Hot off the Press: The Grapevine is closed edition

Mmm — more chemicals and pharmaceuticals (which are still being researched) are being injected into cattle: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/04/business/04vaccine.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&ref=us&adxnnlx=1259949843-bf3k1XJuHjVHrAdqbQeYOQ. You may be a little more protected from E. Coli, but who knows what side effects the new vaccines will have. Have fun eating that shit.

Iowa lawmakers are considering a ban on 151-proof Everclear: http://gazetteonline.com/top-story/2009/12/03/everclear-under-new-scrutiny-but-experts-point-to-bigger-issue. The debate stems from a frat hazing at Drake University, where a student was forced to drink a lot of Everclear and ended up in the emergency room with a .50 blood-alcohol level. Everclear is nasty shit (it stripped the finish off our kitchen table in college), but, like all alcohol, it needs to be consumed responsibly.

Per capita, the Danes are the most wasteful Europeans despite their green credentials, and the fact they're hosting a landmark meeting on climate change: http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-copenhagen-climate6-2009dec06,0,1664916.story.

Interesting NYT article regarding the threats that have been levied against President Obama and what the Secret Service has done: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/06/us/06threat.html?_r=1&ref=us.

Vancouver, Washington's identity crisis: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/06/us/06vancouver.html?ref=us.

Citizens in Denver will vote next year on whether or not the city should have an Extraterrestrial Affairs Commission, which would be assigned to develop diplomatic contact in the event aliens land in the city: http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-denver-ufos3-2009dec03,0,6337583.story. Okay...

In depth article about the history of mobile phones and distracted driving from the NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/07/technology/07distracted.html?ref=us.

A natural gas drilling method has not only boosted reserves by tapping into the nation's stubborn shale deposits, but is also contaminating ground water: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/business/energy-environment/08fracking.html?_r=1&hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1260234150-RC/ZJWTQjakYol75WuggVg. Note to homeowners: never be stupid enough to sell drilling rights to your land. The woman profiled in the article got what she deserved.

Vinyl and turntables are making a comeback (probably fueled by hipsters): http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/07/nyregion/07vinyl.html?em.

Loneliness, researchers say, is a contagious threat to public health: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-rodriguez7-2009dec07,0,7281624.column. "I'll be happy happy happy by myself."

Lead: "More than 20 percent of the nation’s water treatment systems have violated key provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act over the last five years, according to a New York Times analysis of federal data.": http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/business/energy-environment/08water.html?adxnnl=1&ref=us&adxnnlx=1260295369-oodySrlPP2JCV2OjZnIZOA.

The Waldenbooks in Iowa City's Sycamore Mall will be closing next year: http://www.press-citizen.com/article/20091208/NEWS01/912080311/1079/news01/Waldenbooks-set-to-close. This is a sad note for me, since Waldenbooks was the closest bookstore to where I grew up, and the place I bought tons of RL Stine "Fear Street" books. The selection is not what it used to be, and I'd rather spend my money at the independent bookstores downtown, but it'll be hard to see it go. I'll definitely stop by while I'm back in IC.