The Floating Opportunity in Colombias' Katrina

I would like to thank Mr. Cameron Sinclair and the Huffington Post for providing somehow the coverage this humanitari­an and environment­al catastroph­e is lacking in the U.S. mainstream media. Even if it stopped raining now, the difficulti­es wouldn't stop there, since 2 Million colombians have been already damaged by the heavy rains and the floods.

Anyway, fortunatel­y the government and authoritie­s are aiming big this time and they really want to tackle several problems underlying and predating the current state of affairs. There's already talks of abandoning old settlement­s and starting new, safer and better ones.

The U.S. aid have been a major factor to stop the flooding in several areas, I have to add. Those americans who are helping in the engeneerin­g tasks have already realized this emergency wasn't any different from what the Katrina hurricane already did in New Orleans.

To all these people, I would like to say thanks, too.

Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Jerry Lee Lewis: no seré el más grande, pero sí el mejor

Con esto debería concluir el post de sip de hoy, pero olvídense, esto no es Twitter. El origen de ésta sentencia, lapidaria y humilde a la vez, es una historia que debe contarse. Dr. sipmac se encontró en una de sus idas a Alemania (cortesía de la Corporación Rand) con una tremenda joya: el elepé "Live at the Star Club, Hamburg", una grabación en vivo de Jerry Lee Lewis, uno de los pioneros del Rock'n'Roll, con el respaldo de The Nashville Teenagers, que luego tendrían éxito por sus propios medios. Bueno, respaldo es exagerar, porque The Killer se soltó por completo en aquella actuación de 1964. No podían siquiera llevarle el paso.

The Beatles habían conquistado al Reino Unido y a Estados Unidos, lo que había propiciado lo que se conoció como la "invasión británica", una avalancha de grupos ingleses que habían sabido asimilar el blues y el rock'n'roll, desplazando a sus estrellas originales. En el caso de Jerry Lee Lewis, él mismo había perjudicado seriamente su carrera: "High School Confidential" (un aullido protopunk en piano en el disco), fue su último gran éxito en 1958, ahogado por el escandalazo de marca mayor que fue su matrimonio con su prima Myra el año anterior... y salpicado con un toque de bigamia... por segunda vez también. Una cosa así todavía sería un escándalo gigantesco, ya pueden imaginarse lo sucedido en 1957. La carrera del pianista quedó liquidada por más de una década y no le quedó más remedio que aceptar lo que le dieran en donde fuera.

El Star Club no le era ajeno a The Beatles y otras muchas bandas británicas que se forjaron como profesionales en el ambiente pesado de la Reeperbahn; incluso casi al final de la década, Black Sabbath iría por allí también a hacer lo suyo. Mientras tanto, en 1964, era sólo una escala más para un mequetrefe en la lista negra.

¡Mentiras! Jerry Lee siempre tuvo un ego bastante grande, no muy diferente del de Little Richard, Chuck Berry y el mismísimo Elvis Presley. En su mente, todavía había asuntos pendientes que resolver, y el album de esta reseña da testimonio de la forma en que los encaró. De Allmusic:

"... sonaba como un poseso, golpeando las teclas con tanta fuerza que parecía que iba a romperlas, y rockeando como nadie lo haría antes y después. Comparado con él, el thrash metal suena manso, los Stooges parecen tullidos y limitados, el hardcore punk parece castrado, y los Sex Pistols suenan como pendejos. El rock'n'roll es todo sobre el fuego en el desempeño en vivo, y nada suena tan fiero y ardiente como esto. Nadie suena tan alto y duro como en esto. No es exageración llamar a este el álbum en vivo más grande de la historia, ni tampoco es una exageración llamarlo el más grande álbum de rock & roll jamás grabado. Aun así, las palabras no pueden describir la música aquí - realmente tiene que ser oído para ser creído.

Una noche cualquiera de Abril de 1964, en la que ya nadie daba un centavo por the Killer, (ni tenía por qué hacerlo) éste demostró lo que se podía hacer cuando uno todavía estaba consumido por el fuego de querer superar a todos sus colegas. No era el sueño de ser el más grande (como Elvis), sino el de ser el mejor, y a fé de Dr. sipmac que lo logró.

Bonus track: Ya en los 70's y superados tantos inconvenientes, con una promisoria carrera en la música country, Jerry Lee está tocando en Los Angeles. En una pausa, se pone de pie, y antes de poder hacer algo ve como alguien se inclina para besarle las botas. "Hijo, eso no era necesario", le dijo a John Lennon que estaba en pleno "fin de semana perdido".

Ahora es mucho más fácil conseguir el disco (y comprobarlo todo).

Related articles

• Jerry Lee Lewis Memoir (popcrunch.com)
• Jerry Lee Lewis to Publish Memoir (readersread.com)
• Goodness, gracious: Jerry Lee Lewis writing memoir (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Music Review: Jerry Lee Lewis - Mean Old Man: Deluxe Edition (blogcritics.org)

Is Obama feeling the heat now?

Dr. sipmac doesn't really know by now. But the far left is enraged because Obama, their anointed one, decided to back up the Bush tax cuts for two more years (talk about heresy!). Some people think this is another clever and democrat ruse, but the democratic congressional caucus already said "F&% the president". The shockwave hit so hard, that Saturday Night Live couldn't resist sending Fred Armisen to make the cold opening:

Why Obama suddenly realized that a growing economy is the best job creation policy? Why does he favor now the Bush tax cuts as a way to stimulate the economy? Why does this tax break have a duration of only two years? Why did he leave Clinton talking in *his* podium like he were still president?

Stay tuned next week, same bat-hour, same bat-channel.

Related articles

• The Caucus: Progressives Keeping Heat on Obama (thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com)
• SNL: Obama's Stockholm Syndrome, Embrace of Reaganomics and Turn to Full Birther (crooksandliars.com)
• Lanny Davis: President Obama's Profile in Courage on Tax Cuts (huffingtonpost.com)
• Obama's Tax-Cut Retreat, Through Two Lenses (economix.blogs.nytimes.com)
• "Saturday Night Live" cold opening parodies Wikileaks, TMZ - watch here (blastmagazine.com)

John Lennon, no matter what, I still miss you

Thirty years ago, John Lennon, a living legend, founder and leader of the greatest pop/rock act of all times (eat your heart out, Lady Gaga), was murdered by a nightmarish "fan" named Mark David Chapman (looks spookily like Stephen King), claiming that the Artist (yes, with a capital A) was a phony (by singing "Imagine there's no possesions" and being worth some 150 million dollars) and let's face it David, your Herostratus complex claimed John's life for your craved instant notoriety.

Today there is no approach but the personal approach to comment on John's death anniversary. It's tiresome for everybody to sing one more time all the well-known and well-deserved accolades. I won't start to point a finger and say how terrible he was as a person, either. It's easy to dismiss John's shortcomings when you remember which his achievements were. All the Beatles disappoint me at one moment (Paul did it recently at the White House), but as a raging beatlemaniac, I'm more than willing to forgive them.

BTW, Lennon's character was full of horrible flaws, but that didn't stop him from trying to do the right thing, and once again, we should remeber that only a few people (at least three of his peers) could truly understand how it was to become insanely famous, with fans adoring and worshipping you, telling also you couldn't do no wrong.

The final cheap shot: could be Obama thinking he can relate to the previous sentence?

Related articles

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• John Lennon: Remembering John Lennon's Death Thirty Years Ago (psychedelichippiemusic.blogspot.com)
• Mark David Chapman's Signed John Lennon Album Selling for $850,000 (blippitt.com)
• John Lennon Quotes: Late Beatle Was 'Not Interested' in Being 'Dead Hero' (spinner.com)
• John Lennon (1940 - 1980) (sandwalk.blogspot.com)
• 30 Years Later, The Nation Still Grieves For John Lennon (media.gunaxin.com)
• New York fans recall Lennon 30 years after murder (omg.yahoo.com)
• Rolling Stone releases final interview with John Lennon (thestar.com)
• John Lennon in My Thoughts (whatever.scalzi.com)
• John Lennon's Legacy Growing, 30 Years Later (cbsnews.com)
• 10 John Lennon quotes (holykaw.alltop.com)

A-Holes of the Year 2010

In no particular order of appeareance, Dr. sipmac will post for the second time at the sipmac ensemble blogs a well-deserved scorn-a-thon of a few of the undisputed gaffetastic a-holes of this year. Without further ado:

I didn't fool you, I'm for real!

Helen Thomas: she alone could close the list. She could have made a gaffe months ago, but now, she committed proffessional suicide by proclaiming she's not only anti-Israel but anti-semitic, too. She must be a hundred years now, and she should know by now a lot better; but, let's face it: by gender she must have been a pioneer, but by political views, she must have been from stone age. Yes, indeed.

Annie, are you ok?

Joe Jackson: if there was anything clear in Michael Jackson's mind, it must have been the role of his father, Joe Jackson, which finally lost his last chance in the Michael Jackson's Last Will Jackpot. Now he rants and rants, but nobody believed him from the very start. Michael Jackson could have been anything, but he did finally screw him.

I'm as good in real life!

Charlie Sheen: I wish I could post him as my year's hero, but now I wonder how is possible that his hit sitcom, based loosely in his personal life, finds new life in a eight season, after a lot of turmoil, in spite of his personal behavior, I cannot do something else that nominate him as one best optioned to be one this years' leading a-holes. Way to go, Charles! Two years in a row! Speaking of which...

Don't be afraid!

Barack Obama: no matter what he says, he's more deluded than Carter and Bush combined. The one and only to understand that his own party shellacking has more to do with his lack of communication (ilack of communication in a rethorical giant?) than bad policies executed along the last two years. Anyway, you just say "I blame Bush!"

The Formoltv plaintiff: he or she should have known better. If s/he have read the entire blog, s/he should have find out what the blog was all about, and not only about them. S/he should have learn the webowners were lawfully experienced. Quite a winner!

I'm such a badass!

Julian Assange: Pul-eeze! He should have known better! Time's Person of the Year? He was fighting not only against the United States of America, but the reat of the civilized (and diplomatized) World. Now that he's experiencing some difficulties, now he's menacing about some sort of "doomsday device", like a vulgar terrorist. Puh-leeze, man up an publish anything you have, you moron, you a-hole!

Unity in the midst of diversity! Hah!

The European Union: the welfare state is collapsing, thanks to them, and the European Union is collapsing thanks to the irresponsible politics carried on for almost four generations.

This years' finalists: Hugo Chávez - years and years of stupidity and a-holeness, Álvaro Uribe - a newcomer via twitter, now he does not find out that his schtick is not interesting anymore now he's not a president.

Related articles

• Joe Jackson Compromises Wrongful Death Claim (tmz.com)
• Helen Thomas in Her Anti-Semitic Rant: By the Way, We had No Reason to Attack Afghanistan, Either (patterico.com)
• Anti-Semitic Rant Costs Helen Thomas an Award (foxnews.com)
• Helen Thomas Loses Some Awards, Wins Others (commentarymagazine.com)

Midterm Elections: an open letter to Arlene B. Tickner

Respected Dr. Tickner:

You have several very big advantages against me; you are a professor of the Universidad de los Andes for starters, a Ph.D. in International Relations from the University of Miami and a MA in Latin American Studies at Georgetown University. Besides, you are an American also. I am just a blogger, but I dare to question (perhaps unwisely) a few things about your column, "Losing is winning?" Published on October 26, 2010 El Espectador.

The TEA Party is not a radical faction

If they would behave like a new "John Birch Society”, I would accept the point, but the political platform of the Taxed Enough Already people is precisely no new taxes, no more waste, fiscal responsibility, putting an end to the runaway bureaucracy, make government officials actually more accountable to voters and not to a coterie of lobbyists and colleagues, that is, unless things have changed so much that those simple things are meant to be considered radical.

Andrew Breitbart, the director of new media of conservative orientation, offered $ 100,000 for evidence to prove racism in the TEA Party. No one was to claim the money. A favorite banner of the TEA Party said: "No matter what I say this poster, it will be considered racist anyway."

I think "Organizing for America" is even more radical, which it seems they want to make a group of popular pressure astroturfed by the same government.

No bipartisan collaboration: Republicans are to blame

The bipartisanship ended the very day Obama met with Republicans and said "I won", just after the congresspersons made a few suggestions (quite surprising for a non-sectarian, post-partisan President, isn’t it?). One of the lamest arguments to decry the current state of affairs is the lack of cooperation from the Republicans, a/k/a the "party of no." Democrats control until January the two chambers of Congress with large majorities, enough to pass any legislation they want. Pelosi and Reid used all the muscle and resources to pass health care reform (by any means necessary, the election of Scott Brown in Massachusetts was futile), not because of Republican obstructionism but because of the doubts and objections that housed many of their fellow party members on the relevance and viability of that particular 2.000-pages plan. Now, the "blue dogs" are discarded by their own party machine after having served for the purposes set forth.

The debate is unfair to compare Obama to Lenin and Hitler as leaders and totalitarian ends.

It seems that comparing Bush to Hitler for eight years is fair, but you cannot do the same to Obama, God forbid. Let's see: the reform of the health system may end up giving the state the total control of one-sixth of the U.S. economy. General Motors and Chrysler were virtually nationalized, rather than allowing them to undergo restructuring under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Act. Chavez, who knows what he's talking about, did not miss the opportunity to comment that Obama was further to the left than he is.
On the other hand, Democrats should not allow that a great portion of its history could be explained only with the words "George Soros", who undeniably through his contributions and organizations supported by him, have a strong influence on party decisions. Just as Republicans have been criticized for being nurtured by corporations and corporate power, I really don’t see why the Democrats can’t be held accountable for the same reason.

Obama also has failed to sell successfully his accomplishments.

This is puzzling for someone with the oratorical skills that is supposed to have. Obama has delivered so many speeches; he has held so many meetings with the electorate at the Town halls and has made so many television appearances, including Letterman, The View and The Daily Show (lowering the dignity of the office as not much different than it did Uribe to appear on Big Brother), it is very difficult to believe there has been a communications problem.

I would like to be corrected if wrong, but before taking office as President, at least 40% of US taxpayers pay no income tax, so it is plain appalling to present that the 95%-tax-cut-figure. Everyone knows that so-called Bush tax cuts are still in the new government's sight, and the creation of a federal VAT (to finance health care reform!) is not indifferent to it, either. Thus, the unemployment figure of over 9% makes more sense. Who wants to create businesses and expand them, and create jobs in such a toxic environment as toxic, full of regulations?

The press begins to shake off the hypnotic trance that was sunk by the election of the first African American to the presidency, disqualified by more than one of his own ethnicity because he didn’t have "no slave blood (!)" Speaking of racism ... well, the mainstream media also has its peccadilloes to be recognized in its daily news coverage. The media can acrimoniously claim its objectivity, but when a scandal like Journolist hits the road, it would be better to recognize once and for all their partisanship, and thus we would know what to expect.

Faced with a Republican Congress the President will have someone to put the blame in

I agree completely, the most paradoxical of all is that most of the Republican establishment, ignoring the will of their constituents, is more than willing to lend a lifeline to the Obama presidency, which could eventually help in his re-election, leaving the GOP flat and wondering why.

Sincerely,


Dr. sipmac

P.S. I also find unacceptable the disqualification made by RCN’s Francisco Santos to you and Laura Gil, and let me please extend my solidarity.

Related articles

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• "Robert Kuttner: Saving Progressivism From Obama" and related posts (huffingtonpost.com)
• Next Tea Party Target: Corporate America (politics.usnews.com)
• What's A President Got To Do To Get A Little Love? (blogs.forbes.com)
• You: U.S. forecast from November (search.japantimes.co.jp)
• Incoming Republican Governors Prepare for Economic Focus (time.com)
• Newly Elected GOP Governors: Ready to Unleash Some Pain (time.com)
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"Shellacked" by the Republicans? Obama, go ask Mr. Penn "crisis manufacturer"

In a way that nobody, absolutely nobody in their right mind and with a conscience can condone or justify, the Democratic pollster Mark Penn appeared on MSNBC’s "Hardball" offering his "advice" to a self-described "shellacked" Obama on how to recover lost ground with public opinion, after November 2 elections, nonchalantly released his pearl of wisdom: Bill Clinton reconnected with the American nation after his speech on the attack in Oklahoma City, so Obama needs a similar situation to do the same.

What a sick, perverted bastard! Do you think that terrorist attacks are to regain the approval and popularity? Of course Dr. sipmac was not born yesterday (and isn’t as crooked as many people think): there are extremely opportunistic politicians to capitalize on disaster situations, or like Rahm Emanuel, former chief of staff for Obama said:

"Never let a serious crisis go to waste. What I mean is that it is an opportunity to do things that they could not do before."

What kind of sick fantasy is that of the of the interviewer: like a sinister white knight to rescue him, what Obama needs is a right-wing terrorist to do well again in the public eye (and incidentally, that would tear appart the Tea Party and the Republicans). Penn will not be able to claim candor or having been misunderstood, much less a severe case of stupidity, because he knew what he was saying (he knows it doesn’t take a "real" terrorist to do it): a fire in the Reichstag, just as a gift for Obama.

Related articles

• Obama accepts 'shellacking'; will work with Republicans (topinews.com)
• Mark Penn and Chris Matthews: The Banality of Evil (crooksandliars.com)
• Obama Takes Blame for Democrats "Shellacking" (patspapers.com)
• President Obama Calls Midterm Elections a "Shellacking" (sugarslam.com)
• Dem pollster: What Obama really needs is an Oklahoma City moment (hotair.com)
• Obama concedes 'shellacking' (washingtontimes.com)
• In 2010, "Shellacking" is the New "Thumping" (cbsnews.com)
• Mark Penn Says Obama Needs 'Similar Event' to Oklahoma City to Reconnect with Voters (mediaite.com)
• Inside the Cold Heart and Mind of a Political Strategist (michellemalkin.com)

Blast from the past!: Hi-Class Infomercial

This is what I call music!

Cover via Amazon- Hi there! I'm Angelina Jolie.
- And I'm Elizabeth Hurley. Maybe all of you know me from watching me in movies like "Bedazzled"
- and you've watched me in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider "
- But you never have seen us ***together***
- ***So far*** te-hee-hee ...
- And for a great price and for the first time you may do so if you buy...
- The most fabulous all-time salsa collection!
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- From our good friend DJ Robbie, Sensual Salsa, Classical Salsa and Veterans' Salsa! And now, with you, the great DJ Robbie!
- Hello Angie! Hi Liz! It is my pleasure to be here ***with both of you***, he-hee.
- Tell us, Rob: How did you manage to come up with this collection?
- Well Angie, ever happened to you when you're sipping a drink at your lair when you're in a meeting with your friends, or you want to build a spontaneous guachafita at home, and you get finally entangled among those old dreaded cassettes, and messy LP's and CD's...?
- Uff, yes Rob. Of course, the next day you see a long-play put into a CD-box...
- And bags strewn everywhere, and a cassette tape in a corner of the room with the broken tape, stretched all over the place...
- Of course Liz, that's why I wondered: Why not put all that music in a convenient selection?
- It sounds impossible, Rob.
- But it is possible, Liz! With my patented technique "Sound DTS Digital Surround-remastered-Wall of Sound", you can have more than three hundred and forty salsa hits over more than thirty hours of music, in only three MP3-CD! "It's called Sensual Salsa, Classical Salsa and Veterans' Salsa."
- Sounds like a HUGE party to me!
- Yes, Angie. But it is not only partying, you see: the first MP3-CD you will find only the most romantic salsa, the bedroom-salsa...
- To make love. Ah, those were the days at the taverns and motels!
- This is it Liz. The real thing, baby.
Cover of Bedazzled- But Rob, I'd rather like to hear the classic hard salsa sound of the seventies...
- Well Angie, this is why the second MP3-CD is full of deliciousness, full of sandunga, pure street salsa, bay-bee!
- Huy zona! Straight through the tower, Rob! And who can top this?
- DJ Robbie, of course! Angie, the third MP3-CD is ripe with veterans' salsa, sauce for connoisseurs at the motels. You better listen up to this!
- Gosh, Angie! It seems we were at the Cien, the Ipacaraí, or even Juanchito! It's like having an Estadero at your own home!
- Liz, you can say that again! But this must cost a fortune, Rob!
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- What an incredible offer!
- Angie, Liz, but there's more. If you call now to 1-800-ANGIELIZ, and for the same $ 49.95, you will receive a MP3-CD "Sunday Mornings" and a "American Mini-TK." Pure original and effective african beat, Verbena and Mini-TK music that made history.
- How do you do it, Rob?
- Simple, Liz: thanks to my patented technique "Sound DTS Digital Surround-remastered-Wall of Sound." That is why this great TV offer is not available in the streets. Do not accept imitations. Remember, call and order now 1-800-ANGIELIZ for our super offer: a collection in a luxury box with three MP3-CD's with "Sensual Salsa, Classical Salsa and Veterans' Salsa" a MP3-CD with "Sunday Mornings" and another "American Mini-TK" for only $ 49.95 plus shipping. We accept VISA, AMEX, Mastercard, Money Order and Certified Check.
- And you, what are you waiting for? CALL US NOW!

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HotAirPundit: Michael Moore Puts Democrats on Probation: "If You...

"If You Move One More Inch to the Center or To The Right, You Will Never Get Our Vote Again", said Moore on the Last Word. He is angry with the Dems for not being left wing enough, says about Republicans: 'I secretly admire them, because they are ruthless, and go straight for the killing."

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Didn't know that Michael; in fact, that's the image Dr. sipmac always had of the extreme left (witness Stalin, Pol Pot, Ceaucescu and a very long et cetera). I should have known about your commie remarks and beyond pinko background when I saw your TV show called "The awful truth". It was a lot of fun then, but not now.

Anyway, I think you'll be more disappointed than you wish any time soon. And you should do something with your obesity, fatboy. You look like a... greedy capitalist pig!

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• The Ecstasy of Michael Moore (kylesmithonline.com)
• Four Strategy Gurus to Avoid (blogs.hbr.org)
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10 Ways the World is Going to End (name that movie!)

I just couldn't resist stealing... er, borrowing the entire article. Nothing more thoughtful, insightful and tasteful than starting the peunlitmate month of the year thinking about how humanity is going to end. Enjoy!

It could happen any moment–the end of all life.

1. Meteorite

Armageddon

image credits

In recent geological history, Earth has been hit by several large asteroids. Dinosaurs are most likely to have been killed by an asteroid 65 million years ago. If one hit Earth, it is more than linkely that Eall humanity would die. For humanity to be completely destroyed, a meteor would have to be 1 km in diameter–on average, a 1 km meteor hits Earth once every 500,000 years.

2. Pandemic

The Stand

Image source - Wikipedia

If HIV mutated to become as transmissible as the common cold everyone could be infected and die. It might not even be naturally mutated–biological warfare is becoming more advanced. In January 2009, an Al-Qaeda faction wiped themselves out when they were developing a biological plague.

3. Supervolcanoes

Volcano, duh

image credits

A supervolcano can release more than 240 cubic miles of ash and lava into the sky, millions of times more than a normal volcano. This may have happened in the past, decimating humanity to a handful of survivors.

4. Robots

Terminator, duh

image credits

This isn’t sci-fi. As learning computers become superintelligent, they could become to out-compete humans. As soon as we design a computer smarter than us, that computer could design one smarter than itself, and so on, resulting in a machine that could be capable of manipulating all of humanity. Robots are already able to find power sources for themselves, and identify and attack people armed with weapons.

5. Grey goo (a favorite one!)

Er..., The Day the Earth Stood Still!

Image source - theavclub.tv

The end of the world where everything is consumed by molecular nanotechnology that can self-replicate is known as ecophagy (eating the environment). Grey goo are hypothetical molecular nanobots, which can self duplicate and consume. If it took a thousand seconds to duplicate, the nanobots would outweigh the entire Earth in less than 2 days.

6. Verneshot

wtf?????

Image source - apocalypse-soon.com

The heat and build-up of carbon dioxide underneath the outermost shell of Earth could powerfully launch a column of crust and mantle into the stratosphere. It would then shower down all over Earth, causing massive damage where it landed. There have been numerous smaller verneshots in recent times, and some scientists believe that it has been responsible for past extinctions.

7. Sun

ask Carl Sagan, he's dead, forget it

Image source - Wikipedia

The Sun is rising in its luminosity, meaning that Earth is getting hotter. Slowly, certain minerals will be weathered more rapidly, resulting in less CO2. No CO2 means no plants, resulting in a collapse of the ecosystem.

8. Heat death

ask Isaac Asimov; no, he's dead too

Image source - davestravelcorner.com

The second law of thermodynamics states that entropy tends to increase in an isolated system. As energy becomes increasingly evenly spread in our universe, we will lose some of the energy as it is being transferred. Thus, heat death refers to the movement of energy eventually running out completely–there will be no energy that can sustain life.

9. Snowball Earth (another favorite of mine!)

Looks like Paul is making this post...

Image source - cosmology.net

It is commonly accepted in the geological community that Earth was frozen about 650 million years ago. This can be caused again by an ice age, which can be caused as greenhouse gas levels drop.

10. Aliens!

Invader Zim, Avatar

Image source - arealiensreal.org

Professional researchers from SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) have seriously done work on the possibility of an alien invasion. They concluded that it was extremely unlikely, but you never know. They are alredy making a census of habitable planets surrounding this solar system. Next, they should be inventing traveling at warp speed. And the martians will be... the trekkies.

France: nous sommes le nouveau ancien régime

"De una forma u otra, pasaré a los libros de historia"

Es increíble como gente que se dedica a informar, teniendo toda la información a la mano para ver el cuadro completo, se dedique sistemáticamente a tomar el proverbial rábano por las hojas. Sí, Dr. sipmac se refiere a aquellos con los cuales es mejor no meterse, los del diario El Tiempo. Analizando el editorial de ayer "Europa, descontenta", sip se encuentra con esta perla:

Los trabajadores, sin embargo, consideran injusto que caiga sobre sus derechos laborales el peso de una crisis que no causaron.

¿Una crisis que no causaron? Y la Bastilla se tomó solita, entonces. Dr. sipmac lo siente, pero eso no es así. Creer en semanas laborales de 35 horas, un mes entero de vacaciones, imposibilidad de despido después del primer año de trabajo, jubilaciones espléndidas sin ninguna sostenibilidad en el largo plazo... en fin, creer en todo lo que representa el estado de bienestar y votar de tal forma para asegurarse bien de que  todo se mantuviera convenientemente en su lugar es lo que ha desencadenado la actual crisis en Francia.

N'apprennent pas. Pas envie d'apprendre. Vive la République 6.0!

La lógica es la siguiente: Sarkozy aumenta la edad de jubilación en dos años, a los 62, para ser exactos. ¿Que la esperanza de vida de los franceses es de 81,5 años? ¿Casi veinte años de usufructo de pensión? Camarada, si no salimos a las barricadas, si no nos ponemos firmes ahora y llegamos a ceder, ¿quién sabe con qué saldrá después el insecto ése para perjudicar nuestros derechos y nuestras justas conquistas?

Según ellos, es indispensable aumentar los recaudos de la seguridad social y recortar la nómina oficial para reducir el déficit, que asciende en Francia a unos 40.000 millones de dólares. Christine Lagarde, ministra de Economía, dice que hay 15 millones de jubilados y cada año se suman 700.000 más. Uno de cada 10 no se paga con los fondos del sistema de seguridad sino con endeudamiento oficial. De no modificarse semejante sangría, en pocos años la quiebra será inevitable. La jubilación a los 62 pretende disminuir el número de jubilados y conseguir que produzcan durante dos años más.

Entonces son 15 millones de jubilados en una población de 65,5 millones, un 23% de la población. Añádale entonces los 5.7 millones de empleados públicos que un modesto cálculo de una publicación japonesa de izquierda le atribuye a Francia. El resultado son unos 20.7 millones de personas que viven de los 22,3 millones que representan la población económicamente activa... un momento. También hay que restar los 2,5 millones de desempleados, y quedamos en que 19,8 millones de personas sostienen a sus familias y también al 36% de la población representada en jubilados, empleados públicos y desempleados. ¿Realmente lo consiguen? No, recuerden que el editorial de El Tiempo menciona que 1.5 millones de jubilados no se pagan con fondos del sistema, sino con endeudamiento. Y que el déficit del estado francés está en 40.000 millones de dólares. Libertad, igualdad y fraternidad... sin pizca de equidad. Tal como lo destacara acertadamente  en su momento Trevanian, el concepto de juego limpio no existe en la cultura francesa, tenían que importar del inglés incluso la expresión que lo definía.

Sólo así las medidas que intenta adoptar Sarkozy adquieren pleno sentido. Si los franceses decidieran dejar de confiar ciegamente en el estado como panacea, les sería mucho más fácil evitar un destino igual o peor que el de Grecia. Ese cuento de seguir la tradición de mayo del 68, y de esperar a que "paguen los ricos", simplemente ahuyentará cualquier posibilidad de reactivación económica real  (para no mencionar viabilidad) en Francia. Para los que sueñan con la "República 6.0" en forma de un gobierno socialista/comunista, les dejo un chiste que solía circular en la antigua Alemania Democrática: si los comunistas administraran el desierto, de alguna manera lograrían que escaseara la arena.

Creo en la necesidad de una seguridad social y la necesaria administración de un estado, pero en Francia siguen exigiendo lo imposible. Y eso no es realista.

Related articles

• Statement of facts / Comunicado / Mitteilung (sipmac.blogspot.com)

Why the U.K. media deserve Rupert Murdoch: Somebody has to teach them how to compete. - By Jack Shafer - Slate Magazine

Another Dr. sipmac wannabe!

A bunch of bureaucrats making a living with your money happily decide what is good for you, restricting deliberately your choices, arguing obscure reasons like "the ether is already full", and making nearly impossible to compete (not to mention entering the game) with regulations growing everywhere like brush. Then comes Mr. Moneybags and overcomes the regulations and begins to profit from them, too.

In the meanwhile, nobody seems to care about the threats the freedom of expression had to face and still faces in Britain. You have to really get along with the established order to have a chance and get into privileged media. ¿Commercial radio competition allowed only in 1973? That reeks so of fascism...

Sorry, but the BBC has too much power for its own good. And sorry, but it was the British government and its protégés that paved the way for a Rupert Murdoch. They still think in making all kinds of dubious arrangements despising everybody else. That's the sense of the well-documented article (by far one of the best articles of the year here in Slate).

Related articles

• Julian Assange has Rupert Murdoch 'insurance files' (americablog.com)
• What's On Rupert Murdoch's Mind Today? [Rupert Murdoch] (gawker.com)
• Rupert Murdoch's The Daily: what can we expect? (guardian.co.uk)
• "Wikileaks have cables on Murdoch: the insurance files contain info about News Corp boss Rupert Murdoch" and related posts (shinyshiny.tv)
• In U.K., Brits Don't Want Rupert Murdoch Having "Greater Control Of Media" (mediaite.com)