h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Oh, so fond of Morph. Thank you.

US 'cell assault' video released

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7917295.stm

"Mr Schene's lawyers had asked the judge not to release the video, arguing that it would inflame public opinion and prejudice the deputy's right to a fair trial."


No shit Sherlock

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7917824.stm

"Measures to tackle alcohol abuse by stopping cut-price offers have been outlined by the Scottish Government."

Anyone know of an off-licence for sale in Berwick or Carlisle?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,503164,00.html





Thank you God for saving us from the rock you threw at us!

Ooh! My favorite prayer!

Thank you, Oh Lord, for saving us from that rock you sent

(That's the New Subgenius Standard version)

I did a double take when I saw 'More News on Crikey' I thought at first that it was the name of the asteroid. I imagined an astronomer in Oz looking through his telescope going "Oh Crikey" as it loomed into view.

this might put the cat among the pigeons and close a certain museum in the US

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7920205.stm

'When the mapping of the human genome was completed in 2003, researchers discovered a shocking fact: our bodies are littered with the shards of retroviruses, fragments of the chemical code from which all genetic material is made. This discovery has created a new discipline, paleovirology, which seeks to better understand the impact of modern diseases by studying the genetic history of ancient viruses. . .

Heidmann believes that without endogenous retroviruses mammals might never have developed a placenta, which protects the fetus and gives it time to mature, which eventually led to live birth, one of the hallmarks of human evolutionary success over birds, reptiles, and fish. Eggs cannot eliminate waste or draw the maternal nutrients required to develop the large brains that have made mammals so versatile.
"These viruses made those changes possible. It is quite possible that, without them, human beings would still be laying eggs."'

http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2009/03/did-ancient-vir.html

Well. Isn't that interesting?

Pink dolphin appears in US lake
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4927224/Pink-dolphin-appears-in-US-lake.html

awww...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/4861505/Ryanair-may-charge-1-for-toilet-use.html

Ryanair "to charge £1" to use toilets on planes.

OK, so they're not actually doing this *yet*. But they're thinking about it.

RF

How would they go about that, considering Ryanair flies on several different countries - surely they don't expect everybody to carry British coins? And, at least here in Sweden, exchange bureaus only give out bills, no coins. Besides, if I were to fly from - say - Sweden to Spain I wouldn't even be carrying British bills...

I like the comment from Rochelle Turner, head of research at Which? Holiday

“Charging people to go to the toilet might result in fewer people buying overpriced drinks on board, though - that would serve Ryanair right.”

Well, you could always swipe your credit card at the toilet door.

They'll then impose a £10 charge for using your credit card as well!

RF

take clean knickers in the hand bag and just "splash down" in the seat, lets see how ryan air get around a plane full of wet seats......?

Endogenous retroviruses. That explains the chicken lady on Kids in the Hall.

Would I pay to use the toilet on a plane? That Depends.

I heard a spokesman from Ryan Air say on radio that in making the announcement of charges for loos

'his boss was taking the ......



long silence.....




Mickey'

A face only a mother could love...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7919495.stm

House prices in Detroit.

http://www.anorak.co.uk/money/203127.html

Any Detroit researchers out there?

I can see the Detroit Skyline from my window.

It's one of the saddest stories I know. Detroit has been in bad shape for the last forty years and the current collapse of the car business has about put the last nail in the coffin.

I lived across the river from Detroit back in the 70s. At that point Detroit had its depressing neighborhoods, but things were still generally going well for the city as a whole. I'm shocked looking at Detroit now on Google Earth and Streetview. There are high-rise buildings standing abandoned, whole neighborhoods empty. Detroit is like the cities of Europe during WW2, but without the war.