JUST WHAT IS A GAMMA RAY?

I mentioned gamma radiation recently in reference to a new telescope and those who have seen the new cinematic release know that gamma rays turned Bruce Banner into the Incredible Hulk. So, if it is of any interest to you, here is a brief explaination about gammas. Written in a way that you don't need a doctorate in physics to understand.

When Jurassic Park was initially released, science poo-pooed the idea of resurrecting beasts from the past as being impossible. Well, they should have added the caveat "at this time". As is always the case, what was tomorrrow's pipe dreams is yesterday's "been there, done that." Using DNA from ancient fossils, attempts are being conducted, using chicken eggs, to rebirth creatures from the
past.

If you thought that stealing of body parts was something that only occurred in 3rd-world nations or in old gothic horror stories, then what been going on here in the USA might come as a shock.

We've all heard the term, "Different strokes for different folks" but this guy in Singapore is going to spend 14 years behind bars and get 18 strokes of the cane for his peccadilloes.


"Let's all be careful out there!"

DAILY CHUCKLE

"Let's all be careful out there!"

DUBYA MUST BE WONDERING

WHY HIS WHOLE WORLD IS FALLING APART

But the surprising thing is that McCain has also disagreed with yesterday's Supreme Court decision on the Constitutional Rights of the detainees at Guantanamo and other locations controlled by the USA. Thats scary. Our country was founded with a set of laws that applied to everyone. True, its taken 200+ years to reach the point where it is more fact than fiction but Dubya, and I guess McShame, don't believe in the spirit, the dream, the promise of that document. The last 2 times the Court slapped Dubya's hand for this misbehavior, he had his cronies in the Republican controlled Congress write new laws. This time around he can't, since the GOP has lost its control over both those Houses and the Dems are ready for a bloodlust feeding frenzy after November. Expect to see a lot of Dubya's policies overturned after Inauguration Day.

As far as the candidate's tax policies go, McShame would make sure that business and high income families are protected while Obama will seek to provide relief for middle and lower income families. Both plans would cause deficit increases unless the breaks Dubya gave away to his cronies are reversed.


I love the "Fair & Balanced" coverage that FoxNews is providing. Michelle Obama is worth more than their entire "on-air" staff, put together. So they make a slightly veiled reference to her race by using ghetto street terminology.

I hope all of you are enjoying your weekend. Thanks for taking the time to drop in. I appreciate it.

"Let's all be careful out there!"

DREAM AS IF YOU WILL LIVE FOREVER...

LIVE AS IF YOU ONLY HAVE TODAY

Veteran newscaster Tim Russert passed today at 58 from a heart attack while at work in his Washington DC office with NBC News. I will miss him. I didn't always agree with his views but respected his opinion.


And I thought it was hot in the Central Valley!

The moment may be temporary
The memory is forever

Okay, its a totally gratuitous moment to show off some pretty ladies in bikinis but some studies say that men are affected by this image. Strongly affected. Thought patterns tend to shift from the future to the immediate "here & now".

An engineering professor in Florida has developed a working miniture model of a craft that has no moving parts and is powered by plasma energy. Looking just like a flying saucer from those sci-fright movies of the 1950's. There are still major obstacles to be overcome before it can have practical applications but the vital first step has been taken. The rest is just engineering.

"Let's all be careful out there!"

BOTTOM OF THE BIRD CAGE

25 years on the job, driving emergency vehicles for his community and for the past 20 he hasn't had a driver's license.

On any major highway where there are special transit lanes for vehicles with more than one person, people always try to beat the system.

Given the opportunity, some people will do their darnedest to have sex in the most unusual places. I am not sure what the Vatican has to say about this one.

I've heard of having a bitchy attitude but this woman is over the top.

I think I'll file this one under Mrs. Robinson Syndrome.

Here is a fun quiz to take about recent science news.

Golf Quiz
If you select a wrong answer, the ball moves only so far down the fairway and stops and you are charged with one stroke. Keep selecting the answers that you think are correct and the ball moves down the fairway until you get the right answer and the ball goes in the hole. If you have the correct answer right away, the ball goes directly in the hole.

CLICK

"Let's all be careful out there!"

DAILY CHUCKLE

"Let's all be careful out there!"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

LOLA

Today my "ex" hits another milestone date. As my faithful readers know, a very long time ago I forgot her birthday. I swore that I never would again and I haven't. Even though we've been divorced for 2 decades.

***

Yesterday the US Supreme Court dealt another blow to Dubya & Co. regarding the hostages being held in Gitmo. He wasn't happy.

Just because you're an intelligence officer doesn't mean you are smart.



I know I have some readers from the affected area. Leave a comment, please, about how things are going in your part of the country.

Congress passed a bill to extend unemployment benefits by three additional months. Dubya already has announced he will veto it, but the legislation appears to have enough votes to override him. Why doesn't Dubya want to assist people who are suffering from his failed economic policies and lack of oversight? Does the real world even exist outside his small social circle?

1/3rd of the seats in the Senate are up for grabs in November and the GOP's best wish is that they only lose three of those they already hold. I think thats wishful thinking.

So, is Budweiser going to remain an American beer or will in be taken over (hostile) by Brazilian-Belgian InBev? Or merged (friendly) with the Mexican company Grupo Modelo SA?
Their theme parks may be sent to the auction block


Lets make this simple. What airlines don't charge for extra luggage? Southwest. Thats it.

And USAir is starting to slash and burn capacity and jobs.

Exxon-Mobil is going to off-load their 2,200 gas stations in the US because they are losing money.

Its TGIF and also Friday-the-13th. Do you duck & cover or party hardy? Have a great day and weekend. I'll have more for you later and, of course, more over the weekend. Thanks for stopping by.

"Let's all be careful out there!"

SHUFFLING THROUGH THE BACK PAGES...

Utah is known for being a conservative place. And some parts of the State are more uptight than others. On July 4th, the City of Kanab is going to allow women to wear bikinis (finally) at the public pool. Not g-strings nor thongs but the basic two piece. Oh, and men will be able to wear Speedos, which is probably more offensive than most bathing attire that the women will be donning. I am going to have a nightmare tonight. The image of Roseanne Barr and John Goodman just flashed through my mind. UGH!

In 1974, the town of Easton MD passed an ordinance forbidding a person (gender not specified) from being topless in public buildings or on public streets. For the third time since 2003, the local police have issued a citation for violation of this "blue" law.

Firefox, my favorite browser, is releasing (ver 3.0) on Tuesday. My only problem is that I wonder if my current "skin" and extensions will work on it.

It was 14 years ago, today, that Ronald Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson were slaughtered. And O. J. Simpson is still searching every golf course in America for their killers. Talk about dedication.

While lost forever in the mists of time, today is believed by most people to be when Abner Doubleday invented the game of baseball. Which eventually led to the most boring television programming imaginable.

As I am sure you are aware, tomorrow is Friday the 13th. Actually one of the safest days to do things. Since most people are being extremely cautious.


"Let's all be careful out there!"

ODDS & ENDS - THURSDAY

YouTube now allows you to add annotations to your videos. Plus a few other new features.


The story behind the above video.

Not only are we looking for extra-solar planets, but astronomers are striving to locate moons orbiting said planets. Thats kewl.

Using a "tweaked & peaked" Toyota Prius, researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden CO have been able to achieve 100mpg. American auto makers, as usual, are far behind the curve on this.

It is possible that the oldest Christian church in the world has been discovered in a cave in Jordan.

Would an "antimatter" apple fall UP?

No, unicorns don't really exist but some antlered creatures do have the occasional mutation that might lead to that impression.

This one is in Italy



When its time to face the music, and the "ball breaker" is named Guido, you do whatever it takes.


This lady won a prize that most people would die for.


"Let's all be careful out there!"

DAILY CHUCKLE

"Let's all be careful out there!"

JUDGE NOT...

LEST YE BE JUDGED

Judge Alex Kozinski, of the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Los Angeles, has a wee bit of an embarrassment. He is currently hearing an obscenity appeal and it has been discovered that he had downloaded mild porn on a website that he thought was private. Opps. It was publicly accessible.

I'll keep posting notices about the upcoming (February 17th, 2009) change over from analog to digital TV of over the air broadcasts. It won't affect most people who get their TV from cable or sat-dish, but there are 13 million who only get their TV over the air.

Do you suffer from sleep apnea? Many people do and new studies indicate this condition can cause brain damage and memory loss. I don't remember whether I suffer from this or not.

The Phoenix Mars Lander has finally loaded some Martian soil into its oven to begin its search for evidence of past life on the red planet.

Pluto was downgraded from full planet status and reclassified as a dwarf planet a while back. Now all future bodies of a similar nature will be called Plutoids. Seems fitting.

Yesterday marked the anniversary of the discovery of the Great Barrier Reef by Capt. James Cook in 1770. Well, discovery may be a serendipitous misnomer. He actually ran aground on it. What we used to call "creative report writing" when I was a cop.


I am not sure about other countries, but Sunday is Father's Day here in the States. To show its true importance, the average Mother's Day expenditures are $1,400. Dad is lucky if he gets $50 spent on him.

Have a great day everyone. I'll be back with more later. Thank you very much for coming over.

"Let's all be careful out there!"

SIGNS, SIGNS,

EVERYWHERE THERES SIGNS

Sign over a Gynecologist's Office:

'Dr. Jones, at your cervix.'

**************************

In a Podiatrist's office:

'Time wounds all heels.'

**************************

On a Septic Tank Truck:

Yesterday's Meals on Wheels

**************************

At a Proctologist's door:

'To expedite your visit, please back in.'

**************************

On a Plumber's truck:

'We repair what your husband fixed.'

**************************

On another Plumber's truck:

'Don't sleep with a drip. Call your plumber.'

**************************

On a Church's Bill board:

'7 days without God makes one weak.'

**************************

At a Tire Shop in Milwaukee:

'Invite us to your next blowout.'

**************************

At a Towing company:

'We don't charge an arm and a leg. We want tows.'

**************************

On an Electrician's truck:

'Let us remove your shorts.'

**************************

In a Nonsmoking Area:

'If we see smoke, we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action.'

**************************

On a Maternity Room door:

'Push. Push. Push.'

**************************

At an Optometrist's Office:

'If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place.'

**************************

On a Taxidermist's window:

'We really know our stuff.'

**************************

On a Fence:

'Salesmen welcome! Dog food is expensive!'

**************************

At a Car Dealership:

'The best way to get back on your feet - miss a car payment.'

**************************

Outside a Muffler Shop:

'Come on in; we know you're here.'

**************************

In a Veterinarian's waiting room:

'Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!'

**************************

At the Electric Company

'We would be delighted if you send in your payment.

However, if you don't, you will be.'

**************************

In a Restaurant window:

'Don't stand there hungry; come on in and get fed up.'

**************************

In the front yard of a Funeral Home:

'Drive carefully. We'll wait.'

************

At a Propane Filling Station:

'Thank heaven for little grills.'

**************************

And don't forget the sign at a CHICAGO RADIATOR SHOP:

'Best place in town to take a leak.'

********************

Sign on the back of another Septic Tank Truck:

'Caution - This Truck is full of Political Promises'


"Let's all be careful out there!"