Post by Michael James Stone on Aug 15, 2012 6:03:53 GMT -8
15 Aug 12
The Army Now Has A Perfectly Functioning Eye In The Sky
The Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System (JLENS) is an 243 helium filled balloon that Raytheon says is ideal for monitoring, "Swarming boats, anti-ship cruise missiles, and mine laying ships."
Hail of bullets? National Weather Service says ammo request was ‘clerical error’
A purchase order issued Thursday seeking to buy 46,000 rounds of ammunition for use in National Weather Service offices in four states, including hollow-point bullets designed to cause extensive damage on impact and “frangible” ammunition used for close-quarter shooting when ricochets are unacceptable, actually was a “clerical error.”
Russian attack submarine sailed in Gulf of Mexico undetected for weeks, U.S. officials say
A Russian nuclear-powered attack submarine armed with long-range cruise missiles operated undetected in the Gulf of Mexico for several weeks and its travel in strategic U.S. waters was only confirmed after it left the region, the Washington Free Beacon has learned. It is only the second time since 2009 that a Russian attack submarine has patrolled so close to U.S. shores.
Anti-Semitic Hungarian politician discovers he's Jewish
As a rising star in Hungary's far-right Jobbik Party, Csanad Szegedi was notorious for his incendiary comments on Jews: He accused them of "buying up" the country, railed about the "Jewishness" of the political elite and claimed Jews were desecrating national symbols.
Approval of Congress falls to all-time low
Just 10 percent of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing, according to a Gallup poll released Tuesday, tying the lowest mark in the 38 years the poll has been conducted. That number was previously reached this past February, but bounced back a bit in subsequent months. Eighty-three percent of Americans disapprove of Congress, the poll shows.
Russian attack submarine sailed in Gulf of Mexico undetected for weeks, U.S. officials say
A Russian nuclear-powered attack submarine armed with long-range cruise missiles operated undetected in the Gulf of Mexico for several weeks and its travel in strategic U.S. waters was only confirmed after it left the region, the Washington Free Beacon has learned. It is only the second time since 2009 that a Russian attack submarine has patrolled so close to U.S. shores.
Dozens of Dead Birds Fall From the Sky in NJ
Residents in a Cumberland County community were left wondering Tuesday morning what caused dozens of birds to drop dead from the sky. Residents along Peach Drive in Millville found at least 80 birds -- mostly red-winged blackbirds -- on the ground dead having fallen from trees and the sky. One neighbor even said he saw the birds falling out of the air.
Al-Qaeda’s ‘suicide bombers wanted’ ad
Apparently low on bombers, al-Qaeda is running a (short-term) employment advertisement on its Shumukh al-Islam Internet forum. Under the heading “Area of activity: The planet Earth,” the ad seeks jihadists to carry out suicide attacks. Applicants must be Muslim, mentally mature, dedicated, able to listen, and utterly committed to completing their mission, the Hebrew daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Tuesday.
West Nile virus spreads faster
West Nile virus is spreading faster than it has in years, and the pace of the mosquito-borne disease is getting worse, health officials report. States are reporting more cases than usual, says Marc Fischer, a specialist in mosquito-borne diseases with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Fort Collins, Colo. "There's been a lot of mosquito activity in most states" this year, Fischer says.
'Black box' standards coming for cars
New federal standards for "black boxes" that record information leading up to auto accidents will will take effect Sept. 1, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ruled on Tuesday. The decision means the new standards for the devices will not be delayed by one year, as automakers had requested.
Syria crisis: Blast near Damascus military compound
A large explosion has struck close to a military compound in the Syrian capital, Damascus, near a hotel used by the UN's observer mission. Syrian state TV reported that three people had been injured in the blast, but that none of them were UN monitors. The intended target of the explosion was not immediately clear.
Brazil changes tack with new stimulus plan
Brazil's government is set to launch the first in a series of measures that could inject up to $50bn (£32bn) into the economy over the next five years. The first part of the plan, to be announced on Wednesday, includes privatising about 14,000 kilometres of railways and roads. The privatisation of ports, lower energy costs and incentives for industry will soon follow.
Scores of wildfires burn across western US
Wildfires raging across the western states of the US have destroyed dozens of homes and scorched thousands of acres of land, officials say. The US Forest Service reported 62 large uncontained fires, mostly in the states of Idaho, Nevada, Utah and California. A fire in the north-western US state of Washington has burned at least 60 houses and 24,000 acres (9,712 ha) since it started on Monday.
Eurozone slides deeper into recession, Germany grows
Eurozone economies continue to go separate ways, with overall recession of 0.2 percent, while Germany's economy is still growing by 0.3 percent, according to the latest Eurostat data comparing the three months from April to June to the previous quarter. The so-called flash estimate, which is expected to be confirmed by final data in September, puts the eurozone and the EU as a whole on a declining trend...