Thursday, June 15, 2006

Don't Eat No Yellow Snow

Did ET pee in the arctic?

U of C searches for ET

Arctic's strange sulphur spring may hide secrets of life
University of Calgary geology professor Benoit Beauchamp was in the High Arctic studying rocks when he noticed an unusual yellowish stain in a snow-covered valley. He flew over in a helicopter several times, but couldn't figure out why the snow had turned yellow. "I thought it was some sort of moss or vegetation," he recalled Tuesday. "It's not until I landed that I realized it was pure sulphur.University of Calgary geology professor Benoit Beauchamp was in the High Arctic studying rocks when he noticed an unusual yellowish stain in a snow-covered valley. He flew over in a helicopter several times, but couldn't figure out why the snow had turned yellow. "I thought it was some sort of moss or vegetation," he recalled Tuesday. "It's not until I landed that I realized it was pure sulphur.
Arctic expedition will investigate alien-like glacier


And remember Frank Zappas warning kids: Don't Eat No Yellow Snow

Save for an unexpected pair of top-40 hits in "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow" and "Valley Girl," Frank Zappa didn't make much of a dent in the mainstream in his quarter century as a recorded artist. And understandably so; he was, and remains more than a dozen years after his passing, years ahead of his time. To Zappa's benefit, and probably much to the appreciation of his still-die hard fan base, he never fit the rock and roll mold, inspired more by the likes of Igor Stravinsky than the Fab Four and making no bones about it. He was also an astute social and political commentator, despite penning locker-room savvy classics such as "Broken Hearts are for A******s" and "Bobby Brown."

Let's be Frank

Frank Zappa's Family Brings His Music to a New Audience



Also See:

Classical Rock



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Prehistoric Loonie


Another fossil discovery with Canadian links. Just like Frank and Gordon.

This time it's the Loon.


The similarity of G. yumenensis to modern birds came as a surprise: Previously, such advanced anatomical features had been seen only in birds that lived during and after the late Cretaceous period — within the last 100 million years. "In short, no one expected to find a bird this modern in rocks this old," Harris says, referring to the shale formation where the team made its discovery. The shale dates to the early Cretaceous period, which occurred between 100 million and 145 million years ago. As a result of the finding, G. yumenensis now has the distinction of being "the oldest-known bird that is really, really modern in its anatomy," he says.

As such, G. yumenensis may help fill in gaps in the branch of the evolutionary tree that gave rise to today's birds. Specifically, scientists are looking to G. yumenensis for present-day evidence of whether modern birds originated in aquatic or terrestrial habitats.

An artist's reconstruction shows Gansus yumenensis in a lake in China's Gansu province. The bird probably had the ability to dive and swim underwater, much like modern loons or grebes. Illustration by Mark A. Klingler, courtesy of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

"The most primitive living birds — for example, ostriches, rheas, and chickens — tend to be terrestrial" and therefore would seem to hint that today's birds got their start on land, says Matthew Lamanna, a research team member from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pennsylvania. Yet two other features of G. yumenensis — webbed feet and a large crest on its lower leg bone that would have provided a strong anchor for leg muscles — suggest the bird was aquatic and had the ability to dive and swim underwater like loons or grebes. According to You's research team, this supports the idea that modern birds actually originated in water habitats.

Also See:

Fossils

Prehistoric


Dinosaurs


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Scoop

Daveberta has a scoop on his site. Following the resignation announcement by Edmonton Strathcona NDP MLA Raj Pannu, Daveberta correctly predicted that Rachel Notley will be announcing her candidacy as Raj's replacement. . notley quick on the draw.

As the ultimate party insider, daughter of former NDP Leader and Saint; Grant Notley, her shoo in is assured. Seems though that Daveberta was not supposed to announce her candidacy. Dave writes:

UPDATE: It seems that a clever webmaster has discovered that I have prematurely announced Ms. Notley's candidacy.

As such, her site has been taken down until the official announcement is made. Even though I did have the foresight to see this coming and captured screenshots and copied her announcement speech and press release (dated June 16), I'm really not cruel enough to post stuff like that (this early in the nomination game).


She will be announcing her candidacy tommorow, Friday June 16, 10:30 AM at the Edmonton Strathcona Community Centre. Then her website will probably go back up.

Her hubby is Lou Arab a former PR guy for the ABNDP now PR guy for CUPE Alberta. And maybe Bob the Angry Flower will join her campaign.


The old family compact is alive and well in the Alberta NDP.


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A Birthday Present For Che


A Liberated Bolivia

And lets not forget that other great Cuban Revolutionary who would have turned 78 yesterday. The guy who ran the bank of Cuba because when they were handing out jobs around the table, they asked whose an 'economist', and he said I am. Only to find out later he thought they said 'communist.'

Bolivia was where Che began his understanding of the oppression of the indigenous peoples of Latin American, and where he would die helping the Coca farmers.


Bolivia's president pays homage to Che Guevara

LA HIGUERA, Bolivia (Reuters) - Bolivian President Evo Morales pledged solidarity with Cuba and Venezuela on Wednesday as he paid homage to Ernesto "Che" Guevara at the spot where the legendary leftist guerrilla was killed in 1967.

Clutching double-sided Cuban-Bolivian flags, white-coated Cuban doctors joined Morales and hundreds of local residents in the remote eastern village La Higuera to mark the 78th anniversary of the Cuban revolutionary leader's birth.

Morales, who has hung a large portrait of Guevara in the presidential palace, defended his leftist alliance with Cuba and Venezuela and said he would be willing to take up arms to defend them in the face of any U.S. attack.

"If they did it in Cuba, in Venezuela or Bolivia, we'd be willing to take them on with arms to defend the nation, natural resources and social reforms," Morales said.

"Ten years ago, I said there'd soon be many Cubas in Latin America and I now feel I was right ... . Now we've got another commander, our comrade (Venezuelan President) Hugo Chavez. We've got two freedom-fighting commanders ... whatever the empire says," added Morales, who often dubs Washington "the North American empire."

He is the first Bolivian president to pay homage to Guevara in the mountainous area where the Argentine-born medical doctor was captured and shot to death by Bolivian soldiers as he sought to spread communism to Bolivia.

Guevara was Fidel Castro's lieutenant in the 1959 Cuban Revolution. His attempt to spark another movement in Bolivia in 1967 was stopped after seven months of fighting in the subtropics.

He was captured on October 8 and taken to the school building in La Higuera, where he was executed the next day at the age of 39.

Che was executed by the CIA and Bolivian Army in the first act of the phoney War On Drugs that began way back then.

Bolivia Remembers Che for Humanity

La Paz, Jun 15 (Prensa Latina) The government and people´s tribute to the 78th anniversary of Argentine-Cuban guerrilla commander Ernesto Che Guevara, shared by ambassadors from Cuba and Venezuela, has caused a great impact in Bolivia.

President Evo Morales, and Cuban and Venezuelan Ambassadors Rafael Dausa and Julio Montes ratified their nations´ will to emulate Che´s solidarity fight as the greatest homage to his memory.

History has done justice to the guerrilla fighter, in an emotive revolutionary activity at the La Higuera village, where he was assassinated in 1967.

In his address, Evo Morales described Che as an immortal leader who tirelessly fought against US imperialism and for the liberty and dignity of Latin America, "dying for us, equality and justice."

"When I was a farmers´ leader ten years ago, I was asked about my views on Cuba, and I answered there would be many 'Cubas' in Latin America. I am very satisfied I was right," he noted.

Morales referred to unconditional solidarity among Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia, calling it the axis of humankind, of the poor who fight for life, as proven in health and education collaboration, and pledged he would never betray Che´s ideals.

Cuban and Venezuelan Ambassadors Rafael Dausa and Julio Montes also addressed participants, including Che´s son Camilo Guevara March and government officials from Caracas and Havana.

Evo Morales Honors Che Guevara with New Clinic from Cuba

Bolivian President Pays Homage to Che Guevara Today

Bolivian President Pays Tribute to Guevara


Thirty years ago Che's Revolution in Bolivia planted the seeds for the revolutionary movement of Evo Morales and MAS.


''Bolivia's Evo Morales Launches His Movement Toward Socialism ...
Unlike the traditional populist leaders in the Andean region, who originate in the middle and upper classes and who implement redistributionist measures from above without coherent ideological grounding and grassroots organization, Morales comes from a poor indigenous background and heads an organized mass movement with ideological foundations and programmatic applications of them. His Movement Toward Socialism (M.A.S.) -- Bolivia's largest political party -- brings together indigenous, community, peasant, labor and student groups in a coalition that, despite the many tensions within it, seeks to replace permanently the oligarchic rule of the European and affluent mestizo middle and upper classes that have become linked to and dependent upon multinational corporations and the states that protect them, particularly the United States. [See: "Bolivia's Evo Morales Shifts the Hemispheric Balance of Power"]

The aim of the M.A.S. is not simply to take over the existing system and run it by keeping it intact, but to change it fundamentally. The extent of the transformation that the M.A.S. envisions became evident in June when it released its program, "Refounding Bolivia," which incorporates its agenda for the forthcoming constituent assembly.

At the highest level of ideological abstraction, the document interprets Bolivian history as "indigenous-popular resistance to discrimination and poverty," proclaiming the "rights" of indigenous peoples to self-determination, control over their territories and "collective resources," and use of their traditional political and justice systems, consistent with respect for human rights. The M.A.S.' vision for Bolivia is a "plural, participative, communitarian and representative democracy, based on diversity of peoples, for the elimination of all forms of colonialism, segregation and discrimination." In the economic sphere, "Refounding Bolivia" declares that natural resources are "social property" and that their management falls to the state -- a model of "social economy" with room for private productive property so long as it serves socially useful purposes.

Bolivia’s Gas Nationalization: A South American Affair
The diplomatic whirlwind following Evo Morales’ takeover of Bolivia’s gas fields has revealed that South American unity is far stronger than critics of the regio... :: 14/6/2006

Morales to Release Economic Plan

LA PAZ, Bolivia — Leftist President Evo Morales will unveil an economic plan on Friday that aims to create 100,000 jobs a year and lift South America's poorest country out of crisis by investing profits from Bolivia's recently nationalized natural gas industry.

In a shift from previous administrations that have backed free-market style reforms, Morales is favoring a strong state role in the economy. Shunning a free-trade agreement with Washington, he has signed a pact with his left-wing allies Cuba and Venezuela.

A draft of the Morales plan obtained by the Associated Press says the government plans heavy public investment that could reach US$1.6 billion (euro1.3 billion) by 2011 that it hopes will spur annual economic growth of 7.6 percent _ more than double Bolivia's current growth rate.


Also See

The Left In Latin America

Che Meets Benedict

Nothing To Worry About In Bolivia

A Libertarian Defense of the Left Wing in Latin America

Bolivia Moves Left


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Guess Who Is 80


Well that social parasite the Queen, for one. She is celebrating her birthday, AGAIN this week for one. Those British aristocrats just can't get enough of their Queen. Threw her another birthday party.Which we all pay for.

Britain`s last Queen?

And one implication of all this that must trouble Her Majesty as she receives the genuinely affectionate birthday greetings of her subjects is that the future of the Monarchy she inherited is very far from secure.

Another new poll for Britain`s ITV News this week suggested that while 52 percent of Brits think the Queen provides 'good value for money,' only 31 percent think the same of her son and heir Prince Charles. Yet another poll this month in The Times found that only 37 percent of Brits think that Charles should succeed his mother.

Though as Canadians we may have saved some money on this her second birthday party.Where's Michaelle?

But wait apparently she is secretly a Marxist! Queen Elizabeth supports Marxism

But for those who have no use for royalty, well we have someone we can celebrate who is turning 80. None other than that arch nemesis of Amerika; Comrade Fidel Castro. And he is a Marxist just like the Queen.


Castro's new soldiers

One of the revolution’s endearing features has been its ability to reinvent itself. Castro was originally a guerrilla revolutionary with a utopian programme to create a new society; later, in the 1970s, he became a Soviet placeman with a communist blueprint; then in the 1990s (after the collapse of the Soviet Union) he was a simple hand-to-mouth survivor, regardless of the ideological cost. In the 21st century he describes himself as a socialist, but is also a fully paid-up green campaigner. Efforts to curb corruption, save energy and promote organic farming are all part of a new struggle to put revolutionary fire into the bellies of a younger generation that doesn’t remember the palmy days of the Soviet-subsidised era, let alone the revolutionary excitements of half a century ago.

Castro, in his 80th year, is the same age as the Queen of England. He has been Cuba’s ruler for almost as long and is still apparently as active as ever. Last November, he spoke for five hours at the university and then talked to the students until dawn. Yet he doesn’t look well. While I used to think he could go on for another decade, I now suspect he may not last much beyond the celebrations of the revolution’s half century in 2009.

Castro may well be of the same opinion. Speaking to the university students, he addressed the problem of what might happen after his death, and asked a series of rhetorical questions: “When the veterans start disappearing, to make room for new generations of leaders, what will be done? Can the revolutionary process be made irreversible?’’ He warned that it would be possible for the country to self-destruct. He said it would be up to the new generation to see that this did not happen, admitting that his own rule had hardly been perfect. “After all, we witnessed many mistakes that we simply did not notice at the time.’’

THE United States will not succeed in its attempt to destroy Cuban President Fidel Castro's resolve to serve humanity, Dr Kenneth Kaunda said yesterday.

In an interview, Dr Kaunda said he was delighted that President Castro had invited him to attend his 80th birthday celebrations scheduled for August. "We have been personal friends for a long time indeed," Dr Kaunda said.

Coordinator for Africa and the Middle East in the Department of International Relations of the Central Council of the Cuban Communist Party, Dr Rodolfo Puente Ferro, disclosed to The Post in Havana, Cuba, last week that Dr Kaunda was among the eminent personalities from around the world who would grace President Castro's 80th birthday anivessarry on August 13, 2006.

And Dr Kaunda said President Castro had contributed towards a safe global village due to his belief in socialism, which favoured the poor people.

He said President Castro had succeeded in making the Cuban population as one of the most educated people in Latin America. "He has trained doctors, engineers and professionals...a number of those doctors, engineers and other professionals have come to Africa to assist the poverty stricken continent," Dr Kaunda said.

"When Angola was invaded by the Afrikaans or Boers' troops, Comrade Castro sent his troops to assist his brothers here in Africa."

Venezuela Decorates Cuban President


Also See:

Made In Cuba Green Policy



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SpOilers


Yep twas a great game.....Oilers hold off storm
I predict seven games since both the Oilers and Hurricanes are evenly matched.Cause the Canes have as many Canadians on their team as the Oilers.




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The Real Axis of Evil


Oxfam's report "Ammunition: the fuel of conflict" said big ammunition makers China, Egypt, Iran, Brazil, Bulgaria, Romania and Israel provide no data at all on their ammunition exports, apart from shotgun cartridges. Global bullet trade out of control -- Oxfam

Hey we don't want to feel left out......

According to Oxfam, Canada is the world's fourth-largest known exporter of small-arms ammunition, although the ranking is questionable because many countries do not provide export figures. Smuggled guns feeding Iraq conflict, report says



Yuri Orlov: There are over 550 million firearms in worldwide circulation. That's one firearm for every twelve people on the planet. The only question is: How do we arm the other 11?

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Baghdad, Ukraine


Speaking of the Ukraine, three months after the election and they still have no government. Well neither did Iraq. And as all libertarians know the government that governs least is best, that way they can't pass more stupid laws.

Ukraine's Orange Revolution partners trade allegations over failed coalition talks


Also see:

Tymoshenko 'Evita'of the Ukraine

Secular Democracy

American Fairy Tale




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Frogs


Ukraine Lost to Spain in the World Cup yesterday because of frogs......

Earlier this week, upon their arrival in Germany Ukraine’s squad complained that frogs were disturbing the sleep of the squad at their lakeside hotel in Potsdam. Central defender Vladislav Vashchyuk told the Sovetsky sports newspaper that frogs in the Templiner See lake were keeping the players awake at night ahead of their Group H opener against Spain.

Gee and I thought it was all that sex keeping the players up.


See: Soccer

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Yes We Have No Bananas

As students prepare to graduate from high school, those following in their footsteps will find themselves with less next year. Thanks to King Ralph and Company. Too Much Money Not Enough Education

'City students will suffer'
Edmonton Sun, Canada - 10 hours ago
By CARY CASTAGNA, Staff Writer. Edmonton students will suffer if the provincial government fails to come up with an immediate cash ...
Public school board awash in red ink
Fort McMurray Today, Canada - 16 hours ago
By PAULA OGONOSKI. Fort McMurray Today — A $1.9 million decision by the public school board could put trustees in hot water with ...
School boards deal with budget shortfalls
CBC.ca, Canada - 17 hours ago
Public school boards in Calgary and Edmonton are contemplating cuts to deal with multimillion-dollar shortfalls.

Alberta schools losers in booming province's infrastructure ...
Canada.com, Canada - 4 Jun 2006
... But the struggles also exist in Edmonton and Fort McMurray. The Calgary Board of Education has a $425-million maintenance deficit for public schools and the ...

Pamela AndersonJune 5, 2006

Pamela Anderson says well maintained schools are important

EDMONTON -- In an exclusive commentary in the Sun newspapers on Saturday June 3, 2006, Canadian Superstar Actress Pamela Anderson, who is to be inducted into the Canadian Walk of Fame this week, says; “We have great education. My schools were beautiful and well-maintained.” More...





And typical of King Ralph he blows his cool when he's found out. Just like he did over health care. And remember when he threw the book at.....the page.....yep when Ralph is found wanting he lashes back. Yep bring back the lash for dem' overpaid public school workers says high school drop out Ralph.


Klein lashes back at educators

Klein furiously fired back, saying teachers, unions and school boards may claim they are being forced to work with less, but the truth is they are only being asked to do with less than they would like, not less than they had before, said Klein.

"If you get a raise of three percent and you were expecting a raise of five percent, you are receiving less of more.

"It's less of what they would like ... because they want more of more, of more, of more.

"Whether it's education, health care, infrastructure, whether it's protection of the environment, everyone wants more, of more, of more.

"It's one of the problems of having too much money."

Yep thats a problem alright. Just like not having enough money apparently. So how come school boards are being funded like its 1993-1995 when we are rolling in money?

Cause we have a Repulican like education system in Alberta. Voucher funding which pays schools per student, private school funding, charter schools, schools competing for students, and no money for infrastructure repairs, though it has been promised since 2000.

As I have said here before planning is anathema to King Ralph and the Party of Calgary. They are stuck in the past, hold the line funding for the public sector while the coffers are open for their business pals.

Or maybe its just good old fashioned lame duck politics, we have to wait for the passing of Ralph and the annointment of this guy:


Jim Dinning announces his candidacy for leader of Alberta's Progressive Conservative party. (CP PHOTO/Jason Scott)

In a speech punctuated by shouts of "Hear, hear!" and "Right on!" the 53-year-old chairman of Western Financial Group said his campaign will focus on investing in education, making Alberta a leader in innovation and high-tech, preserving the environment and socking away money during the current oil-driven economic boom. He said he plans to make Alberta's workforce the most highly skilled on the continent.





More Klein Stories

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The Passing of the Raj

Pannu to step down by next election

Former Alberta NDP leader Raj Pannu is planning to retire from politics.

First elected as an NDP MLA in 1997, Pannu has won three elections in the riding. He led the provincial party from 2000 to 2004. Before entering politics, he was a professor at the University of Alberta.

Edmonton Strathcona NDP MLA Raj Pannu is stepping down. Having helped get him elected along with Pam Barrett when the NDP had no seats in 1997, Raj was key to the revitalization of the party in Alberta. Today with four NDP MLA's, double even the 1997 come back, Raj as former leader was gracious in passing the crown onto Brian Mason. He will be missed in the house as a voice of dignified democratic socialism. And who can ever forget the unofficial campaign slogan that became his motto;

Raj


Against the Machine

Pannu made a difference

Former NDP leader quits

New Democrat MLA Raj Pannu to step down

DR RAJ PANNU RETIRES (THE MACHINE, PRESUMABLY, KEEPS ON RUNNING)

raj retiring.



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