Room 200, where US 'super committee' seeks answers to financial turmoil

Room 200, a 30-by-30 foot room inside the United States Capitol, is the home of the U.S. Congress's "super committee," a group of lawmakers who are tasked to find a deal to cut the huge budget deficits in the U.S.

Check out the Reuters report about Room 200 below:

Washington, D.C. - Deep beneath the Capitol is a red-carpeted room that recently reverberated to the sound of Democrats and Republicans singing together, and then to their angry exchanges over how to fix the U.S. budget.

Welcome to Congress's "super committee" room.

This is where a dozen lawmakers lock themselves away to try to strike a deal that, if reached, could prove a turning point in one of the United States' biggest challenges: shrinking its huge budget deficits and containing its soaring debt burden.

On a dozen occasions so far since early September, the committee's six senators and six members of the House of Representatives pulled up a dozen yellow chairs to four wooden tables pushed into a square and commenced haggling over spending and taxes.

There is no assigned seating in the bare 30-by-30 foot Room 200 in the Capitol's visitors' center, two floors underground.

Instead the six Republicans and six Democrats routinely change places as they try new ways to find a deal by November 23 to cut the deficit by at least $1.2 trillion over 10 years.

The swings between comity and acrimony do not yet signal whether a deal can be done by the deadline.

Failure could stoke fears among investors around the world that the U.S. political system is incapable of coming to grips with the country's huge debt.

All of this is happening at a time when Congress's approval rating among Americans has sunk to an all-time low of less than 10 percent, largely because of partisan gridlock.

"At this point, the most serious adult conversations going in Congress are at the super committee," a senior aide said.

"Members are driven by a sense that this is a very precarious time in U.S. history that beckons a solution," the aide said. "But at the same time, members wrestle with political loyalties that they can't divorce themselves from."

Democrats are pushing to cut the deficit by up to $3 trillion over 10 years, much higher than the super committee's target, with a mix of spending cuts and new tax revenues. But Republicans deeply oppose raising taxes, warning of job losses and damage to an already fragile economic recovery.

Across the divide, friendships have blossomed in Room 200. Democratic Senator John Kerry and Republican Senator Rob Portman have started biking together in the morning.

Kerry has emerged as a leader of an informal, bipartisan group of six lawmakers within the super committee, the biggest of a number of sub-groups seeking to narrow differences.

He recently invited a few of his group of six, including Portman, to his home for dinner, congressional aides say.

Senator Patty Murray, the panel's Democratic co-chair, and Jeb Hensarling, the committee's Republican co-chair, have a solid working relationship, according to aides who asked not to be identified because of the panel's secrecy policy.

Read more of the report HERE.

Supermassive black hole dusts remnants of planet-asteroid collisions - study

Supermassive black hole dusts | NASA Photo

Supermassive black hole dusts may be the remains of cosmic collisions, according to a study.

An international team of astronomers led by Dr. Sergei Nayakshin theorized that these shrouds of fat doughnut-shaped dusts surrounding fifty percent of supermassive black holes could be the result of high speed crashes between planets and asteroids. The scientists propose that the central regions of galaxies contain not only black holes and stars but also planets and asteroids.

Dr. Nayakshin points out that this harsh environment - radiation and frequent collisions - would make the planets orbiting supermassive black holes sterile, even before they are destroyed.

"Too bad for life on these planets", he says, "but on the other hand the dust created in this way blocks much of the harmful radiation from reaching the rest of the host galaxy. This in turn may make it easier for life to prosper elsewhere in the rest of the central region of the galaxy."

He also believes that understanding the origin of the dust near black holes is important in our models of how these monsters grow and how exactly they affect their host galaxies.

"We suspect that the supermassive black hole in our own Galaxy, the Milky Way, expelled most of the gas that would otherwise turn into more stars and planets", he continues, "Understanding the origin of the dust in the inner regions of galaxies would take us one step closer to solving the mystery of the supermassive black holes".

A Press Release from the Royal Astronomical Society

Dorothy Rodham, mother of Sec. Hillary Clinton, dies

Dorothy Rodham, the mother of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has passed away at George Washington University Hospital where she was being treated for an undisclosed illness. She was 92 years old.

“Her story was a quintessentially American one, largely because she wrote it herself,” the family of Dorothy Rodham said in a statement.

“She overcame abandonment and hardship as a young girl to become the remarkable woman she was – a warm, generous and strong woman; an intellectual; a woman who told a great joke and always got the joke; an extraordinary friend and, most of all, a loving wife, mother and grandmother.”

Sec. Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, had earlier cancelled her scheduled trips in London, Turkey and Afghanistan due to her mother's condition. There are no reports yet if her planned one-day visit to Manila, Philippines this November 15 is also cancelled.

7 billionth baby arrives in the Philippines

7 billionth baby Danica May Camacho | Photo courtesy of AP

The 7 billionth occupant of the world has arrived! She is Danica May Camacho, a 5.5-pound premature baby, who was born at 11:58 p.m. on Sunday at Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila, Philippines.

The symbolic 7 billionth baby was welcomed with a chocolate cake marked "7B Philippines" and various gifts including a college scholarship.

Since thousands of baby are being born each hour, it is impossible to determine who and where the 7 billionth will be born. The United Nations decided to hold a series of "7 billionth baby" festivities worldwide which started in the Philippines and will be held in other parts of the world, today, October 31, 2011.

Dr. Eric Tayag of the Department of Health told the media that 7 billion is something to think about "deeply."

"We should really focus on the question of whether there will be food, clean water, shelter, education and a decent life for every child," he said. "If the answer is 'no,' it would be better for people to look at easing this population explosion."

The world's population had reached its first billion in 1804. A century after, another 1 billion people were born, cascading in the 20th century: 3 billion in 1959; 4 billion in 1974; 5 billion in 1987; 6 billion in 1998.

$1 million coin: World's largest, most valuable gold bullion minted (Video)

$1 million coin minted in Australia.

A $1 million coin, which is the world's largest gold bullion coin, has been minted by The Perth Mint, Australia's historic precious metals Mint.

Inspired by the popular Australian kangaroo gold coin series, the $1 million coin is made from 99.99% pure gold. With a massive weight of 1,000kg, the magnificent giant coin symbolizes one of the Mint's most extraordinary accomplishments in its 112 year history.

Australia's $1 million coin measures nearly 80cms wide and more than 12cms deep, making it the new biggest gold coin in the planet. The previous record holder was the 1 million dollar gold maple leaf coin released by the Royal Canadian Mint in May 2007 - the coin weighs 100kg and measures 50cms in diameter and 3cms in thickness.

Perth's $1 million coin is also the world's most valuable gold bullion coin. It reportedly has a USD55 million price tag on it.

Watch the world's largest and most valuable coin being made through the Youtube video below:

$1 million coin being made in Australia | Video courtesy The Perth Mint

SUV of the Year Awards 2012 - Best New SUVs named

SUV of the Year is Range Rover Evoque by Land Rover.

The SUV of the Year Awards by Motor Trend magazine has named Land Rover's Range Rover Evoque as the best new SUV.

The magazine's annual SUV of the Year is given to the Sports/Utility Vehicle that "best represents exceptional value, superiority in its class, and most significant developments on the SUV scene."

According to Motor Trend, Range Rover Evoque "captures our calipers by soundly satisfying each and every one of our six criteria."

"It's irresistibly stylish and loaded with standard features including Land Rover's best infotainment system yet. It gets significantly better fuel economy than any other Land Rover product without sacrificing performance; retains an off-road prowess that would embarrass most crossovers; and offers it all in a compact, fun-to-drive, and easy-to-park package. For Land Rover to survive in a future punctuated by tighter CAFE standards, higher fuel prices, increased concern for the environment, and waning consumer interest in traditional SUVs, the Evoque is exactly the product it needs." Motor Trend added.

The other contenders for this year's awards were the following: BMW X3, Dodge Durango, Dodge Journey, Ford Explorer, Jeep Wrangler, Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Mini Cooper Countryman, Saab 9-4x, and Volkswagen Touareg.

Evoque, a compact SUV from Land Rover which went into production in July 2011, is available in three-door and five-door body styles, and with front-wheel only or four-wheel drive. A stylish, leather-upholstered interior is standard, as is a full-length panoramic sunroof.

Three engine options are available for the Evoque: a 2.2-litre turbodiesel producing either either 148 bhp (110 kW; 150 PS) or 187 bhp (139 kW; 190 PS) and a 2-litre 237 bhp (177 kW; 240 PS) turbocharged petrol engine. Its body, meanwhile, uses aluminium for the bonnet and the roof, and composite plastics for the one-piece tailgate has helped to produce a vehicle weighing 220 lb (100 kg) less than the Freelander. A full-length glass sunroof is available as an option.

Ben & Jerry's Schweddy Balls not sold in some stores

Ben & Jerry's Schweddy Balls not cool enough for some.

Ben & Jerry's new ice cream flavor called Schweddy Balls has been absent from the freezers of some grocery stores since its launch, several news sites reported Sunday.

According to the reports, the said stores refrained from saying the reason why they are not carrying out the limited-edition Ben & Jerry's Schweddy Balls and whether they were influenced by the American Family Association group One Million Moms who earlier called for boycott of the product because of its "vulgar" name.

Despite this decision from these store owners, Ben & Jerry's Schweddy Balls is said to be selling like pancakes in other areas.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Ben & Jerry’s spokesman Sean Greenwood said that Schweddy Balls "has quickly become the most popular limited-edition flavor the company has produced."

A vanilla flavored ice cream mixed with a hint of rum and fudge covered with rum and malt balls, Ben & Jerry's Schweddy Balls took its name from a "Saturday Night Live" skit which featured baker Pete Schweddy (played by Alec Baldwin) whose popular line is "No one can resist my Schweddy balls."

Turkey Earthquake, October 23, 2011 | Magnitude 7.2 quake jolts Van City

Turkey Earthquake, October 23, 2011 Epicenter

A strong earthquake has struck Eastern Turkey Sunday afternoon, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported.

According to the USGS, the quake measured a magnitude of 7.2 on the Ritchter Scale and centered at 17 km (10 miles) North Northeast of Van, Turkey. It struck the area at 1:41 p.m. local time (10:41 UTC).

The depth of the quake is 20 km (12.4 miles), the USGS said.

Recent reports say the powerful quake caused buildings to collapse, killing a number of people. Several dozens of individuals were also hurt.

“The quake was strongly felt in Van and neighboring towns, and caused damage and deaths based on initial assessments,” the prime minister’s office said.

Crossed by fault lines, Turkey experiences earthquakes frequently.

Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz passes away

Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz has died, several news sites reported on Saturday. He was around 86.

Crown Prince Sultan was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2004. He had underwent several corrective surgeries and an operation to remove an intestinal polyp. Since June this year, the Crown Prince had been in the United States for medical treatments.

Prince Sultan is survived by 32 children from multiple wives. They include Bandar who was Saudi's Ambassador to the United States from 1983 to 2005 and now the head of the National Security Council; Khaled, Sultan's assistant in the Defense Ministry; and Fahd who is Deputy President of Sport and Welfare.

Prince Sultan's brother Prince Nayef, 78, is next in line to become Saudi's new Crown Prince and the successor of King Abdullah as leader of the oil-rich nation.

Christopher Chaney, alleged celebrity hacker, speaks out

Christopher Chaney, who was nabbed by authorities on Wednesday after identified as the man who allegedly hacked into accounts on computer and other devices of dozens of people including some celebrities, said in an interview with Fox30 that he was “addicted” to the cyber invasions and was “relieved” to have been caught.

Check out the video of Christopher's Chaney's interview below:


Among the stars that were allegedly hacked by the 35 year-old man from Jacksonville, Florida were Scarlett Johansson, Christina Aguilera, Mila Kunis, Simone Harouche and Renee Olstead.

According to U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte Jr., Chaney "also took financial information, movie scripts and conversations that the celebrities believed to be private."

Christopher Chaney may face a 121-year imprisonment if convicted on all the charges filed against him.