New invention addresses lithium battery fires
Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:05pm EST
By David Lawsky
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A new technology to prevent lithium-ion batteries from catching fire or exploding in laptops and mobile phones may be on the market as soon as the first quarter of 2010, its inventor said on Wednesday.
The invention, called Stoba, was developed at the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Taiwan's national research organization.
When lithium-ion batteries develop internal shorts they can quickly heat up to as much as 500 degrees centigrade (932 degrees Fahrenheit) and catch fire or explode.
Stoba sits between the positive and negative sides of the battery and when the battery hits 130 degrees centigrade (266 degrees Fahrenheit), Stoba transforms from a porous material to a film and shuts down the reaction.
"We have introduced a totally new material to the battery," said Alex Pang, the senior researcher who led a team that developed the new material over four years.
The danger of exploding lithium batteries is so great that last month the U.S. Transportation Department issued a "hazardous materials" notice.
"Many persons who ship lithium batteries do not recognize the hazards... fires in aircraft can result in catastrophic events presenting unique challenges not encountered in other transport modes," the government said.
Pang said battery makers in Taiwan are in the testing stage and have ramped up manufacturing of Stoba-equipped cells to the thousands. They expect to begin shipping in the first quarter of 2010, he said.
Pang, in Orlando, Florida, to get an award, said by phone that Stoba will add only two percent to three percent to the cost of manufacture. He said he wants to try selling the technology to major laptop and phone manufacturers.
Potential customers include Sony Corp, Dell Inc, Hewlett-Packard Co, Acer Inc, Apple, Nokia Corp, and others.
ITRI has applied for 29 patents in the United States, Taiwan, Korea, China and Japan for Stoba. ITRI holds 9,863 patents and has 5,800 employees, including 1,112 with doctorates. It has created 151 start-ups and spin-offs.
(Reporting by David Lawsky; Additional reporting by John Crawley in Washington; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Old Usenet buddy - Damo's birthday
Damo turns 63 today. Or it could be 64. He wasn't clear on that when I
phoned him this morning. In fact, he wasn't clear on anything. He was
drunk at 10 a.m.
He gets medication by mail, and his seroquel is a week late arriving.
He thinks it was stolen from his mailbox by some bad neighbours. I
suggested several times that he phone the pharmacy for another refill.
He totally ignored me and pattered his usual patter about cleaning his
apartment--the dishes in the kitchen need washing, his grandfather's
bureau needs to have paper sorted, yadda yadda yadda. Same bullshit
he's been prattling about for two years now.
He sends me letters. In them, he describes people innocently
mentioning the fact that he'll be evicted at the end of December and
needs to find a new home. Every time anyone so much as breathes a hint
of that he falls apart and goes to the liquor store and gets drunk.
Hiding his head in the sand, letting homelessness encroach upon him
and devour him.
I remember spending THREE YEARS trying to persuade him to see a pdoc
and apply for an Army pension. It was useless. Then he found a local
girlfriend and she essentially grabbed him by the penis and dragged
him off to the doctor's office and squeezed his balls with pliers
until he had filled out an Army pension application. I felt like such
a loser failure for not being able to help a friend. Now, he's making
me feel that way again.
I was tentatively planning to save up money to visit him over
Christmas. Now, I don't dare, because it makes me too angry to just
talk to him on the phone. In fact, I don't think I'll be phoning him
again any time soon.
Happy birthday, Damo, you worthless loser.
Miki
**********************************************************************
From Damodara's webpage: Disinherited
(the dotted lines are different pages in the insert.)
Dear Friends and supporters,
In August of 2000 I began playing the guitar with renewed vigor. I was living in the woods, at the time, after being evicted. My guitar was the same as a piece of driftwood keeping a shipwrecked sailor afloat.
This close relationship with the instrument has continued. I have rediscovered the guitar and have not been so enthused with my music since the early seventies. I have been in the longest growth period as a guitar player I have ever experianced. I am pleased to share my guitar with you through the vehicle of this CD.
There is a story which has run parrelell to this musical rebirth and it needs to be shared as well. Over the years many of you have heard bits and pieces of it, through previous CD inserts or conversations or at my website. With a just respect for the opinions of others, as well as for personal therapy, I'm going to tell that story.
..................................
As many of you are aware, I have been receiving Social Security beneits since 1974. My disabiity is psychiatric and I believe it to be directly related to my service in Viet-Nam.
In September of 1998 I found approximately 22,000 dollars in my bank account. I asked at the bank and was told it was a direct deposit by the Social Security administration. Being as I hadn't received any paperwork concerning it, and fearing there was a problem, I had congressman Smth look into the matter for me.
....................................
Congressman Smith found it was from the Social Security Administration and it represented ten years of underpayments. I had the relevent paperwork forwarded to me from the Congressman's office and received direct mailings from the Social Security administration as well.
As it was explained to me, if you earn money while receiving benefits and you pay into your social security account your benefits are increased by some proportion. There was an apparent oversight and I hadn't received my just benefits for ten years.
I had been working intermittently as a substitute teacher from fall of 87 to spring of 92. I had informed the 800 number for social security of this fact.
....................................
Less then five months later, after congressman Smith looked into the 22,000 dollars, in early January of 99, I was informed by phone that there was a problem with my Social Security account.
On a second perusal Social Security decided that what actually happened was, I had exceeded my income allowance back in 1989 and was thus OFF benefits in 1989. Therefore I should pay them back for the benefits I had received since then. The amount they wanted was 93,000 dollars.
I went to Congressman Smith's local office and informed them of the situation.
I thought we had just addressed this issue. I didn't think that they would be allowed to just go back and forth on information they provided to a U.S. Congressman.
The plan was to file a postdated application which would declare I was disabled in 1990. The congressman's local office people told me to sign as Social Security suggested. That way the 93,000 disappears and I get my benefits.
The new position of Social Security and Congressman Smith's people , was that I had been overpaid 93,000 thousand dollars. I was debited for all of the benefits I had received since 1989. I was NOT underpaid 22,000 dollars. Unless I signed the post dated application.
...................................
I resisted this aparent lack of integrity (in my opinion) of congressman Smith's office help. Why, after the intervening years of on going psychiatric problems and a work history which reflects a disability, would they attempt to impose on me such a "Finding"? Hadn't I just go through ten years of not receiving my just benefits? I believe the first decision was the correct way to deal with a ten year old oversight.
I went to a lawyer and explained that I wanted to refute this preposterous understanding of Social Security and Congressman Smith's people.
The correct and humane way to deal with the events of ten years previous was the original decision.
My lawyer explained not to worry it was in her hands. However she never filed against their Finding. She did nothing. My benefits were stopped some months later and I was presented with a bill for 93,000 dollars.
Having my Lawyer and the Congressman's people and the Social Security people, all telling me to sign the post dated application which hypothetically would resolve the issue of the 93,000 dollars and unable to refute the preposterous understanding, I signed. It was November of 99.
.........................................
In June of 2000 I was told my application was denied. My Doctor and their doctor had both declared that I was disabled, and inspite of my ongoing medical history, my application was denied. I was astounded.
I fired the lawyer, of course, and by November I was able to find a lawyer who agreed that if I hire a lawyer to do something, like contest a Finding, and they don't do it that the appropriate step to take was to change lawyers.
Most lawyers didn't agree and would not help.
............................................
A year later in June of 2001, on appeal, I was able to see the judge and was reinstated by October. My award was approximately half the amount I had preiously been receiving. That is not enough to survive on, I had to appeal.
My first appeal of the June 2001 decision came back explaining that when you are on disability and removed, when you reapply you get the amount you were last receiving.
Apparently the post dated application did not work as Social Security, Congressman Smith's people, and my lawyer intended. They were paying me what I was "last paid" in1989. All of my cost of living increases from the intervening years had been wiped out.
The 93,000 was not mentioned.
........................................
I had been living in a welfare motel and on county Human Services support at the time of the initial decision. Winning the award made me inelligible for welfare.
I was kicked out of the welfare motel. My food stamps were reduced to near nothing. No past due money was paid.(The past due money is the money from the date of filing to the date of the award)
I was in the worst situation of this entire shell game story ; standing outside the motel on route 130 with my backpack and guitar. My only option was to head south where the weather would not be so cold for the coming winter. I had 400 and some odd dollars in my pocket. My two years of homelessness and marginal homelessness seemingly were not over.
However,thanks to intervention on the part of friends, I was able to stay here in Trenton.
.........................................
From then, October 2001, until this past september I was regularly visiting the Social Security ofice requesting to see an accounting of the past due money and inquiring about the status of my appeals. I wanted to know what happened to the money. What was given to my legal counsel, what was repaid to county social services etc.?
In september of 2002 , another year later, I received a letter from Social Security. It was a bill for approximately 84,000 dollars. There was no accounting present this time either, just the bottom line, 84,000. The letter stated my benefits would be stopped until the 84,000(approx) was recovered. No further explaination was included.
I assumed they were going to make me homeless for a third time in four years.
I can only assume that some portion of the money from my two years without benefits was subtracted from the 93,000, some portion was given to county welfare, and some portion was given to my lawyer(s).It seems appropriate to me that the last five months' benefits after Smith's inquiry should be charged to him. Maybe he paid some of it. I don't know.
.......................................
Social Security provided a clearly enounciated month by month accounting of my past due money when the Congressman inquired for me concerning the 22,000 dollar underpayment. I was given a clear month by month accounting of the 93,000 "overpayment" as well. I need to see the accounting for the past due money.
In September of 2002 I was sent a second letter which declared "we have received your request for an explaination." It took a year for them to acknowledge my requests. Now, I imagine, I have another year to wait for the accounting.
Thankfully the second letter also informed me that my benefits would not be stopped until they responded to my requests for an explaination. I won't be made homeless a third time, at least not this month.
............................
The second lawyer I found stopped speaking with me after we went to court and my attempts at further communication with him were reduced to "I can't do anything further for you.". Social Security paid him his money (I guess) and he left. He had no further interest in my predicament.
Since January of 1999, I have been lied to and mislead by lawyers, bearucrats and congressional offices (it seems to me). I am declaring that the amount of 93,000 dollars is a totally arbitrary amount and the debit (if it exsists) is their fault, and not mine, and that in consideration of the facts, the issue is being dealt with in a cruel and inhumane manner.
Apparently the original postdated application, touted so proudly as the "answer" by Social Security, my lawyer, and Smith's people, had gone askew or I would not be in this situation. The post dated application was supposed to put me back on Social Security benefits in 1990. Thus no giant pile of money would exsist, and my right to defend myself in a timely manner would not have been arbogated.
.....................................
During a September (2002) appointment at Social security it was explained I had one oset date of 1974. Thats then.
I have another onset date of 1999. Thats now.
I understood that the intervening years had not been addressed.
I went along with her suggestion that I argue that my date of "onset" was in 1974 and not 1999.
If I have one onset date (of a chronic disorder), the implication is that my previous benefits will returned.
I filed an appeal based on her suggestion.
No one has been able to respond to me about the status of my original appeal in which my argument was based on the arbogation of my right to refile in a timely manner(in 1990) because of the retroactive removal. And my second argument is that the date of the application should be respected.(post dated).
..........................................
How about this amusing piece of logic.
The judge put me back on social security in 1999, in 2001, before they took me off social security in 1989, in 1999. When the accountants figured out my new benefits they allowed the social security administration's time "jump" to 1989 to stand (changing the original decision) and disallowed the judge's time "jump" to 1999 to stand which should have changed the decision to stop my benefits in the first place. Certainly if my disbility was affirmed by Doctors and a judge, then four months later they wouldn't have declared otherwise.
The above argument is proof I should stay away from Lawyers politicians and bearucrats. I'm starting to think like they do.
I said to a friend once....if 93,000 dollars doesn't immediately make you question their judgement no logical argument will change your mind. either.
...........................................
Over the years of withstanding this tyranny and oppression, I have been told too often, by American citizens, three things.
One: All lawyers are thieves.
Two: All politicians are crooked.
Three: All berucrats are incompetant.
It appears these are common beliefs.
That is an apalling state of affairs.
Understand that the spirit of america is not only for marching to drums.
We had best focus some of this American Spirit on the domestic front as well as foreign wars if we intend to be a free people.
..................................
I'm a vietnam veteran and a senior citizen.
The veracity of my statements are reinforced by the personal references of my closer friends.
For most of the main points I presented here, I have evidentiary document proof.
I have been playing the guitar through all of this to help me wait out the interminable stonewalling and delays.
The title of this CD,"Disinherited", is based on the current chapter of my struggle.
If you would like to support me in my struggle and/or to promote my guitar music I am available for private parties. I can be hired for coaching sessions on the guitar. And lastly, if there is anyone who you think my music would "speak to" tell them of it. Help me sell a CD or two.
I can be reached at xxx-xxx-xxxx
trentonboy@webtv.net
My name is, of course,Dan.
phoned him this morning. In fact, he wasn't clear on anything. He was
drunk at 10 a.m.
He gets medication by mail, and his seroquel is a week late arriving.
He thinks it was stolen from his mailbox by some bad neighbours. I
suggested several times that he phone the pharmacy for another refill.
He totally ignored me and pattered his usual patter about cleaning his
apartment--the dishes in the kitchen need washing, his grandfather's
bureau needs to have paper sorted, yadda yadda yadda. Same bullshit
he's been prattling about for two years now.
He sends me letters. In them, he describes people innocently
mentioning the fact that he'll be evicted at the end of December and
needs to find a new home. Every time anyone so much as breathes a hint
of that he falls apart and goes to the liquor store and gets drunk.
Hiding his head in the sand, letting homelessness encroach upon him
and devour him.
I remember spending THREE YEARS trying to persuade him to see a pdoc
and apply for an Army pension. It was useless. Then he found a local
girlfriend and she essentially grabbed him by the penis and dragged
him off to the doctor's office and squeezed his balls with pliers
until he had filled out an Army pension application. I felt like such
a loser failure for not being able to help a friend. Now, he's making
me feel that way again.
I was tentatively planning to save up money to visit him over
Christmas. Now, I don't dare, because it makes me too angry to just
talk to him on the phone. In fact, I don't think I'll be phoning him
again any time soon.
Happy birthday, Damo, you worthless loser.
Miki
**********************************************************************
From Damodara's webpage: Disinherited
(the dotted lines are different pages in the insert.)
Dear Friends and supporters,
In August of 2000 I began playing the guitar with renewed vigor. I was living in the woods, at the time, after being evicted. My guitar was the same as a piece of driftwood keeping a shipwrecked sailor afloat.
This close relationship with the instrument has continued. I have rediscovered the guitar and have not been so enthused with my music since the early seventies. I have been in the longest growth period as a guitar player I have ever experianced. I am pleased to share my guitar with you through the vehicle of this CD.
There is a story which has run parrelell to this musical rebirth and it needs to be shared as well. Over the years many of you have heard bits and pieces of it, through previous CD inserts or conversations or at my website. With a just respect for the opinions of others, as well as for personal therapy, I'm going to tell that story.
..................................
As many of you are aware, I have been receiving Social Security beneits since 1974. My disabiity is psychiatric and I believe it to be directly related to my service in Viet-Nam.
In September of 1998 I found approximately 22,000 dollars in my bank account. I asked at the bank and was told it was a direct deposit by the Social Security administration. Being as I hadn't received any paperwork concerning it, and fearing there was a problem, I had congressman Smth look into the matter for me.
....................................
Congressman Smith found it was from the Social Security Administration and it represented ten years of underpayments. I had the relevent paperwork forwarded to me from the Congressman's office and received direct mailings from the Social Security administration as well.
As it was explained to me, if you earn money while receiving benefits and you pay into your social security account your benefits are increased by some proportion. There was an apparent oversight and I hadn't received my just benefits for ten years.
I had been working intermittently as a substitute teacher from fall of 87 to spring of 92. I had informed the 800 number for social security of this fact.
....................................
Less then five months later, after congressman Smith looked into the 22,000 dollars, in early January of 99, I was informed by phone that there was a problem with my Social Security account.
On a second perusal Social Security decided that what actually happened was, I had exceeded my income allowance back in 1989 and was thus OFF benefits in 1989. Therefore I should pay them back for the benefits I had received since then. The amount they wanted was 93,000 dollars.
I went to Congressman Smith's local office and informed them of the situation.
I thought we had just addressed this issue. I didn't think that they would be allowed to just go back and forth on information they provided to a U.S. Congressman.
The plan was to file a postdated application which would declare I was disabled in 1990. The congressman's local office people told me to sign as Social Security suggested. That way the 93,000 disappears and I get my benefits.
The new position of Social Security and Congressman Smith's people , was that I had been overpaid 93,000 thousand dollars. I was debited for all of the benefits I had received since 1989. I was NOT underpaid 22,000 dollars. Unless I signed the post dated application.
...................................
I resisted this aparent lack of integrity (in my opinion) of congressman Smith's office help. Why, after the intervening years of on going psychiatric problems and a work history which reflects a disability, would they attempt to impose on me such a "Finding"? Hadn't I just go through ten years of not receiving my just benefits? I believe the first decision was the correct way to deal with a ten year old oversight.
I went to a lawyer and explained that I wanted to refute this preposterous understanding of Social Security and Congressman Smith's people.
The correct and humane way to deal with the events of ten years previous was the original decision.
My lawyer explained not to worry it was in her hands. However she never filed against their Finding. She did nothing. My benefits were stopped some months later and I was presented with a bill for 93,000 dollars.
Having my Lawyer and the Congressman's people and the Social Security people, all telling me to sign the post dated application which hypothetically would resolve the issue of the 93,000 dollars and unable to refute the preposterous understanding, I signed. It was November of 99.
.........................................
In June of 2000 I was told my application was denied. My Doctor and their doctor had both declared that I was disabled, and inspite of my ongoing medical history, my application was denied. I was astounded.
I fired the lawyer, of course, and by November I was able to find a lawyer who agreed that if I hire a lawyer to do something, like contest a Finding, and they don't do it that the appropriate step to take was to change lawyers.
Most lawyers didn't agree and would not help.
............................................
A year later in June of 2001, on appeal, I was able to see the judge and was reinstated by October. My award was approximately half the amount I had preiously been receiving. That is not enough to survive on, I had to appeal.
My first appeal of the June 2001 decision came back explaining that when you are on disability and removed, when you reapply you get the amount you were last receiving.
Apparently the post dated application did not work as Social Security, Congressman Smith's people, and my lawyer intended. They were paying me what I was "last paid" in1989. All of my cost of living increases from the intervening years had been wiped out.
The 93,000 was not mentioned.
........................................
I had been living in a welfare motel and on county Human Services support at the time of the initial decision. Winning the award made me inelligible for welfare.
I was kicked out of the welfare motel. My food stamps were reduced to near nothing. No past due money was paid.(The past due money is the money from the date of filing to the date of the award)
I was in the worst situation of this entire shell game story ; standing outside the motel on route 130 with my backpack and guitar. My only option was to head south where the weather would not be so cold for the coming winter. I had 400 and some odd dollars in my pocket. My two years of homelessness and marginal homelessness seemingly were not over.
However,thanks to intervention on the part of friends, I was able to stay here in Trenton.
.........................................
From then, October 2001, until this past september I was regularly visiting the Social Security ofice requesting to see an accounting of the past due money and inquiring about the status of my appeals. I wanted to know what happened to the money. What was given to my legal counsel, what was repaid to county social services etc.?
In september of 2002 , another year later, I received a letter from Social Security. It was a bill for approximately 84,000 dollars. There was no accounting present this time either, just the bottom line, 84,000. The letter stated my benefits would be stopped until the 84,000(approx) was recovered. No further explaination was included.
I assumed they were going to make me homeless for a third time in four years.
I can only assume that some portion of the money from my two years without benefits was subtracted from the 93,000, some portion was given to county welfare, and some portion was given to my lawyer(s).It seems appropriate to me that the last five months' benefits after Smith's inquiry should be charged to him. Maybe he paid some of it. I don't know.
.......................................
Social Security provided a clearly enounciated month by month accounting of my past due money when the Congressman inquired for me concerning the 22,000 dollar underpayment. I was given a clear month by month accounting of the 93,000 "overpayment" as well. I need to see the accounting for the past due money.
In September of 2002 I was sent a second letter which declared "we have received your request for an explaination." It took a year for them to acknowledge my requests. Now, I imagine, I have another year to wait for the accounting.
Thankfully the second letter also informed me that my benefits would not be stopped until they responded to my requests for an explaination. I won't be made homeless a third time, at least not this month.
............................
The second lawyer I found stopped speaking with me after we went to court and my attempts at further communication with him were reduced to "I can't do anything further for you.". Social Security paid him his money (I guess) and he left. He had no further interest in my predicament.
Since January of 1999, I have been lied to and mislead by lawyers, bearucrats and congressional offices (it seems to me). I am declaring that the amount of 93,000 dollars is a totally arbitrary amount and the debit (if it exsists) is their fault, and not mine, and that in consideration of the facts, the issue is being dealt with in a cruel and inhumane manner.
Apparently the original postdated application, touted so proudly as the "answer" by Social Security, my lawyer, and Smith's people, had gone askew or I would not be in this situation. The post dated application was supposed to put me back on Social Security benefits in 1990. Thus no giant pile of money would exsist, and my right to defend myself in a timely manner would not have been arbogated.
.....................................
During a September (2002) appointment at Social security it was explained I had one oset date of 1974. Thats then.
I have another onset date of 1999. Thats now.
I understood that the intervening years had not been addressed.
I went along with her suggestion that I argue that my date of "onset" was in 1974 and not 1999.
If I have one onset date (of a chronic disorder), the implication is that my previous benefits will returned.
I filed an appeal based on her suggestion.
No one has been able to respond to me about the status of my original appeal in which my argument was based on the arbogation of my right to refile in a timely manner(in 1990) because of the retroactive removal. And my second argument is that the date of the application should be respected.(post dated).
..........................................
How about this amusing piece of logic.
The judge put me back on social security in 1999, in 2001, before they took me off social security in 1989, in 1999. When the accountants figured out my new benefits they allowed the social security administration's time "jump" to 1989 to stand (changing the original decision) and disallowed the judge's time "jump" to 1999 to stand which should have changed the decision to stop my benefits in the first place. Certainly if my disbility was affirmed by Doctors and a judge, then four months later they wouldn't have declared otherwise.
The above argument is proof I should stay away from Lawyers politicians and bearucrats. I'm starting to think like they do.
I said to a friend once....if 93,000 dollars doesn't immediately make you question their judgement no logical argument will change your mind. either.
...........................................
Over the years of withstanding this tyranny and oppression, I have been told too often, by American citizens, three things.
One: All lawyers are thieves.
Two: All politicians are crooked.
Three: All berucrats are incompetant.
It appears these are common beliefs.
That is an apalling state of affairs.
Understand that the spirit of america is not only for marching to drums.
We had best focus some of this American Spirit on the domestic front as well as foreign wars if we intend to be a free people.
..................................
I'm a vietnam veteran and a senior citizen.
The veracity of my statements are reinforced by the personal references of my closer friends.
For most of the main points I presented here, I have evidentiary document proof.
I have been playing the guitar through all of this to help me wait out the interminable stonewalling and delays.
The title of this CD,"Disinherited", is based on the current chapter of my struggle.
If you would like to support me in my struggle and/or to promote my guitar music I am available for private parties. I can be hired for coaching sessions on the guitar. And lastly, if there is anyone who you think my music would "speak to" tell them of it. Help me sell a CD or two.
I can be reached at xxx-xxx-xxxx
trentonboy@webtv.net
My name is, of course,Dan.
Jobless: 10 percent is tougher than it used to be
Jobless: 10 percent is tougher than it used to be
Unemployment tops 10 percent again -- and it's tougher off the job than a generation ago
* By Jeannine Aversa, AP Economics Writer
* On 12:00 am EST, Sunday November 8, 2009
WASHINGTON (AP) -- It hurts more to be unemployed now than the last time the jobless rate hit 10 percent.
Americans have more than triple the debt they had in 1982, and less than half the savings. They spend 10 weeks longer off the job. And a bigger share of them have no health insurance, leaving them one medical emergency away from financial ruin.
For these reasons, the unemployed are more vulnerable today to foreclosure and bankruptcy than they were a generation ago.
Donald Schenk knows. He's been without work both times. It's worse now, he says.
Back in the early 1980s, when Schenk lost his job at a phone company, he was able to find several temporary jobs -- including one testing pinball machines -- to make ends meet until he landed full-time work nearly two years later.
But now Schenk, 55, of the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg, Ill., has been seeking work for a year and a half after losing his information technology job. Potential employers aren't interested "if you are not a perfect fit," he says.
The unemployment rate hit 10.2 percent in October. All told, 15.7 million Americans are out of work. Add in workers forced to settle for part-time work or those who have simply given up looking, and the rate is 17.5 percent.
Only twice since World War II has unemployment topped 10 percent -- now and from September 1982 to June 1983. In a few respects, life is better today for the unemployed than it was then.
Unemployment benefits are more generous, adjusted for inflation, and the Internet allows jobseekers to network, scan for openings and apply without leaving home.
And thanks in part to higher home values, Americans are worth more now. Measured in 2009 dollars, net worth comes to about $173,000 per person, compared with $94,000 in 1982, according to Lynn Reaser, president of the National Association for Business Economics.
Even if the average American has a larger cushion to fall back on, times are tough.
A much larger share of jobs these days -- more than four out of five -- are in the service sector, such as tax preparers, hair stylists and retail clerks. Those jobs generally pay less and offer fewer benefits than blue-collar manufacturing work.
Manufacturing, which typically offers more generous benefits, accounts for less than 9 percent of payrolls today -- down from 19 percent in 1982.
Back then, the United Auto Workers persuaded the Big Three auto companies to pay up to 95 percent of the gap between a laid-off worker's unemployment benefits and what he or she made on the job.
But since the decline of the size and influence of unions, "that would be inconceivable today," says University of Illinois professor Michael LeRoy, who studies unions.
Unemployment also squeezes families tighter these days because they are less conservative about how they spend and save.
People carry an average of about $46,000 in debt -- mortgages, credit cards, auto loans and other consumer debt. That's a far bigger load than in 1982, when per capita debt totaled about $14,000 in today's dollars.
And savings, as a percentage of after-tax income, was only 2.7 percent last year, down from 10.9 percent in 1982. Americans stashed an average of just $940 last year, compared with $2,537 in 1982. That helps explain why the foreclosure rate runs about seven times higher today.
Not surprisingly, that means more Americans -- about three times as many -- are going bankrupt.
Lawrence Mishel, president of the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute, says the ripple effects of the rising unemployment rate will be felt for years. He predicts the poverty rate for children will rise to 27 percent in 2011, from 18 percent in 2007.
"It will scar a generation of kids," he says.
If you're unemployed today, the odds are better that you'll stay unemployed longer than a generation ago.
And government surveys suggest that if you get laid off, it's more likely to be for good. Today's unemployed have been out of work about half a year on average. In the early 1980s, they spent about four months without jobs.
One reason is that industries such as construction and finance may never bulk back up to pre-recession levels. Even before the economy went south, demand for their products was inflated by the housing bubble.
Another reason layoffs are more permanent: Manufacturers these days are more aggressive about using technology to boost productivity -- or they hire cheaper workers overseas as the economy improves.
Schenk, who is drawing unemployment aid, has managed to stay up-to-date on his mortgage and credit card payments, but at a significant cost to his financial future. "I'm burning through my savings," he says. "And the next thing I'll dip into is my retirement account."
Because he does not have health insurance, Schenk's financial pressures would grow dramatically if he became injured or sick. The Census Bureau says about one in four unemployed people have no insurance, compared with about one in five in 1987.
Schenk also lacked insurance when he lost the phone company job in the '80s. But he was younger then, and less concerned about his health. This time around, he paid for health coverage through the government's COBRA program. But that has run out.
The government program lets today's workers keep their insurance for 18 months after a layoff. But the premiums can be steep -- up to $1,137 a month for families and $410 for individuals.
The federal stimulus program provides subsidized coverage for up to nine months for those who meet certain income thresholds. After that, they must pay the full cost.
For those who lose jobs today, the safety net is much flimsier.
Layoffs have forced some older workers into retirement, yet fewer of them can fall back on traditional pensions that pay a steady monthly sum. Only 11 percent of active workers have a traditional pension, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute. That's down from 50 percent in 1982.
Instead, more workers today have 401(k)-type retirement plans. But those have suffered huge hits in this downturn. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell as much as 57 percent earlier this year from its October 2007 peak and is still down about 32 percent.
Schenk, who has had dozens of jobs interviews, says it's a struggle to remain upbeat and to keep searching. He knows for sure that one bad economic indicator is higher nowadays than a generation ago: He worries more.
"Back then it seemed like certain jobs were hit and you could still find those short little gigs," Schenk says. "This time it hit everything."
Unemployment tops 10 percent again -- and it's tougher off the job than a generation ago
* By Jeannine Aversa, AP Economics Writer
* On 12:00 am EST, Sunday November 8, 2009
WASHINGTON (AP) -- It hurts more to be unemployed now than the last time the jobless rate hit 10 percent.
Americans have more than triple the debt they had in 1982, and less than half the savings. They spend 10 weeks longer off the job. And a bigger share of them have no health insurance, leaving them one medical emergency away from financial ruin.
For these reasons, the unemployed are more vulnerable today to foreclosure and bankruptcy than they were a generation ago.
Donald Schenk knows. He's been without work both times. It's worse now, he says.
Back in the early 1980s, when Schenk lost his job at a phone company, he was able to find several temporary jobs -- including one testing pinball machines -- to make ends meet until he landed full-time work nearly two years later.
But now Schenk, 55, of the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg, Ill., has been seeking work for a year and a half after losing his information technology job. Potential employers aren't interested "if you are not a perfect fit," he says.
The unemployment rate hit 10.2 percent in October. All told, 15.7 million Americans are out of work. Add in workers forced to settle for part-time work or those who have simply given up looking, and the rate is 17.5 percent.
Only twice since World War II has unemployment topped 10 percent -- now and from September 1982 to June 1983. In a few respects, life is better today for the unemployed than it was then.
Unemployment benefits are more generous, adjusted for inflation, and the Internet allows jobseekers to network, scan for openings and apply without leaving home.
And thanks in part to higher home values, Americans are worth more now. Measured in 2009 dollars, net worth comes to about $173,000 per person, compared with $94,000 in 1982, according to Lynn Reaser, president of the National Association for Business Economics.
Even if the average American has a larger cushion to fall back on, times are tough.
A much larger share of jobs these days -- more than four out of five -- are in the service sector, such as tax preparers, hair stylists and retail clerks. Those jobs generally pay less and offer fewer benefits than blue-collar manufacturing work.
Manufacturing, which typically offers more generous benefits, accounts for less than 9 percent of payrolls today -- down from 19 percent in 1982.
Back then, the United Auto Workers persuaded the Big Three auto companies to pay up to 95 percent of the gap between a laid-off worker's unemployment benefits and what he or she made on the job.
But since the decline of the size and influence of unions, "that would be inconceivable today," says University of Illinois professor Michael LeRoy, who studies unions.
Unemployment also squeezes families tighter these days because they are less conservative about how they spend and save.
People carry an average of about $46,000 in debt -- mortgages, credit cards, auto loans and other consumer debt. That's a far bigger load than in 1982, when per capita debt totaled about $14,000 in today's dollars.
And savings, as a percentage of after-tax income, was only 2.7 percent last year, down from 10.9 percent in 1982. Americans stashed an average of just $940 last year, compared with $2,537 in 1982. That helps explain why the foreclosure rate runs about seven times higher today.
Not surprisingly, that means more Americans -- about three times as many -- are going bankrupt.
Lawrence Mishel, president of the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute, says the ripple effects of the rising unemployment rate will be felt for years. He predicts the poverty rate for children will rise to 27 percent in 2011, from 18 percent in 2007.
"It will scar a generation of kids," he says.
If you're unemployed today, the odds are better that you'll stay unemployed longer than a generation ago.
And government surveys suggest that if you get laid off, it's more likely to be for good. Today's unemployed have been out of work about half a year on average. In the early 1980s, they spent about four months without jobs.
One reason is that industries such as construction and finance may never bulk back up to pre-recession levels. Even before the economy went south, demand for their products was inflated by the housing bubble.
Another reason layoffs are more permanent: Manufacturers these days are more aggressive about using technology to boost productivity -- or they hire cheaper workers overseas as the economy improves.
Schenk, who is drawing unemployment aid, has managed to stay up-to-date on his mortgage and credit card payments, but at a significant cost to his financial future. "I'm burning through my savings," he says. "And the next thing I'll dip into is my retirement account."
Because he does not have health insurance, Schenk's financial pressures would grow dramatically if he became injured or sick. The Census Bureau says about one in four unemployed people have no insurance, compared with about one in five in 1987.
Schenk also lacked insurance when he lost the phone company job in the '80s. But he was younger then, and less concerned about his health. This time around, he paid for health coverage through the government's COBRA program. But that has run out.
The government program lets today's workers keep their insurance for 18 months after a layoff. But the premiums can be steep -- up to $1,137 a month for families and $410 for individuals.
The federal stimulus program provides subsidized coverage for up to nine months for those who meet certain income thresholds. After that, they must pay the full cost.
For those who lose jobs today, the safety net is much flimsier.
Layoffs have forced some older workers into retirement, yet fewer of them can fall back on traditional pensions that pay a steady monthly sum. Only 11 percent of active workers have a traditional pension, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute. That's down from 50 percent in 1982.
Instead, more workers today have 401(k)-type retirement plans. But those have suffered huge hits in this downturn. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell as much as 57 percent earlier this year from its October 2007 peak and is still down about 32 percent.
Schenk, who has had dozens of jobs interviews, says it's a struggle to remain upbeat and to keep searching. He knows for sure that one bad economic indicator is higher nowadays than a generation ago: He worries more.
"Back then it seemed like certain jobs were hit and you could still find those short little gigs," Schenk says. "This time it hit everything."
Friday, November 6, 2009
China to ban beating web addicts
China to ban beating web addicts
Chinese student playing online computer game - 12 October 2009
More than six hours a day online is a sign of addiction, say experts
China's ministry of health has moved to ban the use of physical punishment to treat teenagers addicted to the web, according to draft guidelines.
There are dozens of treatment centres offering to wean youths, mostly boys, from spending hours on the web.
Many of them are military-style boot camps that rely on tough programmes of physical exercise and counselling.
Two boys were beaten at separate camps earlier this year, one died and the other was severely injured.
"When intervening to prevent improper use of the internet we should... strictly prohibit restriction of personal freedom and physical punishments," the ministry said in a draft guideline quoted by Reuters news agency.
In July, the ministry of health formally banned the use of electroshock therapy as a treatment option.
There was a public outcry after 15-year-old Deng Senshan died in August less than 24 hours after arrival at the Qihang Salvation Training Camp in Guangxi province.
Days later, 14-year-old Pu Liang was put in a Sichuan hospital in a serious condition after allegedly being beaten by his boot camp's principal and other students.
Some estimates suggest up to 10% of the country's 100 million web users under the age of 20 could be addicted, and a growing number of rehabilitation services have sprung up to deal with the problem.
Some define an internet addict as anyone who is online for at least six hours a day and has little interest in school.
"The goal of intervention is... to urge the target people to use the internet in a healthy way," the ministry of health statement said.
"It's not to stop them from using the internet."
Chinese student playing online computer game - 12 October 2009
More than six hours a day online is a sign of addiction, say experts
China's ministry of health has moved to ban the use of physical punishment to treat teenagers addicted to the web, according to draft guidelines.
There are dozens of treatment centres offering to wean youths, mostly boys, from spending hours on the web.
Many of them are military-style boot camps that rely on tough programmes of physical exercise and counselling.
Two boys were beaten at separate camps earlier this year, one died and the other was severely injured.
"When intervening to prevent improper use of the internet we should... strictly prohibit restriction of personal freedom and physical punishments," the ministry said in a draft guideline quoted by Reuters news agency.
In July, the ministry of health formally banned the use of electroshock therapy as a treatment option.
There was a public outcry after 15-year-old Deng Senshan died in August less than 24 hours after arrival at the Qihang Salvation Training Camp in Guangxi province.
Days later, 14-year-old Pu Liang was put in a Sichuan hospital in a serious condition after allegedly being beaten by his boot camp's principal and other students.
Some estimates suggest up to 10% of the country's 100 million web users under the age of 20 could be addicted, and a growing number of rehabilitation services have sprung up to deal with the problem.
Some define an internet addict as anyone who is online for at least six hours a day and has little interest in school.
"The goal of intervention is... to urge the target people to use the internet in a healthy way," the ministry of health statement said.
"It's not to stop them from using the internet."
Fort Hood shooting: Suspected gunman not among fatalities
Fort Hood shooting: Suspected gunman not among fatalities
Major Nidal Malik Hasan, an Army psychiatrist, is in custody in the rampage that left 12 dead and 31 injured in Texas.
By Julian E. Barnes, Josh Meyer and Kate Linthicum6:46 PM PST, November 5, 2009
Reporting from Los Angeles and Washington
In an act of violence that sent shock waves through the American military establishment and raised questions about base security, a man armed with two handguns allegedly opened fire Thursday afternoon on the grounds of Ft. Hood, the country's largest military base. Twelve people were killed and 31 others injured. The suspect, an Army psychologist, was shot and in custody. The base, home to about 70,000 soldiers and their families, was locked down.
Army officials identified the attacker as Nidal Malik Hasan, 39, a major who was recently promoted from captain and worked at the Darnall Army Medical Center, Ft. Hood's hospital. Officials had previously reported that Hasan was among the dead.
Officials with access to Hasan's records told the Associated Press that Hasan, who is single and has no children, worked at Walter Reed Army Medical Center for six years before being transferred to the Texas base in July. They said he received a poor performance evaluation while at Walter Reed.
FBI officials in Washington and in San Antonio said that they had not determined whether others were involved in the attack.
President Obama lamented the attack as a "horrific outburst of violence" and promised justice. "We are going to stay on this," he said.
"These are men and women who have made the selfless decision" to protect the nation, Obama said of the victims. "It is horrifying that they should come under fire at an Army base on American soil."
Shooting broke out around 1:30 p.m. local time at a personnel and medical processing office, said Lt. Col. Nathan Banks, an Army spokesman.
A second incident took place at a theater on the base, Banks said. One official who would not give his name said that a graduation had been scheduled for 2 p.m. at the theater.
The base was locked down after the shootings, and people who live there were told to lock their doors and windows. Families, so used to being separated during long deployments, were separated again in a situation that to many seemed surreal.
"My friend's husband called her from Iraq and said, 'Isn't it sad that I am safer over here in Iraq than you are at home?' " said Jessica Sullens, 28, who had spent hours in a nearby Wal-Mart parking lot, where she had dashed on a midday errand. Her own husband, Cpl. Thomas Sullens and their 1- and 2-year old daughters were in lockdown on the base, he with his motor pool while the children were with a neighbor. "This is unreal to me," Sullens said.
Army officials said they did not know whether the handguns used in the assault were military-issued service weapons or personal weapons.
The rules for carrying weapons on an Army post are standard throughout all bases, service officials said. The only personnel allowed to openly display weapons on the base are military police, Banks said. Service weapons are checked daily and are usually only allowed to be removed from an arms room for training on a range or maintenance. Personal weapons must be kept locked and registered with the base provost marshal. The military police keep a record of all of the weapons on a base, Army officials said.
Ft. Hood, which sprawls across 339 square miles of central Texas hill country, is the world's largest military installation. It supports two full armored divisions -- the 1st Cavalry Division and the 4th Infantry Division -- and is home to more than 70,000 soldiers, civilian workers and family members. It is the largest single employer in Texas.
Base personnel have accounted for more suicides than any other Army post since the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, with 75 tallied through July of this year. Nine of those suicides occurred in 2009, counting two in overseas war zones.
Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, the Army's deputy chief of staff, has been leading an effort to reduce the number of Army suicides, which has climbed sharply this year, possibly as a result from long and repeated deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Three of the four brigades of the 1st Calvary Division are in Iraq. The three brigades -- the first, second and third -- are on their third Iraq tour. The division's newest brigade, the fourth, has done two tours in Iraq, returning most recently in June.
Ft. Hood also is home to three of the brigades of the 4th Infantry Division. The fourth brigade is now in Afghanistan. The first brigade has done three tours in Iraq, returning most recently in March. The second brigade has also done three tours, returning most recently in September.
The military has not released the names of those who were wounded or killed.
Times staff writer Robin Abcarian in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
***************************************************************************
US gunman 'set for Afghan tour'
Col Dr Steven Braverman describes Major Nidal Malik Hasan and his work
A US major believed to have killed 13 people in a gun attack at a Texas army base was due to be deployed soon to Afghanistan, a military official said.
Maj Nidal Malik Hasan, 39, a US-born Muslim, opened fire on fellow soldiers at Fort Hood on Thursday.
Relatives of the army psychiatrist said he had strongly opposed his deployment and had wanted to leave the army.
US officials said investigations into what prompted the attack had continued through the night.
Early on Friday the commander of the Fort Hood base, Lt Gen Robert Cone, told reporters that, according to eyewitnesses, the gunman had shouted the Arabic phrase "Allahu Akbar!" [God is great] before opening fire.
Military officials said 12 soldiers and one civilian had been killed.
MAJOR NIDAL MALIK HASAN
US Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan
US-born Muslim raised in Virginia
Joined the army and trained to be a psychiatrist
Treated soldiers returning from combat zones
Described as a devout Muslim who attended prayers regularly
Said to have been unhappy about imminent overseas deployment
Profile: Major Nidal Malik Hasan
Of the 28 people who remained in hospital, 14 had required surgery but all were in a stable condition, Col Dr Steven Braverman said.
Deputy base commander Col John Rossi declined to comment on what might have triggered the attack. "We'll let investigators find that out," said.
Maj Hasan was shot four times during the attack and is currently being treated in hospital, under armed guard.
The policewoman who shot him first is in a stable condition, officials said.
President Barack Obama described it as "a horrific outburst of violence".
He said: "It is difficult enough when we lose these brave men and women abroad, but it is horrifying that they should come under fire at an army base on US soil."
'Could have been worse'
The shooting began at about 1330 (1930 GMT) on Thursday at a personnel and medical centre at Fort Hood.
Lt Gen Cone said a graduation ceremony for a group of soldiers was taking place nearby.
SHOOTINGS AT FORT HOOD
Shooting started at 1330 local time at Soldier Readiness Processing Center in Fort Hood, the world's largest US military base
Timeline: Fort Hood shootings
Reaction: US base shootings
In pictures: Fort Hood shootings
"Thanks to the quick reaction of several soldiers, they were able to close off the doors to that auditorium where there were some 600 people inside," he said.
"As horrible as this was, I think it could have been much worse."
A picture is beginning to emerge of the suspect, a psychiatrist who was transferred to the Texas base in July.
Reports suggested that he had been increasingly unhappy in the military and that his work at his previous post - Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC - had been the subject of concern.
His cousin told US media that Maj Hasan had been opposed to an imminent deployment overseas, describing it as his "worst nightmare".
He also said that Maj Hasan had been battling racial harassment because of his "Middle Eastern ethnicity".
Another Fort Hood soldier told the BBC that the incident could put pressure on Muslim American soldiers.
FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE
More from BBC World Service
"They've taken it hard, due to the fact that it kind of puts a negative light on them and makes people distrust them because everybody is going to look at them [and think]: 'Well, you're probably going to pull something like this'," the soldier said.
"And it's a sad fact that that will happen."
The New York Times said the FBI had been investigating internet postings by a man called Nidal Hasan that appeared to back suicide bombings - but said it was not clear whether it was the suspect.
The attack triggered shock and grief in Fort Hood, which is the largest US base in the world and home to about 40,000 troops.
Texas Governor Rick Perry ordered all flags in the state to fly at half-mast as a tribute to the victims.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Local News - Witness says man tried to set ex-wife on fire over $5 of gas
Witness says man tried to set ex-wife on fire over $5 of gas
Posted at: 11/04/2009 10:37 AM | WHEC.com
Updated at: 11/04/2009 6:27 PM
By: Berkeley Brean
Updated at: 11/04/2009 6:27 PM
By: Berkeley Brean
The story your about to see is shocking. It involves an ax, gasoline and a match! Police say a man attacked his estranged wife and then tried to set her SUV on fire with her inside of it. And get this, a witness says it was all over a 4-wheeler and $5 worth of gas.
Police say John and Debora Thoms had been fighting for a long time. John Thoms is in jail tonight charged with attempted murder for the attack on Debora Thoms. A witness said their grandchild was also in the SUV.
It happened at the couple's home on Clyde Hunts Corners Road in the Wayne County Town of Galen.
"What's this dent here?" reporter Berkeley Brean asked.
"This is where he hit it. He actually hit it with the wooden part of the ax handle," Brandon Fratus said. Fratus, a family friend, showed us where the attack happen. Debora Thoms locked herself inside her SUV after she was beaten by estranged husband John Thoms. That's when Fratus say Thoms tried to set the car and her on fire.
Brean: "Did he put gas all over the truck?"
Fratus: "Yeah, he dumped it right down on top."
The story we're told is that John Thoms came back to this home to pick up his 4-wheeler and when Debora Thoms showed up, that's when the fight really started.
Fratus says Debora Thoms had just filled it up with $5 worth of gas.
"She told him if he gave her $5 he could take it and he flipped out I guess and started beating her and she got up and ran to the car," Fratus said.
The Wayne County Sheriff's Office says Thoms grabbed a 5 gallon tank full of gas and poured it on the SUV and the home. Then he struck a match, threw it at the car but the flame went out.
"Fortunately last night it was rather windy out and maybe that had a chance of helping the match not holding," Lt. Robert Hetzke said.
Thoms took off before he could try again. But when he returned to the home, the sheriff's office arrested him. Witnesses say the couple has been fighting for months.
Fratus: "Yeah, for a few months."
Brean: "Did you ever think it would reach the level it did yesterday?"
Fratus: "No never. I didn't think it would get that bad, that serious"
Investigators picked up the gas tank, the sledge hammer and the match that they say Thoms tried to light. We saw where the attack happened, but the smell of the gasoline is gone. Thoms is in jail tonight on $25,000.
As far as we know, the child that was in the SUV at the time is fine. We were told that while the attack was happening, the child's father was able to pull her out of the SUV. We're not sure if the child was in the SUV when the match was struck, but we know Thoms faces child endangerment charges as well.
Sheriff's investigators tell us that John Thoms works for the Wayne County Department of Social Services. Debora Thoms is a nurse at the county's nursing home.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
My original wall on facebook - "V"
Welcome MyFace to my facebook, Nov. 1, 2009. Clocks are messed up here.
Watching "V" from 1983 on SyFy. 50 Alien spaceships led by Karl Malden invade Earth. Star Trek saving the whales would be a good follow-up movie. I lived in San Francisco going to College For Recording Arts from 1981-2, and worked on a couple controversial album projects in 1982-3. It's been nothing but a conspiracy theory ever since, and I've been flat-broke.
Looking back, I would back-date the conspiracy theory to my days in Kindergarten. TV found I had nothing to live for and intervened.
Everytime I submit something to the Matrix, the conspiracy adjusts.
"The information that we planted will reinforce their beliefs." - Aliens on V
RT: KarenAlloy Great... my clocks are smarter than I am. They reset themselves. I feel worthless and dumb.
Somebody pulled AT&T off-line on V. Now Karl Malden commandeers all world communications. BTW, YouTube is still down after an hour.
For Carlos Raven although KA doesn't know: RT: KarenAlloy I HATE SNICKERS! I got a ton of them and I'm just going to throw them at ppl's heads! @furnifur (Halloween 2009)
"They've not only got the televisions, but they've got the newspapers too. We're under martial law!" - citizens on V
Guy can't even use the illegally tapped payphone without spaceships chasing after him using lethal fire power.
***********************
Captcha was: snowbelt 76c
Watching "V" from 1983 on SyFy. 50 Alien spaceships led by Karl Malden invade Earth. Star Trek saving the whales would be a good follow-up movie. I lived in San Francisco going to College For Recording Arts from 1981-2, and worked on a couple controversial album projects in 1982-3. It's been nothing but a conspiracy theory ever since, and I've been flat-broke.
Looking back, I would back-date the conspiracy theory to my days in Kindergarten. TV found I had nothing to live for and intervened.
Everytime I submit something to the Matrix, the conspiracy adjusts.
"The information that we planted will reinforce their beliefs." - Aliens on V
RT: KarenAlloy Great... my clocks are smarter than I am. They reset themselves. I feel worthless and dumb.
Somebody pulled AT&T off-line on V. Now Karl Malden commandeers all world communications. BTW, YouTube is still down after an hour.
For Carlos Raven although KA doesn't know: RT: KarenAlloy I HATE SNICKERS! I got a ton of them and I'm just going to throw them at ppl's heads! @furnifur (Halloween 2009)
"They've not only got the televisions, but they've got the newspapers too. We're under martial law!" - citizens on V
Guy can't even use the illegally tapped payphone without spaceships chasing after him using lethal fire power.
***********************
Captcha was: snowbelt 76c
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