Over the last three years, thirty nine drivers were cited by Dallas cops for not speaking English. There is apparently a $204 fine for not speaking English while driving in Dallas. Supposedly this stems form a Federal regulation that big rig truckers must be able to speak English. This regulation was over zealously interpreted and implemented in Dallas, and enforcement of this dumb-ass rule has actually been carried out. It is most astonishing to me that it took three years of Dallas cops handing out these citations for people to suddenly realize that they were living in a world of shame and oppression. But that’s Texas for you. I suppose Texans expect this. The recipients of these citations probably consider themselves lucky that they weren’t executed.
Continue reading When Do Immigrants Learn English? Likely, not when you think. →

It appears that the stae of Michigan is cutting it’s extension service funding entirely. Apparently, it would then become the only state to not have an extension service.

Bug girl has the details here.

Have you heard that the world is now cooling instead of warming? You may have seen some news reports on the Internet or heard about it from a provocative new book.

Only one problem: It’s not true, according to several independent statisticians who analyzed temperature data for The Associated Press.

Details here.

Months, it turns out.
Continue reading Google Street View: How long from field work to web? →

Remember Daniel Hauser, the child who was busy dying of cancer while his parents kept real doctors away and treated him with homeowooatherapy and stuff? The Hauser family would now like everyone to go away again.

Continue reading The Hausers want Courts Out of the Picture →

Now, what you should probably appreciate is that bar bands in the suburbs are by and large cover bands. This band doesn’t really have a repertoire of their own compositions, but they do classic rock, folk rock and alternative rock. Tom joined them for their version of “Margaritaville.” Very good, but I don’t think Tom plans to resign from the legislature to head to Hollywood for a record contract…..

Latest post on Quiche Moraine…

Greg Pritchard – Britain’s Got Talent – Show 5 – The most amazing videos are a click away

Heather Rosa:

Five days a week I’m a news junkie. On weekends I take a complete break. Come Monday morning, I’m again ready for the news, catching up on whatever happened over the weekend. The first thing that slapped me in the face Monday morning, even before the every-five-minute repeat of the weather, was this story: a local woman had died after traveling to Arizona to participate in somebody’s idea of a sweat lodge ceremony. After keeling over from excessive heat (possibly literally biting the dust), she was taken to a hospital and later died. Authorities stated homicide charges were pending….

Here on Quiche Moraine.

… well, that would sure make things a lot easier…

Sean Hannity’s … feigns dismay at the idea that Christians don’t have any signs up in the NYC Subway system.

I am trying to imagine the outrage, because it isn’t happening. There are pro-Christian signs all over the NYC subway system. It shouldn’t take too much to ask one of his underlings about this kind of thing before he makes this kind of statement. But, this is another example of how he likes to fan the flames of a nearly non-existent “culture war” being waged by what his cohort Bill ORLY refers to as the “Secular Progressives.”

Read the post here.

World Science Festival 2009: Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale from World Science Festival on Vimeo.

Thanks for the suggestion.

A number of items for you to read, starting with this at Effect Measure, a take down of a recent Atlantic anti-vax article: Journalists sink in The Atlantic article on vaccines

Excellent news for OpenSource: White House uses Open Source technology for its web site.

I’ve been waiting for them to figure out how to do this: Lasers used to write false memories onto the fruit fly brain

Everything can be explained by ERVs, at ERV: Some new virology: XMRV and chronic fatigue syndrome and prostate cancer: blink

Finally, it’s safe to go back into the email box…. Nigerian Spammers Canned

H1N1 Vaccination Hysteria Part 1: Is the Swine Flu Vaccine Safe?

and

H1N1 Vaccination Hysteria Part 2: Should I get the shot?

At Urban Science Adventures.

Go here and sign this petition too.