FLASHBACK: B-24 Liberator Willow Run Airplane Plant by Ford Motor Company Builds a Bomber Every 55 Minutes (1941)

If the video does not display on your screen, go to the YouTube link for another viewing option. Although the ultimate usage of these bombers was war and destruction, the manufacturing output displayed in this video is amazing. This factory was churning out B-24s in less than an hour! Imagine if that expertise and production capacity were fashioned with today's technologies. Man would do great things. However in the real world, this production capacity has been mostly lost in the United States of America - perhaps forever (unless it's for the latest bomber).

Missouri River Floods Fort Calhoun Nuclear Power Station in Nebraska

***UPDATE (June 27, 2011) - The below picture is reportedly from a June 27 video. If this is indeed the state of affairs at the power station, how are workers getting to the facility? Boat? Helicopter? There also does not appear to be anything holding back the water back at the facility. At least there is no smoking coming from the spent fuel or other reactor fuel at this point.

Per the official media accounts, there is nothing to worry about at this point. However, I'm skeptical, so yes, I'm worried.

Gregory Jaczko, the chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, toured the Cooper Nuclear Station in Brownville Sunday and inspected the more-threatened Fort Calhoun reactor Monday...

...Officials at both Cooper and Calhoun have reportedly stockpiled plenty of generator fuel for emergency generators if back up power is needed for a long period of time.

***UPDATE (June 17, 2011) - The original story is down below the***. I will update this page as I can verify information.

There is confirmation that Fort Calhoun is a spent fuel storage installation. It would seem likely that some (or perhaps all of the) spent fuel is flooded IF you believe the inspection report from May, 2011 (last month as of the date of this writing). Can anyone confirm whether the spent fuel was stored above ground or whether it was stored at ground/underground level?

You can read the full report (Licensee Event Report 2011-003, Revision 1, for the Fort Calhoun Station) that will be embedded below, but the summary is:

As a result of a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) inspection conducted from January 1 to June 21, 2010, the NRC determined that Fort Calhoun Station (FCS) did not have adequate procedures to protect the intake structure and auxiliary building against external flooding events. Specifically, contrary to Technical Specification 5.8.1.a, the station failed to maintain procedures for combating a significant flood as recommended by Regulatory Guide 1.33, Appendix A, section 6.w, “Acts of Nature.”

Per another recent report by the Institute for Policy Studies, the inventory of spent fuel at Fort Calhoun was:

• Total Assemblies = 1,054
• Metric Tons = 379
• Radioactive Inventory (Ci) = 92,962,800

Omaha Public Power District Licensee Event Report 2011-003, Revision 1, for the Fort Calhoun Station

I don't know if the next story is related or not, but officials in Kansas (the next State over from Nebraska) are advising people to not use the Missouri River. The given-reason is the risk of pathogens. However, the public would be the last ones to know if there was some type of radiation contamination from the Fort Calhoun plant.

In response to recent and anticipated flooding events, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is issuing a health advisory for all portions of the Missouri River in Kansas. In addition to the physical dangers associated with entering swift moving floodwaters, the potential for high levels of pathogens in the Missouri River exists. Pathogens can cause illness in humans and animals...

...Individuals are advised to avoid contact with the River and to restrict pets and livestock from contact with River water until the flooding conditions cease. It is predicted floodwaters may not recede for several weeks, thus it is important to avoid contact with the River until this advisory is lifted.

***

Is Fort Calhoun potentially going to be the United States version of Fukushima? The reactor is not really an issue here, because it is not operational. However, there is spent fuel stored at the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Power Station, as evidenced by the reports of a recent fire at the power plant.

A small fire briefly knocked out the cooling system for used fuel at a nuclear power plant in Nebraska, but temperatures never exceeded safe levels and power was quickly restored, federal officials said Wednesday...

Fort Calhoun’s fuel pool was not physically damaged, and the utility [Omaha Public Power District] estimated it would take about 80 hours before the pool water started boiling and evaporating, giving workers time to react.

If the flooding continues (which is expected for a few more weeks), then what happens if the power and the backup power are not available for 4-5 days at the plant? Without cooling, the spent fuel will heat and evaporate the cooling water. Once that spent fuel goes critical and if cooling cannot be restored, then the plant will likely begin spewing radiation into the local environment and into the flooded river waters. That is what happened at Fukushima. The Japanese earthquake knocked out the main power systems. The subsequent tsunami destroyed the backup generators and then the spent fuel began heating and heating until BOOM!

Although the media is saying that there is no threat to the public from this flooding, there is an indefinite FAA flight restriction for two (2) nautical miles around the area.

FDC 1/6523 ZMP FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS FORT CALHOUN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT BLAIR,NE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. PURSUANT TO 14 CFR SECTION 91.137(A)(3) TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS ARE IN EFFECT FOR FLOOD RELIEF EFFORTS WITHIN A 2 NAUTICAL MILE RADIUS OF 413113N/0960438W OR THE OMAHA /OVR/ VORTAC 316 DEGREE RADIAL AT 26.1 NAUTICAL MILES AT AND BELOW 3500 FEET MSL. NEBRASKA STATE PATROL, LT. FRANK PECK TELEPHONE 402-450-1867 IS IN CHARGE OF THE OPERATION. MINNEAPOLIS /ZMP/ ARTCC TELEPHONE 651-463-5580 IS THE FAA COORDINATION FACILITY.

Source: The Washington Post; FAA; KMTV

Australia Releases Rules for Carbon Credits from Culling Camels ("Kill a Camel for a Carbon Credit!")

Australia Releases Rules for Carbon Credits from Culling Camels

I wonder what the environmentalists and the animal-lovers think about this program that is essentially a "Kill a Camel, Get a Carbon Credit" program.

Killing camels to earn carbon credits might seem an extreme way to fight climate change, but the Australian government on Thursday issued detailed rules that will help investors do just that.

Northwest Carbon developed the rules for this camel-cull program under Australia's Carbon Farming Initiative.

Source: Reuters Africa

Who Is the Mysterious Woman in White Leading Billionaires & Shot-Callers During Nature Walk at 2011 Bilderberg Conference?

Photograph: Hannah Borno / ©Guardian All Rights Reserved

I would like to ask Hannah Borno (who actually snapped the above photo) the identity of the lady in the above photograph at the 2011 Bilderberg annual meeting. Let's examine and analyze the above image of this lady in white who looks straight out of central casting for some techno-fascist sci-fi movie.

In the real world though, this lady is definitely wealthy, because you can't wear an outfit like that and get away with it unless you're rich. She also seems to have some handlers. She is likely adverse to sunlight which is why has an umbrella with no rain in sight. She appears to have a confident appearance and exudes importance. She could be the wife of Dr. Raymond Cocteau. Does anyone know the identity of this lady? Feel free to make some guesses in the comments!

According to the Guardian, this lady is unknown and no one has seen her since the above image was taken.

From nowhere, like something from a dream, a distinguished lady, dressed from top to toe in white, whooshed serenely past security and swanned to the front of the power walkers.

Although no one seemingly knew the identity of this lady, she was obviously a power-player, because she was reportedly leading the folks around the Bilderberg conference like she was a band leader.

The lady in white led her band of Bilderberg bigwigs and billionaires along the charming Swiss byways, across bridges over gentle streams ... and straight into a pack of 50 baffled activists, who were milling around outside a community hall during a break in a symposium.

Source: The Guardian

Cedar Falls Government to Demand Keys to Commercial Buildings & Apartment Complexes Per International Fire Code

Pursuant to the 2009 International Fire Code and Ordinance 2740, the Cedar Falls, Iowa government will require lock boxes to be installed on commercial buildings and apartments with three (3) or more units. Obviously, people around the Internet sphere have been upset with this news today, because this ordinance essentially gives the government potential access to the private residences of individuals without a whole lot of due process or probable cause.

The City Council is scheduled to vote on the third and final reading of an ordinance adopting the 2009 International Fire Code. Part of that code specifies the fire chief can require lock boxes for emergency access to keys to buildings.

If you want to contact any members of the Cedar Falls government, the contact information is here.

The applicable provision at issue in the 2009 International Fire Code is Section 506 relating to key boxes.

SECTION 506 KEY BOXES

506.1 Where required. Where access to or within a structure or an area is restricted because of secured openings or where immediate access is necessary for life-saving or fire-fighting purposes, the fire code official is authorized to require a key box to be installed in an approved location. The key box shall be of an approved type and shall contain keys to gain necessary access as required by the fire code official.

Source: WCFCourier.com

Graphic Video of Elephant Rampage in Mysore India

If you cannot see the above video, click here to read about this elephant rampage in Mysore India. **Warning** - the video is graphic and shows a cow being killed.

Two wild elephants trampled a man to death and killed two cows in a rampage through an Indian city Wednesday.

Source: The New York Post

Governor Haslam Signs Tennessee Senate Bill SB 1659 Criminalizing Netflix & Other Entertainment Subscription Services Password Sharing

The next time someone gives out a password to one of his/her friends or associates, he/she should check to make sure he/she is not breaking the law. Tennessee just passed a law that will make the sharing of a password to an entertainment subscription service like Netflix a crime. The bill is Senate Bill 1659.

The bill, which has been signed by Gov. Bill Haslam [on May 30, 2011] and takes effect July 1, was pushed by recording industry officials to try to stop the loss of billions of dollars to illegal music sharing. They hope other states will follow.

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SB 1659 by *Tracy. (*HB 1783 by *McCormick, Shepard, Lollar, Haynes, Parkinson, Miller D, Alexander, Dean, McManus, Todd, Maggart, Williams R.)

Criminal Offenses - As introduced, includes entertainment services in services the theft of which constitutes theft of services and adds enhanced violation for repeat offenders; specifies that victims may report violations and testify. - Amends TCA Title 39.

Fiscal Summary

Increase State Expenditures - $14,100/Incarcaration*

Bill Summary

As described below, this bill specifies that the offense of theft of services includes the theft of entertainment subscription services and provides for increased penalties when the offender has two or more prior offenses that involve theft of entertainment subscription services.

Under present law, a person commits the offense of theft of services who (emphasis added):

(1) Intentionally obtains services by any means to avoid payment for the services;

(2) Having control over the disposition of services to others, knowingly diverts those services to the person's own benefit or to the benefit of another not entitled to such benefits; or

(3) Knowingly absconds from establishments where compensation for services is ordinarily paid immediately upon the rendering of them, including hotels, motels and restaurants, without payment or a bona fide offer to pay.

Theft of property or services is:

(1) A Class A misdemeanor if the value of the property or services obtained is $500 or less;

(2) A Class E felony if the value of the property or services obtained is more than $500 but less than $1,000;

(3) A Class D felony if the value of the property or services obtained is $1,000 or more but less than $10,000;

(4) A Class C felony if the value of the property or services obtained is $10,000 or more but less than $60,000; and

(5) A Class B felony if the value of the property or services obtained is at least $60,000.

This bill specifies that "services" includes entertainment subscription services. This bill specifies that any victim of theft of services would have legal standing to report the offense to law enforcement and to testify in support of corresponding criminal charges.

This bill specifies that the theft of property or services valued at $500 or less would be a Class E felony instead of a Class A misdemeanor if such offense is the offender's second or subsequent offense after July 1, 2011, which involves theft of entertainment subscription services.

ON MAY 18, 2011, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 1659, AS AMENDED.

AMENDMENT #1 adds to present law by specifying that a person commits theft of services by intentionally obtaining services by forgery or false statement, in addition to deception, fraud, coercion, false pretense or any other means, to avoid payment for the services. This amendment removes the bill's provision that makes the theft of property or services valued at $500 or less a Class E felony if such offense is the offender's second or subsequent offense after July 1, 2011, which involves theft of entertainment subscription services.

Unbelievably Super Low Jet Plane Flyby Literally Three (3) Feet Off Ground

This video has to be seen to be believed. Some even say it is fake, but I do not believe it is a fake. Click here if the video above does not appear.

Will Federal Government's Failure to Manage Department of Energy's Helium-3 Supply Lead to Nuclear False Flag Event?

According to law enforcement, there are definite nuclear threats at certain U.S. borders and ports (see: San Diego Port Officer Says Nuclear Devices Have Been Found In An American Port). Coincidentally (or not), the General Accountability Office releases a report called Managing Critical Isotopes: Weaknesses in DOE's Management of Helium-3 Delayed the Federal Response to a Critical Supply Shortage that discusses how a lack of helium-3 supply could lead to national security issues.

Helium-3 gas is a key component of equipment used at ports and border crossings to detect radiation and prevent the smuggling of nuclear material into the United States, among other uses.

Hmmm, if there is no helium-3 supply, then how will Homeland Security detect potential acts of terrorism (or a false flag event) via the transport of radioactive materials into the United States of America?

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a separate agency within the Department of Energy (DOE), extracts helium-3 and controls the inventory. Since 2003, NNSA has made helium-3 available for sale to DOE’s Isotope Development and Production for Research and Applications Program (Isotope Program). After September 11, 2001, demand increased for radiation detection equipment, and in 2008, the federal government learned that it faced a severe domestic shortage of the gas. GAO was asked to review DOE’s management of helium-3 to (1) determine the extent to which the federal government’s response to the helium-3 shortage was affected by DOE’s management of helium-3; (2) determine the federal government’s priorities for allocating the limited supply of helium-3; and (3) describe the steps that the federal government is taking to increase the helium-3 supply and develop alternatives to helium-3. GAO reviewed DOE and NNSA documents and interviewed cognizant agency officials

What GAO Recommends

GAO recommends, among other things, that DOE clarify whether the stewardship for those isotopes produced outside the Isotope Program, such as helium-3, rests with the program or another DOE entity. DOE stated that it understands and can implement these recommendations.

Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office

FLASHBACK: Molecular Farming Companies to Create GMO Conceptive Corn to Prevent Herpes & AIDS (2001)

I've heard that birth rates are declining at startling rates around the world among animals and humans. I cannot prove that GMO corn is responsible, but when I read articles like the one posted above from 2001 about GMO corn being able to kill sperm, it certainly makes me wonder. It makes me wonder if this GMO corn and/or other man-made creations are having negative effects on mankind.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer

###

For additional information, check out the Farm Industry News article Corn-Bred Pharmaceuticals from Karen McMahon:

Drugs to prevent herpes and AIDS may be grown in a farmer's field of corn. A collaboration between a well-established drug manufacturer and a new company developing antibody drug products may make corn plants the ultimate pharmaceutical factory.

Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI, and EPIcyte Pharmaceutical, San Diego, CA, recently announced a long-term agreement for bringing the new antibody technology to the marketplace. In the agreement, EPIcyte is responsible for the technology to grow the antibodies for human and animal pharmaceuticals in plants. Dow and Dow AgroSciences will process the plants and manufacture the drugs.

Mega Rust 2011: U.S. Navy Corrosion Conference (June 6-9, 2011 in Norfolk, Virginia)

Example of complex machinery afflicted with rust. No word on whether the U.S. Navy has transforming, intelligent robots in its arsenal.

I didn't realize that rust was such a major issue that it needed its own special conference. For anyone who is in Norfolk, Virginia in early June, you should see if the event is open to the public. I cannot tell from the site that would be selling the tickets if it is open to the public. You can always call the venue at the number listed on that site.

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Welcome to Mega Rust 2011: U.S. Navy Corrosion Conference

Mega Rust is an annual event that began in June 2005 and rotates among several locations to reach a broader audience and to best meet the needs of the U.S. Navy. Mega Rust combines five annual meetings and conferences:

• U.S. Navy and Industry Corrosion Technology Exchange, "Rust" Conference
• Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command's Fleet Corrosion Control Forum
• Naval Shipyard Coatings Group Meeting
• USCG Coatings & Corrosion Control Tiger Team Meeting
• U.S. Navy Submarine Preservation Conference

This conference brings together government, military, owners, operators, shipyards, research facilities, and coatings manufacturers and suppliers to discuss issues pertinent to the preservation industry.

Goals:

• Present the Fleet and industry's needs in areas of preservation
• Highlight new and innovative preservation technologies/methods, successful applications of new products, research and development, preservation of materials, environmentally compliant processes, and lessons learned
• Develop and maintain an infrastructure to provide essential feedback loops between the Fleet and industry that will facilitate the transfer of technologies presently available
• Focus on partnership opportunities between the Fleet and industry
• Provide training opportunities to Fleet and industry

Volcano Eruption at Grimsvötn Iceland as Seen from a Helicopter (Video)

This is a great video of the recent volcano eruption in Iceland. One of the best I've ever seen.

FEMA Region 6 & Arkansas To Participate In NLE 2011 Exercise Simulating a 7.7 New Madrid Fault Earthquake Starting May 16, 2011

For further information on the NLE 2011 exercise, check out the official NLE 2011 page.

The below quote is from the FAQ:

NLE 11 will simulate the catastrophic nature of a major earthquake in the central United States region of the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ), and involves the simulation of a magnitude 7.7 earthquake along the southern segment of the New Madrid Fault, closely followed by a magnitude 6.0 earthquake caused by a triggered event in the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone (WVSZ).

One of the official press releases from March, 2011.

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FEMA Region 6 & Arkansas To Participate In National Level Catastrophic Exercise In May

Release Date: March 17, 2011

Release Number: R6-11-055

» 2011 Region VI News Releases

DENTON, Texas -- FEMA Region 6 will partner with the state of Arkansas in a catastrophic earthquake exercise in May that will directly involve at least three other FEMA regions, several states and federal partners throughout the U.S.

Scheduled for May 16-19, National Level Exercise 2011 (NLE 2011) is designed to replicate a disastrous New Madrid Seismic event in Northeast Arkansas. The purpose of the exercise is to prepare and coordinate a multiple-jurisdictional integrated response to a national catastrophic event.

"NLE 2011 will focus on regional catastrophic response and recovery activities between federal, regional, state, tribal, local and private sector participants," said Region 6 Administrator Tony Russell. "Given recent and ongoing events in Japan, the decision months ago to focus on a catastrophic temblor was by chance, yet obviously appropriate for the U.S."

NLE 2011 is a White House-directed congressionally mandated exercise that includes the participation of all appropriate federal department and agency senior officials, their deputies and staff, and key operational elements.

For the latest NLE 11 news and developments, please call the FEMA Region 6 News Desk at 940-898-5454 or visit www.ready.gov/nle2011.

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Last Modified: Thursday, 17-Mar-2011 17:17:10

Dick Cheney Admits Osama Bin Laden Was Not Directly Involved In 9/11 (Video)

I think this audio speaks for itself. If you cannot see it above, then click here for the YouTube link.

Abbottabad Resident Says Osama Bin Laden Depicted in Videos Is Actually Akhbar Khan

Obviously, the testimonial weight of the President, the military and specifically the Navy Seal team that carried out the operation will presumptively be favored over the hearsay of Pakistani residents in a Court of law. However, that presumption is not absolute, especially in light of the government's history of lies and half-truths in connection with the dissemination of information to the masses.

Therefore, I must examine anything that might lead to admissible evidence such as this witness interview from the BBC stating that the alleged man depicted in the Pentagon/CIA home movies was not even Osama bin Laden.

"His name is Akhbar Khan (Han), He owns the house......I know him very well..."

The above quote begins around the 0:48 second mark if you click the picture above.

Source: BBC

Grand Gulf Nuclear Station Releases Radioactive Tritium into Mississippi River

Image Source: Bionerd

(Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license)

Not only is there a record flooding along many parts of the Mississippi River in Missouri, Illinois and Tennessee, there is an additional concern of dealing with a radiation release into the mighty Mississippi - specifically tritium (the radioactive isotope of hydrogen). The Grand Gulf Nuclear Station is responsible for the release.

An unknown amount of radioactive water was released accidentally into the Mississippi River late last week at the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station...

...An alarm apparently alerted workers to the presence of tritium, a byproduct of the nuclear reactor processes. The pumps were turned off stopping the flow.

Source: Natchez Democrat

Millions of King Crabs Invade Antarctica!

File photo of a king crab

With this recent invasion of king crabs in Antarctica, I wonder how long before we will see Deadliest Catch: Antarctica!

-- thousands, possibly millions, of king crabs are marching through icy, deep-sea waters and up the Antarctic slope.

"They are coming from the deep, somewhere between 6,000 to 9,000 feet down," said James McClintock, Ph.D., University of Alabama at Birmingham Endowed Professor of Polar and Marine Biology.

Source: Science Daily

Uruguay to Legalize Up to Eight (8) Marijuana Plants for Personal Use

Jurisdictions around the world are loosening the legal restrictions on marijuana. Many States in the United States have passed or are considering passing medical marijuana laws. Last year, California even attempted to legalize marijuana for non-medical uses too.

Uruguay is the latest country to jump into the mix by proposing to legalize marijuana. The below quote is from the translated story (via Google Translate), but you can read the original Spanish story here.

The Frente Amplio (FA) agreed a draft law to regulate the use of marijuana. The new text was adjusted between the Movement of Popular Participation (MPP), the Socialist Party and the New Space (NE).

The initiative, to be adopted on Tuesday 26 April by the bench of the FA in the Lower House, allowing the planting, cultivation and harvesting and industrialization and trade up to eight cannabis plants per household.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, "shall include quantity for personal consumption to 25 grams of marijuana," as defined in Article 3 of the bill agreed that El Pais.

Source: El Pais Digital

White Nose Syndrome Found in Kentucky Bat for First Time!

Bats eat millions of pesky insects every year and also help pollinate crops. The loss of bats will cause major issues in the cycle of events - namely in agriculture and pest control. For additional information on white-nose syndrome, check out this Remixx World! article from the April, 2010 archives - White-Nose Syndrome Fungus Kills Ninety Percent (90%) of Bats in Hibernia Mine (New Jersey's Largest Hibernaculum).

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Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet News Release

Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources

fw.ky.gov

White-nose Syndrome Confirmed In Kentucky Bat

Apr 13, 2011

Media Contacts:

Sunni L. Carr

Ky. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Resources

1-800-858-1549

Ann Froschauer
National White-Nose Syndrome Communications Leader
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(413) 253-8356

ann_froschauer@fws.gov

Tom MacKenzie
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

tom_mackenzie@fws.gov

Photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwshq/sets/72157626485081164/

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) have detected the presence of white-nose syndrome in a bat residing in Trigg County, located in southwest Kentucky.

A suspect little brown bat from a cave in Trigg County, about 30 miles southeast of Paducah, was submitted to the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (SCWDS) in Athens, Ga., which confirmed the disease.

White-nose syndrome was first detected in New York state in 2006. It has since killed more than one million cave-dwelling bats in eastern North America. Mortality rates of bats have reached almost 100 percent in multi-year infected caves. With confirmation of the syndrome in Kentucky, a total of 16 states - mostly in the eastern U.S. - and three Canadian provinces have now been confirmed infected.

“This is likely the most significant disease threat to wildlife Kentucky has ever seen”, said Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commissioner, Dr. Jonathan Gassett. “It would be professionally irresponsible to take no action to stop or slow this disease. Bats are an important part of our natural environment, acting as pollinators and consuming mosquitoes and other insect pests across the landscape. We plan to aggressively manage this threat as it occurs in Kentucky in order to protect and conserve our bat populations.”

Anticipating the arrival of white-nose syndrome (WNS) in Kentucky, biologists have taken exhaustive measures to limit its spread.

“We have had a long-term partnership to address white-nose syndrome in Kentucky since it was first discovered in New York state,” said Mike Armstrong, USFWS Regional WNS Coordinator. “Now that it is confirmed here, we will continue to support the state in their research and management to limit the spread as much as we can.”

WNS is known to be transmitted primarily from bat to bat, but fungal spores may be inadvertently carried to caves by humans on clothing and caving gear. Both state and federal agencies took pro-active measures to limit potential human movement of the disease. These measures included increased education on decontamination procedures, surveillance, monitoring and cave closures on private, state and federal lands. All measures were included in the “Kentucky WNS Response Plan” developed in 2009.

Kentucky was the first state to develop a response plan to address WNS both before and after its arrival in the state.

Almost 100 hibernacula were checked throughout Kentucky during the winter. The Trigg County cave was one of five revisited by scientists upon confirmation of WNS in Ohio. These hibernacula were rechecked due to their known proximity to infected sites in adjacent states. The privately-owned Trigg County cave is used as a hibernaculum by six species, including the endangered Indiana bat, and is a summer roost for the endangered gray bats.

Surrounding caves were checked within a 16-mile radius; no additional infected sites were found. Measures were taken to limit the spread of WNS beyond the Trigg County cave that is regularly used as a hibernaculum by more than 2,000 bats. These included removing and euthanizing 60 highly suspect little brown bats and tri-colored bats, as they were not expected to survive.

Bats collected will be used to provide critical information to researchers. Under the direction of Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s veterinarian, Dr. Aaron Hecht, staff from SCWDS collected samples from the bats.

“A better understanding of the disease process will enhance our ability to respond to outbreaks,” said Hecht.

Spores of Geomyces destructans, the fungus associated with WNS, are known to reside in the environment. Physical barriers were strategically affixed within the cave to prevent bats from roosting in areas known to harbor infected individuals. These barriers will not alter the climate or restrict passageways used by bats. Scientists are attempting to reduce the possibility of other bats from coming in direct contact with the fungal spores and becoming infected. White-nose syndrome does not affect people.

Pest-control services provided by insect-eating bats in the United States likely save the U.S. agricultural industry at least $3 billion a year, and yet insectivorous bats are among the most overlooked economically important, non-domesticated animals in North America, according to an analysis published in this week’s Science magazine Policy Forum. (Source: USGS)

For more information about white-Nose syndrome, visit these websites: www.fw.ky.gov

www.fws.gov/WhiteNoseSyndrome

www.flickr.com/photos/usfwshq/sets/72157626485081164

www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=2743

Easter Stabbing at Venice Beach Drum Circle on April 24, 2011

At 3:05 of the above video, some dude says that he used his "wife beater" to save the guy's life who was stabbed. The dude also says that a fight broke out over dancing and that the guy was stabbed in the abdomen.

I have attended the Venice Beach Drum Circle on past Sunday occasions, so if I had been on my skateboard this past Sunday, I might have stopped by. Fortunately, I did not leave my couch, because you never know when you might be collateral damage to some nonsense.

I wonder if this is going to be a wild summer in 90291, because Venice has been seeing a lot of violence in the last few weeks including a shooting.

Source: Yo! Venice