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Spongy rubber balls that have been washing up on British beaches in recent days originated from the Hartlepool Power Station, the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust said. Photo courtesy of the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust/Facebook ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Thousands of mysterious blue rubber balls that washed up on British beaches in recent days originated from a power plant, officials said. The Tees Valley Wildlife Trust said the spongy rubber balls are used to clean pipes at the Hartlepool Power Station and occasionally spill out into the sea when too much pressure builds up. "The balls are made of rubber...

Climate experts warn the amount of light and warmth released by the sun is nosediving to levels "not seen for centuries". They fear a repeat of the so-called 'Maunder Minimum' which triggered Arctic winter whiteouts and led to the River Thames freezing 300 years ago. The Met Office-led study warns although the effect will be offset by recent global warming, Britain faces years of unusually cold winters. A spokesman said: "A return to low solar activity not seen for centuries could increase the chances of cold winters in Europe and eastern parts of the United States but wouldn't halt global...

Whoa! In Ohio this morning...The wind chill temp is below zero....Brrr! Not even the last week of December yet. At least there's no real accumulatiaccumulation where i'm at...Glad i've got some packets of hot cocoa stashed with my Hot Pot.

(Our pal, Camber, the old son-of-a-gun, found this one in his email box. It's been circulating on the net. Is it myth?) In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many freighters carried iron cannons. Those cannon fired round iron balls. It was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon. But how to keep them from rolling about the deck....?(snip) Click here to read complete article.