Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (843939)	3/21/2015 12:41:37 AM
From: Sdgla	2 Recommendations Recommended By FJB TideGlider Respond to of 1574260

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (843939)	3/21/2015 10:07:29 AM
From: Sdgla	3 Recommendations Recommended By Brumar89 FJB TideGlider Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1574260

First-time voters in Israel explain why they chose Netanyahu Young voters, who went on Instagram to share their election selfies, explain why they voted for Netanyahu: Security, security, security – and distrust of Arabs, the left and media. By Avshalom Halutz \| Mar. 19, 2015 \| 3:09 PM \| Many Israelis woke up to quite a shock Wednesday morning, discovering that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had handily beaten challenger Isaac Herzog, despite opinion polls the previous weekend predicting a narrow victory for Herzog’s Zionst Union. Social media, where trending hashtags such as #2015elections and #Israel this week summoned up heavily filtered selfies of smiling young people holding up Likud voting slips, may offer a glimpse into some of the reasons for Netanyahu’s popularity among voters. Here, first-time voters, who went on Instagram to share their election photos, explain why they voted for Netanyahu. Linoy Aharon Age: 19; residence: Rosh Ha’ayin; occupation: currently doing National Service. Why did you vote Likud? “I voted for the first time, choosing Likud since he [Netanyahu] is the most worthy person to lead the country at present. Herzog is unworthy of leading – he would create a leftist government together with the [Arab] Joint List; in addition, he wouldn’t hold up to international pressure by Obama and others with regard to an agreement with the Palestinians. He might divide the country and we’ve seen what happened every time Israel conceded territory in exchange for “peace” – the area becomes a Hamas terror center. “Netanyahu is a judicious and experienced person who knows his job. He doesn’t buckle under international pressure and knows how to stand up for this country’s principles when the world creates difficulties for us. I saw the opinion polls which indicated that there would be a tight race between Netanyahu and Herzog so I voted Likud, since a right-wing government needs people’s support in order to overcome any leftist government, which would have brought about a disaster. I’m glad the right won and hope for a better future for this country.” Elina Rabinovich and her friend Valeria Petrov Age: 18; residence: Netanya; occupation: an editor on a youth website Why did you vote Likud? “I voted for Likud wholeheartedly yesterday. Israel is not Switzerland – we’re always surrounded, always attacked and I don’t think the situation can ever be perfect and rosy, not even close to it. That’s why I knew I would vote for the rightist bloc. I wavered between Bibi and Bennett, but after all the pitches by other parties with their slogans amounting to “just not Bibi” I realized how important it was to strengthen him. He’s been at the head for a long time, and despite everything that’s been said about him he’s holding up the country. “Many people have lots to say on the topic; it’s easy to complain and cast blame and ask for change. It’s harder to consider what would happen if that change actually happened. At present I don’t see any other party that could really replace Netanyahu. Bibi launched these elections to see if people really support him and it happened that way. He knows how to lead, hold us and represent us. Of course he’s made some decisions I don’t support, but no one is perfect and today the only worthy and suitable person, the only one who can overcome all the difficulties, is Benjamin Netanyahu and his party.” Her friend Valeria Petrova, 17, adds: “I can’t vote yet but these elections set me on fire. I breathed them and lived them 24/7. Why would I choose Likud? I wanted to put my trust in a party that considers security as the foremost issue, a party that promises not to divide Jerusalem and ensures that the Iranian threat is removed. I don’t succumb to cheap slogans made by expensive consultants, but really believe we must maintain an undivided country, especially after all we went through to attain it. “And beyond that? Let’s break the stigma attached to rightists. It’s not that the cost of living isn’t painful for me. It’s not that I don’t see the poor, it’s not that I’m a meat-eating chauvinist who doesn’t care about social issues. But if we don’t even have a state, how will we worry about the other issues? Likud unites all citizens instead of causing a rift. How will we make peace with others before we make peace among ourselves?” Shlomi Suliman Age: 18; residence: Rishon Letzion, occupation: high-school student near completion of studies; works part-time at an after-hours kindergarten. Why did you vote Likud? I decided to vote Likud since that is what I grew up with at home. Every family member I asked said: “Bibi.” As a right wing supporter I decided to vote Likud since the party embraces all my beliefs, opinions and values. Likud is the only party that can protect Israel, in my view. I couldn’t vote for a left-wing party with a name not connected to Zionism. Some people argued with me, saying that Likud only addresses security issues or that Bibi just tries to scare people and he is tripping up other candidates. I want to serve in the army since I love this whole country. We ultimately all return home since someone is waiting for us – the Likud party.” Rinat Nisanov Age: 22, residence: Herzliya; occupation: cares for children. Why did you vote Likud? “I support Likud since Bibi is a responsible leader who loves the people of Israel. Security issues are the most important issues now, even though he promised to deal with the high cost of living and reduce housing costs, which is no less important. The people of Israel like honest and strong leaders who aren’t afraid of saying ‘no’ and stand strong when facing our enemies. It’s sad to learn that the Zionist Union received many Knesset seats, with Livni who changes her opinion every week and sits wherever she’s offered a place, and Herzog the clown who doesn’t know how to be interviewed, only showing how weak he is. He is inexperienced and doesn’t know a thing about politics. I’m sure that most of the votes they got were due to the hostile media which falsely tarnished Netanyahu and his wife. As usual, he showed everyone that he is King of Israel, laughing at all his puny rivals.” Under a photo of herself sleeping that she posted on social media, she added: “We can sleep soundly, knowing that we won; proud of most of my people for voting correctly. Good night. By the way, the entire hostile media that tried to defeat him now have to eat their hats. It’s reasonable to assume that Bibi is here to stay and enter the country’s history books.” Avi Marziano Age: 23; residence: Ramat Hasharon; occupation: works at the Open University’s call center, studying for a degree in political science, international relations and communications. Why did you vote Likud? “As someone who served as a support servicemen in a combat air force squadron, I don’t think the defense budget should be reduced. In addition, the media has turned leftward, hiding documents and operations carried out by Likud for the benefit of people’s welfare and for the general public. The Likud’s gay student group appealed to me; there are wonderful people there and senior Likud officials are who are very polite. Besides one MK who is no longer there, most of them worked to assist the gay community, operating under Knesset faction discipline. I’m a Likudnik from home.”

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (843939)	3/21/2015 2:56:41 PM
From: tejek	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 1574260

California first to feel hydro-power crunch of drought By ELLEN KNICKMEYER, Associated Press \| March 21, 2015 \| Updated: March 21, 2015 1:01pm SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Flying over the Sierra Nevada as California entered its fourth year of drought, the state's energy chief looked down and saw stark bare granite cloaked in dirty brown haze — not the usual pristine white peaks heaped with snow that would run the state's hydroelectric dams for the year. Spring is arriving with the Pacific Northwest measuring near record-low-snowfall, and much of the rest of the West below average. But what California is experiencing is historically low snowpack — a meager accumulation that has serious implications not only for the state but potentially for the entire West if the drought not just of water, but of snow, persists. Snowpack at 12 percent of average in the Sierra Nevada means there is less runoff to feed rivers and streams that run through dams to generate cleanly produced hydroelectric power. Despite the state's ambitious clean-air goals, officials are turning to dirtier, more costly fossil-fuel plants to fill some of the power gap. They also will seek more hydroelectricity imports in a region expected to have markedly less to offer this summer. At a minimum, "we'll keep the lights on," said Robert Weisenmiller, chairman of the California Energy Commission. "We're not concerned about not having power." "What we're concerned about," Weisenmiller said, "is the power is going to come from different sources not as benign" for the health of people and the environment as hydroelectricity. A study this past week by the nonprofit Pacific Institute think tank in Oakland, California, estimated that three years of waning hydroelectricity during California's drought already have cost utility ratepayers $1.4 billion, including purchases of power from natural gas-fired plants to make up for reduced hydroelectric power. The increased reliance on fossil fuel also caused an 8 percent rise in emissions of climate-changing carbon dioxide in California, the Pacific Institute said. Robert Oglesby, executive director of the state energy commission, said he didn't expect the decline of hydro power— and the boost in gas-fired power— to set back California's goal of generating 33 percent of electricity from renewable energy by 2020. That's because large hydroelectric dams, which are controversial because they block natural river flows, are not officially included with solar, wind and other sources in California's renewable energy equation. Dams produced 12 percent of the state's electricity in 2013, the most recent year for which figures are available. Natural gas provided 61 percent. The numbers for hydroelectric power will go down for California in 2015 but not disappear, Oglesby said. That will mean continued higher utility bills for some. "For the areas of the state that have been able to rely on inexpensive hydro, and then they have to purchase more expensive energy off the grid — those costs are an impact that will be passed along over time," Oglesby said. Hydroelectricity is even more important for California's northern neighbors, accounting for more than 60 percent of Washington state's power and 45 percent of Oregon's, state officials say. While California is 14 months into a statewide drought emergency, the governors of Washington and Oregon, where snowpack is hovering at or near record lows, recently declared drought emergencies in sections of their states. Strong winter rain will make up for poor snow totals when it comes to hydro power in Washington and Oregon, power managers there said. "We're not anticipating that we're going to have any problem meeting our obligation," said Michael Hansen, spokesman for the Bonneville Power Administration, which serves utilities in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and western Montana. "We serve the Northwest first," he said. "They get first dibs on surplus power." The federal nonprofit agency can sell surplus power to utilities in California and other Western states, but it is required by law to serve its customers first, Hansen said. Around the West, dam operators will be prioritizing customers, placing water for farms and cities ahead of water for power production. At Lake Mead on the Colorado River, the largest water reservoir in the United States and a vital water source for the Southwest and Mexico, drought by May is expected to nearly halve hydroelectric production compared with mid-2014 levels. Keeping drinking water running from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, and crops watered along the way, would take priority over keeping the lights on, officials of the power office of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Lower Colorado division said in an email. "We always have to point out that as important as power production may be, by law it is actually priority No. 3," the officials said. ___

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (843939)	3/21/2015 3:02:25 PM
From: tejek	Read Replies (6) \| Respond to of 1574260

Touring Tilikum: My first walk across the new bridge (photos) Posted by Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor) on March 17th, 2015 at 11:12 am Looking west toward South Waterfront from the eastern end of the new bridge. (Photos by J. Maus/BikePortland) There are just 179 days until the new Tilikum Crossing Bridge opens. This exciting new piece of infrastructure will grab a ton of headlines not just because it’s the first new bridge to be built across the Willamette in over 40 years — but because it’s one of the only spans in America where every mode will be allowed except for private cars. Let that sink in: No cars or trucks means this bridge — one-third of a mile in our dense, central city transportation network — will have only a fraction of the noise, toxic pollutants, and safety hazards that private motorized vehicles plague our city with each day. I’ve been begging TriMet to let me bike across it since the first media tours were given a few months ago. So far they’ve said no; but last week they were nice enough to give Michael Andersen and myself a private walking tour to help us understand the latest developments and features on the new bridge. We were joined TriMet’s Civil Engineer David Tertadian, their Public Information Officer Mary Fetsch, and TriMet Active Transportation Planner Jeff Owen. Here’s what we saw (and learned)… Get used to seeing a lot of these. Most of the major construction is done. For the next 4-5 months crews are doing mostly small stuff like tweaking handrails, training bus and rail operators, replacing some seismic joints at the east end of the bridge, and testing the various electrical systems. Before I even got on the bridge, I was impressed at how many bike-related changes have been made at the bridge’s intersection with SW Moody near the new OHSU/PSU Collaborative Life Sciences building. There are several new bike-only signals to help make the transition from the Moody cycle track, across the street, then onto the bridge’s bike path. Speaking of which, the start of the path (on the west side) begins with a big bike symbol and a riding area that is physically separated from the walking path via a curb and planted median. Also noteworthy is how the bike symbol is outlined in black. Owen, TriMet’s bike/walk specialist, said that was to help the white thermoplastic stand out better against the light grey pavement. I like that the bike path is physically separated at the start because it reinforces expectations about where people are supposed to walk and bike. Here’s how it looks from another angle (looking west)… Given how much biking and walking will happen on this bridge it will be very important for people to stay in the proper lane. You’ll also notice the bike/walk lane markings, which are very similar to the ones used by Multnomah County on the Hawthorne Bridge (the only difference is that the bike marking is green instead of yellow). TriMet has also outlined the white center lane stripe with black to make it more visible. I was pleased to confirm that the width of the bike path stays a constant 7 feet, 8 inches the entire length of the bridge. The walking path is 6 feet, four inches wide and balloons out to 13 feet, 4 inches wide at the “belvedere” viewing sections towards the middle of the span. Just east of the new Life Sciences Building, the physical separation ends and you come to a wide open area. You’ll notice there are crosswalks and traffic signals. If you’re a transportation wonk, this will be a fascinating intersection to watch once the bridge opens as it should be a bustling hive of multi-modal activity with people on foot, on bikes, in streetcars, buses (lines 9 and 17), and light rail trains. Owen informed us that in the future this will be an actual intersection with SW Bond Road, which is slated to be extended once OHSU further develops adjacent parcels (so add cars into that mix too!). Future intersection with SW Bond. Since there’s a bicycle signal on the bridge span, I asked TriMet reps if it would have an automatic sensor loop or if people would be required to hit a button to get the light to change. They didn’t know the answer and I’m awaiting a clarification. UPDATE: I’ve confirmed that the bike signal will be triggered via a sensor loop embedded in the concrete. Speaking of sensors, we were very happy to hear TriMet plans to install two bicycle trip counters (one for each direction) similar to the one currently in use on the Hawthorne Bridge. Owen pointed out electrical boxes that have already been installed in expectation of the new counters, which will be ready to operate by the opening date in September. As we made our way further up the bridge and over the Willamette, I immediately noticed the incline. I’m very curious how hard/easy it will feel to pedal up this new bridge. TriMet says the “typical longitudinal slope” of the Tilikum is just under 5 percent (which is the ADA maximum). We’ve been told the incline is the same as the Morrison Bridge — but the Tilikum is twice as long (760 feet versus 1,720 feet respectively). Another striking difference you’ll feel riding on the Tilikum is its modern aesthetic and bold design. All the other bridges we ride over feel like either antiques (Steel, St. Johns, Broadway) or boring and uninspiring concrete slabs (Burnside and Morrison). The Tilikum, by comparison, is captivating. The sharp-edged, brushed aluminum unpainted stainless steel railings handrails and guardrails, juxtaposed with the tubular white cables that stretch skyward are a sight to behold. I appreciate that even despite concerns over path safety, TriMet has not littered the bridge with caution signs. Owen said that was by design. “The aesthetic vision was to be as simple as possible and to not have more signs than needed for safety.” I hope people walk and bike respectfully so TriMet doesn’t feel the need to add more signs or markings. One place where there’s likely to be some path congestion are the belvederes. These are the areas (on each side of the bridge) where TriMet wants people to stop, chat, and maybe take a photo and enjoy the view. The only design features that mark the belvederes are a widening of the walking path, a widening of the upper railing that encourages you to lean on it with your forearms, and a series of orange thermoplastic pavement markings. As we made our way to the eastern landing of the bridge, I got to see how the new path interacts with the existing Esplanade path and station area near SE Water and Caruthers avenues. One thing that occurred to me is the balcony of the Portland Opera just became a much cooler place to hang out. View of Eastbank Esplanade, Portland Opera building (blue), and streetcar line (upper left). The bridge path with the Esplanade and Portland Opera building in the background. There will also be a very direct connection from the Esplanade to the Tilikum via a new path… View from north path looking northeast toward OMSI. As we came to the OMSI station area, Fetsch pointed out a new covered bike parking area, bikeway network signage, and the new crossing features at SE 2nd Place (note the continued use of green for bikes and yellow for walking)… We looped back to SW Moody on the north side of the path. As we approached the Life Sciences building and the stations near Moody, I noticed a speed reader board. TriMet Engineer Dave Tertadian said that’s to make sure bus and train operators slow down through the bridge’s curves. The bus speed limit will be 25 mph and it will be 11-15 mph for trains. As we approached Moody, I loved the amount of life already present at the Life Sciences building. Starbucks and another retailer are taking advantage of what will be an almost emissions-free and relatively quiet bridge. They’ve put out a lot of chairs and even some plush couches for customers to sit on the sidewalk and enjoy the space. There is also ample bike parking on every side of the building. Overall, it’s hard to not be excited about what the Tilikum will mean for our bicycle network. While the connections to and from the bridge still leave something to be desired, the bikeway on the bridge itself will surely make it an instant favorite for thousands of daily riders. CORRECTION, 3/19 at 12:45 pm: This post initially said the bridge railings were made in part from “brushed aluminum.” That was incorrect. The material used is on the handrails and guardrails is unpainted steel. I regret error. bikeportland.org