New Scientist 'Mental typewriter' controlled by thought alone - Breaking News: "A computer controlled by the power of thought alone has been demonstrated at a major trade fair in Germany.
The device could provide a way for paralysed patients to operate computers, or for amputees to operate electronically controlled artificial limbs. But it also has non-medical applications, such as in the computer games and entertainment industries."
11.3.06
Gallup: More Than Half of Americans Reject Evolution, Back Bible
Gallup: More Than Half of Americans Reject Evolution, Back Bible: "NEW YORK A Gallup report released today reveals that more than half of all Americans, rejecting evolution theory and scientific evidence, agree with the statement, 'God created man exactly how Bible describes it.'
Another 31% says that man did evolve, but 'God guided.' Only 12% back evolution and say 'God had no part.'
Gallup summarized it this way: 'Surveys repeatedly show that a substantial portion of Americans do not believe that the theory of evolution best explains where life came from.' They are 'not so quick to agree with the preponderance of scientific evidence.'
The report was written by the director of the The Gallup Poll, Frank Newport.
Breaking down the numbers, Gallup finds that Republican backing for what it calls 'God created human beings in present form' stands at 57% with Democrats at 44%.
Support for this Bible view rises steadily with age: from 43% for those 18 to 29, to 59% for those 65 and older. It declines steadily with education, dropping from 58% for those with high school degrees to a still-substantial 25% with postgraduate degrees. "
Another 31% says that man did evolve, but 'God guided.' Only 12% back evolution and say 'God had no part.'
Gallup summarized it this way: 'Surveys repeatedly show that a substantial portion of Americans do not believe that the theory of evolution best explains where life came from.' They are 'not so quick to agree with the preponderance of scientific evidence.'
The report was written by the director of the The Gallup Poll, Frank Newport.
Breaking down the numbers, Gallup finds that Republican backing for what it calls 'God created human beings in present form' stands at 57% with Democrats at 44%.
Support for this Bible view rises steadily with age: from 43% for those 18 to 29, to 59% for those 65 and older. It declines steadily with education, dropping from 58% for those with high school degrees to a still-substantial 25% with postgraduate degrees. "
7.3.06
BBC NEWS | Business | US government near to debt limit
BBC NEWS | Business | US government near to debt limit: "US government near to debt limit
US Treasury Secretary John Snow
John Snow is asking Congress to approve more borrowing
US Treasury Secretary John Snow has told Congress to raise the government's credit limit in order to avoid having some of its operations shut down.
The government needs Congressional authority to borrow and the total accumulated debt is now close to its limit of $8.2 trillion (�4.7 trillion).
If the limit is not increased, the government could find it difficult to pay debts or borrow money.
Congress is expected to agree to an extension, averting any debt crisis.
Massive deficits
In a letter to Congress, Mr Snow said he has already taken 'prudent and legal actions' to avoid reaching the debt limit.
These include tapping the civil service pension funds and using the $15bn in the Exchange Stabilisation Fund, a reserve held for smoothing out volatile movements in the value of the dollar in currency markets.
But the Treasury has warned that such measures will only postpone the credit deadline until mid-March, when an extension will be needed.
This is the fourth time George W Bush's administration has asked Congress to raise the government debt limit.
His administration has produced a series of massive deficits, brought on by the post dot-com recession, tax cuts, the September 11 attacks and wars and reconstruction in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The US government has never defaulted on its debts, and to do so would destroy its credit rating and raise the cost of any future borrowing."
US Treasury Secretary John Snow
John Snow is asking Congress to approve more borrowing
US Treasury Secretary John Snow has told Congress to raise the government's credit limit in order to avoid having some of its operations shut down.
The government needs Congressional authority to borrow and the total accumulated debt is now close to its limit of $8.2 trillion (�4.7 trillion).
If the limit is not increased, the government could find it difficult to pay debts or borrow money.
Congress is expected to agree to an extension, averting any debt crisis.
Massive deficits
In a letter to Congress, Mr Snow said he has already taken 'prudent and legal actions' to avoid reaching the debt limit.
These include tapping the civil service pension funds and using the $15bn in the Exchange Stabilisation Fund, a reserve held for smoothing out volatile movements in the value of the dollar in currency markets.
But the Treasury has warned that such measures will only postpone the credit deadline until mid-March, when an extension will be needed.
This is the fourth time George W Bush's administration has asked Congress to raise the government debt limit.
His administration has produced a series of massive deficits, brought on by the post dot-com recession, tax cuts, the September 11 attacks and wars and reconstruction in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The US government has never defaulted on its debts, and to do so would destroy its credit rating and raise the cost of any future borrowing."
5.3.06
WSJ.com - Capital
WSJ.com - Capital: "American families had net worth -- the value of houses, cars, 401(k) plans, stock portfolios and saving accounts minus mortgages and other debts -- of $50 trillion in 2004, according to the Fed. Its estimate is based on surveys of 4,522 families, with special efforts to include the rich.
How much better off than others are the wealthy?
Those in the 90th percentile -- not Bill Gates or Warren Buffett, but those with bigger balance sheets than 90% of American families -- had net worth of $831,600 in 2004.
That's nearly nine times the $93,100 held by the family at the statistical middle. And it's 62 times the net worth of families at the 25th percentile, the ones who don't have much, but have more than the poorest 25%, many of whom have more debts than assets."
How much better off than others are the wealthy?
Those in the 90th percentile -- not Bill Gates or Warren Buffett, but those with bigger balance sheets than 90% of American families -- had net worth of $831,600 in 2004.
That's nearly nine times the $93,100 held by the family at the statistical middle. And it's 62 times the net worth of families at the 25th percentile, the ones who don't have much, but have more than the poorest 25%, many of whom have more debts than assets."
4.3.06
BBC NEWS | Europe | Soviets 'ordered Pope shooting'
BBC NEWS | Europe | Soviets 'ordered Pope shooting': "An Italian parliamentary commission has concluded that the former Soviet Union was behind the 1981 assassination attempt on the late Pope John Paul II."
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Altruism 'in-built' in humans
BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Altruism 'in-built' in humans: "Dr Warneken and colleague Professor Michael Tomasello wanted to see whether very young children who had not yet learned social skills were willing to help strangers.
Our closest living relative, the chimp, also shows rudimentary helping behaviour
The experimenters performed simple tasks like dropping a clothes peg out of reach while hanging clothes on a line, or mis-stacking a pile of books.
Nearly all of the group of 24 18-month-olds helped by picking up the peg or the book, usually in the first 10 seconds of the experiment.
They only did this if they believed the researcher needed the object to complete the task - if it was thrown on the ground deliberately, they didn't pick it up.
'The results were astonishing because these children are so young - they still wear diapers and are barely able to use language, but they already show helping behaviour,' said Felix Warneken."
Our closest living relative, the chimp, also shows rudimentary helping behaviour
The experimenters performed simple tasks like dropping a clothes peg out of reach while hanging clothes on a line, or mis-stacking a pile of books.
Nearly all of the group of 24 18-month-olds helped by picking up the peg or the book, usually in the first 10 seconds of the experiment.
They only did this if they believed the researcher needed the object to complete the task - if it was thrown on the ground deliberately, they didn't pick it up.
'The results were astonishing because these children are so young - they still wear diapers and are barely able to use language, but they already show helping behaviour,' said Felix Warneken."
3.3.06
Wired 14.03: START
Wired 14.03: START: "A123's real target, however, is your car. Chiang says A123's cells could lighten a Toyota Prius' 100-pound battery by as much as 80 percent and help boost any hybrid's performance. The quick recharging time - the M1 takes five minutes to reach 90 percent capacity - plus high peak power also would be ideal for plug-in versions of gas-electric vehicles. With a bit more research, the world's roads may someday see fast, zero-carbon autos that zip past gas guzzlers and tank up from the grid faster than a rest-stop Starbucks can serve you a latte."
2.3.06
Adelphia.net - News
Adelphia.net - News: "LONDON (AP) — A Scottish distillery said Monday it was reviving a centuries-old recipe for whisky so strong that one 17th-century writer feared more than two spoonfuls could be lethal."
Blair's wife takes swipe at US over Guantanamo - World - smh.com.au
Blair's wife takes swipe at US over Guantanamo - World - smh.com.au: "Cherie Booth, the wife of Britain's Prime Minister described torture as 'the terrorism of the state, usually practised for the same reasons that terrorists use violence: to break the will of those they cannot persuade by lawful means.'"
25.2.06
Cheney's Canned Kill, and Other Hunting Excesses of the Bush Administration
Cheney's Canned Kill, and Other Hunting Excesses of the Bush Administration: "Vice President Dick Cheney went pheasant shooting in Pennsylvania in December 2003, but unlike most of his fellow hunters across America, he didn't have to spend hours or even days tramping the fields and hedgerows in hopes of bagging a brace of birds for the dinner table.
Upon his arrival at the exclusive Rolling Rock Club in Ligonier Township, gamekeepers released 500 pen-raised pheasants from nets for the benefit of him and his party. In a blaze of gunfire, the group—which included legendary Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach and U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), along with major fundraisers for Republican candidates—killed at least 417 of the birds. According to one gamekeeper who spoke to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Cheney was credited with shooting more than 70 of the pen-reared fowl.
After lunch, the group shot flocks of mallard ducks, also reared in pens and shot like so many live skeet. There's been no report on the number of mallards the hunting party killed, but it's likely that hundreds fell.
Rolling Rock is an exclusive private club for the wealthy with a world-class golf course and a closed membership list. It is also a 'canned hunting' operation—a place where fee-paying hunters blast away at released animals, whether birds or mammals, who often have no reasonable chance to escape. Most are 'no kill, no pay' operations where patrons only shells out funds for the animals they kill.
Bird-shooting operations offer pheasants, quail, partridges, and mallard ducks, often dizzying the birds and planting them in front of hunters or tossing them from towers toward waiting shotguns. There are, perhaps, more than 3,000 such operations in the United States, according to outdoor writer Ted Williams."
Upon his arrival at the exclusive Rolling Rock Club in Ligonier Township, gamekeepers released 500 pen-raised pheasants from nets for the benefit of him and his party. In a blaze of gunfire, the group—which included legendary Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach and U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), along with major fundraisers for Republican candidates—killed at least 417 of the birds. According to one gamekeeper who spoke to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Cheney was credited with shooting more than 70 of the pen-reared fowl.
After lunch, the group shot flocks of mallard ducks, also reared in pens and shot like so many live skeet. There's been no report on the number of mallards the hunting party killed, but it's likely that hundreds fell.
Rolling Rock is an exclusive private club for the wealthy with a world-class golf course and a closed membership list. It is also a 'canned hunting' operation—a place where fee-paying hunters blast away at released animals, whether birds or mammals, who often have no reasonable chance to escape. Most are 'no kill, no pay' operations where patrons only shells out funds for the animals they kill.
Bird-shooting operations offer pheasants, quail, partridges, and mallard ducks, often dizzying the birds and planting them in front of hunters or tossing them from towers toward waiting shotguns. There are, perhaps, more than 3,000 such operations in the United States, according to outdoor writer Ted Williams."
24.2.06
Animal Planet :: News :: Power from Dog Poo
Animal Planet :: News :: Power from Dog Poo: "Feb. 23, 2006 — San Francisco is hoping to convert its dog dung into energy that may be able to power everything from an electricity-generating turbine to a home stove, according to Norcal Waste Systems Inc., which oversees garbage collection, recycling and disposal for San Francisco and several other Northern California cities."
23.2.06
Capitol Hill Blue: Secret Service agents say Cheney was drunk when he shot lawyer
Capitol Hill Blue: Secret Service agents say Cheney was drunk when he shot lawyer: "Secret Service agents say Cheney was drunk when he shot lawyer
By DOUG THOMPSON
Feb 22, 2006
Secret Service agents guarding Vice President Dick Cheney when he shot Texas lawyer Harry Whittington on a hunting outing two weeks ago say Cheney was 'clearly inebriated' at the time of the shooting.
Agents observed several members of the hunting party, including the Vice President, consuming alcohol before and during the hunting expedition, the report notes, and Cheney exhibited 'visible signs' of impairment, including slurred speech and erratic actions."
By DOUG THOMPSON
Feb 22, 2006
Secret Service agents guarding Vice President Dick Cheney when he shot Texas lawyer Harry Whittington on a hunting outing two weeks ago say Cheney was 'clearly inebriated' at the time of the shooting.
Agents observed several members of the hunting party, including the Vice President, consuming alcohol before and during the hunting expedition, the report notes, and Cheney exhibited 'visible signs' of impairment, including slurred speech and erratic actions."
17.2.06
Vietnam latest news - Thanh Nien Daily
Vietnam latest news - Thanh Nien Daily: "Vietnam man handles three decades without sleep
As songbirds awaken the early risers at dawn on the farm, one resident is already up; in fact, he never slept – not once in the past 33 years."
As songbirds awaken the early risers at dawn on the farm, one resident is already up; in fact, he never slept – not once in the past 33 years."
15.2.06
BBC NEWS | Americas | Man Cheney shot has heart attack
BBC NEWS | Americas | Man Cheney shot has heart attack: "Man Cheney shot has heart attack
American Vice-President Dick Cheney
Cheney has refused to comment publicly on the incident
The lawyer shot by US Vice-President Dick Cheney in a hunting accident has suffered a minor heart attack, a Texas hospital spokesman has said.
He said Harry Whittington, 78, suffered a heartbeat irregularity caused by a pellet lodged in his heart.
Mr Whittington was moved back into intensive care on Tuesday and will be treated for at least another week."
American Vice-President Dick Cheney
Cheney has refused to comment publicly on the incident
The lawyer shot by US Vice-President Dick Cheney in a hunting accident has suffered a minor heart attack, a Texas hospital spokesman has said.
He said Harry Whittington, 78, suffered a heartbeat irregularity caused by a pellet lodged in his heart.
Mr Whittington was moved back into intensive care on Tuesday and will be treated for at least another week."
WOAI: San Antonio News - Pizza Toppings Tell All
WOAI: San Antonio News - Pizza Toppings Tell All: "“The combinations of pizza eaters’ favorite toppings show a correlation between those toppings and their behavior,” according to Dr. Hirsch.
'What the Toppings Tell'
The study examined how pizza-topping preferences translate into personality.
Non-traditionalists
Those who prefer non-traditional toppings such as pineapple and onion tend to be aggressive, achievement-oriented, natural leaders. They do not easily suffer fools.
Pepperoni Please
People who prefer traditional, single meat toppings described themselves as being irritable, argumentative, procrastinators, who frequently conveniently “forget” obligations at work and at home.
Meat Fanatics
Those who preferred traditional, multiple meat toppings are dramatic, seductive extroverts who thrive as the center of attention. They crave novelty in all aspects of their life, are fashionable and impeccably groomed.
One Veggie Please
Pizza eaters who prefer traditional, vegetable, one-topping pizzas are empathetic, understanding, well adjusted and easy going, making them the ideal parents.
Pile on the Veggies
Those who prefer multiple vegetable toppings are trustworthy, loyal and dependable. They value friendship as the ultimate manifestation of life’s ideals. They function best in a group environment. They are humble, introverted, and avoid the spotlight.
Additional study findings revealed:
•People are passionate about pizza. Forty-four percent of respondents agreed completely that they are passionate about their pizza topping choices.
•I eat pepperoni, therefore I am. Nearly two-thirds of respondents somewhat or completely agreed that their pizza topping choices reflect their personalities.
•Pizza eaters seem stuck in their ways. Forty-eight percent say they would never try new pizza topping combinations, while 38 percent say they order the same pizza every time.
•Meat edges out the veggies. Sixty-seven percent prefer meat and cheese toppings over vegetable and cheese toppings.
•Toppings rule. When asked if their dream pizza would have more or less toppings, nearly 60 percent opted for a fully loaded pizza. Twenty-seven percent think 10 toppings would constitute their dream pizza."
'What the Toppings Tell'
The study examined how pizza-topping preferences translate into personality.
Non-traditionalists
Those who prefer non-traditional toppings such as pineapple and onion tend to be aggressive, achievement-oriented, natural leaders. They do not easily suffer fools.
Pepperoni Please
People who prefer traditional, single meat toppings described themselves as being irritable, argumentative, procrastinators, who frequently conveniently “forget” obligations at work and at home.
Meat Fanatics
Those who preferred traditional, multiple meat toppings are dramatic, seductive extroverts who thrive as the center of attention. They crave novelty in all aspects of their life, are fashionable and impeccably groomed.
One Veggie Please
Pizza eaters who prefer traditional, vegetable, one-topping pizzas are empathetic, understanding, well adjusted and easy going, making them the ideal parents.
Pile on the Veggies
Those who prefer multiple vegetable toppings are trustworthy, loyal and dependable. They value friendship as the ultimate manifestation of life’s ideals. They function best in a group environment. They are humble, introverted, and avoid the spotlight.
Additional study findings revealed:
•People are passionate about pizza. Forty-four percent of respondents agreed completely that they are passionate about their pizza topping choices.
•I eat pepperoni, therefore I am. Nearly two-thirds of respondents somewhat or completely agreed that their pizza topping choices reflect their personalities.
•Pizza eaters seem stuck in their ways. Forty-eight percent say they would never try new pizza topping combinations, while 38 percent say they order the same pizza every time.
•Meat edges out the veggies. Sixty-seven percent prefer meat and cheese toppings over vegetable and cheese toppings.
•Toppings rule. When asked if their dream pizza would have more or less toppings, nearly 60 percent opted for a fully loaded pizza. Twenty-seven percent think 10 toppings would constitute their dream pizza."
Telegraph | News | UN inquiry demands immediate closure of Guantanamo
Telegraph | News | UN inquiry demands immediate closure of Guantanamo: "
UN inquiry demands immediate closure of Guantanamo
By Con Coughlin, Defence and Security Editor in New York
(Filed: 13/02/2006)
A United Nations inquiry has called for the immediate closure of America's Guantanamo Bay detention centre and the prosecution of officers and politicians 'up to the highest level' who are accused of torturing detainees.
The UN Human Rights Commission report, due to be published this week, concludes that Washington should put the 520 detainees on trial or release them."
UN inquiry demands immediate closure of Guantanamo
By Con Coughlin, Defence and Security Editor in New York
(Filed: 13/02/2006)
A United Nations inquiry has called for the immediate closure of America's Guantanamo Bay detention centre and the prosecution of officers and politicians 'up to the highest level' who are accused of torturing detainees.
The UN Human Rights Commission report, due to be published this week, concludes that Washington should put the 520 detainees on trial or release them."
Beer comment scrubbed from NBC story - ThoughtCrimes.org
Beer comment scrubbed from NBC story - ThoughtCrimes.org: "Alert reader StickDog at DU caught this tidbit. When first posted, NBC news quoted Katharine Armstrong as saying:
'There may be a beer or two in there,' she said, 'but remember not everyone in the party was shooting.'.
About an hour later, the quote was deleted from the story.
The original text was captured by Google and you can see it here.
BushCo still has major clout as they managed to remove even this small mention of alcohol.
It begins to make sense that Cheney refused to speak with a deputy until later Sunday morning, if there was a danger of the deputy would smell beer or notice Cheney was obviously drunk."
'There may be a beer or two in there,' she said, 'but remember not everyone in the party was shooting.'.
About an hour later, the quote was deleted from the story.
The original text was captured by Google and you can see it here.
BushCo still has major clout as they managed to remove even this small mention of alcohol.
It begins to make sense that Cheney refused to speak with a deputy until later Sunday morning, if there was a danger of the deputy would smell beer or notice Cheney was obviously drunk."
12.2.06
Cheney Accidentally Shoots Fellow Hunter - Yahoo! News
Cheney Accidentally Shoots Fellow Hunter - Yahoo! News: "WASHINGTON - Vice President
Dick Cheney accidentally shot and wounded a companion during a weekend quail hunting trip in Texas, spraying the fellow hunter in the face and chest with shotgun pellets."
Dick Cheney accidentally shot and wounded a companion during a weekend quail hunting trip in Texas, spraying the fellow hunter in the face and chest with shotgun pellets."
Latest Business News and Financial Information | Reuters.com
Latest Business News and Financial Information | Reuters.com: "HOUSTON (Reuters) - The United States will always rely on foreign imports of oil to feed its energy needs and should stop trying to become energy independent, a top Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) executive said on Tuesday.
'Realistically, it is simply not feasible in any time period relevant to our discussion today,' Exxon Mobil Senior Vice President Stuart McGill said, referring to what he called the 'misperception' that the United States can achieve energy independence.
The comments, in a speech at an energy conference in Houston, come a few days after U.S. President George W. Bush declared America was addicted to Middle Eastern oil and promised to help the country kick the habit."
'Realistically, it is simply not feasible in any time period relevant to our discussion today,' Exxon Mobil Senior Vice President Stuart McGill said, referring to what he called the 'misperception' that the United States can achieve energy independence.
The comments, in a speech at an energy conference in Houston, come a few days after U.S. President George W. Bush declared America was addicted to Middle Eastern oil and promised to help the country kick the habit."
10.2.06
Sweden Plans to Be World's First Oil-Free Economy
Sweden Plans to Be World's First Oil-Free Economy: "Sweden Plans to Be World's First Oil-Free Economy
15-year limit set for switch to renewable energy
Biofuels favoured over further nuclear power
by John Vidal
Sweden is to take the biggest energy step of any advanced western economy by trying to wean itself off oil completely within 15 years - without building a new generation of nuclear power stations.
Sweden...gets almost all its electricity from nuclear and hydroelectric power, and relies on fossil fuels mainly for transport. Almost all its heating has been converted in the past decade to schemes which distribute steam or hot water generated by geothermal energy or waste heat.
The attempt by the country of 9 million people to become the world's first practically oil-free economy is being planned by a committee of industrialists, academics, farmers, car makers, civil servants and others, who will report to parliament in several months.
The intention, the Swedish government said yesterday, is to replace all fossil fuels with renewables before climate change destroys economies and growing oil scarcity leads to huge new price rises.
'Our dependency on oil should be broken by 2020,' said Mona Sahlin, minister of sustainable development. 'There shall always be better alternatives to oil, which means no house should need oil for heating, and no driver should need to turn solely to gasoline.'
According to the energy committee of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, there is growing concern that global oil supplies are peaking and will shortly dwindle, and that a global economic recession could result from high oil prices.
Ms Sahlin has described oil dependency as one of the greatest problems facing the world. 'A Sweden free of fossil fuels would give us enormous advantages, not least by reducing the impact from fluctuations in oil prices,' she said. 'The price of oil has tripled since 1996.'
A government official said: 'We want to be both mentally and technically prepared for a world without oil. The plan is a response to global climate change, rising petroleum prices and warnings by some experts that the world may soon be running out of oil.'"
15-year limit set for switch to renewable energy
Biofuels favoured over further nuclear power
by John Vidal
Sweden is to take the biggest energy step of any advanced western economy by trying to wean itself off oil completely within 15 years - without building a new generation of nuclear power stations.
Sweden...gets almost all its electricity from nuclear and hydroelectric power, and relies on fossil fuels mainly for transport. Almost all its heating has been converted in the past decade to schemes which distribute steam or hot water generated by geothermal energy or waste heat.
The attempt by the country of 9 million people to become the world's first practically oil-free economy is being planned by a committee of industrialists, academics, farmers, car makers, civil servants and others, who will report to parliament in several months.
The intention, the Swedish government said yesterday, is to replace all fossil fuels with renewables before climate change destroys economies and growing oil scarcity leads to huge new price rises.
'Our dependency on oil should be broken by 2020,' said Mona Sahlin, minister of sustainable development. 'There shall always be better alternatives to oil, which means no house should need oil for heating, and no driver should need to turn solely to gasoline.'
According to the energy committee of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, there is growing concern that global oil supplies are peaking and will shortly dwindle, and that a global economic recession could result from high oil prices.
Ms Sahlin has described oil dependency as one of the greatest problems facing the world. 'A Sweden free of fossil fuels would give us enormous advantages, not least by reducing the impact from fluctuations in oil prices,' she said. 'The price of oil has tripled since 1996.'
A government official said: 'We want to be both mentally and technically prepared for a world without oil. The plan is a response to global climate change, rising petroleum prices and warnings by some experts that the world may soon be running out of oil.'"
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