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Ask a Vet - oopsie
Author: TriSec    Date: 04/06/2010 11:09:58

Morning, folks.

Something bad happened here; I had the blog all written and ready to go, then it somehow went *poof*.

*** From Raine: here are our basic pieces of vital information for the week ***


Today is our 2,575th day in Iraq and our 3,103th day in Afghanistan.

We'll start this morning as we always do, with the latest casualty figures from our ongoing wars, courtesy of Antiwar.com:

American Deaths
Since war began (3/19/03): 4388
Since "Mission Accomplished" (5/1/03): 4249
Since Capture of Saddam (12/13/03): 3925
Since Handover (6/29/04): 3529
Since Obama Inauguration (1/20/09): 160

Other Coalition Troops - Iraq 318
US Military Deaths - Afghanistan 1,034
Other Military Deaths - Afghanistan 679
Contractor Employee Deaths - Iraq 1,457
Journalists - Iraq 338
Academics Killed - Iraq 437

We find this morning's cost of war passing through:

$ 979, 738, 900, 000 . 00



 

28 comments (Latest Comment: 04/07/2010 01:27:06 by livingonli)
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Comment by wickedpam on 04/06/2010 12:24:42
No Worries, Tri





From Antiwar.com



American Deaths

Since war began (3/19/03): 4388

Since "Mission Accomplished" (5/1/03): 4249

Since Capture of Saddam (12/13/03): 3925

Since Handover (6/29/04): 3529

Since Obama Inauguration (1/20/09): 160



Other Coalition Troops - Iraq 318

US Military Deaths - Afghanistan 1,034

Other Military Deaths - Afghanistan 679

Contractor Employee Deaths - Iraq 1,457

Journalists - Iraq 338

Academics Killed - Iraq 437





I would get the cost of the war but the numbers went flying by so fast I couldn't keep up.





btw - Morning

Comment by Raine on 04/06/2010 12:43:12
good morning!



I am going to add that to the blog, thanks for the information Mala.





Comment by wickedpam on 04/06/2010 12:50:07
No prob - I find those stats Tri posts rather compelling from week to week, even if I don't say anything about it

Comment by Raine on 04/06/2010 12:57:04
Quote by wickedpam:

No prob - I find those stats Tri posts rather compelling from week to week, even if I don't say anything about it


The cost of war site is frighteningly hypnotic... I rounded it off because it does just far too fast.

Comment by wickedpam on 04/06/2010 13:00:28
Quote by Raine:

Quote by wickedpam:

No prob - I find those stats Tri posts rather compelling from week to week, even if I don't say anything about it


The cost of war site is frighteningly hypnotic... I rounded it off because it does just far too fast.






I was trying to do that but I'd start to write the number and look back and it was a totally different number

Comment by TriSec on 04/06/2010 13:10:07
Good Morning, boy do I suck!



I've found the 'cost of war' number mesmerizing as well. Something I've done from time to time is to put a stopwatch on it and see how fast $10k or $100k goes by.



The casualty figures are the important numbers, though.



In any case, I think I know what I did...I went to 'preview' then navigated away before hitting 'save'. I've done that before, but I was rather late this morning and couldn't rebuild it.





Comment by Scoopster on 04/06/2010 13:19:42
Morning all & Happy Mondee! ack it's tUESDEE!

Comment by wickedpam on 04/06/2010 13:36:56
hmm - my home actually gained a little ground this year. it wasn't much but I'm still in better shape then most of my neighbors

Comment by Will in Chicago on 04/06/2010 13:44:40
Good morning, bloggers!! I hope that everyone is well.



TriSec, don't feel bad. I will PM you later with something you might want to look at for next week's blog.



Over here, it is fairly quiet. Two of the school districts that I sub for are on spring break, and others are just getting back in class today. So, I will be busy with housework and job hunting today.

Comment by Raine on 04/06/2010 14:11:14
I want the CEO of this company to go to jail.
Since 1995, there have been more than 3,000 violations at Upper Big Branch, though it was not immediately clear how that compared to other mines of its size.



Of the $1.5 million in penalties MSHA proposed since 2007, Massey has actually paid less than $300,000.



[snip] Two citations from January for not having a proper plan to ventilate the mine, extracting methane and other chemicals from the air, could cost Massey more than $130,000 in fines. The company is contesting both those regulatory actions.



Such contests are the norm, O'Dell said, and they are part of the problem.



The company is required to fix problems inspectors find when they are found, but by keeping cases open, companies can prevent MSHA from establishing a so-called "pattern of violation," which could allow regulators to shut down the mine, O'Dell said.



"They can't put you on a pattern of violation and they can't close you down, but you can keep on violating that same law," he said.



As long as the company can keep the cases tied up, regulators can't build a case against them, he said.








Comment by Will in Chicago on 04/06/2010 14:22:19
Raine, it is rare that corporate leaders are held responsible for their actions. I think that this should be a time where there is a full investigation, and prosecution of any and all violations of the law.

Comment by Raine on 04/06/2010 14:32:56
Quote by Raine:

I want the CEO of this company to go to jail.
Since 1995, there have been more than 3,000 violations at Upper Big Branch, though it was not immediately clear how that compared to other mines of its size.



Of the $1.5 million in penalties MSHA proposed since 2007, Massey has actually paid less than $300,000.



[snip] Two citations from January for not having a proper plan to ventilate the mine, extracting methane and other chemicals from the air, could cost Massey more than $130,000 in fines. The company is contesting both those regulatory actions.



Such contests are the norm, O'Dell said, and they are part of the problem.



The company is required to fix problems inspectors find when they are found, but by keeping cases open, companies can prevent MSHA from establishing a so-called "pattern of violation," which could allow regulators to shut down the mine, O'Dell said.



"They can't put you on a pattern of violation and they can't close you down, but you can keep on violating that same law," he said.



As long as the company can keep the cases tied up, regulators can't build a case against them, he said.


Oh -- and here is the F*ckers twitter feed: http://twitter.com/donblankenship and a few of his tweets:



Here's a list of 22 Senator who support higher taxes, higher electric bills and fewer American jobs. http://qorv.is/feb
His actions killed more workers than senators that he is railing against.



Congress is destroying the English language. They continue to misuse the word "reform." That word means to improve something, not tax it.
and yes, he didn't "reform" his mine at all - thus leading to the deaths of at least 25 people.



America doesn’t need Green jobs – but Red, White, & Blue ones.
there are a few very macabre things that I could say about this.



The Sierra Club filed 983 lawsuits against the fed gov't over 9 years. They tie up the legal system AND private industry w/ frivolous suits.
he tied up resolving issues by not fixing problems -- thus leading to the deaths of his workers.



Chain carrying environmental zealot Mike Rozelle apparently enjoys terrifying defenseless women. What a guy!
I suspect the families still waiting to hear of their loved ones are alive are pretty terrified right now.



The EPA put 1,300 coal-related jobs in WV at risk by pulling 23 mining permits. Rahall should tell EPA there's a national recession.
Hmm-- seems like he decided risking his workers lives was more important the safety. Think I'm kidding? see this tweet:

Rahall says some are driven by “ugly profit motives”. He thinks profits are ugly?

Death is ugly and Blankenship wrote a letter:
In 2006, two miners died in a fire at Aracoma Mine after Blankenship personally waived company policy and told mine managers to ignore rules and “run coal.








Comment by Will in Chicago on 04/06/2010 14:33:41
If the mine owners are found guilty of any crimes, I hope that they receive no special treatment. However, it may take years to deal with this tragedy in the legal system.

Comment by Raine on 04/06/2010 14:34:38
They just used a bumper from 'The Cleveland Show' -- the third most offensively funny show on TV -- After Family and South Park.

Comment by Raine on 04/06/2010 14:36:18
Quote by Will in Chicago:

If the mine owners are found guilty of any crimes, I hope that they receive no special treatment. However, it may take years to deal with this tragedy in the legal system.




The company kept cases open so they couldn't be shut down. That loophole HAS to change.

Comment by TriSec on 04/06/2010 14:50:55
What is the President thinking? If they piss us off, we should be able to nuke France!





Comment by TriSec on 04/06/2010 14:55:34
Tiger Woods on Keith: "Blood Spinning" ???????



Listen, I have my blood "spun" every month when I donate platelets. They take out the platelets, and the red blood cells and plasma go back in.



Knocks the hell out of me; I'm usually wiped out by sundown.





Comment by Raine on 04/06/2010 15:03:54
Quote by TriSec:

What is the President thinking? If they piss us off, we should be able to nuke France!







We missed that chance, it seems.



Comment by livingonli on 04/06/2010 15:33:13
Good morning everyone.



I am really getting tired of the right-wing crazy train.

Comment by livingonli on 04/06/2010 15:54:24
It just went up from 60 to 67 degrees here in 10 minutes time.

Comment by wickedpam on 04/06/2010 16:01:46
Quote by livingonli:

Good morning everyone.



I am really getting tired of the right-wing crazy train.






They are a draining lot. LIke a pack of vampires but without the literary grace and charm. THey only sparkling like the ones who deserve staking

Comment by livingonli on 04/06/2010 16:06:56
Listening to a teabagger is like being in a room full of crazy uncles and Grampa Simpsons.

Comment by TriSec on 04/06/2010 18:49:43
Is a calmer head finally prevailing?



I'll admit I don't know an awful lot about Tom Coburn (R-OK), but this kind of news is so rare, it's almost astonishing.





Sen. Tom Coburn, a staunch conservative from Oklahoma, is doing what seems almost unthinkable in this polarized political climate: Defending his Democratic colleagues from critics at Fox News.



At a town hall meeting, Coburn suggested that a woman who said "they can put us in prison" for not obtaining health insurance under the health care reform bill is misinformed.



"The intention is not to put anybody in jail," he said. "That makes for good TV news on Fox but that isn't the intention."



He also defended House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the architect of the House version of the health care legislation that he fiercely opposed.



"I'm 180 degrees in opposition to the speaker -- she's a nice lady," he said. The crowd could be heard responding unfavorably to his characterization.



"Come on now, she is a nice -- how many of you all have met her?" continued Coburn. "She's a nice person. She's a nice person."



"Just because somebody disagrees with you doesn't mean they're not a good person," he added. He then discussed his own experience of being vilified before asking the crowd not to "catch yourself being biased by Fox News that somebody's no good."



"The people in Washington are good," he said. "They just don't know what they don't know."



Coburn's comments were recorded by radio station KGOU and reported by Capitol News Connection, where audio clips are posted.



The senator urged his audience to "stay informed on the issues" and not "just watch Fox News or CNN -- watch 'em both." He said he reads the New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal every day to "get a perspective" and "know what other people's thoughts are -- not just what I hear through a pipe channel."





Comment by Scoopster on 04/06/2010 19:15:46
Comment by BobR on 04/06/2010 19:48:53
Quote by TriSec:

Is a calmer head finally prevailing?



I'll admit I don't know an awful lot about Tom Coburn (R-OK), but this kind of news is so rare, it's almost astonishing.





Sen. Tom Coburn, a staunch conservative from Oklahoma, is doing what seems almost unthinkable in this polarized political climate: Defending his Democratic colleagues from critics at Fox News.



At a town hall meeting, Coburn suggested that a woman who said "they can put us in prison" for not obtaining health insurance under the health care reform bill is misinformed.



"The intention is not to put anybody in jail," he said. "That makes for good TV news on Fox but that isn't the intention."



He also defended House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the architect of the House version of the health care legislation that he fiercely opposed.



"I'm 180 degrees in opposition to the speaker -- she's a nice lady," he said. The crowd could be heard responding unfavorably to his characterization.



"Come on now, she is a nice -- how many of you all have met her?" continued Coburn. "She's a nice person. She's a nice person."



"Just because somebody disagrees with you doesn't mean they're not a good person," he added. He then discussed his own experience of being vilified before asking the crowd not to "catch yourself being biased by Fox News that somebody's no good."



"The people in Washington are good," he said. "They just don't know what they don't know."



Coburn's comments were recorded by radio station KGOU and reported by Capitol News Connection, where audio clips are posted.



The senator urged his audience to "stay informed on the issues" and not "just watch Fox News or CNN -- watch 'em both." He said he reads the New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal every day to "get a perspective" and "know what other people's thoughts are -- not just what I hear through a pipe channel."





wow - here's hoping the rest of the Republican party returns to this kind of normalcy...

Comment by clintster on 04/06/2010 22:30:44
While Sen. Coburn is giving the appearance of a return to civility...



Glenn Beck has a "Chairman Mao" puppet cohost.* It even has its own Facebook page, where people can voice their outrage.



*The story is that he bought it at Disney World. Funny, but I don't recall Mao ever having a hair braid.

Comment by Mondobubba on 04/06/2010 23:49:18
Quote by TriSec:

Is a calmer head finally prevailing?



I'll admit I don't know an awful lot about Tom Coburn (R-OK), but this kind of news is so rare, it's almost astonishing.





Sen. Tom Coburn, a staunch conservative from Oklahoma, is doing what seems almost unthinkable in this polarized political climate: Defending his Democratic colleagues from critics at Fox News.



At a town hall meeting, Coburn suggested that a woman who said "they can put us in prison" for not obtaining health insurance under the health care reform bill is misinformed.



"The intention is not to put anybody in jail," he said. "That makes for good TV news on Fox but that isn't the intention."



He also defended House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the architect of the House version of the health care legislation that he fiercely opposed.



"I'm 180 degrees in opposition to the speaker -- she's a nice lady," he said. The crowd could be heard responding unfavorably to his characterization.



"Come on now, she is a nice -- how many of you all have met her?" continued Coburn. "She's a nice person. She's a nice person."



"Just because somebody disagrees with you doesn't mean they're not a good person," he added. He then discussed his own experience of being vilified before asking the crowd not to "catch yourself being biased by Fox News that somebody's no good."



"The people in Washington are good," he said. "They just don't know what they don't know."



Coburn's comments were recorded by radio station KGOU and reported by Capitol News Connection, where audio clips are posted.



The senator urged his audience to "stay informed on the issues" and not "just watch Fox News or CNN -- watch 'em both." He said he reads the New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal every day to "get a perspective" and "know what other people's thoughts are -- not just what I hear through a pipe channel."







I called Sen. Dr. Coburn's office to thank him for showing decorum and civility. His voice mailbox was full. One wonders if the calls are pro or con being decent.

Comment by livingonli on 04/07/2010 01:27:06
One never knows with the crazys. I'm sure the teabaggers blew a gasket when Coburn went off the reservation. At least if some of us who normally don't support him and thanked him for making some effort to restore civility.