GIANT BUBBLES IN THE MANURE

Here's an interesting article from the April issue of THE WEEK.

An Indiana farm community is alarmed over giant bubbles that have sprouted in lagoons of liquid manure. Farmer Tony Golstein has asked if he can cut holes in the growing, 20-foot tall bubbles, which were created when methane released by the manure got under plastic linings in the waste pools on his property. But neighbors fear that any hasty action could cause a devastating explosion. Last year, the gas in a single waste pit in Minnesota exploded, hurling a singed farmer 40 feet in the air. "We're concerned with just cutting a hole," says state official Bruce Palin. Obviously, you don't want to be smoking a cigarette when you open this thing up."

ONLY IN AMERICA (CANADA IS PART OF AMERICA YOU KNOW)

'Being ‘happy’ on Facebook leads to denial of claim for depression'

(Insurance & Financial Advisor Web News) -- IFAwebnews.com reports that "when a Canadian woman posted photos of herself on a beach vacation and paryting at a Chippendale’s club, the insurance company that had been paying benefits for nearly 18 months because of her inability to work due to major depression found the postings to be anything but 'mundane.'" The insurance company "halted benefits payments to the Quebec woman after an investigation found photos of her in less-than-depressed situations. ... Nathalie Blanchard is fuming because she says that vacations and partying are part of her therapy." See the story at <http://ifawebnews.com/2009/11/23/being-happy-on-facebook-leads-to-denial-of-claim-for-depression/>

MISSPELLING YOUR NAME ON YOUR AIRLINE TICKET WILL NOW COST YOU $20-$150 OR MORE

American Airlines now charges 20 dollars to process a name correction (misspelled name). Even if you have to change one letter it is $20 bucks. Many people tend to use their nicknames when they buy a ticket and forget that they have to have the ticket match their government issued ID (drivers license or passport). A simple Chris to Kris will cost you $20. Steven to Stephen is $20. Matt to Mathew is also $20. Changing a complete name on most non-refundable tickets is not allowed.

WHERE IS OUR PRIVACY?

Check & Block Your Drivers License

This is upsetting. Are we getting closer to "Big Brother" from George Orwell's book 1984? Thought I should pass it along. Where is our privacy? .Now you can see anyone's drivers license on the Internet, including your own!

I just searched for mine and there it was... Picture and all! Thanks Homeland Security Privacy, where is our right to it? I definitely removed mine; I suggest you do the same... go to the web site and check it out. Just enter your name, City and State to see if yours is on file.

After your license comes on the screen, click the box marked "Please Remove." This will remove it from public viewing, but not from law enforcement http://www.license.shorturl.com/

TOP 100 BEST RURAL PLACES TO LIVE

'Magazine lists nine Nebraska counties among its Top 100 best rural places to live'

(Progressive Farmer Magazine) -- Progressive Farmer magazine has published its fourth annual "Best Places to Live in Rural America" report. The magazine's editors compiled the list of rural counties based on certain criteria, including home and land prices; crime rates; environment; education; economic factors; and access to health care. A review by the State Chamber of Commerce found nine Nebraska counties made the magazine's Top 100 list of Midwest counties. Red Willow County was listed as No. 10, Adams County was ranked as No. 12, and Wayne County was listed as No. 18. Also making the list were York County (No. 39); Cuming County (No. 45); Nemaha County (No. 55); Hamilton County (No. 65); Saline County (No. 71); and Madison County (No. 75). See Progressive Farmer's complete list of Top 100 Midwest Counties at http://www.pfbestplaces.com/default.asp?pageAction=Display&Region=Midwest

ONLY IN AMERICA

An inmate who injured himself breaking out of a Colorado jail is suing on the grounds that guards should have done more to stop him escaping. Scott Gomez Jr. claimes he was badly injured when he fell 40 feet while attempting to scale down the outside wall of the Pueblo County jail. Prison authorities, Gomez complains, "did next to nothing to ensure that the jail was secure and that the plaintiff could not escape."

THE WEEK January 18, 2008