Archive for the ‘Sideline’ Category
Posted on March 21, 2009 - by Venik
The Jerks
The AIG bonus scandal is gaining momentum. According to the latest information, the total payout was $218 million and not $165 million, as was previously believed. Bonuses of at least $1 million each were paid to some 73 AIG executives, while four of them received bonuses in excess of $4 million. Of course, this is [...]
Posted on March 12, 2009 - by Venik
Madoff’s Confession
Since 1960s, Bernard Madoff’s investment scheme attracted thousands of wealthy clients primarily of Jewish descent. Madoff admitted defrauding his 4800 clients of $64.8 billion, which translates into a $13-million average investment for each account. Madoff’s victims were millionaires who often spent a great deal of time and money to get close to Bernard Madoff just [...]
Posted on February 20, 2009 - by Venik
Obama’s Idol
When in the course of human events, a legend becomes greater than the man, prick of the hollow needle of history helps let out stale air of misconceptions. The Great Emancipator might not have thought Negroes were actual men, but Honest Abe indeed was honest and consistent in his believes and statements to that end. [...]
Posted on February 18, 2009 - by Venik
Space lawyers
The recent collision between an in-service US-made Iridium 33 communications satellite launched by Russia in 1997 and a defunct Russian Strela-2M-class Kosmos-2251 communications satellite launched in 1993 created a stir among the small but hungry community of space lawyers in the US. There are about 8,000 man-made objects orbiting Earth. These include about 560 operational [...]
Posted on February 16, 2009 - by Venik
Tornado in Georgia
For the first time in recorded history a tornado touched down in Georgia’s western coastal region of Megrelia. There were no casualties, but some 120 homes and electric power lines were heavily damaged. Due to its proximity to the Black Sea, Megrelia is known for occasional heavy winds in the winter months. However, this was [...]
Posted on February 1, 2009 - by Venik
AeroFacts: Aerospace Database
AeroFacts is a varied collection of data related to aerospace technology. This resource is constantly in the process of development, as new information is being added. Due to the size of this database, it is not simple to present it on the Web in an easy-to-access format. I used Java to squeeze as much data [...]
Posted on January 31, 2009 - by Venik
Blago’s Predicament
Just finished watching Larry’s interview with Blagoyevich. What can I say… Before his arrest in early December I never heard of Blago. Well, maybe I did come across his name a few times while reading the news, but the name just didn’t stick. I had no idea who the governor of Illinois is, or if [...]
Posted on January 29, 2009 - by Venik
Russia to reopen airbase in Abkhazia
According to reports in the Russian media, the Bomborski airbase in Abkhazia is soon to be reopened for use by the Russian Air Force. The plan calls for two squadrons of Su-27 fighter-bombers and Su-25 ground attack aircraft, plus some additional An-26 or An-72 transports to be permanently based in Abkhazia. The Bomborski airbase is [...]
Posted on January 29, 2009 - by Venik
Politics of Fear?
Lou Dobbs – a noted Republican xenophobe and CNN’s resident Mexico-basher – is accusing Obama of engaging in “politics of fear” by trying to push the economic stimulus package through Congress. Lou says that Bush used this sort of scare tactics and now Obama is following suit. Unfurling the 650-page legislation proposal into the camera [...]
Posted on December 27, 2008 - by Venik
Uncomplicated Perspective
Long time, no posts. I resolved to not use a computer during my vacation. Quitting smoking was easier. Anyway, I just ran across an amusing editorial in NY Times about what Obama should do vis-à-vis Vladimir Putin. I am not sure if the author was trying to be entertaining, being coyly naive, or if he [...]
Posted on November 22, 2008 - by Venik
Gas Wars: Episode V
Russia’s natural gas monopoly Gazprom says Ukraine has a $2.4 billion past-due balance. Ukraine acknowledges the debt, but say the amount is $1.3 billion. The $1-billion difference in the two positions is due to Ukraine only counting what it owes for September-October period, while Gazprom also counts November plus various past-due fees and fines. Medvedev [...]
Posted on November 20, 2008 - by Venik
New Interface for Xbox 360
As of last night Microsoft went in and changed one of the best things about its Xbox 360 gaming console – its graphical user interface. Instead of a functional, neatly-organized folder view, now you get a childish design with avatar selection reminiscent of Sierra’s vintage Leisure Suit Larry characters. Microsoft succeeded in creating an interface [...]
Posted on November 17, 2008 - by Venik
Exploding UAVs in Georgia
After nearly four months of ridiculous allegations against Russia, Saakashvili’s regime still has the capacity to surprise. In the latest PR move, Georgian so-called leadership claimed that a Russian UAV crashed on its territory and later exploded, killing two policemen and injuring eight others. If this claim was true, this would have been the first [...]
Posted on November 15, 2008 - by Venik
“Peter the Great” in Toulon
During November 5-8 missile cruiser “Peter the Great” and destroyer “Admiral Chabanenko” of Russia’s Northern Fleet visited the French naval base in Toulon. The Northern Fleet taskforce, consisting of four surface vessels and two nuclear-powered attack submarines, is conducting excersices in the Meditteranian before heading to Venezuela for joint maneuvers with the Mariscal Sucre-class “General [...]
