Clipmarks | tidbit2's Pops

Charges dropped against woman who registered her dog to vote

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:22:23 GMT

clipped by: tommy2balmy
clipper's remarks: Balogh said she was saddened by her difficulties with the court and her failure to get any elected officials to respond to her letters and phone calls complaining that current state laws make it too easy for an undocumented worker or a nonexistent person to be added to the voting rolls.

Clip Source: seattletimes.nwsource.com

Criminal charges were dismissed Monday against Jane Balogh, the Federal Way woman who registered her dog to vote — but not without a hiccup along the way.

Balogh, 67, a grandmother and Army veteran, paid $240 in court costs and completed 10 hours of community service at the Tacoma Rescue Mission.

She registered her Australian shepherd-terrier mix as a voter in protest of what she contends are lax standards for voters to prove their identity and citizenship. She used a utility bill in the dog's name — Duncan M. MacDonald — as identification.

Balogh made no attempt to hide the deception after the fact, telling a number of elected officials what she had done and putting a pawprint instead of a signature on an absentee-ballot envelope. She didn't try to vote using the dog's registration.

"You tell me why, when you have such a broken system, not a county, state nor local politician — no one — bothered to contact me and say, 'Hey, Mrs. Balogh, you're right, things are a little shaky.' "

Tags: odd

Warship built with twin-towers scrap,

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:40:45 GMT

clipped by: wiganfootie

Clip Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Warship built out of Twin Towers wreckage

In a shipyard in New Orleans, survivors of one disaster are building a monument to another

Bringing together America’s two great calamities of the 21st century, the USS New York is being built in New Orleans with 24 tonnes of steel taken from the collapsed World Trade Centre.

There is no shortage of scrap metal in New Orleans these days, but the girders taken from Ground Zero have been treated with a reverence usually accorded to religious relics. After a brief ceremony in 2003, about seven tonnes of steel were melted down and poured into a cast to make the bow section of the ship’s hull.

Some shipworkers say the hairs stood up on the backs of their necks the first time they touched it. Others have postponed their retirement so they can be part of the project.

a beer or a woman

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:54:38 GMT

clipped by: wiganfootie

Clip Source: www.justcomments.com

Case in point: Messed Up British People

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:27:16 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: So, this guy is addicted to sex and drugs and doesn't know when to draw the line? And he's British? Hey, I bet he would love a nice vacation in Greece!

But seriously, his perspective at the end, about comics helping the audience to empathize with something strange, is really insightful and good advice to all artists and writers.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Russell Brand, who will host the awards on Sept. 7, is a 33-year-old British comedian whose sartorial sensibility favors snug leather pants, unbuttoned shirts, a manly bit of eyeliner and shaggy, Amy Winehouse-style bouffants.

in a scandalous autobiography titled “My Booky Wook,” he has made no secret of his addictions to sex and hard drugs like heroin and crack

as an adolescent he attended (and was expelled from) a series of increasingly prestigious theater schools, where he was introduced to an array of increasingly potent controlled substances. In his 20s he became a popular host for British MTV, only to be fired from that job for showing up at the studio on Sept. 12, 2001, high on drugs and dressed as Osama bin Laden.

If the job of a comedian is to find common ground with his audience, Mr. Brand said in a recent telephone interview, “it is also to make things that are uncommon seem accessible and empathetic. That’s something I sometimes struggle with, because of the life I’ve led.”

Tags: sex, addiction, heroin, crack, bouffant, mtv, osama bin laden

Three Out Of Four Led Zeppelin Members Working On New Music

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:47:07 GMT

clipped by: amgumen

Clip Source: www.cfrb.com

Drummer Jason Bonham told a Detroit radio station's morning show on Friday (August 22nd) that he, Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones have been "jamming" together recently and even working on some new music. According to Blabbermouth.net, Bonham told WCSX, "I've been over (to England) a couple of times. I've been working with Jimmy and John Paul and trying to do just do some new material and some writing. I don't know what it will be, but it will be something...At the moment, all I know is I have the great pleasure to go and jam with the two guys and start work on some material."

Bonham, a native of England who now lives in Florida, also revealed that he was giving up his current job with Foreigner at the end of the month.

Little things you can do to boost your mental agility

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:16:23 GMT

clipped by: Lexica

Clip Source: www.sfgate.com

Dr. Karen Francis, a behavioral neuroscientist at USF and author of "Physical Dimensions of Aging," urges people to do at least one new thing every day to challenge the mind and body. She believes that mental and physical agility can be enhanced by even the smallest of changes in one's routine.

Here are some of her suggestions:

-- Take your first step up a flight of stairs with the "other" leg, the less dominant one.

-- Control your computer mouse with your "other" hand.

-- Brush your teeth with your "other" hand.

-- Stand up while you read or work.

-- Hike on a new trail instead of walking your usual route.

-- Do a crossword puzzle with a friend and read the questions out loud. Don't always do a crossword puzzle from the same source.

-- Read an article in the paper out loud while walking around the house.

-- Walk 20 minutes from your house or office, taking as many turns as possible.

-- Learn a new language.

Tags: aging, brain-science, research

Japanese physicists aim to unlock universe's mysteries

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:18:45 GMT

clipped by: gilligan
clipper's remarks: "Researchers will be able to study some lighter atoms that X-rays cannot analyse, most notably those of water," said Kunihiro Suzuki, chief spokesman at the J-PARC Center.

Clip Source: www.physorg.com

The Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC Center) -- a 150 billion yen (1.36 billion dollar) project almost entirely funded by the government -- will open in December as one of the world's three hubs of atomic science.

The gigantic complex in the nuclear research hub in Tokai, 100 kilometres (60 miles) northeast of Tokyo, is designed to help researchers study any object on Earth beneath the level of the atom.

By better understanding the world in such minute detail, researchers hope to bring benefits to a variety of fields including pharmaceuticals, food processing and ion batteries.

"As far as research results are made public, researchers can use these facilities for free," said Shoji Nagamiya, director of J-PARC Center.

As many as 57 companies, largely in pharmaceuticals as well as universities and other institutes, are considering research at the science park, where up to 23 studies can take place simultaneously.

Tags: physics

Is Growth of Cities Accelerating the Planet's Bioversity Crisis?

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:33:02 GMT

clipped by: gilligan

Clip Source: www.dailygalaxy.com

A new study outlines the uncomfortable question of what happens to the planet’s biodiversity when cities take over the world. Cities are growing, and they’re growing fast. It is projected that urban growth will create an additional 350,000 square miles of cities roads, buildings and parking lots—covering a combined area the size of Texas—by 2030. Every week humans create the equivalent of a city the size of Vancouver. What will this staggering growth mean for both nature and people? According to the study, co-authored by Conservancy scientists Robert McDonald and Peter Kareiva McDonald, it means significant species loss and a further decline of natural resources like fresh water. They say we need to prepare—now.

While the effects of urbanization are very localized, cumulatively it is a big threat to biodiversity

Our urban footprint covers much of the globe and is coming closer to stomping out many endangered species and posing new risks to protected areas and parks

Why do We Sleep? -Scientists Search for the Answer

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:38:20 GMT

clipped by: gilligan
clipper's remarks: Their hypothesis suggests that sleep acts as a way for the brain to regroup after a hard day. Sleep theoretically gives the synapses – which have been escalating in strength during the day – a chance to slow down again, and return to a base level. Given that the brain uses 80% of its energy in order to keep the synaptic activity happening, there is an obvious need for the brain to rest.

They also suggest that sleep allows for the consolidation of new memories, and the trashing of older, random and unimportant memories from the day passed. This theoretically allows for more learning the following day. "While there may still be no consensus on why animals need to sleep, it would seem that searching for a core function of sleep, particularly at the cellular level, is still a worthwhile exercise," Cirelli concludes.

Clip Source: www.dailygalaxy.com

Some scientists believe that sleep is not important by itself in mammals and birds, and is just a way to impose a quiet and immobile state. Cirelli and Tononi reject this opinion, pointing to the fact that, so far, there has been no evidence of any animal not sleeping.

Even the dolphin, which is often used as an example of an animal that does not sleep because it keeps moving, has developed its own method of sleeping. The dolphin shuts down one half of its brain, swimming with one eye closed, and exhibiting the slow waves characteristic of deep sleep.

Cirelli also points to sleep deprivation, and the after-effect of having gone a long time without sleep, as examples of the necessity of it. Sleep deprivation has been shown to kill animals like rats, flies and cockroaches, as well as humans who suffer from genetic insomnia. And when a human rebounds from lack of sleep, they sleep for a long time to recuperate.

Tags: snoozing

Symptoms of drug abuse

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:02:20 GMT

clipped by: branzamica
clipper's remarks: Addiction often leads to decline in work performance and struggle in personal relationships. There is a general apathy with addiction, or at least a re-prioritization of your goals, hopes and even relationships. This can cause you to lose interest in things you once enjoyed and likely will make your addiction your first priority. You may choose certain occupations and friendships based on their being compatible or complementary with your addiction to avoid conflict.

Clip Source: cliffsidemalibu.com

You use drugs or alcohol to feel normal. Getting buzzed, drunk or high was once fun, but as time goes on; it takes more and more to get to that feeling. Now you need the substance just to feel “normal”, or you need to consume drugs or alcohol just to get through your day. This shows that your body has established a high tolerance and dependency on the substance and requires its stimulants to function.

Tags: substance

When Your Dad’s a Graphic Designer

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:48:03 GMT

clipped by: vk2yoc
clipper's remarks: Cute Photos.

Clip Source: www.frakincool.com

We all know that Moms love to dress up their kids. However, when Dad’s a graphic designer, anything is possible. It all started out with the morbid baby picture above… Hulk Hogan is my favorite

Dogs Can Read Their Owner's Minds...

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:35:18 GMT

clipped by: mugofcoffee

Clip Source: articles.mercola.com

The bond between man and dog is the stuff that legends are made of. Our four-legged furry friends are a constant source of unconditional love, devotion and friendship, so is it any wonder they may have a special knack for empathizing with their owners?

A study published in the journal Biology Letters concludes that dogs can "catch" human yawns, which provides evidence that dogs may be able to “read the mind” of their owners.

the first ever study to report that human yawns induce yawning in dogs found that 21 out of 29 dogs yawned in response to human yawning, showing that "dogs possess the capacity for a rudimentary form of empathy."

really enjoy The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Milan. He is a gifted animal trainer, and it seems he can correct just about any dog in the world. He is a true master and clearly communicates with dogs at an energetic level. If you own a dog and are not familiar with Cesar yet, his show is an absolute must-see.

A Planet

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:30:39 GMT

clipped by: bruno73

Clip Source: www.submitarchive.com

The Butterfly Effect

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:30:49 GMT

clipped by: wiccantexan
clipper's remarks: You HAVE to read the entire story. Really amazing.

Clip Source: www.washingtonpost.com

A man's one-in-a-million close encounter with an insect convinces him that the theory is true: The fluttering of gossamer wings can change the world

IN JULY LAST YEAR, a butterfly landed on my shoulder while I was taking a break from my office for a few minutes one afternoon to talk business with a colleague. I was sure the butterfly would soon fly off. We were walking through an L Street canyon near 19th Street NW that was surrounded by granite, concrete and glass. I had never seen a butterfly in this part of the city before. Now I had one clinging to me. It migrated to my shirt collar and stayed there.

A couple from Austin, sitting with their son at a neighboring table, enjoyed listening to our conversation about the butterfly, and we exchanged pleasantries. It occurred to me that a butterfly could bring out the best in people, even in this unlikely setting of dark wood, brass trim and rib-eye steaks.

Tags: social, social networking, unusual, butterfly, community

Micheal Talbot: The Holographic Universe

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:02:26 GMT

clipped by: WIDEEYECINEMA

Clip Source: hollowvision.com

Micheal Talbot: The Holographic Universe

In this program Michael Talbot discusses the holographic model of brain functioning and the “implicate order” model of quantum physics. He proposes that these two models combined explain many unsolved mysteries in both brain functioning (such as memory and vision) and quantum physics (such as the problem of hidden variables and quantum interconnectedness).

Tags: video, quantum physics