“Soft despotism is a term coined by Alexis de Tocqueville describing the state into which a country overrun by "a network of small complicated rules" might degrade. Soft despotism is different from despotism (also called 'hard despotism') in the sense that it is not obvious to the people."
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
What Really Happened at 'The Boston Massacre?' - Mark Levin
The al-Qaeda 7 of the Obama Administration and the misuse of a comparison to John Adams defending British uniformed troops in Boston with lawyers, who once defended Islamic terrorists, now in Eric Holder's DOJ.
So, you see, Your Honor, my problems began a couple of years, ago. I was having sex in the Caravan, And, when I paused I noticed a Knife Sticking out of My Back. It must have been this other gal that I was trying to get to participate in a 3 - Way. And, then, while I was trying to get the knife out of my back the Other one disappeared.
And it goes on.
From Australia. Weird, but still now weird enough for the Keys, I guess.
I don't know what it is with the Cheneys - Dick and Liz anyway. I really don't.
I am convinced, however, that when the dear man departs this earth, Liz will take up channeling him from the great beyond. And possibly appear wearing his old jackets and ties.
He lives just down the road from me, Lord Vader does. And he and Powell are practically neighbors.
I have a feeling they don't get together for barbecues.
So, here's the deal: All the growth is in the developing countries. We'll make our money, not in promoting more consumption that we really don't need, but in EXPORTING to the Developing Countries. How hard is that to figure out?
BBC News - 3 hours ago US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged Nigeria to arrest and try those responsible for killing hundreds of people near the city of Jos.
Daily Mail - Emily Andrews - Mar 5, 2010 A man of 22 died in agony of dehydration after three days in a leading teaching hospital. Kane Gorny was so desperate for a drink that he rang police to beg for their help.
"Evidently hyperautistic tourettes spokesmodel and all-around shit-munching gutter-trough pisspig "Wolf" "Blitzer" is now on the breaking story news case that the Department of Justice is a hotbed of jihad. Allahu Akbar, muthafuckas! Jesus Christ, America, really?"
"an accused, on American soil, gets a lawyer. Period." --- Yeah, what did FDR know about winning wars, executing them Nazi Spies without a trial, before Miranda?
trish said... "I don't know what it is with the Cheneys - Dick and Liz anyway. I really don't.
I am convinced, however, that when the dear man departs this earth, Liz will take up channeling him from the great beyond." --- Thank Gawd, the penultimate fly-fisher with the crooked smile has spawned a clone, equally brilliant in their unique way.
Trish doesn't know what it is, yet she purports to know what it is with Colon Powell, staunch conservative, fanatic supporter of our Marxist President, over his purported ideal candidate: "Moderate" John McCain. Go Figure.
Yeah, alone with a clear majority of fellow Americans that feel that America is less safe under the phoney touchy feely Marxist and his traitorous sidekick Holder than we were under Bush-Cheney.
I'm thinking seriously about taking the tv off of my cable. It's too sensationalistic, and emotional. I find I think a lot clearer when I get my "news" off the internet. All I ever watch is CNBC, anyway, and that's with the sound muted.
Mythbusters was on the Discovery channel last night and they were exploring a myth about torture. My 10 year old son asked me about torture - what it was and why people did it. He then asked if it only occurred back in the "War of the Swords" - a 10 yr. old's conception of history. I said "no, some countries still do it". He seemed surprised and asked which countries still use it. I started off "Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria...ummmmmm, the US." He shot back the "The US?". "I said they stopped the practice recently"
Now, if Liz Cheney and our dear host get their way in the future I'll be left trying to explain why the US executes folk with no trial and no representation - 'they're terrorists dontcha know?'. And then we will have to move on and explain the progroms against the Muslims for their murderous rampages due to beauty pageants.
Yeah rufus, get your fair and balanced view of current events at the bar.
Ash, that's the kind of snarky, childish comments that make people hate liberals.
1) I posted, and Rat agreed, when your charged in the U.S. you get a Lawyer. Conservatives are smart enough to know who they want to get a blowjob from, and from whom they want to get their "policy."
2) You can claim "waterboarding" is torture all you want, but the majority of Americans don't agree with you. When it's used/how it's used should be the debate - not if it can be used on known terrorists.
The "Bar" is a good place to hang out, and chitchat, and some pretty good links end up getting posted here.
And then there is Sarah Palin, is she the face of the bolder better new US?
"Palin in hot water for anecdote that her family saw Yukon doctor.
Political websites and cable news buzzed Monday with word that the family of Sarah Palin, former Republican vice-presidential candidate and darling of the conservative Tea Party protest movement, used to travel from Skagway, Alaska, to Whitehorse, Yukon, to receive health care, when she was growing up."
"A Sarah Palin reality series? We’ve got that already.
John Doyle
Sarah Palin has been shopping a reality show around the U.S. networks.
Where do I start? Oh, this is good. It is further evidence that Palin is a creature of the reality-TV culture. And that fame-addiction is the great motivator of our times. The controlling impulse. The centre of the culture. Being famous is totally great, you see. There’s free stuff, Facebook fans, a limo to take you to the party. There’s no life like it.
You don’t think Sarah Palin and her brood with daytime soap-opera names – Track, Willow, Bristol, Piper and Trig – are interested in swag bags and gifties? You think they’re not just like those C-list stars who adore the gifts they get just for showing up?
Well, according to the Los Angeles Times, while Palin and her posse were in L.A. last week for The Tonight Show and meetings about that proposed reality show (she has reality-TV king Mark Burnett on-board for it), they also stormed the Oscar “gifting suite.” And got their free watches, sheets, bathrobes, cosmetics and stuff. According to the L.A. Times, "Palin's middle child, Willow, got her hair styled, receiving a blowout from Erick Orellana of the Chris McMillan Salon (Jennifer Aniston's long-time hairstylist)." The Times pointed out that Palin, like all the Oscar celebs, was supposed to donate $1,700, along with all of her gift items, to the American Red Cross, to help fund relief efforts in Haiti and Chile.
According to some accounts, Palin did indeed write a cheque for $1,700. Mind you, E! Online reports, "We can assure you, she did not give up any of her swag." The site quotes a witness who claims that “upwards of 20 people from the Palin camp swarmed the event. They were like locusts." Do the math: Does 20 people feeding on free stuff amount to $1,700? Never mind the Tea Party movement. This is the swag-party movement in action.
It matters little in the long term. The important thing is that Palin sees a reality-TV series in her future. The fascinating thing is that Palin has been in a reality-TV series since August, 2008, when she was plucked from obscurity to be John McCain’s running mate in the U.S. presidential election.
Palin was put on the ticket to inject vitality, appeal to women and, most important, represent authenticity – just as truck drivers, hairdressers, janitors and cocktail waitresses represent compelling authenticity on The Bachelor, Survivor or Jersey Shore. The Republican Party was buying into the marketing strategy used by TV networks and Palin took to her role like the fame-addicted critter she is.
Fame of the kind achieved by Palin and many reality-TV figures is a narcotic. You just have to be yourself. The more ordinary, unthinking and unsophisticated you are, the better. And people give you stuff. They provide a limo to take you the TV studio, give you free stuff while you’re there and, if you’ve got enough juice going with your fame, you can bring your posse with you. You get paid for turning up, get gifts and everybody wants to take your picture. Beats working. It sure beats trying to run a small but complicated state, a job Palin relinquished so she could travel, make speeches for a large fee, appear on Fox News to offer her opinions, josh with Jay Leno and, over the past weekend, appear in Calgary to make a speech sponsored by those nice people, the Fraser Institute. And presumably get the free stuff that comes with the gig.
According to Entertainment Weekly, which broke the story about Palin and Burnett’s network meetings, what’s being pitched is "a TV docudrama about Alaska.” One source called it a ‘Planet Earth-type look' at Palin’s home state." That sounds a tad dreary, but you can bet that Palin would have specific involvement. Why? Because this woman needs to be in showbiz. NBC might be a good bet: They’re so desperate they’re airing The Marriage Ref, one of the dumbest shows in history.
The real irony in all of this is that it causes us to consider what “reality TV” means. Certainly, it doesn’t mean much reality. It means putting people with attitude on TV and heightening everything about them. It means manipulating strong personalities to make them appear more real than fictional characters. Sarah Palin disappeared into that world more than two years ago. She doesn’t want to give it up. It comes with perks. She never has to shop again. Right now Palin would attend the opening of a car door, if there were TV cameras present and a gift bag to take away. She’s addicted."
"Public Pension Funds Are Adding Risk to Raise Returns
Government pension plans cannot beef up their bonds that mature many, many years from now without dashing their business models. They use long-range estimates that presume high investment returns will cover most of the cost of the benefits they must pay. And that, they say, allows them to make smaller contributions along the way.
Most have been assuming their investments will pay 8 percent a year on average, over the long term. This is based on an assumption that stocks will pay 9.5 percent on average, and bonds will pay about 5.75 percent, in roughly a 60-40 mix.
(Corporate plans do their calculations differently, and for them, investment returns are a less important factor.)
The problem now is that bond rates have been low for years, and stocks have been prone to such wild swings that a 60-40 mixture of stocks and bonds is not paying 8 percent. Many public pension funds have been averaging a little more than 3 percent a year for the last decade, so they have fallen behind where their planning models say they should be.
A growing number of experts say that governments need to lower the assumptions they make about rates of return, to reflect today’s market conditions.
But plan officials say they cannot.
“Nobody wants to adjust the rate, because liabilities would explode,” said Trent May, chief investment officer of Wyoming’s state pension fund."
There is a pretty negative outlook espoused in that article rufus which is strikingly in contrast to your repeated proclamations that ever increasing productivity will make things all right in the future.
On a different note, but similar, I was struck by this line near the end of the article:
"The second question is: If the creeping infection of sovereign default continues to spread to more countries, where will the money come from to bail them out?"
Which brought to mind Whit's comment yesterday asking about hitting the reset button and rat's reply that we already have. I beg to differ. Similarly the line from that article about bailing out defaulters doesn't make much sense. They get bailed out so they don't default. If they default, welp, all kinds of wealth goes 'poof'.
I stumbled upon this interesting article on the history of sovereign defaults. I haven't read it all yet, but it seems pretty good
Ash, you and Doug have the same problem. You only pay attention to the parts that suit your fancy.
I'm am a strong optimist in the long run; but I've said, repeatedly, that we could be in for one hell of a rough ten years.
I've made it very clear that I think we're at, for all practical purposes, "Peak Oil." I've also made it clear that I don't think we are, in any way, shape, or form ready for what's coming.
My absolute greatest fear is that we won't recognize our problem for what it is. For instance, everyone ignores the fact that our recession actually started in the Summer of 2007. We were in a pretty sorry mess way before the financial meltdown.
That $3.50, and then, $4.00 gasoline was weighing Heavy on the populace. As I said, WE WERE IN RECESSION, but the powers that be weren't noticing. They were busy flipping houses, and adding up their winnings.
The crux of Chris Nelder's argument is that this time it will only take, maybe, $3.00 to $3.25 gasoline to push us back in, and, once again, the powers won't recognize what's truly happening.
BTW, I think the peak oilers always run into trouble when they get outside their area of study. ala the sovereign debt, thing. I feel like that's a topic for another day.
The thing is, we could solve our peak oil problem fairly easily, but the solution will take close to a decade. If we wait much longer to get started it's going to be a very Looong decade.
"Ash, you and Doug have the same problem. You only pay attention to the parts that suit your fancy."
ummm, dude, where the heck in that article does it say anything to support your statement that "I'm am a strong optimist in the long run; "?
The whole article seems to run against optimism and portrays a dismal oil future, a future so dismal because "Energy is the only real currency."
I rescanned the article and it is a very bleak assessment of the future (particularly the US) because of peak oil. I can pull all kinds of quotes from the article to support this. For example:
"As I explained in “Investment Themes for the Next Decade,” the new normal will be cycles of bumping our heads against the supply ceiling, falling dazed to the floor, rising back to our knees, then finally standing, only to bump our heads against the ceiling once more."
or
"The Real Meaning of Peak Demand
The most promising effort I’ve seen to quantify the role of efficiency in peak demand was a report in October of last year by Paul Sankey of Deutsche Bank entitled, “The Peak Oil Market.” My initial excitement quickly gave way to disappointment as dug into it, however, as I realized that its confident assertions were unsupported by the data. I applauded the effort enthusiastically–and I hope to see more serious work along the same lines–but it fell far short of proving that energy transition can be accomplished under the status quo of economic growth, let alone its optimistic twist on “The end is nigh for the age of oil"
or
"The true import of peak oil, therefore, may not be sustained high prices, but economic shrinkage. Demand will be destroyed long before oil gets to $200 a barrel, but it will not be destroyed by improved efficiency.
From where we stand today, it’s hard to make an argument for economic recovery. "
or
"Without cheap energy to fuel the growth that is hoped to pay off the accumulated debt, austerity will become an everyday reality, not a short-term fix. A reality that slowly sinks in for the rest of our lives, as net importers become progressively poorer."
So, rufus, where have I mis-read this article to support my fancy?
"The operational overlap between the two Admins is considerable.”
Yea, well I assume that was because Obama didn’t have a spare army to move in with him.
Now, that is funny...really, really funny...
Seriously though, I wonder some days if Mr. Obama is going to need a "spare army" come 2012. Mr. Clinton played hardball, but he knew how, knowing that Little Rock was not DC. Mr. Obama has little experience outside his limited experience in Illinois and a short time in the Senate.
Ash, you didn't misread the article; you misread, ME. The article outlined the Problem. The same problem I've been outlining for more than a year.
The difference between me and the "doomers" (most of the peak-oilers) is I believe there are solutions. You have to understand the peak oil crowd is basically Nutz. They're totally out to lunch on almost everything except the one thing they happen to be right about - Peak Oil. It just shows to go you that just because you're paranoid, you're not necessarily "Wrong."
I put up ten, or twelve posts/wk making my case for why the U.S. needs to get busy with more biofuels, and, even, batteries, etc. I do that because I think we have a very serious problem developing. And, I think it's being, in some cases, purposefully, overlooked. We'll save the reasons for That for another time.
Developing countries are a lot more demand sensitive to price increase. $150 to $200 oil has a much bigger impact to China than the U.S.
????
Total Chinese oil consumption almost doubled from 1998 to 2008 as annual oil prices went up more than sevenfold, from $14 to $100, while US consumption in 2008 had fallen back to its 1999 rate, and has fallen further since then.
IMO, developed countries like the US are going to have to make do with what is left over after the developing countries take what they want. My forecast for the US is that we are going to be forced to make do with a declining share of a falling volume of global net oil exports; this is ELM 2.0.
Furthermore, many developed countries--because of vast debts and huge unfunded government obligations--are effectively bankrupt, especially in light of the ELM 2.0 math.
Ash, you and Doug have the same problem. You only pay attention to the parts that suit your fancy."
"parts" as in parts of the article. Anyway, it appears that it is you that is only paying attention to the parts that suit your fancy. Anyway, enough splitting hairs. Yeah, the peakers are doomers at heart.
Sixty-four percent of the respondents said that aliens have contacted humans, half said they've abducted humans, and 37 percent said they have contacted the U.S. government. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. From a CNN Poll
But, only 21%, according to a Rasmussen Poll believe the government is acting with the Consent of the Governed.
Ash, I was referring to the part where you reference my Optimistic outlook for our potential, and ignore the numerous postings I've made as regards our developing "energy" problems.
You are the exception, a peaker that's not a doomer. Personally I think there are many challenges ahead for humanity with peak oil but one of them. Fundamentally I think we will have to adapt to much slower growth and that is a big problem for how we've structured things. While not a doomer I have come to appreciate the ...turmoil that can come with change. Turmoil should be considered an understatement.
The History of Mankind, Ash, has been higher productivity, and faster growth. I can't see that changing. I can see it getting slowed down for a decade, or so; but technology reigns supreme.
I would bet any amount of money I had that it will take fewer human beings to build a car, or raise a bushel of corn ten years from now than it does today.
BUT, it will require a much more skilled workforce. A man (or woman) will have the ability to do very technical things, or life will be very "unrewarding."
The days of sleeping through high school, and then going down to the GM plant for a good middle-class income are long gone.
I'm a big fan of productivity as well rufus but the drag on growth, in my view, come not from lesser gains in productivity but rather from a lack of increase in demand. Peak oil being one facet of this damper on demand, current demographic trends (though these could be relatively short term -i.e. 30- 40 years out) and the planets ability (sort of like peak oil) to support the rapid growth in human population that we've seen over the past number of centuries.
On the other hand, Ash, it's the "developing" countries that are growing the fastest. Those genetic seeds, and computers work just as well in China, and India as they do here.
And, they're producing, or getting ready to produce, ethanol in just about every country on earth, now. Hell, they're refurbishing a refinery in Zimbabwe. I kid you not.
As for population growth: don't worry about it. Malthus was wrong, Erlich is a fool, and whoever is still paying attention to them needs to get out and walk around the block a couple of times.
We've set 150 Million Acres aside in the last hundred years in the U.S.A. alone. There are at least a Billion Arable Acres lying fallow around the world. Some of it's pretty good land. Some of it's very good land (think Russia, Ukraine, etc.)
Hell, you've probably got a Billion Acres in Africa alone that just needs a little lime, and a bit of fertilizer. Brazil probably has 250 Million pretty good acres lying fallow. Republic of Congo, maybe double that. Yikes, A Billion is probably way low.
Any human being on earth that has "Any" utility at all should be ok for any size population that you can imagine. Of course, some are poor, and totally unable to be productive, and they will die - as they always have. That, also, is just the way it is.
It's supposed to be 67 here by Friday, allen! Sixty - count 'em - seven degrees!
Granted, it is also supposed to be rainy. Granted, we're back in the fifties next week when you're off all smug-like in the Caribbean.
But I shall have you know the glaciers are retreating at long last and Nature is favoring Federal City with a thin smile, no matter anyone's approval ratings.
I am generally aware that the further south, the higher the temperature. I'm not sure but I think it might be all those warm smiles. We just don't smile enough up here.
When I left the south I discovered that those welcome, early spring times were not going to follow me and it's been one tale of woe after another ever since.
But I do most sincerely hope that you enjoy your holiday.
Dubai's public prosecutor has issued international arrest warrants for 16 more suspects involved in the killing of a top Hamas official in January, raising the total number of people on its wanted list to 27, the state news agency WAM reported Tuesday.
The issuance of the new warrants was based on international conventions, investigations conducted by Dubai's public prosecuting authority, and evidences collected and exposed by Dubai police, Attorney General Esam Humaidan was quoted as saying in a statement.
The thing about oil reserves that bothers me is that there's really no reliable way for "the folks" to know perzactly how much we've got left.
Gold's got an interesting hypothesis; it could be that even if mother earth is making the stuff in her bowels it just can't percolate up fast enough for us greedy selves.
Even if it's dead dinosaurs it still seems to be a problem.
However I worked on a seismic research vessel back in the '80s. State of the art and lots of big wigs passing thru. Lips sealed on how much our company had in reserves... Some gossip (not from the wigs) about major reserves in, still to this day, unexploited and unannounced fields. But, even liquored up, lips sealed.
Fast forward to the early noughts and I was down in the home office filling in for a couple of months. I wasn't an office guy but knew some that had been there over 20 years. Friends. One day we had a small party celebrating the retirement of the senior geologist. I spent some time with his secretary, a guy in his late fifties. Even tighter lips!
You could say "What? You think they'd spill the beans to a flunky like you?" But I've done my share of interviewing, questioning, and it was spooky how closed these guys were.
And I know, I know, the numbers don't lie. I spend my share of time over at The Oil Drum.
But I still can't help thinking that there's more to the story...
Granted, 80 gallons isn't a gusher, but you have to start somewhere. Most importantly, there is oil WAY down there (as predicted) and eventually the technology will exist to bring it up economically.
"After inquiries from The Post, health bigs said yesterday that even though department codes do not explicitly forbid the practice, they have advised Angerer to refrain from sharing his wife's milk with the world...
"The restaurant knows that cheese made from breast milk is not for public consumption, whether sold or given away," a spokeswoman for the city Department of Health said."
There is little doubt the rapid rise of the coal seam gas industry will result in consolidation, with the consensus tipping one or perhaps two projects to proceed.
Analysts at RBS Morgans said Shell could look for further consolidation even if the Arrow acquisition goes through. ''With up to 7000 petajoules of coal seam gas reserves required to underpin each liquefied natural gas train,'' the analysts said, ''Shell may still be 12 months away from having sufficient uncontracted coal seam gas to feed a single liquefied natural gas train, and perhaps three to four years away from … sufficient coal seam gas reserves for two trains.
''This may prompt Shell and PetroChina to evaluate … consolidating their reserves and downstream project with another project. The Santos-led Gladstone liquefied natural gas project is the logical partner, given they are possibly short of gas for a two-train development.''
O, and there was a time when it was known, absolutely, that the human body could not withstand speeds in excess of 20 mph. Then there was the insurmountable barrier of the 4 min. mile.
I thought this was the hangout of optimists...guess it depends on preconceptions and prejudices.
trish,
If allowed, my lady will have me slathered in enough screen to withstand high-noon on Mars :)
Thanks for the well wishes. The trip will be a wonderful adventure for us both. She knows a jeweler on St. Martin...Hmmm...Hmmm...This requires additional thought.
While the VP was minding XXXXXXX business today, a nice lady from PA was bringing jihad just a little bit closer to home. When bombs start exploding in Wal-Marts across the land the VP's ministrations will be more realistic.
Reminds me of the sniping that the fuel oil guys and the nat gas guys did at each other when we were refurnacing our house a while back. Claims and counter claims about how "packed with energy" each fuel was!
I finally phoned a Udub prof to get a clearer picture... Went with nat gas for what that's worth...
Also, you may have fond memories of the Pike Place Market. But it's another of those cesspools of corruption far as I'm concerned.
Big time "who you know..." to get a spot. And the rent is maybe 20% of comparable private space. The rest made up by you know who.
Plus the rent is, I'm told, determined in part by the businesses' net proceeds. Would you then be surprised to learn that much of those proceeds are in cash?
"Landau said nuclear plants built in Israel will be subject to strict safety and security controls, and even said his country would like to build them in cooperation with scientists and engineers from "our Arab neighbors." He did not elaborate.
"Israel currently uses natural gas and coal, blamed in part for global warming, to produce electricity.
"Israel has always considered nuclear power to partially replace its dependence on coal," Landau said.
"Asked whether Israel would allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to supervise any new project, he said any nuclear plants "will undoubtedly be under the total procedures of those with whom we are in cooperation."
"Still, he dismissed calls to sign the Nonproliferation Treaty, which aims to limit the number of countries capable of developing nuclear weapons.
"We don't see a reason why we should do it," he said.
Yep, when I think nuclear physics, I think "Syria". Those guys have won a bushel of Noble prizes for great leaps in science.
Recently, two highly innovative, Syrian patent applications for better bomber vests were rejected by the Patent Office, duct tape, Velcro and Double Bubble nothwithstanding.
I have no doubt it's all about 'who you know' to get a stall at the market. Limited space there, that's for sure.
It's still a fun and scenic place to go to every once in awhile 'though. Busy, lots of people, full of life.
Great memories of long ago. Dad taking me out on Sunday mornings for clam chowder upstairs above 'that chowder house'. You know the one. Watching the Bremerton ferry traffic come and go. Seagulls flying by. The salty/sea smell of Elliott Bay in the air.
Sam, I go to the Market regularly and have for years. Same reasons as yours.
But I also give myself some "credits" for "Continuing Education" in the new, Greek style, economy.
(I'm thinking of that report that sez 40% of their economy is "off the books.")
It's not so much the stalls that are the problem, although there are issues there. It's more the allocation of the storefronts over the years.
And the administrative bloat. I've got a buddy with a shop down there. He's got two stories that resonate with me.
According to him what used to take 3 administrators now takes 20. All at good gummint salaries and bennies.
And then he says none of the biznessses, even the fish tossers, are stating anything close to their net. He says it's about 40% of actual. Sez it's a sort of a game; everyone knows who the big money makers are, you've just got to figure what numbers they're using and put yourself in line.
Like I say, "Continuing Education" for these modern times!
While most media attention in the Middle East is on the resumption of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks, another crucial set of meetings is taking place this week in Israel and the United States behind closed doors as Israeli and American leaders debate the Iranian nuclear issue.
...
The Israeli leadership, including President Shimon Peres and Netanyahu, hammered home their concerns on the Iranian nuclear issue in talks with Biden on Tuesday and also on other recent occasions.
...
Biden apparently sought to assuage Israel's concerns.
He told his hosts on Tuesday that his government is committed to Israel's security and will never allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons.
Seems there were two announcements on housing construction: one pertaining to the West Bank yesterday; one pertaining to E Jerusalem today.
Neither violates the moratorium, but rather the unspoken understanding that sufficiently important visiting parties shall not be wrong-footed by or burdened with untimely and unhelpful announcements that have the effect of delaying dinner for more than an hour and then require strongly worded statements underscoring the transgression for the folks back home. Or some such.
I don't know what Levin's point is; but an accused, on American soil, gets a lawyer. Period.
ReplyDeleteSo, you see, Your Honor, my problems began a couple of years, ago. I was having sex in the Caravan, And, when I paused I noticed a Knife Sticking out of My Back. It must have been this other gal that I was trying to get to participate in a 3 - Way. And, then, while I was trying to get the knife out of my back the Other one disappeared.
ReplyDeleteAnd it goes on.
From Australia. Weird, but still now weird enough for the Keys, I guess.
I don't know what it is with the Cheneys - Dick and Liz anyway. I really don't.
ReplyDeleteI am convinced, however, that when the dear man departs this earth, Liz will take up channeling him from the great beyond. And possibly appear wearing his old jackets and ties.
He lives just down the road from me, Lord Vader does. And he and Powell are practically neighbors.
I have a feeling they don't get together for barbecues.
So, here's the deal: All the growth is in the developing countries. We'll make our money, not in promoting more consumption that we really don't need, but in EXPORTING to the Developing Countries. How hard is that to figure out?
ReplyDeleteIt's in the "Mix" - Bloomberg
Robert Kagan has a piece in today's WaPo hailing the two-term limit for President Uribe.
ReplyDeleteNice enough but at the end he goes and speculates on what role the Obama administration might have played.
We can nip this in the bud right now: None, nada, zip, zilch, squat.
It's the Colombian Supreme Court, Robert. AND it's the Colombian Supreme Court solidly packed with Uribe supporters.
You'd have to be some kind of shit-for-brains to go stepping in that.
Major League shit-for-brains.
We dispatch all those to some other country.
We are consistent.
ReplyDeleteBBC News - 3 hours ago
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged Nigeria to arrest and try those responsible for killing hundreds of people near the city of Jos.
Daily Mail - Emily Andrews - Mar 5, 2010
ReplyDeleteA man of 22 died in agony of dehydration after three days in a leading teaching hospital. Kane Gorny was so desperate for a drink that he rang police to beg for their help.
Hilariously memorable IOZ:
ReplyDelete"Evidently hyperautistic tourettes spokesmodel and all-around shit-munching gutter-trough pisspig "Wolf" "Blitzer" is now on the breaking story news case that the Department of Justice is a hotbed of jihad. Allahu Akbar, muthafuckas! Jesus Christ, America, really?"
BBC News-
ReplyDeleteBrussels has said it would be "extremely concerned" if the defence group EADS was prevented from fairly bidding for a major US defence deal.
Its comments came after pan-European EADS and US partner Northrop Grumman abandoned a bid for a $35bn (£23bn) mid-air refuelling aircraft contract.
Northrop Grumman and EADS said the terms of the Pentagon tender "clearly favour" US aerospace giant Boeing.
Boeing is now widely expected to win the contract for the aircraft.
Yes.
ReplyDeleteReally.
"an accused, on American soil, gets a lawyer. Period."
ReplyDelete---
Yeah, what did FDR know about winning wars, executing them Nazi Spies without a trial, before Miranda?
trish said...
ReplyDelete"I don't know what it is with the Cheneys - Dick and Liz anyway. I really don't.
I am convinced, however, that when the dear man departs this earth, Liz will take up channeling him from the great beyond."
---
Thank Gawd, the penultimate fly-fisher with the crooked smile has spawned a clone, equally brilliant in their unique way.
Trish doesn't know what it is, yet she purports to know what it is with Colon Powell, staunch conservative, fanatic supporter of our Marxist President, over his purported ideal candidate:
"Moderate" John McCain.
Go Figure.
The Constitutionally valid and legal Statutes that we have passed, since FDR, make the actions he took, doug, illegal under US laws today.
ReplyDeleteNow you may wish to debate whether the US should remain signatory to the Geneva Accords, or not.
But no one in DC is engaged in that debate. You'll be standing alone, beating a drum that no one wants to hear.
They had trials, Doug. Military tribunals. As such, they would have been represented by lawyers.
ReplyDeleteJust heard on the radio:
ReplyDelete" John McCain is Arizona's 'Last line of Defense'. "
Against the President and Congress.
He'll easily win, too.
Yeah, alone with a clear majority of fellow Americans that feel that America is less safe under the phoney touchy feely Marxist and his traitorous sidekick Holder than we were under Bush-Cheney.
ReplyDelete...as polled by Right Wing Fanatic Carville.
And, ol crazy mark, notwithstanding, most of our knowledge of the "Boston Massacre" are a RESULT of the Trials.
ReplyDeleteJohn Adams took an unpopular defendant, and an unpopular case, and did his best.
In the U.S. every man has a right to be represented by counsel.
Feelings ...
ReplyDeletenothing more than feelings ....
We are not ruled by our feelings, doug.
Liberals are.
Toughen up!
I'm thinking seriously about taking the tv off of my cable. It's too sensationalistic, and emotional. I find I think a lot clearer when I get my "news" off the internet. All I ever watch is CNBC, anyway, and that's with the sound muted.
ReplyDelete"Thank Gawd, the penultimate fly-fisher with the crooked smile has spawned a clone, equally brilliant in their unique way."
ReplyDeleteI sometimes wonder if he longs to see his name on an annex at Langley. "You know, I really DO like you guys. I always did."
In any event, I don't take either of them seriously.
They're more like objects of morbid fascination at this point.
I can't think of the last time I watched something on the news that I didn't know at least 12 hrs. in advance off the internet.
ReplyDeleteMythbusters was on the Discovery channel last night and they were exploring a myth about torture. My 10 year old son asked me about torture - what it was and why people did it. He then asked if it only occurred back in the "War of the Swords" - a 10 yr. old's conception of history. I said "no, some countries still do it". He seemed surprised and asked which countries still use it. I started off "Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria...ummmmmm, the US." He shot back the "The US?".
ReplyDelete"I said they stopped the practice recently"
Now, if Liz Cheney and our dear host get their way in the future I'll be left trying to explain why the US executes folk with no trial and no representation - 'they're terrorists dontcha know?'. And then we will have to move on and explain the progroms against the Muslims for their murderous rampages due to beauty pageants.
Yeah rufus, get your fair and balanced view of current events at the bar.
Ash, that's the kind of snarky, childish comments that make people hate liberals.
ReplyDelete1) I posted, and Rat agreed, when your charged in the U.S. you get a Lawyer. Conservatives are smart enough to know who they want to get a blowjob from, and from whom they want to get their "policy."
2) You can claim "waterboarding" is torture all you want, but the majority of Americans don't agree with you. When it's used/how it's used should be the debate - not if it can be used on known terrorists.
The "Bar" is a good place to hang out, and chitchat, and some pretty good links end up getting posted here.
And then there is Sarah Palin, is she the face of the bolder better new US?
ReplyDelete"Palin in hot water for anecdote that her family saw Yukon doctor.
Political websites and cable news buzzed Monday with word that the family of Sarah Palin, former Republican vice-presidential candidate and darling of the conservative Tea Party protest movement, used to travel from Skagway, Alaska, to Whitehorse, Yukon, to receive health care, when she was growing up."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/palin-in-hot-water-for-anecdote-that-her-family-saw-yukon-doctor/article1494080/
and more Palin fun:
"A Sarah Palin reality series? We’ve got that already.
John Doyle
Sarah Palin has been shopping a reality show around the U.S. networks.
Where do I start? Oh, this is good. It is further evidence that Palin is a creature of the reality-TV culture. And that fame-addiction is the great motivator of our times. The controlling impulse. The centre of the culture. Being famous is totally great, you see. There’s free stuff, Facebook fans, a limo to take you to the party. There’s no life like it.
You don’t think Sarah Palin and her brood with daytime soap-opera names – Track, Willow, Bristol, Piper and Trig – are interested in swag bags and gifties? You think they’re not just like those C-list stars who adore the gifts they get just for showing up?
Well, according to the Los Angeles Times, while Palin and her posse were in L.A. last week for The Tonight Show and meetings about that proposed reality show (she has reality-TV king Mark Burnett on-board for it), they also stormed the Oscar “gifting suite.” And got their free watches, sheets, bathrobes, cosmetics and stuff. According to the L.A. Times, "Palin's middle child, Willow, got her hair styled, receiving a blowout from Erick Orellana of the Chris McMillan Salon (Jennifer Aniston's long-time hairstylist)." The Times pointed out that Palin, like all the Oscar celebs, was supposed to donate $1,700, along with all of her gift items, to the American Red Cross, to help fund relief efforts in Haiti and Chile.
According to some accounts, Palin did indeed write a cheque for $1,700. Mind you, E! Online reports, "We can assure you, she did not give up any of her swag." The site quotes a witness who claims that “upwards of 20 people from the Palin camp swarmed the event. They were like locusts." Do the math: Does 20 people feeding on free stuff amount to $1,700? Never mind the Tea Party movement. This is the swag-party movement in action.
It matters little in the long term. The important thing is that Palin sees a reality-TV series in her future. The fascinating thing is that Palin has been in a reality-TV series since August, 2008, when she was plucked from obscurity to be John McCain’s running mate in the U.S. presidential election.
Palin was put on the ticket to inject vitality, appeal to women and, most important, represent authenticity – just as truck drivers, hairdressers, janitors and cocktail waitresses represent compelling authenticity on The Bachelor, Survivor or Jersey Shore. The Republican Party was buying into the marketing strategy used by TV networks and Palin took to her role like the fame-addicted critter she is.
Fame of the kind achieved by Palin and many reality-TV figures is a narcotic. You just have to be yourself. The more ordinary, unthinking and unsophisticated you are, the better. And people give you stuff. They provide a limo to take you the TV studio, give you free stuff while you’re there and, if you’ve got enough juice going with your fame, you can bring your posse with you. You get paid for turning up, get gifts and everybody wants to take your picture. Beats working. It sure beats trying to run a small but complicated state, a job Palin relinquished so she could travel, make speeches for a large fee, appear on Fox News to offer her opinions, josh with Jay Leno and, over the past weekend, appear in Calgary to make a speech sponsored by those nice people, the Fraser Institute. And presumably get the free stuff that comes with the gig.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Entertainment Weekly, which broke the story about Palin and Burnett’s network meetings, what’s being pitched is "a TV docudrama about Alaska.” One source called it a ‘Planet Earth-type look' at Palin’s home state." That sounds a tad dreary, but you can bet that Palin would have specific involvement. Why? Because this woman needs to be in showbiz. NBC might be a good bet: They’re so desperate they’re airing The Marriage Ref, one of the dumbest shows in history.
The real irony in all of this is that it causes us to consider what “reality TV” means. Certainly, it doesn’t mean much reality. It means putting people with attitude on TV and heightening everything about them. It means manipulating strong personalities to make them appear more real than fictional characters. Sarah Palin disappeared into that world more than two years ago. She doesn’t want to give it up. It comes with perks. She never has to shop again. Right now Palin would attend the opening of a car door, if there were TV cameras present and a gift bag to take away. She’s addicted."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/a-sarah-palin-reality-series-weve-got-that-already/article1492794/
A Documentary about Alaska is a "Palin Reality-TV Show?"
ReplyDeleteMore silliness from the left.
Don't you people ever get embarrassed being in the room with grown-ups, and such?
"docu-drama" = "documentary"?? riiiight.
ReplyDelete"Public Pension Funds Are Adding Risk to Raise Returns
ReplyDeleteGovernment pension plans cannot beef up their bonds that mature many, many years from now without dashing their business models. They use long-range estimates that presume high investment returns will cover most of the cost of the benefits they must pay. And that, they say, allows them to make smaller contributions along the way.
Most have been assuming their investments will pay 8 percent a year on average, over the long term. This is based on an assumption that stocks will pay 9.5 percent on average, and bonds will pay about 5.75 percent, in roughly a 60-40 mix.
(Corporate plans do their calculations differently, and for them, investment returns are a less important factor.)
The problem now is that bond rates have been low for years, and stocks have been prone to such wild swings that a 60-40 mixture of stocks and bonds is not paying 8 percent. Many public pension funds have been averaging a little more than 3 percent a year for the last decade, so they have fallen behind where their planning models say they should be.
A growing number of experts say that governments need to lower the assumptions they make about rates of return, to reflect today’s market conditions.
But plan officials say they cannot.
“Nobody wants to adjust the rate, because liabilities would explode,” said Trent May, chief investment officer of Wyoming’s state pension fund."
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/09/business/09pension.html?pagewanted=2&hp
You can't possibly have a coherent idea of your future if you're not familiar with this Outlook.
ReplyDeleteThis is important stuff. Simple, brief, and well-written.
There is a pretty negative outlook espoused in that article rufus which is strikingly in contrast to your repeated proclamations that ever increasing productivity will make things all right in the future.
ReplyDeleteOn a different note, but similar, I was struck by this line near the end of the article:
"The second question is: If the creeping infection of sovereign default continues to spread to more countries, where will the money come from to bail them out?"
Which brought to mind Whit's comment yesterday asking about hitting the reset button and rat's reply that we already have. I beg to differ. Similarly the line from that article about bailing out defaulters doesn't make much sense. They get bailed out so they don't default. If they default, welp, all kinds of wealth goes 'poof'.
I stumbled upon this interesting article on the history of sovereign defaults. I haven't read it all yet, but it seems pretty good
http://mitpress.mit.edu/books/chapters/0262195534chapm1.pdf
Ash, you and Doug have the same problem. You only pay attention to the parts that suit your fancy.
ReplyDeleteI'm am a strong optimist in the long run; but I've said, repeatedly, that we could be in for one hell of a rough ten years.
I've made it very clear that I think we're at, for all practical purposes, "Peak Oil." I've also made it clear that I don't think we are, in any way, shape, or form ready for what's coming.
My absolute greatest fear is that we won't recognize our problem for what it is. For instance, everyone ignores the fact that our recession actually started in the Summer of 2007. We were in a pretty sorry mess way before the financial meltdown.
That $3.50, and then, $4.00 gasoline was weighing Heavy on the populace. As I said, WE WERE IN RECESSION, but the powers that be weren't noticing. They were busy flipping houses, and adding up their winnings.
The crux of Chris Nelder's argument is that this time it will only take, maybe, $3.00 to $3.25 gasoline to push us back in, and, once again, the powers won't recognize what's truly happening.
BTW, I think the peak oilers always run into trouble when they get outside their area of study. ala the sovereign debt, thing. I feel like that's a topic for another day.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is, we could solve our peak oil problem fairly easily, but the solution will take close to a decade. If we wait much longer to get started it's going to be a very Looong decade.
ReplyDeleteBlogger rufus said...
ReplyDelete"Ash, you and Doug have the same problem. You only pay attention to the parts that suit your fancy."
ummm, dude, where the heck in that article does it say anything to support your statement that "I'm am a strong optimist in the long run; "?
The whole article seems to run against optimism and portrays a dismal oil future, a future so dismal because "Energy is the only real currency."
I rescanned the article and it is a very bleak assessment of the future (particularly the US) because of peak oil. I can pull all kinds of quotes from the article to support this. For example:
"As I explained in “Investment Themes for the Next Decade,” the new normal will be cycles of bumping our heads against the supply ceiling, falling dazed to the floor, rising back to our knees, then finally standing, only to bump our heads against the ceiling once more."
or
"The Real Meaning of Peak Demand
The most promising effort I’ve seen to quantify the role of efficiency in peak demand was a report in October of last year by Paul Sankey of Deutsche Bank entitled, “The Peak Oil Market.” My initial excitement quickly gave way to disappointment as dug into it, however, as I realized that its confident assertions were unsupported by the data. I applauded the effort enthusiastically–and I hope to see more serious work along the same lines–but it fell far short of proving that energy transition can be accomplished under the status quo of economic growth, let alone its optimistic twist on “The end is nigh for the age of oil"
or
"The true import of peak oil, therefore, may not be sustained high prices, but economic shrinkage. Demand will be destroyed long before oil gets to $200 a barrel, but it will not be destroyed by improved efficiency.
From where we stand today, it’s hard to make an argument for economic recovery. "
or
"Without cheap energy to fuel the growth that is hoped to pay off the accumulated debt, austerity will become an everyday reality, not a short-term fix. A reality that slowly sinks in for the rest of our lives, as net importers become progressively poorer."
So, rufus, where have I mis-read this article to support my fancy?
Quirk wrote:
ReplyDelete"The operational overlap between the two Admins is considerable.”
Yea, well I assume that was because Obama didn’t have a spare army to move in with him.
Now, that is funny...really, really funny...
Seriously though, I wonder some days if Mr. Obama is going to need a "spare army" come 2012. Mr. Clinton played hardball, but he knew how, knowing that Little Rock was not DC. Mr. Obama has little experience outside his limited experience in Illinois and a short time in the Senate.
Ash, you didn't misread the article; you misread, ME. The article outlined the Problem. The same problem I've been outlining for more than a year.
ReplyDeleteThe difference between me and the "doomers" (most of the peak-oilers) is I believe there are solutions. You have to understand the peak oil crowd is basically Nutz. They're totally out to lunch on almost everything except the one thing they happen to be right about - Peak Oil. It just shows to go you that just because you're paranoid, you're not necessarily "Wrong."
I put up ten, or twelve posts/wk making my case for why the U.S. needs to get busy with more biofuels, and, even, batteries, etc. I do that because I think we have a very serious problem developing. And, I think it's being, in some cases, purposefully, overlooked. We'll save the reasons for That for another time.
More Jeffrey Browne:
ReplyDeleteDeveloping countries are a lot more demand sensitive to price increase. $150 to $200 oil has a much bigger impact to China than the U.S.
????
Total Chinese oil consumption almost doubled from 1998 to 2008 as annual oil prices went up more than sevenfold, from $14 to $100, while US consumption in 2008 had fallen back to its 1999 rate, and has fallen further since then.
IMO, developed countries like the US are going to have to make do with what is left over after the developing countries take what they want. My forecast for the US is that we are going to be forced to make do with a declining share of a falling volume of global net oil exports; this is ELM 2.0.
Furthermore, many developed countries--because of vast debts and huge unfunded government obligations--are effectively bankrupt, especially in light of the ELM 2.0 math.
ummm, rufus, you said:
ReplyDelete"Blogger rufus said...
Ash, you and Doug have the same problem. You only pay attention to the parts that suit your fancy."
"parts" as in parts of the article. Anyway, it appears that it is you that is only paying attention to the parts that suit your fancy. Anyway, enough splitting hairs. Yeah, the peakers are doomers at heart.
...all we gotta do is trade in the SUV's for scooters and all will be right in the US!
ReplyDeleteSixty-four percent of the respondents said that aliens have contacted humans, half said they've abducted humans, and 37 percent said they have contacted the U.S. government. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. From a CNN Poll
ReplyDeleteBut, only 21%, according to a Rasmussen Poll believe the government is acting with the Consent of the Governed.
Ash, I was referring to the part where you reference my Optimistic outlook for our potential, and ignore the numerous postings I've made as regards our developing "energy" problems.
ReplyDeleteBut, Ash, I'M Not a Doomer. I just recognize that in this one instance the nutsos are right. We do got problems coming at us - pretty damned quickly.
ReplyDeleteIt just suits No One's Political, or Business Agenda to acknowledge it.
You are the exception, a peaker that's not a doomer. Personally I think there are many challenges ahead for humanity with peak oil but one of them. Fundamentally I think we will have to adapt to much slower growth and that is a big problem for how we've structured things. While not a doomer I have come to appreciate the ...turmoil that can come with change. Turmoil should be considered an understatement.
ReplyDeleteThe History of Mankind, Ash, has been higher productivity, and faster growth. I can't see that changing. I can see it getting slowed down for a decade, or so; but technology reigns supreme.
ReplyDeleteI would bet any amount of money I had that it will take fewer human beings to build a car, or raise a bushel of corn ten years from now than it does today.
BUT, it will require a much more skilled workforce. A man (or woman) will have the ability to do very technical things, or life will be very "unrewarding."
The days of sleeping through high school, and then going down to the GM plant for a good middle-class income are long gone.
I'm a big fan of productivity as well rufus but the drag on growth, in my view, come not from lesser gains in productivity but rather from a lack of increase in demand. Peak oil being one facet of this damper on demand, current demographic trends (though these could be relatively short term -i.e. 30- 40 years out) and the planets ability (sort of like peak oil) to support the rapid growth in human population that we've seen over the past number of centuries.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, Ash, it's the "developing" countries that are growing the fastest. Those genetic seeds, and computers work just as well in China, and India as they do here.
ReplyDeleteAnd, they're producing, or getting ready to produce, ethanol in just about every country on earth, now. Hell, they're refurbishing a refinery in Zimbabwe. I kid you not.
That's a good point rufus. The economic growth in the developing countries does not seem to be linked to a parallel population growth.
ReplyDeleteAs for population growth: don't worry about it. Malthus was wrong, Erlich is a fool, and whoever is still paying attention to them needs to get out and walk around the block a couple of times.
ReplyDeleteWe've set 150 Million Acres aside in the last hundred years in the U.S.A. alone. There are at least a Billion Arable Acres lying fallow around the world. Some of it's pretty good land. Some of it's very good land (think Russia, Ukraine, etc.)
Hell, you've probably got a Billion Acres in Africa alone that just needs a little lime, and a bit of fertilizer. Brazil probably has 250 Million pretty good acres lying fallow. Republic of Congo, maybe double that. Yikes, A Billion is probably way low.
Any human being on earth that has "Any" utility at all should be ok for any size population that you can imagine. Of course, some are poor, and totally unable to be productive, and they will die - as they always have. That, also, is just the way it is.
I think This is going to play a Big Role Univ of Fla and Buckeye Technologies Break Ground on New Cellulosic Ethanol Plant
ReplyDeleteLater
ReplyDeleteNap time
Rufus (and all),
ReplyDeleteI've always found this guy's thoughts interesting: Wired magazine interview with Thomas Gold
It's supposed to be 67 here by Friday, allen! Sixty - count 'em - seven degrees!
ReplyDeleteGranted, it is also supposed to be rainy. Granted, we're back in the fifties next week when you're off all smug-like in the Caribbean.
But I shall have you know the glaciers are retreating at long last and Nature is favoring Federal City with a thin smile, no matter anyone's approval ratings.
So there.
gnossos,
ReplyDeleteGreat read...Thanks!
By the way, I agree that the process is ongoing.
There are reports of work resuming in old Texas fields thought defunct. It will be interesting to see what comes of that relative to this article.
trish,
ReplyDeleteI do hate to burst your bubble, but it has been pleasantly in the 70s here. While driving today, I noticed ornamental trees in bloom - pink, no less.
allen said...
ReplyDeletetrish,
I do hate to burst your bubble, but it has been pleasantly in the 70s here. While driving today, I noticed ornamental trees in bloom - pink, no less.
Ohio...
Mid 50's and sun shining...
Feels great...
Obama still can bite me....
Well, the man drilled down 6 kilometers, and got 80 barrels, and the world uses about 32 Billion Barrels/Yr.
ReplyDeleteWe're Saved.
"I do hate to burst your bubble..."
ReplyDeleteI am generally aware that the further south, the higher the temperature. I'm not sure but I think it might be all those warm smiles. We just don't smile enough up here.
When I left the south I discovered that those welcome, early spring times were not going to follow me and it's been one tale of woe after another ever since.
But I do most sincerely hope that you enjoy your holiday.
Don't forget a good sunscreen.
Rock Star Songs
ReplyDeleteDubai's public prosecutor has issued international arrest warrants for 16 more suspects involved in the killing of a top Hamas official in January, raising the total number of people on its wanted list to 27, the state news agency WAM reported Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteThe issuance of the new warrants was based on international conventions, investigations conducted by Dubai's public prosecuting authority, and evidences collected and exposed by Dubai police, Attorney General Esam Humaidan was quoted as saying in a statement.
Murder Suspects
The thing about oil reserves that bothers me is that there's really no reliable way for "the folks" to know perzactly how much we've got left.
ReplyDeleteGold's got an interesting hypothesis; it could be that even if mother earth is making the stuff in her bowels it just can't percolate up fast enough for us greedy selves.
Even if it's dead dinosaurs it still seems to be a problem.
However I worked on a seismic research vessel back in the '80s. State of the art and lots of big wigs passing thru. Lips sealed on how much our company had in reserves... Some gossip (not from the wigs) about major reserves in, still to this day, unexploited and unannounced fields. But, even liquored up, lips sealed.
Fast forward to the early noughts and I was down in the home office filling in for a couple of months. I wasn't an office guy but knew some that had been there over 20 years. Friends. One day we had a small party celebrating the retirement of the senior geologist. I spent some time with his secretary, a guy in his late fifties. Even tighter lips!
You could say "What? You think they'd spill the beans to a flunky like you?" But I've done my share of interviewing, questioning, and it was spooky how closed these guys were.
And I know, I know, the numbers don't lie. I spend my share of time over at The Oil Drum.
But I still can't help thinking that there's more to the story...
Granted, 80 gallons isn't a gusher, but you have to start somewhere. Most importantly, there is oil WAY down there (as predicted) and eventually the technology will exist to bring it up economically.
ReplyDeleteLook how the auto industry started.
Mercedes Benz
80 Gallons? Not much oil but a lot of mother's milk.
ReplyDeleteChef Makes Cheese from Wife's Breast Milk
"After inquiries from The Post, health bigs said yesterday that even though department codes do not explicitly forbid the practice, they have advised Angerer to refrain from sharing his wife's milk with the world...
"The restaurant knows that cheese made from breast milk is not for public consumption, whether sold or given away," a spokeswoman for the city Department of Health said."
.
There is little doubt the rapid rise of the coal seam gas industry will result in consolidation, with the consensus tipping one or perhaps two projects to proceed.
ReplyDeleteAnalysts at RBS Morgans said Shell could look for further consolidation even if the Arrow acquisition goes through. ''With up to 7000 petajoules of coal seam gas reserves required to underpin each liquefied natural gas train,'' the analysts said, ''Shell may still be 12 months away from having sufficient uncontracted coal seam gas to feed a single liquefied natural gas train, and perhaps three to four years away from … sufficient coal seam gas reserves for two trains.
''This may prompt Shell and PetroChina to evaluate … consolidating their reserves and downstream project with another project. The Santos-led Gladstone liquefied natural gas project is the logical partner, given they are possibly short of gas for a two-train development.''
Coal Seam
O, and there was a time when it was known, absolutely, that the human body could not withstand speeds in excess of 20 mph. Then there was the insurmountable barrier of the 4 min. mile.
ReplyDeleteI thought this was the hangout of optimists...guess it depends on preconceptions and prejudices.
trish,
If allowed, my lady will have me slathered in enough screen to withstand high-noon on Mars :)
Thanks for the well wishes. The trip will be a wonderful adventure for us both. She knows a jeweler on St. Martin...Hmmm...Hmmm...This requires additional thought.
...that would be Mercury...
ReplyDeleteWhile the VP was minding XXXXXXX business today, a nice lady from PA was bringing jihad just a little bit closer to home. When bombs start exploding in Wal-Marts across the land the VP's ministrations will be more realistic.
ReplyDeletePa. woman charged with recruiting jihadists online
Sam,
ReplyDelete"Girly gas!"
Reminds me of the sniping that the fuel oil guys and the nat gas guys did at each other when we were refurnacing our house a while back. Claims and counter claims about how "packed with energy" each fuel was!
I finally phoned a Udub prof to get a clearer picture... Went with nat gas for what that's worth...
Also, you may have fond memories of the Pike Place Market. But it's another of those cesspools of corruption far as I'm concerned.
Big time "who you know..." to get a spot. And the rent is maybe 20% of comparable private space. The rest made up by you know who.
Plus the rent is, I'm told, determined in part by the businesses' net proceeds. Would you then be surprised to learn that much of those proceeds are in cash?
"Landau said nuclear plants built in Israel will be subject to strict safety and security controls, and even said his country would like to build them in cooperation with scientists and engineers from "our Arab neighbors." He did not elaborate.
ReplyDelete"Israel currently uses natural gas and coal, blamed in part for global warming, to produce electricity.
"Israel has always considered nuclear power to partially replace its dependence on coal," Landau said.
"Asked whether Israel would allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to supervise any new project, he said any nuclear plants "will undoubtedly be under the total procedures of those with whom we are in cooperation."
"Still, he dismissed calls to sign the Nonproliferation Treaty, which aims to limit the number of countries capable of developing nuclear weapons.
"We don't see a reason why we should do it," he said.
Isreal and Syria Both Announce Nuclear Ambitions
.
Yep, when I think nuclear physics, I think "Syria". Those guys have won a bushel of Noble prizes for great leaps in science.
ReplyDeleteRecently, two highly innovative, Syrian patent applications for better bomber vests were rejected by the Patent Office, duct tape, Velcro and Double Bubble nothwithstanding.
Gnossos,
ReplyDeleteI have no doubt it's all about 'who you know' to get a stall at the market. Limited space there, that's for sure.
It's still a fun and scenic place to go to every once in awhile 'though. Busy, lots of people, full of life.
Great memories of long ago. Dad taking me out on Sunday mornings for clam chowder upstairs above 'that chowder house'. You know the one. Watching the Bremerton ferry traffic come and go. Seagulls flying by. The salty/sea smell of Elliott Bay in the air.
“The substance and timing of the announcement ... is precisely the kind of step that undermines the trust we need right now,” Mr Biden said in condemning Israel’s move. “We must build an atmosphere to support negotiations, not complicate them.”
ReplyDeleteHey, hows about sending Rahm, "The Nude Nuck", over next time.
And, Joe, how's that Iranian plan working for you?
...Nobel, also...
ReplyDeleteSam,
ReplyDeleteI go to the Market regularly and have for years. Same reasons as yours.
But I also give myself some "credits" for "Continuing Education" in the new, Greek style, economy.
(I'm thinking of that report that sez 40% of their economy is "off the books.")
It's not so much the stalls that are the problem, although there are issues there. It's more the allocation of the storefronts over the years.
And the administrative bloat. I've got a buddy with a shop down there. He's got two stories that resonate with me.
According to him what used to take 3 administrators now takes 20. All at good gummint salaries and bennies.
And then he says none of the biznessses, even the fish tossers, are stating anything close to their net. He says it's about 40% of actual. Sez it's a sort of a game; everyone knows who the big money makers are, you've just got to figure what numbers they're using and put yourself in line.
Like I say, "Continuing Education" for these modern times!
"After the settlements announcement, Mr Biden arrived 90 minutes late for dinner with Mr Netanyahu."
ReplyDeleteShame on Netanyahu! Biden's bags should have been early to the tarmac, accompanied by a cold ham sandwich and a glass of milk.
On the other hand, Bravo! Keep building...a real shot to the Administration's glass jaw.
Israeli housing push hits peace moves
Huh, interesting, Gnossos. Thanks. I had no idea the city's fucked it up so bad. Shame.
ReplyDeleteWhile most media attention in the Middle East is on the resumption of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks, another crucial set of meetings is taking place this week in Israel and the United States behind closed doors as Israeli and American leaders debate the Iranian nuclear issue.
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The Israeli leadership, including President Shimon Peres and Netanyahu, hammered home their concerns on the Iranian nuclear issue in talks with Biden on Tuesday and also on other recent occasions.
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Biden apparently sought to assuage Israel's concerns.
He told his hosts on Tuesday that his government is committed to Israel's security and will never allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons.
'Double Message' on Iran
Seems there were two announcements on housing construction: one pertaining to the West Bank yesterday; one pertaining to E Jerusalem today.
ReplyDeleteNeither violates the moratorium, but rather the unspoken understanding that sufficiently important visiting parties shall not be wrong-footed by or burdened with untimely and unhelpful announcements that have the effect of delaying dinner for more than an hour and then require strongly worded statements underscoring the transgression for the folks back home. Or some such.
Appearances, appearances.
Oh, well.