STUCK ON RED

Opportunity goes on without Spirit

The Spirit is willing, but its wheels are stuck. NASA has given up trying to free the Mars rover Spirit from the soft sand it has been stuck in since April. Instead, scientists will try to tilt the rover north so its solar panels receive enough sunlight to survive the upcoming winter. Though it can rove no longer, Spirit - which landed on Mars in 2004 - will continue to collect data and do research from its stuck position, as long as its energy lasts. Spirit's twin, Opportunity, continues to drive and explore the Red Planet.

CHINA GOES GREEN

A golf course by any other name ......

Developers in China are carving out what they see as China's answer to Hawaii: the island province of Hainan, on the country's southern tip. Mission Hills Group is in the process of building 22 golf courses, even though China technically has had a moratorium on such development for five years.

“;Instead, it's a green space, or it's equestrian, or it's an exercise field. They are creative,”; an industry insider told Britain's Financial News.

A NEW ERA

Are you ready for some arguments during football?

Get ready for some awkward moments over the chips and dip.

CBS responded to complaints about its accepting an anti-abortion ad to air during the Super Bowl by explaining that it had eased restrictions on advocacy ads and would consider other “;responsibly produced”; ones for the few commercial spots left in its Feb. 7 broadcast.

Proponents of gay rights, turned away by CBS in 2004, might buy airtime, and pro-choice women's groups are looking to get their message out about reproductive rights.

The Super Bowl is always known for its cutting-edge commercials, and the hot-button issues airing this year continue to push the envelope.