Daily News Bucket

19 Comments

1. 

   Knoxville Progressive on January 27, 2006 at 11:39 am

   Science News 27 January 2006

   New bird flu vaccine is 100% effective in animal tests 🙂

   No news here people, move along, move along:  Sea level rise is accelerating as polar ice and glaciers melt.

   Good news for Captain Kirk:  Most of the stars in the Milky Way are born alone and live out their lives without partners, a new analysis suggests. If true, the work overturns standard theories that stars are born in broods and also suggests planets – and potentially life – may be more common in the galaxy than thought.

   Good news for Mr. Spock:  Other dimensions, if present, may soon be detected from experiments underway at a neutron detector in Antarctica.

   Even Dick Cheney can understand it when you put it this way:  Scientists estimate that up to 5 percent of the world’s gross domestic product is being destroyed as a result of foreign pests and other invasive species.

   Cassandra du Jour, part 1:  Book Review:  “The Revenge of Gaia” by James Lovelock.  Much of what Lovelock says will be controversial to environmentalists (to put it mildly), and the reviewer agrees strongly:

   Lovelock believes sustainable development is no longer possible… he maintains we need a hi-tech strategy that enables humanity to stage a sustainable retreat from its current over-extended position in the biosphere.  [snip]

   Lovelock writes that the root of the environmental problem is a lack of constraint on human numbers, and I am sure he is right. With a population of a billion or fewer, the planet would be healthy whatever humans did to it. As it is, unchecked human expansion has disrupted the mechanisms that keep it stable. The question is not how humanity can retain its planetary dominance, which was always an illusion. It is whether humanity can use science and technology to mount a sustainable retreat. If not, Lovelock warns, we face “a global decline into a chaotic world ruled by brutal warlords on a devastated Earth”.

   Cassandra du Jour, part 2:  Sir Crispin Tickell, the man who convinced former prime minister Margaret Thatcher that global warming was a real problem, predicts that, in 200 years, there could be as few as 2.3 billion people because rising sea levels and temperatures will make some areas uninhabitable and, coupled with social factors, depress birth rates. But he also says our survival is “not guaranteed” and that the presence of humans on the planet could be “no more than a somewhat messy episode in the history of the Earth”.

   Cell biology research indicates evolution happens in jumps in response to environmental change.  Under normal conditions, cells have mechanisms that strongly resist mutations.  But under conditions of environmental stress, these defenses are overwhelmed, and mutations occur, at first spreading through the population silently as recessive genes.  When an individual inherits two recessive genes, the new mutation becomes evident…  The theory has implications for preservation of endangered species, as they may already be on the road to evolving into something different in response to environmental challenges…  

   This revelation has enormous implications for the notion that organisms routinely change to adapt to the environment. Actually, Schwartz argues, it is the environment that knocks them off their equilibrium and as likely ultimately kills them as changes them. And so they are being rocked by the environment, not adapting to it.

   Putting ethanol instead of gasoline in your tank saves oil and is probably no worse for the environment than burning gasoline, according to a new analysis by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley.  The researchers note, however, that new technologies now in development promise to make ethanol a truly “green” fuel with significantly less environmental impact than gasoline:

   “(The environmental cost) comes entirely from making fertilizer, running the tractors over the farm and operating the biorefinery,” Farrell said.

   Better methods now being investigated would use the woody parts of plants, using what is known as cellulosic technology to break down the tough fibers.

   “Ethanol can be, if it’s made the right way with cellulosic technology, a really good fuel for the United States,” said Farrell, an assistant professor of energy and resources.

   “At the moment, cellulosic technology is just too expensive. If that changes — and the technology is developing rapidly — then we might see cellulosic technology enter the commercial market within five years.”

   Writing in the same journal, scientists from Imperial College London, Georgia Tech and Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee said they had teamed up to find ways to make a facility to do that.

   Their facility would make a range of fuels, foods, chemicals, animal feeds, materials, heat and power using what is known as biomass — a collection of renewable plant matter and biological material such as trees, grasses and agricultural crops.

   “We’re looking at a future for biomass where we use the entire plant and produce a range of different materials from it,” Charlotte Williams of Imperial’s Department of Chemistry said in a statement.

   “Before we freeze in the dark, we must prepare to make the transition from nonrenewable carbon resources to renewable bioresources,” her team wrote.  Reference:  Reuters

   • 

     CabinGirl on January 27, 2006 at 12:04 pm

     (for posting this)

   • 

     keepinon on January 27, 2006 at 7:19 pm

     Good news, at least potentially good news, on the Bird Flu Vaccine!  If the Feds don’t mess up the Human trials and OKing production of same! Now can you do something about the melting Ice Caps thing?  Accuweather says North America has experienced the warmest January on record!  (By far the warmest January)  I know, GW doesn’t know enough bout it, needs to study it more.

2. 

   Man Eegee on January 27, 2006 at 11:40 am

   Courtesy of the AP

   Union leaders hope to use a successful effort to organize thousands of Houston janitors as a model for workers across the South and Southwest where unions are relatively uncommon.

   Eliseo Medina, executive vice president of the Service Employees Union, said Wednesday the Houston janitors, who begin negotiating a contract next month, have provided momentum for efforts in the 17-state region.

   The union is trying to repeat the effort in Miami, organizing janitors and workers who clean condominiums and janitors at the University of Miami.

3. 

   maryb2004 on January 27, 2006 at 11:57 am

   link

   More news on the Morning After Pill news front — this time about Target.  And it’s good news.  

   A local Target pharmacy employee in St. Charles MO ( a wingnut suburb of St. Louis) has been fired by Target over the Morning After Pill.

   As a part-time pharmacist at a Target store in St. Charles, Williams had refused to fill such prescriptions without incident for the past five years. But she also declined to refer physicians or patients to others who would fill such prescriptions.

   She was fired as of January 1.  She’s now filed a lawsuit — but of course is trying to keep her options open with Target so she’s blaming planned parenthood.

   But Williams stressed that she blamed Planned Parenthood – not Target – for her predicament. She cites Planned Parenthood’s heightened national campaign to persuade major pharmacy chains such as Target to agree to fill prescriptions for emergency contraception.

   Paula Gianino, chief executive of Planned Parenthood for the St. Louis Region, lauds Target’s commitment to fill such prescriptions and contends that Williams is at fault because of her refusal to refer patients or physicians elsewhere.

   “She could refuse to fill the prescription, but she took it to the next level,” Gianino said. “Target has done everything possible to try to fill patients’ health care needs and accommodate individual pharmacists.”

   She noted that Plan B won’t affect an established pregnancy.

   What does Ms. Williams think about that?

   “I’m not in judgment of anyone. I want my right not to fill something, much as they have their right to get Plan B filled.”

   OK — but what about Target’s right to decide what they will sell and won’t sell to their customers?  If you don’t agree with Target’s policy, get a job with a different employer.

   I’m not clear that Target is really a hero here.  It sounds like they allow the pharmacist to not fill the prescription but require that the pharmacist refer the customer to a location where the prescription will be filled.  

   But of course our wingnut Republicann governor, Baby Blunt, wants to help her out.

   Back in Missouri, Williams plans to testify soon before a legislative panel considering a bill to give legal protection to pharmacists who decline to fill a prescription for Plan B or any other drug they believe could cause an abortion. Gov. Matt Blunt says such legislation is among his top priorities.

   Williams, 39, the mother of three, said she thought she already had such protection in Missouri when Target officials asked her late last year to sign a “conscience clause policy.”

   The matter became an issue among Target pharmacists locally, she said, after last fall’s publicity over an incident at a Target in Fenton, where a pharmacist refused to fill a Plan B prescription.

   Soon after, Target required its pharmacists to sign a “conscience policy” – in which they agreed to fill or refer such prescriptions.

   Williams’ attorney is the same attorney representing the four fired Walgreens pharmacists in Illinois.  This is clearly all part of an offensive against our rights — because this woman didn’t even have to fill Plan B prescriptions — they weren’t stocked at her store!.

   The irony, said Williams, was that the St. Charles store didn’t stock Plan B and wasn’t required to have it on hand.

   But with the new policy, she said, all Target pharmacists – regardless of their religious views – were required to help patients or physicians seeking Plan B by locating another Target store where Plan B could be found.

   • 

     catte nappe on January 27, 2006 at 2:14 pm

     I think I’ll start an employment service. Recruit teetotalers and MADD activists to work in bars and liquor stores; ardent pacificists for the local gun/ammmo shops; PETA members at the butcher counter.

     • 

       Knoxville Progressive on January 27, 2006 at 3:07 pm

       Here’s another one for you:  Atheists at religious bookstores, LOL.  Also possibly Unitarians: “I’m not sure if I can sell this religious book in good conscience or not.  I only agree with parts of it, and Chapter 7 in particular offends my personal ethics and worldview.”

4. 

   Man Eegee on January 27, 2006 at 11:58 am

   Warning:  Biden Pontification Alert

   A Democratic senator who plans to vote against Alito’s confirmation, Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, said Friday that prospects for a successful filibuster were dim and he doesn’t support the idea.

   “A filibuster, I think, is not likely to occur,” Biden told CBS’ “The Early Show.” “But who knows, one man can generate a filibuster.”

   Sens. Daniel Akaka of Hawaii and Byron Dorgan of North Dakota made it clear Thursday night after a second day of floor debate on Alito that they would not support a filibuster, even though Akaka was going to vote against the nominee and Dorgan was still undecided. – linkage

   • 

     Anomalous on January 27, 2006 at 1:03 pm

     Mornin’ – thank you for providing a much-needed smile!  

     For the love of FSM (and Pete) – Biden unwittingly filibusters every event in which he speaks. Imagine if he intentionally filibustered. (Then again, I want you to have a wonderful day, so please don’t imagine that :^)

          Good day!    

5. 

   IndyLib on January 27, 2006 at 12:02 pm

   The cost we’re all paying for bigotry in the military is stunning:

   A recent analysis of U.S. military discharges under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy reveals that 244 medical specialists were fired for being gay or lesbian during the first 10 years of the ban.

   The 244 medical personnel discharges represent approximately 2.4 percent of the more than 10,000 gay and lesbian firings from 1994, when “don’t ask, don’t tell” was instituted, through 2003. They include physicians, nurses, biomedical laboratory technicians and other highly trained medical specialists — many of whom were trained at taxpayer expense.

   Last year, the Government Accountability Office said it cost the Pentagon approximately $200 million to replace and retrain the gay and lesbian personnel discharged during the first 10 years of “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

   • 

     Kamakhya on January 27, 2006 at 1:51 pm

     I saw this story yesterday and while I am shocked at the loss of needed medical (and translator) staff, I am more horrified by the astronomical number of soldiers who lost their jobs.  10,000 in less than 10 years!!  That’s 1,000 per year.  That is just sick and twisted.  They complain bitterly that they cannot meet recruitment goals (even when they lower their goals), but somehow feel it is ok to discharge men and women because they are gay (gasp).  Not to mention their new policy of shipping gay people out immediately to the front lines and then discharging them after they risk their necks.  Grrr…..

6. 

   ask on January 27, 2006 at 12:21 pm

   From BBC

   New Canadian PM rebuffs US envoy
   Canadian Prime Minister-elect Stephen Harper has defended plans to send military ice-breakers to the Arctic in defiance of criticism from Washington.

   US ambassador David Wilkins said on Wednesday that Washington opposed the plan and, like most other countries, did not recognise Canada’s claims.

   Mr Harper said his mandate was from the Canadian people, not Mr Wilkins.

   Mr Harper’s Conservatives have promised to defend Canada’s northern waters from claims by the US, Russia and Denmark.
   (more)

   Diary entries on the Arctic:
   The Arctic in peril
   Territorial dispute between NATO-members

   • 

     Mnemosyne on January 27, 2006 at 4:27 pm

     Interesting U.S. reaction, given that the present administration does not acknowledge the existence of global warming.

     Ah, for just one time I would take the Northwest Passage
     To find the hand of Franklin reaching for the Beaufort Sea;
     Tracing one warm line through a land so wild and savage
     And make a Northwest Passage to the sea.*

     But, I suppose a perceived threat to business interests may turn some ideas around.

     I met a couple of Canadian Coast Guard ice breakers (at least quasi-military, I suppose) some miles off the coast of Labrador a few years ago. Big, big ships, with very strong hulls. The crew was armed with various rifles, I think, but didn’t see anything nastier. They did, however, have a helicopter on the afterdeck, and the captain kindly invited us to dinner.

     Nice people, performing a difficult and lonely job.

     *Full lyrics, with historical footnotes, here.

7. 

   Anomalous on January 27, 2006 at 12:40 pm

   During its first year, Tennessee’s “Crack Tax” has brought in nearly $2 million dollars in state revenue. Essentially, drug dealers are supposed to pay taxes on illegal drugs and alcohol – confidentially, of course – and when they do, they get a stamp. If they’re caught without the stamp, they’ll be prosecuted for not only selling drugs, but for not paying their taxes too. And the money collected via the program – goes to fighting drugs.

   (Source: PlanSponsor.com)

8. 

   Cho on January 27, 2006 at 1:03 pm

   The Propaganda machine is whirring up to demonize the immigrants again.  On AOL, the two tons of marijuana and the “tunnel” are being sensationally trumpeted. In the meantime, Duke1676 has a great piece on Meet the “most dangerous” people on our southern border cross posted from Migra Matters.  Duke1676 starts out with the Map Mess headlines:

   This past Wednesday the headlines could not have made it any clearer.

   “Maps Show Illegal Migrants Best Routes” LA Times
   “Mexican Commission to Give Migrants Maps” ABC
   “Mexico to Give Migrants Maps of Arizona” AOL News
   “Mexico gives migrants road map to U.S.” CNN
   “Mexican Government to Hand Out Arizona Maps to Migrants” FOX
   “U.S. opposes Mexico giving maps to migrants: Chertoff” USA TODAY

   On a whole most of the stories varied little, hitting on a common theme:

   MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AP) — A Mexican government commission said Tuesday it will distribute at least 70,000 maps showing highways, rescue beacons and water tanks in the Arizona desert to curb the death toll among illegal border crossers.

   Duke1676 goes on to show what is the real purpose behind the maps and the posters: preventing deaths in the desert and dissuading immigrants from crossing by educating them to the risks.

   • 

     Man Eegee on January 27, 2006 at 5:42 pm

     crossposted the diary.  Here’s the link

     Hi Cho!  Hope you’re doing good.

9. 

   Man Eegee on January 27, 2006 at 4:01 pm

   WTF is going on here?!?!?

   The U.S. Army in Iraq has at least twice seized and jailed the wives of suspected insurgents in hopes of “leveraging” their husbands into surrender, U.S. military documents show.

   In one case, a secretive task force locked up the young mother of a nursing baby, a U.S. intelligence officer reported. In the case of a second detainee, one American colonel suggested to another that they catch her husband by tacking a note to the family’s door telling him “to come get his wife.” – linkage

   Disgusted.

   • 

     Damnit Janet on January 27, 2006 at 7:30 pm

     Yeah I just read that on truthout.ort…

     fucking kidnappers!

10. 

    Oui on January 27, 2006 at 6:47 pm

    .

    Read diary — Jedem Das Seine – To Each His Own ◊ by rom wyo

    Auschwitz Liberated – Never Again!

    

    Dutch Auschwitz Memorial

    The horrors of reality: visiting a Nazi concentration camp ◊ by Plutonium Page & Frank
    Fri Dec 17, 2004 at 07:09:16 PM PDT

    From the comfort of our armchairs, it is all but too easy to paint horrific events with broad strokes. The events are known to us, but far away either in time or geographical distance, making it easy for us to not learn about the details, or to forget or ignore them …

    An universal day in memory of all genocides since World War II :: Nazi Death Camps – Cambodian Killing Fields – Rwanda – DR Congo – Sudan and all wars with many innocent victims.

    “But I will not let myself be reduced to silence.”

    ▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY