#1
Now Lehman wants a judge to force Barclays to give back some of the money it took as part of the deal, including $5 billion it said was given as extra collateral. Lehman said the extra value was not disclosed to the court.
Agents of the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives are feuding over bomb investigations -- racing each other to crime scenes, failing to share information and refusing to train together, according to a draft report obtained by The Associated Press.
The report says Justice Department bosses have repeatedly failed to fix the problem involving the two agencies that are part of their department.
The Justice Department's Inspector General, Glenn Fine, has drafted a preliminary report on the two agencies' repeated squabbles to claim jurisdiction in investigations of explosives incidents across the country -- from Times Square in New York City to Arizona and the West Coast.
The most recent documented spat came last December when the FBI protested a local prosecutor's request to use the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to investigate a blast that killed a local bomb technician in Woodburn, Ore.
FBI and ATF supervisors "tend to deploy their employees to the larger, more sensational explosives incidents, sometimes racing each other to be the first federal agency on the scene and disputing upon arrival which agency should lead the investigation," according to a draft version of the report.
"Such conflicts can delay investigations, undermine federal and local relationships, and may project to local agency responders a disjointed federal response to explosives incidents in their area," the draft report found.
Officials in both agencies claim such problems have been resolved, yet the report stated that "disputes between the FBI and ATF continue to occur."
Changes and corrections are still being made to the draft document.
FBI and ATF officials issued a joint statement saying the agencies "have a long history of successful joint criminal investigations." The agencies said they are providing more information to the inspector general, but declined to comment on the draft until the final version is released. A Justice spokeswoman declined to comment.
The report, which analyzes the agencies' interactions from 2003 to early 2009, is expected to be released later this month, though an exact date was uncertain.
So-called "battles of the badges" between different law enforcement agencies are nothing new, but the ill will between FBI and ATF dates back decades and has survived the 2002 transfer of ATF from the Treasury Department to Justice. Some had thought putting the agencies in the same department might end the feud, but the Justice Department has spent years trying to get the two sides to cooperate.
The inspector general said the problem is exacerbated by the fact that Justice Department instructions don't clearly spell out who is in charge of federal responses to crime scenes involving explosives.
The confusion lies in the mandate of each agency: The FBI is charged with investigating terrorism in any form and the ATF is charged with investigating incidents in which explosives were used as a weapon.
Often, it is hard to tell when police first arrive on the scene whether the motive behind a bomb or explosive device is terrorism or something else.
Traditionally, it has been the job of the No. 2 official at the Justice Department to resolve such issues, but the inspector general found that for years, deputy attorneys general have failed to do so, despite written instructions issued in 2004 and 2008.
"We believe it is critical that DOJ issue a new directive to clearly define lead investigative authority between the FBI and ATF and require coordination of investigative actions," the draft report recommends.
While the two agencies are supposed to be entering information into a joint database, the review found the FBI hasn't entered anything into the database since 2004. The ATF has entered data into the system, but not consistently, the auditors found.
The two agencies also have separate training and laboratory facilities.
#1
Nothing new here, both agencies have a tendency to be spotlight rangers. The worst of all is DOJ.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
09/16/2009 11:06 Comments ||
Top||
#2
It's David Koreish people again. No worries, none of them are armed or have real bombs. Just climb up on the roof and sneak in through a second floor window while we keep them busy down stairs with our expert FBI negociators.
#3
I suspect it is a leadership problem and will only go from bad to worse with this Administration. With Eric Holder in charge of Justice, Geithner in Treasury, and Napolitano at Homeland--Obama will be appointing a new czar now.
[Bangla Daily Star] Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday alerted the countrymen to the ongoing conspiracy of 'special quarter' and 'undemocratic forces' who are still plotting to wipe out democracy and grab the seat in power after being failed to capture it.
The prime minister, however, urged the Leader of the Opposition and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and her allies to return to parliament for raising their voices.
Recalling her experience as the opposition leader, Hasina said, "We used to walk out from parliament sessions, boycott it but we used to return to the House again."
Meanwhile, the parliament session was adjourned till 4:00pm on October 4.
Sheikh Hasina, also ruling Awami League (AL) president, urged people to keep vigil against recurrence of incidents like BDR mutiny to reverse the democratic strides. She also urged the people not to be misguided by any 'false campaign.'
"While running the government and doing development works, we find continued obstacles in every step from the 'special quarter', benefited by undemocratic government, who earlier had captured power through undemocratic means, So, I urge the countrymen to be cautious so that the democratic trend continues," she told the parliament.
The prime minister was speaking at a discussion titled 'democracy and political tolerance' on the occasion of the International Day of Democracy.
Following an hour long discussion, the House passed a resolution by which Bangladesh will also observe the International Day of Democracy through holding a discussion in the parliament every year.
Inter-Parliamentary Union decided to observe September 15 of every year as International Day of Democracy in the context of a resolution adopted by the United Nations in 2007.
The International Day of Democracy was first observed in 2008 but Bangladesh could not observe the day as unelected caretaker government ruled the country during that time.
Referring to the sugar price, Sheikh Hasina told the House that a big conspiracy is going on regarding sugar price. Price of sugar is being raised though stock of sugar is available. "We are investigating the matter and action will be taken against those who are responsible for it," said the Leader of the House.
On plotting of the conspiracy, Sheikh Hasina said people who wanted to sit in power without election are still hatching conspiracy against her government.
Pointing out the two years of the past caretaker government, Hasina said, "Various formulas were floated during that time by those who would lose security money if contest any election."
She also disclosed in parliament that many proposals were given to her (Hasina) during that time including offering her the status of a prime minister without participating in elections, which she rejected.
Without mentioning any name, the prime minister said, those who wanted to capture power by creating new political parties are still continuing their activities to capture power.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/16/2009 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
[Bangla Daily Star] A mob foiled a carjacking attempt of three criminals after beating a carjacker to death and injuring another critically in the capital's Pallabi on Monday night.
I find it difficult to understand the large number of criminals running around Bangladesh, when the locals are so quick to harm any badman who dares lift a hand to practice his trade.
The deceased was identified as Abdul Halim, 25, while the injured Muktar Hossain, 23, was undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH).
Pallabi police said a gang of three criminals intercepted a private car and tried to push its driver out of the vehicle at gunpoint in Pallabi residential area at about 9:00pm. The criminals also shot the car driver when he tried to resist them from snatching the car.
Hearing the driver's scream, locals thronged the spot, caught the two criminals and gave them a good beating while the other managed to flee.
Police took Halim and Muktar to DMCH after the incident where Halim succumbed to his injuries around 12:30am. The condition of Muktar was stated to be critical, hospital sources said.
However, Halim's wife claimed that her husband was not a car-lifter but a driver of a rent-a-car shop.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/16/2009 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[0 views]
Top|| File under:
#2
I find it difficult to understand the large number of criminals running around Bangladesh, when the locals are so quick to harm any badman who dares lift a hand to practice his trade.
Because the lynchings are as much of an indication of a lawless, violent society than the robberies and assaults? Two symptoms of the same diseased, failed society?
#4
On the one hand
yes the crowd did beat the carjacker to death , and thus he wasn't tried
on the other hand
he did shoot the driver he was robbing, so the crowd were justified in self-defence.
I salute the crowds sense of civic duty to prevent crime (but perhaps not their restraint once the culprit is apprehended).
[Iran Press TV Latest] At least 16 people have been killed in Mexico in drug-related violence despite the government's efforts to clamp down on drug cartel activities.
Officials said on Tuesday that six people were killed in a vehicle that was engulfed in flames in the northern border city of Tijuana.
"When we put out the flames, we realized that there were six bodies inside," head firefighter Rafael Carillo told AFP.
Tijuana is the second most violent Mexican city with more than 400 murders reported in 2009, according to government figures.
Another seven people perished overnight in execution-style killings, state of Chihuahua officials said.
Three other men were executed in other locations in Chihuahua, the state prosecutor's office said.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/16/2009 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[4 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
This is far more than out of control, It is normal now. It needs to be an election issue.
Leading Russian military expert Vitaly Shlykov spoke during one of the sessions of the Valdai Discussion Club last week about the sweeping reform of the country's armed forces, which begins in December and will cut the number of tanks from 20,000 to 2,000 and reduce the number or reservists to just 100,000.
The reform, which Shlykov described as nothing short of a revolution, will significantly affect the Kremlin's approach to the composition of and future cuts to the country's military arsenal.
Shlykov, who heads the Security Policy Commission of the Defense Ministry's Public Council, is a former deputy minister of defense and a retired colonel of the GRU military intelligence service.
#2
Given demographic trends, it may not be wise for them to have too much in the way of armaments when they are overtaken.
What does this mean for the future as far as their influence on the world stage? It doesn't seem like they would be so quick to give this up. If so, it may come down to "nuke/not nuke" threats when it comes to influence.
#3
It's more like the Russians don't use half of this crap anyway. I mean, 20,000 tanks? If they gave the order now, how many of them could actually be crewed, drive out and fire a round?
#5
It's more like the Russians don't use half of this crap anyway. I mean, 20,000 tanks? If they gave the order now, how many of them could actually be crewed, drive out and fire a round?
They only need 20,000 tank commanders. The rest are fillers. That's why Russian tanks have autoloaders.
#2
G(r)romgoru, this is something that's been going on for sixty years. BTW, although it contains some minor inaccuracies, I would suggest, as a good start on the subject, the book The Price of Vigilance.
It is interesting to know that if we elect a president who merely vocalizes criticism of Israel's settlement policies you believe we suddenly deserve all the shit we've gotten as a nation for the past sixty years of intermittently trying to stand up to these totalitarian communist empires, all during the period these same empires have given your enemies virtually free weapons to attempt to drive your little three-hydrogen-bomb-blast-radii across city-state into the sea.
And if the rumors about the Arctic Sea piracy are correct, these countries have continued to attempt to supply your enemies through third parties even after Israel has performed the recent technology transfers related to the Heron UAV.
Would you say that Israeli soldiers deserved that sort of crap... that Gilad Shalit deserves whatever he's going through... when Israel has a leftist administration, such as you have had on and off over the last twenty years? But you're going to gloat about it when shit happens to US servicemen, most of whom voted against the current President?
#6
ION WMF > KURILE ISLANDS: RUSSIA USES JAPAN TO ISOLATE CHINA; + NEARLY 1.7MILYUHN JAPANESE, SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS, WERE KEPT AS PRISONERS IN THE SOVIET UNION AFTER THE END OF WW2: MANY WERE MARCHED OFF TO SIBERIA. Japan's Kwangtung Army + NorthEast China - compare wid 70,000 POWS returned by the USA to Japan.
Posted by: Mike ||
09/16/2009 15:51 Comments ||
Top||
#2
Hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee ........
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
09/16/2009 16:21 Comments ||
Top||
#3
Not so fast. Four or five months ago ACORN started a new operation, to change the name and disassociate itself with the stigma of their name. This is not good news, it is the game of watch the coin. I cant remember the name...
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
09/16/2009 16:33 Comments ||
Top||
Posted by: Mullah Richard ||
09/16/2009 17:05 Comments ||
Top||
#5
Thanks! Here we go again!
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
09/16/2009 17:16 Comments ||
Top||
#6
Ace says there's another Vid coming out at 6PST on Hannity's show, this time shot in San Diego, and it's not Pimps and Ho's.
I'd guess: "what is a safe house for illegals for $200, Alex"
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/16/2009 17:41 Comments ||
Top||
#7
Michelle Malkin says that COI isn't a front for ACORN, it's the owned subsidiary of the founder who got pushed out for his brother's fraud.
#8
Not so fast. Four or five months ago ACORN started a new operation, to change the name and disassociate itself with the stigma of their name. This is not good news, it is the game of watch the coin. I cant remember the name...
"...and that's where you seeing people are at a disadvantage."
#11
What if James & Hannah are working with ACORN and this whole thing is a set-up to undo the previous damage to ACORN and also restore the credibility of the MSM, while simultaneously discrediting conservatives, Fox & Breitbart? When you watch the videos they LOOK like a high school drama sketch.
Former President George W. Bush "seemed to feel considerable unease" with John McCain as the Republican presidential nominee, according to ex-speechwriter Matt Latimer in his tell-all memoir on his days in the White House.
In Latimer's new book, "Speech-less: Tales of a White House Survivor," set to hit bookstores on September 22, he reveals Bush's reactions to the economic collapse, the presidential campaign, and other memorable events. GQ published an excerpt from the memoir in its October issue.
Latimer said Bush liked Mitt Romney best and that he was "clearly not impressed with the McCain operation." Latimer said the former president wanted to appear with McCain at a campaign event in Phoenix, but after he was told the then-Republican nominee couldn't get enough people to show up, he called it a "cruel hoax."
"'He couldn't get 500 people? I could get that many people to turn out in Crawford.' He shook his head. 'This is a five-spiral crash, boys.'"
Bush presumed Hillary Clinton would be the Democratic nominee, according to Latimer, and was extremely critical of Barack Obama. Latimer said Bush was "ticked off" after one of Obama's speeches and he said the future president wasn't "remotely qualified" for the challenges of the job.
"(Bush) came in one day to rehearse a speech, fuming. 'This is a dangerous world,' he said for no apparent reason, 'and this cat isn't remotely qualified to handle it. This guy has no clue, I promise you,'" Latimer said.
Latimer also made the controversial assertion that after Sarah Palin was tapped as McCain's running mate, Bush reportedly asked whether she was "the governor of Guam" and said that she was "not even remotely prepared." A former Bush and Palin aide has challenged the accuracy of the charge. Don't overreach there, Latimer. I'm sure W knew exactly who Palin was. He isn't one to forget.
#1
Nothing in these excerpts strikes me as wrong or unreasonable. If McCain couldn't get 500 people in his home state he was indeed in trouble. Obama was indeed not remotely qualified. And neither was Palin (except for family history Bush himself had not been, and he knew it) - the Palin/Guam association was simply exagerration that she was from a small (population) and isolated part of the country.
#7
The sad thing about McCain was the same situation as Bob Dole. The party looked at the numbers and knew it was going to be a losing election, so let "the old guy" have a shot at it.
In McCain's case, all the other candidates bowed out at just about the same time. None of them want to be tainted as a loser, which is often, if not always, a career killer.
Here's the first bit of an A-Pee article. Click the link for the whole thing.
Taken off guard, Democrats at work on health care legislation are grappling with President Barack Obama's nationally televised insistence on immediate access to insurance for those with pre-existing medical conditions, as well as richer Medicare prescription drug benefits than originally envisioned.
Additionally, Obama's pledge to hold the overall cost of legislation to about $900 billion over a decade has spread concern among House Democrats, who have long contemplated a costlier measure.
Yet another late complication, according to several Democrats, is the president's statement that he will not sign a bill "if it adds one dime to the deficit, now or in the future, period. And to prove that I'm serious, there will be a provision in this plan that requires us to come forward with more spending cuts if the savings we promised don't materialize."
The $900 billion target is "very difficult," Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, told reporters. "This is reducing coverage for poor and working people." He spoke of other "restrictions the president has given in his speech." Why do you care, Rangel? Remember, this legislation won't cost us a dime, and it's just another competing plan, not a takeover. Right? After all, it's more health care than they would otherwise usually get.
#1
The $900 billion target is "very difficult," Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y.,
Ah, come on Charlie. You know how to do it. If you can run a extra million of income/value off the books, you certainly can run 900 billion 'off the books' too. Just file a 'revised' statement when the whole scheme collapses.
Worst President Ever Former President Jimmy Carter said Tuesday that racial politics played a role in South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst during President Obama's speech to Congress last week and in some of the opposition the president has faced since taking office.
"I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he's African-American," Carter told NBC News. "I live in the South, and I've seen the South come a long way, and I've seen the rest of the country that shares the South's attitude toward minority groups at that time, particularly African-Americans." Ahh. All this is because he's part black. That's not what I think about at all, until someone else brings up the color of his skin in one way or another. I couldn't care less what color his skin is or isn't. I don't like his politics and that's the end of it. Of course, some of us have color on the brain, and can't think of anything but color, and are projecting their problem onto the rest of society so they can feel better about themselves.
"That racism inclination still exists, and I think it's bubbled up to the surface because of belief among many white people -- not just in the South but around the country -- that African-Americans are not qualified to lead this great country. It's an abominable circumstance, and it grieves me and concerns me very deeply," Carter said. You like it when you feel that way, don't you. Gets your juices flowing. Makes you feel alive.
Carter made similar remarks at an event at his presidential center in Atlanta, Georgia, The Associated Press reported Tuesday, pointing to some protesters who have compared Obama to a Nazi. "Those kind of things are not just casual outcomes of a sincere debate on whether we should have a national program on health care," the former president said at the Carter Center, according to AP. "It's deeper than that." So next time somebody compares W to a Nazi you're going to have something to say about it, right? Or does that fact that W has white skin make it OK somehow? Racist.
He grouped Wilson's shout of "You lie!" during Obama's speech in that category, according to AP. "I think it's based on racism. There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president," he said. I base it on the fact that Obama is lying. Or so clueless he can't find his a$$ with both hands. In either case, I don't want him where he is.
"The president is not only the head of government, he is the head of state. And no matter who he is or how much we disagree with his policies, the president should be treated with respect." You'd like that, wouldn't you.
The House voted Tuesday to formally disapprove of Wilson's behavior during the joint session of Congress. The resolution was approved largely along party lines, with Republicans calling the measure unnecessary partisan politics. Wilson's "comment" was arguably correct at least, and dead on at best. I choose the latter, personally.
Wilson apologized to the White House last week, but congressional Democrats said he owed the chamber a similar statement of regret. How about this: "I'm sorry Obama lied. I'm sorry some insecure closet racists played the race card when this isn't about race. I'm sorry W got whomped when he tried to reform social security. I'm sorry that only Wilson spoke for me in this case, and I'm sorry the rest of Congress won't do what I want them to do without all the fuss. I'm sorry that for the most part they're such self-serving smarter-than-thou pricks who think I can't think for or take care of myself. I'm sorry they feel guilty about the US being in the place it is through the far more practical, thoughtful and wise actions of previous generations. I'm sorry they think they should assuage their guilt by declaring how the US isn't worthy of being top dog and taking steps to abdicate to the likes of Iran and Chavez. I'm sorry they can't even read the constitution or interpret the true meanings of laws, and hide behind legal technicalities and interpretations to get otherwise smart people to do stupid things, sort of like people are taking advantage of Islam. I'm sorry they feel the need to define their importance by mandating everything they can think of so even stupid people can manage to stay in the gene pool to procreate. And I'm sorry you a$$-ho's can't find something more constructive to do than try to tar and feather the one guy who had the balls to say what I would have said myself had I been there."
#2
Many moons ago I predicted that we'd all know when things went negative and desperate for Obama and the Dems when all criticism of his policies, no matter legitimate or reasoned, or what its motivation, was chalked up to racism.
We're there less than a year into his presidency, so that gives me some hope that the scales are tipping.
Posted by: no mo uro ||
09/16/2009 6:19 Comments ||
Top||
#4
These defiling comments will not end with Carter, or Sharpton, or Jackson. If Barry ever leaves the "presidency," our children and grandchildren will be assured a continued diet of this type of social justice, blame game pablum. It has become the gallows religion of desperate and dying causes.
#5
Wilson violated House rules regardless of whether Zero lied. Any time the House spends chastizing him is time they can't spend spending our money - if we keep calling Zero a liar can we keep Congress doing nothing?
It's not clear to me Zero actually 'lied' in the most legalistic definition of the word; clearly and knowingly deceptive is not quite the same thing (or I think that's what Clinton taught us.)
Wilson may be a bit racist (I don't know) though I don't think that was the motivation for his outburst, not is it the motivation for most people who oppose Zero - we oppose his politics and policies. And even those who are racist (there are some) probably ALSO oppose him on policy & political grounds.
#9
Remember that this calling of conservatives and Republicans "racists" is an orchestrated push. Just in the past week, seemingly out of the blue, dozens now "commentators" have all asserted "racism".
Just a cynical political ploy. Someone pulled the little puppets' strings.
#10
To paraphrase Warhol, everybody will be racist for 15 minutes.
This is stupid now; it rises to amusing as it is applied to Obama supporters (see yesterday's article on Valerie Jarret, wherein white staffers are told "they don't get it").
The big problem for Democrats is that only their hardcore base takes it seriously. The only people who can be hurt are "moderate" Democrats who are stuck between doing what their constituents want and an increasingly out of touch and strident leadership.
This is the stuff that urks me. I sure hope it was a slip on Glenmore's part. Throwing doubt with an exit plan. We are better than this here at the burg.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
09/16/2009 11:32 Comments ||
Top||
#12
dozens now "commentators" have all asserted "racism".
You could be right, Anonymoose. This link is to a vomit inducing piece of pabulum from that Canadian hack journalist Naomi Klein.
#13
What I was intending to convey was that the political/policy opposition is valid regardless of whether the opponent is racist or not. And that except in flagrant cases (like David Duke) we really can't tell if someone is racist. Wilson has been widely ACCUSED of racism but neither his 'outburst' nor anything else we have been made aware of constitutes proof of racism (or even a reasonable suggestion of it.)
#15
For me Obama's race is a red herring.
His father left when Barack was a toddler and he saw him only twice growing up.
Barack is actually a perfect example of a "red diaper baby". His mother was a committed Marxist since high school who rejected Western civilization. His major political mentors are SDSers and Communists.
He is no different than the thousands of (white) "radical chic" fools who surround Nancy Pelosi.
Posted by: Frozen Al ||
09/16/2009 11:58 Comments ||
Top||
#16
It's shocking the way that Rosalyn continues to allow this poor, old man out in public.
#18
I oppose Obama as much as I have Paulson, Geithner, Pelosi, Reid, Boxer, Franken, & Carter, ad nauseum, and they were all white last time I looked. Carter's book is also on Binny's recommended reading list.
[Geo News] The alleged kidnappers of a child who received the ransom of Rs1.5 million from the child's family and later murdered the boy have been killed in a police encounter.
According to police, the kidnappers identified as Rehan and Suhail were killed in police encounter while the ransom money was also recovered.
The accused had worked as servants in Umair Irfan's house, Geo News correspondent said. They kidnapped the child and took him to Sahiwal and demanded Rs1.5 million from the family on a phone call made from a cell phone.
Although the kidnappers received the ransom money, they brutally killed the child later on.
The police traced the culprits through cell phone number and surrounded their house. Upon this, the accused opened fire on police which was returned, killing both the accused identified as Rehan and Suhail. The police also recovered the ransom money.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/16/2009 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[6 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan
WASHINGTON Astronomers have finally found a place outside our solar system where there's a firm place to stand if only it weren't so broiling hot.
As scientists search the skies for life elsewhere, they have found more than 300 planets outside our solar system. But they all have been gas balls or can't be proven to be solid. Now a team of European astronomers has confirmed the first rocky extrasolar planet.
Scientists have long figured that if life begins on a planet, it needs a solid surface to rest on, so finding one elsewhere is a big deal.
"We basically live on a rock ourselves," said co-discoverer Artie Hatzes, director of the Thuringer observatory in Germany. "It's as close to something like the Earth that we've found so far. It's just a little too close to its sun."
So close that its surface temperature is more than 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit, too toasty to sustain life. It circles its star in just 20 hours, zipping around at 466,000 mph. By comparison, Mercury, the planet nearest our sun, completes its solar orbit in 88 days.
"It's hot, they're calling it the lava planet," Hatzes said.
This is a major discovery in the field of trying to find life elsewhere in the universe, said outside expert Alan Boss of the Carnegie Institution. It was the buzz of a conference on finding an Earth-like planet outside our solar system, held in Barcelona, Spain, where the discovery was presented Wednesday morning. The find is also being published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.
The planet is called Corot-7b. It was first discovered earlier this year. European scientists then watched it dozens of times to measure its density to prove that it is rocky like Earth. It's in our general neighborhood, circling a star in the winter sky about 500 light-years away. Each light-year is about 6 trillion miles.
Four planets in our solar system are rocky: Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars.
In addition, the planet is about as close to Earth in size as any other planet found outside our solar system. Its radius is only one-and-a-half times bigger than Earth's and it has a mass about five times the Earth's.
Now that another rocky planet has been found so close to its own star, it gives scientists more confidence that they'll find more Earth-like planets farther away, where the conditions could be more favorable to life, Boss said.
"The evidence is becoming overwhelming that we live in a crowded universe," Boss said.
Posted by: Mike ||
09/16/2009 15:24 Comments ||
Top||
#2
and the beat goes on. Conservations can't find anything that comes out of Ole Jimmy's mouth that they can't criticize. Liberals can't find any President Carter says to criticize.
Posted by: Richard of Oregon ||
09/16/2009 16:05 Comments ||
Top||
#3
just knowing that this black boy who grew up with just a loving mother and grandparents
Come on, guys. Even though he *is* history's greatest monster, Jimmy is just talking about Dear Leader as a little kid.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Leading Russian military expert Vitaly Shlykov spoke during one of the sessions of the Valdai Discussion Club last week about the sweeping reform of the country's armed forces, which begins in December and will cut the number of tanks from 20,000 to 2,000 and reduce the number or reservists to just 100,000.
