Global warming already dangerous, risks being irreversible, says new UN global warming report

WASHINGTON (AP) — Global warming is here, human-caused and probably already dangerous — and it's increasingly likely that the heating trend could be irreversible, a draft of a new international science report says.

The United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on Monday sent governments a final draft of its synthesis report, which combines three earlier, gigantic documents by the Nobel Prize-winning group. There is little in the report that wasn't in the other more-detailed versions, but the language is more stark and the report attempts to connect the different scientific disciplines studying problems caused by the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gas.

The 127-page draft, obtained by The Associated Press, paints a harsh warning of what's causing global warming and what it will do to humans and the environment. It also describes what can be done about it.

"Continued emission of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and long-lasting changes in all components of the climate system, increasing the likelihood of severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems," the report says. The final report will be issued after governments and scientists go over the draft line by line in an October conference in Copenhagen.

http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2014/08/26/un-panel-global-warming-human-caused-dangerous



FILE - This Aug. 19, 2014 file photo shows flash flood waters from the overrun Skunk Creek flood I-10 in northwestern Phoenix. Global warming is here, human-caused and can already be considered dangerous, a draft of a new international science report says, warning that it is increasingly likely that climate change could be irreversible. The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on Monday sent governments a final draft of its synthesis report, which combines three earlier, gigantic documents by the Nobel Prize-winning group. There is little in the report, that wasn’t in the other more-detailed versions, but the language is more stark and the report attempts to paint a bigger picture of the problem caused by the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gas. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

Fracking Link to Birth Defects Probed in Early Research

The first research into the effects of oil and gas development on babies born near wells has found potential health risks. Government officials, industry advocates and the researchers themselves say more studies are needed before drawing conclusions.

While the findings are still preliminary, any documented hazards threaten to cast a shadow over hydraulic fracturing, or fracking -- the process of blasting chemicals, sand and water deep underground to extract fuel from rock that’s helped push the U.S. closer to energy self-sufficiency than at any time since 1985.

“It’s not really well understood how the environment interacts with genetics to produce these birth defects,” said Lisa McKenzie of the Colorado School of Public Health, who conducted research published in January in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. “We really need to do more study to see what the association is, if any, with natural gas development.”

McKenzie and her colleagues discovered more congenital heart defects in babies born to mothers living near gas wells in Colorado. Two studies, which have not been peer reviewed, showed infants born near fracking sites in Pennsylvania were more likely to have low birth weight, a sign of developmental problems. In Utah, local authorities are investigating a spate of stillbirths after tests found dangerous levels of air pollution from the oil and gas industry.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-08-26/fracking-link-to-birth-defects-probed-in-early-research



Two studies, which have not been peer reviewed, showed infants born near fracking sites in Pennsylvania were more likely to have low birth weight, a sign of developmental problems. Photographer: Ty Wright/Bloomberg

These were posted last night:

Learning to love Ulysses S. Grant

Years ago, Steve Trimm had a grudge against the country’s 18th president, Ulysses S. Grant.

Trimm, of Albany, blamed the Civil War general for the death of his ancestor on the first day at the Battle of Shiloh, saying the Confederates launched an attack that Grant should have anticipated.

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Trimm made the trip from Albany to take a tour, “gritting my teeth,” then realized he didn’t know Grant at all.

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He is on a mission to educate people about Grant’s many sides. He assumes Grant’s character in performances at the cottage and regales visitors with tales of Grant’s personal and military history.

http://poststar.com/news/local/learning-to-love-ulysses-s-grant/article_6bd6c138-24c3-11e4-b2a1-001a4bcf887a.html



Steve Trimm plays the role of General Grant's son on Friday, August 8, 2014, during a reenactment of the General's funeral at Grant Cottage in Wilton. (Megan Farmer - mfarmer@poststar.com)

New York woman crashes into firehouse with python wrapped around her neck

NEW YORK - A New York woman was arrested after she crashed into a fire station and slammed into two fire trucks allegedly with a stolen python wrapped around her neck.

Sarah Espinosa, 22, allegedly stolen a small ball python from a nearby pet store in Long Island when she lost control of her 2010 Toyota Prius Monday night officials said, according to ABC News .

Espinosa crashed her Prius through the front garage door of a fire house and collided with, and damaged, two parked fire trucks, according to the police report.

When fire personnel rushed to Espinosa's side they discovered the snake wrapped around her neck. The snake was removed and through the investigation detectives learned it had been stolen from a nearby pet store. The snake reportedly costs $89.

http://www.abc15.com/news/local-news/water-cooler/new-york-woman-crashes-into-firehouse-with-python-wrapped-around-her-neck

Colorado Governor Strikes Key Deal Over Fracking

Colorado's Democratic governor forged a deal to stop dueling proposals on oil and gas drilling Monday, avoiding a messy ballot fight that had his party concerned about political consequences in November.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Polis joined Gov. John Hickenlooper at the state Capitol to detail an agreement that calls for a task force to deal with concerns about energy development. In exchange, groups agreed to drop four initiatives that support or oppose hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, a technique that blasts a mix of water, sand or gravel, and chemicals into underground rock formations to release trapped oil and gas.

Polis has financially backed two of the measures that sought limits on drilling, including increasing the distance between homes and rigs from 500 feet to 2,000 feet. The governor and energy industry warned that the drilling restrictions would seriously hurt Colorado's economy.

Polis' involvement in the initiatives also raised concern in his party that taking the issue to voters would negatively impact Democrats in November by increasing fundraising for Republicans who generally support oil and gas development and possibly boosting GOP turnout.


Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/colorado-governor-aims-strike-deal-fracking-24837457

Not to mention "The Untouchables!" :)

2 dead in Saratoga County plane crash

NORTHUMBERLAND — Two people were killed after their small plane overturned and crashed just a few feet from a town of Northumberland home late Saturday afternoon.

The names of the victims, both men, were unavailable later Saturday, police said. They were pronounced dead shortly after the crash, which was called in to 911 by the Brownville Road homeowner at about 5:41 p.m.

The plane, a four-seat Cessna 180, had just taken off from the nearby Heber Airfield. Sheriff's officials said the plane was flying with a banner that said "Saratoga Skydiving" and ended up upside down.

The homeowner, Nancy Rouse, said she was in her back yard walking across a field when she looked up and saw the plane clip some trees, causing it to flip over. Her son, Rodney Rouse, said the plane took down several limbs.

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Saratoga-County-plane-crash-reported-5664842.php



Scene of a small plane crash on Brownville Road that killed two men Saturday August 2, 2014, in Northumberland, NY. (Leigh Hornbeck / Times Union)

I've seen it twice and I thought it was excellent

The characters melted into their roles so well that it had the feeling of a documentary. And I learned a lot, knew that Oswald's mother was crazy, but I never knew about his brother, poor guy. I thought the actors who played the medical staff were completely believable and that Paul Giamatti ("John Adams&quot as Abraham Zapruder was amazing.


I was in elementary school when the president was assassinated. My "reading group" was allowed to go to the library and that's where we heard. "Coach," the gym teacher, had a free period and heard the news on the radio. He ran and told the sixth grade teacher who was in the closest classroom. That teacher came running into the library and told the librarian.

That's when we heard and ran like hell back to our classroom which was at the very end of the hall. We totally forgot about our promise not to run and to be quiet. We ran in and told our teacher, who ran out of the classroom to find out more. What I remember was that school was chaos that day. We were sent home early and spent what seemed like ages in the gym waiting for our buses. Everybody was scared.

When I got home, my mother already knew. Her neighbor had come over, sobbing, for "her president." They were very staunch Catholics. I knew that my parents voted for Nixon, but that didn't matter, he was our president. My mother was particularly shook up, remember going into the kitchen to tell her that I'd just seen Oswald shot, live on television, and that's when she really fell apart. It's still tough for me to accept that something like this happened in this country.