Super Moon Almost Here

Saturday night will be the showoff event for the moon, as it reaches, it's "super" point.

The moon will be 221,802 miles away from Earth Saturday night, the average distance is 238,855 according to NASA, that’s 17,053 miles closer.

Which means the moon will appear fourteen percent larger and thirty percent brighter than other full moons this year.

Perigree, when the moon is closest to the Earth in its monthly rotation, will happen exactly one minute after the moon reaches it's fullest status, which is determined when the moon, sun, and Earth line up perfectly.

The best time to take pictures will be at moon rise, due to the optical illusion of the moon appearing bigger at the horizon.

The UN Balance of Power Could Change in 2012

A unique thing is happening in 2012. Four out of the five permanent members, nick-named the P5, of the United Nations Security Council have major elections this year.

These five countries; China, Russia, United State of America, United Kingdom and France; all have the power to veto any Council resolution no matter how much support it may have. Only one country needs to provide a veto to stop any "substantive" draft.

The four countries with elections are Russia, France, the UK, and the US.


Russia

At this point in time, Russia has already undergone its election, putting Vladamir Putin in charge. While this is not a major shift in Russia's current international outlook, Putin will certain be bolder in his initiatives and will give Russia a fiercer voice.

Russia continues to crawl forward in its actions to separate Eastern Europe into its own protective sphere; note the separatist regions as well as the missile defense problems, not to mention the quest for a EurAsia Union; that will only be sped up now that Putin has resumed control.


France

France is about to have their elections and currently the race is too close to call. Nicolas Sarkozy the current Presidential incumbent hails from the Union for a Popular Movement party which is the center-right political group in France. This party, and Sarkozy in particular, has advocated greater alignment with the United States.

His opponent, Francois Hollande, from the Socialist Party will probably be less supportive of America. He has very little foreign policy experience to begin with and has already announced his intentions to speed up the French troop withdraw from Afghanistan. The French Socialist Party aligns itself heavily with the Europeans Socialists who push for more Pro-European Union policies.


Great Britain

The U. K. could be up for a serious shuffle, as well. With the recession hitting Britain as badly as the U. S., most voters want someone to blame. That person may as well be David Cameron. If local elections show any kind of trend, Cameron and his Conservative Party will not fair well.  The Labor Party seems to be gaining traction.

While the U. K. has a long standing alliance with America, The Labor Party's focus has been more on human rights and an alignment with the European Socialists. This means a more isolated EU and more "aid" styled missions instead of defense.

This also could affect the "EU plot", just revealed today, with the EU's super-president and the desire to "scrap" Britain. While Cameron's administration has been less Euro-friendly, the article implies that the current government is not taking steps to prevent a dictator style EU. However, a Labor Party candidate would be much happier to become deeper involved with the European Union.


The United States of America

The United States also has a big election coming up, one that looks just as close as the French. They have suffered through their own economic recession, and had more than their fair share of interceding in foreign affairs. The current President Obama, with minimal foreign policy experience has received mixed reviews at best from the population, but overall his stance could not be considered "strong".

Romney, the Republican opposition, would most likely command a more typically conservative foreign policy which would put the US back on strong defense. While the change in the outlook on international relations might not be drastic, it would still be a change.


China

China will remain stable throughout this year. However, as the other Party chess pieces move around, China will continue to make alliances. China's current foreign policy can best be described as whatever is economically good for them. Bailing out America's debt? Check. Supplying N. Korea under the table? Invisible Check. It doesn't matter either way. And now with the developing story involving the blind activist, Chen Gaungcheng, the tedious relationship the US has with them, can certainly be seen.



 Any shift in power, and we've already seen one in Russia, can lead to instability within the P5. This is an important year internationally, one that needs to be watched more closely as we chose our moves on the world stage. Human rights and the future of the EU will be fresh on the minds of the winners at the end of 2012.

Stabbing in Aurora Leaves One Dead

Around 4:30 Thursday afternoon, a fight broke out on an RTD bus, as it approached the intersection of Smoky Hill and Chambers.

According to police two men went after one man in the back of the bus. The man on his own stabbed both of the other men. One of them was stabbed in the chest, stumbled off the by then stopped bus and collapsed. The other man, pushed the knife wielder into the bus's windshield, which broke, and then ran into a nearby bar, for help, having suffered cuts to his hands.

Both the men who'd been stabbed, were taken to a nearby hospital, where the one was pronounced dead. The man with the knife is in police custody.

It is unknown, at this time, whether the man pulled the knife in self defense, or if the men went after him because he had pulled the knife.

Police have not released names, but did say all three men were between twenty and thirty years of age. None of the other ten passengers, or the driver were injured.

Russia Threatens Against European Missile Defense

Russia has threatened to use "destructive force preemptively" if the US continues it's plans to build a missile shield in Central Europe.

A fresh set of talks began Thursday, between Russia and NATO, but already Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said the talks were "close to a dead end".

Moscow believes that any kind of missile interceptor system would be a threat to their own security.

The US and her allies state that the system would primarily be to defend against Iranian and North Korean threats.

Ever since 2000, when President George W. Bush proposed a missile defense system in Europe, Russia and the US have argued over it. In 2008, President Obama scrapped the plan.

However, in 2010, Poland and the US signed an agreement to house a missile defense base at Poland's Redzikowo airstrip.

Jered Weaver Throws First No Hitter

Angel's pitcher Jered Weaver threw the first no hitter of his career, last night. It was the second no hitter of the MLB season, and the ninth in Angel's history.

He went the full nine innings, only seeing two batters reach base. One on a missed third strike, by the catcher, in the second; the other on a walk, in the seventh.

Weaver, who finished second in American League Cy Young voting, last year, struck out nine of the Twins' batters. Earlier this year he crossed the one thousand strike outs barrier, in his MLB career.

So far this season, Weaver is 4-0 with forty-five strike outs in 44.2 innings pitched. He is running an ERA of 1.61.

Junior Seau; Dead at 43

Football legend, Junior Seau was found dead on Wednesday, from a gunshot to his chest. Police are investigating, but do not suspect foul play.

A neighbor said he would often see Seau on the balcony, or in the ocean paddle boarding or surfing. Two days ago, he saw him playing the ukulele on his balcony, describing the tune as "Hawaiian-style music". "He was smiling and happy and looking at the sky and looking at the waves."

Seau's football career began in high school, where he also lettered in basketball and track and field. Football, though, was where he really shone, making All-American his senior year. From there he went to USC, posting nineteen sacks his final year there, gaining a unanimous first team All American spot.

In 1990, he was the fifth pick overall in the NFL draft. He quickly became one of the most popular players on the San Diego Chargers, and was nicknamed The Tasmanian Devil. In 2003, he would be traded to the Miami Dolphins, where he played til 2006, when they released him due to injuries.

On August 14, 2006 an extremely emotional Seau announced his retirement and signed a one day contract with the Chargers. But just four days later he signed with the New England Patriots, and played there through the 2009 season. January 13, 2010 he announced his intentions to retire, but never officially did.

Over his twenty year career, he was selected to the Pro Bowl twelve times. Perhaps the biggest highlight of his career was the 1994 AFC Championship game. In that game he was playing with a pinched nerve in his neck, yet had an astounding sixteen tackles.

Seau was consistently active in helping the area around Oceanside, California, especially the Samoan community. In 1992, Seau created the Junior Seau Foundation with the mission to educate and empower young people through the support of child abuse prevention, drug and alcohol awareness, recreational opportunities, anti-juvenile delinquency efforts and complimentary educational programs.

Members of Occupy Cleveland Attempt to Blow up Bridge

On Tuesday, The FBI arrested five members of Occupy Cleveland, after they attempted to blow up a bridge that joined two of Cleveland's suburbs.

Self identified anarchists, the men had worked for months, planning the terrorism. Luckily an FBI informant had inserted himself with them early on, and so every bit was kept track of.

The group researched explosives and purchased what they thought was C-4, but a harmless material had been substituted by the FBI agent.

On May 1, they planted the fake explosives on their target bridge, armed them, left and hid themselves, then waited for the bridge to reach it's peak traffic. At that time they entered the codes that they thought would blow it up. The FBI then immediately stormed in and made arrests.

Each of the terrorists faces jail sentences of more than twenty years. They are being held without bond.

Amazon TV

Amazon has announced that it will begin developing it's own TV shows. Focus will be on comedies and children's shows. The shows will be available through Amazon's streaming service, Amazon Instant Video.

At this point Amazon is offering as much as $55,000 and five percent royalties to anyone who's show idea is turned into a full series.

TV shows were a natural progression from the company's already begun movie making segment.

In November of 2010, Amazon launched Amazon Studios, to begin creating it's own movies. So far Amazon Studios has received over 700 test films, and more than 7,000 scripts. Fifteen movies are currently under production.

Both the movies and shows will also be part of Amazon's Prime service. For $79 a year, members receive unlimited streaming, free two day delivery on an unlimited number of items, as well as other services.

North Korea Could Have 7 or More Nukes

Nuclear experts in South Korea now estimate that the North has enough uranium for as many as six or seven nuclear bombs.

And they are continuing to enrich more materials at Yongbyon, their main nuclear facility. Other sites could be as well, but aren't confirmed.

Concerns and tensions are heightened right now, due to an attempted rocket launch two weeks ago, and the increased amount of threats, against the South, coming from the North.

Much of the world also suspects them of preparing to make an underground test, within the next two months.

Deadly Clashes in Cairo

A score or more of people were killed in Cairo on Wednesday as unknown assailants attacked protestors outside the Egyptian Defense Ministry. It is unknown if all of the dead are from the protestors, or if some of their attackers were killed as well.

Footage from state TV showed full on pitched battles taking place between the two sides. The fighting only ended when military vehicles and riot police formed lines between the two sides.

The protestor camp was rumored to have become armed after one of their number was killed earlier in the week. They are protesting the removal of of Hazem Salah Abu Ismail, an ultraconservative Islamist, from the Presidential ballot. Ismail has dual citizenship in the US, and therefore is not eligible to run.

Protestors accuse the interim military government of sending plain clothed soldiers, or of hiring thugs, to create the violence. Whereas state media said it was residents of the neighborhood, upset over the disruption of their lives, who attacked the protest.