Clipmarks | mushmaster25's clips

10 Billion-Trillion-Trillion-Carat Diamond Found in Space

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 21:58:47 GMT

clipped by: Newfman

(Rapaport…February 16, 2004) The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics has announced the discovery of a mass of crystallized carbon formerly known as star BPM 37093, now known as the biggest diamond in the galaxy, fifty light years away from Earth in the constellation Centaurus. The diamond is estimated to be 2,500 miles across and weighs approximately 10 billion-trillion-trillion-carats – a one, followed by 34 zeros. Travis Metcalfe, an astronomer from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and leader of the team who discovered the gem, says “You would need a jeweler’s loupe the size of the sun to grade this diamond. Bill Gates and Donald Trump together couldn’t begin to afford it.”

The diamond is actually the crystallized interior of a white dwarf – or the hot core of a star that is left over after the star uses up its nuclear fuel and dies. It is made mostly of carbon and is coated by a thin layer of hydrogen and helium gasses.

Tags: science

Gonzales to stay

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 21:31:29 GMT

clipped by: mushmaster25

Clip Source: www.reuters.com

U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, under congressional pressure to quit over the firing of nine U.S. prosecutors, vowed on Monday to stay and fix problems with the Justice Department.

In testimony prepared for a congressional hearing on Tuesday, Gonzales acknowledged the Justice Department has been shaken by accusations that partisan politics played a role in hiring practices and the administration of justice.

"There are two options available in light of these allegations," Gonzales said. "I could walk away or I could devote my time, effort and energy to fix the problems."

Many questions are expected to deal with his firing last year of nine of the nation's 93 U.S. attorneys. Gonzales contends the dismissals were justified but mishandled.

"There are probably only two people on Earth who think the attorney general ought to stay: Alberto Gonzales and President Bush," Sen. Charles Schumer

Tags: attorney general, gonzales, po

Contempt and Congress

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 21:13:19 GMT

clipped by: mushmaster25
clipper's remarks: Rather than run from this fight, supporters of the constitutional system ought to stand firm with the president. Presidents, Congresses, and the courts have long accepted a president's right to keep internal executive discussions confidential. Even when the Supreme Court ordered Richard Nixon to hand over the Watergate tapes, it recognized "the necessity for protection of the public interest in candid, objective, and even blunt or harsh opinions in Presidential decisionmaking."

Without secrecy, the government can't function. No one thinks conversations between federal judges and their clerks, or members of Congress and their staff, ought to be aired publicly without good reason. The same goes for presidents -- even if their poll ratings are low.

Clip Source: online.wsj.com

Republicans aren't exactly racing to defend President Bush's assertion of executive privilege against Congress's investigation of his firing of nine U.S. attorneys. This leaves former political director Sara Taylor and Harriet Miers, former White House counsel, facing possible contempt sanctions. If this sword of Damocles drops, an important constitutional showdown between the branches might well reach the Supreme Court.

Mr. Clinton was fighting claims of sexual harassment brought by Arkansas state employee Paula Jones, an independent counsel corruption investigation into Whitewater, and his extracurricular relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Mr. Clinton asserted executive secrecy to protect his personal affairs. This is legally important because the federal courts of appeals have held that the privilege only applies to communications between the president and his advisers on "official government matters."

Tags: politics, bush, congress

Very Broad Exec Order, targeting anyone who poses a threat to Iraq

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 20:53:23 GMT

clipped by: mushmaster25
clipper's remarks: I feel like I am a child once again, when my parents made up rules for something that wasn't in current set of rules.

Clip Source: www.tpmmuckraker.com

In a little-noticed executive order issued on Tuesday, President Bush directed the Treasury Department to block the U.S.-based financial assets of anyone deemed to have threatened "the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq" or who "undermin(e) efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq."

"have committed, or ... pose a significant risk of committing" acts of violence with the "purpose or effect" of harming the Iraqi government or hindering reconstruction efforts. It applies to "U.S. persons," a category including American citizens.

Threatening the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq,' that could be anything,"

The order permits the targeting of those who aid someone else whose assets have been blocked under the order -- wittingly or not.

I therefore determine that for these measures to be effective in addressing the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13303 and expanded in Executive Order 13315,

Tags: iraq, politics, bush

Sea Monsters - 24 bizarre but REAL creatures of the deep

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 15:09:04 GMT

clipped by: BigBadWolf

Clip Source: www.who-sucks.com

The sea contains untold numbers of strange and bizarre creatures. It is said that we know more about our own solar system than we know about our oceans.

Indeed, some creatures of the sea can seem more alien than anything you can imagine.

But even worse, some of them can seem more frightening than your worst nightmare.

Below we have collected pictures of 24 CREATURES FROM THE DEEP!

Tags: sea, life, science, biology, fish, ocean

"Octosquid" Found off Hawaiin Coast

Sun, 15 Jul 2007 01:47:39 GMT

clipped by: mushmaster25

Clip Source: www.clevelandleader.com

A curious creature that appears to be half octopus, half squid was found in waters at Keahole Point in Hawaii and remains unidentified today. Local biologists think that it could possibly be a new species.

The creature is believed to have been sucked up in a deep seawater pipeline at the Natural Energy Laboratory Hawaii Authority at Keahole. This pipeline pumps colde water up from 3,000 feet below sea level, and occassional deep-sea marine life gets caught in a filter in the line.

Workers who discovered the creature call it an "octosquid" because it has the body of a squid and the tentacles of an octopus.

The octosquid stayed alive for three days once it was found by researchers. It will now be shipped to the University of Hawaii Manoa campus for evaluation.

Richard Young, and oceanography professor at the University said that the specimen tentatively belongs to the genus Mastigoteuthis, but that the species not yet determined.

Tags: new discoveries, sea life

North Korea Shuts Down Nuclear Facility,

Sun, 15 Jul 2007 01:27:25 GMT

clipped by: mushmaster25
clipper's remarks: I wonder how many nukes where made between our last inspection in 2002 and now?

Clip Source: tvnz.co.nz

North Korea has shut down its Yongbyon nuclear facilities, the US announced, saying Washington now hopes for "rapid progress" toward Pyongyang's nuclear disarmament.

"The US has been informed today that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea shut down its nuclear facilities at Yongbyon," State Department spokesman SeanMcCormack said in a statement.

The US announcement came after UN inspectors arrived earlier today in Pyongyang to supervise the start of North Korea's nuclear disarmament, following the February 13 deal under which Pyongyang agreed to scrap its nuclear program in exchange for aid and security guarantees.

US chief nuclear envoy Christopher Hill said in Tokyo the Yongbyon shutdown would be only the first step in the process, and North Korea would next have to provide more information on all of its nuclear facilities and activities.

Tags: north korea, nuclear

Progress in Iraq

Sat, 14 Jul 2007 15:52:26 GMT

clipped by: n2sooners

Clip Source: www.riehlworldview.com

As the light green fills in month by month, those are areas in which Iraqi forces are now taking the lead. As you begin to see dark green, those areas have been turned over to Iraqi forces. Watch the video below, or here - then tell me there is no progress in Iraq. And remember, Senators, America is watching you.

Tags: iraq, war on terror, politics, military

Bush says war still winable, I say who says we lost?

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 02:35:51 GMT

clipped by: mushmaster25

Clip Source: www.irishexaminer.com

US PRESIDENT George W Bush insisted yesterday America could still win in Iraq, despite a bleak picture of progress by the Baghdad government in a US report which fuelled a rising revolt in Congress.

The underfire president warned lawmakers not to try to run the war, saying a US withdrawal would hand over Iraq to al-Qaida, and said history would judge his stewardship of a conflict that has killed 3,612 US soldiers.

The interim report, detailing Bush’s plan to put 30,000 more troops into Iraq, found the Baghdad government had made satisfactory progress on only eight of 18 security and political benchmarks laid out by Congress.

Baghdad had made “unsatisfactory” progress on legislation explicitly endorsed by Washington as central to efforts to quiet sectarian violence.

“I don’t think Congress ought to be running the war,” he said.

But Bush had a blunt message for lawmakers.

Tags: war, iraq, bush, politics

No Joke: Age Makes Things Less Funny

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 11:41:57 GMT

clipped by: wildcat

Clip Source: www.livescience.com

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A new psychology study at Washington University was no laughing matter: It found that older adults may have a harder time getting jokes because of an age-related decline in certain memory and reasoning abilities.

The research suggested that because older adults may have greater difficulty with cognitive flexibility, abstract reasoning and short-term memory, they also have greater difficulty with tests of humor comprehension.

Researchers tested about 40 healthy adults over age 65 and 40 undergraduate students with exercises in which they had to complete jokes and stories. Participants also had to choose the correct punch line for verbal jokes and select the funny ending to series of cartoon panels.

Findings were published earlier this month in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society.

Elderly study participants had a harder time completing the punch lines to jokes and funny stories than did their younger counter-parts. Credit: stock.xchng

Tags: psychology, brain, mind, age, humor, cognitive ability

Follow up on: Is a Bigger Army a Better Army? Recruiting Data

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 23:23:22 GMT

clipped by: mushmaster25
clipper's remarks: Just providing the actual recruiting information for the article clipped before (Is a Bigger Army a Better Army?)

I have respect for all branches of the military.

My advise to anyone thinking of joining. Become an Officer after serving 4 years enlisted, it will open your eyes. If you go to war, go with the Marines...in garrison... Air Force.. got to love room service

Clip Source: www.defenselink.mil

July 10, 2007 – The Army fell short of its active-duty recruiting goal for June, but officials noted today that the Army is still ahead of its year-to-date goal and is expected to make its year-end goal.

June marked the second month in a row that the Army missed its active-duty recruiting goal, according to statistics released today by the Defense Department. The active Army, with 7,031 accessions, came up almost 1,400 recruits below its 8,400-person goal. However, officials noted that it remains 741 recruits ahead of its year-to-date goal.

The other three services met or exceeded their active-duty recruiting goals for June. The Navy recruited 3,999 sailors, 102 percent of its goal. The Marine Corps signed on 4,113 Marines, 110 percent of its goal, and the Air Force met its goal by recruiting 2,233 airmen.

She noted that the all-volunteer force is facing one of its biggest challenges in light of a protracted war that’s becoming increasingly unpopular among the American public.

Tags: army, marines, navy, recruiting, news, war

Is a Bigger Army a Better Army?

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 20:47:11 GMT

clipped by: mushmaster25
clipper's remarks: 1. Lowered standards never helped anyone, look at our political realm or how the system seems to favor the ones who use dishonest means.

2. I am terribly upset over the money and lives used, I've lost many good buddies out there.

3. I never really liked allot of things about "Corporate America"

4. When the army has made up stories like Jessica Lynch, who should stand before a military trial , or the like of Pat Tillman... i would be scared of joining to..

By the way, the Marines met their mark. Very few make it to carry the title Marine. Recruiting isn't the problem for us, its can you keep up with the training and not get washed out?

Clip Source: blog.washingtonpost.com

Prospective soldiers are voting with their feet. For the second consecutive month, the Army has missed its active-duty recruiting goal, even with its lower standards for new recruits. As long as the war in Iraq continues, the Army will have trouble meeting its current recruiting goals. Once the war is over, however, the crisis will dissipate.

hey argue that a larger Army would reduce the strains on the military, encouraging more soldiers to join and reenlist

So my question, especially for all the super-patriots and milbloggers out there who defend those in uniform, is this: Where's the outrage about how this administration has wasted so much money, so much treasure? Where's the outrage about how corporate America, specifically the defense industry and the new military contracting complex, has profited so handsomely -- win or lose? Where's the demand for accountability for the Army before we increase its size?

Tags: army, military, news

Attorney General Received Reports about FBI Act Abuses

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 17:02:28 GMT

clipped by: mushmaster25

Clip Source: www.foxnews.com

WASHINGTON — Attorney General Alberto Gonzales received reports detailing legal or procedural violations by FBI agents in the months before he told senators that no such abuses had occurred, The Washington post reported Tuesday.

In April 2005, while seeking renewal of the broad powers granted law enforcement under the USA Patriot Act, Gonzales said, "There has not been one verified case of civil liberties abuse" from the law enacted after the 9/11 terror attacks.

According to the Post, Gonzales had received a least half a dozen reports describing such violations in the three months before he made that statement. The newspaper obtained the internal FBI documents under the Freedom of Information Act.

The violations, the Post reported, included unauthorized surveillance and an illegal property search.

Tags: fbi, news, illegal, government, alberto gonzales

PA Government Shutdown

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 20:57:43 GMT

clipped by: mushmaster25
clipper's remarks: Insanity

Clip Source: www.myfoxphilly.com

Far fewer potholes will be filled. The bass in state park lakes can swim without fear of anglers. And thousands of families have no idea when their paychecks will resume.
More than 24,000 state employees were furloughed Monday because the Democratic governor and Republican-controlled Senate have yet to finalize a state budget nine days into the new fiscal year. Lacking a budget, the state has lost the authority to spend money on nonessential services and employees.

A sign posted at Codorus State Park, near Hanover, read: "Sorry for the inconvenience. State parks are closed until the state budget passes." Next to the notice, somebody posted their own, which said "WHEN DO WE GET OUR MONEY BACK!" and included a name and telephone number.

Dandan Hong, 21, a student at the University of Pittsburgh, came to get her driver's license permit Monday morning but was told by security guards that the office was closed.

Tags: government, politics, jobs, news

The Bride was Beautiful. Until death does us part.

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 20:33:39 GMT

clipped by: countryboylife

Clip Source: greatblogabout.com

Katie Kirkpatrick

21, held off cancer to celebrate the happiest day of her life.

Breathing was difficult now, she had to use oxygen. The pain in her back was so intense it broke through the morphine that was supposed to act as a shield. Her organs were shutting down but it would not stop her from marrying Nick Godwin, 23, who was in love with Katie since 11th grade.

Five days later, Katie has died.

Tags: love, relationships