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Smut for Smut Campaign - Trade Your Bible for Some Free Porn

katie — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:38:13 +0000

Low-Oxygen Zones Growing in the Oceans

katie — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:32:20 +0000

Lower levels of oxygen in the Earth’s oceans, particularly off the United States’ Pacific Northwest coast, could be another sign of fundamental changes linked to global climate change, scientists say.

They warn that the oceans’ complex undersea ecosystems and fragile food chains could be disrupted.

In some spots off Washington state and Oregon , the almost complete absence of oxygen has left piles of Dungeness crab carcasses littering the ocean floor, killed off 25-year-old sea stars, crippled colonies of sea anemones and produced mats of potentially noxious bacteria that thrive in such conditions.

Areas of hypoxia, or low oxygen, have long existed in the deep ocean. These areas — in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans — appear to be spreading, however, covering more square miles, creeping toward the surface and in some places, such as the Pacific Northwest , encroaching on the continental shelf within sight of the coastline.

“The depletion of oxygen levels in all three oceans is striking,” said Gregory Johnson , an oceanographer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Seattle .

In some spots, such as off the Southern California coast, oxygen levels have dropped roughly 20 percent over the past 25 years. Elsewhere, scientists say, oxygen levels might have declined by one-third over 50 years.

“The real surprise is how this has become the new norm,” said Jack Barth , an oceanography professor at Oregon State University . “We are seeing it year after year.”

Barth and others say the changes are consistent with current climate-change models. Previous studies have found that the oceans are becoming more acidic as they absorb more carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

“If the Earth continues to warm, the expectation is we will have lower and lower oxygen levels,” said Francis Chan , a marine researcher at Oregon State .
Read more at Yahoo News

Red Light Cameras: The Facts They Don’t Want You To Know

katie — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:24:21 +0000

Big Brother Is Watching You
Here is Florida House Bill 325. From what I see on the state website, it appears that this Tuesday, March 9th from 9-12am the bill will be discussed in Morris Hall. (I could be wrong, please let me know if you find anything different) If this passes, the state will now be able to collect revenue off RLC fines. AND….i…f you have an unpaid Red Light Tickets, you won’t be able to get a new tag or renew your registration until it’s paid.

A few things the bill says and doesn’t say:

It says: 110 Cities 20 states currently use RLC’s (wikipedia says 400 cities, 26 in Florida)

Doesn’t say: Atleast 5 states have ruled RLC’s illegal and banned them, with many more considering a ban.

It says: “It is possible that the volume of rear end collisions will decline as drivers get used to the idea that the vehicle in front of them will stop at a red light” (seriously?)

Doesn’t Say: “It is possible that the volume of rear end collisions will INCREASE as more cameras are installed or that once more citizens get tickets, more people as a whole may hit the brakes at the last second.”

It says: “According to DHSMV, in 2008 76 deaths were caused by disregarding a traffic signal in Florida, representing 3% of traffic fatalities”

Doesn’t say: “In Lakeland, Florida alone during the first 266 days the cameras were installed at only 5 locations, Lakeland averaged over 80 tickets per day” Given Florida has 67 counties, this is just over 1 death per county per year, yet our 100,000 population city is tossing out more tickets per day than deaths in the entire state for a year!

It says: “During the 2008 legislative session a bill similar to 325 provided that local governments receive $30 per violation instead of $75 allowed by 325. The Florida League of cities noted at the time that capital and maintenance are significant and there are few if any vendors that would provide the systems at this price.”

Doesn’t say: “That most companies will install the camera systems completely free, for a cut of the ticket revenue. In Lakeland, each day the city needs more than 9 tickets to make any revenue. Those first 9 tickets go directly to ATS, the camera company. Since we get an average of 80 per day here, the price could decrease and still be very very profitable, esp if more cameras are installed in time.

It says: “The bill provides a grandfather clause for a period of 1 year for areas already using RLC’s and validates their actions in using them as is for the year after the bill is passed”

Doesn’t say: “Before this law bill was proposed, according to state statue 316 and 318, an officer must witness the infraction and they haven’t. And that at least 26 Florida cities installed the cameras by creating their own city ordinances as a loophole to get around the state law.”

More fun facts: Lakeland can’t issue a ticket to someone from out of state or who does not own property or a vehicle in the state.(can’t find my source, but read this the other day) This means the law is not treating everyone who runs red lights in our town equally to start.

If you get a red light ticket from an officer, you’d get points on your license and a higher fine no doubt. Would you have a lien put on your car or house, though?

Lakeland voted unanimously to install these cameras knowing that the Gov, attorney general and statues stated it was unethical. Remember this during our next election. We don’t need anyone in local, state or big boy government who looks for these types of loopholes to tax its citizens during an economy in our current condition.

And finally: In cities such as Lakeland, cameras currently can’t be placed at intersections that have state or federal highway designations. Meaning that the 80 tickets per day we get now, don’t come from the busiest or most dangerous intersections in Lakeland (wasn’t safety the main goal?). If this bill is passed, the number of tickets could double or even triple as cameras are installed at these intersections in time.

We have approx 400 cities in Florida. The largest, Jacksonville, has not installed any cameras to date. Lakeland will issue 3-4 million dollars in RLC tickets on its current pace for the year. As stated above, this could increase for many reasons in every city in the near future. If only 300 cities brought in 4 million a year, (or they all averaged out to 4 million, once many more cameras are installed in larger cities.) the citizens of Florida would pay approx 1.2 billion dollars a year in RLC fees. 75% or more for right on red turns, with large % of the money going to the camera companies and state under this bill.

Florida has 19 million residents and one of the largest tourism income of any state. To charge the residents a billion dollars a year to attempt to save 76 lives is absurd. We all want safer roads and feel for innocent people who are harmed by reckless driving but 76 fatalities in 2008 seems pretty low considering the amount of people on the roads everyday in Florida. There’s always going to be the people who run a red light on accident or not and we simple can’t prevent them all.

Please write your state senators and house members today/tomorrow and let them know how you feel. Laws are rarely overturned, esp. ones that make this amount of money. States like Minnesota were forced to refund 2.6 million dollars in RLC fines when their supreme court ruled them illegal a year ago.

Favorite Sunday Secrets 03/07/10

katie — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:34:50 +0000

PostSecret

Tax Breaks for Good Grades

katie — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 01:15:43 +0000

Our government seems to be handing money out on a regular basis, to conglomerate corporations that, by law, should have been allowed to go out business for making bad investments. It has handed money out to financial institutions that have vortexed our global economy into chaos. It is even handing money out to first-time homebuyers who could potentially foreclose on these new investments, despite the handout - note that the tax monies then revert back to the banks. But what about public education? The people who are responsible for preparing students who will someday take over our world are being severely financially neglected. Even as recently as today on CNN, riots are breaking out all over the country in response to continuous and savage decimation of public education funding.

The world bleeds green. So let’s tie education to something that people actually still care about: money. What if the government uses some of that “surplus stimulus” money to give parents a tax break if their student scores over a certain grade point average or passes or demonstrates growth on a standardized test? Suddenly, school becomes a priority again.

As it is, teachers are already liable for their students’ test scores, so no added pressure here; if anything, this idea would alleviate some of the stress that teachers are constantly under - someone else besides the teacher would then be responsible for the students’ test scores and grades. Makes perfect sense to me.

Bill Maher on Larry King

katie — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:17:40 +0000

Human Barbie Now Ruining Her Daughter’s Childhood As Well As Her Own Dignity

katie — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:01:17 +0000

Face value: Sarah Burge, who has had more than 150 cosmetic procedures, administers Botox to her sixteen-year-old daughter, Hannah

Hannah, now 16, had her first dose while on a family holiday in Marbella, Spain, last May, with her mother’s consent. Since then the schoolgirl has had two more Botox injections at home with Miss Burge, 49, who is a trained aesthetic practitioner.

She uses the same Botox on her daughter that she uses on herself. The only concession she makes for Hannah’s age is to give her half the usual dosage given to adults.

Hannah believes the toxin – which she calls “B” – will stop her developing wrinkles in the future.

She said: ‘I wanted to have Botox for two reasons: It prevents wrinkles and everyone at my school was talking about having B. I had a couple of lines on my forehead and around my mouth, which I was unhappy about. Appearance is important to me and I don’t want to look haggard and ugly by the time I’m 25. Some of my friends told me that the earlier you start to have B, the fewer wrinkles you’ll have as an adult.’

Hannah, of St Neots, Cambridgeshire, has heard of girls having Botox at 16 but believes she is the youngest to start. She now wants her mother to give her lip fillers for a fuller pout.

She said: ‘I’ve met plenty of girls my age who are having these procedures behind their parents’ backs, which I think is pretty dangerous. With (my mother’s) help, I won’t get that frozen-face look when I’m older and will never have a line or wrinkle on my face.’

Her mother, who has been married three times, regularly uses Botox herself, and has had her nose made smaller, her cheekbones made bigger, her breasts lifted, and the fat sucked from her face among other procedures.

She said: ‘I was thrilled Hannah was open and honest with me about having Botox’

Botox is the trade name for botulinum toxin, a bacteria which causes muscle paralysis lasting for up to four months.

Claude Knights, director of Kidscape, said: ‘To be using Botox at such a young age is of concern.

‘She is terribly young, this is encouraging her to value herself purely on how she looks, she is not getting a chance to develop her character.’

Fazel Fatah, president-elect of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, said that Botox should be administered only by a professional in sterile conditions.

He said: ‘Excessive Botox can cause facial weakness or paralysis, and double vision, if injected incorrectly near the eye area.’
dailymail.co.uk

Ancient Etruscan Prince’s Palace Discovered

katie — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 13:27:33 +0000

The palace was found at the site where, according to legend, Romulus and Remus were educated.

The remains of what might have been the residence of the Etruscan prince Sextus Tarquinius, son of the last legendary king of Rome Tarquinius Superbus (Tarquin the Proud), have been found on the slopes of an extinct volcanic crater about 12 miles from Rome, Italian archaeologists have announced.

The palace was discovered on the site of the ancient acropolis of Gabii, where, according to legend, Rome’s mythical founders, Romulus and Remus, were educated. The building dates to the sixth century B.C and boasts the highest intact walls from the period ever found in Italy, standing at around 6.56 feet high.

“The dig has shown that the richly decorated monumental roof was dismantled, and the building filled with rubble. This has been a blessing, since it has allowed the palace to remain virtually intact,” archaeologist Marco Fabbri of Rome’s Tor Vergata University, told Discovery News.

Fabbri and colleagues from Rome’s Archaeological Superintendency believe that the residence was furiously demolished, probably during the Roman revolt in 510 B.C. that ultimately led to the foundation of the Roman Republic.
Read the rest of the article at Discovery News.

Ancient Bible Manuscript Pieces to be Reunited

katie — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 13:19:51 +0000

The manuscript fragments existed separately and with their relationship unknown, until a news photograph of one’s public unveiling in 2007 caught the attention of the scholars who would eventually link them.

Two parts of an ancient biblical manuscript separated across centuries and continents were reunited for the first time in a joint display Friday, thanks to an accidental discovery that is helping illuminate a dark period in the history of the Hebrew Bible.

The 1,300-year-old fragments, which are among only a handful of Hebrew biblical manuscripts known to have survived the era in which they were written, existed separately and with their relationship unknown, until a news photograph of one’s public unveiling in 2007 caught the attention of the scholars who would eventually link them.

Together, they make up the text of the Song of the Sea, sung by jubilant Israelites after fleeing slavery in Egypt and witnessing the destruction of the pharaoh’s armies in the Red Sea.

“The enemy said: ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil. My lust shall be satisfied upon them, I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them,’” reads the song, which appears in the Book of Exodus. “Thou didst blow thy wind, the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters.”

An exhibit at Israel’s national museum dedicated to the Song of the Sea is now bringing together the two long-separated pieces.
Read the rest of the article at Discovery News.

When Visiting the Loire Valley, Do Not Miss…

katie — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 13:13:37 +0000

Fulfilling any childhood fantasy of being royalty might be easier than you think with a trip to a few spectacular Chateaux in France.

Chateau Chambord

Hidden in the center of a forest is the Chateau Chambord. If you close your eyes for a moment and envision what your idea might be for a house only occupied for the occasional nights stay or whose primary use would be as a hunting lodge – a castle with 440 rooms, 84 staircases, and 365 fireplaces would certainly not be what most people would have in mind. Yet, this was the structure that filled the desires of King Francois I. For a hunting lodge, it is the largest Chateau in the Loire Valley.

At its center you will find a double spiral staircase that was said to be designed by Leonardo da Vinci. It has passed through a variety of owners ending with the Count of Paris before it was eventually purchased by the French government and turned into the attraction it is for visitors today.

Chateau d’ Usse

Another notable chateau, found in the beautiful Loire Valley, has served as the inspiration for more than one princess story. This castle is literally a fairytale come to life. Its image served as inspiration and sparked an idea for the writer Charles Perrault. The basis for his story Sleeping Beauty can be linked back to the blue slate roof and gothic turrets of the Chateau d’ Usse.

It has been appropriately nicknamed the castle of dreams. It was originally intended to serve as a fortress, but for many it has become the ultimate symbol of a fairytale. Its design was even adopted by Walt Disney and can be seen replicated in his famous Cinderella Castle.

Chateau Villandry

Here it is not the beauty of the chateau’s design that draws people to what is known as one of the most visited castles in France, but the gardens surrounding it. Villandry was built in the 16th century near the Cher River. While the chateau itself is certainly impressive, its French mosaic gardens are the main draw. You can experience what is truly the finest example of formal Renaissance gardens in France. This is a place that anyone with even the slightest tinge of a green thumb could admire and appreciate.

Chateau Chaumont

Chaumont holds the title of being one of the oldest chateau’s in the Loire Valley. Built in the 10^th century, it was the one-time home to Catherine de Medici, the queen of France and wife of Henry II. Eventually she was able to switch residences with his mistress in favor of a grander style, but this castle certainly has its charm. It is now owned by the French government and serves primarily as a museum.

Its English style gardens play host to the Festival des Jardins, which lasts from June to mid-October. This unique festival allows for the true creativity of individuals to come alive as they are challenged by a unique theme each year. This past year it was “gardens of color” and previous years it has been “at play in the garden” and even “movement”. Since the gardens are constantly changing, the festival provides just another reason to return annually for a visit.

Chateau Versailles

Any list of chateaux in France would not be complete without including the palace at Versailles. I realize that most people are aware of Versailles and its beauty, but there could be no justification in creating a list without including it. It is easily one of the most widely known palaces in the world. This was a residence literally created for the Gods. Much like Chateau Chambord it began as a hunting lodge for Louis XIII.

Over the years it has been updated and expanded upon to achieve the splendor we recognize it for today. Within the palace walls you will find 700 rooms, 67 staircases, and over 2,000 windows. Visiting this national museum of history, a true testament to what architecture, wealth, and design can achieve, would be the perfect conclusion to any French Chateaux traveling experience.
See more at mymelange.net.