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PATH: BS
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Top 10 Crazy Facts About The BP Gulf Oil Disaster
Posted by Pile
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[Environment]
[Industry] |
 It's been more than seven weeks since BP's offshore oil rig, Deepwater Horizon, exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. Since then, crude oil has been hemorrhaging into ocean waters and wreaking unknown havoc on our ecosystem -- unknown because there is no accurate estimate of how many barrels of oil are contaminating the Gulf.
Though BP officially admits to only a few thousand barrels spilled each day, expert estimates peg the damage at 60,000 barrels or over 2.5 million gallons daily. (Perhaps we'd know more if BP hadn't barred independent engineers from inspecting the breach.) Measures to quell the gusher have proved lackluster at best, and unlike the country's last big oil spill -- Exxon-Valdez in 1989 -- the oil is coming from the ground, not a tanker, so we have no idea how much more oil could continue to pollute the Gulf's waters.
The Deepwater Horizon disaster reminds us what can happen -- and will continue to happen -- when corporate malfeasance and neglect meet governmental regulatory failure.
The corporate media is tracking the disaster with front-page articles and nightly news headlines every day (if it bleeds, or spills, it leads!), but the under-reported aspects to this nightmarish tale paint the most chilling picture of the actors and actions behind the catastrophe. In no particular order, here are 10 things about the BP spill you may not know and may not want to know -- but you should. |
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New Facebook "Feature" Exposes Everyones Personal Info
Posted by Pile
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 This past week, Facebook announced Instant Personalization, whereby select websites would "personalize your experience using your public Facebook information." The initial sites are Pandora, Yelp and Microsoft Docs. As Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained, this means that when you visit "Pandora for the first time, it can immediately start playing songs from bands you've liked." Pandora, and other partners, can also link your real name and other Facebook information with everything you do on their site.
More specifically, these sites "may access any information you have made visible to Everyone ... as well as your publicly available information. This includes your Name, Profile Picture, Gender, Current City, Networks, Friend List, and Pages." On Monday, Facebook announced a transition where a "new type of Facebook Page" will make the "current city, hometown, education and work, and likes and interests sections of your profile" publicly available after you go through the transition tool (or those items will be deleted). |
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President George W. Bush (as shown in this actual photo) was presented a "secret" document on August 6th, 2001. Its heading read: "Bin Ladin Determined To Strike in US." And on those pages it said the FBI had discovered "patterns of suspicious activity in this country consistent with preparations for hijackings." Mr. Bush decided to ignore it and went fishing for the next four weeks. 
We here at BSA want to get in the holiday spirit too, and what better way than to show off these cool, festive holiday lights... Find out how you can make your own too!
In the wake of controversy over Wikileaks founder Julian Assange being called everything from a terrorist to the last true journalist, we revisit an interview he gave earlier this year where he discusses how his organization works and why it's so important.
In homage to Jon Stewart's Rally To Restore Sanity, I whipped up a little dream sequence of what I might imagine a more sane interview on CNN might look like, or maybe not...
In the wake of the Children's Television Workshop axing a segment where pop singer Katy Perry performed her song on Sesame Street, fearing the singer was too exposed (apparently children are only allowed to see cleavage as a road map to mom's refreshment station), Perry has gone on the offensive in a big way. First showing up on Saturday Night Live in a provacative outfit made out of an Elmo shirt, she's totally left the boat with her latest video... I smell some lawsuits from CTW on this one despite the fact that it's an obvious parody... and completely hilarious!
A cool new PSA has come out that sheds light on why you should vote Republican...
In his weekly address, President Obama discusses the Republican Power Grab - this is an important, short video worth watching that will shed light on the coming mayhem of the mid-term elections.
Have you ever wondered what would happen if atheists acted as "fundamentalist" as some religious groups? Ok, probably not, but if you are curious, check out this very amusing video...
In the wake of death threats from the US Government against the founder of Wikileaks - a journalistic web site that posts "whistleblower" information on important social, economic and political issues, a file has mysteriously appeared that is ten times larger than anything else, merely labeled "
Glenn Beck has been on the air a lot as of late promoting gold as a "safe investment" in today's trouble economic times. Here's an illuminating view into the scheme he's promoting and how it backfires on his unsuspecting listeners...
Your GPS location coordinates, Wifi access point and GSM tower data is constantly saved by Apple iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Snow Leopard and Safari browsers (also Windows version) and sent to Apple in batches every 12 hours...
Penn Jillette gives one of his most honest and insightful interviews yet, discussing a number of interesting topics...
It goes without saying that most people no longer believe what British Petroleum is saying publicly about the amount of oil leaking into the Gulf and the condition of the well structure. The reality is much more frightening... In a few crevices in Cyberspace, experts in the industry are whispering what they think is really going on...
A first-hand account of heading along the Louisiana coast and examining the effect of the BP Horizon oil spill.
Plaquemines parish president, Billy Nungesser makes a plea to the government to take over the project and stop British Petroleum's control over the Deepwater Horizon oil spill as he watches the coastal marshes become irrevocably destroyed by the oil slick...
Apparently, when you publish your Social Security number prominently on your website and billboards, people take it as an invitation to steal your identity.
Ever wonder what a modern hospital might be like if you replaced all the scientifically-trained doctors with New Age Gurus? Here's a glimpse...
Conan O'Brien visits the Google offices and hilarity ensues as he takes control of the Interview and decides to break his moratorium on being publicly funny.
Comedian-Rapper Reggie Watts turns out a hilarious video parody of all other rap videos...
Someone won't friend you on Facebook and you want to stalk them, or maybe find out more personal info? 
What if almost every copy machine made in the last year has a secret in it? That undermines everyone's privacy and personal security...
In 1983, the National Film Board of Canada produced a 57-minute film, "Anybody's Son Will Do". Arguably the best documentary on military recruitment ever made, and tailored for public television, it scared the hell out of the U.S. military machine, which has done its best to "disappear" it. For years it has been nearly impossible to find a copy, until now.
An otherwise routine post in one of the online motorcycle enthusiast forums has been making the rounds as a powerful and poignant expose of what makes the modern conservative/right wing movement tick.
That cool USB-based battery charger you connected to your computer? Who knew it secretly installed software on your machine that allows someone to connect and control your computer remotely without your knowledge?
In these times of depression, *cough*, excuse me "recession", I'm sure many of us are thinking, "I've got an extra two hundred thousand dollars to blow making my pool table look really cool. What can I do?" 
Right now large areas of the United States are blanketed by a snowstorm, and as predictable as the eventual accumulation of flies on a turd, the conservatives have come out of the woodwork to champion these atypical weather events as "proof" that there is no global warming. Rachael Maddow and Bill Nye respond to the current trend using some amusing analogies...
The Dragon's Den is an interesting tv show that originally started in the UK. The show is based on the premise that would-be entrepeneurs pitch products and services to the "dragons" - a group of successful businessmen. Sometimes the ideas are good, most of the time they're bad, but almost every time, the inventor is sure they've found "the most awesome product ever!" In one recent case, a guy hawking "miracle cure water", the same kind of stuff you'll see routinely advertised on talk radio, comes up against the Dragons... Let's watch..
As Comcast seeks Congressional approval for their merger with NBC, Senator Al Franken notes that out of one side of Comcastcast's mouth they claim the FCC will keep them from abusing their almost monopolist status, and out of the other, their lawyers are claiming the FCC has no jurisdiction in enforcing their decisions.
President Obama traveled to a House Republican retreat in Baltimore on Friday and delivered a performance that was at once defiant, substantive and engaging. For roughly an hour and a half, Obama lectured GOP leaders and, in a protracted, nationally-televised question-and-answer session, deflected their policy critiques, corrected their misstatements and scolded them for playing petty politics. Check out the video.
The National Tea Party Convention, an event I'm sure many readers have already gotten tickets for, has run into a couple of snags. Fortunately there's one big-haired semi-pro ex-governor who's going to pull it out of its doldrums.
Her bio says, "A New York Times best-selling author, Ellie Krieger is a renowned registered dietitian specializing in nutrition and health communications. Her extensive work in the media has earned her a loyal following and national recognition as a trusted health professional."
Have you ever wondered why it's fashionable to be young and stupid? Craig Ferguson has it figured out...
Are you worried about people rummaging through your checked bags on airline flights and lost luggage? Well, there's now an easy solution. It may seem crazy, but TSA rules state that if you declare a weapon in your luggage, additional tracking and safety protocols, including locking your bags go into effect.
In a study released by the International Journal of Biological Sciences, analyzing the effects of genetically modified foods on mammalian health, researchers found that agricultural giant Monsanto's GM corn is linked to organ damage in rats.
Since we have nothing better to do, and I'm sure a cure for cancer is on the way, and our country's democratic process is in perfect health, we here at BSA decided we could afford a more fruitless pursuit for your pleasure. We scoured Amazon.com for funny, humorous and amusing product reviews...
Christopher Hitchens tackles an array of eclectic questions solicited from Internet users of the site Reddit. As a result you get some provocative and insightful questions and answers like what you won't see on TV.
Imagine what you've been eating the last few years (thanks to meat industry lobbyists) when you eat a McDonald's burger (or the hamburger patties in kids' school lunches) or buy conventional ground meat at your supermarket: