The Nuclear Option
But I set out to learn, as the data became unclassified, about just what I had seen. Here is what I found out. Operation Plumbbob was a series of twenty nine tests nearly all above ground. They had begun on May 28, 1957 with “Boltzmann” and ended on October 5 that year with “Morgan.” The series, which was the most extensive ever done at Mercury, put 58.3 million curies of radio-iodine into the atmosphere. One-thousandth of a curie is what would be used in a liver scan. The radioactivity went all over the United States, with clusters in places like Maine. It is estimated that these tests caused some 38,000 thyroid cancers leading to about 2,000 deaths. The health burden of these tests put enough pressure—despite the protests of people like Edward Teller—to bring a halt to them. The same information can be gathered from an underground test witnessed only by mechanical devices.
From: http://blogs.nybooks.com/post/467905029/a-mushroom-cloud-recollected
Much has been made over the past year and a bit over any attempt to level the playing field in the States between the haves and the have-nots. Strangely, a number of the have-nots have spent a large amount of time working against their own interests. This should come as no surprise from a people who would kill thousands of their own people in the name of "defense" . That said, it seems that when a country is actively irradiating it's people and leaving ne'er expiring death spores across itself it would at least take time out to say, hey let's make sure that everyone can afford decent medical care.
When you see an actual medicare user rally against "government health care" you understand how insane the Generation that did this to itself really is.
Popularity: 1% [?]
And then I’d eat the Rich!
If I were the Israelis, not only would I bomb Iran, but I'd do so in such a way as to create as much trouble for China, Russia, Europe and the United States as possible. -- Glenn Reynolds
Glenn Reynolds tries to flail away at the world, showing that if he had the reigns of power he'd work day and night to plunge as much of the world into war as he could, because as a conservative he is also a great Christian thinker.
Popularity: 1% [?]
OUR COUNTRY REEKS OF TREES
- Credit to: OldMaison @ Flickr
The Olympics have come and gone and Canada has apparently won "The most medals Evar" by a host nation. Which is nice I suppose.
With a price tag of 8 Billion and counting I hope that the balance sheet works out for Vancouver as the Recession continues unabated. Right? Around here I think people would be willing to literally shovel shit for work as the job market tightens into a tight ball like a potato bug and doesn't show any signs of letting up; never mind the HUNDREDS of positions in the want ads. If the news tells you that it's poverty-aggeddon then you should behave like it is.
Good luck recouping those costs that have been laid out on your behalf; by comparison the estimated cost (dollars) for each day in Afghanistan is approx. 3 Million (http://www.afghanistan.gc.ca/canada-afghanistan/news-nouvelles/2009/2009_02_25a.aspx?lang=eng) with the expected total cost to be 11.3 billion. Just think, for 3 Billion more Canada could have been saving Iraq too! How exciting; huh?
All of that nonsense aside; the Winter Olympics have indeed brought out some nice nationalism in the Canadian people; allowing them to show again that even in the face of glorious victory they don't destroy their own downtown in celebration. I'm not naming names or anything; but at least one big fratboy neighbor on the Continent can't really say the same.
Popularity: 1% [?]
LET THE RIGHTEOUS DO SOMETHING WRONG
THIS COUNTRY JUST PLAIN SUCKS FOR JUSTICE!--4God
THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND THESE STUPID CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYERS WILL KEEP THIS SICK PERSON ALIVE LONGER THAN HE NEEDS TO BREATHE!
THIS COUNTRY JUST PLAIN SUCKS FOR JUSTICE! IT'S A SYSTEM AND IT DOES NOT WORK TOO GOOD WHEN IT COMES TO PENALIZING THE WRONG, BUT LET THE RIGHTEOUS DO SOMETHING WRONG AND YOU WILL SEE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN TIMING!
I HATE TO SAY THAT 'MY' COUNTRY IS GOING DOWNHILL, BUT IT IS AND CAN'T BLAME ANYONE BUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN IT AND NOT THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THE CONSTITUTION SAYS WHAT ...
WE THE PEOPLE AND WE THE PEOPLE ARE NOT DOING WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING...PERIOD...SO I SUPPOSE WE WILL SUFFER FOR OUR WRONG DOINGS!
These comments seem to show up all the time when there is something that offends the Churchie peoples. "If we were in control we'd do something about this abomination" given what happened to George Tiller, I think I can imagine. Talk about incontrovertible truth that a flawed secular system is leaps and bounds beyond a theocratic one. Look at how the "Very Christian" Michelle Malkin talks about Sharia Law:
"Nope. No stampede to get in front of the cameras and condemn the bloody ravages of sharia law."
It's not a ringing endorsement of said Theocratic Law, is it? This same person said of Doctors like George Tiller, however:
"Oh, what a drag it is on abortionists to detect movement and signs of life in a baby who survived attempted murder."
That's not at all like calling him a criminal deserving of a death sentence, is it? Not at all, right?
And There's Bill O'reilly:
"In the unresolved problem segment tonight, the investigation continues into the activities of abortionist George Tiller, known as Tiller the Baby Killer"
It's all about blooding up the water for the conservative and the religious. Blood begats blood and in the blood you will be saved and all that. Bullshit.
This is a serial killer, who is sick. Simple and easy. Murder is difficult if you are sane and death is forever. However much the religiously deranged want to say otherwise, death is forever and killing for killing isn't going to resolve the crime it only provides catharsis. How did this person get away with so many killings? How did he hid so many bodies in his yard? These are questions that need answers.
I don't imagine ubiquitous monitoring is the answer, it certainly didn't solve street crime in the UK, nor murder. So I can't offer a constructive response here. I can say this, screaming for state-sponsored murder makes this person no better than those screaming for public beheadings in the "medieval" middle east, and I can't help but think that as a person in the "Enlightened West" we should be "better" than that.
Popularity: 1% [?]
America, All you can eat
Agustin Carstens / secretary of treasury
The biggest industry beneficiaries were Japanese automakers Toyota, Honda and Nissan, which accounted for 41 percent of the new vehicle sales. That outpaced Detroit automakers General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, which had a share of nearly 39 percent. Toyota Motor Corp. led the industry with 19.4 percent of new sales, followed by General Motors Co. with 17.6 percent and Ford Motor Co. with 14.4 percent. -- Clunkers Sold bunches
Proof positive that Americans will continuously attempt to find new ways to screw their neighbors. Buying foreign made cars using a program designed to help the local economy (I know that a majority of those cars are built in America, but my point stands)
The health care scream-ate is a good example of this. While there are some malcontents who will never be happy in Canada until they can pay money to push a dying patient off of an operating patient because they can afford to, people in countries were universal health care is already set in at least mushy concrete can't understand why Americans don't want it.
In this brilliant article Mary Dejevsky correctly points out that Americans simply cannot fathom the idea that their tax dollars would be used to help out someone other than themselves. As if they should see the benefit of every dollar in taxes that are spent. This same mindset supported pre-emptive war because they could be sure that someone was getting fucked over using "their" dollar, and that warmed their cold, shriveled hearts.
Popularity: unranked [?]
Awww A Puma with a Pen
![[info]](http://www.purlgurl.net/graphics/arrest.jpg)
okpulot_taha wrote:
No, we Americans are significantly more hardy and determined than our British counterparts. Our expectation is our peoples will stand on their own two feet and make their own way through life.
Popularity: unranked [?]
David Vitter Wants to Destroy Canadian Health Care
Vitter was asked at a town hall meeting about the fact that he opposes government health care, but supports re-importing prescription drugs from, as a constituent said, "countries that have socialized medicine." Vitter has campaigned in the past on re-importing drugs from Canada.
"My ultimate goal," Vitter explained, "is to use that (re-importation) to cause that (pricing) system to collapse."
Dear Ms Mathyssen,
Congratulations on your election last fall, I am very glad that you were elected in my riding as your responses to my questions of last summer were very persuasive and matched my own values and goals well.
As I'm sure you are aware, politics to the south of us often dominate our news cycle; often to the detriment to coverage of local and national Canadian politics. The healthcare debate south of the border is of particular interest (having lived in the US for a number of years on a work visa, I have a strong appreciation of our local system). However, this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1-X_J2qAGE) shows a Senator from the US discussing attempting to damage the Canadian Health Care system directly. I feel very strongly that this demands and apology from the senator and would hope that the Prime Minister could be motivated to request an official apology from the Senator. This is a serious affront to relations between our two nations and was not said in jest or to make a point, Sen. Vitter is making a direct threat to Canada's sovereignty and this should be redressed.
Again, I thank you for your service on behalf of London-Fanshawe and Canada as a whole and wish you the very best of days forthcoming.
Popularity: 1% [?]
When even fact checking won’t save you
People such as scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn't have a chance in the U.K., where the National Health Service would say the life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless.
--Investors Business Daily commenting about the Health Care of Lifelong Brit Stephen Hawking
People in the US who have no real exposure to Universal Health Care of any stripe always want to tell you about how bad it is; and therefore by comparison how awesome (51st in the world) American Health Care (tm) is.
It's just that it's so not the case. The only advantage one achieves in the States over a place with Universal Health Care is the CashKey system.
The CashKey system works like this; with enough cash no door is locked to you and no barrier can really stand in your way.
So if you want a new knee or some extra skin cut loose; toss some money at a doctor (or a hospital board member) and you'll get right into an operating theatre that day. Maybe you have a benign (but painful) tumor, cash money, cash money. Money money, dolla dolla bill y'all!
That's all well and fine; but doesn't that set up a tiered system that places profit over health care?
Well, yes. Yes it does.
So, what about Sir Hawkings? What about him?
Had Mr. Hawkings been born into a family without cash or to Middle Class parents without Health Insurance, how would Stevie Hawkings be doing now? Why not ask a disabled homeless person about their life? How about all those folks in Appalachia with no doctor (because there's no profit in serving those poor areas, get it)
How about this mind-blowing statement; if your school received government money to educate you; you have an obligation to serve society as a whole. It's as simple as that. If your education was in any way funded by cash from taxes or public funds; then you spend at least the first part of your career serving the public good and paying back society.
But there's no money in that, is there?
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In which I debunk John Doe
Uninsured Gladney agitating against health care reform is reminiscent of those unemployed guys in Ohio who were strong supporters of George Bush against John Kerry. It did not matter to them that they were out of work and on the dole, or that they did not have health insurance, or that their brothers or brothers-in-law were in combat in Iraq: What really mattered to them was that George Bush believed in god, George Bush opposed gay marriages and abortions, and George Bush supported their right to own guns.
Fucking idiots.
Posted by: Doran on August 10, 2009 at 10:18 AM | PERMALINK
Umm, what? Did Obama get into office and then say, "bwa ha ha, no more politics and decision making for me. Time to break out the records and get to Dancin' in this here White House!"
Is that what happened?
Or has the Obama White house faced Republican and Conservative Democrat Oppostion to every single thing that he has proposed.
If you live here in Reality; you'd know it was the latter. Over there in crazy town the White House is hosting a 2h-hour George Clinton and Jay-Z concert and nothing is getting done because the President goes to bed at 10 PM and isn't fond of reading. Right?
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Shock to the System – Billy Idol and the LA riots
It's a heat wave here in London; the kind of Heat Wave that inspired the Predator to storm LA and take on Danny Glover and Gary Busey in a three knockout bout that took down about half the real estate Arnold Schwarzenegger did in Terminator 2. It's hot, humid and there is that Rain Forest, Semi-Tropical moistness in the air that either anesthetizes or inflames any long running grievances. It's a beer and a pound or it's time to throw down, if you will.
It's been about 2 weeks since the G20 summit kicked off in Toronto and the heat is still on there; there was damage and some looting and not a small amount of controversy surrounding the behavior of the police flown in to number into the thousands to protect Toronto from violence and protest that got out of hand.
In 1992, LA was simmering, boiling over and it was the subsequent acquittal of the police in the caught on video beating of Rodney King that proved to be to the catalyst to set things off:
Here in London and Toronto; there's a less imminent; less urgent current of unrest regarding what happened over in Toronto; there is going to be an inquiry...but like those before it (when Quebec Police were forced to admit that they had acted as agents provocateurs during protests in Quebec, I doubt anything will come of it. We have people herded up and thrown into cages for being out and about where the police didn't like it; thousands of police on hand who couldn't prevent wide-scale damage in Toronto. Something is up there.
So; why am I even thinking about all of this? Billy Idol.
Billy Idol released Shock to the System; a single about the Riots.
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