Yesterday (Sunday March 14) English celebrity soccer star, David Beckham while attempting to regain his form in order to earn a position on English National team in the upcoming World Cup - ruptured his Achilles Tendon in match with AC Milan. Beck's is apparently undergoing surgery at a specialty clinic in Finland and his recovery time is variously suggested to be between 5-12 mths but at 35, it is clear that he is toast and will not be able to perform in any way at the World Cup in South Africa in June 2010.
Here is clip of how innocently the injury occurred. Rarely is it anything other than serendipity and old age.
Monday, 15 March 2010
Thursday, 11 March 2010
The next Kalashnikov?
I saw this article referenced and thought how interesting that this 15 year old teenager Maxim Kotelnikov, is possibly the "next Kalashnikov" (Mikhail Kalashnikov, inventor of the AK-47) - and that still in Russia he can "push the envelope" in finding the next "elegant" design solution. It is also what men are so good at - engineering excellence.
Russian Teenager Designs Noiseless Electric Rifle
Posted by Ivica Miskovic | Thursday, March 04, 2010 |
Russia's Defense Ministry has shown interest in the new electomechanical rifle the performance of which exceeds that of sniper weapons. The rifle was invented by a schoolboy in the city of Ufa.
Maxim Kotelnikov, an eighth-grader, designed his weapon after he had seen a TV program about the use of similar rifles in the USA and Korea. It took the boy a year to design the new weapon. He used his friend's broken game rifle as the basis. The rifle weighs nearly six kilos; it fires special cartridges that need to be magnetized in advance.
Russia's Defense Ministry showed interest in the new weapon and asked the boy's permission to test his rifle.
"This weapon is unique for it fires noiselessly. There is no shock of discharge
and a shot does not produce a flare. No other sniper rifle can do it. I designed
my own system, which I called the "Nucleus System," the boy said.
The rifle is based on the principle of accelerating coil. The rifle is powered
with electricity only. A bullet gathers speed immediately, PolitOnline reports
with referecne to Life.ru.
Maxim showed his creation to his teacher of physics. The teacher sent the
wunderkind to St. Petersburg, where the boy took part in "Russia's Young
Intellectuals" forum.
The 15-year-old boy took the first place at the forum and received a special
invitation for practice at the defense ministry. All further tests of Maxim's
weapon will be conducted under the guidance of ministerial scientists.
The boy will assemble three other rifles in St. Petersburg during one month. If
the tests are successful, it is not ruled out that the electromagnetic sniper
rifle will be launched into serial production for the needs of the Russian armed
forces.
PolitOnline.ru
http://www.aroundglobe.net/2010/03/russian-teenager-designs-noiseless.html
Russian Teenager Designs Noiseless Electric Rifle
Posted by Ivica Miskovic | Thursday, March 04, 2010 |
Russia's Defense Ministry has shown interest in the new electomechanical rifle the performance of which exceeds that of sniper weapons. The rifle was invented by a schoolboy in the city of Ufa.
Maxim Kotelnikov, an eighth-grader, designed his weapon after he had seen a TV program about the use of similar rifles in the USA and Korea. It took the boy a year to design the new weapon. He used his friend's broken game rifle as the basis. The rifle weighs nearly six kilos; it fires special cartridges that need to be magnetized in advance.
Russia's Defense Ministry showed interest in the new weapon and asked the boy's permission to test his rifle.
"This weapon is unique for it fires noiselessly. There is no shock of discharge
and a shot does not produce a flare. No other sniper rifle can do it. I designed
my own system, which I called the "Nucleus System," the boy said.
The rifle is based on the principle of accelerating coil. The rifle is powered
with electricity only. A bullet gathers speed immediately, PolitOnline reports
with referecne to Life.ru.
Maxim showed his creation to his teacher of physics. The teacher sent the
wunderkind to St. Petersburg, where the boy took part in "Russia's Young
Intellectuals" forum.
The 15-year-old boy took the first place at the forum and received a special
invitation for practice at the defense ministry. All further tests of Maxim's
weapon will be conducted under the guidance of ministerial scientists.
The boy will assemble three other rifles in St. Petersburg during one month. If
the tests are successful, it is not ruled out that the electromagnetic sniper
rifle will be launched into serial production for the needs of the Russian armed
forces.
PolitOnline.ru
http://www.aroundglobe.net/2010/03/russian-teenager-designs-noiseless.html
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
Municipal Political Donations Disclosure
I just read this on Hicks on Six:
Try as I might, I can't find a more contributer-friendly election campaign funding rules anywhere but here in little ol'Edmonton.
New provincial rules are coming in - a $5,000 maximum on any campaign donation from one entity - but as things now stand ...
There's no limitation on how much any contributor can make to a campaign.
The information - the candidates' lists of all election contributions of $300 or more - are supposed to be public.
In this day and age, that should mean on the city's website, in standard form.
Hardly! The "disclosure forms" are merely collected, stuck in a binder available for viewing at the City Clerk's office. You're not even allowed to photocopy them!
There's no protocol for verifying the accuracy of the donations, nor is there any standard form. Each candidates' list differs. Some are on spread-sheets, some are written in child-like scrawls.
Elsewhere ....
Calgary had major issues about campaign contributions run amuck a few years back.
Calgary municipal candidates still have no limit on donations, but their disclosure forms are listed on the city's website, are standardized, and all must be "certified" by a certified accountant - which at least means an accountant has looked at them and figured they look OK.
Toronto has a $750 limit per contribution for council positions, $2,500 maximum for mayoraly candidates.
Toronto also goes the expenses route. Each candidate is only allowed to spent 70 cents per potential voter in his or her ward, plus $5,000.
On the federal stage, Canada has some of the strictest election contribution laws going.
The Canada Elections Act of 2007 sets out a $1,000 limit, and all contributions must come from individuals. Corporations, trade unions, associations and groups cannot make election campaign contributions. (Wouldn't that knock the stuffing out of Edmonton mayor and councillor election funding!)
On the disclosure side, federal candidates must receipt and report ALL contributions of $20 or more. Donations of $200 or more must include the name, address, amount of each contribution (if more than one) and the date the contribution was received.
Provincially, Alberta has a campaign contribution limit of $2,000 per candidate, and a maximum of $10,000 to the candidates of any one political party. I.E. if my company wanted to support the Conservatives, I can't give more than $2,000 each to a maximum of five candidates.
On the other hand, my company is allowed to give thousands a year to any political party outside of an actual election campaign.
In Ontario, the maximum donation from any one contribution to an individual candidate's campaign is $5,000.
How Edmonton compares to other jurisdictions in election campaign contribution rules
Try as I might, I can't find a more contributer-friendly election campaign funding rules anywhere but here in little ol'Edmonton.
New provincial rules are coming in - a $5,000 maximum on any campaign donation from one entity - but as things now stand ...
There's no limitation on how much any contributor can make to a campaign.
The information - the candidates' lists of all election contributions of $300 or more - are supposed to be public.
In this day and age, that should mean on the city's website, in standard form.
Hardly! The "disclosure forms" are merely collected, stuck in a binder available for viewing at the City Clerk's office. You're not even allowed to photocopy them!
There's no protocol for verifying the accuracy of the donations, nor is there any standard form. Each candidates' list differs. Some are on spread-sheets, some are written in child-like scrawls.
Elsewhere ....
Calgary had major issues about campaign contributions run amuck a few years back.
Calgary municipal candidates still have no limit on donations, but their disclosure forms are listed on the city's website, are standardized, and all must be "certified" by a certified accountant - which at least means an accountant has looked at them and figured they look OK.
Toronto has a $750 limit per contribution for council positions, $2,500 maximum for mayoraly candidates.
Toronto also goes the expenses route. Each candidate is only allowed to spent 70 cents per potential voter in his or her ward, plus $5,000.
On the federal stage, Canada has some of the strictest election contribution laws going.
The Canada Elections Act of 2007 sets out a $1,000 limit, and all contributions must come from individuals. Corporations, trade unions, associations and groups cannot make election campaign contributions. (Wouldn't that knock the stuffing out of Edmonton mayor and councillor election funding!)
On the disclosure side, federal candidates must receipt and report ALL contributions of $20 or more. Donations of $200 or more must include the name, address, amount of each contribution (if more than one) and the date the contribution was received.
Provincially, Alberta has a campaign contribution limit of $2,000 per candidate, and a maximum of $10,000 to the candidates of any one political party. I.E. if my company wanted to support the Conservatives, I can't give more than $2,000 each to a maximum of five candidates.
On the other hand, my company is allowed to give thousands a year to any political party outside of an actual election campaign.
In Ontario, the maximum donation from any one contribution to an individual candidate's campaign is $5,000.
Is Geldof just naive?
First, this appeared last week. I was not surprised as it was obvious how unstable the region was in 1985. However I also recall that the Warlords captured the capital of Mogadishu some time afterward the Xmas concert.
LONDON March 3, 2010 -- Millions of dollars of international aid for victims of the mid-1980s famine in Ethiopia was diverted to rebels to buy weapons in the African country, a BBC investigation reported Wednesday.And now:
Citing former rebels and CIA documents, it said militant leaders posed as merchants in meetings with aid groups who flooded into Ethiopia to help during the famine, highlighted by the global Live Aid charity concert in 1985.
Anti-poverty campaigner Bob Geldof on Sunday lashed out at a BBC report that claimed millions of pounds raised for famine relief in Ethiopia by Band Aid in 1985 were used by rebels to pay for weapons.
"About Band Aid, not a single penny went to the armaments, not a pound, not a penny," the Irish rock star told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show. He is considering filing a complaint.
Gun Freedom?
George JONAS penned an excellent summary of the difference between Canadian and American legal attitudes towards firearms ownership. In Canada one is suspiciously regarded as being a nascent threat to law, order and "good government". In America it is seen as a right - some insist it is only a constitutionally respected right if you are in the militia - but this always debated and considered under proscribed limits.
Given the atrocious services delivered by the EPS and RCMP (a buddy of mine calls it Crime Management - not Crime Prevention) I think we should have the right to defend ourselves when threatened. The Federal Department of Justice or Police nation-wide doesn't seem to agree with that sentiment.
On an unrelated matter, a Chinese man Yao Wei Wu is going to charge the Vancouver Police Force in the case that led to his unlawful assault. (image of him a few days after the assault is shown)
Given the atrocious services delivered by the EPS and RCMP (a buddy of mine calls it Crime Management - not Crime Prevention) I think we should have the right to defend ourselves when threatened. The Federal Department of Justice or Police nation-wide doesn't seem to agree with that sentiment.
A Vancouver resident mistakenly beaten by police at his home earlier this year has filed a lawsuit against the city, two officers and the municipality of Delta.Here is a CBC Interview about the legality of the assault.
The lawsuit filed Friday (March 5) by Mr. Wu and his wife, allege that Delta has conducted a "negligent investigation" of the incident. Delta police failed to obtain forensic evidence from the scene of the beating, interview material witnesses or prepare a report to Crown counsel "in a timely way at all," the documents allege. As well, Mr. Wu alleges in the lawsuit that the officers should face criminal charges.
Friday, 5 March 2010
"Serious" U.S Protectionism rear's it ugly head
A much feared possibility regarding Democrat's "protectionist" penchants reared it's ugly heard today (see article below). All federal U.S legislation is up for review every 5 years and for NAFTA that means 2010. I believe that after discussions between PM Harper and President Obama in the Fall, assurances were given that indicated Obama would likely over-rule any attempt to revoke NAFTA. Given his weakened state today (so soon) I am not sure if this matters anymore.
One thing is for sure - were the U.S Congress and Senate vote to revoke NAFTA - it would likely trigger a protectionist backlash far worse than the disastrous Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 - that was considered a major factor in starting the Great Depression during the 1930's. However, I hope it unlikely this measure will gain widespread support. It maybe just a ploy before the 2010 mid-term elections.
One thing is for sure - were the U.S Congress and Senate vote to revoke NAFTA - it would likely trigger a protectionist backlash far worse than the disastrous Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 - that was considered a major factor in starting the Great Depression during the 1930's. However, I hope it unlikely this measure will gain widespread support. It maybe just a ploy before the 2010 mid-term elections.
U.S. lawmakers launch push to repeal NAFTA
Thu Mar 4, 4:35 PMBy Doug Palmer
Thu Mar 4, 4:35 PM
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A small group of U.S. lawmakers unveiled legislation on Thursday to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement in the latest sign of congressional disillusionment with free-trade deals.The bill spearheaded by Rep. Gene Taylor, a Mississippi Democrat, would require President Barack Obama to give Mexico and Canada six months notice that the United States will no longer be part of the 16-year-old trade pact."At a time when 10 to 12 percent of the American people are unemployed, I think Congress has an obligation to put people back to work," Taylor said.He argued NAFTA has cost the United States millions of manufacturing jobs and hurt national security by encouraging companies to move production to Mexico.The high unemployment rate makes it the "perfect" time to push for repeal even though past efforts have failed, he said."You'll see the American people rally behind this, in my humble opinion," said Rep. Walter Jones, a North Carolina Republican who is one of about 28 co-sponsors of the bill.Business groups like the National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce strongly support NAFTA, which they say has spurred U.S. economic growth by tearing down trade barriers between the three countries.The repeal proposal comes as Obama says he wants to resolve problems blocking congressional approval of long-delayed trade deals with South Korea, Panama and Colombia.The strongest opposition to those agreements comes from Obama's fellow Democrats.The United States also will begin talks later this month with Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Chile, Peru, Vietnam and Brunei on an Asia-Pacific regional free-trade agreement.Obama criticized NAFTA during the 2008 presidential election campaign but has not followed through on threats to withdraw from the agreement if Canada and Mexico did not agree to revamp the pact's labor and environmental provisions.But many Democrats are pushing for that and other changes to existing trade deals before considering any new deals such as the deals with South Korea, Colombia and Panama.The House of Representatives is expected to vote later this year on whether the United States should remain a member of the World Trade Organization.U.S. law allows House and Senate members to request a vote on that issue every five years. In 2005, 86 of the House's 435 members voted to withdraw from the world trade body.
Thursday, 4 March 2010
Monday, 1 March 2010
Inglorious Tarantio is a Basterd
Happily, Melanie Phillips agrees with this sentiment so I include her assessment in this article.
The net result? No redeeming qualities whatsoever. I hope it fails at the Oscar's as well.
Tom Brokaw introduces Americans to Canadians before Vancouver Olympics
Tom BROWKAW gives a very kind, generous and obviously personal introduction to Canada just before the 2010 Winter Olympics began in Vancouver. (As a major news anchor and reporter he worked with Peter JENNINGS and closely covered both 9/11 and the Iranian Revolution in 1979 - both mentioned in video.)
Ann Coulter is coming to Canada on Speaker Tour
Ezra LEVANT is helping bring Ann COULTER to Canada! Thursday March 25@730pm at U of Calgary. Here are further details. She will be signing her most recent book "Guilty".
Here is her hilarious address to CPAC 2010 in Washington Feb 18-20 (during their 1st massive snowfall).
Here is her hilarious address to CPAC 2010 in Washington Feb 18-20 (during their 1st massive snowfall).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)