News below the fold

Removing the mote, ignoring the plank story of the day:

PNP raids gaming store selling 'pirated' software 

So if you want to buy pirated software, just go to the vendors in the Palenke, who have first run US movies the week before they are shown in Manila...
 They will arrest teenagers for downloading BlackEyedPeas in the US, but the dirty little secret is that most software, movies and music here in Asia are pirated...

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The trouble with "green" energy:

Earthquake threatens dam

lack of rain during the dry season means less power.

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Not good news: Why the next war is Mali.

and if you like Mali, wait til it hits oil rich Nigeria

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Why you can't vote on line in the US: Hackers. 

In 2010, the District of Columbia tested online voting and asked computer experts to try to hack the system. The result? You guessed it: The hackers were successful and the program was suspended.

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Uh Oh: The rich Chinese are moving their money abroad:

Two ways of looking at this:

1. When locals move cash, it's because they fear a crash, and who knows the local situation better?
2. The rich fear for their wealth in China.  They know they've amassed "too much" and/or they know the Party won't do what is necessary to protect it with rule of law (see, Bo Xilai).

Either way, not a good sign.

on the other hand, China has started pumping oil in Afghanistan...

the problem: Afghan Corruption, the same thing that stops the mineral wealth from being mined and exported.

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The Muslim fashion magazine that outsells Vogue.

Of course, you can only wear Vogue fashions if you are anorexic and young.
One of these days they will notice the India and Iranian fashion designers who design attractive but modest clothing.

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The National Guard are coming: To Staten Island...

Members of the Georgia Army National Guard prepare their CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopter for a flight from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. to Staten Island, N.Y. at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Nov. 3, 2012. The helicopter crew is supporting members of the National Search and Rescue Task Force, which will conduct house-to-house searches in Staten Island, N.Y. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Parker Gyokere

Also helping out: The PAANG from nearby Pennsylvania

The Army Times reported more than 11,000 National Guard troops have been deployed to the Northeast for recovery efforts.

More HERE.

National Guard support to states, local first responders and the Federal Emergency Management Agency includes providing communications; shelter and engineering support; evacuation and security support; high-water vehicle support; high-water search and rescue; power generation; food distribution; debris removal, transportation and delivery of essential equipment and supplies.

National Guard Civil Support Teams are on stand-by for hazardous materials responses and providing Joint Incident Site Communications Capability. JISCC provides a communications bridge between first responders and other local, state and federal agencies.

The National Guard is tasked with support type jobs, and are usually called up to help in disasters, and theoretically are under the orders of the governors, whereas the regular military need special permission to be deployed in civilian areas...

So thank you, we know you are there (even if your work rarely get noticed by the press)...
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Unlike the generators, water, and food supplies from the now delayed NYMarathon, which are sitting unused in the parks, the folks from Victoria's Secret were eager to help:

The lingerie company is scheduled to hold a fashion show at the guard’s Manhattan armory on Wednesday, and that turned out to be great timing when Hurricane Sandy hit last week. When the armory was left without power or communications post-storm, Victoria’s Secret threw all their on-site resources at the problem. They loaned the regiment two huge mobile generators, hooked up their T1 microwave Internet connection, and even loaned a forklift to distribute emergency food bundles for flooded-out New Yorkers. Victoria’s Secret deserve a medal. But there’s almost nowhere we could pin it on. [Source]

The bad news? The show was rescheduled and the show must go on, even if it means kicking out the NG...
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William Shatner: There's an app for him.