Biofuels may speed up, not slow global warming

Biofuels have become increasingly controversial as the answer to oil. The detrimental impact on food prices and the amount of energy it takes to produce them. According to a recent study they could also be responsible for pumping far more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than they could possibly save as a replacement for fossil fuels. Satellite photos of the tropics from 1980 to 2000 found that half of new cropland came from intact rainforests and another 30 percent from disturbed forests. When trees are cut down to make room for new farmland, they are usually burned, sending their stored carbon to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Global ethanol production four times increment have caused alarm with biodiesel by 10 times between 2000 and 2007.

Estimates are made from a third to two thirds of recent deforestation could be as a result of the increased demand for biofuels, but said an increased demand for food and feed also play a major role. Agricultural subsidies in Indonesia and in the United States are providing added incentives to increase production of these crops. There are much expansion of cropland in response to growing demand and rising prices is occurring in the tropics where there is an abundance of arable land and climates ideal for growing biofuel crops like sugar cane, soy and oil palm. Recent legislation mandating increased use of ethanol has already prompted US farmers to switch from soy to corn production. But since soy demand remains high, farmers in Brazil have responded by cutting down forests to expand soy production.

Whether biofuels can or cannot be an important part of energy policy is to be decided by policy makers on a case-by-case basis. Growing biofuel crops on marginal lands can have an overall positive environmental impact and there are enormous tracks of degraded land in the tropics. Fertilizers costs more than cutting down forests, farmers must be offered economic incentives to do so. Or if the climate would be better served by returning degraded land to its natural forested state. VIA

Biofuel articles:-
Commercial Jet Uses Biofuel
Thai police using cooking oil for their patrol cars
Turning animal/Human waste into energy
Are there any disadvantages of using biodiesel?

Australian Householders to Be Charged for Each Flush of Toilet

HOUSEHOLDERS in Australia would be charged for each flush under a radical new toilet tax designed to help beat the drought. The scheme would replace the current system, which sees sewage charges based on a home's value - not its waste water output. As nearly all of (the homes in) mainland Australia's cities and towns already have water meters, introduction of a volumetric charge, such as that used in the City of Bellaire, would not be difficult to implement. A sewage pricing plan, like the one proposed, was already used in the US, like the City of Bellaire, Texas (a virtual suburb of Houston). The reform would see the abolition of the property-based charge with one based on a pay-as-you-go rate and a small fixed annual fee to cover the cost of meter readings and pipeline maintenance. Some people may go as far as not flushing their toilet as often because the less sewage you produce, the less sewage rate you pay. There would be foul smell around Australian homes soon!! VIA

Lonely after 23 marriages

68-year-old known now as Mrs. Linda Wolfe, she is the most married woman in history. More than a decade ago, she bring Indiana a Guinness world record and was hitched for the 23rd time. Two of her husbands were gay. Two were homeless. A few stepped out on her, but she never did the dirty on them. One choked her and turned her lip inside out. Another secured the fridge with padlock and chain. She has been single now for a dozen years and would get married again because she cannot handle loneliness.
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Boy in crocodile stomach

Queensland police announced on Tuesday 18 February 2009 that an examination carried out on a crocodile trapped near the spot behind the family home in a flooded mangrove swamp when he disappeared on February 8 had revealed the remains of the boy in its stomach. Jeremy Doble five-year-old had been playing with his seven-year-old brother, Ryan, and their dog. Police said the child's remains were found in the stomach of a male crocodile in the flooded Daintree River, an international attraction for ecotourists.

Crocodiles have been protected by federal law since 1971, and their numbers in Australia's tropical waters have steadily grown though if humans are threatened authorities are allowed to destroy crocodiles. The victim's parents asked authorities not to kill the creature, which was the dominant male in that part of the river.

VIA

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Eaten by crocodile archive

Cow urine drink versus western sodas

Hinduism reveres the cow, and its dung is used in the countryside as both a disinfectant and as fuel. In 2001, Hindu nationalists promoted cow's urine as a cure for ailments ranging from liver disease to obesity and even cancer.
NEW DELHI, Feb 12. A hardline Hindu organisation (Western food imports), the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), or National Volunteer Corps is planning to launch a new soft drink made from cow's urine, often seen as sacred in parts of India. the bovine beverage is undergoing laboratory tests for the next 2 to 3 months but did not give a specific date for its commercial release. The flavour is not yet known, but the RSS said the liquid produced by Hinduism's revered holy cows is being mixed with products such as aloe vera and gooseberry to fight diseases such as diabetes and cancer. The organisation, which aims to transform India's secular society and establish the supremacy of a Hindu majority, said cow urine offers a cure for around 70 to 80 incurable diseases like diabete and to have medicinal properties for all and it is often drunk in religious festivals. The Hindu group has campaigned against foreign imports such as Pepsi and Coca Cola in the past, which it sees as a corrupting influence and a tool of Western imperialism.
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Two teachers were arrested after angry parents complained to police after indian teachers sprinkled cow urine on low-caste students to purify them and drive away evil. They have been released on bail. Student Rajat Washnik said they felt humiliated when a cleansing ceremony as the students were taking an examination, wetting their faces and their answer sheets which were carried out by teachers order saying they'll study well after getting purified. VIA

Record-Breaking Breasts

Sheyla Hershey was denied further enhancement by Houston law in the state of Texas which has limits on the amount of silicone that can be injected into breast implants where after eight surgeries and a full gallon of silicone, the petite model/actress was a staggering 34 FF. So she went to Brazil for her KKK breast enhancement and now, after a ninth surgery, she's the proud owner of both a 38KKK bust (according to Britain's Daily Star) and the world record for largest breasts. VIA

Chinese brand of humour during financial crisis

Millions of migrant workers may be out of a job and China's once booming economy may be locked in a downward spiral as the global economic crisis bites but the Chinese see the funny side of financial crisis.

Many of the jokes have been circulating online, or via text message in a country whose population is obsessed with their mobile phones.

A joke circulated by text message pokes fun at the fake money which is becoming a worry as incomes start to falter amid what the government calls the "financial tsunami." "Two people produce fake 15 yuan notes," it starts, already unlikely in itself as there is no such thing as a 15 yuan bill in China. "They decide to go to a remote mountain area to spend it and buy a candied melon slice for 1 yuan. They burst into tears when they get two 7 yuan notes in change," it ends, the joke being there is also no such thing as a 7 yuan note.

A bank worker calls a colleague, goes one joke on the tiexue.net bulletin board.
"Hey, how's it been going?"
"Not so bad."
"Oh, sorry, I've definitely called the wrong number."

Communist propaganda slogans tone of humour.
"In the face of the financial crisis, I have bravely stood up and am marching forward! That's because ... I can't pay back my loans and the bank has repossessed my car."

People are taking to the Internet to laugh about the crisis, or crack witticisms. A single pronunciation can have several wildly different meanings.

A posting on popular Chinese website sina.com.cn cautions people about sending text message greetings for the Lunar New Year, which was marked last week, lest their meanings be misinterpreted. The website has published a list of greetings not to send. "Wealth surging in" is out, as it has the same pronunciation as "Lay-offs surging in." Likewise, the website cautions people not to wish friends or family "May you have everything you wish for," fearing it could be interpreted as "Pay cut by 40 percent." "The atmosphere in the office is very tense, and texts which in past years may have meant good luck are now being seen as a stroke of bad luck," the website paraphrased one worker as saying.

VIA

Celebrity lookalikes

There are many celebrities out there who bear a striking resemblence to other stars...could it be they're secretly related?

1 Actor Donald Sutherland in "Space Cowboys" and US Airways Flight 1549 Hero 2 Actress Mary Lynn Rajskub and actress Jenna Fisher. 3 Actor John Larroquette and actress Jennifer Aniston 4 Actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan and actor Javier Bardem 5 Actress America Ferrera and singer Jordin Sparks 6 Actor Harry Connick and the late, great Mr.Rogers 7 U2 lead singer Bono and actor Robin Williams 8 Disgraced former Illinios Gov. Rod Blagojevich and journalist Sean Hannity 9 Actor Ethan Hawke and tennis star Tommy Haas 10 A youger David Berkowitz and disgraced financial Nernie Madoff 11 Actress Hayden Panettiere and singer Carrie Underwood 12 Disgraced Italian real estate developer Raffaello and actor Zach Braff 13 Actress Tina Fey appears alongside Alaska Gov. and GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin in this split-screen image 14 Actress Ellen Pompeo and France First Lady Carla Bruni 15 Actress Eva Mendes and model Cindy Crawford 16 Actress Rachel Welsz and actress Kate Winslet 17 Actress Leelee Sobieski and actress Helen Hunt 18 Actor Elijah Wood and actor Daniel Radcliff 19 Actress Keira Knightley and actress Natalie Portman 20 Actor Seann William Scott and tennis star Andy Roddick 21 Actor Mickey Rourke and actor Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Carribean 22 Actor Zach Braff and ctor Ray Romano 23 Actor Patrick Dempsey and actor Hugh Jackman 24 Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte and actor Jason Biggs 25 Former 'Apprentice' star Omarosa and First Lady Michelle Obama 26 Actor Stephen Collins, NFL Analyst Brian Billick, St. Louis Cardinals Coach Tony LaRussa 27 Actor Omar Epps and Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin 28 New York Senator Chuck Schurner and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg 29 Tennis star Martina Hingis and actress Natalie Portman 30 Toy Story's Buzz Lightyear and Tonight Show host Jay Leno 31 Actor Patrick Dempsey and actor Sean Penn 32 Actor Johny Knoxville and actor Josh Duhamel 33 Actor Matt Damon and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady 34 Actor Owen Wilson and actress Ellen Degeneres 35 Actress Christine Taylor and MTV star Lauren Conrad

Baby Born With 12 Fingers and 12 Toes

Miryoki Gross gave birth to baby Kamani has 6 fingers on each hand and 6 toes on each foot, a spectacularly rare case of polydactyly earlier this month January 2009 in Daly City, California. Genetic traits like these can run in families, but having extra digits that are functional, as Kamani's are, is extremely rare. His father, Kris Hubbard said some family member have had six fingers, not completely developed, but never the toes. Dr. Michael Treece and St. Luke's Hospital Pediatrician said it is merely an interesting and beautiful variation rather than a worrisome thing. Imagine what sort of a flamenco guitarist he would be, if nothing else think of his typing skills.

Amazing Births 1 Tangernika Woods of Michigan gave birth to one of her twin boys in 2008 and the other in 2009. Tarrance arrived at 11:51 p.m. on New Year's Eve, while Tariq made his entrance 26 minutes later, at 12:17 a.m. New Year's Day. Click through the gallery for more amazing births. 2 Defying the odds, a mixed-race couple in England celebrated the birth of their second set of twin daughters who have different skin colors. Two kids now resemble Alison Spooner, the mother, and two look like Dean Durrant, the father. Here, the family poses for a photo. 3 An Arkansas woman gave birth Dec. 18 to her 18th child, a girl named Jordyn-Grace. Proud papa Jim Bob Duggar called the new baby "the ultimate Christmas gift from God." Michelle Duggar is shown holding the new baby as her husband and 16 of their 17 other kids look on. See More at Duggars welcome 18th child 4 Rao Devi, 70, holds her daughter Dec. 8 at a fertility clinic in India. She gave birth to her first child on Nov. 28 after undergoing in vitro fertilization. She said she and her husband had longed for a child during 50 years of marriage. "We are very happy to have one in the twilight years of our life," The Telegraph quoted her as saying. 5 Digna and Victor Carpio gave son Jhan Carlos, 7, four brothers and two sisters Oct. 6 when Digna gave birth to sextuplets. Justin, Danelia, Jezreel, Genesis, Joel and Jadon were born at 25 weeks and weighed 1 1/2 to 2 pounds each. "I've watched each of my babies fight so hard to survive," Digna told the New York Daily News. "We're so thankful." 6 A 56-year-old Ohio woman gave birth to her three granddaughters in early October after carrying the babies as a surrogate for her daughter. Here, proud grandma Jaci Dalenberg holds one of the triplet girls. Two of the babies were identical twins. 7 An Egyptian woman who took fertility drugs in hopes of having a son got her wish -- and then some. Ghazala Khamis gave birth Aug. 16 to four boys and three girls who all appeared healthy. They weighed between 3.2 pounds and 6.17 pounds. 8 Sister Chloe Shumacher, 11, and father Chad Riniker of Lisbon, Iowa, greet new brother and son Xander Riniker. Xander was born at 8:08 a.m. on Aug. 8, 2008, weighing 8 pounds, 8 ounces. 9 British Columbia resident Livia Ionce, 44, here with her family, gave birth to her 18th child on July 22. The Romanian immigrant's feat makes her the province's most prolific mother in 20 years. 10 Joey and Erin Maynard hold twins Abigail Rose, left, 12 pounds, 3 ounces, and Sean William, 10 pounds, 14 ounces, at a North Carolina hospital. They set a record in June for the biggest twins born in the state. 11 Earthquake survivor Zhang Xiaoyan, right, was rescued May 14 after being trapped for more than two days in a collapsed building in China. She gave birth on June 18 to daughter Ai, which means "love," who she named in honor of the rescue workers and strangers who showered her with gifts. 12 Xochitl Parra, 17, holding her newborn son Alejandro, delivered him alone at home in the shower on April 30. She then got dressed and "started walking and jogging to the hospital," four blocks away, with the baby still attached by its umbilical cord. Doctors said she and the boy were fine. 13 Mother Bhuri unexpectedly gave birth to her baby girl Feb. 26, 2008, in the bathroom of a train in India. Family members said Bhuri passed out and the baby fell through the toilet and onto the tracks. The child, born around nine weeks prematurely and weighing only 3.22 pounds, lay on the tracks for nearly two hours until they found her -- alive. 14 At age 51, Rosinete Palmeira Serrao, center, gave birth to her own twin grandchildren in Brazil in September 2007. She was a surrogate for her daughter, Claudia Michelle, left. 15 In August 2007, Victoria Lasita gave birth to her second set of triplets. The odds of that are just one in 64 million. 16 Tamera Dixon, shown healthy at 4 months old in August 2007, weighed only 11 ounces when she was born in Trenton, N.J. 17 Amillia Sonja Taylor lies next to a pen at the Miami hospital where she was born to Sonja Taylor in October 2006. She went on to survive after weighing just 10 ounces at birth. 18 At the age of 62, Janise Wulf had her 12th child in Redding, Calif., in February 2006. At the time, she also had 20 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren Related Articles : Baby born to a dead mother Black and White Twins Australian father has child with his daughter U.S. man claims to be pregnant Hollywood's Most Influential Infants Black & white twins - twice! Duggars welcome 18th child VIA