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Monday, September 19, 2011

'Anyone underground?' Controller's frantic call

The control room operator who lost his brother at Pike River Mine was speaking with the men underground in the event the explosion occurred along with the intercom system might have recorded the blast.
A transcript of your recording with the intercom system presented on the royal commission of inquiry in Greymouth yesterday morning signifies that since the minutes passed, Daniel Duggan became increasingly worried and frustrated: "Anyone underground? Anyone?" he contacted vain, the court heard.
Many wept as his evidence was read.
Mr Duggan, whose brother Chris was one of several 29 victims, was speaking with the men just before 3.45pm, when he was told scheduled maintenance ended up done, and the man was asked to restart the lake pumps.
He did this, and referred to as miners back to notify them the water was ever coming back on, so they could recommence mining.
Someone, probably fitter Malcolm Campbell, answered then again alarms discontinued and communication was lost.
Noise could be heard within the recording (which was not played in court); Mr Duggan said he would not notice the noise on the day.
"Hello sparkies?" Mr Duggan asked. Merely the control room alarms may be heard.
There was clearly a 45-second gap, with no response. He asked again. He waited, then tried to phone men he knew were working on the hydro panel with the coal face.
Then more alarms might be heard, and Mr Duggan swears in worry and frustration.
"Anyone underground? Anyone?"
There were no communication underground in any way.
Immediately after, he told someone: "I have an extremely bad feeling about this."
Mine manager Doug White said to not call Mines Rescue yet. Electrician Mattheus Strydom then went underground and reported there had been a great time.
Mr Duggan immediately called Mines Rescue, then an ambulance. At that stage, 1 hour later, that they not been told by anyone underground.
Earlier yesterday, the commission been told by safety training co-ordinator Adrian Couchman who went in the mine some day ahead of the blast as he was filming shot-firing for any video.
His evidence is important as he was the past to determine the self-rescue and fire boxes. Images filmed underground after the November 19 explosion show one box is open.
There has been considerable debate that box along with a possible body part lying in front of it.
It has triggered speculation someone could possibly have survived the blast, or has been reaching for firefighting equipment.
Mr Couchman's evidence suggested outside box was prone to be described as a self-rescue box, using the fire box behind it.
He was quoted saying two phones weren't working - one at pit-bottom, and one at the decommissioned oxygen base, the place that the air vent has also been not working.
The hearing continues.
Transcript
Daniel Duggan turned water pumps back on and rang underground to convey mining could resume:
Duggan: "Hello, ABM or road header."
Reply from underground: (8 seconds later) "Hello Dan, which team you trying to find?"
Duggan: (3 seconds later): "Control, soon after the ABM and road header."
(Noise from an unidentified source)
Duggan: (13 seconds later): "Hello sparkies."
(Alarms audible inside control room without anyone's knowledge)
Duggan: (44 seconds later): "Hello underground, any sparkies?"
Duggan: (50 seconds later): "Hello, a monitor place."
(Alarms audible in the background)
Duggan: (70 seconds later): "No (expletive) is ringing."
(Alarms still audible in background)
Duggan: (8 seconds later): "Hello, anyone underground."
Duggan: (25 seconds later): "Hello. Monitor place, anyone underground, anyone?" 

New York Public Service Commission begins review of storm outages

 New York's Public Service Commission has taken care of immediately Gov. Andrew Cuomo's request to conduct a "detailed and aggressive review" in the performance of the state's utilities throughout the recent storms.

http://moviepals.org/users/caseylawson

The commission was briefed Thursday the Department of Public Service with regards to the impacts with the remnants of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.

http://homelessnation.org/en/userpage/7345

As much as 1 million customers were without power during Irene, plus some utilities were criticized for his or her storm response. Criticism was focused particularly with the New york Power Authority and The big apple State Electric & Gas in northern Westchester and Putnam counties. Some customers were without power for over four days.

http://forums.shopify.com/users/show/80564

Tropical Storm Lee knocked power in the market to areas of the Southern Tier for pretty much a week.

http://my.cheng-tsui.com/user/55831

The PSC, which oversees the state's utilities, typically reviews how major power outages within the state were handled during storms.

 

"At the height of Hurricane Irene's catastrophic impact, nearly one million with the state's utility customers -- mostly residences, along with businesses as well as other institutions, were without power," Cuomo said in the statement. "In many cases, service wasn't restored for several days."

http://www.listology.com/users/woodrowtillis

The commission noted that besides electrical outages, many areas of the state of hawaii, like the Southern Tier, faced propane and water-service disruptions. Also, nearly 735,000 wireless phone customers were without service due to downed wires, and damaged utility poles and underground cables.

http://www.earthmonthmc.org/user/284

Electric utilities is going to be needed to file reports on their performance on the commission within 60 days. Public comments can be submitted by calling (800) 335-2120 or sending e-mail to secretary@dps.state.ny.us. Mention Case 11-E-0481. 

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Expect lots of ‘P’ jokes at LOL MTL comedy fest

There’s almost no laughing out loud - and even quietly - nowadays for Franco Taddeo. She has been spending his afternoons with a picket line outside McGill University, where he could be employed just as one assistant librarian.
About the plus side, though, Taddeo is equipped with per night job. He could be a fixture about the city’s comedy scene and, without question, one of the most cerebral comics around. On Friday evening, Taddeo, 43, is going to be putting his labour woes behind him and his awesome wits towards the test, centering on what could now be a full-time job. Together with headliners Scott Faulconbridge, Freddie James and Derek Seguin, Taddeo will let loose in LOL MTL Comedy Night at Théâtre Maisonneuve set up des Arts.
“I act as a librarian only when school is in session, meaning I get summers off,” Taddeo says. “My heart really quickly scans the blogosphere to the McGill support staff on strike. They're the backbone and also the hardest hit.”
Nonetheless, Taddeo can be hard hit. He wanted a reliable day job to make up for your ever-volatile comedy vocation through the night. “My sons didn’t ask for their dad to become a struggling artist. The and dental advantages of the afternoon job be useful. The salary helps as well pay things like mortgages.”
Taddeo fears the strike is seen as a long one. “So, it’s likely to be full-full-throttle comedy to me now.”
Curiously, the genesis for LOL MTL came to exist in Jamaica. That’s where promoter/producer Sheldon Kagan was vacationing when he caught CBC-TV’s The National on satellite. About the newscast, Kagan took in the snippet of Taddeo performing with the Winnipeg Comedy Festival.
“I guess he liked what he saw as they made contact with with me almost immediately when he got back to Montreal,” Taddeo relays. “He was impressed that we was from Montreal and informed me which he didn’t know much about comedy but that they liked what he heard. He asked easily wish to do something inside a top-notch venue that would showcase Montreal’s comedy talent.”
One doesn’t require the expertise of a psychic to guess Taddeo’s response. Taddeo then submitted a summary of Montreal comics, from where Kagan picked this current lineup. Taddeo and Kagan developed the LOL MTL theme to spotlight this city’s obsession with matters tied to the letter ‘P’: politics, potholes and poutine, and others that is better left unprinted in a very family newspaper.
“The show will be part celebration in the city and part group therapy,” Taddeo allows, before adding: “How is that this different when Montrealers is able to see anybody individually at comedy clubs inside city? Sheldon’s approach was: ‘But you’ll never see the four of which together on one stage with the clubs, because they are all headliners.’ ”
Factual that. But it’s still a tall order, even for a few from the city’s premier comics, to market out Théâtre Maisonneuve’s 1,300 seats at a cost which is between $35 to $45 a ticket, specially when audiences can catch them at clubs for half the retail price or perhaps less.
“Sheldon is going for the demographic that would go to the comedy festival which visits his other shows,” Taddeo responds. “His web marketing strategy is when you would like to see this business individually, you’d pay a minimum of 15 bucks - so this means $60 for us four, not to mention costs of parking, dinner, drinks and babysitters 4 times.”
If this online strategy pans out, the impresario is going to continue together with his Kagan Komedy Series. To the initial show, Kagan wanted the total Montreal experience.
Fot it end, he conscripted the anglo Montrealer in Faulconbridge, the Franco in Seguin, the immigrant (from Chicago) in James (additionally a dynamite R&B singer), and the child of immigrants in Taddeo.
“He wanted that whole perspective of how we see Montreal and just how each person’s vision is framed of their comedy in relation to the town,” Taddeo explains.
Taddeo sees the Montreal comedy scene being a melting pot of influences. “We take what’s best of the American model. We incorporate British samples of might know about spent my childhood years watching. After which it we add french factor.”
So what’s funny about living in Montreal?
“Where to begin? How about, first off, the belief that driving through this city on a daily basis has us reconsidering the faiths we were raised in,” Taddeo suggests. “This past summer’s traffic dangers/chaos has forced Montreal to alter its motto from ‘Joie de Vivre’ to ‘Joie de SURvivre!’ ”
About survival, Taddeo will be contacted to complete a little improv about the comedy circuit to remain afloat. “I involve some time that has been freed up,” he deadpans.
“While I'd personally normally be helping students write about the theories of Marx, Hegel and/or Adam Smith, I’ll now be practising their theories over a picket line whilst creating a little more time for it to target Cosby, Carlin and Pryor. When life provides lemons, create a proletarian struggle - or make jokes. No matter what, it's all regulated about adapting your routine.”
LOL MTL Comedy Night, featuring Scott Faulconbridge, Freddie James, Derek Seguin and Franco Taddeo, comes about Friday, Sept. 9, 2011 at 8 p.m. at Théâtre Maisonneuve in Place des Arts. Tickets: $35 to $45. Call 514-842-2112 or go to www.laplacedesarts.com
Just for Laughs went under. Down Under, that is.
The Montreal-based chuckles group, ever assuming the role of cultural imperialist with annual events in Toronto, Chicago, Paris and here, invaded Australia the other day to stage its first fest on the fabled Sydney Opera House. Greater than 16,000 spectators were treated to the comedy stylings of Louis C.K., John Cleese, Martin Short, Demetri Martin, Margaret Cho, Dylan Moran and Russell Howard.
“We are already overwhelmed by the response from this first festival - through the audiences as well as the artists,” says Only for Laughs founder and CEO Gilbert Rozon. “From now on, our goal would be to grow this event, to get even more Australians laughing.”

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Bad Jokes: Batman Series

-Joker- 
“More bubbly, Mr. J?” 
“Don’t mind basically do!” 
I hold out my glass and Harley fills it on the brim. Oh, I love it when a plan all comes together! I’ll must find time to thank that decoy. I sip the sweet nectar which is champagne. I enjoy just how it tickles my tongue! All of the little bubbles dancing around during my mouth. I go over at Harley and gulp down other glass. 
“More?” 
“No, thanks a lot, Harley! Supply the remote.” 
Harley climbs from my giant bean-bag chair and retrieves the remote. Oh, I really like this chair! A mountain of beads and packing peanuts held together by a thin layer of fabric. Harley put an opening within it the final time I was out. The cut remains for my child cheek. 
“Here’s your remote, Mr. J!” 
“Thank you, Harley! Now, why don’t you are going rest while I admire my handy work?” 
“Sure thing, Mr. J!” 
Harley skips off into the other room. Her breasts bounce around because tight, red and black costume of hers. I have to admit that her ass doesn’t look bad in the outfit either. But an adequate amount of that. I mustn’t distract my self with pointless, erotic fantasy. Let’s see what’s for the boob-tube! 
Live with Howard and Jenny? 
Barf! 
Earlier Show with Jane McDonald? 
Gag! 
Super Crazy Action Heroes? 
Oh, the globe is really not only a fair place. There are always cartoon shows about the heroes. Where will be the shows to the mad scientist, the mutant freaks, or, my personal favorite, the insane clown killer? I swear there isn't any justice on the planet. 
I pull a knife away from my shirt pocket and throw it throughout the room. It hits the life-sized picture of Batman about the wall. Bull’s-eye! Right in the heart! God, I wish to kill him! Also to think, I had created him there before Church turned up. I needed him dammit! Boom! Right relating to the eyes! 
Hell, I may too not beat myself up over. I already took proper care of that issue. Time to go forward. What direction to go now? Kidnap the mayor? No, no, I’ve done that before. Poison the city’s water. No, that didn’t work the twenty times I’ve tried it before, so why repeat the process? No, I need a new challenge. 
I climb away from my bean-bag and walk throughout the room. I pull the knife out of the wall and stare at Batman’s picture. It’s not just a photograph. Harley drew it with a crayon plus it looks horrible, but it works best for me. Damn Bat thinks he’s so damn high and mighty. Thinks he’s invincible. Well, to hell with him. 
Pinned up next to the Batman picture is really a small little bit of clothe. The small yellow and black “R” I scammed of the Boy Plunder’s costume right before I killed him. A lotta damn good that did. Bat-boob just replaced him like he did while using first Robin. Hmmm? The 1st Robin…What ever happened towards the little bastard? I know for any idea that the Robin I killed wasn’t the initial. He was short. How it happened to my old kidnap buddy? 
You never know? Now, the Bat has a new Robin and that damn Flight-Thing working for him. Nightwing! Whatever! Wait! That’s it! 
“HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!” 
Nightwing’s the initial Robin! How could I have been so blind! Oh, this can be good! This really is going to be excellent! Why kill Batman? I’ll just wreck his already miserable life by killing his first junior partner! Hell, I’ll kill ‘em both! Nightwing and Robin! Give ‘im the works! Why hang on a minute? I’ll kill that damn Huntress too! Ah, shucks! I’ll kill everyone the son of the bitch ever cared about! The same as I did with Church! That’s ensures that Gordon’s going down too! 
Only the thought is getting me all bubbly inside! 
“Harley! Come here!” 
Harley steps out of her room wearing nothing but her bra and panties. Woof! 
“What would it be, Mr. J?” 
Dammit! I forgot! Curse her and her damn sexy body! 
“…Right! I recall! I’m gonna kill them all, Harley! Every god damned considered one of ‘em!” 
“All of who?” 
“Everyone that Batman has ever held all-around his heart. Oh, it’s gonna be fun! Bring the bubbly out of the house, Harley! And lose the undergarments! We’re developing a party tonight!” 
“Yay!” 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
-Nightwing- 
I wonder how long he’s been standing up here. I know for any idea that he knows that I’m standing behind him for the opposite side of the roof. The question is: just when was he going to acknowledge that fact? And think, after providing I’ve been gone, this is the welcome I recieve. Rather rude if you ask me. 
“What’s on your mind, Dick?” 
“Oh, so I are out there? I believed I didn’t there for a second. Better question, what’s in your thoughts?” 
“Nothing that concerns you.” 
I walk through the roof and join him on the ledge of the building. I browse the street below and watch the folks walk by. They look like ants because of this height. I spit from a building once and the man made me wash the Batmobile. I don’t determine what the large deal was. It didn’t hit anybody. 
“And why is that?” 
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t would like you involved.” 
“Uh-huh…” 
How much does he think We are, stupid? I became Robin for a good 5yrs of my well being. I do think I picked up a few things in that time. No less than, I'd hope i could have. Not that I use everything that he trained me in, but I wouldn’t be who I'm today if it hadn’t been for him. 
I glance at the structure next door after which it look go back over at Batman. I possibly could analyze the problem. There can be a theft of some sort or possibly a hostage situation going on in that building. On the other hand, in the event it were the situation, there would most probably be police here. No, he’s investigating something and i also have a very very good idea how it is. 
“This wouldn’t have anything to do with that Robert Church thing, wouldn't it?” 
He doesn’t answer. 
“Ignoring the question won’t ensure it is vanish entirely.” 
“If I only say yes, are you going to promise not to become involved?” 
“Have I available a promise i haven’t kept?” 
“Yes. And you didn’t make it yet.” 
“Fine… I promise you, Let me not join up.” 
“Thank you.” 
“Was that so hard?” 
I look back over at the building across out of this one. It’s a condominium. I had been never much of a detective, though the doorman kinda gave it away. I can’t help wonder why he’s here, but he will not do anything with no grounds. 
“Who’s in that room?” 
“Detective Charlie Parker.” 
“Oh…And he is…?” 
“Church’s former partner. You weren’t this pushy when you were Robin.” 
“True, but I was a lot smaller than you then too… Former partner? So how exactly does he tie into this?” 
“Church was observed in the Gotham Central parking lot addressing Parker the day his family was killed.” 
“And?” 
“He may have some knowledge of Church’s state of mind that day.” 
“Oh… So, what are you awaiting?” 
“I’m awaiting his wife and mother-in-law to go out of the dwelling. I don’t want to burden them, when i would think that Parker wouldn’t wish to either.” 
“What floor does he go on?” 
“The thirteenth.” 
“Which apartment?” 
“Over there.” 
He nods with a lighted window about the thirteenth floor. I can’t figure out anybody out of this distance, but I’m without doubt Batman can. He either has the magnification on inside his lenses or he’s hardly looking. That’s for ages been the weird thing about him: his capability to predict the unpredictable is uncanny. 
“I suppose you’re giving me that information just to toy with me?” 
“Why would you think that?” 
“You’ve already asserted you don’t want me involved. So, why do you ok , i'll will end up in next to you?” 
“I’m not going to.” 
“My point exactly. So, why even bother telling me?” 
“To keep you distracted.” 
“Distracted? From what?” 
“While you were watching the window I injected you using a sedative.” 
“What!” 
“I’m sorry, Dick. I don’t would like you involved.” 
Batman jumps from the building and spreads his cape. He floats away on the building and that i learn to wobble on my feet. I jump down from your ledge of the building back onto the rooftop and take a moment. My head is spinning being a damn ride in a carnival. My eyes grow heavy and close the shutters around the world. Perhaps I’ll awaken safely in Wayne Manor for a while following Batman has questioned Parker. 
 
Where the hell may be the news! I’m losing my patience! Many of these damn channels and I can’t find what I’m trying to find. Offer think you have to push the damn channel button before I find the news! Wait…! Is that…? No! Dammit! 
“Harley!” 
“Yeah, Mr. J?” 
“What channel may be the news on?” 
“GNN, Pooky!” 
GNN, eh? Well, let’s check…Dammit! That’s it! I hate it when she’s right! Makes me look like a damn idiot! She probably won’t let that go either. Each and every time she figures something out, she gets assertive and rubs it inside my damn face. 
Well, that’s fine, because if she tries getting smart beside me I’ll put a gash in their other cheek. 
“Next on GNN, the tragic story with the Church family. Stay tuned for more.” 
“Yes! Just a couple short commercials and my greatest glory is going to be plastered all around the television for your city to see!” 
Oh, I dispise commercials. I don’t care whether this lady has genital herpes and I don’t care that her husband doesn’t! I don’t wanna read about Super Fries’ new triple-patty stacker! And who the hell wants to begin to see the tampon commercials! Make contact with the damn news! Hey! There’s likely to be a special on hyenas tonight about the Animal Spot channel. Hmmm… I assume commercials aren’t all bad all things considered. Ooh! 
Good news has returned on! 
“Good morning, I’m Danny Turner. Welcome back to GNN. Today we provide you with the tragic story in the Church family. We have now go to James Hazel reporting in the Church home. James?” 
“Good morning, Danny. Yesterday had not been the night time for your Church family being a great tragedy hit this family or, more specifically, Detective Robert Church. The Gotham City Police get it on strong authority that what went down here the other day was the work in the Joker.” 
“HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! I love it!” 
"The whole Church family, with the exception of Robert, was discovered dead inside their home last night. There is no sign of Robert, but deceased are his mother, his father, his brother, his sister-in-law, his two nieces, his nephew, and, most unfortunate of most, his wife, Elizabeth. From what I’ve heard, these murders were extremely gruesome and all of the groups were within various positions and mechanisms.” 
“Mechanisms, James?” 
“That’s right, Danny. Mary Church is discovered on the ground stuck just using her two daughters who have been hanging from rope pulleys. Precisely what it had been all for, I don’t know, but it is certainly difficult to consider.” 
“What is the current progress into the case, James?” 
“Well, I spoke with Commissioner Gordon and the man said that she has formed two search parties. One of these is always to hunt for Joker as well as the other for Church. However, there is no doubt in my mind that the Batman will likely be associated with this case.” 
I throw the remote in the TV and the screen breaks. Batman! Every damn time! It always pops up to that damn flying rat! He's got absolutely nothing to do using this type of! But, if he desires to get involved, he’ll decrease equally hard as Church will. I’m not going back to Arkham, not now but not again. 
“Is everything alright, Mr. J? I heard something break.” 
“Go back to bed, Harley!” 
“S-Sorry, Mr. J.” 
“Don’t apologize, you idiot! Simply do it!” 
Jesus! Sometimes I merely wanna kill that woman! She’s lucky she’s cute. Ya know, as dumb as she acts sometimes, it’s difficult to imagine that she was once a psychiatrist. 

Ad hoc Mari committee a bad joke

We now have a continuous criminal investigation in to the Mari naval base blast on July 11th; we now have another ‘committee’ under Polys Polyviou probing information to apportion responsibility; we've already a similar probe from the House Defence Committee (no jokes please) - and now we are told that Parliament has appointed an Ad Hoc committee to “monitor the investigation process”.
I bet are going to monitoring both investigations very closely: in particular those members with the committee who also serve or served on the House Defence Committee whenever following the Monchegorsk’s cargo was confiscated in 2009.
It seems to me quite extraordinary which our MPs have seen fit to appoint to the present committee none other than the current and previous chairmen of your home Defence Committee, as well as two members of the previous Defence Committee as ‘reserve’ members! These, surely, as members of the Defence Committee back then, would be the MPs who were comfortable with the decisions being taken regarding the confiscated munitions - yet they didn't do anything.
Their role in the whole affair, one could hope, can also be susceptible to investigation, but I’m quite sure no-one would desire suggesting a conflict of interests.