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The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Tuesday shows that 31% of the nation's voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-three percent (33%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -2. That matches the lowest level yet recorded

Over the last two decades, some amazing things have happened in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Governments have been pouring money into AI and robotics, yielding meaningful progress. Some powerful AI systems have gone commercial; others are on the brink. But these accomplishments are sometimes being overshadowed by commentary on robot emotions, robot rights, the potential for marriage between humans and robots, and such. It’s all quite a bit of fun, and neither commentators nor readers need any understanding of science and technology to participate. So what if the fictional robot Bender on the animated sci-fi comedy Futurama provides...

Mainstream Democrats close to Barack Obama are warning Republicans about insisting on too many changes to the president's health care overhaul, saying the Democratic-controlled Congress will move ahead without GOP input if they do. A strong-arm partisan approach may be unpleasant, these prominent Democrats say, but it is better than letting Republicans dictate spending cuts and insurance rules that many Democratic voters oppose. For weeks, staunchly liberal groups have complained as key Senate Democrats insisted on a bipartisan approach, especially in the Finance Committee. The strategy is giving Republicans more clout than their minority status deserves, these critics said. Now,...

RNC Chairman Michael Steele on Sanford's infidelity: "It is a problem of leadership. It is a failure of individuals to understand why they were elected among some money in their community to lead in this fashion this is the price you pay. My heart goes out to Mrs. Sanford and the boys, but the governor should know better. That is not what leadership is about. It is not your personal agenda, it is your service to the community. That is what people expect. There is a higher standard for people who assume that mantle of public leadership. we have to...

Why are California and the United States on the brink of fiscal ruin? I believe it’s because of thinking like that of Democrats who are in control of the California’s State Assembly and Democrats who are in control of the Congress of the United States of America.. Listen to California Budget Conference Committee Chairwoman Noreen Evans’ (D-Santa Rosa) reasoning why she believes that her state is in the financial mess that it is in. (see video 1:38mins)

The upcoming confirmation hearing, for the next Supreme Court Justice, presents both an opportunity and a risk for Republicans and the Conservative cause. The importance of these hearings cannot be underestimated. The argument can be won – even if she is confirmed – and here is how. What’s At Stake. Obviously, whether Sotomayor should be on the Supreme Court is at stake – but that’s not all. This debate can – should – and will shape the debate over the next 3 Justices which Obama may be able to pick in the next 3 years - let alone if he...

The bronze rat A Tourist walked into a Chinese curio shop in San Francisco. While looking around at the exotic merchandise, he noticed a very lifelike, life-sized, bronze statue of a rat. It had no price tag, but was so incredibly striking the tourist decided he must have it. He took it to the old shop owner and asked, "How much for the bronze rat?" "Ahhh, you have chosen wisely! It is $12 for the rat, $100 for the story," said the wise old Chinaman. The tourist quickly pulled out twelve dollars. "I'll just take the rat, you can keep...

What it is... Bryozoa

Texans Kill Crafty Critters With Crossbows; Fishing Limits Are the Order of the Day CROCKETT, Texas -- The sadly misunderstood alligator gar, reviled for its frighteningly huge and prehistoric appearance and rows of razor-sharp teeth, has been hunted for centuries. Fishermen despise the gar because they believe the fish devour prized bass and crappie. Swimmers and boaters fear the gar's alligator-shaped jaws could take a chunk out of them in the water. But in recent times, alligator gar have experienced a kind of trash-to-trophy renaissance as sportsmen discovered the thrill of hunting the beasts, which can weigh up to 300...

This is the bruised and battered face of 24-year-old burglar Gregory McCalium who got more than he bargained for when he broke into the home of a 72-year-old former boxing champ. Former boxer Frank Corti, 72, said he was compelled to defend himself and his wife after Gregory McCalium threatened them at their Oxfordshire home and gave him a black eye and bloodied lip. McCalium, 24, confronted the elderly couple after a row over noise levels between the neighbours on Queens Close, Botley, Oxford. Oxford Crown Court heard McCalium was drunk after attending an all-night party when he forced his...

Thank the Good Lord that there is at least one branch of our government which is not crazy left. Not yet. Say No to Soto.

Video shows the sentiments on the ground at Sharif University in Tehran, when Ahmadinejad is taunted on his way out. Chants of “Ahmadi bye bye!” “liar” and “death to the dictator” can be heard, as well as MOUSAVI.

, Marine Corps Capt. Kenneth Reusser and his wingman were flying a mission in the Pacific region during World War II when they came upon a Japanese surveillance plane. The cold air had frozen the fighters’ guns, so Reusser tipped his F4U-4 Corsair toward the aircraft, allowing his wingman to rake his propeller across the plane’s tail. The move downed the enemy plane and would have been a heroic highlight of any military career. But it was just a start for Reusser. Known as one of the most decorated Marine Corps aviators ever, he died June 20 of natural causes...

Madrid's city hall Monday stripped former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco of his title as honorary mayor and adopted son of the capital, 33 years after his death began the transition to democracy. Councilors of all political colors unanimously voted to remove the titles, as well as medals Madrid conferred on the right-wing general, a spokesman for the council said.

Illinois is all too familiar with tales of men in power indicted for selling favors and inspiring calls for reform. The Roman Catholic Church had its own version 500 years ago when a church reformer named Martin Luther indicted church leaders for selling indulgences -- a spiritual benefit by which Catholics believe they can reduce their punishment for sin in purgatory. The scandal spawned the Protestant Reformation and, though the church outlawed the exchange of money for mercy in 1567, indulgences fell off the radar for many Catholics. Now five centuries later, the proverbial pardons from purgatory have made a...

AND NOW . . . amidst billowing clouds of fragrant, aromatic first- and second-hand premium cigar smoke. . . it is time for . . . that harmless, lovable little fuzz ball, the highly-trained broadcast specialist, having more fun than a human being should be allowed to have, from behind the golden EIB microphone, firmly ensconced in the prestigious Attila-the-Hun chair at the Limbaugh Institute of Advanced Conservative Studies, serving humanity simply by showing up, and he’s not retiring until every American agrees with him, do NOT doubt him, with shrieks of joy at the mere mention of his name...

A couple of Swedish parents have stirred up debate in the country by refusing to reveal whether their two-and-a-half-year-old child is a boy or a girl. Tax agency ready for June 1st ID card rush (29 May 09) Sweden rules 'gender-based' abortion legal (12 May 09) Swedish gays made to wait for church wedding (3 May 09) Pop’s parents [see footnote], both 24, made a decision when their baby was born to keep Pop’s sex a secret. Aside from a select few – those who have changed the child’s diaper – nobody knows Pop’s gender; if anyone enquires, Pop’s parents...

The treatment for terminal cancer that Annapolis resident Mary Ellen Heibel took at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 2004 and early 2005 worked beyond anyone's wildest hopes, wiping out malignant tumors in her lungs, liver, stomach and chest. Her doctor did not expect it, nor could he explain it. Surely the outcome was remarkable, but was it - in the sense applied by the Roman Catholic Church in such cases - a miracle? In a few weeks, a committee appointed by the Archdiocese of Baltimore will begin exploring that question, examining 11 witnesses, including Heibel, pressing her doctors, nurses and friends...

Two international occurrences over the past month have given us an interesting insight into President Obama. The first being his initial tepid response to Iranians demonstrating non violently in the streets over a very suspicious election result and the Basij murdering seven demonstrators in a staged attacked to make the demonstrators look violent. The purpose of the attack was to delegitimize a peaceful movement and their dissent in order to shift the focus away from a less than believable election result. One cannot count millions of hand marked paper ballots in a matter of four hours, not even in the...

If you're drowning, and someone throws you a rope, you're not likely to spend much time worrying about where the rope was manufactured. You grab the rope, and cling to it gratefully. Someone in desperate need is not in a position to question a benefactor. But when the need is no longer so desperate, the questions are bound to come. Who are you, and why did you help me? Were you acting out of pure Christian charity, or were you just doing your job? Were you motivated by compassion, or were you, perhaps, simply carrying out the requirements of a...