Another day older and closer to... · Monday March 5, 2007 by colin newell
Ok. Do not really want to harp on this too much. But this animation pretty much sums it up.
Recent reports suggest that the Bush administration is considering using nuclear weapons against Iran. The very fact that nuclear weapon use is being discussed as an option—against a state that does not have nuclear weapons and does not represent a direct or imminent threat to the United States—illustrates the extent to which the Bush administration has changed U.S. nuclear weapons policy.
The last time a nuclear weapon was used against another nation was… well heck. You know the answer. It was the U.S. against Japan – and some analysts point out that the war was pretty much won by the U.S. – you know, it just seemed like a good idea at the time to let this thing off over a civilian target just to see what would happen.
Anyway – the past is gone. Back in 2007 for a moment.
Check out this marvelous animation on the folly of bunker busting technology.
Another day older and still radioactive · Monday February 26, 2007 by colin newell
According to The London Sunday Times, Israel is planning to use nuclear bunker busters to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities.
The report says that Israeli airforce squadrons at Hatzerim and Tel Nof Airbase are training to use low-yield nuclear “bunker-busters”.
Some of Iran’s facilities have been built underground (read: Underneath hospitals and schools) and would thus be difficult to hit using conventional weapons. No kidding!
Targets would include the uranium enrichment facilities of Natanz, a site near Isfahan where gas for the enrichment process have been stored underground, and a heavy water reactor in Arak.
“As soon as the green light is given, it will be one mission, one strike and the Iranian nuclear project will be demolished.” said a source. The tactical nuclear weapons would only be used if conventional weapons were “ruled out” and if the United States “declined to intervene”, the article continues, based on “senior” military sources.
Ok. Everyone shout with me: “God help us all!”
The instantaneous human casulties would be in the order of tens of thousands. Within days, the body count could be in the hundreds of thousands. Prevailing winds would carry fall-out hundreds, if not thousands of miles into Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Kazkhstan, Turkey and beyond.
Military analysts say that disclosure of the plans could be intended to put pressure on Iran to halt enrichment (which Iran says is for peaceful purposes), prod the United States into action or soften up world opinion in advance of an Israeli attack, according to the report.
soften up World opinion huh? I am going to need a lot more softening than this. Nukes have not been used against civilians since the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs of WWII – and there are still survivors suffering from those original attacks.
If I were a space alien (and I clearly am not a space alien…) I would be asking: If the following countries have nukes, then why can’t… you get the picture…
The Global Nuke Club
United States
Russia
China
France
Israel
United Kingdom
India
Pakistan
Is it because the above countries are all benign, harmless, peace loving and generally little or no threat to their neighbors?
Somehow, I do not think that this is the real issue.
You decide.
Still don’t think we are on the eve of destruction? Read here
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Canada - sane and more free... · Saturday February 24, 2007 by colin newell
The top court in Canada has ruled against the constitutionality of security certificates. article
Basically, the certificates allowed the Federal government of Canada to detain, without charge, non-citizens of Canada pretty much… forever.
Not only that, the detainees have no access to their accusors, legal representation, the evidence or… well… anything.
Nice. No. Not nice.
It’s not Canadian to treat people this way – Canadians or not.
We don’t do it. When we see 15-century style laws like this, we challenge them.
This kind of nonsense might fly in 21st century America but it doesn’t here.
And the last time I checked, we were a separate country.
Meantime, the U.S.A, which has gone totally insane in their economy-draining quest to find the perfect spook is slowly introducing a new form of X-Ray technology to gaze beneath the clothing of its law abiding citizens. link
In our daily (monday-friday) coffee roundtable at my place of employ, we have some pretty lively debate.
One misguided drinking companion (a loudly acknowledged ultra-rightwing christian neo-con) said: “If ya got nothing to hide… ya won’t mind showing us what ya got…”
My feeling is: A steady erosion of personal freedoms in the name of protecting us from some imaginary threat is bad for society.
That is my opinion and I welcome your comments.
Lamb Bhuna Gost · Monday February 19, 2007 by colin newell
Hot Indian curries rate very highly in our home cooking endeavors. As much as I love coffee, I really love hot food. Whether it’s Thai, Hunan, Tex-Mex or East African – if it doesn’t have that zing then it doesn’t have my full attention! Here is a great example of a curry that anyone can whip up. And if you don’t like it hot, you can tone down the heat. It is that simple and I will show you how.
400g lamb steaks cubed
2 Green pepper, de-seeded
2 Tablespoons tomato puree
1 onion finely chopped.
2 Teaspoon Curry Powder
1 Teaspoon Chili Powder
1 Finely Chopped Seranno Chili (for the heat! — optional)
2 tomatoes, quartered
4-6 Cloves Crushed Garlic
2 inches Root Ginger grated
5 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
1 teaspoon Garam Masala
Garnish with Cilantro, raw whole/diced seranno or thai chili.
Make a paste of the curry powder and chili powder with a little water. Chop the pepper into 1 inch square pieces. Fry the onion until translucent in the veg oil then add the garlic, ginger, pepper and seranno and stir fry on medium for a further 2 minutes. Add the curry and chili powder paste and stir in and fry for a further 30 secs. Add the lamb pieces and sear well on all sides. Add the tomato puree and water and cook on high heat for 15 minutes to reduce the sauce, stirring constantly. Add the garam masala and stir in well. Reduce the heat and add the tomatoes, stir in and cover the pan, cook for 3 minutes without stirring. Serve on a bed of Thai jasmine rice. Garnish with whatever is available.
Serve with Nan bread, white bread, french bread or Italian bread and plenty of beer!
Thanks to the CurryFrenzy.com website for the inspiration for this improved take on an Indian classic!
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