BRIGHT FEATHERS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPORTANT FOR DISPLAY IN DINOSAURS

The following excerpt is from the National Science Foundation website:

March 8, 2012
The detailed feather pattern and color of Microraptor--a pigeon-sized, four-winged dinosaur that lived about 120 million years ago--had a glossy iridescent sheen.
Its tail was narrow and adorned with a pair of streamer feathers, suggesting the importance of display in the early evolution of feathers, say scientists reporting the findings in this week's issue of the journal Science.

By comparing the patterns of pigment-containing organelles from a Microraptor fossil to those in modern birds, the scientists determined that the dinosaur's plumage was iridescent with a glossy sheen like the feathers of a modern crow.

The new fossil is the earliest record of iridescent color in feathers.
A reconstruction of Microraptor will help scientists approach the controversy of how dinosaurs began the transition to flight.

"Specifying the color and iridescence of feathers in avian dinosaurs was not possible 20 years ago," says H. Richard Lane, program director in the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Division of Earth Sciences, which funded the research.

"This development, in combination with the arrangement of tail feathers, is leading to a deeper understanding of the early development of avian plumage signalling. "
Since it was discovered as the first four-winged dinosaur in 2003, Microraptor has been at the center of questions about the evolution of feathers and flight.
Scientists have proposed aerodynamic functions for various feathery features such as its tail, forewing shape and hind limbs.

Once thought to be a broad, teardrop-shaped surface, or with a shape more like that of a paper airplane meant to help generate lift, Microraptor's tail fan is actually much narrower with two elongate feathers off its tip.

The researchers believe the tail feathering may have been ornamental, and likely evolved for courtship and other social interactions and not as an adaptation for flight.

"Most aspects of early dinosaur feathering continue to be interpreted as fundamentally aerodynamic, optimized for some aspect of aerial locomotion," says Julia Clarke, a paper co-author and paleontologist at The University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin).

"Some of these structures were clearly ancestral characteristics that arose for other functions and stuck around, while others may be linked to display behaviors or signaling of mate quality," she says.

Feather features were shaped by early locomotor styles, Clarke believes. "But, as any birder will tell you, feather colors and shapes may also be tied with complex behavioral repertoires and, if anything, may be costly in terms of aerodynamics."
Modern birds use feathers for many different things, ranging from flight to thermoregulation to mate-attracting displays, says Matt Shawkey, a paper co-author and biologist at the University of Akron.

"Iridescence is widespread in modern birds, and is frequently used in displays," says Shawkey. "The evidence that Microraptorwas largely iridescent suggests that feathers were important for display even relatively early in their evolution."

The feather color displayed by many modern birds is partially produced by arrays of pigment-bearing organelles called melanosomes, about a hundred of which can fit across a human hair.

Generally found in a round or cigar-like shape, a melanosome's structure is constant for a given color. Iridescence arises when narrow melanosomes are organized in stacked layers.
After a breakthrough by Jakob Vinther of UT-Austin in 2009, paleontologists started analyzing the shape of melanosomes in well-preserved fossilized feather imprints.
By comparing these patterns to those in living birds, scientists can infer the color of dinosaurs that lived many millions of years ago.

Paleontologists deduced that Microraptor was iridescent when Shawkey discovered that melanosomes in the most common iridescent feathers were uniquely narrow.
Information on the feather color of a variety of dinosaurs has recently come to light.
The first color map of an extinct dinosaur showed black-and-white spangles, red coloration and grey body color in a species called Anchiornis.

Based on the new data from Microraptor and other findings, a complex color repertoire that includes iridescence is likely ancestral to a group of dinosaurs called Paraves that originated at least 140 million years ago.
It includes dinosaurs like Velociraptor as well as Archaeopteryx,Anchiornis and living birds.

"This study gives us an unprecedented glimpse of what this animal [Microraptor] looked like when it was alive," says Mark Norell, paper co-author and paleontologist at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH).
Clarke, Norell and an AMNH team, including AMNH researchers Mick Ellison and Rui Pei, worked closely to analyze the bony anatomy and digital overlays of the feathering in the new specimen and in eight previously described Microraptorspecimens.
The scientists studied feathering, and melanosome shape and density, from a Microraptor fossil.

To come to their conclusions, the researchers worked closely with Quanguo Li, Ke-Qin Gao and Meng Qingjin at the Beijing Museum of Natural History.

The samples and preservation of melanosomes were assessed by Vinther and compared to a database of melanosomes from a variety of modern birds assembled by Shawkey and Liliana D'Alba at the University of Akron.

Along with NSF, the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the Natural Science Foundation of China, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Human Resources, and the Beijing Academy of Science and Technology also funded the research.”

SECRETARY OF STATE CLINTON'S REMARKS IN KOREA

The following excerpt is from a State Department e-mail:

Remarks With Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan After Their Meeting
Remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateTreaty Room
Washington, DC
March 9, 2012
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, good morning, and welcome to the State Department. It’s always a pleasure to have Foreign Minister Kim back in Washington. And I also have the honor of greeting incoming Ambassador Choi, who presented his credentials at the State Department this morning. I look forward to working with him as well.

We have been consulting very closely and coordinating on a range of issues now for several years. And the reason is obvious: Korea is economic, political, and strategic leader, not only in the Asia Pacific, but around the world. That’s why President Lee speaks of a global Korea, and it’s why the United States and Korea are building a global partnership.

Today, once again, we discussed ways that we are strengthening our alliance, which is a lynchpin of America’s strategic engagement in the Asia Pacific. We spoke about our recent diplomacy with North Korea. And I want to be very clear: Any effort by anyone to drive a wedge between the United States and the Republic of Korea will fail. We consult closely on all aspects of our diplomacy. This will not change.
The minister and I also discussed the importance of coordinating closely with Japan, and we asked our teams to hold a trilateral meeting soon.

Of course, we went over the recent agreement by the DPRK to implement a moratorium on long-range missile launches, nuclear tests, nuclear activities at Yongbyon, including uranium enrichment. The North also agreed to the return of IAEA inspectors to verify and monitor the moratorium on uranium enrichment activities, and to confirm the disablement of the five-megawatt reactor and associated facilities. This is a modest step in the right direction, and we will be watching closely and judging North Korea’s leaders by their actions.

We also discussed the United States’ announcement that we would provide 240,000 metric tons of nutritional assistance for the most vulnerable populations in North Korea. Our team just met in Beijing with North Korean officials to discuss the administrative details of this program, and we are working to move it forward soon.
This is an important time for our critical partnership. In just six days, our free trade agreement will take effect, opening up new opportunities for jobs and commerce between our people. We believe that this agreement will create tens of thousands of jobs in both of our countries. And later this month, President Obama will travel to Seoul for the Nuclear Security Summit, where we will continue our efforts to prevent weapons of mass destruction from falling into the wrong hands.

So on these and all the other issues on which we work together, I want to thank the foreign minister for another very productive meeting. Thank you, sir.

SECRETARY CLINTON: I thought we weren’t going to do English. I thought we were just going to do Korean. Yeah, thank you.

SECRETARY CLINTON: No, no no. You’re not going to translate me. We’re just going to translate the minister.

INTERPRETER: Great, great.

SECRETARY CLINTON: I would’ve stopped between – I would’ve never have subjected you to that. (Laughter.)

MR. KIM: (In Korean.)

FOREIGN MINISTER KIM: (Via interpreter) Good morning, everyone. I would like to express my special gratitude to Secretary Clinton for her invitation and warm hospitality. Today, as Secretary Clinton just mentioned, we had a very fruitful consultation on a wide range of issues. The ROK-U.S. alliance, considered to be in its best ever shape, has been the cornerstone of peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia for the last 60 years based on our common values and convictions, namely free democracy and market economy.

Secretary Clinton and I both recognized that the ROK-U.S. strategic alliance has been broadening and deepening itself since the adoption of our joint vision for the alliance in 2009, and we reaffirmed that our strategic alliance will be expanding its role in dealing with the issues on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia as well as global issues on the basis of our common values.

With regard to the North Korea nuclear issue, I reaffirmed my government’s position that we welcomed the result of the U.S.-DPRK discussions that took place in Beijing last month, and appreciated the close ROK-U.S. coordination that was intact throughout the dialogue process between Washington and Pyongyang. Furthermore, we shared the view that the outcome of the recent Beijing discussions is a meaningful first step towards resolving the North Korea nuclear issue, and underscored that faithful implementation of the necessary measures such as moratorium on Yongbyon nuclear activities and the return of IAEA inspectors is important. Secretary Clinton emphasized that there will not be a fundamental improvement of relations between Washington and Pyongyang without an improvement of inter-Korean relations. And we both agreed that dialogue should be promoted and relations should be improved between the two Koreas.
I mentioned that North Korea’s recent denunciations of the South are an attempt to render influence on the elections and the domestic politics of the ROK, and that they have relevance to North Korea’s own internal situations. Secretary Clinton shared this view and we agreed to continue our close communication on this situation within North Korea. Secretary Clinton and I agreed that continued coordination between the ROK and the U.S. will be the single most important factor in the coming discussions on the resumption of the Six-Party Talks, and we agreed to communicate closely at each level through channels such as the ROK-U.S. summit meeting that is scheduled to take place during the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit.

Also, the KORUS FTA, which will take effect next week, has upgraded our alliance to a higher level. Secretary Clinton and I agreed to cooperate toward early realization of the tangible benefits that KORUS FTA will bring to us, such as job creation, expansion of trade, and sharpening of our competitiveness. We also agreed, based on such a comprehensive strategic alliance and going beyond the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia, that the ROK and the U.S. will further strengthen our cooperation in global issues such as nonproliferation, including the Iranian nuclear issue, nuclear security, terrorism, development cooperation, human rights, and environment. In particular, we are working together for the success of the second Nuclear Security Summit to be held in Seoul this month, building upon the accomplishments we had at the last Washington summit.

Furthermore, Secretary Clinton and I shared the view that for a sustained development of the relationship between our two countries, support from the people of both nations is vital, and that both governments will make active efforts to this end. Thank you.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you so much, Minister.

MS. NULAND: We have time for two questions today. We’ll start with Mr. Choi from KBS.

QUESTION: (Via interpreter) My name is Choi Kyoosik from KBS. My question goes to Secretary Clinton with regard to the North Korean refugee issue. With regard to the situation that is going on in China, there are concerns arising in the international community. The Chinese Government considers the North Korean defectors as economic migrants, and they are repatriating them with – regardless of how they enter China. I would like to ask Secretary Clinton if the U.S. Government considers the North Korean defectors as refugees under the international agreements, and also I would like to ask if – what are the short-term and long-term policies of the U.S. Government with regard to this issue.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you very much. Let me begin by saying that the United States shares the concerns by both the government and the people of the Republic of Korea about the human rights situation in North Korea and the treatment of North Korean refugees. We urge every country to act according to international obligations. And those international obligations regarding the treatment of refugees are prescribed in the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees and the 1967 protocol.

We believe that refugees should not be repatriated and subjected once again to the dangers that they fled from. The treatment of North Korean refugees is an issue on which we have ongoing engagement with our partners, both in Korea and in China. We had Ambassador Davies raise our concerns about the North Korean refugees detained in China with senior Chinese officials when he was last in China in February. And we urge all countries in the region to cooperate in the protection of North Korean refugees within their territories. We continue to work with
international organizations in order to protect these refugees and to find durable, permanent solutions for them.

MS. NULAND: Last question. ABC, Luis Martinez.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Do you want – does she want to translate – I think yeah. I think our young woman here will translate me.

MS. NULAND: Okay.

QUESTION: I’ll just (inaudible) ask question. Okay.

MS. NULAND: Well, each –

PARTICIPANT: (In Korean.)

MS. NULAND: This is our last question. ABC, Luis Martinez.

QUESTION: Mr. Minister, Madam Secretary, as part of your discussions today, did you discuss a waiver on the Iranian oil sanction that are upcoming? And Madam Secretary, what is the progress of the talks with Japan on the similar waiver? And if I could ask – also ask you about – are you both optimistic that the Six-Party Talks will actually resume?
And switching to Syria, Madam Secretary --

SECRETARY CLINTON: Wait a minute. (Laughter.) I think two questions is your limit today. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: Okay, Madam. Well, if I could, just a brief one on Syria: Four generals have defected to Turkey today. Is this a sign that the Assad regime is unraveling?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Okay. It’s Friday. (Laughter.) I want to begin by saying we are deeply gratified by the support that we have received from the Republic of Korea in building a global coalition to pressure Iran to change course. And we share the concerns of our Congress that the international community needs to take even stronger steps to stop the flow of cash to the Iranian regime from its oil sector. In that context, we have been working very closely with the Republic of Korea on ways that it can look for alternatives to Iranian oil and oil products.

Our goal is simple. We want the Iranian regime to feel the full weight of the international community from these measures, and to demonstrate unequivocally to them that the world is united against their efforts to obtain nuclear weapons. No country understands the threat of nuclear weapons from a neighbor better than the Republic of Korea.

And so we are continuing our very close, expert engagement. We’re not only talking with our friends like the Republic of Korea, but also oil producing partners about boosting production to shore up price stability and offer alternative avenues of supply. And I would be the first to say, we recognize the difficult decisions and even the sacrifices that we are asking from other countries in order to increase this pressure on Iran. Reigning in a dangerous government is not easy. That’s why we are so closely cooperating with respect to our approach toward North Korea, but also with our unified international approach toward Iran. We’ve got to stay united, and we have no better partner and ally than our friends in Korea. And so I think we will just continue our work together. We’re making progress and I think that is our assessment at this time.
With respect to Syria, we continue to hear about defections. There were reports today of four generals defecting. We continue to urge the Syrian army not to turn their weapons against their own people – defenseless civilians, women, and children. We continue to urge the international community to come together to take action; first, to provide humanitarian relief; and second, to work toward a political transition that would have a change in leadership to one that would respect the rights and dignity of the Syrian people.
I’ve made several calls today regarding the upcoming Arab League meeting in Cairo. I talked with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov a few days ago about our hope that Russia will play a constructive role in ending the bloodshed and working toward a political transition in Syria, and I will be following up and meeting with him in New York on Monday. So we have an intense effort going on, and we are supporting the Arab League and their continuing leadership.
Thank you.

QUESTION: (In Korean.)

SECRETARY CLINTON: I don’t have a way to translate that. Thank you.

QUESTION: Okay.

SECRETARY CLINTON: We can provide a Korean readout to any Korean reporter.

FOREIGN MINISTER SUNG-HWAN: (Via interpreter) As for our Republic of ROK as well, we are participating in the sanctions on Iran, and we’ll keep discussing the specific measures to do that as well in the future. Thank you.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you all for your patience and have a good weekend.”

ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER SAYS "PROTECTING AMERICAN CONSUMERS IS TOP PRIORITY"

The following excerpt is from the Department of Justice website:

“Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Consumer Protection Working Group Summit Washington, D.C. ~ Friday, March 9, 2012
As prepared for delivery

Thank you, Mike [Bresnick], for that kind introduction – and for your leadership as Executive Director of the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force.   It’s a pleasure to join you – and so many dedicated colleagues and essential partners – as we begin today’s important discussions.

Thank you all – especially our distinguished panelists – for being part of this historic Summit.  I can think of no better way to commemorate – and raise awareness about – Consumer Protection Week, than for this group of stakeholders, experts, and advocates to join forces in examining the challenges we face – and identifying the solutions that the American people deserve.

In this conversation, I’m especially grateful for the commitment and engagement of the members of the Consumer Protection Working Group – a newly-formed initiative that’s operating as part of the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force.   In particular, I would like to recognize Director [Michael] Blume, of the Consumer Protection Branch, and all of the Group’s co-chairs: Assistant Attorney General Tony West, of the Civil Division, and soon to be Acting Associate Attorney General; Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer, of the Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte of the Central District of California; Director [David] Vladeck, of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection; and Kent Markus, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Director of Enforcement.

Today, as the Working Group gathers for the second time since its inaugural meeting in February, I want to express my gratitude for your leadership of this effort – and for your dedication to protecting the health, safety, and economic security of consumers across the country.   These are goals – and responsibilities – that we all share.   And each one of us has a role to play in fulfilling them.

For me, and for today’s Department of Justice, protecting American consumers is a top priority.  And, as we’ve rededicated ourselves to this work in recent years, we’ve also learned some essential lessons.   Primarily, that fully understanding the threats consumers face – and protecting their interests in a comprehensive way – is not something that the Justice Department can achieve on its own.   We cannot simply prosecute our way out of this problem.  So we need your help.   We need your perspectives and expertise.   We need your talents and determination.   And that’s precisely what today is all about.

Earlier this afternoon, we kicked off an important – and, in many ways, unprecedented – conversation between this Working Group’s leaders and key consumer advocates.   We talked about strategies for enhancing our civil and criminal enforcement of consumer fraud crimes; increasing public awareness about common schemes – and ways to report them – so that ordinary citizens have the knowledge they need to fight back; and building on the momentum we’ve established in the fight against consumer fraud.

As a result of discussions like this one – and thanks to the strong partnerships we’ve forged with federal law enforcement officials, regulatory agencies, and key state and local authorities – we’ve been able to gain access to the wide array of tools and the extraordinary depth of experience we will need not just to continue the work that’s underway – but to bring this fight to the next level.

Especially in these times of great economic challenge, I recognize that the need to move aggressively to combat these crimes has never been more important.   And that’s why I’m proud to report that our nation’s Department of Justice – and so many of the consumer groups represented here – have responded to these threats not with despair, but with resolve – and decisive action.

During the last fiscal year, the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch achieved an astounding 95 percent conviction rate.   They recovered over $900 million in criminal and civil fines.   And they obtained sentences totaling over 125 years of imprisonment against more than 30 individuals.

These achievements build on the remarkable success of the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force, which has helped secure convictions against those responsible for a wide variety of consumer scams – including telemarketing schemes, fraudulent job training and referral services, and even an enterprise that generated over $75 million in loss and victimized 350,000 small businesses by placing unauthorized charges on people’s phone bills.

Since last April – when I established a new part of the Task Force known as the Oil and Gas Price Fraud Working Group – we’ve also been focused on identifying civil or criminal violations in the oil and gasoline markets, and ensuring that American consumers are not harmed by unlawful conduct.   This Working Group’s latest meeting was held at the Justice Department just this morning – and its members discussed a variety of topics, including the role of speculators in the market; recent reports and enforcement matters by various Working Group members – such as the FTC and the New York State Attorney General’s Office; as well as ways to improve information sharing between Working Group members and partners; and where we go from here.

I can also report that one of the Working Group’s members – the Federal Trade Commission – is currently conducting an investigation, with assistance from other Working Group members, into whether gas prices have been affected by any antitrust violation or market manipulation by refiners, oil producers, transporters, marketers, physical or financial traders, or others.  Working Group members stand ready to act if the FTC learns anything that implicates the laws they enforce.

The Task Force has also been at the forefront of the Administration’s efforts to seek justice for those who were devastated by the recent financial crisis.   Since 2009, we’ve helped bring charges, secure convictions, and obtain prison sentences of up to 60 years in a variety of cases charging securities fraud, bank fraud, and investment fraud.   Using criminal enforcement tools where possible – and civil penalties and sanctions where necessary – we’ve made great strides in holding individuals and institutions accountable for the reckless, inappropriate, and often unlawful conduct that helped contribute to the financial crisis.   And – by employing a similar collaborative approach – we’ve even been able to make history.

In January, the Departments of Justice and Housing and Urban Development, other agencies, and 49 state attorneys general came together to achieve a landmark $25 billion agreement with the nation’s top five mortgage servicers – the largest joint federal-state settlement on record.  This will provide significant assistance to struggling homeowners and communities.   And it will serve as a model for what we can accomplish when we work together – across federal agencies, state boundaries, and party lines – and through another new Task Force component known as the Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities Working Group.

Now, we can all be encouraged by the achievements that have characterized the past few years.  But there is perhaps no better illustration of the progress we’ve made than our groundbreaking work to combat health-care fraud.   Over the last fiscal year alone, the Department and its partners were able to recover nearly $4.1 billion in funds that were stolen or taken improperly from federal health-care programs – the highest amount ever recovered in a single year.   And over the last three years, for every dollar we spent fighting against health-care fraud, we’ve returned an average of seven dollars to the U.S. Treasury, the Medicare Trust Fund, and others.

These numbers are stunning.   There’s no question that we should all be proud of the results that have already been achieved.   Although health care fraud won’t be a focal point of this Working Group, this ongoing work will continue to augment our latest consumer protection efforts.   But I also know that this is no time to be satisfied – and we cannot afford to become complacent.

That’s why we must – and will – continue to seek new avenues for communication and collaboration with partners like each of you.   With the assistance and expertise of the friends and allies gathered here today, and through discussions like those that will take place this afternoon – on issues ranging from fraud targeting the elderly, to common tax schemes, to business opportunity fraud – we will develop comprehensive strategies and implement innovative new solutions for preventing and combating consumer fraud in the years ahead.

To put it simply: my colleagues and I are counting on you.   American consumers are depending on you.   And I look forward to all that we will accomplish together.

Thank you.

HUBBLE PANCHROMATIC VISION OF GALAXY CENTAURUS A

“Resembling looming rain clouds on a stormy day, dark lanes of dust crisscross the giant elliptical galaxy Centaurus A. Hubble's panchromatic vision, stretching from ultraviolet through near-infrared wavelengths, reveals the vibrant glow of young, blue star clusters and a glimpse into regions normally obscured by the dust. The warped shape of Centaurus A's disk of gas and dust is evidence for a past collision and merger with another galaxy. The resulting shockwaves cause hydrogen gas clouds to compress, triggering a firestorm of new star formation. These are visible in the red patches in this Hubble close-up. At a distance of just over 11 million light-years, Centaurus A contains the closest active galactic nucleus to Earth. The center is home for a supermassive black hole that ejects jets of high-speed gas into space, but neither the supermassive black hole or the jets are visible in this image. This image was taken in July 2010 with Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3. Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration Acknowledgment: R. O'Connell (University of Virginia) and the WFC3 Scientific Oversight Committee”

The above picture and excerpt are from the NASA website: 

NASA SAYS WORLD WILL NOT END ON 12-21-12

The following excerpt is from the NASA website:

12-21-2012 Just Another Day03.07.12 ›   The issue with Dec. 21, 2012 and the predicted disasters that some folks think will come, probably started with the so-called end of the Mayan calendar.

Their calendar does not end on Dec. 21, 2012. It's just the end of the cycle and the beginning of a new one.

It's just like on Dec. 31st, our calendar comes to an end but a new calendar for the next year begins on Jan. 1st.

Niburu is suppose to be a planet that's four times the size of the Earth. It's going to get very close to the Earth and cause all kinds of disasters.

So this enormous planet is suppose to be coming toward Earth, but if it were, we would've seen it long ago and if it were invisible somehow, we would've seen the affects of this planet on neighboring planets.

Thousands of astronomers who scan the night skies on a daily basis have not seen this.

And then there's folks who think that NASA astronomers are actually hiding this information so as to prevent panic from the populous.

Can you imagine thousands of astronomers who observe the skies on a nightly basis keeping the same secret from the public for several years?

Some folks think there's going to be a solar storm associated with Dec. 21st of 2012.

Now, solar storms do exist. The sun's activity goes through a cycle that reaches a maximum every eleven years.

The next solar maximum when you might expect enhanced solar activity will take place actually in May of 2013.

It's supposed to be fairly mild solar activity maximum and there's no evidence that there's going to be any solar storms.

And then we have planetary alignments. There's a planetary alignment.

The sun, the Earth and some of the planets are aligned and this is going to cause some tidal effects on the Earth that's going to be catastrophic.

Well, first of all, there are no planetary alignments in December of 2012 and even if there were, there are no tidal effects on the Earth as a result.

The only two bodies in the solar system that can affect the Earth's tides are the moon, which is very close, and the sun, which is massive and also fairly close.

But the other planets have a negligible effect on the Earth. One of the myths for Dec. 21, 2012 is that the Earth's axes are going to somehow shift.

The rotation axis can't shift because of the orbit of the moon around the Earth stabilizes it and doesn't allow it to shift.

The magnetic field does shift from time to time but the last time it did was 740,000 years ago and it doesn't do that sort of a shift but every half million years or so.

But there's no evidence that's going to happen in December and even if it were to be shifting, it takes thousands of years to do so.

And even if it did shift it's not going to cause a problem on the Earth apart from the fact that we're going to have to recalibrate our compasses.

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Since the beginnning of recorded time, there have been literally hundreds of thousands of predictions for the end of the world and we're still here.

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology

U.S. REP. EXPLAINS VOTING NO ON DRAFT REVOLUTION REGARDING PALESTINIAN WOMEN

The following excerpt is from a U.S. State Department e-mail: 

"Explanation of Vote by John Sammi, Deputy U.S. Representative to the UN Economic and Social Council, at the Commission on the Status of Women on a Draft Resolution on the Situation of, and Assistance to, Palestinian Women
John F. Sammis
United States  Deputy Representative to ECOSOC
U.S. Mission to the United Nations New York, NY
March 9, 2012
AS DELIVERED
Madam Chair,
We take the floor to express our disappointment with this resolution and to explain our vote against it. The United States, along with many of our international partners, remains committed to supporting the Palestinian people, including Palestinian women, in practical and effective ways. Our deep interest in improving humanitarian conditions is reflected in our ongoing support of vital programs that continue to break ground in integrating gender into the public reform and development process, and in creating environments that enable Palestinian women to advance and lead.

The United States is the largest bilateral donor to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which provides education, healthcare, and social and relief services to five million Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, the West Bank, and Gaza. The U.S. government contributed more than $249 million to UNRWA in 2011, and we have contributed $55 million in 2012 thus far. The United States also contributes significant amounts to bilateral assistance and to other UN programs that assist Palestinian women and the entire Palestinian population.
We remain concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, including reports that Hamas authorities have undertaken efforts to limit women's freedom of movement and ability to appear in public, and that enforcement of "ethical" crimes in Gaza appears to be on an upward trend. We reiterate our support for additional efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of Gazans and will continue to work with the Palestinian Authority, Israel, and international partners to improve the lives of ordinary people.

In light of this, we remain troubled at this body's insistence on including political elements and one-sided condemnations that detract from the real challenges at hand. We implore this Commission to refocus its energy toward our shared goals, as this resolution is unhelpful to all involved.

President Obama laid out in May 2011 his vision for a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians, which would involve two states for two peoples: Israel as a Jewish state and the homeland for the Jewish people and the state of Palestine as the homeland for the Palestinian people, each state enjoying self-determination, mutual recognition, and peace.
Madam Chair,
Our goal remains a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in the Middle East. We are working closely with the Quartet on our shared goal - resumed direct negotiations between the parties in fulfillment of the goals outlined by the Quartet last September. Only through direct negotiations can the parties address and resolve their differences and achieve lasting peace, and we support all efforts that move us in that direction.

Thank you, Madam Chair.”

U.S. EXPORTED $180.8 BILLION IN GOODS AND SERVICES IN JANUARY 2012

The following excerpt is from an Export-Import Bank e-mail:

"U.S. EXPORTS HIT MORE THAN $180 BILLION IN JANUARY

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States exported $180.8 billion in goods and services in January 2012, an increase of  more than $1 billion over December 2011, according to data released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the U.S. Commerce Department.

Exports of goods and services over the last twelve months totaled $2.118 trillion, which is more than 34 percent above the level of exports in 2009. Over the last twelve months, exports have been growing at an annualized rate of 15.3 percent when compared to 2009, a pace greater than the 15 percent required to double exports by the end of 2014.

"The Brookings Institute yesterday released the report, “Export Nation 2012,” and it confirmed that exports are leading the way toward economic recovery,” said Fred P. Hochberg, chairman and president of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank). 

The Brookings report also found sales grew by more than 11 percent in 2010, the fastest growth since 1997. In terms of job creation, the number of U.S. total export-supported jobs increased by almost 6 percent in 2010, even as the overall economy was still losing jobs. Further, large metropolitan areas powered the nation’s export growth – the largest metro areas produced almost 65 percent of the U.S. export sales in 2010.

Over the last twelve months, the major export markets with the largest annualized increase in U.S. goods purchases were Turkey (40.7 percent), Panama (37.9 percent), Argentina (34.0 percent), Honduras (32.9 percent), Chile (30.2 percent), Hong Kong (30.2 percent), Peru (29.0 percent), South Africa (27.6 percent), Brazil (26.7 percent), and Guatemala (25.6 percent).

In the first quarter of fiscal year 2012, Ex-Im Bank approved $4.26 billion in authorizations, supporting approximately 37,000 American jobs. Over $789 million in export financing was authorized for small businesses, and the number of small business customers increased by 10% over the same quarter in 2011.

ABOUT EX-IM BANK

Ex-Im Bank is an independent federal agency that helps create and maintain U.S. jobs by filling gaps in private export financing at no cost to American taxpayers. In the past five years, Ex-Im Bank has earned for U.S. taxpayers nearly $1.9 billion above the cost of operations. The Bank provides a variety of financing mechanisms, including working capital guarantees, export-credit insurance and financing to help foreign buyers purchase U.S. goods and services."

VOICE OF AMERICA CELEBRATES 70TH ANNIVERSARY

The following excerpt is from a U.S. State Department e-mail:

“Voice of America 70th Anniversary
Remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State Washington, DC
March 8, 2012
For seventy years, the Voice of America has been a trusted source of news and information for millions around the world. Since its birth, VOA has consistently adapted to our rapidly changing world – growing from a radio broadcast service into a vibrant multimedia network that employs every medium there is, from television to Twitter. Still, it remains as true to its mission today as it was in 1942.

In parts of the world where the voice of freedom is muted or muffled, you have stood at the front lines of the struggle for a free media. At times, you risk your lives, or even sacrifice them. Earlier this year, we lost a Pakistani correspondent who, despite multiple threats on his life, dedicated himself to giving his audience fair and accurate reports from his corner of the world. Today, we pay tribute to Mukarram and other members of the VOA family whom we have lost over the years.

We are proud of you and grateful for your work. Time and time again, you defy foreign governments that seek to stifle your signal, piercing through Iron Curtains and electronic ones, for the sake of illuminating the enduring strength of our democratic values. So as you mark your 70th anniversary, I congratulate all of you who have built this worldwide network into what it is today. Thank you for being the Voice of America.”

SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON MEETS WITH LIBYAN PRIME MINISTER ELKEIB

The following excerpt is from a Department of State e-mail:
“Remarks With Prime Minister Elkeib After Their Meeting
Remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State Treaty Room
Washington, DC
March 8, 2012
SECRETARY CLINTON: Good morning, everyone. I just have to express that it is not only an honor, but a personal pleasure to welcome the prime minister of a free Libya on his visit to Washington, where he’s had excellent consultations in the White House meeting with, among others, the President, and an excellent presentation before the UN Security Council yesterday in New York. Just think, this time last year, the United States was working to build an international coalition of support for the Libyan people, and today we are proud to continue that support as the people of Libya build a new democracy that will bring about peace and prosperity and protect the rights and dignity of every citizen.

The prime minister and I had a very productive, comprehensive discussion about the many issues Libya is facing. We do not underestimate how challenging the road ahead will be. We are aware of that. We’ve been on the path to democracy for more than 235 years, and we know that there are potholes and pitfalls along the way. Qadhafi spent 42 years hollowing out Libya’s institutions, ruling through intimidation and division, but after his defeat, over the last four months, the prime minister and this interim government have provided essential and effective leadership and they’ve begun the hard work of putting Libya back together. We’ve seen progress in each of the three key areas of democratic society – building an accountable, effective government; promoting a strong private sector; and developing a vibrant civil society. And we will stand with the people of Libya as it continues this important work.

On the governance front, the interim leadership has established an inclusive election law and set up a supreme elections commission with the goal of holding constitutional assembly elections this June. This is a critical first step that will pave the way for a new constitution grounded in democratic principles. We fully support the elections commission as it works to meet its deadlines and ultimately elect a fully democratic parliament that can begin delivering results for the Libyan people. We’re also encouraged by the prime minister’s and the government’s commitment to promoting human rights and the rule of law, and we are offering help to the government as they continue investigating allegations of human rights violations. They realize and we applaud their commitment to ending this kind of violence in the new free Libya.

We also know there are problems with border security, with integrating militias, with working toward national reconciliation, and on all of these and more, we are working with our Libyan partners. At the same time, on the economic front, business is picking up. Libya has exceeded everyone’s expectations in resuming oil production. The United States and the UN have removed almost all restrictions on doing business, and we are encouraging American companies to look for opportunities inside Libya. We also are supporting the booming new civil society that is developing in Libya. I was delighted when I visited Tripoli to go to the university, to talk with young people, to meet with others who are fighting for women’s rights and human rights in their country.

Our Middle East Partnership Initiative and USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives are working with many civil society groups. And the UN support mission in Libya is playing a valuable role. We’re exploring ways to promote partnerships and exchanges in the health field with a particular emphasis on continuing to assist the war wounded. We’re looking at establishing a U.S.-Libya higher education task force with the goal of expanding academic and student exchanges. And I am pleased that we will begin providing visa services at Embassy Tripoli for Libyan Government officials. We want to get permanent facilities, but obviously in the short term, we want to set up shop and begin to reach out in the most important way – on a people-to-people basis to the Libyans.

So Mr. Prime Minister, I and our government look forward to working with you and the Libyan people as you continue to make progress on behalf of a new, free, democratic Libya.

PRIME MINISTER ELKEIB: Madam Secretary of State, thank you very much for your kind words and for hosting me today and my team. On behalf of the Libyan people, I extend our deepest appreciation to the American people and leadership and say, simply and deeply, thank you. I also thank Dr. – President Obama, Secretary Clinton, and Ambassador Rice for having been a tremendous support and for their strong leadership in supporting the Libyan revolution, which has been so successful that it did indeed impress everybody. We Libyans are very proud of our young men and women who brought freedom to our country after 42 years of a brutal regime that nobody felt would disappear in eight months. So we do thank our friends and partners so much for having been there when we needed them.

We have come here today to find ways on how we can work and how we can better work together. One of the things that I did request help with from Madam Secretary was the remnant of the past regime. They have been a nuisance and have been – they have been causing problems and we need them back to give them proper justice. And we also need the funds they have stolen from the Libyan people to come back to Libya. So we look forward to help in that area from the U.S. and from everybody else who can help us here. It’s very important to us.

During the revolution, the Libyan people demonstrated time and time again great courage and resilience. Our citizen army of teachers and mechanics, lawyers, students, professors, our sons and daughters suffered great losses along with the civilian population, but with great bravery and unfortunately too much in terms of losses. But however, in the end, we succeeded in making the dream of a free Libya a reality, and we’ll keep it that way.
We also, in a direct fashion and I hope Madam Secretary would forgive me for having done that, requested help with our wounded young men with very difficult cases. And the response was very positive, and we cannot thank you enough for that. Libyans are putting the same energy and determination that fueled the revolution into establishing a new Libya that has a positive contribution, maybe in a small way, at least, to the environment around it and to the world around it. And we are determined to do that. Libya needed the facelift and the revolution has given it to her. We are looking for a new Libya founded on the principles of democratic governance and rule of law and dedicated to improving the quality of life for the Libyan citizens. And we call on our friends and partners who helped us to become free to also help us meet the aspirations of our people.

We had a very productive meeting today that focused on a number of areas of mutual interest and future opportunities for cooperation between our two countries. The Libyan Government is fully committed to holding free, fair, and transparent elections in June, and we look for continued support from the U.S. and our partners in that area. Now that the war of liberation of Libya is almost over – after we get those remnants of the past regime, it will be over – now that we are – the war is almost over, the U.S. private sector can help play an important role in rebuilding Libya and enabling us to meet our aspirations for peace, prosperity, and high quality of life. And we are determined to do that.
In the past year, the dynamics between the U.S. and Libya has been dramatically transformed for the better. We look forward to the continued strengthening of this relationship as Libya moves forward with its democratic transition and rebuilding its economy.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you, sir.

MS. NULAND: We have time to take two questions today. We’ll start with Reuters, Andy Quinn.

QUESTION: Good morning. My questions will focus on Libya, if I may. Mr. Prime Minister, first for you, at the United Nations yesterday, the Russian Ambassador to the Security Council accused Libya of running camps to arm and train Syrian rebels. I’m hoping you can respond directly to this accusation. And also to discussion of these calls for autonomy in Benghazi and concern that this is going to threaten the future of the Libyan revolution, can you address that, please?
And for Madam Secretary, I’m wondering if you can tell us if you received any new assurances on the Megrahi case in your discussions today.
And both of you, if you could discuss what lessons Syria’s rebels should take from the Libyan experience. Thank you.

MS. NULAND: That was four questions.

SECRETARY CLINTON: It was four questions. (Laughter.)
QUESTION: (Inaudible.)

PRIME MINISTER ELKEIB: Excuse me. On the Syrian issue, we, I believe, were the first country to recognize the Syrian Transitional Council, and we did it because we felt that the Syrian cause is a good cause. It’s people who are voicing their voice, raising their voice, asking for freedom. As far as training camps, unless this is something that is done without government permission, which I doubt, I’m not aware of any.

Concerning the East, the issue of a group of not more than few thousand trying to create a state, I can tell you this is democracy in practice; that is simply that. I know the person who is appointed by this small group. I know him very well, he’s actually a friend, and I have respect for him as a result of his past. I disagree with the approach not because it’s an opinion that people are sharing with others but because it has to be toward a constitution that we are about to create, that this issue should be raised.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Andy, I, of course, raised the Megrahi Pan Am 103 issue as I do whenever I meet with Libyan officials. You know where I stand. I believe that Megrahi should still be behind bars. And we know that Libya faces a multitude of challenges, but at the same time they have assured us that they understand the sensitivities of this case, and they will give the matter the consideration it deserves. We will continue to fight for justice for all the victims of Qadhafi and his regime. And in this particular case, the U.S. Department of Justice has an open case, and it will remain open while we work together on it.

Finally, with respect to Syria, I think what we saw coming out of Libya with the unity and the vision that the Transitional National Council presented to the world with the close linkage between the civilian representatives and the fighters for freedom, they presented a unified presence that created an address as to where to go to help them, a lot of confidence in their capacities on the ground, their commitment to the kind of inclusive democracy that Libya is now building. And we are working closely with the Syrian opposition to try to assist them to be able to present that kind of unified front and resolve that I know they feel in their own – on their behalf is essential in this struggle against the brutal Assad regime.

MS. NULAND: Last question is (inaudible) Lachlan.

QUESTION: Good morning to both of you. Madam Secretary, if I may on Iran, the P-5+1 issued at the IAEA a statement calling for Iran to open up the facility at Parchin. Do you consider that a condition for the talks to go ahead? And how confident are you that Iran will come to these talks seriously discussing the nuclear concerns you have?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, Lachlan, I think that what we have demonstrated consistently through the P-5+1 is that the international community is united. We are united in our concerns and condemnation of Iran’s actions that violate their international obligations, and we are united in continuing to press the Iranian regime to come to the diplomatic forum that the P-5+1 offers. So as the president made clear in his remarks just a few days ago, we continue to believe we have space for diplomacy. It is obviously coupled with very strong pressure in the form of the toughest sanctions that the international community’s ever imposed.

We want to begin discussions with Iran. They insist that their nuclear program is purely peaceful and if that’s the case, then openness and transparency, not only with the P-5+1 but also with the IAEA and the Security Council and the international community, is essential. That’s why we want to respond as we did, positively, to the letter that came from the Iranians. I would also draw your attention to the statement that China released today in Vienna on behalf of the P-5+1 with regard to our expectations that access to Parchin and other Iranian sites will be provided. So we are hoping that the Iranians will come to the table prepared to have the kind of serious and sincere discussion we have been looking for, for several years. We think it is even more pressing and imperative today than it has been in the past and we would like to see diplomatic progress, which we support.
Thank you all very much."

FORMER COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO. EXECUTIVE IS CHARGED WITH INSIDER TRADING

The following excerpt was from the SEC website:

“SEC Charges Former Executive at Coca-Cola Bottling Company with Insider Trading
Washington, D.C., March 8, 2012 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged a former executive at a Coca-Cola bottling company with insider trading based on confidential information he learned on the job about potential upcoming business with The Coca-Cola Company.

The SEC alleges that Steven Harrold, who was a Vice President at Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc., purchased company stock in his wife’s brokerage account after learning that his company had agreed to acquire The Coca-Cola Company’s bottling operations in Norway and Sweden. The stock price jumped 30 percent when the deal was announced publicly the following day, enabling Harrold to make an illicit $86,850 profit.
“Harrold deliberately flouted the federal securities laws and specific company restrictions in his purchases and trades of Coca-Cola Enterprises stock,” said Rosalind R. Tyson, Director of the SEC’s Los Angeles Regional Office. “His employer entrusted him with critical nonpublic information, and Harrold shattered that trust to bottle up extra cash.”

Coca-Cola Enterprises is one of the world’s largest marketers, producers and distributors of Coca-Cola products, and its stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the stock symbol CCE. The Coca-Cola Company (ticker symbol: KO) develops and sells its products and syrup concentrate to Coca-Cola Enterprises and other bottlers.

According to the SEC’s complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Harrold was regularly in possession of sensitive, confidential information as an executive at CCE. On numerous occasions, Harrold signed non-disclosure agreements requiring him to keep confidential any information he learned about acquisitions being considered. Harrold also periodically received blackout notices prohibiting him from trading in company stock for a defined period in which he was likely to be in possession of confidential information.

The SEC alleges that Harrold, who lives in Los Angeles and London, was informed in early January 2010 that CCE was considering the acquisition of The Coca-Cola Company’s Norwegian and Swedish bottling operations. He signed a non-disclosure agreement requiring him to maintain the confidentiality of any nonpublic information he learned about the potential transaction. Harrold also received an e-mail from CCE’s legal counsel informing him that he was subject to a blackout period and was prohibited from trading in CCE stock “until further notice.”

Nevertheless, the SEC alleges that Harrold purchased 15,000 CCE shares in his wife’s brokerage account on Feb. 24, 2010, the day before the announcement of the transaction with The Coca-Cola Company. The insider trading was based on certain confidential information that Harrold learned in the days leading up to the announcement, including that the transaction was internally valued at more than $800 million and was viewed as creating significant positive growth opportunities for CCE.

The SEC’s complaint charges Harrold with violating Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5(a) and (c) thereunder. The complaint seeks a final judgment ordering Harrold to pay a financial penalty and disgorge his ill-gotten gains plus prejudgment interest, preventing him from serving as an officer or director of a public company, and permanently enjoining him from future violations of those provisions of the federal securities laws.
The SEC acknowledges the assistance of FINRA in this matter.

APOLLO 9 TESTING OF ORBITAL DOCKING

"This image, taken on March 6, 1969, shows the Apollo 9 Command and Service Modules docked with the Lunar Module. Apollo 9 astronaut Dave Scott stands in the open hatch of the Command Module, nicknamed "Gumdrop," docked to the Lunar Module "Spider" in Earth orbit. His crewmate Rusty Schweickart, lunar module pilot, took this photograph from the porch of the lunar module. Inside the lunar module was Apollo 9 commander Jim McDivitt. The crew tested the orbital rendezvous and docking procedures that made the lunar landings possible. Image Credit: NASA "

The picture and excerpt above are from the NASA website:

ISAF COMMANDER CONDEMNS TERRORIST ATTACK IN AFGHANISTAN'S SPIN BOLDAK DISTRICT

The following excerpt is from a Department of Defense American Forces Press Service e-mail:

"ISAF Commander Condemns Spin Boldak Murders

From an International Security Assistance Force News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, March 8, 2012 - The commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan joined Afghan President Hamid Karzai in condemning yesterday's terrorist attack in the Spin Boldak district of Afghanistan's Kandahar province that killed four people and wounded eight others, military officials reported.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones who mourn this evening, and we wish for a quick recovery of those who were injured," Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen said after yesterday's attack. "More innocent Afghans died today at the hands of the insurgency."

Two children and a woman were among those killed when a motorcycle loaded with explosives detonated in a crowd.

"The blatant murdering of Afghan civilians must stop, and the Taliban leadership needs to hold their own members accountable for their actions against the innocent," Allen said. ISAF service members will continue to work with Afghan security forces "to identify these enemies of the Afghan people, and hold them to account," the general added."

SEC CHARGES CEO OF PENNY STOCK COMPANY OF PUMP-AND-DUMP SCHEME

The following excerpt is from the Securities and Exchange Commission website:

“Washington, D.C., March 7, 2012 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged a Las Vegas-based food and beverage company and its CEO with conducting a fraudulent pump-and-dump scheme, and charged several consultants for their illegal sales of company shares into the markets.

The SEC alleges that Prime Star Group Inc. under the direction of CEO Roger Mohlman issued false and misleading press releases that touted lucrative agreements for the company’s food and beverage products. For example, Prime Star falsely claimed in a March 2010 press release that it had entered in a distribution agreement with another company in the beverage business valued at up to $16 million annually. Furthermore, certain Prime Star reports filed with the SEC understated the company’s net losses or overstated its cash balance.

The SEC suspended trading in Prime Star in June 2011 due to questions about the adequacy and accuracy of information about the company.
“Prime Star and Mohlman used backdated consulting agreements and forged attorney opinion letters as a means to issue millions of shares to the consultants who then dumped them on unsuspecting investors,” said Eric I. Bustillo, Director of the SEC’s Miami Regional Office. “The SEC will persist in its efforts to stamp out microcap fraud schemes.”

Since the beginning of fiscal year 2011, the SEC has filed more than 50 enforcement actions for misconduct related to penny stocks, and issued more than 65 orders suspending the trading of suspicious microcap issuers. Microcap stocks are issued by the smallest of companies and tend to be low priced and trade in low volumes. Many penny stock companies do not file financial reports with the SEC, so investing in them entails many risks. The SEC has published a microcap stock guide for investors and an Investor Alert about avoiding microcap fraud perpetrated through social media.
The SEC’s complaint against Prime Star and Mohlman alleges that they fraudulently issued free-trading

Joshua Konigsberg of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
The SEC alleges that Prime Star and Mohlman pumped the stock by exaggerating the company’s operations and contracts in a series of press releases issued in October 2009 and March 2010. For instance, they issued an October 14 press release claiming Prime Star’s subsidiary Wild Grill Foods had received purchase orders for more than $1.25 million of seafood products. Mohlman was quoted saying, “Prime Star Group is thrilled at the growth of this business unit. We will continue to grow the Wild Grill brand, its domestic distribution, and have begun exploring international opportunities for distribution abroad.” However, in reality, Prime Star’s just-established Wild Grill subsidiary had no operations and there were no purchase orders.

According to the SEC’s complaint, Prime Star’s press releases coincided with the illegal issuance of millions of unregistered shares of Prime Star stock to the purported business consultants from August 2009 to March 2010. Although Prime Star had a class of shares registered pursuant Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, that section does not permit transfers of those shares. To transfer Prime Star stock in compliance with the securities laws, Mohlman, Prime Star and the consultants had to either register an offering of the company’s shares or meet an exemption to the offering registration requirement. However, they did neither.

The SEC alleges that Mohlman and Prime Star’s fraudulent promotional activities caused Prime Star’s stock price and trading volume to increase markedly. For instance, on March 16, a prior day press release caused trading volume to spike to more than 16 million shares, which was 10 times more than the previous day’s trading volume. Prime Star’s stock price plummeted the following day.

The SEC’s complaint filed in federal court in Nevada alleges Prime Star and Mohlman violated Sections 5(a), 5(c), and 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. The complaint also alleges that Prime Star violated Sections 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A) and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act and Rules 12b-20, 13a-1 and 13a-13 thereunder. The complaint further alleges that Mohlman violated Section 13(b)(5) of the Exchange Act and Rules 13a-14, 13b2-1 and 13b2-2 thereunder and aided and abetted Prime Star’s violations of Sections 10(b), 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A) and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act and Rules 10b-5, 12b-20, 13a-1 and 13a-13 thereunder. The SEC also alleges Section 5(a) and 5(c) violations against Colon, Morera, Rivera, DC International Consulting, Carson, Gullatt, The Stone Financial Group, and Konigsberg.

One of the consultants — Konigsberg — has agreed to settle the SEC’s charges without admitting or denying the allegations by consenting to the entry of a judgment that would enjoin him from future violations of Sections 5(a) and 5(c) of the Securities Act. The SEC is seeking penalties and disgorgement plus prejudgment interest against the other consultants and Mohlman as well as an officer and director bar against Mohlman, penny stock bars against Mohlman, Colon, Morera, Rivera, Carson, and Gullatt, and permanent injunctions against all defendants. Separately, the Commission instituted administrative proceedings to determine whether the registration of each class of Prime Star securities should be revoked or suspended based on its failure to file required periodic reports.

The SEC’s investigation was conducted by Julie Russo, Elisha Frank, and Karaz Zaki of the Miami Regional Office, and Edward McCutcheon is leading the SEC’s litigation.”

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT ROSE BY 8,000 LAST WEEK

The following excerpt is from the Department of Labor website:

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

          SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA

In the week ending March 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 362,000, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 354,000. The 4-week moving average was 355,000, an increase of 250 from the previous week's revised average of 354,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 2.7 percent for the week ending February 25, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending February 25, was 3,416,000, an increase of 10,000 from the preceding week's revised level of 3,406,000. The 4-week moving average was 3,417,500, a decrease of 27,500 from the preceding week's revised average of 3,445,000.

UNADJUSTED DATA

The advance number of actual initial claims under state programs, unadjusted, totaled 365,754 in the week ending March 3, an increase of 31,513 from the previous week. There were 407,299 initial claims in the comparable week in 2011.

The advance unadjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.1 percent during the week ending February 25, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate. The advance unadjusted number for persons claiming UI benefits in state programs totaled 3,979,563, an increase of 97,038 from the preceding week. A year earlier, the rate was 3.6 percent and the volume was 4,460,146.

The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending February 18 was 7,387,648, a decrease of 111,222 from the previous week.

Extended benefits were available in Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin during the week ending February 18.

Initial claims for UI benefits by former Federal civilian employees totaled 1,136 in the week ending February 25, a decrease of 133 from the prior week. There were 2,286 initial claims by newly discharged veterans, a decrease of 176 from the preceding week.

There were 27,150 former Federal civilian employees claiming UI benefits for the week ending February 18, a decrease of 1,520 from the previous week. Newly discharged veterans claiming benefits totaled 41,594, a decrease of 576 from the prior week.

States reported 2,929,210 persons claiming EUC (Emergency Unemployment Compensation) benefits for the week ending February 18, an increase of 24,377 from the prior week. There were 3,600,522 claimants in the comparable week in 2011. EUC weekly claims include first, second, third, and fourth tier activity.

The highest insured unemployment rates in the week ending February 18 were in Alaska (6.5), Rhode Island (4.6), Montana (4.5), Wisconsin (4.5), Idaho (4.4), Oregon (4.4), Pennsylvania (4.4), New Jersey (4.2), Puerto Rico (4.2), Massachusetts (4.0), and Michigan (4.0).

The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending February 25 were in Massachusetts (+3,475), Rhode Island (+1,275), New Jersey (+1,274), Connecticut (+1,186), and Michigan (+564), while the largest decreases were in California (-4,531), Pennsylvania (-2,238), Texas (-1,535), New York (-1,321), and Florida (-1,124). 

2 MORE ROUNDS OF BASE SPENDING CUTS ARE NEEDED PENTAGON OFFICIAL SAYS

The following excerpt is from the Department of Defense American Forces Press Service:

Pentagon Official Makes Case for New BRAC Rounds

By Lisa Daniel
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 8, 2012 - The Defense Department needs two rounds of the Base Realignment and Closure process this year and next to shed excess building space and save money, the deputy undersecretary of defense for installations and environment told a congressional panel today.

The two BRAC rounds would align with the department's strategic guidance for a leaner, more flexible force as it rebalances after the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Dorothy Robyn told the House Armed Services Committee's readiness subcommittee in prepared remarks.

"Of all the efficiency measures that the department has undertaken over the years, BRAC is perhaps the most successful and significant," she said.

The department's fiscal 2013 budget request calls for a 5.5 percent reduction in military end strength in the next five years.

"Simply stated, the cuts in force structure that we are implementing must be accompanied by cuts in supporting infrastructure, including military bases," Robyn said. "Absent a process for closing and realigning bases, the department will be locked in a status quo configuration that does not match its evolving force structure, doctrine and technology."

Robyn said the expense of maintaining bases that are excess to strategic and mission requirements would force the department to cut spending on forces, training and modernization.

The department needs to close installations not only in the United States, for which it needs congressional approval, but also overseas, where it doesn't, she said.

"The department's request for additional rounds of BRAC comes at a time when we are looking aggressively at where we can close bases overseas—particularly in Europe," Robyn said. The department already has made significant cuts in Europe, turning over more than 100 sites to host nations since 2003, she said. By fiscal 2015, the Army is expected to close another 23 European sites, she added.

Still, Robyn said, the department "can do more to consolidate our infrastructure with the goal of reducing long-term costs while still supporting our operational requirements and strategic commitments."

To do that, Robyn said, the department can reduce the number of "discrete" installation sites in Europe from more than 300 to about 200 -- those which currently house most activities -- and eliminate excess support infrastructure such as warehouses, administrative space and housing.

While acknowledging that BRAC closures are painful, Robyn said they "have left our military far better prepared to take on changing strategic challenges than it would have been had Congress and the department not had the courage to undertake them."

While the department retains some authority to close and downsize installations, Robyn said, BRAC is a better process, allowing for more community support.

The department spends about $40 billion annually on building construction, sustainment and recapitalization, Robyn said, and an additional $15 billion on support programs ranging from air traffic control to payroll to religious and recreational services. "Wecannot afford to maintain excess capacity," she said.

In 2004, the department had 24 percent excess capacity relative to its force structure plans, Robyn said. The 2005 BRAC eliminated only about 3 percent of the department's capacity, as it was designed mostly to reconfigure excess space, rather than close it, because the military was in a growth stage, she said.

While some have criticized the 2005 BRAC as unexpectedly expensive at $35.1 billion, the savings also exceeded that of any other BRAC round, at $4 billion each year, she said.

Robyn asked that Congress move quickly to approve the BRAC rounds.

"While some may view our request for a round in 2013 as aggressive, the magnitude of the cuts we are making in force structure means we simply can't wait," she said. "Leading U.S. corporations retain their vitality and market position by being able to adapt quickly to changed circumstances, and the U.S. military is no different."

DARK MATTER CORE DEFIES EXPLANATION IN NASA HUBBLE IMAGE

The following excerpt is from the NASA website:

"WASHINGTON -- Astronomers using data from NASA's Hubble Telescope have
observed what appears to be a clump of dark matter left behind from a
wreck between massive clusters of galaxies. The result could
challenge current theories about dark matter that predict galaxies
should be anchored to the invisible substance even during the shock
of a collision.

Abell 520 is a gigantic merger of galaxy clusters located 2.4 billion
light-years away. Dark matter is not visible, although its presence
and distribution is found indirectly through its effects. Dark matter
can act like a magnifying glass, bending and distorting light from
galaxies and clusters behind it. Astronomers can use this effect,
called gravitational lensing, to infer the presence of dark matter in
massive galaxy clusters.

This technique revealed the dark matter in Abell 520 had collected
into a "dark core," containing far fewer galaxies than would be
expected if the dark matter and galaxies were anchored together. Most
of the galaxies apparently have sailed far away from the collision.
"This result is a puzzle," said astronomer James Jee of the University
of California in Davis, lead author of paper about the results
available online in The Astrophysical Journal. "Dark matter is not
behaving as predicted, and it's not obviously clear what is going on.
It is difficult to explain this Hubble observation with the current
theories of galaxy formation and dark matter."

Initial detections of dark matter in the cluster, made in 2007, were
so unusual that astronomers shrugged them off as unreal, because of
poor data. New results from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope confirm
that dark matter and galaxies separated in Abell 520.

One way to study the overall properties of dark matter is by analyzing
collisions between galaxy clusters, the largest structures in the
universe. When galaxy clusters crash, astronomers expect galaxies to
tag along with the dark matter, like a dog on a leash. Clouds of hot,
X-ray emitting intergalactic gas, however, plow into one another,
slow down, and lag behind the impact.

That theory was supported by visible-light and X-ray observations of a
colossal collision between two galaxy clusters called the Bullet
Cluster. The galactic grouping has become an example of how dark
matter should behave.

Studies of Abell 520 showed that dark matter's behavior may not be so
simple. Using the original observations, astronomers found the
system's core was rich in dark matter and hot gas, but contained no
luminous galaxies, which normally would be seen in the same location
as the dark matter. NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory was used to
detect the hot gas. Astronomers used the Canada-France-Hawaii
Telescope and Subaru Telescope atop Mauna Kea to infer the location
of dark matter by measuring the gravitationally lensed light from
more distant background galaxies.

The astronomers then turned to the Hubble's Wide Field Planetary
Camera 2, which can detect subtle distortions in the images of
background galaxies and use this information to map dark matter. To
astronomers' surprise, the Hubble observations helped confirm the
2007 findings.

"We know of maybe six examples of high-speed galaxy cluster collisions
where the dark matter has been mapped," Jee said. "But the Bullet
Cluster and Abell 520 are the two that show the clearest evidence of
recent mergers, and they are inconsistent with each other. No single
theory explains the different behavior of dark matter in those two
collisions. We need more examples."

The team proposed numerous explanations for the findings, but each is
unsettling for astronomers. In one scenario, which would have
staggering implications, some dark matter may be what astronomers
call "sticky." Like two snowballs smashing together, normal matter
slams together during a collision and slows down. However, dark
matter blobs are thought to pass through each other during an
encounter without slowing down. This scenario proposes that some dark
matter interacts with itself and stays behind during an encounter.

Another possible explanation for the discrepancy is that Abell 520 has
resulted from a more complicated interaction than the Bullet Cluster
encounter. Abell 520 may have formed from a collision between three
galaxy clusters, instead of just two colliding systems in the case of
the Bullet Cluster.

A third possibility is that the core contained many galaxies, but they
were too dim to be seen, even by Hubble. Those galaxies would have to
have formed dramatically fewer stars than other normal galaxies.
Armed with the Hubble data, the group will try to create a computer
simulation to reconstruct the collision and see if it yields some
answers to dark matter's weird behavior.

The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation
between NASA and the European Space Agency. NASA's Goddard Space
Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., manages the telescope. The Space
Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Md., conducts
Hubble science operations. STScI is operated by the Association of
Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., in Washington, D.C."

LARGE GROUPING OF NEW STARS

"This massive, young stellar grouping, called R136, is only a few million years old and resides in the 30 Doradus Nebula, a turbulent star-birth region in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way. There is no known star-forming region in the Milky Way Galaxy as large or as prolific as 30 Doradus. Many of the diamond-like icy blue stars are among the most massive stars known. Several of them are 100 times more massive than our sun. These hefty stars are destined to pop off, like a string of firecrackers, as supernovas in a few million years. The image, taken in ultraviolet, visible and red light by Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3, spans about 100 light-years. The nebula is close enough to Earth that Hubble can resolve individual stars, giving astronomers important information about the stars' birth and evolution. The brilliant stars are carving deep cavities in the surrounding material by unleashing a torrent of ultraviolet light, and hurricane-force stellar winds (streams of charged particles), which are etching away the enveloping hydrogen gas cloud in which the stars were born. The image reveals a fantasy landscape of pillars, ridges, and valleys, as well as a dark region in the center that roughly looks like the outline of a holiday tree. Besides sculpting the gaseous terrain, the brilliant stars can also help create a successive generation of offspring. When the winds hit dense walls of gas, they create shocks, which may be generating a new wave of star birth. These observations were taken Oct. 20-27, 2009. The blue color is light from the hottest, most massive stars; the green from the glow of oxygen; the red from fluorescing hydrogen. Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and F. Paresce (INAF-IASF, Bologna, Italy), R. O'Connell (University of Virginia, Charlottesville), and the Wide Field Camera 3 Science Oversight Committee"

The above picture and excerpt are from the NASA website:

SOME SERVICE MEMBERS MAY PASS MORE QUICKLY THROUGH RONALD REAGAN WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT

T

he following excerpt is from the Department of Defense American Forces Press Service website:

Program to Expedite Security for Troops at Reagan Airport

By Elaine Sanchez
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 7, 2012 - Some service members traveling out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport soon will be able to speed through security as part of a joint Defense Department and Transportation Security Administration program.

In cooperation with the Defense Department, TSA is expanding its trusted traveler program, known as Pre-Check, to include active duty service members and activated Guard and Reserve members traveling on domestic flights out of the airport, officials announced on a conference call today.

"This program is good news for our service members," Paul N. Stockton, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and Americas' security affairs, said on the call. "It recognizes their service defending our country, and ... it will enhance their travel experience by making it easier whenever possible."

In the coming weeks, eligible service members -- whether in uniform or not -- will be able to present a valid common access card, better known as a CAC, to a TSA officer in the Pre-Check lane to see if they qualify for expedited screening, TSA spokesman Kawika Riley explained on the call. If they qualify, they'll be able to pass through security without having to remove certain items, such as shoes or boots, belt, jacket or laptops.

By offering expedited screening to lower-risk travelers, TSA can allocate resources to areas of higher risk, Riley explained. "We're talking about a population we trust to defend this country, to defend this country's security," he said. "It makes sense for that reason. This is a known and a trusted population."

TSA continues to explore Pre-Check's expansion to additional groups who could benefit from expedited screening, such as military family members, he added.

TSA selected Reagan National for its high volume of military travelers, Riley said, noting that, on average, more than 400 active duty service members fly out of the airport each day.

Overall, TSA has successfully screened more 460,000 passengers through Pre-Check since its launch late last year, he said. The program is operational in nine airports, he added, with plans to expand to a total of 35 by the end of the year.

Stockton said he looks forward to the TSA-DOD program's future expansion to other airports. "The DOD is fully committed to continuing its long-standing partnership with the Homeland Security Department and TSA to strengthen aviation security," he said.

This program, he added, enables TSA not only to focus its resources on potentially higher-risk areas, but also offers the nation a tangible way to recognize troops' service and sacrifice.

"We're enormously grateful to the members of the armed forces for what they do at home and abroad for the nation," Stockton said."