Darkstar

Bush screws again

U.S. abortion policy closes African clinics, says study - President Bush's antiabortion policy has forced family planning clinics in poor countries to close, leaving some communities without any healthcare, according to a report issued Wednesday. http://www.enn.com/news/2003-09-25/s_8777.asp

How are things in Iraq?

In case you missed this last night. Medea Benjamin (Global Exchange) got to take on Iraq War architect, Richard Pearle last night on The NewsHour. It was quite a showdown.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/middle_east/july-dec03/funding_9-22.html

Nanoscale Iron

Nanoscale iron could help cleanse the environment - An ultrafine, "nanoscale" powder made from iron, one of the most abundant metals on Earth, may turn out to be a remarkably effective tool for cleaning up contaminated soil and groundwater &#151 a trillion-dollar problem that encompasses more than 1,000 still-untreated Superfund sites in the United States, some 150,000 underground storage tank releases, and a staggering number of landfills, abandoned mines, and industrial sites.
http://www.enn.com/news/2003-09-18/s_8429.asp

Parks congress sets 10-year plan to protect planet - The World Parks Congress adopted the Durban Accord and an action plan on protected areas Wednesday, blueprints that environmentalists hope will set the conservation agenda for the next decade.
http://www.enn.com/news/2003-09-18/s_8551.asp

Ozone hole reaches record size, U.N. weather experts say - The ozone hole over the Antarctic this year has reached the record size of 10.8 million square miles set three years ago, the United Nations' weather organization said Wednesday.
http://www.enn.com/news/2003-09-18/s_8556.asp

Don't touch that cleaner!

Most of us use toxic chemicals in everyday life. Sometimes we are aware of it, particularly when we use internal combusion engines. Sometimes not. Many actions which appear to be harmless actually involve the use of harmful chemicals.

Some of these chemicals find their way to the ocean through direct contact, some through storm drains, and some escape through poor or even the best available sewage treatment. Instead of using the harmful stuff, look to the following alternatives that will curtail the destruction of the environment.

Then tell your neighbors and friends. Spread the word, about these substitutes and other simple tips on helping the environment.

Chemical-based Wax Remover
Petroleum-based removers transport toxins directly to the air, soil, and groundwater when applied to a surfboard. Instead, just leave your board in the sun and scrape off the wax with a wax comb . Then dispose of the wax in the trash instead of leaving it to gunk up the ground.

Glass and Window Cleaner
Most of these products are ammonia-based. You can use a mixture of white vinegar and water instead to clean glass and windows. No nasty smell, and works just as well.

Drain Cleaner
Instead of pouring toxins directly down your drain, unclog your drains with a plunger or metal snake .

Ant and Roach Killer
For roaches, us a mixture of baking soda and powdered sugar. For ants, use red chili powder or cream of tartar .

Oven Cleaner
Scour your oven with baking soda. If your oven has a spill, sprinkle salt on it while still warm and then clean by hand. Self-cleaning ovens save effort and don't require cleaners as well, but use up energy.

Ammonia
Check labels of cleaning products for this compound. Instead of cleaning with ammonia, you can use dissolved baking soda or a dilute mixture of white vinegar and water .

Chlorine Bleach
Chlorine is highly reactive and toxic. And it smells terrible. Instead, substitute white vinegar or baking soda for the bleach.

Household Disinfectant
Use a dilute mixture of rubbing alcohol and water .

Insecticides
Spray the leaves of your plants with mild, soapy water, and then rinse.

Snail and Slug Poisons
These are poisons. What do they do when they go into the water table or the ocean? Instead, just set a pan of beer in the infected area.

Flea Collar
Treat your pet with herbal ointment or brewer's yeast instead.

On Bush

ON TAX CUTS:
George Bush: "The tax relief is for everyone who pays income taxes...Americans will keep, this year, an average of almost $1,000 more of their own money."
The Truth: Nearly half of all taxpayers get less than $100. And 31% of all taxpayers get nothing at all.
ON JOBS:
George Bush: "Our first goal is...an economy that grows fast enough to employ every man and woman who seeks a job."
The Truth: Bush is the first President since Hoover to preside over an economy that has lost jobs, not created them - more than 2.9 million since 2001.
ON THE ENVIRONMENT:
George Bush: "[My] Clear Skies legislation...mandates a 70% cut in air pollution from power plants over the next 15 years."
The Truth: The Bush plan will allow more than 100,000 additional premature deaths by 2020 than alternative legislation developed by the Environmental Protection Agency. The plan does not regulate carbon emissions and allows far more sulfur and mercury emissions.
ON EDUCATION:
George Bush: "[W]e achieved historic education reform - which must now be carried out in every school and in every classroom."
The Truth: Bush cut $8 billion from the promised funds for education.

Off to Cancun

Off to Cancun, Mexico for a couple of days to attend the CBD (Convention of Biological Diversity) meeting in conjunction with the WTO meeting. We are talking invasives in world trade and such. Should be a good opportunity to discuss some high level strategies for controlling the spread of invasive species through pathways of trade.

Does Bush know how many people have died in Iraq?

White House Press Briefing with Scott McClellan
Tuesday, September 2, 2003 - 12:30 PM
by Russell Mokhiber
Mokhiber: Scott, Does the President know how many
people have been killed and wounded in Iraq since the
beginning of the war?
McClellan: Those numbers are made available, publicly.
Mokhiber: Does the President know how many --
McClellan: He's very well aware of the sacrifices that
are made in Iraq.
Mokhiber: Well, how many -- how many people have been
killed in Iraq? Not just Americans -- total people
killed and wounded in Iraq since the beginning of the
war?
McClellan: Russell, I don't have those numbers.
Mokhiber: Does the President know?
McClellan: Russell, I think that --
Mokhiber: Are they available?
McClellan: I'm sorry?
Mokhiber: Are they available?
McClellan: I don't know that you can keep track of all
the numbers. I mean those are issues you need to
address to the coalition provisional authority
Mokhiber: Do you know whether the President knows --
McClellan:: Or, I'm sorry, the Central Command.
Mokhiber: Does the President know how many people have
been killed
McClellan: The President knows that what we are doing
in Iraq is central to winning the war on terrorism.
Mokhiber: That wasn't my question.
McClellan:: It is central --
Mokhiber: Does he know how many people have been
killed and wounded?
McClellan: It is central to bringing about --
Mokhiber: I know that. But does he know how many --
McClellan: -- a more peaceful and more secure --
Mokhiber: -- have been killed and wounded.
McClellan: -- which means a safer world.
Mokhiber: That's not the question, Scott. The question
I had was, does the President know how many --
McClellan: Again, I've answered the question. I told
you he's well aware of the sacrifices that our troops
have made and the sacrifices that their families are
making with our troops over there in Iraq.

Open source text area WYSIWYG HTML editor

HTML Area is an open source HTML editor that can be used in place of a text area. Looks pretty cool. I might try to see if it can be adapted for Movable Type since the current HTML editor only works on IE.

Help Google understand your site

Help the Googlebot understand your web site is a succinct and understandable guide to optimizing your web pages from maximum Google-friendliness.

Phish Phans Smell

An amusing article in the onion about Phish phans and their stench.