Friday, January 30, 2009

On The Economy, the Weather and Other Issues for Friday, January 30, 2009



"Why on earth, you may think, would you post links to stories about the bad weather, homelessness, and locust swarms in a political blog/website? What are you thinking?" Because, these things might actually represent opportunities for the economy. Take the weather. Are you tired of sliding around on ice-covered streets and roads? Of course, you are and you are probably fearful for accident, injury and death when you do so.


So maybe Mr. Obama, Biden and Congress could get their heads together on this one and legislate for better, safer roads. Think about it. Could we not supply an underground heating system for our streets, roads and pathways? What you say, what about the energy crisis? Then heat them with solar and wind power. After all, these things are outside. What about the tax bill, you say? Well, developing and implementing these things would definitely create demand. That means jobs for people like you and us. The decrease in accidents would probably offset some of our insurance bills, too.


And the heatwave in Australia? The other day we posted several links to schemes, studies to geoengineer away global warming. The funding and development of such technology would certainly be helpful. It would also create many, many jobs and demand.


And what about locust swarms? They are certainly a most destructive force. The discovery of high serotonin levels in these insects might give us a tool to mitigate or even stop their formation. It would certainly be a great relief on the burden of the current food crisis.


These discoveries and new technologies in the links below and previous postings seem like sure winners to help create demand and stimulate the economy. Mr. Obama, the Legislature and their counterparts must act now before it is too late.




Exxon posts record $45.2 billion profit

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28931011/

Exxon

http://www.exxon.com/

Alaskans brace for volcanic eruption

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28914322/

Alaska volcano 'more energetic,' scientists say

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/01/30/alaska.volcano/index.html

She's Gonna Blow! Eruption Imminent

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=6767149

Mount Redoubt

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Redoubt_(Alaska)

Hundreds Seek Escape From Cold, Dark Homes

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/30/national/main4763758.shtml

Plea At Davos: Don't Forget World's Poor

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/30/world/main4764355.shtml

World Economic Forum

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Economic_Forum

Obama Looks To Boost Middle Class

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/30/politics/100days/economy/main4764111.shtml

GOP stakes claim with stimulus vote

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28926731/

Gates predicts four-year downturn

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/davos/7860708.stm

Eurozone jobless at two-year high

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7860469.stm

US economic output falls sharply

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7860892.stm

GDP sees biggest drop in 27 years

http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/n30348995-us-usa-economy/

Economy shrinks at fastest rate since '82

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28930809/

Big slump in Japan factory output

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7859774.stm

Financial rules 'worsened crisis'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/davos/7860326.stm

Refinery strikes spread across UK

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7859968.stm

NEC to cut 20,000 jobs worldwide

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28928377/

NEC

http://www.nec.com/

Caterpillar laying off 2,110 more workers

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28933349/

Shrinking auto production will cut economic growth: Scotiabank

http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2009/01/30/auto-decline.html

Problem gambling may rise as economy falls

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28921476/

Ludomania

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem_gambling

Obama: Wall St. bonuses 'shameful'

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28916936/

Wall Street Bonuses Decline 44 Percent

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/CEOProfiles/wireStory?id=6747578

Cuomo eyes return of $4 billion in early Merrill bonuses: report

http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre50t114-us-cuomo-merill/

Newsweek: Bush lawyer to Rove — Don't cooperate

http://www.newsweek.com/id/182240

Families sue Pentagon over 2 Gitmo deaths

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28919377/

Judge refuses to delay Gitmo detainee's trial

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28914869/

Homelessness surges as funding falters

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28916152/

Econo-cide: Financial Woes Turn Deadly


http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Economy/story?id=6765383&page=1

North Korea tears up agreements

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7859671.stm

Turkish PM gets hero's welcome after shouting match with Israeli leader

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/01/30/turkey.html

US puts up $20 million for Gaza relief

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090130/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_palestinians;_ylt=At_9A2.x5ixf3Go5ekQAqxqs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTJhb3JtNjEyBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwMTMwL3VzX3BhbGVzdGluaWFucwRwb3MDMTIEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yeQRzbGsDdXNwdXRzdXAyMG1p

Heatwave cripples southern Australia

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7860776.stm

Would-be suicide bomber in UK sentenced to prison

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090130/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_restaurant_blast;_ylt=AkQypQOgjdXhZmhvrpSZPUCs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTFiOTJsMXY3BHBvcwM0NARzZWMDYWNjb3JkaW9uX3dvcmxkBHNsawN3b3VsZC1iZXN1aWM-

Ex-Congo Soldier Admits Training Children

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/30/world/main4764510.shtml

World court fumbles Congo warlord trial as witness recants

http://www.yahoo.com/s/1023255

Illinois governor guilty of abuse

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7859588.stm

Jailed spy accused of pulling son into espionage

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/01/29/spy.charges/index.html


Australian fires destroy homes

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7860726.stm

Firms back data protection pledge

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7860075.stm

Testbeds To Breed Next-generation Systems

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090128122652.htm

Open Source Research Platform: Wireless At WARP Speed

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090129113318.htm

'SnowMan' Software Helps Keep Snow Drifts Off The Road

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090129113327.htm

Robots To Clean Your Kitchen And Play Hockey?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090129155416.htm

Entangled particles face sudden death

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28920874/

Red Tape: Facebook ID theft targets 'friends'

http://redtape.msnbc.com/2009/01/post-1.html#posts

Continents Act Like Thermal Blankets: How Continental Drift Will Change Continents In 120 Million Years

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090122100828.htm

'Green' light bulb fears rejected

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7858156.stm

Britain warned over air quality

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7858655.stm

Zimbabwe cholera cases pass 60,000

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/01/30/Zimbabwe.cholera.cases/index.html

MS stem-cell treatment 'success'


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7858559.stm

Bad peanuts found weeks before outbreak

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28931141/

Plants don't have to report contamination

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28919975/

Peanut plant problem forces fresh recall

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28899634/

"Filthy, Putrid" Substance On Peanuts

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/30/health/main4763753.shtml

Georgia wants answers for PB contamination

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/01/30/georgia.peanuts/index.html

Surgical Implants Coated With One Of 'Nature's Antibiotics' Could Prevent Infection

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090129180313.htm

Tadpoles may hold cancer clue

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7851932.stm

New Insights Into A Leading Poultry Disease And Its Risks To Human Health

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090127094038.htm

How Ebola Virus Avoids The Immune System

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090127152838.htm

Five Cases Of Ebola Virus In Philippines

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/30/health/main4763711.shtml

Ebola

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebola

New Disease, Comparable To BSE, Created In Laboratory Mice

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090127214430.htm

BSE

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovine_spongiform_encephalopathy

Cases of sexually spread diseases on the rise

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28639521/

Lowly worm offers new clues on stroke, heart drugs

http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre50s5zo-us-heart-worms/

Caenorhabditis elegans

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caenorhabditis_elegans

Physically Fit Kids Do Better In School

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090128113246.htm

American Seniors Living Longer On Less

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090128122816.htm

New Stem Cell-like Functions In Plants Found

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090128132645.htm

Thirsty Plants Text For Help

http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2009/0101-thirsty_plants_text_for_help.htm

Climate Change's Impact On Invasive Plants In Western US May Create Restoration Opportunities

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090127112055.htm

Gene's Past Could Improve The Future Of Rice

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090123164359.htm

Rice

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice


Nail-bomber given life sentence

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7859887.stm

Mumbai 'not planned in Pakistan'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7859865.stm


What's below the crosses 'is crying out'

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/01/30/florida.boys.school/index.html


FrankenBeasts: Do Pet Clones Really Match?

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/AmazingAnimals/story?id=6762235&page=1


Indonesia welcomes baby elephants


http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/ynews;_ylt=AlCONJFFZth5NAg.pzVyArSs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTE0dmZlMG5lBHBvcwM4BHNlYwN5bl92aWRlb3MEc2xrA2luZG9uZXNpYXdlbA--?ch=4226713&cl=11786829&lang=en

Locust swarms 'high' on serotonin

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7858996.stm

Serotonin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin

Termite Insecticide Found To Be Potent Greenhouse Gas

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090121144059.htm



http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090130/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_safe;_ylt=AhjpXJd0b5VLa6Pv7Nc3hRTtiBIF


Exploding 'bath bombs' hurt 13

http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2009/01/30/exploding-bath.html

In pictures An exhibition of Chinese treasures opens in London

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7860724.stm

Ponder your putt too long and you may make things worse

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7859385.stm

Coke 'Classic' no longer

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28932986/

Coca-Cola

http://www.cocacola.com/

Is Eight Too Much? Ethics Experts Weigh In

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=6767745&page=1

'Unsaid Chemistry': Science of Seduction


http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=6761212&page=1

What's in a name? Maybe a criminal future

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28916131/

N.Y. Madam In Spitzer Case Sentenced

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/01/29/national/main4763493.shtml

Swiss authorities to take action over rise in naked ramblers

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7860556.stm

WATCH: Bush Shoe-Thrower Inspires Statue

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6764157

'Rush to Failure': Ad Targets Limbaugh

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