When it comes to computing, our general philosophy at Maximum PC is that bigger is better. More, speed, more memory, more power—as far as hardware goes, there's no such things as excess. Software, though... Software's a little different. Big, feature-packed utilities and applications are great, but we prefer apps that show a little restraint. More »
When the potholes get too big to dodge, you'll need a bridge layer. These gap-spanning mechs have been conquering divides since WWI (almost as long as the tanks they're attached to) and our friends at Oobject.com have 12 of the coolest. More »
If your PC's been humming along under your desk for more than a year or two, I've got news for you: Chances are inside that case, half a dozen dust bunnies are dancing around your hard drive, leeching onto your CPU fan and fluttering about your motherboard having a grand old time. This is not good. Today we'll go over how to clean out the guts of your computer, tighten, tune and oil things up to make your PC happier, healthier, and more likely to stick around longer. More »
I love this little Kickstarter project which has received some serious heat in the time it's been running. The creator wants to build an app he can release on the App Store (hopefully for free), which will pair a Wiimote with iPhone or iPod Touch for some serious music-making. More »
Oh, boy. After running the plates of a suspicious vehicle and finding an outstanding arrest warrant, Birmingham police pulled over and searched the car in question. Inside the found a man, his lady friend, and a live grenade from WWII. He's been using it, he says, as a paperweight. More »
iOS' stock alarm app isn't bad, per se, but it sure isn't the easiest to use. Free app Easy Alarms fixes all the stock alarm app's annoyances, letting you skip alarms, pick your snooze time, and more with just one tap. More »
Rail guns are still halfway between sci-fi and battlefield, but the armscrafters at General Atomics are still working to improve the futuristic weapon. Instead of launching clunky "bricks," a new, aerodynamic round is being tested. Git ready fer military porn! More »
Click here to view the embedded video.
Hard to believe it’s almost over - something to be proud about I guess.  Seems quite appropriate to have the clip narrated by William Shatner.
Guest essay: A student's plea for gubernatorial support Gates-Chili Post Being part of a small school, I am grateful to say that New Visions is my sanctuary. I can learn about what I truly love, share my thoughts and opinions without judgment, and freely explore careers in medicine. Third-year medical students seldom get ... |
These tiny, lightweight knives might make the perfect pocket knife for everyday use, and they're no doubt great for travel. Note: Probably not on planes. More »
Budget cuts could affect the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, too El Paso Times AUSTIN -- Leaders of El Paso's growing medical school want to believe that things will change. The Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, part of Texas Tech's Health Sciences Center, stands to lose about $13 million, ... |
Motor drive upgrades are an easy way to boost plant performance. Given the energy-saving, efficiency-first environment of today's production line, will advanced motor controls eventually displace most conventional fixed-speed motor drives? Put another way: If your ultimate goal is to bring product t
Time was, the word "entrepreneur" was rarely heard in engineering classrooms. Nowadays, engineering schools offer classes on entrepreneurship. This begs the question, "Do engineers make good entrepreneurs?" Are the classes now being offered going to turn out a whole new class of engineers that are g
In today's active, time-constrained world, even tumor patients don't have time for treatment. What to do? Wear this: The NovoTTF-100A. It's portable, cancer zapping headgear and it just got FDA approved. More »
SPECIAL GUEST EDITORIAL
by Scott Portman
As a budget was agreed upon earlier this week, there still remains some controversy over the decision to only cut the Environmental Protection Agency’s budget by only 16 percent in total. Business leaders and GOP representatives remain frustrated with the lack of action to cut down on the EPA’s lofty and expensive regulations that in their opinion, effect industry revenue and employment growth.
As the resolution certainly pleased some and upset others on Monday, many of these business leaders and Republican reps still see a polluted future in business, with reference to EPA regulations. The $1.6 billion cut to the EPA represents just half of the cut that was hoped for, in regards to the EPA. The EPA cuts agreed upon in the resolution would only serve to cut down on some of the smaller initiatives of the EPA that have little impact on business and the environment.
The GOP has used the early months of the year to point out the flaws in certain initiatives of the EPA, primarily the Clean Air Act. They view the Clean Air Act as an enabler to the EPA’s power in monitoring businesses through the Cap and Trade Agenda. The GOP took further steps to lessen the EPA’s power by introducing the Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011 just last month. This act was developed to take direct aim at the cap and trade agenda, as well as taking some of the power and decision making away from the EPA.
Republicans James Inhofe, Fred Upton, and Ed Whitfield helped to introduce the Energy Tax Prevention Act and were adamant about the change that it would bring upon and how it would help the people. In a post release draft they exclaimed that “With this draft proposal, we are initiating a deliberative, transparent process that we hope will prevent EPA from imposing by regulation the massive cap-and-trade tax that Congress rejected last year. We firmly believe federal bureaucrats should not be unilaterally setting national climate change policy, and with good reason: EPA’s cap-and-trade tax agenda will cost jobs, undermine the competitiveness of America’s manufacturers, and, as EPA has conceded, will have no meaningful impact on climate.”
Inhofe and other Republicans have been forward in saying that they aren’t looking to destroy the EPA, they would just rather see their resources be used more proficiently on things that will help the US citizens more directly. For example, an EPA initiative such as asbestos removal, which has a direct impact on citizen health, should be given more resources and effort. Asbestos removal helps prevent numbers of mesothelioma cases every year in the United States. Through the EPA’s efforts to abate this material from areas all over, they are in some cases, saving lives. As mesothelioma life expectancy is very small and severe, an increased effort towards a program like this could help save citizens directly from environmentally related and life threatening risks.
Amidst all the controversy that has surrounded the US budget for the past month or so, the GOP will certainly look to continue their effort to show the EPA regulations for what they truly are, unnecessary. Even though the EPA budget has been decided on for the year 2011, further exploration of cuts to unnecessary regulations should be invested, while effective programs should be given more resources in the long term.
Scott Portman is a health, safety, and political advocate. He has a great passion for economics and American fiscal policy. He is a graduate of University of South Florida and is an aspiring journalist.
Moderate Republicans support Free Market principles
From Eric Dondero:
The Washington Examiner reports "All Senate Dems, including Manchin, vote to protect Obamacare funding":
All Democrats in the U.S. Senate just voted to preserve funding for the national health care law, with the measure being rejected by a 47 to 53 vote straight party line vote.
As the Examiner and other major media sources have noted, at least four Democrat Senators who are vulnerable in next year's elections, voted for the measure to preserve funding. From Doug Gibson, the Political Surf blog:
The four are Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Claire MacCaskill, D-Mo., Ben Nelson, D-Neb., and Jon Tester, D-Mont. Those four states trend conservative and all four are facing tough races next year.
Of interest to Republicans, every single moderate Republican to their great credit, voted to defund ObamaCare. This includes two well-known moderates who are up for reelection next year and one - Olympia Snowe - who is facing a primary challenge.
Karen Casey on maintaining our own perspective and integrity.
