California Governor Signs Budget Cuts

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today signed budget cuts for the state that will help close the $3.3 billion gap in the state’s budget this year.

Although not all of the cuts the governor proposed were included, he did appear satisfied.  He also cautioned on more to come.

“I respect the fact that it is not exactly what I proposed,” Schwarzenegger told reporters as he signed the bills into law.

“There is much more to come.  This is only the beginning,” he said.

Schwarzenegger had originally proposed across the board reductions for state agencies. The agreed cuts, which are expected to take effect immediately, largely address spending in education and social services.

Yahoo Now Exploring Deal with News Corp.

After rejecting Microsoft’s bid, Yahoo is working with News Corp. on a possible merger.  Microsoft bid $41.6M for Yahoo recently. 

Speculators believe Yahoo is trying to increase the bid from Microsoft.  Yahoo simply states the deal was too low.  Either way, Yahoo is likely to receive more money unless a hostile takeover strategy is implemented by Microsoft.

Besides talking with News Corp., Yahoo also reportedly has explored an advertising partnership with Google.  In addition, reports of a possible merger with AOL appear to be more rumor than fact, said the person familiar with News Corp. negotiations.

How was the Grand Canyon created? « exploring our world

Here is a wonderful post by Richard at exploring our world.

How was the Grand Canyon created? « exploring our world

The Grand Canyon is a spectacular wonder of the West.

Potentially Active Volcanoes of the West

The western United States is home to 20 potentially active volcanoes.  Just over half of these have shown activity in the past 2000 years. 

The volcanoes of the western United States, especially those in the Cascades, are the result of subduction of oceanic plates beneath the edge of the North American Plate.  The oceanic plates are made at mid-ocean ridges and are denser than the North American Plate.  The North American Plate is made of continental crust and lithospheric mantle.  Water from the oceanic plate helps to melt the hot asthenospheric mantle beneath the North American Plate.  Magma rises through the plate to supply volcanoes.

Plate tectonics continues to drive our volcanoes.  Eruptions of active volcanoes are imminent but very widespread.

In the bookstore: Volcanoes 

On the web: USGS map

Image above: Mount Shasta 1984 (USGS)