Jay Nordlinger over at NRO points to very nice Presidential speech given to the American Newspaper Publisher's Association. Link above is to the entirety of the text, but I, like Jay will just give you a few highlights.
"I want to talk about our common responsibilities in the face of a common danger. The events of recent weeks may have helped to illuminate that challenge for some; but the dimensions of its threat have loomed large on the horizon for many years. Whatever our hopes may be for the future--for reducing this threat or living with it--there is no escaping either the gravity or the totality of its challenge to our survival and to our security--a challenge that confronts us in unaccustomed ways in every sphere of human activity. "
Yes, we face a common danger, but this new danger is one different than we have faced together before, as the President explains further:
"But I do ask every publisher, every editor, and every newsman in the nation to reexamine his own standards, and to recognize the nature of our country's peril. In time of war, the government and the press have customarily joined in an effort, based largely on self-discipline, to prevent unauthorized disclosures to the enemy. In time of "clear and present danger," the courts have held that even the privileged rights of the First Amendment must yield to the public's need for national security.
Today no war has been declared--and however fierce the struggle may be, it may never be declared in the traditional fashion. Our way of life is under attack. Those who make themselves our enemy are advancing around the globe. The survival of our friends is in danger. And yet no war has been declared, no borders have been crossed by marching troops, no missiles have been fired.
If the press is awaiting a declaration of war before it imposes the self-discipline of combat conditions, then I can only say that no war ever posed a greater threat to our security. If you are awaiting a finding of "clear and present danger," then I can only say that the danger has never been more clear and its presence has never been more imminent. "
However, the President sees a potential problem, and asks that the journalists think of the consequences, for disturbing things have happened in the recent past.
"For the facts of the matter are that this nation's foes have openly boasted of acquiring through our newspapers information they would otherwise hire agents to acquire through theft, bribery or espionage; that details of this nation's covert preparations to counter the enemy's covert operations have been available to every newspaper reader, friend and foe alike; that the size, the strength, the location and the nature of our forces and weapons, and our plans and strategy for their use, have all been pinpointed in the press and other news media to a degree sufficient to satisfy any foreign power; and that, in at least one case, the publication of details concerning a secret mechanism whereby satellites were followed required its alteration at the expense of considerable time and money.
The newspapers which printed these stories were loyal, patriotic, responsible and well-meaning. Had we been engaged in open warfare, they undoubtedly would not have published such items. But in the absence of open warfare, they recognized only the tests of journalism and not the tests of national security. And my question tonight is whether additional tests should not now be adopted.
That question is for you alone to answer. No public official should answer it for you. No governmental plan should impose its restraints against your will. But I would be failing in my duty to the Nation, in considering all of the responsibilities that we now bear and all of the means at hand to meet those responsibilities, if I did not commend this problem to your attention, and urge its thoughtful consideration."
The trick here, of course, is that the President here is not George W. Bush, but John F. Kennedy, talking about the Cold War, on April 27th, 1961.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Possibly Oldest Human Artifacts in N America Found
Missed this yesterday from LiveScience as well.
Archaeologists in Minnesota surveying a planned construction route find stone tools beleived to 13-15,000 years old. If the dates are confirmed, they would be the oldest human tools ever found in North America by almost 2,000 years.
"The items were found beneath a layer of glacial deposits that had been covered by windblown deposits. Based on what's known about the geology of the area, they believe the objects are between 13,000 and 15,000 years old....Not only do the age of the items and the soil in which they were found need to be confirmed, it must also be determined whether the objects are really human-made artifacts or merely rocks that were chipped in interesting ways by glaciers during the Ice Age. And it's not yet certain if the items were left at the site by humans, or carried there by glaciers or flowing water."
Other researchers had already discovered that the area was an glacial "oasis", an area free from ice although surrounded by glaciers except to the southeast. If the dates for this find are confirmed, it would help prove a growing scientific consensus that humans migrated to the New World much earlier than 11,000 years ago, which is the generally accepted date for the Clovis points found in New Mexico in the 1930's, the oldest conclusively proven artifacts found in the Americas, athough some other sites have their own proponents as well.
Archaeologists in Minnesota surveying a planned construction route find stone tools beleived to 13-15,000 years old. If the dates are confirmed, they would be the oldest human tools ever found in North America by almost 2,000 years.
"The items were found beneath a layer of glacial deposits that had been covered by windblown deposits. Based on what's known about the geology of the area, they believe the objects are between 13,000 and 15,000 years old....Not only do the age of the items and the soil in which they were found need to be confirmed, it must also be determined whether the objects are really human-made artifacts or merely rocks that were chipped in interesting ways by glaciers during the Ice Age. And it's not yet certain if the items were left at the site by humans, or carried there by glaciers or flowing water."
Other researchers had already discovered that the area was an glacial "oasis", an area free from ice although surrounded by glaciers except to the southeast. If the dates for this find are confirmed, it would help prove a growing scientific consensus that humans migrated to the New World much earlier than 11,000 years ago, which is the generally accepted date for the Clovis points found in New Mexico in the 1930's, the oldest conclusively proven artifacts found in the Americas, athough some other sites have their own proponents as well.
Strange Fossil Skull
via Livescience.
Odd shaped human skull found in Romania, has both modern human AND what appear to be Neanderthal traits. Skull is among oldest ever found in Europe, dating to at least 35,000 and perhaps more than 40,000 years old.
"The reconstructed cranium is called Oase 2. Radiocarbon dating revealed only that it is at least 35,000 years old. But its mandible is similar to Oase 1, found previously at the surface of the cave and dated more firmly to about 40,500 years ago. The team has concluded that both fossils are the same age. These are the earliest modern human remains so far found in Europe.
Oase 2 has the same proportions as modern human craniums and has other features that are non-Neanderthal. But other features are unusual for a modern human, the scientists say. These include a retreating forehead and exceptionally large upper molars found principally among the Neanderthals."
Weird. There has been speculation among some scientists that modern and Neanderthal humans may have interbred, but this is the first significant evidence I've heard of to date. Other scientists believe the two species competed for habitat (to the detriment of the Neandethals), some think humans aggressively wiped them out, while others don't believe the two species ever even met, so the the scientific consensus isn't terribly clear. About the only thing that is clear is that the Neanderthals aren't around any more, so something happened after modern humans appeared in Europe. Interesting to see if this team uncovers anything else of note.
Odd shaped human skull found in Romania, has both modern human AND what appear to be Neanderthal traits. Skull is among oldest ever found in Europe, dating to at least 35,000 and perhaps more than 40,000 years old.
"The reconstructed cranium is called Oase 2. Radiocarbon dating revealed only that it is at least 35,000 years old. But its mandible is similar to Oase 1, found previously at the surface of the cave and dated more firmly to about 40,500 years ago. The team has concluded that both fossils are the same age. These are the earliest modern human remains so far found in Europe.
Oase 2 has the same proportions as modern human craniums and has other features that are non-Neanderthal. But other features are unusual for a modern human, the scientists say. These include a retreating forehead and exceptionally large upper molars found principally among the Neanderthals."
Weird. There has been speculation among some scientists that modern and Neanderthal humans may have interbred, but this is the first significant evidence I've heard of to date. Other scientists believe the two species competed for habitat (to the detriment of the Neandethals), some think humans aggressively wiped them out, while others don't believe the two species ever even met, so the the scientific consensus isn't terribly clear. About the only thing that is clear is that the Neanderthals aren't around any more, so something happened after modern humans appeared in Europe. Interesting to see if this team uncovers anything else of note.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Stellar Neighborhood
via our geek friends at Astrobiology Magazine.
New survey of near-Sun stars raises the count to 384 stars in 249 systems within 33 light-years. Most of these are class M, or red dwarf stars, but interest in these is growing with the higher possibility that they could hold planets, perhaps even habitable ones. The increase in the number of stars in local neighborhood holds interesting implications for both the number of stars in the galazy, but also the universe, and may hold implications for the amount of mass it contains.
"If our neighborhood is representative of the galaxy, and the galaxy is representative of the universe, the new local density measurement may lead to a more precise calculation of the universe’s overall mass. More nearby stars also translates into the possibility of more nearby planets, and perhaps life. The possibility of habitable worlds around red dwarfs is still being debated, though. Because red dwarfs have such low heat output, only planets in close orbit would be warm enough to have liquid water on the surface."
The issue with being so close to a star is that the planet, like Earth's moon, might become tidal locked and only face one side of the planet to the Sun. This would cause that side to heat excessively and blow all chances of wate remaining, with the opposite side in a perpetual deep freeze. However, examples like Mercury, within our own system, lead many scientists to believe that most close orbiting planets would not be so locked, since they form from the same interstellar dust cloud that the star forms from. The really interesting thing about these stars holding planets is that they are the most common (up to 75% of all stars) type of star, so if planets commonly form around them (and we have examples), the number of exoplanets is likely to be much higher than previously thought. And with more planets, more chances for both habitable planets and life to evolve. Cool, unless they hold Klingons that want to eat us.
New survey of near-Sun stars raises the count to 384 stars in 249 systems within 33 light-years. Most of these are class M, or red dwarf stars, but interest in these is growing with the higher possibility that they could hold planets, perhaps even habitable ones. The increase in the number of stars in local neighborhood holds interesting implications for both the number of stars in the galazy, but also the universe, and may hold implications for the amount of mass it contains.
"If our neighborhood is representative of the galaxy, and the galaxy is representative of the universe, the new local density measurement may lead to a more precise calculation of the universe’s overall mass. More nearby stars also translates into the possibility of more nearby planets, and perhaps life. The possibility of habitable worlds around red dwarfs is still being debated, though. Because red dwarfs have such low heat output, only planets in close orbit would be warm enough to have liquid water on the surface."
The issue with being so close to a star is that the planet, like Earth's moon, might become tidal locked and only face one side of the planet to the Sun. This would cause that side to heat excessively and blow all chances of wate remaining, with the opposite side in a perpetual deep freeze. However, examples like Mercury, within our own system, lead many scientists to believe that most close orbiting planets would not be so locked, since they form from the same interstellar dust cloud that the star forms from. The really interesting thing about these stars holding planets is that they are the most common (up to 75% of all stars) type of star, so if planets commonly form around them (and we have examples), the number of exoplanets is likely to be much higher than previously thought. And with more planets, more chances for both habitable planets and life to evolve. Cool, unless they hold Klingons that want to eat us.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Site Changes
I made some changes to the site to take advantage of some of the new Blogger site functionality, which is a decidedly easier than previously. I think they are good improvements and the site looks quite nice, hope you all feel the same, let me know.
I have also added a number of links to locally oriented blogs, not all of whom I am likely to agree with, but I try to at least support local bloggers, whatever their content. That said, take particular care when going to New Nebraska Network and Behind Enemy Lines, both of which may cause your blood pressure to rise, although for different reasons.
I have also added a number of links to locally oriented blogs, not all of whom I am likely to agree with, but I try to at least support local bloggers, whatever their content. That said, take particular care when going to New Nebraska Network and Behind Enemy Lines, both of which may cause your blood pressure to rise, although for different reasons.
Earliest Modern Humans in Europe
Cool science news via ScienceDaily.
Human artifacts dating back 45,000 years have been found in Russia at an excavation along the Don River. It is the earliest find of human artifacts in Europe, and shows evidence of a long distance trade network.
"The excavation took place at Kostenki, a group of more than 20 sites along the Don River that have been under study for many decades. Kostenki previously has yielded anatomically modern human bones and artifacts dating between 30,000 and 40,000 years old, including the oldest firmly dated bone and ivory needles with eyelets that indicate the early inhabitants were tailoring animal furs to help them survive the harsh climate. Most of the stone used for artifact construction was imported from between 60 miles and 100 miles away, while the perforated shell ornaments discovered at the lowest levels of the Kostenki dig were imported from the Black Sea more than 300 miles away"
These are the earliest human finds outside of Africa and Australia, which has finds dating back 50,000 years ago. The importance of the finds are that it shows humans innovating quite well to adapt to a colder climate, and also shows indications that they were expanding their food sources utilizing both fishing and hunting small game with snares and traps, in addition to hunting big game and gathering plants. An ivory artifact thought to be the head of a small figurine found at the site might be the oldest example of decorative art ever discovered, at over 40,000 years.
Human artifacts dating back 45,000 years have been found in Russia at an excavation along the Don River. It is the earliest find of human artifacts in Europe, and shows evidence of a long distance trade network.
"The excavation took place at Kostenki, a group of more than 20 sites along the Don River that have been under study for many decades. Kostenki previously has yielded anatomically modern human bones and artifacts dating between 30,000 and 40,000 years old, including the oldest firmly dated bone and ivory needles with eyelets that indicate the early inhabitants were tailoring animal furs to help them survive the harsh climate. Most of the stone used for artifact construction was imported from between 60 miles and 100 miles away, while the perforated shell ornaments discovered at the lowest levels of the Kostenki dig were imported from the Black Sea more than 300 miles away"
These are the earliest human finds outside of Africa and Australia, which has finds dating back 50,000 years ago. The importance of the finds are that it shows humans innovating quite well to adapt to a colder climate, and also shows indications that they were expanding their food sources utilizing both fishing and hunting small game with snares and traps, in addition to hunting big game and gathering plants. An ivory artifact thought to be the head of a small figurine found at the site might be the oldest example of decorative art ever discovered, at over 40,000 years.
Alan Reynold's New Book Examined
Dave Henderson over at TCS finishes his examination of economist Alan Reynold's new book, Income and Wealth. His third installment examines the Reynold's deconstruction of the myth of the "top 1%", most of which comes from a NEBR study by economists Emmanual Saez of the University of California, Berkeley and Thomas Piketty of École normale supérieure in Paris. Their study reportedly found that the top 1% of income earners share of total income increasing from the 8-9% range in the 1960's up to 16% in 1998.
Henderson refers first (as he did in the first installment) to Reynold's questioning of the use of "tax units", not families, in the data, which distorts the study, then to Reynold's note of the effects of the changes in tax laws, primarily noting the changes in the numbers of C (fewer) and S (more) type coporations, from the 1986 Tax Reform Bill. The effect of these changes is that people owning corporations had an incentive to change their companies to S types and benefit from the lower individual tax rate (28%) vs the corporate tax rate (34%). Formerly the coroporate rate was lower than the individual rate, so people had been filing their earnings under the C type, taxed as corporate income, not individual. Additional changes were also made in 1986, including the taxing of income earned from municipal bonds, which further distorts the study.
Reynolds then totally devastates the commonly repeated argument that CEO pay is 500 to 1000 times that of the average worker by simple arithmetic, using the same data shown in the Wall Street Journal article making that claim, showing it to be completely bogus. If average CEO pay is $2.16 million, it's not 500 times average worker income, which computes to around $4500. As I recall from the CIA World Factbook, GDP per capita is around $42,000, maybe someone forgot a zero in there.
Also pointed out is another error on the part of our favorite Princeton professor, Herr Doktor Paul Krugman, who included grants of stock options in his calculations of CEO pay for a 2002 article. He referred to a Fortune article on options granted in 1999, but he ignored the fact that the stock market tanked in 2000, and the Fortune magazine numbers appraised those options as 1999 value plus added an expected increase of one third. In reality, the pay of S & P 500 CEOs fell by 48% from 2000 to 2003, what you might expect when those executives have much of their total compensation tied to stock and the market falls flat on its face.
Henderson refers first (as he did in the first installment) to Reynold's questioning of the use of "tax units", not families, in the data, which distorts the study, then to Reynold's note of the effects of the changes in tax laws, primarily noting the changes in the numbers of C (fewer) and S (more) type coporations, from the 1986 Tax Reform Bill. The effect of these changes is that people owning corporations had an incentive to change their companies to S types and benefit from the lower individual tax rate (28%) vs the corporate tax rate (34%). Formerly the coroporate rate was lower than the individual rate, so people had been filing their earnings under the C type, taxed as corporate income, not individual. Additional changes were also made in 1986, including the taxing of income earned from municipal bonds, which further distorts the study.
Reynolds then totally devastates the commonly repeated argument that CEO pay is 500 to 1000 times that of the average worker by simple arithmetic, using the same data shown in the Wall Street Journal article making that claim, showing it to be completely bogus. If average CEO pay is $2.16 million, it's not 500 times average worker income, which computes to around $4500. As I recall from the CIA World Factbook, GDP per capita is around $42,000, maybe someone forgot a zero in there.
Also pointed out is another error on the part of our favorite Princeton professor, Herr Doktor Paul Krugman, who included grants of stock options in his calculations of CEO pay for a 2002 article. He referred to a Fortune article on options granted in 1999, but he ignored the fact that the stock market tanked in 2000, and the Fortune magazine numbers appraised those options as 1999 value plus added an expected increase of one third. In reality, the pay of S & P 500 CEOs fell by 48% from 2000 to 2003, what you might expect when those executives have much of their total compensation tied to stock and the market falls flat on its face.
China and the New Century
Time via RCP.
Michael Elliot provides a surprisingly balanced and realistic view (coming from Time, anyway) of the growing importance of China in the world, the challenge to the West it poses, and the challenges it has to faces, both internally from its citizens and externally as it seeks the raw materials to feed its growing economy. Read the whole thing, it's actually pretty insightful.
"China is now so significant a player in the global economy that the alternative--waiting until China changes its ways--won't fly. There is still time to hope that China's way into the world will be a smooth one. Perhaps above anything else, the sheer scale of China's domestic agenda is likely to act as a brake on its doing anything dramatically destabilizing abroad.
On the optimistic view, then, China's rise to global prominence can be managed. It doesn't have to lead to the sort of horror that accompanied the emerging power of Germany or Japan. Raise a glass to that, but don't get too comfortable. There need be no wars between China and the U.S., no catastrophes, no economic competition that gets out of hand. But in this century the relative power of the U.S. is going to decline, and that of China is going to rise."
Elliot has some interesting notes on Chinese leader's diplomatic efforts as well. Chinese President Hu Jintao was thought to be a pretty conservative pick, with a decidedly domestic focus, but he has been pretty active in Chinese diplomatic efforts.
"While Wen Jiabao, China's Premier, was visiting 15 countries last year, Hu spent time in the U.S., Russia, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Nigeria and Kenya. In a three-week period toward the end of 2006, he played host to leaders from 48 African countries in Beijing, went to Vietnam for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, slipped over to Laos for a day and then popped off for a six-day tour of India and Pakistan. For someone whose comfort zone is supposed to be domestic affairs, that's quite a schedule."
Bottom line is that China, (and in my opinion, India and possibly Brazil as well), is going to be a global power in the coming years. We're rapidly moving away from a unipolar world to a multipolar one. The question for U.S. policy makers is how to both maintain its influence in world affairs while at the same time carefully mananging its relations in a positive direction with the new powers to be.
Michael Elliot provides a surprisingly balanced and realistic view (coming from Time, anyway) of the growing importance of China in the world, the challenge to the West it poses, and the challenges it has to faces, both internally from its citizens and externally as it seeks the raw materials to feed its growing economy. Read the whole thing, it's actually pretty insightful.
"China is now so significant a player in the global economy that the alternative--waiting until China changes its ways--won't fly. There is still time to hope that China's way into the world will be a smooth one. Perhaps above anything else, the sheer scale of China's domestic agenda is likely to act as a brake on its doing anything dramatically destabilizing abroad.
On the optimistic view, then, China's rise to global prominence can be managed. It doesn't have to lead to the sort of horror that accompanied the emerging power of Germany or Japan. Raise a glass to that, but don't get too comfortable. There need be no wars between China and the U.S., no catastrophes, no economic competition that gets out of hand. But in this century the relative power of the U.S. is going to decline, and that of China is going to rise."
Elliot has some interesting notes on Chinese leader's diplomatic efforts as well. Chinese President Hu Jintao was thought to be a pretty conservative pick, with a decidedly domestic focus, but he has been pretty active in Chinese diplomatic efforts.
"While Wen Jiabao, China's Premier, was visiting 15 countries last year, Hu spent time in the U.S., Russia, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Nigeria and Kenya. In a three-week period toward the end of 2006, he played host to leaders from 48 African countries in Beijing, went to Vietnam for the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, slipped over to Laos for a day and then popped off for a six-day tour of India and Pakistan. For someone whose comfort zone is supposed to be domestic affairs, that's quite a schedule."
Bottom line is that China, (and in my opinion, India and possibly Brazil as well), is going to be a global power in the coming years. We're rapidly moving away from a unipolar world to a multipolar one. The question for U.S. policy makers is how to both maintain its influence in world affairs while at the same time carefully mananging its relations in a positive direction with the new powers to be.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Europe and US Living Standards
TCS Daily.
A Danish immigrant to the US absolutely destroys the popular myth that the Scandanavian economic model is just as good as the US. While I've often heard of comparisons to Sweden in the past, I guess that has lost some steam recently as the Swedish economy tanked, and liberals are now pointing to Denmark. The main point is that US citizens have bigger homes, more & larger autos, just as much leisure time, and better healthcare, along with higher incomes, while the bottom 10% in both countries are about equal.
"The Economic Policy Institute estimates that the poorest 10% of Americans on average earn 39% of the US median income while their Danish counterparts earn 43% of the US median income, as Tim Worstall recently pointed out. Thus, the poorest 10% in America and in Denmark have about the same annual income (accounting for purchasing power parities and all social income transfers). Not surprisingly, the top 10% of Americans are much better off than their Danish counterparts with an average income of 210% of the US median income compared to 123% in Denmark. "Rich" people in Denmark thus do not make much more than the median income in the United States.
As for the average industrial worker, the Danish Ministry of taxation estimates that American workers earn roughly 33% more than their Danish counterparts when accounting for purchasing power parities and social transfers of income. Taken together, these numbers indicate that the 10% poorest in the United States have roughly the same standard of living as their Danish counterparts while the remaining 90% of Americans are better off than the Danes. "
A Danish immigrant to the US absolutely destroys the popular myth that the Scandanavian economic model is just as good as the US. While I've often heard of comparisons to Sweden in the past, I guess that has lost some steam recently as the Swedish economy tanked, and liberals are now pointing to Denmark. The main point is that US citizens have bigger homes, more & larger autos, just as much leisure time, and better healthcare, along with higher incomes, while the bottom 10% in both countries are about equal.
"The Economic Policy Institute estimates that the poorest 10% of Americans on average earn 39% of the US median income while their Danish counterparts earn 43% of the US median income, as Tim Worstall recently pointed out. Thus, the poorest 10% in America and in Denmark have about the same annual income (accounting for purchasing power parities and all social income transfers). Not surprisingly, the top 10% of Americans are much better off than their Danish counterparts with an average income of 210% of the US median income compared to 123% in Denmark. "Rich" people in Denmark thus do not make much more than the median income in the United States.
As for the average industrial worker, the Danish Ministry of taxation estimates that American workers earn roughly 33% more than their Danish counterparts when accounting for purchasing power parities and social transfers of income. Taken together, these numbers indicate that the 10% poorest in the United States have roughly the same standard of living as their Danish counterparts while the remaining 90% of Americans are better off than the Danes. "
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Michael Yon is back In Iraq
Independent embed reporter Yon is back in Iraq, and talks about how it is important to talk more with senior NCOs and troops in the field than the generals. Michael has traveled extensively with CSM Jeffrey Mellinger, the top enlisted man in theater, who has a number of brushes with the enemy.
"Grandparents should know that a grandparent is watching out for the young men and women who are fighting in Iraq. CSM Mellinger has spent three consecutive Christmases in Iraq and is going on his third straight year walking the line. One young sergeant, a team member on CSM Mellinger’s crew, told me the CSM’s team has been hit 26 times so far, and when I asked the CSM, he shrugged and said, “Sounds about right.” Five of his Humvees have been destroyed by IEDs, two that he was riding in at the time. Astonishingly, nobody in his crew has even been seriously wounded. He goes into combat, but you’d have to see how he rolls to understand why nobody has been killed so far. Experience multiplied by luck."
"Grandparents should know that a grandparent is watching out for the young men and women who are fighting in Iraq. CSM Mellinger has spent three consecutive Christmases in Iraq and is going on his third straight year walking the line. One young sergeant, a team member on CSM Mellinger’s crew, told me the CSM’s team has been hit 26 times so far, and when I asked the CSM, he shrugged and said, “Sounds about right.” Five of his Humvees have been destroyed by IEDs, two that he was riding in at the time. Astonishingly, nobody in his crew has even been seriously wounded. He goes into combat, but you’d have to see how he rolls to understand why nobody has been killed so far. Experience multiplied by luck."
Science - Stellar Development
via ScienceDaily.
"Observations from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope show that gas giants either form within the first 10 million years of a sun-like star's life, or not at all. The study offers new evidence that gas-giant planets must form early in a star's history. The lifespan of sun-like stars is about 10 billion years. "
The study consisted of 15 young stars (undder 30 million years old) using both the Spitzer and the SMT telescope at Mount Graham, AZ to invetigate different regions of the stars orbits and found that the stellar gasses surrounding the stars were almost all depleted, leading to the conclusion that either the stars had already had gas giant class planets form or that these systems would never develop these type of planets. It is also suspected that the stellar gas cloud is important in the development of elliptical orbits for small rocky earth type planets. A highly elliptical orbit would lead to wild temperature swings and inhibit the development of life on such worlds. Most of the systems studied to not appear to have enough gas to assist any such terrestrial planet into an elliptical orbit.
"Observations from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope show that gas giants either form within the first 10 million years of a sun-like star's life, or not at all. The study offers new evidence that gas-giant planets must form early in a star's history. The lifespan of sun-like stars is about 10 billion years. "
The study consisted of 15 young stars (undder 30 million years old) using both the Spitzer and the SMT telescope at Mount Graham, AZ to invetigate different regions of the stars orbits and found that the stellar gasses surrounding the stars were almost all depleted, leading to the conclusion that either the stars had already had gas giant class planets form or that these systems would never develop these type of planets. It is also suspected that the stellar gas cloud is important in the development of elliptical orbits for small rocky earth type planets. A highly elliptical orbit would lead to wild temperature swings and inhibit the development of life on such worlds. Most of the systems studied to not appear to have enough gas to assist any such terrestrial planet into an elliptical orbit.
Venezuela's Chavez
Washington Post via RCP.
President Chavez, not satisfied with stifling opposition media and running his mouth off in the filed of foreign affairs, now plans to go completely Fidel and nationalize both the telecommunications and electrical industries and eliminate the independence of the national banking system.
"In the past couple of weeks Mr. Chávez has shaken up his cabinet to eliminate quasi-independent voices, said he will form a single ruling party and announced plans to govern by decree in the coming year. He has said he will close down the country's most popular television network, which has been critical of his government, eliminate the independence of the Central Bank, and nationalize telephone and electricity companies -- including one partly owned by Verizon and another by Alexandria-based AES. The commercial code will be changed; one minister said the intent is to place new limits on the profits of the remaining private companies. Though some private media will remain, Andres Izarra, the head of a state network and a close collaborator of Mr. Chávez's, declared that the regime's plan is "a communications and information hegemony for the state."
He has already crippled the oil industry by nationalizing it. It is unbelievable this moron won re-election in Decemeber. I wonder how long it will be before the riots start.
President Chavez, not satisfied with stifling opposition media and running his mouth off in the filed of foreign affairs, now plans to go completely Fidel and nationalize both the telecommunications and electrical industries and eliminate the independence of the national banking system.
"In the past couple of weeks Mr. Chávez has shaken up his cabinet to eliminate quasi-independent voices, said he will form a single ruling party and announced plans to govern by decree in the coming year. He has said he will close down the country's most popular television network, which has been critical of his government, eliminate the independence of the Central Bank, and nationalize telephone and electricity companies -- including one partly owned by Verizon and another by Alexandria-based AES. The commercial code will be changed; one minister said the intent is to place new limits on the profits of the remaining private companies. Though some private media will remain, Andres Izarra, the head of a state network and a close collaborator of Mr. Chávez's, declared that the regime's plan is "a communications and information hegemony for the state."
He has already crippled the oil industry by nationalizing it. It is unbelievable this moron won re-election in Decemeber. I wonder how long it will be before the riots start.
World's Tallest Trees
via LiveScience.
These two guys have an interesting hobby. Using laser range finders (since they became commercially available in 1995), they seek out the tallest trees in world (coastal redwoods), and have found the vast majority of them, including the four tallest.
"Coast redwoods grow in a 470-mile ribbon from southern Oregon to Big Sur, and routinely top 300 feet, or the height of a 30-story building. (The giant sequoia, the redwood's inland cousin, have massive trunks that make them the world's biggest trees by volume.) Only 36 coast redwoods taller than 360 feet have been recorded. Atkins or Taylor had a hand in locating 28 of them. In the 370-feet-and-up category, there are only four. Atkins and Taylor found them all. "
They are almost done with their survey and expect to complete it next summer. They believe there is almost no chance of finding any tree taller than the 379 ft Hyperion they found last summer.
These two guys have an interesting hobby. Using laser range finders (since they became commercially available in 1995), they seek out the tallest trees in world (coastal redwoods), and have found the vast majority of them, including the four tallest.
"Coast redwoods grow in a 470-mile ribbon from southern Oregon to Big Sur, and routinely top 300 feet, or the height of a 30-story building. (The giant sequoia, the redwood's inland cousin, have massive trunks that make them the world's biggest trees by volume.) Only 36 coast redwoods taller than 360 feet have been recorded. Atkins or Taylor had a hand in locating 28 of them. In the 370-feet-and-up category, there are only four. Atkins and Taylor found them all. "
They are almost done with their survey and expect to complete it next summer. They believe there is almost no chance of finding any tree taller than the 379 ft Hyperion they found last summer.
Husker Basketball
via OWH.
Doc Sadler has the Huskers 11-3 to open Big 12 play against ISU and coming off a big win vs. highly regarded Western Kentucky. Doc has the Huskers shooting better, scoring higher, and playing much better defense than former coach Collier.
"Last season, Nebraska was No. 286 out of 326 teams nationally in field-goal shooting (41 percent). This season, with nine of the same players but a new coach, the Huskers are No. 8 (51.5 percent). Check the shooting improvement of four returning regulars: Aleks Maric 47.2 percent to 63.8 percent; Marcus Perry 34.7 to 50; Jamel White 36.1 to 45.7; Charles Richardson 36.3 to 45.1....Even with more possessions in a game this season and playing six games outside the state so far compared to one at this point a year ago, Nebraska has allowed a lower scoring average this season (60.6) than last season (63.8)."
Huskers already have 11 victories of over 10 points this season; they had only 8 all of last season.
Doc Sadler has the Huskers 11-3 to open Big 12 play against ISU and coming off a big win vs. highly regarded Western Kentucky. Doc has the Huskers shooting better, scoring higher, and playing much better defense than former coach Collier.
"Last season, Nebraska was No. 286 out of 326 teams nationally in field-goal shooting (41 percent). This season, with nine of the same players but a new coach, the Huskers are No. 8 (51.5 percent). Check the shooting improvement of four returning regulars: Aleks Maric 47.2 percent to 63.8 percent; Marcus Perry 34.7 to 50; Jamel White 36.1 to 45.7; Charles Richardson 36.3 to 45.1....Even with more possessions in a game this season and playing six games outside the state so far compared to one at this point a year ago, Nebraska has allowed a lower scoring average this season (60.6) than last season (63.8)."
Huskers already have 11 victories of over 10 points this season; they had only 8 all of last season.
Baseball Hall of Fame
Also via OWH.
Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken are in, both with extremely high percentages, while Big Mac, once thought of as an automatic selection, is not even close, with less than 25%. Goose Gossage, Jim Rice, Andre Dawson anfd Bert Blyleven, all guys I think should be in the Hall, miss narrowly again.
"Ripken, the Baltimore Orioles shortstop who set baseball's ironman record, was picked by 537 voters and appeared on 98.53 percent of ballots to finish with the third-highest percentage behind Tom Seaver (98.84) and Nolan Ryan (98.79).
Gwynn, who won eight batting titles with the San Diego Padres, received 532 votes for 97.61 percent, the seventh-highest ever, also trailing Ty Cobb, George Brett and Hank Aaron.
If he had been picked by two of the eight voters who didn't select him, Ripken would have set the percentage record, but he didn't mind. Two voters submitted blank ballots."
Fire whomever submitted the blank ballots. Idiots, why even vote?
Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken are in, both with extremely high percentages, while Big Mac, once thought of as an automatic selection, is not even close, with less than 25%. Goose Gossage, Jim Rice, Andre Dawson anfd Bert Blyleven, all guys I think should be in the Hall, miss narrowly again.
"Ripken, the Baltimore Orioles shortstop who set baseball's ironman record, was picked by 537 voters and appeared on 98.53 percent of ballots to finish with the third-highest percentage behind Tom Seaver (98.84) and Nolan Ryan (98.79).
Gwynn, who won eight batting titles with the San Diego Padres, received 532 votes for 97.61 percent, the seventh-highest ever, also trailing Ty Cobb, George Brett and Hank Aaron.
If he had been picked by two of the eight voters who didn't select him, Ripken would have set the percentage record, but he didn't mind. Two voters submitted blank ballots."
Fire whomever submitted the blank ballots. Idiots, why even vote?
Tom Osbourne Returns to UNL
via OWH.
Former Husker coach is now teaching Management 467 at UNL to about 50 students.
"He lectured the approximately 50 students about leadership for more than an hour, quoting Aristotle from memory, referencing Warren Buffett and reminiscing about what his 1996 Huskers learned from their 19-0 loss to Arizona State. Mostly he talked about the country's need for strong leadership if Americans want to avoid the fate of the Romans, Greeks and Soviets.
Those societies got lazy, Osborne said, becoming self-absorbed, preoccupied with material wealth and uninterested in helping others. He said he sees the United States stagnating, its populace accepting methamphetamine use and deadbeat dads, its business leaders cooking the books, everyone failing to "tighten their chinstraps" when things get tough."
He ran almost 15 minutes over - but every student stayed. I've met the coach twice - once on campus, another time near his cabin in Ogallalla. Amazing man.
Former Husker coach is now teaching Management 467 at UNL to about 50 students.
"He lectured the approximately 50 students about leadership for more than an hour, quoting Aristotle from memory, referencing Warren Buffett and reminiscing about what his 1996 Huskers learned from their 19-0 loss to Arizona State. Mostly he talked about the country's need for strong leadership if Americans want to avoid the fate of the Romans, Greeks and Soviets.
Those societies got lazy, Osborne said, becoming self-absorbed, preoccupied with material wealth and uninterested in helping others. He said he sees the United States stagnating, its populace accepting methamphetamine use and deadbeat dads, its business leaders cooking the books, everyone failing to "tighten their chinstraps" when things get tough."
He ran almost 15 minutes over - but every student stayed. I've met the coach twice - once on campus, another time near his cabin in Ogallalla. Amazing man.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Husker FB Season in Review
No link, just commentary from yours truly.
When I look back on the football season, I see alot of different viewpoints on the season. First, I'm still not entirely sold on Callahan; that being said, I think the program does have better athletes than when he arrived, and I think that if the Husker faithful are patient, he'll eventually mature as a head coach and we'll again be competitive at a high level. Will we completely dominate the sport for a long stretch? Possible, but not probable, the glory years of the mid-90s may never come again, but I think some Big 12 titles and BCS games are certainly within reach, as they should be for a traditional power like Nebraska.
Looking back, it's obvious that I underestimated USC, Okie St, KU and (slightly) A & M; overestimated UT, ISU, Mizzou and Colorado. A 9-5 season is more or less the same as the 8-4 of 2005, with a little extra luster from at least winning the Big 12 North. I thought a 9-3 regular season was probable, and it happened, but I did not expect to win the Big 12, and I thought the bowl matchup with Auburn was a tough one, as it proved to be.
The Huskers had a number of chances for more victories this year, and simply left too many of them slip by, often shooting themselves in the foot with disasterous turnovers (UT, OU, Auburn in particular), ill-concieved gameplans (USC), bad playcalling, bad special teams work, etc. More consistency is needed, and badly, particularly to close games out, and halftime ajustments must be made. It is embarassing how many times the team came out totally flat in the second half of games this year, completely unable to move the ball.
Looking ahead, next year's schedule looks pretty brutal. We open the season with Nevada (WAC bowl team), go to Wake (BCS team, ACC champ) and then host USC (BCS team, Pac-10 champ), with Ball St from the MAC to follow. Big 12 season then starts with ISU, at Mizzou, Okie St, A&M, then at UT, at KU, K-St and at CU to finish the season. Only bye week: Nov 17. Sam Keller had better be really, really good, and right out of the gate. On the plus side, we have 7 or 8 guys on the line returning, all four backs and all but one receiver for Keller to work with. If he lives up to expectations, we should be pretty solid offensively.
Defensively, we lose LB Stu Bradley, S Andrew Shanle and the entire D-line, although the returning tackles played extensively. Heir apparents at end, Zach Potter and Barry Turner, had better be good, and quickly. Linebackers should obviously be a strength, but the secondary will again a question mark. Will CB Zach Bowman come back from injury as effective as 2005? Will any of the recruits make an impact? I guess we'll have to see spring ball and take a look then. On paper, I'm guessing we go 9-3 and win the North again, but I am certainly an optimist.
When I look back on the football season, I see alot of different viewpoints on the season. First, I'm still not entirely sold on Callahan; that being said, I think the program does have better athletes than when he arrived, and I think that if the Husker faithful are patient, he'll eventually mature as a head coach and we'll again be competitive at a high level. Will we completely dominate the sport for a long stretch? Possible, but not probable, the glory years of the mid-90s may never come again, but I think some Big 12 titles and BCS games are certainly within reach, as they should be for a traditional power like Nebraska.
Looking back, it's obvious that I underestimated USC, Okie St, KU and (slightly) A & M; overestimated UT, ISU, Mizzou and Colorado. A 9-5 season is more or less the same as the 8-4 of 2005, with a little extra luster from at least winning the Big 12 North. I thought a 9-3 regular season was probable, and it happened, but I did not expect to win the Big 12, and I thought the bowl matchup with Auburn was a tough one, as it proved to be.
The Huskers had a number of chances for more victories this year, and simply left too many of them slip by, often shooting themselves in the foot with disasterous turnovers (UT, OU, Auburn in particular), ill-concieved gameplans (USC), bad playcalling, bad special teams work, etc. More consistency is needed, and badly, particularly to close games out, and halftime ajustments must be made. It is embarassing how many times the team came out totally flat in the second half of games this year, completely unable to move the ball.
Looking ahead, next year's schedule looks pretty brutal. We open the season with Nevada (WAC bowl team), go to Wake (BCS team, ACC champ) and then host USC (BCS team, Pac-10 champ), with Ball St from the MAC to follow. Big 12 season then starts with ISU, at Mizzou, Okie St, A&M, then at UT, at KU, K-St and at CU to finish the season. Only bye week: Nov 17. Sam Keller had better be really, really good, and right out of the gate. On the plus side, we have 7 or 8 guys on the line returning, all four backs and all but one receiver for Keller to work with. If he lives up to expectations, we should be pretty solid offensively.
Defensively, we lose LB Stu Bradley, S Andrew Shanle and the entire D-line, although the returning tackles played extensively. Heir apparents at end, Zach Potter and Barry Turner, had better be good, and quickly. Linebackers should obviously be a strength, but the secondary will again a question mark. Will CB Zach Bowman come back from injury as effective as 2005? Will any of the recruits make an impact? I guess we'll have to see spring ball and take a look then. On paper, I'm guessing we go 9-3 and win the North again, but I am certainly an optimist.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
New Year's Ice Storm
via OWH.
Thousands still without power as utilities survey millions of dollars in damage to the electrical grid due to the massive ice storm in central Nebraska over New Year's.
"Damage stretched across 29 central Nebraska counties, from the Kansas border to South Dakota. Because damage to the state's electrical grid is so extensive, most communities still without power will have their electricity restored via industrial-size generators, said Ron Asche, president of NPPD."
It may be weeks before thousands of utility poles and high power transmission lines are replaced.
Thousands still without power as utilities survey millions of dollars in damage to the electrical grid due to the massive ice storm in central Nebraska over New Year's.
"Damage stretched across 29 central Nebraska counties, from the Kansas border to South Dakota. Because damage to the state's electrical grid is so extensive, most communities still without power will have their electricity restored via industrial-size generators, said Ron Asche, president of NPPD."
It may be weeks before thousands of utility poles and high power transmission lines are replaced.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
European Space Agency Launches Planet Finder
via Space.com
The ESA launched a French orbital satellite observatory designed to search out planets orbiting nearby stars. It has a 27 cm (10.6 inch) lens capable of tracking thousands of stars simultaneously. It is believed the satellite will be capable of discovering smaller rocky planets, down to the size of a just a few earths, that have so far eluded planet hunters.
"Flying high above the Earth’s atmosphere, the Convection Rotation and planetary Transits (COROT) satellite [[image] will use a different technique better suited to finding smaller worlds. Called the “transit” technique [image], it will detect extrasolar planets by measuring the dip in starlight their passage creates as they glide across the face of their parent stars."
NASA will launch its own Kepler satellite on a similiar mission in 2008.
The ESA launched a French orbital satellite observatory designed to search out planets orbiting nearby stars. It has a 27 cm (10.6 inch) lens capable of tracking thousands of stars simultaneously. It is believed the satellite will be capable of discovering smaller rocky planets, down to the size of a just a few earths, that have so far eluded planet hunters.
"Flying high above the Earth’s atmosphere, the Convection Rotation and planetary Transits (COROT) satellite [[image] will use a different technique better suited to finding smaller worlds. Called the “transit” technique [image], it will detect extrasolar planets by measuring the dip in starlight their passage creates as they glide across the face of their parent stars."
NASA will launch its own Kepler satellite on a similiar mission in 2008.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Merry Christmas!
Light blogging due to the holidays and a heavy work schedule, but I'll try to post something in a day or two when I catch sight of something interesting enough to note. In the meantime, everyone have a safe and happy season.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Foreign Policy - Schools of Thought
Former Marine officer and current Naval War College professor M. Thomas Owens discusses the history, limitations and nuances of various political scientist's theories on the International system at NRO, particularly with regard to America's role in light of current events. Interesting discussion about the Realist school, the "Neoconservative" school, and the Internationalist/Liberal school. Read the whole thing.
The Realist school recognizes states as the principal actors, and that the international system is one based on relative state power. Liberals contend that the actors goals "transcend power and security", such as peace and prosperity, and that actors other than states play critical roles. Realists have been critical of the Bush Doctrine of Pre-emption as noted below.
"Realists have predicted that the Bush Doctrine will lead to anti-hegemonic balancing on the part of other states — i.e., other states will takes actions to prevent the United Stated from establishing, or further establishing, international hegemony. But such an outcome has not occurred. There has been no anti-hegemonic balancing, even of the “soft” variety (the realists’ fall back position). This suggests that other nations consider the Bush Doctrine to be also in their own interests, or, at least, they do not worry that, in pursuing this doctrine, the U.S. intends to establish a hegemony harmful to their interests. This judgment is mostly likely based on an understanding of the nature of the political regime of the United States..."
In short, the Realist school ignores the TYPES of regimes when examining the balance of power. Liberals believe that international institutions and law can keep the peace, and view the Realist school as far too cynical, while the Realists belive the Liberals far too idealistic. Neoconservative theory, at least in foreign policy, is a bit of a blend, as they believe that the regime's internal characteristics matter, and that it is only prudent of the hegemon, the US, to use its power to provide not only stability, but propagate those principals upon which its own regime rests, liberal democracy.
The money quote:
"The Bush Doctrine is a species of “primacy” based on hegemonic stability. Primacy can be caricatured as a “go-it-alone” approach in which the United States intimidates both friends and allies, wields power unilaterally, and ignores international institutions. But the Bush Doctrine sees itself as having a “benevolent” primacy, an approach in keeping with its liberal political traditions, but which recognizes the world as a dangerous place in which a just peace is maintained only by the strong.
This form of primacy is based on the assumption that U.S. power is good not only for the United States itself but also for the rest of the world. The argument is that the United States can be fully secure only in a world where everyone else is also secure. The existence of liberal institutions is not sufficient for preserving this order. A liberal world order is possible only if the United States is willing and able to maintain it."
This sounds Reaganesque to me, the "America is the Shining City on the Hill", only we are doing things more actively to serve as a beacon today, as opposed to just being a passive role model for others to emulate. I guess I just might be a neoconservative, at least when it's explained in this fashion.
The Realist school recognizes states as the principal actors, and that the international system is one based on relative state power. Liberals contend that the actors goals "transcend power and security", such as peace and prosperity, and that actors other than states play critical roles. Realists have been critical of the Bush Doctrine of Pre-emption as noted below.
"Realists have predicted that the Bush Doctrine will lead to anti-hegemonic balancing on the part of other states — i.e., other states will takes actions to prevent the United Stated from establishing, or further establishing, international hegemony. But such an outcome has not occurred. There has been no anti-hegemonic balancing, even of the “soft” variety (the realists’ fall back position). This suggests that other nations consider the Bush Doctrine to be also in their own interests, or, at least, they do not worry that, in pursuing this doctrine, the U.S. intends to establish a hegemony harmful to their interests. This judgment is mostly likely based on an understanding of the nature of the political regime of the United States..."
In short, the Realist school ignores the TYPES of regimes when examining the balance of power. Liberals believe that international institutions and law can keep the peace, and view the Realist school as far too cynical, while the Realists belive the Liberals far too idealistic. Neoconservative theory, at least in foreign policy, is a bit of a blend, as they believe that the regime's internal characteristics matter, and that it is only prudent of the hegemon, the US, to use its power to provide not only stability, but propagate those principals upon which its own regime rests, liberal democracy.
The money quote:
"The Bush Doctrine is a species of “primacy” based on hegemonic stability. Primacy can be caricatured as a “go-it-alone” approach in which the United States intimidates both friends and allies, wields power unilaterally, and ignores international institutions. But the Bush Doctrine sees itself as having a “benevolent” primacy, an approach in keeping with its liberal political traditions, but which recognizes the world as a dangerous place in which a just peace is maintained only by the strong.
This form of primacy is based on the assumption that U.S. power is good not only for the United States itself but also for the rest of the world. The argument is that the United States can be fully secure only in a world where everyone else is also secure. The existence of liberal institutions is not sufficient for preserving this order. A liberal world order is possible only if the United States is willing and able to maintain it."
This sounds Reaganesque to me, the "America is the Shining City on the Hill", only we are doing things more actively to serve as a beacon today, as opposed to just being a passive role model for others to emulate. I guess I just might be a neoconservative, at least when it's explained in this fashion.
Supreme Court
via USA Today.
Interesting article describing the Court's two newest memebers, Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito, and their potential impact on pending issues. Abortion, obviously, is a big issue, as well as school integration/choice and the environment, along with the national security and civil liberty divide.
"Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito have signaled a readiness to move the court to the right. In recent cases involving abortion, global warming and school integration, Roberts and Alito have been aggressive and sometimes feisty proponents of conservative views and particularly sympathetic to arguments by the Bush administration."
Elections have consequences, and this is among the biggest of them all. Conservative Presidents have had a historically poor track record of nominating conservative justices, but President Bush appears, at this point, to have fulfilled his campaign promises to nominate justices that view legal matters pretty narrowly, rather than legislating questionable decisions from the bench. It will be interesting to see what kind of teeth gnashing and hair pulling these two justices cause liberals over the coming years. The court's more liberal members have certainly caused a lot of conservative heartburn over the years, it is ironic indeed to see the shoe on the other foot for a change.
Interesting article describing the Court's two newest memebers, Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito, and their potential impact on pending issues. Abortion, obviously, is a big issue, as well as school integration/choice and the environment, along with the national security and civil liberty divide.
"Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito have signaled a readiness to move the court to the right. In recent cases involving abortion, global warming and school integration, Roberts and Alito have been aggressive and sometimes feisty proponents of conservative views and particularly sympathetic to arguments by the Bush administration."
Elections have consequences, and this is among the biggest of them all. Conservative Presidents have had a historically poor track record of nominating conservative justices, but President Bush appears, at this point, to have fulfilled his campaign promises to nominate justices that view legal matters pretty narrowly, rather than legislating questionable decisions from the bench. It will be interesting to see what kind of teeth gnashing and hair pulling these two justices cause liberals over the coming years. The court's more liberal members have certainly caused a lot of conservative heartburn over the years, it is ironic indeed to see the shoe on the other foot for a change.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Discovery to Leave ISS
via OWH.
"Space shuttle Discovery's astronauts have rewired the space station, managed three spacewalks, and now completed the most difficult task of their mission: getting a stubborn, solar array folded up during an impromptu fourth spacewalk."
Astronaut Robert Curbeam set a record with his fourth spacewalk of the mission in repairing the balky solar array. The old array was replaced by a new one installed during the misison, but the old one would not retract as planned, necessitating the emergency fourth spacewalk. Curbeam is now a man with the fifth most spacewalk time in history, behind only a small group of Russian cosmonauts as US astronauts. Discovery is scheduled to return to Earth Friday.
"Space shuttle Discovery's astronauts have rewired the space station, managed three spacewalks, and now completed the most difficult task of their mission: getting a stubborn, solar array folded up during an impromptu fourth spacewalk."
Astronaut Robert Curbeam set a record with his fourth spacewalk of the mission in repairing the balky solar array. The old array was replaced by a new one installed during the misison, but the old one would not retract as planned, necessitating the emergency fourth spacewalk. Curbeam is now a man with the fifth most spacewalk time in history, behind only a small group of Russian cosmonauts as US astronauts. Discovery is scheduled to return to Earth Friday.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Global Economic Projections
Also at TCS, James Peron looks at the new World Bank projections for global economic growth, and the results are actually pretty encouraging. The global economy is expected to double by 2030, and the developing world's share of that output is likely to reach 50% by that time. The best news of all: the world's poor will benefit greatly.
""The number of people living on less than $1 a day [in constant dollars] could be cut in half, from 1.1 billion now to 550 million in 2030." And the number living on less than $2 per day will decline by an estimated 800 million."
The ranks of the "global middle class" are expected to raise as well, up to 1.2 billion people. Developing nations will continue to converge with more developed nations, and the situation could be even more rosy - these scenarios are the low to middle of the road projections, the optimistic projections show a decline of people living in poverty from today's 20% to around 4%, with incomes 45% higher than today.
""The number of people living on less than $1 a day [in constant dollars] could be cut in half, from 1.1 billion now to 550 million in 2030." And the number living on less than $2 per day will decline by an estimated 800 million."
The ranks of the "global middle class" are expected to raise as well, up to 1.2 billion people. Developing nations will continue to converge with more developed nations, and the situation could be even more rosy - these scenarios are the low to middle of the road projections, the optimistic projections show a decline of people living in poverty from today's 20% to around 4%, with incomes 45% higher than today.
The Economy
Dave Henderson at TCS takes a look at economist Alan Reynold's thorough debunking of the "shrinking middle class" myth perpetuated by the Paul Krgumans of the world. Reynold's new book Income and Wealth tackles this and other myths, like the fact that famly income has been shrinking over the last three decades.
These claims often rely on curious definitions, like utilizing "tax units" as opposed to families, or holding income level definitions static (middle class = incomes of S35-50K, ignoring the effects of growing prosperity over time) in order to distort the data sets to achieve these pundits dubious pre-conceived claims. As Reynolds puts it:
"Such a fixed definition ensures that the proportion of households in the middle group must decline with a rise in general prosperity, because rising prosperity causes a rising percentage of families to earn more than $50,000." (emphasis his)
In other words, the number of people inside these income levels dropped because more families were earning incomes OVER the high end of the bracket, $50k. But of course, that isn't stated, just that the people in the middle brackets dropped. Disingenuous at best, blatantly misleading at worst, and almost certainly done on purpose to score some political point.
These claims often rely on curious definitions, like utilizing "tax units" as opposed to families, or holding income level definitions static (middle class = incomes of S35-50K, ignoring the effects of growing prosperity over time) in order to distort the data sets to achieve these pundits dubious pre-conceived claims. As Reynolds puts it:
"Such a fixed definition ensures that the proportion of households in the middle group must decline with a rise in general prosperity, because rising prosperity causes a rising percentage of families to earn more than $50,000." (emphasis his)
In other words, the number of people inside these income levels dropped because more families were earning incomes OVER the high end of the bracket, $50k. But of course, that isn't stated, just that the people in the middle brackets dropped. Disingenuous at best, blatantly misleading at worst, and almost certainly done on purpose to score some political point.
Japan's New Diplomacy
Time via RCP.
Interesting article about the visit of India's Prime Minister Singh to Japan, and the special treatment he is being accorded there, addressing the Japanese Diet (legislature). Japan is looking beyond its relationship with the US for perhaps the first time since WW2. Japanese PM Abe is cultivating India as a potential diplomatic counterweight to China.
"Deepening ties between the two biggest democracies in Asia is part of Abe's efforts to chart a new direction for Japan's foreign policy, one less consumed with the U.S. and more embracing of Asia"
Although bilateral trade between the two nations is not yet significant, it is growing pretty rapidly. Japanese investment is still concentrated on China, but Japanese automakers are eyeing the Indian market, and India's software companies could begin to make inroads into the Japanese markets as well.
Interesting article about the visit of India's Prime Minister Singh to Japan, and the special treatment he is being accorded there, addressing the Japanese Diet (legislature). Japan is looking beyond its relationship with the US for perhaps the first time since WW2. Japanese PM Abe is cultivating India as a potential diplomatic counterweight to China.
"Deepening ties between the two biggest democracies in Asia is part of Abe's efforts to chart a new direction for Japan's foreign policy, one less consumed with the U.S. and more embracing of Asia"
Although bilateral trade between the two nations is not yet significant, it is growing pretty rapidly. Japanese investment is still concentrated on China, but Japanese automakers are eyeing the Indian market, and India's software companies could begin to make inroads into the Japanese markets as well.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
The Loss of the Libertarians
via TCS Daily.
Good article on how those of us self described fiscally conservative, socially liberal voters actually voted. There was an approximate 24 point swing against the Republicans from the 2002 midterms. OUCH. Still, a majority of Libertarians vote Republican despite overtures from the other aisle.
"In 2006, libertarians voted 59-36 for Republican congressional candidates—a 24-point swing from the 2002 mid-term election. To put this in perspective, front-page stories since the election have reported the dramatic 7-point shift of white conservative evangelicals away from the Republicans. The libertarian vote is about the same size as the religious right vote measured in exit polls, and it is subject to swings more than three times as large."
Worse, the Senate losses of Conrad Burns and Jim Talent were directly attributable to Libertarian candidacies in their states. Both sitting Senators lost by less then the number of votes the Libertarian candidate garnered. The Republicans would still control the Senate had both candidates won re-election. The R's would be wise to return to their principles if they wish to continue to win elections.
Good article on how those of us self described fiscally conservative, socially liberal voters actually voted. There was an approximate 24 point swing against the Republicans from the 2002 midterms. OUCH. Still, a majority of Libertarians vote Republican despite overtures from the other aisle.
"In 2006, libertarians voted 59-36 for Republican congressional candidates—a 24-point swing from the 2002 mid-term election. To put this in perspective, front-page stories since the election have reported the dramatic 7-point shift of white conservative evangelicals away from the Republicans. The libertarian vote is about the same size as the religious right vote measured in exit polls, and it is subject to swings more than three times as large."
Worse, the Senate losses of Conrad Burns and Jim Talent were directly attributable to Libertarian candidacies in their states. Both sitting Senators lost by less then the number of votes the Libertarian candidate garnered. The Republicans would still control the Senate had both candidates won re-election. The R's would be wise to return to their principles if they wish to continue to win elections.
St. Paul's Tomb
via National Geographic.
St. Paul of Tarsis, the principal founder of the Christian religion after the death of Christ, has had his tomb in Vatican City partially uncovered for viewing by religious pilgrims.
"For now we didn't open the sarcophagus to study the contents. Our aim was to unearth the coffin venerated as St. Paul's tomb, not to authenticate the remains," said Giorgio Filippi, the archaeologist of the Vatican Museum, who directed the excavations. "The sarcophagus was buried beneath the main altar, under a marble tombstone bearing the Latin words "Paulo Apostolo Mart.," meaning "Apostle Paul, Martyr."
Paul's tomb was first first honored with a basillica in 320 AD by the Emperor Constantine, expanded by Theodosius in 390 AD, who also entombed the saint's remains in the sarcophagus discovered. The sarcophagus was buried and marked by a marble tombstone after an earthquake in 433 AD. A fire in 1823 burned the ancient basillica down and the modern building was erected in its place with the tomb buried under the Papal altar. Pilgrims visiting in 2000 were disappointed that they could not see the saint's tomb, leading to the decision to excavate. The sarcophagus can be viewed through a hole in the Papal altar about 2 ft wide and 3 ft deep.
St. Paul of Tarsis, the principal founder of the Christian religion after the death of Christ, has had his tomb in Vatican City partially uncovered for viewing by religious pilgrims.
"For now we didn't open the sarcophagus to study the contents. Our aim was to unearth the coffin venerated as St. Paul's tomb, not to authenticate the remains," said Giorgio Filippi, the archaeologist of the Vatican Museum, who directed the excavations. "The sarcophagus was buried beneath the main altar, under a marble tombstone bearing the Latin words "Paulo Apostolo Mart.," meaning "Apostle Paul, Martyr."
Paul's tomb was first first honored with a basillica in 320 AD by the Emperor Constantine, expanded by Theodosius in 390 AD, who also entombed the saint's remains in the sarcophagus discovered. The sarcophagus was buried and marked by a marble tombstone after an earthquake in 433 AD. A fire in 1823 burned the ancient basillica down and the modern building was erected in its place with the tomb buried under the Papal altar. Pilgrims visiting in 2000 were disappointed that they could not see the saint's tomb, leading to the decision to excavate. The sarcophagus can be viewed through a hole in the Papal altar about 2 ft wide and 3 ft deep.
A Tale of Two Dictators
Washington Post via RCP.
Very interesting article noting the differences between Chile's dictator Augusto Pinochet and Cuba's Fidel Castro. Pinochet is often vilified, and with reason; Casto is often lauded, despite his (to me, anyway) very obvious flaws. Now while it is more than a little crass to say so to their victims and their families, I have to believe that the people of Chile are far better off today than the people of Cuba. I'll note for the record that Pinochet left power voluntarily - Castro?
John O'sullivan of the Chicago Sun-Times has more, including a comaprisons to Franco, Mao, Hilter and Stalin, along with the leader of the island paradise 90 miles from our shores.
"As for Pinochet's economic legacy, it outstrips that of most advanced democracies, let alone the economic rubble of all the communist dictators. Within a decade of the 1973 coup, Chile was a stable growing economy transformed by monetary, supply-side, trade and labor market reforms introduced by Pinochet. When Chile returned to democracy in the late 1980s, the Christian Democrat government of Patricio Aylwin continued his free-market approach."
He also makes the point that while Castro has traveled freely around the world, Pinochet has been constantly forced to defend himself in courts around the world - even though the courts in Chile had granted him amnesty. It is certainly illustrative of way they are viewed.
Very interesting article noting the differences between Chile's dictator Augusto Pinochet and Cuba's Fidel Castro. Pinochet is often vilified, and with reason; Casto is often lauded, despite his (to me, anyway) very obvious flaws. Now while it is more than a little crass to say so to their victims and their families, I have to believe that the people of Chile are far better off today than the people of Cuba. I'll note for the record that Pinochet left power voluntarily - Castro?
John O'sullivan of the Chicago Sun-Times has more, including a comaprisons to Franco, Mao, Hilter and Stalin, along with the leader of the island paradise 90 miles from our shores.
"As for Pinochet's economic legacy, it outstrips that of most advanced democracies, let alone the economic rubble of all the communist dictators. Within a decade of the 1973 coup, Chile was a stable growing economy transformed by monetary, supply-side, trade and labor market reforms introduced by Pinochet. When Chile returned to democracy in the late 1980s, the Christian Democrat government of Patricio Aylwin continued his free-market approach."
He also makes the point that while Castro has traveled freely around the world, Pinochet has been constantly forced to defend himself in courts around the world - even though the courts in Chile had granted him amnesty. It is certainly illustrative of way they are viewed.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Shuttle Launches at Night
via OWH.
For the first time in four years, NASA launches a shuttle at night. The launch had been delayed twice due to unfavorable waether, which cleared just in time for the spectacular lift-off.
"During their 12-day mission, Discovery's crew will rewire the space station, deliver an $11 million addition to the space lab and bring home one of the space station's three crew members, German astronaut Thomas Reiter of the European Space Agency. American astronaut Sunita "Suni" Williams will replace him, staying for six months."
Interestingly enough, the shuttle crew is one of the least experienced in recent memory, with five of the astronauts being rookies who have never been in space.
Mission Commander Mark Polansky and pilot William Oefelein are among the more experienced members of the crew. Three ISS construction spacewalks are planned for the mission.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
MIT Research boosts Ethanol
OWH.
MIT researchers have developed a new type of yeast that could boost ethanol production by as much as 50%. The new strain is able to withstand a higher alcohol and glucose content than the yeast usually used in producing ethanol, speeding the production process and increasing the yield. Pretty cool.
MIT researchers have developed a new type of yeast that could boost ethanol production by as much as 50%. The new strain is able to withstand a higher alcohol and glucose content than the yeast usually used in producing ethanol, speeding the production process and increasing the yield. Pretty cool.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Last Gathering of Pearl Harbor Survivors
Great article on the 65th reunion of the Pearl Harbor Association, most likely the last. An estimated 500 survivors and 1300 family and relatives are expected to attend.
"The survivors have met here every five years for four decades, but they're now in their 80s or 90s and are not counting on a 70th reunion. They have made every effort to report for one final roll call."
2,390 died in the attack, and 1,178 others were wounded. About half of the dead were from the USS Arizona, which lost 1,177 sailors, still the largest loss of life for any US Navy warship.
"The survivors have met here every five years for four decades, but they're now in their 80s or 90s and are not counting on a 70th reunion. They have made every effort to report for one final roll call."
2,390 died in the attack, and 1,178 others were wounded. About half of the dead were from the USS Arizona, which lost 1,177 sailors, still the largest loss of life for any US Navy warship.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Conservative Dems
Great article by John Hood at NRO on the two "Centrist" Democratic groups, the New Democratic Coalition and the Blue Dog Democrats, and where the groups stand on certain issues. First, a history lesson on where the two groups originated.
"These two groups, though both centrist, are far from identical. The Blue Dogs were formed first, just after the 1994 Republican victories. Founded by Democrats primarily in the South, Midwest, and inner West, the group argued that reflexive liberalism on social issues and an appearance of fiscal imprudence had damaged the party’s national prospects, as well as the prospects of Democratic candidates in swing districts...Before Election Day, there were 37 Blue Dogs. In January, there will be at least 44.
The New Democrat Coalition came along a few years later, in 1997. Its name was a conscious nod to the brand personified by the original new Democrat, President Bill Clinton. The 2006 election added at least 15 members to the coalition, which will number at least 63. While the Blue Dogs have emphasized moderation on social-issues and the importance of balanced budgets, the New Democrats describe their agenda as “pro-growth” and often focus on foreign policy, innovation, and technology issues. Not to exaggerate the differences between the two groups, whose membership does overlap, but they do have distinct identities and priorities."
Most New Democrats are free trade supporters, while most Blue Dogs are anything but, blaming manufacturing's job losses on free trade (and not technology, which is actually to blame - manufacturing OUTPUT is up, but jobs are down due to increased productivity.) Both groups are against raising taxes, with the New Dems more friendly towards investor helpful cuts on capital gains and dividends, while the Blue Dogs are more deficit hawks and would want spending cuts to match any tax cutting. Blue Dogs are more restrictionist on immigration, the New Dems more "comprehensive". Neither group is in favor of gun control legislation, and they are both a bit mixed on abortion, wiht some memebers openly pro-life, others not so much.
"These two groups, though both centrist, are far from identical. The Blue Dogs were formed first, just after the 1994 Republican victories. Founded by Democrats primarily in the South, Midwest, and inner West, the group argued that reflexive liberalism on social issues and an appearance of fiscal imprudence had damaged the party’s national prospects, as well as the prospects of Democratic candidates in swing districts...Before Election Day, there were 37 Blue Dogs. In January, there will be at least 44.
The New Democrat Coalition came along a few years later, in 1997. Its name was a conscious nod to the brand personified by the original new Democrat, President Bill Clinton. The 2006 election added at least 15 members to the coalition, which will number at least 63. While the Blue Dogs have emphasized moderation on social-issues and the importance of balanced budgets, the New Democrats describe their agenda as “pro-growth” and often focus on foreign policy, innovation, and technology issues. Not to exaggerate the differences between the two groups, whose membership does overlap, but they do have distinct identities and priorities."
Most New Democrats are free trade supporters, while most Blue Dogs are anything but, blaming manufacturing's job losses on free trade (and not technology, which is actually to blame - manufacturing OUTPUT is up, but jobs are down due to increased productivity.) Both groups are against raising taxes, with the New Dems more friendly towards investor helpful cuts on capital gains and dividends, while the Blue Dogs are more deficit hawks and would want spending cuts to match any tax cutting. Blue Dogs are more restrictionist on immigration, the New Dems more "comprehensive". Neither group is in favor of gun control legislation, and they are both a bit mixed on abortion, wiht some memebers openly pro-life, others not so much.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Ancient Tsunami
It's been discovered that Mt. Etna on Sicily has had a pretty massive impact on the Mediterranean basin. Much like the Santorini explosion several thousand years later, this volcanic eruption sent a massive tidal wave up to 130 ft tall throughout the ancient world around 8000 years ago.
"Their recreation suggests the tsunami's waves reached heights of up to 130 feet and maximum speeds of up to 450 mph, making it more powerful than the Indonesian tsunami that killed more than 180,000 people in 2004."
Talk about a bad day. Neolithic hunters at the time would never realize what hit them.
"Their recreation suggests the tsunami's waves reached heights of up to 130 feet and maximum speeds of up to 450 mph, making it more powerful than the Indonesian tsunami that killed more than 180,000 people in 2004."
Talk about a bad day. Neolithic hunters at the time would never realize what hit them.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Cuban dissident Movement
Via NRO.
Fantastic article about the burgeoning dissident movement in Cuba. Much like the solidarity movement in communist Poland, the movement is unified by a single word, cambio. Change. The word is seen on placards, T-shirts, and windows throughout the island. Incidents of civil unrest are also becoming quite common.
"The Directorio Democrático Cubano, a Miami-based pro-dissident group, keeps a detailed catalogue of pro-democracy activities in Cuba. Its report on incidents in 2005 alone fills nearly 400 pages."
Naturally, this doesn't get a lot of press, because of the biases of many members of the journalism porfession. Of course, anything that would indicate that Cuba isn't exactly a tropical paradise, like the endemic poverty, is ignored.
"Indeed, international journalists are so clueless that when they ask people on the street in Cuba to describe conditions there, they earnestly quote them saying, “Everything is going well,” completely oblivious to the large signs all over Cuba bearing the Orwellian caption “Everything is going well.” "
A 1984 society run by thugs is alive and well, 90 miles from our shores. Millions suffer every day, and we don't do anything to stop it or publisize it, in fact, some of our most notable citizens visit the island and fawn over an old dictator - hard to believe, but true. Worse, very few of us seem to care, particularly those who purport to believe in things like democracy, human rights, justice, freeedom, etc.
My fervent hope is that one day we'll all be ashamed of our inaction as the Cuban people finally joins the ranks of the free citizens of the world.
Fantastic article about the burgeoning dissident movement in Cuba. Much like the solidarity movement in communist Poland, the movement is unified by a single word, cambio. Change. The word is seen on placards, T-shirts, and windows throughout the island. Incidents of civil unrest are also becoming quite common.
"The Directorio Democrático Cubano, a Miami-based pro-dissident group, keeps a detailed catalogue of pro-democracy activities in Cuba. Its report on incidents in 2005 alone fills nearly 400 pages."
Naturally, this doesn't get a lot of press, because of the biases of many members of the journalism porfession. Of course, anything that would indicate that Cuba isn't exactly a tropical paradise, like the endemic poverty, is ignored.
"Indeed, international journalists are so clueless that when they ask people on the street in Cuba to describe conditions there, they earnestly quote them saying, “Everything is going well,” completely oblivious to the large signs all over Cuba bearing the Orwellian caption “Everything is going well.” "
A 1984 society run by thugs is alive and well, 90 miles from our shores. Millions suffer every day, and we don't do anything to stop it or publisize it, in fact, some of our most notable citizens visit the island and fawn over an old dictator - hard to believe, but true. Worse, very few of us seem to care, particularly those who purport to believe in things like democracy, human rights, justice, freeedom, etc.
My fervent hope is that one day we'll all be ashamed of our inaction as the Cuban people finally joins the ranks of the free citizens of the world.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Science - Ancient Man
The oldest known human ritual sight has been discovered in Botswana. The statue of a python, as tall as a man and 20 feet long was discovered, along with spearpoints that are thought to be 70,000 years old, taking human ritual ceremonies back further than 30,000 years more than previously known, and showing that humans orgaqnized and had capacity for abstract thinking much earlier than was theorized. More amazingly, the local SAN tribed have modern legends about pythons relating to the site.
"The discovery was made in a remote region of Botswana called Tsodilo Hills, the only uplifted area for miles around. It is known to modern Sanpeople as the "Mountains of the Gods" and the "Rock that Whispers." Their legend has it that mankind descended from the python, and the ancient, arid streambeds around the hills are said to have been created by the python as it circled the hills in its ceaseless search for water."
Inside the cave are also paintings of a giraffe and an elephant, both also important mythological animals to the local San tribes, and there is a legend of a giraffe rescuing a trapped python.
"The discovery was made in a remote region of Botswana called Tsodilo Hills, the only uplifted area for miles around. It is known to modern Sanpeople as the "Mountains of the Gods" and the "Rock that Whispers." Their legend has it that mankind descended from the python, and the ancient, arid streambeds around the hills are said to have been created by the python as it circled the hills in its ceaseless search for water."
Inside the cave are also paintings of a giraffe and an elephant, both also important mythological animals to the local San tribes, and there is a legend of a giraffe rescuing a trapped python.
Husker Basketball
via HuskerExtra.
Doc Sadler has the Husker Hoopsters off to their best start, at 5-0, in 87 years, since the team started 6-0 in 1919! Suddenly, it's cool to follow BB again.
Last night, NU defeated North Texas 76-57 on local TV, and it was the first time I've been able to view the new squad. C Alex Marics sunk his first career three-pointer en route to a 26 pt, 11 board performance. NU jumped out to an early lead and commanded the game throughout.
"Nebraska jumped to a 12-0 lead in the first 3:27 and never looked back. The Huskers’ man-to-man defense forced North Texas into 2-of-14 shooting and 11 turnovers in sprinting to a 25-4 lead with 9:48 left in the first half. NU led by as many as 23 points (39-16 with 3:23 remaining) in the first 20 minutes before settling for a 42-23 lead at intermission. The Mean Green never got closer than 18 points in the second half as Nebraska opened up a lead as large as 28 points, 65-37, with 9:38 left."
Frosh Ryan Anderson added 18 points and Charles Richardson had 11 for the Huskers. coach Doc Sadler was not completely happy, however, as NU committed 18 turnovers and allowed 17 offensive rebounds. He did appreciate the effort on defense, and also said that "the first 5 minutes were the best the tream has played all year." Nice.
Doc Sadler has the Husker Hoopsters off to their best start, at 5-0, in 87 years, since the team started 6-0 in 1919! Suddenly, it's cool to follow BB again.
Last night, NU defeated North Texas 76-57 on local TV, and it was the first time I've been able to view the new squad. C Alex Marics sunk his first career three-pointer en route to a 26 pt, 11 board performance. NU jumped out to an early lead and commanded the game throughout.
"Nebraska jumped to a 12-0 lead in the first 3:27 and never looked back. The Huskers’ man-to-man defense forced North Texas into 2-of-14 shooting and 11 turnovers in sprinting to a 25-4 lead with 9:48 left in the first half. NU led by as many as 23 points (39-16 with 3:23 remaining) in the first 20 minutes before settling for a 42-23 lead at intermission. The Mean Green never got closer than 18 points in the second half as Nebraska opened up a lead as large as 28 points, 65-37, with 9:38 left."
Frosh Ryan Anderson added 18 points and Charles Richardson had 11 for the Huskers. coach Doc Sadler was not completely happy, however, as NU committed 18 turnovers and allowed 17 offensive rebounds. He did appreciate the effort on defense, and also said that "the first 5 minutes were the best the tream has played all year." Nice.
Husker QB Taylor
Link to ESPN's Big 12 QB stats.
Had to do some analysis on Zac getting the Big 12 Offensive award, due to questioning in some quarters that he deserved it; I agree you can make a case for others, but can't say that the case for others is any better than Taylor's. I think you could make a case for several QB's and KU RB John Cornish. OU RB Adrian Peterson would have probably run away with it had he stayed healthy.
Taylor completed 62% of his passes for nearly 2800 yards with 24 TDs and only 4 INTs and averaged almost 9 yds/attempt. His efficiency rating was second in the conference and ninth nationally.
UT QB Colt McCoy completed 69% of his passes for almost 2300 yds with 27 TDs and 7 INTs and was first in conference and fifth nationally in ER, averaging just over 8 yds per attempt.
OSU QB Bobby Reid completed 56% for almost 2100 yds, had 23 TDs and 10 INTs, 8.6 yds/attempt, and was # 15 nationally in ER.
Tech QB Graham Harrell completed 67% for almost 4200 yds, 7.3 yds/attempt, 36 TDs and 10 INTs, and finished 23rd in national ER.
OU QB Paul Thompson completed 62% for nearly 2200 yds, 8 yds/attempt, 18 TDs and 7 INTs to finish #24 in ER nationally.
UM QB Chase Daniel completed 64% for almost 3200 yds, 7.6 yds/attempt, 26 TDs and 10 INTs, finishing #30 nationally in ER.
KU RB Cornish finished with almost 1500 yds rushing, 8 TDs, 5.8/attempt, and had 24 receptions for another 200 yds and a TD.
All of these players had good, if not great seasons. I think what got Taylor the nod was the real low 4 INTs on over 300 attempts, better yardage on a relatively comparable number of attempts, and the high yards per attempt, along with the 24 TDs. McCoy also got Newcomer of the Year honors, which probably contributed. Harrel comes from a system that produces huge QB numbers, he had nearly 600 attempts. Daniel had over 400 attempts.
Reid only had 240, Thompson 270, McCoy 280 and Taylor 315, and the numbers are pretty similiar, around 65% completions, 20+ TDs, 7-8 yds/attempt. Cornish is a very nice back, but for whatever reason, the award seems to go to a QB from a front runner, the only exception being Troy Davis in the first year of the Big 12. Not sure his numbers really outshine any of the QB's at any rate.
Had to do some analysis on Zac getting the Big 12 Offensive award, due to questioning in some quarters that he deserved it; I agree you can make a case for others, but can't say that the case for others is any better than Taylor's. I think you could make a case for several QB's and KU RB John Cornish. OU RB Adrian Peterson would have probably run away with it had he stayed healthy.
Taylor completed 62% of his passes for nearly 2800 yards with 24 TDs and only 4 INTs and averaged almost 9 yds/attempt. His efficiency rating was second in the conference and ninth nationally.
UT QB Colt McCoy completed 69% of his passes for almost 2300 yds with 27 TDs and 7 INTs and was first in conference and fifth nationally in ER, averaging just over 8 yds per attempt.
OSU QB Bobby Reid completed 56% for almost 2100 yds, had 23 TDs and 10 INTs, 8.6 yds/attempt, and was # 15 nationally in ER.
Tech QB Graham Harrell completed 67% for almost 4200 yds, 7.3 yds/attempt, 36 TDs and 10 INTs, and finished 23rd in national ER.
OU QB Paul Thompson completed 62% for nearly 2200 yds, 8 yds/attempt, 18 TDs and 7 INTs to finish #24 in ER nationally.
UM QB Chase Daniel completed 64% for almost 3200 yds, 7.6 yds/attempt, 26 TDs and 10 INTs, finishing #30 nationally in ER.
KU RB Cornish finished with almost 1500 yds rushing, 8 TDs, 5.8/attempt, and had 24 receptions for another 200 yds and a TD.
All of these players had good, if not great seasons. I think what got Taylor the nod was the real low 4 INTs on over 300 attempts, better yardage on a relatively comparable number of attempts, and the high yards per attempt, along with the 24 TDs. McCoy also got Newcomer of the Year honors, which probably contributed. Harrel comes from a system that produces huge QB numbers, he had nearly 600 attempts. Daniel had over 400 attempts.
Reid only had 240, Thompson 270, McCoy 280 and Taylor 315, and the numbers are pretty similiar, around 65% completions, 20+ TDs, 7-8 yds/attempt. Cornish is a very nice back, but for whatever reason, the award seems to go to a QB from a front runner, the only exception being Troy Davis in the first year of the Big 12. Not sure his numbers really outshine any of the QB's at any rate.
Shuttle Night Launch
via Space.com
First night shuttle launch since the Columbia tragedy is scheduled to lift off on Dec. 7th on a 12 day ISS construction mission. The launch window closes Dec. 17 due to technical reasons on the orbiter's computers about the change of the year.
"Veteran NASA shuttle flyer Mark Polansky is commanding the 12-day spaceflight, which includes the delivery of a new portside piece of the ISS, a trio of tricky spacewalks to rewire the outpost’s electrical grid, and an astronaut swap for the station’s Expedition 14 crew."
NASA has been launching the shuttle only during daylight to assist cameras utilized in the technical analysis of the "falling foam" debris from the launches that were identified as the probable issue with the Columbia launch that caused the loss of that vehicle and crew on reentry. With three launches since that disaster, it is now felt by agency engineers that there is no longer any rationale to hold to day only launches.
First night shuttle launch since the Columbia tragedy is scheduled to lift off on Dec. 7th on a 12 day ISS construction mission. The launch window closes Dec. 17 due to technical reasons on the orbiter's computers about the change of the year.
"Veteran NASA shuttle flyer Mark Polansky is commanding the 12-day spaceflight, which includes the delivery of a new portside piece of the ISS, a trio of tricky spacewalks to rewire the outpost’s electrical grid, and an astronaut swap for the station’s Expedition 14 crew."
NASA has been launching the shuttle only during daylight to assist cameras utilized in the technical analysis of the "falling foam" debris from the launches that were identified as the probable issue with the Columbia launch that caused the loss of that vehicle and crew on reentry. With three launches since that disaster, it is now felt by agency engineers that there is no longer any rationale to hold to day only launches.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
College FB - Big 12 Awards
via OWH. Meant to ge to this earlier but got sidetrakced by RL and work.
Husker QB Zac Taylor was named 1st team Big 12 QB AND Offensive Player of the Year, and DE Adam Carriker was also 1st team Big 12 and named Defensive Lineman of the Year.
Defensive Player of the Year honors went to OU LB Rufus Alexander. UT's Justin Blalock was OL of the Year.
Other NU First team selections included FB Dane Todd and LB Bo Ruud, and on the second team, RB Brandon Jackson, WR Maurice Purify, and DE Jay Moore.
Honorable mention selections were NU LB's Stew Bradley and Corey McKeon, S Andre Shanle, CB Courtney Grixby, OL Matt Slausen & Brett Byford, and RB Marlon Lucky.
Husker QB Zac Taylor was named 1st team Big 12 QB AND Offensive Player of the Year, and DE Adam Carriker was also 1st team Big 12 and named Defensive Lineman of the Year.
Defensive Player of the Year honors went to OU LB Rufus Alexander. UT's Justin Blalock was OL of the Year.
Other NU First team selections included FB Dane Todd and LB Bo Ruud, and on the second team, RB Brandon Jackson, WR Maurice Purify, and DE Jay Moore.
Honorable mention selections were NU LB's Stew Bradley and Corey McKeon, S Andre Shanle, CB Courtney Grixby, OL Matt Slausen & Brett Byford, and RB Marlon Lucky.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
NU-CU: Stategery and Trickeration
No loss of momentum for the beloved Huskers, who dazzled their way to a 37-14 thumping of Colorado. NU ran a multitude of gadget and misdirection plays enroute to a 23 point second half, while shutting down the Buffs. In the first half, a fake FG on a "swinging gate" play allowed DE Barry Turner to catch a TD pass from backup QB Joe Ganz for the Huskers first score.
Knotted at 14 early into the second half, K Jordan Congdon set up a safety with the Huskers leading 21-14 by pooch punting on another FG setup, making CU start from their own 1 yd line and setting up DE Adam Carriker & co. for the 2 pointer. Later, S Tierre Green got to run the ball on a 4th down direct snap play, where NU lined up to punt, motioned into a regular snap formation, then had QB Zac Taylor walk off to the sideline as if to call time out, when the center snapped directly to Green, who ran for a first down, leading to NU going up 30-14.
Other plays didn't turn out quite so well, but still slowed the CU defensive rush - RB Marlon over threw TE Matt Herian in the end zone on a halfback pass, and tried another one back to QB Taylor, who was interfered with by a Buffs lineman. Maurice Purify's double reverse didn't work as well as planned either, but he might have had the play of the game anyway. On a third and nine, Purify made an amazing one-handed grab while being interfered with ona fade route from Taylor.
Due to UT's loss to A & M, the Huskers do not yet know their opponent for the Big 12 title game in KC. If OU defeats cross state rival Okie St, then they get the South title. Should they lose, then UT still goes on to face the Huskers.
Knotted at 14 early into the second half, K Jordan Congdon set up a safety with the Huskers leading 21-14 by pooch punting on another FG setup, making CU start from their own 1 yd line and setting up DE Adam Carriker & co. for the 2 pointer. Later, S Tierre Green got to run the ball on a 4th down direct snap play, where NU lined up to punt, motioned into a regular snap formation, then had QB Zac Taylor walk off to the sideline as if to call time out, when the center snapped directly to Green, who ran for a first down, leading to NU going up 30-14.
Other plays didn't turn out quite so well, but still slowed the CU defensive rush - RB Marlon over threw TE Matt Herian in the end zone on a halfback pass, and tried another one back to QB Taylor, who was interfered with by a Buffs lineman. Maurice Purify's double reverse didn't work as well as planned either, but he might have had the play of the game anyway. On a third and nine, Purify made an amazing one-handed grab while being interfered with ona fade route from Taylor.
Due to UT's loss to A & M, the Huskers do not yet know their opponent for the Big 12 title game in KC. If OU defeats cross state rival Okie St, then they get the South title. Should they lose, then UT still goes on to face the Huskers.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Treasury Secretary Paulson
Via RCP.
VERY interesting article on Treasury Secretary Paulson. Explains how he was talked into the job by fellow Goldman-Sachs alum and White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten, and only took the job with assurances that he would be able to run the department without much interferance from the administration. Paulson has a lot of clout on Wall Street, and is very influental on trade, particularly with regard to China, and has openly expressed a free trade message.
The article also indicates that while tax policy and reform appear to be OFF next year's agenda (unfortunately, in my opinion) there does appear to be some degree of support for entitlement reform, particularly on the Medicare/Medicaid front as opposed to Social Security.
Paulson apparently has a good working relationship with Clinton Treasury Secretatry Rubin. While I'm not a big fan of Rubin (he's stuck to some degree on Keynesianism, and I'm in TOTAL oppostion to his tax policy ideas), he is influential in Democratic circles and having him on board would certainly help get something passed in a Democratic controlled Congress.
VERY interesting article on Treasury Secretary Paulson. Explains how he was talked into the job by fellow Goldman-Sachs alum and White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten, and only took the job with assurances that he would be able to run the department without much interferance from the administration. Paulson has a lot of clout on Wall Street, and is very influental on trade, particularly with regard to China, and has openly expressed a free trade message.
The article also indicates that while tax policy and reform appear to be OFF next year's agenda (unfortunately, in my opinion) there does appear to be some degree of support for entitlement reform, particularly on the Medicare/Medicaid front as opposed to Social Security.
Paulson apparently has a good working relationship with Clinton Treasury Secretatry Rubin. While I'm not a big fan of Rubin (he's stuck to some degree on Keynesianism, and I'm in TOTAL oppostion to his tax policy ideas), he is influential in Democratic circles and having him on board would certainly help get something passed in a Democratic controlled Congress.
Welcome to DC, Mr. Smith
via OWH.
Nice article about Adrian Smith's trials and tribulations of going to Washington as a freshman Congress critter. Interesting to note that he has already met again with the President, who made a late stop to campaign for him in the Third District. Smith may wind up taking over Tom's old apartment, but apparently not his old office.
Interesting also is that he was selected as the incoming Republican rep to the legislative committee. He is also angling for a spot on the Ag Committee.
"When the relatively small Republican freshman class held leadership elections Friday, Smith was picked to be the group's representative to the House Republican policy committee, which examines pending legislation and amendments. One of Smith's top priorities is the coming farm bill, so he put in some work angling for a spot on the House Agriculture Committee. Smith said he wants to look for ways to continue rural development programs and expand international markets for U.S. crops."
A little surprising that the Herald, which inexpicably endorsed his opponent, would now write a nice show-piece article on him now. Particularly when they were so put out by Club for Growth's support of his campaign. But interesting, none the less.
Nice article about Adrian Smith's trials and tribulations of going to Washington as a freshman Congress critter. Interesting to note that he has already met again with the President, who made a late stop to campaign for him in the Third District. Smith may wind up taking over Tom's old apartment, but apparently not his old office.
Interesting also is that he was selected as the incoming Republican rep to the legislative committee. He is also angling for a spot on the Ag Committee.
"When the relatively small Republican freshman class held leadership elections Friday, Smith was picked to be the group's representative to the House Republican policy committee, which examines pending legislation and amendments. One of Smith's top priorities is the coming farm bill, so he put in some work angling for a spot on the House Agriculture Committee. Smith said he wants to look for ways to continue rural development programs and expand international markets for U.S. crops."
A little surprising that the Herald, which inexpicably endorsed his opponent, would now write a nice show-piece article on him now. Particularly when they were so put out by Club for Growth's support of his campaign. But interesting, none the less.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Damascus Steel
Now this is cetainly intriguing. Swords made from the legendary "Damascus steel" apparently have extremely modern features - like carbon nanotubes encasing nanowires that increased the strength of the blades while still allowing flexibility. Carbon nanotubes are an extremely strong and flexible material supposedly a recent 20th century invention.
"Peter Paufler, a crystallographer at Technical University in Dresden, Germany, and his colleagues had previously found tiny nanowires and nanotubes when they used an electron microscope to examine samples from a Damascus blade made in the 17th century.
Today in the journal Nature, the teams reports that it has also discovered carbon nanotubes in the sword—the first nanotubes ever found in steel, Paufler says. The nanotubes, which are remarkably strong, run through the blade's softer steel, likely making it more resilient."
The blades were made from iron ingots, prepared with just the right amount of carbon, apparently originating from India. When properly crafted, nanotube bundles of hard nanowires surrounded by carbon nanotubes would form near the swords edge parallel to the surface. The alternating hard and soft layers would form a fine edge, enhanced by the swordsmith's use of acid to form fine etchings on the surface of the blade. The carbon nanotubes would protect the hard wires from the acid, leaving a microscopic saw-toothed edge that gave the swords their legendary sharpness.
"Peter Paufler, a crystallographer at Technical University in Dresden, Germany, and his colleagues had previously found tiny nanowires and nanotubes when they used an electron microscope to examine samples from a Damascus blade made in the 17th century.
Today in the journal Nature, the teams reports that it has also discovered carbon nanotubes in the sword—the first nanotubes ever found in steel, Paufler says. The nanotubes, which are remarkably strong, run through the blade's softer steel, likely making it more resilient."
The blades were made from iron ingots, prepared with just the right amount of carbon, apparently originating from India. When properly crafted, nanotube bundles of hard nanowires surrounded by carbon nanotubes would form near the swords edge parallel to the surface. The alternating hard and soft layers would form a fine edge, enhanced by the swordsmith's use of acid to form fine etchings on the surface of the blade. The carbon nanotubes would protect the hard wires from the acid, leaving a microscopic saw-toothed edge that gave the swords their legendary sharpness.
Thoughts on Rivalry
Husker-hater AJ has many, many issues, but he hit upon something the other day that I thought merited some thought. I know a little of how he feels (he is a Mizzou fan but has lived in Ohaha for 20 years or so) having lived in Ohio for three years before escaping home.
"So WHO IS Nebraska's rival? The answer? Nobody. That is your whole problem. You people have absolutely nobody to tell you how much you suck...how much they dispise you...how much you resemble a steaming pile of dog shit...OTHER than me. You have no other opposing team red-marking your rifle team's visit just so they can scream you down."
In response, I would say that for starters, one reason is that the Big 12 robbed us of our one true rival, OU; even if OU-UT is bigger to them, it was ALWAYS the biggest game to us. The biggest reason we don't have a rival is that we've been spoiled having been so good for so long that no one can compete, at least not in football. We're one of only 4 schools with 800 victories (801-321-40, for a .706 winnning percentage) and we have losing records against only 2 conference schools (OU, 37-42-3 & UT, 4-7). In order to be rivals, you have to get beaten once in a while by the competition.
Big 12 North? We're 353-104-12 (.765, if you split the ties in the W/L column) all time against the North schools, and 48-12 (.800) against them since the Big 12 merger, while being only 22-14 (.611) vs the South, thanks mostly to a 1-6 record vs UT. (We'd be .724 if you threw out the record vs. UT). We're 102-58-4 vs the South schools all-time, good for a .634 percentage. So even though we've been down a bit recently, we've actually been better against the North than our historical average, and pretty close to historical against the South.
I have to give some props to K-St though; we're only 6-5 against them since the merger, so I guess if we have to have a rival, they might be it. We're 7-3 against CU over the same period, and 13-6-1 over the last 20 (1986 is the year the broke through and finally beat us after 20+ years of futility). All I know is that everyone (in the North, anyway) guns for NU and tears down the goalposts if they beat us, so by that measure, anyway, we're everyone's rival, we NU fans just don't notice.
"So WHO IS Nebraska's rival? The answer? Nobody. That is your whole problem. You people have absolutely nobody to tell you how much you suck...how much they dispise you...how much you resemble a steaming pile of dog shit...OTHER than me. You have no other opposing team red-marking your rifle team's visit just so they can scream you down."
In response, I would say that for starters, one reason is that the Big 12 robbed us of our one true rival, OU; even if OU-UT is bigger to them, it was ALWAYS the biggest game to us. The biggest reason we don't have a rival is that we've been spoiled having been so good for so long that no one can compete, at least not in football. We're one of only 4 schools with 800 victories (801-321-40, for a .706 winnning percentage) and we have losing records against only 2 conference schools (OU, 37-42-3 & UT, 4-7). In order to be rivals, you have to get beaten once in a while by the competition.
Big 12 North? We're 353-104-12 (.765, if you split the ties in the W/L column) all time against the North schools, and 48-12 (.800) against them since the Big 12 merger, while being only 22-14 (.611) vs the South, thanks mostly to a 1-6 record vs UT. (We'd be .724 if you threw out the record vs. UT). We're 102-58-4 vs the South schools all-time, good for a .634 percentage. So even though we've been down a bit recently, we've actually been better against the North than our historical average, and pretty close to historical against the South.
I have to give some props to K-St though; we're only 6-5 against them since the merger, so I guess if we have to have a rival, they might be it. We're 7-3 against CU over the same period, and 13-6-1 over the last 20 (1986 is the year the broke through and finally beat us after 20+ years of futility). All I know is that everyone (in the North, anyway) guns for NU and tears down the goalposts if they beat us, so by that measure, anyway, we're everyone's rival, we NU fans just don't notice.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
NU - Creighton
Absolute stunner, NU beats CU 73-61!
Doc Sadler had his team ready to play and upset the #20 club in the country. Huskers shot 67% from the field, and went 13-17 (76%) for the second half.
Frosh Ryan Anderson had 19 for the Huskers, and C Alex Marics had 17, 15 in the second half. Nate Funk led CU with 28, including 7 treys, as C Andrew Tolliver got into foul trouble early.
Wow.
Doc Sadler had his team ready to play and upset the #20 club in the country. Huskers shot 67% from the field, and went 13-17 (76%) for the second half.
Frosh Ryan Anderson had 19 for the Huskers, and C Alex Marics had 17, 15 in the second half. Nate Funk led CU with 28, including 7 treys, as C Andrew Tolliver got into foul trouble early.
Wow.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Economics - Flat Tax in Europe
Opinion Journal, via RCP.
Interesting to note who and where flat tax regimes (something I strongly support) have taken root -- the former Communist-bloc nations of Eastern Europe. And their economies are humming, even formerly backward spots like Slovakia. It seems simple, but we here in the states just don't get it; if you want to create more of something (growth) you have to make the government take a smaller slice.
"Communism had been running what might be called a 40-year demonstration study in life at one end of the Laffer Curve—what happens to economies when you tax away pretty much everything. Freed of this utopia, the peoples of Eastern Europe now had to devise new tax regimes appropriate to nations eager—for want of a better phase—to work, save and invest.
The first former Iron Curtain country to cut its taxes was Estonia in 1994, led by Prime Minister Mart Laar, who claimed then the only economics book he’d ever read was Milton Friedman’s “Free to Choose.” Estonia established a flat rate on personal incomes of 26%; two years earlier it had abolished all import tariffs. Estonia grew.
After Estonia, flat-tax regimes coursed across Eastern Europe, as listed below (bear in mind that the top rate in the U.S. is 35%): Lithuania, 33%; Latvia, 25%; Slovakia, 19% (the former sad sack of the region, Slovakia’s growing economy has become its envy); Romania, 16%; Ukraine, 13%; Russia, 13%; and Georgia, 12%."
Pretty amazing, isn't it?
Interesting to note who and where flat tax regimes (something I strongly support) have taken root -- the former Communist-bloc nations of Eastern Europe. And their economies are humming, even formerly backward spots like Slovakia. It seems simple, but we here in the states just don't get it; if you want to create more of something (growth) you have to make the government take a smaller slice.
"Communism had been running what might be called a 40-year demonstration study in life at one end of the Laffer Curve—what happens to economies when you tax away pretty much everything. Freed of this utopia, the peoples of Eastern Europe now had to devise new tax regimes appropriate to nations eager—for want of a better phase—to work, save and invest.
The first former Iron Curtain country to cut its taxes was Estonia in 1994, led by Prime Minister Mart Laar, who claimed then the only economics book he’d ever read was Milton Friedman’s “Free to Choose.” Estonia established a flat rate on personal incomes of 26%; two years earlier it had abolished all import tariffs. Estonia grew.
After Estonia, flat-tax regimes coursed across Eastern Europe, as listed below (bear in mind that the top rate in the U.S. is 35%): Lithuania, 33%; Latvia, 25%; Slovakia, 19% (the former sad sack of the region, Slovakia’s growing economy has become its envy); Romania, 16%; Ukraine, 13%; Russia, 13%; and Georgia, 12%."
Pretty amazing, isn't it?
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Milton Friedman Dies
(HT: Tim Worstall
) via the CATO Institute.
Influential economist Milton Friedman died today at the age of 94. (I had no idea he was that old.) He won the Nobel for Economics in 1976, authored many books,and was regarded as the leader of the Chicago School of economics (monetarist/supply side). A great believer in human liberty, he was a strong proponent of school vouchers (hence my support) and he and his wife started a foundation devoted to that topic. He is among my most inspiring heroes since I read Free to Choose in college. While he will be missed, more importantly, his ideas will still live on.
Kudlow reflects on Friedman here.
) via the CATO Institute.
Influential economist Milton Friedman died today at the age of 94. (I had no idea he was that old.) He won the Nobel for Economics in 1976, authored many books,and was regarded as the leader of the Chicago School of economics (monetarist/supply side). A great believer in human liberty, he was a strong proponent of school vouchers (hence my support) and he and his wife started a foundation devoted to that topic. He is among my most inspiring heroes since I read Free to Choose in college. While he will be missed, more importantly, his ideas will still live on.
Kudlow reflects on Friedman here.
Dean Barnett is Delighted
Over a Hugh's place, someone expresses his delight at the return of Trent Lott (he was elected Senate Minority Whip). I got a huge chuckle from this. Not too sure who Dean is, but I'm now a fan. Thanks Dean, you almost made me short out my laptop when I blew coffee.
The money quote:
"Is it just me, or is it becoming increasingly apparent that the Republicans and Democrats are determined to engage in a two year dumb-off? If it weren’t for the fact that there are some very determined lunatics out there trying to kill us, this would be funny.
But they are out there, so it isn’t."
(HT: Wizbang.)
Folks in the comments section aren't too terribly pleased with the Martinez selection for RNC chair either.
The money quote:
"Is it just me, or is it becoming increasingly apparent that the Republicans and Democrats are determined to engage in a two year dumb-off? If it weren’t for the fact that there are some very determined lunatics out there trying to kill us, this would be funny.
But they are out there, so it isn’t."
(HT: Wizbang.)
Folks in the comments section aren't too terribly pleased with the Martinez selection for RNC chair either.
Government Deficits
Jerry Bower at TCS Daily explains why deficits aren't such a bad thing, and in actual fact are a GOOD thing. Among other things, they funded our independence. And we've never payed it all back, either, although he doesn't make the point that we can roll it over (issue new bonds to pay off the old ones). And he has a handy chart, showing the deficit as a percentage of the economy.
"When strong nations go to war, they borrow money. Weak nations, not so much. That's because strong nations usually win, and winning nations usually repay their creditors. Rich and successful people don't have any problem getting someone to loan them money. The same holds for wealthy and successful nations. That's why, historically, the interest rate of a nation's bonds is a pretty good inverse indicator of investor confidence in the war effort. The more trouble investors see on the horizon, the more compensation they demand for the added risk."
You'd think he was over reading this guy.
"When strong nations go to war, they borrow money. Weak nations, not so much. That's because strong nations usually win, and winning nations usually repay their creditors. Rich and successful people don't have any problem getting someone to loan them money. The same holds for wealthy and successful nations. That's why, historically, the interest rate of a nation's bonds is a pretty good inverse indicator of investor confidence in the war effort. The more trouble investors see on the horizon, the more compensation they demand for the added risk."
You'd think he was over reading this guy.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
This explains A LOT - Women Allergic to Semen
LiveSciece.
I don't usually go here, but...it seems appropriate somehow.
Some women suffer from severe allergic reactions to male semen, often because of the male's diet, or sometimes it is specific to one partner. Women suffering form this allergy often (about half the time) suffer from other allergies.
"One study from the University of Cincinnati of 1,073 women who sought information on semen allergy concerning their symptoms found 130 had the allergy. In some women, the reaction occurs only with one partner while others are allergic to all partners."
I think it's probably even more common than they found from this study. You're talking over 12% from this one. I do appreciate the cure, though. Maybe they should ask for volunteers to assist the poor women.
"To desensitize a woman's immune system against semen, doctors can either apply diluted samples of semen to a woman's vagina every 20 minutes, gradually increasing the concentration over the course of several hours, or the women can receive allergy shots containing small amounts of semen over the course of several weeks. Both techniques require sex two or three times a week to train their immune system."
I think you have to ask how the doctors apply the samples and increase the concentration later. Inquiring minds...
I don't usually go here, but...it seems appropriate somehow.
Some women suffer from severe allergic reactions to male semen, often because of the male's diet, or sometimes it is specific to one partner. Women suffering form this allergy often (about half the time) suffer from other allergies.
"One study from the University of Cincinnati of 1,073 women who sought information on semen allergy concerning their symptoms found 130 had the allergy. In some women, the reaction occurs only with one partner while others are allergic to all partners."
I think it's probably even more common than they found from this study. You're talking over 12% from this one. I do appreciate the cure, though. Maybe they should ask for volunteers to assist the poor women.
"To desensitize a woman's immune system against semen, doctors can either apply diluted samples of semen to a woman's vagina every 20 minutes, gradually increasing the concentration over the course of several hours, or the women can receive allergy shots containing small amounts of semen over the course of several weeks. Both techniques require sex two or three times a week to train their immune system."
I think you have to ask how the doctors apply the samples and increase the concentration later. Inquiring minds...
Ethanol & Food
USA Today.
Interesting article on scientist's concerns that increasing ethanol production will impact food production. Ethanol production is approaching 5 billion gallons this year.
Not sure I buy in too much, as corn used for ethanol is field corn, not the stuff humans eat. Like any other commodity, if demand for corn gets to the point where is effects the supply, the price will go up and farmers will produce more, or subsitutes will become attractive for certain areas of demand. Feed corn is used to feed livestock, but there are substitutes available, like sorghum. Ethanol by-products can also be used as feed, they just aren't as convenient for producers. Food is extremely cheap in this country, if I have to pay marginally more to eat for cheaper energy prices, that is a trade off I'm willing to explore.
Additionally, as ethanol technology improves, they get more ethanol per bushel of corn, and cellulosic ethanol (made from cornstalks, or switchgrass, etc) isn't that far off either, so in the long run, corn production may become a thing of the past for ethanol.
Interesting article on scientist's concerns that increasing ethanol production will impact food production. Ethanol production is approaching 5 billion gallons this year.
Not sure I buy in too much, as corn used for ethanol is field corn, not the stuff humans eat. Like any other commodity, if demand for corn gets to the point where is effects the supply, the price will go up and farmers will produce more, or subsitutes will become attractive for certain areas of demand. Feed corn is used to feed livestock, but there are substitutes available, like sorghum. Ethanol by-products can also be used as feed, they just aren't as convenient for producers. Food is extremely cheap in this country, if I have to pay marginally more to eat for cheaper energy prices, that is a trade off I'm willing to explore.
Additionally, as ethanol technology improves, they get more ethanol per bushel of corn, and cellulosic ethanol (made from cornstalks, or switchgrass, etc) isn't that far off either, so in the long run, corn production may become a thing of the past for ethanol.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
National Healthcare Debunked
Dale Franks over at Q and O (click the link) nails the issues with imposing a national heathcare plan. In short, political groups will prevent it.
In summation, his points are:
1. Voters will NOT accept less coverage or less rapid coverage than they get with their (overall pretty good) healthplans TODAY.
2. Medical workers will NOT accpet lower wages, nor will the unions that many of them belong to accept it.
3. End-of-life care can NOT be rationed. AARP won't accept it and we are already spending buku $$$ on it in the form of Medicare, which is a national health plan - just for old people.
4. Immigrants won't be covered, so at least 12 million people will still use the emergency room as their primary care facility, with all the costs that that fact entails.
He also points out that most people in the European nanny-states didn't have ANY healthcare when it was rolled out decades ago, so they felt they were getting a pretty good deal.
In summation, his points are:
1. Voters will NOT accept less coverage or less rapid coverage than they get with their (overall pretty good) healthplans TODAY.
2. Medical workers will NOT accpet lower wages, nor will the unions that many of them belong to accept it.
3. End-of-life care can NOT be rationed. AARP won't accept it and we are already spending buku $$$ on it in the form of Medicare, which is a national health plan - just for old people.
4. Immigrants won't be covered, so at least 12 million people will still use the emergency room as their primary care facility, with all the costs that that fact entails.
He also points out that most people in the European nanny-states didn't have ANY healthcare when it was rolled out decades ago, so they felt they were getting a pretty good deal.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Ancient Civilization - Gonur
Link above is to a government site describing some of the historical signifigance of the site I describe below - beware of strange English. Wiki link here has more and better general information, on what is better known as the Bactrian-Margiana Archaeological Complex.
Read an interesting article this weekend about a Bronze Age civlization in Discover, centered on what is today Turkmenistan. Unfortunately, Discover requires a subscription to access web content. Russian archaelogist Victor Sarianidi has been working the site off and on, depending on the political situation, since the 1970's. Harvard and Italy also have teams working in the area, where the delta of the Mugrab River was 4000+ years ago, one which traded extensively with Mesopotamia and the Harappa civilization of the Indus River valley, and perhaps as far as China and Egypt as well.
"Sarianidi has turned up the remnants of a wealthy town protected by high walls and battlements. This barren place, a site called Gonur, was once the heart of a vast archipelago of settlements that stretched across 1,000 square miles of Central Asian plains. Although unknown to most Western scholars, this ancient civilization dates back 4,000 years—to the time when the first great societies along the Nile, Tigris-Euphrates, Indus, and Yellow rivers were flourishing.
Thousands of people lived in towns like Gonur with carefully designed streets, drains, temples, and homes. To water their orchards and fields, they dug lengthy canals to channel glacier-fed rivers that were impervious to drought. They traded with distant cities for ivory, gold, and silver, creating what may have been the first commercial link between the East and the West. They buried their dead in elaborate graves filled with fine jewelry, wheeled carts, and animal sacrifices. Then, within a few centuries, they vanished."
The theory is that climate change negatively impacted the civilization, along with its trading network partners, resulting in the Bronze "Dark Age". Its people apparently migrated with the river as it changed course, and/or south into Persia.
The government website linked above makes claims that the culture may have spawned the beginnings of the Zoroastrian religion, the state religion of the ancient Persian empire.
Read an interesting article this weekend about a Bronze Age civlization in Discover, centered on what is today Turkmenistan. Unfortunately, Discover requires a subscription to access web content. Russian archaelogist Victor Sarianidi has been working the site off and on, depending on the political situation, since the 1970's. Harvard and Italy also have teams working in the area, where the delta of the Mugrab River was 4000+ years ago, one which traded extensively with Mesopotamia and the Harappa civilization of the Indus River valley, and perhaps as far as China and Egypt as well.
"Sarianidi has turned up the remnants of a wealthy town protected by high walls and battlements. This barren place, a site called Gonur, was once the heart of a vast archipelago of settlements that stretched across 1,000 square miles of Central Asian plains. Although unknown to most Western scholars, this ancient civilization dates back 4,000 years—to the time when the first great societies along the Nile, Tigris-Euphrates, Indus, and Yellow rivers were flourishing.
Thousands of people lived in towns like Gonur with carefully designed streets, drains, temples, and homes. To water their orchards and fields, they dug lengthy canals to channel glacier-fed rivers that were impervious to drought. They traded with distant cities for ivory, gold, and silver, creating what may have been the first commercial link between the East and the West. They buried their dead in elaborate graves filled with fine jewelry, wheeled carts, and animal sacrifices. Then, within a few centuries, they vanished."
The theory is that climate change negatively impacted the civilization, along with its trading network partners, resulting in the Bronze "Dark Age". Its people apparently migrated with the river as it changed course, and/or south into Persia.
The government website linked above makes claims that the culture may have spawned the beginnings of the Zoroastrian religion, the state religion of the ancient Persian empire.
College Football
Big weekend in college football after the Rutgers win last Thursday. #4 Texas, #5 Auburn and #8 (BCS) California all lose their second games and any chance at the national title game, all falling into the midteens. Florida was also nearly upset by South Carolina as well.
Big 12
Nebraska pulls out an exciting last second win against Texas A & M at Kyle Field after blowing a 21-10 halftime lead, winning 28-27, and clinching the North division of the Big 12, and getting back into the rankings at #23. UT needs to win on Thanksgiving Friday (vs A & M) to guarantee a rematch against NU. If they lose, Oklahoma could sneek in with wins against Baylor and Okie State. NU faces Colorado on the same day in Lincoln, could be a tough match if NU continues to have the inexplicable second half let downs.
Big 10
It's all coming down to this week's #1 vs #2 (BCS) matchup of Ohio St. and Michigan. Wisconsin is still hanging around nationally at #9 in the BCS.
SEC
It's looking like #4 Florida against #7 Arkansas in the SEC title game, although UF must still play FSU and the Razorbacks still have LSU to face.
Big East
Ruters (#6 BCS) and W. Virginia (#8) both have three games left, the last being their matchup on Dec. 2.
ACC
A lot could still happen here; Wake Forest (#16) has the inside track on the Coast division, but still has to play Va. Tech and Maryland (#19), who has to play Boston College and Wake in their two final games. Georgia Tech (#18)has the Coast divison wrapped up, only faces Duke in conference play before an in-state showdown with the Bulldogs.
MAC
Frank Solich's Ohio Bobcats have only to defeat Akron this week and the win the Eastern division. Bobcats are already bowl eligible at 7-3. Central Michigan has the West already wrapped up.
PAC-10
USC (#3 BCS) and Cal will play for the PAC-10 title this weekend. USC still has UCLA & Notre Dame as well, Cal has only Stanford.
WAC
Undefeated Boise ST. (#14) has only to defeat 1-9 Utah State and 7-3 Nevada for the WAC title and a potential BCS game. Hawaii's only shot is if Boise drops both games.
Conf USA
East Carolina has only to defeat Rice to win the East. In the West, Houston is in control.
Mountain West
BYU is in control with a 6-0 conference record, with only N. Mexico and Utah left.
Sun Belt
Middle Tenn. St. are both undefeated in conference and meet in two weeks to probably decide the conference title.
Big 12
Nebraska pulls out an exciting last second win against Texas A & M at Kyle Field after blowing a 21-10 halftime lead, winning 28-27, and clinching the North division of the Big 12, and getting back into the rankings at #23. UT needs to win on Thanksgiving Friday (vs A & M) to guarantee a rematch against NU. If they lose, Oklahoma could sneek in with wins against Baylor and Okie State. NU faces Colorado on the same day in Lincoln, could be a tough match if NU continues to have the inexplicable second half let downs.
Big 10
It's all coming down to this week's #1 vs #2 (BCS) matchup of Ohio St. and Michigan. Wisconsin is still hanging around nationally at #9 in the BCS.
SEC
It's looking like #4 Florida against #7 Arkansas in the SEC title game, although UF must still play FSU and the Razorbacks still have LSU to face.
Big East
Ruters (#6 BCS) and W. Virginia (#8) both have three games left, the last being their matchup on Dec. 2.
ACC
A lot could still happen here; Wake Forest (#16) has the inside track on the Coast division, but still has to play Va. Tech and Maryland (#19), who has to play Boston College and Wake in their two final games. Georgia Tech (#18)has the Coast divison wrapped up, only faces Duke in conference play before an in-state showdown with the Bulldogs.
MAC
Frank Solich's Ohio Bobcats have only to defeat Akron this week and the win the Eastern division. Bobcats are already bowl eligible at 7-3. Central Michigan has the West already wrapped up.
PAC-10
USC (#3 BCS) and Cal will play for the PAC-10 title this weekend. USC still has UCLA & Notre Dame as well, Cal has only Stanford.
WAC
Undefeated Boise ST. (#14) has only to defeat 1-9 Utah State and 7-3 Nevada for the WAC title and a potential BCS game. Hawaii's only shot is if Boise drops both games.
Conf USA
East Carolina has only to defeat Rice to win the East. In the West, Houston is in control.
Mountain West
BYU is in control with a 6-0 conference record, with only N. Mexico and Utah left.
Sun Belt
Middle Tenn. St. are both undefeated in conference and meet in two weeks to probably decide the conference title.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Blue Dog Coalition
I'm hoping this will be the last political post for awhile, but you never know.
With a lot of the commentary out on news and blog sites, I thought I'd investigate a group I'd heard of but never really checked out. The "Blue Dog" (conservative)Democrats organization in the House.
"The Coalition was formed in the 104th Congress as a policy-oriented group to give moderate and conservative Democrats in the House of Representatives a common sense, bridge-building voice within the institution...The Coalition has been particularly active on fiscal issues, relentlessly pursuing a balanced budget and then protecting that achievement from politically popular "raids" on the budget."
Apparently, there is some signs of intelligent life within the Democratic party. Unfortunately, it all seems to appear to be off the Committee Chair list, but I guess we'll find out in January. These guys DO sound like my kind of Democrats - the kind that my Great-Grandfather was, the kind that Joe Lieberman, Zell Miller and Jim Exxon are and were. Grandpa's favorite President: Harry Truman. 2nd favorite: Ronald Reagan. The Coalition lists 37 members, but looks to add quite a few more with this year's election results. One gentleman not returning: Harold Ford on Tennessee, the only Swing state Democrat to lose their Senate race.
I really wish they would publish some policy statements so I could examine where they stand on issues a bit better. But they appear on the surface to have some of the same values I hold, and could team with the R's in the House to get things moving in that chamber, particularly if Mike Pence (of the Republican Study Group) or John Shaddegg wind up being Minority Leader, which appears likely. At least Denny Hastert isn't going to be any more, which I view as a good thing.
Edit: It seems Larry was thinking the same thing I was, and said it first. I usually hit his site everyday, but missed yesterday. Nice to see great minds thinking alike, though.
With a lot of the commentary out on news and blog sites, I thought I'd investigate a group I'd heard of but never really checked out. The "Blue Dog" (conservative)Democrats organization in the House.
"The Coalition was formed in the 104th Congress as a policy-oriented group to give moderate and conservative Democrats in the House of Representatives a common sense, bridge-building voice within the institution...The Coalition has been particularly active on fiscal issues, relentlessly pursuing a balanced budget and then protecting that achievement from politically popular "raids" on the budget."
Apparently, there is some signs of intelligent life within the Democratic party. Unfortunately, it all seems to appear to be off the Committee Chair list, but I guess we'll find out in January. These guys DO sound like my kind of Democrats - the kind that my Great-Grandfather was, the kind that Joe Lieberman, Zell Miller and Jim Exxon are and were. Grandpa's favorite President: Harry Truman. 2nd favorite: Ronald Reagan. The Coalition lists 37 members, but looks to add quite a few more with this year's election results. One gentleman not returning: Harold Ford on Tennessee, the only Swing state Democrat to lose their Senate race.
I really wish they would publish some policy statements so I could examine where they stand on issues a bit better. But they appear on the surface to have some of the same values I hold, and could team with the R's in the House to get things moving in that chamber, particularly if Mike Pence (of the Republican Study Group) or John Shaddegg wind up being Minority Leader, which appears likely. At least Denny Hastert isn't going to be any more, which I view as a good thing.
Edit: It seems Larry was thinking the same thing I was, and said it first. I usually hit his site everyday, but missed yesterday. Nice to see great minds thinking alike, though.
Earmarks and Lee Terry
I finally got my long-awaited response from Congressman Terry's office to my questions about NE earmarks, sent in August to ask about the earmark controversy organized by Porkbusters. He apparently helped co-sponsor the earmarking scrutiny bill, but believes "there is place for legitimate earmarks in the legislative process to encourage innovation and help prevent bureuacracy from squelching funding to organziations and entities that can provide government services at lower costs and with more efficiency than federal agencies."
Not sure I agree there. You can legitimize almost anything with that philosophy. I don't really think it should take my/our tax money to expand Creighton's Dental school to "help address a critical shortage of dentists in rural Midwestern states."
I have no issue with the bioterrorism response team, that is something I can agree is pretty important. His office goes on to justify the UNMC grant "due to a tendancy among federal bureaucrats to favor larger medical schools in awarding grnat dollars." This is a matter of keeping up with the Joneses? I'm not terribly impressed with the logic here, and the fact of the matter is that earmarks of all types and sizes have exploded out of proportion - we now have eight times as many earmarks that we did in 1994.
Not sure I agree there. You can legitimize almost anything with that philosophy. I don't really think it should take my/our tax money to expand Creighton's Dental school to "help address a critical shortage of dentists in rural Midwestern states."
I have no issue with the bioterrorism response team, that is something I can agree is pretty important. His office goes on to justify the UNMC grant "due to a tendancy among federal bureaucrats to favor larger medical schools in awarding grnat dollars." This is a matter of keeping up with the Joneses? I'm not terribly impressed with the logic here, and the fact of the matter is that earmarks of all types and sizes have exploded out of proportion - we now have eight times as many earmarks that we did in 1994.
Veteran's Day - Vets Called upon to Wear their Ribbons
via NRO.
Interesting, I hadn't heard about this. There is a national drive to get veterans to wear their service ribbons on Veteran's Day. It's an interesting idea, one that I hope catches on. It would feel a little odd, to say the least, to be an early adopter and to do so, however. VA Secretary Nicholson apparently got the idea from vets and family members wearing their (or their relative's) ribbons at ANZAC Day in Australia. He addresses my discomfort (and I imagine a lot of other vets) thusly:
"The secretary is adamant about not wanting U.S. veterans to view the wearing of their decorations as “boasting,” and thus not wearing them. It is simply another way in which veterans may continue to serve their country with a display of military pride and allegiance with all soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen; as well as a personal expression of loyalty to — and an unbroken bond with — veterans of previous conflicts and those currently engaged in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere in the world."
When you put it that way, Mr. Secretary, well, I think you have me on board. Particularly with my brother-in-law serving in Baghdad right now, and a good friend's son there as well.
Interesting, I hadn't heard about this. There is a national drive to get veterans to wear their service ribbons on Veteran's Day. It's an interesting idea, one that I hope catches on. It would feel a little odd, to say the least, to be an early adopter and to do so, however. VA Secretary Nicholson apparently got the idea from vets and family members wearing their (or their relative's) ribbons at ANZAC Day in Australia. He addresses my discomfort (and I imagine a lot of other vets) thusly:
"The secretary is adamant about not wanting U.S. veterans to view the wearing of their decorations as “boasting,” and thus not wearing them. It is simply another way in which veterans may continue to serve their country with a display of military pride and allegiance with all soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen; as well as a personal expression of loyalty to — and an unbroken bond with — veterans of previous conflicts and those currently engaged in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere in the world."
When you put it that way, Mr. Secretary, well, I think you have me on board. Particularly with my brother-in-law serving in Baghdad right now, and a good friend's son there as well.
College FB - Rutgers defeats #3 Lousville
link from SI.
In a nationally televised clash of unbeatens, Rutgers stuns #3 Louisville, fresh off their big win last week against W. Virginia, 28-25. In front of 44,000+ at Rutgers stadium, RU defeated the highest rated team in school history. Down 25-7 in the first half, RU came back strong in the second half to tie the game in the 4th quarter behind the ground game of RU RB Ray Rice and a stifling defense that shut down the #2 offense in the nation, constantly pressuring Louisville QB Brian Brohm. RU kicker Jeremy Ito won the game with a 28 yd FG with 13 seconds left after missing his first attempt - Louisville was called off-sides.
In a nationally televised clash of unbeatens, Rutgers stuns #3 Louisville, fresh off their big win last week against W. Virginia, 28-25. In front of 44,000+ at Rutgers stadium, RU defeated the highest rated team in school history. Down 25-7 in the first half, RU came back strong in the second half to tie the game in the 4th quarter behind the ground game of RU RB Ray Rice and a stifling defense that shut down the #2 offense in the nation, constantly pressuring Louisville QB Brian Brohm. RU kicker Jeremy Ito won the game with a 28 yd FG with 13 seconds left after missing his first attempt - Louisville was called off-sides.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Rumsfeld Resigns
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld resigns. Wow. I didn't see that one coming. The president had just reaffirmed the SecDef's job was secure last week.
"Now after a series of thoughtful conversations, Secretary Rumsfeld and I agreed that the time had come for new leadership at the Pentagon," Bush said in an East Room press conference scheduled Tuesday night after election returns showed an incoming Democratic House majority.
"Don Rumsfeld has been a superb leader during a time of change. Yet he also appreciates the value of bringing in a fresh perspective during a critical period in this war," he said."
Former CIA Director Robert Gates is expected to be nominated in his place. Only history will really be able to judge the impact of Rumsfeld on the US military.
"Now after a series of thoughtful conversations, Secretary Rumsfeld and I agreed that the time had come for new leadership at the Pentagon," Bush said in an East Room press conference scheduled Tuesday night after election returns showed an incoming Democratic House majority.
"Don Rumsfeld has been a superb leader during a time of change. Yet he also appreciates the value of bringing in a fresh perspective during a critical period in this war," he said."
Former CIA Director Robert Gates is expected to be nominated in his place. Only history will really be able to judge the impact of Rumsfeld on the US military.
Morning Round-Up
Allen down almost 7000 votes IN VA race with 6 precincts to go and 99.75% counted.
Talent down 4200 with 98% reported, most are calling the race for McCaskill in MO.
Montana shows Tester ahead of Burns by 1500 with 99% counted, but there are reports of a high population area with votes yet to count.
Maryland wound up not even being close, Steele only garnered 44% of the vote there.
Only good news for Republicans is that Corker held Tennessee.
VA is required by law to do a recount, and it will not be completed until after Thanksgiving according to the rules there.
Locally, a little better news for the Republicans.
Gov. Dave took 74%, and Sen. Nelson took 64%.
Fortenberry took 59%, and Terry and Smith both took 55%.
Shane Osborn took the State Treasurer's race, and Mike Foley won the Auditor's race against R turned D Kate Witek.
Keno didn't pass, and neither did the spending lid. All the judges passed, too.
Talent down 4200 with 98% reported, most are calling the race for McCaskill in MO.
Montana shows Tester ahead of Burns by 1500 with 99% counted, but there are reports of a high population area with votes yet to count.
Maryland wound up not even being close, Steele only garnered 44% of the vote there.
Only good news for Republicans is that Corker held Tennessee.
VA is required by law to do a recount, and it will not be completed until after Thanksgiving according to the rules there.
Locally, a little better news for the Republicans.
Gov. Dave took 74%, and Sen. Nelson took 64%.
Fortenberry took 59%, and Terry and Smith both took 55%.
Shane Osborn took the State Treasurer's race, and Mike Foley won the Auditor's race against R turned D Kate Witek.
Keno didn't pass, and neither did the spending lid. All the judges passed, too.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
11:30 Update
Dems certain to control the House, Senate still up for grabs and not likely to be decided for quite a while, probably weeks due to VA - Allen down by 2200, some absentees may need to be counted.
TN looks pretty good for Corker, up 50,000 with 90% reported.
MD definitely Cardin, now up 58,000 with 75% in.
Talent still up 48,000 with 68% in, but the St. Louis and KC returns are still outstanding and likely to go heavily Democrat.
Montana polled slightly D before the election, but Tester is only up 14,000 with 28% reported.
Locally - Fort up 16,000 with 54% in, Terry moves up by just 1000 with 29% in, and Smith up almost 10,000 with 61% reported.
EDIT - just checked the VA state website, shows Webb up 1800 with 18 precincts to be counted, and Fox is reporting that some counties have shut down the count for the night.
TN looks pretty good for Corker, up 50,000 with 90% reported.
MD definitely Cardin, now up 58,000 with 75% in.
Talent still up 48,000 with 68% in, but the St. Louis and KC returns are still outstanding and likely to go heavily Democrat.
Montana polled slightly D before the election, but Tester is only up 14,000 with 28% reported.
Locally - Fort up 16,000 with 54% in, Terry moves up by just 1000 with 29% in, and Smith up almost 10,000 with 61% reported.
EDIT - just checked the VA state website, shows Webb up 1800 with 18 precincts to be counted, and Fox is reporting that some counties have shut down the count for the night.
10:45 Update
Nothing new locally, just strange lack of returns for NE-2 Terry-Esch race. Fort up 5000, Smith up 4000 with about 25% of returns in - 2nd only as 11%.
MD just switched back to Cardin, and by 20,000, with 56% in, not looking good for Steele.
Allen's lead in VA down to 7,000 with 98% in.
Talent up 60,000 with half the returns in.
Corker up almost 60,000 with 86% in.
Still early in Montana, Burns still down.
11 PM EDIT: Interesting ABC has more info on the local races.
Fort up 7000 with 35% in.
Terry down to Esch by 2000 with 12% reporting.
Smith up 5500 with 43% reported.
Allen DOWN now 3000 votes with 99% reported. VA likely to conduct a recount. Ouch.
Steele down BIG now, 65,000 with 67% in. Bummer.
MD just switched back to Cardin, and by 20,000, with 56% in, not looking good for Steele.
Allen's lead in VA down to 7,000 with 98% in.
Talent up 60,000 with half the returns in.
Corker up almost 60,000 with 86% in.
Still early in Montana, Burns still down.
11 PM EDIT: Interesting ABC has more info on the local races.
Fort up 7000 with 35% in.
Terry down to Esch by 2000 with 12% reporting.
Smith up 5500 with 43% reported.
Allen DOWN now 3000 votes with 99% reported. VA likely to conduct a recount. Ouch.
Steele down BIG now, 65,000 with 67% in. Bummer.
10:15 Update
Steele moves ahead of Cardin in MD, up 21,000 with 44% in!
Allen is still up narrowly in VA, only 12,000 according to Fox with 97% in.
Corker up 70,000 in TN over Ford, 77% in.
Talent up 63,000 with 41% in , but Fox reports St. Louis and KC traditionally report late in MO.
Early returns from Montana have Burns down to Tester, but still early.
Fort and Smith are moving up in the NE races, nothing new on the Terry-Esch race from KETV or the World-Herald.
Allen is still up narrowly in VA, only 12,000 according to Fox with 97% in.
Corker up 70,000 in TN over Ford, 77% in.
Talent up 63,000 with 41% in , but Fox reports St. Louis and KC traditionally report late in MO.
Early returns from Montana have Burns down to Tester, but still early.
Fort and Smith are moving up in the NE races, nothing new on the Terry-Esch race from KETV or the World-Herald.
Election Races
hehe. Congressional races have reversed, with TERRY down in the 2nd, and Smith and Fortenberry UP, with around 20-30 thousand votes reported in.
Maryland Senate race is now showing Steele down to Cardin (50-49), but still very close, and only 30% of precincts in, and Steele down 2500 votes.
Republican "firewall" in the South appears to be holding.
Allen still up 28,000 on Webb in VA with 95% reported.
Corker up 63,000 on Ford with 66% reported for TN.
Missouri has Talent up over McCaskill by 53,000 with 25% of precincts reported.
Maryland Senate race is now showing Steele down to Cardin (50-49), but still very close, and only 30% of precincts in, and Steele down 2500 votes.
Republican "firewall" in the South appears to be holding.
Allen still up 28,000 on Webb in VA with 95% reported.
Corker up 63,000 on Ford with 66% reported for TN.
Missouri has Talent up over McCaskill by 53,000 with 25% of precincts reported.
NE Races
OWH
Gov. Dave, Senator Nelson both, as expected, projected to win big, near 70%; VERY early returns show Terry, Moul, and Kleeb up in the three Congressional races (all with single digit numbers of precincts reporting, only 2nd District has over 10,000 votes cast).
Gov. Dave, Senator Nelson both, as expected, projected to win big, near 70%; VERY early returns show Terry, Moul, and Kleeb up in the three Congressional races (all with single digit numbers of precincts reporting, only 2nd District has over 10,000 votes cast).
Election News - Senate
OH (Brown over DeWine) and PA (Casey over Santorum) go to the Dems.
RI (Whitehouse over Chaffee) is also being called for the Dems just now. Dem +3, need 6 for Senate control.
TN looks to hold for the Republicans (Corker vs Ford).
VA too close to call (Allen (R) and Webb (D)).
MD being called for Menedez over Steele, but Steele is up right now (8:30 pm central), not sure how that works.
MO also too close to call (Talent (R) vs McCaskill (D))
Montana is the other tight race.
RI (Whitehouse over Chaffee) is also being called for the Dems just now. Dem +3, need 6 for Senate control.
TN looks to hold for the Republicans (Corker vs Ford).
VA too close to call (Allen (R) and Webb (D)).
MD being called for Menedez over Steele, but Steele is up right now (8:30 pm central), not sure how that works.
MO also too close to call (Talent (R) vs McCaskill (D))
Montana is the other tight race.
If You Haven't Already, GO VOTE!
Just returned from doing my civil duty. First time I remember walking to the polls since my first election....in 1986. The five blocks ( I thought it was four) here are tougher than the ones back home (I live on a hill) and blogging is not condusive to staying in shape - I'm also not 18 any more.
Did not vote party line, but the majority of high offices went R. The economy is good, and I want it to stay that way. Voted against most of the local judges, an old tradition of mine dating back several years, mostly due to the fact that the majority of get re-elected anyway. Voted against the video keno amendment as well.
Looking forward to seeing the returns tonight and tomorrow on the national scene. While it looks like the R's may lose Congress, I'm think they hold the Senate, with the House so close it may not matter much. I read somewhere that if the Dems take the House, the Blue Dogs (read Sane Dems) will pretty much control the balance of power, if not the agenda (the Ranking Committee members on the D side of the House are pretty scary, not to mention PELOSI).
Did not vote party line, but the majority of high offices went R. The economy is good, and I want it to stay that way. Voted against most of the local judges, an old tradition of mine dating back several years, mostly due to the fact that the majority of get re-elected anyway. Voted against the video keno amendment as well.
Looking forward to seeing the returns tonight and tomorrow on the national scene. While it looks like the R's may lose Congress, I'm think they hold the Senate, with the House so close it may not matter much. I read somewhere that if the Dems take the House, the Blue Dogs (read Sane Dems) will pretty much control the balance of power, if not the agenda (the Ranking Committee members on the D side of the House are pretty scary, not to mention PELOSI).
Monday, November 06, 2006
3rd District - Adrian Smith
Link to his campaign's website Issues page.
Apologies for not getting this out sooner.
Former Gering city council member and state senator, Smith leads off his issues with agriculture, probably the most important industry in the 3rd. Talks well on expanding trade, biotechnology, alternative crops and the biggie, ethanol production. Good point not expressed elsewhere on biotech.
OOOOH, goes on to talk about LIMITED GOVERNMENT, and how the Founding Fathers had a vision of a society maximazing freedom. Good stuff, down to basic philosophy.
He actually has the chops to mention Cost of Government Day -- July 7 this year. "Half of the year indentured to the state is too long." Homerun. Permanent taxcuts, repeal the death tax, change the tax code to promote investment, all outstanding.
Energy, talks about ethanol, alternatives, and safe responsible drilling. Good stuff again.
Against embryonic stem cell funding, partial birth abortion, pro-adult cell research and umbilical cord research.
For the Defense of Marriage Act, not my issue, but wants the legislatures to decide it, not the courts, which IS my issue. The people's representatives should make the call here.
Pro Second Amendment, pro-concealed carry, one of the leaders of the legislative fight at the state level. Points out gun control legislation just empowers criminal activity.
On national security, supports the war on terrorists, Iraq and the Patriot Act. Pro-border enforcement. Pro-ballistic missile defense (YES!). Supports Taiwan, another resounding YES!
On healthcare,against a national system, points out the failures of Western Europe and Canada. Wants more flexibility in healthcare choices. Not sure here, but sounds like he'd support HSA's.
Immigration - he's for reforming LEGAL immigration to make it easier, pro-border enforcement, and rightly points out the costs associated with Illegals. More good stuff here.
REALLY good stuff here, particularly on ag, trade, foreign and defense policy, and taxes. You certainly know where you stand with this guy, he pulls no punches and really doesn't equivicate on anything, unlike his opponent. While I don't agree with everything (I really don't think we need a constitutional amendement on marriage), I do agree on both basic philosophy and a number of important issues.
Apologies for not getting this out sooner.
Former Gering city council member and state senator, Smith leads off his issues with agriculture, probably the most important industry in the 3rd. Talks well on expanding trade, biotechnology, alternative crops and the biggie, ethanol production. Good point not expressed elsewhere on biotech.
OOOOH, goes on to talk about LIMITED GOVERNMENT, and how the Founding Fathers had a vision of a society maximazing freedom. Good stuff, down to basic philosophy.
He actually has the chops to mention Cost of Government Day -- July 7 this year. "Half of the year indentured to the state is too long." Homerun. Permanent taxcuts, repeal the death tax, change the tax code to promote investment, all outstanding.
Energy, talks about ethanol, alternatives, and safe responsible drilling. Good stuff again.
Against embryonic stem cell funding, partial birth abortion, pro-adult cell research and umbilical cord research.
For the Defense of Marriage Act, not my issue, but wants the legislatures to decide it, not the courts, which IS my issue. The people's representatives should make the call here.
Pro Second Amendment, pro-concealed carry, one of the leaders of the legislative fight at the state level. Points out gun control legislation just empowers criminal activity.
On national security, supports the war on terrorists, Iraq and the Patriot Act. Pro-border enforcement. Pro-ballistic missile defense (YES!). Supports Taiwan, another resounding YES!
On healthcare,against a national system, points out the failures of Western Europe and Canada. Wants more flexibility in healthcare choices. Not sure here, but sounds like he'd support HSA's.
Immigration - he's for reforming LEGAL immigration to make it easier, pro-border enforcement, and rightly points out the costs associated with Illegals. More good stuff here.
REALLY good stuff here, particularly on ag, trade, foreign and defense policy, and taxes. You certainly know where you stand with this guy, he pulls no punches and really doesn't equivicate on anything, unlike his opponent. While I don't agree with everything (I really don't think we need a constitutional amendement on marriage), I do agree on both basic philosophy and a number of important issues.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Huskers
No link, just some commentary.
Last weekend, I was almost ready to write the old alma mater off. So much went wrong on both sides of the ball I didn't even know where to begin, although Husker Mike had a nice write-up.
Today is a different day, the old ball club had a pretty good day down in Lincoln, set a new attendance record and went on to a homecoming 34-20 win over a pretty good Mizzou team. With the win, the North division looks pretty well locked up, with NU only needing one win in their last two to decide the division. B-Jack had another solid day, and Mo Purify proved he can throw the ball as well as catch it. The D, although kinda banged up, played real well in the first half, got some turnovers, and withstood a Mizzou comeback in the second half pretty well.
Last weekend, I was almost ready to write the old alma mater off. So much went wrong on both sides of the ball I didn't even know where to begin, although Husker Mike had a nice write-up.
Today is a different day, the old ball club had a pretty good day down in Lincoln, set a new attendance record and went on to a homecoming 34-20 win over a pretty good Mizzou team. With the win, the North division looks pretty well locked up, with NU only needing one win in their last two to decide the division. B-Jack had another solid day, and Mo Purify proved he can throw the ball as well as catch it. The D, although kinda banged up, played real well in the first half, got some turnovers, and withstood a Mizzou comeback in the second half pretty well.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
3rd District - Scott Kleeb
Kleeb is running a very good campaign out in the west.
His issues pages start with a nice overview of the issues he sees for Western Nebraska - "challenges in health care, economic development, job security, energy and education", and states that the federal goverment "should be a full partner in this effort". Personally, I don't see the government as the solution, but government does have a role to play.
Then he declares his independence from special interest groups. Nice, but I don't really buy that given much of his funding is from out-state. Wants to control earmarks and spending, but supports "PAYGO" legislation (which equals a tax increase), limit lobbyists, continue farm subsidies, expand crop insurance, expand ethanol production, create a "New Homestead Act" with tax incentives for rural development, "save" Social Security from private accounts, and supports business groups forming healthcare associations. The Social Security line is the same as his party's, but no solutions, and one I disagree with. I don't know anyone in this state, at least, against rural development and ethanol, or that is for earmarks, for that matter, or raising taxes.
Long page on healthcare, points out issues, but doesn't spell out much of a plan. We need to cut administrative costs, but doesn't say how to do that except competition, which we already have. Wants to expand care and coverage by increasing the Children's Health Insurance Program (what will it cost?) and increase tax credits and purchasing associations. I'm OK with the last part, which is being pushed by many on both sides of the aisle, but need to know more about his pet program before I could say what I think about it.
His ideas on agriculture are more well-developed, but much of them are a rehash of other candidates ideas (like the agritourism idea proposed by gubernatorial candidate Dave Nabity). Ethanol of course, is to be expanded. Talks about "value-added" products, I guess he means organic here. Points out subsidies go proportionately to a small group of agribusinesses. Also mentions "leveling the playing field" in ag, not sure what he means by that. It all sounds nice though.
Talks a bunch about education, and he appears to be arguing against closing small school districts in Nebraska, but that is a local, not a federal issue. Appears to want to expand money spent on education at all levels, mentions class size and sepnding per pupil, more money for higher education.
National Security - makes a strangely compelling case here for preemtive action here, but then reverses himself crticizing the administration on Iraq. He does make more sense here than most, stating that it isn't all bad, that progress is being made, but apparently wants to turn it over to the UN or something, which makes no sense -- everyone that we've convinced to send troops already has them on the ground there, and aren't going to send any more. He seems to think we can't afford the war, but military expenditures are historically quite low, so that makes no sense either. Then goes on to say it's up to the Iraqis themselves -- which is the current policy. It's great he' not a complete moonbat, but much of what he wants done is either impossible or already happening anyway, so I'm a little curious what the point is in electing him.
His issues pages start with a nice overview of the issues he sees for Western Nebraska - "challenges in health care, economic development, job security, energy and education", and states that the federal goverment "should be a full partner in this effort". Personally, I don't see the government as the solution, but government does have a role to play.
Then he declares his independence from special interest groups. Nice, but I don't really buy that given much of his funding is from out-state. Wants to control earmarks and spending, but supports "PAYGO" legislation (which equals a tax increase), limit lobbyists, continue farm subsidies, expand crop insurance, expand ethanol production, create a "New Homestead Act" with tax incentives for rural development, "save" Social Security from private accounts, and supports business groups forming healthcare associations. The Social Security line is the same as his party's, but no solutions, and one I disagree with. I don't know anyone in this state, at least, against rural development and ethanol, or that is for earmarks, for that matter, or raising taxes.
Long page on healthcare, points out issues, but doesn't spell out much of a plan. We need to cut administrative costs, but doesn't say how to do that except competition, which we already have. Wants to expand care and coverage by increasing the Children's Health Insurance Program (what will it cost?) and increase tax credits and purchasing associations. I'm OK with the last part, which is being pushed by many on both sides of the aisle, but need to know more about his pet program before I could say what I think about it.
His ideas on agriculture are more well-developed, but much of them are a rehash of other candidates ideas (like the agritourism idea proposed by gubernatorial candidate Dave Nabity). Ethanol of course, is to be expanded. Talks about "value-added" products, I guess he means organic here. Points out subsidies go proportionately to a small group of agribusinesses. Also mentions "leveling the playing field" in ag, not sure what he means by that. It all sounds nice though.
Talks a bunch about education, and he appears to be arguing against closing small school districts in Nebraska, but that is a local, not a federal issue. Appears to want to expand money spent on education at all levels, mentions class size and sepnding per pupil, more money for higher education.
National Security - makes a strangely compelling case here for preemtive action here, but then reverses himself crticizing the administration on Iraq. He does make more sense here than most, stating that it isn't all bad, that progress is being made, but apparently wants to turn it over to the UN or something, which makes no sense -- everyone that we've convinced to send troops already has them on the ground there, and aren't going to send any more. He seems to think we can't afford the war, but military expenditures are historically quite low, so that makes no sense either. Then goes on to say it's up to the Iraqis themselves -- which is the current policy. It's great he' not a complete moonbat, but much of what he wants done is either impossible or already happening anyway, so I'm a little curious what the point is in electing him.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
3rd District Race - Overview
OK, now what has developed into the closest of the three NE congressional races, at least according to some polls. Former state legislator Adrian Smith of Gering is running against Yale graduate Scott Kleeb (no idea where he residing?) for the open seat formerly held by Dr. Tom Osborne.
This race is interesting on many levels, not just because the seat was open, but that the amount of interest it has garnered from out-of-state interests. Smith has been endorsed by Club for Growth, an pro-economic growth, anti-tax and spending organization. Since it has become a campaign issue in this race, I'll note for the record I can find no mention of CFG claiming to be for the elimination of farm subsidies. What I have seen is criticism is that subsidies aren't going to small farmers but large corporate farms, and suggestions that thre system should be reformed, not eliminated, with a cap on how much can be received by any single recipient. See USAToday article here.
Liberal web groups like Ameriblog and ActBlue, as well as major Democrats like Senators John Kerry, (former Sen) Bob Kerry, Sen. Ken Salazar, Sen. Tim Johnson and Clinton polical operative Craig Smith, have donated to or supported Kleeb. (hat tips to Leavenworth Street and the newly discovered Heartland Notebook for discovering the machinary behind Kleeb's campaign).
(Bias alert: I am a CFG member - one of 36,000 nationwide. Declared organizational goals - Making the Bush tax cuts permanent,Death tax repeal,Cutting and limiting government spending, Social Security reform with personal retirement accounts,Expanding free trade, Legal reform to end abusive lawsuits, Replacing the current tax code, School choice, Regulatory reform and deregulation).
This race is interesting on many levels, not just because the seat was open, but that the amount of interest it has garnered from out-of-state interests. Smith has been endorsed by Club for Growth, an pro-economic growth, anti-tax and spending organization. Since it has become a campaign issue in this race, I'll note for the record I can find no mention of CFG claiming to be for the elimination of farm subsidies. What I have seen is criticism is that subsidies aren't going to small farmers but large corporate farms, and suggestions that thre system should be reformed, not eliminated, with a cap on how much can be received by any single recipient. See USAToday article here.
Liberal web groups like Ameriblog and ActBlue, as well as major Democrats like Senators John Kerry, (former Sen) Bob Kerry, Sen. Ken Salazar, Sen. Tim Johnson and Clinton polical operative Craig Smith, have donated to or supported Kleeb. (hat tips to Leavenworth Street and the newly discovered Heartland Notebook for discovering the machinary behind Kleeb's campaign).
(Bias alert: I am a CFG member - one of 36,000 nationwide. Declared organizational goals - Making the Bush tax cuts permanent,Death tax repeal,Cutting and limiting government spending, Social Security reform with personal retirement accounts,Expanding free trade, Legal reform to end abusive lawsuits, Replacing the current tax code, School choice, Regulatory reform and deregulation).
1st District - Fortenberry
Link is to Fortenberry's Campaign Website.
So where does Fort stand on the issues? Here's his list of issues he feels is important, the site has "overarching" themes with a couple of subpoints under each, I'll just go down the list.
National Security - he talks here not just about maintaining a strong military, but also International Relations, maintaining and creating civil societies and human rights. He's on the Congressional IR committee. He also mentions border security here, along with employer enforcement, expediting LEGAL immigration, and using foreign policy to mitigate the reasons for economic migration. Wow. This is the most mature, responsible commentary I've seen yet form any candidate on these issues. I'm very impressed.
Economic Opportunity - Taxes - He believes taxes should be "simple, reasonable, and moderate." He's against the estate tax, voted against tax increases, and supports the line-itme veto on spending measures. He links tax relief to economic growth. Sounds like my kind of guy so far. Ag - supports free trade, voted for CAFTA and ethanol, and limiting subsidies, and also serves on the Ag Committee.
Small business - serves on the House Small Business Committee as well, and frecognized that small business is responsible for both job growth and economic growth.Introduced legislation expanding small business lending and health saving accounts. This is all petty good stuff from where I sit.
Environment and Energy - Re-emphasizes support for renewables, voted for the energy bill, and links energy development to agriculture. He has voted to allow new oil refineries.
Healthcare - proponent of reform using information technology and HSA's.
Social/Cultural Issues - He's pro-life, pro-Second amendment, and supports conservative judges. Voted to prevent suits against gun manufacturers.
This is the most impressive candidate I've seen yet as far as the issues goes. I wish he would state in more detail his ideas on simplifying the tax code. I am terribly impressed he mentions diplomacy and human rights, Republican candidates don't often mention these in campaign literature. OnTheIssues defines him as a libertarian conservative.
So where does Fort stand on the issues? Here's his list of issues he feels is important, the site has "overarching" themes with a couple of subpoints under each, I'll just go down the list.
National Security - he talks here not just about maintaining a strong military, but also International Relations, maintaining and creating civil societies and human rights. He's on the Congressional IR committee. He also mentions border security here, along with employer enforcement, expediting LEGAL immigration, and using foreign policy to mitigate the reasons for economic migration. Wow. This is the most mature, responsible commentary I've seen yet form any candidate on these issues. I'm very impressed.
Economic Opportunity - Taxes - He believes taxes should be "simple, reasonable, and moderate." He's against the estate tax, voted against tax increases, and supports the line-itme veto on spending measures. He links tax relief to economic growth. Sounds like my kind of guy so far. Ag - supports free trade, voted for CAFTA and ethanol, and limiting subsidies, and also serves on the Ag Committee.
Small business - serves on the House Small Business Committee as well, and frecognized that small business is responsible for both job growth and economic growth.Introduced legislation expanding small business lending and health saving accounts. This is all petty good stuff from where I sit.
Environment and Energy - Re-emphasizes support for renewables, voted for the energy bill, and links energy development to agriculture. He has voted to allow new oil refineries.
Healthcare - proponent of reform using information technology and HSA's.
Social/Cultural Issues - He's pro-life, pro-Second amendment, and supports conservative judges. Voted to prevent suits against gun manufacturers.
This is the most impressive candidate I've seen yet as far as the issues goes. I wish he would state in more detail his ideas on simplifying the tax code. I am terribly impressed he mentions diplomacy and human rights, Republican candidates don't often mention these in campaign literature. OnTheIssues defines him as a libertarian conservative.
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