Open Congress

quote[OpenCongress brings together official government information with news and blog coverage to give you the real story behind what's happening in Congress. OpenCongress is a free, open-source, non-profit, and non-partisan web resource with a mission to help make Congress more transparent and to encourage civic engagement.]

This site is very useful. I added it to my bookmarks.

The Prophet of Garbage

quote[Then the two usher me into the lab, where the gleaming 15-foot-tall machine they’ve named the Plasma Converter stands in the center of the room. The entire thing takes up about as much space as a two-car garage, surprisingly compact for a machine that can consume nearly any type of waste—from dirty diapers to chemical weapons—by annihilating toxic materials in a process as old as the universe itself. Called plasma gasification, it works a little like the big bang, only backward (you get nothing from something). Inside a sealed vessel made of stainless steel and filled with a stable gas—either pure nitrogen or, as in this case, ordinary air—a 650-volt current passing between two electrodes rips electrons from the air, converting the gas into plasma. Current flows continuously through this newly formed plasma, creating a field of extremely intense energy very much like lightning. The radiant energy of the plasma arc is so powerful, it disintegrates trash into its constituent elements by tearing apart molecular bonds. The system is capable of breaking down pretty much anything except nuclear waste, the isotopes of which are indestructible. The only by-products are an obsidian-like glass used as a raw material for numerous applications, including bathroom tiles and high-strength asphalt, and a synthesis gas, or “syngas”—a mixture of primarily hydrogen and carbon monoxide that can be converted into a variety of marketable fuels, including ethanol, natural gas and hydrogen.]

This is really cool!

Mom taught her 2 kids to fake retardation

quote[A woman admitted Monday that she coached her two children to fake retardation starting when they were 4 and 8 years old so she could collect Social Security benefits on their behalf.

Rosie Costello, 46, admitted in U.S. District Court that she collected more than $280,000 in benefits, beginning in the mid-1980s. Most was from Social Security, but the state social services agency paid $53,000.]

WTF???

Hair Apparent: Trump Vs. McMahon

quote[Britney Spears and Donald Trump are about to have something in common, that is if "the Donald" can't best the WWE's Vince McMahon in the squared circle. (See: "Britney's Hair Is Everywhere")

Trump, hanging on at No. 278 on Forbes' World's Billionaire List, but nowhere in the World Wrestling Entertainment (nyse: WWE - news - people )ranking, will put his hair on the line at Wrestlemania 23 at Detroit's Ford Field on April 1.

He'll indirectly compete in a match aptly billed the "Battle of the Billionaires" against none other than WWE owner Vince McMahon, who was bumped from the Forbes billionaires list (See: "Drop-offs"). The two have engaged in a televised feud over the past few weeks.]

W.T.F.

Perry's staff discussed vaccine on day Merck donated to campaign

quote[Gov. Rick Perry's chief of staff met with aides about the HPV vaccine on the same day the manufacturer donated money to his gubernatorial campaign. That's what documents obtained by The Associated Press show.

Perry spokesman Robert Black said the timing of the meeting and the donation was a coincidence.]

I thought this was a funny move coming from a rightie. Now we know why.

BTW, isn't it a bit soon to force mandatory vaccinations?

Stop & Shop talks in 11th hour

quote[ Today may be the final day of negotiations between Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. and union officials representing 43,000 New England workers.

If they don’t reach an agreement, workers could go on strike as soon as Friday.

As of Wednesday, union leaders attending negotiations in Providence, R.I., had made little progress in their talks with company officials, said Brian Petronella, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 371, based in Westport. Amid ongoing talks that began in December, the labor contract covering 43,000 workers in New England expired over the weekend.]

Looks like I'll be shopping at Shaws again. I sure as hell ain't crossing a picket line.

Deadly flu is two mutations away from spreading among humans

quote[New research of the H5N1 flu virus shows it is just two mutations away from being highly contagious and deadly to humans.

The research, done by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gives new insight on the threat of bird flu, which has spread among poultry in Britain and killed a woman in Africa. The flu has already rooted in Asia and spread among birds there on a seasonal basis.]

I think this is a bit hyped because it is two SPECIFIC mutations that need to occur. Anybody else know more about this?

How Sirius-XM merger would cut companies' costs still unclear

quote[The vision of a robustly competitive satellite radio business came crashing to Earth on Monday, as the industry's once bitter rivals — Sirius (SIRI) and XM Satellite Radio (XMSR)— agreed to merge, creating a company valued at $13 billion, including $1.6 billion in debt.

Each of the two has created an array of radio channels, and they've amassed more than 13 million subscribers between them but never made a profit.]

I just don't see how this is good for anyone...

It's Going To Happen

quote[US contingency plans for air strikes on Iran extend beyond nuclear sites and include most of the country's military infrastructure, the BBC has learned.

It is understood that any such attack - if ordered - would target Iranian air bases, naval bases, missile facilities and command-and-control centres.

The US insists it is not planning to attack, and is trying to persuade Tehran to stop uranium enrichment.

The UN has urged Iran to stop the programme or face economic sanctions.

But diplomatic sources have told the BBC that as a fallback plan, senior officials at Central Command in Florida have already selected their target sets inside Iran.]

WTF???

Teen 'sport killings' of homeless on the rise

quote[They hurled anything they could find -- rocks, bricks, even Baum's barbecue grill -- and pounded the 49-year-old with a pipe and with the baseball bat he kept at his campsite for protection.

Ihrcke smeared his own feces on Baum's face before cutting him with a knife "to see if he was alive," Moore said.

After destroying Baum's camp, the boys left the homeless man -- head wedged in his own grill -- under a piece of plastic where they hoped the "animals would eat" him.

Then, Moore says, they took off to grab a bite at McDonald's.]

More disturbing than this one violent act is that this is becoming a trend.

How screwed up is that???

Some mull idea of Sen. Bill Clinton

quote[If Hillary Rodham Clinton wins the presidency, some top Democrats would like to see her husband, former President Bill Clinton, appointed to serve out Hillary’s unexpired Senate term.

“As a senator, he’d be a knockout,” said Harold Ickes, who was once a top White House aide to Bill Clinton and now gives behind-the-scenes advice to Hillary. “He knows issues, he loves public policy and he’s a good politician.”

Some Democrats and political analysts say Bill Clinton would thrive in the world’s greatest deliberative body, much like Lyndon Johnson did before he became president.]

Far fetched? Probably. But, interesting, nonetheless.

I was actually surprised that this isn't unprecedented.

It's Fucked Up Friday! - Dog's Ear Severed, Glued Back On By Groomer

quote[Anni Sheriffius said she was trying to wash off what she thought was dirt on her dog Jasmine’s ear when the ear fell off.

Sheriffius rushed her dog to the veterinarian to learn that the dog’s ear had been cut off by a dog groomer and super-glued back on.]

Yet, the groomer still got paid!

HIV reveals site of vulnerability

quote[Medical researchers have found a chink in the constantly shape-shifting armour of the HIV virus. The discovery could be a significant step forward in the ongoing quest for a vaccine.]

I found this quite interesting...

Iraq War Plan Predicted Only 5,000 Troops By 2006

quote[Newly obtained documents reveal that U.S. war planners expected only a small number of American troops would remain in Iraq by the end of 2006.

Meeting slides prepared by Central Command for a White House briefing in 2002 show CentCom's projection that "the U.S. would have only 5,000 troops left in Iraq as of December 2006," Joyce Battle and Thomas Blanton write for the National Security Archive.]

They really screwed that one up!

US claims Iranian bombs kill troops - but no proof

quote[A trio of American military officials led the show. Their mission: rolling out the administration’s case that Iran is supporting attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq. Under the rules of this afternoon’s briefing, the three could not identified by name. No TV cameras or tapes were allowed in, and journalists’ cell phones were taken away before they entered the briefing room. But if their job was to provide proof of Tehran’s involvement in Iraq’s bloodshed, they’re unlikely to convince the doubters with what was shown Sunday.]

At least they were smart enough this time to not allow cameras in the room.

Paging Mr. Powell...You are needed on the floor of the U.N....

Cheney Will Likely Testify

quote[One witness has dominated the trial of I. Lewis Libby Jr. without even showing up in the courtroom. Day after day, the jury has heard accounts of the actions of Vice President Dick Cheney, watched as his handwritten notes were displayed on a giant screen, heard how he directed leaks to the press and ordered the White House to publicly defend Libby, his top aide and close confidante.

Now, as the defense phase of the perjury trial begins, Cheney is expected to make a historic appearance on the witness stand. It is an act of loyalty that carries considerable risk for Cheney.]

I wish I still had Court TV. This would be fun to watch live.

A Freeper's Take On Liberals and Conservatives

Some asshat posted the original free republic tripe on the ESS forum (link goes to their version).

Here's my version. It's still not funny, but it's better than the original:

Humans originally existed as members of small bands of nomadic hunters/gatherers. They lived on deer in the mountains during the summer and would go to the coast and live on fish and lobster in the winter.
The two most important events in all of history were the invention of beer and the invention of the wheel. The wheel was invented to get man to the beer. These were the foundation of modern civilization and together were the catalyst for the splitting of humanity into two distinct subgroups:

1. Liberals;

And

2. Conservatives.

The liberals with their superior intellect, of course, invented both beer and the wheel, while the mouth-breathing, knuckle-dragging conservatives sat in the corner and drooled.

Once beer was discovered, it required grain, and that was the beginning of agriculture, also invented by liberals. Neither the glass bottle nor aluminum can were invented yet (liberals were doing other important work), so while our early humans were sitting around waiting for them to be invented, they just stayed close to the brewery. That's how villages were formed.

Some men spent their days tracking and killing each other to steal someone else's goods to B-B-Q at night while they were drinking beer with their wives (and first cousins). This was the beginning of what is known as the Conservative movement.

Other men who were smarter and more skilled at devising means to survive showed up for the nightly B-B-Q's and attempted to clean up the conservatives mess. This was the beginning of the Liberal movement.

Some of these conservatives' men eventually evolved into sexist pigs. The rest became known as hillbillies.

Some noteworthy liberal achievements include every major technological advancement known to man, and the concept of Democratic voting to decide how to divide the meat and beer that conservatives stole from each other.

Over the years conservatives came to be symbolized an animal scared away by a donkey in a lions skin, the elephant. Liberals are self-characterized by the strong-willed animal, the donkey. Liberals also learned how to research the origins of symbology, while conservatives continued to drool into their soup.

Modern liberals like a wide varieties of beer and spirits, but most prefer clean drinking water (a concept foreign to conservatives). True to having a widely diverse palette, some eat raw fish, sushi, tofu, and French food. This diversity is excruciating to conservatives, who refuse to try anything new, and have formed staunch loyalties based upon their endlessly warmongering alliances.

Another interesting evolutionary side note: most of the conservative women are repressed, while the hypocritical men enjoy buggering their young males. Most intelligent and successful people are liberals. Liberals still can't understand why conservatives are so dumb that all they have to pin on them is the designated hitter rule.

Conservatives only drink domestic beer. They eat red meat and still beat their women. Conservatives like to think they are big-game hunters, rodeo cowboys, lumberjacks, and construction workers. But in reality, they are liars, cheats, homophobes, televangelists, and redneck hillbillies. Any conservatives who own companies hire people, who want to work for a living, for less than minimum wage and provide no health care.

Conservatives produce little or nothing, except tawdry affairs, wars, and hypocrisy. They like to govern the producers and decide what to do with the production. Conservatives, with their war-like mentality, are scared of anything non-American. That is why most of the conservatives prefer to fight with every country on earth, rather than talk to them. Any diplomacy is done by liberals.

Here ends today's lesson in world history: It should be noted that a Conservative might have a momentary urge to angrily respond to the above before forwarding it. A liberal will simply laugh and be so convinced of the absolute truth of this history that it will be forwarded immediately to other true believers and to more conservatives just to piss them off.

And Now From The Idiot Department...

quote[So, there's this 14-year old kid in Mt. Victoria, New Zealand, right? Kid breaks into a house and steals someones Xbox 360 and all their games. Takes the games, disappears.

Until he decides to personally call Microsoft and complain because the legitimate owner's already registered the 360 and now the thief can't get online to play all his stolen games. Oh, and he ordered a spare power cable to be delivered to his house 'cause... you know... he forgot to steal one.]

You can't make this shit up...

Mistrial could be end of Watada case

quote[The Army court-martial of 1st Lt. Ehren Watada, which ended in a mistrial Wednesday, may have stranger turns ahead: Prohibitions against double jeopardy may keep prosecutors from having a second trial, his lawyer and another legal expert say.

The opposition of Watada and his defense team to the mistrial, declared by the military judge and eventually endorsed by prosecutors after their case fell apart, opens the door for a double-jeopardy defense, said John Junker, a University of Washington law professor.

Double jeopardy, which forbids a person from being tried twice for the same crime, does not apply only after a verdict is rendered, but can apply after a jury is empaneled and witnesses have been called.

"The notion is that you can't just stop in the middle and say, 'I don't like the way it's going' and start over," Junker said. "If the defendant objected, it does raise the possibility" of double jeopardy, Junker said. "That would happen in a civilian court, and I presume in a military court. That doctrine comes from the Constitution."]

Very interesting...

Do Astronauts Have Sex?

quote[If astronauts have had space sex, it would have been very difficult. First off, there isn't much privacy up there. A regular shuttle is about as big as a 737, and the two main areas—the crew cabin and middeck—are each the size of a small office. The bathroom is little more than a seat with a curtain, and there aren't any closed rooms where two people could retreat. The space station, on the other hand, has a little more room to operate. The three-person crew generally splits up for sleeping time: Two of them bed down in a pair of tiny crew cabins at one end of the station, and the third might jump in a sleeping bag at the other end, almost 200 feet away. (The panel-and-strap design of a space bed might not be that conducive to lovemaking.) Astronauts also have a demanding work schedule, leaving them with little time or energy for messing around. Space-station crews do get time off on weekends, though, when they can watch movies, read books, play games, "and generally have a good time."]

I just loved the sub-headline: In space, no one can hear you moan.

Cured, Haggard says he is not gay

quote[Haggard admitted to "sexual immorality" and a long battle against feelings contrary to his beliefs. He admitted buying methamphetamine but said he never used it. Haggard did not respond to interview requests.

Among other things, the overseers urged Haggard to enter a 12-step program for sexual addiction, Ware said.

Ralph said three weeks of counseling at an undisclosed Arizona treatment center helped Haggard immensely and left Haggard sure of one thing.

"He is completely heterosexual," Ralph said. "That is something he discovered. It was the acting- out situations where things took place. It wasn't a constant thing."]

Yeah suuure...It's called brainwashing, but it usually takes more than three weeks to stick. Did the crystal meth help him speed up the process???

US immigration cavity search ends in agony

quote[US immigration officials insisted the sufferer of an anal infection remove a small piece of medical thread which was being used by doctors to treat the condition. The man required treatment under general anaesthetic as a result.

...

Arriving on holiday in New York in August last year, the unnamed 48-year-old was interrogated and searched by immigration officers, according to a letter appearing in medical journal The Lancet. The rectal examination discovered a device called a seton, which doctors in the UK had inserted into the fistula to help control long-term infection.]

WTF???? Any wonder why U.S. tourism is down?

Local Stations (in CT) Still Carry Stephanie Miller

Please write and ask that they expand their programming to include Ed Schultz.

I've been listening to them, and they have a good strong signal, no dead air, and come accross as very professional. Also, if you have the opportunity, please support their sponsors, and let them know wher you heard of them!

Wash. initiative would require married couples to have kids

quote[ Under the initiative, marriage would be limited to men and women who are able to have children. Couples would be required to prove they can have children in order to get a marriage license, and if they did not have children within three years, their marriage would be subject to annulment.

All other marriages would be defined as "unrecognized" and people in those marriages would be ineligible to receive any marriage benefits.]

Interesting approach...But this just goes to show how fucked up our country is.

Cheney's Handwritten Notes Implicate Bush in Plame Affair

quote[ Copies of handwritten notes by Vice President Dick Cheney, introduced at trial by defense attorneys for former White House staffer I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, would appear to implicate George W. Bush in the Plame CIA Leak case.

Bush has long maintained that he was unaware of attacks by any member of his administration against [former ambassador Joseph] Wilson. The ex-envoy's stinging rebukes of the administration's use of pre-war Iraq intelligence led Libby and other White House officials to leak Wilson's wife's covert CIA status to reporters in July 2003 in an act of retaliation.

But Cheney's notes, which were introduced into evidence Tuesday during Libby's perjury and obstruction-of-justice trial, call into question the truthfulness of President Bush's vehement denials about his prior knowledge of the attacks against Wilson. The revelation that Bush may have known all along that there was an effort by members of his office to discredit the former ambassador begs the question: Was the president also aware that senior members of his administration compromised Valerie Plame's undercover role with the CIA?]

Not surprised...But this won't stick...

Wal-Mart pays itself rent, gets large tax breaks

quote[But in a rather deft tax strategy, the company has been paying most of that rent -- we're talking about billions here -- to itself, and then it deducts that amount from its state taxes in the 25 states that allow the deduction.]

But they can't pay a decent wage or provide affordable health care...

Google Declares: Bush No Longer A Miserable Failure

quote[But last week, after years of taking a fairly laissez-faire attitude toward Googlebombing, Google decided to put an end to the popular sport. It incorporated into its search engine a Googlebomb-sniffing algorithm that somehow manages to identify and neutralise any concerted effort to skew search results for a word or phrase.]

LOL. Actually, it's about time...