July 22, 2013

Mt. Rainier and airglow picture

The Northern Lights have been making relatively frequent appearances over the Northwest this summer, but the green tinge captured in photographs above Mt. Rainier on the night of July 12th wasn't the aurora.

It was instead what's known as "airglow."

Unlike aurora, airglow covers the entire planet and is there all the time, caused by reactions between solar energy and certain air molecules. It's just not visible in daytime due to sunlight and is hard to spot at night from other light pollution.

But according to the Atmospheric Optics website, airglow fluctuates a bit with the 11-year solar cycle as increased solar activity can enhance it a bit. And solar activity was high last weekend when these photographers were taken.

Darren Neupert was one of three photographers that captured the airglow recently.

"I thought it was the Northern Lights not only because of the green glow but due to its movement across the sky," he said. "I'm still pretty excited about the shot even though it does not show the Northern Lights. I'll take 'airglow.' "

more

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/komo/article/Photo-Mt-Rainier-as-you-never-have-seen-it-4675257.php

July 21, 2013

With 'friends' like these (Freedom to Pray Act)....

By Sarah Rae Fruchtnicht, Sun, July 21, 2013

Sen. Mary Landrieu’s (D-La.) Freedom to Pray Act would prohibit the federal government from withholding tax dollars to programs that include religious activity.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has decided to cosponsor the bill

“I am deeply encouraged by Sen. Graham’s support of the Freedom to Pray Act,” Landrieu said in a statement.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Justice Department refused to fund the Young Marines program of the Bossier Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana because the program handbook says recruits must “develop and grow with special emphasis on the love of God and fidelity to our country.”

more

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/politics/democratic-sen-mary-landrieu-s-bill-allows-federal-money-fund-religious-activities

July 21, 2013

Unpaid Interns: Silent No More

By ROSS PERLIN
Published: July 20, 2013

MAKE no mistake, the interns are fighting back.

Last month, a federal judge in New York ruled that unpaid interns on the movie “Black Swan” should have received at least the minimum wage. The judge also allowed a class-action suit to go forward against the Fox Entertainment Group, the parent company of the film’s production division.

Gutsy and improbable when it was first filed two years ago, the “Black Swan” case was a pioneering direct challenge to the internship system. Now more than 15 other lawsuits have followed in its wake, according to an online database maintained by ProPublica, the investigative journalism Web site.

The companies being sued operate in a wide range of intern-heavy industries. Global brands, famous television and fashion personalities, multinational subsidiaries flush with profits — these are some of the employers that have refused to pay young workers at least $7.25 an hour. How have they done this for so long?

The federal law is clear: if internships at profit-making companies are to be unpaid, they must foster an educational environment. (The rules are different for nonprofit and governmental agencies.)

more

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/21/jobs/unpaid-interns-silent-no-more.html

July 21, 2013

GOP lawyer asks court to order new Arizona legislative districts for ’14

By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services/Arizona Daily Star

Arizona’s 30 legislative districts need to be redrawn before the 2014 election, an attorney for Republican interests contends, citing the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling that voided a key section of the Voting Rights Act.

In legal papers filed in federal court late Friday, attorney David Cantelme said the Independent Redistricting Commission’s data show that it overpopulated some of the districts and underpopulated others.
The result was to politically disadvantage Republican candidates, he said.

Cantelme also pointed out to the three-judge panel that the commission’s key legal argument for why it made those decisions was that it needed to comply with the federal Voting Rights Act.

Commissioners wanted to ensure that the map it drew was “precleared” by the U.S. Justice Department and didn’t dilute the voting strength of minorities.

- See more at: http://roselawgroupreporter.com/2013/07/gop-lawyer-asks-court-to-order-new-legislative-districts-for-14/

Thanks for nothing, SCOTUS thugs

July 21, 2013

Rep. Justin Amash's push to defund NSA spying halts defense bill, report says

By Zane McMillin


GRAND RAPIDS, MI — A push by U.S. Rep. Justin Amash and fellow lawmakers to defund federal surveillance tactics reportedly is stalling consideration of a defense spending bill.

Facing "insurrection" by Amash and others over efforts to limit changes to 2014 defense appropriations, House leaders have postponed meetings to mull the measure, Politico reported Thursday, July 18.

Amash, R-Cascade Township, authored a bipartisan amendment to the bill earlier this week that would forbid money from being used to collect Americans' phone records.

The proposed change appears to be imperiled by back-and-forth between House rank and file and leadership over the recently revealed federal spying, Politico reported.


more
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/07/insurrection_led_by_rep_justin.html


I'm all for more republican infighting.....

July 21, 2013

Oklahoma DA halts I-40 drug stops after criticism

By Nolan Clay Published: July 21, 2013
HINTON — After seizing more than $1 million in cash in drug stops this year, a district attorney has suspended further roadside busts by his task force because of growing criticism over a private company's participation.

His prosecutors have dropped all criminal cases arising from the drug stops, The Oklahoman was told. Some seized money is being returned. The attorney general's office is investigating one complaint some seized funds went missing.

“I'm shocked,” a Caddo County special judge said July 2.

The judge spoke at a hearing after learning the private company's owner pulled over a pregnant driver along Interstate 40 and questioned her even though he is not a state-certified law enforcement officer.

“For people to pull over people on I-40 without that license is shocking to me,” Special Judge David A. Stephens said.

The judge said he hoped Joe David, owner of Desert Snow LLC, wouldn't do it again.

“If you do, I hope to see you soon, wearing orange,” the judge said, referring to the color of jail clothes in Caddo County.

more

http://newsok.com/oklahoma-da-halts-i-40-drug-stops-after-criticism-from-judge/article/3864488

July 21, 2013

Sunday's Doonesbury is falling behind

Probably because it is a repeat. The Do nothings in the House have voted to repeal Obamacare 38 times (at least) in full , and overall the do nothings in Congress have voted nearly 70 times to repeal parts of it. All failed.

July 20, 2013

Epic Food Review

Taste Test: The Ruffles Ultimate Line, Which You Must Never Eat, Ever

excerpt:

Ruffles Ultimate Smokehouse Bacon Dip: This shit is white. It's not my business to tell a bacon-flavored dip what color it should be, but in the great rainbow of colors available for a bacon-flavored dip, white seems like a poor choice. Especially white with flecks of green and brown in it. It looks like congealed bacon grease, which is not something I would ever want to penetrate with a chip unless the congealed bacon grease came to life and was oozing across a countertop to try to eat my face and I happened not to have anything handy to fend it off with except for some chips. In which case, I certainly would like to think I'd have the restraint not to eat the chips with which I'd just stabbed the vivified bacon grease that had just now been hunting my face. I'm not ruling out the possibility that Ruffles Ultimate Smokehouse Bacon Dip would come to life and ooze across the countertop to feast upon my face, but if that is its plan, even if that is its plan, it could have disguised itself better.

It doesn't taste like bacon. It is weirdly and unidentifiably and unpleasantly tangy; just you try to eat some of it without reflexively checking the jar to make sure its sell-by date didn't lapse during the Bush administration. There is nothing remotely pleasant about Ruffles Ultimate Smokehouse Bacon Dip, except for the relief you feel when you return it to the garbage.

more

http://deadspin.com/taste-test-the-ruffles-ultimate-line-which-you-must-n-846019474

July 20, 2013

Virginia GOP Nominee For Governor: I Still Believe Gay People Are ‘Soulless’ And ‘Self Destructive’

By Josh Israel on Jul 20, 2013 at 12:29 pm
In his first gubernatorial debate against Democratic nominee Terry McAuliffe, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinellii II (R) admitted Saturday that his extreme anti-LGBT views have not changed. While reaffirming his extreme earlier comments about what he termed “the personal challenge of homosexuality,” he suggested that he would create an economically positive environment that would help LGBT Virginians

McAuliffe repeatedly attacked Cuccinelli throughout the Virginia Bar Association debate in Hot Springs, VA for his record of demonizing science, women’s health, and LGBT people. Twice, McAuliffe noted that Cuccinelli had called LGBT Virginians “soulless” and “self-destructive” and that his attempts to rescind non-discrimination protections have hurt Virginia’s business climate.

Cuccinelli consistently ignored the attacks until moderator Judy Woodruff asked him directly about his previous comments. Cuccinelli responded briefly, saying, “My personal beliefs about the personal challenges of homosexuality haven’t changed.” He then said that as governor he he would “create an environment” economically every Virginian has opportunity.

In contrast, McAuliffe reaffirmed his support for marriage equality, promised to sign an executive order banning discrimination in employment, and said while Virginia’s constitutional ban and Republican legislature make it unlikely, he would sign a marriage equality law if it came to his desk.

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/07/20/2332681/cuccinelli-virginia-gay-people-soulless/

People need to come out in force against this asshole.

July 20, 2013

Felix Salazar's Macro Coral Reef Photography

CONTRIBUTOR
by Rebekah Rhoden

LA-based photographer Felix Salazar’s macro photography series of coral reefs takes you on a visually-stunning underwater adventure. Home to some of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth, coral reefs are a vibrant community of beautiful and unusual creatures. Salazar’s close-up shots celebrate the immense beauty found in the smallest of places.







more

http://www.lostateminor.com/2013/07/19/felix-salazars-macro-photography-of-coral-reefs/