Rusted Sky

Haven't posted much on the so-called immigration reform proposed by Bush. But there's a few thoughts I've got...

There's an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants. They've already demonstrated a willingness to totally disregard our laws regarding immigration and naturalization. (They're here, after all.)

There's always a tendency to accept a status-quo, especially when it doesn't seem to be explicitly harmful. It'd be hard to argue that the presence of 12 million illegals hasn't established a defacto status quo. The question arises, is it a harmful situation?

What can be done about this? To recognize the status quo, and issue a blanket amnesty? (Which this bill isn't EXACTLY) Tighten up the borders and start immigration sweeps? Make it exceedingly difficult to hire illegals, and expensive when caught? It's already been done - but not enough.

The thinking seems to be that folks who are here illegally will voluntarily return home, pay a fine, and then come back. That we can establish an ID that can't be spoofed, hacked, or counterfited, to serve to keep track of these folks. (Ask Microsoft how well that works. If they can't devise something that's workable as far as anti-piracy techniques for their software goes, I don't think the government can come up with something a sufficiently determined counterfiter can't duplicate.)

I'm thinking - why should they pay attention and go through the hoops that are proposed? There's already no real penalty for getting picked up - you get deported, but you got here illegally once. What's a second time?

This bill - it's toothless. It's a wish list of things that might, maybe, could possibly happen if you hold your fingers crossed just right and click your heels together and manage to get all the funding needed. It's not a serious thing, in my estimation.

It's just a whitewashed acceptance of the status quo.

That said, there's no easy solution. There are solutions, but no easy ones, and none that wouldn't drastically impact the entire economy. Is the problem worth solving at any price?

As it is, I'm disappointed with Bush. This just doesn't cut it.

J.

Haven't posted much on the so-called immigration reform proposed by Bush. But there's a few thoughts I've got...

There's an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants. They've already demonstrated a willingness to totally disregard our laws regarding immigration and naturalization. (They're here, after all.)

There's always a tendency to accept a status-quo, especially when it doesn't seem to be explicitly harmful. It'd be hard to argue that the presence of 12 million illegals hasn't established a defacto status quo. The question arises, is it a harmful situation?

What can be done about this? To recognize the status quo, and issue a blanket amnesty? (Which this bill isn't EXACTLY) Tighten up the borders and start immigration sweeps? Make it exceedingly difficult to hire illegals, and expensive when caught? It's already been done - but not enough.

The thinking seems to be that folks who are here illegally will voluntarily return home, pay a fine, and then come back. That we can establish an ID that can't be spoofed, hacked, or counterfited, to serve to keep track of these folks. (Ask Microsoft how well that works. If they can't devise something that's workable as far as anti-piracy techniques for their software goes, I don't think the government can come up with something a sufficiently determined counterfiter can't duplicate.)

I'm thinking - why should they pay attention and go through the hoops that are proposed? There's already no real penalty for getting picked up - you get deported, but you got here illegally once. What's a second time?

This bill - it's toothless. It's a wish list of things that might, maybe, could possibly happen if you hold your fingers crossed just right and click your heels together and manage to get all the funding needed. It's not a serious thing, in my estimation.

It's just a whitewashed acceptance of the status quo.

That said, there's no easy solution. There are solutions, but no easy ones, and none that wouldn't drastically impact the entire economy. Is the problem worth solving at any price?

As it is, I'm disappointed with Bush. This just doesn't cut it.

J.

Haven't posted much on the so-called immigration reform proposed by Bush. But there's a few thoughts I've got...

There's an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants. They've already demonstrated a willingness to totally disregard our laws regarding immigration and naturalization. (They're here, after all.)

There's always a tendency to accept a status-quo, especially when it doesn't seem to be explicitly harmful. It'd be hard to argue that the presence of 12 million illegals hasn't established a defacto status quo. The question arises, is it a harmful situation?

What can be done about this? To recognize the status quo, and issue a blanket amnesty? (Which this bill isn't EXACTLY) Tighten up the borders and start immigration sweeps? Make it exceedingly difficult to hire illegals, and expensive when caught? It's already been done - but not enough.

The thinking seems to be that folks who are here illegally will voluntarily return home, pay a fine, and then come back. That we can establish an ID that can't be spoofed, hacked, or counterfited, to serve to keep track of these folks. (Ask Microsoft how well that works. If they can't devise something that's workable as far as anti-piracy techniques for their software goes, I don't think the government can come up with something a sufficiently determined counterfiter can't duplicate.)

I'm thinking - why should they pay attention and go through the hoops that are proposed? There's already no real penalty for getting picked up - you get deported, but you got here illegally once. What's a second time?

This bill - it's toothless. It's a wish list of things that might, maybe, could possibly happen if you hold your fingers crossed just right and click your heels together and manage to get all the funding needed. It's not a serious thing, in my estimation.

It's just a whitewashed acceptance of the status quo.

That said, there's no easy solution. There are solutions, but no easy ones, and none that wouldn't drastically impact the entire economy. Is the problem worth solving at any price?

As it is, I'm disappointed with Bush. This just doesn't cut it.

J.

No show of hands for quiet children

Teachers should not ask pupils to put their hands up if they can answer a question in class to stop quiet children falling behind, according to government advice.

Research identified a group of youngsters who struggle to keep up with their classmates between the ages of seven and 11, despite doing well in previous years.

You ever wonder what a policy of not rewarding the best and brightest might lead to?

Don't show you know an answer - don't show initiative. Don't show you're anything other than a normal drone, able to get out of bed and stagger through a day without being exceptional in any way. Don't try to excel, you'll just piss people off. Don't take pride in accomplishments - because it'll upset people who have none.

England's sun is setting fast.

J.

No show of hands for quiet children

Teachers should not ask pupils to put their hands up if they can answer a question in class to stop quiet children falling behind, according to government advice.

Research identified a group of youngsters who struggle to keep up with their classmates between the ages of seven and 11, despite doing well in previous years.

You ever wonder what a policy of not rewarding the best and brightest might lead to?

Don't show you know an answer - don't show initiative. Don't show you're anything other than a normal drone, able to get out of bed and stagger through a day without being exceptional in any way. Don't try to excel, you'll just piss people off. Don't take pride in accomplishments - because it'll upset people who have none.

England's sun is setting fast.

J.

No show of hands for quiet children

Teachers should not ask pupils to put their hands up if they can answer a question in class to stop quiet children falling behind, according to government advice.

Research identified a group of youngsters who struggle to keep up with their classmates between the ages of seven and 11, despite doing well in previous years.

You ever wonder what a policy of not rewarding the best and brightest might lead to?

Don't show you know an answer - don't show initiative. Don't show you're anything other than a normal drone, able to get out of bed and stagger through a day without being exceptional in any way. Don't try to excel, you'll just piss people off. Don't take pride in accomplishments - because it'll upset people who have none.

England's sun is setting fast.

J.

Freight Rail Works

I'm a believer in this - it's the most economical way to move large quantities of freight long distances... but it's not necessarily fast as in UPS or FedEx fast. Speed's important, of course, but some freight isn't terribly time-sensitive.

Passenger rail, ala Amtrak, is much the same, except there's little to no efficiency regarding the price. It gets you there, if it's on the rail network, but you won't get there fast. And people are a lot more demanding of comfort and timely delivery than a freight-car of tennis shoes...

J.

Freight Rail Works

I'm a believer in this - it's the most economical way to move large quantities of freight long distances... but it's not necessarily fast as in UPS or FedEx fast. Speed's important, of course, but some freight isn't terribly time-sensitive.

Passenger rail, ala Amtrak, is much the same, except there's little to no efficiency regarding the price. It gets you there, if it's on the rail network, but you won't get there fast. And people are a lot more demanding of comfort and timely delivery than a freight-car of tennis shoes...

J.

Freight Rail Works

I'm a believer in this - it's the most economical way to move large quantities of freight long distances... but it's not necessarily fast as in UPS or FedEx fast. Speed's important, of course, but some freight isn't terribly time-sensitive.

Passenger rail, ala Amtrak, is much the same, except there's little to no efficiency regarding the price. It gets you there, if it's on the rail network, but you won't get there fast. And people are a lot more demanding of comfort and timely delivery than a freight-car of tennis shoes...

J.

Bend over and spread 'em?

Radical Nonviolence and the Power of Powerlessness | Second Vermont Republic

Oh, don't get me wrong - I'm sure he believes them wholeheartedly. However, there's a minor problem that he doesn't quite seem to address.

In order for his perfect, nonviolent, powerless society to exist, the entire world would have to believe as he apparently does. You get one nilhilst with a machine gun - and 'bang' goes the dream. Ghandi won in India because the Brits had bred into them the idea of fair play and fair government. If they hadn't - he'd have been dead in short order, and with him the idea that nonviolent protest can change anything.

I mean, really... "Nonviolent rebellion involves denunciation, disengagement, demystification, and defiance." makes a nice bumper sticker - but what if the folks you're defying aren't at all adverse to shooting you in the head and asking the next 'leader' politely if they'll be more cooperative? At what point DOES violence to stop violence become justifed? After a hundred deaths? A thousand? A million?

And this - if this isn't semantic trash, I don't think I've ever seen it. "Rebellion provides us with the faith to create meaning out of meaninglessness, the energy to connect with those from whom we are separated, the power to surmount powerlessness, and the courage to confront death." Well, fine then. Somehow I don't think if push came to shove, this would actually be something that would be believed.

Don't get me wrong - I do think that nonviolent protest has it's place. And it works, against an opponent that's not willing to kill protestors out of hand. It did NOT work at all well in Tiennamin Square.

Apparently this gentleman's a leader in the movement for Vermont succession. (Sigh) Well, good luck to him. Somehow, I don't see this getting much traction.

J.

Bend over and spread 'em?

Radical Nonviolence and the Power of Powerlessness | Second Vermont Republic

Oh, don't get me wrong - I'm sure he believes them wholeheartedly. However, there's a minor problem that he doesn't quite seem to address.

In order for his perfect, nonviolent, powerless society to exist, the entire world would have to believe as he apparently does. You get one nilhilst with a machine gun - and 'bang' goes the dream. Ghandi won in India because the Brits had bred into them the idea of fair play and fair government. If they hadn't - he'd have been dead in short order, and with him the idea that nonviolent protest can change anything.

I mean, really... "Nonviolent rebellion involves denunciation, disengagement, demystification, and defiance." makes a nice bumper sticker - but what if the folks you're defying aren't at all adverse to shooting you in the head and asking the next 'leader' politely if they'll be more cooperative? At what point DOES violence to stop violence become justifed? After a hundred deaths? A thousand? A million?

And this - if this isn't semantic trash, I don't think I've ever seen it. "Rebellion provides us with the faith to create meaning out of meaninglessness, the energy to connect with those from whom we are separated, the power to surmount powerlessness, and the courage to confront death." Well, fine then. Somehow I don't think if push came to shove, this would actually be something that would be believed.

Don't get me wrong - I do think that nonviolent protest has it's place. And it works, against an opponent that's not willing to kill protestors out of hand. It did NOT work at all well in Tiennamin Square.

Apparently this gentleman's a leader in the movement for Vermont succession. (Sigh) Well, good luck to him. Somehow, I don't see this getting much traction.

J.

Bend over and spread 'em?

Radical Nonviolence and the Power of Powerlessness | Second Vermont Republic

Oh, don't get me wrong - I'm sure he believes them wholeheartedly. However, there's a minor problem that he doesn't quite seem to address.

In order for his perfect, nonviolent, powerless society to exist, the entire world would have to believe as he apparently does. You get one nilhilst with a machine gun - and 'bang' goes the dream. Ghandi won in India because the Brits had bred into them the idea of fair play and fair government. If they hadn't - he'd have been dead in short order, and with him the idea that nonviolent protest can change anything.

I mean, really... "Nonviolent rebellion involves denunciation, disengagement, demystification, and defiance." makes a nice bumper sticker - but what if the folks you're defying aren't at all adverse to shooting you in the head and asking the next 'leader' politely if they'll be more cooperative? At what point DOES violence to stop violence become justifed? After a hundred deaths? A thousand? A million?

And this - if this isn't semantic trash, I don't think I've ever seen it. "Rebellion provides us with the faith to create meaning out of meaninglessness, the energy to connect with those from whom we are separated, the power to surmount powerlessness, and the courage to confront death." Well, fine then. Somehow I don't think if push came to shove, this would actually be something that would be believed.

Don't get me wrong - I do think that nonviolent protest has it's place. And it works, against an opponent that's not willing to kill protestors out of hand. It did NOT work at all well in Tiennamin Square.

Apparently this gentleman's a leader in the movement for Vermont succession. (Sigh) Well, good luck to him. Somehow, I don't see this getting much traction.

J.

Breakthrough brings 'Star Trek' teleport a step closer - Independent Online Edition > Sci_Tech

Scientists have set a new record in sending information through thin air using the revolutionary technology of quantum teleportation - although Mr Spock may have to wait a little longer for a Scotty to beam him up with it.
A team of physicists has teleported data over a distance of 89 miles from the Canary Island of La Palma to the neighbouring island of Tenerife, which is 10 times further than the previous attempt at teleportation through free space.

The scientists did it by exploiting the "spooky" and virtually unfathomable field of quantum entanglement - when the state of matter rather than matter itself is sent from one place to another.

Tiny packets or particles of light, photons, were used to teleport information between telescopes on the two islands. The photons did it by quantum entanglement and scientists hope it will form the basis of a way of sending encrypted data.

Will this be it? Or is something else going to hit? Time will tell...

J.

Breakthrough brings 'Star Trek' teleport a step closer - Independent Online Edition > Sci_Tech

Scientists have set a new record in sending information through thin air using the revolutionary technology of quantum teleportation - although Mr Spock may have to wait a little longer for a Scotty to beam him up with it.
A team of physicists has teleported data over a distance of 89 miles from the Canary Island of La Palma to the neighbouring island of Tenerife, which is 10 times further than the previous attempt at teleportation through free space.

The scientists did it by exploiting the "spooky" and virtually unfathomable field of quantum entanglement - when the state of matter rather than matter itself is sent from one place to another.

Tiny packets or particles of light, photons, were used to teleport information between telescopes on the two islands. The photons did it by quantum entanglement and scientists hope it will form the basis of a way of sending encrypted data.

Will this be it? Or is something else going to hit? Time will tell...

J.

Breakthrough brings 'Star Trek' teleport a step closer - Independent Online Edition > Sci_Tech

Scientists have set a new record in sending information through thin air using the revolutionary technology of quantum teleportation - although Mr Spock may have to wait a little longer for a Scotty to beam him up with it.
A team of physicists has teleported data over a distance of 89 miles from the Canary Island of La Palma to the neighbouring island of Tenerife, which is 10 times further than the previous attempt at teleportation through free space.

The scientists did it by exploiting the "spooky" and virtually unfathomable field of quantum entanglement - when the state of matter rather than matter itself is sent from one place to another.

Tiny packets or particles of light, photons, were used to teleport information between telescopes on the two islands. The photons did it by quantum entanglement and scientists hope it will form the basis of a way of sending encrypted data.

Will this be it? Or is something else going to hit? Time will tell...

J.

Captain's Quarters - Why Nationalizing Health Care Will Make Us Less Free in the comments section.

People think that with the government paying the bill, they will get all the Health Care they "DESIRE". The analogy is if the government was in the car business, we should all get Mercedes.

However, what will happen is care will be limited - TO ALL. Using the transportation analogy, we will all get to ride the bus, on a given schedule.

Except congress and the President. They get their healthcare at Bethesda and Walter Reed.

We're already paying a hefty 'tax' because we don't send the little guy to public school. We pay that tax voluntarily, because the schools aren't so hot in our neck of the woods. (Admittedly, this neck is significantly better than the neck we lived in before the little guy started school. Still, going from a 33rd percentile school to a 66th percentile school in the 49th state is a questionable improvement.) I'd LOVE to see school vouchers, or a tax credit of some sort - but that's not going to happen. After all, if you're so elitist that you won't send your kids to public school, you deserve the extra hit, don't you? (Regardless of the reason...)

Medical care isn't cheap. 18 years ago, I had to have 5 stitches in the back of my hand. It was a workman's comp claim - and three doctor visits and a handful of band-aids cost $650. When Hillary was touting her health-care plan, I remember the figure per year per EMPLOYED person in extra taxes would amount to about $750. Figure about 150 million people employed in the US, with a population of about 350 million. You run the numbers and tell me what each person's ration of that would be. Don't worry - I'll wait...

Dum-dee-dee-dum.... Finished?

You get $321.43? (I rounded that last eight tenths of a cent up.) Thought so. Figure 20% of that will go to administrative costs. You get $257.14 also? (I rounded the two tenths of a cent down.)

Yeah, that'll provide quality health care, won't it? Just don't ask what quality.

The end result? Likely you'll get care rationed, and triaged. Another comment...

What everyone has to remember is that it is not nationalized heath care- it is nationalized triage.

Case in point:

I know a Canadian who developed a rather rare disorder. This person was always using the glorious Canadian health care system to bash me with on occasion. If treated quickly there is a good chance of survival-if not it was a slow, painful death. Well, when diagnosed he asked what they were going to do to treat it and he was told that seeing as he was 60 years old he would not "contribute" enough back into the system to justify the cost of treatment for him. This was their answer to him despite the fact that he had paid decades worth of high taxes to fund the system and had never used it for anything outside of routine illnesses or a couple stitches. In plainer terms they were going to let him die a painful death for "the greater good".

I asked him what he thought of his vaunted nationalized health care system after they told him that. He really didn't have a response. I pointed out to him that if he were on my heath care plan they would have treated him right away, and the money he would have spent for American health insurance would have been about half he spent in higher taxes to fund his blessed Canadian heath care system. I then asked him if he still thought the Canadian system was still so much better then the American system. He had no response to that, either. He bought into all the BS about how wonderful the Canadian system was compared to the American system until the Canadian system passed a death sentence on him.

Posted by: Ennis at June 4, 2007 5:50 PM

So when someone says the government can provide 'free' heath care, or SHOULD provide it, ask 'em how much they're willing to pay for it, and how many years they'd be willing to give up to get it.

J.

Captain's Quarters - Why Nationalizing Health Care Will Make Us Less Free in the comments section.

People think that with the government paying the bill, they will get all the Health Care they "DESIRE". The analogy is if the government was in the car business, we should all get Mercedes.

However, what will happen is care will be limited - TO ALL. Using the transportation analogy, we will all get to ride the bus, on a given schedule.

Except congress and the President. They get their healthcare at Bethesda and Walter Reed.

We're already paying a hefty 'tax' because we don't send the little guy to public school. We pay that tax voluntarily, because the schools aren't so hot in our neck of the woods. (Admittedly, this neck is significantly better than the neck we lived in before the little guy started school. Still, going from a 33rd percentile school to a 66th percentile school in the 49th state is a questionable improvement.) I'd LOVE to see school vouchers, or a tax credit of some sort - but that's not going to happen. After all, if you're so elitist that you won't send your kids to public school, you deserve the extra hit, don't you? (Regardless of the reason...)

Medical care isn't cheap. 18 years ago, I had to have 5 stitches in the back of my hand. It was a workman's comp claim - and three doctor visits and a handful of band-aids cost $650. When Hillary was touting her health-care plan, I remember the figure per year per EMPLOYED person in extra taxes would amount to about $750. Figure about 150 million people employed in the US, with a population of about 350 million. You run the numbers and tell me what each person's ration of that would be. Don't worry - I'll wait...

Dum-dee-dee-dum.... Finished?

You get $321.43? (I rounded that last eight tenths of a cent up.) Thought so. Figure 20% of that will go to administrative costs. You get $257.14 also? (I rounded the two tenths of a cent down.)

Yeah, that'll provide quality health care, won't it? Just don't ask what quality.

The end result? Likely you'll get care rationed, and triaged. Another comment...

What everyone has to remember is that it is not nationalized heath care- it is nationalized triage.

Case in point:

I know a Canadian who developed a rather rare disorder. This person was always using the glorious Canadian health care system to bash me with on occasion. If treated quickly there is a good chance of survival-if not it was a slow, painful death. Well, when diagnosed he asked what they were going to do to treat it and he was told that seeing as he was 60 years old he would not "contribute" enough back into the system to justify the cost of treatment for him. This was their answer to him despite the fact that he had paid decades worth of high taxes to fund the system and had never used it for anything outside of routine illnesses or a couple stitches. In plainer terms they were going to let him die a painful death for "the greater good".

I asked him what he thought of his vaunted nationalized health care system after they told him that. He really didn't have a response. I pointed out to him that if he were on my heath care plan they would have treated him right away, and the money he would have spent for American health insurance would have been about half he spent in higher taxes to fund his blessed Canadian heath care system. I then asked him if he still thought the Canadian system was still so much better then the American system. He had no response to that, either. He bought into all the BS about how wonderful the Canadian system was compared to the American system until the Canadian system passed a death sentence on him.

Posted by: Ennis at June 4, 2007 5:50 PM

So when someone says the government can provide 'free' heath care, or SHOULD provide it, ask 'em how much they're willing to pay for it, and how many years they'd be willing to give up to get it.

J.

Captain's Quarters - Why Nationalizing Health Care Will Make Us Less Free in the comments section.

People think that with the government paying the bill, they will get all the Health Care they "DESIRE". The analogy is if the government was in the car business, we should all get Mercedes.

However, what will happen is care will be limited - TO ALL. Using the transportation analogy, we will all get to ride the bus, on a given schedule.

Except congress and the President. They get their healthcare at Bethesda and Walter Reed.

We're already paying a hefty 'tax' because we don't send the little guy to public school. We pay that tax voluntarily, because the schools aren't so hot in our neck of the woods. (Admittedly, this neck is significantly better than the neck we lived in before the little guy started school. Still, going from a 33rd percentile school to a 66th percentile school in the 49th state is a questionable improvement.) I'd LOVE to see school vouchers, or a tax credit of some sort - but that's not going to happen. After all, if you're so elitist that you won't send your kids to public school, you deserve the extra hit, don't you? (Regardless of the reason...)

Medical care isn't cheap. 18 years ago, I had to have 5 stitches in the back of my hand. It was a workman's comp claim - and three doctor visits and a handful of band-aids cost $650. When Hillary was touting her health-care plan, I remember the figure per year per EMPLOYED person in extra taxes would amount to about $750. Figure about 150 million people employed in the US, with a population of about 350 million. You run the numbers and tell me what each person's ration of that would be. Don't worry - I'll wait...

Dum-dee-dee-dum.... Finished?

You get $321.43? (I rounded that last eight tenths of a cent up.) Thought so. Figure 20% of that will go to administrative costs. You get $257.14 also? (I rounded the two tenths of a cent down.)

Yeah, that'll provide quality health care, won't it? Just don't ask what quality.

The end result? Likely you'll get care rationed, and triaged. Another comment...

What everyone has to remember is that it is not nationalized heath care- it is nationalized triage.

Case in point:

I know a Canadian who developed a rather rare disorder. This person was always using the glorious Canadian health care system to bash me with on occasion. If treated quickly there is a good chance of survival-if not it was a slow, painful death. Well, when diagnosed he asked what they were going to do to treat it and he was told that seeing as he was 60 years old he would not "contribute" enough back into the system to justify the cost of treatment for him. This was their answer to him despite the fact that he had paid decades worth of high taxes to fund the system and had never used it for anything outside of routine illnesses or a couple stitches. In plainer terms they were going to let him die a painful death for "the greater good".

I asked him what he thought of his vaunted nationalized health care system after they told him that. He really didn't have a response. I pointed out to him that if he were on my heath care plan they would have treated him right away, and the money he would have spent for American health insurance would have been about half he spent in higher taxes to fund his blessed Canadian heath care system. I then asked him if he still thought the Canadian system was still so much better then the American system. He had no response to that, either. He bought into all the BS about how wonderful the Canadian system was compared to the American system until the Canadian system passed a death sentence on him.

Posted by: Ennis at June 4, 2007 5:50 PM

So when someone says the government can provide 'free' heath care, or SHOULD provide it, ask 'em how much they're willing to pay for it, and how many years they'd be willing to give up to get it.

J.

HiRISE | High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment

Onboard NASA’s Mars Reconnaisance Orbiter, the HiRISE camera offers unprecedented image quality, giving us a view of the Red Planet in a way never before seen. It’s the most powerful camera ever to leave Earth’s orbit.

J.

HiRISE | High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment

Onboard NASA’s Mars Reconnaisance Orbiter, the HiRISE camera offers unprecedented image quality, giving us a view of the Red Planet in a way never before seen. It’s the most powerful camera ever to leave Earth’s orbit.

J.

HiRISE | High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment

Onboard NASA’s Mars Reconnaisance Orbiter, the HiRISE camera offers unprecedented image quality, giving us a view of the Red Planet in a way never before seen. It’s the most powerful camera ever to leave Earth’s orbit.

J.

What ACTUALLY does good in a situation like Darfur?

A. Having a party? 'On Sunday, April 29, Salt Lake Saves Darfur invites the greater Salt Lake community of compassion to join with us as we honor the fallen and suffering Darfuris in a day of films, discussion and dance with a Sudanese dance troupe.' (From here)

B. Fighting the killers? 'On a hot sabbath, i am prompted to say that Darfur is a catastrophe that could and should be solved in an hour or so. The killers largely operate from helicopters and small fixed wing aircraft. We could destroy them all in an hour or so. But that would be "wrong," because it would violate the current hymnal.' (From here)

I know which one would make sense to me - forget sanctions, destroy the hardware, and provide arms and ammo to let the other side build up it's military to the point where the Sudanese government would be willing to coexist. Of course, violence never solves anything, so why go that route?

Let's try another comparison. If your house is on fire, do you...

A. Stare at it intently while it burns, thinking that by paying attention to it the house will stop burning?

B. Call the Fire Department?

Yeah. No brainer, that one. Yet how is the UN imposing sanctions significantly different than choice A above? You have a government intending to commit genocide - and the one thing necessary for genocidal governments to do what they want to do is time. Yet what are sanctions, except something that is supposed to apply pressure over time?

And what good does honoring the fallen Darfuri with a day of films and discussion do? Aside from turning something very serious into a social event? Not that there's much wrong with that - there were plenty of social events stateside to support the troops in WW2. But there was also FIGHTING - it wasn't assumed that the social event alone would have any effect.

That's not the case here, apparently. Yay, they're 'concerned'. What good will it do? That concern doesn't translate into real-world action.

J.

What ACTUALLY does good in a situation like Darfur?

A. Having a party? 'On Sunday, April 29, Salt Lake Saves Darfur invites the greater Salt Lake community of compassion to join with us as we honor the fallen and suffering Darfuris in a day of films, discussion and dance with a Sudanese dance troupe.' (From here)

B. Fighting the killers? 'On a hot sabbath, i am prompted to say that Darfur is a catastrophe that could and should be solved in an hour or so. The killers largely operate from helicopters and small fixed wing aircraft. We could destroy them all in an hour or so. But that would be "wrong," because it would violate the current hymnal.' (From here)

I know which one would make sense to me - forget sanctions, destroy the hardware, and provide arms and ammo to let the other side build up it's military to the point where the Sudanese government would be willing to coexist. Of course, violence never solves anything, so why go that route?

Let's try another comparison. If your house is on fire, do you...

A. Stare at it intently while it burns, thinking that by paying attention to it the house will stop burning?

B. Call the Fire Department?

Yeah. No brainer, that one. Yet how is the UN imposing sanctions significantly different than choice A above? You have a government intending to commit genocide - and the one thing necessary for genocidal governments to do what they want to do is time. Yet what are sanctions, except something that is supposed to apply pressure over time?

And what good does honoring the fallen Darfuri with a day of films and discussion do? Aside from turning something very serious into a social event? Not that there's much wrong with that - there were plenty of social events stateside to support the troops in WW2. But there was also FIGHTING - it wasn't assumed that the social event alone would have any effect.

That's not the case here, apparently. Yay, they're 'concerned'. What good will it do? That concern doesn't translate into real-world action.

J.

What ACTUALLY does good in a situation like Darfur?

A. Having a party? 'On Sunday, April 29, Salt Lake Saves Darfur invites the greater Salt Lake community of compassion to join with us as we honor the fallen and suffering Darfuris in a day of films, discussion and dance with a Sudanese dance troupe.' (From here)

B. Fighting the killers? 'On a hot sabbath, i am prompted to say that Darfur is a catastrophe that could and should be solved in an hour or so. The killers largely operate from helicopters and small fixed wing aircraft. We could destroy them all in an hour or so. But that would be "wrong," because it would violate the current hymnal.' (From here)

I know which one would make sense to me - forget sanctions, destroy the hardware, and provide arms and ammo to let the other side build up it's military to the point where the Sudanese government would be willing to coexist. Of course, violence never solves anything, so why go that route?

Let's try another comparison. If your house is on fire, do you...

A. Stare at it intently while it burns, thinking that by paying attention to it the house will stop burning?

B. Call the Fire Department?

Yeah. No brainer, that one. Yet how is the UN imposing sanctions significantly different than choice A above? You have a government intending to commit genocide - and the one thing necessary for genocidal governments to do what they want to do is time. Yet what are sanctions, except something that is supposed to apply pressure over time?

And what good does honoring the fallen Darfuri with a day of films and discussion do? Aside from turning something very serious into a social event? Not that there's much wrong with that - there were plenty of social events stateside to support the troops in WW2. But there was also FIGHTING - it wasn't assumed that the social event alone would have any effect.

That's not the case here, apparently. Yay, they're 'concerned'. What good will it do? That concern doesn't translate into real-world action.

J.

If you'll read through the entire story, you'll notice someting a bit odd. Go ahead, I'll wait while you follow the link and read the whole thing.

wbztv.com - Retired Officer Subdues Unruly Plane Passengers

(WBZ) BOSTON A former police officer is being called a hero after he helped subdue two unruly passengers on a plane over the weekend.

Retired police officer Bob Hayden, who served in Boston and Lawrence for several years, was coming back from Minnesota on a Northwest plane with his wife when the unexpected happened.

Before the flight even took off, Hayden said a man, who appeared aggravated, was walking up and down the aisle of the plane. The flight attendant had to force him into his seat after asking him to do so a few times.

Hayden said after the aircraft finally got in the air, he noticed there was some sort of commotion. The same man had started screaming and fell into the aisle.

Initially, Hayden said he thought the guy was having a heart attack, but he quickly realized the incident might have been staged. According to Hayden, two flight attendants helped the man back into his seat where he continued to yell for the entire flight.

The incident apparently scared some of the plane passengers and even made some people cry, Hayden said.

When the pilot made the announcement the plane was approaching Logan Airport, Hayden said the man who caused the first commotion and a second person began yelling and fell into the aisle. That is when Hayden said he, with the help of a retired U.S. Marine captain, took action.

Bostonist: Boston Blotter: Schmucks on a Plane

--Bob Hayden - a retired Boston police officer, former Lawrence police chief, and grandpa - had to deal with some schmucks on his plane from Minnesota to Massachusetts on Saturday night. A man started to fake some sort of fit after takeoff. Flight attendants got him back into his seat, where he started yelling. Then another guy - who turned out to be the screamer's brother - joined in with a fit.

Hayden, the flight attendants, and a retired Marine couldn’t take it any more, so Hayden cuffed one of the offenders and kept an eye on them until the landing.

Some passengers were scared, but Hayden's wife wasn't: "Bob's been shot at. He's been stabbed. He's taken knives away. He knows how to handle those situations. I figured he would go up there and step on somebody's neck, and that would be the end of it."

This Hayden guy is efficient! Is he interested in rejoining the force?

When it was all over, the screamer went to the hospital to get his mental health checked out, and the other joined police.

Look carefully. There's no mention of ethnicity, no mention of the names of the 'brothers'. Now - why wouldn't there be? Mental health privacy issues? Don't see how those would apply, and they weren't minors. Why else would there be no mention?

I'm probably reading more into what isn't there than IS there - but the only reason I can think they'd omit the names is because they're Muslim. I can imagine John Smith and his brother Pete would have gotten their names in - but Mohammed and Abdul? Nope. After all, we might 'misunderstand' and not be 'sensitive'.

J.

If you'll read through the entire story, you'll notice someting a bit odd. Go ahead, I'll wait while you follow the link and read the whole thing.

wbztv.com - Retired Officer Subdues Unruly Plane Passengers

(WBZ) BOSTON A former police officer is being called a hero after he helped subdue two unruly passengers on a plane over the weekend.

Retired police officer Bob Hayden, who served in Boston and Lawrence for several years, was coming back from Minnesota on a Northwest plane with his wife when the unexpected happened.

Before the flight even took off, Hayden said a man, who appeared aggravated, was walking up and down the aisle of the plane. The flight attendant had to force him into his seat after asking him to do so a few times.

Hayden said after the aircraft finally got in the air, he noticed there was some sort of commotion. The same man had started screaming and fell into the aisle.

Initially, Hayden said he thought the guy was having a heart attack, but he quickly realized the incident might have been staged. According to Hayden, two flight attendants helped the man back into his seat where he continued to yell for the entire flight.

The incident apparently scared some of the plane passengers and even made some people cry, Hayden said.

When the pilot made the announcement the plane was approaching Logan Airport, Hayden said the man who caused the first commotion and a second person began yelling and fell into the aisle. That is when Hayden said he, with the help of a retired U.S. Marine captain, took action.

Bostonist: Boston Blotter: Schmucks on a Plane

--Bob Hayden - a retired Boston police officer, former Lawrence police chief, and grandpa - had to deal with some schmucks on his plane from Minnesota to Massachusetts on Saturday night. A man started to fake some sort of fit after takeoff. Flight attendants got him back into his seat, where he started yelling. Then another guy - who turned out to be the screamer's brother - joined in with a fit.

Hayden, the flight attendants, and a retired Marine couldn’t take it any more, so Hayden cuffed one of the offenders and kept an eye on them until the landing.

Some passengers were scared, but Hayden's wife wasn't: "Bob's been shot at. He's been stabbed. He's taken knives away. He knows how to handle those situations. I figured he would go up there and step on somebody's neck, and that would be the end of it."

This Hayden guy is efficient! Is he interested in rejoining the force?

When it was all over, the screamer went to the hospital to get his mental health checked out, and the other joined police.

Look carefully. There's no mention of ethnicity, no mention of the names of the 'brothers'. Now - why wouldn't there be? Mental health privacy issues? Don't see how those would apply, and they weren't minors. Why else would there be no mention?

I'm probably reading more into what isn't there than IS there - but the only reason I can think they'd omit the names is because they're Muslim. I can imagine John Smith and his brother Pete would have gotten their names in - but Mohammed and Abdul? Nope. After all, we might 'misunderstand' and not be 'sensitive'.

J.

If you'll read through the entire story, you'll notice someting a bit odd. Go ahead, I'll wait while you follow the link and read the whole thing.

wbztv.com - Retired Officer Subdues Unruly Plane Passengers

(WBZ) BOSTON A former police officer is being called a hero after he helped subdue two unruly passengers on a plane over the weekend.

Retired police officer Bob Hayden, who served in Boston and Lawrence for several years, was coming back from Minnesota on a Northwest plane with his wife when the unexpected happened.

Before the flight even took off, Hayden said a man, who appeared aggravated, was walking up and down the aisle of the plane. The flight attendant had to force him into his seat after asking him to do so a few times.

Hayden said after the aircraft finally got in the air, he noticed there was some sort of commotion. The same man had started screaming and fell into the aisle.

Initially, Hayden said he thought the guy was having a heart attack, but he quickly realized the incident might have been staged. According to Hayden, two flight attendants helped the man back into his seat where he continued to yell for the entire flight.

The incident apparently scared some of the plane passengers and even made some people cry, Hayden said.

When the pilot made the announcement the plane was approaching Logan Airport, Hayden said the man who caused the first commotion and a second person began yelling and fell into the aisle. That is when Hayden said he, with the help of a retired U.S. Marine captain, took action.

Bostonist: Boston Blotter: Schmucks on a Plane

--Bob Hayden - a retired Boston police officer, former Lawrence police chief, and grandpa - had to deal with some schmucks on his plane from Minnesota to Massachusetts on Saturday night. A man started to fake some sort of fit after takeoff. Flight attendants got him back into his seat, where he started yelling. Then another guy - who turned out to be the screamer's brother - joined in with a fit.

Hayden, the flight attendants, and a retired Marine couldn’t take it any more, so Hayden cuffed one of the offenders and kept an eye on them until the landing.

Some passengers were scared, but Hayden's wife wasn't: "Bob's been shot at. He's been stabbed. He's taken knives away. He knows how to handle those situations. I figured he would go up there and step on somebody's neck, and that would be the end of it."

This Hayden guy is efficient! Is he interested in rejoining the force?

When it was all over, the screamer went to the hospital to get his mental health checked out, and the other joined police.

Look carefully. There's no mention of ethnicity, no mention of the names of the 'brothers'. Now - why wouldn't there be? Mental health privacy issues? Don't see how those would apply, and they weren't minors. Why else would there be no mention?

I'm probably reading more into what isn't there than IS there - but the only reason I can think they'd omit the names is because they're Muslim. I can imagine John Smith and his brother Pete would have gotten their names in - but Mohammed and Abdul? Nope. After all, we might 'misunderstand' and not be 'sensitive'.

J.

Looks like Dr. Robert Bussard, (yes, the inventor of the Bussard ramjet) has taken the Farnsworth fusor reactor and scaled it up.

Should Google Go Nuclear? Clean, cheap, nuclear power (no, really) - Google Video

ABSTRACT This is not your father's fusion reactor! Forget everything you know about conventional thinking on nuclear fusion: high-temperature plasmas, steam turbines, neutron radiation and even nuclear waste are a thing of the past. Goodbye thermonuclear fusion; hello inertial electrostatic confinement fusion (IEC), an old idea that's been made new. While the international community debates the fate of the politically-turmoiled $12 billion ITER (an experimental thermonuclear reactor), simple IEC reactors are being built as high-school science fair projects.

Dr. Robert Bussard, former Asst. Director of the Atomic Energy Commission and founder of Energy Matter Conversion Corporation (EMC2), has spent 17 years perfecting IEC, a fusion process that converts hydrogen and boron directly into electricity producing helium as the only waste product. Most of this work was funded by the Department of Defense, the details of which have been under seal... until now.

Even doubling that cost, it'd be a bargain. Low-cost fusion. Wonder what Georgia Power would be willing to spend to get options on a half-dozen of these?

More info here.

J.

Looks like Dr. Robert Bussard, (yes, the inventor of the Bussard ramjet) has taken the Farnsworth fusor reactor and scaled it up.

Should Google Go Nuclear? Clean, cheap, nuclear power (no, really) - Google Video

ABSTRACT This is not your father's fusion reactor! Forget everything you know about conventional thinking on nuclear fusion: high-temperature plasmas, steam turbines, neutron radiation and even nuclear waste are a thing of the past. Goodbye thermonuclear fusion; hello inertial electrostatic confinement fusion (IEC), an old idea that's been made new. While the international community debates the fate of the politically-turmoiled $12 billion ITER (an experimental thermonuclear reactor), simple IEC reactors are being built as high-school science fair projects.

Dr. Robert Bussard, former Asst. Director of the Atomic Energy Commission and founder of Energy Matter Conversion Corporation (EMC2), has spent 17 years perfecting IEC, a fusion process that converts hydrogen and boron directly into electricity producing helium as the only waste product. Most of this work was funded by the Department of Defense, the details of which have been under seal... until now.

Even doubling that cost, it'd be a bargain. Low-cost fusion. Wonder what Georgia Power would be willing to spend to get options on a half-dozen of these?

More info here.

J.

Looks like Dr. Robert Bussard, (yes, the inventor of the Bussard ramjet) has taken the Farnsworth fusor reactor and scaled it up.

Should Google Go Nuclear? Clean, cheap, nuclear power (no, really) - Google Video

ABSTRACT This is not your father's fusion reactor! Forget everything you know about conventional thinking on nuclear fusion: high-temperature plasmas, steam turbines, neutron radiation and even nuclear waste are a thing of the past. Goodbye thermonuclear fusion; hello inertial electrostatic confinement fusion (IEC), an old idea that's been made new. While the international community debates the fate of the politically-turmoiled $12 billion ITER (an experimental thermonuclear reactor), simple IEC reactors are being built as high-school science fair projects.

Dr. Robert Bussard, former Asst. Director of the Atomic Energy Commission and founder of Energy Matter Conversion Corporation (EMC2), has spent 17 years perfecting IEC, a fusion process that converts hydrogen and boron directly into electricity producing helium as the only waste product. Most of this work was funded by the Department of Defense, the details of which have been under seal... until now.

Even doubling that cost, it'd be a bargain. Low-cost fusion. Wonder what Georgia Power would be willing to spend to get options on a half-dozen of these?

More info here.

J.

Yeah, eye catching. That's the ticket...

The great Olympic revolt: new logo triggers epilepsy | the Daily Mail

A spontaneous public revolt over the controversial 2012 Olympic logo broke out yesterday with organisers facing mounting calls to scrap the design.

As nearly 35,000 people signed a petition demanding that the image be axed, Olympic chiefs were forced to pull a promotional video amid warnings it had triggered at least ten cases of epilepsy.

Update - I thought it might look better in monochrome - perhaps the designer was colorblind?

Nope. Doesn't help much. Oh, well.

J.

Yeah, eye catching. That's the ticket...

The great Olympic revolt: new logo triggers epilepsy | the Daily Mail

A spontaneous public revolt over the controversial 2012 Olympic logo broke out yesterday with organisers facing mounting calls to scrap the design.

As nearly 35,000 people signed a petition demanding that the image be axed, Olympic chiefs were forced to pull a promotional video amid warnings it had triggered at least ten cases of epilepsy.

Update - I thought it might look better in monochrome - perhaps the designer was colorblind?

Nope. Doesn't help much. Oh, well.

J.

Yeah, eye catching. That's the ticket...

The great Olympic revolt: new logo triggers epilepsy | the Daily Mail

A spontaneous public revolt over the controversial 2012 Olympic logo broke out yesterday with organisers facing mounting calls to scrap the design.

As nearly 35,000 people signed a petition demanding that the image be axed, Olympic chiefs were forced to pull a promotional video amid warnings it had triggered at least ten cases of epilepsy.

Update - I thought it might look better in monochrome - perhaps the designer was colorblind?

Nope. Doesn't help much. Oh, well.

J.

That's about the extra charge.

TheStar.com - News - Greens' climate plan sees 12-cent tax at the pumps

OTTAWA–The Green party wants Canadian drivers to pay an extra 12 cents a litre at the gas pumps as the price of averting environmental "catastrophe."

Leader Elizabeth May is boasting that her party is the only one politically brave enough to call for carbon taxes that would discourage automobile use and finance other tax cuts that would allow consumers to make smarter environmental choices.

"Right now, the Green Party of Canada is the only Canadian political party prepared to state this obvious reality," May said yesterday. "We will use those carbon taxes to reduce taxes elsewhere."

Can't wait until they try this here. I'm sure the people will be glad to pay more for gas, with a promise of reduced taxes elsewhere. Of course, you can't actually spend a promise, and it's more important that the promise be made than the promise be kept, right?

J.

That's about the extra charge.

TheStar.com - News - Greens' climate plan sees 12-cent tax at the pumps

OTTAWA–The Green party wants Canadian drivers to pay an extra 12 cents a litre at the gas pumps as the price of averting environmental "catastrophe."

Leader Elizabeth May is boasting that her party is the only one politically brave enough to call for carbon taxes that would discourage automobile use and finance other tax cuts that would allow consumers to make smarter environmental choices.

"Right now, the Green Party of Canada is the only Canadian political party prepared to state this obvious reality," May said yesterday. "We will use those carbon taxes to reduce taxes elsewhere."

Can't wait until they try this here. I'm sure the people will be glad topay more for gas, with a promise of reduced taxes elsewhere. Of course, you can't actually spend a promise, and it's more important that the promise be made than the promise be kept, right?

J.

That's about the extra charge.

TheStar.com - News - Greens' climate plan sees 12-cent tax at the pumps

OTTAWA–The Green party wants Canadian drivers to pay an extra 12 cents a litre at the gas pumps as the price of averting environmental "catastrophe."

Leader Elizabeth May is boasting that her party is the only one politically brave enough to call for carbon taxes that would discourage automobile use and finance other tax cuts that would allow consumers to make smarter environmental choices.

"Right now, the Green Party of Canada is the only Canadian political party prepared to state this obvious reality," May said yesterday. "We will use those carbon taxes to reduce taxes elsewhere."

Can't wait until they try this here. I'm sure the people will be glad topay more for gas, with a promise of reduced taxes elsewhere. Of course, you can't actually spend a promise, and it's more important that the promise be made than the promise be kept, right?

J.

In Saudi Arabia, a view from behind the veil - Los Angeles Times

As a woman in the male-dominated kingdom, Times reporter Megan Stack quietly fumed beneath her abaya. Even beyond its borders, her experience taints her perception of the sexes.

J.

In Saudi Arabia, a view from behind the veil - Los Angeles Times

As a woman in the male-dominated kingdom, Times reporter Megan Stack quietly fumed beneath her abaya. Even beyond its borders, her experience taints her perception of the sexes.

J.

In Saudi Arabia, a view from behind the veil - Los Angeles Times

As a woman in the male-dominated kingdom, Times reporter Megan Stack quietly fumed beneath her abaya. Even beyond its borders, her experience taints her perception of the sexes.

J.

45 days in the slammer, talked down to 23, and then the poor pitiful Ms Hilton gets out after three, restricted to her home. Well, her home is larger than some hotels I've stayed in.

There's just something wrong there...

Paris Hilton Ordered to Return to Court

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Hours after Paris Hilton was sent home under house arrest Thursday, the judge who put her in jail for violating her reckless-driving probation ordered her into court to determine whether she should be put back behind bars.

Hilton must report to court at 9 a.m. Friday, Superior Court spokesman Allan Parachini told The Associated Press.

"My understanding is she will be brought in in a sheriff's vehicle from her home," Parachini said.

Superior Court Judge Michael T. Sauer issued his order after the city attorney filed a petition late Thursday afternoon questioning whether Sheriff Lee Baca should be held in contempt of court for releasing Hilton on Thursday morning.

The celebrity inmate was sent home from the Los Angeles County jail's Lynwood lockup shortly after 2 a.m. for an unspecified medical condition in a stunning reduction to her original 45-day sentence.

Well, guess we'll see if she gets thrown back into jail or not. If so - maybe the full time might be appropriate, instead of a shortened sentence.

J.

45 days in the slammer, talked down to 23, and then the poor pitiful Ms Hilton gets out after three, restricted to her home. Well, her home is larger than some hotels I've stayed in.

There's just something wrong there...

Paris Hilton Ordered to Return to Court

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Hours after Paris Hilton was sent home under house arrest Thursday, the judge who put her in jail for violating her reckless-driving probation ordered her into court to determine whether she should be put back behind bars.

Hilton must report to court at 9 a.m. Friday, Superior Court spokesman Allan Parachini told The Associated Press.

"My understanding is she will be brought in in a sheriff's vehicle from her home," Parachini said.

Superior Court Judge Michael T. Sauer issued his order after the city attorney filed a petition late Thursday afternoon questioning whether Sheriff Lee Baca should be held in contempt of court for releasing Hilton on Thursday morning.

The celebrity inmate was sent home from the Los Angeles County jail's Lynwood lockup shortly after 2 a.m. for an unspecified medical condition in a stunning reduction to her original 45-day sentence.

Well, guess we'll see if she gets thrown back into jail or not. If so - maybe the full time might be appropriate, instead of a shortened sentence.

J.

45 days in the slammer, talked down to 23, and then the poor pitiful Ms Hilton gets out after three, restricted to her home. Well, her home is larger than some hotels I've stayed in.

There's just something wrong there...

Paris Hilton Ordered to Return to Court

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Hours after Paris Hilton wa