XIAM007 - Making Unique Observations in a Very Cluttered World

Sunday, 26 June 2011

Nevada is the first state in the U.S. to approve the use of driverless cars like those being developed at Google Inc. -

Nevada is the first state in the U.S. to approve the use of driverless cars like those being developed at Google Inc.

on its roads.

State legislators passed a law instructing the Nevada Department of Transportation to come up with rules including safety standards, insurance requirements and testing sites.

Google has tested driverless cars in California,driving about 140,000 miles with them.

The Nevade law defines permits cars that use artificial intelligence, sensors and GPS to drive without active the attention of a human operator.

Along with Google (NASDAQ:GOOG),Volkswagen

has been working on driverless cars.

Host Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday” asks Republican Presidential candidate - Michele Bachmann - “Are you a flake?” -

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann says a new poll showing her near the top of the Republican presidential pack in Iowa is proof that voters see her as a serious candidate.

“I am very serious about what I want to do,” Bachmann said on “Fox News Sunday,” adding that voters were impressed with her recent New Hampshire debate appearance. “People recognize that I’m serious.”
But host Chris Wallace pushed Bachmann on her history of making controversial statements and asked whether she was ready to be a national candidate.

“Are you a flake?” Wallace asked

“That would be insulting to say something like that,” responded Bachmann, pointing to her legislative and professional record. “Of course, a person has to be careful with what their words are. And now I will have an opportunity to speak fully.”

$20.2 BILLION - U.S. military spends ANNUALLY on Air Conditioning in Iraq and Afghanistan -more than entire NASA budget -

The amount the U.S. military spends annually on air conditioning in Iraq and Afghanistan: $20.2 billion.

That's more than NASA's budget. It's more than BP has paid so far for damage during the Gulf oil spill. It's what the G-8 has pledged to help foster new democracies in Egypt and Tunisia.

"When you consider the cost to deliver the fuel to some of the most isolated places in the world — escorting, command and control, medevac support — when you throw all that infrastructure in, we're talking over $20 billion," Steven Anderson tells weekends on All Things Considered guest host Rachel Martin. Anderson is a retired brigadier general who served as Gen. David Patreaus' chief logistician in Iraq.

Why does it cost so much?

To power an air conditioner at a remote outpost in land-locked Afghanistan, a gallon of fuel has to be shipped into Karachi, Pakistan, then driven 800 miles over 18 days to Afghanistan on roads that are sometimes little more than "improved goat trails," Anderson says. "And you've got risks that are associated with moving the fuel almost every mile of the way."

Anderson calculates more than 1,000 troops have died in fuel convoys, which remain prime targets for attack. Free-standing tents equipped with air conditioners in 125 degree heat require a lot of fuel. Anderson says by making those structures more efficient, the military could save lives and dollars.

Still, his $20.2 billion figure raises stark questions about the ongoing war in Afghanistan. In the wake of President Obama's announcement this week that about 30,000 American troops will soon return home, how much money does the U.S. stand to save?

World's ugliest dog crowned, and she's quite the eyesore -

World's ugliest dog crowned, and she's quite the eyesore -
Yoda parades in front of the judges. (AAP)

Of all the ugly mutts in all the lands, a cross between a Chihuahua and a Chinese Crested has been declared the most mutt ugly of all.

You only have to hear that her name is Yoda to get the picture.

But when you actually see her picture you fully understand why Yoda won a competition in northern California to find the world's ugliest dog.

The 14-year-old won the dubious honour at the 23rd annual contest to be held at the Sonoma Marin Fair.

She's got overlong legs, wonky eyes and her tongue is clearly too big for her mouth. That's not to mention the oversized ears and the off-centre nose.

One of the judges at the contest declared her to be "the smallest camel I've ever seen".

But her owner Terry Schumacher loves her, although she admits that she initially thought that Yoda was an overgrown rat when she discovered the dog abandoned around the back of her apartment block.

But every dog has his (or her) day, and now her 'talents' have been appreciated and recognised with an award.

A dubious one, but an award all the same.

Saturday, 25 June 2011

Pelosi demands a seat at the table in final talks on the debt-ceiling -

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will demand a seat in the table for the final talks on the national debt limit, putting a strong liberal voice in the room.

Pelosi and House Democrats were left out of the negotiations between President Obama and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) last year that extended nearly all of the Bush tax rates though 2012.

Pelosi didn’t participate in the final high-level talks over fiscal 2011 spending levels either.

But now she’s demanding her say at a time when many of her House Democratic colleagues are disappointed in Obama’s level of consultation with their caucus.

“If they don’t have the votes, House Democrats have to be at the table,” said a House Democratic leadership aide.

Read more - http://thehill.com/homenews/house/168467-pelosi-demands-a-seat-at-the-table-in-final-debt-ceiling-talks

Friday, 24 June 2011

Asteroid to Pass Extremely Close By Earth On Monday - A small asteroid the size of a tour bus - 7,500 miles above Earth -

Asteroid 2011 MD Earth flyby diagram for June 27, 2011

Trajectory of asteroid 2011 MD during its June 27, 2011 flyby from the general direction of the sun.
CREDIT: NASA

View full size image

UPDATE for 5:35 p.m. ET: NASA has recalculated the time of closest approach for this event to be about 3 1/2 hours later than initially reported. The change is reflected below.

Here's something to dwell on as you head to work next week: A small asteroid the size of a tour bus will make an extremely close pass by the Earth on Monday, but it poses no threat to the planet

The asteroid will make its closest approach at 1:14 p.m. EDT (1714 GMT) on June 27 and will pass just over 7,500 miles (12,000 kilometers) above the Earth's surface, NASA officials say. At that particular moment, the asteroid — which scientists have named 2011 MD — will be sailing high off the coast of Antarctica, almost 2,000 miles (3,218 km) south-southwest of South Africa.

Mexican troops cross into the United States - AGAIN!! - clearly violating international law -

A convoy of three military trucks loaded with Mexican soldiers crosses the border at Bridge Number Two clearly violating international law.

It happens as Customs and Border Protection inspectors try to figure out what to do.

A CBP spokesperson says they got on the phone with Mexican authorities after being alerted that the military trucks were heading their direction loaded down with soldiers and weapons.

Mexican leaders say the soldiers, who had just been deployed to Nuevo Laredo, didn't know the area, got lost and then made their way through Bridge Two.

It's important to note that CBP did not tell us about the potentially serious situation. It came from another law enforcement agency.

Some callers to our newsroom were upset inspectors allowed the Mexican military to get so close to all those inspection booths over at Bridge Number Two.

Some noted had it been Mexican drug lords they could have taken inspectors by surprise and easily crossed the international border deeper into the United States.

Read more - http://www.pro8news.com/news/local/Mexican-troops-cross-into-the-United-States--124469714.html

Thursday, 23 June 2011

Ron Paul Is Holding A Hearing On Legislation For A Full Audit Of US Gold Reserves, Aka The "Show Me The Tungsten" Bill -

Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Ron Paul is currently holding a hearing on legislation calling for a full audit of U.S. gold reserves. H.R. 1495, the “Gold Reserve Transparency Act of 2011,” calls for an audit by the Treasury that gives a full and thorough accounting of the U.S. government’s gold reserves, requiring an inventory and assay of the gold reserves. The Treasury’s audit is subject to independent review by the Government Accountability Office, allowing them access to any pertinent records or locations, including Fort Knox. "The Treasury Department has been less than transparent with the results of its gold audits,” Paul stated. “It is asking the American people to trust that all the gold is there, while not allowing site visits and not publishing all the data it holds on its audits and assays. Since most of this gold was originally seized from the American people in the 1930s, they deserve more transparency than a handful of financial statements."

The hearing will discuss recent audits of U.S. gold reserves; challenges to conducting a full audit; and impediments to an accurate assessment of the US gold position, including any leases, swaps or other encumbrances placed upon the gold reserves; and also examine changes to the legislative proposal that will ensure a full and accurate audit, assay, and inventory of U.S. gold reserves.

WITNESS LIST

The Honorable Eric M. Thorson, Inspector General, Department of the Treasury
Mr. Gary T. Engel, Director, Financial Management and Assurance, Government Accountability Office

The hearing which can be watched, but barely heard due to the ongoing insistence of using Made in 1924 USSR microphones can be followed here:

Wednesday, 22 June 2011

Corrupt Chinese officials and employees have stole 800 billion yuan ($123.7 billion) of public money through 08 -

Corrupt Chinese officials and employees of state-owned companies have absconded with about 800 billion yuan ($123.7 billion) of public money over 15 years through 2008, much of it making its way to the U.S., Canada, Australia and the Netherlands, according to Chinese news reports citing a central bank study.

The 67-page report, completed in 2008, was posted on the People’s Bank of China’s website this week, purportedly by mistake, and has since been taken down, although PDFs of the document are circulating in cyberspace.

In the report, which appears never to have been intended for public release, the PBOC estimated about 16,000 to 18,000 individuals have fled the country with ill-gotten funds over a 15-year period leading up to the report’s release, according to news-media accounts.

The PBOC focused upon where people went and how they got the embezzled funds out of the country.

One method, the study was cited as saying, was with the help of family or other trusted individuals who emigrated overseas, often using fake documents.

Read more - http://www.marketwatch.com/story/china-central-bank-finds-officials-stole-billions-2011-06-17?link=MW_home_latest_news

N.Y. Lawmakers Approve Niagara Falls Tightrope Walk across the Niagara Gorge at Niagara Falls -

New York lawmakers have voted to allow a member of the daredevil Wallenda family to attempt a tightrope walk across the Niagara Gorge at Niagara Falls.

The state Assembly on Wednesday passed a bill directing parks officials to write regulations allowing Nik Wallenda to traverse the gorge. The Senate already approved the measure.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo hasn't said yet whether he'll sign it.

Strict laws exist against stunts at Niagara Falls, but supporters of the Wallenda walk say it would boost tourism and the city of Niagara Falls in general.