Asteroids

With 1 in a 1000 chance of a civilisation ending impact on our planet in this century, and with Apophis headed this way, it is time we took asteroids and comets more seriously, believe experts.

It’s not really big by cosmic standards. But its potential for damage is BIG. That is why astronomers are keenly waiting to watch asteroid Apophis during its next close pass to the sun in 2013.

Heads up!

Congress should divert funds immediatley to building asteroids blasting triangle spaceships.

Subashi

Subashi is a lost city located in the Taklamakan Desert, on the ancient Silk Road, near Kucha, in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region of China.

Subashi Temple witnessed the development and the height of splendor of Buddhism in this land. The temple was built in the first century and reached its peak during the sixth to the eighth centuries in the Sui and Tang dynasties. In the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), on passing by on his way to India to obtain Buddhist sutra, the hierarch Xuanzang was so impressed by the splendor of the temple and the popularity of Buddhism in this area that he stayed for more than 2 months. During later years, the temple had over 10 thousand monks and many hierarchs came from the interior of China to promote and develop Buddhism. Unfortunately, wars of the ninth century destroyed the temple, and it never recovered. It was finally abandoned in the thirteenth to fourteenth centuries when Islam was introduced to Xinjiang and began to prevail.

Today only the ruins of this temple remain. The pagodas, murals, walls and archaeological discoveries bear witness to the years of change, the stories of Buddhism and the development of civilization in this vast land.

Knew It... (As I'm Sure A Lot Of Others Did)

"Twinkle twinkle like a star does love blaze less from afar?"

"Who cares? Visit my website!" Is what this screams.

Unique Stone Heads

I gotta hand it to the guy though, he got a lot of press. Well done.

We Can Rebuild Him... Stronger, Faster...

Riddle Me This...

"Twinkle twinkle like a star does love blaze less from afar?"

Puzzled residents across Yorkshire are turning detective after mysterious stone heads were left outside their properties in the dead of night.

Each of the heads, which are up to a foot tall, looks different but all feature the same carving - which appears to spell out the word "paradox" - and a note bearing the riddle: "Twinkle twinkle like a star does love blaze less from afar?"

I'm going to have to think about this one. A PR stunt? A crazy sculptor? Love, stars and paradox. Hmmm.

You Gotta Believe!

Peruvian Cloud Warriors

That would make a good name for a band, wouldn't it?

In the beginning of the year I mentioned that a massive, ancient building associated with the Chachapoyan Cloud People had been discovered in Peru.

Well, some of them have been found.

80 Ancient "Cloud Warrior" Skeletons Found in Peru Fort

The skeletons bear evidence of extremely quick deaths, the bodies having been found where they fell, without burial, reported Alfredo Narváez, director of Peru's Kuélap Archaeological Complex Restoration and Conservation project.

If you heard you were going to see the cloud people, that would sound nice wouldn't?

The Cloud People! How nice they must be, all breezy and fluffy.

Yea, well, don't get your hopes up. Meet Mr. Horrible Agonizing Death Cloud:

My eyes! The goggles do nothing!

Water, Water Everywhere

Yet hard to understand.

When water in two beakers is exposed to a high voltage, a floating water bridge forms between the beakers

One of the building blocks of life. Yet hard to grasp. Because it'll fall through your fingers.

Another experiment was performed shortly thereafter involving another beaker.

It was not as successful.

More Tahoe Yahoo

A lot of people have showed up here looking for Lake Tahoe mysteries.

I'm guessing the search for Steven Fossett brought most. Unfortunately, he is still missing.

Fortunately, some other bloggers have chimed in on the Lake's mysteries.

First, ME, clued me in on a project "Tahoe Deep Blue", which was last heard from in 2003. A search didn't bring up anything after that. Perhaps the mission was abandoned?

Next, Ann Nony Mouse highlighted this article: DSS's ROVs see under the sea

And finally Anony Ent pointed out some video. Most interesting is the video of the sunken 1915 Steamer Tahoe.

But nothing conclusive showing any deep water dives or pictures.

But I'd like to thank those who've pointed these stories out. Even though I think you're all related to that other blogger... what's his name... oh yea, Anonymous. He's popular. I see him everywhere!

Magic Monkey Tree

The discovery of two "monkey heads" poking out of the bark of an otherwise non-descript African Mahogany tree have sparked a minor craze in the southeast Asian state, as devotees seek numbers from what they believe to be a god living in the tree.

OK, that is TOTALLY the monkey doll I had as a kid.

Right?! There he is!

In a tree.

Anyway, I came across this story on my new favorite website, Monkeys In The News.

All monkey, all the time. How cool is that?

The Devil's Bible

Return of Devil's Bible to Prague draws crowds

The devil has a bible!? Well let's see that bad boy! I mean, the regular bible is full of death, sex, adultery, murder, kidnapping, punishment, etc., etc. Imagine the all extra helping of bullshit the devil's must have! Get it published! It would look great next to my Book Of The Dead.

Himalayan Hop

A photo that may be the best evidence of the yeti was sold yesterday for £3,500 at an auction in London.

OK. All beliefs aside, I think whoever bought this was ripped off big time.

ONE photo of a SINGLE footprint.

Shouldn't there be a SECOND footprint? A trail?

If there was a picture of that, well, that would be something.

Instead all I see is a hoppin' yeti made that print.

And, as everyone know, Abominables bounce.

Currently My Favorite Commercial...

Jacques Cousteau And Lake Tahoe

Hey, that rhymes!

Welcome all who plugged that Jacques Cousteau and Lake Tahoe into your google. I know there are a lot of you. A hell of a lot!

You came across this, Nevada'a Mysteries, which I posted this past Monday.

Well, I asked for someone to "Get a camera down there and let us see the abyss!"

And here is the perfect device to do so!

Stealthy QinetiQ sentry goes where danger lurks so you won't have to

If I had money, I'd have one of those things on the shore of Lake Tahoe by 4pm today and we could finally get to the bottom of the lake.

Update On The Boy On The Wing Of This Plane!

I figured it was this way, but didn't mention it so you'll have to take my word for it.

Boy who flew to Moscow in plane's wheel well faces amputation

He was in the wheel well. People have done this before, but most of them die.

After running away from home last week, hitching a ride to the airport, and
clambering into the wheel well of a passenger plane, Shcherbakov survived
temperatures hitting minus 50 degrees Celsius (-58 Fahrenheit) on a two-hour
flight from Perm to Moscow's Vnukovo Airport. Doctors said it was nothing short
of a miracle that he survived the flight.

But in the article, it says a Moscow clinic refused to continue treating him.

That too, is cold.

Sara Silverman Rules

I just saw a story that Sara Silverman is getting negative reaction to her Britney jokes at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Why? For calling it as it is? For putting a funny spin on the truth? She did the same with that other dumb blonde at the Movie Awards.

I don't think it will bother her. I hope it doesn't.

She hilarious.

New episodes of The Sara Silverman Program start Wednesday, October 3rd at 10:30 on Comedy Central.

See (or even better, buy) Sara Silverman: Jesus Is Magic.

It's Not Just Glaciers That Are Shrinking

NUDITY could be outlawed on the world's tallest mountain complaints about the number of climbers attempting to reach its summit without clothes

Bill O'Reilly A Racist? Ignorant? Pompus Arrogance?

Bill, I'll take you to places in Harlem and all over the world where people act like normal, civilized people and you'd be so surprised you'd drop your loofah sponge and forget to sexually abuse women.

And for those of you who listen to him, shame on you.

And to make this fair - those who listen to Air America, shame on you too.

Please feel free to make up your own mind and not act like a tree hugger or rapist.