| Calif. farm town is nation's smoggiest
Lying in a rich agricultural region dotted with vineyards and orange groves, this central California community seems an unlikely place for a dubious distinction: the most polluted air in America. Hemmed in by mountains, Arvin is the final destination for pollutants from cities as far away as San Francisco Bay, and its wheezing residents are paying the price. Many of them complain that the air smells toxic. "It's common for people here to say, 'I'm going to the beach so I can breathe,'" said Raji Brar, a councilwoman and member of the board that oversees the San Joaquin Valley's Air Pollution Control District. Arvin has none of the smoke-belching factories or congested freeways of cities such as Los Angeles. In fact, it produces little pollution. But the pollutants that blow in from elsewhere get trapped by the mountains, causing airborne particles to coat homes and streets and blot out views of the nearby Tehachapi range on hot summer days.
Buell's Blast Is Easy To Ride
They're called "thumpers" and with good reason. With one combustion event for every 720° of crankshaft rotation, big-bore (500cc and up) four-stroke single-cylinder motorcycles inherently produce the most vibration of any engine design. And when that cylinder fires, it's really an "event." Even so, there are pockets of hardcore thumper fans who wouldn't ride anything else. Their addiction rivals that of the diesel die-hards getting thrilled to the marrow by the sound of piston slap. Single- cylinder four-strokes have not fared very well in today's multicylinder motorcycle market. So why would Buell Motorcycle Co., a subsidiary of Harley-Davidson, come out with the 492cc Blast thumper? Several reasons. Right now, the motorcycle business is booming. But, the folks at Harley and Buell who are paid to worry about things were concerned that not enough young, entry-level riders were coming into the sport.
Smith returns to face charges in deaths of two Bastrop detectives
Tanya "Little Feather" Smith was extradited to northeastern Louisiana on Wednesday evening to face multiple counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of two Bastrop detectives. Smith, 26, was booked into the Morehouse Parish Jail after being returned from the Harris County Jail in Houston by Louisiana State Police. .
One big Cobia family
MANITOWOC Two of the USS Cobia's four diesel engines were fired Saturday afternoon, emitting thick clouds of blue smoke from the exhaust ports of the World War II-era submarine. But the feature attraction of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum no longer has propellers, and a treaty between the U.S. and Canada prevents the decommissioned warship from traversing the Great Lakes. "At one time we were hopeful the Cobia would be allowed to sail on the surface of Lake Michigan," but no authority has been granted, said Charlie Stewart, one of six surviving USS Cobia crew members attending this year's reunion. Saturday's ceremony on the deck of the USS Cobia recalled ultimate sacrifices and freedom-preserving war service by American submariners. The unofficial historian of the Cobia, Stewart said an additional 26 men did not attend but are living.
Gang ties to shooter suspected
Connections through a white supremacist prison gang might have brought the suspected shooter in the Friday slaying of two Bastrop police officers to the town. Dennis Clem was a member of the Aryan Circle, Louisiana State Police confirmed Monday, though details about his role in the group are still unknown. .
Free-Standing Dust Collection System Eliminates Need For Ducting; Uses New, Exo-Filter Design For High-Efficiency, ...
The AirPod free-standing dust collection system provides high-efficiency collection and filtration of airborne contaminants, including: sanding dust, solid surface particulate, composite materials, metal finishing dust, dry chemicals and powders. The AirPod provides 98% filtration efficiency of 1.0 to 3.0 micron airborne contaminants (MERV 11 filter efficiency). The AirPod free-standing, ambient dust collection system eliminates the need for costly air ducting that is often required with centralized dust collectors. The new, exo-filter cabinet design positions the filters on the outside of the AirPod filter cabinet, increasing the filter collection surface area and improving total collection efficiency. The AirPod is offered in three modular configurations: a single-pod (AirPod I), a double-pod (AirPod II), or a triple-pod (AirPod III) stacked module set.
Ordinance specifically prohibits air-inflated pool covers
Well, they have always been against the law, staff members say, but an ordinance approved by trustees Monday evening very specifically bans the things by name.The new ordinance bans air-inflated and air-supported structures in all zoning districts in Channahon.Trustees hope the ordinance will outline the ban in more-specific terms. Before, staff considered domes “permanent tents," which are banned in ordinances, or “structures," which have to have permits and comply with other ordinances.“I don't agree with this," Cullen said of the new ordinance. “It's the principle of the matter. It's getting to the point where governments are regulating us left and right and are taking our freedoms away every day ... .
Radcliffe admits to concerns over Beijing pollution levels
PAULA Radcliffe has consulted pollution experts to help prepare her for next year's Olympic Games in Beijing. The women's marathon world record-holder has taken into account the World Health Organisation's concerns that air pollution could pose a threat to athletes in the Chinese capital. .
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