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THE BIN LADEN TAPE

At least four independent translators hired by the Defense Department are poring over a 40-minute videotape of Osama bin Laden gloating about the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. The tape and translations -- said to be of poor audio and visual quality -- are being reviewed for security and accuracy.

The Pentagon has been charged with the release of the tape, according to spokeswoman Victoria Clarke, who told UPI that when the tape is released, the department would also reveal the names and backgrounds of the interpreters.

"People will draw their own conclusions about the tape and its significance," Clarke said. "We have never had any doubt about Osama bin Laden's" responsibility for the attacks.

The Bush administration is concerned that if the translation is even slightly flawed it will undermine the very purpose of releasing the tape with the Arabic and Muslim world: to shore up the case that bin Laden was behind the attacks on New York and Washington, which claimed more than 3,000 lives, and to rally world opinion in holding him responsible. If there are any errors, the administration may be accused of lying to manipulate public opinion. If the translation is impeccable and culturally accurate, it could present the best evidence to date that bin Laden was behind the attacks.

A number of Islamic nations have demanded proof of bin Laden's involvement in the massacre, and many people in Muslim countries believe the United States is trumping up the case against him out of religious hatred.

In the tape, believed made on Nov. 7, bin Laden is said to laugh about the fact that several of the Sept. 11 bombers did not know theirs was a suicide mission. He also expressed surprise that both towers of the World Trade Center collapsed.

-- What do you think?

ONLINE HOLIDAY SHOPPING

As the shopping days for the end of the year holidays grow fewer, online consumers have markedly increased their spending in order to finish their shopping lists, according a weekly survey from Goldman Sachs, Harris Interactive and Nielsen/NetRatings.

The "eSpending" survey reported that the amount spent online by the average U.S consumer jumped 34 percent overall from the beginning week of the holiday shopping season (marked from first week of November) to the week after the Thanksgiving holiday. The weekly online shopping survey of 500 online shoppers found 'Net-surfing consumers spent an average of $57.62 online during the week ending Nov. 9, and spent an average of $77.41 during the week ending Nov. 30.

The recent survey also reports that as of the end of November, only 25 percent of online shoppers have finished their holiday shopping, and that 46 percent of online shoppers have started but not finished. A procrastinating 29 percent have not yet begun their online shopping at all.

The survey noted that despite some consumer security concerns about shopping in stores and at malls this holiday season, shoppers are still continuing to use "brick and mortar" stores as their main shopping venue for the holiday seasons -- though this is down from 80 percent in 2000 to 79 percent for the 2001 holiday season.

The Internet, the survey reports, is the second most popular venue for holiday shopping accounting for 15 percent of holiday buying.

-- Have you ever purchased anything online? Why or why not? If yes, how much of your holiday shopping are you doing online this year, and why?

COP DEMOTED FOR GAG

A south Florida police lieutenant has been demoted to patrolman for writing "Taliban" on an envelope addressed to his superior officer.

A spokesman for the Miami-Dade County Police said Lt. Jorge Carnero "has been assigned to the property room as a police officer," and instead of working 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, he will work 3 to 11 p.m. with Wednesdays and Thursdays off.

Carnero's attorney, Michael Cornely, said he will appeal the two-rank demotion and expects the case to be heard by a hearing officer early next year. "It's an outrage. To me, it's a total over-reaction for the department to do this to someone who has 20 years in without any trouble at all," he said.

Writing "Taliban" on the envelope was meant as a joke for Capt. Bill Press, who is considered a hard-nosed commander and known as Taliban in some circles. However, a secretary at the suburban police station where they work saw the name and was upset. The fire department was called, although there was no powder on the unopened envelope to make anyone suspect anthrax.

The Miami Herald quotes department documents calling it "no laughing matter," and that "this kind of conduct is not acceptable."

Four other officers have been accused of knowing about the incident but their cases are still pending.

-- Did the police department over-react? Why or why not?