Highlights of costs of war research

Major findings from the "Costs of War" study on the financial and human costs of US wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan since 2001 by the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University.










FINANCIAL TOLL:

* Congressional war appropriations to Pentagon since 2001: $1.3 trillion

* Additions to Pentagon base budget: $362 billion to $652 billion

* Interest on Pentagon war appropriations: $185 billion

* Veterans' medical claims and disability: $33 billion

* War-related international aid: $74 billion

* Additions to Homeland Security base spending: $401 billion

* Projected obligations for veterans care to 2050: $589 billion to $934 billion

* Social costs to veterans and military families to date: $295 billion to $400 billion

Future spending requests:

* 2012 Pentagon war spending: $118 billion

* 2012 foreign aid: $12 billion

* 2013-2015 projected war spending: $168 billion

* 2016-2020 projected war spending: $155 billion

ESTIMATED TOTAL: $3.7 trillion to $4.4 trillion

ADDITIONAL interest payments to 2020: $1 trillion

CONSERVATIVE DEATH TOLL ESTIMATES BY WAR ZONE:

Afghanistan: 33,877

Iraq: 151,471

Pakistan: 39,127

CONSERVATIVE DEATH TOLL ESTIMATES BY CATEGORY:

US military: 6,051

US contractors: 2,300

Iraqi security forces: 9,922

Afghan security forces: 8,756

Pakistani security forces: 3,520

Other allied troops: 1,192

Afghan civilians: 11,700

Iraqi civilians: 125,000

Pakistani civilians and insurgents: 35,600

Afghan insurgents: 10,000

Iraqi army during US invasion: 10,000

Journalists and media workers: 168

Humanitarian workers: 266

TOTAL: 224,475

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Fifth Transformers: Dark of the Moon Trailer

This 4th of July, the fireworks are going to hit early as Michael Bay's trilogy ending sequel Transformers: Dark of the Moon promises to bring more explosions than ever witnessed by the human eye all in one place, all at one time! Paramount Pictures has released the fifth trailer in anticipation of tomorrow's midnight launch of Transformers: Dark of the Moon.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon was released June 29th, 2011 and stars Shia LaBeouf, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Julie White, Kevin Dunn, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Alan Tudyk, John Malkovich. The film is directed by Michael Bay.

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Toy Story 4 in Works, says Tom Hankstom,hanks,

Buzz Light Year with Jessie from Toy Story 3.

"Toy Story 4" might become a reality soon, according to Tom Hanks.  The series has become highly successful, with the most recent installment winding up the highest-grossing film of 2010, hitting profits of over $1.6 billion at the international box office. The original installment netted $300 million in 1995, and its 1999 sequel raked in $485 million.

























Though "Toy Story 3" director Lee Unkrich told CNN in December that there were plans to deliver more animated shorts, but not necessarily a sequel, Tom Hanks may have some inside information.
The actor, who voices the character of Woody the cowboy in the series, told "Showbiz Tonight" at the premiere of his newest movie "Larry Crowne" on Monday that he believes another sequel may be in the works.




"I understand it's happening and if it is, I hope they'll hire me [again]," he said. "They have almost every line I've ever said in the hard drive up there at Pixar. So they might not need me! I hope they'll have some unique grunts they're going to need from me so I can get in there and do it."






Pixar, the studio responsible for the series, did announce last week that they would have a second release in the 2013 calendar, and fans have been speculating on whether the event would be a sequel or an entirely new story. They'll simply have to wait for November 27, 2013 to get close enough for the studio to reveal what the date holds.

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'Thriller' jacket sells for $1.8mln

A leather jacket worn by Michael Jackson for his "Thriller" video sold for $1.8 million at an auction on Sunday to a Texas gold trader who plans to use it to raise money for children's hospitals worldwide.

The black and red calf leather jacket with winged shoulders was one of two used for the shoot. The other one, in scuffed condition, is owned by the Jackson estate.

The one sold by Julien's auction house in Beverly Hills is in better shape and is signed on the sleeve by Jackson. It was designed by Deborah Landis, the wife of "Thriller" director John Landis. Jackson presented it to the vendors, Dennis Tompkins and Michael Bush, his longtime costume designers.

It sold to Milton Verret of Austin, Texas, who showed up in person to triumph over about a dozen bidders from around the world.

"It is one of the most important pieces of rock 'n' roll memorabilia in history," Verret told .His collection also includes another Jackson jacket and guitars signed by members of U2.

Plans are underway to show the "Thriller" jacket at Dell Children's Hospital in Austin, before sending it around the world to display during charity events. A portion of the auction proceeds will benefit an animal reserve where Jackson's two Bengal tigers reside.

Jackson, who died two years ago on Saturday, filmed the video for the title track to his blockbuster album "Thriller" in 1983. The 14-minute clip, in which Jackson turns into a zombie and dances with other undead types, is considered one of the most influential music videos ever made.

Michael Jackson's Thriller jacket sells at auction

 

A leather jacket worn by US singer Michael Jackson in his renowned Thriller video has sold at auction in California for $1.8m (£1.1m).

Jackson wore the jacket in the 1983 video, in a scene with a troupe of zombies who rise from their graves and break into a dance routine.
It was bought by a Texas commodities trader who said he planned to use it to raise money for children's charities.
The sale was organised by Julien's Auction in Beverly Hills.
Some of the proceeds will go to an animal preserve in California where Michael Jackson's two Bengal tigers, Thriller and Sabu, are living.
Other items sold at the auction include one of the singer's wigs and a glove he wore to the American Music Awards in 1984.

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Gas drilling might disappoint investors: NYT

While gas companies like ConocoPhillips and Chesapeake Energy Corporation are making big bets on wells to extract energy from shale formations, industry insiders have doubts that the companies will be able to deliver on their promises to investors.
which prepared a report based on an investigation of e-mails and documents, energy executive, industry lawyers, state geologists and market scepticism question whether natural gas companies are exaggerating how productive their wells will be.

 it researched well data and found that many of them are surrounded by less-productive zones that cost more to drill and operate than the resulting gas is worth.

The newspaper said its investigation found that in many of the wells, the amount of gas produced is falling faster than the companies had expected.

None of the e-mails explicitly accuse any companies of breaking the law.

Chesapeake could not be reached for comment.

ConocoPhillips, which on June 16 signed a deal with the Bangladesh government over exploration in the Bay of Bengal despite protests from citizen quarters, declined to comment on the issue.

The energy giant will start its seismic survey by December in deep sea blocks 10 and 11, an area of 5158 square kilometres. The depth of water is between 1,000 and 1,500 metres and the blocks are about 280 kilometres away from the Chittagong port.

The firm under its mandatory work programme must initiate seismic survey in a grid of 10km by 10km space over the whole of the blocks.

The Texas-based company has pledged $160 million bank guarantee for working in three phases and the contract period is nine years.

The oil giant won blocks 10 and 11 in 2008 in the second-round bidding for the production sharing contract (PSC), but could not sign the PSC with state-run Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation, or Petrobangla, as parts of these blocks were also claimed by neighbouring India and Myanmar.

The country is divided into 52 blocks, 28 of which are in the Bay.

Experts say ConocoPhillips will have the authority to export 80 percent of gas, and Petrobangla will get the rest, which will have to be carried to the shore at its own cost — not an economically viable proposition for Bangladesh, in any case.

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LulzSec hackers say disbanding after last data dump

 The Lulz Security group of rogue hackers announced it was disbanding on Saturday with one last data dump, which included internal AOL Inc and AT&T documents.

LulzSec, which gained wide recognition for breaching the websites of Sony Corp, the CIA and a British police unit among other targets, said in a statement that it had accomplished its mission to disrupt corporate and government bodies for entertainment.

"Our planned 50 day cruise has expired, and we must now sail into the distance, leaving behind -- we hope -- inspiration, fear, denial, happiness, approval, disapproval, mockery, embarrassment, thoughtfulness, jealousy, hate, even love," the group said.

Known for irreverence and a fondness for naval metaphors, the hacker group took to Twitter -- the microblogging site where it had more than 277,000 followers -- to release its statement.

A link to the release also was posted on www.lulzsecurity.com but there was no way to independently contact the group to confirm the release.

The abrupt dissolution came a few days after LulzSec threatened to escalate its cyberattacks and steal classified information from governments, banks and other major establishments.

LulzSec also had said it was teaming up with the Anonymous hacker activist group to cause more serious trouble.

Our planned 50-day cruise has expired," the hackers said in their statement, "and we must now sail into the distance, leaving behind -- we hope -- inspiration, fear, denial, happiness, approval, disapproval, mockery, embarrassment, thoughtfulness, jealousy, hate, even love. If anything, we hope we had a microscopic impact on someone, somewhere. Anywhere."

CLOSING IN?

In what could be a sign that cyber police were making progress toward shutting down LulzSec, British police said on Tuesday they had arrested a 19-year-old man on suspicion that he was connected to the attacks on Sony, the CIA and a British police unit that fights organized crime.

London police declined to say if the teenager was a member of LulzSec but the hacking group said on Twitter that he had hosted one of its chatrooms on his computer server.

The arrest came after Spanish police earlier this month apprehended three men on suspicion they helped Anonymous.

So far LulzSec's publicized assaults have mostly resulted in temporary disruptions of some websites and the release of user credentials.

The data the group released Saturday was a mixed bag.

The AOL documents appeared to be elements of an internal technical manual.

A file list on a download site indicated there also was some AT&T internal data in the dump, although the nature of that data was not immediately clear.

AOL was not immediately available for comment, while an AT&T spokesman did not have immediate comment.

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Egypt says will not need IMF, World Bank funds

Egypt will not borrow from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund after revising its budget and cutting the forecast deficit, even though a loan had been agreed, Finance Minister Samir Radwan said .

The 2011/12 deficit in the first draft budget was forecast at 11 percent of gross domestic product, but was revised to 8.6 percent because of a national dialogue and the ruling army council's concerns about debt levels, the minister told .

"So we do not need to go at this stage to the Bank and the Fund," Radwan said, adding Egypt, which had borrowed from the IMF under ousted president Hosni Mubarak, still had the "best relations" with the two US-based institutions.

Despite the budget revisions, the government said it still expected growth of 3.0-3.5 percent, in line with previous forecasts, which some economists said could prove optimistic.

Egypt this month agreed on a $3-billion (1.9 billion pounds), 12-month standby loan facility from the IMF, which Cairo had said came with more lenient terms than usually associated with such lending.

The IMF and World Bank had been among a range of foreign countries and bodies to offer funds to Egypt to help cover a big budget shortfall after the economy was plunged into turmoil by the mass protests that drove Mubarak from office on February 11.

Egypt's cabinet had approved on June 1 a budget for 2011/12 that increased spending by a quarter to create jobs and help the poor. That was revised in a new draft announced on Wednesday that included raising income tax and reducing fuel subsidies.

Gulf Arab states are among those who offered support.

Radwan said Qatar had provided $500 million for budgetary support in the past week. "That is a gift," he said, when asked if there were any conditions attached to the Qatari cash.

He said Saudi Arabia had earlier offered a similar amount.

The minister said the first draft of the budget, which forecast a deficit of about 170 billion Egyptian pounds, was discussed with activists, writers, the business community, trade unions and non-government organisations.

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US ready to arm Philippines against rise of China

The United States has announced it is ready to provide hardware to modernise the military of the Philippines, which as vowed to "stand up to any aggressive action" amid rising tension at sea with China.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Philippines' Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario meet with reporters at the State Department in Washington .

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, on a visit to Washington, said the Philippines hoped to lease equipment to upgrade its aged fleet and called for the allies to revamp their relationship in light of the friction with China.

"We are determined and committed to supporting the defence of the Philippines," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told a joint news conference when asked about the hardware wish-list from the Philippines.

Mrs Clinton said the two nations were working "to determine what are the additional assets that the Philippines needs and how we can best provide those." She said del Rosario would meet Defence Secretary Robert Gates and other Pentagon officials.

Tensions in the strategic and resource-rich South China Sea have escalated in recent weeks, with the Philippines and Vietnam alarmed at what they say are increasingly aggressive actions by Beijing in the disputed waters.

"We are concerned that recent incidents in the South China Sea could undermine peace and stability," Clinton told , urging "all sides to exercise self-restraint."

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Ukraine ex-PM goes on trial

 Afp, Kiev

Ukraine's ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko yesterday went on trial for alleged abuse of power, denouncing her rival President Viktor Yanukovych as a coward fearing political competition.

The former premier, known as the "Iron Lady", is accused of abuse of power in connection with a contract she signed with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin after a brief interruption of gas deliveries from Russia in early 2009.

Tymoshenko described the trial as a "kangaroo court" and vendetta orchestrated by the authorities.
"Whatever verdict is handed down, it will be a verdict against Yanukovych and not me," said Tymoshenko as several thousand of her supporters rallied in the streets near the courthouse in central Kiev.

The charges carry a sentence of between seven and 10 years, jeopardising Tymoshenko's ability to take part in

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Asia has more millionaires than Europe

The number of millionaires in Asia-Pacific has jumped sharply to overtake Europe, a study revealed yesterday, driven by the fast-rising super-rich of Hong Kong.


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Millionaires in the region -- who have a total of almost $11 trillion -- became worth more collectively than their counterparts in Europe in 2009, but there are also now more of them, at 3.3 million, versus 3.1 million in Europe.
The report on high-net worth individuals (HNWIs) -- defined as anyone with investable assets of at least $1 million -- was issued by Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management and consultancy firm Capgemini.

Asia is now second only to North America, which has 3.4 million millionaires.
The number of millionaires in Hong Kong grew 33.3 percent in 2010 to 101,300, compared with 76,000 in 2009 -- the second straight year in which the city's super-rich population grew the most.
The rocketing number of millionaires in the southern Chinese city was due to a healthy economy as well as gains in the equities and real estate markets, said the report.
It also noted the fast growth of Indian millionaires, where the HNWI population became the world's 12th largest in 2010, its highest placing.

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Winklevoss twins end legal row with Facebook

The Winklevoss brothers, Harvard contemporaries of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, ended their legal battle with the social network yesterday.


They reached a $65m settlement in 2008, after claiming that Zuckerberg stole their idea.


A US appeals court ruled in April that they could not back out of the deal.


The pair had threatened to go to US Supreme Court to overturn the decision but have now said they will not pursue it.

Back in 2008, the Winklevii were awarded a $65 million settlement for commissioning Zuckerberg to design their own social networking site ConnectU in 2003, and an April 11 ruling by a federal judge upheld the decision, telling them their “litigation must come to an end.” However, with Facebook’s IPO evaluation recently estimated at $100 billion, it didn’t come as a surprise that the twins were looking to launch yet another appeal, this time in front of the Supreme Court.

Maybe the twins finally realized $65 million is still an obscene amount of money to get for doing absolutely nothing.

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Obama sets in motion US pullout from Afghanistan

US President Barack Obama announced a phased pullout of troops to end a costly war in Afghanistan, but the country faced fresh turmoil after a court overturned results from last year's fraud-tainted election.























Obama's plan to withdraw 10,000 troops by the end of the year and a further 23,000 by the end of next summer won immediate support from France's president.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Washington's ally in an relationship made uneasy by allegations of incompetence and corruption, welcomed the plan and said Afghans increasingly trusted their security forces.
But the Afghan Taliban, resurgent a decade after being toppled from power following the September 11, 2001 attacks, dismissed the announcement and said only a full, immediate withdrawal of foreign forces could stop "pointless bloodshed."
They rejected any suggestion of US military gains.
In a prime-time televised appearance Wednesday, Obama said he would withdraw 10,000 troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2011, with a further 23,000 by the end of next summer. Remaining troops would be steadily withdrawn after that.
He vowed that the United States -- struggling to restore its global image, shore up the economy and reduce unemployment at home -- would exercise new restraint with military power.
"Tonight, we take comfort in knowing that the tide of war is receding," Obama said in a 15-minute statement, heralding the gradual reduction of US forces in Iraq and limited US involvement in the international air campaign against Libya.
"America, it is time to focus on nation building at home."
Obama's plan, which will bring home the entire "surge" force he sent to Afghanistan in 2010, pits him against military advisers unhappy at the prospect of any hasty drawdown.
The cuts went further than many expected, in particular options offered by General David Petraeus, outgoing commander of US and Nato troops in Afghanistan, now due to lead the CIA.
Outgoing Defence Secretary Robert Gates backed Obama's plan. But it is unlikely to sit well with the Pentagon's top brass who worry insurgents could regain lost territory.
Even after the withdrawal of 33,000 troops, about 70,000 will remain, about twice the number when Obama took office. Some US lawmakers, impatient with a war that costs more than $110 billion a year, said Obama should have cut deeper and faster.
Since the killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, the Obama administration has argued more forcefully that it must adopt a narrow, defensive approach to Afghanistan, focussing on lawless havens insurgents can use to launch attacks.
A senior military official in Pakistan, where Washington has been seeking intensified efforts against militants, said Obama's strategy would be successful if accompanied by "a robust and strong political effort" to engage the Taliban.

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Tsunami warning for Alaska coast

  A major earthquake of 7.4 magnitude hit in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday 107 miles east of Atka, Alaska, at a depth of about 25 miles, and a tsunami warning was in effect for coastal Alaska, warning agencies said.

A second quake of the same magnitude hit in the same vicinity and at the same depth a half-minute later, at 3:09am on Friday (UTC), the US Geological Survey said.

"A Tsunami warning is now in effect which includes the coastal areas of Alaska from Unimak Pass, Alaska (80 miles northeast of Dutch Harbour) to Amchitka Pass, Alaska (125 miles west of Adak)," the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Centre said.

The centre monitors tsunami risk only for the west coast of North America from the Mexican border to Alaska.

A tsunami warning means all coastal residents in the warning area who are near the beach or in low-lying regions should move immediately to higher ground and away from harbours and inlets, including those sheltered directly from the sea.

Earthquakes of this size magnitude are known to generate tsunamis. If a tsunami has been generated, the waves will first reach Adak, Alaska, at 8:12pm Adak, Alaska time (12:12am EDT on Friday).

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Hillary Clinton says Taliban outreach key to Afghan solution

Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, has said that Washington's "preliminary outreach" to the Taliban was part of a necessary but unpleasant attempt to achieve a political solution in Afghanistan.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Mrs Clinton told the Senate that the US is backing a diplomatic surge complementing the military surge that President Barack Obama has begun to wind down with the planned withdrawal of 10,000 troops this year.

"It is diplomatic efforts in support of an Afghan-led political process that aims to shatter the alliance between the Taliban and al-Qaeda and the insurgency, and help to produce more stability," she said.

She repeated that the Taliban insurgents must meet the US "red lines" of renouncing violence, abandoning support for al Qaeda, and supporting the Afghan constitution, which includes protections for women.

"The United States has a broad range of contacts at many levels across Afghanistan and the region that we are leveraging to support this effort, including very preliminary outreach to members of the Taliban," she said.

"This is not a pleasant business, but a necessary one because history tells us that a combination of military pressure, economic opportunity and an inclusive political and diplomatic process is the best way to end insurgencies."

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Fil-Am leaders react to P-Noy's ratings dip

 President Benigno Aquino III has only been in office for barely a year, but more people in the Philippines are expressing their dissatisfaction over his performance.
A recent Social Weathers Station (SWS) survey shows another 5 point-drop in Aquino’s ratings.
The SWS says respondents in earlier surveys have been concerned with the rising inflation and slow progress in the justice system in the Philippines.
Rodel Rodis led the Filipino-Americans who raised over a $100,000 for Aquino’s presidential campaign. He said a 5 point-drop is not bad.
Rodis, president of the U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance said, “You need to consider that his predecessor, GMA (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) had a negative 39% — and he has 64%. The fact that he went down from 69% to 64% — while that is a concern — is not that bad.”
Ray Satorre led the the Fi-lAms who staunchly criticized Aquino during the elections. They backed Senator Manny Villar.
Satorre said, “Well you can only please Filipinos for as long as there are jobs, creation of industries, roads, infrastructure and emphasis on education.”
Rodis said there are reasons why the economy is down — and Aquino cannot be faulted for it.
Rodis said, “The situation in the Middle East is causing a lot of Filipino overseas Filipino workers to return. That’s not the result of any policy or anything he could have done. That affects the amount of remittances these OFWS send — and the Philippine economy depends on it greatly.”
Satorre said the drop in ratings could also be due to Aquino’s penchant for allegedly protecting friends, classmates and shooting buddies — giving them positions in government.
Satorre said, “You have to show that you’re a leader for everyone — not just for a chosen few.”
Rodis, to a certain extent, agrees to allegations that Aquino awards to close to him in government.
“He has to find better caliber people. It should not be based on personal friendships but on competition,” Rodis said.
But he added that, so far, Aquino has shown that he will not tolerate corruption in government.
If anything, these FilAm community leaders said the drop in ratings should only encourage Aquino to do better in his job — and prove to more people that he truly is the right man for the job.

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Obama sets course for exit from Afghanistan

  President Barack Obama announced a plan on Wednesday to start withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan in a first step toward ending the long, costly war and returning America's focus toward it's own troubled economy.

Obama said he would pull 10,000 troops from Afghanistan by year's end, followed by about 23,000 more by the end of next summer and a steady withdrawal of remaining troops after that.

In a 15-minute televised address, Obama vowed that the United States -- struggling to restore its global image, repair its faltering economy and bring down the high jobless rate at home -- would end a decade of military adventures prompted by the September 11 attacks in 2001 and exercise new restraint with American military power.

"Tonight, we take comfort in knowing that the tide of war is receding," Obama said, heralding the gradual drawdown of US forces in Iraq and the limited US involvement in the ongoing international campaign in Libya.

"America, it is time to focus on nation building at home."

Yet news that Obama will pull the entire 'surge' force he sent to Afghanistan in 2010 is certain to fuel friction between Obama and his military advisors who have warned about the perils of a hasty drawdown.

Nearly 10 years after the Taliban government was toppled, US and NATO forces have been unable to deal a decisive blow to the resurgent Islamist group. The Afghan government remains weak and notoriously corrupt, and billions of dollars in foreign aid efforts have yielded meager results.

Obama's decision on trimming the US force was a more aggressive approach than many expected. It went beyond the options offered by General David Petraeus, the outgoing commander of US and NATO troops in Afghanistan, whom Obama has picked to lead the CIA.

The president's decision reflected the competing pressures he faces as he seeks to curb spending and halt US casualties without allowing the threat of extremist attacks to fester.

Outgoing Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he supported Obama's decision. But the plan is unlikely to sit well with the Pentagon's top brass who worry insurgents could regain lost territory as fighting intensifies along Afghanistan's eastern border with Pakistan.

"We've undercut a strategy that was working. I think the 10,000 troops leaving this year is going to make this fighting season more difficult. Having all the surge forces leave by next summer is going to compromise next summer's fighting season," said Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Even after the withdrawal of the 33,00 US troops, about 70,000 will remain in Afghanistan, about twice the number there when Obama took office.

Reaction from the US Congress was mixed, as lawmakers impatient with a war that now costs more than $110 billion a year complained Obama should have embraced a larger drawdown.

Unease in Washington over the war has escalated with worries about massive budget deficits, spiraling national debt and unemployment running at more than 9 percent. These are Americans' chief concerns and the issues likely to drive voters in next year's presidential election.

Obama clearly has been mindful of the US public's lack of support for the war as he eyes his re-election campaign.

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Bristol Palin goes after McCain’s wife, daughter

 

 

Bristol Palin is taking aim at ex-fiancee Levi Johnston, the father of her child, but has found two other targets in a just-published autobiography — the wife and daughter of Sen. John McCain.
She doesn’t have much use for Cindy and Meghan McCain, respectively the wife and daughter of the Arizona senator who propelled Sarah Palin onto the national stage as the Republicans’ 2008 vice presidential nominee.

The 20-year-old single mother has produced an autobiography, “Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far,” ,which will be followed this fall by Levi Johnston’s deer-in-the-headlights account of life with the Palins.
Bristol Palin had an initial encounter with Meghan McCain as her mother was being introduced as the vice presidential nominee.
She relates that Meghan McCain at first ignored the Palins, but eventually introduces her self with the words, “I’m a big fan of your mother’+s, and we’re about to go on a fun journey together.”
The Alaska governor’s daughter was struck by “the sneaking suspicion that I might need to watch my back.”
“Every time we saw Meghan, she seemed to constantly be checking us out, comparing my family to hers and complaining. Oh, the complaining,” Bristol Palin writes.
She claims that Meghan McCain became angry after entering a dressing room and finding that the Palin ladies were having their hair done.  Asked by the stylists to wait, Meghan McCain responds:  “If anyone had told me that I had to do my own hair and makeup, I would’ve done my own (bleeping) hair and makeup!” and left.
John McCain has never spoken a critical word in public about his 2008 running mate.  Sarah Palin came to his aid last year when a right-wing challenger, ex-Rep. J.D. Hayworth, challenged McCain in Arizona’s Republican Senate primary.
But the McCain campaign would not permit Palin to deliver her own concession speech at the Arizona Biltmore on election night 2008 after the presidential candidate had conceded.
Sen. McCain even gave an enthusiastic greeting to Levi Johnston, complimenting the teenage father-to-be on having the hard, tough hands of a working man.
But Bristol Palin has not-so-kind words for the candidate’s wife, Cindy McCain.  She reports that Mrs. McCain “looks like a queen and holds herself like royalty,” even when giving advice to the daughter of her husband’s running mate.  Cindy McCain allegedly told her:
“Bristol, I have three things I want to tell you.  I just want you to know that I want to be one of the first people to hold your baby.  Also, I want to go to your wedding when it comes together.  And lastly, John and I want to be godparents to your child.”
Bristol Palin claims to have been taken aback:  “I had just met her, and I wondered why she wanted any type of guardianship over my child.  I was nice to her, but I was left speechless by her comment.”
Bristol Palin is now an Arizona resident.  Her parents recently bought a large home in north Scottsdale.
Meghan McCain has become a pundit espousing moderate Republican views.  Cindy and Meghan McCain are strong gay rights advocates, even though John McCain vociferously opposed repeal of the military’s Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell policy.

Bristol Palin slams Johnston, calls him ‘gnat’ in book

Bristol Palin writes in her new book of losing her virginity to boyfriend Levi Johnston on a camping trip after getting drunk for the first time on too many wine coolers.
She awoke in her tent, alone, with no memories of what had happened as Johnston "talked with his friends on the other side of the canvas." She had vowed to wait until marriage. And she had lied to her parents about where she was going.
Palin, a 20-year-old single mother and the daughter of former Alaska Republican Gov. Sarah Palin, tells a story of "deception and disappointment" in the book, "Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far."
The memoir, co-written with Nancy French, is scheduled for publication by William Morrow next week. The Associated Press purchased a copy Friday. 


Palin's book covers growing up with her family, which she portrays affectionately, and the excitement of her mother's political life as governor and then, in 2008, as the Republican vice presidential candidate. But the main theme is her on-and-off-again relationship with Johnston, with whom she had a child and was briefly engaged while caught in a media spotlight.
She blasts him as "the gnat named Levi Johnston constantly spreading false accusations against our family" and calls him a self-involved slacker "who cheated on me about as frequently as he sharpened his hockey skates."

 

 

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Video: Two cycles dance in the funniest wreck of the year

Yes, this is two wheels, not four, but it's two that makes four. Just watch:

 

Somebody turn a hose on those two cycles, quick! (And no, I don't know why there's Bugs Bunny performing square-dance music on there. Just bow to your partner and roll with it.).

 this wreck was "Sur le circuit de Magny-Cours, épreuve du championnat Promosport : deux pilotes chutent et leurs motos s'entremêlent et continuent de tourner au sol!" Exactly what I was thinking.

For those of you who don't read French, our  (didn't know we had that, did you? Corporate synergy!) says that means "On the circuit of Magny-Course, test of the Promosport championship: two pilots fall and their motor bikes intermingle and continue to turn on the ground!" The French: masters of the obvious.

Anyway, don't try this at home. Please.

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Japan cancels tsunami alert after 6.7 quake

People look through the ruins of Kamaishi, part of Japan devastated by the March's earthquake and tsunami.

Japan has cancelled a tsunami alert issued after a 6.7 quake off the east coast of Honshu today.
Japan Meteorological Service issued the tsunami warning for the Iwate Prefecture and said the wave was expected to be no higher than half a metre but the alert was cancelled at 10.45am today (NZ time).
According to US Geological Services, the quake, which struck at 9.50am (NZ time), was 32km deep and 524km from Tokyo.
That is same area of the Pacific where a massive magnitude 9 quake hit on March 11, triggering a deadly tsunami. At least 23,000 people were killed or left missing in those disasters, which destroyed hundreds of homes, offices and factories in northeastern Japan.
There have been no reports of damage although authorities have warned residents of areas devastated by the March 11 earthquake to be wary of mudslides.
It was followed by several smaller aftershocks, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
China's Xinhuanet news service also reported that no abnormalities had been reported from the nearby nuclear plant in Aomori.
Japan is located on the Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines spanning the Pacific Basin, and is regularly hit by earthquakes.

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Why is June 21 Both the Summer and Winter Solstice?

The summer solstice occurred today at 1:16 p.m. EDT (17:16 GMT), the time the sun is at the highest point possible in the sky. In the Northern Hemphisphere, June 21 is the longest day of the year and marks the official beginning of summer.

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  People attend the annual summer solstice at the Stonehenge monument on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, southern England June 21, 2010.

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Today, the North Pole is tilted toward the sun more than any other day in 2011. The summer solstice is a result of the Earth tilted on its axis 23.4 degrees in the direction of the sun, exposing most of the Northern Hemisphere to sunlight.
Solstice is derived from Latin words meaning, "sun stands still." The summer solstice occurs when the sun is directly overhead at noon at the Tropic of Cancer.
For the Southern Hemisphere, everything is opposite. Today is the actually the beginning of the winter solstice and the shortest day of the year for the Southern Hemisphere.
Wherever a person is on the earth today, solstices occurred at the exact moment across all global timezones
Even though on June 21 is the day that the Northern Hemisphere receives the most sunlight in 2011, it is not necessarily the hottest day of the year. Since it takes several weeks for the earth to release the heat from the sunlight, the hottest days in summer are usually in July or August.

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Evangeline Lilly joins The Hobbit

Evangeline Lilly and Barry Humphries have joined the cast of 'The Hobbit' movies, director Sir Peter Jackson has confirmed.

 

 

Evangeline Lilly has joined the cast of 'The Hobbit' movies.

The former 'Lost' actress has signed on to play a new character, Tauriel, but director Sir Peter Jackson refused to give any further details about the woodland elf.

The filmmaker revealed on his Facebook page: "Her name means 'daughter of Mirkwood' and, beyond that, we must leave you guessing! (No, there is no romantic connection to Legolas.)"

Also joining the cast for the start of the second block of shooting is Australian actor Barry Humphrie s- best known for his female comedic alter ego Dame Edna Everage – who will portray the Goblin King, with extensive use of motion capture technology.

Peter said: "We're looking forward to seeing him invest the Goblin King with the delicate sensitivity and emotional depth this character deserves."

Last week, it was announced Luke Evans and Benedict Cumberbatch had joined the cast of the two movies, playing Bard and Smaug respectively.

'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' and 'The Hobbit: There and Back Again' will be released in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Both releases will star Martin Freeman as the titular character.

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Luxury Cars That Don't Guzzle Gas

2011 BMW 528i

The terms “luxurious” and “economical” needn’t be mutually exclusive. Whether you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint or are just tired of having your pocket picked at the pump, there’s a growing number of top-shelf models on the market that boast top fuel efficiency. And we’re not talking about oddball six-figure hybrids that save a few mpg for the sake of environmental street cred among one’s peers – these are mainstream luxury cars that get at least 30 mpg and give up little in terms of either performance or comfort.

For instance, the BMW 528i is not only one of the most pleasurable-to-drive midsize luxury cars, it’s also among the most fuel-efficient. A manual transmission is standard for enthusiasts with a responsive eight-speed automatic transmission available at no extra cost for the clutch-averse. Cutting-edge amenities like a rearview camera with top-down side-view perspectives for easier parking and an infrared Night Vision system make it one of the best-selling luxury cars on the road. It’s base-priced at around $45,500 and is rated at 22/32 mpg.

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For those looking to buy American, the Lincoln MKZ hybrid (Lincoln’s version of the Ford Fusion Hybrid) treats its occupants to a luxurious interior while presenting onlookers with a fierce and edgy facade. The car can run at speeds up to 47 mph solely on battery power. Best of all, the MKZ is the only hybrid that’s priced on a par with its gasoline-powered equivalent at about $35,000. It’s rated at 41/36 mpg.

Whoever came up with the moniker “gas guzzler” may have to rethink how they define SUVs thanks to the Lexus RX 450h’s 32/28 mpg rating. Available in front- and all-wheel-drive versions, the stylish midsize hybrid luxury crossover SUV is quicker and gets better mileage than its gasoline powered equivalent. Starting at around $44,000, it remains both practical and a pleasure to drive, with a spacious and comfortable wood-trimmed five-passenger cabin that includes 10 airbags.

BMW 335d

The "clean diesel" version of the acclaimed 3 Series sedan is both efficient and sporty, with a turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel inline-six-cylinder engine producing 265 horsepower with a whopping 425 pound-feet of torque that ensures quick launches. Driving the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission, this engine can take the 335d to 60 mph in just under seven seconds, which is roughly on a par with the 335i gasoline version. Superior suspension and steering systems enable adept cornering abilities that reward a skilled driver at every turn, while an available M Sport package turns the 335d into an even racier package. Priced at around $44,500, it's rated at 23/36 mpg.

Lexus HS 250h

Lexus' midsize five-passenger hybrid-powered luxury sedan is more handsomely styled than its cousin at Toyota, the Prius. Though it can't match that model's fuel economy, it's more refined and delivers more luxury-car-like comfort and performance. A 2.4-liter gas/electric powertrain produces 187 horsepower, with comfort-tuned ride and handling characteristics. In a nod to the car's "green" nature, around 30 percent of its cabin and trunk materials are so-called bioplastics that are responsible for 20 percent less carbon dioxide emissions. It starts at around $36,000 and is rated at 35/34 mpg.

Lexus RX 450h

Available in front- and all-wheel-drive versions, the stylish midsize RX 450h hybrid luxury crossover SUV is quicker and gets better mileage than its gasoline powered equivalent with its 295-horsepower electrified 3.5-liter V-6 powertrain. It remains both practical and a pleasure to drive, with a spacious and comfortable wood-trimmed five-passenger cabin that includes 10 airbags. Starting at around $44,000, high-tech options include a head-up display that projects pertinent data onto the windshield in the driver's line of sight. It's rated at 32/28 mpg.

Lincoln MKZ

Lincoln's version of the Ford Fusion Hybrid features formal chrome-capped styling, and treats its occupants to a more luxurious interior. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine and an electric motor generate a V6-like 191 horsepower, and the car can run at speeds up to 47 mph solely on battery power. A novel dashboard display helps motorists maximize their fuel efficiency. It comes with a long list of standard convenience features that includes heated and cooled front seats. Best of all, the MKZ is the only hybrid that's priced on a par with its gasoline-powered equivalent at about $35,000. It's rated at 41/36 mpg.

Mercedes E350 BlueTEC

This is the most-efficient version of Mercedes' elegant and accommodating midsize E-Class sedan, and it leverages its 3.0-liter turbodiesel V-6 engine for V-8-grade off-the-line acceleration with 210 horsepower and a generous 400 pound-feet of torque. A seven-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and efficiently. Buyers can upgrade the base comfort-oriented suspension to a sport package for improved handling and specific upgrades at no difference in price, which starts at just over $51,000. It's rated at 22/33 mpg.

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Bob Hoskins hates Super Mario Bros. film

Hoskins as Mario Bob Hoskins sports a resume that most actors would envy. Best known, perhaps, for "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?," he also played key roles in "Brazil," "Mona Lisa" and "The Cotton Club."
He has appeared in nearly 100 films and television shows -- but there's one he'd like to erase from that list: 1993's Super Mario Bros.
The Guardian spoke with the 68-year old actor, peppering him with a series of questions about his career, politics and life moments. And he doesn't hesitate to give his feelings on the role that forced him to slap a comically large mustache on his mug and say lines like "Come and get it, lizard breath!" while maintaining a straight face.


It's hard to blame him. The film, which boasts a humiliating 13 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, took its share of liberties with the famed game series.
Mario and Luigi are plumbers, yes, but they live in Manhattan and are chasing Princess Daisy -- not Peach -- who wears a necklace made from a meteor fragment that can free a race of reptilian, sewer-dwelling creatures. King Koopa, her kidnapper, hides her not in a castle, but rather in the garbage-infested underworld of Dinohattan.
It's even more confusing when you watch it. The film is essentially a nonstop reel of early 1990s special effects, with bits of nonsensical dialogue and Princess Daisy screaming "Luigi!!!" used as filler. 


SPOILER ALERT: In another ridiculous twist, Luigi gets the girl.
Hoskins' dislike of the notorious film runs deep. In 2007, he told Contact Music that working on the movie was a "nightmare" due in large part to the husband-and-wife directing team of Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel, "whose arrogance had been mistaken for talent." Ouch.
Hoskins likely isn't the only actor who would prefer to see the movie disappear. Others who carry the stain of this cheese-tastic masterpiece on their resume include John Leguizamo, who played Luigi, and the late Dennis Hopper, who had the unfortunate luck to accept the King Koopa role.
Time Magazine has listed the film as one of the worst video game movies of all time -- but that hasn't stopped it from attracting a cult following. Even worse, it hasn't stopped the film industry from generally following the same formula of Super Mario Bros. when it makes movies based on games: ramping up the special effects budget and hoping no one notices they had a third grader write the script between classes.

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Syria: cousin of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad given travel ban

A cousin of the Syrian president has been banned from traveling abroad as the government says it is investigated the violence gripping the country.

Bashar al-Assad, Syrian President 

 

  

The move appears to be an attempt by Bashar al-Assad to show that he is serious about investigating the bloodshed.

State-run SANA news agency said the ban was imposed on Brig. Gen. Atef Najib, who ran the security department in the southern province of Daraa.

The uprising erupted there in mid-March after the arrest of 15 teenagers who scrawled anti-government graffiti.

Judge Mohammed Deeb al-Muqatran of the Special Judicial Committee says the travel ban is precautionary in order for Najib to be available for questioning. 

Al-Muqatran was quoted as saying on Monday that "no one has immunity, whoever he is."

On Sunday a mass grave containing the bodies of at least 10 soldiers was discovered by Syrian troops in a town stormed by government forces in the north of the country. 


At least four of the corpses in the grave, found outside the military police headquarters in the town of Jisr al-Shughour, near the Turkish border, had been decapitated or struck on the head by an axe, according to those present.
The government claimed the bodies, all still in uniform, were evidence of an attack by "armed gangs" on security forces it said claimed 120 lives last week.
But residents and some defecting soldiers who have fled over the border claimed that the dead were local recruits shot by their officers for refusing to open fire on peaceful protesters. 

They also claimed that the army, which moved in under cover from helicopters and tank fire, had used brutal tactics to recapture the town at the weekend.
"The soldiers told us that they would kick us into the sea," Mohammed Migdem, 60, told The Daily Telegraph, waving his arms angrily.


"They killed my uncle's son and I helped lift several dead bodies into cars with my own hands. There is a war going on in Syria against the people."
Witnesses also described how they had seen two boys trying to escape who were killed by fire from government tanks.
The unrest in Syria has claimed 1,500 lives since March, according to human rights groups, with no sign that the regime is managing to deter opposition.
There were even demonstrations at the weekend in the capital, Damascus.
Britain, France and America have led international criticism of the violence, but lack of support from the Arab League has made outside intervention likely.
China and Russia have also so far opposed a motion of condemnation at the United Nations.
"There is no prospect of getting through the UN a resolution such as the UN resolution 1973 on Libya," William Hague, the foreign secretary, said on Sky News. That resolution authorised the no-fly zone currently in place against Col Muammar Gaddafi's forces.
"In the case of Libya there was a clear call from the Arab League for action, and that was a transformative intervention. There is no such call in the case of Syria."
Mr Hague added that Syria was "undoubtedly being assisted by the Iranian government" through supplying "equipment" and advising how to crush protests.

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Australian flights disrupted by ash cloud again

An ash cloud from a volcano in Chile wreaked havoc on Australian flights again on Tuesday, with Qantas Airways and Virgin Australia cancelling domestic flights in and out of Sydney and other key cities from Tuesday afternoon.

International flights were mostly operating but some flights were being diverted, delayed or canceled, Qantas said.

Qantas diverted flights from Johannesburg and Singapore to Brisbane, and delayed two flights due from Los Angeles, and canceled six flights between Australia and New Zealand, the airline said, while Sydney Airport said flights to Honolulu and Bali had also been canceled.

Qantas also moved forward two flights to London and one to Frankfurt to get them out before 3 pm (1 am ET), another spokesman said.

Qantas and Virgin Australia canceled all flights to and from Adelaide all day on Tuesday, while both airlines stopped flights to and from Canberra from around midday.

Virgin said it was suspending all services out of Melbourne from 4 pm, while Qantas canceled flights between Perth and Melbourne.

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UN atom chief urges nuclear stress tests, inspections

The UN nuclear chief called on Monday for national safety tests on all the world's reactors within 18 months, followed by international inspections to help prevent any repeat of Japan's atomic crisis three months ago.

Yukiya Amano, opening a ministerial meeting in Vienna on strengthening safety standards after the Fukushima emergency, said UN experts should be allowed to carry out random safety reviews of nuclear power plants.

His proposals -- aimed at ensuring that nuclear plants can withstand extreme events such as the earthquake and tsunami that crippled Fukushima -- may prove controversial for states which want to keep safety an issue strictly for national authorities.

"Public confidence in the safety of nuclear power has been badly shaken," Amano, director general of the International Atomic Energy (IAEA), said in a speech to ministers and regulators from the UN body's 151 member states.

"However, nuclear power will remain important for many countries, so it is imperative that the most stringent safety measures are implemented everywhere."

Amano, a veteran Japanese diplomat, said nuclear safety would remain a national responsibility -- and that governments would have the main task of testing, if only in theory, whether reactor systems could withstand various stresses. But he also made clear he wanted the U.N. agency to play a greater role.

"IAEA review of every one of the world's 440 operating nuclear reactors in just a few years is not a realistic proposition. I therefore propose a system based on random selection," he said.

Japan's crisis has prompted a rethink of energy policy around the world, underlined by Germany's decision to shut down all its reactors by 2022 and an Italian vote to ban nuclear power for decades.

At the June 20-24 meeting, IAEA member nations will begin charting a strategy on boosting global nuclear safety, but differences on how much international action is needed may hamper follow-up efforts, diplomats say.

Russia wants to move towards making the UN agency's safety standards compulsory, but many other countries oppose this.

EXTREME NATURAL HAZARDS

Currently there are no mandatory, international nuclear safety regulations, only IAEA recommendations which national regulators are in charge of enforcing.

Russia's atomic energy chief Sergei Kiriyenko welcomed Amano's proposals, telling the conference that "we are delighted that they are very much in keeping" with Moscow's views.

Japanese officials have come under fire for their handling of the emergency and the authorities have admitted that lax standards and poor oversight contributed to the accident.

Three reactors at the Japanese complex went into meltdown when power and cooling functions failed, causing radiation leakage and forcing the evacuation of some 80,000 people.

"In the light of the Fukushima Daiichi accident, thorough and transparent national risk assessments should be made of all nuclear power plants in the world.

"They should focus on safety margins against extreme natural hazards, such as earthquakes, tsunamis and floods. This could be done within 12 to 18 months."

He gave no details of how such assessments would be carried out. Typically experts speak of "stress tests" which provide for theoretical and practical simulations of how power plant systems would respond to various "stress" events, such as earthquakes.

Amano said these national assessments should be followed by IAEA expert reviews to check operational safety emergency preparedness, and the effectiveness of regulatory systems.

"I propose that countries with nuclear power should agree to systematic, periodic peer reviews by the IAEA," he said.

"The agency could conduct an international safety review of one nuclear power plant in 10 throughout the world over, say, a three-year period."

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Keith Olbermann’s New Show Makes TV Debut Tonight

Keith Olbermann returns to television Monday night in his new gig at Current TV. The show will air at a familiar time (8:00 p.m.) and with a familiar name, Countdown with Keith Olbermann.

Olbermann left MSNBC, where Countdown had aired since March 2003, in January 2011. Olbermann joins the fledgling Current TV, not only as its marquee host, but also as its chief news officer. His role will extend beyond Countdown and he will be heavily involved with developing news programming across Current TV.
On a recent conference call with members of the media, Olbermann opened up more about the format of the show and some of the frequent contributing guests. It sounds like Countdown will continue much as it did on MSNBC, albeit with a slightly altered cast of regular characters.
Olbermann repeatedly underscored Current’s unique position as an independently owned news network. To wit, the first promo spot for the show is all about combatting the “heavily biased corporate-sponsored spin” that saturates modern media. The underlying message is that as an independent entity, Current TV (and Olbermann, by proxy) can cut through to the truth.
Of course, bias exists with or without corporate backing, and I have little doubt that Olbermann’s own gaze and point of view will carry over not only to Countdown, but to the other news programming on Current TV.

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Where’s the Digital Focus?

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One of the more disappointing aspects about the launch of the new Countdown is the lack — at least thus far — of a clear-cut digital strategy. It’s more than a little ironic that Current TV, a network that was originally formed with a focus on online content, is remaking itself to be more of the standard cable network, especially in an age when the established cable networks are trying to be more social.
Olbermann’s former network, MSNBC, has long had as strong digital presence. Not only are clips from its various programs available online (and the network has streaming deals with certain telecoms for mobile TV initiatives) almost instantly, the network has provided video podcasts of its primetime shows — including the former incarnation of Countdown. MSNBC also has a strong presence in the mobile app space.
In contrast, Current has reduced much of its online video presence to clips and promos for certain series. The website for Countdown, while beautiful and well-designed, will bring users exclusive behind-the-scenes video clips and curated clips from the nightly show. In other words, if your cable provider doesn’t carry Current, you won’t be able to watch the full show.
To combat that, Current is actively embarking on a “I Want My MTV”-esque campaign to get users to use social media, email and the phone to petition cable operators to add Current to their lineup.
Here’s a video that Olbermann made addressing cable television provider Cablevision:
It’s a little frustrating that the network is knowledgeable enough to know that Twitter and Facebook are important outlets to get the attention of cable operators, yet aren’t willing to take the next step of offering online access to content.Unlike CNN, Fox News and MSNBC, Current TV isn’t a cable news lineup staple. For that reason, Olbermann is not promising blockbuster traditional ratings. He pointed out that Countdown in the early days on MSNBC was only getting a small fraction of its audience circa 2011.
That’s a fair point and one we will certainly keep in mind when the reports are released. Still, we have to question the reliance on a traditional cable strategy when the industry model as a whole is moving to a more malleable and digital space.
My hope is that Current TV and Olbermann will learn to embrace digital audiences sooner rather than later. Yes, it’s important to target the existing cable market, but the focus should also be on the growing segment of users that consume their content — including news — online.

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The longest day – Summer Solstice 21st June 2011

Solstice Sunset Credit:Adrian West

June 21st, 2011 is Summer Solstice – the longest day of the year.
This is the time when the Sun is at its highest or most northerly point in the sky in the Northern Hemisphere and when we receive the most hours of daylight. If you live in the Southern Hemisphere it is the reverse, so you will be having “Winter Solstice.”
Also known as “Midsummer” the Summer Solstice gets its name from the Latin for sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still). The Sun reaches its most Northerly point and momentarily stands still before starting its journey South in the sky again until it reaches its most Southerly point “Winter Solstice”, before repeating the cycle. This is basically how we get our seasons.

It’s not actually the Sun that moves North or South over the seasons although it may appear so. It’s the Earths axial tilt that causes the Sun to change position in the sky as the Earth orbits the Sun throughout the year.

The angle of the Sun and the Earth's seasons. Image credit: NASA

Summer Solstice/ Midsummer is steeped in ancient folklore especially in Northern Europe with the most famous place directly related to it being Stonehenge, where the sun has been worshiped for thousands of years.

Stonehenge Credit: bistrochic.net

The Sun reaches its most Northerly point in the sky at 17:16 UTC momentarily and from that point forward starts to make its way South. This means the days will get shorter and shorter until Winter Solstice in December.

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