Messing With Mother Nature

For John, BLUF:  While I see COVID-19 as having originated at the Wuhan, China, Research Laboratory, I wonder to what extent Gain of Function research contributed to our COVID-19 Pandemic.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Fauci’s NIH funded controversial gain-of-function viral research at Wuhan lab to get around US ban on dangerous research.

From InstaPundit, by Ed Driscoll, 27 April 2021, 8:14 pm.

The Headline and Link go to an earlier post, which raises the question of if Dr Anthony Fauci's National Instatutes of Health was funding research at the Wuhan, Chna, lab that would have been illegal if done by a US Institution, in the US.

Is it possible Dr Fauci previously spent time at the FBI?

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

"The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"

For John, BLUF:  New York Governor Andrew Cuomo would have us believe bad weather has only appeared since the Global Cooling fear of the 1970s dissipated  This would be wrong.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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44 years after sinking, last communications from Edmund Fitzgerald still haunt

Here is the sub-headline:

The Edmund Fitzgerald sank 44 years ago this Sunday.

From The Duluth News Tribune, by Ms Tracy Briggs, 6 November 2019.

Here is the lede plus one:

The [Gordon Lightfoot] song starts with whining chords and an eerie first verse

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
of the big lake they called "Gitche Gumee."
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
when the skies of November turn gloomy.

The S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald was christened on June 8, 1958, and named after Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company's newly elected chairman of the board.  The company had contracted an engineering firm the year before to make the ship the largest ship on the Great Lakes.

Over the next 17 years, the Fitzgerald started breaking records for the largest loads of freight carried on the lakes.  Not without its troubles, the ship suffered damages in the late '60s and early '70s, but remained an important player in Great Lakes transportation.

And then it sank in a very nasty storm.  The Great Lakes can be a nasty place when the weather is bad.

And, we should remember that our economic system is sustained by low cost transportation, which sometimes extracts a high cost in terms of a freak accident.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

A Good Idea Gone Bad

For John, BLUF:  Try to avoid the Tide Pod Challenge.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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My Wife came to me with a package for Tide Pods, with the complaint that she had to cut the top off the package because she couldn't use the red slider to open the top.

So, I took the challenge and after a couple of tries was able to slice open the top of the package.  But, it took some pressure on the slider to do it.  More pressure than my wife was able to exert.

I think this is bad packaging design.  There are people who design packaging for a living.  Sometimes they make mistakes.  For instance, when I was stationed at Eglin AFB the packaging people were dealing with the fact that the containers for shipping cluster bombs (CBU-24, 48 and 52, at the time, all using the SUU-30/B Dispenser) was made of pre-rusted steel (corten steel) and people in the field (out at the Air Bases using cluster bombs) were attempting to sand down the collapsable containers and paint them.  So they looked nice.  These containers were a great cost saving idea, but the customers were thwarting the value added.

I understand the need for "child proof" containers, but they can also be "old people proof" containers, and old people wash cloths.

Tide needs new packaging, packaging that meets customer expectations, rather than trying to frustrate the customers.

And, they need to keep in mind that every solution contains within it the seeds of a new problem.

Regards  —  Cliff

Abolish ICE?

For John, BLUF:  I expect folks will end up giving us reform, but what will it look like?  That is the interesting question.  What will a bill look like after it comes out of Conference.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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So The Democrats Have Decided To Run On Abolishing ICE

From Hot Air and Jazz Shaw, 10 March 2018.

Not all Democrats, but it is a creeping trend.

And of interest only if Democrats win control of Congress in 2018 (or 2020).

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Doing Good With Bad Results

For John, BLUF:  How is it for cruise ships?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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TSA Increasing the risk to travelers?

A gaggle of Economists have calculated that the intrusive nature of TSA screening at airports puts off enough people that the increase in highway traffic results in 500 more deaths each year.

Yes, 500 isn't much, and spread over a year is probably not noticeable, but it is the equivalent of a couple of shuttles between Boston and DC.

This idea that travelers avoid airports seems real to me.  A few years back our company was teamed with a company out of King of Prussia, PA, and I was the representative for our firm.  I commuted to King of Prussia from Lowell, Massachusetts every week.  Did it once by air and once by car and from then on did it by train. Not that much longer and a lot less hassle.  A lot less TSA security theater.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Making Poison Gas

For John, BLUF:  Every young boy or girl needs a chemistry set.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Out of the UK, the local on line newspaper, Cheswick W4, reported "Cranbrook Road distillery evacuated after new gin recipe goes wrong".  As the person reporting this via EMail noted, "Our local gin maker accidentally produced mustard gas".

For those of you not in the know, mustard gas is nasty stuff, and killed and injured many during WWI.

I don't drink gin, so I wouldn't know if it was good or bad, but the person calling to my attention his village newsletter item does vouch for them making a fine gin.

Here is the article lede plus one:

The Chiswick based gin distillery Sipsmith's had to be evacuated after a they accidentally made mustard gas during an attempt to make a new flavour according to a report in the Daily Mail.

Workers at the site on Cranbrook Road were trying to create a new mustard flavoured drink but ending up with a by-product of a gas which is better known from trench warfare in the First World War.

If you wish to check out the story in The Daily Mail,Click Here.

And, as a side note, although it will never come here, it is reported that Daesh is producing small batches of Mustard Gas. Regards  —  Cliff

TSA to the Rescue

For John, BLUF:  I think we need to keep TSA at bay for a while longer.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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I celebrate the action by three Americans, and a Brit "Cousin", to tackle and hogtie a terrorist on a high-speed rail train traveling in Europe.  What we should know we need to do in this new age of terrorism.  It isn't like the airplane hijackings of old, when it was a free trip to Cuba and then a safe return home.  Now it is mass murder.

The good fallout from the incident is the idea that we can resist, fight back, and win.  Not always, but if you are going to die you might as well fight back and try to prevent it.

The bad news is that people are thinking that TSA should step in and make us safe on trains.  Here is an article from The International New York Times.  The headline is "Train Attack in Europe Puts Focus on Vulnerability of U.S. Rail".

I like the Acela.  Let us be very clear about this.  The Acela is NOT high speed rail.&nbssp; All that said, I can leave my home, drive to the local "128 Station", park, walk to the elevator, ride down to ticket area, pick up my ticket, walk out to the platform five minutes before the train is due, and call my wife on my cell phone, talking to her as I board and while the train is pulling away from the station for the ride to New York, Philly or DC.  Once in a while I see a policeman and his dog.

The article catches this:

Amtrak, particularly on its high-speed train, the Acela, has cut into the airlines’ share of passengers in the busy Northeast corridor because of frustrations with airport screenings.  Between New York and Washington, Amtrak said, 75 percent of travelers go by train, a share that has grown steadily since the Acela began service in 2000 and airport security tightened after 2001.

The intervention of TSA to "make us safer" will ruin this situation.  I will again consider driving.

How much safety do we want and at what price?

Regards  —  Cliff

Adjust Speed Limits?

For John, BLUF:  I am sure you drive at only 55 mph on Route 3, but the others not so much.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Should we be more open to adjusting speed limits?

Yesterday I was on (Massachusetts) Route 3, a limited access highway, or "freeway", for a short distance, northbound, and traffic was doing about 78 mph on a road posted for 55.  Later I was heading South and traffic was doing about 65.  And later than that I was northbound from I-95, again on Route 3 and traffic was back to about 78 mph.

Maybe 78 is an unsafe speed.  I am sure there are statistics that show more cars in collisions and going off the road at 78 than at 55.  Further, there are probably statistics showing that fatalities and serious injuries are more frequent in accidents when going 78 than going 55.  Yet the drivers seem to feel comfortable at 78.  Is there some sort of heuristic here that provides insight to the drivers, allowing them to feel safe at 78?

Whatever the drivers think, the Commonwealth Government believes the speed limit should be 55.

I believe the Department of Transportation should conduct an experiment, in which it first studies current speeds on Route 3, in various sections, at various times, and then raises the speed limit to 65 mph and then again studies current speeds in various sections, at various times.  I am guessing the speeds observed will be lower, making the road, I would think, safer.

While there is often a lot of loose talk about how dumb the public is, in some ways they are pretty smart and are able to judge for themselves what is safe and unsafe.  In the case of Route 3, I believe we should let the public be part of the decision.

Regards  —  Cliff

Public Safety Subcommittee—18 Nov 2014

For John, BLUF:  Things are OK, you just don't understand.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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The Public Safety Subcommittee met at about 5:00 PM, with Chairman Dan Rourke and Councilors Rita Mercier and Corey Belanger.  The Mayor, Rodney Elliot, is also present, as is Councilor Jim Milinazzo and Councilor William Samaras.

First testimony is by Chief Taylor, with an overview.  Also present are the Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian and the Middlesex District Attorney Marian T. Ryan.

Then Council Mercier talks.  She mentions truth in sentencing and he one year mandatory sentence for having a gun.  She asks the Sheriff if there is room for criminals.  The Sheriff says there is room in the Middlesex County Jail. Chairman Rourke asks the DA to talk about collaboration with the police.  No new and startling information.  Captain Taylor talks about liaising with the FBI Office down in Boston. Chairman Rourke asks about arranging bail and the mike for the DA is not turned on, so we can't hear her.  Rita catches it.  Then the Sheriff talks about his operations.  Those awaiting trial are a different population from those who have been sentenced and are on a path to return to their home, and thus have certain motivations.  Some talk of opiate addition and also of warrant serving here in Lowell.

Councilor Belanger talks all for being present and then talks to people with guns being let out without a year in jail.  A recent example was a shot into into a baby's bedroom and the shooter let out with a fine of a couple thousand dollars.  This has to stop.  Then he talks to the Sheriff about diversionary programs.  In a Gateway City such as Lowell the problem is bigger.  Sheriff starts by saying you have to speak to Judges about that.  There is the problem of people not being treated in local towns and cities for mental health issues.  Today the mentally ill housing top three are LA County Jail, the Cook County Jail and Rikers Island.

Councilor Mercier talks to the mental health problem and the need to monitor those with mental health issues.  The State has closed down needed facilities.  It isn't the fault of the mentally ill, but they need help.  We need 20 more Tewksbury Hospitals, and medication for the mentally ill.  We want to spend three fold to incarcerate.

Mayor Elliot says the buck stops here.  Local officials are expected to stop crime, shootings, drug abuse.  We do our job, and then they are released.  How do we get that message to the judges?  We had a terrible stabbing in the City today [last evening].  Chief Taylor says the investigation is ongoing.  Mayor Elliot notes the identified assailant is back out on the street from the stabbing last evening.  Chief Taylor attributes much of the violent crime and housebreaking to drugs.  We can't incarcerate out way out of this problem.  Mayor Elliot agrees we have to do this one bite of the apple at a time.

Councilor William Samaras notes the break ins and the fact that the perps were caught and back out on the street before the victim had finished filling out all the paperwork.  Hard to understand and hard to explain.  The DA, without specifics I can't talk, but we look at a number of factors.  I understand there is frustration but there is often a middle ground, like ankle bracelets.  Councilor Samaras asks if the DA needs more resources and she says we could always use more resources, but then sort of adds fluff.  Claims dramatic strides.  [Things must have really been bad 45 years ago.]

Jon Geer, Belvidere Neighborhood Association (jgeer5@comcast.net).  The judicial approach needs to be strengthened in terms of consequences for lawbreakers.  One of the challenges is fear of retribution for those who speak up in the even of crimes.

Ms Ann Marie Page says we have talked about a lot of things.  Recent 800 burglaries valued at $4 million.  The problem is not the Chief or the DA, but the revolving door.  Last Tuesday two burglars were let out without having to pay bail and happy at home.  Regarding the mentally ill, they need to be watched over, not by the police, but by mental health professionals.  We want to see the judges to get tougher.  People need to understand that in Massachusetts we are tough.

Councilor Belanger thanks those who attended, but notes we need help from the Judiciary.  Asks those present what can we do?  We are frustrated but we feel strongly we are not getting the help we need.  The DA says the first line of defense is having accurate information out there.  I see what is asked for happening, Judges and District Attorneys doing their best.  The one year has been extended to 18 months.  But, we need to find the gun to prosecute under the law.  Thus the proposed legislation re firing at houses.  Yes, some are released without bail, but others are held for thousands of dollars.  Yes, I have had my house broken into and there is nothing more invasive.  It is a collaborative piece of work and getting information out.  [If you knew what I knew you would think differently.]

The Sheriff says he doesn't deal with it from that end.  He doesn't sense that the Lowell Bench is soft on crime.  Lowell is really a very amazing community.  For its size it is head and shoulders above others around the state.

Meeting concludes at 1821.

Regards  —  Cliff

NSA Reads the Mail

For John, BLUF:  The Government is snooping on almost all of us.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Writing for The Atlantic, Reporter Philip Bump gives us "The NSA Admits It Analyzes More People's Data Than Previously Revealed".

As an aside during testimony on Capitol Hill today, a National Security Agency representative rather casually indicated that the government looks at data from a universe of far, far more people than previously indicated.

Chris Inglis, the agency's deputy director, was one of several government representatives—including from the FBI and the office of the Director of National Intelligence—testifying before the House Judiciary Committee this morning.  Most of the testimony largely echoed previous testimony by the agencies on the topic of the government's surveillance, including a retread of the same offered examples for how the Patriot Act and Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act had stopped terror events.

But Inglis' statement was new. Analysts look "two or three hops" from terror suspects when evaluating terror activity, Inglis revealed.  Previously, the limit of how surveillance was extended had been described as two hops.  This meant that if the NSA were following a phone metadata or web trail from a terror suspect, it could also look at the calls from the people that suspect has spoken with—one hop.  And then, the calls that second person had also spoken with—two hops. Terror suspect to person two to person three.  Two hops.  And now:  A third hop.

So, the Boston Bomber, the late Tamerlan Tsarnaev, was a Golden Gloves boxer.  Even came up to Lowell to fight.  If we assume that he knew boxing folks in Lowell, those boxing associates would be the first hop.  Now, let us assume that there are people who know and work with some of those involved in boxing in the Lowell area.  Perhaps through charities connected with Irish Micky Ward or Dicky Eklund.  There is the second hop.  Now, assume I have met one or more people on the second hop—and I believe I have—then I am the third hop.  That is to say, NSA is checking me out, EMail and telephone.

Back in November 2011 Facebook estimated that the average distance between two strangers was 4.74 hops.

It isn't like NSA doesn't have a handle on most all of us.  The idea of privacy is a mirage.  When it wasn't exposed and people weren't disappearing into secret prisons, this really wasn't a problem.  Unfortunately, it has now been exposed.  The difference between us and East Germany, or Communist Russia or Nazi Germany is that we are all in agreement that we all play by the rules and the rules conform to the Bill of Rights.  Even if they know you are guilty of something, they have to prove it the old fashioned way.  And no one wishes to expose how much NSA knows and how much it passes on to other Government Agencies.

Someone I know uses as a tag line this item from Edmund Burke, in his First Letter on a Regicide Peace (1796):

Manners are of more importance than laws. Upon them, in a great measure, the laws depend.

Good manners is what is keeping us safe.  Teach your children well.

Regards  —  Cliff

Mayhem On College Campus

For John, BLUF:  People will always find ways to injure other people.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

So, here is the question.  Is this incident at a Lone Star College campus near Houston, Texas, the result of gun control, or the lack of gun control?  Fourteen people injured by a knife wielding individual, reported to be 20-year-old Dylan Quick.

Per Fox News:

The attack came three months after a different Lone Star campus was the site of a shooting in which two people were hurt.  The suspected gunman in that incident is charged with aggravated assault.

So, is the problem guns or something else?

Regards  —  Cliff

Staten Island Abandoned

For John, BLUF:  Michael Bloomberg is the Ray Nagin of Hurricane Sandy.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

Here is one view on Hurricane Sandy, compared to Hurricane Katrina.

At least they finally cancelled the NYC Marathon.

Regards  —  Cliff

Chicago Leads The Pack

Chicago has had very strict gun laws, although SCOTUS did recently state that the Second Amendment applies to the individual states under the "Due Process" clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.  Now comes the Governor of Illinois wanting to ban assault rifles.

Did Governor Pat Quinn think about the status of Chicago, vis-a-via other same class cities in terms of their murder rate?  Note that that link is not to Fox News, but NBC.  The story on the Illinois Governor's assault on assault rifles is from Fox News.

Regards  —  Cliff

TSA and Security

"Why Airport Security Is Broken—And How To Fix It"

The lede from OpEd author Mr Kip Hawley:

Airport security in America is broken.  I should know.  For 3 1/2 years—from my confirmation in July 2005 to President Barack Obama's inauguration in January 2009—I served as the head of the Transportation Security Administration.

This isn't the first such call.  Airport security is like policing Wall Street or the Commodities Markets.  Lots of rigid rules give a false sense of security.

Hat tip to the Instapundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Major Catastrophes

Over at the blog of The Instapundit is a link to a Popular Mechanics article on the loss of the RMS TITANIC and other major catastrophes.  There is a recommendation, by The Instapundit, of an article that talks to these sorts of problems and the human factor involvement.  The article talks about how we relax safety standards and then later reap the consequences of such actions, actions designed to increase profits or reduce costs (from a Government point of view, given that Governments don't make profits).  The article compares the Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire in 1911 and the World Trade Center attack and subsequent fires and collapse in 2001.  Relaxation of standards applied after the 1911 problem caused problems in 2001.

This is why Department of Defense nuclear surety is so important.  The pressure must always be on, so that there is no relaxation of attention.  Anyone remember when six nuclear warheads went missing for a short period?  My impression is that Secretary of Defense Robert Gates went to "Battle Stations" and heads rolled.  When risks are low but consequences are high, extra measures must be taken.  Just ask Mediator Kate Reed, about her recent experience, highlighted in the most recent episode of "Fairly Legal".

Regards  —  Cliff