Wednesday 29 February 2012

Clouds and stones...

 
 
 
EPA's Computational Toxicology Research Survey EPA's Computational Toxicology Research Program (CompTox) develops decision-support tools that can be used to prioritize chemicals based on their potential toxicity to humans and the environment. These tools are developed and used by CompTox partners. You have been identified as a CompTox partner who may be aware of or using these tools. CompTox partners include EPA employees, other federal agencies, academic institutions, industry trade associations, professional societies and non-governmental organizations. To improve your satisfaction with these tools, we are asking you to take the EPA Computational Toxicology Research Program survey if you are willing. The online survey will be available until June 3, 2011. To access the survey, go to http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/404675/comptox-customer-satisfaction-survey. For more information about EPA’s Computational Toxicology Research Program, go to http://epa.gov/comptox. Please contact Monica Linnenbrink (linnenbrink.monica@epa.gov or 919-541-1522) if you have questions or feedback about this survey. Feel free to forward this to others who may be interested in taking the survey.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-xAmw3f2EY


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPSi_t0wnA4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PmWlPjV6n0&feature=g-vrec&context=G2bfa06dRVAAAAAAAABA

News ReleaseContact:

LANL Announces Plans for Workforce Reduction Lab seeking up to 800 in voluntary programLOS ALAMOS, NEW MEXICO, February 21, 2012—Los Alamos National Laboratory Director Charlie McMillan today said the Lab has submitted a plan to the National Nuclear Security Administration proposing to reduce its workforce by between 400 and 800 employees this spring through a voluntary separation program."We are taking these actions now in an attempt to reduce the risks of involuntary layoffs," McMillan said. "When combined with a suppressed attrition rate for the past three years, our current budget and future outlook require significant cost-cutting. The plan we’re submitting will position the Lab to continue executing our missions today and in the future."The plan must receive NNSA approval.In a meeting with employees today, McMillan said a combination of factors has led to this proposed action:The Lab’s Fiscal Year 2012 budget is more than $300 million lower than 2011-- $2.2 billion versus $2.55 billion.Future budgets are expected to be flat or lower.For a variety of reasons, attrition has decreased in the past few years."With a smaller workforce possessing the essential skills, we will be better positioned to deliver on current and future national security commitments. Allowing employees to apply for voluntary separation is a prudent step," McMillan said.Other important details:Certain job functions are not included in the voluntary separation program. Also, some applications may be denied to maintain a sufficient level of skills.Details of the voluntary program will be made available after NNSA approves the Lab’s plan.The Lab’s student programs will not be cut but will remain capped at 2011 levels.A team of senior managers, formed in late 2011, will continue other aggressive cost-curbing measures."I’m very hopeful we can achieve the savings we need without an involuntary workforce reduction. We were successful when we took similar action in 2008," McMillan said. "I am fully aware of the economic footprint this Lab has in Northern New Mexico, and we’re taking every possible step to minimize the impacts."About Los Alamos National Laboratory''.

Los Alamos National Laboratory, a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security, is operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC, a team composed of Bechtel National, the University of California, The Babcock & Wilcox Company, and URS for the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration.Los Alamos enhances national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health, and global security concerns.


One more beer...


http://www.youtube.com/user/ProudPopaw?v=1U0ZxK_vwUk&feature=pyv


EPA, along with Tox21 partners, releases list of 10,000 chemicals being screened by robot systemA high-speed robotic screening system, aimed at protecting human health by improving how chemicals are tested in the United States, is testing 10,000 compounds for potential toxicity. The compounds cover a wide variety of classifications, and include consumer products, food additives, chemicals found in industrial processes, and human and veterinary drugs. A complete list of the compounds is publicly available. Testing this 10,000 compound library begins a new phase of an ongoing collaboration between the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, referred to as Tox21Read the entire news release announcing list and access list of chemicals at: http://epa.gov/comptox/ (under recent news). Please let me know if you want more information.Monica Linnenbrink, Public Affairs SpecialistU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyOffice of Research and DevelopmentChemical Safety for Sustainability Research/National Center for Computational ToxicologyPhone: 919-541-1522Blackberry: 919-454-8748Email: Linnenbrink.Monica@epa.gov


Cowboy dance... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=003_ulzGw4I

Thursday 2 February 2012

Rubber? Bums? Saddles?

 A dream in a coot's ass...

Lockheed Gyroscope Company "flying Laboratory" Lockheed twin engine, The Gyroscope Company's "flying Laboratory"
source: December 1941 Mechanix Illustrated


flax_linum_allredii_20110713113438_JPG
Photo Courtesy: New Mexico State Forestry
Advertisement

New species of flax found in SE NM

Updated: Wednesday, 13 Jul 2011, 11:47 AM MDT
Published : Wednesday, 13 Jul 2011, 11:44 AM MDT
SANTA FE (AP) - A new species of flax has been discovered by botanists with the New Mexico State Forestry Division and the federal Bureau of Land Management.
The new species was found in the gypsum soils of the Yeso Hills near the New Mexico-Texas border south of Carlsbad.
The species is named Allred's Flax, after recently retired botanist Kelly Allred from the New Mexico State University Animal and Range Science Department.
One of the discoverers, State Forestry Botanist Bob Sivinski, says the new species is just the most recent example of how much there is to learn about native plants in New Mexico.
Distinguished by its orange flowers with yellow centers, Allred's Flax grows abundantly as a short bush on gypsum-rich soils in the northern Chihuahuan Desert of New Mexico and adjacent Texas.





Gyroscope invented in 1852. Replica built by Dumoulin-Froment for the Exposition universelle in 1867. National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts museum, Paris.