European Tribune - Community, Politics & Progress.

Of course it's rubbish. But it's an admission there are serious questions being posed about this, and it would be a pity to miss the chance of banging the nail home as massively as possible.

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 09:08:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I voted "no" but I wonder whether I should have voted "yes" in order to force a 50% reduction in fossil-carbon fuel use by 2020.

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 09:14:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Why, what was the question?

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 09:16:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Whether the EU should stick to the 10% biofuels target.

If we admit that only 5% is practically achievable, a 10% target will necessitate a 50% reduction in fossil carbon.

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 09:19:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Which wasn't explicitly part of the question. And is a pretty scholastic kind of reasoning anyway, imo.

A lot of "plain folks" I spoke to a year or two ago assumed biofuels were going to fill in for oil and they would just go on driving around as before. Now they're aware of the land use problem. It's a step on the road to them seeing they should start choosing when to drive and when to refrain.

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 09:28:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

We had an enthusiastic biofuel discussion here at ET quite some time ago before it became mainstream. Was it not you Afew who did some calculations that pointed out the problems ahead with land use?

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 09:59:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]

And that's my point about the Commission ignoring (our) reasoned input to the consultation and now resorting to a poll.

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 10:16:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

At least the poll uses an open question and not the leading, loaded questions we complained about in the Energy Green Paper Consultation.

My point is it's worth answering NO even if the procedure isn't right.

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 10:36:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I was just being facetious. Or scholastic, if you prefer.

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 10:54:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Migeru Snark Technology ™

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 11:21:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]

OT (none / 1)

Hi, afew! I answered your e-mail.

"Ne te courbe que pour aimer..." René Char

by Melanchthon on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 04:00:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I started out here, and we wrote ET's contribution to the EC's Biofuels Consultation collectively. I updated the numbers recently here.

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 10:23:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Why aren't these people all voting to Stop Blair?

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 08:57:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Which reminds me, the Council summit is over the next coupld of weeks - we should be thinking of neatly packaging the signatures and sending them to Javier Solana.

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 09:00:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Since we have fashion week, let me focus in on the superficial: what an awful web design... three Barroso heads in the header, what's up with that?

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 02:17:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Wow, the new TM looks good!

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 08:44:16 AM EST

How to do that ™ :

&tr*ade;

without the asterisk.

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 10:40:03 AM EST
[ Parent ]

You could type &trade; to get ™

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 10:51:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Crikey, it feels weird being here now. I've been posting stuff from the paers in Salon all morning and now nobody will read it.

Still, I think this is a good compromise and I'm sure we'll get used ot it.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 08:47:57 AM EST

Perhaps the Salon will focus more on news and issues, and OT could be more social? Then both could remain active, unless i'm clueless as to new system.

Skennah Kowa

by Crazy Horse on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 08:59:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Sounds good to me! :-)

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 09:08:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I think that's always been the rough idea, but some conversations in Salon were distinctly unserious and some conversations in OT got more serious than was good for us.

We've always had news in OT. I tend to think we get more discussion of the US election in OT cos that's when your compatriots can chime in from across the pond.

now we're gonna have to see how the split goes cos now Salon will be the US evening thread. It'll work out in the end, preferably over a beer.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 09:11:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]

In theory, it's a fine plan.

In practice - it's hard to herd ~~bloggers~~ cats.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 11:53:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Tell me. I tried to organise a pub crawl in Paris with bloggers....harumph.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 12:00:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

And you didn't lose any! It was wonderful, that was.

Our knowledge has surpassed our wisdom. --Charu Saxena.

by metavision on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 12:50:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I nearly lost 2 of you between the Horse's Tavern and Au trappiste. Wwhich is a stroll of 400 metres.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 01:03:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Details, details. I was swimming in beer and I just got distracted by some handsome guy. Besides, you didn't even lose me in Madrid when I kept taking pictures like the tourist.

Our knowledge has surpassed our wisdom. --Charu Saxena.

by metavision on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 01:30:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I don't see why it won't be read. The Salon is mostly news and analysis thereof, the OT for other discussions, interactions.

For example, even yesterday when the OT was pronounced DOA, it got 68 comments (not huge, OK, but not dead either). The Salon (from yesterday evening) now stands at 128.

I think people will get used to it.

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 09:14:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]

The Open Thread will hopefully remain "open" in the sense that people can talk about whatever they feel like bringing up, even (God forbid) the US elections.

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 09:21:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Sure.

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 10:05:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]

even (God forbid) the US elections.

'sfunny but in the last year with the primaries US politics has become a little one-dimensional.

Even now, the run up to Novmber is gonna be dull cos I just can't see Obama losing.

Normal interest will be resumed in Feb 2009, when the "civility" stops and all the closets are opened and the skeletons come tumbling out. Given the offenses you'd like to think that tumbrils might roll but I bet nobody will even get a mild ticking off, Anyway the US has a Constitution and a legal system to restore and a system of government to rebuild and that'll be fun. The blogs will be full of it (sic) in the years to come. Retribution can wait.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 10:48:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I can see Obama losing.

I don't think it's likely, but it's not impossible.

There's no sign yet that Hillary is willing to do the right thing, and it's not yet clear that she won't try to take him down by pushing her voters in McLame's direction.

She seems more interested in histrionics and press attention than in a Dem win in the autumn, so she could easily turn into even more of a nightmare than she's been already.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 11:52:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]

My worry is less to do with Hillary at this point than with combating years of propaganda that has built the Myth of St John. Hillary's letting her advance staffers go, which points pretty strongly to her giving up, since advance staffers are kind of a necessity for the GE. She's spending tomorrow night in NYC, while Obama's going to St Paul to harass the Reps at their convention site.

In any event, she's almost irrelevant at this point. It's a long way to November, and I have little doubt the supporters of hers that we need -- the crazies were never going to vote for him, because they believe he stole "the girl's spot" -- will come around.

She got her ass kicked at the RBC meeting, which basically turned into an all-day (and highly entertaining) "Let's Beat the Snot Out of Harold Ickes" Party. And her "10,000+" protest push brought a whopping three hundred or so people (most of them apparently from Upstate New York).

Do I think it's likely Obama loses? No. In fact, he's in much better shape than I feared he'd be a month or two ago. But, yes, it's certainly possible.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 12:05:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I think that after Wednesday she can say what she likes, no Democrat will pay any attention. Oh sure the tradmed will play it up cos they think it'll be fun but I think Dem talking heads will just play it down and move on.

I see a really big attack on McCain coming, the guy is so completely vulnerable that some of it even makes it into the papers, despite the barbecue set. I dunno, maybe I'm too confident but the idea that somebody with so many negatives becoming president is preposterous. Not even Bush was this obviously unsuited till he got to the White House.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 12:16:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The truth is that she can either concede or be forced out. Any fighting beyond this week is going to be shut down by her own superdelegates.

Bill Clinton seems to know the end is near today.

Hopefully they've got religion on it.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 02:03:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

It's Not So Easy Being Less Rich

There's no sign yet that Hillary is willing to do the right thing

Actually, a flood of news reports are coming in this afternoon. Clinton's calling her backers and donors to New York City tomorrow for her speech. The campaign has told staff to turn in their outstanding expense receipts. And the advance staff are being told they're done, and to come to New York as well.

She and Obama apparently spoke last night about Obama helping her to retire her campaign debt (about $30m I'd guess) by doing fundraisers with her here and there, and he apparently agreed to lend a hand to some of her black congressional supporters who are being challenged in primaries for not supporting Obama as superdelegates.

Take all that, and then add Wasserman-Schwartz's, Rendell's and Vilsack's comments.

It does sound like she's planning to suspend her campaign tomorrow night.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 04:05:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Keeping Up Appearances Stress Disorder (4.00 / 9)

[Onion Alert]

"The economy is an issue even for people who don't need the money."
Their spouses could leave them when they discover that their net worth has collapsed to eight figures from nine. Friends and business associates could avoid them as they pass their lunchtime tables at Barney's or the Four Seasons. And these snubs could trickle down to their children.
"They fear their kids won't get invited to the right birthday parties," said Michele Kleier, an Upper East Side-based real estate broker. "If they have to give up things that are invisible, they're O.K. as long as they don't have give up things visible to the outside world."
So New York's very wealthy are addressing their distress in discreet and often awkward ways. They try to move their $165 sessions with personal trainers to a time slot that they know is already taken. They agree to tour multimillion-dollar apartments and then say the spaces don't match their specifications. They apply for a line of credit before art auctions, supposedly to buy a painting or a sculpture, but use that borrowed money to pay other debts.
<...>
Some wealthy New Yorkers are even cutting back on relatively smaller things. At J Sisters, a midtown Manhattan salon where celebrities like Naomi Campbell and Gwyneth Paltrow mingle with Wall Street clients, stylists and colorists say they hear about money worries all day. On a spring afternoon, a half-dozen hairstylists to the very wealthy talked about how customers are stretching their $350 highlights and $150 haircuts to every eight weeks instead of six weeks. Some women are cutting out highlights entirely, saying they would "rather be brunettes."
<...>
Even their sex lives are suffering, Ms. Bauer said, because of the stress or because the weight gain makes them feel unattractive.
Her clients blame the economy for their out-of-control waistlines.
"The number one concern that they have is the state of the financial market," she said. "There definitely is a correlation between the stock market and weight gain."

... all progress depends on the unreasonable mensch.
(apologies to G.B. Shaw)

by marco (cowannar at gmail punkt com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 09:02:34 AM EST

Re: Keeping Up Appearances Stress Disorder (4.00 / 2)

Isn't it a relieve to not have much to loose?

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 09:14:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Keeping Up Appearances Stress Disorder (4.00 / 4)

Frankly? No.

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 09:20:02 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Keeping Up Appearances Stress Disorder (4.00 / 2)

Should have added the snark tag or a similar technologyTM. :-)

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 10:34:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Keeping Up Appearances Stress Disorder (none / 1)

Fran Snark Technology ™

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 10:43:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Keeping Up Appearances Stress Disorder (none / 1)

Is this one of Mig's so called macros? and how can I use it? :-)

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 11:32:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Keeping Up Appearances Stress Disorder (4.00 / 2)

"love is love and not fade away" Snark technology fades to grey....

Bo Diddley is dead at 79.

Big influence on me as a record producer.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 03:55:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Keeping Up Appearances Stress Disorder (4.00 / 2)

I thought it was the kind of stress I've always had about my appearance. Whew, glad they don't suffer from that, too.

"I said, 'Wait a minute, Chester, You know I'm a peaceful man...'" Robbie Robertson

by NearlyNormal on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 12:18:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Keeping Up Appearances Stress Disorder (4.00 / 3)

I thought The Onion was supposed to publish satire?

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 09:17:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Keeping Up Appearances Stress Disorder (none / 1)

No, it's from the NYT. I think the onion is necessary to make you simulate crying for them.

Hello poor little rich person, meet Mr baseball bat.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 09:52:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Keeping Up Appearances Stress Disorder (4.00 / 2)

Good grief, it really is from the NYT. Marco had me fooled with his alert.

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 10:08:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Keeping Up Appearances Stress Disorder (4.00 / 5)

[brain explodes]

I was sure that was The Onion.

If it's really the NYT that certainly deserves a:

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 10:24:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Keeping Up Appearances Stress Disorder (none / 1)

He got me fooled as well. Well done, marco!

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 10:55:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Keeping Up Appearances Stress Disorder (4.00 / 2)

That's an article in the Fashion & Style section of the NYT, and it opens with something about a female divorce lawyer.

Is the NYT imitating The Onion or Sex And The City?

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 10:58:27 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Keeping Up Appearances Stress Disorder (none / 1)

You know that when divorce lawyers in New York are falling on (relatively) hard times, it's a sure-fire sign that civilisation is dooooooomed.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 11:47:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Keeping Up Appearances Stress Disorder (4.00 / 2)

In this case it's imitating reality. The upper east side is an endless source of amusement or outrage depending on your viewpoint. The same articles could be found back during the 1990/1991 recession.

you are the media you consume.

by MillMan (millguy at gmail) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 01:16:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Keeping Up Appearances Stress Disorder (4.00 / 4)

I think I want to kill myself after reading that it really was the NYT.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 11:31:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Keeping Up Appearances Stress Disorder (none / 1)

So bling answers brain explosions?

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 03:31:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Keeping Up Appearances Stress Disorder (none / 0)

Word.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 03:44:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Keeping Up Appearances Stress Disorder (none / 1)

Diamond

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 03:53:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Trains (4.00 / 3)

For our train experts to discuss (via Paul Krugman):

Why Do Railroads Carry Greater Freight Share In The United States Than In Europe? (PDF)

Policies not Politics
---- Daily Landscape

by rdf (robert.feinman@gmail.com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 09:22:11 AM EST

Re: Trains (4.00 / 2)

The pdf -s 29 pages. The shorter Krugman article is here

Still, there's an important residual difference, probably due to the U.S. absence of border issues, more market incentives (yes, markets are sometimes great -- but they should be seen as a tool, not an object of religious devotion), and maybe other factors.

Certainly in the UK feight just doesn't have to go so far, and so the time factor of loading and unloading become significant in terms of times. also, bulk items such as coal (which Krugman mentions) are usually just transported a few miles to power stations which were deliberately built near the coalfield.

Also, N europe has an extensive industrial canal network which is wide/deep large enough for goods to be trans-shipped by coaster from country to country without unloading to trains.

But I'm sure Dodo has a more sophisticated answer

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 09:44:32 AM EST
[ Parent ]

There's a simple answer (none / 1)

Freight is measured in kilometer-tons. When your railways are massively used to carry coal over very long distances, you quickly clock up huge numbers.

With Europe much smaller, using less coal and being able also to use river transport for a lot of bulky commodities, it creates a big difference.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (jeromeguillet@yahoo.fr) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 10:45:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: There's a simple answer (4.00 / 2)

There's talk of the revival of lake transport in Finland - barges and ships can travel long distances in central Finland - the main problem being passage through the Saimaa canal to the Baltic, part of which is controlled by Russia. There is a 50 year lease expiring in 2013 and negotiations are underway to renew it. But the Russian control has meant that inland to Baltic Gulf traffic has been largely undeveloped.

The lake system extends right up to Kuopio.

I once did the Varkkaus-Lappeenranta part in an old 1913 wood-fired steamship, with a barge of birch log fuel pulled alongside. It was a fantastic experience (trip taken for a movie) but a highly recommended tourist experience in the summer - if you have the time.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 11:12:10 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: There's a simple answer (none / 1)

Out west there are dedicated trains that shuttle coal between mines and power plants, but I've also seen mile-long trains carrying nothing but piggybacked containers.

With no bridges or tunnels to create problems moving containers from ports to the interior is very cost effective. This doesn't work so well in the east, where containers can only be stacked one high.

It's my impression that containerized shipping is less popular in Europe for interior transport. Is this true?

Policies not Politics
---- Daily Landscape

by rdf (robert.feinman@gmail.com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 12:52:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: There's a simple answer (4.00 / 2)

rdf:

It's my impression that containerized shipping is less popular in Europe for interior transport. Is this true?

I can only speak for the River Rhine, but in my opinion there is heavy trafic on the river. in 2005 I spend a few days in Koblenz and had a window out on the river and could see that all day long there where more or less two continues lines of ships going up and down the river.

I do live within a 10 min walk of the last lock of the Rhine, after that no more shiping is possble. Even on a weekend, you rarely have to wait longer than 10 minutes for a ship to arrive.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 01:17:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: There's a simple answer (none / 1)

But the Rhine is hardly representative for Europe. About 80% of European inland waterway fright is on the Rhine.

Lich King/Caribou Barbie 08
Pain brings Katharsis

by Martin (weiser.mensch(at)googlemail.com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 03:02:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: There's a simple answer (4.00 / 2)

freight ;-)

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 03:28:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: There's a simple answer (none / 1)

Can you cite figures? The Danube also carries a lot, or has carried (well the 1999 bombing of Serbia had a major impact there). I imagine the Volga and the Donetsk carry some, too.

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Tue Jun 3rd, 2008 at 01:28:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: There's a simple answer (none / 0)

I read it in print newspaper and I'm not sure if I still have it. So it could be EU instead of Europe.

On the other hand Rhine even means proximity to quite a lot of people in Europe, e.g. Benelux, quite a part of Germany (and especially the heavy industry part), up to Switzerland, and e.g. in Spain, UK and Italy many people life close to the coast, so that waterway inner country transport may not be so import.

I think in the article was something about the Danube, too. There is a part of the Danube in Germany, where the upgrading to a waterway was not the highest standard and it is currently not planned. Environmentalists don't want that further upgrading, either, after all changing a river is quite an interference with the river as a biotope.

Lich King/Caribou Barbie 08
Pain brings Katharsis

by Martin (weiser.mensch(at)googlemail.com) on Tue Jun 3rd, 2008 at 07:37:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Containers (4.00 / 4)

Well, in Europe there is a system for containertransport on rivers and canals.
In Belgium, government invested in terminals for watertransported containers, and subsidised building the smaller ships (for about 80 containers).

For instance: where I live here (small town) the nearest terminal is about 25km away. There is a daily incoming/outgoing service which makes it possible to reach every container terminal in Europe (of course there is regrouping...)

This is new, and expanding fast. 5 years ago(startup) our terminal had 10 containers daily, now there are over 200.

The struggle of man against tyranny is the struggle of memory against forgetting.(Kundera)

by Elco B (elcob at scarlet dot be) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 02:16:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Trains (none / 1)

A sound analysis, naming all the factors I have named earlier. But I disagree totally with its recommendation for deregulation [fourth policy factor named], and disagree with its weights.

The study finds geographic differences as the most important factor (explaining 80% of the difference), and on the rest, they speculate that priority to passenger transport is most important, followed by interoperability. I think

interoperability is a crucial factor, scheduling around passenger trains less so,
interoperability also influences the geographic patterns of transport -- e.g., would railfreight run much freeer across borders, there would be greater long-distance cargo flows overall, not just on railways.

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 02:30:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

too early (none / 1)

some of us are still wiping the sleep from our eyes.

i'm pretty sure Izzy won't even be up for another 2 or 3 hours.

"This is nothing compared to how Putin rigged Eurovision."

by poemless on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 10:59:00 AM EST

Re: too early (4.00 / 2)

Actually, I think it is great timing. I don't think I have seen marco or other people from Far East post often on the OT, thus with the new timing they can also participate before going to sleep. And the OT will still be active by the time you guys wipe the sleep from your eyes. :-)

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 11:31:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: too early (4.00 / 2)

Now you're giving favorable OT time to the folks in Asia? What's next, letting Mexican folks come on and post poemless, AT and my comments for us?

Where's Lou Dobbs when I need him?

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 11:34:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: too early (4.00 / 3)

LOL, what's the problem - you are here, aren't you? :-D

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 11:38:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: too early (4.00 / 3)

What's next, letting Mexican folks come on and post poemless, AT and my comments for us?

It's the joy of globalisation, they work for minimum.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 11:40:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: too early (none / 1)

I demand a reimbursement from the Fed.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 02:09:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: too early (none / 1)

Nah, there's an InterNAFTA-super-highway coming right atcha.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 02:27:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: too early (none / 1)

Right at me? Isn't that supposed to be out in the middle of nowhere?

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 02:30:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: too early (none / 0)

"other people from Far East post often on the OT"

Maybe because we've run them off?

Fess up, Fran & Afew. This madness is all because you are just getting too old to stay up past noon my time! ;)

BTW - being serious now. There's been a habit in the past of moving from the Salon -> OT over the course of the day. If we're going to have an early OT, I hope people do continue to check up on the Salon for news once the OT is up, because people do keep adding to it ...

"This is nothing compared to how Putin rigged Eurovision."

by poemless on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 11:47:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 9)

European Tribune - Monday Open Thread

Yes! The New Earlier Open Thread^TM!

Now with more minutes!

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 10:59:43 AM EST

For Friday's photoblog (4.00 / 5)

This week's special subject is:

CLOTHES DRYERS

Hey, I'm only kidding.

Giving due credit to Sassafras, this week's subject will really be the color of the week. RED. So everyone, dig out your photos that have red in them.

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 12:18:14 PM EST

Death of a Rock and Roll Great (4.00 / 5)

Bo Diddley is dead at age 79. A Rock and roll genius who inspired most of the great rockers of the 60's.

"She walkes like Bo Diddley but she don't need no crutch"

A great rocker I had the great fortune to see live one time.

"I said, 'Wait a minute, Chester, You know I'm a peaceful man...'" Robbie Robertson

by NearlyNormal on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 12:34:31 PM EST

Re: Death of a Rock and Roll Great (none / 1)

Can't get the embed to work, here is the link...

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=jiYWrvsuONk

"I said, 'Wait a minute, Chester, You know I'm a peaceful man...'" Robbie Robertson

by NearlyNormal on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 01:39:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Death of a Rock and Roll Great (none / 1)

One More!!

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=sgzn7VyoqEw

"I said, 'Wait a minute, Chester, You know I'm a peaceful man...'" Robbie Robertson

by NearlyNormal on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 01:42:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Death of a Rock and Roll Great (none / 1)

((*youtube video-id)) without the asterisk...

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 02:05:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I presume you mean this (4.00 / 4)

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 12:39:04 PM EST

Re: I presume you mean this (none / 1)

Ooops, sorry. that was meant to reply to NearlyNormal's post about Bo Diddley

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 12:40:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 5)

Uhm, ok, I was going to boycott this on the grounds that it is TFE (too effing early) but then I figured that commenting on the ot is just about the only thing I am mentally capable of at this time. So then...

I had a great weekend. At first I was looking forward to summer, and then I was dreading it, and then it came, and I was smitten.

I had to pick up a package from the post office on Sat. (I think my friend is trying to convert me, books with inscriptions like, "you don't have to believe in God to appreciate...") Anyway, the P.O. is in this weird fascinating and sketchy neighborhood called "Uptown". By some weird fascinating and sketchy turn of events, this photogrpaher whose work I recently discovered has done a series of photographs in this area. All of this weird fascinating and sketchy stuff inspired me to just wander around the place taking it all in. I'd never done that, because it's the kind of neighborhood you normally just want to get out of as soon as possible. I don't know what is in the books my friend sent me, but hanging out in Uptown was almost a religious type of experience. Profound, anyway. I plan to write a blog about it, eventually.

I suspect I got sun stroke. Because it was a hot sunny day, the kind we get maybe 10 times a year here. Perfect weather, but after 7 months of winterlike weather, one day in the direct heat can make your head spin. I went to the lake and stayed there until the sun went down enough to make the walk back home possible. Then I did it all over again the next day. I also decided to start doing yoga again. Because apparently walking around half the city and going to the beach wasn't enough physical exertion for me... It was all very Meursault-y.

Someone wanted a review of SATC. Was fabulous, exceeded all expectations. I even have plans to see it again. Except maybe next time with one martini less. I'm feeling slightly vodka saturated at the moment. (Sun stroke and vodka saturation and impromptu workouts are leaving me feeling if not dead then wishing I were.) Anyway, Helen, you could probably go see this movie a few times and get the same result as years of medical treatment. There was a thick haze of estrogen in the theater air. ;) Anyone else see the movie? Or am I the only shallow fashion-obsessed romantic around here? Well, if anyone did, one word: Dante...

I also watched Prisoner of the Caucasus, on the advice of DoDo. Hm. Maybe because I watched it in bits and pieces over the course of several days... I can't say it's one of the best films I've ever seen. Oleg Menshikov played Oleg Menshikov, and I didn't really get the ending. However, I will recommend the film on the basis of the first 5 minutes alone. ;D Thanks for the rec. DoDo! Terrible about Sergei Bodrov Jr. He had a very nice backside.

So there you have it. The story of how my brain turned to mush.

"This is nothing compared to how Putin rigged Eurovision."

by poemless on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 12:44:54 PM EST

He, it's not the medical treatment I need so much as psychiatric intervention.

Avoid sunstroke, drink water rather than martini.

My brain turned to mush so long ago I forget it happened sometimes lot.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 01:11:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I just wanted to suggest my Summertime diary when you commewnted there too...

I watched it in bits and pieces over the course of several days...

Never a good thing... even commercial breaks are enough to spoil some films.

Oleg Menshikov played Oleg Menshikov

For me, there was a nice contrast between the naive recruit and the senior soldier (whose ability to get on with their captors is just the opposite), and didn't know Menshikov enough for that judgement :-)

I didn't really get the ending

I don't remember the ending all that well; I seem to recall a tragic ending with a suggestion of a new cycle of violence, and suffering mothers. (But I may confuse it with another film set in the region.)

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 02:08:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Spoiler Alert (none / 1)

The ending.

So the senior officer has his throat slit for killing the shepard, but then he comes back, presumably as a ghost, to the younger one. At the end of the film, when the Chechen's son is killed, he takes the younger prisoner off to shoot him because he can't trade him anymore. You hear a gunshot, so you think he's dead. But then you hear a voice over of the younger officer talking about trying to remember all the wonderful friends he made while he was a prisoner, and how he tries to remember them. Is he dead or alive? I want to believe the old man didn't shoot him.

The little girl is also absolutely adorable. I really enjoyed the scenery. I want to go there before I die...

I don't know, I think Menshikov was playing the same romantic, clownish -in a good way-, but "I'm terribly sorry I have to kill you now" guy he played in Burnt by the Sun. He seemed a bit cosmopolitan and effete for a guy who'd been fighting in Chechnya...

"This is nothing compared to how Putin rigged Eurovision."

by poemless on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 03:01:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Saw this on Needlenose and have no idea what this was all about, there are only the pictures, no text:

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 01:29:21 PM EST

Saw that in Natl. Geographic decades ago! Adolescent chimp behavior. Very presidential.

Our knowledge has surpassed our wisdom. --Charu Saxena.

by metavision on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 01:42:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

USMC Graduation???

"I said, 'Wait a minute, Chester, You know I'm a peaceful man...'" Robbie Robertson

by NearlyNormal on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 01:44:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Monday Open Thread (4.00 / 4)

It's a guy thing. Later they chug a quart of beer, don antlers and try to brain each other like goats.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 01:44:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

That's some sort of ritual salute at some sort of military school Dubya visited recently, and apparently he found himself short of breath after it.

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 02:02:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Yeah, it's a Marine thing, I believe.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 02:06:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

And, as we all know, Bush is a big fan of the military. Not big enough to actually do any service of value himself or providing veteran benefits, mind you, but still! Big fan. Always on the lookout for new exciting locations to send his buddies to.

"The basis of optimism is sheer terror" - Oscar Wilde

by NordicStorm on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 04:08:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Actually, Bush had one of the most (none / 1)

dangerous assignments that the USAir National Guard had to offer: 'driving' F-102s (maybe 106s, but I think 102s). That particular aeromachine had the worst fall-out-of-the-sky record of all U.S. 'fighter' planes ever. The USAF discovered early on that the thing didn't so much fly as wander around the sky for awhile, then succumb to gravity. So naturally they had Convair keep making them and shipped them to the Air Guard units.

paul spencer

by paul spencer (spencerinthegorge AT yahoo DOT com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 10:57:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

President speaks at Air Force Academy graduation

5/29/2008 - President George W. Bush, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley participate in the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation at Falcon Stadium May 28. The Class of 2008, the 50th Academy class, graduated 1,012 cadets who will enter the Air Force as second lieutenants.

The struggle of man against tyranny is the struggle of memory against forgetting.(Kundera)

by Elco B (elcob at scarlet dot be) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 02:32:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Is it just me, or is ET currently extremely slow?

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 01:31:13 PM EST

It's not just you...

"This is nothing compared to how Putin rigged Eurovision."

by poemless on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 01:32:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The New Earlier Open Thread^TM! broke it, probably...

"This is nothing compared to how Putin rigged Eurovision."

by poemless on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 01:56:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Indeed. Allah's punishment or something.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 02:05:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Nope. Slow for me, too.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 01:38:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Takes a minute! for the page to reload for me, too.

Our knowledge has surpassed our wisdom. --Charu Saxena.

by metavision on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 01:39:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

very, very slow

by MarekNYC on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 01:43:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Guardian - Credit crunch: Bradford & Bingley share crash drags down banking sector

"Slow"? The politically correct term is "throughput retardation".

"The basis of optimism is sheer terror" - Oscar Wilde

by NordicStorm on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 04:10:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

It ain't over (4.00 / 2)

Did somebody say that the worst of the creidt crunch was over ?

Bradford & Bingley has begun an urgent search for a "shit hot" chief executive after Steven Crawshaw was taken seriously ill at work last week as the bank realised its profits were being dented by the worsening housing market.
The plight of the former building society helped slashed billions from the value of Britain's banking sector today after it cut the price of its rights issue to allow US private equity group TPG Capital to take a 23% stake for £179m.
B&B shares crashed by more than a quarter and sparked hefty losses throughout the sector.
The bank, which is Britain's biggest buy-to-let mortgage lender, blamed the slowdown in the housing market for a sharp decline in profits in the first four months of 2008 to £56m, down from £106m. More customers than expected, many of them landlords, have fallen behind on their mortgage payments already this year, and B&B expects the rate to accelerate during 2008.
The poor performance was also caused by an increase in mortgage fraud, mainly on B&B's self-certified mortgages. Including new writedowns on mortgage-backed investments, it recorded a net loss of £8m.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 02:37:18 PM EST

Argh, where do I go? (4.00 / 2)

this morning's Salon is still active, the OT is here, and the new Salon is up!

Only thing that's missing are Front page stories... and diaries. C'mon people.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (jeromeguillet@yahoo.fr) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 03:53:47 PM EST

Re: Argh, where do I go? (none / 1)

diaries ?? We're overwhelmed too

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 04:11:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Argh, where do I go? (none / 1)

Ha, and you were afraid for the survival of the OT!!! :-D

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 04:22:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Argh, where do I go? (none / 0)

Even DL is confused, Fran! Look what you've done!

I think it's high time for a more authoritarian approach to the leadership of this blog. Obviously the FPers cannot be relied upon to make the correct decision about what day it even is!

"This is nothing compared to how Putin rigged Eurovision."

by poemless on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 04:19:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Argh, where do I go? (none / 1)

It's whatever day we say it is.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 at 04:22:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]