Internet Access censored in China during Olympics

Who didn't see this coming? If they can block access on what you can get to how much effort do you think it'll take for them to cut the cord on all information coming out of there once the shit hits the fan?? This could end up being the first Olympic games since they started televising them to have its TV coverage blocked. Mark my words - it'll happen. Somebody will say something they disagree with on the air and they'll pull the plug.

This should scare you

China is approaching total military technology independence. This means it would no longer need to steal technology from us or its neighbors or develop anything jointly with the Russians. I don't know about you guys but it worries me.
D.W. over at Connecting the Dots is right - there's way too many things concerning China that all are coming to a head right about the time of the Olympics.

Are NASA scientists this ignorant?

Shouldn't it just be blatantly obvious that the Phoenix lander is playing in the mud on Mars? For God's sake they've got dirt stuck in the shovel. Whoever designed these shovels and didn't account for the fact that the polar area is going to be more moist than the other parts of the planet should lose their jobs. I may just be from a little town in Kentucky but I understand that water ice could turn into liquid ice and any soil mixed with it is going to make mud. That little tool that's in the shovel to grind that stuff loose isn't going to do anything against mud.

All right guys, which is it?

There seems to be some disagreement between American and Israeli intelligence estimates as to when Iran is going to receive Russia's new anti-aircraft missle system. Of course our Russian friends deny that they're selling it to Iran but it's pretty much a given that they are. Israeli estimates say they'll start taking delivery in September while ours say sometime in 2009. Both groups figure that it'll take six months to a year to get it all up and running. My guess - the Israeli's will trust their information over ours so I look for the Israeli's to hit them sometime between now and Christmas.

The Dark Knight

If you haven't seen The Dark Knight then get off your ass. This movie is the real deal. It wouldn't have mattered if Heath Ledger had survived or not - this would have been the role he would be remembered for. He is so good in this it's scary. I've never seen an actor disappear into a character like this. In the credits they could have said The Joker played by The Joker and I would've believed it.

Nice one, Steve.

Our beloved Governor, a week after giving a news conference where he suggested ways state employees could save on gas costs, took three planeloads of his entourage to Pike County. Apparently a large number of staffers also drove the three hour trip to Pikeville as well.

Nice job, Steve. Way to save a dime or two.

Oil prices starting down?

Oil prices plunged hard today. All it took was the Fed chairman saying that the cost of fuel was going to limit our economic output and further reduce our demand for oil. Americans drove less in April 2008 as compared to April 2007 by a staggering rate - 1.4 billion less to be exact. In April 2008 the average price for gas in this country was somewhere in the neighborhood of $3.33 (Jesus, what happened?) Let's say that the average fuel economy for cars in this country is 17 mpg. With a little bit of mathematic chicanery that cames out to 82.3 million gallons. With the average gas price that's almost $275 million that wasn't spent at the pump that month as compared to last year. $275 million here, $275 million there and pretty soon we're talking about real money. Enough money that if oil prices stay where they are for a protracted amount of time that the oil suppliers will eventually feel the pinch and the market will right itself or, at least, adjust itself to approriate levels. The housing market is in that type of correction right now as long as we can keep the Federal govenrment from getting in there and fucking things up.

I think we're in for some rough seas ahead but we'll all get through it. Grab a rope and lash yourself to the mast.

China involved in Darfur?

Will the party never stop? The BBC has found evidence that China is providing equipment, arms, and training to the Sudanese military in their continuing conflict in Darfur. It makes me wonder if they are helping out Mugabe as well and that's why they voted against sanctions. It's all supposition on my part but here's the breakdown of my theory:

1. China is actively engaged in helping the Sudanese government. Therefore ...
2. China is in violation of U.N. arms embargoes for the Darfur region. Which means...
3. If they vote to sanction Mugabe and they are aiding him they will be in violation of two U.N. Security Council resolutions concerning areas on the same continent - which they will have supported. Which...
4. China can't allow to happen. The world outcry would be substantial and it would get in the way of various other strategic goals.

Just my two cents.

Sad news

Tony Snow, former White House Press Secretary passed away this morning after losing his long battle with cancer. Tony, a Kentucky native, died at the young age of 53. My heartfelt condolences go to his family and friends.

Iran photoshopping their military capabilities?

Credit goes to the folks over at Little Green Footballs for this find. This is one of the images released today by Iran's military showing off some of their military might. The photoshop job on this isn't Reuter's bad but it ain't good either.

The official caption over at Getty Images reads, "In a handout picture released on the news website of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, four long and medium range missiles rise into the air after being test-fired at an undisclosed location in the Iranian desert on July 9, 2008. Iran today test-fired a missile it said is capable of reaching Israel, angering the United States amid growing fears that the standoff over the contested Iranian nuclear drive could lead to war. "

Not even close guys. We're not angered as much as we are amused. Chances are those missles won't make it over the fence. You can be sure that we're frightened by your skillful use of the "Clone" stamp tool, Mr. Iranian Revolutionary Guard photoshop nerd.

In other news, race warlord Jesse Jackson was saying some fairly unkind things about Senator Obama today. He's already done the standard rounds of apologies and whatnot but, personally, I think his true feelings came out. We often whisper when we are confiding a heartfelt personal belief to someone. Especially when that belief is not the commonly held one and expressing it could bring about some negative social or polical consequences. I think that he realizes that if Obama becomes President then his gig as a race pimp is up!

Oh, here we go.

These guys have no idea do they? They have no idea the amount of pain and suffering that will rain down on them if a determined U.S. Navy decides to frak up their world. I giggle a bit every time the Iranians make threats. They usually make threats before they throw that flotilla of bass boats out into the Gulf to demonstrate their fierceness in front of the U.S. Navy.

Let's say for the sake of argument that they do have a nuclear weapon and a feasible delivery system. They better make their first shot a good one because they won't get a second. The Israelis will land on them like a ton of bricks and we won't be far behind.

Happy Birthday America.

I just want to take the time to wish everyone a Happy 4th of July.

Just remember, my fellow Americans, that despite all of our problems, our divisions, and our separate ideologies, that we still live in the greatest country on the face of the earth and that its okay to be proud of that fact.