NEWZ & MORE
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Apr. 23, 2009
Patrick Schuster, a senior at Mitchell High in New Port Richey, Fla., threw his fourth consecutive no-hitter this week. Schuster is still two no-hitters away from tying the national record of six.
Mitchell High defeated Pasco High 5-0 in Schuster’s latest performance. He struck out 17 batters, and the left-hander has struck out 60 during the four-game stretch. Schuster has committed to play next season at the University of Florida, but he could be taken as early as the second round in this summer’s Major League Baseball amateur draft.
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Apr. 22, 2009
Today marks Earth Day 2009. Since 1970, Earth Day has been a time to celebrate our world’s environment. Since its beginning, Earth Day has inspired millions to be more aware and more appreciative of the planet we inhabit.
This year, DisneyNature presents the film “Earth,” opening in theaters today. “Earth” follows polar bears, elephants and humpback whales on a one-year journey through the wild. Find a showing near you and get into the Earth Day spirit.
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Apr. 21, 2009
Get set for a fantastic outer space display early on the morning of Wednesday, April 22. First, Earth will pass through a stream of comet dust, which causes the annual Lyrid meteor shower. At the same time, Venus and our Moon will converge. During the course of the shower, Venus will blink for a moment before disappearing behind the Moon.
Look to the sky during the dark hours just before daylight. Viewing conditions will be best in the western parts of North America. Around 5 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Venus will disappear behind the Moon. It should reappear 60 to 90 minutes later.
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Apr. 20, 2009
A 28-year-old Russian man had surgery to remove a tiny tree growing in one of his lungs. Artyom Sidorkin first went to the doctor after coughing up blood and suffering severe chest pains. An X-ray showed what looked like a cancerous tumor, and the doctors began operating. During the operation, the surgeon found a 5-centimeter fir tree growing inside of Sidorkin’s lung.
It’s believed Sidorkin inhaled a small seed, which then grew into the fir tree.
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Apr. 15, 2009
Fresh Films is a filmmaking program that lets teens replace the pros. Through May 18, apply online to join one of nine film crews. Those chosen will make a festival-quality film in just seven days. Then the movies will debut, and millions across America will view and vote to determine the winner, whose film premieres at the American Film Institute’s AFI Fest Hollywood.
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Apr. 14, 2009
NASA has snapped a photo of a stellar formation that looks like an outstretched hand. NASA’s Chandra Observatory telescope, which is located in space, took the image.
Experts say the formation is caused by a young pulsar known by the name PSR B1509-58. “The pulsar is a rapidly spinning neutron star which is spewing energy out into the space around it to create complex and intriguing structures, including one that resembles a large cosmic hand,” NASA says.
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Apr. 13, 2009
A Georgia man stepped outside when a brief windstorm felled a tree in his backyard. John Kiefer, of Decatur, Ga., went into his backyard to look around, concerned that the wind could knock down larger trees. It was the smart move to make.
As soon as Kiefer walked outside, the storm sent a 50-foot red oak crashing into his house, straight into the living room and onto the couch where he had been sitting only seconds earlier.
Kiefer said God was looking out for him. “There are no coincidences,” he said.
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Apr. 9, 2009
Be extra nice to your brother or sister this Friday. April 10 marks National Sibling Day. Stop by HolidayInsights.com for some background information. You can even send an e-card!
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Apr. 8, 2009
The Sierra Club Green Home is a new Web site that shares ways to go green at home in big and small ways. Learn about CO2, solar power, home health and more.
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Apr. 7, 2009
The Humane Fund is seeking entries from across the country for the 10th Annual Awards for Canine Excellence. Whether you know a dog who is a champion leg warmer at the foot of his owner’s bed at night or a hero who comforts others or one who saves lives, an ACE nomination is a perfect way to pay tribute to the canines who devote their lives to making ours better.
One award is given in the following five categories: law enforcement, search and rescue, therapy, service, and exemplary companion dog. Honorable Mentions are awarded to outstanding entries in each category.
Each of the five honorees receives a cash award of $1,000, an engraved sterling silver collar medallion and an all-expenses-paid trip for dog and owner to Long Beach, Calif., to be honored at the ninth annual AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in December 2009. The engraved names of the five recipients will also be added to the ACE plaque that is on permanent display in the AKC’s Library in New York City.
Anyone, including the dog’s owner or handler, may submit a nomination. Submissions for the AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence for 2009 must include:
• A non-returnable, original photograph of the dog. Hi-resolution electronic photos provided on a disc are permissible but not scans. (electronic requirements: 300dpi and at least 5x7 inches or, 72dpi at least 20x30 inches)
• A 500-word-or-less description of how the dog has demonstrated excellence.
• Dog’s call name, registered name if applicable, breed, age and sex.
• Owner/Nominator name(s), address, phone number. E-mail address if available.
Nominations will be accepted until June 30, 2009 and should be sent to:
Ronald N. Rella: ACE Awards 2009
c/o The American Kennel Club Humane Fund
260 Madison Avenue, 4th Floor
New York, New York 10016
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Apr. 3, 2009
Danny Johnson has been declared the Guitar Hero Guinness World Records holder for “Highest Score for a Single Song” after he hit 99 percent of the notes on the DragonForce song “Through the Fire and Flames.” Playing at the expert level, he scored 973,954 points.
The 14-year-old from Grapevine, Tex., is a skilled pianist, drummer, guitarist, saxophone and oboe player. He also writes his own music.
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Apr. 2, 2009
During these times of economic uncertainty, Biz Kid$ aims to get you educated on financial responsibility. This public television series teaches you about money, business and entrepreneurship. Each episode highlights a young entrepreneur and focuses on a different aspect of money: how to manage credit, how the stock market works, how non-profits fit in, and how economic cycles move.
April is Financial Literacy Month, and there’s no better time to learn more.
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Apr. 1, 2009
A sandhill crane found in Wisconsin with an arrow through her body is set to make a full and miraculous recovery.
Don Darnell spotted the injured bird as he was driving near Wisconsin Rapids last Labor Day weekend. The bird escaped Darnell, but she made another appearance a week later, the arrow still firmly through her body. Eleven-year-old Monica Schaetz saw the bird near a creek behind her home. Experts were notified, and the crane was captured on Sept. 29 with the help of more than 20 volunteers.
The arrow was removed, but the crane developed an infection. The bird spent the winter in rehabilitation, and those closest to the situation didn’t think she would ever fly again. Now, not only is the bird flying again, she’s set to be rereleased into the wild this week. The bird rehabilitator who worked with this sandhill crane said she’d “never seen anything like this before.”
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Mar. 31, 2009
A JetBlue baggage employee working at New York’s JFK International Airport accidentally fell asleep in an airliner’s baggage compartment. He woke up a few minutes later to find that the plane had taken off. The baggage worker was discovered once the plane landed 37 minutes later at Boston’s Logan International Airport.
Thankfully the cargo compartment was pressurized, allowing the 21-year-old employee to survive the journey. He was questioned by authorities and returned to New York.
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Mar. 30, 2009
Archaeologists recently recovered artifacts from a shipwreck thought to be the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of famous 18th-century pirate Blackbeard. The wreck rests in 22 feet of water a few miles off the coast of North Carolina.
A chart divider, an apothecary weight, a mortar and pestle, silver coins, a sword guard and bits of gold were among the artifacts taken from the submerged ship. Pirates often looted navigational instruments, because they could easily be sold or traded.
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Mar. 27, 2009
“Gordo” the skateboarding parrot was birdnapped from his owner’s home in Baldwin Park, Calif., this week. Gordo, who is owned by Frank Mirales, has been a popular attraction in the neighborhood for years. The Guatemalan parrot likes to ride through town on a special mini-skateboard that Mirales built.
The crime took place around 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Luckily, a neighbor’s security camera took film of the thief in action. Now, the search is on to find Gordo.
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Mar. 25, 2009
A terrified 11-year-old climbed out on a ledge on his first day at a special new school. The young man, who lives in Thailand, is autistic. After climbing onto the ledge, neither his mother nor teacher could coax him back inside.
The fire department was called, and firefighter Somchai Yoosabai was one who responded. After overhearing a conversation about how much the boy liked comics, he returned to the Bangkok fire station and put on a Spider-Man costume. When the crying boy saw Yoosabai in his costume, he smiled and walked into the costumed firefighter’s arms.
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Mar. 24, 2009
More than 150 volunteers participated in rescuing beached whales and dolphins this weekend in Australia. Strandings occur periodically when migrating whales pass by the Tasmanian coast of Australia on their way to and from Antarctica.
Not all the whales and dolphins survived this time, though. Despite rough seas and high waves, the volunteers were able to help a number of them back to sea.
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Mar. 23, 2009
Alaska’s Mount Redoubt has erupted five times since Sunday, the first activity for the peak in 20 years. Redoubt last erupted in 1989. It erupted multiple times over five months then, so experts think the current activity could carry on for an extended time. The eruption cloud is estimated to be 50,000 feet in height, and windblown ash has affected flights coming in and out of Anchorage International Airport.
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Mar. 20, 2009
In honor of the Curél brand’s third year of partnership with the American Red Cross, they have created a limited-edition bottle for its classic Continuous Comfort Original Formula Lotion, representing Curél’s partnership with the charity.
The American Red Cross is the nation’s premier emergency response organization, aiding victims of natural disasters. The American Red Cross is where people mobilize to help their neighbors—across the street, across the country, and across the world—in emergencies.
In order to help mobilize and share the gift of caring, the Curél brand will make a contribution of $250,000 to the Red Cross on behalf of the people you care about. When you visit www.curel.com/arc and dedicate $1 of the Curel donation to a friend, they will receive a message letting them know that you care. Your friend will then be invited to share the gift of caring with someone else, creating a chain of donations from the Curél brand on behalf of real people across the country.
Every time Curél customers share the gift of caring, they empower a friend to be a part of the movement by joining Curél in supporting the American Red Cross.
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Mar. 19, 2009
April marks the 13th anniversary of National Poetry Month. To help celebrate, young poets are encouraged to participate in the 2nd annual “Paws for Poetry” Contest. To enter, young people ages 7 to 12 are to write a poem to, and provide a photo of, their favorite animal friend.
Original poems of any length may be submitted in one of two categories: Group One (ages 7 to 9) and Group Two (ages 10 to 12). One grand prizewinner in each category will receive a prize package worth $50. Two runners-up in each category will receive a $25 gift package. The contest deadline is March 31, 2009.
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Mar. 18, 2009
A tiny dinosaur no bigger than a house cat has been discovered by Canadian researchers. Known as Hesperonychus elizabethae, this small carnivore is the smallest known dinosaur to roam North America.
The researchers say it was a “predator of small things,” including insects, small mammals and perhaps baby dinosaurs. This diminutive dinosaur ran on two legs and had dagger-like teeth.
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Mar. 17, 2009
A postcard sent from Montana in 1962 has finally arrived at its Ohio destination. It only took 47 years for the correspondence to travel across the country.
Last week, Dave Conn opened his post office box in Hudson, Ohio, and found the postcard sent from Helena, Mont. It was addressed to Marion White, the previous owner of the box. The sender of the postcard signed her name as “Fran” and said she’d “had a wonderful time in Montana.” Unfortunately, Marion White died in 1988 and was unavailable to receive the tardy postcard.
A U.S. Postal Service spokesperson suggested the postcard must have become stuck in some equipment or lost behind a mail chute.
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Mar. 16, 2009
Who’s going to win the Big Dance? The NCAA announced the brackets for the men’s basketball tournament yesterday. Louisville, Pittsburgh, Connecticut and North Carolina earned No. 1 seeds, but this is the time of year for upsets. Who do you pick to win it all?
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Mar. 13, 2009
The bite of a brown recluse spider is being credited for helping a paraplegic walk again. A motorcycle accident put David Blancarte in a wheelchair 20 years ago. He now lives in Manteca, Calif.
Eight months ago, David was sent to the hospital after being bitten by a brown recluse. He then spent eight months in rehab. While in rehab, David’s legs began to spasm, and a nurse ran a test on him. The test sent an electrical current through his legs, and David began to yell in pain. Five days later, he was walking again. The 48-year-old former boxer and dancer now looks forward to life on his feet.
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Mar. 12, 2009
Astronauts at the international space station took shelter in their escape capsule Thursday during a close call with a tiny piece of space debris.
The small object was about the size of a bullet, and it was moving 20 times as fast. Warnings about the debris came Wednesday, but it was too late to take evasive action. Instead, the three-person crew spent 10 minutes in the escape capsule, waiting for the debris to pass. It came within three miles of the space station on Thursday afternoon.
The small chunk of metal came from a satellite rocket motor used on an earlier mission.
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Mar. 10, 2009
A soft-cover first-edition of the original Harry Potter book was purchased for $19,120 this week. This first edition, sold in the United Kingdom as “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” was one of only 200 copies printed before the series became popular. This 223-page title is known as “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” in the United States.
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Mar. 9, 2009
A boat made from thousands of recycled plastic bottles is set to make an 11,000-mile voyage. David de Rothschild is building this unusual aquatic vehicle in San Francisco. Everything is made of plastic bottles except for the masts, which are metal. De Rothschild calls plastic bottles a “symbol of global waste,” and he wants his journey to bring awareness to recycling.
De Rothschild will depart San Francisco in April. The 12,000 to 16,000 bottles he’s using will carry him all the way to Australia.
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Mar. 6, 2009
The Deep Flight Super Falcon is a submarine made to look like a fighter jet. It can dive up to 1,500 feet below the water’s surface, and it’s made to stay underwater for up to five hours. The sub can travel at speeds of up to 6 knots.
You, too, can own one. The Super Falcon is available for $1.3 million. If that’s too pricey, another model, which can’t dive as deep, is selling for only $350,000.
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Mar. 5, 2009
For the first time, a special version of Pokémon Regigigas will be available for distribution to Pokémon fans at Toys "R" Us stores nationwide. From March 8 through March 21, Pokémon and Nintendo will offer players the opportunity to obtain this Level 100 character.
During that time, Pokémon fans who bring their Pokémon Diamond Version or Pokémon Pearl Version Game Card (each sold separately), along with their Nintendo DS system, to any Toys "R" Us store in the United States and Puerto Rico will have a chance to add the exceptionally powerful Level 100 Regigigas to their Pokédex.
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Mar. 4, 2009
When her house filled with smoke, an elderly woman was roused from sleep by her cat. The home’s smoke alarm went off when the heater began billowing smoke, but the woman didn’t wake up until the cat jumped on her bed and pawed at her face.
The woman, who lives in Bremerton, Wash., showed signs of smoke inhalation, and it’s likely she would not have survived without help from her cat. The fire was contained before it destroyed the home.
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Mar. 3, 2009
A Texas man caught a 1,149-pound shark on only his second saltwater fishing trip. Bill Walters of Granbury, Tex., caught the shortfin mako shark at Port Fourchon, La. The big fish measured 11 feet 8 inches.
Nabbing the shark wasn’t easy, though. With the help of nine friends and the boat’s captain, it took Walters six hours to haul in his catch.
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Mar. 2, 2009
A California two-spotted octopus swam to the top of its tank at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, released a valve with one of its powerful arms and sent 200 gallons of seawater pouring out of the tank. The water flooded other parts of the building, including nearby exhibits and staff offices.
The female octopus is one foot long. She survived the incident.
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Feb. 27, 2009
For Cub Scouts from Pack 116 in Princeton, Minn., the New Year began with warm hearts and freezing cold bodies. Eleven Scouts and leaders took part in the 19th annual Lake Minnetonka Ice Plunge on New Year’s Day. The Scouts gathered pledges to help raise money for Darwin “Dar” Durant, an assistant Cubmaster who was recently diagnosed with stage four cancer.
Durant, an Eagle Scout, has been involved with Scouting since 1973. He stood at the edge of Lake Minnetonka and watched as his Scouts dived into the frigid water wearing their uniforms. The money raised by the Scouts will go toward the cost of Durant’s treatment.
During the ice plunge, trained adults stood by ready to help in case of emergency. Once in the water, participants were dragged to a ladder and given warm clothes to put on.
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Feb. 26, 2009
Get presidential games, cartoons and online events at PrezQuest.fraboomlive.com. It’s easy to learn something new and have fun all at the same time.
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Feb. 25, 2009
Japan’s Kaguya lunar orbiter took video of a solar eclipse while orbiting the moon on Feb. 9, 2009. It’s the first time in history that a spacecraft from Earth has captured a solar eclipse while orbiting another world.
From Kaguya’s location near the moon, the Earth moved in front of the sun to create a “diamond-ring” eclipse. The Japanese orbiter took some amazing video.
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Feb. 24, 2009
A picture taken in 2004 but released this week shows a Pacific barreleye fish—also known as Macropinna microstoma—whose head is a soft transparent dome. This 6-inch barreleye was discovered alive in deep water off the coast of California.
Scientists have known about the Macropinna microstoma since 1939, but only by mangled specimens dragged to the surface by fishing nets. Pictured is the first specimen to be found with its transparent dome still intact.
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Feb. 23, 2009
A letter mailed from New Jersey in 1987 arrived safely at its Oregon destination this week. Postmarked June 2, 1987, it only took 21 years, seven months and three weeks for the piece of mail to travel from Toms River, N.J., to La Grande, Ore.
Hermann Ilnseher sent his sister, Theresa Schlossarek, an invitation to his son’s high school graduation. Theresa’s absence at the graduation and lack of a gift were noticed. The graduate, Michael Ilnseher, is now an assistant principal at a high school near Atlanta, Ga.
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Feb. 20, 2009
A Pennsylvania library has been closed since Feb. 10 because a skunk has taken up residence among the books. The director of the Allensville branch of the Mifflin County Library described the smell as “overpowering.”
The library staff can’t find the skunk or get rid of the smell. The town has hired a professional trapper to help with the problem.
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Feb. 19, 2009
Four of Saturn’s moons will pass in front of the planet on Tuesday, Feb. 24, providing backyard astronomers a magnificent sight. Titan, Mimas, Dione and Enceladus will be visible as silhouettes crossing Saturn’s cloudtops.
Conditions for viewing will be especially good in Hawaii, Alaska and on the Pacific coast. The Hubble Telescope will also be watching. Hubble photographed three of the moon’s at once in 1996, but this will be the first time Hubble will capture four.
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Feb. 18, 2009
The woman with the longest fingernails in the world had them broken off during a traffic accident this week. Lee Redmond of Salt Lake City, Utah, is in the Guinness Book of World Records for having nails that measure a total of 28 feet. She’s been growing them since 1979, and her right thumb is the longest at 2 feet 11 inches.
Redmond’s nails were broken when the SUV she was driving was involved in an accident Tuesday.
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Feb. 17, 2009
Sign up now for a spot in the IronKids National Triathlon Series. Events will consist of swimming, biking and running. Distances vary by age group. Here’s a complete list of event locations and dates:
San Diego, Calif.: May 2, 2009
St. Petersburg, Fla.: June 7, 2009
Raleigh, N.C.: July 5, 2009
Carmel, Ind.: July 19, 2009
Oklahoma City, Okla.: Aug. 9, 2009
Avon, Colo.: Sept. 6, 2009
Alpharetta, Ga.: Sept. 13, 2009
Tucson, Ariz.: Oct. 4, 2009
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Feb. 12, 2009
Today marks the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. On Feb. 12, 1809, Lincoln was born in Hardin County, Kentucky. He later became the 16th president of the United States, presiding during a time of civil war and freeing the slaves. Today, Lincoln is remembered as one of our country’s most beloved and appreciated chief executives.
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Feb. 11, 2009
For the first time since 1900, evidence of a jaguar has turned up in Mexico. Photos of a male jaguar—the largest cat in the Americas—were released on Feb. 10. More than 100 poop samples from the Sierra Nanchititla Natural Reserve were also provided as evidence.
Jaguars disappeared from Mexico as their habitat shrunk and hunters killed them as part of an illegal wildlife trade. While locals have not seen a jaguar in recent years, it’s possible that the cats have moved to higher elevations.
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Feb. 10, 2009
Backyard astronomers can look to the skies and watch as Comet Lulin draws closer to our planet. This green comet is now visible using a telescope, and it makes its closest approach to Earth on the morning of Feb. 24. The comet may be visible to the naked eye on that date.
To see Comet Lulin, look one-third of the way up the southern sky starting at 3 a.m. and continuing until just before sunrise.
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Feb. 9, 2009
Students are invited to design a Google logo inspired by the theme, “What I Wish for the World.” The Doodle 4 Google competition is open to students Kindergarten through 12th grade.
This competition will lead to one winner whose drawing will be displayed on the Google homepage on May 21, 2009. The champion “doodler” will receive a $15,000 college scholarship and a $25,000 technology grant for his or her school. This year’s competition will also include a $10,000 prize for the school district with the greatest participation. Registration closes at 11:59 p.m. on March 17, and entries are due by the same time on March 31.
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Feb. 4, 2009
The remains of the largest snake in recorded history have been found in South America. The Titanoboa cerrejonensis, or titanic boa from Cerrejón, was discovered in a northern Colombia coal mine.
The Titanoboa was at least 43-feet long, 3-feet wide and weighed 2,500 pounds. The international team of scientists that made the discovery found fossil vertebrae and ribs, but no skull or teeth. Snake expert Jake Conrad said, “It could easily eat something the size of a cow.”
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Feb. 3, 2009
Sea explorers say they’ve found the H.M.S. Victory, a famous British warship that sank in the English Channel during a strong storm in 1744. The Victory is thought to have been carrying 900 men and four tons of gold coins. The gold could be worth more than $1 billion today.
The team of explorers determined the Victory’s identity by examining “41 bronze cannons visible on the sandy bottom.”
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Jan. 30, 2009
Camp Pocono Trails, in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, is offering five boys and five girls — ages 10 to 18 — a chance to win a three-week stay at this world class camp. Kids will have the opportunity to make new friends, lose weight and build self-esteem, all in a nurturing environment. The three-week session includes cooking classes, dietitian planned meals, sports, hikes, yoga and more — all valued at $3,890. The session offered runs July 27 through Aug. 18, 2009.
Enter the “Imagine Me: I’m Up For the Challenge at New Image Camp” essay contest starting Sunday, Feb. 1.
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Jan. 29, 2009
Know someone who’s giving back to the community and needs extra cash for their education? The Kohl’s Kids Who Care Scholarship Program plans to award $350,000 in scholarships and prizes to recognize the selfless acts of more than 2,000 young people ages 6 through 18.
To nominate a volunteer, visit www.kohlskids.com. Nominations are accepted Feb. 1 through March 15. Ten national winners will be recognized with $5,000 scholarships toward their post-secondary education. Kohl’s will also contribute $1,000 to a nonprofit organization on behalf of each national winner.
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Jan. 28, 2009
Teens for Jeans is a national campaign, launched by Aéropostale and Do Something, that empowers you to collect jeans for homeless teens. Drop off any pair of gently worn jeans to any Aéropostale store from Jan. 26 to Feb. 22, and they will be donated to a local homeless shelter or charity. Donators will receive 25 percent off a new pair of jeans at Aéropostale.
Last year, more than 125,000 pairs of jeans were collected.
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Jan. 27, 2009
The first solar eclipse of the New Year took place Monday. Few around the world were able to see it, but some areas in the southern Indian Ocean caught a glimpse of this celestial event.
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Jan. 26, 2009
It’s Super Bowl week for the 43rd time in history. The Arizona Cardinals (in their first Super Bowl) will represent the National Football Conference. The Pittsburgh Steelers (in their seventh Super Bowl, with five of their previous trips ending in victory) will represent the American Football Conference. The game begins Sunday at 6 p.m. Eastern, live from Tampa, Fla. See it on NBC.
So, who do you think is going to win? Will the Cardinals take the Lombardi Trophy in their first try, or will the Steelers win a record sixth Super Bowl championship.
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Jan. 23, 2009
Looking for a flick to see this weekend? “Inkheart” is based on the best-selling book by Cornelia Funke. It’s a fantasy adventure that sends a father and daughter on a quest through worlds both real and imagined.
The official “Inkheart” Web site has information on rating (PG), cast, tickets and showtimes.
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Jan. 22, 2009
After a battle between animal activists and a New York seafood restaurant, a 140-year-old lobster named “George” will be returned to sea. This 20-pound crustacean was caught off the coast of Canada’s Newfoundland and sent to New York.
The restaurant, City Crab and Seafood, says it never intended to boil George, but rather to use him to draw attention to the eatery, which he did. Animal activists applauded the restaurant's decision to let the aging lobster live out the rest of his days in freedom.
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Jan. 21, 2009
A contractor clearing debris left by Hurricane Ike found an ammunition box containing an 1863 Confederate $50 bill, war medals and diamond earrings. The box, found buried in the sand near Galveston, Tex., had a rubber seal that preserved all of the contents.
Michael Pate found the box on Jan. 7. The box also contained family photographs, a driver’s license and a social security card. Pate is trying to find the owner. “I thought it would be an encouraging story for the community,” Pate said. “We’ve seen so much destruction.”
Hurricane Ike hit near Galveston on Sept. 13, 2008.
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Jan. 20, 2009
Scientists have a better idea of how modern-day birds came to be after the discovery of a feathered dinosaur fossil in China.
Discovered in the ashes of volcanoes that were active in the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, the Anchinornis huxleyi was covered with feathers on its body and forelimbs.
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Jan. 16, 2009
When the new President of the United States takes office on Tuesday, Boy Scout troop 358 out of Germantown, Pa., will be a part of the festivities. Troop 358 was one of more than 1,400 troops to apply to ride in the inaugural parade.
In it’s 54-year history, troop 358 has produced 52 Eagles Scouts, with four more currently drawing close. As part of the inauguration's parade, the Scouts will wear their official uniforms while riding on an official float.
Once their application was accepted last month, the Philadelphia Inquirer ran a feature on the Scouts from Germantown.
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Jan. 15, 2009
Originally formed in 1954 and silenced during the reign of former President Saddam Hussein, the voices of the Iraqi Boy Scouts are rising once again. The new Iraqi Scouts have been meeting for seven months now.
Technology has allowed these young men to talk with their American counterparts back in Texas and Georgia through a video conference. Nearly 100 Scouts in all three areas talked about camping, fishing, their favorite music and more. It’s also easy to forget the Iraqis are living through a war. “What’s it like being in a war zone?” a Georgia Scout asked. “We fear the war and because of the American forces we have improved the security situation over here. I’m really pleased to meet you,” said a 17-year old Iraqi Scout.
The Scouts participated in a parade in Fallujah, the first of its kind since 2002. Like most American parades, the Iraqis had the usual fire engines, ambulances, the Iraqi Army and police. Not to mention the Boy Scouts.
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Jan. 14, 2009
Does your family have rules for time spent playing video games or watching TV? Microsoft wants to hear about it. Team up with your parents and siblings to make a 30- to 60-second video. Share your unique perspectives about tackling screen time issues at home or secret recipes for a healthy media diet.
The winning teams will be invited to collaborate with Microsoft and other influential voices as Xbox Family Ambassadors. The Ambassadors will provide valuable, real-life insight into the concerns parents and teens have related to digital media and entertainment.
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Jan. 9, 2009
Escaping the Internet is a difficult task these days, but it could get a little tougher in the coming years. The latest trend in car gadgets appears to be fully functional computers complete with Web access.
For instance, Ford will release a dashboard computer this year that is geared toward contractors and other businesspeople that need the Internet while working. Those who work in the car industry hope that these new developments will give automobile sales a lift.
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Jan. 8, 2009
NASA is working with the U.S. Geological Survey to develop a realistic moon dust substitute. The team is mining rocks in Montana, which are then cut down and transported to Denver, Colo. Once in Denver, the rocks are crushed into a fine dust, which will be used to simulate the moon’s dust. This is all done in support of NASA training to return astronauts to the moon.
Real moon dust sticks to spacesuits and can be inhaled into human lungs. It’s important for astronauts to train with something similar to have a realistic understanding of life on the moon. This fake moon dust will also be tested to see what purpose it can serve, such as in making concrete.
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Jan. 7, 2009
A newly found species of iguana is easy to spot on the Wolf volcano in the Galápagos Islands — it’s pink. A team of researchers from Italy made the discovery. The pink iguana will receive an official name in an upcoming paper.
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Jan. 6, 2009
The Secret Service will commission a brand new Cadillac to carry Barack Obama when he is inaugurated as president on Jan. 20. But this isn’t a car model that you can test drive at the local dealership.
The Cadillac limousine has 8-inch-thick doors. Inside, the president will have various communication devices, including telephone and Internet access.
Cars were first used by the Secret Service in 1907. They used an H. White Steamer to follow Teddy Roosevelt in his horse-drawn carriage.
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Jan. 5, 2009
The history books will have to be rewritten now that a third-century Roman battlefield has been discovered. More than 600 relics—ranging from gold coins and horseshoes to crossbows and shovels—were found in Northern Germany. Until now, it was thought the Roman Empire gave up its interest in Germany much earlier than the third century.
Tipped off by relic-hunters who were illegally searching for artifacts, archaeologists have now retraced some of the battle lines. The evidence suggests that the Germanic tribes lured the Romans into the forest for hand-to-hand combat. This would have prevented the Romans from using their long-range weapons. The archaeologists believe this battle was won by Rome.
Research in the area continues. It’s hoped that fortifications and graveyards can be found.
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Jan. 2, 2009
Thousands of used shoes were discovered on the Miami Expressway in Miami, Fla., on Friday. There was no sign of an accident, and no one claimed the shoes after they tied up rush hour traffic.
Dump trucks were used to clear the shoes from the highway, allowing traffic to pass. State troopers are now looking for a charity that can use the stranded shoes.
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Dec. 22, 2008
The holidays are here, and Pedro’s going to be out of the office for a few days. Check back in 2009 for more of Pedro’s Weblog. Happy holidays to all! -
Dec. 19, 2008
With the new year approaching, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Ready Campaign is reminding Americans to Resolve to be Ready in 2009. Resolve to be Ready is a nationwide effort designed to encourage individuals, families, businesses and communities to take action and prepare for emergencies in the new year.
Being Ready for emergencies can be an easy New Year’s resolution to keep by following the Ready Campaign’s three simple steps: 1) Get an emergency supply kit; 2) Make a family emergency plan; and 3) Be informed about the types of emergencies that can happen in your area and their appropriate responses.
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Dec. 18, 2008
The Caribbean Conservation Corporation is offering you a chance to improve a sea turtle’s odds of survival. It only takes a $25 contribution to help make a difference. This could make a perfect last-second Christmas gift.
Those who contribute will receive a personalized adoption certificate, sea turtle conservation guide, logo sticker, magnet, bookmark and a one-year subscription to the Caribbean Conservation Corporation’s newsletter.
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Dec. 17, 2008
Scientists have unexpectedly found a new dinosaur that lived millions of years ago in present-day Argentina. Known as the Austroraptor cabazai, this newly-discovered raptor was “slender, carnivorous and two-legged.” It would have stretched out between 16- and 21-feet long.
Mostly smaller raptors have been found in South America, which makes this discovery particularly exciting. But the Austroraptor does have one unusually small feature — the shortest arms of any raptor ever discovered.
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Dec. 16, 2008
Have you ever wanted to direct a real music video? Now’s your chance to call all the shots and bring Usher’s latest single to life.
The “Got Noise?” program (presented by Body by Milk) is open to teens 13 to 18. Two crews will be selected to collaborate with Usher himself. The crews will come up with a video concept for his latest single and work together to create, direct and produce the music video, all in just one week. When the videos are completed, they’ll go head-to-head with the studio version in an online vote-off for VIP Usher tickets, Apple MacBook computers and Final Cut Pro software.
Applications run from Dec. 16, 2008, to Jan. 31, 2009. No experience is necessary.
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Dec. 15, 2008
Archaeologists have discovered the oldest brain ever to be found in Great Britain. The brain—which dates back to the Iron Age and is at least 2,000 years old—was inside a skull found in a muddy pit. It's thought to be one of the oldest in the world.
The well-preserved brain is the second exciting discovery from this site near York. Earlier this year, scientists uncovered the skeleton of a man thought “to be one of Britain’s earliest victims of tuberculosis.”
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Dec. 12, 2008
Scientists are confused by the lack of acorns this fall along the East Coast. In areas of Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, there are no acorns to be found at all.
Oak trees are still shedding leaves this year, but the familiar sound of acorns “crunching underfoot” has been absent. Some experts say that the acorn crop runs in cycles, and that last year’s bumper crop was bound to lead to a smaller amount in 2008. Others say a lack of rain has slowed acorn growth.
Squirrels in these areas have appeared “skinny” and “aggressive,” sometimes found “devouring bird feed.”
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Dec. 11, 2008
Take a look at the sky this Friday and you’ll see the biggest full Moon of 2008. On Dec. 12, the Moon’s elliptical orbit draws nearer to Earth making the Moon appear 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than full Moons from earlier this year.
The best time for viewing will be when the Moon is still near the horizon, so be sure to look to the east just after sunset for a truly extraordinary view.
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Dec. 10, 2008
The Scouts involved in the tornado tragedy at Little Sioux Scout Camp this summer have been named as one of three finalists for Beliefnet.com’s Most Inspiring Person of the Year Award 2008.
Professor Randy Pausch, who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer this year after inspiring millions with his last lecture, was named the winner of the Most Inspiring Person Award. Contemporary Christian music artist Steven Curtis Chapman joined the Little Sioux Scouts as a finalist.
Click here to read the story about and watch video of the heroic Little Sioux Scouts.
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Dec. 9, 2008
Design your own online game with the “Invent-A-Game Challenge,” a national competition that allows you create a video game that Electronic Arts (EA) will produce.
The Grand Prize winner will receive a $10,000 (face value) U.S. Savings Bond. The Invent-A-Game Challenge is open to all American youth ages 5 to 19. The contest runs through March 31, 2009, and all entries must be submitted online at www.bkfk.com.
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Dec. 8, 2008
With college football’s regular season complete, it’s time for a full slate of postseason bowl games.
The bowl-game frenzy begins on Saturday, Dec. 20, with the EagleBank (Wake Forest vs. Navy), New Mexico (Colorado State vs. Fresno State) and magicJack (Memphis vs. South Florida) bowl games. The season comes to an end when Florida and Oklahoma face off in the BCS National Championship Game at 8 p.m. Eastern on Jan. 8, 2009, at Miami’s Dolphin Stadium. Catch the action on Fox.
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Dec. 4, 2008
A prehistoric Iceman found in 1991 on a mountain glacier in Italy used moss to help staunch the bleeding in his wounds. Nicknamed Ötzi, this 46-year-old man used an absorbent moss with mild antiseptic qualities to dress a cut on his palm. Ötzi later died from several wounds, including an arrow wound in his shoulder.
Ötzi, one of the world’s oldest and best-preserved ice mummies, lived 5,300 years ago. Research shows that he traveled extensively through Europe, and that he used moss for different purposes, including dressing wounds and wrapping meat.
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Dec. 3, 2008
Joe Richardson lost a blue-stone class ring in 1987, two weeks after graduating from Universal Technical Institute in Houston, Tex. The ring, engraved with Richardson’s name, showed up last month inside an 8-pound bass caught on Lake Sam Rayburn, 21 years after it went missing.
The fisherman, who asked to remain anonymous, found Richardson with the help of the Internet. He contacted the owner of the ring, and Richardson, now 41, was shocked to have it returned undamaged. His mother bought the ring two decades ago for $200, and she wasn’t happy that her son lost it so soon after graduation.
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Dec. 2, 2008
This holiday season, The Nature Conservancy has plenty of gift ideas that will thrill your friends and family while also protecting and preserving some of the world’s most precious habitats for future generations.
Starting at just $10, you can adopt an acre of a threatened landscape, protect a coral reef or plant trees in South America. The Nature Conservancy’s Web site features an interactive map, photos and fact sheets to introduce holiday shoppers to the regions they’re invited to protect.
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Dec. 1, 2008
An Australian kitten has been born with two heads. The tiny cat was part of a litter of three. The other two kittens were born without deformity.
The gray and white kitten is being described as “one-in-a-million.” Born at the Swan Veterinary Clinic in Perth, Western Australia, the cat’s two heads are the result of a congenital deformity. The kitten can remarkably meow out of both its mouths at the same time. The mother and her three kittens are all doing well.
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Nov. 21, 2008
A Harry Potter-like invisibility cloak is closer to becoming a reality according to a new study. Scientists have found “a way of bending the geometry of space so that light from all directions travels around an object, rather than hitting it.”
Many advances in the quest for invisibility have been made in recent years. This new study is another step toward a sci-fi craze coming to real life.
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Nov. 20, 2008
While mowing his lawn, 68-year-old R.J. Richards was struck in the chest by a .45-caliber bullet. Luckily the Louisiana man's cell phone, clipped to the front of his overalls, absorbed the blow. Richard walked away with only a bruise.
He first thought his tractor had kicked out a rock. But when he removed his cell phone from his overalls, it crumbled and a bullet fell out of it. Richard assumes a hunter in the woods near his 5-acre property fired the stray bullet.
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Nov. 19, 2008
The heroic Scouts involved in the tornado tragedy at Little Sioux Scout Ranch earlier this year have been nominated for “Most Inspiring Person of the Year,” an award given by Beliefnet.com.
Voting began this week and continues through Dec. 5. You may cast one vote per day.
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Nov. 18, 2008
On Nov. 18, 1928, the first animated feature to use synchronized music and sound effects premiered in New York City. The film, “Steamboat Willie,” was a sensation the moment it hit the big screen, mostly because of one new character — Mickey Mouse.
Walt Disney himself did Mickey’s voice in that first film. Since, Mickey Mouse has been seen countless times in cartoons, films and theme parks. Disney’s iconic, floppy-eared character is still alive and well 80 years after “Steamboat Willie.”
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Nov. 17, 2008
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will be hosting a Global Climate Summit in California this week to discuss new and creative ways to fight climate change.
U.S. governors and leaders from around the world are expected to attend the summit, which will be held Nov. 18 and 19.
Click here to find out more about the summit.
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Nov. 14, 2008
Scientists have taken the first photographs of a solar system 130 light years from Earth. The three planets are orbiting a young star in the constellation of Pegasus.
Astronomers have been challenged in the past to take images of far-away planets. The planets of other solar systems are usually impossible to see due to the glare of their parent stars. But the planets of this new solar system were photographed using “high-precision ground-based telescopes and sophisticated computer processing to cancel out the light from the star.”
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Nov. 13, 2008
An Australian man was kite surfing last month he saw a large shadow in the water in front of him. David Sheridan, a 42-year-old high school teacher, realized it was a whale when a tail sprung out of the water and tapped him on the head.
Sheridan was surfing at Valla Beach on the northern coast of New South Wales when the incident occurred Oct. 26.
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Nov. 12, 2008
The Armed Services YMCA is beginning its annual art and essay contests. All eligible children of U.S. active duty, National Guard or Reserves may enter by writing an essay about their military hero or illustrating their military family in a drawing.This contest is launched each November as part of Military Family Month. All art contest entries must be postmarked by Friday, Feb. 20, 2009. All essay contest entries must be postmarked no later than Friday, March 20, 2009.
Official entry forms for both contests are available at www.awymca.org.
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Nov. 11, 2008
A 4,300-year-old pyramid has been discovered in Egypt. According to the country’s chief archaeologist, the monument is located in Saqqara, about 12 miles south of the capital city of Cairo. Saqqara is the burial site of the rulers of ancient Memphis.A team has been excavating the site for two years. Two months ago, it became clear that a structure protruding from the sand was actually the top of a pyramid.
The newly discovered pyramid is believed to belong to Queen Sesheshet. She is the mother of King Teti, who founded the sixth dynasty of Egypt’s Old Kingdom. Queen Sesheshet’s pyramid is the 118th found in Egypt.
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Nov. 10, 2008
A British pilot suffered a stroke and went blind while on a solo flight last week. That didn’t stop him from landing his small Cessna successfully. A military pilot helped talk him down during the landing.Jim O’Neill, 65, was flying from Scotland to southeastern England when the stroke hit. He was 40 minutes into the flight and more than 5,000 feet in the air. Paul Gerrard, a Royal Air Force Wing Commander, was finishing a training flight in the vicinity when O’Neill made a distress call.
Gerrard found O’Neill’s plane, began flying close to the blinded pilot and radioed directions for him to land. Once on the ground, O’Neill was taken to a hospital where he is beginning to regain his sight. "I was just glad to help a fellow aviator in distress," Gerrard said.
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Nov. 7, 2008
A 70-pound pit bull put his owner’s car in gear and drove away from a car wash Thursday in Pryor, Okla. The car’s owner was busy washing the vehicle when it backed out of the car wash bay.The dog navigated the car onto an adjacent highway, turned it in a loop and ended up back in an automated car wash lane. The police impounded the vehicle because the owner did not have proof of insurance. Since the dog was registered with the city, the owner was allowed to walk his pooch home.
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Nov. 6, 2008
The Letters About Literature (LAL) Competition invites students in grades 4 through 12 to write a letter to an author who has influenced their life. All submission must be postmarked by Saturday, Dec. 6.Each year, LAL awards more than 150 state-level prizes. The program also selects six national winners, each of whom will earn for their community or school library a $10,000 Letters About Literature Reading Promotion Grant. Twelve national honorable mention winners each will earn a $1,000 grant for the community or school library of their choice.
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Nov. 5, 2008
A jogger ran a mile with a rabid fox’s jaws clamped on her arm in Prescott, Ariz. The woman was running on a trail when the fox attacked and bit her foot. She grabbed it by the neck, but the fox then bit her arm. It didn’t let go.The runner wanted the fox tested for rabies, so she ran to her car, pried the fox off her arm and trapped it in her trunk. She then drove to the hospital.
The fox later bit an animal control officer. Both the officer and the runner have since received rabies vaccinations.
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Nov. 4, 2008
Betty Owen is 92. She suffered a stroke four years ago, and she can’t walk. But the resident of San Antonio, Tex., insisted on casting her vote for president and other government offices on Tuesday.Owen arrived at her polling place via ambulance, and she actually cast her vote from a gurney. An election judge and support worker helped her with the electronic ballot. Owen’s daughter arranged the ambulance after her mother failed to receive an absentee ballot.
A Marine Corps veteran, Owen cast her first presidential ballot in 1940. She’s voted for both Democrats and Republicans through the years.
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Nov. 3, 2008
A book checked out in 1947 has been returned to a high school library in Tulsa, Okla. To cover the overdue fees, a $250 check was also delivered.The book is called “New Word Analysis: Or School Etymology of English Derivative Words.” Martha McCabe Jarrett mailed it. Jarrett signed for the book 61 years ago when she was a sophomore. She found it while cleaning out her home in Rome, Ohio.
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Oct. 31, 2008
The world should be a little brighter when you wake up for school Monday morning. That’s because Daylight Saving time ends early Sunday morning.At 2 a.m. local time Sunday, clocks should be set back one hour to 1 a.m. It will be nice and sunny when you get to school on Monday, but it’s going to be dark by dinnertime.
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Oct. 30, 2008
On Oct. 31, Venus and the crescent Moon will draw close to each other, providing trick-or-treaters a beautiful sky show just after sunset. When the sun sets and the sky is glowing a reddish orange, look southwest where Venus — the brightest light in the sky — should hang just above the horizon. The sliver of Moon should be visible just a few degrees below.And if you’re too busy bagging candy on Halloween, Venus and the Moon should be perfectly side-by-side the next night, Nov. 1.
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Oct. 29, 2008
Frogs, salamanders and other amphibians have shown high rates of deformation in recent years, and scientists are trying to find out why. Possible causes include inbreeding, parasites or pollution that seeps in through the amphibians’ skin.The deformities include five-legged salamanders and frogs with extra limbs. One new study of tiger salamanders rules out inbreeding as the cause. That conclusion shifts the blame to human activity as the most likely culprit.
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Oct. 28, 2008
Short on money, a Florida sheriff’s department went to the pound when it couldn’t afford a new narcotics dog. Polk County Sheriff’s Deputy John Maney picked out an 11-month-old black lab and trained the dog himself.The best narcotics dogs are ones that show “alertness, a lack of fear and an eagerness to learn.” This new pound puppy, named “Rezadu,” started training in an abandoned phosphate mine. He did well enough that he earned his national certification in August.
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SCOUTS IN THE NEWS- Boy Scouts honor their history
- Cub Scout earns every badge
- The Boy Scouts Celebrate One Hundred Years of Service
- Leadership and community service inspires local scout to eagle rank
- Locals mark 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America
- Scouts' time capsule yields 1985 artifacts
- Scouts celebrating organization's 100th anniversary
- N.J. family celebrates generations in Boy Scouts on 100th anniversary of organization
- 100 Boy Scouts celebrating 100 years
- Local Boy Scouts help mark 100th anniversary
