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Jonathan Benson
Natural News
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
The 9.0+ mega earthquake and tsunami that rocked Japan back in March caused millions of tons of debris to wash into the Pacific Ocean. And for the first time, some of that debris has been spotted drifting between Russia and Hawaii, where officials expect it to hit Hawaiian shores much sooner than their original two-years-from-now estimate.
Russian researcher Nikolai Maximenko and his team recently identified household appliances, furniture, plastic material, and even boats floating in Pacific waters during a recent trek home from Honolulu to Russia aboard the STS Pallada. Their discovery represents the first documented case of Fukushima rubble being identified in waters, and heading towards US land.
"We have a rough estimate of five to 20 million tons of debris coming from Japan," said University of Hawaii (UH) computer programming researcher Jan Hafner to KITV 4 News in Honolulu. "[The Russian team] saw some pieces of furniture, some appliances, anything that can float, and they picked up a fishing boat. That's actually our first confirmed report of tsunami debris."
The Fukushima earthquake and tsunami sent a lot more than just small objects out to sea, though. Early reports showed entire buildings, including homes and warehouses, being sent into ocean waters. And while much of this larger debris ended up sinking, masses of it are still floating en route to shorelines in Hawaii and other places.
"We projected [the debris] would hit Midway in spring of next year, but based on the Pallada finding, the debris seems to be moving faster," added Hafner, noting that he has been tracking the progression of the debris using a detailed computer analysis of ocean currents. "We don't want to create a panic, but it's good to know it's coming."
What this means for Hawaiians is that they must prepare to receive unknown tons of Fukushima waste on their pristine coastlines. All that waste has to go somewhere, and unless protocols are enacted to divert or contain it, it will eventually begin piling up on some of the world's most popular beaches.
And within the next several years, Washington, Oregon, and California are expected to face the same dilemma. Fukushima debris that bypasses Hawaii will eventually make its way to the western coastlines of the US mainland as well.
Sources for this article include:
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subset: commoncrawl


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PITTSBURGH (AP) Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II milled about the locker room after Sunday's 24-10 season-ending win over Cleveland, offering handshakes to some players, pats on the back to others.
It wasn't a typical fall in Pittsburgh (8-8), which avoided its first losing season in a decade but missed the playoffs for the first time in three years after a dramatic collapse. Yet even with the anticipated departure of several bold-faced names, the Steelers remain committed to the plan that's made them one of the most consistent forces in a league where parity rules.
``There's going to be a few `old-school' guys like us left who can impart some wisdom and leadership,'' safety Troy Polamalu said.
Not so much in Cleveland, where coach Pat Shurmur's two-year tenure is likely down to its final hours. If he departs, the Browns (5-11) will be in search of their sixth coach since the franchise was reborn in 1999.
Though Shurmur hasn't spoken to new owner Jimmy Haslam, the coach - who is 9-23 in Cleveland - is anticipating working elsewhere next fall.
``I have kids in college, I have mouths to feed,'' Shurmur said. ``This is my profession and this is what I choose to do. That's it. That is how simple it is in my mind.''
Shurmur took a little extra time addressing his players during the postgame, perhaps sensing it marked the final time he'll get the chance. He declined to go into specifics, but his players could sense how much it meant to him even though the Browns failed to sweep the Steelers for the first time in 24 years.
``To me, he was trying to hold back tears,'' linebacker D'Qwell Jackson said. ``He put everything into it, and we were trying to do something that hadn't been done since 1988. With everything else that's looming over his head, it's tough. He's in a tough spot. The players appreciate it. We'll run through a brick wall for him; it's just too bad we couldn't get a win for him.''
In the end, Shurmur's last setback looked an awful lot like the 22 that came before it. The Browns outgained the Steelers by more than 100 yards (320-212) but turned it over four times, twice deep in their own territory.
Ben Roethlisberger tossed short touchdown passes to Antonio Brown, Plaxico Burress and Leonard Pope as the Steelers continued their stretch of nine straight years without a losing season.
``I said earlier in the week that we wanted to come out and finish the year with a win and have a good feeling going into the offseason,'' Roethlisberger said. ``That is what we did. I'm proud of the way the guys finish.''
Cleveland's third-string quarterback, Thaddeus Lewis, completed 22 of 32 passes for 204 yards with a touchdown and an interception while filling in for injured starter Brandon Weeden.
``We just need to find a way to win, stats mean nothing,'' Browns linebacker Craig Robertson said. ``You have two columns, wins and losses. That's all that matters.''
That's all that matters to Haslam, who made a splash when he purchased the Browns earlier this season. The former Steelers minority owner wants to build Cleveland into a contender, which hasn't been consistently competitive in two decades.
Shurmur insists the building blocks are in place and for a brief stretch this season the Browns looked as if they had turned a corner. Cleveland put together a three-game winning streak spanning late November and early December that had some doing the complicated math necessary to put the Browns in the playoffs.
The optimism died just as quickly as it arose. Cleveland came back to earth in a 38-21 whipping at the hands of the Washington Redskins two weeks ago, followed by a blowout loss in Denver. Given a chance to sweep their biggest rivals for the first time in 24 years, the Browns instead lost to the Steelers in the regular-season finale for the fourth time in the last five seasons.
The changes in Pittsburgh won't be so widespread, but with an aging roster and salary cap issues. Nose tackle Casey Hampton, linebacker Larry Foote, offensive tackle Max Starks and wide receiver Mike Wallace are among those who will be free agents.
``You want everybody back but you know that is not what is going to happen,'' Roethlisberger said.


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Mossberg's Mailbox
Watching Webcasts on a Mac
There's no other major item most of us own that is as confusing, unpredictable and unreliable as our personal computers. Everybody has questions about them, and we aim to help.
Here are a few questions about computers I've received recently from people like you, and my answers. I have edited and restated the questions a bit, for readability. This week my mailbox contained questions about watching Major League Baseball's streaming Webcasts of games, the capacity of digital music players and the security of Wi-Fi.
I just bought a new Mac and I love it, but I am a die-hard Yankees fan and I find that, with the Mac, I can't watch Major League Baseball's streaming Webcasts of games. Is there a way around this?
Since I am a huge Red Sox fan, I hesitate to help you … but I will.
It doesn't work, because MLB.com this year switched to a Microsoft video format that the Mac version of Windows Media Player can't handle and it doesn't support the Safari Web browser that Apple includes on every Mac. There is a workaround: download and use Firefox, instead of Safari; and download and install Flip4Mac, a free program that allows QuickTime to handle the newest Windows Media video format. You can get it at: http://flip4mac.com/.
But even this solution is seriously flawed. The problem — and the Flip4Mac people are working on it — is that it plays only for a few batters or so, and then you have to restart it by relaunching the TV feed in the Web site. This is a pain, but it does work, sort of.
A better solution is to simply run Windows on your Mac, and then play the MLB videos on that. I do this using a product called Parallels desktop, which runs Windows inside a window on your Mac. It's available at: www.parallels.com.
I am not clear about capacity on digital music players. As far as I can determine, most music CDs run to about 600-700 MB, so a mere 10 CDs would fill most of a 10-gigabyte iPod, correct? On the other hand, I recently read that all of Mozart's works would fit on a 10-GB iPod. So what's wrong with my calculations?
When companies calculate the capacity of digital music players in terms of songs or CDs, they base their calculations on the use of music files that have been drastically shrunk from their original size on a CD. This is done by converting the songs to compressed file formats, including the MP3, WMA, or AAC formats. This is what happens when you import, or "rip," a CD into iTunes or Windows Media Player on your computer in preparation for loading the songs onto a portable player.
A typical MP3 file compresses CD music by a factor of 10 or more. So, a 650-megabyte CD might take up just 60-65 megabytes on a computer or a portable player. There is a price to this compression: The quality of the music file is degraded. However, most people find the quality acceptable, especially with common types of music — pop, rock, country and hip-hop.
Many audiophiles and classical-music fans choose to compress their CDs less drastically, seeking a balance between space-saving and quality. This can be achieved by changing the settings in your music software. Others opt for no compression at all, though, as you noted, that severely limits how much music you can squeeze onto a portable player.
I would like to link up the computers in my home wirelessly but am apprehensive about the security aspects. Is it safe to use Wi-Fi?
Yes, in almost all cases. Wi-Fi networks come with an optional security feature that requires anyone using them to know your password. So, you can turn that on. Even if you don't, your files would be at risk only if you had a neighbor close enough to access the network who is both skilled enough and nasty enough to want to poke around in your files. In most neighborhoods, that combination is pretty rare, as is the likelihood that hackers will drive down your street in a van with a laptop and steal your secrets.
However, I would also maintain a software firewall and turn off all file-sharing features of your operating system and other software.
There are exceptions. If you live in a large apartment building, the number of potential snoopers who are strangers goes way up, since many more people will be close enough to access your network than they would be in a suburban neighborhood of single-family homes. Also, no security system is perfect. Determined hackers could theoretically break into any wireless network.
But, in most scenarios, I believe Wi-Fi is safe.
* * *
Because of the volume of e-mail I receive, I can't routinely answer individual questions by e-mail, or consult on individual problems or purchasing decisions. I read all questions I receive and select three each week to answer in the column.
- Write to Walter S. Mossberg at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Olympus just announced their new flagship Micro Four Thirds shooter, the PEN E-P3. This rangefinder-esque beauty is built for the photo-enthusiast niche, sporting a well-rounded control scheme on its sturdy metal chassis and a price tag (including a kit lens) up at a healthy $900. It shares many of the specs and design details of its predecessors, but in practice, the E-P3 is a brand new machine.
While the E-P3 is on the small side by system-camera standards, it's too big to fit in a pocket, even when it's equipped with a low-profile pancake lens. But it's still lighter and easier to tote than a dSLR, especially factoring in the light and compact nature of Micro Four Thirds lenses.
The E-P3 retains the same rangefinder look of its predecessors, but there are some significant changes. The chassis is all-metal this time around, and the textured left-hand grip is removable: On for a classy rangefinder look, off for sleek (slippery?) system chic. It also comes with a built-in pop-up flash like the E-PL1 and E-PL2 before it.
The real cherry on top is the 3-inch touchscreen OLED screen on the rear. OLED is incredibly vibrant by nature, and this 614,000-pixel screen has an anti-reflective coating. It should be a boon for shooting in bright conditions where LCDs would wash out. Oly's never attempted a touchscreen interface before, but it looks like they've wisely followed the course set by their MFT co-captains at Panasonic, leaving most of the controls to external keys.
All three new PENs (including the consumer-oriented E-PL3 Lite and E-PM1 Mini models) are built around a new 12.3 megapixel Live MOS Four Thirds sensor and TruePic VI processor, as well as a reengineered autofocus system. Prior PENs received widespread praise for their sensor/processor combo (outperforming the affordable end of the competing Panasonic G series). Since there are relatively few samples online so far, it's tough to see what degree of difference the new sensor and processor make, but the anecdotes seem to indicate that the latest PENs are indeed the greatest.
It's impressive that Olympus continues to squeeze better results from the Four Thirds format, and seeing a top ISO setting of 12800 is noteworthy, even if it ends up looking a bit sloppy. Oly's JPEG engines have a great track record, too, so that should help to control noise and handle the dynamic range judiciously.
As for the new autofocus system, Olympus touts it as the "world's fastest." It runs through 120 focus cycles per second (up from 60), so it is functionally faster than previous PENs. The maximum burst rate, curiously, is stuck down at 3 frames per second, while the lower-cost Lite and Mini models can churn out 5.5. But in any case, this is arguably the most important update to the PEN range. Slow autofocus has been the chief complaint about mirrorless systems, and as long as this compares to the output from a dSLR, it'll be a huge boon to the format.
It should be interesting to see how the E-P3 plays with consumers. At $900, it's clearly meant for the enthusiast niche. It doesn't have a clear, 1-on-1 competitor like the consumer-oriented PENs do, but it does fall somewhere in the midst of the Sony NEX-5, Panasonic G3 and Panasonic GH2. Each has its advantages, but they're all great cameras, and it'll pretty much boil down to personal taste.
Crystal ball-gazing is usually a worthless endeavor, but things are looking up for mirrorless system cameras, especially the Micro Four Thirds format. There are plenty of cameras for everyone from casual shooters up through enthusiasts. The MFT lens selection has really matured with plenty of primes, pancakes, and superzooms from both Panasonic/Leica and Olympus/M. Zuiko. Plenty more are on the way now that a number of third party manufacturers have begun production on MFT glass. Just about any lens ever made can fit onto the MFT mount with an adapter, too. It'll be fun to see how the landscape for system cameras changes in the next year.
Official Press Release:
New PEN flagship rewrites category rules
PEN E-P3 boasts record-breaking FAST AF and touch display
Hamburg, 30 June 2011 – When Olympus launched its PEN Micro Four Thirds system cameras, it created a whole new camera category. Now it has launched a visionary new PEN flagship that defies categorization altogether. The PEN E-P3, or simply 'PEN', has the fastest* auto-focus of any camera with interchangeable lenses. With its world-beating FAST AF (Frequency Acceleration Sensor Technology) , timeless metal design and state-of-the-art touch-sensitive OLED display, it's a genuine alternative to bulkier and more expensive SLRs. Leading a three-strong generation of new PEN range cameras, it owes its amazing focussing speed to a powerful new processor: The TruePic VI image engine designed especially for mirror-less cameras. In addition to the new FAST AF, TruePic VI serves as the motor for ten Art Filter special effects and the large, tap-sensitive OLED display that previews and plays back in photo quality. In combination with a faster and more sensitive 12.3 Megapixel sensor, TruePic VI ensures outstanding picture quality, especially in low light. For experienced users, the PEN has more special treats in store – two dials on the back for making quick adjustments to exposure and aperture, plus in-body image stabilisation that counteracts camera shake irrespective of the attached lens. The PEN E-P3 14-42 lens kit is available from August 2011 for £799.
Pick up the new PEN and you realize you're holding a potential style icon. The craftsmen at Olympus have managed a rare feat, drawing on the charm of the golden era of camera design some 50 years ago to create a camera that will still turn heads 50 years from today. If their vision was a timeless classic, that's exactly what they achieved.
Instant AF
With its compact design, user-friendly features and first class picture quality, Olympus' award-winning PEN system camera range is already a firm favourite with both ambitious amateur photographers and professionals looking for a practical second camera. Led by the E-P3, the new PEN generation significantly enhances that reputation. One of the PEN's most striking – and useful – characteristics is the sheer speed and versatility of the record-breaking autofocus. Driven by the new and powerful Olympus TruePic VI processor, the FAST AF focuses quicker* than any other camera with interchangeable lenses, giving PEN owners the very best chance of capturing fast-moving shots. What's more, it offers 35 separate focus points, spread over nearly the whole sensor, making it possible to focus on small subjects, no matter where they appear in the picture. In low light conditions, the built-in AF Illuminator compensates for potential loss of accuracy while new AF tracking technology ensures subjects stay sharp even when they move in and out of the frame. Another potentially shot-saving bonus is Full Time AF – the focus is always active so the image is always in focus and the camera doesn't waste time focusing when the user applies pressure top the shutter release.
Instant control
Unique to the flagship PEN is the three-inch, touch-sensitive OLED display. It's not only intuitive and practical to use, but also delivers a superb, photo-quality picture, regardless of ambient light conditions. Compared to similar LCD screens, an OLED display generates superior contrast, deeper blacks and a broader spectrum of colours. It is brighter, the angle of view is wider and it uses less power. The PEN's display offers fingertip scrolling and enlarging of photos as well as control of the shutter release, AF points and the pop-up Live Guide – the celebrated PEN assistant that makes it easy for less experienced users to get crucial parameters such as aperture and depth of field exactly right. Even professionals will be glad to note that there's now direct access to Live Guide in P, S, M and A modes, if need be. Unlike with some of PEN's rivals, Live Guide is available for both movies and stills.
But for most serious photographers, experimenting with settings is half the fun – and they don't want to scroll through endless menus to make their adjustments. That's why Olympus has incorporated two additional dials on the back of the PEN. With just their thumb, users can fine-tune aperture and exposure time in an instant – without having to switch between menu sections. The chosen settings appear bright and clear on the OLED screen, or in the optional electronic viewfinder. Fans of hands-on shooting will also love the three customisable buttons they can assign to their favourite functions. The buttons, dials and new FAST AF help users react quicker to spontaneous situations and capture fleeting scenes or fast-moving subjects before the opportunity is lost.
Instant art
A wide choice of creative Art Filters and effects is a bonus for ambitious users and pros alike. The PEN offers ten different filters for adding special effects without the hassle of computer software. Several of these can be combined with additional effects, such as new Starlight and White Edge. Users can choose from the Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pale & Light Colour, Light Tone, Grainy Film, Pinhole, Diorama, Cross Process, Gentle Sepia and Dramatic Tone Art Filters. All ten filters can be applied to both still shots and movies.
The PEN records movies with a stereo soundtrack in radiant 1080i Full HD quality at 60fps – and in a choice of formats. For playing back on TV, users can choose AVCHD, which generates a smaller file size. If they want to edit their movies first, the 720p HD Motion JPEG format is ideal. It generates larger files but is easier to handle with PC editing software.
Instant power
At the heart of every new PEN is the powerful TruePic VI image engine. Like the processors in computers, TruePic VI is essentially two units in one, with one half dedicated purely to image reproduction. The result is outstanding quality, colour and detail, with light sensitivity boosted to an impressive ISO 12800. TruePic VI also shortens recovery time and reduces noise noticeably during movie recording.
Instant compatibility
Like every other PEN, the PEN E-P3 is a system camera. The moment users purchase it, they gain instant access to more than 500 Micro Four Thirds, Four Thirds and other lenses (via a adapter), including Olympus' legendary M.ZUIKO DIGITAL range of high-quality optics. Highlights of the range are two new fast-aperture lenses. The M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12mm 1:2.0 (24mm**) wide-angle 'Street Photography' lens is ideal for capturing broad subjects such as landscapes, especially in low-light conditions. By contrast, the M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8 (90mm**) portrait lens delivers remarkable portraits with beautiful background blurring. Another first-class option is the re-sculpted M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-42mm (28-84mm**) 1:3.5-5.6 II R. All three lenses are specially designed for near-silent operation, so users can shoot HD movies in stereo without the background whir. Their metallic casing and compact, lightweight design makes them a perfect match for the PEN. Irrespective of the specifications of the lens users attach, thanks to built-in Image Stabilisation they can be confident of capturing blur-free shots. And thanks to Accessory Port 2, they can also select from the ever-growing family of PEN-dedicated accessories, including the Bluetooth®-compatible PENPAL that automatically reformats still photos for wireless transfer to other compatible devices and social media.
The PEN E-P3 14-42 kits is available with the body in classic black, white or silver from August 2011, for [$900]


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Hanoi Climate & Weather
Hanoi has a humid tropical climate, characterised by monsoons, like most of northern Vietnam. Summers (between May and September) are very hot with plenty of rain and average temperatures between 76°F (24°C) and 91°F (33°C); while winters (from November to March) are cool and relatively dry, averaging between 57°F (14°C) and 72°F (22°C). Anything is possible during the transitional months of April and October, and spring often brings light rain. The hottest month of the year is June. January is the coolest month, usually beset with a cold north-easterly wind.
Become our Hanoi Travel Expert
We are looking for contributors for our Hanoi travel guide. If you are a local, a regular traveller to Hanoi or a travel professional with time to contribute and answer occasional forum questions, please contact us.


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Burning Sands 2x2 RPG Encounter mat in wipe clean PVC Vinyl
Attention Adventurers! Your quest for Tabletop treasure and glory starts here!
Printed on tough vinyl material, our mats are the perfect backdrop for your games, adding to the atmosphere with engaging surface terrain. Supplied rolled, our mats lie nicely flat and have a lightly textured reverse to reduce slipping. The image is wipe clean (if you use a chalk pen or wet marker) and has a matte finish so no annoying glare.
The design is printed on hard wearing 500 GSM PVC and 24" x 24" in size. We print on this heavy duty PVC, similar to shop banners because it is much heavier than PVC tablecloths for example, and it's virtually impossible to tear it.
Mat is supplies rolled in a tube with a care guide detailing storage and cleaning to get the most from your mat.


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Ugly to the point I would not buy one
The style doesn't appeal to me but I would buy one anyway
Neutral - The current style doesn't matter to me
Attractive - I like the current style
Paul Glaves - "Big Bend", Texas U.S.A
"The greatest challenge to any thinker is stating the problem in a way that will allow a solution." - Bertrand Russell
Whose name(s) shall remain anonymous, but begins with "T" and ends with "L", perhaps?Except maybe by a certain maker of American assembled motorcycles.
"It is what you discover, after you know it all, that counts." _ John Wooden
Lew Morris
1973 R75/5 - original owner
1963 Dnepr
I used to think that BMW motorcycles were the ugliest things on two wheels...
Then I rode one, and I've not turned back...
2016 R1200RS (current)
2003 R1150RS (prior) / 1978 R80/7 (prior) / 1966 R69S (prior) / 1972 R75/5 (prior)
Windsor, California
If that's the future, I'll take a retro V7 Guzzi and rock and roll!!
Livin' in the past is lookin' better every day!
I get that not everyone likes what is being made today. I do. I've had many plastic covered bikes and have liked them a lot for their form and for their function. I've had lots of very technical electronically laden bikes and like them for their reliability. I've had far fewer problems with those bikes than the ones the you could and had to fix at the roadside (more often that I ever wanted to). I don't agree with those who issue blanket statements about what I like and call it crap because its not what they like. I don't like old technology and old designs. I have no intertest in a retro styled bike nor the original it mimics. But if that's what you like, good for you, nothing wrong with that, just don't expect me to like it too.
Ed Miller, Calgary, AB
However, new technology comes along,..better charging,tubeless tires, better suspension,..and well we're forced to move 'up' if we want that stuff.
That said though...I do like my R1150R ...for it's looks and performance. Seating was a bit cramped, but did some adjusting, & it is better.
THAT said...when I had my Airheads, I was younger & more flexable
Why does BMW make such ugly motorcycles ?
No easy answer to that question, I think a lot of things are nice looking while others would beg to differ.
BMW must be doing something right , at least in the sudo off road market, since everyone and their brother has something today that looks a lot like a BMW in more ways than not.
Me personally; I like older things, cars, bikes , boats and airplanes. I also prefer women with a certain look of maturity, a bit rubinesqe, a few smile lines and a lot of experience. They need to at least like motorcycles and allow me my passion about them.
My BMW preference is the Airhead version, simple lines, easy to live with and a personality that talks to me. I don't think I have ever seen an airhead that did not make me look twice and smile.
This post speaks less to the style of new models and more to the technology. When I buy a bike it is with the expectation that I will do all or almost all of the maintenance. And it is certainly with the expectation that when something breaks, at home or on the road, I am responsible for knowing what needs to be done to fix it.
So any great leap in technology - fuel injection on the K bikes, ABS I, II, iABS, Canbus, etc. is my responsibility to figure out. And, to figure out without benefit of a dedicated new model school put on by BMW. So each leap forward is faced with some trepidation.
I used to use a dwell meter. Now I use a GS-911. I used to set carb floats. Now I adjust the TPS.
Every model I have ever worked on had troublesome warts: slingers, broken transmission springs and shift kits, missing circlips, spline wear, burned out fans, HES wiring, water pump issues, antenna ring failures, axle tube defects, and/or whatever.
Almost without exception, each technology advance has made the bikes more trouble free, not less so. But there is a steep learning curve to cover the exceptions. That is the way it is. They have added a dozen or so new elements to the Periodic Table of Elements, and are talking about the Higgs Boson, absolutely inconceivable in my school days. Time marches on. With us or without us. And to our benefit or detriment. It is our choice.
Paul Glaves - "Big Bend", Texas U.S.A
"The greatest challenge to any thinker is stating the problem in a way that will allow a solution." - Bertrand Russell
Some of this, IMO, is attributed to the general trends in vehicle styles. Cars were kind of roundish in the 60's, then they went to a lot straight lines in the 70's and 80's, then went back to roundish in the 90's and early 00's. In the mid-00's, straight lines came back. There's a lot of sharp angles in vehicle design, which I see has carried through to an extent in BMW designs. I'm not a big fan of these straight lines and sharp angles. At some point in the future, softer lines and curves will come back. It's just the nature of things.
Jeff in W.C.
1988 R100 RT (the other woman)
"I got my motorcycle jacket but I'm walking all the time." Joe Strummer
I don't care what anyone says, my 07 1200GS is beautiful.
A motorcycle has looks that only the owner can love. Like a child. Looks only a mother would love.
I used to think any motorcycle with a fairing was ugly. Until I finally realized that I only like motorcycles with fairings. Now I think they are beautiful.
As to the bigger is better syndrome. It's a marketing thing. That's what they consumer wants.
I don't know anyone who went to a K bike that didn't, usually first and foremost talk about the "power" of it.
They are power hungry.
It's an old marketing concept about cars, each year has to have new and improved, bigger and better, and ... more power.
A car starts out as an econo box and ends up as a luxury model.
Every year more horsepower, more options, more features, bigger trunk, etc.
It's the american way. Or maybe common amongst all humans.
I'd worry about riding an ugly motorcycle, but frankly, I'm not that good looking myself. A
good looking bike might help my ego for a while, but the undeniable truth is I'll still be a fat guy on an old, odd bike. Hultman, I assume, must be the guy in the corner with the designer jeans...
Livin' Large On The Lake
Well, for sure, looks are subjective. Personally, I think the current BMW line-up is quite impressive aesthetically.


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Explain to me how taxing the internet is not raising taxes on the little guy because, frankly, I don't get it.
In my simple little mind, I think that a federal intervention that allows the states to slap a sales tax on the things we buy on Amazon and Ebay is, well, slapping a national sales tax on mom, pop, you and me.
One thing I've always admired about Republican tax policy is that they don't make any bones about the fact that they want to tax everybody but the rich and give to nobody but the rich. They are right out front with their intention to use the national treasure as a piggy bank for corporations and anybody else in the top 5% who wants some.
The Democrats, on the other hand, try to be more fair, or at least they do part of the time. Out of all the deficit-enhancing tax cuts that Congress has passed in the last 13 years, only one showed up in my paycheck. That was the temporary reformulation that President Obama used to try to stimulate us out of fiscal armageddon when he first took office in '08.
I believe he promised something about not raising taxes on us working stiffs. It went something like this:
"I can make a firm pledge. Under my plan no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains tax, not any of your taxes."
That sounds fairly comprehensive to me. However, nothing that anybody in Washington says to we the people appears to matter all that much to them. In fact, I'm beginning to get the feeling that they tell us stuff so that we will believe it, so that they can do the opposite.
The President's no-tax-on-the not-rich is a case in point. It appears that he didn't mean that he wouldn't tax gouge the little guy when taxes are "unfair." What is an "unfair" tax? It appears that a tax is "unfair" when the Chamber of Commerce says that it's unfair.
In the effort to achieve "tax fairness" the United States Senate has pushed a measure that would require consumers to start paying sales tax on internet purchases. They claim, however, that this is not a tax increase. It will take money out of your pocket and put it in the government's pocket, true. But it's still not a tax increase and only the addlepated and simple-minded think that it is.
Personally, I don't think anybody believes that. I do think that hired guns who lobby Congress for Wal Mart, et al, and the Congressmen who get campaign donations from the same, will recite this claptrap until their noses grow out and sprout leaves. But they don't believe it. They're just hoping that the American people will be passive and dumb enough to let them get away with it.
They are calling this "tax fairness," as if any missed tax gouge on the American people was somehow a breach of morals. I love that. I hear the same kind of nonsense every time a bill that will hurt the people gets tossed at us in the Oklahoma House. "Tax fairness" means that if this thing passes, you and I are going to get a tax hike ranging from 9 or 15% on the things we buy on the internet.
Wal Mart is the main proponent of this kind of legislation in Oklahoma, just as they are in Congress. Personally, I think it's kind of hilarious, hearing a Wal Mart hired gun tell me that all Wal Mart wants is a level playing field. I know people who had small businesses before Wal Mart came into their neighborhood. I've heard the way these guys negotiated with them.
This is about limiting competition. A Reuters article on this subject said that "Prospects for the bi-partisan measure are murkier in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, where some Republicans view it as a tax increase."
Well, duhhhhh.
Since we are dealing with Puppet people congressmen, anything can happen. If the pressure goes up, we might very well see some evolving door Republicans on taxes as well as social issues.
In meantime, would somebody really, really smart please explain to me again how this is not a tax increase?
I'm just too simple to get it.
From Reuters:
(Reuters) – A measure to empower U.S. states to require out-of-state retailers to collect online sales tax cleared a legislative hurdle in the Senate on Monday, after earlier winning official backing from President Barack Obama.
Seventy-four senators voted to limit debate and move forward with a final vote on the proposed legislation in the Democratic-controlled Senate, likely on Wednesday.
"You have businesses all around America on Main Streets and shopping malls collecting sales tax on the things that they sell, competing with Internet retailers who do not," said Democratic co-sponsor Senator Richard Durbin.
Supporters of the measure include brick-and-mortar retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc and Best Buy Co Inc and cash-strapped state governments, along with Amazon.com Inc, which hopes to simplify its U.S. state retail tax situation. Opponents include many online merchants, including eBay Inc and Overstock.com Inc.
Prospects for the bipartisan measure are murkier in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, where some Republicans view it as a tax increase.
Lobbyists on both sides are working to make their case in Congress. Several new wrinkles emerged on Monday, a key one being that the Obama administration for the first time officially backed the measure.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said the bill "will level the playing field for local small business retailers who are undercut every day by out-of-state on-line companies." (Read the rest here.)