DoE Says 'No Loan for You, USEC'

Looks like the Dept. of Energy has denied USEC's application for a loan guarantee for uranium enrichment centrifuge development.

I had been hearing as far back as the fall of 2007 that the USEC project was having difficulties. After reading the comments at the end of Munger's column, it appears they tried to do things on the cheap and the end product was not pleasing to the 'powers that be.'

I wonder what the chatter is like over in Eunic, NM at the URENCO facility?

A Biofuel Process to Replace All Fossil Fuels

Here is the technical and economic breakthrough that, if it can be scaled up to industrial production, can theoretically replace all fossil fuels used for transportation. This bioprocess is competitive with crude oil at $50 a barrel. Is this the 'holy grail' of energy independence? We should know by 2011 or sooner.

Is 'Cash for Clunkers' for Chumps?

Here is an assessment of the federal governments Cash for Clunkers program by ABC News. Apparently there is no government incentive for people to purchase used vehicles that get great gas mileage.

The Next Big Thing in Entertainment

Here is an article on the near future of entertainment technology. Looks like video games will continue to improve in about every way possible. If it were not for sports, TV would be toast.

MIT Working on a Rapid Charge Auto Battery

MIT is working on an automobile batter that can be fully recharged in about 11 minutes. The battery only cost about $80,000 but they think mass production will bring the price down. Let's hope so, but I think projects like this will bear some fruit in the near future.

A Space Program for the Rest of Us

Rand Simberg has written an enlightening article on where he thinks the U.S. space program needs to head. This is well worth the read.

Astronaut Franklin Chang-Diaz founded Ad Astra Rocket Co. a few years ago to develop and manufacture a ground breaking new rocket engine: the Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket (VASIMR) which is essentially an electro-magnetic thruster for spacecraft propulsion.

It uses radio waves to ionize a propellant and magnetic fields to accelerate the resulting plasms to generate thrust. This all came out of research in nuclear fusion.

Testing is to begin in space in 2012 according to NOVA Science Now. The amazing technology is the breakthrough needed for the exploration of Mars. Instead of a 9 month to 1 year trip the the red planet, the VASMIR can get you there in only 39 days by traveling over 120,000 mph. That is moving on.

In my opinon, without this technology I don't think manned missions to Mars will be practical for hundreds of years. The short duration of the trip will drastically lessen the radiation exposure to the astronauts. Radiation exposure may be one of the most technically challenging factors in a very long trip. This is about as close as any of us will come to 'warp drive' in out lifetimes. Lets hope it becomes a huge success.

High-Fructose Diets Impar Memory

Impaired spacial memory has been observed for test subjects in a study at Georgia State Univ. More bad press about one of the most common cheap food additives that we can all do without. Read your food labels.

Could We Be Wrong About Global Warming?

It appears that not all the natural global warming 55 million years ago can be explained by excess carbon dioxide. The models are being re-evaluated. We really don't know as much as we need to know.

Radiation Protection Drug

Here is an article that describes a new medication that protects people are exposed from lethal doses of radiation.

I'm a little skeptical about this news. It is hard for me to understand how you can use a drug that somehow overcomes biological molecules being ripped apart due to ionizing radiation passing through a cell. Radiation breaks chemical bonds and creates free radicals. You can neutralize free radicals (good example is eating fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants which helps the body repair damaged DNA) in some cases, but it would seem to be difficult to put 'Humpty Dumpty' back together when it comes to dealing with an original molecule other than DNA.

The article doesn't give a lot of detail, but we'll see what shakes out over the next few weeks.

Free Mobile TV Next Year

It appears that some of the major communication companies will have 'free' mobile TV available sometime next year according to Suzanne Choney of MSNBC. I'm very skeptical about the 'free' part.

Apollo Mission Computer - The Rest of the Story

Interesting link from the BBC on the computing technology used for the Apollo moon landings. Today's cellphones have more computing power that that used to get astronauts to the moon and back.

ISS Dumpted in 2016??

It appears that NASA has plans to de-orbit the International Space Station into the Pacific Ocean in 2016. There are no funds in the federal budget to keep it up after 2015.

Makes sense, doesn't it? Spend over $100M, finish the project, then pull the plug.

Total US Fuel Taxes by State

Get a load of this. I'm glad I don't live in California.

Ex-FBI Agent Supports a New 9/11 Investigation

Ex-FBI agent Coleen Rowley (one of three Time Magazine Persons of the Year in 2002) has a very interesting opinion on how the 9/11 investigation was conducted and the impact on the U.S. Constitution. Some will not be happy with her conclusions but I think she is spot on. We all need to have a better understanding of the nature of our government and it's sometimes competing agencies and branches. Checks and balances are there for a reason. We need to hold officials accountable. Of course, it helps if we as citizens get unbiased and correct information. The fly in the ointment is making sure we get ALL of the important information.

SpaceX Falcon 1 Puts Satellite in Oribt

A historical first: a private rocket (SpaceX) puts a Malaysian satellite into orbit today. The near-term plan is to sent a vehicle to deliver materials to the International Space station. The long-term plan is to send humans into orbit. The country needs an alternate method besides using the Russian space program.

How Healthy Is Your Bank?

Click here to find out about the economic health of your bank. You can search by bank name or find you bank by state.

Where Does the Money Go?

The Dept. of Labor's latest survey provides a detailed look into how the average U.S. consumer spends their paycheck.

Stop Poisoning Your Body With 'Food'

Ok, I'm posting this information on nutrition out of belief that the information is accurate. I just wish that I could say that I'm 100% compliant. I'm working on it and recommend that we all work on getting healthier.

Paula Owens (PaulaOwens.com) the author of "The Power Of 4" says avoiding these 10 things will change your body dramatically. Owens has a master's degree in holistic nutrition and a bachelors degree in kinesiology.

She explains what ingredients to avoid and how your body will benefit if you avoid them.

1. HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP (HFCS)

HFCS is the number one source of calories for most Americans and causes obesity.

You'll find high-fructose corn syrup in processed food, fast food, sodas, syrup that goes into your Latte, etc.

HFCS is extremely toxic to your liver, increases inflammation, causes obesity, oxidative stress and creates an aggressive insulin response.

2. ALL PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED OILS (TRANS FATS)

Partially hydrogenated oils are found in thousands of processed foods (breakfast cereals, cookies, chips).

Trans fats are proven to cause heart disease and contribute to obesity.

Restaurant food, especially from fast food chains, often serve food loaded with trans fats.

Consequences of a diet high in trans fats include:

* increased inflammation

* decreased immune function

* decreased testosterone

* Arthritis

* Cancer

* Decrease IQ ­ learning disabilities. American IQ has dropped 20 points in the past 20 years.

* Diabetes

* Elevated blood pressure

* Free radical production

* Heart Disease

* Interferes with neurological & visual development of fetus

* Liver damage

* Obesity

* Osteoporosis

* Type II diabetes

3. MSG

Monosodium glutamate is a chemical that has been associated with reproductive disorders, migraine headaches, permanent damage to the endocrine system leading to obesity and other serious disorders. MSG is used in many foods as a taste enhancer. It is linked to reduced fertility.

4. SODIUM NITRATE

This is a preservative, coloring, and flavoring commonly added to bacon, ham, hot dogs, luncheon meats, smoked fish and corned beef. Studies have linked eating it to various types of cancer, particularly if consumed with aspertame.

5. REFINED SOY

When it comes to soy, much of what we read and hear about comes from the people who market it.

Before you mix up a soy shake, snack on a soy protein bar or pour yourself a glass of soy milk consider this: unfermented, processed soy inhibits the thyroid, is deficient in amino acids, is toxic to infants and shrinks the brain.

There are some redeeming qualities to soy, however these are found primarily in fermented soy products like tempeh, miso, natto and soybean sprouts.

If you want to get some health benefits from soy, stick to these four forms and pass on ALL processed soy milks, tofu, soy burgers, soy ice cream, soy cheese and other soy junk foods that are disguised as health foods.

6. WHITE SUGAR

Sugar is more addictive than cocaine! Sugar has a profound influence on your brain function and your psychological function.

When you consume excess amounts of sugar, your body releases excess amounts of insulin, which in turn causes a drop in your blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia.

In addition, sugar is pro-flammatory damages skin collagen and promotes wrinkles, increases your appetite, depletes your body of B vitamins, causes joint degeneration, ADHD and other behavior disorders, stimulates cholesterol synthesis and weight gain.

7. SODIUM CHLORIDE

Commercial table salt is highly processed and full of aluminum, chemicals and additives which are toxic. Opt for a healthier version such as Bragg's amino acids or Celtic sea salt (light pink, grey or beige color).

8. ASPARTAME, SPLENDA, SWEET N LOW, EQUAL

Aspartame is an artificial, chemical sweetener found in many foods and beverages including desserts, gelatins, protein powder, low calorie foods, drink mixes and sodas.

It may cause cancer or neurological problems, such as dizziness, migraine headaches, weight gain, increased appetite, bloating, rashes or hallucinations.

Aspartame poisoning mimics symptoms of MS. NutraSweet is in over 7,000 foods!

Side effects:

* Increased heart disease

* Bloating and edema

* Brain seizures

* Cancer

* Cravings

* Headaches

* Predispose you to Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease

* Rashes and hives

* Weight gain ­ results in obesity

9. FOOD COLORINGS (Blue 1, 2; Red 3; Green 3; Yellow 5, 6)

Six food colorings still on the market are linked with cancer in animal testing.

There is evidence that food coloring and food additives contribute to behavioral problems in children, lead to lower IQ, hyperactivity, ADHD, depression, hormonal dysfunction and cancer.

Red 3, used to dye cherries, fruit cocktail, ice cream candy and baked goods have been shown to cause thyroid tumors in rats.

This harmful artificial color causes cancer and changes in brain chemistry. Read the list of ingredients in your child's cough syrup (artificial color).

Green 3 is a potential allergen and has been linked to bladder cancer. Green 3 is added to candy, mint jelly, cereals and beverages.

Blue 1 and 2, found in beverages, candy, baked goods, cereals and pet food have been linked to allergies and cancer.

Yellow 5 is the most notable artificial color because it causes the most immediate allergic reaction in people sensitive to salicylates such as aspirin.

Yellow 6 has been linked to tumors of the adrenal gland and kidney. Yellow 6 is added to beverages, sausage, gelatin, baked goods and candy.

Take home message ­ Stay away from any product listing an ingredient with a color plus a number.

10. PROCESSED/REFINED WHEAT AND GLUTEN

Refined grains are devoid of nutrients, disrupt insulin levels and are highly allergenic for many individuals.

Wheat and gluten have adverse health affects for approximately 80 percent of the population. Gluten is a protein found combined with starch in the endosperm of grains, notably wheat, rye and barley.

Gluten intolerance/sensitivity is severely misdiagnosed or under-diagnosed ­ one estimate says that 97 percent of all sufferers don't know they have the disease due to unfamiliarity with it among U.S. physicians.

Signs and symptoms of gluten intolerance: The ultimate effect of this hidden wear and tear is the slow destruction of the healthy mucosa, or lining tissue of the small intestine causing an autoimmune response that's similar to an allergic reaction.

In some cases there may be symptoms in childhood such as allergies, asthma, anemia, reoccurring infections, a constant upset stomach or milk intolerance.

Other symptoms are nasal and throat mucous, feeling of food sitting in stomach, bloating, gas, diarrhea with periodic constipation, mental fogginess and skin rashes.

In severe cases, as with Celiac disease, there can be seizures, psychosis, violent behavior and withdrawal from self.

Eliminate gluten-products for 3-4 weeks and see how great you feel.

It's important to form a habit of reading the list of ingredients on ALL products!

A Growing Disconnect?

Although I have refrained from posting politically based articles on this blog, I think this piece on the surge in sales of 2 books (Atlas Shrugged and The Road to Serfdom) are noteworthy.

Tornado vs Train: Train Loses!

Are You Ready For Wireless Electricity?

Looks like some folks at MIT have taken a concept from Nicolai Tesla and brought wireless electricity to the marketplace. Everybody stole intellectual property from this poor fellow, even Tom Edison. Tesla died broke and the federal government took possession of most of his documents and equipment.

Did anyone see this in the news over the last couple of years? I certainly missed it.

It this works, it might be a solution to the transmission infrastructure issues of alternative electrical energy generation.

Power to the Peeple

Guess where one of the most energetically favorable sources of hydrogen comes from? Urine. Really. It is being researched today.

Seems we should have plenty of source material. The Port-A-Potty industry can soon diversify.

Nuclear Medicine

Click here to read an article out of Canada on the status of nuclear medicine in the practice of cardiology. Mr. Spears made an error in his reference to technetium-99. The radioisotope actually used is technetium-99m with a 6 hour half-life. Technetium-99 has a 211,100 year half-life. That is a big difference.

"Big Science" at the Bevatron Atom Smasher

The Bevatron atom smasher at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is in the process of demolition. It was the most powerful atom smasher in it's day (early 1950s). It has been shut down since 1993 and it sat unused since that time. The demolition process will take a couple of years.

I have been approached by someone about doing some non-destructive assay work on the demolition rubble slated for disposal. The task will run about 3 to 6 months. A gamma-ray spectrometer will be used to quantitate the gamma emitting long-lived radionuclides in the components and construction material. The accelerator created artificial radioactivity (activation products) during it's operation. Although it has been shut down, some residual activities reamain and must be accounted for before disposition of the structure.

July 1: A Television Trifecta

There is a triple anniversary today for the U.S. television industry. The photo in the linked article reminds me of the first color TV I saw in the late 1950s. The show was Bonanza. I was blown away and pestered my dad for the next 6 years to get a color set. We waited until the screens were rectangular and the sets had built-in degaussing. In that day, was furniture.

We lived about 100 miles in all directions from the nearest TV station. Not a problem. My little home town got one of the nation's first cable TV systems in 1964. Before that, the only way that me and my buddies could watch the Three Stooges was to wait for rainy weather and used a motorized to pick up KARK channel 4 in Little Rock. For some reason, rain clouds helped with reception. Must have been reflection of the signal.

Years before this, I can remember watching a Dallas TV station 200 miles away in the mid-50s. What I remember is someone in a white rabbit costume in some kind of Easter show for kids. What My parents bought a TV in 1947 when they lived in Dallas and were quite popular in the small community they moved to in southwest Arkansas in the early 1950s. I wish I had kept that old set. The screen was about 8 inches in diameter.

Is Free The Future?

Malcolm Gladwell has written a review on Chris Anderson's new book, "Free: The Future of a Radical Price" in the New Yorker. Gladwell is the author of "Blink", "The Tipping Point," and "Outliers."