Le poof celebrBig Blue Owl wrote:I'm freeeeeee!
Today's Headlines
Moderator: Priests of Syrinx
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ElfDude
- Posts: 11085
- Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2003 1:19 pm
- Location: In the shadows of the everlasting hills
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How does he say that without busting up in laughter?WASHINGTON (AP) - Despite the tax problems faced by high-level nominees, and the exceptions made to the no-lobbyists pledge, President Barack Obama's spokesman is defending the administration's ethical standards.
Robert Gibbs told reporters Tuesday, "The bar that we set is the highest that any administration in the country has ever set."
Aren't you the guy who hit me in the eye?
From The Washington Post
Flu Reaching Epidemic Levels in Virginia
State Is the First With Widespread Reports of Illness
Virginia is the first state in the nation to report a widespread outbreak of
the flu, and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says
the chronic winter illness might spread rapidly after a relatively slow start
this season.
"We could really get slammed in two weeks," Anthony Fiore, a CDC
epidemiologist, responded when asked whether much of the nation might
be spared this year. "Oh, no, it'll get here."
The weekly survey conducted by the CDC during flu season found
localized outbreaks of the illness in Maryland and sporadic cases in the
District, but Virginia was the only state so far where the flu was
widespread.
"We can expect to see high incidence for the next six to eight weeks,"
said Laura Ann Nicolai, an epidemiologist for the Virginia Department of
Health. "You can see the illness into March, April, even May."
Although the flu season generally begins with the onset of colder weather
in October and November, in some years it peaks later. People who get
sick during that period often mistake one of the scores of other winter
viruses for the flu, whose symptoms include fever, aching muscles,
headache, a dry cough, sore throat and lack of energy.
Although it doesn't keep track of the others as meticulously, the federal
government carefully monitors influenza because severe strains can
result in death. The 1918 worldwide flu epidemic killed an estimated 20
million to 40 million people, including 675,000 Americans.
Flu vaccination grew out of that pandemic, when desperate doctors
discovered that blood transfusions from recovered flu patients to new
patients had a positive effect. The first vaccines were approved for use
by the military in the 1940s, and a decade later researchers developed
the current production methods, which grow the virus in chicken
embryos.
The illness presents itself in a mix of strains, some more powerful than
others, so, as they formulate the vaccine each year, researchers make
an educated guess as to which strains the vaccine should protect against.
"The years when we tend to have more illness tend to be the years when
there's not a good match," said David Blythe, an epidemiologist with the
Maryland Department of Health. "This year, there's a good match with
the two A strains, and some of the B strains don't match quite as well."
The fact that the vaccine matches up well with this year's version of the
flu is one explanation for the somewhat slow advance of the illness
outside Virginia.
"It's out there, but no question, it's breaking late," said Susan Fay,
coordinator of the communicable disease program in Fairfax
County. "That's happened the last few seasons."
The fact that the District and Maryland are next door to Virginia doesn't
necessarily mean that they will be next to cross the threshold into
the "widespread" flu designation that every state in the nation achieved
last year.
Flu Reaching Epidemic Levels in Virginia
State Is the First With Widespread Reports of Illness
Virginia is the first state in the nation to report a widespread outbreak of
the flu, and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says
the chronic winter illness might spread rapidly after a relatively slow start
this season.
"We could really get slammed in two weeks," Anthony Fiore, a CDC
epidemiologist, responded when asked whether much of the nation might
be spared this year. "Oh, no, it'll get here."
The weekly survey conducted by the CDC during flu season found
localized outbreaks of the illness in Maryland and sporadic cases in the
District, but Virginia was the only state so far where the flu was
widespread.
"We can expect to see high incidence for the next six to eight weeks,"
said Laura Ann Nicolai, an epidemiologist for the Virginia Department of
Health. "You can see the illness into March, April, even May."
Although the flu season generally begins with the onset of colder weather
in October and November, in some years it peaks later. People who get
sick during that period often mistake one of the scores of other winter
viruses for the flu, whose symptoms include fever, aching muscles,
headache, a dry cough, sore throat and lack of energy.
Although it doesn't keep track of the others as meticulously, the federal
government carefully monitors influenza because severe strains can
result in death. The 1918 worldwide flu epidemic killed an estimated 20
million to 40 million people, including 675,000 Americans.
Flu vaccination grew out of that pandemic, when desperate doctors
discovered that blood transfusions from recovered flu patients to new
patients had a positive effect. The first vaccines were approved for use
by the military in the 1940s, and a decade later researchers developed
the current production methods, which grow the virus in chicken
embryos.
The illness presents itself in a mix of strains, some more powerful than
others, so, as they formulate the vaccine each year, researchers make
an educated guess as to which strains the vaccine should protect against.
"The years when we tend to have more illness tend to be the years when
there's not a good match," said David Blythe, an epidemiologist with the
Maryland Department of Health. "This year, there's a good match with
the two A strains, and some of the B strains don't match quite as well."
The fact that the vaccine matches up well with this year's version of the
flu is one explanation for the somewhat slow advance of the illness
outside Virginia.
"It's out there, but no question, it's breaking late," said Susan Fay,
coordinator of the communicable disease program in Fairfax
County. "That's happened the last few seasons."
The fact that the District and Maryland are next door to Virginia doesn't
necessarily mean that they will be next to cross the threshold into
the "widespread" flu designation that every state in the nation achieved
last year.
Don't start none...won't be none.
From Michelle Malkin @ www.townhall.com
"Health and Human Services Secretary-designee Tom Daschle finally
bowed out after aggressive rehabilitative efforts failed.
His chummy Senate pals on both sides of the aisle may have been willing
to forgive his failure to pay longstanding back taxes owed on limo
services, undisclosed consulting fees and dubious charitable donations
worth an estimated $146,000, including interest and penalties....
But the American people were not."
http://townhall.com/columnists/Michelle ... tax_cheats
Yeah, Michelle's a loose cannon - but she calls it like she sees it.
My hat's off to Mr. Daschle for doing the right thing.
Although I don't buy the "I didn't know" excuse one bit, he is a patriot and
a leader for stepping up - by stepping DOWN.
"Health and Human Services Secretary-designee Tom Daschle finally
bowed out after aggressive rehabilitative efforts failed.
His chummy Senate pals on both sides of the aisle may have been willing
to forgive his failure to pay longstanding back taxes owed on limo
services, undisclosed consulting fees and dubious charitable donations
worth an estimated $146,000, including interest and penalties....
But the American people were not."
http://townhall.com/columnists/Michelle ... tax_cheats
Yeah, Michelle's a loose cannon - but she calls it like she sees it.
My hat's off to Mr. Daschle for doing the right thing.
Although I don't buy the "I didn't know" excuse one bit, he is a patriot and
a leader for stepping up - by stepping DOWN.
Don't start none...won't be none.
-
Big Blue Owl
- Posts: 7457
- Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2006 7:31 am
- Location: Somewhere between the darkness and the light
It was also refreshing to hear Obama admit "I screwed up." when referring to the appointment. I haven't heard something like that, said so earnestly by a president as soon as it occurred, for quite some time.
Hit the snooze on your Doom Clocks, boys and girls. We're not toast yet.
Hit the snooze on your Doom Clocks, boys and girls. We're not toast yet.
(((((((((((((((all'a you)))))))))))))))
I agree. He stepped up to the plate. **Golf-claps**Big Blue Owl wrote:It was also refreshing to hear Obama admit "I screwed up." when referring to the appointment.
However, the talking heads say the financial issues of the two have been
Capitol Hill knowledge for a while know.
Did they think it would just go away?
Don't start none...won't be none.
Pranks Involving Electronic Road Signs Stir Worry
By JIM SUHR, Associated Press Writer
Wed Feb 4, 4:36 pm ET
AP ? Pranksters in at least three states are messing with electronic road
signs meant to warn motorists of possible traffic problems by putting
drivers on notice about Nazi zombies and raptors.
And highway safety officials aren't amused.
The latest breach came Tuesday during the morning rush hour near
Collinsville, Ill., where hackers changed a sign along southbound
Interstate 255 to read:
"DAILY LANE CLOSURES DUE TO ZOMBIES."
A day earlier in Indiana's Hamilton County, the electronic message on a
board in Carmel's construction zone warned drivers of:
"RAPTORS AHEAD ? CAUTION."
And signs in Austin, Texas, recently flashed:
"NAZI ZOMBIES! RUN!!!" and "ZOMBIES IN AREA! RUN."
Officials in Illinois are concerned the rewritten signs distract motorists
from heeding legitimate hazards down the road. The hacked sign on
Tuesday originally warned drivers of crews replacing guardrails.
"We understood it was a hoax, but at the same time those boards are
there for a reason," said Joe Gasaway, an Illinois Department of
Transportation supervisory field engineer. "We don't want (drivers) being
distracted by a funny sign."
Authorities haven't figured out how pranksters access the signs. Gasaway
believes the Illinois sign was changed remotely, and Austin Public Works
spokeswoman Sara Hartley suspected the hackers there cut a padlock to
get into the signs' computers.
"Hacking generally is about showing where there are holes in security
systems, and I think this is a great example of that," the site's editor-in-
chief, Ray Wert, told The Associated Press by telephone Wednesday. "I'm
sure there are all sorts of ways to use that information in a way that's
inappropriate, but we're trying to make clear this is an issue that needs
to be confronted by traffic safety and transportation officials."
Wert said he had no immediate plans to take down Jalopnik's how-to
guide.
In Illinois, tampering with an official traffic control device is a
misdemeanor punishable by up to a $250 fine ? half what a culprit might
have to pay in Texas if caught.
If convicted in Indiana, a culprit faces up to a year in jail and $5,000 in
fines.
By JIM SUHR, Associated Press Writer
Wed Feb 4, 4:36 pm ET
AP ? Pranksters in at least three states are messing with electronic road
signs meant to warn motorists of possible traffic problems by putting
drivers on notice about Nazi zombies and raptors.
And highway safety officials aren't amused.
The latest breach came Tuesday during the morning rush hour near
Collinsville, Ill., where hackers changed a sign along southbound
Interstate 255 to read:
"DAILY LANE CLOSURES DUE TO ZOMBIES."
A day earlier in Indiana's Hamilton County, the electronic message on a
board in Carmel's construction zone warned drivers of:
"RAPTORS AHEAD ? CAUTION."
And signs in Austin, Texas, recently flashed:
"NAZI ZOMBIES! RUN!!!" and "ZOMBIES IN AREA! RUN."
Officials in Illinois are concerned the rewritten signs distract motorists
from heeding legitimate hazards down the road. The hacked sign on
Tuesday originally warned drivers of crews replacing guardrails.
"We understood it was a hoax, but at the same time those boards are
there for a reason," said Joe Gasaway, an Illinois Department of
Transportation supervisory field engineer. "We don't want (drivers) being
distracted by a funny sign."
Authorities haven't figured out how pranksters access the signs. Gasaway
believes the Illinois sign was changed remotely, and Austin Public Works
spokeswoman Sara Hartley suspected the hackers there cut a padlock to
get into the signs' computers.
"Hacking generally is about showing where there are holes in security
systems, and I think this is a great example of that," the site's editor-in-
chief, Ray Wert, told The Associated Press by telephone Wednesday. "I'm
sure there are all sorts of ways to use that information in a way that's
inappropriate, but we're trying to make clear this is an issue that needs
to be confronted by traffic safety and transportation officials."
Wert said he had no immediate plans to take down Jalopnik's how-to
guide.
In Illinois, tampering with an official traffic control device is a
misdemeanor punishable by up to a $250 fine ? half what a culprit might
have to pay in Texas if caught.
If convicted in Indiana, a culprit faces up to a year in jail and $5,000 in
fines.
Don't start none...won't be none.
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Walkinghairball
- Posts: 25037
- Joined: Wed Apr 21, 2004 9:42 pm
- Location: In a rock an roll venue near you....as long as you are in the Pacific Northwest.