Cindy hasn't won her federal seat yet. Her message stays alive. "Never forget Casey." Go get 'em, Cindy.

Peace activist Cindy Sheehan holds a sign as she leads a march over the Dallas Tollway heading to former President George Bush's house in Dallas, Monday, June 8, 2009. Sheehan lead a march to the former presidents home in the Preston Hollow section of Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero) (Lm Otero - AP)

Three years after Crawford protests, Cindy Sheehan returns to speak in Waco (click here)

By Tim Woods Tribune-Herald staff writer
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Peace activist Cindy Sheehan’s return to Central Texas drew about 55 people Tuesday night to hear her speak at Poppa Rollo’s Pizza.
The event was a stop on Sheehan’s book tour to promote Myth America, the latest of her four books.
Sheehan, whose son, Casey, was killed in Iraq in 2004, garnered the attention of the nation in 2005 when she and other anti-war protesters gathered in Crawford outside the ranch of former President George W. Bush. The protesters demanded the president’s justification for the Iraq war and asked for the immediate withdrawal of all troops.
Tuesday night, Sheehan railed not only against Bush and his policies but also against President Barack Obama and other politicians who Sheehan says are perpetuating Bush’s war policies.
“It’s about challenging the policies and not the person,” Sheehan said after her talk, referring to her willingness to now protest Obama’s actions. “I’ve been in several protests of Obama, and there’s no coverage, but then I go protest George Bush in Dallas, and there’s an overwhelming amount of media coverage.”
The protester, who was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize following her Crawford vigil, repeatedly referred to the two classes she sees in America, the “robbers” and the “robbed.”
A poignant moment at the event came during the question-and-answer session after Sheehan’s talk. A man asked Sheehan if she would be who she is and do what she does “if it weren’t for April 4,” the date her son was killed in Sadr City, Iraq.
After Sheehan said she could not answer that hypothetical question, the man, Timothy Priddy, told her that his platoon was there the day Casey was killed.
Following the event, Priddy said he agrees with some of Sheehan’s beliefs but wonders if she is tarnishing her son’s legacy.
“I agree, but at the same time I think she degrades what he stood for,” Priddy said. “I understand where she’s coming from, but my point is, if it wouldn’t have happened, would she be here today, or would she be living the life that she’s arguing against?”
twoods@wacotrib.com
757-5721

Mike is looking for a name for his new movie. He is looking outside Goldman Sachs. Give Mike a hand before he is lost in NYC forever.

"I want them to walk out at the end saying 'Wow, that was something!' And in this case, maybe they also walk out asking the ushers, 'Um, excuse me. Where are the pitch forks and torches?'"– Michael Moore (click here, thank you)

NAME "MIKE'S MOVIE" (click here)

Here is my entry, Mike. "Bush's Pity Party for Paulson"

Palin looking for public sympathy. Letterman saids 'Fine by me.'

Letterman strikes back against O'Brien-led "Tonight Show" (click title to entry - thank you)
NAB SmartBrief 06/11/2009
CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" on Tuesday scored its first ratings win over its new rival, "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien," which has seen its ratings drop each night since its June 1 debut. But NBC said it expects O'Brien to easily beat Letterman among younger-adult viewers -- a key demographic for late-night programming. New York Times, The (06/10) Variety (06/10)

We need a single payer health care system. Why? Because the bigotry in the current system is completely unacceptable !

For far too long, the Black Woman in the USA has worked harder, longer and made less money than any other group in the USA. They are oppressed. They don't have EXCELLANT health priorities and they die. They get sick more often and at an earlier age and they die and no one in decades has given a damn !

I want to hear from Liz Cheney how the USA needs a single payer health care system that takes EXCELLANT care of Black Women!!! I want to hear it !

Don't give me any bullshit about lifestyle either. THAT is bigotry. Oppression and poverty force people in value systems that are available rather than life styles of choice.

I don't want to hear it anymore !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Minority Women Lag In Health Care Access (click title to entry - thank you)
Tell Me More,
June 10, 2009
Women of color receive far less access to formal health care services than their white counterparts, according to a new study by the Kaiser Family Foundation. The report signals "sizeable health disparities" across all 50 states in women of different racial and ethnic groups. Cara James, co-author of the study, is joined by former Secretary of Health and Human Services, Dr. Louis Sullivan, to discuss reasons behind the disparities and how they can be resolved.

Liz Cheney's Big Moment - "I think we have to be careful here. Every society has their psychotics." Boy. I really thought the NRA was in trouble...

...didn't you?

Liz Cheney just justified the White Supremist Movement and analyzed the murderer today as a psychotic. I am sure there is a prison psychiatrist that can attest to that, right, Lizzy?

If that is the case? How did she get her hands on the information.

Why did she justify the HATE of a White Supremist as a psychotic as if the rest of them aren't? Because the NRA is on the line.

I am tired of it. I want to hear her say how absolutely correct Janet in Homeland Security is. I want to hear it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She is Anti-American. A typical, completely typical Republican.

I will not be oppressed by violence. I don't want to hear it about the Obama Administration. Janet ROCKS !!!

Go ahead. Don't take her seriously. This is what happens when politics is put before citizen security. We had it for eight years. We don't want it anymore. If Janet says 'jump' simply ask how high! For Republicans? Bigots have more rights than decent citizens.

Holocaust Museum to close in slain guard's honor (click title to entry - thank you)

The Associated Press Wednesday, June 10, 2009; 6:50 PM
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum will be closed Thursday in tribute to the museum guard who was shot and killed by a gunman.
Holocaust Museum director Sara Bloomfield says that flags at the museum have been lowered to half-staff in honor of slain guard Stephen T. Johns.
Johns was shot when a man carrying a .22-caliber rifle entered the museum and opened fire.
The gunman, identified by authorities as 88-year-old James von Brunn (vahn BRUHN'), was critically wounded by another guard. Authorities say von Brunn is a white supremacist and anti-Semite.
Officials at the Holocaust Museum say they will review their security procedures but believe their guards are well-trained and acted heroically to the shooting.

There are too many guns on the street. Bush believed and enforced anarchy. Feed the fear.

Steep Rise in Gun Sales Reflects Post-Attack Fears (click here)
By AL BAKER
Published: Sunday, December 16, 2001

Gun and ammunition sales across the country have risen sharply since Sept. 11 as more Americans take what many consider to be the most personal step toward feeling safer: arming themselves.
According to statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, surveys by firearms associations and anecdotal evidence from storefront gun shops and distributors from Arizona to Florida to Lower Manhattan, the jump in weapons sales followed quickly on the first jarring images of the terrorist attacks.
The rise was anywhere from 9 percent to nearly 22 percent during September, October and November, according to F.B.I. statistics on background checks for purchases. The total peaked in October, at 1,029,691.
Those in the gun industry say a range of firearms have been purchased, from high-priced handguns small enough to fit inside a purse to shotguns and assault rifles that can be leaned against a wall inside a clothes closet. And, they say, there has been a steady stream of serious- minded first-time buyers....

I don't know about anyone else, but, I have been completely disgusted with Rove manipulations.

People liked this? They thought it was special? What is so special about manipulating public opinion through Rovian image making? What did it get the country? Besides a "W"rongful war, an unfinished war, an Ally that was a Warlord and a destroyed global economy. Iraq, Musharraf and Paulson's Bailout were all contemplated, planned and executed.

Knock it off !!!!

God? False Prophet? Obama? What is everyone thinking? Where does that come from?

What a joke !

His speeches to date have been 'spot on' whether in the USA or abroad. Honestly.

I find this approach of news reporting important and refreshing.

All too often the reporting regarding countries such as North Korea and Iran are from a 'narcisstic' point of view in regard to the damage that can be done to the USA/Allies/World by them.

I have in the past attempted to focus on the relationship of the government within these countries to their populous. We cannot pass judgement on the happiness of the people, but, we can be concerned about their well being and human rights.

By focusing on the people of these countries, their relationship with their government and how that interprets to a relationships with the global populous brings a 'humanized' approach to the 'image' of such countries.



All too often, we 'stigmatize' them in order to consider them an enemy. When, in fact, it is the people of these nations that are striving to change their relationship with the world. The most profound example of that is the reporting coming out of Iran regarding the anticipated elections. I have never heard such good news in all my life regarding the possibility of the return to sanity by the leadership of Iran.

I also believe if the media focus is removed from the two American journalists held in North Korea they will be safer. I am confident, human rights organizations are involved in North Korea regarding the prisons and if not perhaps that should be a focus for the USA State Department. The point is, if we are to conduct public discussions regarding the nuclear capacity of North Korea it cannot include 'dangling' American Journalists for public display as if a 'carrot and stick' to the Six Party Talks (If they ever return to Six Party Talks.).

The two issues are not intertwined and the more North Korea realizes any grandstanding over the American Journalists are mute, there might be more movement to free them to their own government as they are not guilty in acting as any type of government agent.

What is adding to the unemployment picture? Joe Biden is correct. The States that refused the stimulus.

....Three Southern GOP governors (click title to entry - thank you) (the unemployment rate is rising in all three states) with potential White House ambitions in 2012 — Perry from Texas, Bobby Jindal from Louisiana and Mark Sanford from South Carolina — have turned aside portions of the federal stimulus package. The South Carolina Supreme Court has ordered Sanford to request the funds....

Louisiana, Texas and South Carolina are poster children for the Biden Reality. California is well above the national average and dysfunctionally handling its budget problems. Nevada's rate is climbing every month. (There is an interactive at this link if one clicks here, which allows the national average to be compared state by state and county by county. Some areas are recovering.)

But, the obvious lack of 'commitment' to the Stimulus in states such as Louisiana can't be understated. There was a spike in Louisiana in 2005 due to Katrina.


Louisiana Mulling $0.15 Internet Fee (click here)
Monday, June 08, 2009 - by Shawn Oliver
We've always heard that the best things in life are free. We've also heard that nothing great lasts forever. Mix those two mantras together, and you get this. Down in Louisiana, a $0.15 surcharge is being tossed around as an idea to stop online criminal activity (and raise state income, no doubt), which would be levied on Internet access across the state. Sadly, the House has already voted in favor with an 81-9 vote, though Governor Bobby Jindal strongly opposes....


The news regarding the economic collapse of the Bush White House bearly hit the news in November of 2008 and the unemployment rate in Louisiana was 5.3. President Obama's inauguration occurred on January 20, 2009 and the unemployment rate in Louisiana went from 5.5 in December 2008 to 5.1.


The Stimulus Package passed Congress about February 15, 2009 while the Louisiana unemployment rate became 5.7. The Louisiana Governor along with other hard line Republican Governors declined the Stimulus monies based on 'philosophical' reasons and today Louisiana's unemployment rate is 6.2 and rising.

Besides a rising unemployment rate, the Louisiana Governor is playing with education. Education is a focus of the Stimulus Plan.

Associated Press
Louisiana governor says he'll veto tax cut delay (click here)
By MELINDA DESLATTE
05.26.09, 03:05 PM EDT
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal threatened to veto any attempts to delay a planned tax break for middle- and upper-income taxpayers, but he said he was working with senators on other ways to stave off some proposed college budget cuts.
Among the ideas offered by senators, Jindal said Tuesday, is a budget maneuver that would use money from the state's "rainy day" fund for higher education and replenish the fund with dollars from a planned tax amnesty program....

California basically needs a 'Ring Master.' The longer the 'push me - pull you' authority goes on, the longer it will take to stabilize the circumstances and seek real progress toward stabilizing a global economy all by itself.

California cities, counties vow to fight state over budget tactics (click here)
By Loretta Kalb and Robert Lewis
lkalb@sacbee.com
Published: Thursday, May. 28, 2009 - 12:00 am Page 1A
Arguing that the state is nickel and diming them to oblivion, leaders of California's financially beleaguered counties and cities say they plan to fight back.
They suggested Wednesday that talks should begin on how to more equitably restructure government financing.
"The governor and Legislature can't solve this problem by themselves," said Yolo County Supervisor Mike McGowan. "The top-down approach has not worked."...

What is really interesting is that The Governator was the first to jump at the chance for an economic stimulus with shovel ready jobs, yet 'in application' he is holding out for a court date with the federal government to reappropriate the Stimulus monies to simply 'pay the bills.' Come on, Ahnold, that is dirty politics.


U.S. threatens to rescind stimulus money over wage cuts (click here)
The Obama administration threatens to rescind billions in stimulus money if Gov. Schwarzenegger and lawmakers do not restore wage cuts to unionized home healthcare workers.
By Evan Halper May 8, 2009
Reporting from Sacramento -- The Obama administration is threatening to rescind billions of dollars in federal stimulus money if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state lawmakers do not restore wage cuts to unionized home healthcare workers approved in February as part of the budget.Schwarzenegger's office was advised this week by federal health officials that the wage reduction, which will save California $74 million, violates provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Failure to revoke the scheduled wage cut before it takes effect July 1 could cost California $6.8 billion in stimulus money, according to state officials.
The news comes as state lawmakers are already facing a severe cash crisis, with the state at risk of running out of money in July....


Okay, here's the deal. The longer it takes to 'spend the money' the longer it takes to come back to the states in the way of income tax, sales tax, etc. and the Stimulus basically becomes a negative feedback loop all by itself as the 'struggle' to control the MONEY is more of an issue than the unemployement.

I don't trust the Republican message, it is the same old song and dance. Cut taxes, stimulate the economy.

Gov. Jon Corzine argues Chris Christie is out of step with N.J. voters' values (click here)
by Claire Heininger/The Star-Ledger
Wednesday June 03, 2009, 8:20 AM
Gov. Jon Corzine hit the airwaves this morning to make the case for four more years, arguing he would work better with the Obama administration and Republican opponent Chris Christie is not "in alignment" with New Jersey voters' values.
"There were a lot of statements in the Republican primary that I know are contrary to where New Jerseyans feel on a woman's right to choose, on gun control, on a whole host of issues, in addition to whose taxes get cut, how many people get laid off," Corzine said during a live interview on News 12 New Jersey....

First the Republicans crash the economy, corrupt the entire banking system and nearly rid the American landscape of the car industry. The Republicans have never been a friend to the American people or the car industry. They never regulated tailpipe emissions and allowed the 'belief' that the industry could survive on gas guzzlers. That MYTH was trashed when fuel went to over $4.00 per gallon and it promises to return to those levels by October of this year.

At any rate, the Republicans are back to stating 'cut taxes' and stimulate the economy. Right.

New Jersey Beach

New Jersey is a good example of an 'off year' election neglect by the DNC. While Governor Corzine has worked to reduce the tax burden of the state by trimming monies to municipalities, the answer by his opposition is a dreamscape and nothing more.

According to those that oppose Governor Corzine, whom carry all the social oppressions they are known for, cutting taxes and encouraging mergers between towns and cities will return a better economic climate to the state.

That makes sense? Yet, the desperation of the American consumer in an Off Year election are willing to entertain anything that is a 'novel' idea regardless of its lack of proof.

When towns and cities merge they consolidate administrations, cut middle management, increase the class sizes in the schools while grades are joined and teachers are laid off. That sounds like economic stimulation? No. That is a "White Flag" to hopelessness and helplessness.

Mergers cause adoption of hideous concessions between towns that compromise quality of life with MINIMAL return. Below is an example.

Joint Study Committee
Final Report to the Cities of Clayton and Richmond Heights, Missouri (click here)
September 26, 2007
AS ADOPTED

OVERALL SUMMARY
...At the completion of the study, the JSC has concluded the merger of the two cities is
not recommended at this time. As noted below, most of the JSC’s subcommittees
concluded that potential benefits of merger were relatively nominal and seem to be
outweighed by the burdens, possible negatives, and ultimate risks associated with
pursuing and effectuating such a merger. However, the JSC has found that there are
numerous opportunities for advantageous partnerships....

The Corzine opposition is barking up an empty tree, yet the DNC has yet to assist the campaign to bring about the reality of a poor and possibly disasterous decision by the electorate.

Changing administrations in dire times is not the answer. Acting in desperation by an elecorate in 'hopes' the old Republican song and dance 'feels more than good' but actually works is like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. These 'strategies' are empty, poorly researched and unable to point to repeated success stories that act as examples to what an electorate can expect. The economy is disappointing to say the least and New Jersey needs new concepts that will encourage growth, like dedicating the Old American Cyanamid Agricultural Research Site as a new, expanded location for Rutgers' University Research. The property is dirt cheap compared to the 'gem' it is, however, the buildings alone are worth the price and the greenhouses that once hosted the needs of the Third World in its lab research are worth billions while intact and next to nothing in demolition.

The town of West Windsor is seeking desperating for use of this land in an already congested traffic dynamic. Locating a new Rutger's University Research site will bring new venues of educational opportunity to the cities in the area that have only Rider University as a venue for opportunity. A public university is needed there.

It is that 'view of the future' that Governor Corzine needs to impart as hope for expanding opportunity through education.

The 'businesses' in New Jersey are long lived. Why 'risk' any instability to what remains of a viably stable New Jersey economy?

If Grassley can't handle the job, then he needs to leave the office.

President Obama inherited a Republican Mess unlike any economic and war disaster in American history. He has a very ambitious agenda for his adminnistration and EXCEPT for a occassional evening out with his WIFE and now a trip to a destination that was within the realm of reasonable in Paris on a trip already embarked on, there is not a darn thing "W"rong with his family traveling to meet him.

The trip to the Middle East was magnificient and nothing short of it. There were light hearted moments that gave the brevity of his diplomacy some comic relief.

Compared to the agenda President Obama holds for himself, Senator Grassley's 'pouting' regarding a demand for health care reform is shameful.

Grassley's first tweet: "Pres Obama you got nerve while u sightseeing in Paris to tell us 'time to deliver' on health care. We still on skedul/even workinWKEND."

A short time later: "Pres Obama while u sightseeing in Paris u said 'time to delivr on healthcare' When you are a 'hammer' u think evrything is NAIL I'm no NAIL."

A Grassley spokeswoman verified that the senator was the author of the messages.

What if anything was decided in regard to David Kellerman?

Past the sad reality left to us after 8 arduous years, I think I'm happy about GMC.

There is something to be said about preserving 'Americana.' General Motors, Ford and Chrysler are American Car Companies. We have come through something together. I like this commercial. I believe this commercial. I look forward to the commitment relayed in this commercial.

I defy anyone to say this commercial is NOT 'The Truth.'

EFFECTIVE :: June 26, 1987...

The United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment




Neither Signators or Ratified :: Zimbabwe, Angola, Central African Republic, Entrea, Iraq, Iran, Vietnam, Burma, Malaysia, New Guinea, North Korea, Oman, United Arab Emerits and Suriname

Signators, but, not Ratified: Sudan, Arunachal Pradesh, India and the Dominican Republic

The New York Times is attempting to achieve some kind of justice regarding the egregious nature of the Bush/Cheney White House and Republican Party as it validated the actions of torture by the USA government with impunity.


U.S. Lawyers Agreed on the Legality of Brutal Tactic (click title to entry - thank you)
By SCOTT SHANE and DAVID JOHNSTON
Published: June 6, 2009
...But a closer examination shows a more subtle picture. None of the Justice Department lawyers who reviewed the interrogation question argued that the methods were clearly illegal....


It is a chronic problem, since the very "W"rongful war in Iraq, that there is no 'sense' of justice to the illegalities of the administration that diverted our military from Afghanistan into Iraq. The issue of torture had became a huge dynamic of which most Americans can relate. Therefore, the demands for prosecutions of the Bush White House and the closing of Gitmo.


Americans by nature demand justice. They 'count on it' to validate their sense of right and wrong and there are just some aspects of 'living' that are abhorrent to the American Conscience. Torture is one of those. We think of torture as 'Hogan's Heroes.' Just last week Michael Moore's website stated of Colin Powell, he was the equivalent of Schultz, "I see nothing, nothing!"

That is who we are. That 'conscience' has been the mainstay of America's identity for a long time. Long before, 1987.

The USA has been 'the moral police' to the world. Where another country would validate the USA's right to torture members or preceived members of al Qaeda to stop another attack, it is SUPPOSED to be 'above' our demeanor to even 'conceive' of such things. We have ridiculed, in the past, the treatment of our POWs in Vietnam and demanded the return of human remains to family still waiting to hear about MIAs.

That's who we are. We are the people of the USA that pass judgement on 'cruel' and 'inhumane' treatment of other human beings.

In Pakistan, it was the people of the USA, its academicians, that the Late Benazir Bhutto came while longing to return to her country and restore the rights of the people of that nation. It was us she came to and voiced her demands for then President Bush to speak out against the lack of profound democracy to elections. We are that voice. We are, in actuality, more than that voice, we are the educators to the empowerment of a global voice that resounds with 'sameness' in that all people are to be treated by their governments with regard and justice.

The impetus to the 'demands' for justice regarding the past eight years, be it Iraq, Gitmo or the 'Fiscal collapse of Paulson's USA Treasury' due to the failure of AIG, (Which never should have existed in the first place.) that 'stirring' will never end UNTIL there is justice to the ACTUAL crimes against the USA Conscience.

So, for this 'venue' of 'seeking' justice by doggedly pursuing the 'advisory' lawyers to the White House and attempting to 'clarify' the roles of such persons to other presons of power is admirable, but, falls short of the ACTUAL justice Americans seek. We know they were "W"rong and all the paper between here and hell won't undo that.

The White House of Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Gonzales is GUILTY AS SIN for 'up ending' the American system of Justice and TURNING AGAINST the UN Conventions of Torture and the Geneva Conventions!!! We don't forgive them. AND. We don't forgive the World Courts for denying us OUR RIGHTS to justice for their "W"rong doings. They are GUILTY, they will always be GUILTY and while the Lawyers will ultimtely be 'The Scapegoats' to power, we will have to find our own ways of impuning this level of 'hatred' of life from ever happening again.

We could have been Hilter revisited. We could have been. And to think 'that' reality was disrupted by a documentarian from Michigan and the willingness of CBS to boldly go to Abu Ghraib when no one else did and accept the consequences of those decisions, speaks strongly to the American Conscience even more than the American Judicial System.

So, while the lawyers of the Bush Executive Branch are still under the microscope, their actions over eight years of manipulations and lies have already been judged.

Perhaps the best way to put it is this. The American People will CONTINUE to 'sculpt' a government that reflects profound human rights values regardless of a Republican Party incapable of conceiving them !

Morning Papers - "It's Origins"

The Rooster

"Okeydoke"

The only issue with weather on Air France 447 is where the plane didn't operate correctly in it. There are problems with the aircraft.

It isn't exactly the first time Airbus Jumbos have had problems with their computers.

Saturday, June 6, 2009
Air France 447 - Investigators: Missing A330's ACARS sent 24 error messages (click title to entry - thank you)
By David Kaminski-Morrow
French investigators have disclosed that the missing Air France Airbus A330's ACARS communication system transmitted 24 error messages ahead of the flight's disappearance on 1 June.
Fourteen of those messages, says the Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses, were sent within the space of one minute, from 02:10UTC to 02:11UTC.
At a briefing in Paris today the BEA confirmed that the ACARS messages showed "inconsistencies" between measured velocities and indications of systems failures including the autothrust and autopilot.
It said the transmission of routine ACARS signals every 10min during the flight would give the inquiry a degree of certainty about its track.
But BEA director Paul-Louis Arslanian cautioned over the value of the error signals received, stating that they were "not designed for investigations" and only gave an indication as to the status of particular systems.
Arslanian says that while a connection between the signals and the loss of flight AF447 "would appear probable", there was no confirmation of "causality between the messages and the accident".
The BEA, he adds, is still collating information including radar data from Brazil while the search effort continues to locate the flight-data and cockpit-voice recorders.

This is the third. There was the one over the Azores, the Quantas jet and the Air France jet, I think there was also a New Zealand jet. The pilots of these aircraft are EXCELLANT. They know how to handle these planes and it is them that have prevented tragedy before this AF447. The problem with the Air France flight is that it was in the middle of the Atlantic with no place to land. The New Zealand flight was the 'test flight' were people died.



Qantas mishaps under review (click here)
AAP
Last updated 01:53
05/01/2009
Australia's air safety watchdog is investigating two inflight system malfunctions on Qantas jets.
In the latest incident, on December 27, a Qantas Airbus A330-300 heading for Singapore was forced to return to Perth after the autopilot disconnected.
The malfunction occurred while the jet was cruising at 36,000 feet about 500 kilometres north-west of Perth.
"The crew elected to return to Perth and an uneventful overweight landing was conducted," the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said in a statement.
It said the incident was "similar" to one that occurred in October and would be investigated as part of the inquiry into that emergency.
On October 7, 70 of the 313 people on board a Qantas Airbus A330 travelling from Singapore to Perth were injured, with 44 needing hospital treatment, after the aircraft suddenly plunged, hurling passengers around the cabin.
The aircraft was cruising at 37,000 feet when the fault occurred, causing it to descend up to 650 feet in seconds.
The pilot made an emergency landing at Learmonth in north-western WA.
A preliminary report into the October incident by the safety bureau, released in November, found that there was a possibility transmissions from the Harold E. Holt naval communications station interfered with aircraft onboard systems.
The bureau is also investigating the possibility that passenger electronic devices aboard the aircraft caused the problem.
It regarded both as unlikely but said it could not rule either out yet.
The air safety watchdog said it was focusing on a flight computer system component called an ADIRU — air data inertial reference unit.
When the autopilot disconnected on December 27, the crew received a message indicating a problem with the plane's No. 1 ADIRU.
They then followed revised guidelines from Airbus issued after the October emergency.

Warning issued to airlines flying Airbuses
The Dominion Post
Last updated 01:14

08/01/2009 (January 8, 2009)
As emergency safety directive has been issued to airlines using twin-engine Airbus A320s after both engines on one stalled over the Mediterranean, just 18 days after an Air New Zealand A320 crashed killing all seven on board.
However, an Air New Zealand spokesman said its A320s, including the one that crashed, are equipped with rival International Aero Engine V2500s plant.
The directive from European and United States aviation authorities, comes as mystery continues as to the cause of the Air New Zealand crash off the coast of southern France.
Five New Zealanders and two Germans died in the November 28 crash during a test flight.
On December 14, an Air France Airbus A321 a stretched version of the A320 suffered a double engine stall as it climbed out of Tunisia, bound for Paris.
Passengers heard loud bangs from both of its CFM International 56 engines and the stalling occurred as pilots eased back on power.
The engines are designed to not close down on stalling and power was quickly resumed. The aircraft made a safe emergency landing.
The safety directive calls for airlines with about 1500 Airbuses to urgently check and repair high-pressure compressor fans on CFM 56s on A318s, A319s, A320s and A321s.
European authorities said that since April last year, six different engines used by three operators had stalled. These were followed by the Air France incident.
American authorities warned such stalling problems "could prevent continued safe flight or landing".
Meanwhile, on January 13 the French crash authority, the Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses (BEA), will hold a Paris meeting in a bid to move the Air New Zealand investigation forward.
Aviation sources say it is coming under pressure to come up with an explanation as the A320 is a European and North American commuter workhorse. Concern was already mounting following an October incident with a Qantas Airbus A330 that lost altitude after going into a dive, injuring 40.
A safety directive on software was issued for A320s last month.
The Air New Zealand plane plunged into the sea without issuing a distress call. Six of the seven bodies have been recovered but are still undergoing dna testing for identification.

Thought the 'exposure' of the USA IAEA document was a mistake? No it wasn't.

Highly notable are the 'dark gray shaded' countries. The ones in the 'key' that Formerly had Nuclear Weapons/Programme.

Key to map (click here)

Russia calls for tighter nonproliferation regime (click title to entry - thank you)
21:16
05/06/2009 (June 5, 2009)
ST. PETERSBURG June 5 (RIA Novosti) - Russia and the United States should elaborate "tougher rules of the game" relating to the international nuclear nonproliferation regime, a Russian deputy prime minister said on Friday.
Speaking at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, Sergei Ivanov said the existing nonproliferation regime was "weak."
He said that the ongoing global economic crisis was lending a special urgency to the issue.
"In the context of the crisis, those who possess [enrichment] technology or even enriched uranium could be tempted to sell their technology or materials on the side," he said.
He said there were an increasing number of potential buyers, especially among terrorist and extremist organizations.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said earlier on Friday he intended to discuss nuclear proliferation at his upcoming meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama.
The two presidents are due to meet in Moscow in early July....

If Russia is saying these things, they have intelligence to back it up !

Sotomayor Favored for Top Court, Quinnipiac Poll Says

June 4 (Bloomberg) -- Americans approve of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor by a 2-1 margin, according to a poll of voters.
President Barack Obama’s choice to fill the seat of retiring Justice David Souter won the approval of 55 percent of the more than 3,000 voters polled, Quinnipiac University said in a statement. Twenty-five percent disapproved....

Poll: Public Overwhelmingly Says Sotomayor Not Racist, And Empathy Is Important (click here)
By Eric Kleefeld - June 5, 2009, 1:34PM
A new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll suggests that two key right-wing talking points against Sonia Sotomayor, which they've worked hard to get into the collective public mind, have in fact...totally failed.
"Based on what you know or have heard about Sonia Sotomayor do you think she is a racist?" The numbers: Yes 8%, No 61%. Even among Republicans, the number is only Yes 19%, No 28%.
"Do you think empathy is an important characteristic for a Supreme Court Justice to possess or not?" The numbers: Yes 52%, No 29%.

Poll: Few voters think Sotomayor is a ‘racist,’ majority say she’s qualified
By Ernest Luning 6/5/09 5:54 PM
Only eight percent of Americans agree with Tom Tancredo that Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor “is a racist,” according to a non-partisan poll released Friday. A majority ranks “empathy” as important for a Supreme Court justice and an even bigger majority says Sotomayor is qualified for the high court.
The results, The Plum Line’s Greg Sargent writes, “strongly suggests that the two main right-wing talking points about Sonia Sotomayor are a bust.”
Despite a barrage of attacks by Tancredo, Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich and others characterizing Sotomayor as a racist, voters aren’t buying it, according to a telephone poll of 2,400 adults conducted by Research 2000 for Daily Kos.
Even among Republicans, only 19 percent think the federal judge, who would be the first Hispanic justice on the Supreme Court, is a racist.
Among Latinos surveyed, only two percent say Sotomayor is a racist — within the poll’s margin of error — and 83 percent say she isn’t.

I am working in forest restoration for the summer. Great work. Very rewarding. But, today I attended an all day Sustainability Conference.

Just for the record, I am not making megabucks and my work is privately funded. Thank you.

We discussed a lot today. Mostly municipal issues and the Star Performers was "Sustainable Jersey."(click here) But, by far the most fascinating presentation was about the very progressive measures of Woolwich, New Jersey.

Woolwich Township Takes On C&D Waste (click title to article - thank you)
Woolwich Township is not only one of the fastest growing communities in Gloucester County, but also one of the most progressive when it comes to construction and demolition waste (C&D) management. With the pace of new development showing no signs of easing up, township officials have addressed the growing quantity of construction and demolition waste being generated in the municipality through an innovative new C&D recycling ordinance.

The ordinance, which took effect on April 16, 2007, requires 65% of the C&D debris generated from projects to be diverted from landfill disposal and instead managed through reuse and recycling options. Integral to the ordinance is the requirement that all applicants for a building permit or demolition/removal permit must first submit information on the anticipated amount of debris to be generated and recycled by the project....

The best part of the ORDINANCE in Woolwich, New Jersey is that there is 'built in' savings for the contractors AND the recycling of 'gypsum board / sheet rock' is VITAL to the remaining construction industry because the manufacturing of any new wall board has been grossly cutback. The recycled construction materials cut back on 'landfill' by as much as 98% at any construction site. It is far more cost effective and beneficial to the construction industry to recycle building materials whenever possible.

That's not all. There is a new economy that uses 'De-Construction' of older buildings. These 'up start' businesses are sometimes supplied with labor from our 'youth' and our 'homeless.' But, the projects where by valuable fixtures, window frames, doors, etc. are carefully removed from homes before they are demolished to produce vacant land and/or places for new construction.

This is an example of a Colorado project, however, the actual project in New Jersey employee homeless men. One of the men is approaching the possibility of an independant business, because, the 'products' obtained through this process are valueable and unique.

New Jersey is impressive. They leave no stone unturned when it comes to recycling and reclaiming the land. Restoring and appreciating Open Space. It was refreshing to be back.

Deconstruction projects help youths build on their future (click here)
BY NATE TAYLOR

NateTaylor@coloradoan.com

May 30, 2009

Neil Kaufman saw a void in the construction and deconstruction industry, and he's trying to fill it with young men and women who otherwise would be missing out on opportunities to succeed in life....

The Extremists hate the USA because it suits their purpose. Khamenei creates wedge issue.

Khamenei is not a stateman, he is an icon. Ahmadinejad is a politician. Unfortunately, the political culture in Iran dictates hatred of the USA and The West to 'pull in' his base, the Orthodox.

President Obama's speech today didn't even address the level of 'dysfunction' of the Iranian political culture, it addressed 'the hope' of peace.

There is something Ahmadinejad and Khamenei have in common with Bush and Cheney. They never say the word peace, nor understand its meaning. There is nothing within the context of President Obama's speech that addressed this level of Extremist Culture. There is no sense in addressing this level of hate. There is no purpose to try.

Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the current Supreme Leader of Iran.

President Obama : "So I have known Islam on three continents before coming to the region where it was first revealed. That experience guides my conviction that partnership between America and Islam must be based on what Islam is, not what it isn't. And I consider part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear."

Khamenei : "Alluding to Obama's new approach in foreign affairs, he said that the previous administration of President George W. Bush had left an "ill-mannered image" of itself in the world.

"The new U.S. government seeks to transform this image," Khamenei said. "I say firmly that this will not be achieved by talking, speech and slogans." He added, "Even if [Obama] delivers hundreds of speeches and talks very sweetly, there will not be a change in how the Islamic countries perceive the United States." He called on Obama to deliver change "in practice."

President Obama : But the same principle must apply to Muslim perspections of America. Just as Muslims do not fit a crude stereotype, America is not the crude stereotype of a self-interested empire. The United States has been one of the greatest sources of progress that the world has ever known. We were born of a revolution against an empire. We were founded upon that ideal that all were created equal, and we have shed blood and struggled for centuries to give meaning to those words - within our borders and around the world. We are shaped by every culture, drawn from every end of the Earth, and dedicated to a simple concept, E pluribus unum. "Out of many, one."

Out of many, one is a statement of unity, tolerance and strength. It means the USA accepts difference within its democracy. There is nothing 'tolerate' by Khameni. As a leader of Iran, he speaks openly about hatred. If President Obama was ever to substitute the name Iran for Israel in the statement below, there would be riots in the street.

Khamenei also denounced Israel as a "cancerous tumor in the heart" of the Islamic world, and he accused the U.S. military of "bombing innocent civilians" in Afghanistan. "What is the difference between this killing and killing by terrorists?" he asked rhetorically.

There was a time in the world when words of hate were readily made by what one might call 'Mortal Enemies.' The world today is much smaller. There is no room for words of hate. Yet. An Iranian Icon, such as Khamenei will speak of hate with impunity. Extending an open hand to Islam by the USA is not only admirable, but, generous.

While today was 'a new beginning' it was also definative. The President spoke of measurable road marks on the way to resolving issues that divide the ? two ? worlds. He spoke of policy as it relates to the issues that divide 'peace' between Islam and the USA. While all that is important to clarify the 'terms' of embracing difference and tolerance, it also sets a 'tone.' That tone while generous and 'willing' also 'limits' the extent the USA will 'bend' to achieve peace and understanding.

The speech today was to unit the people of The Middle East as it relates to the USA. He left no 'gray areas' to his policies. He spoke with 'the one voice' that is and will be our diplomatic basis of moving forward.

He did not speak to the 'specific' networks of violence. Why? Because, as with Khameni, there are those in Islam that are served by both rhetorical and actual violence. Peace is intolerant of violence. Hence. The USA are intolerant of them. The speech by President Obama in the Middle East defined our country within our belief systems about our country. The Islamic nations now know. We will see where it goes.