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Stephen Hawking: Alien but primitive life likely

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:19:29 GMT

clipped by: reimers

Famed astrophysicist Stephen Hawking has been thinking a lot about the cosmic question, "Are we alone?" The answer is probably not, he says.

If there is life elsewhere in the universe, Hawking asks why haven't we stumbled onto some alien broadcasts in space, maybe something like "alien quiz shows?"

Hawking's comments were part of a lecture at George Washington University on Monday in honor of NASA's 50th anniversary. He theorized that there are possible answers to whether there is extraterrestrial life.

One option is that there likely isn't life elsewhere. Or maybe there is intelligent life elsewhere, but when it gets smart enough to send signals into space, it also is smart enough to make destructive nuclear weapons.

Hawking said he prefers the third option:

"Primitive life is very common and intelligent life is fairly rare," he then quickly added: "Some would say it has yet to occur on earth."

It's looking grim - but Clinton won't exit

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:18:11 GMT

clipped by: reimers

Clip Source: www.nydailynews.com

Hillary Clinton quit?

You'd have a better chance getting Bill Clinton to shut up.

But the argument for Clinton to pull the plug on her campaign is not hard to make.

She trails Barack Obama in all categories. There are only 10 contests left, and most look to be tough for Clinton.

In fact, many Democrats think her odds of winning are so slim that all she's doing is helping John McCain.

Some Democratic elders, including party Chairman Howard Dean, are getting edgy about the beating Obama and Clinton are inflicting on each other. Even Clinton stalwarts such as Rep. Barney Frank suggest the candidate who is trailing - Clinton - should bow out by early June.

"No! No!" moaned one Clinton backer at the prospect of a daily fight until the August convention. "It's so painful."

But that unappetizing path is the only one Clinton can still follow all the way to the White House - and the former First Lady isn't about to step off.

More convicted felons allowed to enlist in Army, Marines

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:16:28 GMT

clipped by: reimers

Clip Source: www.breitbart.com

Under pressure to increase their numbers, the Army and Marine Corps are sharply raising the number of recruits with felony convictions they are admitting to the services.

Data released by a congressional committee shows that the number of soldiers admitted to the Army with felony records jumped from 249 in 2006 to 511 in 2007. And the number of Marines with felonies rose from 208 to 350.

The bulk of the crimes were for burglaries, other thefts, and drug offenses, but nine involved sex crimes and six involved manslaughter or vehicular homicide convictions.

Defense Department: http://www.defenselink.mil

Small Church's Obama Sign Causes Big Controversy

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:15:03 GMT

clipped by: reimers

Clip Source: www.wyff4.com

The sign in front of a small church in a small town is causing a big controversy in Jonesville, S.C.

Pastor Roger Byrd said that he just wanted to get people thinking. So last Thursday, he put a new message on the sign at the Jonesville Church of God.

It reads: "Obama, Osama, hmm, are they brothers?"

Byrd said that the message wasn't meant to be racial or political.

Video: Jonesville Church Has Pointed Message About Obama

"It's simply to cause people to realize and to see what possibly could happen if we were to get someone in there that does not believe in Jesus Christ," he said.

When asked if he believes that Barack Obama is Muslim, Byrd said, "I don't know. See it asks a question: Are they brothers? In other words, is he Muslim ? I don't know. He says he's not. I hope he's not. But I don't know. And it's just something to try to stir people's minds. It was never intended to hurt feelings or to offend anybody."

BARACKY: THE MOVIE

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 02:11:51 GMT

clipped by: reimers

Clip Source: youtube.com

[Video]

Top Five Worst Dollar Store Buys

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:51:50 GMT

clipped by: reimers

Clip Source: money.aol.com

WITH FOOD AND gas prices on the rise, shopping at dollar stores may seem like a great way to get more bang for your buck.

But while dollar stores offer plenty of great deals, there are also plenty of duds that aren't worth the money -- no matter what the discount. "In general, things that you want to last a long time are not going to cost you a dollar," notes Shakira Brown of Retail Secrets for Savvy Consumers, a frugal living blog. "Any product that costs a dollar is worth less than a dollar. Otherwise, what profit would be in it?"

America faces food rationing

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:48:51 GMT

clipped by: reimers

Clip Source: nysun.com

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Many parts of America, long considered the breadbasket of the world, are now confronting a once unthinkable phenomenon: food rationing.

Major retailers in New York, in areas of New England, and on the West Coast are limiting purchases of flour, rice, and cooking oil as demand outstrips supply. There are also anecdotal reports that some consumers are hoarding grain stocks.

At a Costco Warehouse in Mountain View, Calif., yesterday, shoppers grew frustrated and occasionally uttered expletives as they searched in vain for the large sacks of rice they usually buy.

“Where’s the rice?” an engineer from Palo Alto, Calif., Yajun Liu, said. “You should be able to buy something like rice. This is ridiculous.”

The bustling store in the heart of Silicon Valley usually sells four or five varieties of rice to a clientele largely of Asian immigrants, but only about half a pallet of Indian-grown Basmati rice was left in stock. A 20-pound bag was selling for $15.99.

Controlled excitement building inside of Clinton's inner circle

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:04:25 GMT

clipped by: reimers

Clip Source: drudgereport.com

Controlled excitement is building inside of Clinton's inner circle as closely guarded internal polling shows the former first lady with an 11-point lead in Pennsylvania!

Clinton is polling near to nearly 2 to 1 over Obama in many regions of the state, a top insider explained to the DRUDGE REPORT.

A strong coalition of middle-class and religious voters has all but secured a Clinton victory Tuesday, with headline-making margins, the campaign believes.

"It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of how much," a senior campaign source said Monday morning.

When pressed if the dramatic internal polling numbers could somehow be flawed in a state as demographically complex as Pennsylvania, and with new voter registration surging to unseen levels, the campaign insider held firm.

"Senator Obama would be wise not to unpack his bags quite yet."