text:
Skip to comments.Obama to Kill Tomahawk, Hellfire Missile Programs Cornerstone of U.S. Naval power eliminated
Posted on 03/24/2014 11:23:52 AM PDT by Nachum
President Barack Obama is seeking to abolish two highly successful missile programs that experts say has helped the U.S. Navy maintain military superiority for the past several decades.
The Tomahawk missile programknown as the worlds most advanced cruise missileis set to be cut by $128 million under Obamas fiscal year 2015 budget proposal and completely eliminated by fiscal year 2016, according to budget documents released by the Navy.
In addition to the monetary cuts to the program, the number of actual Tomahawk missiles acquired by the United States would drop significantlyfrom 196 last year to just 100 in 2015. The number will then drop to zero in 2016.
The Navy will also be forced to cancel its acquisition of the well-regarded and highly effective Hellfire missiles in 2015, according to Obamas proposal.
The proposed elimination of these missile programs came as a shock to lawmakers and military experts, who warned ending cutting these missiles would significantly erode Americas ability to deter enemy forces.
The administrations proposed budget dramatically under-resources our investments in munitions and leaves the Defense Department with dangerous gaps in key areas, like Tomahawk and Hellfire missiles, said Rep. Randy Forbes (R., Va.), a member of House Armed Services Committee.
Increasing our investment in munitions and retaining our technological edge in research and development should be a key component of any serious defense strategy, he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at freebeacon.com ...
Obama vs The US Military
How long before the nation's self preservation instincts kick in?
The list, Ping
Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list
Obama vs The US Military
What has he been promised in return for destroying us?
Obama is a suicide pact. If people haven't reacted yet, I doubt they will on this one. Most will never know about it.
"How long before the nations self preservation instincts kick in?"
Self-preservation is a biological reaction to a physical threat. This is at best an intellectual threat. No one is directly threatened so there can't be a flight or fight response. No one will "react" to this. The fight, if there is one, will be political. I suspect that Congress will fight it if only because these programs mean employment in their states or districts. (Congress has several times voted funds to keep open the M1 tank facility in Lima, Oh, despite the Army wanting to close it.)
And one... ONE man is accomplishing all of this destruction.
Keep this in mind before those who attack us for being sensible about Russia of being soft on that country show up on this thread.
Its not Putin they ought to worry about; its Obama.
And to the moderator: I am not attacking any one personally here; I'm simply pointing out that if we don't have the means to defend our national interests, we're not going to be able to do anything more in response to our potential adversaries than to draft strongly worded letters of condemnation to them.
Take it as you like it.
We don't need them anymore because Mooch-elle has just delivered the latest blueprints and software for all our weapon systems going back to the Civil War to the ChiComs and through them to the Putinistas, while on her multi-million Yuan vacation.
Congress will determine how much of what is purchased. Exclusively.
This is just an example of Obama's "SHOW BUDGET" which he knew would never be enacted...thus the careless cuts to essential munitions.
Some WH staffer was told to find another $1bil in the defense budget and he did. Probably cut humvee tires and 155mm rounds too. He just went through until he hit the number without regard to WHAT was being cut.
Much ado about nothing.
"How long before the nations self preservation instincts kick in?"
We've shed that a long time ago. There are three conditions to avoid chaos in America:
Does the media ignore, or spin the problem so it seems to be a good thing?
Are smartphones available and working?
Are EBT cards being charged up?
Forget it. There won't be any reaction until one of the 3 above conditions isn't met.
The true damage done by Obama and his regime will not be realized for at least 10 years.
Obama murdered the Constitution, Law, Freedom of religion,
the Family, ... and now,
the undocumented Tyrant will put the last nail
in America's coffin.
The EXEMPT and PROTECTED will howl in delight
for their controllers, ... again.
"And one... ONE man is accomplishing all of this destruction."
Nope. It's the "dinosaur media" that we used to laugh at here. None of this would be possible without active media participation.
Didn't we just give 2B to Ukraine (I wonder how much went into Georgie Soros' pocket...), and 2B to the Islamists, and 2B to Africa???
How much of our tax dollars has he steered toward his solar cell cronies, not to mention the billions and billions of dollars he's wasted?
And now that he's turned the world into a powder keg, he's all about disarming us! A stupid, stupid, people put this man in charge of their nation...
Probably some numbnuts that thinks Tomahawks are feather-bedecked hatchets and that Hellfire was something in the Chaplain corps ...
"What has he been promised in return for destroying us?"
Probably ownership of one of the territories of the New Soviet States Of America.
Please help me here (I only have a public education): How it is that this is not considered treason???
Well, he's more..."flexible"...in his second term.
&2 Mooch-elle's to enjoy for eternity. Wait a minute, that's really the definition of an unthinkable Hell.
and unstoppable in his Third....
How long before the nations self preservation instincts kick in?
As long as the federal checks and other forms of assistance keep coming few people really care. Their sense of self-entitlement is far greater than any realization of danger to themselves or their families. We are s a nation in serious decline.
Reminds me of when Clinton ran us completely out of one of the three conventional types of cruise missiles, and down to three of another before Congress forced creation of a dedicated assembly line and purchase. The third type wasn't used.
He wants a crisis. The worse the better for him.
It will justify the extension of his presidency beyond 2016, in the interest of "national stability" of course.
They probably don't know what the Tomahawk missile is. They just cut it because it isn't politically correct. Some liberal thinks that it is insulting to American Indians.
Elections have consequences (sigh).
Sadly, your cynicism likely is not far from the truth.
A Muslim Jim Jones on Islamic steroids.
good question. Too bad it didn't kick-in in 2012..
That's the explanation which makes the most sense and the one where other evidence points to the same conclusion.
Indeed, with the HAC-D and SAC-D, along with the SASC and HASC still to get their hits in, this is way early to panic.
Because the Senate is controlled by the DemocRATs and we don't have the votes.
The report is a half-truth, because it omits how the Tomahawk has a proposed successor, the Cruise Missile XR (Extended Range). The Russians are marketing increasingly effective anti-cruise missile systems, and the Tomahawk was not suitable for striking moving targets. The new Cruise Missile XR (Extended Range) offers stealth capabilities, the ability to strike moving targets, and other improvements challenging the Russian anti-cruise missile systems.
The Hellfire has long been under consideraton for phasing out as proposed replacements were developed and scheduled for appropriations that were subsequently canceled for budgetary reasons. The latest proposed replacement for the Hellfire is the Joint Air to Ground Missile (JAGM).
The retirement of the Tomahawk and Hellfire missiles after long service is to be expected sooner or later, so the real question is whether or not the Obama Administration is going to proved adequate and timely funding for effective replacement missile systems?
When did Congress last pass one of the President's budgets?
The article is fear mongering.
The Vietnam era crowd that hates the military, that supported our enemies in Vietnam and since, is now running the Pentagon. Their lies and deceit when they claim to love the military and veterans is bogus from start to finish.
Same fate this year, IMHO.
How can "Obama" just do this unilaterally? Or are all the various military heads on board with it? Can they just say no?
"The proposed elimination of these missile programs came as a shock to lawmakers and military experts, who warned ending cutting these missiles would significantly erode Americas ability to deter enemy forces."
Why is all of Congress and the entire judiciary just allowed this steaming pile of a fake president to do whatever he wants?
Agreed. It's SOP to "cut" programs that everyone knows Congress will restore through additional/supplemental funding.
Same game that was played, for years, with the C-130 and C-17 programs.
I wonder if Obama was Washington at the battle of Princeton, if he would have survived (the friendly fire that is).
"Enemies foreign and domestic". Obama has both bases covered.
That's okay, we don't need to defend the country, just let people come on in wherever they're from, and let's confiscate privately owned firearms, unless of course the possible owner professes a religion that prohibits anyone's touching their body.
Thanks Nachum.
Time for Zell Miller's "spitball" speech replay.
The tug overact and it's pogroms continue
Whomever put the bridle and bit on him and set him in front of the gate certainly chose well. He was irresistible.
Perhaps the karma that takes US down will have a little something left for them once it's finished with US.
Here's some fun reading while we wait:
Obamas Numerous Links with International Marxism Exposed
The First Time I Heard of Barack
New START and Obama's Mysterious Trip to Russia
Jaw-Dropping: Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Makes Bombshell Claim About Russia and 2008 Financial Crisis (and Why It May Sound Familiar)
He has killed the healthcare system, now he is going to kill the military.
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Welcome to the new web page for the Molecular Ferroelectrics Laboratory research group. While our web pages are under
major renovation, here is a little information about us.
- Current research group members are hard at work investing new ideas, working in the laboratory, analyzing data, and reporting their results at conferences and in the scientific journals.
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That is all, for now. In the mean time, you can visit the far more informative web pages through the links below.
Stephen Ducharme, Professor

subset: commoncrawl


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Jaco Pastorius: Jaco Pastorius
Don't get me wrong. This is a fantastic debut solo release by Jaco, showcasing his very best that circa 1976 could offer. Jazz greats are featured playing with Jaco. Two extra unreleased tracks are offered and lots of extra liner notes and photos are included.
Overall, I found this to be predominately a groove jazz release with assorted moments of delightfully dated funk flavorings, and smooth jazz leanings. I feel the stick-on label calling this CD "Classic Fusion" is very misleading. I don't believe Jaco ever considered himself a fusion bassist but a jazz-playing bassist with a special vision for his instrument. There is no rock to make this jazz rock fusion and just because Jaco used an electric bass doesn't mean rock is here. In fact some of Jaco's pieces could be better described as diversely ethnic or world jazz. When I hear some of Jaco's dreamier cuts he even veers into what would later be called new age jazz.
In summation, all bass players and virtuoso instrumental bass lovers need to have this in their collection. Fans of 70s, cutting-edge jazz releases also need to own this. If however, you are looking for a more wide-open, rocking, fusiony Jaco seek out his work with Weather Report. And do find Weather Report's 8:30 (Columbia, 1979) live release. Jaco really cuts loose in that live setting.
About Jaco Pastorius
DVD/Film Reviews
Extended Analysis
DVD/Film Reviews
Multiple Reviews
Extended Analysis
- Jaco Pastorius: Modern American Music…Period! The Criteria Sessions
- Jaco Pastorius: The 60th Anniversary Collection


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How do you know if a store is premier or not?
It's simple, just go to the coupon store page and on the top right corner you'll see a premium logo on top of the money makers share links.
I will edit the OP question with an image of the premium logo.
TOTOOO (rep: 50.2k) posted Jan 27, 2012
Just received email:
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zoelee (rep: 44.1k) posted Jan 27, 2012
EzzyLovesToSave (rep: 403k) posted Jan 27, 2012
Yes this is another great way to earn more $. Anything that helps us and helps DP goes both ways. thanks.
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Nothing is hard when it comes to money. Many have given very good explanations. Try.
Mishumoshu (rep: 25k) posted Jun 15, 2012
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What to expect if Obama Wins
Discussion in 'The Lighter Side' started by pupcuss27, Apr 18, 2008.


text:
Jacqueline Reich
PhD in Italian from the University of California at Berkeley
BA in Romance Languages from Dartmouth
Star studies, especially male stardom as it relates to Italian cinema.
- Introduction to Film
- Italian Cinema
- Other courses dealing with film history and theory
- Various interdisciplinary initiatives at both the Lincoln Center and Rose Hill campuses.
I come here as a native New Yorker with a diverse academic background: a BA in Romance Languages from Dartmouth, a PhD in Italian from the University of California at Berkeley, and 18 years of teaching film at Stony Brook University. In Fall 2011 I had the honor of being awarded a mid-career fellowship from the Howard Foundation at Brown University.
Beyond the Latin Lover: Marcello Mastroianni, Masculinity, and Italian Cinema (Bloomington: Indiana UP, 2004), The Maciste Films of Italian Silent Cinema (Bloomington: Indiana UP, Forthcoming 2014), and Divismo maschile all'italiana (Male Stardom, Italian Style) (Forthcoming, Il Castoro).
I am co-editor of Re-viewing Fascism: Italian Cinema, 1922-1942 (Bloomington: Indiana UP, 2002), and I curate the book series New Directions in National Cinemas for Indiana University Press. In addition, I have published and lectured widely on Italian American film, fashion, and Italian cinema, and early twentieth-century physical culture in the United States and Italy.


text:
Snowboarding Forum - Snowboard Enthusiast Forums (http://www.snowboardingforum.com/forum.php)
- Western Canada (http://www.snowboardingforum.com/western-canada/)
- - camping in ab? (http://www.snowboardingforum.com/western-canada/139202-camping-ab.html)
camping in ab?
Thinking about heading to calgary and doing some camping in the banff area next month. Looking for somewhere that we can have fires and that isn't too built up. near a lake would be nice as well. Any recommendations on good camping spots?
"banff area, not too built up, near a lake"
good luck, this does not exist. It being in the national park means most of the campgrounds are built up, require a park pass, and put you right next to your neighbours RV and his 5 kids.
Some suggestions are:
Kananaskis area. Search for "Lower Kananaskis Lake" there are plenty of campgrounds, and the place isnt too over run this early in the season. there are seasonal restrictions on the road, but past May 15 you will be good to go.
Cowboy Country. Plenty of good camping by the multiple rivers and such around Black Diamond and south of there. Chain Lakes also provides lake fishing, but its right next to a highway, I suggest you bring your fly rod (which I never owned when I lived in Sask, hahaha) as the season opens real soon/is open.
Since you are a prairie boy....PM me, ask me real nice, and Ill give you the place to go....im not putting it up here so some google search eventually finds it. It's not near Calgary, but is equal/less driving distance from you. Tonnes of lakes and rivers, in the mountains, no nearby towns, yet good roads to it. Best part is that it is NOT in a park, and you can camp wherever you please, or get in one of the many campsites there are which are secluded and "not built up". As a friend put it "It's Banff 80 years ago."
If it is to be Banff, then "Two Jack" lakeside is your spot.
If your keen for driving a couple hours further I'd suggest Whiteswan provincal park in BC.
Drive to Radium, south to Canal Flats then about half an hour up a logging road for some undeveloped lakeside camping. (But depending where in SK, you might go Medicine Hat > Lethbridge > Crowsnest Pass > then up through Cranbrook. Best to google map it)
But there real gem here are the natural hotsprings halfway up that road to Whiteswan.
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By Lara Crigger
We've all heard the old saw: Contango is a bad time to buy commodities futures. But that's not exactly true, says George Rahal, founder of Vista CTA, LLC. In fact, he says, the shape of the futures curve has very little to do with commodity investment returns.
George Rahal is a commodity trading adviser with over 20 years' experience in the commodities markets. Prior to May 2009, Rahal was co-founder and managing member of Longview Funds Management, where he was the firm's sole investment adviser, and developed the Longview Commodity indexes. He has also worked as a stock, bond and commodities broker, as well as a natural gas and electricity trader and risk manager for a number of large energy firms.
Recently, HAI Associate Editor Lara Crigger sat down with Rahal to discuss the influence contango has—or doesn't have—in the commodities markets, including why turnover matters more than curve shape, what investors should look for in an ideal commodity index, and why he doesn't want to be "where the action is."
Crigger: The common wisdom is that contango is a bad time to buy commodities futures. But you recently wrote a paper demonstrating that this isn't true. Can you tell us a little about your findings?
Rahal: That maxim is repeated so often! I wonder if people maybe believe things without looking at their returns. Based purely on buying and holding back-month commodities, if you measure your returns, you find that contango or backwardation (or, more generally, curve shape) has no apparent relationship to whether you're going to have a gain or a loss.
Another simpler way to look at it is: The great majority of all commodities are usually in contango, and for the last 10 years, commodity markets have had a bump. The archetypical commodity—gold—is always in contango; it's never in backwardation. And a lot of long-term gold holders have done very well. That alone brings into question the premise.
I think many people look at crude oil and heating oil, and wrongfully infer the whole spectrum from these. These are the two big markets that are subject to interruptions and shut-down costs. But when you test out that concept with crude oil over the past 10 years, it turns out that even when the market's in contango, we've had significant price appreciation.
So, I think this is all obvious to people who trade the stuff, but maybe it's not as obvious to institutions or other researchers who aren't really testing this concept every day.
Crigger: So what about futures-based commodities indexes then? If contango or backwardation doesn't influence returns, then is it safe to buy and hold these indexes for long periods of time?
Rahal: I believe a properly constructed index should be part of an asset-allocated portfolio. The fact that the commodity markets have this characteristic of curve shape, it's something we find that throws people who don't know commodities. They may look at the bond market and see that there are times when the yield curve can invert, where short-term interest rates become higher than long-term interest rates. But that's not a predictor of profitable investments either.
Basically, in general, anything you can observe and measure today will not necessarily be a reliable predictor of returns tomorrow. That's just a fundamental theorem: Markets are unpredictable.
Crigger: So if this is the case, why have we seen such terrible returns in long-only, futures-based indexes and ETFs? UNG [the U.S. Natural Gas Fund] comes immediately to mind, but that's only the worst case—there are plenty more examples available.
Rahal: The class of indexes you're referring to all have a similar problem in methodology or construction: They're spot indexes. That's a problem. When you create an index that is continually buying and selling, and is frequently in the market—quarterly in the case of the ags, and bimonthly for most of the major indexes—there's just too much trading. It's too much turnover.
An index should have two characteristics: It should be able to benchmark its market, to be representative; and it has to represent the interests of long-term investors. So the fact that these are spot indexes is a problem.
I think if you look at the returns of back-month indexes, or long-dated indexes, or volatility-based indexes, you will see that they've had very positive returns over the long haul. They compare very well to equity returns and other investment class returns. Frankly, they've outperformed the prevailing commodity indexes, if you look at them side by side.
Crigger: In your paper, you claim that some of the methods providers have come up with to "overcome" contango in fact bias investors toward negative returns. Why is that?
Rahal: You have some indexes out there that are long/short, which are dependent on market content. You have some indexes that will change their duration; that will measure the difference in price between the current holdings and different parts of the curve, and base their rolls upon a given rule.
But I really think any index based on this methodology—it's almost like another form of active management. There's no assurance that whatever characteristic or attribute you're trading on will continue. In fact, they're almost saying that these markets have some predictability about them, that they're trading on superior knowledge, or their ability to predict. That, I think, is just bound to fail.
I'm not saying I'm against active management. But you have to be careful. There may be active managers that can outperform over time, but I don't really know too many.
Crigger: So when investors are looking at commodities indexes, what criteria should they be looking for?
Rahal: First thing: Reduce your turnover. The less you touch the market, the better it is. It's like how you might buy the S&P 500 or Dow Jones stocks and then hold them for 50 years. Yes, the S&P 500 and Dow Jones do change occasionally, but generally speaking, that, to me, is the spirit of how to approach a commodity index. I prefer indexes that are invariant.
Also, if you don't continually change an index, then it can become a benchmarking vehicle, and you're able to compare period to period. If I show you a portfolio that changes every year, I can't really compare the return of this year to the return of last year. So you would want to have your benchmark be an invariant type of index, without lots of turnover.
Even within the same commodities, the less we roll, the less turnover we have, the better. You can't buy a 10-year corn contract, and even if you could, it wouldn't have the liquidity to be a responsible investment. So any decision we make in the commodities space has to be in light of liquidity and the availability of the market. Still, less turnover is better.
The other thing is, commodities are an artifact of futures, so they appear to have more volatility in the front month than in the back. Volatility is not the friend of a long-term index-type investor. So an index that avoids the front month is ideal. Of course, here we have the DJ-UBS and the S&P GSCI created to be in the front month!
Crigger: Sure, and it's a lot more than just those two indexes as well.
Rahal: Exactly. Never own the front month. Wherever speculators want to be, I don't want to be. I never want to be in the front.
Another thing: Commodities have higher or lower volatility by season. They have seasonality terms. Long-term holders who want to avoid unnecessary volatility should never own high seasons. I want to hold back-month and shoulder months. That's so counterintuitive, but that kind of position, in my experience, will outperform the portfolio that's continually "where the action is." Where the action is, that's where I don't want to be.


text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Sep 20, 2005
|Filing date
|May 30, 2003
|Priority date
|Nov 25, 2002
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|Shant Kenderian, B. Boro Djordjevic, Robert E. Green, Jr., Donatella Cerniglia
|Original Assignee
|The Johns Hopkins University
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (24), Non-Patent Citations (8), Referenced by (34), Classifications (21), Legal Events (5)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/429,279, filed Nov. 25, 2002 by Shant Kenderian, B. Boro Djordjevic, Robert E. Green, Jr. and Donatella Cerniglia.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to non-contact, remote ultrasonic testing of railroad tracks. More particularly, Formed Laser Sources (FLS) using pulsed laser light for generation of ultrasonic stress waves are combined with air-coupled detection of ultrasound in a Laser-Air Hybrid Ultrasonic (LAHU) approach to non-contact, remote testing of railroad track.
2. Description of the Related Art
Maintenance of railroad rails is one of the greatest problems facing the transportation industry today. In one four-month period in 1998, a major railroad company experienced ten derailments due to broken rails at an expense of over $1.3 million. In its Newsletter, in September of 2000, the Texas Research Institute estimated that every ninety minutes a derailment, an accident, or any other rail related incident takes place in the US.
Despite the fact that a variety of inspection techniques have been used since the very early days of the introduction of railway, none of them is satisfactory for detection of many possible defects. The earliest of these methods, visual inspection, is obviously too slow and incapable of detecting internal defects in the rail. Furthermore, many defects on the surface of the rail are missed by the visual inspection method because of surface coverings of dirt, grease or other foreign matter.
The magnetic induction method, dating back to 1928, suffers from "liftoff" problems (magnetic field strength decreases with distance from surface of rail). It can only be used to identify surface breaking cracks.
The most current method, dating back to 1949, uses contact ultrasonic transducer sleds or piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers in a test car's rolling rubber wheels. These are filled with water or oil and in constant contact with the railroad track. These ultrasonic methods can detect both surface and internal cracks only when they are in favorable positions and orientations. They are not very effective in detecting Transverse Detail Defects (TDD), Vertical Split Heads (VSH), and rail base cracks. These three cracks are very critical and are the main cause of derailments.
Both the magnetic induction and ultrasonic methods examine only the rail top surface because of obstacles regularly appearing along the sides of the rail which fasten the rails together. In addition, these methods are currently limited to low testing speeds of about 10-15 mph.
In the U.S., the Federal Railroad Administration rules require that any indication considered suspect by the test equipment on a test car are hand verified immediately. This leads to a stop-start test mode, which effectively reduces the overall test speed in any given workday.
A more recent, non-contact means for inspecting rail track is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,324,912. It discloses the use of acoustic transducers for both the generation and detection of ultrasound on railroad tracks. The disclosed method relies on Doppler shifted frequencies caused by the high-speed motion between the rail and the source of the ultrasonic wave. The technique is estimated to be limited to operating velocities of the source of the ultrasonic waves that are above 65 mph and has been demonstrated only on a smooth laboratory spinning wheel.
Other air-coupled ultrasonic generation techniques rely on the resonance modes associated with the different cross-sections of the rail. Up to four hundred measurements are collected and averaged in order to obtain a discernable signal. The technique imposes a static condition between the probes and test specimen in order to perform averaging calculations while retaining phase of the resonant frequency. In addition, ultrasonic source air-coupled transducers are sensitive to their position and orientation with respect to the surface of the specimen. They often impose test configurations that place the test probes in positions that compromise their safety. These configurations are generally rejected by the railroad industry.
Frequency control of laser generated acoustic signals has been previously accomplished by temporal or spatial modulation. However, such temporal modulation requires a very high repetition rate, which would then translate to lower laser pulse energy. The resulting acoustic signals are too weak for most industrial applications.
Spatial modulation has been accomplished through the use of shadow masks, diffraction gratings, corrugated lenticular arrays or other means. All of these techniques produce specific illumination patterns and have low efficiency in delivering the laser energy to a surface in which defects are sought to be detected.
These techniques differ from those of the present invention. In the present invention, a series of high energy lenses are shaped in order to maximize the delivery of the laser energy to the targeted surface and to allow flexibility in shaping the illuminated region to produce optimum ultrasonic signals for the desired flaw detection capabilities.
The present inventors' early experiments utilizing non-contact, ultrasonic techniques for the inspection of railroad tracks were initially disclosed in May 2000. See "Non-Contact Ultrasonic Inspection of Railroad Tracks," 45th International SAMPE Symposium, San Diego, Calif., May 21-25, 2000. The teachings and disclosure of this work is hereby incorporated by reference. The experimental techniques of this early work used laser beams focused to a point. These early techniques will be seen to differ significantly from those revealed herein.
The present inventors have also documented much of the work that is disclosed herein in the scientific literature. See "Laser-Based and Air Coupled Ultrasound as Noncontact and Remote Techniques for Testing Railroad Tracks," Materials Evaluation, vol. 60(1), January 2002, pp. 65-70; "Point and Line Source Laser Generation of Ultrasound for Inspection of Internal and Surface Flaws in Rail and Structural Materials," Research in Nondestructive Evaluation, vol. 13(4), December 2001, pp. 189-200, "Narrowband Laser-Generated Surface Acoustic Waves Using A Formed Source In The Ablative Regime," Journal of Acoustical Society of America, to be published, Spring 2003, "Laser-Based and Air Coupled Ultrasound as Noncontact and Remote Techniques for Testing Railroad Tracks," (Translated to Italian), The Journal of the Italian Society of Nondestructive Testing Monitoring Diagnostics, vol. 23(2), 2002, pp. 34-41, "Laser And Air-Coupled Transducer For Non-Contact Ultrasonic Inspection In The Railroad Industry (in Italian)," ENEA Trisaia Research Center (MT) Italy, AIPnD (Italian Society for Nondestructive Testing), To-Be Published 2003, "Laser-Air Hybrid Ultrasonic Technique for the Inspection of Rail Steel," 11th International Symposium on Nondestructive Characterization of Materials, Berlin, Germany. Jun. 24-28, 2002, (in publication), and "Sensitivity of Point And Line Source Laser Generated Acoustic Wave To Surface Flaws," IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control, To Be Published 2003. The teachings and disclosure of these works are hereby incorporated by reference.
With the rising cost of transportation and increasing number of drivers on the road, the use of passenger and cargo trains is becoming more attractive. However, before increasing the speed and axle load on railroad tracks, faster and more reliable inspection methods ate still needed in order to prevent property damage and life-threatening injury.
3. Objects and Advantages
There has been summarized above, rather broadly, the prior art that is related to the present invention in order that the context of the present invention may be better understood and appreciated. In this regard, it is instructive to also consider the objects and advantages of the present invention.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved testing method for inspecting railroad tracks.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a non-contact and remote testing method that can detect hard to find surface breaking and internal cracks, vertical and traverse cracks and other material discontinuities in railroad tracks.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a testing method that enables one to generate and detect ultrasonic signals on the base of the rail, web of the rail and from the side of the rail while still keeping all instrumentation and equipment remote and non-contact above the top surface of the rail.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a rail track testing method and apparatus that utilizes Formed Laser Sources (FLS) methodology to enable one to control the wavefront and frequency of the laser-generated acoustic signal so as to yield optimum interaction with and detection of rail defects such as cracks.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a rail track testing method and apparatus that utilizes Laser-Air Hybrid Ultrasonic (LAHU) techniques and FLS sources to detect various types of critical cracks that cause rail reliability problems and are difficult or impossible to detect via conventional means.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a rail track testing apparatus and method that enables inspection of the complete rail and successfully detect cracks and other defects at test speeds exceeding those currently available to the railroad industry.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent as the invention is better understood by reference to the accompanying summary, drawings and the detailed description that follows.
Recognizing the need for the development of improved methods for detecting flaws in rail tracks, the present invention is generally directed to satisfying the needs set forth above and overcoming the disadvantages identified with prior art devices and methods.
In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing need can be satisfied by providing a remote, non-contact flaw or defect detection system for detecting a flaw in a structural material that is surrounded by a gaseous or vacuum environment, with the system operating by distinguishing the propagation differences between various modes of ultrasonic stress waves generated in the structural material. Such a system includes: (1) a means for generating, in a non-contact manner in the structural material, various modes of ultrasonic stress waves having specified, controlled frequencies and wavefronts, (2) a means, located at a specified location in the surrounding environment and spaced from the structural material, for sensing from the structural material an acoustic signal that distinguishes the propagation of the various modes of ultrasonic stress waves in the material, and (3) a means, responsive to the sensed acoustic signal, for distinguishing the differences between the various modes of the ultrasonic stress waves so as to identify any flaw in the structural material.
In preferred embodiments, Formed Laser Sources (FLS) using pulsed laser light for generation of ultrasonic stress waves are combined with air-coupled, such as air-capacitance, transducers to provide for the non-contact, dynamic and remote ultrasonic testing of structural materials, especially railroad tracks.
Thus, there has been summarized above, rather broadly, the present invention in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood and appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the eventual claims to this invention.
FIGS. 1(a)-(b) identify the vertical, horizontal and transverse planes of a railroad track, and its head, web and base portions.
FIGS. 14(a)-(c) illustrates the amplitude of the signal being received by the transducers 14A, 14B and 14C of
FIGS. 15(a)-(b) illustrates the amplitude of the signal being received by the transducers 14B and 14C of
Before explaining at least one embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. For example, the preferred embodiments disclosed herein are directed to detecting flaws in railroad tracks; however, it should be understood that these detection techniques are applicable to wide range of structural materials other than just railroad tracks. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As previously mentioned, in-track rail inspections are currently performed using primarily a contact, ultrasonic method. Although this method has generally proven to be reliable, its results are far from perfect. In fact, train derailments caused by rail defects, which pass inspection, still occur.
Several types of defects are commonly seen to exist in railroad tracks. These are classified according to their location and orientation in the rail, plus their nature. The ability to detect these defects may be affected by may factors, including: (1) rail surface conditions, (2) railhead geometry, (3) the orientation and geometry of the defect (e.g., surface and internal horizontal cracks versus transverse and vertical cracks), (4) electrical and/or mechanical noise introduced into the transducers being used, and (5) inadequate transducer-to-rail surface coupling. See FIGS. 1(a)-(b), which were taken from the "Rail Defect Manual" of Sperry Rail Service.
Some of these defects are especially worrisome as they cannot be detected using the current state-of-the-art contact, ultrasonic method. These include: vertical split heads (VSH), transverse defects, defective welds, and base defects.
There exist many reasons why these defects cannot be analyzed with the current contact, ultrasonic method. For example, VSH cracks have non-coplanar and nonlinear surfaces. Therefore, the ultrasonic energy directed to a VSH reflects in different directions from the defect and away from the point of incidence; thus, making the detection process a challenge with the rubber wheel of the contact, ultrasonic method.
In an effort to remedy this situation and improve railway safety, the Center for Nondestructive Evaluation (CNDE) at the Johns Hopkins University undertook a major research effort to identify and develop new and improved rail inspection technologies. This CNDE research has resulted in the invention of a Laser-Air Hybrid Ultrasonic (LAHU) approach with Formed Laser Sources (FLS) for the non-contact, remote testing of railroad track.
Using this hybrid technique, multimode and controlled frequency and wavefront surface acoustic waves, guided waves, and bulk waves are generated to propagate on and within the rail tracks. See FIG. 2. The non-contact, remote nature of this methodology enables high-speed, full access inspections of rail tracks. By analog amplification, gating, digital signal capture, signal processing and digital data analysis and processing, such rail testing can be performed totally automated.
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention takes the form of a LAHU inspection apparatus that is mountable above a rail track, such as might be added onto a rail car or housed within a custom build rail car. To overcome the prior problems associated with obstacles in the proximity of a rail which limit the optimal placement of measurement transducers, the present invention uses air-coupled transducer arrays that capture the acoustical signals from different locations for analysis. As the car moves along the rail, the tracks are tested for defects such as cracks. Data is collected with a data capture and storage unit, whereupon the data is processed and decisions are made with regards the integrity of the rail track.
The prior art of the present inventors includes teachings for the inspection of railroad tracks using laser beams focused to a point. This differs from the techniques of the present invention which disclose how control over the frequency content of the laser-generated acoustic wave and the shape of the wave front is obtained by projecting the laser beam to form specified geometrical arrangements or illumination patterns.
A detailed description of the various aspects of a preferred embodiment for the remote, non-contact defect or flaw detection system 1 of the present invention follows:
Generation of Ultrasound
A short FLS pulse laser 10 (e.g., pulsed laser, Nd:YAG 1.06 μm, with 1-10 nanosecond pulse having maximum energy in the range of 100-10,000 mJ per pulse) is used to generate controlled frequency and wavefront ultrasound, including bulk, surface, plate and other guided mode acoustic waves. The laser light can be delivered to a rail surface through mirrors, fiber optic bundles, light pipes or combinations of optical components 12.
The laser light can operate in the thermoelastic, near-ablative, ablative or constrained acoustical source regimes. The constrained regime is attained by coating or wetting the surface of the rail with a layer of constraining compounds that are transparent to the laser wavelength. This includes water, oil, grease, graphite, glass, or transparent tape among a large number of other possible constraining layers. Operating the laser light in the ablative regime proves desirable because it provides strong ultrasonic signals which are easily detected with a capacitive air-coupled transducer.
The region illuminated by the laser light can be formed to a circle, rectangle, circle array, rectangle array or other more complex geometrical area configurations to allow control over the frequency, waveforms and other characteristics of the generated acoustic wave. Various light delivery shapes are generated through the use of shadow masks, lenticular arrays, optical fiber bundles or other means 12.
To enhance the signal sensitivity to a specific type of crack, a controlled frequency and directed wavefront ultrasonic signals are generated using formed laser pulses. Formed laser light pulses are created by spatially modifying the shape, repetition and spacing of a light illumination area on the rail or by temporal modulating the pulse for the desired frequency.
For example, inspection of internal defects in a rail head requires bulk waves which are generated by a point or optimized circular area laser source; whereas for the inspection of the rail base, guided waves are more appropriate and therefore the laser is focused into a line or optimized rectangular area source. See FIG. 4. The distance of lens assembly from the rail surface is determined by lens focal length.
Detection of Ultrasound
For remote detection of ultrasound, capacitive air-coupled ultrasonic receivers 14 or gas ultrasonic wave detectors capable of detecting frequencies between 50 kHz and at least 3 MHz can be used. The effect of the liftoff distance and the angle of orientation of such a detector is shown in FIG. 5. They are seen to be capable of operating at liftoff distances exceeding 15 cm and to not be critically dependent on precise orientation or alignment. Air-coupled ultrasound signal detection can be performed via transducers that detect receive-signals by facing the surface of the rail track directly. See FIG. 6.
Acoustical mirrors and waveguides can be used to help in redirecting the sound fields to a detector. Waveguides enable capture of the signal at different angles from multiple locations and allow the receiving transducers to be placed at more flexible locations. Arrays of waveguides enable capture of ultrasonic signals from different locations. Horns can also be used to help in collecting, redirecting and intensifying the acoustic signal, see FIG. 7.
Data Capture and Processing
The data capture and processing 16 elements of the present invention includes signal analog amplification, signal gating, signal capture by digital means with multi-channel capability at resolutions as needed to process the signals. Ultrasonic signals are gated and analyzed in the time and frequency domains, classified via wavelet analysis or other feature and classification algorithms. Dedicated processors and software 24 are used to automatically characterize or assist in the characterization of existing defects in the rail tracks or other structural materials.
One of the unique characteristics of laser-based ultrasound is that with a single pulse, several modes of ultrasonic waves propagate in a material at the same time. Therefore, in a single test, longitudinal, shear and surface (Rayleigh) waves are generated simultaneously.
Experimental Results For The Testing Of In-Track Rails
Preferred embodiments of the present invention were field evaluated for their ability to detect vertical split heads (VSH) and base defects in in-track rails.
For the VSH defects, in-track inspections were performed with an air-coupled transducer located at least two inches above the railhead. See FIG. 10. The focused laser pointed directly to the field side of the rail head and generated Longitudinal and Shear waves in the rail and Rayleigh wave on the running surface of the railhead.
The waveform for the no-VSH defect condition is shown in FIG. 11. All the generated wave modes are clearly identifiable in the transducer's output. In the presence of a VSH defect, the Longitudinal and Shear waves are attenuated while the Rayleigh wave is not affected. See FIG. 12. Moreover, some diffraction (D) is seen to be created around the tip of the defect. Inclination of such a VSH defect in the cross-section of the rail was not seen to affect detection. Railhead tests for VSH defects were repeatable and 100% successful.
Rail base defects inspected in these experiments were through the base thickness, at the bottom and top base surface. The laser beam was focused into a line on the outer edge of the rail base. Each of the three transducers 14A, 14B, 14C were located as shown in
Signal waveforms were analyzed for attenuation and the presence of reflected waves. For the cracks at the bottom surface of the rail base, reflected waves are not clearly seen. Signal waveforms acquired by transducers 14A, 14B and 14C in the presence of a bottom surface crack located between the generation point (P) and 14A (i.e., X) are shown in FIGS. 14(a)-(c), respectively. The crack is easily located by comparing the signals detected by transducers 14A and 14B and noting the attenuation seen in the output of transducer 14A. Similarly, a crack located between transducers 14B and 14C (i.e., Z) affects the signal detected by transducer 14C but not that detected by 14B, see FIGS. 15(a)-(b).
The present invention is seen to provide a new methodology, testing system and concept to enable non-contact and remote ultrasonic testing of railway track and related components. This non-contact remote testing is possible by the novel use of laser sound generation, coupled with guided ultrasonic stress waves and their evaluation using remote highly sensitive, air-coupled ultrasonic transducers.
The apparatus that enables such non-contact and remote testing of rail components can be arranged so that no optical, mechanical or sensor components are below the top of the rail line. The basic system can be adapted to different configurations by changing set-up geometry and by changing formed laser light patterns and controlling the stress wave signals in the rail. By changing wavefront, frequency and directivity of light generated stress waves, the ultrasonic tests are now controlled and the sensing apparatus achieves enhanced performance so as to enable it to detect specific type of rail defects.
With the present invention, it is now possible to test railway tracks from static and/or moving sensor array platforms in an automated and non-contact manner. These testing configurations eliminate the restriction of conventional contact transducer testing that is limited to the rail head top and cannot access below rail head level because of obstructions and component geometry restrictions that prevent direct coupling contact of ultrasonic transducers to the rail.
Combining a laser (light) formed impulse source with air coupled remote sensors, the test system performance of the present invention is enhanced beyond conventionally anticipated results. For one, there is no cross-talk or acoustical coupling between ultrasound generating and receiving components. Because the transduction is based on different physical mechanisms the two transducers do not interact acoustically.
With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Furthermore, it should be noted that the methodology enclosed herein is suitable for the inspection of many structures or materials in general.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the present invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as will later be set forth in the claims of the regular patent application that will be filed to protect the present invention.
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|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|Sep 17, 2009
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Owner name: MATERIALS AND SENSORS TECHNOLOGIES, INC., MARYLAND
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|Mar 15, 2013
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 8


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text:
"Yes, I'll increase my CO2 output on March 25th!"
Yes! I will increase my CO2 output on March 25th! I am joining people from all walks of life in taking the Carbon Belch Day Pledge! On March 25th I will do my best to increase my CO2 output and unleash a Carbon Belch on the planet. I do this with no fear or concern that I am destroying the planet, but rather to show the absurdity of the "going green" wackos who want to make something out of nothing. Make the Pledge
The Climate Change Activists Call for Tax on Newborn Babies
A recent NPR broadcast documents the unveiling of the depopulation/taxation scheme as envisioned by Travis Rieder, a 'philosopher' with the Berman Institute of Bioethics at Johns Hopkins University, who claims that not having children is a 'moral duty'.Read More
The Professors' message to students is clear: "Drop class if you dispute man-made climate change!"
As it turns out, three professors co-teaching an online course called 'Medical Humanities in the Digital Age' at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs recently told their students via email that man-made climate change is not open for debate,...Read More
After Brexit, It's Time for Clexit
There's a new international organization - 'CLEXIT' - that aims to prevent ratification of the costly and dangerous Paris global warming treaty which is being promoted by the EU and the present US administration.Read More
Kerry Finally Gives In and Admits Terrorism Is A Bigger Threat than Global Warming
Although in 2014 Secretary of State John Kerry called climate change the "most serious challenge we face on the planet", now Kerry appears to have changed his mind and admits that terrorism is in fact a much bigger threat than this so called global warming.Read More
Global Warming Expedition Stuck In Ice, Again!
Getting stuck in ice - while trying to prove that the ice in the Arctic sea is shrinking - is happening again.Read More
It's Seems Hard to Agree on How to Fight Climate Change
Apparently the movement to battle climate change has grown so large that the truths of Al Gore's decade-old movie now seem more mainstream than inconvenient.Read More


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The XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012), the preeminent conference dedicated to HIV/AIDS, held every two years, will be returning to Washington for the first time since 1987. The conference, presented by the International AIDS Society, has not been held in the U.S. since 1990, when it was held in San Francisco, due to restrictions – since lifted – on HIV-positive visitors to the U.S. The conference is expected to attract thousands of clinicians, policy makers and others to Washington from July 22 to 27, 2012, in an effort to shape an international response to the virus.
Councilmember David Catania (I-At Large), who chairs the Committee on Health, held a roundtable discussion regarding the planning and preparation of the conference on Thursday, June 9, at the John A. Wilson Building. At the meeting, Catania requested that conference organizers formulate a strategic plan for presenting the large event.
"The AIDS 2012 conference represents a unique opportunity to not only showcase our ability to host a conference of this size, but also provides the opportunity to put the District at the forefront of efforts to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic," Catania said.
"Despite the common narrative about the District's approach to HIV/AIDS, we are at the cutting edge of developing new and innovative ways to attack this epidemic."
The conference will allow leading researchers to talk about the latest scientific advances in the study of HIV/AIDS, as well as helping advocates share what's happening locally regarding prevention efforts in the spread of HIV in D.C.
Those offering testimony at the event included Wallace Corbett, a member of the AIDS 2012 Community Coalition; Dr. Gregory Pappas, senior deputy director at the HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Administration (HAHSTA); and Tiffany Chester, head of the local secretariat of the International AIDS Society.
International AIDS Society Conference 2012 will be held July 22-27, 2012, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. aids2012.org.
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Snowboarding Forum - Snowboard Enthusiast Forums (http://www.snowboardingforum.com/forum.php)
- General Travel Forum (http://www.snowboardingforum.com/general-travel-forum/)
- - Michigan Riders? (http://www.snowboardingforum.com/general-travel-forum/40435-michigan-riders.html)
Michigan Riders?
Hey boarders just trying to find if there are any Michigan riders out there?
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yah we got a whole thread here that is usually pretty active during the season. Kinda dead during the summer but I'm sure everyone will be back in November/December.
I'm from Illinois :S it's pretty close i guess
Im not from michigan either haha but that's where I board
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where do you guys do most of your boarding?
Swiss valley and around that area and a trip to boyne every year
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word. there may be some folks around that area, although I think most of the MI riders on here are Southeast/Metro-Detroit, many of us do make trips to Boyne/Crystal/Shanty/etc.
Damn, I didn't know we had anything down that way. Two hours is too long though. I'd almost be to Caberfae by then.
We don't have anything even close to as good as you guys. Swiss is 3 hills but its only half an hour away and boyne is 5 hours away
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Skip to comments.Democrats Are Getting Destroyed In Key Senate States
Posted on 03/04/2014 12:38:10 PM PST by cotton1706
Republicans have a large, 8-point advantage among voters in states with Senate races, according to a new Washington Post/ABC News poll released Tuesday.
Democrats hold a slight edge in the overall generic congressional ballot. But in the key battle for the Senate, Republicans lead the generic ballot by a 50-42 margin in states with a 2014 Senate race.
Republicans need to pick up six seats in November to retake control of the Senate, something that could instantly make President Barack Obama a lame duck president of sorts in his last two years.
Overall, 36 Senate seats are up in 2014: Twenty-one seats are currently held by a Democratic incumbent and 15 seats are held by a Republican.
The new poll doesn't provide any insight into specific Senate races, but polls have shown that the chamber is ripe for a Republican takeover. Republicans are already very likely to win open Senate seats in South Dakota and West Virginia, deep red states where long-time Democratic incumbents are retiring.
Meanwhile, there are clear opportunities for pickups in Alaska, Louisiana, Arkansas, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, and New Hampshire. The only competitive states Republicans need to defend are the seats of Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell in Kentucky and a Georgia seat to be vacated by the retiring Sen. Saxby Chambliss.
The new Washington Post/ABC poll showed that Democrats' perceived advantage on key issues is not carrying over to a structural advantage on the ballot. Voters trust Democrats more than Republicans on handling health care (44-36), immigration (44-36), energy policy (43-35), and helping the middle class 47-34).
But Obamacare remains deeply unpopular with the public. Only 38% approve of how Obama is implementing the federal health-care law, while 57% disapprove.
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...
Bwahahahaha Yeah right. No bias there.
Cold weather. Impacting voter turnout...
...going to need to keep the polls open late...
...news at 11...
Unless the RINOs are thrown out the DNC has nothing to fear.
A lame duck with a pen and a phone.
And the lame pubbies will just continue to let him sign unconstitutional E.O.'s.
So... WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE!
For the sake of our country, the RATs need to be destroyed wherever they are found. The same can be said about the RINOs.
Yes. It is THAT serious.
Patriots need to aim their sights higher than merely winning a simple conservative majority in the Senate imo. As mentioned in related threads, if patriots and former Obama supporters can win a 2/3 conservative majority in both Houses of Congress in 2014 elections then Congress will be positioned to do the following.
Congress will have the power, under the Constitution's Clause 2 of Section 7 of Article I, to override presidential vetoes. This means that Congress will be able to repeal constitutionally indefensible
Obamacare Democratcare without Obama's signature, for example.
Note that Congress has exercised this power as recently as Bushes 41 & 43, and also with Clinton.
List of United States presidential vetoes
Also, here's evidence of former Obama supporters.
FR: Poll: 71% of Obama voters, 55% Democrats 'regret' voting for his re-election
Before every election we are treated to stories like this.
"Democrats on defensive"
"Country is majority Conservative"
"Republican surge"
But after the smoke clears we find out that they were wrong and democrats win again.
Stop the flow of money and you stop the Democrat/Liberal/Marxist march. They have nothing else. H.o.R that's your job!
That's because we never manage to come up with any solid candidates. Most of our energy goes into taking a bead on other GOPers for being "too Tea Party" or "too RINO" or "too whatever" we have decided is our standard for perfection.
Like it or not, numbers matter and we have to get enough people to elect enough Republicans to make a difference. We can't do anything as long as we remain the minority party, especially with a regime which has nothing but contempt for the minority party. Bush used to bend over backwards to work with the Dems when they were in the minority (one of his big errors, IMHO), but Bambi and Reid sure don't care.
I was trapped on a van trip with liberals last week, and one of the pearls of wisdom that fell from the lips of a middle age broad gushing over how wonderful it was that drugs and gay marriage were being legalized everywhere was that she really didn't think there should be a two-party system in the US. All the other libs agreed with her.
So brace yourselves, folks. Even though you may think most Republican elected officials are useless, liberals actually do see them as a threat and an obstacle...that needs to be gotten rid of.
Republicans will go all soft and we will hear no end to the sudden need for "bipartisanship". Juan McCain and his gang of 14 buddies will seize control of critical issues and demand that we play soft and nice with Harry Reid.
Harry Reid cut us up six ways from Sunday, but I guarantee McCain and his gang of RINOs will demand clubby Senate decorum in the spirit of bipartisanship. In other words, no one will have the GUTS to do what needs to be done and put Harry Reid in his place.
Count on Republicans to remove the nuclear option Reid used on them.
Count on Republicans to do NOTHING to thwart Obama. They'll just claim that their trying to lay low for 2016.
We may get the Senate, but I have little faith anything of substance will change at all.
"Republicans need to pick up six seats in November to retake control of the Senate, something that could instantly make President Barack Obama a lame duck president of sorts in his last two years."
Doesn't matter. He's bee violating the Constitution and the separation of powers and our representative government all along with his executive orders.
"But after the smoke clears we find out that they were wrong and democrats win again."
Yep. That was especially painful in 2004 and 2010.
It's early, and there's still plenty of time for the progs to steal many an election.
I could care less about 2014. Of course the Dims will lose the Red States. It's their 7-10 Seat pickup in 2016 that worries the Hell out of me.
A GOP "takeover" of the senate would be a false victory. The move toward more big government and more spending will continue unabated as will Obama's power grab. There is no way the GOP will stand up to him.
Exactly! Corrupt politicians are just following the money.
That's why patriots need to make sure that their constitutionally-impaired state lawmakers are brought up to speed with the following. Justice John Marshall had officially clarified that Congress is prohibited from laying taxes in the name of state power issues, basically any issue that Congress cannot justify under its constitutional Article I, Section 8-limited powers.
Congress is not empowered to tax for those purposes which are within the exclusive province of the States. Justice John Marshall, Gibbons v. Ogden, 1824.
Given Justice Marshall's statement, it can be argued that corrupt Congress is stealing state revenues via constitutionally indefensible federal taxes.
Is that 7-10 number based on an analysis of what seats are decided that year, or just a fear of a Dem landslide?
Exactly. Same old scenario plays out again and again. Real change (i.e., constraints on government) wil never come about under the Republican Party.
Excellent post.
"Its their 7-10 Seat pickup in 2016 that worries the Hell out of me."
What seats do you think they'll pick up? The 2010 class is historically a strong class for republicans. We held our own in 1998 and gained 4 seats in 2004.
I can see maybe Kirk's seat, NH, maybe PA, possibly IA if Grassley retires. I think Johnson will hold his seat in WI. I don't see a 7-10 seat pickup given the states and the senators in them.
SC Scott 2016
OK Coburn 2016
AK Murkowski 2016
AZ McCain 2016
FL Rubio 2016
ID Crapo 2016
IL Kirk 2016
IA Grassley 2016
LA Vitter 2016
MO Blunt 2016
NH Ayotte 2016
ND Hoeven 2016
PA Toomey 2016
SD Thune 2016
UT Lee 2016
WI Johnson 2016
AL Shelby 2016
AR Boozman 2016
GA Isakson 2016
IN Coats 2016
KY Paul 2016
KS Moran 2016
NC Burr 2016
OH Portman 2016
I dont think Warner is safe in Virginia
"I dont think Warner is safe in Virginia"
I don't think so either. I don't have much faith in Gillespie though. But a national vote may sweep him in, mediocre though he is.
Actually I sort of believe the poll.
I get polled ALL the time (no idea why)
and sometimes the question forces you to answer a certain way that you KNOW will be misinterpreted.
Example: back when Bush was president, I would get polled all the time asking : Do you agree with Bush's handling of the Iraq war..... um.. THAT is a TRICK question as far as I am concerned because someone like me HAS to answer HELL NO I am not happy with Bush's handling of the Iraq war!!! (knowing when I respond that way, that it will be interpreted by those who report on the poll as me being against the Iraq war. When NOTHING could be further from the truth! I wasn't happy with Bush's handling of the war because I thought he should have nuked Falujah! not because I am some anti war peacenik !
So lets look at the question at hand and determine where the problem might lie...
Who do you trust most on handling healthcare.... well, I would be interested in seeing the EXACT wording of the question, because... sometime I will get a poll question like... who do you trust more to implement Obamacare? um... well that would be the Democrats! since the Republicans want to repeal it!
See what the problem is?
I can't say for sure that was the situation in this case, because I don't know the exact question that was asked.
I don't know much about Gillespie either. Hopefully he gets it done if the one running against Warner, which he probably will be. I like Shak Hill, but will vote for whoever wins in Roanoke.
"For the sake of our country, the RATs need to be destroyed wherever they are found. "
I've been yelling this on Fr for many years but NOOOOOO, the goody 2 shoe Freepers think we should pray for them. F them and their idiot god in the White Hut.
I am in full "NO TOLERANCE" mode when it comes to the Parasites and Vermin that make up the Socialist/Marxist Party of Barak Hussein Obama and those that suck up to that Puke.
No problem. DemonRats have election stealing down to a science.
Hillary will have long coattails. Our first woman President will result in a huge turnout by the Dems.
VA is a purple state trending blue. Any Rep will have an uphill battle running in VA. In 2012, Kaine got more votes than Obama.
Hillary won't be the candidate on the dem ticket. She's too old and in failing health. She'll push hard and get a lot of support but before Christmas 2015 she'll be forced to drop out due to health issues and/or the rumors that she's one campaign stop away from keeling over, thereby making her poll numbers drop precipitously.
For someone in such poor health, she is sure active.
So exactly where do you get your information on her failing health? Aside from rumors, do you have any real information? It is pure wishful thinking to believe that Hillary will go away. She has been campaigning for President her entire life.
The dems won state wide, in close elections with the FBI investigating the gov and bringing KC's name into it. Plus no help from the national repub party. I might be wrong but I think the GOP has a good shot.
A republican won a special election in a tidewater district last week with 60%. A dem had the seat and Obama won that district by 10. Va general assembly
It will all depend on turnout. If the Dems turnout then the Reps will lose. The Dems build up a huge cushion in NoVA and in the cities. The cushion gets bigger every year. VA will be solid blue (statewide elections) within a decade.
Turnout is important. But as you say right now Virginia isnt a blue state. The Gop can win this, so we will see.
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Talking Paper
By mindwarrior
Open iTunes to buy and download apps.
Throw away your notebook, and say hello to Incredible Talking Paper. Save the environment and save the world with Talking Paper.
Totally Fantastic
It's Talking Paper...
Decorate your paper with smiley faces, stars, arrows and other crazy symbols.
Listen to your notes.
Share your scraps of paper with your friends.
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What more could your ask for?
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It is not ordinary Paper.
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Infinite talking notes
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The power of talking paper
What's New in Version 1.0.2
Bug fixes and improvements.
iPhone Screenshots
- $2.99
- Category: Productivity
- Updated: Jun 28, 2011
- Version: 1.0.2
- Size: 7.0 MB
- Language: English
- Seller: luke sarfas
- © 2010 Luke Sarfas
Compatibility: Requires iOS 3.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.


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By DukeSkath on Wednesday, 29th July, 2015 Just discovered a cool YouTube channel that showcases various video game locales. Three faves: 1. Rapture (BioShock Infinite) http://youtu.be/RP0nVFPX1zg 2. Los Santos (Grand Theft Auto V) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHuvw4mvcpk 3. Rook Islands (Far Cry 3) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIRv68gg0bo Bonus #1 for Chinny Bonus #2... 0Read Now!
Duke Dominates DOTA 2
By DukeSkath on Wednesday, 10th December, 2014 I had my best game ever of DOTA 2 recently; I went 20-3! I uploaded the replay with commentary. Check it out: http://youtu.be/8BdpLxkLT4Q (Sorry about the technical hiccup in the middle. I'm not used to the replay controls yet.) 0Read Now!
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- Bloomberg•2 days agoLenders Can Only Watch as Covenant-Lite Debt Strips Influence
Lenders to struggling shoe chain Nine West have watched the company's debt soar to more than 20 times earnings, and there's little they can do about it. Unfortunately for them, that's exactly what they ...
- MarketWatch•7 days agoThis 130-year-old retailer is the most hated stock in the U.S.
The most hated stock in the U.S. this week is a 130-year-old in the midst of an existential crisis.
- American City Business Journals•14 days agoWeight Watchers share fall as Oprah glow dims, new CEO sought
Weight Watchers, in search of a new chief executive after the resignation this week of Jim Chambers, is watching its stock free fall again as it looks to revive earnings amid a dwindling of the "Oprah effect" that it had previously enjoyed. Shares in the weight-management company have crashed 66 percent since November 2015, after Oprah Winfrey took a minority stake in the company and became its new spokesperson, an endorsement that gave its shares a big, but ultimately non-sustained boost. The decline in share price mean $117 million in Winfrey's wealth has effectively vanished since that time, with the company's valuation dropping $1.2 billion since its Winfrey-fueled peak, a USA Today report says.
Weight Watchers International, Inc. (WTW)
Add to watchlist
NYSE - NYSE Real Time Price. Currency in USD
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....fractional penny moves? Hope so, because thats all we'll get until EFFICACY is annouced, unless of course Gary decides to step down, then we'd get a nice little bump up from that.
Keep, watch what you wish for. While the filing snafu is potentially serious for Gary, the break-in period for a new CEO will mean going over ground that ACT has already won with regulators, investors etc. and getting up to speed with all of the the internal issues for the company - and all companies have internal issues. Further, I don't see anything to suggest any other insider or director is ready to take over as a full time CEO.
May go to 10 cents soon.
Not if Gary continually sells.


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The "Cake Boss" hits the road to give struggling bakeries a taste of his success. Having turned his own family-run neighborhood bakery, Carlo's, into a world-renowned business — and the subject of a hit TLC series — Buddy Valastro knows the challenges inherent in operating a bakery, especially one that employs the owner's relatives. So he visits family-run bakeries across the country, bringing his famous blend of business skills and baking expertise to help transform the stale stores into dough-making successes. Buddy evaluates the ingredients, techniques, processes, equipment and, perhaps most importantly, the families, challenging them to make the necessary changes — both professionally and personally — to make their American dreams come true. Prior to the second season, the series was titled "Bakery Boss."
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