Halliburton Knew Cement at BP Oil Well Failed Three Lab Tests, Report Finds
October 29, 2010
(ChattahBox U.S. News) – The third time was not the charm last spring when Halliburton performed three consecutive lab tests on the cement foam that it created to temporarily seal BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil well, a presidential commission said. After the cement mixture was found “unstable” during the individual tests, Halliburton e-mailed BP about the results of just one of those tests, and both companies moved forward and used the cement anyway, the Washington Post reports.
The National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling released its findings yesterday, which said that Halliburton did conduct a fourth test indicating that the cement might be capable of containing the oil, but the commission determined that those results may not have even been available until after the cement was already poured, the Post indicates.
When questioned before a National Academy of Engineering panel last month about the cement used at the well, Halliburton’s vice president for cementing had testified that “all of the testing work that was done by Halliburton in advance of this job indicated that the foam system was stable,” the Post indicates.
The new report concedes that cement alone may not have been the sole cause of the oil spill. Other factors, such as the well design, may have contributed to the disaster as well.
Mastermind in Killing of Florida Couple Convicted
October 29, 2010
(ChattahBox U.S. News) – A jury yesterday convicted karate teacher Patrick Gonzalez, Jr. of first-degree murder in the 2009 slaying of Byrd and Melanie Billings, a Florida couple shot and killed while their nine adopted special needs children were in the house. Prosecutors in the case asserted that Gonzalez, a father of six, murdered the couple after dressing a team of men that he assembled in ninja garb to rob the Billings’ house of what he believed was $13 million, the Huffington Post reports.
While assembling his team before the murder, Gonzalez claimed to his co-conspirators that Byrd Billings earned millions by working with the Mexican mafia and kept it in a safe at the Billings home. The men who went to the Billings home the night of the murder told the jury that Gonzalez shot the couple to gain access to a safe that ultimately contained nothing valuable, and overlooked a second safe that held $164,000, the Huffington Post reports.
Jurors will decide later today whether Gonzalez should face the death penalty or life in prison. Meanwhile, the Billings’ daughter Ashley Markham and her husband are now raising the children, who ranged in age from four to 11 when their parents were murdered, the Huffington Post reports.
Clinton Urged Democratic Florida Candidate Meek to Drop Out of Senate Race
October 29, 2010
(ChattahBox U.S. News) – Last week, Bill Clinton stumped around Florida on behalf of Democratic Senate candidate Kendrick Meek. And then he told Meek to drop out of the race to make room for independent candidate Charlie Crist, the Washington Post reports.
Clinton spokesman Matt McKenna confirmed yesterday that the former president told his longtime friend Meek that he could be more impactful if he dropped out of the Senate race and endorsed Crist, who is leading him in the polls. Concern among Democrats is that competition between Crist and Meek may create a split vote issue, allowing Republican candidate Marco Rubio’s lead to strengthen even more than it already has. Currently, Meek is a distant third behind Rubio and Crist, the Post reports. Recent polls show that most Meek supporters have indicated that they would support Crist if Meek left the race.
Although McKenna said that Meek considered taking Clinton’s advice, Meek asserted that he has never considered dropping out of the race and is continuing his quest to become the first African-American elected statewide in Florida, the Post indicates.
Obama to Stewart: ‘It Wasn’t Change You Can Believe in, in 18-Months’
October 28, 2010
(ChattahBox Political News)–President Obama reminded Jon Stewart that real change doesn’t happen overnight and certainly not in just 18-months. It took George W. Bush and Dick Cheney eight-years to trash our country, but the American people want instant solutions and instant gratification. During a first ever appearance by a sitting president on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, President Obama gently sparred, traded barbs and shared a few laughs with host Jon Stewart, who has been openly critical of Obama. The President rejected Stewart’s characterization of the historic health care reform bill as “timid,” while defending Democratic candidates who have taken politically difficult votes, whom are now distancing themselves from the White House. Stewart quipped that some Democrats are running on a platform, of “Please baby, one more chance.” Read more
Rove Draws First Blood: Palin Has No Presidential ‘Gravitas’
October 28, 2010
(ChattahBox Political News)—Karl Rove, the evil Sith Lord of Republican dirty tricks is sharpening his talons in preparation for the 2012 presidential campaign. And he has his beady eyes firmly set on his Fox News colleague Sarah Palin. Rove knows full well that if the conspicuously unintelligent former half-term governor manages to win the Republican nomination, President Obama will be guaranteed a second term. So, the dark puppet master who once pulled George Bush’s strings, has conferred in some secret dank location with his shadowy Crossroads’ billionaires and the verdict is in. Rove and his secret cabal must do whatever it takes to rough up Palin politically to take her out of the equation. And the blood sport has begun. Using an old school political smear strategy, Rove kicked off his anti-Palin campaign with the aid of a foreign newspaper. He told the London-based Telegraph that Palin’s upcoming Alaska reality show is evidence that she lacks the required “gravitas” for the “most demanding job in the world.” Ouch! He’s right of course, but it’s entertaining to see the Fox News crew turn on each other. Read more
Is Paying For College at a Crisis?
October 28, 2010
(ChattahBox Op/Ed) – This nation certainly has a long list of ills. Among the list of worries for the average American is the cost of paying for college, because at this rate and because the devastation of state funding for public Universities is fading quicker than daylight this time of year, your ability to send your son or daughter to college may just be a dream, and a bad dream at that. Read more
Scientists Developing Real-Life ‘Dream Catcher’
October 28, 2010
(ChattahBox Science News) — Forget about keeping a dream journal or hanging a Native American dream catcher over the bed — American scientists are working on a device that they hope will actually record dreams, BBC News reports.
California-based researcher Dr. Moran Cerf found that his team was able to link specific objects or concepts to individual neurons in the brain, the BBC said, citing a study originally published in the journal Nature. For instance, when the investigators showed volunteers an image of the Eiffel Tower, a particular neuron illuminated. Extracting that research to the bigger picture, Cerf believes that watching which brain cell lights up could allow scientists to basically read patients’ minds.
The scientists would have to develop a mammoth database connecting each image to a specific neuron, but once complete, the information could someday be used outside of dream interpretations – for instance, Cerf envisions using the data to help determine what comatose patients are thinking, BBC reports.
Scientists gathered the data by studying subjects who had already been implanted with brain electrodes to treat them for brain seizures.
American Citizen Accused of Planning DC Bomb Plots
October 28, 2010
(ChattahBox U.S. News) — While allegedly helping to mastermind a large-scale train-bombing plot, 34-year-old Farooque Ahmed shared video footage that he took of Virginia train stations, and offered to donate $10,000 to al-Qaeda. Fortunately, the “al-Qaeda” operatives that he met with were actually with the U.S. government and were merely posing as terrorists, reports the U.K. Telegraph. Read more
Specific Gene — And Adolescent Popularity — Determine Liberal Leanings
October 28, 2010
(ChattahBox Science News) — Some people say that their political opinions are “part of their DNA.” Now, scientists have determined that might actually be accurate, NBC San Diego reports.
Researchers with UC San Diego and Harvard University determined that a gene called “DRD4”gives people a genetic predisposition to have liberal political leanings. However, the gene alone does not create liberals – it has to be coupled with adolescent popularity. “It is the crucial interaction of two factors – the genetic predisposition and the environmental condition of having many friends in adolescence – that is associated with being more liberal,” the study notes.
To reach their conclusions, the scientists evaluated 2,000 subjects, and their findings were not dependent on ethnicity, sex, age, or culture of the subjects, NBC San Diego reports.
Dems Blast McConnell’s Plan to Destroy Obama’s Presidency (Video)
October 27, 2010
(ChattahBox Political News)—Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) admitted in a National Journal interview that the Republican Party has no intention of finding solutions to America’s many problems. And the Party of No has no intention of legislating to make the lives of ordinary Americans easier. What is on the top of McConnell’s to do list for the next two-years? Besides rolling over for special interests and giving their rich friends tax breaks, McConnell plans to lead his party on a campaign to destroy the presidency of Barack Obama, to ensure a return to power in 2012. And he has no problem saying it out loud. The Democratic National Committee released a video today shining a light on McConnell’s plan for America, asking the question “What does that mean for you?” Read more