US Air Force Academy Plans Worship Area for Earth-Centered Religions

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:

Down to Earth

The U.S. Air Force Academy is in the final stages of planning a worship area for followers of Earth-centered religions, including Wicca and Druidism, near its landmark chapel.

The organizer of the stone circle says there has been no significant resistance at the academy. Father Jonathan Morris calls the decision, "politically correct cowardice by bumbling bureaucrats," adding, "behind the smoke and mirrors of the supposed high demand for 'Earth worship prayer circles' is a small group of activist atheists in America who seek first to water-down and then to abolish the name and face of God from the public square."

The academy Cadet Wing Chaplain, Lt. Col. William Ziegler says: "Every service member is charged with defending freedom for all Americans — and that includes freedom to practice our religion of choice."

The academy also has worship areas for Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Muslims and Buddhists.

Heat Is On

Last month, we told you that the U.N.'s climate scientists admitted to using faulty research as evidence global warming would cause the Himalayan glaciers to melt by 2035.

Now the London Telegraph reports the two sources of that U.N. report were a student dissertation and an article in a mountaineering magazine.

Mark Bowen, an avid climber and author of two books on climate change, wrote the article for Climbing Magazine in 2002. He says: "I am surprised that they have cited an article from a climbing magazine — but there is no reason why anecdotal evidence from climbers should be disregarded as they are spending a great deal of time in places that other people rarely go and so notice the changes."

The second source is a paper written by a geography student in Switzerland, who is studying for the equivalent of a master's degree.

Forward Leaning?

Is President Obama bow happy? Well there is a picture all over the Internet now showing President Obama greeting the mayor of Tampa last week.

An unofficial bow-tally stands at four, including the president's apparent bows to the Saudi king, the Japanese emperor, the Chinese premier, and now the Tampa mayor.

We asked the White House for a comment but they declined.

Warm Welcome

And finally, don't you just hate cold sheets, especially in the winter? Well Holiday Inn may have the answer. The international hotel chain is offering a trial human bed-warming service.

If requested, a staff member will dress head-to-toe in a fleece sleeper suit before slipping into your sheets. He or she will be equipped with a thermometer to determine when the bed is at its ideal temperature of 68 degrees.

The Holiday Inn cannot confirm that the warmer would shower first, but promises his or her hair will be covered, and the bed will be empty by the time the guests arrive.

— Fox News Channel's Megan Dumpe Kenworthy contributed to this report.