Houston, we have a pretty cool problem. NASA found a planet outside of our solar system called Kepler-22b that is really similar to Earth and could possibly support life (yikes!!). It’s got the perfect temperature of 72 degrees, which is a really nice day here on Earth. I don’t know about you guys, but space stuff tends to freak me out. I think it’s really great that we’re able to explore the unknown universe, but what if there really is life on this planet. I can picture those aliens being all, “Guys! We just found a planet called Earth that’s our twin! How crazy is that?!”

NASA has been finding all sorts of near-habitable planets with Kepler, 48 to be exact. However, Kepler-22b is the first one they’ve confirmed. This space discovery mission started in 2009 and has since discovered over 1,000 new planet candidates. Even if it is kind of freaky, this is a really cool discovery so here are some fun facts about our twin planet:

1. It orbits a star: this star is really similar to our Sun (also a star, if you didn’t know that by now) which could possibly be the Sun’s twin. Kepler-22b’s orbit is about 290 days, much like our 365-day orbit.

2. It’s bigger: Kepler-22b is about 2.4 times the size of Earth, which scientists say it might be too big for life to exist.

3. But it’s in the habitable zone: NASA has determined that Kepler-22b is in the habitable zone to sustain life. They don’t know what the conditions are under its atmosphere, but its 72 degree temperature most likely means it has water and rock.

4. It’s really far away: this planet is about 600 lightyears away, which means it would take virtually forever to get there. So maybe we won’t be meeting any life forms in the near future.

How do you feel about this new planet? Do you think it has life on it?

The race for the 2012 Republican presidential candidacy is on! There have been murmurings for a while, but this week, a few politicians made things official. Firstly, Mike Huckabee, considered a far right-wing front-runner, bowed out of the race saying that “all the factors say go, but my heart says no” (do you think he meant to rhyme?) Meanwhile, Newt Gingrich officially announced his candidacy, as did Ron Paul. Mitt Romney, though, is still considered the man to beat.

1) Red Cross Month

Obama’s Presidential Proclamation last Friday marked the 66th time March has been declared Red Cross Month, and in honor of it, the American Red Cross will launch the first national Change A Life contest, running from March 2-16 (so enter now!) Just go to RedCross.org and share your story of how the Red Cross has changed your life or someone else’s life, and you could win a trip for two to Washington D.C. to join Keith Urban on his Escape Together world tour concert!

2) Rebounding

In celebration of Red Cross Month, I’m going to introduce you to a new form of the rebound – not just for sex, basketball, or even the emotional one anymore. I’m talking about the heart-healthy, original pure form of the rebound: on a trampoline. It’s quoted by NASA as “the most efficient and effective exercise yet devised by man,” and you can do it at home whilst watching TV! Unlike jogging, which for many people can cause stress on the joints, rebounding is a zero-impact exercise and is suitable for all ages and abilities.

3) New Funny Men

Ok, maybe not so new. But after Paul Harvey, one of America’s most beloved broadcasters in television history, sadly passed away over the weekend, don’t you want to hang onto the familiar? And while Conan O’Brien may be leaving Late Night, he’ll be sticking his late-night gig out on the Tonight Show, which is currently still hosted by Jay Leno. After Leno ends his contract in May, he will then be placed in the 10 o’clock comedy spot, an hour before his former show at 11. The totally new guy coming in will be Jimmy Fallon, an SNL alumnus, who will start hosting Conan’s Late Night tonight! It’s kinda confusing, but the main message is that you’ll still be able to watch your favorite late-night funny-men, just at different times. And if you’re in the mood for something new, tune in to see if Fallon can fill Conan’s (rather big) shoes or not.

4) Levers

No explanation needed. Just click here and play. (*Warning: may be as addicting as Jetman.)

5) The Couch Dress

Obviously the name isn’t as cool as the Snuggie (which is still at the top of my shopping list), but The Couch Dress is aptly named because it fits directly over you and onto your couch, so you can always blend in with your favorite piece of furniture! (Which is… awesome?)

6) Watchmen Hits Theaters March 6th

For all the comic book geeks out there (and the rest of us who simply like men in tights) director Zach Snyder has transformed this graphic novel into a big screen production. Not only does it have an 81% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (a pretty good critic rating), but even the director says it’s “a weird movie.” Now I HAVE to go see it. Plus, it’s a great alternative to seeing that Jonas Brothers 3-D bullsh*t that is also sweeping theaters this month.

7) MARCH MADNESS IS HERE!!!

Duke basketball is going all the way. Need I say more?

A big birthday Shout-Out to Dr. Suess, one of my favorite authors ever! Now go make some green eggs and ham and have a merry March.

Lunchtime liposuction?

Online shopping made even easier.

Rihanna is not buying Chris Brown’s apology.

Katy Perry is not bumping uglies with Benji Madden.

Carolina Herrera hair and makeup how-to.

How does sex in space work, exactly?

Live luxuriously on a budget.

M.I.A’s baby is adorable!

A-Rod specifies what drug he used.

The new Facebook terms are not that big of a deal, so chill the eff out, people.

As I continue to try and wrap my head around Sarah Palin, the GOP’s newest Vice Presidential pick (“a woman making strides toward the white house, good!”, “a woman who thinks the government has the right to tell her what her reproductive rights are, bad!”), a few wayward comments flying around the internet and media have gotten me really confused.  According to sources, Palin is on record stating that global warming is not man made, and that polar bears aren’t endangered

…What?

“A changing environment will affect Alaska more than any other state, because of our location.” Palin stated as early as a few weeks ago to a conservative magazine for it’s September issue. “I’m not one though who would attribute it to being man-made.”

As a moderate liberal, I can often support Republicans and Independents, as long as I believe their brain is in the right place. The thing is…denying humans have anything to do with global warming, and working to keep polar bears off the endangered list goes beyond politics and veers into …well…complete and utter wrongness.

“The state of Alaska will sue to challenge the recent listing of polar bears as a threatened species, Gov. Sarah Palin announced. She and other Alaska elected officials fear a listing will cripple oil and gas development in prime polar bear habitat off the state’s northern and northwestern coasts.”

“Palin argued that there is not enough evidence to support a listing. Polar bears are well-managed and their population has dramatically increased over 30 years as a result of conservation, she said.”

Alaskan oil is more important than protecting wildlife?  Wildlife that has met the unfortunate conclusion time and time  and time again of drastic decrease or even full extinction in the next 50 years?

How is McCain and crew (not to mention Palin herself) going to twist her statements into sounding even remotely with the times?  You know who else thinks global warming is propaganda, and could give a rat’s ass about the polar bears?  My next door neighbor.  Who’s 85.  And who thinks the birds on the telephone wires are communicating directly with NASA.

Even though I’m proud of the fact that old white dudes are finally taking women seriously, I’ve been wary of Plain from the beginning, and this new information has done nothing to assuage my fears. Palin may be a powerful woman, but she ain’t no Hillary, and she certainly ain’t no environmentalist.

And the problems don’t stop there.

Apparently, Speedo is causing quite a stir.

Their newest high tech design, the Speedo LZR Racer, has become the talk of the world. This is more than just a bathing suit; it is a record breaker. Since its introduction to the pool, 13 world records have been broken. All in the Racer.

Surely, that is no coincidence. The suit (designed with help from NASA) repels water, molds the swimmer’s body into a perfectly aerodynamic shape and even helps a bit with buoyency. Those unable to wear the suit (due to endorsements with other companies) are crying foul: their Racer-wearing opponents have an unfair advantage.

If I were a swimmer, I would be pissed off too. But I am not. I am simply a fan and to me there is a much larger issue here…

The fact that this suit covers up…everything.

Seriously; what the hell happened to the itty bitty Speedos of our past? I know that NO ONE wants to see those on some fat old dude on the beach, but BRING THEM BACK. These swimmers are in the best shape possible. I don’t care about records. I care about abs. And I want to see them.

I am not sure I can even justify watching the swimming competitions now. Sure, I want to see my fellow Wolverine, Michael Phelps, bring home 8 Golds, but I want to see him do it in one of these. Is that too much to ask?

It’s your daily dose of Kandy Korrespondent!

A tornado ripped through the Little Sioux boyscout camp in Iowa, on Wednesday afternoon, killing four and injuring at least 40. Most of the injured were on a hike when the tornado struck. The 93 boys ages 13 to 18 along with 25 staff members had been attended a week-long leadership training camp.

In Other News:

On Thursday, for the first time in nearly a decade, China and Taiwan sat down at the negotiating table. Only two issues are up for discussion: the reinstatement of direct flights (banned since 1949) and the opening of Taiwan to Chinese tourism. The two countries have been in a stony “cold war” ever since the defeated Chinese Nationalist forces fled to Taiwan in 1949. Tensions have been aggravated by Taiwan’s insistence that it is the real Republic of China and China’s continuing claim to Taiwan as one of its provinces.

Pakistan-US relations remain tense following Tuesday night’s American air-strike on the Pakistani-Afghan border which killed 11 Pakistani soldiers. The Pakistani Military has condemned the attack as “unprovoked and cowardly”. The Pentagon maintains that it was a mission carried out in self-defense during a clash with pro-Taliban militias. US strikes on Pakistani territory have resulted in 50 deaths so far this year.

On Wednesday, Glast (Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope), NASA’s space telescope successfully blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida to begin it’s exploration of the universe. Armed with “gamma-ray glasses”, it is hoped that the Glast mission will increase our understanding of some of the universe’s most violent events, such as massive cosmic explosions, giant black holes, and neutron stars—all of which release energy in the form of gamma-rays.

Also on Wednesday, Jim Johnson, the head of Obama’s Vice Presidential exploratory group resigned from his post following questions regarding loans he had received from a company involved in the current housing crisis. Obama released a statement saying that Johnson requested to step aside so as not to distract from the rest of the campaign.

And Now for Something Completely Different…

An Italian couple detained earlier this month for having sex in a church confessional box during morning Mass, have repented and made peace with their local bishop. The two individuals, both in their 30s, told their lawyer that they had been drinking all night and apparently had gone too far. The Bishop accepted their apology ad gave his forgiveness. Last week the bishop celebrated a “Mass of reparation” to cleanse the cathedral’s confessional box of the sacrilege.

Make a note of it ladies—it may seem incredibly rebellious and exciting to do it in the confessional box—but the aftermath SO isn’t worth it. There’s nothing worse than an righteously offended bishop to dampen the afterglow.

That’s the news!

[Photo courtesy of The New York Times]

You don’t have to look too far for examples of life with lots of bed rest. There are plenty of people in this world who are, in fact, confined to a bed with paralysis, old age, injury, sickness, or disease. Or, metaphorically speaking, many people in this world who live life without activity or zest. Bed rest, to me, is the polar opposite to traveling. In fact, it’s the exact opposite of life itself.

On the other hand, after four months of lying on a bed I would certainly have the desire and money to travel around the world. But why would I willingly do it if it means 120 precious days of life gone by?

I wouldn’t. $17,000 for bed rest is quite a price to pay for four months of life wasted.

So excuse me while I walk out my door right now and do nothing but soak in my surroundings. One minute of that is worth more than $17,000.

• If sex toys are so taboo in Dubai couldn’t they have just brought the sausage? (Reuters)

• Note to Courtney Love: You use perfume so you don’t smell like booze and cigarettes. Thanks anyway! (azcentral.com)

• I know globes, NASA, science, and common f*cking sense can confuse a girl, but damn Sherri Shepherd is dumb. (You Tube)

• If you ask me, this guy should be flattered. (BBC News)

• Today was International Pirate Day! Get some last-minute inspiration from the wonderful guys at CoEd Magazine! (CoEd Magazine)

Have something to talk about to all those new Freshmen you’re meeting this week. (NASA)

100 years, 170,000 cigarettes and she’s never inhaled. I admire this woman’s dedication. And ignorance. (UK Daily Mail)

The Japanese make everything look cool! Even these God-awful things! Wow! (Ping Mag)

This is just like Office Space except kind of more legal. It makes me feel warm inside. (PoliticalGateway.com)

Don’t worry guys, Nick Hogan is going to be okay. I’m pretty sure the Hulkster had something to do with it… (BumpShack)

AmGlad is back?! This is the best news I’ve heard since I found out Nick Hogan is going to be okay! C’mon everyone, grab your NERF guns and meet me in the backyard! (Best Week Ever)