March 31, 2008
News Bits = Healthy (and how!)

- Word on the street is the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission will approve plans to build the first nuclear power plants (three of 'em, to be exact) since the meltdown at Three Mile Island back in 1979. The question at the heart of this issue: is nuclear energy really a safer, healthier alternative to coal?
- As the sunny season approaches, this Slate article on whether sun-bathing is bad for you makes a nice, edifying read...
- In case you're wondering how you'll receive your "stimulus payment" after filing your 2007 tax return...it's automatic. But not everyone is eligible. Click on the link for details.
- The New England Journal of Medicine has issued serious warnings against using the popular cholesterol-reducing drugs Vytorin and Zetia.
- Turns out the Gibson guitar thingies that you see all over downtown actually have a purpose. They've raised over $600,000 for several local nonprofits.
- Congratulations to you, the thousands of runners and walkers who actually woke up yesterday morning for the 31st annual Capitol 10K race. Austinist (who woke up right around the time you finished the race) salutes you!
- On appeal, a federal court has upheld the Austin smoking ban that was first implemented in 2005.






Nuclear is all fine and good and safe until you try to store the waste! And ship the waste to wherever you want to store it! How would you like the spent nuclear fuel going by you at 70 mph on I-35 or I-20... or even on a train that will likely go through lots of neighborhoods somewhere, although probably not Austin.