The next time someone wants to get mad at Michael Vick for killing some pitbulls, please remember that the U.S. government killed over 4 million animals in 2009! If you cannot read the above the document, please click here to view it at the USDA page.
Monday, January 24, 2011
U.S. Government Killed 4,120,295 Animals in 2009 (As Reported by Wildlife Services)
U.S. Government Kills 4,120,295 Animals in 2009 (As Reported by Wildlife Services)
London Olympics Faces Imminent Cyberattack Says CIO Gerry Pennell
Long time readers of Remixx World! likely know that I focus many of my articles on cyberattacks and the potential that cyberattacks will be used to conduct false flag events to stage a cyber-9/11 event. I do not know if the powers-that-be will use the Olympics to stage a false flag event via cyberattack, but the CIO is saying that a cyberattack is imminent. However in the current state of the world, the source of the cyberattack could be a false flag, China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, Israel, Rumsfeld, et cetera! If a cyberattack does occur, the media will likely blame some loner patsy living in his mother's basement.
Source: Computer Business Review
Gerry Pennell, CIO of the London 2012 Olympics told CBR that, "We will be the target of a cyber attack. It'll happen for sure."
Source: Computer Business Review
Washington D.C.'s Homeland Security Department Wants to Access Security Cameras of Private Businesses
My commentary would not do the story justice, so please read the quoted text below. What will the powers-that-be want to access next? Peoples' private USB webcams?
Source: WTOP.com
D.C.'s homeland security department is pressing for access to more security cameras, including ones owned by private businesses and Metro.
The D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency submitted a plan to tap into private cameras, such as those found at banks or outside office buildings...
D.C.'s neighbor Baltimore, Maryland has allegedly accessed private cameras as well, when its police department was monitoring security cameras from local bars.
Source: WTOP.com
Sunday, January 23, 2011
FEMA to Buy Pre-Packaged Meals for Seven (7) Million Survivors in Case of New Madrid Fault Disaster
If you grew up during the days I did and lived near the New Madrid fault, the date of December 3, 1990 probably brought fear to your heart. That was the day that a major earthquake was supposed to strike along the New Madrid Fault between St. Louis and Memphis. A major earthquake did not occur on the New Madrid that day, but the threat still looms over the region.Today, FEMA certainly believes there is a viable threat along the New Madrid, because it has placed a solicitation for 7 million pre-packaged commercial meals. It has also placed a really short turnaround time before the bidding time closes (these bids are sometimes open as long as six months), so that means FEMA needs these meals ASAP. I wonder what FEMA knows that we don't know. You can check the bid here, in the archives or quoted below.
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RFI for Pre-Packaged Commercial Meals
Solicitation Number: HSFEHQ-11-R-Meals
Agency: Department of Homeland Security
Office: Federal Emergency Management Agency
Location: Logistics Section
* Original Synopsis
Jan 20, 2011
11:54 am
Solicitation Number:
HSFEHQ-11-R-Meals
Notice Type:
Sources Sought
Synopsis:
Added: Jan 20, 2011 11:54 am
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) procures and stores pre-packaged
commercial meals to support readiness capability for immediate distribution to disaster survivors routinely. The purpose of this Request for Information is to identify sources of supply for meals in support of disaster relief efforts based on a catastrophic disaster event within the New Madrid Fault System for a survivor population of 7M to be utilized for the sustainment of life during a 10-day period of operations. FEMA is considering the following specifications (14M meals per day):
- Serving Size - 12 ounce (entree not to exceed 480 calorie count);
- Maximum calories - 1200 and/or 1165 per meal;
- Protein parameters - 29g-37g kit;
- Trans Fat - 0;
- Saturated Fat - 13 grams (9 calories per gram);
- Total Fat - 47 grams (less than 10% calories);
- Maximum sodium - 800-930 mg;
Requested Menus to include snacks (i.e. fruit mix, candy, chocolate/peanut butter squeezers, drink mix, condiments, and utensils). All meals/kits must have 36 months of remaining shelf life upon delivery. Packaging should be environmentally friendly.
- Homestyle Chicken Noodles
- Potatoes
- Vegetarian Pasta
- Green Pepper Steak w/Rice
- BBQ sauce w/Beef and diced
- Chicken w/Rice and Beans
- Chicken Pasta
The following questions are put forward to interested parties:
1. Please specify the type of organization responding to the questions (i.e. small business, large business, industry association, etc.) If a small business, please specify all Small Business Administration socioeconomic programs under which your organization qualifies.
2. Does your organization have a product available that meets all the specifications above?
If the answer is "Yes:" What is the country of origin?
If the answer is "No:" (a) Can your organization produce such a product? (b) What would be the product lead time? (c) What country are the manufacturing plants located in?
3. Can your organization delivery the product to a specified location within a 24 hour period
4. Please provide an implementation plan for critical delivery orders and delivery surge orders.
5. What states do you already have contracts in place with to provide these types of products?
6. Please detail the type of meals and quantities you can provide for each day following a disaster.
7. Please provide alternatives to the meal specifications that your organization can provide.
8. What type of delivery schedule would your organization recommend for the meals?
9. Does your organization have the capabilities to deliver products directly to FEMA's CONUS Distributions Centers?
10. Can your organization track deliveries from point of origin to point of delivery?
11. What is your lead time for delivery once FEMA has placed an order?
Interested parties may also provide brochures, web links, or other literature about their cots available for the specified users. Responses to this RFI are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract.
Vendors are encouraged to ask the Government questions regarding this potential requirement. Questions must be submitted in writing to Julieann L. Phillips at julieann.phillips@dhs.gov not later than 2:00PM, 26 January 2011 to be answered. Responses to questions will be provided not later than 2:00PM, 03 February 2011. Request for Information closing date is 03 February 2011.
Contracting Office Address:
500 C Street SW
Patriots Plaza -- 5th Floor
Washington, District of Columbia 20472
Primary Point of Contact.:
Julieann L. Phillips,
CONTRACTING OFFICER
Julieann.phillips@dhs.gov
Phone: 202-646-3234
Fax: 202.646.1765
Saturday, January 22, 2011
DARPA to Get a New $100 Million Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia Courtesy of Holliday Fenoglio Fowler Financing
Click the actual link to the press release about DARPA's new $100 million headquarters if you don't trust my cut and paste abilities.###
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Cold Weather Kills Nearly 10,000 Cattle in Vietnam
Birds are falling out of the sky. Fish are washing up on shore. And now cattle are dying by the thousands in Vietnam due to cold weather.
Source: Voice of Vietnam
The Veterinary Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) announced about huge losses in cattle caused by the long cold spell in recent days.
The department stated the costly deaths occurred despite the best efforts of local authorities and people to save their livestock.
Following statistics at 4pm on January 16, total of 9,248 heads of cattle died in provinces including Lang Son, Yen Bai, Cao Bang, Bac Can, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Son La, Quang Ninh, Hoa Binh, Lao Cai, Bac Giang, Lai Chau, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh.
Source: Voice of Vietnam
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Central Bank of Ireland to Begin Printing €51 Billion of Its Own Money!
Ireland may be a canary in the coal mine for the state of the European economy like Iceland was a couple of years back such that the Irish financial state may be a predictor of future economic shocks in the rest of the European Union. Fake money is never a good thing for an economy and similar to our Federal Reserve, the Central Bank of Ireland is about to start printing its own money. As the Wu-Tang Clan once said, "Cash rules everything around me."
Source: Independent.ie
EMERGENCY lending from the ECB to banks in Ireland fell in December, the first decline since January 2010, but only because the Irish Central Bank stepped up its help to banks.
The Irish Independent learnt last night that the Central Bank of Ireland is financing €51bn of an emergency loan programme by printing its own money.
Source: Independent.ie
Thief Steals Laptop Containing Irreplaceable Prostate Cancer Cure Research Data
This post should serve as an example of why you should always backup your work - especially when you are working on novel cancer research. A husband and wife cancer research team left their laptop in the car while they stuffed their faces at Panera. Unfortunately, they also decided to keep their valuable (potentially life-saving) data on this non-secure laptop and of course, someone jacked the laptop.
Source: News9.com (Oklahoma City)
Unfortunately, most of the data was never backed up, a mistake Shin said could be a major setback in the fight against cancer.
Some of that data can never be replicated. Other parts of that research could take up to two years to do over. That's earth shattering considering 30,000 men die in the U.S. every year from prostate cancer, meaning people could lose their lives all because of a crime.
Source: News9.com (Oklahoma City)
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
President Obama Wants an Internet ID for All Americans (Secretary Locke's Remarks at National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace 2011)
While the government currently has the ability to track, trace and database a person's Internet usage, it cannot do so as easily when a person uses the Internet from work or from a public Internet terminal. However, a universal Internet ID eliminates this potential tracking issue, because the Internet ID would be unique to each individual Internet user in the United States of America. The White House now wants everyone to have an Internet ID. No word on what happens when a person's Internet ID is hacked or identity-jacked by nefarious parties to do evil deeds.
Source: NBC Bay Area ; White House - Cyberspace Policy Review: Assuring a Trusted and Resilient Information and Communications Infrastructure
###
The remarks were made by Commerce Secretary Gary Locke at the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC) at Stanford University on January 7, 2011. A transcript of the event can be viewed through Google Documents (an excerpt is below) and the highlighted portion below can be viewed at the 08:55 mark in the above video.
"We are not talking about a government-controlled system. What we are talking about is enhancing online security and privacy, and reducing and perhaps even eliminating the need to memorize a dozen passwords, through creation and use of more trusted digital identities," Locke continued.
Source: NBC Bay Area ; White House - Cyberspace Policy Review: Assuring a Trusted and Resilient Information and Communications Infrastructure
###
The remarks were made by Commerce Secretary Gary Locke at the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC) at Stanford University on January 7, 2011. A transcript of the event can be viewed through Google Documents (an excerpt is below) and the highlighted portion below can be viewed at the 08:55 mark in the above video.
To help meet these challenges, the Obama administration recently released a comprehensive cyberspace policy review outlining a series of necessary actions by the public and private sector including improving identity solutions, identity management services, and privacy enhancing technologies. This review has helped to lay the groundwork for the administrations forthcoming national strategy for trusted I'dties in cyberspace, or NSTIC. The final version of this strategy will be signed by the president in the coming mods and Howard Schmidt will be from the White House will be talking more about this in just a few minutes. And many of you are familiar with the public draft release this past summer, and many of you participated in the open public process with comments on the strategy and we very much want to thank you for your thoughts and your recommendations. The end game of course, is to create an identity ecosystem where individuals and organizations can complete on-line transactions with greater confidence. Putting greater trust in the on-line identities of each other, and greater trust in the infrastructure that the transactions run over. Let's be clear, we're not talking about a national ID card. We're [not] talking about a government controlled system. But what we are talking about is enhancing on-line security and privacy and reducing and perhaps even eliminating the need to memorizing a dozen password through the creation and use of more trusted digital I'dties. To accomplish this, we're going to need your help. And we need the private sector's expertise and involvement in designing, building and implementing this identity ecosystem. To succeed we'll also need a national program office at the Department of Commerce focused on implementing our trusted I'dties strategy. The commerce department already has an expensive experience in this realm. Last April for instance we launched an inter net policy task force to address the most pressing Internet issues of the day. The task force was made up of experts from a contrast the department, experts in trade policy, intellectual property, information policy, Cybersecurity, and standards. And the task force is working on develop Cybersecurity policy recommendations for the commercial sector, as well as policy recommendations on other Internet issues like privacy, copy right protection, and international eCommerce. We've reached out expensively for public comments on all these topics and the task force just last month released initial recommendation for strengthening on-line privacy protection. The commerce department has the National Institute of Standards and Technology, one of the preeminent laboratories within the Federal Government that's part of the commerce department. It also has significant long standing investments in Cybersecurity R&D and in standard dags programs. And all of this experience can help a new program office be effective facilitators for both government and private sector engagement and indeed private sector leadership. In the end, we want to build consensus on legal and policy frame works necessary to make the trusted I'dties strategy successful, including ways to enhance privacy, free expression and open markets. We want to work with industry to identify where new standards or collaborative efforts may be needed and we want to support inner governmental collaboration and we want to support important pilot projects. These are important undertakings. And today's symposium and today's announcement is just an early step in a much longer journey. Of course, we all know that these pilot projects, any follow-on commercial deployments and the immersed ens of an identity ecosystem itself will not be a pan see a. There is no magic bullet to solve all the Cybersecurity issued out there. ( However we do know that robust identity solutions can substantially enhance the trustworthiness of on-line transactions. And they not only can improve security, but if done properly, can enhance privacy as well. Such an I'd identity ecosystem must be led by people that made Internet the Internet what it is today. That's why Howard and and Pat Gallagher our. Have come to Silicon Valley, which remains an epi center of American in in ovation and entrepreneur and Pat's going to be here for the rest of the day to talk more about our efforts but also to gather input from all of you.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner Says United States of America is Insolvent
Insolvency means that an entity cannot pay its debts owed. Is the United States currently insolvent or soon to be insolvent? Secretary Geithner seems to believe so and says so in a letter to Congress regarding raising the statutory debt limit. Specifically, Geithner says, "Failure to raise the limit would precipitate a default by the United States." A default by the United States means that the country would not be able to pay its debts when the debts came due. Therefore, the country would be insolvent.Nevertheless, I argue that the country is currently insolvent, because the statutory debt ceiling is an arbitrary number as determined by Congress that does not appear to have any basis except for allowing the country to continue operating in its current financial fantasy.
###
Secretary Geithner Sends Debt Limit Letter to Congress
By: Erika Gudmundson
1/6/2011
Today, Secretary Geithner sent the following letter to Congress regarding the debt limit (download the signed letter here):
January 6, 2011
The Honorable Harry Reid
Majority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Mr. Leader:
I am writing in response to your request for an estimate by the Treasury Department of when the statutory debt limit will be reached, and for a description of the consequences of default by the United States.
Never in our history has Congress failed to increase the debt limit when necessary. Failure to raise the limit would precipitate a default by the United States. Default would effectively impose a significant and long-lasting tax on all Americans and all American businesses and could lead to the loss of millions of American jobs. Even a very short-term or limited default would have catastrophic economic consequences that would last for decades. Failure to increase the limit would be deeply irresponsible. For these reasons, I am requesting that Congress act to increase the limit early this year, well before the threat of default becomes imminent.
As you know, in February of 2010 Congress passed legislation to increase the debt limit to $14.29 trillion. As of this writing, the outstanding debt that is subject to the limit stands at $13.95 trillion, leaving approximately $335 billion of “headroom” beneath the current limit. Because of the inherent uncertainty associated with tax receipts and refunds during the spring tax filing season, as well as other variable factors, it is not possible at this point to predict with precision the date by which the debt limit will be reached. However, the Treasury Department now estimates that the debt limit will be reached as early as March 31, 2011, and most likely sometime between that date and May 16, 2011. This estimate is subject to change depending on the performance of the economy, government receipts, and other factors. This means it is necessary for Congress to act by the end of the first quarter of 2011.
At several points in past years, Treasury has taken exceptional actions to delay the date by which the limit was reached in order to give Congress additional time to raise the limit. These extraordinary actions include: suspending sales of State and Local Government Series (SLGS) Treasury securities[1]; suspending reinvestment of the Government Securities Investment Fund (G-Fund)[2]; suspending reinvestment of the Exchange Stabilization Fund (ESF)[3]; and determining that a “debt issuance suspension period” exists, permitting redemption of existing, and suspension of new, investments of the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund (CSRDF)[4]. Treasury would prefer not to have to engage again in any of these extraordinary measures. If we are forced to do so again, these measures could delay the date by which the limit is reached by several weeks. Once these steps have been taken, no remaining legal and prudent measures would be available to create additional headroom under the debt limit, and the United States would begin to default on its obligations.
As discussed in greater detail below, raising the debt limit is necessary to allow the Treasury to meet obligations of the United States that have been established, authorized, and appropriated by the Congress. It is important to emphasize that changing the debt limit does not alter or increase the obligations we have as a nation; it simply permits the Treasury to fund those obligations Congress has already established.
In fact, even if Congress were immediately to adopt the deep cuts in discretionary spending of the magnitude suggested by some Members of Congress, such as reverting to Fiscal Year 2008 spending levels, the need to increase the debt limit would be delayed by no more than two weeks. The limit would still need to be raised to make it possible for the government to avoid default and to meet the other obligations established by Congress.
The national debt is the total amount of money borrowed in order to fulfill the requirements imposed by past Congresses and under past presidencies, during periods when both Republicans and Democrats were in control of different branches of government. These are legal obligations, incurred under the laws of the United States. Responsibility for creating the debt is bipartisan, and responsibility for meeting the Nation’s obligations must be shared by both parties.
As the 112th Congress turns to this issue, I want to stress that President Obama believes strongly in the need to restore balance to our fiscal position, and he is committed to working with both parties to put the Nation on a fiscally responsible path. This will require difficult choices and a comprehensive approach to reduce the gap between our commitments and our resources. It will require that the government spend less and spend more wisely. The President has already taken important steps, including enacting the savings in the Affordable Care Act; restoring Pay-As-You-Go budgeting; and undertaking a three-year freeze on non-security discretionary spending. The President’s proposals would put us on a path to cut the deficit by more than half in the medium term, and substantially reduce the rate of growth in federal health care costs in the long term. The President looks forward to working with Members of the 112th Congress on additional measures to address our medium- and long-term fiscal challenges.
Because Congress has always acted to increase the debt limit when necessary, and because failure to do so would be harmful to the interests of every American, I am confident that Congress will act in a timely manner to increase the limit this year. However, for the benefit of Members of Congress and the public, I want to make clear, for the record, what the implications of a default would be so there can be no misunderstanding when the issue is debated in the House and Senate.
Reaching the debt limit would mean the Treasury would be prevented by law from borrowing in order to pay obligations the Nation is legally required to pay, an event that has no precedent in American history. Such a default should be understood as distinct from a temporary government shutdown resulting from failure to enact appropriations bills, which occurred in late 1995 and early 1996. Those government shutdowns, which were unwise and highly disruptive, did not have the same long-term negative impact on U.S. creditworthiness as a default would, because there was headroom available under the debt limit at that time.
I am certain you will agree that it is strongly in our national interest for Congress to act well before the debt limit is reached. However, if Congress were to fail to act, the specific consequences would be as follows:
- The Treasury would be forced to default on legal obligations of the United States, causing catastrophic damage to the economy, potentially much more harmful than the effects of the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009.
- A default would impose a substantial tax on all Americans. Because Treasuries represent the benchmark borrowing rate for all other sectors, default would raise all borrowing costs. Interest rates for state and local government, corporate and consumer borrowing, including home mortgage interest, would all rise sharply. Equity prices and home values would decline, reducing retirement savings and hurting the economic security of all Americans, leading to reductions in spending and investment, which would cause job losses and business failures on a significant scale.
- Default would have prolonged and far-reaching negative consequences on the safe-haven status of Treasuries and the dollar’s dominant role in the international financial system, causing further increases in interest rates and reducing the willingness of investors here and around the world to invest in the United States.
- Payments on a broad range of benefits and other U.S. obligations would be discontinued, limited, or adversely affected, including:
- U.S. military salaries and retirement benefits;
- Social Security and Medicare benefits;
- veterans’ benefits;
- federal civil service salaries and retirement benefits;
- individual and corporate tax refunds;
- unemployment benefits to states;
- defense vendor payments;
- interest and principal payments on Treasury bonds and other securities;
- student loan payments;
- Medicaid payments to states; and
- payments necessary to keep government facilities open.
For these reasons, any default on the legal debt obligations of the United States is unthinkable and must be avoided. It is critically important that Congress act before the debt limit is reached so that the full faith and credit of the United States is not called into question. The confidence of citizens and investors here and around the world that the United States stands fully behind its legal obligations is a unique national asset. Throughout our history, that confidence has made U.S. government bonds among the best and safest investments available and has allowed us to borrow at very low rates.
Failure to increase the debt limit in a timely manner would threaten this position and compromise America’s creditworthiness in the eyes of the world. Every Secretary of the Treasury in the modern era, regardless of party, has strongly held this view. Given the gravity of the challenges facing the U.S. and world economies, the world’s confidence in our creditworthiness is even more critical today.
I hope this information is responsive to your request and will be helpful as Congress considers this important legislation.
Timothy F. Geithner
cc: The Honorable John A. Boehner, Speaker of the House
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader
The Honorable Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader
The Honorable Dave Camp, Chairman, House Committee on Ways and Means
The Honorable Sander M. Levin, Ranking Member, House Committee on Ways and Means
The Honorable Max Baucus, Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance
The Honorable Orrin Hatch, Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Finance
All other Members of 112th Congress
[1] SLGS are special purpose Treasury securities issued to state and local government entities that have cash proceeds to invest from their issuance of tax exempt bonds. There is no statutory or other requirement that Treasury issue SLGS, so Treasury may suspend SLGS sales during a debt limit impasse.
[2] The G-Fund is a money-market-like defined-contribution retirement fund for federal employees. Amounts in the G-Fund are invested in non-marketable Treasury securities, and the entire balance of the fund matures daily. Treasury has authority to suspend reinvestment of all or part of the balance of the G-Fund when the Secretary determines that the fund cannot be fully invested without exceeding the debt limit.
[3] The ESF is used by Treasury to purchase or sell foreign currencies. The dollar-denominated holdings of the ESF are invested in non-marketable Treasury securities, and the entire balance of the dollar-denominated investments matures daily. There is no requirement to keep the dollar balances of the ESF invested.
[4] The CSRDF is a government fund that holds and invests in nonmarketable Treasury securities to provide defined benefits to retired federal employees. Treasury has authority to redeem existing CSRDF investments and suspend new investments when the Secretary determines that the fund cannot be fully invested without exceeding the debt limit.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Leak Shuts Down Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline
While the United States focuses on the tragedy in Arizona with Congresswoman Giffords, I have not seen this news about the Alaska oil pipeline being reported anywhere on television. Therefore, I will provide the applicable links below.
Source: Fairbanks News Miner
###
From the official press release:
P.O Box 196660
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA 99519-6660
TELEPHONE (907) 787-8700
Incident Name: Pump Station 1 Booster Pump Piping Incident
Source: Alyeska Pipeline Service Company
Contact: Michelle Egan – 907-787-8870
FACT SHEET NUMBER: 1The trans-Alaska oil pipeline all but shut down Saturday after workers found a leak in a station pipe at Pump Station 1, said Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., which operates the line.
The company said workers just before 9 a.m. found oil leaking into a booster pump building. It activated a Fairbanks-based incident management team and a separate Anchorage-based crisis team to respond.
Source: Fairbanks News Miner
###
From the official press release:
P.O Box 196660
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA 99519-6660
TELEPHONE (907) 787-8700
Incident Name: Pump Station 1 Booster Pump Piping Incident
Source: Alyeska Pipeline Service Company
Contact: Michelle Egan – 907-787-8870
1/8/11 at 6:30 p.m.
Fact Sheet 1:
Current Status:
- No injuries have occurred.
- Pump Station 1 booster pumps have been isolated and level of spilled oil has not risen since isolation.
- Response personnel and equipment have been mobilized.
- Recovery of the oil started at approximately 4 p.m.
- Crude recovery operations are ongoing.
- North Slope producers are prorated to 5 percent production.
- No apparent impact to environment and no impact to wildlife.
- Engineers are assessing the situation and developing a plan to safely restart the pipeline.
Background:
- Crude oil spill discovered in the Booster Pump Room basement at Pump Station 1 (PS01) at approximately 8:15 a.m.
- The leak source appears to be from a below-ground piping that leads to the basement of the booster pump building. The piping is encased in concrete.
- The Operations Control Center shutdown the pipeline at 8:50 a.m.
- Fairbanks Incident Command and Anchorage Crisis Management Teams activated; Fairbanks Emergency Operations Center manned at 9:30 a.m. Incident Command will be staffed around the clock.
- Alyeska, State and Federal officers have combined to operate a Joint Information Center.
Incident Response Objectives:
- Safety of personnel and facilities
- Isolate the source
- Minimize environmental impact
- Ensure effective stakeholder communications
- Build a repair plan
- Address cold restart
- Restore service
Weather at Pump Station 1:
- 4 degrees; winds are 4 MPH from the South
- 84% humidity
- Visibility: 10 miles
END - #1
Sunday, January 02, 2011
China Set to Launch Its First Stealth Aircraft (J-XX)
One possible image of the J-10.As I alluded to in an earlier post about China getting an "aircraft carrier killer" missile, China is flexing its military muscle and it feels like it will lead to a confrontation with other military powers in the region at some point. China's latest military effort is an alleged stealth aircraft called the J-XX.
The latest buzz on Internet is that the China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group is preparing to test its first stealth aircraft known to world as the J-XX.
According to enthusiasts living nearby, the aircraft has already done taxi run and top level officials are coming to the facility to witness the first flight.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
U.S. Pacific Command Commander Says China's "Aircraft Carrier Killer" Missile Has Achieved Initial Operational Capability
The country should be focusing on what is going in Asia instead of the Middle East and Afghanistan. China is getting to the point where it may decide to call in the debts that the United States owes. It isn't building up its military capabilities for nothing. According to Admiral Robert Willard, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, China has developed an anti-ship ballistic missile that can destroy an aircraft carrier.
Adm. Robert Willard, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, said he believes that China aspires to become a "global military (power)" by extending its influence beyond its regional waters.
Willard also said he believes that China's anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) system, known as "aircraft carrier killer," has achieved initial operational capability (IOC), even though "it will continue to undergo testing for several more years."
The full text of the Admiral's interview can be read at Asahi.com.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
United Kingdom's Food Standards Agency Says OK to Sell Cloned Meat and Milk without Consumer Labels
Animal Cloning for Food Production (Report by U.K. Food Standards Agency)
You can read the full report from Food Standards Agency by viewing the above document. However, if you want a summary, basically, the U.K. government agency responsible for food standards has stated that food from cloned animals is no different than food from regular, traditionally-bred animals. Therefore, no labeling of food from cloned animals is necessary.
I would bet that cloned animals are already in the food distribution system.
Source: The Herald | Scotland
The European Commission has proposed a temporary five-year ban on food and drink from clones but papers released by the Food Standards Agency indicate that Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman believes this is unnecessary.
An expert committee has advised the food watchdog that products from cloned cows and pigs and their descendants are no different from those from traditionally-bred animals, posing no additional risk to human health.
I would bet that cloned animals are already in the food distribution system.
Source: The Herald | Scotland
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Animated Video of All Nuclear Explosions from 1945 to 1998
To view this fascinating video from Live Leak, click the image above or here if the image does not appear on your screen.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
ATF Makes Emergency Request to White House to Report Sales of Two (2) or More Rifles!
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has asked the White House budget office to approve an emergency request requiring border-area gun dealers to report the sales of two or more rifles to the same customer within a five-day period...
...to report multiple sales or other dispositions whenever the licensee sells or otherwise disposes of two or more rifles within any five consecutive business days with the following characteristics: (a) Semi automatic; (b) a caliber greater than .22; and (c) the ability to accept a detachable magazine.
Source: Yahoo; Federal Register
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[Federal Register: December 17, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 242)]
[Notices]
[Page 79021]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17de10-91]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
[OMB Number 1140-NEW]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comments Requested
ACTION: 60-Day Emergency Notice of Information Collection Under Review: Report of Multiple Sale or Other Disposition of Certain Rifles.
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The Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, will submit the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with emergency review procedures of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. OMB approval has been requested by January 5, 2011. This notice requests comments from the public and affected agencies concerning the proposed information collection. If granted, the emergency approval is only valid for 180 days. Comments should be directed to OMB, Office of Information and Regulation Affairs, Attention: Department of Justice Desk Officer (202) 395-6466, Washington, DC 20503.
During the first 60 days of this same review period, a regular review of this information collection is also being undertaken. All comments and suggestions, or questions regarding additional information, to include obtaining a copy of the proposed information collection instrument with instructions, should be directed to Barbara A. Terrell, Barbara.Terrell@atf.gov Firearms Industry Programs Branch, Fax (202) 648-9640, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, 99 New York Avenue, NE., Washington DC 20226. Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information. Your comments should address one or more of the following four points:
- Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;
- Evaluate the accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
- Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
- Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.
Summary of Collection:
(1) Type of information collection: New.
(2) The title of the form/collection: Report of Multiple Sale or Other Disposition of Certain Rifles.
(3) The agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the department sponsoring the collection: Form Number: ATF F 3310.12. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
(4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as well as a brief abstract: Primary: Business or For-Profit Other: None.
Need for Collection
The purpose of the information is to require Federal Firearms Licensees to report multiple sales or other dispositions whenever the licensee sells or otherwise disposes of two or more rifles within any five consecutive business days with the following characteristics: (a) Semi automatic; (b) a caliber greater than .22; and (c) the ability to accept a detachable magazine.
(5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of time estimated for an average respondent to respond/reply: It is estimated that 8,479 respondents will complete a 12 minute form.
(6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated with the collection: The estimated total public burden associated with this information collection is 1,696 hours.
If additional information is required contact: Lynn Murray, Department Clearance Officer, Policy and Planning Staff, Justice Management Division, United States Department of Justice, 145 N Street, NE., Two Constitution Square, Room 2E-502, Washington, DC 20530.
Dated: December 14, 2010.
Lynn Murray,
Department Clearance Officer, PRA, United States Department of Justice.
[FR Doc. 2010-31761 Filed 12-16-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-FY-P
Monday, December 20, 2010
Federal Government Releases Draft Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Solar Energy Zones in Western States
While I'm all for solar energy, I need to review the Draft Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement further to see what impact, if any, the projects will have on the public lands before I decide whether to support any of these projects.
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Joint Draft Environmental Study Identifies Public Lands Best Suited for Solar Development in the West
12/16/2010
Contact: Kendra Barkoff (DOI) 202 208-6416
Public Affairs (DOE) 202-586-4940
David Quick (BLM) 202 912-7413
WASHINGTON – Today Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced a comprehensive environmental analysis that has identified proposed ‘solar energy zones’ on public lands in six western states most suitable for environmentally sound, utility-scale solar energy production.
12/16/2010
Contact: Kendra Barkoff (DOI) 202 208-6416
Public Affairs (DOE) 202-586-4940
David Quick (BLM) 202 912-7413
WASHINGTON – Today Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced a comprehensive environmental analysis that has identified proposed ‘solar energy zones’ on public lands in six western states most suitable for environmentally sound, utility-scale solar energy production.
The detailed study, known as the Draft Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, was compiled over the past two years as part of the Obama Administration’s efforts to create a framework for developing renewable energy in the right way and in the right places. The public is encouraged to provide comment on the draft plan during the next 90 days.
“This proposal lays out the next phase of President Obama’s strategy for rapid and responsible development of renewable energy on America’s public lands,” Secretary Salazar said. “This analysis will help renewable energy companies and federal agencies focus development on areas of our public lands that are best suited for large-scale solar development. Our early, ‘Smart from the Start,’ planning will help us site solar projects in the right places, and reduce conflicts and delays at later stages of the development process.”
“Our country has incredible renewable resources, innovative entrepreneurs, a skilled workforce, and manufacturing know-how,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “It’s time to harness these resources and lead in the global clean energy economy. Today’s announcement is part of an integrated strategy to cultivate the entire innovation chain to create the jobs of the 21st century economy and to put America on a sustainable energy path.”
The Draft Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) assessed the environmental, social, and economic impacts associated with solar energy development on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) administered areas in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The Notice of Availability for the Draft Solar PEIS will be published in the Federal Register on Friday, December 17, 2010 and is available today in the Reading Room. The 90-day public comment period will include 14 open meetings, beginning in Washington, D.C. on February 2, 2011.
“Public involvement has been a vital component in every step of the BLM’s solar energy program,” said BLM Director Bob Abbey. “The lessons learned from what we have done so far, plus the public input obtained during this current comment period, will help make all solar development resulting from this process ‘Smart from the Start.’”
Under the study’s Preferred Alternative, the BLM would establish a new Solar Energy Program that would standardize and streamline the authorization process and establish mandatory design features for solar energy development on BLM lands.
Under this proposal, the BLM would establish Solar Energy Zones (SEZ’s) within the lands available for solar development right of way applications. These are areas that have been identified as most appropriate for development, containing the highest solar energy potential and fewest environmental and resource conflicts. The Solar Energy Zones would provide directed, landscape-scale planning for future solar projects and allow for a more efficient permitting and siting process.
The initiative stems from Salazar’s June 2009 announcement that tracts of BLM land in the six western states, known as Solar Energy Study Areas, would be fully evaluated for their environmental and resource suitability for large-scale solar energy production.
The BLM manages about 120 million acres of public land in the six western states covered by the Draft Solar PEIS. BLM lands that would be excluded from solar energy production include areas currently off-limits to this type of energy development; those prohibited by law, regulation, Presidential proclamation, or executive order; lands with slopes of 5 percent or greater and/or sunlight levels below 6.5 kilowatt-hours per square meter per day; and areas with known resources, resource uses, or special designations identified in local land use plans that are incompatible with solar energy development.
On the basis of these exclusions, about 22 million acres of BLM-administered lands would be available for right of way applications for solar development under the Preferred Alternative. That includes about 677,400 acres identified as proposed Solar Energy Zones. However, reasonably foreseeable solar energy development is anticipated ononly about 214,000 acres of the suitable and appropriate BLM lands.
As it completes the Solar PEIS, the BLM continues to process existing solar energy applications. Eight utility-scale solar projects have been approved in the last three months through the Department’s ‘fast-track initiative’ for BLM lands in California and Nevada that, combined, will generate 3,572 megawatts of electricity. The BLM’s current solar energy caseload includes 104 active solar applications covering 1 million acres that developers estimate could generate 60,000 megawatts of electricity.
The Department of Energy (DOE) is working to advance technological development and encourage the full-scale commercialization of clean energy technologies. Through the Loan Guarantee Program, DOE has made significant investments in utility-scale solar generation that will help to scale these technologies in the marketplace. Meanwhile, DOE's solar research and development efforts focus on significant improvements to the cost, reliability, and performance of devices, components, and systems. By working with DOI to accelerate solar energy generation on public lands, DOE is working to create a clean energy future while significantly reducing green house gases
The preferred method of commenting on the Draft Solar PEIS is by written submissions using the online form available at http://solareis.anl.gov. Comments can also be mailed to: Solar Energy Draft Programmatic EIS, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 S. Cass Avenue - EVS/240, Argonne, Illinois 60439. Comments may also be submitted at public meetings scheduled for California: Barstow, El Centro, Ontario, and Palm Springs; Colorado: Alamosa; Nevada: Caliente, Goldfield, Las Vegas; Utah: Cedar City and Salt Lake City; New Mexico: Las Cruces; Arizona: Phoenix and Tucson; and Washington, D.C. in February and March 2011.
The Draft Solar Energy PEIS document is available online at the project website: http://solareis.anl.gov. A Question & Answer document is available online at http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&PageID=112683. Maps are available at http://blm.gov/td5c.
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Apple Introduces PatriotApp™ "Snitch" Program for the iPhone
Wasn't there a movement to "Stop Snitchin" a few years ago? I guess Apple didn't get the memo, because it has released a program in iTunes for the iPhone that allows users to snitch on fellow Americans or otherwise in real time? I claim no copyright in the above image but I post it to demonstrate the levels of complexity that one can snitch on others. Per the application's description:Source: Apple
PatriotApp™ deputizes your iPhone or iPad! It is the world’s first app that allows citizens to assist government agencies in creating safer, cleaner, and more efficient communities. The easy to use graphical interface allows you to report pertinent information to government agencies and share with others via social networking and blogs, all at your fingertips.…
Thursday, December 16, 2010
The Deliberate Dumbing Down of America by Former Reagan Senior Policy Advisor Charlotte Thomson Iserbyt
Unfortunately, this book about the destruction of America's education system is no longer in print.
Source: Charlotte Thomson Iserbyt
Charlotte Thomson Iserbyt, former Senior Policy Advisor in the U.S. Department of Education, blew the whistle in the `80s on government activities withheld from the public. Her inside knowledge will help you protect your children from controversial methods and programs.
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