August 19, 2003
I.B.M. to Cut 600 at Chip Unit and Give 3,000 Unpaid Leave
A tragedy for those about to lose their jobs here in Vermont. Terrible and tough decision, but IMHO, IBM made a decision long ago to phase down the Burlington plant. They are choosing to do it in what they believe are tolerable bites to the local economy
Several Children Among the Dead in Bus Bombing in Jerusalem
Two stories today, this tragic act of terrorism in Jerusalem coupled with the terrorists who blew up the UN Hq in Iraq reinforce the terrible dilemma the free world finds itself in. These brutal acts of terrorism must be condemned and responded to. We must always be mindful that the radical Islamic extremists would love to suck us into a protracted war and occupation. We must be very cautious to avoid jihad. These killers must be found and exterminated.
My prayers are with the families of these innocent victims.
Never forget September11, 2001.
My prayers are with the families of these innocent victims.
Never forget September11, 2001.
August 18, 2003
Start-Up Plans to Introduce Alternate Wi-Fi Technology
Another new technology for wireless using smart antennas and MIMO (Multiple In Multiple Out) which is incompatible with the present WI-FI standard. Given the present deployment plans for WiFi, will Airgo derail present plans or will they target a different market? Wonder what that market is, business LANs and HDTV in the home?
August 15, 2003
Scientists Had Warned of Weak Power Grid (washingtonpost.com)
The NIMBYs and the environmentalists have thwarted the modernization of the transmission grid while laying a guilt trip on the the nation for not conserving enough to forestall these new lines and power plants. The jig's up. It's time to pay the piper.
Vermont's PSB has a proposal before it for a major upgrade to the grid with all the usual suspects arrayed against it. Let's see how long before this project is built.
++++++++++++++++++
"Experts said long-awaited upgrades have been flummoxed by property holders, environment lobbyists and politicians who require a crisis to push them to act.
The hurdles run from Wall Street's reluctance to invest in transmission capacity due to a lack of clear ground rules to the headaches involved in building new high-wire power lines across the most crowded parts of the region.
'Nobody wants it in their backyard,' said David K. Owens, executive vice president for the Edison Electric Institute in Washington, D.C., a lobby group for private power companies. 'There are parts of our nation where it's very difficult to build transmission because there's no place to put it.'"
Vermont's PSB has a proposal before it for a major upgrade to the grid with all the usual suspects arrayed against it. Let's see how long before this project is built.
++++++++++++++++++
"Experts said long-awaited upgrades have been flummoxed by property holders, environment lobbyists and politicians who require a crisis to push them to act.
The hurdles run from Wall Street's reluctance to invest in transmission capacity due to a lack of clear ground rules to the headaches involved in building new high-wire power lines across the most crowded parts of the region.
'Nobody wants it in their backyard,' said David K. Owens, executive vice president for the Edison Electric Institute in Washington, D.C., a lobby group for private power companies. 'There are parts of our nation where it's very difficult to build transmission because there's no place to put it.'"
Burlington Free Press - Editorial
Pulished...uncut. I wonder if the Freep archives opinion pieces for later retrieval?
This From Canada
Politicians are fearful of taking on this debate. Yet it must happen. Marriage is between one man and one woman. In the US, this issue needs to be put to a constitutional amendment vote sooner rather than later. Or pehaps our genetic tampering will make the problem moot?
++++++++++++
'Everybody I've talked to is getting just hundreds of letters and calls about it,' admits Liberal MP Roger Gallaway, who said that his riding office has been overwhelmed by constituents upset that the courts seem to be in charge of the country's definition of marriage, not federal politicians.
'People are frustrated. It's fine to say that this is about churches.
But it's not about churches; it's about an attack on the system of law making and public policy making in this country. We might as well fold up Parliament and let the judges run things.'
The Hill Times, Ottawa, Canada, Aug. 4, 2003
YOU'VE GOT MAIL
By Paco Francoli
++++++++++++
'Everybody I've talked to is getting just hundreds of letters and calls about it,' admits Liberal MP Roger Gallaway, who said that his riding office has been overwhelmed by constituents upset that the courts seem to be in charge of the country's definition of marriage, not federal politicians.
'People are frustrated. It's fine to say that this is about churches.
But it's not about churches; it's about an attack on the system of law making and public policy making in this country. We might as well fold up Parliament and let the judges run things.'
The Hill Times, Ottawa, Canada, Aug. 4, 2003
YOU'VE GOT MAIL
By Paco Francoli
Power Failure Reveals a Creaky System, Energy Experts Believe
We take so much for granted in our affluent society, yet when cold, hard realities confront us, we often fail to bite the bullet and build what's needed to support our need for electricity.
All the arguments for renewable energy and conservation as a replacement for the increasing need for power and the associated transmission capacity ring hollow in the face of a blackout with millions of people negatively affected.
Vermont regulators have a major proposal before them for additional transmission capacity to modernize of Vermont's grid. Also present are the usual voices of opposition and their mostly hollow arguments for conservation. I can't agree that we can save our way out of this infrastructure shortage.
One argument that I find particularly disturbing is the bogey man of health hazards from electromagnetic radiation. This fallacious 'scare' tactic based on junk science is tossed into the mix by opponents of cell/radio towers and transmission lines. Hopefully, regulators, intelligent media and an informed public will reject that nonsense.
Let's hope we have our minds rather than our emotions engaged to improve Vermont's transmission grid.
+++++++++++++++++++++
"The North American Electric Reliability Council, which was set up by the utility industry after the blackout of 1965 to reduce the likelihood of cascading failures, said power problems were felt today throughout the eastern interconnection, which is most of the North American electric grid east of the Mississippi River. The South was unaffected by the event; the areas chiefly affected were around the Great Lakes, New York City, northern New Jersey and parts of New England, the council said.
Earlier this year, the council issued its annual summer reliability assessment of the supply of electricity, and concluded that the nation should have adequate resources. It warned of possible problems, particularly around New York City, if power generation should fall or if extreme weather produced unusual demand."
All the arguments for renewable energy and conservation as a replacement for the increasing need for power and the associated transmission capacity ring hollow in the face of a blackout with millions of people negatively affected.
Vermont regulators have a major proposal before them for additional transmission capacity to modernize of Vermont's grid. Also present are the usual voices of opposition and their mostly hollow arguments for conservation. I can't agree that we can save our way out of this infrastructure shortage.
One argument that I find particularly disturbing is the bogey man of health hazards from electromagnetic radiation. This fallacious 'scare' tactic based on junk science is tossed into the mix by opponents of cell/radio towers and transmission lines. Hopefully, regulators, intelligent media and an informed public will reject that nonsense.
Let's hope we have our minds rather than our emotions engaged to improve Vermont's transmission grid.
+++++++++++++++++++++
"The North American Electric Reliability Council, which was set up by the utility industry after the blackout of 1965 to reduce the likelihood of cascading failures, said power problems were felt today throughout the eastern interconnection, which is most of the North American electric grid east of the Mississippi River. The South was unaffected by the event; the areas chiefly affected were around the Great Lakes, New York City, northern New Jersey and parts of New England, the council said.
Earlier this year, the council issued its annual summer reliability assessment of the supply of electricity, and concluded that the nation should have adequate resources. It warned of possible problems, particularly around New York City, if power generation should fall or if extreme weather produced unusual demand."
August 13, 2003
Bloggers won't match Limbaugh =The Hill.com=
An interesting comparison of the influence Rush Limbaugh exerts on today's culture and political sphere and that of webloggers.
Some liberals will take this analysis to task, but it will be a long time before a blogger exerts the same influence on his audience as Limbaugh has demonstrated.
The Dems and liberals are beside themselves because they have no effective response. In truth, is it the lack of a liberal equivalent to Limbaugh or a dearth of ideas that burdens the liberal cause?
Some liberals will take this analysis to task, but it will be a long time before a blogger exerts the same influence on his audience as Limbaugh has demonstrated.
The Dems and liberals are beside themselves because they have no effective response. In truth, is it the lack of a liberal equivalent to Limbaugh or a dearth of ideas that burdens the liberal cause?
Arab Countries Have contributed Nothing to World progress in the 20th Century
This piece proclaims, accurately, I think, the lack of progress in the Muslim/Arab regions of the world, with some exceptions. This reality has created a cauldron of hate and resentment against the West and the USA in particular, mostly from envy and grinding poverty.
While much of Western culture is best not absorbed or emulated by Muslims or others in the regressed world, the scientific and technological advances of the secular Western societies stand in stark contrast to the failed Muslim/Arab example. Were it not for oil riches that the West needs, those countries the have become more affluent would likely be mired in the same poverty and destitution as the rest of the Muslim world.
If our experiment in Iraq is meant to show a different model for the Muslim world, we, and eventually the West, will expend enormous energy and treasure to deliver the success.
Generations of Muslim teachings and repression must be reversed. If we succeed, the Muslim world will become a direct threat to America and the West, along with China, owing to the sheer numbers of people who have the potential to thrive with a society and culture based on freedom and individual liberty.
I predict that in 50-100 years, absent devastating nuclear war, America will not be the dominant nation-state in the world
While much of Western culture is best not absorbed or emulated by Muslims or others in the regressed world, the scientific and technological advances of the secular Western societies stand in stark contrast to the failed Muslim/Arab example. Were it not for oil riches that the West needs, those countries the have become more affluent would likely be mired in the same poverty and destitution as the rest of the Muslim world.
If our experiment in Iraq is meant to show a different model for the Muslim world, we, and eventually the West, will expend enormous energy and treasure to deliver the success.
Generations of Muslim teachings and repression must be reversed. If we succeed, the Muslim world will become a direct threat to America and the West, along with China, owing to the sheer numbers of people who have the potential to thrive with a society and culture based on freedom and individual liberty.
I predict that in 50-100 years, absent devastating nuclear war, America will not be the dominant nation-state in the world
August 12, 2003
Tolerance and Values
Today I heard a bit of talk show where the host was bemoaning our society's pushing tolerance without a corresponding emphasis on moral and spiritual values. He contends this is a recipe for degradation of the culture. His basic point, which I share, is we are on a path to nowhere good unless people individually carry a sense of morality, i.e.' what's right and wrong.' Only on that basis can tolerance be taught and practiced.
Political correctness is a form of 'tolerance' that stifles original thinking and attacks morality and truth in the guise of not hurting anyone. This is nonsense and leads to intimidation, not critical thinking and creative discourse.
Political correctness is a form of 'tolerance' that stifles original thinking and attacks morality and truth in the guise of not hurting anyone. This is nonsense and leads to intimidation, not critical thinking and creative discourse.
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