You absolutely must click to see the pics!
The brand spanking new Airbus 340-600, the largest passenger airplane ever built, sat in its hangar in Toulouse, France without a single hour of airtime. Enter the Arab flight crew of Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies (ADAT) to conduct pre-delivery tests on the ground, such as engine runups, prior to delivery to Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. The date was November 15, 2007.
The ADAT crew taxied the A340-600 to the run-up area. Then they took all four engines to takeoff power with a virtually empty aircraft. Not having read the run-up manuals, they had no clue just how light an empty A340-600 really is.
The takeoff warning horn was blaring away in the cockpit because they had all 4 engines at full power. The aircraft computers thought they were trying to takeoff but it had not been configured properly (flaps/slats, etc.) Then one of the ADAT crew decided to pull the circuit breaker on the Ground Proximity Sensor to silence the alarm.
This fools the aircraft into thinking it is in the air.
The computers automatically released all the brakes and set the aircraft rocketing forward. The ADAT crew had no idea that this is a safety feature so that pilots can't land with the brakes on.
Not one member of the seven-man Arab crew was smart enough to throttle back the engines from their max power setting, so the $80 million brand-new aircraft crashed into a blast barrier, totaling it.
The extent of injuries to the crew is unknown, for there has been a news blackout in the major media in France and elsewhere. Coverage of the story was deemed insulting to Moslem Arabs. Finally, the photos are starting to leak out.
#1
In those post 9/11 days am I the only one who is nervous at the thinking that an Arab crew will fly a plane much bigger than the ones who brought down the Twin Towers?
#2
Like the Egypt Air suicide plunge, this will somehow be blamed on non-Muslims since Muslims can do nothing wrong since there actions are God-willed.
#7
Story would be more credible if it got some facts straight. The Airbus A380, not the A340-600 is the largest passenger plane yet built. And an A340-600 has a list price north of $200M. That said, I'm willing to believe the worst.
The US and the EU say there will be no immediate end to sanctions on Zimbabwe, despite a historic power-sharing deal signed in Harare on Monday. EU foreign ministers said the measures would continue until the new government took steps to restore democracy.
Robert Mugabe said he was committed to national unity and would do "his best". His rival Morgan Tsvangirai, the new prime minister, said the agreement provided the best hope for Zimbabwe and called for its full implementation.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said a decision on lifting sanctions on Zimbabwean officials had been postponed until October. UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Zimbabwe's new administration would have to make significant progress before the lifting of sanctions was considered.
The International Monetary Fund, which suspended financial and technical assistance in 2006, said it stood ready for talks with the new government about stabilising the economy. But it added that Harare would have to take clear steps to resolve the economic crisis in a country where inflation stands at more than 11,000,000%.
A senior US diplomat told the BBC that Washington wanted to help Zimbabwe, but would need to see proof that Mr Mugabe had relinquished some genuine power to Mr Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Jendayi Frazer, said: "We haven't yet had a chance to study the details of the agreement, nor do we know who will be in the cabinet of this new government, so in some ways it's a bit premature for us to comment until we have the full picture."
Posted by: Steve White ||
09/16/2008 00:00 ||
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Major points of Zimbabwe's power-sharing deal signed Monday.
_ Robert Mugabe remains president and head of government, chairing the Cabinet of ministers._ Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is prime minister with executive powers to chair a new Council of Ministers responsible for forming government policies. He also is deputy chairman of the Cabinet.
_ Mugabe appoints two vice presidents.
_ The opposition gets two deputy prime ministers, one for Tsvangirai's party, one for the breakaway faction led by Arthur Mutambara.
_ Mugabe, acting in consultation with the prime minister, may dissolve Parliament.
_ A Cabinet of 31 ministers, 15 nominated by Mugabe's party, 13 by Tsvangirai and three by Mutambara.
_ A new constitution to be drafted with input from civic groups. Consultations to start within a month and a referendum to be held within two years.
_ State organs and institutions such as the police and army "do not belong to any political party and should be impartial in the discharge of their duties."
_ All parties commit to working toward the lifting of Western sanctions and "re-engaging the international community" to end the country's isolation.
_ An "open media environment" to be promoted by the re-registration and licensing of journalists and media organizations.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/16/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
Well, at least, with the proposed cast of thousands, it will be a new be a new chapter in the never ending story of a failed state.
Posted by: Alaska Paul in Glennallen, AK ||
09/16/2008 1:16 Comments ||
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#2
Have I got this power sharing business straight?
Tsv gets to "form" policies, but Mug is responsible for implementing them. Advantage: Mug
Mug appoints 2 VPs. Not sure this means anything; a wash
Two deputy opposition prime ministers. Doesn't mean anything. Squabbling between the two parties gives slight advantage to Mug
"In consultation" doesn't mean anything unless Tsv has to sign off on dissolving Parliament. Advantage: Mug
Cabinet split. Slight advantage Mug since Mut and Tsv don't always get along. Not sure how relevant the cabinet is going to be anyway.
"New constitution:" nothing changes, referendum will be delayed for lack of progress. Advantage: Mug
Pretty statement about police and army, without mentioning Mug's irregulars: No change. Advantage: Mug
Push to lift sanctions: A wash
Licensing journalists: A wash--whoever winds up in charge controls the media
I think I know who won the negotiations.
Posted by: James ||
09/16/2008 11:13 Comments ||
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South America's presidents converged on Chile for an emergency summit Monday aimed at preventing the collapse of Bolivia, whose leftist president has lost control of about half the country and said bloody unrest there amounts to an attempted coup. Evo Morales said he would explain to his fellow presidents how his political foes in Bolivia's rich eastern lowlands have mounted a "civic coup," inciting "crimes against humanity by groups massacring the poorest of my country."
At least 30 people were killed in political violence last week, prompting Bolivia's first indigenous president to declare martial law in the rebellious state of Pando _ where Morales says thugs used machine guns against his supporters _ and seek the arrest of its governor.
Gov. Leopoldo Fernandez denied any responsibility for the deaths, calling it an armed clash between rival groups and accusing Morales of "mounting a farce."
Morales has lost control over most of eastern Bolivia, where protests have blocked highways and closed border crossings and pipeline sabotage has forced a cutoff of nearly half his nation's natural gas exports to Brazil. Many of the blockades were dismantled as a goodwill gesture on Sunday as both sides sought to establish ground rules for negotations, but political unrest continued Monday as more than a thousand Morales supporters marched on the U.S. Embassy in Bolivia's capital, La Paz.
Morales expelled Washington's ambassador last week, accusing him of encouraging the protests. Ambassador Philip Goldberg called the allegation "false and unfounded," but a series of tit-for-tat explusions followed between the United States, Bolivia and Venezuela. "If he hadn't expelled him we would be tearing down the U.S. Embassy today," protest leader Edgar Patana said as activists burned an American flag and effigies of opposition governors.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/16/2008 00:00 ||
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But although Russia ruled the air during fighting, its air force didn't emerge unscathed. Georgian air defense systems shot down multiple Russian aircraft -- even one of its most advanced bombers -- although it's unclear how many.
Russian officials said three Su-25 Frogfoot attack planes and one Tu-22 Backfire long-range bomber were shot down by the Georgian military. Georgia, on the other hand, claims it shot down as many as 21 Russian planes.
The Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, a Moscow-based independent research institute, published a report in the Moscow Defense Brief crediting the Georgian military with eight kills. In addition to the four confirmed by the Russians, the institute claims the Georgians also shot down a fourth Su-25, an Mi-24 Hind helicopter gunship and two Su-24 Fencer reconnaissance and ground attack aircraft.
The report concluded that the Russian air force underestimated Georgia's air defenses and needed to strengthen its tactics and resources to suppress enemy air defenses.
The institute credited Georgia's Russian-made SA-11 Gadfly surface-to-air missile systems with the shootdowns of the Tu-22 and the three Su-25s.
The loss of the Tu-22 was especially embarrassing for the Russians since it was piloted by three military test pilots at one of the country's most prestigious flight test centers. Aircraft commander Col. Igor Zinov and second pilot Maj. Vyacheslav Malkov survived and were taken prisoner; the navigator died. Photos and video of them lying in Georgian hospital beds were transmitted around the world.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin even visited Zinov and Malkov once they returned to Moscow hospitals after prisoner-of-war swaps with Georgia.
The Tu-22, which was first designed to carry nuclear weapons, was flying a reconnaissance mission, Russian officials said. Former Russian air force chief Gen. Anatoly Kornukov said this was a mistake. "They sent the Tu-22 crew to their deaths thinking that the Georgian air defense would mount no resistance," Kornukov told Interfax news agency.
Alexander Golts, a Moscow-based independent military analyst, agreed. "Using the Tu-22 for a reconnaissance mission over Georgia was the same as using a microscope to drive nails," he said.
How's that Georgia thing working out for you, Vlad?
Russia authorities halted trading on the country's stock exchange on Tuesday after it plunged 17 per cent in a broad-based sell-off.
At 1700 local time, the rouble-denominated Micex index had fallen 17.5 per cent to 881.17 and the RTS index dropped 12 per cent to 1,131.120 as the falling oil price, margin calls on local investors and a broader sell-off in emerging markets stocks drove shares down.
"This is a good old-fashioned panic", said Steven Dashevsky, head of research at Unicredit in Moscow. "It doesn't feel like there is anyone domestically that can put the brakes on." He'll pay for that one
Oil stocks tracked the price of Brent crude, used as a benchmark for Russian oil sales, as it sank below $90 a barrel. Gas giant Gazprom fell 8.3 per cent to Rbs98 and Lukoil dropped 12 per cent to Rbs1,355.51.
"The fundamental issue is oil. Russian oil companies are not producing more so their earnings are dependent on a rising oil price," said Daniel Salter, analyst at ING. If the oil price falls, then earnings downgrades are in the pipeline for these stocks, he added.
State-backed bank VTB tumbled 33 per cent to Rbs0.03 and Volga Telecom sank 28 per cent to Rbs37. Margin calls on local investors who have used stocks as collateral for loans continued to drive sales, as emerging market funds faced growing redemptions.
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/16/2008 14:28 ||
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#1
Vlad will just use this as his raison d'etat for consolidating state control over the stock market, it's gratifying to us, but prolly not a good thing in the long run.
Or, Option B: Do something insane to boost the price of oil.
#3
I imagine Russia oligarchs have all suddenly become intensely pacifistic and unified against any other military adventure in the foreseeable future.
The five-day conflict between the Russian army and Georgia last month exposed serious Russian weaknesses in the field of radio-electronic warfare.
It turns out that Russian electronic countermeasures systems are unable to jam and suppress enemy surface-to-air missiles and reconnaissance systems, radars and UHV communications and troop-control networks.
This is rather disturbing, especially as the Georgian army lacked modern systems. As a result, the 58th Army sustained unnecessary casualties and also lost more combat equipment than it should have.
,,,
#1
Russia's military capibilities are much weaker than they seem, but little trials like Georgia and Syria helps them fix some of their problems. It would be nice if NATO was still an actual force. Oh well, looks like we may have to wrestle the bear again, for awhile.
Posted by: Richard of Oregon ||
09/16/2008 11:32 Comments ||
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#2
As a result, the 58th Army sustained unnecessary casualties and also lost more combat equipment than it should have.
That's funny. Personally I would have liked to have seen catastrophic Russian casualties. The more the better.
#3
I wouldnt' wish casualties on anyone but it would be nice if the Red Army was forced to walk back to Russia because everything more or less broke down.
#3
A) They can't afford it.
B) The US is so far ahead of them they are getting lapped.
C) Why spend money on lots of R&D and weapons when you can sell lower level stuff that is better than most 3rd world nations anyway to America's enemies?
#4
Russia cannot. If they could, they would. To make matters much worse, their Georgian adventure may end up costing them better than a trillion dollars in the long run. Even worse, it made their military understand that its equipment is crap and so they need major and expensive upgrades.
And the worst of all is that the price of oil is heading back down. Which is the big source of Russian income.
The bottom line is that Georgia indirectly did what NATO never did. They single-handedly kicked Russia's ass, without even trying to do so.
#5
IRAN-DAILY > NATO TO CONTINUE EXPANSION [read- Eastward, potens even into ASIA]. NATO warns RUSSIA IT HAS NO VETO AS PER GEORGIA'S SOVEREIGN BID/EFFORT TO JOIN NATO, and that RUSS WILL NOT BREAK NATO's TIES TO GEORGIA = "FORMER SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC"[Plural = SSRS?] THRU RUSS MIL ACTION(S).
Ukraine's pro-Western coalition has collapsed, the parliament speaker announced Tuesday, paving the way for complicated coalition talks or another pre-term parliamentary election.
The 9-month-old alliance composed of parties loyal to President Viktor Yushchenko and his 2004 Orange Revolution partner Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko fell apart amid infighting between the two leaders. They have become fierce rivals ahead of the 2010 presidential election.
The parliament now has 30 days to either form a new coalition or a fresh election will be called. That would be the third parliamentary vote in as many years. Both leaders have campaigned on hopes for quick reform and integration with the West.
"I officially announce the termination of the democratic coalition in the Verkhovna Rada," speaker Arseniy Yatsenyuk told lawmakers referring to the Ukrainian legislature. "It is yet another democratic challenge, but I hope that together we will overcome this challenge."
Yushchenko and Tymoshenko have engaged in a tug-of-war since she regained premiership in December, accusing each other of corruption and incompetence and blocking each other's policies. The final straw came as Yushchenko accused Tymoshenko of acting in the Kremlin's favor by failing to condemn Russia's war with Georgia. Tymoshenko fired back by saying that Yushchenko's overwhelming support of Georgia drags Ukraine into the conflict.
Tymoshenko then teamed up with the Russia-friendly opposition to adopt a law that trims presidential powers and boosts her own. Yushchenko called that a coup attempt and his party pulled out of the coalition. Some analysts predict that a new governing coalition may involve the Russia-leaning Party of Regions.
Yulia Tymoshenko is kinda hot looking. But it sounds like she wants to take Ukraine back into the Russian sphere of influence. So if she wins the 2010 presidential election it could make moot the issue of Ukraine being admitted to NATO.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
09/16/2008 11:12 Comments ||
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#3
Looks like she has a nasty case of blower's cramp. Must be a player.
#7
She's hot, but she's a blonde Morticia as far as I can tell, a Ukrainian Aoun. Self-motivated sail-trimmer with no permanent loyalties or principles.
Posted by: Mitch H. ||
09/16/2008 14:41 Comments ||
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CLAREMONT - Karl Rove, the former Deputy Chief of Staff and senior advisor to President George W. Bush, discussed presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama and gave his take on the legacy of the current president. But hundreds of protesters greeted Rove before, during and after his speech. Free speech for me, but not for thee!
When Rove tried to leave the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum, at least two people and possibly a third claimed they were pepper sprayed while campus officials said they were not. Tried to leave? Why, yokel rag-hack, was he not able to leave freely, and how would this lead to allegations of pepper spraying?
A bomb threat was also determined to be unfounded, campus officials added. See, no harm done.
Rove's speech took place from 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday inside the Claremont McKenna College Athenaeum. "One of the most important resources is time," Rove said about the 2008 presidential election. Rove said Obama had not seized the narrowing election days to "advance his case."
For instance, Obama linked the country's economic problems to Bush and McCain instead of showing "he's up to the job" with a specific proposal.
Rove said he felt Bush was a "successful" president but they had "done a lousy job of explaining" why he was. Rove listed the million dollar AIDS relief fund for Africa, the accountability of the No Child Left Behind performance program, large amounts of money invested in alternative energy and privatizing social security. That is a multi-billion dollar AIDS program, you poltroon. I suspect this is a "typo-lie," the incidental insertion of false information that can be dismissed as a simple error if it is challenged. Typo-lies are a running joke in the academic world.
After the speech, Todd Logan, 21, of Pomona College, said he saw two people get hit by pepper spray when Rove was led out by security while other students reported three. Has this Todd seen Bigfoot or Jimmy Hoffa recently?
Some students said they were hit by the vehicle Rove was drove off campus in but officials denied their claims. WTF? "DROVE off the campus in." This person should be drove from the ranks of journalism.
Henry Watkins, consultant for Claremont McKenna College, said no students were hit with pepper spray or hit by a vehicle. We did gas and run over a few of those anarchist townie slackers, though.
A bomb was reported at 7:31 p.m. inside of nearby Collins dining hall but was later found to not be true, Watkins said. Omit "of," you dolt. I remember the good old days, when literacy was a pre-requisite for journalism.
#2
When Rove tried to leave the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum, at least two people and possibly a third claimed they were pepper sprayed while campus officials said they were not.
I would think they would prefer to head off to a hospital rather than hang around to whine about getting hit by pepper spray. What better place to get relief and to document their injuries? I also think they would smell rather odd until they changed their clothes.
#3
You sure the pepper spray wasn't because dude thought the protest would be a great place to pick up chicks, failing to realize that the "Duke Faculty Was Right" t-shirt should'a warned him that Missy was feral too.
#5
Chief Obama campaign strategist, believed by many to have been a secret leader of the Weather Underground, Red Army Faction splinter group, or a Havana University mathematics professor deported for radicalism, but nobody knows for sure.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, when asked Tuesday whether Democrats bear some of the responsibility regarding the current crisis on Wall Street, had a one-word answer: No.
Pelosi (D-Calif.) ripped President Bushs mismanagement of the economy and a lack of regulation that led to the current situation.
I think the American people have had it with this situation where the middle-income people in our country are not protected from the ramifications of the risk-taking and the greed of these financial institutions, Pelosi told MSNBC.
When asked whether the Democrats deserve some responsibility regarding the economic crisis, Pelosi responded: No.
John McCain said that this is a result of overregulation by the Democrats in Congress, she added. Either he doesnt know what he's talking about or hes misrepresenting the facts as he knows them. But its simply not true.
Many of these policy's began on Clinton's watch (with some Repub complicity) and the Dem's have controlled the House and Senate for the last two years. Nope! Nope! Not US!
#3
Cut her some slack. Congress has an approval rating in the single digits. If she admits to this, the only ones who will be saying they are doing a good job are the congresscritters' relatives and staff. Maybe. (If it's anonymous, possibly not even that.)
Posted by: Cornsilk Blondie, formerly known as Swamp Blondie ||
09/16/2008 17:35 Comments ||
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--- Pelosi's opinion is just more of the party line & was to be expected.
--- The only approval rating for Congress that really matters is the one cast at the polls in November. Pollsters find a large fraction of the electorate hates "Congress" but despite this individual Congressmen overwhelmingly tend to get re-elected.
#8
Yes, the dems have did nothing whatsoever to restrict Fannie and Freddie or increase their reserve requirements. Nope. They were getting too much campaign grease from these two entities. Frickin liars.
WASILLA, AK - Records and eyewitnesses have come to light that prior to announcing her candidacy for the Vice Presidency; Sarah Palin shot a Bigfoot from a helicopter.
A government helicopter was seen flying low over the Chugach National Park with what witnesses described as "a sexy librarian shooting out the side." Employees at a local bait shop report seeing a similar woman only hours before carrying an infant in a camouflage Baby Bjorn.
The Bigfoot, or Sasquatch as it is known in scientific circles, was found dead on the outskirts of the park, just south of Wasilla, Alaska. Preliminary forensics reports confirm that an adult male Sasquatch was shot in the face with Palin's trademark 5mm M4 Carbine Assault Rifle.
Environmental groups are in an uproar at the hunting death of a rare and notoriously reclusive species. Efforts to have the Sasquatch placed on the endangered species list have met with repeated opposition from state legislature, since protecting the 'Missing Link' could be seen as validating evolution.
Gotta love the home of Batboy™ getting into the campaign.
#3
Looks like the ape may have come through the field on an ATV. He doesn't have a helmet. Hmmm, dangerous.
Posted by: Richard of Oregon ||
09/16/2008 16:31 Comments ||
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#4
Efforts to have the Sasquatch placed on the endangered species list have met with repeated opposition from state legislature, since protecting the 'Missing Link' could be seen as validating evolution.
Hmm, I recall seeing that sort of thinking on Daily Kos when I used to troll there.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi yesterday privately pushed Rep. Charlie Rangel to give up his chairmanship of the influential House tax-rules committee amid explosive revelations that his personal tax filings were riddled with errors and omissions, a well placed source said.
San Fran Nan has been taking lessons from The One on how to flip-flop ...
Rangel, the Democratic chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, has been resisting growing calls to step down from the high-profile leadership role since The Post reported the Harlem congressman failed to disclose rental income from his Dominican Republic beach home.
Rangel subsequently admitted owing at least $10,000 in back taxes and became a target of Republican political attacks.
One member of the New York congressional delegation who supported Pelosi's decision said, "You have to have one standard - you can't have one for [Republicans] and one for us."
Rangel himself remained mum on his sitdown with Pelosi after exiting a later, separate meeting with fellow Democratic committee members. "I am unable to say anything," he said before bizarrely rattling off his name, rank and serial number from his Korean War days. "Do to me what you want, I'm not talking."
The 76-year-old politician smiled when asked if he was still chairman of the powerful tax panel.
Pelosi later denied through spokesperson Nadeam Elshami that she has asked Rangel to step aside. And a committee member, Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.), asked if Rangel was still in charge, replied, "You're damn right he's the chairman."
But in an indication that Rangel may have to fight to keep his position, he scheduled an emergency meeting with the New York delegation today, a source said.
Meanwhile, Rangel was still using his leadership position as an inspirational tale for kids at Harlem's Democracy Prep Charter School yesterday. "It was that education that took a 23-year-old high-school dropout to the Ways and Means Committee," he said.
Rangel's lawyer said the congressman would hire a forensic accountant to review his tax filings over the past 20 years. He also may have to account for why he didn't properly disclose the sale of a Washington, DC, home in 2000, the various values he placed on his former Sunny Isles, Fla., condo, and the wild fluctuations he recorded for his personal investments.
#1
Keep playing dumb, Charlie. You've been here before. This'll blow over like it always does. And your idiot constituents will keep voting you in til the day you die.
Posted by: Mike ||
09/16/2008 14:35 Comments ||
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#6
Charlie should hire me...
“Mr. Rangel believes, I believe and his colleagues believe that making inadvertent errors with no intention to conceal, no personal enrichment and no corruption of the public trust, is not disqualifying. He is prepared to let his constituents make the final judgment on his fitness to serve. Whatever the facts are, he has not dishonored the House, he has not dishonored himself he has not done anything intentionally wrong.”
#7
So Trent Lott says some kind words to Thurman on is 98th birthday, and gets run out of his postion as majority leader.
This guy (Rangel) is a proven (if unconvicted) tax cheating CROOK, and there is some "debate" that he is being "asked" to step down? WTF? I wonder what will happen to me if I should forget to mention several tens of thousands of rental property income - anyone? Think I'll be visited by anyone federal?
#8
Jeesh, how often do I have to keep reminding you guys? DEMOCRAT=CRIMINAL. That's it. That's all there is. That's all there ever is. Anybody who votes Democrat or serves in any government organization as a Democrat Party member is a criminal. They support criminality, they aid criminality, they commit crimes if they can get anywhere near a position where they have the opportunity. That's what Democrats do. This business with Rangel isn't news, just as the business with "Cold Cash" or Sandy Burglar or Whitewater or Marc Rich or the exotic labor provisions of Saipan and American Samoa aren't news. It's Democrat criminality. Dog bites man is more original than this.
#2
I find it absolutely shocking that NOTHING is being done about voter fraud. There was an article in the reporter who had his vote changed in front of his eyes. Unlike many of the electronic machines, this one provided a printout. He bothered to check the printout which was difficult to decipher because you had to line everything up and sure enough, his vote had been changed. He tried to report it to through the proper channels to get something done and got a collective yawn all the way up the chain. He wondered that if he, with the power of a major paper behind him could not get anyone to notice or care, how many others had been likewise ignored when they complained. And that would be just those who noticed.
Without the vote we are little more than peasants being robbed by our Royal Congress members.
#3
Congress? No. ACORN is the Dems - and Obama goes WAY back with them. Their fraud helped themwin the election iN Washington for Gov., and may have altered the race in other places as well.
#5
Just sent this link to my little sister, living in Battle Creek with a dare to call Lansing and get the SecState off it's arse. wonder how effective it will be with a 'D' governor, however.
It appears Barack Obama's teleprompter is hitting the campaign trail. LOLz. A little tired and befuddled are we, Mr. Obamessiah?
The Democratic presidential nominee has never tried to hide the fact he delivers speeches off the device, though normally he doesn't use one at standard campaign rallies and town hall events. but now he can't remember the empty rhetoric without uh..uh...uh ...ah... a teleprompter, even for the county fair circuit?
But the Illinois senator used a teleprompter at both his Colorado events Monday — making for a particularly peculiar scene in Pueblo, where the prompter was set up in the middle of what is normally a rodeo ring. when even CNN notes it, you know it was awkward. Without the prompter, he's a vacuous hack, and he's wearing down. Shame them into removing it and we'll have some fun with what comes out
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/16/2008 07:22 ||
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#1
Will this be in one of the 57 states? Like New Pennsylvania?
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/16/2008 7:53 Comments ||
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#3
He's relying on the Electoral votes from those last seven states to carry to victory come November. And you know ACORN is doing its best to make it happen.
#11
The fact that nobody released any of the bulls while this clown was in the ring proves, without a doubt, that cowboys and country folks are tolerant people.
#13
I read something yesterday that the media either are seeing or sense that Obama is going to go down in flames. They are setting up the blame excuse machine in advance (ala the Swiftboat excuse for Kerry...). It may be that they will actually turn on Barack before the election if the polls are strongly in McCain's favor. That would be lovely to see.
#15
Did he tuck his trousers into his boots to protect the hems? ;)
Posted by: Cornsilk Blondie, formerly known as Swamp Blondie ||
09/16/2008 14:33 Comments ||
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#16
Ohio is trending McCain by 4+, Virginia is trending McCain by a bit as well.
Of the close states, assume Obama gets MI MN PA NM, McCain get VA FL OH NV.
That leaves NH and CO. If CO goes Obama and NH goes McCain, its 269-269, and Pelosi's House of representatives votes the president and vice president in - meaning Obama gets it.
If CO flips McCain, then McCain wins.
Unless McCain can steal PA or MI or MN, he cannot win without Colorado.
And the problem is the the GOP in Colorado is very disorganized due to the fat-cat country club types (Owen, Beauprez, Coors) letting it rot while trying to go "middle of the road", abandoning conservatives.
As I see things, the Dems are outworking the GOP, they have flyers going on doors, their 527's have commercials on all the time, and are already phoning people.
Folks, this one may slip away unless the GOP can get off its ass in Colorado.
And Colorado is the only state that is that close and can be flipped realistically without a major campaign event. Its small enough, and western enough for McCain/Palin to be able to reach in and grab it by a slim margin.
It all depends on getting suburban and rural conservatives to the polls to outnumber the liberals in cities of Denver and Boulder, and the unthinking "I always vote Dem" morons in Pueblo.
#18
Interesting article from Chicago, deals with community activism / unemployment:
http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3901/no_jobs_make_mean_streets/
#20
Read the WSJ today ? Magic Man made a BIG impression with his rich donors today by claiming he foresaw this great collapse months/years ago, and that the Streeters are made to look dumb and barefoot. Didn't go down too well with some of his NY core supporters. With some Hill/Bill help he might yet lose New Yawk. Wouldn't that be a hoot. Game over, turn out those lights pulleeese.
#21
I could be wrong but I would think going off a teleprompter every day will just weaken his ability to answer on the fly, a skill he'll need in the debates. He should host a series of small town halls instead. Yeah he'll have a few gaffs but the media will mostly cover for him. Gaffs in a debate will be seen by everyone and it'll kill him.
"This is not hyperbole: We cannot win without Pennsylvania."
Sen. Joe Biden, Denver, August 28, 2008.
Pennsylvania is a crucial state in the general election and the campaign needs as many volunteers as possible on the ground in Pennsylvania every day -- so please commit to any and all days that you can.
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Nepalese Prime Minister Prachanda visits India apparently determined to change the terms of engagement with his country's giant neighbour. The visit is being watched with great interest as India prepares to work with a Nepal that looks like being governed very differently from the past.
For years Nepalese leaders have expressed a desire to review a peace treaty which has defined relations between the two countries since 1950. Prachanda, under pressure from Maoist comrades not to be pro-India, has gone further. He is being urged to stand up to India and has said he will bring the draft of a new agreement to Delhi.
It was an abortive attempt by the Communist Party of Nepal to seize power with China's backing in 1952, that led India to step up military and intelligence co-operation. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru stressed Nepal's importance for a newly independent India in 1959 when he said "we cannot allow anything to go wrong in Nepal or permit that barrier to be crossed or weakened because that would be a risk to our [India's] security".
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Steve White ||
09/16/2008 00:00 ||
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Link ||
[8 views]
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#1
NEWSWEEK > an estimated 40Milyuhn or more CHIN in nations throughout SE ASIA are rediscovering their CHINESE HERITAGE/ROOTS, engaging in local Political, Cultural, and Econ activities in suppor of SAME = PRO-CHIN NATIONALISM, and wid newfound Ethnic enthusiasm.
#2
FREEREPUBLIC/NET POSTERS > opine that what CHINA desires in TIBET/NEPAL, as in GWADAR, is a MILITARY AND TRADE HIGHWAY/CORRIDOR TO PORTS IN SOUTH ASIA, which is prob why it is willing at present to improve relations wid TAIWAN instead of invading same.
#3
India is a day late and a dollar short with this. They have long needed to realize that by ignoring their neighbors, especially Pakistan and now Nepal, that they have invited trouble.
Instead, early on and in a continuing effort, they should have cultivated and supported strong allies in both nations.
#6
ION IRAN-DAILY > ANWAR: ENOUGH SUPPORT TO TOPPLE GOVT. [Malaysia], from Monarchy to majority Popular/National Secul Socialist model.
AS ARGUED TIMES BEFORE ON THE NET, COMMIE-ISLAMIST COLLUSION = "RADICAL ISLAMISTS-MILITANTS DO THE FIGHTIN', COMMIES-MAOISTS SECULARISTS, etc. DO THE GOVERNIN'".
GRAND FORKS, N.D. - When considering biodiesel production, camelina ap-pears to be an excellent crop, according to information presented at the recent Bio-Mass '08 Technical Workshop in Grand Forks.
In recent months biodiesel production has decreased in the U.S. because of high prices for soybean and canola oil, the two main oils currently used in biodiesel processing, since the oil from both of these seeds is in high demand in the food industry.
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Lots of empty space in ND, SD, NB, etc because the precip is under 15"/year; however, Camelina only needs about 10"/year. Still a long way from happening however- needs improved subspecies and specialized extraction process development.
#3
Funny, I thought camelina was some kind of camel shaped pasta...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
09/16/2008 12:10 Comments ||
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#4
I looked at the article and then did a cursory search for biodiesel miles per gallon. The performance for some previous blends seems to be OK. Therefore it seems cost is the primary factor.
One of my gripes with gasohol is that with 10% alcohol you lose about 10% mpg and it costs more to boot. Nice. You use 10% more to go the same distance, for more money. We won't go into what it does to small, high performance engines; especially those not used on a regular basis.
#5
The problem with most articles on biodiesel is they talk about competing with the food industry for the oil instead of using the oil after the food industry is done with it (which is how the grassroots biodiesel deal with the problem).
#6
Got a question for the more scientific types here. Why not use kudzu? It grows like crazy and I'm sure there's plenty of places down South that would love to be rid of it. Or is it worthless for that purpose for some reason?
Posted by: Cornsilk Blondie, formerly known as Swamp Blondie ||
09/16/2008 17:50 Comments ||
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#7
Kudzu is deceptive. When you drive down a road and there is kudzu it looks like there is a lot. Kudzu is actually a vine with large leaves that overlap blocking out the sun and preventing anything else from growing. If you ever have to clean out kudzu you will find there is not a lot of mass there. The vines are relatively far apart and quite small. The land required to grow it is quite large for the ammount of mass you would get. The roots, on the other hand, are an excellant source of starch and are quite good.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
09/16/2008 21:16 Comments ||
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#8
"The roots, on the other hand, are an excellant source of starch and are quite good."
I do NOT want to know how you know that, Deacon.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
09/16/2008 21:28 Comments ||
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#9
I guess I'm not gonna tell ya about the kudzu apes.
I have no sympathy for these pigs.
But losses? What were they? Mortgage lending had a low default record. And the bank was on a roll, creating ever more ingenious financial products that bonus-driven salesmen sold to bedazzled clients. The group posted record profits, the shares soared towards $70 and bonuses and stock options gushed forth.
Fuld joined the bulge bracket. He was paid $34.5 million in 2005, comprising a base salary of $750,000, a $13.8 million cash bonus, and stock and options worth $19.94 million.
So how does his demise compare with the other fallen idols who have now fled the crashing debris in Wall Street? They may have driven their banks – and their shareholders – into enormous losses. But the former Masters of the Universe will never know what it's like to live in a subprime home.
By the end, 62-year-old Fuld was Lehman's biggest individual stockholder. Despite the crash, he stands to leave with about $65 million, based on Lehman's Friday morning stock price of $3.73. This tally includes 8.6 million unrestricted shares worth some $32.1 million as of Friday morning – though they had been worth $582 million last November before the credit crunch hurricane struck.
Chuck ("I'm still dancing") Prince left Citigroup with a package said to be worth $40 million. He also received a pension of $1.74 million and another one million stock options – worthless at the time of his departure. Merrill Lynch's Stan O'Neal spent much of last summer perfecting his golf swing, confident that his trusty lieutenants at Merrill could avoid those subprime bunkers. It turned out to be a bad call.
HE WAS ousted last October as the first waves of the credit crunch struck, with a retirement package reckoned at more than $160 million.
Jimmy Cayne, 15 years at the top of Bear Stearns, was said to be on the golf course in June 2006 just as the bank dropped the first of many clangers, with a 10 per cent dive in profits. Worse followed, with the bank having to put up $3.2 billion to try to rescue its imploding hedge fund.
By mid-March last year, when the bank collapsed, Cayne, who would rush from Wall Street by chopper to the private Hollywood Golf Club in New Jersey to play 18 holes before dark, had already relinquished the reins, handing over the chief executive's role to Alan Schwartz.
When Schwartz went cap in hand to the New York Fed for a $30 billion bail-out, Cayne was said to be competing in the North American Bridge Championship in Detroit.
Cayne and his wife, Patricia, sold all their 5.6 million shares in Bear Stearns – worth as much as $1.2 billion in January 2007 – for $61.3 million at the end of March this year. The couple recently bought two adjacent apartments in New York's plush Plaza building for $28.2 million.
He left with a $30 million "golden goodbye" – enough to do up his Park Avenue property and a mock Tudor mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut. But it emerged that the mansion, set in 2.3 acres of land, was surplus to requirements. "It no longer meets his needs,'' said the local estate agent, trying to sell it for $6.15 million. He was forced to cut the asking price.
That's how tough it gets at the top in Wall Street. Rest at the link...
#2
This was a fine example of "boiling the frog." It happened so gradually, over so many years, that the obvious, that houses worth $125k were being sold for $850k or more, was missed.
We will truly not be over this problem until home prices are at least in the same ballpark as home costs.
The trouble was also that unrealistically high home prices were like ripples from a rock thrown into a pond. It drove up construction margins, and it drove up property taxes--which in turn drove up government spending.
And it is going to be agonizing to governments when homeowners force tax assessments lower. When confronted by as much as a 50% drop in revenues, they will pass out. Right now, they are trying to sustain their high revenues by raising taxes.
But, as the saying goes, you can't get blood from a turnip.
#5
Those were lending devises of their own creation, I say let them go down in flames. The only real losers will be the customer in the future, who wants to buy a house, but cant come up with a huge down payment.
#6
One word: Diversify. These guys, supposedly the best of the best, forgot the most basic tenet of investing and it cost they're companies (shareholders) billions.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
09/16/2008 16:57 Comments ||
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#7
Am I right in saying that this is similar to what happened in Japan with insane housing prices in tokyo propping up everything. But in Japan the government refused to pop the bubble so the economy flatlined for years and years.
Congress is responsible because it passed the Community Redevelopment Act telling banks to lend to minority groups they weren't lending to because of red lining. This resulted in banks lending to people they would never have lent to otherwise and the development of no down, interest only loans. The first time I heard an ad for one of those I knew it would end badly.
But people could do it because it wasn't much and it kept Congress off their backs. And it grew. And then they got greedy. And home owners got greedy. And they used the easy financing tools to get bigger mortgages nad that drove up the demand and price for houses. And everybody thought they could make a fortune if they got a bigger house. So bigger houses were built to fit the bigger mortgages.
And all the mortgages were bought by Freddie and Fannie and repackaged into securities that could safely be bought because everybody knew that the Feds would bail out Fred and Fan, so there was no risk but mortgage rate return.
The Japanese just stopped reproducing.
Two things move markets. Fear. Greed. Fear is on top now.
#10
--- The housing crisis was a true financial mania, just like the South Sea Bubble and the Dutch Tulip craze of centuries past. Buyers, sellers & lenders in real estate acted as if history didn't matter. Common catch phrases for the mania were "It's different here." "Buy now or get priced out forever." "You can always refinance." People involved in it just went nuts. Those Cassandras who knew what was happening & tried to alert others to it were laughed off the stage. The mania was obvious to me for some years. Since I live in Ohio & own my shack free & clear, I had no skin in the game. I did sell all my stock holdings (both personal & tax-deferred retirement funds) in 8/2007 since I could see this coming that long ago.
--- This was not "boiling the frog" The frog died last year. The frog's beaker has boiled dry & it is exploding from thermal stress. When housing prices (not costs) fall to a level that matches incomes of credit-worthy buyers, the bottom of the housing bubble will have been reached. I have no idea when that will be, but there is still a very long way for housing prices to fall. The true market value of real estate is still what a willing buyer actually pays, not what a shill or promoter likes to think it is.
--- Some commentators have called the fat-cat bankers Pig Men, a term I prefer. I've been hearing a lot of squealing lately.
--- There has been a recent step in the right direction on golden parachutes. From Bloomberg.com: "Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's regulator is blocking as much as $24 million in ``golden parachute'' severance payments to the companies ousted chief executive officers." Don't know if this will hold up in court, since the severance payments were contractual.
#11
Here's a great idea [NOT!]
"House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank said financial market turmoil is likely to force Congress and the administration to consider whether the U.S. government should buy distressed debt and mortgages.
The ``next question'' for lawmakers and the Bush administration will be whether Congress should create an agency like the Resolution Trust Corp., which took over the assets of failed savings and loan associations almost two decades ago, Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat, told reporters in Washington."
The amount of bad debt floating around is unknown and in the multi-trillion dollar range AFAICT. The S&L crisis was peanuts by comparison.
#12
Sure, there might be a couple trillion in bad debt housing debt out there, but it's back by to a large degree by assets. Sure, the assets might only be worth half of the debt, but that's a lot better than no assets at all.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
09/16/2008 18:36 Comments ||
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#13
that's a lot better than no assets at all. Very true, but due to securitization and the sheer mass of recent loans, some of the "assets" may only be worth a few pennies on the dollar, and would-be buyers are extremely reluctant to buy a pig in a poke. And, to use an extreme case, some abandoned and vandalized housing in Detroit actually has a negative value -- the cost of razing the mess and restoring the site to a bare lot is more than you could get for the bare lot after all that effort.
#16
This evening's development: "The U.S. government agreed to lend as much as $85 billion to American International Group Inc. in exchange for a 79.9 percent stake to save the country's biggest insurer from collapse...``The loan is expected to be repaid from the proceeds of the sale of the firm's assets,'' the Fed said. The U.S. government has the right to veto the payment of dividends to common and preferred shareholders.
AIG will replace management as part of the deal"
The media provides little info on the significance of whatever it is that AIG does. I read a blog post from some financial type mentioning that if AIG went bankrupt, about 30% of the S&P 500 would follow within 90 days.
#17
AIG insures a lot of financial products and they don't have enough money and assets to cover what the payouts potentially are. If their credit rating gets downgraded, so do the credit ratings of banks and businesses all over America and Europe. That would be ugly. That really would cause a worldwide economic problem.
All in all, getting 80% of AIG for 85 billion aint a bad deal. We either get our tax dollars back or we get The taxpayer doesn't have to lose on this one, at least.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
09/16/2008 23:24 Comments ||
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Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the head of the International Monetary Fund, said on Monday he expected the global financial sector to shrink as a result of the international credit crisis. "The financial sector, not only in the US but also in the rest of the world, will be at the end of the crisis smaller than the financial sector today," the IMF's managing director told reporters in Cairo.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/16/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
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#1
This guy is a genius! I bet his nick name around the IMF water cooler is Captain Obvious.
Posted by: Scott R ||
09/16/2008 0:29 Comments ||
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#2
What a genius.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
09/16/2008 0:32 Comments ||
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#3
That's why DSK gets the big euros bribes baksheesh bucks.
Posted by: Alaska Paul in Glennallen, AK ||
09/16/2008 1:19 Comments ||
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NEW YORK (AP) -- Lehman Brothers Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Richard Fuld received compensation valued at $22.1 million in 2007, a year in which the company weathered the subprime mortgage collapse better than its rivals.
Ummmmmmmm...not quite.
Of the total, Lehman (LEH, Fortune 500) noted that $7.5 million in stock awards granted during fiscal 2007 are considered compensation for fiscal 2006, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission filing. That reduces his adjusted compensation for the year to about $14.6 million. The filing said Fuld received an additional $9.4 million in stock awards on the same day as part of his fiscal 2007 compensation.
Wonder if he cashed out before the shit hit the fan? Wait. What am I saying...
In addition, the CEO was awarded $750,000 in salary and a performance related bonus of roughly $4.3 million. Other compensation totaled $153,169. Lehman said it does not generally offer special perquisites or other personal benefits to executives.
Weaker energy demand and turmoil in the US financial system have caused oil prices to drop to a seven-month low of nearly 91 dollars.
Brent North Sea crude for October delivery tumbled 4.84 dollars to 92.74, the lowest level since February while New York's main contract, light sweet crude for October, lost 4.24 dollars to reach 96.94 dollars.
The weekly average of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) also hit its lowest in the last seven months, dropping to 97.40 U.S. dollars per barrel last week.
Meanwhile, a stronger dollar also contributed to the current drop in oil prices. This is while tensions were somewhat eased after Hurricane Ike, which slammed into the US Gulf Coast on Saturday, did not damage oil platforms as expected.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/16/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[3 views]
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#1
This is a good article, it reinforces almost all the lame-ass excuses that they "analysts" came up with for the unexplainable rise in oil prices, even though we had oil coming out our ears at times.
#3
This can only be due to the Hope surrounding the Obama campaign. Bless him.
Posted by: Chris W. ||
09/16/2008 10:28 Comments ||
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#4
While the drop in oil prices hasn't translated to the pump just yet, I read a good blog posted here just the other day that attributed it primarily to the recent hit job hurricanes Gustav and Ike have done on our levels of current domestic supply and refining capacity, which was a double-whammy in many ways. Now that the dust has finally settled, and assuming we don't get hit with any more whoppers, I would expect to see prices at the pump begin to fall as Autumn comes around. At least I'm hoping for that.
#5
Aren't we about to head into the annual festival of shutting down refineries to make the Winter Blend gasoline?
Posted by: Grenter, Protector of the Geats ||
09/16/2008 10:40 Comments ||
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#6
There is a twofold problem wrt gas prices.
Due to the Hurricanes, the refineries in the TX/LA area are not operating. This causes wholesale gasoline prices to rise as inventory drops. And I totally forgot about the switching to winter blends. That's going to happen soon, I think.
Also due to the hurricanes is the shutting down of several GOM oil rigs that were either in the path of the storms or even in the projected path. This lowers oil production capability.
I've seen tickers somewhere (but never a full story) that the DOE is releasing about 200,000 (or so) gallons of crude from the strategic reserves.
Hurricane season is only half over. Pray that another one doesn't enter the gulf. Heh, I think all the gulf states have been hit or strongly affected by hurricanes this year.
#7
I heard a guy on radio yesterday, (he is with a group that had oil and pricing in it) Very good explanation for what is happening across the country about the various prices. Extremely knowledgeable.
But basically, he said they work on a "just in time" inventory, which is a 20 day supply -- he compared the oil industry to a lung -- Gustav caused one lung to collapse, and Ike caused the other to collapse.
They hadn't recovered from Gustav when Ike made his appearance.
He said to expect it to be tough through September -- gas will be short -- you will probably have to wait in line -- you will be inconvenienced.
By November, all will be back to normal, October is iffy -- but will begin the working out of it period.
#10
We are forgetitng one factor. Now that we've release a oil from the reserve, we have to fill it back up. Read: There is now a demand for a half million barrels that there wasn't a month ago.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
09/16/2008 13:18 Comments ||
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#14
A little perspective regarding releases from the SPR and damage to a few rigs:
According to this source, there are over 800 fully-manned oil rigs off the coast in the Gulf of Mexico and they produce about 1.5 million barrels per day.
http://www.cccarto.com/gulf_platforms.html
#15
The oil was sold because there refineries that were out of crude and could not get any. In light of the situation, it probably makes sense. With a total capacity of 727 million barrels, I doubt 380,000 make a significant dent and can reduce shortages resulting from acts of God.
#18
Why the hell is gas still $4.15 a gal. here in Cincinnati? Is the electricity back on for all the stations after your big Sunday wind storm? Are they getting their usual supplies? Circumstances do count.
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.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, when asked Tuesday whether Democrats bear some of the responsibility regarding the current crisis on Wall Street, had a one-word answer: No.
WASILLA, AK - Records and eyewitnesses have come to light that prior to announcing her candidacy for the Vice Presidency; Sarah Palin shot a Bigfoot from a helicopter.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi yesterday privately pushed Rep. Charlie Rangel to give up his chairmanship of the influential House tax-rules committee amid explosive revelations that his personal tax filings were riddled with errors and omissions, a well placed source said.
Pelosi later denied through spokesperson Nadeam Elshami that she has asked Rangel to step aside. And a committee member, Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.), asked if Rangel was still in charge, replied, "You're damn right he's the chairman."
Weaker energy demand and turmoil in the US financial system have caused oil prices to drop to a seven-month low of nearly 91 dollars. 
