‘Ningen’ humanoid sea creatures of the Antarctic

Artist’s rendition of a Ningen standing upright

Over the past few years, rumors have circulated in Japan about the existence of gigantic humanoid life-forms inhabiting the icy waters of the Antarctic. Reportedly observed on multiple occasions by crew members of government-operated “whale research” ships, these so-called “Ningen” (lit. “humans”) are said to be completely white in color with an estimated length of 20 to 30 meters. Eyewitnesses describe them as having a human-like shape, often with legs, arms, and even five-fingered hands. Sometimes they are described as having fins or a large mermaid-like tail instead of legs. The only visible facial features are the eyes and mouth. According to one account, crew members on deck observed what they initially thought was a foreign submarine in the distance. When they approached, however, it became clear from the irregular shape of the thing that it was not man-made — it was alive. The creature quickly disappeared under water. …

via ‘Ningen’ humanoid sea creatures of the Antarctic ~ Pink Tentacle.

Pa. girl, 11, hit by lightning on sunny afternoon

Britney Wehrle, 11, of North Strabane Township was struck by lightening

Read more: dailymail

An 11-year-old western Pennsylvania girl is recovering after she was struck by a bolt from the blue.

Lisa Wehrle tells the Observer-Reporter newspaper of Washington, Pa., that the sun was shining when her daughter, Britney, was struck by lightning Friday, apparently from a storm several miles away.

Lisa Wehrle says, “There was no rain. It was a beautiful day. All she heard was some thunder.”

The lightning hit Britney as she was walking down a hill in North Strabane Township with a friend about 2:30 p.m. that day. The bolt hit her on the left shoulder, leaving a burn-like mark and exited her wrist, where it left another mark.

She was treated at a Pittsburgh hospital. Doctors discovered her arm was broken, but otherwise she’s OK.

via Pa. girl, 11, hit by lightning on sunny afternoon – Yahoo! News.

State audit: No evidence of waste, fraud or abuse

In an official response to a Bureau of State Audits report released today (July 28), University of California President Mark G. Yudof wrote: “We are proud of the fact that we have come through this review with validation of so many of our procedures and policies…But, at what cost?”

Yudof urged the Legislative Audit Committee “to require those who seek to use the limited audit resources of the state to provide more evidence of malfeasance than innuendo and presupposition behind their requests.”

The 15-month audit was requested in February 2010 by state Sen. Leland Yee. In a news release announcing his request, Yee said a comprehensive state audit would help “uncover the extent of the waste, fraud, and abuse within the UC, and finally hold university executives accountable.” The exhaustive audit found no evidence of waste, fraud or abuse.

Because of the complexity of the UC system — 10 major campuses, world-class research facilities, five medical centers and a division of agriculture and natural resources – the University opens its books routinely for a myriad of federal, state and local regulatory agencies, as many as 80 times a year, including more than 40 audits. Financial and programmatic data are made available and accessible, not only for these reviewers, but also for the public through regular web postings at http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/reportingtransparency/

This state audit examined five fiscal years of UC’s financial, budgetary and other operational data. State auditors visited campuses and the systemwide headquarters and met and communicated with large numbers of UC staff over the 15-month period. The BSA findings validated university procedures in the distribution and use of resources, use of student tuition funds, subsidies for auxiliary enterprises, tracking of non-salary expenditures and the use of federal grant funds.

Moreover, the report noted that the university’s publicly available financial statements and schedules presented a significant amount of information based on detailed financial records. It deemed as reasonable the university’s classification of restricted funds in its corporate financial system and said the university did not inappropriately use state funds to guarantee debt for capital projects or use tuition revenues for debt payments.

Among other key findings, the BSA audit showed that UC has protected its core mission during the ongoing financial crisis; university expenses remain concentrated in instruction and research. Despite recent tuition increases to maintain academic quality, however, the audit confirmed that this new revenue only partially offsets the loss of state funding. The report affirmed that state cutbacks impede the university’s ability to maintain the quality of its educational programs. …

via University of California – UC Newsroom | State audit: No evidence of waste, fraud or abuse.

Cutting funds to higher education is like limiting the amount of blood going to your brain so you won’t have to eat as much.

ScienceShot: Earth’s Little Buddy

Earth has a new sidekick. Astronomers have spotted a small asteroid traveling around our sun in the same general path as our planet. The 300-meter-wide rock, dubbed 2010 TK7, is Earth’s first so-called “Trojan” asteroid, a class of bodies that gets its name from the asteroids that orbit the sun at the gravitationally stable points 60° ahead of and 60° behind Jupiter—which, according to astronomical convention, are individually named after prominent figures from the Trojan War (Brad Pitt excepted). Besides the thousands of Trojans that co-orbit the sun with Jupiter, astronomers have discovered a handful that co-orbit the sun with Neptune and Mars. 2010 TK7 isn’t a threat to Earth. For one thing it’s ahead of us, not behind us. And its current orbit brings it no closer than 20 million kilometers or so once every 395 years. Call it a partner for life, or at least for the next 5000 years, the period for which astronomers can reliably predict its chaotic orbit (which, relative to earth, is depicted in green loops).

via ScienceShot: Earth’s Little Buddy – ScienceNOW.

Woman gets jury trial for displaying plastic testicles on truck

A Bonneau woman wanted to make a statement, so she decorated her truck with a set of red plastic testicles. And now a jury gets to decide if she was exercising free speech or being just obscene.

Virginia Tice was given a $445 ticket July 5 that accuses her of violating the state’s obscene bumper sticker law.

And other than a hefty fine, the ticket is causing a huge controversy that extends far past the Bonneau city limits.

“To me it’s just a personal expression,” says John Caddell. “My truck’s got power.”

Caddell is another proud owner of the conversation starters. He says whether it’s good or bad, his pair of chrome truck ornaments is driving a heated debate.

It’s a bigger issue now because of Bonneau Chief of Police Franco Fuda ticketing Tice for what he says the law defines as obscene.

“Genitalia is offensive,” says Chief Fuda. “As a law enforcement officer, I’ll advise that person if it warrants a citation I’ll issue a citation. As a father, I wouldn’t want my daughter looking at it.”

The South Carolina code of laws says “a sticker, decal or emblem is indecent when it describes, in a patently offensive way… sexual acts, excretory functions or parts of the human body.”

Caddell says he must interpret the law differently than Police Chief Fuda.

“My interpretation is they’re talking about human body parts,” says Caddell. “I don’t think these are human body parts… it looks like a chrome plated door knocker.” …

via Woman gets jury trial for displaying plastic testicles on truck.

I hate those stupid things. Throw her in jail.

Embryos involving the genes of animals mixed with humans have been produced secretively for the past three years

Scientists have created more than 150 human-animal hybrid embryos in British laboratories.

The hybrids have been produced secretively over the past three years by researchers looking into possible cures for a wide range of diseases.

The revelation comes just a day after a committee of scientists warned of a nightmare ‘Planet of the Apes’ scenario in which work on human-animal creations goes too far.

Last night a campaigner against the excesses of medical research said he was disgusted that scientists were ‘dabbling in the grotesque’.

Figures seen by the Daily Mail show that 155 ‘admixed’ embryos, containing both human and animal genetic material, have been created since the introduction of the 2008 Human Fertilisation Embryology Act.

This legalised the creation of a variety of hybrids, including an animal egg fertilised by a human sperm; ‘cybrids’, in which a human nucleus is implanted into an animal cell; and ‘chimeras’, in which human cells are mixed with animal embryos.

Scientists say the techniques can be used to develop embryonic stem cells which can be used to treat a range of incurable illnesses.

Three labs in the UK – at King’s College London, Newcastle University and Warwick University – were granted licences to carry out the research after the Act came into force.

All have now stopped creating hybrid embryos due to a lack of funding, but scientists believe that there will be more such work in the future.

The figure was revealed to crossbench peer Lord Alton following a Parliamentary question. …

via Embryos involving the genes of animals mixed with humans have been produced secretively for the past three years | Mail Online.

Seeing Jason Mraz at M.U.S.E., Shoreline

Just got my ticket.  Good cause. I’m looking forward to seeing Mraz again, plus I’ve never seen CSN or any of the others listed live before.

M.U.S.E Benefit: Crosby, Stills & Nash, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt
Sun, Aug 7, 2011 03:00 PM

Shoreline Amphitheatre
Mountain View, CA

CROSBY, STILLS & NASH, JACKSON BROWNE, BONNIE RAITT, JOHN HALL, THE DOOBIE BROTHERS, JASON MRAZ, TOM MORELLO, KITARO, SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK, JONATHAN WILSON AND OTHERS TO PERFORM A BENEFIT CONCERT TO SUPPORT DISASTER RELIEF EFFORTS IN JAPAN AND NON-NUCLEAR GROUPS WORLDWIDE.

 

Okay, so that’s Sunday the 7th… anyone have ideas as to what’s the coolest thing happening within driving distance on Monday Aug 8th?

I’m looking for random fun stuff to do!

Apple holding more cash than USA

Apple now has more cash to spend than the United States government.

Latest figures from the US Treasury Department show that the country has an operating cash balance of $73.7bn (£45.3bn).

Apple’s most recent financial results put its reserves at $76.4bn (£46.9bn).

The US House of Representatives is due to vote on a bill to raise the country’s debt ceiling, allowing it to borrow more money to cover spending commitments.

If it fails to extend the current limit of $14.3 trillion (£8.7tn) dollars, the federal government could find itself struggling to make payments, and risks the loss of its AAA credit rating.

The United States is currently spending around $200bn (£122bn) more than it collects in revenue every month.

Apple, on the other hand, is making money hand over fist, according to its financial results. …

via BBC News – Apple holding more cash than USA.

‘Super antibody’ fights off flu

The first antibody which can fight all types of the influenza A virus has been discovered, researchers claim.Experiments on flu-infected mice, published in Science Express, showed the antibody could be used as an “emergency treatment”.It is hoped the development will lead to a “universal vaccine” – currently a new jab has to be made for each winter as viruses change.Virologists described the finding as a “good step forward”.Many research groups around the world are trying to develop a universal vaccine. They need to attack something common to all influenza which does not change or mutate.Human sourceIt has already been suggested that some people who had swine flu may develop ‘super immunity’ to other infections.Scientists from the Medical Research Council’s National Institute for Medical Research at Mill Hill and colleagues in Switzerland looked at more than 100,000 samples of immune cells from patients who had flu or a flu vaccine.They isolated an antibody – called FI6 – which targeted a protein found on the surface of all influenza A viruses called haemagglutinin.Sir John Skehel, MRC scientist at Mill Hill, said: “We’ve tried every subtype of influenza A and it interacts with them all.”We eventually hope it can be used as a therapy by injecting the antibody to stop the infection.” …

via BBC News – ‘Super antibody’ fights off flu.