Over 1,000 new species found in the Mekong Delta

From CNN.

Scientists in the Mekong Delta region are calling it a “treasure trove” of new and rare creatures after discovering 1,068 new species and catching a glimpse of a rat thought to have gone extinct 11 million years ago. These findings are part of a report published this week by the World Wildlife Fund. All of the more than 1,000 species were discovered in the Mekong Delta area between 1997 and 2007.

new rabbit species called nesolagus timminsi

 

The Laotian Rock Rat was believed to have gone extinct 11 million years ago.  A scientist on the trip noticed one while visiting an outdoor restaurant.

The Laotian Rock Rat

 Saving the best for last, here’s a picture of the Dragon Millipede. It produces cyanide when threatened and, as you can tell,  is a conspicuous shade of pink.

The Dragon Millipede, or Desmoxytes purpurosea

George W. Bush is the best President ever… at dodging shoes

Notice the agility displayed by the 43rd President as this crazed Iraqi journalist hurls two shoes directly at his head from close range. Very impressive. But what’s even more impressive is President Bush’s reaction afterwards:

Way to shake it off Mr. President. For once, our hats are off to you. Your reaction time and coordination are impeccable and your response was funny. The only way you could have handled yourself any better is if you had quoted Austin Powers and said, “Really now, who throws a shoe?”

Camille Paglia’s unfounded rumors win Spin Of The Week!

Add one part slanderous innuendo, one part pretentious, pedantic alliteration; mix in a little praise for Sarah Palin with a heaping dose of outrage concerning Prop. 8 protesters and Dick Cavett; and top it all off with a meandering writing style better suited for journal entries than journalism and what do you get?

Camille Paglia’s inconsequential and nearly incoherent piece in Salon, winner of Spin Of The Week!

What’s Wrong With America?

This is.

"We pray for forgiveness Lord, and $1 gas."

 

If you want to read the aricle about this sacreligious church service, it’s here.

Journey around the world successful for solar car

The first solar car to travel around the world finished its journey, arriving at the U.N. climate talks in Poland on Thusday. Louis Palmer was the driver for the trip, and passengers in the car included New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, chief U.N. climate official Yvo de Boer, and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Solar Car in Thailand

The two seater tops out at 55 mph and can travel 185 miles on a fully charged battery. The drawbacks? A trailer of solar cells must be towed behind the car to power it, and Mr. Palmer was delayed for two days over the course of the trip because of breakdowns. It took Mr. Palmer 17 months to travel 32,000 miles, beginning his journey in Lucerne, Switzerland and travelling through a total of 38 countries.

Israel prepares options for attacking Iran

Article from The Jerusalem Post.

Israeli officials are working on plans to attack Iran that would not include coordination with the U.S. These plans are all “just in case” of course, but nevertheless, an attack on Iran by Israel would be disastrous and most likely start World War III.

Brazil plans to stop destruction of the rainforest…finally

From the Guardian comes the news that Brazil has announced an ambitious plan to minimize the destruction of its rainforests. Following the news that deforestation rose by 3.8% in the past year (the first increase in three years), President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Environment Minister Carlos Minic announced a plan to decrease deforestation by 70% by 2017. Furthermore, by cutting down on the destruction of the rainforest, carbon dioxide emissions could be reduced by as much as 72%.