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30 Mar 2011 01:15

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U.S.: Virginia Tech nailed for poor handling of 2007 massacre

  • $55,000 fine for blowing the response source
  • » Why the fine? SImple explanation. Despite the fact that the university knew about the slayings of two students in a dorm room, it took them 2 hours and 15 minutes to warn people what was going on — a requirement under the Clery Act. Shooter Seung-Hui Cho attacked a lecture hall 2 hours and 30 minutes after the initial killings — attacks which were much deadlier. To put it simply, they could have saved lives if warnings were put out sooner.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

29 Mar 2011 20:25

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U.S.: Wisconsin: Judge blocks collective bargaining law once again

  • then Wisconsin-based Judge Maryann Sumi ruled a couple of weeks ago that the just-passed anti-collective bargaining law couldn’t be implemented for procedural reasons. Scott Walker continued to implement it anyway.
  • now Judge Maryann Sumi has ruled again, saying that Secretary of State Doug La Follette can’t do anything to allow the law to take effect. Walker’s folks tried to get around him. With the latest order, they pretty much failed. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

29 Mar 2011 12:46

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U.S.: From the chamber: Senator Dick Durbin’s Muslim rights hearing

  • …it is incumbent upon all Americans who love this nation and the values our Constitution protects to make it clear to defend the civil rights of our Muslim neighbors are as important as the rights of Christians, Jews and non-believers.
  • Senator Dick Durbin • On his Senate hearings on anti-Muslim discrimination, broadly viewed as a counter-weight to Rep. Peter King’s hearings on radicalized Islam in the House. For what it’s worth, King’s anti-terrorism zeal wasn’t beyond the scope of his responsibility, nor could it not have been handled tastefully as a hearing on terrorism writ large. The standard of tacitly condemning an entire community for the actions of the very few, however, was and is unpleasant, and its given Durbin a chance to shine some light in the other direction. Also, isn’t it cool that non-believers get a shout out, too? The first time we can recall that was during  Obama’s inauguration, and it’s a welcome and overdue addition to the public discourse on faith. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 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

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

26 Mar 2011 11:57

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U.S.: VIDEO: The end of a dramatic hostage situation in Georgia

  • How a dramatic standoff ended: Jamie Hood, 33, was on the run from police in Athens, Georgia, suspected in the killing of a cop and the shooting of another on Tuesday. (They were trying to arrest him in a carjacking.) Eventually, Hood took a number of hostages — whom he reportedly knew — in an hours-long standoff. Here’s the end of he standoff. Dramatic. But on the plus side, nobody was hurt and Hood turned himself in peacefully. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

25 Mar 2011 20:59

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U.S.: Protip: Convicted murderers should listen to their lawyers in court

  • The only reason she was shot four times is because the gun jammed. Otherwise I would have emptied the gun in her f— head.
  • Convicted Louisiana murderer Isaiah Doyle • Taking the stand during the penalty phase of his murder trial against the advice of his lawyers.  During his statements, he threatened to kill THE JURY. THE JURY. He was convicted on Thursday of first-degree murder in the killing of store clerk Hwa Lee. As you might guess from his tone, he showed no remorse for his actions. (via @putneydm) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

25 Mar 2011 12:33

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U.S.: Yikes: This billionaire dude is facing child sexual assault charges

  • Meet Samuel Curtis Johnson, right. Do us a favor and initialize his first and middle name, and then add the word “Wax” after Johnson. As you might have noticed, he’s a billionaire heir to a family that founded a major cleaning-supplies company. For a while, he was the Chairman of a spinoff company, Diversey Inc. (He hasn’t had a formal relationship with his namesake company in years.) Now, the 55-year-old man is in a lot of trouble – charged with having repeatedly sexually assaulted a child, now 15. He could face 40 years in prison if convicted. A terrible, awful story — that it involves a billionaire is the least of the problems here. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 Mar 2011 13:59

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U.S.: NRC findings on nuclear regulation is stomach churning

  • 28% of nuclear plants don’t report equipment defect source
  • » Loopholes in all the wrong places: So, here’s the deal. A report by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission landed on that rather startling percentage you see above. The reason, it seems, is that the law relating to nuclear regulation states both that they need to report defects that can cause a loss of safety function, and that they need only to report actual losses of safety function. The NRC didn’t downplay the implications of this, saying “a substantial safety hazard” could arise as a result of these failures in disclosure. As it seems to bear mentioning, we’ll reiterate a humble plea: quit skimping on nuclear safety, and yes, regulation. The industry’s great job in recent years polishing up their image is being betrayed by what we’re now learning about some of the rot that lies beneath.
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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