Mapquest says that where I live near Houston is 375 miles from Brownsville where DOLLY is moving in - and yet we are still getting rain bands and thunderstorms from it.
AMAZING, how BIG these monsters are. We are lucky; we are on the "wet" side and are getting some much needed rain, but without the threat of any flooding. Flooding will be an issue for poor Brownsville, which may get lucky if DOLLY comes in just a few miles north of town. That would keep it on the "dry" side - where the winds come in from the land side instead of the "wet" side where they are coming in from the ocean side - with the tidal surge that goes with it.
We found out with RITA in 2005 that being a few miles on the "dry" side makes all the difference. Houston was spared major damage, and really didn't get any rain--unlike Beaumont and areas 50 to 100 miles east of here, including Louisiana, that got beaten up by it right after KATRINA did her thing.
I still see little real preparation here for a major storm. Officials are still touting old technology like plywood in an age where people could/should have 24/7 protection with (Miami-Dade certified) security window film that replaces shutters and plywood--and you don't have to be home (putting them on) for it to work. Plus it saves energy, which neither shutters nor plywood do (unless you keep them closed all the time so you can't see outside!)
But if you wait until it is too late--like today in Brownsville, and maybe next week somewhere else on the Texas/U.S. coast, then trying to nail plywood on a second story in 60 mile an hour winds is the only choice left. Try to avoid that.
Someone emailed and asked me to advertise. I told him that was the last thing I need right now--our installers are booked until the first of August--and then they have several projects that fill up August. Both commercial and residential. I don't need to have thousands of people calling me and then being frustrated because they can't get it "today."
Security window film isn't something that some Bubba can slap up on his own (and look nice). It takes trained, experienced professionals. We are going carefully so that the work is done right the first time.
Maybe DOLLY will wake up those officials that keep insisting people put a bunch of plywood in their garage. There it can sit and take up space so that the bugs can eat it -- until you try to put it on in a future storm, and end up sailing downwind on it in a stiff breeze. "Joe was last seen flying out of the neighborhood on a piece of plywood."
We live in "Space city" and high-tech America. We also live in a known hurricane zone. Let's upgrade our technology to be better prepared for future DOLLY's who come our way...
I'm riding out this storm in my condo on Clear Lake - behind Miami Dade certified Security Window Film, which is also screening out 99% of harmful UV rays and cutting my energy bill!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Engineers Without Borders & NASA
Over 1 billion people in the world lack access to clean drinking water. Every eight seconds, a young child dies from lack of water or a waterborne disease. That's the same as a 747 jetliner full of kids going down every hour. Clean water is so unusual that some people have to acquire a taste for it.
At the Seabrook (TX) Rotary breakfast last week I heard how High-tech NASA has some engineers volunteering to bring clean water to people who have only dirty water available, using low-tech technology and local materials. But the system does rely on a single high-tech part – one UV bulb.
And it works. It’s called “Bring Your Own Water.” It’s ingenious. Using local materials like gravel and sand, they went to a village in Rwanda and built a short PVC line from a water source, which runs through two boxes that they fill with gravel and sand. They attach to it a small metal box with small switches and a UV bulb – which kills any organisms in the water that survived the filtering. The UV bulb runs off a small solar panel – no electricity required. The result: clean water.
They did another project in a small village in Mexico that had only polluted surface water sources. It had salt water underground – but the engineers say removing salt requires much more equipment than the local economy could handle. It’s easier to clean dirty water than remove salt. In Mexico, they had electricity and higher needs, so a small pump was installed. The villagers formed an association, elected a leader and spread the cost among the entire village. Until they had clean water, kids were getting sick twice a week and adults were sick constantly.
One surprise: After drinking dirty water, some people have to “acquire” a taste for clean water. Villagers did not like the bottled water that came from the store. Yet they did like the taste of filtered water. The NASA engineer said that in Rwanda, the water system meant that the girls could go to school instead of carrying water all day. Yet, due to the poverty, they had less community interest –since each family is trying to find enough food to eat daily -- than in Mexico where there is more money.
“Engineers Without Borders” is doing great things to make the world a better place. Their work puts a human face on Americans and enhances our image in these forgotten places. We need more people doing the same.
Thank you NASA and engineers everywhere who are volunteering to bring appropriate technology solutions to the world.
At the Seabrook (TX) Rotary breakfast last week I heard how High-tech NASA has some engineers volunteering to bring clean water to people who have only dirty water available, using low-tech technology and local materials. But the system does rely on a single high-tech part – one UV bulb.
And it works. It’s called “Bring Your Own Water.” It’s ingenious. Using local materials like gravel and sand, they went to a village in Rwanda and built a short PVC line from a water source, which runs through two boxes that they fill with gravel and sand. They attach to it a small metal box with small switches and a UV bulb – which kills any organisms in the water that survived the filtering. The UV bulb runs off a small solar panel – no electricity required. The result: clean water.
They did another project in a small village in Mexico that had only polluted surface water sources. It had salt water underground – but the engineers say removing salt requires much more equipment than the local economy could handle. It’s easier to clean dirty water than remove salt. In Mexico, they had electricity and higher needs, so a small pump was installed. The villagers formed an association, elected a leader and spread the cost among the entire village. Until they had clean water, kids were getting sick twice a week and adults were sick constantly.
One surprise: After drinking dirty water, some people have to “acquire” a taste for clean water. Villagers did not like the bottled water that came from the store. Yet they did like the taste of filtered water. The NASA engineer said that in Rwanda, the water system meant that the girls could go to school instead of carrying water all day. Yet, due to the poverty, they had less community interest –since each family is trying to find enough food to eat daily -- than in Mexico where there is more money.
“Engineers Without Borders” is doing great things to make the world a better place. Their work puts a human face on Americans and enhances our image in these forgotten places. We need more people doing the same.
Thank you NASA and engineers everywhere who are volunteering to bring appropriate technology solutions to the world.
Monday, July 07, 2008
Taken at Tookie's
Saturday, the day after July 4th, had lunch at Tookie's in Seabrook. Big mistake! Came out 30 minutes later and found that someone had broken the passenger window and stolen my TomTom GPS. In broad daylight. The police said it was only the 3rd time in 10 years.
Today the Tookie's manager called and said their insurance wouldn't cover it --and neither would the owner. They really care about their customers, yeah. Park at Tookie's at your own risk. It wasn't worth it -- $200 to replace the window plus $150 for the TomTom.
Next time I'll eat at the Classic Cafe instead!
The guy in Kingwood would replaced my window said they get a lot of calls for broken windows - people stealing laptops, purses, GPS's, etc.
As soon as possible, I am getting my own security film installed on my car. They will stop the next creep who tries to break in the car...
Today the Tookie's manager called and said their insurance wouldn't cover it --and neither would the owner. They really care about their customers, yeah. Park at Tookie's at your own risk. It wasn't worth it -- $200 to replace the window plus $150 for the TomTom.
Next time I'll eat at the Classic Cafe instead!
The guy in Kingwood would replaced my window said they get a lot of calls for broken windows - people stealing laptops, purses, GPS's, etc.
As soon as possible, I am getting my own security film installed on my car. They will stop the next creep who tries to break in the car...
Friday, July 04, 2008
July 4th 2008 - Time for an Innovative America
It’s obvious that America is in crisis, financially and technically. The only way out of it is for Americans to become innovative again.
Most of our problems were caused by neglect, a failure to plan ahead, and incompetence. They are solvable, but it will take Americans doing a lot of “new” to pull out of this financial mess –like launching a domestic “Marshall Plan” for renewable energy and energy efficiency.
GM, General Motors, stands on the edge of bankruptcy for one simple reason – poor leadership and failure to advance their technology. While it has been obvious from Toyota’s success for years with its hybrid, GM refused to develop similar technology. In short, our smart guys were stupid. It’s been obvious for years that energy was getting short worldwide as India and China have taken off. But no one looked at the horizon to see the threat coming and prepare for it. They put profits from big trucks over upgrading their own technology. Had they done so, a hybrid F-250 would get substantially better mileage and might even still be selling. Because GM had no Prius, they lost. Now they have to play “catch up” as is America. That is not a good thing.
America can only get out of this financial hole by embracing innovation and strategic thinking --by all of us, especially our leadership. Whoever gets elected needs to have a GLOBAL STRATEGIC plan for our future – balancing Iraq, oil, trade, financial, real estate, medical care, etc. Blocking free trade in the 30’s caused the Great Depression. Giving the top 2% all the tax breaks has cause the current financial black hole. Failing to oversee risky financial practices did the same, at the cost of hundreds of billions.
To tackle the biggest problem –the energy crisis-- we need incentives for energy efficiency that make sense. Tax credits or deductions for making homes and buildings more energy efficient w is something the government can do TODAY. Americans individually can do it by putting solar/security film on their windows – which would cut their energy bill. We will need to build mass transit too. In Houston, our population will double in 20 years. Roads won’t. Without rail, it will be gridlock. The same goes for the rest of America. We need smart action now or things will get worse, not better. A good example is how the Colombian government just rescued hostages without a shot, by clever intelligence. Mission accomplished and no one died.
Our government needs to switch our ethanol strategy away from our food chain (corn) and towards more efficient, abundant sources like sugar, which is 4-5 times more efficient than corn. That would increase both our fuels and food inventories! And cut costs. And buying sugar from developing country farmers also puts money in their pockets – a win-win.
To do it means allowing sugar imports instead of allowing the “sugar lobby” to bar imports, thereby keeping lower cost sugar fuel sources away from Americans. These lobbies cause you to pay more for anything that has sugar in it, from cereal to candy bars. They are keeping your costs high.
Huge borrowing by the federal government to pay for a two-front war while our government and companies like GM failed to implement energy diversification and efficiency have put us in a perilous period. Our financial base is melting down.
With China and India’s growth, energy prices are always going to be at a premium until we maximize our energy alternatives, from free solar and wind, to new sources such as hydrogen, etc. We could develop fusion reactors, which would be safer than today’s nuclear plants and do not produce weapons material or radioactive waste.
It will take a new America dedicated to innovation and new technology to get us back into super power status. We need to pick people for positions based on competence, not family connection or how cute they might be. We need to pick a President who has a plan and a new global vision for America. We must develop new technologies from NASA to Main Street.
Success will take each American thinking outside the box from here on out. Our ship of state has been heavily damaged. It will take innovative action from all of us, from Main Street to Wall Street, to rebuild the roads and rail of tomorrow, the value of our dollar and our country’s financial and technical base. I know we Americans can do it. Our future depends on it. Happy 4th.
Most of our problems were caused by neglect, a failure to plan ahead, and incompetence. They are solvable, but it will take Americans doing a lot of “new” to pull out of this financial mess –like launching a domestic “Marshall Plan” for renewable energy and energy efficiency.
GM, General Motors, stands on the edge of bankruptcy for one simple reason – poor leadership and failure to advance their technology. While it has been obvious from Toyota’s success for years with its hybrid, GM refused to develop similar technology. In short, our smart guys were stupid. It’s been obvious for years that energy was getting short worldwide as India and China have taken off. But no one looked at the horizon to see the threat coming and prepare for it. They put profits from big trucks over upgrading their own technology. Had they done so, a hybrid F-250 would get substantially better mileage and might even still be selling. Because GM had no Prius, they lost. Now they have to play “catch up” as is America. That is not a good thing.
America can only get out of this financial hole by embracing innovation and strategic thinking --by all of us, especially our leadership. Whoever gets elected needs to have a GLOBAL STRATEGIC plan for our future – balancing Iraq, oil, trade, financial, real estate, medical care, etc. Blocking free trade in the 30’s caused the Great Depression. Giving the top 2% all the tax breaks has cause the current financial black hole. Failing to oversee risky financial practices did the same, at the cost of hundreds of billions.
To tackle the biggest problem –the energy crisis-- we need incentives for energy efficiency that make sense. Tax credits or deductions for making homes and buildings more energy efficient w is something the government can do TODAY. Americans individually can do it by putting solar/security film on their windows – which would cut their energy bill. We will need to build mass transit too. In Houston, our population will double in 20 years. Roads won’t. Without rail, it will be gridlock. The same goes for the rest of America. We need smart action now or things will get worse, not better. A good example is how the Colombian government just rescued hostages without a shot, by clever intelligence. Mission accomplished and no one died.
Our government needs to switch our ethanol strategy away from our food chain (corn) and towards more efficient, abundant sources like sugar, which is 4-5 times more efficient than corn. That would increase both our fuels and food inventories! And cut costs. And buying sugar from developing country farmers also puts money in their pockets – a win-win.
To do it means allowing sugar imports instead of allowing the “sugar lobby” to bar imports, thereby keeping lower cost sugar fuel sources away from Americans. These lobbies cause you to pay more for anything that has sugar in it, from cereal to candy bars. They are keeping your costs high.
Huge borrowing by the federal government to pay for a two-front war while our government and companies like GM failed to implement energy diversification and efficiency have put us in a perilous period. Our financial base is melting down.
With China and India’s growth, energy prices are always going to be at a premium until we maximize our energy alternatives, from free solar and wind, to new sources such as hydrogen, etc. We could develop fusion reactors, which would be safer than today’s nuclear plants and do not produce weapons material or radioactive waste.
It will take a new America dedicated to innovation and new technology to get us back into super power status. We need to pick people for positions based on competence, not family connection or how cute they might be. We need to pick a President who has a plan and a new global vision for America. We must develop new technologies from NASA to Main Street.
Success will take each American thinking outside the box from here on out. Our ship of state has been heavily damaged. It will take innovative action from all of us, from Main Street to Wall Street, to rebuild the roads and rail of tomorrow, the value of our dollar and our country’s financial and technical base. I know we Americans can do it. Our future depends on it. Happy 4th.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
T Storms
Rolling thunder woke me at 5 a.m. - a huge lightning show was going on over the lake. I took some video and some photos - might get a chance to post it later, if i can get myself moving more than 5 mph.
I've been FLAT for the last two days - either it was a bug or I just was out of gas. That means I will have one speed for today - SLOW.
Forecast is for rain showers 50-50 for the next couple days. I'll have to get out in it anyway for meetings.
I've been really mad at what Mugabe is doing in Zimbabwe - even after his opponent withdrew from the Presidential race his people have been killing and beating people. And nothing is done. Why should it always take OIL to get our attention?
I believe that the situation in Africa is a unique area that a President Obama COULD address, but not a white President. It needs to be addressed. Democracy is being murdered by people who are paying no price for their inhuman conduct. How can people watch and doing nothing about it is beyond me...
I've been FLAT for the last two days - either it was a bug or I just was out of gas. That means I will have one speed for today - SLOW.
Forecast is for rain showers 50-50 for the next couple days. I'll have to get out in it anyway for meetings.
I've been really mad at what Mugabe is doing in Zimbabwe - even after his opponent withdrew from the Presidential race his people have been killing and beating people. And nothing is done. Why should it always take OIL to get our attention?
I believe that the situation in Africa is a unique area that a President Obama COULD address, but not a white President. It needs to be addressed. Democracy is being murdered by people who are paying no price for their inhuman conduct. How can people watch and doing nothing about it is beyond me...
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Texas Governor's Mansion on Fire
I'm in Austin. I tried to watch "Meet the Press" on TV today - but the local news was all about the Governor's Mansion burning, a real shock. It started last night about 2 a.m. It sits only a mile or so from my hotel.
Had my window faced downtown, and I looked, I could have seen it burning--but the loss of that much history is too hard to watch even on TV. I'd rather not. Funny, but I woke up about that time. The A/C kept making odd noises.
Before coming here I attended the Hurricane convention at the George Brown in Houston. I was shocked that under "Preparations" they only listed two items, shutters and plywood! Plywood? How old tech for space city.
There was zero mention of New Tech -- Miami Dade certified Security Window Film -- which has been saving offices and houses in Florida for years! That was confirmed in the 2004 "Project Safe Windows" study of the Florida Hurricane damage caused that year. Buildings with security window film survived storms that destroyed buildings next door that did not have it. It's all because of wind-borne debris breaching windows and wind blowing the structure apart.
Not only does the film protect the building, it is "green" and cuts both UV rays and energy use. It works 24/7 (shutters and plywood don't). It's high tech and costs a fraction of shutters or impact glass. It's a win-win.
On top of security film, homeowners need to install a device I saw at the GRB to keep their garage doors from blowing in during a hurricane (this breach also leads to roof loss).
We need to upgrade our building technology BEFORE the next storm. But that requires the awareness to get there. I did not see that awareness among many of the emergency presenters yesterday at the GRB.
Hurricane season is here. Time is not on our side. We need to get new protection technology information to the public, and our emergency personnel, before it is too late.
Later, I hope to have breakfast with a niece I haven't seen in years before heading back.
Lated word: Missed Niece and this just came in from mom in Mason City Iowa, which barely missed the Parkersberg killer tornado:
"Nobody remembers when we have what is going on now. Floods Rain & more rain. We have so many flooded streets. Rose said they couldn't find a sump pump in town so they are bailing water out of the sump pump hole to keep water out of the basement. The water treatment plant shut down so I don't know how we are going to get fresh water at this time. We did have a couple of pitchers of water in the frig. All bottled water was already out in the stores,they are rescuing people from there homes any way possible."
Yikes.
Had my window faced downtown, and I looked, I could have seen it burning--but the loss of that much history is too hard to watch even on TV. I'd rather not. Funny, but I woke up about that time. The A/C kept making odd noises.
Before coming here I attended the Hurricane convention at the George Brown in Houston. I was shocked that under "Preparations" they only listed two items, shutters and plywood! Plywood? How old tech for space city.
There was zero mention of New Tech -- Miami Dade certified Security Window Film -- which has been saving offices and houses in Florida for years! That was confirmed in the 2004 "Project Safe Windows" study of the Florida Hurricane damage caused that year. Buildings with security window film survived storms that destroyed buildings next door that did not have it. It's all because of wind-borne debris breaching windows and wind blowing the structure apart.
Not only does the film protect the building, it is "green" and cuts both UV rays and energy use. It works 24/7 (shutters and plywood don't). It's high tech and costs a fraction of shutters or impact glass. It's a win-win.
On top of security film, homeowners need to install a device I saw at the GRB to keep their garage doors from blowing in during a hurricane (this breach also leads to roof loss).
We need to upgrade our building technology BEFORE the next storm. But that requires the awareness to get there. I did not see that awareness among many of the emergency presenters yesterday at the GRB.
Hurricane season is here. Time is not on our side. We need to get new protection technology information to the public, and our emergency personnel, before it is too late.
Later, I hope to have breakfast with a niece I haven't seen in years before heading back.
Lated word: Missed Niece and this just came in from mom in Mason City Iowa, which barely missed the Parkersberg killer tornado:
"Nobody remembers when we have what is going on now. Floods Rain & more rain. We have so many flooded streets. Rose said they couldn't find a sump pump in town so they are bailing water out of the sump pump hole to keep water out of the basement. The water treatment plant shut down so I don't know how we are going to get fresh water at this time. We did have a couple of pitchers of water in the frig. All bottled water was already out in the stores,they are rescuing people from there homes any way possible."
Yikes.
Monday, June 02, 2008
Only Way to Buy a Car
My Van went to the car doctor one time too many last week - the 4th visit in a month -- so I had to shop for a car. I discovered how much better it is with the Internet. Instead of wandering HOT through car lots, I did an Internet search and was able to spot the best car with the lowest mileage for the price - something impossible to do the old way.
I ended up at Carmax - and was impressed. There system is all computerized --no paper until the title stuff is printed at the end. They took my name and address and soon they had banks making offers so I could pick the lowest interest rate offered.
A few hours later, I drove out with a loaded 2005 Montana with only 28,000 miles on it - without paying a dime. My old van was enough for the down payment and the payments are only $285 - my last repair bill was that much! Amazing.
I took it by my trusted 20-year mechanic at the Swiss Garage and Mike said it was in great shape. And it gets a little better mileage than the van, has a DVD player and an audio warning when I get close to something when backing up. Wow, what a painless upgrade.
I highly recommend trying Carmax. It worked for me. I will need a reliable car as hurricane season gets underway. My Armor Glass International business is really on the upswing - people need the protection and this could be the year we get hit again.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Summer, Strong Winds and Pelicans
It's been non-stop work here on the Texas coast.
It makes it all the more special to be able to glance up once in a while to look out over Clear Lake. It's even better to get some time on the balcony, especially when your brain needs a break.
This morning the wind was blowing hard, as it has for months --which is highly unusual. I've noticed that high winds brings out the Pelicans, who often glide by in formation. It is amazing to watch them floating on the air, with their huge wings riding on the strong breeze. It's like watching a group of gliding F-16's skimming over the roof tops.
Have a great holiday weekend. After working through last weekend, I'm ready to take some time off! With gas closing in on $4/ gallon for regular, I'll pass on making an big holiday trip.
We are facing the opening of hurricane season June 1. They are predicting a "busy" season. Better rest (and prepare) now. It could be a wild summer.
It makes it all the more special to be able to glance up once in a while to look out over Clear Lake. It's even better to get some time on the balcony, especially when your brain needs a break.
This morning the wind was blowing hard, as it has for months --which is highly unusual. I've noticed that high winds brings out the Pelicans, who often glide by in formation. It is amazing to watch them floating on the air, with their huge wings riding on the strong breeze. It's like watching a group of gliding F-16's skimming over the roof tops.
Have a great holiday weekend. After working through last weekend, I'm ready to take some time off! With gas closing in on $4/ gallon for regular, I'll pass on making an big holiday trip.
We are facing the opening of hurricane season June 1. They are predicting a "busy" season. Better rest (and prepare) now. It could be a wild summer.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Consequences if Pentagon/White House Attacks Iran
There is serious consideration in the Pentagon and White House to launch an attack on Iran before President Bush leaves office – only 9 months from now -- in an effort to take out Iran’s nuclear program before the next President assumes office. A Washington Post article today confirms the planning. What would be the result of a U.S. attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities?
It’s happened before. Recently, Israeli fighter aircraft bombed a facility in Syria last September that was thought to be a copy of a North Korean nuclear reactor. Syria raised no verbal objections. In 1981, Israeli aircraft bombed Saddam’s Osiraq reactor near Baghdad.
But hitting Iran would have vastly different and extremely negative consequences for both the United States and the Middle East, despite the statements by Mr. Bush and Ms. Clinton who think the problem will be solved with bombs instead of international pressure and diplomacy.
According to a study by the Oxford Research Group, which accurately predicted the consequences of invading Iraq: “A US military attack on Iranian nuclear infrastructure would be the start of a protracted military confrontation that would probably involve Iraq, Israel and Lebanon as well as the United States and Iran, with the possibility of west Gulf States being involved as well. An attack by Israel, although initially on a smaller scale, would almost certainly escalate to involve the United States, and would also mark the start of a protracted conflict.”
Oxford thinks that the attack, either by Israeli or U.S. fighters, would be primarily an air attack without ground troops (since we don’t have another 150,000 troops needed for a third front in Iran.) Targets would be Iran’s nuclear facilities and defense systems. Iran could immediately strike back with its Mach 2 anti-ship “Sunburn” missile that could destroy an American aircraft carrier with 5,000 people onboard or a tanker -- in seconds. In 1987, A French Exocet hit the USS Stark in the Gulf, killing 37. The Sunburn is twice as fast and can carry a nuclear warhead.
The Oxford Group says “all the available evidence suggests that any military action (against Iran) would have a very powerful unifying effect within Iran…increasing both its political power base and its stability. It would lead to Iran attacking tanker traffic and conducting sabotage in the Persian Gulf states of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (then watch oil prices make $100 barrel oil look like the “good old days.”) Moreover, Iran would be likely to encourage more militant action by Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon against Israel.
“Given the nature of the Iran/Iraq border, Iran would be in a very strong position to aid elements of the Iraqi insurgency in numerous ways, providing a wide range of armaments as well as personnel.” Iran could open a major new front in Iraq with millions of Shiite soldiers who could enter the contest. And, Oxford thinks the Iranians will quickly rebuild their nuclear program, so the strike would not stop the program, only delay it.
Iran has powerful allies that could make a strike on Iran into a global conflict. “Given recent major long-term economic agreements between Iran and China, and also between Iran and India, as well as close links with Russia, a US attack would attract major criticisms, including from two of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – China and Russia.” Both are major nuclear military powers. And don’t forget we’ll need the Russian Soyuz to get to the International Space Station since our three Shuttles become museum pieces in 2010.
“Although there is an uneasy relationship between Shiite Iran and the (Sunni) al-Qaida movement, and between Iran and the Arab world, any attack on such a significant Islamic republic would inevitably increase the anti-American mood in the region,” says Oxford. “Suicide bombings will spread…” and will potentially reach America as a result of the increased tension.
As Russia, India and China continue to build powerful economies based on trade surpluses and profitable business, the U.S will be drained even further by trillions in (borrowed) new military expenditures in blood and treasure if it embarks on a new war with Iran. Watch Iraq explode as a result.
The gross incompetence in handling Iraq, Katrina, etc. (and confirmed by Sen. McCain) should be enough evidence for Congress to prohibit this President from creating greater damage in his closing days in power by launching another fiscally draining, misguided, poorly-planned war that will only make a bad situation worse.
Congress should pass a law that there be no military action against Iran until a new President takes over in January 2009 since that President will have to live with the consequences (along with our pocketbooks). The next President needs to make that call on Iran.
Let Congress hear your voice – unless you’d like to pay for another war that will generate more global terrorism, with the only guarantee being economic bankruptcy as more trillions are borrowed to finance it. Diplomacy remains the untraveled road in the Middle East.
It’s happened before. Recently, Israeli fighter aircraft bombed a facility in Syria last September that was thought to be a copy of a North Korean nuclear reactor. Syria raised no verbal objections. In 1981, Israeli aircraft bombed Saddam’s Osiraq reactor near Baghdad.
But hitting Iran would have vastly different and extremely negative consequences for both the United States and the Middle East, despite the statements by Mr. Bush and Ms. Clinton who think the problem will be solved with bombs instead of international pressure and diplomacy.
According to a study by the Oxford Research Group, which accurately predicted the consequences of invading Iraq: “A US military attack on Iranian nuclear infrastructure would be the start of a protracted military confrontation that would probably involve Iraq, Israel and Lebanon as well as the United States and Iran, with the possibility of west Gulf States being involved as well. An attack by Israel, although initially on a smaller scale, would almost certainly escalate to involve the United States, and would also mark the start of a protracted conflict.”
Oxford thinks that the attack, either by Israeli or U.S. fighters, would be primarily an air attack without ground troops (since we don’t have another 150,000 troops needed for a third front in Iran.) Targets would be Iran’s nuclear facilities and defense systems. Iran could immediately strike back with its Mach 2 anti-ship “Sunburn” missile that could destroy an American aircraft carrier with 5,000 people onboard or a tanker -- in seconds. In 1987, A French Exocet hit the USS Stark in the Gulf, killing 37. The Sunburn is twice as fast and can carry a nuclear warhead.
The Oxford Group says “all the available evidence suggests that any military action (against Iran) would have a very powerful unifying effect within Iran…increasing both its political power base and its stability. It would lead to Iran attacking tanker traffic and conducting sabotage in the Persian Gulf states of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (then watch oil prices make $100 barrel oil look like the “good old days.”) Moreover, Iran would be likely to encourage more militant action by Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon against Israel.
“Given the nature of the Iran/Iraq border, Iran would be in a very strong position to aid elements of the Iraqi insurgency in numerous ways, providing a wide range of armaments as well as personnel.” Iran could open a major new front in Iraq with millions of Shiite soldiers who could enter the contest. And, Oxford thinks the Iranians will quickly rebuild their nuclear program, so the strike would not stop the program, only delay it.
Iran has powerful allies that could make a strike on Iran into a global conflict. “Given recent major long-term economic agreements between Iran and China, and also between Iran and India, as well as close links with Russia, a US attack would attract major criticisms, including from two of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – China and Russia.” Both are major nuclear military powers. And don’t forget we’ll need the Russian Soyuz to get to the International Space Station since our three Shuttles become museum pieces in 2010.
“Although there is an uneasy relationship between Shiite Iran and the (Sunni) al-Qaida movement, and between Iran and the Arab world, any attack on such a significant Islamic republic would inevitably increase the anti-American mood in the region,” says Oxford. “Suicide bombings will spread…” and will potentially reach America as a result of the increased tension.
As Russia, India and China continue to build powerful economies based on trade surpluses and profitable business, the U.S will be drained even further by trillions in (borrowed) new military expenditures in blood and treasure if it embarks on a new war with Iran. Watch Iraq explode as a result.
The gross incompetence in handling Iraq, Katrina, etc. (and confirmed by Sen. McCain) should be enough evidence for Congress to prohibit this President from creating greater damage in his closing days in power by launching another fiscally draining, misguided, poorly-planned war that will only make a bad situation worse.
Congress should pass a law that there be no military action against Iran until a new President takes over in January 2009 since that President will have to live with the consequences (along with our pocketbooks). The next President needs to make that call on Iran.
Let Congress hear your voice – unless you’d like to pay for another war that will generate more global terrorism, with the only guarantee being economic bankruptcy as more trillions are borrowed to finance it. Diplomacy remains the untraveled road in the Middle East.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
The Woman Who Would Be Bush
Hillary Clinton said she'd nuke Iran if necessary, one of the most reckless statements a Presidential candidate can make -- as she herself has said in the past. Now she seems ready to be more Bush than Bush to show her "executive" capacity.
If anything, Clinton's statement shows how dangerous it would be to put in office someone who somehow feels driven to show how masculine she can be with military force, just like Bush. Like Bush, she has never served in the military and has never had to dodge sniper bullets, but flip statements about dropping nuclear weapons on an Islamic country can only raise great concern worldwide about another American President being reckless in starting wars that prove costly and only increase bitterness against us - worldwide.
Why she would make such a statement is unknowable - but it shows a desperate overreaching that bodes ill for the American people if she obtains control of the White House and mimics leaders like Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, who can't let go of power after 28 years either, despite losing an election.
If Clinton finds a way to change the rules in the 4th quarter to steal the nomination from Mr. Obama -- by resorting to character assassination, gutter politics and nuclear triggers -- then we will end up no better than we were during the last eight years under Mr. Bush. He is another leader who never went to war but started one that cost so much blood and treasure the next President needs to extinguish it, not add yet another one that could end in a doomsday showdown with Russia, Iran's ally.
Clinton's stated readiness to nuke another country shows a dangerous new trend that makes her unqualified to represent a new face of America....
If anything, Clinton's statement shows how dangerous it would be to put in office someone who somehow feels driven to show how masculine she can be with military force, just like Bush. Like Bush, she has never served in the military and has never had to dodge sniper bullets, but flip statements about dropping nuclear weapons on an Islamic country can only raise great concern worldwide about another American President being reckless in starting wars that prove costly and only increase bitterness against us - worldwide.
Why she would make such a statement is unknowable - but it shows a desperate overreaching that bodes ill for the American people if she obtains control of the White House and mimics leaders like Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, who can't let go of power after 28 years either, despite losing an election.
If Clinton finds a way to change the rules in the 4th quarter to steal the nomination from Mr. Obama -- by resorting to character assassination, gutter politics and nuclear triggers -- then we will end up no better than we were during the last eight years under Mr. Bush. He is another leader who never went to war but started one that cost so much blood and treasure the next President needs to extinguish it, not add yet another one that could end in a doomsday showdown with Russia, Iran's ally.
Clinton's stated readiness to nuke another country shows a dangerous new trend that makes her unqualified to represent a new face of America....
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Flag Pins and True Patriotism
I heard the nice lady ask Sen. Obama at the Philadelphia debate last night why he doesn’t wear a flag pin while running for President.
But what does that really mean when current leaders wear flag pins yet put our veterans on repeated tours in Iraq, and then put them in a rundown Walter Reed hospital with rats running down the halls, and oversee a system that cuts their benefits if they become a sole survivor?
A military ‘sole survivor’ is a family that has already lost brothers or sisters in Iraq, so if a brother is killed the last surviving brother or sister (or son or daughter) is forced to leave the service and Iraq. But then our government cuts their benefits. The sole survivor, who has been serving in Iraq, loses his or her education benefits and medical benefits under the current system.
The same leaders who wear flag pins and tout their support for our troops yet leave in place a system that cuts a service member’s benefits when they become a military ‘sole survivor’ is not my idea of true American leadership -- or respect for the pin they are wearing.
So how does wearing a flag pin signify true leadership and support of American families when your tax policies favor only the top 2% of Americans and no-bid contracts for your vice-presidents former company? I’d rather a President wear no flag and support the other 98% of us.
Does a President who always wears a flag pin and allows this system to unfairly treat the veterans risking their lives for all Americans show real values and leadership? How does that pin show real support for our troops when actions are otherwise? Does taking us into an unplanned and mismanaged war show patriotism because the President appointed people like Paul Bremer with no experience in Iraq while wearing a flag on his lapel?
Take it a step further, for instance Kenya. How does a leader wearing a Kenya national flag on his lapel --who instigates violent attacks, and even killing by his supporters -- show true patriotism for that country? How does a flag pin-wearing Zimbabwe President who won’t give up power after 28 years and refuses to release poll results show patriotism and respect for their people?
I would prefer a President who didn't wear a pin who did the right thing versus a President who wears the pin and does the wrong thing. It's even worse to make the flag associated with leadership arrogance, mistakes and blunders.
People need to look for true symbols of patriotism, which are thoughtful, meaningful Actions that take care of the bottom 98% instead of the top. Otherwise, wearing the flag pin is just a charade and doesn’t show real respect for the flag they are wearing.
But what does that really mean when current leaders wear flag pins yet put our veterans on repeated tours in Iraq, and then put them in a rundown Walter Reed hospital with rats running down the halls, and oversee a system that cuts their benefits if they become a sole survivor?
A military ‘sole survivor’ is a family that has already lost brothers or sisters in Iraq, so if a brother is killed the last surviving brother or sister (or son or daughter) is forced to leave the service and Iraq. But then our government cuts their benefits. The sole survivor, who has been serving in Iraq, loses his or her education benefits and medical benefits under the current system.
The same leaders who wear flag pins and tout their support for our troops yet leave in place a system that cuts a service member’s benefits when they become a military ‘sole survivor’ is not my idea of true American leadership -- or respect for the pin they are wearing.
So how does wearing a flag pin signify true leadership and support of American families when your tax policies favor only the top 2% of Americans and no-bid contracts for your vice-presidents former company? I’d rather a President wear no flag and support the other 98% of us.
Does a President who always wears a flag pin and allows this system to unfairly treat the veterans risking their lives for all Americans show real values and leadership? How does that pin show real support for our troops when actions are otherwise? Does taking us into an unplanned and mismanaged war show patriotism because the President appointed people like Paul Bremer with no experience in Iraq while wearing a flag on his lapel?
Take it a step further, for instance Kenya. How does a leader wearing a Kenya national flag on his lapel --who instigates violent attacks, and even killing by his supporters -- show true patriotism for that country? How does a flag pin-wearing Zimbabwe President who won’t give up power after 28 years and refuses to release poll results show patriotism and respect for their people?
I would prefer a President who didn't wear a pin who did the right thing versus a President who wears the pin and does the wrong thing. It's even worse to make the flag associated with leadership arrogance, mistakes and blunders.
People need to look for true symbols of patriotism, which are thoughtful, meaningful Actions that take care of the bottom 98% instead of the top. Otherwise, wearing the flag pin is just a charade and doesn’t show real respect for the flag they are wearing.
Monday, April 14, 2008
At the Mercy of Technology
Sometimes we need a reminder how dependent we have become on our technology--and how we pay it no mind until it doesn't work.
My reminder came this weekend when suddenly the wireless router went offline - the cable guy said they weren't the problem. So I had to go to the store and buy two different routers and engage in geek battle in order to (finally) get the new wireless working. Even then it isn't yet "secure" since that part of the program never made an appearance. I'll have to figure that part out next. Being a geek is tough work.
Whatever happened to just "plug it in and it works"? Anyway, even a day over the weekend without Internet access was like a year -- an isolating feeling. Yes I could still access it via the Blackberry but its not the same as using the laptop to check bank records, email, etc. when you are home.
My reminder came this weekend when suddenly the wireless router went offline - the cable guy said they weren't the problem. So I had to go to the store and buy two different routers and engage in geek battle in order to (finally) get the new wireless working. Even then it isn't yet "secure" since that part of the program never made an appearance. I'll have to figure that part out next. Being a geek is tough work.
Whatever happened to just "plug it in and it works"? Anyway, even a day over the weekend without Internet access was like a year -- an isolating feeling. Yes I could still access it via the Blackberry but its not the same as using the laptop to check bank records, email, etc. when you are home.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
The Callers Who Sounded Bitter
I spent part of the morning listening to the Washington Journal TV program on cable talking about the world food crisis that is a looming Tsunami and taking calls from ordinary people. They had one line for Democrats and another for Republicans. It was hard to tell which was which since all callers wanted to stop free trade, cut off food exports to the Middle East, stop giving money away to foreign countries, punish etc. The callers wanted to PUNISH someone for our situation.
They all certainly sounded bitter to me! Every one of them sounded angry and their comments were hard and uncompromising. The callers who sounded white and middle class – both Democrats and Republicans--sounded very bitter.
One lady caller said that she didn’t want to hear about food problems elsewhere in the world when our own prices are too high. It wasn’t a concern. That struck me as both petty and bitter.
Like many, she doesn’t see how that jeopardizes our own security. I heard no one call in worried about millions of people starving and fighting over declining food sources. None of them seemed to realize that this growing global food crisis will affect our own security. Vietnam did exactly what many of the callers demanded (keep our food for ourselves.) Vietnam stopped exporting rice, causing prices to jump 30%. India is doing the same, cutting global food sources and spiking prices for people who can’t afford the jump.
Food prices are up 40% from last year, and the trend is not stopping. Part of it stems from the rising cost of fuel, and part because ethanol production based on our food sources like corn is taking food off the market. That’s why bread is now $3 a loaf. We need to shift ethanol feedstock from corn to non-food sources such as switch grass, which can be grown on marginal land. That would also preserve our good land for food production and put more supply back into the market.
The callers wanted to withhold our money and our support. If this isn’t bitterness, what is? Starving people are more willing to start wars than well-fed ones.
The problem is that the more everyone withholds, the greater the problem begins. People forget that the Great Depression of the 30’s was made worse as countries started imposing tariffs on other countries and trade slowed down. We seem to be doing the same thing all over again. The free trade agreement with Colombia is in trouble; however, it would actually benefit Americans. Colombians can import into the U.S. without tax; yet Americans have to pay up to 80% taxes to export our products to Colombia unless we enact the free trade pact. So without it we lose jobs – the opposite of what many Americans think.
To solve these issues, especially one involving something as necessary for human life as food, the World is waiting for America to move forward with a global plan of action… let’s hope they don’t have to wait too long or else they might get bitter….
They all certainly sounded bitter to me! Every one of them sounded angry and their comments were hard and uncompromising. The callers who sounded white and middle class – both Democrats and Republicans--sounded very bitter.
One lady caller said that she didn’t want to hear about food problems elsewhere in the world when our own prices are too high. It wasn’t a concern. That struck me as both petty and bitter.
Like many, she doesn’t see how that jeopardizes our own security. I heard no one call in worried about millions of people starving and fighting over declining food sources. None of them seemed to realize that this growing global food crisis will affect our own security. Vietnam did exactly what many of the callers demanded (keep our food for ourselves.) Vietnam stopped exporting rice, causing prices to jump 30%. India is doing the same, cutting global food sources and spiking prices for people who can’t afford the jump.
Food prices are up 40% from last year, and the trend is not stopping. Part of it stems from the rising cost of fuel, and part because ethanol production based on our food sources like corn is taking food off the market. That’s why bread is now $3 a loaf. We need to shift ethanol feedstock from corn to non-food sources such as switch grass, which can be grown on marginal land. That would also preserve our good land for food production and put more supply back into the market.
The callers wanted to withhold our money and our support. If this isn’t bitterness, what is? Starving people are more willing to start wars than well-fed ones.
The problem is that the more everyone withholds, the greater the problem begins. People forget that the Great Depression of the 30’s was made worse as countries started imposing tariffs on other countries and trade slowed down. We seem to be doing the same thing all over again. The free trade agreement with Colombia is in trouble; however, it would actually benefit Americans. Colombians can import into the U.S. without tax; yet Americans have to pay up to 80% taxes to export our products to Colombia unless we enact the free trade pact. So without it we lose jobs – the opposite of what many Americans think.
To solve these issues, especially one involving something as necessary for human life as food, the World is waiting for America to move forward with a global plan of action… let’s hope they don’t have to wait too long or else they might get bitter….
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
UFO's and Texas: A Perfect Match
If there are UFO's from space, then its clear that the best place for them to land (should they decide to do so) would be Texas. Why? Because we are so diverse that probably few would even notice them. For details I refer you to my article published today in the Global American Series.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Americans Going “Green” to Save Health and Money
Americans are Greening for Health and Energy Benefits, Even if the Government Isn’t
There has been a 100% increase in asthma cases in the U.S. in the last 20 years. Asthma is the No. 1 reason kids miss school. Increased pollution has doubled the chance of stroke. We have twice as much pollen due to CO2 increases. Global warming will cost us more in power unless we take dramatic action now.
As a result Americans aren’t waiting on their government to go “green” and the coming changes will impact your office, your home and your wallet – by cutting your energy costs.
Austin, Texas is on the cutting edge of this movement. Its city council is upgrading Austin’s building codes with the goal that all new homes will be “Zero Energy Capable Homes” by 2015. That means that single-family homes would produce as much energy as they consume. That means adding everything from radiant barriers to solar panels.
In Houston, 75% of our Class A building owners intend to adopt the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ which is a certification program. Why? Because it will cut their energy costs for one. For another, studies have shown that LEED- certified buildings have higher occupancy rates, so they make more money, and sell for a higher price per square foot than non-LEED buildings. They tend to have higher occupancy rates. Law firms in Houston are the second most active group pushing these changes. Homeowners should join them to save money as energy costs continue to climb.
New materials, solar panels, reflective roofs, cutting energy loss through windows – all add up to billions in potential savings. One Houston company sells a “cool roof” that cuts energy costs by 30%. The owner tells me that they have a backlog of work while the “tar and sand” flat roof competitors have little to do. The winds are shifting and the smart technology is taking over old ways. The days of black tar roofs have gone the way of the dodo bird.
I have been personally involved with a window film technology that is “green” in that it provides storm security while also providing filtering that cuts energy loss through windows. One homeowner told me their power bills dropped $150/month after installing it. It was put on for hurricane protection so it’s a win-win. The film also kept errant golf balls from penetrating the windows during the rainy season while they were traveling.
However, the U.S. is lagging the rest of the world in energy efficiency, so we have a lot to do, but the good news is that a lot of savings could be easily captured. I met a former consul general from Germany this week, who advised me that Germany changed it incentives to favor renewable energy. They now have so many windmills producing electricity that they had to modify the incentive program to make sure they weren’t built in areas that had no wind!
Our Congress should help accelerate the adoption of “green” technology by creating new tax incentives for adding renewable energy and cutting energy waste on our offices and homes – from giant wind farms, to solar panels on houses. We could be building solar farms in our vast deserts. By working both ways, we could have a win-win.
And if that cuts our global warming and lowers our pollution, we also get health benefits. What is there not to like about that?
There has been a 100% increase in asthma cases in the U.S. in the last 20 years. Asthma is the No. 1 reason kids miss school. Increased pollution has doubled the chance of stroke. We have twice as much pollen due to CO2 increases. Global warming will cost us more in power unless we take dramatic action now.
As a result Americans aren’t waiting on their government to go “green” and the coming changes will impact your office, your home and your wallet – by cutting your energy costs.
Austin, Texas is on the cutting edge of this movement. Its city council is upgrading Austin’s building codes with the goal that all new homes will be “Zero Energy Capable Homes” by 2015. That means that single-family homes would produce as much energy as they consume. That means adding everything from radiant barriers to solar panels.
In Houston, 75% of our Class A building owners intend to adopt the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ which is a certification program. Why? Because it will cut their energy costs for one. For another, studies have shown that LEED- certified buildings have higher occupancy rates, so they make more money, and sell for a higher price per square foot than non-LEED buildings. They tend to have higher occupancy rates. Law firms in Houston are the second most active group pushing these changes. Homeowners should join them to save money as energy costs continue to climb.
New materials, solar panels, reflective roofs, cutting energy loss through windows – all add up to billions in potential savings. One Houston company sells a “cool roof” that cuts energy costs by 30%. The owner tells me that they have a backlog of work while the “tar and sand” flat roof competitors have little to do. The winds are shifting and the smart technology is taking over old ways. The days of black tar roofs have gone the way of the dodo bird.
I have been personally involved with a window film technology that is “green” in that it provides storm security while also providing filtering that cuts energy loss through windows. One homeowner told me their power bills dropped $150/month after installing it. It was put on for hurricane protection so it’s a win-win. The film also kept errant golf balls from penetrating the windows during the rainy season while they were traveling.
However, the U.S. is lagging the rest of the world in energy efficiency, so we have a lot to do, but the good news is that a lot of savings could be easily captured. I met a former consul general from Germany this week, who advised me that Germany changed it incentives to favor renewable energy. They now have so many windmills producing electricity that they had to modify the incentive program to make sure they weren’t built in areas that had no wind!
Our Congress should help accelerate the adoption of “green” technology by creating new tax incentives for adding renewable energy and cutting energy waste on our offices and homes – from giant wind farms, to solar panels on houses. We could be building solar farms in our vast deserts. By working both ways, we could have a win-win.
And if that cuts our global warming and lowers our pollution, we also get health benefits. What is there not to like about that?
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Texas convention
For the record, yesterday I attended a Democrat State Convention for Senate District 11, which was at a hall in Pasadena. It was PACKED with people.
Contrary to news reports, I saw a relatively quiet, orderly, fair process -- even though it was LONG and SLOW. I even took a photo of two women, one an Obama and the other a Clinton supporter, who were sharing a smoke outside the convention.
The leaders gave everyone plenty of time to put their delegations together since all of us were scrambling to fill empty delegate slots with alternates. We had one guy who had to go to a funeral before the vote. Luckily he came back in time for the vote.
Amazingly we got to do the business we came for about 1 p.m. The vote in our two linked precincts took less than 5 minutes. The count was 9 Obama and 8 Clinton. Had it been a tie, the decision would have been made with a coin toss. The alternate delegate position automatically went to the runner up. Then those of us who wanted to bail out did, while those who wanted to vote on resolutions could stay. I bailed.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Why Globally Clueless Americans Need an Honest President
Let’s face it. Most Americans know so little about other countries and their people that if the President made a misstatement of fact to Americans, something like “ Al Qaida is working with Iran/Saddam,” they’d believe it. They’d believe it not knowing that Shiites (Iran) and Sunnis (Al Qaida) have hated each other for centuries. About the only thing they might not believe is that Iraq is made of green cheese.
Yet some odd things are coming out...This is why they need an honest President...
The full article is published under today's date at:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GlobalAmerican/
By the way, everyone has been assuming the "surge" was working. Actually, it was more of a lull as the Sunni's and Shiites both pulled back. Now the majority Shiites under the Mahdi Army are firing things up again in Basra. All hell could break loose, surge or no surge. That will mean that even an increase in troops cannot keep the lid on if Shiites and Sunnis resume their sectarian killing ways.
Yet some odd things are coming out...This is why they need an honest President...
The full article is published under today's date at:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GlobalAmerican/
By the way, everyone has been assuming the "surge" was working. Actually, it was more of a lull as the Sunni's and Shiites both pulled back. Now the majority Shiites under the Mahdi Army are firing things up again in Basra. All hell could break loose, surge or no surge. That will mean that even an increase in troops cannot keep the lid on if Shiites and Sunnis resume their sectarian killing ways.
Monday, March 24, 2008
"Pilot Shoots Down His Own Aircraft" No, But Close
Well, not quite, although a pilot did discharge a gun in the cockpit during a flight. The bullet went into the seat. Had it gone through the side it could have depressurized the aircraft, which could have led to the above fictional headline.
I'm not sure I want to be a passenger of some guy practicing his quick draw in the cockpit. I'd rather the rules specify that they keep the big iron buttoned up in a holster -- unless and until a time when some hijacker is actually banging on the door. If so, they can blast away all they want.
Until then I recommend none of the airlines show any more Westerns during the in-flight movie.
I'm not sure I want to be a passenger of some guy practicing his quick draw in the cockpit. I'd rather the rules specify that they keep the big iron buttoned up in a holster -- unless and until a time when some hijacker is actually banging on the door. If so, they can blast away all they want.
Until then I recommend none of the airlines show any more Westerns during the in-flight movie.
Geronimo & Iraq
I watched “Geronimo” last night, a riveting piece. This morning it dawned on me that there is a connection between the lessons of Geronimo and Iraq. As you know Geronimo was the last Apache holdout when America swept over Indian lands. Our army couldn't catch him but finally they induced him to surrender himself (the first time).
One line in the entire movie was a stunner. It was something I’ve never heard anywhere. Yet given the time and place I think I know what they were saying.
One white actor who was part of the group trying to capture Geronimo at one point that casually stated: “Texans, the lowest form of white man.”
He was referring to a group of men who were killing Indians to get a bounty on Apache scalps. They even killed the children and women of other tribes just to get the money. I had never heard that term before, but it was fascinating to hear a white person rating another one in that context. Has anyone ever heard anything like that before? Were Texans really so lowly regarded by other whites back in the era of Geronimo?
The other fascinating thing about the Geronimo program was the international connection. Before being captured a second time, Geronimo was killing Mexican citizens and their army as well as American settlers and our army taking Indian land on the U.S. side. Apache territory was really part of two different countries, Mexico and the U.S.
In the end, the U.S. army and government made promises to get Geronimo to surrender, since he was such a stealthy terrorist that no one could catch him. And they broke them. In fact it came out that they had no intention of keeping them.
And even our allies, Indians who had left the Apaches and helped our troops as invaluable scouts, got the ax. The old General had figured out that the only way to catch the crafty Indian leader was for the army to use Indian guides. Our army had never come close on its own.
However, in the end the new replacement General treated the Indian scouts who had joined our forces and helped our troops as if they were like Geronimo himself. They were stripped of their guns and made prisoners with the man they had tried to help capture.
I highly recommend watching it if you can. Some things have changed since then (Texans are hopefully NOT the lowest form of white man anymore). But some things have not changed.
I wonder what will happen to all of those people who have helped Americans in Iraq when the pull out finally does happen. Let's hope we treat them better than the way we treated the Indian scouts who helped us finally capture Geronimo.
One line in the entire movie was a stunner. It was something I’ve never heard anywhere. Yet given the time and place I think I know what they were saying.
One white actor who was part of the group trying to capture Geronimo at one point that casually stated: “Texans, the lowest form of white man.”
He was referring to a group of men who were killing Indians to get a bounty on Apache scalps. They even killed the children and women of other tribes just to get the money. I had never heard that term before, but it was fascinating to hear a white person rating another one in that context. Has anyone ever heard anything like that before? Were Texans really so lowly regarded by other whites back in the era of Geronimo?
The other fascinating thing about the Geronimo program was the international connection. Before being captured a second time, Geronimo was killing Mexican citizens and their army as well as American settlers and our army taking Indian land on the U.S. side. Apache territory was really part of two different countries, Mexico and the U.S.
In the end, the U.S. army and government made promises to get Geronimo to surrender, since he was such a stealthy terrorist that no one could catch him. And they broke them. In fact it came out that they had no intention of keeping them.
And even our allies, Indians who had left the Apaches and helped our troops as invaluable scouts, got the ax. The old General had figured out that the only way to catch the crafty Indian leader was for the army to use Indian guides. Our army had never come close on its own.
However, in the end the new replacement General treated the Indian scouts who had joined our forces and helped our troops as if they were like Geronimo himself. They were stripped of their guns and made prisoners with the man they had tried to help capture.
I highly recommend watching it if you can. Some things have changed since then (Texans are hopefully NOT the lowest form of white man anymore). But some things have not changed.
I wonder what will happen to all of those people who have helped Americans in Iraq when the pull out finally does happen. Let's hope we treat them better than the way we treated the Indian scouts who helped us finally capture Geronimo.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Resurrection - political and otherwise
One of the best analysis of the current political situation was published by Frank Rich today. I think he hits the nail on the head.
This weekend four (4) of the world's religions are celebrating a special time. "Hindus are celebrating Holi, Christians are celebrating Easter, Muslims are celebrating the birthday of Muhammad, and Zoroastrians (and non-Zoroastrian Iranians and Central Asians) are celebrating Nauroz or the spring equinox." It sounds like a good excuse to make it a long weekend OFF.
Bottom Line: We need to start practicing what we preach. Osama bin laden is threatening the Pope and the Danes are re-opening old wounds by re-publishing the Mohamed cartoons that started riots last year. Chinese troops are shooting Tibetans, suicide bombers are still at work and everyone seems to be focused on poking the other guy in the eye.
and whats this about John McCain talking about Iran training Al Qaida when Iran is Shiite and Al Qaida is Sunni? After it happened several times I have to wonder if age is going to play a bigger role than people realize in this race. Either he forgot his foreign policy experience or it was a deliberate misstatement, which is not something McCain does. Very odd and Not Good.
Folks, we have no where to go but UP.
FYI My Global American Series (or GAS) article released today is entitled: "Why Can President Go to China (Despite Tibet) But Not Iran?" It's so logical you'll think Spock wrote it (maybe not).
Happy Easter...Here's to "Better Times Ahead".
This weekend four (4) of the world's religions are celebrating a special time. "Hindus are celebrating Holi, Christians are celebrating Easter, Muslims are celebrating the birthday of Muhammad, and Zoroastrians (and non-Zoroastrian Iranians and Central Asians) are celebrating Nauroz or the spring equinox." It sounds like a good excuse to make it a long weekend OFF.
Bottom Line: We need to start practicing what we preach. Osama bin laden is threatening the Pope and the Danes are re-opening old wounds by re-publishing the Mohamed cartoons that started riots last year. Chinese troops are shooting Tibetans, suicide bombers are still at work and everyone seems to be focused on poking the other guy in the eye.
and whats this about John McCain talking about Iran training Al Qaida when Iran is Shiite and Al Qaida is Sunni? After it happened several times I have to wonder if age is going to play a bigger role than people realize in this race. Either he forgot his foreign policy experience or it was a deliberate misstatement, which is not something McCain does. Very odd and Not Good.
Folks, we have no where to go but UP.
FYI My Global American Series (or GAS) article released today is entitled: "Why Can President Go to China (Despite Tibet) But Not Iran?" It's so logical you'll think Spock wrote it (maybe not).
Happy Easter...Here's to "Better Times Ahead".
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Passport Snooping - Are You next?
Your social security number could be in jeopardy. Under the present system, you won't know it unless you happen to be running for President.
The news that low level people in the State Department were able to access the Passport information of all three remaining Presidential candidates(including that all valuable social security number), raises a bigger question.
Have these State Department contractors (whoever they are) also accessed celebrity Passports? If low level people can access files of the few running for President, then is anyone's information safe? What if these employees were accessing files in order to pass social security numbers to criminal elements--for ID theft purposes? Could the State Department's system allow for political abuse of the system?
The State Department protection software doesn't keep people from accessing these files; it only notifies ("flags") access of files of high profile persons after its happened, like Presidential candidates. If you are not a "high profile" person, then there is no notification. That would make the State Department a great place for ID theft by people hired by the State Department.
An investigation of the State Department's security system for passports (and any government agency that possesses peoples' social security numbers) is in order.
If not, your information could be accessed by some contract employee at the State Department or another government agency that has the same valuable social security information -- and if you are not a Presidential candidate, no one will know about it.
The news that low level people in the State Department were able to access the Passport information of all three remaining Presidential candidates(including that all valuable social security number), raises a bigger question.
Have these State Department contractors (whoever they are) also accessed celebrity Passports? If low level people can access files of the few running for President, then is anyone's information safe? What if these employees were accessing files in order to pass social security numbers to criminal elements--for ID theft purposes? Could the State Department's system allow for political abuse of the system?
The State Department protection software doesn't keep people from accessing these files; it only notifies ("flags") access of files of high profile persons after its happened, like Presidential candidates. If you are not a "high profile" person, then there is no notification. That would make the State Department a great place for ID theft by people hired by the State Department.
An investigation of the State Department's security system for passports (and any government agency that possesses peoples' social security numbers) is in order.
If not, your information could be accessed by some contract employee at the State Department or another government agency that has the same valuable social security information -- and if you are not a Presidential candidate, no one will know about it.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Justice and Race in America - Why are People like Rev. Wright Mad?
If you want to understand someone, there is a saying that "you have to walk a mile in their shoes." To understand why people like Rev. Wright is blasting away at America from the pulpit, just look at yesterday's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court and ask yourself "How can this be happening in the 21st century in America?"
The U.S. currently has more people in prison than China or Russia. Most are minorities and about half are in prison for non-violent offenses. If you are black and are caught with a small amount of drugs, you are in the slammer for years. If you are Rush Limbaugh and are caught with illegal quantities of Oxycontin, you still have a radio show making millions per year. Is this fair?
On the 5th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the death penalty for a black man who killed his wife's lover in
an emotional rage. In Texas, a "heat of passion killing" like this is still considered to be a lesser homicide by the law -- and by people. It's not
something anyone would get the death penalty for.
The U.S. Supreme Court was bothered by the Louisiana prosecutor deliberately cutting blacks from the jury. The same thing has been an admitted practice by a
Houston Assistant District Attorney, Ms. Seigler, who is running to replace Houston's last DA (who happened to be fond of racist and sexist jokes). She even cut people from juries for going to the "wrong" church (i.e., Lakewood).
So it was an all white jury who gave the black defendant the death penalty. Our highest court threw that out in a 7-2 vote. All this comes on the heels of
many people wondering how Rev. Wright could be mad at the United States and its racially-biased justice system?
If you were being denied a jury of your peers wouldn't YOU be mad as h___ and "not going to take it anymore!?" We aren't talking about wrongs committed decades ago by our ancestors. We are talking about racist actions happening TODAY that treat blacks much harsher than whites.
This death case, and the recent conduct of Houston's chief prosecutor, should make it clear to Americans that blacks are paying the ultimate price for racist
attitudes. Those attitudes have affected Hispanics and women as well.
Injustice based on color is STILL happening, every day. How many white defendants are convicted without fellow whites included in the jury? How many whites would think it was fair to be given the death penalty for a heat of passion crime with a jury that had zero whites on it?
America, we do have a problem with racism, I'm sorry to say. We can't condemn people who are the victims of that racism for getting angry about it. If such racism was killing your friends and neighbors, I think you would feel even more angry than the outrage we heard from Rev. Wright.
Until we fix our justice system --and people change their attitudes -- we cannot condemn a candidate for what his preacher says; if you do, then you also have to be fair and blame John McCain for his "minister's problem."
And you can't blame any preacher for being angry at such gross injustice in places like Louisiana and across the United States that this Supreme Court case
has exposed to the light of day. If you were walking in the shoes of those condemned, would you?
Under our Constitution we are all created equal. We need to start acting like it so we really can move beyond race.
The U.S. currently has more people in prison than China or Russia. Most are minorities and about half are in prison for non-violent offenses. If you are black and are caught with a small amount of drugs, you are in the slammer for years. If you are Rush Limbaugh and are caught with illegal quantities of Oxycontin, you still have a radio show making millions per year. Is this fair?
On the 5th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the death penalty for a black man who killed his wife's lover in
an emotional rage. In Texas, a "heat of passion killing" like this is still considered to be a lesser homicide by the law -- and by people. It's not
something anyone would get the death penalty for.
The U.S. Supreme Court was bothered by the Louisiana prosecutor deliberately cutting blacks from the jury. The same thing has been an admitted practice by a
Houston Assistant District Attorney, Ms. Seigler, who is running to replace Houston's last DA (who happened to be fond of racist and sexist jokes). She even cut people from juries for going to the "wrong" church (i.e., Lakewood).
So it was an all white jury who gave the black defendant the death penalty. Our highest court threw that out in a 7-2 vote. All this comes on the heels of
many people wondering how Rev. Wright could be mad at the United States and its racially-biased justice system?
If you were being denied a jury of your peers wouldn't YOU be mad as h___ and "not going to take it anymore!?" We aren't talking about wrongs committed decades ago by our ancestors. We are talking about racist actions happening TODAY that treat blacks much harsher than whites.
This death case, and the recent conduct of Houston's chief prosecutor, should make it clear to Americans that blacks are paying the ultimate price for racist
attitudes. Those attitudes have affected Hispanics and women as well.
Injustice based on color is STILL happening, every day. How many white defendants are convicted without fellow whites included in the jury? How many whites would think it was fair to be given the death penalty for a heat of passion crime with a jury that had zero whites on it?
America, we do have a problem with racism, I'm sorry to say. We can't condemn people who are the victims of that racism for getting angry about it. If such racism was killing your friends and neighbors, I think you would feel even more angry than the outrage we heard from Rev. Wright.
Until we fix our justice system --and people change their attitudes -- we cannot condemn a candidate for what his preacher says; if you do, then you also have to be fair and blame John McCain for his "minister's problem."
And you can't blame any preacher for being angry at such gross injustice in places like Louisiana and across the United States that this Supreme Court case
has exposed to the light of day. If you were walking in the shoes of those condemned, would you?
Under our Constitution we are all created equal. We need to start acting like it so we really can move beyond race.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Global Cultural Blunders that cost us
Wind gusts near 70 mph are hitting Texas today. It's like we've been in a wind tunnel the last couple of days, with constant howling winds. I am wondering if I've been transported somehow back to West Texas.
On Saturday, which was the "Ides of March," I gave a talk on global cultural blunders that cost us business and politically. As a test I am going to embed part of the talk below, to see if it works. If not, it's also on "YouTube" under the ID "Fjet2020"
On Saturday, which was the "Ides of March," I gave a talk on global cultural blunders that cost us business and politically. As a test I am going to embed part of the talk below, to see if it works. If not, it's also on "YouTube" under the ID "Fjet2020"
Monday, March 17, 2008
Storms, Break Ins and Tornado Protection
Word came by email this morning that Grandmother had passed away - on St. Patrick's Day and during high holy week. For a life-long Catholic like her, it doesn't get any better than that! She had made it to 100 years of age and showed great strength right to the end. It's the end of an era but now she can be with her deceased husband and children "on the other side."
Over the weekend, Atlanta was hit by 'urban tornadoes' that caused glass windows to rain down on Atlanta's streets. CNN's building was hit. Ironically, I had called on them while attending a glass convention last year to introduce them to our security window film that would have provided protection and kept glass from spraying like shrapnel. Their building is all glass and, like many, is an accident waiting to happen. Had it been a car bomb the damage would have been worse.
Yesterday I blogged about protecting NASA employees from a potential hurricane or car bomb after a car mysteriously plowed into its security fence - from the INSIDE.
Armor Glass technology could have also prevented windows from being breached by debris from the falling crane in New York.
Then today there was another story about the drummer for ABBA, who may have been killed by glass that cut his throat after falling into a pane at his house. Armor Glass protection would have protected him and saved his life --putting its nano-tech/film shield between him and the glass.
With all the talk about the lousy economy, people have forgotten about security. But if you are dead or injured from a storm or falling into one of your windows, it won't matter how the economy is doing.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
End of an Era
A few days ago I found out that my 100 year old Grandmother, whose birthday party I attended in early February, has pancreatic cancer. She's not expected to last beyond today. So I've been distracted and offline for awhile.
Yesterday (the "Ides of March") I was on my way to give a speech on security and international cultural blunders that cost us both politically and business wise when I saw the strangest sight. At the corner of Space Center and NASA Parkway, on the edge of NASA's vast complex, a van had plowed into the chain link fence FROM THE INSIDE. It raises a security concern, in my mind, about threats to our space center.
What was the vehicle doing trying to get OUT of NASA, in a section that is undeveloped and doesn't have a real road? I've been trying to talk to them about a way to protect them from a car or truck bomber.
Had this been a car bomb instead of whatever strange incident it was, a lot of lives of highly trained, irreplaceable specialists could have been lost.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Hypocrites At Law & the 10, whoops 20 Commandments!
NY Governor Eliot Spitzer, who portrayed himself like the famous FBI "Elliott Ness" apparently is not. He was discovered to have paid over $4,300 to buy a hooker in DC --even transporting her across state lines. Gosh, you'd think a prosecutor would know about that being not just a state offense but a federal one as well.
It proves that hypocrites are alive and well in both political parties. As a Democrat and former prosecutor, he is no better than Republican Chuck Rosenthal, Houston's now ex-DA. Call them both "Hypocrites at Law."
The fact Spitzer paid that much money for a prostitute makes him not only a hypocrite but unqualified to hold public office and the peoples' money. I don't feel sorry for the twit one bit. He should go ahead and do one decent thing and resign from his Governor position.
These guys haven't even figured out the first 10 Commandments before the Pope came up with another 10! Add to the list:
Violation of fundamental rights of human nature
Well, Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, look out!
I wonder if "accumulating excessive wealth" also applies to those who generate that excessive wealth by giving tax breaks to the tiny top 2% of the population while everyone else gets a lump of coal.
Ummmm. Maybe Gates and Buffet can buy enough carbon credits to get on the right side with God. Even the Southern Baptists have come out against global warming!
On top of that, now I have to wonder what drugs are coming out of the water tap. (Warning: Guys, don't drink the water in San Francisco. The sex hormones are changing the fish. You could come back as a woman!) I wonder if the fact that Philly has over 56 drugs in its water supply might affect their vote! This has not been a dull year.
It proves that hypocrites are alive and well in both political parties. As a Democrat and former prosecutor, he is no better than Republican Chuck Rosenthal, Houston's now ex-DA. Call them both "Hypocrites at Law."
The fact Spitzer paid that much money for a prostitute makes him not only a hypocrite but unqualified to hold public office and the peoples' money. I don't feel sorry for the twit one bit. He should go ahead and do one decent thing and resign from his Governor position.
These guys haven't even figured out the first 10 Commandments before the Pope came up with another 10! Add to the list:
| Environmental pollution Genetic manipulation Accumulating excessive wealth Inflicting poverty Drug trafficking and consumption Morally debatable experiments |
Well, Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, look out!
I wonder if "accumulating excessive wealth" also applies to those who generate that excessive wealth by giving tax breaks to the tiny top 2% of the population while everyone else gets a lump of coal.
Ummmm. Maybe Gates and Buffet can buy enough carbon credits to get on the right side with God. Even the Southern Baptists have come out against global warming!
On top of that, now I have to wonder what drugs are coming out of the water tap. (Warning: Guys, don't drink the water in San Francisco. The sex hormones are changing the fish. You could come back as a woman!) I wonder if the fact that Philly has over 56 drugs in its water supply might affect their vote! This has not been a dull year.
Monday, March 10, 2008
FBI Unconcerned in Houston About Hate Crime Using Your Name
Photo: Another hate crime symbolHate crimes are at an all time high according to a radio report I
heard yesterday. I found out today from a friend that these lowlife
people even send out hate mail under other peoples' names. Apparently
they aren't willing to use their own identity. I also discovered the
FBI isn't concerned about someone sending it our using your name.
An example I've seen is a 3-page hate rant sent to TV stations like
Houston's ABC 13 calling for "Eradicate the Muslim Vermin" and "Death
to sand N___s" -- and worse). Someone sent it out using the League of
Women Voters as the sender in one mailing. The Democrat Party is
listed on the return address on another mailing. Obviously neither
organization endorses this kind of hate.
The League of Women Voters is nonpartisan and the members are
horrified to see this kind of trash sent out using their name. I'm
sure the Democratic Party feels the same. We clearly have a problem
with hate in America. The attacks aren't limited to Muslims, but
include Latinos, etc.
The League has reported this incident to the FBI, who considers it a
"hate crime." But then the FBI's agent dismissed it, saying: "Our
focus now is national security, not hate crimes." He even tried to refer them back to the Postmaster who referred them to the FBI.
In related news, another top prosecutor of other people for crimes has
just been identified for transporting a woman across state lines for
prostitution, which is a federal crime. Talk about stupid. A former
federal prosecutor should know about the "Mann Act" and putting the
hired lady on a plane from New York to Washington fits the description.
Hate crimes should rank higher than users of prostitutes -- and on a
parity with national security, because without it there is no security
for any of our citizens.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Issues of Gender, Race and Judgment
On the issue of gender vs. race, I was moved by the story of the black lady who said that she had to think long and hard to find discrimination on the basis of her sex but that she faced racism often. She described herself as being well dressed with a purse nicer than the white lady in the elevator who clutched her purse as if the black lady might grab it.
Sad. That was very telling.
On the issue of judgment to be President, Clinton always touts her
"experience" and has gone so far to say that "McCain is qualified, she was qualified, but Sen. Obama was not."
A news report I saw described how first lady Hillary took Chelsea, her young daughter, into a war zone that was so dangerous she was told by security to move Chelsea to an armored part of the airplane -- as the plane took evasive actions to avoid being hit by rockets at Bosnia. It was her choice to be there and to take her child.
Since when does taking a young kid into a hot war zone an exercise in good judgment? Is that the 3 A.M. experience that will help our country? If she chose to risk herself as first lady--fine, but not her daughter.
With that experience, she voted for a war (Iraq) where other people's kids have been sent to be shot at, killed or injured without even reading the intelligence report sent to members of Congress. Her own daughter has been nowhere near that war.
What kind of experience and judgment is that? First jeopardizing your own kid then risking the lives of other folks kids by voting for a war that took our eye off Al Qaida in Afghanistan and created a whole new unstable environment for Al Qaida to grow.
Since when do you vote for a war with costs exceeding $1 trillion and will kill a lot of other people's kids (nearly 4,000 so far) based on flimsy evidence without reading the only intelligence report available?
What kind of judgment is that?
And what kind of respect is it for the candidate trailing in the delegate count to suggest that the person who has received the highest number of votes and delegates might be her Vice President?
That kind of judgment seems arrogant and distorted; It is not the kind of judgment we need to build a coalition of what Sen. Obama calls "Democrats, Independents, and Republicans finding common ground." Even the Europeans are fascinated by this change.
THAT is the type of judgment we really need now -- not more of the same old divisive politics and the same two families controlling the White House for over 20 years.
Sad. That was very telling.
On the issue of judgment to be President, Clinton always touts her
"experience" and has gone so far to say that "McCain is qualified, she was qualified, but Sen. Obama was not."
A news report I saw described how first lady Hillary took Chelsea, her young daughter, into a war zone that was so dangerous she was told by security to move Chelsea to an armored part of the airplane -- as the plane took evasive actions to avoid being hit by rockets at Bosnia. It was her choice to be there and to take her child.
Since when does taking a young kid into a hot war zone an exercise in good judgment? Is that the 3 A.M. experience that will help our country? If she chose to risk herself as first lady--fine, but not her daughter.
With that experience, she voted for a war (Iraq) where other people's kids have been sent to be shot at, killed or injured without even reading the intelligence report sent to members of Congress. Her own daughter has been nowhere near that war.
What kind of experience and judgment is that? First jeopardizing your own kid then risking the lives of other folks kids by voting for a war that took our eye off Al Qaida in Afghanistan and created a whole new unstable environment for Al Qaida to grow.
Since when do you vote for a war with costs exceeding $1 trillion and will kill a lot of other people's kids (nearly 4,000 so far) based on flimsy evidence without reading the only intelligence report available?
What kind of judgment is that?
And what kind of respect is it for the candidate trailing in the delegate count to suggest that the person who has received the highest number of votes and delegates might be her Vice President?
That kind of judgment seems arrogant and distorted; It is not the kind of judgment we need to build a coalition of what Sen. Obama calls "Democrats, Independents, and Republicans finding common ground." Even the Europeans are fascinated by this change.
THAT is the type of judgment we really need now -- not more of the same old divisive politics and the same two families controlling the White House for over 20 years.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
The Torture President
Mr. Bush has vetoed legislation that would have outlawed "waterboarding" as torture. Even Presidential candidate John McCain, who was a POW, says that waterboarding IS torture, and he opposes it. Mr. McCain's opinion on this issue I respect.
That makes Bush, our draft-dodger in office, our "torture President." It is one more example why America's reputation is so low worldwide. The country that is supposed to stand for justice and fairness is now the country that condones torture.
I wish Bush would just quit torturing us and go away, far, far away. The above photo of a bumper sticker says it all:
"Jan 20, 2009: End of an Error." That's when the new President takes office. Amen.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
New York Explosion – Domestic Terrorists Just As Dangerous as Foreign
I was on TV on 9/11 as a terrorist analyst. I did the same during the 1991 Gulf War. Some of the clips are on "YouTube" under the ID "Fjet2020". People seem to be missing the point when it’s said this was “not” a terrorist attack. We seem to have forgotten that America is as vulnerable to a domestic terrorist as a foreign one.
Have we forgotten the damage by Tim McVeigh and Terry Nichols, white American natives, with a grudge and a truck bomb at the Oklahoma City federal building?
The explosion in New York at a military recruitment center was by a person on a bike, who threw a device made from a green ammunition can filled with explosive powder. It blew out the lower part of the glass -- it's being described as a "low explosive." The act is the same; whether it’s an American or a foreigner. What if next time it is a “high” explosive?
The incident bore strong similarities to two past incidents where small homemade bombs or incendiary devices were tossed at official buildings in New York in the last two years. Two were tossed at the British consulate and more recently two were tossed at the Mexican consulate.
So, there goes the theory that it is someone with a grudge against our military. Why attack a U.S. Military recruiting center, the British and Mexican consulates? What about the man in Las Vegas who is sick from Ricin poisoning? The Anthrax killer was never caught. We have a trend developing here, so we need to be as concerned with domestic terrorism from people whose faces may look like Tim McVeigh but adopt the common Middle East practice of trying to “fix” things by firing a rocket or tossing a bomb.
I recommend that people start thinking ahead to minimize the threat that will not go away when an individual or small angry group can easily obtain or make explosives.
The New York attack on the recruitment center should have been anticipated and prepared for. The bomb broke through the glass, causing damage and exposing the building to the elements.
If the center had installed a bomb-resistant window film available from our sponsor, Armor Glass International, the bomb would not have penetrated the glass. The inside would have been protected from damage even if the windows were shattered by the explosion. The Armor Glass film could have kept the building sealed and redirected the blast. If employees and guests had been present, they would have been saved from flying glass shrapnel. In hurricane zones, the same film would provide the same protection.
Terrorism is a part of our world in this 21st Century, whether it is Al Qaida or a local nut case who makes a bomb to make a point. Terrorism is also Mother Nature on a rampage the form of storms with flying debris.
This latest incident in New York, and the coming hurricane season, should be a warning that all of us who live in glass houses (offices, etc.) are vulnerable to these threats until we add 24/7 protection.
For those of you who want to monitor updates, keep checking this blog and get on the Global American mail list at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GlobalAmerican/
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Texas Two Step – Time to Change?
Yesterday I participated in the first caucus I’ve attended since being a UT senior in 1972 in Austin (if Hillary was there either I didn’t see her or I was clueless who she was). My impression? It was time consuming, complicated chaos -- and we’ve got to make some changes!
On the Republican side, people who voted early or on Election Day were done when the polls closed – 100% of votes cast for each candidate determined the winner. If they returned after the polls closed at 7 it was only to debate and pass resolutions, etc. Winners and losers could go home, along with their volunteers, put their feet up and have a “cold one.”
But when Democrats finish voting in the primary, their votes only amount to two-thirds of the total delegates to be awarded each candidate. They aren't done voting. The final 1/3 comes from the caucus, a post-7 p.m. event which is a different game. Winning a Caucus is about who is willing to show up, at night, in rain or cold, with or without kids in tow, to sit for hours and cast yet a second vote. Then they have to grab calculators (while wishing for a supercomputer) to work through a weird math formula that determines how many delegates each candidate gets and when you round “down” and “up.” That leaves out a lot of people who have neither the time nor MIT math skills to vote a second time.
For example, in my Harris County precinct (in Seabrook), the caucus process meant that the 84 people who came to the meeting got to cast one third of the vote for the entire precinct! Of the 84 attendees, 43 signed in for Mr. Obama and 40 for Ms. Clinton (with one uncommitted). So, the 12 delegates that Precinct 692 was entitled to pick by caucus were decided by only 84 people. Delegates ended up being split between both candidates based on that sign up sheet.
We finally got to leave at 9 p.m. but other precincts had to stay much later since the caucus can’t even start until the last voter in line votes. When 7 p.m. came, over 60 Democrats were still in line!
Whether or not Mr. Obama’s organization produces a higher caucus vote, I believe that the Texas Democratic Party needs to seriously consider reforming the process so that in the future 100% of the vote is determined by the people who vote during the early vote and on election day – not by the caucus method that favors the party activists and leaves out many people with families or who are too old or ill to attend a meeting that takes hours and is confusing at best. The Democrats should do as the Republicans and leave the post-7 p.m. event for resolutions or electing party officers, not the next President of the United States.
Otherwise, it may be another 36 years before I attend another caucus!
On the Republican side, people who voted early or on Election Day were done when the polls closed – 100% of votes cast for each candidate determined the winner. If they returned after the polls closed at 7 it was only to debate and pass resolutions, etc. Winners and losers could go home, along with their volunteers, put their feet up and have a “cold one.”
But when Democrats finish voting in the primary, their votes only amount to two-thirds of the total delegates to be awarded each candidate. They aren't done voting. The final 1/3 comes from the caucus, a post-7 p.m. event which is a different game. Winning a Caucus is about who is willing to show up, at night, in rain or cold, with or without kids in tow, to sit for hours and cast yet a second vote. Then they have to grab calculators (while wishing for a supercomputer) to work through a weird math formula that determines how many delegates each candidate gets and when you round “down” and “up.” That leaves out a lot of people who have neither the time nor MIT math skills to vote a second time.
For example, in my Harris County precinct (in Seabrook), the caucus process meant that the 84 people who came to the meeting got to cast one third of the vote for the entire precinct! Of the 84 attendees, 43 signed in for Mr. Obama and 40 for Ms. Clinton (with one uncommitted). So, the 12 delegates that Precinct 692 was entitled to pick by caucus were decided by only 84 people. Delegates ended up being split between both candidates based on that sign up sheet.
We finally got to leave at 9 p.m. but other precincts had to stay much later since the caucus can’t even start until the last voter in line votes. When 7 p.m. came, over 60 Democrats were still in line!
Whether or not Mr. Obama’s organization produces a higher caucus vote, I believe that the Texas Democratic Party needs to seriously consider reforming the process so that in the future 100% of the vote is determined by the people who vote during the early vote and on election day – not by the caucus method that favors the party activists and leaves out many people with families or who are too old or ill to attend a meeting that takes hours and is confusing at best. The Democrats should do as the Republicans and leave the post-7 p.m. event for resolutions or electing party officers, not the next President of the United States.
Otherwise, it may be another 36 years before I attend another caucus!
Monday, March 03, 2008
Showing the World that America is Not Racist --and the Establishment Doesn't Always Win
Our Presidential election has people glued to the TV worldwide.
Arguments are being waged in Spanish and Chinese over whom the best
American candidate is. The attitude in the world that America is
racist and that the establishment always wins is being shattered by
this campaign.
Why? Because they can’t believe that someone who is not part of the
Establishment has a shot at becoming the American President. That
does not normally happen in the world. It didn’t happen in Russia’s
Sunday election, where Mr. Putin’s handpicked successor won, and got
all the advertising. In Pakistan, the autocrat Musharraf lost an
election to two potential successors, whose families have ruled
Pakistan before. The same faces keep showing up on ballots and running the power levers, like an endless loop.
So the world is amazed that this time in the U.S. an outsider has a
real chance of breaking the endless loop of the past two decades of the
Bush/Clinton/ Bush/Clinton lock on power –- which is making us look more like
Pakistan, Kenya and many third world countries where the same names keep running things. But not in this election, possibly.
A woman in India was quoted in one article I saw, which I paraphrase:
“In India, the establishment always wins. Hillary is regarded by us
not as a woman but as an establishment figure with a long history in
power (e.g., like the India Gandhi family). In Pakistan, her kind
always wins (Ms. Bhutto, her father and Mr. Sharif were all in power
previously). So people in the world are stunned to see a black man,
who would be at the bottom of the social ladder in many countries, who
has no Washington family like the Bush’s or entrenched power base like
the Clinton’s, running as strong as Mr. Obama has been.”
This is happening primarily on the Democratic side, since the
Republican candidates were all white men (no women or minorities were
among the eight or so original candidates). Therefore the democratic
race is getting the most global attention. The Democrats even
conducted a global election so that Americans in over 50 countries
world-wide were able to cast their vote (Obama won that one, too).
In other words the world is impressed by this election. They can see
that the American political system is still open enough to let a
reformer have a real shot at beating an establishment player who has
all the advantages prior power brings –- something which is very rare
in governments around the world.
It’s great to see that America is already beginning to improve its
standing in the world as a result of this unique election.
It proves that in America anyone can still do anything -- and the
little guy with nothing more than guts and brains still has a chance
to beat the status quo establishment, or even win a Presidency.
Arguments are being waged in Spanish and Chinese over whom the best
American candidate is. The attitude in the world that America is
racist and that the establishment always wins is being shattered by
this campaign.
Why? Because they can’t believe that someone who is not part of the
Establishment has a shot at becoming the American President. That
does not normally happen in the world. It didn’t happen in Russia’s
Sunday election, where Mr. Putin’s handpicked successor won, and got
all the advertising. In Pakistan, the autocrat Musharraf lost an
election to two potential successors, whose families have ruled
Pakistan before. The same faces keep showing up on ballots and running the power levers, like an endless loop.
So the world is amazed that this time in the U.S. an outsider has a
real chance of breaking the endless loop of the past two decades of the
Bush/Clinton/ Bush/Clinton lock on power –- which is making us look more like
Pakistan, Kenya and many third world countries where the same names keep running things. But not in this election, possibly.
A woman in India was quoted in one article I saw, which I paraphrase:
“In India, the establishment always wins. Hillary is regarded by us
not as a woman but as an establishment figure with a long history in
power (e.g., like the India Gandhi family). In Pakistan, her kind
always wins (Ms. Bhutto, her father and Mr. Sharif were all in power
previously). So people in the world are stunned to see a black man,
who would be at the bottom of the social ladder in many countries, who
has no Washington family like the Bush’s or entrenched power base like
the Clinton’s, running as strong as Mr. Obama has been.”
This is happening primarily on the Democratic side, since the
Republican candidates were all white men (no women or minorities were
among the eight or so original candidates). Therefore the democratic
race is getting the most global attention. The Democrats even
conducted a global election so that Americans in over 50 countries
world-wide were able to cast their vote (Obama won that one, too).
In other words the world is impressed by this election. They can see
that the American political system is still open enough to let a
reformer have a real shot at beating an establishment player who has
all the advantages prior power brings –- something which is very rare
in governments around the world.
It’s great to see that America is already beginning to improve its
standing in the world as a result of this unique election.
It proves that in America anyone can still do anything -- and the
little guy with nothing more than guts and brains still has a chance
to beat the status quo establishment, or even win a Presidency.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Thumbs Up Harry. Thumbs Down Drudge Exposing Soldiers
Thumbs UP for Prince Harry having the guts to serve in
Afghanistan--for 10 weeks until Drudge leaked that information,
endangering both Prince Harry and his fellow soldiers by making the
Taliban aware of his presence. Thumbs down for Drudge. Taliban can
read and Drudge made Harry's base a bigger target than it was. It cut
Harry off from serving his full tour of duty.
Compare Harry's actions with President Bush's. Were Bush's daughters
serving on the front line? No, although many American women,
including mothers with children, are serving today. Prince Harry was
within 500 yards of the Taliban and wasn't getting special treatment
even though our allies control only 30% of the country, according to
our own intelligence.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is demanding that the same U.S. soldiers and their
families repeat tours of duty in Iraq, as many as three or four,
because too few people-- especially the sons and daughters of the
privileged--are willing to do so. It's not Jenna and Barbara doing
without body armor or waiting on an MRAP to avoid being killed by an
IED. Afghanistan is now supplying 93% of the world's heroin which
finances the Taliban. The Taliban are now importing insurgent
techniques learned in Iraq, such as IED’s and suicide bombings. They
are a growing menace.
We still have too few NATO troops in Afghanistan and no strategy to
win. Recent TV reports showed four passes from Afghanistan to Pakistan
that have no NATO patrols to keep out the Taliban for lack of
sufficient troops. That makes it an “open door” for Taliban to cross
over from training on the Pakistan side. If Sen. McCain wants us in
Iraq for the next “100 years” he will have to draft kids into service
to fight. If Prince Harry can serve on the front lines, U.S. kids of
the privileged will have to do the same if we are an American system
is based on equality.
But the problem won’t diminish until we get involved in providing real
education to Pakistani children to replace the 30,000 Madrassas
teaching them hate instead of reading and math. Without that, there
will be another 100 years of a steady stream extremist recruits
growing up and crossing that border--shooting at our troops. We are
fighting fires that will keep burning until we cut off the fuel by
replacing the Pakistani hate "schools' with secular schools that have
more than one book as well as Internet access, connected to the world
like ours.
Meanwhile, the case of Ricin in Las Vegas is very strange for
something authorities say is "not" terrorism. If not terrorism, what
was it? It is a felony to make Ricin. It is used legitimately only in
cancer research--but that research is not conducted in motel rooms. If
the ricin was to be a murder weapon, who was its target? Who made it?
Some reports have indicated that ricin may have been used in the
Iran-Iraq war during the 1980s and that quantities of ricin were found
in Al Qaeda caves in Afghanistan. It’s more of an assassination
weapon. It’s not suitable for mass murder.
Which reminds me: Remember the Anthrax killer after 9/11? He is still
on the loose, along with Osama bin Laden, hiding in those Pakistan
hills beyond the unguarded Afghanistan mountain passes. "Heck of a
Job" on counter-terrorism by our government so far.
The next President will need an actual strategy to win Afghanistan
from the Taliban and keep Iraq stable, something that has been
missing. The next President will need to find solutions to the root
issues, instead of spending our blood and treasure over the next 100
years without addressing the extremist hate factories.
Sen. Jay Rockefeller, head of the Senate Foreign Intelligence
Committee, said today that he believes that Mr. Obama is best suited
to do that. A huge mess has been left that will take a miracle to fix.
Afghanistan--for 10 weeks until Drudge leaked that information,
endangering both Prince Harry and his fellow soldiers by making the
Taliban aware of his presence. Thumbs down for Drudge. Taliban can
read and Drudge made Harry's base a bigger target than it was. It cut
Harry off from serving his full tour of duty.
Compare Harry's actions with President Bush's. Were Bush's daughters
serving on the front line? No, although many American women,
including mothers with children, are serving today. Prince Harry was
within 500 yards of the Taliban and wasn't getting special treatment
even though our allies control only 30% of the country, according to
our own intelligence.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is demanding that the same U.S. soldiers and their
families repeat tours of duty in Iraq, as many as three or four,
because too few people-- especially the sons and daughters of the
privileged--are willing to do so. It's not Jenna and Barbara doing
without body armor or waiting on an MRAP to avoid being killed by an
IED. Afghanistan is now supplying 93% of the world's heroin which
finances the Taliban. The Taliban are now importing insurgent
techniques learned in Iraq, such as IED’s and suicide bombings. They
are a growing menace.
We still have too few NATO troops in Afghanistan and no strategy to
win. Recent TV reports showed four passes from Afghanistan to Pakistan
that have no NATO patrols to keep out the Taliban for lack of
sufficient troops. That makes it an “open door” for Taliban to cross
over from training on the Pakistan side. If Sen. McCain wants us in
Iraq for the next “100 years” he will have to draft kids into service
to fight. If Prince Harry can serve on the front lines, U.S. kids of
the privileged will have to do the same if we are an American system
is based on equality.
But the problem won’t diminish until we get involved in providing real
education to Pakistani children to replace the 30,000 Madrassas
teaching them hate instead of reading and math. Without that, there
will be another 100 years of a steady stream extremist recruits
growing up and crossing that border--shooting at our troops. We are
fighting fires that will keep burning until we cut off the fuel by
replacing the Pakistani hate "schools' with secular schools that have
more than one book as well as Internet access, connected to the world
like ours.
Meanwhile, the case of Ricin in Las Vegas is very strange for
something authorities say is "not" terrorism. If not terrorism, what
was it? It is a felony to make Ricin. It is used legitimately only in
cancer research--but that research is not conducted in motel rooms. If
the ricin was to be a murder weapon, who was its target? Who made it?
Some reports have indicated that ricin may have been used in the
Iran-Iraq war during the 1980s and that quantities of ricin were found
in Al Qaeda caves in Afghanistan. It’s more of an assassination
weapon. It’s not suitable for mass murder.
Which reminds me: Remember the Anthrax killer after 9/11? He is still
on the loose, along with Osama bin Laden, hiding in those Pakistan
hills beyond the unguarded Afghanistan mountain passes. "Heck of a
Job" on counter-terrorism by our government so far.
The next President will need an actual strategy to win Afghanistan
from the Taliban and keep Iraq stable, something that has been
missing. The next President will need to find solutions to the root
issues, instead of spending our blood and treasure over the next 100
years without addressing the extremist hate factories.
Sen. Jay Rockefeller, head of the Senate Foreign Intelligence
Committee, said today that he believes that Mr. Obama is best suited
to do that. A huge mess has been left that will take a miracle to fix.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
A "Vatican II" for Islam?
There is a move in Turkey to update the Koran, something that hasn't happened in 700 years or so...This "New Islam" could be the equivalent of a "Vatican II" which opened up the Catholic church.
It's important because of the restrictions the old interpretations have had on women. Scholars apparently feel that many quotes attributed to Mohammed were either not made by him, or require updating. In Mohammad's day, it wasn't safe for women to travel without their husbands for over three days. The new rules would relax that rule that has kept women confined, and even resulted in women being killed for marrying the "wrong" person, etc.
Basically, Turkey is attempting to liberalize Islamic teaching.
Will it work? It's unclear if these revisions will create more problems with the radicals then they solve but it is time for an Islamic update at a time when a lot of religions are retreating into their own worlds instead of reaching out in interfaith efforts. All religions must find common ground and encourage mutual respect of others --and move away from the "my way or the highway" extremism that has been the trend in all the world's religions, including Islam.
It's important because of the restrictions the old interpretations have had on women. Scholars apparently feel that many quotes attributed to Mohammed were either not made by him, or require updating. In Mohammad's day, it wasn't safe for women to travel without their husbands for over three days. The new rules would relax that rule that has kept women confined, and even resulted in women being killed for marrying the "wrong" person, etc.
Basically, Turkey is attempting to liberalize Islamic teaching.
Will it work? It's unclear if these revisions will create more problems with the radicals then they solve but it is time for an Islamic update at a time when a lot of religions are retreating into their own worlds instead of reaching out in interfaith efforts. All religions must find common ground and encourage mutual respect of others --and move away from the "my way or the highway" extremism that has been the trend in all the world's religions, including Islam.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Statesman vs. Politician & Builders vs. Haters
I watched the Obama-Clinton final debate last night. What I saw was a statesman versus a politician.
In a breakfast meeting of GHASP this morning (covering the state of our --cough, cough -- air quality in Houston), I heard people tell me that they are looking for a potential statesman as President, not another politician who plays the “gotcha” game.
Mr. Obama came across more as a Statesman, who didn’t lower himself to take cheap political shots, even when it would have been easy to do so. He went out of his way to say good things about some of Mrs. Clinton’s plans when most candidates have nothing good to say about an opponent.
Ms. Clinton came across as a good politician, “who was against NAFTA before she was for it” (depending on which state she was campaigning in) and full of catchy slogans like "change you can Xerox." But we are “full up” on politicians in Washington who read the polls to determine which way the wind is blowing, and which slogan of the minute might connect with people.
At the same time, we saw a glimpse of the hate speech to come from the dark side. At a speech during a McCain rally, radio hater Bill Cunningham implied Obama was a Muslim (untrue). When McCain, to his credit, did the right thing and apologized for the bigoted remarks, Cunningham got angry and said he had been “thrown under McCain’s bus” -- and turned on McCain!
Bigotry like Mr. Cunningham's is a major GOP problem that is driving away decent people. Decent moderates were kicked to the curb. If you aren’t a “hater” candidate willing to condone trash talk, they will turn on and eat their own candidate!
This episode shows how un-American the haters really are, and why none of them deserve to be in office or influencing American policy. We need a statesman as President, someone who can build bridges. We don't need another a politician or a President supported by groups that promote hate. The GOP war against blacks, Hispanics, gays, Muslims, etc. is racism at its worst. (McCain's attack on Obama about Al Qaida in Iraq ignores the fact that there was NO Al Qaida in Iraq before Bush started this war --none, zip, nada! They poured in after we opened the borders).
Hate is neither equality nor a family value. In this election we have a chance to vote against the haters and for a new level of American, statesmanlike leadership...
In a breakfast meeting of GHASP this morning (covering the state of our --cough, cough -- air quality in Houston), I heard people tell me that they are looking for a potential statesman as President, not another politician who plays the “gotcha” game.
Mr. Obama came across more as a Statesman, who didn’t lower himself to take cheap political shots, even when it would have been easy to do so. He went out of his way to say good things about some of Mrs. Clinton’s plans when most candidates have nothing good to say about an opponent.
Ms. Clinton came across as a good politician, “who was against NAFTA before she was for it” (depending on which state she was campaigning in) and full of catchy slogans like "change you can Xerox." But we are “full up” on politicians in Washington who read the polls to determine which way the wind is blowing, and which slogan of the minute might connect with people.
At the same time, we saw a glimpse of the hate speech to come from the dark side. At a speech during a McCain rally, radio hater Bill Cunningham implied Obama was a Muslim (untrue). When McCain, to his credit, did the right thing and apologized for the bigoted remarks, Cunningham got angry and said he had been “thrown under McCain’s bus” -- and turned on McCain!
Bigotry like Mr. Cunningham's is a major GOP problem that is driving away decent people. Decent moderates were kicked to the curb. If you aren’t a “hater” candidate willing to condone trash talk, they will turn on and eat their own candidate!
This episode shows how un-American the haters really are, and why none of them deserve to be in office or influencing American policy. We need a statesman as President, someone who can build bridges. We don't need another a politician or a President supported by groups that promote hate. The GOP war against blacks, Hispanics, gays, Muslims, etc. is racism at its worst. (McCain's attack on Obama about Al Qaida in Iraq ignores the fact that there was NO Al Qaida in Iraq before Bush started this war --none, zip, nada! They poured in after we opened the borders).
Hate is neither equality nor a family value. In this election we have a chance to vote against the haters and for a new level of American, statesmanlike leadership...
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