Tuesday - July 22, 2008
New York Times rejects John McCain opinion piece after running Barack Obama editorial
May I assume you folks already knew this? If not ....
The New York Times has rejected an opinion piece on Iraq by Senator John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate, less than a week after publishing a similar article by his Democratic rival Senator Barack Obama.
By Alex Spillius in Washington
Last Updated: 12:26AM BST 22 Jul 2008David Shipley, the op-ed page editor of America’s most prestigious paper asked Mr McCain to rewrite his piece, a move likely to revive allegations of bias in the media towards the young Democratic contender.
A recent study found that the news television networks had run more than double the number of stories about Mr Obama than Mr McCain since early June.
Mr Shipley told the McCain campaign that he was “very eager” to publish the senator but suggested a new “approach”.
“The article would have to articulate, in concrete terms, how Senator McCain defines victory in Iraq. It would also have to lay out a clear plan for achieving victory - with troops [sic] levels, timetables and measures for compelling the Iraqis to cooperate,” he wrote.
The McCain campaign was stunned by the email, which seemed to be trying to dictate its policy. Not setting a timetable is at the core of the Arizona senator’s views on Iraq.
Taylor Griffin, a spokesman for the campaign, said: “John McCain believes that victory in Iraq must be based on conditions on the ground, not arbitrary timetables. Unlike Barack Obama, that position will not change based on politics or the demands of the New York Times.”
The campaign noted that Mr Shipley was a former speechwriter for former Democrat president Bill Clinton.
The New York Times issued a statement, which pointed out it had published at least seven op-ed pieces by Mr McCain since 1996.
“It is standard procedure on our Op-Ed page, and that of other newspapers, to go back and forth with an author on his or her submission. We look forward to publishing Senator McCain’s views in our paper just as we have in the past.”
Though the New York Times is known for its liberal stance, the “op-ed” or comment page routinely runs articles by Centre-Right columnists, some of whom are supportive of Mr McCain.
The opening of the senator’s submitted article read: “In January 2007, when General David Petraeus took command in Iraq, he called the situation ‘hard’ but not ‘hopeless’.
“Today, 18 months later, violence has fallen by up to 80 per cent to the lowest levels in four years, and Sunni and Shiite terrorists are reeling from a string of defeats. The situation now is full of hope, but considerable hard work remains to consolidate our fragile gains.”
Posted by Drew458
on 07/22/2008 at 04:18 AM
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Permalink • Don’t set dogs on criminals with allergies, police told. latest example of “namby pamby” policing
Yeah, there’s a lot I can say but I’ll leave that up to the rest of ya.. Besides which, I have a tendency to curse a lot over stupid stuff like this.
Not as bad as what I say to my computer but that’s something else.
Police dog handlers will have to consider whether criminals have allergies or a fear of dogs before conducting searches in what has been described as the latest example of “namby pamby” policing.
By Gordon Rayner
Last Updated: 11:15PM BST 21 Jul 2008Guidelines being drawn up by senior officers will tell dog handlers they should “avoid offending” people with phobias of animals when dogs are used in drug raids and other investigations.
The rules have been produced amid fears that suspects with medical conditions triggered by the presence of dogs, such as asthma, may file costly compensation claims against the police if they suffer an allergy or panic attack during a police raid.
Dog handlers have also been told to take “cultural sensitivities” into account, though reports that dogs would be required to wear specially-designed boots on their paws during searches of mosques and Muslim homes have been flatly denied.
The plans have been ridiculed in the respected force magazine Police Review, with one columnist citing it as the latest diktat from “the polite police”.
The anonymous sergeant writes: “The traditional shout of ‘stand still or I’ll set the dog on you’ will presumably have to become ‘excuse me, my police dog is quite hairy and might cause alarm as he sinks his fangs into his right thigh. Is that all right with you?’
“The whole point of police dogs is to frighten people rigid, at least those who have just committed a crime and would otherwise make a clean getaway. They should have considered the mental trauma and possible allergic reaction caused by 60lbs of foaming Alsatian clamping its teeth to their extremities before embarking on their criminal escapade.”
A serving dog handler, who asked not to be named, said: “I have never heard anything so ridiculous. What’s next? Sparing people custody because they have a fear of enclosed spaces?
“This is just another example of namby pamby policing laid down by people who haven’t been on the beat in years.”
PC Mike Dermody, a former dog handler with Greater Manchester Police, was among those dismissing the need for guidelines, saying: “I have never encountered an incident where we have offended someone. If there is a person with an allergy, we will put them in one room while we search the rest of the house.”
And PC David Heaps, a dog handling trainer at Derbyshire Constabulary, said dog handlers were already “mindful not to cause offence”.
The controversy arose after Peter Vaughan, the Association of Chief Police Officers’ adviser on dogs, said: “The draft guidelines outline a general principle that forces should consider what steps can be taken to avoid offending people during operations.
“This might include different categories of people such as those with a fear of dogs, for example or asthma sufferers who may be sensitive to dog hair.”
Mr Vaughan, deputy chief constable of South Wales Police, insisted, however, that “in all operations effective policing will take primacy”, meaning dog handlers would not have to take possible allergies into account when tackling violent criminals, for example.
Posted by Drew458
on 07/22/2008 at 02:30 AM
Filed Under: • Crime • Democrats-Liberals-Moonbat Leftists • Insanity • Judges-Courts-Lawyers • Stoopid-People • UK •
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Permalink • Monday - July 21, 2008
GREETINGS TO ALL COMRADS AMERIKA/ENGLAND, GOOD NEWS COMRADS.
THE BRIT HOME IS STILL A BRIT’S CASTLE. HE/SHE IS JUST SUB-LEASING TO THE GOVT. SEE HOW EASY THAT IS?
Labour has nearly doubled the number of laws that give officials access to your home
By Andy Bloxham
Last Updated: 11:09PM BST 20/07/2008More than a 1,000 laws now exist that allow the authorities into homes, it has emerged.
The 1,043 laws – nearly half of which have been introduced under Labour – include the right to inspect pot plants for pests, to measure the height of hedges, to search bedrooms for asylum seekers and to look at fridges for their energy rating.
The information will heighten fears among campaigners that Britain is becoming a “Big Brother” society. The Conservatives claimed that the list of powers of entry was “quietly slipped out” without a press release on the Home Office website.
A total of 420 new powers of entry have been introduced by Labour since it came to power in 1997. Sixteen more are contained in laws due to be approved by Parliament in the next few weeks.
The Plant Health (England) Order 2005 allows inspectors to enter homes to see if plants have pests or if certain types of plants have been smuggled in without a “plant passport”.
Section 74 of The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 allows councils to check if a hedge is too high.
The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 can be used to allow officials to ensure accommodation provided to asylum seekers is not being used by others.
Although it is aimed at business, the Energy Information (Household Refrigerators and Freezers) Regulations 2004 can also be used to seize fridges with an incorrect energy rating.
Council bin inspectors already have the authority to enter homes and take photographs for evidence. Those who obstruct them face the threat of a £5,000 fine.
The Tories said the development was proof that Gordon Brown was reneging on his promise to curtail such laws by introducing a “liberty test” to limit state intrusion.
Eric Pickles, the shadow communities secretary, said: “Day by day under Labour, the rights and liberties of law-abiding citizens are being eroded.”
Posted by Drew458
on 07/21/2008 at 11:51 AM
Filed Under: • Commies • Miscellaneous • Nanny State • UK •
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Permalink • policeman ‘victimised’ over opposition to homosexual event
Please allow me to state at the top as it were, that I do not personally have anything against these folks except the following.
Certainly not all but a very vocal and perhaps large group want me and apparently this cop, to accept their queer (as in very odd) behavior as normal.
Well okay. I will concede that perhaps for some this is very normal. For them however. For nobody else. But not only do they expect, no they demand that this be accepted as normal, they go further. They want everyone else to celebrate their abnormality. The police dept. in this case also want their officers to wear a pink ribbon. How utterly absurd and totally STUPID!
I am not religious. However, I fail to understand how quoting a biblical phrase and believing it is somehow “homophobic.”
Why is it homophobic of me to think that there’s something not quite right in the world if a guy would rather kiss me (GAK) then say Kate Moss. That’s not homophobic. That’s the norm.
I do not have a problem with people who just happen to have a lifestyle that really is at odds with nature. And it by golly is. But I don’t hate anyone because they’re homosexual. I don’t even dislike them for that reason. But I have a hell of a problem with all this homosexual pride crap. And damn it give me back that word you hijacked. Gay is NOT queer damn it! You are. Get used to it.
It also occurs to me that very many homosexuals (not all of course) are perhaps somewhat ashamed or embarrassed by their proclivities. If they weren’t, they would not go to such lengths to make the rest of us buy into their self delusions. They wouldn’t need parades nor would they insist that we are never to be critical and if we are, there should be laws against it. A police department should NOT insist that cops wear any kind of anything to promote anybody’s lifestyle whether homosexual or heterosexual.
The homosexual community must deep down be rather a sad lot if what it take to make em happy is a pink ribbon worn by cops to prove what?
I just can’t wait to see what comes next. Hey, some folks are attracted to little kids. The majority of us think that is sick beyond measure but hey wait. For some ppl it’s ... just normal behavior. How long will it be before they want parades and ribbons also?
Christian policeman ‘victimised’ over opposition to
gayqueer pride event
By David Thomas
Last Updated: 8:31PM BST 20/07/2008A Christian policeman is taking his own force to an employment tribunal over claims that it “harassed” him because of his religious opposition to homosexuality.
Graham Cogman, a constable with 15 years experience, is taking action against Norfolk Police as he claims he was victimised for refusing to wear a pink ribbon on his uniform to mark a ”
gayhomosexual pride” event, and for questioning the force’s stance towardsgayqueer acting men and lesbians.The 49-year churchgoer, who circulated emails to officers quoting the biblical stance on homosexuality being a sin, claims he is being singled out because of his beliefs. The force has responded by saying it will not tolerate any “homophobic behaviour”.
His case echoes that of London registrar Lillian Ladele, who recently won a tribunal after refusing to officiate at same-sex civil partnerships because of her religious views.
PC Cogman, a father of two, said reconciling his religious beliefs with his job was becoming more difficult because the force’s stance on homosexuality was at odds with his religious views.
“The blatant support for homosexual rights in Norfolk Police makes being a Christian officer extremely difficult,” he said.
“I am not undertaking this action lightly but I have to make a stand when things become so blatantly biased against me just because I hold a faith.”
His complaint stems from a circular email sent to officers in early 2005 encouraging staff to wear a pink ribbon on their uniforms during Gay History Month.
After receiving the email, PC Cogman sent a reply to his fellow officers featuring biblical quotations about homosexuality being a sin. He objected again the following year when a similar email was again sent to officers.
He was subjected to a disciplinary tribunal and fined 13 days’ pay.
A spokesman for Norfolk Police yesterday said that PC Cogman’s behaviour “fell well below the standard which we expect”.
“Whilst the force fully respects the officer has strong beliefs, it is only correct that he respects the beliefs and wishes of others,” he said.
“The force will not tolerate any form of homophobic behaviour.”
At the beginning of July, Islington registrar and devout Christian Lillian Ladele won an employment tribunal after claiming she was bullied and treated as a “pariah” for refusing to officiate over same-sex civil partnerships.
Posted by Drew458
on 07/21/2008 at 09:50 AM
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Permalink • ‘Idiots and lunatics’ may be given right to stand for Parliament. (thought they already were)
‘Idiots and lunatics’ may be given right to stand for Parliament
By Joanna Corrigan
Last Updated: 12:57AM BST 21/07/2008People labelled “idiots” and “lunatics” under archaic mental health laws could soon be allowed to stand for Parliament.
(My Brit wife believes they are already there. Based on things I’ve seen so far, I think she may be right.)
Ministers are considering scrapping ancient rules after complaints from mental health campaigners that they are discriminatory.
Laws created in Elizabethan times define idiots as “incapable of gaining reason” and lunatics as capable of only periods of lucidity.
They are banned from becoming MPs “in their non lucid intervals”.
The ancient laws also ban anyone sectioned under the Mental Health Act from putting themselves forward for election, even if they have fully recovered, and require MPs to give up their seat for life if they are sectioned for six months.
A spokesman for Mind, the mental health charity, said it was wrong to rule out people that have suffered in the past but are still extremely capable.
“People who have suffered mental health problems can function at a very high level. Look at Stephen Fry. He has been open about his manic depression and people would be shocked if someone like him were not eligible to stand,” he said.
A recent survey of MPs found 27 per cent had suffered some kind of mental health problem.
One in three said the stigma attached to that type of illness had prevented them being open about it.
Posted by Drew458
on 07/21/2008 at 09:17 AM
Filed Under: • Government • Politics • Scary Stuff • UK •
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Permalink • Ministry of Defence admits it was wrong to deny war widow a pension. (GOTTA SEE THIS)
This really is an outrageous bureaucratic blunder of the worst sort. My mind can’t take in how it happens, and yet I know it does and this is probably only one of many stories. But this is exceptional I think you might agree.
By Thomas Harding, Defence Correspondent
Last Updated: 7:29AM BST 21/07/2008The widow of a war hero who had been wrongfully denied a pension by Whitehall bureaucrats for years was celebrating a victory after the Ministry of Defence admitted “maladministration”.
(only “maladmin?” Is that how the jerks cover their collective butts?)
Dozens of Daily Telegraph readers gave more than £5,000 to Gillian Norbury after hearing of her plight, but she has now been freed from poverty after the Veterans’ Agency admitted it was wrong to deny her a war widow’s pension.
For five years a tireless campaign has been led by one of husband Lt Billy Norbury’s comrades, Capt John Nunneley, which included personally haranguing the former Prime Minister Tony Blair.
He finally confronted Me Blair last year after bluffing his way into a veterans tea party at No 10 telling the then Prime Minister: “I protest most strongly at the inhumane treatment of Lt Billy Norbury”.
Lt Norbury won an immediate Military Cross for an action in Burma in 1944 in which he received horrific injuries to his feet, legs and abdomen.
Fifty-four years later the decorated King’s African Rifles officer died penniless in a public hospital in South Africa after decades of agony and operations.After selling the family home and its contents and despite his wife Gillian working part-time while nursing her husband, the Norburys ran out of money to support the medical bills. For decades, following alleged bureaucratic bungles by the Ministry of Defence and the Veterans’ Agency, Lt Norbury, MC, was denied a war disability pension because he had enlisted in a “colonial” regiment.
After his death in 1998 Mrs Norbury was forced to leave her family behind in South Africa, where one of her sons was murdered and another died in a flying accident, to live off a state pension in a flat in Newbury, Berks.
(Berks. is short for Berkshire. A county. It is I am informed, not pronounced the way spelled. It’s pronounced, Barkshire. like, Hampshire in USA)But now the Veterans’ Agency has finally caved in admitting the “maladministration” and will pay Mrs Norbury a pension plus a modest back-payment.
In a letter to Derek Twigg, the Veterans’ Minister, Mr Nunneley wrote of the “army of heavily entrenched bureaucrats” who had obstructed the case for five years.
The minister replied that the victory it was “in no small way down to your dogged determination to fight Mrs Norbury’s case”.
Mrs Norbury said without the “terrier-like” help from Mr Nunneley she would never have won. “Without his determination and utter refusal to give up on my behalf he has done everything no other person would have done.”
Richard Benyon, her MP, said the case was an example of “a disgraceful performance by officials” and “appalling maladministration” in the pensions system.
The MoD said “new evidence” - a third letter from Mr Norbury’s doctor stating he had died from war wounds - meant it was now possible to award the pension.
It claimed that the pension was back-dated from her claim, two years ago. Both Mr Nunneley and Mrs Norbury had to accept the MoD’s decision despite making their original claim five years ago.
(uh huh. but it’s perfectly okay to pay out hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars to immigrants both legal and otherwise and an equal amount to would be terrorists and make nice and spend big on asylum seekers who CAN’T BE RETURNED to their native countries cause they might get boo-boos there.
But this woman had to jump thru hoops and go thru all she has. I’m glad she got something but those so called civil servants should be canned.)
Posted by Drew458
on 07/21/2008 at 07:58 AM
Filed Under: • Outrageous • UK •
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Permalink • May we? Can we? Should we make jokes about Barack Obama?
Fellow Americans back home. A question.
Has it really come to this?
I have known this Leonard guy to be wrong before.
Been more then 4 years since I’ve seen any American TV comedy. Or any TV period. So I don’t really know if he’s being accurate.
Of course there’s been plenty of humor on blogs and in cartoons. I’ve seen that.
I’m posting this so you guys in the states can see how things are being reported on here.
I can’t believe Dennis Miller is silent on the subject. Is he? Of course, he doesn’t have the outlet that Leno and Letterman have.
Barack Obama simply isn’t funny
By Tom Leonard
Last Updated: 12:01am BST 21/07/2008New York Notebook
May we? Can we? Should we make jokes about Barack Obama?
There’s a glaring hole in the repertoire of this country’s top-level funny guys: almost nobody feels he or she can poke fun at their prospective president.
The row over the New Yorker front cover, which depicted the Obamas as flag-burning, bin Laden-loving terrorists, quickly turned from a debate over the nature of satire, to why nothing about the Democratic candidate is considered funny.
At least not by the late-night television hosts Jay Leno and David Letterman, who supply 95 per cent of the domestic market in political gags.
Analysts went through the archives and found that, even on the rare occasion of an Obama-related joke, it was usually at the expense of someone else, such as Hillary Clinton or Jesse Jackson.
When a presenter on New York’s public radio station appealed to his usually talkative listeners to ring in with their favourite Obama joke, the lines went dead.
Various excuses have been supplied, some more convincing than others.
Jon Stewart, liberal media pin-up and host of the The Daily Show, said that when he’d recently tried a Barack joke, he had met with such audience resistance that he had told them: “You know, you’re allowed to laugh at him.”
Television insiders admitted that white writers, presenters and audiences are uneasy about making fun of a black man.
But others said that Obama was too new, too popular and, most of all, just too uncomedic.
If he makes it to the White House, things will change, they promised. I’ll hold my breath in anticipation of uproarious laughter.
Posted by Drew458
on 07/21/2008 at 07:43 AM
Filed Under: • Humor •
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Permalink • Immigrants raise fears of limited prospects among the British (Brits should worry)
And us as well.
There’s already demand being made to pave parts of English green belt. Once that’s covered, it’ll be gone for good. Powers that be say they need it for housing.
For immigrants. Well okay but, what about native Brits? Who? Never heard of em. What channel are they on?
Actually, much housing is also targeted towards the lower end. OK, council housing to be blunt. Welfare housing. Not all of course. But the govt. demand that certain areas of the country find the space for thousands of “units” means somethin’ hasta give. Labor has long wanted to crowd what they think of as the more “posh” or upper scale parts of the UK. Specially in the south and south east.
By Christopher Hope, Home Affairs Editor
Last Updated: 10:03PM BST 20/07/2008Many Britons fear their prospects are being limited because of the pressure put on housing and schools by immigrants arriving in the UK, a new report warns.
The claims come as it emerged that £1billion is being spent on putting up foreigners in council houses – despite two million people waiting for a home.
The report, titled Immigration and Social Cohesion in the UK, uncovered a stark divide in how parts of the UK adapt to new migrants.
While many people value their children growing up with cultural diversity, some feel their opportunities are reduced because of immigration.
There was particular concern around the competition for social housing, soaring house prices and school places.
Report author Mary Hickman, a Professor at London Metropolitan University, said: “We found that although many British people value the UK for being multi-ethnic and multicultural, poverty and lack of opportunities undermine social cohesion especially in certain parts of our towns and cities.
“A key factor influencing whether new migrants are accepted is the dominant story in each locality about who belongs there.”
The report also suggested that Gordon Brown should spend focus on tackling poverty rather than a “fixed notion” of Britishness to improve social cohesion.
Since taking over as Prime Minister last July, Mr Brown has consistently emphasised the importance of Britishness to bind the nation together.
However the Joseph Rowntree Foundation suggested that his time might be better spent dealing with “deprivation and how people connect”.
The competition for a limited supply of council housing has been one of the areas of key concern in the debate about immigration.
Since Labour came to power in 1997 the number of people on the waiting list for a council house has soared by 650,000 to 1.67million households.
Figures obtained by the Conservative MP James Clappson show that nearly £1billion is being spent on putting up foreigners in council houses – despite nearly two million households waiting for a new home.
Parliamentary answers show that 7,000 council houses were rented to foreigners from both inside and outside the European Union in 2006/7.
Given that it costs £134,000 to provide a council house, this means that £938million – including £430million of grants – is spent on providing social housing for foreigners.
Mr Clappison, a member of the Commons home affairs select committee, said: “This is one more example of the pressure placed upon housing and services by the present very high level of immigration permitted by the Government.
“The Government is completely failing to take into account the consequences of its policies”.
The provision of council housing to foreigners has proved to be controversial, with claims that it can cause tensions in some working class communities.
Critics said this was because the allocation of council houses was done on the basis of need.
Sir Andrew Green, chairman of pressure group MigrationWatch, said: “The fact is that allocation is based on need which has the effect of giving priority to larger families which are more likely to be immigrant families.
“There is no question that this one of the causes of local tensions which will not be helped by a reflex policy of denial by this Government.”
However a report last month from the Department of Communities and Local Government claimed new migrants were not putting “significant pressure on social housing” because they are ineligible for council housing.
(right. Not eligible. Got it. ah huh. Bet they get it anyway.)
Posted by Drew458
on 07/21/2008 at 07:15 AM
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Permalink • Sunday - July 20, 2008
‘Europe’ brings down the bird that set it free. (Fraken Idiots!)
The following is from Christopher Booker at The Telegraph.
I just added the photos.
‘Europe’ brings down the bird that set it free
A longtime reader, Peter Howell, sends me a handsome painting of a Douglas DC-3 to mark the fact that he had just taken one of the last commercial flights allowed in these historic aircraft before they were grounded for ever last week by an EU directive.
The DC-3, or Dakota as the RAF called it, was the ultimate workhorse of the Second World War, playing a key role in the liberation of Europe and Asia. (Mr Howell’s father survived being shot down in one in Burma.)
As I reported in February, a 175-page document, known as EC Regulation 1899/2006, imposes new technical requirements on all passenger-carrying aircraft operating in the EU, making no distinction between giant airliners and small vintage aircraft such as the Dakota, long a popular draw at airshows. To
fit these old planes with escape chutes and all the other safety paraphernalia mandatory in a jumbo jet was prohibitively costly. Thus did “Europe” finally ground the aircraft which 60 years ago helped liberate it.
Posted by Drew458
on 07/20/2008 at 09:10 AM
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Permalink • Saturday - July 19, 2008
How close to nothing can you get?
Zimbabwe is to introduce a bank-note worth Z$100bn in response to rampant inflation - but the note will barely cover the cost of two loaves of bread. Some Zimbabweans are already calling for higher denominations in a country where the official annual inflation rate has exceeded 2,200,000%. Independent economists believe the real rate is many times higher, between 10 million and 15 million per cent.
Zimbabwe’s meltdown has left at least 80% of the population in poverty, facing mass shortages of basic goods. The country’s central bank has introduced several new notes already this year in response to the hyperinflation. In January, a Z$10 million note was issued, followed by a Z$50 million. By June the denominations had reached tens of billions.
The Zimbabwe dollar, which had been officially pegged at 30,000 to the U.S. dollar before exchange rules were relaxed recently, now trades at about 800 million to the greenback.
Yeah, but unofficially it’s at least 1 billion to the dollar. Wait, what time is it again? Ok, 2 billion to the shit, I can’t type fast enough!! 3 billion to the dollar.
Zimbabwe’s new denomination is worth 20 times as much as this one. Z$5 billion might buy you one small bite out of an apple these days. Last month it was worth $2.50.
Zimbabwe was once one of the richest countries in Africa.
QUESTION: At what point will the people simply give up on the concept of money? Zimbabwe is already long past the point where it’s even worth counterfeiting their currency. How much longer until it isn’t even worth carrying?
Run the numbers. 15 million percent per year, 365 days, 24 hours, 60 minutes ... their purchase power declines at 28.5% PER MINUTE. Is that possible?? A few months back I figured that a single sheet of one ply toilet tissue was worth more than X million Z bucks. Even the ink on the paper money was more than money’s face value. Now? If most people there live under that $2 a day poverty cap the UN was going on about, and it takes half a trillion Z bucks a day to get by ... then 1 US dollar ought to have the buying power of 250 GZ$ (250 giga-Z-bucks. “Geezeebux")
Zimbabwe started issuing large bank notes in December, starting with denominations of $250,000.
In January, the government issued bills in denominations of $1 million, $5 million, and $10 million—and in May, it issued bills from $25 million and $50 million up to $25 billion and $50 billion.
The new bills are actually bearer checks and have an expiration date of December 31. Zimbabwe has not had formal currency since the introduction of bearer checks as a temporary measure in 2003.
“The RBZ is fighting a losing battle,” economist John Robertson said in Harare. “As long as the inflation remains high, cash shortages will persist. There is need to address the inflation by increasing production so that too goods do not [cost] a lot of money.”
Yeah, true. But the problem with that is that the only thing you folks have is farming, and you killed all the white folks who knew how to farm.
Posted by Drew458
on 07/19/2008 at 05:14 PM
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Permalink • new CCleaner version available
Go get the latest version of CCleaner for your PC. v2.09.600. Use it at least weekly. It’s a great tool, it’s easy to use, and it’s free. Cleans up most of the junk on your PC, even junk in the Registry.
(just click the pic)Posted by Drew458
on 07/19/2008 at 04:38 PM
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Permalink • rat bastards
The political vision of a summer gas tax holiday died a quick death in Congress, losing to a view that federal excise taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel — far from dropping — will have to go up if they go anywhere.
Despite calls from the presidential campaign trail for a Memorial Day-to-Labor Day tax freeze, lawmakers quickly concluded — with a prod from the construction industry — that having $9 billion less to spend on highways could create a pre-election specter of thousands of lost jobs.
Now, lawmakers quietly are talking about raising fuel taxes by a dime from the current 18.4 cents a gallon on gasoline and 24.3 cents on diesel fuel.
Just three years ago, that trust fund enjoyed a surplus of $10 billion. Even without a tax freeze, the fund is projected to finish 2009 with a deficit of $3 billion. That that could grow as Americans drive less and buy less gas because of higher pump prices.
The consequence is that only about $27 billion in federal money will be available next year to states and local governments for new infrastructure investment even though the current highway act calls for spending $41 billion a year. For many, the solution is to raise rather than suspend or cut federal fuel taxes, which haven’t changed since 1993.
The Transportation Construction Coalition, a group of industry companies and unions, said that if Congress does not do something about the shortfall, states will lose about one-third of their road and bridge money in the budget year starting Oct. 1. That would put 485,000 more jobs at risk.
That message carried the day this summer. But now Congress has the bigger task of dealing with the short-term deficit crisis in the fund and coming up with a new spending plan, including revisiting the gas tax issue, when the current six-year, $286 billion highway-transit act expires in September 2009.
My advice is to vote against ever single incumbent every election day until they are all gone. All of them. 9% approval rating? It will be 4% Monday if they run a poll after this one. You’re fired.
Posted by Drew458
on 07/19/2008 at 04:06 PM
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Permalink • un-bee-leivable road hazards
CHERRY HILL, N.J. — Drivers on the New Jersey Turnpike have to cope every day with traffic jams, pollution and even the occasional deer. ( about one every 1/8 mile - Drew )
They ran into a new obstacle Saturday as thousands of honeybees swarmed around their vehicles.
Turnpike Authority spokesman Joseph Orlando said the swarm came from a beekeeper’s beehive that apparently fell beside the highway in Cherry Hill.
The Turnpike Authority was looking for its own beekeeper to deal with the problem.
It’s about 95 today, hazy, hot, and humid. Typical summer day here in Joisey. Hope these folks had their AC on and the windows rolled up. Pity the poor folks in convertibles!
Cherry Hill is the “nice neighborhood” just the other side of Camden, which is the worst hellhole in the state, right across the river from Philadelphia. Nothing says “Welcome to New Jersey” more than picking up your expensive toll ticket and then getting stuck in traffic on a blistering hot and damp summer day, followed by having a zillion bees go on the attack. Highly unusual and yet utterly typical at the same time!
Posted by Drew458
on 07/19/2008 at 03:50 PM
Filed Under: • Humor • Odd-Strange •
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Permalink • The new Navy
BEAUTIFUL!
When the Bridge pipes ‘Man the Rail’ there is a lot of rail to man on this monster: shoulder to shoulder, around 4.5 acres. Her displacement is about 100,000 tons with full complement.
Capability
Top speed exceeds 30 knots, powered by two nuclear reactors that can operate for more than 20 years without refueling
1. Expected to operate in the fleet for about 50 years
2. Carries over 80 combat aircraft
3. Three arresting cables can stop a 28-ton aircraft going 150 miles per hour in less than 400 feet
Size
1. Towers 20 stories above the waterline
2. 1092 feet long; nearly as long as the Empire State Building is tall
3. Flight deck covers 4.5 acres
4. 4 bronze propellers, each 21 feet across, weighing 66,200 pounds
5. 2 rudders, each 29 by 22 feet and weighing 50 tons
6. 4 high speed aircraft elevators, each over 4,000 square feet .
Capacity
1. Home to about 6,000 Navy personnel
2. Carries enough food and supplies to operate for 90 days
3. 18,150 meals served daily
4. Distillation plants provide 400,000 gallons of fresh water from sea water daily, enough for 2,000 homes
5. Nearly 30,000 light fixtures and 1,325 miles of cable and wiring 1,400 telephones
6. 14,000 pillowcases and 28,000 sheets
7. Costs the Navy approximately $250,000 per day for pier side operation
8. Costs the Navy approximately $25 million per day for underway operations (Sailor’s salaries included).
Sunday, July 2, 2006 Vancouver , BC . Headed for Seattle, WA., the US Navy welcomed the latest member of its fleet today.
The USS William Jefferson Clinton (CVS1) set sail today from its home port of Vancouver , BC.
The ship is the first of its kind in the Navy and is a standing legacy to President Bill Clinton ‘for his foresight in military budget cuts’ and his conduct while president.
The ship is constructed nearly entirely from recycled aluminum and is completely solar powered with a top speed of 5 knots.
It boasts an arsenal comprised of one (unarmed) F14 Tomcat or one (unarmed) F18 Hornet aircraft which, although they cannot be launched or captured on the 100 foot flight deck, form a very menacing presence.
As a standing order there are no firearms allowed on board.
The 20 person crew is completely diversified, including members of all races, creeds, sex, and sexual orientation.
This crew, like the crew aboard the USS Jimmy Carter, is specially trained to avoid conflicts and appease any and all enemies of the United States at all costs.!
An onboard Type One DNC Universal Translator can send out messages of apology in any language to anyone who may find America offensive. The number of apologies are limitless and though some may seem hollow and disingenuous, the Navy advises all apologies will sound very sincere.
The ship’s purpose is not defined so much as a unit of national defense, but instead in times of conflict, the USS Clinton has orders to seek refuge in Canada ..
The ship may be positioned near the Democratic National Party Headquarters for photo-ops. The Clin-toons Should be very proud.
This is a prototype vessel for the future Navy fleet if Obama becomes president.
( No, I have no idea why the .jpg EXIF data is in the middle of the picture. That’s how it came to me. )
Posted by Drew458
on 07/19/2008 at 10:25 AM
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a small explanation
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Not that very many people ever read this far down, but this blog was the creation of Allan Kelly and his friend Vilmar. Vilmar moved on to his own blog some time ago, and Allan ran this place alone until his sudden and unexpected death partway through 2006. We all miss him. A lot. Even though he is gone this site will always still be more than a little bit his. We who are left to carry on the BMEWS tradition owe him a great debt of gratitude, and we hope to be able to pay that back by following his last advice to us all:
It's been a long strange trip without you Skipper, but thanks for pointing us in the right direction and giving us a swift kick in the behind to get us going. Keep lookin' down on us, will ya? Thanks.
- Keep a firm grasp of Right and Wrong
- Stay involved with government on every level and don't let those bastards get away with a thing
- Use every legal means to defend yourself in the event of real internal trouble, and, most importantly:
- Keep talking to each other, whether here or elsewhere
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Oh, and here's some kind of visitor flag counter thingy. Hey, all the cool blogs have one, so I should too. The Visitors Online thingy up at the top doesn't count anything, but it looks neat. It had better, since I paid actual money for it.
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