Thursday, March 26, 2009

Rough weather for North America tonight. Hawaii is receiving a turbulent front.


High Surf Advisory
Small Craft Advisory


March 27, 2009 (6 hour color loop from NOAA - wicked lookin' stuff)
0030z

Small Craft Advisory
Tonight: E wind around 18 kt, with gusts as high as 25 kt.
Isolated showers before midnight.
NW swell 6 feet at 13 seconds.
Waves around 8 ft.

Friday: ENE wind around 18 kt, with gusts as high as 25 kt.
Mostly sunny.
NW swell 5 feet at 13 seconds.
Waves around 8 ft.

Friday Night: ENE wind around 18 kt, with gusts as high as 25 kt.
Mostly cloudy.
NW swell 4 feet at 12 seconds.
Waves around 7 ft.


March 26, 2009
Kansas Doppler Radar Map
2352z

Posted on Thu, Mar. 26, 2009
Blizzard warnings issued for much of Kansas (click here)
BY STAN FINGER
The Wichita Eagle

WICHITA - The winter storm bearing down on Kansas could deliver a foot or more of snow to the Wichita area and as much as 20 inches in western sectors of the state, forecasters say.
Snowfall estimates for Wichita by the time the storm ends Saturday vary from 6 to 15 inches, with strong north winds creating blizzard conditions.
A blizzard warning has been issued for south-central Kansas, including Wichita, from 7 a.m Friday to 1 p.m. Saturday. A blizzard warning for southwest Kansas began at 1 a.m. today and will extend until 7 a.m. Saturday.
Several schools in western Kansas have already canceled classes for Friday, including Dodge City, Liberal, Moscow, Quinter, Fowler, Colby and Wallace County.
Some schools in the region also let classes out early today.
"This could rival the biggest snow we've ever had in Wichita," said Mike Smith, chief executive of WeatherData Services Inc., a subsidiary of AccuWeather.
The record snowfall for Wichita is 15 inches on Jan. 17 and 18 in 1962....



Weather service says 10 tornadoes in Neb., Iowa (click here)
Associated Press - March 26, 2009 4:45 PM ET
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - The National Weather Service has confirmed 10 tornadoes touched down when a fast-moving storm moved through eastern Nebraska and into Iowa.
In Nebraska, the weather service says, 2 of the tornadoes hit near Hickman in Lancaster County on Monday. Two hit near Eagle - resulting in eight minor injuries - and one near Alvo in Cass County.
Two more tornadoes touched down in north-central Nebraska, near Brownlee and O'Neill. They did little damage.
In Iowa, a tornado was confirmed west of Missouri Valley in Harrison County, and two more were in Montgomery County, near Villisca and Sciola.
The weather service says the tornadoes ranged from EF0 to EF2 on the 1 to 5 Enhanced Fujita scale of intensity.
On the Net:
National Weather Service:
http://www.noaa.gov/

March 27, 2009
0030z

UNISYS Infrared Satellite of North and West Hemisphere (12 hour loop at title to entry - thank you)

Russia hopes to boost international effectiveness in Afghanistan - I never thought we'd be allies again.

We can stop al Qaeda. A global effort should build friendship and cooperation in achieving non-proliferation and a movement toward openness and peace. There is no reason for civilized people to treat each other as strangers and especially not enemies.

Insurgents kill 9 police in southern Afghanistan (click here)
By FISNIK ABRASHI – 15 hours ago
KABUL (AP) — Insurgents staged two attacks against police in Afghanistan on Thursday, killing nine officers and wounding six others, officials said, in the latest violence against the lightly armed force that has born the brunt of rising attacks across the country.
Washington has pushed to significantly increase the number of Afghan police and improve their training as a key part of a revised U.S. strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan that President Barack Obama is expected to unveil fully on Friday.
The strategy is aimed at countering Taliban militants, who have made a comeback following their initial defeat by U.S.-led forces in 2001. Obama has already pledged to send 17,000 additional troops to Afghanistan to battle the Taliban and could send even more as part of the administration's new strategy....



The body of a suspected Taliban militant lies lifeless on the back of a police vehicle with his heavy machine gun after he was killed in a battle with the Afghan forces on the outskirts of Ghazni province west of Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, March 26, 2009. Taliban militants attacked a police convoy in central Ghazni province Thursday, wounding six policemen, said regional police spokesman Iqbal Gul Sapan. Four militants were also killed in the clash in Nani village near the provincial capital, he said.(AP Photo/Rahmat Naikzad)





Everyone paying attention? Whenever Russia and the USA allied to win 'a peace' they have never failed !!!!!

Thank you !!!!! This is one good way to hit the reset button. I hope this dispells any ill intent by Russia ever again !!!!

17:27
26/ 03/ 2009

MOSCOW, March 26 (RIA Novosti) - Russia hopes to increase international effectiveness in assisting the Afghan government in the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.
Speaking ahead of Friday's Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) conference on Afghanistan, Lavrov said there must be "more coordination" on combating terrorism and drug trafficking.
Russia's proposals "are directed, first of all, at increasing the efficiency of international cooperation in the work of supporting the efforts of the government of Afghanistan in the struggle against the threat of terrorism and illegal drugs," Lavrov said....




February 2001: "It has been decided to break down all statues/idols present in different parts of the country. This is because these idols have been gods of the infidels, who worshipped them, and these are respected even now and perhaps may be turned into gods again. The real God is only Allah, and all other false gods should be removed." - Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar


Taliban leader plans to reclaim Afghanistan, U.S. says (click here)
Mullah Mohammed Omar has reassembled his power base, U.S. officials say as they outline strategy in Afghanistan. Thousands of additional U.S. troops will be sent to train Afghan forces.
By Greg Miller and Julian E. Barnes

4:14 PM PDT, March 26, 2009
Reporting from Washington -- Afghanistan's former Taliban leader is pursuing a strategy to reclaim power, the top U.S. intelligence official said today, identifying a key administration concern as the White House prepared to unveil a new plan to step up combat operations and stabilization efforts.
The Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar, was driven from power by the U.S. invasion in 2001 but has reassembled much of his base in Pakistan, where he leads a council of Islamic hard-liners accused of directing insurgent attacks across the border in Afghanistan....


NATO confirms first high-level meeting with Iran on Afghanistan (click here)
www.chinaview.cn
2009-03-27 02:52:39
BRUSSELS, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Iran and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) held their first secret and informal talks in 30 years in Brussels where NATO is headquartered, focusing on Afghanistan, the alliance confirmed here Thursday.
The meeting took place on March 9 between NATO's Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy Martin Erdmann and Iran's Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union, Ali-Asghar Khaji, NATO deputy spokeswoman Carmen Romero told Xinhua.
"It was a very informal contact and they basically discussed Afghanistan," she added. "You know the secretary-general (Jaap de Hoop Scheffer) has said recently that Iran should be involved in a regional approach in regard of Afghanistan."...



American Galbraith is UN deputy Afghanistan envoy (click here)
Wed Mar 25, 2009 2:47pm EDT
* Galbraith to handle political issues in Afghanistan

* U.N. denies tensions with U.S. over envoy Eide
* Had assisted Holbrooke in past (Adds quotes, details, background; byline)
By Patrick Worsnip
UNITED NATIONS, March 25 (Reuters) - The United Nations namedU.S. diplomat and academic Peter Galbraith on Wednesday to be deputy envoy to Afghanistan to assist Richard Holbrooke, U.S. point-man for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Galbraith, 58, a former U.S. ambassador to Croatia, succeeds Christopher Alexander of Canada as political deputy to U.N. special envoy Kai Eide. Alexander completes his assignment at the end of March, U.N. spokeswoman Michele Montas said. Another deputy deals with humanitarian and development issues.
Montas said Galbraith would handle electoral, parliamentary and other political issues in the conflict-ridden nation where presidential elections are due in August, as well as peace and stability, security sector reform and human rights....


Sources: Obama to add US troops in Afghanistan (click here)
By ANNE GEARAN and PAMELA HESS – 2 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Concerned about the faltering war in Afghanistan, President Barack Obama plans to dispatch thousands more military and civilian trainers on top of the 17,000 fresh combat troops he's already ordered, people familiar with the forthcoming plan said Thursday.
Obama also will call for increasing aid to neighboring Pakistan as long as its leaders confront militants in the border region. The president plans to lay out his revamped strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan on Friday.
Several sources told The Associated Press the strategy includes 20 recommendations for countering a persistent insurgency that spans the two countries' border, including sending 4,000 military trainers to try to increase the size of the Afghan army....



Rudd Tells Obama Australian Forces in Afghanistan for Long Haul (click here)
By Michael Heath
March 26 (Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Kevin Rudd pledged Australian troops will remain in Afghanistan “for the long haul,” even as more than two-thirds of voters said in a poll this week they were against sending more soldiers there.
Rudd, visiting Washington, held his first meeting with President
Barack Obama two days ago. The U.S. leader had been expected to ask one of his country’s closest allies to expand its 1,100-strong force in Afghanistan.
Asked on the PBS television show “NewsHour with
Jim Lehrer” whether Obama made the request, Rudd said: “No he did not,” according to an audio file. “Our discussion was about the American thinking as it’s unfolding through America’s own review of its long-term strategy.”
Rudd withdrew Australian combat troops from Iraq last year and, like Obama, has said Afghanistan is the front line in the international campaign against terrorism. He acknowledged in the interview that the war in Afghanistan is “increasingly unpopular” both in Australia and elsewhere.
“But the bottom line is this: It’s the right place to be,” he said....

Evidence of Large Cats in Europe


The tracks are 5 inches long and the space between each is 3ft

10:40 26/03/2009
Killer cat roams Poland (click for video)
Residents in south western Poland are living in fear of a mysterious predator blamed for attacking and killing livestock over the past few days. The animal is thought to be a rare snow leopard. (89 sec./3.31Mb, shows: 151)



Big cat?: The massive paw prints in the fresh snow has reignited fears that big cats roam the British countryside

Do huge paw prints found in snow provide evidence of big cats roaming the British countryside? (click title to entry - thank you)
By
Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 11:58 PM on 06th February 2009
Monster paw prints were found in fresh snow sparking fears predatory big cats are prowling the British countryside.
The mammoth tracks were five inches long and the space between each was 3ft - far too large for any domestic cat or dog.
They were spotted in pristine snow in the heart of the isolated Lincolnshire Wolds....

One small victory for freedom.


Rosemary DePaolo, Chancellor of UNCW

ADMONISHED for impingment of Faculty Rights to Academic Content

UNCW faculty inspired to pass motion over The Century Project controversy (click title to entry - thank you)
Autumn Beam & Jennie Klahre
Issue date: 3/26/09
UNCW Faculty Senate passed Motion 09-07-20 March 17, 2009, regarding The Century Project that read, "In the spirit of intellectual and educational freedom, the Faculty Senate admonishes the UNCW administration for not consulting with the Women's Resource Center, Faculty Senate Steering Committee and other interested parties before asking photographer Frank Cordelle to remove pictures of minors from his exhibit at UNCW."
The meeting was open to discussion by faculty and staff members who had strong opinions about the issue, sparking debate at the end of the forum.
President of the Faculty Senate Bruce McKinney said, "Freedom of speech is something that goes to my heart but anytime you're told you can't speak out on a topic, then there's a problem."
Janet Ellerby, Interim Director of the Women's Resource Center, read several points from a timeline of events surrounding The Century Project. She first exchanged e-mails with photographer Frank Cordelle Sept. 30, 2008, and the contract was signed within the next few months for his project to appear at UNCW.
Professor John Foubert of Oklahoma State University issued his letter to UNCW administration Feb. 16, 2009, imploring them to reconsider showing the exhibit. The Women's Resource Center Advisory Board meeting took place two days later, but according to Ellerby, the letter was not mentioned by Jose Hernandez, Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, when The Century Project was discussed.
UNCW administration decided to ban the display of the photos of minors in the project shortly after. Ellerby claims she was issued an ultimatum, but encouraged Cordelle to show his exhibit regardless.
When asked who was consulted in the decision, Provost Brian Chapman stated the parties included him, Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo, Chief of Staff Max Allen, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Pat Leonard, General Counsel Eileen Goldgeier and Assistant to the Chancellor for Marking and Communications Cindy Lawson.
According to Chapman, the concept of banning the photos in question began before the letter from Foubert was received. He explained that the issue was not one of pornography, but of "informed consent" of minors.
"We have to look at the impact of the university in the community and state," Chapman said. "I received a number of e-mails in support of our decision.
"Dr. Kathleen Berkley, Associate Dean of College of Arts and Sciences, replied to Chapman, "If this was such a concern for you, other members of UNCW should have been consulted."
"There was no consultation with the Women's Resource Center or experts in the art department and what constitutes as art or historians who work on this issue," said Dr. Vibeke Olson, Assistant Professor of the Art & Art History Department.
Pamela Evers, Associate Professor of Accountancy and Business Law, added, "We cannot run a university if intellectual content on campus is decided by two or three people in Alderman Hall."
Other opinions about the subject circulated and generated much discussion.
"The new issue for faculty is academic freedom," Ellerby said. "This all feels like a top down control of what we as faculty can and cannot say."
"The faculty has every right to express their views and I respect the decision of the Faculty Senate," Allen said. "We disagree on what happened, but we have wonderful faculty and respect their viewpoints greatly."
"What I hope is that the administration will consult with faculty in the future. What I believe will happen is absolutely nothing."

North Korea should not be conducting any missile launch with UN Observers.


This undated black-and-white handout image (click title to entry - thank you) provided by DigitalGlobe shows a aerial view of a North Korean rocket launch site. North Korea is loading a Taepodong rocket on its east coast launch pad in anticipation of the launch of a communications satellite early next month, U.S. officials say. (AP Photo/DigitalGlobe)

And Observers that are ON THE GROUND !!!

Uncertainty Surrounds North Korea Launch (click here)

Mar 20, 2009
By John M. Doyle

Three top U.S. commanders told a Senate hearing March 19 that they can't be sure whether North Korea plans to launch a communications satellite or test an offensive missile during an announced missile launch next month.
But the heads of Pacific Command, Strategic Command (STRATCOM) and Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command said they believed the U.S. already has the capability to knock out an attacking North Korean missile....

Timothy is a nice guy and he has brought significant insight to this catastrophe...

...and given some time he will probably be able to answer the questions that elude Mr. Bernanke; however; Secretary Geithner needs to realize when he blinks the financial markets react. He needs to leave 'spectulation' to other venues, like perhaps 'Pillow Talk' and quite possibly not speculate at all to any 'new ideas' regarding a change in direction to currency or policy. NOT NOW !!!!


Treasury secretary Timothy Geithner talks to Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke before testifying about the AIG bonus scandal. Photograph: Matthew Cavanaugh/EPA (click title to entry - thank you)

This is no joke, I am concerned North Dakota won't be getting a break soon. (12 hour water vapor look at title - thank you)


March 26, 2009
0730z
UNISYS Hemispheric Water Vapor of North and East Hemisphere (click here for 12 hour loop)

There is a 'contributing' 'heat transfer system' currently noted just west of the Hawaiian Islands. It is gigantic and it what is responsible for bringing water vapor to the northern tier of states of the USA. It would be more than prudent to remain vigilant and anticipate more rain, flooding and reason for people to be in shelters rather than ANY chance of drowning.


March 25, 2009
0730z
UNISYS GOES East Water Vapor Satellite (loop at title to entry - thank you)

That monster of a vortex is still churning off the east coast of the USA, gaining velocity and mass. But, that doesn't help estimate how Fargo will do. It would seem as though the densest water vapor system is moving toward the coast pulled by the vortex. However, there is another vortex centered over Lake Winnepeg. This is the first time I have witnessed this system with a huge primary vortex off the coast and subsequent vortices over land. It is quite a mess. Of concern is noted in the hemispheric satellite above.

Fargo sandbags for the worst (click here)
Red River expected to top 1897 record
March 26, 2009
FARGO - Shifting from confident to jittery, flood fighters in and around Fargo intensified their dike-building Wednesday after a dire new forecast called for the Red River to swell to its highest level ever by Saturday.
Authorities used airboats, helicopters and large military trucks to rescue dozens of trapped residents in the North Dakota towns of Oxbow and Abercombie. And if the rising river weren't enough to heighten anxiety, eight inches of snow blew in with ice and wind to handicap sandbagging efforts and close highways not already swamped with floodwater.
"It's uncharted territory," Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker said. "If nature has anything else to throw at us, it'd have to be a tornado."...