Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat - Thread Ten

Yahoo News ^ | 6-10-04 | AP

[JustPiper]

Picture credit: TheCabal

"I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat"

LINK TO THREAD NINE

U.S. Charges Australian Linked to al-Qaida

WASHINGTON - An Australian held at the Navy's prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, will face a military tribunal for allegedly training and fighting alongside members of al-Qaida in Afghanistan (news - web sites), the Pentagon (news - web sites) announced Thursday.

We are the "Stotters" who make ourselves aware of the enemy who wishes to do us harm

[DAVEY CROCKETT]

This is how it all got started decide for yourself:)

Internet accounts of a comet, supposedly bigger than Jupiter and possibly bearing down on Earth, have concerned citizens e-mailing astronomers and journalists worldwide asking if the end is finally nigh. True to form, the rumors also include allegations of a cover-up by NASA. Scientists say there is absolutely no danger and call the suggestions of cover-up false and even silly.

The inaccurate portrayals on various Internet sites range from suggestions that the comet's electromagnetic field will drastically alter Earth's weather in coming days to even wilder notions that it is not a comet but instead the long-missing and hypothetical "Planet X." In some accounts the object is destined to fulfill dire Biblical prophecy.

The rumors are all based on a comet called NEAT, discovered late last year and imaged in mid-February by the SOHO spacecraft...SOHO took dramatic photos of the comet as it rounded the Sun. The spacecraft has imaged more than 500 similar so-called sungrazing comets in the past. NEAT was the brightest comet ever photographed by the observatory, but it is not remarkable...The accusations of cover-up result, in part, from a few alleged missing images, or images that NASA tampered with, in the series snapped over few days by SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory). Plait called the tampering suggestion silly.

Bernhard Fleck, a SOHO project scientist, said it is common for delays to occur in posting images to the SOHO Web site, primarily because the public release of the large number of photos is done without funding and on a mostly voluntary basis. He said a heavy snowstorm in the Washington, D.C. area on the days of NEAT's closest approach to the Sun prevented most scientists from getting to the office and processing the images. "I can assure you that nobody manipulated any data," Fleck said today in a telephone interview. "All the images are there now." He called the accusations of cover-up "pure nonsense."

One Web site, GuluFuture.com, misidentifies NEAT as a planet, saying it formed only recently and has a nucleus the size of Mercury. The account accuses NASA of covering up this "fact" and of hiding images from the public. Another Web site, Rense.com, fuels fright with more subtle language: "Maybe it is nothing. Maybe it is something. If something, it could be the most significant occurrence in recorded human history."

Plait, author of "Bad Astronomy" and founder of a web site by the same name, told SPACE.com these latest conspiracy theories share a common trait: "They all have the distinct disadvantage of not being based on facts." Plait said the idea that NEAT is as big as a planet is just plain wrong.

"The actual comet itself, the chunk of rock and ice, is only a few miles across," he said. "What we see in the [SOHO] images is the cloud of gas surrounding the nucleus, evaporated off the surface by the heat of the Sun. That cloud is huge, but the comet itself is tiny."

"According to them, SOHO images show UFOs, giant planets, the eye of God, and probably even Bigfoot if you look hard enough," he said. "All of these facts are based on these people not understanding how digital cameras work." Many of the "sightings" claimed in SOHO images are the result of bright spots generated when solar radiation hits the spacecraft's detector, Plait explained...conspiracy theorists seem to forget that three people can keep a secret only if two of them are dead. You can hardly ever shut up an astronomer; how would you keep thousands of them quiet?"

Benny Peiser, a social anthropologists at Liverpool John Moores University [said] the issue has become one of credibility for the science community revolving around public perception of whether NASA could -- or would want to -- hide knowledge of an impending impact...secrecy is not even possible given the number of non-NASA astronomers who have instant access to the data and imagery...

For those keeping track, comet NEAT is not the first space object purported to present terrestrial doom in 2003. As early as last summer, Web prognosticators said a Planet X would pass so close to Earth in May of this year that its gravity would generate natural disasters and kill 90 percent of the people on Earth. That nonsense was based not on NASA images, but instead involved pure efforts at prophecy led by people like Nancy Lieder, who says she "channels" aliens called Zetans (from the star Zeta Reticuli) who've explained all this to her. (Given that comet NEAT's arrival is well ahead of Lieder's May timeframe, it appears to represent a separate doomsday problem.)...

The possible presence of another object as big or larger than Pluto, lurking somewhere in the fringes of the solar system, has not been ruled out. If one exists, astronomers agree, it would not pose a threat to Earth. Doomsday aficionados might also recall that a chance alignment of planets in the year 2000 had been cited as a moment that would bring great gravitational calamity to Earth. Nothing happened, just as reputable scientists had predicted. Plait predicts the same non-occurrence of the present prognostications. "I wonder what those conspiracy theorists will say a week or two from now, when nothing has happened," Plait said. "Will they say NASA covered up the destruction of the Earth?"

http://www.marsearthconnection.com/catastrophe.html

[null and void]

Not so kewl:

Deaths Blamed on Mysterious Microbe with Anthrax Genes

[Lucy Lake]

Do you suppose those KKK groups were the beginning of the rent-a-mobs?

Who really benefited from the gatherings?

[Donna Lee Nardo]

Meteor crashes in to New Zealand home
3.27PM, Sun Jun 13 2004, itv.com

A family living in New Zealand had a surprise visit this weekend when a meteorite crashed through the roof of their house in an Auckland suburb.

Scientists were initially sceptical, but have now agreed that the rock - weighing more than a kilo - came from space.

Home owner Brenda Archer said: ""There was just a huge explosion and we looked around and there was just dust everywhere and I thought 'oh no, there's been an explosion or Phil's got something on the roof and its fallen through'."

She added: "I don't know what to make of it. It's unbelievable. I'm just glad no one was sitting on the couch because they just would have got absolutely crowned."

Joel Schiff, from Auckland University, said the circumstances of the meteor's discovery adds to its unique status: "Falling through a roof is really an exceptional event that rarely happens, and this is a beautiful large specimen."

Scientists plan to analyse the chemical composition of the meteorite to find out more about where it came from.

It is only the ninth recorded meteor to land in New Zealand and its rarity makes it valuable to collectors as well as scientists.

Dr. Grant Christie, of the Stardome Observatory, said: "There are dealers who will be one the next plane here and they will be on your front doorstep with lots cash."

[DAVEY CROCKETT]

I have beem trying to find statics on meteors. I cannot figure out if we just started to notice meteors or a list of how many have hit.

Anyone have this info?

I did find statics on train derailment and we have already surpassed the total for 2003 and we are only halfway through the year.

[Oorang]

Yes, I wish there was a function to search within the threads. I've looked for pertinent lists in the past and I agree it is a eye strain and a headache inducer! There is a trucker website that I think has current accident/incident info but you have to be a member of the site. Not sure if you have to be a trucker to be a member, I didn't go that far as I wasn't going to sign up anyway. I'll continue the search.

[Revel]

Gee...I just put in find "666" on this page and it brought up your last post.


Hope you don't mind a bit of humor there.

[FairOpinion]

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Deaths Blamed on Mysterious Microbe with Anthrax Genes

Last year two hospital patients from different cities in Texas died of severe pneumonia that appeared to be caused by inhalation anthrax. Yet neither patient was infected with the bacterium that causes anthrax, Bacillus anthracis.

Instead, DNA tests indicated that both patients became infected by another species of bacteria that carried the lethal anthrax genes. The bacterium, called Bacillus cereus, typically causes mild food poisoning.

Both microbes have capsules that may protect them from a person's immune system.

When the Texas cases came to light, researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, were sequencing the genome of a strain of B. cereus isolated from a man in Louisiana who, in 1994, developed severe anthrax-like symptoms.

The researchers now report that B. cereus can indeed carry lethal genes of the anthrax bacterium. The Texas and Louisiana patients were all metal workers and appeared to have inhaled the dangerous bacteria, although scientists do not know how.

These are the first cases in which anthrax genes have been discovered in an organism other than B. anthracis, and the findings raise concerns about the prevalence of the previously unknown pathogen—and our preparedness to detect and respond to it in the event of a biological attack.

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[Oorang]

Does anyone know of a website, probably a gov. site?, that lists metorite strikes? I think one came through, or landed, near us last night. My husband searched all local news sites this morning and cannot find any reports. Local news for us is Portland, OR which is actually 100 miles away. Tell me what you think, here is what happened:

Saturday night, 9:35 pm, we were both on our computers (laptops, the only way to go :-)). There was a loud boom. My instant reaction was a gunshot. We live in the sticks so gun shot is not unusual, except this was so loud it would have to be a .50 caliber, which would be unusual for that time of the evening. My husbands feet were on the floor and he said he felt the vibration and he didn't think it was shooting (I trust him on this, he is a firearm expert).

We did not see any lights in the sky. Second thought was someone's house blew up (the boom was that loud). We went outside, did not see any flames or smell smoke. Took a brief drive and did not see anything. We were up for another couple of hours and there were no sirens so we ruled out the exploding house explanation.

I can't think of anything other than a meteor. Any ideas? I'd really like to know what it was as it was most unusual. Thanks for any input or ideas.

[Oorang]

Bizarre! I remember on a past TM thread I was post 666 and I hoped no one noticed. If it happens a third time I'll start to worry (I really am a good person :-)).

[Indie]

Assuming it was a meteor....

[rickylc]

Is a sonic boom from aircraft the possible cause?

[Jill St Claire]

Yes?

[DAVEY CROCKETT]

I wasn't going to post this but Yesterday bumming around a flea market and the same thing happened.

Sounded like shotgun (my exact thought was .50 ha ha ha) Smart minds think alike! But much louder my next thought was cannon. It was daylight so no flash.

Maybe we are just noticing more;) yeah right

One more thing we have XM radio and last night we were losing reception so bad we couldn't even listen to it.HHUUUMMMMMMMMMM

[DAVEY CROCKETT]

You make me laugh. No matter how serious or not.

[Oorang]

We get very little aircraft overhead, just not in the flight path I guess. It sounded different than a sonic boom though and my husband definitely felt the vibration (bare feet on wood floor). My husband immediately went outside and said it was completely quiet. Usually after a sonic boom you hear the aircraft. Hmmmm, could have been a sonic boom, but, I"m not sure.

[Oorang]

Exactly! My first thought was if it's a .50 it's real close then I thought of a cannon as well. It would be fun to have a cannon :-).

[DAVEY CROCKETT]

Not in my case I have heard sonic booms before not the exact same sound. This seemed slower if that makes sense!Wondering:)

[DAVEY CROCKETT]

Yes it would mounted on a tank. Do you remember "Rat Patrol"

[rickylc]

It could have been a sonic boom from a meteor also, I would guess. Seems like you should have heard something after the boom if it was a plane.

If you didn't see any light or flash, it's hard to say.

Anyone else in the area that could have seen or noticed something?