News for March 7, 2005

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Brightest Galactic Flash Ever Detected Hits Earth - by Robert Roy Britt (February 18, 2005) “A huge explosion halfway across the galaxy packed so much power it briefly altered Earth's upper atmosphere in December, astronomers said . . .

“The commotion was caused by a special variety of neutron star known as a magnetar. These fast-spinning, compact stellar corpses -- no larger than a big city -- create intense magnetic fields that trigger explosions . . .The blast was 100 times more powerful than any other similar eruption witnessed . . . No known eruption beyond our solar system has ever appeared as bright upon arrival. The blast originated about 50,000 light-years away and was detected Dec. 27 . . .

“Gamma rays are the highest form of radiation on the electromagnetic spectrum, which includes X-rays, visible light and radio waves too . . . The Sun is a middle-aged star about 8 light-minutes from us. It's tantrums, though cosmically pitiful compared to the magnetar explosion, routinely squish Earth's protective magnetic field and alter our atmosphere, lighting up the night sky with colorful lights called aurora . . .

“A similar [magnetar] blast within 10 light-years of Earth 'would destroy the ozone layer,' according to a CFA statement, 'causing abrupt climate change and mass extinctions due to increased radiation.'”

Jordan Baptism For Ex-Korn Rocker - I just think this whole story is so cool. I can't wait to hear the new music he comes out with! I'm sure it will make a lot of his old fans mad, but I hope it draws them to it more. Pastor Ron Vietti, right, accompanied by other pilgrims, baptizes ex-metal guitarist Brian "Head" Welch, 34, center. "You know when you get angry and it builds up? I felt like hurting someone before, now I feel like hugging people" — Brian "Head" Welch. Welch, a founding member of the multi-platinum band, and about 20 other white-robed Christian pilgrims from a Bakersfield, Calif., church were immersed by their pastor, Ron Vietti.

Strange Space Burst Could Be New Object -Report - A strange and powerful burst of radio waves from near the center of our galaxy may have come from a previously unknown type of space object, U.S. astronomers reported on Wednesday. Other experts nicknamed the mysterious source a "burper" and said there would be a race to scan for similar radio bursts. "We hit the jackpot," said Scott Hyman, a professor of physics at Sweet Briar College in Virginia, who led the study. more...

Quake Swarm Off Oregon Coast Prompts Research - An earthquake "swarm" that began last weekend has resulted in thousands of small earthquakes off the Oregon coast in recent days but the size of the quakes did not pose any tsunami threat, officials said. Scientists from Oregon State University said they are joining National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration researchers on Saturday for a cruise to investigate a site on the undersea Juan de Fuca Ridge northwest of Astoria called the Endeavor segment. "These earthquake swarms are associated with seafloor spreading," said Robert P. Dziak, an Oregon State oceanographer who works with NOAA at the university's Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport.

Palestinians Say Israel to Hand Over West Bank City - Palestinians said on Sunday Israel had agreed to hand over the first of five occupied West Bank cities this week after the resumption of stalled security talks.

(It still strikes me the insanity of the whole Israeli situation and how the world just expects them to give up their land so insane killers can inhabit it! The Israelites won 2 wars to get that land after it was given to them by the same people who are now scheming to take it away to appease the terrorists!!!!! Hello??? What other nation has ever had to give back land it won in a war? What other nation in history has had the kind of hatred spewed at it as Israel, the oldest nation of them all? What kind of insanity actually controls the "leaders" of the world? I wish I could trust that my e-mails were actually read, but I know how auto-response letters are generated.)

Syrian, Lebanese Leaders Meet; Syrian Troops Pack Up - The Syrian and Lebanese presidents met Monday to work out a Syrian troop withdrawal from Lebanon demanded by the United Nations, and Syrian soldiers in the mountains east of Beirut began packing their gear.

Anti-Semitism Raises its Head in Serbia - Serbia’s Jewish community is being increasingly targeted by an array of ultra-nationalist groups.

Newport, OR: March 4, 2005: Magma, Lava, Undersea "Spreading" on Oregon's Ocean Floor Creates Swarm of 1500 Earthquakes in 36 Hours - Steve Shultz, Aimee Herd reporting  (March 6, 2005) The Associated Press is reporting that thousands of small earthquakes occurring off the Oregon Coast are the result of an "earthquake swarm" that happened last weekend. The earthquake swarms are reportedly associated with the seafloor "spreading," according to Robert P. Dziak, an Oregon State oceanographer. The small quakes don't impose a threat of tsunami at this time, however a section of the Northwest sea floor known as the Cascadia subduction zone is similar to the Indian Ocean area that produced the magnitude 9 quake and the subsequent tsunami that wreaked havoc in Southeast Asia in December.

BC not P.C. for students - WorldNetDaily.com (March 3, 2005) Educators' move to change 'Before Christ' to 'Before Common Era' sparking outrage.

Studies Show Vitamin that Comes from Sunshine Helps You Stay Healthy - Gailon Totheroh / Aimee Herd reporting  (March 4, 2005) With all the health stores pushing the sales of expensive vitamins, it turns out one of the most important supplements for your body is free, provided you can get outside and the sun is shining. Vitamin D, though sold in tablet form and found in many foods, is also available from the UV rays of the sun. At least 15 minutes in the sun for a fair-skinned person is all it may take for the body to produce vitamin D; in fact, it may be integral in preventing such diseases as osteoporosis, diabetes, muscle and bone pain, heart attacks, rheumatoid arthritis, and MS. And now studies have found that a sufficient supply of vitamin D can help prevent certain cancers.