Full solar eclipse turns day to night in Asia
‘Magical’ total eclipse of the sun wows viewers
Two killed in stampede during eclipse in India

Wall 'could stop desert spread'
The growing environmental threat of desertification could be stopped in Africa by solidifying dunes using bacteria.

Spain - Expats describe 'volcano of fire'
Hundreds of British expatriates have been evacuated from homes and hotels in south-east Spain as wildfires spread.


Texas Drought Takes Toll on Farmers
In Texas, drought means conserving every last drop
Central Texas drought grows more severe
As waters recede, drought reveals lake relics


How green was my valley: California's drought
Cash-strapped California's budget breakthrough this week is anything but good news for farmers in the fabled San Joaquin Valley.
Drought, budget cuts raise worries about wildfires


Huge tunnel to be built under San Francisco Bay
To bring in more water in the event of an earthquake. Don't ask me how they're sure it'll survive an earthquake.

Fla. Senators Encourage Hurricane Research Funding
Look, if y'all want more money for hurricane preparedness, spend it on infrastructure for evacuating.

Scotland - Mini tornado wreaks havoc on isle
A number of cars and homes are damaged by a mini tornado which hit Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis.


Seattle breaks temp record as heat wave continues
Northwesterners more accustomed to rain and cooler climate sought refuge from a heat wave on Wednesday, as Seattle recorded the hottest temperature in its history and Portland edged closer to its own record-breaker.

The National Weather Service in Seattle recorded 102 degrees by midday at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, breaking a previous record of 100 degrees, set in downtown Seattle in 1941 and repeated at the airport in 1994.

Jay Albrecht, a meteorologist with the service, said it's the hottest it has been in Seattle since records dating to 1891.

U.S. Northwest Feels the Burn of Extreme Heat Wave

Record Heat, Surprise Tornadoes: Wild Weather From Coast To Coast


Floods, landslides kill dozens in China

Afghanistan prepares itself to resist deadly plant plague that threatens food security in region
Ug99.

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How Amazon's remote deletion of e-books from the Kindle paves the way for book-banning's digital future.


Hutterites consider leaving Alberta after losing court battle
The case involved the Alberta government and two colonies of Hutterites, who believe the Second Commandment's ban on "graven images" prohibits having their photos taken willingly. Supported by 14 other Hutterite communities in Alberta, the colonies sued the province for infringing on their religious freedom when it made driver's licence photos mandatory.

But after Hutterite victories in two previous court cases, the Supreme Court decided in favour of the province.
...
The Hutterites argued that their communal lifestyle would be threatened if they were unable to get driver's licences, while the province said the universal photo requirement would minimize identity theft and help build a facial recognition databank.


Microsoft/ESRI app boosts GIS data sharing at Mass. fusion center
To simplify matters, Microsoft and ESRI have created FusionX, an appliance preloaded with ESRI GIS data and software together with SharePoint and other applications to integrate fusion center operations. Microsoft worked with several agencies to develop the requirements for FusionX, including the Massachusetts center and the Illinois Statewide Terrorism Intelligence Center.


HR group blasts Interior Ministry's biometric ID legislation - Israel

Mexico to launch new biometric ID card program to fight corruption


We cannot afford to pass on secure identity documents
Secure state-issued identity documents can also obviate any need for a much more controversial national ID, whether in the form of an enhanced Social Security card or a similar worker identity credential favored by some members of Congress, including Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY, who recently proposed this during discussion of immigration reform. That rightly strikes many as a true national ID including a centralized database and is sure to further complicate passage of immigration reform. Done right, securely issued state identity documents can serve much the same purpose without the same privacy concerns. A biometric Social Security card would cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $10 billion. The cost for Real ID is estimated at $4 billion. The biometric Social Security card would serve one purpose, to establish eligibility to work in the United States. Done properly, the Real ID can be used toward that task as well as others.

Biometric checks on the way for all US workers?
New York Senator Charles Schumer wants to introduce a new bill before the end of September that would force all American workers to prove they are eligible to work in the United States with biometric technology.

Schumer stated that the bill will require businesses to not only validate Social Security numbers but also to run fingerprints through the system using an E-verify system that contains a biometric identifier.

Lawmaker to introduce bill to require biometric verification of workers
Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., testifying as a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, expressed his support for the biometric system. "As Congress examines biometrics as part of a new and better system, I want to encourage you to ignore the naysayers, those who claim this can't be done," he said. "Incorporating an effective employment verification system is our only hope for truly ending illegal immigration."


Michigan Prevails in "Mark of the Beast" Lawsuit
A federal court has ruled in favor of the state of Michigan and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in a case alleging that rules requiring farmers to tag their livestock for identification in order to help identify and prevent the spread of disease violated the religious liberty of farmers who think such tags constitute the "mark of the beast."

My take: Their theology's wacky, but the precedent gives me the heebie-jeebies. No conscience clause exceptions for states. Yikes.


Pentagon blasts computer contractor
Pentagon investigators have discovered that one of its contractors failed to provide adequate computer security for a military health services operation.

Microsoft, Yahoo! agree on Internet search partnership
Microsoft Corp. has finally roped Yahoo Inc. into an Internet search partnership, capping a convoluted pursuit that dragged on for years and setting the stage for them to make a joint assault against the dominance of Google Inc.

Robot attacked Swedish factory worker
A Swedish company has been fined 25,000 kronor ($3,000) after a malfunctioning robot attacked and almost killed one of its workers at a factory north of Stockholm.
Skynet is most pleased!