size break off." The Ilulissat glacier is sliding on a melt-water river, into the sea, at a rate of 15km a year.

"A series of research articles spanning more than a decade found that mice and rats injected with glass-encapsulated RFID transponders developed malignant, fast-growing, lethal cancers in up to 1% to 10% of cases."

The stories have been circulating on the net for months. Comcast drops broadband customers for heavy downloading, often without warning. What is the real limit? Comcast won't say, and customers cry "foul."

"Privacy is fast becoming the trendy concept in online marketing. An increasing number of companies are flaunting the steps they've taken to protect the privacy of their customers." But are consumers willing to pay for it?

"Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards said on Sunday that his universal health care proposal would require that Americans go to the doctor for preventive care." Women would be required to have regular mammograms.

"In an effort to provide better control and coordination, the federal government is launching an ambitious ID program for rescue workers to keep everyday people from swarming to a disaster scene." No more untrained amateurs getting in the way.

In a move that's bound to provoke controversy, Home Office Police Minister Tony McNulty has given his approval for police use of taser guns against children. His opinion is that the dangers of serious injury or death is low.

"In a stark departure from past practice, the American Cancer Society plans to devote its entire $15 million advertising budget this year not to smoking cessation or colorectal screening but to the consequences of inadequate health coverage."

If Governor Schwarzenneger signs a bill just passed by the state Assembly, businesses will not be able to require employees to have RFID chips implanted as a condition of their work. All but nine senators approved the bill.

Erica Corder is suing her Monument, Colorado high school for violating her right to free speech and equal protection. She talked about Jesus instead of giving her approved graduation speech, and a public apology was demanded as the price of her diploma.

A Homeland Security rule, set to go into effect Sept. 14, is being challenged by labor rights and civil rights groups. At issue is the extension of the "no-match letter based on SSA records, to require the firing of any employee whose data is flagged.

"While many telecommunications carriers are posting record profits this year, millions of U.S. homes and businesses still have no access to broadband — and that's no coincidence." If you live in an area without broadband you can thank deregulation.

"U.S. women are dying from childbirth at the highest rate in decades, new government figures show. Though the risk of death is very small, experts believe increasing maternal obesity and a jump in Caesarean sections are partly to blame."

You can relax now. It's finally settled beyond reasonable doubt. Girls do prefer pink, and boys do prefer blue. And it's genetic, so there's no point trying to fight it. That's the official word from Newcastle University neuroscientist Anya Hurlbert.