A disgusting parasite found in places of poor hygiene; that is communicated from one human to another.

I guess the fact that one satellite system will cover the entire earth is notable. Though I assume you could get a patchwork to cover the earth at finer resolution from elsewhere. However, 12 m is still rather coarse, even for commercial imagery. http://www.antrix.gov.in/earth_observation.html "... it offers these data in a multi resolution package of 1m, 2.5m, 5m, 23m, 56m and 180m with suitable spectral resolutions ..." http://www.geoeye.com/CorpSite/products/imagery-sources/Comparison.aspx 0.41, 0.5 and 1 m resolution commercial packages. Barath

So we have gone now from putting a Tiger in your tank to putting Rats in your tank ? Whatever next ? Snakes on a plane ?

"FPTP accountability" "There's almost no situation where a proportional representation system would beat out a FPTP system, in terms of keeping the people in charge in a democracy."

Indian elections, like the British, are based on first past the post. However, as India is diverse, this leads to regional http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_recognised_political_parties_in_India" > parties . Even most "national" parties are present and represent quite narrowly. As a result, coalitions are built and reform to ensure a national government. This results in coalition partners having an outsized say in governance and in slower change ("common minimum program") and extremism pandering to narrow political (caste, linguistic) constituencies. The nature of coalition building means that at the highest, there is a loss of accountability and stability.

I wonder if a proportional system would be fairer in that it would result in broader base, nationally (parties running a good second everywhere would be rewarded) and perhaps in less extremism, as "our people" in charge gets defined more narrowly

The Indian provincial elections of 1937 led to Muslim parties coming in second in most places in mostly FPTP system, and hence not being part of those governments. One could make a case that this concern (of being ignored and swamped in a FPTP system) led to demands for a separate muslim country and hence towards the partition of India, (creation of Pakistan) and the associated genocide.

Art is when, in addition to the actual standard representation, the creator is attempting to convey another meaning. For example, 'beauty'. Or 'excitement'. Or whatever. Art is simply what we call symbols and representations that are 'two deep'...the normal literal one, and one on top of that.

So the map of the london underground, with its symbolic representation of straight network lines sold for thousands of pounds, is not art ? Abstract art (Urinals) and Campbell's soup cans are not art ?

.. actually fails the 'art test', as it's often not possible for people to grasp the second meaning without being told it, and there isn't any 'first meaning' beyond 'blobs of stuff'.

So for those people who *are able* to grasp the second meaning, it is art, and for those who can't, it is not ? You just justified Ebert's opinion (for him, it ain't art) and nullified your position (art has an objective definition). We're back again to whatever a person calls art, is art.

I would argue that human minds are extremely good at finding second meanings, but not always.

A switch of squirrel's hair can easily become a shaman's article which translates to art. The mind can supply the context, even years later; it doesn't require the *artist* to set the context always.

All of you clearly missed the discovery and reporting that there are 92 other identical clones out there.

Except that in the ultimate twist, it turns out that none of the 94 clones actually did it, it was their progenitor who having successfully faked his death, and having consumed anti-agathic drugs, decided to break into the shopping center and steal the watches and got cut doing so.

Now the only remaining detective work is to find out why he dun it . And before you smart alecs come out with answers like, "the glass was sharp" , I clearly meant why did he break in and steal the watches. The leading theories :

1. Just to keep in practice doing evil things

2. Because the watches were just so *shiny*

4. It was meant to distract you from the other break in in the other shopping center

5.. i)Fake death ii) Consume anti-agathic drugs iii) Clone yourself iv) Steal watches. v)????? vi) profit.

6. Because the watches had inscribed on them ancient mystic Tibetan runes, that when read together would open the bowels of hell, or entitle the reader to 10% discount in Wally's world rides.

7. ..............

Godwin, fail us not, now.

So Nasa now has an Aegis cruiser on another world. The War of the Worlds can now begin. Clearly the stationary Spirit rover did not qualify for the upgrade.

uranium, the heaviest of the naturally occurring elements

Uranium Density = 19.05 g/cc

Osmium Density = 22.59 g/cc Lanthanide contraction

Iridium Density = 22.56 g/cc

Naturally occurring mineral : Chengdeite : Ir3Fe (an Alloy) Density = 19.3 g/cc

Though Elemental Platinum also occurs in nature and has a density = 21.09

We need a better wording than heavy for most protons in nucleus. How about uranium, the most protonic naturally occurring element.

The shell Eco Marathon is pertinent and answers many of the questions I had when reading this

. http://www.shell.com/home/content/ecomarathon/about/current_records/ [shell.com] http://www-static.shell.com/static/deu/downloads/aboutshell/media/news/shell_eco_marathon_press_kit_2009.pdf [shell.com]

a) The CalPoly is an IC Prototype (futuristic) entry; as some noted, the record is held by the Microjoule, St Joseph La Joliverie, 3,771km/l (8870mpg per wolfram Alpha) b) There are categories for Urban Course - realistic quasi street legal modifications, with significant economy wins by the Norwegian and danish teams (fuel cell and ic engine

Maybe the human rights activists' wife and / or mistresses ?. You got to hope that there's better proof than that before setting off a diplomatic incident. And from what's out so far, there does seem to be more; maybe there's enough for Google, but not for the US state department.

The 55 people are safe and have returned to work, and this is suspected to be sabotage ("intentionally added to water cooler") with an investigation launched http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/internal-sabotage-behind-radiation-leak-at-kaiga/378095/