navy blimpWhen we already have dozens of satellites in space and Google Earth, why would the Navy be using a blimp to do mapping? This looks like surveillance to me.

CBS Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — You may have noticed an unusual sight over the Baltimore area in the last few days—a Navy balloon hovering in the sky.   Continue reading “Eye In The Sky: Navy Research Blimp Hovering Over Maryland”

PHOTO: Grasshoppers at a market near Oaxaca, Mex.ABC News

Chew on this.

A team of MBA students were the recipients of the 2013 Hult Prize earlier this week, providing them with $1 million in seed money to produce an insect-based, protein-rich flour for feeding malnourished populations in other countries. The product is called Power Flour.

“It’s a huge deal because we had a very ambitious but highly executable five-year plan in place,” said team captain Mohammed Ashour, whose team hails from McGill University in Montreal. “So winning this prize is a great step in that direction.”   Continue reading “Flour Made From Insects Will Feed Underfed Populations”

Pope John Paul IIThe Guardian – by Sam Jones and Lizzy Davies

John XXIII, the pontiff who called the landmark second Vatican council, and John Paul II, who crisscrossed the globe during his 26 years as leader of the Roman Catholic church, will be declared saints in April in a historic ceremony that could be attended by their two living successors.

The announcement of the date for the canonisations had been expected since July, when Pope Francis approved a second miracle attributed to John Paul, clearing the path for the fastest canonisation in modern times.   Continue reading “Popes John Paul II and John XXIII to become saints”

lumber liquidators raid CNN Money

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) Federal investigators raided the offices of Lumber Liquidators on Thursday, the company and authorities said.

Stocks of the hardwood flooring retailer fell sharply on Friday as the news emerged, dropping just over 10% at midday.   Continue reading “Stock tumbles after raid of Lumber Liquidators”

Bank Holiday in Panama announcedRandy Hilarski, Sept. 26, 2013

This morning the National Bank of Panama announced that it was suspending all services until Tuesday the 1st of October. The National Bank of Panama says that the reason is to upgrade systems. The Banking Holiday in Panama was announced this am.

This system wide shutdown has country wide implications. The National Bank of Panama did not warn the people before making the announcement and shutting down the banks. The people do not have access to ATM’s either. We received word of this from family members first. This weekend is payday for people across Panama.   Continue reading “Banking Holiday in Panama Announced!”

jim mooreCNN Money – by Tami Luhby 

Can’t afford the premiums. Don’t need health insurance. Won’t support Obamacare.

These are some of the reasons why CNNMoney readers say they’ll opt to pay a penalty for not having health insurance in 2014, rather than sign up for a policy in the state-based exchanges or through their companies.   Continue reading “No thanks, Obamacare. I’ll pay the penalty”

Cosmic Convergence

The China Syndrome Morphs into “The Japan Syndrome”

Never before in the modern era has humankind been confronted with a nuclear disaster the likes of Fukushima. Truly, Japan has become the location of the greatest nuclear catastrophe in history, one that has defied countless attempts to resolve it. Although it was once imagined to occur in China on the silver screen, Japan has experienced the actual “China Syndrome” — an apocalyptic nuclear meltdown(s). Once again, Japan is the site of an unparalleled atomic event whose aftermath has no end in sight.   Continue reading “FUKUSHIMA: A Nuclear Catastrophe of Epic Proportions”

KrokodilFox News 

Krokodil, a flesh-eating drug which first surfaced in Russia more than a decade ago, has reportedly been found in the United States.

Similar to morphine or heroin, krokodil is made by mixing codeine with substances like gasoline, paint thinner, oil or alcohol. That mixture is then injected into a vein, potentially causing an addict’s skin to turn greenish, scaly and eventually rot away.  Continue reading “First cases of flesh-eating drug Krokodil surface in US”

Toni Bloomfield (pictured with her partner Paul Bolton) pays £98 extra a month in bedroom taxThe Independent – by EMILY DUGAN

More than 50,000 people affected by the so-called bedroom tax have fallen behind on rent and face eviction, figures given to The Independent show.

The statistics reveal the scale of debt created by the Government’s under-occupancy charge, as one council house tenant in three has been pushed into rent arrears since it was introduced in April.   Continue reading “UK: 50,000 people are now facing eviction after bedroom tax”