Dinosaurs Ten Million Years Older Than Thought

A new dinosaur relative found in Tanzania is the oldest known creature of its kind—a discovery that pushes back the origin of dinosaurs by at least ten million years, paleontologists say.

Dubbed Asilisaurus kongwe, the Labrador retriever-size creature was a silesaur, the closest relatives to true dinosaurs.

The new-found animal lived 243 million years ago, during the middle Triassic period.

Full Story

Should Animal Abusers, Like Sex Offenders, Be Registered?

Cruelty to animals, it is said, is often a precursor to graver crimes.
So would there not be some usefulness to a registry of individuals convicted of felony animal abuse?
Legislators in California want the Golden State to be the first to establish such a record - just as California was the first in the nation to create a registry of sex offenders.

Full Story

FDA Recalls Food Additive Used In Thousands of Products

On Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a recall of a common flavor enhancer that could be contaminated with salmonella bacteria. However, the enhancer, known as hydrolyzed vegetable protein or HVP, is used in many products and thus the recall could affect thousands of products, including soups, sauces, chilis, stews, hot dogs, gravies, seasoned snack foods, dips and dressing.

Full Story

SC cop stops go-cart, arrests man on drug charges

A go-cart wasn't much of a getaway vehicle for a South Carolina man. The Herald-Journal of Spartanburg reported that sheriff's deputies have arrested 29-year-old Edward Matthew Sweezy of Union after they stopped him last week at an intersection in Union.

SC cop stops go-cart, arrests man on drug charges

Texan found in Kansas with 436,000 ecstasy pills

A 21-year-old Texas man faces federal drug charges after authorities say he was found with 436,000 Ecstasy pills.

Texan found in Kansas with 436,000 ecstasy pills

Tuft of Napoleon's hair found in Sydney vault

A lock of hair believed to have been snipped from the head of Napoleon Bonaparte after his death has been unearthed in Sydney's Town Hall.

Full Story

Tree exorcist arrested for attacking trees by Eiffel tower

A self-styled exorcist who believes woodland carries evil spirits has been arrested for attacking 100 trees next to the Eiffel tower.

Full story

From Treehugger:

Photo via Killer Plants

The chameleon gets all the attention -- but it's not the only member of the animal kingdom that can alter its color and texture to suit its mood. From spiders that take on the color of their flower (like the one shown here) and flounder that match the sea floor to wolves that get a seasonal makeover and an octopus that goes red with rage, could you spot these super-camouflaged creatures in the wild?

10 Color-Changing Creatures You Have to See to Believe

From Treehugger:

Image credit: AP Photo

A small frog that had been declared extinct more than 30 years ago has been rediscovered in Australia. Litoria castanea, better known as the "yellow-spotted bell frog" or the "tablelands bell frog," was found in a creek bed on private property by biologists Luke Pearce and David Hunter.

Extinct Frog Rediscovered in Australia

Think you have health insurance?

Think again...

As if having to pay higher health insurance premiums each year isn't bad enough, now workers have another worry: companies that drop their health insurance coverage and don't bother to tell employees.

"It's a practice that's on the rise", says Kristin Milam with the state department of insurance. State law requires that companies give their workers 45 days notice if they're going to drop coverage. Milam says that employees of businesses that don't follow the law often find out their coverage has lapsed when they go to the doctor's office.

Full Story

And I Quote

Bush says while he was president he would enjoy the occasional cigar.
On a rare occasion, he would have a cigar because he said it helped him think.
I want to tell you, occasions don't get any more rare than that ...

~ David Letterman

Tea Bagger leader paid by the repugicans

Tea party leader paid by repugican run campaign to promote party goals.

One of the tea party's top leaders was recently paid $7,500 by a campaign run by a California repugican group to promote one of their ballot initiatives.

Mark Meckler is a spokesman for the Tea Party Patriots and had publicly distanced himself from the repugican party.
But state records show that he accepted the money for "petition circulation management" from the "Citizen Power Campaign Supported by the Lincoln Club of Orange County."

The Lincoln Club is a two bit player in state politics and this latest initiative is an ambitious act of political skullduggery.

The Citizen Power Campaign is trying to put a measure on the ballot come November that would make it illegal for taxpayer money for political activity.

Why?

Because that would remove a key source of funding for the public employees union, making it more difficult for pro-labor candidates to get elected.

Full Story

Science News

From BBC-Science:

Panel confirms dino crater link An international panel of experts has strongly endorsed the idea that an asteroid impact was responsible for killing off the dinosaurs.

Deep sea fish 'eat their greens'

Fish are seen eating plants that have sunk to the seafloor, changing our understanding of ocean food webs.

The cusk eel, pictured here, was one of the fish seen eating floating plant matter.

Cop News

In Cop News

Louisiana sheriff plans to arm volunteers with shotguns, riot shields, batons, and a .50-caliber machine gun mounted on a "war wagon," to protect grocery stores and gas stations in case of rioting

Nebraska prison guards suspended over on-line comments endorsing brutality

Double-dipping New Jersey sheriff apologizes for bullying professor during class

Former West Virginia police officer charged with breaking jaw of daughter’s ex-boyfriend

Liars and Fools

Liars and Fools

Faux's Shawn Handjob lies saying "Obama is making this country and every citizen vulnerable to attack".
Nope, that was the shrub and the cabal.

Lush Dimbulb compares health insurance reform to Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and the Nuremberg trials.
Oxycontin, Viagra, and one too many little Dominican boys has finally brought this syphilitic tub of lard to utter madness ... oh, wait he's been there, my bad.

Subscriber Sues Netflix and Warner Bros. Over New Rental Policy

Restraint of Trade?

Wait 28 days to rent a hot movie just out on DVD?

No way, argued a Netflix subscriber, who sued the films-by-mail rental company and Warner Bros. on Thursday.

Susan Uman of Manhattan argues a deal worked out between Netflix and Warner Home Video is an old-fashioned "scheme to restrain trade" that has to stop, according to a class action lawsuit filed in Manhattan Federal Court.

The two companies agreed in January that Netflix customers would not be able to order Warner Bros. DVDs until a full 28 days after the films went up for sale or rent at other locations. The move was seen as adding to Warner Bros. bottom line because it forces viewers who want to see the movie sooner to buy it or rent it from costlier companies.

Two Warner movies - "The Informant!" and "The Box" - were released on DVD Feb. 23, but won't be available to Netflix subscribers until March 23, the lawsuit says.

The pact, Uman argued, decreased the value of her Netflix subscription because the Warner Bros. films are now off limits for a month. The lawsuit wants the practice to stop.

Warner Home Video and Netflix officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Chief Justice Roberts Not Stepping Down Despite RadarOnLine Report

Damn and here we were chilling the champagne

Chief Justice John Roberts is not stepping down from the Supreme Court, despite a celebrity gossip report, a source very close to Roberts told Fox News.

RadarOnline.com reported Thursday that Roberts, 55, would be resigning for personal reasons.

But the source said the report is "completely untrue." There is "no medical issue, no issue at all," the source said, adding that there is not even a 1 percent chance that Roberts is considering resignation.

RadarOnline.com later published an update saying that Roberts will be staying on the bench.

Anchor Management

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Anchor Management
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Reform

Jon gives'em the business

Tips for dealing with a cheap friend

Tips for dealing with a cheap friend

When the check comes, these ideas can keep you from getting stuck with the whole tab.

Money-saving activities, too

Also:

• Help kids make friends
• Affordable gift wrap ideas
• Dinner party recipes

Millions can't get cheaper home loans

Millions can't get cheaper home loans

Mortgage rates are near record lows, but few households are getting those advertised deals.

Biggest obstacles

Also:

• Fewer sellers cut prices
• Is it a great time to buy?
• How to refinance

How cybercriminals invade social networks

How cybercriminals invade social networks

Messages and updates that seem to be from friends can infect your computer.

Safety tips

Also:

• Find antivirus software
• Massive botnet stopped
• Facebook slip nixes raid

Supermarkets suffer in the recession

Supermarkets suffer in the recession

Shoppers are spending less money at big grocery chains such as Safeway and Kroger.

Where they're going instead

Also:

• Walmart vs. Whole Foods
• Grocery coupons
• Ways to make extra cash

Johnny Cash's unusual distinction

Johnny Cash's unusual distinction

The "Man in Black" has amassed more top 10 albums since he died than he did while he was alive.

Joins select group

Also:

• More on his new album
• Cash music videos
• Karen Carpenter flashback

One family, two devastating quakes

One family, two devastating quakes

The Desarmes finally escaped Haiti after the horrific Jan. 12 earthquake — to go stay with relatives in Chile.

Cursed?

Also:

• Lucky tsunami survivor
• Chile's self-image suffers
• Make your donations count

Extraordinary islands worth a visit

Extraordinary islands worth a visit

Whether they are tropical specks in an ocean, or in a river near a city, all are worth a visit.

10 alluring locations

Also:

• Tropical vacation deals
• Top budget beaches
• Most beautiful cities

$2.5 million mansion in a box

$2.5 million mansion in a box

In 32 hours, a property goes from empty lot to an enormous six-bedroom house.

How it works

Also:

• More on modular homes
• Unusual homes for rent
• What $1 million buys now

Best-tasting peanut butters

Best-tasting peanut butters

Prefer creamy, crunchy, or a bit quirky? See which store peanut butters scored high in a taste test.

Six to try

Also:

• Peanut butter recipes
• Best canned tunas
• Tastiest hot chocolates

Inside al-Qaida's secret mountain hideout

Inside al-Qaida's secret mountain hideout

A captured terrorist base impresses observers with its size, complexity, and special features.

Nerve center

Also:

• Inside the labyrinth
• Detainee's deadly return
• Fabled rugged province

Cruise passengers describe freak waves

Cruise passengers describe freak waves

Towering walls of water that crashed into a cruise ship and claimed two lives left "spectacular" damage.

Over 33 ft. high

Also:

• Watch passenger video
• Cruise ship safety
• Hundreds sick on ship

Leaked memo puts repugicans in hot seat

Leaked memo puts repugicans in hot seat

An inflammatory image of President Obama and a call to amp up "fear" expose raw repugican tactics.

'Evil Empire' swipe

Also:

• Find repugican census flap
• Anti-govt. sway in TX
• Obama plays 'outsider'

Ex-homeless man wins lottery jackpot

Ex-homeless man wins lottery jackpot

Anthony Castro, who has lived on the streets and survived a gunshot, finds good luck.

How he'll use the money

Also:

• Lottery-drawing macaw
• NY gambling's bad luck
• Odds of winning lottery

Part of uptown building falls to ground

One lane is of West Trade Street, in Charlotte is shut down after pieces of a building fell to the ground late Wednesday night.

Police say they got calls around 11:30 p.m. about a couple of pieces of concrete that had fallen off of the Builders Building on the corner of West Trade at Pine Streets.

*****

Now, ain't that a fine how-do-you-do!

U.S. to determine who can board some Canadian flights

This is going a bit too far ...

Starting in December, passengers on Canadian airlines flying to, from or even over the United States without ever landing there, will only be allowed to board the aircraft once the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has determined they are not terrorists.

U.S. to determine who can board some Canadian flights

Former Gitmo detainee said running Afghan battles

A man freed from Guantanamo more than two years ago by the shrub after he claimed he only wanted to go home and help his family is now a senior commander running Taliban resistance to the U.S.-led offensive in southern Afghanistan, two senior Afghan intelligence officials say.

Full Story

Typical, shrub - release the terrorists but keep those that aren't.

Strong earthquake hits Taiwan

A powerful 6.4-magnitude earthquake rocked southern Taiwan on Thursday, causing widespread damage and disrupting communications around the island.

Full Story

Ghost hunt aims to find the Pendle Witches

Spirit Seekers are organizing a ghost hunt in search of the infamous Pendle Witches.

Ghost hunt aims to find the Pendle Witches

Mice infest parliament

The British House of Lords has a momentous decision to make: Should it get cats to chase the mice that have infested one of Britain's most famous buildings?

London's Houses of Parliament, also known as Westminster Palace, has rodents, and the peers aren't exactly sure what to do about it.

Full Story

Yet another reason why the FDA needs to get back to its mission

It's too expensive to do otherwise.

This new study shows how expensive it is for consumers.

The repugicans always love to talk about the high cost of regulations and oversight for business but they conveniently forget about the cost to everyone else. Sure business wants to cut costs but as this study shows, the costs are pushed out to others. Obama has been moving the FDA in the right direction and Democrats in Congress have been leading the way since coming back into power but there's more to be done.

Food-borne illnesses, such as E. coli and salmonella, cost the United States $152 billion annually in health care and other losses, according to a report released Wednesday by a food safety group.

The report comes as the U.S. Senate considers legislation that would require more government inspections of food manufacturers and give the Food and Drug Administration new authority to order recalls, among other things. The House passed a similar bill last year.

The government estimates 76 million people each year are sickened by food-borne illness, hundreds of thousands are hospitalized and about 5,000 die. Recent outbreaks have resulted in large recalls of peanuts, spinach and peppers.

Two hundred twenty-one years ago today

On March 4, 1789, the Constitution of the United States went into effect as the first Federal Congress met in New York.

(The lawmakers then adjourned for lack of a quorum.)

[And it's been that way ever since.]

Today is ...

Today is Thursday, March 4, the 63rd day of 2010.

There are 302 days left in the year.

Today In History March 4

Today's unusual holidays and celebrations are:

Courageous Follower Day,
March Forth-Do Something Day
and
Toy Soldier Day

Our Readers

Some of our readers today have been in:

New Delhi, Delhi, India
Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland
Chemnitz, Sachsen, Germany
Manchester, England, United Kingdom
Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Chandrigarh, Chandrigah, India
Muntinlupa, Rizal, Philippines
Sheffield, England, United Kingdom
Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Levallois-Perret, Ile-De-France, France
Luton, England, United Kingdom

as well as Scotland, Ukraine, and the United States in such cities as Storrs Mansfield, Seneca, Sioux Falls, Fishers, Palo Alto and more

Daily Horoscope

Today's horoscope says:

Here's another day of feeling everything to the nth degree -- absolutely everything.
Does that mean you won't be good company?
Quite the contrary.
You'll be intriguing, passionate and downright magnetic.
Just be sure you don't spend your time with the faint of heart.
That won't do.
You need to be with someone who's up for anything -- including you, at your most open, honest and intense.
That said, think about calling in sick tomorrow.

Why not today?