Coldest Town on Earth - Oymyakon

Temperatures could hit -70 C in northeast Siberia!!

YAKUTSK, December 22 (RIA Novosti) - Temperatures in the northeast Siberian republic of Yakutia could plummet to minus 68 degrees Celsius (-90.4 Fahrenheit) this week, the local meteorological service said on Monday.

"In the next few days we expect a cold spell in the towns of Verkhoyansk and Oymyakon, with weather likely to drop to minus 64-68 degrees Celsius (minus 83.2-90.4 Fahrenheit)," a spokesman said.

In the town of Oymyakon, dubbed the North Pole of cold, or the place where the lowest-ever temperature in the Northern hemisphere has been recorded, temperatures fell to -60 degrees Celsius (-76 Fahrenheit) overnight.

In the town of Verkhoyansk, located some 600 km (372 miles) from Oymyakon and also noted for its exceptionally cold winters, the temperatures hit -55 degrees Celsius (-67 Fahrenheit) on Sunday night.

More freezing weather, as well as fog and blizzards are expected in Yakutia this week, the spokesman said adding that the extremely cold weather was due to an influx of a cold polar air mass.

Information courtesy of RNA Novosti.

iBreath: iPhone Breathalyzer

The iBreath is an attachment for the iPhone that measures blood alcohol level. For only $79 you can buy this accessory that plugs into the iPhone. The iBreath features a retractable blow wand, and within two seconds, it displays the results on an LED screen. A reading of 0.08 or above sets off an alarm because the blood-alcohol level is above the legal limit.

“We are absolutely not advocating drinking and driving, but we know that people just don't observe that,” said don Bassler, chief executive and founder of David Steele Enterprises Inc. in Newport Beach, an online retailer and creator of the iBreath. “We don’t want people to think that this makes it all OK, but it’s a safety device that we hope people will use, and it may save lives.”

This is actually a really awesome device. I know too many people who have said they were okay to drive and then get a DUI. This may have made them think differently. Or, if you’re like me you can go the cheap route and make sure you have a DD at all times. Don’t drink and drive under any circumstances, especially during the holidays! The people at iBreath agree:

“I’m afraid it not only causes young people to use it as a training tool but also gives them a false sense of security. ‘I’m good to go,’ ” Dean-Mooney said. “Your blood-alcohol content goes up for 30 minutes after you stop drinking. There’s no need to risk hurting yourself or other innocent people when you can simply plan ahead.”

Information courtesy of RightCelebrity.com.

Oil company Flying J files for bankruptcy

NEW YORK, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Flying J, a privately held oil producer, refiner and pipeline operator, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday, citing weak oil prices and turmoil in the credit markets.

The company listed estimated liabilities between $100 million to $500 million and assets of more than $1 billion, according to documents filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the District of Delaware.

"With this sudden and unanticipated inability to meet our liquidity needs, we regret that we had no other choice than a Chapter 11 filing to enable us to stabilize our financial base," J. Phillip Adams, its president and chief executive, said in a statement.

Flying J had 2007 sales of more than $16 billion from its interests in about 200 oil and gas wells in the Rocky Mountain region, a 70,000-barrels-per-day refinery in Bakersfield, California, a 35,000-barrels-per-day Utah refinery, 250 retail outlets and a 700-mile refined products pipeline owned by its Longhorn Pipeline Holdings unit.

The company does not expect any layoffs as part of the bankruptcy filing. West Coast refined products traders say the company's bankruptcy is not likely to affect products supply there.
Oil and gas prices have collapsed from their highs in July, with crude oil shedding more than 70 percent of its value.

Refining margins in the Rocky Mountains and on the West Coast are typically among the highest in the nation due to a lack of regional refining and pipeline capacity. Over the past four weeks, refiners in the Rockies saw average gross margins of $8.46 per barrel, while West Coast refiners pulled in $13.26 per barrel, according to a research note from Credit Suisse. That compares to $2.72 per barrel in the refinery and pipeline-heavy Gulf Coast, according to the note.

Among the company's top creditors were Zions Bancorp (ZION.O), with $85.8 million in outstanding bank loans; ConocoPhillips (COP.N), with $69.4 million in trade debt; and Barry Petroleum, with $26.1 million in trade debt.

Reported by Matt Daily, additional reporting by Richard Valdmanis and Erwin Seba, and edited by Jeffrey Benkoe of Reuters.

Sen. Jones to discuss sex offender laws on Fox Sports

ATLANTA — Sen. Emanuel Jones, D-Decatur, was interviewed by Fox Sports this week regarding his leadership in changing Georgia sex offender laws so they are appropriately applied to the crimes committed. The cases of Marcus Dixon and Genarlow Wilson, both charged with sexual offenses after having teenage consensual sex, demonstrated the need for sentencing reform. Dixon now plays for the Dallas Cowboys. Jones’ interview will air this Sunday, Dec. 21, at noon on the Fox Sports network.

“The Marcus Dixon case was the catalyst for changing state law to make the distinction between adults who commit heinous crimes and teenagers who engage in consensual behavior,” said Jones. “I fought to ensure that the change was made retroactive so those who had been unfairly sentenced were given an opportunity to reclaim their lives.”

Fox Sports reporter Pam Oliver interviewed Jones at the state Capitol for a segment on native Georgian Dixon, who at 18 was charged with aggravated child molestation in 2003 after engaging in consensual sex with a 15-year-old girl. Dixon was originally sentenced to 10 years in prison, but after serving 15 months, the state Supreme Court overturned his sentence. After a successful college career, Dixon is beginning his NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys practice team.

In 2006, the mandatory 10-year minimum prison sentence was eradicated for teenagers convicted of a sexual offense after engaging in consensual sexual activity, making the charge a misdemeanor. However, that change did not apply to those convicted before 2006, as in Wilson’s case, an oversight that Jones sought to correct. Wilson’s sentence was overturned upon a Georgia State Supreme Court ruling as a result of legislation authored by Jones.

“Both Genarlow and Marcus fought for their freedom, and I was determined to see that their courage was justified,” Jones said. “I am pleased Fox Sports chose to highlight this issue, which I believe shows Georgia to be a state where justice is sensibly applied.”

Submitted by the Senate Press Office at The Daily Citizen