After a few years posting in the forums and being hosted on WetWired.Org, I will be posting on the front page. I want to know what you want to hear and read about so email me or post in the forum what we can do to keep you coming to our website………

Today I want to encourage people to register to vote if you haven’t yet. Why? As Americans (yes The Magik is American and proud) we are given the right to vote at the age of 18. Don’t be one of those people who doesn’t vote but is a vivid Pro-Kerry or Pro-Bush; it makes no sense to argue politics if you do not get off your ass and vote. Your voice is important in our society and your vote for your party is important. This goes for anyone and everyone who is American of all ages and races.

If your choice of president doesn’t win and you didn’t vote, you can blame yourself and other individuals who did not vote like yourself. Don’t pout and wine either.

http://www.rockthevote.com/

There you go…… it’s your choice, your party depends on it. Be proud to be American and not like those Michael Moores out there promoting hate.

Scientists have shown that tiny changes to modern flu viruses could render them as deadly as the 1918 strain which killed millions.
A US team added two genes from a sample of the 1918 virus to a modern strain known to have no effect on mice.

Animals exposed to this composite were dying within days of symptoms similar to those found in human victims of the 1918 pandemic.

The research is published in the journal Nature.

Professor John Oxford
The work of the US team, lead by Dr Yoshihiro Kawaoka of the University of Wisconsin, was carried out under the tightest security.

Experts focused on two genes thought to play a key role in the infection process.

One controls production of a spike-like molecule called haemagglutinin (HA), believed to be used by the flu virus to attach itself to the cells it is about to infect.

Previous research published earlier this year in the journal Science identified the HA gene as being the crucial element which made the 1918 virus so deadly - and the latest work appears to confirm this.

Post mortems on mice injected in the nose with the composite virus showed that it had rampaged through their lungs, producing inflammation and haemorrhaging.

The researchers stress the experiment is conclusive for lab mice, and not humans.

Better monitoring

But they say that their work may lead to better ways to assess the potential danger of emerging flu viruses.

Writing in Nature, the researchers say: “Once the properties of the (1918) HA gene that gave rise to its lethal infectivity are better understood, it should be possible to devise effective control measures and to improve global surveillance networks for influenza viruses that pose the greatest threat to humans as well as other animal species.”

Scientists believe the 1918 virus leapt to humans by mutating from bird flu, possibly after passing through pigs, which are able to harbour both human and avian viruses and thus allow them to swap genes as the viruses reproduce.

For that reason, experts are deeply concerned that the avian flu that has broken out in poultry flocks in parts of south-east Asia may acquire genes that will make it highly infectious as well as lethal for humans.

Professor John Oxford, an expert in virology at Queen Mary College London, told BBC News Online the latest research underlined just what a threat all flu viruses potentially posed.

He said: “It is not a big difference at all between a virus that kills 15m people and one that does not kill anyone at all.

“The lesson is not to be complacent about anything to do with flu. Every flu virus must be carrying baggage that could potentially harm us, and we would be well advised not to ignore them.”

Many deaths

The 1918 “Spanish” flu pandemic is estimated to have infected up to one billion people - half the world’s population at the time.

The virus killed more people than any other single outbreak of disease, surpassing even the Black Death of the Middle Ages.

Although it probably originated in the Far East, it was dubbed “Spanish” flu because the press in Spain - not being involved in World War I - were the first to report extensively on its impact.

The virus caused three waves of disease. The second of these, between September and December 1918, resulting in the heaviest loss of life.

It is thought that the virus may have played a role in ending World War I as soldiers were too sick to fight, and by that stage more men on both sides died of flu than were killed by weapons.

Although most people who were infected with the virus recovered within a week following bed rest, some died within 24 hours of infection.

So, I watched the Vice-Presidential Debate tonight.

If I had one word to describe my thoughts on this debate, it would be “easier.” Easier, as in the candidates seemed much more at ease than their Presidential counterparts. John Edwards was much better in terms of tone and approach, and- and God help me, I never thought I would type this- Dick Cheney seemed so much more at ease than President Bush.

Something else- I thought tonight’s moderator did a far better job. The questions were outstanding, and she asked them in a way that had me saying “oooohhhh, I have to see this…”

In terms of their performances, I think that Cheney came out ahead though Edwards did very well for himself. Edwards’ struggles were at the beginning, where he made the mistake of not offering new material. For about the first thirty minutes, Edwards just couldn’t get past the script. Once he did, however, he did very well. John Edwards has a load of experience as a public speaker, and it came out and showed itself once he settled in.

Dick Cheney, for his part, was mostly unflappable. I’ve rarely seen a debate where one of the candidates kept the same approach as Cheney did. There was one moment in particular where he chuckled at something said by Edwards while the camera was off of him (I believe it was an attack on his time at Halliburton), but otherwise he kept his cool very well. Given recent events, I’m impressed.

Edwards’ plans were simple- attack on Iraq, attack on the deficit, attack on Halliburton. Cheney stuck to the facts as he presented them, and did so in a way that came across as more honest than Edwards. Cheney’s approach was “I ain’t gonna sugarcoat this, but when we’re done you’re gonna know where I stand and you’ll agree with me.”

Something to note as well was that these two took the gloves off far better than Bush and Kerry did during their first debate. Cheney’s attack on Edwards’ voting record was a powerful statement, as were Edwards’ Halliburton lines.

I was not a fan of either candidate’s performance last Thursday. I enjoyed this debate far more this time around, and based on overall performance I give this one to Dick Cheney with John Edwards a close, close second.

Oh, one final note- Cheney referred to a website called factcheck.com. Only problem was, the website didn’t exist. The funny part is that since then, MoveOn.org activist and billionnaire George Soros has bought the URl and is using it to point to his website, a Bush-bashing blogsite.

Out.

So this month is Halloween. My favorite month. Most likly cause my bday is actually on Halloween. Anyway I’ve come up with a list of things to watch on TV. Must see type of stuff. I’ve included current movies that haven’t made it to classic status yet and the new releases this year and then the Classics. Of course, I’ve included Thriller (MJ will like that) because its almost like a movie. Feel free to comment on movies that you think should be added to the list.

In theatres:
Resident Evil: Apocalypse
Shaun of the Dead
Stephen King’s Riding the Bullet

Movies:
The Mummy
The Mummy Returns
Thriller
Club Dread
Freddy vs. Jason
Dial M for Murder
The List of Adrian Messenger
PITCH BLACK
TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY
DAY OF THE DEAD
The Witches (1990)
Beetlejuice (1988)
James and the Giant Peach (1996)

Classic Movies:
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1932)
House on Haunted Hill (1958)
The Blob (1958)
Village of the Damned
Jaws
The Birds (1963)
Psycho (1960)
Frankenstein (1931)

Have something to add? Comment on your October movies you watch.

Check the video out here.

(c) No props, notes, charts, diagrams, or other writings or other tangible things may be brought into the debate by either candidate.

(d) Notwithstanding subparagraph 5(c), the candidates may take notes during the debate on the size, color and type of paper each side prefers. Each candidate must submit to the staff of the Commission prior to the debate all such paper and any pens or pencils with which a candidate may wish to take notes during the debate, and the staff or commission will place such paper, pens and pencils on the podium, table or other structure to be used by the candidate in that debate.

If you ask me, he’s pulling a peice of paper out of his pocket and unfolding it. What is that? Regaurdless of what it is, its in violation of the rules by bringing something. What is he going to say that he didn’t read the rules closely enough?? This is not the first time that Kerry has overlooked reading things. Next up, the possible future :

Ok, here we go, you be the judge:

Kerry is elected, he’s sitting down with his military advisers discussing the war in Iraq. They are going over this 150 page document that everyone was supposed to go over. Our military men, are of course military men so they are gung-ho about nuking the middle east and getting it over with. So they press him to do it. Now in the 150 page document it describes some operatives that are in Iraq that have discovered some important information that could bring the war to a close.

“What’s your call Mister President?” the General asks?

With his jaw slightly opened, he looks up, then back at the General trying to give his ’strong face’ “Nuke them.”

A week later its discovered that had he read the document this could have been avoided and the millions of innocents could have been saved.

“I read the document, at least, I read it before I didn’t read it. I mean I ment to say I read some of it. I was for the reading of the document before I was against it.”

Make sure you go by Trey’s site and call him a pansy for quitting. Then come back here and let us know you did.

Forest Service Site with webcam

Cnn

VANCOUVER, Washington (CNN) — A small volcanic tremor shook Mount St. Helens early Sunday, less than a day after the volcano spewed a cloud of steam and scientists warned that a dangerous eruption was imminent.

The tremor Sunday was milder than the previous day’s gas eruption, which prompted geologists to raise the volcano alert to Level 3, indicating an eruption could occur within 24 hours.

The tremor began about 3 a.m. (6 a.m. ET) and lasted about 25 minutes, said Peter Frenzen, a scientist at the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. The volcano is about 50 miles northeast of Portland, Oregon.

After the tremor, seismic activity dropped, but has risen to a level similar to that before the tremor occurred, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The USGS detected “harmonic tremors” — continuous, rhythmic quakes that indicate molten rock is rising to the surface and often precede eruptions — at noon Saturday, about two hours before they raised the alert level. With the alert level up, the U.S. Forest Service and the USGS evacuated Johnson Ridge Observatory, the observation point nearest the volcano.

Scientists on the volcano’s flanks are measuring the likelihood of an eruption through thermal imaging, precise measurements of rock movement and gas analysis.

The volcano had what scientists called “a hiccup” Friday, spewing a harmless plume of steam and ash into the air for about 24 minutes, and a small steam emission on Saturday not long after the harmonic tremors, which lasted for just less than an hour.

Earthquakes are occurring at a rate of up to four per minute, with maximum magnitudes of about 3.0, Jim Vallance, research scientist with the USGS, said Sunday.

According to USGS geologist Tom Pierson, the volcano has released more seismic energy since earthquakes began September 23 than it has at any point since its devastating eruption of May 18, 1980, which killed 57 people and scattered ash over hundreds of miles. The eruption blew away more than 1,000 feet of the top of the mountain.

After the 1980 explosion, small eruptions continued at Mount St. Helens until 1986, when the volcano went quiet. Friday’s eruption was comparable to the minor eruptions seen during that period.

Other small eruptions took place in 1998 and 2001. Lava that oozed out of the volcano during the smaller eruptions built up a 920-foot rocky dome inside the crater left by the 1980 eruption.

“At no time since the pre-1980 buildup to the eruption on May 18 have we seen earthquakes like this,” said Bill Steele, a seismologist at the University of Washington’s seismic laboratory in Seattle.

“All of the dome-building that went on after the 1980 big eruption didn’t have earthquake activity the way we’re seeing it now.”

Geologists don’t expect any eruption in the near future to be as strong as the 1980 blast.

“Mount St. Helens certainly reminds us of the power of nature, and we can certainly see that in the evidence of the 1980 eruption that’s all around us,” Frenzen said. “And here we just have an opportunity to see sort of another chapter in its history and to understand the forces that lie beneath our feet.”

Austin Film Festival

Oct. 14th through 21st.

Advanced Screenings
Around the Bend
Chrystal
Down to the Bone
Dear Frankie
Imaginary Heroes
The Chorus
Lighting in a Bottle
The Life and Death of Peter
Sellers
Steamboy
The Nomi Song
Stage Beauty
P.S.
Sideways
Sex is Comedy
The Woodsman
Schultze Gets the Blues
Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession
Saw

Documentary Competition Features
Sheriff
Just a Little Bit Crazy
Tobacco Money Feeds my Family
The Loss of Nameless Things
Rolling
WMD; Weapons of Mass
Deception
Searching for Angela Shelton

Competition Narrative Features
America Brown
50 Ways to Leave Your Lover
Open House
Robbing Peter
Cape of Good Hope
The Graffiti Artist
Jailbait
Second Best
The Street

Breast cancer fund raiser. Bloggers for Boobies!

So, I watched the first debate tonight.

Personally, I think neither candidate did that great a job. Kerry started off nervous, but grabbed ahold of the tone several times. The only problem is he would fall back and let control loose before following up with anything really strong- with a couple exceptions. For his part, Bush came out swinging but became repetitive after a while, and his body language was just a little too relaxed at times and a bit too annoyed at others. I’ll say this though- both candidates did a good job of remembering that the cameras were always watching (methinks they both remembered Al Gore’s fatal exasperated sighs during the 2000 debates). Neither one overexaggerated anything body languagewise.

This debate, focussing on Security and Foreign Policy, was Bush’s best chance to really take control of this election. I think at times he did excellently (see the “consistent with inconsistency” reply), but at other times he just couldn’t seem to fire off that witty line that would deflate Kerry (ala Reagan’s “Well, there you go again” remarks to Mondale back in 1984) or show that Kerry didn’t have the chops for the job (thinking back to Lloyd Bentson’s smackdown of Dan Quayle back in 1988). For his part, Kerry made clear his current stances on Iraq and managed to finally separate himself from Bush in what he believes, but it may have been a case of too little, too late.

There are two more debates coming up, plus the Vice Presidential debate. If either of the tickets wants to take control of this election, then they really need to bring their A games to the rest of the debates because both candidates need a lot of work behind the podium.

Out.

Head over to Trey’s for the remix of Baz Lurman’s song.

From the Drudge Report.

CAMERON DIAZ ELECTION SCARE: ‘IF YOU THINK RAPE SHOULD BE LEGAL, THEN DON’T VOTE’
Thu Sep 30 2004 12:12:11 ET

On Oprah’s Wednesday ‘voting party’ show featuring important celebrities like P. Diddy (Vote or Die!), Drew Barrymore and Christina Aguilera, svelte suffragette Cameron Diaz took to shock tactics to get the female vote out.

After a discussion with Oprah on lynching and the vote, Diaz spoke of the dire consequences for women if they sit out this election:

Ms. DIAZ: We have a voice now, and we’re not using it, and women have so much to lose. I mean, we could lose the right to our bodies. We could lo–if you think that rape should be legal, then don’t vote. But if you think that you have a right to your body, and you have a right to say what happens to you and fight off that danger of losing that, then you should vote, and those are the…

WINFREY: It’s your voice.

Ms. DIAZ: It’s your voice. It’s your voice, that’s your right.

Happy BDAY MAGIK!