Tokyo and Chicago are out. That leaves Rio and Madrid. I think the odds favor Rio, primarily because Europe is already hosting the 2012 Games in London. The IOC tends to spread out the Games geographically, and it would be the first time a South American country hosted the Games.
Apparently all the last minute efforts by the Obamas went for naught. It just wasn't in the cards.
UPDATE:
The Chicago Sun Times calls the outcome shocking. Really? Was Chicago really the frontrunner for the Olympic bid? I didn't really think it was. I always thought that Rio had the inside edge on this one.
Some reports suggest that President Obama only came to lobby the IOC after other national leaders did the same to bolster their own national efforts. Boosterism couldn't hurt, but it didn't help Obama land Chicago the 2016 games.
The US efforts to land Olympic games is coming up against stronger bids elsewhere; the NYC 2012 bid failed when the West Side Stadium deal collapsed a month before selection, thrashing any chances. Maybe that's why the Obamas couldn't seal the deal; they didn't have the strongest bid no matter how much support they could throw their way.
And that's the fault of no one but the Chicago 2016 committee.
UPDATE:
Rio wins in the third round of balloting.
UPDATE:
Apparently for some it was a foregone conclusion that Chicago would win that we have stunned disbelief from the CNN reporters covering the announcement:
That's not covering the news. That's cheerleading, and realizing that your team lost.
Friday, October 02, 2009
Israel Carries Out Prisoner Swap For Shalit Video
I've warned about this kind of move for years, but Israel has gone ahead and has swapped 20 Palestinian women for a video that purporting to show that Gilad Shalit is still alive. The 20 women include terrorists, including one that attempted to use her pregnancy to hide explosives.
So who was released? Well, 14 of the 19 were convicted of attempted murder. The discrepancy in the number of Palestinians released is due to the fact that a 20th woman was added to the release.
The released women include those who attempted to stab Israeli soldiers at checkpoints, attempted suicide bombings while pregnant, and various other acts of violence. Israel's only possible reason for carrying out this swap is that many of these prisoners would have been released when their sentences were up within the year. That's the only possible justification, and Israel's leadership must have been convinced that cutting short their sentences slightly to get proof of life was more than justified.
The video purportedly shows that Shalit is still alive and holding a newspaper from September of this year.
Palestinian news agency, Maan, reported that Gilad Shalit read sections from the Gaza-based "Falasteen" newspaper from September 14 on his video transferred to Israel is exchange for the release of female Palestinian prisoners. Maan also reported that the video showed Gilad Shalit standing on his feet for a few seconds in order to prove that he is in good health. According to the report, the soldier is shown dressed in an IDF uniform with a yellow background behind him.I'm surprised that Shalit has managed to stay alive in the clutches of Hamas, but he's worth that many more terrorists alive than dead. After all, Hamas must realize that they can swap Shalit for hundreds of terrorists held in Israeli jails, but would get far fewer had he died in captivity.
The news agency Palestine Today reported that Shalit appeared on the video reading a recent news item in Arabic from one of the Palestinian newspaper, according to Palestinian sources in the know.
A source that watched the video said a clean-shaven Shalit can be seen talking to the camera, and that he looks healthy and sounds coherent. The source said it was clear that his captors had prepared him for the video and went to great lengths to make sure he looks well and healthy.
Hamas has done all it can to pry as many terrorists from Israeli jails as possible, and it's been an excruciatingly painful situation for the Shalit family to endure. There has been little international pressure on Hamas to release Shalit as a humanitarian gesture, and instead most of the pressure has been on Israel to make concessions to release prisoners in exchange for a video.
It's also quite telling that Hamas feels that a video is worth 19 people, or that Shalit alive is worth 1,000 Palestinians. That's telling as to how much they value life. It's also telling just how much Israel wants to reunite Shalit with his loved ones that they'd even consider an offer to get a video showing proof of life in exchange for 19 prisoners.
Hamas is busy cheering the release of the 19 - yet another propaganda victory for Hamas and Ismail Haniyeh.
Daylife has photos of Haniyeh cheering alongside family members of the released.
Shalit has been in captivity for 1,194 days.
UPDATE:
Added a photo still from the video posted at the Jerusalem Post.
Video added:
Thursday, October 01, 2009
World's Largest Wind Farm Goes Live In Texas
The world's largest wind farm has gone live in is producing energy in the heart of Texas. It's capable of producing enough power to run 230,000 homes. It is comprised of 627 wind turbines, each of which standing at least 350 feet tall and spread over nearly 100,000 acres.
It is only an intermediate solution to the nation's energy needs; one that can be satisfied only through a commitment to pursue nuclear power that not only results in fewer emissions and pollutants, but doesn't have the land use issues that wind power has.
The Roscoe Wind Complex, which began construction in 2007 and sprawls across four counties near Roscoe, is generating its full capacity of 781.5 megawatts, enough to power 230,000 homes, the German company E.ON Climate and Renewables North America said.Bear in mind that this massive wind power project produces a fraction of the needs of Texas. Current load requirements in Texas average 46,000mw. In fact, it provides 1.6% of the power needs (781 of 46,000). It's not nearly as reliable as other power sources, and it requires more land than other power sources to produce that power.
"This is truly sign milestone for us," said Patrick Woodson, the company's chief development officer. "In three years to be able to take this project from cotton fields to the biggest wind farm in the world is something we're very proud of."
The complex is about 220 miles west of Dallas and 300 miles south of the land where billionaire oilman T. Boone Pickens had planned an even larger wind farm before he scrapped the idea in July.
Texas leads the nation in wind power production, and this wind farm tops the capacity record of 735.5 megawatts set by another West Texas farm southwest of Abilene.
It is only an intermediate solution to the nation's energy needs; one that can be satisfied only through a commitment to pursue nuclear power that not only results in fewer emissions and pollutants, but doesn't have the land use issues that wind power has.
Economic Data Roundup Shows Continuing Tough Times Ahead
Today all kinds of economic data and reports were released. There are a few bits of good news, but most of it is indifferent or just outright bad.
Pending home sales are up, but that's because of the homebuyers tax credit that expires in November. People were rushing to buy homes to take advantage of the credit that was equal to 10% of the home value up to $8,000. 30 year mortgage rates are actually testing historical lows, but with tight credit restrictions and more scrutiny, fewer people will find themselves eligible for the best rates. Home prices are still down 30% or more from highs nationally and many are underwater since all too many people bought into the peak, meaning that they'd owe money when they went to sell - making such propositions all the more difficult (and further reducing the number of potential buyers).
Unemployment figures came in worse than expected, but retail sales for the 3d quarter were up 1.2%, pretty much entirely due to the cash for clunkers goosing of the auto sales for July and August.
Ford announced that its September sales plummeted 37.2% from August. CNN notes that Chrysler's September auto sales tumble 42%, but manage to beat analysts' expectations (which were already low to begin with). The cash for clunkers effect has quite a bit to do with that, and I expect sales to continue to slow in the auto sector for the foreseeable future as concerns over job stability and the poor economic climate mean that demand for big ticket items will remain below average.
Saturn is already toast, but with a further slump in sales, even the resuscitated GM and Chrysler will face a down market with little upside. The numbers were also down 5% from last August.
I don't expect the figures to be any better at GM, which didn't see the kind of sales boost that Ford did from the cash for clunkers program. In other words, sales figures from the auto sector are going to be dismal in the fourth quarter, dashing hopes of a rebound.
Saturn's demise also means that unemployment is going to rise, the manufacturing base is going to further decline, and the number of people relying on government benefits is going to rise.
Pending home sales are up, but that's because of the homebuyers tax credit that expires in November. People were rushing to buy homes to take advantage of the credit that was equal to 10% of the home value up to $8,000. 30 year mortgage rates are actually testing historical lows, but with tight credit restrictions and more scrutiny, fewer people will find themselves eligible for the best rates. Home prices are still down 30% or more from highs nationally and many are underwater since all too many people bought into the peak, meaning that they'd owe money when they went to sell - making such propositions all the more difficult (and further reducing the number of potential buyers).
Unemployment figures came in worse than expected, but retail sales for the 3d quarter were up 1.2%, pretty much entirely due to the cash for clunkers goosing of the auto sales for July and August.
Ford announced that its September sales plummeted 37.2% from August. CNN notes that Chrysler's September auto sales tumble 42%, but manage to beat analysts' expectations (which were already low to begin with). The cash for clunkers effect has quite a bit to do with that, and I expect sales to continue to slow in the auto sector for the foreseeable future as concerns over job stability and the poor economic climate mean that demand for big ticket items will remain below average.
Saturn is already toast, but with a further slump in sales, even the resuscitated GM and Chrysler will face a down market with little upside. The numbers were also down 5% from last August.
I don't expect the figures to be any better at GM, which didn't see the kind of sales boost that Ford did from the cash for clunkers program. In other words, sales figures from the auto sector are going to be dismal in the fourth quarter, dashing hopes of a rebound.
Saturn's demise also means that unemployment is going to rise, the manufacturing base is going to further decline, and the number of people relying on government benefits is going to rise.
Death Toll From Pacific Rim Quakes and Tsunami Rise
A second quake in Indonesia piled on the damage caused by the first earthquake, and the death toll there is well above 500, with the toll likely to rise into the thousands as thousands of structures collapsed.
The 6.8 magnitude quake came on the heels of a 7.6 magnitude temblor the day before.Meanwhile the death toll from the tsunami in Samoa and American Samoa continues to rise. Scientists who issue the warnings have scant minutes to figure out whether a tsunami is likely, and they issued warnings within 15 minutes of the quake, but for those closest to the epicenter of the quake that was not enough time. Tsunami waves travel 500 miles per hour.
The worst hit was the West Sumatra capital of Padang, where at least 376 people perished, officials said.
Rustam Pakaya, head of the Ministry of Health's crisis center, said thousands of people may be trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings and houses.
Rescuers used hammers, chisels and their hands to claw through debris in a desperate search for survivors. Health care workers treated the injured in a semi-collapsed hospital. Makeshift morgues were overflowed with dead dead.
State-run Antara news agency cited reports that part of a hospital had collapsed, burying people under debris.
The earthquakes caused widespread power failures, making it difficult for authorities and aid organizations to evaluate damage.
Rep. Grayson Denigrates Memory of Holocaust
Being a politician means never having to say you're sorry. Sure, you can "apologize", but you aren't actually saying you're sorry and mean it. It means only that you're caught. In Rep. Alan Grayson's (D-FL) case, he not only doesn't apologize for his odious comments, but then attempts to compare the failure to bring about health care reform to the Holocaust.
Health care reform isn't going to stop people from dying; it may prolong life in many cases. But people are going to die regardless of how medical care is paid for. That inalienable fact is why so much is spent on health care - it is spent precisely to delay the inevitable.
The Holocaust was the purposeful slaughter of millions of innocents - particularly Jews - precisely because they were Jewish. This isn't just an imperfect analogy, but an odious one that denigrates the memory of the Holocaust and undermines the very meaning of the Holocaust and all that is associated with the word.
Rep. Grayson deserves to be fully rebuked for his comments.
Just now on the floor, he called on members of the House to pass health care reform in the most extreme terms possible:The Holocaust?
"I apologize to the dead and their families that we haven't voted sooner to end this holocaust in America," Grayson said.
Health care reform isn't going to stop people from dying; it may prolong life in many cases. But people are going to die regardless of how medical care is paid for. That inalienable fact is why so much is spent on health care - it is spent precisely to delay the inevitable.
The Holocaust was the purposeful slaughter of millions of innocents - particularly Jews - precisely because they were Jewish. This isn't just an imperfect analogy, but an odious one that denigrates the memory of the Holocaust and undermines the very meaning of the Holocaust and all that is associated with the word.
Rep. Grayson deserves to be fully rebuked for his comments.
On My Nightstand: Inside the Gas Chambers
Inside the Gas Chambers: Eight Months in the Sonderkommando of Auschwitz by Shlomo Venezia is a timely read. Shlomo Venezia is a Holocaust survivor from Hell on earth. He was a sonderkommando at Auschwitz, where he survived on his wits, luck, and eventually by working at the crematoria in the death camp.
He had a first hand look at the Nazi mass murder of millions of people - primarily Jews. His is a gripping tale of how he came to work at the crematoria, preparing it for the next arrivals who were dispatched immediately because they were unable to be worked to death.
His is one of the few tales of survival among the group of Jews who did that awful and evil task, because all too many of them were murdered when they were incapable of working, and when the Nazis shut down the camps, most were eliminated to cover their tracks and eliminate the witnesses to the crimes committed there.
All too frequently people call political opponents Nazis or make wanton comparisons to the Holocaust, and in doing so, they dishonor the memories and the historical fact of the Holocaust and all the horror that the Holocaust truly was. It was the mass deportation, murder and genocide of millions of Jews all across the European continent by the Nazi regime.
He had a first hand look at the Nazi mass murder of millions of people - primarily Jews. His is a gripping tale of how he came to work at the crematoria, preparing it for the next arrivals who were dispatched immediately because they were unable to be worked to death.
His is one of the few tales of survival among the group of Jews who did that awful and evil task, because all too many of them were murdered when they were incapable of working, and when the Nazis shut down the camps, most were eliminated to cover their tracks and eliminate the witnesses to the crimes committed there.
All too frequently people call political opponents Nazis or make wanton comparisons to the Holocaust, and in doing so, they dishonor the memories and the historical fact of the Holocaust and all the horror that the Holocaust truly was. It was the mass deportation, murder and genocide of millions of Jews all across the European continent by the Nazi regime.
End of the Line For Saturn As Penske Kills Deal
Roger Penske, who had been seen as the guy who could save Saturn and turn around the company's fortunes after GM destroyed the brand's value, has withdrawn his bid to buy the company. Saturn will wind down its business after opening with such fanfare and hopes in 1985.
It means that the 350 dealers nationwide will close, throwing still more people onto the unemployment rolls around the nation, to say nothing of reduced advertising revenues for media outlets including newspapers, added real estate inventory that is exceedingly difficult to move, and the shuttering of more manufacturing base in the nation.
For GM, three other brands will be axed by the end of the year, including Pontiac which is being discontinued, Opel is being sold to Magna and a Russian bank, and Hummer is being sold to a Chinese automaker.
UPDATE:
This report indicates that 13,000 people will be out of jobs by the end of the year if Saturn closes as GM indicates. That includes those building the vehicles and the dealerships, but doesn't include all those who depend on the dealers continued operations. There will be a ripple effect from the closure, just as the shuttering of dealerships around the country has resulted in blighted commercial areas suffering from closures and lost job opportunities that aren't going to rebound anytime soon. In fact, it is feared that the job market will not rebound to 2007 levels until 2017 at the earliest.
Saturn’s 350 dealerships across the United States will close because of the development. The Saturn stores are known for their no-haggle, low-pressure sales approach and focus on customer service. None of the stores sells vehicles made by another G.M. brand.It's a stunning development, and apparently Penske couldn't get another unidentified automaker to build the vehicles that would be sold under the Saturn nameplate.
Saturn dealers said Wednesday that they were blindsided by the news of Penske Automotive’s reversal.
“We’re all stunned,” said Mary McHugh, an executive with Saturn of Schaumberg near Chicago. “We didn’t get any communication from Saturn. We just heard it on the news.”
Under the proposed deal with Penske Automotive, the dealers were to continue selling three vehicles: the Aura sedan, Outlook crossover vehicle and Vue sport utility vehicle. Two models, the Astra compact car and Sky convertible, were being discontinued. Penske Automotive had already sent the dealerships new two-year franchise agreements to sign.
G.M., with the Penske deal now off the table, said it planned to stop building all Saturn models at the end of the 2009 model year, meaning almost immediately. Sales of the brand were down 58 percent this year, through August.
Penske Automotive, which owns a chain of dealerships and already distributes Daimler’s Smart car brand in the United States, had been in exclusive talks with G.M. for Saturn since June, beating out proposals from several other bidders, including a private equity firm tied to a Saturn dealer in Oklahoma.
Auto analysts had predicted that Penske Automotive could succeed in selling Saturns where G.M. had failed, mostly because of Mr. Penske’s reputation. The 72-year-old former race car driver is considered one of the savviest businessmen in the industry, and a specialist in turning around troubled automotive operations.
But Mr. Penske’s plans for Saturn depended on attracting another manufacturer to supply vehicles after G.M. cut off production.
“I don’t think he could find anybody who could give Saturn a competitive product line within two years,” said Joseph Phillippi, a principal in the firm Auto Trends Consulting. “It’s not surprising that a foreign automaker would not want to be entering the U.S. market now.”
It means that the 350 dealers nationwide will close, throwing still more people onto the unemployment rolls around the nation, to say nothing of reduced advertising revenues for media outlets including newspapers, added real estate inventory that is exceedingly difficult to move, and the shuttering of more manufacturing base in the nation.
For GM, three other brands will be axed by the end of the year, including Pontiac which is being discontinued, Opel is being sold to Magna and a Russian bank, and Hummer is being sold to a Chinese automaker.
UPDATE:
This report indicates that 13,000 people will be out of jobs by the end of the year if Saturn closes as GM indicates. That includes those building the vehicles and the dealerships, but doesn't include all those who depend on the dealers continued operations. There will be a ripple effect from the closure, just as the shuttering of dealerships around the country has resulted in blighted commercial areas suffering from closures and lost job opportunities that aren't going to rebound anytime soon. In fact, it is feared that the job market will not rebound to 2007 levels until 2017 at the earliest.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Natural Disasters Strike Pacific Rim Countries; Preparedness Still An Issue
Samoa and American Samoa was inundated following a tsunami yesterday caused by a strong 8.0 earthquake. More than 80 people were killed and the ultimate death toll isn't yet known because remote areas were flooded out. Meanwhile, Indonesia, which was the focal point of the massive 2004 South Asian tsunami that killed more than 250,000 people was hit by a strong quake that toppled buildings and trapped many more.
Despite having several years to implement a new tsunami warning system, it appears that there are significant flaws with the warning system.
Video from American Samoa:
There are reports of looting and people have been urged to stay away from low-lying areas and a need to clear the main highway so authorities can get help to where it's needed most. Additional video can be found here.
UPDATE:
There were apparently four separate tsunami events in Samoa and American Samoa and here's video of the second of four waves showing the devastation in progress.
Despite having several years to implement a new tsunami warning system, it appears that there are significant flaws with the warning system.
For example, The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center immediately sent out an e mail statement today when the earthquake happened off Sumatra, warning that "there is a possibility of a destructive regional tsunami in the Indian Ocean." That message goes immediately to emergency services and the media who can issue warnings. But it seems difficult to clear the beaches and coastal towns and villages in time.UPDATE:
Thailand, for instance, recently held a massive tsunami evacuation drill across six southern provinces. Yet many villagers failed to hear the alert from the 79 warning towers that have been installed along the coast since the tsunami struck in Christmas of 2004. Instead, local officials resorted to hand-operated sirens and even car horns to alert villagers to the danger.
Some people have warned this could be dangerous in the event of a real tsunami.
A series of tsunami detection buoys have also been installed across the region by the US Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They are supposed to inform people about a tsunami before it hits shore.
In Thailand’s case, a buoy off the popular tourist destination of Phuket, which was hit hard by the 2004 tsunami, is not working properly. It was launched in December 2006 but stopped transmitting for a month in mid-June this year.
According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the buoy is now operating on a back-up battery and will likely stop transmitting for good sometime next month. Thai authorities say they will replace it as soon as they can.
Video from American Samoa:
There are reports of looting and people have been urged to stay away from low-lying areas and a need to clear the main highway so authorities can get help to where it's needed most. Additional video can be found here.
UPDATE:
There were apparently four separate tsunami events in Samoa and American Samoa and here's video of the second of four waves showing the devastation in progress.
The Rebuilding of Ground Zero, Part 80
Fiterman Hall is finally coming down, and is now several stories lower than it had been just weeks ago. That stands in stark contrast to the often delayed demolition of the former Deutsche Bank building. Deconstruction was supposed to resume over the summer, but further delays have meant that the hulking ruin continues towering over the Southern side of Ground Zero and delays the rebuilding efforts throughout the site.
Meanwhile, Governor Paterson signed into law a provision allowing Ground Zero workers to sue over medical claims.
A convoy of trucks from Maryland is heading to New York's JFK Airport with a batch of steel recovered from Ground Zero following the 9/11 attacks. The steel was tested and examined by NIST, and is on its way back to a hanger at the airport pending its use in the 9/11 memorial at Ground Zero or for use at a memorial or monument elsewhere in the country.
Meanwhile, Governor Paterson signed into law a provision allowing Ground Zero workers to sue over medical claims.
The law immediately allows more than 3,000 Ground Zero workers to revive lawsuits that were thrown out by a federal judge in July on the technical ground that they were not filed within 90 days of the workers' conditions being diagnosed.UPDATE:
-- PHOTOS: Ground Zero immediately after 9/11
-- PHOTOS: Ground Zero today
It will also allow new lawsuits from an untold number of workers who never even filed claims.
One of them is Chris Klein, 38, a carpenter from Broad Channel, Queens, who worked for three months at Ground Zero in 2002 and is now on disability with a lung condition. Attorneys told him he waited too long after his diagnosis in 2004 and couldn't file a lawsuit.
"I put my life on the line to help the city and the state, and we were lied to that the air was good to breathe," said Klein, who said he also has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and chronic sinusitis.
Klein said he will now join a separate group of about 10,000 police, firefighters, construction workers and others who worked at or near Ground Zero in the months after 9/11 and who filed lawsuits seeking compensation for subsequent illnesses. They contend the government had told them, falsely, the air conditions were safe.
A convoy of trucks from Maryland is heading to New York's JFK Airport with a batch of steel recovered from Ground Zero following the 9/11 attacks. The steel was tested and examined by NIST, and is on its way back to a hanger at the airport pending its use in the 9/11 memorial at Ground Zero or for use at a memorial or monument elsewhere in the country.
Israel To Release Prisoners To Get Video Of Shalit?
Note the headline carefully. Israel is releasing 20 prisoners, not to get Hamas to release Gilad Shalit, but to get a video of Gilad Shalit.
This is an absolute travesty, and only results in Hamas seeing the benefits of further attacks resulting in captured Israelis. Captured Israelis are bargaining chips to be used to secure the release of terrorists from Israeli jails, and worldwide humanitarian groups routinely ignore the gross human rights violations engaged by Hamas by denying the captured Israelis access to those human rights groups like the International Red Cross.
Israel, for its part, may find out the sad truth that Shalit may already be dead, which was a likely outcome from his captivity by Hamas.
There have been no calls by human rights groups calling for Hamas to make the humanitarian gesture of releasing Shalit; instead the onus has always fallen on Israel to undermine its national security to release terrorists in its custody to secure the release of Shalit. The video may yet prove inconclusive as to Shalit's well-being, but as noted above, it raises troubling issues over Israel's ability to protect its citizens from further operations that are designed to capture Israelis for use as pawns. This is a dangerous path Israel has repeatedly taken, and at each step the released terrorists are greeted as heroes, further reinforcing the notion that it is only a matter of time before the Israelis are overwhelmed by the Palestinians and their efforts to destroy Israel.
“Israel will receive updated and unequivocal proof of Gilad Shalit’s well-being and status,” Mr. Netanyahu’s office said in a statement, describing the deal as the result of an Egyptian initiative meant to build confidence ahead of the “decisive stages of negotiation” for Corporal Shalit’s release. The prime minister’s office added that the negotiations were “still expected to be long and arduous.”Hamas has held Shalit for more than 3 years following a Hamas raid into Israel that killed two Israeli soldiers and captured Shalit, who was brought back into Gaza. Since then, no one has seen or heard from Shalit, and Hamas demands have been consistent; they want Israel to release hundreds of Palestinian terrorists held in Israeli jails.
In Gaza, Mahmoud Zahar, a senior Hamas official, said the deal was “small and symbolic.”
“We are offering a report explaining the situation of the soldier in return for the release of 20 women prisoners,” he said as he entered a Red Cross office in Gaza City on Wednesday.
This is an absolute travesty, and only results in Hamas seeing the benefits of further attacks resulting in captured Israelis. Captured Israelis are bargaining chips to be used to secure the release of terrorists from Israeli jails, and worldwide humanitarian groups routinely ignore the gross human rights violations engaged by Hamas by denying the captured Israelis access to those human rights groups like the International Red Cross.
Israel, for its part, may find out the sad truth that Shalit may already be dead, which was a likely outcome from his captivity by Hamas.
There have been no calls by human rights groups calling for Hamas to make the humanitarian gesture of releasing Shalit; instead the onus has always fallen on Israel to undermine its national security to release terrorists in its custody to secure the release of Shalit. The video may yet prove inconclusive as to Shalit's well-being, but as noted above, it raises troubling issues over Israel's ability to protect its citizens from further operations that are designed to capture Israelis for use as pawns. This is a dangerous path Israel has repeatedly taken, and at each step the released terrorists are greeted as heroes, further reinforcing the notion that it is only a matter of time before the Israelis are overwhelmed by the Palestinians and their efforts to destroy Israel.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
New Jersey's Odd Man In Race For Governor
Everyone is keenly focused on Republican Chris Christie and the incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine, but there is a third candidate running for New Jersey Governor, Chris Daggett. He's pushing a property tax reduction scheme that involves cutting the state property tax while imposing the state's sales tax on professional services.
Just as Corzine ended up cutting the property tax rebate all while keeping the sales tax hike, we'd just as likely see the expansion of the sales tax along with higher property taxes. Unless the spending is brought into control, shifting around where the tax revenue comes from results in nothing but a higher overall state tax burden.
That makes the state less competitive at a time when it is already seen as having one of the worst tax burdens in the nation and higher taxes are not what the state needs.
Independent candidate for governor Chris Daggett Tuesday proposed an overhaul of the state's tax system, cutting property taxes by up to $2,500 per homeowner and applying the 7 percent sales tax to professional and household services.While that sounds intriguing on a superficial level, it really is no different than Jon Corzine's proposal that was enacted that brought a sales and use tax increase to cover property tax rebates. It's a bait and switch that does nothing to actually reduce state spending or the structural deficits that the state incurs because of spending more than it brings in.
Candidates in the governor's race include, from left, Democratic Governor Corzine, Republican Chris Christie and independent Chris Daggett.
The state could generate $3.9 billion by taxing services provided to individuals -- such as legal and financial functions -- and then use the extra revenue to drop property taxes even more, by $4 billion, Daggett said at a Trenton press conference.
Daggett's plan, which he drew up over several months using independent studies and state budget numbers, would also reduce income taxes by $620 million and corporate taxes by $750 million.
"I think this makes New Jersey much more competitive," Daggett said. "I don't look at this as a sales tax increase as much as it is balancing the system and making it so we can make New Jersey more affordable again and attract business and industry."
Saying New Jersey has become an "unaffordable state," Daggett said $1.6 billion spent on property tax relief programs like rebates would be directly cut from homeowners' bills.
Just as Corzine ended up cutting the property tax rebate all while keeping the sales tax hike, we'd just as likely see the expansion of the sales tax along with higher property taxes. Unless the spending is brought into control, shifting around where the tax revenue comes from results in nothing but a higher overall state tax burden.
That makes the state less competitive at a time when it is already seen as having one of the worst tax burdens in the nation and higher taxes are not what the state needs.
The Chicago 2016 Olympic Bid Gets Support From Obamas
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are both hoping to make the case that Chicago should win the 2016 Olympics bid for holding the games. They're competing against Tokyo, Madrid, and Rio di Janeiro.
It is a multibillion dollar effort to put on the Olympic Games. They usually don't make money for the host city, but they are transformative in that they create new structures and infrastructure. The Beijing Games was a coming out party for the Communist government to showcase some tremendous and cutting edge sports venues, but had to overcome the heavy handed tactics of dealing with protesters, tracking and limiting content online, and the ineffectual ability to control the pollution that clogged the skies of the city all too frequently.
Japan's efforts include renovations of venues used in the games held there previously, along with a pledge to make the 2016 games eco-friendly. Chicago has an excellent mass-transit infrastructure on paper, but the facts are something else entirely.
The Chicago mass transit system needs a serious infusion of funds to bring it up to snuff. There are sections of track where speeds are limited because of a concern that derailments are all too possible. It has been unable to deal with basic maintenance, and the bill is in the billions.
Will the Olympic bid improve matters? Possibly. Mass transit is a key, and many of the venues and the Olympic Village are close together, limiting travel time and improving efficiencies in an effort to make the Games green.
I'm not quite as outraged as some are over the President being a salesperson for the US efforts to win the Olympics bid. It's his hometown, and being a booster for the hometown effort isn't necessarily a bad thing in and of itself. I am concerned that the appearance of spending all that time and effort could be used better to deal with the Iranian crisis or the flooding in Georgia or even the health care battles in Congress. After all, there are other issues that require Presidential attention, and if he's spending time lobbying the Olympic committee in Copenhagen, that's time that he's not spending on foreign policy or national security issues like the Iranian nuclear and missile threats.
It is a multibillion dollar effort to put on the Olympic Games. They usually don't make money for the host city, but they are transformative in that they create new structures and infrastructure. The Beijing Games was a coming out party for the Communist government to showcase some tremendous and cutting edge sports venues, but had to overcome the heavy handed tactics of dealing with protesters, tracking and limiting content online, and the ineffectual ability to control the pollution that clogged the skies of the city all too frequently.
Japan's efforts include renovations of venues used in the games held there previously, along with a pledge to make the 2016 games eco-friendly. Chicago has an excellent mass-transit infrastructure on paper, but the facts are something else entirely.
The Chicago mass transit system needs a serious infusion of funds to bring it up to snuff. There are sections of track where speeds are limited because of a concern that derailments are all too possible. It has been unable to deal with basic maintenance, and the bill is in the billions.
Will the Olympic bid improve matters? Possibly. Mass transit is a key, and many of the venues and the Olympic Village are close together, limiting travel time and improving efficiencies in an effort to make the Games green.
I'm not quite as outraged as some are over the President being a salesperson for the US efforts to win the Olympics bid. It's his hometown, and being a booster for the hometown effort isn't necessarily a bad thing in and of itself. I am concerned that the appearance of spending all that time and effort could be used better to deal with the Iranian crisis or the flooding in Georgia or even the health care battles in Congress. After all, there are other issues that require Presidential attention, and if he's spending time lobbying the Olympic committee in Copenhagen, that's time that he's not spending on foreign policy or national security issues like the Iranian nuclear and missile threats.
NYS Health Care Workers Question Swine Flu Vaccine Rule
The New York State Department of Health has made it official that all health care workers in the state must take the swine flu shot to continue working. That has got some of these health care workers up in arms over their right to refuse the vaccine.
In fact, it seems that some of this is being driven by the anti-vaccination crowds, and not by hard science on the matter.
These health care workers are on the front lines of any potential outbreak, and if they are sickened and incapacitated, it will put many others in serious harm. Moreover, the Examiner article claims that this is a dangerous potion, when past influenza vaccinations have gotten FDA approval and are produced using the same exact methodologies and processes. The slant on the article is clear; it ignores the actual science.
These workers are already required to maintain proper immunizations against certain other illnesses, but apparently the flu vaccine has pushed this to the forefront.
Already, the flu season is off to a roaring start, with widespread activity in 26 states. That MSNBC chart provides H1N1 deaths, but doesn't tell the whole story - the total killed by influenza, showing that H1N1 continues to play a small but significant role in the overall figure. The CDC map is slightly easier to read, but omits mortality data, particularly from H1N1.
As always, the key is prevention, and taking the flu shot is the first step. Maintaining proper hygiene and constant washing of hands is another. Getting the flu shots is important if you're a care giver or have elderly parents or young children who may be more susceptible to the illnesses due to weakened or still maturing immune systems.
Healthcare workers in New York are angry and planning to protest a state regulation that requires them to get the swine flu vaccine. They are being given an ultimatum: get vaccinated or get fired, according to a NewsDay.com article on www.drudgereport.com. The healthcare workers who are taking exception to the state’s demand insist that such a requirement violates their personal right and freedom to make that decision, and also puts them at risk of serious health issues and even death.These health care workers point to the 1976 vaccine problems, ignoring that the influenza vaccinations made since then have significantly changed, and that the H1N1 vaccination is different from the standard flu vaccines only in that it focuses only on the H1N1 vaccine instead of a cocktail of several different strains.
The vaccine has been fast tracked through the FDA and has not been thoroughly tested. In a previous article, quite a bit of detail was offered about what fast tracking means. In a nutshell, extensive testing is not required. So little is known about the short-term side effects, and no one knows what the long-term effects are going to be. This vaccine is very similar to one used in, 1976 which not only caused some people to get a brain disorder called Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), but the vaccine from 1976 killed more people than the actual swine flu itself.
As for those who aren’t healthcare workers, in spite of the fact that children and pregnant women will be given first priority in receiving the dangerous potion, no studies have been done that indicate what effect the vaccine will have on an unborn child.
In fact, it seems that some of this is being driven by the anti-vaccination crowds, and not by hard science on the matter.
These health care workers are on the front lines of any potential outbreak, and if they are sickened and incapacitated, it will put many others in serious harm. Moreover, the Examiner article claims that this is a dangerous potion, when past influenza vaccinations have gotten FDA approval and are produced using the same exact methodologies and processes. The slant on the article is clear; it ignores the actual science.
These workers are already required to maintain proper immunizations against certain other illnesses, but apparently the flu vaccine has pushed this to the forefront.
Already, the flu season is off to a roaring start, with widespread activity in 26 states. That MSNBC chart provides H1N1 deaths, but doesn't tell the whole story - the total killed by influenza, showing that H1N1 continues to play a small but significant role in the overall figure. The CDC map is slightly easier to read, but omits mortality data, particularly from H1N1.
As always, the key is prevention, and taking the flu shot is the first step. Maintaining proper hygiene and constant washing of hands is another. Getting the flu shots is important if you're a care giver or have elderly parents or young children who may be more susceptible to the illnesses due to weakened or still maturing immune systems.
Monday, September 28, 2009
On My Nightstand: Rocket Men; The Epic Story of the First Men on the Moon
If you've ever stared up at the moon and wondered what it took to land men on the moon, Rocket Men: The Epic Story of the First Men on the Moon is the book for you. It goes behind the scenes and is a gripping tale of how hundreds of thousands of people came together to work on a technological marvel that included millions of parts, all to get three people to the moon with two landing on its surface.
Zazi Had Help
The ongoing investigation into Najibullah Zazi and his terror ties continues, and law enforcement now say that they are looking for three more people.
This investigation has been marked by a string of high profile announcements and then a series of reports that indicate a serious squabble/rift between the FBI and the NYPD.
So, how did law enforcement get tipped off to Zazi's terror plans? The feds had been monitoring sales of certain chemicals, in this case hair care products containing hydrogen peroxide.
Court papers allege that at least three people helped Najibullah Zazi buy beauty products containing peroxide and acetone in suburban Denver. The chemicals can be used to make homemade bombs.Given the public nature of the ongoing investigation, it would seem that law enforcement doesn't mind announcing that they've looking at three other people in connection with the investigation.
Investigators know the identities of the three people, who are from New York City, the law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Monday. He spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation continues.
Najibullah Zazi, center, is escorted off an NYPD helicopter by U.S Marshals after being extradited from Denver, Colo.
The official would not say anything about where the possible accomplices or the bomb-making materials are.
Zazi, an Afghan immigrant, had pages of notes detailing how to turn the beauty products into explosives and at least 18 bottles of peroxide-based hair lighteners, authorities have said.
Zazi has proclaimed his innocence. His lawyer says authorities have no explosives or chemicals to back up claims that he planned an attack in New York City.
As authorities have continued to search for additional suspects, they've issued a flurry of terrorism warnings for sports complexes, hotels and transit systems based on their investigation.
Prosecutors have said the three others who shopped with him in Aurora, Colo., for the beauty products also accompanied him on an August 2008 flight to Pakistan for terrorism training. By that time, he had already come to authorities' attention.
This investigation has been marked by a string of high profile announcements and then a series of reports that indicate a serious squabble/rift between the FBI and the NYPD.
So, how did law enforcement get tipped off to Zazi's terror plans? The feds had been monitoring sales of certain chemicals, in this case hair care products containing hydrogen peroxide.
Sometimes Zazi was joined on his shopping trips to the beauty supply stores in suburban Denver by other bearded men who looked like they'd never been to a beauty parlor, the feds said.
When a curious clerk at one of the stores Zazi visited between July and September asked him why he was buying "Ms. K Liquid 40 Volume" in bulk, Zazi had a ready answer.
"He jokingly said, 'I have a lot of girlfriends,'" said Karan Hoss at the Beauty Supply Warehouse in Aurora, Colo.
Zazi's response might have fooled the clerk, but it didn't fool the feds.
They knew the hydrogen peroxide - and the other acetone-based goodies that Zazi bought - could be used to make deadly bombs.
And they already had been watching Zazi for more than a year, after wiretaps caught him communicating with Osama Bin Laden's followers, sources said.
"He was a lucky hit," a law enforcement source told the Daily News. "He was in touch with really dangerous guys with real track records of pulling off attacks."
Now Zazi, a 24-year-old Afghan immigrant, is in a federal jail cell in New York waiting to stand trial for plotting to bomb the city near the eighth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
The Rebuilding of Ground Zero, Part 79
The pace of construction at the Freedom Tower (1WTC) continues at a glacial pace, and that may be the result of an NYPD crackdown on concrete trucks heading to the site. They're checking them over to see if they're violating weight restrictions, which means that the trucks are delayed and the concrete begins to set ruining the batch.
It means that the pace of the construction is progressing far slower than the pace of other construction projects around the City, including the recently completed Goldman Sachs building across the street or the Trump building in SoHo, which Donald Trump claims rose 4 stories a week (and which saw a construction worker fall to his death when the concrete forms gave way).
However, the construction is moving ahead, and the outer ring of steel supports gives onlookers an insight into the size of the footprint of the building.
One thing that strikes me as odd is just how close the Freedom Tower is to Vesey Street. You notice this most starkly when walking down the path along the North side of Ground Zero. Prior to 9/11, Vesey allowed vehicular traffic to flow past. After the attacks, no vehicles were allowed, and pedestrian traffic flows down the corridor to the PATH temporary station.
There was quite a bit of discussion over how close the Freedom Tower was to traffic on West Street, but it appears that Vesey will never be reopened to vehicle traffic from the looks of it. All the talk of reestablishing the street grid through the site was nonsensical from any number of perspectives, the least of which was the security concern of truck and car traffic through the site. It also meant that valuable acreage would be taken away from the memorial, museum, and the office towers to reestablish the street grid, which will likely never be used for vehicular traffic.
Meanwhile, the Port Authority continues to entertain requests from around the country for items recovered from Ground Zero for incorporation into memorials around the country. Carson City, Nevada is the latest to consider such a request.
UPDATE:
The Tribute in Light, which is one of the most well-known tributes in the NY metro area is in doubt. The funding for the light installation has run out, and there's no word on whether funding can be found for next year.
It means that the pace of the construction is progressing far slower than the pace of other construction projects around the City, including the recently completed Goldman Sachs building across the street or the Trump building in SoHo, which Donald Trump claims rose 4 stories a week (and which saw a construction worker fall to his death when the concrete forms gave way).
However, the construction is moving ahead, and the outer ring of steel supports gives onlookers an insight into the size of the footprint of the building.
One thing that strikes me as odd is just how close the Freedom Tower is to Vesey Street. You notice this most starkly when walking down the path along the North side of Ground Zero. Prior to 9/11, Vesey allowed vehicular traffic to flow past. After the attacks, no vehicles were allowed, and pedestrian traffic flows down the corridor to the PATH temporary station.
There was quite a bit of discussion over how close the Freedom Tower was to traffic on West Street, but it appears that Vesey will never be reopened to vehicle traffic from the looks of it. All the talk of reestablishing the street grid through the site was nonsensical from any number of perspectives, the least of which was the security concern of truck and car traffic through the site. It also meant that valuable acreage would be taken away from the memorial, museum, and the office towers to reestablish the street grid, which will likely never be used for vehicular traffic.
Meanwhile, the Port Authority continues to entertain requests from around the country for items recovered from Ground Zero for incorporation into memorials around the country. Carson City, Nevada is the latest to consider such a request.
UPDATE:
The Tribute in Light, which is one of the most well-known tributes in the NY metro area is in doubt. The funding for the light installation has run out, and there's no word on whether funding can be found for next year.
Iran Tests Short Range Missiles As World Twiddles Thumbs
The West may eventually get around to agreeing on how to inspect the latest Iranian nuclear facility that they revealed at the end of the UN General Assembly meetings this week, but Iran isn't stopping with its nuclear program or its missile technology upgrades.
They test fired more missiles today.
The Iranian tests often coincide with statements of bravado and threats against those who might seek to restrict Iran's nuclear technologies. This is little different.
They test fired more missiles today.
The missile maneuvers coincide with increased tension in Iran's nuclear dispute with the West, after last week's disclosure by Tehran that it is building a second uranium enrichment plant.That's clearly putting a thumb in the eye of the West and the US in particular.
State radio said the Guards on Monday would test-fire the Shahab 3 missile, which Iranian officials say has a range of around 2,000 km, potentially putting Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf within reach. It has been tested several times before.
Iran's English-language Press TV said two short-range missiles as well as a multiple missile launcher were tested on the exercise's first day.
It showed footage of a missile launch in desert-like terrain, leaving a vapor trail.
"Iran tests two short-range missiles," it said in a scrolling headline, naming them as the ground-to-ground Fateh (Victorious) missile and the Tondar (Thunder) naval missile.
The Revolutionary Guards said "the drill aims to maintain and boost the country's armed forces deterrent capabilities," Press TV said.
The Iranian tests often coincide with statements of bravado and threats against those who might seek to restrict Iran's nuclear technologies. This is little different.
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