Is the World Coming to an End Due to...

Next month the largest particle accelerator (LHC) will be turned on in Geneva, Switzerland. For those that are interested in physics and astronomy and are part of the scientific community, this is a huge opportunity to find more information about what happened seconds after the Big Bang.

The project cost 8 billion dollars and is operated by the International Physics Laboratory called CERN. The accelerator will be smashing subatomic particles together, creating energy that happened seconds after the Big Bang.

So why might the world come to an end? Well, this is what worries people about the machine and this is also why people are talking so much about this project. If the particles are being smashed together at such fast and powerful rates (very close to the speed of light) this possibly could create micro-black holes. If this is true it could 'in theory' destroy mankind and the Earth itself. The physicist and astronomers who are looking at possible micro-black holes developing are relying on Hawkings Radiation. Hawkings Radiation theory says that when 2 virtual particles appear they cancel each other out. However, if two virtual particles appear and one falls into the black hole there is one left over that can't be canceled out, therefore taking energy/mass away from the black hole. Keep in mind this is all 'in theory'.

Because there is some possibility of a black hole being created there have been many lawsuits trying to shutdown the particle accelerator. Although there is a very, very small chance a black hole will be created online blogs and discussion boards have been raving about this subject alone. However a CERN spokesman made a good point; "Earth is bathed with cosmic rays powerful enough to create black holes all the time, and the planet hasn't been destroyed yet"

The LHC project was not intended to prove that black holes can be developed by scientists or to see if the earth can in fact be destroyed. This IS an advancement in the Science community, to strengthen our knowledge on how the Universe was created and how it developed.

This is all pretty interesting. Here are some informational websites:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgLdIly2Xtw

http://public.web.cern.ch/public/en/Research/Accelerator-en.html
http://www.livescience.com/environment/060919_black_holes.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/21/science/21cernw.html

Eagle Eye

Personally I love action pact movies and this is why I am so stoked for the upcoming movie, directed by D.J. Caruso under Spielberg's executive production, Eagle Eye. Jerry Shaw (Labeouf) and Rachael Holloman (Monogahn) receive phone calls from a woman who gives them directions on how to stay alive and away from the police. From the trailer it looks as if somebody framed both Holloman and Shaw and the only way they can escape is to listen to woman on the phone who knows exactly what is going to happen at any given moment.

This movie looks like a lot of fun and completely amazing. Have fun watching the trailer.

new philosophy.

as I sit listening to the acoustic version of Paramore's "For a Pessimist, I am pretty optimistic"...
I realize the following blog will have no real argument.
just a thought on expectations.

a real important person once told me to not expect anything at all. and he is right.
if good happens, great. what a bonus.
if bad happens, it is okay, because there was no real let down-since there were no expectations.

so instead of expecting anything at all, i am giving up, dropping preconceived notions, and i am letting things take their own fall or not.

hey, it is time i adapt to change.
yeah?

xoxo,
S.

Ike, can I shake your hand?

Ike, which was probably named after the South Park character, is now a Cat. 2 hurricane, anticipated to become a Cat. 3.

The National Hurricane Center calls it a "large tropical cyclone," which makes it sound WAY cooler than it really is.

Ikie is supposed to hit Texas on Saturday, leaving some Texans pissed with it's interference with the Arkansas game.

I say keep the game on schedule - and let it really filter out the real Horns fans from the fakes. Let's see how many chicks will still dress all cute just to sit in other people's designated seats, hoping the Megatron captures their good side. Grrr.

And I hope that the next hurricane that's abrewing will be named Kenny.

Real Clear Politics Shows McCain in the Lead

Although the 2008 presidential race is extremely close, most polls have shown Obama in the lead by around 5 points. This means +/- and this is why even with the polls any candidate could win. However I was reading today that McCain has actually taken the lead in the polls by an average of +/- 2.9 points. Although this is still a very close race it is still very interesting considering Obama has been in the lead thus far. Here are the polls.

General Election: McCain vs. Obama
RCP Electoral Map | Changes in Electoral Count | Map With No Toss Ups | No Toss Up Changes
Polling Data
Poll Date Sample McCain (R) Obama (D) Spread
RCP Average 09/05 - 09/07 -- 48.3 45.4 McCain +2.9
ABC News/Wash Post 09/05 - 09/07 LV 49 47 McCain +2
CBS News 09/05 - 09/07 655 RV 46 44 McCain +2
USA Today/Gallup 09/05 - 09/07 823 LV 54 44 McCain +10

CNN 09/05 - 09/07 942 RV 48 48 Tie
Rasmussen Tracking 09/05 - 09/07 3000 LV 48 47 McCain +1
Hotline/FD Tracking 09/05 - 09/07 924 RV 44 44 Tie
Gallup Tracking 09/05 - 09/07 2733 RV 49 44 McCain +5

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/general_election_mccain_vs_obama-225.html

Russel Brand; Worst VMA Host Ever

I usually watch the VMA's every year and have been happy or satisfied with who MTV decides to pick to host the VMA's. However, this year is the exception. I didn't think Russel Brand did a good job hosting at all. I slightly giggled sometimes but other than that I didn't understand why he was chosen to host this event. Overall I thought the VMA's were good, way better than last year anyways but I wasn't feeling Russel Brand. What did y'all think?

An Embarrassment to Sarahs Everywhere

Educate yourself about Sarah Palin:
(from MoveOn.org )

• Palin recently said that the war in Iraq is "God's task." She's even admitted she hasn't thought about the war much—just last year she was quoted saying, "I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq." ^{1, 2}
• Palin has actively sought the support of the fringe Alaska Independence Party. Six months ago, Palin told members of the group—who advocate for a vote on secession from the union—to "keep up the good work" and "wished the party luck on what she called its 'inspiring convention.'" ³
• Palin wants to teach creationism in public schools. She hasn't made clear whether she thinks evolution is a fact.⁴
• Palin doesn't believe that humans contribute to global warming. Speaking about climate change, she said, "I'm not one though who would attribute it to being manmade." ⁵
• Palin has close ties to Big Oil. Her inauguration was even sponsored by BP. ⁶
• Palin is extremely anti-choice. She doesn't even support abortion in the case of rape or incest. ⁷
• Palin opposes comprehensive sex-ed in public schools. She's said she will only support abstinence-only approaches. ⁸
• As mayor, Palin tried to ban books from the library. Palin asked the library how she might go about banning books because some had inappropriate language in them—shocking the librarian, Mary Ellen Baker. According to Time, "news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire Baker for not giving "full support" to the mayor." ⁹
• She DID support the Bridge to Nowhere (before she opposed it). Palin claimed that she said "thanks, but no thanks" to the infamous Bridge to Nowhere. But in 2006, Palin supported the project repeatedly, saying that Alaska should take advantage of earmarks "while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist." ¹⁰

Sources
1. "Palin: Iraq war 'a task that is from God'," Associated Press, September 3, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=24701&id=13709-6374540-VbK.KZx&t=6

2. "Palin wasn't 'really focused much' on the Iraq war," ThinkProgress, August 30, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=24702&id=13709-6374540-VbK.KZx&t=7

3. "The Sarah Palin Digest," ThinkProgress, September 4, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/palin-digest/

4. "McCain and Palin differ on issues," Associated Press, September 3, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=24703&id=13709-6374540-VbK.KZx&t=8

5. Ibid

6. The Sarah Palin Digest," ThinkProgress, September 4, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/palin-digest/

7. Ibid

8. Ibid.

9. "Mayor Palin: A Rough Record," Time, September 2, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=24704&id=13709-6374540-VbK.KZx&t=9

10. The Sarah Palin Digest," ThinkProgress, September 4, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/palin-digest/