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NASA has announced the discovery of what it believes to be ancient microbial life on the Martian surface. The new administrator for the space agency, Sean Duffy, said a sample collected by the Perseverance rover has been declared the 'clearest sign of life' ever found on the Red Planet. In a Wednesday news conference, NASA's Associate Administrator Nicky Fox said: 'This is the kind of signature that we would see that was made by something biological.' Specifically, researchers have been looking at unusual spots and seed-like shapes in ancient Martian rocks that might point to the existence of tiny life...

Couldn't resist. . . Phhbbbbbpth !!

I leave and heave A sigh and say goodbye

The comic strip "Cathy," which has chronicled the life, frustrations and swimsuit season meltdowns of its namesake for more than 30 years, is coming to an end. Cathy Guisewite, the strip's creator, said Wednesday that deciding to end the comic strip was "excruciating." The comic has won several awards, including a 1992 National Cartoonists Society's Reuben Award and an Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program in 1987, and at its height appeared in 1,400 papers. "It's just been really unbelievably agonizing to make the decision," Guisewite said in a telephone interview from her home in the Los Angeles area. "The...

Disappointment as US high school students snub 'lesbian-friendly prom' Senior prom fell far short of the rite of passage Constance McMillen was hoping for when she began a legal battle to challenge a ban on same-sex dates. Published: 7:00AM BST 07 Apr 2010 Constance McMillen Photo: AP The 18-year-old lesbian student said that she was one of only seven students to show up at a private party chaperoned by school officials. She said the rest of her peers went to another private event where she wasn't invited. "It was not the prom I imagined," she said. "It really hurts my...

As we all know, in the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the police who investigate crime and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders. Last night's episode of television's longest running drama -- NBC's "Law & Order" -- featured District Attorney Jack McCoy prosecuting a John Yoo-esque Bush administration Justice Department attorney for writing a legal memo authorizing the torture of detainees. "Jack, you want to prosecute a member of the Bush administration for assaulting suspected terrorists?" McCoy is asked in the season premiere episode, titled "Memo from the Dark Side."...

Howdy! I've installed Windows Server 2003 on an older box I've got here at the house. Installation went fine, as did running all the updates, and setting up the initial roles for the server. I've added the print server role, and I'm going to be adding shares to the D: drive I have installed as well. Why install this as a home network? For the practice, so I can learn more about how Server functions, for more control over what my daughter can do online, and when she can do it. For the experience, basically. I've got down how to...

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates called on China Thursday to explain its intentions in undertaking a major military buildup that the Pentagon warns is altering the military balance in the region. "There is no question that the Chinese are building significant capacity," Gates said. "Our concern is over their intent." Gates spoke to reporters during a stopover here on his way to Singapore where he was expected to raise US concerns over the increases in Chinese military spending, the size and scope of which is secret. "One of the central themes of everyone who is talking to the Chinese is...

NEW YORK — Just over half of Americans believe Sen. Hillary Clinton is prepared to be the first female president of the United States, according to a new FOX News poll. In addition, Clinton is the preferred choice of Democratic voters for their party’s 2008 presidential nominee; on the Republican side, former NY Mayor Rudy Giuliani barely edges out Ariz. Sen. John McCain for frontrunner billing. Opinion Dynamics Corporation conducted the national telephone poll of 900 registered voters for FOX News from August 29 to August 30. The poll has a 3-point error margin. A slim 51-percent majority of voters...

Last year I found out my daughter had/was suffering endometriosis. She had surgery, among other things, and was very ill. How did I find out? I ran into the very same daughter at the store, and she told me. I was blown away. I never knew... Here I was, her father, and she's telling me it's okay, she almost died but didn't. It seems like I remember a certain person who gave birth to her, right? A certain person I loved & then paid child support to and helped with other sh!t with for many many years and dollars? That...

Can't get on to Google, yes I am logged on.

Women's Rights Marchers Gather in D.C. 9 minutes ago By ELIZABETH WOLFE, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON - Tens of thousands of women began gathering for a women's abortion rights rally Sunday as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton told several hundred of them the issue is about women gaining full equality. At a pre-rally breakfast, Clinton said the Bush administration is "filled with people" who view the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade abortion ruling by the Supreme Court "the worst abomination of constitutional law." "This administration is filled with people who disparage sexual harassment laws, who claim the pay gap between women...