Unearthed: bird-like dinosaur with four wings

Chinese researchers have unearthed the fossil of a bird-like dinosaur with four wings in north-eastern China, which they suggest is a missing link in dinosaurs' evolution into birds.

In a paper in the journal Nature, they said they found the well-preserved fossil of the Anchiornis huxleyi, which roamed the earth about 160 million years ago, in a geological formation in China's north-eastern Liaoning province.

About the size of a chicken, the fossil has a total body length of less than 50 centimetres and a skull about six centimetres long, lead researcher Xing Xu at the Chinese Academy of Science in Beijing told Reuters in an email.

This finding suggests that birds are likely to be descended from a kind of small-sized four-winged dinosaur about 160 million years ago.

Targeting Cancer Tumors With Bee Venom

A bee sting can be painful, but its venomous payload might hold promise for a beneficial purpose—fighting cancer. Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have used an ingredient of bee venom called melittin to shrink or slow the growth of tumors in mice. Melittin's anti-tumor potential has been known for years, but it hasn't been used as a drug because it also attacks healthy cells, including vital red blood cells.

Now the researchers have found a way, using the burgeoning field of nanotechnology, to pinpoint tumors for attack by melittin while largely shielding healthy cells. They do this by attaching the bee-venom ingredient to nanoparticles, which are ultra-tiny, synthetically manufactured spheres. The resultant product, called nanobees, are injected into the blood stream where they circulate until they reach and attack cancerous tumors. The approach also has the potential to avoid some of the toxic side effects seen in older cancer therapies like chemotherapy. As a cancer survivor I think this breakthrough is awesome!

Bryan Adams Unplugged

I had the privilege over the weekend to hear Bryan Adams performing at the "U" (thanks to tickets from my friend Blair). I remember seeing him with my daughter Leanne in Sydney in 1997 (yikes that was 12 years ago!) and really loved the concert. This time it was totally different, no band, no gimmicks, no full-on electronics. Bryan played totally with acoustic guitars and was backed up by his piano player and friend Gary Bright on most of the songs. Bryan Adams is an amazing songwriter and a wonderful performer. The whole concert was spent talking to the audience with little anecdotes on the songs themselves which providfed a very intimate atmp0shpere. It was great, so thanks Bryan and Blair.

Terrorist shoots is mouth of at UN

In his first U.N. appearance, Libyan leader Col. Moammar Gadhafi issued a slashing attack on the Security Council and chastised the world body on Wednesday for failing to prevent some 65 wars since the U.N. was founded in 1945. "It should not be called the Security Council, it should be called the 'terror council,' " he said.

It galls me that a terrorist of such long-standing has the cheek to stand before the world and criticise a body set up to do great good. He is a joke and should continue to be the pariah that he deserves to be. Unfortunatley the only way to stop despotic fools like him is to take him out, permanently.

World's Tallest Man: From Turkey without Love!

The world's tallest man - who also has the largest hands and feet - has been named by Guinness World Records for the launch of its 2010 book. At 8ft 1in (2.47m), Sultan Kosen, from Turkey, is about 4in (10cm) taller than previous title-holder Bao Xishun. The 27-year-old's hands measure 10.8in (27.5cm) and his feet 14.3in (36.5cm).

Mr Kosen, whose height is due to the medical condition pituitary gigantism, said he hoped his new-found fame would bring him love for the first time. "The first thing I want to do is have a car that I can fit in, but more than that I want to get married," he said. "Up until now it's been really difficult to find a girlfriend. I've never had one, they were usually scared of me. I'm hoping now I will find one." He went on: "Hopefully now that I'm famous I'll be able to meet lots of girls. I'd like to get married."Best of luck, Sultan.

Happy Birthday Hayz

I just want to wish my beautiful daughter Hayley, Happy Birthday. Her birthday is on the 18th, but because she lives in New Zealand, her birthday is actually happening right NOW! I love you babe, and hope you have a wonderful day. I love you and miss you very much. Love this photo!!!

NZ scientists give new hope to heart patients

The New Zealand Auckland University scientists have made a breakthrough that could save the lives of thousands of heart patients worldwide and eventually offer an alternative to heart transplants. Scientists from the university's Bioengineering Institute, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Department of Physiology have developed the technology to power a wireless heart pump, New Zealand Herald reported on Wednesday.

Heart pumps keep sufferers of congenital heart failure alive as they await a donor heart. But current heart pump technology requires a wire cable to go through a patient's stomach and chest, which can cause serious infections or even death. The new pump uses magnetic fields to transfer power through a person's skin and can pump on average seven liters of blood per minute and operate 24 hours a day. The device could be implanted in around 50-thousand people each year within ten years.

New Zealand Heart Foundation medical director Dr Norman Sharpe said the technology could benefit the few dozen New Zealanders who undergo heart transplants each year, and would provide better quality of life to them. It makes me proud to be a Kiwi!

Medvedev caught off-guard

Dmytri Medevedev the Russian president seems all lost for words when meeting lovely Elena Dementyeva, the Russian tennis star. He had just presented her with with a medal and doesn't appear to be speaking to her eyes, if you know what I mean.

Patrick Swayze dies from cancer

I am saddened by the news that Patrick Swayze has passed away. While not the greatest actor of our generation, I did enjoy many of his films, my favourite being "Point Break". The hunky actor who danced his way into viewers’ hearts with “Dirty Dancing” and then broke them with “Ghost,” died yesterday after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 57 years old, the same age as my Dad when he died of a heart attack, both too, too young.

Kanye West is a complete and total jerk

After watching and reading about Kanye West, I hesitate to bring up his completely ignorant and unwarranted outburst against Taylor Swift. I hesitate because I don't want to add to this churlish and asinine self-aggrandizement. Kanye West is a jerk, pure and simple, and should be sent back to the trash can where he came from, wherever that may be. Who cares what he has to say? He is a nothing, a nobody and I couldn't care less that he likes Beyonce better.

If a white performer had interrupted Beyonce, who thankfully has so much class and dignity, in the way that West did to Taylor Swift, he would have been called a racist! West is quoted as saying, ""I'll always push try to push the envelope, try to get a rise out of people, and try to entertain them too." We, the public, should push back too, push West back to oblivion where he belongs! He is untalented trash.

Giant New Python Species Invading Florida

Africa's largest snake—the ill-tempered, 20-foot-long (6.1-meter-long) African rock python—is colonizing the Florida, new discoveries suggest. Six African rock pythons have been found in Florida since 2002. More troubling, a pregnant female and two hatchlings have been found, which means the aggressive reptiles have set up house.

More dangerous than even Burmese pythons—which are known to eat alligators (alligator-python picture)—the African pythons are "so mean, they come out of the egg striking," said Kenneth Krysko, senior herpetologist at the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville. "This is just one vicious animal."

So far the giant snakes have been found only in a single square mile (2.6 square kilometers) of suburban area west of Miami. Pet breeders unprepared for the pythons' ferocity may have released them. If this is true, and breeders or pet keepers have set them free, then they should all be charged in court and sent to jail, this is a disaster! Un-be-freakin'-leivable, some people are just morons.

Serena Williams penalized on match point.

Serena Williams US Open came to an abrupt halt today after being penalized a full point for an outburst against a line umpire, reportedly laced with expletives. The biggest shock was that the deduction came on match point, with her opponent Kim Clijsters of Belgium already holding the upper hand. The surprising thing as not the loss so much, because Clijsters is a former world no. 1, but the invective from Serena.
I really have a lot of respect for the Williams sisters, they are supremely talented, hard working and generally very polite and thoroughly nice young ladies. I wish Serena a swift rebound from this setback, I am sure she will regain her normal poise. I guess it shows that anyone can lose their cool in stressful situations. Anybody! I also wish Kim the best in her final, she too is a class act.

Robber returned to ask victim for date

Columbus, Ohio police say a suspect in a robbery was arrested when he returned to the home about two hours later to ask the victim out on a date.

Police say 20-year-old Stephfon Bennett of Columbus was among three men who robbed a couple late Sunday. The woman recognized Bennett as one of the robbers when he returned to ask her out. She had a relative call 911.

Bennett was arrested in front of the home. He was arraigned Tuesday on a charge of aggravated robbery and was being held in the Franklin County jail on $100,000 bail.What a total idiot!

Lizzi Miller's belly

The fashion industry couldn't ignore plus-size women forever. After all, an estimated 41 percent of U.S. women are larger than a size 14. "No wonder, then, that when Glamour magazine published a nearly nude photo of plus-size model Lizzi Miller, who bears a belly not a six-pack, who wears a girl-next-door grin not a high-fashion glare, they were flooded with letters of praise from readers. May this just be the beginning of the end for stick models who bear no resemblance with real, beautiful, women. Too many suffer from severe depression about their wonderful bodies by being compared to the nauseatingly skinny women in magazines and television. And yes, Lizzi is lovely.

Awesomely Practical Bangladesh

In an inspiring display of sensibility, the prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, has ordered male government employees to stop wearing suits, jackets, and neckties.

In addition to eliminating pointless and uncomfortable decorative elements from men’s clothing, the move will help minimize the need for air conditioning. Accompanying the government’s laudable decision was an order not to turn air conditioners in government buildings below 75 degrees F.

Under the new dress code – which applies even to the highest levels of government – men may also wear their shirts untucked, instead of stuffing the bottom portion into their pants for no good reason other than to conform to some arbitrary display of professionalism. The BBC reports that the government plans to encourage private businesses to follow its example.

Samoa Goes Left

Samoa has become the first country since the 1970s to change the side of the road on which cars are driven. At 0600 local time (1700GMT) sirens sounded and drivers were told to move from the right side to the left.

The government brought about the change to bring Samoa into line with other South Pacific nations. A two-day holiday was declared to ease traffic as people got used to the new rules, which faced legal challenges from groups which predicted chaos.

Of course, they did, it's safer and smarter.

Unbelieveable, North Koreans Drown Southerners Without Warning

North Korea unleashed walls of water from one or more of its dams on Sunday, sending a flash flood roaring through the heavily armed border with South Korea and sweeping away six South Koreans, officials in Seoul said.

The six South Koreans, who are still missing, include an 8-year-old boy. They were camping or fishing on the Imjin River, which flows from the North, enters South Korea north of Seoul, and meanders close to the border before emptying into the Yellow Sea.

“The government will send a telegram to the North on Monday to protest and demand a satisfying explanation,” the Unification Ministry of South Korea said in a statement.

Officials said the Imjin River’s water level on the border doubled, to 15.1 feet, after North Korea began releasing water without warning at 2 a.m. on Sunday, either from its newly built Hwanggang Dam 17 miles north of the border or from a smaller dam downstream.

Is this not governmental murder?

Security Guards Sacked in Kabul

Eight private security guards at the US embassy in Kabul have been sacked over claims that they took part in drunken parties and lewd bullying rituals. The embassy said the guards, who were photographed in various stages of nudity, had now left Afghanistan. Embassy officials did not confirm the guards' nationalities or names.

A standards watchdog revealed the scandal this week saying guards had brawled, drunk vodka from each other's buttocks and urinated on people. You must be kidding, what next? We are supposed to be setting a good example and winning friends. This is moronic!

Iran Gets First Woman Government Minister

Iranian MPs have approved the first woman minister in the 30-year history of the Islamic republic. Her name is Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi who was approved as health minister.

She was one of 18 nominations for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's new cabinet to be approved. Two other women were among three rejected nominees.

The president's choice for defence minister, Ahmad Vahidi, who is wanted by Argentina over a deadly 1994 bombing of a Jewish centre, won strong backing. The vote follows months of wrangling after disputed elections in June.

Hey, it is some sort of progress... right?

A load of bull!

South Jordan, Utah, police used a Taser to stop a charging bull.

The animal escaped from its owner around 9800 South and 1300 West on Wednesday. Several people tried to corral it, but the bull knocked down an 80-year-old man and cut him.

Police responded and deployed a Taser on the animal. The owner then was able to get the bull into a trailer. The man who was knocked down was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Canada 'racist' according to ANC

Maybe I am missing the point but I see something wrong with this story from BBC News...

The governing party in South Africa, the ANC, has condemned as "racist" a decision by Canada to grant a white South African man refugee status. Brandon Huntley, 31, had told officials in Canada he could not return to South Africa after seven different attacks.They included three stabbings, which he said he had suffered as a result of his skin colour.

But a party spokesman said the African National Congress was shocked by the "sensationalist" allegations. "Canada's reasoning for granting Huntley a refugee-status can only serve to perpetuate racism," Ishmael Mnisi said.

It seems to me that the ANC would have been arguing the exact reverse if the person seeking refugee status was not a white man. This truly smacks of double standards.

Reality bites: Pit bull flattens deputy's tires

From Cumberland County, N.C., comes this deflating tale... Sheriff's Deputy Lynn Lavallis responded to a call Sunday from Gloria Bass about a dog chasing her daughter on her bicycle, trying to bite the back tire. When Lavallis pulled into Bass' driveway, there was nothing to see. Lavallis parked the patrol car and got out to investigate.

Enter Bass' pit bull, which proceeded to tear into the car's tires, flattening all four. "The dog didn't try to attack the deputy. He just doesn't like tires," said Debbie Tanna, a sheriff's spokeswoman. A sheriff's investigator, an animal control officer and a tow truck were summoned. Bass wasn't cited; her dog was on her property and didn't bite anything human. Bass will be billed for four new tires — $504.60. Heheheheheh! Smart dog!

Some people are unbelievable!

A mother-of-four was murdered by her partner days after she changed her Facebook status from "married" to "single", a court has heard.

Hayley Jones, 26, was found by her children at the family home. She had been fatally stabbed.

Cardiff Crown Court heard that Brian Lewis, 31, killed her after telling friends he could not stand to lose her to another man.

WOW! The New BMW Sports Hybrid!

Low impact, high speed ... the futuristic BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics two-door concept hybrid car can get to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds yet uses less fuel than a Toyota Prius. Hon, can I have one???? Pleeeeeeeeeeeease.