Watermelonism

U.S. Navy ship stranded on World Heritage-listed coral reef ignored warnings

"A US Navy minesweeper that has been stuck on a World Heritage-listed coral reef in the Philippines since last week ignored warnings to avoid the area, a government official said on Monday. The comments from the superintendent of Tubbataha marine park, Angelique Songco, added to growing anger in the Philippines over the incident, for which the US Navy has apologised but may still face fines. Park rangers radioed the USS Guardian to advise it was nearing the Tubbataha Reef on Thursday, but the ship captain insisted they raise their complaint with the US embassy, Songco told reporters." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. Navy ship stranded on World Heritage-listed coral reef ignored warnings

EPA’s illegal human experiments could break Nuremberg Code

"The Obama Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says no law empowers any judge to stop it from conducting illegal scientific experiments on seniors, children and the sick. That astounding assertion will be tested Friday, when a federal district court in Alexandria decides whether it has jurisdiction to hear claims made by the American Tradition Institute that EPA researchers are exposing unwary and genetically susceptible senior citizens to air pollutants the agency says can cause a variety of serious cardiac and respiratory problems, including sudden death." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEPA’s illegal human experiments could break Nuremberg Code

‘Oregon Trial’

"The state of Oregon is considering an 'alternative tax for drivers who have bought efficient or electric vehicles that seldom or never stop at the gasoline pump, where government has traditionally collected money to build and fix roads. In its upcoming session, the Oregon Legislature is expected to consider a bill to require drivers with a vehicle getting at least 55 miles per gallon of gasoline or its equivalent to pay a per-mile tax after 2015.'" Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘Oregon Trial’

Delaware taxpayers increasingly on the hook as Fisker auto plant idles

"Delaware taxpayers appear to be getting soaked twice under a deal in which the Democratic governor loaned $21.5 million to a hybrid electric carmaker to set up shop in the state. The company has yet to produce a car in Delaware, and taxpayers are footing the electric bill for the idle plant. The deal was enthusiastically announced in 2009 by Gov. Jack Markell and Vice President Biden -- formerly Delaware's senior senator -- as a way to bring as many as 2,500 green jobs to the state. But California-based Fisker Automotive Inc. has since suffered a series of setbacks that have compounded its shaky financial situation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDelaware taxpayers increasingly on the hook as Fisker auto plant idles

Saving the rhino with U.S. military surveillance drones

"A rhino farmer in South Africa is planning to use surveillance drones designed for the US military to combat poachers who are driving the animals towards extinction. Clive Vivier, cofounder of the Zululand rhino reserve in KwaZulu-Natal province, said he has been granted permission by the US state department to buy the state-of-the-art Arcturus T-20 drone. He is now seeking clearance from local civil aviation authorities to put 30 of the drones in South African skies. He appealed for the US, UK or other countries to help raise the necessary funds." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSaving the rhino with U.S. military surveillance drones

Useless U.S.-Canada train roundtrips exploit U.S. energy program

"A train carrying biodiesel crisscrossed the Canada-US border repeatedly without unloading its cargo, exploiting a loophole in a US green energy program. The EPA mandates that oil companies must bring a certain amount of renewable fuel to the US market. Verdeo retired an equivalent number of credits generated from ethanol production that were worth pennies compared to biodiesel credits that traded as high as one US dollar apiece when it turned the train around. A dozen back-and-forth railway trips across the border reportedly cost Can $2.6 million but would have generated biodiesel credits worth US $12 million." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUseless U.S.-Canada train roundtrips exploit U.S. energy program

Police Raid at Deutsche Bank World Headquarters

"Frankfurt raid at Deutsche Bank: Before the Twin Towers are ten VW team buses and two large Mercedes buses of the Federal Police, in the foyer, five riot police taken a position. Tax inspectors and officials in suits and ties and black arm bands with the word 'police' rush out of the elevator into a conference room. They wear heavy black briefcase, a staff member described the start of the raid as 'martial'. Against five unnamed employees of Deutsche Bank warrants were issued, total is now calculated against 25 bankers. It now not only going to tax evasion, but also to the charge of money laundering." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPolice Raid at Deutsche Bank World Headquarters

Florida woman arrested for riding an endangered manatee

"A Florida woman photographed two months ago riding an endangered manatee in violation of state law was arrested on Saturday on misdemeanor charges, authorities said. The Pinellas County Sheriff's office said deputies arrested Ana Gloria Garcia Gutierrez, 53, without incident at her job at a Sears store in St. Petersburg on a warrant for violating the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act. She admitted the offense claiming 'she is new to the area and did not realize it was against the law to touch or harass manatees,'the office said in a news release." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFlorida woman arrested for riding an endangered manatee

Teenagers arrested for killing neighbor’s turkey with bow and arrow

"19-year-old Joshua Anderson and 18-year-old Jacob Provo were charged with armed burglary, armed trespassing, cruelty to animals and theft of livestock for breaking into Brian and Christa Caponi’s 6-acre property in Gulf Breeze, Florida and using a bow and arrow to kill Tom, a 30-pound turkey the Caponis had owned for about a year. The two young men were allegedly on their way to butcher the animal in preparation for Thanksgiving dinner when they were arrested. They are currently being held on $57,000 bail." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTeenagers arrested for killing neighbor’s turkey with bow and arrow

That dog may cost you $100,000 a day

"Under the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board's draft rules, ordinary homeowners may face six years in prison and fines of $100,000 a day if they are deemed serial offenders of such new crimes as allowing sprinklers to hit the pavement, washing a car in the driveway, or, conceivably, failing to pick up dog poop promptly from their own backyards, let alone the sidewalk. Cities throughout San Diego, south Orange and southwest Riverside counties must enforce the law, and set up 24-hour hot lines for people to report violations by their neighbors." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThat dog may cost you $100,000 a day