Does this mean my car's emissions aren't causing global warming here and on Mars?
Study: Sun's Changes to Blame for Part of Global Warming: "Study: Sun's Changes to Blame for Part of Global Warming
By Robert Roy Britt
LiveScience Managing Editor
posted: 30 September 2005
01:12 pm ET
"Increased output from the Sun might be to blame for 10 to 30 percent of global warming that has been measured in the past 20 years, according to a new report.
Increased emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases still play a role, the scientists say.
But climate models of global warming should be corrected to better account for changes in solar activity, according to Nicola Scafetta and Bruce West of Duke University.
The findings were published online this week by the journal Geophysical Research Letters."
Friday, September 30, 2005
Cruel and Unusual Punishment--Texas Style
You're grounded, young lady! WFTV.com - News - Judge Orders 17-Year-Old Girl Not To Have Sex: "Judge Orders 17-Year-Old Girl Not To Have Sex
POSTED: 10:16 am EDT September 30, 2005
SHERMAN, Texas -- No sex. That's part of a sentence imposed on a 17-old-girl by Texas state district judge Lauri Blake.
She's ordered the young drug offender not have sex as long as she is living with her parents and attending school, as a condition of her probation.
She has also prohibited tattoos, body piercings, earrings and clothing 'associated with the drug culture' for those on probation.
Former federal prosecutor Fred Moss said some conditions could be viewed as violating someone's personal dignity.
POSTED: 10:16 am EDT September 30, 2005
SHERMAN, Texas -- No sex. That's part of a sentence imposed on a 17-old-girl by Texas state district judge Lauri Blake.
She's ordered the young drug offender not have sex as long as she is living with her parents and attending school, as a condition of her probation.
She has also prohibited tattoos, body piercings, earrings and clothing 'associated with the drug culture' for those on probation.
Former federal prosecutor Fred Moss said some conditions could be viewed as violating someone's personal dignity.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
American Masters . Bob Dylan | PBS
I caught Bob Dylan documentary last night, or as Martin Scorsese would prefer it called: American Masters . Bob Dylan PBS: "No Direction Home: Bob Dylan
A Martin Scorsese Picture "
A few impressions:
I had no idea what a little boy Bob Dylan was when he first perfomed. Dylan and Joan Baez on stage looked more like awkard teens on a formal date than the new gods of the 60s.
There was a comment that Woody Guthrie passed his legacy to Pete Seeger and Pete Seeger passed his on to Bob Dylan. This a very telling observation that boomers, while liking the 44 year old Seeger, who had put three hits on the chart in the 50s, were more comfortable hearing similar material from someone their own age.
I had always heard about the Newport Folk Festival, and it was great seeing film clips and hearing music from the legendary event, now only remembered for Dylan's switch to electric. I was not aware that the diversity of music included R & B and Johny Cash. Dylan and Baez' duet, while definitely an iconic and emotional moment, wasn't necessarily the artistic high point of the festival. Is it my imagination, or was Baez coming in slightly behind Dylan because she didn't know the lyrics?
Years ago, I remember a professor being asked about the cause for poetry's commercial death in America, and he wearily explained that poetry was alive and well, but in music rather than print form. Bob Dylan bears the responsibility for this.
A Martin Scorsese Picture "
A few impressions:
I had no idea what a little boy Bob Dylan was when he first perfomed. Dylan and Joan Baez on stage looked more like awkard teens on a formal date than the new gods of the 60s.
There was a comment that Woody Guthrie passed his legacy to Pete Seeger and Pete Seeger passed his on to Bob Dylan. This a very telling observation that boomers, while liking the 44 year old Seeger, who had put three hits on the chart in the 50s, were more comfortable hearing similar material from someone their own age.
I had always heard about the Newport Folk Festival, and it was great seeing film clips and hearing music from the legendary event, now only remembered for Dylan's switch to electric. I was not aware that the diversity of music included R & B and Johny Cash. Dylan and Baez' duet, while definitely an iconic and emotional moment, wasn't necessarily the artistic high point of the festival. Is it my imagination, or was Baez coming in slightly behind Dylan because she didn't know the lyrics?
Years ago, I remember a professor being asked about the cause for poetry's commercial death in America, and he wearily explained that poetry was alive and well, but in music rather than print form. Bob Dylan bears the responsibility for this.
Monday, September 26, 2005
Don Adams of 'Get Smart' Dies at 82 - New York Times
NY Times notes the passing of Don Adams, forever remembered as Maxwell Smart. Don Adams, Mel Brooks, and Buck Henry made "Get Smart" one of the funniest and oddest shows on American television. And where did Don Adams gain his first training in comedic presentation and timing? Don Adams of 'Get Smart' Dies at 82 - New York Times: "In 1941, he dropped out of school to join the Marines. In Guadalcanal he survived the deadly blackwater fever and was returned to the States to become a drill instructor, acquiring the clipped delivery that served him well as a comedian."
Incidentally, in my experience, the most imaginatively sadistic drill sergeants were the ones with a keen sense of humor. Making someone laugh often involves making someone else miserable.
Incidentally, in my experience, the most imaginatively sadistic drill sergeants were the ones with a keen sense of humor. Making someone laugh often involves making someone else miserable.
Friday, September 23, 2005
The Tragedy of Pompey
I've been watching and enjoying HBO's "Rome." Lots of drama, gore, intrigue, and flesh--just as cable TV should be. The show presents the Romans as they were: glory seeking, superstitious, greedy, duty bound, honorable, and licentious. Incidentally, the American founding fathers were well versed in Roman history, and our form of government was designed to prevent the rise of a military dictator supported by the masses.
The thought struck me that Pompey gets the short end of the stick again. There was a mini-series on network TV during the summer that covered, in a much tamer and less cynical manner, the events leading to the end of the Roman Republic and rise of the Empire, and Pompey didn't come off too well (though Cicero gets a sympathetic role as a supporter of young Octavian).
Pompey goes down in history as the Richard Nixon of the Roman Republic: an indecisive loser. The record though tells a much different story. The first would be his full name, Pompey Magnus --the great--an honor bestowed by a thankful nation. He had been instrumental in ending a revolt in Spain, crushed pirates in the Mediterranean, and he had an interest in building theaters as well. Pompey had three triumphs in Rome, pretty much a record back then. Caesar thought so highly of Pompey, to the point where after Pompey's ignoble death, Caesar had him deified.
Still Caesar gets all the press, not to mention the plays and movies, but there is a play about Pompey written by the poet Masefield: http://www.theaterofpompey.com/Rome/tragedy.pdf
The thought struck me that Pompey gets the short end of the stick again. There was a mini-series on network TV during the summer that covered, in a much tamer and less cynical manner, the events leading to the end of the Roman Republic and rise of the Empire, and Pompey didn't come off too well (though Cicero gets a sympathetic role as a supporter of young Octavian).
Pompey goes down in history as the Richard Nixon of the Roman Republic: an indecisive loser. The record though tells a much different story. The first would be his full name, Pompey Magnus --the great--an honor bestowed by a thankful nation. He had been instrumental in ending a revolt in Spain, crushed pirates in the Mediterranean, and he had an interest in building theaters as well. Pompey had three triumphs in Rome, pretty much a record back then. Caesar thought so highly of Pompey, to the point where after Pompey's ignoble death, Caesar had him deified.
Still Caesar gets all the press, not to mention the plays and movies, but there is a play about Pompey written by the poet Masefield: http://www.theaterofpompey.com/Rome/tragedy.pdf
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Fly Air Rum
No false advertising here:
LIMA, Peru (AP) -- A chartered jet carrying 289 Gambian soccer fans pretended it needed to make an emergency landing so they could watch their team compete in the FIFA Under 17 World Championships, officials said Wednesday.
The plane, claiming to be low on fuel, landed Tuesday near the stadium in Peru's northern coast city of Piura.
"It truly was a scam," said Betty Maldonado, a spokeswoman for Peru's aviation authority, CORPAC. "They tricked the control tower, saying they were low on fuel."
Emergency crews were scrambled ahead of the unscheduled landing by the Lockhead L1011 Tri-Star, owned by Air Rum Ltd., Maldonado said.
The Air Rum plane, which she said was chartered by Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, should have made its approach to the capital, Lima, but instead flew directly to Piura, entering Peruvian air space "without permission."
LIMA, Peru (AP) -- A chartered jet carrying 289 Gambian soccer fans pretended it needed to make an emergency landing so they could watch their team compete in the FIFA Under 17 World Championships, officials said Wednesday.
The plane, claiming to be low on fuel, landed Tuesday near the stadium in Peru's northern coast city of Piura.
"It truly was a scam," said Betty Maldonado, a spokeswoman for Peru's aviation authority, CORPAC. "They tricked the control tower, saying they were low on fuel."
Emergency crews were scrambled ahead of the unscheduled landing by the Lockhead L1011 Tri-Star, owned by Air Rum Ltd., Maldonado said.
The Air Rum plane, which she said was chartered by Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, should have made its approach to the capital, Lima, but instead flew directly to Piura, entering Peruvian air space "without permission."
Monday, September 19, 2005
British Food Contributions to New Orleans Destroyed!
Ruled not fit for human consumption:
"The FDA has recalled aid from Britain because it has been condemned as unfit for human consumption, despite the fact that these are Nato approved rations of exactly the same type fed to British soldiers in Iraq." --Mirror, 9/19/2005
"The FDA has recalled aid from Britain because it has been condemned as unfit for human consumption, despite the fact that these are Nato approved rations of exactly the same type fed to British soldiers in Iraq." --Mirror, 9/19/2005
Friday, September 16, 2005
Tourists Annoy and Harass Local Wildlife
From the S.F. Chronic. Bear gets sprayed with irritant, but is OK: 2 Hikers Attacked by Yellowstone Grizzly: "(09-16) 07:05 PDT Bozeman, Mont. (AP) --
A grizzly bear attacked two hikers in Yellowstone National Park, but the men escaped serious injury, the National Park Service said Thursday.
Pat McDonald, 52, of Bismarck, N.D., and Gerald Holzer, 51, of Northfield, Minn., were hiking on a trail near Shoshone Lake in the park's southern section Wednesday when they noticed fresh bear scat, officials said in a written statement.
They decided to continue, but were charged by a grizzly bear 'at full stride' about a quarter-mile further along the trail, the release said.
Holzer, who was in front, sidestepped the bear. McDonald stepped behind some trees and dropped to the ground, officials said. The bear ran past him, but returned and swatted at him, then turned to Holzer, who had dropped to the ground and was lying on his stomach.
The bear jumped on Holzer's back, swatted at him, then retreated briefly. During that time, McDonald retrieved the bear spray strapped to his waist and doused the bear in the face when it returned and starting biting his leg. The bear then ran off, officials said.
The two men hiked 4 miles to the trailhead and drove to the clinic at Old Faithful for treatment.
McDonald suffered a puncture wound to his leg. Holzer was not injured, and officials said his backpack protected him during the attack."
A grizzly bear attacked two hikers in Yellowstone National Park, but the men escaped serious injury, the National Park Service said Thursday.
Pat McDonald, 52, of Bismarck, N.D., and Gerald Holzer, 51, of Northfield, Minn., were hiking on a trail near Shoshone Lake in the park's southern section Wednesday when they noticed fresh bear scat, officials said in a written statement.
They decided to continue, but were charged by a grizzly bear 'at full stride' about a quarter-mile further along the trail, the release said.
Holzer, who was in front, sidestepped the bear. McDonald stepped behind some trees and dropped to the ground, officials said. The bear ran past him, but returned and swatted at him, then turned to Holzer, who had dropped to the ground and was lying on his stomach.
The bear jumped on Holzer's back, swatted at him, then retreated briefly. During that time, McDonald retrieved the bear spray strapped to his waist and doused the bear in the face when it returned and starting biting his leg. The bear then ran off, officials said.
The two men hiked 4 miles to the trailhead and drove to the clinic at Old Faithful for treatment.
McDonald suffered a puncture wound to his leg. Holzer was not injured, and officials said his backpack protected him during the attack."
Medical Marijuana n the Workplace
Hey! I experience stress related discomfort while I'm at work: Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Oregon Supreme Court considering medical marijuana status in the workplace: "SALEM, Ore. -- The Oregon Supreme Court says it will review an appellate court ruling that suggests employers make allowances for workers who use medical marijuana.
Robert Washburn, a former millwright at the Columbia Forest products plant at Klamath Falls, had a state-issued card allowing him to use marijuana to ease neck and muscle pain that disrupted his sleep. But the company, which prohibited workers from coming to the plant with controlled substances in their system, fired Washburn in 2001 after he failed several urine tests.
Washburn sued the company, claiming it should have made an allowance for his disability.
A circuit court dismissed the lawsuit, citing a provision in the state medical marijuana law that employers don't have to 'accommodate the medical use of marijuana in the workplace.'
The appeals court disagreed, saying the test results didn't establish that Washburn had used the drug at work. Moreover, the appeals court said the lower court should decide whether, under the circumstances of the case, Washburn's employer should have had to allow his medical marijuana use."
Robert Washburn, a former millwright at the Columbia Forest products plant at Klamath Falls, had a state-issued card allowing him to use marijuana to ease neck and muscle pain that disrupted his sleep. But the company, which prohibited workers from coming to the plant with controlled substances in their system, fired Washburn in 2001 after he failed several urine tests.
Washburn sued the company, claiming it should have made an allowance for his disability.
A circuit court dismissed the lawsuit, citing a provision in the state medical marijuana law that employers don't have to 'accommodate the medical use of marijuana in the workplace.'
The appeals court disagreed, saying the test results didn't establish that Washburn had used the drug at work. Moreover, the appeals court said the lower court should decide whether, under the circumstances of the case, Washburn's employer should have had to allow his medical marijuana use."
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
San Fran Chronic
The old San Francisco Chronicle's penchant for strange and weird stories eventually inspired imitation by the lower priced supermarket tabloids. Even after being bought by the Hearst chain, the Chronic still finds these stories:Pregnant woman accused of stabbing boyfriend--
"A 27-year-old pregnant San Mateo County woman is in jail accused of stabbing her boyfriend with a kitchen knife after the couple argued about her nutritional choices, authorities said.
The 18-year-old boyfriend, whom police have not identified, is being treated at a local hospital for stab wounds to his right lung and liver, said San Mateo County Deputy District Attorney Christine Ford. He is expected to recover and be released from the hospital sometime in the next couple of days, she said...
“There was an argument over her nutritional habits and how they impinged on the health of the pregnancy,” Ford said.
Islas is three months pregnant by her boyfriend of several years. Islas allegedly grabbed a serrated kitchen knife and stabbed the 18-year-old boyfriend in the abdomen. "
For heavens sake, let the poor pregnant woman dive into a quart or two of Dreyer's crunchy pecan.
"A 27-year-old pregnant San Mateo County woman is in jail accused of stabbing her boyfriend with a kitchen knife after the couple argued about her nutritional choices, authorities said.
The 18-year-old boyfriend, whom police have not identified, is being treated at a local hospital for stab wounds to his right lung and liver, said San Mateo County Deputy District Attorney Christine Ford. He is expected to recover and be released from the hospital sometime in the next couple of days, she said...
“There was an argument over her nutritional habits and how they impinged on the health of the pregnancy,” Ford said.
Islas is three months pregnant by her boyfriend of several years. Islas allegedly grabbed a serrated kitchen knife and stabbed the 18-year-old boyfriend in the abdomen. "
For heavens sake, let the poor pregnant woman dive into a quart or two of Dreyer's crunchy pecan.
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