Blog Heap of Links for the day 30 May 2009

Spigner says Prater initially said he would charge only Ersland and is going back on his word. Prater says he changed his mind after additional legal research.

the power to burn as hot as a star... could deliver breakthroughs in safe fusion power...

A history of tobacco regulation Major events in the federal government's history with cigarette makers. May 30, 2009 Tobacco regulation 1964: The surgeon general issues a landmark report linking smoking to lung cancer. 1965: Warning labels are mandated on cigarette packs stating, "Caution: Cigarette smoking may be hazardous to your health." 1969: Cigarette advertising is banned on TV and radio. 1979: Smoking is restricted in all federal buildings in the United States. 1990: Smoking is banned on all U.S. commercial airline flights. 1994: Mississippi becomes the first state to sue the tobacco industry to recover costs for tobacco-related illnesses. 1998: The tobacco industry agrees to pay $206 billion, which will help fund anti-tobacco programs, as part of a settlement agreement with 46 states. 2000: U.S. Supreme Court rejects a Clinton administration effort to give the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate tobacco. 2009: Congress approves the largest-ever increase in the federal cigarette tax, boosting it 62 cents, to $1.01 a pack. Source: Office of the Surgeon General