Friday, August 3, 2007, 1:56 AM

Lane Garrison, who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter and drunken driving in a crash that killed a teenage passenger, was ordered Thursday to undergo a 90-day evaluation to help a judge decide his sentence.

The former "Prison Break" actor will undergo a "diagnostic" by parole officers and psychologists in a prison before returning for an Oct. 31 appearance before Superior Court Judge Elden S. Fox.

Garrison, 27, was driving a 2001 Land Rover on Dec. 2 when he lost control and rammed a tree. The crash killed Vahagn Setian, a Beverly Hills High School student who would have been 18 on Wednesday. Two other passengers, both 15-year-old girls, survived.

Garrison had a blood-alcohol content of 0.20 percent, more than twice the legal limit for driving, and was under the influence of cocaine, according to police.

About a dozen of the victim's friends and relatives were in court Thursday, all wearing T-shirts with Setian's picture on the front and the James Dean saying "Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today" on the back.

Garrison pleaded guilty in May to one count of vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence, one count of driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol level of 0.15 percent or higher, and a misdemeanor of providing alcohol to a minor.

He apologized to Setian's family during the court proceeding.

"I relive that night every day and I think about the bad decision I made that day. All I can say to you is, `I'm so sorry,'" he said.

Garrison's character on Fox's "Prison Break" was killed in the show's Oct. 2 episode. The Dallas native's other credits include the film "Crazy."

He was recently featured in a public service announcement that encourages viewers not to drink and drive. The PSA re-enacts his crash and he appears to be holding back tears as he talks about what a stupid and costly mistake he made.

With hope, -.Later.-

Tuesday, July 31, 2007, 3:08 AM

LOS ANGELES - Hollywood residents believe they've found a humane way to reduce their pigeon population and the messes the birds make: the pill.

Over the next few months a birth control product called OvoControl P, which interferes with egg development, will be placed in bird food in new rooftop feeders.

"We think we've got a good solution to a bad situation," said Laura Dodson, president of the Argyle Civic Association, the group leading the effort to try the new contraceptive. "The poop problem has become unmanageable and this could be the answer."

Community leaders planned to announce the OvoControl P pilot program, which Dodson believes is the first of its kind in the nation, at a news conference Monday.

Dodson said representatives from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals contacted her group with the idea to use OvoControl P. Other animal rights groups, including the Humane Society of the United States, support the contraceptive over electric shock gates, spiked rooftops, poisons or other methods.

It's estimated about 5,000 pigeons call the area home. Their population boom is blamed in part on people feeding the birds, including a woman known as the Bird Lady, who was responsible for dumping 25-pound bags of seed in 29 spots around Hollywood.

OvoControl P has been registered with the state Department of Pesticide Regulation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Developed by Rancho Santa Fe-based Innolytics, the substance contains nicarbazin, which interferes with an egg's ability to develop or hatch, said Erick Wolf, Innolytics chief executive.

The pilot program was expected to show results within a year, and the Hollywood area's pigeon population is expected to shrink by at least half by 2012, Dodson said.

With hope, -.Later.-

Tuesday, July 17, 2007, 3:02 AM

Debris spots found on stars reveal planets that went splat like bugs on a windshield.

The result: metal smears on the surface of parent stars, said European Southern Observatory astronomer Luca Pasquini, who offered up another analogy:

"It is a little bit like a tiramisu or a cappuccino," Pasquini said. "There is cocoa powder only on the top."

The finding could help unravel mysteries of planet formation.
As scientists began discovering exoplanets, or worlds orbiting distant stars, in the past decade, they found these planets were most often found around stars rich in iron. Stars that host planets are on average nearly twice as rich in metals than counterparts without worlds.

But are these stars rich in metals because planetary debris polluted them? Or do metal-loaded stars naturally spawn worlds? It's a classic chicken-or-egg problem.

If these metals were planetary debris, they would only be found in the outer layers of stars. On the other hand, if these metals were inherently part of the stars, they would be found to their cores. Unfortunately, the only light that astronomers can see from stars comes just from their outermost layers, which means there is no direct way to peer into their hearts.

Instead, scientists looked at stars whose innards churn far more than our sun does. The ingredients of the interiors of these stars roil to their surfaces for astronomers to analyze.
Specifically, researchers focused on red giants, stars that-as will the sun in several billion years- have puffed up and become much larger and cooler after they have exhausted the hydrogen in their cores. Compared with sun-like stars, these giants have much larger convective zones, or regions where all the gas is completely mixed. The sun's convective zone comprises only 2 percent of the star's mass, but in red giants the convective zone is 35 times more massive.

After inspecting 14 planet-hosting red giants, Pasquini and his colleagues found these were not rich in metals as is typically the case for planet-hosting sun-like stars. The simplest explanation is that metals seen in planet-hosting stars are pollution from planetary debris, findings that will be detailed in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.

The debris might come from "planets themselves or small planetoids," researcher Artie Hatzes, director of the Thuringia State Observatory in Tautenburg, Germany, told SPACE.com.
Pasquini said their results might favor the controversial and relatively new "disk instability" theory. This concept states that large planets emerge from clumps of dust and gas whose hearts coalesce into cores that grow relatively quickly.

MIT planetary scientist Sara Seager, who did not participate in this study, noted "the findings are an intriguing piece of the puzzle in trying to understand planet formation."

Resolving the mysteries concerning how planets form will require a much larger study of metal-rich and metal-poor planet-hosting stars, she added.

With hope, -.Later.-

Tuesday, July 10, 2007, 2:10 AM

A falling cat always lands on its feet

When a cat falls a short distance, it often twists itself around to right itself and land on its feet. However, falls from heights can cause severe injury or death.
A window without a screen or with an insecurely fastened screen is a life-threatening hazard. Other accidents happen when an air conditioner is removed from the window for cleaning or repair. Balconies are also a danger. A cat may fall from a balcony rail as it chases an insect.
Securely fastened screens and being alert to other high-rise dangers help prevent serious injuries resulting from falls.


Cats have nine lives

This myth probably started as the result of a cat’s flexible skeleton that allows squeezing and twisting to negotiate narrow and awkward places.
The factors that influence a cat’s longevity are proper diet and care, including regular visits to the veterinarian, and the cat’s genetic makeup.
The average life span for a neutered cat who is housed inside is estimated to be from 12 to 14 years. The maximum life span is said to be 35 years. The roaming cat’s life expectancy is usually less than that of a cat housed indoors. This may relate to a more stressful lifestyle as the results of accidents, fighting and exposure to weather extremes.


Cats can see in the dark

Cats cannot see in total darkness, but they can see much better at night with minimum light than humans can. Their vision in dim light is very sensitive.
Protecting a cat’s vision is one of the reasons a cat should never be fed dog food. Unlike dogs, cats cannot manufacture the amino acid taurine. Lack of taurine in the cat’s diet can cause vision problems. Cats require a higher level of protein in their diet than dogs.


All cats like fish

There is no particular food that all cats like. This is why cat foods are available in a variety of flavors and textures. Once you find nutritionally complete and balanced cat food your cat enjoys, stay with it. Frequent diet changes may create a finicky eater and cause digestive upsets. Be certain the package label states that the product has undergone feeding trials in accordance with the Association of American Feed Control officials (AAFCO) protocol.


Neutered cats become fat and lazy

Although neutered cats may become obese, this condition can be prevented. If the cat begins to gain weight, eliminate food from the table and, if necessary, reduce the amount of cat food offered. Cats can be encouraged to exercise through play. If there are questions about a cat’s body condition, a veterinarian should be consulted.
Spaying and neutering have many benefits. Spaying a female cat before her first heat cycle can help prevent mammary tumors and uterine infections.

With hope, -.Later.-

Sunday, July 8, 2007, 5:41 AM

Since 373 BC when the ancient Greeks first noted that rats, weasels, snakes, and even centipedes fled the city of Helice days before the earth violently shook, people have believed that animals are able to predict earthquakes. When the Tsunami of 2004 devastated the countries along the Indian Ocean, it took the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, but animals faired remarkably well. The Chinese have long believed dogs and cats are able to predict quakes. In 1975, the city of Haicheng was evacuated days in advance of an earthquake based on the behavior of dogs and cats. An estimated 150,000 lives were saved. Stories like these lead many to believe that animals have some kind of sixth sense. Many scientists are still skeptical about the ability of animals to detect earthquakes. It’s difficult to test and prove in a scientifically controlled environment. Most evidence for this phenomenon comes from anecdotes. People recall that their dog or cat had behaved strangely before an earthquake hit. The problem scientists have with that is, dogs or cats may act strangely at any given time. People take special note of it only after the fact, because a very memorable earthquake followed. Scientists who do believe animals can sense earthquakes don’t always agree on the animals’ “method.” Are they picking up electromagnetic waves the earth emits before a quake? Are they smelling gases? Can they feel early tremors too subtle for our senses? How do they know? A recent scientific study, conducted by Dr. Stanley Coren, author of many books on dog communication, found that some dogs can indeed detect an earthquake, and he believes he has determined how they do it, as well. They are using their remarkable sense of hearing. He presented his findings this past November at a Psychonomic Society meeting in Houston. There were 193 dogs in this study done at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. An earthquake, with an epicenter in the Seattle area, caused shaking and damage in Vancouver. Twenty-four hours prior, half the dogs showed an increase in activity and anxiety. Fourteen of the dogs in the study were hearing impaired, and only one of them had an increase in anxiety. However, because this hearing-impaired dog was with a hearing dog that became anxious, it’s likely he was picking up on the other dog’s anxiety. Dr. Coren believes that the dogs’ ability to hear at extraordinarily high frequencies allows them to pick up on the high-pitch sounds of rocks scraping and breaking beneath the earth, an event that precedes earthquakes. This idea was further supported by the finding that the dogs with floppy ears did not react as much as dogs with pointy ears. Floppy ears tend to block high-pitched sounds. Dogs with smaller head sizes were also better at picking up the sound than dogs with larger heads. It’s the same with other animals – elephants pick up low-frequency sounds well, while bats are better attuned to high frequencies. So why do dogs become agitated when they hear rocks scraping underground? Do they understand its meaning? Do they know danger is imminent? Dr. Coren says no. It’s more likely that the sound to them is like nails on a chalkboard and they want to get away from it. This could at least partially explain why animals survived the Tsunami, which was caused by an earthquake in the Indian Ocean. Although it’s likely there was also other sensory input that caused the animal exodus, it’s possible that those able to pick up on the initial high-frequency sounds fled from the ocean, and those that couldn’t, took their cues from the ones fleeing.

frm yahoo.

With hope, -.Later.-

Saturday, July 7, 2007, 5:26 AM

Lots of people do, for one simple reason. Saturday will be July 7, 2007, or 7-7-07. In numerological terms, that's about as big as it gets for the superstitious.

People are booking gambling junkets, casinos are offering "7"-themed promotions, and about three times the normal number of couples plan to get married that day, including Eva Longoria and basketball player boyfriend Tony Parker.

Nearly 100 couples will tie the knot atop roller coasters or inside revolving teacups at amusement parks at 7 that morning, a California yogi plans to achieve massive harmony through gong meditation at 7 that night, and Christians will gather in a Tennessee football stadium to pray on a day that has good Biblical implications for many.

Experts are quick to point out that Saturday is no more or less likely to be lucky than any other day. But try telling that to Allen Windrim, a 20-something entrepreneur from Philadelphia who owns a real estate management firm, a collection agency and a construction company.

"Hopefully I can get all my vacancies filled that day, all my collection cases settled without going to court, and get seven jobs for the construction company worth seventy-thousand each," he said.

"And then I'll take all that money and put it on Number Seven," he said. "I'm definitely in Atlantic City that day."

Casinos across the country are rolling heavy doses of sevens to attract superstitious gamblers, everything from $7 drink specials to luxury watches selling for $777. The Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City is offering a $7,777 package that includes a bi-level suite, two tickets to a show and the spa, and dining and shopping credits.

Craps players — among the most superstitious gamblers — have been buzzing for weeks about Lucky 7 Day, said Mario DiGuiseppe, the Tropicana's vice president of casino operations.
Asked if he believes in luck or superstition, DiGuiseppe responded with the certainty of one who knows that the odds always favor the house.

"I believe in math," he said with a chuckle.

Math is no obstacle for William Mobley of Philadelphia, who plans to be in Atlantic City on Saturday.

"I got a feeling about that day," he said. "I'll win over $700. Everything will go people's way that day. At least hopefully mine."

Gambles of a different sort will take couples down the aisle. Kathleen Murray, deputy editor of The Knot — http://www.theknot.com/ — said 38,000 of the company's members are getting married that day, up from the normal 12,000 for a Saturday in July.

"This is a true phenomenon," she said. "I've never seen anything like this before. Seven has always been considered the luckiest number, and with three sevens in a row brides and grooms feel they're hitting the jackpot that day."

One of them is Jennifer Dybas, 27, of Channahom, Ill., whose fiancee, Jeff Michalek, 34, is a fanatical poker player. Their wedding theme: Lucky In Love.

"We're giving out instant lottery tickets as favors, and we have little chocolate poker chips with `777 — Lucky In Love' written on them," she said. "Our cake has dice on top and a roulette wheel on the bottom, and the king and queen of hearts on it."

"We got the last ballroom at the country club, the last DJ available at the place we went to, and the last photographer at the photo studio we wanted," she said. "So the luck is starting already."
Other brides chose the day for a more practical reason. "Some brides say their husbands will have no excuse to ever forget their anniversary this way," Murray said.

The Six Flags amusement park chain is hosting seven wedding receptions at 7 a.m. at each of its 12 U.S. facilities. They're calling the event "Thrilled Ever After."

The Ritz Carlton Hotel's Central Park location in New York is offering a July 7 wedding package with a reception for 77, a seven-tier wedding cake, seven Tiffany diamonds for the bride, and a seven-night honeymoon at any Ritz in the world for $77,777.

The day has big noncommercial potential as well. Harijiwan, a yoga instructor in Santa Monica, Calif., who uses only one name, plans a gong meditation course at 7 p.m.

"The numerology on this day — 7-7-07 — is phenomenal," he wrote on his Web site. "Seven represents the aura. Three sevens equals 21 (2+13). Three represents the positive mind. Add the 7 p.m. hour and you have four sevens, which equals 28 (2+810). Ten is the radiant body."
Christians will gather in the Nashville football stadium where the Tennessee Titans play to pray and fast on the 7th.

"The number is significant in the Bible because seven represents a covenant," said Julia Richardson, a spokeswoman for the event, titled The Call. "We feel we want to make a covenant with the Lord to pursue him. Whether it's 1,000 people or 100,000 people, we feel we can bring about a change through prayer and fasting."

Not everyone is greeting the date with enthusiasm. July 7 is the second anniversary of the London terrorist bombings that killed 52 people, and Great Britain has been at high states of readiness since an attack on the Glasgow airport and foiled car bombings at Picadilly Circus within the last week.

from yahoo

With hope, -.Later.-

Monday, July 2, 2007, 4:08 AM

BEIJING (Reuters) - The tomb of China's first emperor, guarded for more than 2,000 years by 8,000 terracotta warriors and horses, has yielded up another archaeological secret.
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After five years of research, archaeologists have confirmed that a 30-meter-high building is buried in the vast mausoleum of Emperor Qinshihuang near the former capital, Xian, in the northwestern province of Shaanxi, Xinhua news agency said on Sunday.

Duan Qingbo, a researcher with Shaanxi Institute of Archaeology, said the building might have been constructed for the soul of the emperor to depart.

Archaeologists have been using remote sensing technology since 2002 to study the internal structure of the unexcavated mausoleum.

They concluded that the building, buried above the main tomb, had four surrounding stair-like walls with nine steps each, Xinhua said.

Qinshihuang unified China in 221 BC.

The life-size terracotta army, buried in pits near the mausoleum to guard the emperor in the afterlife, was accidentally unearthed in 1974 by farmers who were digging a well.

With hope, -.Later.-