Wednesday's Current Event.

PARIS — The rugged landscape created by volcanic eruptions and tectonic plate shifts in east and south Africa millions of years ago may be what prompted our human ancestors to start walking on two legs, a study said Friday. The research published in the journal Antiquity challenges the commonly-held theory that early hominins (members of the broad human family) were forced onto two feet on the ground because climate change reduced the number of trees they lived in.

Brain Stimulation Can Boost Math Skills

Administering high-frequency electrical noise to the brain can actually boost math skills up to six months later, according to a small study at the University of Oxford. The finding was published in the journal Current Biology and outlines a technique that consists of placing electrodes on the scalp of the head and administering random electrical noise to stimulate parts of the brain - causing nerve cells to fire. During this study, the electrodes were placed on the head to aim at hitting regions of the brain known to be involved in doing math. Opinion: I really need help with math, and this might possibly work....

2 posts

U.S. lost track of two with known or suspected terrorists: Washington (CNN) -- The U.S. Marshals Service lost two former participants in the federal Witness Security Program "identified as known or suspected terrorists," according to the public summary of an interim Justice Department Inspector General's report obtained by CNN. The Marshals Service has concluded that "one individual was and the other individual was believed to be residing outside of the United States," according to the summary. A Justice Department official said in response to follow up questions about the matter by reporters on Thursday that the pair had left the program years ago and had been accounted for. Opinion: I think that this is scary because they aren't anywhere to be found. Ancient water here on Earth keeps hope alive for life on Mars: Billions of years ago, pockets of water became trapped deep underground on Earth. Having just found some of these water pockets, scientists have discovered that they contain not only water, but are also abundant in life-sustaining chemicals. What's more, the rocks that have been holding this primordial water hostage for billions of years are reminiscent of the sort of rocks that scientists have observed somewhere else in the solar system. Mars. This has the scientific community looking to our little red neighbor with renewed hope: if Earth can be home to such ancient, watery time capsules then maybe — just maybe — Mars is too. Opinion.I think that this is a new experience and that this will bloom to new findings about Mars.

Education Opinion

My opinion on education is that I don't really see how teachers tell you to go for what you want to be in life and to express yourself, but in reality they don't teacher about what we should be learning for our goal. Like, what if we wanted to be a chef but they don't teach us about cooking or restaurant management. How is Biology suppose to help us with Culinary?

Mother's Day Shooting Opinion.

My opinion on the shooting on Mother's Day is that nobody really knows why the people did what they did, we can only assume that maybe the shooters are in cohorts with each other and they had the same problem that had something to do with their moms, so they chose Mother's Day to do something and go after the Mother's Day parade. Honestly, nobody should even think about doing that, especially on Mother's Day.

Thursday's Post: Mars One applicants exceed 78,000: Would you take a one way ticket to Mars?

Mars One applications have only been available for two weeks, and already over 78,000 people have submitted video applications to be part of the one way trip to the red planet. Scheduled for 2022, the Mars One mission, imagined by the Dutch non-profit of the same name, aims to establish a self-sustaining colony on Mars. According to Time, the physiological change to the human body after an extended stay on Mars would mean no chance of returning to Earth for would-be astronauts. While the initial flood of applications has led Mars One co-founder Bas Lansdorp to call the mission "the most desired job in history," Mars One colonists would face trying conditions that could make it difficult for the organization to find its desired 500,000 applicants. Opinion: I would like to be part of the Mars One mission.

Wednesday's post:Time-lapse images let you witness 28 years of Earth's changes

The pictures, captured by the series of Landsat satellites and released in conjunction with the U.S. Geological Survey, NASA, and Time magazine, show several startling examples of how humans and natural processes have changed Earth from 1984 to 2012. You'll see the depressing decline of the Columbia Glacier in Alaska, the blossoming of Dubai's epic cityscape, and Las Vegas' urban explosion. There's also an alarming look at the deforestation occurring in the Brazilian Amazon forest. Opinion: This is cool being able to see the Earth change from 28 years ago to now.

Tuesday's Post: 2 truths and a lie

Pets may help cut heart disease risk: American Heart Association The American Heart Association (AHA) issued a scientific statement on Thursday saying owning a pet may help to decrease a person's risk of suffering from heart disease and is linked with lower levels of obesity, blood pressure and cholesterol. Amazon Is Developing Smartphone With 3-D Screen The Seattle e-commerce giant has recently been developing a wide-ranging lineup of gadgets—including two smartphones and an audio-only streaming device—to expand its reach beyond its Kindle Fire line of tablet computers, said people familiar with the company's plans. Its said to be the greatest new technology and also has a high price. Flu In Pregnancy Increases Child's Risk Of Bipolar Disorder Women who catch the flu during pregnancy may put their child at increased risk of bipolar disorder later in life, according to a new study in JAMA Psychiatry. In the past, studies have demonstrated a link between gestational influenza and schizophrenia in offspring, showing that a mother's flu during pregnancy may increase a child's risk of schizophrenia.

Monday's post: Cleveland man could face aggravated murder charges.

Ariel Castro is accused of separately abducting two teenage girls and a young woman and holding them in his home for about 10 years. One of the victims, Amanda Berry, escaped with her 6-year-old daughter. Castro is set to undergo a paternity test to confirm he is the girl's father. Another victim, Michelle Knight, alleges she became pregnant five times and that each time Castro starved her and punched her in the stomach until she miscarried, according to a police report reviewed by the Wall Street Journal. Opinion: This is scary and it could happen to anyone, also, I'm glad that they escaped.

Crash

A 16-year-old suffered non-life-threatening injuries after being impaled in the chest by a piece of fence after crashing a car Thursday afternoon, Salem police say. The driver was with three other 16 year olds. The other teenagers sustained minor injuries. All four are from Sprague High School. This is sad and I wish their families the best.

Bad man.

A Salem man walked into the Marion County Jail on Thursday morning and confessed to sexually abusing a young girl, according to a Marion County Sheriff’s Office spokesman. Eddie Luter,35, told a deputy at the jail that he had been sexually abusing a 12 year old girl who lived with him and his wife, sheriff’s spokesman Don Thompson said. The girl had been staying with Luter and his wife since 2010 while her parents live and work in Micronesia. This is sad and I hope he gets punished.

Options

Students, parents and teachers marched and pleaded with the Gresham-Barlow school board to keep a program off the budget chopping block. The Options Program is at risk of being cut from the school budget after 26 years of helping students graduate who are struggling at school and home. The school district is short about $5 million and needs to find a way to save money, but students, and their teachers, don't want this program to go. Here are some of the statements they made before the school board Thursday night. I think this is a amazing story and that students care for a program so thoroughly.

Walking Preditor Fish That Breathes Air On The Loose!

Even creepier than the catfish that hunts pigeons on land, is the toothy northern snakehead, a carnivorous fish that grows to at least three feet in length, can breathe air and can survive for up to four days out of water. It can survive for even longer periods in mud and moist environments. Oh, and it travels over land by wriggling its body along the ground. And it has come to New York City’s Central Park. Opinion: At least its not here terrorizing Independence....

PopSci: Shedding New Lights On Basement Marijuana.

"As of 2013, 24 states and Washington, DC, have either legalized marijuana or decriminalized possession of it. One of my friends lives in a state where medical marijuana is now legal, and he has taken full advantage of this to start growing the plant, which helps him manage the symptoms of a chronic illness, in his basement. Rather than use his real name, I'll just refer to him by his online handle, GrowingGreenLED. I've known GGL for years, and I knew that even when it was illegal, he used marijuana for medical reasons. The whole grow-your-own was a new thing for him -- and me. Curious about the enterprise, I asked if he'd be willing to chat with me about the ins and outs of growing one's own plants. In particular, I was curious about his all-LED setup. Opinion: Who knew that LED lights could do that.

Galaxy Goes Green in Burning Stellar Fuels

Astronomers have spotted the "greenest" of galaxies, one that converts fuel into stars with almost 100-percent efficiency. The findings come from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the IRAM Plateau de Bure interferometer in the French Alps. "This galaxy is remarkably efficient," said Jim Geach of McGill University in Canada, lead author of a new study appearing in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. "It's converting its gas supply into new stars at the maximum rate thought possible." Stars are formed out of collapsing clouds of gas in galaxies. In a typical galaxy, like the Milky Way, only a fraction of the total gas supply is actively forming stars, with the bulk of the fuel lying dormant. The gas is distributed widely throughout the galaxy, with most of the new stars being formed within discrete, dense 'knots' in the spiral arms. Opinion: I think that this looks cool.

Comet Could Blast Earth With Meteor Shower.

A small but incredibly bright comet heading toward the sun could do more than dazzle Earth’s skies when it arrives later this year. Scientists say Comet ISON, already shedding dust at the prodigious rate of about 112,000 pounds per minute, could spark an unusual meteor shower. Computer simulations predicting the location and movement of the comet’s dust trail show Earth will be passing through the fine-grained stream around Jan. 12, 2014. Opinion: As long as Earth is okay, then this would be cool.

Galaxy S4

Samsung announced it will launch its highly-anticipated Galaxy S4 smartphone in the U.S. this month. The device will first be available April 24 through T-Mobile for $150 down plus monthly payments. Sprint launches the S4 on April 27 for $250, while AT&T will start shipping the device April 30 at $200. Verizon will release the smartphone this month, too, but has not disclosed a date. The smartphone includes a 5-inch touchscreen, 13-megapixel camera and up to 64 GB of storage with a micro-SD card. The S4 will also sport several interesting features, such as Dual Camera for taking pictures or video with both cameras simultaneously and Group Play for sharing content across devices. Opinion: How many more Galaxy S' are they going to make.

Pennsylvania: Carbon monoxide Kills 4

Carbon monoxide apparently killed a married couple and their two children in an eastern Pennsylvania home where police found a car running in the garage, stunning friends and neighbors who recalled the family Tuesday as happy and outgoing. It wasn't clear whether the car was left running accidentally, or whether it was an intentional act. State police declined to comment on the investigation. Police were called to the home in Milford Township in rural Bucks County, about 45 miles northwest of Philadelphia, at 11:20 p.m. Monday. "When troopers arrived at the residence, they found the house was clearly filled with high levels of carbon monoxide from a running vehicle in a garage below (inside) the residence," state police Lt. Vincent D'Angelo said in a news release. Opinion: Maybe they shouldn't of parked in the garage if it was an accident, but if it wasn't then they should of made sure that the keys were with them and that the garage door was locked.

5 Firefighter Being Held Captive

SUWANEE, Ga. -- The Gwinnett County Police Department SWAT is on scene of a barricaded gunman holding five Gwinnett County firefighters hostage. Police believe the firemen responded to a home on Walnut Grove Way in Suwanee for a medical call, where they are now being held. The residence is near Collins Hill Rd. and Taylor Rd. Police are unsure of the gunman's motive at this time. We have screws on the scene and will provide updates as soon as they are available. Shortly after 5:00, Cpl. Edwin Ritter asked that news helicopters stay clear of the airspace for the safety of all involved. Opninion: I think its really scary to be held captive and at gun point.

New Generation of Xbox Announced on May 21: Xbox 720

Microsoft will spill the beans on its next-generation Xbox at an event on May 21, according to Windows blogger Paul Thurrott and a report from The Verge. Originally scheduled for April, the event was pushed back to May, sources have told the Verge. That echoes similar information from Supersite for Windows writer Paul Thurrott. In an interview with the video blog "What the Tech" on Friday, Thurrott said that Microsoft had planned to announce the new console on April 24 but then rescheduled the event for May 21. Opinion: How many more Xbox consoles and Playstation consoles will they make. Its not a war about who has the best console.

Two Truths And a Lie

Girth and vulnerability were constants in the career of Griffiths who died last week in England, aged 65, personally mourned, it would seem, by everybody who either saw his work or was involved in it. In Independence Oregon, there have been multiple arrests based on "unlawful" acts. But some of the pleads are completely lawful, like an officer claims that tail lights were out but the trucks tail light was completely fine, working and was turned on. The Independence officers need to get their act straight and stop their acts of untruthful arrests. Businesspeople in Colorado are preparing to sell marijuana under the new laws there, and dispensaries are opening in the District, despite the federal law. Meanwhile, the Maryland legislature also is considering more lenient marijuana laws.

Jon Bon Jovi's NYC Duplex For Sale

Jon Bon Jovi has listed his SoHo duplex for $42 million. The rocker bought the 5-bed home in 2007 and reportedly invested millions in renovations. Spanning 7,452-square-feet it has three terraces, floor-to-ceiling windows, and 360-degree views of SoHo and beyond. He reportedly paid around $24 million. Honestly, if I had the money to buy Bon Jovi's duplex, I would. He is such a great musician.

Last Supper of an Executed Inmate

Harry Charles Moore, age 56, executed by Oregon, was executed on 5/16/97. His before execution was four 2-liters of soda being Coca-cola, Mountain Dew, A&W Root Beer, and Slice; four apples; two oranges; a banana; and a bunch of green grapes. Honestly, I think that last meals for scheduled execution inmates shouldn't be shown to the public because its sad to know that people are going to be executed. Yeah, they may have been murders or rapists or child molesters, but their LAST meal shouldn't be shown.

Mother Jones Photo Essay: The World's Most Arresting Images

Italian photographer Pietro Masturzo took the top prize for his haunting photo of Iranian protesters shouting from rooftops during the June uprising in Tehran. I think that this photo essay is a really good one because of the images that were entered with the title "The World's Most Arresting Images." The photos really do arrest your eyes when you look at them, or at least that's what happened to me.

'Fault In Our Stars' Movie

Shailene Woodley has booked her next big film role. Woodley will star in Fox 2000's adaptation of John Green's celebrated novel, "The Fault in Our Stars." The 21-year-old actress was rumored for the role earlier this year, before EW broke the news of her involvement on Tuesday. Woodley will play Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16-year-old cancer patient who falls in love with a boy named Augustus in her support group. My opinion: I've read the book "Fault In Our Stars." and I really loved it, so I'm hoping that the movie will be as good as the book.

Soundgarden Put Raw 'Kiing Animal' Demo on Pink Vinyl

Raging grunge leftovers compiled in a lighter shade of red. Soundgarden staged a triumphant return last year with the release of King Animal, the band's first original LP in 16 years. Now, for a well-deserved treat, the Seattle monsters of rock will issue a limited-edition vinyl featuring demos from the King Animal sessions. My Opinion: I love Soundgarden, especially their song 'By Crooked Steps' which has a cameo of Deadmau5.:)

Retelling of Much Ado About Nothing!

A rock retelling of 'Much Ado About Nothing' in the works. Billie Joe Armstrong just returned to Green Day following a stint in rehab, but the 41-year-old frontman is ready for his next comeback. According to the New York Times, Armstrong is plotting a return to the stage with Yale's Repertory Theatre. My opinion: Much Ado About Nothing isn't my favorite Shakespeare, but it was a good play... But as for Green Day retelling it, might not be good.

Veronica Mars

Illustrating the power of social media, more than 30,000 fans of the cult favorite television series "Veronica Mars" pledged $2 million in a single day — or 10 hours, to be exact — to finance an independent film based on the teen drama. My opinion: If they are making a movie out of the Veronica Mars series, I'd watch it a million times... I love that series.

Gunmen kill 7

Two men opened fire in The Mermaid bar in Cancun, Mexico. Heightened security precautions have been taken in preparation for this year’s arrival of spring breakers. My opinion: I hope none of the spring breakers get killed, they still have their lives ahead of them.

Randy Blythe is Acquitted!

Randy Blythe is free. A Czech court has acquitted the Lamb of God singer of manslaughter charges. Blythe was arrested last summer when 19-year-old fan Daniel Nosek died of head injuries two weeks after attending Lamb of God's Prague show.

'Fallen' Reissued

The band, Evanescence, is due to reissue their album 'Fallen' for its tenth year anniversary and will be a limited-edition purple vinyl track. Spin magazine has more about the story.

Former Temptations Singer Dies.

Former Temptations singer Richard Street died of a blood clot in a lung in a Las Vegas hospital at the age of 70, his widow said on Thursday. Cindy Street said her husband died on Wednesday at St. Rose Dominican Hospital in Las Vegas. She had taken him to the emergency room on Friday after he had trouble breathing. Opinion: This is very sad, I really loved listening to the Temptations.

Sugar In Diet Linked To Type 2 Diabetes

Dr. Robert Lustig is the anti-sugar man. In his popular YouTube lecture, "Sugar: The Bitter Truth,", a subsequent profile in the New York Times Magazine and his best-selling book, Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Sugar, Processed Food, Obesity and Disease he explains how the sweeteners in our food contribute to metabolic disorders associated with obesity. But Lustig believes we shouldn't associate these illnesses only with a high body mass index (BMI). In a new study published in PLoS One, Lustig of the University of California, San Francisco, and Dr. Sanjay Basu of Stanford University set out to show that the availability of added sugar in the human diet may have a direct effect on Type 2 diabetes rates, independent of obesity levels, calorie intakes and many other related factors. Opinion: My mom has Type 2 diabetes, and I make her eat as healthy as she can, and she has been losing a lot of weight which her doctor says is great.

Hawaii Makes You Happy!

According to the poll, Aloha State residents were most likely to rate their lives as "thriving," scoring themselves high in areas such as emotional health and work environment. My Opinion: I have always wanted to go to Hawaii, I thought it would be a very nice trip for summer.

Police On The Search

Police are on an "intense" and "extremely focused" nationwide manhunt for the occupants of a black Range Rover at the center of a shooting on the Las Vegas strip that claimed three lives. The incident involved a Maserati that was shot at and subsequently crashed into a taxi, which caught fire.

Xbox 720

It looks like this week’s unveiling of the PlayStation 4 caught one company by surprise and are deciding to unveil their new console earlier than expected. According to a handful of developers and industry professionals, including a Sony official, it’s said that the Redmond-based company was caught “off-guard” by the PS4 announcement and is currently scrambling to get the Xbox 720 revealed earlier than expected.

Medical Marijuana

A bipartisan bill introduced in the state House this week would amend Michigan’s Medical Marijuana Act to explicitly allow local governments to permit and regulate dispensaries as “medical marijuana provisioning centers.” The bill comes on the heels of a Feb. 8 opinion by the Michigan Supreme Court ruling the existing law does not allow dispensaries where marijuana is sold or transferred. Following that ruling, Attorney General Bill Schuette notified the state’s 83 county prosecutors that dispensaries can be shut down as public nuisances.

Asteroid!!!

Nearest approach at 2:24 p.m. EST/1924 GMT on Friday * No chance of impact, scientists say * Encounter will cause asteroid's orbit to change The article will tell you all about this asteroid!

Stranded Carnival Cruise Ship

A Carnival cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico with more than 4,200 passengers and crew will be towed to port after a weekend engine fire left it dead in the water, a cruise line official said. The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Vigorous arrived early Monday to aid the stranded ship. The first of two tugboats is expected on the scene by midday, said Greg Magee, commander of the Vigorous. This Article will tell you more about the cruise ship.

French Spiderman

Daredevil French climber Alain Robert, known as the French Spiderman, climbs the Habana Libre hotel. Robert climbed the 22 floors of the hotel in 28 minutes. Robert has climbed more than 100 of the world's tallest buildings, including the 2,716-foot Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Sears Tower in Chicago and the 88-story Jin Mao Building in Shanghai.