Category Archives: U.S.

International, U.S.

War in Iraq not over, U.S. forces attacked 3rd time in a week

After Defense Secretary Roberts Gates announced that the United States would NOT be leaving Iraq, as planned, U.S. troops have come under fire.

April 13, a U.S. base in southern Iraq was hit with mortar fire.  Photos show the base burning after the attack.  No word on casualties. This is the third attack in a week.

The U.S. was supposed to get combat troops out of Iraq by the end of 2011. But last week secretary Gates announced to troops that we will be staying.  Many Iraqis began protesting.  Gates claims the Iraqi government asked the United States to keep troops in Iraq, but foreign media say many Iraqi politicians want the U.S. out.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Iran strikes back at Europe, refuses to fuel European airlines

“In a retaliatory move, we have stopped providing fuel to European aircraft.”-Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi

For some time several European countries have refused to fuel up Iranian passenger planes that land at their airports.  After repeated requests by Iran, countries like Germany and United Kingdom, still refuse on the grounds that they are following the latest sanctions placed against Iran by President Obama.

Iran now says it will not fuel passenger planes from those countries, that land in Iran.

Germany’s Lufthansa says they will have to come up with a plan, because they can no longer get fuel in Tehran.  Netherland’s KLM says they’re not worried because they fuel up in Greece on their way back from Iran.

The sanctions placed on Iran by Obama do not specifically say that Iranian airlines can not be fueled.

International, U.S.

Military government detains Mubarak & Sons

After weeks of protests, the military leaders of Egypt have detained Hosni Mubarak, and his sons, for questioning.

Mubarak is in a hospital after he suffered a heart attack. Protesters were demanding that the former Egyptian ruler be arrested for corruption.

On April 12 the pro-U.S. military rulers cleared protesters from Tharir Square.  But Egyptians promised an even bigger protest on Friday, if Mubarak was not arrested.

With the detention of Mubarak and his sons, Egyptians say they can now focus on pushing the military leaders to hold elections for a new government.

International, U.S.

Mexico asks for help as Fire hits 200,000+ Acres

NASA photos show, as of April 11, the Coahuila fire has burned at least 300 square miles.  The photo also shows the smoke blowing northeast, towards the Rio Grande (called Rio Bravo in Mexico).  This is contrary to some Mexican reports that say it’s blowing to the southwest (maybe they meant it’s bowing OUT of the southwest). But, the winds have been the main cause of the big fire, and could be changing directions.

“We could have the area under control in about two to two and a half weeks.”-Juan Elvira, Mexican Environment Minister

This has turned into Mexico’s biggest wild fire.  Fire fighting helicopters, and a Boeing 747 water tanker, from the United States are helping.  Mexico is asking Canada for help, as well.

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

Nissan Leaf won’t start

Nissan is investigating why its electric car, the Leaf, won’t start.  Several customers, in Japan and United States, are complaining that their Leafs won’t start.

Nissan thinks it is related to the air conditioner sensor: “…it will illuminate a warning light on the instrument panel and may cause the vehicle to not restart once it has been turned off.”-Katherine Zachary, Nissan’s North American unit

Idaho, Technology, U.S.

Ghostly Nuke Train rollin’ ‘cross Idaho desert

Text: AAron Hutchins

Photo by: Alex Hutchins

Across a cold windswept east Idaho desert, people say you can hear the nuke train haulin’ its contaminated cargo.  The short track rails start nowhere, and end nowhere.  You might even see the sickly yellow locomotive yourself, if your lucky and don’t miss the turn off  (for directions see earlier posting “Ancient Nuclear Powered Jet…”).

Lead-lined train in the Arco desert in Eastern Idaho.

OK, so there’s no ghost train, but, in the middle of nowhere, along side the world’s first nuclear powered jet engine, sits an odd shaped yellow locomotive. It’s not nuclear powered, but it is lead lined, to protect the crew from radiation exposure when hauling the huge HTRE units that make up the nuclear jet engine.

General Electric, who ran the nuke jet project, had rail lines built to haul the huge engine from one test area to the next.  In a 2005 document, the Department of Energy explained that “shielding” of various equipment from radiation, like the lead-lined locomotive, were based on 1950s understandings of radiation.

Two sets of tracks were laid for the program.  The locomotive rode on the inner rails of the two tracks, pulling, or pushing the HTRE units.  The HTRE units rode on both sets of tracks, they were that wide.  (More pics in the “Galleries” section, click on the “INL Nuclear Power Site” pic. Click on the pics to make them bigger.).

The nuke train had a top speed of 3.5 miles per hour, but, for safety reasons traveled at 2.5 mph.  For a detailed (and boring) explanation you can go to this website: www.inl.gov/technicalpublications/Documents/3028280.pdf Supposedly there are period photos in the document, but they didn’t show up for me.

The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) used to be known as INEEL, before that INEL, before that ERDA and before that NRTS.  The names changes coincide with changes in government agencies controlling the “site”, in the early days, and changes in contractors who now run the site.

 

International, U.S.

Egyptian Army cracks down on protesters

Yes, people are still protesting in Egypt. This time they want the pro-U.S. military leaders out, replaced by civilian leaders.  They’ve also been demanding the prosecution of Hosni Mubarak, which the military leaders seem reluctant to do.

After 5 days of protest, the military moved in, rounding up protesters and tearing down barricades.

The Army claims a deal to clear Tahrir Square was made with protesters, but several protesters interviewed by the press said no such deal was made.

Business/Economics, U.S.

Vermont set to Protest GOP leader

Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee, will not get a warm welcome when he speaks in Vermont on Wednesday.

Vermont Unions plan to protest Priebus, because they see him as the architect of Wisconsin’s anti-collective bargaining rights bill.  The protest will be in solidarity with Wisconsin’s Unions.

Priebus is speaking at a $100 per plate dinner, to raise money for the Vermont GOP.

Business/Economics, U.S.

Biggest protest yet planned for Michigan

People are preparing for what could be the biggest protest yet of the Michigan government.  On Wednesday thousands of people will demonstrate outside the state capitol building.

The issue is collective bargaining rights.  The Michigan government what’s to get rid of it.  People are also upset by the planned huge cuts to social programs.  Then there’s the proposed tax on retirement, which could tax retirement funds the same as regular income.

There is talk of Unions staging mass strikes.  Sounds like what’s going on in some European countries.

U.S.

Washington D.C. mayor & City Council arrested after protesting the Federal Government

The mayor of Washington DC, and six city council members were arrested today, while protesting the Federal Government’s budget plans.  They sat in front of a big sign that read “No Taxation Without Representation”, which was one of the rallying cries of the American Revolution against the British.

Mayor Vincent Gray said the Federal budget infringes on the District of Columbia’s sovereignty.  “Folks in congress will do things to the District of Columbia that they wouldn’t do in their own districts … It’s an outrageous position. We raise our tax dollars just like other states do, just like other cities do.”

41 other protesters were arrested as well.