Our Top Stories

Mission To Europa

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:27:37 -0500

By Viviana Romero

With complex chemistry, methane rain, and lakes of hydrocarbons, Europa, one of Jupiter's 25 moons, has won the “flagship mission” status at NASA.
Planetary scientists also suspect a high probability of liquid water under Europa’s icy surface making it a focus in the search for extraterrestrial life.

Hitching along for the ride will be a European Space Agency probe that will be focusing on Ganymede which might also harbor liquid water. Ganymede is Jupiter's largest moon and is larger than Mercury,

However exciting the future missions are, they are not yet funded. In a press release today, NASA officials stated. "Both agencies will need to undertake several more steps and detailed studies before officially moving forward."

If funding is achieved, the two probes will be launched in 2020. After six years of space travel, they will arrive at the Jupiter system and begin to gather data from the moons for two and a half years. ESA and NASA will be sharing data throughout the mission.

It is widely believed that the habitable zone for microbial and advanced life resides between Venus and Mars, but scientists are now considering other environments that could harbor life.

Universal Mobile Phone Chargers

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:33:50 -0500

By Angelica Guevara

The biggest names in mobile phones are coming together to create a universal phone charger based on a micro-USB connector for all Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, LG, T-Mobile, Orange, 3, AT&T and Vodafone cellphones.

A universal cellphone charger will be more energy efficient and consume less than 50% of energy in stand-by. Mitti Storckovius, director of environment, devices at Nokia stated "By supporting this industry initiative on common charging solutions, and enabling consumers to choose if they need a charger with every new device or can re-use existing ones, we can contribute further in improving the industry's environmental footprint."

he majority of new handsets will support the re-charger by 2012 giving an estimated potential elimination of up to 51,000 different recharging units.

Dating Advice From A Nine-Year Old

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 13:36:55 -0500

By Angelica Guevara

Are you down on your luck with the ladies? Are pick-up lines not doing what the internet said they would? Are you tired of mimicking Steve and Doug Boutabi? Well, you’re in luck! The most sound and simple dating advice has been conjured in the brain of nine year-old Alec Greven and written in his first book “How to Talk to Girls”.

It would seem ridiculous, would it not, that a pre-pubescent boy has more “game” than you, an experienced “ladies'-man”? Well, perhaps it is not all too ridiculous! "I just observed around the playground how boys mess up and what mistakes they make," said Alec. “A lot of boys made the wrong conversations or they couldn't get over it when a girl dumped them."

So, what are the right conversations oh Wise One? "Your goal is to make sure she does most of the talking so then you can't mess up,” stated Alec. Sounds simple enough, right? Alec also warns not to peruse girls that are “out of your league”. "The best choice for most boys is a regular girl. Remember, some pretty girls are cold-hearted when it comes to boys," he said.

It would seem that our young phenom of the dating world has yet to be blinded and discouraged by the pain of love like most men. He sees the opposite sex as a simple being revolved around good conversation about movies. To put his “skillz” to the test, Radio 1 Newsbeat invited Alec to demonstrate his technique on 22-year-old Kristina Sorge from California:

Alec: "Have you seen the Indiana Jones movie?"

Kristina: "I've seen the old one."

Alec: "It's really good."

After a strong, movie-based start, Alec scaled back his forces just a little. He said: "If I was older, maybe I would ask her, do you want to go out somewhere?" Kristina's verdict? "I think that he's on his game. His advice is great. He'd need to add about 10 years though," she stated.

Alec also offers advice on relationships that are not working out and on breaking up. "I say, life is hard, move on. If you can't get over it, it's ruined,” he says. Despite his vast knowledge on dating and relationshp, Alec admits he is too young for the dating scene adding that there are no ladies in his life aside from his mother.

House Divided

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:22:27 -0500

By Viviana Romero

The House of Representatives was divided when Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced with obvious glee that the $819 billion economic stimulus package had been approved. There were smiles and cheers from the Democrats but only frowns and silence from the Republicans.
With hopes and dreams of ending partisanship in the House, President Obama was met with more division than trying to mix oil and water. Not a single Republican voted in favor. After all, asking the House to churn out another $800 billion on top of the first $700 billion under the Bush administration was going to be a hard pitch to sell to the Republican minority. However, it passed. The package is now on its course to be reviewed and voted on by the Senate in which a slight majority is held by the Democrats.
If the Senate is as divided as is the House of Representatives, Republicans will be making a bold statement to the American people saying that the economic stimulus package is not their idea and belongs completely to the Democrats and the President.
Despite hopes and dreams of ending partisanship and division in Washington, President Obama is following his political mantra of "yes we can" and continues to press on stating "we're all in this together". "What we can't do" he said "is to drag our feet or allow the same partisan differences to get in our way."
However optimistic America's President is, one can predict that the Senate will mimic results from the House and once the bill is approved the question still looms over the heads of Republicans and Democrats alike : Will it work?

Show Me The Money

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 19:21:37 -0500

By Angelica Guevara

It's day five of the Presidency and President Obama is already pushing legislation on his $825 billion economic recovery plan. As one would expect, the Republican Party is expressing vehement opposition to the plan stating it is far too expensive and unworkable. With the national debt at $10.6 trillion, it would not be unreasonable to say that the United States wants Dom Perignon champagne on a Bud Light budget.
Despite such trivialities like debt and recession, President Obama has urged Republicans to "put politics aside" and "do the American people's business".

President Obama has described the US as being "in the midst of an unprecedented crisis" and has expressed that his administration will be held accountable for the success or failure of his stimulus plan. A more true statement could not have been made. With the Hopes and Dreams of Americans hanging on the rhetorical "Yes We Can" resting on the sharp and square shoulders of the President of the United States, can Obama truly deliver that which he has promised? Or worse, will it fail catastrophically flushing the United States down the economic toilet branding Obama, the bringer of Change, a miserable failure?

Whatever the outcome, the economic stimulus plan as proposed by President Obama is planned to place more than 3,000 miles of new electricity transmission lines to improve the US power network, making 75% of public sector buildings and 2.5 million homes more energy efficient, and funds would be made available to improve or renovate 10,000 schools. Other proposals include tax credits for firms that create jobs, tax cuts for 95% of American workers and extended unemployment benefits. The president has pledged the plan "will save or create three to four million jobs over the next few years".

Well, that's all fine and dandy, Mr. President but to quote the character Rod Tidwell of Jerry Mcguire, "show me the money".