Undernews For May 24, 2010

Undernews For May 24, 2010

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WORD

If those in charge of our society - politicians, corporate executives, and owners of press and television - can dominate our ideas, they will be secure in their power. They will not need soldiers patrolling the streets. We will control ourselves - Howard Zinn

OBAMA ATTACKS CONSTITUTION AGAIN; ATTEMPTS TO STRIP MORE CONGRESSIONAL POWER

The Hill - The White House called for a new presidential power Monday to slash spending that would be similar to a line-item veto.

The "expedited rescission authority" that President Barack Obama is sending to Congress this week would allow the president to propose a package of cuts to recently signed spending measures and then force Congress to take up-or-down votes on it. Those cuts would become law if they received a majority of votes in both chambers.

"Here we are a providing a way for the president to give the knife back to Congress for it to cut unnecessary fat," said White House Budget Director Peter Orszag in a conference call.

The president could propose cuts to provisions for new discretionary and non-entitlement mandatory spending but not to tax measures or Medicaid, Medicare or Social Security.

Like a line-item veto, the proposed authority would let the president target specific provisions in a spending bill so that he wouldn't have to veto the entire measure. Unlike the line-item veto, which was signed by President Bill Clinton in the 1990s but ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, the power proposed by Obama would subject the president's cuts to a review by Congress.

AN IGNORED OIL FIX THAT MIGHT WORK

Mark Warren, Esquire - There's a potential solution to the Gulf oil spill that neither BP, nor the federal government, nor anyone - save a couple intuitive engineers - seems willing to try. As The Politics Blog reported on Tuesday in an interview with former Shell Oil president John Hofmeister, the untapped solution involves using empty supertankers to suck the spill off the surface, treat and discharge the contaminated water, and either salvage or destroy the slick.

Hofmeister had been briefed on the strategy by a Houston-based environmental disaster expert named Nick Pozzi, who has used the same solution on several large spills during almost two decades of experience in the Middle East - who says that it could be deployed easily and should be, immediately, to protect the Gulf Coast. That it hasn't even been considered yet is, Pozzi thinks, owing to cost considerations, or because there's no clear chain of authority by which to get valuable ideas in the right hands. But with BP's latest four-pronged plan remaining unproven, and estimates of company liability already reaching the tens of billions of dollars (and counting), supertankers start to look like a bargain.

The suck-and-salvage technique was developed in desperation across the Arabian Gulf following a spill of mammoth proportions - 700 million gallons - that has until now gone unreported, as Saudi Arabia is a closed society, and its oil company, Saudi Aramco, remains owned by the House of Saud. But in 1993 and into '94, with four leaking tankers and two gushing wells, the royal family had an environmental disaster nearly sixty-five times the size of Exxon Valdez on its hands, and it desperately needed a solution.

Pozzi, an American engineer then in charge of Saudi Aramco's east-west pipeline in the technical support and maintenance services division, was part of a team given cart blanche to control the blowout. Pozzi had dealt with numerous spills over the years without using chemicals, and had tried dumping flour into the oil, then scooping the resulting tar balls from the surface. "You ever cooked with flour? Absorbent, right?" Pozzi says. Next, he'd dumped straw into the spills; also highly absorbent, but then you've got a lot of straw to clean up. This spill was going to require a much larger, more sustained solution. And fast.

That's when Pozzi and his team came up with the idea of having empty ships park near the Saudi spill and pull the oil off the water. This part of the operation went on for six months, with the mop-up operations lasting for several years more. Pozzi says that 85 percent of the spilled oil was recovered, and it is precisely this strategy that he wants to see deployed in the Gulf of Mexico.

Yesterday, I spoke to Pozzi and his business partner, longtime Houston lawyer Jon King, about their proposed solution, and the difficulties they've encountered trying to assist in the disaster, with both BP and the government. While BP is attempting its very difficult maneuvers to contain the gusher at the source, they say, nothing is being done to adequately address the slick itself. Dispersant is being used by the ton, some of the oil is being burned, and there have been other efforts, which taken together, Pozzi likens to "a flea on an elephant's ass." The two men have been trying to rally support since just after the rig blew up, without much success.

IMMIGRATION COURT CASES HIT A RECORD QUARTER MILLION

TRAC - The number of cases awaiting resolution before the Immigration Courts reached a new all time high of 242,776 matters at the end of March 2010, according to an analysis of very timely court data by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. The case backlog has continued to grow -- up 6.3 percent -- since TRAC's last report four months ago, and is nearly a third higher (30%) than it was a mere 18 months ago. The average length of time cases have been waiting increased to 443 days.

MEXICAN PIRATES HIT LAKE ON BORDER WITH TEXAS

KENS, Zapata TX - With machine guns in hand, Mexico's deadliest cartel is patrolling the waters of a Texas border lake.

These pirates already have hit several boats on Falcon Lake near Zapata, which is about an hour south of Laredo.

If you go too far across the lake and past the international boundary bouy, you are in Mexican territory and subject to attacks by pirates toting assault weapons.

At least three boats have been robbed so far, and authorities say they are investigating a fourth incident, as well.

The fear of what lurks beyond the boundary is keeping even local fisherman well within the U.S. side of the lake.

U.S. authorities say there just isn't a Mexican law presence on the other side of the lake, so boaters who do venture to that part of Falcon Lake are on their own.

21-YEAR-OLD TAKES ON TOWING COMPANY; 10,000 FOLLOW FIGHT ON FACEBOOK

Michigan Live - A Facebook group targeting a Kalamazoo towing company has cost the business numerous contracts, according its attorney.

The Facebook group started by a Western Michigan University student, meanwhile, has eclipsed the 10,000 mark in members.

"Kalamazoo Residents against T & J Towing," created in February by 21-year-old WMU student Justin Kurtz, has generated "adverse publicity" that has resulted in T & J Towing losing "somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 to 15" contracts, said Richard K. Burnham, who earlier this month filed a $750,000 lawsuit against Kurtz on behalf of T & J Towing President Joseph Bird.

"He lost two more (accounts) over the weekend," said Burnham, who declined to name those former T & J Towing clients.

Burnham said the value of lost business is "substantial," but couldn't provide a dollar figure.

Kurtz, an aviation student from Yorkville, N.Y., claims his Saturn SL2 was legally parked and that his complex-issued parking sticker was displayed when his car was towed in January from The Arboretum apartment complex. Kurtz says on his Facebook group that he believes his car was broken into and his parking sticker removed so that the car could be towed.

Similar allegations are made in numerous posts to the Facebook group by people who say they were legally parked when they were towed by T & J, including some claims that parking stickers had been removed.

Burnham said the Facebook group, which now boasts more than 10,100 members, is filled with posts by Kurtz and others containing allegations that are "undocumented, unprosecuted, unproved and unpunished." The Paw Paw attorney for T & J Towing said that if Kurtz can't prove his allegation that his permit was disturbed, he is accountable for libel and slander.

"Mr. Kurtz has to be aware that this is not just some fun-and-games thing, that he's created an impact and there's going to be a responsibility if in fact he's found to be responsible," Burnham said.

T & J Towing's Kalamazoo County Circuit Court lawsuit, in addition to seeking damages from Kurtz, requests a court order that he cease and desist "any further libelous and slanderous written claims" about the company.

Kurtz said he is working with a local attorney, who has until April 30 to file an answer to the lawsuit.

Meanwhile, Kurtz said his Facebook group has continued to attract members, from as far away as Europe. "It's definitely been shocking," he said of its following. "It's pretty intense."

Burnham said he feels that his client has a strong case.

"He's got the obligation to prove the correctness of his statements," the attorney said of Kurtz. "I don't have to prove that they're incorrect ... That's a problem that Mr. Kurtz has created and he's got to ride that horse.

"He's already taken (business) away from us short term, and probably permanently, and if he did that wrongfully because he was angry, he deserves to be held responsible."

NOTE TO THE MEDIA: IT'S OKAY TO TALK ABOUT SOCIALISM

THE DEMOGRAPHIC YOU TRY TO REACH WITH YOUR PRIME TIME SHOWS LIKES IT AS MUCH AS CAPITALISM

Alan Maass, Socialist Worker - [A Pew survey] found that in spite of the vilification the idea of socialism has suffered over many decades, three in 10 people in the U.S. have a positive view of it, compared to just a bare majority who were positive about the prevailing system of capitalism. Among young people aged 18 to 30, it's an even split between those with positive views of socialism and of capitalism.

These statistics confirm almost exactly the findings of a Rasmussen opinion poll from a year ago. Likewise, a Gallup survey earlier this year found that 37 percent of Americans considered socialism as "superior" to capitalism.

"Keep in mind," wrote Charles Derber at the Common Dreams Web site, "these findings reflect an overview of the public mind when right-wing views seem at a high point--with the Tea Party often cast as a barometer of American public opinion...This is not a "center-right" America, but a populace where almost 50 percent are deeply ambivalent or clearly opposed to capitalism.". . .

For millions and millions of people in the richest nation in the world, there just isn't any other way to describe it: capitalism isn't working.

All of the claims made for the free-market system--that if you work hard and sacrifice, you can pull yourself up, you can make a decent living, your children will enjoy better opportunities than you--have vanished.

Instead, for the majority of people in society, it's harder and harder to make ends meet, with fewer and fewer opportunities to get ahead. . . .

If socialism is often identified with the state, not just by right-wingers but generally, it has something to do with the legacy of Stalinism in Russia, China and elsewhere--governments that ruled with an iron fist, but used the name of "socialism" to justify it. These societies have nothing to do with genuine socialism, any more than the tame tradition of reform socialism in Europe, where parties once identified with the labor movement have carried out the neoliberal agenda.

The genuine socialist tradition is committed, as Karl Marx put it, to the "self-emancipation of the working class." Socialism must be direct and democratic rule by the working majority in society, with production organized to meet human needs, rather than produce profits.

Such a society won't be achieved by voting a socialist party into office, or waiting for enlightened few to bring about change.

At its heart, socialism is about the creation of a new society, built from the bottom up, through the struggles of ordinary working people against exploitation, oppression and injustice--one that eliminates profit and power as the prime goals of life, and instead makes equality, democracy and freedom the highest values of all.

CHARISMATIC MAMMALS FAVORED FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

Guardian UK - When it comes to a beauty contest, the African manatee, a bloated sea cow that grazes the coastal waters off west Africa, will never win any prizes. But should an unprepossessing mug shot condemn a species to extinction?

According to a new study, rampant bias exists among researchers towards "cuter and more interesting" animals. The meerkat has clocked up more than 100 published studies since 1994. The manatee has been the subject of just 14, and academic neglect may be a vital factor in its currently parlous position. "Scientists are people too," says Morgan Trimble, a conservation scientist at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, who carried out the study. "And many of them want to work with the big and furry stuff."

For years, conservationists have wrestled with the problem that high-profile species draw the most attention, and therefore the most money. It is no accident that conservation group WWF is known by its distinctive panda logo.

Supporters of this approach argue that "charismatic mega-fauna" attract much-needed funds for other species too. Sally Wren of the Zoological Society of London argues: "Charismatic species can be used as flagships to help protect areas and reduce threats, the effect of which often also benefits the less compelling species in the same region."

ORWELLANDIA: MASSIVE SNOOPING, MINOR RESULTS

Guardian, UK - More than 8,500 covert surveillance operations on members of the public have been carried out by 372 local authorities in Britain in the past two years - the equivalent of 11 a day, according to a study published today.

The research by the pressure group Big Brother . . . used freedom of information requests to collect details of 8,575 covert surveillance and bugging operations . . . The councils reported that the large number of surveillance operations resulted in 399 prosecutions, representing fewer than 4.5% of all operations, although some councils said they did not keep details of prosecutions. But the results show that the vast majority were concluded without anything substantial being discovered.

The survey found that councils in England, Wales and Scotland had used their powers to spy on their own employees. In Darlington they checked up on their car parking, in Exeter on their working times, and in Hammersmith and Fulham on their sick pay claims. In Liverpool, they spied on wardens employed to spot crime.

More than a dozen councils have used their powers to catch pet owners whose dogs are fouling the pavements. A further five mounted covert surveillance operations to enforce smoking bans. In Bromley the council even spied on a charity shop to see if people were "fly-tipping" their donations at the door.

The coalition agreement published last week promised action to curb the use of surveillance powers. Ministers intend to introduce legislation to ensure that the Ripa powers are used only in cases involving serious crime and only if a magistrate's warrant has been obtained first.

Alex Deane, director of Big Brother Watch, said the survey revealed the "absurd and excessive lengths" local government was prepared to go to in using the Ripa powers.

He said there should also be an obligation to notify innocent victims who have been placed under surveillance but subsequently acquitted of any offence. Deane said it would change the culture if officials knew they had to justify their actions to their victims.

The most notorious Ripa case occurred in 2008, when Jenny Paton and her family in Poole, Dorset, found themselves the subject of a three-week covert surveillance operation, including being secretly followed by council officials, after Paton was wrongly suspected of lying about her address to get her daughter into a particular school.

THERE IS STILL HUMAN LIFE IN TEXAS

Green Party Watch - The Green Party of Texas will turn in over 90,000 signatures on Monday, in an effort to get the Party on the General Election ballot this November. If accepted, this will be the first time the Green Party has had ballot access since 2002.

GREAT WAY TO WASTE TODAY

Based on techniques used in artificIal intelligence, Lexicalist reads through the web to learn who's talking about what. The result is a demographic picture of language in actual use.

See what age groups, gender, and geographic populations really use slang like "omg!," "bruh" and "groovy" [hint: they're different].

See where people are buzzing about the beach, redwoods or canyons.

See the demographics of businesses like Comcast, Verizon Fios and the Dish Network.

Look up collections of comparative demographics, including fast food in America and popular TV shows.

Here's a sample using the word "Obama" showing where people are using it most on the web:

HOW TO MAKE A PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICH

Believe it not, you can learn something from this. . .

RECOVERED HISTORY: STRAVINSKY ARRESTED IN BOSTON FOR HIS ARRANGEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

DC Musica Viva - On April 15, 1940, Stravinsky's unconventional major seventh chord in his arrangement of the Star-Spangled Banner led to his arrest by the Boston police for violating a federal law that prohibited the reharmonization of the National Anthem.

Wiki Answers - In Boston, Stravinsky conducted a performance of his arrangement of the American National Anthem, which he dedicated to the American people and allowed it to be used freely. Massachusetts had a law against the tampering of national property. They considered the anthem national property, and his genius arrangement "tampering." They seized his score and took him away. . . Luckily, he was released after he convinced authorities of his good intentions.

Vocal Version of Stravinsky's arrangement

CHAMPS-ELYSEES TURNED INTO HUGE FARM

BBC - one of Paris's main thoroughfares, the Champs-Elysees, has been covered in earth and turned into a huge green space in an event staged by young French farmers.

They want to highlight their financial problems, caused by falling prices for agricultural produce.

Plants, trees and flowers were brought in by lorry overnight to transform the avenue into a long green strip.

More than a million people are expected to visit over the next two days.

The event, which cost 4.2m euros (£3.6m; $5.3m) to stage, has been organised by the French Young Farmers (Jeunes Agriculteurs) union over the holiday weekend in France.

It will serve as a showcase of farm production from sheep breeding to crop growing.

The union, which represents some 55,000 farmers under the age of 35, wants to impress on the public - and the government - the efforts required to produce what goes on the table.

"It's about re-establishing contact with the public about what our profession is and what they want from it," William Villeneuve, president of the Jeunes Agriculteurs, said on Friday.

Only in France are you ever likely to see such a monumental mobilisation of creativity and resources, all in the cause of that beloved but beleaguered figure: the French farmer, says the BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris.

Overnight, 8,000 plots of earth have been brought into central Paris, and on Sunday morning, from the Arc de Triomphe down, the Champs-Elysees is one vast green space.

Some 150,000 plants have been installed - including 650 fully grown trees - representing agricultural produce from the marshes of the Camargue to the plains of Picardy, our correspondent adds.

Visitors will be able to buy boxes of the earth for their own gardens.

BOOKSHELF

• Orwell: a Life in Letters
•

• The Devil’s Casino : Friendship, Betrayal, and the High Stakes Games Played Inside Lehman Brothers, by Vicky Ward
•

• What We See: 30 essays continuing the Jane Jacobs approach to urban life
•

FURTHERMORE. . .

Washington Post - The nation's premier public health agency knowingly used flawed data to claim that high lead levels in the District's drinking water did not pose a health risk to the public, a congressional investigation has found. And, investigators determined, the agency has not publicized more thorough internal research showing that the problem harmed children across the city and continues to endanger thousands of D.C. residents. A House investigative subcommittee concludes that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made "scientifically indefensible" claims in 2004 that high lead in the water was not causing noticeable harm to the health of city residents. As terrified District parents demanded explanations for the spike in lead in their water, the CDC hurriedly published its calming analysis, knowing that it relied on incomplete, misleading blood-test results that played down the potential health impact, the investigation found."

Huffington Post - The director of the Minerals Management Service in Alaska is apologizing to colleagues for having a cake at a recent meeting with the words "Drill, Baby, Drill" on it. In an e-mail Thursday to agency employees nationwide, Regional Director John Goll says it was wrong and expressed regret that he let that happen in his office. The New York Times reported the cake was served at a staff meeting soon after Interior Secretary Ken Salazar proposed reorganizing the Minerals Management Service in response to the spill.

Green Party Watch - An article at Belief.net describing the Dalai Lama's press conference at the start of his recent visit to New York reports that the Tibetan spiritual leader is still interested in joining the Green Party: "He was quite energized about ecology; he said humanity seemed to be growing up. And he noted, 'Oh, you don't have a Green Party here [actually, the USA does], but if you did, maybe I would join the Green Party.'" The Dalai Lama previously expressed support for Greens at a University of Michigan lecture in 2008, when he said "If you have a Green Party, I want to join."

The Portland Maine charter commission has recommended that the city use ranked choice voting - also known as instant runoff voting - for the election of the mayor. Said the commission: "We feel that the mayor should represent the vision and direction of a majority, not less than 50% of the voters as is possible in a field of 3 or more candidates in a plurality election, and have included it as an integral part of the ballot question for the elected mayor."

Planet Green - Research has found that cutting grass for an hour with a gas-powered lawnmower produces about as much air pollution as a 100-mile drive in a car. Solar or electric lawn mowers emit far fewer emissions. Human-powered machines, even better.

Violent crime has declined for the third year in a row and property crime is down seven years in a row, says the FBI

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