Tag Archives: space

That Wasn’t a Meteorite That Killed a Man in India, NASA Says

by Myrna Posted on February 10, 2016

A “land-based” explosion was the likely cause, not an object from space, which would have been a first of sorts in recorded history. More:   That Wasn’t a Meteorite That Killed a Man in India, NASA Says ; ; ;

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That Wasn’t a Meteorite That Killed a Man in India, NASA Says

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Dot Earth Blog: What’s Missing at the U.N. Climate Panel’s Meeting on Climate Change Communication

by Myrna Posted on February 8, 2016

Three things are missing at the I.P.C.C.’s two-day meeting on improving climate communication. Read More:   Dot Earth Blog: What’s Missing at the U.N. Climate Panel’s Meeting on Climate Change Communication ; ; ;

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Dot Earth Blog: What’s Missing at the U.N. Climate Panel’s Meeting on Climate Change Communication

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5 Urban Homesteading Projects for Beginners

by LTYEarlene Posted on February 6, 2016

Urban homesteading is on the rise in cities and suburbs across the country. The practice of urban homesteading involves making your household as self-sustaining as possible by producing your goods and foods at homethink raising chickens, growing vegetables, sewing your own clothes and beekeeping.

People start homesteading for a variety of reasons. Some want to know where their food, cleaning products and clothes come from and whats in them. Others simply like the idea of minimizing environmental impact by keeping all production close to home. Still more want to transition to living off the grid completely.

Rest assured, you dont need to go all in all at once. If you want to give urban homesteading a shot but arent quite ready to jump right into raising goats, here are some great projects for beginners:

Start a Small Vegetable Garden

If you have the space, a small vegetable garden can help you start growing your own food. Dont feel as though you need to convert your entire yard into a vegetable garden right away. A small strip of land alongside your house (that gets adequate sunlight) is perfect for constructinga raised bed that runs the length of your home, and will give you plenty of space for growing veggies. Beginners should stick to the basics. Lifehacker recommends salad greens, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers and green beans for those new to gardening.

Compost

Composting is really quite easy and only requires a little bit of effort each day. Once youve gotten into the swing of it, youll have ready-made compost that canact as fertilizer for your yard and vegetable garden. In order to compost successfully, your mixture will need organic matter, some moisture, warmth and oxygen, according to self-proclaimed composting guru The Compost Guy. Store your compost bin in a warm place, make sure to mix it up regularly to allow oxygen into the mixture, keep it moist and add plenty of organic matterkitchen scraps, manure, fall leaves, grass, straw, cardboard and hair are great for composting.

Collect Rainwater

This is a pretty straightforward tip. Collecting rainwater is great for water conservation as you wont have to turn on the hose in order to water your plants, wash your car, do your laundry or scrub your dishes. If you really get into it, you canpurchase a water purification system to use your rainwater for showering and bathing (though that would require quite a bit of rain). Collecting rainwater is super easy, too: Simply place a rainwater collection tank outside.

Make Your Own Cleaning Products

Cleaning products are expensive and often toxic. Making an all-natural, all-purpose cleaner at home is super easy, if you have the right ingredients. The natural homemaking blog Wellness Mama recommends combining 1 teaspoon of Borax, 0.5 teaspoons of washing soda, 1 teaspoon castile soap and a few drops of your favorite essential oil with two cups of distilled water. Put the mixture into a spray bottle and use it anywhere in your home without fear of toxins.

Hang Your Laundry to Dry

Wet clothes dont necessarily need to go into an electric dryer. Conserve energy by hanging your clothes out to dry! During the winter months, you can assemble a drying rack within your home thats quick and easy to take down once your wardrobe has driedtrust us, your clothes with dry just as efficiently and you wont use as much power.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

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5 Urban Homesteading Projects for Beginners

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Studying the Heart of El Niño, Where Its Weather Begins

by Myrna Posted on February 1, 2016

Over the Pacific, researchers dropped instrument packages in hope of better forecasting the effects of the phenomenon. Read this article –  Studying the Heart of El Niño, Where Its Weather Begins ; ; ;

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Studying the Heart of El Niño, Where Its Weather Begins

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A New Offering from the Quirky Cass McCombs

by DarwinL0258 Posted on January 11, 2016

Mother Jones

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The gifted Cass McCombs is often viewed as a modern example of the traditional singer-songwriter, but he’s also capable of heading off in plenty of other interesting directions when he thinks nobody’s paying close attention. Ranging from 2003 to 2014, the aptly named A Folk Set Apart: Rarities, B-Sides & Space Junk, Etc. collects stray 7″ singles, outtakes, and other marginalia that underscores his versatility with an intriguing mix of buoyant power pop, rowdy punk-rock, bluesy raveups, and even a whimsical guitar instrumental. Highlights include “Bradley Manning,” a brooding protest ballad, and the breathtaking dreamscape “Minimum Wage.” More than the throwaway it might seem at first, this is one of McCombs’ best albums, which is saying something.

Courtesy of Domino Records

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A New Offering from the Quirky Cass McCombs

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This might be the coolest photo of a farm you’ll ever see

by SISJessika Posted on December 22, 2015

green4us

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This might be the coolest photo of a farm you’ll ever see

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Kids’ pesticide exposure as bad for lungs as secondhand smoke

by Lamar40L50222 Posted on December 3, 2015

green4us

War Zone Damocles: Mont’ka (Enhanced Edition) – Games Workshop

Following a humbling defeat at the hands of Commander Shadowsun, the forces of the Imperium return to the former hive world of Agrellan, now the Tau Empire’s youngest sept world of Mu’gulath Bay. Countless regiments of tanks and Guardsmen are thrown into the meat grinder as the Imperial commanders vow to reclaim the world from […]

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The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up – Marie Kondo

This New York Times best-selling guide to decluttering your home from Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes readers step-by-step through her revolutionary KonMari Method for simplifying, organizing, and storing. Despite constant efforts to declutter your home, do papers still accumulate like snowdrifts and clothes pile up like a tangled mess of noodles? Japanese cleaning consultant […]

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My Dog Understands English! 50 dogs obey commands they weren’t taught – Cherise Kelley

Has your dog ever surprised you by doing something you said the first time? You are not alone! Here are 50 stories about everyday dogs who understood what their humans said. Some even saved lives in the process! Others are cute, loveable, or funny. All demonstrate the amazing human-dog bond. Chloe the golden Beagle braved […]

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Holiday Crafting and Baking with Kids – Jessica Strand

Holiday Crafting & Baking with Kids will bring the whole family together for some good holiday fun. Children ages four and up will love selecting their own materials and digging into these cheerful projects. There is something here for everyone and every winter occasion Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, New Year's, and Boxing Day! Step-by-step instructions, […]

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Path to Glory: Warhammer 40,000 (Tablet Edition) – Games Workshop

Bow before the Dark Gods and gather followers to your banner, then unleash them on your foes in desperate battles as you seek the gods' favour. 'Warhammer 40,000: Path to Glory' allows you to pick a Chaos Space Marine champion, generate a warband to follow them, and lead them to glory against rival champions in […]

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Path to Glory: Warhammer 40,000 (Mobile Edition) – Games Workshop

Bow before the Dark Gods and gather followers to your banner, then unleash them on your foes in desperate battles as you seek the gods' favour. 'Warhammer 40,000: Path to Glory' allows you to pick a Chaos Space Marine champion, generate a warband to follow them, and lead them to glory against rival champions in […]

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Path to Glory: Warhammer Age of Sigmar (Tablet Edition) – Games Workshop

Gather your warbands and worship your chosen God of Chaos with glorious deeds on the battlefield! Battle other champions and rise in your patron's favour. Rally more followers to your banner and establish yourself as the greatest warlord of Chaos the Mortal Realms have ever seen! 'Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Path to Glory' allows you […]

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The Inspired Room – Melissa Michaels

New York Times bestselling author, Melissa Michaels, will inspire you to make your house a well-loved home. Her relatable style, unique voice, and practical decorating ideas have made her highly respected blog, The Inspired Room, a haven for fans of real-life style. Step inside Melissa's home as she shares lessons learned, inspiring photos, and encouraging […]

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The Art of Raising a Puppy (Revised Edition) – Monks of New Skete

For more than thirty years the Monks of New Skete have been among America's most trusted authorities on dog training, canine behavior, and the animal/human bond. In their two now-classic bestsellers, How to be Your Dog's Best Friend and The Art of Raising a Puppy, the Monks draw on their experience as long-time breeders of […]

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Projects for Kids – Authors and Editors of Instructables

21 Projects Guaranteed to Keep Your Kids Occupied This Weekend give you full step-by-step instructions for 21 amazing kids activities that your family will love.  Learn how to entertain your kids with the DoodleBot360, LED Throwies, Grow Your Own Magic Crystal Tree, the Marshmallow Shooter and other projects that are sure to hold your child's […]

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Kids’ pesticide exposure as bad for lungs as secondhand smoke

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EPA catches Dow in weed-killer lie, asks court to reverse approval

by KyleKeegan0 Posted on November 30, 2015

green4us

Codex: Skitarii (Enhanced Edition) – Games Workshop

In mechanical lockstep legions of Skitarii march across the galaxy at the behest of their calculating masters. Elite soldiers augmented with ancient technology and gifted with esoteric weaponry, the Legiones Skitarii are the relentless armies of the Adeptus Mechanicus. Driven by their masters’ ceaseless hunger for knowledge, the Skitarii bring order to worlds through determined […]

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The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up – Marie Kondo

This New York Times best-selling guide to decluttering your home from Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo takes readers step-by-step through her revolutionary KonMari Method for simplifying, organizing, and storing. Despite constant efforts to declutter your home, do papers still accumulate like snowdrifts and clothes pile up like a tangled mess of noodles? Japanese cleaning consultant […]

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Codex: Tau Empire (Enhanced Edition) – Games Workshop

A dynamic race whose technology eclipses anything their foes can muster, the tau use speed, strategy and overwhelming firepower to win their battles. Guided by the mysterious Ethereal caste, all tau strive for the Greater Good of their empire, forging ever onward into the stars to assimilate or annihilate everything that stands in their path. […]

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Path to Glory: Warhammer Age of Sigmar (Tablet Edition) – Games Workshop

Gather your warbands and worship your chosen God of Chaos with glorious deeds on the battlefield! Battle other champions and rise in your patron's favour. Rally more followers to your banner and establish yourself as the greatest warlord of Chaos the Mortal Realms have ever seen! 'Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Path to Glory' allows you […]

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Codex: Space Marines (Enhanced Edition) – Games Workshop

The Space Marines are the Angels of Death, humanity’s finest warriors. Clad in the greatest armour and armed with awesomely destructive weapons, they defend the Imperium of Mankind from the alien, the traitor and the daemon. Codex: Space Marines is the most comprehensive guide ever to these superlative warriors. It contains all the rules and […]

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Codex: Cult Mechanicus (Enhanced Edition) – Games Workshop

The ground shudders beneath the tread of towering robots and lumbering war engines as the armies of the Cult Mechanicus advance. Guided by the dark genius of their Tech-Priests, the armies of the Machine God sweep across the stars in their endless quest for knowledge. Any who dare stand against them soon learn to fear […]

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Codex: Imperial Knights (Enhanced Edition) – Games Workshop

Thundering across the battlefield, the towering walkers known as Imperial Knights scatter the foes of the Imperium with booming battle cannon shots and roaring swings of their massive chainblades. The Knights are piloted by proud and deadly warriors of ancient cultures, each one part of a noble family whose lineage can stretch back to before […]

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Codex: Khorne Daemonkin (Enhanced Edition) – Games Workshop

Screaming praise to their dark and bloody master, the Khorne Daemonkin rampage across the stars claiming skulls and destroying worlds. They are the mortal servants of the Blood God who give their flesh to the inhabitants of the Warp – gore-crazed cultists and brutal Chaos Space Marines who covet daemonic possession so they might bring […]

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Codex: Dark Angels (Enhanced Edition) – Games Workshop

The First Legion of old, the Dark Angels have fought in the Emperor’s name for ten thousand years. Yet within the shrouded ranks of the Chapter there lurks an ancient secret, one so terrible that should it ever be revealed it would mean damnation for the Chapter.   Codex: Dark Angels is your comprehensive guide […]

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War Zone Damocles: Mont’ka (Enhanced Edition) – Games Workshop

Following a humbling defeat at the hands of Commander Shadowsun, the forces of the Imperium return to the former hive world of Agrellan, now the Tau Empire’s youngest sept world of Mu’gulath Bay. Countless regiments of tanks and Guardsmen are thrown into the meat grinder as the Imperial commanders vow to reclaim the world from […]

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EPA catches Dow in weed-killer lie, asks court to reverse approval

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RushCard Locks Out the Poor From Their Money for Ninth Consecutive Day

by YettaBrumfield Posted on October 20, 2015

Mother Jones

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Yesterday I saw the blurb on the right at the New York Times. Russell Simmons. RushCard. On the blink for eight days. That sounds like a drag. I wonder what this is all about? Why haven’t I heard of it before now?

Jamelle Bouie explains:

RushCard, according to its website, is a prepaid debit card that lets users get paychecks up to two days in advance….It’s meant to solve the real problems that come with being unbanked or underbanked. In reality, however, it’s a trap. In exchange for early access to their money, users face a web of fees and charges.

….If RushCard were reliable, this might be a fair price for convenience. But it’s not. Beginning last week, thousands of people were locked out of their accounts following an alleged “technology transition” from the company. As Jia Tolentino notes for Jezebel, these are people with no access to cash outside of RushCard. It’s what they use to live their lives.

….This is a disaster, largely uncovered because of whom it affects.

Yep. If this were a problem with, say, American Airlines mileage awards, it would have gotten about as much attention as the Space Shuttle exploding or the Obamacare website melting down. That’s because lots of upper-middle-class folks use these miles, and so do lots of journalists. But RushCard is mostly used by the invisible poor. It turns out that RushCard’s problems have been big news for the past week in a few places that cater to either the hip hop community or looking out for the poor, but in the mainstream press it’s been mostly ignored. That’s probably because very few mainstream journalists either use RushCard or know a lot of people who do.

The rest of Bouie’s column is about postal banking, which you all know I’m sort of skeptical about. I suspect there are better answers to helping the unbanked. But as a comment on the press and the invisibility of the poor, this story deserves more attention.

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RushCard Locks Out the Poor From Their Money for Ninth Consecutive Day

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Monsanto’s Stock Is Tanking. Is the Company’s Own Excitement About GMOs Backfiring?

by KLWDolliectvpb Posted on October 9, 2015

Mother Jones

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Pity Monsanto, the genetically modified seed and agrichemical giant. Its share price has plunged 25 percent since the spring. Market prices for corn and soybeans are in the dumps, meaning Monsanto’s main customers—farmers who specialize in those crops—have less money to spend on its pricey seeds and flagship herbicide (which recently got named a “probable carcinogen” by the World Health organization, spurring lawsuits).

Monsanto’s long, noisy attempt to buy up rival pesticide giant Syngenta crumbled into dust last month. And Wednesday, Monsanto reported quarterly revenues and profits that sharply underperformed Wall Street expectations. For good measure, it also sharply lowered its profit projections for the year ahead.

In response to these unhappy trends, the company announced it was slashing 2,600 jobs, 12 percent of its workforce, and spending $3 billion to buy back shares. Share buybacks are a form of financial (as opposed to genetic) engineering—they magically boost a company’s earnings-per-share ratio (a metric closely watched by investors) simply by removing shares from the market. And buybacks divert money from things like R&D—or keeping a company’s workforce whole—and into the pockets of shareholders.

In a conference call with investors (transcript), Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant put a positive spin on the company’s prospects. “Our germplasm performance has never been better, our trait technology has continued to leap and our market position and pipeline remains strong,” he declared. But later, he hit upon a theme that became obvious when Monsanto was stalking Syngenta: that Monsanto’s leadership feels the company is too invested in high-tech seeds, and underinvested in old-fashioned pesticides. (The market for Syngenta owns the globe’s leading position.)

In the call, Jeff Zekauskas, an analyst with JP MorganChase, asked Grant whether Monsanto was still interested in boosting its pesticide portfolio by buying a competitor. Grant’s answer was essentially yes: “We still believe in the opportunity of integrated solutions,” i.e., selling more pesticides along with seeds. He added:

We’ve got a 400 million acre seed technology footprint. We’ve seen time and time again that we can increase revenue and improve grower service by bringing chemistry up on that footprint.

Translation: Our patented seeds and traits are sown on 400 million acres worldwide (about four times the size of California), and if we could sell more pesticides (chemistry) to the people who farm those acres, we could make more money. Later, he noted:

We continue to see duplication in R&D in the sector. We continue to see the low effectiveness of R&D with some of our competitors and we continue to think that consolidation in this space is inevitable.

Translation: Research-and-development investments in the ag-biotech/agrichemical sector aren’t paying off—not enough blockbuster new products—so the few companies remaining in the field (there are six) are going to start swallowing each other up.

Massive layoffs, share buybacks, dreams of buying up the pesticide portfolios of competitors—these aren’t characteristics of a company confident in the long-term profitability of its core technology: the genetic modification of crops.

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Monsanto’s Stock Is Tanking. Is the Company’s Own Excitement About GMOs Backfiring?

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