I Wonder

[DeaconBlues (imported)]

FOIL HELMETS! It is time to put on our foil helmets!

[moi621 (imported)]

Did anyone else feel it most at 12 noon? When we are most pointed toward the oncoming particles.

Or did you notice it more later, when they strike at an angle?

I don't believe the magnetosphere got them all.

BTW airlines were flying at lower altitudes and modifying polar routes to avoid higher particle exposures.

All that ozone, lost to a solar hissy fit. I guess I will have to take the blame for that ozone. <sigh>

Moi

Avoiding charged particles and neutrinos too. Not to forget the EMF!

[Prudence (imported)]

I think the real question is why do you need an electric blanket? It does not get cold were you live. It does get cold here were I live and I don't even have an electric blanket.

So what do you do? turn off the heat in your house and open all the windows?

Electric Blanket? LOL

River

Problem is many of the older houses in Southern California (pretty much anything built before the 1980's) have NO INSULATION in the walls. Thus, as soon as it gets below around 50 degrees F you really start to feel it. Once it gets into the 30's, your house will be cold even with the heater on... Normally that isn't a big issue, but this Winter is particularly cold by Southern California standards. It has been getting down to the low 30's on most nights (unless you live in the mountains, there it has been in the 20's).

That may not terribly cold compared to the some areas of the nation... But in a house with no wall insulation, it is utterly freezing!!! With the heater running all night, my house was around 45 degrees F in the morning. Without the heater running, it would be equal to outside temperatures within an hour or two. 45 degrees indoor temperature is definitely electric blanket time!

(The reason I'm saying "was" above is because I just got insulation put in the walls a week ago. Expensive, but one of the best "big ticket" items I've ever spent my money on! Made a world of difference, the house is actually warm in the morning now, and now the heater actually shuts off instead of running all night).

As far as the Charged Particles go, I was hoping for more of a show. Like being able to see the "Northern Lights" in the Southern U.S. States. Or something newsworthy, but harmless, like everyone's Cell Phones going out for a few minutes or some extra static or snow on the Radio or TV.

[Riverwind (imported)]

I wonder if Ron Paul actually got in and was actually able to change some things, what would the country look like.

He is big on doing away with all sorts of agencies, so I decided to pick one.

THE IRS

First we kill off all the income tax codes, capital gains, death tax, (you republicans happy so far?) we eliminate everything and start over.

First thing we eliminate all the deductions for everything under the sun, NO deductions for anything. Next we set a new progressive tax system that effects every income level. The poor making under say 20k a year would pay 1.5% they cant afford much but everybody should pay something. The 1% would pay 90%. NO DEDUCTIONS. not for interest payments on your home, not for kids, not because your single and filing joint, or any other such nonsense. As a matter of fact your taxes could be done on one sheet of paper and if filled in with black ink could be scanned so that the computer operator at the IRS would be able to handle all 500 million returns in a few days. The IRS would be reduced in size to 5 people, you need a boss so one of them, a computer programmer, a computer operator, a person in the mail room and a Secretary. I think that would about cover it.

Result, you cut spending by several millions a year by firing all the people who now work for the IRS, you could then sell off the buildings for even more cash, applying it all to the national debt, as the new IRS would only need a back room off the capital building.

Now you fix this new law and make it so it can not be changed for any reason until the national debt is under 1980 levels. (that was just under a trillion). This should make all republicans so happy, it will do two things they have been screaming about, cutting spending and lowering the national debt. Everybody is involved from the poorest of the poor to the richest of the rich in this effort. What could be more American??? Now the one tax that would remain in tact is the Social Security tax, 50/50. We must maintain that for retirement past, present and future.

The last part of this law would be that congress can not pass any bill unless its paid for in advance. At the same time we eliminate all charities living off the dole. They too would need to pay tax on what they take in, after all everybody is in on this no exceptions.

So Moi, the only question I have is do you like it?

How many years do you think it would take to pay off the national debt?

OK so I am sitting here having a pipe dream.

River

[moi621 (imported)]

I wonder

Why not a nuclear powered ice breaker using piped hot water from the reactor to heat the forward hull?

Aside from the nuclear part, of course.

http://news.yahoo.com/arctic-ice-melt-l ... 05888.html

The great Russian north coast. Their continuation of the North West passage.

I wonder who will be the first to circumnavigate the Arctic? Esp. with a cargo vessel.

". . . vessel owned by Scorpio Tanker Inc. sailed from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean in a record eight days.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has cast it as a quicker and pirate-free rival to the Suez Canal. . ."

& should immediately begin work on the technology for a navigable North West passage. Having to beg to Russkys for shipping help to fuel an American town demonstrates the inferiority of western and free Arctic nations when it comes to navigating Arctic waters.

Moi

Don't let them have all the ice cubes.

[RustyDai (imported)]

I wonder

Why not a nuclear powered ice breaker using piped hot water from the reactor to heat the forward hull?

Aside from the nuclear part, of course.

I was under the impression the ice-breaker was pushed up on the ice and the weight of the ship broke the ice allowing it and whatever was following to move forward.

[RustyDai (imported)]

All those now unemployed IRS workers would no longer pay income taxes too. Would they have unemployment benefits? Who would buy the buildings that are no longer needed, but they still need to be maintained until sold.

I wonder if Ron Paul actually got in and was actually able to change some things, what would the country look like.

He is big on doing away with all sorts of agencies, so I decided to pick one.

THE IRS

First we kill off all the income tax codes, capital gains, death tax, (you republicans happy so far?) we eliminate everything and start over.

First thing we eliminate all the deductions for everything under the sun, NO deductions for anything. Next we set a new progressive tax system that effects every income level. The poor making under say 20k a year would pay 1.5% they cant afford much but everybody should pay something. The 1% would pay 90%. NO DEDUCTIONS. not for interest payments on your home, not for kids, not because your single and filing joint, or any other such nonsense. As a matter of fact your taxes could be done on one sheet of paper and if filled in with black ink could be scanned so that the computer operator at the IRS would be able to handle all 500 million returns in a few days. The IRS would be reduced in size to 5 people, you need a boss so one of them, a computer programmer, a computer operator, a person in the mail room and a Secretary. I think that would about cover it.

Result, you cut spending by several millions a year by firing all the people who now work for the IRS, you could then sell off the buildings for even more cash, applying it all to the national debt, as the new IRS would only need a back room off the capital building.

Now you fix this new law and make it so it can not be changed for any reason until the national debt is under 1980 levels. (that was just under a trillion). This should make all republicans so happy, it will do two things they have been screaming about, cutting spending and lowering the national debt. Everybody is involved from the poorest of the poor to the richest of the rich in this effort. What could be more American??? Now the one tax that would remain in tact is the Social Security tax, 50/50. We must maintain that for retirement past, present and future.

The last part of this law would be that congress can not pass any bill unless its paid for in advance. At the same time we eliminate all charities living off the dole. They too would need to pay tax on what they take in, after all everybody is in on this no exceptions.

So Moi, the only question I have is do you like it?

How many years do you think it would take to pay off the national debt?

OK so I am sitting here having a pipe dream.

River

[moi621 (imported)]

I was under the impression the ice-breaker was pushed up on the ice and the weight of the ship broke the ice allowing it and whatever was following to move forward.

Correct. But, even then the ice can freeze you in ala Shakleton without the sinking.

My nuclear reactor warmed ice breaker hull would add a new tool to longer ice free circumArctic commercial cargo transport, maybe all year with repeated use of ice breakers with heated hulls.

Moi

[fhunter]

Correct. But, even then the ice can freeze you in ala Shakleton without the sinking.

My nuclear reactor warmed ice breaker hull would add a new tool to longer ice free circumArctic commercial cargo transport, maybe all year with repeated use of ice breakers with heated hulls.

Moi

Shakleton's ship had wrong shape for the Arctic journey. Modern icebreakers have much more power and proper hull shape (barrel like)

[moi621 (imported)]

I wondered

What was going on with those American military advisors sent to Pax Americana central Africa, announced last October?

There is deepest darkest Africa. Where they swallowed up like some people in a Conrad story?

Seek and linked

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 97943.html

Sunday Feb. 5, 2012

" . . . In the past month American troops have arrived in bases across the region on a mission to help Ugandan forces in their war against the LRA. . . ."

Below the story, a very wise reader uploaded this comment

"WHY Pax Americana?

Why a matter to involve America?

Sure it is sad. The world is full of sad stuff.

American involvement cannot forever be the answer.

Whose diamonds or oil are we protecting in Uganda?

Poor Syria! No natural resources worth protecting. "

The article does not mention how many American advisers nor what special equipment and air support.

FREEDOM to wonder!

Moi

Neo-Isolationist for cooperation and hire out (mercenary) national military actions.

Yes if they pay for it and it is to our interest, I could be for it.