Saturday, April 24, 2010

The 8 Most Terrifying Holes on Earth

Kimberley Big Hole - South Africa: Apparently the largest ever hand-dug excavation in the world, this 1097 meter deep mine yielded over 3 tons of diamonds before being closed in 1914.

Glory Hole - Monticello Dam, California: This is the 'Glory Hole' at Monticello dam, and it's the largest in the world of this type of spillway, its size enabling it to consume 14,400 cubic feet of water every second (note: a glory hole is used when a dam is at full capacity and water needs to be drained from the reservoir).

Bingham Canyon Mine, Utah: This is supposedly the largest man-made excavation on earth. Extraction began in 1863 and still continues today, the pit increasing in size constantly. In its current state the hole is 0.75 miles deep and 2.5 miles wide and covering 1,900 acres.

Great Blue Hole, Belize: This incredible geographical phenomenon known as a blue hole is situated 60 miles off the mainland of Belize. There are numerous blue holes around the world, but none as stunning as this one.

Mirny Diamond Mine, Serbia: I'm pretty sure most people have seen this one. It's an absolute beast and holds the title of largest open diamond mines in the world. At 525 meters deep, with a top diameter of 1200 meters, there's even a no-fly zone above the hole due to a few helicopters having been sucked in.

Diavik Mine, Canada: The mine is so huge and the area so remote that it has its own airport with a runway large enough to accommodate a Boeing 737. It looks equally cool when the surrounding water is frozen.

Sinkhole in Guatemala: These photos are of a sinkhole that occurred in Guatemala. The hole swallowed a dozen homes and killed at least three people.

The most terrifying hole of all: This is the famous 'Rat Hole' that you've read so much about lately. It is capable of swallowing trillions upon trillions of U.S. dollars from the real economy each and every year.


Hat tip: Dave W. Linked by: Ace of Spades. Thanks!

Obama: federal authorities will use the force of law to fight Arizona's 'misguided efforts' to enforce the law

Yesterday, after Arizona's Governor Jan Brewer signed legislation to strengthen border security with Mexico, the President was quick to react. Kind of like how he responded to urgent requests for more troops in Afghanistan.

Obama said that Arizona's efforts to enforce the most basic responsibility of any government -- to secure the safety of its citizens -- was "misguided". And, as you might expect, the President used the moment to throw in an advertisement for more open borders, i.e., "comprehensive immigration reform". Which is kind of like "comprehensive health care reform" and "comprehensive financial reform", only it will bankrupt the country even faster.

"Our failure to act responsibly at the federal level will only open the door to irresponsibility by others, that includes, for example, recent efforts in Arizona which threaten to undermine basic notions of fairness which we cherish as Americans, as well as the trust between police and their community that is so crucial to keeping us safe."

He added: "If we continue to fail to act at the federal level, we will continue to see misguided efforts opening up around the country."

He said he has instructed U.S. authorities to monitor the state's actions and to "examine the civil rights and other implications" of the legislation."

Governor Brewer's remarks during the signing were concise and on point.

"Respect for the rule of law means respect for every law... People across America are watching Arizona...

We in Arizona have been more than patient waiting for Washington to act... But decades of inaction and misguided policy have created a dangerous and unacceptable situation.

Misguided policies like chain migration, the product of Democrat Lyndon Baines Johnson, which caused legal immigration in this country to quadruple from about 250,000 annually to more than one million a year afterward.

The reality is stark: 83% of homicide warrants in Phoenix, AZ are issued for illegal aliens.

The Democrats' intent is as transparent as it is un-American: turn millions of illegals into citizens to give them the right to vote, with the firm belief that most of them will vote Democrat. Even if it means more murders, more illegal drugs, and more violent crime here in the U.S.


Aren't public sector unions cool? Greece about to go KA-F***ING-BOOM and take out the rest of Europe with it

Global Economic Analysis -- Mish's site -- has performed yeoman's work in a series of posts illustrating what's around the corner for Greece. My prediction, like that of Clubber Lang, is: pain. The troubled country is dominated by public sector unions, which have steadfastly refused pay cuts or austerity measures, though Europe's very economic survival hangs in the balance.

Greece's story will have a series of European Vacation sequels as Italy, Portugal, Spain and other countries also tremble under the strain of crushing debt.

It was revealed on Thursday by EuroStat (the EU's statistics office) that Greece's 2009 budget deficit was far worse than originally believed. The rating agency Moody's promptly downgraded the government's debt and investors piled into the dollar and other vehicles believed safe from the ruinous mountain of soon-to-be-worthless bonds.

The two-year bond yield for Greek debt spiked by four percentage points in just minutes -- to 12-1/4 percent -- as the crying need for an immediate bailout became obvious. In fact, on May 19th, the Greek government will have to refinance €8.5 billion ($11.3 billion).

Worse still, it's apparent that both Greece and the EU have conspired to hide the former's true deficits. In short, the debt continues to rise and no one -- least of all the pointy-headed bureaucrats at EuroStat -- seem to know where the true bottom really lies.

As for the ripple effects, Mish states that Greek banks "hold €38.4 billion-worth of the government’s bonds [or] almost 8% of their total assets. A big write-down in the value of those bonds would leave the banks crippled. But around 70% of Greek government bonds, €213 billion-worth, are held abroad, mainly elsewhere in Europe."

In other words, prepare for a massive shock wave that even the deficit-ridden U.S. won't be able to withstand.

The final sequel is scheduled to take place here in the United States, as the President and the most irresponsible Congress in American history have proposed immense budgets that will increase nominal debt to 100% of GDP. The good news: we won't get to that level of debt, because our economic system will have collapsed long before that threshold is reached.

And it's not just the federal debt we have to worry about. The U.S. has its very own set of spendthrifts. Mish's friend Chris Puplava -- who provided the bond yield graphs -- calls it the CINN group (California, Illinois, New Jersey, New York).

Will the benevolent public sector unions help out by altruistically negotiating lower salaries and benefits? If Greece is any indication, the answer is: hell, no. In California, the powerful public sector unions are rallying for -- wait for it -- higher taxes.

It's times like these when I'm thankful I never dismantled my Y2K shelter located 35 miles north of the city, equipped with full wet-bar.


Birthday Reminder

Papa B:

BIRTHDAY REMINDER

This week we celebrate a special birthday.

Monica Lewinsky turns 44.

Can you believe it?

It seems like only yesterday she was crawling around the White House on her hands and knees, putting everything in her mouth.

They grow up so fast,

don't they?


Suitable Attire for the Next Tea Party Protest

Now, reading The New York Times and other left-wing blogs, you would discover that this is the attire of a Nazi-slash-Klansman-slash-Right-Wing-Extremist and possible terrorist threat.

Therefore, I encourage Tea Party activists to adopt clothing that more accurately reflects the tender sentiments of the Left. Like this.

I wouldn't encourage carrying batons, though in the case of bringing weapons to polling places, apparently that's encouraged by this administration.


Larwyn's Linx: Palin exposes rank hypocrisy of 'Wall Street Reform'

Have a great link you'd like me to review? Drop me an email. You can also install a Larwyn's Linx blog widget.

Nation

Palin exposes rank hypocrisy of 'Wall Street Reform': Con4Palin
Dems conspire to kill the filibuster: RWN
How America became a 'secular-socialist machine': Gingrich

Remember November: Hot Air
You may want to sit down before reading this: Ace
Letter to IRS Re Southern Poverty Law Center: Langbert

Economy

Fast Approaching the Tax Tipping Point: PJM
Volcker Rule - A plea from USAA: RedState
Chicago Teachers' Unions Demand More Money: Mish

Someone Needs to Pay: RSM
Detroiters declare Jihad against Dateline: BlogProf
Despite GM Ad Claim, Taxpayers Still on Hook: BMW

Climate & Energy

Climate Science in Denial: WSJ (Lindzen)
Heh: Another Climate Alarmist Loses It: RWN
Scientist says Arctic getting colder: UPI

Media

Comedy Central cowers in the face of Murder: Althouse
Jon Stewart To Anti-South Park Muslim Extremists: “Go F*** Yourselves”: Mediaite
Liberals and the Violence Card: WSJ

The Zombietime Walking Tour of San Francisco: Zombie
Rush Limbaugh, Patriot: Kimball
See, McGoo–I Told You They Assigned Me A Satellite: CBullitt (Language Warning)

World

It’s on: “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day” set for May 20th: Hot Air
Vatican funding Adult Stem Cell Research: Anchoress
Like 'the last days of Saigon': Angry, stranded British tourists nearly riot in Bangkok airport: Daily Mail (UK)

SciTech

Just how far the Linux desktop has come: jonobacon
Hubble Telescope Shoots Progressive Rock Album Cover: Jim Rose
pioneers O pioneers: SondraK

Cornucopia

The Parable Of My Neighbor's Howitzer: Hindenblog
Changing the Light Bulbs on Wall Street: MOTUS
O’Reilly Factor: Lane Bryant Ad Pulled Because Plus-Sized Models Have More Cleavage: Mediaite

Image: Maktoob Business
Today's Larwyn's Linx Sponsored By: Remember November.

QOTD:

"Had President Obama campaigned on [the real Democrat] agenda, he wouldn't have garnered 30% of the popular vote."       -- The Wall Street Journal, Mr. R. Limbaugh


Friday, April 23, 2010

Arizona Governor Signs Law to Enforce Some Other Law, Outrage Ensues

Perhaps someone can explain the position of the pro-illegal immigration Democrats.

Let's make sure we understand: our borders don't matter to them. Our immigration laws don't matter. But other unconstitutional laws that Democrats pass, against the will of the American people, do matter.

Oh, I get it. Any law that increases government power is awesome. Especially if it benefits Democrats at the polls. Glad we clarified that.


Hat tip: Memeorandum. Linked by: Michelle Malkin. Thanks!

Related:


Counter Revolution


#tcot Tweet o' the Day



Counter Revolution

These are the contractors who were laid off on Thursday as new EPA regulations went into effect. The agency's rules double the costs of residential and commercial rehab projects for any structure built before 1978. Any project that impacts more than six square feet of wall or floor space will be affected.

These are some of the 2,500 Sallie Mae employees who were laid off this month after the federal government took over the student loan industry. Tens of thousands of private sector employees will lose their jobs as the industry is nationalized.

These are the doctors who quit their profession after the federal government prohibited them from building clinics, MRI imaging centers or hospitals in the "comprehensive health care reform" bill. The nationalized health care bill controls one-sixth of the American economy.

These are the auto dealers who were forced to close their dealerships after the federal government nationalized two auto companies using funds authorized only for bank bailouts. Abrogating bankruptcy law, the White House awarded $60 billion of taxpayer funds to the auto unions, an apparent reward to their political supporters.

These are the laid-off construction workers at 25,000 non-unionized small businesses which were prohibited from bidding for Stimulus dollars by President Obama. The Association of Building Contractors says that this unprecedented step increases "construction costs between 10 percent and 20 percent and discriminate[s] against minorities, women and qualified construction workers who have traditionally been excluded from union membership."

These are a few of the millions of unemployed workers who initially supported the $840 billion Stimulus program because President Obama and Congressional Democrats promised unemployment would not reach 8% if it were passed. Instead, official unemployment quickly hit -- and remains -- around 10%. The number of persons who were unemployed for more than six months hit an all-time high of 6.5 million last month.

These are the "Black Panthers" who waved batons at voters during the 2008 election, "the most blatant form of voter intimidation" some civil rights experts had ever seen. Despite this, the Attorney General declined to -- or was ordered not to -- prosecute the case, raising the potential for similar incidents in successive elections.

These are the leaders of two of America's staunchest historical allies -- the United Kingdom and Israel -- who have been shunned by this administration in an unprecedented series of diplomatic maneuevers. Several days ago, London's Daily Mail reported that, "Britain's special relationship with the U.S. is over." And the BBC recently reported that "Ties between Israel and the US are the 'worst in 35 years'."

These are the masterminds behind the attacks of September 11, 2001. They are known terrorists who've been granted the rights of American citizens in order for the Obama administration to hold trials near Ground Zero in Manhattan.

These are the "millions of 'green jobs'" President Obama pledged to create. More of these 'green jobs' will be created should "Cap-and-Trade" and other energy taxes pass, which the President and Congressional Democrats have strongly endorsed.

These are the illegal immigrants empowered by President Obama's promise of "comprehensive immigration reform". Their unchecked flow into the U.S. is intended to ensure a permanent Democrat majority. And their presence promises to bankrupt a welfare state already teetering on the brink of economic calamity.

* * * * * * * * *

No federal government has damaged the American free market more than this one. No federal government has stolen more employment, more freedom, more private property -- from this and future generations -- than this one. No government has created more regulations, more unconstitutional dictates, more -- dare I say it -- slavery than this one.

Now, given all of these facts: can there be any doubt what Barack Obama meant when he twice proposed, "a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded" as our military?

The Obama-Democrat Left has mounted the first successful counter-revolution -- against the American Revolution -- in our history. Using an incessant series of attacks by a fifth column, the intent of the counter-revolution is to eradicate the effects of the American Revolution. The most magnificent society ever created hangs in the balance.


The midterm elections in November represent our last chance to salvage the American experiment.

Marshal your parents, your children, your siblings, your neighbors, your coworkers -- marshal everyone you know, because the stakes could not be higher.


November and the Lost Sanctity of the Polls

Breaking news this evening: election voting was marred by violence that killed three people and closed polling places across the country.

About 11 percent fewer polling places opened than originally estimated as election day violence spilled onto the streets. Sarah Goodscott is tracking the situation in our election center. Sarah?

Thanks, Bip. Federal election officials have decried the outbreaks of violence that have killed at least three people across the country and injured hundreds.

One official, speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that his organization had tracked 135 separate clashes.

Increasing militarization and conflict at polling places had been predicted before the election, but no one was anticipating anything like this.

Security concerns clearly had an impact on voter turnout.

"I wanted to vote, but what I heard was happening at the polls I decided not to." This 70-year old woman from Philadelphia said she had voted in every election since 1960 until today.

Prior to the election, the New Black Panthers, the SEIU, ACORN and other left-leaning organizations had promised to "ensure a fair election by maintaining a presence at every polling location."

But in Chicago, ACORN protesters accosted voters wearing American flag pins.

In Lowell, Massachusetts a gunfight erupted after more than a dozen Republicans were denied entry to a polling place by members of the SEIU.

In East Los Angeles, a shootout raged for more than three hours between members of an unidentified leftist group and police after dozens of reports of voter intimidation.

The fight only ended after a heavily armed National Guard unit arrived at the scene. Two persons were killed and more than two dozen injured in that incident alone.

Philadelphia was arguably the birthplace of the militarized polling place, after the controversial 2008 incident in which New Black Panther Party members harrassed voters.

In a 2009 interview, civil rights attorney Bartle Bull called the incident "the most blatant form of voter intimidation he had ever seen."

"I watched the two uniformed men confront voters and attempt to intimidate voters. They were positioned in a location that forced every voter to pass in close proximity to them. The weapon was openly displayed and brandished in plain sight of voters."

"They tried to interfere with the work of other poll observers ... whom the uniformed men apparently believed did not share their preferences politically... one of the Panthers turned toward the white poll observers and said 'you are about to be ruled by the black man, cracker.'"

Why, then did President Obama, and the Justice Department under Attorney General Eric Holder, decide to drop charges against the Panthers?

No one knows the answer to that question, but there is no dispute that the incident encouraged lawlessness at polling places across the country this time around.

Officials across the country have promised that investigations will get to the bottom of this terrible day in American history, but some are already decrying November 2, 2010 as an ominous milestone.

Speaking today at the National Press Club, talk show pundit and best-selling author Mark Levin called it "the day the United States became a third-world country. When the President and the Attorney General conspire to abrogate the rule of law, as they did in the 2008 Panther case, this sort of anarchy is inevitable. This is a terrible, terrible day in American history."

This is Sarah Goodscott reporting from Washington.


Postscript: Obviously, I hope and pray that this sort of thing never happens. But I fear that tolerating voter intimidation -- in any of its forms -- is antithetical to Democracy. That would be the case if any legitimate voter were denied their right to vote, no matter their skin color, ethnicity or religion. But the precedent set by Obama and Holder is an ominous one. If our polling places are not kept pristine from the threat of violence, then our Democracy is truly on the precipice.