Andrewwhyte

It would be very difficult to ascertain the direction of the south magnetic pole from the geographic south pole. The curvature of the lines of magnetic force in that region is acute enough that the compass just spins if you move it a cm.

Good point.

Did the people who business interests in Russia in 1917 get compensated?

you keep asserting this, but everyone here can do simple division. It isn't John who is asserting it; it is Banzhaf. I think you need more than simple division to debunk his article. Saying it seems simple enough just won't cut it.

No question, the persistence of Cuba is a huge thorn in the side of the administration. With the rise of Chavez and the new left in Latin America Cuba has gained relevance from the nadir of the collapse of the Soviet Union. For those talking about free trade with Cuba you need to remember what the Cubans have to sell; yes they have tourism and cigars, but what they really have is SUGAR. The sugar quotas and tariffs are perhaps the singularly most stupid aspect of the US trade system. I can never figure out whether it is really implemented for the benefit of the cane farmers in Louisiana and Hawaii, or just as a blunt instrument of power over poor nations. Regardless, it takes on new relevance with the ethanol movement in the agricultural economy. Sugar is a way better source of carbohydrates to convert to fuel than corn or wood-fibre will ever be. If you try to have free trade with Cuba the mid-west Ag lobby will crucify you.

Well, relations can only get better. As long as GITMO is there, however, I don't think they will ever be chummy.

Well I guess that is true; every time one of them gets into power the army stages a coup.

common sense would indicate that scientists would use something like the prime meridian as a reference. BTW if you are anywhere less than ~111.41 miles from the pole and head due east, you will find your own tracks within 700 miles.

Yah, they are just wrong. If they were right they could re-aquire the pole by heading west. Since west has a defined direction where they are (face the north pole and add 270 degrees) this would get them lost.

How many times has the military, any military been on the south pole? Remember the south pole is a point not a region.

No one. There is no such direction. Yes. However once you have taken one step forward east would be to your right. If you took one step backward east would be to your left. DNE see above.

Looks like an advertisement to me.

The delegate fiasco has given the GOP a big advantage in Florida; I doubt they will do anything to mess that up like piss the Miami Cubanos off. Look for a few mostly symbolic easing of tensions but nothing of substance until next year.

Go rent "All That Jazz." It will all be clear.

The FED is not borrowing money; they are printing it. Since a lot of money has recently disappeared from the economy with the write downs of so many mortgages the theory is that it can do so without inflationary pressures. There is a certain amount of room for that, but if you believe that those old prices (and thus that money) were illusionary to begin with, and the rest of the economy believes that too, then the attempt to re-inflate the currency without inflating prices will fail. Rather the currency will further deflate. This is where the economists really do get out their pointy hats with the crescent moons and stars on them and start waving wands.

Next time you go make damn sure you catch him at it. Put him outside for the rest of the visit and all of the next one. If it is a territory issue this will drive home the message that this is not his place.

Apparently, but not actually.

God gives us war to teach Americans geography. Funny thing is America did have a war against Hungary; or were they out by the time the yanks showed up?

All aircraft are regulated. The difference between Canadian and American jumpships is that Canadian ones need a commercial operating certificate. This probably contributes more to the cost differential for jump tickets than taxes. However this issue has nothing to do with aircraft; it has to do with the rest of the industry. At least TC knows something about aircraft, they know nothing about skydiving or skydiving training. If TC becomes the legal authority on skydiving that means breaking a BSR is breaking the law. When we want to change a BSR the first step will be to call the government and find out when we can get it on the agenda. A good example is the 180 day reserve packing cycle. The decision to change from 120 days to 180 was made by the technical and safety committee in consultation with the board of directors as well as rigging committees from FAI member groups all over the world. People like TSC chair Barry McCauley who have spent virtually their entire adult life devoted to skydiving and skydiving safety were task with this. The rules for demos however were under Transport, and they remained at 120 days. CSPA requested that Transport change this rule to synchronize with CSPA and CAPS standards. Transport took over five years to make the change. What was the hold up, you ask? Nothing. They considered it and made the change in a timely fashion; for them five years is not an innappropriate amount of time. Not coincidentally the US, who has their packing cycle for all jumpers controlled by the FAA, is just now considering making a rule change, years after the issue has been dealt with around the world.

Actually the Nazi regime of the time they were running in democratic elections was indeed spurious. From the Oxford American Dictionary: Spurious- adjective not being what it purports to be; false or fake Sounds like them. However I was actually referring to the relationship between things - (of a line of reasoning) apparently but not actually valid.

The capital of Washington is,....W!

The technique was very successful. Why wouldn't people use it? I would say that connecting political technique with political ideology is spurious.

,...and that is the crux of the problem. The crux of the problem is that I watched "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader" one time? Sorry...I won't watch it again if that'll help. Since the show is on the air you were not the only one watching; that and survivor, and the rest of the drivel that is network television.

I think the fact that after seventeen years on the force he has not progressed past skateboard duty says it all.

,...and that is the crux of the problem.