Claire: You two spoke over the Internet for two weeks, divulging personal intimate details. You leave out the fact that you're under three feet tall. Do you think that's honest?
Bethany: Look at him. Did I get Mel Gibson?
[Denny makes a pose]
Bethany: Maybe I did.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Boston Legal Quotes
ffrey: Standing real close. It's okay. I'm a personal guy myself. As a matter of fact, I like to talk to people directly and not read their reports. That is why I went to see the coroner. Chatty little fella. Okay, that's a little too close now.
Jonathan Winant: Here's the deal.
Jefrey: I love deals!
Jonathan Winant: ... ... Do I make myself clear?
Jeffrey: You do. And if you think I've broken the law, arrest me. And insist on it. You're staring. That's cause you can't think of anything to say or Richmond told you that works. You know, when my mind goes blank, I just like to go with my old standby which is, of course,' Go screw yourself. Do I need to include instructions with that?' Everybody gives me the look.
Jonathan Winant: Here's the deal.
Jefrey: I love deals!
Jonathan Winant: ... ... Do I make myself clear?
Jeffrey: You do. And if you think I've broken the law, arrest me. And insist on it. You're staring. That's cause you can't think of anything to say or Richmond told you that works. You know, when my mind goes blank, I just like to go with my old standby which is, of course,' Go screw yourself. Do I need to include instructions with that?' Everybody gives me the look.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
CO2 Facts
Meteorologist Brian Sussman points out the insanity of the "Climate Change" crowd, convinced that the "debate" is over and that we're all going to die unless we make drastic, large scale and expensive modifications to modern civilization. Yes, between the years 1970 and 1998 there was a small upward temperature trend of .34 degrees F. Since that time? Not so much - in fact all of the observed warming has since been reversed over the last decade.
Here's some of the facts about carbon dioxide:
"All of these insane moves by the government are being imposed upon us because of carbon dioxide -- which is not a problem. CO2 accounts for less than 4/10000ths* of our planet's atmosphere (.00036%). And what percentage of the miniscule amount of CO2 is produced by human activity, including the utilization of fossil fuels? According to a thorough analysis by the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center -- a research wing of the U.S. Department of Energy -- only 3.207% -- all of this global whining over an atmospheric component so tiny, it is difficult to comprehend.
Allow me to repeat this critical fact:
Carbon dioxide comprises less than 4/10000ths of the earth atmosphere and of that amount, a mere 3% is generated by mankind. And how much has CO2 increased in the atmosphere over the past 150 years? Approximately 35%. A 35% increase and still the gas comprises less than 4/10000ths of earth's atmosphere."
Sussman also raises another disturbing and incredibly salient fact. The largest component of all greenhouse gasses is not carbon dioxide, but water vapor. Water vapor is responsible for 95% of the greenshouse effect. Yes, it's true - water vapor composes all but 5% of greenhouse gasses. We also know water vapor as humidity, which we experience in spades during the summers here in Nebraska. Humid air tends to hold in heat, and its a real benefit that it does so or the Earth would likely be a frozen mudball devoid of life. Here's Sussman's kicker:
"Curiously, research I culled from the Department of Energy fails to list water vapor as a greenhouse gas. This is incredibly disingenuous, given that, in reality, water vapor is the 600 pound gorilla in the greenhouse. After water vapor, the remaining five percent of the greenhouse gases are, in order of concentration: CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, and a variety of other minor gases, including ozone, carbon monoxide, and chlorofluorocarbons. However -- stay with me here -- it must be noted that methane is 21 times more potent than CO2 when it comes to retaining the sun's heat, and nitrous oxide is 310 times more effective than CO2. Carbon dioxide is actually a puny player in the greenhouse game."
He goes on to calculate the effect human activity has on just the non-water sources of the greenhouse effect as 2.33%, accounting for the individual concentrations and potencies of the other greenhouse gases. He then does the math including water vapor, reducing the effect to .117% - just over one tenth of one percent. And for all this we are being asked to give up fossil fuels, fork over mountains of cash for "sustainable/renewable energy sources" and radically change our lifestyles.
I'm not sure there has been a larger hoax in the history of mankind with the possible exception of organized religion.
Here's some of the facts about carbon dioxide:
"All of these insane moves by the government are being imposed upon us because of carbon dioxide -- which is not a problem. CO2 accounts for less than 4/10000ths* of our planet's atmosphere (.00036%). And what percentage of the miniscule amount of CO2 is produced by human activity, including the utilization of fossil fuels? According to a thorough analysis by the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center -- a research wing of the U.S. Department of Energy -- only 3.207% -- all of this global whining over an atmospheric component so tiny, it is difficult to comprehend.
Allow me to repeat this critical fact:
Carbon dioxide comprises less than 4/10000ths of the earth atmosphere and of that amount, a mere 3% is generated by mankind. And how much has CO2 increased in the atmosphere over the past 150 years? Approximately 35%. A 35% increase and still the gas comprises less than 4/10000ths of earth's atmosphere."
Sussman also raises another disturbing and incredibly salient fact. The largest component of all greenhouse gasses is not carbon dioxide, but water vapor. Water vapor is responsible for 95% of the greenshouse effect. Yes, it's true - water vapor composes all but 5% of greenhouse gasses. We also know water vapor as humidity, which we experience in spades during the summers here in Nebraska. Humid air tends to hold in heat, and its a real benefit that it does so or the Earth would likely be a frozen mudball devoid of life. Here's Sussman's kicker:
"Curiously, research I culled from the Department of Energy fails to list water vapor as a greenhouse gas. This is incredibly disingenuous, given that, in reality, water vapor is the 600 pound gorilla in the greenhouse. After water vapor, the remaining five percent of the greenhouse gases are, in order of concentration: CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, and a variety of other minor gases, including ozone, carbon monoxide, and chlorofluorocarbons. However -- stay with me here -- it must be noted that methane is 21 times more potent than CO2 when it comes to retaining the sun's heat, and nitrous oxide is 310 times more effective than CO2. Carbon dioxide is actually a puny player in the greenhouse game."
He goes on to calculate the effect human activity has on just the non-water sources of the greenhouse effect as 2.33%, accounting for the individual concentrations and potencies of the other greenhouse gases. He then does the math including water vapor, reducing the effect to .117% - just over one tenth of one percent. And for all this we are being asked to give up fossil fuels, fork over mountains of cash for "sustainable/renewable energy sources" and radically change our lifestyles.
I'm not sure there has been a larger hoax in the history of mankind with the possible exception of organized religion.
Boston Legal Quotes
Denise: [to Shirley about Jeffrey] Excuse me, but did you say this man is a partner?
Jeffrey: She did. I could be your partner.
Jeffrey: She did. I could be your partner.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Nuclear Power Overseas
William Tucker of The American Spectator reports that while the US nucelar industry is moribund, it's full speed ahead overseas. Sad to say, but the one remaining domestic manufacturer of nuclear technology (GE) does the vast majority of their business in foreign lands.
"GE, the last man standing from the earlier nuclear era, now does most of its business in partnership with Hitachi. Newcomers such as Hyperion are blazing a trail by building miniature reactors (60 megawatt as opposed to the standard 1,000). But the horrible truth remains that, if there is a nuclear renaissance going on in the world, it is happening mostly outside our borders, pioneered by companies that never were or are no longer American."
France's widepread adoption of nuclear power has it paying the lowest electrical rates in Europe, and has it posiitoned as a leading energy exporter within Europe, and importing half the natural gas that Germany and Britain do from Russia. Finland is busy building the first new reactor in Europe in twenty years, an dFranc eis building an identical plant. Sweden has reneged on its 1980 pledge to shut down its reactors by 2010, and Intaly has announced plans to build new reactors as well. Bulgaria and the Baltic states have also announced plans for new reactors.
Outside Europe, the UAE and the Saudis are looking to build plants, Japan has 55 reactors producing 30% of its electricity and building a huge 1300 megawatt plant, South Korea is aiming to reach French percentage levels of nuclear electrity production and has 11 new reactors being constructed and Taiwan has four plants producing 20% of its electrical power. China has 21 plants in the planning stage and India expects to build 18 to 20 stations over the next 15 years.
While there are 28 Amercian plants being planned, many of the suppliers are now foreign, such as steel reactor core vessel maker Japan Steel Works or Toshiba, which purchased one time GE rival Westinghouse in 2006. The fears of nuclear power in this country and the idiocy surrounding "nuclear waste" has withered the American manufacturing base for nuclear power to the point it has - there is definitely work to be had in the industry and it's sorry to say these jobs won;t be filled by American workers.
"GE, the last man standing from the earlier nuclear era, now does most of its business in partnership with Hitachi. Newcomers such as Hyperion are blazing a trail by building miniature reactors (60 megawatt as opposed to the standard 1,000). But the horrible truth remains that, if there is a nuclear renaissance going on in the world, it is happening mostly outside our borders, pioneered by companies that never were or are no longer American."
France's widepread adoption of nuclear power has it paying the lowest electrical rates in Europe, and has it posiitoned as a leading energy exporter within Europe, and importing half the natural gas that Germany and Britain do from Russia. Finland is busy building the first new reactor in Europe in twenty years, an dFranc eis building an identical plant. Sweden has reneged on its 1980 pledge to shut down its reactors by 2010, and Intaly has announced plans to build new reactors as well. Bulgaria and the Baltic states have also announced plans for new reactors.
Outside Europe, the UAE and the Saudis are looking to build plants, Japan has 55 reactors producing 30% of its electricity and building a huge 1300 megawatt plant, South Korea is aiming to reach French percentage levels of nuclear electrity production and has 11 new reactors being constructed and Taiwan has four plants producing 20% of its electrical power. China has 21 plants in the planning stage and India expects to build 18 to 20 stations over the next 15 years.
While there are 28 Amercian plants being planned, many of the suppliers are now foreign, such as steel reactor core vessel maker Japan Steel Works or Toshiba, which purchased one time GE rival Westinghouse in 2006. The fears of nuclear power in this country and the idiocy surrounding "nuclear waste" has withered the American manufacturing base for nuclear power to the point it has - there is definitely work to be had in the industry and it's sorry to say these jobs won;t be filled by American workers.
Boston Legal Quotes
Alan: Hello.
Claire: I know who you are. You're a little horny toad. Horny toads give me warts. Hop away, horny toad.
Claire: I know who you are. You're a little horny toad. Horny toads give me warts. Hop away, horny toad.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
CROWS
Too freakin cool to be believed. Strategy page outlines the advent fo the CROWS remote controlled turrent gunner system, which came into play abvout three years ago. We now have remote controlled turret guns on many of our military vehicles today, and the young people assigned to control them are actually quite adept at using them due to the fact they grew up playing vidoe games. Even better, by withdrawing the availalbe targets from the top of the vehicle, the bad guys tend to get a bit disheartened, even going so far as to describe the system as "American magic".
"The remote turret tends to begin delivering accurate fire right away, and is much more immune to enemy fire than a human gunner. If the vehicle is a Stryker, the enemy will soon find themselves dealing with half a dozen or so heavily armed infantry, who get out of the vehicle and come at the ambushers. Iraqis don't like that. They also don't like how some of the CROWS turret equipped vehicles will come after them. All those accurately aimed bullets coming their way, and no enemy soldiers in sight, is demoralizing."
CROWS costs aobut $26k per vehicle, can be outfitted with either a M2.50 cal MG (good 'ol Ma Deuce), a MK19 40-mm automatic grenade launcher, a M240B 7.62mm machine-gun or a M249 5.56mm squad automatic weapon, any of which could totally ruin your day if you're on the receiving end. So far, the Army has ordered over 9000 of the systems.
"The remote turret tends to begin delivering accurate fire right away, and is much more immune to enemy fire than a human gunner. If the vehicle is a Stryker, the enemy will soon find themselves dealing with half a dozen or so heavily armed infantry, who get out of the vehicle and come at the ambushers. Iraqis don't like that. They also don't like how some of the CROWS turret equipped vehicles will come after them. All those accurately aimed bullets coming their way, and no enemy soldiers in sight, is demoralizing."
CROWS costs aobut $26k per vehicle, can be outfitted with either a M2.50 cal MG (good 'ol Ma Deuce), a MK19 40-mm automatic grenade launcher, a M240B 7.62mm machine-gun or a M249 5.56mm squad automatic weapon, any of which could totally ruin your day if you're on the receiving end. So far, the Army has ordered over 9000 of the systems.
Asia Ascendent?
Jens F. Laurson & George A. Pieler talk about the economic crisis and point out that economics is not a zero sum game - and they believe Asia stands as the most likely to benefit from the retrenchment likely across the European and North American economic zones.
"Absent coercion, economic activity is by definition for mutual benefit, and the more people benefit, the greater the benefit. It works almost like a perpetuum mobile, except better. The more money and goods flow, the more wealth is created in the process. If economics were a car you might say: the faster you go, the more quickly your tank must fill."
As they correctly point out, the President-elect appears poised to declare winners and losers, with more regulation, higher taxes, and more protectionism. Such behaviors in the polical sphere are likely to extend the suffering. Higher taxes on capitla, energy, and interference in corporate decisonmaking through a European style industrial policy enforced through regulatory environmentla restricitons are in the offing.
Asia stands to benefit from its already lower production costs, less intrusive rgualtory environment (think India/South Korea/Taiwan more so than China) and rising domestic consumerism. Interesting parallel thoughts to those who have already declared the 21st century to inevitably be the Asian century. Of course, the US stands to benefit from its developing and increasingly close strategtic and trade partnership with India, and the new administration will eventually after either four or eight years, go the way all administrations go. It will be interesting to see how the centrists in the cabinet react to the stated policy proposals of our new chief executive.
"Absent coercion, economic activity is by definition for mutual benefit, and the more people benefit, the greater the benefit. It works almost like a perpetuum mobile, except better. The more money and goods flow, the more wealth is created in the process. If economics were a car you might say: the faster you go, the more quickly your tank must fill."
As they correctly point out, the President-elect appears poised to declare winners and losers, with more regulation, higher taxes, and more protectionism. Such behaviors in the polical sphere are likely to extend the suffering. Higher taxes on capitla, energy, and interference in corporate decisonmaking through a European style industrial policy enforced through regulatory environmentla restricitons are in the offing.
Asia stands to benefit from its already lower production costs, less intrusive rgualtory environment (think India/South Korea/Taiwan more so than China) and rising domestic consumerism. Interesting parallel thoughts to those who have already declared the 21st century to inevitably be the Asian century. Of course, the US stands to benefit from its developing and increasingly close strategtic and trade partnership with India, and the new administration will eventually after either four or eight years, go the way all administrations go. It will be interesting to see how the centrists in the cabinet react to the stated policy proposals of our new chief executive.
Boston Legal Quotes
Claire: This is abusive. Making me leave New York. I'm gonna call my parents and tell them I'm being abused.
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