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31 Aug 2011 16:29

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World: Researchers conclude unprecedently old origin date for stone tools

  • 1.76million-year-old tools oldest known of Homo erectus source
  • » Spanning the depths of time: American researchers working at Columbia University have determined the age of a collection of stone tools discovered near Lake Turkana, Kenya, dating them st the above figure. They used a paleomagnetic method to achieve this, as the silt and hardened clay on the tools preserved a record of the earth’s magnetic polarity. By analyzing the polarity reversals that have occurred over time, the researchers drew this conclusion. This would make them the earliest known example of Homo erectus tools, with 2 million years being the most common estimate as to when erectus evolved. Isn’t science fun?
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

31 Aug 2011 15:46

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Biz: Solar buisness visited, touted by Obama last year files for bankruptcy

  • then In May 2010, President Obama visited Solyndra, a solar panel business based out of Fremont, CA. Solyndra was a business of great interest and investment by the government — they received a $535 million loan guarantee from the Department of Energy in 2009.
  • now Solyndra will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy next week, a move that Reuters reports was caused by their being undercut by lower-cost Chinese competitors. The bankruptcy would be the third such filing for a prominent solar energy business in the past month. source
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31 Aug 2011 15:26

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World: Libyan transition deputy chairman says Gaddafi is in Bani Walid

  • Libyan rebels believe Gaddafi is cornered: The New York Times is reporting that the Libyan rebels believe Muammar Gaddafi has been pinned down in Bani Walid, a desert town that sits about 150 miles from Tripoli. Said Abdul Hafith Ghoga, the deputy chairman of Libya’s transition council: “Since today we have learned that he is staying in Bani Walid, we are waiting to give him a chance to surrender.” It’s worth remembering that yesterday, Libyan council leader Mustafa Abdel Jalil gave Gaddafi loyalists a four-day surrender deadline. source
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30 Aug 2011 16:57

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World: Yoshihiko Noda is the new Prime Minister of Japan

  • He’s a compromise candidate. He doesn’t have his own independent power base. And he’s not a particularly strong communicator. He’s not a populist at all. He’s sort of a typical throwback to the Japanese prime minister of yore, the faceless grey suits. Even in Japan his name recognition factor is quite low.
  • Jeffrey Kingston, director of Asian Studies at Temple U’s Japanese campus • Giving a not-so-enthralled take on the new Prime Minister of Japan, Yoshihiko Noda. This article states that Noda, a former finance minister, acknowledged during his campaign that “he was no goldfish, but rather an unattractive loach, a bottom-feeding fish.” We’re endlessly curious how it would be received stateside if Mitt Romney proclaimed his similarity to an ugly, bottom-feeding fish. source
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30 Aug 2011 16:04

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World: Libyan leader issues ultimatum to Gaddafi loyalists

  • 4 day deadline for Gaddafi forces to surrender, Libyan leader says source
  • » An ultimatum backed by force: Mustafa Abdel Jalil, the head of Libya’s interim council, issued a deadline to all forces still loyal to the now-hiding Muammar Gaddafi — give up and surrender all remaining control, or else “we will decide this matter militarily.” He emphasized that he doesn’t wish to do this, but doesn’t feel the council can afford to wWith all the work Libya has in front of it, the idea that such things could be put off to acommodate further bloodshed is troubling. Here’s hoping for a clean, civil laying down of arms.
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30 Aug 2011 15:21

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U.S.: “Fast and Furious” investigation forces reassignment of ATF chief Kenneth Melson

  • cause The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms ran a gun trafficking sting in 2009 called “Operation Fast and Furious.” They allowed about 2000 illegal guns into Mexico, trying to build a bigger case against high-level buyers. The 2010 death of a border patrol agent sparked attention, and the plan was ended.
  • effect The House Oversight Committee has found only about 600 guns have been recovered, and heard testimony from a former agent who claims the ATF knew the same guns were being found at crime scenes in the U.S. and Mexico. Bureau head Kenneth Melson was consequently reassigned today. source
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29 Aug 2011 17:06

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World: Islamic sect Boko Haram claims responsibility for Nigerian bombing

  • nigeria A bombing against the U.N. headquarters in the Nigerian city of Abuja took place last Friday, which left 23 people dead and many more injured. Reuters reports this may be the first case of suicide bombing in Nigeria, as the driver of the bomber  vehicle blew himself up as well.
  • boko haram A fundamentalist Islamic sect which claimed responsibility for the bombing. Worryingly, the Nigerian government doesn’t seem to have the ability to fight back, which has hurt the standing of President Goodluck Jonathan and weakened faith in basic safety. source
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29 Aug 2011 16:32

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U.S.: Alan Krueger named chairman of White House economic advisers

  • So, here’s the new Austan Goolsbee, America. Princeton University’s Alan Krueger, age 50, is President Obama’s selection to serve as chairman of the White House Council of Economic Affairs. While we readily confess we don’t know a terrible lot about him or his philosophies (he served as assistant Treasury secretary the first two years of the Obama administration, which while an important job isn’t as visible as it might be), the article suggests he may want more aggressive government action on joblessness. This is theoretical, of course — it still requires Senate confirmation, which has been hard to come by of late. source
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25 Aug 2011 16:03

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Politics: Passport revives talk on proper “Gaddafi” spelling

  • So, just how is it spelled? This is a topic that got rehashed as the rebellion in Libya broke out, because it’s one media agencies have dealt with for some time, and have drawn many different conclusions about — how do you spell the now-in-hiding Libyan dictator’s last name? We’ve seen, just from memory, Kaddafi, Gadhafi, Gaddafy, Gaddafi (how we typically spell it), Qaddafi, and Kadhaffy (that one almost looks too silly to use). The reality is, none of the spellings are truly correct or not, as they’re all translated from Arabic (and even his own website uses three different spellings), but this video shows what’s purported to be the diplomatic passport of one of his sons, Mohammed. The spelling on the passport? Gathafi. source
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25 Aug 2011 15:34

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Politics: Syrian protesters chant about Gaddafi’s fall, say Assad is next

  • Bye bye, Gaddafi, Bashar your turn is coming.
  • Chanting by anti-Assad Syrian protesters • A show of an often apparent aspect of the uprisings throughout the Arab world in 2011, but still one that bears further notice as protests in Syria continue to be met with deadly force by the government. Namely, the extent to which each uprising inspires and fuels the next — from Tunisia forward, to Egypt, Libya, the upheavals in Yemen and Bahrain, and Syria, protesters have at times been buoyed and given resolve by victories and protests in foreign lands. The ability of a movement to stay cohesive in the face of such violent force can demand a ton of bravery and human solidarity, so it’s a boon that those besieged by the government in Syria can take heart in the fall of another of the region’s longtime dictators. source
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