'Brain Droppings' - Otherwise Known As General Discussion for 4/18/07

[fred]

http://www.whispers4u.com/files/photo/20143.jpg (http://www.whispers4u.com/member/user_profile.asp?user_id=32973)thirtythree (http://www.whispers4u.com/member/user_profile.asp?user_id=32973)Last Active on:
22 April 2007 (GMT)** PREMIUM MEMBER **

Hi !
I'm thirtythree from chicago, IL, United States.
I am 24 years old. I have Green eyes and am 3ft 0in tall.


Life Challenge: Amputee


Hello everybody, I'm Mary. I'm about to turn 24. I'm an amputtee (do to birth d .........more>>


click for more about me >> (http://www.whispers4u.com/member/user_profile.asp?user_id=32973) -

[fred]

I think she means manatee

[fred]

then there's always http://www.littlepeoplemeet.com/?t=GGC07879

http://www.littlepeoplemeet.com/images/logo_people.jpg

[kwok_talk]

Dude. Paper's head tilt looks so much like Fred's head tilt too. Seriously, do I need to call, 1-800-DNA-Test?

[paper]

Use your best judgment.

[conorkilpatrick]

US Box Office - Weekend
1. Disturbia - $13.46 Million
2. Fracture - $11.17 Million
3. Blades Of Glory - $7.8 Million
4. Vacancy - $7.6 Million
5. Meet The Robinsons - $7.0 Million
6. Hot Fuzz - $5.83 Million

[acomicbookgirl]

I so need to watch a movie..

[labor_days]

US Box Office - Weekend
1. Disturbia - $13.46 Million
2. Fracture - $11.17 Million
3. Blades Of Glory - $7.8 Million
4. Vacancy - $7.6 Million
5. Meet The Robinsons - $7.0 Million
6. Hot Fuzz - $5.83 MillionThe only good movie on that list is Hot Fuzz. Blades of Glory was terribly unfunny.

(wow. guess grindhouse really did tank.)

[conorkilpatrick]

(wow. guess grindhouse really did tank.)

14. Grindhouse - $1.4 MILLION

[paper]

I'm morbidly curious about Disturbia. Just based on that Filmspotting review.

Hot Fuzz later this week.

How did Vacancy make any money at all? It's a thriller starring Luke Wilson. Luke Wilson is only really for Wes Anderson movies and getting his arms ripped off in Anchorman.

[conorkilpatrick]

How did Vacany make any money at all? It's a thriller starring Luke Wilson. Luke Wilson is only really for Wes Anderson movies and getting his arms ripped off in Anchorman.

http://z.about.com/d/movies/1/0/l/9/2/oldschoolints.jpg

The only Luke Wilson movie that truly matters.

(Vacancy has gotten better than average reviews. Plus - Kate Beckinsale)

[tavella]

I just test really well. I know that sounds like bullshit but I do.

Multiple choice tests are the best thing ever. They *give* you the answer, you just have to recognize it. The SAT was just fun for me, I actually took it a second time because I was so annoyed I had missed an 800 by 20 points.

[mikegraham6]

Im really suprised Fracture did so well, i hadn't even heard of this movie, i guess that will teach me to underestimate the drawing power of Sir Anthony Hopkins in a serial killer role:rolleyes:

[acomicbookgirl]

Im really suprised Fracture did so well, i hadn't even heard of this movie, i guess that will teach me to underestimate the drawing power of Sir Anthony Hopkins in a serial killer role:rolleyes:


I want to watch that but i'm not really fond of ryan gosling..

[paper]

I want to watch that but i'm not really fond of ryan gosling..


:eek: :eek: :eek:

[fred]

I want to watch that but i'm not really fond of ryan gosling..

he was AWESOME in half nelson. I know he's the douche from the notebook but I think that was just a bad choice.

[paper]

Wish he did more stuff. He needs the frequency of a Jude Law.

He made The Notebook semi-bearable.

There are great actors in that movie come to think of it. Ah well.

[fred]

I've only seen about 10 minutes of it. That was enough

[alexg]

Wasn't Gosling in United States of Leland? That was depressing...

[mikegraham6]

the whole concept of SATs always seemed a bit unfair to me (of course, never having had to write it myself, i don't know THAT much about it) but having one test determine your eligibility for post secondary education seems like a bit much. what happens if you f*ck it up? but i guess in the same vein you can slack your entire high school career and then just study your ass off for the test and its smooth sailing from there.
i got into university based on my marks in High School, but i had to drop my french immersion (half of my courses were taught to me in french) in my last 2 years because i t brought my average down too much (damn french!!!:mad: ) and i wouldn't have gotten into a decent university with it. missed out my official bilingual certificate though, so my 11years of french seemed like a big waste i guess:rolleyes:

[paper]

I was coerced into seeing it (The Notebook) as a part of a group double feature.

United States of Leland is quite depressing, yes. I own it, and will probably never watch it again.

[fred]

I never saw it but I did just notice it in his imdb entry

[alexg]

I can't say go out of your way to see United States of Leland...

btw--new Cable/Deadpool trade out this week...SONOFAHB(%&*() should have checked the release list before hunting down the issues. eh whatever.

[fred]

that's always the way

[mikegraham6]

the whole concept of SATs always seemed a bit unfair to me (of course, never having had to write it myself, i don't know THAT much about it) but having one test determine your eligibility for post secondary education seems like a bit much. what happens if you f*ck it up? but i guess in the same vein you can slack your entire high school career and then just study your ass off for the test and its smooth sailing from there.
i got into university based on my marks in High School, but i had to drop my french immersion (half of my courses were taught to me in french) in my last 2 years because i t brought my average down too much (damn french!!!:mad: ) and i wouldn't have gotten into a decent university with it. missed out my official bilingual certificate though, so my 11years of french seemed like a big waste i guess:rolleyes:

Sorry guys, this was posted in the wrong thread for some reason, it was suppose to be in the Brubaker thread.

On the subject of Ryan Gosling: He suppose to be a good actor, but he's canadian and has been acting in crappy canadian tv shows since he was really young so i will always remember him as the kid from Breaker High/Young Hercules

[conorkilpatrick]

Sorry guys, this was posted in the wrong thread for some reason, it was suppose to be in the Brubaker thread.

I moved the whole discussion over here.

[mikegraham6]

I moved the whole discussion over here.

makes sense:rolleyes:
It just seemed out of place due to the ryan gosling conversation

[mikegraham6]

I was watching the news at work and this story caught my attention, apparently they have taken extremely detailed pictures of the sun:
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t268/mikegraham6/174607main_Image1.jpg
you can also find more pics, including 3-d ones and instructions on making your own 3-d glasses, here:
http://www.spaceweather.com/

[iSteve]

That's an awesome picture! :cool:

[mikegraham6]

That's an awesome picture! :cool:

ya, i thought it looked interesting enough to post for you guys

[iSteve]

Just got Invincible: Ultimate Collection Vol 2 from Amazon.com today. Can't wait to dive in.

[comhcinc]

so i just got my confirmation to be a volunteer at Bonnaroo (http://www.bonnaroo.com/2007-lineup) needless to say i am pretty happy

[kwok_talk]

wow. that is one awesome crazy lineup. awesome job!

[fred]

this is pretty cool. It's also not what I thought something called Boneroo would be

[paper]

Quite a great deal of awesome in that show. Have fun, man.

I'd like to see Lily Allen collaborate with the Roots. :D

[six-gun]

so i just got my confirmation to be a volunteer at Bonnaroo (http://www.bonnaroo.com/2007-lineup) needless to say i am pretty happy

Don't event say that word around me :) it's like 2 hours away from and most of my favorite bands are there, but its reputation as a weed-fest has prevented my parents from letting me go (getting in isn't a problem, my mom works at a radio station)

[kwok_talk]

Don't event say that word around me :) it's like 2 hours away from and most of my favorite bands are there, but its reputation as a weed-fest has prevented my parents from letting me go (getting in isn't a problem, my mom works at a radio station)

Oh shoot, I was thinking Coachella. I had no idea Bonaroo was in TN. The name make its sound like its in the desert...or Australia.

[six-gun]

David Goyer's new flick The Invisible comes out this Friday, anyone else as spyched as me?

Off to school, I've got a crazy couple of days ahead and probably won't be online again untill Thursday night catch you all later!

[paper]

Oh shoot, I was thinking Coachella. I had no idea Bonaroo was in TN. The name make its sound like its in the desert...or Australia.

From Wikipedia:

The word Bonnaroo, popularized by New Orleans R&B giant Dr. John with his 1974 album "Desitively Bonnaroo," is a Cajun slang word meaning "a really good time." The name was chosen for its literal meaning, and also to honor the rich Louisiana music tradition that inspired the organizers' desire to provide many styles of quality live music for appreciative fans. The word Bonnaroo is actually a creole-french construction taken from "bon" (french for "good") and "rue" (french for "street").

Cool. I agree, though. It does sound Australian.

[paper]

David Goyer's new flick The Invisible comes out this Friday, anyone else as spyched as me?

Off to school, I've got a crazy couple of days ahead and probably won't be online again untill Thursday night catch you all later!

I'm looking forward to it as well. I actually didn't know it was Goyer. Looks like a slick modern interpretation of Ghost.

Good luck with school. I know how that can be, especially this semester. I should probably be reading Glass Menagerie as I type this...

[kwok_talk]

Cool. I agree, though. It does sound Australian.

Thanks for the info, oh that handy dandy Wiki! I'll still pretend its in Australia.
*The Roots play with an all didgeridoo backing band!
*Lily Allen comes out to perform in the pouch of a kangeroo!

[paper]

On Ayer's Rock!

Ah, I was supposed to go to Australia last September to visit a buddy studying marine biology there, but my plans fell through. One day I will leave this country. One day.

[paper]

Just to add to Aaron's BEst Week Ever:

I wrote an Office spec script a while back as an independent study with my professor Matt Kaufhold. The department head Ian Abrams mentioned an interest, so I gave hime a copy last week. Today I got this email:

Wow.

Okay, I'm not easily impressed, but you cracked through my shell of bored indifference. I don't have a single note.

Has Matt seen this?

I think I want to send this out to some people in L.A. If that's okay with you, please either give it to me electronically or as a nice new hard copy.

IAN ABRAMS

[fred]

that's really cool
congratulations

[comhcinc]

Don't event say that word around me :) it's like 2 hours away from and most of my favorite bands are there, but its reputation as a weed-fest has prevented my parents from letting me go (getting in isn't a problem, my mom works at a radio station)

the first two years it was a total hippyfest but since then the event has got pretty cool. as for weed, yeah someone always sneaks some in but with all the security you have to go through they are not really all that keen on sharing




P.S. very cool paper. congrats

[mikegraham6]

Just got Invincible: Ultimate Collection Vol 2 from Amazon.com today. Can't wait to dive in.

It's great iSteve, i just finished reading it last week, im excited for the third one now!

[mikegraham6]

so i just got my confirmation to be a volunteer at Bonnaroo (http://www.bonnaroo.com/2007-lineup) needless to say i am pretty happy

DJ Shadow is awesome! Midnight in a Perfect World is one of my favorite all time songs and Entroducing is a classic album

[comhcinc]

yeah i meet DJ Shadow one year at WMC (http://www.wintermusicconference.com/) cool dude

[mikegraham6]

Just to add to Aaron's BEst Week Ever:

I wrote an Office spec script a while back as an independent study with my professor Matt Kaufhold. The department head Ian Abrams mentioned an interest, so I gave hime a copy last week. Today I got this email:

Wow.

Okay, I'm not easily impressed, but you cracked through my shell of bored indifference. I don't have a single note.

Has Matt seen this?

I think I want to send this out to some people in L.A. If that's okay with you, please either give it to me electronically or as a nice new hard copy.

IAN ABRAMS

That is really cool paper, i hope something pans out, must boost your ego a bit eh?:D

[paper]

That is really cool paper, i hope something pans out, must boost your ego a bit eh?:D


If anything, it's made me even more neurotic. I got an extension on my senior project, so I'll be working on a revision of the Office spec for the next two weeks. Then he's sending it to his agent and some other people. His brother has a sitcom deal over at Paramount, so maybe something will come of it. Even if it doesn't, it's good to know that somebody likes my work.

Anyways, I wouldn't normally post that kind of thing on here, but I was really excited. Thanks for the kind words, guys.

[kwok_talk]

Wow Paper, great news! Hope it turns into something even more cool for you

[darron]

One day I will leave this country. One day.

Just make sure it's not to TJ. I have many a TJ story, but not many of them are good.

Just to add to Aaron's BEst Week Ever:

I wrote an Office spec script a while back as an independent study with my professor Matt Kaufhold. The department head Ian Abrams mentioned an interest, so I gave hime a copy last week. Today I got this email:

Wow.

Okay, I'm not easily impressed, but you cracked through my shell of bored indifference. I don't have a single note.

Has Matt seen this?

I think I want to send this out to some people in L.A. If that's okay with you, please either give it to me electronically or as a nice new hard copy.

IAN ABRAMS

HELLZ YEA MAN! That really is great news. Get the ball rolling early, sir, and good things....good things will come.

[conorkilpatrick]

Just make sure it's not to TJ. I have many a TJ story, but not many of them are good.

Patrick the Intern almost disappeared forever in TJ at San Diego Comic Con last year. It is a night that haunts all of iFanboy.

[paper]

What did Darron say when he got the dolphin pregnant?

"I didn't do it on porpoise!"

[darron]

Patrick the Intern almost disappeared forever in TJ at San Diego Comic Con last year. It is a night that haunts all of iFanboy.

Now tell me....is Patrick over 21? If so....What in the HELL was he doing in TJ? ALL TJ is good for is getting hammered when you're UNDER 21. If you're over 21, there is really no point in going (unless you haven't been before and just wanted to check it out).

[conorkilpatrick]

Now tell me....is Patrick over 21? If so....What in the HELL was he doing in TJ? ALL TJ is good for is getting hammered when you're UNDER 21. If you're over 21, there is really no point in going (unless you haven't been before and just wanted to check it out).

He went there because everything in San Diego had closed for the night.

[darron]

Well I guess that'd be valid reason number 2....but still. I'm sure next time he'll make sure to stock up overnight.

[comhcinc]

Now tell me....is Patrick over 21? If so....What in the HELL was he doing in TJ? ALL TJ is good for is getting hammered when you're UNDER 21. If you're over 21, there is really no point in going (unless you haven't been before and just wanted to check it out).

are you kidding? when i lived in san francisco the girl friend and me went to TJ every month. they have great whores!

[fred]

What did Darron say when he got the dolphin pregnant?

"I didn't do it on porpoise!"

if I didn't embarass myself by chuckling at that I'd be making fun of you right now

on porpoise. indeed!

[darron]

are you kidding? when i lived in san francisco the girl friend and me went to TJ every month. they have great whores!

I don't know about that. Never wanted to dabble in a TJ whore house.

I live about an hour from the border, and believe me, I've been more than my fair share. I got a drunken tattoo in a TJ club, I've gotten in fights, I've done nearly all there is to do in TJ. BUT, one thing I will NEVER do is visit a Tijuana whore house.

[paper]

Hold on to that girlfriend.

Here's where I embarrass myself. I spent about 30 seconds trying to think of a state with the initials T.J.

[comhcinc]

BUT, one thing I will NEVER do is visit a Tijuana whore house.

lol you have nevered lived. what about abusing prescription medication?

[darron]

When you say "that,"..........?

Darron IS Ron's little brother right?

'Cause the sideburns, right?

[horatio616]

Few months ago:
http://a564.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/3/l_40c618ab461ff05aee64f3e216160d93.jpg


Big ups on getting Chloe to blow you under the pretense of art, my man!

[fred]

Now tell me....is Patrick over 21? If so....What in the HELL was he doing in TJ? ALL TJ is good for is getting hammered when you're UNDER 21. If you're over 21, there is really no point in going (unless you haven't been before and just wanted to check it out).

donkey show. anyone? anyone? no? whatever

[fred]

lol you have nevered lived. what about abusing prescription medication?

william burroughs lived in mexico for a time for the over the counter narcotics

[comhcinc]

donkey show. anyone? anyone? no? whatever

yeah. i got pictures. it is one or the greatest things you can ever see

[darron]

lol you have nevered lived. what about abusing prescription medication?

I don't dick with prescription meds. Long story.

[paper]

'Cause the sideburns, right?

You're sort of making a Ron face too.

[fred]

You're sort of making a Ron face too.

you've seen ron's dolphin 'o' face?

[paper]

Big ups on getting Chloe to blow you under the pretense of art, my man!

Not afraid to go for the really obscure Brown Bunny joke.

[darron]

Not afraid to go for the really obscure Brown Bunny joke.

Did you actually see that, Paper?

[paper]

you've seen ron's dolphin 'o' face?

What happens at the Richards' Christmas Pool Party, stays at the Richards' Christmas Pool Party.

[comhcinc]

I don't dick with prescription meds. Long story.

that was the girlfriend's thing that and the whores.


i was all about the donkey shows

[paper]

Did you actually see that, Paper?

Nope, but that's a news item that no sun-deprived film student could miss.

A lot of student directors started casting themselves in their films around then.

But we're waaaay off topic.

[paper]

But what's in it for the donkey?

::Counts on fingers::

Oh, the meds.

[darron]

Nope, but that's a news item that no sun-deprived film student could miss.

A lot of student directors started casting themselves in their films around then.

I could only imagine. Oh god, so funny.

[darron]

Who here would be interested in a ROUND pool table?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMigQclXwsM

[darron]

EDIT - Interested? Send me a PM.

[paper]

Yes. And also, what just happened?

[darron]

I changed the subject. I just got that video in an email from my sister's boyfriend (he owns the patent). Just curious, is all. He could make a shitload of money if he stops dicking around and really starts pushing this thing.

[paper]

Aw, ya quoted me. I'm glad you liked the joke, Darron. I knew a guy in high school who worked at an aquarium. He claimed to have a girlfriend, but we had no proof. Whenever we told him to bring her out to a party or to go to the movies, he'd claim she was working at the aquarium. Didn't matter if it was a week night, weekend, holiday, whatever. So we always introduced him as the guy who [dates] dolphins. "No, shutup! I don't!" he would exclaim. I'd nod in apology. "I'm sorry. She's a porpoise. My bad."

What does this say about me as a friend? I have to evaluate that. Note that there's no "re" ahead of the "evaluate."

[jgg0610]

This is the only place I can think of where there would be a Brown Bunny and an Office Space reference to the same picture.

[paper]

Are you serious? There's no such thing as a round pool table already? Best wishes to the guy. Cool idea.

[paper]

There was an Office Space reference?

[darron]

Aw, ya quoted me. I'm glad you liked the joke, Darron.

A good joke is a good joke, even if I'm the butt. Hell, ESPECIALLY if I'm the butt.


Are you serious? There's no such thing as a round pool table already? Best wishes to the guy. Cool idea.

Well his grandfather has owned the rights since the 60's or 70's (there's an article about it in an old school, black-and-white Popular Mechanics. Anyways, his grandfather dieda year or two ago, and since then the rights have been up in the air. Until recently, when my sister's BF and his Pops finally got it. They've built one so far, and are trying to get money for more. Any takers?

[jgg0610]

There was an Office Space reference?
Showing someone your O face?

[jgg0610]

you've seen ron's dolphin 'o' face?
Here's the one Paper

[paper]

Showing someone your O face?

I should probably rent Office Space at this point.

[darron]

I should probably rent Office Space at this point.

..........

[jgg0610]

I should probably rent Office Space at this point.
Wait a minute, let me get this straight. You've never seen this movie and you're developing a script for an Office episode (congratulations on that by the way)? You have to go out right now and rent this movie. It's a riot especially if you've ever worked in cube land. Full of great one liners.

Bob: So, Peter, I've seen you've been missing a lot of work lately.
Peter: I wouldn't say I've been missing it, Bob.

[darron]

Paper, I'm genuinely mad. I mean.....how can one NOT.....I dunno.

Don't talk to me at LEAST until it's on your Netflix (plug, plug) que.

[paper]

I can't keep it up any longer. I've seen it. But I don't know it as well as you guys probably do.

I still have friends who think I've never seen Ghostbusters or that I have nerve damage in most of my right arm (it takes a lot of discipline when they try to test this out with a sharp pencil).

[fred]

I should probably rent Office Space at this point.

the fact that you don't know every inch of this movie like I do makes me sad

[fred]

Wait a minute, let me get this straight. You've never seen this movie and you're developing a script for an Office episode (congratulations on that by the way)? You have to go out right now and rent this movie. It's a riot especially if you've ever worked in cube land. Full of great one liners.

Bob: So, Peter, I've seen you've been missing a lot of work lately.
Peter: I wouldn't say I've been missing it, Bob.

my favorite small part of the movie is when he cleans the fish at his desk

also awesome: I'd like to move us right along to a Peter Gibbons. Now we had a chance to meet this young man, and boy that's just a straight shooter with upper management written all over him.

[paper]

You know what's really bad though? Seriously? I've never seen the Godfather. Any of them. I call myself a screenwriter.

[kwok_talk]

You know what's really bad though? Seriously? I've never seen the Godfather. Any of them. I call myself a screenwriter.

I'm there with you on that. I made a New Year's resolution to see at least one of those "must sees" (also on the list, Schindlers List & Passion of the Christ)

[iSteve]

I call myself a screenwriter.

Can you honestly say that with a straight-face? Get thee a subscription to NetFlix henceforth!

[paper]

I have one. But it's clogged up with like 45 seasons of ER right now. Thanks to certain moderators.

[fred]

[Johnny Fontane is discussing his problems with Woltz]
Johnny Fontane (http://imdb.com/name/nm0553887/): Oh, Godfather, I don't know what to do. I don't know what to do.
Don Corleone (http://imdb.com/name/nm0000008/): [shouts] You can act like a man!
[he slaps Johnny]
Don Corleone (http://imdb.com/name/nm0000008/): What's the matter with you. Is this how you turned out? A Hollywood finocchio that cries like a woman.
[Don Corleone imitates him sobbing]
Don Corleone (http://imdb.com/name/nm0000008/): What can I do?
[camera pans to Tom who is laughing]
Don Corleone (http://imdb.com/name/nm0000008/): What can I do? What is that nonsense. Ridiculous.

[paper]

And this takes place in an Office? Sounds dark.

[fred]

heh heh - wrong movie

Sonny (http://imdb.com/name/nm0001001/): What are you doing? Nice college boy. Doesn't wanna get mixed up in the family business. You think this is a battle field where you shoot someone a mile away? No, you get a 45' shoot them up close and bada bing blood all over your nice ivy league suit. You're taking this awfully personal. Tom this is business and this kid's taking this very personal.
Michael (http://imdb.com/name/nm0000199/): Where does it say you can't kill a cop?
Tom Hagen (http://imdb.com/name/nm0000380/): Mikey, come on.
Michael (http://imdb.com/name/nm0000199/): Tom, wait a minute, we're talking about a crooked cop mixed up in drugs. We're talking about a dishonest cop who got caught up in the rackets and got what was coming to him. That's a terrific story. Now we got newspaper people on the payroll don't we, Tom?
[Tom nods]
Michael (http://imdb.com/name/nm0000199/): Well they might like a story like that
Tom Hagen (http://imdb.com/name/nm0000380/): They might, just might.
Michael (http://imdb.com/name/nm0000199/): It's not personal, Sonny. It's strictly business.

[conorkilpatrick]

Good news!

After we **** this place up we might have a place to go!

Potentially habitable planet found

By SETH BORENSTEIN, AP Science Writer 47 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - For the first time astronomers have discovered a planet outside our solar system that is potentially habitable, with Earth-like temperatures, a find researchers described Tuesday as a big step in the search for "life in the universe."

The planet is just the right size, might have water in liquid form, and in galactic terms is relatively nearby at 120 trillion miles away. But the star it closely orbits, known as a "red dwarf," is much smaller, dimmer and cooler than our sun.

There's still a lot that is unknown about the new planet, which could be deemed inhospitable to life once more is known about it. And it's worth noting that scientists' requirements for habitability count Mars in that category: a size relatively similar to Earth's with temperatures that would permit liquid water. However, this is the first outside our solar system that meets those standards.

"It's a significant step on the way to finding possible life in the universe," said University of Geneva astronomer Michel Mayor, one of 11 European scientists on the team that found the planet. "It's a nice discovery. We still have a lot of questions."

The results of the discovery have not been published but have been submitted to the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.

Alan Boss, who works at the Carnegie Institution of Washington where a U.S. team of astronomers competed in the hunt for an Earth-like planet, called it "a major milestone in this business."

The planet was discovered by the European Southern Observatory's telescope in La Silla, Chile, which has a special instrument that splits light to find wobbles in different wave lengths. Those wobbles can reveal the existence of other worlds.

What they revealed is a planet circling the red dwarf star, Gliese 581. Red dwarfs are low-energy, tiny stars that give off dim red light and last longer than stars like our sun. Until a few years ago, astronomers didn't consider these stars as possible hosts of planets that might sustain life.

The discovery of the new planet, named 581 c, is sure to fuel studies of planets circling similar dim stars. About 80 percent of the stars near Earth are red dwarfs.

The new planet is about five times heavier than Earth. Its discoverers aren't certain if it is rocky like Earth or if its a frozen ice ball with liquid water on the surface. If it is rocky like Earth, which is what the prevailing theory proposes, it has a diameter about 1 1/2 times bigger than our planet. If it is an iceball, as Mayor suggests, it would be even bigger.

Based on theory, 581 c should have an atmosphere, but what's in that atmosphere is still a mystery and if it's too thick that could make the planet's surface temperature too hot, Mayor said.

However, the research team believes the average temperature to be somewhere between 32 and 104 degrees and that set off celebrations among astronomers.

Until now, all 220 planets astronomers have found outside our solar system have had the "Goldilocks problem." They've been too hot, too cold or just plain too big and gaseous, like uninhabitable Jupiter.

The new planet seems just right — or at least that's what scientists think.

"This could be very important," said
NASA astrobiology expert Chris McKay, who was not part of the discovery team. "It doesn't mean there is life, but it means it's an Earth-like planet in terms of potential habitability."

Eventually astronomers will rack up discoveries of dozens, maybe even hundreds of planets considered habitable, the astronomers said. But this one — simply called "c" by its discoverers when they talk among themselves — will go down in cosmic history as No. 1.

Besides having the right temperature, the new planet is probably full of liquid water, hypothesizes Stephane Udry, the discovery team's lead author and another Geneva astronomer. But that is based on theory about how planets form, not on any evidence, he said.

"Liquid water is critical to life as we know it," co-author Xavier Delfosse of Grenoble University in France, said in a statement. "Because of its temperature and relative proximity, this planet will most probably be a very important target of the future space missions dedicated to the search for extraterrestrial life. On the treasure map of the Universe, one would be tempted to mark this planet with an X."

Other astronomers cautioned it's too early to tell whether there is water.

"You need more work to say it's got water or it doesn't have water," said retired NASA astronomer Steve Maran, press officer for the American Astronomical Society. "You wouldn't send a crew there assuming that when you get there, they'll have enough water to get back."

The new planet's star system is a mere 20.5 light years away, making Gliese 581 one of the 100 closest stars to Earth. It's so dim, you can't see it without a telescope, but it's somewhere in the constellation Libra, which is low in the southeastern sky during the midevening in the Northern Hemisphere.

"I expect there will be planets like Earth, but whether they have life is another question," said renowned astrophysicist Stephen Hawking in an interview with The Associated Press in Orlando. "We haven't been visited by little green men yet."

Before you book your extrastellar flight to 581 c, a few caveats about how alien that world probably is: Anyone sitting on the planet would get heavier quickly, and birthdays would add up fast since it orbits its star every 13 days.

Gravity is 1.6 times as strong as Earth's so a 150-pound person would feel like 240 pounds.

But oh, the view. The planet is 14 times closer to the star it orbits. Udry figures the red dwarf star would hang in the sky at a size 20 times larger than our moon. And it's likely, but still not known, that the planet doesn't rotate, so one side would always be sunlit and the other dark.

Distance is another problem. "We don't know how to get to those places in a human lifetime," Maran said.

Two teams of astronomers, one in Europe and one in the United States, have been racing to be the first to find a planet like 581 c outside the solar system.

The European team looked at 100 different stars using a tool called HARPS (High Accuracy Radial Velocity for Planetary Searcher) to find this one planet, said Xavier Bonfils of the Lisbon Observatory, one of the co-discoverers.

Much of the effort to find Earth-like planets has focused on stars like our sun with the challenge being to find a planet the right distance from the star it orbits. About 90 percent of the time, the European telescope focused its search more on sun-like stars, Udry said.

A few weeks before the European discovery earlier this month, a scientific paper in the journal Astrobiology theorized a few days that red dwarf stars were good candidates.

"Now we have the possibility to find many more," Bonfils said.

[alexg]

Maybe we can start shipping our garbage there now.

[darron]

It's Earth-2! The multi-verse is REAL! 52!

[paper]

I dunno about this. Remember what happened in Lost in Space?

Matt LeBlanc had a lead role.

I haven't even left the country yet.

[alexg]

Before there was Matt LeBlanc....there was this:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b167/gomby119/Harris.jpg[IMG]

[paper]

Dr. Smith is awesome. Awesome.

[comhcinc]

yep the planet is just 20 light years away. meaning if we leave today, we might get to it right before it's star collaspes into a blackhole