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Chuckle8: Yes, I believe that the SA-11 is the missile part of the Buk missile system (launcher). If you look inside one of those launchers, you would see all kinds of complicated control panels, radar screen, etc. The SA-11 came about in 1980 with an improvement in 1984. The original 1980 SA-11 had a range of 3-19 miles with an altitude of 46,000 feet. The 1984 SA-11 had a range of 2-22 miles and an altitude of 72,000 feet. It takes quite a bit of training to operate one of the Buk missile systems. And the Ukraine army or the Russians would have most likely had the necessary training. The Pro-Russian separatists most likely would not have had training. But someone, either the pro-Russian separatists or the Russians operating in that part of the Ukraine did knock out three different Ukraine military aircraft in the preceding weeks. Given their success, it could be that the Malaysian airliner's flight path was a deliberate sucker play in the attempt to sucker the anti-Ukraine forces to shoot it down...or that this was a false flag operation where a covert operative shot the plane down so that they could blame the anti-Ukraine forces...especially Russia.
Remember the false flag that the US-Saudi Arabia (and others) played in Syria when they provided the anti-Assad forces with chemical weapons and their stunt killed and wounded Syrian civilians?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buk_missile_system
It's time to take the bull by the horns.
Shazaam!
It isn't just our congressional leaders who seem to want to turn a blind eye to climate change. Dispite what President Obama "says" his actions are mind-boggling. He has just agreed to allow the oil industry to have leases to explore the Atlantic off the coast of Florida but just outside the line where the State of Florida or its residents have no right to protest. The boom sounds that are shot down into the water "endlessly" to seek possible areas for drilling are at the same time driving the whales and dolphins insane. They can't communicate with each other because the booms drowned them out. Why is Obama not listening?
This might be a bit off topic but it is a happy, "feel good" story in the news today. My new hero. This guy should win Father of the Year. He walked in on some guy having sex with his 11 year old son. This is what happened. Miraculously this guy is still alive--for now at least. I doubt he is going to fare much better in prison:
http://news.yahoo.com/police-fla-father-beats-accused-child-abuser-193806138.html
After being asked if any weapons were involved the man said, "Just my fists and feet." The police chief commented that there didn't appear to be any reason to arrest the father. After all, "He was only being a father."
The vatican should hire this guy to "council" its priest who have abused young boys. I think that would serve justice correctly for everyone involved.
I guess I can fill my pool without any repercussions.
Pal -- Is the Buk missile part of the SA-11 system? That system requires 3 components that are needed for accurate targeting and launch. The launch vehicle had a standalone radar on it that easily could mistaken the identity of the passenger plane. Also, there are a lot of older soldiers in the Ukrainian army and mercinaries who were members of the USSR armed forces. Some of them would have the skills to launch the missile.
DAM -- There was one American and he lived most of his life in the Netherlands. He was an American because he was born in New York City.
AIW, Marc -- It is a progressive fine that starts out small. They are currently guessing that it is a wake-up law and will not be enforced (except against people they do not like-LOL).
Pal -- It is of course the 1% bitching. A lot of the water is being used to grow water hungry alfalfa to send to China. Also, a deal was made with nut tree growers to get first grab of the water. They are growing nut trees that should never have been grown in a state like CA. The deal was made long ago before the current severe shortage, and even then it was known the should not be grown..
If you want more details (or even just check on my memory), you should look up articles in the LA Times by M. Hiltzik. He also has a website "the economy hub".
http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/
Today, the Arizona Legislature passed a law that only persons with an IQ of over 100 could own a gun. They then immediately asked the Governor to veto the legislation when they determined that all but two of the legislators would have been required to turn in their weapons. Legislators noted that they just hadn't thought the legislation through because it passed after not noticing the misprint in an ALEC document. Arms manufacturing stocks plumeted.
Palindromedary ~ Musical lyrics are a form of art. As such, they are completely open to the interpretation of the listener. That being said, the answer to your question I believe would be, "Yes!"
I'm certain that was exactly what the "Door Mouse" meant.
Aliceinwonderland ~ The situation is serious no doubt. Also it is tragically true that most people waste water unconscionably. That being said, this HAS happened before here in California. This isn't the first time and probably won't be the last. In fact, during my lifetime it happened before. I remember it well. You probably do to. The general response back then was simply to do exactly what you suggested--small fines at the water meter. If I remember correctly we were all alotted a certain amount of water to use depending on the size of our household. That was measured monthly at our water meter. We had the choice of taking meager and fast showers; or, not showering at all and just letting the water pour out on the sidewalk. It was our choice. After getting dinged and a letter of explanation guess what? No more water on the sidewalk. You don't have to rob a family blind to get them to change their habits, all you really have to do is to make it cheaper for them to change. Then, saving water becomes a way to make money instead of a way to avoid debt prison. I don't know who is in charge of this situation or what is going through their minds; however, to simply not repeat a course of action that was proven successful before seems really incompetent in my book. In my humble opinion, the members of this water council just aren't wrapped too tight.
Besides, all this talk about fining for watering lawns and washing cars only affects what people do in the street and in front of their houses. What about in the bathrooms and yards? Unless you ding at the water meter you don't really solve anything. This idea is the most stupid and wasteful non solution I've heard come out of Sacramento since red light cameras. It's more of an attempt to raise revenue and not really to solve any problems. Just like the red light cameras. The thiefs are in charge.
Thom Hartmann ~ Very well said; and, I agree!!
I haven't read anything about the breakdown of methane hydrates adding much to the rise in sea level. This breakdown of methane takes place in the atmosphere so the extra water must fall as rain before it adds to sea level. But the heat from increased greenhouse gases will certainly eventually melt the ice caps raising sea level by a couple of hundred feet.
Others have concluded that the redistribution of weight caused by the melting land glaciers and ice caps will cause earthquakes.
If a tree falls in the forest with no around to hear, does it make a sound?
If a planet goes through what we are contemplating here, it will end most life and there won't be anyone around to call it an extinction event. This a purely philosophical question.
So is your point about a possible thinning atmosphere making Earth more vulnerable to meteorites.
Response to post #94, paragraphs #8 & #11 (excluding salutation): Mr. Mills. since English happens to be your first language, it's spelled "vein" not "vane".
Palin, I wasn't thinking about corporations. They can pay $10,000 a day for all I care. I was only thinking about the little guy.
As the world's natural resources keep getting stretched thinner and thinner, people will have to change their ways. Seems inevitabile - AIW.
AIW: And people, as I understand it, are taking videos of their neighbors who are wasting water and turning them in. Well, at least so far anyway, the authorities aren't special renditioning people and torturing them in Gitmo.
I just hope that they catch those corporations that like to over water their lawns. Years ago, when I had to commute past corporate buildings, I saw such a waste of water even during the drought season...letting water run down the street. For corporations, I don't think they would be so moved by a $10 a day fine. On the other hand $500 a day fine for people struggling just to get by might cause some people to go over the edge.
Marc, that's a very persuasive argument. I see nothing to argue with in your post.
I'd already heard about that new California water penalty on the radio, sometime earlier this week. I agree that the drought is pretty dire down there. But it still sounds pretty draconion, all right. And sneaky. What happens to people who don't follow the news, and don't even know about this new law going into effect? At $500 a day, just imagine what a month's accumulation of infractions, or even two weeks' worth, would cost!
I've long believed that, generally (and not just in California!) Americans tend to be wasteful with water. It's hard not to take something for granted when it comes gushing through a faucet or spigot, at the twist of a wrist, in seemingly unlimited quantities. For years now, I've tried using water consciously and prudently. In the case of a severe drought, such as Californians now are facing, I'm all for giving the public ample warning, and then fining people something like $10 a day. Even at that rate, it adds up fast. For someone struggling to make ends meet, this would create plenty of incentive. Even for those better off than living paycheck-to-paycheck, it's enough incentive. Who the hell wants to get surprised with $150 or $300 in fines tacked onto their bill at the end of the month?! Seems to me that would be harsh enough; maybe even too harsh, as some might persuasively argue. But one thing is for certain: the situation is serious. People need to conserve water down there. - AIW
I know, cat got my tongue for a moment!
I'm with you on that, AIW!!!
Feed your head...doesn't that mean educate yourself?
I hear that California farmers expect to lose billions of dollars worth of crops. Of course, they blame it all on Democrats. They say that we will see a big increase in prices at the super markets. I guess if you can't grow your own vegetables because of the fines and rationing, you have no other choice but to pay the higher supermarket prices.
Sorry, AIW, I made one of my untimely edits.
Mark: They (China) sure must not have very good environmental regulations because when I went to Shanghai for my job for a couple of weeks, the air pollution was horrendous and that river, the Huangpu river, that flows through the city had visible sewage rapidly flowing by as I watched it from the bridge.