- The secret of Maya Blue: Sacred blue pigment the Maya made through ritual burning of a mix of ingredients, including indigo, minerals and copal incense.
- Masked mummy of Peru: An intact 1,700-year-old mummy, bearing a wooden mask with seashell eyes.
- The stone with soul: 2,800-year-old funerary monument in southeastern Turkey. A 13-line inscription was chiseled into basalt stone, in which a high official refers to food offerings that were made "for my soul that is in this stele." This proves that Iron Age culture believed the soul was separate from the body.
- Brown gold from Oregon: 14,300-year-old preserved feces found in eastern Oregon cave. Researchers even extracted DNA which could clear up longstanding mysteries about the first Americans.
- Oldest oil paintings: In a maze of caves in Afghanistan's Bamiyan Valley.
- The first European? A cave in northern Spain turned up a chunk of a Homo erectus jawbone that has been dated back to 1.3 million years ago. That suggests that our ancestors made their way into Europe about 500,000 years earlier than previously thought.
- The earliest shoes: An analysis of 42,000-year-old human toe bones from a dig in China provided evidence of some form of footwear.
- Pristine Portuguese shipwreck: Geologists working off the coast of Namibia turned up a 16th-century cargo ship that was buried on the seafloor, safe from underwater treasure hunters.
- The colossal heads of the Roman Empire: Archaeologists are uncovering the monumental marble heads of Roman emperors at a dig in central Turkey.
- The origins of whaling: A 20-inch-long walrus tusk, found at an archaeological site on Russia's Chukotka Peninsula, bears the carvings of a seal, a bear and a boatful of people hunting a whale from a boat. The tusk dates back about 3,000 years, which would make the carving "the earliest evidence for whaling."
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Top 10 Archeology Discoveries of 2008
From Archeology magazine via MSNBC are some fascinating stories that once again show scientists that they are not as smart as they think they are.
Friday, December 5, 2008
OJ Gets 15 Years
A little bit of justice delayed mixed with poetic justice...
A broken O.J. Simpson has been sentenced to at least 15 years in prison for a Las Vegas hotel armed robbery by a judge who rejected his apology and said, "It was much more than stupidity."
Simpson stood stone-faced Friday when Judge Jackie Glass quickly rattled off his punishment after he pleaded with her that he didn't mean to steal from anybody when he tried to retrieve memorabilia.
He appeared ready to break down in tears as he told that he was "sorry and confused" before going into a rambling and emotional 5-minute declaration.
"I didn't want to steal anything from anyone ... I'm sorry, sorry," he said.
Glass ruled before sentencing that Simpson cannot be freed on bail pending possible appeal.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Genius: Taxing Campaign Contributions!
But all is not lost, my liberal friends. Allow me to propose the institution of a windfall profits tax on presidential campaigns. Any campaign that raises more than $250 million would have all donations taxed at the higher rate that Obama was discussing for oil companies. Okay, so he never actually specified what that rate would be. But let's say Uncle Sam took one half of all donations to presidential candidates.
Campaign Spot
Hungary: Fidesz Lead Narrows
Which party would you vote for in the next legislative election? (Decided Voters)
|
| Nov. 2008 | Oct. 2008 | Sept. 2008 |
| Hungarian Citizens Party (Fidesz) | 54% | 61% | 61% |
| Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP) | 32% | 30% | 24% |
| Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSZ) | 5% | 2% | 3% |
| Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF) | 4% | 2% | 6% |
Source: Tarki
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 Hungarian voters, conducted from Nov. 5 to Nov. 20, 2008. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Colombia: Strong Support for Uribe 3rd Term
Would you support or oppose allowing Álvaro Uribe to run for president for a third consecutive time?
| Support | 62.44% |
| Oppose | 34.18% |
| Not sure | 3.38% |
Source: Datexco/Opinómetro
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,015 Colombian adults in 15 cities, conducted in November 2008. Margin of error is 5 per cent.
Britain: Conservatives Lead by 11
If there were a general election tomorrow, which party would you vote for?
| Nov. 28 | Nov. 16 | Oct. 2008 | |
| Conservative | 43% | 40% | 45% |
| Labour | 32% | 37% | 30% |
| Liberal Democrats | 15% | 12% | 14% |
| Other | 10% | 11% | 11% |
Source: Ipsos MORI / The Observer
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,002 British adults, conducted on Nov. 27 and Nov. 28, 2008. No margin of error was provided.
Normal Episcopalians Forming Rival Anglican Church
Theological conservatives upset by the liberal views of the Episcopal Church are forming a rival denomination.The new Anglican Church in North America will include four Episcopal dioceses that recently split from the U.S. church, along with breakaway Anglican parishes from Canada.
The announcement Wednesday in Wheaton, Illinois, comes after decades of debate over what Episcopalians should believe about issues ranging from salvation to sexuality.
MSDNC
Virginia Governors Race Already Heating Up
While three of the four men vying to be Virginia's next governor talked up their lengthy résumés in state government Tuesday, newcomer Terry McAuliffe pitched himself as a Richmond outsider who could change government.
Sen. R. Creigh Deeds and Del. Brian J. Moran, both Democrats, and Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell, a Republican, all have years of experience on Capitol Square. McAuliffe, a former Democratic National Committee chairman, has lived in McLean for two decades but has had little involvement in state government or politics.
"I think there is an opportunity for someone who has not been in Richmond who can come in with some new ideas," McAuliffe said.
The four likely candidates shared the stage for the first time at a debate Tuesday, unofficially launching a yearlong campaign for the state's top job by answering questions from journalists in front of a packed room in downtown Richmond.
Washington Post
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Supreme Court Justice Stevens May Stay to Break Records
Stevens is the eighth longest-serving Justice in the history of the Court. If he continues on the Court beyond July 15, 2012, he will surpass the current record of 36 years and 209 days held by former Justice William O. Douglas.
Bench Memos
Saxby Wins!
Georgia Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss handed the GOP a firewall against Democrats eager to flex their newfound political muscle in Washington, winning a bruising runoff battle Tuesday night that had captured the national limelight.
Chambliss' victory thwarted Democrats' hopes of winning a 60 seat filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. It came after a bitter monthlong runoff against Democrat Jim Martin that drew political luminaries from both parties to the state and flooded the airwaves with fresh attack ads weeks after campaigns elsewhere had ended.
Minnesota—where a recount is under way—now remains the only unresolved Senate contest in the country. But the stakes there are significantly lower now that Georgia has put a 60-seat Democratic supermajority out of reach.
With 92 percent of the precincts reporting, Chambliss captured 58 percent to Martin's 42 percent. Chambliss' win is a rare bright spot for Republicans in a year where they lost the White House as well as seats in the House and the Senate.
Breitbart
Day 354/366 - Message to Obama
Here's a nice Flickr photo. It's the kind of thing the leftists were doing against Bush, so it's nice to see someone do it to Obama.
Day 354/366 - Message to Obama
November 7, 2008 - Message to Obama. And YES, I did vote - for McCain. I posted this because *someone* has to speak for the millions of Americans who voted for somebody else.
Florida: Mel Martinez Helps GOP...by Retiring
Martinez's decision was based on a desire for more free time and a less scheduled life, said the source. The first term senator also was an almost certain Democratic target in two years time although those familiar with Martinez's political prospects insisted his strengths in South Florida, coupled with his political base along the I-4 corridor, made his path to reelection possible.
Martinez's retirement ensures a competitive and costly open seat race in Florida. State Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, widely seen as Democrats' strongest potential candidate, has apparently decided that she would not run but may well reconsider that decision given Martinez's expected announcement today. Democratic Reps. Ron Klein and Kendrick Meek as well as state Sen. Dan Gelber are likely to consider the open seat race.
On the Republican side, there may well be a push to recruit former Gov. Jeb Bush into the contest although that seems like a long shot. State Attorney General Bill McCollum will almost certainly be mentioned as will state Senate President Jeff Atwater and former state House speaker Marco Rubio. Reps. Vern Buchanan and Connie Mack also may consider a run.
Washington Post
Monday, December 1, 2008
Map Shows Muslims are Spread All Over America
A map of Islamic hotspots in the United States. Notice though that this image is based on data that is almost a decade old (2000). Click on this map for a more detailed view.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Poland: Conservative Parties Dominate Public Opinion
What party would you support in the next election?
| Nov. 2008 | Oct. 2008 | Sept. 2008 | |
| Civic Platform (PO) | 52% | 48% | 58% |
| Law and Justice Party (PiS) | 25% | 28% | 24% |
| Peasant’s Party (PSL) | 7% | 7% | 4% |
| Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) | 6% | 7% | 6% |
Source: PBS DGA / Gazeta Wyborcza
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,050 Polish adults, conducted from Nov. 7 to Nov. 9, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
Mumbai Photographer Accuses Police of Cowardice
It is the photograph that has dominated the world's front pages, casting an astonishing light on the fresh-faced killers who brought terror to the heart of India's most vibrant city. Now it can be revealed how the astonishing picture came to be taken by a newspaper photographer who hid inside a train carriage as gunfire erupted all around him.
Sebastian D'Souza, a picture editor at the Mumbai Mirror, whose offices are just opposite the city's Chhatrapati Shivaji station, heard the gunfire erupt and ran towards the terminus. "I ran into the first carriage of one of the trains on the platform to try and get a shot but couldn't get a good angle, so I moved to the second carriage and waited for the gunmen to walk by," he said. "They were shooting from waist height and fired at anything that moved. I briefly had time to take a couple of frames using a telephoto lens. I think they saw me taking photographs but theydidn't seem to care."
Washington Post Calls for Charlie Rangel to Step Down as Chairman of Ways and Means Commitee
The revelation is the latest in a litany that has come to light since the summer. It was disclosed that Mr. Rangel was paying below-market rents on four Harlem apartments. One, which he has since given up, was illegally used as a campaign office. He owed taxes on at least $75,000 in rental income on a vacation home in the Dominican Republic. (He has since paid $10,800 to the IRS and New York State for three tax years and has hired a forensic accountant to determine how much he owes for the remaining 17 years.) Mr. Rangel underreported the value of a condominium he and his wife owned in Florida. He neglected to fully account on House travel disclosure forms for some privately sponsored trips. And he used his official stationary to ask for meetings to discuss his eponymous school of public service with titans of business and philanthropy.
—Washington Post
Media Equates Genius With Liberalism
If there is a dreadfully overused word in the giddy countdown to the Obama inauguration, it is "smart." Not just "smart," but also its stronger cousins like "brilliant" and "genius." These words have been offered shamelessly for nearly every person assigned a role by President-Elect Obama. They are assembling an "all-star cabinet."
This was not an honor for those having attended all the right schools, but a tribute to people who have all the "right" ideas. Liberals are smart because they're liberals. Conservative beliefs are honed from having been dropped on your head as an infant.
Brent Bozell
France: Sarkozy Improves Rating
What is your opinion of Nicolas Sarkozy’s performance as president?
| Nov. 2008 | Oct. 2008 | Sept. 2008 | |
| Good | 48% | 43% | 47% |
| Bad | 47% | 54% | 48% |
What is your opinion of François Fillon’s performance as prime minister?
| Nov. 2008 | Oct. 2008 | Sept. 2008 | |
| Good | 53% | 50% | 55% |
| Bad | 37% | 45% | 37% |
Source: BVA / L’Express
Methodology: Face-to-face interviews with 970 French adults, conducted on Nov. 22, 2008. No margin of error was provided.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
Islam Spreads in France
Number of Mosques per Department of France in 2008:
Source: Brussels Journal
Moins de 5 is less than 5
Plus de 30 is more than 30
To this I can attest:
I have been in Paris and Strasbourg, and I can tell you both cities are crawling with Muslims. I was actually attacked with a sucker punch to the left cheek by one while I was taking photographs of the Ill River in Strasbourg, in the Republique area of the city. Luckily, he slinked away when I confronted him. That would be Department 67 on the map, in northeast corner of France.
It was pretty amazing how brazen this third-world intruder was, considering there were plenty of people around. France has gotten a reputation as a country full of people who are too afraid to do anything when they see Muslims commiting crimes, so of course they create a lot of crime. Perhaps my assailant did not know I was American, but when he found out he did not stick around long enough to finish what he had started. I could see his bravado quickly melting away when he realized he would not get me to back down. I was afraid he was concealing a weapon, but luckily this was not the case (or he chose not to use it).
Moral of the story: If you are threatened by a Western-hating Muslim, and as long as he doesn't have a bomb-vest wrapped around him, slap him around some and then send him on his way. The French are too afraid to keep their own country clean.
Americans Want More Nuclear Power
Should more nuclear power plants be built in the United States?
| Yes | 55% |
| No | 27% |
| Not sure | 18% |
Source: Rasmussen Reports
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 likely American voters, conducted on Nov. 12 and Nov. 13, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
Britain: Conservatives Lead by 11
If there were to be a general election tomorrow, which party do you think you would vote for?
| Nov. 20 | Nov. 6 | Oct. 19 | |
| Conservative | 42% | 43% | 42% |
| Labour | 31% | 30% | 30% |
| Liberal Democrat | 19% | 18% | 21% |
| Other | 8% | 9% | 7% |
Source: ICM Research / Sunday Mirror
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,010 British adults, conducted on Nov. 19 and Nov. 20, 2008. No margin of error was provided.
Ron Paul Rejects CAIR Terror Group Invitation
The Council on American-Islamic Relations boasts that a "capacity crowd" turned out for its 14th annual fundraising banquet earlier this week. But there was at least one prominent no-show: congressman and former presidential candidate, Ron Paul.
Paul, an outspoken critic of the Iraq war, has become a darling of the Wahhabi lobby in Washington. But WND has learned that he turned down an invitation to speak at CAIR's confab in Washington at which a number of CAIR officials were slapped with a legal summons.
World News Daily
Pennsylvania: Specter Lead Matthews, 45 to 33
| In an early look at the 2010 U.S. Senate race, Republican incumbent Sen. Arlen Specter leads TV commentator Chris Matthews, a possible Democratic challenger, 45 - 33 percent. Sen. Specter leads 72 - 9 percent among Republicans and 45 - 27 percent among independent voters, while Matthews leads 55 - 25 percent among Democrats. | |
| Specter gets a 62 - 25 percent approval rating and by a 56 - 23 percent margin, voters have a favorable opinion of him. | |
| For Matthews, 60 percent say they don't know enough about him to form an opinion. |
Thursday, November 27, 2008
10 Worst Republican Senators
According to Human Events:
The senators below received the 10 most liberal scores for Republicans in the National Journal’s ratings of all senators based on their rollcall votes on key economic, social and foreign policy issues during 2007.
1. Snowe, Olympia (R.-Maine) 47.8
2. Collins, Susan (R.-Maine) 47.2
3. Smith, Gordon (R.-Ore.) 47.2 GONE!4. Specter, Arlen (R.-Pa.) 45.5
5. Coleman, Norm, (R-Minn.) 42.5
6. Lugar, Richard (R.-Ind.) 41.8
7. Voinovich, George (R.-Ohio) 41.8
8. Warner, John (R.-Va.) 38.8 GONE!
9. Hagel, Chuck (R.-Neb.) 38.7 GONE!
10. Stevens, Ted, (R.-Alaska) 36 GONE!
Germany: Conservatives Lead by 12
What party would you vote for in the next federal election?
| Nov. 12 | Oct. 15 | Oct. 1 | |
| Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) / | 37% | 35% | 35% |
| Social Democratic Party (SPD) | 25% | 25% | 25% |
| Left Party (Linke) | 13% | 13% | 11% |
| Free Democratic Party (FDP) | 11% | 12% | 13% |
| Green Party (Grune) | 11% | 10% | 11% |
Source: Infratest-Dimap
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 German voters, conducted on Nov. 11 and Nov. 12, 2008. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.
Israel: Likud, Kadima Continue to Lead the Field
Prospective results of a Knesset election
(Results presented in seats)
| Nov. 2008 | Oct. 2008 | |
| Likud (Consolidation) | 32 | 26 |
| Kadima (Forward) | 26 | 29 |
| International Organization of Torah-observant Sephardic Jews (Shas) | 11 | 11 |
| Israel Our Home (Yisrael Beiteinu) | 9 | 9 |
| Labour | 8 | 11 |
| Vitality-Together (Meretz-Yachad) | 7 | 6 |
| Yahadut Hatorah (United Torah Judaism) | 7 | 7 |
| Jewish Home (National Union and NRP) | 6 | 7 |
| Green Party (Yerukim) | 3 | 2 |
| Gil (Retired People’s Party) | -- | 2 |
| Arab parties | 11 | 10 |
Source: Dahaf Institute / Yediot Ahronot
Methodology: Interviews with 500 Israeli adults, conducted on Nov. 19, 2008. Margin of error is 4.5 per cent.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Georgia: Chambliss Leads by 3
Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss holds a narrow lead over Democrat Jim Martin in the Dec. 2 Georgia Senate runoff, according to a new Politico/InsiderAdvantage poll.
The poll shows Chambliss leading Martin by 3 percentage points, 50 percent to 47 percent, with 3 percent of respondents undecided. The first-term GOP senator's lead is within the poll’s four-point margin of error. The Politico/InsiderAdvantage poll surveyed 523 likely voters on Nov. 23.
The poll numbers are almost identical to the general election results, when Chambliss fell just short of the 50 percent necessary to win the seat outright on Election Night. He led Martin 49.8 to 46.8 percent, with a Libertarian candidate taking three percent of the vote.
Politico
Major Terror Attack in India
Gunmen have opened fire at a number of sites in the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay), killing at least 60 people and injuring about 200 more.
Police said shooting was continuing and that the incidents were co-ordinated terrorist attacks. Gunmen are thought to have taken hostages at two hotels.
At least seven sites have been targeted across India's financial capital.
Reuters
France: Sarkozy & Fillon Improve Standing Slightly
Do you have confidence in French president Nicolas Sarkozy to face the country’s problems?
| Nov. 2008 | Oct. 2008 | Sept. 2008 | |
| Confidence | 47% | 49% | 41% |
| No confidence | 46% | 54% | 50% |
Do you have confidence in French prime minister François Fillon to face the country’s problems?
| Nov. 2008 | Oct. 2008 | Sept. 2008 | |
| Confidence | 48% | 43% | 44% |
| No confidence | 43% | 50% | 48% |
Source: CSA / Le Parisien
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,008 French adults, conducted on Nov. 5, 2008. No margin of error was provided.
Russians Support Surrendering More Power to Medvedev
Do you approve or disapprove of Russian president Dmitry Medvedev’s proposal to extend the term of the president from four to six years, and extend the term of the State Duma from four to five years?
| Approve | 56% |
| Disapprove | 29% |
| Hard to answer | 15% |
Source: All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center
Methodology: Interviews with 1,600 Russian adults, conducted on Nov. 15 and Nov. 16, 2008. Margin of error is 3.4 per cent.
2012: Palin & Romney Favored
Candidate | Republicans | All Voters |
| Palin | 24.4% | 13.4% |
| Romney | 18.1% | 13.7% |
| Jindal | 15.6% | 12.5% |
| Huckabee | 9.7% | 8.0% |
| Giuliani | 4.9% | 5.0% |
| Paul | 2.9% | 7.4% |
| Someone Else | 8.2% | 20.3% |
| Not Sure | 16.2% | 19.7% |
64% of Americans Support Death Penalty
Are you in favour of the death penalty for a person convicted of murder?
| Oct. 2008 | Oct. 2007 | May 2006 | |
| In favour | 64% | 69% | 65% |
| Opposed | 30% | 27% | 28% |
| Not sure | 6% | 4% | 7% |
Source: Gallup / USA Today
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,011 American adults, conducted from Oct. 3 to Oct. 5, 2008. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Israel: Likud Leads, Labour Plummets to Tie With Shas
Prospective results of a Knesset election
(Results presented in seats)
| Likud (Consolidation) | 34 |
| Kadima (Forward) | 28 |
| Labour | 10 |
| International Organization of | 10 |
| Israel Our Home (Yisrael Beiteinu) | 10 |
| Vitality-Together (Meretz-Yachad) | 7 |
| Yahadut Hatorah (United Torah Judaism) | 6 |
| Jewish Home (National Union and NRP) | 4 |
| Arab parties | 11 |
Source: Dialog / Haaretz
Methodology: Interviews with 488 Israeli adults, conducted on Nov. 18, 2008. Margin of error is 5 per cent.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Norwegians Against Joining European Union
Would you support or oppose Norway’s accession to the European Union (EU)?
| Nov. 2008 | Jan. 2008 | Nov. 2007 | |
| Support | 34.6% | 33.3% | 34.6% |
| Oppose | 53.4% | 54.1% | 53.4% |
| Unsure | 12.0% | 12.6% | 12.0% |
Source: Sentio-Norsk Statistic / Klassekampen
Methodology: Interviews to 1,000 Norwegian citizens, conducted in November 2008. No margin of error was provided.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Even Washington Post Admits Palins Saved McCain From Worse Loss
Love her or loathe her, the data appear somewhere close to conclusive that Palin did little to help -- and, in fact, did some to hurt -- McCain's attempts to reach out to independents and Democrats. But just because Palin doesn't appear to have helped McCain move to the middle doesn't mean that picking her was the wrong move.
Remember where McCain found himself this past summer. He had won the Republican nomination, but the GOP base clearly felt little buy-in into his campaign. A slew of national polls reflected that energy gap, with Democrats revved up about the election and their candidate and Republicans somewhere between tepid and glum.
Enter Palin, who was embraced with a bear hug by the party's conservative base. All of a sudden, cultural conservatives were thrilled at the chance to put "one of their own" in the White House. In fact, of the 60 percent of voters who told exit pollsters that McCain's choice of Palin was a "factor" in their final decision, the Arizona senator won 56 percent to 43 percent.
For skittish conservatives looking for more evidence that McCain understood their needs and concerns, Palin did the trick. It's hard to imagine conservatives rallying to McCain -- even to the relatively limited extent that they did -- without Palin on the ticket. And without the base, McCain's loss could have been far worse.
Source: Washington Post
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