"Brazil is piggie in the middle; it lacks China's firepower in currency manipulation and is therefore largely powerless to prevent the inflows of hot money chasing high yield, emerging market assets. Despite action to tax these inflows, they continue unabated, pushing up the currency and making Brazilian goods less competitive.
The biggest sinner in this game of beggar thy neighbour is reasonably identified as China, but in their own particular way, America and Britain are engaged in much the same thing. Massive 'quantitative easing' (QE) – there are growing calls on both sides of the Atlantic for another bout of it – has effectively created a negative interest rate and debauched the currency to boot. Already the recriminations are running thick and fast."
30.9.10
Ford says next Focus will get 40 m.p.g. on highway | freep.com | Detroit Free Press
All this and they didn't take any bailout money: "Ford expects that the 2012 Focus set to go on sale early next year will get 40 m.p.g. on the highway, an 18% improvement over the current model.
That puts the Focus on track to be the most fuel-efficient car in the compact class as it tries to conquer more market share."
That puts the Focus on track to be the most fuel-efficient car in the compact class as it tries to conquer more market share."
Distrust in media hits record high - Andy Barr - POLITICO.com
"Forty-eight percent believe the media is too liberal while only 15 percent of find that it tilts too conservative. Just 33 percent believe coverage is “just about right.”"
TARP Didn't Bust the Bank - BusinessWeek
They still don't get it. TARP wasn't a problem because it was a poor use of money. Its a problem because there's no authorization for the Federal government to use money this way and even if there were, they still shouldn't.
"As Treasury gets ready to shut down the spending phase of the TARP program on Oct. 3, it now expects to turn a $16 billion profit on the $250 billion it plowed into banks in 2008 and 2009. And TARP's final price tag is expected to be about $50 billion, according to an Obama Administration official. The Congressional Budget Office in August had estimated a $66 billion loss. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is expected to brief President Barack Obama on Sept. 30 on the brighter outlook."
That's $16 billion in stollen money. In no way will taxpaers be credited this "profit" back. It amounts to a windfall (a "bad" thing when it happens to a private citizen, BTW) for the government. A government that already collects too much money and spends too much on things that it's nto supposed to be involved in.
And we still haven't addressed the inequity of the economic dislocations these bailouts cause. Specifically it allows teh government, or more especially, specific people in government, to decide who benefits and who does not. Who wins in the market and who looses. A resutl is that a corporation or firm that has made poor decisions and has a flawed business model is insullated from their errors. This in turn can weaken, or at least not change in the face of a newly stengthened competitor, a corp or firm that has not made such mistakes.
The weak are supposed to fail, regardless of their size or "importance." Much like connifer trees in a forrest that need a fire in order to disperse and germinate thier seeds to renew their growth, this frees up market share for more fit businesses to compete for. That's how a healthy market works and that's a real stimulus to an economy.
"As Treasury gets ready to shut down the spending phase of the TARP program on Oct. 3, it now expects to turn a $16 billion profit on the $250 billion it plowed into banks in 2008 and 2009. And TARP's final price tag is expected to be about $50 billion, according to an Obama Administration official. The Congressional Budget Office in August had estimated a $66 billion loss. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is expected to brief President Barack Obama on Sept. 30 on the brighter outlook."
That's $16 billion in stollen money. In no way will taxpaers be credited this "profit" back. It amounts to a windfall (a "bad" thing when it happens to a private citizen, BTW) for the government. A government that already collects too much money and spends too much on things that it's nto supposed to be involved in.
And we still haven't addressed the inequity of the economic dislocations these bailouts cause. Specifically it allows teh government, or more especially, specific people in government, to decide who benefits and who does not. Who wins in the market and who looses. A resutl is that a corporation or firm that has made poor decisions and has a flawed business model is insullated from their errors. This in turn can weaken, or at least not change in the face of a newly stengthened competitor, a corp or firm that has not made such mistakes.
The weak are supposed to fail, regardless of their size or "importance." Much like connifer trees in a forrest that need a fire in order to disperse and germinate thier seeds to renew their growth, this frees up market share for more fit businesses to compete for. That's how a healthy market works and that's a real stimulus to an economy.
Under new federal guidelines all New York City street signs will have to be made lower-case - NYPOST.com
"The Capital of the World is going lower-case.
Federal copy editors are demanding the city change its 250,900 street signs -- such as these for Perry Avenue in The Bronx -- from the all-caps style used for more than a century to ones that capitalize only the first letters.
Changing BROADWAY to Broadway will save lives, the Federal Highway Administration contends in its updated Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, citing improved readability.
At $110 per sign, it will also cost the state $27.6 million, city officials said."
Federal copy editors are demanding the city change its 250,900 street signs -- such as these for Perry Avenue in The Bronx -- from the all-caps style used for more than a century to ones that capitalize only the first letters.
Changing BROADWAY to Broadway will save lives, the Federal Highway Administration contends in its updated Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, citing improved readability.
At $110 per sign, it will also cost the state $27.6 million, city officials said."
One third of 'extinct' animals turn up again | Mail Online
"Conservationists are overestimating the number of species that have been driven to extinction, scientists have said.A study has found that a third of all mammal species declared extinct in the past few centuries have turned up alive and well.
Some of the more reclusive creatures managed to hide from sight for 80 years only to reappear within four years of being officially named extinct in the wild."
Some of the more reclusive creatures managed to hide from sight for 80 years only to reappear within four years of being officially named extinct in the wild."
ObamaCare: the good news just keeps on coming [Darleen Click]
"In 2014, ObamaCare greatly expands Medicaid and will offer heavy subsidies (ie redistributing taxpayer income) to low-income people.
If anyone outside of the Democrats who shoved this on a resistant American public still believes ObamaCare was not designed to destroy private health insurance and drive medical care into a Government-run single-payer, there’s a bridge in Brooklyn with your name on it."
If anyone outside of the Democrats who shoved this on a resistant American public still believes ObamaCare was not designed to destroy private health insurance and drive medical care into a Government-run single-payer, there’s a bridge in Brooklyn with your name on it."
Iowa businessman tells Obama repealing Bush tax cuts would be a jobs-killer - NYPOST.com
"'One of the things that concerns me is the repeal of the Bush tax cuts,' said David Greenspon, referring to Democratic plans to raise taxes on individuals earning more than $200,000 a year and on families and certain businesses earning more than $250,000.
'The repeal -- I don't care if it is 5 percent -- that's 5 percent that would create a job,' he told Obama during a meeting with about 70 people in a couple's back yard in Des Moines.
'Five percent on millions of dollars of profit creates many jobs . . . As the government gets more and more involved in business and more and more involved in taxes, what you're finding is you're strangling those job-creation vehicles.'
Before Greenspon could complete his question, his microphone was cut off and taken out of his hand."
'The repeal -- I don't care if it is 5 percent -- that's 5 percent that would create a job,' he told Obama during a meeting with about 70 people in a couple's back yard in Des Moines.
'Five percent on millions of dollars of profit creates many jobs . . . As the government gets more and more involved in business and more and more involved in taxes, what you're finding is you're strangling those job-creation vehicles.'
Before Greenspon could complete his question, his microphone was cut off and taken out of his hand."
Senate votes to turn down volume on TV commercials - Yahoo! News
"Legislation to turn down the volume on loud TV commercials that send couch potatoes diving for their remote controls looks like it'll soon become law.
The Senate late Wednesday unanimously passed a bill to require television stations and cable companies to implement industry standards capping the volume of commercials and equalizing the volume between ads and other programming."
The Senate late Wednesday unanimously passed a bill to require television stations and cable companies to implement industry standards capping the volume of commercials and equalizing the volume between ads and other programming."
My Way News - House Democrats shelve net neutrality proposal
It sounds so benign when it's explained this way. Actually, Net neutrality is confiscation of private property and government interference with contracts.: "House Democrats have shelved a last-ditch effort to broker a compromise between phone, cable and Internet companies on rules that would prohibit broadband providers from blocking or degrading online traffic flowing over their networks.
House Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., abandoned the effort late Wednesday in the face of Republican opposition to his proposed 'network neutrality' rules. Those rules were intended to prevent broadband providers from becoming online gatekeepers by playing favorites with traffic."
House Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., abandoned the effort late Wednesday in the face of Republican opposition to his proposed 'network neutrality' rules. Those rules were intended to prevent broadband providers from becoming online gatekeepers by playing favorites with traffic."
Medal of Honor recipient's family turned away at White House | KTVB.COM | KTVB.COM | Boise, Idaho news
"Family of Medal of Honor recipient Vernon Baker was denied access to the White House's West Wing on Saturday, a day after the World War II hero was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Baker's widow, Heidy, and grandson, Vernon Pawlik, 10, were denied entry because the boy was wearing shorts and a T-shirt. His shirt had a picture of his grandfather on it."
Baker's widow, Heidy, and grandson, Vernon Pawlik, 10, were denied entry because the boy was wearing shorts and a T-shirt. His shirt had a picture of his grandfather on it."
My Way News - Congress punts tough choice until after election
"A deeply unpopular Congress is bolting for the campaign trail without finishing its most basic job - approving a budget for the government year that begins on Friday. Lawmakers also are postponing a major fight over taxes, two embarrassing ethics cases and other political hot potatoes until angry and frustrated voters render their verdict in the Nov. 2 elections.
As a last necessary task before leaving, both the Senate and House passed a temporary spending measure needed to keep federal agencies operating when the new budget year starts."
As a last necessary task before leaving, both the Senate and House passed a temporary spending measure needed to keep federal agencies operating when the new budget year starts."
Attrition: Afghan Women Join The Army
"For the first time since the 1980s, the Afghan Army again has female officers. The first class of 27 female officer cadets recently graduated, and will serve in staff and other non-combat jobs. Many Afghans oppose women working outside the home, but a growing number of Afghans have noted that the better lives so many see in the West would not be possible without educating women and having them in the workforce. This is one of the issues that caused the civil war in the late 1970s, which the Russians intervened in to help the pro-Russian, and pro-reform Afghan government. That did not turn out well. But now the social conservatives are on the defensive, and do not seem likely to make a comeback.
Meanwhile, the Afghans have encouraging examples in neighboring Pakistan, where the air force there even has female fighter pilots. OK, there are only seven of them ,and they fly the older F-7s, a Chinese version of the Russian MiG-21. None have been in combat yet, despite the heavy use of jet fighter-bombers in two years of fighting in the tribal territories. There, the more modern F-16s are doing most of the bombing of Taliban targets."
Meanwhile, the Afghans have encouraging examples in neighboring Pakistan, where the air force there even has female fighter pilots. OK, there are only seven of them ,and they fly the older F-7s, a Chinese version of the Russian MiG-21. None have been in combat yet, despite the heavy use of jet fighter-bombers in two years of fighting in the tribal territories. There, the more modern F-16s are doing most of the bombing of Taliban targets."
Information Warfare: Apple Has An App For Calling In Air Strikes
"The iPhone now has an app for calling in air strikes. This is part of a trend. Specialized, and now portable, computers have been used in the military for decades, to help troops who call in artillery fire, or air strikes. But these 'forward controllers' have to lug around a lot of gear, as they move, often on foot, with the infantry they support. Every bit of weight counts. The less you carry, the more energy you have for life-and-death tasks. Now, Apple has an app for that, and the forward controllers can leave behind gear that has now been replaced by an iPhone app. ."
Iraq: Scary Monsters
"Iran has persuaded the Iraqi political parties it backs (mainly the al Sadr group) to make a deal to let the current prime minister (Maliki) serve another term, in return for political favors. This isn't a done deal yet, but demonstrates how even Iran was getting fed up with the six month deadlock in forming a new government. The stalemate has forced more Iraqis to face some key internal problems, like the rampant corruption and the self-destructive refusal to compromise in political (and many other) matters. These two flaws are imbedded in the culture, and difficult to get away from.
Iran is also believed behind the increased number of assassinations in Baghdad and rocket and mortar attacks (23 in the last month) on the Green Zone. U.S. troops still control security around the Green Zone, which contains thousands of Americans and other foreigners. So far this year, there have been 134 rocket and mortar attacks in Baghdad, 37 percent (slightly above average) in the last 90 days."
Iran is also believed behind the increased number of assassinations in Baghdad and rocket and mortar attacks (23 in the last month) on the Green Zone. U.S. troops still control security around the Green Zone, which contains thousands of Americans and other foreigners. So far this year, there have been 134 rocket and mortar attacks in Baghdad, 37 percent (slightly above average) in the last 90 days."
Gates Predicts Women in Special Forces
"Gates said he expected the prohibition against women in U.S. special operations forces would be phased out in a deliberate manner similar to the way women have been allowed to serve on submarines since earlier this year.
'It will happen, but it will happen in the same very careful way that women in submarines is being done,' Gates told an audience of students enrolled in reserve officer training in North Carolina.
As a first step, female officers are being assigned to larger Ohio-class nuclear-powered submarines.
The larger vessels make it easier to accommodate female crew members, and each team of women includes a more senior female officer who serves as a 'mentor,' Gates said.
'My guess is at some point ... there'll be a careful step in that direction with special operations forces,' he said."
'It will happen, but it will happen in the same very careful way that women in submarines is being done,' Gates told an audience of students enrolled in reserve officer training in North Carolina.
As a first step, female officers are being assigned to larger Ohio-class nuclear-powered submarines.
The larger vessels make it easier to accommodate female crew members, and each team of women includes a more senior female officer who serves as a 'mentor,' Gates said.
'My guess is at some point ... there'll be a careful step in that direction with special operations forces,' he said."
VA Adds Coverage for 'Presumptive' Ailments
"The department on Sept. 28 published final regulations to make it easier for vets who served in the Persian Gulf War and the ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to receive health care and disability compensation for nine diseases that have been associated with duty in Southwest Asia.
'This is part of historic changes in how VA considers Gulf War Veterans' illnesses,' Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki said. 'By setting up scientifically based presumptions of service connection, we give these deserving veterans a simple way to obtain the medical and compensation benefits they earned in service to our country.'"
'This is part of historic changes in how VA considers Gulf War Veterans' illnesses,' Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki said. 'By setting up scientifically based presumptions of service connection, we give these deserving veterans a simple way to obtain the medical and compensation benefits they earned in service to our country.'"
DoD Buzz | No Cuts Now, HASC Tells DoD
"“I think I speak for the overwhelming majority on this committee, regardless of party, when I tell you that I do not support cutting the defense budget at this time,” HASC chairman Rep. Ike Skleton said at a Wednesday morning hearing on Pentagon efficiencies. The national security challenges this nation faces around the world dictate that we maintain the recent growth in our ground forces, the Army and the Marine Corps; that we modernize our Air Force; and that we grow our Navy. To do this, we must continue to grow the base defense budget for some time to come.”"
Petraeus discusses future of Afghan detainees
"Combined Joint Interagency Task Force-435, in partnership with the Afghanistan government, and U.S. interagency and international partners, conducts operations in detention, corrections, the judicial sector and biometrics. Next year the task force will transition detention operations to Afghan control while partnering with Afghan authorities to promote rule of law practices.
Petraeus said his team had implemented job training and rehabilitation programs, routine detainee review boards, integration of host nation legal activities, and shuras, or meetings, to get communities to re-embrace detainees when they were released.
“All that began a good bit of what you see today,” said Petraeus, who was joined by his deputy commander for detention operations, Vice Adm. Robert Harward, commander, Combined Joint Interagency Task Force-435."
Petraeus said his team had implemented job training and rehabilitation programs, routine detainee review boards, integration of host nation legal activities, and shuras, or meetings, to get communities to re-embrace detainees when they were released.
“All that began a good bit of what you see today,” said Petraeus, who was joined by his deputy commander for detention operations, Vice Adm. Robert Harward, commander, Combined Joint Interagency Task Force-435."
Pakistan Cuts NATO Supply Line After Airstrike
"A permanent stoppage of supply trucks would place massive strains on the relationship between the two countries and hurt the Afghan war effort. Even a short halt is a reminder of the leverage Pakistan has over the United States at a crucial time in the 9-year-old war.
By midmorning, a line of around 100 NATO vehicles was waiting to cross the border into Afghanistan, officials said.
'We will have to see whether we are allies or enemies,' Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik said of the border incident, without mentioning the blockade."
By midmorning, a line of around 100 NATO vehicles was waiting to cross the border into Afghanistan, officials said.
'We will have to see whether we are allies or enemies,' Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik said of the border incident, without mentioning the blockade."
29.9.10
First World War officially ends - Telegraph
"The final payment of £59.5 million, writes off the crippling debt that was the price for one world war and laid the foundations for another.
Germany was forced to pay the reparations at the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 as compensation to the war-ravaged nations of Belgium and France and to pay the Allies some of the costs of waging what was then the bloodiest conflict in history, leaving nearly ten million soldiers dead."
Germany was forced to pay the reparations at the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 as compensation to the war-ravaged nations of Belgium and France and to pay the Allies some of the costs of waging what was then the bloodiest conflict in history, leaving nearly ten million soldiers dead."
The Fed's second bubble - The Globe and Mail
Exactly what needs to happen to make a bad problem worse. Thanks, Chairman Ben!: "At the recent Federal Open Market Committee meeting, Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke signalled that he plans to keep interest rates effectively at zero for as long as possible, and that he’s ready to stand by with more quantitative easing (i.e. printing money) if necessary."
Study: Audio recordings of US history fading fast
"New digital recordings of events in U.S. history and early radio shows are at risk of being lost much faster than older ones on tape and many are already gone, according to a study on sound released Wednesday.
Even recent history - such as recordings from 9/11 or the 2008 election - is at risk because digital sound files can be corrupted, and widely used CD-R discs only last three to five years before files start to fade, said study co-author Sam Brylawski.
'I think we're assuming that if it's on the Web it's going to be there forever,' he said. 'That's one of the biggest challenges.'"
Even recent history - such as recordings from 9/11 or the 2008 election - is at risk because digital sound files can be corrupted, and widely used CD-R discs only last three to five years before files start to fade, said study co-author Sam Brylawski.
'I think we're assuming that if it's on the Web it's going to be there forever,' he said. 'That's one of the biggest challenges.'"
Schaumburg Votes to Lower Property Taxes | NBC Chicago
"The village of Schaumburg bucked the national trend of raising taxes and fees to cover rising expenses when its board unanimously approved a 4.4 percent reduction to the 2010 property tax levy
You read that right: reduction.
But that's not all. Village officials also did away with vehicle sticker fees and moved to have property taxes cover garbage removal."
You read that right: reduction.
But that's not all. Village officials also did away with vehicle sticker fees and moved to have property taxes cover garbage removal."
Morale: U.S. Army Puts The Fruits Out Front
"It's all about stress. There's a war going on, and 'comfort food' works in a combat zone. That's just as well, because in today's combat zones there's no alcohol, and no sexual activity with the locals (well, it's energetically discouraged). There's also an ongoing campaign to discourage smoking, and a regular testing program to make illegal drugs career suicide. What's an anxious troop to do? Eat. There's plenty of food, and more of it is fattening (more sugar, more fat and larger portions). Thus over a third of the troops admit to eating as a way to deal with stress.
Not everyone in uniform has problems with comfort food. Infantry units have virtually no overweight troops. But these comprise less than five percent of all military personnel, and many of them actually lose weight during a combat tour. Most of the added fat is found on support troops (the other 95 percent).
By service, the air force is the fattest (more than six percent overweight) and the marines the thinnest (about one percent overweight.) Weight is more of a problem with older troops. Thus those 40 or older are four times more likely to be overweight, compared to those under 20. As in the civilian world, women have a harder time with weight. Fifteen percent of military personnel are female, and about seven percent of them are currently overweight."
Not everyone in uniform has problems with comfort food. Infantry units have virtually no overweight troops. But these comprise less than five percent of all military personnel, and many of them actually lose weight during a combat tour. Most of the added fat is found on support troops (the other 95 percent).
By service, the air force is the fattest (more than six percent overweight) and the marines the thinnest (about one percent overweight.) Weight is more of a problem with older troops. Thus those 40 or older are four times more likely to be overweight, compared to those under 20. As in the civilian world, women have a harder time with weight. Fifteen percent of military personnel are female, and about seven percent of them are currently overweight."
Korea: It's A Family Affair
"The government has been distributing new official photos of leader Kim Jong Il, which now show heir-apparent son Kim Jong Un standing next to his father. All this is a bit rushed. Kim Jong Il was not introduced as the heir-apparent until he was 32, and then played the role for 20 years before taking over after Kim Il Sung died. In East Asia, a national leader younger than 40 is unheard of, and does not inspire confidence or loyalty."
28.9.10
New Cybersecurity Bill Gives Obama ‘Power To Shut Down Companies’
"An amalgamated cybersecurity bill that lawmakers hope to pass before the end of the year includes new powers which would allow President Obama to shut down not only entire areas of the Internet, but also businesses and industries that fail to comply with government orders following the declaration of a national emergency – increasing fears that the legislation will be abused as a political tool.
The draft bill is a combination of two pieces of legislation originally crafted by Senators Lieberman and Rockefeller. One of the differences between the new bill and the original Lieberman version is that the Internet “kill switch” power has been limited to 90 days without congressional oversight, rather than the original period of four months contained in the Lieberman bill."
The draft bill is a combination of two pieces of legislation originally crafted by Senators Lieberman and Rockefeller. One of the differences between the new bill and the original Lieberman version is that the Internet “kill switch” power has been limited to 90 days without congressional oversight, rather than the original period of four months contained in the Lieberman bill."
My Way News - Obama: Democratic voter apathy 'inexcusable'
Scolder in Chief: "'People need to shake off this lethargy. People need to buck up,' Obama told Rolling Stone in an interview to be published Friday. The president told Democrats that making change happen is hard and 'if people now want to take their ball and go home, that tells me folks weren't serious in the first place.'
The midterm elections are in five weeks and polling shows that Republicans, out of power at the White House and on Capitol Hill, have a much more excited base of supporters than Democrats. Obama, campaigning this week in four states, is in a sprint to restore the voter passion that helped him win office."
The midterm elections are in five weeks and polling shows that Republicans, out of power at the White House and on Capitol Hill, have a much more excited base of supporters than Democrats. Obama, campaigning this week in four states, is in a sprint to restore the voter passion that helped him win office."
Colombia: Desperate Days
"Meanwhile, fighting around the FARC camp, where FARC leader Mono Jojoy was killed last week, continues. This was a, if not the, major FARC camp, and there were apparently hundreds of FARC personnel in the area. With airmobile troops all over the place, and other troops moving in via land routes, the FARC gunmen are having a hard time getting away. In the capital, over 2,000 additional police were deployed, in case FARC tried to respond to the loss of their leader with terror attacks. The loss of Jojoy is a major blow to FARC, because Jojoy was an energetic leader and popular as well. His loss is a big shock for most FARC members."
Afghanistan: Let Us Steal In Peace
"The Taliban and the drug gangs are under constant attack by 150,000 NATO troops, 136,000 Afghan soldiers and over 119,600 Afghan national police. There are also over 20,000 armed tribesmen fighting and confronting the Taliban. The government is seeking money from foreign donors to put over 10,000 of these anti-Taliban tribesmen on the payroll, at about half the pay of police, to defend their villages and valleys from the Taliban."
Morale: Russian Army Returns To Jesus
"Recently Russia announced that, after an absence of nearly a century, chaplains were being reintroduced into the armed forces. This came after four years of negotiations with the Russian Orthodox Church, which would have to provide priests to be military chaplains. While the Orthodox church agreed, in the 1990s, to provide religious services to military personnel and their families, this did not include chaplains. That's because, despite the shortage of priests, it was possible to use lay people to provide some priestly functions (like counseling and organizing charitable activities). Chaplains, on the other hand, are typically assigned to military units, like other specialists (doctors and staff officers). There were not enough priests for that, because the communists had limited the number of men who could become priests during the Soviet period (1921-91)."
Gore Verbinski Boarding Lone Ranger? | Superhero Hype
"Gore Verbinksi is eyeing Disney's The Lone Ranger for his next project, reports Deadline.
Verbinksi, who has worked with Johnny Depp on the first three Pirates of the Caribbean films and the upcoming Rango, would re-team with the actor, currently attached to play the Lone Ranger's sidekick, Tonto.
The Lone Ranger's origin story begins with a group of Texas Rangers chasing down a gang of outlaws led by Butch Cavendish. The gang ambushes the Rangers, seemingly killing them all. One survivor is found, however, by an American Indian named Tonto, who nurses him back to health. The Ranger, donning a mask and riding a white stallion named Silver, teams up with Tonto to bring the unscrupulous gang and others of that ilk to justice.
The film version will be produced by Jerry Bruckheimer with a script from Justin Haythe."
Verbinksi, who has worked with Johnny Depp on the first three Pirates of the Caribbean films and the upcoming Rango, would re-team with the actor, currently attached to play the Lone Ranger's sidekick, Tonto.
The Lone Ranger's origin story begins with a group of Texas Rangers chasing down a gang of outlaws led by Butch Cavendish. The gang ambushes the Rangers, seemingly killing them all. One survivor is found, however, by an American Indian named Tonto, who nurses him back to health. The Ranger, donning a mask and riding a white stallion named Silver, teams up with Tonto to bring the unscrupulous gang and others of that ilk to justice.
The film version will be produced by Jerry Bruckheimer with a script from Justin Haythe."
New Crossbow Takes 'Tactical' Approach - Deer Hunting - Outdoor Guide - Military.com Entertainment
"Except for the curved carbon fiber limbs, you'd think it was a combat rifle.
The ported aluminum fore-end. The AR-15-style pistol grip. The Picatinny rails running down every angle of the bolt retainer. An adjustable M4 buttstock. You name it; all the Gucci furniture an AR-lover would want can be attached.
But this isn't a SCAR, ACR or improved M4 we're talking about."
The ported aluminum fore-end. The AR-15-style pistol grip. The Picatinny rails running down every angle of the bolt retainer. An adjustable M4 buttstock. You name it; all the Gucci furniture an AR-lover would want can be attached.
But this isn't a SCAR, ACR or improved M4 we're talking about."
Petraeus: Taliban Reached Out to Karzai
"Top Taliban leaders have made overtures to reconcile with the Afghan government, the top commander in Afghanistan said Monday.
Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has long said that he will talk to insurgents if they renounce violence, sever ties to terrorists and embrace the Afghan constitution. Publicly, the Taliban have said they won't negotiate until foreign troops leave Afghanistan, yet there are many indications that backdoor discussions have occurred."
Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has long said that he will talk to insurgents if they renounce violence, sever ties to terrorists and embrace the Afghan constitution. Publicly, the Taliban have said they won't negotiate until foreign troops leave Afghanistan, yet there are many indications that backdoor discussions have occurred."
DoD Buzz | Army Program Whacks Coming
"The Army Vice Chief of Staff said program terminations and trims loom as a result of the portfolio reviews ordered earlier this year by the Army Secretary, John McHugh.
Gen. Peter Chiarelli also said that the service had expanded the use of the reviews into the ever-dangerous and complex waters of force structure, including the current modular structure of the Army."
Gen. Peter Chiarelli also said that the service had expanded the use of the reviews into the ever-dangerous and complex waters of force structure, including the current modular structure of the Army."
27.9.10
Pentagon Silent on Iranian Nuke Virus « Liveshots
"Pentagon Spokesman Col. David Lapan said Monday the Department of Defense can 'neither confirm nor deny' reports that it launched this attack.
The Stuxnet worms enters networks through USB portals and is designed specifically to attack software made by Siemens, the German owned industrial corporation. German intelligence agencies have been known to cooperate closely with the United States. Combine this fact with that the United States and Israel both have a vested interest in stopping the Iranians from acquiring a nuclear weapon, and you have the three main suspects behind the worm: the U.S., Israel, and Germany.
It's also important to note that researchers have determined the worm originated sometime in early 2010. Therefore if it was initiated by the United States it would have been done under the Obama administration."
The Stuxnet worms enters networks through USB portals and is designed specifically to attack software made by Siemens, the German owned industrial corporation. German intelligence agencies have been known to cooperate closely with the United States. Combine this fact with that the United States and Israel both have a vested interest in stopping the Iranians from acquiring a nuclear weapon, and you have the three main suspects behind the worm: the U.S., Israel, and Germany.
It's also important to note that researchers have determined the worm originated sometime in early 2010. Therefore if it was initiated by the United States it would have been done under the Obama administration."
NATO Launches Major Airstrikes Into Pakistan
"NATO helicopters in eastern Afghanistan launched rare major airstrikes into Pakistan, reportedly killing more than 50 militants, officials said Monday, while international forces began a key combat phase to drive out Taliban fighters around the southern city of Kandahar.
The airstrikes across the border came after the insurgents attacked a small Afghan security outpost near the border, and NATO justified the strikes based on 'the right of self-defense,' a spokesman said. Pakistan is sensitive about attacks on its territory, but U.S. officials have said they have an agreement that allows aircraft to cross a few miles into Pakistani airspace if they are in hot pursuit of a target."
The airstrikes across the border came after the insurgents attacked a small Afghan security outpost near the border, and NATO justified the strikes based on 'the right of self-defense,' a spokesman said. Pakistan is sensitive about attacks on its territory, but U.S. officials have said they have an agreement that allows aircraft to cross a few miles into Pakistani airspace if they are in hot pursuit of a target."
Double-Amputee Returns to Combat
"When a bomb exploded under Dan Luckett's Army Humvee in Iraq two years ago -- blowing off one of his legs and part of his foot -- the first thing he thought was: 'That's it. You're done. No more Army for you.'
But two years later, the 27-year-old Norcross, Ga., native is back on duty -- a double-amputee fighting on the front lines of America's Afghan surge in one of the most dangerous parts of this volatile country."
But two years later, the 27-year-old Norcross, Ga., native is back on duty -- a double-amputee fighting on the front lines of America's Afghan surge in one of the most dangerous parts of this volatile country."
Guantanamo Bay rations detainees¿ ice cream portions | Mail Online
The Horror!: "Detainees’ diets at Guantanamo Bay have been a controversial issue for some time and now the U.S. prison is said to be rationing ice cream.
The frozen dessert is allegedly being tightly measured, with only one ice cream allowed for each of its 147 detainees.
Journalist for The Miami Herald, Carol Rosenberg, photographed a refrigerator at Guantanamo, with two signs reading ‘DETAINEE FOOD ONLY’ and ‘Only 1 Ice Cream For each detainee!’"
The frozen dessert is allegedly being tightly measured, with only one ice cream allowed for each of its 147 detainees.
Journalist for The Miami Herald, Carol Rosenberg, photographed a refrigerator at Guantanamo, with two signs reading ‘DETAINEE FOOD ONLY’ and ‘Only 1 Ice Cream For each detainee!’"
Default Is In Our Stars - NYTimes.com
Of course, former Enron advisor, paul Krugman, thinks this view is naive. That's, a product of his own prejudice. Any solution that would require going through a long and painful process, and that results in winners and loosers (well, winners and loosers that can't be adequately prediceted and selected beforehand) is bad, and the perjorative du'jour is "naive.":
"A naive view says that what we need is a return to virtue: everyone needs to save more, pay down debt, and restore healthy balance sheets.
The problem with this view is the fallacy of composition: when everyone tries to pay down debt at the same time, the result is a depressed economy and falling inflation, which cause the ratio of debt to income to rise if anything. That is, we’re living in a world in which the twin paradoxes of thrift and deleveraging hold, and hence in which individual virtue ends up being collective vice."
"A naive view says that what we need is a return to virtue: everyone needs to save more, pay down debt, and restore healthy balance sheets.
The problem with this view is the fallacy of composition: when everyone tries to pay down debt at the same time, the result is a depressed economy and falling inflation, which cause the ratio of debt to income to rise if anything. That is, we’re living in a world in which the twin paradoxes of thrift and deleveraging hold, and hence in which individual virtue ends up being collective vice."
10,000 TSA employees get secret clearances - Yahoo! News
"The new head of the Transportation Security Administration say he's giving 10,000 of the agency's employees access to secret intelligence information to better enable them to detect threats and stop terrorists."
Obama: Money without reform won’t fix schools - Parenting - Back to School - TODAYshow.com
"Speaking to TODAY's Matt Lauer in the Green Room of the White House for nearly
30 minutes, Obama said that additional funding tied to significant reforms —
including a longer school year and lifting teaching as a profession — is a
much-needed fix."
And if we can't spend our way out, we'll extort our way out. Note this: additional funidng to be tied to "reforms." Reforms that are none of the fedeeral government's business and funding that the federal government should'nt have collected to begin with.
If local school authorities wish to make these kinds of changes, and if they need extra money to do it, how much better if they'd been able to collect that revenue themselves and ake a change that they desire? It ties the change, also to the will of the affected constituents--they'd have to approve a tax increase or a new levy. Instead the federal government continues to steal and extort.
26.9.10
Russia: The Escape Clause
"The Russian military continues to get bad press, for continuing bad behavior. The latest publicity disaster involves poor security at anti-aircraft missile sites around Moscow. These new S-300 and S-400 missiles were installed, with great fanfare, over the last decade. But there weren't enough troops to provide security, especially for the widely distributed missile launchers. A series of photos showed up recently, making it clear that at least some of these missiles were completely unguarded. Surrounded by a rusting fence, with man sized holes in it, mushroom pickers forage around the site, and hikers come by and look, and in at least one case, take pictures. After a few weeks, the Russian military noticed the web pix, and the growing media disaster. Army press officers announced that more troops had been assigned to guarding isolated missile sites, and fences were repaired. For the moment, anyway. All this is very Russian. In a few months, the extra guards will be gone, and someone will cut new holes in the fences."
25.9.10
My Way News - Small biz, banks may spurn Obama's $30B program
"Bank executives say their customers don't want loans, even at low interest rates, because the sluggish economy has chilled expansion plans. Some say the federal money isn't worth it because they fear it will come with too much regulatory oversight.
'We have taken a strategic decision not to have our primary regulator, the government, also be a partner in our bank,' said William Chase Jr., CEO of Triumph Bank in Memphis.
Chase said the bank already has enough capital to meet the paltry demand for loans. 'Our business customers are mired in uncertainty and are reluctant to invest in their businesses,' Chase said."
'We have taken a strategic decision not to have our primary regulator, the government, also be a partner in our bank,' said William Chase Jr., CEO of Triumph Bank in Memphis.
Chase said the bank already has enough capital to meet the paltry demand for loans. 'Our business customers are mired in uncertainty and are reluctant to invest in their businesses,' Chase said."
John Kerry: Democrats’ woes stem from uninformed voters - BostonHerald.com
"A testy U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry yesterday blamed clueless voters with short attention spans for the uphill battle beleaguered Democrats are facing against Republicans across the nation.
“We have an electorate that doesn’t always pay that much attention to what’s going on so people are influenced by a simple slogan rather than the facts or the truth or what’s happening,” Kerry told reporters after touring the Boston Medical Center yesterday."
“We have an electorate that doesn’t always pay that much attention to what’s going on so people are influenced by a simple slogan rather than the facts or the truth or what’s happening,” Kerry told reporters after touring the Boston Medical Center yesterday."
John Kerry: Democrats’ woes stem from uninformed voters - BostonHerald.com
"A testy U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry yesterday blamed clueless voters with short attention spans for the uphill battle beleaguered Democrats are facing against Republicans across the nation.
“We have an electorate that doesn’t always pay that much attention to what’s going on so people are influenced by a simple slogan rather than the facts or the truth or what’s happening,” Kerry told reporters after touring the Boston Medical Center yesterday."
“We have an electorate that doesn’t always pay that much attention to what’s going on so people are influenced by a simple slogan rather than the facts or the truth or what’s happening,” Kerry told reporters after touring the Boston Medical Center yesterday."
My Way News - Regulators shut banks in Florida, Washington state
"The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. took over Haven Trust Bank Florida of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., with $148.6 million in assets and $133.6 million in deposits, and North County Bank, based in Arlington, Wash., with $288.8 million in assets and $276.1 million in deposits.
First Southern Bank, based in Boca Raton, Fla., agreed to assume the assets and deposits of Haven Trust Bank Florida. In addition, the FDIC and First Southern Bank agreed to share losses on $127.3 million of Haven Trust Bank Florida's loans and other assets.
Whidbey Island Bank, based in Coupeville, Wash., is acquiring the assets and deposits of North County Bank. The FDIC and Whidbey Island Bank agreed to share losses on $221.9 million of North County Bank's assets.
The failure of North County Bank is expected to cost the deposit insurance fund $72.8 million.
The failure of Haven Trust Bank Florida is expected to cost the fund $31.9 million. It was the 24th bank in Florida to fail this year."
First Southern Bank, based in Boca Raton, Fla., agreed to assume the assets and deposits of Haven Trust Bank Florida. In addition, the FDIC and First Southern Bank agreed to share losses on $127.3 million of Haven Trust Bank Florida's loans and other assets.
Whidbey Island Bank, based in Coupeville, Wash., is acquiring the assets and deposits of North County Bank. The FDIC and Whidbey Island Bank agreed to share losses on $221.9 million of North County Bank's assets.
The failure of North County Bank is expected to cost the deposit insurance fund $72.8 million.
The failure of Haven Trust Bank Florida is expected to cost the fund $31.9 million. It was the 24th bank in Florida to fail this year."
U.S. Bails Out Major Credit Unions - WSJ.com
"Friday's moves include the seizure of three wholesale credit unions, plus an unusual plan by government officials to manage $50 billion of troubled assets inherited from failed institutions. To help fund the rescue, the National Credit Union Administration plans to issue $30 billion to $35 billion in government-guaranteed bonds, backed by the shaky mortgage-related assets."
Intelligence: Faking Your Way To Victory
"Counterfeit high-tech items are a growing business, and a growing danger. In addition to computer gear, auto and aircraft components are also being faked. Some aircraft and auto accidents have been traced to the fakes, which makes it a public safety issue. But with the Department of Defense installing counterfeit computer components, it becomes a national security issue. There's also the fear that the Chinese, or some other hostile nation, might get their hands on real computer components, and replace some of the chips with modified ones that will make government networks easier to hack. Yes, it just gets worse."
24.9.10
Attrition: Famine In Afghanistan
"The biggest threat to Afghans in the next year is not the Taliban, but starvation. Floods, locusts and a wheat disease have combined to cause wheat production to fall nearly 20 percent in the next year. It could get worse if the government does not obtain disease resistant wheat seed for future crops. So far, the government has not responded effectively to the famine threats."
23.9.10
GM must sell for $134 a share for U.S. to recover investment
"In order for the United States to recoup all of its $50 billion investment in General Motors, it must sell its ownership stake at $134 a share, according to the special inspector general of the government's bailout programs."
Logistics: Dealing With Hundred Dollar A Gallon Gas
"The war in Iraq made it clear that American combat units are huge consumers of fuel. In 2003, it was understood that turning a modern mechanized division loose meant supplying those troops at the rate of 80-120 liters (20-30 gallons) of fuel per man per day. As the 3rd Infantry Division moves from Kuwait to Baghdad in 2003, some 20,000 troops were involved. That required some 200 tanker loads of fuel per day. Initially, the vehicles in the division carry enough fuel to go 200-300 kilometers on internal fuel. But you don't want your vehicles to run until their tanks are dry, so at least once a day, you try to top everyone off. The route of the 3rd Infantry Division covered about 700 kilometers of road. In addition to fuel, you need about a 45-90 kg (100-200 pounds) of other supplies per man per day (mostly ammo, but also batteries, food and the like.) Once inside Baghdad, and no longer moving all the time, the fuel requirement came way down. But on the march, the advancing combat brigades were tethered by convoys of fuel trucks going back and forth to the supply bases in Kuwait. But once things settled down, it was found that the use of generators, especially for air conditioning, kept fuel requirements high, which is why most of the supply trucks are still carrying fuel."
Weapons: The Sting Of Life
"All U.S. Army and Marine Corps troops are now getting infantry grade combat training by using paintball bullets. Not paint balls, but faster moving bullets containing paint. As a result, the training for non-combat troops and infantry is much more effective than what troops received a decade ago.
In addition to the 1980s ear laser tag systems, the more expensive Simunitions are bringing an even greater degree of realism. These are low powered, paintball bullets. Users often refer to them as 'soap bullets'. To use Simunitions , troops take apart their M-16s, and replace the barrel with a $800 Simunitions barrel and receiver that can handle the Simunitions rounds. When fired, Simunitions bullets make a loud 'click' sound, rather than a 'crack' of a regular bullet. Simunitions will sting if they hit you, and leave a dye mark. With seven different dye colors available, it's possible to find out who shot who, and how much friendly fire there was.
Actually, the Simunitions hurt a lot more than paintball ammo, and those participating in Simunitions exercises have to wear goggles and groin protectors. The protective vest will take the sting out of a Simunitions hit, but for arms, legs and other exposed parts, you will have a nice bruise to remind you that more care should be taken to find cover on the battlefield."
In addition to the 1980s ear laser tag systems, the more expensive Simunitions are bringing an even greater degree of realism. These are low powered, paintball bullets. Users often refer to them as 'soap bullets'. To use Simunitions , troops take apart their M-16s, and replace the barrel with a $800 Simunitions barrel and receiver that can handle the Simunitions rounds. When fired, Simunitions bullets make a loud 'click' sound, rather than a 'crack' of a regular bullet. Simunitions will sting if they hit you, and leave a dye mark. With seven different dye colors available, it's possible to find out who shot who, and how much friendly fire there was.
Actually, the Simunitions hurt a lot more than paintball ammo, and those participating in Simunitions exercises have to wear goggles and groin protectors. The protective vest will take the sting out of a Simunitions hit, but for arms, legs and other exposed parts, you will have a nice bruise to remind you that more care should be taken to find cover on the battlefield."
Israel: The Blameless Seek Vengeance
"The Palestinian economy has long been sustained by charitable aid, mainly from the West. The Arab world complaints a lot about the economic plight of the Palestinians, but doesn't step up when it comes time to support the Palestinians, either in the Palestinian territories, or by allowing Palestinians to become citizens of countries they are now living in. So Arab nations maintain Palestinians within their borders in refugee camps, which are heavily policed. Western nations are encouraged to pay for the refugee camps, and to maintain Palestinians in the Palestinian territories. Arabs blame the West for the plight of the Palestinians, holding the Arab world blameless. Meanwhile, Palestinian leaders in the Palestinian territories steal much of the foreign aid, or divert it to groups that try to carry out terrorist attacks on Israel. Palestinian media has, for decades, portrayed these terrorists as heroes."
22.9.10
Russian Lawmakers Consider Branding Hands Of Corrupt Officials
"Bribe-taking Russian officials could have their left hands branded under a proposed new blitz on corruption, RIA Novosti reported Tuesday.
Lawmakers from the Liberal Democratic Party want to see the letter K -- a symbol for a bribe-taker -- permanently etched on wrongdoers' skin.
Party deputies Sergei Ivanov and Igor Lebedev suggested the severe measure in a new law-and-order bill due to go before Russia's parliament, the State Duma.
They say the markings would heap shame on corrupt officials and alert Russian employers so they could refuse them jobs."
Lawmakers from the Liberal Democratic Party want to see the letter K -- a symbol for a bribe-taker -- permanently etched on wrongdoers' skin.
Party deputies Sergei Ivanov and Igor Lebedev suggested the severe measure in a new law-and-order bill due to go before Russia's parliament, the State Duma.
They say the markings would heap shame on corrupt officials and alert Russian employers so they could refuse them jobs."
Ahmad Shah MassoudÂ’s Tomb
Murphy's Law: Homeland Defense In Afghanistan
"One of the differences between Afghanistan and Iraq is that Afghans are more aggressive in defending their homes (which tend to be walled compounds, looking, and acting, like little forts.) Thus when American troops, especially Special Forces, go after a Taliban hideout, and raid an Afghan compound at night, non-Taliban neighbors will tend to grab their weapons and either open fire on the unknown raiders, or even come outside with their weapons ready. This is a fatal mistake against Special Forces troops, who reply to the appearance of unknown civilians carrying guns, by shooting them down. This is done with single shots, and the first shot rarely misses.
The Afghans are not accustomed to this degree of efficiency, and are more uptight about the sanctity of the home. After all, there is a social code in Afghanistan that obliges a home owner to show hospitality to anyone (well, just about anyone) who comes to their house, and to defend the house, and any guests within, with violence. So while these raids often get the Taliban personnel being sought, they will often kill as many innocent, but armed, civilians rushing out of nearby buildings to defend the neighborhood against bandits, feuding tribesmen or whatever. This aggressive defense usually works against other Afghans, but not against the more deadly Americans.
The U.S. has yet to come up with a solution to this problem. The raids have to go on, otherwise the Taliban get a free ride when it comes to nighttime hideouts. Daytime attacks tend to lose the element of surprise. Even with the deadly side effects, the night raids continue to be productive."
The Afghans are not accustomed to this degree of efficiency, and are more uptight about the sanctity of the home. After all, there is a social code in Afghanistan that obliges a home owner to show hospitality to anyone (well, just about anyone) who comes to their house, and to defend the house, and any guests within, with violence. So while these raids often get the Taliban personnel being sought, they will often kill as many innocent, but armed, civilians rushing out of nearby buildings to defend the neighborhood against bandits, feuding tribesmen or whatever. This aggressive defense usually works against other Afghans, but not against the more deadly Americans.
The U.S. has yet to come up with a solution to this problem. The raids have to go on, otherwise the Taliban get a free ride when it comes to nighttime hideouts. Daytime attacks tend to lose the element of surprise. Even with the deadly side effects, the night raids continue to be productive."
Information Warfare: Peace Talks As Propaganda
"The Palestinian media recently reported that the Palestinian ambassador to Lebanon described the goals of the current peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel as a stage in the process by which Israel would be portrayed as an illegitimate state by the West. The Palestinians compare this process to the one that isolated South Africa. The official Palestinian objective is not to make peace with Israel, but to destroy Israel and drive all Jews from the Middle East. This sort of thing is reported regularly in the Arab language press, much less so in the non-Arabic version of Arab media."
Weapons: May The Best Bullet Lose
"The U.S. Army and Marine Corps have parted company on the issue of what kind of rifle ammo is best for the troops. The army began to ship lead-free M855A1 5.56mm bullets to its troops over the Summer. The marines went with a slightly more expensive Mk308 (or SOST) round, that SOCOM (Special Operations Command) recently developed. SOST contains lead, but SOCOM considers it more effective in combat than any other 5.56mm round.
All this came about because of years of political pressure on the army to use non-lead bullets. That's because training and combat use of army 5.56mm weapons puts 2,000 tons of lead back into the environment each year. This lead was originally taken out of the environment to be temporarily stored in the form of bullets.
While this non-lead policy burnishes the army's image and environmental cred, it also provides troops with an inferior bullet; the M855A1 copper alloy slug."
All this came about because of years of political pressure on the army to use non-lead bullets. That's because training and combat use of army 5.56mm weapons puts 2,000 tons of lead back into the environment each year. This lead was originally taken out of the environment to be temporarily stored in the form of bullets.
While this non-lead policy burnishes the army's image and environmental cred, it also provides troops with an inferior bullet; the M855A1 copper alloy slug."
Leadership: Iraq And The Great Sergeant Shortage
"Meanwhile, the biggest leadership problem the Iraqi military is a lack of competent and reliable NCOs (noncommissioned officers, or sergeants). In the Saddam era force, the Soviet style of leadership was used. That is, sergeants had much less authority and responsibility than they do in Western forces. The Soviet style of military leadership stressed the use of officers for everything, including supervisory tasks performed by sergeants in the West. To take the place of Western sergeants 'keeping in touch with what the troops were thinking', each Soviet company sized (100-200 troops) unit had a political officer (Zampolit) who recruited informers among the troops, and reported directly to the secret police, not the company commander. Saddam also had a system of spies and informers in the ranks, and troops that said the wrong thing were either beaten up, or disappeared, never to be seen again."
Iran: We're Only In It For The Money
"Without any advance warning, the government has increased electricity prices to ten times their old (heavily subsidized) level. The government expects this to save them billions of dollars a year. That's if a popular revolution doesn't overthrow the government first. The government has said it would take away subsidies for gasoline and electricity, but did not say when. That's because the government knows these price increases would be very unpopular, and would cause, at the very least, a sharp cut in disposable income, and living standards."
Infantry: Night Moves
Infantry: Night Moves: "The new [Enhanced Night Vision Goggles] ENVG combines the older light enhancement technology goggles, with a thermal (heat sensing) night sight. This combined sight weighs about one kilogram (two pounds). The older ENVG (thermal only) weighed 864 gr (1.9 pounds), while the AN/PVS-13 light enhancing device weighed 568 gr (1.25 pounds), for a total of nearly a kilogram (2.15 pounds). The new sight is not only lighter, but more compact and easier to use. It provides a total of 15 hours use (7.5 hours for thermal imaging and the same for light enhancement). In most cases (where there is some star or moon light) the light enhancement sight will do. But where there is no other light (as in a building or cave) the thermal imager works. The thermal imager also works through fog and sand storms."
21.9.10
National Review: Give GIs The Ability To Vote : NPR
"Imagine if five states announced that they lacked the money and manpower to ship ballots to precincts in predominantly black rural counties before the fall federal election. The Justice Department would, appropriately, shift into fifth gear to assure that those Americans could vote on November 2. Enforcement lawsuits would fly like pigeons fleeing a breezy schoolyard.
Now, convert those rural blacks into American GIs serving abroad. Delaware, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington State are dragging their feet on the urgent task of delivering absentee ballots to overseas service members. The response at Justice’s Voting Rights Division in Washington, D.C., echoes a Louis Armstrong tune: “It’s sleepy time down South.”"
Now, convert those rural blacks into American GIs serving abroad. Delaware, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington State are dragging their feet on the urgent task of delivering absentee ballots to overseas service members. The response at Justice’s Voting Rights Division in Washington, D.C., echoes a Louis Armstrong tune: “It’s sleepy time down South.”"
20.9.10
U.N. struggles to prove its relevance
Relevance? Only twice in it's history has the UN attempted to fulfill it's function, 1950 in Korea and 1991 in Iraq, and both times it failed, fostering instead simmering cauldrons of potential violence, the latter of which, when it re-errupted, the UN was very quick to shove ther fingers in their ears shouting "LA LA LA.:
"U.N. peacekeeping, which grew rapidly during the Bush administration, has stalled. Not a single new U.N. peacekeeping mission has been authorized since Obama came into office, though the council has authorized additional troops to ensure order in Haiti after the January earthquake.
The United States and its European allies, meanwhile, have opposed calls by African governments to send the United Nations back into Somalia. And the council mounted a largely anemic effort to prevent mass atrocities of civilians in Sri Lanka. Russia, meanwhile, blocked any discussion of a peacekeeping force for Kyrgyzstan to halt violence against ethnic Uzbeks earlier this year. In Congo, the United Nations has admitted failing to provide adequate protections for victims of mass rape."
"U.N. peacekeeping, which grew rapidly during the Bush administration, has stalled. Not a single new U.N. peacekeeping mission has been authorized since Obama came into office, though the council has authorized additional troops to ensure order in Haiti after the January earthquake.
The United States and its European allies, meanwhile, have opposed calls by African governments to send the United Nations back into Somalia. And the council mounted a largely anemic effort to prevent mass atrocities of civilians in Sri Lanka. Russia, meanwhile, blocked any discussion of a peacekeeping force for Kyrgyzstan to halt violence against ethnic Uzbeks earlier this year. In Congo, the United Nations has admitted failing to provide adequate protections for victims of mass rape."
Russia to cut 100,000 bureaucrat jobs by 2013: minister - Latest news around the world and developments close to home - MSN Philippines News
"'We expect that in the three years more than 100,000 federal civil servant jobs will be cut,' Kudrin was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying.
'The overall savings from this by the third year will amount to 43 billion rubles (1.4 billion dollars),' he added."
'The overall savings from this by the third year will amount to 43 billion rubles (1.4 billion dollars),' he added."
Prince Charles Eavesdrops on Tourists, Speaks to Plants - ABC News
The Maddness of Prince Charles?: "If anyone visiting Prince Charles' home had opened the right door at just the right time, they may have been greeted with an unusual sight: the Prince of Wales laying face flat on the floor, eyes closed and ears perked in concentration.
He was, of course, trying to eavesdrop on some of the 30,000 annual tourists who pay 15 pounds each to tour his 900-acre royal estate in Gloucestershire."
He was, of course, trying to eavesdrop on some of the 30,000 annual tourists who pay 15 pounds each to tour his 900-acre royal estate in Gloucestershire."
Remorseful WWII Vet Returns French Flag
"Officials from Paris City Hall took possession of the 12-meter (13-yard) tricolor flag Saturday in a ceremony in southern France, a step in its unusual journey from New York state back home to Paris. The American veteran remains anonymous, too ashamed to come forward.
French officials have no intention of scolding him: They have only thanks and kind words for him, pointing out that he once risked his life for France.
'I'm infinitely grateful,' Catherine Vieu-Charier, deputy to the mayor of Paris, told The Associated Press. French historian Christine Levisse-Touze insisted his act couldn't be considered a theft."
French officials have no intention of scolding him: They have only thanks and kind words for him, pointing out that he once risked his life for France.
'I'm infinitely grateful,' Catherine Vieu-Charier, deputy to the mayor of Paris, told The Associated Press. French historian Christine Levisse-Touze insisted his act couldn't be considered a theft."
British Leave Volatile Afghan Region
"'British forces have served in Sangin over the last four years and should be very proud of the achievements they have made in one of the most challenging areas of Afghanistan,' British defense secretary Liam Fox said.
Under the new NATO deployment plan, which was announced in July, the U.S. will operate mainly in the north and south of Helmand, with British, Danish and Estonian troops working in the heavily populated central areas.
Lt. Gen. David Rodriguez, the No. 2 American general in Afghanistan and the operational chief for the allied forces, said in July the British move was part of his effort to consolidate and better organize forces in Helmand."
Under the new NATO deployment plan, which was announced in July, the U.S. will operate mainly in the north and south of Helmand, with British, Danish and Estonian troops working in the heavily populated central areas.
Lt. Gen. David Rodriguez, the No. 2 American general in Afghanistan and the operational chief for the allied forces, said in July the British move was part of his effort to consolidate and better organize forces in Helmand."
Marines: American Marine Commandos
"On September 9th, a German container ship, seized by pirates off the north coast of Somalia, was retaken by ships from the anti-piracy patrol. The eleven man crew had shut the engines down and got to a safe room as the pirates boarded. Warships showed up shortly and convinced the pirates to leave, or be killed. This was done by sending a platoon of American marines to board the ship and convince the nine pirates that resistance was futile.
The marine force was described as the Maritime Raid Force, a special group of marines trained for just this sort of thing (getting onto a ship controlled by pirates, and quickly overcoming the pirates and rescuing the crew). The concept of having a Maritime Raid Force with a MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit, a reinforced battalion) arose after the end of the Cold War (1991)."
The marine force was described as the Maritime Raid Force, a special group of marines trained for just this sort of thing (getting onto a ship controlled by pirates, and quickly overcoming the pirates and rescuing the crew). The concept of having a Maritime Raid Force with a MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit, a reinforced battalion) arose after the end of the Cold War (1991)."
19.9.10
Linda Murkowski: Screw you, AK Republican voters, this seat is mine … [Darleen Click]#comments
".... Where upon, Murkowski claims
What happened in my particular race, you had the Tea Party Express, this California-based group, come in at the last minute in a campaign, run a mudslinging, smear – just a terrible, terrible – campaign with lies and fabrications and mischaracterizations. They came in, dumped $600,000 into a small market here in Alaska, and they absolutely clearly influenced the outcome.
Wow, Linda*(sic) Lisa. Those Alaskan Republicans were just too dumb, too snowbilly hicktardish, to resist a bunch of Californians and their sweet, sweet money … pay no attention to the fact that Murkowski spent $2 million dollars during her primary campaign. Nope, it was those stooopid Alaskans who don’t know what’s good for ‘em."
What happened in my particular race, you had the Tea Party Express, this California-based group, come in at the last minute in a campaign, run a mudslinging, smear – just a terrible, terrible – campaign with lies and fabrications and mischaracterizations. They came in, dumped $600,000 into a small market here in Alaska, and they absolutely clearly influenced the outcome.
Wow, Linda*(sic) Lisa. Those Alaskan Republicans were just too dumb, too snowbilly hicktardish, to resist a bunch of Californians and their sweet, sweet money … pay no attention to the fact that Murkowski spent $2 million dollars during her primary campaign. Nope, it was those stooopid Alaskans who don’t know what’s good for ‘em."
O’Donnell’s Quote of the Day [Darleen Click]
"Let’s start concentrating on Bearded Marxist Chris Coons. He’s out shilling for bucks from the Koskiddies and he’s Harry Reid’s pet. Is the line between Liberty and Collectivism any clearer here?"
The Secret List Of 10 States With Soaring Poverty Rates The Government Doesn't Want You To See
"Before presenting the state by state results of my superior methodology, let me tell you one thing: there are not 44 million people living in poverty. The number of Americans living below poverty line is around 39 million. The Census Bureau overestimates the poverty rate by around 1.4 percentage points in 2008. When we take into account government benefits, poverty rate declines by 3 percentage points. When we properly adjust the poverty threshold level, poverty rate increases by 1.6 percentage points. Considering that non-cash income and benefits are usually underreported, using the correct methodology reveals that headline poverty should at least be 1.4 percentage points lower. Alternatively, more than 4 million people should not have been classified below the poverty line."
Naval Air: We're So Sorry
"On September 11th, a Russian maritime reconnaissance aircraft flew low over an American frigate, which was in the Barents Sea heading towards Alaska. The Russian aircraft had its bomb bay doors open, which is generally considered an insult (as in 'gotcha'). The Russian aircraft then did this again. The next day, a Russian warship showed up on the horizon, and sent its helicopter to circle the Taylor a few times. This is also considered an unfriendly act. What was ironic about this was that the American warship (the USS Taylor) was returning from a good will visit to the Russian port of Murmansk. At the same time, the Russian Defense Minister was in the United States visiting his American counterpart for the signing of agreements for defense cooperation. Moreover, Russia and the United States already had an agreement to not do this sort of thing, to avoid any deadly incidents (like American warships opening fire on 'unidentified aircraft' getting too close.) Senior defense personnel from both countries quickly discussed these incidents, and the Americans announced they were satisfied with the Russian explanations (which were not made public)."
Afghanistan: Once More The Taliban Fail To Halt National Elections
"The war against the drug gangs and the Taliban IED (improvised explosive device, usually a mine or roadside bomb) campaign continues. This is the crucial military campaign, and the foreign troops are winning. Drug production and smuggling are being disrupted. Worse, efforts to chase down drug gang money are succeeding. The gangs require lots of cash to keep going (to pay farmers for the opium that is scrapped from poppies, to suppliers of chemicals to refine the opium into heroin, to bribe government officials, soldiers and police to assist getting the chemicals into the country and the heroin out, to thousands of gunmen and the Taliban for security from government forces and bandits). The drug gangs are the major source of cash to sustain the IED campaign. But thousands of new MRAP vehicles and new intel and counter-IED forces have crippled the impact of roadside bombs. There is less drug money to pass around. Without the cash from the heroin gangs, the Taliban would be yet another minor radical religious sect. But money buys, or at least rents, loyalty and tribesmen eager for some cash and an opportunity to act out their warrior fantasies."
18.9.10
Federal News Radio 1500 AM: Friday Morning Federal Newscast - September 17th
"Come tax time in 2011, feds will want to mind their P's and Q's on their tax forms, especially if either of two bills being proposed by Republican Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn are passed. They would crack down on federal workers, including members of Congress and staff, who cheat on their taxes. Senate Bill 37-90 would make federal employees who have seriously delinquent tax debts ineligible for federal employment. The other bill requires members of Congress to disclose delinquent tax liability, require an ethics inquiry, and garnish the wages of a member with federal tax liability."
When Presidents Cry "Hostage!" - Political Hotsheet - CBS News
When Presidents Cry "Hostage!" - Political Hotsheet - CBS News: "In sixteen speeches, statements and interviews this year, including his State of the Union address, he has decried the hostage-taking of one issue or another:
MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUT EXTENSIONS: 'So let me be clear to Mr. Boehner and everybody else: We should not hold middle-class tax cuts hostage any longer.' -Speech on the Economy, Parma, Ohio, 9/3/10
AID TO SMALL BUSINESS: 'Simply put, holding this bill hostage is directly detrimental to our economic growth.' Statement on the Economy. -The Rose Garden. 8/30/10
VETERANS PROGRAMS: '...to sign advanced appropriations into law so that veterans health care will never again be held hostage to the budget battles of Washington.' -Address to Disabled Veterans of America, Atlanta, 8/2/10
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS: 'While a majority of Senators support taking these steps to help the American people, some are playing the same old Washington games and using their power to hold this relief hostage - a move that only ends up holding back our recovery. It doesn't make sense.' -Weekly Address, 7/3/10
IMMIGRATION REFORM: Unfortunately, reform has been held hostage to political posturing and special-interest wrangling..." -and to the pervasive sentiment in Washington that tackling such a thorny and emotional issue is inherently bad politics. -Speech at American University School of International Service, 7/1/10
HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM: "For too long, we've been held hostage to an industry that jacks up premiums and drops coverage whenever they please. Those days are coming to an end." Address to American Nurses Association, 6/16/10
NOMINATIONS: "The confirmation of well-qualified public servants shouldn't be held hostage to the pet projects or grudges of a few individual senators." State of the Union Address, 1/27/10.
ENERGY POLICY: "The next generation will not be held hostage to energy sources from the last century. We are not going to move backwards. We are going to move forward." Speech at Carnegie-Mellon University, 6/2/10"
MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUT EXTENSIONS: 'So let me be clear to Mr. Boehner and everybody else: We should not hold middle-class tax cuts hostage any longer.' -Speech on the Economy, Parma, Ohio, 9/3/10
AID TO SMALL BUSINESS: 'Simply put, holding this bill hostage is directly detrimental to our economic growth.' Statement on the Economy. -The Rose Garden. 8/30/10
VETERANS PROGRAMS: '...to sign advanced appropriations into law so that veterans health care will never again be held hostage to the budget battles of Washington.' -Address to Disabled Veterans of America, Atlanta, 8/2/10
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS: 'While a majority of Senators support taking these steps to help the American people, some are playing the same old Washington games and using their power to hold this relief hostage - a move that only ends up holding back our recovery. It doesn't make sense.' -Weekly Address, 7/3/10
IMMIGRATION REFORM: Unfortunately, reform has been held hostage to political posturing and special-interest wrangling..." -and to the pervasive sentiment in Washington that tackling such a thorny and emotional issue is inherently bad politics. -Speech at American University School of International Service, 7/1/10
HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM: "For too long, we've been held hostage to an industry that jacks up premiums and drops coverage whenever they please. Those days are coming to an end." Address to American Nurses Association, 6/16/10
NOMINATIONS: "The confirmation of well-qualified public servants shouldn't be held hostage to the pet projects or grudges of a few individual senators." State of the Union Address, 1/27/10.
ENERGY POLICY: "The next generation will not be held hostage to energy sources from the last century. We are not going to move backwards. We are going to move forward." Speech at Carnegie-Mellon University, 6/2/10"
News Radio 1200 WOAI San Antonio Texas
"'The state explained that the IPCC, and therefore the EPA, relied on flawed science to conclude that greenhouse emissions endanger public health and welfare,' Abbott said. 'Because the Administration predicated its Endangerment Finding on the IPCC's questionable facts, the state is seeking to prevent the EPA's new rules, and the economic harm that will result from these regulations, from being imposed on Texas employers, workers, and enforcement agencies.'
The IPCC has become the target of criticism from other climate scientists, with numerous revelations of sloppy research, junk science, and allegations of cronyism, lack of transparency, and attempts to suppress contradictory opinions in the research which contributed to the IPCC's 2007 findings."
The IPCC has become the target of criticism from other climate scientists, with numerous revelations of sloppy research, junk science, and allegations of cronyism, lack of transparency, and attempts to suppress contradictory opinions in the research which contributed to the IPCC's 2007 findings."
Leadership: Russia's Worst Nightmare
"Poland continues to increase its defense budget, with next year's spending going up 7.1 percent, to $8.9 billion. This will mark a decade of setting the defense budget at 1.95 percent of GDP. In that time, Poland has been spending heavily to bring its forces up to NATO standards, helped along by a robust economy. This was accomplished by spending more on procuring Western weapons and equipment (new and used) and cutting personnel strength and the use of conscription.
A decade ago, the military had 185,000 troops and depended a lot on conscripts who were in for only a year. Now troop strength is down to 100,000 and, as of last year, conscription is gone. Civilian defense employees were also cut. The personnel cuts, and over 70 base closings, saved over a billion dollars a year."
A decade ago, the military had 185,000 troops and depended a lot on conscripts who were in for only a year. Now troop strength is down to 100,000 and, as of last year, conscription is gone. Civilian defense employees were also cut. The personnel cuts, and over 70 base closings, saved over a billion dollars a year."
17.9.10
protein wisdom
"And you thought government and bureaucracies were poor economic stewards because they were inefficient, overly-regulatory, and moved at a glacial pace.
Racists.
Oh, wait –"
Racists.
Oh, wait –"
Dial-ups unite! Broadband is a civil right! [Darleen Click]#comments
"The Left isn’t interested in creating wealth, but in redistributing it. And if they can get there by declaring the property of others as “rights” it’s all for the good since the morally superior Left will just have to step in and make the decisions when those reactionary people don’t voluntarily “share”.
Make no mistake, this is no longer a debate about the different means to the same ends — The Left has a fundamentally different end then do Conservatives and Libertarians."
Make no mistake, this is no longer a debate about the different means to the same ends — The Left has a fundamentally different end then do Conservatives and Libertarians."
Paramilitary: The Cossacks Return
"Cossacks are once again involved in Russian conflicts during the last decade. In an effort to bolster national pride and recover some of the distinct Russian heritage that was suppressed during 70 years of Soviet rule, Russia has officially brought back the formation of exclusively Cossack military units, and in a big way. This has accompanied a general explosion of Cossack culture in recent years. Cossack military schools have been established in the country, where student ages 10 to 17 attend classes in army fatigues and learn military tactics alongside regular academic subjects. The Russian Minister for Cossack Affairs, Gen. Gennady Troshev, is a Cossack himself and has been instrumental in the remilitarization of the Cossack society. An entire Kuban Cossack Army, headquartered in Krasnodar, has been established and is incorporated as a unique, but fully integrated, part of the Russian Army."
Infantry: USAF Fixes Its Color Conflict
"U.S. Air force personnel in Afghanistan have been buying (or scrounging from kindly army supply sergeants) the new MultiCam pattern uniforms. That's because the air force uses a different camouflage pattern for their field uniforms, and when air force air controllers (who call in air strikes) move through the hills with army troops, it's obvious from a distance who the air force personnel are. Actually, it makes all the troops more visible, because the MultiCam is pretty good at hiding those wearing it, but the difference between the air force camo and the MultiCam is so striking that the entire group of troops becomes more visible. The air force brass eventually got the message, and have started buying MultiCam uniforms for air force troops operating in combat along with army troops."
Weapons: Finally Fixing The M4 Carbine
"The U.S. Army has begun delivering upgrade kits for its M4 carbines. The kits replace the barrel, receiver and auto-loading system with one that is easier to keep clean. There is also a heavier barrel and the ability to fire full automatic. There are also stronger rails on top of the barrel, for mounting scopes and such. The army is distributing at least 10,000 of these kits this year. The marines are not upgrading their M4s (which are mainly used by support troops.) Most elements (except for the piston loading system) were already incorporated by SOCOM (Special Operations Command) for their own M4s, which were then redesignated M4A1."
Murphy's Law: Explosive Archeology
"The bomb disposal teams on Guam are still called out 4-5 times a week, 65 years after World War II ended. It's worse in Europe, where hundreds of World War II explosives are unearthed each year in Germany alone. Usually there are no casualties, as bomb disposal technicians are well trained and get lots of practice. But the fuzes that did not go off in the 1940s, are now getting old and more prone to detonation while being disabled. Detonating bombs in place is often expensive, because it means evacuating lots of people, and exposing homes and businesses to bomb damage."
Balkans: Negotiating With God
"The big news in the Balkans is Turkey's constitutional referendum, held September 12. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) promoted the changes and 58 percent of the electorate agreed. The AKP calls itself a moderate Islamist party. Some of the changes made sense. The constitution was imposed after a 1980 coup by the military. The European Union ruled that many of these elements did not meet EU membership standards. However, the central issue was changing the constitutional court system. The secularist republican Peoples Party (CHP) opposed these changes. The CHP argued that the judicial reforms (which were approved) are an anti-democratic trap door. They give the AKP the ability to limit systemic checks and balances on executive power. The AKP can pack the courts. The judiciary has protected the Turkish military. The AKP distrusts the military because it fears a coup, and with good reason. The military sees itself as the protector of the secular state and a bulwark against Muslim fundamentalist usurpation. As for Turkey's Balkan neighbors, the common theme seems to be that it is always possible to negotiate with secularists. That may not be the case with religious fundamentalists."
Spec-Ops Increase Anti-Taliban Campaign
"The targeted leaders 'are the shadow governors of provinces and districts inside Afghanistan, and likewise their military Taliban counterparts,' said the officials, who spoke on condition they not be named. 'This is largely a campaign run by special operations forces, and it has reached a tempo now, with the peak of the new assets arriving in Afghanistan, that we have never seen before in Afghanistan."
16.9.10
Troops Continue Advance on Taliban Stronghold
"American commanders are hoping to clear the region of guerrillas and destroy their main fighting positions in the weeks and months ahead before President Obama makes a critical assessment in December of the effectiveness of the 30,000-man surge. Success or failure here could determine the course of the war.
Many villages in the Green Zone -- not to be confused with the far better known protected area in Baghdad, Iraq, that takes the same name -- have been 'largely abandoned and are only being held by Taliban fighters,' said Auge, a 30-year-old company commander from Ocean Springs, Miss.
In others, Taliban militants operate so freely that aerial drones have spotted them at checkpoints searching and interrogating passers-by to find out 'who is supporting the Americans,' Auge said."
Many villages in the Green Zone -- not to be confused with the far better known protected area in Baghdad, Iraq, that takes the same name -- have been 'largely abandoned and are only being held by Taliban fighters,' said Auge, a 30-year-old company commander from Ocean Springs, Miss.
In others, Taliban militants operate so freely that aerial drones have spotted them at checkpoints searching and interrogating passers-by to find out 'who is supporting the Americans,' Auge said."
US-led Troops Advance in Taliban Stronghold
"U.S. and Afghan forces began advancing slowly Wednesday through the insurgent-filled district in southern Afghanistan that gave birth to the Taliban movement, treading ground where guerrilla fighters have operated freely for years, the British general in charge of NATO troops here said.
Maj. Gen. Nick Carter said the latest push in Zhari district is part of a crucial strategy aimed at reducing violence in the provincial capital Kandahar by stemming the flow of fighters and weapons there and connecting civilians estranged from their government.
But he downplayed the extent of the latest troop movements headed by the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division, which mans outposts with Afghan troops throughout the district. He said they were part of military operations that have been going on in Zhari for at least four months. U.S. and Afghan forces on Wednesday, he said, had only gone 'slightly further than we've gone before.'"
Maj. Gen. Nick Carter said the latest push in Zhari district is part of a crucial strategy aimed at reducing violence in the provincial capital Kandahar by stemming the flow of fighters and weapons there and connecting civilians estranged from their government.
But he downplayed the extent of the latest troop movements headed by the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division, which mans outposts with Afghan troops throughout the district. He said they were part of military operations that have been going on in Zhari for at least four months. U.S. and Afghan forces on Wednesday, he said, had only gone 'slightly further than we've gone before.'"
Europe Basing Missteps May Cost Billions
"The Defense Department had planned to return the Germany-based 172nd and 170th brigade combat teams to the United States and close the Bamberg and Schweinfurt posts. But in February, the DOD's Quadrennial Defense Review backed retention of the brigades pending a review of NATO's Strategic Concept in November and an accompanying assessment of its European defense posture network.
According to the GAO report, the delay in the decision to retain the two brigades will require an additional $176 million in 2013. And officials estimate that the costs of keeping the brigades in Europe could rise to $2 billion over the next decade.
Starting in fiscal 2014, it will cost the DOD an additional $360 million a year to retain the brigades in Europe compared with having them at U.S. bases."
According to the GAO report, the delay in the decision to retain the two brigades will require an additional $176 million in 2013. And officials estimate that the costs of keeping the brigades in Europe could rise to $2 billion over the next decade.
Starting in fiscal 2014, it will cost the DOD an additional $360 million a year to retain the brigades in Europe compared with having them at U.S. bases."
Soldier Earns Cross for Valor
"The award was for his actions June 29, 2008, in Khost Province, Afghanistan, while serving as a squad leader with the Vicenza, Italy-based A Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment.
That night, [SFC Jack] White and 18 other Soldiers on a tiny observation post near the Pakistan border turned back an enemy force of 105 Taliban fighters who attacked from a ridge with small-arms fire, RPK machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.
“He brought them all back unscathed,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Rick Weik, who was the battalion’s command sergeant major and now fills that role at the 198th Infantry Brigade. “Very easily this could’ve turned bad. If it wasn’t for his leadership, it would’ve.”"
That night, [SFC Jack] White and 18 other Soldiers on a tiny observation post near the Pakistan border turned back an enemy force of 105 Taliban fighters who attacked from a ridge with small-arms fire, RPK machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.
“He brought them all back unscathed,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Rick Weik, who was the battalion’s command sergeant major and now fills that role at the 198th Infantry Brigade. “Very easily this could’ve turned bad. If it wasn’t for his leadership, it would’ve.”"
Submarines: Egypt Puts American Sonar On Their Chinese Ships To Seek Israeli Subs From Germany
"Although a defense system, sometimes towed arrays can have offensive use. In June, 2009, an American destroyer, while training off Subic Bay in the Philippines, had its towed sonar array collide with a Chinese submarine. The U.S. Navy did not reveal if the American ship had detected the sub before the collision. If the array was not activated, its sound (sonar) detectors would not have detected the sub. The Chinese admitted the sub was one of theirs, and the boat was apparently following the American ship unaware that a sonar array (which usually operates over a hundred meters beneath the surface, and up to two kilometers behind the ship towing it) was there."
Leadership: Russian Retooling Revives The Red Army
"Right now, Russia seems determined to make the next 20 years a positive time for its armed forces, and they mean business. One thing the Russians are doing now is investing more in major war games and exercises. This year, between June 28 and July 8, the Russians conducted a massive series of multi-branch training exercises known as Vostok-2010. The games involved over 20,000 ground troops, 70 combat aircraft, and a massive naval armada of 30 warships. The naval components of the exercise involved cooperative efforts between three of the Russian Federation's fleets, the Black Sea Fleet, Pacific Fleet, and the Northern Fleet. The ground warfare portion of the exercise included simulated parachute assault and amphibious landings involving the Russian Naval Infantry."
Jeremy Renner on Hawkeye's Avengers Costume | Superhero Hype
"They asked him if he'll be wearing the classic purple costume. 'I think it's going to be a little more reality-based,' said Renner. 'You can kind of tell with Scarlett [Johansson]'s character [in 'Iron Man 2'], it's going to be more of a uniform ... and not a big purple, comics sort of thing... That's why I think it's more palatable to audiences — there's almost a sense of reality to these superheroes. That's what makes it interesting to me, anyway.'
He was also asked about Hawkeye's possible relationship with Black Widow. 'We will [have a relationship], I think, in this one as well,' he said. 'We're kind of a team, and what that relationship is, is still to be discovered.'"
He was also asked about Hawkeye's possible relationship with Black Widow. 'We will [have a relationship], I think, in this one as well,' he said. 'We're kind of a team, and what that relationship is, is still to be discovered.'"
15.9.10
The “contingency” of free speech?
"Listen carefully to what is being argued here: free speech is being made contingent on how it will be reacted to — not in a fairly specialized case (where shouting a falsehood about a safety concern can cause public panic) but in the more general sense that speech that causes offense is to be equated with speech that causes public harm.
For [Justice Stephen] Breyer, speech that is likely to cause backward barbarians to act backward and barbaric is as problematic as the backward barbarism that it supposedly prompted. Which, it seems to me, is a recipe for promoting as “free speech” only that speech that is sanctioned ultimately by the courts.
The idea of a First Amendment was to promote tolerance in a way that is directly opposed to the “tolerance” promoted by the left. That is, the First Amendment is there to protect unpopular, dissident, and controversial speech — to promote a tolerance of that which is outside the realm of current cultural fashion."
For [Justice Stephen] Breyer, speech that is likely to cause backward barbarians to act backward and barbaric is as problematic as the backward barbarism that it supposedly prompted. Which, it seems to me, is a recipe for promoting as “free speech” only that speech that is sanctioned ultimately by the courts.
The idea of a First Amendment was to promote tolerance in a way that is directly opposed to the “tolerance” promoted by the left. That is, the First Amendment is there to protect unpopular, dissident, and controversial speech — to promote a tolerance of that which is outside the realm of current cultural fashion."
Armor: The Armored Jaguar XJ
"Jaguar, the luxury car manufacturer, has a developed an armored version of its XJ series sedan (the XJ Sentinel). The unarmored XJ weighs 1.8 tons, while the armored version weighs 3.3 tons (plus up to half a ton of passengers and whatnot). The four door Jaguar XJ Sentinel is bullet proof, can handle a bomb with up to 15 kg (33 pounds) as well as grenades thrown underneath the vehicle. The armored version has a more powerful engine, brakes and suspension to handle the additional weight. The XJ Sentinel can accelerate to 100 kilometers an hour in 9.7 seconds and has a top speed of 194 kilometers an hour. The unarmored XJ model Jaguar goes for about $67,000. Jaguar has not announced a price for the Sentinel, but armoring typically doubles (or triples) the cost of a car in this price range. It depends on how elaborate the security features are. The Sentinel has run flat tires and some additional electronic options. Jaguar is now owned by Tata Motors, the largest automobile manufacturer in India."
Korea: Some Things Never Change
"In the meantime, the police are preventing farmers from getting their rice to markets. For something like a major government conference, security is tightened and traffic is scrutinized and harassed. Thus at a time when rice prices should be falling, they are rising. North Koreans are blaming Kim Jong Il, and police are not bothering to arrest anyone. A decade ago, saying anything rude about Kim Jong Il would mean arrest and a trip (often one-way) to a prison camp. Now, even the police have been heard muttering dissatisfaction with the government. Moreover, all of Korea is unhappy with this seeking of approval from China for a new national leader. For over a thousand years, the Chinese emperors insisted, often with an invasion, that they had to approve major political changes in Korea. And throughout this period, Korea was split into two or more kingdoms. Some things never change, and Koreans don't like it."
“Sebelius’ chilling warning to insurers”
"Conservatives have been warning for ages that economic rights are human rights. A government that will take away an individual’s property rights sooner or later will also take his freedom of speech. As British poet and essayist Hilaire Belloc noted, “the control of the production of wealth is the control of human life itself.” President Obama’s Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, proved the point by threatening health insurers who dare to blame Obamacare for “unreasonable” rate increases. She will blacklist violators from participating in future government-run health insurance exchanges, thus putting many of them out of business. Since Medicare’s chief actuary predicts that “essentially all” Americans will be insured through these exchanges, Sebilius is telling private firms: “Shut up or we will destroy you!”"
Reprise
"Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin’.
Please get out of the new one
If you can’t lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin’."
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin’.
Please get out of the new one
If you can’t lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin’."
Fake Computer Chips Threaten Military
"** Because the microprocessors it needed for its F-15 warplanes' flight-control computer were no longer made by the chips' original manufacturer, the military obtained them from a broker, only to discover they were counterfeit, according to the GAO's study in March. Air Force technicians spotted the bad chips before they were installed on the planes' computers.
** That same month, Tobyhanna Army Depot in Pennsylvania discovered it had malfunctioning chips intended for use in military communications systems. 'The counterfeit chips failed during testing' and weren't put on any equipment, said depot spokesman Anthony Ricchiazzi.
** In November of last year, a Florida business that makes a device to keep injured pilots from becoming entangled in their parachutes reported finding a counterfeit chip in one of the devices and other fakes in its supply chain. None of the devices were known to have failed, however."
** That same month, Tobyhanna Army Depot in Pennsylvania discovered it had malfunctioning chips intended for use in military communications systems. 'The counterfeit chips failed during testing' and weren't put on any equipment, said depot spokesman Anthony Ricchiazzi.
** In November of last year, a Florida business that makes a device to keep injured pilots from becoming entangled in their parachutes reported finding a counterfeit chip in one of the devices and other fakes in its supply chain. None of the devices were known to have failed, however."
14.9.10
Jihadist Makes Cyber Attack | Defense Tech
"Last week’s rapidly spreading computer virus has been traced back to a cyber-jihad group called Tariq ibn Ziyad. Information security company SecureWorks was able to link this cyber jihad group to the ‘Here you have’ malicious worm. The worm was able to crash systems, computer networks and bring down email servers. IDG reported the worm was able to disrupt large U.S. organizations including Disney, Proctor and Gamble, AIG, Wells Fargo, Comcast and NASA.
Analysis indicated a back-door established by the worm that could be used by the cyber terrorists to remotely log into any infected system. The worm also has functionality that attempts to disable anti-virus and security software that is installed and operational on the infected computer. In addition, the worm tries to establish a connection to a computer that uses the Tariq ibn Ziyad name."
Analysis indicated a back-door established by the worm that could be used by the cyber terrorists to remotely log into any infected system. The worm also has functionality that attempts to disable anti-virus and security software that is installed and operational on the infected computer. In addition, the worm tries to establish a connection to a computer that uses the Tariq ibn Ziyad name."
Iraq: Ali Baba Forever
"Many Iraqis believe the Shia and Sunni terror groups are cooperating. This is unlikely, because the main target of Sunni terrorists are Shia civilians and holy places. The Shia terrorists mainly target the government, as their goal is to turn Iraq into a Shia religious dictatorship, like Iran. But Shia and Sunni criminal gangs have always cooperated. After all, it's business. The gangs survived even under Saddam's brutal rule, cooperating with Saddam's secret police in order to carry on. The gang culture in Iraq is ancient, and local slang calls gangsters 'Ali Baba's' (a reference to the medieval folktale about the Baghdad criminal underground). Democracy is new in Iraq, but the gangsters have been around for thousands of years, and have a knack for survival."
China: The Bully is Back
"The U.S. believes that China is building up a force of cruise-missile equipped aircraft, missile equipped submarines and ballistic missiles that can hit moving ships, to interrupt American efforts to reinforce allies in East Asia (Taiwan, Philippines, South Korea, Japan.) China's neighbors are increasingly nervous because Chinese Navy ships are showing up in distant waters more often, and China is becoming louder and more insistent about settling, in China's favor, old territorial disputes. What the neighbors remember is how, for thousands of years, China was the regional superpower, treating all other nations as inferiors. For the last two centuries, the intrusion of more powerful Western nations, the Westernization of Japan and economic and political decline inside China, removed China as the neighborhood bully."