A 3.3 million-year-old skeleton of the earliest child ever found shows the ancient ancestor of modern humans walked upright but may have also climbed trees. The remains of the three-year-old girl, found in Ethiopia's Dikika region, is of the same species as the famous hominid fossil skeleton known as "Lucy".
"It represents the earliest and most complete partial skeleton of a child ever found in the history of paeleoanthropology," said Dr Zeresenay Alemseged, of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany. Dating of the sediment in which the bones were found suggests the child lived between 3.31 and 3.35 million years ago. The discovery sheds light on a branch of the human tree known as Australopithecus afarensis.
Lucy, recovered in Ethiopia in 1974, is the most famous A. afarensis fossil. For more than 20 years Lucy was the earliest known member of the hominid family. Hominids are primates who split from apes between five and seven million years ago. The skull, torso and limbs show both human and ape-like features.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred ||
09/21/2006 00:00 ||
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Wow, that gal is hot
Posted by: Captain America ||
09/21/2006 1:35 Comments ||
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Shouldn't this be the "Good Morning" paper? This gal is A. afarensis' answer to Heady Lamarr. Look at those funbags, will ya! I'd say that goob with her looks like Ahmanutjob, but he's too tall. :-)
PIETERMARITZBURG, South Africa (AP) - In a boost to his presidential hopes, a judge on Wednesday dismissed a corruption indictment against Jacob Zuma, who walked from court and broke into a Zulu song, "Bring me my machine gun." Jubilant supporters sang along, convinced the populist politician's quest to lead South Africa has gained momentum. But concerns about the former deputy president may linger.
Check the pic at the link; he looks like an evil George Foreman.
Judge Herbert Msimang first denied a motion for a postponement from prosecutors, who argued they needed more time to prepare. When stunned prosecutors said they were unable to begin immediately, the judge said he had no choice but to dismiss the charges.
Some [of Zuma's supporters] called for his immediate reinstatement as deputy president; he was fired by President Thabo Mbeki last year when it became clear prosecutors were going ahead with the corruption charges.
"I said I was innocent, I am still saying I am innocent. I will repeat it tomorrow," Zuma told about 5,000 supporters, some perched in trees, outside the courthouse. He then sang "Bring me my machine gun", a tune from the anti-apartheid struggle that has become something of a campaign song for Zuma. The 64-year-old former guerrilla leader has built his following in part on his credentials in fighting to end white rule in South Africa.
The charges alleged that Zuma was aware of efforts by his financial adviser Schabir Shaik to secure yearly payments of $70,000 from the French arms company Thint Holdings, a co-defendant, to deflect investigations into an arms deal. The corruption investigations centered on a $7.1 billion deal to buy ships, submarines, helicopters, jets and other arms in 1999. Shaik, a close friend of Zuma, was convicted of fraud and corruption last year and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He has appealed.
Posted by: Steve White ||
09/21/2006 00:00 ||
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No surprise here....He is an "evil George Foreman" with a Clintonian appetite for wimmin and power. Just wait until he becomes president of SA.
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh was re-elected with a massive 82 percent of votes yesterday, provisional results published by the Supreme Election Commission showed. The veteran politician was elected president for another seven-year term in nationwide elections held earlier in the day.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/21/2006 00:00 ||
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Wasn't this going to be the "Arab Stateman" who walked away to allow for progress toward a healthy democracy?
The U.N. address by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has had an unexpected impact on the best seller lists of booksellers Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com.
At the start of his talk Wednesday, during which Chavez referred to President George W. Bush as "the devil," Chavez held up a book by Noam Chomsky, "Hegemony or Survival: America's Quest for Global Dominance," and recommended it to everyone in the General Assembly, as well as to the American people.
"The people of the United States should read this ... instead of watching Superman movies," Chavez later told reporters.
As of Thursday afternoon, "Hegemony or Survival," originally published in 2003, had jumped into the top 10 of Amazon and Barnes & Noble.com.
Metropolitan Books, an imprint of Henry Holt, has ordered an additional paperback printing of 25,000 copies.
Chomsky, the famed 77-year-old linguist, has long been an opponent of U.S. foreign policy. His many books include "9-11," a best-selling collection of interviews, and "Failed States," which came out last spring.
Posted by: john ||
09/21/2006 17:24 ||
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Lol, Brit Hume just said that Chavez said he's sorry he didn't get to meet Chomskey before he died. Heh, Bobo-Boy, he's still alive.
#2
The Rangel stuff is hysterical. Obviously, he's simply reserving the right to vilify the President for the DhimmiDonks. The difference between their rhetoric and Bobo's long brain fart is that the DhimmiDonks are far more offensive, disingenuous, and asinine.
#6
Lol, SPo'D. It might be worth it to wade through his public spew... Given his IQ and Muzzy sensitivity, I'm sure he's said something that would give offense... doesn't take much. :-)
#12
"The people of the United States should read this ... instead of watching Superman movies,"
-except for the fact that Superman movies are entertaining, give a hyperbolic account of good vs evil, honor a humble hero, don't put you to sleep, and are usually worth the price of admission, I'd agree w/you hugo.
TOKYO (AP) - Japan's likely next premier, outspoken conservative Shinzo Abe, pressed for summits with China and South Korea on Wednesday after being tapped to head the country's ruling party in a vote heralding a swing to the right.
The overture came as Abe, who is expected to be elected prime minister next week, outlined plans for a government that could usher in a more assertive foreign policy, a stronger military and a focus on economic reform. Improving relations with Japan's neighbors will be a key challenge. While the change in leadership could break the ice, Abe falls under suspicion for supporting the Tokyo war shrine, for promoting nationalism and for wanting to rewrite the pacifist constitution, a cornerstone of Japan's post-World War II identity.
In a conciliatory note, Abe said he wants to make Japan "a country that is trusted and loved" by the world. He also said he wants to "make an effort" to meet Chinese and South Korean counterparts after becoming prime minister. "It is quite regrettable that the summit meetings between Chinese and Japanese leaders haven't happened," he said. "It is important for leaders to frankly talk with each other, even though there may be various problems between neighboring countries."
Abe warned, however, "it is necessary for both sides to make efforts and take a step ahead."
Posted by: Steve White ||
09/21/2006 00:00 ||
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Bush has gotta new play mate
Posted by: Captain America ||
09/21/2006 1:36 Comments ||
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The Chinese won't like it one bit. The South Koreans are going over the deep end with regard to North Korea. It's a shame...I'll miss Koizumi's lion's mane and his funny faces. I also like how AP describes Abe as an "outspoken" conservative, as if there were something shameful about being a conservative.
#3
Japan wants to be a player they should set up their Army to do some peacekeeping in areas of the world far removed from memories of Japan during WW2. The middle east and Africa come to mind. Get them some experience, get some credit in the uN, freak out the Chinese.
#4
Ah so, methinks the new Premier Abe wants to look the ChiComs and SKors directly in the eye and give them that nice warm fuzzie feeling. As for Kimmie, no meeting, but it was reported he just ordered a boxcar full of Depends.
PARIS (AFP) The Airbus A380 superjumbo airliner is heading for probable new delivery delays, sources inside the company said on Wednesday. One source inside Airbus, who declined to be named, said that "a halving of deliveries next year seems logical in view of the industrial difficulties arising from adaptation of electric cabling to the specific requirements of customers". Another source inside the company, who declined to be named, told AFP that management had begun to inform trades union representatives of "this trend of a new delivery delay".
Earlier on Wednesday the French financial newspaper Les Echos had reported that Airbus was facing further delays in the delivery of its A380 superjumbo airliner, for as much as six months. Deliveries of the airliner, which can carry up to 840 passengers, have already been delayed by at least a year because of production problems, causing upheaval in the company.
Also on Wednesday a spokeswoman for French airline Air France, an Airbus customer, said that the carrier "has been informed as have other companies" by Airbus "about a new delivery program" for the A380 and was waiting for details. Les Echos reported, without giving sources, that an Airbus executive committee had met on Monday to finalize the delivery schedule, which would lead to an additional six-month delay and a reduction in the number of planned deliveries next year.
The first A380 could be delivered as expected to Singapore Airlines in December, but it might not be put into service until April, according to the newspaper. The first A380 for Air France was not expected to be in service until April 2009, the paper added.
Posted by: Steve White ||
09/21/2006 13:33 ||
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*Still* love the turkey-on-the-wing graphic. LOL.
#3
The same story being circulated for months now. Probably by Boeing.
Posted by: Rafael ||
09/21/2006 17:30 Comments ||
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Remember the engineer who was fired and harrassed because he claimed there was a problem w/the wiring?"...in view of the industrial difficulties arising from adaption of electric cabling to the specific requirements of customers." Yeah,right,those ungrateful customers who want the wiring to be safe and not cause planes full of people to fall from the sky.
Posted by: Stephen ||
09/21/2006 21:41 Comments ||
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This isn't just some story pushed by Boeing.
Airbus is beating on suppliers like never before, there is truth behind this.
They are in deep trouble, not because of A380, but becuase A400M is starting to tank.
Youths wielding iron bars beat up two riot policemen patrolling a rough housing project in a southern Paris suburb, police officials said Wednesday. One officer was hospitalized with a double fracture of the skull during Tuesday night's incident in Corbeil-Essonnes, a police source said. His colleague reportedly sustained facial and body injuries. Police were called in to disperse the gang of up to 30 youths who stoned the unmarked police car as it patrolled the area, police officials said.
The police got out of their car, were encircled and attacked. Some of the youths were armed with iron bars, according to reports. No arrests were made following the incident, police said. "These youths fear nothing," a police union official said on LCI television.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/21/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
One NB : it was not a by-chance spontaneous riot, it was a bona fide ambush, with masked agressors, and this is much discussed in french msm, and has became a political issue.
File it in "frenchifada" (remember, about 100 cars torched a night, with actual number probably higher thanks to the official stats system ignoring "collateral damage" and unassured cars).
By the way, expect some flare ups of violence, ramadan is coming : it "traditionally" ends in spontaneous riots, and security forces are very anxious the 2005 ramadan riots (IIRC 200 millions euros of damage, 11 000+ vehicles and 50 or so public building torched, one uppity woman doused in gazoline and set alight, plus at least one similar try, and 8 unacknowledged deaths, in addition to all the police wounded) could be revived, think "Pope".
#3
They fear some things. They just don't fear the French
French police has to abide with very restrictive rules of engagement: no draw of weapons except in case of immediate danger. Menaning that often, like in case of those two guys, they do it when it is too late.
In addition French judicial system is totally in the hands of bleeding heart liberals (btw in France you become a judge by passing an exam, without election or any kind of control by the people). It is common that "youths" peprpetrate 10 to 20 offences or crimes (US meaning, in France the use of the word of crime is for murders) before getting before getting a... suspended sentence. When they serve terms these are very short on the pretext that there is not enough prison capacity. Of course, the fact there are not enough jails is ever interpreted by our bleeding heart politicians and MSM as "we should not put peiople in jail" instead of the two other solutions: "build more jails" or "learn from glorious example set by comarde Stalin about how to deal woth the probklem of overcrowded jails".
Anyway criminals have little reasons to fear the police: they will not be shot by it and if arrested the judge will release them in a matter of hours.
#6
If you tried this here in the U.S. You would be wounded, pissing your pants seeing your friends shot, or dead. Preferably dead IMO. No excuse for jumping a Police Officer.
Posted by: Charles ||
09/21/2006 8:52 Comments ||
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The French police need to consider these events as weapon speed-drawing reflex tests.
I wonder what would happen if some stealthy "neighborhood watch" types identified an entire street's worth of Muslim-owned vehicles and torched them all in a single night. These assholes desperately need some paybacks.
#12
I think a lot of us here are expecting exactly that sort of European-style charnel house response to this current situation, Omasing Glinesing6559.
#16
The world needs to take lessons from the American Old West. These little hoodlums would be so toast here.
"No arrests were made following the incident, police said."
So the bad boys won. Is anyone surprised? If you let bad behavior have its way, it will have its way.
The EU liberals need to face reality really soon, if they want to continue with any semblance of their "enlightened" society. Solution: jail and/or deport--then have your wine and cheese parties.
#18
Lucky the gendarmes weren't killed outright. They know the score. They should have got out with cocked riot guns with 00 shot. I guarantee a load in the face of the first "youth" would have caused the rest of the tribe to back up. When they got a glimpse of the remainder of his carcass they would have been very willing to comply with any further questions/orders.
#19
"If the perp uses his fist, you use your stick. If he pulls a knife, you pull your piece and cancel his ticket right then and there."
-- "Proportionate Force", LAPD style
#20
They were cops, not gendarmes. Gendarmes are military and have more realxed ROEs. Also Gendarmes have juridisction over country aresas not urban ones.
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/21/2006 19:31 Comments ||
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For Americans this is hard to understand. Recall the unofficial motto of the Texas Rangers: "1 riot, 1 Ranger"
Which is not to say that no Rangers ever died in the line of duty, or that cops don't get killed in the U.S. Are U.S. cops any safer than French cops? Doubt it.
Posted by: Rafael ||
09/21/2006 20:39 Comments ||
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PRISTINA, Serbia (AP) - Kosovo's prime minister on Wednesday dismissed Serbia's fierce opposition to the province's drive for independence, insisting that decades of bloodshed in the Balkans are over and Serbs will never dare to invade Kosovo again because they have "no courage."
You guys provoke a fight and just maybe NATO should get out of the way and let you have one.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Agim Ceku condemned a recent spate of bombings - including an attack late Tuesday that injured four Serbs - and he blamed Serbian nationalists for using "primitive propaganda" to incite ethnic tensions as the United Nations nears a decision on possible statehood for Kosovo. Serbs know enough "not to invade Kosovo again," Ceku said, adding: "They have no courage."
"War is past. I'm sure there's no willingness to choose this way of realizing their wishes," Ceku said. "That is all mythology. There's a huge lack of reality in Serbia."
But there's no lack of guns and ammo.
Ceku spoke in the wake of tough remarks by his Serbian counterpart, Vojislav Kostunica, contending that Kosovo "has always been and forever will remain within Serbia," and a call by Serbian nationalist leader Tomislav Nikolic for that country's army to "stand ready" to go to war if the province gains its independence through U.N. talks.
Although few expect a renewal of hostilities, particularly since 16,000 NATO-led peacekeepers still patrol Kosovo, there have been fears of a resurgence of violence, and tensions have soared amid the latest spate of bombings. Two of the explosions targeted the cars of top officials, although they were not hurt. Ceku conceded the attacks undermine Kosovo's drive to establish itself as "a multiethnic, nonviolent country," and he reassured the province's estimated 100,000 minority Serbs that the authorities would protect them.
In a pig's eye. The Kosovars hate the Serbs and the Serbs hate the Kosovars. Remove the NATO forces and you'll have war quicker than you can say Pristina.
Since the war ended seven years ago, about 200,000 Serbs have left Kosovo, fearing reprisal attacks. "I have encouraged Kosovo's Serbs not to leave, not to be discouraged," Ceku told the AP. "Independence is the time to stay, not leave. Independence is the time to come back."
Posted by: Steve White ||
09/21/2006 00:00 ||
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Bosnia and Kosovo are the major transit points for Afghan heroin, and their citizens have been found in jihad activity all over the World. Clinton isn't around to stab Serbia and Eastern Europe in the back. Unleashing the Serbs would do us a huge favor.
#2
Muzzi logic. Muzzi courage. I hope US will pull out---leaving eurodreck union to protect you. And I hope Serbs will finish what Milo (the first modern European Leader to understand Islam) started.
#4
No, no, no. Milo didn't 'understand Islam', he was a murderer and a crook. I'm glad he's dead and wish he'd had a rope 'round his neck at his last moment.
I don't want the Muslims of Bosnia and Kosovo to get whamped, I want them to behave. They were behaving (more or less) in the old Yugoslavia when Tito was around; back then there was little in the way of heroin trafficking and terrorism. Most all that brewed up after Tito died and the Slobo got uppity.
Remember who helped the Muslims of Bosnia when no one else would? The Wahabbists of Saooodiland and the Mad Mullahs of Iran. Think about that.
Posted by: Steve White ||
09/21/2006 13:18 Comments ||
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#4 He didn't do enything isn't advocated daily here on Rantburg. It's long past time for US to admit to screwing up, big, in former Yugoslavia.
#7
Right, wrong, or indifferent, this Ceku guy isn't too bright. I wonder how long he'll live, after this absurd interview. The Serbs are a touchy bunch... Fuck with the bull and, eventually, you get the horn.
Meanwhile, over at DU, Pelosi's Angry Left followers are angry, all right . . . angry at her:
yep, Pelosi is a damn fool for this, I've just lost some respect for her if she thinks it was "name calling" why then engage in more name calling? Bush is more of a thug than chavez that is for damn sure. bush IS a "devil" and deserves to be called it. He should be shown zero respect anywhere and everywhere in any situation. I'd rather spit in his face than shake hands with the evil worthless little shit for brains son of a bitch.
So, Nancy, done anything to get cheap fuel to the poor? How is calling a head of state a "thug" any different from calling a head of state "the devil"? It's all right for us to call names but not those inferior countries? Does she actually disagree with Chavez' assessment? Or is she being a political hypocrite?
Yeah, what opposition? Why is she standing up for a mass-murderer? The spying, torturing, corrupt president. Leave it to Pelosi to try and generate more support for Bush.
I guess I am a thug, too. I've been calling Bush Satan for years. Grow up, Nancy. Why don't you jump on Bush's ass for demeaning America every day? Bush does not deserve anyone's respect.
Posted by: Mike ||
09/21/2006 14:09 ||
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Rangel & Pelosi being politicians may be sensing which way the wind is blowing and nothing more. Reading the unhinged spewing from the DU or Koscommies without fail always disgusts me.
#4
Permission granted, provisionally. The provision is that you agree with her only in rhetoric, but not in motive. She's just trying to cover her ass from the considerable backlash that's bound to occur when people see that Hugo talks just like a dem. But, I've no doubt she actually agrees with everything HUGO is saying.
#8
'Geek: You're probably right, Pelosi is being a hypocrite. Hypocrisy is sometimes defined as the homage vice pays to virtue, and I think that applies here. Assuming Pelosi actually agrees with Chavez, and with her Angry Left base, she seems to realize on some level that it would be wrong of her (or at least politically counterproductive) to come out and admit that she agrees with a crazed anti-American rant from an overbearing, swaggering, tin-plated South American bandito-dictator with delusions of godhood who quotes Noam Freakin' Chomsky.
The DU-ers, and their slightly-better-behaved allies, the Kos Kiddies, aren't even that smart or shrewd.
Posted by: Mike ||
09/21/2006 16:59 Comments ||
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Lol - the DhimmiDonks never miss an opportunity to fragment, makes asses (is that redundant?) of themselves, and self-destruct.
Being a DhimmiDonk "leader" appears to be akin to the classic EDS commercial Herding Cats. Mebbe they should remake it as Herding Moonbats. Regardless, I appreciate good theater and an opposition that just can't help itself. At this rate, given how their facade of Talking Points has been crumbling of late, perhaps November won't be a catastrophe, after all. Thanks, Nancy, you're a Botox Peach.
#13
Heh, I stand corrected Mr B. I just imagined all of the frantic activity after Bobo's speech as she tried to figure out how to "react", lol. I'll bet it was just precious. :-)
Posted by: Sen. Edward M. Kennedy ||
09/21/2006 20:04 Comments ||
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#16
I wouldn't put Rangel down. I might not agree with a lot of what he says, but he is not an asshat. I think he's being genuine, and should be appluaded as such.
#17
Heh, Thoth. I'd say Rangel is, indeed, an asshat - at the very least. I've seen him interviewed at least a half-dozen times over the last 2 years and, yeah, he's completely partisan, completely anti-everything (i.e. no actual plan of his own), and indistinguishable from Nancyasshat. Remember he's the jackass who bellowed that we needed a draft 3 years ago, trolling for a good scare tactic. AND he's one of the DhimmiDonk "leaders" who has called for Bush's impeachment. That is sufficient for me to bump his classification to fuckwit. Just my opinion, but it's based upon his actions and his words. Fuck him.
#18
Understand where you come from, but I also understand that people can disagree without having political crap being the motivation. I think Rangel comes from that cut of cloth. He's going to say what he thinks, no matter the political outcome. I admire that in some weird sort of way. You think the libtards are liking him over this? My thoughts are he doesn't care.
No, Charles is his own man, and speaks for what he believes. I do admire that.
The House yesterday passed legislation that would require voters to show a valid photo identification in federal elections over the overwhelming objections of Democrats who compared the bill to segregation-era measures aimed at disenfranchising Southern blacks. The Federal Election Integrity Act was approved on a nearly party-line 228-196 vote. Republicans backed the bill 224-3, with three nonvoters; Democrats opposed it 192-4, with five nonvoters. They were joined in opposition by the House's one independent member. The bill, which faces an uncertain future in the Senate, is part of a Republican effort to complete before the November elections a package of proposals aimed at curbing illegal immigration and its effects on ordinary Americans.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/21/2006 12:32 ||
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Did rhe bill contain the language removing the issue from the judiciary's review? And underline said authority by declaring any such act to be grounds for impeachment? No. Well, then its just another exercise in political positioning.
#2
"... And please bless Mommy and Daddy, my doggie Spot, my teacher Miss Sweetums, and the ice cream man. Oh, and please bless the House Republicans for putting the Dummycrats and the Senate on the spot in an election year. Please force an up or down, Lord. And please help people to understand that making them vote puts them on record and provides big fat juicy targets for the Republicans who protect my family and America. They're thick and need extra help from you, Lord, but eventually they'll figure it out. Thank you, Lord. Amen."
#4
This should have been done right after the 2000 election fiasco.
A simple bill that requires states to (a) have a seperate ballot for federal elections (Pres, Senate, House) (b) that is filled in using a #2 pencil in the way used in American schools (c) In English (states can provide translation sheets at their own expense) (d) to require a valid drivers license or state identification card to place said ballot in the ballot box (e) Voter must be validly registered a month ahead of time to allow the voter registration records to be updated properly (f) and to have a means to shred spoiled ballots so there is not chance of them being considered anything other than spoiled.
If the states want to monkey around with their own elections ideas (electronic, chads, etc, unregistered voters) so be it but they should be forbidden from monkeying with the federal stuff and leaving the entire nation hanging.
Scams in cereals, petrol, meat and, of course, booze seem to be engulfing the top echelons of Army. If disciplinary action was recently ordered against a Lt-General in a cereal scam, a court martial has now directed that a Major-General be stripped of his rank and undergo three years' rigorous imprisonment.
The court martial found Maj-Gen Gur Iqbal Singh Multani guilty of "illegal activities pertaining to misuse of funds and canteen stores". Multani, an artillery officer commanding the 6 Mountain Division at Bareilly, was suspended last November, as was reported first by TOI.
This came after a truck full of Army liquor Multani had allegedly dispatched to his hometown in Punjab was intercepted by military intelligence and police authorities near Dehradun, prompting him to be dubbed "booze-general" in some quarters.
Shockingly, as many as four other Brigadiers have also been indicted in this case during the legal proceedings. "Disciplinary action in the form of a court-martial against these four will now be taken," said sources.
Liquor sales, incidentally, account for almost 40% of the Rs 5,200-crore turnover of the around 3,500 defence canteens, servicing 4.5 million serving and retired defence personnel.
There have been many cases of officers and other ranks being caught for illegally selling the much-cheaper military liquor in the civilian market.
The declining standards of probity and discipline in the armed forces have become a big source of concern in recent years, considering the fact that as many as 8,000 courts martial have been held just since 2000.
But the Army on Thursday was only prepared to say that the court martial against Multani recommended "he
be cashiered and suffer hree years' rigorous imprisonment", without specifying the charges.
The statement went on to add that the highly-disciplined Army "has sent a loud and clear message that corruption has no place in the forces and it does not shy away from dispensing exemplary punishment". Being cashiered,
considered to be a humiliating experience in the rank-conscious armed forces, means that Multani will be divested of
his rank, retirement benefits, military medals and other awards.
This, however, is not the only case to hit the top brass of the 1.13-million-strong Army in recent times. A court martial, for instance, recently convicted a Major-Gen, K T G Nambiar, on seven out of 18 charges levelled against him while he was posted as the Meerut sub-area commander.
The Lt-Gen in the dock, Surendra K Sahni, an ASC officer posted as director-general supply and transport at Army HQ, in turn, is also likely to face a court martial soon. A court of inquiry (CoI) had in July indicted him, a Maj-Gen and eight other officers for massive irregularities in procurement of cereals.
Another CoI into a multi-crore scam revolving around "massive irregularities" in the purchase of meat and poultry for supply to formations under Army's Udhampur-based Northern Command is also in the final stages of finalisation. The role of several officers, including another Lt-Gen, is being probed in this case, say sources.
Then, of course, the culpability of a Maj-Gen is under investigation in the now infamous "ketchup colonel and brigadier" episode, wherein militant kills were faked to show good results in Assam in 2003. The Colonel, H S Kohli, and his brigade commander, Suresh Rao, have already been court-martialled in this case.
Posted by: john ||
09/21/2006 17:51 ||
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Potential business development opportunity for Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR). DFAC chow be mighty good, and only $ 31. USD per tray.
(La Jolla, California) Recent scientific publications have reported either inceasing or decreasing ice volumes on the Antarctic continent, and while this would seem to suggest considerable scientific uncertainty on the issue, new research suggests that both findings might be true at the same time.
Dr. Elizabeth Frost of the Paraphysical Research Institute in La Jolla, California, has come up with a theory that might reconcile what are often considered to be contradictory results in scientific research.
"What we believe," Dr. Frost told ecoEnquirer, "is that a new paradigm is needed in scientific thought. Since mutually exclusive sets of scientific results usually are published in respected scientific publications, we suggest that they are both true. There is a higher level of physical understanding that must be developed, one where the Yin and Yang of scientific findings are reconciled, better understood, and appreciated."
As an example of this duality in scientific results, Dr. Frost mentioned the analogy of the equivalence of matter and energy originally proposed by Albert Einstein. "A change in one direction must be matched by a change in the opposite direction, in order to preserve physical harmony in the universe," noted Dr. Frost.
We asked Dr. Frost what her theory would then predict for the issue of rising sea levels, which is the main concern if Antarctica is indeed losing ice from global warming. Dr. Frost explained, "That is quite simple. The predicted result is that sea levels will both rise and fall, depending, of course, upon the perspective of the observer."
Dr. Frost also described ongoing research into the application of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle to climate studies. Her concern is that the large number of climate researchers that are now observing the climate system are actually changing the Earth's climate because of their observations, and believes this effect needs to be taken into account in computerized climate models.
Posted by: Frank G ||
09/21/2006 8:43 Comments ||
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#2
LOL - The eco-enquirer, where GAIA gets her hair undone. A beautiful shot across her ample bow. Okay, just for fun...
Dr. Elizabeth Frost of the Paraphysical Research Institute in La Jolla, California
Paraphysical? Precious...
"There is a higher level of physical understanding that must be developed, one where the Yin and Yang of scientific findings are reconciled, better understood, and appreciated."
I detect a journey into the land of the metaphysical, where crystals and pyramids soothe the savage breast of the collective apeman...
Dr. Frost explained, "That is quite simple. The predicted result is that sea levels will both rise and fall, depending, of course, upon the perspective of the observer."
Not on the same ocean, darling...
They've outdone themselves with this one. Accurately describes what passes for enlightened thought in the realm of pseudo-science.
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#3
I think the quantm mechanics of climate change might be more apt.
Each climate change computer model is an "experiment" examining an eigen-value of the climate.
People should have a quick read of "A new kind of science" whereby the priciciple of "inherant randomness" is discovered especially in feedback models. Basically computer models of climate change are all fucked.
#5
Computer models are only as good as the data put into it. We only have some 10% of the data to put in the models and are proclaiming it as gospel truth.
Of course, a lot of "scientists" that are doing the preaching are doing it to keep the funds coming in. Government and fringe groups don't fund the guys who say the truth.
#7
Computer models are only as good as the data put into it.
A bit of a simplification, but yea, GIGO rulez. ;-)
Modeling the climate is impossible due to the inherant randomness produced.
This sentence sounds like a product of a chompskybot, pardon my french. Some say that English is inherently imprecise, but I think that is just an excuse for sloppiness.
In your sentence, it is unclear what produces the inherent randomness, the modeling or the climate?
Modeling the climate is impossible because of nature's inherent random processes. [there-- fixed it for ya]
You can actually try to model anything, but as long as you are aware that the models are only tentative and--more often than not--crude and inaccurate representations of reality, you'll be fine.
#8
Bright Pebbles, of course, is pointing out the old and correct truism that the weather you experience today might be caused by a butterfly flapping it's wings months ago in China.
#12
Muslim seething may be causing high pressure over the ME which may influence el nino, and thus limit the number of tropical storms in the North Atlantic, thus increasing home sales in Florida.
Derived formula $=>@-~_*(&#)
#14
Nice parody :3, However in the real world these assclowns weather modlers can't even predict the weather ten days from now and they are extrapolating stuff a hundred years and more out. I am not that stupid but my Governor and State Legislature is.
#17
My brother is doing some work on this using the computer center he set up at U. of Oklahoma (soemthing about massively parallel something or others -- when somebody pays me I'll remember better). He's mentioned in passing that readressing the data using Chaos Theory calculations gave much better results, if that helps any.
#18
Scientists discover water turns to ice when cold
Be careful there. Supercooled water won't necessarily freeze at the temperature you think it should. Just because it's cold, doesn't mean it'll turn to ice.
Posted by: Rafael ||
09/21/2006 23:39 Comments ||
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#1
"The stealthy F-35 is a supersonic, multi-role, 5TH Generation fighter designed to replace a wide range of existing aircraft, including AV-8B Harriers, A-10s, F-16s, F/A-18 Hornets and United Kingdom Harrier GR.7s and Sea Harriers."
There are some extraordinarily different roles there. I hope this doesn't mean that in trying to make it do everything, it can't do any one thing very well.
#3
Which one on the list stands out like a sore thumb as being a truly different aircraft??? That would be the A-10. There is no way that the F-35 is going to do CAS as well as the A-10. Just like the Skyraider lasted far, far longer in service than anticipated, so will the Warthog. That is until another dedicated CAS airframe is designed or other technologies supercede the need for such aircraft.
#4
I agree, remoteman. The A-10 is, literally, a rara avis. England originated much of the designs for a joint fighter development package with the French. Then the Brits proceded to hogtie it with carrier landing requirements, fighter bomber capacity and a host of inclement weather adaptations that killed the project.
The French stripped away all of these crippling demands and went on to make a bazillion francs marketing the Mirage fighter jet far and wide. For some truly interesting and fascinating insights into what happened to British aviation, once a world leader, read the book "Project Cancelled" by Derek Wood.
Sweet merciful crap! The lowest price edition at Amazon is a whopping $115.00. I found my copy in the thrift shop for less than $5.00. Guess I'm not going to loan out that book anymore.
#5
Not to worry, the Warthog isn't going away anytime soon.
The U.S. Air Force wants to keep it's A-10 ground attack aircraft going at least another ten years. That means that over 300 of them have to be rebuilt and upgraded. That's because the A-10s were built three decades ago, with a service life of 4,000 hours in the air. Most have already got over 6,000 hours. So refurbishment will extend service life to 16,000 hours, and install an F-16 like cockpit, along with the ability to use a targeting pod and deliver GPS and laser guided bombs. This makes the A-10 the most versatile ground support aircraft in service. The A-10 still has its 30mm cannon, which, while designed to destroying armored vehicles, has proved useful against all manner of targets. The targeting pod also enables A-10 pilots to cruise around at night, and get a high-resolution view of what's going on down there. The infantry depend on the extra eye in the sky, and the ability to deliver anything from 30mm cannon fire, to Maverick missiles to 500 pound JDAM smart bombs.
#7
The damn thing is so ugly it's beautiful. It's one of those planes, along with the B-58, SR-71 and U-2, that looks exactly like it's supposed to. Those two honking GE turbo-fans with 9,000 pounds of thrust give the "hog" a set of big brass ones. This is something that no enemy tank commander wants to see inbound. I'm extremely happy to note that its mission profile has been expanded. The massive pilot protection these birds carry is just the ticket for our precious soldiers.
#8
The Army is probably moving to have the A-10 replaced ASAP with UAVs but won't tell the Air Force until it's a fait accompli. That's probably the best solution. Give the Army the air space up to a certain altitude and the Air Force above that.
UAV's are definitely the coming thing, but there will be times when a real pilot in a real warship will make solid sense for some time to come - er, or so I hope, lol.
#10
It is going to be tough for a UAV "pilot" to have adequate SA to be both effective and flexible. Will he be able to spot targets of opportunity or see a potential threat out of the corner of his eye? Perhaps in the future, but not for a while.
#11
Precisely, remoteman. Arthur C. Clarke essentially stated that 'No computer can rival the human brain for making connections between two apparently unrelated objects.'
This is the unparalelled human ability of pattern recognition at its finest. The sort of target acquisition, recognition, tracking and identification performed by a human pilot simply cannot be achieved by any current computing systems. Radar and FoF (Friend or Foe) systems certainly augment a pilot's ability but have yet to even come close in terms of replacing it.
This in no way denigrates the superb usefulness of UAVs with their ability to loiter and reconnoiter for extended periods, or their incredible cost efficiency but us humans still whip ass on solid state electronics.
Old Japanese Computer Room Poster
Computers: Fast, Efficient, Stupid
Humans: Slow, Inaccurate, Brilliant
And, yeah, .com, the B-58 Hustler carrying its underslung extended-range fuel tank and those pylon-extended GE J-93 coned inlet nacelle turbojets cranking out 31,500 pounds of thrust each made this Mach II craft look like the taloned foot of God's own warbird from Hell. If this wasn't the plane to go bomb the commies back into the Mesozoic era, there never was one.
I left out the "Widowmaker". The F-104 Starfighter was actually a prototype of stealth and high altitude platforms like the X-16 and such. Eff all, I love these old warbirds!
#13
Lol. My old man was a big muckety-muck at GD when he passed on in '98. He worked for Convair at Carswell AFB (AF Plant #4) from the end of WW-II on and when the Hustler came along he was on the team that designed the escape capsule. He loved his job, but that was his proudest bit. I went to all the airshows as a kid and got to see some awesome displays. The Hustler set so many records it was amazing.
Canadian astronaut Steve MacLean and the rest of the crew aboard the space shuttle Atlantis glided to a safe landing in darkness early Thursday, ending a mission to the international space station whose smooth success was briefly upstaged by the high drama caused by mysterious floating debris.
Glad to be back. It was a great team effort so I think assembly is off to a good start, said commander Brent Jett immediately after touchdown at Kennedy Space Center at 6:21 a.m.
The landing was a day later than planned because NASA ordered up more inspections of the spacecrafts delicate delicate? Those tiles are hard. skin to make sure it was safe to come home. The fear was that one of the mysterious objects might have hit the shuttle.
Weve seen a new standard in NASA vigilance, said shuttle program manager Wayne Hale.
With weather conditions excellent for landing, NASA gave its green light for descent just before 5:00 am (0900 GMT).
The shuttle's engines then fired up for almost three minutes at 5:18 am (0918 GMT) to slow it down from its orbiting speed of 29,000 kilometers (18,000 miles) per hour for its rear-first reentry into the atmosphere.
The crew of six, including a woman and a Canadian, were lowering the shuttle from an orbiting altitude of 350 kilometers (217 miles) for scheduled landing here at 6:21 am (1021 GMT).
Asked to identify the origin of the debris observed over the past two days, Hale said: "All those items come from the space shuttle." Not little green men?
The last ISS construction work was in November 2002. NASA plans 15 more flights to finish the project by 2010. At that time, the three remaining U.S. shuttles are scheduled to be decommissioned.
Posted by: Bobby ||
09/21/2006 06:58 ||
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#1
Welcome home, Atlantis. I turned on the teevee this am and saw it land live. Very cool.
Much like glass, which is harder than metal, many hard materials are also quite brittle.
The black areas on the Orbiter are covered with blocks or tiles of varying size and thickness. These are called "high-temperature reusable surface insulation", or HRSI tiles. HRSI tiles protect areas where temperatures are between 650°C (1200°F) and 1275°C (2300°F).
On Columbia, white tiles cover the forward fuselage, outer wing areas, pods, and the stabilizer. Called "low-temperature reusable surface insulation", or LRSI, these tiles are used where temperatures are between 370°C (700°F) and 650°C (1200°F).
Columbia's cargo-bay doors, fuselage sides, upper wing surfaces, and aft areas of the OMS pods are covered with a Nomex felt material. These areas remain below 370°C (700°F) during flight.
Altogether, nearly 32,000 HRSI and LRSI tiles cover Columbia. No two tiles are alike and each must be installed by hand. Both types of tiles are made from extremely pure (99.5%) sand. The sand is crushed into very small silica fibers and added to a ceramic binder. This mixture is fired to produce the blocks. They are machined to the proper size and shape, then the black or white coating is applied to their outer surfaces. The coating is made from a high-strength refractory glass.
An aluminum structure like that of the Orbiter flexes and bends slightly in flight. The TPS (thermal protection system) tiles covering the vehicle must be very close together. On the underside, the largest allowable gap between tiles is only 0.065" (1.6 mm). These glass-covered silica tiles are rather brittle and cannot flex or bend without breaking. To let the structure flex while keeping the TPS rigid, Nomex felt pads are sandwiched between the tiles and the structure. This way, the structure can move without moving the tiles. The pads and the tiles are attached with a thin layer of a room temperature vulcanizing silicon adhesive.
#4
Asked to identify the origin of the debris observed over the past two days, Hale said: "All those items come from the space shuttle."
Sewage, in other words.
Posted by: Rob Crawford ||
09/21/2006 11:37 Comments ||
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#5
Yeah, I know hardness and brittleness are often related, until you get toughness in there...
But I can still remember seeing a tile demonstration - before the first shuttle flew, IIRC - that showed a tile heated red hot by a propane torch. Within a few seconds, the edges had cooled to black, and the guy was able to pick it up, even tho the center was still cherry red.
Made an impression.
Posted by: Bobby ||
09/21/2006 18:09 Comments ||
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#6
Agreed, Bobby. That one demonstration totally blew my mind. I view the tiles as a mosaically formated replaceable ablative shield.
#7
To give you an idea of the temperature cycling that the shuttle goes through; The first thing they do once the bird finishes its landing rollout is pull up a truck full of LN2.
The liquid nitrogen is pumped through the shuttle's frame in order to intercept and absorb the thermal pulse acquired during de-orbiting. If this was not done, the wiring harnesses and other sensitive instruments would melt like chocolate.
#8
Hmm... I didn't know about the LN2 afterwards, although I did a bit of engineering on the west cost shuttle lauch pad at Vandenberg, and remember LN2 lines near the giant shuttle 'defroster' - the ice supression system - powered by two surplus jet engines.
Far OUT.
Posted by: Bobby ||
09/21/2006 21:19 Comments ||
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#9
I understand the gases around the Shuttle after landing are toxic too.
Posted by: Eric Jablow ||
09/21/2006 21:51 Comments ||
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#10
My ex-Father in law, a real good guy - may he rest in peace, was the machinist at Ling-Temco-vaught that created the machining "jigs" used to create each tile - and all of them are unique, I believe. All of 'em, lol. I don't recall many details, now, but he was on it for at least a year. He was a bona-fide workaholic and did not last long after they made him retire.
Thailand's new military ruler pledged yesterday to resign from power in two weeks and restore democracy in a year, after sweeping aside Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a bloodless coup. Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratglin, who orchestrated Tuesday night's coup while the premier was out of the country, said Thaksin had been pushed out in line with the wishes of the people after months of political turmoil. "I will resign as interim prime minister within two weeks, and now we are looking for the person who will become the new prime minister," said Sonthi, who added that he hoped to hold new elections in October 2007. "The potential candidates are politically neutral and love democracy, with the king as head of state," he said.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/21/2006 00:00 ||
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(Xinhua) -- The ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrived in London Wednesday evening for a "private visit." A spokesman for British Prime Minister Tony Blair said there had been no requests from Thaksin or his entourage for any meetings with British government ministers or officials. The spokesman was not aware how long Thaksin was expected to stay, but noted that he had relatives in Britain. One of Thaksin's daughters is studying at a university in London. Earlier, the British Foreign Office conformed that Thaksin would be in London for a "private visit."
Posted by: Fred ||
09/21/2006 00:00 ||
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#1
The only thing new is when they are doing it. It's been going on that way for years in India and China, only they've aborted the babies instead of refusing to use embryos that are "not right".
A new study, authored by economists at Northeastern University and published by the Center for Immigration Studies, finds that young native-born workers are being displaced in the labor market by immigrants. Although one recent report by a Washington think tank found no relationship between immigration and native employment, that study did not focus on young workers who are often in direct competition with immigrants and are the ones most adversely affected.
Remember this the next time you hear the line; "Immigrant workers are only filling the jobs Americans aren't willing to accept.
Among the findings:
-- Between 2000 and 2005, 4.1 million immigrant workers arrived from abroad, accounting for 86 percent of the net increase in the total number of employed persons (16 and older), the highest share ever recorded in the United States.
-- Of the 4.1 million new immigrant workers, between 1.4 and 2.7 million are estimated to be illegal immigrants.
-- Between 2000 and 2005, the number of young (16 to 34) native-born men who were employed declined by 1.7 million; at the same time, the number of new male immigrant workers increased by 1.9 million.
-- Multivariate statistical analyses show that the probability of teens and young adults (20-24) being employed was negatively affected by the number of new immigrant workers (legal and illegal) in their state.
-- The negative impacts tended to be larger for younger workers, for in-school youth compared to out-of-school youth, and for native-born black and Hispanic males compared to their white counterparts.
-- It appears that employers are substituting new immigrant workers for young native-born workers. The estimated sizes of these displacement effects were frequently quite large.
-- These findings are particularly troubling because a person's early work experience or lack thereof has a significant impact on their performance in the labor market later in life. It is when young that people learn the skills necessary to successful employment. Complete Report at Link
#1
An absolutely blinding flash of the obvious. Next thing you know, some university will discover that Chinese manufacturing and imports are hurting US workers and industry.
A Venezuelan-owned oil company will warm 12,000 rural Alaska homes this winter with an enormous gift of heating fuel that some elated residents in the Bush call a godsend -- and ironic.
The donation from Houston-based Citgo will buy 100 gallons of fuel for every household in 151 villages. But the gift worth roughly $5 million comes courtesy of a country whose leftist president is pals with America's enemies and supports Iran's nuclear ambitions. Hugo Chavez also calls our president mean things, such as "genocidal murderer" and "madman." And don't forget "the Devil" at the UN, the sacred diplomatic forum of the family of nations, the United Nations.
Margaret Williams of Hughes in the Interior said it doesn't matter who's providing the heating fuel, which costs about $6 a gallon in the Koyukuk River village of 69. "We sure could welcome it," she said. "As long as we don't have to pay."
In the Kobuk River village of Ambler, heating fuel is running more than $7 a gallon.
Residents in the village of 283 and surrounding villages are ecstatic, said tribal administrator Virginia Commack. "It's a miracle," she said. Each household will save more than $700 in fuel costs this winter, freeing cash for people to spend on gasoline so they can hunt more caribou and moose, she said. The donation will especially help the elderly, who live on fixed incomes and can't travel to gather wood, she said.
#3
You're damn right right! Mini-Castro can pay my heating bills too!
Posted by: Mike N. ||
09/21/2006 12:23 Comments ||
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#4
Venezuela per capita annual income: $5,800.
United States Social Security average annual age-based retirement benefit: $11,500.
United States per capita annual income: $40,100.
Um, Venezuela, are you sure you want to keep Chavez's hand in your cash register drawer? If so, I can use some heating oil too.
#5
Hell yes - take his money. Better for something peaceful...
I'm curious, is there anybody left that Jumbo hasn't promised a free lunch?
At some point in time the lines on the graph will cross. What will Venezualans have to show for the time they've allowed this moron to hold power, besides debts and fading laughter?
#6
This year's dividend from the Alaska Permanent Fund will be $1106 per approved applicant.
The AK permanent fund has been a very visionary institution. The present value is about $34.5 billion. The intent of the fund was to replace the lost oil revenue when Prudhoe Bay declined. That really has not happened yet. The biggest problem is to build consensus on what to do.
I personally would like to see the dividend capped at $500/person. That would eliminate many migrating neer do wells from coming up here and camping out till they get their one year residency. Then funding could be set aside for endowment like funds to take care of the basics, like highways, public safety, education, etc. We have been given a tremendous gift. The problem is using it wisely, and with politicians the way they are, it's veddy veddy difficult.
Posted by: Alaska Paul ||
09/21/2006 14:19 Comments ||
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Moderator warning: prices may have fallen further by the time you reach the end of this story.
Oil prices fell by more than $1 a barrel Wednesday after the U.S. government released data showing healthy crude inventories and a surge in domestic supplies of distillate fuel, which includes diesel and heating oil.
The selling briefly took oil prices below $60 a barrel _ the level OPEC has hinted could initiate an output cut. "It's a case of a self-fulfilling prophecy," said Alaron Trading Corp.'s Phil Flynn. "OPEC's been dropping hints that it wants to defend $60 and the market is saying 'Okay, let's see you do it.'"
"I'm warning you -- drop the price any furder and I'm gonna take action!"
"Oh yeah, you and what army? C'mon, I dare you! $59 a barrel! Take that!"
"Aaiiiieeee! My heart! That does it!"
#2
*BOLTON on TV > US questimates IRAN has enuff oil for 340/304??? years. Heck, lets just say 300-plus years. WND.com > Saudi officio = world is using only 18% of reserves. Basic article message > MOST OF WORLD'S OIL IS UNUSED + UNTAPPED.
#3
$2.29 a gallon here in Mobile, and falling daily.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
09/21/2006 6:24 Comments ||
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#4
$2.19 for regular here in Richmond area yesterday.
Posted by: Steve ||
09/21/2006 7:49 Comments ||
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#5
Why don't the DummyCrats hold hearings on this? Prices going up and down, up and down, it's all so confusing to Donk demagogues voters. Don't the traders know this is a Talking Point, fer chrissakes?!
#9
Crude oil futures have plummeted more than 20 percent over the past two months as worries have eased about supply threats and signs of economic weakness in the U.S. could point to softening energy demand.
LOL! The MSM's compulsion to find Bush Bashing news all news is downright funny.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
A 3.3 million-year-old skeleton of the earliest child ever found shows the ancient ancestor of modern humans walked upright but may have also climbed trees. The remains of the three-year-old girl, found in Ethiopia's Dikika region, is of the same species as the famous hominid fossil skeleton known as "Lucy". 
Yemeni President 
TOKYO (AP) - Japan's likely next premier, outspoken conservative Shinzo Abe, pressed for summits with China and South Korea on Wednesday after being tapped to head the country's ruling party in a vote heralding a swing to the right.
PARIS (AFP) The Airbus A380 superjumbo airliner is heading for probable new delivery delays, sources inside the company said on Wednesday. One source inside Airbus, who declined to be named, said that "a halving of deliveries next year seems logical in view of the industrial difficulties arising from adaptation of electric cabling to the specific requirements of customers". Another source inside the company, who declined to be named, told AFP that management had begun to inform trades union representatives of "this trend of a new delivery delay".
Youths wielding iron bars beat up two riot policemen patrolling a rough housing project in a southern Paris suburb, police officials said Wednesday. One officer was hospitalized with a double fracture of the skull during Tuesday night's incident in Corbeil-Essonnes, a police source said. His colleague reportedly sustained facial and body injuries. Police were called in to disperse the gang of up to 30 youths who stoned the unmarked police car as it patrolled the area, police officials said. 
A new study, authored by economists at Northeastern University and published by the Center for Immigration Studies, finds that young native-born workers are being displaced in the labor market by immigrants. Although one recent report by a Washington think tank found no relationship between immigration and native employment, that study did not focus on young workers who are often in direct competition with immigrants and are the ones most adversely affected.
