AT&T ZERO Charger Kills Vampire Drain When Your Phone Is Unplugged - HotHardware

AT&T ZERO Charger Kills Vampire Drain When Your Phone Is Unplugged - HotHardware:

"The AT&T ZERO charger will become available in company stores starting this May, and the unique thing about it is that it will stop utilizing energy (often called energy leaks or vampire power) whenever your phone is unplugged. It intelligently shuts itself down when it's not being used to power a device, and while you probably won't notice a great deal of savings on your power bill, these could really make a dent in energy waste if everyone were to use one."

Crist Would Veto Reform Bill

Crist threatens veto if House passes its proposed PSC reform bill:

The Buzz, tampabay.com

"He dislikes the provision that strips the PSC of its ability to initiate utility cases. Under the plan, the PSC would act like a judicial panel but its role of initiating rate-making and being the watchdog would go to a separate Office of Regulatory Staff, which would be under the control of the Legislature.  
"When you look at staff under the Legislature taking control of these issues, instead of the Public Service Commission, and the fact that the staff can decide not to weigh in on a rate increase and just let it come to pass, it sounds pretty darn bad to me,'' Crist said.

Graham Praised for Work on Carbon Limits and Energy Independence

Columbia Regional Business Report | Columbia, SC:

By Mike Fitts
mfitts@scbiznews.com

"Former U.S. Sen. John Warner, R-Va., praised Graham’s work with Sens. John Kerry and Joe Lieberman to craft a bill that would seek to address carbon emissions and the amount of U.S. energy consumption that is imported." ....,

Warner spoke in Columbia as part of a panel discussion hosted by The Pew Charitable Trusts that focused on energy, climate change and national security. Pew has tried to provide political cover for Graham’s stance, including the purchase of ads touting the national security importance of a revamped energy policy.

March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month

Wright: Be aware; colon cancer is a sneaky killer - Opinion Extra - TheState.com:

David Wright

"Colon cancer can be prevented. And, it can be treated successfully, too --if detected early!
The problem is that, even with insurance, many people choose not to be screened, or they try to put it off - like I tried to do.
Not a good idea.
Others may not be able to be screened because they don't have insurance, or they are underinsured, or their insurance policy doesn't provide for screening.
That's not good either, because not having colon cancer screening available and affordable makes people have to play Russian roulette with their lives.
So, what can be done to help?
Well, one step is to make colon cancer awareness a top priority.
March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Take a moment right now to think about yourself and your family.
Does your family tree have a history of colon cancer?
Is there a history of any type of cancer in your family tree?"

18- to 24-year-olds most at risk for ID theft, survey finds - washingtonpost.com

18- to 24-year-olds most at risk for ID theft, survey finds - washingtonpost.com:

By Allison Klein

Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 17, 2010

"Among the common schemes: phishing (in which e-mails direct a victim to fraudulent Web sites that mimic respectable entities, including banks), smishing (in which text messages bait a victim to download malicious spyware), pharming (in which malicious code on computer sends victims to bogus Web sites) and keylogging (in which hidden software monitors victims' keystrokes to collect passwords)."

...

Madden pointed to studies that show most people can be identified with three pieces of information: their sex, Zip code and date of birth. And seemingly anonymous profiles that catalogue preferences, such as movie lists on Netflix, can also be used to identify users.

Underwater Cable an Alternative to Electrical Towers - NYTimes.com

Underwater Cable an Alternative to Electrical Towers - NYTimes.com:

By MATTHEW L. WALD

Published: March 16, 2010

"Mr. Musegaas’s open-mindedness will soon be put to the test, because Transmission Developers, a Toronto company, is proposing to use the Hudson for the most ambitious underwater transmission project yet. Beginning north of the Canadian border, a 370-mile line would run along the bottom of Lake Champlain, down the bed of the Hudson all the way to New York City. It would continue under Long Island Sound to Connecticut."

Fla. House Looks at SC Style Utility Reform

House proposes overhaul of PSC, with more legislative control - St. Petersburg Times:

By Mary Ellen Klas, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau 

"The reforms are modeled after similar changes at the South Carolina Public Service Commission in 2004. Under the new structure, the Office of Regulatory Staff would petition the PSC when it determines regulatory action is needed. It would also have the job of carrying out the Legislature's utility policy."