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Coronavirus and books
May. 14th, 2020 10:13 amDisinfecting Returned Books
In light of the novel coronavirus pandemic, librarians should take precautions when handling library books and other materials returned from patrons. In this SLJ article, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) provide the following information.
A study, published in March 2020 in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that the virus "remained active on plastic and stainless steel surfaces for two to three days under the conditions in this experiment. It remained infectious for up to 24 hours on cardboard."
According to CDC epidemiologists, librarians do not need to worry about disinfecting paper-based items such as books. The virus, if present, would be in very low quantities and die off rather quickly. However, librarians know that patrons sneeze and cough directly onto and into books, so the CDC recommends leaving returned books untouched for a minimum of 24 hours. While disinfecting wipes can damage paper and cardboard, many book covers are coated with plastic and are wipeable with alcohol wipes.
Since the majority of books in FWISD school libraries have plastic coating on their covers or mylar book jackets, Library Media Services recommends that all returned library books be "quarantined" and left untouched for a minimum of three days.
Librarians should utilize their book returns or designate a book truck, table, or container for the collection of returned library books.
Library staff should not handle books to check them in prior to the quarantine period. If the library is set up in such a way that patrons can scan their own book before placing in the designated return location, this is allowable.
After the recommended length of time has passed, library staff may check in and shelve returned library books.
Library staff and volunteers should practice good hygiene after handling books and materials.
In light of the novel coronavirus pandemic, librarians should take precautions when handling library books and other materials returned from patrons. In this SLJ article, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) provide the following information.
A study, published in March 2020 in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that the virus "remained active on plastic and stainless steel surfaces for two to three days under the conditions in this experiment. It remained infectious for up to 24 hours on cardboard."
According to CDC epidemiologists, librarians do not need to worry about disinfecting paper-based items such as books. The virus, if present, would be in very low quantities and die off rather quickly. However, librarians know that patrons sneeze and cough directly onto and into books, so the CDC recommends leaving returned books untouched for a minimum of 24 hours. While disinfecting wipes can damage paper and cardboard, many book covers are coated with plastic and are wipeable with alcohol wipes.
Since the majority of books in FWISD school libraries have plastic coating on their covers or mylar book jackets, Library Media Services recommends that all returned library books be "quarantined" and left untouched for a minimum of three days.
Librarians should utilize their book returns or designate a book truck, table, or container for the collection of returned library books.
Library staff should not handle books to check them in prior to the quarantine period. If the library is set up in such a way that patrons can scan their own book before placing in the designated return location, this is allowable.
After the recommended length of time has passed, library staff may check in and shelve returned library books.
Library staff and volunteers should practice good hygiene after handling books and materials.
This is available to the public
Mar. 15th, 2018 08:45 pmhttps://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/alerts/TA18-074A
Alert (TA18-074A)
Russian Government Cyber Activity Targeting Energy and Other Critical Infrastructure Sectors Original release date: March 15, 2018
Systems Affected
Domain Controllers
File Servers
Email Servers
Overview
This joint Technical Alert (TA) is the result of analytic efforts between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This alert provides information on Russian government actions targeting U.S. Government entities as well as organizations in the energy, nuclear, commercial facilities, water, aviation, and critical manufacturing sectors. It also contains indicators of compromise (IOCs) and technical details on the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by Russian government cyber actors on compromised victim networks. DHS and FBI produced this alert to educate network defenders to enhance their ability to identify and reduce exposure to malicious activity.
DHS and FBI characterize this activity as a multi-stage intrusion campaign by Russian government cyber actors who targeted small commercial facilities’ networks where they staged malware, conducted spear phishing, and gained remote access into energy sector networks. After obtaining access, the Russian government cyber actors conducted network reconnaissance, moved laterally, and collected information pertaining to Industrial Control Systems (ICS).
For a downloadable copy of IOC packages and associated files, see: Go to the original link above.
Description
Since at least March 2016, Russian government cyber actors—hereafter referred to as “threat actors”—targeted government entities and multiple U.S. critical infrastructure sectors, including the energy, nuclear, commercial facilities, water, aviation, and critical manufacturing sectors.
Analysis by DHS and FBI, resulted in the identification of distinct indicators and behaviors related to this activity. Of note, the report Dragonfly: Western energy sector targeted by sophisticated attack group, released by Symantec on September 6, 2017, provides additional information about this ongoing campaign. [1] (link is external)
This campaign comprises two distinct categories of victims: staging and intended targets. The initial victims are peripheral organizations such as trusted third-party suppliers with less secure networks, referred to as “staging targets” throughout this alert. The threat actors used the staging targets’ networks as pivot points and malware repositories when targeting their final intended victims. NCCIC and FBI judge the ultimate objective of the actors is to compromise organizational networks, also referred to as the “intended target.”( Read more... )
Alert (TA18-074A)
Russian Government Cyber Activity Targeting Energy and Other Critical Infrastructure Sectors Original release date: March 15, 2018
Systems Affected
Domain Controllers
File Servers
Email Servers
Overview
This joint Technical Alert (TA) is the result of analytic efforts between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This alert provides information on Russian government actions targeting U.S. Government entities as well as organizations in the energy, nuclear, commercial facilities, water, aviation, and critical manufacturing sectors. It also contains indicators of compromise (IOCs) and technical details on the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by Russian government cyber actors on compromised victim networks. DHS and FBI produced this alert to educate network defenders to enhance their ability to identify and reduce exposure to malicious activity.
DHS and FBI characterize this activity as a multi-stage intrusion campaign by Russian government cyber actors who targeted small commercial facilities’ networks where they staged malware, conducted spear phishing, and gained remote access into energy sector networks. After obtaining access, the Russian government cyber actors conducted network reconnaissance, moved laterally, and collected information pertaining to Industrial Control Systems (ICS).
For a downloadable copy of IOC packages and associated files, see: Go to the original link above.
Description
Since at least March 2016, Russian government cyber actors—hereafter referred to as “threat actors”—targeted government entities and multiple U.S. critical infrastructure sectors, including the energy, nuclear, commercial facilities, water, aviation, and critical manufacturing sectors.
Analysis by DHS and FBI, resulted in the identification of distinct indicators and behaviors related to this activity. Of note, the report Dragonfly: Western energy sector targeted by sophisticated attack group, released by Symantec on September 6, 2017, provides additional information about this ongoing campaign. [1] (link is external)
This campaign comprises two distinct categories of victims: staging and intended targets. The initial victims are peripheral organizations such as trusted third-party suppliers with less secure networks, referred to as “staging targets” throughout this alert. The threat actors used the staging targets’ networks as pivot points and malware repositories when targeting their final intended victims. NCCIC and FBI judge the ultimate objective of the actors is to compromise organizational networks, also referred to as the “intended target.”( Read more... )
Ah security
Mar. 8th, 2018 08:03 amStolen from one of those places that takes money, who is one of those 'asking for a friend' and helps keep me safe or pays me back. They've treated me well.
You’ve probably seen this phrase a bunch over the past few years: “Your password must contain one letter, one number, one symbol, a never-ending math equation and your DNA.”
The key to more secure passwords — and more memorable ones — is to focus on length rather than complexity. Push out your password past 12 to 15 characters to outsmart cybercriminals who use automated programs to cycle through passwords. The longer the password, the harder it will be for them to crack the code.
But make it easy by using a line from a favorite song or a quote from a movie. You can create a sentence about your family that will make you smile every time you use it.
“Attackers have automated programs that combine dictionary words until they find the right pattern,”
So mix in a number or a punctuation mark. “The key is to put it in a nonobvious place,” he says. “A period at the end of a sentence? Probably not a good idea. But a period between the first and second words is much better.”
Four More Sanity-Saving Tips for Passwords That Are Hard to Hack
1. Don’t count on special characters to save you. You can throw a few hash marks or an exclamation point onto the end of a short password, but it’s still a short password, and that makes it easy to crack. Bottom line: A short but complex password isn’t as safe as a long one.
2. There’s safety in variety. Don’t use the same password for all your accounts unless you want that jerk who broke into your Facebook to have access to your bank account, too.
3. Set up a password safe. Free software programs such as Password Safe (Windows only) let users store all their passwords inside a single encrypted site protected by a master security code.
4. Two factors are better than one. For an extra layer of protection, use two-factor authentication if it’s available, which requires a code in addition to a password to access your accounts. A mobile app like VIP Access or Google Authenticator generates a unique code every 30 seconds. You have to enter the code when you log in to an account, so even if a crook has your password, he can’t access your account without the code.
You’ve probably seen this phrase a bunch over the past few years: “Your password must contain one letter, one number, one symbol, a never-ending math equation and your DNA.”
The key to more secure passwords — and more memorable ones — is to focus on length rather than complexity. Push out your password past 12 to 15 characters to outsmart cybercriminals who use automated programs to cycle through passwords. The longer the password, the harder it will be for them to crack the code.
But make it easy by using a line from a favorite song or a quote from a movie. You can create a sentence about your family that will make you smile every time you use it.
“Attackers have automated programs that combine dictionary words until they find the right pattern,”
So mix in a number or a punctuation mark. “The key is to put it in a nonobvious place,” he says. “A period at the end of a sentence? Probably not a good idea. But a period between the first and second words is much better.”
Four More Sanity-Saving Tips for Passwords That Are Hard to Hack
1. Don’t count on special characters to save you. You can throw a few hash marks or an exclamation point onto the end of a short password, but it’s still a short password, and that makes it easy to crack. Bottom line: A short but complex password isn’t as safe as a long one.
2. There’s safety in variety. Don’t use the same password for all your accounts unless you want that jerk who broke into your Facebook to have access to your bank account, too.
3. Set up a password safe. Free software programs such as Password Safe (Windows only) let users store all their passwords inside a single encrypted site protected by a master security code.
4. Two factors are better than one. For an extra layer of protection, use two-factor authentication if it’s available, which requires a code in addition to a password to access your accounts. A mobile app like VIP Access or Google Authenticator generates a unique code every 30 seconds. You have to enter the code when you log in to an account, so even if a crook has your password, he can’t access your account without the code.
There's a phrase to 'say something off the cuff', you say something without having prepared or thought about your words first. Thank you https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/off-the-cuff
Okay So he has to have crib notes for showing proper empathy. I've always thought that he was uncomfortable socializing outside of his norm. Which would explain a lot.
I've got that problem too and that's why I didn't seek a position like that... though yes, because I didn't duck fast enough, I am a President of a friends of my local library organization (a board of all of 6 people) and would happily give up the position if someone else would take it.
No, what I find interesting is that his shirt cuff is monogramed with the fact that he's number 45, the 45th President of the United States of America. Did he think he'd forget?
Okay So he has to have crib notes for showing proper empathy. I've always thought that he was uncomfortable socializing outside of his norm. Which would explain a lot.
I've got that problem too and that's why I didn't seek a position like that... though yes, because I didn't duck fast enough, I am a President of a friends of my local library organization (a board of all of 6 people) and would happily give up the position if someone else would take it.
No, what I find interesting is that his shirt cuff is monogramed with the fact that he's number 45, the 45th President of the United States of America. Did he think he'd forget?
This is from someone else's 'real' life posting:
"My current dreams are now referencing previous dreams, as if they were actual memories in an alternative universe.
And in other news, I need more whiskey."
"My current dreams are now referencing previous dreams, as if they were actual memories in an alternative universe.
And in other news, I need more whiskey."
Young Minds
Nov. 14th, 2017 08:39 pmGrandchild is 3. Daughter sent me text message re Grandchild conversation:
"My other grandpa has no hair. He needs hair. We should get him some."
This makes me wonder if they are doing early Christmas shopping brainstorming.
I am afraid.
"My other grandpa has no hair. He needs hair. We should get him some."
This makes me wonder if they are doing early Christmas shopping brainstorming.
I am afraid.
Panic Time
Nov. 2nd, 2017 09:17 pmMy cat is getting ahead of the season... okay the season is odd. This is the first time that we've had a temperature of 94 F for a daily high in November. It's 79 F/26 C at 9:20pm.
There was a candy cane on the end table (don't judge) still in its wrapping. She went over to sniff it then, what to my wondering eyes did I see, she picked it up in her mouth and started trying to unwrap it. I had a deepish claw in my finger when I took it away. Quick Google search... peppermint essential oil is poisonous but candy canes are fine. The sugar may cause a digestive tummy discomfort but the feeling of cold, we are all familiar with from the mint in the cane, won't hurt and will probably repel the cat.
https://purrfectlove.net/2016/12/can-a-cat-eat-candy-canes/
Don't ask me where she took the candy cane while I was opening the vault/cat carrier where the catnip container is kept. She is now washing the catnip soiled fabric mouse. Mouse beats candy cane.
There was a candy cane on the end table (don't judge) still in its wrapping. She went over to sniff it then, what to my wondering eyes did I see, she picked it up in her mouth and started trying to unwrap it. I had a deepish claw in my finger when I took it away. Quick Google search... peppermint essential oil is poisonous but candy canes are fine. The sugar may cause a digestive tummy discomfort but the feeling of cold, we are all familiar with from the mint in the cane, won't hurt and will probably repel the cat.
https://purrfectlove.net/2016/12/can-a-cat-eat-candy-canes/
Don't ask me where she took the candy cane while I was opening the vault/cat carrier where the catnip container is kept. She is now washing the catnip soiled fabric mouse. Mouse beats candy cane.
There is this teacher....
Nov. 2nd, 2017 06:28 pmShe inspires a love of learning. She has posted on Youtube interesting historical tours using her vacation locations. She's just fun to be around. She has a twitter account.
So.. there was a Town Hall [meeting that the public is invited to to listen and ask questions] last night. One of the other teachers posted:
Best moment of Town Hall meeting at Daggett Montessori. [Teacher] stands up to say really awesome things and ask Dr. Scribner [School District Superintendent] about equity of a new Applied Learning / Montessori high school ....
Scribner: Gives her really weird look, lights up with an aha moment checks his phone and says “Wow are you plainy???? I love you. You’re awesome. You’re like a Twitter celebrity. Everyone here should follow you on Twitter. My wife even follows you. Wow this is great... “ goes on to say he had to check phone because her twitter pic only showed a weird eye angle.
My heart swells with that feeling of proud parent pride.
This is also the teacher who would show Dr. Who episodes to those of her students who wanted to watch them, during lunch. She was freaked out by 'Blink' with the weeping angels in it. Her students knew this.
So one morning she has hallway duty and comes into her classroom where her students are waiting. All her students are seated quietly, their hands up over their faces in the 'weeping angel' pose. As she put it, it was bam. She turned around and left the classroom to have a 'quiet moment' to herself in the hallway.
So.. there was a Town Hall [meeting that the public is invited to to listen and ask questions] last night. One of the other teachers posted:
Best moment of Town Hall meeting at Daggett Montessori. [Teacher] stands up to say really awesome things and ask Dr. Scribner [School District Superintendent] about equity of a new Applied Learning / Montessori high school ....
Scribner: Gives her really weird look, lights up with an aha moment checks his phone and says “Wow are you plainy???? I love you. You’re awesome. You’re like a Twitter celebrity. Everyone here should follow you on Twitter. My wife even follows you. Wow this is great... “ goes on to say he had to check phone because her twitter pic only showed a weird eye angle.
My heart swells with that feeling of proud parent pride.
This is also the teacher who would show Dr. Who episodes to those of her students who wanted to watch them, during lunch. She was freaked out by 'Blink' with the weeping angels in it. Her students knew this.
So one morning she has hallway duty and comes into her classroom where her students are waiting. All her students are seated quietly, their hands up over their faces in the 'weeping angel' pose. As she put it, it was bam. She turned around and left the classroom to have a 'quiet moment' to herself in the hallway.
Advice on How to Deal with Grief
Oct. 28th, 2017 11:40 amWhen Asked for Advice on How to Deal with Grief, This Old Man Gave the Most Incredible Reply
http://beautythings.info/2017/09/24/when-asked-for-advice-on-how-to-deal-with-grief-this-old-man-gave-the-most-incredible-reply/
Someone on reddit wrote the following heartfelt plea online:
“My friend just died. I don’t know what to do.”
Many people responded with words of encouragement, but one response in particular, by an older gentlemen, really stood out from the rest…
Alright, here goes. I’m old. What that means is that I’ve survived (so far) and a lot of people I’ve known and loved did not. I’ve lost friends, best friends, acquaintances, co-workers, grandparents, mom, relatives, teachers, mentors, students, neighbors, and a host of other folks. I have no children, and I can’t imagine the pain it must be to lose a child. But here’s my two cents.( Read more... )
http://beautythings.info/2017/09/24/when-asked-for-advice-on-how-to-deal-with-grief-this-old-man-gave-the-most-incredible-reply/
Someone on reddit wrote the following heartfelt plea online:
“My friend just died. I don’t know what to do.”
Many people responded with words of encouragement, but one response in particular, by an older gentlemen, really stood out from the rest…
Alright, here goes. I’m old. What that means is that I’ve survived (so far) and a lot of people I’ve known and loved did not. I’ve lost friends, best friends, acquaintances, co-workers, grandparents, mom, relatives, teachers, mentors, students, neighbors, and a host of other folks. I have no children, and I can’t imagine the pain it must be to lose a child. But here’s my two cents.( Read more... )
Fall and Feline
Sep. 28th, 2017 07:39 pmTitle: Shark in Feline Form
Author: charisstoma
Word count: 186
As I recline in the lounger, feet outstretched surfing the internet on my laptop; I see this vertical tail, with a curl that lazily changes shape as it passes, wandering by with the smooth glide of a shark's fin ... a shark's fin if the shark is wearing stiletto heels. The shark is circling back and forth.
The weather has changed, no longer hot and dry or hot and sweltering. It is now cool and rainy and damp. Under the influence of this weather, the warm blooded furry predator returns inside more often to her warmer indoor territory, her little feet cold and wet. Yet this feline shark longs to escape back to the outside wilderness.
Of course it could be that the nip-head is in the throes of withdrawal or it could be that the catnip soothes the restless moodiness that Fall brings to wild sharks in furry costumes. Either way, when the vault of the cat carrier is opened with its rattle of metal on metal, and the plastic container inside removed, the small predator's presence is almost instantaneous for her prey has appeared.
Author: charisstoma
Word count: 186
As I recline in the lounger, feet outstretched surfing the internet on my laptop; I see this vertical tail, with a curl that lazily changes shape as it passes, wandering by with the smooth glide of a shark's fin ... a shark's fin if the shark is wearing stiletto heels. The shark is circling back and forth.
The weather has changed, no longer hot and dry or hot and sweltering. It is now cool and rainy and damp. Under the influence of this weather, the warm blooded furry predator returns inside more often to her warmer indoor territory, her little feet cold and wet. Yet this feline shark longs to escape back to the outside wilderness.
Of course it could be that the nip-head is in the throes of withdrawal or it could be that the catnip soothes the restless moodiness that Fall brings to wild sharks in furry costumes. Either way, when the vault of the cat carrier is opened with its rattle of metal on metal, and the plastic container inside removed, the small predator's presence is almost instantaneous for her prey has appeared.
The World has taken a strange turn.
Sep. 1st, 2017 05:05 pmWoman pulls out gun in Walmart during row over last notebook
https://www.yahoo.com/news/woman-pulls-gun-walmart-during-151015240.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma
A woman is facing criminal charges after pulling a gun on two other women in a row over a school notebook.
The argument, captured on video filmed by a bystander, broke out between two pairs of women over the last notebook at a 'Back to School' sale at the Walmart in Detroit, Michigan.( Read more... )
It is unclear who got the notebook.
~~~~~~~
Because of the Hurricane knocking out the oil refineries on the Texas gulf coast, someone put 2 and 2 together and started a gas panic.
Lines of cars at the stations and gas pumps going empty. It was bizarre.
One of the teachers said one man came in with garbage cans to fill up with gas. This is illegal of course. Gasoline containers have to conform to set requirements. Being colored red is one of those. They had to call the local police to come because he was forcefully determined to fill those containers up.
As it is, the stations are back up and running. They were replenished by the next day. The gas panic caused the shortage.
~~~~~~
Nurse screams for help as she is arrested for saying she can't draw blood from unconscious patient
https://www.yahoo.com/news/nurse-screams-help-she-arrested-093436094.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma
A nurse was allegedly assaulted and illegally arrested when she told a detective she could not take a blood sample from an unconscious patient.
Alex Wubbels told a police officer she could not take blood from the victim of a lorry crash because he could not consent, and the officer had produced no warrant.
Footage taken by University Hospital, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Detective Jeff Payne's body camera show he threatened Ms Wubbels with jail if she did not comply, despite her having checked the policy with her bosses, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.( Read more... )
https://www.yahoo.com/news/woman-pulls-gun-walmart-during-151015240.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma
A woman is facing criminal charges after pulling a gun on two other women in a row over a school notebook.
The argument, captured on video filmed by a bystander, broke out between two pairs of women over the last notebook at a 'Back to School' sale at the Walmart in Detroit, Michigan.( Read more... )
It is unclear who got the notebook.
~~~~~~~
Because of the Hurricane knocking out the oil refineries on the Texas gulf coast, someone put 2 and 2 together and started a gas panic.
Lines of cars at the stations and gas pumps going empty. It was bizarre.
One of the teachers said one man came in with garbage cans to fill up with gas. This is illegal of course. Gasoline containers have to conform to set requirements. Being colored red is one of those. They had to call the local police to come because he was forcefully determined to fill those containers up.
As it is, the stations are back up and running. They were replenished by the next day. The gas panic caused the shortage.
~~~~~~
Nurse screams for help as she is arrested for saying she can't draw blood from unconscious patient
https://www.yahoo.com/news/nurse-screams-help-she-arrested-093436094.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma
A nurse was allegedly assaulted and illegally arrested when she told a detective she could not take a blood sample from an unconscious patient.
Alex Wubbels told a police officer she could not take blood from the victim of a lorry crash because he could not consent, and the officer had produced no warrant.
Footage taken by University Hospital, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Detective Jeff Payne's body camera show he threatened Ms Wubbels with jail if she did not comply, despite her having checked the policy with her bosses, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.( Read more... )
On the eastern part of Houston is the town of Crosby Texas where there is a Arkema Production Plant. They took precautions with backups and backups to the backups and when those didn't withstand the flooding they put the chemicals into diesel powered refrigeration containers. The chemicals have to be kept cool to prevent fire and/or explosion.
The water level has compromised the refrigeration containers. Arkema has withdrawn their people from the area and notified the authorities.
They produce liquid organic peroxides.
Authorities have issued an immediate evacuation of 1.5 miles from around the plant.
Now they wait for the water to go down or the fire/explosion whichever happens first.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/08/30/texas-town-under-emergency-evacuation-as-flooded-chemical-plant-nears-explosion/?utm_term=.9f4da7d35f35
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/chemical-breakdown/4/
Some highly reactive chemicals are included under the EPA’s Risk Management Program for their toxicity or flammability; others aren’t covered.
Cumene hydroperoxide is one that is not covered, though it’s the reason five Houston-area companies in the Chronicle/A&M analysis posed a high potential for harm. It explodes when combined with a number of other chemicals and can catch fire or explode if it is shocked or heated.
Arkema, up the street from KMCO, is one of those five companies. It reported housing up to a half-million pounds of cumene hydroperoxide. The nearest homes are less than a half-mile away.
Janet Smith, a company spokeswoman, said Arkema takes numerous measures to prevent a reactive incident. A valve on a line containing cumene hydroperoxide, for instance, requires two employees to verify that it’s closed. The company’s process control system automatically checks that the correct amount of the chemical is in the reactor before anything is added. Arkema does file a Risk Management Plan, but for other compounds.
https://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/chemical/478 CUMENE HYDROPEROXIDE
Alright, should I be worried at the 'interesting' "USCG CHRIS Code" label for this chemical, which is listed here https://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/chris/CMH.pdf.
This stuff is super nasty and very reactive. Lead alloys for pity sake, it reacts with lead alloys.
The water level has compromised the refrigeration containers. Arkema has withdrawn their people from the area and notified the authorities.
They produce liquid organic peroxides.
Authorities have issued an immediate evacuation of 1.5 miles from around the plant.
Now they wait for the water to go down or the fire/explosion whichever happens first.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/08/30/texas-town-under-emergency-evacuation-as-flooded-chemical-plant-nears-explosion/?utm_term=.9f4da7d35f35
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/chemical-breakdown/4/
Some highly reactive chemicals are included under the EPA’s Risk Management Program for their toxicity or flammability; others aren’t covered.
Cumene hydroperoxide is one that is not covered, though it’s the reason five Houston-area companies in the Chronicle/A&M analysis posed a high potential for harm. It explodes when combined with a number of other chemicals and can catch fire or explode if it is shocked or heated.
Arkema, up the street from KMCO, is one of those five companies. It reported housing up to a half-million pounds of cumene hydroperoxide. The nearest homes are less than a half-mile away.
Janet Smith, a company spokeswoman, said Arkema takes numerous measures to prevent a reactive incident. A valve on a line containing cumene hydroperoxide, for instance, requires two employees to verify that it’s closed. The company’s process control system automatically checks that the correct amount of the chemical is in the reactor before anything is added. Arkema does file a Risk Management Plan, but for other compounds.
https://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/chemical/478 CUMENE HYDROPEROXIDE
Alright, should I be worried at the 'interesting' "USCG CHRIS Code" label for this chemical, which is listed here https://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/chris/CMH.pdf.
This stuff is super nasty and very reactive. Lead alloys for pity sake, it reacts with lead alloys.
Real Life - Attention Deficit Distraction
Jul. 10th, 2017 05:23 pmTitle: Attention Deficit Distraction
Author: charisstoma
Word count: 243
Drat it. Carefully she lifted the mirror from the altar like vanity as if it were an offering, supporting the silvery polished surface from below and not touching its reflective portion. Too much work went into keeping the mirror clear, bright and perfect. Turning the mirror towards the demon, she said, “See yourself and go, return from where you came and never leave that place.”
The demon laughed, his eyes glowing. “You think you can banish me from this plane before I plant myself in you?”
Her smile answered and made him pause. Sweeping out his hand as if to strike the impediment to his desire, he made the mistake of looking.
His denial slowly vanished as the mirror rapidly sucked him in and through. Some day she resolved, replacing the mirror in its spot as carefully as she’d picked it up.; she would scry where the various ones went when so banished. One could only live so long before curiosity became too strong.
Turning back to the monitor, set onto the back of the vanity, her fingers found the keyboard and she let the internet suck her in. There was scrying and there was informational scrying. Her smile broadened, research, scrying through a monitor was called research. The fiction she was working on was sorely in need of researching. Now where was that photo of the door that seemed to have an eye in the center of its organic exterior. She shuddered.
Part 2 -
It's Magic http://charisstoma.dreamwidth.org/1301932.html
Author: charisstoma
Word count: 243
Drat it. Carefully she lifted the mirror from the altar like vanity as if it were an offering, supporting the silvery polished surface from below and not touching its reflective portion. Too much work went into keeping the mirror clear, bright and perfect. Turning the mirror towards the demon, she said, “See yourself and go, return from where you came and never leave that place.”
The demon laughed, his eyes glowing. “You think you can banish me from this plane before I plant myself in you?”
Her smile answered and made him pause. Sweeping out his hand as if to strike the impediment to his desire, he made the mistake of looking.
His denial slowly vanished as the mirror rapidly sucked him in and through. Some day she resolved, replacing the mirror in its spot as carefully as she’d picked it up.; she would scry where the various ones went when so banished. One could only live so long before curiosity became too strong.
Turning back to the monitor, set onto the back of the vanity, her fingers found the keyboard and she let the internet suck her in. There was scrying and there was informational scrying. Her smile broadened, research, scrying through a monitor was called research. The fiction she was working on was sorely in need of researching. Now where was that photo of the door that seemed to have an eye in the center of its organic exterior. She shuddered.
Part 2 -
It's Magic http://charisstoma.dreamwidth.org/1301932.html
I asked a friend who happens to be a lawyer:
What happens to a President who is impeached? They resign maybe and then are pardoned? Then what?
1. A sitting president, Trump, cannot be criminally prosecuted in federal or state court for any criminal conduct engaged in while in office. Example: obstruction of justice and acceptance of foreign emoluments since his inauguration.
2. The appropriate steps to pursue such criminal conduct includes impeachment. If Trump is impeached and removed from office, his constitutional successor, Pence, would have the option of pardoning Trump like Ford did with Nixon. If Pence decides not to pardon Trump, Trump could be prosecuted in federal or state court for criminal conduct occurring after his inauguration.
3. It is an open, unresolved legal question whether Trump can be criminally prosecuted at present for money laundering, collusion, and other criminal conduct predating his inauguration. A court might stay such criminal prosecutions until Trump is no longer in office so he can perform his official duties (other than golf and tweeting). There is only one Supreme Court case on the issue. In Jones v. Clinton, Paula Jones sued Clinton for sexual harassment and other conduct which occurred prior to his inauguration. The court ruled that Clinton was not immune from civil liability; and, it was up to a trial court's discretion whether to stay that civil case until Clinton left office. Clinton ultimately settled the case for $850,000.
4. Several media sources have reported that the US Attorneys in the Southern District of NY and the Eastern District of VA have convened criminal grand juries and are prepared to indict Trump, Manafort, Flynn and others. The NY Attorney General is also exploring state racketeering and other criminal charges based upon money laundering, etc. Time will tell how those federal and state criminal charges will be handled.
5. My personal belief is that Trump will not resign unless criminal indictments are brought against his adult children and Jared Kushner.
6. Good web sites to review:
Palmer Report
Mother Jones
Politicus USA
Inquisitr
Politico
The Hill
Buzz News
Raw Story
What happens to a President who is impeached? They resign maybe and then are pardoned? Then what?
1. A sitting president, Trump, cannot be criminally prosecuted in federal or state court for any criminal conduct engaged in while in office. Example: obstruction of justice and acceptance of foreign emoluments since his inauguration.
2. The appropriate steps to pursue such criminal conduct includes impeachment. If Trump is impeached and removed from office, his constitutional successor, Pence, would have the option of pardoning Trump like Ford did with Nixon. If Pence decides not to pardon Trump, Trump could be prosecuted in federal or state court for criminal conduct occurring after his inauguration.
3. It is an open, unresolved legal question whether Trump can be criminally prosecuted at present for money laundering, collusion, and other criminal conduct predating his inauguration. A court might stay such criminal prosecutions until Trump is no longer in office so he can perform his official duties (other than golf and tweeting). There is only one Supreme Court case on the issue. In Jones v. Clinton, Paula Jones sued Clinton for sexual harassment and other conduct which occurred prior to his inauguration. The court ruled that Clinton was not immune from civil liability; and, it was up to a trial court's discretion whether to stay that civil case until Clinton left office. Clinton ultimately settled the case for $850,000.
4. Several media sources have reported that the US Attorneys in the Southern District of NY and the Eastern District of VA have convened criminal grand juries and are prepared to indict Trump, Manafort, Flynn and others. The NY Attorney General is also exploring state racketeering and other criminal charges based upon money laundering, etc. Time will tell how those federal and state criminal charges will be handled.
5. My personal belief is that Trump will not resign unless criminal indictments are brought against his adult children and Jared Kushner.
6. Good web sites to review:
Palmer Report
Mother Jones
Politicus USA
Inquisitr
Politico
The Hill
Buzz News
Raw Story
When The Things Go Wrong
May. 16th, 2017 01:53 pmTitle: When Things Go Wrong
Author: charisstoma
Word count: 526
And yes all this did happen.
Two weeks ago the circulation system had gone down. That meant no books checked out except via the downloaded circulation program, named Remote Destiny. Yeah it was remote… far from reality remote and destiny …. Aaden rolled his eyes.
Yesterday the powers that be had responded to the ransomware attacks that were going on globally and pushed through the patch to fix it. That patch gave you 15 minutes to save your work while it was downloading and then click, it restarted your computer.
Why was there a restart button under the download progress bar if it automatically restarted right after the download finished? Aaden sighed in remembrance because of course that was when teachers started sending students to the Library to return and check out books. Books that could have neither done to them, because the configure part of the download was as long and more aggravating than the tension of the download itself. Still if it did the trick … Please, please let it do the trick of protecting his computer.
So at the end of the day, of the awful day of configuration, when the computer techs showed up and worse went into the closet to see where they were going to replace the computer hub, he knew that it was indeed the advent of the apocalypse. Okay maybe only the end of the school year’s approach. If ever there was going to be a time of things going wrong it seemed to always be at the time before the long summer vacation. Heaven forbid that the system come down and be fixed during the Summer Break when they could fix things without interfering with his Library’s circulation.
It Is the apocalypse.
Aaden looked at his circulation computer. They were supposed to have had it all done by 11:00 the night before. He had a computer that luckily had a tower. The other monitors were computer stations hooked into a server way away at another building. There was no internet access. The stations were boat anchors for all the good they could do.
Aaden sighed, there wasn’t much else he could do. If he wanted to call someone to report a problem or contact a teacher to tell her that one of the Chromebook that was out to be fixed had been returned he couldn’t. Someone had thought it a great idea to have the computers and the phones linked on the same internet system. When one went down so did the other. You couldn’t use your personal mobile phone to call the office or any room in the building. The phone you were calling was not available… beep, beep, beep.
Technology was a curse. An evil curse that suckered you into needing it, and then it didn’t work. Someone needed to work on a foolproof spell to magically ensure that the technology continued to do what it was designed to do. And as soon as the phone/internet came back he’d research that magical business person. They Had Better Exist.
On the other side of the world, Gervais felt a foreboding tingling. Someone was going to try to make him do the impossible.
Part 2 "http://charisstoma.livejournal.com/1289081.html"
Author: charisstoma
Word count: 526
And yes all this did happen.
Two weeks ago the circulation system had gone down. That meant no books checked out except via the downloaded circulation program, named Remote Destiny. Yeah it was remote… far from reality remote and destiny …. Aaden rolled his eyes.
Yesterday the powers that be had responded to the ransomware attacks that were going on globally and pushed through the patch to fix it. That patch gave you 15 minutes to save your work while it was downloading and then click, it restarted your computer.
Why was there a restart button under the download progress bar if it automatically restarted right after the download finished? Aaden sighed in remembrance because of course that was when teachers started sending students to the Library to return and check out books. Books that could have neither done to them, because the configure part of the download was as long and more aggravating than the tension of the download itself. Still if it did the trick … Please, please let it do the trick of protecting his computer.
So at the end of the day, of the awful day of configuration, when the computer techs showed up and worse went into the closet to see where they were going to replace the computer hub, he knew that it was indeed the advent of the apocalypse. Okay maybe only the end of the school year’s approach. If ever there was going to be a time of things going wrong it seemed to always be at the time before the long summer vacation. Heaven forbid that the system come down and be fixed during the Summer Break when they could fix things without interfering with his Library’s circulation.
It Is the apocalypse.
Aaden looked at his circulation computer. They were supposed to have had it all done by 11:00 the night before. He had a computer that luckily had a tower. The other monitors were computer stations hooked into a server way away at another building. There was no internet access. The stations were boat anchors for all the good they could do.
Aaden sighed, there wasn’t much else he could do. If he wanted to call someone to report a problem or contact a teacher to tell her that one of the Chromebook that was out to be fixed had been returned he couldn’t. Someone had thought it a great idea to have the computers and the phones linked on the same internet system. When one went down so did the other. You couldn’t use your personal mobile phone to call the office or any room in the building. The phone you were calling was not available… beep, beep, beep.
Technology was a curse. An evil curse that suckered you into needing it, and then it didn’t work. Someone needed to work on a foolproof spell to magically ensure that the technology continued to do what it was designed to do. And as soon as the phone/internet came back he’d research that magical business person. They Had Better Exist.
On the other side of the world, Gervais felt a foreboding tingling. Someone was going to try to make him do the impossible.
Part 2 "http://charisstoma.livejournal.com/1289081.html"
Today AaaAAAAAAAAH
Apr. 21st, 2017 08:03 pmMy Librarian was off to a state library convention this week, 3 days on my own. Me and the students. *W*
So of course the circulation program started acting 'odd'. Some books wouldn't check in, some wouldn't check out, some did both, but they were all in the library's catalog.
Okay, I worked around it. But first, I called the District's IT dept and the tech thought it was a program problem but just in case he ran a malware scan and clean up on my computer.
Turns out it wasn't only my library. Sooooo in the middle of the day, right after our Fire Drill, an email went out to log off of the circulation program so the program's company could work on it.
That's okay, there's a off-line version that can be used..... except the malware removal took off the off-line version.
So during one of the busiest days for my library's book circulation, I'm trying to find where the off-line program for circulation is stashed on the Library's District site, download it, activate it and use it.
All the while I'm using an Excel spreadsheet to retain the data as to who has checked out which of our books.
Also I'm hoping I downloaded things correctly so that when the fixed circulation program comes back it'll download to it.
Should be easy to just cut and past from the spreadsheet to the off-line program, I thought. Nope. Had to hand type in the patron numbers and book barcodes.
The students were so great. There was the odd 'but but but' from them, but the shelves were astonishingly in order. Okay a number of the students were gone on field trips to the schools that they will be attending next school year. And it helps when you can pivot the monitor to show them the 'this program is not available' notice on the circulation page and tell them, "see this is what is wrong. This is what I'm doing, ie spreadsheet. I can't help it, work with me here."
188 students from one school population and 22 from the other school population came through my tender hands. Most checked out 2 books each. Did I mention the Fire Drill? And the architects who are came through because they're planning improvements probably over the summer... I hope. Please please not during the next school year. That would be really terrible. One of the areas a hallway that is one of the a fire exits from the 2nd floor which just happens to be the access to the floor in between the 1st and 2nd floors and is home to the boiler room that sits atop where our library office and workroom are. At the moment that hallway is used by the theater class for their props. sssssshhhhhhhh it's a fire dept violation. The stage's side rooms have been used for storage of the other school and an office for the head custodian.
So of course the circulation program started acting 'odd'. Some books wouldn't check in, some wouldn't check out, some did both, but they were all in the library's catalog.
Okay, I worked around it. But first, I called the District's IT dept and the tech thought it was a program problem but just in case he ran a malware scan and clean up on my computer.
Turns out it wasn't only my library. Sooooo in the middle of the day, right after our Fire Drill, an email went out to log off of the circulation program so the program's company could work on it.
That's okay, there's a off-line version that can be used..... except the malware removal took off the off-line version.
So during one of the busiest days for my library's book circulation, I'm trying to find where the off-line program for circulation is stashed on the Library's District site, download it, activate it and use it.
All the while I'm using an Excel spreadsheet to retain the data as to who has checked out which of our books.
Also I'm hoping I downloaded things correctly so that when the fixed circulation program comes back it'll download to it.
Should be easy to just cut and past from the spreadsheet to the off-line program, I thought. Nope. Had to hand type in the patron numbers and book barcodes.
The students were so great. There was the odd 'but but but' from them, but the shelves were astonishingly in order. Okay a number of the students were gone on field trips to the schools that they will be attending next school year. And it helps when you can pivot the monitor to show them the 'this program is not available' notice on the circulation page and tell them, "see this is what is wrong. This is what I'm doing, ie spreadsheet. I can't help it, work with me here."
188 students from one school population and 22 from the other school population came through my tender hands. Most checked out 2 books each. Did I mention the Fire Drill? And the architects who are came through because they're planning improvements probably over the summer... I hope. Please please not during the next school year. That would be really terrible. One of the areas a hallway that is one of the a fire exits from the 2nd floor which just happens to be the access to the floor in between the 1st and 2nd floors and is home to the boiler room that sits atop where our library office and workroom are. At the moment that hallway is used by the theater class for their props. sssssshhhhhhhh it's a fire dept violation. The stage's side rooms have been used for storage of the other school and an office for the head custodian.
Armadillo Lizard
Apr. 13th, 2017 06:03 pm
The Armadillo lizard (Ouroborus cataphractus )is a lizard endemic to desert areas of southern Africa. The natural habitat of this lizard is scrub and rocky outcrops. It is diurnal. It hides in rock cracks and crevices. It lives in social groups of up to 30. The Armadillo Lizard possesses an uncommon antipredator adaptation, in which it takes its tail in its mouth and rolls into a ball when frightened.
