Showing posts with label News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label News. Show all posts
Saturday, April 24
"objection from a former sailor"
Woke up hacking my lungs out (I'm at home sick instead of at Spring Barrel - where I'd much rather be! sadness), so I decided to catch up on my Twitter/Blog feeds this morning (much luv to our local TW community!)...ended up running across this funny from @BlogSunnyside that I couldn't resist sharing:
Thursday, February 25
would you still have a job, if this was you?
Image (c) The Associated Press (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
"House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., R-Norwalk, far right, speaks while colleagues play solitaire on their computers as the House convenes to vote on a new budget for the fiscal year in the Capitol, in Hartford, Conn."
Rep. Barbara Lambert, D-Milford, and Rep. Jack F. Hennessy, D-Bridgeport, play solitaire. The guy sitting in the row in front of them is on Facebook, and the guy behind Hennessy is checking baseball scores.
Confirmed true by www.snopes.com, November 2009.
Thursday, February 18
what is RED all over and $57,362 per house?
Why, it's Obama's $5 billion for greening-of-America-to-create-jobs stimulus money, of course!
According to this article, the Green Energy program is 98.5% behind on its goal to weatherize 593,000 homes and create 87,000 energy jobs. At it's current pace, the program costs $57,362 and 10 employees PER HOUSE...to re-caulk windows and replace weatherstripping.
(Reminds me of the joke "how many people does it take to screw in a light bulb?"...except, I'm not laughing.)
If I can't get away with it, what's their excuse?
RED TAPE. Apparently the government is full of it... really?! who knew?! I guess not Pelosi-Reid's budgeting committee, nor the two Nobel Prize winners: head of the country, Obama, and head of Dept of Energy, Steven Chu.
Yeah, right.
And as I lay in my bed sick at home, I think to myself: "and you want to manage our healthcare????"
Quick, help me think about something else - that last thought just made me feel sicker...
cvo
According to this article, the Green Energy program is 98.5% behind on its goal to weatherize 593,000 homes and create 87,000 energy jobs. At it's current pace, the program costs $57,362 and 10 employees PER HOUSE...to re-caulk windows and replace weatherstripping.
(Reminds me of the joke "how many people does it take to screw in a light bulb?"...except, I'm not laughing.)
If I was 98.5% behind at my job, my sorry rear-end would be on the street!
If I wasn't able to make 98.5% of my personal budget projections, anybody reviewing my notes would think I needed a refresher course in remedial math!
If I can't get away with it, what's their excuse?
RED TAPE. Apparently the government is full of it... really?! who knew?! I guess not Pelosi-Reid's budgeting committee, nor the two Nobel Prize winners: head of the country, Obama, and head of Dept of Energy, Steven Chu.
Yeah, right.
And as I lay in my bed sick at home, I think to myself: "and you want to manage our healthcare????"
Quick, help me think about something else - that last thought just made me feel sicker...
cvo
Monday, January 11
new favorite: copy cat, I mean bird...
cameras, car alarms, chainsaws = a romantic prelude?? only in the wild, those crazy animals!!!
Monday, January 4
say what?!: "I'll have a double benzodiazepine, on the rocks please..."
Article location:http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/ariel-schwartz/sustainability/synthetic-alcohol-sans-consequences-could-eliminate-those-regret-
What if you could drink endlessly and stay buzzed but never get sloppy? And what if you could then pop a pill to let you drive home sober? It sounds fantastical, but scientists are actually working on a synthetic alcohol substitute that brings all the happy feelings of being drunk without all the nasty mood swings, headaches, and addiction issues.
The alcohol substitute, which is being researched by a team at Imperial College London, will be made from Valium-like benzodiazepines. While benzos furnishes drinkers with a feeling of wellbeing, they don't affect parts of the brain that control addiction and mood swings, and they're easy to flush out of the body (no more nasty hangover cures!). Perhaps most intriguingly, the chemicals can be "switched off" with an antidote. Eventually, researchers involved in the project envision a world where alcohol content in beer and wine is replaced with their synthetic substance.
Of course, it will take more than a research experiment to persuade people to give up traditional alcohol. And who's to say that synthetic alcohol will have exactly the same positive effects as a bottle of Jack Daniels? If it doesn't, it will be a hard sell. Thus far, drink companies haven't shown interest in the product--a bad sign for synthetic alcohol's prospects. Still, we're in support of anything that could cut down on the number of drunk drivers and alcohol-related accidents that happen every day.
[Via Popular Science [1]]
January 4, 2010
Synthetic Alcohol Could Eliminate Regret-Filled Nights
What if you could drink endlessly and stay buzzed but never get sloppy? And what if you could then pop a pill to let you drive home sober? It sounds fantastical, but scientists are actually working on a synthetic alcohol substitute that brings all the happy feelings of being drunk without all the nasty mood swings, headaches, and addiction issues.
The alcohol substitute, which is being researched by a team at Imperial College London, will be made from Valium-like benzodiazepines. While benzos furnishes drinkers with a feeling of wellbeing, they don't affect parts of the brain that control addiction and mood swings, and they're easy to flush out of the body (no more nasty hangover cures!). Perhaps most intriguingly, the chemicals can be "switched off" with an antidote. Eventually, researchers involved in the project envision a world where alcohol content in beer and wine is replaced with their synthetic substance.
Of course, it will take more than a research experiment to persuade people to give up traditional alcohol. And who's to say that synthetic alcohol will have exactly the same positive effects as a bottle of Jack Daniels? If it doesn't, it will be a hard sell. Thus far, drink companies haven't shown interest in the product--a bad sign for synthetic alcohol's prospects. Still, we're in support of anything that could cut down on the number of drunk drivers and alcohol-related accidents that happen every day.
[Via Popular Science [1]]
Links:
[1] http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-01/synthetic-alcohol-gives-drinkers-pleasant-buzz-without-hangover-addiction
[1] http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-01/synthetic-alcohol-gives-drinkers-pleasant-buzz-without-hangover-addiction
Saturday, January 2
new favorite: glowing walls
http://www.flickr.com/photos/r00s/1438557021/
Light-emitting wallpaper may begin to replace light bulbs from 2012, according to a government body that supports low-carbon technology.
A chemical coating on the walls will illuminate all parts of the room with an even glow, which mimics sunlight and avoids the shadows and glare of conventional bulbs.
Although an electrical current will be used to stimulate the chemicals to produce light, the voltage will be very low and the walls will be safe to touch. Dimmer switches will control brightness, as with traditional lighting.
The Carbon Trust (a British group tasked with accelerating the switch to lower-carbon technologies) has awarded a $720,000 grant to Lomox, a Welsh company that is developing the organic light-emitting diode technology. The trust said it would be two and a half times more efficient than energy saving bulbs and could make a big contribution to meeting Britain's target of cutting carbon emissions by 34 per cent by 2020. Indoor lighting accounts for a sixth of total electricity use.
The chemical coating, which can be applied in the form of specially treated wallpaper or simply painted straight on to walls, can also be used for flat-screen televisions, computers and mobile phone displays.
As the system uses only between three and five volts, it can be powered by solar panels or batteries. Lomox, which will use the grant to prove the durability of the technology, believes it could be used in the first instance to illuminate road signs or barriers where there is no mains electricity.
For more information, read the full story at The London Times.
Sunday, October 11
"sorry, due to site maintenance your account is unavailable at this time"
withdrawals...... ok, so not really, but I haven't been able to access my facebook account for over a week now! and if you try to find me on there it will probably look like my account has been deleted (which I didn't!)
fb is being pretty cryptic about what the issue is...and what's taking so long to fix it:
I guess it's a small percentage of the fb population that's been affected, but yet enough to create a stir out on cnet, yahoo, and elsewhere. (http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10372417-36.html)
kinda frustrating, but what can I truly expect from a free service anyway? oh well.
sooooooo...just know that I'm still around (even if I haven't posted on fb or here for eons and a day)... :) I'll try to do better about at least some part of that!
Tuesday, March 24
Saturday, March 7
seriously, DVDs & toy heli's?? beyond embarrassing...
Our fantastic new 'Administration of Change' is definitely stirring up some change for us...
Take a gander at how royally - and unabashedly - peeved off our (former?) closest ally appears to be (should be? has every right to be?) at Pres. Obama & the Mrs. right now, according to some folks over at the Telegraph...
- Barack Obama must grow as a statesman if he is to lead the free world
- President Barack Obama just plain rude to Britain. Don't call us in future.
- President Barack Obama dislikes Britain, but he's keen to meet the Queen
- Did President Barack Obama gift Gordon Brown unplayable in the UK DVDs? Developing...
And don't you just love thinking about how the moron behind 'royal gifts' being toy heli replicas & a box of DVDs (that may not even work in British DVD players) is actually EMPLOYED... Don't tell me that in all the recently unemployed population that there isn't ONE SINGLE QUALIFIED PERSON AMONG US who couldn't have researched, prepared, and presented better 'royal gifts' alternatives than toy helis & DVDs?!?!?!?!
Makes my blood boil.
Let me go on record again to say: I didn't vote for this Administration.
Friday, March 6
oh dear me...
Don't get me wrong - I think the idea of a woman President is awesome...but I'm so glad it wasn't this woman...
Has this Administration not heard of Google Translator?
http://translate.google.com/translate_t?hl=en&sl=es&tl=en#en|ru|reset
Where's America's Election reset button? I'd like to push it, please...
Has this Administration not heard of Google Translator?
http://translate.google.com/translate_t?hl=en&sl=es&tl=en#en|ru|reset
Where's America's Election reset button? I'd like to push it, please...
Wednesday, January 28
honestly now...
...boys, does this REALLY make you want to eat more veggies??
leave it to the lefties at PETA to come up with that as a SuperBowl ad. thank goodness (in my opinion) it didn't actually make the final cut!
Monday, January 26
calling all trekkies!
If It's Hip, It's Here just blogged on the latest in New Star Trek Merchandise. Before too long, you may be able to have your very own captain's chair replica teleported straight to your living room!
Beem me up, Scotty!
Wednesday, January 21
counting hairs...
(click picture to enlarge)
Inauguration at the United States Capitol, Washington D.C., January 20, 2009.
Satellite image courtesy of GeoEye.
Every time I see a satellite image of us, I'm struck by how tiny we really are in the grand scheme of things...all of us people under the stars...and yet:
"Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God.
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."
-Luke 12:6-7
Tuesday, January 20
mmmmm...chocolate!!!
is this a possible lead on why I can't resist oreos, if I know they are in the house???
Thursday, January 8
good news for all us bubble-butts!!
Throughout time and across genres, I think singers have long known something our general MODERN culture seems reticent to appreciate and accept.
For instance: K.C. and the Sunshine Band sang about it in "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty;" Sir Mixalot let everyone know his preference in "Baby Got Back (I Like Big Butts);" Trace Adkin's marveled about it in "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk;" and even the infamous S.M. masterfully created an epic Cottage-night favorite with an ode to his "Callipygian" mystery girl!
And of course it can't go without mentioning a very beautiful gal, whose iconic figure drives the paparazzi & photogs wild - J.Lo:
So now, the latest in research has this to say about the topic…
Having a Big Derriere May Be Good for Your Health, Study Finds
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
foxnews.com
news.com.au
Women can stop worrying about pear-shaped figures — fat bottoms have been scientifically proven to be a sign of good health.
New research, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, suggests the fat responsible for producing the pear shape flaunted by celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce may be active in protecting women from diseases by releasing certain hormones.
Buttock and hip fat may protect women against type 2 diabetes, researchers from Harvard Medical School found.
When buttocks and hip fat from mice was injected into other mice, their bodies easily used the blood sugar-regulating hormone insulin and lost weight.
They were also able to make better use of insulin, the main hormone linked to diabetes.
People with the apple shape, where fat is stored around the tummy, can be more prone to type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Those with pear-shaped bodies, where fat is collected in the buttocks, are less likely to have these disorders.
Researcher Dr. Ronald Kahn insisted that not all fat was bad for health.
"The surprising thing was that it wasn't where the fat was located, it was the kind of fat that was the most important variable," he said.
"Even more surprising, it wasn't that abdominal fat was exerting negative effects, but that subcutaneous fat was producing a good effect.
I think it's an important result because not only does it say that not all fat is bad, but I think it points to a special aspect of fat where we need to do more research."
Scientists also monitored the health of the mice given the fat transplants. When it was inserted into the tummy area, the mice lost weight and their fat cells shrank. The researchers will now try to identify the hormones.
Tuesday, December 30
good article
The Reason for the Season
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
By Col. Oliver North
FOXNews
Washington, D.C. —
It's the "the holiday season" — the politically correct euphemism for this time of year when we're supposed to demonstrate the "spirit of the season" by going shopping. We do this so that we can help retailers hit their year-end sales targets. Shopping, we are told, stimulates the economy and what's good for the economy is good for all of us.
Our "holidays" have become mere orgies of economic stimulus. Need a new mattress? President's Day Weekend is now known for slumber sales. That barbecue with 50 percent more grilling area that you want? Hold off until Memorial Day when the Lawn & Garden advertisements turn attention from patriotism to propane. Independence Day – once dedicated to national reflection on the struggle our Founders faced in creating a nation conceived in liberty — is now just an opportunity to buy beer and hot dogs.
Our national day of Thanksgiving has become the official "kick off" for a year-end buying spree which is supposed to continue through to Christmas, er, excuse me – "the holidays." According to the mainstream media, this year we consumers dropped the ball.
If we believe news reports and polls, the "spirit of the holidays," has been "dampened" by the economic downturn, a jump in unemployment to 6.7 percent, a steep drop in home sales and rising foreclosures. We're told that "consumer confidence continues to decline" and that pay increases are slim or nonexistent – with the exception of Congress whose pay raise is generous and automatic.
Perhaps it is time for us to concentrate on something other than "the economy" and examine the true meaning of "the holidays" — Christmas. Last week, Pope Benedict XVI, encouraged us to "focus on the spiritual meaning of Christmas, and to welcome into our hearts the hope brought by God's coming among us as man."
Interestingly enough, those were the very ideals that motivated our nation's founders. Whether today's politically correct crowd wants to acknowledge it or not, those who forged this nation out of a wilderness were overtly Christian – and so full of hope that they were willing to risk all to create a completely new form of government. In less than a month we will again witness the results of what America's founders created – the peaceful transition of political authority in our capital.
Those who remind us regularly how bad things are right now ought to recall what Christmas of 1777 was like for the Continental Army encamped at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Eyewitnesses record that on the occasion, George Washington prayed with his troops for relief from their suffering and to "Fulfill in us and through us Thy glorious intention: that Thy peace, Thy love and Thy justice may enter into the regeneration of the world."
In that same spirit, we all ought to thank God during this Christmas season for those who defend us today. At this very moment there are more than a quarter of a million young American soldiers, sailors, airmen, Guardsmen and Marines serving far from home. They have volunteered to forfeit the warmth and affection of loved ones to protect the rest of us from those who would do us terrible harm. Instead of whining about how tough things are at home we need to pray for their safety and continued success.
While we're at it, before rushing out to a post-Christmas sale, we need to pray for our president and our Congress. Hopefully they will be reminded that while it truly is better to give than to receive, they need to be careful about giving too many bailouts and handouts, for the more they give, the more they will eventually have to take from the next generation of taxpayers – our children.
And for all the post-modern, Christmas-deniers: You may not like the idea of Christmas being celebrated as the birth of Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior of mankind but that doesn't make it untrue. In hopes that you too will come to experience the joy and peace that comes with that acceptance, I offer you the word of Linus – a very secular creation of Charles Schulz, the originator of the Peanuts cartoon series. Challenged by Charlie Brown to explain "the true meaning of Christmas," Linus responds:
"'Do not be afraid. I bring you news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' Suddenly, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.'" — Luke 2:11-14
— Oliver North hosts War Stories on FOX News Channel and is the author of the new best-seller, "American Heroes: In The War Against Radical Islam." He has just returned from assignment in Afghanistan.
Wednesday, October 1
Harmful Makeup
Study: Makeup Contains Chemicals Harmful, Cancerous to Teens
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
FOX NEWS
Did you know the cosmetics and body care products you use on a daily basis could be contaminated with chemicals?
The Environmental Working Group performed laboratory tests and detected 16 chemicals in blood and urine samples from 20 teenage girls between the ages of 14 and 19.
These chemicals are linked to health risks such as cancer and hormone disruption, according to a report released last week by the Environmental Working Group.
The group recommends that consumers avoid the following ingredients when purchasing beauty products:
— DMDM hydantoin and imidanzolidinyl urea, which are toxic contaminants
— Fragrance and dyes, which can lead to allergies, cancer and problems of the nervous system
— Methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone, which can cause allergies and problems of the nervous system
— Parbens or “-parben,” which can lead to hormone disruption
— “PEG” and “-eth,” which are toxic contaminants
— Sodium lauryl or laureth sulfate, which can cause skin damage
— Triclosan and triclocarban, which can lead to problems with the thyroid and environmental concerns
— Triehanolamine (TEA), which can cause allergies and contain toxic contaminants
Products to avoid include:
— Anti-aging creams with lactic, glycolic, AHA and BHA acid
— Hair dyes with ammonia, peroxide, p-phenylenediamine, diaminobenzene, and/or all dark permanent hair dyes
— Liquid hand soaps with triclosan
— Nail polish and nail polish remover with formaldehyde
— Skin lighteners with hydroquinone
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
FOX NEWS
Did you know the cosmetics and body care products you use on a daily basis could be contaminated with chemicals?
The Environmental Working Group performed laboratory tests and detected 16 chemicals in blood and urine samples from 20 teenage girls between the ages of 14 and 19.
These chemicals are linked to health risks such as cancer and hormone disruption, according to a report released last week by the Environmental Working Group.
The group recommends that consumers avoid the following ingredients when purchasing beauty products:
— DMDM hydantoin and imidanzolidinyl urea, which are toxic contaminants
— Fragrance and dyes, which can lead to allergies, cancer and problems of the nervous system
— Methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone, which can cause allergies and problems of the nervous system
— Parbens or “-parben,” which can lead to hormone disruption
— “PEG” and “-eth,” which are toxic contaminants
— Sodium lauryl or laureth sulfate, which can cause skin damage
— Triclosan and triclocarban, which can lead to problems with the thyroid and environmental concerns
— Triehanolamine (TEA), which can cause allergies and contain toxic contaminants
Products to avoid include:
— Anti-aging creams with lactic, glycolic, AHA and BHA acid
— Hair dyes with ammonia, peroxide, p-phenylenediamine, diaminobenzene, and/or all dark permanent hair dyes
— Liquid hand soaps with triclosan
— Nail polish and nail polish remover with formaldehyde
— Skin lighteners with hydroquinone
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