** World's smallest fish?

According to a report published this week by the UK's Royal Society, a Swiss fish expert has discovered the world's littlest fish--a miniscule member of the carp family that reaches a maximum length of just 7.9 millimeters (that's less than a third of an inch).

Dubbed Paedocypris progenetica, the little swimmers have translucent bodies and no skulls to protect their tiny brains. They hail from peat swamps in tropical forests on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The pools they live in are so acidic--100 times more so than rainwater--that scientists used to think they harbored little life. Turns out they harbor lots of life, including the world's littlest fish.

* * * * * *

Seriously? That's a Fish?

You may be wondering how anything so small could possibly count as a fish. Well, fishes are a highly diverse group. Around half of all vertebrate species--more than 25,000 of them--are fish species, and scientists still discover a handful of new ones every week.

There's plenty of debate about just how all those different fishes are related, but they generally have at least these three things in common:

1. They've got backbones--that's what it means to be a vertebrate.


2. They're cold-blooded.


3. They have respiratory organs that let them breathe underwater--gills.

Size really doesn't matter when it comes to fishiness. The previous recordholder for smallest fish, the stout infantfish, is only a few tenths of a millimeter longer than the Paedocypris progenetica. Meanwhile, the largest fish, whale sharks, grow to more than 30 feet (9 meters) in length. (Some researchers say whale sharks grow twice that big--it depends on whose fish stories you believe.)

So Many Fish in the Sea

Size variety is really just the start. There are jawless fishes like hagfish, the carcass-stripping vultures of the deep. There are jawed fishes like sharks and stingrays, with skeletons made of cartilage. And there are all the jawed fishes with bones--including perches, tunas, jacks, and thousands more.

There are also freshwater fishes--around 40 percent of all fish species--and saltwater fishes. And that's not to mention the handful of species that thrive in highly specialized spots, like icy-cold Antarctic waters, 100-degree hot springs, or acidic Sumatran peat swamps.

Unfortunately, many fish habitats are currently under pressure, including Sumatra's swamps. Expanding palm oil plantations and persistent fires (set, in some cases, by the plantation owners) are moving in on Paedocypris progenetica. Researchers fear that being the smallest fish in the world won't prevent it from one day being crowded out.

Steve Sampson
January 27, 2006

** Maxims

Express yourself creatively

** FRIENDS **

** Truck Art... Amazing

** Vieira: We can win everything"

"We can win everything: we have a complete team and all the players are at a good level. I am glad because I am on the right way to achieve everything I wanted, by coming to Juve". Patrick Vieira does not put any limits to himself: the French man is the protagonist of the press conference at the Sisport centre and, showing a great Italian, talks about his personal moment and the one of Juventus. "I feel fine. The pubic pain is passed, I worked hard and I am in good physical shape. As far as the team is concerned, everything is going in the best possible way: we showed good determination even against Roma, making up until reaching 3-2 and re-opening the qualification issue. We are first in the league with eight points of advantage. The potential of the team is huge but much depends on the way we work on the pitch and, as it seems, we have done a good job so far. But now we have to keep on being at the lead until the end and this is the most important time of the championship. Do I feel a leader at Juve? Yes, but there are many of team in this team and they are all needed to win".

Obviously Patrick is questioned on the qualification round for the 2008 European Cup, which will see him as Italy's opponent: "It is a very tough tournament. Italy, Ukraine and France are great teams, but also the other matches are demanding. Now there are no more easy commitments on an international level. Anyway, first comes the World Cup, it's better to think about that".

** Missing You

Miss you sweetie :(

~ rads

** Health Warning

IMPORTANT
A stock clerk was sent to clean up a storeroom in a Port of Spain factory just recently.
When he got back, he was complaining that the storeroom was really filthy and that he had noticed dried mouse or rat droppings in some areas.
A couple of days later, he started to feel like he was coming down with stomach flu, complained of sore joints and headaches, and began to vomit.

He went to bed and never really got up again. Within two days he was severely ill and weak. His blood sugar count was down to 66, and his face and eyeballs were yellow. He was rushed to the emergency at Mount Hope where he was diagnosed to be suffering from massive organ failure. He died shortly before midnight .
No one would have made the connection between his job and his death, had it not been for a doctor who specifically asked if he had been in a warehouse or exposed to dried rat or mouse droppings at any time. They said there is a virus (much like the Hanta virus) that lives in dried rat and mouse droppings.

Once dried, these droppings are like dust and can easily be breathed in or ingested if a person does not wear protective gear or fails to wash face and hands thoroughly .
An autopsy was performed on the clerk to verify the doctor's suspicions.

This is why it is extremely important to ALWAYS carefully rinse off the tops of canned sodas or foods, and to wipe off pasta packaging, cereal boxes, and so on.
Almost everything you buy in a supermarket was stored in a warehouse at one time or another, and stores themselves often have rodents.

Most of us remember to wash vegetables and fruits but never think of boxes and cans.
The ugly truth is, even the most modern, upper-class, super store has rats and mice. And their warehouse most assuredly does!

Whenever you buy any canned soft drink, please make sure that you wash the top with running water and soap or, if that is not available, drink with a straw.
The investigation of soda cans by the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta discovered that the tops of soda cans can be encrusted with dried rat's urine, which is so toxic it can be lethal. Canned drinks and other foodstuffs are stored in warehouses and containers that are usually infested with Rodents, and then they get transported to retail outlets without being properly cleaned.

You are never sure where the items came from, under what conditions they were stored, do the safe and sensible thing wash with a little chlorine in the water, dry with paper towels.

** Juve News

Serie A - 20 Jan 2006 - 5:37 PM

Cannavaro: "It's all up to us"

"Wednesday we never suffered. We actually always ruled the game. They were good when it came to scoring, but I believe that was the only action in our area". The draw against Chievo is a result that does not fit Cannavaro very well. However, the match has shown a Juventus in good shape. "Other than the 1-1 result, the one that played in Verona was a team capable of fighting on every ball and of running for 90". We went under, but once more we were able to react, thus we are very pleased".

Juventus is in fact showing in this beginning of 2006 a brilliant way of playing, despite the opponents are closing always more: "Well, it is normal, the more you proceed, the fewer matches you have left. There are less points to gain so the teams that play against us are trying to defend themselves. Also against Reggina, for example, we faced a team closed in its own half of the field, ready to start again. For our forwards it gets hard to find spaces". The points of advantage are still a lot, but for Fabio they do not represent a satisfying margin to talk about a closet championship: "The season is still long and the dangers are a lot. We know that the chasing teams are well equipped to do as well as we are; it's good that they believe in it, but in the end, everything is up to us. We must be good not to underestimate anyone and not to have lacks of concentration. The will play all the hardest matches, other than the one against Inter, at the Delle Alpi stadium and this can be an advantage, even if I must admit that so far we had positive results at home as away".

Sunday Juventus will play against Empoli, which has just given its bench to Gigi Cagni: "When you change coach, especially in the first matches you want to do something more, you want to put up a good show. Who maybe was used less will now get back to play, thus everyone will do his best. Empoli is a team capable of creating difficulties for the opponents and they have Tavano ahead, and he's doing very well. We will have to watch out".

** Signs ** - TOO FUNNY!

** Peace... always

** Signs ** - TOO FUNNY!

Too cute :D

** Signs ** - TOO FUNNY!

** MAXIMS **

=)

** JUVE

Celebrating with Juve.

** ALEX

Alex celebrating his record...

** ALEX: An unforgettable May 5th

The start of the season 2001/2002 shows a completely renewed Juventus, both on the playground and the bench: Inzaghi and Zidane leave and Buffon, Thuram and Nedved arrive, while coach Ancelotti makes way for Marcello Lippi. It's a flying start: Venezia get to the Delle Alpi and they are overcome by the two goals scored by Trezeguet, who plays as first-choice, and the two of Alex's who, with a single blow, achieves and overcomes an historic target: 100 goals with the Juventus jersey. At the end of the season, Del Piero's goals in the Italian championship will be 16 and the last one will taste special: the last matchday of the season is scheduled at Udine.

The Bianconeri are second in the standings, one point behind Inter who are scheduled to play against Lazio at the Olimpico. It's a thrilling afternoon: at Udine, Trezeguet scores after two minutes and Del Piero seals the result on 11 minutes. The only thing left to do is wait and see what happens in Rome and the more news come out the more Juve get near to an historic feat. In the first half, Inter take the advantage twice and just as many times they get caught up, then, in the second half, they drop. The match at the Olimpico ends with Lazio winning by 4-2. Juventus are Italy's Champions for the 26th time and Alex wins his fourth shield. The fifth comes the following year, after a triumphant march made precious by Alex's 16 gems.

Juventus, who have conquered the Italian Super Cup in the summer, are doing great also in Europe. The Champions League semi-finals against Real Madrid is memorable: the Merengues win by 2-1 at the Bernabeu but at the Delle Alpi the Bianconeri play one of their most amazing matches. On the 3-1 that paves them the way for the finals in Manchester, there is also Del Piero's mark, as he scores the 2-0 goal thanks to one of his magic shots. Unfortunately the match against Milan at the Old Trafford turns out to be a bitter disappointment; a few months later, Juventus will take their revenge in the Italian Super Cup played in New York against the very Rossoneri and that will be the only trophy of the season, the last of the Lippi era.

** ALEX: The hardest moment

In the first four years of the partnership Del Piero-Lippi, Juventus win all the time and everything and the fifth season seems to start off on the right foot. The Bianconeri are firmly on top of the standings and are meeting Udinese on the 8th matchday; Zidane and Inzaghi score, storing away three more points and everything seems to go the right way. A few minutes before the end, Del Piero runs from the left and tries a cross shot but he gets tackled and he remains down on the ground. His left knee is gone: suffering a cruciate and collateral knee ligament damage, he will have to undergo surgery and be out for at least six months. His season is over. Juventus's continues but it's not the same without Alex. Problems seem to multiply and, after a home defeat against Parma, Lippi resigns. In February, the bench is assigned to Ancelotti who finds a team in difficulty. At this point, the championship is gone and the Champions League adventure ends against Manchester United, who are able to fight back at the Delle Alpi after going two-goals down thanks to Inzaghi.

It's an unlucky season and the Bianconeri miss the qualification for the Uefa Cup as well. They'll have to play the Intertoto to get back into the competition. And it's during the summer of the Intertoto that Alex comes back on the pitch and regains his goals; however disappointment is not gone forever: the two following years are not as successful as expected. In the season 1999/2000, after topping the standings for months, Ancelotti's squad see their dream of winning the title drown in the downpour at Perugia on the last matchday of the season. The following year, it will be coach Capello's Roma to sew the shield on their jerseys. Juventus is not winning but Alex doesn't stop and scores his 99th goal with the Juventus jersey. We'll have to wait until season 2001/2002 to go down in history and get back on winning track, with Marcello Lippi's comeback.

** ALEX: 2 more triumphant years

After only three years at Juventus, Alex has already conquered the following titles: one Champions League, one Italian Championship, one Italian Cup and one Italian Super Cup. And in the early months of the season 1996/1997, the spoils increase considerably thanks to the Intercontinental Cup and the European Super Cup. The intended victims of an unbeatable Juventus are Paris Saint Germain who are defeated at home by 1-6 and again away by 3-1 in the second-leg match played in Palermo, where Del Piero gives his contribution with two goals. The Italian league is another triumphant march: only Parma, with players like Buffon, Cannavaro and Thuram, can keep pace with the Bianconeri but Juventus keep collecting points and playing spectacular matches, achieving their 24th Scudetto, Alex's second one.

The season may be unforgettable but the second consecutive Champions League final has an unexpected end. Juventus meet Borussia Dortumund again, a team always beaten in the previous few years; however, the Germans play a proud match in Munich and the masterful goal scored by Del Piero in the second half time doesn't make the difference: a gem goal scored with a heeler that unfortunately is not enough to allow the Bianconeri to achieve the "perfect" season. The following year, it's history repeating: after winning the Italian Super Cup against Vicenza, Juventus get to their third consecutive Champions League final but they get defeated by Real Madrid in Amsterdam. But it's another story in the home league: Inter try to counter them, with Ronaldo's support, but the real "fenomeno" is Alex who scores no less than 21 goals in 32 matches, one of the lastest against the very Inter in the crucial match at the Delle Alpi on April, 26th. A goal that gives Juve the Scudetto: the second in a row, the third for Del Piero.

** ALEX: On top of the world

Alex is already a hero for the fans and the club decides to lean on him without any hesitation; Roberto Baggio moves to Milan and from that time on No. 10 is stuck to Alex's jersey forever. It is the champions' number and Del Piero wears it with natural class, honouring it with his wonderful play, which takes the team to the mostly longed-for target: Champions League. It starts in Dortmund, against Borussia and Alex delights everyone: the Germans take the lead right away with former Juve player Moeller, the Bianconeri earn the draw soon after with Padovano.

The match is hard but the wonder boy from San Vendemmiano keeps in store a shot that is destined to go down in history: from the left top intersection of the penalty area markings, he drives a spinning shot that gets in between the far post and the crossbar, right into the top corner of the goal. It's what will be known as the "Del Piero-like goal", that he had already shown in Italy against Napoli but which becomes his International trademark after the European match against the Germans and repeated against Ranger Glasgow and Steaua Bucharest. His most precious goal arrives in the quarter-finals match: Juventus have to fight back from the 1-0 defeat against Real Madrid at Bernabeu and it takes Alex sixteen minutes to sort it out with a spiteful free kick which Canizares just cannot counter. Padovano will seal the result, paving them the way for the semi-finals against Nantes and opening up their way to triumph in Rome.

Juventus are the Lady of Europe and on November, 26th 1996 they become the queen of the world. The Intercontinental Cup is missing since 1985 among their trophies, since their win over Argentinos Junior which was achieved thanks to the penalty converted by Michel Platini. Once again, the Bianconeri will be face to face with the Argentines, those of little jewel Ortega's River Plate. Journalists get carried away making comparisons between the South-American player and Del Piero and if you read those comparisons now they nearly sound blasphemous. It's Alex who is crucial in solving the match, breaking through a small gap in the Argentine defence with his right-foot accuracy, at the very end of the full time, taking Juventus on top of the Olympus of world soccer.

** ALEX: That goal scored against Fiorentina...

Alex's second year at Juventus is characterized by remarkable changes, first of all inside the management: the club is managed by Vice President Roberto Bettega, Antonio Giraudo and Luciano Moggi, respectively Chief Executive and Director General. The President is Lawyer Vittorio Caissotti from Chiusano. The new management makes a bold choice straightaway, entrusting the team to Marcello Lippi, a young coach who had done well on Napoli and Atalanta benches but who was still an uncertainty with a top club.

The Viareggio-born coach loves unconventional football devoted to attack and, in the year of the introduction of the three-points per win, his choices turn out to be victorious. Del Piero had already drawn the attention on himself in the previous season, scoring five goals in fourteen appearances (Serie A and Cups), among which it's worth mentioning the exciting hat trick of goals against Parma, and Roberto Baggio's difficult physical conditions opens up new prospect for Alex. He's only twenty-years old but he's got personality and scores crucial goals. To give you an example, on December, 4th 1994, Fiorentina is leading 0-2.

Twenty minutes before the end of the match, Juventus wake up and triumph: Vialli scores two goals in three minutes' time but it's Del Piero who gives them the winning goal, with an epic action: with a soft touch on the volley, he kicked the ball with his right instep, beating a stunned Toldo with a drive from forty metres. A jewel, and it was not the only one: just one week later, Juventus are going to Rome to play a tough match against Lazio. The Biancoazzuri are a giant and Lippi has half of his side unavailable; however, Alex has got broad shoulders and he doesn't have to be asked twice to lead the team: he scores twice, his first double in Serie A, and the final 3-4 gives the Bianconeri the lead of the table. They'll remain on top until the end of the season, bringing the Scudetto back to Turin after nine years, winning Coppa Italia too and getting near to the Uefa title as well. An all-star squad, with Del Piero being already their most sparkling star.

** ALEX: First year at Juve

It's 1993-1994 when an hopeful curly-haired youngster with an astonishing right-foot shot comes to Turin. The youth has already drawn the attention on himself at Padua, in the Primavera (youth team) as well as in the main team, despite his age. He's got talent and President Giampiero Boniperti and coach Giovanni Trapattoni decide that that Alessandro Del Piero deserves being part of Juventus.

Being only 19, his place is in the Primavera team and thus Alex enters coach Cuccureddu's squad, soon becoming their leader. It's not easy, as that was the very team that would feed the main team with players like Cammarata, Manfredi, Binotti, but the pure talent of this young Veneto-born player emerges irresistibly and leads the Primavera to win a unique double target: the Viareggio Tournament and the youth league title. After all, it had been clear since the beginning of the season how the lad had something special: if Del Piero seemed an extraterrestrial compared to those of his same age, it only takes an autum week to see how he perfectly finds at ease with the "grown-up's".

On September 12th 1993, Alex makes his debut in Serie A at Foggia and in Europe three days later in the Uefa Cup match against Lokomotiv Moscow. On September 19th, at the Delle Alpi stadium, he scores the 4-0 goal in Juventus vs Reggiana, in an already solved match. This goal doesn't seem very important, considering the final score. Actually, if you think of it now, it is the first chapter of a book that would re-write the Bianconeri history.

** ALEX: The best of all time

"I'm happy and I can't hide it. Reaching and outdoing players who have made this club's history makes me really proud". Alex Del Piero has made it: he has left behind Boniperti's record as best Juventus goalscorer of all time, becoming the absolute No.1. It would have taken him just one goal but the Captain wanted to exaggerate in the match against Fiorentina and scored a hat trick, which took him to 185 goals: "Well, it's better this way" continues Alex " sometimes you just can't put the ball in, this time I scored three all together. It feels good to be praised by one's teammates, to score, to win.. I'm satisfied, on a personal level of course but also for the whole team who played a great match qualifying for quarter-finals in grand style."

The Captain's record has occurred playing against that very Fiorentina who are one of his favourite victims, against which he scored one of the goals he loves the most to remember, back in 1994: the goal that marked that historical fight back from 0-2 down up to the final 3-2: "It is a fine coincidence: that was a spectacular goal but it was only very important for our season. Tonight's goals too mark an important stage of my career and I hope they can be a new starting point. What did I feel when I scored? Well, it felt a little awkward at first, I didn't expect to score that early in the match. It all happened so fast.. maybe you enjoy more such moments later on". Would Alex have ever expected to achieve so much when he first arrived at Juventus? "I would not, honestly. I came here when I was very young and playing for Juventus was already the top for me. And it has always been like this in all these years, I have never looked at figures. After all, this year was the first time that people started to talk about the record but I always reckoned such figures out of reach, but on the contrary..." And on the contrary, Alex has now re-written Juventus's history: "It's an historical moment, that's true, but as I have said many times before, not only the goals prove a player's worth in a club. Figures count but it's also fundamental how present someone is throughout all the different experiences lived by a team, with wins and defeats." And lastly, a dedication for this record: "My mind goes to all the people that have always been close to me, my wife, my family, my friends.. I'll celebrate with them in private."

In public, Alex will celebrate on Sunday, January 15th before the match against Reggina, when we'll cheer him for the record. Don't miss it!

** Juve x Reggina

Sunday afternoon at the Delle Alpi stadium (3:00 p.m.) Juventus, already winter champion, will play against Reggina on the last match of the 1st leg session. Capello's team started 2006 offering the same joy and emotions that characterized a wonderful 2005, beating Palermo in the championship and Fiorentina in the Italian Cup, match during which Alessandro Del Piero became all time's best bomber scoring three goals. Juventus has also organized a special party for our captain Sunday afternoon before the match. One more reason not to be missing!

Once more the club tries to support its fans by proposing conveniently priced tickets, starting from 10 Euros.

As the Capello's champion, also Walter Mazzeri boys come from a demanding match against Fiorentina: Lucarelli's goal deluded the Calabrese players, immediately reached by Jorghesen bringing the score to a definitive 1-1. A precious draw for a team that closes the first half of the season with a satisfying balance: after last year's salvation, Reggina was deeply renewed and some elements, as the former Juventus player Nicola Amoruso, became part of it late in September. This did not make mister Mazzari's job easy and the start was not, as can be assumed, very promising: an heavy initial defeat against Roma, followed by other three false steps. On the fifth match day, however, with the success against Udinese, Reggina started to raise again, ranking 13th in the league, five points away from the third-last.

** Signs ** - TOO FUNNY!

Things that make you go "HUHHH?!"

** :o)

Exercise keeps you fit!

Close your eyes and SMILE :o)

** :o)

Don't waste food!

** Trezeguet: Continuity is the secret"

"We've been playing an excellent championship so far and the one-week break is just what we needed as we were getting a bit tired after so many matches. Anyway we worked a lot during these days in order to get back into shape and now the team is feeling alright". David Trezeguet is ready to get back into the game; the Christmas break has not quenched his thirst for goals (in spite of scoring nine times out of the latest nine matches) and wins: "Saturday's match against Palermo will be very tricky; they caused us some trouble last year both in the home match, when we earned a draw, and away, when they beated us and we're now eager to take our revenge, so that we can start the new year on the right foot and save the eight-point advantage in the standings".

Inter and Milan are not supposed to give up but Juve have had something more so far: "They're two great sides, with top players and they're doing very good. On our side, we''e having an outstanding performance, we've conceded only one draw and one defeat. It's us who are making the difference now, achieving crucial, amazing results. In any case, the championship is still long and it will be fundamental to keep our current pace, without looking at the others' performances". According to David, Juventus's strength this year is continuity: "We've never slowed down, like Inter did at the beginning of the season and Milan later. Our season has been very regular: after the San Siro defeat we continued to win, except for the match in Rome against Lazio when we earned a not less important draw".

Such regularity is given mainly by the numerous alternatives at Capellos disposal: "Our roster is huge " continues Trezeguet " our coach has applied the turnover both in Serie A and Champions League and this helped us because everyone that has been chosen has always proven to be able to live up to expectations. And not only that, our group is close and strong and we enjoy playing together. Our play may be less spectacular than Barcelona's or Real Madrid's, we win matches with grit and determination but this is our own way to enjoy ourselves and to prove we're a top team".

This might be a year of great satisfaction for David, for himself and with the team as well: "Well, 2006 is going to be a very important year for Juventus, as we're running in every competition, and for me as well: I'm competing with Toni as best goalscorer of the season and I'd certainly love to win for the second time. Moreover, I might become the all-time best foreign goalscorer, like Alex (i.e. Del Piero) is only one goal away from becoming the ultimate No.1. Us strikers talk about that and we're willing to achieve such targets; and it's also because of that that when we see one of our teammates in a better position we try to pass to them and this is our group's strength too