An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 shook Manila on Friday night, swaying high rises, knocking out power over a wide area and sending frightened residents into the streets. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. The shaking began at 10:36 p.m. and lasted for more than a minute. The epicenter of the quake was on Mindoro island, 55 miles south-southwest of Manila. The temblor was felt over a wide area, including nearly 90 miles north of the sprawling capital on the main Philippine island of Luzon. The U.S. Geological Survey in Colorado said on its Web site the magnitude was 6.4 at a depth of about 73 miles. A magnitude 6 quake can cause severe damage, but the depth appeared to have eased the effect Friday's temblor, said Renato Solidum Jr., director of the Philippine Institute of Vulcanology and Seismology.
Panicked residents and hotel guests poured into the capital's streets. Police were easing traffic away from a condemned building that was cracking and dropping debris. Utility company Meralco reported widespread power outages, possibly due to damaged power lines. The Philippines is along the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire," where earthquakes and volcanic activity are common. A magnitude 6.2 quake shook Manila and surrounding areas of Luzon three weeks ago. The Institute of Vulcanology and Seismology said Friday's quake was believed to be in the same fault line, along the Manila Trench. Solidum said that raised concerns that the area is becoming active. "It means that part is moving. We could have more earthquakes, so we should always be careful," Solidum said. A magnitude 7.7 earthquake in 1990 killed nearly 2,000 people on Luzon.
Posted by: Mark Espinola ||
10/08/2004 6:42:35 PM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under:
Scientists said the earthquakes and explosions at Mount St. Helens could lead to an eruption as powerful as the one in 1980, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reported. Aha! another plan to suppress the Democrat's vote. Portland coated by ash. Low turnout. Conspiracy. Maybe Bush has been doing prayer in an improper way. - Terry Mc Auliffe
The volcano reportedly spewed more steam overnight, but earthquakes continued to be fairly light, striking about once a minute and registering about magnitude one. Meanwhile, the speculation continued about what exactly is happening underneath the mountain. Ecological rape by the GOP! - Terry McAuliffe
Scientists said part of the lava dome in the volcano's crater has risen 50 to 100 feet since Tuesday, a sign -- along with mild earthquake activity -- that molten rock may be moving toward the surface without much resistance. The south side of the dome has been rising for the past week -- about 250 feet so far. Despite the swelling, scientists said there is no reason yet to raise the alert level around the volcano in southwest Washington. I don't like George Bush because he's going to get Democrats killed. - Terry McAuliffe
Larry Mastin, of the U.S. Gological Survey said there's an outside chance that an eruption could send a plume of ash 15 miles into the air or higher, but there is no indication that any eruption is imminent or that it would threaten lives or property. There's also no way to tell when molten rock might reach the surface, although the volcano has been venting steam as water trickles down and hits hot rocks. Blame Dick Cheney & Halliburton - Terry McAuliffe
THERE'S grim news for people who worry that if something can go wrong, it will go wrong. A new mathematical formula has proved Murphy's Law really does strike at the worst possible time. Ordinary people have long known that computers crash on deadline and cars break down in emergencies, while previous studies have shown the law, also called Sod's Law, is not a myth and toast really does fall buttered side down. But now a panel of experts has provided the statistical rule for predicting the law of "anything that can go wrong, will go wrong" - or ((U+C+I) x (10-S))/20 x A x 1/(1-sin(F/10)).
After tests of the experiences of 1000 people, they have discovered "things don't just go wrong, they do so at the most annoying moment". Now the experts commissioned by British Gas - a psychologist, a mathematician and an economist - say the formula allows people to calculate the chances of Sod's Law striking, and even try to beat bad luck. Project psychologist Dr David Lewis said: "The lesson from this is that, to cut the seemingly unbeatable Murphy's Law gremlins down to size, you need to change one of the elements in the equation. "So, if you haven't got the skill to do something important, leave it alone. If something is urgent or complex, find a simple way to do it. If something going wrong will particularly aggravate you, make certain you know how to do it." But he added a note of caution: "There is, of course, a Sod's Law factor to the equation. If you judge your ratings wrongly, you might become too optimistic - and calamity will strike."
In the calculation, five factors have to be assessed: urgency (U), complexity (C), importance (I), skill (S) and frequency (F), and each given a score between one and nine. A sixth, aggravation (A), was set at 0.7 by the experts after their poll. Top of the most likely - and most annoying - events was spilling something down yourself before a date and the hot water heater breaking down in cold weather, followed by rush hour being worse when you're already late.
I'll bet you somebody gave them money to do that study...
#1
while previous studies have shown the law, also called Sodâs Law, is not a myth and toast really does fall buttered side down
Except for when you are trying to demonstrate this to students. In which case it's guaranteed jelly side up. Proof by consequence.
#5
The problem is it is too linear and doesn't take into account "corollary functions" such as dexterity, ignorance and temperment. You need to adjust every situation with those attributes in order to determine a more likely outcome.
Part of Mount St. Helens' crater has risen an additional 100 feet in the past few days, more evidence of change in the volcano as it enters a new period of activity. Scientists call this uplifted area "the Loaf." It is a fractured zone that underlies glacier ice and part of the crater's lava dome, and it now has risen a total of about 250 feet in the past week, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Scientists say the deformity is caused by pressure from magma that is fitfully working its way toward the surface and a probable eruption. They say all the events of the last two weeks — earthquakes, harmonic tremors, ash explosions and steaming inside the crater — are likely leading up to such an event.
A substantial drop in earthquake activity prompted scientists to speculate Wednesday that the magma had taken a temporary pause in its rock-breaking journey to the surface. But the Loaf's expansion, detected in overflights later that day, appeared to indicate that magma is still on the move, perhaps with a pathway cleared at least partially by three steam and ash explosions over the past week. "The skids are greased," said Jake Lowenstern, a USGS volcanologist. "It certainly seems like the volcano has found a weak area to push up."
Posted by: Steve ||
10/08/2004 11:04:55 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
This breaking news just in, GeneralÃssimo Francisco Franco is still dead.
The Court of Cassation has dropped the death sentence for three men accused of taking part in a series of armed robberies targeting a number of local Saudi banks and replaced it with imprisonment, but upheld the death sentence for a fourth suspect described as the leader of the four-member gang. The four had earlier appealed the sentence. The four suspects are three Saudi nationals and a Pakistani. Two Saudis and the Pakistani had their death sentences dropped while the court upheld the death sentence for the fourth, the Saudi gang leader, according to Okaz. The group was wanted in connection with drug trafficking, prostitution and blackmail. The suspects were arrested shortly after committing their last two robberies in October last year. Two of the three are younger brothers of the gang leader and were said to have been tempted into joining the gang. A woman involved with the gang was sentenced to five years in prison.
A police investigation following the arrests revealed that the suspects had been involved with a mother and her 19-year-old daughter. The mother would invite various wealthy businessmen to her house to engage in sexual acts with the daughter for money. The gang would then burst into the room and claim to be the brothers of the 19-year-old woman and demand money to spare his life.
You sure these guys weren't Nigerians? They sound Nigerian to me...
Posted by: Fred ||
10/08/2004 4:13:01 PM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[8 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
This story reads strange. Have difficulty picturing Saudi banks being robbed. Maybe this is one of those you had to be there stories.
A global architectural group on Friday declared the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taiwan's capital the world's tallest building. (Taiwan suffers from killer earthquakes. I hope these guys know what their doing.)
The 1,679-foot-tall structure -- which some liken to a giant bamboo shoot of glass and steel -- received the title from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization involved in the planning, design and construction of skyscrapers. "There's no dispute whether Taipei 101 is the tallest building in the world," said Ron Klemencic, chairman of the council, as he formally certified the building's record with a new plaque. Before the title ceremony, Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian told Klemencic that the record "not only gives affirmation to Taiwan's architectural industry, it's also the pride and honor of Taiwan's 23 million people." The 101-story skyscraper is 184 feet taller than the previous record-holder, the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Taipei 101 also claims a hat trick for having the highest structural top, tallest roof and the highest occupied floor. It also has two of the world's fastest elevators, which travel 3,333 feet per minute and can go from the ground floor to the 89th floor in 39 seconds.
To determine a building's height, the council measures from the sidewalk level of the main entrance to the skyscraper's architectural top, which can include a penthouse, tower, spire or pinnacle. Flagpoles, TV and radio antennas aren't included. Last October, Taiwan celebrated the skyscraper's record-breaking status when a pinnacle was installed on top of the building, making it the world's tallest structure. The building features office space, a shopping mall and an observatory.
Klemencic acknowledged that the future of tall buildings seemed uncertain after Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States destroyed the World Trade Center towers in New York. "There was a strong emotional reaction from the public and even in the building industry," he said. But he added that people now understand that the real threat came from airplanes. The terrorists could have easily attacked other structures, such as sports stadiums, he said. Taipei 101 "is a much safer place to be than a house because of all the safety systems," he said. Klemencic said the building has a state-of-the-art sprinkler and smoke control system. It also features "areas of refuge" -- specially reinforced places with fire protection -- that people can go to without evacuating the building. "If there's a fire on the 75th floor, you only need to go down a few floors to a place built to be more fire safe and stronger," he said
Posted by: Mark Espinola ||
10/08/2004 7:14:49 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Speaking of earthquakes, a mild one has already killed workmen at this building...read on.
'Despite several setbacks, the Taipei Financial Centre, otherwise known as Taipei 101, planned to ascend 101 stories to 1,667 feet, is due to be completed late in 2004 or early 2005.
A fire earlier this month in the 10-story shopping mall at the base of the building was but the latest incident in the tower's somewhat chequered career.
[[Five workers were killed when two construction cranes toppled over during a mild earthquake in April 2002.]]
Earlier doubts arose that the building might interfere with aircraft flight paths, before permission was granted to exceed past height limits.'
Posted by: Mark Espinola ||
10/08/2004 7:44 Comments ||
Top||
#2
There is one thing about advancing structural design. There is another thing about megalomania. This is No. 2, IMHO.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
10/08/2004 8:54 Comments ||
Top||
#3
Since it is now higher than any Muslim tower should they be worried?
Switzerland's St Bernard rescue dogs, known for centuries for saving avalanche victims from snowy Alpine graves, are to be sold by their monk owners as helicopters and heat sensors take over their work. At St. Bernard's hospice, cradle of the breed, Augustinian monks want to devote more time to needy people and less to the 18 dogs -- which will be sold only to new owners who promise to bring them back each year. "They (the dogs) need a lot of time and energy. There are only four of us monks now," said Brother Frederic, perched on a rock with a St Bernard by his side. "Maybe we need to spend more time with people who ask for it," he added.
At an altitude of 2,438 meters (8,000 ft), the home of the St Bernards is an Alpine pass on the route to Italy where the huge, shaggy dogs are said to have saved the lives of some 2,500 travelers over the past few centuries. "Even if there was 2 or 3 meters of fresh snow, they were able to make a track in the snow so travelers could find their way, they could also find travelers lost in avalanches," Brother Frederic said. But the dogs, which eat up to four and a half pounds of meat a day, have not rescued anyone for 50 years.
The old "what have you done for me lately?" is it?
They will be sold to new owners willing to bring their charges back to the hospice for the summer, when tourists are eager to see the living symbols of Switzerland, and ensure the breed is continued. "They're not being sold to just anyone. All that is changing with the dogs is the ownership," said Pierre Troillet, president of the Swiss St Bernard Association, adding the dogs were no longer kept on the pass in winter in any case. The dogs' history is entwined with that of the pass, where the Romans first built a temple to Jupiter as they marched north to conquer Europe, and where Charlemagne, Hannibal and Napoleon all left footprints in the snow. St Bernard himself built a hospice on the spot in the 11th century, and a community of monks formed to aid travelers and rescue avalanche victims. The monks say the first dogs were probably a gift from rich local families to their predecessors, who took advantage of their keen noses, strength, sure-footedness and thick coats by the early 18th century. The dogs could pick out narrow and treacherous paths in blizzards that disorientated even the native monks. But with the progress of modern mountain rescue technology, the dogs have been pushed out of their traditional role in the mountains of Switzerland.
Posted by: Mark Espinola ||
10/08/2004 6:55:54 PM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
Via Instapundit. EFL.
Only by working longer and moving towards the US social model can Europe get its foot out of its continental bucket hope to attain its Lisbon goals, according to Laurens Jan Brinkhorst, Dutch Minister of Economy, speaking at an event in Brussels on 7 October. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Modernising the European social model is a matter of urgency if Europe wants to maintain its model of choice in the long term and close the productivity gap with the US, believes the minister GFL with that one, Jan.
'I will argue that the updated European social model should differ distinctly from the current one' explained Mr Brinkhorst. 'It will inevitably resemble the US model more than is the case today.
But it will still be a European model, reflecting European preferences for sucking at the government teat social inclusion and environment.
"Jean-Pierre!"
"Yes, Fritz?"
"May I have a Gauloise?"
The main conditions for achieving this are enhancing growth and employability,' he said. The current European model is not performing adequately said Mr Brinkhorst pointing out how far the EU had slipped behind the US. 'Since the early 1990s, the US has largely outpaced the EU in terms of economic growth. From 1991 to 2003, the US economy grew by no less than 47 per cent in total, whereas the EU economy achieved only 28 per cent growth.' Mr Brinkhorst also drew attention to the fact that in 2003, the US GDP per capita was 55 per cent higher than the EU's. [Emphasis added]
Yeesh. No wonder they whine all the time. Good on him for at least figuring out the difference has a lot to do with the difference in work ethics.
Economic growth is crucial for a high and sustainable standard of living for future generations, and the only way to achieve this is to work longer hours and for more years, said the minister. Don't tell the Phrench, cookie. You'll have a nuanced riot of whining on your hands.
Flexibility of working time must also increase if we want Europe to fare better in times of increasing global competition, added Mr Brinkhorst. 'If Europeans worked for two hours longer a week, EU GDP could increase by about 6 per cent,' said Mr Brinkhorst, demonstrating his claim that 'a small change can make a big difference.' And if they'd work 4 or 5 more hours a week - and get paid for it - they'd begin to approach the American worker in productivity and buying power.
'We need to get into a higher gear and redirect the [Lisbon] agenda to target enhancing economic growth, employment and competition,' he concluded, calling for more flexible labour markets, the stimulation of innovation through research excellence, improved legislation, and lower taxes for more productivity and a better business climate. He loses his job and is tarred and feathered in 5, 4, 3....
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
10/08/2004 12:49:55 PM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
#2
The gap is worse than 55% when you realize most things cost quite a bit more in Europe.
Posted by: ed ||
10/08/2004 13:00 Comments ||
Top||
#3
Another traitor to the cause of cultural diversity. He's soon to be personna non grata in gay Paris.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis ||
10/08/2004 13:02 Comments ||
Top||
#4
But it will still be a European model, reflecting European preferences for social inclusion and environment. The main conditions for achieving this are enhancing growth and employability,â he said.
Anyone out there who can translate this from gobbledy gook to plainspoken English? What causes what?
#5
Jules - I think he's saying they need to copy the American economic model while claiming it's a European model.
Or maybe he's using diplomatic bullshitspeak out of habit. :-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
10/08/2004 14:02 Comments ||
Top||
#6
What's unclear is that social seems to be substituting for economic in this article.
If it's an economic model that imitates the US's but is more concerned with social inclusion and environment, then that might entail reducing the gap between rich and poor, giving a voice to all "castes" of a society in the economic plan, and keeping business in line with stricter environmental regulations. That sounds like something Europe would be comfortable with anyway.
If he is talking about a social model, what does he mean by that term?
#7
As someone who has spent a number of years in the Netherlands working with both private and government entities, I am not surprised that they are out front on this. He is not using double speak but rather using what is called their the Polder Model(named after the canals or polders that dot the landscape. In this model, you achieve consensus among employer and employee (as well as the community)of equal value and consideration - very much like collective bargaining here but with more social, cultural and local community values included and agreed to. I believe what he is doing (and this is very much a Dutch business culture tactic) is to show a weakening of competition not due so much to the cradle to grave welfare and state sponsored nannieism but rather to lack of progress on the productivity front. Lets work more hours, smarter, faster, etc. But at the same time enjoy our time off, our leisure pursuits blah, blah, blah. The fact is that outside of the UK - the only old europe country that could drive this is the Netherlands and their closest partner the Flemings of Belgium. These are the original great international merchant class and they have seen their markets slip lately due to the loss of productivity.
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
10/08/2004 15:10 Comments ||
Top||
#8
The Dutch have moved further ahead than their continental peers in the areas of flexible work rules and labor mobility. At the same time, they could teach us a few things about work/life balance.
The United States was justified in terminating an aircraft pact with the European Union because the EU gave Airbus production subsidies that violated the pact, a U.S. trade official said on Friday. The 1992 agreement allowed either member to abrogate the pact if the other violated its terms, said Richard Mills, a spokesman for the U.S. Trade Representative's office, responding to European criticism of the move. "The EU has not acted in accordance with the agreement, notably by providing various production subsidies for the A380," the new Airbus super jumbo jet, he said. The United States terminated the pact on Wednesday and also filed a World Trade Organization complaint challenging $3.2 billion in European government "launch aid" loans to help Airbus develop the A380, even though that assistance was permitted under the 1992 pact.
In a letter released in Brussels on Friday, the European Commission said it rejected a unilateral U.S. move to terminate the pact since it was not backed by proper reasons and the EU considered the agreement to be in force. U.S. trade officials said they terminated the agreement because European governments had also provided billions of dollars in production subsidies for the A380, which were not allowed under the 12-year-old accord. The United States also argues that nothing in the 1992 agreement, even if it remained in force, would bar it from challenging the A380 launch aid program at the WTO. Mills rejected the EU's charge that the United States was acting unilaterally. "It's difficult to understand to see how enlisting a multilateral organization like the WTO to help resolve a bilateral dispute is considered unilateral. Going to the WTO is the very example of multilateralism," Mills said. Airbus is co-owned by European aerospace company EADS and Britain's BAE Systems.
Long Branch, NJ --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), co-chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues and a member of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, today urged the State Department to strongly condemn a new penal code adopted by the Turkish Government late last month that would punish Turkish citizens or groups with up to ten years in prison if they confirm the fact of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey or call for the end of the Turkish occupation of Northern Cyprus.
Now we can understand Murat's hysterical blindness on the matter. Whadda country!
Posted by: Robert Crawford ||
10/08/2004 10:38:52 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
This'll work in the new EU
Posted by: Frank G ||
10/08/2004 11:10 Comments ||
Top||
#2
So they passed Murat's Law, huh? And this is supposed to be a democracy?
Posted by: Dave D. ||
10/08/2004 11:10 Comments ||
Top||
#3
Oh, well. Unless we want to star in the sequel to "Midnight Express", looks like we all better stay the hell out of Turkey.
French President Jacques Chirac warned Thursday of a "catastrophe" for global diversity if the United States' cultural hegemony goes unchallenged. Speaking at a French cultural center in Hanoi ahead of Friday's opening of a summit of European and Asian leaders, Chirac said France was right to stand up for cultural and linguistic diversity.
You want to jibber away in Frog, be my guest.
The outspoken French president warned that the world's different cultures could be "choked" by US values. This, he said, would lead to a "general world sub-culture" based around the great and glorious English language, which would be "a real ecological catastrophe".
Not true, the French have given us great words, like 'retreat' and 'brassiere'.
Citing Hollywood's stranglehold over the film industry as an example, Chirac stressed that only with government assistance could countries maintain their cultural heritage.
That's 'cause only Hollywood and Bollywood make films people actually want to see (as proof, I give you the Canadian Film Board).
Vietnam is a former French colony, but only around 375,000 of its 81 million people speak French.
One guess why, Jaques. It's three words, each one syllable, first word sounds like 'Dien'.
English is considered by most people a far more valuable and practical second language, particularly among businessmen.
I guess we could call it the 'lingua franca', eh?
Posted by: Steve White ||
10/08/2004 2:35:35 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
Top|| File under:
#2
My heart is breakng for ya Jacques. American Spanish is by far a more important language and culture. South American and Central American culture is much more important than then France will ever be unless they strike gold and oil under Paris. Want to talk about an important Culture lets speak about China. France is a joke. The problem isn't the domination of the worlds culture by the US it is the domination of French culture by US culture. Jacques can even win in his own counrty.
#4
Factoid:
English is today both the language of wealth and, more importantly, of aspiration to wealth. A fascinating statistic employed by Bragg compares the net worth of the speakers of various world languages, showing that although there are many more Mandarin-speakers than English-speakers, they are only worth £448bn. Against that Russian-speakers are 'worth' £801bn, German-speakers £1,090bn, Japanese-speakers £1,277bn, but English-speakers are worth a staggering £4,271bn - more than the rest put together.
#5
One does have to wonder how much that great culture consumer, Pier 1 Imports, has done to preserve cultural diversity.
France's problem is that their exports seem to be confined to expensive foodstuffs (including wine) and some technical materials. Oh yes, and the tourist industry, centered around Paris. But the midrange quality foodstuffs are priced too near the top tier, and its awfully hard to seduce the tourists when all your culture workers are on strike again. And the rest of their culture, pfeh! From what I've seen of their films and music, you have whiny soft-core porn, and native Maghreb tunings. Edith Piaf, we miss you!
#6
When the French took over Indochina (now Viet Nam) before World War II Viet Nam was about 90% literate in the native language. Everyone went to school. The French banned teaching in any language but French. It didn't take long for the Vietnamese to go from a literate country to illiterate. They were much easier to control that way.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
10/08/2004 7:25 Comments ||
Top||
#7
"That's 'cause only Hollywood and Bollywood make films people actually want to see (as proof, I give you the Canadian Film Board)."
Too true. I struggled through a couple of Canadian movies and then gave up. I like a movie to make SOME kind of sense.
I only know one French word and I have no idea how to spell it but it sounds like 'merde' and it means 'shit'.
#8
The world is moving on, and the center of gravity is nowhere near France. Chiraq is one man fighting the current, or maybe a better analogy is that he is high and dry on a sandbar.
Chiraq has been extremely successful at pissing off Americans, well, maybe not Woody Allen. Heh, that counts for something.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
10/08/2004 9:01 Comments ||
Top||
#9
Now the Canadians made one good movie (actually it was only set in Canada) Strange Brew with Bob & Doug MacKenzie.
That film had me laughing so hard I was shaking like a frenchman in a thunderstorm.
#10
US cultural domination, heh? We have a lot of cultures here, Mssr. Chirac. Which aspect of which one?
Choked by US values? Like freedom of speech? Freedom to worship as you choose? Like working hard to earn your money? Like meaning what you say in international dealings? Quelle horreur!
What would Mr. Chirac have us do linguistically, have translaters available for every one of the 200+ languages and dialects of people doing business in the world today-at every business, at every conference, at every social institution? No? Then maybe he thinks we should call a conference at the UN so that France and France alone can decide which languages will be used in international dealings?
No, this linguistic problem is one that will sort itself over time. Dominance of one or two languages in several geographic regions of the world will cause some languages to disappear in commerce. Chirac is a little overreactive right now-French won't disappear as a language of international communication in his life. But he is dreaming if he imagines English (and a couple other languages) won't come out on the top of the pile. There are many second language speakers of English already, and English has enough geographical influence and financial weight that it will continue as one of the few dominant languages of global reach.
#12
What would Mr. Chirac have us do linguistically, have translaters available for every one of the 200+ languages and dialects of people doing business in the world today-at every business, at every conference, at every social institution?
No, Jules, I believe Mr Chirac wants "government funded" translators at all of the mentioned events. Which government? Why the World Government, of course, the one he is president of...
#14
Perhaps a campaign to move French into the Dead Languages department at US colleges would have a salutary effect on Jock's blood pressure? Like send it to zero?
#15
When you consider the non-native English speaking countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands, etc. the figure is much higher in Lord Bragg's estimate(who by the way is a big LLLer and former TV presenter in England). I have a good friend in Italy. He owns a constrution company and is an ex-professor of civil engineering at U.of Rome. His wife is a very well known TV personality. Both speak exceptional english and have raised their children (in Italy) by speaking English as the first language!! Why? Because, as he says, I want the BEST for my kids and they need to prepare to achieve all the world will offer them. Speaking and "thinking" in English gives them one big step ahead of everyone else in their peer group.
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
10/08/2004 15:19 Comments ||
Top||
#16
That's a smart and secure man-he realizes that English is a plus for himself and his family, and that speaking it doesn't in any way diminish his love for his native language or his "Italianness".
#19
Hey, Jackie, if you don't like it, why don't you make the Phrench culture and music and movies and food as attractive to the world as America's obviously is?
You can do that, right?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
10/08/2004 19:41 Comments ||
Top||
October 7th 2004
Rescue teams are fighting to save a Canadian submarine adrift in the Atlantic. One sailor died and two are in hospital after an electrical fire disabled the vessel and left it tossing in heavy seas off Ireland. The sub had been on its maiden voyage under Canadian control after being sold by Britain. A Canadian Navy commodore, Tyrone Pile, has praised the crew. Partial power has now been restored to the submarine and several Royal Navy ships and tugs are on the way.
Posted by: Mark Espinola ||
10/08/2004 7:10:30 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Wonder if "Lemon laws" apply in international waters.
In all the Bush-bashing or Kerry-promoting movies that I have seen during this election season — ever wonder whose side Hollywood is on? — I hadn't until now seen one that I thought might sway the election. Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 is great propaganda, but only if you come to it (as of course so many now do) already persuaded that your President is a really bad and/or stupid guy. The slightly more disguised messages of The Day After Tomorrow or The Manchurian Candidate or Silver City can't emerge effectively, it seems to me, from three such artistic disasters. And the straightforward left-wing agitprop won't be seen by more than a handful of true believers. But in George Butler'sGoing Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry, I think we have a winner. This paean to the Democratic standard-bearer as a Lincolnesque figure, a war hero and also a hero of the (Vietnam) anti-war movement, actually might change some minds — those of wavering Kerry supporters who may well be persuaded by it to vote for Bush.
Bwahahaha!
Kerry's obsession with Vietnam has always been curious. At the Democratic convention he tried to make his service in Vietnam his chief qualification for the presidency. But Going Upriver reveals that it is not really the short war — the four months he spent in Vietnam before his third purple heart allowed him to go home — that he is proud of but the "long war" which began with his assumption of the leadership of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) and has continued ever since. This he regards as the truest expression of his patriotism. I think a majority of Americans will disagree. He does too, or he would not have taken the trouble to create that misleading impression at the convention.
At any rate, the movie lets the cat out of the bag. It begins with an anonymous voiceover telling us that we can't understand John Kerry at all without understanding what Vietnam means to him. It is the central episode in his life. He has throughout his political career applied what he believes to be the "lessons" he learned from his short period in-country.Whatever else this may mean, it certainly seems to mean that he measures all American foreign policy initiatives, including the war against Islamic terrorism, by the yardstick of Vietnam — which is to say the anti-war movement's version of Vietnam. Thus, George Bush fills the Nixon role as Tricky George, deceiving the country into the "quagmire" of Iraq, the new Vietnam, which is "the wrong war at the wrong time in the wrong place." That's why Kerry says that the President "owes the American people the truth and he owes the troops the truth" — as if he took it for granted that Bush were another Johnson or Nixon, routinely lying about the war.
#11
Nader's pointing out why Kerry's toast: you can't pander to Mikey/Deanie screamers and still win the votes of old-fashioned national security Dems like LiberalHawk and myself.
The only way the Dems could win in Nov would be to go hard right on the war, thereby outflanking him and shifting the subject back to domestic issues.
The principal of a Muslim enrichment centre here was charged in a Malaysian court yesterday with raping and molesting a 10-year-old girl. Norhisham Abdul Rauf, 34, a Malaysian who lived in Gelang Patah in Johor, is alleged to have committed the offences in his home. He is accused of raping her there on Aug 28, and of molesting her in April.
#1
"The centres run weekly basic Muslim moral values and etiquette programmes for children, from pre-schoolers to teenagers."
OH, GREAT . . .
"The director of human resource and training at Andalus Corporation, Mr Abdullah Othman, told The Straits Times: 'We were very shocked when we heard the news on Monday. He had an amicable and pleasant personality.'
THEY ALWAYS ARE . . .
"The enrichment centre has suspended his services until the outcome of the trial."
TEHRAN, Iran -- An earthquake of magnitude 5.8 shook buildings in northeast Iran on Friday, injuring 12 people as frightened residents fled their homes for safety, state radio reported.
Provincial official Mohammad Hassan Moheimani told state radio the quake's epicenter was located in a sparsely populated area near the Iran-Turkmenistan border.
"Most of the 12 people were slightly injured as they ran to safety," he said.
A magnitude 5 quake can damage houses and buildings in densely populated areas.
Iran is located on seismic fault lines and is prone to earthquakes. A December earthquake in Bam, in southeastern Iran, measured 6.6 magnitude and killed 26,000 people.
Posted by: Mark Espinola ||
10/08/2004 6:44:58 PM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Did someone lose a MOAB?
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
10/08/2004 19:14 Comments ||
Top||
#2
Nope. It's that rascally Zionist Earthquake Weapon the Joooos are using.
Iran has banned advertising printed solely in a foreign language as part of a campaign to ward off the encroachment of Western culture on the country, state television said on Thursday. The Islamic Culture and Guidance Ministry has ordered the use of Persian in print advertising, but allowed for the use of a foreign language as long as the letters were smaller than those written in Persian in the same advert, it said. The ban also applies to posters, billboards, shop signs and company logos. "The order aims to ensure Persian language is preserved," state television quoted the ministry as saying. reuters
Posted by: Mark Espinola ||
10/08/2004 6:59:39 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
They must have ordered the Fatherland Cultural Preservation Manual translated from the original French into Farsi by Jacques Chiraq.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
10/08/2004 9:04 Comments ||
Top||
#2
MTV in Farsi as well? Think the videos might lose some "oomph"
Posted by: Frank G ||
10/08/2004 10:53 Comments ||
Top||
#2
A shiver of fear ran through the crushed ice fruit business today. Zpaz a semi-anonmyous poster at an obscure website called into question the price stability of Slurpies. The effect was chilling to say the least. More has it developes.
California's attorney general wants to crack down on gun violence by laser-branding all handgun bullets sold in the state with tiny identification numbers nearly invisible to the naked eye. The controversial proposal could open the way for the next major debate over gun control in California, a state that already has some of the toughest such laws in the United States. Attorney General Bill Lockyer is expected to discuss his proposal at a meeting on gun crime on Thursday with Los Angeles Mayor Jim Hahn and a citizens group, an aide said on Wednesday. Under the plan, all ammunition sold in California would have a serial number etched by laser on the bullet and casing. Bullets without such micro-markings, including those from outside the state, would be barred by law, with some exceptions for sport shooters who make their own ammunition.
No other U.S. state requires microscopic identification numbers to be etched on bullets, although similar technology is used to brand airplane and auto parts, backers of the proposal said. "We think this is a very valid idea that could solve crimes quickly," said Hallye Jordan, a spokeswoman for Lockyer, one of the state's leading Democrats. "It's something that the cops going to a crime scene involving shooting victims, once they recover the spent cartridge or bullets they can look at it right there," she said. "We have a database where they can put the number right in and then drive to the person's house whose bullets they were."
Assuming your database is correct. One bad entry, and a innocent person goes to jail. Of course, to a Democrat, anyone with a gun is guilty.
Posted by: Steve ||
10/08/2004 11:11:37 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[0 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Jebus Christ on a Pogo-Stick, Steve!!!!
Hasn't that Butt Nugget, Lockyer ever heard of re-loading???? This makes even less sense than Maryland's Gun Locks. Which you have to buy, but not necessarily use. And 'Ballistic Fingerprinting'. Completely useless for automatics, whose barrels are very easy to change!
Jack.
Posted by: Jack Deth ||
10/08/2004 13:22 Comments ||
Top||
#2
Stupidity.
I make my own bullets. I have a Corbin bullet swedge. Pull the handle and out comes a nice shiny perfectly formed chunk of lead.
From my reading on this the California Dept of Justice is in on this. The biggest bunch of do nothing flakes and anti gunners in the state government.
#3
Of course, it would be up to the ammo manufacturers to put out the cash to re-tool and keep a database of millions of bullet ID numbers, their date of manufacture, which distributor the lot was sold to, etc.
Seven people were killed and hundreds more were injured when a series of tornados ripped through parts of Bangladesh Thursday, officials said. Five people died when a whirlwind bore down on a field where a large number of Muslim devotees had gathered to pray in central Bangladesh Thursday, police said. Eight of the injured were in serious condition, a police official said.
The tornado struck early afternoon in Tongi, in northern Dhaka district, while thousands of devotees were praying for the success of a major religious congregation taking place in the area, the official said. Known as Ijtema, the gathering of Muslims is considered to be the second biggest after the Hajj in Saudi Arabia and is held annually at Tongi after the fasting month of Ramadan. afp
Posted by: Mark Espinola ||
10/08/2004 6:58:01 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under:
A group of Hispanic activists is promising to "punish" Governor Schwarzenegger for his veto of legislation that would have let illegal immigrants get drivers licenses. Leaders of Latino Movement USA held a rally today in Los Angeles. The group is soliciting the donation of movies the former actor starred in for a symbolic destruction in December. Last month, Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill that would have let up to two million immigrants drive legally. The legislation's supporters have vowed to go after the governor, whom they think caved in to public sentiment. Schwarzenegger has said the bill ignored his requirement of key security safeguards -- an identifying mark that would differentiate them from licenses held by US citizens and legal residents.
Posted by: tipper ||
10/08/2004 6:09:51 AM ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Hasta la vista baby to those cry baby leftists.
Posted by: Mark Espinola ||
10/08/2004 6:53 Comments ||
Top||
#2
Just your typical socialist Mexican/Californians who want California to be part of Mexico again. Nothing to see move on. They are out numbered by the Redneck/Mexican/Californians by a huge %. Most actual Mexicans (wet or dry) just want to work and be left alone.
#3
Well, yes, they should be upset with the Governor. Most Californians want him to round up all the illegal aliens and deposit them across the nearest state line never to return. Ship their activist asses to Nuevo Laredo and tell them to never show their faces in this country again.
#6
"Most Californians want him to round up all the illegal aliens and deposit them across..."
And most citizens of Texas, New Mexico & Arizona would like to see their respective Governors do the same...round up and deport that is.
"If there isn't a convenient state line, then outside the 12 mile limit."
Even better, the U.S. has a 200 mile limit! That's a LONG way to swim.
Mr. Peabody
Posted by: Mr. Peabody ||
10/08/2004 9:37 Comments ||
Top||
#7
Why can't they (non-citizens) use a license from their home country? Reciprocity is common when it comes to driving. They couldn't possibly want a fake ID for other purposes could they?
Posted by: dorf ||
10/08/2004 10:10 Comments ||
Top||
#8
It really shouldn't be so complicated: break the law (illegally immigrate) and you not only don't get a driver's license, you will be returned to your state of citizenry because you broke US law. Skin color, language, ethnic background are of no consequence-the same rule will be applied to everyone.
I am going to be the stone in the shoe of every governmental official on this issue. Those who say one thing and do another, or who defend lawbreakers for chauvinistic ethnic purposes or political gain, are going to learn the meaning of the word 'abrasion'.
#14
"The legislationâs supporters have vowed to go after the governor...." It will require at least a dozen of the morons. I'm sure Shwarzenegger packs a helluva punch.
#18
Good old fashion book/VHS/DVD burning! Man these LLL are really taking that extra step to look like the late great Nazi Party. Have they called for thr deportation of Jews or Christian yet? Problem they have is that Arny has a popularity of about 80% and that pretty much makes you immune from stupid moves like this. Look for Arny to come out and call them: "Hombres de destape."
#26
The reason that the driver's license thing keeps coming up is the Motor Voter law that directs the DMV to offer these would be drivers the opportunity to register to vote. The Democrats view this as a tremendous and quasilegal opportunity to pad their base. Register the illegals as Democrats and vote them absentee forever.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
