EPHRATA, Wash. (AP) -- Most of a group of 20 endangered rabbits that were reintroduced to the wild with great fanfare last month have been killed by predators, state officials said.
Predators eat rabbits, who knew?
Only four of the rabbits released on March 13 remained at the Sagebrush Flat Wildlife Area as of Tuesday, said David Hays, pygmy rabbit coordinator for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Hays said two males were removed earlier this month and will be returned at the end of April. The other 14 rabbits are believed to have fallen victim to predators, mainly coyotes, but also hawks and owls, Hays said.
"Ah, look at the cute little bunny, kids. Isn't he...."
SWOOP - GRAB - FLAP FLAP flap flap flap flap flap flap flap
"Mommy! Waaaaaaaaa..."
The rabbits, small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, eat sagebrush and are the only rabbits in the United States that dig their own burrows.
Dig faster, Bugs
The Sagebrush Flat Wildlife Area, about 10 miles north of Ephrata, is considered the last native home of the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit. The rabbit was listed as a state endangered species in 1993 and federally protected in 2003.
I guess we know why
The 3,700-acre release site has been watched daily by Fish and Wildlife staff. Several of the rabbits were fitted with GPS monitors. Of the four rabbits remaining at the site, three are females who could be pregnant, officials said. Hays said the rapid decline in population does not doom the multimillion dollar project to return the near-extinct rabbit to its natural environment. More rabbits will be released in the area, and experts are looking for ways to reduce predation. "We're taking it week by week. This is valuable learning time," he said.
Just look at it as job security
Posted by: Steve ||
04/12/2007 07:55 ||
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#1
I thought rabbits were not native to America. Am I wrong?
#2
the only rabbits in the United States that dig their own burrows.
Bullsh*t. You should see my back yard. Notice to predators: come to my house for an all-you-can-eat rabbit buffet!
Rabbits are native to North America. We have several species.
And bullshit to the Only Rabbits that dig their own burrows. Numbnut journalist needs his editor do to more fact checking. For starters
#10
David Hays, pygmy rabbit coordinator for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
He's a pygmy? That's kinda harsh. I thought they liked "little people"?
That being said, I guess there will no longer be a need for David's hack position at Fish and Wildlife?
The Circle of Life, David. The Circle of Life...
#11
"...the only rabbits in the United States that dig their own burrows."
So they're Republican rabbits. The rest are Democrat rabbits who sit on their lazy asses and wait for the government to come around and dig their burrows for them.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
04/12/2007 12:04 Comments ||
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#12
Why should pygmy rabbits (or any other kind) have more of a right to live than predators? If the predators don't eat rabbits or other prey, they die. Who gets to decide that one species is more important than another? Isn't that being species-ist?
#14
"Buzzards gotta eat same as worms." The Outlaw Josey Wales
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
04/12/2007 13:36 Comments ||
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#15
Speaking of predators: I give up on Little Green Footballs. I usually go there once a day to read if Johnson has something that I haven't already read at Rantburg and Jihad Watch. However, someone posted a link here concerning slow loading and down time at some non-idiotarian websites. I set my browser on cookie "prompt" and learned that LGF will NOT load unless the access seeker allows 8 spy cookies, some of which are highly intrusive. That is all for profit, as are his music links that Johnson suggests are posted for entertainment. I had wondered why a GWOT website tolerates comment on gardening, camping and recipes,etc and it is obvious that it is all about getting page-views which translate to big bucks from spammers and legit businesses. I clear out the cookie tray, after each daily visit to LGF, otherwise browsing is slowed by at least 20%.
As for Rantburg, Fred allows only paypal and another non-predatory commercial cookie. Operators of these sites shouldn't have to dip into their hard earned savings. We are well served here.
#16
Washington is the same goofball state that saved a baby seal from harm after its mother died, or some such feel good crap and after nursing it back to health released it in the full glare of the tv cameras the press and thousand of sealhuggers. the cute thing was promptly eaten by an orca whale.
and we can't even get our roads fixed but we can spend $$ on this sh!t!
and don't even ask me about the new 3 year septic tank inspection requirements....
#17
This all sounds about as well-thought-out as Germany's intention of reintroducing hamsters into the wild. Fast breeding rodents are a sure way to break new links in the food chain. The biggest problem I see with pygmy rabbits is similar to that Far Side cartoon where a crocodile is laid out on the shrink's couch and saying:
"Doc, you know those little birds that wander around in my mouth and clean my teeth? I've been crunching them down like popcorn!"
Same goes for pygmy rabbits. Probably takes more than a few to make a decent meal.
As for Rantburg, Fred allows only paypal and another non-predatory commercial cookie. Operators of these sites shouldn't have to dip into their hard earned savings. We are well served here.
Hear! Hear! I've been noticing this too, Sneaze. Well said!
#18
I see 4 cookies from LGF, guys, none of which I would classify as "intrusive".
IFSess, IF_SessionCookie1, LizardID, and Monthly are the names. Content varies from the name of the month, the session count, a userID 84-bit hash, and an ASP-like session management ID.
Just picked up a new Sako in .17 HMR. Sweetest little rabbit killer you ever saw, and deadly accurate.
It ought to do.
Posted by: no mo uro ||
04/12/2007 18:16 Comments ||
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#20
I had wondered why a GWOT website tolerates comment on gardening, camping and recipes,etc
No recipes here, the Mods would beat the offender about the kidneys with a rubber hose so bad they'd piss blood for a month. Now that said, I think we need a new page for Surviving Peek Oil and Chemtrail Attacks.
#22
I have an excellant coyote rifle. It's called an AR-15. For the big ones I use a .58 cal. 1862 Richmond Rifle with a 560 grain bullet in front of 60 grains of fffg powder.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
04/12/2007 21:56 Comments ||
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#23
Not quite true, shipman. Every Ramadan there are recipes posted here. Generally pork.
Thank you, Jackal. For the sake of serenity, I avoided posting a direct rebuttal, but now that you've bravely stepped into the breach, I'll probably have to reward such valor with another round of Ramadan recipes.
PS: Stay tuned. I'm this close to trotting out a whole bunch of other non-pork recipes like I promised back during Ramadan. Say the word, please make a specific recipe request, and I'll coordinate with Rantburg's powers that be to launch another round of culinary curiosities.
"Hey! I really am dead! The smell is more than just my writing!"
NEW YORK (AP) -- Kurt Vonnegut, the satirical novelist who captured the absurdity of war and questioned the advances of science in darkly humorous works such as "Slaughterhouse-Five" and "Cat's Cradle," died Wednesday. He was 84.
Vonnegut, who often marveled that he had lived so long despite his lifelong smoking habit, had suffered brain injuries after a fall at his Manhattan home weeks ago, said his wife, photographer Jill Krementz.
The author of at least 19 novels, many of them best-sellers, as well as dozens of short stories, essays and plays, Vonnegut relished the role of a social critic. He lectured regularly, exhorting audiences to think for themselves and delighting in barbed commentary against the institutions he felt were dehumanizing people. "I will say anything to be funny, often in the most horrible situations," Vonnegut, whose watery, heavy-lidded eyes and unruly hair made him seem to be in existential pain, once told a gathering of psychiatrists.
#2
...I read Cat's Cradle, Player Piano and Slaughterhouse Five many years ago, and I still consider them masterpieces of satire and thought. The trouble is that after that, ol' Kurt was living on his rep and he could never get back up to the standard he set - that and is progressively more crippling moonbattery. Though it should be said in his defense that having Geraldo Rivera for a son in law (look it up) would crack anyone's personality.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
04/12/2007 9:11 Comments ||
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Nevertheless, De mortuis nil nisi bonum. That was a good lecture you gave at YSU.
Posted by: Mike ||
04/12/2007 10:35 Comments ||
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#5
Won't miss him. What kind of moron would define World War 2 based on the strategic bombing of Dresden? When he attacked one time son-in-law, Geraldo Rivera, for cheating on his daughter, he made Gerry Rivers look good. (And the "Gerry" monicker is not an urban legend; because the hitherto proud PR bean eater was proven to have proffered that broadcast name before he found salsa more profitable)
#8
As a high schooler with pretensions of edgey intellectualism, I read quite a bit of Vonnegut. Slaughterhouse Five and Cat's Cradle were very well-written, even if I didn't understand or agree with them completely. I tried to pretend to be impressed with Happy Birthday, Wanda June and Breakfast of Champions, but I realized they were mostly crapulent nonsense. I didn't want to read any more of his stuff after that (or even re-read what I had liked), and his more recent rantings certainly cemented that.
As for his talent, I think he was a bit like Hunter S. Thompson: when he was good in his early career, he was very good, but the years were not good to him.
CAIRO - Amnesty International on Wednesday strongly condemned what it termed the “systematic abuses” of human rights in Egypt, particularly in light of recently passed amendments to the constitution.
Reeeeeeally? We would have never known.
Wide powers for security services, systematic torture of detainees, the use of unjust courts were all cited by the report from the London-based rights organisation as evidence of a worsening situation in Egypt where even the few constitutional protections are being rolled back.
Just another day's work for a third-world thug.
“I would say that it is worse in the sense that the few safeguards that we had in the constitution are now being attacked,” Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty’s Middle East deputy director told reporters, referring to the amendments passed in a sparsely attended referendum March 26. “Torture and other ill-treatment, arbitrary arrests and detention, and grossly unfair trails before emergency and military courts have all been key features of Egypt’s 40-year state of emergency and counter-terrorism campaign,” said the report.
But Gitmo is a bigger problem, count on AI pointing that out tomorrow.
In particular it highlighted a new anti-terrorism law being prepared by the government to replace the old emergency law under which some 18,000 people are estimated by Amnesty to be detained without charge. “What we see and we fear with the new law is a broad definition of terrorism crime that would criminalise the peaceful exercise of rights that are guaranteed internationally,” Sahraoui said.
The report, “Systematic abuses in the name of security”, also highlighted how the United States and other countries used the process of “renditions” to send terrorism suspects to Egypt to be interrogated, in contravention of international law.
See -- you knew they couldn't get through the whole report without taking a swing at us.
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/12/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
Egypt and Pakistan (and probably even Syria) have something in common - while they all have despicable ruling regimes, most of the obvious potential replacements are likely a lot worse.
#3
It was the Euros who forced Egyptian seculars to play the "political Islam" card. I recall a photo match between pics of Egyptian Cabinet Ministers in the 'seventies and a couple of years ago. In the former shot, the wives were dressed in Western clothing and were wearing permed hair; in the latter, they are all covered up in scarves. Unless we support liquidation of the Islamofascists, there will be no photographs allowed.
Democraticization didn't work; the Strong-Man policy did work, so let's try it again. If the Ayatollahs remain in control of Iran, future generations will hold pilgrimages to spit on our graves. And we will deserve that rebuke for our pathological short-sightedness.
South African President Thabo Mbeki, attempting to mediate a solution to the ZimbabweÂ’s crisis on behalf of the Southern African Development Community, was due in Harare this week for talks with President Robert Mugabe and rival opposition leaders Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara, political sources said.
SADC Executive Secretary Thomaz Salomao, given the task of surveying the country's economic morass, was expected in Harare late Wednesday, sources said. SADC spokeswoman Leefa Martin confirmed the impending visits.
A senior Foreign Affairs Ministry official told VOA Salomao is expected to take stock of the economic situation and propose measures to assist recovery.
The country has been in recession since the beginning of the decade and inflation was last measured at 1,730%. Agriculture has collapsed in the wake of Mr. Mugabe's radical land reform program and the once-robust industrial sector is on its knees.
Martin said Mr. Mbeki and Salomao would meet with senior government officials and officials of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change among other concerned parties. But Mr. MbekiÂ’s spokesman, Mukoni Ratshitanga, said from Pretoria that the South African president was not traveling to Harare.
However, sources said Mr Mbeki prefers to keep his interventions under wraps, adding that he told Mr. Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara in a letter this week that one of the key principles in his negotiating process is secrecy.
Both opposition factions confirmed receiving the letter but refused to discuss its contents. But sources in Pretoria and Harare told VOA that Mr. Mbeki said in the letter that he wants the principals in the discussions to reach agreement before a round of elections set for March 2008.
The MDC has been divided into two factions since late 2005 - but the recent wave of official and semi-official violence against members of the political and civil opposition has served to drive the two factions together, though short of reunification.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/12/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
South African President Thabo Mbeki, attempting to mediate a solution to the ZimbabweÂ’s crisis on behalf of the Southern African Development Community, was due in Harare this week...
but his plane was stollen at Jan Smuts Inernational, Johannesburg International Tambo International....,
#4
One huge crock of shit, unless some-one has a plan.
It is pretty much one big minuet. Any real dissenter has long fled the country.
Ideologically, there isn't much difference between Zanu-PF and the MDC (or Mbeki and his ANC cohorts). The difference is who wants control of 'the handle'.
The joint forces yesterday seized an expensive Cadillac car of former BNP lawmaker Md Shahjahan from the garage of Anwar Mirza, chairman of Al-Amin Group of Industries, at Harinarayanpur in the district. The car, worth around Tk 3 crore, was imported by Shahjahan under the duty-free facilities for lawmakers. The team comprising law enforcers, members of Anti-Corruption Commission, National Board of Revenue and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority raided Mirza's house in the afternoon and found the car in his garage, officer-in-charge of Sudharam Police Station said.
As Mirza failed to produce necessary documents for the car, they seized the vehicle and brought it to the Sudharam Police Station. None was arrested in this regard as of 8:00pm. Contacted, Shahjahan, also the president of Noakhali district BNP, said that he had borrowed some cash from Mirza keeping the car as collateral. Meanwhile, an official of Mirza's industries said that as Shahjahan had no garage, he kept the car in Mirza's garage.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/12/2007 00:00 ||
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...they seized the vehicle and brought it to the Sudharam Police Station.
Leaders of Awami League (AL), Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) and Jamaat-e-Islami yesterday said that they will legally face the cases filed against them for Paltan violence on October 28 in 2006.
Denying his party's role in the incident, AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil told the reporters that Jamaat-e-Islami had filed the case against AL-led 14-party alliance leaders including Sheikh Hasina for political gains. "We are ready to face a legal battle," he said.
Expressing surprise for pressing charge sheet against 14-party alliance leaders, JSD General Secretary Syed Zafar Sajjad said everybody knows where the top leaders of 14-party stayed on October 28 when the Paltan event took place. "JSD will face the case filed against Hasanul Haque Inu through legal process. We know it is a false case," he said in a press release. "Pressing the charge sheet against the top leaders of 14-party including Hasanul Haque Inu without proper investigation will raise question about the caretaker government and its administration," he said.
"Using the Baitul Mokarram mosque as their camp, Jamaat-Shibir attacked with arms the scheduled programme of 14-party on October 28 but mysteriously police was withdrawn from the area. Even after the 14-party leaders' urge for proper action, the officials did not do so," he said.
Terming the charge sheet pressed against top Jamaat-e-Islami leaders as false, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Muhammad Qamaruzzaman said, "The charge sheet is nothing but an initiative to conceal the killing by Awami League...we will face the case legally."
"They [AL] attacked us and killed our activists... it was not secret," he said, adding, "We have the video evidence that they attacked with oars and sticks according to the order of Sheikh Hasina."
Posted by: Fred ||
04/12/2007 00:00 ||
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Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina yesterday postponed her return to the country, which she planned for April 14, after a responsible person in the government assured her that the government will take necessary measures not to tarnish her honour and image, AL General Secretary Abdul Jalil said.
"Two false, fabricated and conspiratorial charges have been laid against Awami League President Sheikh Hasina. In order to combat these false charges, she decided to return on April 14, changing the previously scheduled return date," Jalil said at a press briefing at his Gulshan residence last night. "In this context, a highly-placed authoritative government person contacted both Sheikh Hasina and me yesterday over telephone and requested Sheikh Hasina not to change her earlier scheduled date for returning home," he added.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/12/2007 00:00 ||
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Opposition leader in Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina Wajed has been charged with the murder of four people during a political violence, which racked the BangladeshÂ’s capital city last October, police said Wednesday.
Hasina, who is on holiday in the United States, “has been charged with the murder of four people during the political unrest last October,” police deputy commissioner Shahidul Haq Bhuiyan said. “The detective branch police has submitted the charge-sheet of the case to a Dhaka court after carrying out investigations and taking evidence,” Bhuiyan said.
The BangladeshÂ’s army-backed interim government ended three months in office on Wednesday with strong public support as it takes on the countryÂ’s top two politicians before re-scheduling the postponed polls.
Hasina is cutting short a visit to the US to be available for the investigation into charges filed by a businessman that she extorted 30 million taka ($436,000) while in power. The government said the probe, started by police, would likely be handed over to the national anti-corruption council, which is dealing with high-profile cases.
HasinaÂ’s arch-rival and the most recent prime minister, Begum Khaleda Zia, who ended her five-year term in October, has been in virtual confinement at her Dhaka home. The interim government headed by former central bank chief Fakhruddin Ahmed postponed an election planned for January 22 in the wake of widespread political violence. The Election Commission said preparing a flawless voters roll might take up to 18 months, suggesting an election might not be held in two years or more.
Hasina’s political future largely depends on the outcome of the extortion allegation. If convicted, she might be banned from contesting elections for up to five years, lawyers said. Speculation also abounds about the fate of Khaleda. Newspapers on Wednesday quoted BNP and police sources as saying she might leave the country and her likely destination was Saudi Arabia. “The whole nation is currently in a fix and what happens to whom is anybody’s guess,” a senior government official, requesting anonymity, said on Wednesday.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/12/2007 00:00 ||
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ANZAC Day commemorations may offend some religious and ethnic minorities, a new report has claimed.
The study commissioned by Multicultural Affairs Queensland found some immigrants associated Anzac Day with the "increased nationalism" expressed most graphically at the Cronulla riots in 2005. The report also claimed a "climate of fear" has seized Queensland's Muslim community, which it blamed on federal immigration and anti-terrorist policies and the media.
Because fighting terrorism is ucky, you see. Better just to roll over.
The situation is so dire that some Brisbane Muslims suspect they might be sent to concentration camps, while others live in fear of bomb attacks. Yes, we have all seen that dreadful video of innocent Mohammedans being rounded up and sent to the death chambers of the Outback, mosques burning against the Sydney skyline, liberal reporters rousted out of their beds by digger death-squads, never to be seen again..... Oh, the horror.
Some refugees even told researchers they felt safer in their countries of origin than in Australia. In that case, an obvious solution presents itself.
But RSL state president Doug Formby said they were wrong to associate Anzac Day with racism. When has being wrong been a deterrent to Islamo-lefty whining?
"Anzac Day is purely to recognise the deeds of our servicemen and women," Mr Formby said. "No one is forced to attend and no one should take offence at a long-standing tradition in this country."
Dr Mohamad Abdalla, an imam at Brisbane's Kuraby Mosque and head of the Islamic Research Unit at Griffith University, agreed. "Embracing events such as Anzac Day does not contradict Islamic teaching," Dr Abdalla said. "Muslims have joined the Australian armed forces and received medals. Anzac Day events are not factors in inciting hatred. In fact, they can help Muslims and non-Muslims interact positively." "I am not a moron or a tool, no matter how much these pinko nitwits might think I am," Dr. Abdalla added.
The report, carried out by Victoria's Monash University and the Australian Multicultural Foundation, was based on interviews with 183 people in Queensland and Victoria. Ah, the usual suspects.
The multiculturals are skinless people in a sandpaper world.
Its aim was to assess the impact of events such as the September 11 attacks, Bali bombings and the Darfur crisis on multiculturalism in Australia. Draw the obvious conclusion? Allah forbid!
The study, which received two grants of $35,000 from Victoria and Queensland, praised Premier Peter Beattie and his Victorian counterpart Steve Bracks for "upholding the principles of multiculturalism". Rum, sodomy, and the lash? Oh, that was someone else, the rum part anyway.
However, Dr Abdalla was unenthusiastic about some of the suggestions in the report, such as legislation "to prevent the media from inciting violence", compelling schools to teach Islamic history and the scheduling of exams around the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The usual bottom line, more power for moonbats. It is a little unusual for them to be so honest about it though.
"It's not sufficient for Muslims to say others have to take action," he said. "The onus is also on them to go out and engage with non-Muslims."
#1
Not a single quote on the record from anyone who "might feel offended". Only "some" refugees (Refugees from... dingo fur factory kibbutzimthe Perth matzo mafiathe Tea Tree Gully Cricket Club ... well, refugees from something).
#2
Compare wid ASIA TIMES > FUTURE/NEW WORLD ORDER WITH CHINESE CHARACTERISTICS; + WAFF > WE ARE ALL CHINESE NOW - Map shows Chinese place names in Asia-Pacific-Indian Ocean, from MADAGASCAR/SRI LANKA to INDIA to AUSTRALIA-NEW ZEALAND to JAPAN + CENTPAC including GUAM-MARIANAS-MICRONESIA + portion of FRENCH POLYNESIA, KOREAS VIETNAM + INDONESIA-MALAYA, etal.
#4
First: 183 ijnterviews is waaaaaaaaay too smmall sample ti be taken interviews. Second: for 35,000$ they managed to make 183 interviews. 200$ per interview!!!
#6
"The situation is so dire that some Brisbane Muslims suspect they might be sent to concentration camps, while others live in fear of bomb attacks."
Oh, bullshit. They're not trembling in fear of what non-Muslims might do to them: they're trembling with anticipation at what they're about to do to non-Muslims. And with laughter at how easy it is to lay a guilt trip on Western civilization.
Posted by: Dave D. ||
04/12/2007 6:28 Comments ||
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I'm forever playing two-up,
tossing pennies in the air,
They fly so high, nearly touch the sky,
When they turn heads I nearly cry,
Coppers always hiding, hiding everywhere,
I'm forever playing two-up, tossing pennies in the air.
#15
The report, carried out by Victoria's Monash University and the Australian Multicultural Foundation, was based on interviews with 183 people in Queensland and Victoria.
The study, which received two grants of $35,000 from Victoria and Queensland, praised Premier Peter Beattie and his Victorian counterpart Steve Bracks for "upholding the principles of multiculturalism".
So it took 70 grand to interview 183 people? That's about 400 bucks an interview.
Sounds like an audit might be in order.
#16
Honestly, it doesn't sound as if the local imam is buying any of this PC garbage either. Everything these morons at "Multicultural Affairs Queensland" propose is almost designed to cause resentment against the Muslim population, not prevent it. Seems like 'ol Dr. Abdalla is smart enough to know that.
#17
The report also claimed a "climate of fear" has seized Queensland's Muslim community, which it blamed on federal immigration and anti-terrorist policies and the media.
Boy howdy, just how ironic is it that a group who has done their level best to instill fear wherever it goes is suddenly put on the defensive after antagonizing the daylights out of everybody around them?
The situation is so dire that some Brisbane Muslims suspect they might be sent to concentration camps, while others live in fear of bomb attacks.
Perish the thought that some introspection has finally occurred in a Muslim mind. Now turn your damned jihadi juggernaut right around or else you will find yourselves in concentration camps.
Some refugees even told researchers they felt safer in their countries of origin than in Australia.
Nicolas Sarkozy, the leader in the French presidential race, has vigorously denied claims he cut a secret deal to save the outgoing president Jacques Chirac from corruption charges in return for his political support. As the election campaign enters its final stages, Mr Sarkozy, who is trying to shake off his image as a man who frightens people, was forced onto the defensive for the third time in less than a week.
He described claims that, if elected, he would let his predecessor off by introducing a law containing a "disguised amnesty" as "grotesque, damaging and untrue".
"I deny it in the fullest and firmest of terms," he said.
The allegations came a day after Mr Sarkozy responded to fierce criticism of his suggestion that paedophilia may be a genetic trait. Less than a week ago, he was forced to refute reports that he had threatened to "smash in" a former government colleague's face.
In return for his public support, Mr Sarkozy promised to draft legislation two months after taking office to spare Mr Chirac from appearing before judges, it claimed. It said the new law would contain a "hidden amnesty" for Mr Chirac by forcing judges to close cases more than ten years old.
It said the agreement was reached "several weeks ago" after much discussion. In March, after weeks of prevarication, Mr Chirac, 74, announced he would support his former rival Mr Sarkozy. "Sarkozy committed himself, in the event of victory, to save the outgoing president from any legal problems coming back at him," said the paper.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/12/2007 00:00 ||
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In an interview with ABC News Wednesday afternoon, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., called for the firing of talk radio host Don Imus. Obama said he would never again appear on Imus' show, which is broadcast on CBS Radio and MSNBC television.
We may all feel more or less the same about Imus Bestoopid, but I don't think a guy who wants to be POTUS should be calling for an individual to get fired.
#1
Obama was getting his "blackness" questioned in some papers for not calling for Imus' head on a platter. Just trying to hold on to his base.
Posted by: Steve ||
04/12/2007 7:38 Comments ||
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#2
"What we've been seeing around this country is this constant ratcheting up of a coarsening of the culture that all of have to think about," Obama said.
This country opens it's generous doors each year to more oppressed and downtrodden people than all the rest of the countries of the world combined. For phuechs sake you liberal, race baiting bastard, get a life. It "this country" doesn't suit you, head back to Kenya or Indonesia or just go to hell.
#3
...right after all deem gangster hip hop artist in the top ten stop their degradation of the sisters too, Obama. BTW, when's your Sister Souljah momemnt?
#4
Obama: you are fired for covering up your Muslim childhood. Al-Qaeda would love a slick-Obe presidency as much as the Albanian Islamonazis adored slick-Willy and skirt.
India today successfully test-fired its most powerful nuclear capable intermediate range ballistic missile Agni-III from the Interim Test Range (ITR) here.
The indigenously developed two stage, all solid fuel, 16 meter long missile weighing 48 tonnes blasted off at 10.52 am from a fixed platform with the help of an auto launcher in the launch complex-4 of the ITR, located about 72 km from here, defence officials said.
The surface to surface missile with a strike range of over 3,000 km and capacity to carry a payload of 1.5 tonnes has the capability to reach even remote Chinese mainland cities of Shanghai and Beijing.
India thus joins a select group of nations to field missiles of inter-continental reach.
"The entire flight path of 15 minutes duration validated all mission objectives," a defence ministry spokesman said.
In the successful Agni III test, the spokesman said Indian scientists had for the first time also validated frontline technology of flex nozzle control system for rocket guidance, specially developed composite propellants and guidance and control with fault tolerant avionics.
The sleek missile vertically roared into the clear sky leaving behind a thick column of white and yellow smoke, eyewitness accounts said.
Fitted with an on-board computer, the missile went upto a distance of 90 km vertically crossing the atmosphere and re-entered into the earth targetting the pre-determined impact point near Car Nicobar island, officials said.
The missile was tracked from ground stations at Dhamra, ITR Balasore, Port Blair and Naval warships in the Indian Ocean.
With the successful test-fire, Agni-III is the missile with the longest reach in South Asia and more powerful than any missile in Pakistan's arsenal. However, China has missiles with a longer reach.
After three postponements, Agni III was first test fired on July 9, 2006, but the missile failed to meet its mission objectives due to cascaded failure of booster flex nozzle controller.
Initially, Indian scientists had planned only three tests, before its induction in 2008. However, DRDO sources said with the failure of maiden test flight, more tests would now be required to prove its robustness.
Though DRDO officials are tightlipped, well informed sources said that Agni III costs about 1/6th of similar missiles developed by western countries.
Amongst the range of Agni missiles, Agni III is the country's first solid fuel missile that is compact and small enough for easy mobility and can be easily packaged for deployment on variety of surface and sub-surface platforms.
The Missile, DRDO scentists say will support a wide range of warhead configurations with total playload mass ranging from 600 kg to 1,800 kg.
Due to its high accuracy, the missile is useable in smaller sub-nuclear conflicts, a trend now seen in American long-range missiles.
Agni III, DRDO sources said is likely to serve as a base missile for development of underwater launched version of the Agni missiles, miniaturised to be carried in future Indian submarines.
DESCRIPTION: Agni-III is a surface-to-surface, two-stage missile. Both stages are powered by solid propellants.
RANGE: 4,000 kilometres (2,480 miles), according to defence ministry officials, and capable of striking targets deep inside China.
WARHEAD: Agni-III supports a wide range of warheads, conventional and nuclear, with a payload ranging from 600 to 1,800 kilograms (1,320 to 3,960 pounds) including decoys and other anti-ballistic counter-measures.
OTHER FEATURES: The missile can be deployed using rail or road mobile launch vehicles is said to have a high degree of accuracy with a medium to large nuclear payload, most likely a 200 to 300 kilotonne warhead.
THE AGNI SERIES: The short-range Agni-I was first test-fired in 1989. India last tested the intermediate range Agni-II on August 29, 2004.
Posted by: John Frum ||
04/12/2007 05:39 ||
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Link ||
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#1
2 stage, 16 m long, 2 m diameter, 44-48 tons, solid fuel (HTPB/AP/AI), composite case, maneuvering re-entry vehicle.
Estimated range of 5,500 Km with 1500 kg payload and 12,000 km with 450 kg payload.
250 kT thermonuclear warhead.
Should give Beijing something to think about.
Posted by: John Frum ||
04/12/2007 6:55 Comments ||
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#2
RV is all carbon composite body (no metal backup) with carbon-carbon ablative nose tip.
The 2 m diameter is compatible with the pontoon launcher DRDO developed for testing of underwater missile launches
M. Natarajan, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister, who described Wednesday's Agni III flight as "a perfect mission," said: "It is a very significant success, particularly when the entire design, planning, material construction, execution and everything associated with the mission was indigenous. Such an effort is vital for the strategic system of our country." The series of successes in the last six months, including that of the Prithvi interceptor missile, the launch of Dhanush, the success of another strategic system and now the Agni III "signify that we are maturing in these difficult technologies," said Mr. Natarajan, who was present at the launch site. Unmindful of the maiden Agni III's failure last year, the DRDO scientists worked hard, analysed the failure from the telemetry of the previous mission, did a lot of reviews and took corrective action which led to this success, added Mr. Natarajan.
"Totally indigenous"
Prahlada, Chief Controller, R and D, DRDO (Services Interaction), said: "The strength of the mission was that the entire system was totally indigenously developed, the missile's hardware and software, instrumentation, tracking systems and so on." Dr. Prahlada called it "a great flight." It was a totally autonomous missile. Once it was launched, it did not depend on any command or signal from the ground. "It is an intelligent missile," added Dr. Prahlada, who witnessed the flight.
"Excellent flight"
Dr. A. Sivathanu Pillai, CEO and Managing Director, BrahMos Aerospace Limited, praised the total indigenous content of Agni III. "It was an excellent flight. It met all the mission requirements. We have reached a major milestone of realising the IRBM [intermediate range ballistic missile] capability beyond 3,000 km. A number of new technologies, including the re-entry technology for this class of missiles, have been tested. We are proud of the Agni III team," said Dr. Sivathanu Pillai.
BrahMos supersonic cruised missile had been inducted into the Navy and it would be soon given to the Army, he said.
K. Santhanam, former Chief Adviser to DRDO, commented, "We have chosen indigenous development for our growth. This is a robust way of building our minimum deterrent." Dr. Santhnam, who was former Director General, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, called the Agni III success "maturing of our minimum, credible nuclear deterrent. The success of Agni III is an important milestone on the road to our achieving a credible nuclear deterrent."
In May 1998, India conducted five nuclear tests, which gave it confidence in terms of its nuclear weapons. However, a credible delivery system was needed to carry these weapons but an aircraft as a delivery system was vulnerable. Dr. Santhanam said: "So you need missiles, whether they are surface-to-surface missiles or submarine-launched missiles. A submarine-launched missile will be an effective deterrent because its survival capability is high compared to a land system. A missile launched from a silo will be a sitting duck. The vulnerability of a missile launched from land can be reduced by making it mobile, either road or rail mobile. To that extent, Agni III has this dispersal and mobility." Since Agni III's diameter was two metres, its thrust would be high, its range was more and it could carry heavier payloads with a larger volume. "To get into surface-to-surface missiles of long range class, you should have an engine of large diameter, be it powered by solid or liquid propellants. Worldover, the trend is to go for missiles fuelled by solid propellants because they have what is called QRA (quick reaction alert)," said Dr. Santhanam.
Those who witnessed the flight included Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju, Vice- Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal B.N. Gokhale and Strategic Forces Commander Vice-Admiral Vijay Shankar.
The entire sequence of the Agni III's flight was tracked by radars at the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur-on-sea near Balasore, Orissa; the Outer Wheeler Island, Dhamra on the coast of Orissa; Port Blair and ships stationed at impact points in the Bay of Bengal. "All reported data reception and from this we can conclude that the mission met all its requirements," said DRDO officials.
Agni III is a product of the Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), Hyderabad. ASL is a unit of DRDO.
ASL Director Avinash Chander was the Programme Director of this mission. The Project Director was Dr. V.G. Sekharan.
The launch took place from the Outer Wheeler Island in the Bay of Bengal, nine km from a place called Dhamra on the Orissa coast or 70 km, as the crow flies from the ITR Chandipur-on-sea.
Agni III weighs 48.3 tonnes and stands 16.7 metres tall. The missile's diameter is two metres. It can carry nuclear warheads weighing one tonne. Its range is about 3,500 km and it can target many parts of China.
Former and present DRDO officials lauded the role of R.N. Agarwal, former ASL Director, in the Agni III development.
Posted by: John Frum ||
04/12/2007 18:12 Comments ||
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#7
I also noticed that. US Minuteman III ICBMs weigh 32,000 kg while this thing weighs 48,000 kg.
Posted by: ed ||
04/12/2007 18:56 Comments ||
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The 16.7-metre tall surface-to-surface missile lifted off at 10.52 a.m. from the Wheeler Island, off the coast of Orissa, and impacted on a pre-determined target in the ocean after flying for 13 minutes. It reached an altitude of 400 km before re-entering the earth's atmosphere.
Posted by: John Frum ||
04/12/2007 19:27 Comments ||
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#10
Flex nozzle will be useful for SLBM variant...
Having a payload capacity of 1.5 tonne, the missile could be launched from both mobile and static platforms.
While several new generation technologies, including a flex nozzle, were tried in Thursday's flight, a thermal protection was put in the base region.
Posted by: John Frum ||
04/12/2007 19:28 Comments ||
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#11
It seems only the first stage uses the composite case. The second stage uses heavier maraging steel.
With the 2m diameter, it would weigh more than a missile of comparable length.
Posted by: John Frum ||
04/12/2007 19:42 Comments ||
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#12
Missile on erect rail launcher
Missile in flight
Posted by: John Frum ||
04/12/2007 20:06 Comments ||
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#13
The surface to surface missile with a strike range of over 3,000 km and capacity to carry a payload of 1.5 tonnes has the capability to reach even remote Chinese mainland cities of Shanghai and Beijing.
Schaweet! Let's start investigating a mutual defense treaty with India. It's high time that China's neighbors began complaining about all the noise from Beijing's incessant sabre rattling. Congratulations, to Asia's largest democracy!
#14
They're working on MIRVs for this puppy (which would explain the stated payload of 1.8 metric tons) - three 600 kg RVs each with a 300 kT warhead.
Range would be 5500 km for this configuration.
Shanghai and Beijing are well within striking range..
Posted by: John Frum ||
04/12/2007 20:43 Comments ||
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#15
The Integral Coach Factory, which dates from the days of the Raj, makes the railroad cars that house the rail launcher.
These rail mobile missiles are transported in a disguised 27m long railroad wagon. The top opens to allow missile erection. It is ready to fire in less than 15 minutes.
Presumably there would be a number of railroad spurs with pre-surveyed launch positions, though with access to the military signals of the Russian GLONASS system, launches could take place anywhere on the massive Indian rail network.
Posted by: John Frum ||
04/12/2007 20:53 Comments ||
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#16
Shanghai and Beijing are well within striking range.
And the GOP wonders why it lost last November
Despite congressional opposition, the Bush administration is fully committed to beginning within weeks a pilot test that will allow Mexican trucks to operate freely across the U.S. A spokesman for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Ian Grossman, told WND the agency plans to grant the first authority for a Mexican trucking company to operate its long-haul rigs throughout the U.S. as early as the end of this month.
WND previously reported an amendment introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., into the Fiscal Year 2007 Supplemental Appropriations Bill is designed to block the Department of Transportation's pilot test until the Mexican government authorizes U.S. trucking companies to operate in Mexico.
Now there's a good point.
WND also reported Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., has introduced the NAFTA Trucking Safety Act, designed to block the test until current FMSCA regulations regarding Mexican trucks operating beyond commercial zones along the international border are clarified and strengthened.
The Mexican trucking company can begin operating trucks in the U.S. immediately, once the FMCSA grants the authority, Grossman told WND.
Grossman explained granting authority to the 100 Mexican trucking companies specified under the DOT pilot test may take between four to six months to complete. "The department is committed to moving forward with this program," he said, "and will continue to work with members of Congress to address their concerns."
Reaction from the Teamsters Union was immediate and sharp. "The Department of Transportation can't enforce truck safety in the United States, let alone at the southern border," spokeswoman Leslie Miller told WND. "The Bush administration continues to show a reckless disregard for the will of Congress and the American people who oppose this illegal pilot project."
Rod Nofzinger, spokesman for the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, was equally critical. "Unfortunately, the administration is bound and determined to move forward with their Mexican trucking program despite the serious concerns that have been raised by the American public, Mexico-domiciled trucking companies and lawmakers on Capital Hill, both Republicans and Democrats alike," Nofzinger told WND.
"I have little doubt that they want to beat Congress to the finish line on this," Nofzinger continued. "They know that once the toothpaste is out of the tube, it's awfully hard to get it back in. Once Mexican trucks start rolling throughout the U.S., it will be very difficult for Congress and the American people to turn them back, regardless of the safety and security risks that they'll be carrying with them."
So far all I see are the usual suspects protecting their rice bowls.
Hunter also was critical of the FMCSA decision to begin implementing the Mexican truck pilot test immediately. The congressman's spokesman, Joe Kasper, told WND Hunter has significant concerns about the program. "Congressman Hunter maintains that compliance and enforcement standards must be clarified and strengthened before the pilot program is implemented," Kasper said. "Congressman Hunter will utilize the program's impending implementation as an opportunity to promote and continue highlighting the importance of the NAFTA Trucking Safety Act."
Responding to the congressional concerns, Grossman said Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta had certified in 2002 that DOT met each of the 22 safety requirements Congress in the Fiscal Year 2002 DOT Appropriations Bill demanded be met before allowing trucks from Mexico to drive beyond U.S. commercial zones along the border.
Kasper disagreed, insisting Mineta's certification was not enough. "We need public disclosure of the safety requirements and public debate, including a DOT filing in the Federal Register before we approve this test," Kasper told WND. "While the NAFTA Trucking Safety Act restates the safety conditions included in the FY2002 appropriations measure," Kasper continued, "the legislation goes further by requiring the implementation of English proficiency standards and data base accessibility for law enforcement officials to verify a driver's identification and criminal history."
Hunter's NAFTA Trucking Safety Act has been referred to several House committees, including House Transportation and Infrastructure; Homeland Security; Judiciary; and Ways and Means. According to Kasper, the NAFTA Trucking Safety Act has collected 18 co-sponsors.
Asked to comment on the Feinstein amendment or Hunter's NAFTA Trucking Safety Act, Grossman told WND the FMCSA "was engaging in no speculation on the course of possible congressional legislation" regarding the Mexican truck pilot test. Looks like at least a few libs are starting to get it as well. They have to choose between the union vote and the illegal alien/razista solidarity vote. Hmmm, decisions, decisions. Not the first time I'm glad I'm not a lib.
"What's good fer bidness is good fer 'Merka." We have to get away from this idea that "free-market fundamentalism" is synonymous with "conservative" and that profits for business supercede every other consideration.
Mexican trucks turn our highways into slaughterhouses and drive our owner-opeators into bankruptcy?
Hey, good for business.
Cheap illegal labor destroys our working class and feeds crime. Hey, good for business.
Yahoo rats out dissidents to the Red Chinese?
Hey, good for business.
Dubya and Condi soft-soap the Saudi Arabian terror cult?
Hey, good for business.
If this keeps up we won't have a country.
Is that good for business?
#1
Because only the best Mexican carriers will have the extended licenses and because of the economics, the Mexican trucks operating in the US will, on the average be safer than the average american operated truck.
However the Mexican carriers are generally not union and even where they are the drivers get a lower wage than their American counterparts (which by the way will suppress inflation).
#2
Atomic Conspiracy - good comments. I love the phrase, "free-market fundamentalism" and all that it implies. America was founded on the ideal of providing for a common good for "we the people" by a government of "we the people". Just because the economic policies of communism, socialism, fascism or Islamism do not provide for a common good as well as the economic policy of capitalism, that does not mean that America was ever about a God given right to trod upon your fellow man in the pursuit of making a buck. And contrary to what many seem to believe, Adam Smith was NOT a founding father.
#3
...The trouble is, I can see what's coming already. How long will it be before a Mexican truck (for whatever reason) wipes out a car and family, and the records show the last maintenance it had was never? And does so with illegals hiding in the back? It's gonna happen, folks.
I have become utterly and completely disgusted with the Bush Administration over the last few days. This is just one more brick in the wall.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
04/12/2007 8:36 Comments ||
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#4
Disgusted with "W" on this issue long ago myself.
#6
This was in NAFTA from the beginning. It's been delayed and obstructed for a long period of time in which effort could have been used by all parties to get the operation up 'to standards'. Instead its been one political interest group against another playing games in the system to hold off competition.
While I'm concerned about Mexican trucks becoming Mad Max's on the interstate, the illegals, sober and DUI, already here are doing just fine killing thousands of Americans and everyone with power is doing nothing about it. On the other hand Mexican trucking companies are in the business to make money. They don't make money losing their trucks and goods by just sending them on one way Baghdad runs. Further, the torte and litigation system will bite hard when because of prior offenses the company's assets are seized as soon as they cross a state border. There already are existing mechanisms in place if [and it is a big if] the existing laws and regulations are enforced.
There's more than a taint of fear mongering being pushed by the unions.
#8
Since this will affect all of us, shouldn't the Commander and Jerk have put it on the ballot to determine if Americans would be willing to share our highways with foreigners in multi-ton vehicles speeding along unable to read the traffic signs ?
No mo Bushes !
#9
any bets on how soon after this happens that Mexican trucks will suffer 'breakdowns' and other 'mechanical failures' at truck stops across the counrty? lot of sharp objects on the tarmac around the greasy spoons, y'know.....
#10
Uh, aren't we at war? Shouldn't we be tightening our borders instead of loosening them? I know this is a BGO (Blinding Glimpse of the Obvious), but now is not the time to roll over and play dead about national security.
All one really needs to consider is how even Bush adamantly refuses to recognize that America is, indeed, at war. I dread to think what sort of domestic terrorist atrocity will be required for Americans to finally accept that our nation must be placed on a wartime footing.
#11
Yeah, remembering these are the jobs Americans won't do. I'm sick of seeing the re-emergence of sweat shops all over America with this cheap labor. Our borders are so open it's driving me nuts.
I'd like to think Procopius2k is right but don't see it being enforced; Further, the torte and litigation system will bite hard when because of prior offenses the company's assets are seized as soon as they cross a state border.
After visiting this trucking industry issue, I'd like to see maybe some urine tox screens run randomly at our truck stops. Scary to learn how many drivers are high on drugs, I can only think this will get worse.
I also learned that they won't need a passport, while we need a passport to go to Mexico.
Bottom line, I feel these Mexican drivers may be exploited to carry dangerous loads, illegals, drugs and WMD.
Posted by: Jan ||
04/12/2007 18:58 Comments ||
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#12
Since this will affect all of us, shouldn't the Commander and Jerk have put it on the ballot to determine if Americans would be willing to share our highways with foreigners in multi-ton vehicles speeding along unable to read the traffic signs ?
No mo Bushes !
#14
I've got insomnia so I listen to talk radio at night. There is a talk radio program out of Cincinnati that runs from midnight to 5am. The program is geared towards over the road truckers. Big time. I've been listening to the program for a couple of years.
War and bloodshed is coming to this country. I'm just not sure if it will be muslim or illegal immigrant blood shed first. Or both at the same time. Truckers by and large are a rather patriotic bunch. They hate the muzzies because they don't like the notion of sharia. They don't like illegals because the illegals drive down wages and take away jobs from legal citizens.
Civil war is coming to the USA. But the 'insurgents' in this war won't be treated with respect the MSM gives to the muslim insurgents in Iraq.
Posted by: Mark Z ||
04/12/2007 21:35 Comments ||
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"They don't like illegals because the illegals drive down wages and take away jobs from legal citizens."
Exactly right, which is why economic arguments about suppressing inflation are besides the point. Tide is turning, folks-immigation is affecting everyman's pocketbook. America hasn't had a really pissed off populace for a while; this one is simmering in a pressure cooker.
The price of meat is set to rise in America as the nationÂ’s helter-skelter dash to convert corn into road fuel begins to take its toll on the supply of food.
The US Department of Agriculture has said that meat supply will fall this year because of the high cost of feed. Output of beef, pork and chicken is expected to decline by one billion pounds as farmers react to the soaring cost of feeding their livestock.
Typically, meat production in the United States rises by about 2 per cent a year, but the pressure from American ethanol producers manufacturing road fuel from corn has sent the price of maize soaring to $4 a bushel.
The USDA is predicting that the 2006 corn crop will sell for an average of $3.10 a bushel at the farm gate, the highest for a decade. Faced with extortionate feed costs, cattle and poultry farmers are rearing fewer animals and slaughtering them early. That means a sudden reversal in the annual meat production gain, representing a fall of 1.7lb per person.
“There is a new demand component,” Shayle Shagam, a livestock analyst at USDA, said. “Livestock producers have to bid against the ethanol industry to get supplies of corn.”
The biofuel revolutionÂ’s unpleasant negative consequence was first felt south of Rio Grande, when the escalating price of corn affected a food staple. MexicoÂ’s tortilla inflation crisis is spreading north to the heartland of rib-eye steak and chicken wings. The USDA predicts that food prices will rise by up to 3.5 per cent this year as farmers rein in output in response to feedstock costs.
In Washington, the International Monetary Fund added its warning about the consequences of a mass conversion of food crops into fuel. Mounting political panic over carbon emissions has encouraged politicians in European and America to raise targets for the biofuel content in a litre of petrol. Do you think the libs have figured it out yet? Well, alright. Give them time to figure out a way to make it W's fault and then they'll start their whining.
Food prices rose by 10 per cent worldwide in 2006, said the IMF in its World Economic Report, owing to a surge in corn, wheat and soybean prices. The pressure on prices will increase, says the IMF. The EUÂ’s target of a minimum biofuel content of 10 per cent will require 18 per cent of agricultural land to be set aside for road fuel production.
Corn is a vital component of the human food chain, used as cornmeal for baking bread and tortillas, as cooking oil and corn syrup in processed foods and as animal feedstock. Vast US government subsidies for the production of ethanol, used as a petrol additive in America, has encouraged the expansion of ethanol distilleries.
#1
What'd I tell ya? Making fuel out of food is NOT a good idea. There will be dwindling spplies of food at ever higher prices. This doesn't just affect meat prices, but everything that has corn as a component. The truly poor will have an increasingly hard time getting enough to eat. But it makes the ones advocating ethanol feel good to see the results of their labors (increased ethanol production and usage) while ignoring the downside.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
04/12/2007 7:31 Comments ||
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Archer Daniels Midland, ConAgra, and Monsanto could not be reached for comment.
#5
If and when food and fuel compete for available corn and sugar, the processes that are most efficient will profit and the others will fold. This will level the price and availability of corn and sugar. It would help if Americans were allowed to import sugar, but the necessary changes will not kill any of us. Some may even plant their own gardens, which I consider a good thing. There are a number of fuels which can and will be made synthetically. We could have been doing this all along, but cheap gas kept such technology on the shelf. Welcome to the world of Islam vs. the twenty-first century.
This kind of study was mentioned here just the other day and someone wanted a link. I stumbled across this.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Robin Hood lives!
People taking part in a game designed to explore egalitarian impulses in human nature consistently robbed from players assigned the most money while giving money to those with the least, scientists said Wednesday.
James Fowler, a University of California at San Diego political scientist, and his fellow researchers detected what they saw as a "Robin Hood impulse" in people who took part in the experiment, described in the journal Nature.
"That's the classic story we all know, where someone's taking from the rich and giving to the poor, which is exactly what we're seeing in this experiment," Fowler said in a reference to the medieval English folk legend.
"In essence, what we found is that our taste for equality is one of the important reasons why we cooperate with each other, much more so than, say, other species of primates," Fowler said in a telephone interview.
The experiment was carried out last year using 120 paid student volunteers at a computer lab on the campus of the University of California at Davis.
The volunteers sat at computer terminals, and a computer would assign them into groups of four. Once placed into a group, each person was assigned an amount of money and was told how much money the other three members were given.
The players then had the chance to spend some of their own money in order to increase or decrease the amount the others possessed, but their actions provided no financial gain for themselves.
They played the game five times, but never with anyone from a previous group. This was to eliminate the possibility of players trying to establish a reputation for themselves or taking revenge on others who might have taken money from them.
Equalizing income
About 70 percent of participants at some point reduced or added to another person's money, most often by taking from the richest players or by donating to the poorest players, the study found.
These actions had the collective effect of equalizing income among the players -- with participants spending their own money to achieve the goal.
The researchers said even players whose own loot had been pilfered in previous rounds were willing to take steps to redistribute the money in an egalitarian manner.
Fowler acknowledged the experiment might yield different results if conducted in another country or somewhere other than a U.S. college campus, but suggested a certain universal egalitarian yearning might be seen.
"I think in general we would find a preference for equality, but there may be significant variations between societies. And so it's certainly a possibility that our desire for equality is in part shaped by our upbringing," Fowler said.
#1
People taking part in a game designed to explore egalitarian impulses in human nature consistently robbed from players assigned the most money while giving money to those with the least, scientists said Wednesday.
They're call Democrats. From each according to their means, to each according to their needs [regardless of personal effort applied to gaining skills or performing the labor or enterprenuial talent to acquire the money].
#3
Well now, here's a Robin Hood hypothetical. Let's say your father pissed away his life as an indolent liberal drifter sponging off his rich daddy while waiting for him to die. And let's say he cheated on, bankrupted, and divorced your dutiful, hard-working, intelligent mother after 31 years of faithful marriage. He arranges it so as to leave her disabled and responsible for your elderly grandmother, and forced to continue working as he inherits and retires early. It was also his decision to give you no brothers or sisters who could help, and then turns the rest of the family against you when you point out to him that he is a rotten motherfucker.
Now all he has left is an ugly, stupid girlfriend he cheats on as well, and that pile of money your mom did more to earn than he did. He misses you and wants you back.
#6
Ex Jag, I'd do exactly what Dr. Laura would tell you to do. Have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with him. EVER. He has only used other people for his own purpose and would do the same to you. Hypothetically of course.
#7
That's a tough "hypothetical' exJAG.
But I'll bet he thinks of himself as a "lovable rouge" right? Like Errol Flynn or Bill Clinton...
Tell him to fuck off. He's never done you any good, he'll never do you any good. Hypothetically...
#10
LOL, thanks for giving the same answer to that hypothetical as I did.
tu, yes, our hypothetical shitbag loves Errol Flynn, but pictures himself more as Otter (from Animal House). Let's also say the hypothetical offspring did tell him to fuck off, forcefully and repeatedly, yet he still doesn't get the message. So, Shipman, said offspring remains the sole beneficiary of that hypothetical Atlas F silo and whatever else is left. LOL.
Downside is, "Otter" is in top physical condition (from the neck down, that is). Upside is, he enjoys dangling into his 280-foot hole from a used crane with a broken brake, and catting around on his psychotic, ugly, stupid girlfriend. There is a sawed-off shotgun and some kind of revolver on the premises.
The Robin Hood scenario is tempting, but God's gonna take care of this one, isn't he.
#11
exJAG, do what I did over ten years ago. Give him one last chance to admit the error of his ways and then, barring a positive response, tell him he will never hear your voice again for so long as he lives. Permanently cut off all verbal and written communication, drop your last name so that his family name will not be continued and vow that he will never for a single instant hold any of your children on his knee. Then stick to your promise.
#12
ExJag, I can tell you what I did. My mother shat on her family once too. She lives less than 5 minutes from me.
I haven't spoken to her in 10 years.
Tell him to go play hide and go fuck himself.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
04/12/2007 20:12 Comments ||
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#13
Zen: done, done, and done.
I ask because I currently have an opening to separate this fool from his money. It isn't nearly enough to make it worth the effort. Thank you all for confirming my instincts.
#14
It will take a while for the internal confusion to abate, but believe me, the peace of mind that finally manifests from no longer enduring exposure to abusive and malign treatment is simply priceless. I wish you every happiness, exJAG. Stay strong and learn to love yourself for the pure joy of living life on your own terms.
#15
ExJag. Do yourself a favor and do what I did to get my self-centered, selfish family members out of my head. I just stopped caring about what they think or do. I made the decision because I was so sick of dealing with them that I didn't want to see them anymore. But since that was too harsh for me to deal with, I just made up my mind that their stupid opinions and ridiculous actions were dead to me. lol! So to speak. They are not dead to me, just their opinions and actions are.
Trust me, it is so powerful and liberating you won't believe it. My relationship has improved with them dramatically as they have no power over me now. The power is all mine! bwahaaahhaaaaaa!!
Everytime they go off about Global warming, George Bush or whatever else is the liberal cause of the moment, I just say, "Ya, whew, global warming is bad." For all their anti-war snide remarks I just say nothing or dismiss it with an "if you say so". When you find yourself tempted to snap at bait, just throw out a meaningless phrase of non-disagreement and walk off as if you suddenly remembered you have something more interesting to do. Pretending to fall asleep in the middle of their conversation or rant always works in a pinch. Give them that eye flutter with half-open mouth look and apologize for being so bored tired.
I love my new found power. When they are being fun, I can enjoy their company and when they are not, I throw them a bone or a trinket for them to chase after to keep them from bothering me. That way, they don't have to be dead to me all of the time - just when I don't like them.
As for your Dad - make him see you on your terms. If he walks in with his slutty girlfriend and you don't feel like putting up with it, pretend to have an appointment and leave. Don't give him the satisfaction of being mad at him - that means you still care. Just don't care anymore - only tolerate him when it suits your fancy.
For me, it was a whole new way of looking at things.
NBC Universal said on Wednesday it would no longer simulcast Don Imus' radio program over its cable television network MSNBC amid an outcry over sexist and racist comments by the host. NBC Universal said in a statement: "This decision comes as a result of an ongoing review process, which initially included the announcement of a suspension."
NBC Universal is 80 percent owned by General Electric and 20 percent by Vivendi. The move by the media company comes after a number of major corporations, including General Motors and Sprint Nextel Corp., withdrew their advertising from the Imus show. The radio show is broadcast by CBS Radio, a unit of CBS Corp.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/12/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
Some FREEREPIBLIC Netters are arguing IMUS is being unfairly punished for being a vocal anti-HILLARY critic-detractor.
#3
Hogwash, RD. As I never tire of telling Dixie Chickistas and other leftists, the Constitution does not guarantee access to the forum of one's choice. Imus has the right of free speech, but he does not have a right to work for MSLSD if they don't want him.
His remarks were not some generalized joke about racial stereotypes, the usual source of these kinds of complaints. They were a personal insult directed at a dozen or so publicly identifiable young women who had done absolutely nothing to deserve or invite it.
It might be political correctness, but a broken clock is right twice a day and they got this one right. Imus is a half-assed lib anyway. That and the fact that they are "hoes" themselves was probably why the network execs initially tried to cut him some slack.
He's another left over cultural corpse from the 1960s, preserved in alchohol by the look of him. It is time to bury him.
#4
This isn't a free speech issue. No governmental agency I know of is depriving Mr. Imus of his rights.
MSNBC is exercising 'editorship'. Perhaps they should have done this long before with Mr. Imus, and if they're in the mood I can suggest some other people on their network in need of editing. But it's their right to decide who is and isn't on their network.
Ditto the radio, ditto the newspapers.
Whatever one thinks of Imus in general (I think he's an ass) or with regard to his comments about the Rutgers womens basketball team (his comments were racist and derogatory), it isn't a free speech issue for private networks to drop him. It's editorship.
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/12/2007 0:55 Comments ||
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#5
Hogwash, RD. As I never tire of telling Dixie Chickistas and other leftists, the Constitution does not guarantee access to the forum of one's choice. Imus has the right of free speech, but he does not have a right to work for MSLSD if they don't want him.
Eat Hogwash Atomic Conspiracy, as I never will tire from telling morons and other village idiots.
Somewhere between your ears you invented a false little smelly posit that I believe Imus has an Inalienable Constitutional right to work at MSMBC no matter what he said or did.
NOT, never wrote it, never said it, never thought it.
The Networks/Cable censor the good works of our armed forces on the one hand and on the other refuse to recognize and disseminate a warning about the greatest threat to our grand children since WWII.
But they are willing to flood the airwaves with pure garbage horrible role models for our daughters [MTV], PC Garbage, pro-homo anti-gun liberal propaganda, the foulest of lies and treason.
Networks, PBS, Cable. "We can't offend the Muslims, we can't offend minorities etc..."
"Oh but we can string up the Duke Kids, cause they're WHITE, and we can string up Trent Lott...WHITE REPUB....etc"
I detest MSMBC, Imus is just a putz. The few times I've seen his show he said some pretty outrageous things about Iraq, which was all it took for me.
So no simpatico, empathy or concern from me.
EXCEPT, for the proverbial camel's nose..sic the precursors threatning our free speech. The Left here in America is going to make a serious run at our free speech.
In case you haven't noticed we already have speech codes in the public square, Universities and the media where some of us are more equal that others. Is the Internet next?
Hillary software searching for the words "Muzzie", "nuke", "Arc light" etc. LOL!
BTW I still own a business, still hire and fire people now and then. and if one of them were to call a customer, "nappy headed ho", I'd fire em on the spot.
;-)
*****************************************
the whole Imus thang is a tempest in a teapot!
The Short and Stout of IT then..
Free Speech VS political correctness
Should We have the Slightest Doubt?
Throw the Fucking Speech Codes OUT!
/ooops now short-fat-strong people are gonna have my comment licence pulled.
#6
What is free speech if not a Constitutional right? My point was not that you literally believe in Imus's right to work at MSNBC, but that any complaint about "free speech" is really meaningless outside the Constitutional and legal framework. It is just second guessing someone else's business decisions.
You retain your option to fire foul-mouthed employees, but MSNBC is committing an outrage by doing the same?
If an employee did say "nappy-headed 'ho" to a customer, would you be joining the PC speech code left by giving them the boot?
Why is MSNBC any different?
Yes, they have a speech code. They don't really have a choice if they are going to retain any control over content, that is, their own (Constitutional) right of free speech.
What else do you think should have been done about Imus? You condemn various kinds of depravity in the rest of the media. Yet you are defending it from Imus, and with the same bogus "free speech" mantra the lefty media beasts use.
Btw, commercial media standards and practices are very different from college speech codes. The latter can in fact be held to Constitutional standards, but seldom are.
#7
Oh, btw, you confused piece of redneck arrogance, you are a goddamned liar for calling me a moron and the village idiot, and everybody here knows it.
And I definitely would say that in person.
Exactly. If PMS-NBC had been exercising intelligent editorship, they would have never put the sonofabitch on in the first place. Better late than never, I suppose.
Don Imus has no class. He's never had any class. He has a right to the free exercise of his classlessness, but no right to be free of the consequence of his classlessness--the most significant of which is thet other people may react to his deficiency in class by declining to do business with him. It's no different than the country radio stations which dropped the Vichy Chicks after Natalie Maines insulted their target audience.
There are plenty of threats to free speech. Canning Imus for this is not one of them.
Posted by: Mike ||
04/12/2007 6:51 Comments ||
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#9
Steve is absolutely right....BUT
it's the double standard that gets me. Jesse Jackson's "Hymietown" reference? Al Sharpton's Tawana Brawley disgrace? They were no less racist than Imus' comments. Yet these are not just "personalities" but are considered leaders in their community. Jackson has a TV show and Sharpton a radio show. All I ask is that society hold these people up to the same level of scrutiny and standard.
#10
RD, would you hire Woody Allen as pitchman for your product? Michael Jackson to be the public face of your brand name? How about Rosie O'Donnell?
What's that, you say? No?
Censor!
[/satire]
Dan: a fair point, but the proper solution is not to let Imus off easy, but to bring the hammer down on those who've been unfairly given a pass.
Posted by: Mike ||
04/12/2007 6:57 Comments ||
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#11
The best thing for Imus is to take a few years away from the microphone and struggle with his demons.
He is a good fellow at heart, very charitable, a good BS detector, decent and humble. But he clearly does have some racist/sexist feelings he has to confront.
#12
There are a lot of people Imus could have used that phrase against without it bothering me in the least - and some of them are even black women. But the Rutgers womens basketball team are not among them.
I deplore the hypocracy of the 'crusade' against him, but otherwise can't complain about his being fired. It is all about the money anyway - the employer decided the lost revenue from sponsors was not going to be offset by gains in ratings from his show. If you want him on the air, mount a campaign against sponsors who pulled their ads.
#13
Many black women are quite sensitive to the ideal of black beauty held by many - the preference for light colored, straight hair, caucasian facial features - the Halle Berry type etc.
You have to be a fool to go there on a public radio show. Because their Tennessee opponents were attractive and light skinned you call the Rutgers team - "a bunch of nappy headed hos" ?
And then actually mention the Spike Lee movie that had one group of light skinned girls abuse the other darker skinned team?
And expect to still be on the air?
I'm not one for political correctness but some common sense and decency is in order. There are some things one should not say.
Posted by: John Frum ||
04/12/2007 7:45 Comments ||
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#14
This is a good comment by an enemy of Imus:
http://www.kansascity.com/182/story/66339.html
BTW, Atomic Conspiracy, in answer to your question about MAD Magazine from yesterday,
they now feature Ted Rall.
Posted by: Ernest Brown ||
04/12/2007 8:32 Comments ||
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#15
I won't miss his mumbling and simplistic politics, but Al Sharpton should take the same hit. He campaigned for a boycott against Korean grocers, and sought prosecution of New York cops in the Tawana Brawley false accusation case. That sack of racist turd shouldn't be given a platform.
#16
He is a good fellow at heart, very charitable, a good BS detector, decent and humble. But he clearly does have some racist/sexist feelings he has to confront.
Mhw, you don't know Imus. He is a prick; Impossible to work for, insulting and degrading to all who hold no sway over him. This jerk has no redeeming factors. And, oh yeah, the 'ranch' is a scam to support Imus' life style. He prolly mistreats the kids at the ranch on a daily basis.
I'm happy he has been rubbed in his own crap for once.
#17
Oh, btw, you confused piece of redneck arrogance, you are a goddamned liar for calling me a moron and the village idiot..
whoops there it is, red-neck name calling..
[parody red-neck]
Well Thankee Yankee that's sum real nice chicken shit thare yer covered with. A might ryight Liberal Coating thare AC Yankee!
[/ parody red-neck]
Fluffing yourself up a bit eh AC, like an old hen chicken ruffling up its feathers... If you manage to get a chance between preenings.. [smoothing yer ruffled poop covered feathers]
without yer poor imagination working overtime this time then, inventing and projecting, parse this: >>>
the whole thang is a tempest in a teapot!
The Short and Stout of IT then..
Free Speech VS political correctness
Should We have the Slightest Doubt?
Throw the Fucking Speech Codes OUT!
/ooops now short-fat-strong people are gonna have my comment licence pulled.
**
Tell us AC, how you managed to pull your Yankee Ass over yer Yankee head over that one.
#19
RD, Atomic Conspiracy is an immigrant from England, who came over to join the fight in Viet Nam. I believe he settled in Texas, after (except for the recent stint "over there", of course).
As for Imus, if he's as bad as wxjames says, quite possibly the network was looking for an excuse to get rid of him.
#20
Imus is totally out of line. Period. End of story.
As others have noted, Jackson, Sharpton and many other liberal pets should be subjected to the exact same standards. How Sharpton continues to wield a scintilla of public or political power is simply beyond me. Al Sharpton is a street thug who makes even Don King look like a standup guy.
#21
Don't like him, never liked him, don't care what happens to him.
And his replacement during his suspension? The Great Plagarist himself, Mike Barnicle. There's a step up...
#22
Sharpton gets media attention because he pulls eyeballs to the screen. More eyeballs, higher ad revenues. He'll get shoved aside as soon as the next Big Mouth comes along.
#25
"How Sharpton continues to wield a scintilla of public or political power is simply beyond me."
I think it's related to that line, "All pigs are equal, but some are more equal than others".
Posted by: Dave D. ||
04/12/2007 17:41 Comments ||
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#26
...or it might be "There's a fool born every minute".
Posted by: Dave D. ||
04/12/2007 17:42 Comments ||
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#27
Imus is not being dropped for being an ass, he's not being dropped for being offensive, a bigot, or for what he said. Imus is being dropped because the advertisers do not want their product associated with this guy in any way. When the advertising market pulls the plug, the great whore-MSNBC pulls the plug. And for no other reason. All they give a damn about is the money. Lesson today kiddies, you want Rosie out or any of the other leftie trash out? Watch the show, then write to the corperations about how sick the show was that they are endorsing. Then tell them as long as they advertise during her show you will not use their product. Only the market can really silence these idiots.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
04/12/2007 19:07 Comments ||
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#28
I think it's related to that line, "All pigs are equal, but some are more equal than others".
...or it might be "There's a fool born every minute".
My vote is for how black Americans are so desperate to obtain a glimmering of political power that, in their haste, they will back even the most spavined nag if it gets them some of the spotlight. Ironically, it is precisely their support for morons like Sharpton, Jackson or Ellison that end up getting them marginalized by other thinking Americans.
Tough shit. Bill Cosby is spot on in his recent indictments of black America. Until a much larger number of American blacks act like responsible citizens who are willing to work for positive improvement in their lives, they're screwed, blued and tattooed.
#29
John: I'm not one for political correctness but some common sense and decency is in order. There are some things one should not say.
thanks John, decency, courteousness and giving folks the benefit of the doubt should guide us all... some of us may will fall short of that noble spirit.... now and then.
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