The builders of the world's biggest particle collider are being sued in federal court over fears that the experiment might create globe-gobbling black holes or never-before-seen strains of matter that would destroy the planet.
Representatives at Fermilab in Illinois and at Europe's CERN laboratory, two of the defendants in the case, say there's no chance that the Large Hadron Collider would cause such cosmic catastrophes. Nevertheless, they're bracing to defend themselves in the courtroom as well as the court of public opinion.
The Large Hadron Collider, or LHC, is due for startup later this year at CERN's headquarters on the French-Swiss border. It's expected to tackle some of the deepest questions in science: Is the foundation of modern physics right or wrong? What existed during the very first moment of the universe's existence? Why do some particles have mass while others don't? What is the nature of dark matter? Are there extra dimensions of space out there that we haven't yet detected?
Some folks outside the scientific mainstream have asked darker questions as well: Could the collider create mini-black holes that last long enough and get big enough to turn into a matter-sucking maelstrom? Could exotic particles known as magnetic monopoles throw atomic nuclei out of whack? Could quarks recombine into "strangelets" that would turn the whole Earth into one big lump of exotic matter?
Here’s how it goes. As the temperatures rise, more water evaporates. But as more water evaporates, our atmosphere gets thicker -- causing the temperatures to rise even more. And as the temperatures rise even more, even more water evaporates. And as even more water evaporates... You've got it: there’s a chain reaction going on. The dreaded ‘runaway greenhouse effect’ has just kicked in.
Quote by Raine::party: HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOBBER!!!:birthday::party:
:beer: :heart::hug::wub2::heart:
Quote by BobR:
finally got the blog done. It's an uplifting story on the anniversary of the day my mother pushed me out of her womb.
Quote by TriSec:
Hi Faye. Read your post...I too have recently decided to get behind the good Senator from Illinios. Enough that I'm on the verge of calling in to volunteer on the campaign for something.
The last time I did that was for my own Senator Kerry, and we all know how that turned out. I'm hoping for a better outcome this time.
Quote by BobR:
Julia THEOCRACY?? Sweeny is going to be on the show?
Yeah, maybe Obama should have taken Photo-Op tips from BoyWonder
While the towers fell ---><--- While Katrina ravaged New Orleans
Quote by starling310:
I received this picture in my Inbox this morning from someone who ( I guess ) thought they were being funny.
The caption read: "When you are faking a pose for a camera photo opportunity, at least you can get the phone turned in the right direction!"
My response was:
Quote by velveeta jones:
Bob, you would have had a birthday card in your mail, if someone, (ahem) had alerted me....................
;)
:lol:
Quote by Raine:You know there IS a calendar on the Message board!!!Quote by velveeta jones:
Bob, you would have had a birthday card in your mail, if someone, (ahem) had alerted me....................
;)
:lol:
Just saying!! :hug:
Quote by velveeta jones:
Starling.............I'm confused. What's wrong with the picture. (Please remember, I'm at death's door this morning). The phone is not in the right direction? Wha?
Quote by velveeta jones:
??????
(Really? I blame all the pot I smoked in my, er, youth.......... that's my excuse).
Quote by livingonli:Quote by velveeta jones:
Starling.............I'm confused. What's wrong with the picture. (Please remember, I'm at death's door this morning). The phone is not in the right direction? Wha?
Velveeta, don't die on us. Where's a blog doctor or nurse when we need one?
Quote by starling310:
This is what came in the email.
:doh:
Quote by starling310:
I received this picture in my Inbox this morning from someone who ( I guess ) thought they were being funny.
The caption read: "When you are faking a pose for a camera photo opportunity, at least you can get the phone turned in the right direction!"
Quote by BobR:Quote by starling310:
This is what came in the email.
:doh:
try again. We can't access your "T:" drive... :P
Quote by velveeta jones:
Bobbers drive only goes up to "Va JaJa"
:rofl:
(I crack my sick self up). :)
Quote by velveeta jones:
Bobbers drive only goes up to "Va JaJa"
:rofl:
(I crack my sick self up). :)
Quote by starling310:
I received this picture in my Inbox this morning from someone who ( I guess ) thought they were being funny.
"When you are faking a pose for a camera photo opportunity, at least you can get the phone turned in the right direction!"
My response was:Yeah, maybe Obama should have taken Photo-Op tips from BoyWonder
While the towers fell ---><--- While Katrina ravaged New Orleans
Quote by livingonli:Quote by velveeta jones:
Starling.............I'm confused. What's wrong with the picture. (Please remember, I'm at death's door this morning). The phone is not in the right direction? Wha?
Velveeta, don't die on us. Where's a blog doctor or nurse when we need one?
Quote by BobR:
FWIW - this photo is a fake too
Quote by BobR:
FWIW - this photo is a fake too
Quote by velveeta jones:
Bobbers drive only goes up to "Va JaJa"
:rofl:
(I crack my sick self up). :)
Quote by BobR:
Finally, a little honesty from Karl Rove: "Barbara Bush scares me"
She [Hilary Clinton] also has a sense of entitlement that can annoy people, he said: "You know, the sense of 'This is mine, I deserve it; we're the Clintons, this is ours.' And I think that really caused a lot of people to say, 'You know what? It's not yours.'
Yet another success of lowered expectations, and well-concealed numbers, as Obama announces his fundraising numbers for March.
The campaign says he raised more than $40 million from more than 442,000, more than 218,000 of whom were giving for the first time. It's a well Obama's barely begun to tap.
Quote by TriSec:
Didn't I hear recently that the Clinton campaign finished February in debt?
Seems to me that the old adage "follow the money" still holds true. Obama is running rings around her...
Hillary Rodham Clinton’s cash-strapped presidential campaign has been putting off paying hundreds of bills for months — freeing up cash for critical media buys but also earning the campaign a reputation as something of a deadbeat in some small-business circles.
[..................]
The New York senator’s presidential campaign ended February with $33 million in the bank, according to a report filed last week with the Federal Election Commission, but only $11 million of that can be spent on her battle with Obama.
The rest can be spent only in the general election, if she makes it that far, and must be returned if she doesn’t. If she had paid off the $8.7 million in unpaid bills she reported as debt and had not loaned her campaign $5 million, she would have been nearly $3 million in the red at the end of February.
Quote by m-hadley:Quote by velveeta jones:
Bobbers drive only goes up to "Va JaJa"
:rofl:
(I crack my sick self up). :)
Feel Better Soon Velveeta,
What's wrong? Don't mean to be a snoop, I'm just curious. Anyway, take good care.
Cheers,
mfaye
Quote by velveeta jones:
...and my, er, "friend" came to visit. ;)
:lol:
Quote by BobR:Quote by velveeta jones:
...and my, er, "friend" came to visit. ;)
:lol:
TMI!!! TMI!!! :thud:
Quote by BobR:Quote by velveeta jones:
...and my, er, "friend" came to visit. ;)
:lol:
TMI!!! TMI!!! :thud:
Quote by Raine:
I am liking your lady friend more adn more :star:ling.
What a wonderful story!
Quote by livingonli:
:star:, it looks like your ex is on the losing end of the deal. This new relationship sounds like it has much more potential.
Quote by starling310:
We seem like a better match, at this point. But, it's still very early.
I hope my ex is happy and that we can maintain a friendship some day. She's a good person. We just weren't compatible.
Quote by livingonli:
Since the baseball games start early and so you can savor the free preview here is the digital cable schedule for MLB Extra Innings.
Game10 12:00PM Chicago White Sox at Cleveland SportsTime Ohio
Game14 12:30PM Arizona at Cincinnati FSN Arizona
Game09 1:00PM Washington at Philadelphia CSN Philadelphia
Game11 1:00PM Colorado at St. Louis FSN Midwest
Game12 1:00PM LA Angels at Minnesota FSN West
Game13 1:00PM Kansas City at Detroit FSN Detroit
Game08 2:00PM Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs FSN North Wisconsin (also on WGN)
Game10 3:30PM Houston at San Diego FSN Southwest Houston
Game08 7:00PM Pittsburgh at Atlanta SportSouth
Game09 7:00PM Toronto at NY Yankees YES
Game11 7:00PM Tampa Bay at Baltimore MASN
Quote by wickedpam:
Randi got suspended?
Quote by IzzyBitz:Quote by wickedpam:
Randi got suspended?
Is this code for rehab? Or did she say something untoward? AAR is going down the tubes.
By the by, who is syndicating Thom now?
Quote by wickedpam:
Randi got suspended?
Quote by wickedpam:
From AAR
STATEMENT OF AIR AMERICA RADIO, FROM CHAIR CHARLIE KIREKER
By air america
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2008
New York - Air America has suspended on-air host Randi Rhodes for making inappropriate statements about prominent figures, including Senator Hillary Clinton, at a recent public appearance on behalf of Air America in San Francisco which was sponsored by an Air America affiliate station.
"Air America encourages strong opinions about public affairs but does not condone such abusive, ad hominem language by our Hosts," said chair Charlie Kireker.
Quote by wickedpam:
Unless I missed soemthing that is.
Quote by livingonli:
A number of the higher-ups at Air America are Hillary supporters including Mark Green. Robert Kennedy Jr. and David Bender are also Hillary supporters. Randi has been the most critical of Hillary on the air and I wonder if they were partially looking for an excuse to smack her in line.
BTW, Air America still distributes Thom's show but he has his own distribution arm as back-up from his pre-AAR days which I believe he can fall back on if Air America goes under.
Quote by IzzyBitz:
Since no one at the executive level tells the truth and only makes polite excuses, we will not know the raw deal until Randi talks about it.
Quote by IzzyBitz:
Since no one at the executive level tells the truth and only makes polite excuses, we will not know the raw deal until Randi talks about it.
Quote by livingonli:
Rachel is going to do Countdown tomorrow filling in for Keith.
I really have to get to ShelaghC to send us that fanfare.
Quote by livingonli:
Geraldine Ferraro is on Fox saying that Randi should be fired.
BTW, is your husband out of prison yet? :rofl:
That's why I love Mike.
Quote by Raine:
Was ANY of this mentioned on KO this evening?
Quote by IzzyBitz:
I agree with you Raine and I don't think you're being foily. I think it has to do with who Randi talked about and I think AAR wanted to suspend and/or get rid of her and I think there was some pressure from the Hillary camp to do so. This made it easier for AAR to suspend her because they knew they would get back up from Hillary's people in the media.
Hillary is on The Tonight Show tonight. We'll see if she stirs this big pot of steaming poo.
Geraldine Ferraro can kiss my big black ass. :Cartman:
Quote by Raine:
A guy from the Washington Times just said on FAUX news that the suspension was not warrented.
HE himself said this was a STAND UP ROUTINE.
So, am I hearing this correctly? A dude on Faux is defending Randi?!@?@?@?@
Quote by IzzyBitz:
If they fire Randi, I'm sure Springer is still available. Jeebus. It's time to play the bagpipes for AAR.
I'm gonna keep listening to Malloy, but I'm signing off the internets. Hope Randi calls in.
Maybe all this anger will fuel the wedding chamber bed, Raine! Have a good one.
Quote by IzzyBitz:
If they fire Randi, I'm sure Springer is still available. Jeebus. It's time to play the bagpipes for AAR.
I'm gonna keep listening to Malloy, but I'm signing off the internets. Hope Randi calls in.
Maybe all this anger will fuel the wedding chamber bed, Raine! Have a good one.