Nov 21, 2009 -
BAGHDAD — In its largest reconstruction effort since the Marshall Plan, the United States government has spent $53 billion for relief and reconstruction in Iraq since the 2003 invasion, building tens of thousands of hospitals, water treatment plants, electricity substations, schools and bridges.
But there are growing concerns among American officials that Iraq will not be able to adequately maintain the facilities once the Americans have left, potentially wasting hundreds of millions of dollars and jeopardizing Iraq’s ability to provide basic services to its people.
The projects run the gamut — from a cutting-edge, $270 million water treatment plant in Nasiriya that works at a fraction of its intended capacity because it is too sophisticated for Iraqi workers to operate, to a farmers’ market that farmers cannot decide how to share, to a large American hospital closed immediately after it was handed over to Iraq because the government was unable to supply it with equipment, a medical staff or electricity.
- 5 Comments
Nov 04, 2009 -
SACRAMENTO — A blistering new report concludes that state corrections officials failed repeatedly to properly supervise accused rapist and kidnapper Phillip Garrido for 10 years, missing numerous opportunities to discover that he had allegedly kept Jaycee Lee Dugard captive in his Antioch-area backyard during the entire time California authorities were supposed to be keeping watch over him.
Among the mistakes by state parole agents who supervised Garrido from 1999 until his latest arrest in August was a failure to investigate why there was a 12-year-old girl inside the home of a registered sex offender, why "clearly visible utility lines" were running from Garrido's home to a concealed compound where he allegedly kept Dugard and why agents took no action when they received information "clearly showing Garrido had violated his parole terms.
A four-page executive summary of the audit by California Inspector General David R.
- 8 Comments
Nov 20, 2009 -
ABC News' Jonathan Karl reports:
What does it take to get a wavering senator to vote for health care reform?
Here’s a case study.
On page 432 of the Reid bill, there is a section increasing federal Medicaid subsidies for “certain states recovering from a major disaster.”
The section spends two pages defining which “states” would qualify, saying, among other things, that it would be states that “during the preceding 7 fiscal years” have been declared a “major disaster area.”
I am told the section applies to exactly one state: Louisiana, the home of moderate Democrat Mary Landrieu, who has been playing hard to get on the health care bill.
- 2 Comments
Nov 19, 2009 -
ILE - This is an Aug. 28, 2009, file photo showing South African runner Caster Semenya, center, surrounded by local children at her welcome home celebration at the Masehlong village in Moletjie, South Africa. Semenya says she isn't comfortable with her fame since her world championship title was obscured by gender-test revelations.
- 14 Comments
Nov 18, 2009 -
In these recessionary times, being a small business owner is not a bed of roses. New business owners are often tempted to reduce costs by not insuring their businesses just because they work from home.
In the short term this might save some money, but it the long run, it could seriously affect future business plans.
- 0 Comments
Nov 18, 2009 -
Specifications:
- Fingerprint and code security door lock for home or office users
- Mechanical Lock Type: Standard Cylindrical/Tubular Lockset
- Primary Controls/Indicators: - Fingerprint Scanner - LED Sensor Backlight - UP, Down, Left, Right keys - AC Adapter Input, - 9V Battery Input - Lock/Unlock Sensor - Door Knob
- Primary Material: All metal casing with electroplated gold color finish
- Fingerprint Sensor Type: Scanner
- Verification and Comparison Time: = 1s
- Verification Type: 1:N
- Power Source: Wall Adapter, 9V Battery, Wire harness for permanent power
- Operating Temperature: -10 to +50 C
- Operating Humidity: 0 to 85% RH
- Storage Capacity: 1000 fingerprints
- Open Lock Modes: Fingerprints, Password ID
- Adaptability for Door Thickness: 1 3/8", 1 1/2", 1 3/4" door thicknesses
- Biometric Sensor Life: 1,000,000 swipes
- False rejection rate (FRR): = 0.1%
- False acceptance rate (FAR): = 0.001%
- Dimensions - L:160 x W:80 x D: Frame to Door Knob = 80 (mm)
- This fingerprint lock handle is can be installed for right and left hand use Comes with internal lithium battery, re-charge every 6 months using the AC adapter (included) or a 9V battery
Installation is so easy that anyone can install one in under 30 minutes. It can be installed on any wood or metal doors
- Fingerprint ID is the ultimate in convenience. No more rummaging through your purse or pockets for your keys, no more changing of the locks after suspicious activity from house workers, no more hiding keys under rocks or flowerpots
- 2 Comments
Nov 18, 2009 -
- OPINION: WONDER LAND
- NOVEMBER 12, 2009
The only good news out of the Fort Hood massacre is that U.S. electronic surveillance technology was able to pick up Major Hasan's phone calls to an al Qaeda-loving imam in Yemen. The bad news is the people and agencies listening to Hasan didn't know what to do about it.
- 55 Comments
Nov 18, 2009 -
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/15/michele-bachmann-president-sarah-palin
She is much more Religious Right then I like in Conservative politicians, but I still found her interesting.
The new wave of female firebrands striking fear into liberal America
Right-wing radicals are already pinning presidential ambitions on a mother-of-five from Minnesota who calls herself a 'fool for Christ' and condemns Obama as a socialist at the head of a gangster regime
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- Paul Harris in New York
- The Observer, Sunday 15 November 2009
- Article history
Michele Bachmann gestures as she speaks at the Republican National Convention in 2008. Photograph: Paul Sancya/AP
She is a striking brunette with a decidedly outspoken attitude.
- 8 Comments
Nov 18, 2009 -
4GB Remote Control SPY Camera Clock Support Vioce Recording
- Video compression:AVI video format, 352*288
- Support Vioce recording
- Support Internal memory
- Hidden camera capacity: 4GB.
- Video file size:>500KB per min`
- Recording mode:continuous recording until memory is full or manually off
- Adaptor type:USB adaptor charging cable
- Battery type:Lithium-ion
- Perfect for the garage, office, or home.
- A wall mounted racing tire analog clock with a built in hidden spy camera that transmits to a wireless receiver with a remote control.
- Approved: CE / FCC
- After sales service: 1 year warranty
- want to see more cool spy camera, please go to epathchina
- 1 Comment
Nov 17, 2009 -
(CNN) -- They don`t call it "Twi Crack" for nothing.Lisa Hansen, for example, thought she had lost her mind the first time she read "Twilight." Partly because she`s 36."I was absolutely worried that something was wrong with me," the Utah mother of two said. "I just couldn`t put it down -- I was obsessed completely."She picked up the first of Stephenie Meyer`s vampire novels -- recommended by a teen neighbor -- with few expectations.
- 0 Comments