Mood:
incredulousNow Playing: Get Off of My Cloud by Rolling Stones
Topic: Science
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) proposed a controversial new definition of a planet. There has never been a formal defintion for a planet in textbooks, which is what the IAU came up with. Their defintion of a planet is:
"A planet is a celestial body that (a) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (b) is in orbit around a star, and is neither a star nor a satellite of a planet."-MSNBC.com
Under this proposed defintion, there would be over 12 "planets" in our solar system, with many more out there that haven't been discovered. Overall, the proposal is disasterous. For example, the proposal would make Pluto's moon a planet, and not ours, even though it is bigger. The definition above that was chosen, was one of the better ones that didn't have huge problems. Although I have no problem with this definition, some scientists do. I have to admit, it would be a huge change in our solar system, going from nine planets to 12(officially, but unofficially, over 53). The IAU will vote on this proposal Aug. 24.
-AB
spacey
irritated
Not much to my surprise, President Bush's support is dropping all across the board. According to MSNBC.com, "An Associated Press-Ipsos poll conducted this week found the president's approval rating has dropped to 33 percent, matching his low in May. His handling of nearly every issue, from the Iraq war to foreign policy, contributed to the president's decline around the nation, even in the Republican-friendly South." Democrats need to gain only 15 seats to gain control of the House, with only 100 days until Nov. 7 election day. Some of the opposition is to the War in Iraq, which is evident with the defeat the of Joe Lieberman, who openly supports it, to Ned Lamont in the Connecticut primary. The number of voters in opposition of Bush will also increase, voters who want Anyone But Bush (ABB). The low approval rating of Bush could also hurt other Republican candidates seeking election or re-election. As election day looms ever closer, Democrats can only wait and be hopeful to regain the majority. The Bush Administration doesn't seem to be doing anything to help their fellow Republicans along, and may even be making it harder for counterparts to be elected. Only time will tell if Democrats win back the House, but in my opinion, as election day grows closer, Democrats chances of winning back the Majority increase.