Monthly Archives: April 2012

Bee Collapse, Monsanto, Truth & Fiction

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Blamed for Bee Collapse, Monsanto Buys Leading Bee Research Firm

20th April 2012

By Anthony Gucciardi

Contributing Writer for Wake Up World

Monsanto, the massive biotechnology company being blamed for contributing to the dwindling bee population, has bought up one of the leading bee collapse research organizations. Recently banned from Poland with one of the primary reasons being that the company’s genetically modified corn may be devastating the dying bee population, it is evident that Monsanto is under serious fire for their role in the downfall of the vital insects. It is therefore quite apparent why Monsanto bought one of the largest bee research firms on the planet.

It can be found in public company reports hosted on mainstream media that Monsanto scooped up the Beeologics firm back in September 2011. During this time the correlation between Monsanto’s GM crops and the bee decline was not explored in the mainstream, and in fact it was hardly touched upon until Polish officials addressed the serious concern amid the monumental ban. Owning a major organization that focuses heavily on the bee collapse and is recognized by the USDA for their mission statement of “restoring bee health and protecting the future of insect pollination” could be very advantageous for Monsanto.

In fact, Beelogics’ company information states that the primary goal of the firm is to study the very collapse disorder that is thought to be a result — at least in part — of Monsanto’s own creations. Their website states:

“While its primary goal is to control the Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) and Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV) infection crises, Beeologics’ mission is to become the guardian of bee health worldwide.”

What’s more, Beelogics is recognized by the USDA, the USDA-ARS, the media, and ‘leading entomologists’ worldwide. The USDA, of course, has a great relationship with Monsanto. The government agency has gone to great lengths to ensure that Monsanto’s financial gains continue to soar, going as far as to give the company special speed approval for their newest genetically engineered seed varieties. It turns out that Monsanto was not getting quick enough approval for their crops, which have been linked to severe organ damage and other significant health concerns.

Steve Censky, chief executive officer of the American Soybean Association, states it quite plainly. It was a move to help Monsanto and other biotechnology giants squash competition and make profits. After all, who cares about public health?

“It is a concern from a competition standpoint,” Censky said in a telephone interview.

It appears that when Monsanto cannot answer for their environmental devastation, they buy up a company that may potentially be their ‘experts’ in denying any such link between their crops and the bee decline.

About the Author

Anthony Gucciardi is an accomplished investigative journalist with a passion for natural health. Anthony’s articles have been featured on top alternative news websites such as Infowars, NaturalNews, Rense, and many others. Anthony is the co-founder of Natural Society, a website dedicated to sharing life-saving natural health techniques.

from:    http://wakeup-world.com/2012/04/20/blamed-for-bee-collapse-monsanto-buys-leading-bee-research-firm/

Fireball in the Sierra Nevadas

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SIERRA FIREBALL DECODED: On Sunday morning, April 22nd, just as the Lyrid meteor shower was dying down, a spectacular fireball exploded over California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range. The loud explosion rattled homes from central California to Reno, Nevada, and beyond. According to Bill Cooke, head of NASA’s Meteoroid Envronment Office, the source of the blast was a meteoroid about the size of a minivan.

“Elizabeth Silber at Western University has searched for infrasound signals from the explosion,” says Cooke. “Infrasound is very low frequency sound which can travel great distances. There were strong signals at 2 stations, enabling a triangulation of the energy source at 37.6N, 120.5W. This is marked by a yellow flag in the map below.”

“The energy is estimated at a whopping 3.8 kilotons of TNT, so this was a big event,” he continues. “I am not saying there was a 3.8 kiloton explosion on the ground in California. I am saying that the meteor possessed this amount of energy before it broke apart in the atmosphere. [The map] shows the location of the atmospheric breakup, not impact with the ground.”

“The fact that sonic booms were heard indicates that this meteor penetrated very low in atmosphere, which implies a speed less than 15 km/s (33,500 mph). Assuming this value for the speed, I get a mass for the meteor of around 70 metric tons. Hazarding a further guess at the density of 3 grams per cubic centimeter (solid rock), I calculate a size of about 3-4 meters, or about the size of a minivan.”

“This meteor was probably not a Lyrid; without a trajectory, I cannot rule out a Lyrid origin, but I think it likely that it was a background or sporadic meteor.”

fr/spaceweather.com

More Activity at Popocatepetl Volcano in Mexico

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Explosions Continue at Popocatépetl as Mexico Prepares for an Eruption

 

Side by side views of Popocatépetl during the night and day on April 20, 2012. The left side shows the incandescent blocks being thrown from the summit while while the right shows the ash plume associated with this activity. Webcam captures courtesy of Eruptions reader Kirby.

 

Brief note about events in Mexico:

It appears that the activity at Popocatépetl has picked up, with more ash emissions and even (unconfirmed) reports of new lava at the summit. This would all suggest that the potential for a significant eruption is high. A report from the BBC says that volcanic bombs are being thrown over a kilometer from the vent and “60 opening” have appeared on the volcano. I actually have no idea what that means – are there cracks at the summit or just lots of fumarolic activity near the summit crater? The explosions from the volcano have been large enough to rattle windows in communities surrounding the volcano. CENAPRED reported over 12 explosions in two hours starting at ~5 AM on Friday (April 20). The steam-and-ash plume from Popocatépetl topped out at ~3 km / 10,000 feet while seismicity remains at elevated levels. CENAPRED currently has the warning level at Yellow Level II with a 12-km exclusion zone around the volcano – in that same report, CENAPRED geologist Roberto Quaas suggests that they are concerned about a potential cycle of dome growth and collapse at Popo, heightening the threat of pyroclastic flows. However, exactly when or if a large eruption might happen cannot be predicted.

 

It appears that there are some issues about people taking this activity at Popo seriously, though. In an article from USA Today, a local resident is quoted as saying “Right now we’re not scared. When it’s scary is at night, when it’s putting out lava.” (see above) Well, the lava is there when its not night, so the threat is persistent, day or night. Officially, evacuations have not been called. However, government officials are telling people to be ready to evacuate and to watch the volcano for signs of increasing activity. All this news about the reaction of people living near the volcano makes me nervous, especially when I read about people near the volcano choosing not to leave when the threat is present. Mexican president Felipe Calderon called on the populace to be prepared as well.

The plume from Popocatépetl seen on the morning of April 20. Webcam capture courtesy of CENAPRED.

NASA posted a short movie of the ash from Popocatépetl seen on April 18, 2012 – the puff from the volcano is clearly seen spreading across central Mexico.

All in all, it looks like we’re entering a period where everyone, especially those living near Popocatépetl, need to watch the volcano very closely.

from:    http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/04/explosions-continue-at-popocatepetl-as-mexico-prepares-for-an-eruption/#more-107209

Quake Proof Balancing Rocks

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ysterious Balancing Rocks Resist Quakes’ Shakes

Andrea Mustain, OurAmazingPlanet Staff Writer
Date: 22 April 2012 Time: 02:19 PM ET

 

A Precariously Balanced Rock, or PBR.
A Precariously Balanced Rock, or PBR.
CREDIT: James Brune

SAN DIEGO — In the western San Bernardino Mountains, near the highway that links Los Angeles and Las Vegas, scientists recently discovered a geological mystery: colossal rocks perched in precarious poses right next door to the San Andreas Fault.

It’s not the rocks’ balancing act that is perplexing, said Lisa Grant Ludwig, a scientist who presented this puzzle to colleagues this week here at the annual meeting of the Seismological Society of America. It’s how the rocks have managed to stay that way with such an aggressive maker of powerful earthquakes just a few miles away.

Rocks with seemingly acrobatic balance are seen all over the world. Meteorological and geological forces wash away the material around them, leaving the giant rocks balancedlike a top. There’s even a term for them: Precariously Balanced Rocks, or PBRs for short, said Ludwig, an assistant professor at the University of California, Irvine.

“When you start to get into seismically active areas there are fewer and fewer,” Ludwig told OurAmazingPlanet. “And you don’t expect to see them right next to active faults —and you don’t, generally.”

Still standing

In fact, PBRs are used to verify earthquake hazard maps. “Quite some time ago it was recognized that wherever you see these things, it’s an indication there haven’t been a lot of really strong earthquakes because they haven’t been shaken down,” Ludwig said.

That’s what makes the San Bernardino PBRs so very strange. There are two pockets of more than a dozen of the gracefully balancing rocks, and some are only 4 miles (7 kilometers) from the fault.

Ludwig said that when a colleague brought her pictures of the rocks — and asked how they could possibly withstand the earthquakes that tear along the San Andreas Fault — she had to go see them for herself.

“I have spent most of my career documenting large earthquakes on the San Andreas Fault,” Ludwig said. “I could rock some of [the PBRs] with my hand.”

Seismic mystery

Subsequent dating research revealed that the rocks had been standing in their positions for millennia — in some cases as long as 18,000 years. “That’s a long time for something that is so close to a big fault,” Ludwig said.

It’s not clear why violent shaking has apparently spared the two small pockets near the fault where the rocks still stand. “I think it shows an area of complexity in the fault rupture,” Ludwig said, “and that is what a lot of my colleagues seem to agree on in the discussion.”

She said it’s something that researchers will be pursuing next. “We don’t have a good explanation,” she said.

from:    http://www.livescience.com/19840-mysterious-balancing-rocks.html

What Dog Preferences Say About Us

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What Your Dog’s Breed Says About You

Stephanie Pappas, LiveScience Senior Writer
Date: 19 April 2012 Time: 07:01 PM ET
Three dogs splash in the water.
What dog breed you chose may reflect basic aspects of your personality, research suggests.
CREDIT: Eric Gevaert, Shutterstock

Paris Hilton’s Chihuahua Tinkerbell may be more than just a purse accessory. According to new research, the breed of dog you choose can reflect your personality.

Owners of toy dogs, like Hilton and — believe it or not — Sir Isaac Newton, score high on a personality trait called openness, a measure of how intellectually curious, open to new experiences and appreciative of arts and culture a person is. Meanwhile, owners of famously friendly dogs such as the Labrador retriever are likely to be the most agreeable personalities around.

“We go for dogs that are a bit like us, just as we go for a romantic partner who is a bit like us,” study researcher Lance Workman, a psychologist at Bath Spa University in the United Kingdom, told LiveScience.

Workman and his colleagues are interested in how personality traits influence real-world behavior. They focused on dog ownership because earlier studies have found personality differences between dog owners and non-dog owners (dog owners tend to be more agreeable). In one study, Workman and his co-authors found that people are even able to match purebred dogs with their owners, suggesting that certain breeds are associated with certain types of people.

In collaboration with the Kennel Club, the researchers set up an online questionnaire for 1,000 owners of purebred dogs. The questionnaire measured what psychologists call the “Big Five” personality traits: openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness and neuroticism, a measure of anxiety.

To simplify matters, they split the dog breeds into seven Kennel Club categories: gun dogs, such as the Lab or golden retriever; hound dogs, such as the greyhound; pastoral breeds, including German shepherds and collies; terriers, such as the Staffordshire bull terrier; toy breeds, including Chihuahuas; utility breeds, such as bulldogs; and working breeds, such as the Doberman.

The results revealed correlations between the type of dog and the owner’s personality.  People who own pastoral or utility breeds are the most extroverted of any dog owners. Owners of gun dogs and toy dogs were most agreeable. The most emotionally stable people tended to own hounds, including beagles and Afghans. Toy dog owners were also the most open and imaginative bunch.

“It breaks down the stereotype that owners of toy dogs are airheads, basically,” Workman said.

The study, which has not yet been peer reviewed, is being presented this week at the British Psychological Society Annual Conference in London. The findings suggest that dog owners naturally gravitate toward hounds that fit their personality and lifestyle.

But the information might also come in handy for people just starting to pick out a furry pal, Workman said. The questionnaire could be developed to include not only personality concerns, but also practical ones such as living space. Prospective dog-owners would then have a data-based way to choose a breed — a method that could lead to fewer dogs sent to the pound, Workman said.

“You would type in these answers, and it would expand the 50 questions we’ve got to go into lifestyle, and it would say, ‘This is the dog for you,'” he said.

from:    http://www.livescience.com/19791-dog-breeds-personality.html

April 22-28

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This is a week for knowing what is and what is not important.  The answers to these questions may surprise you. Your [priorities have been shifting in many different ways.  Because of everything else that has been going on, you have not been aware of all the deep changes that are happening within your energetic core.  This week, they will be brought forward as you make choices that are surprising to you.  Look at these, and spend time with them.  There is much that you can learn from that.  You may find that some of your favorites no longer attract you as they once did.  This includes people, foods, places, things, programs, etc.  The changes in energy that are happening cannot but affect your energy also.  Much of this is on a subtle level, but as things mount up, they come to the surface.  This week, that is what will be happening.  Be aware of Freudian slips and be alert for synchronicity.  There are hints in all of this.

On the larger scale, things will start out quietly this week, however as the middle of the week arrives, there will be an huge crescendo of activity in all areas.  This will take many b y surprise as much of it is unexpected, even unthinkable.  The Trickster is out this week making sure things log shots and log shots shoe-ins.  All of this can lead to uncertainty in politics, finance, travel, the weather, etc., etc., etc.  Look for an announcement that can shake up some tottering political situations.  Also, it appears that there can be some issues this week with communications and electronics.

Sunday, April 22:    Lime Green

This is a day in which resolution is in the air.  In order to benefit from this frequency, however, you will need to focus on what it is that you are wanting to resolve in your life.  At this time, you need to be a part of what is going on and to own it in all its various elements and permutations.  Step back and look at the big picture.  Let the pattern emerge.  There is more going on than can be seen from a single point of view.  Open up to your own unlimited potential, and you will find a hint of what is to come.  You are part of the process, so you will want to be aware of how it is moving forward.  By so doing, you can gain control and walk into your power.

Crystal Vibe:    Strawberry Rutile Quarts—The energy of this stone bring awareness and recognition on many levels and in different dimensions.  It is a gentle facilitator, needing you to be patient and understanding as things come to the fore.  Resonates with the Third Eye, Crown, and Upper Chakras.

Monday, April 23:   Royal L:avender

Happy Birthday, Emilie:    This is a day for dreams.  The current energy holds the promise that dreams can come true.  Take time to be with yourself, your innermost desires.  Take time to acknowledge your connection with Universal Consciousness.  Perspectives are shifting, and you will be seeing things differently.  The dimensions continue their leakiness as things pop in and out of view.  Be aware of things at the periphery today.  They have a message.  There is a sense that what once did not belong is not part of the whole picture.  By acknowledging this, you can find yourself opening to new ideas and inventions, people, places, and things as this day wears on.  Take time tonight to relax and meditate, whatever that means to you.  There is fulfillment in this.

Crystal Vibe:    Solution Crystal—-This stone vibrates to the fairy frequency.  It is a connector with the Elementals and the energy of Gaia. It opens to resolution and understanding.  Resonates with the Root, Crown and Ninth Chakras.

Tuesday, April 24:    Pale  Gold

Things are stirring beneath the surface today.  Take time to look below what is out in front of you.  Much is being communicated without words or actions.  Emotions and feeling lie close to the surface.  You can be moved to tears or find yourself laughing at the slightest thing.  This might confuse you a  bit, but let it go.  The current energy is calling for just being in the moment.  Do not try to read into things.  They are just what they are.  You are jsut what you are.  This is a good day for doing some personal work, writing, journaling, drawing, meditating, whatever fulfills your creative urge.  Then put it aside.  You are giving yourself a message, a treasure, that you will better understand in a few days.

Crystal Vibe:    Tibetan quartz—-This mineral assists actively in the realization of creative potential.  It activates the healing energies that are imminent in Nature and opens them for those who are requesting aid.  Resonates with the Navel and Tenth Chakras.

Wednesday, April 25:    Lavender

There is a calm in the air today.  It is best to take advantage of it to tie up some loose ends, to have conversations that you have been putting off, to get some perspective in terms of what it is that you are attempting to manifest in your life.  There is help out there on many levels, some physical, some dimensional, some spiritual.  This is a day when you can create something.  It is good to start out the day grounded and centered and with a firm intention.  While the calm allows for things to happen more easily, it can also lead to dreaminess and lack of concentration.  By intending your day you can get a lot accomplished.

Thursday, April 26:    Light Blue

The senses will be very active today, and it is this fact that will make you realize that you have been hearing more, seeing more, smelling more for some time.  Pay attention to the evidence of the sense ofr  it has messages to bring you of the changes that are at hand.  You can find that you are seeing into more than even before, and this can include personal relations, business endeavors, etc.  Trust your intuition today.  There can be some times when you will need to respond quickly and your intuition can guide you in the most appropriate path.

Friday, April 27:    Pink Flesh

This is a day you make all for yourself and all by yourself.  Be thoughtful and heart-full in your choices for they will reflect WHO you are.  You may, therefore, discover some unusual things about yourself.    This is not a day for paying attention to or taking cues from others.  Doing so can confuse the growth process that is going on right now.  Look through your own eyes.  Use your own discretion.  Follow your own intuition.  You are moving forward in your process.  Yes, interaction happens, but you can distance yourself from the stuff of others.  See if for what it is and give it back to them

Current Solar Activity

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SUNSPOT GENESIS: The solar disk is peppered with sunspots and at least three of them are crackling with C-class solar flares. Make that four. A new sunspot, AR1465, has just broken through the stellar surface to join the action. Cai-Uso Wohler photographed the emergence from his backyard observatory in Bispingen, Germany:

NOAA forecasters estimate a 30% chance of an M-class flare during the next 24 hours. As the youngest and least stable of the sunspots, AR1465 is the most likely source. Stay tuned for solar activity

fr/spaceweather.com

incoming Plasma Clouds

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INCOMING PLASMA CLOUDS: On April 18th and 19th, a series of minor CMEs puffed away from the sun. Three of them are heading in our general direction. Analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab have prepared an animated forecast track of the ensemble:

According to the forecast, the clouds are going to hit Mercury, Earth, Mars and rover Curiosity en route to Mars. The impact on our planet, on April 22nd around 00:50 UT, is expected to be minor with auroras likely only at higher latitudes

from:   spaceweather.com

Earthquake Papua, Indonesia

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Slightly damaging earthquake in Papua (former Irian Jaya), Indonesia

Last update: April 21, 2012 at 11:57 am by By 

Earthquake overview : A very shallow earthquake 10 km out of the Irian Jaya coast, Indonesia has scared people who are not panicking for a little shaking, as earthquakes are almost common as bad weather in this area of the world.

Green radius = strong shaking; yellow radius = very strong shaking, severe shaking too small to fit on this map

Most important Earthquake Data:
Magnitude : Mw6.6
UTC Time : Saturday, April 21, 2012 at 01:16:52 UTC
Local time at epicenter : Saturday, April 21, 2012 at 10:16:52 AM at epicenter
Depth (Hypocenter) : 16 km (9.9 miles)
Geo-location(s) :
10 km SE from Ransiki, Papua, Indonesia
83 km (51 miles) SSE of Manokwari, Papua, Indonesia

– Update 11:23 UTC:  It has been reported that the quake caused a bridge connecting the Ransiki-Manokwari to have minor damage. A total of 10 houses damaged moderately, and dozens of others were slightly damaged.

– Update 11:03 UTC
* As usual the local media are always focusing more on the bigger cities in the area, in this case Manokwari. In Manokwari people are saying that the strong shaking only lasted 3 seconds. People rushed out of the buildings. There was no news of any damage or injuries at Manokwari.

– The biggest city in the area is Manokwari who has experienced a strong MMI VI shaking. Manokwari has a population of 53,000 people.

– The fault who generated the earthquake is called “Ransiki fault”.  Both sides of the fault are moving approx. 8.5 mm/year.

– Local BMKG is reporting a Magnitude of 6.8 at a depth of 10 km (bot stronger than reported by USGS)

– Modified Mercalli Shaking Intensities : 4,000 people : Severe VIII shaking, 8,000 people : Very strong VII shaking and 169,000 people VI strong shaking.

– GDACS has calculated that the following locations might get waves of max. 0.2 meter (not a real tsunami but only strong current and waves)  :  Rapaowi, Ransiki, Jali Ali, Sisember and Robookisbia

– 160,000 people are living within a radius of 100 km. The repartition of the population is as follows :
75 km     29000 people;  50 km     16000 people; 20 km     5200 people and 10 km     less than 1000 people
Earthquake-report.com calls an area of 25 km at risk (about 7000 people – number based on GDACS data) for serious damage and injuries.

Ransiki town / village – only approx. 10 km from the epicenter – image courtesy Toto Purwanto

– Oransbari and Ransiki are 2 villages located in a radius of 25 km around the epicenter. Especially this area will get the greatest shaking impact. Based on satellite images, Ransiki seems to have a STOL airport (short take off and landing)

– The earthquake is somewhat weakened because of an epicenter just out in the sea

– Due to the Magnitude and the close distance to the beach, NOAA has published the following Tsunami statement for the Pacific region :
NO DESTRUCTIVE WIDESPREAD TSUNAMI THREAT EXISTS BASED ON HISTORICAL EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI DATA.
HOWEVER
EARTHQUAKES OF THIS SIZE SOMETIMES GENERATE LOCAL TSUNAMIS THAT CAN BE DESTRUCTIVE ALONG COASTS LOCATED WITHIN A HUNDRED KILOMETERS OF THE EARTHQUAKE EPICENTER. AUTHORITIES  IN THE REGION OF THE EPICENTER SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS POSSIBILITY AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION   

http://earthquake-report.com/2012/04/21/slightly-damaging-earthquake-in-papua-former-irian-jaya-indonesia/