A recent find shows that ancient Hebrew was in use four hundred years earlier than previously thought.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20100115/sc_livescience/biblepossiblywrittencenturiesearliertextsuggests

A large tomb, believed to be of the 3rd century General Cao, has been excavated in China.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_china_general_s_tomb

Visit Steampunk Empire

What I continually find amazing is the head-in-the-sand attitude I've run into when you mention the topic of Space War. There are a great many, normally intelligent people that pooh-pooh the idea and say "there are laws against it and besides, the UN will never allow it, etc.".
The first nation to establish a permanent base on the moon will be able to dictate whatever they wish to any other nation on Earth. In military terms, it's called "the ultimate high ground". All it takes is a railgun on the lunar surface and nuclear weapons become the dinosaurs of military technology.
It has been whispered in space research circles for the past few years, that if you want to become a lunar colonist, then you had better learn to speak Chinese.
That is why I'm not really surprised at this news announcement.
http://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/11/04/china-declares-space-war-inevitable/

My good friend, Anthony Stevens was up at the Rough and Tumble Harvest Festival on Saturday and put together this video of the live steamers and other oddities at work.
Fair warning, it is a fairly big file at 300Mp plus.

TURBO from Jarrett Lee Conaway on Vimeo.

Someone posted a large zip file with forty 1920x1200 wallpaper images of unusual prototype cars. I created a quick page for them. If you're a gearhead and want some new wallpaper, check it out.

If you're thinking of getting your lawn and garden ready for the fall colors, you might want to acquire some of these fine decorations.

The world's oldest hotel is also the longest continuously owned and run business. It was founded in Japan more than 1200 years ago.

"This week in New York, the American Museum of Natural History unveiled something never before seen: an 11-by-4-foot tapestry made completely of spider silk."
NPR has a beautiful picture and the interesting article.
The first company or individual that figures out how to do this via machine is going to make a fortune.

One of the ongoing complaints about electric vehicles is that they are dead silent when running properly. There have been several discussions among lawmakers to mandate some sort of sound system.
It appears that Nissan is going to be first to jump ahead of the game. Their new ride will make a sound like the 'spinners' from Blade Runner.

This was posted to another list with the request to pass it on. Makes sense to me...

Last night we went to a demoliton derby. After the one heat, 10 clunkers were ALL done in and ready for the crusher. None could run OR move, even if they did run.

All the parts had already been removed with the exception of the engine and the running gear.

Then I got to thinking.

I don't have a clue what it costs to put on a Demo Derby and award trophies as well, but it seems to me that if the government threw $2,000 or $3,000 at EVERY demo derby in the nation all summer long, it would be FAR cheaper than the "Cash For Clunkers" program ever was AND FAR more efficient as well!!

Not to mention the free advertising. SPONSORED BY THE US GOVERNMENT. (Presidential seal here)

Hey, pass this on and let's get something going here to save our tax dollars!!!!!

Not to mention all the entertainment.

--- I just got these in the form of feedback ---

How many vintage cars could have been kept running
or restored over the years with the parts that
were thrown away or destroyed because of the
hundreds if not thousands of demo races that have
been held????

If you think the gov't wants to save the taxpayer
money by reducing it's size and it's involvement
and control of everyone's life, then you live in
a place much different then I do.

Terry

Michigan, home of the US auto industry, the highest
unemployment rate, and addicted to governors who
are allergic to common sense and the truth.

---

Ok, so each person who enters a car that was registered and insured for the last two years in one persons name (not necessarily the driver) will qualify the person who it was registered to for $2000 of government cash automatically to be sent to them at the mailing address on there vehicle registration. (for giving up there clunker) This will weed out the true clunkers. Then the winner (winning driver, and winning vehicle's previous registered owner) of the derby will each get a $4500 cash rebate (redeemable at any dealership) towards the purchase of a new or good used inspected vehicle that is rated for at least 26 mpg on the highway. The rebate checks should be able to be cashed by any licensed auto dealer. That way the person on a fixed income that is stuck with a clunker, and the clunker just needs more than they can afford to keep it roadworthy, can still get in on the action. They had their car off to a demo driver and at least get $2000 and then they can see what they can find in their price range. If they can find a decent used car for 3500, then they only have to swing the payment on a loan for 1500.00 where as they would never be able to swing the payments on 15000.00 And heck, if their driver wins then they have a $4500 rebate check to go shopping with plus 1500 in their pocket so they could either look for a $6000 car or a $5000 car and have the rest for reg and insurance, or whatever.

JP