~e; Electromagnetic News & Views #98
From
brian carroll <human@electronetwork.org>
Date
Mon, 5 Apr 2004 11:00:36 -0500
===================================================
Electromagnetic News & Views -- #98
===================================================
00) Electronetwork.org Commentary (4/05/2004)
01) Top Stories of Electromagnetism
02) Electromagnetic health & safety
03) Electromagnetic trash & treasure
04) Electromagnetic security & surveillance
05) Electromagnetic power & energy
06) Electromagnetic current & human affairs
07) Electromagnetic transport & communication
08) Electromagnetic matter & information
09) Electromagnetic trends & inventions
10) Electromagnetic weaponry & warfare
11) Electromagnetic business & economics
12) Electromagnetic artworks & artifacts
===================================================
00) --commentary-- urls...
===================================================
01) --top stories--
---------------------------------------------------
In electricity, Israelis and Palestinians stay connected // silver rays
of hope.
<http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/412063.html>
'Even during the worst periods of the bloodshed between Israel and the
Palestinians, the electricity system in the territories has operated
normally. The Israel Electric Company supplies the electricity for the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the electricity network has not been
sabotaged and there is normal coordination between the sides to
identify and repair malfunctions.' ... '. About two weeks ago meetings
were held in West and East Jerusalem of a tripartite working group -
Israeli, Palestinian and European - with the participation of National
Infrastructure Minister Yosef Paritzky, Palestinian cabinet member Azam
Shawa and French Minister for Industry Nicole Fontaine. At the meetings
it was agreed to accelerate negotiations towards the signing of
commercial agreements between the sides, on the basis of a prior
agreement that the electricity supply will be outside the conflict.'
... 'With respect to the future, there are several possibilities....'
Sharon: Palestinian State May Take Years // then this...
<http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-israel-
palestinians,0,7464806.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines>
'Sharon did not explain how Gaza would function in such a situation.
He said Israel would continue supplying water and electricity, but said
the flow might stop in the event of a major Palestinian attack on
Israelis.'
Why so secretive? // 12:24 PST, April 2, 2004. free day-pass...
<http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/>
'If Cheney's task force records are ultimately unsealed -- despite the
vote of Cheney's hunting buddy Justice Antonin Scalia -- we may get
crucial insight into this question: Whether energy policy and military
policy toward Iraq were inextricably connected from the early days of
the Bush administration, long before 9/11 and long before we were told
the Iraq war was about WMDs.'
// sidenote: the last 'duck hunt' he became the CEO of halliburton,
// thus claims of non-communication of Scalia and Cheney are suspect.
[referenced] CONTRACT SPORT by JANE MAYER
What did the Vice-President do for Halliburton? // essential...
<http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?040216fa_fact>
'For months there has been a debate in Washington about when the Bush
Administration decided to go to war against Saddam. In Ron Suskind’s
recent book "The Price of Loyalty," former Treasury Secretary Paul
O’Neill charges that Cheney agitated for U.S. intervention well before
the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Additional evidence that
Cheney played an early planning role is contained in a previously
undisclosed National Security Council document, dated February 3, 2001.
The top-secret document, written by a high-level N.S.C. official,
concerned Cheney’s newly formed Energy Task Force. It directed the
N.S.C. staff to coöperate fully with the Energy Task Force as it
considered the "melding" of two seemingly unrelated areas of policy:
"the review of operational policies towards rogue states," such as
Iraq, and "actions regarding the capture of new and existing oil and
gas fields." .. 'A source who worked at the N.S.C. at the time doubted
that there were links between Cheney’s Energy Task Force and the
overthrow of Saddam. But Mark Medish, who served as senior director for
Russian, Ukrainian, and Eurasian affairs at the N.S.C. during the
Clinton Administration, told me that he regards the document as
potentially "huge." He said, "People think Cheney’s Energy Task Force
has been secretive about domestic issues," referring to the fact that
the Vice-President has been unwilling to reveal information about
private task-force meetings that took place in 2001, when information
was being gathered to help develop President Bush’s energy policy. "But
if this little group was discussing geostrategic plans for oil, it puts
the issue of war in the context of the captains of the oil industry
sitting down with Cheney and laying grand, global plans."' ... 'One
businessman with close ties to the Bush Administration told me,
"Anything that has to do with Iraq policy, Cheney's the man to see.
He's running it, the way that L.B.J. ran the space program."' ...
[note: the following sounds very much like Enron's businsess model]
'Kemp said that he is working on two business ventures in Iraq. He
described the first project, a company called Free Market Global, as
"an international company that trades in gas, petroleum, and other
resources." Although Kemp provided only vague details about the
project, he said, "I can tell you that General Tommy Franks has joined
the advisory board of Free Market Global." Last year, General Franks
commanded the invasion of Iraq.'
EM-quote: Whistleblower Drops Israeli Citizenship
<http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-israel-
nuclear-whistleblower,0,281005.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines>
'Vanunu, who was a technician at the nuclear plant in the desert town
of Dimona, served more than a decade in solitary confinement after
being convicted in an Israeli court.' .. 'Vanunu has become a hero of
anti-nuclear weapons activists during his years in prison and has been
nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.' .. 'Based partly on photographs
that Vanunu provided the British newspaper, it is widely believed
Israel has a large stockpile of nuclear weapons. The CIA recently
estimated Israel has 200-400 nuclear weapons.' .. 'Israel has an
official policy of "nuclear ambiguity," saying only that it will not be
the first to introduce nuclear weapons into the Middle East.'
Game Over television show // ***
<http://www.gameover.tv/>
[and] Game Over description
<http://www.tvtome.com/GameOver/>
'Game Over is UPN 's new family comedy series featuring the adventures
of the suburban Smashenburn family , who just happen to live in an
alternate video-game universe. Comprised of offbeat characters who face
everyday familial issues,the Smashenburns find unconventional ways to
fight, survive and love within this 3D CGI-animated world of action
heroes, monsters and cartoon characters, inspired by the popular genre
of video games.'
---------------------------------------------------
02-- electromagnetic health & safety
---------------------------------------------------
Bush attacks environment 'scare stories'
Secret email gives advice on denying climate change
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1185379,00.html>
'The Observer has obtained a remarkable email sent to the press
secretaries of all Republican congressmen advising them what to say
when questioned on the environment in the run-up to November's
election. The advice: tell them everything's rosy.' .. 'It tells them
how global warming has not been proved, air quality is 'getting
better', the world's forests are 'spreading, not deadening', oil
reserves are 'increasing, not decreasing', and the 'world's water is
cleaner and reaching more people'.' .. 'The email - sent on 4 February
- warns that Democrats will 'hit us hard' on the environment. 'In an
effort to help your members fight back, as well as be aggressive on the
issue, we have prepared the following set of talking points on where
the environment really stands today,' it states.' ... 'The memo -
headed 'From medi-scare to air-scare' - goes on: 'From the heated
debate on global warming to the hot air on forests; from the muddled
talk on our nation's waters to the convolution on air pollution, we are
fighting a battle of fact against fiction on the environment -
Republicans can't stress enough that extremists are screaming
"Doomsday!" when the environment is actually seeing a new and better
day.''
Computer Program Predicts Heart Attack Risk
<http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=571&ncid=751&e=1&u=/
nm/20040402/hl_nm/health_heart_dc>
// not em-related, though ethically related to issues of expediancy of
today's
// em medical equipment and diagnoses as a type of medical .mil
assembly line...
// also in many cases such as post-traumatic stress, brain scientists
and others
// recent studies may indicate the brute-force treatments may do
extreme damage.
// (sidenote: veteran's hospitals should have volunteering programs
available.)
Broken US troops face bigger enemy at home: A stretched Pentagon is
sending
unfit soldiers back to Iraq long before they are ready to serve again
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1184960,00.html>
'In some cases, the wounded were recycled with alarming speed. A
mechanic, who suffered brain damage last June when his vehicle was hit
by a suicide bus, was sent back to Iraq in October despite reported
blurred vision and memory loss. He returned with his unit last month,
and medical evaluations showed he had continued bleeding from the
original head injury.'
---------------------------------------------------
03-- electromagnetic trash & treasure
---------------------------------------------------
[note: an advertisement in the local paper for an outdoors store
showed a multi-colored spool of 'leaded-core' fishing line, likely
for its strength. though it is curious if this is contaminating the
water that fisherpeople are using by leaving lead in the lakes. is
it remotely EM because of its chemical processes which may bounce
off certain relations of water and lead molecules, it is wondered.]
New Manure Biogas Plant Expected to be Generating Electricity by
Month's End
<http://www.thepigsite.com/LatestNews/
Default.asp?AREA=LatestNews&Display=7338>
'The plant uses anaerobic digesters to convert manure from the hog
barn into biogas, a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide, which will
be sold to Sask Power to generate electricity.'
---------------------------------------------------
04-- electromagnetic security & surveillance
---------------------------------------------------
The Myth of the Secure Operating System
<http://www.technewsworld.com/perl/story/33293.html>
Volunteer Security Pros Launch Free Vulnerability Database // OSVDB
<http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1560670,00.asp>
Whodunits to be computer games
Anyone who has ever fancied themselves a detective to rival Poirot can
test their mettle when Agatha Christie's murder mysteries become PC
games.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3597713.stm>
'Which of Christie's 79 novels and short story collections will be
adapted has not yet been decided.'
---------------------------------------------------
05-- electromagnetic power & energy
---------------------------------------------------
Judge affirms public's right to know how nation's energy policy emerged
<http://www.mcall.com/news/opinion/all-
editorial2apr05,0,314071.story?coll=all-newsopinion-hed>
'Eighteen of the energy industry's top 25 financial contributors to
the GOP were among those advising the energy task force. Mr. Cheney's
intransigence intensifies suspicions that national energy policy is
unduly — and secretly — influenced by the industry.'
False Promises on Gas // NYT editorial on .US politics and energy/oil...
<http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/05/opinion/05MON1.html>
'The sad part about this squabbling is that it drives the debate
toward short-term fixes of dubious value and away from the heart of the
matter, which is getting the country to cut consumption while embarking
on a serious program of alternative fuels. Tweaking the petroleum
reserve, jawboning foreign leaders, even increasing refining capacity —
none of these ideas have ever provided sustained protection against the
volatility of world oil prices. A better approach would be to wean the
nation from its profligate use of oil. In that context, a 50-cent
gasoline tax is not a ridiculous idea; had such a tax been imposed a
decade ago, consumption might well be less than it is now.'
Sources: Brazil blocks nuclear inspectors
(CNN) -- The Brazilian government and U.N. nuclear inspectors are at
odds over
inspections of an under-construction, uranium-enrichment facility near
Rio de
Janeiro, sources close to the International Atomic Energy Agency said
Sunday.
<http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americas/04/04/brazil.nuclear/>
Iraq Restarts Oil Pipeline to Turkey
<http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-turkey-iraq-
oil,0,33871.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines>
U.S. Gas Prices: Don't Blame Us
<http://www.wired.com/news/business/
0,1367,62938,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_3>
'Al-Jubeir also said it was difficult for foreign oil companies and
domestic suppliers to sell gasoline in the U.S. market because federal
environmental regulations require dozens of different fuel blends be
sold across the country to combat pollution.' ... '"Unless the U.S.
begins to simplify this area, and unless the U.S. deals with its
refining shortage, there will always be a problem (with) gasoline,"
Al-Jubeir said.'
Germany to double electricity from wind // noise-issues
<http://www.expatica.com/source/
site_article.asp?subchannel_id=52&story_id=6286>
'Electricity mainly from wind will rise to 12.5 percent of total power
in Germany by 2010, up from 7.9 percent last year, under a bill passed
by Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's left-leaning Bundestag majority.' ..
'Alternative energy subsidies in Germany are paid not by the state but
rather by electricity users in the form of higher bills which fund wind
parks and other programmes.'
---------------------------------------------------
06-- electromagnetic current & human affairs
---------------------------------------------------
Pakistan seeks nuclear talks with India in May // nuclear diplomacy...
<http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-04/05/content_1402164.htm>
'In pursuance of the road-map worked out between the foreign
secretaries of Pakistan and India on February 18, 2004, said the
release, Pakistan has proposed 25-26 May as the dates for hosting
expert level talks on nuclear CBMs [confidence-building measures].'
// new conceptual language and its utility in contextualizing current
events...
EM-quote: Putin Says Russian Does Not Fear NATO
<http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-russia-
nato,0,6052821.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines>
'"None of us wants modern Europe to be divided by new, and this case
virtual, Berlin walls," Putin said.'
---------------------------------------------------
07-- electromagnetic transport & communication
---------------------------------------------------
Robot footballers shoot to score // (aka 'soccer'). via macsurfer.com
A robot football match being hosted next week could provide solutions
to real world problems, as well as showcasing British robotic talent.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3591031.stm>
'For the matches at Warwick, two teams of five autonomous robots try
to score as many goals as possible in the 10-minute matches.'
Haiti Radio Stations Return to Airwaves
<http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-radio-free-
haiti,0,5420434.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines>
Chirac Visits Moscow Space Control Center // e.g. .RU plans a Mars
expedition...
<http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-russia-
france,0,1641224.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines>
'Putin said his decision to invite Chirac to the site points to
"Russia's transparency and openness in security matters." But he also
touched on the economic side, emphasizing his country's "vast space
exploration potential."'
Robo-Cars Make Cruise Control So Last Century // see autonomus autos
graphic...
<http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/04/automobiles/04AUTO.html>
---------------------------------------------------
08-- electromagnetic matter & information
---------------------------------------------------
electromagnetism // superb educational overviews.
<http://zebu.uoregon.edu/~js/21st_century_science/lectures/lec04.html>
'Maxwell moved physics to a new realm of understanding. By using
field theory as the core to electromagnetism, we have moved beyond a
Newtonian worldview where objects change by direct contact and into a
theory that uses invisible fields. This introduces a type of
understanding which can only be described with a type of mathematics
that cannot be directly translated into language. In other words,
scientists where restricted in talking about electromagnetic phenomenon
strictly through the use of a new type of language, one of pure math.'
... 'notice that all objects emit all kinds of electromagnetic
radiation. Except, cool objects (like humans) emit very little at
short wavelengths (x-rays) and long wavelengths (radio). Most of our
energy comes out in the infrared (our peak emission is at 10 microns)'
[and] Atomic structure
<http://zebu.uoregon.edu/~js/21st_century_science/lectures/lec11.html>
[&] Theory of Everything
<http://zebu.uoregon.edu/~js/21st_century_science/lectures/lec17.html>
[and] Uncertainty Principle
<http://zebu.uoregon.edu/~js/21st_century_science/lectures/lec14.html>
[and] Incompleteness
<http://zebu.uoregon.edu/~js/21st_century_science/lectures/lec08.html>
'The road to truth is paved by a formal logical system, and a paradox
is a statement about the limitations to logic, and thereby mathematics
itself.' .. 'Logical systems are idealized, abstract languages
originally developed by modern logicians as a means of analyzing the
concept of deduction. Logical models are structures which may be used
to provide an interpretation of the symbolism embodied in a formal
system. Together the concepts of formal system and model constitute
one of the most fundamental tools employed in modern physical
theories.' .. 'A formal logical system is a collection of abstract
symbols, together with a set of rules for assembling the symbols into
strings. Such a system has four components: 1) an alphabet, a set of
abstract symbols, 2) grammar, rules which specify the valid ways one
can combine the symbols, 3) axioms, a set of well-formed statements
accepted as true without proof, and 4) rules of inference, procedures
by which one can combine and change axioms into new strings.' ... 'the
study of paradoxes is very useful to modern science since it quickly
demonstrates where the problems are in the questions, not the lack of
answers or solutions'
Tiniest particles of matter don't behave, raising nanotech concerns
//macsurfer
<http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2004-04-02-nano-flaw_x.htm>
'"What's becoming obvious is while it's trendy to talk about
nanomaterials in broad-brush terms, we can't do that. We need to
discuss this on a case-by-case basis," Wiesner said in an interview.'
... 'Even the nanoparticles best suited for travel appeared capable of
moving underground no more than about 10 yards before sticking to
larger grains of sand, he added.' .. 'The finding also could impede
those who want to press the ultra-small particles into the fight
against pollution.' ... 'The findings underscore a basic tenet of
nanotechnology: "When you get smaller, properties change," Mark Ratner
of Northwestern University said during a nanotechnology forum.'
// it is realized it is foolish to speculate on things one does not
know about
// in any great degree, yet there are some who are convinced
electromagnetism
// _is gravity, and with this thought in mind, considering the EM
forcefields
// of the Earth it is wondered how they might affect any such
experimentation.
// meaning: if the EM forces are visualized for the Earth, it would
appear to
// be a type of bending (see van allen belts, for instance). amusing...
maybe.
Satellite to test Einstein theory-- A satellite that will put Albert
Einstein's
Theory of Relativity to the test is ready to be launched. // grand
unification
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3596499.stm>
'Gravity Probe B will test how space and time are warped by the
presence of the Earth, and how the Earth's rotation twists and drags
space-time around with it.'
[and] Probe eyes key concept of physics
<http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/04/03/
probe_eyes_key_concept_of_physics/>
'The project has been hailed as a marvel for its work with cryogenics
and engineering. The gyroscopes' four spherical rotors, each the size
of a ping-pong ball, are considered the roundest manmade objects in the
world. Scientists can also detect a change of angle equal to the width
of a human hair as seen from 10 miles away. To ensure the experiment's
success, scientists had to create almost unheard-of conditions inside
the satellite, where the instruments will be kept chilled at minus 455
degrees Fahrenheit with liquid helium.' .. 'The probe can even boast
its own spinoff technologies. Graduate students who worked on the
project helped develop better GPS systems that are now used in aircraft
landings. They also created a type of superglue that can stand up to
the pressures of space.'
[for instance] Nasa Presentation on Antigravity
<http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/bpp/HTML%20Presentation2%20folder/
sld001.htm>
[and] Gravity and Electromagnetism
<http://www.ufoindia.org/article_gravityelectromag.htm>
'Study of the interiors of various terrestrial planets, as presented
in the paper, leads to the possibility of planetary gravity being
linked to the electromagnetism generated in the planetary interiors.'
.. 'Findings of the study undertaken suggest that earth's gravitational
attraction may be attributed to magnetic coupling experienced between
earth's electromagnetism and the magnetism possessed by all the earthly
objects-charged and unchanged. More precisely, terrestrial gravity is
deemed to be produced out of the enclosed state of the planetary
electromagnetism.' ... 'Earth's gravity, it appears, is intrinscially
related to the generation of electromagnetic force within its
interiors.' ... 'Effect of gravity on a body is analogus to the action
of a magnet on a ferrous material.' ... '... gravity and
electromagnetism might be the two identical forces in nature with the
exception that gravity is electromagnetic force of only attracting type
in the light of the observed pulling effect of the gravity force. Study
of terrestrial interiors like earth's also suggests that gravitational
attraction of earth may be attributed to magnetic coupling experienced
between earth's magnetism and the magnetism possessed by earthly
objects- charged and uncharged.'
---------------------------------------------------
09-- electromagnetic trends & inventions
---------------------------------------------------
Moore's Second Law // *** excellent. ~ efficiency of electronic devices
~
If we don't do something about increasing battery life, we're toast.
<http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.04/
start.html?pg=2?tw=wn_tophead_6>
'... the biggest challenge to progress is much more ordinary: It's
battery life. What good is a super-functional cell phone if it runs out
of juice after 20 minutes?' ... 'The problem can be stated in a single
word: ~wireless.' ... 'we're beginning to lose the race to power our
wireless electronics.' ... 'What we need is a fourth axis of
development - a systematic improvement of overall system efficiency,
from the individual silicon gate, through motherboards and displays,
all the way up to the Internet itself. How do we do it? Exhaustively.'
---------------------------------------------------
10-- electromagnetic weaponry & warfare
---------------------------------------------------
// it would seem that any fractures may also change technological and
economic
// decision making, such that various geographies would supply certain
places.
// note: if .jp buys the defense, it gets to change its .us based
constitution.
// note: producing more missiles seems cheap compared with any missile
defense,
// if for every missile there must be a counter-missile, a missle flood
attack?
Japan Joining U.S. in Missile Shield // fears of igniting nuclear arms
race...
<http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/03/international/asia/03MISS.html>
'For Washington, getting its allies aboard makes it easier politically
and financially to push ahead with a system that critics have described
as too costly and unproven. President Bush, who withdrew from the 1972
Antiballistic Missile Treaty, made a missile defense shield a campaign
promise in 2000.' ... 'Japan's role in missile defense is particularly
significant because deployment could force it to alter long-held
pacifist practices and re-examine its Constitution.' ... '... To track
incoming missiles, Japan would rely on intelligence from United States
satellites,...' ... '... The United States had been urging Japan to
adopt missile defense at least since 2002...'
U.S. Bets on Land Mine Technology // cost = breaking treaty + hacking.
(+WAMs)
<http://www.wired.com/news/business/
0,1367,62940,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_7>
'Future U.S. mines, however, would be enhanced with radio
communications and network sensors to ensure that the munitions comply
with a State Department edict, issued in February, that they all be
detectable by U.S. forces and automatically defuseable.' ... 'A mine
could generate a low-power radio signal at a frequency known only to
U.S. forces, said Loren Thompson, a defense analyst with the Lexington
Institute. Soldiers would have to respond with a proper password to
tell the mine to turn itself on or off.' ... 'Smart mines don't impress
human rights groups, which say the world would be better served if the
United States joined the 150 nations that have signed the 1997 Ottawa
treaty banning mines altogether.'
---------------------------------------------------
11-- electromagnetic business & economics
---------------------------------------------------
As Video Game Costs Rise, Industry Seeks Savings // mass media
<http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=581&ncid=581&e=1&u=/
nm/20040402/tc_nm/bizvideogames_dc>
'Behind the scenes, video game production for top titles like "Grand
Theft Auto" and "Madden NFL" is starting to look a lot like film
production: spiraling costs, the need for many more people to bring a
project to screens, and a growing sense of panic about how to keep
those factors in check.'
---------------------------------------------------
12-- electromagnetic artworks & artifacts
---------------------------------------------------
The Geometry Junkyard (links) // ***
<http://www.ics.uci.edu/~eppstein/junkyard/all.html>
Humanoid robot conducts Beethoven symphony // videos...
<http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994845>
'The 58-centimetre-tall humanoid robot led the Tokyo Philharmonic
Orchestra in a unique rendition of Beethoven's 5th symphony during a
concert held at the Bunkamura Orchard Hall in Tokyo on 15 March.'
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