Via TPM, Lockheed Martin’s WaPo ad/memorial is a real tear-jerking memory-jogger.
Adios, Murtha.
Have fun and cuídate.
Towering Leadership
February 13th, 2010Fiscal Restraint
February 12th, 2010Office supplies, airport scanners, bailouts, bombs, black ops – all regrettable (esp. the office supplies) but necessary expenditures. Still, you gotta draw the line somewhere.
The Obama administration stunned New York’s delegation yesterday, dropping the bombshell news that it does not support funding the 9/11 health bill.
The state’s two senators and 14 House members met with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius just hours before President Obama implored in his speech to the nation for Congress to come together and deliver a government that delivers on its promises to the American people.
So the legislators were floored to learn the Democratic administration does not want to deliver for the tens of thousands of people who sacrificed after 9/11, and the untold numbers now getting sick.
“I was stunned — and very disappointed,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who like most of the other legislators had expected more of a discussion on how to more forward.
“To say the least, I was flabbergasted,” said Staten Island Rep. Mike McMahon.
The 9/11 bill would spend about $11 billion over 30 years to care for the growing numbers of people getting sick from their service at Ground Zero, and to compensate families for their losses.
“Obama Admin. Opposes 9/11 Health Funding” by Michael McAuliff, NY Daily News 1-28-10
Tough tardigrades, first responders.
Happy Lincoln’s birthday and cuídate.
UPDATE, 2-20-10
Bring ‘em home!
February 11th, 201030 years ago today, Japan’s first satellite OHSUMI was launched from Kagoshima Space Center. On 10-2-2003 it (the satellite, not the Space Center) melted over the Egypt-Lybia border.
I want to see them on my block.
I want to hear how my protectors talk.
Anita Fix, “Bring the Drones Back Home”
Be careful what you wish for, write or sing – hyperstition can be a bitch, yo.
Police forces all over the UK will soon be able to draw on unmanned aircraft from a national fleet, according to Home Office plans. Last month it was revealed that modified military aircraft drones will carry out surveillance on everyone from protesters and antisocial motorists to fly-tippers, and will be in place in time for the 2012 Olympics.
Surveillance is only the start, however. Military drones quickly moved from reconnaissance to strike, and if the British police follow suit, their drones could be armed — but with non-lethal weapons rather than Hellfire missiles.
***
The police have already had a similar experience with CCTV. As well as observing, some of these are now equipped with speakers. Pioneered in Middleborough, the talking CCTV allows an operator to tell off anyone engaging in vandalism, graffiti or littering.
Unmanned aircraft can also be fitted with speakers, such as the Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), which could not only warn fly tippers that they were breaking the law but also be loud enough to drive them away.
***
A “light based personnel immobilisation device” developed by Peak Beam Systems Inc has been successfully tested by the US military, and work to mount it on an unmanned helicopter in the States is under way.
“Future Police: Meet the UK’s armed robot drones” by David Hambling, Wired 2-10-10
Have fun and cuídate.
Lo siento, Monsanto.
February 10th, 201079 years ago today, New Delhi replaced Calcutta as the capital of India.
Via naked capitalism,
India refused to grant permission Wednesday for the commercial cultivation of its first genetically modified (GM) food crop, citing problems of public trust and “inadequate” science.Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said he was imposing a moratorium on the introduction of an aubergine modified with a gene toxic to pests that regularly devastate crops across India.
“It is my duty to adopt a cautious, precautionary, principle-based approach and impose a moratorium on the release,” until scientific tests can guarantee the safety of the product, said Ramesh.
However, he added there was still no agreement among scientists on what constitutes “an adequate protocol of tests”.
Ramesh said the moratorium was effective immediately and it would last “for as long as it is needed to establish public trust and confidence.”
“India refuses genetically modified crops, citing ‘inadequate’ science” Raw Story 2-9-10
Save your seeds, have fun and cuídate.