What Scares You More?

With Benazir Bhutto, friend to the United States and proponent of democracy and equality in Pakistan, killed in a terrorist action, what is scarier to you - the fact that President Mussharaf could have been involved in the assassination of his main political rival or the fact that he was powerless to stop the Al Qaeda ridden government he supposedly controls (which has nuclear weapons)?

The day of Bhutto's return to Pakistan, President Bush informed Musharraf that the United States holds him personally accountable for the safety and security of Bhutto. Indeed, he stopped an earlier assassination attempt on her life. Certainly the crowds at the scene blamed Musharraf for the attack. Now what will the United States do in this minefield of diplomacy? Will we stick by the President's word, or will we let Musharraf off the hook (or should we?)?

Too Bad

Not to knock the military service of the President, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter (who at least had the good sense to join the submarine force), etc. but I think this is a real shame:

President Bush’s top Iraq war commander said Sunday that as far as he knows, his command performances now and in the future will be strictly military, not political.

In fact, Army Gen. David Petraeus cited the words of Civil War-era Gen. William T. Sherman in declaring he has no interest in shedding his uniform and running for the White House, as Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower did 55 years ago.

“None,” Petraeus replied, when asked on “Fox News Sunday” if he had an interest in running.

“I have great respect for those who do choose to serve our country in that way. I’ve chosen to serve our country in uniform,” Petraeus said from Baghdad.

“And I think that General Sherman had it right when he gave what is now commonly referred to as a Shermanesque response when asked a similar question.”

A leading Union general in the war, Sherman said in a telegram to the Republican National Convention in 1884, when he was being urged to run for president, “I will not accept if nominated, and I will not serve if elected,” according to “The Yale Book of Quotations.”

George H. W. Bush was the last Commander-in-Chief to have seen combat while in military service. Prior to him, it was Gerald Ford . Of the current crop of candidates, only Duncan Hunter (Ranger service during the Vietnam Conflict) and John McCain (Naval Aviator, POW during the Vietnam conflict) have any type of combat service, and the number of candidates with any military service is disturbingly low.

While military service is neither the make nor break characteristic of any candidate, during a time of conflict as the nation finds itself in now, I believe it is important for the troops who are placing themselves in harm's way to be able to look respect the President's decisions, to know he/she understands what he is asking of them. My father wasn't a great or wise man, nor even a good father, but one thing he did say that I have found useful as I have been placed in leadership roles in the Navy is "Never ask a man to do something you haven't already done or wouldn't be willing to do." How has the candidate you are supporting sacrificed for the country, and is that sacrifice on the level with the men and women who will be looking at him/her directly for leadership?

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas one and all from the Whizzer family.

Please remember to keep those deployed and the Individual Augmentees in your thoughts on this holiday.

My Official Endorsement for President

On Foreign Policy:

Human nature. I do something nice for you, you do something nice for me, like not kill me. Next thing you know, we're friends.”

Don't leave your future in the hands of a man who does'nt know how to use a swiss army knife in the correct fashion. Vote with your heart: Macgyver 2008.

The Power of Prayer

A CNN journalist heard about a very old Jewish man who had been going to the Western Wall to pray, twice a day, every day, for a long, long time. So she went to check it out. She went to the Western Wall and there he was, walking slowly up to the holy site.

She watched him pray and after about 45 minutes, when he turned to leave, using a cane and moving very slowly, she approached him for an interview.
"Pardon me, sir, I'm Rebecca Smith from CNN. What's your name?"
"Morris Fishbone," he replied.

"Sir, how long have you been coming to the Western Wall and praying?"
"For about 60 years."
"60 years! That's amazing! For what do you pray? "'
"I pray for peace between the Christians, Jews and the Muslims. I pray for all the wars and all the hatred to stop. I pray for all our children to grow up safely as responsible adults, and to love their fellow man."
"How do you feel after doing this for 60 years?"
"Like I'm talking to a fuckin' wall."

With Friends Like These

Ayman al-Zawahri has declared Muammar al-Qaddafi an enemy of Islam. Yes, Qaddafi a major financier of Islamic terrorism who funded the Black September movement that slaughtered 11 Israeli Olymians in 1972, among other atrocities. He is also the principal money behind the group that brought down Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerby Scotland in 1988.

How could this happen? Qaddafi made a trip to Paris and Spain wherein he has abandoned “weapons and equipment to…crusader masters.”

Also probably because all of his personal bodyguards looks very much like a Bill Clinton dream:Qaddafi's Angels

Along the lines of the old adage "the enemy of my enemy ismy friend" this certainly makes for an interesting "friendship."

Supporting Service Members During the Holidays II

One of the very first posts on this blog warned about sending Christmas messages to unspecified service members. Apparently, the Red Cross has taken it up this year to help people get cards to the wounded soldiers.

I know its late but this news was only delivered to me today.

Taiwan?

Taiwan's Legislature has approved a starting budget for the island to acquire their first submarines. Electric Boat is awaiting approval from Congress to bid on the project, and has already set aside a sizable R&D budget for design of the boats.

Normally, being a free market economist, I would encourage Congress to make allow this sale to boost both the national security of a key ally in Asia as well as create jobs that will boost the American economy. This time I find myself in the quandry of international politics. As beholden as we are to protect the island of Taiwan if China attacks or makes other offensive moves, I can only see US supplies of submarines to Taiwan as a irritant that China will make at least overtly hostile gestures. It will only inflame the tensions already present in the region, requiring greater than normal US presence to deter an actual hostile act. Given the level of our other commitments at this time, I am not sure we would have the forces to meet all of our commitments if this came to pass.

Further China is growing trading partner in its own right, a powerful economic force in our economy. Beijing's movement towards capitalism needs to be encouraged while maintaining diplomatic pressures to allow Taiwan to remain an independent state. Supplying subs to Taiwan could damage relatons with China in many ways and needs to be carefully considered before we permit it.

HMS Astute pics

Pictures of the new British boat HMS Astute:






Some RN PR:

June 8, 2007 ... Britain launches massive sub that can hear a ship from across the Atlantic

She is four years late and a massive 900 million over-budget.

But when the Royal Navy's super-sub HMS Astute finally arrived, she made for an awesome sight.

More complex than the space shuttle, and able to circumnavigate the globe without surfacing, the 7,400-ton monster is the largest and deadliest hunter-killer submarine ever built.

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Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall cracked a bottle of beer brewed by the sub's crew on her prow to officially name the 'boat', in Navy jargon, before she was gingerly wheeled out of her shed at the stately speed of one metre per minute.

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The specifications for Britain's biggest submarine make for mind-boggling reading, but it was the sheer size of the black behemoth which made its mark on the 10,000 dockyard workers, schoolchildren, VIPs and Navy personnel invited to the ceremony in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria!

[]

The Astute submarine under construction at Barrow

As long as a football pitch, at 318 ft, and as wide as four double-decker buses, HMS Astute is a third longer than any sub which has gone before.

Her nuclear-powered engine will propel her through the water at more than 20 knots, yet the UK's first stealth sub makes less noise than a baby dolphin, making her as good as undetectable by enemy ships.

Astute's sonar is so advanced that if she was lying in the English Channel she would be able to detect ships leaving New York harbour 3,000 nautical miles away (although the details of how she can do this are classified).

The nuclear reactor will never need refueling, and with an ability to make oxygen and drinking water out of sea water, the sub could stay underwater for its entire 25-year life sp an were it not for the needs of the crew.

Once she goes into operation in 2009, Astute will carry a 98-man crew and stay at sea for 12 weeks on a routine patrol.

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The massive submarine is slowly moved into position.

She will carry 38 Tomahawk cruise missiles, with a range of 1,240 miles, meaning Astute could attack targets in North Africa with pinpoint accuracy while sitting off the coast of Plymouth.

Spearfish torpedoes will also be on board for attacking ships and other subs.

But Astute will not carry nuclear weapons: The UK's Trident missiles are launched from the Vanguard class of submarines.

The Navy's submarine chief Captain Mike Davis-Marks said: 'The Astute class of submarines will quite simply be unbeatable worldwide for many years to come. Astute will have a capability that will keep us right at the top of the premiership of the world's navies the Manchester United of submarine nations. With our proud heritage, Britain deserves nothing less.'

Astute is the first of four vessels to be built by BAE Systems at a total cost of 3.85 billion, or 960 million each.

The funniest part of all of this is the supposed ability to detect ships leaving NT Harbor from 3000 nautical miles away. My STS friends were mocking that yesterday.

"Submarine" can now be used as a verb!?!?

Superboat Burns Human Fat to Zip Around World

A New Zealand-built boat that runs on biodiesel — and the fat of the captain —- is set to kick off an attempt to break the world speed record for circumnavigating the globe in a motorboat next year.

The 24-meter (78-foot) Earthrace, skippered by New Zealander Pete Bethune, will set off from Valencia, Spain, on March 1 and traverse the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans as well as the Panama and Suez canals in its more-than-24,000-nautical-mile journey.

Bethune will be attempting to break the current world record of 74 days, 20 hours and 58 minutes, established by the Cable and Wireless Adventurer boat in 1998.

He has said he believes his trip could help promote biodiesel as a viable alternative to petroleum diesel.

"I wanted to do a positive project run on biodiesel and take it round the world," he has explained, noting that some 165,000 liters of biodiesel would be necessary for the trip, which will have a net carbon footprint of zero.

"Politicians in Western Europe must be prepared to stand up to the oil industry and be more supportive of the biofuels industry to make sure the production of biofuels is sustainable."

Along with its green fuel source, the Earthrace also has other ecologically friendly characteristics, such as non-toxic paint.

It was built in Auckland in 14 months at a cost of around $3.5 million, which Bethune helped fund by selling his house and possessions.

He also made a symbolic gesture towards the project, undergoing liposuction with two other volunteers, which produced 10 liters — a bit more than 2 1/2 gallons — of human fat, enough to power the boat for 8 nautical miles.

One attribute of the Earthrace boat is that it has the ability to submarine through waves, going up to 23 feet underwater, enabling it to maintain a higher average speed through big seas, according to the expedition's Web site.

100m Lawsuit?

Katerina Thanou is considering taking legal action against the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to secure a gold medal in the 2000 Olympics' 100m sprint following recent admissions by Marion Jones of using steroids to improve her performance. The IOC has so far been reluctanct to determine the allocation of the five medals returned by Jones. The IOC has explained its reluctance to do so by saying they are awaiting the results of the pending investigation into the Balco scandal.

In Katerina Thanou's case, I would have to say this reluctance is justified. She just finished a 3 year suspension for missing 3 drug tests, one on the eve of the 2004 Olympics. As a matter of fact, criminal charges are still possible in that event for making false official statements in a criminal investigation when herself and another Olympian claimed they missed the drug test due to being involved in a motorcycle crash.

Certainly, the IOC is justified in defending itself from the embarassment handing out a gold medal only to have it revealed later that Thanou was not only a liar, a criminal, but also a cheater.

(Persoanlly, I think steroids are a personal choice, and as such should be legal. However, if an athlete belongs to a professional sports organization that specifies a rule prohibiting steroid use, that athlete then becomes bound by contract, to follow the rules the organization sets forth. The IOC clearly bans steroid use and doping so these athletes deserve the hammering they get.)

Great White Fleet sets sail

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the Great White Fleet setting sail from Norfolk for a 14 month tour around the world by order of President Theodore Roosevelt. The trip had a dual purpose of projecting American power (especially to the growing power of the Japanese following the Russo-Japanese War and amid growing tensions between the two countries) and advancing
the knowledge and training of the sailors crewing the fleet.

In true American style, a number of humanitarian acts were accomplished during the deployment including aiding in recovery operations in Sicily following a major Earthquake.

The mission to project American power around the globe was a success as Japan had children lining the pier with American flags to greet the fleet at Yokohama in a show of the nation's desire for peace with America.

Route taken by the Great White Fleet. They sailed around South America because the Panama Canal wasn't completely built yet.


The Great White Fleet off the Coast of San Diego

Weld Problems Spread

The discovery of welding deficiencies in Virginia class submarines has caused an investigation spreading farther than just that class of submarine, and affects even the surface fleet. Navy Times reported today that George H. W. Bush, George Washington, Carl Vinson, and Enterprise will be inspected for similar weld problems. The Los Angeles Class subs Oklahoma City, Newport News, and Toledo will also undergo inspections. More ships are probably to follow as the investigation deepens.

Your Right to Bear Arms, an American Original

With the Supreme Court set to hear arguments in District of Columbia v. Heller that will hopefully address the divisive issue of gun control versus the Second Amendment of the US Constitution, it is important to keep in mind some history, and to consider the intent of the founding fathers.

Our Second Amendment: The Founders’ Intent
December 6, 2007
Stephen P. Halbrook



Soon the U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether the District of Columbia’s bans on possession of handguns, even in the home, and on having long guns functional for self defense violate the Constitution. As the Court sees it in D.C. v. Heller, the issue is whether those bans “violate the Second Amendment rights of individuals who are not affiliated with any state-regulated militia, but who wish to keep handguns and other firearms for private use in their homes.” The federal appeals court for D.C. held that it did.

So, even in their own home. This is the argument used for gay rights - they can do anything they want in their own home. Apparently, except that is own a gun.

After ignoring the Amendment since its ambiguous U.S. v. Miller decision in 1939, the Court will decide whether the phrase “the right of the people” in the Second Amendment refers to the same “people” as in the First and Fourth Amendments, or only to government-selected militiamen. It will also consider whether a “right” in the Bill of Rights refers to a real liberty or is only rhetoric. Is the right to keep and bear arms on a par with the rights peaceably to assemble or against unreasonable search and seizure? Or is it void where prohibited by law?

The founders were smart men who eliminated the use of unnecessary words, I'm pretty sure it wasn't meant as rhetoric.

For America’s Founders, the answer was obvious. In 1768, when Redcoats landed to occupy the town, the Boston Gazette warned of British plans “more grievous” than anything before: “the Inhabitants of this Province are to be disarmed”; martial law would be declared; and patriots would be “seized and sent to Great-Britain.” Through the periods of the Boston Massacre and the Tea Party the screws were tightened, until finally British attempts to seize colonists’ arms at Lexington and Concord in 1775 led to the shot heard ‘round the world.

Just after the American victory, General Gage, commander of the King’s troops, ordered the inhabitants of Boston to surrender their firearms, supposedly for temporary safekeeping. It is recorded that Gage confiscated “1,778 fire-arms [long guns], 634 pistols, 973 bayonets, and 38 blunderbusses.” The Continental Congress cited this act of perfidy in its Declaration of Causes of Taking Up Arms.

One of the first actions of an occupying force or conquering force is to remove the weapons from the hands of the people.

After Independence was won, delegates from the states in 1787 framed our Constitution. Antifederalists protested that it included no declaration of rights and would allow deprivation of rights like free speech and keeping arms. James Madison responded in The Federalist that a declaration was unnecessary, in part because of “the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation,” in contrast with the European monarchies, where “the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.”

A great compromise was reached: the Constitution would be ratified and then a bill of rights would be debated. When the first Congress met in 1789, Madison proposed what became the Bill of Rights. Federalist writer Tench Coxe explained the Second Amendment thus: “As civil rulers, not having their duty to the people duly before them, may attempt to tyrannize, and as the military forces which must be occasionally raised to defend our country, might pervert their power to the injury of their fellow-citizens, the people are confirmed...in their right to keep and bear their private arms.”

The Amendment reads: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” For almost two centuries, the understanding was that law-abiding individuals had a right to possess rifles, pistols, and shotguns. This would promote a militia of all able-bodied citizens, which, unlike a standing army, was seen as securing a free country.

Clearly the founders meant for people to be able to have their own firearms, for protection from criminals, for protection against the government, to use for hunting and feeding their families, for a plethora of reasons.

The agenda to pass firearms prohibitions led to the invention of the “collective rights” view by the 1960s. Under this view, the Amendment protects only the power of states to have militias. A variation asserts that it guarantees a right to bear arms in the militia, nothing more. These attempts to deconstruct ignore that “the people” means you and me, not the states, and that no “right” exists to do anything in a military force—a militiaman does what is commanded.

In 1976, the District of Columbia banned pistols. It also required registered rifles and shotguns to be rendered non-functional when kept at home (but not at a business). D.C. residents were thereby rendered into second-class citizens—they had no Second Amendment rights and were not trusted to defend themselves in their own homes. The crime rate only continued to rise in what became the Murder Capital of the U.S.

The validity of the D.C. ban is now before the Supreme Court. Besides arguing that no one has any rights under the Second Amendment, D.C. alternatively contends that it can ban handguns as long as it does not ban all rifles and shotguns. One can imagine what the Bostonians who surrendered all of their firearms to the Crown in 1775 would have thought of such an argument. Hopefully the Justices will be mindful of the Founders’ intent and will recognize that the Second Amendment is every bit a part of the Bill of Rights as is the First.

Consider too the quotes from Sam Adams

The Constitution shall never be construed... to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.

And significantly, this quote by Thomas Jefferson

Laws that forbid the carrying of arms...disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes... Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.

The right to bear arms has always been seen as one of the inalienable rights afforded all men, except by a minority of Americans. These people view the gun as evil, rather than the criminal. They enable the criminals by providing them with excuses, by blaming the US government for allowing gun sales and private ownership, by blaming the manufacturers for creating guns, and by blaming violence in media for warping the criminals mind. These people forget the responsibility that comes with the liberties afforded citizens of the United States of America. Just as you can be held responsible if you yell "FIRE" in a crowded theater or "BOMB" in an airport because it is irresponsible and dangerous, you have to be heldresponsible for your own actions with a firearm.

Disturbing News

News released December 10 indicates delays in construction efforts as well as re-inspections are necessary for Virginia class submarines. Northrup-Grumman Newport News reported finding discrepancies in welds for these new boats.

News Article

This seems to be s disturbing trend (especially considering I have orders to one) with new faulty construction issues from contractors supplying the Navy with new ships. Considering the news earlier this year about delays and hull troubles with the Navy's new amphibs, there is certainly reason to be concerned about quality issues, especially given cost over runs on some ships of 80% original quoted price. That's money from tax payers, that the Navy is supposed to be protecting their investment.

Cross reference...

Bubblehead has a wonderful story of the Attack on Pearl Harbor from a submariners perspective Here.

December 7 1941: A Day That Will Live In Infamy

This year in the 66th anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor. The attack commenced at 0755. For the last three year I have had the honor of working across the harbor from the USS Arizona Memorial, the honor of working at Pearl Harbor. Please take a moment today to remember how honored we are to live and work in the USA. To remember the men who gave everything on duty this morning 66 years ago. The men listed here, at the Arizona Memorial, the men still entombed there:

I would also like to thank the Colonial Flag Foundation for their efforts in erecting a Healing Field for Pearl Harbor and the victims of 9/11

The Loss of the Consumers' Voice...

I am by no means a tree hugger. However, I believe we need to maintain our environment to be responsible. Who likes to walk their dog with trash along the forest trail, or breathe noxious fumes while stuck in traffic on the highway? However, I am also a free market economist. As such I believe in the power of letting market forces drive industry.

A major success in this vein in recent history was the revitalization of Detroit’s auto manufacturing in the 80’s. When people started buying Japanese and other imported automobiles because they had a significantly higher quality construction, automakers in America were almost driven out of business. They responded with technological innovations that either matched or surpassed the imports. Thus everyone benefited.

Now Congress is set to increase mandatory fuel economy rather than let this same market force work:

ASK a European to describe a typical American car in one word and the answer will invariably be “big”. An energy bill set to pass through the House of Representatives this week is likely to number the days of the vast automobiles that are such a potent symbol of American power. On Friday November 30th a deal was brokered by John Dingell, a pro-car Democrat, and Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the house, to make cars travel on average no fewer than 35 miles per (American) gallon by 2020. As a measure of the task ahead, no car in Ford’s range is yet so thirstless.
America’s embattled carmakers have reluctantly agreed to the new efficiency standards. Their only hope of a reprieve, if the legislation makes it through Congress, is a presidential veto. George Bush objects to other parts of an energy bill that requires energy companies to produce 15% of electricity from renewable sources and ditches billions of dollars of tax breaks for oil companies. Nonetheless, in acquiescing to the proposals American car companies have accepted the inevitable:lawmakers want cars that are more fuel efficient to mitigate environmental damage and improve America’s energy security.
The new corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards have been a long time coming. The 35mpg target for average fuel efficiency across the range of a car company’s vehicles in 2020 would be the first lifting of CAFE standards for cars since 1985. The current standard for corporate average fuel economy of 27.5mpg for cars was introduced that year. The standard for light trucks has been slowly lifted over the years and now stands at 22.2mpg. Since 1985 the fuel economy of cars and trucks has barely shifted. Although engines have become more efficient cars have also grown bigger and beefier. Drivers have become used to the added comforts that now come as standard and new safety features have also piled on the pounds.
So will the American love affair with the sport-utility vehicle (SUV) have to end? Some of the ardour has already gone out of the relationship. The spike in fuel prices after Hurricane Katrina, and high prices since, put a crimp on SUV sales. That has dealt a blow to a domestic car industry already reeling from the competition of lower-cost Asian carmakers.
One concession that America’s carmakers had written in to the current bill is that cars and light trucks (including SUVs) will not be counted separately within the 35mpg limit but will have different targets in the transition period. SUVs will be allowed to remain relatively thirsty. Thereafter, carmakers will have to keep to the new target by selling enough small petrol-sippers to offset the gas guzzlers in their range. The ability to make some bigger cars is important for American firms. Smaller cars cost nearly as much to design and assemble as bigger models but profit margins are far tighter.
America’s carmakers are willing to go along with the deal and believe they can meet the tough targets. Cars and engines will become smaller and more use will be made of diesel, turbocharging, biofuels (which will attract a CAFE credit) and hybrid technologies. Admirers of “muscle cars” will shed a tear. It seems that Americans will have to become a bit more like Europeans.
That shift could be difficult. In November Green Car Journal awarded the accolade of America’s “Green Car of the Year” for 2008 to the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid, with a 5.3 litre V8 engine supplemented by a small electric battery. The most fuel-efficient version will do only around 22mpg. The overall title of “European Car of the Year” went to the new Fiat 500, a snazzily updated version of a tiny Italian classic. Some models will do around four times better than the Tahoe on fuel economy.
Europeans have long been accustomed to scooting round in pocket-sized cars. Heavy taxes on petrol have provided plenty of motivation. Proposed EU limits on carbon-dioxide emissions (a proxy for fuel efficiency) will ensure even greater efficiency in future. American cars have plenty of catching up to do.

economist.com

It isn’t that fuel efficient cars aren’t available. The Prius, the Civic, even some SUV’s are being produced as hybrids, so the choice is present in the market. Congress even intervened (in a positive manner) by introducing tax incentives to people who purchased these hybrid cars. The reason this incentive was necessary was because these cars are more expensive to purchase (i.e. they have a high initial cost), and the added cost benefit in fuel isn’t offset in a five year period for the most part.

Another way to introduce more fuel efficient cars is to make them lighter, i.e. smaller. However, doing so makes them less safe and a recent study indicates doing so on a large scale would result in thousands more deaths on the highway from automobile accidents than already exists. Not a very attractive option.

Many people will argue big business is limiting entry into the market for more fuel efficient cars. The reality is, as more people put their money where their mouth is concerning the environment, automakers are manufacturing and selling more models of more fuel efficient vehicles than before. The problem isn’t the we can’t make the cars, or we don’t have the technology. It has been around for decades. The problem is making it attractive to the average consumer because it is more expensive, as technological innovation always is. As the cars become more common, prices will drop. Look at the computer industry as a perfect example.

So Congress is now set to pass this legislation removing your choice, your power and liberty as a consumer in a free market to influence the choice and production lines with your purchasing decisions. Another step towards governmental controlled industry.

Hope President Bush vetoes this bill.

Updating...

Sorry for the delay in recent posts. I have been busy Monday and Tuesday with trying to prepare and plan my move to Groton CT. Wednesday, internet service was interrupted to the whole state by thunderstorms with high winds knocking down telephone poles.

Thank you for your patience...

The Angel of Topology or Fun with Mobius

"In these days the angel of topology and the devil of abstract algebra fight for the soul of each individual mathematical domain"
- Hermann Weyl.

With 1,039,861 views at the time of this writing, this may very well be the most popular video ever produced on a topic relating to mathematics. The video won an honorable mention in the Science 2007 Science and Engineering Visualization challenge.

A Boomer (or 6) for India?

It seems India is developingthe technology needed for a new submarine class with the capability of launching nuclear ballistic missiles. And they are doing it in a hurry.

Indian Navy currently operates 16 conventional diesal-electric submarines. The diesal-electric submarines include 10 Russian Kilo-class, four German HDW-class and two Foxrot-class submarines.

India currently doesn't have a nuclear-powered submarine nor submarine-launched ballistic missile capability but Admiral Mehta says, "We have come to the final threshold. I think within two years or so, we should have that kind of a capability."
(DefenceTimes.com Article)

India, who is not a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty states, isn't growing their stockpile of nuclear weapons, but rather expanding heir ability to use the ones they already have in this move. As always, the development of such capability will increase tensions with the also nuclear armed Pakistan.

Currently the US is involved in developing a treaty and program to lift the moratorium on selling nuclear technology to India for civilian uses. Under the treaty, India would open its civilian nuclear program to international inspection by the IAEA as well as maintain its halt on nuclear weapons testing in return for material and technological aid from the US in its civilian plants. In my opinion this is a good thing. However, this latest move to develop ballistic missile submarines culd just put more in the hands of the treaties opponents.

Kids are Competitive

Of real growing concern in this country is a sinking level of knowledge in math, science and technical fields such as engineering. In this day of information technology, high tech gadgets, and increasingly dangerous threats from small organizations using cell type command structures, a higher proficiency in the basics of math are more important than ever. Recent research suggests the higher rate of testing and drilling associated with math at the early stages (i.e. learning your multiplication tables) drives kids away from mathematics as an academic endeavor.

However, kids are competitive. I believe one way to draw them back into the fold would be to create games and teams where they can compete against other schools' teams. Apparently, some people at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville agree with me. They recently held such a competition at the tri-state area.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville recently held its 35th annual high school mathematics contest. Approximately 600 students from 36 high schools in the tri-state area participated. Some schools entered multiple teams.

Participating high schools were divided into four divisions according to school size. Students competed both as individuals and as teams. Freshmen and sophomores were designated Level 1 while juniors and seniors were Level 2.

Fredric Tufte, a retired UW-P faculty member, introduced the contest 35 years ago. He and other faculty at the time wished to provide an event for high school students who expressed interest in mathematics.

Typically, three teams from each division are given plaques for their achievement, but this year, due to ties, four teams in Division 2 and four in Division 4 were awarded.

Results for local schools were as follows:

Division 2 -- Platteville High School took first, Western Dubuque High School and Wisconsin Dells High School tied for second and Wahlert High School placed third.

Division 3 -- Lancaster High School took third.

Division 4 -- Cascade (Iowa) High School took first place, Darlington and East Dubuque, Ill., high schools tied for second.

Individual awards were given for a score of 80 or better for Level 1 and 70 or better for Level 2. The students received certificates and UW-P T-shirts for their achievements.

These kids deserve a big round of applause for their efforts, and other contests of similar design need to be created to encourage and incentivize the learning process to go along with the athletic competitions. Given the limited availability of jobs for professional athletes, the individual student, the economy, and the nation as a whole would benefit from making learning math and science cool again.

Fighting A Shrinking Force

The Day.com reports this morning a defence appropriations bill to increase production of the Virginia Class submarines in 2011 (vice the planned and previuously funded 2012) has been signed by the President. A compromise between what the delegation (2010)wanted and what the Navy had already planned is an encouraging sign to submariners facing growing pressures and op-tempos due to a rapidly shrinking fleet while the number of missions remainsthe same or even escalates.

Some key quotes from the article:

The overall challenge this country faces with a dwindling fleet is something we really shouldn't wait until 2011 to address. It's a problem today, and we should be moving on it as quickly as we possibly can.

We changed the Navy and the administration's position because we acted as an independent branch of government, evaluating the maritime needs of the country and the merits of the Virginia-class program. The fact that we were able to change their position suggests that we can do it again.

- US Rep. Joe Courtney (D) while discussing the need to continue to pressure to advance the date to 2010 or even 2009.

Justine Sessions, a spokesperson for Senator Chris Dodd (D), added the Senator is working towards the same goal, and that "Sooner is always better in this case."

The article can be found at: TheDay.com

Navy Does It Again

Navy beat Army (38-3) for a record sixth time, today. I think it is safe to say Reggie Campbell stole the show today with two touchdowns, including a 98 yard kick-off return, the longest in the history of football at Annapolis.

To Honor His Son

Dr. Bill Krissoff, age 61, is closing his medical practice, enlisting in the US Navy Medical Corps, and hoping to receive an assignment to a field hospitol in Iraq. Dr. Krissoff's son, 1st Lt Nathan Krissoff, a counterintelligence officer, was killed in Al-Abar Province in Iraq in December 2006 (http://iraq.pigstye.net/article.php/KrissoffNathan). Dr. Krissoff's commissioning was hastened after a meeting with President Bush (http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-doctor1dec01,0,7221630.story?coll=la-home-center).

Dr. Krissoff deserves our thanks, not only for the sacrifices and service of his son, for his service, but also for setting an example with his personal courage and sacrifice. Both father and son are heroes.

Tomorrow...

Go NAVY!!!

The Iranian Subs at Sea

The USS Vicksburg recently spotted two of the reported three Iranian kilos running on the surface in the Persian Gulf. Highlighted in a story from the Navy Times:

Officials aboard the cruiser Vicksburg spotted and photographed two surfaced Iranian Kilo-class submarines in the Persian Gulf a few weeks ago, the ship’s skipper told Navy Secretary Donald Winter during a visit to the ship on Saturday.
The Russian-designed diesel-electric attack subs were tracked and photographed by sailors onboard the Mayport, Fla.-based ship, said Capt. Chip Swicker. Crew members showed Winter the photographs of the surfaced subs. The Vicksburg did not communicate with either of the subs, Swicker said.
“They watched us and we watched them,” he said.
Crew members aboard the cruiser didn’t consider the encounters hostile, although it wasn’t clear if the Iranian boats surfaced within view of the cruiser or if the U.S. warship happened to see the Iranian subs while they were already running on the surface. Iran has a fleet of three Kilo-class SSKs, according to Jane’s Fighting Ships.
Swicker indicated the Vicksburg was close enough to Iranian waters at the times of the encounters that crew members didn’t consider it out of the ordinary to see Iranian navy vessels.

The scary part of this article is that apparently, they Vicksburg was unaware of their presence until they spotted them on the surface. While it is erroneous in my opinion to connect this incident to the incident when the Chinese submarine surfaced in the middle of a battlegroup (as the Navy Times did), there there seems to be a pointed need for either enhanced ASW training and capability for surface ship crews, an enhanced submarine presence to perform ASW missions, or both. I see this as becoming more vital given the current escalating tensions between the US and Iran combined with Iran's stated,(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghadir_(submarine)). Bubblehead also has some news concerning the Iranian program (http://bubbleheads.blogspot.com/2007/11/new-iranian-submarine-certainly-looks.html).

Another disturbing side of the Ghadir Class is Iran's claim the boats can reach Israel's coast. Whether or not it is true, this couls also be an attempt to interfere with the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks by a nation with an acknowledged goal of the destruction of this key American ally.

Math to Save Lives, From the Naval Academy

I am creating this blog mainly as a way of exploring my thoughts while getting active feedback from a diverse audience. As you read these posts, a great many things about me will be revealed as these are my thoughts, my interests, and a sort of inner monologue made public.Two of the greatest interest in life are Applied Mathematics and my loving wife. My wife, being the smartest woman I have ever known in my life, does not share my interest in mathematics being much more creative and artistically inclined than I. Recently, however, the two came colliding together.

First, I have to divulge some background information. Two years ago, at the age of 29, Mrs. Whizzer was diagnosed with ESRD (End Stage Renal Disease, more commonly referred to as Kidney Failure). Her family was tested to see if they could possibly be a donor, but because she was adopted their chances are no better than the normal population of being a match. Due to her blood type, here in Hawaii, the average wait time for a transplant is 7(+) years. Her doctor gives her 4 years, due to other complications. So we are moving to Connecticut. The waiting time in Connecticut is a little over three years, and trending down.

Now, let's talk about my other obsession - mathematics. A frequent problem within mathematics is optimization and/or minimization. Currently, 74,072 persons are listed nationally on the waiting list at the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). Regionally (for Hawaii) there are 349 people listed, 89 of the same blood type as my wife. In 2007, for her bloodtype, there have been 3 deceased donors, 1 living donor (http://www.unos.org/).Advances in the field of kidney transplantation have made it possible to perform multiple transplantations at the same time. For example, let's say I decided to donate a kidney to my wife, but I can't because of mismatched bloodtypes. If a possible match could be made with another donor where I matched the patient and their donor matched Mrs. Whizzer, then we could do a swap and two patients would have a new kidney, a new life.Transplantation from a living donor has many advantages to transplantation from a deceased person. It is more cost efficient than dialysis over the long term, it is minimizes the time the patient is on the waiting list (thus minimizing the impact of kidney damage to other organs such as the heart and liver and shortening the list for persons with no donors), and the survival rate of the transplant is higher over the long term (http://www.livingdonorsonline.org/kidney/kidney2.htm).

Recent research involving graph theory have led to advances that could increase the number of kidney transplants, maximize compatibility of donor recipient pairs, and thus increase the long term survivability of the transplanted organ. The idea of using mathematical optimization to help these patients was discussed in a 2005 article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/293/15/1883). Since the original publication of this article, it has been shown that this algorithm maximizes the number of transplants in every case, "it maximizes the total number of transplants while selecting matches with greater compatibility and closer proximity" (http://blog.sciencenews.org/mathtrek/2007/08/kidney_matchmaking.html).Yet, knowing this optimization exists, the logistical challenges are standing in the way of implementing this program to improve the lives of all persons awaiting kidney transplants. "To me, these results are not important until they're implemented," she [Gentry] says. "This theoretical work shows that these allocations can be done in a sane way, and if we're smart about it, we might get a large number of additional transplants in a year."Organ donation is an important lifesaving gift to those in need, those who are waiting with their life on hold. If you are able, please sign up to be an organ donor.

For more information on organ transplant and donation, in general, visit http://www.unos.org/.

For more information concerning paired kidney transplantation between incompatible pairs, visit http://www.paireddonationnetwork.org/ or for more information on the optimization of this type of donation, visit http://www.optimizedmatch.com/learn_index.php.

For more on the mathematics of this algorithm, visit http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dabraham/papers/abs07.pdf

Also, if you are an organ donor, discuss your wishes with your family and the people who will make the decisions at the worst times. Their grief can, and often has unfortunately, canceled the donor card in someone's wallet. This discussion, as unpleasant as it can be could save someone's life.

Supporting Service Members During the Holidays

I received an e-mail today urging me to send a Christmas card to:

A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue,NWWashington,D.C. 20307-5001

As a member of the Armed Services let me first assure you that we all appreciate the sentiment involved in actions such as these. Whether or not you support the war, your support of the service members involved is very much welcomed. Having said that, let me give you the unfortunate news. Cards, gifts, boxes, etc. addressed to generic service members can not be delivered. The USPS won't deliver them, and if one slips through, the installation is not allowed to accept it. This policy is purely for security reasons, and in consideration of the health and well being of our troops and their families.

In light of this, there are many ways to show your support for service members without knowing their specific name, here are a few:For more on this policy as well as better way to show your support of the troops, visit:Walter Reed Army Medical Center's site: http://www.wramc.amedd.army.mil/Lists/WRNews/DispForm.aspx?Id=24&.

The America Supports You website: http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/americasupportsyou/index.aspx

the United Service Organizations (USO) website:http://www.uso.org/

Thank you for your support.

SSN 780

Finally, a name is known for the SSN 780. She is now declared the USS California.

Six ships have previously carried this name for the US Navy, starting with a wooden steam boat originally named the USS Minnetonka (launched July 3 1867, renamed May 15, 1869) during the Civil War and culminating with CGN 36, the lead ship of a nuclear powered cruiser class, she was decommissioned in Oct 1, 1998.

During the interim, the intervening ships were:
ACR-6, a Pennsylvania class armored cruiser,
SP-249, protected NYC harbor during WWI,
SP-647, protected San Franscisco harbor during WWI, and
BB-44, sunk during the Attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941 she was refloated, repaired and took the fight to the enemy in the following combat actions: the invasions of Saipan, Guam, and Tinian, the Leyte Campaign (including the Battle of Surigao Strait), the Battle of Lingayen Gulf (where she was damaged in a kamikaze attack, but sailed on for two weeks in support of the operation), and the Okinawa Campaign (http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-c/bb44.htm).

Now SSN 780 will be joining this historical and honored tradition.