rostov joela: April 2013

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Getting to the Bottom of Why Guppies Jump

When a guppy jumped out of a laboratory tank and nearly landed in her cup of tea, Daphne Soares couldn?t resist putting her current research on hold to investigate this strange leaping behavior.

"The guppy jumped from its holding tank next to my computer," Soares, an assistant professor in the department of biology at the University of Maryland in College Park, told LiveScience. "Why do they do this? It was one of those things that we were just too curious about, so we had to look into it."

Soares and her colleagues used high-speed cameras to film a group of nine male guppies from the island of Trinidad. Their research, published online April 16 in the journal PLOS ONE, suggests wild guppies use their curious jumping ability as a way to spread the species away from an original habitat, to a new place with fewer predators. In other words, jumping likely serves a crucial evolutionary function for guppies.

"It's like how dandelions spread their seeds all over ? original populations give rise to secondary populations," Soares explained. "When guppies jump, we think it has to do with this idea of biological dispersal, which refers to a species moving away from an existing population to try to colonize another patch of habitat." [10 Amazing Facts About Animals]

Guppies are known to be jumpy fish, but unlike other species (such as archer fish or sockeye salmon), they do not seem to leap out of the water to catch prey, escape from predators or overcome physical barriers during seasonal migrations.

"They just have this urge to jump," Soares said. "They don't do it out of panic, or because they're anxious about their environment. When we monitored them, they jumped when they were quiet and relaxed. Most fishes jump when they're startled, so either for migration or to avoid predators. But with guppies, it was a controlled situation when they performed this behavior."

In studying their high-speed video of leaping guppies, the researchers observed that the fish go through a short process to prepare for their jumps.

"I don't want to anthropomorphize too much, but it's almost like they have a plan," Soares said. "They stop, then use just their lateral fins to move a bit backwards, then they change direction, and when they take off from the water, they keep moving their bodies back and forth."

The scientists were also curious how far the fish could fling themselves out of the water. In some of their observed cases, guppies were able to launch themselves to heights eight times their body length, at speeds of more than 4 feet per second (1.2 meters per second).

The researchers used wild guppies for their study, so what triggers pet guppies to jump remains a bit of a mystery.

"Domesticated guppies probably maintain some of their ancestral behaviors, but I don't really know," Soares said.

And as for the guppy that nearly jumped into Soares' tea?

"Fortunately it was iced chai and it had a lid on, so he stayed alive," she said.

Follow Denise Chow on Twitter @denisechow. Follow LiveScience @livescience, Facebook?& Google+. Original article on?LiveScience.com.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/getting-bottom-why-guppies-jump-135149307.html

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Watch a Bowl of Cereal Go Snap, Crackle, Boom In Glorious Slo-Mo

Even though this bowl of breakfast cereal meets its demise at the hands of what looks to be a tiny firecracker, through the eye of a high-speed camera the resulting explosion makes it look like a small island being wiped out by an atomic bomb.

Whoever first said that you shouldn't play with your food obviously didn't have access to a high-speed camera and explosives. Because everything from broccoli to brussel sprouts is suddenly very appealing when there's the potential for it to go boom.

Source: http://gizmodo.com/watch-a-bowl-of-cereal-go-snap-crackle-boom-in-glorio-486008259

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5 car bombs kill 36 in Shiite areas across Iraq

BAGHDAD (AP) ? Five car bombs struck in predominantly Shiite cities and districts in central and southern Iraq on Monday, killing 36 people and wounding dozens in the latest wave of violence roiling the country, Iraqi officials said.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for Monday's blasts but coordinated bombings in civilian areas are a favorite strategy used by al-Qaida in Iraq.

Since last Tuesday and including the latest deaths, at least 218 people have been killed in attacks and battles between gunmen and security forces that began with clashes at a Sunni protest camp in northern Iraq.

The deadliest attack on Monday was in the southern city of Amarah, where two parked car bombs went off simultaneously in the early morning near a gathering of construction workers and a market, killing 18 people and wounding 42, the police said.

That attack was followed by another parked car bomb explosion near a restaurant in the city of Diwaniyah, which killed nine people and wounded 23. At least three cars were left charred and twisted from the blast outside a two-story building whose facade was damaged in the bombing. Shop owners and cleaners were brushing debris off the bloodstained pavement.

Amarah, some 320 kilometers (200 miles) southeast of Baghdad and Diwaniyah, 130 kilometers (80 miles) south of the capital, are heavily Shiite and usually peaceful.

Hours later, yet another car bomb went off in the Shiite city of Karbala, killing three civilians and wounding 14, police said. Two early Islamic figures revered by Shiites are buried in the city, about 90 kilometers (55 miles) south of Baghdad.

And in the otherwise predominantly Sunni town of Mahmoudiya, about 20 miles (30 kilometers) south of Baghdad, a car bomb ripped through a Shiite neighborhood killing six people and wounding 14, another police said.

Ibrahim Ali, a schoolteacher in Mahmoudiya, said he was with his students in the classroom when he heard a thunderous explosion.

"We asked the students to remain inside the classrooms because we were concerned with their safety," Ali said. "The students were panicking and some of them started to cry," added Ali. He described burnt bodies and cars on fire at the nearby blast site.

The school was closed for the rest of the day and frightened students were told to go home. "We have been expecting this violence against Shiites due to the rising sectarian tension in the country," added Ali, the schoolteacher.

Four medical officials confirmed the casualty figures. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

Sectarian violence has spiked since Tuesday, when security forces tried to make arrests at a Sunni Muslim protest camp in the northern city of Hawija. The move set off a clash that killed 23 people, including three soldiers.

In a sign of mounting worries over the deteriorating security situation, Iraqi authorities on Monday decided to close the country's only border crossing with Jordan, beginning on Tuesday. A brief Interior Ministry statement didn't elaborate on the decision, saying only it is "related to the country's domestic affairs."

Iraq shut the same border crossing in January, not long after anti-government protests erupted, citing unspecified security concerns. The route from Jordan passes through the overwhelmingly Sunni cities of Ramadi and Fallujah, west of Baghdad, which have been hotbeds of Sunni anger at the government. A protest camp straddling the Jordan-Iraq highway in Ramadi is the center of the protest movement.

On Sunday, the government suspended the operating licenses of pan-Arab broadcaster Al-Jazeera and nine Iraqi TV channels after accusing them of escalating sectarian tensions in Iraq.

That move drew a strong criticism from some of the news outlets and a sharp rebuke from Human Rights Watch. Qatar-based Al-Jazeera said it was "astonished" by the move.

Apart from Al-Jazeera, the decision affected eight Sunni channels and a Shiite one. Al-Jazeera was founded with support from the tiny, energy-rich nation of Qatar, which is a leading backer of rebels fighting in neighboring Syria and is accused by many supporters of the Iraqi government of backing protests in Iraq too.

___

Associated Press writers Adam Schreck and Sameer N. Yacoub contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/5-car-bombs-kill-36-shiite-areas-across-131157835.html

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Monday, April 29, 2013

PFT: SEC accounts for 63 picks ? a quarter of the draft

After analyzing the draft needs of all 32 teams, PFT will review how well each team addressed those needs. Up next: The Houston Texans.

What they needed: Wide receiver, outside linebacker, guard, nose tackle, tight end.

Who they got:
Round 1: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson

Round 2: D.J. Swearinger, SS, South Carolina

Round 3: Brennan Williams, OT, North Carolina

Round 3: Sam Montgomery, DE, Louisiana State

Round 4: Trevardo Williams, DE, Connecticut

Round 6: David Quessenberry, OT, San Jose State

Round 6: Alan Bonner, WR, Jacksonville State

Round 6: Chris Jones, DT, Bowling Green

Round 6: Ryan Griffin, TE, Connecticut

Where they hit: Hopkins overcame the pre-draft smear campaign, and might be the kind of big-play threat they?ve lacked at receiver (other than that Andre Johnson guy, of course). They also added some good offensive line depth in Williams and Quessenberry, guys who should be in the mix this year and could start down the line.

Where they missed: Some more pass rush help would have been nice, and while Williams has promise, there are a lot of folks in the scouting community who think Montgomery?s a waste of time. The talent is there, but that?s not the problem for him. Landing on a good team might create the atmosphere he needs, but the Texans can?t count on him in the short term. The good news is they don?t have to.

Impact rookies: Swearinger will make an impact on opponents, mostly. One of the true hitters in this class, he?s an enforcer in the back of the defense, the kind of guy Ed Reed would have loved lining up next to in Baltimore. He should be a huge benefit on special teams, as he has explosive ability and doesn?t mind dropping a shoulder into someone.

Long-term prospects: Even if Hopkins is the only rookie that contributes, that?s OK for the Texans, who didn?t enter the offseason with many holes to fill. But they need Hopkins to contribute quickly. Reed?s signing was symbolic as much as tangible, as they?re hoping some of his Ravens mojo rubs off on a team with talent, which has disappointed in the postseason. They drafted a few guys who could become the next wave of replacements for departed veterans, but this is clearly a team that sees the window closing, if not this year then soon.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/28/with-63-draft-picks-sec-produces-a-quarter-of-the-nfls-talent/related/

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James Bond studio to open 1st US facility in Ga.

In this image provided by Pinewood Shepperton PLC, an artist's rendering of Pinewood Atlanta is shown. Pinewood Shepperton PLC and River?s Rock LLC together announced a joint venture to be named Pinewood Atlanta, a full service film and entertainment studio complex comprised of five sound stages on 288 acres in Fayetteville, Ga., south of Atlanta. (AP Photo/Pinewood Shepperton PLC)

ATLANTA (AP) ? The British film studio home to the James Bond franchise announced plans Monday for its first U.S. movie production facility at a site near Atlanta.

The large-scale film complex will be called Pinewood Atlanta and Pinewood will manage the facility under an agreement with a group of private investors. Plans call for the studio to be developed on 288 acres south of Atlanta in Fayette County and include at least five soundstages as well as production offices.

"Today's agreement is another step forward for the Pinewood brand internationally," said Ivan Dunleavy, CEO of Pinewood Shepperton PLC, which has studios in the United Kingdom, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Germany and Malaysia. Recent films shot at Pinewood Studios, based outside of London, include the upcoming Angelina Jolie film, "Maleficent," and "Jack Ryan," directed by Kenneth Branagh.

It's the fifth major studio development or expansion announced in Georgia in recent months. Last week, Atlanta-based developer Jacoby Development said it would build an estimated $1 billion multi-use project north of Atlanta that will include 12 soundstages as well as production offices and an arts and media school aimed at training the next generation of film industry employees.

The Pinewood project is a major coup for Georgia and opens the state to major, big-budget films that need large studio space. While Pinewood Studios has an office in Los Angeles, it chose the Southeast for its first U.S. production facility.

While California has numerous soundstages, not many have been built in recent years as the state has been grappling with the effects of runaway production and the lagging economy. A survey last year found California lost $3 billion in wages from 2004 to 2011 because of film and TV production moving to other states and countries, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.

Half the wages went to states, including Georgia, that offer tax incentives and rebates to the industry. Other states included New York, Louisiana and North Carolina.

"Pinewood Atlanta's location will contribute significantly to Georgia's growing reputation as a top draw for movie and television productions," Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal said. "We welcome the business this world-renowned company will bring to the state and the jobs it will create for our crew base and supporting companies."

Last year, productions filmed in Georgia generated an estimated $3.1 billion in economic activity, a 29 percent increase from the year before. TV shows such as AMC's "The Walking Dead" film in Georgia, and recently "The Hunger Games" sequel, wrapped up in locations around Atlanta.

While studio developers building soundstages are not eligible for the state's generous tax credit program, the production companies making films are. Georgia currently provides a 20 percent tax credit for companies that spend $500,000 or more on production and post-production in the state, either in a single production or on multiple projects. Georgia also grants an additional 10 percent tax credit if the finished project includes a state promotional logo.

The Pinewood project is a joint venture with River's Rock LLC, which is an independently managed trust of the Cathy family, according to the studio. The Cathy family is known for establishing the Chick-fil-A fast-food restaurant empire based in Atlanta. The chain last year generated both criticism and support when company president Dan Cathy made comments against same-sex marriage. The company later said it would stop funding anti-gay marriage groups.

Pinewood will maintain a 40 percent interest in the venture and will also provide sales and marketing services under the agreement. Plans call for additional construction phases that could add several more soundstages. The project also includes a vocational job skills training program to help build up the state's workforce. Georgia already has an estimated 5,000 union and non-union professionals associated with the film industry along with more than 1,000 production suppliers and support companies.

County officials say 75 companies have been in contact saying they want to locate to the site and provide industry-related services.

"We are tremendously excited to be creating a world-class studio in the state of Georgia and are looking forward to working with Pinewood in the many years to come," said Jim Pace, managing partner of the investment group, River's Rock LLC. "The Pinewood brand is so well recognized in the global film industry and together there is a great opportunity to build an excellent facility that will attract the very best producers."

The project in Georgia has the possibility to be a major economic driver, allowing big-budget films to come to the state.

"It takes the state to a whole new level," said Matt Forshee, president of the Fayette County Development Authority, who has been closely involved in the project. "When you look at the films that have filmed in Georgia, for the most part, they have been smaller budget films, in the range of $20-25 million. This allows us to open up to larger budget productions, which means more expenditures occurring within the state, which becomes a bigger return on the investment on the state level for the tax credits."

___

Follow Christina Almeida Cassidy on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_Christina .

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-04-29-James%20Bond%20Studio-US/id-1fd0ae249f9e4893a5ae68abd71625e1

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Senator Paul stirs business ire over blocking of tax treaties

By Patrick Temple-West

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senator Rand Paul is coming under pressure from some multi-national businesses to drop his opposition to tax treaties between the United States and other nations.

Citing privacy concerns about Americans' tax data, Paul, a Republican and libertarian, has single-handedly blocked Senate action on treaties with Hungary, Switzerland and Luxembourg that have been signed by authorities on both sides, but have been awaiting Senate review since 2011.

At least six other tax treaties or treaty updates -- with Chile, Spain, Poland, Japan, Norway and Britain -- may soon be added to the Senate's queue for confirmation votes.

Major U.S. businesses such as IBM Corp and Fluor Corp are lobbying for Senate action on tax treaties, according to Senate lobbying disclosure documents.

"How many treaties will be held hostage?" asked Cathy Schultz, a lobbyist for the National Foreign Trade Council, a Washington, D.C.-based group that represents companies such as Caterpillar Inc and Pfizer Inc.

Paul has said he is concerned that recent treaties would give foreign governments too much access to U.S. citizens' tax information, a stance that has some support among like-minded conservative libertarians.

"Rand Paul is not a typical senator who may bend over to business lobbyists," said Chris Edwards, director of tax policy at The Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank.

"I am very concerned about this increasingly aggressive international exchange of information," Edwards said.

NO APPROVALS SINCE 2010

No new tax treaties or treaty updates have been approved since 2010, when Paul was elected as the junior senator from Kentucky on a wave of support for Tea Party-aligned Republicans.

Paul recently declined to answer questions from a reporter in a Capitol hallway about the "hold" he has placed on the treaties. Under Senate rules, one senator can prevent a motion from reaching a vote on the Senate floor.

Paul's staff did not reply to repeated requests for comment.

"There's never really been an objection of this sort and a hold that's gone on this long," said Nancy McLernon, president of the Organization for International Investment, which lobbies in Washington on behalf of foreign companies.

In an effort to sway the senator, McLernon said her group would be lobbying both parties to draw attention to the tax treaties. "Let's stop with the self-inflicted wounds," she said.

The United States has tax treaties with more than 60 countries, ranging from China to Kyrgyzstan.

The agreements previously have routinely won Senate approval with little controversy and accomplished their main purpose of preventing double-taxation of income and profits.

In recent years, tax treaties have begun to play an increasing role in efforts by the United States and major European Union countries to crack down on tax avoidance.

The U.S. Treasury in 2012 began signing new tax pacts with countries as part of implementation of the U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, a 2010 anti-tax-evasion law.

The law, known as FATCA, which takes effect in January 2014, will require foreign financial institutions to disclose to the United States information about Americans' accounts worth more than $50,000.

SWISS A DRIVING FORCE

Switzerland, a long-time bastion of banking secrecy, is under international pressure to change its ways, and FATCA has been a driving force in that. The United States and Switzerland in February signed a FATCA implementation agreement that would make more information available to U.S. authorities about the financial interests of Americans in Switzerland.

But the taxpayer information exchange cannot go into force without Senate approval of the U.S.-Swiss tax treaty.

The Senate's delayed action on tax treaties could convince other countries to stop negotiating with the United States on tax matters, said John Harrington, a former Treasury tax official who is now a partner at law firm SNR Denton.

Paul, seen as a possible 2016 presidential contender, has taken a position that sets up a clash of traditional Republican interest groups: big business and libertarian ideologues.

In this sense, Paul is in the forefront of the party's search for a new identity since Republicans lost the presidential race last year, as well as numerous seats in the House of Representatives.

Looking toward a possible 2016 White House bid, Paul told reporters earlier this month that he will visit early-voting states this year and make a final decision next year.

New Republicans such as Paul are shifting the party away from its business-first agenda, said Dan Holler, communications director for Heritage Action, a conservative group.

"The party is not being reflexively pro-business," he said.

(Reporting by Patrick Temple-West; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Leslie Adler)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/senator-paul-stirs-business-ire-over-blocking-tax-165604737.html

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PFT: Patience rewarded from top to bottom in draft

Getty Images

Here are the terms of trades completed on Saturday, April 27, the third and final day of the 2013 NFL Draft. All draft choices are 2013 selections unless otherwise noted:

The Jaguars traded a fourth-round pick (No. 98) to the Eagles. In exchange, the Eagles sent fourth- and seventh-round picks (Nos. 101, 210) to Jacksonville. With pick No. 98, the Eagles selected Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley. Three picks later, the Jaguars selected South Carolina wide receiver Ace Sanders at No. 101. With pick No. 210, the Jaguars took Appalachian State cornerback Demetrius McCray.

The Buccaneers acquired a fourth-round pick (No. 100) from Oakland. The Raiders, in turn, received fourth- and sixth-round selections (Nos. 112, 181) from Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers took Illinois defensive tackle Akeem Spence at No. 100. The Raiders selected Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson at No. 112 and UCF running back Latavius Murray at No. 181.

The Giants traded for a fourth-round pick (No. 110) belonging to Arizona. In exchange, New York sent fourth- and sixth-round selections (Nos. 116, 187) to the Cardinals. The Giants took Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib at No. 110. With No. 116, the Cardinals took James Madison offensive guard Earl Watford, and with No. 187, they selected Clemson running back Andre Ellington.

The Steelers acquired a fourth-round pick from Cleveland (No. 111). In return, the Browns will get the Steelers? third-round pick in 2014. The Steelers selected Syracuse safety Shamarko Thomas at No. 111.

The Packers traded for Denver?s fourth-round pick (No. 125), giving the Broncos fifth- and sixth-round picks (Nos. 146, 173) in return. The Packers selected UCLA running back Jonathan Franklin at No. 125. At No. 146, the Broncos selected Western Kentucky defensive end Quanterus Smith. At No. 173, the Broncos took Virginia Tech offensive tackle Vinston Painter.

The Seahawks acquired the Lions? fifth-round selection (No. 137). In return, the Lions received fifth- and sixth-round choices (Nos. 165, 199) from Seattle. At No. 137, the Seahawks took Alabama defensive tackle Jesse Williams. The Lions took Appalachian State punter Sam Martin at No. 165 and Notre Dame running back Theo Riddick at No. 199.

The Colts acquired the Browns? fifth-round pick (No. 139) in exchange for Indianapolis? 2014 fourth-round pick. At No. 139, the Colts selected Tennessee-Martin defensive tackle Montori Hughes.

The Falcons acquired the Bears? fifth-round selection (No. 153), sending fifth- and seventh-round picks (Nos. 163, 236) to Chicago. The Falcons selected Texas Christian defensive end / outside linebacker Stansly Maponga. The Bears took Louisiana Tech tackle Jordan Mills at No. 163 and Washington State wide receiver Marquess Wilson at No. 236.

The Rams traded back into Round Five, sending sixth- and seventh-round picks (Nos. 184, 198) to the Texans for Houston?s fifth-round pick (No. 160). The Rams took Vanderbilt running back Zac Stacy at No. 160. The Texans exercised pick No. 198 on Bowling Green defensive tackle Chris Jones. The Texans dealt selection No. 184 to Oakland (see next entry).

The Texans acquired a sixth-round pick from Oakland (No. 176). In return, Houston sent sixth- and seventh-round selections to Oakland (Nos. 184, 233). The Texans selected San Jose State offensive tackle David Quessenberry at No. 176. The Raiders used selection No. 184 on Tennessee tight end Mychal Rivera and selection No. 233 on Missouri Western State defensive end David Bass.

The Buccaneers traded running back LeGarrette Blount to the Patriots for running back / kick returner Jeff Demps and a seventh-round pick (No. 229). The Buccaneers traded the No. 229 pick to Minnesota (see next entry).

The Buccaneers acquired a sixth-round pick from Minnesota (No. 189). In return, the Vikings received sixth- and seventh-round picks (Nos. 196, 229). The Buccaneers took Miami (Fla.) running back Mike James at No. 189. The Vikings selected UCLA offensive guard Jeff Baca at No. 196 and Florida State defensive tackle Everett Dawkins with pick No. 229.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/27/draft-wrap-up-patience-is-rewarded/related/

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PHOTOS: Politics, press and stars mix at dinner

AAA??Apr. 27, 2013?11:58 PM ET
PHOTOS: Politics, press and stars mix at dinner
By The Associated Press? THE ASSOCIATED PRESS STATEMENT OF NEWS VALUES AND PRINCIPLES

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS STATEMENT OF NEWS VALUES AND PRINCIPLES

?By The Associated Press

First lady Michelle Obama and late-night television host and comedian Conan O'Brien gesture to his tie at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel, Saturday, April 27, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Late-night television host Conan O'Brien, from left, first lady Michelle Obama, Michael Clemente, Executive Vice President of Fox News, and President Barack Obama attend the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel, Saturday, April 27, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Director Steven Spielberg uses his smart phone during the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel, Saturday, April 27, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Christi Parsons, White House correspondent for the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and Tribune newspaper chain, from left, Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, Michael Scherer, White House correspondent for TIME, late-night television host Conan O'Brien and first lady Michelle Obama attend the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel, Saturday, April 27, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

President Barack Obama speaks at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel, Saturday, April 27, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

There were Republicans mixing with Democrats, journalists talking to Hollywood celebrities who play reporters or politicians and, of course, President Barack Obama. The president and headliner Conan O'Brien traded barbs about each other and many of those attending the annual star-studded White House Correspondents' Association dinner. Here are some images from the evening's festivities:

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/apdefault/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-04-27-Obama-Correspondents-Photo%20Gallery/id-c8c9f944b67344da80bd735b300b242c

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Skagit County lakes offer variety for fishers - The Bellingham Herald

Skagit County lakes offer all the variety of recreational fishing that Whatcom County waters do, and four Skagit lowland lakes receive the same fine trout, produced at Kendall Creek and Bellingham Trout hatcheries, that Whatcom lakes do,

So whether it's a change of scenery you want, a more finicky trout that'll test skills, tastier fare for the fry pan or perhaps scarcer but bigger quarry, you'll find a selection of fishing lakes in our neighboring county to satisfy any need or desire.

When you take to the water on opening day Saturday, keep these things in mind:

- Statewide creeks, beaver ponds and most main rivers are closed to all fishing until at least June.

- To learn the specific rules for your intended lake, start on page 16 of the new 2013-14 Fish Washington pamphlet.

- Unless a different bag limit is specified in the special rules, a total of five trout per day may be kept from any lake or reservoir. Other fish species have different daily takes.

- For many lakes and reservoirs there is no minimum size for trout. However, some lakes do have trout specific length rules and other fish species may have minimum and/or maximum keeper lengths specified, too.

- Two-pole license endorsements cost $14.80, are good in many lakes and reservoirs, and allow fishers to use a second rod to catch their standard daily limit of five fish. That special revenue goes to WDFW's fish hatchery program.

? Anglers using artificial lures and flies may catch and release until they retain their daily limits. People fishing with bait may keep or release the first five otherwise legal trout they bring to hand, then must stop fishing.

? Be sure to display your WDFW vehicle access permit or Discover Pass - which is free if you buy an annual fishing license - when parking on a state fish and wildlife department access. If you are on state parks land, only the $35 Discover Pass is valid.

- While state hatchery-produced fish are safe to eat, the Washington Health Department has issued advisories for the consumption of a number of naturally spawned and/or reared fish. Lake Whatcom's smallmouth bass and perch bear such precautionary notes. See page 20 of the 2012-13 FishWashington sport regulations pamphlet.

- Check online now or pick up at any license dealer a copy of new 2013-2014 Fish Washington sport fishing pamphlet.

Some 43,200 of the more than 3 million catchable trout planted in Washington lakes by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for this opener are now residing in four easily accessible lowland lakes in neighboring Skagit County.

Here's a rundown of Skagit's most popular fishing spots, leading off with its hot hatchery-stocked waters Erie, Heart, McMurray and Sixteen, for anglers seeking those obliging put and take rainbow trout.

OPENING DAY OF FISHING

This is the second in a series of three stories profiling spring trout fishing in Northwest Washington. Today, Skagit County lakes are highlighted, with many lakes opening for fishing on Saturday, April 27. Read about Okanogan County lakes Sunday, April 28. You can also find these lake profiles and maps online at Bellinglhamherald.com/outdoors.

LAKE ERIE (3)

From its nutrient-laden but shallow confines, Fidalgo Island's Erie has served up some beautiful rainbow trout - a few to nine pounds.

These trout were once grown from fingerling size, but that stocking strategy has been compromised by wintering cormorants as well as competition from illegally introduced perch.

Erie's catchable plant was boosted this sprin,g while triploid introductions have been reduced, but both will uphold Erie's reputation for fine spring season catches. Get here early and, with the crowds, plan to still-fish for a while before there's room to troll.

Season: Last Saturday, April 27, to Oct. 31. Page 60 in the regs.

Size: 111 acres.

In your catch: Rainbow trout and illegally introduced perch.

Stocking for 2013: 11,500 catchable rainbows and 850 triploid rainbows, all planted in April.

Past years' catches: Opening day kept trout averages: 3.9 in 2012, 3.4 in 2011 and 4.0 in 2010.

Angler amenities: Lake Erie Resort operates at the lake's southeast shore providing fishing tackle, ice and fee access to launch, but, alas, they don't have boats anymore.

Boat launching: WDFW, gravel with shallow drop-off. Will accommodate small trailered boats, but access has limited maneuvering room.

Boating rules: None.

Getting there: Drive west on State Route 20 from I-5 at Burlington through Sharp's Corner. Take Lake Campbell Road west from Highway 20 about two miles. Very limited off-road parking, with much spillover onto adjacent county road.

HEART LAKE (1)

Smallish Heart Lake can get just as crowded but will be no less rewarding on opening day than its neighbor to the south.

There's more shore access here in the City of Anacortes forestlands, and the bank-borne fishers do almost as well as those in stationary boats since the crowds can all but rule out trolling. Don't be surprised if a few tiny bluegill nibble at your bait. Their illegal introduction prompted the ending of young rainbow fry plants.

Season: Last Saturday, April 27, to Oct. 31. Page 61 in the regs.

Size: 61 acres, 75 percent 10 feet or less in depth.

In your catch: Rainbow trout and illegally introduced bluegill.

Stocking for 2013: 6,500 catchable rainbows in April. As with Erie, fry plants have been stopped.

Past years' catches: Opening day kept trout averages: 2.9 in 2012, 3.4 in 2011 and 4.7 in 2010.

Angler amenities: Excellent shore fishing access at the park ramp. Anglers often sit along the county road on the lake's east shore or pioneer into the park woods surrounding the lake.

Boat launching: City of Anacortes parks department, concrete puncheon ramp with shallow dropoff that will accommodate up to small trailered craft.

Boating rules: Speed limit is 5 mph, and no-wake rule is in effect.

Getting there: Take Heart Lake Road north from Lake Erie Road or drive south on Heart Lake Road from 11th Avenue in Anacortes. Some off-road parking, with spill-over onto county road.

LAKE MCMURRAY (7)

The largest hatchery-rainbow stocked lake in Skagit County, McMurray attracts a large, cosmopolitan crowd of anglers from several counties on the opener. Trolling's doable here in the lake's deeper middle section, or anglers can anchor at either end and still-fish to their heart's content.

Season: Saturday, April 27, to Oct. 31. Page 63 in the regs.

Size: 160.6 acres, maximum depth 52 feet at north central part of lake.

In your catch: Rainbow trout, native cutthroat and perhaps a landlocked salmon or two; on the warmwater ledger, perch, black crappie and largemouth bass will awaken later in the spring.

Stocking for 2013: 17,000 catchable rainbows, planted in April.

Past years' catches: Opening day kept trout averages: 3.1 in 2012, 1.6 in 2011 and 3.8 in 2010.

Angler amenities: There are several expansive but private group access areas along the lake shore if you are willing to join a fraternal or community club.

Boat launching: WDFW, graveled, but will accommodate small trailered craft. Can be crowded.

Boating rules: The lake boat speed limit is 5 mph.

Getting there: Take State Route 534 east about five miles from Conway. The public access is on the lake's south end. Parking spills over on to narrow access road out to highway.

LAKE SIXTEEN (8)

One of Skagit County's smaller "locals" lakes, Sixteen always yields good crops of imported rainbows at season's start. Discerning anglers will notice a few wild cutthroat turning up in their creels, usually the result of trolling in close to the weedy shoreline. Unfortunately, parking is limited, but under no circumstances should you park on the county road.

Season: Saturday, April 27, to Oct. 31. Page 65 in the regs.

Size: 41.6 acres.

In your catch: Hatchery rainbow predominate with some native sea-run cutthroat trout from natural spawning.

Stocking for 2013: 6,500 catchable rainbows in April.

Past years' catches: Opening day kept trout averages: 3.0 in 2012, 1.0 in 2011 and 2.0 in 2010.

Boat launching: WDFW, graveled, handles up to small trailered craft.

Angler amenities: There is some shore fishing space at ramp area. Sixteen's faithful are almost always well-mannered.

Boating rules: Gas-powered motors are banned and the lake speed limit is 5 mph.

Getting there: Take State Route 534 east from I-5 at Conway, turn left on the gravel access road. Parking space fills quickly here.

OTHER SKAGIT WATERS

Lunker triploid rainbow each up to a pound and a half will be stocked in six Skagit lakes including Campbell, Clear, Erie, Heart, Pass and Vogler.

Campbell and Clear lakes also feature warmwater species, while Pass and Vogler are the featured fly-fishing only waters in Skagit County.

Though it's actually in Island County, Cranberry Lake, just south of Deception Pass in the state park complex, is close enough to the above two Fidalgo Island waters to merit mention, especially because of its hard-to-entice brown trout.

Much sought-after kokanee are the staple in Skagit County's largest fresh- and still-water body, Lake Shannon, a Puget Sound Energy hydroelectric reservoir.

Big Lake holds middling largemouth bass, together with nice crappie that should verge on 11 inches, in its long, shallow reach. There's a limit on the sunfish, as well as a minimum size.

For more out-of-the-way angling options, try the walk-in waters of Whistle Lake south of Anacortes, as well as drive-up Grandy Lake or Texas Ponds in the Cascade foothills for cutthroat trout.

LAKE SHANNON (15)

The lower and older of the Baker River Valley's two hydroelectric impoundments north of Concrete, at one time Shannon was renowned for its prolific kokanee. With shifts in management of both PSE reservoirs and their salmon, this once hot angling spot has chilled. There's now a size limit of 6 to 18 inches on trout, and and native char (bull trout/Dolly Varden) are off limits. Opening day yields can be good for kokanee if you chum up the waters downlake near the dam's log boom. If you value elbow -room as much as hot fishing, Shannon's seven miles of water allow you to pull gang trolls to your heart's content at multiple depths for both silvers - and maybe a stump or two. With Shannon's fetch, beware of windy afternoons.

Season: Saturday, April 27, to Oct. 31. Page 65 in the regs.

Size: 2,148 acres.

Angler amenities: Some shore fishing at the launch site. The ramp is wide and graveled but the lower end is rough when the reservoir is low. As of Thursday, April 25, Shannon was at 422.3 feet above sea level and saw-tooth daily activity is around 20 feet below nominal full pool.

In your catch: Kokanee with occasional rainbow, cutthroat and eastern brook trout.

Stocking for 2013: No gamefish planted.

Past years' catches: Not available.

Boat launching: PSE and Skagit County provide launch access at old Lone Star Cement location on the lower southeast side of the lake. At lower lake levels the ramp can be rough.

Boating rules: No boats inside log boom at dam. Also, the east bank will be closed due to construction of the fish out-migration facility.

Getting there: From Interstate 5, take Cook Road east to Sedro-Woolley, then continue east on Highway 20 to Concrete. Cross the Lowell Peterson Bridge and take the next left turn, take another left at the stop sign and then the uphill right before crossing the old bridge. This will take you to either the dam or past Everett Lake to the power-line right-of-way and the left turn downhill to the launch.

VOGLER LAKE (14)

Its fly fishing-only waters make Volger a fair bet for a spring venture - if you don't mind a quiet, catch and release experience with some potential for having your arms tugged out of their shoulder sockets.

Season: Saturday, April 27, to Oct. 31. Page 67 in the regs.

Size: 3.5 acres, maximum depth 10 feet.

Angler amenities: Catch and release under the fly-fishing rule but not two poles. Vogler is shallow and warms quickly, so skip it during the hot summer. Do try it again in October before the closing.

In your catch: Rainbow trout.

Past years' catches: No creel info.

Stocking for 2013: 200 catchable rainbow in April 2013 and 59 triploid rainbows in May.

Boat launching: WDFW, graveled with capacity for small trailered boats, carry-ins and certainly belly boats.

Boating rules: None.

Getting there: Take Cook Road east from I-5 to Sedro-Woolley. Continue east on Highway 20 past Hamilton, turn left on Baker Lake Road and drive past Grandy Lake to Burpee Hill Road. Turn right and go to the top of the hill (about a half mile).

CAVANAUGH LAKE (13)

About the size of Lake Samish, out-of-the-way Cavanaugh has long been considered a summer-home-by-the-lake type of place. It's open year-round and among its principal historical yield have been both cutthroat trout and kokanee, though the "silvers," as the kokanee are called, are small. You'll also find rainbows (excess hatchery program trout), some holdover cutthroat trout down deep, an occasional eastern brook and a few largemouth bass. Sorry, there won't be any triploid rainbows this year. You may chum or feed for kokanee when still-fishing.

Season: Year-round. Page 59 in the regs.

Size: 844 acres, maximum depth 80 feet just east of islands.

Angler amenities: Best fished now before the weather and water warm when the skier/skidoo set starts churning up the lake. Try fishing deep for the cutthroat.

In your catch: Rainbow and cutthroat trout, kokanee (land-locked sockeye salmon), eastern brook trout and occasionally largemouth bass.

Past years' catches: No creel info.

Stocking for 2013: 10,152 cutthroat fry in June 2012; 21,200 rainbow fry from June to October 2012; and 39,198 kokanee fingerlings in December 2012.

Boat launching: WDFW, graveled on the southeast side of the lake, best approached by taking the lake-shore drive around the southwest side of the lake.

Boating rules: None.

Getting there: Drive from I-5 to Highway 9 somewhere around Mount Vernon and drive south along the east side of Big Lake and watch for the Lake Cavanaugh Road. It's about 14 miles of blacktop road, though it'll seem you're driving deep into the woods .

CLEAR LAKE (11)

For the better part of its sport-fishing existence, Clear Lake's shallows have been a spiny ray haven with an occasional load of legal rainbow trout added when state hatcheries had leftovers. Now its gets a dose of cutthroat trout fry for early spring action and a helping of triploid rainbows to break up the late spring monotony for trout anglers. It's open year-round, so the trout when active are fair game any time. Bass clubs pay attention to Clear Lake spring and fall, so spinnerbaits now or top-water lures mid-summer may be worth carrying.

Season: Year-round. Page 16 statewide rules in the regs.

Size: 223 acres. About half the lake is 20 feet or deeper to 44 feet.

Angler amenities: There is some shore fishing from the ramp causeway that juts into the lake.

In your catch: Cutthroat and rainbow trout as well as largemouth bass, yellow perch and brown bullhead catfish.

Past years' catches: No creel info.

Stocking for 2013: 9,600 cutthroat fry in fall 2012, plus 718 triploid rainbows in April 2012.

Boat launching: WDFW, located on the north side of the lake off Old Day Creek Road.

Boating rules: The speed limit is 25 mph and personal watercraft are banned on the lake.

Getting there: Take Cook Road east to Sedro-Woolley, then drive south across the Skagit River on Highway 9 to Clear Lake, turn east on Old Day Creek Road.

WHISTLE LAKE (2)

Though a walk-in lake, Whistle is not way up in the backcountry. It's on Fidalgo Island within the City of Anacortes's unique community forest lands. It's best fished in the early spring and late fall. In between it's a swimming hole.

Season: Year-round. Page 16 statewide rules in the regs.

Size: 29.7 acres.

Angler amenities: Fishing activity is limited by the steep, brushy nature of the shoreline combined with the half-mile walk. Casting spot accesses are available at intervals off the circum-lake trail. There are likely to be some good sized cutts and perhaps some fair size bass here.

In your catch: Cutthroat trout, largemouth bass and yellow perch.

Past years' catches: No creel info.

Stocking for 2013: Cutthroat trout fry in 2009 and 2012. Regular fry stocking has resumed.

Boat launching: Carry-in craft only, though the road, turned trail, is relatively flat and wide.

Boating rules: No city ordinances.

Getting there: Drive west on Highway 20 from I-5 at Burlington through Sharp's Corner, taking the Anacortes route. At Commercial Street and Highway 20, drive south on Commercial to Fidalgo Ave, turn right go one block to O Avenue. Turn south on O Avenue to a left turn onto Spradley Road. Drive east to Whistle Lake Road, then a right to the city forest lands gate.

LAKE CAMPBELL (4)

An annual stop on several Northwest bass tournament trails, Campbell hosts some championship largemouth bass and, though they don't figure in any weigh-ins, lunker rainbows thanks to the triploid program. Fishing rules also set a minimum 9-inch size and 10-fish daily limit for Campbell's crappies.

Season: Year-round. Page 59 in the regs.

Size: 410 acres.

Angler amenities: Fish it shallow. The deepest part of Campbell is a postage stamp-sized hole 16 feet deep immediately to the south of the island. Campbell's average depth according to state ecology department information is 8 feet.

In your catch: Largemouth bass, yellow perch, black crappie, bullhead catfish, cutthroat trout and some bigger specimens of channel catfish and rainbow trout.

Past years' catches: No creel info.

Stocking for 2013: 21,200 cutthroat fry from June to October 2012 and 1,071 triploid rainbow in April 2013.

Boat launching: WDFW, a concrete puncheon ramp that accommodates larger trailered boats.

Boating rules: No county ordinances.

Getting there: Drive west on Highway 20 from I-5 at Burlington through Sharp's Corner. Take Lake Campbell Road west from Highway 20 about a half mile.

PASS LAKE (5)

Its angling faithful credit the catch-and-release and fly-fishing-only rules, plus close monitoring, for creation of what is considered by many to be among the best year-round trophy coldwater-type fisheries in Northwest Washington. The average trout size is 15 inches with some ranging to 30 inches. At only 20 feet deep, these waters warm to summe time highs that can make trout lethargic, so fishing is best in fall to early/mid-spring.

Season: Year-round. Page 64 in the regs.

Size: 98 acres.

Angler amenities: The trout here speak for themselves.

In your catch: Brown, cutthroat, rainbow trout, green sunfishes and maybe red-side shiners,

Past years' catches: No creel info.

Stocking for 2013: 5,280 brown trout fingerlings in fall 2012, 10,000 rainbow fry in May 2012 and 162 triploid rainbows in May 2013.

Boat launching: WDFW, graveled ramp that accommodates up to smaller trailered boats.

Boating rules: Motors are not allowed, by WDFW regulation.

Getting there: Drive west on Highway 20 from I-5 at Burlington through Sharp's Corner. Continue west on Highway 20 to Pass Lake along highway one mile before Deception Pass Bridge.

CRANBERRY LAKE (6)

Tempered by the marine environment, unlike many other year-round waters, Cranberry Lake provides action 12 months of the year. While rainbows, including some nice carryovers, are the norm in fall and winter months, brown trout and bass tend to perk up in late spring. State park lands ring these shallow waters and help meter access.

Season: Year-round. Page 16 statewide rules in the regs.

Size: 128 acres. Half the lake is 15 feet or shallower, maximum depth is a 25-foot pocket against the north shore.

Angler amenities: A public dock in park on east side of lake, plus several extensive rock outcrops along the road on the north shore.

In your catch: Brown and rainbow trout, plus yellow perch and largemouth bass.

Past years' catches: No creel info.

Stocking for 2013: 3,000 catchable rainbows in spring 2013, and 5,280 brown trout fingerlings in fall 2012.

Boat launching: State parks (Discover Pass), gravel, accommodates car-topper and small trailered boats,

Boating rules: Internal combustion motors are not allowed by state park rule.

Getting there: Drive west on Highway 20 from I-5 at Burlington through Sharp's Corner. Continue driving west on Highway 20 to Deception Pass. Look for state park entrance about one mile south of the pass bridge.

BIG LAKE (9)

Known principally as a warm-water haunt, Big is another of Northwest Washington's shallow lowland waters that regularly hosts bass angling contests. Because of extensive residential development on its shores, aquatic activities have significantly transitioned away from fishing. Minimum size (9 inches) and 10-fish daily limit are in place for the crappie.

Season: Year-round. Page 58 statewide rules in the regs.

Size: 545 acres.

Angler amenities: Look for natural, weedy transitions of the shoreline at the very south end. Despite its lanky fjord-like appearance, Big's maximum depth is only 23 feet with an average of 14 feet.

In your catch: Largemouth bass, yellow perch and brown bullhead, plus some nice black crappie with an occasional naturally produced cutthroat trout.

Past years' catches: No creel info.

Stocking for 2013: None.

Boat launching: WDFW, dual concrete puncheon accommodates larger trailered boats.

Boating rules: None.

Getting there: Drive east from I-5 on state Highway 538, then south on state Highway 9 from Big Rock about three miles to West Big Lake Drive. Turn left and drive along the west shore of the lake to the 19000 block and the public access.

BEAVER LAKE (10)

If you are looking for a little change of pace in your warm-water fishing, try this out-of-the-way, weed-lined pan in the Nookachamps River basin. It produces fair largemouth bass, plus lots of crappies and perch during the hot summer.

Season: Year-round. Page 16 statewide rules in the regs.

Size: 73 acres, 10 feet or less of depth.

Angler amenities: If you like fishing poppers among the lily-pads, there is plenty of that habitat here.

In your catch: Yellow perch, black crappie and largemouth with an occasional cutthroat trout.

Past year's catches: No creel info.

Stocking for 2013: None.

Boat launching: WDFW, gravel, accommodates car-topper and small trailered boats.

Boating rules: None.

Getting there: From I-5, take Cook Road east to Sedro-Woolley, then drive south across the Skagit River on Highway 9 through the town of Clear Lake, turn left onto Beaver Lake Road and drive 11/2 miles southeast to Beaver Lake.

GRANDY LAKE (13)

A local's lake on a heavily driven road, but not on angler radars. Grandy's once resilient naturally reproducing cutthroat trout population has faded in the face of angling pressure and the presence of largemouth bass. A smattering of hatchery rainbows have been added. This is a combination fishing and overnight camping destination that's great for kids.

Season: Year-round. Page 16 statewide rules in the regs.

Size: 56 acres.

Angler amenities: Lakeshore county parks campground provides a one-stop fishing/camping opportunity.

In your catch: Native resident cutthroat trout and largemouth bass.

Past years' catches: No creel info.

Stocking for 2013: 1,500 catchable rainbows in spring 2013.

Boat launching: Skagit County parks, graveled, accommodates car-topper and small trailered boats.

Boating rules: None.

Getting there: From I-5, take Cook Road east to Sedro-Woolley, continue east on Highway 20 to Birdsview. Turn left onto Baker Lake Road and drive northeast five miles to Grandy Lake.

TEXAS PONDS (16)

Being out-of-the-way waters on a forest road, Texas Ponds makes for a nice, day-long outing in the woods. Though its fish see a lot of angling pressure, it's on an annual stocking list, so there are always trout available.

Season: Year-round. Page 16 statewide rules in the regs.

Size: 6 acres.

Angler amenities: Several campsites in wooded area. Ponds are in an hour-glass shape and there are some bank fishing spots along the shore in the woods.

In your catch: Cutthroat trout.

Past years' catches: No creel info.

Stocking for 2013: Stocked with cutthroat fry in 2011.

Boat launching: USFS, carry-in boats only.

Boating rules: None.

Getting there: From I-5, take Highway 20 east to Rockport, then drive south on state Highway 530 south across the Sauk River bridge to the Christian Camp Road. Turn right, drive uphill to Forest Service Road 2811. Turn left, continue uphill to ponds.

Source: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2013/04/27/2984890/skagit-county-lakes-offer-variety.html

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Sunday, April 28, 2013

Stonehenge archaeologists reveal new theory of why monument was built

Stonehenge may have been built on a site occupied by hunters for?roughly?5,000 prior to its construction.

By Tia Ghose,?LiveScience Staff Writer / April 24, 2013

Visitors are dwarfed by the Stonehenge monument in southern England.

Max Nash/AP/File

Enlarge

A site near Stonehenge has revealed archaeological evidence that hunters lived just a mile from Stonehenge roughly 5,000 years prior to the construction of the first stones, new research suggests.

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What's more, the site, which was occupied continuously for 3,000 years, had evidence of burning, thousands of flint tool fragments and bones of?wild aurochs?, a type of extinct giant cow. That suggests the area near Stonehenge may have been an auroch migration route that became an ancient feasting site, drawing people together from across different cultures in the region, wrote lead researcher David Jacques of the Open University in the United Kingdeom, in an email.

"We may have found the cradle of?Stonehenge, the reason why it is where it is," Jacques wrote. [In Photos: A Walk Through Stonehenge]

The new discovery may also identify the people who first erected structures at Stonehenge. A few gigantic pine posts, possibly totem poles, were raised at Stonehenge between 8,500 and 10,000 years ago, but until now there was scant evidence of occupation in the area that long ago. The new research suggests those ancient structures may perhaps have been raised to honor a sacred hunting ground.

Mysterious monument

For decades, people have wondered at the enigmatic stone structures erected roughly 5,000 years ago in the plains of Wiltshire, England. No one knows why ancient people built the structure: some believe it was a place of ancient worship or a sun calendar, whereas still others think it was a symbol of unity or even that?Stonehenge was inspired by a sound illusion.

The large megaliths, known as sarsens, are up to 30 feet tall and weigh up to 25 tons, while the smaller bluestones weigh up to 4 tons. Researchers think the?giant boulders?came from a quarry near Marlborough Downs, just 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the iconic site, while the bluestones likely came from Preseli Hills in Wales, nearly 156 miles (250 km) away from Stonehenge.

Old photographs

Jacques was looking through archival photographs of the region surrounding Stonehenge when he spotted a site known as Vespasian's Camp, just a mile from Stonehenge in nearby Amesbury.

Realizing that it hadn't been fully surveyed, Jacques began to investigate the area, which harbored a freshwater spring.

Because animals like to stop and drink at such watering holes, Jacques wondered whether ancient man may have settled nearby as well.

The team uncovered roughly 350 animal bones and 12,500 flint tools or fragments, as well as lots of evidence of burning. Carbon dating suggested the area was occupied by humans from 7500 B.C. to 4700 B.C. ? roughly 5,000 years prior to the erection of the?first stones at Stonehenge. [See Photos of the Stonehenge Hunting Ground?]

"The spring may have originally attracted large animals to it, which would have aided hunting and may have led to associations that the area was a sacred hunting ground," Jacques wrote.

In addition, the researchers found tools made from stone from one region of England, but fashioned in the style of another region (for instance, a?stone tool?made from Welsh or Cornwall slate, but made in a style typical of Sussex). That suggests the people from different regions were coming together at the site, Jacques wrote.

Ancient builders?

The findings could help researchers pinpoint why the ancient builders of Stonehenge chose the place they did, Jacques said.?

"We have found a bridge from which transmission of cultural memory about the 'specialness' of the place where the stones were later being put up was possible," Jacques wrote. "We are getting closer to understanding their reasons for putting it up ? it is all to do with ancestors, but those ancestors go much further back than has previously been realised."

The findings show "there was a substantial interest in the Stonehenge landscape well before the stones were hauled there and erected," said Timothy Darvill, an archaeologist at Bournemouth University in the U.K., who was not involved in the study.

Excavations dating to 2008 at Stonehenge also confirm earlier use at the?megalithic site, Darvill wrote. However, what makes the Amesbury discovery special is the large trove of auroch bones found in the area, which suggests the spring was on a natural migration route for the wild aurochs, he said.

A program about the Amesbury site will air on BBC 4 on April 29.

Follow Tia Ghose on Twitter?@tiaghose.?Follow?LiveScience?@livescience,?Facebook?&?Google+. Original article on?LiveScience.com.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/science/~3/2mNG23YqGQI/Stonehenge-archaeologists-reveal-new-theory-of-why-monument-was-built

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Higher expectations for digital media at NewFronts

NEW YORK (AP) ? Last year, the inaugural Digital NewFronts didn't skimp on the hype.

Google, Hulu, Yahoo and others made brash, glitzy presentations to advertisers trumpeting their ascendancy in a rapidly changing media landscape. Even Jay-Z dropped by.

There will be plenty of the same this week in New York at the second Digital NewFronts, the digital world's take on the annual TV "upfront" tradition. But ahead of this year's five-day-long overture to Madison Avenue, the talk is of both the great progress of digital entertainment and unrealized promises.

"It was absolutely a learning experience," Doug McVehil, senior vice president of content and programming for the music video destination Vevo, says about last year's NewFronts."I know there's some things we can do better this year both at the presentation itself and in terms of follow-up. But we're all fairly new at this. This is a young thing for the digital media industry."

In 12 months' time, the industry has come a long way. Netflix's first major original series, "House of Cards," proved that streaming video can compete with the most prestigious cable programs. Google's YouTube rolled out its 100-plus funded channels in a bid to bring higher quality videos (and thus advertisers) to its platform. One of the biggest TV stars, Jerry Seinfeld, launched a handsome Web series, "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee."

But some of the digital series touted last year have disappointed. Although Yahoo's "Bachelor"-spoof "Burning Love" has proved a modest hit, its Tom Hanks animated sci-fi series, "Electric City," didn't live up to its creator's reputation. While the top YouTube channels have grown considerably, several of its star-driven efforts have fizzled.

"Last year, there were some big promises about not only the quality but the volume of shows that people are going to make," says Eric Berger, executive vice president of digital networks for Sony Pictures TV, which owns the video site Crackle. "If you look back over the course of the year, as we talked to brands and agencies, there're some questions about quality and about the volume of things that were actually produced."

Crackle didn't participate in the NewFronts last year but will this year. It will be promoting, among other shows, an upcoming second season of Seinfeld's series.

Naturally, growing pains are inevitable, especially when so much is changing so fast. The wide array of NewFront presenters this year exhibits the evolving nature of media companies.

New presenters include The Wall Street Journal and Conde Nast, both venerable publishers known for their print products. But Conde Nast earlier this year launched online series slates for two of its magazines (GQ and Glamour), with plans to do the same for its other properties, including Vanity Fair and The New Yorker. The Journal, more than any other newspaper, has developed live video programing with its "WSJ Live" app.

"The Journal has really transformed itself since News Corp.'s acquisition into a complete content provider and not just business, finance and economics," says Michael Rooney, chief revenue officer for The Journal, explaining its entry to the NewFronts. "The world still needs to learn and understand about that and what we have to offer."

Yahoo will come into its presentation on the heels of acquiring the rights to archival clips to all 38 years of "Saturday Night Live." YouTube recently announced that in May it will begin a series of theme weeks to highlight its premium channels, starting with comedy. On Sunday night, Vevo will kick off the fourth year of its flagship program "Unstaged," a concert live stream. (Vampire Weekend will perform with Steve Buscemi directing the webcast.)

Performances will play a big part of Vevo's presentation, with appearances by Carly Rae Jepsen, Kendrick Lamar and Jessie Ware. But McVehil says at this year's NewFronts, brands want more than a good show.

"As we mature, I think it's going to be about people looking hard at real numbers and performance and judging companies based on that more than how sexy their presentation was," McVehil says.

Some companies are going it alone. NBCUniversal's digital division, having been a part of the NewFronts last year, held a separate event in New York last week, as did the gaming network Machinima. The talent agency CAA will preview its clients' digital projects this week, but not in an official NewFront.

Still, there are close connections for several of the 18 media companies in the NewFronts. Disney Interactive has several YouTube channels and in February partnered with Vevo to produce family friendly music content.

Ad agency Universal McCann predicted deals at the NewFronts could reach $1 billion. That's still a fraction of what broadcast upfront presentations pull in, but few don't expect digital media to continue to increase their share of the advertising pie.

"We're bigger this year, both in terms of the scope of the event and the amount of content," says Mark Walker, senior vice president of Disney Interactive Entertainment. "We had a few programs before and some speculation. Now, we have conclusively demonstrated that there's a robust audience demand for the kind of high quality video content that we're producing."

___

Follow AP Entertainment Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jake_coyle

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/higher-expectations-digital-media-newfronts-131732617.html

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Clipped Wings

This is the auto-generated OOC topic for the roleplay "Clipped Wings"

You may edit this first post as you see fit.

These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which, as they kiss, consume.

-Romeo and Juliet

Deep into that darkness, peering, I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting...
Dreaming dreams no mortal ever dreamed to dream before.
-Edgar Allen Poe

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/RYtvFEo9utM/viewtopic.php

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Alt-week 4.27.13: stargazing, antimatter and a robot turtle

Alt-week takes a look at the best science and alternative tech stories from the last seven days.

As a youngster, you may have been told -- and quite rightly so -- not to stare directly at the sun. This creates a dillema. It's the center of our solar system, but how are we to ever gaze upon it with our own eyes for more than a few fleeting seconds? Don't worry, NASA has that comprehensively covered. This is alt-week.

Filed under: Science, Alt

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/U7ON_LrbTLM/

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Draw Something With Strangers On A Train: Disrupt NY 2013 Hackathon Duo Building Visual Ice-Breaker App For Galaxy Note

The Disrupt NY 2013 Hackathon has kicked off and here's one of the new hack team pairings hoping to claim tomorrow's prize after a long night of coding. Michal Shaffer, left, from New York and Peter Ma, right from San Francisco -- met at the event and are now collaborating on a proximity art app that will be using Samsung's API and the Galaxy Note plus S Pen to power random collaborative doodling.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/VV0crCP27Cg/

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Alabama grocery tax repeal likely dead again

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- The effort to remove the Alabama sales tax from groceries is likely dead for another year.

A Republican legislator tried one approach and a Democratic legislator tried another, but neither got very far in the 2013 session.

Republican Sen. Gerald Dial of Lineville persuaded a Senate committee to approve his bill to phase out the 4 percent state tax, but he said it is unlikely he can pass it with only five meeting days remaining in the legislative session.

A bill by Democratic Rep. John Knight of Montgomery never even got considered by a House committee.

"We don't see action coming in the few remaining days," said Jim Carnes, communication director of Alabama Arise, an organization representing Alabama's poor.

Legislators have been trying to figure out a way to remove the sales tax on groceries for more than a decade, but no one has succeeded because the Legislature has never agreed on how to replace the lost revenue. Replacing the revenue is a priority because sales taxes are a major source of funding for public schools.

Dial's bill would reduce the state sales tax on groceries by 1 cent on the dollar each year for four years. To make up the lost revenue, he would increase the state sales tax on other purchases by one-quarter cent per dollar for each year for four years. By the end of four years, consumers would pay no state tax on groceries and 5 percent on other purchases. State and local sales taxes would remain on groceries.

Dial said he doesn't consider his bill a tax increase because people have to buy groceries, but they can cut back on other purchases, such as clothes.

Dial's bill was placed on the Senate's work agenda Thursday, but the Senate's top Republican, President Pro Tem Del Marsh of Anniston, got the Senate to delay action. "There is still work to be done," Marsh said.

Dial's bill drew opposition from Alabama Arise.

"It's amazing to me that people who are supposed to be helping the poor are working against my bill," Dial said.

Carnes said Dial's bill maintained the regressive nature of the sales tax, and many non-food items are essential purchases for people.

Alabama Arise favored Knight's bill. It would keep the state sales tax on non-food purchases at 4 percent. It would replace the revenue from groceries by repealing the state income tax deduction that Alabama gives for federal taxes paid. That would not affect many low-income Alabamians, but would require higher earners to pay more state taxes.

Knight tried repeatedly to pass his bill when Democrats controlled the Legislature, but never succeeded. He reintroduced his bill this session, but he couldn't get it considered by a Republican-dominated committee.

Dial said it will never pass now that Republicans are in control. "No Republican Legislature is going to pass that because that is a direct tax on the people," he said.

Carnes said Alabama Arise was disappointed that Knight's bill didn't move again. "But we are happy that what we consider a bad solution didn't move also."

Dial said he will be back with his bill in the 2014 session, when legislators will be standing for election.

"It is great politics for an election. When people ask what you have done for them, you can say, 'I took the tax off food for you,'" Dial said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/alabama-grocery-tax-repeal-likely-195227562.html

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Most Beautiful Items: April 20-April 26, 2013

From sustainable buildings to redesigned currency, we've got plenty of lovely things for you to check out in the most beautiful items of the week. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/zlCd1HhW0Jg/most-beautiful-items-april-20+april-26-2013

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Our Feel-Good War on Breast Cancer

[unable to retrieve full-text content]The battle to raise awareness has been won. So why aren?t more lives being saved?

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/28/magazine/our-feel-good-war-on-breast-cancer.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

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Saturday, April 27, 2013

Scientists discover ridiculously small insect

With a length about 2.5 times the width of a human hair, Tinkerbella nana was spotted in a Costa Rican forest.

By Eoin O'Carroll,?Staff / April 25, 2013

This microscope image shows a dried Tinkerbella nana, a species of fairyfly. The scale line is equal to 100 micrometers, the average width of a human hair.

John T. Huber

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A pair of scientists have discovered a new species of tiny insect, a miniscule wasp that lives in the forests of Costa Rica.

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Named?Tinkerbella nana, after the Peter Pan character, the species measures no more than 250 micrometers in length. By comparison, the average human hair is about 100 micrometers wide.?

According to a paper?published Thursday in the Journal of Hymenoptera Research, the insects were collected by John S. Noyes, an entomologist at London's Natural History Museum, who swept a mesh net through vegetation at Costa Rica's La Selva Biological Station. Samples from the net were then examined under a microscope.?

The species is a fairyfly, a type of wasp found worldwide. Most fairyflies are parasites that lives on other insects' eggs, but the researchers know almost nothing about?Tinkerbella's?behavior.?

As small as Tinkerbella is, its not the smallest flying insect. That distinction goes to Kikiki huna, a fairlyfly native to the Hawaiian islands that measures just 150 micrometers. The Canadian Forestry Service's John T. Huber, the primary author on the Tinkerbella paper, was also the principal discoverer, in 2000, of Kikiki.

But even Kikiki is not the smallest insect. The males of a wingless, eyeless species of fairyfly called Dicopomorpha echmepterygis, have measured no more than 139 micrometers long.?

How small can a bug get? Huber and Noyes's paper examines the theoretical minimum for insect sizes. Smaller animals tend to have a higher strength-to-weight ratio than larger ones, but once you get below a certain size, the muscles in an appendage get so small that they cannot overcome the appendage's own inertia. The authors suggest that winged insects capable of flapping their wings cannot be less than 150 micrometers long. For flightless insects, the smallest you can get while still being able to lift your body off the ground is, they suggest, about 125 micrometers.

In their introduction Huber and Noyes' quote an unlikely source, Pliny the Elder's "Natural History":?

Almost 2000 years ago, Pliny the Elder (ca. 23?79 A.D.) stated ?Rerum natura nusquam magis quam in minimis tota est? loosely translated as ?nature is nowhere as great as in its smallest.? In the absence of any means of magnification he could not possibly have seen the intricate structure and beauty of fairyflies or other minute organisms. But his statement certainly holds true.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/science/~3/NGfeNczmAu0/Scientists-discover-ridiculously-small-insect

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