Jim

Branding the ELF "eco-terrorists" is a thought-out strategy. Same as branding the name "narco-terrorist" or the "war on terror". Rather than treating these elements for what they are, criminals, and using sophisticated investigative tools, invoking "terrorist" is just another way to keep the masses on edge and from looking behind the curtain. It gives false legitimatecy to a gang of thugs, and provides cover for spending oh so much more on "needed" tools to fight terror. How else can we explain Homeland Security (another great name) providing a $2 million grant to Oklahoma City for a couple of terrorist-proof armored vehicles? Look, there's universal disapproval of the ELF's actions except for a handful of wackos. But what those McMansions stood for - the "green washing" of the all too common suburban enclave is emblematic of American consumption. No need to make any changes in your lifestyle (to accommodate a war, global warming, etc). I know, we can use recycled materials, put a waterfall in the 4,500 sq ft house and call it sustainable development!

Agreed. I'm so tired of the fear mongering.

The Iraq war has cost the US 50-60 times more than the Bush administration predicted and was a central cause of the sub-prime banking crisis threatening the world economy, according to Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz. The former World Bank vice-president yesterday said the war had, so far, cost the US something like $US 3 trillion ($3.3 trillion) compared with the $US 50-$US 60 billion predicted in 2003. Professor Stiglitz told the Chatham House think tank in London that the Bush White House was currently estimating the cost of the war at about $US 500 billion, but that figure massively understated things such as the medical and welfare costs of US military servicemen. The war was now the second-most expensive in US history after World War II and the second-longest after Vietnam, he said. The spending on Iraq was a hidden cause of the current credit crunch because the US central bank responded to the massive financial drain of the war by flooding the American economy with cheap credit. "The regulators were looking the other way and money was being lent to anybody this side of a life-support system," he said. That led to a housing bubble and a consumption boom, and the fallout was plunging the US economy into recession and saddling the next US president with the biggest budget deficit in history, he said. Professor Stiglitz, an academic at the Columbia Business School and a former economic adviser to president Bill Clinton, said a further $US 500 billion was going to be spent on the fighting in the next two years and that could have been used more effectively to improve the security and quality of life of Americans and the rest of the world. Just a few days' funding would be enough to provide health insurance for US children who were not covered, he said. The public had been encouraged by the White House to ignore the costs of the war because of the belief that the war would somehow pay for itself or be paid for by Iraqi oil or US allies. "When the Bush administration went to war in Iraq it obviously didn't focus very much on the cost. Larry Lindsey, the chief economic adviser, said the cost was going to be between $US 100 billion and $US 200 billion - and for that slight moment of quasi-honesty he was fired. "(Then defence secretary Donald) Rumsfeld responded and said 'baloney', and the number the administration came up with was $US 50 to $US 60 billion. We have calculated that the cost was more like $US 3 trillion. "Three trillion is a very conservative number, the true costs are likely to be much larger than that." Five years after the war, the US was still spending about $US 50 billion every three months on direct military costs, he said. One of the greatest discrepancies is that the official figures do not include the long-term healthcare and social benefits for injured servicemen, who are surviving previously fatal attacks because of improved body armour. "The ratio of injuries to fatalities in a normal war is 2:1. In this war they admitted to 7:1 but a true number is (something) like 15:1." Some 100,000 servicemen have been diagnosed with serious psychological problems and the soldiers doing the most tours of duty have not yet returned. Professor Stiglitz attributed to the Iraq war $US 5-$US 10 of the almost $US 80-a-barrel increase in oil prices since the start of the war, adding that it would have been reasonable to attribute more than $US 35 of that rise to the war. He said the British bill for its role in the war was about 20 times the pound stg. 1billion ($2.1 billion) that former prime minister Tony Blair estimated before the war. The British Government was yesterday ordered to release details of its planning for the war, when the country's Information Commissioner backed a Freedom of Information request for the minutes of two cabinet meetings in the days before the war.

What are people so fearful of that they need a gun in a national park? Seems that Americans are getting more afraid of their own shadows these days. Learn to be aware of you surroundings, travel consciously, and get used to not being the top of the food chain. I've worked in grizzly country on several projects over the past 5 years and you just have to be aware. And a pistol will just likely ensure you'll get a bear pissed and you will get shredded. And is it possible to encounter Charles Manson at the trailhead? I guess. But it's more likely you'll die from a drunk on I405 and I wouldn't suggest arming your car with missles. It's really not so scary in the real world. Don't get suffocated by the long shadow of security. BTW I'm all for hunting, just not in National Parks. They were establisted for a different mission than Forest Service and BLM land; and there's plenty of that for hunting.

To some extent I agree. But if you could build small sustainable work forces that would be helping the forests and parks I'd go for that rather than the current plan which is continually pushing for resoure extraction.

Ya know, the one thing I never understood is why the politos, right or left, never pushed for more money to go to rural communities following the timber bust to give folks jobs in decommissioning old roads, fixing the rec roads that are used, doing trail work, fixing park facilities, etc. I mean those timber guys can work a variety of tools and machines like nobody's business, they're not afraid of hard work outside, would like to continue using their skills. And towns like Darrington and Forks could use some help, as could the parks and USFS lands.

This is more of the same - but if you're interested please send in a comment. Good summary here: http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/408/index.html Will a Bush Administration effort open hundreds of thousands of acres of public land to private development? Signed by President Bill Clinton in 2001, the Roadless Area Conservation Rule protects nearly 60 million acres of the country's national forest lands from most road building, mining and logging. This was the culmanation of a 2 year public comment period, with over 1.5 million public comments received, the vast majority favoring retention of the Roadless classification. Roadless means you can still use these areas for recreation, including snowmobiles and ATVs. Now the Bushies, in their lame duck year, are trying to change the rules and allow State Govenors to apply for changes in designation on FEDERAL LANDS to open these to timber, oil, and gas interests. Over the last seven years, the Bush administration has tried to amend or repeal the landmark regulation to give states more flexibility. Idaho appears to be the first on the chopping block.

While I didn't agree with most of what he had to say, you had to appreciate his intellect and wit. The current crop of so-called-conservatives have fallen quite a way down the drain.

PP has company! Bob Boone, the father and assistant GM, drove to work at the Washington Nationals' spring training camp Monday morning with veteran infielder Aaron Boone, his son. Not long thereafter, Bret Boone -- Bob's son and Aaron's older brother -- showed up for a surprise news conference at Space Coast Stadium, announcing he's coming out of retirement to try to make a comeback. He turns 39 in April, and hasn't played in a game since 2005

I ran in college and high school, and continue. When I was a freshman in college I fractured my ankle playing basketball. When looking at my X-ray the orthopedist asked if I was a serious runner. He said it was evident from the spreading of my foot bones and that as I got older it would cause some problems. Like what, I don't know. Other than a minor bout of plantar faciatis I've had no foot problems.

I do have some sympathy for the Mormons because there's little difference from claiming devine inspiration in the middle of the desert or in your back yard in upstate New York.

I've got one of those induction stoves and it's weird. If you turn it on full blast the element goes on and off, keep the pan heated to a steady temperature. It's kinda annoying when trying to heat something up fast, especially on one of the smaller burners.

Grim, grim, grim. The Idiot is leaving quite a legacy.

The SS is not bad for a city of this size, but it's a bit of an internal turmoil and soap opera. Lawsuits and counter lawsuits, harassment accusations. I think it probably time for GS to move along. I think some fresh air would help the group.

If it's not climbing related this is where you post it. Be warned this forum is not for the thin skinned. No pun intended

Well for BB, at least you use it as an excuse to leave work early and sit in the sun with friends and have a brew or two.

True that. I think baseball's motto should be "It could be worse"

You're cracking me up again. I guess you can always argue what is the lesser of the evils - the endless drug scandals of baseball including the recent record holders - or the wife beaters of the NFL. Whatever. Neither one is getting my vote. But man, baseball is just boring as get out.

George Will writing a book on baseball, or any sport, is akin to Joyce Carol Oates and her book on boxing. Gimme a break. Somehow baseball is prime for over-intelluctualizing. It's just a friggin sport. Now one dominated by puffed up druggies and overpaid men paid way too much to hit and catch. Ichiro is one of the few all around talented players.

Classical music is great. I saw Micky Mantle play in NYC and used to go see the Mets and Yanks both. Now I find the whole prima dona game uninteresting. The game is so dang drawn out now. WTF - do you have to adjust your crotch each time you swing? Any sport that can be overanalyzed by the likes of limp wrists like George Will - no thanks.

Baseball: As athleticly challenging as painting. For the spectator as exciting as watching it dry. Less so with the Mariners.

If anything, I'd just write a letter to the HR person explaining it's a crappy way to treat anyone and that you worked with integrity and they should operate similarly. Then move on, which you have. There's just too much bad energy out there - no reason to get caught up in it. Best of luck in your new position. If you manage to get to pubclub before you head to CA we're buying.

Holy cannoli - this is stunning. I'd like to see this slide show.

Long time indeed. Unfortunately The Idiot and his team did believe that Iraq was the first domino. The wingnuts thought that peace and democracy would blossom, which would lead to popular movements in Saudi Arabia and Jordon, then the Palatinians would migrate in mass to these areas and greater Israel would become a reality without those pesky squaters. Take a read of "The Assassins Gate".

Please, for the love of God, take a basic course in economics. How could anyone understand that bad debt hurts the economy and not understand that when people actually pay off their debt that they are helping the economy--especially right now Maybe JayB can correct me on this--or at least refine what I am saying here--but in a time where companies are having to cover their bad debt, those companies are thankful for folks that are paying. I think what he meant was that paying off debt - such as a credit card, will not do much compared to buying some consumer item. Look at it this way. If you pay cash now for a washing machine that's much more a stimulus than if you're going to take your rebate to pay off the credit card you used to buy a washing machine 5 months ago. Frankly the credit card company would prefer you didn't pay it off so they earn intrest. What it would do, supposedly, is then have that money that would be going for interest down the road available to purchase some other tshatshke.