The council chose a downtown face over political or policy experience on this one. It could work against them in the long run, it could also be the best choice. I think we'll just have to wait and see.

I'm interested in reactions to her selection. What in her application will be of benefit to the council?

We're quickly coming up on the one year anniversary of Camp Quixote and we're trying to plan a celebration to honor the brave souls that worked so hard last February, and continue to work hard to make their, and the lives of others a bit better during the transition from houseless to housed.

I need help planning the event, I'd like to have music (I have one band, The Pasties, already lined up), speakers, an awards ceremony for the Olyblog Person of the Year Award to the Camp, and then move somewhere for a great dinner.

Again, I need help organizing and with money for expenses. If interested in helping out I can be reached at 360.359.3293 or torndown@gmail.com

Thanks

by Dr James B. Calvert
Used with permission.

 

The Collapse of Buildings

Why the World Trade Center towers collapsed

Buildings, like all structures, are designed to support certain loads without deforming excessively. The loads are the weights of people and objects, the weight of rain and snow and the pressure of wind--called live loads--and the dead load of the building itself. With buildings of a few floors, strength generally accompanies sufficent rigidity, and the design is mainly that of a roof that will keep the weather out while spanning large open spaces. With tall buildings of many floors, the roof is a minor matter, and the support of the weight of the building itself is the main consideration. Like long bridges, tall buildings are subject to catastrophic collapse.

The causes of building collapse can be classified under general headings to facilitate analysis. These headings are:

In 1998 it was $11.

In 2003 it was $25.

Yesterday the price of a barrel of oil reached $100 before settling at $99.67 at the end of the day. The price of oil has risen 60% in the last year alone.

Why has the price of oil risen so much so quickly?

I believe the answer is simple(well not really simple at all, but easy to sum up in two words): collusive monopoly.

Whenever I read about the price of oil rising, it's tied to an event somewhere. Usually prices of oil will rise after experts speculate what effects an event will have on the market. For instance, the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and the unrest that it will create in Turkey, not unrest that has already happened, mind you, or that we're seeing now, but speculative future unrest, was given as a prime reason for the price of oil reaching the $100 milestone.

 

The following chart shows the price of a gallon of gas for the last 29 years from one region of the US. The lower line shows the price per gallon adjusted for inflation. The faint line is the US average. It contains data from 1074 fill ups.

It doesn't look so bad adjusted for inflation. In 1973 the Arab oil embargo began which effectively doubled oil prices at the refinery level and caused massive shortages in the US, and had a huge effect on prices right into the 80's. In '81 the downturn began due to price controls by the United States. They stayed down until the buildup for war began and in '91, the year the Gulf War began, prices peaked at about $20 per barrel. The prosperity of the 90's, as well as OPEC quota increases, kept gas prices fairly static and also increased our want of oil. We started buying lots of things that run on oil including bigger houses, cars, bikes, watercraft, etc.

 

Funny

Happy Tuesday everybody. Thanks to our Christian friends, most of us get the day off today. I ate too much really bad food at Lee's Buffet out on the west side. It was nice time with friends, despite me feeling like I'm ODing on MSG now.

How has this snowy winter day been for everyone else?

CIA intentionally impeded Sept. 11 inquiry, officials say By MARK MAZZETTI The chairman and vice chairman of the commission that investigated the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, say a new review of classified information has convinced them that the Central Intelligence Agency made a conscious decision to impede them.

Violent Protest Over Housing in New Orleans Alex Brandon/Associated Press

Protesters clash with the police outside the New Orleans City Council chambers.

By ADAM NOSSITER and LESLIE EATON

Published: December 21, 2007

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NEW ORLEANS — After protesters clashed violently with the police inside and outside the New Orleans City Council chambers on Thursday, the council voted unanimously to allow the federal government to demolish 4,500 apartments in the four biggest public housing projects in the city.

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