Report highlights poor water quality at nation's beaches

Before you wade into the water this summer, you may want to consult the beach water report released Wednesday by the Natural Resources Defense Council.

The report found that the number of closing and health advisory days at America’s ocean, bay and Great Lakes beaches spiked to the second-highest level measured by the NRDC in the past two decades.

Ten beaches with persistently poor water quality are included in the NRDC’s “repeat offender” list. Water samples at these beaches exceeded public health standards more than 25 percent of the time each year between 2006 and 2010:

• California: Avalon Beach in Los Angeles County (3 of 5 monitored sections)
  Avalon Beach – Near Busy B Café
  Avalon Beach – North of GP Pier
  Avalon Beach – South of GP Pier
• California: Cabrillo Beach Station in Los Angeles County
• California: Doheny State Beach in Orange County (2 of 6 monitored sections)
  Doheny State Beach – North of San Juan Creek
  Doheny State Beach – Surf Zone at Outfall
• Florida: Keaton Beach in Taylor County
• bottom photo source

Interactive map: See how 200 popular beaches fared

Swimmers can check the water quality report at their beach on the EPA website. Not all beaches are monitored, and the EPA suggests beachgoers avoid unmonitored spots where the water quality is unknown. The NRDC also has a guide to finding clean beaches on its website.

“Those traveling to beaches from greater distances with beach visitation as their primary purpose may or may not do their research, but those who do will welcome the NRDC and EPA websites," said Michael Blazey, professor of recreation and leisure studies at California State University, Long Beach.

Story source By Harriet Baskas, msnbc.com contributor

Wacky Wednesday: napping at work, painkiller recall, and Russians meeting with aliens in 2031

I was just meditating on your fascinating memo, really

First off, boss, if you are reading this, we NEVER do this.

Secondly, if you are among the more than one-third of the adult U.S. population that gets less than seven hours of sleep a night, you might want to read up.

Lifehacker offers up some tips on how to catch some shuteye at work (and a very pertinent video of George Costanza sleeping under his desk). Among the points covered:

• Use your private office.
• Make use of blinds.
• Wear sunglasses.
• Use your car.
• Use the bathroom.
• What to do if you get caught.
• Ask for permission.                                         image source
• --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More Tylenol Extra Strength pills recalled

Johnson & Johnson on Tuesday announced another Tylenol recall due to a musty moldy odor linked to a trace chemical. The company's McNeil Consumer Healthcare unit is recalling one product lot of Tylenol Extra Strength Caplets made in February 2009 and distributed in the U.S. The recall totals 60,912 bottles, each of which has 225 caplets.

The product lot number for the recalled Tylenol Extra Strength product can be found on the side of the bottle label — it is ABA619 300450444271.

Customers should stop using the product from the lot immediately and contact McNeil at www.tylenol.com or by calling 1-888-222-6036 for instructions on receiving a refund or product coupon.

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Russian scientists expect to meet aliens by 2031

Russian scientists expect humanity to encounter alien civilizations within the next two decades, a top Russian astronomer predicted on Monday.

Speaking at an international forum dedicated to the search for extraterrestrial life, Finkelstein said 10 percent of the known planets circling suns in the galaxy resemble Earth.

If water can be found there, then so can life, he said, adding that aliens would most likely resemble humans with two arms, two legs and a head.

See ya soon. It’s time for me to head on down the road…

Just in time for the 4th of July! Scientists Growing Test-Tube Burger

Where's the beef?

The answer to that classic question may soon be, "It's growing in a test tube."

Dutch scientists estimate that they are about one year away from developing the world's first "test-tube hamburger" made with ground beef grown from stem cells — and they're looking for someone to try it.

"We are trying prove to the world we can make a product out of this, and we need a courageous person who is willing to be the first to taste it," Mark Post, professor of physiology at Maastricht University, who is spearheading the project, told the Daily Mail. "If no one comes forward then it might be me."

To grow the bionic burger, scientists will extract approximately 10,000 stem cells from the tissue of a healthy cow. These cells will then grow in the lab, multiplying by more than a billion times, eventually producing muscle tissue similar to the sample taken from the original cow. The tissue will then be ground and pressed into hamburger patties.

One of the challenges is to create meat that resembles what today's consumers are accustomed to eating. Post's previous attempts at growing pork yielded a texture that he compared to a squishy scallop, the result of its having less protein content than naturally raised meat.

But if they can accurately reproduce the taste and texture of conventional cuts of meat, Post and his team believe they can get the public on board.

"When we are eating a hamburger we don't think, 'I’m eating a dead cow,'" one of Post's colleagues told the Daily Mail. "And when people are already far from what they eat, it's not too hard to see them accepting cultured meat."

So what do you think? Would you be willing to grill up a test tube burger next July 4th?

story source  by Katie Robbins   image source

Sign of the times:Police turn away summer school registration crowd

Budget cuts in California’s school system have become so severe most schools can’t afford to have summer school. This is only the tip of the iceberg. California politicians could care less about our schools, they’re too busy playing political games.

The turnout to sign up for a free summer session of school caught officials off guard. They should have been prepared for this. Just look at the programs already slashed in the state’s education sector to see where political priorities lie. When we have a generation that can’t read or write it’ll be too late to save our future.

Here’s a sign of the times:

“HAWTHORNE, Calif. (AP) - Police have been forced to turn away a huge, unruly crowd that showed up to register Southern California high school students for 400 free summer school slots.

People began arriving at dawn Monday at Hawthorne's Opportunities for Learning Public Charter Schools.

Police Capt. Keith Kauffman says nearly 100 officers from nine law enforcement agencies were called in Monday morning because the number of students and parents swelled to more than 1,000.

They were peacefully dispersed by about 10:30 a.m.

Many budget-strapped school districts have canceled summer school.

Opportunities for Learning Public Charter area supervisor Jesus Franco tells the Torrance Daily Breeze that he was surprised by the huge turnout. Only about 40 people showed up on last year's opening day of registration.”

photo source

Tuesday ramblings: Mickey and Minnie mouse cartoon controversy and other stuff…

Good Morning Humboldt County!

Have you got you coffee or tea? Let’s enjoy warm beverages this morning while taking a look at the madness in the world around us:

Cartoon of bearded Mickey Mouse with Minnie in a veil causes stir in Egypt

Ultraconservative Muslims don’t have a sense of humor.

An Egyptian Christian telecom mogul has angered Islamic hard-liners by posting an online cartoon of Mickey Mouse with a beard and Minnie in a face veil. The ultraconservative Islamists, known as Salafis, called the cartoon posted by Naguib Sawiris on Twitter a mockery of Islam.

 'Anonymous' hackers declare war on Orlando

The hacker group Anonymous on Monday declared war against the city of Orlando, Florida, over the arrest of people handing out food to homeless people, according to a report in The Washington Post.

Anonymous said it would start "a massive campaign" against Orlando and "city web assets."

It said it would send emails to millions of people in 50 countries asking them to boycott the city.

Man completes 300-mile trip on paddleboard

Bart de Zwart expected to be in more pain after paddling 300 miles from the Big Island to Kauai.

"I'm not even sore," he said Monday morning from his Kauai hotel room, where he slept in a bed after arriving to Kalapaki Beach the night before onboard a stand-up paddleboard.

The 41-year-old Maui man spent five days alone at sea attempting what he believes to be the first-ever solo crossing from the Big Island to Kauai on a standup paddleboard. He was headed to a Kauai clinic Monday to have swollen, infected blisters on his feet checked out. Aside from the blisters and losing about six pounds, he said he felt fine.

Thanks for stopping by. Time for me to head on down the road…

Parting shots: Doobie or not doobie? That is the question, Bard...

The end of another day. Here’s a question to take with you: How many famous writers were stoned while composing their masterpieces? Has anyone kept track?

Some think the Bard of Avon was a loadie. A good argument I suppose for blazing a bowl before composing your great American novel. 

“A South African anthropologist has asked permission to open the graves of William Shakespeare and his family to determine, among other things, what killed the Bard and whether his poems and plays may have been composed under the influence of marijuana.”  Story

Ex-Gov. Blagojevich found guilty of corruption charges

I’ve been wondering why Blago’s trial hasn’t been getting the media’s attention like the Casey Anthony trial has. I guess it’s just not sensational enough for a ravening public.

Once upon a time, a story like this – A state governor trying to sell the President’s old Senate seat - would have been considered sensational. But, we’re all so use to corrupt politicians nowadays that this trial barely got a second-glance from anyone.

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said he is disappointed and "stunned" after a jury found him guilty on 17 corruption-related charges, including trying to sell or trade President Barack Obama's old Senate seat.

Blagojevich, who had spent two and a half years professing his innocence on reality TV shows and later on the witness stand, faces an undetermined amount of time in prison.

Late night jokes from Sunday night…

Here’s a humorous roundup from last night’s reigning comedians:

Fallon: Airplane designers are planning a high-speed jet that can go from New York to London in one hour. Seriously? How about a jet that can go from the gate to the runway in one hour?

Leno: NBAs Ron Artest is changing his name to Metta World Peace. Not to be outdone, LeBron James is changing his name to Not Michael Jordan.

Conan: Egypt's military is Facebook polling for the country’s next leader. So, congratulations to Egypt's new leader, President Betty White.
Leno: Newt Gingrich’s campaign staff quit last week. Then his finance staff. He was going to quit the race, but his speechwriter quit too.

Fallon: A new study finds most Americans will have to work into their 70s and 80s to afford retirement. But then they'll have plenty of time to enjoy their golden year.

Letterman: Miss California won the Miss USA contest. Now the race is on to find the naked pictures.

Leno: Hugh Hefner is so depressed over his canceled wedding to Crystal Harris. They found him in the closed garage sitting on his Rascal scooter with the motor running.
Conan: NBC apologizes for deleting the words “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance in its U.S. Open coverage.  NBC is also sorry that Brian Williams ended the Nightly News with “Hail Satan!”Letterman: Rory McIlroy won $1.4 million at the US Open. Congratulations. Once again, the money had to be borrowed from the Chinese Open.

Leno: You probably saw President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner had their big golf match. You know what Obama's handicap is? Joe Biden.

Leno: Interesting political news tonight: Our entire studio audience used to work for Newt Gingrich. Everyone has resigned.

Fallon: Researchers in Brazil have discovered an Amazon tribe that’s never made contact with the outside world. Which can only mean they’re using iPhones.

Leno: Al Gore publicly attacks President Obama for taking no bold action on global warming and not fighting hard enough to pass new legislation in Congress. Then the girl behind the counter said, 'Sir, can you please just pay for your ice cream and go?'

Fallon: Justin Bieber and President Obama both in New York tonight. Traffic gridlock with the most powerful man in the world and right down the street President Obama.

Leno: A new survey says the U.S. is the funniest country in the world and Germany is the least funny. Gee, imagine coming in behind that laugh riot land of Iran.

Conan: Apple founder Steve Jobs plans a new state-of-the-art corporate headquarters. Then in six months he’ll replace it with a slightly thinner headquarters with a crappy camera.

Conan: The Florida Marlins new manager Jack McKeon is 80-years-old. That makes him the oldest man working in baseball and the youngest man working in Florida.

Source

Manic Monday: the Dodgers go bankrupt and other stuff…

Good Morning Humboldt County!

Pull up a chair and have a cup of coffee or team with me as we take a quick glance at what’s happening in the world around us:

The Dodgers file for bankruptcy

A mere three days before the payroll comes due — payroll that Frank McCourt can’t meet — the Dodgers have filed for bankruptcy, reports Richard Sandomir. With that, the legal game begins.

Michael Jackson 'Thriller' jacket sells for $1.8 million

A famed black-and-red calfskin jacket that Michael Jackson wore in the classic "Thriller" video has sold at auction for $1.8 million. I don’t know who these people are that can pay a king’s ransom for stuff like this.

Just a couple days ago the only known existing photo of Billy The Kid sold for $2 million dollars. That’s a lot of cash for just a photo.

We may be in a prolonged recession…but that’s not stopping the super rich from changing their costly collecting habits. This outrageous waste of money is par for the course when your rich and bored.

Nebraska nuclear plant safe despite flooding, officials say

Floodwater seeping into the turbine building at a nuclear power plant near Omaha on the banks of the Missouri River is not a safety risk, officials said Monday.

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Coming Next Sunday in As It Stands – “Oh say Can You See – a Nuclear Free Country?”

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Omaha Public Power District spokesman Jeff Hanson said that seepage was expected at the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station and that pumps were handling the problem.

Flooding remains a concern all along the Missouri because of massive amounts of water the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has released from upstream reservoirs. The river is expected to rise as much as 5 to 7 feet above flood stage in much of Nebraska and Iowa and as much as 10 feet over flood stage in parts of Missouri.

It’s time to get on with the day. Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see you again soon. Time for me to head on down the road…

As It Stands: Why global warming is such a controversial subject

By Dave Stancliff/For The Times-Standard

Posted: 06/26/2011 02:40:17 AM PDT

This year in particular I've heard a lot of talk about global warming because of all the natural disasters world wide. Tsunamis, tornados, volcanoes, earthquakes, record flooding, and record freezing temperatures have been almost biblical in their frequency and destruction.

So what's going on? Some say the Earth is heating up rapidly because of man-made pollution penetrating the ozone. Others say the Earth is just having its natural good and bad cycles (in terms of human habitation).

In fact, a Gallup Poll in March claimed 51 percent of Americans worry about global warming. I'd say that shows how divided we are on this controversial issue.

The idea that mankind could negatively affect the climate by using fossil fuels is not new. The first talk of global warming goes back to 1896. A Swedish scientist, Svante Arrhenius, first suggested the idea. He proposed a direct relationship between carbon dioxide concentrations and temperature.

No one seemed concerned enough about the possible danger to the planet to pursue Arrhenius' research until 70 years later. Scientists showed a renewed interest in the earth's climate in the 1970s and 1980s.

Lead researchers in the early 1970s discovered that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) broke down into elementary chlorine in the presence of UV light emitted by the sun. CFCs were widely used as refrigerants, propellants (in aerosol applications) and solvents.

They also found a single molecule of elementary chlorine could destroy over 100,000 ozone (03) molecules. This discovery led to a worldwide ban on CFCs by the late 1990s (see Ozone Science: The Facts behind the Phaseout).

During this two decade period scientists thought the world was cooling. That theory gave way to the opposite one of global warming in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1988, global governments formed an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

In 1999, Indian climatologist Syed Hasnain speculated that the Himalayan glaciers would “vanish within 40 years as a result of global warming.” Fred Pearce, a reporter for The New Scientist magazine, quoted Hasnain's contention.

 Like a good journalist, Pearce noted that Hasnain cautioned his data was speculative, hadn't been published and wasn't peer reviewed. The interview would have faded into history, but was revived in 2001 when the IPCC used it to show a millennium of relatively stable global-average temperatures followed by a sharp increase in the 20th century.

Apparently ignoring Hasnain's warning that the report wasn't properly vetted, it was cited again in 2005 in a report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The report was a lobbying and fundraising tool.

This misuse of the Hasnain interview opened the door for a faulty foundation to be laid by the IPCC. They took Hasnain's untested speculation without doing any fact checking and ran with it. If they had checked it out, I suspect they never would not have quoted it once more in a 2007 report claiming “glaciers in the Himalayas are receding faster than those in any other part of the world.”

Throw in Climategate, when IPCC emails revealed discussions by leading IPCC scientists about how to exclude dissidents and skeptics from the body's report-writing processes and you can see why so many people don't believe in global warming. Protecting false science didn't give the IPCC much credibility.

Despite some doubtful information, there is also credible information on the effects of fossil fuels on the environment. To read more, I recommend the following: an article “Global Warming” which ran Jan. 13, 2011, in the New York Post; NASA's Earth Observatory website; and ScienceDaily.com.

 Our two-party system is divided over the credibility of global warming caused by fossil fuels. The Republicans feel they have to deny any facts supporting fossil fuel as a cause of global warming to protect Big Oil. The Democrats feel they're hitting the high road because they side with the environmentalist agenda, even though they too have a habit of skipping uncomfortable facts that don't support their contentions.

Whatever you want to call it, the Earth is experiencing drastic changes. Islands sink as sea levels rise. Instead of denying what we know to be true, that ancient glaciers are thawing, and temperatures are rising rapidly in areas that were cooler in recent history, we should unite in an effort to deal with what we can see, and prepare ourselves for climatic changes that surely lie ahead.

As It Stands, I hope the subject will transcend politics someday, and we still have time to take the appropriate actions for future generations.

WEBSITES CARRYING THIS COLUMN:

Doing It Green -

The Daily Jabber

Global Warming Cycles

Earth Global Warming