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POPSEastern Europe gets jittery over Russia "Slowly, the Iron Curtain is being rebuilt," said Jacek Palasinski, veteran foreign affairs commentator for the Polish television network TVN24. "Europe will be divided again -- the lines are different, pushed farther east, but the division is the same. And dangerous." Ukraine and Moldova are worried that they could be Russia's next targets. The Czech Republic, on the eve of the 40th anniversary of a Soviet invasion that crushed the Prague Spring reform movement, is fretting about history repeating itself. Many Eastern European nations, Poland chief among them, are eager to find safe haven, and have turned to Washington for guidance and reassurance and partnerships.
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POPS Obama Takes Experience Lead Over McCain -- Again - there’s only one serious candidate in the race. Sister Toldjah McCain is demonstrating that when it comes to criticial foreign policy issues, his near 30 years in the Senate dealing with foreign issues as well as domestic, along with his long career in the Navy...... Hot Air Now, the media has awakened to truly historical events in the Caucasus, and McCain has commanded their attention with his leadership — while Obama hides in Hawaii. Macsmind You would think with 300 advisers THE ONE would have some words of wisdom from his Mount Olympus. The silence is more than telling and quite possibly a view into how Obama would actually handle such events as President. Surfs Up Dude! The New Republic McCain has had a prominent and strong presence in the news while Obama has been fairly invisible. Obama deserved a vacation but the timing–I assume his team figured the Olympics would drown out any other story.
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POPS A Phelps Phenomenon "It's been a long time since a swimmer has been a poster child of the Olympics like this," said John Cadigan, general manager of Meadowbrook Aquatic and Fitness Center, the Mount Washington pool where Phelps and fellow Olympian Katie Hoff have trained. "It really raises the level of awareness about swimming, both for the casual lap swimmer and for kids interested in learning to swim, but it also increases interest in competitive swimming," he said. "It's something that Michael said he wanted to do four years ago, and he's certainly managed to do that." Photo gallery: Images of Michael Phelps from throughout his career. http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/olympics/bal-phelps-photogallery,0,4605337.photogallery
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POPSScientists to study synthetic telepathy “Such a system would require extensive training for anyone using it to send and receive messages,” D’Zmura says. “Initially, communication would be based on a limited set of words or phrases that are recognized by the system; it would involve more complex language and speech as the technology is developed further.”
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POPSScientists to study synthetic telepathy The brain-computer interface would use a noninvasive brain imaging technology like electroencephalography to let people communicate thoughts to each other. For example, a soldier would “think” a message to be transmitted and a computer-based speech recognition system would decode the EEG signals. The decoded thoughts, in essence translated brain waves, are transmitted using a system that points in the direction of the intended target. “Such a system would require extensive training for anyone using it to send and receive messages,” D’Zmura says. “Initially, communication would be based on a limited set of words or phrases that are recognized by the system; it would involve more complex language and speech as the technology is developed further.”
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POPSWill NASA Test a Plasma Drive on the ISS? A plasma engine such as the VASIMR uses radio waves to ionize a propellant, and magnetic fields to accelerate or decelerate the resulting plasma to generate thrust. The VASIMR injects a gas such as hydrogen in to an engine that turns it in to plasma. The radio waves are now used to energize the plasma further as it moves through the engine. The plasma, now accelerated and heated, is focused and directed as exhaust using a magnetic nozzle.
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POPSEnglish Bulldog Is A Hero: Saves Kittens From Lake Napoleon got a much deserved hero’s welcome at the adoption center as crowds gathered to praise the brave bulldog and cuddle the rescued kittens. English Bulldogs are notoriously bad swimmers. With a giant head and chest compared to a lighter tail end, they have a tendency to go bottoms up in the water. It’s hard to keep that head up above the waves when it’s the largest part of your body! Most owners are very aware of this problem, and will take care to see that their dogs have a good life vest on if they’re going to be boating or there’s a chance the bulldog could end up in some deep water without someone right at hand to save them if they look like they’re starting to struggle. Don't call me Napoleon, call me Churchill
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POPSRip Currents: Ocean's Deadliest Trick (and how to survive them) More from the article: Those who understand the dynamics of rip currents advise remaining calm. Conserve energy. A rip current is like a giant water treadmill that you can't turn off, so it does no good to try and swim against it. The United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) suggests trying to swim parallel to the shore and out of the current. Once you've gotten out of the current, you can begin swimming back to shore. However, if it is too difficult to swim sideways out of the current, try floating or treading water and let nature do its thing. You'll wash out of the current at some point and can then make your way back to shore. If neither of these options seems to be working for you, continue treading water and try to get the attention of someone on shore, hopefully a lifeguard.
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POPSPaulson Was Against Cumbersome Regulations
Now he's trying to defuse the crisis deregulation has caused... (excerpt) Today, (Paulson's) Goldman stands alone as the only bank that has yet to take huge write-downs in the credit crisis. However, IT was an INTEGRAL PART OF A MONEY-HUNGRY WALL ST. CULTURE that helped build, oil and maintain the securitization and SPIN-OFFS, underlying the current mortgage-fueled problems. The financial crisis has swirled around the White House in more violent waves. But each sign of economic trouble brought assurances from regulators, Mr. Paulson and others in the Bush adm. that the housing sector was experiencing a “CORRECTION” or a “REPRICING OF RISK” (ROVE-NEWSPEAK) that would work its way through the system without throwing the economy into a steep downturn. Each assurance soon ran aground as more bad economic news poured in. (MOTHER OF ALL SELF-RIGHTEOUS QUOTES) "the real problem facing Wall Street was a welter of cumbersome regulations" - Henry Paulson (Yew recon HE LEARNED SOMEthang)