PG&E pushes 'pumped hydro' for energy storage | Green Tech - CNET News

PG&E pushes 'pumped hydro' for energy storage | Green Tech - CNET News: "Despite all the advances in battery technologies, pumped hydro storage--essentially pumping water uphill and releasing it through a generator later--remains one of the cheapest ways to store bulk electricity on the grid."

Campaign For Liberty — Are You Smarter Than a 20th Grader?

Campaign For Liberty — Are You Smarter Than a 20th Grader?: "Who is surprised that businesses are cutting jobs again? Are taxes going up or down? Are regulations being added or removed? Are mandates increasing or decreasing? The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates the 20 new mandates in the Health Care Reform Bill will increase employers' benefit costs by 20% to 60%. What does that mean for jobs? Let's do the math.

For a firm with 1,000 employees, a 20% increase could mean more than $1 million in additional benefit costs. Divide by our magic number of $50,000 and you have 20 jobs that will be cut as a result of HCR."

"Last week Congress passed a $26 billion bailout of states to 'save' 160,000 government jobs. That is $162,000 per government job 'saved'. How many private sector jobs will it cost to 'save' them? You know the magic number - do the math. Plus one minus three is a net two jobs lost, so get ready to read about the President's economists being surprised again."

Chile miners have country rallying around hope of rescue - CSMonitor.com

Chile miners have country rallying around hope of rescue - CSMonitor.com: "Up and down the capital of Santiago, drivers honked their horns as news emerged that the 33 trapped Chile miners remain alive. Helping the miners persevere mentally may now be the greatest task, as rescue efforts could stretch to Christmas."

FOXNews.com - Hamburg: Massive egg recall dramatizes need for agency to have greater regulatory authority

FOXNews.com - Hamburg: Massive egg recall dramatizes need for agency to have greater regulatory authority: "At the same time, she said Congress should pass pending legislation that would provide her agency with greater enforcement power, including new authority over imported food."

What does imported food have to do with this? It sounds like a power grab.

FOXNews.com - Chief of Gulf oil spill damage claims says it was his idea to bar recipients from suing BP

FOXNews.com - Chief of Gulf oil spill damage claims says it was his idea to bar recipients from suing BP: "'It is not in your interest to tie up you and the courts in years of uncertain protracted litigation when there is an alternative that has been created,' Feinberg said.

He added, 'I take the position, if I don't find you eligible, no court will find you eligible.'"

It sure is nice to have a person in charge who knows all, is completely fair, and knows that is best for everyone!

Afghanistan corruption: How one town battled a shoddy school and won - CSMonitor.com

Afghanistan corruption: How one town battled a shoddy school and won - CSMonitor.com: "While sending the powerful to prison has its benefits, teaching ordinary Afghans how to resist the powerful may prove to be more successful. Proponents of this approach argue that could do more to establish Afghan democracy than much-hyped elections.

A group of Afghans held a successful sit-in after they discovered a contractor using shoddy bricks and cement on a girls school. The protest came about as part of a quiet effort to help citizens keep officials and businessmen on the straight and narrow.

“The quick approach is we are going to put the bad guys in jail. This is nice, but symbolic. A second bad guy will come,” says Lorenzo Delesgues, director of Integrity Watch Afghanistan (IWA), whose training led to the sit-in. “The answer is to create social pressure.”"

Pakistan floods: Why aid is so slow compared to Haiti earthquake - CSMonitor.com

Pakistan floods: Why aid is so slow compared to Haiti earthquake - CSMonitor.com: "nearly three weeks into the disaster in Pakistan, the roughly $230 million committed to help 15 million people affected breaks down to about $15 committed per flood affected person. Within 10 days of the Haiti earthquake, $742 million was committed (and $920 million pledged). With some 1.5 million people directly impacted, that breaks down to $495 per person committed, she says."

FOXNews.com - Probe Reveals Flaws in N.C. Prosecutions, Including High-Profile Murder Case

FOXNews.com - Probe Reveals Flaws in N.C. Prosecutions, Including High-Profile Murder Case: "at times, 'information that may have been material and even favorable to the defense of an accused defendant was withheld or misrepresented.'

The report does not conclude that any innocent people were convicted, noting the evidence wasn't always used at trials and defendants may have admitted to crimes. But it states prosecutors and defense lawyers need to check whether tainted lab reports helped lead to confessions or pleas."

FOXNews.com - Advocates say attorney general 'dragging his feet' on standards to prevent prison rape

FOXNews.com - Advocates say attorney general 'dragging his feet' on standards to prevent prison rape: "Justice Department statistics show that an estimated 4.5 percent, or 60,500 inmates, report being victims of sexual assault in federal prisons, said Pat Nolan, vice president of outreach program Prison Fellowship. It happens to almost 1 in 8 juveniles in custody."

The Science Behind Foldit | Foldit

The Science Behind Foldit | Foldit: "Foldit is a revolutionary new computer game enabling you to contribute to important scientific research. This page describes the science behind Foldit and how your playing can help."