The world’s largest salt flats in Bolivia create a striking illusion when the sky is reflected on its surface. Walking across the flats people and vehicles appear to be floating in the clouds as shown in this amazing photo gallery.
Friday, June 10, 2011
The Border Between Heaven and Earth
The world’s largest salt flats in Bolivia create a striking illusion when the sky is reflected on its surface. Walking across the flats people and vehicles appear to be floating in the clouds as shown in this amazing photo gallery.
Climate Control
'Wild and weird' weather leaves its mark
Monster tornadoes, historic floods, massive wildfires and widespread drought: Springtime has delivered a wallop of weather-related destruction and misery across much of the nation this year.
Thousands flee as the second largest fire in the state's history scorches more than 600 square miles.
Also: Mother Earth
Chilean Volcano Can Be Seen From Space 
A towering plume of brown ash is clearly visible from space as a Chilean volcano continues to violently erupt. Captured by specialist equipment on the Aqua satellite, the image was taken shortly after the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle exploded into life after decades of lying dormant in south-central Chile. A three-mile long fissure has opened up in the Andes as toxic gases and ash belched a cloud more than six miles high across Chile and Argentina.
It's Just Business
Sales are up nearly 40 percent, and the company has 1,500 new stores in development.
Also: 
The “cheap-chic” retailer has confused its shoppers lately, some analysts say.
Also: It's The Economy Stupid
Government debt is important, but individual obligations are a big hurdle, too.
Also: 
Nearly 40% of people who borrowed against their homes are now underwater on the loans.
Also: 
Charles and Jill Segal are among the millions managing to live in their homes for free.
Also: It's Your Debt - They Created It For You
60% see wars as large part of deficit problem
It's the wars, stupid.Too bad nobody in Washington has the courage to end the war machine. End the damned wars and build a new stimulus to get the country working again for everyone and not just the defense contractors.
Far more Americans say that the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has contributed a great deal to the nation's debt than say that about increased domestic spending or the tax cuts enacted over the past decade.
Six-in-ten (60%) say the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has contributed a great deal to the size of the debt. About four-in-ten (42%) say the same about the condition of the national economy.
By comparison, just 24% say increased spending on domestic problems has contributed greatly to the nation's debt and even fewer (19%) cite the tax cuts enacted over the past decade. While half or more say spending and the tax cuts contributed at least a fair amount to the debt, 31% say increased domestic spending did little or nothing to increase the debt and 38% say the same about the tax cuts.
In 2007, the top 1% owned 50% of all investment assets; the bottom 90% owned 73% of all debt
In a follow-up about the creditor class and the debtor class, we find this interesting data (h/t Paul Krugman). It's part of a Table 9 from Edward Wolff's Levy Institute paper, Recent Trends in Household Wealth (pdf); to see the whole table with notes, click the link and go to page 52). The highlights below are mine. 
This shows clearly the divide between the creditors (who own the assets) and debtors (who owe the debts) in the U.S. As of 2007, the upper 1% (net worth of $8.2 million or more) owned 49.7% of all investment assets. The rest of us owned the debt. Those numbers can't have gotten better.
(If you click through to the rest of the table, you'll see that the top 10%, as a group, owned 87% of all investment assets.)
Remember: If you owe debt, deflation is a demon, since you pay back cheaper borrowed dollars with dollars that are now worth more. To make that simple, imagine borrowing a dollar that buys two Waldo-burgers and paying it back later with one that buys four. You're down two Waldo-burgers (plus the interest).
But if you are a creditor, deflation is an angel with honey-sweet breath and a gift in each hand. You really want to be a lender in times of deflation. In our example above, the lender just doubled his money by waiting, and charged interest for the privilege.
In Krugman's phrasing, "Deflation is hell for workers and business owners, but it’s heaven for creditors." (For more on deflation, what it is and what it does, see here.)
Bottom line — who's behind that push to keep interest rates low low low (as in Europe) and for debtors to pay back every dime? The same people who are trying to bring back debtor's prisons.
You got it. Our friends, the very very rich. No cramdown for you, sir; time to be extra responsible.
I guess giving them all that money didn't buy their love after all.
Technological News
A leaked report documents 75 incidents linked to electronics that were supposed to be stowed.
Also: 
Crooks gained access to the personal credit card data of about 200,000 accounts.
Also: 
Some experts say dry rice can revive a phone that's been accidentally dunked.
Also: Hoverbike
Chris Malloy of Australia claims to have built a functional hoverbike. He says that its 1170 cc engine is capable of lifting 270 kg off the ground. The machine is quite light, weighing only 110 kg when dry, thanks to a body made of carbon fiber and kevlar-wrapped foam. Molloy imagines military and cattle driving applications, and promises that videos of the machine in action are forthcoming.
Science News
Microbial growth in King Tut's tomb suggests burial was a rush job
While the identity of the ancient organism in Tut's tomb remains a mystery, evidence suggests that not only are the microbes not growing—they're actually part of the history, offering new clues to the circumstances of King Tut's death.
2 new elements officially added to periodic table
They exist for only seconds at most in real life, but they've gained immortality in chemistry: Two new elements have been added to the periodic table.
Oceanography
Photo credit: Jaymi Heimbuch/Creative Commons
Jellyfish are taking over the world's oceans. Warming waters and the elimination of key predators like sharks and tuna, hav made conditions ideal for the soft, brainless, organisms and their numbers have increased steadily for years—with populations occasionally exploding in "blooms."Now, new research shows that jellyfish are upending marine food webs—and disrupting ocean ecosystems' ability to sync carbon in the process.
Article continues: Jellyfish Blooms Increase Carbon Emissions, Upend Marine Food Webs
Shape-Shifting Cuttlefish Can Mimic Pictures
Some cuttlefish can mimic the shape of objects around them for camouflage purposes. But recent research shows they can also mimic the shapes of two-dimensional photographs of objects! National Geographic has a photo gallery of cuttlefish doing their best to mimic their backgrounds, whether natural, plastic, 2D, or 3D.
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
P.U. at UW: School's Flower Opens to Rancid Stink
After nearly three years, the bloom of a rare flower at a Washington university finally came up, but it didn't smell like roses.
Animal News
Original photo: Wikipedia Commons
Often when biologists are charged with detailing the newly recorded behavior of some exotic species, the language can get pretty science-y -- but dusty old descriptors can't suffice when talking about a particularly tiny bird's incredible courtship ritual. Recently, researchers filmed the dazzling 'dance' of a golden-collared manakin, which one scientist described as thus: "The male jumps like he's been shot out of a cannon. It's exquisite. He sails like an acrobat and lands perfectly on a perch, like a gymnast landing a flawless dismount." Or in other words, '10'.
Article continues: Tiny Bird Dances Like it's 'Been Shot Out of a Cannon' (Video)
Disabled dog’s wheelchair is stolen
A heartless crime has left a disabled dog without his wheelchair. Dave Feeney of West Roxbury, Boston, said someone stole the device that helps his 12-year-old Belgian Malinois “Lucky” get around.The dog was hit by a car a few years ago and lost the use of his hind legs. After Lucky had some outside play time out of the chair on Sunday morning, Feeney realized it was missing and quickly called police.
“It’s really obvious what it is and that it was in front of the house. Today’s not trash day. Today’s not recycling day,” he said. “For somebody to do this, they knew what they were doing.”
Police say they’re looking into it. After hearing of Lucky's plight, Handicappedpets.com of Nashua, New Hampshire have sent one of its fully adjustable wheelchairs to Feeney.
Flying bear kills two
Two Canadians died instantly in a freak accident when a car hit a 200kg black bear and sent the animal flying straight through the windshield of an oncoming vehicle, local media said on Wednesday.The bear's body hit the 25-year-old driver and a 40-year-old man sitting behind her and then shot out of the back window. The bear also died.
The accident happened on Monday night in a rural area north of the federal capital Ottawa.
Black bear outsmarts Washington wildlife officials
A young black bear has outsmarted wildlife officials trying to trap it in Washington state.
Full Story
Full Story
It's a Marten, Not a Weasel
This distinction is critical, as one crime victim in the state of Washington recently learned:
Police say a man was carrying a dead weasel when he burst into a Hoquiam apartment and assaulted a man.This incident makes more sense once you learn an important fact: the assailant was actually looking for his girlfriend at the time.
The victim asked, “Why are you carrying a weasel?” Police said the attacker said, “It’s not a weasel, it’s a marten,” then punched him in the nose and fled.
Animal Pictures
Albino Animals
Here's an interesting Google Images search: Albino Animals.A small sampling of what you'll see:
What do you think?
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
The Daily Drift
The Daily Drift
Today's horoscope says:Is there someone you've been meaning to have a difficult conversation with?
Now is the time to do it. Instead of calling them up and plunging right in to the issue, invite them over for a quiet dinner.
Good food and a nice atmosphere will create a perfect environment for good communication, and no one can run off if the talk gets tense.
By dessert they'll be clear about things, and everyone will be happy.
A big emotional payoff is coming to you soon.
Some of our readers today have been in:
Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
Berne, Bern, Switzerland
London, England, United Kingdom
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Stuttgart, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
Rome, Lazio, Italy
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Milan, Lombardia, Italy
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Graz, Steiermark, Austria
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland
Burghausen, Bayern, Germany
Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
Leicester, England, United Kingdom
Berne, Bern, Switzerland
London, England, United Kingdom
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Stuttgart, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
Rome, Lazio, Italy
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Milan, Lombardia, Italy
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Graz, Steiermark, Austria
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland
Burghausen, Bayern, Germany
Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
Leicester, England, United Kingdom
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 Ojai, Tampa, Marrero, Salem and more.
and in cities across the United States such as Ojai, Tampa, Marrero, Salem and more.
Today is:
Today is Tuesday, June 7, the 158th day of 2011.
There are 207 days left in the year.
Today's unusual holiday or celebration is:
Daniel Boone Day.
Don't forget to visit our sister blog!
Al Qaeda spokesman tells terrorists to use NRA-favored gun show loophole to kill Americans
Kind of embarrassing being on the same side as Al Qaeda. Don't you think?
Via ThinkProgress, we hear from American-born al-Qaeda spokesmen Adam Yahiye Gadahn. He recommends would-be terrorists get weapons to attack Americans via the so-called gunshow loophole:
And don't even try to say the NRA whack-jobs aren't gun nuts. Why if they made it a wee bit harder for a terrorist to get a gun how in the world would all the white supremacists, nazis, KKK'ers, John Bircher's etc., get their guns for their domestic terrorism?!
Via ThinkProgress, we hear from American-born al-Qaeda spokesmen Adam Yahiye Gadahn. He recommends would-be terrorists get weapons to attack Americans via the so-called gunshow loophole:
America is absolutely awash with easily obtainable firearms. You can go down to a gun show at the local convention center and come away with a fully automatic assault rifle, without a background check, and most likely without having to show an identification card. So what are you waiting for?More from ThinkProgress:
So it seems like it might be a pretty responsible and relevant idea to force individuals to go through a background check at gun shows and to prevent those on the terrorist watch list from purchasing firearms.
However, there are powerful people in this country that don’t want that to happen. The National Rifle Association is opposed to eliminating the gun show loophole. And, referring to the terror gap, an NRA spokesperson said recently that “it’s wrong to arbitrarily deny a law-abiding person a constitutional right.”
And don't even try to say the NRA whack-jobs aren't gun nuts. Why if they made it a wee bit harder for a terrorist to get a gun how in the world would all the white supremacists, nazis, KKK'ers, John Bircher's etc., get their guns for their domestic terrorism?!
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