5.24.2012

Young Mexicans are protesting their country’s media for shamelessly plugging a telegenic young candidate, Enrique Peña Nieto, as Mexico’s great hope for the July 1 presidential election. He rules the polls with double-digit leads over his rivals.

Peña Nieto may look handsome, but boy does he come with a lot baggage. Leave it to the country’s youth to point that out. On Wednesday, as many as 15,000 youths took to the streets of Mexico City to cry out: Don’t believe the hype!

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Posted at 4:09 PM
5.24.2012
Leatherback baby sea turtles may be under threat from climate change, says a new study.

The turtles, already under threat from human poaching, now face the risk of being baked inside their nests as temperatures and humidity rise.

“They’re facing not just one problem, but a convergence of many negative effects of both people and climate change,” James Spotila, the Betz Chair professor of environmental science at Drexel University told The New York Times.

The research looked at six nesting seasons between 2004 and 2010, in which leatherback mothers plant their eggs in holes in the sand.
The babies hatch about two months later

Leatherback baby sea turtles may be under threat from climate change, says a new study.

The turtles, already under threat from human poaching, now face the risk of being baked inside their nests as temperatures and humidity rise.

“They’re facing not just one problem, but a convergence of many negative effects of both people and climate change,” James Spotila, the Betz Chair professor of environmental science at Drexel University told The New York Times.

The research looked at six nesting seasons between 2004 and 2010, in which leatherback mothers plant their eggs in holes in the sand.

The babies hatch about two months later

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Posted at 1:53 PM
5.24.2012
Some liken it to heaven. Some liken it to a sack full of spoiled onions and jock straps.
But durian, love it or loathe it, is supposed to smell.
Native to Southeast Asia, the durian’s shell resembles an extraterrestrial porcupine. When cut open, it exudes an aroma so powerful that taxis, malls and hotels post signs forbidding durian-toting customers.
But now, Bangkok’s The Nation newspaper reports reporting a shocking development: a genetically manipulated scent-free durian is soon to hit the Thai market.

Some liken it to heaven. Some liken it to a sack full of spoiled onions and jock straps.

But durian, love it or loathe it, is supposed to smell.

Native to Southeast Asia, the durian’s shell resembles an extraterrestrial porcupine. When cut open, it exudes an aroma so powerful that taxis, malls and hotels post signs forbidding durian-toting customers.

But now, Bangkok’s The Nation newspaper reports reporting a shocking development: a genetically manipulated scent-free durian is soon to hit the Thai market.

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Posted at 12:26 PM
5.23.2012
TOKYO, Japan — In one respect, the decision by Tokyo Disneyland to allow a gay couple to hold their “wedding” at the theme park is a sign of progress in a country that has, until recently, largely ignored the issue of same-sex unions.
But some campaigners have argued that leaving it to Mickey Mouse to give his blessing to Koyuki Higashi and her partner, Hiroko Masuhara — in a strictly symbolic ceremony — is also a mark of how far Japan has to go before it affords the same rights to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community as it does to heterosexual couples.
Tokyo Disneyland condoned this and all future same-sex ceremonies after receiving an enquiry from Higashi. Cue a confused response from a subsidiary, Oriental Land Company, which licenses the name and characters from Disney in the US.
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TOKYO, Japan — In one respect, the decision by Tokyo Disneyland to allow a gay couple to hold their “wedding” at the theme park is a sign of progress in a country that has, until recently, largely ignored the issue of same-sex unions.

But some campaigners have argued that leaving it to Mickey Mouse to give his blessing to Koyuki Higashi and her partner, Hiroko Masuhara — in a strictly symbolic ceremony — is also a mark of how far Japan has to go before it affords the same rights to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community as it does to heterosexual couples.

Tokyo Disneyland condoned this and all future same-sex ceremonies after receiving an enquiry from Higashi. Cue a confused response from a subsidiary, Oriental Land Company, which licenses the name and characters from Disney in the US.

Continue reading.

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Posted at 10:51 AM
5.22.2012
Scientists believe they have found an exoplanet, 1500 light years from earth, that is evaporating.

It is believed that the planet’s star, KIC 12557548, may be burning away the planet at a rate that would see it vaporized within 100 to 200 million years.

The researchers at MIT and NASA believe that images obtained from the Kepler space observatory are of a small planet with smoke or dust trailing behind it as it roasts under the rays of its parent star, said Sci News.

Scientists believe they have found an exoplanet, 1500 light years from earth, that is evaporating.

It is believed that the planet’s star, KIC 12557548, may be burning away the planet at a rate that would see it vaporized within 100 to 200 million years.

The researchers at MIT and NASA believe that images obtained from the Kepler space observatory are of a small planet with smoke or dust trailing behind it as it roasts under the rays of its parent star, said Sci News.

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Posted at 4:44 PM
5.17.2012
Apparently, there are around 4,7000 asteroids that are close enough (and big enough) to pose a risk to Earth, says NASA.  
If that’s not scary enough, here’s what you should know.  CNN reports that if a 40-meter asteroid did strike Earth, it would have an impact comparable to a 3-megaton nuclear bomb. 
But, NASA says not to worry quite yet: 
“It’s not something that people should panic about. However, we are paying attention to the issue,” said Amy Mainzer, an astronomer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California to CNN. 

Apparently, there are around 4,7000 asteroids that are close enough (and big enough) to pose a risk to Earth, says NASA. 

If that’s not scary enough, here’s what you should know.  CNN reports that if a 40-meter asteroid did strike Earth, it would have an impact comparable to a 3-megaton nuclear bomb. 

But, NASA says not to worry quite yet:

“It’s not something that people should panic about. However, we are paying attention to the issue,” said Amy Mainzer, an astronomer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California to CNN. 

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Posted at 9:35 AM
5.16.2012
Matthew Epler, a master’s candidate at New York University, has invented a fun new way of interacting with the GOP Gallup poll numbers.
His project titled, “The Grand Old Party” marries Gallup poll numbers and your bedroom activity.
In the video explaining his project Epler said, “Grand Old Party is a data visualization of voter approval rates amongst registered Republicans for each of the GOP candidates.” He added, “They are also butt plugs.”
Continue reading…

Matthew Epler, a master’s candidate at New York University, has invented a fun new way of interacting with the GOP Gallup poll numbers.

His project titled, “The Grand Old Party” marries Gallup poll numbers and your bedroom activity.

In the video explaining his project Epler said, “Grand Old Party is a data visualization of voter approval rates amongst registered Republicans for each of the GOP candidates.” He added, “They are also butt plugs.”

Continue reading…

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Posted at 5:23 PM
5.16.2012
According to a slew of established American media outlets — including USA Today, L.A. Weekly and Daily Kos— boxing megastar and Philippine congressman Manny Pacquiao believes gay people should be executed.
How do they know?
Because that’s what Pacquiao said in this interview, titled “Pacquiao Rejects Obama’s New Twist on the Scriptures”, which is cited as appearing in the National Conservative Examiner. The L.A. Weekly has squeezed the most from this interview with giddy reports on Pacquiao’s subsequent ban from an L.A. mall and a post titled “Ten Gays Who Could Beat The Crap Out Of Manny Pacquiao.”
But there are several reasons why journalists should reconsider echoing that this Nike-endorsed athlete wants all gays dead.
Here’s the best one: the “National Conservative Examiner” doesn’t exist.
Continue reading.

According to a slew of established American media outlets — including USA TodayL.A. Weekly and Daily Kos— boxing megastar and Philippine congressman Manny Pacquiao believes gay people should be executed.

How do they know?

Because that’s what Pacquiao said in this interview, titled “Pacquiao Rejects Obama’s New Twist on the Scriptures”, which is cited as appearing in the National Conservative Examiner. The L.A. Weekly has squeezed the most from this interview with giddy reports on Pacquiao’s subsequent ban from an L.A. mall and a post titled “Ten Gays Who Could Beat The Crap Out Of Manny Pacquiao.”

But there are several reasons why journalists should reconsider echoing that this Nike-endorsed athlete wants all gays dead.

Here’s the best one: the “National Conservative Examiner” doesn’t exist.

Continue reading.

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Posted at 3:04 PM
5.15.2012
Mickey Mouse has given his blessings to same-sex couples wanting a fairytale wedding at Tokyo Disney.
When Koyuki Higashi, 27, called to ask about getting married to her female partner at the Tokyo Disney Resort, a member of the staff reportedly said there would be no problem, as long as they dressed “like a man and a woman,” explaining that having two brides in wedding dresses or two grooms in tuxedoes would create “repercussions” among the visitors who would be watching, reported AFP.
Japanese newspaper Mainichi reported that when Higashi posted the exchange on Twitter, it triggered a backlash, with people disappointed in Tokyo Disney’s response.

Mickey Mouse has given his blessings to same-sex couples wanting a fairytale wedding at Tokyo Disney.

When Koyuki Higashi, 27, called to ask about getting married to her female partner at the Tokyo Disney Resort, a member of the staff reportedly said there would be no problem, as long as they dressed “like a man and a woman,” explaining that having two brides in wedding dresses or two grooms in tuxedoes would create “repercussions” among the visitors who would be watching, reported AFP.

Japanese newspaper Mainichi reported that when Higashi posted the exchange on Twitter, it triggered a backlash, with people disappointed in Tokyo Disney’s response.

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Posted at 3:13 PM
5.15.2012
The solar eclipse coming May 20 will be a spectacular sight for those who get to see it. 
This solar eclipse is a bit different than others. According to Space.com, “The event is what’s known as an annular solar eclipse — from the Latin “annulus,” meaning ‘little ring’. At its peak, the eclipse will block about 94 percent of the sun’s light.”
According to MSNBC, the moon passes between our planet and the sun once every 29.5 days. “Most of the time, the moon zips either above or below the sun, and no eclipse occurs,” said MSNBC. “But if the moon is close to one of its orbital nodes— the points where the orbits of Earth and the moon cross — the moon will pass directly in front of the sun and block its light.”

The solar eclipse coming May 20 will be a spectacular sight for those who get to see it. 

This solar eclipse is a bit different than others. According to Space.com, “The event is what’s known as an annular solar eclipse — from the Latin “annulus,” meaning ‘little ring’. At its peak, the eclipse will block about 94 percent of the sun’s light.”

According to MSNBC, the moon passes between our planet and the sun once every 29.5 days. “Most of the time, the moon zips either above or below the sun, and no eclipse occurs,” said MSNBC. “But if the moon is close to one of its orbital nodes— the points where the orbits of Earth and the moon cross — the moon will pass directly in front of the sun and block its light.”

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Posted at 3:09 PM