Dropsafe

[news.bbc.co.uk] Authorities in Australia’s most populous state, New South Wales, are to consider banning smoking in cars. A parliamentary inquiry will look at the effects of passive smoking on passengers, particularly children. Supporters of the proposal have admitted, however, that enforcing such a ban would be difficult. Smokers in Australia have already been squeezed out

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[www.loc.gov] No one knows for sure why a domestic cat purrs, but many people interpret the sound as one of contentment. Our understanding of how a domestic cat purrs is becoming more complete; most scientists agree that the larynx (voice box), laryngeal muscles, and a neural oscillator are involved. … Continues at [www.loc.gov] with cute

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As heard mentioned on Radio 4: Snottites (SNOT-ites) Snottites or snotties are colonies of single-celled extremophilic bacteria that hang from the walls and ceilings of caves (similar to small stalactites, but with the consistency of “snot”, or mucous). They digest sulfur compounds in warm water in the cave, and slowly drip down from above. Because

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This stuff rocks: Plaisir Miel – what Nutella does to chocolate-nut-butter this does for honey, and is wonderfully goopey, sweet, rich stuff without dilution by vegetable oils. I just got a small jar tonight from Waitrose. It’s worth it. Now I just need someone with whom to share it. 😎

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[news.bbc.co.uk] Your mobile phone is a beacon – a radio transmitter in a box. Therefore it is possible to trace the signal and work out where it is. There are now several web companies which will track your friends’ and family’s phones for you, so you always know where they are. But just how safe

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It’s a little bit old (2004) but the basic concept sounds ok. Maybe the Government should outsource part of their care-in-the-community work (and budget) to P&O? “Ok y’all, I have done some shopping and this is what I am going to do. There will be no nursing home in my future. When I get old

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[www.cnn.com] (via) Bikers roll to military funerals to oppose anti-gay protests FORT CAMPBELL, Kentucky (AP) — Wearing vests covered in military patches, a band of motorcyclists rolls around the country from one soldier’s funeral to another, cheering respectfully to overshadow jeers from church protesters. They call themselves the Patriot Guard Riders, and they are more

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Via Bart: [film.guardian.co.uk] Four actors who play al-Qaida suspects in a British movie that won a prestigious prize were detained by the police at Luton airport as they returned from the Berlin Film Festival and questioned under anti-terror laws, alongside two of the former terrorism suspects they play on screen. In a statement, Rizwan Ahmed

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I had my first opportunity to meet Jim Hughes at an internal shindig a couple of weeks ago; aside from his being a really great guy – and an expert at washing dishes – it turns out that we have at least one shared co-author (Paul Leyland) and considerable overlap in interests. Doing a little

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I grew-up in walking boots, doc-martens, and in trainers/sneakers. When I was young and my family were living in the USA these latter were typically black Converse High-Tops, the original Chucks. Converse are hard to get in the UK – expecially in halfsizes – but on a recent visit to California I bought a pair,

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If I lived on Mercury I would make slush out of the ice. Also to make snowballs and thro lava at aliens. I would call myself King of Mercery (sic) and aliens will do what ever I say. [i3.photobucket.com] via [community.livejournal.com]

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I like this article (via). Do you know someone who needs hours alone every day? Who loves quiet conversations about feelings or ideas, and can give a dynamite presentation to a big audience, but seems awkward in groups and maladroit at small talk? Who has to be dragged to parties and then needs the rest

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