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.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
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!
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???
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???
Thursday, February 22, 2007
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.
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?
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.
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.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
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?
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...
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???
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???
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???
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