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28 Mar 2011 12:46

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World: A grim mark: China ranked as 2010’s world leader in executions

  • Crime and punishment in China: Amnesty International claimed yesterday that while the exact number is guarded as a state secret, they believe thousands of people were executed in the China last year, more than every other country combined. While China has maintained they’ve taken steps to lower their rate of execution, such as mandatory review of all death penalty cases since 2007, Amnesty International says they’ve still been executing people for “a wide range of crimes that include nonviolent offences and after proceedings that did not meet international fair trial standards.” source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Mar 2011 11:16

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World: Yemen protests: Terrible explosions at bullet factory kill dozens

  • action A number of militants of the Yemeni town of Jaar in Abyan province, fighting against the army, raided a bullet factory in an attempt to steal ammuniton. (Al-Qaeda is strong in this region, by the way.)
  • result Explosions occurred, possibly caused by a cigarette, killing at least 110. “There are so many burned bodies,” said one doctor on the scene. “I can’t even describe the situation.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Mar 2011 10:47

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Politics: VIDEO: Scott Walker pranker Ian Murphy’s crazy campaign ad

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Mar 2011 10:34

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U.S.: Protip: Don’t hang out in the reptile house of the Bronx Zoo

  • Has anyone seen an Egyptian Cobra? The Bronx Zoo says that a poisonous Egyptian Cobra has disappeared from his cage, which (as you might guess) has some a little concerned. They don’t think he’s gone far, though. “Based on our knowledge of the natural history and behavior of snakes, we know they seek closed-in spaces and are not comfortable in open areas,” a statement from the zoo says. So, they’ve closed the Reptile House, assuming the snake’s in there. If they’re wrong? Well, then, that bites. (photo via edenpictures) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Mar 2011 09:53

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World: TEPCO spokesperson: Highly-radioactive water found in trench

  • The trench is located outside the building and the water contains radioactive materials. There is normally no water found in this area so it is difficult to compare this to normal levels.
  • TEPCO spokesperson Hiro Hasegawa • Discussing the finding of highly-radioactive water inside of a trench, outside of the Fukushima No. 2 reactor. The level matches the 1,000 millisievert level found inside the No. 2 reactor yesterday. “But we do not believe it is leaking into the ocean,” Hasegawa continued. “We are now working out where the cause of the leak is and finding ways to remove the water as soon as possible.”  source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

27 Mar 2011 21:17

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U.S.: Don’t freak out: Increased radiation found in Massachusetts rainwater

  • The drinking water supply in Massachusetts is unaffected by this short-term, slight elevation in radiation.
  • Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach • Discussing the “OMG OMG WE GONNA DIE” revelation that there is radiation in some Massachusetts rainwater resulting from the Fukushima crisis. Friends, this is not Chernobyl. Ain’t nothing to be afraid of. Auerbach knows the deal. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

27 Mar 2011 21:03

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U.S.: Tuberculosis cases reach their lowest level ever in the U.S.

  • 11,181 total number of tuberculosis cases found in the U.S. in 2010
  • 3.9% the decline in that number from 2009 — an already low year
  • 3.6 number of cases of TB per 100,000 people — it’s almost beat source
  • » Some clouds on that silver lining: While levels are at their lowest in recorded history, officials hoped to have killed TB for good in the U.S. by 2010, by having less than 1 case per 100,000 people. “The rate we have now is 36 times higher than that,” said Dr. Kenneth G. Castro, who is in charge of the CDC’s tuberculosis-defeating efforts. And certain groups — particularly minorities, AIDS sufferers and immigrants from other countries — are much more susceptible to TB. Over time, some strains of tuberculosis have gotten more resistant, too.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

27 Mar 2011 12:23

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World: The “Fukushima Fifty” comes forward with a harrowing story

  • It was just pitch black. It was the middle of the night and all we had to see with were our own head torches. We could see smoke and vapour coming up from the reactor. Everything else had failed, so they called us in to pump seawater to try to cool the thing. We don’t even work for the government, but for the city of Tokyo. They were desperate. They must have been on their last legs.
  • Fukushima crew leader Kazuhiko Fukudome • Describing what he saw as a member of the “Fukushima Fifty.” Fukudome was tracked down by The Daily Telegraph, who got the first interview with the once-anonymous crew of workers. We recommend you read the whole thing, but we’re sure you will after you read Fukudome’s description of the inside of the plant: “It was far worse than I expected. Everything was covered in rubble,” he said. Harrowing. (via Josh Sternberg) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

27 Mar 2011 12:04

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World: TEPCO corrections: Not “10 million times” normal level, “100,000 times”

  • errors As you might have noticed earlier today, TEPCO reported a level of radiation that was insanely high — 10 million times the usual level — coming from the water at a Fukushima reactor. This was very wrong, so much so that we took down our posts about this.
  • correctionsTEPCO apologized — while noting the amount was a still-very-high 100,000 times its normal level. “I am very sorry,” said TEPCO’s vice president, Sakae Muto. “I would like to make sure that such a mistake will not happen again.” Good apology, Muto. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

27 Mar 2011 11:35

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Politics: Oh boy: Wisconsin’s Secretary of State sits on his hands

  • It’s still an act of the Legislature that has not yet become law because I have not yet designated a publication date.
  • Wisconsin Secretary of State Doug La Follette • Saying that the Wisconsin collective bargaining thing isn’t law because he hasn’t yet published the law in the official state newspaper, the Wisconsin State Journal. Scott Walker and his boys disagree, and the Department of Administration plans to work as if La Follette’s words and actions didn’t really mean anything, but we have to admit it’s fun watching yet another twist in this freaking mess. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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