INTERESTING: A “dry” Las Vegas

Thursday, July 3, 2014

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/10932785/The-race-to-stop-Las-Vegas-from-running-dry.html

The race to stop Las Vegas from running dry

Amid a brutal drought the reservoir that supplies 90 per cent of Las Vegas’s water is fast disappearing and desperate attempts to save Sin City are under way

Lake Mead: boaters seen in front of a white
Lake Mead: boaters seen in front of a white “bathtub ring” on the rocks on the upstream side of the Hoover Dam Photo: Getty

By Nick Allen, Las Vegas4:11PM BST 28 Jun 2014

*** begin quote ***

Outside Las Vegas’s Bellagio hotel tourists gasp in amazement as fountains shoot 500ft into the air, performing a spectacular dance in time to the music of Frank Sinatra.

Gondolas ferry honeymooners around canals modelled on those of Venice, Roman-themed swimming pools stretch for acres, and thousands of sprinklers keep golf courses lush in the middle of the desert.

But, as with many things in Sin City, the apparently endless supply of water is an illusion. America’s most decadent destination has been engaged in a potentially catastrophic gamble with nature and now, 14 years into a devastating drought, it is on the verge of losing it all.

*** end quote ***

I remember visiting Lake Mead when the “bath tub ring” was first appearing.

I say to my bride: “There is what happens when no one person owns the water. A private business would raise the prices to equilibrium. Selling exactly as much water — or pretty close to exactly — as is replenished. And cheap people would conserve.”

So true then. So true now.

The “tragedy of the commons” demonstrated.

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INTERESTING: Standing up for three hours a day

Saturday, June 21, 2014

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/stand-up-for-three-hours-and-live-two-years-longer-says-top-uk-medical-consultant-9552467.html

*** begin quote ***

A leading UK sports consultant has said that the public should be encouraged to do more “low-level” exercise and that standing up for three hours a day can extend life span by two years.

Dr Mike Loosemore, head of the Institute of Sport Exercise and Health at University College London, said: “There is now enormous evidence that simply standing makes huge differences to your health.”

“Low-level activity, even regularly getting off your seat, can change your life forever,” said Dr Loosemore, writing for the BBC. “Active individuals reduce their risk of heart disease by 40% against their inactive counterparts.”

*** end quote ***

I think I’ll try this at work.

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INTERESTING: What’s Shabbos Elevator?

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/06/sabbath-elevator-object-lesson/372741/

Working Around God: Technology, the Pace of Life, and the Shabbos Elevator
Theology and technology in New York City’s elevators
DOMINIC PETTMANJUN 14 2014, 7:00 AM ET

*** begin quote ***

Why the hold up? I live in a historically Jewish building in New York City. On most days, its two elevators service each section of this rather monolithic structure—just enough to keep up with the flow of residents going up and down. But come Friday evening, one of the cars is switched into Shabbos mode, meaning that it stops at every single floor automatically, backing the tenants up like resentful clogs in beige-yellow arteries. It does so for religious reasons, since many observant Jews avoid pressing electric buttons on Shabbat.

*** end quote ***

Despite growing up in mixed ethnic NYC neighborhood, I never heard of such a thing.

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INTERESTING: Unfair competition?

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

http://news.yahoo.com/california-chrome-co-owner-rips-triple-crown-rules-011737855–rah.html

California Chrome co-owner rips Triple Crown rules
Reuters
By Larry Fine

*** begin quote ***

“If you’ve got a horse that earns points to run in the Kentucky Derby, those 20 horses that start the Kentucky are the only 20 eligible to run in all three races,” he said.

“This is the coward’s way out.”

Belmont runner-up Commissioner, who lost by a head, also did not run the first two Triple Crown races, and third-placed Medal Count skipped the Preakness after finishing eighth in the Derby.

Only three horses in the 11-horse field ran the entire Triple Crown series, including Ride On Curlin’, who finished dead last at Belmont.

*** end quote ***

Interesting, so they other owners “game” the system.

I’m sure that there is money as a motivation.

Guess they have to make better “rules”.

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INTERESTING: DNA Sequencing Diagnoses

Monday, June 9, 2014

http://www.popsci.com/article/science/dna-sequencing-diagnoses-boys-mysterious-bacterial-disease

DNA Sequencing Diagnoses Boy’s Mysterious Bacterial Disease
This is the first time doctors have used DNA sequencing for emergency diagnosis and treatment.
By Francie Diep Posted 06.06.2014 at 4:00 pm

*** begin quote ***

In this case, 14-year-old Joshua Osborn fell seriously ill in the summer of 2013. Fluid collected in his brain and he had serious seizures. Yet all of the tests doctors gave him didn’t found any traces of fungi, bacteria or viruses, the doctors reported in The New England Journal of Medicine. So the doctors asked Osborn’s parents’ permission to try an experimental DNA test.

The test looked for bits of genetic material of illness-causing microbes in samples taken from Osborn’s blood and spinal fluid. This contrasts to the medical genetic testing most people are familiar with, in which scientists search for genetic problems in a person’s own DNA. In Osborn’s case, doctors were looking for bits of DNA from foreign critters. The international team that developed the test published a paper about it this week.

Two days after scientists received Osborn’s samples, they had a diagnosis: leptospira, a type of bacteria that only rarely causes the symptoms Osborn was suffering. The boy’s doctors decided to treat him with penicillin. He recovered gradually over the next seven days, his doctors reported.

*** end quote ***

Now we are getting somewhere!

Hate to think of what it cost, but WOW! What results!!!

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INTERESTING: Unintended consequences

Monday, June 2, 2014

I was in the Turnpike bar and I heard the owner describe why they did away with running a tab.

The smoking ban!

They’d have people run a tab and, then say they were going out for a smoke, never to come back.

An interesting application of the “Law of Unintended Consequences”

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INSPIRATIONAL: Hippo poo?

Friday, May 30, 2014

http://www.popsci.com/article/science/robo-boats-disguised-crocodiles-sneakily-study-hippo-poo

Robo-Boats Disguised As Crocodiles Sneakily Study Hippo Poo
Nothing to see here, hippo…
By Douglas Main Posted 05.22.2014 at 4:46 pm

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Pretty interesting video.

Note the “scientists” have to get advice from a local guide.

And, who can say with a straight face: “I studied hippo poo last season.”

Also, who pays them?

Neat use of technology.

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INTERESTING: China train to America

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/05/09/china-may-build-an-undersea-train-to-america/

China may build an undersea train to America
BY ISHAAN THAROOR
May 9 at 8:01 pm
Screengrab from Sina.com
Screengrab of China’s proposed global train routes from Sina.com

*** begin quote ***

China is planning to build a train line that would, in theory, connect Beijing to the United States. According to a report in the Beijing Times, citing an expert at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Chinese officials are considering a route that would start in the country’s northeast, thread through eastern Siberia and cross the Bering Strait via a 125-mile long underwater tunnel into Alaska.

*** and ***

To that end, Beijing has assiduously resurrected the narrative of the ancient Silk Road as well as given prime billing to the tales of China’s famed Ming dynasty treasure fleets, which sailed all across the Indian Ocean. Seen in such grand historic perspective, a tunnel to Alaska doesn’t seem too far-fetched.

*** end quote ***

Sadly, the USA because of it’s debt, deficit, huge amount of diktats, and a crapy economy, there’s no “building” here.

No one does big project with big benefits.

Argh!

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INTERESTING: “tiny villages”?

Monday, May 12, 2014

I’ve Seen People Turn Garbage Into Some Cool Stuff. But THIS…. This Is Absolute Brilliance.
http://feedly.com/e/j8yQMvWh

I’m sure the “City Fathers” won’t like this.

If they have ordinances about “feeding the homeless”, imagine a city with “homeless housing”?

I am fascinated by “tiny houses” as “interesting” for those that can do it. This is the next step down (i.e., no toilet, kitchen, or power). But I’m sure it’s better than a doorway or a dumpster.

Wonder how long before there are “tiny villages”?

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INTERESTING: No more diet coke for me

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Since going “primal” (i.e., following the Paleo diet as best I can), all I drink is mostly water, coffee, tea, and wine. (Quantities not necessarily in that order.)

I happened to drink a can of Diet Coke the other day, and it now tastes awful.

Guess like anything, your “tastes” do change.

Bad news for Coke!

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