Am I Having a Stroke? I Can’t Understand Simple Reporting

Posted by Oppo on 1 June 2024, 6:00 pm

Mother Of Slain Student Laken Riley Cries As Murder Suspect Jose Ibarra Pleads Not Guilty
Oann | May 31, 2024 | Brooke Mallory

During an arraignment hearing on Friday, the illegal immigrant from Venezuela who is suspected of brutally murdering Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley entered a not guilty plea.

So far, so good. That I understand. But . . .

According to a judge, a status hearing for the case will now take place in August, and a trial is anticipated by this fall.

“A” judge? Is the judge in some tangential way connected to this case?

Ibarra is accused of malicious murder …

I literally had no idea there was any other kind.

hindering someone from calling 911,

Wouldn’t that be implied by the murder charge?

tampering with evidence, and acting as a “peeping Tom.”

WTF?

These charges were brought against him by a grand jury.

Well-crafted prose.

“Ibarra is accused of causing Riley’s death by inflicting blunt-force trauma to her head and ‘asphyxiating her in a manner unknown to jurors,’ an indictment states,” Fox News reported.

“An” indictment states? Are there other indictments floating around out there, relating to this case?

“Asphyxiating her in a manner unknown to jurors” — this is when and where I had my stroke.

Second Discussion Thread: For Physics Nerds

Posted by Oppo on 1 June 2024, 5:00 pm

I always assumed that geothermal power was a good idea. Now, I’m not entirely sure.

Water from subterranean heat sources is very corrosive. This is a major problem for “hydrothermal” (i.e., open loop) generation. But closed loop systems avoid bringing that subsurface water to the surface. You still have your heat exchanger pipes buried in the ground that are subject to the corrosive environment.

The problem is that closed-loop systems are much more expensive than open-loop and cannot produce competitive electric power.

See NREL’s report “Numerical Investigation of Closed-Loop Geothermal Systems in Deep Geothermal Reservoirs.” The work was performed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, Idaho National Laboratory, Stanford University and Pennsylvania State University.

For closed-loop systems, “Our results indicate competitive Levelized Cost of Heat (LCOH) can be achieved; however, competitive Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) cannot be achieved without significant reductions in drilling costs…reservoir temperatures greater than 200 degrees C, achieved by going to greater depths (~3-4 km), may significantly enhance power production.

That’s 2 to 3 miles below the surface! Those aren’t cheap holes to drill, especially in hot zones.

When Do the Grown-Ups Take Over?

Posted by Oppo on 1 June 2024, 4:00 pm

And I thought Democrats vs. Republicans was schoolground-level stuff.

North Korea floats more garbage-filled balloons over South Korean border
BBC | June 1, 2024

North Korea is sending more balloons carrying rubbish across the heavily fortified southern border, South Korea’s military has said.

It comes just days after North Korea appeared to send at least 200 balloons carrying rubbish over the border in retaliation for propaganda leaflets sent from the south.

South Korea’s defence minister Shin Won-sik called it “unimaginably petty and low-grade behaviour” while the military added it is examining the contents of the bags floated over the border by the balloons.

North Korea has yet to comment on the latest batch of balloons, but on Thursday, vice-defence minister Kim Kang Il warned waste paper and filth would be sent over the border so the South could appreciate how much effort it takes to remove them.

Hey, Sneetches: just so you know, the rest of the world cannot tell one of you from another, nor cares to.

Discussion Corner: Hey, Hey, My, My: Will Rock & Roll Ever Die?

Posted by Oppo on 1 June 2024, 3:00 pm

Or Is It Dead Already?

Saw a discussion on a news forum, sparked by this:

Why Steven Van Zandt Thinks Classic Rock ‘Is Going to Die’
UltimateClassicRock | May 23rd, 2024 | Corey Irwin

Basically, it was a bunch of old fogies like us spouting off. Sample:

“It will become like Classical Music. People will still listen to it, but nobody will be interested in new stuff.

All the good rock music has already been made.”

I don’t think the same way, but I feel the same way.

Wait — What?

Posted by Oppo on 1 June 2024, 2:00 pm

I read it once or twice, or three times, and still don’t know what’s going on.

Prominent Samoan playwright charged in murder of Tulsi Gabbard’s aunt
Hawaii News Now | 31 May 2024

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Samoan police have charged a prominent playwright with the murder of retired UH professor Caroline Sinavaiana-Gabbard, former Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard’s aunt.

Police say Samoan playwright Papalii Sia Figiel, 57, was charged with the murder at her home.

She was initially arrested on manslaughter charges, but police upgraded the charge after finding “incriminating” evidence, including a small knife and hammer. A motive is still under investigation.

Media outlets report the two women were colleagues and friends, and that Gabbard was Figiel’s mentor.

They found a small knife and a hammer. In a building. A home. What the . . . ?