Countering piracy: A difference of opinion

Maersk captain testifies before Congress

Captain Philips, captain of the Maersk Alabama, testified before Congress that armed parties aboard ship under command of the ship's captain are necessary to protect ship and crew.

The chairman of Maersk Inc., on the other hand, in effect claimed arming the crews would create an arms race with the pirates, a race the crews could not win.

So-called 'witnesses' testified that the problem must be solved with diplomacy and cooperation between governments, shippers and seamen's unions.

So, of the three opinions, whose would you rely on:  The person who commands a ship?  The person who commands a desk?  Or, the anonymous kibitzers?

I'll go with Captain Philips any day.

Technorati Tags: Maersk Alabama,Somali pirates,Captain Philips

Trackposted to Nuke's, third world county, Woman Honor Thyself, and The World According to Carl, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Extra! AP Fact-Check Article

FACT CHECK: Obama disowns deficit he helped shape

Has fair and balanced reportage set in at the Associated Press?  The referenced article counters Obama's 100-day assessment (e.g.; Deficit:  It wasn't me.) with facts from the public record.

If I didn't see it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it.  It's a 'must read.'

Technorati Tags: Associated Press,100-day assessment

History repeating itself

Ammonia-based refrigeration coming back

Ammonia was one of the early chemicals used in household refrigeration that was eliminated because of health and safety issues.  We went to safe CFC's around the 1930's, but that was destroying the ozone layer.  So, the Montreal Protocol of 1990 had us all switch to HFC's.

But, now, the Obama Administration is pushing to replace HFC's with "natural" chemicals including ammonia!

Here is OSHA's hazard write-up for ammonia in the workplace:

More... Ammonia is considered a high health hazard because it is corrosive to the skin, eyes, and lungs. Exposure to 300 ppm is immediately dangerous to life and health. Ammonia is also flammable at concentrations of approximately 15% to 28% by volume in air. When mixed with lubricating oils, its flammable concentration range is increased. It can explode if released in an enclosed space with a source of ignition present, or if a vessel containing anhydrous ammonia is exposed to fire. Fortunately, ammonia has a low odor threshold (20 ppm), so most people will seek relief at much lower concentrations.

This change is being done in the name of "global warming."  I suppose HAZMAT labels on the fridge door will be required.  Is this crazy, or what!?

Technorati Tags: Global warming,ammonia refrigeration,hazmat

Trackposted to The Pink Flamingo, Rosemary's Thoughts, third world county, and Woman Honor Thyself, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Obama: No Nukes?

Obama calls for new era of energy exploration

The President has been pushing for new sources of energy; touting the advantages of wind, solar and (even) clean coal.  Curiously, the cheapest source for electricity, that also meets the dubious no-CO2-emissions goal, has not been mentioned:   Nuclear power.

The Weekly Standard has an article by Halbert Fischel that walks us through the economics associated with the various options including nuclear power.  Given the President's choice of energy alternatives, one  has to wonder if his Administration has yet to make similar calculations.

Technorati Tags: energy independence,climate change,cap and trade