Midday Open Thread
by Plutonium Page
Thu May 08, 2008 at 12:44:32 PM PDT
- There are a couple of updates on the Heartland Institute's "500 Scientist List" smackdown. Not only has it turned out that many of the scientists on the list are not climate change deniers, and never consented to be on the list, but some of them are even dead. Also:
The Heartland Institute has withdrawn its claim of having identified "500 Scientists with Documented Doubts about Global Warming Scares," but is refusing the demands by dozens of those scientists to be removed from the Heartland's original offending document.
And, five New Zealand scientists have actually sent out a press release saying although the Heartland Institute put them on the list, they also never consented to be put on the list.
The story continues to develop. You can follow it on the blog that broke the story, at DeSmogBlog.com. Bloggy activism at its best!
- Cool story:
One of the first things U.S. Rep. Steve Kagen (D–Wisc.) did when he took office last year was to nix his congressional health care coverage. The move stunned a human resources staffer, who, the lawmaker says, looked at him as though he were insane.
"I'll respectfully decline until you can make that same offer for all of my constituents," he says he told her, explaining his decision to turn down what many say is the Cadillac of U.S. health plans.
[snip]
Kagen's seemingly brazen act was part of his health care reform strategy. In February he introduced the "No Discrimination in Health Insurance Act of 2008" (H.R. 5449), which would bar insurance companies from hiking rates or denying coverage for preexisting medical conditions.
- Nerd news from New Mexico:
Los Alamos National Laboratory is looking for a private developer to pay for and build a new science complex, officials said Wednesday.
Under the proposal, LANL would lease the 5-acre complex from the developer to consolidate about 1,600 employees— about a third of the lab's work force— now housed in aging buildings spread throughout the lab.
Officials say construction can begin relatively soon because the proposal does not depend on congressional funding.
Any LANL scientists out there? What do you think -- should the proposal have the advice of Congress?
- More from New Mexico: if you're a Martin Heinrich fan, or want to find out more about him, his campaign office opening event is on May 10, 2008 (this upcoming Saturday). RSVP here. Heinrich is running for the NM-01 congressional seat, against Bush's good buddy Darren White. Enough said.
- Bush approval rating down to 60 percent among Republicans, Gallup finds.
- Gitmo judge threatens to suspend trial of Canadian detainee because the government's withholding records, according to AP.
- A couple of mining companies are finally called to task for miner deaths. First, Massey Energy is cited by MSHA for safety violations that led to a death in West Virginia. Then, a Congressional investigation recommends that the general manager of Crandall Mine in Utah be brought up on criminal charges for hiding information from the feds.
- Since 2003, a total of 43,000 troops may have been deployed when they were medically unfit for combat, according to a Pentagon report cited by USA Today.
- Get ready for Paulville, a proposed gated community for Ron Paul acolytes.
- Business Week finds men are getting hit harder by the job slump and women are actually gaining.
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