blivet radio
The Radio weblog of Hal Rager

Thursday, June 20, 2002

Glad to hear it, Doug Eaten by the Dead. At the end of a crappy day, fellow bloggers cheer me up. [Erehwon Notebook] Though the thought of Mr. Edward being eaten on screen by someone's dead Uncle strikes me as 'too little, too late', I would settle for it. It might be worth Pay-per-view.And thanks again to Matt for the imagery. 7:52:08 PM    comment   trackback []

The EPA says toxic sludge is good for fish. "According to one article found on the Washington Times' website, the Environmental Protection Agency has stated that "The Army Corps of Engineers' dumping of toxic sludge into the Potomac River protects fish by forcing them to flee the polluted area and escape fishermen." The document released by the EPA reportedly goes on to state that this is not a "ridiculous possibility." In response to this, the House Resources Committee reportedly plans to hold a hearing on the topic. However, it would appear that there is still some doubt. Says George Radanovich (R), chairman of the subcommittee on nation parks, recreation, and public lands, "To suggest that toxic sludge is good for fish because it prevents them from being caught by man is like suggesting that we club baby seals to death to prevent them from being eaten by sharks. It's ludicrous." The Corps apparently began their discharges in 1989, but their permit, which was issued by the EPA, expired in 1993 (the article makes no note of whether or not it was renewed). The House Committee reports that "The Corps dumps 200,000 tons of "toxic sludge" into the river every year in violation of the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act." A spokesman for the EPA was unavailable for comment." [kuro5hin.org] This seemed a bit out there, so I had to go look for myself. This is part of what was there besides what was up at kuro5hin. "William Colley, a retired environmental engineer who worked for the EPA for 29 years, said he was removed from leading the new permit process in 1999 after advocating eliminating the discharges. "I had written the permit, public notice, draft fact sheet and had everything ready for the permit to be issued, and the effluent limits I developed for the permit were such they would have had to terminate the discharges," Mr. Colley told The Washington Times yesterday." [Washington TImes] I think I need some serious central nervous system depressants. 7:43:24 PM    comment   trackback []

First picture of secretive carnivore An African carnivore that has not been spotted for 70 years has been captured on film for the first time, in the Udzungwa Mountains National Park in Tanzania. Known as Lowe's servaline genet, the three-foot long animal is a relative of the mongoose. It was previously known only from descriptions and a single skin collected by hunters in 1932. The animal is named after the British explorer and naturalist Willoughby Lowe, who first recorded its existence. Lowe described the white facial spots and lighter feet and legs that distinguish it from other types of genet. Zoologists suspect that the animal is nocturnal and tree dwelling, like other species of genet. But nothing else is known about it. [New Scientist] 7:28:02 PM    comment   trackback []

Ashley Montague. "Science has proof without any certainty. Creationists have certainty without any proof." [Quotes of the Day] 6:03:14 AM    comment   trackback []