Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Birthday Links for Mike

Arthur C. Clarke 90th Birthday Reflections

People Who Share Your Birthday:
Gertrude Stein, James Michener, Norman Rockwell, Joey Bishop, Morgan Fairchild

72 comments:

A peon said...

Happy Birthday Mike!!!80)

When you make a wish on your birthday candles throw in a little one on the side that I get my driving privlages reinstated at the hearing I am about to go to today.

Flying column said...

Happy Birthday Mike.
Looking forward to the new book!

MCR said...

Peon -- Prayed uttered and felt.

MCR

tim said...

I'm sorry to hear about your drumming frustration, MCR. So for your birthday, go get "Burning for Buddy". It's produced by Neil Pert of Rush and he assembled about 20 of the worlds best drummers to pay tribute to Buddy Rich. I've been playing since around 12 and I forced myself to learn Buddy Rich, Billy Cobham, Lenny White, Steve Smith, etc. You must do the same. Get the headphones, and sit with your drums and learn. :)

rabbit hunter said...

Happy Birthday Mike!

sunrnr said...

Mike, best Birthday wishes to you sir, and prayers for many more ...

namaste

Ben said...

Happy Birthday Mike. My first post. Former FTW subscriber & reader of yours for a long time.

I suggest the Who's BBC sessions for drumming frustration.

businessman said...

Happy Birthday, Mike!

Thanks for your tireless dedication and for all the great work you continually do for all of us.

Misterseth said...

Happy birthday Mike, many happy returns of the day!

MCR said...

Tim -- What happened to Gene Krupa and Ginger Baker... two of my favs.

Don't have a drum set. I usually practice by beating on my dawg.

He loves it. I think he's getting rhythm.

mrs p said...

Happy Birthday Mr. Mike and many blessings are wished for you as you make another circle around the sun! Celebrate all you've accomplished; I think a little dancing & singing is in order. All the best is wished for you. Cheers & whipped cream cake, mrsp

brell said...

happy birthday - enjoy the sun and your loved ones!

NewMatrix said...

Mike,

Happy Birthday, Mike! It's mine too. Uncanny how us Aquarians can see so far into the future, no?

Midwinter Blessings,
Paul

gaelicgirl said...

Aha! Also an Aquarius! Happy Birthday from another one.

Robert said...

Happy Birthday Michael!
Take the day off and play with Rags.
I'm gonna go outside and plant some veggies in your honor.

v said...

Happy Birthday Mike!!!
Thanks for all your words of wisdom these pas years and hope more will follow in the future.

Have a good day and enjoy...

V(incent)

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday Mike!

Emanuel

B McMolo said...

Happy Birthday, Mike - a toast to your health and happiness for the coming year from Rhode Island.

Unknown said...

Forgive me if someone has posted these before.

Nigel Farage warns of euro meltdown

Sky News Report on the Irish Economy 30.01.2009

Oh and happy birthday ^^

Sebastian Ernst Ronin said...

Happy B'Day, Michael. Turns out to be a Heinlein quote and not a Clarke quote, but I think it appropriate:

"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently and die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."

Spindles said...

Happy birthday Mike!! I hope their will be many more...

Robert Paulsen said...

Have a great birthday Mike! You sure picked a beautiful day to celebrate. Enjoy that Culver City sunshine!

shady said...

happy birthday! thanks for the opportunity to be part of this forum!

Jamey Hecht said...

Bambino! Happy Birthday

Love,
Luigi

http://poetrypoliticscollapse.blogspot.com

los doggies said...

Happy Birth Ruppey!

It's also Warwick Davis' bday, the star of "Willow".

RanD said...

Ah Yes Dear Friend Michael: Happy Birthday From Us All!

Flying column said...

Nato base to be closed in Kygyzstan.
The Emipire is crumbling.

http://www.russiatoday.com/news/news/36774

redrosebeader said...

MCR Another connection we have! I'm only one week younger than you! 10 Feb 1951!
Happy Happy!
I'm glad to hear you are smiling.
Nancy Sue Rose

zeusij said...

Happy Birthday Mike! Thanks for all that you do.

Andrew_The_Fox said...

Damn Mike todays your birthday? Hope it's a great one, kick back have a cup of tea and rest with your dog!

ecosutra said...

My Birthday gift for Mike, its an idea.

Okay people, check this property out!
http://www.landandfarm.com/lf/asp/full_new.asp?id=188022.

1,600 Acres, Georgia, 31569
Camden County, Woodbine, Georgia UNITED STATES
Property Total Area : 1,600.00 acres. Asking Price $5,500,000. Wetlands.

If I can take the first 5 acres and use my permaculture certification with the Geoff Lawtons Design Course that I filmed, 72 hours of complete instruction and run with it. Pure spontaneous experimental internet resource development. Oh along with my 7 quarters of wood shop in high school, and a finished basement experience. Broadcast the productions online.www.ecosutra.tv
We are launching a new site this year.

So back to the idea.

All we need are 60 families at 100 grand each. families get 26 acres of the 1600. We can break that down to 320 people at 600 a month for 5 acres each for 2 years pay off for the land.. After that we need to split up the group. Each family needs 5 acres. I was thinking, how can I create a network of people willing to migrate into a demonstration? What if, at $600 a month we can get people into their 5 acres in 2 years, on some kind of lease option? So families would pay 600 a month and food expenses to one of their family members that goes to the land to develop the site. Then he gets his sustainable systems up and running for the family who is knowing they have an eco nest to escape to if civilization crashes. We will have so many options. Malaysian fresh water prawns, et al. :) One family either pay 100 grand for 26 acres or $600 a month for 2 years for 5 acres and so on.

We operate under a L.E.T.S barter system, " read chapter 14 of the Permaculture designer manual.

For the outside world we are a "Corporation Sole" The leading permaculture centers in California have successfully achieved this non taxation system. You have to be authentic. For example. I can not include my intellectual property rights from my fathers musical compositions, and put them into the corporation sole. If we were developing a silk worm farm for medicinal purposes and greenhouses we need to operate as an LLC. Everything authentically sustainable living can fit into a corporation sole. So a eco village could pay a tax on outside commerce but the individuals living in the inside economy are tax free.

Well thats my latest vision FTW memebers, after years of progress. You want wildlife for sustainable designs? Then I thinkwe need to construct the first wetland project. That is where I am going regardless. My first 5 years of permaculture experience.

Mike there is going to be a migration to water. Might as well get going before the sheep start moving!

Mike California is a dead zone, like Chernobyl dead.

30 million people in the desert.
Salted soil tipping point in 10 years.

Climate change and drought are going to be creeping into this region, the deserts are expanding.

Are we here, going to move and experiment with each other so we can start small and figure this out in a organized manner? Or are we just going to blog our way through this shit?

Time to move fellas, round em up!!!!

I think its 15 grand of earth works and design per 5 acres for the start up for sustainable systems.

I need to work the first 5 acres first to let you know. Developing....

ATL said...

Happy Birthday MCR....I didn't think I could see things any clearer but you opened my eyes even more.

Thanks

gamedog said...

Happy Birthday Mike, may you have many more :)
---------------------

Kyrgyzstan 'to shut' US air base

Mr Bakiyev made the announcement after being promised more than $2bn in loans and other assistance by the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during talks in Moscow.

The base is vital for supplying American troops in Afghanistan.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7868822.stm

Vital? Can't they still use Georgia's big transport planes, the ones bringing in all the tanks to Afghanistan since that little skuffle? No matter tanks are no use in that terrain eh, unless they're looking at the flat lands next door who just launched a "home madde :lol:" satellite ;)

------------------
North Korea may test-fire missile toward Japan

Reports of a possible missile launch follow threats directed at Seoul and Washington, which analysts said are meant to intimidate conservative South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and grab the attention of new U.S. President Barack Obama.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsMaps/idUSTRE5130L020090204
----------------------

Obama seems to want his cake and eat it too...

Barack Obama has said he wants to avoid economic stimulus measures that would signal protectionism or spark a trade war.... [while]A European Commission spokesman said the EU would launch a complaint

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7868799.stm

While over here "U.K. Takes Up 'Bad Bank' Concept"

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123369165678244603.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Rice Farmer said...

My sincere wishes that MCR has a happy birthday, and not only survives, but also thrives in the New Millennium.

The video clips I've seen of MCR speaking are just awesome. We can't match him, but we can still do our part, in a smaller way. For example, last night I delivered yet another public lecture on peak oil. So another roomful of people was informed about something the Japanese government and media have kept secret.

Gentle reader, you too can do your part in the same way. If you know the basics of peak oil and more or less follow the news (and this blog), you are already light years ahead of the general public. That makes you "expert" enough to inform others about this vital subject, even in a formal setting. Think about it!

businessman said...

Happy Birthday, Mike!

Somehow my first post with birthday greetings didn't get through about 12 hours ago so I'm posting again.

Thanks for your tireless work and for all you continue to do for all of us!

Gustav said...

Vse najboljse za tvoj rojstni dan, Mihael. :)

Meremark said...

Oh, let's reach in the magic ol' memory hole and shake that rattle between my ears. Once you came to town and I asked you what your birthday is, and promised to send you your astrology chart hand-drawn by me ... and I haven't yet ... but I still promise.

Of several thousand people who I have asked for their birth date, time, and place, you are one of only a couple dozen, Mike, who told me their birth time, sure and swift.

Using your data as I remember it, (it's written down somewhere in the paper pile I'm not going to paw through now), and plugged it into a website (Astro.COM) offering 'interpretation' -- which is presented to you here. (Spot on, it sounds like to me ... maybe I remembered the numbers well -- I regularly do, once I cause the commotion of asking for it -- and maybe it helped that the numbers are especially agreeable, as I smiled when you said them: It's the birthday 180-degrees opposite my birthday and it is legendary how opposites ATTRACT.)

Happy Birthday, Mr. Wonderful.

Quoting the web ... and out:
[As you read your short report, or any other astrological report, keep in mind that the energies interpreted here are your birth potentials. However, you may or may not choose to actualize these energies in the manner described. Your age, sex, socio-economic situation, education, environment, level of development, and many other factors contribute to the ways in which you express your natal energies. Remember, the planets do not compel you to do or be anything. They influence you, but you still have the free will to determine your own life.]

Sun and Moon in Aquarius

This astrological combination indicates refinement of character and a generally altruistic attitude toward humanity. The first impression others have of you is one of friendliness and sincerity. Your thinking tends to be positive. You remain self-reliant and optimistic, even under trying circumstances. Your ideas are progressive, and because you present them so well, they are rarely offensive to anyone, even though unconventional. You are well suited for a public career because of your genuine concern, originality, and capacity to work with people. Individual love is to you an extension of your universal love of mankind. You display an even temper and preserve your equanimity most of the time. However, your feelings, although sincere, keep you somewhat detached from your love partner. The key to a more harmonious existence lies in playing up the humane, progressive, and sociable aspects of your personality, while lessening the detached and inscrutable conduct that is the paradox of your nature.

Ascendant in Scorpio, Mars in the First House

Your life will be marked by your shrewd, secretive, obstinate, clever, and reserved disposition. You remain an enigma: with these traits, your life events could be either very tragic or very fortunate. To which category of Scorpio do you belong? There are two types, the extremely emotional, attracted by those pathological aspects of biological relationship, or the highly mystical, concerned with spirituality.

You are a person of extremes, very sensitive and desirous of attachment. There is some attraction to the occult or to psychic phenomena. You are active in the sense that there is a psychological struggle going on inside you between the positive and negative poles - those of affirming and satisfying or rejecting and repressing. You are very intense in your feelings ....

At some point in your life, after the occurrence of a major dramatic event that will affect you deeply, the goal and entire expression of your ego may alter entirely. The intensity and profundity of your passion, however, will always be constant. You have a tendency to go into the shadows and secretly plan the course of action you will take, reluctant to let others know the exact nature of your mood or feelings. In your sexual affairs you are full of passion and strong attachment.

...

You are attracted by research and investigation in general.

You have an ambitious nature and are always eager for pursuit, whether for constructive or destructive goals. You can be tricky and cunning, passionate, inventive, clever, resentful and astute.

Your disposition is a little deceitful and quarrelsome.

On the positive side, there is a pronounced liability for intellectual research and to conduct yourself effectively in positions of authority.


It might also say: Yo' da' Man, Mike.

Pandabonium said...

お誕生日おめでとうございます

In any language, Happy Birthday. Thanking you for how you've spent your years past, and wishing you many more in peace and happiness.

Anonymous said...

MCR -- Happy Birthday! May Peak Oil bring as many joys as sorrows. :)

---------------------------

A pessimist is a person who has had to listen to too many optimists.

- Don Marquis

Pandabonium said...

Wow, Mike. I just watched the video clip of Clarke. Ironically perhaps, we support a family in Sri Lanka.

Before watching it, I thought perhaps you were feeling very old. Then listening to him talk of space flight (2001: A Space Odyssey had a profound effect on me as a college student) I could not help but think about the energy it requires. Then, I was happy to hear him mention "our addiction to oil" along with climate change, and realized why you featured this clip.

Happily, you have many more years to pursue your interests and help point the way for others. Namaste.

Bonnie said...

````
Another circle 'round the sun!

Happy Birthday Mike.

Jenna Orkin said...

pandabonium

in the interest of clarity, the links posted were FOR mike, not FROM mike

Sebastian Ernst Ronin said...

Hey, Meremark, thanks for the astro-insights. These could come in real handy should someone ever find themselves going into a negotiation session with Michael. =;-D

BTW, my preference is the Chinese over the Occidental. But there ya go. Different mileage, different odometer, different speedometer.

Peter J. Nickitas said...

Happy Birthday, Mike.

Peter J. of Minneapolis, along with Lynn, Danny, Buddy, and Rosie

sambahdi said...

Batland1Happy B'day Mike.

Could use some of your strategic presence with all the snowball fights happening in London, but alas...

This is interesting. From Cryptogon:

A RESOLUTION affirming States’ rights based on Jeffersonian principles.

HCR 6

That any Act by the Congress of the United States, Executive Order of the President of the United States of America or Judicial Order by the Judicatories of the United States of America which assumes a power not delegated to the government of United States of America by the Constitution for the United States of America and which serves to diminish the liberty of the any of the several States or their citizens shall constitute a nullification of the Constitution for the United States of America by the government of the United States of America. Acts which would cause such a nullification include, but are not limited to:

I. Establishing martial law or a state of emergency within one of the States comprising the United States of America without the consent of the legislature of that State.

II. Requiring involuntary servitude, or governmental service other than a draft during a declared war, or pursuant to, or as an alternative to, incarceration after due process of law.

III. Requiring involuntary servitude or governmental service of persons under the age of 18 other than pursuant to, or as an alternative to, incarceration after due process of law.

IV. Surrendering any power delegated or not delegated to any corporation or foreign government.

V. Any act regarding religion; further limitations on freedom of political speech; or further limitations on freedom of the press.

VI. Further infringements on the right to keep and bear arms including prohibitions of type or quantity of arms or ammunition; and

That should any such act of Congress become law or Executive Order or Judicial Order be put into force, all powers previously delegated to the United States of America by the Constitution for the United States shall revert to the several States individually. Any future government of the United States of America shall require ratification of three quarters of the States seeking to form a government of the United States of America and shall not be binding upon any State not seeking to form such a government; and

That copies of this resolution be transmitted by the house clerk to the President of the United States, each member of the United States Congress, and the presiding officers of each State’s legislature.

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2009/HCR0006.html

Gustav said...

Chenney warns of new attacks...

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0209/18390.html

Sebastian Ernst Ronin said...

Re HCR 0006...WOW! Okay, folks, you just know that I'm gonna be all over this one like a dirty shirt. It's been several weeks since I've plugged it directly (as opposed to indirectly =;-D), but please see, Post-Peak Oil and NAmerican Regional Secession:

http://novacadia.wordpress.com/2008/11/17/post-peak-oil-and-namerican-regional-secession/

It is at times "disconcerting" how things seem to be falling into place.

kiki said...

Bappy Hirthday Michael - you are The Man ! Hugs to all with an extra one for you :-)

businessman said...

I'm guessing this proposed new resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives to restrict firearm sales relates to the anticipated civil unrest:

1/6/2009--Introduced.

Blair Holt's Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act of 2009 - Amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act to prohibit a person from possessing a firearm unless that person has been issued a firearm license under this Act or a state system certified under this Act and such license has not been invalidated or revoked. Prescribes license application, issuance, and renewal requirements.
Prohibits transferring or receiving a qualifying firearm unless the recipient presents a valid firearms license, the license is verified, and the dealer records a tracking authorization number. Prescribes firearms transfer reporting and record keeping requirements. Directs the Attorney General to establish and maintain a federal record of sale system.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-45&tab=summary

kiki said...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29011174/

it seems to me, history tells us there is more to this than meets the eye - who ends up with what at the end of this 'deal' ?

Victoria Hokulani said...

Hau'oli la Hanau, braddah! Mahalo for providing one of my greatest internet addictions.

Aquarius-The line between Genius and Madness tends to be a thin one!

sudeep bhaumick said...

Happy Birthday Mike !

May you get all that you need...

macfly said...

Hey Mike...long time reader, first time poster.
you HAVE to read/watch the testimony of the Madoff whistleblower. specifically , at one point he says he feared for his life BECAUSE OF WORRIES OF THE RUSSIAN MOB AND COLUMBIAN DRUG CARTELS being involved. he touched on a lot of things hinting at very deep levels of corruption or involvement by the powers that be. this fits in directly to the idea that all of that drug money is being laundered right here in the states with the implicit protection of our authorities. this guy handed the SEC the case on a silver platter.....9 years ago!!! and they sat on it. this is big.

Sebastian Ernst Ronin said...

Furthermore to Re HCR 0006, this strikes me as a major shot across the bow of the Obama Administration...only a couple of weeks after the inauguration. The sponsors of the resolution could easily have sat on it.

Introduction and passing could be light years apart. I guess we get to stay tuned. But, man, what a signal to put out there!

This must have something to do with New Hampshire's motto: "Live free or die."

kiki said...

Anyone heard anything about restrictions on freedom of speech coming, down the near road ? I saw a veiled reference to it on an interview Dobbs was doing in reference to the e'mail bill, relative to illegal alien employer checks and that freedom of speech limitations would most likely be addressed first by the new administration. I can't find any corroboration.

pstajk said...

Happy BDay Mike!

anton v said...

Mike -
Belated happy birthday! Hope you had a great one, too!

Couple of quick links:

1) This was up on Catherine Austin Fitt's blog, and thought it fit in quite nicely with the Wildcat strikes:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,486529,00.html

2) Not that anyone who reads this site would be falling for such nonsense, thought this was an interesting aspect of the Cash4Gold that won't be showing up in its adds:
http://consumerist.com/5144296/10-confessions-of-a-cash4gold-employee

3) Finally, I stumbled on this old clip of Henry Miller:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vgY--BpGIw

Lots of fun, that one!

Enjoy

Robert said...

I received my bank statement today. Top of page 1 is as follows.
"Pursuant to federal law, we reserve the right to require seven days advance written notice of an intended transfer or withdrawal from money market deposit accounts, interest bearing checking accounts, savings accounts and savings sub-accounts.
We currently do not exercise this right and have not exercised it in the past.
Additionally, In order to qualify our non-interest bearing checking accounts for greater FDIC insurance coverage, we no longer reserve that right in connection with checking sub-accounts."
Perhaps other banks do this routinely. I have never seen a disclosure like this before. My call to the branch manager left me "baffled by bulls**t" as they used to say. I think maybe somethings coming down the pipeline...soon that I'm likely not gonna like.
That's it from here.

AR said...

Belated Happy Birthday Mike!

Late to the party because we were celebrating a 2/3 birthday in our family ..... and I forewent my online indulgence.


A toast to your continued health, robust spirit, and nimble vocal chords. Keep up the singing. It exercises the happy facial muscles. Yours and ours.

AR

ProGo said...

I'm hanging on to the caboose on this one but still no less sincere. Happy belated Birthday! Stay healthy!

agape wins said...

Happy Birthday Mike,

You are advanced enough to know you have "Free Will" (I am the captain of my Ship, The Master of My Fate)!
Those who are confined, or restricted, by a creed, doctrine, Astrology, or karma, are truly brain washed,
Caged, choosing to be imprisoned by TPTB, however you choose to spell that GOD!
I know your Spirit is Free, forever learning, adapting, spreading itself, may it go on forever!

JUST don't let go to your head.

agape wins said...

I think Mike would be more
interested in Clark's other clips.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzrkkTBbob0&feature=related

Unknown said...

Belated Birthday Wishes, Mike!

Getting older is a blessing - in some cases maybe a miracle! May you be long blessed by Life and Joy. Your Life is our Life. And vice versa.

The best gift I can offer is tentative good news from Taiwan:

Electric scooters are coming in here, in a big way. Electric bikes from around US$300, up to snazzy, much more expensive models. Here’s an announcement from Feb. 3. (The government-written text is appropriately tedious, but the news is good.)

http://cens.com/cens/html/en/news/news_inner_26197.html The scooter has a DC traction motor and portable lithium-ion battery pack. The e-BuBu from Motive Power Industry Co. Ltd.`s PGO is based on the gas-powered BuBu platform and has an innovative dual battery-power system (lithium and lead-acid) for safer battery recharging.

In the four-wheeled segment, PGO and ITRI have jointly developed an e-buggy model equipped with a 140v-10.8kw traction motor, automated manual transmission, and LiFePO4 battery. The on/off-road buggy can run with a top speed of 82 km per hour (Kph) or has a cruise range of 82km at a fixed speed of 40 kph.

Cheaper solar panels soon.

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/taiwanese-lcd-giant-auo-jumpstarts-thin-film-solar-business-5471.html

Solar Stadium in Taiwan Close to Completion

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=54397
AND:

http://www.semi.org/en/P044584

Perhaps they can get China to retool?:
“PV is a very attractive market for equipment makers,” said Karsten Iltgen, Solar Analyst at Credit Suisse Securities, speaking before an audience of a 400.

v said...

CHENEY WARNS OF NEW ATTACKS


V(incent)

Pandabonium said...

Jenna - silly me. wasn't quite fully awake.

RayLeeUS said...

Happy birthday, my brother. Prosper, baby, prosper.

Not sure what's worse, an Osama warning or a Cheney warning. Or is there a difference? I guess functionally, yes.

And to whoever out there actually thinks the message or the art is only as good as the messenger/artist is socially respectable (maybe a few posts back). . . good luck. With those kinds of standards you'll miss out on most of what's good and true. And how many people do you really truly know anyway? One? Perhaps but not quite yet?

sambahdi said...

The Shot Heard Round New Hampshire
by Larrey Anderson

Four New Hampshire state legislators have introduced a resolution affirming Thomas Jefferson’s defense of states' rights. House Concurrent Resolution 6 was recently introduced into the New Hampshire’s State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs Committee by Rep. Itse, Rep. Ingbretson, Rep. Comerford, and Sen. Denley.

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/02/the_shot_heard_round_new_hamps.html

Dave Crossland said...

Asymmetrical civil unrest has a "information warfare" angle too!

- Fannie Mae SysAdmin
Booby-traps IT Systems
With Logic Bomb

A Unix engineer who was
recently fired by his
employers, Federal
National Mortgage
Association, popularly
known as Fannie Mae, has
been arrested and
accused with planting a
"logic bomb" on the
company's network so as
to destroy all of the
data on its all 4,000
servers.

http://www.itproportal.com/articles/2009/01/30/fannie-mae-sysadmin-booby-traps-it-systems-logic-bomb

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Mike, have a good one.

Unknown said...

Happy birthday Mike -- so happy to see how far things have come since just a few years back. A complete turn-around, one might say.

Rags is blissfully unaware of his transformational role, im sure.

(Ruiz)

Unknown said...

Things are progressing oh so lovely here in Denmark.

- Our ISPs have to log every 500th datapackage and store it 1 year or so. The police have a mandate to obtain this data without a court order in special cases.

- Our ISP's have to block certain sites (Child porn sites, MP3 sites, and now also the pirate bay.)

- The police have a mandate to enter a private home if deemed necessary.

- The police are allowed to setup something called a Visitation Zone in which they can seach anyone and everyone. And even though they are not allowed to expand this beyond a certain limit they have done so any way. I believe that our entire main capitol (Copenhagen) is now one large Visitation Zone.

- The concept of Peak Oil is nearly non-existen. Everybody believes that 2009 will probably be bad but then things will start to get better again.

And now this:

Secret evidence and special lawyers in security cases

Special hush-hush lawyers, secret presentation of evidence and so-called "easy" court trials are some of the methodes a panel of government officials from several departments will soon be recommending the government to use in cases regarding expulsion of foreigners that PET [our version of FBI - Jacob] believe to jepordize the security of the State.

This have come forth in documents obtain by Information [a newspaper - Jacob].

The inpiration for these new rules of expulsion are derived from Great Britain that has created special tribunals to handle terror cases.

Special lawyers approved by PET

One of the key recommendations by the government officials is to ensure a fast/easy court trial. This will mean the cases are being tried faster than others and that the court proceedings only have to determent if the expulsion is sound/correct and that no further evidence is generally needed.

The panel also recommend the use of so-called hush-hush lawyers with clearance to the classified evidence, but these lawyers are not allowed to discuss the information from PET with their clients.

Deeply chocked panel members
However, not all members of the panel agrees with the recommendations. The Association of Foreigner Lawyers [I believe this is an association that represents foreigners - Jacob] that was a part of the panel, has announced that it does not agree with the recommendations.

"We are deeply chocked about the initiatives the panel recommends" states the chairman of the association, Anders Christian Jensen to Information.

"The working group is actually approving the implementation of a police state where people can be
arrested at random, detained indefenitely, with secret trials against them and kept isolated from the world during the process."

Mixed reception on Christiansborg [Where the politicians debate etc - Jacob]
The initial reactions on Christiansborg were mixed. The spokesman on Jura from the Radikales party, Morten Østergaard, says the recommendations are a solid progression, but that it's also problematic that the person being expelled is without knowledge of the evidence against him/them.

The spokesman on immigration from the Socialdemokratiske party, Henrik Dam Kristensen, is very satisfied with the recommendations from the work group. He comments: "Those initiatives represets a great deal of improvement" and adds that currently the secrutity of the State is zero against those that has been administratively expelled.

Link in Danish

Al Czervik said...

I don't waste much of my time on TV shows, but here's a strong recommendation to MCR to check out some discs of "The Wire." Any ex-cop should love it. There is a quote late in Season 1 that sounds straight from Mike about how when the police investigate the bodies from homicides in the drug trade, nobody cares, but when they investigate where the money goes, everyone (especially the politicians) gets nervous. The title of this speech from the show's creator, David Simon, sounds a heck of a lot like Rubicon. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJNkL12QD68
In fact, but for Mr. Simon's proclamation that populations will remain urban in the future, this speech could have been delivered at any peak oil conference.