Trick-or-Treat

We had a big night here for trick-or-treaters--we got a grand total of 11!! For us, that is a good night. Because we live at the bottom of the hill on a dead end street, not many kids venture down our way. Besides, it is one of the darkest streets in town--don't know why they can't add another street light!

While we didn't have snow tonight, it looks as if we might be getting some tomorrow. However, we probably won't get any here in the city--the lake protects us so much by keeping us just that much warmer than the surrounding areas. Right now the temp is 40 degrees, but the wind chill is down around 32 with winds gusting to 30mph. I can really feel the change in the temp--it is a bit chilly here in the house because we haven't removed our air conditioners yet. Hopefully that will be done this weekend.

Now that Halloween is done, we have moved--officially--into The Season! And I am trying to put off my depression as long as possible. I felt it coming on about a week or so back--I told K that 'it's that time of year, again' and he just gave me one of those looks. So sorry, but this is the worst time of the year for me and the only way I could be happy during the season is if we would go somewhere far, far away for the Christmas holidays. Disney World might be nice, but I'm flexible. A resort might be nice, too. Just to go somewhere different that wouldn't remind me of everything--that would be heaven.

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Plenty more sexy witches at the sexy witch blog

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Randomness

--This week The Nephew is not with us. He came into town on Monday to talk to his teachers and to let us know he will be at home all week. The reason? His mother's brother was killed as a result of an ATV accident. How awful for The Nephew--first his dad's accident and now this!

--We just had the second of a number of repairs made to the Jimmy. For a while now, the interior electrical hasn't been right--the dome light doesn't always turn off, the radio goes off when the key is turned off (the radio is supposed to stay on for 20 minutes as long as the door isn't opened), etc. Turns out the switch in the door crapped out and needed replacing. This was caused by a problem with the door hinges, which need to be replaced. Also, we had the light come on telling us to have the 4-wheel drive checked--AND the other day, it got locked into 4-lo. (I guess K had a whole lot of fun driving down the highway to get it to the garage!) This, too, turned out to be an electrical problem and wasn't a big fix. I think we will have to seriously think about replacing the Jimmy or face nickel and dimeing(sp) ourselves to death!

--Once again, I have decided to lose some weight. HA!!! Anyway, considering my health--thyroid, over the age of forty, menopause, etc--everything points to my having to limit my carbs in order to lose at all. This, of course, brings me back to the South Beach Diet. I have done well on it at other times, so I'm hoping it will work again. I'm just waiting for my carb-cravings to go away!!!! And it DOESN'T help me one bit to have the Halloween candy calling me from the other room!

--So, in order to eat right to lose weight, I had to go grocery shopping. I can't believe HOW MUCH I SPENT! All we read and hear is how fat America is getting and how we have to eat right to maintain healthy weights, etc, etc. Well, try telling this to someone who can lower the price of healthful (I HATE using that word--'healthy' sounds so much better) foods! I'm telling ya, you have to have a damn good income in order to eat well! It is so much cheaper to eat a meal of Hamburger Helper than it is to eat fresh vegetables and lean meat! This just DOESN'T seem right on so many levels.

--It looks like we WON'T have snow for the trick-or-treaters. This, of course, is a rarity here--most years, kids have to wear their costumes over their snowsuits! However, it probably WILL rain and the wind will be gusty, so maybe it won't feel much different after all.

--I was talking to a friend the other night and she had to share something with me. She was talking to her cousin the other day: he was a year ahead of us in school, one of the popular kids (NOT someone I hung out with), and the leader of the 'in-crowd'. During their talk, they must have started talking about me, because he told her that he thought I was 'hot' in school. Well, thank the hell out of you!!!! Where were you when I was experiencing the worst years of my life: high school? Gee whiz--if I had only known. This is the third person who either wanted to date me or who thought more of me than I ever expected, while we were in school, and I never knew a thing about it. I really could have had a lot of fun during those years, if...OR I would have turned into a total slut. Either way, I wouldn't have wanted to slit my wrists with a wet noodle, that's for sure! :)

--And I can't close this without talking about my Red Wings. The game they played on Sunday was absolutely amazing. They beat the Canucks 3-2 and played a very good game. It was doubly good because they are on the west coast, and those games are brutal! Filppula had an assist, so this was two games in a row he had points--GO FIL!!!

Tonight, they played the Oilers. While they didn't play as well as they did the other night, they managed to get the first goal and keep it tied throughout the rest of the game. As the game was winding down, with 25 seconds left, I was thinking, "DAMN! Now it has to go to overtime." and the most amazing thing happened: Filppula totally beat Roloson on the short side and won the game! Baby Boy is on a roll! He now has 4 points in three games--2 goals and 2 assists.

The Wings now have a six-game winning streak going. Z got his tenth goal of the season and this has him tied for first place--he has now had at least one point in every one of this season's games. And he still is at the top of the list in points for the NHL AND he has the most goals. Holmstrom isn't that far ahead with 14 points and 8 goals. Osgood has won all of the games he has started so far--not bad for a back-up goalie! Not bad at all. I can't let myself get my hopes up, however. After all, this is JUST the start of the season--but it has been fantastic so far.





--Edmonton Oilers' Dick Tarnstrom, left, and goalie Dwayne Roloson can't stop Detroit Red Wings' Valtteri Flippula from scoring the 2-1 winning goal, during the third period of NHL hockey action, at Edmonton's Rexall Place on Tuesday, October 30, 2007.
(AP Photo/John Ulan, The Canadian Press)--

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The Detroit Red Wings played the Edmonton Oilers and won in the last minute of the third period.
Pavel Datsyuk assisted to Filppula for the winning goal and Lidstrom made the assist to Zetterberg for the first goal in a win of 2-1.
Datsyuk playing as usual with magnificent steals and amazing puck handling.

Players of the game to me were?
Cleary, Osgood, Datsyuk, Zetterburg, Lidstrom.

To name a few...

As a whole the team did very well.

Link to Pavel Datsyuk

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Where have I been? Red Wings do not elude me, I just
put off working.
Anyways, here is a couple of videos to watch...

53 sec


4 minutes 24 sec

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The US is secretly upgrading special stealth bomber hangars on the British island protectorate of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean in preparation for strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, according to military sources.

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Guantanamo military lawyer breaks ranks to condemn 'unconscionable' detention

The army major has said that in the rare circumstances in which it was decided that the detainees were no longer enemy combatants, senior commanders ordered another panel to reverse the decision.

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Bush Fundraiser Linked To CIA Drug Plane

The links between recent owners of the two drug planes, discovered during an examination of FAA registration records, suggest a continuing criminal conspiracy to engage in massive drug trafficking, involving Republican fund-raisers Adams and Senator Mel Martinez, Saudi arms dealer Khashoggi, prominent oligarchs in the Russian Mob, dirty San Diego defense contractor Titan Corp., as well as elements of American military and civilian intelligence.

American academics like Dr. Alfred McCoy have led the way in pointing out the hypocritical attitude nurtured by U.S. officials. Peter Moskos, for example, a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York and a former police officer, says it is hard to fathom how perhaps billions of dollars could be handled by the drug cartels without high-level players on U.S. soil.

It is apparent that the ‘boys” are still using the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport. And perhaps, instead of using weapons flights to provide protection, they may now be using the transfer of prisoners to the American .

Or as Hopsicker sometimes puts it: Who are the American Drug Lords?

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The Christian Broadcast Network's Halloween Tips:

There are many message-driven alternatives to offer, other than a bowl full of candy. For instance, there are Gospel tracts designed for trick-or-treaters that can be purchased online or at your Christian bookstore.

To counter the evil influence of Halloween, we need to join together and celebrate the reality of the heroic efforts of Christian saints over the evil in their day. Many leaders in the past -- and present -- have fulfilled the mandate of destroying the works of the devil through their sacrificial commitment to Christ and His Kingdom.

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Dusty Galaxies Yield Up Hundreds Of Black Holes

A long-lost population of active supermassive black holes, or quasars, has been uncovered by NASA's Spitzer and Chandra space telescopes. This image, taken with Spitzer's infrared vision, shows a fraction of these black holes, which are located deep in the bellies of distant, massive galaxies (circled in blue). This image was taken by Spitzer's multiband imaging photometer at a wavelength of 24 microns. It shows the faintest distant objects ever observed with Spitzer at this wavelength. -- Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique

Dusty Galaxies Yield Up Hundreds Of Black Holes

Astronomers using specialized NASA telescopes have found hundreds of quasar/black holes hiding deep inside dusty galaxies billions of light-years away.

For decades, astronomers have long suspected that the universe held more quasars/black holes but were unable to discover where to look to find them until recently.

The newfound quasars are helping answer fundamental questions about how massive galaxies evolve. For example, astronomers have learned that most massive galaxies steadily build up their stars and black holes simultaneously until they get too big and their black holes suppress star formation.

The observations also suggest that collisions between galaxies might not play as large a role in galaxy evolution as previously believed, here on this Oblate Spheroid.

A growing black hole, called a quasar, can be seen at the center of a faraway galaxy in this artist's concept. Astronomers using NASA's Spitzer and Chandra space telescopes discovered swarms of similar quasars hiding in dusty galaxies in the distant universe. The Spitzer observations were made as part of the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey program, which aims to image the faintest distant galaxies using a variety of wavelengths. -- Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

This from NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Mission News -

Missing Black Hole Report: Hundreds Found!
NASA -- Pasadena, Calif. -- 10.25.07

Astronomers have unmasked hundreds of black holes hiding deep inside dusty galaxies billions of light-years away.

The massive, growing black holes, discovered by NASA's Spitzer and Chandra space telescopes, represent a large fraction of a long-sought missing population. Their discovery implies there were hundreds of millions of additional black holes growing in our young universe, more than doubling the total amount known at that distance.

"Active, supermassive black holes were everywhere in the early universe," said Mark Dickinson of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory in Tucson, Ariz. "We had seen the tip of the iceberg before in our search for these objects. Now, we can see the iceberg itself." Dickinson is a co-author of two new papers appearing in the Nov. 10 issue of the Astrophysical Journal. Emanuele Daddi of the Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique in France led the research.

The findings are also the first direct evidence that most, if not all, massive galaxies in the distant universe spent their youths building monstrous black holes at their cores.

For decades, a large population of active black holes has been considered missing. These highly energetic structures belong to a class of black holes called quasars. A quasar consists of a doughnut-shaped cloud of gas and dust that surrounds and feeds a budding supermassive black hole. As the gas and dust are devoured by the black hole, they heat up and shoot out X-rays. Those X-rays can be detected as a general glow in space, but often the quasars themselves can't be seen directly because dust and gas blocks them from our view.
----
Daddi and his team initially set out to study 1,000 dusty, massive galaxies that are busy making stars and were thought to lack quasars. The galaxies are about the same mass as our own spiral Milky Way galaxy, but irregular in shape. At 9 to 11 billion light-years away, they existed at a time when the universe was in its adolescence, between 2.5 and 4.5 billion years old.

When the astronomers peered more closely at the galaxies with Spitzer's infrared eyes, they noticed that about 200 of the galaxies gave off an unusual amount of infrared light. X-ray data from Chandra, and a technique called "stacking," revealed the galaxies were, in fact, hiding plump quasars inside. The scientists now think that the quasars heat the dust in their surrounding doughnut clouds, releasing the excess infrared light.

"We found most of the population of hidden quasars in the early universe," said Daddi. Previously, only the rarest and most energetic of these hidden black holes had been seen at this early epoch.
----
"Theorists thought that mergers between galaxies were required to initiate this quasar activity, but we now see that quasars can be active in unharassed galaxies," said co-author David Alexander of Durham University, United Kingdom.
----
The new observations were made as part of the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey, the most sensitive survey to date of the distant universe at multiple wavelengths.

Consistent results were recently obtained by Fabrizio Fiore of the Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Italy, and his team. Their results will appear in the Jan. 1, 2008, issue of Astrophysical Journal.
Reference Here>>

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Larry King--Senile Or Just Plain Stupid?

I'm not a fan of Larry King and can probably count on two hands how many times I actually have watched his show. But, last weekend I was channel surfing and I came across his interview with Eric Clapton and had to stop and watch it. This is where the question comes: Is Larry King senile or is he just plain stupid!

A little background, first. Eric Clapton, as too many other rock stars, was a drug (heroin, cocaine) addict. He beat that addiction, but let alcohol take the place of the other drugs and wound up addicted to IT. After going through the program at Hazelton twice, he has been sober since--about twenty years. He still does the 12-steps and still attends meetings.

A few years ago, EC decided he wanted to give back and decided to build a treatment center. He settled on building the place in Antigua and named it the Crossroads Centre. He continues to fund the place with special concerts--Crossroads Guitar Festival--and by auctioning off guitars. (One of his guitars broke the record when it sold for almost $1mil.)

EC was on Larry King to promote his new autobiography. King asked a lot of the same dumb questions that I'm sure so many of these celebrities get damn sick and tired of hearing, but then he asked the question that makes me wonder if he is becoming senile. King asked EC if Britney Spears had been a patient at Crossroads. EXCUSE ME!?!?!?!?!? First of all, EC is not privy to the day-to-day goings on of the place and secondly, there is such a thing as confidentiality, so even IF EC knew the answer to the question, he couldn't reveal it! I still cannot believe he actually asked the question.

Just might be time to retire, Mr. King!

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My Boy Did It--FINALLY

So, so much happening with the Red Wings today, but I will start with the most exciting news: Filppula got his first goal of the season at 1:23 of the first period against the Sharks. And, before the period was over, he had gotten an assist! Hopefully this will help him relax enough to start scoring on a regular basis.

Detroit absolutely skated rings around San Jose tonight--it was as if they were playing a kids' team! San Jose couldn't get it together and the amount of penalties didn't help them, either. Osgood was in the net tonight and got another assist on Filpulla's goal--this gives Ozzy 16 points in his career, one of which was a goal. He almost had a shutout, but the Sharks scored in the third--the final score was 5-1. Shots on goal were 39 for the Wings and only 11 for the Sharks. A pretty lopsided game.

Zetterberg scored, again, and this continues his streak of a point in every one of the games played so far this year. He is, once again, at the top of the list in terms of points for the season, with 19. Z has 8 goals for the year, but Holmstrom does, also. Again, Homer had a goal taken away from him and this prompted the Detroit announcers to name a new hat trick, the Holmstrom Hat Trick: one goal, one assist, and one goal taken away during a game. :)

Once again, the officials were making bullshit calls--phantom penalties against Homer, but what can you say. They just suck it up and go on to the next game--at least the Wings aren't letting it get them down. Hasek was out because of a hip irritation and there is no word on when he will play next--doesn't seem to be a bad injury, however. Datsyuk managed to take two Sharks out without even touching them. One Shark went after Datsuk, D moved out of the way, and the one Shark slammed into another one. They both went to the ice and at least one of them was a bit shaken. Gotta watch D--he is tricky! And, Downey had another fight. While I enjoy a good fight as much as the next person, what I REALLY enjoy is hearing how much Mickey Redmond loves them. The man is an absolute hoot and one of the best announcers around.

And in other news: Draper signed a three-year extension to the tune of $1.6 million a year. He plans on ending his career as a Wing. Good job.

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'Attack on Iran is attack on Russia'

The barely reported highlight of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Tehran for the Caspian Sea summit last week was a key face-to-face meeting with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

A high-level diplomatic source in Tehran tells Asia Times Online that essentially Putin and the Supreme Leader have agreed on a plan to nullify the George W Bush administration's relentless drive towards launching a preemptive attack, perhaps a tactical nuclear strike, against Iran. An American attack on Iran will be viewed by Moscow as an attack on Russia.

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These photos should go over well with the Republican base. Also, has anyone else noticed that Laura Bush has only one facial expression?

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'U.S. to strike Iran' if diplomacy fails

A senior Palestinian intelligence official said that based on meetings with American diplomats he "understood" the U.S. plans to target Iran's suspected nuclear installations in two to three months if negotiations with Tehran don't generate a major breakthrough.

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Former Bush General Touts Privatization of National Disaster Response

"Country Club Fees" Would Guarantee Protection

A retired general now working for a controversial private security company told an audience last night about the services the company plans to provide.

The government does not have the tax base to provide services to everyone in the event of a major catastrophe, retired Brigadier General Richard W. Mills told an audience in Pellston last night.

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On Flying and Reading

Surprisingly, with all of my phobias, I am not a white-knuckle flyer. Granted, I get a bit of the heebie-jeebies on take-off and landing, but all in all, I do quite well. When we went to Vegas, for the first part of the trip, we flew completely in the clouds--it was just like being in an episode of The Twilight Zone! Still, I was calm. The only time flying is a problem for me is when there is turbulence--I get a bit nauseous.

The worst part about flying is the cramped feeling you get--they pack you in like sardines in a can! From Chicago, we sat three people side by each--with me in the middle. The next time we fly, I will have to check on the cost to go first-class. (I know, it will probably be more than I want to spend.) I have trouble getting comfortable--whether it is in a vehicle or airplane--and it has to do with my being so short. No seat is made for short people--the back is too high, my feet don't touch the floor, the seat is too long, etc, etc. I find myself having to move too often, just to try and get comfortable, which never happens. I'm like a fidgety child--I'm sure I annoy everyone around me!

As I said, I do quite well as long as there is no turbulence. I was able to read for quite a while in the air, but when it got to be too bumpy, I had to stop and just listen to music. Thankfully, I was able to get a few winks of sleep--this helped a lot as I was feeling a little bit of motion sickness. I can't imagine having to 'be sick' in an airsickness bag. And that's where I would have HAD to do my thing because it is next to impossible to get up from your seat during a flight!

All of this is just a way for me to begin talking about the book I just finished: 'Clapton: The Autobiography' by Eric Clapton. While I WOULD be happy listening to EC sing the phone book, I am a harsher critic when it comes to what I read. I am happy to say it was an extremely fascinating read. The book is very honest--he admits all of his faults and talks openly about his addictions, love affairs, and unflattering parts of his life and personality. However, despite his truthfulness, the book never has that exploitative, tell-all feeling that other autobiographies sometimes have. He is straight forward and exposes himself, but doesn't drag others into the story if the need isn't there. (I noticed this especially when he talked of his affairs--with all of the famous women he was supposed to have had affairs with, he mentioned very few of them by name. And, mentioning them wouldn't have added to the story, actually.) He spoke of his music career, of his 'lost years,' of his recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, and his finally finding the 'love of his life' and his happiness with his wife and children--all very fascinating, especially for a fan such as I am. However, I think even non-fans would find the story of his life interesting--the man has had an extraordinary life and is finally content. And isn't that what we all want out of our lives: peace, contentment, and serenity--which, it seems, he has finally found.

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Detroit 3-Vancouver 2

The game was good tonight--and, yes, it is because the Wings won, but it also was because they played quite well. Zetterberg now has the most points in the league at 18, but Sundin is right behind him at 17. Z is doing great things--just hope he doesn't have an injury like last year. So far, with Draper, Holmstrom, Cleary, etc, it seems as if more than the Euro Twins can score--thank goodness! Unfortunately, Filppula can't BUY a goal! I know he has a lot of pressure on him to score, so I hope that isn't his problem. He has had wonderful opportunities, but at the last second he's gotten beaten by the goalie. I sure hope it happens for him soon--just to get the pressure of the first one off of him. There is plenty of time--the season is just starting.



--Valtteri Filppula #51 of the Detroit Red Wings changes direction in front of Aaron Miller #4 and Lukas Krajicek #5 of the Vancouver Canucks on October 24, 2007 at Joe Lewis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won the game 3-2. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)--

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Representative Tom Tancredo of Colorado, a Republican presidential candidate whose fierce opposition to illegal immigration is the center of his campaign, contacted the immigration service yesterday demanding that agents raid a senator’s news conference.

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Photo of the day

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Bush offers to bomb Kurds

The Bush Administration is considering air strikes, including cruise missiles, against the Kurdish rebel group PKK in northern Iraq.

Because the Kurds aren't trying to kill us yet?

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Random Vegas Observations

--We found out pretty quickly: as far as casinos go, seen one, seen them all. Other than the layout and decorating, all of the casinos are the same--the same games, the same people, the same, the same, the same. Now when we go back, we will know that there is no reason to 'casino hop.'

--A LOT of people bring their very young children to Vegas. We saw so many infant to toddler age children that it was unbelievable! I don't have a clue as to what these people DID with their children, because there really is not much that kids would enjoy.

--The Casino Royale was PACKED with people. And other than one small section, all of the slot machines that I saw were very low denomination ones. We are talking one cent to quarter machines! The funny thing is, this is the place where I saw the $500 slot machine!

--Older people REALLY like the penny and nickel machines.

--Twenty-somethings seem to like craps.

--Not many people play roulette.

--Vegas sucks money out of you like a vampire sucks blood. However, the resorts/hotels/casinos also hemorrhage money like no one's business. The amount of their water bills for the landscaping must be astronomical--as well as the cost of ground's keepers, etc.

--I was surprised at the few people who were begging--I actually thought I would see more. One memorable 'beggar' had a sign saying, 'Need money for beer.' At least he was honest.

--While I wanted to see the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage, I wasn't about to pay $15 for the 'privilege.' We DID see one white tiger, but all it did was pace from one end of the enclosure to the other. I thought it was a bit sad.

--I loved the flamingos at--where else--The Flamingo. I also got to see a whole bunch of mallards--made me feel at home.

--Unless it is their job to know, people who live and work in Vegas don't necessarily know what is going on there. We were talking with the 'soda jerk' at the FAO Schwarz soda fountain--which is located in The Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace--and he had no idea that Celine was NOT performing and that Elton WAS.

--A lot of Asian people go to Las Vegas. A good many of them are very young--20-somethings. All of the girls weigh about thirteen pounds and are dressed--at all times--in clothes that will guarantee admittance to the nightclubs. Most of the people who I saw carrying the high-end brand shopping bags were young Asians.

--When we go back, we will NOT wait until the last few hours of our stay to use our player's club points. Because we had pre-paid our stay, they couldn't comp us for a night. Also, we paid for our meals instead of charging them to our room, so they couldn't comp us any meals. Luckily, I upgraded our room when we checked in, so we got the upgrade comped. At least it was something! I STILL don't know if we used all of our points or not.

--I don't think I could ever prepare myself for the amount of walking you do in Vegas. It is unbelievable, but at the same time you don't notice it until you are at the point of exhaustion! I was very surprised that I did as well as I did.

--Walking all day does NOT make you want to stay up till all hours of the night. K and I were in our room by 10:00 PM the first two nights. We were out and about a couple of hours later the last night we were there, simply because the show lasted till 10:00. And I am the queen of late-night! Very surprising to me.

--I think the favorite thing I saw in Vegas--other than Elton John, that is--was the water show outside of the Bellagio. There just is no adequate way to describe this--it is water, choreographed to move in time to music. That's as close to a description as I can come. It was simply one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. The music used for the show we saw was 'All That Jazz.' When the show was over, I wanted to jump up and down and scream. I enjoyed it. :)

As luck would have it, I found a video on YouTube showing the water show. It in no way comes close to seeing this in person, but... Hope you enjoy.

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Dennis Kucinich: Where do his true loyalties lie? Perhaps with the space aliens?

Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich has claimed to have seen a UFO, according to Shirley MacLaine in her new book, "Sage-Ing While Age-Ing."

Kucinich "had a close sighting over my home in Graham, Washington, when I lived there," the actress, a close Kucinich friend, wrote. "Dennis found his encounter extremely moving. The smell of roses drew him out to my balcony where, when he looked up, he saw a gigantic triangular craft, silent, and observing him.

"It hovered, soundless, for 10 minutes or so, and sped away with a speed he couldn't comprehend. He said he felt a connection in his heart and heard directions in his mind."

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CIA Unveils New "Terrorist Buster" Logo

This is not a joke. Well, actually it is. But it's for real. Thanks to Wonkette

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Cheney's Law

Midway through the Frontline documentary Cheney's Law, which aired last Tuesday on PBS, a reporter summarizes a judgment the vice president conveyed to listeners in hiding in the hours after the bombings of September 11. "We will probably," he said, "have to be a country ruled by men rather than laws, in this period." The period, he implied, would last a long time; so the conclusion had all the Cheney markings: cool, complete, defying contradiction. What is astounding is how quickly he arrived at it.

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A decision in Morley v. CIA is expected before the end of the year.

Lawyers for the Central Intelligence Agency faced pointed questions in a federal court hearing Monday morning about the agency's efforts to block disclosure of long-secret records about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Three appellate judges probed for explanations of the agency's rationale for withholding records concerning a deceased undercover CIA officer named George Joannides whose role in the events of 1963 remains unexplained

.

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DEBKAfile: Olmert sounds alarm: Iran has crossed red line for developing a nuclear weapon. It’s too late for sanctions

This is the message prime minister Ehud Olmert is carrying urgently to French President Nicolas Sarkozy Monday and British premier Gordon Brown Tuesday, according to DEBKAfile’s military and intelligence sources.

Last week, Olmert placed the Israeli intelligence warning of an Iranian nuclear breakthrough before Russian president Vladimir Putin, while Israel’s defense minister Ehud Barak presented the updated intelligence on the advances Iran has made towards its goal of a nuclear weapon to American officials in Washington, including President Bush.

Olmert will be telling Sarkozy and Brown that the moment for diplomacy or even tough sanctions has passed. Iran can only be stopped now from going all the way to its goal by direct, military action.

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Former Attorney General Dick Thornburgh will testify before a subcomittee of the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday about why he feels the prosecution of former Allegheny County Coroner Dr. Cyril Wecht is politically motivated.

Dr. Wecht is, of course, a leading critic of the "official story" of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

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Vegas Hangover

We got home late on Friday--later than we were supposed to--and I am definitely suffering a Vegas hangover. I am tired, my head hurts and feels fuzzy, my eyes are like two piss-holes in the snow, my body feels as if I have been beaten with whips and chains (ohhhhh, KINKY!!), and I am having trouble figuring out what the hell day it is. By the way, we had a GREAT time in Vegas!!

I'm sure I will tell more involved stories over the next little while, but, basically, we walked too much, didn't eat or sleep enough--actually, we didn't drink enough alcohol, either--and gambled too much. We did, however, come home with some money, so even though we DIDN'T win big, we are ahead of the game--we COULD'VE come home BROKE, after all!!

We plan on going back some day and have decided we will see more than one show the next time. Too little planned activities means too many hours spent in the casino--and too much money being spent. Also, I realize now that once you have seen one casino, you've seen them all--there sure ain't much difference between them. I also know I will never be rich enough to shop in most of the stores they have in the hotels/casinos--as a matter of fact, I will never be rich enough to even ENTER the stores! Tiffany, Ferragamo, Jimmy Choo, Cartier, etc, etc, etc. I guess they cater to the few who happen to get very lucky at the casinos!

I also learned, during this trip, just how bad my hockey addiction has gotten. Wednesday night, I had to DRAG myself from watching a game at the Sport Book--and the teams that were playing were the ones I like LEAST in the NHL: Nashville and Anaheim. I may be headed for an intervention and a stay at a rehab facility.

The Elton concert was fantastic. However, it WAS very adult--much nudity and adult themes were present. Actually, a very Vegas show. The man is very, very funny--he described Celine as a singing Q-tip and made several remarks that had us rolling in the aisles.

While we didn't spend a lot of money on merchandise, I did buy two Elton T-shirts. One depicts the Vegas show, the Red Piano and the other one--which is my fav of the two--is this:



As I told K, "Who said I ever left?!?!?!?" :)

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Candy Barr

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Mysterious Death of 9/11 Researcher Dr.David Graham

Graham’s death corroborates other publicly available evidence that these same key 9/11 hijackers, Nawaf Al-Hazmi, and Khalid Al-Mihdhar, enjoyed protection from entities inside the US military/intelligence network, while in the US before 9/11. It’s difficult to believe, but 9/11 may have been a kind of cattle prod to shock public opinion into supporting two wars of foreign aggression.

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Reporter: Mr. President, following up on Vladimir Putin for a moment, he said recently that next year, when he has to step down according to the constitution, as the president, he may become prime minister; in effect keeping power and dashing any hopes for a genuine democratic transition there ...

President Bush: I've been planning that myself. (laughter)

See: Bush Press Conference

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Bush warns of World War III if Iran goes nuclear

"We've got a leader in Iran who has announced that he wants to destroy Israel," Bush said, responding to Russia's stated cautioning against military action targeting Tehran's suspected atomic program.

"So I've told people that, if you're interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought to be interested in preventing them from having the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon," said Bush.

Starting World War III is the one stupid thing Bush hasn't done--yet.

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Crucible Of Marine Life Explored - New Species Found

This handout photo made available in Manila by the University of Alaska shows a deep sea jellyfish found by a US-Philippines underwater expedition in the Celebes Sea. Researchers said a swimming sea cucumber, a Nemo-like orange fish and a worm with tentacles sprouting from its head are among dozens of possible new species found during the survey of the Celebes Sea. Image Credit: AFP/HO/Russ Hapcroft

Crucible Of Marine Life Explored - New Species Found

A joint team of Filipino and American scientists that explored the Celebes Sea in southern Philippines early this month, announced the marine-life discoveries following their return from their voyage Tuesday.

This area of the Pacific Ocean, which is commonly referred to as the “Coral Triangle” (a region bordered by the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia), is suspected to be the crucible of marine life here on the Oblate Spheroid.

In this photo, a sample of zooplankton collected with a Tucker Trawl with a 10mm opening wherein one can find jellyfish, a lanternfish, a snipe eel, two orange shrimp, a pyrosome (which is bioluminescent) as shown at a briefing Tuesday Oct. 16, 2007 aboard the Philippine research vessel BRP Prisbitero off Manila Bay in Manila, Philippines. Image Credit: AP Photo/WHOI/ISSP, Larry Madin HO

Scientists have long recognized this area as having a high degree of biological diversity.

The deepest part of the Celebes Sea is 16,500 feet. The team was able to explore and catalog marine life to a depth of about 9,100 feet using a remotely operated camera.

This excerpted from AP via YAHOO! NEWS -

Scientists discover rare marine species
By OLIVER TEVES, Associated Press Writer (MANILA, Philippines) - Tue Oct 16, 7:36 PM ET

Scientists exploring a deep ocean basin in search of species isolated for millions of years found marine life believed to be previously undiscovered, including a tentacled orange worm and an unusual black jellyfish.

Project leader Dr. Larry Madin said Tuesday that U.S. and Philippine scientists collected about 100 different specimens in a search in the Celebes Sea south of the Philippines.
---
"This [The Coral Triangle] is probably the center where many of the species evolved and spread to other parts of the ocean, so it's going back to the source in many ways," Madin told a group of journalists, government officials, students and U.S. Ambassador Kristie Kenney and her staff.

In this photo, a jellyfish (Aequorea sp) collected by divers in the surface waters of the Celebes Sea in southern Philippines. A joint team of Filipino and American scientists that explored the Celebes Sea in southern Philippines early this month, announced the marine-life discoveries following their return from their voyage Tuesday. Image Credit: AP Photo/Ocean Geographic Magazine through WHOI/ISSP, Michael Aw, HO

The project involved the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and National Geographic Magazine in cooperation with the Philippine government, which also provided the exploration ship.

The expedition was made up of more than two dozen scientists and a group from National Geographic, including Emory Kristof, the underwater photographer who was part of the team that found the wreckage of the Titanic in 1985.
----
Madin said the specimens they collected included several possibly newly discovered species. One was a sea cucumber that is nearly transparent which could swim by bending its elongated body. Another was a black jellyfish found near the sea floor.

The most striking creature found was a spiny orange-colored worm that had 10 tentacles like a squid, Madin said. "We don't know what it is ... it might be something new," he said.
----
Madin said the Celebes Sea, being surrounded by islands and shallow reefs, is partially isolated now and may have been more isolated millions of years ago, leading scientists to believe that "there may be groups of organisms that have been contained and kept within" the basin since then.

"That makes it an interesting place to go and look to see what we might find," he said.
Reference Here>>

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Mexican experts say flesh was human

Forensics experts said Monday that chunks of flesh found in the apartment of an aspiring horror novelist were human, and that DNA tests were planned to confirm whether it came from the body of his girlfriend.

Dr. Rodolfo Rojo, chief medical examiner for Mexico City's prosecutor's office, said flesh found on the plate and frying pan in suspect Jose Luis Calva's apartment corresponded to parts missing from the corpse of his 32-year-old girlfriend, Alejandra Galeana."

Police said that a search uncovered an unfinished novel by Calva titled "Cannibalistic Instincts."

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This fiery figure is being hailed as Pope John Paul II making an appearance beyond the grave.

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In an interview with SPIEGEL ONLINE, the Amsterdam-based military historian Gabriel Kolko argues that 'Many in the US military think Bush and Cheney are out of control.'

The American military is stretched to the limit. They are losing both wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Everything is being sacrificed for these wars: money, equipment in Asia, American military power globally, etc. Where and how can they fight yet another? The Pentagon is short of money for procurement, and that is what so many people in the military bureaucracy live for. The situation will be far worse in the event of a war with Iran.

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And We're Outta Here!

Just had to stop my preparations and do a short post. It certainly has been busy, busy, busy in the household with trying to get ready for our trip and all. My intent is to have all of the packing, etc, done before the game tonight--it starts at 10:00PM--and be able to fall asleep on the couch while watching it. I won't be able to see the whole game, because I will have to be up around 4AM to get ready to go to the airport. Excitement, excitement!!

I will be back sometime this weekend with reports on our big adventure. Hope you all have a great week. Till then...

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Spherical Solar Cell Production Breakthrough

With a diameter of a mere 1 to 1.5mm, Sphelar can be connected either in parallel or in series. This enables diverse spherical products to be created, such as dome-shaped solar cells and "flexible" solar cells aligned on soft film substrates. It is also possible to create "power-generating window glass" while maintaining a certain level of transparency. Caption & Image Credit: Kyosemi Corporation

Spherical Solar Cell Production Breakthrough

Traditional solar cell production techniques require the use of more silicon and are inflexible as to the shape the cell arrays can be made into.

Solar cells use the property of semiconductors, which generate an internal charge when they receive light. Currently the mainstream "silicon solar cells" comprise two types of semiconductors with different electrical properties - n-type and p-type - connected to one another (see diagram). When the surface where p-type and n-type semiconductors are joined receives light energy, free electrons (negative) and holes (positive) are generated, and the internal electrical field at the pn junction causes the electrons to move to the n-type semiconductor, and the holes to move to the P-type semiconductor. If the electrodes on the two types of semiconductor are connected by an external wire (see diagram), electrons move along the wire, i.e. current is generated. Caption & Image Credit: Kyosemi Corporation

This breakthrough in the way solar cells are created utilizes gravity to form the crystallized silicon into energy converting spheres. The spherical shape allows the silicon cell to grab and convert light from any direction … even light that bounces off of our Oblate Spheroid.

The reason why a room does not become dark even if it does not receive direct sunlight is a variety of reflected and diffused light. However, conventional flat solar cells were unable to effectively harness this indirect light. In addition, the sun takes on a many different positions according to the season and time of day, so in order to obtain a stable supply of power, there was a need to change the orientation of the solar cell by constantly following the sun. Sphelar® captures light from all directions, which means it can catch reflected light and diffused light. In addition, there is no need for the superfluous operation of tracking the sun. The spherical light-receiving surfaces achieve unprecedented high generation efficiency. Caption & Image Credit: Kyosemi Corporation

This edited from Digital World (Tokyo) via SlashDot -

1mm diameter solar cell spheres formed in freefall by gravity
By J Mark Lytle - Digital World (Tokyo) October 12th, 2007

The traditional flat solar panel looks like becoming a thing of the past now that a Japanese company has developed a spherical equivalent that is both more efficient and far cheaper to make.

Conventional flat solar cells are produced by slicing crystalline silicon ingots, generating a large quantity of "Kerf loss" in the production process. In contrast, Sphelar is produced using a unique process whereby melted silicon is subjected to free fall, and spheres are formed naturally by the microgravity conditions, so there is hardly any waste of raw materials at all. This results of course in a dramatic reduction in costs, and helps ensure the efficient use of silicon, a finite resource. Sphelar is an environmentally-friendly product, not only in terms of performance but also during the production phase. Caption & Image Credit: Kyosemi Corporation

The Sphelar, which is the brainchild of Kyoto-based Kyosemi, is a perfectly round solar cell that can be made as small as 1mm in diameter. In serial or parallel, hundreds or thousands of the devices can be used to form a solar panel of any shape.

While it may not seem like a major difference, the practical effect of making a non-flat solar panel is that it doesn’t have to precisely face the sun to capture energy. In fact, Sphelar cells can generate electricity from both direct and indirect sunshine; effectively soaking up available light whatever direction it comes from.

Construction methods are also efficient - less silicon is needed to make a Sphelar than a conventional solar cell as the spheres are crystallized out of molten silicon by gravity during freefall from 14m. Standard cell manufacturing results in half as much silicon being wasted as is actually used.

Perhaps the most flexible aspect of the new cells is their ability to be molded into any shape needed and placed in any location. Possibilities include solar panels in awkward places or even windows that generate electricity through Sphelar cells embedded in the glass.
Reference Here>>

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The man who knew too much

An essential article in the Guardian which describes how Rich Barlow, the CIA's expert on Pakistan's nuclear program, and a true American hero, was ruined professionally and personally for daring to tell the truth that Pakistan was developing the Bomb.

Barlow came to the conclusion that a small group of senior officials was physically aiding the Pakistan programme. "They were issuing scores of approvals for the Pakistan embassy in Washington to export hi-tech equipment that was critical for their nuclear bomb programme and that the US Commerce Department had refused to license," he says.

The article goes on to describe how "two high-ranking US officials extremely close to the White House" tipped off the tartet of a sting operation.

Trawling through piles of cables, he found evidence that two high-ranking US officials extremely close to the White House had tipped off Islamabad about the CIA operation. Furious, Barlow called his superiors. "The CIA went mad. These were criminal offences," Barlow says.

Once again the villians in this story are the neoconservatives. If everyone with a shred of integrity is driven out of government then there will be no one left but criminals and traitors.

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New York Times:

Ever since 9/11, we have watched Republican lawmakers help Mr. Bush shred the Constitution in the name of fighting terrorism. We have seen Democrats acquiesce or retreat in fear. It is time for that to stop.

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Chicago 3, Detroit 2

Yes, they lost tonight. As Z said, they played very well for the first 15 minutes, then... What is that saying? You can't win them all? (I'm being just a little sarcastic here--after all, they lost to the BLACKHAWKS!!!!)

It really would have been nice for the Wings to end this stretch with a win--they go to the west coast for next week and that is ALWAYS a bitch to do. However, I still think I may place a bet for them to win on Thursday against San Jose! Who knows, I just may win a couple of bucks. We will be at the concert during the game, so I won't get to watch it, though.

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Ex-Commander Blasts Iraq 'Nightmare'

Retired Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, who commanded U.S. forces in Iraq for the first year of the occupation, blamed “incompetence” by President George W. Bush’s national security team for creating a “nightmare” that could last far into the future.

Sanchez, who led coalition forces from June 2003 to June 2004, used an Oct. 12 speech to a conference of Military Reporters and Editors in Arlington, Virginia, to castigate nearly everyone connected to the Iraq War, including the U.S. news media, Congress, the State Department, the White House and the Pentagon.

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Unprecedented Muslim call for peace with Christians

More than 130 Muslim scholars from around the globe called on Thursday for peace and understanding between Islam and Christianity, saying "the very survival of the world itself is perhaps at stake".

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Newsweek: Blackwater Plays By Its Own Rules In Iraq

The colonel was furious. "Can you believe it? They actually drew their weapons on U.S. soldiers." He was describing a 2006 car accident, in which an SUV full of Blackwater operatives had crashed into a U.S. Army Humvee on a street in Baghdad's Green Zone. The colonel, who was involved in a follow-up investigation and spoke on the condition he not be named, said the Blackwater guards disarmed the U.S. Army soldiers and made them lie on the ground at gunpoint until they could disentangle the SUV. His account was confirmed by the head of another private security company.

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Naomi Wolf:

This morning in Denver I talked for almost an hour to a brave, much-decorated high-level military man who is not only on the watch list for his criticism of the administration -- his family is now on the list. His elderly mother is on the list. His teenage son is on the list. He has flown many dangerous combat missions over the course of his military career, but his voice cracks when he talks about the possibility that he is exposing his children to harassment.

Jim Spencer, a former columnist for the Denver Post who has been critical of the Bush administration, told me today that I could use his name: he is on the watch list. An attorney contacts me to say that she told her colleagues at the Justice Department not to torture a detainee; she says she then faced a criminal investigation, a professional referral, saw her emails deleted -- and now she is on the watch list.

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Today's Pet Peeve

There you are sitting in a restaurant--it could be TGI Friday's or a nice upscale steakhouse, doesn't matter--after finishing your meal, waiting for the waitperson to come and pick up your payment. More times than not, s/he picks up the 'money folder,' looks inside, does a quick calculation in her/his head and asks, "Do you need change?" Excuse me????? So, you just assume the extra money there is for your tip? What ever happened to being gracious and allowing the customer to indicate that the money is a tip? Why can't you just say, "I'll be back with your change." and let the customer say "No need."?*

I always tip and at a minimum of 15%. Most of the time I tip far greater than that, so it just really bothers me when it is practically forced on me. I'm sorry, but tipping is a voluntary thing, that is why it is called a 'gratuity.'** I just think with a few, better chosen words, it would feel less like they are standing with their hands out and more of a 'good job' reward.

That is all.


*I KNOW the punctuation is wrong here, but it doesn't LOOK right no matter WHAT I do with it. So, this is the way it will stay. :)

**gratuity: a gift of money, over and above payment due for service (Dictionary.com)

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A Good Game

What can I say? Any game the Wings win is good and they beat Calgary tonight by a score of 4-2 in a very low-penalty minute game. There were only 10 minutes of penalties called for the entire game. Mind boggling! Obviously, Drake DIDN'T get in another fight. :)

I truly believe I wouldn't need to see an actual game if I could just watch Datsyuk and Zetterberg perform their magic on ice. They are two of the most phenomenal skaters/puck handlers I have ever seen. Just amazing.



--Calgary Flames goaltender Mikka Kiprusoff, left, from Finland, and teammates Dion Phaneuf (3) and Craig Conroy, right, try to keep the puck away from Detroit Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk (13) of Russia, and teammate Henrik Zetterberg (40) of Sweden, during the first period of a NHL hockey game on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jerry S. Mendoza)--

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Bill Maher on Controlled Demolition 911 theories

"Crazy people who still think the government brought down the Twin Towers in a controlled explosion," the comedian jabbed, "have to stop pretending that I'm the one who's being naive."

"How big a lunatic do you have to be to watch two giant airliners packed with jet fuel slam into buildings on live TV, igniting a massive inferno that burned for two hours, and then think 'well, if you believe that was the cause," he continued, adding that people should "stop asking me to raise this ridiculous topic on the show and start asking your doctor if Paxil is right for you."

I have strong doubts that we have been told the truth about the events of September 11. There are a few good researchers like Peter Dale Scott and Daniel Hopsicker who are trying to get to the truth. The average 911 truther, however, makes the typical JFK conspiracy buff look like a paragon of reason.

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The Saudi Arabian government will temporarily release 55 prisoners recently transferred from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and will give each of them about $2,600 to celebrate the upcoming Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, a newspaper reported Saturday.

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Conservative blogger John Cole of Balloon Juice criticizes Republicans--in rather strong terms--after they went after 12 year old Graeme Frost and his family.

I used to mock Dave Neiwert when he called these guys proto-fascists. Hell, I used to link half these folks, have them on my blogroll.

I was wrong. Dave was right. These people are authoritarian thugs.

I simply can not believe this is what the Republican party has become. I just can’t. It just makes me sick to think all those years of supporting this party, and this is what it has become. Even if you don’t like the S-Chip expansion, it is hard to deny what Republicans are- a bunch of bitter, nasty, petty, snarling, sneering, vicious thugs, peering through people’s windows so they can make fun of their misfortune.

I’m registering Independent tomorrow.

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Conservative blogger links Fred Thompson to al Qaeda

The most important thing I learned from yesterday's Republican Presidential Debate is that not only is Senator Fred Thompson completely dull, but he still employs former Senator Spencer Abraham--Hezbollah's, Al-Qaeda's, and the PLO's best friend in the U.S. Senate--at the top of his campaign.

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42% Believe U.S. Tortures Prisoners, 27% Say It Should

Only 27% of Americans are pro-torture. Only slightly lower than Bush's approval ratings.

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'Dirty War' priest gets life term

A court in Argentina has convicted a former Roman Catholic police chaplain of collaborating in murders during the country's military rule.

Christian Von Wernich, 69, was convicted for involvement in seven murders, 42 abductions and 31 cases of torture during the 1976-83 "Dirty War".

Survivors say he passed confessions he obtained from prisoners to the police.

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GREAT Commercial

Now I know a lot of my readers aren't hockey/sports fans, but this is one commercial that had me laughing till I cried! It only is SLIGHTLY funnier if you know the players in it! Hope you enjoy.

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Serious Sustainability - From “Biosphere” to Luna Gaia

Space living: The Luna Gaia design would reduce the need for costly supply missions to ferry food, air and water backwards and forwards from colonies on the Moon and Mars. Image Credit: NASA

Serious Sustainability - From “Biosphere” to Luna Gaia

One of the largest problems of living outside of this Oblate Spheroid is the sustainability of human life with air, water, and an adequate food source.

Early efforts to create closed capsule-like living environments, like “Biosphere 2” in the Arizona desert, ended up looking more like an attempt at performance art than an effort focused on serious sustainability.

The best efforts at sustainability have only been able to be successful for a short time where as a team led by Australian scientists feel they have come up with a design of habitat that will be able to be 90% to 95% self-sufficient.

Luna Gaia is the latest of these efforts and it has come to light recently in a talk detailing the design at the Australian Space Science Conference held in Sydney last month.

This from Cosmos Online via SlashDot -

Self-sufficient space habitat designed
By Carolyn Barry, Cosmos Online - Tuesday, 9 October 2007

The development of such as system could save billions of dollars in shuttle trips to re-supply lunar or space colonies and brings closer the vision of a human habitat on Mars.
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Luna Gaia

Some systems to recycle water and air have already been developed and rudimentary versions are presently used in the International Space Station (ISS). However, the proposed new lunar habitat "combines our existing knowledge" of physical, chemical and biological processes to provide an "overall picture of how a minibiosphere would work," said James Chartres aerospace engineer at the University of Adelaide in South Australia.
----
Biosphere 2, under the management of The University of Arizona, is one of the world's most unique facilities dedicated to the research and understanding of global scientific issues. In addition to its popular daily tours of Biosphere 2, The University of Arizona has established two additional scientific entities, B2 Earthscience and B2 Institute, dedicated to achieving a range of research, education, and outreach goals. Image Credit: University of Arizona

The project is in some ways similar to the failed Biosphere 2 experiment, built in Arizona, U.S., in the late 1980s. Over an area of 12,000 m2, Biosphere housed a closed ecological system, incorporating a mini 'ocean' with coral reefs, as well as a grassland, desert, mangrove, rainforest and agricultural areas. Eight people survived in the habitat for two years, but a lack of food and low levels of oxygen hampered the experiment. Chartres detailed plans for a smaller, space-bound concept, dubbed Luna Gaia.

Devised by an international team of 30 space scientists, Luna Gaia would be a 'closed-loop' environment, meaning that almost all material within the system is recycled with very little need for input from outside sources. The current design caters for a team of 12 astronauts under isolation for up to three years.
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The Luna Gaia concept integrates technologies such as the Closed Equilibrated Biological Aquatic System (CEBAS), an enclosed aquarium designed by the German Aerospace Centre and the Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative (MELIiSSA) developed by the European Space Agency. MELIiSSA uses microbes to purify water, recycle carbon dioxide and derive edible material from waste products.

Algae – which generates oxygen from carbon dioxide via photosynthesis, and doesn't require pollinating – is the key to the proposed design.

The food required for astronauts would come from a mixture of tending small crops and from pre-packed supplies. Such crops would include peanuts, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots and wheat. In addition, certain types of algae, such as Spirulina or Chlorella would provide other vitamins, minerals and trace elements.

The diet would be largely vegetarian, said Chartres, but protein could potentially come from small-scale farming of fast-growing fish such tilapia.

A lunar base is unlikely to ever be 100 per cent self-sufficient, said Chartres, because no atmosphere is completely safe from leaks and it could not provide humans with all the nutrients that they need to survive.

Moreover, astronauts need the occasional break to the routine of standard food, so the odd "luxury item such as fruit salad, spices or chocolate," would ward off any doldrums, he said.

Significant hurdles

Pathogens introduced to the system by plants, as well as difficulties of pollination for crops still pose significant hurdles to the design. In addition, as much as 20 m2 of plants would be required to feed a single astronaut.

The proposed system, is unlikely to be up and running any time soon. Chartres estimates it will be another 20 to 30 years before the funding for the set-up and the practicality of providing the space for plant growth in a spacecraft is realised.
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"This is an issue that is not only important for future long duration human space missions, but for humans on Earth as well," said [Mark Kliss, a bioengineer with the NASA Space Biosciences Division in Moffett Field, California].
Reference Here>>

And this, one of the comments posted below the article in Cosmos Online proposed the following:

Tilapia? How about a can of Worms?

Ok, leave your cultural biases at the door if you mainly live in Europe or the USA, are they at the door? Ok then...

The article mentions that the astronauts could grow tilapia as a protein source?!?

Oh wait, they could also grow some cows, I hear those are really efficient...Microlivestock (INSECTS) is a much better choice as a protein source for astronauts, as well as vitamins, minerals and fiber (chitin).

Because people don't eat insects as food in SOME parts of the world, doesn't mean they are not a healthy, delicious, and in this case efficient part of the human diet. Some insects have much better feed efficiencies than larger animals, and some (not all) can be grown in much closer proximity than larger animals. AND as a bonus, if we humans seize to exist on earth, and then supplies stop coming to the moon, them cockroaches will also outlast us in the moon and mars as well...

This comment is meant to be taken seriously, and before someone replies ignorantly or emotionally to it research about the subject...if your current society doesn't eat insects, it's neither good or bad, but it is your context, if you are grossed out try to view it from outside your current context.

Submitted by InsectMan on 10 October 2007 - 8:19am.

Finally, this excerpted and updated comment about the article from Luna Gaia project leader, James Chartres aerospace engineer at the University of Adelaide in South Australia -

Re: Self-sufficient space habitat designed

The actual study was done within a team of 32 professionals from 12 different countries and was not Australian led as we worked as a cohesive a team. The life support system design team consisted of 9 people from 6 different countries including Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Spain and the United Kingdom.

One of the aims of the research was to develop a life support system that would reduce the amount of required resupply. As mentioned in the article things like leakage, luxury items and spare parts prohibit the system from being completely self sufficient or closed loop. The research was intended to provide recommendations for future avenues of research and identify where current gaps are.

The reason for the large lead-time is that such a biological system on such a massive scale would take a long time to research and understand. Additionally, the construction and development of such a large system would take a long period of time due to the heavy lift capabilities required to get that much mass to the moon. Understanding such a complex system including the mass balance and where storage buffers would be required would need significant research and there are many issues to overcome. Studies have shown that the use of bio-regenerative methods only become feasible if mission durations exceed 2.5 to 3 years depending on the size of the crew. The 20 to 30 years is an estimate and like most research could change dramatically given the required resources and personnel.

We also actually looked at the possibility of including insects as a food source. There have been some published studies in Japan about the use of insect and as a source of protein they are another possible option that was considered and further research was recommended.

I recently spent 3 months in China interacting with students and also CASC the Chinese Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. I would argue from my experience in China that the Chinese do not view space as a plaything and there is a tremendous amount of national pride for their space program. This is demonstrated in such things as astronaut images on bottle of water and the large amount of news coverage it receives on the CCTV stations.

Submitted by James Chartres on 10 October 2007 - 12:56pm.

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Good One

With a late-game empty net goal, the Wings beat the Oilers 4-2. Chelios got a goal and played in his 1550th game, making him number 8 on the all-time games played list. He is 45 years old, the oldest player in the NHL, and has played for almost a quarter of a century--and shows no sign of stopping any time soon. Amazing! Lidstrom got an assist tonight and now has the second-highest point total of all Swedish born players ever to play in the NHL. And Zetterberg got two assists which gives him 7 points in three games. Hopefully he will have an injury-free year and can show just how far he can go. The next game is on Wednesday and they play Calgary. They are beginning to look good.


--Detroit Red Wings' Henrik Zetterberg gets checked from behind by Edmonton Oilers' Shawn Horcoff, right, as Oilers goalie Dwayne Roloson, left, covers the puck. (JULIAN H. GONZALEZ/DFP)--

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I was a little heated two games ago but I could not help myself. I of course, a Wings fan for too long...
So the last two games when Datsyuk played miraculously, I just cannot keep my mouth shut?
Only two days ago the Wings played the Blackhawks but Datsyuk got robbed from a goal.
Or so I thought?
As Datsyuk scored, the ref blew the whistle. As if he knew Datsyuk may score.
Where the problem lies, is why did the ref blow the whistle?
So the Wings end up losing in a shoot out. (Pavel did hit the post on his try)

Tonight?
Pavel and his team the Red Wings did win 4-2.
Datsyuk is a stealing master!
Pavel is always keeping the puck in play?

Draper got the empty netter at the end of the game, assisted by Datsyuk.
Chelios three rebounds the third a goal. Very impressive for his 1,550 games.
Chelios passing Alex Delvecchio by one, he played 1,549 games.
Samuelsson a great fake of a pass and then backhand, from behind the net type wraparound.
The wings look good to me!

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Sandy Berger, who stole highly classified terrorism documents from the National Archives, destroyed them and lied to investigators, is now an adviser to presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Not like Hillary to be this stupid. What gives?

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New Revelations in Attack on USS Liberty

Steve Forslund worked as an intelligence analyst for the 544th Air Reconnaissance Technical Wing, then the highest-level strategic planning office in the Air Force.

"The ground control station stated that the target was American and for the aircraft to confirm it," Forslund recalled. "The aircraft did confirm the identity of the target as American, by the American flag."

The ground control station ordered the aircraft to attack and sink the target and ensure they left no survivors."

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What's Happening

--We did an overnight road trip on Friday. With us going to Vegas and our friends going to Mexico the first week of November, we won't get to see each other till the end of next month, so we thought we needed to get together. It isn't bad doing the trips so close together, as the shopping is quite minimal when we go this often. VERY good for the checking account! :)

--Saturday was K's and my 34th anniversary. Of course, it was an arranged marriage, with me being all of 15 hours old when the ceremony was performed. This is the reason why I am not as old as some of you might think I am! :)

--The friends we went to visit were the only people to acknowledge our anniversary. No phone calls, no cards, nothing from ANYONE else. I can't help but wonder if I make too much out of it, but I learned this from The Mother and it is hard to let go. (SHE always let everyone know that she MUST have the card, present, etc, in her hand by the important day, or don't even bother. It isn't the same if it comes late! And now she doesn't even bother to send anything. Oh, well, this is what I get for being how I am, hey?)

--K's nephew got home from the hospital last Tuesday. He will have a very long time to have physical therapy. His injuries were: smashed index finger (will be useless, they couldn't do much for it, even with the surgery,) broken shoulder (which he had surgery on,) broken arm, broken ribs, cracked breastplate, several cracked neck vertebrae, and all around bumps, bruises, and cuts. But as things go, he is doing quite well--after all, anything less than death is doing quite well!

--The Nephew hasn't been around much since his dad's accident. He was only here two nights the week following and was here only one night last week. His class schedule was such that he could be with his dad as much as possible, which is good. He should be here tomorrow for three nights, as is usual.

--I had been hoping to get some nice pictures of the trees this fall, but it won't be happening. When we were traveling we saw just how many places are beyond the peak of the color season--so much that many places have lost the majority of leaves already. Even my maple tree isn't doing much of anything--some of the leaves have turned yellow and some are still green. AND a whole lot of them have fallen. Maybe next year.

--C is now more than 26 weeks pregnant. The last I heard, she is doing fine. She had her stillborn at 27 weeks and her first child at 29 weeks, so these are the 'scary' weeks for her.

--A isn't doing anything more than living her life--as most of us are. She DID tell me that two of her cats have acne, though. Who would have thought!?

--I have said before that I believe this house is/was haunted. I now am beginning to think the operative word is IS! And the story goes like this: For Christmas last year, K got 'Bob' as a gift. Bob is a 5-in-1 clock, thermometer, etc, that we keep on the computer desk. Bob is supposed to sit on the desk and do nothing but show the time unless you touch him--then a light comes on or it changes to the next feature. Lately, Bob has been turning on his own light even when no one is in the room. I'm beginning to get freaked out!



--This week will be all about getting ready for our trip. We have hair appointments and I have to get in a couple of times at the tanning salon. I have to make an appointment for a mani/pedi and need to do some last minute shopping. So much to do with so little time! But it is going to be so much fun.

--Much as I love the Red Wings, they just pissed me off royally on Saturday night--they blew a 2 goal lead and lost the game in a shootout! Bad memories from the way-too-many times they did the same thing last year. Franzen got hurt during the second period and will be out for 3-4 weeks. Great. BUT, Drake had another fight !! YAY!! At least Mickey Redmond was in his glory--after all, he played during the REALLY rough years of fighting. Another game on Monday--we'll see if they can redeem themselves.

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Blackwater Blimps

The Blackwater Airships team completed design work at the end of 2006 and is now building the Polar 400 airship. This highly capable RPAV will provide a platform ready to accomodate a wide variety of state-of-the-art surveillance, communications and detection equipment that can record and store events and downlink them in real-time to ground operators.

We've all heard of black helicopters. The video in the previous post actually contains footage of one. But black airships? This whole article is most informative.

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