Water treatment plant produces own energy from waste

The San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant currently creates two-thirds of its energy from methane from digesters and landfills. They just signed an agreement with FuelCell Energy for a 1.4 MW fuel cell system powered by biogas from their own treatment process.

Fuel cells operate 24/7 with virtually no emissions. Imagine the cost [...]

Feds to file charges in huge insider trading investigation

WSJ

Federal authorities, capping a three-year investigation, are preparing insider-trading charges that could ensnare consultants, investment bankers, hedge-fund and mutual-fund traders and analysts across the nation, according to people familiar with the matter.

The criminal and civil probes, which authorities say could eclipse the impact on the financial industry of any previous such [...]

How liberalism self-destructed

NewGeography delivers a devastating and quite accurate critique against modern-day liberalism, detailing how it has lost its way, is out of touch with much of the country, and worst of all, has no real message.

Liberalism once embraced the mission of fostering upward mobility and a stronger economy. But liberalism’s appeal has diminished, particularly among [...]

Wesley Snipes ordered to start serving prison term

Because you just can’t earn tens of millions, not file income tax returns, then make up bogus reasons why you don’t have to pay taxes.

Mural of the Day Award. Cats with laser eyes

In San Francisco, of course

Incoming Republican committee heads demand that TSA backs off

This is truly welcome news. Emphasis added.

The incoming leaders of the House Transportation Committee on Friday called the new airport pat-down procedures “overly intrusive” and demanded that the Transportation Security Administration restrict their use.

In a letter to the TSA, Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., and Rep. Thomas Petri, R-Wis., who are set to assume [...]

Palace revolt in the Democratic Party

Soros on Obama. “I am used to fighting losing battles, but I don’t like losing without a fight.”

Big Democratic donors plan to ignore Obama, fund their own initiatives to fight back.

The only real question is whether Obama’s passivity is due to him being in way over his head or because he agrees with [...]

TSA confiscates heavily-armed soldiers’ nail-clipper

Well now it’s just gotten silly, hasn’t it?

This might be a good time to remind everyone that approximately 233 people re-boarded that plane with assault rifles, pistols, and machine guns-but nothing that could have been used as a weapon.

But their nail clippers were confiscated…

Security expert Bruce Schneier has a must-read [...]

On income disparity and social unrest

Teamster strike. 1934

Is the US a hedge fund republic, asks Nicholas Kristok at the NY Times, given our huge and growing disparities of wealth.

I see members of Congress in my own country who argue that it would be financially reckless to extend unemployment benefits during a terrible recession, yet they insist on [...]

Urban rooftop gardens. Grow locally, even in cities

A restaurant in Chicago, Uncommon Grounds, grows organic produce on their roof and uses solar to heat 50% of their water while Lufa Farms in Montreal is building a a 31,000 square foot rooftop greenhouse.

“Our goal simply is to be a neighborhood food source and raise the bar on the issue of traceability. [...]