Recall Alert: Flushing System Causes Toilets To Explode

WASHINGTON, D.C. (CBS) - About 2.3 million Flushmate III Pressure-Assiste Flushing Systems, made by Flushmate in Hudson Michigan, have been recalled in the United States because of explosion risks.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada recalled the product because it was found that the Flushmate system can burst and release pressure that can lift the tank lid and shatter the toilet, which poses laceration risks for users.

The assistant flushing system, which was manufactured between October 1997 and February 2008, was sold at The Home Depot and Lowe’s stores.

READ MORE:  http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/08/21/flushing-system-causes-toilets-to-explode/

Sudden gasoline price spikes have experts scrambling for explanation

AAA calls it the steepest one-month climb in gas prices since they started keeping track in 2000.

The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded Friday was $3.67, up from last month's $3.38. Diesel's up almost as much.

For trucker Anthony Bagley, who was topping off his 200-gallon tank Friday at a truck stop in Millersville, Md., the price hike means lost income, lost profits and lost savings.

"Seventy-five gallons so far -- almost 300 bucks," he told Fox News. "Ridiculous. It's killing me. No money in it, it's not worth it."

Asked what the price hike would do to his business,  Bagley said, "Eventually it's going to fold."

Industry analysts say the sudden spike in fuel prices has one root cause.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/08/10/sudden-gasoline-price-spikes-have-experts-scrambling-for-explanation/#ixzz23TflCUqq

Livestock farmers still seeking pause in ethanol production

Livestock farmers and ranchers seeing their feed costs rise because of the worst drought in a quarter-century are demanding that the Environmental Protection Agency waive production requirements for corn-based ethanol.

The Obama administration sees no need for a waiver, siding with corn growers — many of them in presidential election battleground states Iowa and Ohio — who continue to support the mandate.

"If not now, when?" Randy Spronk, a Minnesota pork farmer, said of the EPA's authority to defer the ethanol production requirement when it threatens to severely harm the economy of a state or region. "Everyone should feel the pain of rationing."

READ MORE:  http://www.ibj.com/livestock-farmers-still-seeking-pause-in-ethanol-production/PARAMS/article/35989

Man Sentenced to 30 Days for Catching Rain Water on Own Property Enters Jail

CNSNews.com) – Gary Harrington, the Oregon man convicted of collecting rainwater and snow runoff on his rural property surrendered Wednesday morning to begin serving his 30-day, jail sentence in Medford, Ore.

“I’m sacrificing my liberty so we can stand up as a country and stand for our liberty,” Harrington told a small crowd of people gathered outside of the Jackson County (Ore.) Jail.

Several people held signs that showed support for Harrington as he was taken inside the jail.
Harrington was found guilty two weeks ago of breaking a 1925 law for having, what state water managers called “three illegal reservoirs” on his property. He was convicted of nine misdemeanors, sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined over $1500 for collecting rainwater and snow runoff on his property.

READ MORE:  http://cnsnews.com/news/article/man-sentenced-30-days-catching-rain-water-own-property-enters-jail

‘A Big Cherry Picking Exercise’: Skeptics Weigh in on the Latest Global Warming Study

Over the weekend, TheBlaze reported NASA scientist James Hansen, a man who has been called the “godfather of global warming,” issuing a study that found temperature climb experienced over several decades was a solid result of climate change — nothing else. He was also advocating for government action to curb the effects of global warming.

Hansen and his study colleagues determined through statistical analysis of data — not climate modeling techniques — that the extreme temperatures experienced in recent years are so rare that the odds point favorably to it being a result of global warming, not natural trends.

This animation depicts Hansen’s review of surface temperature trends from 1955 through 1999:

READ MORE:  http://www.theblaze.com/stories/a-big-cherry-picking-exercise-skeptics-weigh-in-on-the-latest-global-warming-study/

Opposing view: Natural cycles trigger extremes in weather

The argument that global warming is causing more extreme weather is problematic because it presumes the globe is warming.

• OUR VIEW: Emissions juice the atmosphere

In fact, the global temperature trend line has been stable for more than a dozen years, while carbon dioxide has increased 7%. If CO2 was the driver, then why have global temperatures stopped increasing?

Keep in mind that CO2 represents 0.0395% of the Earth's atmosphere. Arguing that CO2 is driving the small temperature variations in our climate as opposed to the oceans, which cover 70% of the planet and have 1,000 times the heat capacity of air, or the output of our sun, is scientifically disturbing.

Weather is more publicized nowadays because of its impact on society and the constant push of the global warming agenda. Increases in population result in more people being in the path of Mother Nature's fury.

READ MORE:  http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/story/2012-07-31/Joe-Bastardi-WeatherBELL-Analytics/56623728/1

 

Why Fewer Americans Are Starting New Businesses

America may be going out of business when it comes to starting new businesses, according to a recent report.

The study—from the non-profit New America Foundation—argues the U.S. is seriously in danger of losing its entrepreneurial spirit because the number of small business created has been declining since the 1970s.

"Most numbers collected on entrepreneurship haven't reflected the increase in population," says Lina Khan, co-author of the report and a policy analyst for the New America Foundation.

 "We see entrepreneurship declining per person and what figures there are may have over-counted the number of small businesses," Khan says. 

READ MORE:  http://www.cnbc.com/id/48302681