3/27    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17819626/site/newsweek
        Over 800 unpatriotic soldiers deserted the army in 2006.
        \_ Our "volunteers" are being turned into conscripts.  "OK, you've
           served your time and several tours in Iraq.  You can go home
           now....  Oh, WAIT!  We still need you.  You have to continue
           serving indefinitely."

3/28    Why is there not a clear correlation between crude price and actual
        price at the pumps? Am I missing something about the very
        basic laws of supply and demand?
        \_ One theory is that if the crude price increases, it implies
           that the future supply is uncertain and could become quite
           scarce. Thus, the present stock is more valuable than the
           price originally paid. A immediate price increase is needed
           to accurate reflect this valuation. In addition, if the supply
           does become scarce, one must earn future profits with current
           stock. This requires a present increase in price.
           If the crude price falls, this cannot be reflected at the pump
           w/o taking a present loss. Current stock was obtained at a
           higher price. To recoup this higher purchase price, one must
           continue selling that stock at a higher price. Therefore, a
           lag is necessary.
           A competing theory suggests that the oil companies just like
           making money and have no incentive to take less of your money.
           \_ Produce prices in Chinatown follow the same pattern.  When a
              storm is forecasted, produce prices go up right away; when the
              storm is over, produce prices stay up for a while before going
              back to normal.  I personally believe in the "competing theory"
              above.
           \_ The prices go up suddenly because current prices reflect future
              value, which includes uncertainty.  After the uncertainty goes
              away, it takes some time for competitive pressures to push the
              price back down.
        \_ There is.  Anyone who tells you otherwise has an agenda. See the
           following chart:
           http://www.gasbuddy.com/gb_retail_price_chart.aspx?time=24
           http://www.gasbuddy.com/gb_retail_price_chart.aspx?time=72
           Check the box "Show Crude Oil Price".
           However, the demand of gasoline is very inelastic, so when demand
           outstrips supply, the price change is quick and dramatic.  Lastly,
           local laws dramatically affect the price (requiring certain blends,
           taxes, etc.).
           http://www.gasbuddy.com/gb_gastemperaturemap.aspx

3/28    I've posted random stuff not realizing everything I've written
        is now accessible on the web. How do I delete my entries?

3/28    Dr. Kevin MacDonald Discusses U.S. Immigration Policy Issues
        http://www.csua.org/u/ibs

3/27    http://www.cnn.com/2007/LAW/03/27/iraq.torturesuit/index.html
        BAHAHAHA you Liburals lost!
        \_ "Despite the horrifying torture allegations," wrote U.S. District
            Judge Thomas Hogan in a 58-page opinion, "the plaintiffs lack
            standing to pursue a declaratory judgment against the defendants."
            2/10 on the troll scale.  As a layman it's clear that this case was
            brought to make a statement, and would be thrown out for lack of
            standing.  I assure you the lawyers for the plaintiffs were well
            aware of this.  And 'liburals', seriously, are you twelve? -dans

3/27    Majority of Iraqis say life better under Saddam Hussein:
        http://www.economist.com/world/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8881663

3/28    http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2007/03/28/afx3559835.html
        Bernanke:  "At this juncture ... the impact on the broader economy and
        financial markets of the problems in the subprime markets seems likely
        to be contained" ... Consumer spending likely to sustain "moderate"
        growth in economy.

3/28    Re the SD foreclosure vs. San Diego population graph:  The guy fixed
        it last night:  He moved the decimal point one place to the left
        and changed it to "San Diego labor force".

3/28    "Nonpartisan" General Services Administration briefed by Rove aide
        on "GOP house targets"
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VePqzIrR-ao
        \_ Grilled by "partisan" house member.
           \_ Yes, young grasshopper.  The "partisan" legislature has oversight
              responsibilities over the executive branch and its agencies,
              whether partisan or not.
              Though with what this WH has done with its agencies from the EPA
              to NASA to SSA to GSA to the fucking DoJ, it's hard to say if
              there are ANY non-partisan agencies left in the Executive.
           \_ You may wish to review the Hatch Act:
              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatch_Act_of_1939
        \_ Poor Ms. Doan, she had no idea she wasn't supposed to use GSA to
           help the GOP win specific congressional seats.  She founded the
           company providing 80% of the technology that protects the U.S. /
           Mexico border from illegal immigrants, so that's a pass by my book!

3/28    First good graphic I've seen of the British/Iranian incident
        http://powerlineblog.com/archives/map229.jpg
        \_ bigger images
           http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1807959/posts
           \_ Ooh! Thanks. -op
           \_ How is the picture of a GPS, without date/time stamp,
              going to prove it? Does the British troops know in
              advance the dispute is going to happen, and took out
              their digital camera, with their consumer Garmin gps,
              and took a picture of the coordinate screen, while
              bording the merchant ship? The data can be EASILY faked
              afterwards.
              \_ gee, maybe it's standard procedure to document the
                 GPS location of a ship you're going to board.  And you
                 think the Iranian claim, which they changed, is more
                 plausible?  -tom
              \_ The co-ordinates were confirmed by the Indian merchant ship.
                 (At least that's what the Brits said.)
              \_ Flat out without reading the article (it's a blog so who
                 cares?) I'd take the word of the British over the word of the
                 Iranians who made it quite clear they took them as a hostage
                 swap for their thugs the US captured in Iraq.  Unfortunately
                 for the British they have so gutted their military they're
                 in no position to make any threats the Iranians could take
                 seriously.  This is going to be another Jimmy Carter Hostage
                 Crisis situation but for Tony Blair and his successor(s).
                 \_ They've still got the Bomb!  I mean, we're talking
                    two or three million dead, TOPS!  Depending on the breaks.
                    \_ Unless they see the big board.

03/28   mead is back up and processing mail.  Please let me know about any
        new problems you encounter.

3/28    What controls the order of files in regards to which file is displayed
        as the root file of a webpage? Specifically, I have to have a
        index.php in my root directory, but I want my webpage to display
        home.php. How can I do this? Thanks.
        \_ Just figured it out myself, using .htaccess! -op

3/28    U.S. versions of weekly news magazines have dumbed down covers
        http://www.registan.net/index.php/2007/03/26/the-dumbing-down-of-america
        \_ I'm already happy to see that they didn't substitute an Afghanistan
           conflict cover with an Anna Nicole Smith cover.  Not that I'm not
           obsessed with Smith, but I don't want to see top-story coverage of
           her in magazines like Time and Newsweek.

3/28    Attorneys fired for performance, not political reasons?  It depends on
        what "performance" means:
        "The distinction between 'political' and 'performance-related' reasons
        for removing a United States attorney is, in my view, largely
        artificial" -Kyle Sampson, chief of staff to Gonzales
        http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/03/28/fired.attorneys.ap/index.html
        \_ The administrations can define the meaning of any words in the
           language as needed.  For example, "sex".
           \_ Yes, clearly the incompetence and corruption of the current
              administration is the fault of Clinton's penis.
        \_ The only crime taking place is the political stupidity of the admin
           who should hav come out on day 1 and said, "We fired them because
           we can, tough shit" and walked away.  At least KS is finally, but
           too late, sort of kind of saying it.
           \_ There is a reason they lied about it in the first place and
              I am kind of surprised that you don't understand why.

3/28    Damn, they really can't even keep their lies straight anymore
        http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002901.php