AoS note: do NOT use blockquote for your comments, use hilite. I don't have time to fix all these, and I'll just have to dump them.
Somehow Lurid Crimes tales seemed appropriate. I am surprised Al Gore hasn't ruled in on this yet. He is chatting a with a beautiful brunette about Global Warming in the U.K. Al Gore - man with a mission
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A push from Congress and the White House for huge increases in biofuels, such as ethanol, is prompting the oil industry to scale back its plans for refinery expansions. That could keep gasoline prices high, possibly for years to come.
With President Bush calling for a 20 percent drop in gasoline use and the Senate now debating legislation for huge increases in ethanol production, oil companies see growing uncertainty about future gasoline demand and little need to expand refineries or build new ones.
#1
Refineries take years to plan and permit, then more years to build. They cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Such large, long lead-time investments need either 1) low risk, or 2) high potential return, to be justified. The injection of undertainty - risk - through government biofuels edicts, hurts the incentive to invest. The inability to generate high potential returns (prevented by either 'windfall profits' taxes or lower cost foreign supply) also hurts the incentive to invest.
I have a personal vested (literally) interest in this - it is my pension fund that will be there or not, according to decisions like this.
#2
They (oil companies) are scamming the American people to keep prices and profits high. The demand for gasoline is going to remain high despite increases in biofuel production.
#3
Refineries are doing quite well as they are & their profits seem to actually go up when their capacity falls, that's a perverse incentive not to build refineries. I strongly suspect the oil industry is aware that world oil production is on the decline, which would be a very good reason not to substantially add to refining capacity. Alternative fuels just won't be available in a large enough quantity to really make a difference in meeting total demand, this rationale is a snow job.
#4
Yeah! It's a scam! Hundreds of tankers are hiding right over the horizon with OUR CHEAP OIL. Heads should roll, we need an investigation. The stuff costs most than bottled water now.
#5
John Q - OF COURSE we're trying to keep profits high! What business doesn't? There is no scam though. Competition is still quite fierce, despite the reduced number of companies. Numerous government investigations have shown this. Our executives make way too much money to make price deals with other companies' execs - they'd go to jail and be unable to spend all that dough (whatever exec some crooked one approached would rat him out a) to put that competitor at a disadvantage and b) out of fear the other guy was working with the feds, attempting to get him arrested.) Our primary competition is foreign national oil companies; at any stage of the business (production, refining or marketing) they can undercut our price, if they choose (their costs are lower - and they can always just charge us evil oil companies more). I can't think of another business that is more price competitive: EVERYBODY sees the price of every seller in big letters, every day - and can go to the least expensive.
The oil companies profit right now is about 25 cents per gallon (tax at the pump is about 45 cents.) That's about 10% profit to sales rate; the consumer electronics industry rate is about 13.5% & medical/pharma is about 21.5% for comparison.
20 years ago, when gas was cheap (and half my peers were being laid off) gas took about 3% of the personal consumption budget, just about the same as today. But 20 years ago recreation took 10% vs 11% today; medical has gone from 14% to 21%.
Marketing only makes a few cents a gallon. WalMart can and does routinely undercut our price at the pump. They'll buy, in huge quantities, from whoever gives them the best price - be it a foreign or domestic refinery (transportation costs are generally the deciding factor). Refineries have immense fixed costs and need to run as close to full capacity as possible. Right now they are making good margins, but they don't always. That's probably about 8-10 cents a gallon. Production (drilling, platforms, labor, etc.) generates the other 15 cents.
Summary: 1) Right now we ARE doing well, and like it that way. 2) There is no scam, price fix, etc. 3) Our profit rates are not much different from the average American business (but because we are so BIG, the absolute dollar profits are HUGE.) 4) The best way to screw the oil companies out of their obscene profits is to use less oil. That is exactly what happened in the 1980's, and it really is not happening much right now.
#9
You know people in the last thirty years there's been nothing put in the Constitution that prohibited the federal government from constructing refineries to increase capacity. Just like Ike used national defense as a rationale to build the interstate highway system, national defense could have been used as an excuse to build capacity. Once built could have been employed like the Federal Reserve in mitigating the effects of demand and supply. So, before you go tacking the oil companies up on the wall, remember the absence of action on our own elected officials part. That includes both parties.
#5
From the article: Deputy Clay Stephens, who viewed the video, said the youth seemed very practiced, not hurried but not wasting any time. He seemed to be following a "very concise, deliberate, well-thought-out plan".
The Battle of Waterloo, fought on 18 June 1815, was Napoleon Bonaparte's last battle. His defeat put a final end to his rule as Emperor of France. . . .
The principal armies of Napoleon's opponents were commanded by the United Kingdom's Duke of Wellington . . . . While the campaign hung in the balance for most of its duration, the decisive battle became the Battle of Waterloo. Allied forces, under Wellington, withstood a final French attack, and counter-attacked while the Prussians, arriving in force, broke through on Napoleon's right flank. . . .
Posted by: Mike ||
06/18/2007 10:51 ||
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#1
Les châtiments - Victor Hugo
livre V - L'autorité est sacrée
13 - L'Expiation II
Waterloo ! Waterloo ! Waterloo ! morne plaine !
Comme une onde qui bout dans une urne trop pleine,
Dans ton cirque de bois, de coteaux, de vallons,
La pâle mort mêlait les sombres bataillons.
D'un côté c'est l'Europe et de l'autre la France.
Choc sanglant ! des héros Dieu trompait l'espérance ;
Tu désertais, victoire, et le sort était las.
Ô Waterloo ! je pleure et je m'arrête, hélas !
Car ces derniers soldats de la dernière guerre
Furent grands ; ils avaient vaincu toute la terre,
Chassé vingt rois, passé les Alpes et le Rhin,
Et leur âme chantait dans les clairons d'airain !
Le soir tombait : la lutte était ardente et noire.
Il avait l'offensive et presque la victoire ;
Il tenait Wellington acculé sur un bois.
Sa lunette à la main, il observait parfois
Le centre du combat, point obscur où tressaille
La mêlée, effroyable et vivante broussaille,
Et parfois l'horizon, sombre comme la mer.
Soudain. joyeux, il dit : Grouchy ! - C'était Blucher
L'espoir changea de camp, le combat changea d'âme,
La mêlée en hurlant grandit comme une flamme.
La batterie anglaise écrasa nos carrés.
La plaine où frissonnaient les drapeaux déchirés,
Ne fut plus, dans les cris des mourants qu'on égorge,
Qu'un gouffre flamboyant, rouge comme une forge ;
Gouffre où les régiments, comme des pans de murs,
Tombaient, où se couchaient comme des épis mûrs
Les hauts tambours-majors aux panaches énormes,
Où l'on entrevoyait des blessures difformes !
Carnage affreux ! moment fatal ! l'homme inquiet
Sentit que la bataille entre ses mains pliait.
Derrière un mamelon la garde était massée.
La garde, espoir suprême et suprême pensée !
- Allons ! faites donner la garde, cria-t-il !
Et Lanciers, Grenadiers aux guêtres de coutil,
Dragons que Rome eût pris pour des légionnaires,
Cuirassiers, Canonniers qui traînaient des tonnerres,
Portant le noir colback ou le casque poli,
Tous, ceux de Friedland et ceux de Rivoli,
Comprenant qu'ils allaient mourir dans cette fête,
Saluèrent leur dieu, debout dans la tempête.
Leur bouche, d'un seul cri, dit : vive l'empereur !
Puis, à pas lents, musique en tête, sans fureur,
Tranquille, souriant à la mitraille anglaise,
La garde impériale entra dans la fournaise.
Hélas! Napoléon, sur sa garde penché,
Regardait, et sitôt qu'ils avaient débouché
Sous les sombres canons crachant des jets de soufre,
Voyait, l'un après l'autre, en cet horrible gouffre,
Fondre ces régiments de granit et d'acier
Comme fond une cire au souffle d'un brasier.
Ils allaient, l'arme au bras, front haut, graves, stoïques.
Pas un ne recula. Dormez, morts héroïques!
Le reste de l'armée hésitait sur leurs corps
Et regardait mourir la garde. - C'est alors
Qu'élevant tout à coup sa voix désespérée,
La Déroute, géante à la face effarée,
Qui, pâle, épouvantant les plus fiers bataillons,
Changeant subitement les drapeaux en haillons,
A de certains moments, spectre fait de fumées,
Se lève grandissante au milieu des armées,
La Déroute apparut au soldat qui s'émeut,
Et, se tordant les bras, cria : Sauve qui peut!
Sauve qui peut ! affront ! horreur ! toutes les bouches
Criaient ; à travers champs, fous, éperdus, farouches,
Comme si quelque souffle avait passé sur eux,
Parmi les lourds caissons et les fourgons poudreux,
Roulant dans les fossés, se cachant dans les seigles,
Jetant shakos, manteaux, fusils, jetant les aigles,
Sous les sabres prussiens, ces vétérans, ô deuil!
Tremblaient, hurlaient, pleuraient, couraient. - En un clin d'il
Comme s'envole au vent une paille enflammée,
S'évanouit ce bruit qui fut la grande armée,
Et cette plaine, hélas! où l'on rêve aujourd'hui,
Vit fuir ceux devant qui l'univers avait fui!
Quarante ans sont passés, et ce coin de la terre,
Waterloo, ce plateau funèbre et solitaire,
Ce champ sinistre où Dieu mêla tant de néants,
Tremble encor d'avoir vu la fuite des géants!
Napoléon les vit s'écouler comme un fleuve ;
Hommes, chevaux, tambours, drapeaux; - et dans l'épreuve
Sentant confusément revenir son remords,
Levant les mains au ciel, il dit : - Mes soldats mort,
Moi vaincu! mon empire est brisé comme verre.
Est-ce le châtiment cette fois, Dieu sévère ?
Alors parmi les cris, les rumeurs, le canon,
Il entendit la voix qui lui répondait : non!
#3
My my, at waterloo napoleon did surrender
Oh yeah, and I have met my destiny in quite a similar way
The history book on the shelf
Is always repeating itself
Waterloo - I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo - promise to love you for ever more
Waterloo - couldnt escape if I wanted to
Waterloo - knowing my fate is to be with you
Waterloo - finally facing my waterloo
My my, I tried to hold you back but you were stronger
Oh yeah, and now it seems my only chance is giving up the fight
And how could I ever refuse
I feel like I win when I lose
Waterloo - I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo - promise to love you for ever more
Waterloo - couldnt escape if I wanted to
Waterloo - knowing my fate is to be with you
And how could I ever refuse
I feel like I win when I lose
Waterloo - I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo - promise to love you for ever more
Waterloo - couldnt escape if I wanted to
Waterloo - knowing my fate is to be with you
Waterloo - finally facing my waterloo
#5
Waterloo Waterloo where will you meet your Waterloo
Every puppy has his day everybody has to pay everybody has to meet his Waterloo
Now ol' Adam was the first in history with an apple he was tempted and deceived
Just for spite the devil made him take a bite
And that's where ol' Adam met his Waterloo
Waterloo Waterloo...
Little General Napoleon of France tried to conquer the world but lost his pants
Met defeat known as Bonaparte's reterat and that's where Napoleon met his Waterloo
Waterloo Waterloo...
Now a feller who's darling proved untrue took her life but he lost his too
Now he swings where the little birdie sings
And that's where Tom Dooley met his Waterloo
Waterloo Waterloo...
It sounds like the plot of a B movie. People scream after finding huge frogs in their toilet bowls. Electrified amphibians cause multiple blackouts. Frogs hitch rides in cars, later surprising unsuspecting drivers.
It's all real, and, according to the University of Florida, the invasive Cuban tree frog is responsible for the chaos. The species has colonized over half of Florida and is now moving in on the rest of the state. The 6-inch-long frogs, which dwarf native tiny tree frogs, have also been found in Georgia, South Carolina, California, Hawaii and Canada.
UF amphibian expert Steve Johnson told Discovery News that the frog "toilet surprise" has startled himself, numerous students and several friends. "They come in through bathroom PVC vent pipes on the roof," Johnson explained. "Once they find moisture, they may just keep moving down until they make their way to the toilet, one of their favorite indoor destinations."
He added that the creamy white to light brown frogs can also clog up sinks. The bathroom attraction has to do with the frogs' preference for "confined, cozy" spaces, such as pipes.
The frogs first became established in Florida in the early 20th century, after the amphibians stowed away on boats. On land, almost any form of transportation can carry them from one region to another.
Johnson said Florida, California and Hawaii remain particularly vulnerable to such invasions. The states contain numerous ports of entry. The problem also worsens, thanks to a "booming" pet trade. Johnson said he has seen Cuban tree frogs for sale at major U.S. pet store chains, despite the fact that the species releases a mild toxin from its skin that can burn the eyes of handlers.
When people tire of their exotic pet, they may then release it into the wild, thus adding to the invasive species problem. The frogs then thrive in Florida's wetlands, not to mention the year-round warm conditions.
Among the many problems the invasive frogs cause are electrical outages. Steve Perkins, system operations engineer at the state's third largest public power utility, suggests that while the frogs have been around for decades, their numbers must be on the rise. Since the mid 1990's, the frogs have caused two or three blackouts per week during the spring and fall.
Perkins thinks power poles attract the Cuban frogs because the poles provide shelter and may house insects. Once inside, the frog may contact two surfaces. If one or both of these surfaces carries an electrical charge, the amphibian can disrupt the normal flow of electricity, leading not only to a fried frog but also a power outage. He said a single incident can cost up to $10,000 to repair. Native frogs never cause outages, Perkins said, because they are too small to contact charged surfaces that are spread apart.
Johnson is working on two possible solutions. The first involves capturing the frogs in PVC pipes and humanely euthanizing them. The second employs a chemical deterrent, now used to repel chewing horses and porcupines. Johnson said the repellent's key chemical is commonly found in newspaper ink.
He admits those are just Band-Aid solutions. "Once an invasive species becomes established, it's next to impossible to eradicate it," Johnson said. "That's why it's important to detect populations of invasive plants and animals early, before it's too late."
Yes, this woman (who according to the article was Jill Coccaro, a 27-year-old East Village artist in 2005, who now goes by the name Phoenix Feeley), would not make the Good Morning news.
However, that was in 2005. Maybe she's gained some weight and learned to use make up; it's amazing what make up can do for a woman (I've seen pictures of Pam Anderson without make up - yeech).
#6
Skininess and skankiness is in the eye of the beholder. She ain't that bad. However, she is probably a real moonbat. Wonder why she changed her name to Feely as in "touchy-feely."
Sen. Jim Webb finally admitted he owns a gun that an aide was arrested for carrying into the U.S. Capitol complex in March. Webb previously had refused to say whether the gun was his, although his senior aide - Phillip Thompson - had told police the weapon belonged to the Democratic senator.
"It's my gun," Webb told the Richmond Times-Dispatch in a recent interview. But how and why it was in Thompson's possession remains unclear. Webb said he didn't give the gun to Thompson, "nor did I ask him to do anything with it." Maybe he was stealing it, Senator? Or going to go "postal" in the Senate?
Thompson was arrested on an illegal handgun charge when he carried the loaded pistol and two loaded magazines in a briefcase into the Russell Senate office building. A federal prosecutor later dropped the charge. I mean, it was a Senator's gun, for heaven's sake!
Webb said little about the incident in March, saying he did not want to prejudice the outcome of Thompson's case. "It was a matter under legal consideration, and I was precluded from saying anything," Webb told the Richmond newspaper. Not clear here is how long ago the case was dropped. IIRC, it was at least two months ago.
Webb declined to say whether he complies with the District of Columbia's law that prohibits carrying a handgun or concealed weapon without a license. But of course, that law was subsequently struck down by a judge. Maybe the Senator was setting up a test case for the soon-thereafter-to-be-overturned law?
Posted by: Bobby ||
06/18/2007 06:13 ||
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#1
teh Senator proved his worth when he immediately threw his aide under the bus.
Posted by: Frank G ||
06/18/2007 12:55 Comments ||
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#2
He tossed him under the bus and then drove the bus over him repeatedly. Yech democrats.
*The backlog of 600,000-plus fugitive deportee cases.
*The backlog of 4 million immigration applications of all kinds.
*The backlog of an estimated 100,000 FBI background checks for legal immigrant applicants.
*The disappearance of 111,000 citizenship applications.
The Washington Post reports today that those mounds of unprocessed paperwork continue to grow. Hundreds of thousands of immigrants who came here legally are waiting for FBI background checks that must be obtained before they can become naturalized...
#1
While a border fence will help, I'm beginning to think that the only real solution is regime change in Mexico. The Mexican ruling elite are effectively using America as a dumping ground for their politically and economically disaffected masses. We need those people rising up against the Mexican oligarchy instead of screwing up our economy.
Foreign remittances sent back home represent the second largest source of money in Mexico's economy. Think how much it would benefit America if all that cash was being spent or invested here instead.
#2
How many Z-visas are estimated? How long would that backlog take? How about - in addition to controlling our borders and enforcing existing laws - we also catch up on our late paperwork?
Posted by: Bobby ||
06/18/2007 6:12 Comments ||
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#3
bobby, If I remember correctly, Z-visas are auto-awarded after 24 hours, which means the requirement, given the current situation, is guaranteed to "fail" in the Illegal's favor.
I think Zenster's got the right of it: They're virtually an aristocracy, supported by aristocrats here in the United States. Usually, they are at each others throats, but I've heard from Dr. Francisco Gil-White that the first law of class warfard is that aristocrats must band together to keep the lower classes from getting rebellious. So far, the United States citizenry are not rebellious, altough I am leaning toward "broken glass petitions": bricks bearing notes tossed through plate glass windows of senators, representatives, and government officies, at night.
#4
I was getting a whole bunch of surveys and pledge cards from the Republican Party. I kept sending them back filled out that border security was my first priority and they wouldn't get a dime until they did it. After the 2006 rout, I sent them a coupon for an Arizona building materials wholesaler that offered %10 off along with a letter stating that now maybe they would listen and since they were going to be going broke soon the enclosed coupon was my donation.
I haven't received any letters from them since then.
#5
I still get the surveys and pledge cards. They're getting desperate though, since the last few have been coming from Laura. I've said the same thing in every fax, phone call and letter. Unfortunately, my Senators are Nelson and Martinez, and you know they are unmovable. My wife is a legal immigrant and that took 2 years just to get a green card (post 9/11) and she is a professional, Euorpean stock, independently financially secure, etc. She is more burned about this bill than I am. I think both the Dems and Repubs are in trouble here. I can't believe McCain won the NewsMax poll - jamming and spamming votes online doesnot a candidate make. Whoever runs with a realistic immigration policy (secure borders, strengthen existing laws, increase workplace enforcement, enlarge immigration courts, increase criminal deportation, etc.) has the best chance of winning.
Posted by: Jack is Back! ||
06/18/2007 10:22 Comments ||
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#6
When you get the surveys and pledge cards, use the return envelope postage free to send them a little note explaining what they MUST do to get any more money. Don't be afraid to use the F word.
I've read that the support staffs of some senators, especially the local people are very depressed and some are ready to exit.
To further complicate matters, I personally am now in the Iraq is lost colume. After reading an excellent article by Col. Snodgrass in saneworks.us, I believe Bush has screwed up by failing to identify the enemy, failing to use overwhelming force, and failing to combat enemy motivation, especially motivational support from the west. At this point, withdraw to Kurdistan and let the sunni/shia wars commence, and stop treating Israel like a sock puppet.
I remain a republican, but I will not tolorate RINOs ever again.
#7
Immigration has to become Mexico's problem. They have made it our problem for too many years. The ruling elite in Washington need to protect the borders first and stop coming up with really expensive cockamayme ineffectual self-serving legislation. The donks are in (immigration law) it for the votes. Can't figure out why the trunks are in it unless they want to destroy the Republican Party.
#8
JohnQC, the US ruling elite are behind this whole immigration scam. Maybe Mexico needs a regime change, but so does the USA need to get rid of a ruling class that doesn't believe in national sovereignty, but only in huge financial benefits for themselves.
There are those who want to control other people, and persuade themselves that they are doing a "service" when they do so. In the old days aristocrats were supposed to have a modicum of good sense and judgment, and the oath of fealty ran both ways, down as well as up; the lord was supposed to bear true faith to his subjects. Of course heredity was not a reliable way to select those with such awesome powers, and was replaced by counting noses to select the top people, who then select those they think fit to be the lords. So long as those on top did not stay there, and were as subject to the laws and restrictions as any others, this worked passable well, since those in charge did not have a great incentive to expand the command powers: after all, they too would be subject to them at some point.
But we now have career "civil servants" and career politicians, who will never be subject to the laws that govern the rest of us. Our masters have little incentive to restrict the scope and power of government. And if we thought taxation without representation was bad, think about what taxation with representation has achieved.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
06/18/2007 22:45 Comments ||
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#13
Just think Blondie - some illegal lawbreaker (and possible felon, murderer, drug-dealer, and child molester) will get their citizenship Z-visa before your husband gets his background check since the Z-visa gets a free-pass after 30 days (and you, who are following the law, don't).
#14
This really borders on the need for regime change in the US. How about some smart one of us determining how to recall or impeach just one of these gutless, self-serving senators from a Republican state? The single issue behind the recall would just be the senators inability to actually represent his constituents.
Further, we really need to make even clearer the costs that the illegal immigrants will create, backrupting the social services like medicare and Social Security, and having greater priviledges than ordinary citizens. For instance, think about them getting -in-state tuition, no requirement to register for the selective service like US kids, forgiveness of back taxes, absolution from a criminal record (remember, they are illegal, and have either failed to file or files false tax returns). The calculations for immigrant costs almost certainly did not factor in the enormous amount of their meager disposable income that goes as remitances to Mexico (over 20 billion in last count annually). In California alone over 25% of the inmates of state prison system are foreign born, and most are illegal, each costing $38,000 a year to maintain) their kids cost 7-9,000 a yer each in school costs, not to mention all the additional programs like school lunches, food stamps, and a host of medical services free by camping out in emergency rooms. Add 30 million of these blood suckers allowed to fully surface and the country will go bankrupt. Or more likely, will tell me that a "mean-test" has determined that I don't need my SS or pension since I have enough, and it needs to go to some thief who stole his way in here and got voted in by politicians cravenly hoping to get his newly minted vote. This shit has got to STOP!
Pakistans market share in the worlds manufactured exports in 2005 was only 0.18 percent against Indias 0.95 percent and Bangladeshs 0.10 percent, according to international economic consultant Dr Parvez Hasan. Quoting World Trade Organisation figures, he told the Woodrow Wilson conference on Pakistans economy on Friday that Pakistans share of world manufactured exports had shown little improvement in the last 25 years, being 0.12 percent in 1980. Dr Hasan told the conference that Pakistans total exports in 2005 were $13 billion. Indias total exports, however, were $69.7 billion and Bangladesh had total exports of $7.3 billion.
#1
They don't care. Pakistan gets $1 billion in US aid, and much more in US defense spending in that cesspool. In addition, Paki immigrants to America send as much as $6 billion a year back to their homeland toilet. And more Pakis arrive everyday.
#7
The only reason oil is up is because they can hire outsiders to come in and manage its extraction and processing. Otherwise it would be as worthless a business as rug weaving and nut harvesting.
#8
Story if Islam and the Middle East. 7th century thought doesn't allow you to produce in the real world. Especially with half of your population in slavery. (see burkka and wives)
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.
The Battle of Waterloo, fought on 18 June 1815, was Napoleon Bonaparte's last battle. His defeat put a final end to his rule as Emperor of France. . . .
Sen. Jim Webb finally admitted he owns a gun that an aide was arrested for carrying into the U.S. Capitol complex in March. Webb previously had refused to say whether the gun was his, although his senior aide - Phillip Thompson - had told police the weapon belonged to the Democratic senator.
