Clipmarks | Sea Clips

New giant clam species discovered

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 15:04:09 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: Bring back Johnny Weissmuller and do another Tarzan movie. "Revenge of the Clams" would be appropriate

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

A new species of giant clam has been discovered in the Red Sea.

The fossil record suggests that, about 125,000 years ago, the species Tridacna costata accounted for more than 80% of local giant clams.

The species may now be critically endangered, researchers report in Current Biology journal.

The scientists believe their findings may represent one of the earliest examples of the over-exploitation of marine organisms by humans.

T. costatahas "very peculiar characteristics" that set it apart from two other species of giant clam that are also found in the area.

The Latin word costatus means "ribbed" and T. costata has a disitinctive, zig-zag outline to its shell.

"The new species are mid-sized clams - up to 40cm long and a couple of kilograms heavy," explained co-author Dr Claudio Richter, from the Alfred-Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Germany.

The new species has a distant relative, T. gigas, which can grow up to 1.4m long.

Russian warships sent to Abkhazia

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:49:00 GMT

clipped by: tabsey
clipper's remarks: I wonder what would have happened if Russia had sent aid to Iraq.

Clip Source: english.aljazeera.net

Russia has sent a missile cruiser and two other ships to a Georgian port, while a US military ship has docked at another southern port in a show of force amid an escalating standoff with the West over a nation devastated by war with Russia.

The dockings came a day after Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian president, recognised the two Georgian breakaway territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states, prompting harsh criticism from Western nations.

Georgia reacted by recalling all but two diplomats from its embassy in Moscow.

The US Coast Guard cutter Dallas, carrying 34 tons of humanitarian aid, docked in the Black Sea port of Batumi, south of the zone of this month's fighting between Russia and Georgia.

The arrival in Batumi avoided Georgia's main cargo port of Poti, which is still controlled by Russian soldiers.

The US embassy in Georgia had earlier said the ship was headed to Poti, but then retracted its statement.

Tags: which, side, of, the, coin

Deadly game of Chicken

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 03:22:33 GMT

clipped by: robm47
clipper's remarks: Tensions are coming to a boil. Why hear? Why now?

Clip Source: debka.com

In Moscow, Col. Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn said NATO had exhausted the number of forces it can deploy in the Black Sea under international agreements. He warned Western nations against sending more ships. “NATO – which is not a state located in the Black Sea” cannot continuously increase its forces and systems there, he said.

According to DEBKAfile’s military sources, ten NATO warships are present in the Black Sea – American, Turkish, German, Spanish and Polish. Alliance sources have said more vessels would soon be deployed raising the number to eighteen.

New Cold War

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 03:10:13 GMT

clipped by: robm47
clipper's remarks: Sabers are rattling. Which presidential candidate is best served by these events?

Clip Source: debka.com

Russian admiral: Our Black Sea fleet can destroy NATO’s group in 20 minutes

Former Russian Black Sea Fleet commander, Adm. Eduard Baltin was quoted by Moscow media as saying Friday, Aug. 29: “Despite the apparent strength of the NATO naval group in the Black Sea… a single salvo from the Moskva missile cruiser and two or three missile boats would be enough to annihilate the entire group. Within 20 minutes, the waters would be clear.”

Adm. Baltin added: "We will not strike first, and they do not look like people with suicidal tendencies."

The Russian Fleet deploys 16 warships in the Black Sea compared with 10 NATO vessels – three American, Polish, German and Spanish frigates, and four Turkish warships, soon to be augmented by another six, including the USS Mount Whitney, which is considered one of the most advanced warships in the world.

Russian Navy missile practice in Black Sea

St Kilda

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:24:59 GMT

clipped by: abailart
clipper's remarks: Visit website for lots more - including how to visit, and working holidays with the National trust for Scotland.

Clip Source: www.kilda.org.uk

There have been people on St Kilda since prehistoric times, exploiting the rich resources of the sea, growing crops and keeping animals. It is not clear when the first settlers came to St Kilda, but simple stone tools found on Hirta suggest that Bronze Age travellers may have visited St Kilda from the Western Isles some 4,000 to 5,000 years ago. In the 1830s the Rev Neil Mackenzie found what were probably remains of burial cists in Village Bay. Excavations in 1995 revealed a possible burial structure dating from the Bronze Age.

Clip Source: www.kilda.org.uk

Watercolour of the village in 1831

Clip Source: www.kilda.org.uk

Islanders carrying their belongings to the jetty at the evacuation

Clip Source: www.kilda.org.uk

St Kilda is one of only 24 global locations to be awarded 'mixed' World Heritage Status for its natural and cultural significance. World Heritage List

Clip Source: www.kilda.org.uk

At 1400ft, Conachair boasts the highest sea cliffs in Britain.

Clip Source: www.kilda.org.uk

The archipelago of St Kilda, the remotest part of the British Isles, lies 41 miles (66 kilometres) west of Benbecula in Scotland's Outer Hebrides.

Tags: st kilda

All in favor, raise your hands

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:17:11 GMT

clipped by: chuckiesf
clipper's remarks: The world's largest salt flat, the Salar de Uyuni, lies 3,676 meters above sea level in southern Bolivia.

Clip Source: www.sfgate.com

Russia may cut off oil flow to the West

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:19:06 GMT

clipped by: amgumen

Clip Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Fears are mounting that Russia may restrict oil deliveries to Western Europe over coming days, in response to the threat of EU sanctions and Nato naval actions in the Black Sea.

Reports have begun to circulate in Moscow that Russian oil companies are under orders from the Kremlin to prepare for a supply cut to Germany and Poland through the Druzhba (Friendship) pipeline. It is believed that executives from lead-producer LUKoil have been put on weekend alert.

Any evidence that the Kremlin is planning to use the oil weapon to intimidate the West could inflame global energy markets. US crude prices jumped to $119 a barrel yesterday on reports of hurricane warnings in the Gulf of Mexico, before falling back slightly.

Armed with $580bn of foreign reserves (the world's third largest), Russia appears willing to risk its reputation as a reliable actor on the international stage in order to pursue geo-strategic ambitions.

We are not afraid of anything, including the prospect of a Cold War," said

Guardian leader on the Russia/Georgia standoff

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:46:05 GMT

clipped by: jimbo1000
clipper's remarks: Why doesn't the BBC in its news bulletins refer to the Georgian opening artillery barrage? It seems to hold an unbalanced brief. Is it being leaned on?

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Russia and the west

Something shattered when the Georgian artillery opened up with a massive barrage on Tskhinvali on August 7

It was a 16-year post-Soviet consensus about the power of Russia to affect the course taken by its neighbours.

The cold, unspoken western calculation was that, the quicker we pushed eastwards

the less Russia could resist

The way to counter the forces unleashed on August 7 is clear: stop rearranging the furniture on Russia's sensitive southern border; stop militarising the Black Sea; stop pretending that this is only a conflict about loftier goals, a simple struggle between authoritarianism and western liberal democracy. The ethnically driven post-Soviet map is more complex than that. Local conflicts should be kept local. As things stand, everything is being done to widen them out to the regional level. As a result, Russia and Nato are sleepwalking into a confrontation that neither needs, and neither has planned for.

Tags: russia, georgia, politics

spain 1

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:48:26 GMT

clipped by: wbeck0823
clipper's remarks: http://www.budgit-travel-blog.com

Clip Source: www.spain.info

San Sebastián

On the shores of the Cantabrian Sea, this city in the Basque Country is one of the most beautiful in northern Spain. You will see for yourself strolling through the Old Town, with its traditional taverns packed with delicious pinchos (miniature culinary creations) to try; or relaxing on majestic beaches such as La Concha Bay; or enjoying the local festivals; or exploring the surrounding area, with beautiful fishing villages and stunning natural landscapes. A perfect holiday plan, for sure.

More information

Enjoy your favourite sport: Water skiing, sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and scuba diving are just a few of the activities available. Don’t miss out. Experience Spain’s marine resorts, where a holiday designed to your specifications awaits.

Are you looking for somewhere to enjoy the holidays with your family? Then Spain is a sure bet. Theme parks, fiestas, sports, countryside, culture, beaches... A host of fun, leisure ideas for all the family.

I wish I can!!!

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 05:44:59 GMT

clipped by: mugofcoffee
clipper's remarks: I wish I can go on this tour...sigh!!!

Clip Source: us.mc544.mail.yahoo.com

Spend your winter holiday discovering fascinating places with National Geographic. Migrate south with your family to track marine life alongside National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Sylvia Earle in the Sea of Cortez. Embrace the season and experience the magic of snow-covered Yellowstone National Park, or be among the first in the world to ring in the New Year while exploring the natural beauty of New Zealand and its Maori culture. Check out some of the places National Geographic Expeditions can take you this holiday season.

Sea of Cortez Family Voyage

December 27–January 3, 2009

Sylvia Earle

Tanzania and Zanzibar

December 27–January 8, 2009
December 29–January 10, 2009

Winter Wildlife in Yellowstone

December 22–27, 2008
December 26–31, 2008
December 28–January 2, 2009

Costa Rica Adventure

December 30–January 6, 2009

Exploring Patagonia

December 29–January 12, 2009

New Zealand Adventure

December 28–January 10, 2009

Israel to Display the Dead Sea Scrolls on the Internet

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 04:01:09 GMT

clipped by: Efrain Alvarado

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

JERUSALEM — In a crowded laboratory painted in gray and cooled like a cave, half a dozen specialists embarked this week on a historic undertaking: digitally photographing every one of the thousands of fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls with the aim of making the entire file — among the most sought-after and examined documents on earth — available to all on the Internet.

The scrolls’ contemporary history has been something of a tortured one because they are among the most important sources of information on Jewish and early Christian life. After their initial discovery they were tightly held by a small circle of scholars. In the last 20 years access has improved significantly, and in 2001 they were published in their entirety. But debate over them seems only to grow.

Tags: scripture

Raft Made Of Junk Crosses Pacific

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:51:41 GMT

clipped by: papananook
clipper's remarks: The tiny plastic particles were even in the stomachs of the fish they caught.

"The solution, we think, is to end the age of disposable plastic like plastic bags, water bottles. ... Single-use plastics have no use in modern society," Eriksen said.

The two JUNK sailors said they hope their voyage will inspire everyone to consider that when we throw plastic away, it most likely ends up in the ocean.

Clip Source: www.local10.com

Related To Story

Video: Junk Raft Sails From Calif. To Hawaii

After three months at sea, what has been dubbed the JUNK raft made it to Hawaii, KITV in Honolulu reported.

The JUNK raft is made from 15,000 plastic bottles and the fuselage of an old Cessna 310. The two eco-mariners wanted to call attention to the environmental problem that plastic poses

As they sailed, they found tiny plastic debris across the ocean.

"So, there's a small particulate of plastic. Little, small, pea-sized fragments was in every sample. So, we have in 50 years turned our ocean into a plastic soup," Eriksen said.

Icebergs Comes In Stripes.

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:25:56 GMT

clipped by: Q-tips

Clip Source: www.crookedbrains.net

The Norwegian sailor Oyvind Tangen when on a research in the Antartic, came across unusual black lines striped through an iceberg.

Most of them appear white due to the tiny bubbles within them that scatter light in all directions. When a crevice in the ice sheet or a part of an iceberg melts and quickly refreezes, then bubbles are not formed and it can appear blue.

When an iceberg falls into the sea, a layer of salty seawater can form ice on its underside. If that is rich in algae, it can form a green stripes. Brown, black and yellow lines are formed by sediments, that might be picked up when the ice sheet is on its way downhill towards the sea.

The Who and Why of Power Supplies

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:04:19 GMT

clipped by: Saxtus
clipper's remarks: Read the entire post, from the source, to see the labels behind those manufacturers and solve the mystery!

Clip Source: forums.nvidia.com

Power Supply Manufacturer TOP 10 (or TOP 5)

Here's something you might not know. Most companies that sell power supplies don't actually make them. They slap a sticker on someone elses unit and sell it as their own (commonly referred to as "rebadged"). While many of them have their own features added to try and niche out a spot in a crowded market, this usually doesn't hurt it's performance and might even improve it functionally, not just add shiny eye candy. Many though, it's just eye candy. And many do absolutely nothing... they just slap a sticker on the side.

Topower

FSP - Fortron Source Power

CWT - Channel Well Technology

Sea Sonic

Wintech

Acbel Polytech

Sirtec

HEC - HeroIchi Electronic Co.

AMS - American Media Systems

Youngyear

ATNG

CRAP!

Tags: psu, power supplies, top 10

Artic sea ice drops to 2nd lowest level on record

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:21:36 GMT

clipped by: moonspirit4ever
clipper's remarks: I'm not easy to convince. A claim has to have proof - there has to be evidence, there has to be numbers, and it has to make sense. After lots of reading, lots of listening, lots of thinking, I now can say that I know global warming is real and potentially devastating. I honestly don't get why some people don't see that.
I know that that most of the people that don't believe aren't stupid or evil. PLEASE stop, take another look, and reconsider the possibility that global warming is happening now and that there will be grave consequences that we need to understand. Some of us on the other side have done that for years. What if you are wrong? You should at least be able to answer that question - I can.

Clip Source: news.yahoo.com

WASHINGTON - More ominous signs Wednesday have scientists saying that a global warming "tipping point" in the Arctic seems to be happening before their eyes: Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is at its second lowest level in about 30 years.

Arctic ice always melts in summer and refreezes in winter. But over the years, more of the ice is lost to the sea with less of it recovered in winter. While ice reflects the sun's heat, the open ocean absorbs more heat and the melting accelerates warming in other parts of the world.

Within "five to less than 10 years," the Arctic could be free of sea ice in the summer, said NASA ice scientist Jay Zwally.

Five climate scientists, four of them specialists on the Arctic, told The Associated Press that it is fair to call what is happening in the Arctic a "tipping point." NASA scientist James Hansen, who sounded the alarm about global warming 20 years ago before Congress, said the sea ice melt "is the best current example" of that.