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POPSOne hundred and fifty years ago on Aug. 27 “When the discovery happened, the few people who were there and not involved in the war, went around and bought all the property they could and had outside investors come in,” Black said. “But the real heyday of the development happened from 1864-1870. It’s that 11-year period when the little river valley was the world’s leading supplier of oil. ”The “little river valley” in western Pennsylvania earned the nickname Petrolia. “I would see this as less of an anniversary to note for celebration and more of an anniversary to note how far we’ve come and the serious moment that we’re at right now,” said Brian Black, an energy historian at Pennsylvania State University and author of the book Petrolia. “Energy transitions happen and I argue that we’re in one right now and that we need to aggressively look to the future to what’s going to happen after petroleum.”
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POPSNew Exoplanet Shouldn't Exist The discovery of a new planet, WASP-18b, wh challenges assumptions about tidal interactions--it's too close and orbiting too fast not to have collided with its star.
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POPSPolls show atheists on the rise in America The American Religious Identification Survey recently found the number of people who claimed “no religion” had nearly doubled nationally over the last 18 years, to 15 percent. They were the only demographic that increased in all 50 states. Some attribute the surge to outrage over former president George W. Bush and his courting of the religious right. Others mention a slew of best-selling books about atheism that have recently fueled debate. But there’s no doubt the Internet is playing a role too. It offers atheist dating services, and helps nonbelievers meet up — people who might otherwise remain “loners.” “I’m happy to attend any religious observances where the food is good,” said one non-believer. For others, atheism is a cause. Along with freethinking and agnostic groups, they are beginning to lobby Congress on everything from stem cell research to civil rights.
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POPSWe've Gotten Away With It For Years So It's OK I wonder how the superintendent would respond to a government organization that included on their letterhead the phrase "Uniontown - Only Christians Allowed", or "Uniontown - Jew Free"! It's mighty difficult for the privileged to see their own bigotry. Their defense? We've gotten away with it for years so it must be ok. What a bunch of wankers.
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POPS'Suicidal' cows throw themselves off cliff cont: There has been speculation in the past that when this does happen it is because a tightly-grouped number of cows have followed each other as they search for more grass. Most scientists generally believe that animals are incapable of committing suicide. Even lemmings, which by popular myth throw themselves off cliffs during mating season, do not take their own lives intentionally. Instead, evolutionary pressures cause them to feel the urge to change habitat at which point they migrate in huge droves.
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