Next week California will try to wrest cell phones from the hands of drivers, telling everyone from movie starlets and dot-com millionaires to surfers and soccer moms that conversations behind the wheel must be on a headset.
Several U.S. states and some two dozen countries around the world already have restrictions on mobile phones while driving but now such a law has come to California -- where the car is king and much of life is spent on the famously snarled freeways.
Californians interviewed by Reuters mostly supported the law requiring hands-free phones in cars and outlawing cell phones entirely for drivers under 18, which takes effect on Tuesday -- though they were puzzled by a loophole that allows seemingly more dangerous text messaging.
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#4
'I can't believe that (Californians) will put up with all these nanny, nit-picking laws,' KFI-AM radio talk-show host John Kobylt told Reuters
Of course they will, John. Just tell them it's good for the environment, and they'll do anything.
Or at least say they will. Of course, the laws only apply to the little people - politicians, Hollywood celebrities, other privileged people will be exempt.
Posted by: Rambler in California ||
06/27/2008 17:09 Comments ||
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"Damaged" planes that can fly and land by themselves even wid their pilots incapacitated - DITTO WHY NOT FOR LAND VEHIX???
Methinks this artic could also use the "AIRPLANE" side graphic.
An Air India flight soared past its Mumbai destination on June 4 as its pilots allegedly dozed off in the cockpit, The Times of India reported Thursday. The napping pilots flew 359 miles past the airport and were still at cruising altitude when nervous air traffic controllers woke them up. The flight, which was on autopilot flying toward Mumbai, had about 100 passengers on board.
'The plane took off from Dubai at 1:35 a.m. Indian Standard Time and then from Jaipur at 7 a.m. After operating an overnight flight, fatigue levels peak, and so the pilots dozed off after taking off from Jaipur,' an unidentified source told The Times of India.
Air India officials vehemently denied the report, saying the plane lost radio contact with air traffic control for some time, and only flew 14 miles off course. 'We emphatically deny the report. No such incident took place. We've checked our records,' Jitender Bhargava, Air Indias director for public relations, told The Times.
Some pilots and air traffic controllers argue Air India is trying to cover up for the pilots mistake. 'There is a strict procedure which is followed during a radio communications failure whereby the aircraft should have descended to a holding point. Instead, it flew over Mumbai,' a check pilot told The Times of India. 'Also, every flight has an expected time of arrival [ETA], so why did it not begin its descent even after crossing its ETA?'
#1
I suppose we should look at the bright side - it was on autopilot, at least it did not attempt to auto-land.
Posted by: Rambler in California ||
06/27/2008 14:54 Comments ||
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Maybe this had something to do with it...
AROUND 50 pilots each year in India are being grounded because they had consumed alcohol before taking a flight, say the country's civil aviation authorities. Dozens of pilots are found to have consumed alcohol during routine pre-medical tests every year in India, said the Director General of Civil Aviation, Kanu Gohain.
A flight from India's capital to the eastern city of Patna was cancelled last Saturday after a routine medical test on crew members revealed the pilot had consumed alcohol. "We do catch pilots who had taken alcohol routinely and so does the airlines," said Mr Gohain. "We have strict guidelines for alcohol intake and any operating crew is pulled up immediately, and the airlines too can punish crew members," he said by telephone from Mumbai.
Civil aviation rules specify that pilots and cabin crew cannot consume alcohol 12 hours before taking a flight. A pilot can be grounded for three months and he can lose his license if he repeats the mistake again, said Mr Gohain.
India is one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world with dozens of new airlines competing with each other everyday, often resulting in pilots forced to fly at short notices. The country has about 4500-5000 commercial pilots, and another 2500 are undergoing training.
The safest place to sit on a plane is an aisle seat close to the emergency exit row, a study of 105 accidents and accounts of 2,000 survivors has found.
The seats with the best survival rate were in the exit row and the rows in front or behind, says the study carried out by Greenwich University for the Civil Aviation Authority.
In the seats between two and five rows, passengers still had a better than even chance of escaping in a fire but ''the difference between surviving and perishing is greatly reduced''. The most dangerous seats are those six or more rows from an exit, in which ''the chances of perishing far outweigh those of surviving''.
They paid for this study? I could have told them the answer for free.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/27/2008 00:00 ||
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Methinks that once again today the Brits are anticipating NUCLEAR TERROR [+ Other] to occur in the near term???
IOW, the UK is already convinced Radical Islam [Iran + Militants-Terrs] will go Nukular 2008-2012.
#1
"Jake liked his women the way he liked his kiwi fruit: sweet yet tart, firm-fleshed yet yielding to the touch, and covered with short brown fuzzy hair."
#3
Did you enter that in this year's Bulwer-Lytton contest?
Posted by: Eric Jablow ||
06/27/2008 7:24 Comments ||
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#4
LOL, Moose! There are also size restrictions for carrots and quite a few more fruits and vegetables which leads to fewer foods in the market and could lead to a shortage. Bugwits.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
06/27/2008 7:25 Comments ||
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Who elected these loons?
Oh, right....Never mind
Posted by: Mullah Richard ||
06/27/2008 8:03 Comments ||
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Eric Jablow: Right the first time, in that it was a winning entry in the Bulwer-Lytton contest, years ago.
#9
If they are regulating the size and curvature of bananas, I'm beginning to worry about what might be next. It would make about as much sense. I'm pretty sure lotp might not be able to contain herself as well as she did today if this continues.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Federal agents raided Blackwater Worldwide this week as part of an investigation into whether the private security company sidestepped federal laws prohibiting the private purchase of automatic assault rifles, the company said Thursday. Blackwater spokeswoman Anne Tyrrell said investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives searched Blackwater's armory at its corporate headquarters in Moyock on Tuesday as part of the investigation. She said she did not know whether the weapons in question were seized.
The company signed agreements in 2005 in which Blackwater financed the purchase of 34 automatic weapons. Camden County Sheriff Tony Perry became the official owner of the weapons, but Blackwater was allowed to keep most of the guns at its armory. Federal laws prohibit private parties from buying automatic weapons.
"We believe all aspects of our contacts with the sheriffs office are lawful and proper," Tyrrell said, adding that the ATF has known about the arrangement for a long time. She said it is not unusual for Blackwater to store automatic weapons because the company is licensed to sell, provide training on, or even manufacture firearms.
Both ATF and U.S. Attorney George Holding declined to comment.
The 2005 agreements gives the sheriff's office unlimited access to the weapons, including 17 Romanian AK-47s and 17 Bushmasters. But Perry said his department has only used the AK-47s in shooting practice at Blackwater and that none of his 19 deputies are qualified to use them. The 34 weapons are registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record to the Camden County sheriff. The AK-47s and five of the Bushmasters were stored and used at Blackwater while the remainder of the weapons were assigned to local deputies, Perry had said.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/27/2008 00:00 ||
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#1
I keep pointing out that Blackwater must get out of the US ASAP, at least having a HQ on some Caribbean island, or else they are going to be ruined by the Democrats, who are planning to harass and destroy them.
#2
Federal laws prohibit private parties from buying automatic weapons
Not quite true. You can own a fully automatic weapon but it is very expensive to go through the process and it takes at least a year.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
06/27/2008 7:17 Comments ||
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It sounds like they suspect Blackwater sold fully-auto weapons to a private party. That would be a no-no if the proper procedures were not followed.
Still, we are talking about the BATF. They have a history of playing fast and loose with the law.
Posted by: Steve ||
06/27/2008 8:37 Comments ||
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#4
I think you just have to pay the tax stamp on the gun in KY. Fill out a FORM-4, have it signed by the local police chief, pay $200 , wait 2-6 months, and you're good. Can't be a felon, or mentally ill, the usual fine print. That is in Ky, but it's a Federal thingy, unless your state adds extra shit onto that to try to discourage you, which they probably do in some states.
The Indian general who commanded the military campaign that led to the creation of Bangladesh has died at the age of 94. Sam Manekshaw, whose career spanned four decades, was one of India's best known and well-respected soldiers.
Under the British, he was decorated for gallantry in World War II for his part fighting the Japanese army in Burma. After India gained independence, he became chief of the army in 1969 and in 1973 was made field marshal.
Under his command, India went to war with Pakistan in 1971, supporting Bengali nationalists in what was then East Pakistan. Pakistan surrendered within 14 days and Bangladesh was born. In 1973, only a fortnight before he retired, he was promoted to the rank of field marshal, one of only two Indian army generals to rise to the post.
Sam Manekshaw otherwise known as Sam Bahadur - or "Sam the Brave" - was born in the northern Indian town of Amritsar in 1914 and was among the first batch of recruits at the Indian Military Academy set up by the British in 1932. Serving under the British, he was decorated for his part in a battle with the Japanese army in Burma. He made the transition to working for independent India with ease and became chief of the Indian army in 1969. He played a decisive role in some of India's most significant wars, including the war with China in 1962 and the victory over Pakistan in 1971, which made him a national hero.
A documentary film made about him in 2003 captured some of his much admired sense of humour. In one sequence Field Marshal Manekshaw recalls how, following the 1971 war against Pakistan, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi confronted him about rumours that he was planning a coup against her. "Don't you think I would not be a worthy replacement for you Madam prime minister? You have a long nose, so have I. I don't poke my nose in other people's affairs," he joked. In the film, Field Marshal Manekshaw also said that India lost a golden opportunity to solve the Kashmir issue once and for all at the Shimla summit with Pakistan which was held soon after the 1971 war.
The BBC's Charu Shahane says that he will be remembered as being handsome and witty with a handlebar moustache - every inch a victorious soldier. Our correspondent says that he captured the public imagination and became a hero in the eyes of India's people. In retirement, the field marshal remained reticent and eager to keep a low profile despite being much adored by his countrymen. He recently refused to comment on the war in Iraq despite a huge gathering of journalists bombarding him with questions.
Tributes have been pouring into the websites of Indian newspapers, calling him "a great soldier and a very thorough gentleman". Sam Manekshaw, who had been battling a series of illnesses, died at a military hospital in Wellington in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, where he had lived since retiring. Indian Defence Minister AK Antony said the nation "had lost a great soldier, a true patriot and a noble son".
Posted by: john frum ||
06/27/2008 06:36 ||
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Posted by: john frum ||
06/27/2008 6:40 Comments ||
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Posted by: john frum ||
06/27/2008 6:43 Comments ||
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Awarded the Military Cross for action in Burma, he still had shrapnel from seven Japanese bullets in his body.
The Indian PM Indira Gandhi once chided him for drinking during military briefings to which he replied, "Madam, the brand name of the whisky is Black Dog, which [President] Yahya Khan drinks. I am quite sure that I shall outdrink him and outfight him. Please do not get angry."
When Indira asked him to go to Dhaka and accept the surrender of Pakistani forces, Manekshaw declined, magnanimously saying that honour should go to his Army commander in the East Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora.
Manekshaw said he would only go if it were to accept the surrender of the entire Pakistani army.
He once sent a parcel of the bangles worn by Indian women to the commanding officer of a battalion in the Mizo hills - "with the compliments of the army commander" and a note inside: 'If you are avoiding contact with the hostile give these to your men to wear. Needless to say, the next few weeks saw a flurry of activity by this battalion resulting in another, more soothing message: 'send the bangles back.'
On a rather warm day the Defence Secretary , Harish Sarin, a very powerful civil servant, upon entering the Ministrys conference room said to a Colonel sitting close to a window, "You there, open that window!" Before the Colonel could get up came a sharp "Sit down" came from Manekshaw, who had also just entered from another door. Turning to the Secretary, he said, "Mr. Secretary, dont you ever address one of my officers in that tone of voice. You may say, "Sam, would you please open that window, and I will open the window for you. That officer is a Colonel, and not You there."
In 1962, with Indian forces reeling from the Chinese human wave attacks, he was sent to halt the tide. He met his staff officers: Gentleman, I have arrived! There will be no more withdrawals in 4 Corps without written orders and these orders will never be given. Thank you;' and walked out.
When the wife of a former army chief asked Manekshaw how he managed to remember the first names of most army wives, the field marshal remarked there are two things no honourable man should forget: His wife's birthday and the first name of the women around.
Posted by: john frum ||
06/27/2008 7:04 Comments ||
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#4
As Commanding Officer of the Gurkha regiment on a visit to a unit, he once asked what action was taken against a man who contracted veneral disease. When he was told the man's head was shaved, he roared. "Shaved off? Dammit. he didn't do it with his head."
Lt-General A.K. Kalkat, a former army commander in Manekshaw's regiment, remembers a conversation between Manekshaw and a general accused of misusing funds: "Sir, do you know what you are saying?" asked the general. "You are accusing a general of being dishonest." Replied Manekshaw: "Your chief is not only accusing you of being dishonest but also calling you a thief. If I were you I would go home and either shoot myself or resign. I am waiting to see what you will do." The general submitted his resignation.
On one occasion, he found that the defence secretary had penned his own observations on a note he had written to the prime minister and defence minister. Infuriated, Manekshaw took the file and walked straight into Mrs Gandhi's office. He told her that if she found the defence secretary more competent than him to advise her on military matters she did not have a need for him. The defence secretary was found a new job.
Posted by: john frum ||
06/27/2008 7:09 Comments ||
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Thank you for the added information and photos, Mr. Frum.
The likes of men like these are so very rare. It is an honor even to have breathed the same air as he did.
Posted by: Mullah Richard ||
06/27/2008 7:59 Comments ||
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Mr. Frum,
Sounds like Gen. Manekshaw did a fine job of carrying on the old British-led Indian Army's esprit de corps. I think Bill Slim and John Masters would have been proud of him.
Posted by: Thaimble Scourge of the Pixies4707 ||
06/27/2008 11:18 Comments ||
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#7
Soldier is a soldier - cuts across nations and cultures.
#8
Love the first pic. He earned every one of those medals. Hell of a guy.
Posted by: Steve White ||
06/27/2008 11:44 Comments ||
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Sam Manekshaw otherwise known as Sam Bahadur - or 'Sam the Brave'
He was actually given this name by the Gurkhas, whom he once commanded. In his retirement and illness he was looked after by his beloved Gurkha soldiers.
Posted by: john frum ||
06/27/2008 17:08 Comments ||
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Investigators funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research are conducting research under the name of 'ghost-imaging,' where a visual image of an object is created by means of light that has never interacted with the object.
University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus, professor (Dr.) Yanhua Shih initiated ghost-imaging research in 1995, by using entangled photons. In the experiment, one photon passed through stenciled patterns in a mask to trigger a detector, and another photon was captured by a second detector. Surprisingly, an image of the pattern between the two detectors appeared, which the physics community called ghost-imaging.
Dr. Deacon said he believes ghost-imaging may enable a satellite to be equipped with a detector and that would be coupled with a second camera that would take images of the sun. That combination of technologies could generate ghost images of the Earth's surface, even if there are obstructing atmospheric conditions.
#2
Very cool. Leonard Susskind, a Physics professor at Stanford gives adult education classes on Physics. He has a whole series of lectures on quantum entanglement on Stanford itunes.
Anheuser-Busch, the largest US brewer, on Friday said it would cut jobs and increase share buybacks as it set out its justification for rejecting a $46bn bid from rival global brewer InBev. August Busch IV, chief executive, told investors that the companys board had taken the bid very, very seriously, but had concluded that it undervalued Anheuser when compared to similar transactions in the global beer business involving iconic brands.
Anheuser board set to discuss InBev bid - Jun-19He also said that Anheuser had concluded the $65 per share bid was too low in comparison with the value that could be delivered by the companys own strategic plan, and assumed cost savings that Anheuser could realise on its own.
In a step towards achieving over $1bn of cost savings in the next two years, Anheuser said it would cut 10 to 15 per cent of its salaried workforce of 8,600 through an early retirement programme. It also said it would increase planned share buy-backs this year to $3bn from $2bn previously and to $4bn from $1.8bn in 2009.
It also forecast that its earnings per share this year would increase in the low double digits, ahead of Wall Streets current consensus estimate of an 8 per cent increase in earnings. However, it did not announce any plans to dispose of non-core assets such as its theme parks or packaging operations.
Anheuser did not definitively reject the possibility of a deal with InBev, should the Belgium-based brewer raise its offer. It also argued that its new strategic initiatives were already underway before it received the InBev offer.
InBev, the worlds largest brewer, said on Thursday in court documents that it was prepared to launch a proxy battle seeking the removal of Anheusers entire board, citing delays and apparent plans to attempt to block the acquisition.
It also said it still wanted a constructive dialogue over its $65-a-share offer. The exchange set the stage for a high-profile international battle for control of Anheuser, which controls almost half of the US beer market. InBevs court filing said that it had been told by Mr Busch before launching the bid that he was opposed to any offer, and that Anheuser was not for sale. Mr Busch, according to InBev, also said he and his board were committed to the companys independence.
InBev, meanwhile, is asking the Court of Chancery in Delaware, where Anheuser is incorporated, for a declaratory ruling that would confirm the shareholders right to remove all 13 of Anheusers board members, without giving cause. The brewer is asking for clarification of the legal status of five of the directors appointed in 2006, before changes were made that allow the removal of board directors by written consent.
John Coffee, a professor of corporate law at Columbia University, said the move to request the ruling from the Delaware courts was highly unusual, and characterised the filing as an initial opening tactic by InBevs legal team. Anheuser said on Friday it would contest the action.
2008-2012 [2020] > OWG GLOBAL GOSPLAN/COMPLAN/
SOVPLAN > when FASCIST STATE AMER "JUNKERS GRUPPE" becomes GOSGRUPPE/COMGRUPPE = GRUPPE GOSBUREAU, etc., espec after 2012???
FUTURAMA > "Fry, you can't go against MOM - SHE'S THE WORLD'S BIGGEST AND MOST LOVABLE INDUSTRIALIST"!?
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.
Next week California will try to wrest cell phones from the hands of drivers, telling everyone from movie starlets and dot-com millionaires to surfers and soccer moms that conversations behind the wheel must be on a headset.
An Air India flight soared past its Mumbai destination on June 4 as its pilots allegedly dozed off in the cockpit, The Times of India reported Thursday. The napping pilots flew 359 miles past the airport and were still at cruising altitude when nervous air traffic controllers woke them up. The flight, which was on autopilot flying toward Mumbai, had about 100 passengers on board.
The safest place to sit on a plane is an aisle seat close to the emergency exit row, a study of 105 accidents and accounts of 2,000 survivors has found.
Anheuser-Busch, the largest US brewer, on Friday said it would cut jobs and increase share buybacks as it set out its justification for rejecting a $46bn bid from rival global brewer InBev. August Busch IV, chief executive, told investors that the companys board had taken the bid very, very seriously, but had concluded that it undervalued Anheuser when compared to similar transactions in the global beer business involving iconic brands. 
Anheuser did not definitively reject the possibility of a deal with InBev, should the Belgium-based brewer raise its offer. It also argued that its new strategic initiatives were already underway before it received the InBev offer. 
