Thursday, September 22, 2011
Warden's wife aided escapee
The wife of a former Oklahoma prison warden who disappeared with a convicted murderer only to be found living with him in Texas nearly 11 years later was found guilty Wednesday of helping him escape.
She vanished with a convicted murderer only to be found living with him 11 years later.
Also: Animal News
Penguins can sniff out the door of lifelong mates, helping them reunite in crowded colonies, and also can identify the scent of close kin to avoid inbreeding, scientists said on Wednesday.
The most secluded U.S. beaches
Hanakapi'ai Beach on Kauai is known for its spectacular views and trails, but not for its swimming.
Also: 
Foods that raise your cholesterol
In light of National Cholesterol Week, find out what foods you should try to limit in your diet.
Also: Gavrilo Princip's Sandwich
The politics that led to World War I are important, but difficult to teach in American schools because the events are distant in both time and place. To capture the interest of students, teachers often tell the story of how assassin Gavrilo Princip would not have been in shooting range of Franz Ferdinand that fateful day in 1914 if he hadn’t stopped to buy a sandwich about the time the Archduke coincidentally passed by. Mike Dash first heard the story from his history-student daughter, and decided to investigate.I was astonished by the story, too, though not because of the strangeness of the coincidence. It bothered me, because the details are new (you’ll struggle to find a telling of the tale that dates to before 2003), and because it simply doesn’t ring true. That’s not because the modern version isn’t broadly faithful to the facts; it’s not even utterly implausible that Princip might have stopped off at Schiller’s for a bite to eat. No, the problem is that the story is suspiciously neat–and that the sandwich is a quintessentially Anglo-American convenience food. The dish was named in the 1760s for John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, who was in the habit of requesting his meat placed between two slices of toast so he could lunch at his desk. But it took time for the idea to cross the Channel, and I find it hard to believe the sandwich would have featured on a Bosnian menu as early as 1914.Dash found the surprising origin of the story, which gives us a glimpse of how, and why, our understanding of history tends to change over time. Read the entire account at the Smithsonian history blog Past Imperfect.
Work begins on Babbage’s Analytical Engine
Work has gotten underway on Plan 28, a project to create Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine, the never-built successor to the Difference Engine. The Analytical Engine was to have been a general purpose computer, and Ada Lovelace designed the first-ever programming language to run on it. Many factors led to its never being completed -- the state of the art in precision engineering in Babbage's day, finance woes, and so forth. John Graham-Cumming, who founded the project, is also the author of The Geek Atlas, a fantastic book.
This has required building relationships with a number of bodies. I recently announced that the project had been accepted into the portfolio of projects handled by the Computer Conservation Society. They will provide expert advice as needed. The other vital body to work with is The Science Museum in London. Doron and I have been working with The Science Museum team at many levels to ensure that the project is known about and that we would be able to get access to Babbage's plans and notebooks to perform the vital academic study of the Analytical Engine as Babbage imagined it. The first step to doing that research was to digitize the entire Babbage archive. Digitization greatly facilitates research as these precious documents can be viewed conveniently from around the world.
I am pleased to be able to say that The Science Museum agreed that digitization was vital and undertook this project. The work on digitization started on Monday, September 12 and early in October Doron and I will have access to the digitized versions of Babbage's plans and notebooks for study. This great first step on Plan 28 is, finally, underway. We are very, very grateful to The Science Museum and all we have worked with there for their support and for having undertaken this vital work that will benefit not only Plan 28 but all those who wish to study Charles Babbage's work wherever they are.
Ten under-appreciated women in science
Over at Smithsonian.com, Sarah Zielinski has a great piece about important female scientists whose names aren't as publicly well-known as they ought to be. She lists 10 smart, science-type ladies.
Here's one example:
Here's one example:
Barbara McClintock (1902 – 1992)
While studying botany at Cornell University in the 1920s, Barbara McClintock got her first taste of genetics and was hooked. As she earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees and moved into postdoctoral work, she pioneered the study of genetics of maize (corn) cells. She pursued her research at universities in California, Missouri and Germany before finding a permanent home at Cold Spring Harbor in New York. It was there that, after observing the patterns of coloration of maize kernels over generations of plants, she determined that genes could move within and between chromosomes. The finding didn’t fit in with conventional thinking on genetics, however, and was largely ignored; McClintock began studying the origins of maize in South America. But after improved molecular techniques that became available in the 1970s and early 1980s confirmed her theory and these “jumping genes” were found in microorganisms, insects and even humans, McClintock was awarded a Lasker Prize in 1981 and Nobel Prize in 1983.
Rock art heaven
Rare giant armadillo photographed
Rare giant armadillo photographed
A rare giant armadillo is caught on a camera trap by researchers in the wetlands of central Brazil. BBC Nature The Northwest Passage
Whales take passage as ice melts
Satellite tags confirm that bowhead whales are using the Northwest Passage to journey across the top of the Americas. 
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
The Daily Drift
The Daily Drift
Today's horoscope says:
If someone in your life is wavering about an important decision, be sure you don't push your agenda onto them.
Any sentence that starts with, 'If I were you ...' needs to go no further!
You may have experience that gives you valuable insight into their quandary, but this is still their choice to make ... and they're the only one who will have to live with the consequences of what they decide.
Let them know you support whatever they choose.
Some of our readers today have been in:
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
London, England, United Kingdom
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Bern, Bern, Switzerland
Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Milton Keynes, England, United Kingdom
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland
Newbury, England, United Kingdom
Morini, Morini, Comoros
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Brussels, Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest, Belgium
Kuantan, Pahang, malaysia
Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Paris, Ile-De-France, France
Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional, Dominican Republic
Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
Manila, Manila, Philippines
Amiens, Picardie, France
Wolverhampton, England, United Kingdom
New Delhi, Delhi, India
Gdynia, Pomorskie, Poland
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
London, England, United Kingdom
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Bern, Bern, Switzerland
Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Milton Keynes, England, United Kingdom
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland
Newbury, England, United Kingdom
Morini, Morini, Comoros
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Brussels, Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest, Belgium
Kuantan, Pahang, malaysia
Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Paris, Ile-De-France, France
Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional, Dominican Republic
Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
Manila, Manila, Philippines
Amiens, Picardie, France
Wolverhampton, England, United Kingdom
New Delhi, Delhi, India
Gdynia, Pomorskie, Poland
as well as Slovakia, Malta, Bulgaria, Israel, Finland, Austria, Norway, Georgia, Mexico, Peru, Kuwait, Serbia, Bangladesh, Latvia, Greece, Scotland, Hong Kong, Denmark, Wales, Iran, Singapore, Poland, Taiwan, Sweden, Afghanistan, Belgium, Tibet, Croatia, Pakistan, Romania, Paraguay, Sudan, Vietnam, Argentina, Cambodia, Egypt, France, Estonia, Puerto Rico, Maldives, Qatar, Brazil, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, Slovenia, China, Iraq, Ecuador, Nigeria, Colombia, Chile, Honduras, Paupa New Guinea, Moldova, Venezuela, Germany, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Czech Republic, Vietnam, Norway, Finland
and in cities across the United States such as Camden, Chester, Cheraw, Cowpens and more.
and in cities across the United States such as Camden, Chester, Cheraw, Cowpens and more.
Today is:
Today is Wednesday, September 21, the 264th day of 2011.
There are 101 days left in the year.
Today's unusual holiday or celebration is:
There isn't one.
Don't forget to visit our sister blog!
Alexander quits leadership
His desire to get something done incompatible with being repugican leader. Ouch.
Politico:Sen. Lamar Alexander will resign from his influential repugican leadership post in January, according to a letter obtained by POLITICO - a stunning decision by the former two-time presidential candidate who has played a central role shaping repugican strategy during President Barack Obama’s time in office.
But his affable nature and calls for bipartisanship also could prove to be a liability at a time when repugican politics has shifted markedly to the right, with tea party agitators demanding that their party adhere to strict wingnut orthodoxy that has inspired a new breed of fire-breathing lawmakers on Capitol Hill.Yes, being a nice guy and wanting to get things done for the good of the country is inimical with being a repugican nowadays.
Outrageous: $16 Muffins
A government report reveals the Justice Department’s extravagant spending for conferences.
Also: Lost decade for middle class
Americans' tumbling incomes over the past 10 years pose a big challenge for the economy.
Also: 
Where the jobs are now
Available positions are abundant for these six occupations — even in this economy.
Also: 
Iran frees American hikers
Shane Bauer and Joshua Fattal were held for more than two years after being accused of spying
Also: Five War Heroes Who Never Touched A Weapon
So, he ordered his piper, Bill Millin, to go ashore on one of the main landing points for the invasion of Normandy and wail on a set of bagpipes. Once on the beach, Millin calmly walked up and down at the water’s edge, playing while carnage exploded and people died all around him….Millin later talked to some of the Germans who had been captured to ask why they never shot him, and discovered it was because they thought he had gone mad.The other four fighters are just as impressive.
Dirty Old Jeans On Display
Fashion news: Levi’s Unveils the World’s Oldest Pair of Jeans at Fall 2011 Fashion Preview.
The first pair of riveted denim jeans was patented by Levi Strauss and his partner Jacob Davis in 1872, so this ancient pair of pants isn't far removed from the founders' original vision.
The Funnel Wall of Dresden
Canada Issues Legal Tender Coins with Imaginary Monsters on Them
Ten Things You Didn’t Know About the Witness Protection Program
You’ve seen it used as a plot device on TV dramas, but how much do you really know about the Witness Protection Program? I didn’t know that it’s a fairly recent (and American) idea.It’s kind of surprising that the U.S. was the first to come up with the idea of creating a program to protect witnesses. Even stranger is that witness security is only about 40 years old. It began when the Organized Crime and Racketeering Section of the Justice Department introduced the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970 and started to actively protect witnesses in 1971. The law gave the Department of Justice freedom to arrange for the security of witnesses as they see fit, and though it was originally passed in order to curb mafia crimes, it now covers people who testify against drug cartels, gangs, and terrorist groups. The program was expanded by the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984 to cover some relatives and associates of the witnesses. Though there are still some problems with the program, it has been incredibly effective in coercing witnesses to provide testimonies that have landed major criminals in prison.There are more details in the list of 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Witness Protection. Here.
Satellite plunge stumps NASA
A half ton of space debris will crash to Earth this week, but scientists have no idea where.
Also: Limitless hydrogen
Limitless hydrogen from microbes
US researchers demonstrate how power cells fueled by bacteria can be self-powered and produce a limitless supply of hydrogen.
Week's best nature photos
Captivating images of wildlife and natural beauty are provided by a magazine's readers.
Also: 
Magic Mushrooms in My Yard
How well do we know the fungus among us?
Some mushrooms have a magical, mysterious history.
Training and Motivation Tips
The gym is a great place to get stories for motivational speaking. The members who are serious about training are always revved up and talk about goals, better ways of training, progress made and of course new supplements.
Diabetes, dementia link
Insulin resistance may affect buildup of plaques in the brain, researchers say.
Also: A 3D Printer Used To Fabricate Artificial Blood Vessels
3D printers have been used to create some amazing things, from robot parts to minecraft models to flexible solar panels, but nothing compares to being able to print out body parts for surgery!In Germany, researchers have created artificial blood vessels by putting a mix of synthetic polymers and biomolecules, so that the vessels aren’t rejected, into the 3d printer ink reservoirs, and the results are a finely detailed set of transplant worthy capillaries precisely detailed in every way.
Now that they have succeeded in creating blood vessels, researchers are looking at ways in which to print out internal organs and bones. I wonder how much those ink cartridges cost to replace?
Foods that can trigger stroke
Eating smoked and processed meats can damage your heart in two dangerous ways.
Also: 
Diabetic dog finds home with diabetic twin girls
A diabetic dog has found a new home - with eight-year-old twin girls who have the same condition. The Scottish SPCA was struggling to find owners for Staffordshire bull terrier Roxy due to her daily insulin needs.
Catherine and Graham Hendry, from Ballater, Aberdeenshire, said the fact their daughters Louise and Katie also have diabetes made them want Roxy more. The dog and girls now all have their injections together. The Hendry family had spotted a newspaper appeal about Roxy and decided to visit her at the charity's animal rescue and rehoming centre at Drumoak, where she had been since July.
Mrs Hendry said: "We originally saw an appeal for Roxy in our local paper about six weeks ago but our staffy, Buzz, had recently passed away and we felt it was too soon. Then we saw another appeal a few weeks later and thought it must be fate. We decided to go and see her that day and just fell in love with her.
"The fact that Roxy is diabetic didn't put us off at all. If anything, it made us want her even more as our eight-year-old twin daughters, Louise and Katie, both have type one diabetes." She added: "We brought her home at the weekend and she's already part of the family. Roxy and the twins take their injections together every morning and our son, Ross, just adores her."
Catherine and Graham Hendry, from Ballater, Aberdeenshire, said the fact their daughters Louise and Katie also have diabetes made them want Roxy more. The dog and girls now all have their injections together. The Hendry family had spotted a newspaper appeal about Roxy and decided to visit her at the charity's animal rescue and rehoming centre at Drumoak, where she had been since July.
Mrs Hendry said: "We originally saw an appeal for Roxy in our local paper about six weeks ago but our staffy, Buzz, had recently passed away and we felt it was too soon. Then we saw another appeal a few weeks later and thought it must be fate. We decided to go and see her that day and just fell in love with her.
"The fact that Roxy is diabetic didn't put us off at all. If anything, it made us want her even more as our eight-year-old twin daughters, Louise and Katie, both have type one diabetes." She added: "We brought her home at the weekend and she's already part of the family. Roxy and the twins take their injections together every morning and our son, Ross, just adores her."
Duck Feet
Science at work: Ducks feet – the physics.
What is the optimum stroke angle for a duck’s foot when paddling? Although a duck may already intuitively know the answer, the question has now been clarified for us humans as part of a recent research project undertaken at the prestigious California Institute of Technology (Caltech), in the US.An excerpt from the article in the Journal of Experimental Biology:
“Our results indicate that spanwise flow behind the paddling propulsor significantly affects tip vortex development and thrust generation. The distribution of spanwise flow is dependent on the propulsor shape and the Reynolds number.”
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