Plot to blow up Sears Tower

Three years, two mistrials, and $5-10 million later, five defendants were convicted of plotting to blow up the Sears Tower. A sixth defendant was acquitted on all charges. Only one defendant, Narseal Batiste, was convicted on all charges. The defense attorney intends to file for a new trial within 30 days.

I read the New York Times article on this a few times, and was surprised by the quotes and tone of the story. I'm not sure if the author was biased, if the legal experts around the case are biased, or if the story is correct in its tone, but I got the impression that the case was an example of overzealous government and prosecutors needing to convict somebody of something.

I'm not sure how to feel about the case. I'm interested because I can see the Sears Tower out my bedroom window and walk to it in 15 minutes. However, two mistrials and a split jury on a case that most Americans would walk into with guilty on their lips, makes me curious as to how valid the charges really are.

Soldier kills fellow soldiers

A U.S. soldier killed 5 other U.S. soldiers at a clinic at Camp Liberty on the outskirts of Baghdad. Sgt. John Russell, a communications specialist, had been sent to the clinic for stress control.

Russell has been charged with five counts of murder and 1 count of aggravated assault. He first joined the military in 1988 and has completed three tours in Iraq. He received several medals and commendations during the time period.

You probably haven't heard about this story because the media has been very busy discussing Twitter, Carrie Prejean, Drew Peterson, and whatever Angelina Jolie did this week.

Gas prices and Tesla

Gas prices are up again, and quickly.

Gas prices hit their all-time high on July 7, 2008, when the average price per gallon in the United States was at $4.00. After that, for (insert reasons here based on your political opinions), gas prices have dropped faster than people's weight on The Biggest Loser.

However, prices are up 44 percent since Jan. 1 and up 23 percent in the last month. The national average is $2.25 per gallon, up from $1.77 at the beginning of the year. Expect to be paying $3.00 again very soon.

However, how fast the gas prices rise and how far they rise is another question. The big 3 car companies are struggling primarily because of their failure to predict American's desire for high mileage cars due to high gas prices and concern for the economy.

As a result, Chrysler has declared bankruptcy, GM may do the same, and Ford is quickly eating up its cash reserves. However, all three are focusing heavily on producing high mileage cars which will compete with Toyota, which has become the world's largest car manufacturer.

If GM, Ford and Chrysler all have 40 mpg gas cars, hybrids, and electrics rifling off the assembly line by 2012...how high will gas prices get.

And this isn't even considering the upstart car company Tesla, which is being HEAVILY funded by Google co-founders Larry Paige and Sergey Brin. Tesla already produces an electric car (not hybrid, electric) which rivals Corvettes and Ferraris power and acceleration. The Tesla Roadster was Tesla's first car and has a several year waiting list of eager customers.

Tesla's business model is to work is way down the sticker price as fast as it can until it is producing an electric car for every market at every price range. Their second car, also electric (as all their cars will be) is the Model S, it costs $50,000, goes 0-60 in 5.6 seconds, goes 300 miles on one charge, and can recharge in 45 minutes.

I'll take one

Happy Mother's Day

drew peterson saga

Here is a short list of stories that received less airtime than the arrest of Drew Peterson for murdering his 3rd wife.

* 2 more people died from swine flu
* the pope spoke with Muslim leaders in Jordan
* Russia has military parade in Red Square for 2nd time since the end of WWII
* Louis Caldera resigns over Manhattan fly over
* Pakistan encourages civilians to flee Swat Vally region
* Boston Trolley crash
* Maine legalizes gay marriage
* everything else

Glenn Beck

I find myself watching more Fox News than I used to because I like hearing opposing viewpoints. However, for the most part, I am still unable to make it through a full episode of any of their shows. I make it about ten minutes, and then must change the channel after being overwhelmed by stupidity.

I managed to watch my first full episode of Glenn Beck. Mr. Beck...you are not funny, please stop immediately, you are embarrassing yourself.

US budget

Obama's recently released budget reflects the shift in priorities recommended previously by Defense Secretary Robert Gates. The shift provides for a number of things, including various measures in Iraq and Afghanistan, but the biggest shift in priorities is focusing on the future and not the present.

The administration appears to be focusing more on researching defense measures which would not be implemented for many years. The manufacturing of the F-22 Raptor and the C-17 cargo plane has been stopped in order to purchase more F-35 fighters. The reason for the cancellation of the F-22 is because the F-22 is an expensive air-to-air fighter being produced during a time when the U.S. has no air-to-air rivals. The F-35 would be an all-purpose jet capable of targeting both land and air enemies.

The plan would also increase the number of special operations soldiers (Navy SEALS, Green Berrets, etc.) by 4 percent and reduce the number of ocean defense vessels produced between now and 2040.

CNN....gah

Yesterday, CNN, for more than five minutes, covered what the President ate for lunch, how much he tipped, etc. etc. Why? Because the other networks were covering it too? I know it wasn't because it was a slow news day. Between the economy and swine flu, there are no slow news days right now.

I understand it is difficult to fill time on a 24 hour news network. What the national networks do in 30 minutes, CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC do in 144 minutes. However, there has got to be limits. What the President eats for lunch has no business being on a news network.

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California Burning

Wild fires, once again, are raging in California and are torching the homes of the poor and rich alike.

This seems like it happens all the time in California, this and mudslides. It reminds me of floodplains on the Mississippi and any other river. Why do people build houses in areas where a bad flood will destroy the house? If there is a chance that a wildfire or a mudslide might destroy your house, why do you live there?

Sure, maybe the views are nice, but how nice is the view of a pile of rubble that used to be your bedroom?

I have trouble feeling sorry for people who become victims of their own stupidity.