Gap Minder
Cool tool that ties together a whole bunch of metrics (ranging from pollution to indebtness to internet users etc)and tracks the results over time. (Make sure to hit play.)
Actual Cost Of Surge
TPM –
Troops –
The administration’s estimate of approximately 21,000 extra troops only counts combat units, according to the analysis, and because combat units require support forces, the actual number of additional troops who will be in Iraq will likely exceed 35,000.
Co$t –
According to CBO, these additional troop deployments will cost between $7 billion and $10 billion this year alone, $4 billion to $7 billion more than the Administration’s estimate. Total cost of the troop increase could range between $9 billion and $49 billion, which reflects the costs of a four-month and a 24-month troop increase.
Choice Quotes Of The Security Theater
CNN–
Serious Actors:
Assistant Attorney General John Grossman called the light boards “bomblike” devices and said that if they had been explosive they could have damaged infrastructure and transportation in the city.
Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis called the stunt “unconscionable,” while Boston Mayor Thomas Menino called it “outrageous” and the product of “corporate greed.” Democratic Rep. Ed Markey, a Boston-area congressman, added, “It would be hard to dream up a more appalling publicity stunt.”
“It had a very sinister appearance,” Coakley told reporters. “It had a battery behind it, and wires.”
Comedians:
In a news conference, Rich told reporters he had advised his clients not to discuss the incident. Stevens and Berdovsky took the podium and said they were taking questions only about haircuts in the 1970s.
When a reporter accused them of not taking the situation seriously, Stevens responded, “We’re taking it very seriously.” Asked another question about the case, Stevens reiterated they were answering questions only about hair and accused the reporter of not taking him and Berdovsky seriously.
Reporters did not relent and as they continued, Berdovsky disregarded their queries, saying, “That’s not a hair question. I’m sorry.”
Black Globalization
LOL. Dan misses out on the global part of global guerrillas (again):
global guerrillas (n., pl.) are non-state actors who violently oppose a state. They seek to create and maintain a bazaar of violence and lead the state to extreme weakness or failure. Contrast against insurgents, who are non-state actors who violently oppose a state in order to replace or modify a government.
For a much better “working definition” go to Wiggins:
Robb’s Global Guerrilla writings focus on how GG’s use “black globalization” to disconnect a target state from the positive flows of “good globalization.” Tactics such as system disruptions erode the legitimacy of the state and establish temporary autonomous zones (TAZ) that can then be used as hubs in globalization’s “black” network. TAZs are to black globalization what free-trade zones are to good globalization.
More later.
NoDaddy.com
Ouch. I use Namecheap for client and self domain registration (and have been for about 4 or 5 years now). Great prices, service and support.