COLLECTIVE MADNESS


“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, December 22, 2009

Stop the Illegal Immigration of Asian Carp



Asian Carp and the Great Lakes


Asian carp have been found in the Illinois River, which connects the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan. Due to their large size and rapid rate of reproduction, these fish could pose a significant risk to the Great Lakes Ecosystem.

To prevent the carp from entering the Great Lakes, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. EPA, the State of Illinois, the International Joint Commission, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are working together to install and maintain a permanent electric barrier between the fish and Lake Michigan.

How did Asian carp get so close to the Great Lakes?

Two species of Asian carp -- the bighead and silver -- were imported by catfish farmers in the 1970's to remove algae and suspended matter out of their ponds. During large floods in the early 1990s, many of the catfish farm ponds overflowed their banks, and the Asian carp were released into local waterways in the Mississippi River basin.

The carp have steadily made their way northward up the Mississippi, becoming the most abundant species in some areas of the River.

What effects might Asian carp have on the Great Lakes?

Asian Carp are a significant threat to the Great Lakes because they are large, extremely prolific, and consume vast amounts of food. They can weigh up to 100 pounds, and can grow to a length of more than four feet. They are well-suited to the climate of the Great Lakes region, which is similar to their native Asian habitats.

Researchers expect that Asian carp would disrupt the food chain that supports the native fish of the Great Lakes. Due to their large size, ravenous appetites, and rapid rate of reproduction, these fish could pose a significant risk to the Great Lakes Ecosystem.

__________________________________


Fight to keep Asian carp out of Great Lakes reaches Supreme Court
Michigan's attorney general files a lawsuit that seeks to close two shipping locks near Chicago, sealing off the fish's most direct route to the Great Lakes.

By Joel Hood and James Janega LA Times
December 22, 2009

Reporting from Chicago - The fight to keep invasive Asian carp out of the Great Lakes reached the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday, as Michigan's attorney general filed a lawsuit seeking closure of two shipping locks near Chicago.

Claiming Illinois officials have been lax, Michigan Atty. Gen. Mike Cox asked justices for immediate action to seal off the most direct route for fish entering Lake Michigan, in hopes of protecting the region's $7-billion fishing industry.

"We don't want to have to look back years later . . . and say, 'What was the matter with us? We should have done something,' " Cox said. Closing the locks, he said, was "the easiest, the most reliable and the most effective" short-term step officials could take.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn declined to say whether he favored closing the locks, but added: "We have to protect the ecology of the Great Lakes; we also have many, many jobs that depend on shipping, so there has to be a proper balance.

"There are ways of preventing the carp from getting into the Great Lakes without strangling our economy."

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which operates the locks and is a codefendant in the lawsuit, declined to comment.

In addition to closing the locks, the lawsuit seeks creation of barriers to prevent carp from escaping the Des Plaines River or neighboring waterways during flooding. Cox also called for a study of Chicago's water system to understand the size and scope of the Asian carp population.

The lawsuit comes during a period of heightened anxiety over recent DNA research that hinted the voracious fish may have bypassed an underwater electric barrier system -- and could now be within six miles of Lake Michigan. In August, Quinn signed into law a $3-million program giving universities and researchers authority to fish as many varieties of Asian carp as they could find. Last week, Illinois was awarded $13 million in federal funds to deal with the carp problem.

In filing the lawsuit, Michigan was asking that the high court reopen a 100-year-old case sparked by Chicago's reversing the flow of the Chicago River to send its sewage and human waste away from Lake Michigan and toward the Mississippi River. A number of states around the Great Lakes complained that Chicago's manipulation of the waterways was harming the lakes. The courts responded by limiting the amount of water Chicago could divert each day.

Hundreds of millions of dollars in commercial barge traffic pass through the area each year, with much of it proceeding to harbors in Lake Michigan, said the American Waterways Operators, a trade group for the barge industry. Thousands of recreational boaters also use the locks.

The Alliance for the Great Lakes, which recently studied permanently closing Chicago's shipping canals over fear of invasive species, said there was too much at risk to dismiss closing locks entirely.

"That canal is becoming a liability because it's putting the future of the Great Lakes at risk," said Joel Brammeier, chief executive officer of the alliance. "Right now, it's every tool in the toolbox, whatever it takes to keep the carp from getting into the Great Lakes."



39 comments:

  1. The US and Canada will have an emergency summit convened by The One to find ways to prevent anthropomorphic creature change.

    ReplyDelete
  2. We could stop importation of Asian carp, but ...
    It is to late, to stop the now natural born US carp.

    Those carp are third or fourth generation Americans, now.

    You can seal the borders, but the ones already here, they will not self-deport.

    ReplyDelete
  3. If you think you need a cave, bury a cargo container.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Grounds for summary ejection from the vehicle, Cheetos are.

    Were you thinking of corn chips, maybe?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Foreclosed homes top 1 million; half default a 2nd time
    By Jim Puzzanghera
    Stubborn unemployment makes it tough for homeowners to cover debts. Many whose loans were modified still can't keep up with the lower payments.

    For the first quarter ever, the number of homes in foreclosure with mortgages serviced by U.S. national banks and savings and loans topped the 1-million mark, according to figures released Monday by the Office of Thrift Supervision and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

    The percentage of prime borrowers whose loans were 60 or more days past due doubled from the July-to-September period a year earlier. And more than half of all homeowners whose payments had been lowered through modification plans defaulted again.

    Monday's report comes on the heels of a private report last week that said there were 1.7 million homes headed for the market because of foreclosures or delinquency.
    That backlog of "shadow inventory" increased 55% in the year that ended Sept. 30, said the report by First American CoreLogic, a Santa Ana research firm.

    Small-business bankruptcies rise 81% in California

    Over the last year, the Los Angeles, Riverside/San Bernardino and Sacramento metropolitan areas have led the nation in small-business bankruptcy filings, said Tim Klein, a spokesman for Equifax.

    About 19,000 small businesses filed for bankruptcy in California during the 12 months ended Sept. 2009, up from 10,500 the previous year.

    Teachers union files lawsuit over charter takeovers
    Teachers union files lawsuit over charter takeovers

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sure joke all you want. But here in Michigan we don't even have any Swedes to teach us how to cook carp.

    And now Bob's gone.

    Thanks a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Quirk wrote:

    "On a percentage of GDP basis, US manufacturing contributes less than half of what it did 50 years ago to the economy"

    How much of the economy does the magic of the financial sector occupy? Does increasing money supply increase productivity?

    ReplyDelete
  8. desert rat said...
    If you think you need a cave, bury a cargo container.


    that's actually not a bad idea...

    ReplyDelete
  9. In Chinese cuisine

    Among the various kinds of carp, the bighead carp is least expensive in China. The grass carp is still a main delicacy in Hangzhou cuisine. Restaurants along the West Lake of the city keep the fish in cages placed under the lake water right in front of the restaurant and on an order from a customer will dash a live fish on the pavement to kill it before cooking. The fish is normally served with a sour-sweet sauce.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I had a cargo container on my ranch in West Texas. I had it vented and fortified the locking mechanism. It was a great place to store stuff you didn't want the locals to steal and it was absolutely bomb proof. You can get a 20 footer delivered for around 2 grand.

    ReplyDelete
  11. oh great, 'fish change' means I've got to substitute carp for salmon or are the skeptics right on this issue and my diet won't change?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Fried Asian Carp
    2 pounds of Asian carp fillets cut into strips
    Deep fryer with oil heated to 375°-400°F
    Commercial frying coating (dry)
    Dredge fish strips in the commercial frying coating, and place
    in hot oil. Remove when golden brown. Serve with lemon wedges
    as a finger food or remove bones (exposed when strip is broken
    1/2 way along its length) and use in a sandwich

    Fried Asian Carp

    2 pounds of scored fillets
    Salt
    Fresh ground pepper
    Deep fryer with oil heated to 375° F to 400° F
    Commercial frying coating (dry)

    Smaller 1- to 5-pound fish have fine bones that readily dissolve when exposed to hot oil. Do not use large fish as they have much thicker bones that do not break down as easily. Most fish markets will sell the fish prescored for your convenience. Use light coatings, and avoid heavy batters that smother the scoring and which may leave the bones intact.

    Salt and pepper the fillets, and let them rest in the refrigerator for an hour. Dredge the fillets in the commercial frying coating, and place in hot oil. Remove when golden brown, and serve with lemon wedges as a finger food or as a fish sandwich.

    Smoked Asian Carp (Savory)

    5 pounds bighead or silver carp steaks or fillets (skin on)
    1cup coarse kosher salt
    1 cup sugar
    1 tbsp. fresh ground pepper
    1 bunch fresh baby dill

    Smoked Asian Carp (Sweet)

    5 pounds bighead or silver carp steaks or fillets (skin on)
    1cup coarse kosher salt 1 tbsp. fresh ground pepper
    1 cup brown sugar
    4 cups apple juice
    2 sticks cinnamon

    Smoker: charcoal and smoking chips (hickory, cherry or apple wood chips)

    Smoking is a good way to prepare larger 5- to 30-pound fish. The light, oily texture of the meat readily absorbs the smoke flavor. The smoking process also loosens the bones and allows for easy extraction after cooking. Taste testers found both versions of the carp to be comparable to smoked whitefish or salmon.

    Savory: Line up fillets/steaks on non-reactive pan or tray. Coat both sides with salt, pepper and dill. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

    Sweet: Place fillets/steaks in non-reactive bowl. Add remaining ingredients: salt, pepper, brown sugar, apple juice and cinnamon. Mix lightly until sugar and salt dissolve. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

    Soak wood chips in water one hour before smoking. Fire up charcoal until covered with a light ash. Fill water pan to create steam in smoker and keep fish from drying out.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Gag Reflex said...
    I had a cargo container on my ranch in West Texas. I had it vented and fortified the locking mechanism. It was a great place to store stuff you didn't want the locals to steal and it was absolutely bomb proof. You can get a 20 footer delivered for around 2 grand.



    Sounds like a plan...

    AND it sounds reasonable for an alternative warehouse expense...

    land, container, improvements etc...

    all deductible

    ReplyDelete
  14. "The fish is normally served with a sour-sweet sauce.

    Exactly my point. I always was under the impression you used sweet-sour sauce.

    Where is Bob when you actually need him?

    .

    ReplyDelete
  15. Corn chips, I think, are worse than Cheetos. Popcorn's bad, too.

    Another Go Bag item, come to think of it: Twizzlers. Better yet, that fantastic fruit licorice from Harry and David. Which I believe has been to Waziristan. (You can't stay overnight at a black site unless you're black. Another fun fact I didn't know and neither did you, but now we do.)





    Do we get to drop by the kibbutz, What Is? I mean, if everything goes south you wouldn't turn away some righteous gentiles, would you? We have our own sleeping bags.




    They're all fuckers, MeLoDy.

    Ever seen the Fox series "House"?

    They're Gregory House minus a few IQ points.

    ReplyDelete
  16. and trish, she's got the IQ points AND she's always sweet, kind, and cuddly!

    ReplyDelete
  17. trish: Do we get to drop by the kibbutz, What Is? I mean, if everything goes south you wouldn't turn away some righteous gentiles, would you? We have our own sleeping bags.

    Well I am modeling it after Galt's Gulch...

    But judging what I know about your abilities I am sure we can find a spot for ya'll...



    In all seriousness...

    I doubt that there will ever be a need for this type of place, however, with a little planning and not so much in actual cash, the purchase of a small 10 acre place off the beaten path, with electric utilities, would cost less than 40k

    also gives me the rights to the natural gas on the property...

    interesting...

    ReplyDelete
  18. My IQ is somewhat north of average, IIRC.

    And I have been known to be sweet.








    Another Go Bag item: Those styrofoam bowls of instant Korean noodles. Couple of cases from the Oriental supermarket.

    Has to be a big, big Go Bag. Helmet bag won't do. Flight bag could probably fit the bill.

    ReplyDelete
  19. "But judging what I know about your abilities I am sure we can find a spot for ya'll..."

    Too kind.

    Eric Holder may chase us out of town and we no longer have the Get Out of Jail Free card.









    ("Sir, we've become aware that your wife's been blogging."

    "Yeah. Just ignore it.")

    ReplyDelete
  20. House is a great show (love Dr. "Thirteen"), but I only get to see it when I'm in a hotel, because my girlfriend hogs the TV and watches wall-to-wall Filipino content.

    ReplyDelete
  21. "House" is indeed an excellent series. Interestingly, I am THE ONLY PERSON among the four of us who thinks Dr. House is an unpardonable and completely unlikeable dick.

    Like Rat. But handsome.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Buy the series on DVD. That's how we've seen most of it.

    You can watch it on the 'puter and forgo the Filipino content for a few hours.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Whit and or Deuce will kindly remove me from Proprietor status for committing the sin of walking over Trish's thread after 24 posts. We aim to please. I'm going to go look for Bob.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Relax, T, it happens all the time. No big deal.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Well. THIS is embarrassing.









    I don't WANT my thread back now. So there. You can keep it.








    (Elephant Bar Year of the Woman. Indeed...Year of the Mean, Autocratic Lesbian more like...)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Then I'll repost it later maybe when "Trish's" post has more comments. Could have fooled me, I thought it was Deuce. My eyes must be getting old.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Oh, for Christ's sake, T. Don't go.

    Everybody'll just blame me for your absence and it's bad enough bob left.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Kinda figured, Whit, even tho I did not know who she was:

    Possible, but unlikely.

    "It's possible, certainly" (that Murphy died of natural causes), Dr. Cyril Wecht told "Early Show" co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez Tuesday, "and usually, it will be some kind of a congenital heart condition. But in most of those cases, the patient will be aware that there is some heart problem.

    "When you have a 32-year-old person dying suddenly, and especially a celebrity in Los Angeles, you can place your bet down that it's going prove to be a case of acute combined drug toxicity. And I bet you that this young lady tragically died in the same way that Michael Jackson did, and Anna Nicole Smith, and her son, Daniel Smith, and Heath Ledger -- a combination of drugs that had been prescribed for her, prescribed for her husband, for her mother, in some fictitious names, probably by doctors who are very, very quick to make available anything that celebrities want, sometimes using knowingly fictitious names.

    "So, even though these drugs are, quote, legal, unquote, they are, many times, illegally obtained. And it's a tragedy. And it's being played out everywhere in America every day, and we only come to know about it when it involves celebrities."

    What leads Wecht to conclude drugs were involved here?

    "I am aware of some of the drugs that were found. One of them was a drug that was involved with Michael Jackson, Adivan. One of them was a drug that was involved with Anna Nicole Smith, Klonopin. Two of the drugs are pain relievers, Hydrocodone, which we frequently see in these cases, and Vicoprofen, a form of Vicodin. So, I guarantee you that, if the pathologists at the Los Angeles coroner's office had found something dramatic, like a heart attack, like a stroke, or like something of a definitive nature, would you have heard about it. The fact that they say that they're going wait for toxicology tests and it will take a couple of months, you can be sure that this is going to prove to be a case of acute combined drug toxicity. A tragedy."

    ReplyDelete
  29. Why don't we just automate the process, and we'll ALL quit, rail against god's injustices, and then 2 weeks later, be resurrected to full membership?

    The EB Drama Quotient could benefit from the mass pathos.

    This could all be accomplished by a simple Computer Macro, no human intervention necessary.

    ReplyDelete
  30. 2 Macros, if necessary, 1 gay, 1 straight.

    ...or, we could go way back and have 3:

    Gay, Straight, and "Brown Skinned"

    extra point macro: "Gay Brown Skinned"

    ReplyDelete
  31. "...we'll ALL quit, rail against god's injustices, and then 2 weeks later, be resurrected to full membership?"

    Oh, if only life were like that.

    Sweet.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Trish's mother on the endurance of her own marriage: "I couldn't afford the bus fare home from Bragg."

    ReplyDelete
  33. I have a similar explanation for the endurance of my own.

    As a result/consequence, my advice to young marrieds is to never leave home when fighting.

    ReplyDelete
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