archimeda - born of dreams-inspired by freedom

2012-01-28T11:39:00.000-08:00

A typical wind turbine generates 5.3 million units of electricity each year, sufficient to:

- Meet the average annual electricity needs of 1,000 homes

- Make 170 million cups of tea

- Run a computer for 1,620 years

- Prevent the emission of 2,000 tonnes of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide – equivalent to taking 667 cars off the road.

Kaheawa Wind

2012-01-27T13:18:00.000-08:00

2012-01-27T13:17:00.000-08:00

Photoshop painted crow w/ Adidas sneakers

2012-01-26T11:14:00.000-08:00

Photoshop painted Adidas sneakers in Blue

2012-01-26T11:10:00.000-08:00

Let's play - Russian Roulette

2012-01-26T10:49:00.000-08:00

Rule your world or Just do it

2012-01-26T10:46:00.000-08:00

Coca-cola bottles

2012-01-26T10:29:00.001-08:00

2012-01-24T09:53:00.000-08:00

http://www.theclimaterun.org.uk

Niggaz on the sky - “Red Tails” Historical Photos Images of the Tuskegee Airmen

2012-01-19T01:40:00.000-08:00

Red Tail Leaders

332nd Fighter Group Commanding Officer Col. Benjamin O. Davis, left, and Edward C. Gleed, the Group Operations Officer, wearing flight gear, watch the skies above the airfield at Ramitelli, Italy. The P-51D in the background, "Creamer's Dream," was generally flown by Charles L. White. Library of Congress photo

Capt. Charles B. Hall

Capt. Charles B. Hall, the first Tuskegee Airmen to shoot down an enemy plane, is congratulated by Maj. Gen. John Kenneth Cannon. U.S. Air Force photo

Escort Excellence

332nd Fighter Group pilots discuss combat flying. Their P-51 Mustangs, like the one here, were well-suited to long bomber escort missions. U.S. Air Force photo

Review of the First Class of Tuskegee Cadets

Maj. James A. Ellison returns the salute of Lt. Mac Ross as he passes down the line during review of the first class of Tuskegee cadets at the U.S. Army Air Corps basic and advanced flying school, Tuskegee, Ala., 1941. Ross, one of the first five Tuskegee Airmen to receive his wings, was the first commander of the 100th Fighter Squadron. He was killed in action during the war. The aircraft are Vultee BT-13 trainers. U.S. Air Force photo

332nd and Mud, Ramitelli, Italy

"Sunny Italy." Tuskegee Airmen leave the Quonset hut where they have geared up and negotiate the mud on the airfield at Ramitelli, Italy, March 1945. Library of Congress photo

Elite Fighter Jocks

Tuskegee Airmen with the elite all-African-American 332nd Fighter Group pose with one of the group's P-51 Mustangs at their base at Ramitelli, Italy. From left: Lt. Dempsey W. Morgan, Lt. Carrol S. Woods, Lt. Robert H. Nelson Jr., Capt. Andrew D. Turner and Lt. Clarence D. Lester. U.S. Air Force photo

Maj. George S. “Spanky” Roberts

Maj. George S. "Spanky" Roberts at the controls of a P-51B Mustang. Roberts was the first African-American accepted for U.S. Army pilot training. He later commanded the 99th Fighter Squadron and the 332nd Fighter Group. U.S. Air Force photo

Tuskegee Airmen

Tuskegee Airmen made it to the fight in the spring of 1943. They first flew P-40 Warhawks like the one shown here. U.S. Air Force photo

Red Tails

Many of the Tuskegee Airmen went on to serve in the 332nd Fighter Group. The distinctive crimson-colored tail surfaces of their aircraft, like the P-51D shown here, resulted in the nickname "Red Tails." U.S. Air Force photo

332nd Mustangs Overhead

Mustangs of the 332nd Fighter Group pass over the airfield at Ramitelli, Italy, in March 1945. Library of Congress photo

Tuskegee Airmen Mission Briefing

Pilots from the 332nd Fighter Group are briefed on what to expect as they head north from Italy. The briefer is Lt. (later Col.) Edward Gleed. U.S. Air Force photo

Loading the Guns

An armorer loads ammunition for a 332nd Fighter Group P-51’s 50-caliber machine guns. The maintainers of the group played an unsung role in the success of the Tuskegee Airmen. U.S. Air Force photo

Tuskegee Airmen Bomber Pilots

The 477th Medium Bombardment Group trained to fly B-25 Mitchell bombers, but the war ended before they saw action. Although the Tuskegee Airmen of the 477th didn't see combat, their attempt to integrate an all-white officer's club at Freeman Army Airfield, Ind., is generally considered an important step toward the integration of the armed forces. U.S. Air Force photo

Eleanor Roosevelt’s Flight With the Tuskegee Airmen

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt supported the Civilian Pilot Training Program and the War Training Service. She is pictured here in a Piper J-3 Cub trainer with Tuskegee Airman C. Alfred "Chief" Anderson. Roosevelt's inspection in March 1941 resulted in a much needed boost for the fledgling program. Upon landing she reportedly told Anderson, "Well, you can fly all right." U.S. Air Force photo

2012-01-14T10:13:00.000-08:00

Marlene Dietrich at the recording studios of Columbia Records, who were releasing most of her songs she had performed for the troops during World War II, November 1952.

Read more: http://lightbox.time.com/2012/01/05/eve-arnold-21-april-1912-4-january-2012/#ixzz1hNn6KUqg

2012-01-14T10:10:00.000-08:00

Eve Arnold—Magnum Photos

Marilyn Monroe in the Nevada desert going over her lines for a difficult scene she is about to play with Clarke Gable in the film "The Misfits" by John Huston. 1960

Stephen Hawking at 70: Exclusive interview

2012-01-14T10:03:00.000-08:00

When he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease aged just 21, Stephen Hawking was only expected to live a few years. He will be 70 this month, and in an exclusive interview with New Scientist he looks back on his life and work

STEPHEN HAWKING is one of the world's greatest physicists, famous for his work on black holes. His condition means that he can now only communicate by twitching his cheek (see "The man who saves Stephen Hawking's voice"). His responses to the questions are followed by our own elaboration of the concepts he describes.

What has been the most exciting development in physics during the course of your career?
COBE's discovery of tiny variations in the temperature of the cosmic microwave background and the subsequent confirmation by WMAP that these are in excellent agreement with the predictions of inflation. The Planck satellite may detect the imprint of the gravitational waves predicted by inflation. This would be quantum gravity written across the sky.

New Scientist writes: The COBE and WMAP satellites measured the cosmic microwave background (CMB), the afterglow of the big bang that pervades all of space. Its temperature is almost completely uniform – a big boost to the theory of inflation, which predicts that the universe underwent a period of breakneck expansion shortly after the big bang that would have evened out its wrinkles.

If inflation did happen, it should have sent ripples through space-time –gravitational waves – that would cause variations in the CMB too subtle to have been spotted so far. The Planck satellite, the European Space Agency's mission to study the CMB even more precisely, could well see them.

Einstein referred to the cosmological constant as his "biggest blunder". What was yours?
I used to think that information was destroyed in black holes. But the AdS/CFT correspondence led me to change my mind. This was my biggest blunder, or at least my biggest blunder in science.

NS: Black holes consume everything, including information, that strays too close. But in 1975, together with the Israeli physicist Jakob Bekenstein, Hawking showed that black holes slowly emit radiation, causing them to evaporate and eventually disappear. So what happens to the information they swallow? Hawking argued for decades that it was destroyed – a major challenge to ideas of continuity, and cause and effect. In 1997, however, theorist Juan Maldacena developed a mathematical shortcut, the "Anti-de-Sitter/conformal field theory correspondence", or AdS/CFT. This links events within a contorted space-time geometry, such as in a black hole, with simpler physics at that space's boundary.

In 2004, Hawking used this to show how a black hole's information leaks back into our universe through quantum-mechanical perturbations at its boundary, or event horizon. The recantation cost Hawking a bet made with fellow theorist John Preskill a decade earlier.

What discovery would do most to revolutionise our understanding of the universe?
The discovery of supersymmetric partners for the known fundamental particles, perhaps at the Large Hadron Collider. This would be strong evidence in favour of M-theory.

NS: The search for supersymmetric particles is a major goal of the LHC at CERN. The standard model of particle physics would be completed by finding the Higgs boson, but has a number of problems that would be solved if all known elementary particles had a heavier "superpartner". Evidence of supersymmetry would support M-theory, the 11-dimensional version of string theory that is the best stab so far at a "theory of everything", uniting gravity with the other forces of nature.

If you were a young physicist just starting out today, what would you study?
I would have a new idea that would open up a new field.

What do you think most about during the day?
Women. They are a complete mystery.

Actor Clark Gable Served in Uniform, Flew Combat Missions in World War II

2012-01-11T12:51:00.000-08:00

Written by: Robert F. Dorr on August 11, 2010
Capt. Clark Gable in 1944. Robert F. Dorr collection.

Clark Gable was a Hollywood star and among the most famous figures in the world when two events altered his life. First, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, hurtling the United States into World War II. Then, the following month, Gable’s beloved wife Carole Lombard was killed in the crash of a DC-3 airliner returning from a war bonds tour.

Devastated, patriotic, and at age 40 a bit old for military service, Gable didn’t feel that the work he and Lombard had been doing to raise money through war bonds was enough of a contribution. He sent a telegram to President Franklin D. Roosevelt asking for a role in the war effort. The president replied, “STAY WHERE YOU ARE.”

Gable didn’t. He volunteered for the Army Air Forces, went to the 13-week Officer Candidate School, and was trained as a photographer and aerial gunner. Because of his Hollywood connection, he was made a part of the First Motion Picture Unit (FMPU) located at what troops called “Fort Roach” – the Hal Roach Studios in Culver City, Calif. FMPU was commanded by producer Jack Warner, who was recruited as a lieutenant colonel. Flight operations were commanded by “Hollywood Pilot” Paul Mantz, famous for his stunt flying in films, who became a major. Other FMPU stalwarts included Alan Ladd, Ronald Reagan and Van Heflin.

Few of them went overseas, but Gable was assigned to go to Britain to film Combat America, a propaganda movie about air gunners.

Capt. Clark Gable (third from right) prepares for a combat mission with the crew of a bomber named "Jennie." Robert F. Dorr collection.

When the 351st Bombardment Group, equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses, was formed at Biggs Army Air Field, Tex., in 1942, clerk Corp. Calvert P’Pool wrote to his parents: “Today, Clark Gable is supposed to arrive to be assigned to our group. They tell us he is the same as any other soldier-officer (1st Lt). But they had a carpenter build a special luggage rack in a bomber here and the bomber has gone to Los Angeles for him and is to return this afternoon. He will be a top gunner in a bomber.” P’Pool wrote that the 351st would become “a pretty nice outfit with me and Clark Gable. Tell the boys hello and tell ‘em me and Clark Gable are putting this 351st outfit in shape.”

Former Technical Sgt. Ralph Cowley recalled events after the 351st arrived at Polebrook, England, and began flying bombing missions over the Third Reich:

This portrait of a B-17G Flying Fortress of the 351st Bombardment Group was taken by Capt. Clark Gable. Robert F. Dorr collection.

“Gable was assigned to our squadron but not to a particular crew,” said Cowley. “The group controlled his assignments. They wanted him to have an outer-wing aircraft with a clear view of the skies for his air-to-air photography, He stayed with us right up from 1942 to 1945 and I can tell you, they didn’t put him on the milk runs. He took a lot of pictures of flak bursting beside his aircraft.” Records indicate that Gable flew five combat missions but Cowley and other veterans remember that he flew many more.

“They were very real missions in which he could have been wounded or killed,” said Chrystopher J. Spicer, an Australian scholar who has scrutinized Gable’s career. “His film Combat America makes a valuable contribution to our historical knowledge of the war from the flyer’s perspective these days.”

According to lore, Germany’s Hermann Goering offered a sizeable cash reward to anyone who could capture Clark Gable.

By the fall of 1943 Gable’s crew had exposed 50,000 feet of film.

Gable and a cameramen and sound engineer followed the crew of a B-17, named “Ain’t It Gruesome,” through 24 missions, including one where the aircraft was shot up by German Focke Wulf Fw 190 fighters and lost an engine, with the crew eventually bailing over a field in England when fog closed in. Gable’s combat missions including one over Gelsenkirchen where he was nearly hit when antiaircraft fire damaged the airplane. At least one of his missions was aboard another B-17, “Delta Rebel 2″ of the 91st Bomb Group, where ball turret gunner Sgt. Steve Perri remembered him as “a great friend of the enlisted men as well as a great all-around guy.”

Interviews with veterans debunk the myth that Gable wanted to die because of his grief over losing Lombard. They describe him as a sturdy man with unnaturally large hands who took his duties seriously, maintained a military posture, but was willing to party when appropriate.

Clark Gable posed with the left waist gun of a B-17 Flying Fortress on June 6, 1943. Robert F. Dorr collection.

Promoted to first lieutenant before reaching England and to captain soon after, Gable followed up his filming ofCombat America by returning to Fort Roach in October 1943 to edit the movie.

Unfortunately, the 63-minute Combat America was released at the same time as, and completely overshadowed by William Wyler’s Memphis Belle, another saga of a B-17 crew in combat.

The FMPU eventually completed 300 training and propaganda films and was responsible for 3,000,000 feet of combat footage. Reagan, who went on to become president, called the film office “an important contribution to the war effort.”

Gable was relieved from active duty as a major on June 12, 1944 at his request, since he was over-age for combat. Because his motion picture production schedule made it impossible for him to fulfill Reserve officer duties, he resigned his commission on Sept. 26, 1947, a week after the Air Force became an independent service branch.

Gable’s postwar motion picture career, including a film appearance with Marilyn Monroe, drew mixed reactions from critics. He died on Nov. 16, 1960.

2012-01-11T12:38:00.000-08:00

A Wonderful Life: Jimmy Stewart, Actor and B-24 Bomber Pilot

While others served at home, Stewart put his life on the line during combat missions over Germany

Col. Jimmy Stewart, U.S. Army Air Forces

“It may sound corny, but what’s wrong with wanting to fight for your country? Why are people reluctant to use the word patriotism?”

– Jimmy Stewart

When America entered World War II, Hollywood patriotically stepped forward to help in the war effort. Studios sent their movie stars across the country on war bond drives. It produced patriotic movies, cartoons, and other films and documentaries. Stars participated in USO shows abroad; a number of stars enlisted. Almost all were slotted into roles that capitalized on their fame and kept them far from combat. But one who rejected this “easy way out” of service to their country and successfully fought for duty that put him into harm’s way was B-24 bomber pilot Capt. Jimmy Stewart, who arrived in England on Nov. 23, 1943. When he returned to the States in September 1945, Col. Jimmy Stewart was a bona fide hero. On his chest was the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm, among other decorations. What makes his service even more remarkable is that this actor, who won the Academy Award in February 1941, enlisted the following month (March 22) before the country entered the war and after he had been rejected by his local draft board because he was under weight.

Maj. Jimmy Stewart confers with a B-24 crew member after a mission in 1943. Far from being a typical Hollywood actor working stateside bond tours, Stewart was a combat pilot who regularly flew on the most dificult missions. U.S. Air Force photo

Entering the Army at age 32, Stewart was significantly older than other cadets. Because of his maturity, educational background, and particularly because he was a licensed private and commercial pilot with more than 300 hours flying time, Stewart’s request to be assigned to the Army Air Corps was accepted and he proceeded straight into pilot training. On Jan. 19, 1942, he successfully passed the pilot training program and was commissioned second lieutenant.

Over the next year, Stewart completed additional pilot courses, qualifying as a twin-engine and four-engine bomber pilot and as instructor in both types of aircraft. It was at the graduation ceremonies following qualification as a B-17 pilot in February 1943 that Stewart received a shock. Unlike everyone else in his class who received combat assignments, 1st Lt. Stewart was classified “static personnel” and assigned to the 29th Training Group at Gowen Field near Boise, Idaho, where, in accordance to that hold order in his personnel folder, he would remain as an instructor for the duration of the war.

Stewart swallowed his disappointment and went about his duties like a good soldier, receiving a promotion to captain. Several months later he became alarmed over a rumor that claimed he would be taken off flying status and assigned to make training films and sell war bonds. Stewart promptly went to his commanding officer and pleaded for a combat pilot command. At this point, Stewart had more than 3,000 hours of flying time and had proved himself a respected and popular leader. Hours later, Stewart found himself going into combat.

Stewart shown in a scene from It's a Wonderful Life, one of his most famous roles. Though he will be remembered for his work as an actor, Stewart's service as a pilot and officer in the U.S. Air Force was to him the most important role of his life.

Shortly after his arrival in England, Stewart was promoted to major and transferred to the 453rd Bomb Group, part of the Eighth Air Force, and made a squadron commander. During his deployment, he maintained a pattern of behavior that endeared him to the men under his command and caused heartburn among some superiors. Stewart flew as often as possible as the flight leader on a mission and made a point of leading dangerous missions piloted only by volunteers. He quickly gained a reputation as a lucky pilot who always brought his crews back safely. On those occasions when he was not flying missions, he always remained at the control tower until the last B-24 returned home or was accounted for.

As the war continued, Stewart gained ever more responsibility, rising in rank and serving as executive officer, operations officer, chief of staff, and wing commander. On March 29, 1945, he was promoted to colonel. A little over a month later, the war in Europe was over. Eighth Air Force Commander Gen. Jimmy Doolittle later wrote that, “If the war had gone on another month, Jimmy would have become a group commander, which was the most important job in the Air Force.”

Stewart’s service in uniform didn’t stop with the end of World War II. Instead, it turned into a second career that lasted 27 years and promotion to brigadier general in 1959. Stewart led a glamorous life before and after the war. Yet, whenever questioned about the 22 months that he spent in the European theater of operations, he said that experience was “much greater” than all his years in the acting profession.

2012-01-11T12:35:00.000-08:00

Fallen Lone Eagle

Charles Lindbergh, the America First Committee, and the Nazis

Written by: Dwight Jon Zimmerman on June 19, 2011

Charles Lindbergh speaking at an America First Committee (AFC) rally in Indiana. The Lone Eagle's involvement with the isolationist AFC earned him the ire of President Roosevelt and in the end tarnished his legacy. Courtesy of CharlesLindbergh.com

“I am absolutely convinced that Lindbergh is a Nazi.”

– President Franklin D. Roosevelt

On May 20, 1927, Capt. Charles Lindbergh (U.S. Army Air Corps Reserve) became the first aviator to successfully complete a solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. For that feat, which made him a world famous hero and earned him the nickname the Lone Eagle, the United States awarded him the Medal of Honor. But, by 1941, Lindbergh was so hated within the administration of President Franklin Roosevelt that FBI head J. Edgar Hoover, with Roosevelt’s blessing, personally ordered a secret, and illegal, FBI investigation to determine if Lindbergh was conducting “subversive activities.” Ironically, the Lone Eagle’s falling out with the Roosevelt administration had its foundation in a request for assistance by the Army.

Hermann Göring with Charles Lindbergh during one of his visits to Germany. Library of Congress photo

Lindbergh and his family were living in Europe in the mid-1930s when he received an invitation from Maj. Truman Smith, military attaché to the American Embassy in Berlin, Germany. Smith, who was tasked with reporting about the German rearmament program, wished to enlist Lindbergh in what amounted to an un-secret intelligence mission assessing the Luftwaffe. Smith felt that Lindbergh’s status would give him entrée with Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, head of the Luftwaffe and the second most powerful man in Nazi Germany after Adolf Hitler. Lindbergh agreed. The mission turned out to be too successful. Lindbergh visited Germany six times between 1936 and 1938. As Göring’s guest, Lindbergh received unprecedented access to Luftwaffe facilities, and was allowed to fly the Ju-88 bomber and Bf-109 fighter. Göring also awarded Lindbergh the Order of the Golden Eagle, a decoration that Lindbergh’s wife Ann presciently called “The Albatross.” And, indeed, it did come to taint his reputation.

Lindbergh came away more than just impressed; he had swallowed whole Göring’s exaggerated claims for the Luftwaffe. His reports to the U.S. Army were filled with details of the superiority of the Luftwaffe’s aircraft, production capability, and esprit.

Charles Lindbergh examines a sword as a guest of Hermann Göring. Library of Congress photo

When Lindbergh and his family returned to the United States, Lindbergh began to speak out against intervention, even though he was now a colonel in the Army Air Corps Reserve. In 1940, he joined the isolationist America First Committee. He proved an eloquent spokesman for the isolationist cause. In a nationwide radio address on May 18, 1940, ten days after the launch of Germany’s offensive against France and the Low Countries, Lindbergh accused the Roosevelt administration of creating “a defense hysteria.” He said that there was no reason for the United States to get involved in the war in Europe – that only “a small minority of American people” was pushing the country toward war. When the Lend-Lease Bill was working its way through Congress in early 1941, Lindbergh claimed it was “another step away from democracy and another step closer to war.” And, in testimony before Congress, he said, “It is not the duty of the United States to police the world.”

Roosevelt, who did not anger easily, was livid. It’s possible that part of the reason behind the president’s fury was that Lindbergh was more right than wrong. All the more reason to discredit someone most Americans still regarded as a hero. In a press conference on April 25, 1941, Roosevelt castigated Lindbergh’s views on neutrality and scathingly compared the aviator to U.S. Representative Clement L. Vallandigham of Ohio, who was one of the leaders of the “Copperhead” Democrats who had opposed President Abraham Lincoln’s campaign against the Confederacy during the American Civil War. Stung by the accusation of disloyalty, Lindbergh resigned his commission.

Famed aviator Charles A. Lindbergh (right) with Maj. Thomas B. McGuire (left). During the summer of 1944, Lindbergh visited the Southwest Pacific Theater and helped develop economical flight techniques to extend the range of P-38 fighters. U.S. Air Force photo

Around this time the FBI opened a secret investigation on him. Though Lindbergh was an influential opponent of FDR’s interventionist policies, the investigation determined he was not involved in “subversive activities.”

While Lindbergh’s statements about Nazi Germany’s military power, his refusal to return the Order of the Golden Eagle, and controversial public anti-Semitic and pro-eugenics comments left him open to accusations of being a Nazi sympathizer, Lindbergh was also a patriot. When America entered the war following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Lindbergh attempted to return to active duty. But Roosevelt blocked that move. Instead, Lindbergh served as a civilian consultant to a number of aviation companies. In 1944, he went to the Southwest Pacific and during his six months there, advised pilots and participated in 50 combat missions, reportedly shooting down at least one Japanese airplane.

After the war, Lindbergh visited some Nazi concentration camps. The sights left him disgusted and angry. By now, the public had largely forgotten the Lone Eagle. For the rest of his life, he was rarely the focus of attention. Lindbergh died on the island of Maui, Hawaii, in 1974 at the age of 72.

Simpsons go green

2012-01-08T09:58:00.001-08:00

People's Republic Pollution

2012-01-08T09:54:00.000-08:00

At War With Ourselves - GreenTechnica.com

2012-01-08T09:49:00.000-08:00

Ungarn Absurdistan - Glosse - Die Welt

2012-01-08T03:43:00.000-08:00

Ungarn, Absurdistan

Zwischen den Kriegen waren die Ungarn noch gut drauf. Da ging ein Witz über ihr Staatsoberhaupt, den pompös als "Reichsverweser" titulierten Herrn Hórthy, wie folgt: "Wir haben einen Admiral ohne Flotte. Der regiert ein Land ohne Küste. Das ist ein Königreich ohne König." Denn Horthy, letzter Befehlshaber der k.u.k. Kriegsmarine, war ja Monarchist und "verwaltete" das, was von Ungarn als Konkursmasse des Habsburgerreiches übriggeblieben war, bis ein legitimer neuer Herr der Herrlichkeit in seine angestammten Rechte eingesetzt werden könne. Der Herr, der dann schließlich kam, hörte allerdings auf den sehr bürgerlichen Namen Hitler. Aber das nur nebenbei. Jedenfalls ist es gute Tradition zwischen Balaton und Puszta, sich mit den kuriosesten europäischen Alleinstellungsmerkmalen zu schmücken.

Das geht schon mit der Sprache los, die außer den Magyaren niemand spricht und auch nicht sprechen will. Das setzt sich nun dieser Tage fort mit der Einführung einer neuen Verfassung. Die schafft natürlich allerhand neue Sachlagen, die man aber nur in Ungarn versteht, weil ja, wie gesagt, das dort gepflegte erratische Idiom kein Nicht-Magyar beherrscht. Eines allerdings ist nun doch aufgefallen: Zur Bezeichnung des Landes fiel eines der unverständlichen Worte weg, die es bislang politisch definiert haben. Übrig blieb "Ungarn". Folglich muss es wohl das Wort "Republik" sein, auf das jetzt Verzicht geleistet wird. Also wieder ein Königreich ohne König? Orban als neuer "Reichsverweser"? Ein anderes Provisorium? Irgendwann muss es ja schließlich "Absurdistan Ungarn" heißen.

Drzach&Suchy Schattenbilder: conversation

2012-01-02T12:36:00.001-08:00

2012-01-02T11:07:00.000-08:00

A Velencei Bizottság nemrég jelentést adott ki Magyarország Alaptörvényéről. A jelentésről hiteles fordítás hiányában és a kormánypártok képviselőinek félrevezető nyilatkozatai miatt téves kép alakulhatott ki a közvéleményben. Annak érdekében, hogy a nyilvánosság valós információkkal rendelkezzen a Velencei Bizottság (VB) kritikáiról, az Eötvös Károly Intézet, a Magyar Helsinki Bizottság és a TASZ közösen elemzést készítettek a VB jelentéséről és az ahhoz kapcsolódó kormányzati reakciókról.

A három szervezet elemzésének lényegi megállapításai a következők:

1. Ellentétben a kormányzati kommunikációval, a Jelentés összességében az Alaptörvénynek nem dicséretét, hanem átfogó bírálatát adja. A Bizottság Jelentése komoly szakmai kritikát fogalmaz meg az Alaptörvény elfogadásának körülményeiről, és olyan súlyos tartalmi kifogásokat emel, amelyek csak az Alaptörvény módosításával orvosolhatók.

2. Ellentétben a Kormány képviselőiének állításaival, a Jelentés nem értelmezi rosszhiszeműen az Alaptörvényt. A diplomatikus elemzés helyenként szelíd rábeszéléssel ajánlja az európai követelményeket a Kormány figyelmébe. A normaszöveg kétértelműsége vagy hiányossága esetén a Velencei Bizottság többször a jóindulatú értelmezésből indul ki, így jár el az abortusz vagy a szekularizáció kérdésében is. Azért pedig a kritikák megfogalmazója nem kárhoztatható, hogy rámutat: az Alaptörvény egyes rendelkezéseinek vannak elfogadhatatlan olvasatai is.

3. Ellentétben a kormányzat álláspontjával, a Jelentés egyértelművé teszi, hogy az Alaptörvény számos pontja veszélyezteti a demokratikus berendezkedést. Ilyen például az Alkotmánybíróság hatáskör-korlátozásának fenntartása; az alapjogok korlátozására irányadó új szabályozás, a kétharmados törvények rendszere, amely a jelenlegi kormány adó-és társadalompolitikai döntéseit betonozzák be; vagy a költségvetés parlamenti elfogadásának antidemokratikus akadályozása a Költségvetési Tanács által.

A civil szervezetek elemzése amellett, hogy a Jelentés ismertetésével európai tükröt tart a kormányzatnak, az Alaptörvényt a rendszerváltást követő magyar alkotmányos gyakorlat fényében is vizsgálja, és ennek alapján néhol a Velencei Bizottságnál is kritikusabb álláspontot fogalmaz meg róla.

http://tasz.hu/szolasszabadsag/magyar-kormany-esete-velencei-bizottsaggal

Politikai szabadságjogok - Mi a baj az új Alkotmánnyal? Good bye free democratic republic welcome personality cult & "Great" Hungary

2012-01-02T10:43:00.000-08:00

http://tasz.hu/politikai-szabadsagjogok/mi-baj-az-uj-alkotmannyal

Az új alkotmány a kormány alkotmánya lesz. Az alkotmányról szóló vitában a demokratikus ellenzéki pártok nem vettek részt. A kormány összesen 9 napot szánt a parlamenti vitára, amelyet önmagával és a Jobbikkal folytatott.
Magyarország új alkotmánya a társadalom bevonása nélkül készült. A 12 pontból álló kérdőív postázása után két héttel már a Parlament előtt volt az új alkotmány tervezete, ezért a visszaküldött válaszokat nyilvánvalóan nem vehették figyelembe a szöveg véglegesítésénél.
Az új alkotmány szükségességét nem indokolta meg a kormány. A jelenlegi alkotmányos berendezkedés 1989–90-ben került kialakításra, az alkotmány csak címében őrizte meg az 1949-es évszámot. Az 1989-es alkotmány volt az, amely alapján létrejött az alapjogokat elismerő, tiszteletben tartó és védő, hatalommegosztáson alapuló harmadik magyar köztársaság.
Az új alkotmány átalakítja a választásokon való részvétel szabályait, így a külföldön élő magyarok is részt vehetnek a választásokon. Ez azt jelenti, hogy olyan emberek is szavazni fognak, akik e politikai döntés következményeit nem viselik, mert nem itt laknak.
Az új alkotmány konzervatív-keresztény értékrendet állít mintának. Az új alkotmány kirekeszti azokat, akik másképp gondolkoznak. A konzervatív-keresztény világkép az alapjogok értelmezésénél is szerepet játszhat.
Az új alkotmány másodosztályú polgárokként kezeli a nem heteroszexuális embereket. Az új alkotmány nem tartalmazza a szexuális irányultság alapján történő megkülönböztetés tilalmát, és kizárja, hogy a jövőben házasságot köthessenek az azonos neműek.
Az emberi jogok védelmi szintje lényegesen csökken. Az új alkotmány megnyitja a lehetőséget az abortusz szigorítása vagy akár teljes tiltása előtt. Számos szociális jog csupán államcélként szerepel az új alkotmányban.
Az emberi jogok kikényszeríthetősége csökken. Az Alkotmánybíróság hatásköre szűkül. Megszűnik az eddigi lehetőség, hogy bárki az Alkotmánybírósághoz fordulhat.
Az új alkotmány nem biztosítja megfelelően a bíróságok függetlenségét.
Az ombudsmani rendszer átalakul: megszűnik a kisebbségi biztos, a jövő nemzedéke biztos és az adatvédelmi biztos önálló intézménye is.
A kormánytöbbség hosszú időre bebetonozhatja saját politikai elképzeléseit azzal, hogy az adó- és nyugdíjszabályokat a 2/3-os törvények közé sorolja. A következő kormány munkáját nehezíti meg, hogy a költségvetés elfogadását az állami vezetők által delegált Költségvetési Tanácstól teszi függővé.

once upon a Buran “Бура́н” 'Energía "Энергия"

2012-01-02T10:12:00.000-08:00

house m.d.

2012-01-02T10:04:00.001-08:00

Great history of Apple

2012-01-02T08:07:00.000-08:00

Recycled Artwork Photos - Lexus CT 200h

2012-01-02T03:51:00.000-08:00

Lexus CT 200h Recycled Artwork Photos

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2011-12-27T11:26:00.000-08:00

Hungary: playing chicken

One of the smaller head-on car crashes in what could still turn out to be a multi-car pile-up in the EU next year is taking place in Hungary. At the wheel of this particular Trabant is the conservative prime minister Viktor Orbán, a man who vowed to accomplish a genuine regime change instead of what he calls the failed one of 1989. His widespread personnel changes go far beyond the turnaround that usually occurs when a party sweeps to power.

He is using an overwhelming electoral victory to overwhelm the institutions of state. The posts of president, chief prosecutor and head of the court of auditors were filled with Fidesz party faithful. The constitutional court, the supreme council, the budget council and the central bank were cut down to size. A state agency supervises the media. A generation of judges, headmasters and hospital directors will have been replaced by a combination of constitutional changes (lowering the retirement age of judges) and 39 fundamental laws (which need the approval of two-thirds of the MPs) to change voting rights, pensions and party financing. Orbán's is indeed a revolution, but not for the poor. He is using the turbulent history of his country to turn the clock back. Under his party's vision, Hungary is not a republic any more but "the country of Hungarians", which includes Hungarians living abroad and comes complete with a map of "Great Hungary". His party also flirts with the far-right Jobbik party, whose uniformed guards terrorised the Roma in a village in north Hungary. To please Jobbik, a square was renamed after an antisemitic writer condemned for war crimes in Romania.

In the process, Orbán has alienated just about every natural friend his country has. Hillary Clinton, the EU and the IMF have all at some time walked off. The issue is not Hungary's debt – at 80% of GDP it is the highest in central Europe – but the government. The row has coalesced around two laws which the EU claims would undermine the independence of the central bank and which José Manuel Barroso said breached European law. Brussels has decided to play hardball with Orbán. No change in the legislation, and the prospect of funding, which would help Hungary regain access to the markets, is also slim. Just to ram home the point, Hungary's second credit-ratings downgrade in a month to junk status pushed the five-year bond yield through the 9% mark last week.

So far Orbán's response has been to keep his foot down on the accelerator and the car pointed firmly at the oncoming EU juggernaut. The wider question is whether Orbán is sui generis. The nightmare would be if his form of xenophobic, rightwing nationalism became the norm in Europe's periphery.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/dec/25/hungary-playing-chicken-editorial

Hungary’s Constitutional Revolution - Kim Lane Scheppele

2011-12-26T08:28:00.000-08:00

December 19, 2011, 10:31 AM

Hungary’s Constitutional Revolution

Last week I devoted a column to the unsettling political developments in Hungary. To expand on all this, I’ve asked my Princeton colleague Kim Lane Scheppele, who has been working extensively on the situation, to contribute a post. It’s below the fold.

Hungary’s Constitutional Revolution
Kim Lane Scheppele

Last week, Paul Krugman’s column “Depression and Democracy” called attention to Hungary’s “authoritarian slide.” Since I was one of the sources for Paul’s column, I’d like to explain why I have been alarmed at the state of both constitutionalism and democracy in Hungary.

In a free and fair election last spring in Hungary, the center-right political party, Fidesz, got 53% of the vote. This translated into 68% of the seats in the parliament under Hungary’s current disproportionate election law. With this supermajority, Fidesz won the power to change the constitution. They have used this power in the most extreme way at every turn, amending the constitution ten times in their first year in office and then enacting a wholly new constitution that will take effect on January 1, 2012.

This constitutional activity has transformed the legal landscape to remove checks on the power of the government and put virtually all power into the hands of the current governing party for the foreseeable future.

The new constitution has attracted a great deal of criticism from the Venice Commission for Democracy through Law of the Council of Europe, theEuropean Parliament and the United States. But the Fidesz government has paid no attention.

Under the new constitutional order, the judiciary has taken the largest hit. The Constitutional Court, which once had the responsibility to review nearly all laws for constitutionality, has been killed off in three ways. First, the government expanded the number of judges on the bench and filled the new positions with their own political allies (think: Roosevelt’s court-packing plan). Then, the government restricted the jurisdiction of the court so that it can no longer review any law that has an impact on the budget, like laws pertaining to taxes and austerity programs, unless the law infringes particular listed rights. Finally, the government changed the rules of access to the court so that it will no longer be easily able to review laws in the abstract for their compliance with the constitution. Moreover, individuals can no longer challenge the constitutionality of laws without first going through a lengthy process in the ordinary courts. The old Constitutional Court, which has served as the major check on governmental power in a unicameral parliamentary system, is now functionally dead.

The ordinary judiciary has suffered a similar fate. The government lowered the retirement age for judges from 70 to 62, giving judges only a few months to adjust to their new futures. More than 200 judges will be forced to retire from the bench starting on January 1, including most of the court presidents who assign cases and manage the daily workings of courts. The new law on the judiciary requires that the Supreme Court president have at least five years of Hungarian judicial experience. The current president of the Supreme Court is disqualified because his 17 years of experience as a judge on the European Court of Human Rights do not count. Therefore, he must leave office on January 1 also.

The law on the judiciary also creates a new National Judicial Office with asingle person at the helm who has the power to replace the retiring judges and to name future judges. This person also has the power to move any sitting judge to a different court. A new constitutional amendment – to the new constitution! – will permit both the public prosecutor and the head of this new National Judicial Office to choose which judge will hear each case.

The independence of the judiciary is over when a government puts its own judges onto the bench, moves them around at will, and then selects which ones get particular cases to decide.

The Vice President of the European Commission for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, Viviane Reding, issued a strongly worded request for information about the new law last week and demanded immediate replies from the Hungarian government. She also strongly urged the government “to ensure . . . that no measure is implemented until doubts about its compliance with EU law are removed.” The government responded by saying all of these changes are improvements and it seems to be going ahead with implementing the new constitutional framework despite the strong caution from Brussels.

In the new constitutional system, the legal supervision of elections has also been changed. Before the last election, the norm was for the five-member Election Commission to be politically diverse and for the government of the day to consult the opposition before nominating candidates. But the rules were changed last year so that each new national election is now accompanied by a new choice of election commissioners. As a result, the existing commissioners were removed from their offices without allowing them to finish their terms and now the Election Commission consists of five members of the governing party.

The new election law specifies the precise boundaries of the new electoral districts that will send representatives to the parliament. But the new districts are drawn in such a way that no other party on the political horizon besides Fidesz is likely to win elections. A respected Hungarian think tank ran the numbers from the last three elections using the new district boundaries. Fidesz would have won all three elections, including the two they actually lost.

Virtually every independent political institution has taken a hit. The human rights, data protection and minority affairs ombudsmen have been collapsed into one lesser post. The public prosecutor, the state audit office and, most recently, the Central Bank are all slated for more overtly political management in the new legal order.

And all of this has happened while the press operates under day-to-day intimidation. A draconian set of media laws created a new media board – staffed only by Fidesz party loyalists with a chair who is appointed by the Prime Minister to a nine-year term. This board can review all public and private media for their compliance with a nebulous standard of political “balance” and has the power to bankrupt any news organization with large fines. It is not surprising that the media have become self-censoring. This new media regime has been severely criticized by the European Commissioner for Communications, among others.

The new constitution also accepts conservative Christian social doctrine as state policy, in a country where only 21% of the population attends any religious services at all. The fetus is protected from the moment of conception. Marriage is only legal if between a man and a woman. The constitution “recognize(s) the role of Christianity in preserving nationhood” and holds that “the family and the nation constitute the principal framework of our coexistence.” While these religious beliefs are hard-wired into the constitution, a new law on the status of religion cut the number of state-recognized churches to only fourteen, deregistering 348 other churches.

In a democracy, the population can “throw the bums out” and replace the government with a different one that can change the policies that do not have public support. But that will be nearly impossible under this constitution. In addition to compromising institutions that are necessary for a free and fair election – like a free press and a neutral election apparatus – the new constitution embeds Fidesz control even if another political party defies the odds and wins an election.

The new constitution makes huge swaths of public policy changeable only by a two-thirds vote of any subsequent parliament. From here on, all tax and fiscal policy must be decided by a two-thirds supermajority. Even the precise boundaries of electoral districts cannot be changed by simple majority vote, but only by a two-third supermajority. If a new government gets a mere majority, policies instituted during the Fidesz government cannot be changed.

That’s not all. The long arm of the current Fidesz government can grab and shake any foreseeable future government through the officials they are now putting into place. The new constitutional order extends the terms of office for the public prosecutor (9 years), the head of the state audit office (12 years), the head of the national judicial office (9 years), the head of the media board (9 years), the head of the budget council (6 years) and more. Each of these positions has been filled with Fidesz party loyalists who will be able to conduct public investigations, intimidate the media, press criminal charges and continue to pack the courts long after the government’s current term is over. Moreover, unless there is a two-thirds vote to replace these new office holders, they can stay in office until such a two-thirds vote can be achieved, which could extend these long terms of office even further.

How do all of these pieces work together? One example will illustrate. The constitution creates a national budget council with the power to veto any future budget that adds to the national debt, which any foreseeable budget will do. The members of the budget council have been chosen by this government for terms of 6 or 12 years and can only be replaced if two-thirds of the parliament can agree on new candidates when their terms are over. Another part of the constitution requires the parliament to pass a budget by March 31 of each year. If the parliament fails to do so, the president of the country can dissolve the parliament and call new elections. When these pieces are put together, the constraints on any future government are clear. A new government will pass a budget – but that budget can be vetoed by Fidesz loyalists so that the budget deadline is missed, and then the president (also named by Fidesz) will call new elections. And this can be repeated until an acceptable government is voted back into power.

The only parties that might replace Fidesz in the current Hungarian landscape are the Socialist Party or, in a real nightmare scenario, the far-right Jobbik. Under laws that preceded Fidesz’s election last year, political parties that are anti-constitutional may be banned. Some have suggested that Fidesz could eliminate Jobbik in this way. In fact, Europe probably would not mind if Jobbik were excluded from public life because other European countries can ban extremist parties also. But what about Fidesz’s primary competition – the Socialists?

According to a proposed constitutional amendment, the crimes of the former communist party will be listed in the constitution and the statute of limitations for prosecuting crimes committed during the communist period will be lifted. The former communist party is branded a criminal organization and the current opposition Socialist Party is designated as their legal successor. It is still unclear, legally speaking, what this amendment means. But it is probably not good for the major opposition party.

The Fidesz government has accomplished this constitutional revolution by legal means after a democratic election. But though Fidesz was democratically elected and has accomplished this program through constitutional change, Hungary is not a constitutional democracy. Instead Hungary is, as Paul Krugman said, sliding into authoritarianism.

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/19/hungarys-constitutional-revolution/

2011-12-26T08:10:00.000-08:00

Depression and Democracy

By PAUL KRUGMAN

Published: December 11, 2011

It’s time to start calling the current situation what it is: a depression. True, it’s not a full replay of the Great Depression, but that’s cold comfort. Unemployment in both America and Europe remains disastrously high. Leaders and institutions are increasingly discredited. And democratic values are under siege.

On that last point, I am not being alarmist. On the political as on the economic front it’s important not to fall into the “not as bad as” trap. High unemployment isn’t O.K. just because it hasn’t hit 1933 levels; ominous political trends shouldn’t be dismissed just because there’s no Hitler in sight.

Let’s talk, in particular, about what’s happening in Europe — not because all is well with America, but because the gravity of European political developments isn’t widely understood.

First of all, the crisis of the euro is killing the European dream. The shared currency, which was supposed to bind nations together, has instead created an atmosphere of bitter acrimony.

Specifically, demands for ever-harsher austerity, with no offsetting effort to foster growth, have done double damage. They have failed as economic policy, worsening unemployment without restoring confidence; a Europe-wide recession now looks likely even if the immediate threat of financial crisis is contained. And they have created immense anger, with many Europeans furious at what is perceived, fairly or unfairly (or actually a bit of both), as a heavy-handed exercise of German power.

Nobody familiar with Europe’s history can look at this resurgence of hostility without feeling a shiver. Yet there may be worse things happening.

Right-wing populists are on the rise from Austria, where the Freedom Party (whose leader used to have neo-Nazi connections) runs neck-and-neck in the polls with established parties, to Finland, where the anti-immigrant True Finns party had a strong electoral showing last April. And these are rich countries whose economies have held up fairly well. Matters look even more ominous in the poorer nations of Central and Eastern Europe.

Last month the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development documented a sharpdrop in public support for democracy in the “new E.U.” countries, the nations that joined the European Union after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Not surprisingly, the loss of faith in democracy has been greatest in the countries that suffered the deepest economic slumps.

And in at least one nation, Hungary, democratic institutions are being undermined as we speak.

One of Hungary’s major parties, Jobbik, is a nightmare out of the 1930s: it’s anti-Roma (Gypsy), it’s anti-Semitic, and it even had a paramilitary arm. But the immediate threat comes from Fidesz, the governing center-right party.

Fidesz won an overwhelming Parliamentary majority last year, at least partly for economic reasons; Hungary isn’t on the euro, but it suffered severely because of large-scale borrowing in foreign currencies and also, to be frank, thanks to mismanagement and corruption on the part of the then-governing left-liberal parties. Now Fidesz, which rammed through a new Constitution last spring on a party-line vote, seems bent on establishing a permanent hold on power.

The details are complex. Kim Lane Scheppele, who is the director of Princeton’s Law and Public Affairs program — and has been following the Hungarian situation closely — tells me that Fidesz is relying on overlapping measures to suppress opposition. A proposed election law creates gerrymandered districts designed to make it almost impossible for other parties to form a government; judicial independence has been compromised, and the courts packed with party loyalists; state-run media have been converted into party organs, and there’s a crackdown on independent media; and a proposed constitutional addendum would effectively criminalize the leading leftist party.

Taken together, all this amounts to the re-establishment of authoritarian rule, under a paper-thin veneer of democracy, in the heart of Europe. And it’s a sample of what may happen much more widely if this depression continues.

It’s not clear what can be done about Hungary’s authoritarian slide. The U.S. State Department, to its credit, has been very much on the case, but this is essentially a European matter. The European Union missed the chance to head off the power grab at the start — in part because the new Constitution was rammed through while Hungary held the Union’s rotating presidency. It will be much harder to reverse the slide now. Yet Europe’s leaders had better try, or risk losing everything they stand for.

And they also need to rethink their failing economic policies. If they don’t, there will be more backsliding on democracy — and the breakup of the euro may be the least of their worries.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/12/opinion/krugman-depression-and-democracy.html

2011-12-26T07:50:00.000-08:00

The New York Times: Magyarország nem alkotmányos demokrácia

Az amerikai lap Magyarország alkotmányos forradalma címmel közölte Kim Lane Scheppele írását a magyar kormány jogi és alkotmányozási lépéseiről.

A Princeton Egyetem professzora megállapítja: a Fidesz 53 százalékos választási eredménnyel jutott 68 százalékos parlamenti többséghez, amelynek birtokában az alkotmány megváltoztatására kapott felhatalmazást. Ennek eredményeként átalakult a jogi környezet, megszűntek a végrehajtó hatalom ellenőrzését szolgáló fékek, és belátható időre a kormánypárt kezébe került gyakorlatilag minden hatalom". Scheppele szerint az új alkotmány a legnagyobb csapást a bírói testületre mérte, kezdve az Alkotmánybíróságtól - amelynek sorait kormánypárti tagokkal bővítették, hatáskörét pedig megnyirbálták, így "funkcionálisan halottá vált" - a bíróságokig, ahonnan több mint 200 bírót kényszerítenek nyugdíjba.

Helyükre az újonnan létrehozott Országos Bírósági Hivatal elnöke nevezhet ki utódokat, valamint jelölheti ki az egyes pereket tárgyaló bírákat. "A bírói testület függetlensége megszűnik, ha a kormány a saját bíráit ülteti a pulpitusra, tetszése szerint mozgatva őket, és maga választja ki, hogy az egyes ügyeket melyik bíró tárgyalja" - szögezte le. Megemlítette, hogy Viviane Reding EU-biztos kemény hangú levélben kért mielőbbi tájékoztatást a fentiek kapcsán.

"Demokráciákban a nép 'kiakolbólíthatja a tökfilkókat', és új kormányt juttathat hatalomra, az pedig megváltoztathatja a lakosság támogatását nélkülöző politikát. Az új alkotmány értelmében azonban ez csaknem lehetetlenné válik... A Fidesz akkor is kézben tartja az ellenőrzést, ha egy másik párt az esélyekre rácáfolva megnyerné a választást" - írta az amerikai professzor, állítását a kétharmados többséget igénylő törvények nagy számával, valamint a választókerületek határainak átrajzolásával támasztva alá.

Scheppele úgy fogalmazott: "a Fidesz demokratikus választások után, törvényes eszközökkel hajtotta végre az alkotmányos forradalmat. Ám jóllehet a Fideszt demokratikus választás juttatta hatalomra, és a fenti programot alkotmánymódosítással vitte véghez, Magyarország nem alkotmányos demokrácia. Ehelyett - Paul Krugman szavaival - a tekintélyelvűség felé sodródik."

http://www.vg.hu/gazdasag/gazdasagpolitika/the-new-york-times-magyarorszag-nem-alkotmanyos-demokracia-364932

Kis magyar abszurd a svéd sajtóban

2011-12-25T11:21:00.000-08:00

A magyar valóság egy ideje alulmúl minden svéd képzeletet. Az itt élők nehen értik, például, hogy egy közeli és mindeddig szimpatikus európai országban az emberek miért nem élnek demokratikus jogaikkal, miért nem veszik komolyan saját szerepüket egy parlamenti választás során. Mint ahogyan az is ködös,miként kerülhet kétharmados hatalomra a választók egyharmada által favorizált pártcsoport, s hogy az ebből kinőtt kormány miért hoz a marionett-képviselők, majd a szereptévesztésben lévő elnök közreműködésével, az európai normákkal szembemenő törvényeket.

Amikor pedig kezdetétt vette Magyarország elnöksége az EU élén, a svéd sajtótól szokatlanul éles bírálatot kapott magyar miniszterelnök, s a svéd lapok nem kímélték őt később sem a magyar félév alatt.

A Dagens Nyheter KulturDebatt oldalának rendszeres szerzője, E. Rosenberg, a minap nem csupán azt akarta megmutatni, ami az Új Színház pazar szecesszós épüle előtt, ott az utcán történt október 22-én – a svéd tévéhíradók és turisták által is oly kedvelt Andrássy út közelében – de be is vitte olvasóit a kulisszák mögé.

A lap hétvégi olvasóinak alighanem megakadt a torkán a reggeli kávé, amikor olyan magyar kifejezések svédre fordított megfelelőjét ízlelgették hozzá, mint a 'hátországszínház' (Hinterlandteater) vagy hogy a magyaroknak vissza kellene hódítaniuk országukat és kultúrájukat. 2011-ben? Európa közepén? Kiktől?

Bizonyára nem nagyon hitték, hogy egy Budapest szívében lévő színház igazgatója, aki már 14 éve sikeresen vezeti azt, mind művészileg, mind gazdaságilag – alulmarad egy nyíltan antihumánus, s így a művészettel össze nem egyeztethető elveket valló konkurrenssel szemben, akinek koncepciója rádaásul szakmailag is minősíthetetlen és valós alapot nélkülöző állítások, ígéretek sorát tartalmazza.

A svéd újságolvasók valószínűleg nem értik azt sem, hogy a pályázatokról véleményt alkotni jogosult bizottság színház-szakmai tagjai, akik a társulat s a publikum által is kedvelt korábbi direktornak adtak volna lehetőséget a folytatatásra, miért maradhattak alul a politika képviselőivel szemben. Azt is furcsállhatják, hogy a budapestiek határozott és több módon kifejezett tiltakozása süket fülekre talált a polgármesternél, aki errefelé szokatlan módon, egymaga határozott a színház leendő vezetőjéről. S egyáltalán: a város vezetői honnan vették a bátorságot, hogy művészeti kérdésekben hatalmi szóval érvényesítsék a pártjuk politikai nézeteit vagy érdekeit?...

Noha a legutóbbi választások során a svéd parlamentbe is bejuttattak a szavazók húsz neonacionalista elveket valló képviselőt, ezeket a többi hét párt delegáltjai nem tekintik partnernek a politikai vitákban. Erről már jóval a választási kampányt megelőzően megállapodtak a demokratikus pártok, amint a svéd média szereplői is arról, hogy nem közölnek hirdetéseket semmilyen nacionalista párttól – annak ellenére, hogy ezen döntésükkel sokmilliós bevételekről is lemondtak.

Hogy ez a nacionalista svéd párt saját favoritját protezsálja az egyik vezető stockholmi színház igazgatói székébe, teljesen elképzelhetetlen. Ha ez az abszurd mégis megtörténne, tízezres tiltakozó tömegek jelennének meg a városháza előtt. Már másnap!

Egyelőre viszont, csupán csóválják a fejüket: mi folyik Magyarországon?

http://sved.nolblog.hu/archives/2011/11/13/Kis_magyar_abszurd_a_sved_sajtoban/

Führerstaat Ungarn - Kommentar - Die Welt

2011-12-25T11:14:00.001-08:00

Führerstaat Ungarn

In Ungarn kann man beobachten, wie schnell eine Demokratie sich selbst zerstört. Die regierende Fidesz-Partei unter Victor Orban ist offenbar entschlossen, via Zweidrittelmehrheit die Macht, einmal errungen, lange nicht mehr aus der Hand zu geben. Es ist, als sei der Film in den autoritären, antisemitischen 1930er Jahren stehen geblieben und komme nun wieder ins Laufen.

Das neue Mediengesetz, in der Nacht zum Dienstag durch das Parlament gebracht und schon lange zuvor durch zweckmäßige Spitzen- und Spezibesetzung der Apparate vorbereitet, gibt der neuen Nationalen Medien- und Telekommunikationsbehörde weitgreifende antidemokratische Vollmachten. Von Zensur über Beschlagnahme von Dokumenten bis hin zum materiellen Ruin unliebsamer Medien gehört alles dazu, was sich ein autoritäres Regime wünschen mag. Es ist ein Ministerium für Meinungssteuerung und Lobpreis der Macht. Die Spitzenbesetzung besteht aus Parteigängern und Günstlingen des Premiers Victor Orban.

War Österreichs Haider-Zwischenspiel noch Operette, so ist, was sich in Ungarn abspielt, Tragödie. Im Falle Österreich nahm die Europäische Union noch Anstoß und strafte die Alpenrepublik durch Versetzung in die Strafecke. Im Falle Ungarn passiert gar nichts, obwohl der Weg in den autoritären Staat vorgezeichnet ist und wahrhaftig nicht über Nacht begann. Die Freiheit, die Ungarn vor zwei Jahrzehnten für sich und andere errang, geht dahin.

Das Mediengesetz ist entscheidender Teil einer Strategie der Machtgewinnung und -sicherung. Alle 1989/90 eingebauten - und vor dem Eintritt in die Europäische Union gewissermaßen TÜV-geprüften - demokratischen Sicherungen und verfassungsmäßigen Grenzen der Macht werden aus dem Weg geräumt: "Blitzartig", wie Paul Lendvai, der österreichisch-ungarische Kenner der Verhältnisse in dieser Zeitung noch unlängst warnte.

Ungarn ist nicht ohne Schaden an Leib und Seele von der Finanzkrise getroffen worden. Man hatte, Ungarn nicht allein, sich nach 1990 einen guten Tag gemacht, alles auf Kredit in Hartwährung, auf kritische Auseinandersetzung mit dem gulaschkommunistischen System verzichtet, die alten Wunden von 1919 aufgerissen, als der Friede von Trianon von der ungarischen Reichshälfte nur noch Fragmente zurückließ - überwölbt durch Ressentiments gegen West und Ost, Juden und Zigeuner.

Geschichte wiederholt sich nicht - es sei denn doch. Was in Ungarn entsteht, ist der Führerstaat des Victor Orban, skrupellos und machtbewusst. Wie György Konrad einmal bemerkte: "An den Rändern Europas kichert der Wahnsinn."

2011-12-23T11:33:00.000-08:00

Ungarisches Roulette
Ungarn legt sich mit der EZB an

Mit einem geplanten neuen Notenbankgesetz verärgert Budapest internationale Geldgeber - und muss prompt mit den Folgen kämpfen. Die Wirtschaftslage in Ungarn verschlechtert sich zusehends. von Silviu Mihai, Budapest

Es klang wie ein Warnschuss: In der Nacht zu Donnerstag senkte die Agentur Standard & Poor's das Rating für ungarische Staatsanleihen auf Ramschstatus. Die "Verlässlichkeit und Glaubwürdigkeit der ungarischen Politik" werde zusehends geschwächt, so die Prüfer.

Die Hiobsbotschaft traf Ungarns Regierung unmittelbar vor einer zentralen Entscheidung. Am Freitag sollte ein neues Gesetz durchs Parlament gebracht werden, durch das die Zentralbank des Landes in ihren Kompetenzen beschnitten wird. Notenbankchef Andras Simor, der seit Monaten mit der Regierung im Clinch liegt, sprach von dem Versuch der Regierung, die Zentralbank zu "übernehmen". Kritiker argwöhnen, es sei das Ziel, die Währungsreserven der Notenbank im Umfang von 35 Mrd. Euro anzuzapfen. Die Europäische Zentralbank (EZB) warnte am Donnerstag in scharfen Tönen davor, die Unabhängigkeit der Institution zu untergraben.

Der ungarische Ministerpräsident Viktor Orban

Dieser Versuch könnte Ungarn teuer zu stehen kommen: Eine Delegation der EU und des Internationalen Währungsfonds (IWF), die vorige Woche in Budapest eingetroffen war, um die Verhandlungen über einen Notkredit vorzubereiten, hat aus Protest gegen das geplante Gesetz vorzeitig das Land verlassen. In der Regierung stieß der Rückzug auf Verärgerung.

"Der IWF und die EU sind nach Hause gegangen, um auf den Weihnachtsmann zu warten", sagte der Fraktionschef der Regierungspartei Fidesz, Janos Lazar, nach dem Abbruch der Verhandlungen. Ohnehin sind die internationalen Geldgeber in Budapest nicht gern gesehen: Gleich nach seinem Amtsantritt hatte Ministerpräsident Viktor Orban im Gefühl der Stärke die Zusammenarbeit mit dem IWF erst einmal beendet.

Ob sich Ungarns Führung dies auf Dauer leisten kann, ist fraglich: Die offizielle Wachstumsprognose für 2011 wurde Schritt für Schritt von 3,6 auf aktuell ein Prozent reduziert, Wirtschaftsanalysten befürchten noch Schlimmeres. Der Forint setzt seinen Absturz fort, wodurch auch der Bankensektor in Bedrängnis gerät, der überwiegend in westeuropäischem Besitz ist.

Snoopy Twitter

2011-12-22T13:24:00.001-08:00

2011-12-22T10:39:00.001-08:00

Marine Mammals

View more presentations from SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific

Are architects depressed, unhealthy and divorced?

2011-12-16T11:03:00.000-08:00

2011-12-15T12:24:00.000-08:00

Education Executive Agency & Tax Offices by UNStudio

Future possibilities
The residual energy of the data center and offices can be used to heat the homes that will be realized in the future in the perimeter of the site.

Flexibility
And last, but not least, the building is designed so that it can be transformed into housing in the future without major structural modifications. Therefore, the locations of elevators, stairs and technical spaces have been carefully considered, and a structural grid of 1,20 m. has been deployed, rather than the conventional office grid of 1,80 m.

Conclusion
The inclusion of diverse passive and active environmental and energy efficient solutions has led to a building which is one of the most sustainable office buildings in the Netherlands.
Education Executive Agency & Tax offices, Groningen, the Netherlands, 2006 – 2011

Data:
Client of the consortium:
Dutch Government Buildings Agency (RGD)
Client UNStudio:
Consortium DUO² (Strukton, Ballast Nedam, John Laing)
Program: Office building (phase A); underground parking (phase B); public city garden, pavilion (phase C)

Amsterdam architects UNStudio have completed a new headquarters for the Dutch national tax offices and the student loan administration in Groningen, the Netherlands.

Called DUO², the 92 metre-tall building has a facade covered in horizontal fins to provide shade and reduce the need for artificial cooling.

The project comprises 2,500 work stations, underground parking for 1,500 bicycles and 675 cars and a public park.

More about UNStudio on Dezeen »

Above photograph is by Ewout Huibers.
Photographs are by Ronald Tilleman unless otherwise stated.
Here are some more details from UNStudio:

UNStudio/ Ben van Berkel, with consortium DUO², realizes one of the most sustainable large office buildings in Europe for two governmental offices.
A greener approach to tall buildings in the post-iconic age - The Education Executive Agency and Tax Offices move to one of Europe’s most sustainable offices.
A new, 92 meter tall complex of soft, undulating curves marks the skyline of Groningen. This asymmetric, aerodynamic construction is set amidst small, ancient woodland, sheltering rare and protected species. The project includes the design, construction and financing of two public institutions; the national tax offices and the student loan administration. The commission from the RGD (National Buildings Service) includes, besides the architecture, the management and building maintenance and care of facilities and services for a period of 20 years. Accommodating 2,500 workstations, parking facilities for 1,500 bicycles and 675 cars in an underground garage, the building will be surrounded by a large public city garden with pond and a multifunctional pavilion with commercial functions.

Above photograph is by Ewout Huibers.
The architecture aims to present these institutions with a softer, more human and approachable profile. Tall buildings are generally associated with mid-twentieth century modernism. Their harsh, businesslike exteriors contain powerful, inaccessible-seeming strongholds. By contrast, the DUO and Tax offices deliberately cloak a commanding public institution in an organic, friendlier and more future-oriented form.
“We paid a great deal of attention to how people would move through the building. The office spaces are designed in such a way that they do not create simple linear corridors leading to dead ends, but instead each corridor has a route which introduces a kind of landscape into the building. You can take endless walks through the building, where there is a great deal of transparency, also towards the surrounding landscape.” Ben van Berkel

Attainability; a mix of affordable and responsible – reaping material benefits of integral design and construction with a Design Build Finance Maintenance Operate Contract

The governmental office complex is built as part of a far-reaching form of public-private partnership (DBFMO) that is designed to effectuate on a more efficient use of public funds. The design, construction, financing, managing and maintenance of the building was hosted by one consortium consisting of Strukton, Ballast Nedam and John Laing. This consortium won the competition for the project on the basis of a combination of esthetic, technical and financial criteria. UNStudio, as the architect of the project, collaborated with Lodewijk Baljon for the landscape design, Arup for the engineering and Studio Linse as the interior advisor.
The life-cycle approach of a DBFMO contract requires that all relevant experts (designers, lawyers, installation specialists, financial specialists, facility specialists) are involved from the start of the project in order to find the best, most cost effective and environmentally-friendly solutions for the continued use and maintenance of the building. This working methodology stimulates not only creative and innovative ideas, but facilitates a reduction of total costs over the entire contract period compared to the traditional means of contracting. In PPP projects contracts are not awarded to the lowest bidder, but to the party with most effective solutions providing the best value for money.

Above photograph is by Christian Richters.
“In a PPP-construction you have to consider all the details concerning maintenance and the sustainable use of the building from the very early stages. It is a unique way to gather all the specialists and the end user around the table from the very outset of the project.”
Ben van Berkel

Exemplary sustainability

“The design contains numerous new innovations related to the reduction of materials, lower energy costs and more sustainable working environments. It presents a fully integrated, intelligent design approach towards sustainability.” Ben van Berkel

The project is one of Europe’s most sustainable large new office buildings. The RGD brief prescribed a future-proof building that couples flexibility and sustainability with an esthetic of sobriety. The architectural response to this has been to strive for an all-round understanding of the concept of sustainability, including energy and material consumption, as well as social and environmental factors. Thus the sustainability manifests itself in reduced energy consumption (EPC 0,74), as well as significantly reduced material consumption. Bringing back the floor heights from 3,60 m to 3,30 m resulted in a total reduction of 7,5 m. on the entire building, which also lessens the impact of the building on the surroundings. Both inside and outside the architecture generates a bio-climate that is beneficial to both humans and the local flora and fauna.

Above photograph is by Christian Richters.
All-round architectural sustainability: a sum of many parts.

Fins
Sustainability and energy reduction have steered the design of the facade, which contains technical installations that are tailored to be durable and cause minimal environmental impact. The facade concept integrates shading, wind control, daylight penetration and construction in fin-shaped elements. These horizontal fins keep a large amount of the heat outside the building, reducing the requirement for cooling.

Concrete core activation
Another technical feature of the building that contributes to its sustainable character is the combination of concrete core activation and underground long term energy storage. This appreciably reduces the demand for external energy sources.
Individual climate control for each workspace
Creating a healthy, energy efficient interior climate and employee workspace comfort was also an important element in the design. Plenty of natural daylight and adjustable heating, ventilation and access to fresh air for individual workspaces contribute to the comfort of the workspaces throughout the building.
The 11-th floor
A high pressure ventilation system with natural air inflow and outflow via main engineering shafts and the facade grills on the 11th floor reduces the need for artificial ventilation
Building surface: 48.040m² offices, 21.000m² parking, 1.500m² pavilion
Building volume: 215.000m³
Building site: 31.134m²
Credits UNStudio:
UNStudio: Ben van Berkel, Caroline Bos, Gerard Loozekoot with Jacques van Wijk, Frans van Vuure, Lars Nixdorff and Jesca de Vries, Ramon van der Heijden, Alicja Mielcarek, Eric den Eerzamen, Wendy van der Knijff, Machiel Wafelbakker, Timothy Mitanidis, Maud van Hees, Pablo Herrera Paskevicius, Martijn Prins, Natalie Balini, Peter Moerland, Arjan van der Bliek, Alexander Hugo, Gary Freedman, Jack Chen, Remco de Hoog, Willi van Mulken, Yuri Werner, Machteld Kors, Leon Bloemendaal, Erwin Horstmanshof.

Designteam:
UNStudio, architecture and interior
Studio Linse, interior
Arup, structure, installations
Lodewijk Baljon, landscaping
Buro van Baar, wayfinding
YNNO, internal logistics
Consultants:
DGMR, acoustics
EFPC, fire prevention
Ingenieursbureau Wassenaar, prefab structure
BTS Bouwkundig Tekenburo Sneek, drawing agency
ISS Nederland B.V, maintenance
Peutz, environmental technology
WUR (Wageningen University & Research centre), ecology
Strukton Bouw en Vastgoed, management and costing
Strukton Betonbouw, construction
Strukton WorkSphere, installations

UNStudio Tower by UNStudio

2011-12-15T12:21:00.000-08:00

UNStudio Tower by UNStudio

Dutch architects UNStudio have completed a 21-storey office tower in their hometown of Amsterdam with colourfully glazed recesses in the facade spanning multiple floors.

Above photo by Christian Richters
The tower’s voids allow light to penetrate deeper into the communal areas of the interior and are intended to make a greater connection between the interior spaces and the external facade.

Above photo by Christian Richters
Bands of faceted aluminium cladding of various widths circle the building, controlling light penetration and sun screening to each floor.

Above photo by Inga Powilleit
The tower is one of six towers that comprise the Mahler 4 urban complex, each tower taking the name of the firm responsible for its design.

Above photo by Inga Powilleit
Here are more details from UNStudio:

UNStudio Tower, Amsterdam, Netherlands 2004 – 2009
The recently completed 21 storey UNStudio Tower forms part of the Mahler 4 urban complex, a cluster of six buildings located in the heart of the South Axis in Amsterdam. The South Axis connects Schiphol Airport to the major business areas of Amsterdam South.

The Mahler 4 urban complex houses 38.000 m2 of residential spaces, 162.000 m2 of office space and 30.000 m2 of street level retail, cafes, restaurants and a sports centre. The six towers in the Mahler 4 complex range in height from 85 to 100 meters, with each building carrying the name of its designing firm. The Mahler 4 complex has been nominated for the FGH Real Estate Prize 2010.

At a height of 82.5 meters, the UNStudio Tower contains 20 floors of office space and a ground floor with mezzanine. The Royal Bank of Scotland currently occupies 9 floors of the building and the South entrance with commercial space on the Gustav Mahlerlaan.

Above photo by Inga Powilleit

Steve Jobs – Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

2011-12-15T04:56:00.000-08:00

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice, heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

Hotel Salto Chico - The Most Magnificently Placed Hotel in the World

2011-12-15T04:02:00.000-08:00

Ranking among the best hotels, Hotel Salto Chico enjoys the advantage of a great location. Easy to access through the daily flights from Santiago to Punta Arenas, you get a royal reception and pick up facilities right at the airport. Once you step into the hotel, you will be charmed by the superb interiors and accommodation facilities that Hotel Salto Chico offers. However, the real charm of this grand hotel lies in its surrounding exterior that offers endless scope for adventure sports and explorations.

The facilities

Hotel Salto Chico offers you the best of facilities to make your stay a memorable one. There are 50 plush rooms, among which 7 offer an open view of the Salto Chico waterfall, 6 suites and 37 Cordillera Paine rooms give you a glimpse into the neighboring Macizo del Paine. You will get top class cuisines, dining, laundry, communication and bar facilities in each of these rooms.

However, before you step out of your cozy deluxe suit and plunge into the wonders of Patagonia, you must take proper preparations. Enjoying your hiking, trekking or skiing ventures will require a full supply of warm clothing. Be prepared with a set of thermal underwear, water-repellent windcheater, gloves, goggles and mountaineering shoes before setting out in the breathtaking locales. You can buy these at the explora shops.

The attractions

You can go for a series of interesting walks as part of your exploration programs originating from Hotel Salto Chico. The Lago Grey peninsula Walk is one such beautiful site that will take you half a day for traveling. The Rio Pingo hanging bridge is the main attraction along with the views ofGlacier Grey, icebergs and lenga forests that you can enjoy as much. Alturas Del Toro Walk is perfect for a full-day picnic program. Look out for the natural beauty of Rio Paine and Valle Río Serrano.

The other forms of outdoor enjoyment include a traditional barbeque at Quincho and short walks around Laguna Azul. This full day program will give you a taste of lamb and vegetable barbeque that you will devour with an appetite! These areas have an abundance of wildlife like foxes, geese, condors etc. Boating across Glacier Grey is yet another interesting tourist outing you will love, surveying the gorges, rivers and forests from various lookout points.

If you are not habituated in walking long stretches without taking snacks, the Mirador del Toro Walk should befit you. You get trail snacks during your journey and a unique scope to review the natural setting of the Conaf Park. The mountains Cerro Ferrier and Cerro Donoso towering over Lago Toro and Río Serrano make a beautiful scene. If you are looking for something more, head straight for the archaeological walk from Guarderia Sarmiento to Guarderia Laguna Amarga. You can enjoy the ancient rock paintings found in this area and have a fantastic view of the landscape.

For riders who want to speed through the scenic setting of Chile, exploring the breathtaking forests of Río de las Chinas will prove to be even more romantic. Check out the Sierra Baguales while you gallop away in glory. Riding across Refugio Pehoe, touching attractive spots like Campamento Las Carretas and Río Grey will be even more adventurous.

Estancia 2 de Enero offers you the dual pleasure of a horse ride and trail snacks. While passing through Río Zamora and parts of Laguna Jara, you may observe condors and soaring eagles. Laguna Linda is another similar horse riding spot to offer you trail snacks. The view of upright hills covered with burnt vegetation is the primary attraction of this spot along with the Andean mountain chain.

However, if you are looking for something unique about the Hotel Salto Chico surroundings, do not miss the Torres del Paine National Park. It is a perfect ensemble of varied flora, landscape and wild life specimens. This UNESCO World Heritage site in 1978 is located in central Patagonia and spans over 242,242 hectares. You will go gaga over the lakes, rivers, glaciers and waterfalls covering this National Park. Make time out of your usual trekking and mountaineering expeditions and visit the village of El Calafate and Perito Moreno to complete your accommodation experience at Hotel Salto Chico.

2011-12-15T03:51:00.001-08:00

The Artist - Official Trailer [VF-HD] by Eklecty-City

Tamiya Conspiracies

2011-12-11T12:05:00.001-08:00

Tamiya, producers of plastic and resin kits and accessories for modellers, have released a set of print advertisements featuring conspiracies around Elvis Presley, Roswell, the Moon Landing, JFK’s assassination, and Marilyn Monroe’s death. “Tamiya Put It Together.”

The Conspiracy campaign was developed at Ogilvy & Mather Vietnam by executive creative director/art director/copywriter Todd McCracken, art directors/copywriter Jay Furby, art directors Cirkus, BJ Galinato, Joe Harris, Jeremy Lim, Dang Thuong Do, copywriters Martin Sutcliffe. Du Tang, Chi Minh Deleo, account director Thorsten Orth, account manager Thu Trang Phan, animation and set designers Marko Klijn, Priyan Jayamaha, Sandesh Codhadu, Andrew Stewart, Christian Greet, Matt Tan and Chevy McGoram at Cirkus.

Warning Fascism

2011-12-11T11:44:00.001-08:00

Sea Shepherd - Neptune's Navy Never Compromises

2011-12-11T07:36:00.001-08:00

2010-2011 Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign

7th expedition to oppose the illegal activities of the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean

During the past six campaigns, we have saved the lives of over 1900 whales and exposed illegal Japanese whaling activities to the entire world. Last season, we were able to save more whales than the Japanese whalers were able to kill. Five hundred and twenty-eight (528) whales are alive and swimming in the sea because you enabled us to intervene by supporting our ships and crews.
We hope it will be our last season because we put an end to this annual atrocity. Please be part of this monumental effort to protect these precious, sentient whales – we need you!

Osama

2011-12-09T12:08:00.001-08:00

http://negymadar.blog.hu

Fidó

2011-12-09T11:42:00.001-08:00

archimeda - born of dreams-inspired by freedom

Photoshop painted crow w/ Adidas sneakers

Photoshop painted Adidas sneakers in Blue

Let's play - Russian Roulette

Rule your world or Just do it

Coca-cola bottles

Niggaz on the sky - “Red Tails” Historical Photos Images of the Tuskegee Airmen

Red Tail Leaders

Capt. Charles B. Hall

Escort Excellence

Review of the First Class of Tuskegee Cadets

332nd and Mud, Ramitelli, Italy

Elite Fighter Jocks

Maj. George S. “Spanky” Roberts

Tuskegee Airmen

Red Tails

332nd Mustangs Overhead

Tuskegee Airmen Mission Briefing

Loading the Guns

Tuskegee Airmen Bomber Pilots

Eleanor Roosevelt’s Flight With the Tuskegee Airmen

Stephen Hawking at 70: Exclusive interview

Actor Clark Gable Served in Uniform, Flew Combat Missions in World War II

A Wonderful Life: Jimmy Stewart, Actor and B-24 Bomber Pilot

While others served at home, Stewart put his life on the line during combat missions over Germany

Fallen Lone Eagle

Charles Lindbergh, the America First Committee, and the Nazis

Simpsons go green

People's Republic Pollution

At War With Ourselves - GreenTechnica.com

Ungarn Absurdistan - Glosse - Die Welt

Ungarn, Absurdistan

Drzach&Suchy Schattenbilder: conversation

Politikai szabadságjogok - Mi a baj az új Alkotmánnyal? Good bye free democratic republic welcome personality cult & "Great" Hungary

once upon a Buran “Бура́н” 'Energía "Энергия"

house m.d.

Great history of Apple

Recycled Artwork Photos - Lexus CT 200h

Lexus CT 200h Recycled Artwork Photos

Lexus CT 200h Recycled Artwork Photos

Lexus CT 200h Recycled Artwork Photos

Lexus CT 200h Recycled Artwork Photos

Lexus CT 200h Recycled Artwork Photos

Hungary: playing chicken

Hungary’s Constitutional Revolution - Kim Lane Scheppele

Hungary’s Constitutional Revolution

Depression and Democracy

By PAUL KRUGMAN

Published: December 11, 2011

The New York Times: Magyarország nem alkotmányos demokrácia

Kis magyar abszurd a svéd sajtóban

Führerstaat Ungarn - Kommentar - Die Welt

Führerstaat Ungarn

Ungarisches RouletteUngarn legt sich mit der EZB an

Snoopy Twitter

Are architects depressed, unhealthy and divorced?

Education Executive Agency & Tax Offices by UNStudio

UNStudio Tower by UNStudio

UNStudio Tower by UNStudio

Steve Jobs – Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

Hotel Salto Chico - The Most Magnificently Placed Hotel in the World

Tamiya Conspiracies

Warning Fascism

Sea Shepherd - Neptune's Navy Never Compromises

2010-2011 Antarctic Whale Defense Campaign

7th expedition to oppose the illegal activities of the Japanese whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean

Osama

Fidó

Ungarisches Roulette
Ungarn legt sich mit der EZB an