Photo Flash: New, Pink and Rare

Using its fins to walk, rather than swim, along the ocean floor in an undated picture, the pink handfish is one of nine newly named species described in a recent scientific review of the handfish family. Only four specimens of the elusive four-inch (ten-centimeter) pink handfish have ever been found, and all of those were collected from areas around the city of Hobart (map), on the Australian island of Tasmania.

Read the full article via National Geographic

posted by: Brent Carter

In WTF News: Israel Goes Rambo on Gaza Aid Fleet

According to Al-Jazeera (published May 31, 2010):

Israeli forces have attacked a flotilla of aid-carrying ships aiming to break the country’s siege on Gaza. At least 19 people were killed and dozens injured when troops intercepted the convoy of ships dubbed the Freedom Flotilla early on Monday, Israeli radio reported.

The flotilla was attacked in international waters, 65km off the Gaza coast. Avital Leibovich, an Israeli military spokeswoman, confirmed that the attack took place in international waters, saying: “This happened in waters outside of Israeli territory, but we have the right to defend ourselves.”

Footage from the flotilla’s lead vessel, the Mavi Marmara, showed armed Israeli soldiers boarding the ship and helicopters flying overhead.

Al Jazeera’s Jamal Elshayyal, on board the Mavi Marmara, said Israeli troops had used live ammunition during the operation. The Israeli military said four soldiers had been wounded and claimed troops opened fire after “demonstrators onboard attacked the IDF Naval personnel with live fire and light weaponry including knives and clubs”.

Free Gaza Movement, the organisers of the flotilla, however, said the troops opened fire as soon as they stormed the convoy. Our correspondent said that a white surrender flag was raised from the ship and there was no live fire coming from the passengers.

Before losing communication with our correspondent, a voice in Hebrew was clearly heard saying: “Everyone shut up”.

Shortly after, two Israeli naval vessels had flanked the flotilla on either side, but at a distance. Organisers of the flotilla carrying 10,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid then diverted their ships and slowed down to avoid a confrontation during the night.

Read the full article here
Follow updates to the story via Al-Jazeera’s Middle East Blog
Watch another report of the incident via the Guardian

Every Islamic nation along with the U.N. Security Council are condemning the actions of Israel; while Turkey, Spain, Greece, Denmark and Sweden have summoned the Israeli ambassadors in their respective countries to protest against the deadly assault. France, Russia, China and the UK are calling for the blockade of Gaza to be lifted. The White House declined Tuesday to specifically condemn Israel for its raid on the flotilla headed for Gaza, but said it showed Middle East peace moves were needed “more than ever.” That’s an understatement to say the least…

Turkish activists hold a news conference on board the Mavi Marmara ship in the Mediterranean Sea, late Sunday, shortly before Israeli naval commandos stormed their flotilla

If you’re interested in helping end Israel’s Gaza blockade you can sign a petition here

posted by: Harold Johns III

Photo Flash: That Sinking Feeling

Via Boing Boing:

Above, this photo just posted to the Guatemalan Government’s Flickr feed shows a spontaneous sinkhole (“hundimiento”) 20 meters deep and 15 wide (roughly 60 ft. by 49 ft. for us crazy Americans) that appeared today in Zone 2 of Guatemala City, after overwhelming saturation of rains from tropical storm Agatha. Local press reports that it swallowed an entire 3-story building.  Sadly, these “hundimientos” happen from time to time during major storms because of unstable geology and bad urban engineering.

Learn more via National Geographic

posted by: Harold Johns III

In WTF News: Meet Some Wannabe Teen Wolves

I guess the Goth kids at John Marshal High School finally got their wish – another group of kids so lame even they get to pick on them. This is my favorite quote, “We’re not a gang at all. Gangs are like posers. They just want attention, that’s why they go along tagging stuff. The pack? We’re a family. We go to each other for our problems.”

Read the full article here

posted by: Harold Johns III

Watch: “Blowout: The Deepwater Horizon Disaster”

According to 60 Minutes:

The gusher unleashed in the Gulf of Mexico continues to spew crude oil. There are no reliable estimates of how much oil is pouring into the gulf. But it comes to many millions of gallons since the catastrophic blowout. Eleven men were killed in the explosions that sank one of the most sophisticated drilling rigs in the world, the “Deepwater Horizon.”

This week Congress continues its investigation, but Capitol Hill has not heard from the man “60 Minutes” correspondent Scott Pelley met: Mike Williams, one of the last crewmembers to escape the inferno.

It sounds like BP will be held responsible for the gulf oil spill, but will they actually pay? As it stands now the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, which was passed in the wake of the Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska, sets a $75 million liability limit for the “responsible parties” – in this case BP.  The act provided for the limit to be periodically adjusted upward for inflation but that never happened. Why not? It probably has something to do with the $6.2 million BP has contributed to various political campaigns since 1990 (including $77,051 given to President Obama), and the over $249 million spent on aggressive lobbying efforts over the same period of time.

Democratic Senators Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey and Bill Nelson of Florida introduced legislation at the beginning of May raising the cap on oil company liability for spill damages from $75 million to $10 billion.

Democrats’ attempts to bring the legislation to the floor last week were blocked by Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska who took $7,000 from BP in the last election cycle and has taken over $400,000 from the oil industry in eight years. Democrats are expected to try again this week to bring the measure up for consideration. Meanwhile the oil spill continues to cause about $10 million a day in damages as BP continues to consider asinine plans like plugging the hole with old golf balls and rubber.

An aerial view of oil leaked from the Deepwater Horizon wellhead, May 6, 2010. (REUTERS/Daniel Beltra)

See more photos via The Big Picture

posted by: Harold Johns III