Inside the Asylum

What a difference a couple of weeks makes. Mid-way through July, there was all this excitement that the sun was finally waking up from its extended quiet spell. Sunspots were picking up, peaking at 26. Well, since the last sunspots on July 11th, there's been not a peep out of our celestial neighbor. That gives us a total of 23 spotless days for July, which, as I said earlier, equals the second quietest month of the last solar minimum. Even by current standards, it's no slouch. Of the 26 months (more or less) that the current minimum has been running, July is 10th equal, tying with May 2008. Also, let's put in context the peak sunspot number of 26 during the last month ... out of interest, I went into Spaceweather.com's archives, and looked at the sunspot number for July 30, 2002 ... the sunspot number was 304.

The Mongol Empire was the largest the world has ever known. It dwarfed anything the Romans, Chinese, Persians, Aztecs etc. could put together. Now, once again, Mongolian warriors are seen far and wide.
Iraq, Sierra Leone, Congo, Afghanistan, Kosovo ... heck, they've made it even further than last time. They ripped through the Middle East and Eastern Europe, but they never penetrated Africa ... until now. I just love the comment in the pdf file I downloaded from the Mongolian embassy in Washington.

"There are historical experiences, features, and characteristics unique to Mongolian culture that enable military personnel to be effective peacekeepers."

Yep, "keep the peace or we kill everyone, including your pets."
Apologies for the poor quality of the video ... it was the best I could find.

China has a greater proportion of female legislators than does USA, so just bear it in mind the next time you think of the old cliche of the "submissive Asian female" ... I mentioned a few posts ago about the various wives of prominent Communist party leaders, so it's time to mention one of the up-and-coming Chinese women of this generation. It's Fu Ying, former ambassador to Australia and now promoted to be Chinese ambassador to Britain. It wouldn't surprise me at all if we see her representing China in the US in the future. The thing that impresses me so much about her is that she has an incredible power over the English language, and knows how to talk in a way that diffuses all the negative stereotypes about China. Most spokesmen for China act and talk like thuggish oafs ("you are mistaking black and white! We demand that you stop interfering in our internal affairs!"), which hardly does their country any good. Fu Ying, on the other hand, could sweet-talk a dog out of its bone. Here is a recent interview with her, though the text alone can't convey the way she delivers it. Even when she's saying stuff you completely disagree with, you want to believe her.

'No country in this world is perfect, and China also has its own problems at the current stage of development, thus through public diplomacy, we should make the outside world not only learn our achievements, but also our active attitude in facing and resolving our problems,' said Fu. She also said the public diplomacy needs 'quick and early response' so that China's voice can be heard by the international community at the first moment and the world know about the truth timely.

As I said, watch out for Fu Ying in the future.

An organization known as the Renewable Fuels Association has this to say in a news release

As has been understood by Congress time and again, removing the secondary tariff on imported ethanol is bad policy. The tariff exists as a protection for American taxpayers from having to subsidize foreign sugar and ethanol production. Removing it, therefore, would force taxpayers to support sugar plantations in Brazil, for example.

If you can't tell already, the organization isn't quite what it pretends to be. I mean seriously guys ... do you think anyone is stupid enough to buy the argument that US taxpayers should pay to subsidize corn ethanol production, and therefore pay higher prices, just because you don't want to have to compete with Brazilian sugar based ethanol? So, buying products from overseas producers at market rates is now classified as "forcing taxpayers to support" them.

Oh right ... as you point out, congress, time and again, really is that stupid. And there's this:

"During his tenure in the U.S. Senate and as a presidential candidate, President Obama has been a strong supporter of America's evolving ethanol industry," said Renewable Fuels Association president Bob Dinneen. "Our industry has long appreciated the support of the President and look forward to working with him." Obama said, "we think the tariff has a role in maintaining a vibrant renewable fuel policy."

OK, let me rephrase: is anyone other than a politician, and the 30% who still strongly support Obama, stupid enough to buy that argument?

Remember a few days ago I posted about how the Colombians have found weapons sold to Venezuela in the hands of FARC rebels? Well, I didn't bother posting about Chavez's faux-outrage and grandstanding against Colombia when they pointed out to the world that he was responsible ... after all, what else would you expect from the buffoon? I thought it was worth another post because now the people who sold Chavez the rocket launders want answers:

Sweden called on Venezuela Monday to explain how Swedish-made weapons sold to the South American country ended up in the hands of Colombian FARC guerillas.

Naturally enough, the Venezuelans have denounced this "new attack" on their country. Yeah, after all, Sweden is a mortal enemy of Venezuela ... I bet those damn Vikings are plotting raids on South America even as we speak.

KCNA North Korean News states:

The Japanese and U.S. officials concerned with foreign affairs and defense recently held a working consultation in Tokyo for the purpose of adopting a new "Japan-U.S. security joint declaration"... The adoption of such declaration would only bring Japan a horrible disaster and consequently, the Japanese reactionaries would not be able to escape the lot of a tiger moth.

What the heck is it with the North Koreans and tiger moths? (See earlier post on the topic here.)

Well, we've already seen pretty ambassadors in short skirts. Now it's time to bring out the big guns.

A group of seven ''maid cafe'' waitresses wearing miniskirts and aprons left Osaka for Taiwan on Friday in a bid to attract tourists to the largest business area in western Japan. ''We'll sing and dance our best to promote Japanese pop culture,'' said Manae Miura, 18... Kansai International Airport Co., operator of the airport, spearheaded the project to send the young women to Taiwan to promote tourism against the backdrop of a decrease in passengers during the protracted economic downturn.

Make love not war! Or something.

The role of Chinese women has always been underestimated. They are the proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove. They're the personification of the Daoist concept that water conquers stone. Water seems soft, but in the end it flows around all obstacles and wears away even the strongest stone. There's even a saying that the Cultural Revolution was really caused by the fact that the wife of Liu Shaoqi (Wang Guangmei, d.2006) was a lot more glamorous than the wife of Chairman Mao (Jiang Qing), and that Jiang really hated Wang because of it. It's also said that when Wang Guangmei appeared in public again at a Beijing Opera, everyone knew that at last the Cultural Revolution was really over. Amongst other things, Madam Wang joined the closest China has to a parliament. Her children still hold high positions in Chinese society.

Well, that brings me to today's news. Madam Zhuo Lin, widow of Deng Xiaoping, has passed away, aged 93. I don't know much about Zhuo Lin, but if I know anything about Chinese women, I know this. She was a lot more important in the history of modern China than anyone realizes. Let the men have face in public, and let them pretend to be in charge, and they'll do what they're told. Sometimes they won't even realize they're doing it, but that doesn't really matter. If I had to guess, I would say that the incredible resilience of Deng, and the way he successfully came back again and again from "outsider" status to finally become the most important man in China, can be credited to Madam Zhuo. The era of Deng Xiaoping has finally passed.

Instapundit keeps using a line: "I'll believe it's a crisis when the people saying it's a crisis start acting like it's a crisis." Well, here we have a classic example. We keep hearing about the dangers of generating power from fossil fuels ... and it should be obvious to all that nuclear power is the best (and possibly only) solution to cut back on a large portion of this fossil fuel use. Wind and Solar Power are never going to be able to take up the slack anytime soon. A vital ingredient for nuclear power is enriched uranium. Well ... now we come to the test. Does the US government believe that our current level of fossil fuel use is an urgent problem. Today, we get the resounding answer ... NO.

A planned Ohio uranium enrichment plant seems doomed after U.S. officials refused to grant it a $2 billion loan guarantee, officials say. The decision by the U.S. Department of Energy to refuse the loan guarantee to the proposed USEC Inc. facility in Piketon, Ohio, means the effort has begun to "demobilize," a company spokeswoman told Tuesday's Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch. USEC was seeking the loan to help it build a $3.5 billion advanced technology uranium plant.

The share price of USEC plunged from $6.19 range to $4.05 at close of trade. Yeah ... Cap and Trade was urgent ... but having enough enriched uranium for nuclear power generation so we can cut back on emissions? Not so much.
[Update] I guess I shouldn't be surprised by this: USEC's chief executive says:

"President Obama promised to support the loan guarantee for the American Centrifuge Plant while he campaigned in Ohio. We are disappointed that campaign commitment has not been met."

Just like he promised to support C-17 production while he was campaigning ... Is it too early to cough "lying b*****d" every time Obama opens his mouth?

KCNA reports: North Korea is celebrating the 56th anniversary of its victory over the United States in the Fatherland Liberation War.

July 27, Juche 42 (1953), is the day when the army and the people of the DPRK defeated the U.S. imperialists in the war and honorably defended the sovereignty of the Republic under the distinguished leadership of President Kim Il Sung. Rodong Sinmun in an editorial stresses that the victory in the war was a precious result of the President's unique military idea and tactics and the single-minded unity of the leader, the army and the people.

They're partying across the land with dance parties like you've never seen them before. North Korean youth are "getting down" to such hits as "Long Live Generalissimo Kim Il Sung" and "July 27, Our Victory Day"

They enthusiastically danced, highly proud of holding in high esteem Kim Jong Il

I don't know what the Japanese are up to, but if there's one thing any country could do right now to annoy the Chinese, it's grant a visa to Uighur separatist Rebiya Kadeer. Heck, even the Turks have turned down her last two visa applications lest they annoy the Middle Kingdom. Rightly or wrongly, the Chinese have heaped all the blame for the nastiness in Xinjiang onto her shoulders ... and now of all times, the Japanese grant her a visa. It sure seems like there has to be something going on here ... the Japanese sending a message to the Chinese about something ... but what? If nothing else, it's certainly succeeded in getting under the Beijing's skin:

"We express strong dissatisfaction with the Japanese government for insisting on allowing Rebiya to visit Japan to engage in anti-China separatist activities despite China's repeated and serious representations," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a statement issued on Monday.

Here is the AP headline:

Dems alone can't deliver Obama health care win

Huh? The DAP (Democrat Associated Press) has really outdone itself this time. The Democrats have huge majorities in both houses, but somehow it's the Republican's fault that Obama can't pass his health care legislation. Yes, those nasty GOPers won't vote for The One's urgently needed government take-over of the health care sector, despite The One repeatedly telling them that it'll save money, really, truly, cross my heart.

I guess somehow or other the constitution has been changed without my noticing, and you now need a 2/3 vote in both houses to pass legislation. Must be those sneaky Republicans again. You have to wait to the second to last paragraph to get any honesty out of the AP report:

"The only thing bipartisan about the measure so far is the opposition to it," said McConnell, R-Ky.

Somehow or other, I think this headline could have been worded better ...

Wife of Indian PM launches home-made nuclear attack submarine

Something tells me Bill Murray would be happy about this:

Cops pepper-spray attacking groundhog

I guess the problem with telling a highly successful lie is that it tempts you to do it again ... and again. The first big lie that worked so well was "elect Obama, and it will save you money!" ... Well, that one worked like a charm. So then came, "we must reform health care so that it will save us money!" At first, that one seemed to be working (though the attractiveness of that one has rapidly waned as even the people who voted for Obama add two and two together and know that it sure doesn't add up to three, as do members of his own party.)

Now we get the latest in the same line:

THE Obama Administration's climate change negotiator has warned that any country that delays enacting laws will miss out on a huge wave of investment waiting for the regulatory dam to break.

That's right ... pass laws that will tax your industry and raise your energy costs ... and it will make you money! Yes, that's right. Action against Global Warming is the new path to economic growth.

Something tells me that this lie is going to be about as successful as "she means nothing to me" and "I was thinking of you at the time."

Biden promises to support Georgia. Russia threatens Georgia. Which one is worth more?

Biden:

Biden said the U.S. will continue to offer comprehensive support to the South Caucasus country.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Grigory Karasin said

Russia would take `concrete measures` to prevent Georgia from re-arming after its war with Moscow last year.

Hmmm ... now which one of those would you pay more attention to, if you were the Georgians? Well, at least the Georgians now have some high quality American toilet paper ... because that's about what all those documents from Biden are worth.

Well, for a while there everyone (everyone who cares about such things, that is) was getting excited about the increase in solar activity. After some record breaking periods of minimal activity, things seemed to be hotting up. In particular, a whole series of Cycle 24 sunspots started appearing, which seemed to herald that Cycle 23 was truly dead, and that it was only a matter of time until we departed from the current extended minimum, and resumed a normal upturn towards the next solar maximum. This was especially true earlier this month, because we saw 9 days of continual Cycle 24 sunspots and the sunspot number peaked at 26 (on July 6th), a level not seen since the current minimum commenced. On the 6th, Spaceweather.com hailed the last sunspot activity in these terms:

Solar observers haven't seen an active region like this one in more than two years. It is big, complex, and rapidly growing: movie. The magnetic polarity of the sunspot, revealed by SOHO magnetograms, show that it is a member of new Solar Cycle 24. This makes sense: New research shows that solar jet streams are beginning to stimulate new-cycle sunspot production. Sunspot 1024 appears to be a sign of the process at work, heralding more to come.

However, since that sunspot zone disappeared around the edge of the sun (July 11th), there has been no further activity from the sun. We've now been 13 days without a sunspot, and (shock, horror, turn to Revelations) we've now arrived at the 666th spotless day since the current minimum started. Together with the first 3 days of July, that makes 16 spotless days this month (so far). Compared to the heights of the current minimum, that seems like a fairly small number. Back in July/August/September 2008 for example, we only had six days without sunspots. We need to give this number some context, by comparing it to the last solar minimum. I'll list the six most inactive months for the last minimum (in terms of spotless days): 26; 23; 15; 12; 12; 12 ... in other words, even assuming the sun is covered with spots for the rest of July, 16 spotless days is still damn quiet. It only seems active, because the six most inactive days for this minimum are: 31; 29; 28; 28; 28; 27. (see Solarcycle24.com for the details)

Now here is the part that we really do need to pay attention to. For the last couple of days there has been some activity on the sun that seems to herald a forthcoming sunspot. Today, we have the polarity of that activity ... and it belongs to our old friend, Cycle 23. Back in March 2008, a story on NASA's website asked the question,

"Solar Cycle 23, how can we miss you if you won't go away? Barely three months after forecasters announced the beginning of new Solar Cycle 24, old Solar Cycle 23 has returned. (Actually, it never left.)"

Yep, those forecasters sure have a great record when it comes to predicting future climatic activity based on their various models. Aren't we lucky that the models work so much better concerning the Earth's climate, and that the science is settled on the future of global warming. Oh wait...
[See here for a post where I recently discussed flawed attempts to predict solar activity.]
[Update. The Cycle 23 disturbance seems to have dissipated without ever quite achieving the status of a sunspot. Is this good news or bad news? The sun remains inactive, and July now has 17 spotless days instead of 16, with another 6 days left in July, which means the this month could potentially equal the second most inactive month for the previous solar minimum. It's hardly cause to start celebrating the end of the minimum.]
[Make that 18 spotless days (July 26th) and counting ... Incidentally, this means July has now overtaken June, which had 17 spotless days.]

Give the lady her due, on her recent visit to India, she came out with a line that is both funny and clever.

"If Hollywood and Bollywood were how we all lived our lives, that would surprise me," she said with a tone of understatement. "And yet it's often the way our cultures are conveyed, isn't it? People watching a Bollywood movie in some other part of Asia think everybody in India is beautiful and they have dramatic lives and happy endings. And if you were to watch American TV and our movies you'd think that we don't wear clothes and we spend all our time fighting with each other."

World wide perceptions of America are (on the whole) hopelessly inaccurate. You'll frequently hear (often justified) criticism of how ignorant Americans are about the outside world, but it's a lot less common to list the many misconceptions non-Americans have about USA. Heck, when I applied for my job in California, I asked about gun crime in the local area. After all, everyone knows that all Americans have guns and they shoot them off at the slightest provocation. You don't dare walk down the street in case someone decides to take a pot-shot at you in a drive-by shooting. Right? Wrong. Crimes happen everywhere. Just recently 5 people were murdered in their home ... not far from where I used to live in a nice part of Sydney Australia. I live in a nice, friendly, safe neighborhood, and to date I've never seen anyone holding a gun anywhere in Southern California. (Of course, I've seen them in police holsters, but I'm referring to drawn weapons.)
[Update] I've made a liar out of myself. I realize that I have in fact seen one person holding a gun. I know a guy who hunts using a vintage rifle. It's some sort of replica-vintage model similar to what was used to fight the British when the American colonists turned traitor. He let me hold it.