the eye of Nova's mind

Canada nuclear reactor to resume isotope production -- "A Canadian nuclear reactor is set to resume producing medical isotopes after being shut for 15 months of repairs."

Georgia scientists: Gulf oil not gone, 80 pct remains

People Who Cannot Escape a System Are Likely to Defend the Status Quo

Chinese meditation technique boosts brain function: study -- "Imaging tests showed a greater number of connections in the anterior cingulate -- the part of the brain which regulates emotion and behavior -- among those who practiced meditation compared to subjects in the control group."

Dark chocolate can be good for the heart, study says -- "[A U.S. study] found those eating chocolate once or twice a week cut the risk of developing heart failure by a third, but those eating it every day did not benefit."

Bacteria can 'smell' their environment, research shows

State Emergency Operations Center Activated in Response to Oil Spill in Calhoun County

Michigan Governor Warns of Oil Spill Threat (NYT)

Enbridge pipeline breaks, spills 19,500 barrels

(See also my response to kittenkissies in a previous post.)

This begs the question: why didn't President Obama declare the oil spill in the gulf a disaster so FEMA could get involved? Not that the spill was initially perceived as an emergency (heck, I can't even find a news article dated April 22nd mentioning the explosion), but as time went on he could have said those magic words so as to let experts come in, take measurements, and document the state of the situation from the outset; coordinate medical responses for locals as well as clean-up crews who have become ill in the aftermath; & appear to hold a multibillion-dollar corporation responsible for its mess.

As it is, the president's image has been tarnished by the perception of collusion (not just with the industry in general but with BP in particular). I don't know if that stain can be wiped away. As some portentious lyrics once detailed, "Never shook Satan's hand, look see for yourself / You'd know it if I had, that shit don't come off."