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by Migeru Mon Jun 23rd, 2008 at 09:59:06 AM EST
What are you going to do without football today?
I now have a pink parasol. Catching up on the world at the moment. keep to the Fen Causeway
<runs and hides> You can't be me, I'm taken
Along with Hicks, Bruce and a few other taboo-breakers You can't be me, I'm taken
Conservatives want live babies so they can raise'em to be dead soldiers.
Brilliant. Sig-line material.
Discussing the quarter finals and semi-finals. Der Amerikaner ist die Orchidee unter den MenschenVolker Pispers
Germany - Turkey Russia - Spain
The first should be rather clear. Turkey has big problems with both injured and barred players. Additionally already in the past games, they were lucky. Therefore Germany will win. I think Loew will stick to the 4-2-3-1 system, but as a 4-4-2 should work, too, I would suggest to switch, if Turkey should make the first goal. One might think about taking Borowski on the right side instead of Fritz compared to the Portugal game, which might be a little bit more offensive variant.
I have not seen any game Russia completely so far. But others told me, they were quite impressed. In any case it won't be 4-1 again as in the group phase. Spain was already very nervous against Italy. I guess the two a bit similar teams will neutralise each other this time, and we are going to see another penalty shoot-out. In this case I think the Spanish team has the better nerves and will win the game. Der Amerikaner ist die Orchidee unter den MenschenVolker Pispers
Oliver Bierhoff at least warned the team to not dismiss even this decimated Turkish team and play concentrated until the end, he even told that an eventual loss to such a Turkish team should not be considered a blamage. SPIEGEL also has a nice op-ed.
Still, I too exect a victory for Germany, even if I'll be rooting for the comeback kids.
But others told me, they were quite impressed.
Yes. Based on what I saw last time, Russia with self-confidence now regained and Arshavin playing should roll over Spain, not cancel each other out. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
The Turkish team has been great. After they won against Croatia, some of the players went to comfort the devastated Croatian players instead of going directly to their fans. But especially if the game is decided by a controversial referee decision, such a game could as well split instead of integrate. Fair play on the part of all players will be very important (After in both teams already a player got a red card for assault - Schweinsteiger and Volkan). Der Amerikaner ist die Orchidee unter den MenschenVolker Pispers
The Turkish team showed similar good heart in the Bronze match of the 2002 World Cup against South Korea. But then came the Switzerland-Turkey match... But now there seems to be a conscious effort to not let that happen again. Even after Volkan's assault - which wasn't brutal (allegedly he thought Koller is grabbing him and he wanted to force himself free), but I saw even Turkish fans in Hungary blamed his own stupidity instead of external circumstances. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Chinese warned of record rise in ore price Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton have asked their Chinese steelmaker customers to accept the largest ever increase in iron ore prices or risk the interruption of supplies from Australia. Traders and industry officials said the mining companies have demanded price increases for their annual iron ore contracts in excess of the record 71.5 per cent rise of 2005 and were fighting for increases of 85-95 per cent. Rio and BHP have warned their Chinese clients some annual contracts will expire next Monday and they would cease supply under the old terms. They have told them the ore would instead be sold into the spot market, where prices are higher. The bold step indicates that the heated annual price negotiations, already well beyond their traditional conclusion date, are set to move into a hostile phase. (...) If Rio and BHP carry out their threat of diverting shipments into the spot market, analysts said the steelmakers would be likely to retaliate by stopping buying for as long as possible. Although China has record high iron ore inventories, the country depended heavily on imports, they said, and it would not be long before it had to cave in and buy into the spot market. Morgan Stanley said in a report the ore market was under "unprecedented" pricing developments and . . . "remains very tight and in significant deficit".
Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton have asked their Chinese steelmaker customers to accept the largest ever increase in iron ore prices or risk the interruption of supplies from Australia.
Traders and industry officials said the mining companies have demanded price increases for their annual iron ore contracts in excess of the record 71.5 per cent rise of 2005 and were fighting for increases of 85-95 per cent.
Rio and BHP have warned their Chinese clients some annual contracts will expire next Monday and they would cease supply under the old terms. They have told them the ore would instead be sold into the spot market, where prices are higher.
The bold step indicates that the heated annual price negotiations, already well beyond their traditional conclusion date, are set to move into a hostile phase.
(...)
If Rio and BHP carry out their threat of diverting shipments into the spot market, analysts said the steelmakers would be likely to retaliate by stopping buying for as long as possible. Although China has record high iron ore inventories, the country depended heavily on imports, they said, and it would not be long before it had to cave in and buy into the spot market.
Morgan Stanley said in a report the ore market was under "unprecedented" pricing developments and . . . "remains very tight and in significant deficit".
and this afternoon:
Rio Gets at Least 80% More for Iron Ore From China's Baosteel June 23 (Bloomberg) -- Rio Tinto Group, fending off a $171 billion hostile bid from BHP Billiton Ltd., said China's largest steelmaker will pay at least 80 percent more for iron ore, reflecting freight costs from Australia. Rio and BHP have demanded for the first time in the Asian market a bigger gain than Brazil's Cia. Vale do Rio Doce, the world's largest exporter of the raw material, because their Australian ore costs less to ship. Chinese mills have failed to arrest six years of price increases that drove up costs. Baosteel Group Corp. agreed to pay Rio $144.66 a metric ton for so-called Pilbara blend fines for the year started April 1, London-based Rio said today in a statement. The Shanghai-based steelmaker will also pay Rio $201.69 a ton for Pilbara blend lump, 97 percent more than a year ago.
June 23 (Bloomberg) -- Rio Tinto Group, fending off a $171 billion hostile bid from BHP Billiton Ltd., said China's largest steelmaker will pay at least 80 percent more for iron ore, reflecting freight costs from Australia.
Rio and BHP have demanded for the first time in the Asian market a bigger gain than Brazil's Cia. Vale do Rio Doce, the world's largest exporter of the raw material, because their Australian ore costs less to ship. Chinese mills have failed to arrest six years of price increases that drove up costs.
Baosteel Group Corp. agreed to pay Rio $144.66 a metric ton for so-called Pilbara blend fines for the year started April 1, London-based Rio said today in a statement. The Shanghai-based steelmaker will also pay Rio $201.69 a ton for Pilbara blend lump, 97 percent more than a year ago.
However, he [Tremonti] warned of dire political consequences unless initiatives are taken to curb the price of food and oil. "The impoverishment of the middle classes in Europe can have only one outcome: fascism," he said.
"The impoverishment of the middle classes in Europe can have only one outcome: fascism," he said.
Considering that Tremonti is a member of Forza Italia but pretty close to Lega Nord, and the fact that we're actually talking about Italy, the follow-up question is: would he disapprove of that?
Now now, yes de Gondi, I won't bash Italy anymore. Instead, I'll quote an SMS I got today from a close friend.
Arvid! Am in Bologna, never want to leave this place. The sky is light blue, the food, coffee and wine is divine, everyone is fantastically handsome, nice, and well dressed. And also leftists. We have to move here, the entire city is centered around the oldest University in the world and none of the houses inside the city wall are built after the turn of the century!
Japanese and South Korean steel mills have agreed to a 65 percent increase in iron ore prices from Brazil in the industry's first major deal for this year, which will set a benchmark for prices at a level painful for steel makers.
I guess it might be an idea to buy some more shares in that local iron mine, it's down 4 % today...
PS. Oh my God it is!
Nippon Steel said that it and Posco of South Korea had agreed to pay the Brazilian mining giant Vale $78.90 a ton for Itabira fine ore in the year starting April 1, a rise of 65 percent and the sixth annual increase in a row.
I could believe that the United States would be reduced to torture; we have tarnished our history with more and with less, over the last two centuries, and it would be naive to presume it had ended, say, with the internment of Japanese Americans, or with the officially sanctioned witch hunts of the paranoid and rigorously manipulative McCarthy era. But I would have found it harder to imagine, even eight years ago, that human torture would be considered the more noble choice than refraining from it, or that those that opposed it would be met with such mockery, or such flag-waving revulsion
Scientists warn of lack of vital phosphorus as biofuels raise demand - Times Online
Leo Lewis, Asia Business Correspondent Battered by soaring fertiliser prices and rioting rice farmers, the global food industry may also have to deal with a potentially catastrophic future shortage of phosphorus, scientists say. Researchers in Australia, Europe and the United States have given warning that the element, which is essential to all living things, is at the heart of modern farming and has no synthetic alternative, is being mined, used and wasted as never before.
Battered by soaring fertiliser prices and rioting rice farmers, the global food industry may also have to deal with a potentially catastrophic future shortage of phosphorus, scientists say.
Researchers in Australia, Europe and the United States have given warning that the element, which is essential to all living things, is at the heart of modern farming and has no synthetic alternative, is being mined, used and wasted as never before.
Obits: I can't believe George Carlin died. Well, partly I can't believe he made it this long. But what crappy news to wake up to! In college I had a class where I had to invent and pitch a TV show. I don't really remember the concept I came up with, but I wanted it to be hosted by George Carlin.
Sports: Looking forward to watching Russia kick more a..., er, soccer balls. Also giddy that the Cubs swept the Sox. Once again the North has one the Civil War. I also found myself watching the gymnastics tryouts. Gymnastics is creepy. I think points should be deducted for creepiness. If you can do all of those flips and not look creepy, you should get bonus points.
Society: I greatly enjoyed the Sirota party, only to learn late in the night that the Sangria I'd been enjoying so much had a significant dose of brandy in it, which might explain why I had such a fabulous time despite the constant assault from mosquitoes. I expect to perish from West Nile any day now... Anyway, I think I liked Sirota much more than most of the people there. That is, only a handful (ok, 4 that I counted: Sirota, myself, an eccentric friend, and the British husband of an acquaintance) of people were brave enough to be even a smidgen critical of Obama. And after Sirota left, it was also us who had to hang out in the alley to smoke and who closed the party down. It's my lot in life to find myself among the fringe of a group of people who are already a fringe minority. I really like the the Brit. He wanted to talk about Russia and finance and foreign policy. Anyway, my moment of brandy-induced enlightenment came late that night when I was so thankful that my reallife friends are more interesting than our celebrity guest. It was a wonderful feeling, until I woke up the next day with a blaring headache and a million itchy welts.
Finance: Helicopter monies to arrive soon. Whew.
So, how was your weekend? "Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.
Glad the Sirota party went well. I envy you. Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.
Oh, except I do recall that I didn't use the word 'smidgen' the entire time ;-) You can't be me, I'm taken
There is a word 'snadi' that can be substituted when rarely referring to small amounts. The jack in petanque is called a snadi.
In case you are interested....and a case is what Finnish beer comes in. A six-pack with a carrying handle is called a 'mäyräkoira' or dachshund.
<from Prof Sven's book of Fascinating Finnish Idioms with an 'm'> You can't be me, I'm taken
Is this the effing end of the month language police raid or something, Sven? It is seriously annoying. "Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.
Though I had rather a successful day, including a trip to the recycling centre with kaput electronics, the return of Midsummer empties, and complaining to the council about the disappearance of our local bottle bank for non-returnables. All of this in pouring rain. You can't be me, I'm taken
I didn't know you were a "Russophile." :) "Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.
The McClatchy series on Guantanamo Very good, very depressing.
The conductor keeps the cool, he first finishes checking the tickets, then he looks out of the window. Me too. Only then (three minutes messed) do I see the locomotive driver climb down and walk forward besides the track. He throws a single glance at the front of the locomotive, then walks back, says to the conductor: "We won't go anywhere for a while... suicide... I saw him stepping down the end of the platform, regrettable..." *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
He is visiting Wales and requested a meeting with people from the trade union movement. All of us were terrified because we know we are completely ignorant on the issues of the Middle East (with respect to meeting with someone at his level), even though we've read up and looked at TUC and union breifings and policy.
He has already met with colleagues in London but obviously wants to have a dialogue as widely as possible. The TUC has policy supporting the two state solution although indiviudal unions may have different/no policy on it. Most of Wales' international work has focussed around solidarity with Colombia in the last year or so and less has been done on the Middle East.
He was concerned about unions having policy to boycott Israeli goods etc although none represented at the meeting have that policy and nor does the TUC. They very much viewed the Israeli's as being single out internationally and their perception was that unions do encourage boycotts. Plus a lot of other stuff on some of the history of the current conflict, and how they feel that Israel has had no choice but to take the course they have done when faced with the type of violence and extremist action, plus the view from the other side that they have no right to exist.
And I know next to nothing about all of this so could only listen. Hence interesting but also hard going because they clearly wanted to get some kind of position out of us that was closer to where they would like to see us stand but we weren't able to do so.
You read ET, you are-not ignorant. Our knowledge has surpassed our wisdom. -Charu Saxena.
I was very proud of myself this weekend for inventing a delicious little appetizer (and quickly developing a scary addiction to it.) Goat cheese and nectarine bruschetta. That's it. Devilshly easy. Toasted rustic bread with plain goat cheese, olive oil and sliced nectarines. Simple and delicious, with a nice Spanish white wine.
I'm wondering if I can subsist on this all summer... "Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.
nice Spanish white wine
Which one?
Forget the stock and simmer your lentils and veggies in a bit of water with some herbs. Then drain and let them cool and toss them with olive oil, red wine vinegar and feta. Very yummy hot weather lentil salad. "Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.
He will, naturally, be taxed on the gift.
And in other interesting news, the band will be exchanging their Goth prosthetics with the new album to be released in October. I have never been within a block of them, but those who have say the stench of the current costumes is overpowering. You can't be me, I'm taken
A pleasure I therefore claim to show, not how men think in myths, but how myths operate in men's minds without their being aware of the fact. Levi-Strauss, Claude
Arp's a bit camera shy:
But he cooperated at last:
Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
btw, I was shocked yours were a year -- has it really been that long? Why, I remember when they were just little blurs on youtube... Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
but they were born a year ago Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
I'm at a wedding reception.
Tsvangirai takes refuge in embassy - Mail & Guardian Online: The smart news source
Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who has pulled out of a presidential run-off election because of violence, sought refuge overnight in the Dutch embassy, officials of that country said on Monday. There was no immediate confirmation from Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). The Dutch Foreign Ministry said he had not requested asylum but was welcome to stay for his own security. Earlier, the MDC said police raided its Harare headquarters and took away more than 60 victims of the violence, in which it says nearly 90 of its supporters have been killed by militias backing President Robert Mugabe. Those detained included women and children.
This is Zimbabwe
Hon. Thamsanqa Mahlangu, the MDC MP for Nkulumane constituency in Bulawayo and national youth chairman is battling for his life in intensive care unit after armed Zanu PF militia attacked him yesterday as he and other MDC youth were on their way to the Glamis Arena for a star rally. Hon. Mahlangu was severely attacked by armed Zanu PF militia who had been dropped at the venue of the rally in army and police trucks. Over a thousand Zanu PF thugs were bussed to the venue.
Hon. Thamsanqa Mahlangu, the MDC MP for Nkulumane constituency in Bulawayo and national youth chairman is battling for his life in intensive care unit after armed Zanu PF militia attacked him yesterday as he and other MDC youth were on their way to the Glamis Arena for a star rally.
Hon. Mahlangu was severely attacked by armed Zanu PF militia who had been dropped at the venue of the rally in army and police trucks. Over a thousand Zanu PF thugs were bussed to the venue.
http://www.wired.com/culture/art/news/2008/06/secret_satellites
His shots of 189 secret spy satellites are the subject of a new exhibit -- despite the fact that, officially speaking, the satellites don't exist. The Other Night Sky, on display at the University of California at Berkeley Art Museum through September 14, is only a small selection from the 1,500 astrophotographs Paglen has taken thus far.
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