Overnight News Digest: Science Saturday (Vice President Joe Biden's birthday edition)

by Neon Vincent

Welcome to Science Saturday, where the Overnight News Digest crew informs and entertains you with this week's news about science, space, and the environment.

This week's featured story comes from MSNBC.

Happy Birthday: Joe Biden Turns 68

In honor of Vice President Joe Biden's birthday, we look back on 68 glorious years of mutton chops, embarrassing gaffes and winning smiles.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Vice President.  What do you have to say for yourself today?

That's the spirit!

This week's science, space, and environment stories after the jump.

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What To Do, What To Do?

by Miep

So many choices. Such an American thing, that.

This is an effort to parse such.

I spend almost no time around other humans, so I have lots of time to think. Here is some of what I've thought about.

(crossposted from Right of Assembly)

Also from firefly-dreaming.

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Earthship Saturday: Climate Change, Coral Bleaching and Coal Ash, the Consequences of Inaction

by eKos

Welcome to the eKos Earthship, your one-stop-shop for green diaries and series.

Beneath the fold you will find news and notes, community announcements, and our eco-diary roundup.

Peruse the eKos Library to find previously listed diaries. You can also follow eKos on Twitter.

Tonight's editor: ellinorianne

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Gulf of Mexico Liveblog Digest (Part 2)

by Gulf Watchers

Gulf of Mexico Liveblog Digest (Part 1)
Many thanks to Ed at dKos tech support who was enormously helpful with the data used to compile this digest.
Since 26 May, a dedicated group of Kossaks have liveblogged the numerous attempts to kill the blown-out well on BP's Macando Lease.  We've also talked about everything from geology, ecology, biology, and petroleum science to coastal culture, food, and history.  In short, we have contributed to the historical record in our own special way, while giving everyone a place to discuss, contemplate, and mourn.  Thousands of words, scores of motherships, and a fair number of photos and videos have been posted - most all with our blessings.

Please note:  THIS DIARY WILL NOT BE TENDED FOR COMMENTS.  It will serve as a directory or repository for all future mothership and ROV postings.

Please do not comment here - find the most recent mothership in the listing below and use that link to join the discussion on the most current ROV.

Signed - Gulf Watchers

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Opposition to GE Salmon grows as time ticks down

by calalum

The FDA is set to approve genetically engineered (GE) salmon for human consumption. It would be the first time that a genetically engineered animal would be approved for people to eat, yet consumers are not rolling over on this one. Over 360,000 consumers, other federal agencies, and members of congress are all saying no to GE salmon and the FDA's flawed approval process. There is still time for the Obama administration to put the breaks on the FDA and demand a more comprehensive review, but the clock is ticking.

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How many Billionaires can dance on a Pinnacle?

by jamess

The GOP often dangles this dream, before its far too loyal followers:

You too, could one day be a Millionaire, or perhaps even a Billionaire, so don't ruin it for everyone, by raising Taxes on the Wealthy. Afterall, someday it could be you.  In their America, anything's possible.

Most everyone, wants to be rich someday.  It's part of the American Dream -- or at least it used to be.  But the way things have been going lately it seems the Dream has been downsized to:

I just hope I can find/keep my Job.

Despite the somber work-a-day reality most people face, far too many still take the Republican dream, at face value.  By following their lead, they hope to strike it rich someday, too.

Perhaps we Dems, should address this rouse, and dare to ask:

What would really happen if we ALL struck it rich?

Because obviously there is only SO much room "at the top" ...

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DailyCancun: Applying the lessons of Copenhagen in Cancun

by boatsie

David Turnbull is Executive Director of the Climate Action Network - International, a network of over five hundred NGOs in dozens of countries working to develop and advocate for global solutions to the climate crisis. He joins DailyCancun this evening to reflect back on the failures of COP15 and forward as he presents a vision of what we've learned and a vision of realistic goals we can hope to achieve at COP16 in Cancun

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Gen Y Just Isn't That Into Cars

by greendem

Detroit may be feeling wind in their sails today, but they have a much bigger problem on the horizon.

A confluence of events — environmental worries, a preference for gadgets over wheels and the yearslong economic doldrums — is pushing some teens and twentysomethings to opt out of what has traditionally been considered an American rite of passage: Owning a car.

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Putting Classroom Theory into Practice

by NourishingthePlanet

Crossposted from the Worldwatch Institute's Nourishing the Planet.

"The idea was to bring a lot of expertise from the corporate world to help young social start ups," says Fred Rose when asked about his motivation for founding the Acara Institute two years ago.  As part of the Minnesota University’s Institute on the Environment, Acara has developed a classroom curriculum for universities in the U.S. and in India that challenges students to think creatively about how to use private businesses to solve pressing global issues such as hunger and poverty. But instead of  the semester culminating in an exam or a paper, Acara provides students the necessary tools to turn their best class work into reality.

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Gulf Watchers Friday - Criminal Negligence - BP Catastrophe AUV #428

by Lorinda Pike

You are in the current Gulf Watchers BP Catastrophe - AUV #428. ROV #427 is here.

Bookmark this link to find the latest Gulf Watchers diaries.

Please RECOMMEND THIS DIARY, the motherships have been discontinued.

On Thanksgiving weekend there won't be a morning Friday Gulf Watchers AUV diary but there will be a Gulf Watchers Friday Block Party.

Gulf Watchers Diary Schedule
Monday - evening drive time
Wednesday - morning
Friday - morning
Friday Block Party - evening
Sunday - morning

The digest of diaries is here.

Please be kind to kossacks with bandwidth issues. Please do not post images or videos. Again, many thanks for this.

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