Bare Stearns
Much has gone down in the financial markets over the last week. The Fed first moved to increase liquidity by injecting $200bn. worth of credit to the big banks - and allowing them to borrow for four weeks instead of the traditional overnight window. This came as good news to the Dow, which jumped 400 points in the same day. It’s been pretty much downhill from there.
One minor aspect of these loans that was paid little attention when they were announced was that they would not become available until March 27, once the auctioning begins.
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Two out of Three Americans Find Nanotechnology Morally Unacceptable
The image featured in this article may be evidence of moral turpitude. Reader discretion is advised.
The material you see to the left is the blackest material ever made - a recent accomplishment of researchers at Rice University. Due to use of carbon nanotubes, the material can absorb 99.9% of all light hitting its surface, and has various potential applications in solar energy collection, infrared detection, or practically any science requiring certain light tolerances.
Word of the Day: Hambone
Though not particularly interesting, the word came to my mind twice today. First when recalling a Jack Handey quote:
If you saw two guys named Hambone and Flippy, which one would you think liked dolphins most? I’d say Flippy, wouldn’t you? You’d be wrong though. It’s Hambone.
Second, the word is used to describe the kind of dancing that Worf did in Hee-Haw: The Next Generation.
Hambone, n., a style of dance that involves stomping as well as slapping and patting the arms, legs, chest, and cheeks.
Who Said It?
The following is a quote from a 1983 speech before the House debating whether US troops should be sent into Lebanon. To highlight the comparisons to where we find ourselves today, I’ve omitted the word “Lebanon” and replaced it with “Iraq.”
The fundamental question is: What is the United States’ interest in [Iraq]? It is said we are there to keep the peace. I ask, what peace? It is said we are there to aid the government. I ask, what government? It is said we are there to stabilize the region. I ask, how can the U.S. presence stabilize the region?… The longer we stay in [Iraq], the harder it will be for us to leave. We will be trapped by the case we make for having our troops there in the first place.
What can we expect if we withdraw from [Iraq]? The same as will happen if we stay. I acknowledge that the level of fighting will increase if we leave. I regretfully acknowledge that many innocent civilians will be hurt. But I firmly believe this will happen in any event.
The Federal Plantation
On January 10, 2007, a bill was introduced in the House of Representatives that is so repugnant and abhorrent it must be shown the light of day. H.R. 393, a.k.a the “Universal National Service Act of 2007,” seeks to impress every man and woman between the ages of 18 and 42 into forced servitude for the federal government for a period of two years. That is not a misprint. In my estimation, this makes Charles B. Rangel (Dem. - N.Y.), who introduced the bill, public enemy number one, with Osama Bin Laden running a distant second. See also, a list of cosponsors.
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