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British scientists use urine to charge cell phone

“British scientists on Tuesday reported they had harnessed the power of urine and were able to charge a mobile phone with enough electricity to send texts and surf the Internet. The team grew bacteria on carbon fibre anodes and placed them inside ceramic cylinders. The bacteria broke down chemicals in urine passed through the cylinders, building up a small amount of electrical charge which was stored on a capacitor.” Continue reading →

Former air accident investigator alleges cover-up in 1996 crash of TWA Flight 800

“A former air accident investigator campaigning for a new probe into the 1996 crash of TWA Flight 800 said Monday that US authorities appear to be taking his request seriously. ‘TWA 800’ cites radar data from the instant of the disaster as the “smoking gun” that suggests the flight might have been the victim of surface-launched proximity fuse missiles. The film also quotes some of the hundreds of witnesses interviewed by FBI agents, but never summoned before the NTSB, who say they saw what appeared to be a missile soaring into the evening sky, followed by an explosion.” Continue reading →

New studies: ‘Conspiracy theorists’ sane; government dupes crazy, hostile

“Perhaps because their supposedly mainstream views no longer represent the majority, the anti-conspiracy commenters often displayed anger and hostility: ‘The research… showed that people who favoured the official account of 9/11 were generally more hostile when trying to persuade their rivals.’ In short, the new study by Wood and Douglas suggests that the negative stereotype of the conspiracy theorist – a hostile fanatic wedded to the truth of his own fringe theory – accurately describes the people who defend the official account of 9/11, not those who dispute it.” Continue reading →

D.C.’s Walmart ‘Super Minimum Wage’ Is a Super Bad Idea

“Wal-Mart swiftly announced the abandonment of plans to open at least three stores in the District of Columbia following a vote by the city council to pass the Large Retailer Accountability Act, which effectively mandated a super minimum wage of $12.50 an hour that applied only to Wal-Mart. As a result, the residents of D.C.’s Ward 7– with a poverty rate of 34 percent and an unemployment rate of 17 percent – will now be denied a source of new jobs and inexpensive groceries and goods. Increasing the minimum wage beyond the productivity of the worker inflicts damage on the poor and the unskilled – the very people it is ostensibly designed to help.” Continue reading →

Sovereignty and Responsibility

On Tuesday, June 25, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down section 4 of the Voter Rights Act of 1965. This new ruling rightly restores the responsibility for protecting the right to vote on several states that were previously required to have federal oversight of their election laws. This ruling is a victory for state sovereignty, but with sovereignty comes responsibility. Which begs the question, is Texas ready and willing to accept that responsibility? Every ten … Continue reading →

Busted California Cities: Pension Liabilities

“New accounting standards are being applied by Moody’s to cities. It turns out that the two biggest cities in California — Los Angeles and San Francisco — are way deeper in the hole than previously admitted. But wait! There’s more! San Jose will be downgraded. So will Inglewood (‘The Hood’). So will Azusa. The total unfunded liabilities for the state are now over $320 billion. That’s up from $128 billion. In one shot. California is not alone.” Continue reading →

Busted California Cities: Pension Liabilities

India to settle oil trade dues with Iran in rupees

“India will settle all oil trade including USD 1.53 billion in dues with Iran entirely in rupees after the US-engineered illegal sanctions against Tehran blocked all other payment routes. In June, India along with China, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and Taiwan won a 180-day waiver from the US sanctions against Iran’s energy sector. Indian Ambassador to Iran D. P. Srivastava said on Wednesday that New Delhi is determined to continue cooperation with Tehran despite the illegal US-engineered sanctions against the Islamic Republic.” Continue reading →