Friday, August 25, 2006

"CNN.com to replay 9/11 attacks coverage"

Posted on Yahoo News;

NEW YORK - CNN will mark the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks by replaying on the Internet the cable network's coverage of that day's events.

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Viewers can watch how events unfolded starting at 8:30 a.m., minutes before the first reports of an airplane hitting the World Trade Center. The feed will run in real time, as the network showed it five years ago, until midnight.

For the day, CNN will make its online video service, CNN Pipeline, available for free. Normally, viewers pay $2.95 a month or $24.95 a year for four separate video feeds.

Online viewers will be able to watch live reports of memorial services through one of the feeds. So that viewers won't accidentally stumble upon graphic footage from 2001, the replay feed will be covered with a notice instructing users to click only if they want to watch.

"Our users may choose to view the stream of coverage from Sept. 11, 2001, or live coverage of memorial services at Ground Zero, or they may click through the numerous interactive elements on the site," said David Payne, senior vice president and general manager of CNN.com. "They have the power to determine the best way for them to remember the anniversary."

CNN is a unit of Time Warner Inc.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Syria Angry at Plans for International Force

The AP reported Syria is stating an international force on the border between Lebanon and Israel would be an aggressive act.

"Syria warns against deployment of troops
AP - 44 minutes ago
BEIRUT, Lebanon - Israel's foreign minister said Wednesday the situation in Lebanon was "explosive" while Syria's president says the deployment of international troops along the Syria-Lebanon border would be a "hostile" act. The escalating rhetoric came as the 10-day cease-fire was shaken by the deaths of three Lebanese soldiers killed defusing a missile and an Israeli killed by a land mine in south Lebanon."

Syria appears to be in a temper-tantrum because because they are obviously not getting what they wanted. If Syria truly was not involved in Hezbollah, then it would not have made such a statement. Syria has something to gain and lose in the outcome of this conflict and they just showed part of their hand. It is time for the U.N. to "call" and "raise" Hezbollah.

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Lou Dobbs and his contempt for Adam Smith

He has become so cynical and pessimistic I have stopped reading and watching Lou Dobbs with regularity. While I was reading CNN today I saw Lou had an article linked titled “It’s good to be a Superpower”.

He not only shows again his cynicism, this article he adds a degree of hate capitalism and it appears to me contempt for the US. My assessment of him may not be accurate for I do not know the man personally. I suppose he could also simply be ignorant. He may have never read Wealth of Nations. Remember, he is a journalist, a master of none.

I have linked articles and EU charts which disagree with Lou’s article.
GERMAN IMPORTS RISE FROM CHINA

WORLD EXPORTS AND US IMPORTS

Per this article it appears the US buys roughly 23% of the world clothing output, while we have less than 5% of the world population. If it were not for the US purchasing products from other nations, their clothing industries everywhere would contract painfully or maybe collapse. If a company suffered a 23% loss in sales, what do you think would happen to the company? Mass layoffs, possible closure or sale to a another firm?

According to this article, clothing imports are up in Europe.

The real news is what the Dutch have done to their clothing import trade. The article appears to suggest the Dutch government has applied an import duty on textiles and clothing. The import market has fallen dramtically. This not only raises prices on imports, but it will inevitably raise the price per unit of clothing made in country. Artificially softening competition in a nation will always allow prices to rise.
“Prices go up
This big fall in the Netherlands was due mainly to a big price increase of 203 per cent to an average 15.89 euros per kg paid by Dutch importers in the first quarter.
EU importers on the whole in the first quarter also saw an increase in prices of 21.1 per cent in knitted clothing and 12.7 per cent in woven clothing.
The average cost for knitted clothing was 13.56 euros per kg and 17.21 euros per kg in woven clothing.”


But is not only Lou Dobbs who does not understand the world's market economy. The Washington Post also has a story, "China to Raise Tariffs On Clothing Exports". It is about China's textile exporting. If people are buying China's clothing, they must be satisfied with a) the quality, with relation to b)the price.

Regarding the possibility of China's export tax, The New York Times adds the most meaningful bit of information I have read from the media to date. Yes, the quality. China clothing manufacturers understand this... If all they make is inexpensive and lower quality clothing, they are limited in their market. However if some of China's clothes are of higher quality (and would still be relatively inexpensive versus US or EU produced clothing, then the China textile market will find new and more customers. The market always finds it's own way.

Friday, August 11, 2006

Greenpeace Co-Founder, "Grew Up"

Moore on envrionmental extremism, Nuclear Energy, deforestation, global warming.

Monday, August 07, 2006

2006 Hurrican Season & Global Warming

One year ago I was still in denial. I did not believe the Earth was warming and I did not think "we" had anything to do with it. A year has seen change and some "digging in."

A record number of hurricanes and some fierce storms came off the Atlantic in 2005. It was a field (day) year for alarmists. There were those who made their predictions for 2006. As the previous is from Wikipedia, it has the potential to change. Below will be cut and paste as to never leave the corridors of history:

On May 22, 2006, NOAA released their forecasts for the 2006 season. They predict 13 to 16 named storms, with 8 to 10 becoming hurricanes, and 4 to 6 becoming major hurricanes.[5]

On May 31, 2006, Klotzbach's team released their final pre-season forecast for 2006, confirming their previous numbers.[6]

Midseason Outlook

On August 3, 2006, Klotzbach's team lowered their season estimate to 15 named storms, with 7 becoming hurricanes and 3 becoming major hurricanes. They noted that conditions have become less favorable than they were earlier in the year. The sea level pressure and trade wind strength in the tropical Atlantic are above normal, while sea surface temperatures are on a decreasing trend.[7]



It is important to note the table posted to the page:

Record high activity (2005): 28 15 8
CSU 5 December 2005 predicted; 17 9 5
CSU 3 August 2006, now the lowered prediction: 15 7 3
Activity to date: 3 - -

If there is so much need for alarm, then why has CSU reduced their own 2006 predictions? We are almost half way through the hurrican season. If the conditions we so ripe as they were in 2005, we should have had 8-10 hurricanes by now and at least 3 major. So far, 3 wimpy tropical storms; Alberto, Beryl and Chris.

I am trying to be open minded. But could someone throw me a bone?

Plus I have a bet with a young lady, there will be less than 5 hurricanes total this year. If she wins (more than 5 hurricanes) I drink tobasco sauce. If I win (5 or less), she will do something similar, She loves Tobasco and habaneros. Let us hope for less destruction and my win.

Friday, August 04, 2006

Law Enforcement Catch Serial Snipers

Police announce the Serial Snipers are the two in custody.

Little did other Phoenix residents know, they are also linked to the recent arson at a Walmart which shut down the store for some time. No injuries from the Walmart fire.

They both deserve the death penalty.

Phoenix Serial Sniper, Two Suspects Questioned

The below article is from AZCentral.com, a local news and entertainment publication. Do not believe the article's title when it says Phoenix was in the "grip" of fear... not true.

It may be some very good news coming from the Valley. A 10:00am press conference is scheduled to the Valley details.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Cuban Dictator Crisis

What if Fidel Castro really died?

How long has it been? 1959 is when Fidel Castro and his guerillas militarily took control of Havana. Wteadily he gained more control of Cuba until the whole the nation was communist with a central economy, socialized medicine and zero free speech.

Per Wikipedia "June 1960...Cuba nationalized some $850 million worth of US property and businesses. The revolutionary government grabbed control of the nation by nationalizing industry, expropriating property owned by Cubans and non-Cubans alike, collectivizing agriculture, and enacting policies which it claimed would benefit the population. While popular among the poor, these policies alienated many former supporters of the revolution among the Cuban middle and upper-classes. Over one million Cubans later migrated to the US, forming a vocal anti-Castro community in Miami, Florida." The economic changes are still held today, and the country is poor. The people have very little.

The Cuban's and families in Cuba still hate Castro. This week they have been parading and celebrating Castro's ailment. I think they may wish he pass. What could this mean to Cuba and Cubans, once Fidel Castro dies?

Currently Fidel's brother Raul is in charge of the country's affairs. Who is Raul Castro?

1) Wikipedia "According to an August 1, 2006 article in Time, he was responsible for overseeing the summary execution of 'scores' of soldiers loyal to deposed Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista after Batista's downfall."
2) Miguel A Faria MD, NewsMax, 2001

Do Cubans desire change?
Yes says a woman I spoke with named Zalenia. She is of Cuban decent and still visits family in Cuba a couple times per year. While the national news of the US shows video of support for Fidel as he is sick, Zalenia describes a different Cuba. "The people of Cuba do not have a choice of speech, they are poor, they hate Castro. The millions of Cubans living in Miami, Florida hate Castro... He has done nothing but ruin the Cuban economy and has killed thousands of countrymen. His brother Raul has himself killed thousands over the years of Fidel's power. "Cubans in Miami and Los Angeles are celebrating." Many in Cuba are as well.

The communist government in Cuba still has complete control over the national broadcasts and news. They still have Soviet-like officers in the street keeping people from granting interviews to foreign journalists. "We've been asked to keep things normal here, and to make sure that the revolution continues," said Daniel, a young social worker." -courtesy breitbart.com

I do not know what Cuban's will want. It is not clear whether Raul Castro will have the iron fist of his brother. Supposedly Raul does not have the natural charisma of his brother. He has not the same respect of Fidel. To make up for this handicap for power, Raul may have to be brutal again, if he wants to maintain the communist control of Cuba.

The hope is there will be a bloodless Revolution. Young Cubans will begin organizing rallies in the Havana streets, demanding more freedom, maybe democracy. Cuban exiles in the streets of Miami and LA I hope do the same. Build the political clout and pressure for revolutionary change again. With the death of Fidel Castro, let the birth of Cuban freedom begin.

No more death in Cuba, no more starving masses, and maybe someone can import a new car or two.