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Johnny Jihad Appeals for Early Release
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Page 3: Non-WoT
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3 00:00 Memesis [8] 
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17 00:00 ed [1] 
8 00:00 whitecollar redneck [2] 
3 00:00 Zenster [3] 
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14 00:00 Sock Puppet of Doom [1] 
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1 00:00 Tom [2] 
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Page 1: WoT Operations
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14 00:00 Sock Puppet of Doom [2]
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3 00:00 Mark Espinola [2]
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Page 4: Opinion
8 00:00 lex []
7 00:00 Sock Puppet of Doom [1]
-Short Attention Span Theater-
Earthquake: Magnitude 6.3 - SOUTH OF AFRICA
Magnitude 6.3 - SOUTH OF AFRICA
2004 September 28 15:29:53 UTC
Preliminary Earthquake Report
U.S. Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center
World Data Center for Seismology, Denver
A strong earthquake occurred at 15:29:53 (UTC) on Tuesday, September 28, 2004. The magnitude 6.3 event has been located SOUTH OF AFRICA. (This event has been reviewed by a seismologist.)

CLICK LINK FOR ADDITIONAL DATA & MAPS
Posted by: Mark Espinola || 09/28/2004 3:58:37 PM || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The middle of the ocean - what's your point?
Posted by: Mitch H. || 09/28/2004 17:55 Comments || Top||

#2  scares the penguins
Posted by: Frank G || 09/28/2004 18:00 Comments || Top||

#3  Gaia flexes her muscles ever so gently, and the ants scurry about...
Posted by: .com || 09/28/2004 18:12 Comments || Top||


Socially Aware Poet Eaten By Alligator
You don't get much more socially aware than that. I'll bet his friends are so envious!
Posted by: AlDogSherpa || 09/28/2004 13:26 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  They are after us. It's revenge...

Posted by: BigEd || 09/28/2004 14:46 Comments || Top||

#2  "She was extremely intelligent and loving and socially conscious"

Uh, swimming at night in alligator-infested swamps after somebody explicitly warned you not to after actual sightings does not sound intelligent. But it was very socially-conscious of her to give the alligator a tasty last meal - before her idiotic decision led to the animal being hunted down and killed. Score one for the tree-huggers!
Posted by: BH || 09/28/2004 15:07 Comments || Top||

#3  Note : Subscription link - Here is the story

Student dies in gator attack
Roswell (GA) resident, 20, took swim while visiting family in Florida

By HENRY FARBER, MIKE MORRIS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/27/04

A student peace activist who expressed her daring through avant-garde poetry drowned in a southwest Florida lake Sunday after an alligator bit off her arm.

Michelle Reeves, 20, of Roswell apparently had gone for a pre-dawn swim at her grandparents' retirement home in Fort Myers. Michelle Reeves lived in Roswell. At school she was known as a poet and free spirit.

The 7-foot, 1-inch alligator was trapped and killed later in the day. It had bitten through Reeves' elbow. Reeves, a junior at Georgia State University, had been warned by her grandparents not to go in the water because of alligator sightings, said Illeana LiMarzi of the Lee County Sheriff's Office.

Reeves was last seen about 2:30 a.m. Sunday. Her father, James Reeves, discovered her body face down after noticing her nightgown on the ground near the waterfront about 10 a.m.

Georgia State associate professor Paul J. Voss, who taught Reeves Shakespeare, considered her a free spirit. "In the best sense, she was the kind of person who would go swimming in the middle of the night," he said.

Reeves brought a smile, a sharp intellect and "sometimes quirky" questions to class, Voss said. "She was the kind of student all professors wish they could have."

She lived with her parents in the north Fulton suburbs, but communed with intown peace activists and the Atlanta Poets Group, where she was the youngest member.

She had protested the Iraq war during the Republican National Convention in New York and had demonstrated in Washington, said fellow poet Zac Denton.

Protested the Republican convention? Geez now they will balme Carl Rove...

"She was extremely intelligent and loving and socially conscious," Denton said. "I could see that she was developing her own poetic style and voice."

Reeves was the second person killed by an alligator in Lee County this year, according to The News-Press of Fort Myers.

At least a dozen alligators were removed from Lee County waters near Sanibel after the other fatal attack in July.
Posted by: BigEd || 09/28/2004 15:09 Comments || Top||

#4  BE - Speaking of the Evil Genius Rove, over at INDC, Bill received this memo. Tread lightly, bro, lol!

Posted by: .com || 09/28/2004 15:15 Comments || Top||

#5  I'd rather get into a cage with poisonous snakes than swim with alligators. But they are apparently not nearly as dangerous as the African crocodile. You don't have to go to them. They come to you. They also never leave you uneaten. A few years ago in South Africa a guide was lecturing a tour group on the dangers of crocodiles with his back to the river. He was grabbed, dragged under and never seen again.

Poor girl. Grim way to die.
Posted by: Bryan || 09/28/2004 15:27 Comments || Top||

#6 
who expressed her daring through avant-garde poetry
You have GOT to be kidding me.

Poetry is "daring"?

No, dorkface, skydiving is daring. Mountain-climbing is daring. Playing in traffic is daring. Poetry is NOT daring, crappy"avant-garde" or otherwise.

And swimming with alligators was not daring, it was STUPID.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 09/28/2004 15:30 Comments || Top||

#7  Darwin Award Candidate of the Year.

Karma works, folks, I think I am convinced.
Posted by: Memesis || 09/28/2004 15:33 Comments || Top||

#8  Gators . . . why do they eat us?
Posted by: Mike || 09/28/2004 15:45 Comments || Top||

#9  I warned you people. Bring back DDT and Aligator Shuuuues. Gators hate us because we don't drive tractors to work. :)
Posted by: Shipman || 09/28/2004 15:52 Comments || Top||

#10  BS: And swimming with alligators was not daring, it was STUPID.

I'll have to disagree with you there. Some things are daring *and* stupid. Swimming with alligators is arguably more dangerous than skydiving.
Posted by: Zhang Fei || 09/28/2004 15:58 Comments || Top||

#11  The slope of the graph of her enviromental awareness exceded the slope of the graph of her social awareness in the very end.
Posted by: Super Hose || 09/28/2004 17:51 Comments || Top||

#12  Shoulda gone swimming with UFlorida Gators, they haven't touched anybody last couple years :-)


howya doing, Ship, ya Socialist!
Posted by: Frank G || 09/28/2004 17:58 Comments || Top||

#13  "In the best sense, she was the kind of person who would go swimming in the middle of the night," he said.

This, I think, counts as the most back-handed compliment I've ever read. I doubt it was intended that way, but there you are.

"She was dumb enough to go swimming in alligator-infested waters in the middle of the night. That's just the way she was. Dumb as a post. Yep, like they said in her favorite Monty Python skit, 'Today's poet is tomorrow's alligator shit.'"
Posted by: Robert Crawford || 09/28/2004 18:16 Comments || Top||

#14  A student peace activist who expressed her daring through avant-garde poetry drowned in a southwest Florida lake Sunday after an alligator bit off her arm.

This is as far as I needed to read. It seems that typically, "peace activist" and "idiot" are totally interchangeable.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama || 09/28/2004 18:20 Comments || Top||

#15  Well just shows how out of touch most peace creeps are. Swiming in water were gators are in the dark was terminal stupidity.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom || 09/28/2004 19:34 Comments || Top||

#16  Thanks, kid. Appreciate the help.
Posted by: Gene Pool || 09/28/2004 19:44 Comments || Top||

#17  LOL, 'Gene.' :-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 09/28/2004 21:41 Comments || Top||

#18  Are her grandparents relieved for the sake of posterity? c'mon on, you warn your grandchild, she proceeds to ignore you and die. Amazing.

I like to tell my friends and family that the fact we are alive now is evidence that none of our ancestors over the last several billions of years were incompetent enough to die before reproduction. Beat that!
Posted by: Kalle (kafir forever) || 09/28/2004 23:16 Comments || Top||

#19  I dunno, is there some way we can encourage moonbats to mimic similar daring behavior?

Like going off the cliff en masse or sumtin'...
Sorry, that'sd all I can come up with, I don't have the proper moonbat imagination.
Posted by: Conanista || 09/29/2004 0:09 Comments || Top||


5.9 Cali Quake
EARTHQUAKE ROCKS CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA, NORTH OF PASO ROBLES... PRELIMINARY MAGNITUDE 5.9... FELT FROM SAN FRANCISCO IN THE NORTH TO OXNARD IN THE SOUTH... DEVELOPING...
Karl Rove strikes again!
Posted by: Steve || 09/28/2004 1:26:16 PM || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  ..FELT FROM SAN FRANCISCO IN THE NORTH..

Strange, but I didn't feel a damn thing. Of course, after living here for 40+ years one tends to get used to the minor stuff...
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama || 09/28/2004 13:37 Comments || Top||

#2  Paso Robles whacked again...
Posted by: Frank G || 09/28/2004 13:42 Comments || Top||

#3  Parkfield area is center. Swarms of aftershocks, USGS site here lists them.
Posted by: Steve || 09/28/2004 13:42 Comments || Top||

#4  25 aftershocks so far, ten 3.0 and over.
Posted by: Steve || 09/28/2004 13:46 Comments || Top||

#5  I want my West Bank now, or Allha-ha-ha-ha will shake the Amrikan infedellls into the sea.
Posted by: Poison Reverse || 09/28/2004 13:47 Comments || Top||

#6  Not felt in Irvine, CA by me ---
Posted by: BigEd || 09/28/2004 14:02 Comments || Top||

#7  If you look at both the Mt St Helens quakes and the Paso Robles Quakes, it is odd...

The St Helens quakes stopped about 20 mins before the Paso Robles Quake, and there haven't been any since listed - 1 hour 15 mins...
Posted by: BigEd || 09/28/2004 14:06 Comments || Top||

#8  USGS Central California

Matt Drudge's link...
Posted by: BigEd || 09/28/2004 14:07 Comments || Top||

#9  USGS Upgrades this to 6.0
Posted by: BigEd || 09/28/2004 14:50 Comments || Top||

#10  Still barely worth noticing. Lemme know when it's 7+
Posted by: mojo || 09/28/2004 14:51 Comments || Top||

#11  I am in Sacramento and we felt nothing. Maybe God is going to cast his vote in California and cast all the Liberal out into the ocean? Not that I am praying for that ;-)
Posted by: Cyber Sarge || 09/28/2004 14:57 Comments || Top||

#12  mojo - Lol! No one will need to tell you then, bro, heh. Even if you don't feel it, the LD phone system will dump on everything West of the Mississippi.
Posted by: .com || 09/28/2004 14:57 Comments || Top||

#13  Just the country shifting to the right again, nothing to worry about.
Posted by: BH || 09/28/2004 15:02 Comments || Top||

#14  Leaving Cali behind to stew in its Sacramento Stew...

When it is finally isolated from the US mainland (I know, I know, it won't happen that way - gimme a break, heh.) the Governator will rip off his suit, call up his faithful friends, and go medieval on the GirlieMen.

Posted by: .com || 09/28/2004 15:11 Comments || Top||

#15  Didn't feel anything here in San Francisco
Posted by: Secret Master || 09/28/2004 15:20 Comments || Top||

#16  not even big enough to mention ... nothing in Seal Beach ....
Posted by: Dan || 09/28/2004 15:26 Comments || Top||

#17  Slept right throught it apperently. I am on the other side of the San Andres which is 11 miles from my house. It's less than 90 miles in a straight line.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom || 09/28/2004 16:16 Comments || Top||

#18  Hey! Where's Grace Jones in that picture?
Posted by: Fred || 09/28/2004 16:46 Comments || Top||

#19  I'll bet she was arguing with the Producer over the rights - being such a big-time movie star and all - and missed the shoot, heh.
Posted by: .com || 09/28/2004 16:53 Comments || Top||

#20  Fred : That is from Conan the Barbarian, Grace was in Conan the Destroyer....with Wilt Chamberlin

Remember Conan the Barbarian : James Earl Jones turns into a Snake, also kills Sandahl Bergman (On Arnie's left) and the whiney PC types thought it was undignified....
Posted by: BigEd || 09/28/2004 16:58 Comments || Top||

#21  Link to page that has Grace with a spear
Posted by: BigEd || 09/28/2004 17:01 Comments || Top||

#22  Ah, Bergman. I had thought that was Cruz Bustamante. Thanks.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis || 09/28/2004 17:21 Comments || Top||

#23  Sorry, Mrs. D. My booboo - Sandahl Bergman on Arnie's right...
Posted by: BigEd || 09/28/2004 17:23 Comments || Top||

#24  Conan the Destroyer has my very favorite movie line ever:

Nubile young blonde (admiring Arnie's muscles): "Nothing hurts you, does it?"

Arnie (sloshed): "Only pain!"
Posted by: Fred || 09/28/2004 19:20 Comments || Top||


Cute
Enter "http://www.rantburg.com" into TouchGraph GoogleBrowser and see what happens.
What does it mean?
Posted by: tipper || 09/28/2004 4:58:46 AM || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  What's so cute about Internet Explorer crashing?
Posted by: Steve from Relto || 09/28/2004 11:00 Comments || Top||

#2  well it's java so, blame Bill Gates. Worked under Linux and Mozilla just fine.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom || 09/28/2004 16:31 Comments || Top||

#3  I love smartass ABMers...

Try this site...
Posted by: .com || 09/28/2004 16:44 Comments || Top||

#4  Way to go .com, if that's who you are, - that site dumped a trojan horse on my system - filename bluescreen.class something or other.
Posted by: Mercutio || 09/28/2004 18:14 Comments || Top||

#5  cleanup, aisle 3 - that's a trojan horse site!
Posted by: Frank G || 09/28/2004 18:18 Comments || Top||

#6  checking with .com - I don't think he would do that...
Posted by: Frank G || 09/28/2004 18:21 Comments || Top||

#7  WHOA - RELAX!!!

NO, it's not. You are not infected. IT IS A JOKE. Kevin McCurley is one of the best in the 'puter biz and intentionally triggers the Trojan.Byte response in your anti-virus software - it's just a byte pattern, after all. He's one of the smartest mofo's around.

Here he explains the joke and here is his home page. Kevin McCurley is one smart SOB - and this site has been around for about 7-8 years.
Posted by: .com || 09/28/2004 18:23 Comments || Top||

#8  well at least I got a virusscan run mid-week
Posted by: Frank G || 09/28/2004 18:28 Comments || Top||

#9  Some fucking joke. Stop around sometime and I'll share my delight with your sorry ass
Posted by: Mercutio || 09/28/2004 18:33 Comments || Top||

#10  Sure thing, tough guy.
Posted by: .com || 09/28/2004 18:37 Comments || Top||

#11  LOL. It's not .com's problem. Blame Bill Gates :Þ
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom || 09/28/2004 18:55 Comments || Top||

#12  I had no problem.

then again, I'm in the security biz, so I'm up using Firefox and Linux.
Posted by: OldSpook || 09/28/2004 20:16 Comments || Top||

#13  Linux is secure? Sounds odd, but maybe I don't know enough about Linux.
Posted by: lex || 09/28/2004 20:19 Comments || Top||

#14  NSA Linux? :Þ
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom || 09/28/2004 22:06 Comments || Top||


Mt St Helens update: Event Warning (possible eruption)
Posted by: OldSpook || 09/28/2004 00:08 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  For those who are interested. This is a link to a live Mt. St. Helens web cam. It is updated every 5 minutes.
http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/volcanocams/msh/
Posted by: Poison Reverse || 09/28/2004 10:52 Comments || Top||

#2  Rumble and Boom?
Posted by: BigEd || 09/28/2004 14:57 Comments || Top||

#3  Poor Mr. Johnston...
Posted by: eLarson || 09/28/2004 20:06 Comments || Top||


Arabia
Saudis to Raise Oil Production
Posted by: Fred || 09/28/2004 2:53:10 PM || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Saudis to raise oil production before Americans develop fuel cells and alternative sources of energy.
Posted by: 2b || 09/28/2004 14:59 Comments || Top||

#2  "I question the timing of this announcement!"

Posted by: .Abu JFnSkeery || 09/28/2004 15:03 Comments || Top||

#3  The poor baby lolol
Posted by: Mark Espinola || 09/28/2004 15:42 Comments || Top||

#4  that is hilarious! I want one!!
Posted by: 2b || 09/28/2004 15:45 Comments || Top||

#5  1.5 mil bbl/day? Mark do they have that kind of excess capacity anymore?
Posted by: Shipman || 09/28/2004 16:09 Comments || Top||

#6  Actually its the same one that is being used on his lectern this thursday.
Posted by: Jack is Back || 09/28/2004 16:09 Comments || Top||

#7  Shipman, I don't believe they do have that much excess production capacity. No one can control oil prices today.

If gas prices at the pump rise by another 40-50 cents, then Kerry may well have a chance in Nov. The undecideds are much less informed, less partisan and more likely to vote on immediate economic issues or instincts than other voters, and gas prices would tip them against Bush.
Posted by: lex || 09/28/2004 16:16 Comments || Top||

#8  These prices have nothing to do with capacity. It's all rampant price speculation. The Saudi Ambassador says they have kicked up production by 1 million barrels.
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom || 09/28/2004 16:20 Comments || Top||

#9  I believe, from the last numbers I saw while in Aramco, the Saudi "peak", and it is a level that cannot be sustained indefinitely, is just about 12M bbl/day. Maintenance issues prevent them from having more than that online - or keeping it up for long. This bump, assuming they actually do it, is prolly the last of their capacity. As they lose Western engineers, drillers, etc., this peak will begin to slide downward, to boot - serious maint and facility productivity upgrades (via new technology & techniques) are mainly the province of the Westerners... who are still leaving in some numbers, according to one of my last remaining friends, there. This is prolly the highest level we'll see from Saudi - ever.
Posted by: .com || 09/28/2004 16:25 Comments || Top||

#10  Dotcom - Why does the Mother Goose story of the Golden Goose keep coming to mind? Hmmmmm. . . .
Posted by: Doc8404 || 09/28/2004 16:58 Comments || Top||

#11  Hey, Doc, lol! All totalitarian regimes have the same problem: "yes men". They are almost always the last to know when they've finally squeezed the life outta the poor girl, heh. The ChiComms, House of Saud, Mad Mullahs - same for all of them. The Saudis, employing Westerners - a few of whom will tell the truth no matter who asks, are the only ones in the lot who might find out "whassup?" before it expires - and have a chance of working out a sensible decline of existing production - and push exploration for new reserves - which most of the pros think they will find. They're pushing natural gas (with their new ChiComm partners, lol) hard right now.
Posted by: .com || 09/28/2004 17:09 Comments || Top||

#12  Whacha think, .com? $50/bbl oil ought to get alternate sources (oil and non oil) a good boost. If congress can get its head out of its collective ass, ANWR and the national petroleum reserve can get into the Trans Alaska Pipeline and into the market, also North Slope gas has a great contribution to make. At least that is the story from here.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 09/28/2004 17:25 Comments || Top||

#13  They're pushing natural gas (with their new ChiComm partners, lol) hard right now.

And with Russia's Gazprom (see ChevronTex deal).
Posted by: lex || 09/28/2004 19:05 Comments || Top||

#14  At $50/bbl doesn't shale and tar sands also qualify? If I recall correctly from the '70's there is gobs of that stuff. Of course the refineries needed to convert it to anything useful could not come on line for years. Rats!!
Posted by: remote man || 09/28/2004 19:10 Comments || Top||

#15  Ship, the Saudis have the excess capacity but the market has already factored additional exports of Arabian oil.

Nigerian oil is a far better grade of oil which can not be easily replaced from other sources.

Check link for types of oil
Posted by: Mark Espinola || 09/28/2004 19:15 Comments || Top||

#16  SH - You should direct that to lex, I gave up on the Dhimmicrats 100% - and anything like ANWR will require cooperation. And would they let us build a new refinery? We've been at 100% of capacity for decades. Not likely anytime soon, as far as I can see.

lex - why do you still talk about guys like Biden in the same breath as Lieberman? You and I both know Chia Pet Joe Plagiarist Biden isn't an honest broker. Saw him defending Skeery on Fox the other day - and he's a total whore - played all of the memes as truth. I've never heard Joe Lieberman ever tell an obvious falsehood, in any venue. Sure wish there was another Dhimmicrat I could say that about. Make that about 20 Dhimmi Senators and, say, 40 Dhimmi Reps - then we would have enough votes to at least start working our way out of the oil trap. I wish you were taking over for McAuliff - you could bitch-slap the lot of 'em, lol! And I have the feeling you would. I've given up on them - about 3 yrs gone, now.
Posted by: .com || 09/28/2004 19:18 Comments || Top||

#17  Mark - Unless our new best buddy Khadaffy Duck decides to hustle those new facilities. He can pump more than he can refine, or so I recall, and Libyan crude is the sweetest grade going. Mebbe a consolidation of Mo's new-found responsibility could be matched with some serious Western investment to hurry things along. For the time being, everyone is maxxed out, as far as I know.
Posted by: .com || 09/28/2004 19:21 Comments || Top||

#18  'remote man' are you speaking of the process called coal gasification?
Posted by: Mark Espinola || 09/28/2004 19:24 Comments || Top||

#19  dot,

Biden's in full election mode, as is McCain on the other side of the aisle. If the Dems can't get him and other senior members to fall in line, then they have ceased to be a party and are now merely a collection of 527s.

yes, ANWR must be opened up, sooner the better. And time to look at nuclear again. Even the enviro extremists are starting to say favorable thing about nuclear power. And bring us the natural gas ASAP. Another reason to work closely with Putin.
Posted by: lex || 09/28/2004 19:41 Comments || Top||

#20  IIRC sustained prices north of $40 make a lot of US reserves worht uncapping and pumping.

Sustained prices over $45 make shale and other sources doable.

But the only reason oil is this high is speculation. And Speculation is not sustainable - first guy to flinch wins, last guy out loses (Ask the Hunts about the Silver market).
Posted by: OldSpook || 09/28/2004 20:28 Comments || Top||

#21  Most wall street analysts expect oil to stabilize around $35/bbl.
Posted by: lex || 09/28/2004 20:54 Comments || Top||

#22  Lex, the problem with most 'Wall Street' analysts is they are so-called 'experts' in the world stocks not commodities.

When crude oil had fallen back to $29.00 a barrel I stated oil was heading for $50.00 or higher within one year and listed Nigeria among other hot spots as one of the key reasons, a number of those very same 'stock experts' laughed. A $20.00 a barrel increase does not have them laughing now, does it? Will they admit they were dead wrong? Don't hold your breath.

In fact while I have your attention I go one better, during this upcoming winter of 2004-5 do not rule out $55.00 to $62.00 a barrel oil especially if the Northeast gets slammed with a bitterly cold winter. Heating Oil is also going to be more expensive then last year as well as Propane & Natural Gas costs. Once Bush is re-elected the Islamic terrorist enemy (including Iran) will intensify their petroleum sabotage directed at Opec & non Opec oil exporting nations.

Iran, Opec's #2 oil exporter is trying to go full steam ahead for nuclear weapons aimed at Israel and other 'enemies'. Removing Iran's mullahs also means potentially severe disruptions in Iranian crude exports to overseas customers. $100 a barrel can NOT be ruled out contingent on how serious the Iranian problems develop over the next 6 months
Posted by: Mark Espinola || 09/28/2004 21:49 Comments || Top||

#23  .com, you are on target there.
Posted by: Mark Espinola || 09/28/2004 21:50 Comments || Top||

#24  Follow up data concerning Iranian oil:

According to the Oil and Gas Journal (1/1/04), Iran holds 125.8 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, roughly 10% of the world's total, up from 90 billion barrels in 2003 (note: in July 2004, Iran's oil minister stated that the country's proven oil reserves had increased again, to 132 billion barrels, following new discoveries in the Kushk and Hosseineih fields in Khuzestan province). The vast majority of Iran's crude oil reserves are located in giant onshore fields in the southwestern Khuzestan region near the Iraqi border and the Persian Gulf. Iran has 32 producing oil fields, of which 25 are onshore and 7 offshore.

Iran exports around 2.6 million bbl/d, with major customers including Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Europe.

Iran's main export blends include Iranian Light (34.6° API, 1.4% sulphur); Iranian Heavy (31° API, 1.7% sulphur); Lavan Blend (34°-35° API, 1.8%-2% sulphur); and Foroozan Blend/Sirri (29-31° API). Iran is also the largest heavy fuel oil exporter in the Middle East.

If or when Iranian exports are removed from global supplies the effect will be 30% to 50% more in terms of current record price levels.

See link for more data
Posted by: Mark Espinola || 09/28/2004 22:03 Comments || Top||

#25  Who would want, or have the financial capacity or practical experience to speculate in financial markets just prior to an election? George Soros?
Posted by: Mrs. Davis || 09/29/2004 9:03 Comments || Top||


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Letter of 100 on Democracy in Russia (Project for the New American Century)
Posted by: Aris Katsaris || 09/28/2004 15:30 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:


China-Japan-Koreas
Soaring Oil Prices Cause Worries in Asia
Crude oil prices have topped $50 a barrel during Asian trading, prompting worries that energy costs could cool off the region's economic growth. Worries that rebel attacks would disrupt Nigeria's oil production and that U.S. oil output would be slow to recover from recent hurricanes sent prices to new highs Tuesday. Light sweet crude oil hit a high of $50.47 a barrel during afternoon trading in Asia. That was up 83 cents from its level at the end of trading in New York on Monday.

The continued rise in oil prices has some economists and business leaders in Asia worried that the region's growth could be hurt. Rajeev Malik, an economist at JP Morgan, says the higher oil prices will have three major affects on Asian economies. "Countries have to shell out more foreign exchange for a higher import bill," said Mr. Malik. "To the extent that domestic fuel prices are adjusted, inflation is pushed higher, and third is to the extent that it hits consumer spending because incomes are impacted adversely."

Analysts fear the surge in oil prices will cut into corporate earnings. Most Asian economies are heavily dependent on exports, and many are loaded with foreign debt. If oil prices remain high, that could slow the big Western economies, cutting export demand. At the same time, the smaller Asian economies will have to struggle to pay off debt, and pay for energy needs. Most Asian stock markets were lower Tuesday, partly in response to oil prices, but there was no sign of panic selling. Thailand's SET index lost nearly 1.4 percent, and the PSE Composite in the Philippines gave up nearly one percent. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 2-2-5 index fell four-tenths of one percent.

The Asian Development Bank says Thailand and the Philippines would be among the worst hit by high oil prices, because they depend most on imported oil. The bank says Asian economies must encourage efficient use of oil and implement tax incentives to develop renewable energy sources.
Posted by: Mark Espinola || 09/28/2004 10:19:33 PM || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Wonder how long before China makes a play for Russian Far East oil reserves.

Any thoughts, Zhang Fei?
Posted by: lex || 09/29/2004 10:15 Comments || Top||


Bear Breaks Into Nursing Home in Japan
By Associated Press

September 28th, 2004


TOKYO -- A baby bear stunned residents of a nursing home in western Japan Tuesday when it broke through the front door and pounded through the facility, police said. There were no injuries to the five staff and some 100 elderly occupants of the home.

But the early morning intrusion followed a string of incidents in the same area earlier this month, when a bear attacked three people, injuring two, before it was shot dead.

On Tuesday, the 3.3-foot tall bear broke through a glass door at the Jorakuen elderly home in the town of Kamiichi, a Toyama prefectural (state) police spokesman said.

The bear, weighing about 110 pounds, fled after a staff member shouted loudly. But it returned a few minutes later to roam inside the home, crushing plastic doors leading into the residents' rooms before leaving, the police spokesman said.

Police and local hunters were searching for the young bear.

Thirteen people have been injured in 12 bear attacks in Toyama this year, according to police. None of the injuries were life-threatening.

Brown bears are commonly spotted in Japan, especially on the northernmost main island of Hokkaido. While mostly responsible for crop damage, they have been known to attack humans and on occasion cause fatalities.

Posted by: Mark Espinola || 09/28/2004 8:22:52 PM || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Where's baby Godzilla to help when you need it?
Posted by: Charles || 09/28/2004 21:51 Comments || Top||


New from Jonghyang - Paint!
Pyongyang, September 27 (KCNA) -- The Korea Rakwon External Technology Service Center of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea produces pearl-like luster paint. The Jonghyang-branded paint is made with highly water-proof synthetic resin as an additive.
They invented epoxy paint! How do they do it?
It is used to paint interior and exterior walls and ceilings of public and dwelling buildings. Painted on the surface of concrete, wooden board, strawboard and vinyl wallpaper, it neither crack nor loosen as it has a strong adhesive power.
It's a paint! It's a sealer! It's a dessert topping!
It, with a high pyrogenic and adsorbent nature, is also strong in rust-proofing. One kilogram of Jonghyang is enough to paint two-three square meters. It has found its way to Malaysia and various other countries.
Jong Jong Gun, chief of the center, told KCNA that the center produces various painting materials including ordinary exterior and interior, rust-proof, anti-foul, oil-proof, acid resistant painting materials and oil painting materials according to orders.
Posted by: Steve || 09/28/2004 12:23:45 PM || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Rust-proofing epoxy paint is the very essence of Juche!
Posted by: eLarson || 09/28/2004 13:01 Comments || Top||

#2  It has found its way to Malaysia and various other countries.

meaning the toxic byproducts were dumped at sea
Posted by: Frank G || 09/28/2004 13:03 Comments || Top||

#3  It's a paint! It's a sealer! It's a dessert topping!


Don't tell them that! They'll eat it!

One kilogram of Jonghyang is enough to paint two-three square meters. It has found its way to Malaysia and various other countries.

Isn't it a bit odd to measure paint by weight? And that coverage seems a little low to me, assuming by "two-three" they mean "2.3" or even "2-3".
Posted by: Robert Crawford || 09/28/2004 13:05 Comments || Top||

#4  Isn't it a bit odd to measure paint by weight? It's likely how the Peoples Red October Paint Factory measures their output.

It's like the old Soviet saw about how to properly measure the output of a glass factory.

Weight or Area. Can't see thru it or it shatters in a breeze.
Posted by: Shipman || 09/28/2004 13:18 Comments || Top||

#5  RC - The Kim Institute of Paint Scientists and ReEngineers are still working on "brushes" and "rollers"... innovatations they're sure to release soon. When they do, well, we'd better look out! That Acme Spray Gun you have in your garage won't be worth warm spit!
Posted by: .com || 09/28/2004 13:22 Comments || Top||

#6  "Juche-brand epoxy paint/driveway sealant/dessert topping is sold by weight, not by volume. Some separation settling of contents may have occurred during shipping. Do not use product near septic fields, day care centers, or nuclear test zones."
Posted by: Seafarious || 09/28/2004 13:29 Comments || Top||

#7  (grumble)

I wish I had a few of those juche-fueled paint experts over to help me paint my barn...
Posted by: Carl in N.H. || 09/28/2004 13:39 Comments || Top||

#8  Nine Words and a comma Carl, See Rock City.
Posted by: Shipman || 09/28/2004 15:56 Comments || Top||

#9  Discovering the properties of mica-flake is easy once you have eliminated most of the vegitation in your country.
Posted by: Super Hose || 09/28/2004 17:59 Comments || Top||


China, Singapore Say World Must Help Calm Taiwan Row
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - China and Singapore on Monday urged the international community to help calm Beijing's dispute with Taiwan over its push for independence. In separate speeches to the United Nations, China said the world body should help "contain" pro-independence activities in Taiwan, while Singapore warned that the pro-independence push could engulf the region in a Beijing-Taipei war.
That's rich! They're asking for global help to quash a democratic nation's freedom at the behest of this planet's most corrupt communist government.
"We expect you to continue supporting the Chinese government's efforts for peaceful reunification and join us in containing the pro-independence activities in the interest of stability in the Strait and world peace," said Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, without elaborating. In 1971, the General Assembly adopted resolution 2758, which declared the People's Republic of China, with its government in Beijing, "as the only legitimate representatives of China." Before that, Chiang Kai-shek's nationalist government, which fled to Taiwan after the 1949 Communist revolution, occupied the U.N. seat. The resolution expelled Taiwan, which Beijing considers a renegade province, from all U.N. organizations and agencies.
Beijing considers any neighboring non-nuclear armed nation a "renegade province."
Since becoming Taiwan's president in 2000, Chen Shui-bien has alarmed Beijing with statements and actions aimed at moving his island country toward greater independence and acceptance by the international community.
Horreurs!
Earlier this month, Chen made his case for U.N. membership in an unusual satellite news conference with reporters covering the United Nations in New York, saying his country was the victim of "political apartheid" engineered by China. But his appeal failed for the 12th consecutive year. In his speech, to the U.N. General Assembly, Li warned of the "serious threat posed by the separatist activities of the Taiwan authorities."
As in: The Chinese communists have more money.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Zenster || 09/28/2004 1:27:43 AM || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Seems Singapure is forgeting fast it's own history
Posted by: Anonymous6361 || 09/28/2004 12:58 Comments || Top||

#2  China's inherent insecurity and weakness under the ChiCom regime is reflected in their hysterics over Taiwan. They'll be toppled from within, and Taiwan will only be a role model, not the one doing the overthrowing
Posted by: Frank G || 09/28/2004 13:01 Comments || Top||

#3  They'll be toppled from within, and Taiwan will only be a role model, not the one doing the overthrowing

Well said, Frank. Taiwan will overthrow China just by setting an example. Let China's disgruntled population do all of the heavy lifting.
Posted by: Zenster || 09/28/2004 13:59 Comments || Top||


Europe
Diamonds Stolen From Louvre Worth a Cool 21Million
Two diamonds worth over $21 million were taken today from an antique and jewellery dealers' biennial show at the Louvre museum complex. Reuters reports police say the thieves made their move while the store employee guarding them was absent from the stand for about 15 minutes. They stole a 47-carat diamond worth an estimated $11 million and a second stone of about 30 carats worth $10 million. Police said there were no surveillance cameras nor alarms at the show in which over a hundred antiques and jewellery dealers are displaying their most rare, and expensive, pieces.
Posted by: Mark Espinola || 09/28/2004 2:55:50 AM || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  These French are so good when it comes to security.
Posted by: Anonymous6700 || 09/28/2004 11:27 Comments || Top||

#2  while the store employee guarding them was absent from the stand for about 15 minutes

hmmmmm - just a guess, but I'd keep an eye on Bernard Fife there
Posted by: Frank G || 09/28/2004 11:48 Comments || Top||

#3  It was not the Louvre who was stolen but Carroussel du Louvre a commercial center who is partly located under the museum
Posted by: JFM || 09/28/2004 12:59 Comments || Top||

#4  Frank G -

"Fife Security - Not Much Gets By Us!"
Posted by: mojo || 09/28/2004 13:29 Comments || Top||

#5  JFM...the article is fairly clear that it was not the museum that was robbed...but the headline is a bit misleading. Obviously, the merchants at a trading center are responible for security of their own merchandise.
Posted by: Seafarious || 09/28/2004 13:33 Comments || Top||

#6  They were die Beer Nijas, and are trying to smoothe down a carrat blip caused by the recent discovery of cancer curing gem quality diamonds near Area 51.

Posted by: Shipman || 09/28/2004 17:30 Comments || Top||

#7  Police said there were no surveillance cameras nor alarms at the show in which over a hundred antiques and jewellery dealers are displaying their most rare, and expensive, pieces.

" Just let me get several garbage bags and we'll get going to the show. "
Posted by: Charles || 09/28/2004 17:47 Comments || Top||

#8  Where is Inspector Clouseau when you need him?
Posted by: whitecollar redneck || 09/28/2004 18:34 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
The Paper of Retards?
The LA Times is on a HOT story:
Psychic dogs smell Bush victory
Psychic dogs belonging to actor Sylvester Stallone's mother have projected President George Bush the winner in November, the Los Angeles Times said Monday. The paper said the dogs foresee the president will beat Democratic challenger John Kerry by 15 percent. Jackie Stallone said her animals also predict California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will take advantage of a future constitutional amendment allowing foreign-born U.S. citizens to serve as president, and take on Kerry's running mate, John Edwards, in the presidential campaign of 2008. However, the dogs can't tell yet who will win that race.

The Times said Mama Stallone's dogs correctly predicted in July 2000 Bush would capture the White House that year. They also called Schwarzenegger's victory -- "by a major margin" -- in California's recall election last year. On the other hand, the paper said, the dogs predicted Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant would go to prison. Prosecutors in Colorado recently dropped sexual assault charges against Bryant. Jackie Stallone has said her dogs channel messages from the spirit world and send them to her telepathically.
Take your medicine, Jackie...
... and shuddup.
Posted by: mojo || 09/28/2004 5:05:04 PM || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:

#1 

I predict President Bush will carry at least 40 States.

Posted by: BigEd || 09/28/2004 17:13 Comments || Top||

#2 

Look into my eyes....

You will vote for BUSH

You will vote for BUSH

You will vote for BUSH

Posted by: BigEd || 09/28/2004 17:15 Comments || Top||

#3 

Get out of here Terry McAuliffe

Posted by: BigEd || 09/28/2004 17:17 Comments || Top||

#4  Psychic dogs? She must have bought them after Judge Dredd.
Posted by: BH || 09/28/2004 17:24 Comments || Top||

#5  BH - Judge Dredd? I used the Boxers because they are amiable and put up with a lot of BS from their human "associates" (Owing to the one I had)
Psychic? Who knows.... But is it worth a news item? Only because it is Stallone's mom. Note : Sly himmself has donated $1000 to Bill Jones the GOP challenging Barbara Boxer.
Posted by: BigEd || 09/28/2004 17:29 Comments || Top||

#6  How do you post pics? My Lab/Border Collie Mutt is a Bush supporter too!
Posted by: Cyber Sarge || 09/28/2004 17:31 Comments || Top||

#7  Madame Domino agrees... But she sez you'll have trouble with the fringies such as Rainbow and Punkie.

Posted by: .com || 09/28/2004 17:35 Comments || Top||

#8 

She's voting for Bush, too.
Posted by: Robert Crawford || 09/28/2004 18:12 Comments || Top||

#9 

Kerry Orange??? Oh gawd. I'm glad I'm Color-blind.

Posted by: BigEd || 09/28/2004 19:32 Comments || Top||

#10  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Hands-down winner of the nutso-story-of-the-day award! :-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 09/28/2004 19:45 Comments || Top||

#11  another stage for Kubler-Ross: denial, depression, then delirium.

LAT editors: Bush is gonna win easily? It's all a joke anyway!! har-har-harooooo
Posted by: lex || 09/28/2004 19:52 Comments || Top||

#12  BigEd, your pics made my boys bust their guts laughing!
Posted by: Ptah || 09/28/2004 22:23 Comments || Top||


Elizabeth Edwards reads, Chris Heinz posts on DemocraticUnderground.com!
Posted by: unix23 || 09/28/2004 15:44 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Elizabeth Edwards: " Okay, I'm going to watch the rerun of tonight's Daily Show (which got great reviews on DU) and then get some sleep."

Chris Heinz: "Anyway, I am a frequent lurker on the blog and chat on sites like DemocraticUnderground.com all the time."

This explains a lot.
Posted by: unix23 || 09/28/2004 16:51 Comments || Top||

#2  No, unix - This PROVES The young Heinz was probably behind the green and purple ketchup "Shrek" movie promotion thing...
Posted by: BigEd || 09/28/2004 17:21 Comments || Top||


Kerry on Orange Alert.
I dont think I could make this up if I tried..... [Hat tip - DRUDGE]
KERRY ON ORANGE ALERT: SKIN TRANSITION ON EVE OF DEBATE

Just days before Dem presidential hopeful John Kerry is set to take the stage in a debate opener projected to be seen by 70 million, photos show the senator dramatically taking on color.

Is it the late September Wisconsin sun during debate prep that has turned Kerry's face to rich pumpkin-colored hues?
Or is it because Halloween is right around the corner....
Or has he been campaigning in the rust-belt?

Kerry advisers defend the sudden deep tan transition, noting how it simply was from a game of flag football last Friday in Bedford, Mass.

But the College Democrats who met Kerry were surprised by his rich tan glow -- before the game even began, the HARVARD CRIMSON reports.
Personally I think its yet another flip-flop from [absent] Senator Waffle.

Jaundice, perhaps? Liver giving out from tee many martoonis with Mrs. Howell? Or is it a common reaction to the application of artificial tanning gunk? Enquiring minds want to know, but don't really care...
Could it be a delayed reaction to...... Agent Orange? He was in Vietnam, it must have seared his skin.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 09/28/2004 12:56:25 PM || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Te-ray-zuh, which stage make-up did you say to use??????????
Posted by: BigEd || 09/28/2004 13:12 Comments || Top||

#2  best reson vote kerry im seen yet.
Posted by: muck4doo || 09/28/2004 13:14 Comments || Top||

#3  Snicker, trying to follow the JFK playbook a little too closely. Remember, the real JFK had a nice tan and looked relaxed during his TV debate with Nixon. This was credited with helping him win the election. So our boy Johnny wants a good tan, but he's too busy to get it the old fashioned way, so he goes for "Tan In A Bottle". And turns "Oompa-loompa" orange.
Posted by: Steve || 09/28/2004 13:17 Comments || Top||

#4  QT alert! Kerry's AlGore's cosmetician and tanning-booth operator must be Rove operatives..heh heh
Posted by: Frank G || 09/28/2004 13:17 Comments || Top||

#5  He needs Martin Sheen's makeup team.
Posted by: Seafarious || 09/28/2004 13:18 Comments || Top||

#6  I think I'll get a bucket of KFC and watch the debates and laugh my ass off at Senator Horseface trying to define a position or answer. There will be plenty of coulda , woulda, shoulda and plenty of foreign alliances etc....
Why even as I speak I'll bet the MSM has already got their template all set to go after the debate showing Hanoi John as a clear winner in the "debate".
Posted by: Bill Nelson || 09/28/2004 13:20 Comments || Top||

#7  JFK was relaxed all right.
Posted by: Shipman || 09/28/2004 13:20 Comments || Top||

#8  mucky - CAREFUL - I ate Rasin-Bran for breakfast, I don't want to lose it!
Posted by: BigEd || 09/28/2004 13:20 Comments || Top||

#9  Regarding the debate...DC area Rantburgers, send me an email!
Posted by: Seafarious || 09/28/2004 13:23 Comments || Top||

#10  Is my guy flip flopping again?

With Kerry's flip flopping and Bush's second language, being English. This going to be a debate to watch.
Posted by: Poison Reverse || 09/28/2004 15:04 Comments || Top||

#11  Yeesh. Who's doing his makeup? Rick Baker?
Posted by: BH || 09/28/2004 15:10 Comments || Top||

#12  Reminds me of Castanza from Seinfeld when he took the healers potion for his tonsils and turned orange.
Posted by: Bill Nelson || 09/28/2004 15:19 Comments || Top||

#13  Nurse Fuzzy-Wuzzy has been perscribing too many Smoothies with carrot juice.
Posted by: BigEd || 09/28/2004 15:33 Comments || Top||

#14  #10 i can understand bush and his texas drawl much better than kerry..

so did you vote for bush before voting agaisnt him in 2000?
Posted by: Dan || 09/28/2004 15:35 Comments || Top||

#15  Dan,
I can understand everything Bush says, also and my daily intake of tequila helps me understand Kerry. I was for Bush in 2000.
Posted by: Poison Reverse || 09/28/2004 15:41 Comments || Top||

#16  allah shuld give him oompa loompa photoshop.
Posted by: muck4doo || 09/28/2004 16:03 Comments || Top||

#17  Earth tones, Senator. Deep olive would go nicely with the orange glow. And remember, no black for Lovie.
Posted by: naomi wolf || 09/28/2004 16:41 Comments || Top||

#18  He's lucky that he went for the arctic orange shake. Things could have been worse.
Posted by: Super Hose || 09/28/2004 17:09 Comments || Top||

#19  Somebody needs to get on Photoshop and put that color on the NASA bunny picture. Gawd, what a clueless, bloviating idjit!
Posted by: BH || 09/28/2004 17:22 Comments || Top||

#20  Now I know what face to carve in my pumpkin this year.
Posted by: Urako || 09/28/2004 18:21 Comments || Top||

#21 
He was attacked by citrus fruit???
Posted by: BigEd || 09/28/2004 18:34 Comments || Top||

#22  This reminds me: did anyone here see _Night of the Comet_ when it came on last week?
Posted by: Phil Fraering || 09/28/2004 19:15 Comments || Top||

#23  I think it's a spray-on "tan" done with an air brush. My sister-in-law has a franchise. Picking the dye colors and intensity is critical to avoiding results like this. The crowd that's into Botox is also into this.

Interesting that the campaign would lie about this. Just one more lie in a pack of them.
Posted by: Tom || 09/28/2004 19:18 Comments || Top||

#24  Phil - Shit! One of my favorite flix! Cable?
Posted by: .com || 09/28/2004 19:22 Comments || Top||

#25  Perhaps he's trying to win the Florida vote by appearing to be a giant citrus fruit.
Posted by: ajackson || 09/28/2004 19:28 Comments || Top||

#26  He waves corn out a bus window! He plays bocce ball with oranges! (#21) John Kerry IS orange IN "Dances With Produce."
Posted by: eLarson || 09/28/2004 20:12 Comments || Top||

#27  My sister-in-law has a franchise. Picking the dye colors and intensity is critical to avoiding results like this. The crowd that's into Botox is also into this.

Tom, has your sis considered a joint marketing deal with the dermatology/Botoxmeisters? After the election she could probably sign up Thurston and Lovie together.

Two for one. Imagine if Liddie Dole could have sold vibes alongside Bob's pitches for prickpills.
Posted by: lex || 09/28/2004 20:18 Comments || Top||

#28  He is just trying to pander to Floridians for the orange vote.
Posted by: Capt America || 09/28/2004 22:36 Comments || Top||

#29  Shine a penlight in his mouth. He may be "pumpkin positive."
Posted by: Super Hose || 09/28/2004 22:45 Comments || Top||


Supreme Court Will Determine When Cities May Seize Private Land
The Supreme Court agreed Tuesday to decide when governments may seize people's homes and businesses for economic development projects, a key question as cash-strapped cities seek ways to generate tax revenue. At issue is the scope of the Fifth Amendment, which allows governments to take private property through eminent domain, provided the owner is given "just compensation" and the land is for "public use."
My opinion, schools are public use. Highways are public use. Hilton hotels and Wal-Marts are not.
Susette Kelo and several other homeowners in a working-class neighborhood in New London, Conn., filed a lawsuit after city officials announced plans to raze their homes to clear the way for a riverfront hotel, health club and offices. The residents refused to budge, arguing it was an unjustified taking of their property. They argued the taking would be proper only if it served to revitalize slums or blighted areas dangerous to the public. New London contends the condemnations are proper because the development plans serving a "public purpose" - such as boosting economic growth - are valid "public use" projects that outweigh the property rights of the homeowners.
Translation: A bigger tax generator outweighs your home.
The Connecticut Supreme Court agreed with New London, ruling 4-3 in March that the mere promise of additional tax revenue justified the condemnation. Nationwide, more than 1,000 properties were threatened or condemned between 1998 and 2002, according to the Institute for Justice, a Washington public interest law firm representing the New London homeowners. In many cases, according to the group, cities are pushing the limits of their power to accommodate wealthy developers. Courts, meanwhile, are divided over the extent of city power, with seven states saying economic development can justify a taking and eight states allowing a taking only if it eliminates blight.

In New London, city officials envision replacing a stagnant enclave with commercial development that would attract tourists to the Thames riverfront, complementing an adjoining Pfizer Corp. research center and a proposed Coast Guard museum. "The record is clear that New London was a city desperate for economic rejuvenation," the city's legal filing states, in asking the high court to defer to local governments in deciding what constitutes "public use." According to the residents' filing, the seven states that allow condemnations for private business development alone are Connecticut, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York and North Dakota. Eight states forbid the use of eminent domain when the economic purpose is not to eliminate blight; they are Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Montana, South Carolina and Washington. Another three - Delaware, New Hampshire and Massachusetts - have indicated they probably will find condemnations for economic development alone unconstitutional, while the remaining states have not addressed or spoken clearly to the question.

The case is Kelo et al v. City of New London, 04-108.
Posted by: Steve || 09/28/2004 12:10:43 PM || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The New York Times is not 'public use' either.
Posted by: CrazyFool || 09/28/2004 13:04 Comments || Top||

#2  I dunno, CrazyFool. I suspect a lot of bums and pet birds use it quite effectively.
Posted by: Robert Crawford || 09/28/2004 13:07 Comments || Top||

#3  as a local gov't engineer, doing roads and bridges, we often need to acquire private property for right-of-way. Eminent domain is the last option we want to use. It adds cost, time, attorneys and litigation. Better to reach a negotiated settlement on a mutually-acceptable appraisal. If you acquire the property via ED, there is a time limit (7 yrs?) to build your project or the property can revert to the private owner. The use of ED by local gov'ts to secure large chunks of property for "redevelopment" - i.e. tax base increment - is a bastardization of the reason ED was created
Posted by: Frank G || 09/28/2004 13:15 Comments || Top||

#4  Seizure of property by ED then using it for business development is just WRONG. If the businesses want the property, they can PURCHASE it for whatever the property owner is willing to sell it for. If the cities think they need the property for tax base development... THEY can pay for it too.

This assumption that the city is "justified" in stealing property for the "greater good" is a crock.

Posted by: Leigh || 09/28/2004 15:20 Comments || Top||

#5  Frank G, socialist by day, mind numbed robot by night.
Posted by: Shipman || 09/28/2004 15:59 Comments || Top||

#6  Watch it Ship, he's a Pusher robot...
Posted by: .com || 09/28/2004 16:02 Comments || Top||

#7  Once upon a time I believed that private property rights still existed in this nation ... then I went to law school. I fully expect the S.Ct. to find that it's perfectly acceptable for private property to be seized by governments and given to preferred private entities. Oh sure there'll be weasel-words about "necessity" or "blight" or something similar but the legal standards in the several states will develop in such a way that these won't present any real barrier to government action.
Posted by: AzCat || 09/28/2004 17:20 Comments || Top||

#8  Got that one already PD, sent it to YUT 2 in New Orleans, he he frightened that I see such things.
Posted by: Shipman || 09/28/2004 17:33 Comments || Top||

#9  my ex musta told ya about the "mind-numbed robot by night" thing, huh? I blame Bush Tequila LOL. Socialist? I don't think so.....
Posted by: Frank G || 09/28/2004 17:44 Comments || Top||

#10  Mr. G. I stand for privatized bridges, turnstiles and the use of highwaymen in leiu highwaypatrol. We don't need bridges! We need high speed ferrys, but only San Fransisco has a clue.

(local bridge to barrier island pretty much condemned for salt water intrustion thru inspection plates..... crumbling cement.)
Posted by: Shipman || 09/28/2004 18:26 Comments || Top||

#11  The city of Scotsdale(burb of Phoenix) tried this crap on the owner of a garage that had been a family buisness for 3 generations.Scotsdale wanted to sell the land to Mienike(another garage for Christ's sake).The city lost.
Posted by: Raptor || 09/28/2004 19:39 Comments || Top||

#12  The Bill of Rights should have included a stronger clause protecting private property from the hands of government. There is *never* valid cause to seize private property.
Posted by: Kalle (kafir forever) || 09/28/2004 23:31 Comments || Top||


The Many Faces of JFnSkeery
Posted by: .com || 09/28/2004 01:39 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The "Normal" one is really sKerry.
Posted by: Tom || 09/28/2004 10:56 Comments || Top||


International-UN-NGOs
Soloman Islands Joins Weapons Convention
I feel safer already...
Posted by: Fred || 09/28/2004 2:30:08 PM || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Me too. Cant tip those spears with spittle of a venomous frog anymore...
Posted by: BigEd || 09/28/2004 14:42 Comments || Top||

#2  Hmmmmm, it's not all spears anymore, the fuzzy wuzzies may have developed an attack crab.
Posted by: J Fromm Sailor Man || 09/28/2004 15:34 Comments || Top||

#3  Great. I feel better all ready. Now all we have to worry about are well financed terrorists and freelancers.
Posted by: Alaska Paul || 09/28/2004 15:46 Comments || Top||


Africa: Subsaharan
Nigerian Football faces Sharia
Attempts are gathering pace to stop young Nigerian footballers from wearing hair braids, dreadlocks and earrings. Many of Nigeria's top footballers, including their captain Jay-Jay Okocha and top striker Nwankwo Kanu, have their hair braided, but some football officials seem to have had enough. One senior football official has ordered the removal of any unacceptable players at an upcoming junior tournament. He said their behaviour was not culturally acceptable and promoted homosexuality.
"Your hair looks lovely today, Nwankwo!"
"Why, thank you, Jay-Jay! Those are darling earbobs!"
"Wanna have sex?"
"Oh, yes! Let's!"
Just last week a leading government official from the information ministry, Otunba Olusegun Runshewe, castigated the trend setters on national television. "Our youths are now taking after our great football stars... don't forget that in the developing world that the braiding of hair and ear-rings have a sense of homosexuality," he told me.
Oh, Otunba! That was five years ago! Now it just carries a sense that they're dropouts from the 10th grade...
In a country where football is like a religion, these comments are prompting a heated debate on football fashion.
"Get a rope!"
Some sports administrators feel a player should be banned from playing should he arrive on pitch with an unusual hairdo. "He should be even suspended for some years or even banned from playing football," said football administrator Ahmed Lawan. He has told those refereeing the Youth Championships to remove offending players even if they are the best players on the field. But not everyone down at Abuja's old stadium, where I went to see the under-18 Kaduna versus Jos match, agreed with these harsh measures.
"Those people are crazy!"
"I don't see it as if these guys are gay. I see them portraying Africa culture in another perspective," one male spectator said. "Times are changing, that's why these footballers are moving with the times."
"Nowadays it's cool to look like a plumber's day labor!"
"When the Jay-Jay Okochas and the Nwankwo Kanus braid their hair, they are practising African culture. After all braiding hair is an African culture," another football fan said.
"When they eat pygmies, they're also practicing African culture!"
But some female onlookers were more dismissive about men wearing jewellery and braiding their locks. "I don't see why boys... [are] turning themselves into girls when football is a man's game," one woman said.
"And besides, it's not right that their jewelry looks nicer than my jewelry, and their hair looks nicer than my hair!"
One of the players at the game with a jerry-curl hair style said his wet-curl look made him more noticeable and helped him score goals. "That's the way I want it. I want to be like a professional," he said. Although team captain, Sunday, said he did not approve of such foreign-influenced coiffure. "I'm from a well-trained Christian home, so I can't braid my hair," he said. But, however heated the debate, it will not change one fashion in Nigeria - the passion for football, where a major match will always bring the whole country to a standstill.
Posted by: Fawad || 09/28/2004 1:43:39 PM || Comments || Link || [8 views] Top|| File under:

#1  They just jealous of the bling-bling. Don't hate the playa, hate the game.
Posted by: BH || 09/28/2004 15:03 Comments || Top||

#2  Let's give Nigeria a permanent seat at the UN Security Council. Why, while we're at it, let's give them veto power.
Posted by: Kalle (kafir forever) || 09/28/2004 23:05 Comments || Top||

#3  Kalle, agreed, but le't move UN before that to Fwance or Nigeria or Zimbabwe.
Posted by: Memesis || 09/28/2004 23:08 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Tech
Oil Hits $50.38 (so far) in Overnight Trading
Crude oil futures continued to rise in electronic premarket trading in New York early Tuesday, passing the psychologically important $50 per barrel mark, to a new all-time high of $50.35, up $1.47 from Friday. Worries of supply shortages intensified following reports of unrest and violence in oil-producing countries such as Nigeria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, prompting U.S. and European investors to snap up crude futures, traders said. Concerns of lower oil production in the Gulf of Mexico due to hurricanes also drove up prices, traders said. The U.S. government began tapping into emergency oil reserves last week to cover Hurricane Ivan's disruption to oil supply. Traders said prices may rise further. In London, Brent North Sea crude oil for November delivery briefly hit a record $46.28 in Monday's trading.
Posted by: Mark Espinola || 09/28/2004 1:51:02 AM || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I don't believe that $50 is "psychologically important" to crude oil buyers. It's just $0.01 more than $49.99 and $0.01 less than $50.01. Crude oil buyers are not small investors who play the market like the lottery, and they are considerably more number-savy than the morons who write these hyped-up articles.

"Traders say prices may rise further." Who would have guessed! Great journalism, isn't it?
Posted by: Tom || 09/28/2004 11:08 Comments || Top||

#2  It is REALLY the highest, or have the once more failed to adjust for inflation?
Posted by: Robert Crawford || 09/28/2004 11:09 Comments || Top||

#3  Just once I'd like to have the American people shown what the real price of oil is when you factor in all of our military expenditures or other taxpayer expenses required to secure the Persian Gulf and other overseas petroleum interests in general. Iraq does not have to be included in this, although it does represent an ancillary issue. For the nonce, we can leave out any offset for the enormously expensive complications, both health-wise and environmental, that result from pollution due to burning of fossil fuels. For the sake of argument, we can even omit any impacts of global warming.

If people could see how close to $100 per barrel the true cost of oil is they might be a lot more willing to support federally funded alternative energy and vehicle transportation initiatives. Considering the technological might available at our fingertips, America's unwillingness or inability to wean itself off of the oil teat is a national disgrace.
Posted by: Zenster || 09/28/2004 11:57 Comments || Top||

#4  Difficult to figure the real cost. What's the real cost of a Carribean cruise? Should it include part of the cost of the CVN Ron Reagan?
Posted by: Shipman || 09/28/2004 13:26 Comments || Top||

#5  The better target is when it becomes economical for the US energy companies to take the cap off the existing pumps and restart extracting oil from domestic fields once again.
Posted by: Don || 09/28/2004 15:15 Comments || Top||

#6  Don - BP bought up literally thousands of stripper wells during the 80's and is the largest US oil producer. 'Tis true. The primary benefit will be to the oil rights owner, BP.
Posted by: .com || 09/28/2004 15:20 Comments || Top||

#7  But oil is a national asset! Don't I get a piece of the action?

Yeah them Mom and Pops are going to be started up big time. Watch for Jay Florida to boom!
Posted by: Shipman || 09/28/2004 16:04 Comments || Top||

#8  Zensters right about the problem, but wrong about the solution. Most 'alternative energy' sources consume more energy than they produce, i.e. they make the problem worse. Fuel cells and 'hydrogen power' being a case in point.

If you want genuine alternatives, they are nuclear, coal and maybe (imported) gas. Thats it until we get cold fusion working.
Posted by: phil_b || 09/28/2004 16:08 Comments || Top||

#9  phil_b - Where you been, brother? Catching rays rain in Florida? Nice to see you haven't been disappeared, heh!
Posted by: .com || 09/28/2004 16:18 Comments || Top||

#10  Cover Arizona with aluminum foil and flood it underneath with sea water. The resulting heat energy will power the whole planet. And nobody will miss Arizona.
Posted by: Weird Al || 09/28/2004 16:28 Comments || Top||

#11  Weird Al is a genius!
You'd also get a foo load of current if we could find enough frog tongues.

Posted by: Shipman || 09/28/2004 17:36 Comments || Top||

#12  .com, moved back to OZ. I weaned myself off RB posting cos I'm minmizing my distractions until I finish a writing project. Still read RB once a day though!
Posted by: phil_b || 09/28/2004 17:47 Comments || Top||

#13  As long as you'll be back. Miss your stuff, bro. Not always enough spade-callers around, lol, if you know what I mean...

Good luck with your project and stay close!
Posted by: .com || 09/28/2004 17:51 Comments || Top||

#14  If people could see how close to $100 per barrel the true cost of oil is they might be a lot more willing to support federally funded alternative energy and vehicle transportation initiatives.

I have non-federally funded alternative vehicle transportation!

It's called a "motorcycle".
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama || 09/28/2004 18:23 Comments || Top||

#15  No problem WA.Me,the old lady,16 year-old son,dog,cat and 2 aquiriams will move in with you next week.(lol)
Posted by: Raptor || 09/28/2004 19:42 Comments || Top||

#16  If you want genuine alternatives, they are nuclear

Which I have advocated all along. Remember folks, the oil will run out. Maybe not soon, but the wells will run dry some day. The sooner we begin investigating efficient alternative modes of propulsion, the better off we'll be.
Posted by: Zenster || 09/29/2004 1:17 Comments || Top||

#17  To repace the raw energy content of all US oil imports (10M bbls/day), my calculations say it requires about 600 nuclear reactors (1000MW each). But since the nuclear power is output as electricity, the net reactor count required is about 300, assuming 45% net oil to electricity generation efficiency. This is definitely doable, but requires almost all new passenger cars be electric powered. Depending on electricity-battery-electricity conversion efficiency (wihich I don't know), the net reactor count could be as low as 200, assuming gas engine efficiency is 25-30%.

Economically, I think this is a long term winner, not only saving oil import cost, but also defence costs, and allows us to tell the Arabs to go pound sand. The problem is there is a HUGE up front cost of building reactors and retooling the auto industry, but once done, operating costs are very low. Only a national initiative with government mandates can overcome the initial capital barrier.

FYI, about 100 nuclear power reactors are in US operation accounting for about 20% of electical power.
Posted by: ed || 09/29/2004 1:39 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Culture Wars
Smoking banned in California prisons
September 28th, 2004
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who set up a tent outside his smoke-free state office to accommodate his taste for a good cigar, has signed a bill barring tobacco from state prisons. Monday's measure amends the state's penal code to bar tobacco products from prisons and youth correctional facilities. Violators are subject to a fine. Supporters say the changes will help save the state money on health care and improve the health of 160,000 state inmates. Some parts California's criminal justice system such as county jails have already banned smoking. The state generated about $1 million (550,000 pounds) in tobacco taxes and $370,000 in sales taxes by selling tobacco products to inmates last year.
Posted by: Mark Espinola || 09/28/2004 2:48:51 AM || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  The march of the virtuous continues unabated...
Posted by: Fred || 09/28/2004 12:54 Comments || Top||

#2  my first thought: we're gonna turn down the voltage on the chair. Then I remembered we use the needle (when some liberal POS judge doesn't rule it cruel and unusual)....damn
Posted by: Frank G || 09/28/2004 12:57 Comments || Top||

#3  Have a nice day, or else!
Posted by: .com || 09/28/2004 12:57 Comments || Top||

#4  In jail with no smokes? Tough S&*t.
Posted by: whitecollar redneck || 09/28/2004 18:36 Comments || Top||

#5  The prison commisaries should start selling nicotine patches for $50.00 each. Solve that budget deficit problem right away.
Posted by: Zenster || 09/29/2004 1:56 Comments || Top||

#6  I wonder how much Nicoret gum Michael Jackson will be worth once he debuts as somebody's prison b@$ch.
Posted by: Super Hose || 09/29/2004 2:04 Comments || Top||

#7  This is gonna put a real crimp in the prison dating scene.
Posted by: Mohammed al-Sahaf || 09/29/2004 2:19 Comments || Top||


The Cult of Che
Posted by: tipper || 09/28/2004 03:03 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Did he smoke?
Posted by: Shipman || 09/28/2004 17:30 Comments || Top||

#2  "I wonder if people who stand up to cheer a hagiography of Che Guevara, as the Sundance audience did, will ever give a damn about the oppressed people of Cuba—will ever lift a finger on behalf of the Cuban liberals and dissidents. It's easy in the world of film to make a movie about Che, but who among that cheering audience is going to make a movie about Raúl Rivero?"

I like the Rivero poem, Search Order, that Berman included. It's powerful.
Posted by: Super Hose || 09/28/2004 19:16 Comments || Top||



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Two weeks of WOT
Tue 2004-09-28
  Johnny Jihad Appeals for Early Release
Mon 2004-09-27
  Hamas: Arab State May Have Helped in Syria Killing
Sun 2004-09-26
  French national killed in Saudi Arabia
Sat 2004-09-25
  Sudan foils Islamist coup plot
Fri 2004-09-24
  Maskhadov sez Basayev should be tried for Beslan
Thu 2004-09-23
  Noordin Mohammed Top not in custody
Wed 2004-09-22
  Spiritual leader of al-Tawhid killed
Tue 2004-09-21
  2nd US Hostage Beheaded in Two Days
Mon 2004-09-20
  Afghan VP Escapes Bomb
Sun 2004-09-19
  Berlin Deports Islamic Conference Organizer
Sat 2004-09-18
  Abu Hamza Could Face British Charges
Fri 2004-09-17
  60 hard boyz toes up in Fallujah
Thu 2004-09-16
  Jakarta bomber gets 12 years
Wed 2004-09-15
  Terrs target Iraqi police 47+ Dead
Tue 2004-09-14
  Syria tested chemical weapons on black Darfur population?


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