Links for 11/1/09

Good op-ed by a rancher against meat demonization.  He reiterates Michael Pollan's point that grass fed, organically grown beef has low environmental impact.  Far lower than, say, Brazilian soybeans.

Fact about Incendiary bonbs:

Modern incendiary bombs usually contain thermite, made from aluminium and ferric oxide. The most effective formula is 25% aluminium and 75% iron oxide. It takes very high temperatures to ignite, but when alight, it can burn through solid steel. In WWII, such devices were employed in incendiary grenades to burn through heavy armor plate, or as a quick welding mechanism to destroy artillery and other complex machined weapons.