Arctic Sea Ice Shrinks

COMBINED NEWS SERVICES August 28, 2008 Arctic sea ice, which melts partly during each polar summer, has shrunk more this year than in any on record except for 2007, the National Snow and Ice Data Center has found.

Scientists said the data provided more ominous indications that a global warming "tipping point" in the Arctic seems to be happening before their eyes: Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is now at its second lowest level in about 30 years.

With several weeks left of the melting season, the National Snow and Ice Data Center reported yesterday that sea ice in the Arctic now covers about 2.03 million square miles. The lowest point since satellite measurements began in 1979 was 1.65 million square miles, measured on Sept. 16, 2007. - Washington Times

This makes the global warming argument compelling, but like everything else there is strong evidence form both sides.

84,000 Jobs Cut In August

WASHINGTON — Businesses shed 84,000 jobs in August as the unemployment rate soared to a five-year peak of 6.1%, the Labor Department said Friday in a report providing stark evidence that the economy is foundering.

Fully 2.2 million Americans have lost their jobs in the past 12 months, as the unemployment rate has climbed from 4.7%. So far in 2008, firms have laid off 605,000 workers, with job losses averaging 76,000 a month. - USA Today

If the business just isn't coming...what else to do? It's sad, but obviously a reality.

Songs of the Week

00s- No Age- Everybody's Down (2007)

90s- Primus- Here Come the Bastards (1991) 

80s- Husker Du- Books About UFOs (1985)

70s- The Jam- In the City (1977)

60s- Jimi Hendrix- Hey Joe (1967)

50s- Buddy Holly- Peggy Sue (1957)

Sold: The Pleasure Island Sunoco

WAKEFIELD — Rising costs of fuel and increasing use of credit cards, that many drivers now use to purchase their gasoline, are causing independent gas station owners to close up shop. Credit card firms charge a fee to the stations.

Robert and Pam Poirier, North Andover residents, decided to retire when it began to cost them between $3,000 and $6,000 a week at their Pleasure Island Sunoco station because of those credit card fees. - Wakefield Item

I wonder how in the world the new owners will be able to compete with Irving. I can't imagine the new owners will be able to keep the place profitable. I might be wrong though.

Coincidentally, the Wakefield Item changed their site around too. It's all messed up; the links redirect you to random pages and the appearance is less spectacular than before.

More Breast Cancers Detected

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 3 (HealthDay News) -- While tremendous progress in screening and treatment for breast cancer has been made in recent years, some 184,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2008, and about 41,000 women will die of the disease.

Researchers are now focusing their efforts on reducing these numbers even further.

Four studies being presented this week at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's 2008 Breast Cancer Symposium in Washington, D.C., highlight both areas of progress and areas that need extra emphasis. - The Washington Post

The MBI technology detects three times as many breast cancers.

Xbox 360 Lowered To $199

SEATTLE -- Microsoft Corp., in a move to court the mass market with its videogame products, plans to sharply cut the price of its Xbox 360 game consoles--including offering its least expensive model at $199.

The price cuts, effective Sept. 5, signal an increasing aggressiveness by Microsoft of Redmond, Wash., to boost sales of the Xbox 360 before the crucial holiday shopping season. The price cut in its low-end console, which had been priced at $279, marks the first time that one of the latest generations of consoles from game makers has fallen below $200.

Aaron Greenberg, director of product management for Xbox 360 and Xbox Live, said three-quarters of sales for game consoles historically have occurred after hardware makers dropped the prices of their machines below that mark. - Wall Street Journal

This is absolutely nuts in a great sort of way for Microsoft. I remember just a few years ago when the PS2 was over $200.

27,000+ Boeing Workers Hold Strike

More than 27,000 Boeing aircraft assembly workers yesterday held a pivotal strike vote that could paralyze the world's second-largest aircraft manufacturer while its business is booming and further delay delivery of its new fuel-efficient 787 commercial jet.

Electricians, riveters, painters and others covered by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers began casting ballots yesterday morning; the outcome was expected to be announced late last night on the West Coast. The workers are based at plants in the Seattle area, in Gresham, Ore., and in Wichita, Kan. - The Washington Post

A little organization can't hurt...right?

Gay Marriage = Economy Booster? (Pssh)

A report prepared for the Massachusetts economic development office estimated that 32,000 same-sex couples are likely to come to the state to marry over the next three years, pumping about $111 million into the economy. The report said the state stands to gain about $5 million of that from sales taxes and the cost of marriage licenses.

The report also predicted that about 44 percent of New York's estimated 48,761 gay couples will come to Massachusetts to wed and that more than 7,000 will come from other nearby states, including New Jersey, New Hampshire and Vermont -- even though those states have not explicitly said they will recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions.- The Washington Post

Oh right, I forgot. It is somehow okay to dismiss morality if the end result is positive for the economy. Humanity...

N.O Residents Return To Homes

NEW ORLEANS — With thousands of residents stacked up at entrances to this city, impatient to return home after evacuating for Hurricane Gustav, Mayor C. Ray Nagin shifted course on Wednesday and ordered an immediate lifting of barriers blocking their entry here.

People began trickling back to hot, dark homes on the emptied streets by Wednesday afternoon, as the city — and much of the state — is still mostly without electric power. Despite angry blasts from Gov. Bobby Jindal and even a plea from President Bush, utility officials gave no word on when electricity would be restored. But some residents said they had no choice but return, the intense heat and humidity here notwithstanding.

The return had been scheduled for early Thursday, but Mr. Nagin’s unexpected action was forced by a slow-moving humanitarian crisis, as residents, many of modest means in this poor city, reported running out of money to sustain a prolonged evacuation.

The media (and perhaps meteorologists) over-hyped Gustav. Don't get me wrong...living for days without electricity sucks, but I seriously thought the outcome would be much worse.

US Announces Aid To Reconstruct Georgia

The US has announced $1bn (£564m) of aid to Georgia for reconstruction after the conflict with Russia.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the aid would be used to rebuild houses and infrastructure - but not for military purposes.

Georgia has requested $2bn in funding from the international community.
Fighting between Russia and Georgia began on 7 August after the Georgian military tried to retake the breakaway region of South Ossetia by force. - BBC News

And they are right when they say the U.S is the most generous nation in the world.

Rage at the RNC

Once again, I commend Rage for keeping the protests peaceful and still making their voices heard.

Power Cut!

I think Rage handled this situation well. It's really bullshit that they can't play their set.

Band Spotlight: Black Lips

 History: The band formed as teenagers way back in 2000. Just before they began touring in 2002, tragedy struck when guitarist Ben Eberbaugh was "killed by a motorist in a drunken act of rage." The band went on in his honor. Over the years they gained recognition for their eclectic music and notorious live shows, which have included, nudity, vomiting, firework, and even chicken. With profiles in Rolling Stone and SPIN, it's safe to say that we'll see these four young lads from Atlanta, Georgia, in the near future.

Line-Up:
* Cole Alexander - Vocals, guitar
* Jared Swilley - Vocals, bass guitar
* Joe Bradley - Vocals, drums
* Ian Saint Pé - Guitar (from 2004)

Sounds Like: Throw some Cavern Club era Beatles, Soul, Doo Wop, Punk Rock energy, and cough syrup in the mix and you have the Black Lips.

Genre: Self-Described: Flower-Punk; They are extremely eclectic, as I mentioned before; elements of Garage Rock, Noise Rock, and Country.

Top Album: Good Bad Not Evil (2007)

Top Songs:
"Stranger"
"MIA"
"Juvenile"
"Jumpin'Around"
"Boomerang"
"Hippie, Hippie, Hoorah"
"Fairy Stories"
"Dirty Hands"
"Buried Alive"
"O Katrina!"
"Veni Vidi Vici"
"Navajo"
"How Do You Tell a Child That Someone Has Died"
"Bad Kids"
"Cold Hands"
"Slime and Oxygen"

Label(s): Bomp!, In the Red, Rob's House Records, Vice

Yay! Now, I can say I did a Band Spotlight this Summer!

School Tomorrow!

This song always gets me pumped for school haha. I used to listen to it every morning last year before school started; other than that little tidbit about me, then no, this song has absolutely no connection to the beginning of the school year or anything regarding school for that matter. Oh well, enjoy!

What grinds my ears : 9/1

Ignorant Women grind my ears. These women don't know they their boyfriend doesn't love them, but they think he'll change. Women don't know that people don't change unless they have a life changing experience that teaches them a lesson. These women are also the reasons men like my father gets laid. These men take advantage of love, that women have. Men and people in general are way too stupid to realize what is going on around them.

Most women are really unaware of who men are. They are a bunch of horny people. I am not generalizing all men, but most men are like this. Men and people in general never learn new tricks. Women are stupid for not realizing that before they get hurt. I dont feel sorry for any girl in a domestic arguement, or a abusive relationship. These women should of saw that their man was a abusive son of a gun, but they can break it off.

I think women are ridiculously naive and ignorant. I am sorry for repeating it, but its so true. They fall for the stupidest man stuff ever. Falling for stupid men won't get you anywhere. There are thousands of unloved guys in the world, that deserve you and will love you. I want you to debate me on this.

- Cameron