Sunday, November 13, 2011
Toxic Russian Mars Probe Heads Back to Earth
Last-ditch attempts are being made to rescue the Russian Mars mission, but the reality is that uncontrolled reentry scenarios are now being discussed.
Fastest Stellar Spinner Will Die a Violent Death
A star has been discovered with a record-breaking spin, but it will suffer one of the most violent explosions in the known universe.
Pristine Big Bang gas found
US scientists have found two interstellar clouds of original gas, which contain only original elements created moments after the universe's birth.
Unlike everything else in the universe — the gas clouds have never mingled with elements forged later in stars.
The existence of pristine gas that formed minutes after the Big Bang explosion some 13.7 billion years ago, had been predicted, but never before observed.
Unlike everything else in the universe — the gas clouds have never mingled with elements forged later in stars.
The existence of pristine gas that formed minutes after the Big Bang explosion some 13.7 billion years ago, had been predicted, but never before observed.
Super Cool New H2O Discovered
Besides vapor, ice and liquid, a fourth form of water may exist at minus 54 degrees Fahrenheit.
New Wonders of the Natural World
The Amazon rainforest, Vietnam's Halong Bay and Argentina's Iguazu Falls were named among the world's new seven wonders of nature.
Iguazu Falls, Halong Bay On Natural Wonders List
Among other new seven wonders of nature are the Amazon rainforest, South Africa's Table Mountain and Indonesia's Komodo.
Bear necessityThe View From The Seven Highest Volcanic Peaks On Earth
Fire and Water
Ocean currents link to wildfires
Data on changes to oceans' sea surface temperature can help predict the severity of Amazon fire seasons, a study suggests. Seafloor Erupts New Baby Canary
After 40 years, the Canary Islands are once again witnessing an eruption - this time from a new underwater volcano on the seafloor.
The New Sailor
A young man who wants to see the world signs on to a tramp steamer to be trained as a helmsman.
He masters the classroom instruction, then starts his practical training on the wheel of the vessel. In his first lesson, the mate gives him a heading, and the young fellow holds to it.
Then the mate orders, "Come starboard."
Pleased at knowing immediately which way starboard is, the young man leaves the helm and walks over to his instructor.
The mate has an incredulous look on his face as the helm swings freely. Then, rather gently considering the circumstance, he asks politely, "Could you bring the ship with you?"
He masters the classroom instruction, then starts his practical training on the wheel of the vessel. In his first lesson, the mate gives him a heading, and the young fellow holds to it.
Then the mate orders, "Come starboard."
Pleased at knowing immediately which way starboard is, the young man leaves the helm and walks over to his instructor.
The mate has an incredulous look on his face as the helm swings freely. Then, rather gently considering the circumstance, he asks politely, "Could you bring the ship with you?"
More Findings, Uncertainty About Emperor's Birthplace
- Archaeologists digging in Rome's Palatine Hill have found the remains of a house they believe is the birthplace of Rome's first emperor.
A "plastered skull"
[In] 7000 BCE Jericho, the dead were often buried beneath the floors of houses. In some instances the bodies were complete, but in others the skull was removed and treated separately, with the facial features reconstructed in plaster. The removal of the skull from the body and its separate burial was widely practiced in the Levant during the seventh millennium BCE. As in this example, the lower jaw was often removed and then, carefully and sensitively, the skull was remodeled with plaster to build up the facial features. Shells, either cowries or, as here, bivalves, were set into the empty sockets to represent the eyes. The skull was decorated with red and black paint to depict individual characteristics such as hair and even mustaches. It is possible that this practice was part of an ancestor cult. Similarly plastered skulls have been found at sites in Palestine, Syria and Jordan.Read more about this and other skulls at the British Museum.
An Observation of Dogs Chasing Their Tails
A scientific research paper took a reviewed 400 YouTube videos of dogs chasing their tails. A close look showed that about a third of the dogs observed showed signs of clinical pathology (“neurological, compulsive or other pathological conditions”).Habitual tail-chasers had 6.5+/?2.3 times the odds of being described as ‘Stupid’ than other dogs, and perseverative dogs were 6.8+/?2.1 times more frequently described as ‘Funny’ than distractible ones were. Compared with breed- and age-matched control videos, tail-chasing videos were significantly more often indoors and with a computer/television screen switched on. These findings highlight that tail-chasing is sometimes pathological, but can remain untreated, or even be encouraged, because of an assumption that it is ‘normal’ dog behaviour.Another takeaway from this study is how YouTube can provide a vast and unsifted resource of behavioral observations to researchers of all kinds. Someday a scientist may be watching your behavior, either on video, in the description, or in the comments!
Deep-Sea Camouflage Switcheroo
- Squid and octopus can dramatically change color to hide from predators, offering insights into the secrets of invisibility.
Two Rhinos Reach the Point of No Return
- Several species of rhino have been poached into extinction or to the point of no return, according to an update of the Red List of Threatened Species, the gold standard for animal and plant conservation.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
The Daily Drift
The Daily Drift
Today's horoscope says:
You love spontaneous fun as much as the next person -- but you also know when it's time to buckle down and get serious.
Unfortunately, not everyone else does, and this could negatively affect the harmony of your day.
A flighty person who doesn't know the definition of the word 'preparation' will throw a wrench into your carefully laid plans.
But don't worry -- if you summon up every ounce of your flexibility, you will be able to handle it with grace!
Unfortunately, not everyone else does, and this could negatively affect the harmony of your day.
A flighty person who doesn't know the definition of the word 'preparation' will throw a wrench into your carefully laid plans.
But don't worry -- if you summon up every ounce of your flexibility, you will be able to handle it with grace!
Some of our readers today have been in:
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Florence, Toscana, Italy
Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia
Gengenbach, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Paris, Ile-De-France, France
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
North Shore, Auckland, New Zealand
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
Lower Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand
Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Doncaster, England, United Kingdom
Bochum, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Seragoon, Singapore, Singapore
Amersfoort, Utrecht, Netherlands
Bath, England, United Kingdom
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Bilbao, Pais Vasco, Spain
Manila, Manila, Philippines
Cork, Cork, Ireland
London, England, United Kingdom
Lahore, Punjab, India
Zagreb, Grad Zagreb, Croatia
Fuerth, Bayern, germany
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Florence, Toscana, Italy
Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia
Gengenbach, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Paris, Ile-De-France, France
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
North Shore, Auckland, New Zealand
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
Lower Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand
Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Doncaster, England, United Kingdom
Bochum, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Seragoon, Singapore, Singapore
Amersfoort, Utrecht, Netherlands
Bath, England, United Kingdom
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Bilbao, Pais Vasco, Spain
Manila, Manila, Philippines
Cork, Cork, Ireland
London, England, United Kingdom
Lahore, Punjab, India
Zagreb, Grad Zagreb, Croatia
Fuerth, Bayern, germany
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan
Hanover, Niedersachsen, Germany
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 Bozeman, Niles, Woonsocket, Hana and more!
and in cities across the United States such as Bozeman, Niles, Woonsocket, Hana and more!
Today is:
Today is Saturday, November 12, the 316th day of 2011.
There are 49 days left in the year.
Today's unusual holiday or celebration is:
Domino Day.
Don't forget to visit our sister blog!
President Obama's Weekly Address
Remarks of President Barack Obama
As Prepared for Delivery
San Diego, California
Saturday, November 12, 2011
I’m speaking to you from the bridge of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in San Diego. This is one of the biggest ships in the Navy, and on Friday it was home to one of the most unique college basketball games I’ve ever seen. It also gave members of our military and our veterans a chance to unwind a little bit, and on this Veterans Day, I want to take this opportunity to thank all our men and women in uniform for their service and their sacrifice.As Prepared for Delivery
San Diego, California
Saturday, November 12, 2011
But this day isn’t just about thanking our veterans. It’s about rededicating ourselves to serving our veterans as well as they’ve served us. And right now, that’s more important than ever.
Last month, I announced that, as promised, we will end the war in Iraq by the end of the year. Many of our military families will be welcoming loved ones home for the holidays. At the same time, we’ve begun to wind down the war in Afghanistan. And in the next five years, over a million servicemembers will transition back into civilian life – joining the 3 million who have already done so over the last decade.
These are men and women who have served with distinction in some of the most dangerous places on the planet. But for many of them, the challenges don’t end when they take off the uniform. Today, more than 850,000 veterans remain unemployed. And too many are struggling to find a job worthy of their talents and experience.
That’s not right. We ask these men and women to leave their families and their jobs and risk their lives to fight for our country. The last thing they should have to do is fight for a job when they get home.
To give our veterans the opportunities they’ve earned, I’ve directed the federal government to lead by example – and already, we’ve hired 120,000 veterans. We’ve also challenged private companies to hire or train 100,000 post-9/11 veterans or their spouses by the end of 2013. So far, many patriotic companies have answered the call, hiring more than 16,000 Americans. And yesterday, thanks to the hard work of Michelle and Dr. Jill Biden, companies announced their commitment to train or hire 125,000 more over the next two years.
But we need to do more. That’s why, as part of the American Jobs Act, I called on Congress to pass a Returning Heroes Tax Credit, which would give businesses a tax break for each unemployed veteran they hire; and a Wounded Warriors Tax Credit, which would give businesses a tax break for hiring an unemployed veteran with a disability related to their service in uniform.
These proposals will go a long way towards putting our veterans back to work. And on Thursday, I was pleased to see the Senate put partisanship aside and come together to pass these tax credits. After all, standing up for our veterans isn’t a Democratic responsibility or a Republican responsibility – it’s an American responsibility. It’s one that all of us have an obligation to meet. And the House should pass this bill as soon as possible so I can sign it into law.
As Commander-in-Chief, I want every veteran to know that America will always honor your service and your sacrifice – not just today, but every day. And just as you fought for us, we’re going to keep fighting for you – for more jobs, for more security, for the opportunity to keep your families strong and America competitive in the 21st century.
So to all our veterans – thank you for your service. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.
In the News
The real class warfare.
New Jersey judge says police must return confiscated items to #occupywallst.
You know who's doing pretty good in this recession, don't you? Wall Street.
New Jersey judge says police must return confiscated items to #occupywallst.
You know who's doing pretty good in this recession, don't you? Wall Street.
Skinny houses for sale
In some of these tiny homes, you can stand in the center and touch both walls with your hands.
Also: How a finance pro lost his home
Carl Richards, a financial adviser, gives a brutally honest account of losing his family's house.
Also: When to ignore money truisms
Conventional wisdom about retirement saving is wrong for many people, an expert says.
Also: 
Camp help for 'lost boys'
Modern-day "lost boys" find the know-how and will to transform their lives at a unique camp.
Also: Festive Spirit
An Ohio man was in custody Saturday after allegedly breaking into a family's house and putting up Christmas decorations.
Dutch Prison Food: Torture?
Scheveningen prison near the Hague in the Netherlands holds prisoners for the the UN International Criminal Court. Some of those inmates think that Dutch food served in the prison is a form of torture.“My rights are not being violated, but the food is an abomination,” declared former Liberian president Charles Taylor when he was brought to trial at the Special Court for Sierra Leone in Scheveningen in 2006.Yes, inmates are allowed to cook for themselves, but they have to buy their own ingredients from the prison shop.
Taylor, who was accused of crimes against humanity and orchestrating war crimes carried out by militias, was used to his own personal cook who made spicy African meals.
Unable to adjust to Dutch culinary blandness, he set up a cookery club using the facilities at the Scheveningen remand centre.
Extreme Serbian nationalist and former paramilitary leader Vojislav Seselj is another notorious prisoner who slams the Dutch diet. Seselj, who was charged by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) with crimes against humanity, arrived in Scheveningen in 2003.Prison officials defend their menu as “healthy and balanced.” Just one more reason you shouldn’t commit crimes against humanity.
During one of the hearings in his trial, he publicly castigated the remand centre’s menu. The food was “a daily torture. Even pigs wouldn’t go near it.”
Deep-Frying Portable Grill
Three secrets to pecan pie
Ditch the traditional corn syrup for this buttery substitute and get a much richer flavor.
Also: 
Healthy vending machine picks
You may think this snack has a healthy dose of fruit, but it's also a 440-calorie nutritional nightmare.
Also: 
Health signs your teeth reveal
Some dental problems can be signs of serious health complications, including heart disease.
Also: Signs you might have pneumonia
Pneumonia can start suddenly or build up over days, so it's important you know what to look for.
Also: Remember To Wipe Your Keyboard
This infographic reveals the specs of our tech gadgets we don't really want to know.
The 13 Worst Doctors of All Time
Doctors save lives every day, but as in any profession, there are a few bad apples. The manslaughter conviction of Michael Jackson’s personal physician Dr. Conrad Murray inspired this list of horrible doctors. For example, there’s Dr. Prabir Kumar Ghosh, who had a perfectly logical explanation for working while drunk:A doctor in India was arrested recently when he showed up drunk for his emergency room shift. It may not have been the first time he knocked back a few before turning up for work: local complaints said that he’s been drunk on the job for years. Dr. Prabir Kumar Ghosh admitted he was intoxicated but said he had his reasons, one of which was that he was simply trying to relieve his joint pain. If only he could’ve gotten to a hospital for proper treatment, then this whole problem could’ve been avoided and… oh, wait. Never mind.There’s more medical misery and malpractice at Ranker.
UK cops want to talk to Murdoch’s son again, discussed possible arrest
This story still doesn't seem to be getting much play here in the states. Odd, considering who's involved. Imagine if George Soros were the entrepreneur involved in all of this, instead of Rupert Murdoch. Bet Faux News would find the story newsworthy then.
Arab League Suspends Syria
The Arab League will suspend Syria from meetings until violence against protesters ends.
Also: Ugandan arrested for pigsty made of campaign posters
Ugandan police say they have arrested a man for "abusing the presidency" after he built a pigsty out of old election posters featuring the president's face.
Italy applauds leader's exit
Cheers erupt in front of the presidential palace as a tainted 17-year political era comes to an end.
Also: A look inside Fukushima
Journalists allowed in for the first time see plenty of carnage at the tsunami-damaged plant.
Also: Mythbusters Jamie Hyneman And Adam Savage Receive Honorary Doctorates
As part of its 50th anniversary Dies Natalis celebrations, the University of Twente will be awarding honorary doctorates to Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage for their role in popularizing science and technology. The ceremony will be attended by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.
What Drives Death Valley's Roving Rocks?
Now a student-research project led by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center has lent support to the idea that, during wintertime, the rocks float down the playa on small 'collars' of ice, which form around the stones when lake water flows down the surrounding hills and freezes on the lakebed.
Bones found in New Orleans' French Quarter
Construction crews found the grave site when digging a new pool. The straight sides of this hole are the sides of wooden coffins.
Dog wants to see the baby
This tiny pup tries to jump on the bed to see his new friend, but gravity keeps getting in the way.
Also: Forty-One Awesome Birds
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