Monday, July 30, 2007
Airline boss admits to cocaine use
Richard Branson admits using cocaine, ecstasy and Viagra, according to Mumbai MidDay.
The other day my airline baggage got lost - fortunately, unlike many thousands of others, I eventually found it again - at another airport. And how come fares on economy airlines are often apparently and consistently below cost ? Very early in his career Branson was caught for airline VAT fraud. And carousel and drug frauds are known as common in connection with airlines, often with undercover police and Government connivance..
IMO: What a bunch of worthless tossers must run these airlines !
The other day my airline baggage got lost - fortunately, unlike many thousands of others, I eventually found it again - at another airport. And how come fares on economy airlines are often apparently and consistently below cost ? Very early in his career Branson was caught for airline VAT fraud. And carousel and drug frauds are known as common in connection with airlines, often with undercover police and Government connivance..
IMO: What a bunch of worthless tossers must run these airlines !
Judge slates UK Home Secretary who recently licensed dodgy brain experiments causing animal cruelty
The judge ruled that the home secretary acted unlawfully when he licensed brain experiments as causing "moderate" rather than "substantial" suffering. Some of the experiments involved removing the tops of the animals' heads to induce strokes.
"It is actually a really significant point that goes to the heart of animal experiments into the UK," said Michelle Threw, chief executive of BUAV.
According to the semiprofessional trade journal (always interesting news in these) "Drug Researcher , the UK government has been ordered to review the assessment system it uses to classify and grant permission for animal experiments following a court ruling handed down last week
IMO: A lot of these experiments would appear to be of little real use. Furthermore those concerned often have little knowledge or understanding of their own subject. I would know, as I have recently attended two major conferences on consciousness studies and had to read a lot of sheer bilge. And sometimes there is little or no use of pain killers to these innocent animals. Covance and Huntingdon Life Sciences, "the usual suspects", are of course carpeted again but it is suspected that little will actually be done.
"It is actually a really significant point that goes to the heart of animal experiments into the UK," said Michelle Threw, chief executive of BUAV.
According to the semiprofessional trade journal (always interesting news in these) "Drug Researcher , the UK government has been ordered to review the assessment system it uses to classify and grant permission for animal experiments following a court ruling handed down last week
IMO: A lot of these experiments would appear to be of little real use. Furthermore those concerned often have little knowledge or understanding of their own subject. I would know, as I have recently attended two major conferences on consciousness studies and had to read a lot of sheer bilge. And sometimes there is little or no use of pain killers to these innocent animals. Covance and Huntingdon Life Sciences, "the usual suspects", are of course carpeted again but it is suspected that little will actually be done.
Max Clifford on Shambo - and drunken politicians
Max says: "If you can involve a cuddly animal you’ve got a much better chance of getting that heard than perhaps some of the more important issues.
“And I think it’s getting more and more so because we are less and less able to trust people in today’s society. We can trust animals, we can’t trust anyone else – we can’t trust politicians, we can’t trust anyone we meet, no one trusts anybody.
“But we do trust animals, so we as a nation get close to them, the less trust there is in society the closer we get to animals.
“They’re not going to hurt you, they’re not going to disappoint you, they’re not going to let you down, they’re going to entertain you, they’re going to make you happy.”
IMO: There are deep reasons for all this, deep down in human nature and embedded in Hinduism. [Someone said: They are 'dumb' so obviously we have to take more care of them, instead of taking advantage of them and killing them. This country seems to derive pleasure from killing.]
Also, it seems that 44% of Welsh people visit the grave of a deceased pet at least once a week. Not a good sign for politicians who favour pet culling.
IMO: I will bet there aren't many who visit the graves of politicians who have died from drinking too much alcohol. An estimate culled from the Guy Fawkes blog suggested that the number of politicans who have recently died from drunkenness at Westminster alone exceeds 20 prominent politicians, all parties. No wonder our laws are such crap.
“And I think it’s getting more and more so because we are less and less able to trust people in today’s society. We can trust animals, we can’t trust anyone else – we can’t trust politicians, we can’t trust anyone we meet, no one trusts anybody.
“But we do trust animals, so we as a nation get close to them, the less trust there is in society the closer we get to animals.
“They’re not going to hurt you, they’re not going to disappoint you, they’re not going to let you down, they’re going to entertain you, they’re going to make you happy.”
IMO: There are deep reasons for all this, deep down in human nature and embedded in Hinduism. [Someone said: They are 'dumb' so obviously we have to take more care of them, instead of taking advantage of them and killing them. This country seems to derive pleasure from killing.]
Also, it seems that 44% of Welsh people visit the grave of a deceased pet at least once a week. Not a good sign for politicians who favour pet culling.
IMO: I will bet there aren't many who visit the graves of politicians who have died from drinking too much alcohol. An estimate culled from the Guy Fawkes blog suggested that the number of politicans who have recently died from drunkenness at Westminster alone exceeds 20 prominent politicians, all parties. No wonder our laws are such crap.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Slave Labor allegedly currently used to build $600mn US Iraqi embassy
"At this time our reach does not extend to third-country hiring practices," said William Moser, the deputy assistant secretary for acquisitions.
The embassy, slated to be the largest U.S. diplomatic mission in the world, is being built by a Kuwait-based firm, First Kuwaiti General Trading & Contracting Co., which was awarded the contract after no American company would meet the terms, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform was told.
Brief details here.
IMO: Sounds typical current US foreign policy, when we bear in mind allegations of prisoner abuse, torture and violence appearing everywhere.
The embassy, slated to be the largest U.S. diplomatic mission in the world, is being built by a Kuwait-based firm, First Kuwaiti General Trading & Contracting Co., which was awarded the contract after no American company would meet the terms, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform was told.
Brief details here.
IMO: Sounds typical current US foreign policy, when we bear in mind allegations of prisoner abuse, torture and violence appearing everywhere.
Shambo Saga Underlines British Tensions
Washington Post July 28, 2007: Hindus, Muslims and Christians have seized on the Shambo case to complain that the government is interfering in their spiritual lives.
The monks argued that Shambo could be effectively isolated and claimed the death sentence trampled on their religious rights. It seems correct that the monks have a very correct case for a number of reasons. e.g. they offered to send the bull to a safe animal sanctuary in Mumbai for any necessary healing, and a reading of the Press suggests that overall there was the usual official bumbling and error at best. Doubtless the monks have a record of all this; recent newspaper reports seem to have removed some details such as incorrectly prepared warrants etc., typical of UK police. Anyway the authorities appear to plan further slaughter.
The Guardian newspaper commented Friday that the Shambo case was "utterly disastrous" for the government's image. It also seems that the Police damaged temple property, e.g. with bolt cutters. Vanloads of Police were used to attempt to intimidate nonviolent protesters who (mainly) seemed to be perfectly happy to settle the matter in ways leading to no loss or financial damage.
Marxists and other protesters will have seen the same Government tactics, strangely reminiscent of Norman Tebbitt telling sacked workers, who had often trained for years and were with no further prospects to "get on yer bike". Mr. Tebbitt himself had had privileged employment and plenty of money.
Naturally it all pleases some secularists, but they are usually victims of their own antireligious bias, which is plain wrong and indeed unscientific. Dawkins is an extreme case in point, who appears to have genuine misunderstandings in culture and science.
IMO: I'll make just one point, out of many which could be made, this one being not necessarily the best point or even a good one. Most people nowadays consider that intelligent life may occur outside the solar system. It seems fairly unlikely that this will be exactly of human origin. Insensate and insensitive destruction of life on this planet for nugatory and short term gains, more apparent than real, poses real problems in dealing diplomatically with such people, as if they are bad, such ruthlessness can leave them with additional good reasons to destroy or enslave humanity, or if good, it may make them less likely to be considerate and helpful, particularly if their closest genetic relatives on this planet are cows - quite likely.
The monks argued that Shambo could be effectively isolated and claimed the death sentence trampled on their religious rights. It seems correct that the monks have a very correct case for a number of reasons. e.g. they offered to send the bull to a safe animal sanctuary in Mumbai for any necessary healing, and a reading of the Press suggests that overall there was the usual official bumbling and error at best. Doubtless the monks have a record of all this; recent newspaper reports seem to have removed some details such as incorrectly prepared warrants etc., typical of UK police. Anyway the authorities appear to plan further slaughter.
The Guardian newspaper commented Friday that the Shambo case was "utterly disastrous" for the government's image. It also seems that the Police damaged temple property, e.g. with bolt cutters. Vanloads of Police were used to attempt to intimidate nonviolent protesters who (mainly) seemed to be perfectly happy to settle the matter in ways leading to no loss or financial damage.
Marxists and other protesters will have seen the same Government tactics, strangely reminiscent of Norman Tebbitt telling sacked workers, who had often trained for years and were with no further prospects to "get on yer bike". Mr. Tebbitt himself had had privileged employment and plenty of money.
Naturally it all pleases some secularists, but they are usually victims of their own antireligious bias, which is plain wrong and indeed unscientific. Dawkins is an extreme case in point, who appears to have genuine misunderstandings in culture and science.
IMO: I'll make just one point, out of many which could be made, this one being not necessarily the best point or even a good one. Most people nowadays consider that intelligent life may occur outside the solar system. It seems fairly unlikely that this will be exactly of human origin. Insensate and insensitive destruction of life on this planet for nugatory and short term gains, more apparent than real, poses real problems in dealing diplomatically with such people, as if they are bad, such ruthlessness can leave them with additional good reasons to destroy or enslave humanity, or if good, it may make them less likely to be considerate and helpful, particularly if their closest genetic relatives on this planet are cows - quite likely.
Friday, July 13, 2007
FWIW: Palfrey's phone list is now available online
Deborah Jeanne Palfrey's phone list, mentioned earlier in this blog, is allegedly now available online
Two pieces of good news
(1) Christians welcome Brown's Supercasino Review. Christians pleased with hint from Gordon Brown that Manchester supercasino plans may be scrapped. Christians have welcomed the suggestion from Gordon Brown that there may be better ways to bring economic growth to east Manchester than to build a supercasino there.
IMO: And mathematicians should be pleased also. Gambling on that scale is a criminal activity, and for this reason it is a waste of time even for smart mathematicians. The time such people can waste can be seen from careful reading of books such as the popular work of T.A. Bass entitled "The Newtonian Casino".
(2) Less farmland may be stolen from the workers using SEZs in future. The (Indian) "Business Standard" says "Fresh approvals for special economic zones (SEZs) are likely to slow down significantly in the days to come due to state governments not giving their mandatory clearance to 200 pending zones."
IMO: After Nandigram and Singur, for example, it is rapidly becoming clear that such SEZs are largely nonstarters in practical terms.
IMO: And mathematicians should be pleased also. Gambling on that scale is a criminal activity, and for this reason it is a waste of time even for smart mathematicians. The time such people can waste can be seen from careful reading of books such as the popular work of T.A. Bass entitled "The Newtonian Casino".
(2) Less farmland may be stolen from the workers using SEZs in future. The (Indian) "Business Standard" says "Fresh approvals for special economic zones (SEZs) are likely to slow down significantly in the days to come due to state governments not giving their mandatory clearance to 200 pending zones."
IMO: After Nandigram and Singur, for example, it is rapidly becoming clear that such SEZs are largely nonstarters in practical terms.
"Pakistan is a Motel 6 for terrorists" Democrats say
Rep. Jim Cooper, a Tennessee Democrat, said Osama bin-Laden and other terrorist leaders apparently feel safe in Pakistan. "Is this a Motel 6 for terrorists?" he asked.
National security officials are frustrated by an agreement last year between Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and tribal leaders in western Pakistan, which gave tribes near the Afghan border greater autonomy and has led to increased al-Qaida activity in the region. Nevertheless, Bush administration officials still view Musharraf as a partner.
The Taliban have much positive to say to the Pakistan people from the viewpoint of religion and faith. And yet their strong tactics and often divisive religious policies are not the most useful and successful way of sorting out problems, and have led to needless bloodshed and loss of life. Unfortunately the US nowadays seem to use Taliban methods. "In the 20th Century a country's might was too often measured in what they could destroy. In the 21st Century strength should be measured by what we can build together," UK Cabinet Minister Douglas Alexander said.
IMO: Perhaps it is now time for decent God fearing people to consider the problems in both (Bushian) US and Taliban methods. Those who are not decent God fearing people may well take the same view. Punjabistan canot reassert meaningful power over Waziristan using existing methods in my estimate, without much more funding than the US or the Saudis will give.
National security officials are frustrated by an agreement last year between Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and tribal leaders in western Pakistan, which gave tribes near the Afghan border greater autonomy and has led to increased al-Qaida activity in the region. Nevertheless, Bush administration officials still view Musharraf as a partner.
The Taliban have much positive to say to the Pakistan people from the viewpoint of religion and faith. And yet their strong tactics and often divisive religious policies are not the most useful and successful way of sorting out problems, and have led to needless bloodshed and loss of life. Unfortunately the US nowadays seem to use Taliban methods. "In the 20th Century a country's might was too often measured in what they could destroy. In the 21st Century strength should be measured by what we can build together," UK Cabinet Minister Douglas Alexander said.
IMO: Perhaps it is now time for decent God fearing people to consider the problems in both (Bushian) US and Taliban methods. Those who are not decent God fearing people may well take the same view. Punjabistan canot reassert meaningful power over Waziristan using existing methods in my estimate, without much more funding than the US or the Saudis will give.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Bless the suburbs
Former Cheshire councillor married Osama bin Laden's son in Egypt. A former parish councillor has become one of the wives of a son of Osama bin Laden following a "fairytale romance" in Egypt and is making plans for when he will be able to obtain a visa to come and live with her in Cheshire.
The Cheshire councillor said: "It was a fairytale romance."
IMO: I could well believe OBL's son may be a better catch than the good lady can find in Cheshire. Perhaps she can persuade OBL to go a bit easy on Salman Rushdie, after all Rushdie is hardly a worse writer than most of the English and probably less egotistical than the characters in "Cheshire Life"..
The Cheshire councillor said: "It was a fairytale romance."
IMO: I could well believe OBL's son may be a better catch than the good lady can find in Cheshire. Perhaps she can persuade OBL to go a bit easy on Salman Rushdie, after all Rushdie is hardly a worse writer than most of the English and probably less egotistical than the characters in "Cheshire Life"..
If you fly Boeing, you fly Al Quaeda
The Bangalore police have sought the expertise of the Resource Centre for Cyber Forensics at the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Also known as Trivandrum, this is the "City of Lord Anantha", well known for its Vishnu temple.
C-DAC are understood to have carried out the very difficult task of deciphering some or all of the contents of the high-capacity hard disk seized from the home of Kafeel Ahmed and his brother Sabeel Ahmed . The two have been detained by the U.K. police in connection with last week’s Glasgow terror attack. Ahmed was allegedly the driver of the jeep that drove into the airport.
It is understood that Ahmed, who had worked as an aeronautical engineer, had been working on software for Boeing and for the Pratt and Whtiney engine company. Apparently these companies do not return calls from the Press about the matter !
IMO: Rather amusingly, now we can say: "If you fly Boeing, you fly Al Quaeda". Knowing the very lax security at US airports before the Twin Towers bombing, I do not doubt that at least one very serious 787 crash will be needed for the message, let alone its implications, to sink in. Anyway, it certainly shows what el cheapo progammers US firms hire. I suppose they were better than any in the once great USA.
C-DAC are understood to have carried out the very difficult task of deciphering some or all of the contents of the high-capacity hard disk seized from the home of Kafeel Ahmed and his brother Sabeel Ahmed . The two have been detained by the U.K. police in connection with last week’s Glasgow terror attack. Ahmed was allegedly the driver of the jeep that drove into the airport.
It is understood that Ahmed, who had worked as an aeronautical engineer, had been working on software for Boeing and for the Pratt and Whtiney engine company. Apparently these companies do not return calls from the Press about the matter !
IMO: Rather amusingly, now we can say: "If you fly Boeing, you fly Al Quaeda". Knowing the very lax security at US airports before the Twin Towers bombing, I do not doubt that at least one very serious 787 crash will be needed for the message, let alone its implications, to sink in. Anyway, it certainly shows what el cheapo progammers US firms hire. I suppose they were better than any in the once great USA.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Crowd lathicharged at Lalu function in Mumbai
Mumbai, July 7: Security personnel today lathicharged a crowd that thronged a function held by Western Railway at Borivali station where Railway Minister Lalu Prasad had come to inaugurate the additional lines between Borivali and Virar.
Instead of plain rhetoric, Lalu Prasad on Saturday mixed histrionics with facts. He said the quadrupling of tracks between Borivli and Virar, a Rs 505-crore project that lingered for over a decade, was just the trailer. (The project—tracks between Borivli and Virar—comes under the World Bank-funded Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP-I).
With a straight face, he also promised Rajya Sabha MP Hema Malini a special train for Bollywood actors, adding that he could not afford to turn down a request from one of his favourite stars. "One of my daughters is named after Hema Malini ji," he said.
Ironically, a short while before the police took to batons, the Railway Minister, while refering to the rehabilitation of the people living along the railway tracks, had categorically stated that the UPA government did not believe in the forceful eviction of the people, and that his government did not believe in the rule by baton.
Instead of plain rhetoric, Lalu Prasad on Saturday mixed histrionics with facts. He said the quadrupling of tracks between Borivli and Virar, a Rs 505-crore project that lingered for over a decade, was just the trailer. (The project—tracks between Borivli and Virar—comes under the World Bank-funded Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP-I).
With a straight face, he also promised Rajya Sabha MP Hema Malini a special train for Bollywood actors, adding that he could not afford to turn down a request from one of his favourite stars. "One of my daughters is named after Hema Malini ji," he said.
Ironically, a short while before the police took to batons, the Railway Minister, while refering to the rehabilitation of the people living along the railway tracks, had categorically stated that the UPA government did not believe in the forceful eviction of the people, and that his government did not believe in the rule by baton.
Organic Vegetables (may) be good for your health
Organic produce is better for your heart, suggests a 10-year US study,because produce grown with the aid of fertilisers has a ready supply of nitrogen, it does not produce as much in the way of flavonoids. Flavonoids are produced as a defence mechanism in soil, which lacks nitrogen and other nutrients.
The Soil Association policy director said: ‘These findings also confirm recent European research, which showed that organic tomatoes, peaches and processed apples all have higher nutritional quality than non-organic.’
But Lord Krebs, the former chairman of the FSA and now Master of Jesus College, Oxford, said that even if such benefits existed, higher flavonoid levels did not make organic food healthier. “This depends on the relevance of the differences to the human body,” he said. “Tomato ketchup has higher levels of lycopene [a strong antioxidant] than either organic or conventional tomatoes. So if you wanted lots of lycopene you should eat tomato ketchup.”
SpiritIndia pointed out that the US Food Standards Agency (FSA) says there is some evidence that flavonoids can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease but they are currently carrying out a study to look at the health benefits in detail.
IMO: I am pretty sure that it is best to eat a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables if they are relatively inexpensive but I never stick to or specifically choose 'organic' ones as the supermarkets seem to mark them up too high and present studies do not appear totally convincing yet on a practical level, i.e. in terms of the food you actually get.
The Soil Association policy director said: ‘These findings also confirm recent European research, which showed that organic tomatoes, peaches and processed apples all have higher nutritional quality than non-organic.’
But Lord Krebs, the former chairman of the FSA and now Master of Jesus College, Oxford, said that even if such benefits existed, higher flavonoid levels did not make organic food healthier. “This depends on the relevance of the differences to the human body,” he said. “Tomato ketchup has higher levels of lycopene [a strong antioxidant] than either organic or conventional tomatoes. So if you wanted lots of lycopene you should eat tomato ketchup.”
SpiritIndia pointed out that the US Food Standards Agency (FSA) says there is some evidence that flavonoids can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease but they are currently carrying out a study to look at the health benefits in detail.
IMO: I am pretty sure that it is best to eat a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables if they are relatively inexpensive but I never stick to or specifically choose 'organic' ones as the supermarkets seem to mark them up too high and present studies do not appear totally convincing yet on a practical level, i.e. in terms of the food you actually get.
Snuff videos of pedophile priest on YouTube
Allegedly Joseph Druce beat, stomped and strangled convicted child molester John Geoghan, 68, while both were jailed in the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in August 2003.
Allegedly Joseph Druce is the one who posted the video on the popular Web site YouTube. A note with a heading reading "The First of Many." said "The truth about officer involvement in John Geogan's (sic) death ...The truth about officers allowing J.G. to die through their neglect."
The 10-minute video was posted June 12 and shows prison guards trying to pry open cell doors while Druce was killing the priest.
Allegedly Joseph Druce is the one who posted the video on the popular Web site YouTube. A note with a heading reading "The First of Many." said "The truth about officer involvement in John Geogan's (sic) death ...The truth about officers allowing J.G. to die through their neglect."
The 10-minute video was posted June 12 and shows prison guards trying to pry open cell doors while Druce was killing the priest.
"Gordon the Bogeyman"
This brief video has been reconfigured for mobile phones and is being released as a text-messaged viral to download soon. In the meantime the current version is here.
Bharat inducts Nuclear Capable Sagarika Ballistic Missile for locally constructed nuclear-powered submarine
7/7/2007: India has inducted the Sagarika SLBM - Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile - into the Armed Forces. The Sagarika has a range of 1,000 km. The missile is likely to be installed on the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV), the indigenous nuclear-powered submarine that is expected to be launched next year.
This report is yet to be confirmed by Indian Navy or Ministry of Defence sources
This report is yet to be confirmed by Indian Navy or Ministry of Defence sources
The people paid by the NHS to cure you will kill you
According the the UK Telegraph, which goes on to say "Irrespective of how closely they were linked to al-Qaeda, it is clear the alleged bombers were fanatical jihadists".
One of these fellows for example would tell his colleagues: "We should not learn medicine. We should learn how to fight the occupation."
According to the Indian Express, Australian police questioned four more Indian doctors in connection with the UK terror plots and have seized computers and other equipment during fresh raids. All have been released.
It is one thing to put people in jail for having radical views and/or holding subversive literature. "Revolting students" have always been an important sector in Western Universities, and have always had some rights.
It is however another thing if they start going around killing members of the general public.
Some people are now being trained as doctors to give them a better chance to murder members of the general public.
IMO: I do not think that this is a simple matter to deal with. There is probably no simple "this far and no further" solution. These matters have to be dealt with carefully and stepwise, considering individual cases and building up a bank of case law to refer to usefully. Case law is extremely important in the UK! And there is little time. Fortunately the creaking structure of democracy at least gives us some time. And so it is most important that we should preserve democracy and free speech. But the medical profession can still have these people removed from it and deported, jailed, or given other work - however correct their views may be considered at some later time or in a distant country..
One of these fellows for example would tell his colleagues: "We should not learn medicine. We should learn how to fight the occupation."
According to the Indian Express, Australian police questioned four more Indian doctors in connection with the UK terror plots and have seized computers and other equipment during fresh raids. All have been released.
It is one thing to put people in jail for having radical views and/or holding subversive literature. "Revolting students" have always been an important sector in Western Universities, and have always had some rights.
It is however another thing if they start going around killing members of the general public.
Some people are now being trained as doctors to give them a better chance to murder members of the general public.
IMO: I do not think that this is a simple matter to deal with. There is probably no simple "this far and no further" solution. These matters have to be dealt with carefully and stepwise, considering individual cases and building up a bank of case law to refer to usefully. Case law is extremely important in the UK! And there is little time. Fortunately the creaking structure of democracy at least gives us some time. And so it is most important that we should preserve democracy and free speech. But the medical profession can still have these people removed from it and deported, jailed, or given other work - however correct their views may be considered at some later time or in a distant country..
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Man convicted in England on terror charges - was it fair ?
Jul 5 2007 8:21AM Associated Press : MANCHESTER, England (AP) A man who sought asylum in Britain has been convicted of possessing terrorist training manuals that included instructions on using gas canisters to make car bombs.
There is no indication that Omar Altimimi has any connection to last week's failed car bomb attempts in London and Glasgow, Scotland. However, prosecutors say Altimimi's computer contained material that identified nightclubs and airports as "suitable targets." Altimimi came to Britain from the Netherlands in 2002 and applied for asylum, but authorities say he used at least three identities. A police counterterrorism official says Altimimi appears to have been a "sleeper" who was waiting in the shadows and "preparing for action."
He was ALSO found guilty of two more charges of money laundering.
IMO: I have looked at some articles about this fellow and I suppose the money laundering might be fair enough for an offence, but these days any UK schoolchild good on the WWW can put together a fair to good manual on terrorism and a lot of this stuff looks like supposition. 15 years possible sentence for what the authorities may have thought might be happening ? In a decent country, facts would be wanted.
There is no indication that Omar Altimimi has any connection to last week's failed car bomb attempts in London and Glasgow, Scotland. However, prosecutors say Altimimi's computer contained material that identified nightclubs and airports as "suitable targets." Altimimi came to Britain from the Netherlands in 2002 and applied for asylum, but authorities say he used at least three identities. A police counterterrorism official says Altimimi appears to have been a "sleeper" who was waiting in the shadows and "preparing for action."
He was ALSO found guilty of two more charges of money laundering.
IMO: I have looked at some articles about this fellow and I suppose the money laundering might be fair enough for an offence, but these days any UK schoolchild good on the WWW can put together a fair to good manual on terrorism and a lot of this stuff looks like supposition. 15 years possible sentence for what the authorities may have thought might be happening ? In a decent country, facts would be wanted.
Bush Commutes Libby’s Prison Sentence
President Bush spared former White House aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby from a 2 1/2-year prison term in the CIA leak case Monday, stepping into a criminal case with heavy political overtones on grounds that the sentence was just too harsh.
Republican Patterico says : You do the crime, you do the time. The jury said Scooter Libby did the crime. He should do the time. The Republican Party is going to pay a huge, huge price for this.
Republican Orin Kerr says: I find Bush’s action very troubling because of the obvious special treatment Libby received. President Bush has set a remarkable record in the last 6+ years for essentially never exercising his powers to commute sentences or pardon those in jail. I don’t know if Bush has ever actually used his powers to get one single person out of jail even one day early. If there are such cases, they are certainly few and far between. So Libby’s treatment was very special indeed.
I hardly need to specify what the Democrats say.
The fact seems to be that the problem arose over the Valerie Plame case, involved in a matter intended to justify Bush's then proposed actions in Iraq, which seem to have been ill planned and to the direct disadvantage of USA, Islamist politics aside.
IMO: This really does leave the international impression of a lame duck President feebly quacking his last quacks. Bush is obviously a nice, folksy chap - Lompoc for him.
Republican Patterico says : You do the crime, you do the time. The jury said Scooter Libby did the crime. He should do the time. The Republican Party is going to pay a huge, huge price for this.
Republican Orin Kerr says: I find Bush’s action very troubling because of the obvious special treatment Libby received. President Bush has set a remarkable record in the last 6+ years for essentially never exercising his powers to commute sentences or pardon those in jail. I don’t know if Bush has ever actually used his powers to get one single person out of jail even one day early. If there are such cases, they are certainly few and far between. So Libby’s treatment was very special indeed.
I hardly need to specify what the Democrats say.
The fact seems to be that the problem arose over the Valerie Plame case, involved in a matter intended to justify Bush's then proposed actions in Iraq, which seem to have been ill planned and to the direct disadvantage of USA, Islamist politics aside.
IMO: This really does leave the international impression of a lame duck President feebly quacking his last quacks. Bush is obviously a nice, folksy chap - Lompoc for him.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Possible reasons for power outages in Vasai, Virar
The Times of India says: Mumbai’s entire power transmission network is underground. And, hence, the distribution transformers and the distribution pillars are at ground level. "We cannot raise the transformers beyond a particular height," said a REL official. But REL claims to have spent Rs 30 crore on raising the height of vulnerable sub-stations and distribution transformers. Asked why these measures did not help on Saturday, the REL spokesperson said the level of water was very high. "Ultimately, the meters in individual buildings are just two feet above ground. The meters are at danger of getting flooded," he said.
State power utility MSEB did not fare any better. The excuse for a power-less Saturday here was flooding of its sub-stations. "Our sub-stations at Vasai, Vashi, Thane, Mulund and Bhandup were all flooded. Had we continued supply, the sub-stations could have got damaged, causing huge losses."
With some 18 million consumers, Mumbai's electric power grid is one of the most insatiable systems in the world. Abundant power has been delivered chiefly from local hydroelectric projects that have been running since colonial times. The problem today is matching the rate of growth of the 21st Century version of the city. Increasing the availability, reliability, and quality of electricity is a long-term goal that will be met only with tens of thousands more megawatts of generation capacity. In the near term, administrators and engineers from Mumbai's power companies, along with government regulators, are doing their best to stave off planned brownouts, not to mention even worse conditions. "We're going to have to take a big deep breath and say, we're going to invest," Grove-White told Goldstein regarding Tata's planning. "We know what we need to do, and we will sell this output ultimately."
In the meantime, Mumbai's utilities and local government have mounted an all-out public awareness campaign to use energy wisely, if any.
There is also a (rather unconvincing) article here.
IMO: After the mob stoned MSEB office in Vasai goan at the beginning of May, power apparently was cut to 2.5-4 hrs from 7 hrs and then it went up again but I have no idea what needs doing at this time. The trains may get better after the hard work, legal action and many protests, there may even be trams, hopefully somehow the power may improve.
State power utility MSEB did not fare any better. The excuse for a power-less Saturday here was flooding of its sub-stations. "Our sub-stations at Vasai, Vashi, Thane, Mulund and Bhandup were all flooded. Had we continued supply, the sub-stations could have got damaged, causing huge losses."
With some 18 million consumers, Mumbai's electric power grid is one of the most insatiable systems in the world. Abundant power has been delivered chiefly from local hydroelectric projects that have been running since colonial times. The problem today is matching the rate of growth of the 21st Century version of the city. Increasing the availability, reliability, and quality of electricity is a long-term goal that will be met only with tens of thousands more megawatts of generation capacity. In the near term, administrators and engineers from Mumbai's power companies, along with government regulators, are doing their best to stave off planned brownouts, not to mention even worse conditions. "We're going to have to take a big deep breath and say, we're going to invest," Grove-White told Goldstein regarding Tata's planning. "We know what we need to do, and we will sell this output ultimately."
In the meantime, Mumbai's utilities and local government have mounted an all-out public awareness campaign to use energy wisely, if any.
There is also a (rather unconvincing) article here.
IMO: After the mob stoned MSEB office in Vasai goan at the beginning of May, power apparently was cut to 2.5-4 hrs from 7 hrs and then it went up again but I have no idea what needs doing at this time. The trains may get better after the hard work, legal action and many protests, there may even be trams, hopefully somehow the power may improve.
Rushdie’s Marriage Ends
The prize-winning British author Salman Rushdie and his fourth wife, Padma Lakshmi, a model, actress and the host of the television show “Top Chef,” plan to divorce.
Some gossip columns say it is because he is colossally self-centred and she is an airhead.
IMO: I would have thought that could make them an ideal couple, but anyway ....
Others say: The Muslim world is weary of those who, in the name of human rights, want to impose Western culture of homosexuality, free sex, alcohol and similar aspects that go counter to Islamic principles. There is outrage about the recent knighthood of Salman Rushdie, whose novel, “The Satanic Verses,” angered Muslims for a long time. His recognition comes from supposed services to literature, but the fact is Rushdie is hardly known as a literary figure except for his offensive and insulting novel against Islam.
IMO:Fair enough, I'm not a Muslim but I would consider some of his work insulting to Muslims and much of it to any Indian. What's far worse: some of his stuff sounds like the sort of spoofs that the innocent might take as fact, as if he had stated as an impressive truth that buggery is normal behaviour and ceremonial for every Catholic Pope (which may be true anyway FAIK).
Some say: What, then, is the argument against honoring him? It can only be this fuzzy idea that we must not dare offend those who were offended by Rushdie's novel "The Satanic Verses".
IMO: He has written a few other books. I have read some of them and they all are a waste of time to the serious reader. I think, as a lover of 'Finnegan's Wake', that my comment is a fair one.
Some gossip columns say it is because he is colossally self-centred and she is an airhead.
IMO: I would have thought that could make them an ideal couple, but anyway ....
Others say: The Muslim world is weary of those who, in the name of human rights, want to impose Western culture of homosexuality, free sex, alcohol and similar aspects that go counter to Islamic principles. There is outrage about the recent knighthood of Salman Rushdie, whose novel, “The Satanic Verses,” angered Muslims for a long time. His recognition comes from supposed services to literature, but the fact is Rushdie is hardly known as a literary figure except for his offensive and insulting novel against Islam.
IMO:Fair enough, I'm not a Muslim but I would consider some of his work insulting to Muslims and much of it to any Indian. What's far worse: some of his stuff sounds like the sort of spoofs that the innocent might take as fact, as if he had stated as an impressive truth that buggery is normal behaviour and ceremonial for every Catholic Pope (which may be true anyway FAIK).
Some say: What, then, is the argument against honoring him? It can only be this fuzzy idea that we must not dare offend those who were offended by Rushdie's novel "The Satanic Verses".
IMO: He has written a few other books. I have read some of them and they all are a waste of time to the serious reader. I think, as a lover of 'Finnegan's Wake', that my comment is a fair one.
Lal Masjid mosque attempts to prevent Chinese corruption in Islamabad
Lal Masjid mosque attempts to prevent Chinese corruption in Islamabad in the only way it seems able. Students linked to the Lal Masjid took seven Chinese hostages last month from what they called a massage parlor and brothel in the vicinity. Police negotiated their release a day later. That prompted China to call on Pakistan to strengthen measures to protect the security of Chinese people working in the South Asian nation.
The students raided shops in the nearby Aabpara market on grounds they were selling obscene films and wanted the owners to close their businesses.
``We have told the local administration that bars, sex and massage centers were operating in Islamabad and if the police didn't take action to stop these businesses, we would be justified to take action,'' Ghazi, the deputy cleric at the Red Mosque, had said June 28.
Clerics set up the Islamic court at the Red Mosque on April 6 and issued a decree calling for former Tourism Minister Nilofar Bahktiar to be punished for wearing an ``objectionable'' dress. Aziz threatened suicide attacks if police tried to shut the court or raid the premises and demanded the government close businesses selling videos and CDs and alleged brothels. About 50 female students from a seminary adjacent to the mosque were injured because of tear gas fired by police, eyewitnesses said.
Apparently President Pervez Musharraf has stressed that Pakistan must follow a path of moderation to defeat extremism in the country.
IMO: If Musharraf means moderation he should close the brothels, stop the porno CDs from being sold etc. but presumably him and his army and Saudi pals are pocketing big money for them. Again we are seeing corruption, and corruption apparently due to the Chinese and Wahabi criminals and the corrupt Pakistan police. From this little escapade I can certainly see why the Taliban seem to have been pushed to unreasonable extremes. There must be a lot of room for reconciliation if the corruption in Islamabad can be stopped. The matter reminds me a little of the UK suffragettes of the 1920s whose outlook cannot have been so different in many ways. Those women had been deprived of all their rights, even voting rights, and the measures needed were in many ways sometimes almost as extreme. BUT murder and violence are best avoided if possible, and doing so can often allow a longer and more successful battle against injustice and corruption. The name of Mahatma Gandhi is not perhaps the obvious or best name that comes to mind, but limited application of his methods had proved successful in the area. Anyway, best wishes to the Lal Masjid mosque from a (non-Muslim) admirer.
The students raided shops in the nearby Aabpara market on grounds they were selling obscene films and wanted the owners to close their businesses.
``We have told the local administration that bars, sex and massage centers were operating in Islamabad and if the police didn't take action to stop these businesses, we would be justified to take action,'' Ghazi, the deputy cleric at the Red Mosque, had said June 28.
Clerics set up the Islamic court at the Red Mosque on April 6 and issued a decree calling for former Tourism Minister Nilofar Bahktiar to be punished for wearing an ``objectionable'' dress. Aziz threatened suicide attacks if police tried to shut the court or raid the premises and demanded the government close businesses selling videos and CDs and alleged brothels. About 50 female students from a seminary adjacent to the mosque were injured because of tear gas fired by police, eyewitnesses said.
Apparently President Pervez Musharraf has stressed that Pakistan must follow a path of moderation to defeat extremism in the country.
IMO: If Musharraf means moderation he should close the brothels, stop the porno CDs from being sold etc. but presumably him and his army and Saudi pals are pocketing big money for them. Again we are seeing corruption, and corruption apparently due to the Chinese and Wahabi criminals and the corrupt Pakistan police. From this little escapade I can certainly see why the Taliban seem to have been pushed to unreasonable extremes. There must be a lot of room for reconciliation if the corruption in Islamabad can be stopped. The matter reminds me a little of the UK suffragettes of the 1920s whose outlook cannot have been so different in many ways. Those women had been deprived of all their rights, even voting rights, and the measures needed were in many ways sometimes almost as extreme. BUT murder and violence are best avoided if possible, and doing so can often allow a longer and more successful battle against injustice and corruption. The name of Mahatma Gandhi is not perhaps the obvious or best name that comes to mind, but limited application of his methods had proved successful in the area. Anyway, best wishes to the Lal Masjid mosque from a (non-Muslim) admirer.
Monday, July 02, 2007
So-called UK car bombings - and by allegedly responsible NHS doctors
The Register says much the same thing again as it said before "It might be a test of ministerial mettle if thousands of British Muslims were burning cars every night, as has happened in France. But what we seem to have here is some foreigners burning just one car and failing to burn two more owing to almost unbelievable incompetence. The mindset of a man who's willing to set himself on fire to make a point - as one of the Glasgow terror-clowns seems to have done - but not to spend any effort at all on researching methods is a difficult one to understand. Even if these jokers were illiterate or had no internet access (seems unlikely, [more than] one of the suspects is apparently a doctor) they could have at least done a test. In my part of town, fun-loving teenagers burn out a car or two down by the canal every week or so: nobody would notice another one with some nails in it."
I'm a bit surprised that some of these people were allegedly medical doctors, as the whole matter seems to have been totally stupid. Admittedly GPs are sometimes incompetent drunks, but this business goes almost beyond belief and one can only imagine that the NHS has become - in parts - totally incompetent or totally desperate for anyone who will claim to be a doctor.
IMO: One such bad apple in the NHS at one time would be a pity. Several bad apples like this, is quite surprising and leads one to suspect that there could be some ulterior criminal motives for these strange goings-on by the authorities - or some of them.
I'm a bit surprised that some of these people were allegedly medical doctors, as the whole matter seems to have been totally stupid. Admittedly GPs are sometimes incompetent drunks, but this business goes almost beyond belief and one can only imagine that the NHS has become - in parts - totally incompetent or totally desperate for anyone who will claim to be a doctor.
IMO: One such bad apple in the NHS at one time would be a pity. Several bad apples like this, is quite surprising and leads one to suspect that there could be some ulterior criminal motives for these strange goings-on by the authorities - or some of them.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
New tracks from Borivili to Virar (2)
Satya Prakash, Divisional Railway Manager of WR’s Mumbai division, said goods trains would be initially run to test the new tracks on June 28 and 29. “The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) will board an empty rake to test the tracks on July 3 and 4. Once the CRS issues a safety certificate, the lines will be opened for regular passenger traffic,” said Prakash. Prakash said WR would start by running 20 new services everyday from July. This will include two services between Churchgate-Virar, five services between Bandra-Virar, seven on Andheri-Virar, two between Andheri-Vasai and four shuttles between Borivli to Virar. “Many more services can be added on this path once new trains under Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP-I) arrive,” he said.
The DRM said General Manager of WR would be visiting the Integrated Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, for a final inspection of the new trains ready for technical tests and trials. P C Sehgal, MD of Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation, confirmed that the new rakes would come out of ICF, Chennai, by June-end. “There would be tests for a month in Chennai itself. The new rakes should reach Mumbai by July 25,” he said. Once in Mumbai, the first new train will have to go through tests on the suburban tracks and get certified by RDSO, Lucknow, which is a centralised body for approving new trains. The new trains, 157 in all, should start coming in batches for passenger use from October first week, said Sehgal.
Initial reactions:
It is a welcome step, but I am not going to believe this till I see it with my own eyes. We had had a meeting with railway officials last month and we had stressed on the fact that they should introduce a Virar local every 5 minutes as against the 12-15 minute frequency now.
KK Prakashan | ACTIVIST, DEMOCRATIC YOUTH FEDERATION OF INDIA
This is all thanks to the court’s directives and the media’s efforts to highlight the problem. It was Justice Lodha’s order which spurred railways into action. They have completed work for over 10 years within 10 months. The new lines will bring tremendous relief for our commuters.
Uday Shetty | PETITIONER IN BOMBAY HIGH COURT FOR SPEEDING UP THE WORK
IMO: Congratulations to everyone for apparently completing this important venture.
The DRM said General Manager of WR would be visiting the Integrated Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, for a final inspection of the new trains ready for technical tests and trials. P C Sehgal, MD of Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation, confirmed that the new rakes would come out of ICF, Chennai, by June-end. “There would be tests for a month in Chennai itself. The new rakes should reach Mumbai by July 25,” he said. Once in Mumbai, the first new train will have to go through tests on the suburban tracks and get certified by RDSO, Lucknow, which is a centralised body for approving new trains. The new trains, 157 in all, should start coming in batches for passenger use from October first week, said Sehgal.
Initial reactions:
It is a welcome step, but I am not going to believe this till I see it with my own eyes. We had had a meeting with railway officials last month and we had stressed on the fact that they should introduce a Virar local every 5 minutes as against the 12-15 minute frequency now.
KK Prakashan | ACTIVIST, DEMOCRATIC YOUTH FEDERATION OF INDIA
This is all thanks to the court’s directives and the media’s efforts to highlight the problem. It was Justice Lodha’s order which spurred railways into action. They have completed work for over 10 years within 10 months. The new lines will bring tremendous relief for our commuters.
Uday Shetty | PETITIONER IN BOMBAY HIGH COURT FOR SPEEDING UP THE WORK
IMO: Congratulations to everyone for apparently completing this important venture.
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