New Catalyst Produces Hydrogen from Water

A possible alternative to fossil fuels may not be too far into the future.

Science & Technology at Scientific American.com: New Catalyst Produces Hydrogen from Water: “The promise of a hydrogen economy, which would lessen dependence on nonrenewable energy sources such as fossil fuels, hinges on the ability to produce and store large amounts of the clean-burning element. New results from experiments on a novel catalyst suggest that it can be used to coax hydrogen from water without the need for severe reaction conditions.

‘We have discovered a catalyst that can produce ready quantities of hydrogen without the need for extreme cold temperatures or high pressures, which are often required in other production and storage methods,’ remarks Mahdi Abu-Omar of Purdue University. The compound he and his colleagues used is a so-called coordination complex based on the metal rhenium. Originally looking for a method to convert chemicals called organosilanes into silanols, the team combined organosilanes and water in the presence of the rhenium complex at ambient temperature and pressure. After an hour, the reaction had produced hydrogen gas in addition to silanols. According to a report published today in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, the method generates a large amount of hydrogen compared to the amount of water used.” - Scientific American More…

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Katrina: Gulf State’s Mini Tsunami

Let’s see if there is any offer of aid from the global community to the U.S. Citizens devistated by hurricane Katrina. Why do we feel the door only swings in one direction… ??

FEMA head calls Katrina damage ‘catastrophic’ – Oil and Gas – Energy – General: “New Orleans was reported to be 80% underwater, ports in the region were closed until further notice, and at least one levee break cause more flooding in the hard-city city.

Crude oil futures touched an all-time high of $70.85 in New York trading as investors sought to gauge the severity and longevity of disruption in the sector. See Futures Movers.

Rescuers searched by boat and helicopter for survivors and brought soaked victims to shelters.Katrina, potentially one of the costliest storms in U.S. history, was downgraded to a tropical depression on Tuesday, with the center of the storm charted about 25 miles south of Clarksville, Tenn. as of 11 a.m. Eastern time.

Rainfall accumulations of 2-6 inches will accompany Katrina across the Ohio Valley, the lower Great Lakes, and into northern New England, the Nationa. Weather Service sid.

In the aftermath of the storm, the National Weather Service also warned of the threat of tornadoes.

The storm hit the Gulf Coast early Monday as a Category 4 hurricane, with 145-mph winds.” More…

If anyone has examples of at least token offers of foreign aid to the U.S. as a gesture of good will in the aftermath of Katrina we would love you to share it with our readers in the comments section or post at our sister site… ZZ OpenWeb. I’d willing to bet we don’t get many leads. Share your thoughts with us on this question… voice your opinion.

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Vacationing Bush Writes New Iraqi Constitution

Vacationing Bush Writes New Iraqi Constitution
by Scott Ott

(2005-08-26) — (Crawford Tx) After weeks of failure by the Iraqi National Assembly to approve a draft of a new national charter, President George Bush today intervened and required the legislative body to adopt a constitution he recently composed while on vacation in Texas.

‘I know most folks think I’ve just been goofing off and dodging Cindy Sheehan,’ said Mr. Bush, ‘but while I was sitting by the pool, sipping a sweet tea, I actually knocked out a pretty decent little Iraqi constitution. I don’t know why I didn’t think of this sooner. It’s so much easier than waiting around for them to write their own.’

The new document, which immediately received the backing of the 150,000-member U.S. occupation force, provides all the rights and privileges enjoyed in America, without the years of struggle and debate which the U.S. Constitution required.

The president said his Iraqi constitution ‘resolves ancient ethnic and religious tensions among Shi’ites, Sunnis and Kurds and creates an atmosphere of trust and peaceful fellowship between Iraqi citizens and the terrorists who have been blowing them up.’

‘I’m still working on the Iraqi national anthem,’ Mr. Bush added. ‘What I’ve got so far reminds me of Lee Greenwood’s ‘God Bless the USA’ but I’m making it sound real foreign so Iraqis will feel like it’s their own song.’” Scott Ott / ScrappleFace

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Who’s On First – The Beltway Version

Thanks to Meggit33 —

George: Condi! Nice to see you. What’s happening?
Condi: Sir, I have the report here about the new leader of China.
George: Great. Lay it on me.
Condi: Hu is the new leader of China.
George: That’s what I want to know.
Condi: That’s what I’m telling you.
George: That’s what I’m asking you. Who is the new leader of China?
Condi: Yes.
George: I mean the fellow’s name.
Condi: Hu.
George: The guy in China.
Condi: Hu.
George: The new leader of China.
Condi: Hu.
George: The main man in China!
Condi: Hu is leading China.
George: Now whaddya’ asking me for?
Condi: I’m telling you, Hu is leading China.
George: Well, I’m asking you. Who is leading China?
Condi: That’s the man’s name.
George: That’s who’s name?
Condi: Yes.
George: Will you, or will you not, tell me the name of the new leader of China?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir? Yassir Arafat is in China? I thought he’s dead in the Middle East.
Condi: That’s correct.
George: Then who is in China?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir is in China?
Condi: No, sir.
George: Then who is?
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Yassir?
Condi: No, sir.
George: Look Condi. I need to know the name of the new leader of China. Get me the Secretary General of the U.N. on the phone.
Condi: Kofi?
George: No, thanks.
Condi: You want Kofi?
George: No.
Condi: You don’t want Kofi.
George: No. But now that you mention it, I could use a glass of milk. And then get me the U.N.
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: Not Yassir! The guy at the U.N.
Condi: Kofi?
George: Milk! Will you please make the call?
Condi: And call who?
George: Who is the guy at the U.N?
Condi: Hu is the guy in China
George: Will you stay out of China?!
Condi: Yes, sir.
George: And stay out of the Middle East! Just get me the guy at the U.N.
Condi: Kofi.
George: All right! With cream and two sugars.

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Who Would Jesus Assassinate?

Another case of hoof in mouth disease !!! Pat Robertson — preacher gone haywire.

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Mother Moonbat’s Traveling Minstrel Show

Courtesy of LGF:

“The life of a peace mom is always—intense: Cindy Sheehan Planning Anti-War Bus Tour.

CRAWFORD, Texas – A fallen soldier’s mother said Thursday that the an [sic] anti-war vigil she started nearly three weeks ago near President Bush’s ranch won’t end when she and other protesters pack up the camp next week.

Cindy Sheehan said the day after she leaves Aug. 31, she will embark on a bus tour ending up in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 24. Then the group will start a 24-hour vigil in the nation’s capital.

“I am not alone,” she said at a news conference Thursday. “There’s the people standing behind me here, but there’s thousands of military families … who want the same answers to the same questions.”

On Wednesday, Sheehan returned to “Camp Casey,” named after her 24-year-old son, Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, who was killed last year in Iraq.

“This is where I belong, until Aug. 31, like I told the president,” Sheehan said at the Waco airport before driving about 20 miles to the Crawford site.

When Sheehan arrived at the campsite, she saw a large banner depicting her son’s face. She sobbed and said she felt ill. Supporters brought her water and cold towels, and she recovered about 20 minutes later.

UPDATE at 8/25/05 1:26:13 pm:

In her press conference today, Mother Sheehan described Osama Bin Laden as “allegedly” being behind the September 11 atrocities. (Hat tip: tedzilla99.)” — LGF 8/25/05

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Shut Israeli Home Depot Stores

Abbas to Sharon: Shut Israeli Home Depot Stores
by Scott Ott

(2005-08-23) — Now that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has forced the unilateral exodus of Jews from neighborhoods in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said today it’s time to take the next step on the road to peace.

‘I call on Prime Minister Sharon to unilaterally close all of the Home Depot stores and similar establishments in Israel,’ Mr. Abbas said. ‘Home-building is the brutal weapon of Jewish extremism, and Palestine will not feel safe until this link in the extremist supply chain is cut.’

The Palestinian president noted that hardware stores and home centers provide Jewish extremists with their ‘tools of terror’ and that Palestinian children ‘quake with fear every time they see a Jew brandishing a belt-sander.’

‘Perhaps, when the savage suppliers of sheetrock and shingles have been shut down,’ said Mr. Abbas, ‘we might then talk about reducing the frequency of the suicide bombings that ” Scott Ott / ScrappleFace

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British Want Security Over Rights

(London) “Almost three quarters of Britons are willing to give up some civil liberties in return for better security, according to a poll conducted since the deadly bombings on London’s transit system last month.

The ICM poll published on Monday in The Guardian newspaper showed that 73% of respondents backed the trade-off, with only 17% rejecting it outright.

The results suggest the British public largely backs a range of anti-terrorism measures proposed by Prime Minister Tony Blair’s government, including a new offence of inciting terrorism and deporting radical clerics who glorify acts of violence.”…

Blair’s position is popular:

Sixty-eight per cent of interviewees also backed extending from two weeks to three months the length of time a suspected terrorist can be held without charge, as requested by British police chiefs.

The poll also shows that Blair’s popularity rating has risen.

He is now narrowly into positive figures, with 47% of respondents satisfied with his performance as prime minister, and 45%, not.

In a similar poll conducted in January, 38% were satisfied and 50% were not. More…

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