Bush, joined by two members of his Cabinet, touted the legislation as a crucial step to protect forests, homes and human lives that have been endangered by "uncontrollable growth left by years of neglect" on U.S. lands.
Helloooo! uncontrollable growth left by years of neglect: that is the definition of a forest. After all the thinning and controlling, might as well start calling all the forests, gardens.
It is interesting to see the lobbyist dynamics that control the lawmaking. Plundering these pristine forests means huge profits for the timber industry and resultant lower prices for timber because of increase in supply means more profits to homebuilding industry. So, everyone is happy. Who cares about the environment and protecting wilderness???
On the other hand, the steel industry lobby is not going to win the battle over surcharges on steel imports. Current trade restrictions are good for the steel industry making imported steel expensive. That has brought the wrath of steel-using industries that are lobbying for removal of these tariffs to allow cheap steel imports. So, after couple of years of smooching with the steel industry people, the administration will announce to remove these tariffs to make bed with the steel-users and to comply with WTO ruling to make the steel exporters happy.
Interestingly, President Bush visited Pittsburgh, a steel industry town, this week and raised almost a million dollars in campaign money by attending a $2000 per plate dinner before making an announcement on this tariff decision.
12-04-2003UPDATE: Bush Decides to Lift All Steel Tariffs
Catching snowflakes
It is hard to see them in the photo, but, they were there.
This German man is charged with murder, because there are no specific laws against cannibalism in Germany. He claims that his victim agreed to be slaughtered and then eaten. So, the defense attorneys are going to argue that there is no murder because the victim wanted and agreed to be killed. It is so weird that the victim wanted to eat himself in the process.
Mr Meiwes told investigators he took Mr Brandes back to his home in Rotenburg, where Mr Brandes agreed to have his penis cut off, which Mr Meiwes then flambeed and served up to eat together.
First woman to swim English channel dies in NJ
In 1926, Gertrude Ederle swam the choppy, treacherous stretch under the most adverse conditions, battling rip tides, cross currents, driving rain and mountainous seas, as well as a constant threat of floating debris, poisonous jellyfish and sharks. She left Cape Griz-Nez, France, at 7:05 a.m. and stumbled ashore at Kingsdown, England, 14 hours and 30 minutes later, better timing than the four men who had completed this feat before her. Because of the stormy weather, she had swum 35 miles in crossing the 21-mile-wide channel. Yet her time for the crossing stood for 24 years before it was broken in 1950 by Florence Chadwick, who negotiated 23 miles in 13 hours and 20 minutes.
This picture shows Gertrude ready to start her swim. Interestingly, this is probably one of the first instances of a woman wearing a two-piece swimming suit in public.
I remember Arati Pradhan from Thane swimming the channel sometime in the 80's. She was one of the youngest women ever to do that. Upon returning home, there were some big ceremonies hosted by the city and the state governments.
he he he!
I realise that this is very juvenile, but, can't resist posting it. Found these perfect acronyms on the internet somewhere...
Most Intelligent Customers Realize Our Software is Only for Fools and Teenagers
Will Install Needless Data On Whole System
Kal ho naa ho
I haven't seen this movie yet. Was planning to, but, reading this review on Rediff was enough to change my mind. It is an interesting dissection of the movie by someone who lives in New York. Worth reading...
bravenet.com
