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Submission + - Astronomers Discover the Most Powerful Aurora Ever Recorded (sijutech.com)

Submitted by Sepa Blackforesta
Sepa Blackforesta writes: Astronomers have discovered the most powerful aurora ever recorded in an object beyond our solar system. The aurora is the first to be discovered around a brown dwarf, known as LSRJ 1835+3259 (LSRJ). Its 10,000 times more powerful than any previously seen, and also it’s not coming from a planet at all. This behemoth is coming from a low-mass star at the boundary between stars and brown dwarfs.

Submission + - Bill allows government to revoke Americans' passports without charges or trial (policestateusa.com)

Submitted by schwit1
schwit1 writes: A bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives would allow the government to restrict Americans' travel through the revocation of passports based upon mere suspicions of unscrupulous activity. This bill represents another dangerous step forward in the war on terror and the disintegration of American due process.

H.R. 237, the "FTO (Foreign Terrorist Organization) Passport Revocation Act of 2015," will allow the U.S. Secretary of State the unchecked authority to prohibit individuals from traveling internationally. According to the bill, the Secretary may unilaterally revoke (or refuse to issue) a passport from "any individual whom the Secretary has determined has aided, assisted, abetted, or otherwise helped an organization the Secretary has designated as a foreign terrorist organization pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189)."

The bill did not bother to define what the terms "aided, assisted, abetted, or otherwise helped" actually mean, in legal terms. The power has been left open-ended so that it can mean whatever the secretary wants it to mean. Needless to say, a bill like this would be easily abused.

The travel restriction requires no presumption of innocence for the targeted individual; no explanation; no public presentation of evidence; no opportunity for a defense; no checks and balances on the power. The bill does not outline any appeals process for the targeted individual. The only stipulation is that the Secretary of State must issue a report to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs — "classified or unclassified." The bill does not state that either committee can reverse the secretary's decisions.

Comment Re:Dubious assumptions are dubious (Score 1) 307

I don't think it's unreasonable to expect cyclists to have adequate lighting on their bikes at night. It's very rare that an entire journey would have street lighting at any time of night.

Then again, I live in a village with green fields on all sides. It gets lovely and mostly dark around here.

Comment Re:Crooks are afraid of the dark, too (Score 1) 307

your neighbour has reasonable grounds for installing suitable lighting of their own for security, safety and access purpose

None of which justifies their light illuminating your property, and particularly your windows.

It's not a major issue for me and I already have nice thick lined curtains, but the council are obliged to act on your behalf if light pollution is causing you an issue.

You can also choose not to ask them.

Comment Re:Dubious assumptions are dubious (Score 3, Informative) 307

bike lights are basically worthless for seeing the road ahead and only useful for other people to see the cyclist

Only if you go with the trendy flashing LED "look, I'm here and I'm trendy and important" bullshit lights favoured these days.

I was cycling down dark country roads with more than adequate visibility using proper bike lights over 20 years ago, don't pretend you can't get a decent light these days.

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