Free Republic

“Using mathematical models, Merlin developed a formula that removes the wavelength limitation. Merlin is now working with assistant professor Anthony Grbic from the U-M College of Engineering to build the device, and they have filed for a patent. “

Fantastic! Thanks for posting it. If the device actually works, it will indeed be a tremendous breakthrough.

It’s a typo.

Try it with an “s”:

http://www.freadheads.com

In the original LA Times article:

"A spokesman for the former Tennessee senator denied that Thompson did the lobbying work. "

"Thompson spokesman Mark Corallo adamantly denied that Thompson worked for the family planning group. "Fred Thompson did not lobby for this group, period," he said in an e-mail.

In a telephone interview, he added: "There's no documents to prove it, there's no billing records, and Thompson says he has no recollection of it, says it didn't happen."

Corallo, the spokesman for Thompson, was asked Friday about the board minutes and the five people who said they recalled Thompson accepting the lobbying assignment. He responded in an e-mail, saying that Thompson "may have been consulted by one of [his] firm's partners who represented this group in 1991."

Corallo said it was "not unusual for one lawyer on one side of an issue to be asked to give advice to colleagues for clients who engage in conduct or activities with which they personally disagree."

Then in this article: Thompson wows young Republicans

"Thompson's speech came on the heels of reports that a pro-abortion rights group hired him to lobby President George H.W. Bush's administration 16 years ago. At issue were attempts to ease a regulation that prevented clinics that received federal money from offering abortion counseling.

"I'd just say the flies get bigger in the summertime. I guess the flies are buzzing," said Thompson, who is considering running for president as a social conservative. He refused comment on whether he recalled doing the work. "

Transcript of Thompson's full related original remarks, excerpted from his speech in South Carolina

THOMPSON: You talk about national security, one of the biggest national security issues that we face is right here at home. We're having a big debate now with the immigration bill. They say it's dividing our party. I think to a certain extent, that's right, and I don't think it will always be that way. I think we have to have our honest disagreements and honest opinions and then move on. Some very good friends of mine is on the other - or, are on the other side from where I am. That's all right; we're adults. Let's air our views and decide what's best for this country.

The bottom line is not what's best for one party or another or who's going to get the most votes when the dust settles. The bottom line is what's best for the strength and the long-term endurance of this country, and this immigration bill is not it.

We're catching, over a period of years, thousands of illegal immigrants coming from southern borders that are non-fence-able. Many of them come from terrorist-related states. We were just talking earlier, and I remember the figure that stuck out to me -- in the year 2005, we apprehended over 1,000 folks that originally has come from Cuba. If they're coming from Cuba, where else are they coming from? And I don't imagine they're coming here to bring greetings from Castro. We're living in the era of the suitcase bomb. We can't be talking seriously about national security while that's going on. We're catching one for every three that we don't catch -- they say. That's our government's estimate, so you can imagine what the real ratio is.

So -- in 1986 we were offered a deal that we'll grant amnesty for a certain amount of people and we'll secure the border. Well now they're coming back and offering the same deal. And basically saying that we want -- we want you to deal with 12 million now, and this time we really mean it -- we'll secure the border. And the American people are saying, "Fool me twice, shame on me." And they say, "No, it's right here in the bill. I mean, we'll secure the border." And they're saying, "I don't care if it's in the bill -- secure the border."

They are already working on your ideas.

See this article:

"The safety-conscious automaker wants to test a new technology that is designed to make the car take control of steering when a driver's reaction time is slowed down because of intoxication or fatigue."

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1447406/posts

"Volvo probably did a lot of research and are hoping to hit the "parents who buy their kids cars" market."

If parents would TEACH their kids to act responsibly, they wouldn't need such cars. If you can't trust the kid, without rigging the car, the kid shouldn't be driving in the first place.

This is more of punishing everyone for the bad actions of the few.

My concern is that if Volvo makes such a car, the US government will mandate that all cars should have it.

And what if it malfunctions, you can't get your car started. Great! :(

And what if you need some extra speed to avoid an accident, but your car is programmed not to allow you to get to that speed.

Feds propose working with state on border issues

http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=114198

Russ Knocke, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said Chertoff is more interested in a "comprehensive proposal" to deal with issues of illegal border crossing than solely questions of transportation.

Yes, sure Bush is the real enemy according to you, right?

I am sure you would be so happy if Gore or Kerry were president.

"gunshot wounds sustained while engaging Coalition Forces,"



Looks like he died of his wounds he got when he was trying to kill our soldiers, and we still gave him medical treatment, but he died anyway.

If they don't do anything, people complain, now that they are starting to address the problem and do something, instead of applauding, that better late than never, you are screaming your head off and criticizing.

Chertoff has only been there a few months. Also, Tom Ridge must have done something right, we didn't have any terrorist attacks on US soil during his tenure, but I guess that doesn't count, just so you can bash the Bush administration, right?

"This man has shown more care, consideration and sorrow than our idiot Liberal friends. He deserves our respects!"


Absolutely!

And I think the symbolism is just right too. You have a perfect edge outside, which is cracked in the middle, symbolizing the attack, and the teardrop as a reminder, so that we never forget 9-11.

The MSM and the liberals don't even want to talk about it anymore, but we must remember, so there won't be another one.

And more info:

"Tear of Grief is a 10-story high sculpture by (Click link for more info and facts about Zurab Tsereteli) Zurab Tsereteli that will be given as an official gift of the Russian government and placed on the (A city in northeastern New Jersey (opposite Manhattan)) Jersey City waterfront across the (A New York river; flows southward into New York Bay; explored by Henry Hudson early in the 17th century) Hudson River from where the (Twin skyscrapers 110 stories high in New York City; built in 1970 to 1973; destroyed by a terrorist attack on September 11, 2001) World Trade Center fell on September 11, 2001.

The sculpture is in the form of a 10-story high tower of bronze split with a jagged opening through the middle. Inside the opening hangs a large polished (A light strong gray lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong light-weight alloys (as for airplane parts); the main sources are rutile and ilmenite) titanium teardrop about three stories high to represent the tears in (A city of central European Russia; formerly capital of both the Soviet Union and Soviet Russia; since 1991 the capital of the Russian Federation) Moscow shed for the victims of the September 11th Terrorist Attacks.


The teardrop will contain a special cooling device to produce a constant flowing of water. This causes the sculpture to appear to weep."



http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/encyclopedia/t/te/tear_of_grief.htm

"The "TEAR OF GRIEF" memorial is a rectangular bronze stele, 30m high, to be mounted on a stepped granite base with eleven sides. Its laconic form and clear outlines symbolize calm and peaceful life. At the same time, in the core of the monument there is a long tragically curved split depicting the drama of the tragedy. Inside the split is falling a big tear in honor of victims of the terrorist acts. The monument contains not only the memory for those who died, which will be kept for centuries, but also a hope that the civilized world will be able to withstand the horrendous threat of mass terrorism.

The artist believes, that in spite of the losses and sorrow for innocent victims, there are a lot of possibilities in the world to fight for humane values, and among them one of the most important is fighting against Evil through Art, that is understandable to all people on the planet. This is the principle idea of Zurab Tsereteli' s new monument. The artist always keenly feels and fervently responses to events that thrill the world. By his artworks he is contributing to make life more safe and beautiful.
"


http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:yVJUKAbkU48J:194.190.136.224:81/+Zurab+Tsereteli&hl=en

Earlier article:


Russian sculptor offers his 9/11 monument to America

http://en.rian.ru/culture/20050802/41077640.html


ST. PETERSBURG, August 2 (RIA Novosti, Olga Vtorova) - Russian sculptor Zurab Tsereteli's monument to the victims of the 9/11 attacks on New York City has been loaded onto a ship in the port of St. Petersburg.

The monument, weighing 150 metric tons, will now be taken across the Atlantic and mounted at a site near Ground Zero. Its centerpiece - a huge crystal sculpture representing a tear (hence the title, "Tear of Sorrow") - has been clad in leaf iron to keep it from being damaged along the way. In accordance with Tsereteli's design, the tear, with water pumped inside it, is to sit atop a 30-meter-tall bronze-plated iron stele that has been cut in half.

In September 2003, Tsereteli and the mayor of New Jersey agreed to have the monument erected on the Hudson peer overlooking the World Trade Center redevelopment site. However, the mayor soon died and New Jersey City Hall refused the Russian sculptor's gift, citing a negative response from local residents.

In March 2005, the authorities of nearby Bayonne said they would like to have Tsereteli's 9/11 monument in their city. The work to put the gigantic memorial in place is due to begin in September.

Interesting tid-bit: apparently the US didn't want to accept it at first, the did it only after protest letters.

Apparently some Russians don't like it either.

=====

"Tsereteli has long branched out beyond Moscow and Russia. Last year he decided to bestow on New York City his masterpiece commemorating September 11: A huge wall pierced by a tear. But he didn't manage to convey the tragedy, and although the size of the monument is as astounding as ever, the Americans did not want to accept this present. The Mayor of New York City received a host of protest letters, the press joined in, and the decision to install the monument was delayed.

Muscovites have just followed suit."

http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20050811/41135640.html

======

I personally think it's not only a generous gift, but also very fitting: simple, yet eloquent.

The survey was done before Romania revalued their currency. And there was no currency reevaluation in the other countries. Looks like a thourough survey.

They compared the minimum wages in euros, but then they also did it where they took into account the buying power. That's a pretty complete assessment.

And it is quite eye opening to see the differences among the E. European countries, and differences from those to the West European ones.