Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Mamata Banerjee has talks with Sonia on Singur
The Trinamool leader accused the state government of going back on the agreement mediated by Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi and said that the Singur situation demanded immediate central intervention.
She said that while she had no objection to the Tatas setting up the automobile unit in Bengal she would not allow that to happen at the cost of the farmers’ interest. To the political observers, Mamata’s meeting with the Congress chief acquired significance because of the approaching elections. After the Congress-Left ties broke down over the nuclear deal the possibility of an alliance with Trinamool seems to have brightened up. Sources close to Mamata said that if Sonia’s body language was any indicator the meeting could be a turning point.
"Between Congress and Trinamul we can win the majority of Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal,” a Mamata aide remarked.
The Trinamool leader accused the state government of going back on the agreement mediated by Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi and said that the Singur situation demanded immediate central intervention.
She said that while she had no objection to the Tatas setting up the automobile unit in Bengal she would not allow that to happen at the cost of the farmers’ interest. To the political observers, Mamata’s meeting with the Congress chief acquired significance because of the approaching elections. After the Congress-Left ties broke down over the nuclear deal the possibility of an alliance with Trinamool seems to have brightened up. Sources close to Mamata said that if Sonia’s body language was any indicator the meeting could be a turning point.
"Between Congress and Trinamul we can win the majority of Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal,” a Mamata aide remarked.
'We can't let thugs censor Britain'
The heading sums up the UK Daily Mail comments on the firebombing of the publisher of a new novel about the life of Mohammed.
IMO: I do not wish to read such a novel, described by the publisher as 'soft pornography'. Obviously by today's standards some might describe the prophet Mohammed as some kind of earlier days Gary Glitter. Indeed it has even been suggested that all the litter bins in London should be renamed in case they are defaced with the letter "G", leading to an avoidable cost as has actually happened at public expense to "Turl Street" in Oxford for 100 years. For all I know we can see further such defacement in Turl Street on this very day. However I find even more objectionable the following view by the UK Times, which according to the Times is the 'liberal' view : "In the past, free speech was viewed as an inherent good, to be restricted only in exceptional cases. Today it is seen as an inherent problem, because it can offend as well as harm, and so has to be restrained by custom, especially in diverse societies. These days not only do publishers drop books deemed offensive, but theatres mutilate plays, opera houses cut productions, art galleries censor shows, all in the name of cultural sensitivity". Fortunately they then go on and say: "Shabir Akhtar was right: what Salman Rushdie or Sherry Jones says is everybody's business. It is everybody's business to ensure that no one is deprived of their right to say what they wish, even if it is deemed by some to be offensive. In a plural society it is both inevitable and important that people offend others."
IMO: If only the newpapers could be this fair about Muslim related Barack Obama's UK press censorship. I suppose I might vote for a next Democrat president but I do not approve of the methods, apparently used by the Democrats at least in the UK, to stifle comments about his funding by Nadhmi Auchi, referred to several times in this blog, which are presumably just the tip of the iceberg for US suppression of the truth, probably in the criminal way we have become used to from Greenspan, Palin and McCain. Well we know some of the consequences. The fat cats profit by part of the $700 billion US politicians seem to want to pay out and the poor just pay and pay. It is becoming futile to refer to the US as a democracy, perhaps far better if the UK had held it from the US rednecks at the time of the war of independence. USA might have been more fortunate today.
The heading sums up the UK Daily Mail comments on the firebombing of the publisher of a new novel about the life of Mohammed.
IMO: I do not wish to read such a novel, described by the publisher as 'soft pornography'. Obviously by today's standards some might describe the prophet Mohammed as some kind of earlier days Gary Glitter. Indeed it has even been suggested that all the litter bins in London should be renamed in case they are defaced with the letter "G", leading to an avoidable cost as has actually happened at public expense to "Turl Street" in Oxford for 100 years. For all I know we can see further such defacement in Turl Street on this very day. However I find even more objectionable the following view by the UK Times, which according to the Times is the 'liberal' view : "In the past, free speech was viewed as an inherent good, to be restricted only in exceptional cases. Today it is seen as an inherent problem, because it can offend as well as harm, and so has to be restrained by custom, especially in diverse societies. These days not only do publishers drop books deemed offensive, but theatres mutilate plays, opera houses cut productions, art galleries censor shows, all in the name of cultural sensitivity". Fortunately they then go on and say: "Shabir Akhtar was right: what Salman Rushdie or Sherry Jones says is everybody's business. It is everybody's business to ensure that no one is deprived of their right to say what they wish, even if it is deemed by some to be offensive. In a plural society it is both inevitable and important that people offend others."
IMO: If only the newpapers could be this fair about Muslim related Barack Obama's UK press censorship. I suppose I might vote for a next Democrat president but I do not approve of the methods, apparently used by the Democrats at least in the UK, to stifle comments about his funding by Nadhmi Auchi, referred to several times in this blog, which are presumably just the tip of the iceberg for US suppression of the truth, probably in the criminal way we have become used to from Greenspan, Palin and McCain. Well we know some of the consequences. The fat cats profit by part of the $700 billion US politicians seem to want to pay out and the poor just pay and pay. It is becoming futile to refer to the US as a democracy, perhaps far better if the UK had held it from the US rednecks at the time of the war of independence. USA might have been more fortunate today.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Gherao seems to have worked, UTAP
RSP snubs Buddha, tells him to return land to farmers.
The Revolutionary Socialist Party asked the state government to return land to farmers once Tata exits from Singur. RSP leader Abani Roy said that in all likelihood, Tata would leave Singur and in such a case, government should ensure that the land is returned to farmers. "The Tatas are not ready to talk to the government. So in all likelihood, they might be planning to make an exit from Singur. Under such circumstances, the Bengal government must ensure that the land is returned to the farmers and is made arable again," Roy said. Admitting that the process of making land worthwhile again for farmers would be a costly affair, Roy said, "This involves huge cost and we have suggested that either Tatas or the government would have to shell out Rs 1,500 crore to make the land arable again."
RSP snubs Buddha, tells him to return land to farmers.
The Revolutionary Socialist Party asked the state government to return land to farmers once Tata exits from Singur. RSP leader Abani Roy said that in all likelihood, Tata would leave Singur and in such a case, government should ensure that the land is returned to farmers. "The Tatas are not ready to talk to the government. So in all likelihood, they might be planning to make an exit from Singur. Under such circumstances, the Bengal government must ensure that the land is returned to the farmers and is made arable again," Roy said. Admitting that the process of making land worthwhile again for farmers would be a costly affair, Roy said, "This involves huge cost and we have suggested that either Tatas or the government would have to shell out Rs 1,500 crore to make the land arable again."
Growing chasm between businessmen and workers
The Business Standard speaks of a growing chasm between businessmen and factory workers. About 200 permanent workers of the Italian firm Graziano Trasmissioni are either in jail or underground, following the murder of the company’s managing director last week, allegedly at the hands of agitating workers. But the scene outside the factory gates tells of other realities. Casual workers queue up at the gates in Greater Noida, in Uttar Pradesh, seeking to rejoin after their break period. The presence of the police and the media at the gates doesn’t seem to bother them. The company has about 500 such workers, some of whom replaced the 200 permanent workers who had been dismissed. These workers are less likely to cause trouble to the company by unionising or making demands on the management. If they don’t like the factory environment or the work, they are likely to just go elsewhere.
Without unions to represent the workers, and with perceptions differing sharply on what is the problem that needs to be tackled, the people who now have the state on their side are the businessmen, not the workers.
IMO: A potentially disastrous situation, which should not be allowed to continue. The workers have the votes but the businessmen have the bribes to pay to politicians etc. Why no proper worker's representation ? That stinks of corrupt fascism, some might almost say "US fascism'.. But UP has always had problems of one kind or another. Another firm in Noida has now had unidentified youths make an attempt to kidnap a 37-year-old top executive of an American software company, and that sort of thing must be expected in such circumstances. It's all almost grist to the mill of the Naxals, who by now might claim large elements of control in central India.
The Business Standard speaks of a growing chasm between businessmen and factory workers. About 200 permanent workers of the Italian firm Graziano Trasmissioni are either in jail or underground, following the murder of the company’s managing director last week, allegedly at the hands of agitating workers. But the scene outside the factory gates tells of other realities. Casual workers queue up at the gates in Greater Noida, in Uttar Pradesh, seeking to rejoin after their break period. The presence of the police and the media at the gates doesn’t seem to bother them. The company has about 500 such workers, some of whom replaced the 200 permanent workers who had been dismissed. These workers are less likely to cause trouble to the company by unionising or making demands on the management. If they don’t like the factory environment or the work, they are likely to just go elsewhere.
Without unions to represent the workers, and with perceptions differing sharply on what is the problem that needs to be tackled, the people who now have the state on their side are the businessmen, not the workers.
IMO: A potentially disastrous situation, which should not be allowed to continue. The workers have the votes but the businessmen have the bribes to pay to politicians etc. Why no proper worker's representation ? That stinks of corrupt fascism, some might almost say "US fascism'.. But UP has always had problems of one kind or another. Another firm in Noida has now had unidentified youths make an attempt to kidnap a 37-year-old top executive of an American software company, and that sort of thing must be expected in such circumstances. It's all almost grist to the mill of the Naxals, who by now might claim large elements of control in central India.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
A lot of economists don't much like Paulson plan
"As economists, we want to express to Congress our great concern for the plan proposed by Treasury Secretary Paulson to deal with the financial crisis. We are well aware of the difficulty of the current financial situation and we agree with the need for bold action to ensure that the financial system continues to function. We see ... fatal pitfalls in the currently proposed plan:
We ask Congress not to rush, to hold appropriate hearings, and to carefully consider the right course of action, and to wisely determine the future of the financial industry and the U.S. economy for years to come. "
Brief details here
"As economists, we want to express to Congress our great concern for the plan proposed by Treasury Secretary Paulson to deal with the financial crisis. We are well aware of the difficulty of the current financial situation and we agree with the need for bold action to ensure that the financial system continues to function. We see ... fatal pitfalls in the currently proposed plan:
We ask Congress not to rush, to hold appropriate hearings, and to carefully consider the right course of action, and to wisely determine the future of the financial industry and the U.S. economy for years to come. "
Brief details here
Censorship by Obama already ?
Eight stories on Obama linked billionaire Nadhmi Auchi were censored from the Guardian, Observer, Telegraph and New Statesman
IMO: Surely the Republicans are bad enough at censorship already, we don't want the Democrats making things worse ? But it is normal Western corruption anyway, and how USA is in the present mess it is. Corruption, corruption and corruption, as Tony B. Liar might have said.
Eight stories on Obama linked billionaire Nadhmi Auchi were censored from the Guardian, Observer, Telegraph and New Statesman
IMO: Surely the Republicans are bad enough at censorship already, we don't want the Democrats making things worse ? But it is normal Western corruption anyway, and how USA is in the present mess it is. Corruption, corruption and corruption, as Tony B. Liar might have said.
Outrage at government minister's inopportune comments
Lalit Choudhary, 47, died on Monday of head wounds after being attacked by a mob at the Graziano Transmissioni car parts factory in Delhi. India's Minister of Labour and Employment has landed himself in hot water by describing the death as "a warning for management”.
IMO: I agree that the Govt should be more discreet, and that the whole matter should not have occurred. Protests at Singur and Nandigram were relatively pretty well organised and discreet, and may even have useful outcomes and in the long term create better understanding. In the Graziano incident, however, former employees claim that "outsiders" had been involved in the violence - thus we do not know who actually organised the violence, employees or management or neither. These incidents really are a warning to both employees and management. Many fascist employers have tried this sort of thing on, as well as just disgruntled employees, who have far more to lose.
Lalit Choudhary, 47, died on Monday of head wounds after being attacked by a mob at the Graziano Transmissioni car parts factory in Delhi. India's Minister of Labour and Employment has landed himself in hot water by describing the death as "a warning for management”.
IMO: I agree that the Govt should be more discreet, and that the whole matter should not have occurred. Protests at Singur and Nandigram were relatively pretty well organised and discreet, and may even have useful outcomes and in the long term create better understanding. In the Graziano incident, however, former employees claim that "outsiders" had been involved in the violence - thus we do not know who actually organised the violence, employees or management or neither. These incidents really are a warning to both employees and management. Many fascist employers have tried this sort of thing on, as well as just disgruntled employees, who have far more to lose.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Brown meets Bush
Gordon Brown will also meet Tim Geithner, head of the New York Federal Reserve, today.
Alan Greenspan, former Fed chairman, had counseled Congress not to overregulate the banks and to eliminate the Glass Steagal Act which kept a wall between traditional banking and investment banking. Without regulation the market grew 100 fold over the last seven years.
IMO: I am not clear what Brown has to do with this, the least the better I would perhaps hope.Bringing back a new and perhaps stronger version of Glass-Steagal and other semi-socialist measures probably wouldn't be bad. Brown is supposed to be a socialist, perhaps he should give Bush some socialist advice. I have pointed out again and again that the fault was primarily with McCain's lack of judgement, and why, even though the Dems ran the show at the time. Greenspan made many 'mistakes', some not too obvious to me. Hard to see why the banks should have been allowed to take so much US taxpayer's money, though. Criminal political involvement at high levels, often Republican, is certain. Anyway tighter regulation is certainly involved with the answer. Whether more money should be paid to the jerks who call themselves bankers and economists is for the US public to decide. They should maybe change the name of the 'Republican Party' to the 'Reaganomics Party'.
Gordon Brown will also meet Tim Geithner, head of the New York Federal Reserve, today.
Alan Greenspan, former Fed chairman, had counseled Congress not to overregulate the banks and to eliminate the Glass Steagal Act which kept a wall between traditional banking and investment banking. Without regulation the market grew 100 fold over the last seven years.
IMO: I am not clear what Brown has to do with this, the least the better I would perhaps hope.Bringing back a new and perhaps stronger version of Glass-Steagal and other semi-socialist measures probably wouldn't be bad. Brown is supposed to be a socialist, perhaps he should give Bush some socialist advice. I have pointed out again and again that the fault was primarily with McCain's lack of judgement, and why, even though the Dems ran the show at the time. Greenspan made many 'mistakes', some not too obvious to me. Hard to see why the banks should have been allowed to take so much US taxpayer's money, though. Criminal political involvement at high levels, often Republican, is certain. Anyway tighter regulation is certainly involved with the answer. Whether more money should be paid to the jerks who call themselves bankers and economists is for the US public to decide. They should maybe change the name of the 'Republican Party' to the 'Reaganomics Party'.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Bradman’s bat goes for low price
Don Bradman's first Test Cricket bat attracted a price of only $US 121,500 at auction on Wednesday.
IMO: Admittedly this was the best price ever paid for any cricket bat, but after all there has never been such an excellent cricket player anywhere or at any time. Should have fetched $US 500,000 at least, but world conditions are quite poor at the moment.
Don Bradman's first Test Cricket bat attracted a price of only $US 121,500 at auction on Wednesday.
IMO: Admittedly this was the best price ever paid for any cricket bat, but after all there has never been such an excellent cricket player anywhere or at any time. Should have fetched $US 500,000 at least, but world conditions are quite poor at the moment.
Monday, September 22, 2008
US Army To Develop "Thought Helmets"
$4m spend as Army hopes it will 'lead to direct mental control of military systems by thought alone.'be radio without a microphone,' says Dr. Elmar Schmeisser, the Army neuroscientist overseeing the program. 'Because soldiers are already trained to talk in clean, clear and formulaic ways, it would be a very small step to have them think that way.'
One potential civilian spin-off: a Bluetooth Helmet so people nearby can't hear you when you talk on your cell phone."
IMO: Will it be the like the traditional UK "send three and fourpence, we are going to a dance" rather than the intended "send reinforcements, we are going to advance" ? Peace in our time, maybe ? And will Blackwater etc. be allowed to send thought advertisements about how wonderful Bush and Cheney are, during commercial "breaks". The wonderful world of capitalism ! Slashdot readers also have their views.
$4m spend as Army hopes it will 'lead to direct mental control of military systems by thought alone.'be radio without a microphone,' says Dr. Elmar Schmeisser, the Army neuroscientist overseeing the program. 'Because soldiers are already trained to talk in clean, clear and formulaic ways, it would be a very small step to have them think that way.'
One potential civilian spin-off: a Bluetooth Helmet so people nearby can't hear you when you talk on your cell phone."
IMO: Will it be the like the traditional UK "send three and fourpence, we are going to a dance" rather than the intended "send reinforcements, we are going to advance" ? Peace in our time, maybe ? And will Blackwater etc. be allowed to send thought advertisements about how wonderful Bush and Cheney are, during commercial "breaks". The wonderful world of capitalism ! Slashdot readers also have their views.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Marriott bombing
Rehman Malik, who functions as Interior Minister, described the Marriott bombing as the “biggest” terrorist attack in Pakistan’s history. No arrests have been made so far and no group has yet claimed responsibility, but Mr. Malik said all the information gathered so far pointed to Pakistan’s tribal areas. “We cannot tell you who was behind the blast right now. We can do that only after investigations. But I can say that all roads go to FATA,” he said referring to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. “The investigations are pointing to South Waziristan, where Tehreek-Taliban is based,” he added.
IMO: Well at least it is possibly not the ISI nor the Christians and Tony Blair (like we apparently may have had in Omargh), for once. I would have guessed Waziristan, I'm sure the Americans would help in the tribal areas. All these things should not happen.
Rehman Malik, who functions as Interior Minister, described the Marriott bombing as the “biggest” terrorist attack in Pakistan’s history. No arrests have been made so far and no group has yet claimed responsibility, but Mr. Malik said all the information gathered so far pointed to Pakistan’s tribal areas. “We cannot tell you who was behind the blast right now. We can do that only after investigations. But I can say that all roads go to FATA,” he said referring to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. “The investigations are pointing to South Waziristan, where Tehreek-Taliban is based,” he added.
IMO: Well at least it is possibly not the ISI nor the Christians and Tony Blair (like we apparently may have had in Omargh), for once. I would have guessed Waziristan, I'm sure the Americans would help in the tribal areas. All these things should not happen.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Judges order Delhi to get sacred cows off the street
Thousands of sacred cows that roam the streets of Delhi have now been targeted by exasperated judges, who have condemned the city council for allowing the city's bovine population to spiral out of control.This has been called the "moo menace".
The courts have repeatedly ordered the corporation to clear the streets, but in private officials admit they are a long way from getting the problem under control. Their request for dozens of armed police officers to assist in the round-up fell on deaf ears and a plan to involve the army failed. They have tried microchipping animals in the hope of keeping track of their owners, but many of the urban farmers have removed the devices. the time the latest court deadline for action passed on 31 August, there were still an estimated 30,000 cows at large in Delhi.
IMO: I'm truly sorry for the sacred cows. Even in Chandni Chowk, Delhi the cows have never been given enough room in recent years, and even in beautiful downtown Vasai, Mumbai the cows now look as if they are often wondering what they must have done wrong in their last reincarnation to have to tolerate the conditions in Ambadi Road. Even a few years ago it was a lot better. Maybe 15 years ago the few cows left in Fort often seemed happy enough, and near the international airport in Anderhi they were often even quite placid and happy. You could contemplate them for hours. I can remember Ambadi Road, Vasai just a few years ago, when the cows would happily munch cabbages and other food quite cheerfully, but unfortunately it is not so good for cows nowadays - or for people either. Who has time or ability to contemplate cows in the suburbs nowadays - that is a great pity, and in one way or another, we all suffer for that.
Thousands of sacred cows that roam the streets of Delhi have now been targeted by exasperated judges, who have condemned the city council for allowing the city's bovine population to spiral out of control.This has been called the "moo menace".
The courts have repeatedly ordered the corporation to clear the streets, but in private officials admit they are a long way from getting the problem under control. Their request for dozens of armed police officers to assist in the round-up fell on deaf ears and a plan to involve the army failed. They have tried microchipping animals in the hope of keeping track of their owners, but many of the urban farmers have removed the devices. the time the latest court deadline for action passed on 31 August, there were still an estimated 30,000 cows at large in Delhi.
IMO: I'm truly sorry for the sacred cows. Even in Chandni Chowk, Delhi the cows have never been given enough room in recent years, and even in beautiful downtown Vasai, Mumbai the cows now look as if they are often wondering what they must have done wrong in their last reincarnation to have to tolerate the conditions in Ambadi Road. Even a few years ago it was a lot better. Maybe 15 years ago the few cows left in Fort often seemed happy enough, and near the international airport in Anderhi they were often even quite placid and happy. You could contemplate them for hours. I can remember Ambadi Road, Vasai just a few years ago, when the cows would happily munch cabbages and other food quite cheerfully, but unfortunately it is not so good for cows nowadays - or for people either. Who has time or ability to contemplate cows in the suburbs nowadays - that is a great pity, and in one way or another, we all suffer for that.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Todd Palin refuses to obey Alaska subpoena
Also, Air America Radio says, and other sources imply that Sarah Palin also more or less takes the fifth amendment. Jail 'em both.
IMO: Problem is, the longer this matter stays in the public view -- and the Palins not cooperating with it -- the worse it looks for McCain's image as a law-abiding do-gooder. Well to me, any favorable McCain image went when he organised the present world depression - to the benefit of the wealthy, as even the Christian Science Monitor has said, and at the expense of the struggling poor.
Also, Air America Radio says, and other sources imply that Sarah Palin also more or less takes the fifth amendment. Jail 'em both.
IMO: Problem is, the longer this matter stays in the public view -- and the Palins not cooperating with it -- the worse it looks for McCain's image as a law-abiding do-gooder. Well to me, any favorable McCain image went when he organised the present world depression - to the benefit of the wealthy, as even the Christian Science Monitor has said, and at the expense of the struggling poor.
New Leica lens is f 0.95
It is said to weigh over a pound, be bigger than the camera, and be likely to cost $10,000
IMO: In the old days when 'available light' photography was important, I sometimes used a variant of S19a, a hydrazine developer which got 10,000 or 15,000 ASA on roll and 35mm film . Alright but some grain clumping. In those days I located an allegedly f 0.7 lens ! It was supposed originally to be for x-ray cameras but we reckoned we could modify it for a Hasselblad (or Lubitel). I never got one though and from the cost and size specifications given now by Leica, it probably would have been disappointing.
It is said to weigh over a pound, be bigger than the camera, and be likely to cost $10,000
IMO: In the old days when 'available light' photography was important, I sometimes used a variant of S19a, a hydrazine developer which got 10,000 or 15,000 ASA on roll and 35mm film . Alright but some grain clumping. In those days I located an allegedly f 0.7 lens ! It was supposed originally to be for x-ray cameras but we reckoned we could modify it for a Hasselblad (or Lubitel). I never got one though and from the cost and size specifications given now by Leica, it probably would have been disappointing.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
'India equipped to tackle crisis'
Indian banks' exposure to the risky derivative instruments is very small because of the RBI's prudent guidelines. PWC said better regulation saved the Indian banks from the crisis, that has affected the other markets. The insurance sector is also not affected by the crisis. Even Tata AIG Insurance companies, Chidambaram said, are well capitalized and are in the position to meet their liabilities.
IMO: Decent behaviour, moral living, hard work, and other positive factors may have saved India from some of the blows suffered by the decadent corrupt and greedy (with the slogan 'greed is good') West. "It is the coward and the fool who says this is fate," goes the Sanskrit proverb. "But it is the strong man who stands up and says, "I will make my fate."
Indian banks' exposure to the risky derivative instruments is very small because of the RBI's prudent guidelines. PWC said better regulation saved the Indian banks from the crisis, that has affected the other markets. The insurance sector is also not affected by the crisis. Even Tata AIG Insurance companies, Chidambaram said, are well capitalized and are in the position to meet their liabilities.
IMO: Decent behaviour, moral living, hard work, and other positive factors may have saved India from some of the blows suffered by the decadent corrupt and greedy (with the slogan 'greed is good') West. "It is the coward and the fool who says this is fate," goes the Sanskrit proverb. "But it is the strong man who stands up and says, "I will make my fate."
Indian rocket expected to go to moon, next month
Indian space scientists expect to map the lunar surface for the helium-3 (He-3) mineral to fuel nuclear power plants and frozen water as they make final preparations for India’s mission to the moon, expected to blast off next month.He-3 is scarce on earth but believed to be abundant on earth’s natural satellite and is seen by some as a promising fuel for advanced fusion reactors to generate power.
The Chandrayaan-I mission is tentatively scheduled for launch between October 19 and 28.575-kg spacecraft will be transported to the moon by a modified version of India’s main rocket, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. “The mission will help us locate He-3, which has the potential to produce a large amount of energy. It is expected that in a few years we can transport it from the moon to run nuclear plants and generate electricity,” the director of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) satellite centre T K Alex said.
IMO: I hope it is worth the money and trouble. The Chinese also seem to want He-3.
Indian space scientists expect to map the lunar surface for the helium-3 (He-3) mineral to fuel nuclear power plants and frozen water as they make final preparations for India’s mission to the moon, expected to blast off next month.He-3 is scarce on earth but believed to be abundant on earth’s natural satellite and is seen by some as a promising fuel for advanced fusion reactors to generate power.
The Chandrayaan-I mission is tentatively scheduled for launch between October 19 and 28.575-kg spacecraft will be transported to the moon by a modified version of India’s main rocket, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. “The mission will help us locate He-3, which has the potential to produce a large amount of energy. It is expected that in a few years we can transport it from the moon to run nuclear plants and generate electricity,” the director of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) satellite centre T K Alex said.
IMO: I hope it is worth the money and trouble. The Chinese also seem to want He-3.
Reiss forced to resign
IMO: Quite correct that he should have to resign in the circumstances. If there is any question of directing blame in one direction, the blame seems to be with the Press. We also need to bear in mind that one of the functions of the Royal Society is to help to educate the public, including the Press, about scientific and other matters. More and more, ethics in science and elsewhere are important and overall it is a sad and rather pathetic matter.
IMO: Quite correct that he should have to resign in the circumstances. If there is any question of directing blame in one direction, the blame seems to be with the Press. We also need to bear in mind that one of the functions of the Royal Society is to help to educate the public, including the Press, about scientific and other matters. More and more, ethics in science and elsewhere are important and overall it is a sad and rather pathetic matter.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Local Councils advise burglars to 'carry jemmy'
According to the "Daily Mail" Local councils are advising squatters and other burglars to carry a jemmy (or crowbar) and to say that if apprehended to say they were 'cleaning out the drains'. This presumably means that the councils concerned have arranged for the local judiciary to let burglars escape. Local councils are also telling burglars how to take apart locks.
IMO: No wonder the UK is becoming known as a 'country of knifings' and other violence. Many people working for local councils in the UK are clearly criminal retards. Clegg should abolish council tax and sack a lot of local council employees.
According to the "Daily Mail" Local councils are advising squatters and other burglars to carry a jemmy (or crowbar) and to say that if apprehended to say they were 'cleaning out the drains'. This presumably means that the councils concerned have arranged for the local judiciary to let burglars escape. Local councils are also telling burglars how to take apart locks.
IMO: No wonder the UK is becoming known as a 'country of knifings' and other violence. Many people working for local councils in the UK are clearly criminal retards. Clegg should abolish council tax and sack a lot of local council employees.
Salmond's efforts to establish Caliphate in Scotland
Alex Salmond has labelled the takeover of Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) by Lloyds TSB a 'shotgun wedding' as the two banking giants put the finishing touches to the rescue deal. The First Minister attacked the 'spivs and speculators' whose profiteering he said caused HBOS's share price to plummet, precipitating the rescue package for one of Scotland's oldest institutions. AFAIK statistics suggest that is quite wrong, if applied to the usual short-selling in those cirumstances which was relatively small and expected in advance; but certainly the fall of Lehmann Bros etc and their probable indebtedness ro HBOS, and such factors, many precipitated much earlier by John McCain, will have been factors. AFAIK the last credit tranche borrowed by HBOS was never going to be enough for long, and the insiders knew that.
IMO: It sounds as if wholesale collapse of the UK economy would fit in well with the plans of someone like Salmond who tries to establish the Muslim Brotherhood as a serious presence on British soil. As referred to in Private Eye 1219 p7, and many Moslems could do without that kind of Caliphate.On a slightly different topic, New Labor seemed to have been plagued by a few internal 'short sellers' of Gordon Brown, but they only needed 70 votes to find a stalking horse, and there does not seem therefore to be much more than self serving internal PR in the matter. I hope Clegg is better than some people think, and tries to get rid of one tax in particular - council tax, and some local council beaureaucracy.
Alex Salmond has labelled the takeover of Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBOS) by Lloyds TSB a 'shotgun wedding' as the two banking giants put the finishing touches to the rescue deal. The First Minister attacked the 'spivs and speculators' whose profiteering he said caused HBOS's share price to plummet, precipitating the rescue package for one of Scotland's oldest institutions. AFAIK statistics suggest that is quite wrong, if applied to the usual short-selling in those cirumstances which was relatively small and expected in advance; but certainly the fall of Lehmann Bros etc and their probable indebtedness ro HBOS, and such factors, many precipitated much earlier by John McCain, will have been factors. AFAIK the last credit tranche borrowed by HBOS was never going to be enough for long, and the insiders knew that.
IMO: It sounds as if wholesale collapse of the UK economy would fit in well with the plans of someone like Salmond who tries to establish the Muslim Brotherhood as a serious presence on British soil. As referred to in Private Eye 1219 p7, and many Moslems could do without that kind of Caliphate.On a slightly different topic, New Labor seemed to have been plagued by a few internal 'short sellers' of Gordon Brown, but they only needed 70 votes to find a stalking horse, and there does not seem therefore to be much more than self serving internal PR in the matter. I hope Clegg is better than some people think, and tries to get rid of one tax in particular - council tax, and some local council beaureaucracy.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
EU Officials Investigate CIA Plane Used in Renditions Caught with 4 Tons of Cocaine
How did 100 drug planes escape U.S. scrutiny?
Mexico City newspaper El Universal reported that The European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation has begun an investigation into one of the planes, the cocaine-laden Gulfstream II business jet (N987SA), for suspected use in CIA "rendition" flights in which prisoners are covertly transferred to a third country or US-run detention centers.
The Gulfstream jet (N987SA) conducted clandestine flights for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States, and subsequently for drug trafficker Joaquin El Chapo Guzman.”had a CIA plane somehow “ended up” flying for the Sinaloa Cartel?” The question has no easy answer. More here.
IMO: If it is that bad with Bush, how bad would it get with McCain ? The favorite airplane of Texas Governor George W. Bush once belonged to belong to Barry Seal, a life-long CIA pilot and the biggest cocaine smuggler of the go-go ‘80’s.
How did 100 drug planes escape U.S. scrutiny?
Mexico City newspaper El Universal reported that The European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation has begun an investigation into one of the planes, the cocaine-laden Gulfstream II business jet (N987SA), for suspected use in CIA "rendition" flights in which prisoners are covertly transferred to a third country or US-run detention centers.
The Gulfstream jet (N987SA) conducted clandestine flights for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States, and subsequently for drug trafficker Joaquin El Chapo Guzman.”had a CIA plane somehow “ended up” flying for the Sinaloa Cartel?” The question has no easy answer. More here.
IMO: If it is that bad with Bush, how bad would it get with McCain ? The favorite airplane of Texas Governor George W. Bush once belonged to belong to Barry Seal, a life-long CIA pilot and the biggest cocaine smuggler of the go-go ‘80’s.
Monday, September 15, 2008
McCain on the US economy
Wonkette says: "John McCain said, today, that the “fundamentals of our economy are strong.” He doesn’t even know what this is supposed to mean, of course, because all he knows about the economy is that the Navy gives you money and benefits and the Senate gives you money and benefits and Social Security gives you money and benefits and your Beer Heiress wife buys your seven castles and private jet. But what did the markets have to say? Uh, how about a 504-point drop in the Dow and a 4.7% plunge in the S&P?"
IMO: There is a serious possibility John McCain may become President. Mainly because of so-called Christian Fundamentalists. My uncle was a popular and successful Methodist preacher and I go to church (as well as temple) myself. But how can these guys can vote for a loser like McCain, who has lived off graft, pretence and lies all his life ? How good Christians are they really? What's the deal here ? I guess I do not really want to know, but the N word and the P word (prejudice) must come into it.
Wonkette says: "John McCain said, today, that the “fundamentals of our economy are strong.” He doesn’t even know what this is supposed to mean, of course, because all he knows about the economy is that the Navy gives you money and benefits and the Senate gives you money and benefits and Social Security gives you money and benefits and your Beer Heiress wife buys your seven castles and private jet. But what did the markets have to say? Uh, how about a 504-point drop in the Dow and a 4.7% plunge in the S&P?"
IMO: There is a serious possibility John McCain may become President. Mainly because of so-called Christian Fundamentalists. My uncle was a popular and successful Methodist preacher and I go to church (as well as temple) myself. But how can these guys can vote for a loser like McCain, who has lived off graft, pretence and lies all his life ? How good Christians are they really? What's the deal here ? I guess I do not really want to know, but the N word and the P word (prejudice) must come into it.
UK adopts Islamic law - end of the line for the UK
September 2008: Britain has now officially granted Sharia courts the authority to rule on Muslim civil cases, and such rulings have now become enforceable with the full power of the British judicial system. Previous to this change, rulings issued by Sharia courts were unenforceable. Muslim courts have been established throughout Britain, including London, Birmingham, Bradford and Manchester. The headquarters for Sharia court is located in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. According to published reports, two additional Islamic courts are planned for Glasgow and Edinburgh. A few details here.
IMO: At this rate, we will soon have the caliphate here. After all, the Brits have always said London was the capital of the British Empire, so now maybe it will be the capital of the caliphate. This could reduce the rampant vice, greed and immorality here today.
September 2008: Britain has now officially granted Sharia courts the authority to rule on Muslim civil cases, and such rulings have now become enforceable with the full power of the British judicial system. Previous to this change, rulings issued by Sharia courts were unenforceable. Muslim courts have been established throughout Britain, including London, Birmingham, Bradford and Manchester. The headquarters for Sharia court is located in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. According to published reports, two additional Islamic courts are planned for Glasgow and Edinburgh. A few details here.
IMO: At this rate, we will soon have the caliphate here. After all, the Brits have always said London was the capital of the British Empire, so now maybe it will be the capital of the caliphate. This could reduce the rampant vice, greed and immorality here today.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Royal Society - sack Reiss NOW
Nobel prize winners - Sir Harry Kroto and Sir Richard Roberts - have demanded that the Royal Society sack its education director, Professor Michael Reiss. The call, backed by other senior Royal Society fellows, follows Reiss's controversial claim last week that creationism be taught in schools' science classes. Reiss, an ordained Church of England minister, has since alleged he was misquoted. Nevertheless, several Royal Society fellows say his religious views make him an inappropriate choice for the post.
Richard Dawkins, a Royal Society fellow, said: 'A clergyman in charge of education for the country's leading scientific organisation - it's a Monty Python sketch.'
A spokesman for the Royal Society rejected the principle that it was inappropriate for a clergyman to hold a senior post at the organisation. 'Michael Reiss's views are completely in keeping with those of the Royal Society,' he said.
IMO: All extraordinary stuff if true. Better Reiss than a Dawkins nominee, but not much better. They really need a guy who can handle the media. It seems that, unsurprisingly, Reiss can not, so sack him ! Now ! Please, now! Maybe Monty Python could be education director as at least he can handle the press -but not Dawkins, his job seems to be to rile everybody.
Nobel prize winners - Sir Harry Kroto and Sir Richard Roberts - have demanded that the Royal Society sack its education director, Professor Michael Reiss. The call, backed by other senior Royal Society fellows, follows Reiss's controversial claim last week that creationism be taught in schools' science classes. Reiss, an ordained Church of England minister, has since alleged he was misquoted. Nevertheless, several Royal Society fellows say his religious views make him an inappropriate choice for the post.
Richard Dawkins, a Royal Society fellow, said: 'A clergyman in charge of education for the country's leading scientific organisation - it's a Monty Python sketch.'
A spokesman for the Royal Society rejected the principle that it was inappropriate for a clergyman to hold a senior post at the organisation. 'Michael Reiss's views are completely in keeping with those of the Royal Society,' he said.
IMO: All extraordinary stuff if true. Better Reiss than a Dawkins nominee, but not much better. They really need a guy who can handle the media. It seems that, unsurprisingly, Reiss can not, so sack him ! Now ! Please, now! Maybe Monty Python could be education director as at least he can handle the press -but not Dawkins, his job seems to be to rile everybody.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Virtual Reality Cocoon Being Designed
A company called "NAU" is working on an Immersion Cocoon that seems inspired by Holodeck. They hope to have a prototype by October 2009.
No 3D or 'privacy mode'yet, but they do have hand and foot sensors.
A company called "NAU" is working on an Immersion Cocoon that seems inspired by Holodeck. They hope to have a prototype by October 2009.
No 3D or 'privacy mode'yet, but they do have hand and foot sensors.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Now its open source spying
Conference report and Web 2.0 applications referred to here.
IMO: This is serious 'cloak 'n dagger' stuff, not just foolish spammers. Google the words 'open source spying' and there are lots of web applications. Alarming to many people.
Conference report and Web 2.0 applications referred to here.
IMO: This is serious 'cloak 'n dagger' stuff, not just foolish spammers. Google the words 'open source spying' and there are lots of web applications. Alarming to many people.
Myth of creationism weakens the vital morality of religion
The Scotsman reasonably makes this point. By the way, the Royal Society does NOT support creationism, whatever the latest nonsense the UK media want to print.
IMO: One up for bloggers.
The Scotsman reasonably makes this point. By the way, the Royal Society does NOT support creationism, whatever the latest nonsense the UK media want to print.
IMO: One up for bloggers.
Magnetic "smart dust" chaperones
Scientists have developed nanometer-sized 'cargo ships' that can sail throughout the body via the bloodstream without immediate detection from the body's immune radar system and ferry their cargo of anti-cancer drugs and markers into tumors that might otherwise go untreated or undetected.
Michael Sailor at Sailor Research Group, UC San Diego, also UC Santa Barbara and MIT report that their nano-cargo-ship system integrates therapeutic and diagnostic functions into a single device that avoids rapid removal by the body's natural immune system.
IMO: Whilst chaperone methods have now been with us awhile. it is about time more use was found for nanotechnology in chemistry. Some basic facts on current research at Eurekalert.
Scientists have developed nanometer-sized 'cargo ships' that can sail throughout the body via the bloodstream without immediate detection from the body's immune radar system and ferry their cargo of anti-cancer drugs and markers into tumors that might otherwise go untreated or undetected.
Michael Sailor at Sailor Research Group, UC San Diego, also UC Santa Barbara and MIT report that their nano-cargo-ship system integrates therapeutic and diagnostic functions into a single device that avoids rapid removal by the body's natural immune system.
IMO: Whilst chaperone methods have now been with us awhile. it is about time more use was found for nanotechnology in chemistry. Some basic facts on current research at Eurekalert.
John McCain apparently a friend of Rafaello Follieri
The 'Nation' describes Rafaello Follieri as an “A List” con man, and who knows Balkan con man stratification charts better than the 'Nation'? Yesterday, this dude pleaded guilty in a Manhattan district court to many counts of wire fraud, money laundering, and other rich mobster crimes. His “big thing” was posing as Vatican chief financial officer “in order to win friends and investments.”
IMO: Since this matter has now been exposed, it could be argued that McCain was being conned too, but McCain's record seems to make that unlikely - and that would also bring questions. Really, improvements are urgently needed to the US voting system. which seems totally wacky and corrupt, especially if friends of known con men like McCain can still easily apply for Presidential office.
The 'Nation' describes Rafaello Follieri as an “A List” con man, and who knows Balkan con man stratification charts better than the 'Nation'? Yesterday, this dude pleaded guilty in a Manhattan district court to many counts of wire fraud, money laundering, and other rich mobster crimes. His “big thing” was posing as Vatican chief financial officer “in order to win friends and investments.”
IMO: Since this matter has now been exposed, it could be argued that McCain was being conned too, but McCain's record seems to make that unlikely - and that would also bring questions. Really, improvements are urgently needed to the US voting system. which seems totally wacky and corrupt, especially if friends of known con men like McCain can still easily apply for Presidential office.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Hawking & Higgs
London Times says: "A row between two of the world’s most famous scientists yesterday threatened to overshadow the celebrations as the world’s greatest scientific experiment got under way."
IMO: Well I wasn't there but I notice two things. 1. The popular Press often give misinformation about science, and one must at all times be thoroughly on guard about this. On a number of occasions I have heard an irate comment about something in the press from a serious reseacher like. "I know Prof X very well and he certainly would not have said anything like (quoted comment)".[ often followed by a comment like "Prof X does not speak English very well"]. ALL SHOULD BEWARE. Comments about beams (newspapers) and motes (scientists) in the eye come to mind. 2. I have also read a lot of journal reviewers' reports, and some are pretty offensive. e.g. 'this paper is total crap ... bla bla bla...'.
Anyway apparently Professor Peter Higgs said Professor Stephen Hawking's work was “not good enough”.
IMO: Fair enough, as apparently Hawking does not believe in the Higg's boson (the socalled God particle) which has by now cost the mug taxpayer £2.6 billion. Professor Hawking once placed a $100 bet that the particle does not exist.
IMO: Be a laugh to the wouldbe homebuyers who need a Govt subsidy if Hawking is right, but not so good for big physics. Anyway CERN have covered up their mistakes for years, I suppose they will still do so if they need. I have not looked at the matter in detail but I don't doubt CERN will find out a lot under those extreme conditions, I wouldn't even want an educated guess on where it will all end. My view is that both string theory and general relativity need a lot of improvement. I'm trying to put physics right in my other blog. Greene's very pedestrian semi-lay book is possibly a good source on string theory and Penrose's long 'Road to Reality' on general relativity, for those who really want to start to know. But the space program has now shown that extraterrestrial life, in the form of such as tardigrades, probably exists now. So Cern may also pull a few interesting rabbits out of their own hat too, eventually.
London Times says: "A row between two of the world’s most famous scientists yesterday threatened to overshadow the celebrations as the world’s greatest scientific experiment got under way."
IMO: Well I wasn't there but I notice two things. 1. The popular Press often give misinformation about science, and one must at all times be thoroughly on guard about this. On a number of occasions I have heard an irate comment about something in the press from a serious reseacher like. "I know Prof X very well and he certainly would not have said anything like (quoted comment)".[ often followed by a comment like "Prof X does not speak English very well"]. ALL SHOULD BEWARE. Comments about beams (newspapers) and motes (scientists) in the eye come to mind. 2. I have also read a lot of journal reviewers' reports, and some are pretty offensive. e.g. 'this paper is total crap ... bla bla bla...'.
Anyway apparently Professor Peter Higgs said Professor Stephen Hawking's work was “not good enough”.
IMO: Fair enough, as apparently Hawking does not believe in the Higg's boson (the socalled God particle) which has by now cost the mug taxpayer £2.6 billion. Professor Hawking once placed a $100 bet that the particle does not exist.
IMO: Be a laugh to the wouldbe homebuyers who need a Govt subsidy if Hawking is right, but not so good for big physics. Anyway CERN have covered up their mistakes for years, I suppose they will still do so if they need. I have not looked at the matter in detail but I don't doubt CERN will find out a lot under those extreme conditions, I wouldn't even want an educated guess on where it will all end. My view is that both string theory and general relativity need a lot of improvement. I'm trying to put physics right in my other blog. Greene's very pedestrian semi-lay book is possibly a good source on string theory and Penrose's long 'Road to Reality' on general relativity, for those who really want to start to know. But the space program has now shown that extraterrestrial life, in the form of such as tardigrades, probably exists now. So Cern may also pull a few interesting rabbits out of their own hat too, eventually.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
MP risks arrest for Segway use
The member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire was willing to be hauled away by police in his protest against the ban on the two-wheeled transporters on U.K. roads saying: "It's either Segways or Strangeways."
IMO: Strangeways seems fair. Those vehicles are not safe on footpaths and a menace on the road. And I did not note that Opik's suggested amendation to the name of 'Norfolk and Holmes' held up.
The member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire was willing to be hauled away by police in his protest against the ban on the two-wheeled transporters on U.K. roads saying: "It's either Segways or Strangeways."
IMO: Strangeways seems fair. Those vehicles are not safe on footpaths and a menace on the road. And I did not note that Opik's suggested amendation to the name of 'Norfolk and Holmes' held up.
Jury decides that threat of global warming justifies breaking the law
The threat of global warming is so great that campaigners were justified in causing more than £35,000 worth of damage to a coal-fired power station, a jury decided yesterday. In a verdict that will have shocked ministers and energy companies the jury at Maidstone Crown Court cleared six Greenpeace activists of criminal damage.
IMO: Well it shocks me that judges and MPs are so corrupt in the "country of stabbings", that they have turned the UK into. Three attempts were apparently made to kill me in Fulham last year, and the MPs and local council do nothing for me. I'm afraid to go out at night now. But when people try to prevent global warming, caused by obvious kickbacks to MPs, the MPs try to bring in the police and courts to jail or fine them on probably bogus charges. (And by the way, it is not just Labor, if you think they are bad, they are saints compared to the Tories). I hope I am abroad if and when the revolts or other serious complaints against the corruption occurs. I am not going to say "save the children, kill an MP today" as that is probably illegal.
The threat of global warming is so great that campaigners were justified in causing more than £35,000 worth of damage to a coal-fired power station, a jury decided yesterday. In a verdict that will have shocked ministers and energy companies the jury at Maidstone Crown Court cleared six Greenpeace activists of criminal damage.
IMO: Well it shocks me that judges and MPs are so corrupt in the "country of stabbings", that they have turned the UK into. Three attempts were apparently made to kill me in Fulham last year, and the MPs and local council do nothing for me. I'm afraid to go out at night now. But when people try to prevent global warming, caused by obvious kickbacks to MPs, the MPs try to bring in the police and courts to jail or fine them on probably bogus charges. (And by the way, it is not just Labor, if you think they are bad, they are saints compared to the Tories). I hope I am abroad if and when the revolts or other serious complaints against the corruption occurs. I am not going to say "save the children, kill an MP today" as that is probably illegal.
The Coveted Gordon Brown Endorsement
Loser Backs Loser. The first meeting Obama had with Gordon Brown resulted in McCain inching ahead in the polls. So it is widely said get "your money on McCain".
IMO: It is a real pity. We know that McCain has already seriously harmed the US economy and is continuing to do so. GOP policies are fundamentally unsound for the voters. If you look at pix of where Palin is from, that shows what the GOP will at best do to middle America.
Loser Backs Loser. The first meeting Obama had with Gordon Brown resulted in McCain inching ahead in the polls. So it is widely said get "your money on McCain".
IMO: It is a real pity. We know that McCain has already seriously harmed the US economy and is continuing to do so. GOP policies are fundamentally unsound for the voters. If you look at pix of where Palin is from, that shows what the GOP will at best do to middle America.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Water Bears can survive in space
Article by Ingemar Jönsson appears in "Current Biology". Water bears have so far survived for a year in space. If it can be shown that there are special molecules involved in DNA repair in multicellular animals like tardigrades, we might be able to further the development of radiation therapy.
Water bears (tardigrades) are multicellular, invertebrate animals about one millimeter in size. They exist in nearly all ecosystems of the world. What makes them unique is that they can survive repeated dehydration and can lose nearly all the water they have in their bodies. When dehydrated, they enter into a dormant state in which the body contracts and metabolism ceases. In this death-like dormant state, water bears manage to maintain the structures in their cells until water is available and they can be active again.
Article by Ingemar Jönsson appears in "Current Biology". Water bears have so far survived for a year in space. If it can be shown that there are special molecules involved in DNA repair in multicellular animals like tardigrades, we might be able to further the development of radiation therapy.
Water bears (tardigrades) are multicellular, invertebrate animals about one millimeter in size. They exist in nearly all ecosystems of the world. What makes them unique is that they can survive repeated dehydration and can lose nearly all the water they have in their bodies. When dehydrated, they enter into a dormant state in which the body contracts and metabolism ceases. In this death-like dormant state, water bears manage to maintain the structures in their cells until water is available and they can be active again.
Monday, September 08, 2008
Clinton praises Palin's candidacy
According to AlJazeera, Hillary Clinton has praised Sarah Palin's achievement in becoming the first female Republican vice-presidential candidate. Clinton told a Democratic campaign rally in Florida on Monday that the Alaska governor's candidacy as John McCain's running-mate was a "great accomplishment". "Women as well as men make their decisions after they weigh the evidence" she said.
IMO: Palin looks a bit like Honey Yaun in the satirical comic "Doonesbury". Unfortunately McCain is not as young and handsome as Duke in the same comic, but he seems to have similar views.
According to AlJazeera, Hillary Clinton has praised Sarah Palin's achievement in becoming the first female Republican vice-presidential candidate. Clinton told a Democratic campaign rally in Florida on Monday that the Alaska governor's candidacy as John McCain's running-mate was a "great accomplishment". "Women as well as men make their decisions after they weigh the evidence" she said.
IMO: Palin looks a bit like Honey Yaun in the satirical comic "Doonesbury". Unfortunately McCain is not as young and handsome as Duke in the same comic, but he seems to have similar views.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Palin backflips on earmarks
Obama says: When you've been taking all these earmarks when it is convenient, and then suddenly you are the champion anti-earmark person, that is not change. Pork barrel politics.
IMO: I would have thought the Democrats take funds from big oil. Unfortunately short of Nader, there is little we can do AFAIK. Something wrong with the voting system. The voters are not good enough but the system is worse. Hopefully we can somehow get improvement. Gordon Brown in the UK with his "publuc-private finance", well documented in "Private Eye", seems to have made his own problems both as Chancellor and PM. But does McCain plan to hand on a poisoned chalice to Obama ? We will soon find out.
Obama says: When you've been taking all these earmarks when it is convenient, and then suddenly you are the champion anti-earmark person, that is not change. Pork barrel politics.
IMO: I would have thought the Democrats take funds from big oil. Unfortunately short of Nader, there is little we can do AFAIK. Something wrong with the voting system. The voters are not good enough but the system is worse. Hopefully we can somehow get improvement. Gordon Brown in the UK with his "publuc-private finance", well documented in "Private Eye", seems to have made his own problems both as Chancellor and PM. But does McCain plan to hand on a poisoned chalice to Obama ? We will soon find out.
FDIC Friday: Silver State Bank of Nevada Goes Down
Nevada regulators have shut down Silver State Bank. It was the 11th failure this year of a federally insured bank Andrew.McCain, son of Republican presidential nominee John McCain was a member of the bank’s board, but recently stepped down for “personal reasons,” according to The Wall Street Journal. The younger McCain, 46, had also served on Silver State’s audit committee, and was only with the bank for five months before leaving on July 26, the Journal reported.
IMO: As Wonkette says, this sounds kind of familiar if you remember the Keating Five and S&L Collapse. And John McCain Will Finally Finish Destroying America’s Financial System.
Nevada regulators have shut down Silver State Bank. It was the 11th failure this year of a federally insured bank Andrew.McCain, son of Republican presidential nominee John McCain was a member of the bank’s board, but recently stepped down for “personal reasons,” according to The Wall Street Journal. The younger McCain, 46, had also served on Silver State’s audit committee, and was only with the bank for five months before leaving on July 26, the Journal reported.
IMO: As Wonkette says, this sounds kind of familiar if you remember the Keating Five and S&L Collapse. And John McCain Will Finally Finish Destroying America’s Financial System.
Friday, September 05, 2008
McCain's acceptance speech
Arianna Huffington said in the Huffington Post : During his acceptance speech, John McCain had some very strong criticism of his opponent. I'm not talking about Barack Obama; I'm talking about George Bush. After rushing headlong into the embrace of Bush and the Rovian wing of the GOP, McCain has now decided that he desperately needs to distance himself and try to reclaim the maverick mantel. Not an easy thing to do when you have sided with Bush 90 percent of the time. But McCain gave it his best shot, claiming: "We need to change the way government does almost everything."
IMO: I am not a supporter of the Democrats or anybody else, but I got the same impression as Arianna did. Weird. Looks to me as if Bush genuinely does not support McCain more than he has to, either. Lets hope it does not matter. But if we get Obama as President, which now looks very, very much the best hope of an unfortunate and paltry matter, maybe Palin will pick up enough knowledge to be useful for next time round.
Arianna Huffington said in the Huffington Post : During his acceptance speech, John McCain had some very strong criticism of his opponent. I'm not talking about Barack Obama; I'm talking about George Bush. After rushing headlong into the embrace of Bush and the Rovian wing of the GOP, McCain has now decided that he desperately needs to distance himself and try to reclaim the maverick mantel. Not an easy thing to do when you have sided with Bush 90 percent of the time. But McCain gave it his best shot, claiming: "We need to change the way government does almost everything."
IMO: I am not a supporter of the Democrats or anybody else, but I got the same impression as Arianna did. Weird. Looks to me as if Bush genuinely does not support McCain more than he has to, either. Lets hope it does not matter. But if we get Obama as President, which now looks very, very much the best hope of an unfortunate and paltry matter, maybe Palin will pick up enough knowledge to be useful for next time round.
Armenia, Turkey put differences aside for soccer
A football match could possibly give a kick-start to efforts by Armenia and Turkey to normalize relations. On September 6, Turkish President Abdullah Gul will travel to Yerevan to watch a 2010 World Cup qualifying soccer match between Armenia and Turkey, thus becoming the first Turkish leader to visit Armenia.
IMO: During most of the cold war I was surprised to see the UK and the Soviets playing football and as a not very sporting person whilst I would find it hard to empathise with this. I can hope that such progress is a sign of future better relations between Turkey and Armenia. In the long run this may help Armenia's strategic high tech industry, for instance, and good relations with Amenia should certainly be a plus point for any hope whatever Turkey may have of joining the EU. .
A football match could possibly give a kick-start to efforts by Armenia and Turkey to normalize relations. On September 6, Turkish President Abdullah Gul will travel to Yerevan to watch a 2010 World Cup qualifying soccer match between Armenia and Turkey, thus becoming the first Turkish leader to visit Armenia.
IMO: During most of the cold war I was surprised to see the UK and the Soviets playing football and as a not very sporting person whilst I would find it hard to empathise with this. I can hope that such progress is a sign of future better relations between Turkey and Armenia. In the long run this may help Armenia's strategic high tech industry, for instance, and good relations with Amenia should certainly be a plus point for any hope whatever Turkey may have of joining the EU. .
Vicious capitalist treated very fairly
Sanjeev Nanda who only received 5 years jail when he probably chould have got at least 10, now has to share a cell with 35 other prisoners. Not much fun for a punk kid like that, perhaps. He gets up at 6 am but doesn't start work till 8, and he get 52 rupees (a few cents) a day.
IMO: A lot more of these rich people who swindle and even kill the poor should get the same treatment. I think most of us could think of a few. If we could get hold of a few of those Musheraff types it would be even better.
Sanjeev Nanda who only received 5 years jail when he probably chould have got at least 10, now has to share a cell with 35 other prisoners. Not much fun for a punk kid like that, perhaps. He gets up at 6 am but doesn't start work till 8, and he get 52 rupees (a few cents) a day.
IMO: A lot more of these rich people who swindle and even kill the poor should get the same treatment. I think most of us could think of a few. If we could get hold of a few of those Musheraff types it would be even better.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
'Milestone' verdict for common man
The court verdict on the Sanjeev Nanda case popularly known as the BMW hit-and-run case convicting Nanda and three others will certainly have a far-reaching impact on our judicial system setting an example that no one is above the law and the high-and-mighty can not always getaway after committing crime.
IMO: Lets hope so
Long details here.
The Delhi High Court later found defence counsel R K Anand along with public prosecutor I U Khan guilty of contempt of court and obstructing the administration of justice. Both were convicted for influencing the eyewitness. Thus, issues including the long time taken, protection to eyewitnesses and gross misconduct of lawyers need to be addressed at large to keep alive the common man’s faith in the judiciary.
IMO: And we can hope that effective measures be also applied at Singur and Nandigram. The appearance is that CPI (Marxist) contains a substantial criminal element and that these people will be voluntarily acting as effectively Ratan Tata's goons, as some say they have already done.(This is presumably illegal under 'goonda law' anyway.) I hastily point out that this is to Buddha's benefit, not the Tatas, and I can only see public private partnership in India in a bad light for this kind of reason. The eventual situation at Pimpri-Chinchwad was excellent IMO, a sort of improved Port Sunlight, but this does not excuse any hoodlum politician for doing as he wants with the property of the poor. Mukesh Ambani, for instance, may well deplore the gherao, but the reasons are because of the continual connivance of capital with political crime, which is in no-ones interests, and as the Sanjeev Nanda case has shown these bad instances can like a virus going through a family bring down business enterprise through its own greed.
The court verdict on the Sanjeev Nanda case popularly known as the BMW hit-and-run case convicting Nanda and three others will certainly have a far-reaching impact on our judicial system setting an example that no one is above the law and the high-and-mighty can not always getaway after committing crime.
IMO: Lets hope so
Long details here.
The Delhi High Court later found defence counsel R K Anand along with public prosecutor I U Khan guilty of contempt of court and obstructing the administration of justice. Both were convicted for influencing the eyewitness. Thus, issues including the long time taken, protection to eyewitnesses and gross misconduct of lawyers need to be addressed at large to keep alive the common man’s faith in the judiciary.
IMO: And we can hope that effective measures be also applied at Singur and Nandigram. The appearance is that CPI (Marxist) contains a substantial criminal element and that these people will be voluntarily acting as effectively Ratan Tata's goons, as some say they have already done.(This is presumably illegal under 'goonda law' anyway.) I hastily point out that this is to Buddha's benefit, not the Tatas, and I can only see public private partnership in India in a bad light for this kind of reason. The eventual situation at Pimpri-Chinchwad was excellent IMO, a sort of improved Port Sunlight, but this does not excuse any hoodlum politician for doing as he wants with the property of the poor. Mukesh Ambani, for instance, may well deplore the gherao, but the reasons are because of the continual connivance of capital with political crime, which is in no-ones interests, and as the Sanjeev Nanda case has shown these bad instances can like a virus going through a family bring down business enterprise through its own greed.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
New cheap power source
Hydrogen generation again. Electrodes from material that costs around from about $2.00 per ounce, (compare Pt $2000/oz) and could go down. Nontechnical account here. Some time before bulk production, experimental but seems scientifically perhaps sound.
IMO: Might well power cheap cars or bikes electrically.
Hydrogen generation again. Electrodes from material that costs around from about $2.00 per ounce, (compare Pt $2000/oz) and could go down. Nontechnical account here. Some time before bulk production, experimental but seems scientifically perhaps sound.
IMO: Might well power cheap cars or bikes electrically.
Classic case of the rich recklessly playing with the lives of the poor.
From Modern School to Wharton and now to jail. It has been a road riddled with blood and bribery for Delhi high profile businessman (or criminal) Sanjeev Nanda who was on Tuesday held guilty of running over and killling six people in his BMW car on that January night in 1999. A drunk Nanda was on the wheel and Kapoor was next to him when the car ran over six people, including three policemen, in south Delhi's Lodhi Colony area.
IMO: All the time these things happen in India. He had held a British passport. Lets hope he goes to jail for a very long time, we should find out on Wednesday. It seems his father and grandfather were wealthy criminals too. They appeared in the Barak Missile case. The defence corruption scandal relates to the purchase of Barak Missile Systems by India from Israel. Several people including the Samata Party ex-treasurer R K Jain have been arrested so far.
From Modern School to Wharton and now to jail. It has been a road riddled with blood and bribery for Delhi high profile businessman (or criminal) Sanjeev Nanda who was on Tuesday held guilty of running over and killling six people in his BMW car on that January night in 1999. A drunk Nanda was on the wheel and Kapoor was next to him when the car ran over six people, including three policemen, in south Delhi's Lodhi Colony area.
IMO: All the time these things happen in India. He had held a British passport. Lets hope he goes to jail for a very long time, we should find out on Wednesday. It seems his father and grandfather were wealthy criminals too. They appeared in the Barak Missile case. The defence corruption scandal relates to the purchase of Barak Missile Systems by India from Israel. Several people including the Samata Party ex-treasurer R K Jain have been arrested so far.
Medical isotope scarcity as Dutch reactor closed
A "looming crisis" faces the world of nuclear medicine, as unexpected shutdowns at nuclear reactors producing vital medical isotopes are seriously affecting world supplies, according to reports. Experts in the field are calling for concerted international action to stop such events happening again.
IMO: AFAIK Molybenum-99 etc. can be obtained in Sydney, Australia, at the Opal reactor at Lucas Heights.
A "looming crisis" faces the world of nuclear medicine, as unexpected shutdowns at nuclear reactors producing vital medical isotopes are seriously affecting world supplies, according to reports. Experts in the field are calling for concerted international action to stop such events happening again.
IMO: AFAIK Molybenum-99 etc. can be obtained in Sydney, Australia, at the Opal reactor at Lucas Heights.
Is Palin the GOPs answer to Jimmy Carter ?
Foolish behaviour by Palin's daughter seems to have been made part of the GOP campaign.
IMO: Its hard to compare Billy Carter to Bristol Palin, but equally a fair point to suggest that the USA and the world should not be burdened with a President who cannot keep their own family in order for whatever reason. My point is that the USA needs a President who can constructively communicate in a positive way with his underlings to his own benefit and to that of the nation. I actually think Jimmy Carter seems to be a fine and moral man, but he seems to have been unable to keep adequate control in Washington. So McCain is heaping coals of fire on his own head, and in his case quite needlessly. What price America with John McCain as president ? Right now I wouldn't say it would be worth as much as ten cents
Foolish behaviour by Palin's daughter seems to have been made part of the GOP campaign.
IMO: Its hard to compare Billy Carter to Bristol Palin, but equally a fair point to suggest that the USA and the world should not be burdened with a President who cannot keep their own family in order for whatever reason. My point is that the USA needs a President who can constructively communicate in a positive way with his underlings to his own benefit and to that of the nation. I actually think Jimmy Carter seems to be a fine and moral man, but he seems to have been unable to keep adequate control in Washington. So McCain is heaping coals of fire on his own head, and in his case quite needlessly. What price America with John McCain as president ? Right now I wouldn't say it would be worth as much as ten cents
Monday, September 01, 2008
NSG probably does not matter
"We are not being difficult. We are not hardliners. We consider our nonproliferation concerns very legitimate. We respect and admire the steps taken by India in the past over nonproliferation but we are concerned about the future,” a western diplomat said. The NSG waiver is essential for India so that the nuclear deal it plans to sign with the US can be put before the American Congress by this month for its final approval. India has rightly made it clear that it will not allow any “prescriptive” conditions in the waiver.
IMO: Approval may not arise but India certainly cannot afford to let a few pipsqueak nations like NZ and Austria do more than cost it a lot of money. You can see they probably think of themselves as great moral guys, but in real fact they are just a bunch of petty strutting Dawood Ibrahims.All in India will suffer yet more pain and hardship but by now we're all used to that. For example supercrush conditions on the trains (16 persons per square meter). Every time I get in a train nowadays I survive by imagining myself crushing a New Zealander slowly and painfully to very tiny pieces in a large vice.That is not good. Such a pity people are not more reasonable.
"We are not being difficult. We are not hardliners. We consider our nonproliferation concerns very legitimate. We respect and admire the steps taken by India in the past over nonproliferation but we are concerned about the future,” a western diplomat said. The NSG waiver is essential for India so that the nuclear deal it plans to sign with the US can be put before the American Congress by this month for its final approval. India has rightly made it clear that it will not allow any “prescriptive” conditions in the waiver.
IMO: Approval may not arise but India certainly cannot afford to let a few pipsqueak nations like NZ and Austria do more than cost it a lot of money. You can see they probably think of themselves as great moral guys, but in real fact they are just a bunch of petty strutting Dawood Ibrahims.All in India will suffer yet more pain and hardship but by now we're all used to that. For example supercrush conditions on the trains (16 persons per square meter). Every time I get in a train nowadays I survive by imagining myself crushing a New Zealander slowly and painfully to very tiny pieces in a large vice.That is not good. Such a pity people are not more reasonable.
Pretty good long article about McCain in AlJazeera
Obama can start writing his inauguration speech," wrote (AlJazeera) the night McCain held his first appearance with Governor Palin.
How could the 72-year-old Vietnam vet with a poor health record choose a running mate with poor experience to be only a "heartbeat away from the presidency"? Is it because he fancies himself a maverick who "thinks out of the box"? Or could the answer lie in his haste, unpredictability, opportunism and recklessness?
In November, Americans need to remember that their answer is a question of life and death for many around the world where the US is militarily active in over 100 countries.
Obama can start writing his inauguration speech," wrote (AlJazeera) the night McCain held his first appearance with Governor Palin.
How could the 72-year-old Vietnam vet with a poor health record choose a running mate with poor experience to be only a "heartbeat away from the presidency"? Is it because he fancies himself a maverick who "thinks out of the box"? Or could the answer lie in his haste, unpredictability, opportunism and recklessness?
In November, Americans need to remember that their answer is a question of life and death for many around the world where the US is militarily active in over 100 countries.
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