Toxic substances accumulate in the basins of coal ash in the 32 States

2009-01-09T08:18:00.000-08:00

Millions of tons of toxic substances accumulate in the ashes of coal power plants in 32 states of the ponds, a practice that the federal government has long recognized as a risk to human health and the environment, but left open.

An analysis of the Associated Press, the latest data from the Energy revealed that 156 coal-fired power plants to store the ashes in ponds surface similar to the one that collapsed last month in Tennessee.

WASHINGTON – Millions of tons of toxic coal ash is piling up in power plant ponds in 32 states, a practice the federal government has long recognized as a risk to human health and the environment but has left unregulated.

An Associated Press analysis of the most recent Energy Department data found that 156 coal-fired power plants store ash in surface ponds similar to the one that collapsed last month in Tennessee.

Records indicate that states storing the most coal ash in ponds are Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia and Alabama.

The man-made lagoons hold a mixture of the noncombustible ingredients of coal and the ash trapped by equipment designed to reduce air pollution from the power plants.

Over the years, the volume of waste has grown as demand for electricity increased and the federal government clamped down on emissions from power plants.

The AP's analysis found that in 2005, the most recent year data is available, 721 power plants generating at least 100 megawatts of electricity produced 95.8 million tons of coal ash. About 20 percent — or nearly 20 million tons — ended up in surface ponds. The remainder ends up in landfills, or is sold for use in concrete, among other uses.

The Environmental Protection Agency eight years ago said it wanted to set a national standard for ponds or landfills used to dispose of wastes produced from burning coal.

The agency has yet to act.

As a result, coal ash ponds are subject to less regulation than landfills accepting household trash. The EPA estimates that about 300 ponds for coal ash exist nationwide. And the power industry estimates that the ponds contain tens of thousands of pounds of toxic heavy metals.

Without federal guidelines, regulations of the ash ponds vary by state. Most lack liners and have no monitors to ensure that ash and its contents don't seep into underground aquifers.

"There has been zero done by the EPA," said Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W. Va., chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee. Rahall pushed through legislation in 1980 directing the EPA to study how wastes generated at the nation's coal-fired power plants should be treated under federal law.

In both 1988 and 1993, the EPA decided that coal ash should not be regulated as a hazardous waste. The agency has declined to take other steps to control how it is stored or used.

Rahall plans to introduce legislation this Congress to compel the EPA to act. "Coal ash impoundments like the one in Tennessee have to be subject to federal regulations to ensure a basic level of safety for communities," Rahall said.

At a hearing held Thursday on the Tennessee spill, Senate Democrats called for stricter regulations.

"The federal government has the power to regulate these wastes, and inaction has allowed this enormous volume of toxic material to go largely unregulated," said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., who chairs Senate committee that oversees the EPA.

The agency says it is working toward a national standard and that there has been no "conscious or clear slowdown" by Bush administration officials who have run the agency since 2001 and often sided with the energy industry on environmental controls.

"It has been an issue of resources and a range of pressing things we are working on," said Matthew Hale, who heads the agency's Office of Solid Waste.

Over the years, the government has found increasing evidence that coal ash ponds and landfills taint the environment and pose risks to humans and wildlife. In 2000, when the EPA first floated the idea of a national standard, the agency knew of 11 cases of water pollution linked to ash ponds or landfills. In 2007, that list grew to 24 cases in 13 states with another 43 cases where coal ash was the likely cause of pollution.

The leaks and spills are blamed for abnormalities in tadpoles. The heads and fins of certain fish species were deformed after exposure to the chemicals. In 2006, the EPA concluded that disposal of coal waste in ponds elevates cancer risk when metals leach into drinking water sources.

Among the facilities listed by the EPA as potentially causing environmental damage were three run by the Tennessee Valley Authority, the same utility that operates the pond in Tennessee that failed last month.

Hale said the national standard would require monitoring for leaks at older, unlined sites and require the company to respond when they occur.

The industry already runs a voluntary program encouraging energy companies to install groundwater monitors. Industry officials argue that a federal regulation will do little to prevent pollution at older dump sites.

"Having federal regulations isn't going to solve those problems," said Jim Roewer, executive director of the Utility Solid Waste Activity Group, a consortium of electricity producers based in Washington. "What you have to look at is what the current state regulatory programs are. The state programs continue to evolve."

Despite improvements in state programs, many states have little regulation other than requiring permits for discharging into waterways — as required by the federal Clean Water Act.

In North Carolina, where 14 power plants disposed of 1.3 million tons in ponds in 2005, state officials do not require operators to line their ponds or monitor groundwater, safety measures that help protect water supplies from contamination.

Similar safety measures are not required in Kentucky, Alabama, and Indiana.

And while other states like Ohio have regulations to protect groundwater, those often don't apply to many of the older dumps built before the state rules were imposed.

Government enforcement has been spotty, leaving citizens who suffered from the contamination to file lawsuits against power companies.

In May, the owners of a Montana power plant — storing more ash in ponds than any other facility in the country — agreed to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit filed by 57 plant workers and nearby residents. The plant's ponds were blamed for contaminating water supplies in subdivisions and a trailer park.

Many of the ponds at the Colstrip, Mont., plant were in place before regulation. State environmental officials say the operator, PPL Montana, is working to fix leaks.

Just last week, a judge in Baltimore approved a $54 million lawsuit settlement against a subsidiary of Constellation Energy. The company was accused of tainting water supplies with coal ash it dumped into a sand and gravel quarry.

Neither of these made the EPA's 2007 list of 67 cases of known or possible contamination stemming from power plant landfills or holding ponds.

"The solution is readily available to the EPA," said Lisa Evans, an attorney for Earthjustice, an environmental advocacy group. "We wouldn't like it, but they could say that municipal solid waste rules apply to coal ash. They could have done that, but instead they chose to do absolutely nothing."

How many work trains

2009-01-09T08:14:00.000-08:00

Chugging across continents or short distances, to act as an important means of transport in the world. Also known as railways or railroads, trains carrying passengers in their vehicles or goods - such as raw materials, inputs or finished products - and sometimes both.

Chugging across short distances or entire continents, trains act as a major form of transportation worldwide. Also called railroads or railways, trains carry within their cars passengers or freight -- such as raw materials, supplies or finished goods -- and sometimes both.

Back before the wild ideas of people like the Wright brothers, Henry Ford and Gottlieb Daimler, you had limited options for traveling around town and country. Paved roadways didn't always crisscross the countryside. Even with roads, horse-drawn vehicles still struggled to move people and goods, especially in bad weather. As early as 1550, pragmatic Germans constructed and used wooden railway systems, reasoning that horse-drawn wagons and carts could travel more easily and quickly over wooden rails than dirt roads. By the late 1700s, iron wheels and rails had one-upped wooden ones.

But it wasn't until the steam locomotive was invented in 1797 in England that the railroad as we know it began to take shape. The Stockton & Darlington Railroad Company in England became the first public railroad to carry passengers and freight. Steam-powered locomotives carried six coal cars and up to 450 passengers a distance of 9 miles (14 kilometers) in less than an hour. Horses just couldn't top that.

Across the ocean, the B&O Railroad Company established itself as the first U.S. railroad company in 1827. By 1860, U.S. rail workers had laid more than 30,000 miles (48,280 kilometers) of track, more than in the entire world [source: AAR]. Railroads served as the main mode of transportation and made it cheap and easy to ship supplies and goods, even for Union and Confederate armies during the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the U.S. railroad network expanded again, and the country's first transcontinental railway was completed in 1869. Towns sprouted along the railway lines, and the railroad hastened westward expansion. By the early 20th century, U.S. railroads operated 254,000 miles (408,773 kilometers) of track. Diesel locomotives had replaced steam ones.

But by the mid-20th century, the decline of the U.S. railroads had begun. A developed interstate highway system and extensive federal regulations took their toll on trains. In the ongoing energy crisis, however, trains, which run on diesel and sometimes even biodiesel fuel, may regain their former popularity with passengers as we move through the 21st century.

Don't get derailed. Stick around as we talk about train technology, how trains move people and freight, and what the future of rail transportation may hold.

The Consumer Electronics Show: Tom Hanks, TV 3D

2009-01-09T08:09:00.000-08:00

Tom Hanks was not sticking to the script. Called up to the stage by Sony boss Sir Howard Stringer during the keynote speech on the opening day of the Consumer Electronics Show Thursday morning, Hanks exsanguinated the hand that fed him. It was fun!

The movie star began by saying he was not here in Las Vegas to promote Angels and Demons, the Sony film in which he stars, which is slated for a spring release. No. "I'm here simply because of Betamax regret," he said, referring to the losing video format that Sony infamously backed in the 1970s. "I went VHS, what a fool I was! What a different world this would have been if I had been one of the 600 people who bought Betamax!"

The movie star began by saying he was not here in Las Vegas to promote Angels and Demons, the Sony film in which he stars, which is slated for a spring release. No. "I'm here simply because of Betamax regret," he said, referring to the losing video format that Sony infamously backed in the 1970s. "I went VHS, what a fool I was! What a different world this would have been if I had been one of the 600 people who bought Betamax!".

For Sony, it got worse from there. For the audience, it was a brief oasis of amusement in an otherwise relentless morning of corporate infomercials. "They write the lies, I tell the truth," Hanks said.

Stringer, who as usual gave as good as he got, and had to know what he was doing when he asked Hank to speak at CES, pronounced the actor's antics "generally speaking a plus, I think." Then he added: "I took a risk. It failed. But we'll still be friends. At least until after the movie."

The Consumer Electronics Show is an annual mecca for gadget hounds. Though attendance was down about 10% from 2008, 130,000 people showed up to walk the aisles and check out the latest gizmos. Among the highlights:

1. HDTVs are getting thinner and bigger. While that's not exactly news, it was hard not to be impressed by the gleaming, wafer-thin lineups of Sony, Samsung, Sharp, and LG, which have managed to shrink their screens down to half an inch in depth while offering screen sizes in the 100-inch-plus range. OLEDs, an amazing new display technology that draws little power but offers a huge array of colors, are now hovering around 21 inches, which means that competitive sizes at competitive prices with plasma and LCDs ought to be available in another year or so.

2. This is the year of 3D, with all of the same TV manufacturers showing off a variety of displays that work with either glasses, or create a 3D-like effect automatically on screen. Dozens of movies and video games are in the works that take advantage of improvements in 3D display technology. Indeed, Jeffrey Katzenberg, whom Stringer introduced as the "John the Baptist of 3D," was in full proselytizing mode, working the convention center floor, and giving interviews. Katzenberg has staked his DreamWorks Animation's future on the technology; it's the first studio to be authoring all of its movies in 3D from here on in. Indeed, Monsters vs. Aliens, due out in March, is DreamWorks first native 3D movie. To promote it, DreamWorks, in conjunction with Pepsi and Intel, this week began giving out free 3D glasses at grocery and convenience stores nationwide. Katzenberg said that more than 120 million pairs will be on store shelves in time for Super Bowl XLIII. You'll be able to use the glasses to watch a 3D commercial at halftime, as well as an episode of the NBC comedy Chuck, on Feb. 1. (The anaglyph glasses look like the old red/green 3D movie glasses of yore, but are much improved; 3D movies use an even better technology, with hard-plastic polarized lenses that theaters will hand out.)

3. Palm gave the public a first look at the Pre, its entry in the smartphone race. (Neither price nor release date was disclosed.) Palm's cell phone operating system was in dire need of an upgrade; the Treo, which once ruled the category, is now a distant fourth behind the Apple iPhone, the RIM Blackberry and phones running Microsoft's OS. The stylish Pre was a hit with attendees — it has a touchscreen like the iPhone that slides away to reveal a keyboard, and it can run many applications at once, rather than one at a time, which is the iPhone's limitation. It'll be sold exclusively by Sprint, which needs a hit as badly as Palm. Palm also anticipates building other devices that use its new OS.

4. Microsoft announced it was releasing a beta version of Windows 7, effective immediately. This is something that can't happen soon enough for Windows users who have been alienated by Vista, the current OS. The beta is being billed as faster, more reliable and easier to use. Perhaps Microsoft could get Tom Hanks to do the commercials.

While all you early-adopters are waiting for the Windows 7 page to offer the official beta, check out the How-To Geek's seriously extensive walkthroug

2009-01-09T08:03:00.000-08:00

While all that early adopters are waiting for the official offer page 7 for Windows beta, see Help To Geek seriously extensive guide to almost everything that is new here (and our best performance characteristics of base).

The volunteers spend a week at horse rescue in Canada

2008-12-28T06:33:00.000-08:00

McBride, BC - Two frostbite, the horses are in a stable to heat, malnutrition Saturday by volunteers who spent the week before Christmas to complete the excavation of the animals on the snow in the mountains Northern British UK.

Birgit Stutz said Saturday she and other rescuers applauded when they finally completed the excavation of a half-mile from the escape route through the snow for the animals. The horses had been abandoned by a hunter and face almost certain death.

Stutz said that horses are allowed restrained and seemed to know that they were confident that the volunteers took over seven hours of hiking in freezing temperatures on Tuesday. He said that on 40 or 50 people participated in the rescue in a week.

"It was a great effort," Stutz said in a telephone interview.

He said that the horses were discovered on December 15 by two residents of the region. Were above the tree line and not in the first house.

Logan Jeck and fell with a friend while the horses in search of snow left by tourists who were caught during a trip to the country again on the slopes of Mount Renshaw - about 750 miles north of Vancouver .

First, young people think more humane thing to do would be to draw on malnourished horses to get them out of their misery.

"They are in place to assess the situation and decide to shoot or to give them hay. They decided he had enough life in them, so that when it all started," said Stutz.

During a week, a growing number of residents trudged the mountain with shovels in hand to dig an escape by six feet (two meters) of snow. Stutz said that volunteers had to dig a trench a little more than half a mile long through the brush along the mountain.

On December 19, the local chapter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals sent a couple of officials with a veterinarian to examine whether the animals could escape by helicopter.

Shawn Eccles, an officer of the Protection of Animals, said on a scale of 1 to 9, the health of horses at a nominal value of 2.

The horses are under the care of a veterinarian and are fed and watered it carefully.

"They are doing well," said Stutz.

Stutz said that she and her friends have spent much time and effort in the rescue did not really have time to prepare for the holidays. His family did not even put a Christmas tree, but nobody complains.

"This is probably the best Christmas present, a person may have to get these horses here," he said. "While knowing that we have done to help these poor creatures out there in the cold and that security is a better Christmas than you might otherwise."

New security threats online

2008-12-27T10:58:00.000-08:00

Internet security has deteriorated dramatically this year a new generation of computer attacks invasive, often run by criminal gangs, has reached a higher level of sophistication, according to recent studies of online threats.

"It is getting worse year after year," said Pat Peterson, chief investigator for the safety of Cisco Systems, which blamed the deterioration in the fact that the team of "piracy" is becoming a major business. "Capitalism is working against us," he said.

"It's a step back after things had better come," said John Pescatore, a security analyst at Gartner.

In particular, security experts warn that the so-called botnets, networks or "slave" PCs whose owners are not aware their machines have been infected, the two have become more frequent and sophisticated.

In planting software on a PC without monitor, criminals are able to mount large networks of machines to perform tasks for them such as launching attacks against other Internet users.

PCs that are part of botnets, some of which cover more than 1 m or machines, are increasingly difficult to identify and eliminate in recent months as a rogue software Burrowes has deeper into the machines, said Paul Wood , A senior analyst at MessageLabs.

Botnets have also become more dangerous than their drivers have learned to repurpose networks of the slave trade to carry out different tasks, "said Peterson. A network that was originally used to steal users' passwords and send spam has been a revision of this year to enable it to attack legitimate Web sites, according to Cisco.

A second major new threat that was notable this year has been commandeering legitimate websites and email accounts to spread malicious software. Rogue software is used to control public websites and "inject" code in those who are vulnerable, so that later visitors to the sites may be infected.

The decline in Internet security continues for several years during which most of online threats has been successfully held in the bay or in some cases, pushed backward. The use of the Internet to exploit the vulnerability of millions of PC the first time as a major threat in 2001 after an outbreak of rapid spread of viruses and worms.

These threats have been largely disappointed after a concerted effort by Microsoft and other software makers to plug holes in its code, and after an anti-virus software has become more widely used. A new wave of spyware that have emerged in the middle of this decade has also been postponed.

However, the prospect of making large sums of money to steal sensitive information of millions of users, such as passwords or financial data, has led to a new and more insidious onset of the massive Internet attack .

Scientific illiteracy among the celebrities of fashion

2008-12-27T10:56:00.000-08:00

In terms of science, Barack Obama is not better than many of us. Today joined the list of shame for those in public life who have made scientifically insupportable in 2008.

Closer to home, Nigella Lawson and Delia Smith failed in the science of food, while Kate Moss, Oprah Winfrey and Demi Moore get all the roasts of scientific illiteracy.

The Heart of examination and Science 2008, prepared by the group Sense About Science, identifies some of the worst examples of scientific illiteracy among those who profess to know better - including politicians.

Mr. Obama and John McCain blundered in the MMR vaccine row during his presidential campaigns. "We have seen the rise of one type of autism," said Obama elected president. "Some people are suspicious that is connected to the vaccines. This person included. The science is not conclusive, but we to research, "he said.

His words were echoed by Mr. McCain. "It is indisputable that [autism] is on the rise among children, the question is what is the cause," he said. "There is strong evidence that it has to do with a condom in vaccines. "

Exhaustive investigation failed to substantiate links to vaccines or preservatives. The increase in autism is thought to be due to greater awareness of the state.

Sarah Palin, Mr. McCain's operating mate, waded through the mud with his dismissal of some research projects of the government. "Sometimes these dollars to projects that have little or nothing to do with the public good. Things like fruit fly research in Paris, France. I do child, "said Palin. However, the geneticist Ellen Solomon Palin takes the task of not understanding the importance of studies in fruit flies, which share about half their genes with humans. "They have been used for over a century to understand how genes work, which has implications, for example, understanding the aging process," he said.

Hollywood has not escaped criticism commentators scientists, who lambasted Tom Cruise, for his comments on psychiatry is a crime against humanity, and Julianne Moore, who warned against the use of chemicals not natural .

"The real crime against humanity remains the continuing misery caused by major mental illnesses in the world, and lack of resources to support those affected," said psychiatrist Professor Simon Wessely.

In response to Moore, author of the Science and chemist John Emsley said that natural chemicals are not safer than synthetic chemicals, which undergo rigorous testing.

"Something that is natural, May and include a mixture of things that can cause an adverse reaction," said Dr Emsley.

The entries were the heads of Nigella Lawson, who said that "the spirit of the meal may make you feel differently about life, and Delia Smith, said it was possible to eliminate the sugar in the food. Dietitian Catherine Collins Lawson said that the support of the expensive food allergy is a missed opportunity, and too expensive for people of limited income, while Lisa Miles of the British Nutrition Foundation said that sugars are part of a diet balanced.

Kate Moss, Oprah Winfrey and Demi Moore all embraced the idea that you can detoxify your body or with food (scientific unbearable), or in the case of Moore, products such as "highly trained medical leeches" , That make you bleed. Scientists stress that food alone can not eliminate toxins and the blood itself is not a toxin, and even if it contains toxins, eliminating a few that will not help.

But the first prize went to the lifestyle guru Carole Caplina to denounce a study showing that vitamin supplements offer little or no health benefits as a "waste" - is the third year of a career that has been mentioned in the review. Science writer and member Ben Goldacre noted that the study of Mrs. Caplina referred to is more published. "Carole must understand that research can often produce results that call into question our prejudices is the reason that science is more interesting than just following your nose," says Goldacre.

The price of retail gasoline drift to 58 months low

2008-12-27T10:50:00.000-08:00

Price of retail gasoline declined Friday to the lowest level in nearly five years. And while crude futures rose, analysts see as a temporary pause in a range, as the arc down the recession is spreading.

"We pay about one billion dollars a day less than they were in July" for gasoline, "said Tom Kloza, publisher and chief oil analyst at Oil Price Information Service . "We could probably bail to certain banks and perhaps even some of the auto companies save money."

But the cheap gas is bitter news for an economy that shed millions of jobs this year. Pump prices are driven down because most Americans are more stay at home. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said the travel habits of Americans are "change" as drivers clocked least 9 million miles in October, even if gas prices plunged.

Terrible holiday retail sales, employment and the reduction of uncertainty in world trade all suggest that demand for energy companies and consumers continue to decline over the next year.

"On Tuesday or Wednesday, one can easily see nearby crude oil to $ 3 less than it is today," said Jim Ritterbusch, president of energy consultancy Ritterbusch and Associates.

New evidence that OPEC has reduced production and a weakening dollar pushed the price of crude oil Friday in light trading.

Light, sweet crude for February delivery rose 2.36 U.S. dollars, more than 6 percent, to close at 37.71 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Trade was closed Thursday for Christmas.

In London, February Brent rose 1.76 dollars to settle at 38.45 dollars per barrel on the ICE Futures Exchange.

Tumbling oil prices have caused a huge drop in the price of retail gasoline.

At the pump, gas prices fell to six retail tenths of a cent overnight to a national average of 1642 U.S. dollars per gallon Friday, well below the year ago using 2981 U.S. dollars per gallon according to the AAA and the Oil Price Information Service. The last time the retail price of this passage was low in February 2004, Kloza said.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, which represents about 40 percent of world supply, announced cuts in crude oil production by more than 4 million barrels per day, seeking to stem falling prices. OPEC, however, have a history of ignoring quotas announced crude and traders await concrete evidence that the 13-nation has been tightening the tap.

Analysts noted that the release of the United Arab Emirates advising clients to reduce the supply almost immediately. State-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said that reducing the production of certain grades of crude over 15 percent next month.

"For the moment at least, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates appear to be in full compliance with the cuts," said analyst Olivier Jakob of Petromatrix in Switzerland.

OPEC May meet again in Kuwait City from 19 January to discuss further production cuts. The group of the next official meeting is on March 15 in Vienna.

Investors in recent months have ignored the supply cuts from OPEC, questions of conduct clearly market demand. What is kept crude oil prices in four years, is the constant drumbeat of bleak low economic news shows that consumers are not spending as they did.

The latest comes from a preliminary report from MasterCard SpendingPulse, said that retail sales fell between 5.5 percent and 8 percent during the holiday season, compared to last year. The exception cars and gas sales, which fell 2 percent to 4 percent, according to SpendingPulse.

SpendingPulse is a division of MasterCard Advisors, which tracks total sales paid by credit card, checks and money.

Crude rose 70 per cent of its value since July and this month has fallen by more than 17 dollars per barrel, down 30 percent.

Tom Kloza said he knows that oil prices are ready for a sustained recovery in global demand is consistent with last year's levels for several weeks.

"Before you turn the corner, you need to get the angle," said Kloza. "And now we are seeing the demand for gasoline running over 3 percent to 5 years behind levels .

Eyes of investors more evidence that the fall in consumer demand in the United States and Europe is undermining the growth of export-dependent Asia, as production in major Japanese manufacturers fell by the largest margin ever in November.

Japanese industrial production fell 8.1 percent in November from a month earlier, the biggest drop since the government began measuring such data in 1953, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry , Said Friday.

The decline followed a fall of 3.1 percent in October, and the government expects another 8 percent plunge in December.

"These are very ugly figures show that worsened the recession in Japan," said Christoffer Moltke-Leth, director of sales for the trading of Saxo Capital Markets in Singapore. "I do not see a catalyst to bring crude higher. We will probably test $ 30. "

Many companies probably bleak report sales for the fourth quarter and in May reduced the use of massive expectations impairment or a time of the indictment, Moltke-Leth said.

"I think many entrepreneurs want to do everything bad in the fourth quarter because the market should be so bad, why not put all that there can," he said. "There will be a lot of bad corporate news in the coming weeks, and will strengthen the demand for destruction of the oil issue. "

In other Nymex trading, gasoline futures rose 5.17 cents to settle at 88.4 cents per gallon. The heating oil gained 4.67 cents to settle at 1245 dollars a gallon while natural gas for January delivery fell 8.4 cents to settle at 5826 U.S. dollars per 1,000 cubic feet.

The Hollywood stars, high-tech opening party portfolios Obama

2008-12-27T10:49:00.000-08:00

Including Hollywood stars Halle Berry and Steven Spielberg and heads of high-tech giants like Google and Microsoft are opening their wallets to help finance Barack Obama part of the inauguration.

Obama, according to its vote in the political purge of U.S. influence, ordered that the names of all donors inauguration, held by previous presidents, will be published on the Internet.

Lists of stumping for the inauguration on January 20 show that Spielberg and his wife, Kate, each gave the maximum donation of $ 50,000.

Actress Halle Berry, as working for Bumpers Inc. production company, also gave $ 50,000, as comedian and actor Jamie Foxx.

A Sharon Stone, California is also on the list with a donation of 50,000.

Obama inauguration of the Fund is also attracting contributions from major U. S. Internet titans and the software industry.

Google CEO Eric Schmidt, who served in the campaign Obama Economic Advisory Council, gave $ 25,000, and Google co-founder Larry Page and Google Vice President Marissa Mayer.

Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft gave $ 50,000, and his wife, Connie.

The former star basketball and businessman Earvin "Magic" Johnson also gave $ 25,000 and five family members of the financier and billionaire philanthropist George Soros earned 250,000 U.S. dollars between them.

The fund is required to pay for the long list of dances and other commemorative events surrounding the inauguration day. Big Money Donors can expect special privileges and access to VIP ticket events.

The list of fund-raising is detailed in the Presidential Inaugural Committee's Web site pic2009.org/donors.

Obama Commission, in contrast with previous inaugural committees, said not to accept contributions from businesses, political action committees, unions, pressure groups or non-citizens.

Cool 21 iPhone Apps

2008-12-24T13:32:00.000-08:00

So, you have a new bright iPhone 3G. After several calls to your friends, snap a few pictures, then try it on a Web browser, it's time to load, what with the software. Because this device can be far beyond the usual calls, SMS and surfing. Apple's communicator extraordinaire knows how to move it in space, I can say where on Earth, you can control with multi-finger gestures. Only a few desktop computers, the developers so many ways, programmers with hundreds of applications. 21-program, we are gathered here, your new device in more than a phone.

Stanza and eReader can convert it into an e-book reader. Go'09 dam to make your phone a restaurant locator, who knows where they are located, while OneTap films not only for your local talkies. Want more immediate fun? Try Ms. PAC-MAN and you've got a retro handheld game consoles.

For sound entertainment, comfort your ears with Pandora, and melodies that are bound, and on the basis of earlier decisions that you've made. But if you want to tune in your music collection, electricity from your computer to the media. Do you have a rather create their own music? Ocarina produce dulcet tones used with a microphone and speakers for the iPhone on the soothing woodwind instrument. The application of the "world view" you can even share your creations with the world. But for the countless times when you do not want brilliant ideas to slip away, there Speakeasy voice recorder, which is exactly what the name says.

We have sports fans who are treated here as well. Free Sportacular keeps you up to date on your team latest results, wherever you are. Lite Caddy.me iPhone is clever use of GPS. It helps you sink a little white ball into the cup, so you know exactly how much you are from the hole. World Sports fans will be delighted Real Soccer 2009, footie simulated professional games, and even uses real-name player, you can now Ronaldinho with you!

Some of the software can calculate your work-life support, too. Air conditioning, you can wirelessly share files from your computer. Text and Guru is a full-featured text, finally gives the iPhone cut-and-paste skills. Microsoft Seadragon, but primarily technology demonstration at the time, brings the promise of a new way to make large quantities of data in a small form factor. Currently, the impressive, what with large collections of files, but the designers expect their ability to communicate in the future documents.

We could not miss after everyone's favorite Web activities: social networking. Free Facebook app you can not only live in peace with your friends' updates, as well as chat and instant images to upload to your profile. Start the year and free Yahoo oneConnect social networking tool is actually aggregate several social network feeds into one interface. You can check on your Facebook, Bebo, Flickr and other accounts. You can chat with Yahoo Instant Messenger contacts with the app. For more instant messaging, check out BeejiveIM, hooks, with more messaging services. This brings you the 13 dollars, even if they are substantially more than most iPhone applications.

In any case, not your tretirajte iPhone just like a mobile phone, an iPod, and mobile Web browser. This is a darned good start, but the device can do much more. To read the complete review of these programs, click on the links in this article or brief summaries below. And the search for more software and Web applications for mobile phones, PDAs, laptops, PCs and make sure you visit our guide for the software product.

Spirituality points found in the brain

2008-12-24T13:31:00.000-08:00

What makes us feel spiritually? This could be quieting small areas in our brain, suggests a new study.

Area in question - the right parietal lobe - responsible for the definition of "Me," said Johnstone brick researchers at the University of Missouri. This is a self-criticism, he said, and leads us through the physical and social terrain constantly updated by our self-knowledge: my hand, my cocktail, my witty conversation skills, my new love interest ...

People with less active Me Defines more spiritual life, the study reported in the current edition Zygon.

Most previous research on neuro-spirituality is based on brain scans, and actively trained followers (ie, meditating monks, nuns pray) and has led to a broad and unclear results. (Is this part of the brain lighting in response to the verse or spiritual experience?)

Johnstone said Bret glass and colleagues turned to proven techniques for Neuroscience in the early days - the study of brain-injured patients. The researchers tested brain regions, which in previous studies with imaging tests every area of expertise - as the study on the performance of the ear with the hearing. They then sought correlations between brain regions and performance problems "on its own data spirituality.

Among the more of 26 spiritual issues, the researchers are not exactly a university right lobe functional, physical state, in May mentally translate such as decreased self-esteem and self-confidence to concentrate.

About the results indicate that the tenant core spiritual experience, selflessness, said John Stone, adding that he hopes the study helps people, about spirituality in more specific ways. "

Spiritual outlook have long been associated with better mental and physical health. These advantages, Johnstone speculated, May rose by less focused on themselves and on the other side - a natural consequence of turning up the volume on the Inter-DEFINER.

Besides the religious practice, behavior and other experiences, which are known, the Hush DEFINER from me. Appreciation of art or nature can be peaceful, Johnstone said, pointing out that people say that the "Lost" in a particularly beautiful song. Love, love and work, the boundaries of "Me," he said.

The biggest silencing of the Inter-DEFINER probably happened in the deepest state of meditation or prayer, said John Stone, when practitioners describe the feeling seamlessly with the entire universe.
This means that the highest point of spiritual experience appears when the "I" completely lost its definition.

"If you are in the Torah, the Old Testament, New Testament, the Koran, a lot of Sufi writings, Buddhist and Hindu scriptures, the scriptures, all the talk about selflessness," said Johnstone.

Like a Beverly Hills doctor powered his SUV with his patients' replacement tires.

2008-12-24T13:21:00.000-08:00

Liposuctioning unwanted blubber from the pampered Los Angelenos May not seem like a dream job, but it has its advantages. Fuel is one of them.

For the time, Beverly Hills doctor Alan Craig Bittner, he turned fat removed from patients biodiesel fuel, that his Ford SUV and his girlfriend's Lincoln Navigator.

Love handles can power a car? Threatens. Fat - whether animal or vegetable - contains triglycerides that can be extracted and diesel engines. Poultry companies like Tyson is about the supply of trucks on their chicken Schmaltz, biofuels and start-ups like the mixing of Nova Biosource beef fat and fat pork with a more palatable sources such as soybean oil. Mike shook the agricultural process innovations, a producer of biodiesel plants, says this year the batch number of U.S. biodiesel is probably more than half of animal origin, such as the price of soybeans rose.

A gallon of fat to one liter of fuel, a driver can have the same amount of fat for fuel mileage, such as regular diesel, according to Jenni Higgins from the National Biodiesel Board. Animal fats have an extra step to get rid of free fatty acids in vegetable oils, but otherwise there is no difference, she says.

Greenies, and the fact that waste, and sediment-French fry grease can to power. "The vast majority of my patients ask, that I am with her fat for fuel - and I have more fat than you can use," wrote lipodiesel.com Bittner. "Not only do they lose their love handles or chubby belly, but they receive for participating in saving the earth." Lipodiesel Bittner site is no longer online.

With grease-fuel cars could be environmentally friendly, but it is certainly illegal in California for the use of human medical waste, to drive vehicles and Bittner is currently regulated by the state in the field of public health department.

While it is unclear whether Bittner started and stopped too thick or fuel, he said, his activities came to light after recent complaints from patients who say he allowed his assistant and his girlfriend for surgery without a medical license .

Scientists warning of damage to Christmas lights planet

2008-12-24T13:12:00.000-08:00

Scientists have warned that the Christmas lights are bad for the planet from the huge wastage of electricity, and people are invited to a festive energy efficient light bulbs.
CSIRO researchers said households should know that every lamp in the name of Christmas, increasing emissions of greenhouse gases.

Dr Glenn Platt, leads the research on energy, said Australia has 80 percent of its electricity by burning coal, pumps, the harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

He said: "Energy-efficient bulbs, such as LEDs, and on the Christmas lights, and the countdown are two very simple ways to minimize the amount of electricity you use your lights."

He said that the people of electricity from the central carbon-intensive coal-based power plants, which were responsible for emitting more than one third of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions.

Dr. Platt added: "For Christmas without the emission of light show can be used with a solar-powered lamps or confirm their sourcing suppliers of electricity from green."

Toyota Goes Electric With concept Hush Hush

2008-12-23T22:26:00.001-08:00

Toyota brings a small electric city car concept vehicle at the Detroit Auto Show, where in addition to the new Prius hybrid.

Nobody says a lot about the car also confirmed that it is completely electric, and less than the Prius. "It is a concept which shows that on the site to confirm our interest in electric vehicles," says spokeswoman Jana Hartline, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The Japanese automaker, which expects that after the first operating loss in 70 years, speed up R & D batteries and can EFD already in 2010 - at which point is also planning to introduce the Prius is the first plug-in hybrids as part of its campaign to have the oil.

Toyota is not a big thing in the world premiere of the EV-concept, which stretches along the pedestrian zone and Camrys corollas on the first floor, and do not have a press conference prior to the public. This is unusual, also known concept car with a major automobile manufacturer fanfare.

However, there is little doubt Toyota full electrification of the automobile. The company has set itself the ambitious "low carbon" agenda for cranking million annually hybrids in the first half of next decade and to accelerate the development of small electric vehicles for mass production. "We are of the view that the peak production of oil in the near future. We have the power (and) for alternative energy sources," company president Katsuaki Watanabe told reporters as he announced on the agenda in October.

Santa must be real, that it is on Google Earth

2008-12-23T22:18:00.000-08:00

As stated in the past four years, Google's mapping Claus' trek from the icy North Pole on rooftops around the world for Christmas. But this year, good girls and boys can have their gifts and mobile Twitter, too.

3 hours PST on Wednesday, Google Maps with Santa's current position on norāde Santa Web site, provided by Google and North American Aerospace Defense Command.

Santa's fans can also move in 3D on Google Earth uses a special norāde Tracks Santa KML. iGoogle users can create norāde Tracks Santa gadget to their iGoogle page.

Google will display high-resolution "Santa Cam" video is a gift shop sleds air. For locations without video, photos from Panoramio in Google Maps.

And for the first time, people can travel to Santa mobile phone with Google Maps for mobile phones and follow him on Twitter by clicking "@ noradsanta."

You can change the history of the Google tracking Santa efforts on the official Google blog.

Google's official norāde Santa tracking technology partners in the past year. Norāde is tracking Santa for over 50 years.

Investor Madoff possible suicide deaths

2008-12-23T22:12:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK (AP) - The founder of an investment fund that lost millions of Bernard Madoff was found dead Tuesday in his office on Madison Avenue possible suicide, authorities said.

Bodies found Rene-Thierry Magon de la Villehuchet at 7:50 without a pulse in his office by Access International Advisors, which is on the Madison Avenue a few blocks from Rockefeller Center.

A French newspaper reported that the 65-year-old de la Villehuchet suicide. The New York medical examiner spokeswoman says she has not determined the cause of death yet.

Madoff is accused, with a 50-billion-dollar Ponzi scheme negate that investors around the world, with major resources, such as de la Villehuchet This is particularly hard hit.

1.4-billion-dollar fund specializing in the management of safe and structured investment portfolios.

Oil at $ 38 a barrel on weak economic reports

2008-12-23T22:11:00.000-08:00

Oil prices fell below $ 38 a barrel Tuesday on the new evidence of weakness in the U.S. housing market and reduce the gross domestic product indicates that the worsening recession.

The report of the Ministry of Commerce showed that sales of new homes fell in November at the slowest pace in almost 18 years, while new home prices rose by the largest amount in eight months.

"The energy markets were mostly a reaction to bad news for the economy, and it seems as if you're waiting for something to happen, badly," said analyst Peter Beutel of Cameron Hanover oil.

A steady outpouring of gloomy economic news has pushed into the background to the events in the summer have led to price spikes, as the announcement by OPEC this month unprecedented production cuts, said the bag.

Prices are 73 percent since July, with the massive job layoffs and weak consumer spending on food away energy.

"Dude, it looks really bad for the beginning of 2009," said Tom Kloza, publisher and chief oil analyst at Oil Price Information Service.

"This is really hard to find something between now and the ceremony on time, which says that people feel better, go, they need to ship more packages," said Kloza.

Light sweet crude for February delivery fell nearly 5 percent, or $ 1.89, to $ 38.02 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices fell as low as $ 37.79 earlier in the day.

Overnight in February contract fell $ 2.45 to $ 39.91 a barrel, after Toyota Motor Corp. projected its first operating loss since it reporting these figures in 1941.

Economists now believe, a slight decrease in economic activity in the third quarter has significantly deteriorated.

The Commerce Department said Tuesday, gross domestic product, the maximum level of economic health, fell at an annual rate of 0.5 percent in July-September quarter. Corporate profits fell 1.2 percent.

Some economists believe the economy, in the period October to December could be as high as 6 percent. If yes, what would be the worst quarterly decline since 1982.

The pain seems to have agreed on almost all levels of the economy. On Tuesday, shares of the card maker American Greetings Corp. share fell to its lowest level since the age of 21 years after that the company swung to a loss in the third quarter.

On Monday, Ogden, Utah-based oil company Flying J Inc. and two of its subsidiaries filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, with a sharp decline in oil prices and the lack of funding by the disruption in the credit markets.

Flying J operates 250 passenger seats and service stations in 41 states and six Canadian provinces.

"They will not be the last in the marketing or refining, which eventually lead to bankruptcy during the next year or so," Kloza said. "It is tough out there."

Toby Hassall, an analyst at investment firm Commodity Warrants Australia in Sydney, predicted crude prices could fall as low as $ 25 per barrel next year before recovery occurs.

OPEC said last week slash production by 2.2 million barrels per day, the biggest decline of all, reducing the quantity of oil each day by 4 million barrels, if all previous cuts are included in the price.

"It is time to stop the flow through them, but there are some doubts as to whether the full consent," said Hassall. "It does not surprise me if the OPEC cut again in January or February. It was a fairly significant deterioration in demand."

Meanwhile, the Iraq Oil Ministry announced that it will open the second round of licenses for the development of huge oil and gas fields. Iraq is located on more than 115 billion barrels of oil, but decades of war, UN sanctions, violence and sabotage have battered its oil industry.

The Iraqis are betting that oil will rebound. But even if it remains low, it does not matter, said the bag.

"You need money," he said. "You can not have near the same amount of money through the sale of data."

Oil continues to curve to the price of gasoline, consumers with one of the few bright spots in the deterioration of the economy.

Retail prices for gasoline now 23rd Week 4 July weakened to a national average of $ 1653 per gallon since Monday after the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

"This is the lowest price for the pump in almost five years, or since February 2004," analyst and trader Stephen Schork Schork wrote in his report.

Gasoline futures on Nymex fell 5.3 cents to 83.3 cents per gallon. Heating oil fell 2.7 cents to $ 1.3141 per gallon, while natural gas for January delivery rose nearly 17 cents to $ 5462 per 1000 cubic meters.

In London, February Brent fell more than 4 percent, or $ 1.73, to $ 39.72 a barrel on the ICE Futures Exchange.

New questions for the iPod: The iDrunk?

2008-12-20T23:37:00.000-08:00

In those days, the iPod May be a lot of things. A musical instrument, a gaming device, phone, taxi Hailer, a trail tracker.

Apparently, it can also be alcohol breathalyzer.

IBreath with a $ 79 accessory, plugs into the iPod database, you can create your own sobriety test. A person who breathes in retractile "shock stick" and an internal sensor measures the content of alcohol in the blood. Within two seconds, and then the results on the LED screen. A reading of 08 or greater activated an alarm, signaling a blood alcohol over the legal driving limit in all 50 states.

"We are absolutely not in favor of driving under the influence of alcohol, but we know that people simply do not observe," said Don Bassler, CEO and founder David Steel Company in Newport Beach, the online retailer and creator of the iBreath. "We do not want people to think that it all seems fine, but it is a security device that we hope that the people, and it can save lives."

It is not all so optimistic about the prospects for the prevention of alcohol incidents.

Laura Dean-Mooney, national president of Mothers against drunk driving, said he was concerned that young people breathalyzer drinking game to see who had the highest score reading. (iBreath ceilings on reading to 20, two times more than the legal definition of intoxification.)

Holiday Smackdown: iPod Touch versus Zune

2008-12-20T23:31:00.000-08:00

Side-by-side comparison of some surprising results.

I am recovering addict iPod. Last fall I took my three year old tradition, when the headset jack on my black, 30 GB iPod Classic comes loose, so I'm with fuzzy sound on the right side. I do not have time to be determined - and funny enough, after a few days I did not miss much.

Even so, when the editor asked me to compare the Microsoft Zune Apple iPod Touch, I was sure my affinity for all hardware incubated in Cupertino, California, (I have a Mac user for years 5) would destroy my objectivity.

According to my information, here's my conclusion: The Zune is quite superb. Touch, however, is superfluous except Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL - news - people) iPod work schedule.

Cheaper than the highest gigabyte and touched at the same price as a classic, the Zune has a larger screen than the latter, and graphic quality as the previous. 120 GB Zune goes for $ 250, only $ 21 more than 8 GB Touch. 32 GB goes for touch-breaking 399th save $

In Pictures: Top 10 Most-sought-after gifts

And what did you with a touch? As anyone who ever knows what the iPhone ... without a phone. Touch is a web application for the case, you are in the range of Wi-Fi, but who wants to go to Hotspot hunting and if you have?

Most people who buy the Touch are required for the iPhone screen size, better video watching experience than any other iPod. But the camps is simply not enough: Even if the 32 GB, the best of luck in all your favorite music press, photos and movies.

Branch castle building for the first time in the country with his kind of eco-technology

2008-12-20T23:25:00.000-08:00

CASTLE BRANCH-A glimpse into the future may be hidden in the industrial area near the border with Readington.
Imperceptibly from the road, 1276 solar panels - enough for about three tractor trailers - about 85 percent of the roof of 31 tannery Road, home Ferreira Construction and Noveda Technologies.

At 41,508 square feet facility is the first commercial buildings in the country in all the needs for the electricity itself, and more, as well as solar panels are only one facet to the building that has been achieved "net zero" status.

Other features include a high roof units cool the plant, a solar-powered hot water heater and nine miles from the radiation of heat for the establishment of offices and business. The excess solar energy is converted, the company fleet of hybrid vehicles. Monitoring systems provide real-time data via the Internet from devices running.

"Energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, as well as measurement and visualization - if these three things, then you have the formula for success," said Edward H. Brzezowski, Executive Vice President and founder Noveda Technologies, one of the spear Ferreira, in this new technology.

Ferreira Construction of housing is a particular example of the green movement in the private and public sector to ensure the carbon footprint of buildings and save energy costs, because the state is to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

Other companies, cities and schools are working on their new and existing buildings more energy efficient. The government has teamed up with subsidies and other assistance to promote development, but some need more to say.

Going Green: "Green Building" includes several procedures that are used to mitigate negative impacts on environment and development, in accordance with Jennifer Senick, director of the Center for Rutgers in the Green Building at Rutgers University.

"Regardless of the cross-cutting challenges illiquid credit markets," toxic "mortgage debt, increased unemployment and lower gasoline prices, the trend growth in a green building is still in motion," said Senick, where more green buildings, more staff, training in green design and cities that have more green building programs or requirements.

Senick said two of the most popular green building programs are U. S. Green Building Council's leadership in energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system for an annex to the environmental sensitivity and U. S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star label for residential and commercial and industrial buildings.

New Jersey has registered 271 LEED certified projects and 38 projects, as well as 70 buildings and structures with the Energy Star label, according to figures cited by Senick.

New Jersey Senick said also shown in the green housing, particularly in developing affordable housing, with an emphasis on energy efficiency. Commercially, the state is somewhat slower than the gate compared to California or other parts of the country, but is now said Senick.

Ferreira Construction of the plant has a perfect Energy Star Rating and is responsible for the implementation of the LEED certification as an existing building, after Brzezowski.

"The owner said this is my home, I am a successful construction company, have to be around a long time as much as they can remain competitive, and how you can help the environment?" Brzezowski said.

The building of a trace of carbon - the amount of environment-damaging carbon dioxide generated - more than 85 percent, with 34 tons of carbon dioxide a year instead of 237 tons of possible non-renewable energy sources, according Brzezowski, who said the stores - and - money .

"And all my bills to pay, then after that conservative, I have $ 1.11 a square foot building this year," said Brzezowski. Ferreira usually spend about $ 2.31 per square foot in sales.

GOOD RESULTS: The use of patented technology is available from any computer, Brzezowski seen as solar cells, the building of carbon trace is reduced, the status of vehicles using solar energy and other teaching and monitoring, as the green features do.

"To ensure that these things lead to ensure green building green, you have to keep on eye on them, since most green buildings are not green, if you're close," said Brzezowski.

Brzezowski said the company money through loans to renewable energy - solar package and sell the goods in electric suppliers.

"If we do not have electricity, I expect, can not be on time for return and reconstruction," said Brzezowski.

Municipalities in Clinton, kinetic energy, which produces high-efficiency heating system and water, was recently with the 2008 New Jersey Clean Energy Leadership Award by the state Board of Public Utilities.

With the combination of technologies such as solar panels and more efficient lighting, the company was able to produce 34,000 kilowatt hours of solar energy and save 21,000 kilowatt hours of electricity within the extension office and for upgrades of its manufacturing plants. The numbers are also important. Savings from the use of efficient lighting, for example, is around $ 60 a year for each of the 56 valves, said company president Roger Marrani.

"The numbers add up pretty quickly," he said.

Trend: By 2009, 82 percent of companies nationwide are expected to greening at least 16 percent of their real estate portfolios. These companies, about 18 percent are greening more than 60 percent of their portfolio of properties, Senick in accordance with the data from the U. S. Green Building Council.

In the meantime, the state of new energy master plan, introduced in October, calls for building a new national code, which is in the new building is at least 30 percent more energy efficient than current state code by July 2009, and the development of a strategy to achieve zero net carbon radiation-building 31 tannery Road.

One of the goals at the end, the Government of Jon Corzine in 2007, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions at the level from 1990 to 2020, followed by a further reduction of emissions of 80 percent less than 2006 levels in 2050.

Both Ferreira Construction and Energy Kinetics uses clean energy incentives from the state or the federal government to continue with their projects, but may be more, especially in the midst of difficult economic times.

Jim Leonard, Senior Vice President of government relations with the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce said the bodies, as well as the management team incentives Committee utility make a good job, but also with the assistance, the return on investment is not fast enough for most companies.

"Number one is the financial barriers, especially now when there is limited dollars for investments," said Leonard of the companies implemented a green building.

While government incentives for more green buildings considered, Leonard, some private institutions that are in PSEG, for example, has 105 million dollars, according to solar for housing loans, the government / non-profit and commercial clients.

Ron Reisman, the Board of Public Utilities' Energy Business Office of the Ombudsman, said some green projects, repayment of three years or less.

"I think that if we talk about the company money, and looking back, they are too difficult to find another investment with more than 33 percent if they are in a period of three years to pay," said Reisman.

Reisman, however, added that some measures have to be repaid soon green and others are longer term.

"This is in no way trying to dissuade people from dealing with the solar or alternative but to require investment in the field of energy efficiency is generally lower than investing in renewable energy and have a much faster payback," said Reisman.

New Jersey Sierra Club executive director Jeff Tittell said resident can return $ 4 in savings for every dollar on energy efficiency, along with commercial organizations can return $ 16 savings for every dollar they invest.

Green as green, which means that by protecting the environment will also give you more green in your pocket, "said Tittell.

Government efforts: Senick said Green Building and LEED have been taken mainly by governments, schools and nonprofit organizations in the days when green building construction in the private sector is now faster public sector.

Local authorities are still making progress. Bridgewater groundbreaking ceremony in 2007 on a new $ 23.9-million complex that will get the first LEED-certified municipal buildings. Green elements for irrigation system that stores rainwater in the underground tank, a condition that the contractor definition recycled materials in construction.

Bernards began this summer on a new administration building at its wastewater plant on Martinsville Road with a number of green features.

Solar panels on the roof to heat water, while the reflective roof itself will be better absorbed heat. To collect rainwater in barrels and used for irrigation on the property, and additional windows to the ventilation and better use of natural light. Upon completion of the plant is a city first LEED-certified buildings.

"My opinion on the green stuff is that what we do in this direction is to give us money," said Mayor John Carpenter. "In principle, I think that is a good framework for the use of energy-efficient buildings."

After Steve Jobs, Apple is running?

2008-12-20T23:16:00.000-08:00

"We are in the early stages of changing the role of Apple's management structure," the Piper Jaffray Gene Munster wrote last week in the wake of Steve Jobs' decision that the principal at the Macworld Senior Vice President Phil Schiller - a Munster step as "a clear message that the great The shift is in progress. "

In this scenario, analysts, will remain as CEO jobs - "the face of Apple irreplaceable" - but a growing public role in the management of Munster team believes that is one of the company a competitive advantage, "but, unlike its world-famous CEO, virtually the unknown.

Who are these people?

We have a crack at handicap Apple (AAPL) Bank back in June last year when Jobs' gaunt appearance on the World Wide Developers Conference, the issue of his successor, a new urgency. (See Why Steve Jobs is so thin?)

Except for the removal of one of our favorites (Tony Fadell, leaving the team in November) and the controversial appointment of his successor (Mark Paper Master, a transition from IBM, which is still tied to the court) - faces have not changed.

Rather than repeat the exercise, we will take it again in its original form, under the door.

Google News - Most Popular

2008-12-20T23:09:00.000-08:00

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