If America adopts universal health care, what will become of quantum physics?

Some weeks ago, a conservative newspaper called Investors’ Business Daily ran an editorial stating, “Scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn’t have a chance in the U.K.” because, as a result of a degenerative disease that has left him paralyzed, “National Health Service would say the life of this brilliant man ... is essentially worthless.”

Hawking, who is British and has lived in the U.K. his entire life, responded that he “would not be here today” if not for Britain’s public health-care system.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani was released from a St. Louis hospital Thursday after spending the night to undergo tests for flu-like symptoms.

"I feel great. Take care. Merry Christmas, I'm feeling fine thanks to the hospital. They did a good job," a smiling and waving Giuliani said as he left Barnes-Jewish Hospital en route to returning to New York.

His campaign said he would make planned stops in New Hampshire Saturday and Sunday.

The former New York mayor felt the symptoms while campaigning for the nomination in Missouri, and they soon became worse, campaign spokeswoman Katie Levinson said late Wednesday. She did not describe the symptoms beyond those being commonly associated with the flu.