Sunday, August 30, 2009

The American Bar Association's Anti-Consumer Lawsuit You Never Heard About

After 1998 testimony from industry groups, the FTC agreed to self-regulating restrictions on access to credit reports information:


The [Federal Trade] Commission ... believes that consumer victims need to be formally recognized as crime victims, complete with rights of restitution.
As the real victims of identity theft (people) know, only nine states had identity theft laws on the books to recognize the consumer as a victim of this type of crime. All other states consider the creditor to be the victim because they incur most, if not all, of the financial loss. Law enforcement officials cannot even file a report on behalf of the consumer who has been victimized in states where there is no law against this crime. source.

So whose side is the ABA taking in its latest suit? The ABA suit takes the side of the deepest pockets (banks and credit issuers), of course.

Read about it here.

While you are at Lawyer Kickers pro bono you may be interested in big-time lawyers convicted or removed from office since 2008, in major felonies or corruption. See In the Public's Benefit - Installments 2009. So far, 2 of the convicts are Harvard Law grads.

The ABA sets academic standards for law schools, and formulates model ethical codes related to the legal profession. The ABA has 410,000 members. Its national headquarters are in Chicago, Illinois; it also maintains a significant branch office in Washington, D.C.

In 1995, the DOJ Antitrust division filed a suit against the ABA, which was settled with a consent decree. [8] In 2006, the ABA acknowledged that it violated the consent decree and paid a fine. [9]

Lets not forget what else the ABA does:

[T]he ABA has participated in the federal judicial nomination process by vetting nominees and giving them a rating ranging from "not qualified" to "well qualified." The process has been accused by some (including the Federalist Society) of having a liberal bias.[10][11][12] For example, the ABA gave Ronald Reagan's judicial nominees Richard Posner and Frank H. Easterbrook low "qualified/not qualified" ratings; later, the ABA gave Bill Clinton judicial nominees with similar resumes "well qualified" ratings.[3] Meanwhile, Judges Posner and Easterbrook have gone on to become the two most highly-cited judges in the federal appellate judiciary.[13]

This guy must be very happy with the ABA's lawsuit against the FTC:

Fast forward to 2009 RESULT: ID-Theft Ring Ensnares Even the Fed Chairman

Now, ask yourself why you missed news of the ABA's lawsuit against the FTC. The news media love lawyers for two very big reasons, both of which have escaped the notice of many citizen voters. Do any of you readers, btw, know what those reasons are?

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Friday, August 28, 2009

Brazil's Coming Used Submarine Sale

Last year about this time, Brazil's Nuclear Submarine and Journalistic Fictions generated some interesting commentary.

What is new? Brazil's first nuclear submarine to be launched in 2021 . Well the time table for launch has only been moved out 1 year until 2021. France will still transfer core nuclear technologies to improve Brazil's R&D and production capabilities.

Defence minister, Nelson Jobim, said Brazil intends to build five submarines by 2021 with France (Scorpene class subs), of which one would be nuclear. Construction is slated to commence in 2016. An agreement struck last year is due to be signed by Brazilian and French presidents in a ceremony on Brazil's Independence Day, September 7th.

Total cost? Well, it seems to have increased from the original $160M estimate (for the n-sub) to $9.5 billion U.S. dollars for all, which will be paid in 2026, five years after launch. Apparently Brazilians learned from India's experience with Russian technology transfers.

Will spending $10 billion on a new sub fleet induce Brazil's Navy (Marinha do Brasil) to update its submarine insignia, too? You decide; here is the current design. M.E. predicts yes!

What will Brazil do with its current fleet of 5 submarines by 2021? Brazil's current fleet consists of a 209 class sub constructed by Germany's HDW and 3 more built by Arsenal de Marinha do Rio de Janeiro (AMRJ). AMRJ launched its improved Tupi class Tikuna, in 2005.

If Hugo Chavez is still in power, Venezueula would like to buy 1 or 2, depending upon condition, and immediately sell the HDW 209 to Iran. Ahmadinejad (if still in power) plans to upgrade the HDW 209 using Russian assistance. Hmmm.
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Submarines are always silent and strange.

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Thursday, August 27, 2009

Russian Black Ops - Story of Sloppy Practice or Execution



Sooner or later, the Russians will have to come up with a cover story for a maritime mystery ---one that will stick. Eagle1 (of EagleSpeak) has been following with his O-6 zest and imagery almost daily since about August 8th. MV Arctic Sea is a merchant vessel that was reported missing between late July and mid August 2009 en route from Finland to Algeria.


A synopsis of events sounds as if it were lifted right from a Tom Clancy novel. The intrigue is not fiction, however.


The nature of the cargo itself was questioned by Russia's top investigator, Alexander Bastrykin. He stated that he would "not rule out the possibility that [the Arctic Sea] might have been carrying not only timber."[31][32] Claims that the ship was involved in illegal operations will be looked into, said Bastrykin.[33]


The Naval Institute Blog (an independent online forum where one can express thoughtful, productive ideas, insights and opinions on issues affecting our Nation’s defense) has links and even more provacative commentary: ‘Rescued’ Cargo Ship ARCTIC SEA Hijacked by the Russian Navy?


What are the cargo possibilities for the MV Artcic Sea? Timber for sure, but note the freefall lifeboat at the stern. Launching one of these shells off the coast of Sweden in broad daylight would appear to be drill or maintenance related. Of course, the 'lifeboat' and any secretive contents could be recovered at a time of day attracting least suspicion, if necessary.


Drugs, Sweden's crown jewels, WMDs, and/or mini-subs? It would not be the first time.


In 1982 and 1983 Time magazine reported Soviet mini-submarine activities in Swedish waters. “Nor could it produce a satisfactory explanation of how the mysterious intruders had penetrated the defenses of the naval base, whose radar keeps a continual watch on Sweden’s Baltic Sea coastline facing the Soviet Union….The suspicious movements that prompted the October search, the commission said, were “part of a larger operation in the southern portion of the Stockholm archipelago.”


The current MV Arctic Sea episode began off the coast of Sweden, between the islands of Öland and Gotland. Was the Acrtic Sea a mini-sub transport vessel? For comparison see MV Dolores Chouest.

What is the attraction from the southern portion of the Stockholm archipelago? There is the Royal Palace and its Skattkammaren (the Treasure Chamber) holding the Swedish crown jewels.


Submarines are always silent and strange.
























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Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Haunting Reminder of Massachusetts Tragedy

Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy R.I.P. (February 22, 1932 – August 25, 2009) United States Senator from Massachusetts.

This was Ted Kennedy's ironic reminder...
Milena Del Valle R.I.P. was killed in the collapse of a concrete ceiling panel in Boston's "Big Dig" Tunnel. The 3-ton panel fell on the car in which she was a passenger in South Boston, Massachusetts on July 10, 2006.

This was the aweful memory...
Mary Jo Kopechne R.I.P. (July 26, 1940 – July 18, 1969) drowned on Chappaquiddick Island, Massachusetts in the car in which she was a passenger driven by a United States Senator Kennedy. Sen. Kennedy pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident after causing injury. He received a two month suspended sentence.[5]

Influential senator's fingerprints? You decide:
(1) In November 2000, the Clinton Federal Highway Administration and the Department of Transportation committed $8.55 billion of federal funds to help pay for the corruption-plagued, $14.06 billion Massachusetts tunnel project, originally estimated at $2.8 billion (US $6.0 billion adjusted for inflated 2006 dollars). [i]

(2) The Rose Kennedy Greenway, a 1.5-mile-long series of parks and public spaces in downtown Boston, Massachusetts was included in the final phase of the massive Big Dig project.

(3) Ted Kennedy died exactly 69 years and one month (to the day) after Mary Jo Kopechne was born. Kopechne died in 1969, exactly one week and one day short (to the day) of 37 years before Milena Del Valle's death.

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Tuesday, August 25, 2009

VA Healthcare Flubs Piling Up

As the U.S. Healthcare controversy continues to fester, the obvious example of government sponsored healthcare provides discouraging examples that demonstrate inattention to basic hygieneic practices, medical disciplines, and administrative procedures involving fatal outcomes.

June 16, 2009 - Report: VA Facilities Improperly Sterilized Colonoscopy Equipment - (Washington Post)
The Veterans Affairs inspector general report(pdf) follows revelations that VA hospitals in Florida, Georgia and Tennessee possibly exposed 10,320 veterans to hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV by not properly cleaning equipment. As of today, 13 of those veterans have tested positive for hepatitis B, 34 for hepatitis C and six for HIV, according to the VA.

Aug. 18, 2009 - 6 more cases of botched cancer treatment at Pa. VA - (AP)
The errors happened in a common surgical procedure to treat prostate cancer. That brings the total to 98 veterans who were given incorrect radiation doses over a six-year period at the hospital.The program had treated 114 cancer patients before it was halted when the problem surfaced in 2008.

and now,

Aug 24, 2009 - 1,200 veterans wrongly told they got fatal disease - (AP)
At least 1,200 veterans across the country have been mistakenly told by the Veterans Administration that they suffer from a fatal neurological disease. One of the leaders of a Gulf War veterans group says panicked veterans from Alabama, Florida, Kansas, North Carolina, West Virginia and Wyoming have contacted the group about the error.


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Monday, August 24, 2009

Good Way to Defuse Healthcare Protestors. And, Surprise, Senator Spector, You don't represent America, either!

Perhaps protestors do not represent America, Senator Specter, but members of congress, all of whom participate in FEHBP do not represent the America you intend to subject to Obama's Healthcare either.

To quickly silence protestors, Rex Stuttart has suggested that a statistically significant, bipartisan block of senators and house members immediately opt out of their permanent and privileged FEHBP health coverage (their families included) and submit to the legislation they will ultimately enact for the rest of us. If enough do not volunteer, Rex proposes to select names by random lottery!

Rex publicized his congressional healthcare challenge on Bob McLain Show (WORD 106.3 FM) earlier today. Bob's show has listeners in 3 states and internet followers across the country. If congressional volunteers do not step forward by next Monday, the first, four random selections will be made and announced here September 1st. No one actually expects members of our Congress to volunteer out of FEHBP.

Every Monday thereafter, 4 more House members will be drawn in Rex's lottery and announced here at Molten Eagle until the total reaches 24. At that point, the list will be repeated daily with the addition of 2 senators a week until 30 member of Congress are listed in total.

If Congress can draft us by lottery for military service, is it not time we drafted them, our representatives, for voluntary submission to legislation of their own making?

Once named, the highbinders (2nd definition, here) should have more to explain to their constituents before te next election. Bipartisan cheers, representatives!

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Not a Periscope Then or Now


How do we know? Seemingly identical mastheads appear in photos of non-military AUVs (robotic submarines) here and above. Photo at right (above) is of Advanced Seal Delivery System (ASDS) described below.
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More on HUGIN here and the allegedy cancelled ASDS here. On 24 July 2009, the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) announced that the ASDS was not going to be repaired[4].

Construction of the first ASDS was started in 1996 at a government estimated cost of US$160 million, to a low bid for the delivery of the first ASDS of $69 million for the first ASDS, and subsequent copies for $25 million each. It was delivered for testing and evaluation in 2000 and cost US$300 million (vendor and program office costs inclusive) to develop. Subsequent submarines are estimated to cost $125 million (based on a 2001 estimate) a copy. Five more were planned, but production of the second system was placed on indefinite hold in December 2005 pending a production and cost review, and the resolution of many reliability problems (primarily wiring grounds). In April 2006, the program for new submarines was canceled and Northrop Grumman notified of termination. The current submarine was still in development and use until damaged in a "serious fire" in November 2008. As of December 2008 the cause of the fire is yet to be determined. [1]

We are saying nothing more than it would be swell to have one or more ASDSs in clandestine use currently.
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Submarines are always silent and strange.

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Thursday, August 20, 2009

Unusual Public Relations History







Quick, name a commissioned SSBN. No, not one on which you, your father, son, brother, friend or an uncle served.




Ever heard of the USS Rhode Island? Not sure? Someone wants us to think of the Rhode Island. Why recall a boomer named for our smallest state rather than the only boomer not named for a state, the USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN-730)?




Actually, SSBN-730 was to be named USS Rhode Island when the contract to build her was awarded to Electric Boat and her keel was laid down in 1981. When Sen. Jackson died in 1983, however, SSBN-730 was renamed USS Henry M. Jackson.




In recent years only SSGNs have warranted much publicity, usually connected with conversion from ballistic missile platforms to awesome weapons for unconventional warfare.




If little publicity is currently afforded SSNs, SSBNs have been afforded minimal publicity for reasons that should be obvious to almost anyone. Yet, the Rhode Island continues to "pop up" with uncanny frequency in circumstances guaranteed to attract attention --- in other words, by design. Examples:

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6 March, 2005 - 2 October 2007 - Highly respected blog "Hundreds of Fathoms" active.

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8 May 2007 - The Rhode Island was named the official ballistic missile submarine of The Colbert Report. [1]

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1 July 2009 - USS RHODE ISLAND (SSBN-740) Poster by JJ_Graphics (see ____ above)

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11 August 2009 - The Rhode Island rescued 5 Bahamian fishermen whose boat had capsized four days earlier. The sub's medical staff tended to the four men and one boy before transferring them to a ship which took them to shore for further treatment.[2]
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We can only speculate about why such unusual attention has been attracted to one particular submarine.
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M.E. predicts that this submarine is destined to make the news again in what promises to be story of momentous gravity for the U.S. submarine service. An experiment involving a second gender, perhaps?
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Submarines are always silent and strange.

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Tuesday, August 18, 2009

WARNING For Those Looking Forward to a Public Healthcare Option

This past June readers were briefed on hygiene problems connected with this nation's VA hospitals nationwide:

Although crucial links in M.E.'s original posting have been removed by political powers (Obama's chief of staff?), there is updated news:

There had been revelations that VA hospitals in Florida, Georgia and Tennessee possibly exposed 10,320 veterans to hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV by not properly cleaning equipment. As of today, 13 of those veterans have tested positive for hepatitis B, 34 for hepatitis C and six for HIV, according to the VA. An internal investigation released yesterday found that fewer than half of VA medical facilities randomly inspectioned had properly sterilized medical equipment used to perform colonoscopies, despite orders to comply with safety guidelines.

"There is no question that shoddy standards -- systemic across the VA -- put veterans at risk and dealt a blow to their trust in the VA," Rep. Harry E. Mitchell (D-Ariz.) said at the hearing [link disappeared]. "And I’ll say it again, whether or not any veterans contracted illnesses from these procedures, it is outrageous that they even have to worry about that possibility."
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But, here is a victim's video, and another link to another Democrat.
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Now, we get even more discouragement for government-run national healthcare:

The Associated Press, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009 - 6 more cases of botched cancer treatment at Pa. VA [fatalities]


The errors happened in a common surgical procedure to treat prostate cancer. That brings the total to 98 veterans who were given incorrect radiation doses over a six-year period at the hospital. The program had treated 114 cancer patients before it was halted when the problem surfaced in 2008.


YOU will not be able to say you were not forewarned.

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Thursday, August 13, 2009

Molten Eagle Will Return Soon




Well, where has Vigilis been all week?

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Monday, August 10, 2009

Project 971 Щука-Б Submarine Mysteries


NATO's reporting name (the unclassified code name) for Russia's Pike class subs is Akula (shark). As we know, Pike and Shark are very different species of fish.
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QUESTION: Why does NATO select nonconforming code names?
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ANSWER: NATO reporting names are intended to provide unambiguous and easily understood English language words in a consistent manner. The practice is necessary because indigenous names may not be known when reporting is first required, or the actual name could be easily confused with existing codes.
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QUESTION: Besides collision and sinking, what are two very ominous incidents for submarine crews?
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ANSWER: Entrapment, of course, and getting swept overboard at sea.
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Finally, M.E. noticed the artifact in the cartoon submission received from Juan Caruso this past Friday. Could not be checked at the time, but assumed Caruso had photo shopped the original for some crazy reason. Now that he is back from Peurto Rico, he claims the figure was there when he got the photo from Wikipedia. Sure enough, it is still there. Caruso had thought it was a shirtless crewmember (Crazy Ivan?) performing an emergency maintenance task at sea, relieving himself because the heads were O.O.C., taking a sea bath like original submariners used to do it, or receiving some rare form of corporal punishment.
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QUESTION: What is the strange object circled above? (Open the photo above in a new window for an enlarged view)
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Submarines are always silent and strange.

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Friday, August 07, 2009

Finally - Why Akula Subs Have Been Reported Off East Coast

Fri Aug 7, 3:00 pm ET

Cash-strapped Cuba says toilet paper running short

HAVANA (Reuters) – Cuba, in the grip of a serious economic crisis, is running short of toilet paper and may not get sufficient supplies until the end of the year, officials with state-run companies said on Friday.

Submarines are always silent and strange.

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Thursday, August 06, 2009

Speaking of Leaks, This is Strange ...

The real news was not Russian Subs Detected Off U.S. East Coast, but that the Public Is Informed. (posted by Vigilis @ 9:41 PM, August 4).

Why are we revealing that we can track the Russian submarines, do we do ourselves any favors by revealing our capabilities? (posted by Galrahn - Information Dissemination @ 12:00 AM, August 5).

Not unusual for Molten Eagle to lead the pack.

But then, was a leak to the NYT just covered up by others in the current administration?

We will never know.

Submarines are always silent and strange.

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Tuesday, August 04, 2009

Russian Subs Detected Off U.S. East Coast and the Public Is Informed

The two Russian subs were Akula class (SSNs). Is this really news? No, not since the Navy admitted having known they were out there and has been routinely tracking their locations ...

Should it be news? Perhaps:


“I don’t think they’ve put two first-line nuclear subs off the U.S. coast in about 15 years,” said Norman Polmar, a naval historian and submarine warfare expert.


The patrols may be Moscow's attempt to dispel embarrassment and demonstrate its naval relevance since the latest of 6 Bulava missile test failures.


Some questions spring to mind:
1. Is Putin undergoing a late mid-life crisis? Mr Putin attains 57 years of age this October.
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2. Did the United Nations order Russia to patrol the Atlantic coast of the USA, or was the Cuban track of one sub the primary purpose (to fill a large prescription for Viagra)?
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3. Where is Cuba getting the Viagra?
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4. Why was the public informed (by the linked NYT article) this time? HINT: So Russia would know the U.S. public could be told without undue fright. (Russia already knows we can and do track their subs).
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5. Russia is a U.S. ally; are its subs helping to defend our East coast from another terror attack?
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6. UPDATE: Apparently, there is another possibility that could explain what the subs had been doing in July. Two submarines are participating in mapping activities while the two nuclear powered submarines had support tasks. Identities of the 4 submarines are unknown.
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Submarines are always silent and strange.




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Submarine Collisions, Time Bubbles and Females - Part 2 of 2

UPDATE: Russian Subs Detected Off U.S. East Coast

Submariner Blindspot - Female Sailor News
(Continued from Part 1)


1) United States


2006 - Navy Women Recognized With Statue







2) AUSTRALIA
First this:


Sept. 2007 - The navy said breast implants were not to make sailors "look sexy"Australia's opposition Labor Party has questioned the need for female sailors to be given breast enlargements paid for with public money. source




Then this:
2008 - Submarine Retention and Recruiting in a Job That Females Now Do


3) CHINA
2009 - Why would China's PLAN (People's Liberation Army Navy) publicize co-ed nuclear submarine crews? Minimum height requirements will be 1.7m for men and 1.65m for women.

In reality, China may only be publishing misleading photos of female sailors aboard nuclear subs.



Some Chinese admirals feel the ruse will cause leftist U.S. politicians (mostly lawyers without military service) to demand that the USN assign female crewmembers to our subs. Such folly would obviously play havoc with and diminish the effectiveness of our submarines --- precisely the major effect China would like to see.

At the very least, Chinese officials believe the ploy would lessen harsh U.S. criticisms over China's withering progress in the realm of human rights. Next thing you know, China's navy will boast a Uyghur admiral, too.

4) United States
2009 - First Known Case of Pregnant Naval Academy Graduate
The U.S. Naval Academy reportedly graduated its first pregnant midshipman in May, even though school policy dictates women are not supposed to marry or begin families before completing their studies source
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Submarines are always silent and strange

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Monday, August 03, 2009

Submarine Collisions, Time Bubbles and Females - Part 1


We know why submarines collide with things from time to time: The requirement to maintain their stealth (not use actiive sonar, for instance) eliminates opportunities to obtain DFOWN (direct feedback on what is nearby).


The underwater seamount domain is not the only environment in which submarines must operate somewhat blinded. There are at least two more. One blindspot did not become evident until twenty years later, thousands of miles from an ocean, in the aerospace environment in which I then worked. A co-worker (partially blinded Viet Nam veteran) about my age happened to mention a particular event from 1969, of which I had absolutely no familiarity. Not remembering any such thing, I looked it up online and, sure enough, he was correct.


Why had I been totally unaware of a quite memorable (John Lennon had married Yoko Ono in Gibraltar) event? Checking dates, it was easy to determine the marriage had occurred while I had been submerged (not too far from Gibraltar) twenty years earlier. My co-worker's comment was the very first time my personal time bubble had ever been revealed. News like that was not worthy of War news passed around my sub at the time.


Next time, M.E. explores another environment in which submariner feedback is limited and somewhat blinded - female sailors.


Submarines are always silent and strange.


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Sunday, August 02, 2009

Applied Technology Update from Battlefield to Space Station

Space has not been the genesis of every innovation in applied technology. In this case, lesson's learned on the battlefields of Nam and Iraq, finally made their way to the space station.

Jeff Owens, the scientist at the US Air Force who developed the technology, said: "During Desert Storm most casualties were from bacterial infections rather than from accidents or friendly fire. We have treated T-shirts and underwear for soldiers who tested them for several weeks and found that they remained hygienic as the clothing was actively killing the bacteria. They also helped clear up some skin complaints in those testing them."

In January 2007 M.E. speculated (Self-Cleaning Underwear Goes Weeks Without Washing) that this high-tech fabric would be tested by a the Air Force's cheerleading team. Excellent update here at PhysicsCentral.com, excerpt:



This particular type of self cleaning is achieved by leaving the fabrics in the sun. The titanium dioxide is a photocatalyst - so exposure to UV light causes it to burn organic materials, like food and bacteria.

Curiously, the latest wear test was performed by male astronaut astronaut Koichi Wakata returning to Earth with the underwear used during his 4 1/2-month space station stint. Called J-Wear, Wakata's experimental underwear, were designed in Japan to be odor free.


"I haven't talked about this underwear to my crew members," Wakata said in an interview with The Associated Press, drawing a big laugh from his six shuttle colleagues. "But I wore them for about a month, and my station crew members never complained for about a month, so I think the experiment went fine."

No word yet on use by females, but the J-Wear worn by Wakata is from a full product line, including socks.

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On subs I never washed my socks (we wore the thin, black synthetic variety that irritated feet). Once soiled, I would place them in a plastic bag, put on a fresh pair and empty the bag overboard when we surfaced. Storage took advantage of sock thiness, obviously. The pH of jettisoned socks assured rapid digestion by the ocean. This was during Nam...

Jeez, we solved the underwear problem back in the sixtys in Nam.We didn't wear any.Newbys that kept theirs on, soon found themselves with many different skin maladys. With the accompaning odor and such, they soon understood the validity of not wearing any.Feet were the worse. We would lose men weekly from footproblems. Some for good. Some returned.Boots were another problem, early on and I hear even later, the boots would start falling to pieces after just a very few weeks. I myself went through 5 pair of boots. It was very hot and wet over there..far away and long ago. - Papa Ray West Texas, USA
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Submarines are always silent and strange.





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