Figures & Facts

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To celebrate the 18th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope launch, the Space Telescope Science Institute has released 59 beautiful images of galaxies spinning and colliding into each other.

About Hubble
The Hubble Space Telescope is a collaboration between ESA and NASA. It's a long-term, space-based observatory. The observations are carried out in visible, infrared and ultraviolet light. In many ways Hubble has revolutionised modern astronomy, by not only being an efficient tool for making new discoveries, but also by driving astronomical research in general.

The mission
The Universe is gloriously transparent to visible light over journeys lasting billions of years. However, in the last few microseconds before light arrives at telescope mirrors on Earth it must travel through our turbulent atmosphere and the fine cosmic details become blurred. It is this same atmospheric turbulence that makes the stars appear to twinkle on a dark night.  read more »

"The Bush Administration has praised Canada's conservative Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, for his commitment to the war. But its toll has unnerved Canadian citizens and opposition leaders. A recent poll showed that 47% of Canadians wanted their soldiers to leave Afghanistan immediately, and only 17% supported maintaining a combat role.

The Afghan war had broad public support in Canada in 2002, but is now seen as one front in George W. Bush's hugely unpopular "war on terror." The discontent also has deeper roots.

Perhaps most important, Canadians do not see the Afghan conflict as directly relevant to their own security. Al-Qaeda has never staged an attack on Canadian soil…Canadians worry that fighting alongside the U.S. will increase--not decrease--the risk that they will become a target. "

Images courtesy of Time

Original Source

"The Hunting Party" is written and directed by Richard Shepard, based on a true story as originally told in an Esquire article, “What I Did on My Summer Vacation” by Scott Anderson, starring Richard Gere (Simon Hunt), Terrence Howard (Duck), and Jesse Eisenberg (Benjamin) as the protagonists. Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and the Weinstein Company. Running time: 103 minutes -

"In theory, the official hunt for the war criminals in Bosnia continues to this day... However, the two most wanted men, Radovan Karadzic and Rtoco Mladic – continue to elude the U.S., the United Nations, the European Union, NATO, The Hague and all in the civilized world who claiming to be looking for them.

In the ten years that Radovan Karadzic has been on the run, he has published two books and one play. Perhaps if the International Community opened a summerstock theater... but they are probably too busy "searching" for Osama Bin Laden.

You should also know that the United States took out several full page Wanted ads in the local Bosnian papers to show the world it was serious about catching these war criminals ... of course, they listed an 800 number that could be only used in America."

"Only the most ridiculous parts are true" (screenshots) -

April 28, 2008, 1:05AM
"SINGAPORE — Oil prices hit an all-time high near $120 a barrel today."

Original Source

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has set a world record, launching 10 satellites in a single mission.

"It is carrying two Indian and eight foreign satellites. They are expected to provide data to enable India to plan rural and urban development. The satellites were deployed in orbit within minutes of each other and the entire operation lasted 20 minutes."

Image courtesy of BBC News

Original Source

"Mortimer B. Zuckerman, the owner of The Daily News, believes he can snatch Newsday from Rupert Murdoch without offering a dime more than the $580 million already on the table.

News Corporation executives believe the only regulatory scrutiny their deal would receive would be from the Justice Department, regarding to whether combining Newsday and The Post would be anticompetitive.

On this point, Newsday’s circulation overlaps more with The Daily News than with The Post.

However, Mr. Murdoch owns two television stations in the New York area (WNYW and WWOR) and is already in the process of seeking waivers from the F.C.C. to continue to control television stations and newspapers in the same market. "

Photo courtesy of The New York Times

Original Source

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Oliver Martin "Ollie" Johnston Jr., the last living member of Disney Animation’s "Nine Old Men," passed away Monday, April 14, 2008 at the age of 95 in Sequim, Washington. The generation of pioneers in developing and championing the distinctive Disney style of animation known as the "Illusion of Life" have left behind most memorable work which gives us so much hilarious laughter and many heartbreaking moments...

Johnston was an animator at Walt Disney Studios from 1935 to 1978, and became a directing animator beginning with Pinocchio, released in 1940. He contributed to most Disney animated features, including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fantasia and Bambi. He was recognized by The Walt Disney Company with its Disney Legend Award in 1989.

Disney's Nine Old Men
Les Clark (November 17, 1907 - September 12, 1979), who joined Disney in 1927. His specialty was animating Mickey Mouse as he was the only one of the Nine Old Men to work on that character from its origins with Ub Iwerks. Les did many scenes throughout the years, animating up until Lady and the Tramp. He moved into directing and made many animated featurettes and shorts.

Marc Davis (March 30, 1913 - January 12, 2000) started in 1935 on Snow White, and later he went on to develop/animate the characters of Bambi and Thumper (in Bambi), Aurora, Maleficent, and Diablo, the raven (in Sleeping Beauty), and Cruella De Vil (in One Hundred and One Dalmatians). Davis was responsible for character design for both the Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion attractions at Disneyland.  read more »