Not true. The problem isn't that we're pumping co2 into the atmosphere, it's that we're pumping co2 into the atmosphere that was sequestered millions of years ago. If we had a process to remove carbon from the atmosphere today only to put it back a week from now, that's effectively a zero impact.

Sounds like they're trying to pump sugar daddy for more cash.

I understand the UC admission process will now include fully body cavity searches.

Have a look at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posse_Comitatus_Act

Unitl 9/11 it was unthinkable that the US military could engage in any activities on American soil. So I am not "glad" at the clarification. We need to go back to the pre-9/11 mentality.

Really? Under what doctrine does any country ever have a "right" to launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike?

I think many of you are missing the point by engaging in the merit of the argument. Politicians raise taxes to gain and extend their power. If they could do so at will they would. However they need some level of acceptance by their marginally informed constituents. So they throw out explanations that only need to sound legitimate enough to let them proceed. I doubt the good congressman cares squat about the co2 generated by a biker.

I went to my first 3D over the weekend, The Hobbit. Here's my take. First the technical aspects are challenging, e.g. holding your head properly aligned, objects near the screen edge get funky, fast moving objects can show color fringes, etc. that gave he headaches at times. More importantly though, I don't think the film industry has learned the art of 3D. There were too many gratuitous 3D effects (like objects flying toward you) that are more appropriate at Disney - they do nothing to enhance the presentation of the story. There were times though when the effect was quite nice and made the characters more real. I'll try 3D again but the film industry needs to figure out how to use the technology to enhance the presentation of the story, and not to be the story itself.

Actually I think I'm wrong about the FBI stats. Sorry. Ignore that part.

According to the FBI the leading weapon of choice for homicide is the baseball bat. A society that continues to permit any behavior and never hold individuals responsible is the problem. Those that argue guns are the problem perpetuate the problem.

I've always wondered why, if natural selection was such a powerful force in evolution, we still have road kill. Seems to me that genes causing an animal to stay away from roads would be selected for and dominant within a relatively small number of generations.

Duhhh, human pilot don't fly through dense forests so all the UAV needs to do is nothing.

I think we should do more to honor the creatures we eat. There is no greater sacrifice than for a creature to give its life to sustain the life of another. Instead of the nihilism vegetarians would desire for our fellow creatures, I say we give these creatures life, a good life, then celebrate that life as we dine on their flesh. So yes, give us a picture and bio of our creatures.

The science has been overcome by the politics. Let's take anthropogenic global warming as fact. What next? Obviously the offending anthropogenic behavior must be controlled. This leads to an increase in wealth and power for a select few; the natural evolution of institutions.

At this point I don't care about the science. The politics must be stopped.

When big government and big science collude, we all get screwed.

Well, stock answer "A" is that empathy can impart benefits to individuals of a species thus giving them an edge in natural selection.

Stock answer "B" says we're anthropomorphizing (a sort of imperialism I suspect) and that birds have no such emotions.

The fun answer is that life is special - a gift from God and that echos of the creator can be found throughout life.