The Metropolitan Police Department has joined other major U.S. cities in arming patrol officers with assault rifles to protect them against criminals with high-powered weapons, weeks after being released from a federal program that monitors the use of excessive force.
"We want to be as accurate as possible and have more stopping power," Assistant Chief Patrick Burke said yesterday.
The department already has 500 semiautomatic AR-15 rifles, which were converted from fully automatic rifles, and has trained 340 officers to use them.
Chief Burke said the weapons will go in service after the department decides how to rack them in patrol cars, but gave no specific start date.
The Chicago Police Department is making similar plans and the City of Miami Police Department is already using such weapons.
"We need to be equally equipped with the firearms that are being used against the police," said Monique Bond, a Chicago police spokeswoman. "If officers cannot protect themselves, they cannot protect residents."
Last month, Chicago had one of the most violent crime waves in recent history 36 shootings in which nine people were killed and an AK-47 assault rifle was used to shoot up a plumbing-supply store.
Miami police began giving patrol police assault rifles in September, about a week before a Miami-Dade County officer was killed by a suspect with a high-powered rifle. They're getting ready for the SCOTUS 2nd Amendment decision, and think that honest citizens are going to attack them.
Just the linky (video, that's slow to load, but well worth it) and I learned something from this video (and a little online research after). Penguins are found only in the Southern hemisphere/Pole (Antarctic). Polar bears are only found in the Arctic (North Pole area).
First part of the video reminds me of the NBC reporter busted in N'awlins after Katrina doing the same thing (I think it might have been Katie Couric even).
Posted by: BA ||
05/08/2008 13:36 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
While still in southern hemisphere...penguins are also found in South Africa. I learned that from a particularly funny and informative episode of the WildBoyz. Yeah dude!
Posted by: Rex Mundi ||
05/08/2008 16:11 Comments ||
Top||
#2
Ironically, in Alaska there are little birds in Denali that look like miniature penguins. But they are only 6" or so tall.
#3
In French we distinguish between penguins in Northern hemiesphre and manchots (literally armless) Soutern hemisphere.
The Northgern hemisphere penguin can fly but barerly. However trhere was a much larger species (about the size of Emperor Penguin) who couldn't fly and was similar to Southern hemisphre penguins nut was not emparented with them. It becalme extinct by end of XIXth century.
#5
JFM, the French "Arctic Penguin" might be called a puffin in English.
Posted by: ed ||
05/08/2008 19:11 Comments ||
Top||
#6
Emperor Penguin are the remanent of an earlier Imperial Fedual-Fascist way of life. I for one stand against the over-dressed, fish-eating, elitist-avian bastards.
Posted by: George Smiley ||
05/08/2008 19:28 Comments ||
Top||
#4
is that why sugar keeps going up. i'm ma grocery manager so couldn't understand sugar but corn and other such things i understand. and right about the polluting if you don't you're scrrewed and if you do screwed too
you,re
#6
D *** NG IT, SEND IN THE MARINES - THERES NOT ENUFF POLLUTION! DEM GIANT ANACONDAS AREN'T CHEMICALLY BIG ENUFF TO SWALLOW JENNIFER LOPEZ OR HUMANS???
#1
Someone I know just got back from dubai. said the people walking around looked like doozers from fraggle rock.
Deplorable. Weigh in any regionals...
Why, with enough resources to make new islands with 6 star hotels including indoor skiing do you not make the desert bloom?
Why, is it ok to serve alcohol and allow women to expose themselves so long as it is 1 meter offshore?
Why, if man is weak and woman must be clothed to protect man from weakness, thus making women equal, are women not allowed to be themselves, sentient beings of God, people of the Book?
It makes me think. 1)it is about the money, power, and presiege which goes along with "it is good to be the king." 2)Vices are aweful unless it makes money, then you are wrong, and 3)who are you to tell me to protect myself from myself, God and I do that thank you very much (no help needed)
If it were up to me, I would have taken 1/4 of the money being spent on those hotels and made a desalinzation plant and ran pipelines all the way into the heartland of the camel beauty contest regions and dumped an oasis for all. But what do I know, being a Christian.
#7
The same reason gambling ships anchored 3+ miles off Santa Monica during the 20s-30s I guess.
Not so sure the two are alike. Back then 3 miles offshore was international waters -- i.e. not within the US' jurisdiction and not subject to US law.
The 1 meter rule in Dubai has nothing to do with where Dubai law applies geographically. It's more of a legal gymnastic maneuver to wed two unlike things, Sharia and real life.
The gambling ships were a way to avoid California's anti-gambling laws by anchoring just out of the state waters (3 miles); U.S. law didn't prohibit gambling.
The number of people killed in Myanmar by Cyclone Nargis may rise "very significantly" beyond the government's official estimate, the top U.N. humanitarian official said on Wednesday.
John Holmes, U.N. undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, gave no precise estimate of how much the death toll could rise. Myanmar's military government has said nearly 23,000 people died and 41,000 are missing because of the cyclone. "We have no means of independently verifying those figures," he told reporters. "It would not surprise me if they continued to rise and maybe rise very significantly in the future."
One of the reasons why you can't verify the figures is because the Burmese generals won't let you. Think about that a while, it helps explain the problem ...
Holmes said the United Nations would immediately release at least $10 million from its emergency relief fund for Myanmar and would launch a global appeal on Friday to raise more based on an initial U.N. damage assessment.
He said the amount of aid available for Myanmar was obviously not enough at the moment but it was clear that countries were ready to be very generous.
Although four Asian U.N. aid workers who do not need visas to get into the country were going in on Thursday but Holmes said other U.N. aid workers still were waiting to get visas. "It's not been as good as we would have liked," he said about cooperation with Myanmar's junta. "It's not been as good as it is in other circumstances in other countries but we are getting cooperation."
Holmes warned the junta that "any delays are potentially critical."
The junta pretty much has made it clear it doesn't care enough to let you help them.
The U.N. World Food Program said in statement that it has sent four aircraft loaded with food aid and other relief items to Myanmar. They are expected to arrive on Thursday.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/08/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
What a crock!!! "W" wants to fervently persuade the Myanmar Junta to please reconsider??????? Turn those ships around...RECALL the fleet!! Had he felt that way about the New Orleanders immediately after Katrina, maybe most of the misery and displacement could have been minimized! Send those bags of rice, wheat, flour and help to the people of the US (in addition to the stimulus) no matter where they are! F*** the world, the US first, and maybe if there are left overs!
#5
Color me skeptical, but if we hand the Myanmar Junta all these millions of dollars, what are they going to spend it on?
Probably not the relief of their people, probably more like on Rolexes and BMWs. These guys are the most oppressive (arguably) regime in the world, they don't give a rat's ass about their citizens. Since they won't let any NGO's into the county and we have said we are coughing up a big wad of money for them, I jump to the conclusion that we are going to hand it directly to the Generals.
#7
Had he felt that way about the New Orleanders immediately after Katrina, maybe most of the misery and displacement could have been minimized!
Minor quibble: Feelings get trumped by long-standing law. Federal government is limited in how it can respond (I can point you to the instructions/laws).
Essentially, assistance can't happen until the governor of Lousianna had requested it, and not until it was proven to be beyond local, then state, disaster response abilities.
IIRC, that long-standing process seemed to break down somewhere along the way to Baton Rouge (the rest of the Gulf states seemed somehow to manage it). If I was a cynic, I'd even say it was played for political gain.
#8
As I recall, The Bush admin did ask the Governor to allow him to act and pre-position emergency supplies and such before the storm hit and was blown-off.
#9
What I am saying swksvolFF, is that even though there is no hope or helping the dead; I doubt the Myanmar Junta would have sent their love and offer of assistance to the good people of Greensburg! Second, had 'Katrina' been the codename for a Red Chinese invasion up the throat of that delta and Lake Ponchartrain; every goddamn tank, helicopter, and C130 would have been deployed by Presidential Decree!!!
we wont hand cash to the rules, we will go hand out rice, tents, etc to folks in the hardest hit areas. Right now people are dying, cause the Burmse tyranny wont let help in. We greatly improved attitudes to the US in Indonesia after the tsunami. This is a great opportunity to let the world know, once again, what the US is about, and also to remind everyone of the consequences of the Chinese proclivity to protect the worst dictatorships. Oh, and we get to save lives while we're at it.
#12
liberalhawk, if you want to make a good impression with the Junta, you can always 'gift wrap' your stimulus check and Direct Wire through Western Union. I'm keeping mine.
#15
Second, had 'Katrina' been the codename for a Red Chinese invasion up the throat of that delta and Lake Ponchartrain; every goddamn tank, helicopter, and C130 would have been deployed by Presidential Decree!!!
That's because national defense is a Federal responsibility - it's defined in the Constitution.
Disaster response is defined under other laws and procedures. Essentially, disaster response falls under local, and then state (if the local government cannot handle it), purview. When those cannot deal with it, then federal response can be requested by the state governor. Maybe you missed that in my last comment.
Again, I can point you to the applicable laws and instructions.
#17
Know two things about Katrina and New Orleans that you never hear in the MSM:
1) Despite the shortcomings, the evacuation of New Orleans ahead of the storm was probably the biggest and most successful in US history (and most of those who stayed behind chose to do so),
2) Despite the ~1000 deaths, it was probably the biggest and most successful rescue mission in US history - and the US military played a huge part.
#18
Second, had 'Katrina' been the codename for a Red Chinese invasion up the throat of that delta and Lake Ponchartrain; every goddamn tank, helicopter, and C130 would have been deployed by Presidential Decree!!!
You must have heard. That was the Chinee name for it. BTW have you got the route in for the tanks to defend NOLA? I only ask because it's a rather tricky situation in that area. I will provide le boniFides on request. My plan for fighting with thousands of miniature Abrhams hull down along the leveeeeeeeeeeeees must have leaked. Still, send word, we're all cool here.
Also for a small fee, I can get you a fine framed certificate of Sanity. 10 ounces of Gold or $400 In U.S. Fiat money.
Now come along here... I want to show you something.... it's the edge, take a peek.
Posted by: George Smiley ||
05/08/2008 19:38 Comments ||
Top||
#20
I don't mean to be insensitive, but the Chicoms need to step up to the plate for their client state. And what guarantee do we have that the aid will go to those in need?
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
05/08/2008 19:58 Comments ||
Top||
#21
Alaska Paul I vaguely remember reading a Cold War story about sacks of US-aid rice to some Asian country (henceforth X) being stamped by a local official with a stamp which said a gift to the People of X from Chinese People.
Gangs of youths loyal to Zimbabwe's ruling party beat to death 11 opposition activists in a remote town this week in an escalation of post-election violence, opposition party officials and witnesses said Wednesday.
Two large truckloads of youths, led by two senior members of President Robert Mugabe's party, marauded through Chiweshe, a rural area about 90 miles north of the capital, Harare, and beat prominent opposition members with branches, gun butts, bicycle chains and whips, party officials said. Four of the victims were teachers, and at least two were elderly.
Several calls to police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena were not answered, though telephone service in Zimbabwe is often poor, one of many elements of the country's infrastructure that has deteriorated in recent years.
Nelson Chamisa, spokesman for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, said the deaths brought to at least 32 the number of opposition activists killed in the past two weeks. Thousands of others have been beaten, tortured, arrested, kidnapped or chased from their homes since the March 29 election, opposition officials say.
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai won the election but failed to reach the majority necessary for a first-round victory, according to official results. A second vote has not yet been scheduled, but violence has been most prevalent in areas that supported the opposition.
The attacks have been especially vicious in areas, such as Chiweshe, that once were strongholds of Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, or ZANU-PF, but supported Tsvangirai in the election.
The youths "converged and they attacked," said Shepherd Mushonga, a lawyer and newly elected opposition member of parliament who visited Chiweshe on Wednesday. He spoke extensively with witnesses, including several relatives of the victims, and provided a list of the 11 people who were killed. Two of the victims were his relatives, Mushonga said.
Mushonga said the violence was intended to weaken opposition resolve ahead of a possible runoff presidential election. In the neighborhood where the 11 people were killed Monday, Mushonga said, Tsvangirai got 70 votes, compared with 15 for Mugabe.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/08/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[0 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Bob's going to keep making them vote until they get it right. Who would have ever guessed he would desperately, and violently, try to hold onto power like a grubby, petty dictator?
I can understand why Somalis want to go there, but why would a Japanese tourist go to Yemen?
SANAA - Two Japanese tourists were kidnapped in the town of Marib in Yemen on Wednesday, a provincial government official said.
The official said the kidnappers were believed to be tribesmen and the two women were part of a group of five tourists sightseeing near the old dam of Marib, a major tourist attraction. "They took them in their vehicle and kicked away their Yemeni driver," he said.
Scores of holidaymakers and foreigners working in Yemen have been kidnapped over the past decade by tribesmen demanding better schools, roads and services, or the release of prisoners. Most have been released unharmed
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/08/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
#4
Hey, the Yemen Tourism Board says that this is,"An individual and isolated incident." No reason to change your vacation plans. See: http://www.yementourism.com/
Remember this year Make it YEMEN!
Posted by: bruce ||
05/08/2008 7:46 Comments ||
Top||
#5
About as smart as Windjammer Cruise off the coast of Somalia.
#6
Japanese, can be very naive about the world in some ways. Japan is one of the safest places on the planet, and in much of the culture crime / acts like this are unthinkable.
Although this is changing (I've seen first hand over the long period I've been going to Japan), it is no where like other countries yet.
Japanese travelers, can be rather adventerous, esp. when younger and coupled with that somewhat naive view of things can find themseleves in unhospitable places without a clue of the danger.
#9
Yemen tourism industry affected by terrorist events, says tourism official
[03 May 2008]
SANA'A, May 03 (Saba)- Deputy director of the Tourism Promotion Council (TPC) Alwan al-Shibani revealed that Yemen's tourism sector have been affected due terrorist events took place in Marib and the latest terrorist attack on Belgian tourists in Hadramout province.
Al-Shibani affirmed that foreign countries had warned their citizens not to travel to Yemen, noting the warnings have made it prohibitive to tourist groups to visit Yemen.
"Tourist applications were influenced by the recent terrorist events. For example, a few days ago, four Italian tourist groups were planning to visit a number of the Yemeni archaeological sites but they converted to Oman at the last moment due warnings of their country. The travel warnings created restrictions on insurance ratio which affected the development of tourism in our country", said al-Shibani.
In an interview with the weekly 26September newspaper, al-Shibani said that the TPC is trying to do its best to change the wrong image of Yemen in the western media eyes through holding tourist exhibitions abroad and attending various international tourism events in Europe and Asia.
"Regrettably this is not enough, we and the private sector want government bodies to participate effectively in this aspect through urging our embassies abroad to brief foreigners on developments in our country, particularly in the security side and what actions had been taken to maintain security and stability which ensure the safety of everyone in the country", said al-Shibani.
Describing the government's role in the tourist fields as very limited, al-Shibani said Tourism Ministry plays a good role in promoting tourism in the country, adding "but it is beyond the level required because its impact is still local and they could not change the wrong image of Yemen abroad".
"We call on the government to prepare the tourism national strategy which will activate various areas of the tourism sector and ensure the rehabilitation and training of tourist guiders as well as activating the activities of local communities and involving them in the process of tourism", said al-Shibani.
Al-Shibani urged the government to control historical and archaeological areas instead tribes or their leaders, "then we can launch the process of prospecting in archaeologies and transferring them to museums or replacing in their sites so that these areas become open museums".
According to official statistics issued by Tourism Ministry, the tourism sector contributed last year to the national revenue amounted to $ 524 million, but al-Shibani affirmed the main obstacle to tourism investment in Yemen was the lack of investors willing to invest in tourism services.
"When security situations stabilize and the European warnings are abated, the number of foreign tourists coming to Yemen will increase and tourism investments will grow", noted al-Shibani.
YA
Saba
Posted by: bruce ||
05/08/2008 16:27 Comments ||
Top||
Bangladesh's army-backed interim government formally charged former prime minister Sheikh Hasina for graft in a case involving the Canadian oil exploration firm Niko Resources Ltd, officials said on Wednesday. On Monday, authorities brought similar charges against another prime minister, Begum Khaleda Zia, for her dealings with the Canadian firm during her term in office.
"Both the former prime ministers along with their cohorts will be tried separately," an Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) official told reporters.
The anti-corruption body said Hasina's government permitted the oil firm to operate in the country without transparent deeds, and caused losses worth millions of dollars.
It said Khaleda's subsequent government did not address the issue of lack of transparency in the deal and also failed to recover millions of dollars in compensation for environmental damage caused by fire at a drilling site in northeastern Bangladesh in 2005.
Niko representatives in Dhaka were not immediately available for comment.
In December a company official told Reuters that the firm had not operated unethically in Bangladesh. The official also said the firm had not been contacted by the Bangladesh authorities after the charges were laid. The trials will start soon.
Hasina and Khaleda have been detained since last year in a campaign launched by the administration to fight corruption before elections later this year Hasina was prime minister between 1996-2001, while Khaleda ended her five-year term in 2006.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/08/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
Things are getting out of hand south of the border
Drug hitmen, one wielding a pistol with a silencer, shot dead one of Mexico's top federal police officers at his home Thursday, in a blow to President Felipe Calderón's fight against cartels.
Federal police officers patrol the entrance to the hospital where Mexico's acting Federal Police Chief Edgar Millan Gomez died after being shot outside his home by unknown assailants in Mexico City, Thursday. The Public Safety Department said Edgar Milla
Three gunmen waited for regional commissioner Edgar Millan at his house in the capital and shot him nine times as he came home early Thursday morning and opened the door from the street, government officials said.
They were hunting him, a spokesman for the Security Ministry said.
Media reports linked the attackers, one of whom was caught by Millan's bodyguards, to the powerful Sinaloa cartel, headed by Mexico's most wanted man, Joaquin Shorty Guzman.
Millan was the head of operations for a federal police force known as the PFP and was in charge of coordinating large-scale operations to break organized crime rings, including drug trafficking.
Calderón's office condemned the cowardly murder of an exemplary public servant who was committed to the safety of Mexican families.
Millan took a leading role in the arrest in January of about 12 Sinaloa cartel gunmen. The cartel was rumored to have formed a special forces team of killers preparing high-level hits to retaliate against the government for launching an offensive against drug traffickers.
Calderón has sent thousands of troops and federal police to take on drug gangs near the U.S. border and in other parts of Mexico since he took office in December 2006.
Last year, there were more than 2,500 drug killings across Mexico and over 1,100 people have died this year as the drug gangs fight each other and the security forces.
Posted by: Frank G ||
05/08/2008 18:19 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[2 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
We got a problem on our borders. Waiting to hear what McCain now says about this issue. This issue nearly torpedoed his chances for President a year or so ago.
Vladimir Putin was named prime minister of Russia Thursday after a fervent speech full of ambitious plans that overshadowed his low-key successor and suggested that he will keep a strong hand in ruling the country. Putin promised to build on Russia's economic recovery and work to satisfy its people's dreams of comfort and prosperity.
Loyal lawmakers in the State Duma confirmed Putin in a 392-56 vote after a confirmation hearing whose outcome was never in doubt. The new president, Dmitry Medvedev, portrayed his mentor's eight-year presidency as a time of transformation. One legislator told the nationwide TV audience Putin had "raised Russia from its knees."
Putin's unprecedented move from the Kremlin to the No. 2 post will keep him politically prominent for the foreseeable future and could serve as a springboard back to the presidency. It has Russians wondering who will really hold the country's reins.
I don't think they wonder at all ...
In his own, far longer speech to lawmakers, Putin said that the "consolidation of political forces and solidarity of society" was imperative for Russia's progress.
Focusing on the economy in the same commanding detail with which he prided himself as president, Putin set lofty goals, saying Russia must be among the top nations in terms of living standards within 10 or 15 yearsa tantalizing prospect for Russians who have struggled for decades to get by.
He said inflation must be kept in the single digitsthough last year it was over 10 percent. He said Russia's economy could surpass Britain's this year and become the world's sixth-largest.
Putin also acknowledged problems that have persisted amid the oil- fueled economic recovery that coincided with his presidency. He said Russia must lessen its reliance on its energy resources but also ease taxes to boost sluggish oil production, and warned of the toll taken by the nation's drinking and smoking habits.
Putin took mostly light questions before the vote, with the only complaints coming from Communists who voiced concerns over high inflation and rampant corruption. One lawmaker set up Putin to accuse the West of hampering Russian investors' access to markets.
The switch caps months of political maneuvering by the popular Putin to maintain influence after stepping down. Barred by term limits from running in the March presidential vote, he anointed Medvedev as his favored successor in December and pledged to serve as his prime minister.
Medvedev formally nominated Putin in one of his first acts as president Wednesday. Putin's United Russia party holds 315 of the 450 seats in the Duma and two of the other three parties also support him.
Medvedev said lawmakers' applause "means that Vladimir Vladimirovich needs no special recommendation" and credited Putin with recharging Russia's economy and raising its global stature. "Russia is respected once again," Medvedev said.
Russia's president is the undisputed head of state and sets policy on all fronts, while the prime minister heads the Cabinet and is responsible for running the economy. But Putin is expected to have strong influence on Medvedev, who at 42 is 13 years younger and owes his political ascent to his mentor.
Putin's prime ministers, particularly during his second term, served largely as enforcers and fall guys, sometimes shouldering blame for problems and sometimes passing it down the line to Cabinet ministers. Putin, meanwhile, remained above the fray and any hint of criticism on state-run television was taboo.
Putin is expected to play a far stronger role as prime minister. He will also control the Duma and wield power nationwide as chairman of United Russia, a position he assumed last month after leading the party to a sweeping victory in December parliamentary elections.
Putin and Medvedev have stressed they will work together to help Russia modernize its economy, boost social welfare and tackle the severe infrastructure problems that are depleting its population and jeopardizing its future. "I think nobody doubts that our tandem, our cooperation will only strengthen," Medvedev told lawmakers.
He vowed to kiss Putin's bottom tread Putin's path, saying their teamwork would "provide the necessary continuity and development of the course that has been supported by the Russian people."
Critics say the show of solidarity by mentor and protege masks fears that Putin has navigated Russia into a dangerous period of political uncertainty, with two centers of power taking shape in a potentially debilitating and divisive arrangement. Under the constitution, the prime minister temporarily replaces a president who dies or is incapacitated.
Putin, 55, a longtime KGB officer, served as prime minister for five months in 1999 under Boris Yeltsin, who stepped down on Dec. 31 of that year and handed him the presidency. Putin was elected to his first term three months later.
Dmitry Medvedev was sworn in as Russian president on Wednesday and nominated his predecessor Vladimir Putin as prime minister, ushering in an unprecedented period of dual rule.
Medvedev, a 42-year-old former corporate lawyer and longtime Putin ally, stressed freedom and the rule of law in his first remarks after taking the oath of office in a solemn, emotional ceremony in the Kremlin's glittering St Andrew's Hall.
"I believe my most important aims will be to protect civil and economic freedoms," he told guests at the inauguration, broadcast live on state television. "We must fight for a true respect of the law and overcome legal nihilism, which seriously hampers modern development."
He's a Russian leader and said all this? Where are his lips?
Shortly afterwards, the government led by Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov followed protocol by resigning. This cleared the way for Medvedev to nominate Putin as prime minister as the carefully choreographed transition unfolded.
The new leader, who arrived at the Kremlin alone in an armoured black stretch Mercedes limousine flanked by 11 motorcycle outriders, inherits a booming $1.3 trillion economy fuelled by high oil prices -- and a sobering set of challenges. They include rampant corruption, rising inflation, a falling population, sickly industry and agriculture and increasingly tense relations with former Soviet neighbours and the West.
A White House spokeswoman said U.S. President George W. Bush wished Medvedev well in his new role and was looking forward to working with him. The two leaders will probably meet at the Group of Eight summit in Japan this summer, she said.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/08/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
See also RENSE > GORBACHEV: US PROMISES CANNOT BE TRUSTED.
#3
The leader of any country, be it a king, a prime minister, a president, or even a foreign invader, is constrained by the people. That is because, though they give the orders, the people have to execute them.
So in the carrot and stick manner, if he tells them to do something they want to do, they do it quickly, efficiently and well. If they don't want to do it, they are sluggish and the work is done poorly or not at all.
Medvedev, and Putin before him, face the same people, after a fashion, that did the communists and even the Czars. And all of them eventually have to give the people what they want.
And there are times when the Russian people are intensely xenophobic, when they confuse liberty with weakness and crime, and basically, they want a government that is more brutal than what the government wants to be.
So the leader has to, one way or another, give them what they want.
#4
Yeah, that theory is perfectly demonstrated in N. Korea, Zimbabwe and Myanmar, to name a few. But I guess those people just wanted repression and starvation.
North Korea has handed over key records sought for months by United States in disarmament talks, the Associated Press reported Thursday, quoting a senior State Department official.
Technical logs from a reactor used to make bomb fuel were handed to a visiting U.S. diplomat Thursday in Pyongyang, the report said.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the meetings between U.S. envoy Sung Kim and North Korean officials, the AP said.
Repeat, this isn't confirmed.
In a stunning blow to Chinas prestige, two local protesters shocked hundreds of cheering bystanders when they unexpectedly extinguished the Olympic Torch today near the Window of the World, a theme park in the Shenzhen industrial zone near Hong Kong. I saw something else about it on another site, and the authorities are claiming it was extinguished intentionally. And no more questions need be asked about that.
The protesters motives were unknown. As the unsuspecting crowd cheered Beijings Olympic success, an eyewitness heard one of the two men, both of them Chinese, say mission accomplished after the torch was put out. Chinese television, which was filming the progress of the torch, hurriedly cut away. Television presenters said the transmission was having technical problems. However, the eyewitness was able to film the disturbance and made it available to Asia Sentinel. The film is being prepared for publication and was to be put on the site later today.
It is unknown what happened to the two protesters, who appeared to be common laborers. Some of the bystanders ended up with blood on their faces, the eyewitness said. It took about an hour of confusion, with the torchbearer being escorted to a military van, before it could be relit and start the procession again.
The Chinese could be excused for thinking with a sigh of relief that they were home free. The torch, traveling across the world to open the Olympic Games in July, has become a lightning rod both to enthusiastic Chinese citizens and to protesters who have attempted to pull it away from runners in cities from Paris to Seoul. Many in Asia itself have come to regard the torch processions as a manifestation of Chinese triumphalism rather than a symbol of the international brotherhood of sport. A rising tide of Chinese nationalism has become increasingly apparent as angry crowds of Chinese showed outrage at the treatment of the runners. Local television has been inundated with pictures of the runners, appearing to cheering crowds as they went. Pictures of demonstrators by and large have not been publicized.
#1
"The A380 is already two years behind schedule because of wiring problems caused by mismatched design software. The problem wasn't discovered until the planes were on the assembly line."
When we were building the Mars lander, JPL hired a friend of mine to take all the CAD drawings and virtually put everything together. Sure enough, some parts did not fit. The parts were redesigned (correctly this time) before the lander was built.
This kind of mistake is inexcusable for Airbus.
Al
Posted by: Frozen Al ||
05/08/2008 11:32 Comments ||
Top||
#2
I really want to know what mismatched design software, because I call BS. That just does not happen (whole airframe wise), and if it did, I'd be seriously concerned about the rest of the bird.
Shifting to low cost is a losing game. By the time they shift, and have the quality and productivity back to where it was pre-shift, they'll be toast.
The war between Boeing and Airbus has already strained the subs just about as much as they can take. The 'radical measures' as they say, of finding new suppliers is joke. The re-qual time alone will make it out of this production cycle, and coupling that with forcing the subs to go low-cost adds to the time greatly.
EADS is spewing BS, and the industry knows it.
Also, stop bitching about the Dollar / Euro. You had decades of that advantage plus all the extra funding from the governments. The shoe is on the other foot now, so deal.
#4
Low bid and quality are contradictory propositions without good contract oversight. Inspection and oversight are easy things to "short" if the budget is under pressure.
I'm wondering how this all affects the A330 tanker proposal. Any rumors?
#5
Actually, going low bid / low cost country will force more inspection oversight into the manufacturing.
They'll have to re-qual, and that means source inspection and first article on everything. This will slow things up, cause a lot of re-work, and a lot of expedite.
Airbus / new subs, will be spending out the wazoo just to keep up with where they were.
Three to five years later, yeah, they may be lower cost and acceptable quality, but that is way to late for A380.
#6
About a year ago whith the dollar declining obvious and Airbus was looking for competant manufacturing facilities in the US, Boeing should have already bought the Boardwalk and Park Places of aircraft construction and then either sold it to errorbus at premium prices or starting making their own product, really turn the screws.
#7
bombay, that assumes the company doing the outsourcing ( at any level) will send knowledgeable folks to do the necessary oversight, audits, FAIs, etc. Many times it is simply a : Are you qualified to (fill in a spec here)?"
If yes, send me a copy of your cert, love and kisses, Joe Customer.
and inspection doesn't build anything in; it merely stops the production run. until the suits in mahogany row yell, then the parts ship with non conforming paper hung on them. i present the 787 'travel work' debacle as exhibit A.
(AS/ISO auditor of >20 yrs)
I was not speaking in-process, nor was I speaking, final or internal ISO/AS910x programs.
Source and First Article. That would come from Airbus themselves, and they would cream the new sub / outsource, which we both know THEY LOVE to do.
Plus this scenario is full re-qual of new lines in a low cost, and my point still stands.
Believe me, I understand where you are coming from. Especially as ISO/AS is only as good as your specific program and inspectors.
Having recently gone the rounds of major product moves and outsources for LM, Boeing and Gulf (Airbus too, but nothing compared to the first three) to low cost country, I can say they WILL catch things.
Original points stand however, Aribus can't seep under the rug in a new line scenario, will have tons of re-work and expedite (per your comment, inspection is after manufacutring) and will cost themselves more time and money than A380s limited window allows for - even if they get a non-conformance waiver from engineering ;)
#10
BB: I get those questionnaires from all the primes: please tell me how wunnerful you are.
They buy off whatever i send them, they send the check, we send the parts.
in a former life we referred to it as FIFIFIL: F*ck It Fly It, Fix It Later.
i have had 3 'annual re-quals' cnx'ed by at least 2 primes this year, and there are at least 2 others that have outsourecd their OWN supplier auditing process.
we agree on the macro, and are disagreeing about whether those dark specs in the potatoes are fly shit or pepper; there needs to be more oversight up front, including and especially during design.
#11
Oh yeah, I fully agree design side; esp. with Airbus recently.
I'm just saying, re-qual, in LCC, is going to be stringent (than an existing sub, this is a given). Take the LCC out of the equation, and yeah, agree with you mostly ... though re-qual with a new facility / line on an existing sub is still going to be more stringent in the begining, than existing sub with existing processes esp. per delegated inspection programs.
And the point still stands, EADS is spewing BS.
The solution is not new subs, nor LCC, nor, especially, new subs w/ LCC. Even if the corners are completley cut and it is slap em / ship em, they'll still spend more and run out of time.
I still contend new subs, in an LLC, will have more oversight than old subs and an established line.
For once I agree with Pelosi. :-) But it makes me wonder if she has some investment in Hillary being the Dem candidate over Obama.
The race for the Democratic presidential nomination is "alive and well" and must continue, according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
"The people should all have the opportunity to speak as long as two candidates wish to compete in those primaries and caucuses," Pelosi said during a news conference Wednesday to promote Democratic energy proposals. "In a few weeks, we will be on our way to nominating the next president of the United States."
Sen. Hillary Clinton is facing renewed pressure to drop out of the race following Tuesday's double-digit loss to Sen. Barack Obama in North Carolina and a narrow win in Indiana.
Pelosi, D-California, said either candidate would be a great president. She said the "tremendous turnout" is "something positive that is coming out of this race."
Asked if she could see any path to victory for Clinton, Pelosi said, "You never know in elections."
Clinton on Wednesday fended off calls for her to step aside. "There is no cause for alarm, sometimes you [have] got to calm people down a little bit," Clinton told thousands of cheering supporters at a Washington fundraiser called "Generations of Women for Hillary."
"I understand that some people are getting a little nervous, and I have to say that there really is no cause for nervousness, because we will have a unified Democratic Party," she said. "I will work my heart out for the nominee of our party, and I believe that Sen. Obama will work as hard as he can for the nominee of our party."
Clinton added the differences between her and Obama are minimal compared with the Democrats' differences with Sen. John McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee.
Flanked onstage by daughter Chelsea and mother Dorothy Rodham, Clinton told the crowd that too many people have fought to make history by nominating a woman to give up.
Clinton insisted that Florida's and Michigan's votes be counted, calling it a civil rights issue. Both states were stripped of their delegates for scheduling their contests too early.
"I will be sending a letter to Sen. Obama and to [Democratic National Committee] Chairman [Howard] Dean expressing my strong belief that this issue about the voters in Florida and Michigan is a civil rights issue," Clinton said. "We need to stand up and say the Democratic Party is smart enough to figure out how to be sure we don't disenfranchise two states we have to win when it comes to the November election."
Clinton closed by reminding the crowd she's been counted out before, only to win. "I landed in New Hampshire on Thursday night down nine points and I won Tuesday. You can turn elections in a day; you can turn them in a week if you know what it takes to actually win," she said.
Neither Obama nor Clinton is expected to win the 2,025 delegates needed to capture the Democratic nomination. Obama is ahead of the former first lady in total delegates: 1,845 to 1,686.
Two hundred seventeen pledged delegates are up for grabs in the remaining six contests: West Virginia, Kentucky, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Montana and South Dakota.
Obama's chief strategist, David Axelrod, said his candidate and Clinton will "probably end up roughly splitting the remaining delegates" in those races. "There's more superdelegates uncommitted right now than there are remaining pledged delegates," Axelrod said. "We feel by May 20, we will have secured a majority of the delegates. So I think we're in a very strong position here."
Of the Democratic presidential candidates, would Republican John McCain rather take on Barack Obama or Hillary Rodham Clinton?
"You know, Ron Paul is still in the race," McCain joked Wednesday during a taping of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart."
McCain deadpanned about the marathon race between the Democrats: "I hate to watch it. It's terrible. My heart goes out to them."
During the taping, McCain pretended to walk off the set when Stewart pressed him on whether President Bush is more of a liability for him than the Rev. Jeremiah Wright is for Obama. Then McCain fiddled with his microphone and mouthed "technical difficulties" into the camera.
The all-but-certain Republican nominee did reveal a few tidbits. His Secret Service code name, he thinks, "is 'jerk,"' and his choice for a vice presidential running mate is Dwight Schrute, a character on the NBC sitcom, "The Office," played by Rainn Wilson.
Comedy aside, McCain used the opportunity to challenge Obama, who moved a step closer to claiming the Democratic nomination after Tuesday's primaries in Indiana and North Carolina. Stewart asked whether McCain really believed the Islamic terrorist group Hamas had endorsed Obama. McCain's campaign issued a fundraising letter after a Hamas adviser, Ahmed Yousef, said the group likes Obama.
"It's indicative of how some of our enemies view America," McCain said. "And I guarantee you, they're not going to endorse me."
Off camera, Obama's campaign said McCain should apologize for "repeating tired and divisive attacks about Barack Obama that he knows are flat-out untrue."
#1
McCain deadpanned about the marathon race between the Democrats: "I hate to watch it. It's terrible. My heart goes out to them."
I thought he deadpanned that comment concerning anyone who watches The Daily Show. What the hell was he thinking doing that, unless he wanted to get a closer look at stewarts gawd-awefull latest face job. If ya wanna choose a TV star, even as a joke, for Vice President of the United States of America, at least choose Dennis Leary. I can hear it now, "Two words Imajinninthere, F*ck You. Smoking ban, I don't think so - If I can smell smoke I know your rotten ass is still burning in hell!" -puffs on cig-"
#2
Senator McCain has been on the Daily Show before, and does quite well in front of that audience, while bluntly telling them truths quite the opposite of the cant Mr. Stewart spouts nightly. I strongly suspect he's opened more than a few minds to question the Stewart/New York Times party line.
I did wonder who Dwight Shrute was. Mr. Stewart didn't react noticeably to the name.
#6
The Daily Show with John Leibowitz (as Mark Levin would say). Leibowitz is snarky in a fairly myopic kind of way; lucky for him that's all his audience generally understands.
Posted by: Snash Oppressor of the Mohammatans aka Broadhead6 ||
05/08/2008 21:35 Comments ||
Top||
#1
It won't be very fun here in Denver during the Convention. I hope I'm wrong, but I foresee alot of unhappy folks on the losers side. Creating alot of violence.
Posted by: Jan ||
05/08/2008 1:09 Comments ||
Top||
#2
Convincing cut scenes, editing, etc. Definately one sided video.
damned if they do, damned if they don't. The d's made it an issue via blog that it would be '68 all over again. If they show and protest they look like asses. If they don't show and protest then anyone who ever blogged and logged money for either of d's got cheated and/or showed themselves to be irrrelevant and tampertempermental. If they show and protest but not covered then it is they which will be the next group thrown under the bus.
#3
What the Dhimmocrats have to worry about is the anarchists and hardcore leftists that WANT to make the '68 Chicago Convention look tame in comparison to what they do to Denver. Anarchist and "anti-globalist" groups {hardcore Marxists} are claiming that if Denver doesn't let them match and scream right up to the Convention Center, that the city will "pay the price of trying to suppress the People!!!" - translation, they will try to riot and burn their way through that town.
And the present Mayor and Police Chief of Denver give no indication that they will resist said rioting; rather, they are talking like they are going to cave to the street thugs.
#3
Unless Hillary could insure to Barack Obama that Bill Clinton wouldn't become a defacto 2nd Vice President rather than a 2nd Gentleman, provided though should Obama utilize his diplomatic skills Internationally on behalf of the Administration; I don't see it happening. Then of course there's the Michelle Hillary trust factor, those two ladies would have to work on (not unlike the relationship between Condi and Laura)!
#4
If they can make such a ticket, whoever is Number 1 on the ticket had better make sure that Number 2 NEVER leaves their side : both of the Dem camps have a LOT of nuts in them, talking all sorts of Dire Revenge.
#7
Believe me, Bill Clinton is pushing this 'beachball'! Had Hillary been single or widowed, she'd have no more of a shot over the 'Obama Express' than say...Elizibeth Dole or Laura Bush! Personally, I think Obama should approach Condi for the 2nd spot, but that might not go over well with racist bigots who might feel the ticket was too black or worst...spurned white women!!
#9
Secretary of State Dr. Rice was provost of Stanford University, smn dear, and before that a full professor there (see her Wikipedia entry). Candidate Obama, while a graduate of Harvard Law School, where he did quite well indeed, has been a mere part-time lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School. Her father worked toward the vision of American blacks having equality of opportunity, "judged by the content of their character, not the colour of their skins," and she has lived that with a vengeance -- making her way by her own ability to the top of several fields. He has taken equally impressive ability plus inclusion in the rarified society of international executive families and the exclusive society of those who send their children to the finest private school in the state of Hawaii, and used that to make himself the crony and spokesman of those who believe God created white skin to mark those He hates, including his own mother and the grandparents who gave up their retirement ease to rear him because his beloved father couldn't be bothered after impregnating a seventeen year old girl.
I don't think Dr. Rice and Mr. Obama would work well together. Their world views rather clash.
#11
"Cats and dogs, living together! Mass hysteria!"
Posted by: Jonathan ||
05/08/2008 9:38 Comments ||
Top||
#12
trailing wife, I can't actually say what views Condi has of the world. She has been a loyal non combative (atleast in front of the media)lieutenant for "W"! Ms. Rice may have her feelings so submerged and 'insulated' in projecting the President's agenda, that we may have to wait for her book to find out her 'views'! Remember, she did come aboard only after Colin left (or some may say...after the dust settled from the invasion, a bit).
#16
While it may be unfair to suppose what Mrs. Rice thinks personally, she at least has a public record. And I would give her a bit more rank than lieutenant.
And when it comes to it, senator clinton has communistic tendancies and the freshman senator obama is a national socialist.
#17
"People are stopping to ask themselves, why just nominate someone who has 51 percent of the vote, when we can nominate a ticket that has 100 percent of the vote?"
Conventional wisdom for these short-sighted Democrats is that such a dual-ticket would double their appeal. The problem is that because both have their own unique baggage it would also double their negatives. And the bigger problem is that by adding both of their highly visible spouses into the mix it would quadruple their negatives. Dream? I believe the clinical term for that is nocturnal emission
#18
I sure hope they don't do it - I'll never be able to keep up with the popcorn orders....
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
05/08/2008 12:19 Comments ||
Top||
#19
smn: Ms. Rice may have her feelings so submerged and 'insulated' in projecting the President's agenda, that we may have to wait for her book to find out her 'views'!
Oh, I see. She's a wimp and, despite being the National Security Advisor and Secretary of State, couldn't possibly speak her mind. Nope, nope, not possible, nope.
smn: you're beginning to sound like Joe M without the caps. Exhale and take a new breath.
Posted by: Steve White ||
05/08/2008 12:24 Comments ||
Top||
#20
DepotGuy, not fair equating Michelle to Bill Clinton and his 'baggage', she's simply being a supportive wife, Bill Clinton is actually prevailing his influence and 'quid-pro-quo' abilities through his wife!
Steve White, don't confuse perceived 'wimpiness' with being a 'loyal lieutenant'. She play her cards right, all we will have known is that she works out vigilantly, plays the piano, and reports every day to work, ready to salute, ready to serve. Refreshing if you ask me! I also enjoyed that from CIA Director Casey!
#21
It may or may not be a dream ticket for the Dems. It certainly would be a dream come true for Reps. If an Obama / Hilary tickets doesn't get Reps out to vote then nothing will.
#22
DepotGuy, not fair equating Michelle to Bill Clinton and his 'baggage'
smn,
My intention was not to equate Michelle Obamas unique negative qualities to that of a known serial sexual predator and liar with a penchant for criminal associations. I was simply pointing out that she is a hypocritical ultra-liberal elitist with contemptuous attitudes towards the United States of America.
#23
She does have a nice, cush job, though, which pays her 350 large per year.
Must. Be. Nice.
Posted by: Grenter Protector of the Geats4975 ||
05/08/2008 15:07 Comments ||
Top||
#24
She does have a nice, cush job, though, which pays her 350 large per year.
Must. Be. Nice.
Posted by: Grenter Protector of the Geats4975 ||
05/08/2008 15:07 Comments ||
Top||
#25
DepotGuy, "Keeping it real", as Anderson Cooper would say; the Obama's as a family are the 'poorest' of the three (The Clintons, the McCains)!
Recheck the released tax returns...Ooppps, except for Cindy McCain, her's is "G-10 classified, on a need to know basis only", and the rest of us don't have the clearance on how that affects her husband!http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24520111/
Posted by: Fred ||
05/08/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[0 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
Bill Clinton's influence has well permeated Queen Hillary. His 'Little Sweet Nutthins" whispered into her ears will drag the Democratic Party to the edge if not over at the Convention; just as McGovern has warned! The 'R'ace Card is the most powerful lure a politician could deploy, more than money, more than gender, more than religion! This card can even be used among all whites; let's not forget the stigma of 'N' lovers from slavery through Jim Crow!
Bill Clinton will 'push' his wife to the 'last man standing' scenario not unlike his brick wall stance during the Starr investigation during his years; he knows what is IS! And, since the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment in August, 1920, white women has had atleast 22 real chances (being atleast 50 percent of the majority population), to elect a white female. Why hasn't that happened, and why must it happen NOW, being that the first black man President in the nation's history is within reach? Maybe that's why the first 43 Presidents were all white males...the 'crab mentality' among other groups is what's keeping that 'glass ceiling' from ever being cracked!!
King George, Queen Hillary, so then the Knave O'bama. This is America, so why all the royaly references?
So he was seen drinking the King of Beers, so he is related to Cheney, so his grand mama was wrong when she sould have been wright - do we really want the chicago way of life over the country; example when guns are taken away but then the police want to be armed with assault rifles?
Never mind the judge appointees...why that would be social engineering - that kind of change? Or is it the other change I'll notice; Abraham Lincoln is a good friend of mine, leave him for others all the time.
#3
swksvolFF, I believe Bill Clinton is so 'hardlined' into his goals and aspirations for Hillary, that he would spurn or sabotage the Democratic Party, if it's 'machine' disrespected or dissed his wife. Recompense for her not divorcing him following the Monica affair revelation! That's why the DNC and other Donks are threading 'lightly' and 'quietly'!
#4
sorry smn, your '''' tread water like a 3 legged jackalope; pleae clarify. Yes it would appear that president William Clinton sabotaged Senator Clinton's campaign but that was probably the scotch and burger talking.
Perhaps the knave could show us a more ~illinois~ way of living...
#11
trailing wife, what if I'm white with a black wife, and have empathy, or mixed race such as Obama...and 'understand' motives? I don't like this 'tip toeing' and 'whispering' around the Clinton's when it comes to their negative campaign tactics; it smells of others being held 'hostage' by what they (the Clintons)know or could do!
#12
What if you are any or all that, smn? What if, perchance, I am (sexual references changed, of course). What if a significant number of Rantburgers are? I don't know, and neither do you, but your posts present the assumption that we here are all lily white, and those that don't adore Candidate Obama as you do are either anti-Black or afraid to be thought nigger lovers, a term that as far as I'm aware went out in the 1970s. If coming off as a black racist is not your intent, than choose much more carefully the meaning of the words and phrases and accusations you post.
#13
Just for clarification, you'll notice I didn't address your characterizations about the Clintons, mostly because I really don't care. There are plenty of others who don't like them for a number of reasons, none of which seem to be "because she's female", just as none of the objections I've read here about Obama are "because he's black". As for your question, why does she have to stick herself in the middle when it's your man Obama's turn to be the Democratic candidate, I'm afraid it doesn't work like that -- there is no taking turns when national office is at stake. Finally, the purpose of the party convention is for the delegates to bloody well negotiate until a candidate is chosen, not to crown the one tapped in a smoky back room somewhere.
#14
TW, please sit down and have drink of this cool water; smn ain't getting back up anytime soon!
(BTW smn: i dislike HRC for her lying crap, and Obamaran=madingdong for the blatant and very publis disrespect he has shown for our flag; spending a very large chunk of my life defending it kind of biased me thataway. neither one are fit to clean the toilets in the WH, much less use them)
It wouldn't make any difference to me if HRC and BHO were both six-foot-tall men of Swiss ancestory with blond hair: their economic and social veiws do not cut it.
Republican U.S. presidential candidate John McCain said on Wednesday he would support incentives to encourage states to develop potential oil fields but would not try to force them to exploit potential resources, especially in environmentally sensitive areas.
"I do believe that we should drill for it," he said when discussing oil exploration at a town hall meeting in Rochester, Michigan. "But I am a federalist and I believe in the rights of states to make those decisions."
He said he believed the U.S. government could do more to encourage states to develop their resources. "I think we can offer more incentives to states like California and Florida and more of a larger share of revenues and taxes from oil they may exploit," McCain added. "But I can't tell people in California what to do with their coast."
"I can't say we must drill in the most pristine environments," he added.
Energy companies say they need to develop more domestic gas and oil supplies to help meet growing demand, but federally owned areas that hold much of those reserves -- from onshore Alaska to waters off the West and East coasts of the lower 48 states -- have drilling bans. New offshore energy exploration is now allowed only off the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, and in some Alaskan waters. A presidential order bans offshore drilling everywhere else.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/08/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[1 views]
Top|| File under:
#1
"But I can't tell people in California what to do with their coast."
"I can't say we must drill in the most pristine environments,"
The WTF are you saying John?? There's enough oil underneath American soil and offshore in American territorial waters to bring the final price per gallon to it's citizens down to 25¢!! Greed, and profit from US oil corporations are riding this pony; with presumed fear of what the Chicoms will do in the future as they maneuver to become the next global super power (the ole...keep ours secure for our future war machine)strategy.
Take my advice John, tap whats ours now...nuke the Chicoms in the future, provided of course Americans don't mind looking at all those oil platforms and rigs right out from their nice sandy beaches, and pina colada setups!
#2
As understood, we need refining capability (experts correct me if I am wrong). States have been making those decisions for a while now - since they were states. Nothing new here.
Environmental groups have been opposing - for better or worse - the development of energy. Agreed with smn on this case if there is a windmill ted kennedy is not interested yet if there is a super efficient coal plant in the high plains then it is an ecological catastrophe. So where do we begin? California needs energy but cannot bulld within state so is it better for the environment to have it built some meters inside another state's border then sold back? For what, a stat for being a green state per capita, whatever their capita is -day by day-?
Yet we on the high plains can't build a super efficient coal plant without the sierra club logging a complaint - the sierra club for crissakes, in Kansas - and have them paid off to stop making a fuss to sell electrcity to all y'all. Whassa matter, the cows gonna get dizzy?
#4
McCain added. "But I can't tell people in California what to do with their coast."
Right. But let those other states embargo power for their own needs and watch them Californistas and you scream 'Federal Override'. BTW, the states don't own the continental shelf, that's federal jurisdiction.
#5
I guess when gas gets to $7 or $8 dollars a gallon and the average family can't afford to pay their 7 credit card bills and buy enough petrol for the Suburban in the driveway of the house that they bought on an interest only mortgage with no money down, then we'll start to think about making some changes.
#6
Sure sure, that that potential energy must be offloaded somewhere which is where the states can muster influence; ex. wasn't it New York which tried to enact a carbon tax or such on anything unloaded within it's ports (pony express only carries so much so quickly out here so my info may be a bit outdated)?
#7
Non biased experts have determined that without greed as a motive, and profit as a goal; oil could be refined into gas at 25¢ a gallon for the next 200 to 300 years!! and only from US owned territories!! The Earth is so big (deep), that there are oil seas below the crust layer; individual oil 'bubbles' akin to an ant walking across the roof of the SuperDome! Tapping and retrieving such reservoirs would take a national project not unlike the efforts poured into WWII and the Manhattan Project + sending Man to the Moon, but the resulting benefits would be had by all, in these great states of America!!
#8
I'd like to see some sources on that 25 cent claim, smn.
The oil problem is simple. Quit using so much freaking gas. If people would keep it under 70mph we could save 10%. That's huge. We'd be swimming in gasoline. People need to adjust their lifestyles or quit freaking whining. The problem is of our own making, man up and take some responsibility. You shouldn't have bought that giant SUV, you shouldn't have bought the house you can't afford with an interest only balloon mortgage and you shouldn't be carrying thousand's of dollars of debt on your credit cards. The economic problems we face are ALL self-inflicted. STFU and get your own houses in order and quit looking for the government to fix your problems.
#10
AllahHateMe,the following source (1) will show you that the current "technically recoverable" assets in oil comes to 178 billion barrels, source (2) shows the current daily consumption of the US at 20.6 million barrels and source (3) showing world consumption, good for 'atleast' the next 100 years with 'technically recoverable' reserves alone!
Bottom line, at 7.5 billion barrels of US oil consumption yearly, the US 's total 30 year predicted exhaustion of the 'Technically Recoverable' reserves, would not include the 'Technically Unrecoverable' quotient estimated at 100's of times the known; thus the 200-300 year consumptive quotient!
A World Bank mission led by Reema Nayyar and Senior Minister for Education and Literacy Pir Mazharul Haq disclosed on Wednesday that fifty percent of children aged five in the rural areas of Sindh are not attending school and approximately seventy-five percent of girls have never attended one. The meetings main focus was on the Sindh Education Reform Programme (SERP). Haq assured the World Banks delegation that all transfers and postings in the education department will be made purely on merit and no political pressure will be accepted. The WB was also assured that closed schools would be reopened. The education minister was informed during the meeting that not a single school has been upgraded in his constituency district Dadu over the past five years. In response to this, the education department will be sending a written complaint to the Sindh chief minister for action against Zila Nazim Dadu Karim Ali Jatoi and than DCO Dadu Aijaz Mangi. Although the De-centralized Elementary Education Programme (DEEP) has wound up, the Sindh government has made other arrangements to continue providing scholarships to female students of Class 9 through intermediate.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/08/2008 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[5 views]
Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan
#1
If they let them go to school they may find out that the largest penis ever recorded is not really 2-1/2".
Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day or VE Day) was May 7 and May 8, 1945, the dates when the World War II Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich...
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 number of people killed in Myanmar by Cyclone Nargis may rise "very significantly" beyond the government's official estimate, the top U.N. humanitarian official said on Wednesday.
Vladimir Putin was named prime minister of Russia Thursday after a fervent speech full of ambitious plans that overshadowed his low-key successor and suggested that he will keep a strong hand in ruling the country. Putin promised to build on Russia's economic recovery and work to satisfy its people's dreams of comfort and prosperity. 
North Korea has handed over key records sought for months by United States in disarmament talks, the Associated Press reported Thursday, quoting a senior State Department official. 
Republican U.S. presidential candidate John McCain said on Wednesday he would support incentives to encourage states to develop potential oil fields but would not try to force them to exploit potential resources, especially in environmentally sensitive areas.
