Worries over racism, waterways inspire push to rename fish

Worries over racism, waterways inspire push to rename fish

Minnesota state Sen. Foung Hawj was never a fan of the “Asian carp” label commonly applied to four imported fish species that are wreaking havoc in the U.S. heartland, infesting numerous rivers and bearing down on the Great Lakes.

But the last straw came when an Asian business delegation arriving at the Minneapolis airport encountered a sign reading “Kill Asian Carp.” It was a well-intentioned plea to prevent spread of the invasive fish. But the message was off-putting to the visitors.

Hawj and fellow Sen. John Hoffman in 2014 won approval of a measure requiring that Minnesota agencies refer to the fish as “invasive carp,” despite backlash from the late radio commentator Rush Limbaugh, who ridiculed it as political correctness.

 

California Smog Testing Will Now Sniff Out (and Fail) Tuned ECUs

California Smog Testing Will Now Sniff Out (and Fail) Tuned ECUs

Beginning July 19, 2021, Californian automotive enthusiasts have yet another item to add to an ever-expanding list of dos and don'ts (mostly don'ts) regarding their mandatory biennial visits to certified smog facilities. Up to this point, if your car was armed with modified programming (software) on its ECU (Engine Control Unit), and as long as you passed a smog test, no one would raise an eyebrow. Come Monday, however, if your car's ECU program isn't verified as legal by a California Air Resources Board (C.A.R.B.) Executive Order, then your car won't pass smog, regardless of its emissions output

Studebaker Still Advertises Its Defunct Company with 8,000-Tree Monument

Studebaker Still Advertises Its Defunct Company with 8,000-Tree Monument

During that era of good times, Studebaker built a giant monument shaped with 8,000 pine trees. From the air, anyone flying overhead could see the trees spelled out “Studebaker" and it remains one of the largest living advertisements in the world. More than 80 years later, those trees are still standing and airplanes circling down to the South Bend airport will spot it plainly.?

Today’s Almanac for Sunday July 18

Today’s Almanac

Night before dawn is 5 hours,
Dawn starts at 5:00 am and runs for 33 minutes,
Sunrise is at 5:34 am which is 6 hours and 25 minutes before noon,
High noon, the transit of the sun, is at 1:01 pm,
From twelve noon to the sunset at 8:29 pm is 8 hours and 29 minutes,
Dusk lasts for 26 minutes concluding at 9:02 pm,
Leaving 2 hours and 57 minutes until midnight.