The force will grow from 138,000 today to about 150,000 by mid-January, the Pentagon said Wednesday.
Extra troops are needed to bolster security before the national elections scheduled for Jan. 30. The increase in troop strength also underscores the fact that, despite enormous effort and cost, American commanders have yet to train and equip enough Iraqis for security duty.
Friday, December 03, 2004
Best of 2004
The lists are just staring to come in. This page will quintuple in size by the end of the year, so c'mon back later. Please email me if you find one that I'm missing.
[Haven't seen Rod's annual list yet. -McLir]
[Haven't seen Rod's annual list yet. -McLir]
Open Source Video
ANTs Not Television
ANT helps you download and watch video published on the Internet.
ANT allows you to organize and manage video playlists
ANT is a video aggregator that allows you to subscribe to RSS 2.0 feeds with video enclosures
ANT seeks to build opensource software tools to enable an emergent, grassroots, bottom-up, video distribution network based on exisiting technology such as weblogs and RSS.
ANT is about FREE VIDEO -- not free as in price, but free as in freedom.
ANT helps you download and watch video published on the Internet.
ANT allows you to organize and manage video playlists
ANT is a video aggregator that allows you to subscribe to RSS 2.0 feeds with video enclosures
ANT seeks to build opensource software tools to enable an emergent, grassroots, bottom-up, video distribution network based on exisiting technology such as weblogs and RSS.
ANT is about FREE VIDEO -- not free as in price, but free as in freedom.
'WSJ' Reporter Farnaz Fassihi Going Back to Baghdad
Farnaz Fassihi, the Wall Street Journal reporter whose private e-mail to friends lamented the dangers of reporting in Iraq and criticized the Bush administration's war policy, is returning to her war beat next week for the first time since her missive sparked a controversy in October. Reports that she was being punished by her newspaper for the e-mail were apparently false. Her e-mail brought her unexpected attention, raised issues about whether reporters covering Iraq were telling the whole story, prompted some introspection in journalism circles, and led a variety of news outlets to confirm her dour outlook (last link is a reprinted NYT article). Previously discussed here. [from MetaFilter.com]
Human Eggs 'fertilised' without sperm
The team from Wales College of Medicine at Cardiff University say this could provide a more ethically acceptable way of creating 'embryonic' stem cells.
The 'embryos' do not contain any paternal chromosomes, so could not develop into a baby.
The process, described in New Scientist, uses an enzyme found in sperm to prompt the egg to divide.
The 'embryos' do not contain any paternal chromosomes, so could not develop into a baby.
The process, described in New Scientist, uses an enzyme found in sperm to prompt the egg to divide.
Torture Can Be Used to Detain U.S. Enemies
U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon asked if a detention would be illegal if it were based solely on evidence gathered by torture, because "torture is illegal. We all know that."
Boyle replied that if the military's combatant status review tribunals (or CSRTs) "determine that evidence of questionable provenance were reliable, nothing in the due process clause (of the Constitution) prohibits them from relying on it."
Boyle replied that if the military's combatant status review tribunals (or CSRTs) "determine that evidence of questionable provenance were reliable, nothing in the due process clause (of the Constitution) prohibits them from relying on it."
US review rekindles cold fusion debate
The findings, which were released on 1 December by the US Department of Energy, rekindle a 15-year-old debate over whether nuclear fusion can occur at room temperature.According to the report, the panel was "split approximately evenly" on the question of whether cold experiments were actually producing power in the form of heat. But members agreed that there is not enough evidence to prove that cold fusion has occurred, and they complained that much of the published work was poorly documented.
US review rekindles cold fusion debate
The findings, which were released on 1 December by the US Department of Energy, rekindle a 15-year-old debate over whether nuclear fusion can occur at room temperature.According to the report, the panel was "split approximately evenly" on the question of whether cold experiments were actually producing power in the form of heat. But members agreed that there is not enough evidence to prove that cold fusion has occurred, and they complained that much of the published work was poorly documented.
Is the US Using Napalm? No. Is the US Using 'Fuel-Gel Mixture'? Yes.
The Pentagon no longer officially uses the brand-name 'Napalm', but a similar sticky, inflammable substance known as 'fuel-gel mixture', contained in weapons called Mark-77 fire bombs, was dropped on Iraqi troops near the Iraq-Kuwait border at the start of the war.
"I can confirm that Mark-77 fire bombs were used in that general area," Colonel Mike Daily of the US Marine Corps said.
On Saturday, Labor MPs have demanded that British Prime Minister confront the Commons over the use of the deadly gas in Fallujah.
Halifax Labor MP Alice Mahon said: "I am calling on Mr. Blair to make an emergency statement to the Commons to explain why this is happening. It begs the question: 'Did we know about this hideous weapon's use in Iraq?'"
"I can confirm that Mark-77 fire bombs were used in that general area," Colonel Mike Daily of the US Marine Corps said.
On Saturday, Labor MPs have demanded that British Prime Minister confront the Commons over the use of the deadly gas in Fallujah.
Halifax Labor MP Alice Mahon said: "I am calling on Mr. Blair to make an emergency statement to the Commons to explain why this is happening. It begs the question: 'Did we know about this hideous weapon's use in Iraq?'"
Kerry Campaign Joins Ohio Recount
In another development, Rep. John Conyers Jr., D-Mich., sent a letter to Blackwell asking for his assistance in a House Judiciary Committee Democratic staff investigation of "election irregularities." That probe would be in addition to one sought by the Government Accountability Office.
Complaints received by congressional Democrats include disparities in vote totals for Democrats on the same ballot; too few voting machines in urban, Democrat-leaning precincts; and organized campaigns directing voters to the wrong polling place.
Blackwell's office is working with the GAO and "would be happy to fill in the gaps of information from the GAO and what Congressman Conyers is requesting," spokesman Carlo LoParo said. He said a review of media reports would answer many of Conyers' questions.
Complaints received by congressional Democrats include disparities in vote totals for Democrats on the same ballot; too few voting machines in urban, Democrat-leaning precincts; and organized campaigns directing voters to the wrong polling place.
Blackwell's office is working with the GAO and "would be happy to fill in the gaps of information from the GAO and what Congressman Conyers is requesting," spokesman Carlo LoParo said. He said a review of media reports would answer many of Conyers' questions.
New York's HIV Experiment.
Need test subjects for your highly experimental, possibly lethal drugs but don't want to deal with consent issues? Don't worry, New York City's Association for Children's Services has got you covered! Just ask GlaxoSmithKline about its continuing antiretroviral drug trials. Not only does the ACS provide it and other pharmaceutical companies with high-quality HIV-positive orphans and foster children, but it administers the drugs to them as well! Kids not willing to take the pills? The ACS will stick peg-tubes in their stomachs. Foster parents refusing to give kids the drugs? The ACS will charge them with abuse and put the kids somewhere else. Wondering about Tuskegee comparisons or how the combination of side-effects like diarrhea and swollen joints with no evidence of benefits fits into a cost-benefit analysis? Why? This is the ACS! They can do whatever they want. [from MetaFilter.com]
Dow Accepts Responsibility for Bhopal Disaster
Dow Chemical Co, in a major policy reversal, is accepting full responsibility for the 1984 Bhopal disaster in India, a company spokesman said on Friday.
"Today I am very, very happy to announce that today, for the first time Dow is accepting full responsibility for the Bhopal catastrophe," company spokesman Jude Finisterra told BBC World television. "This is a momentous occasion."
"We have a $12 billion plan to finally at long last fully compensate the victims including the 120,000 who may need medical care for their entire lives and to fully and swiftly remediate the Bhopal plant site."
More than 3,500 died after lethal gas escaped from a chemical plant in the central Indian city of Bhopal. The factory was owned by Union Carbide, now a subsidiary of Dow Chemical.
"We have resolved to liquidate Union Carbide, this nightmare for the world and this headache for Dow and use the $12 billion to provide more than $500 per victim, which is all that they've seen," Finisterra said, speaking on the 20th anniversary of the disaster.
"Today I am very, very happy to announce that today, for the first time Dow is accepting full responsibility for the Bhopal catastrophe," company spokesman Jude Finisterra told BBC World television. "This is a momentous occasion."
"We have a $12 billion plan to finally at long last fully compensate the victims including the 120,000 who may need medical care for their entire lives and to fully and swiftly remediate the Bhopal plant site."
More than 3,500 died after lethal gas escaped from a chemical plant in the central Indian city of Bhopal. The factory was owned by Union Carbide, now a subsidiary of Dow Chemical.
"We have resolved to liquidate Union Carbide, this nightmare for the world and this headache for Dow and use the $12 billion to provide more than $500 per victim, which is all that they've seen," Finisterra said, speaking on the 20th anniversary of the disaster.
Women Working, 1870 - 1930
Women Working, 1870 - 1930 provides access to digitized historical, manuscript, and image resources selected from Harvard's library and museum collections. This collection explores women's roles in the US economy between the Civil War and the Great Depression. Working conditions, conditions in the home, costs of living, recreation, health and hygiene, conduct of life, policies and regulations governing the workplace, and social issues are all well documented. The collection will contain more than 2,200 books and pamphlets, 1,000 photographs and 10,000 pages from manuscript collections.
Greenpeace: Silex Uranium Enrichment
[PDF] All attempts to prevent the spread of nuclear technologies have failed. If Silex is fully developed it is, to say the least, highly likely that eventually the technology could be used for the production of fissile materials for use in nuclear weapons. Countries interested in setting up clandestine programs to produce highly enriched uranium for use in nuclear weapons will find Silex an attractive technology.
The Australian government’s support of this technology undermines its stated commitment to nuclear non-proliferation. Furthermore, conducting this research in a nuclear facility that the public is told is mainly engaged in medical research is hypocritical.
This report should be widely read, particularly by politicians and diplomats. It is essential reading for those interested in nuclear disarmament issues, international politics, international relations and strategic studies.
The Australian government’s support of this technology undermines its stated commitment to nuclear non-proliferation. Furthermore, conducting this research in a nuclear facility that the public is told is mainly engaged in medical research is hypocritical.
This report should be widely read, particularly by politicians and diplomats. It is essential reading for those interested in nuclear disarmament issues, international politics, international relations and strategic studies.
*Federation of American Scientists: "Flying Blind: The Rise, Fall, and Possible Resurrection of Science Policy Advice in the United States"
[PDF] The need for effective science and technology advice continues to increase
while the infrastructure for providing such help is in a state of
crisis. The President and the Congress are constantly confronted with
decisions about new medical technologies, advanced weapon systems, wireless
communication regulation, and other matters that hinge on technical facts.
While technical analysis is almost never sufficient to make wise choices, absent
competent, timely, targeted scientific and technical analysis, these decisions will
depend on unchallenged assertions by special interests and ideologues. Programs
are likely to be poorly designed and subject to costly mistakes. Even worse, lacking
competent advice, the nation may fail to act on problems until they are costly
and difficult to solve or fail to seize important opportunities to achieve public
objectives in security, education, health care, the environment, or other critical
areas.
This report develops options for improving the fundamental structures of
science and technology advice based on examination of two cases where science
and technology advice did not serve the nation well, interviews with many of
the key figures in science and technology advice for Congress and the administration,
and a review of recent literature.
Is Anyone Listening?
The strongest and most consistent statement emerging from these sources is
that if the Congress or the President doesn’t want objective scientific advice, no
institutional solution can fix the problem. There is no way to force the President
to meet with science advisors or to force Congress to base legislation on careful
scientific analysis. This report is designed to help a new administration
or a new Congress interested in strengthening science and technology support
to craft effective institutions. The recommendations are built with the clear
understanding that technical advice must be combined with many other issues
in shaping practical and effective policy. But the core assumption is that the
principals involved are anxious to at least get the advice of technical experts
before making a decision.
The proposals all assume that one goal of the reforms will be to create institutions
that can endure and be effective through radical changes in national political
priorities. Many of the options are designed to contribute to public debate
and public understanding of technical issues making it more difficult for
political leaders to ignore the issues.
while the infrastructure for providing such help is in a state of
crisis. The President and the Congress are constantly confronted with
decisions about new medical technologies, advanced weapon systems, wireless
communication regulation, and other matters that hinge on technical facts.
While technical analysis is almost never sufficient to make wise choices, absent
competent, timely, targeted scientific and technical analysis, these decisions will
depend on unchallenged assertions by special interests and ideologues. Programs
are likely to be poorly designed and subject to costly mistakes. Even worse, lacking
competent advice, the nation may fail to act on problems until they are costly
and difficult to solve or fail to seize important opportunities to achieve public
objectives in security, education, health care, the environment, or other critical
areas.
This report develops options for improving the fundamental structures of
science and technology advice based on examination of two cases where science
and technology advice did not serve the nation well, interviews with many of
the key figures in science and technology advice for Congress and the administration,
and a review of recent literature.
Is Anyone Listening?
The strongest and most consistent statement emerging from these sources is
that if the Congress or the President doesn’t want objective scientific advice, no
institutional solution can fix the problem. There is no way to force the President
to meet with science advisors or to force Congress to base legislation on careful
scientific analysis. This report is designed to help a new administration
or a new Congress interested in strengthening science and technology support
to craft effective institutions. The recommendations are built with the clear
understanding that technical advice must be combined with many other issues
in shaping practical and effective policy. But the core assumption is that the
principals involved are anxious to at least get the advice of technical experts
before making a decision.
The proposals all assume that one goal of the reforms will be to create institutions
that can endure and be effective through radical changes in national political
priorities. Many of the options are designed to contribute to public debate
and public understanding of technical issues making it more difficult for
political leaders to ignore the issues.
Thursday, December 02, 2004
Roger Ebert: Movies and Battling Cancer
I supply this information not as a medical bulletin, but as an entry into considering the way movies work for me and perhaps a lot of other people. Even during treatment in Seattle, I was able to attend screenings, catch movies in theaters and write 20 reviews. One night I went to the local Landmark theater and saw Jean Gabin in "Touchez Pas au Grisbi" and found it so extraordinary, it went into my Great Movies series. Some of my friends and editors said they were impressed that I continued to see movies and file reviews even during the more difficult days of January and February. I tried to explain that it would have been harder not to.
The magic that makes Google tick
Over four billion Web pages, each an average of 10KB, all fully indexed.
Up to 2,000 PCs in a cluster.
Over 30 clusters.
104 interface languages including Klingon and Tagalog.
One petabyte of data in a cluster -- so much that hard disk error rates of 10-15 begin to be a real issue.
Sustained transfer rates of 2Gbps in a cluster.
An expectation that two machines will fail every day in each of the larger clusters.
No complete system failure since February 2000.
Up to 2,000 PCs in a cluster.
Over 30 clusters.
104 interface languages including Klingon and Tagalog.
One petabyte of data in a cluster -- so much that hard disk error rates of 10-15 begin to be a real issue.
Sustained transfer rates of 2Gbps in a cluster.
An expectation that two machines will fail every day in each of the larger clusters.
No complete system failure since February 2000.
The Christmas Story 20" Leg Desk Lamp is Out of Stock
It's a major award! This is a desk lamp sized version of the "leg lamp" from the holiday classic "A Christmas Story"! Measures 20" tall, a definite conversation piece year-round! Lights 3 ways - the leg, the bulb under the shade or BOTH!Packed carefully because it's "Frag-il-ay" (that's italian) Click here for all of our A Christmas Story stuff!
New Female Sex Drug Raises Safety Concerns
Procter & Gamble is seeking FDA approval to sell the testosterone patch Intrinsa, the first such product to treat a condition that affects up to 3 million surgically menopausal American women.
Clinical trials showed that women using Intrinsa had only modest improvements to their sex lives. Women who applied the patch to their abdomen twice weekly had one more "satisfying sexual event" per four weeks, compared with a placebo.
Clinical trials showed that women using Intrinsa had only modest improvements to their sex lives. Women who applied the patch to their abdomen twice weekly had one more "satisfying sexual event" per four weeks, compared with a placebo.
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