Short Takes – 8-16-23

Why a stopgap funding bill could face a rocky road in the House. TheHill.com article. Pull quote: “In the slim House majority, Republicans will need support from Democrats if more than a handful of GOP members vote against the continuing resolution. Even before a vote on the final bill, hardline Republicans could potentially sink the stopgap if they vote against a procedural rule to allow its consideration on the floor.”

We could be 16 years into a methane-fueled 'termination' event significant enough to end an ice age. LiveScience.com article. Pull quote: “A flurry of studies since 2019 has finally attributed the strange spike to soaring emissions from tropical wetlands, predominantly in Africa. A "significant change" in tropical weather ascribed to human-caused climate change has led wetlands to get bigger and more plants to grow there, thus leading to more decomposition — a process that produces methane, Nisbet said.” CO2 gets converted to plant matter then to methane due to decomposition. Methane is a more potent greenhouse gas than CO2.

Notice of Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee Vacancies. Federal Register STB notice. Summary: “The Surface Transportation Board (Board) hereby gives notice of six vacancies on its Rail Energy Transportation Advisory Committee (RETAC) for one representative from Class I railroads; two representatives from Class II or Class III railroads; one representative from biofuel feedstock growers or providers and biofuel refiners, processors, and distributors; one representative from private car owners, car lessors, or car manufacturers; and one at large representative. The Board is soliciting nominations from the public for candidates to fill these vacancies.” Nominations due September 15^th, 2023.

Vital Natural Gas Is Being Stashed in Caverns Beneath War-Torn Ukraine. WSJ.com article. Pull quote: “Traders are getting paid to stockpile power-generation and heating fuel for Europe ahead of the second winter since Russia pitched the continent into an energy crisis. So much gas has flooded in from the rest of the world to replace Russian fuel that prices have fallen more than 80% over the past year. That will make the trade a lucrative one, if all goes well.”

The New Technology Which Is Making Cars Easier for Criminals to Steal, or Crash. HomelandSecurityNewswire.com article.  Pull quote: “The IoV [Internet of Vehicles] could help vehicles identify roadblocks, traffic jams and pedestrians. It could help with a car’s positioning on the road, potentially enable them to be driverless, and provide easier diagnoses of faults. It’s already happening to some extent with smart motorways, where technology is used with the intention of managing motorway traffic in the most effective manner.”

Fame-seeking Mass Shooters More Likely to Plan “Surprise” Attacks; Novelty of Their Locations, Targets Brings Added Fame. Pull quote: “Rather, the data found no relationship between surprise and lethality, either achieved by the shooters in terms of death and injury toll, or sought after by bringing more or deadlier weapons. It is likely that pursuing surprising attacks is perceived as an independent path to fame for these types of shooters.”

 

Reminder – CFNS Subscription Sale through August 31st - https://chemical-facility-security-news.blogspot.com/2023/08/cfsn-detailed-analysis-subscription.html See article for links to reduced rate subscriptions –