"Victory." FBI sniper poses in front of what's left of Mt. Carmel. The charred corpse of a 71 year old Davidian can be seen roughly center image. There are a number of such photos of different Hostage Roasting Team members in the same spot. It was apparently a popular location for such "coup shot" mementos.
The world's greatest snow-capped peaks, which run in a chain from the Himalayas to Tian Shan on the border of China and Kyrgyzstan, have lost no ice over the last decade, new research shows. The discovery has stunned scientists, who had believed that around 50bn tonnes of meltwater were being shed each year and not being replaced by new snowfall.I hope you will also remember this the next time that critics complain that I think I am smarter and more likely to be correct about a scientific matter than the scientists who actually specialize in the subject. How can I possibly assert that I am correct when all the experts say otherwise? Because, as has been chronicled in some detail, I was the last time. And the time before that. And the time before that....
The study is the first to survey all the world's icecaps and glaciers and was made possible by the use of satellite data. Overall, the contribution of melting ice outside the two largest caps – Greenland and Antarctica – is much less then previously estimated, with the lack of ice loss in the Himalayas and the other high peaks of Asia responsible for most of the discrepancy.
One of the fathers of Germany’s modern green movement, Professor Dr. Fritz Vahrenholt, a social democrat and green activist, decided to author a climate science skeptical book together with geologist/paleontologist Dr. Sebastian Lüning. Vahrenholt’s skepticism started when he was asked to review an IPCC report on renewable energy. He found hundreds of errors. When he pointed them out, IPCC officials simply brushed them aside. Stunned, he asked himself, “Is this the way they approached the climate assessment reports?”
The H.L. Hunley submarine could be seen for the first time after the metal truss which had covered it was removed. Part of the shroud protecting the propeller is missing. The two conning towers are visible on top of the sub. The forward conning tower hatch is on. Various sections of the hull were removed to facilitate excavation of the interior. Some gashes in the hull are believed to be postwar damage. (Scott C. Boyd)
The above chart is the VIX. Sometimes it's called the "fear index". Whatever you want to call it, it's a quick way of looking at how much investors are willing to pay for downside protection in the market. Right now, complacency is high, and nobody wants to pay much for "insurance."
Once again, we're getting close to what's been a floor for the index (since the crisis) and so it seems inevitable that something is going to come along and jolt everyone awake.
MORESome pictures have started to make their way around the internet today showing a sniper nest at Sunday’s Super Bowl. They feature a state-of-the-art rifle set up in a box high above the field. But now the question is: Are the pictures real? The answer: it seems that way.
The pictures were posted on the Facebook page of U.S. Tactical Supply Inc. in the album “Super Bowl 2012 Security Overwatch.” They boast about some of the gear seen in the pictures, including the tripod:
With all of the stories of tragedy that are seen in media on a regular basis, there’s an inspirational tale coming out of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, worth noting. Noah Lamaide, a 12-year-old boy, has raised $10,500 to help save his grandmother’s home from foreclosure.
Janice Sparhawk, 72, was going to lose it all. In fact, an auction had been scheduled for Feb. 15. She had fallen behind on her mortgage payments, thus thrusting the future of her home – which has more than 100 years of family history — into uncertainty.
Her situation was ironic. Over the years, Janice had donated much of her time and energy to helping those around her. In fact, she has served as a foster mother to hundreds of children across Wisconsin; to find herself in such great need has certainly been a change of role. Luckily, Noah came to her rescue.
Both teams are in their locker rooms discussing what they can do to win this game in the second half. Diagramming plays. Texting their agents and German supermodel wives. Reviewing Belichick's aerial spy photos.
It’s halftime in America, too. People are hurting, and it isn't because of towel snapping and the ol' Kramergesic-in-the-jockstrap prank. They’re beat up and bruised, and wondering what they’re going to do to make a comeback. We’re all scared, because this isn’t a game. And because we're up against the Dragons and their all-Asia linebacker Hong Kong Chong with his crazy 'roid rage chopsockey chop-blocks.
The people of Detroit know a little something about this. Okay, yeah, so this isn't Detroit, it's actually New Orleans. So sue me. We were supposed to film this in Detroit, but GM rented it out to film their Chevy Truck Apocalypse ad. But imagine this really was Detroit, with all its gritty inspiring he-man decay. When the chips were down we all pulled together, hosed down the streets, and turned up the dramatic shadow lighting. Now Motor City is fighting again - as the world's cheapest location shoot for zombie movies.
Sure, I’ve seen a lot of tough eras, a lot of downturns in my life. I was in 'Every Which Way But Loose,' for crissakes. There were times when we didn’t understand each other, because you complained that I sounded like an emphezema victim who gargled with Grape Nuts. The fog of division, discord, and blame made it hard to see what lies ahead, no matter how hard I squinted.
Goddammit, somebody get me a throat lozenge.
But after those trials, we all rallied around what was right, and acted as one. Did you see me bitch and whine after 30 takes with a smelly orangutan? No. I sucked it up and yelled 'action' one more time. Because that’s what we do. We find a way through tough times, and if we can’t find a way, then we’ll call the trainer and order another orangutan, one that doesn't throw its turds at the union crew.
All that matters now is what’s ahead. How do we come from behind? How do we come together? And, how about we slip a couple hundred bucks the ref?
Detroit’s showing us it can be done. Just like Sergio Leone did with Spaghetti Westerns, It's reinventing a dying American institution with a fistful of dollars from sleazy Italians - and with me at the top of the marquee.
You're seeing the results in innovative new cars like this pink Fiat 500 J-Lo Edition. Maybe it's not a Gran Torino, but it's made in Torino. Or Ontario, or something. The important point is this: you buy one of these Italian-Canadian babies, and you'll be getting Chrysler the cash it needs to pay back the loans to the government that pays the bills for everybody in this whole city.
And, what’s true about Detroit is true about all of us. This country can’t be knocked out with one punch. We get back up, slip again, and send the video to our personal injury lawyer. And when we do - the world is going to hear the roar of our engines.
Well, maybe not 'roar.' What sound does a solar electric engine make? Zweep or something, I guess. Anyway, they'll hear something like that.
And if Emperor Toyota thinks he can underestimate us again, like back in '41 - well, Make My Day, Punkazuki. A new Enola Gay is headed your way, and Captain Obama and his fightin' boys from the UAW are ready to drop a hybrid electric PT Cruiser to blow your market share back to the Stone Age.
Yeah, it’s halftime America. But we're only down 15.4 trillion to 0. Now let's get back out there and cover the Vegas spread.
And, speaking of hideous rusted clunkers from Detroit, please enjoy Madonna's halftime show.
CHRYSLER - DODGE - JEEP - FIAT - DESOTO - GOOD - BAD - UGLY
IMPORTED FROM DETROIT
INDEBTED TO OBAMA
