Wednesday, July 09, 2014

The deposition of carbon dioxide into the oceans has come with a price.

Ocean Acidification: The Other Carbon Dioxide Problem (click here)

Economically, (click here) ocean acidification poses a threat to the health and prosperity of the 
$100 million a year shellfish industry, with additional indirect losses to the finfish 
industry because of declines in fish prey species.

NOAA OCEAN ACIDIFICATION PROGRAM (click here)


Ocean acidification is occurring because the world’s oceans are absorbing increasing amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide, leading to lower pH and greater acidity. This is literally causing a sea change and threatening the fundamental chemical balance of ocean and coastal waters from pole to pole
Ocean acidification refers to a reduction in the pH of the ocean over an extended period, typically decades or longer, which is caused primarily by uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but can also be caused by other chemical additions or subtractions from the ocean.  Anthropogenic ocean acidification refers to the component of pH reduction that is caused by human activity.(IPCC: Workshop on Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Marine Biology and Ecosystems).  Over the last 250 years, the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has increased from 280 parts per million to over 394 parts per million due to the burning of fossil fuels (e.g., coal, gas, oil) and land use change (for instance, conversion of natural forest into crop production). Ocean acidification has potentially devastating ramifications for all ocean life; from the smallest, single celled algae to the largest whales....

Liftoff of OCO-2

July 2, 2014

On the foggy (click here) morning of July 2, 2014, a Delta II rocket carrying NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) roared off the launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The landmark satellite will survey carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere and is expected to provide insight into how the planet is responding to the increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
While sensors on the ground have monitored carbon dioxide for decades, key questions about how carbon cycles between Earth’s atmosphere, ocean, and land surfaces persist. For instance, it isn’t well understood how a significant portion of carbon dioxide emissions get recycled to other parts of the planet rather than remaining in the atmosphere.
“Half of the carbon dioxide we’re dumping into the atmosphere every year is disappearing somewhere,” explained OCO-2 project scientist David Crisp during a press conference prior to the launch. “We know from measurements that about a quarter of it is dissolving into the ocean, and we assume that the other quarter is going into the land biosphere somewhere—into forests, into trees, into grasslands—but we don't know where. It is absolutely critical that we learn what processes are absorbing carbon dioxide because we need to understand how much longer they might continue to do us that great favor.”...
So long as US House Speaker Boehner continues to allow the Hastert Rule to override the USA Constitution, the country will never solve it's problems.
Judge Clay Jenkins of Dallas County is a decent man. He is young. He is very committed to doing the right thing. I hope he goes further in Texas leadership.

I sincerely believe he is the only voice that can speak for the children now in distress coming from other Central American countries.

It is very difficult in this world today to find even one person to put aside power grabs while completely understanding the problems facing us and willing to speak the truth. He is a welcome and refreshing voice.

This country is grateful for his kindness.

Congress has to work together and with the President to solve 'the problem.'

It is okay for the President to act alone when it is a Republican Governor demanding it, but, not when the President finds it necessary to solve problems when there is no cooperation within Congress.

The Republicans have turned a serious problem into a political circus and they like it that way. I was looking at a poll whereby USA citizens were asked on how the border is being run and the President's roll. The people most satisfied with the border as it was were Republicans. There were 6 percent that approved of the way the President was handling the border problems. The next the least happy were Independents which ran about 25% approval and the most happy were Democrats at about 60%.


Gallup (click here)

That explains it all. The Republicans won't change a thing because Independents will swing toward them in their elections, the Republican voters won't change and they might even get disgruntled Democrats to come their way. There won't be any compromise, it is to close to November.

National Guard troops won't make any difference except add personnel to escort children to detention centers. National Guards won't add judges, lawyers, courts or increase processing time. Positioning Border Patrol north, south, east or west isn't going to change a thing because the children aren't intimidated by the presence of the guards. They welcome the view of the officers.

There was comment made on a radio program last week stating they liked the political deadlock just fine because the government could not mess anything up.

It is far to dangerous to expect the President to pay a visit to the Rio Grand Valley. The Secret Service would be challenged to insure his safety.

I think Sarah has something there John. I think her PAC should immediately hire Ken Starr and start the entire mess if the Speaker can't seem to put his pants on over it.

Posted on Wednesday, 07.09.14
...Boehner, R-Ohio, (click here) said he disagrees with former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin that Obama should be impeached over the surge of immigrants crossing the U.S. border illegally.
When asked by reporters Wednesday about Palin’s assertion, Boehner twice said ‘I disagree.’
Boehner has threatened to sue Obama for what he considers overreach of the president’s use of his executive authority in order to bypass Congress’ role in running the government.
Boehner has said that his potential lawsuit would not be a prelude to impeaching the president. Some political analysts see Boehner’s legal action as a way of staving off impeachment....

It is an interesting time line with Israel firing the first shot.

May 15, 2014
Video released (click here) via the human rights organisation Defence for Children International (DCI) shows two Palestinian teenagers being killed during a protest in Beitunia. DCI has accused Israeli troops of unlawful killing as it claims the video shows neither boy posed an immediate danger. The Israeli military has launched two investigations into the allegations.

We know the two Palestinian teens killed by IDF were demonstrating. We still don't know what the three Israeli teens were doing.

July 1, 2014
TUESDAY  (click here)

10:20 P.M. The United States confirmed on Tuesday it has strong evidence that Hamas is culpable, if not directly responsible, for the kidnapping and killing of three Israeli youths.

8:41 P.M. Following the funeral of the three slain teenagers, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu warned the perpetrators of their kidnapping and murder and stressed that Israel would expand its operation against Hamas "as far as need be."


The USA implicates Hamas without a second thought, but, never once implicated the IDF in the first two killings. Then the third Palestinian teen is killed.

July 7, 2014 (click here)
Three Israelis accused of kidnapping and burning to death a Palestinian teenager have reportedly confessed and re-enacted the murder for the authorities.

Then there was the offensive against Hamas because Israel states there is an escalation in hostilities.

9 hours ago (click here)

Palestinian militants have fired more rockets at Israeli cities after Israel carried out dozens of overnight air strikes on the Gaza Strip.
Israel said it had intercepted eight rockets over Tel Aviv, Ashkelon and Ashdod on Wednesday morning.
The health ministry in Gaza says at least 25 Palestinians have been killed and 70 hurt in the recent hostilities.
Footage showed buildings being blown up and Israeli Defence Force cockpit video of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.
Yolande Knell reports from Gaza....
Where is this going to end? It will end with the retaking of Gaza by Israel and Israel knew it from the day it started this.

The Republicans are not going to make this go away. This has been a problem that simply not visited the USA before,

Refugees and internally displaced persons: (click here) ongoing drug cartel and gang violence) (2011)

Illicit drugs: major transit country for cocaine and heroin; in 2005, cultivated 100 hectares of opium poppy after reemerging as a potential source of opium in 2004; potential production of less than 1 metric ton of pure heroin; marijuana cultivation for mostly domestic consumption; proximity to Mexico makes Guatemala a major staging area for drugs (particularly for cocaine); money laundering is a serious problem; corruption is a major problem

Spanish (official) 60%, Amerindian languages 40%
note: there are 23 officially recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca

It is an impoverished country. What do we know about impoverishment and population?

There is a population of nearly 15 million of which a full 36 percent are ages 0-14.

This is a problem that will not go away. The reason it is so stark at this point is because the USA has never had such a dramatic example of the migration out of Guatemala before. These young children are leaving because they have no means of staying with any degree of safety in their lives. 

The USA knows a great deal about the drug trade in most parts of the world. Unfortunately, Guatemala is directly in the transportation route of the only land route connecting SA to NA.

The USA under President Obama has been doing it's level best to end the crisis.

These are Marines. They are deployed when the terrain and conditions are difficult and raw. There has not been an aspect to this crisis the USA hasn't tried to end for the people of Guatemala as well as the USA.

August 30, 2014

Staff Sgt. Travis A. Jakovcic, a UH-1N Huey crew member with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 467 (HMLA-467) looks back at another aircrew during takeoff at the Guatemalan Air Force Base at Retalhuleu, Guatemala, Aug. 22, 2012.  AP/U.S. MARINE CORPS

..."This is the first Marine (click here) deployment that directly supports countering transnational crime in this area, and it's certainly the largest footprint we've had in that area in quite some time," said Marine Staff Sgt. Earnest Barnes at the U.S. Southern Command in Miami....

The Marines aren't necessarily there alone. There are US agencies in multiple places throughout the area to bring intelligence to the fighting force. This is difficult. If the drug cartels loose these routes they lose their money. They are vicious, guerrilla and very difficult to deal with even politically. It has been quite a task. At least these 50 thousand children are safe.

Currently, the American government are trying to educate the people of these countries to the dangers they face in leaving. It hopefully will have an impact and they will find a way to be strong and find the will to stand against the dangers surrounding their lives. 

The Republicans need to stop complaining for political pandering and do the right thing and pass the bill for this humanitarian emergency. No Republican can state the President has done nothing to prevent this crisis. He has done everything humanly possible within his purview. Enough already.

The President is asking for $3.7 billion US to move the process of our southern border along.


In the dusty, (click here) hot land between Yuma, Arizona and Calexico, California, the U.S. Border Patrol faces regular attempts by Mexican drug smugglers trying to enter the land of the free quite illegally. To make matters worse, the ever-changing sandy landscape makes it difficult for even the most watchful guard to say where the border actually lies, especially when fences are constantly being buried by dunes. But there is hope now with the installation of a state-of-the-art, 15-ft-high, seven-mile-long fence that simply floats on top of the sand. Like a serpent lying in wait to pounce on an unsuspecting prey, this impressive barricade also yields dire consequences for anyone who dares to cross its path.

Some members of Congress are disgruntled there is not free and unfettered access to the CONTAINMENT facilities, the medical staff and children. 

This is a national security issue. The people are scared and to put US Congressmen in the middle of a containment facility as if they personally own the place is stupid.

These children are traumatized enough. They don't have to live with more and more questions from strangers. They have no idea what America is all about and yet they are suppose to be able to relate to US Congressmen.

The reason President Obama is asking for $3.5 billion is to increase the staff size and increase efficiency. The current staff, including the Border Patrol, is maxed out. They don't have time for a US Congressmen to answer questions when a simple e-mail can do the same thing.

Those children have to remain secure as well as the American public. There are many reasons for that, but, I would expect a US Congressman to know those reasons. If he can't get his constituency to understand he is doing everything he is doing to understand the circumstances, then he isn't doing his job.

I had thought it would be a good idea for President Obama to make a visit. I said that once. Just one time. It isn't going to happen for whatever reason it isn't going to happen. I don't need an explanation from the White House as to why President Obama isn't standing the southern border and looking at the horizon or why he isn't walking among the children at the detention facilities or braving the protesters in order to make a visit to a processing facility. I suppose the man is resolved to get the job done as he has asked for more money. I suppose he is satisfied from the reports and information provided him through his cabinet secretary.

That is all I need to know. He doesn't have to do anything I think is important if it is dangerous and simply a waste of taxpayer dollars. It is called trust. And right now that is something children refugees have little of. They need to be left alone.

"For one thing, (click here) there is a Border Patrol agent -- I should say 15 Border Patrol agents per mile from El Paso to California. In Texas, that number is seven Border Patrol agents totally per mile. So the idea that there's equity and there's enough Border Patrol agents is totally and absolutely incorrect."

The picture to the left is Texas. There are 5260 feet in a mile. That means along the California Border there are guards every 352 feet. In Texas that interprets into an agent at least every 754 feet. The terrain along those borders is very different. That is why the fence was believed to help. In some areas is does and in some areas it doesn't. 


Gee can’t imagine why our borders are so secure…..
Check it out: (click here)
Residents of McAllen, Texas, which is on the Mexican border, are the least likely in the United States to feel safe walking alone at night, according to new Gallup poll. Less than half, 48.5%, of McAllen residents told Gallup they would “feel safe.”
In addition, the survey shows that five of the 12 cities where people were least likely to feel safe walking alone at night are in California.
In its survey, Gallup asked, “Do you feel safe walking alone at night in the city or area where you live?” For the residents of McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas, only 48.5% said yes.