Odds and ends, 3/28/07

Yeah, so all those people in Venezuela hate us, just like their president. From USA Today:

Amid an oil-fueled boom, scores of well-known U.S. corporations are notching impressive sales in Venezuela. This nation of 26 million people is entering the fourth year of a robust economic expansion and, despite sour relations with the United States, consumers are gobbling up American cars, appliances, fast food and shampoo.

On the other hand, Venezuela has been on a weapon-buying binge.

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Stupid, stupid...

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A moment on the video-sharing Web site YouTube landed an eastern Kentucky teen in jail.

Charles Jeremy Brown, 18, was charged with 27 counts of menacing, eight counts of criminal mischief and one count of criminal littering after investigators say they saw him on the Web site busting church windows, vandalizing grocery stores and menacing workers at a drive-through restaurant.

Pike County Chief Deputy Sheriff Melvin Sayers said other arrests are possible because at least one juvenile was identified in the 46 videos posted on the Web site. ...

Here's a piece of advice for anyone out there: Whenever you see a camera, assume you will be in a picture or on tape, and assume someone you don't want seeing the picture will see it. When you are anywhere near a person from the media, always assume a camera or a tape recorder is rolling.

I saw the video of this kid on the morning news. Someone please tell me how smashing a gallon jug of orange juice on a supermarket floor is entertaining. I know young males are incredibly foolish, but . . .

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So Saturn has not one but two hexagons circling its north pole. If you want to see the hexagon spin as Saturn rotates, go here.

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Greenland is losing ice faster than it's gaining ice, NASA says.

"Greenland and Antarctica - Earth's two biggest icehouses - are important indicators of climate change and a high priority for research, as highlighted by the newly inaugurated International Polar Year," the news release says.

As I have said before, I can believe the earth is warming, but I want to see more science of the why. And we have to face the political and social questions that come with the "why" in addition to the science questions.

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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — A Circuit Court judge has cleared the way for Monongalia County schools to dock the pay of some 70 teachers and staff members who apparently took part in a sickout earlier this month.

After a 45-minute hearing, Judge Robert Stone refused Wednesday to issue an injunction that would have stopped the district from withholding one day’s pay. Superintendent Frank Devono said after the hearing that the money will be taken from this week’s paychecks.

About 300 employees failed to report to work March 6, many in silent objection to a planned pay raise of 2 percent. Teachers eventually won a 3.5 percent raise from state legislators.

Sounds about right.

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