Monday, September 18, 2017

What does indictment do?

The Former Director of the FBI would find it necessary to alert people they were going to be under indictment, primarily to prevent anyone from leaving the country.

Indictments mean bail will be set, passports confiscated and people ordered to remain in the country.

I found it strange that Paul Manafort sent a spokesperson to the grand jury. I am sure Robert Mueller found it odd as well.

Special Council Mueller knows this is about the country. People with means and power acted counter to the best interest of the USA. It is a big deal. It is our country.

What his name? The general that went to Putin to finance his anticipated billionaire status? Oh, heck. Oh, Michael Flynn. He is opening up a fundraiser for his defense. Really? Who is going to donate to a person basically viewed as a traitor? People he could blackmail, maybe. But, seriously, who is going to donate to the wannabee billionaire Flynn? 

I think this is a very strange group of folks and it has been strange. The players are not mainstream with this administration. I think Robert Mueller is doing the right thing and he is doing it well.

Republicans are desperate to impress President Trump he has allies in Congress. Sick. Politics.

This isn't about the country or the American people and I am quite confident there is not bipartisanship. 

September 18, 2017
By Jacob Leibenluft, Edwin Park, Matt Broaddus and Aviva Aron-Dine

In releasing a revised version (click here) of their legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Senators Bill Cassidy and Lindsey Graham, along with co-sponsors Dean Heller and Ron Johnson, claimed that their bill isn’t a “partisan” approach and doesn’t include “draconian cuts.” In reality, however, the Cassidy-Graham bill would have the same harmful consequences as those prior bills. It would cause many millions of people to lose coverage, radically restructure and deeply cut Medicaid, eliminate or weaken protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and increase out-of-pocket costs for individual market consumers....

The Senate Republicans are throwing Senior Citizens overboard.

- Eliminate the ACA’s marketplace subsidies and enhanced matching rate for the Medicaid expansion and replace them with an inadequate block grant....

There are a lot of Senior Citizens that have Medicaid as a primary or secondary insurance. 

Convert Medicaid’s current federal-state financial partnership to a per capita cap, which would cap and cut federal Medicaid per-beneficiary funding for seniors, people with disabilities, and families with children.

Medicaid (click here) provides health coverage to more than 4.6 million low-income seniors, nearly all of whom are also enrolled in Medicare. '

Medicaid assists with quality of life problems as well as helps to pay medical bills. Medicaid assists with the cost of dental costs, medications, eyeglasses and hearing aids. Senior citizens will lose their support for the services they need. The disabled with have all their previous problems back with this Senate bill. 

Medicaid also provides coverage to 3.7 million people with disabilities who are enrolled in Medicare. In total, 8.3 million people are "dually eligible" and enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare, composing more than 17% of all Medicaid enrollees. Individuals who are enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare, by federal statute, can be covered for both optional and mandatory categories.

Medicaid doesn't provide designer frames or dazzling dental implants. It provides basic care with annual check-ups and basic care. The eyeglasses are well made and are sturdy. The dental care provides for filling teeth or extraction and dentures when necessary. It is all basic care. It is necessary. Eyesight and hearing are quality of life issues and issues of safety. Dental care is vital for better general health. 

Senior citizens and the disabled don't have the luxury of returning to work or seeking better investments. These are the folks that worked hard for a living. They should be ASSURED their care without this roller coaster ride by the USA Congress.

The country needs to end this assault on the working poor, disabled and elderly. Enough already.

People will die. Don't be responsible for it. End the assault of the US Senate on the most vulnerable in our country.

This new assault by the US Senate on the most vulnerable Americans won't have an assessment by the Congressional Budget Office. That is corruption. End it.
I am not surprised Paul Manafort was wiretapped by the FBI before or after the election.

Congratulations to Erin Burnett for landing the exclusive report.

Paul Manafort is a wealthy man. He was involved with Ukraine while Viktor Yanukovich was President of the country. It was known Yanukovich was in President Putin's pocket. Putin would make regular visits to Crimea before the annexation was supposedly a legitimate vote.

But, this isn't about Putin exactly. It is about Paul Manafort. He went from a wealthy businessman involved with Ukraine, one has to assume with the oligarchs, to a campaign chairman for another wealthy man running for President of the USA. I don't think the involvement by Russia was for any other reason, but, to end NATO and reclaim former Soviet states.

Russia has just conducted military maneuvers near NATO's border with Lithuania. There will be Russian soldiers left behind. That isn't evident already? Russia states there are only a few thousand soldiers involved because the other tens of thousands are already being housed by oligarchs within the region. It is foolish to believe anything differently. Putin isn't at the United Nations. I think that says it all.

August 1, 2017
By Katelyn Newman

Tensions are growing (click here) in Eastern Europe as Russia's long-planned military exercise with Belarus shows off the strength of the Soviet state's military relative to its NATO counterparts, mirroring Cold War intimidation tactics.

The military maneuvers known as Zapad, Russian for "west," are expected to take place from Sept. 14 to Sept. 20 in Belarus, the Baltic Sea, western Russia and Russia's enclave Kaliningrad, all of which surround three critical NATO allies – Poland, Latvia and Lithuania....


To say there are tensions between Russia and Europe is an understatement. The date was in 2012, but, the implications are long lasting.


1 May 2012
By Siarhei Bohdan


On Monday, (click here) Switzerland joined the EU sanctions against Belarusian citizens and firms believed to support dictatorship. Most of these firms belong to Vladimir Peftiev. Belarusian and international media often portray him as having a significant role in the regime. That prompted the EU to punish him and some other businessmen for their support of Lukashenka. However, the significance and influence of the so called Belarusian "oligarchs" should not be exaggerated.
While in Russia and Ukraine oligarchs form a clique of business moguls which could seriously influence the government, Belarusian "oligarchs" are much poorer and have hardly any clout in national politics. In reality they are just replaceable managers rather than stakeholders of the Belarusian regime.
The Belarusian ruler brings them to the top, then puts in prisons, forgives them and uses them again as he deems proper. Their function is to run profitable firms and take care of whatever the regime permits them to do....

The map above reveals the issues countries face with Russia. The Port of St. Petersburg is a Russian port. There have been military ships that sail through this region of NATO. 

Kaliningrad is another Russian port (picture to the right).

There is another Russia Port, Primorsk in Leningrad Oblast. The Oblast surrounds the west end of the Baltic Sea where Russian land exists.

I think that does it.

The military games in Belarus is about Ukraine. It is too obvious. There is no reason to think differently.

According to the address to the UN by Iran; it isn't they that are out of compliance. It is the USA that is out of compliance.

The agreement between Iran and the parties involved was passed into law by the USA Congress on September 10, 2015 (click here).

The Iran nuclear deal is law. Any violation by the USA of that agreement can be litigated in courts that have jurisdiction.

President Trump can huff and puff all he wants, but, they are empty words. THE LAW that has come out of the Iran nuclear deal is binding. 

Is there any wonder why North Korea is not interested in de-nuclearization when this is the example the USA sets in international venues. The USA under Trump is refusing to honor the nuclear deal with Iran and that is what is causing greater problems.

Trump MUST honor the law of the USA as passed by Congress!

I remind, because of the former sanctions, the reaction by the Iranian people was to bring better leadership to Iran. That has to be respected. The Iranian people want peace and not war. NO ONE should be jeopardizing the Iran nuclear deal.

Currently, Iran is making strides in rebuilding their country. They have ordered a fleet of commercial jets, not military jets, to increase their ability to bring visitors to Iran and Iranians to the world. There is no doubt the Iran nuclear deal was good for Iran and the world. Sour words aren't going to change the reality.

The United Nations is not the place for politics, especially politics of hate and violence. The audience knows better. They aren't Trumps usual crowd.

September 18, 2017
By Jennifer Rubin

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, center, attending a session of Iran’s Assembly of Experts in Tehran on March 7.

...Well, (click here) my view on the nuclear deal is they are in technical compliance of the nuclear arrangement. But if you go back and read the preamble to the [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action], the nuclear agreement, there clearly was an expectation between the parties, the negotiators from the Western parties as well as Iran, that by dealing with this nuclear threat we would lower the tension between Iran and the rest of the world and we would create conditions for Iran to rejoin the community of nations as a productive country that wants stability, and wants peace, and wants prosperity in the region....

Satellite Animation Shows Hurricanes Norma and Otis (click here for 12 hour loop - thank you)

September 17, 2017
In rural Rwanda, (click here) people don't measure distance in miles or kilometers. They\measure it by how long it takes to walk somewhere.
Four years later, the people of Kintobo no longer need to walk down the mountain to get medical care. A state-of-the-art health center now serves Kintobo's more than 17,000 residents. Its clean, modern design is laid out for easy navigation. Patients arrive at the check-in counter, circle through to a waiting area and then pass along to consultation rooms....                      

I don't think Donald Trump is assured a second term.

This is North Carolina. You know, the one that the First Lady's dress honored. Even after they changed the name people backed out of the triathlon. They had to cancel the event for all the complaints they received. The event has to be reworked and probably will have to change its location.

That is a permanent structural change. There is an underlying sense of 'what a mistake' that is out there. Trump changed his direction once in the White House. The voice of the White Supremacist within his staff was far more than anyone wants to tolerate. Bannon was poison. 

It is unfortunate for the President and his family. Kindly realize the family involvement may receive a pardon if and when necessary, but, that will be met with more discontent. At this point, without a sincere change in his administration policies, I don't see a second term for President Trump. That may be why reaching out to Democrats is one of his best ideas.

There may be a message to wannabee billionaire presidents. You can buy your way into the White House, but, that does not mean it is good for the billionaire or his business enterprise.

September 17, 2017
By Lavendrick Smith

A triathlon (click here) that was scheduled to take place at a Trump National golf course in Mooresville has been canceled a few days after the race director changed the name of the event to distance itself from President Donald Trump’s name.

The race, originally called “Tri at the Trump,” was scheduled to be held at Trump National Golf Club, Charlotte on Oct. 8.

Race organizer Chuck McAllister told the Observer this week he received several complaints over the summer about the name of the race, which benefits children who have cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. On Tuesday, he announced the name had been changed to “Tri for Good.”...

Bermuda is taking a beating from Jose. It is just below the northeast winds.

September 17, 2017

This is a developing weather story. (click here)

Bermuda could be the next victim of a strong hurricane with longevity. Bermuda is an island no different than the Leeward Islands. All these people, including Puerto Rico, are suffering under this climate.

Currently, Bermuda is building clouds and has temperatures in the 80s. There are severe storms expected there by afternoon and continuing. There is no anticipated break in those storms until Jose dissipates or moves north.

This is a new paradigm for Bermuda. It has never been exposed to sustained rain and winds. It rarely gets a hurricane to pass over it. Bermuda infrastructure is good, but, it is no different than the Leeward Islands in it's ability to stand against sustained wind and rain. 

The people of Bermuda are at risk as of right now.

CURRENT wind speed over Bermuda is already 30 mph.

Just as a distraction.

Calling Un "Rocket Man" is disrespectful and fuel for Un in his propaganda. Un will embrace the identity and make it his goal to be the most deadly and feared rocket man alive.

Trump needs to realize he could become the next Chavez at the United Nations if he is going to assign caricatures to world leaders. Right now every person attending the United Nations meeting this week is wondering if they actually want to sit through Trump's speech or simply leave the speech when he begins insulting everyone.

The Late President Chavez bragged he smelled the remnant sulfur odor of the devil at the podium after "W" made his speech. It went over well in some venues of the conference. Trump should be prepared for disrespect if he is going to deal it.

President Trump needs to back off his volatile language and honorably represent the United States of America.

Besides the climate crisis, which costs lives across Earth, the United Nations needs to pat itself on the back and seek to continue the fight of quality of life for all people. Kindly note, war casualties are escalating. I hope the leaders of the affected countries bring their statistics to life on the floor of the United Nations.

I might point out the countries that cannot brag about the increased longevity of their people, need to deeply reflect on that fact. 

September 15, 2017
By Rachel Rettner

Worldwide, people are living longer. (click here) But while overall deaths from infectious diseases and preterm birth are decreasing, deaths from heart disease, conflict and terrorism are on the rise, according to a new report.

The report, called the Global Burden of Disease study, examines the state of the world's health by estimating average life expectancy as well as the number of deaths, illnesses and injuries from more than 300 causes.

The report found that today, the average global life expectancy is 72.5 years (75.3 years for women and 69.8 years for men.) That's up from an average life expectancy of 65.1 years in 1990 and 58.4 years in 1970, the report said. Japan had the highest life expectancy in 2016, at 83.9 years, while the Central African Republic had the lowest, at 50.2 years....

Five named storms near North America.

September 18, 2017
1030.18z
UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite of north and west hemisphere (click here for 12 hour loop - thank you)

Jose is between North Carolina and Bermuda. The Leeward Islands are having yet more hurricane force winds and water.
Jose is still a Cat. 1 hurricane. Wow. It is that far north and still a Cat. 1 hurricane. Jose has increased it's wind speed at that latitude with two other major storms in the Atlantic and two in the Pacific. The heat content of the troposphere has not resolved at all after Irma and Harvey. That is why these storms have longevity. There is plenty of heat to fuel them.

Jose moved nearly 4 degrees latitude in the past 30 hours. It's longitude is basically the same. There appears to be a growing diameter to Jose. That is rarely reported by the National Hurricane Center. If Jose remains at that longitude and latitude it will remain offshore, however, if it grows it's diameter, there can be another Harvey.

That is pure speculation and there are others that can answer that question within NOAA and the National Hurricane Center with state of the art data and supercomputers at their disposal. 

The tides of the east coast USA and Bermuda are going to be dangerous.

Jose

29.20 -71.80 09/17/00Z 70 973 HURRICANE-1
30.00 -71.70 09/17/06Z 70 973 HURRICANE-1
31.00 -71.90 09/17/12Z 80 967 HURRICANE-1
31.50 -71.80 09/17/18Z 80 967 HURRICANE-1
32.20 -71.60 09/18/00Z 80 972 HURRICANE-1
33.00 -71.40 09/18/06Z 75 974 HURRICANE-1

Maria is dropping it's central pressure and picking up wind speed. Nothing here is good news. This is more battering of islands that are already devastated. Albeit, the winds are not Irma, but, there is weak infrastructure. How high do the winds have to be or how much more water can the land take before whatever infrastructure is left turns into danger and not a safe haven? The flying debris alone is deadly.

Kindly, don't underestimate Maria. It has the same capacity as Irma to build higher wind speeds. There is no good scenario here.

Maria

12.30 -52.60 09/16/18Z 45 1002 TROPICAL STORM
12.50 -53.70 09/17/00Z 45 1002 TROPICAL STORM
13.00 -54.90 09/17/06Z 55 994 TROPICAL STORM
13.50 -56.20 09/17/12Z 55 994 TROPICAL STORM
13.80 -57.50 09/17/18Z 65 982 HURRICANE-1
14.20 -58.40 09/18/00Z 75 979 HURRICANE-1
14.60 -59.50 09/18/06Z 80 977 HURRICANE-1

Lee is near east Africa. It is moving east and north. It is bouncing between a Tropical Storm and Tropical Depression. If Lee dissipates that is an indication there is still a cooling in the troposphere and good news. However, location is everything. The ocean waters near east Africa are cooler than those near North America. It is far cooler than the Gulf of Mexico. The travel rate of Lee will also determine it's ultimate outcome.

Lee

10.70 -25.40 09/15/00Z 30 1010 TROPICAL DEPRESSION
10.60 -27.30 09/15/06Z 30 1008 TROPICAL DEPRESSION
11.40 -28.30 09/15/12Z 30 1008 TROPICAL DEPRESSION
12.60 -29.70 09/15/18Z 30 1009 TROPICAL DEPRESSION
12.80 -30.70 09/16/00Z 30 1009 TROPICAL DEPRESSION
12.60 -32.10 09/16/06Z 30 1008 TROPICAL DEPRESSION
12.50 -33.10 09/16/12Z 35 1007 TROPICAL STORM
12.60 -34.20 09/16/18Z 35 1007 TROPICAL STORM
12.80 -34.90 09/17/00Z 35 1007 TROPICAL STORM
13.00 -35.40 09/17/06Z 35 1007 TROPICAL STORM
13.00 -36.70 09/17/12Z 30 1007 TROPICAL DEPRESSION
13.20 -37.30 09/17/18Z 30 1007 TROPICAL DEPRESSION
13.60 -38.50 09/18/00Z 30 1007 TROPICAL DEPRESSION
14.10 -39.80 09/18/06Z 30 1007 TROPICAL DEPRESSION

"Good Night, Moon"

The waning crescent

27.3 day old moon

5.4 percent lit

The scientists are not finding H2O.

"...We find that OH abundance increases as a function of latitude..."  (click here)

 They are finding hydroxyl molecules (OH) as a molecule to manipulate to create water on the moon. 

14 September 2017
By Katyanna Quach

Scientists (click here) have created the first map that traces the water content on the surface of the Moon, in the hopes that it may come in handy for astronauts searching for drinking water or fuel.
A paper published in Science Advances on Thursday shows how scientists used data taken from NASA’s Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) – an imaging spectrometer onboard the Chandrayaan‑1 probe – to sniff out water molecules.

In 2009, M3 discovered hydroxyl molecules containing one oxygen and one hydrogen atom and water in the soil. By plotting the abundance of hydroxyl concentrations across the Moon’s latitude, researchers from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, can provide a map of the water levels on the satellite.

The Moon is incredibly arid compared to Earth. Nearer the poles, the maximum average of water is only around 500 to 750 parts per million – less than the amount found in Earth’s driest deserts.

Shuai Li, lead author of the paper who is now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Hawaii (but was a PhD student at Brown University at the time of the study), said: “The signature of water is present nearly everywhere on the lunar surface, not limited to the polar regions as previously reported. The amount of water increases toward the poles and does not show significant difference among distinct compositional terrains.”...

Farewell to Cassini and congratulations to it's team. Well done.

September 15, 2017

A thrilling epoch (click here) in the exploration of our solar system came to a close today, as NASA's Cassini spacecraft made a fateful plunge into the atmosphere of Saturn, ending its 13-year tour of the ringed planet.

"This is the final chapter of an amazing mission, but it’s also a new beginning,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Cassini’s discovery of ocean worlds at Titan and Enceladus changed everything, shaking our views to the core about surprising places to search for potential life beyond Earth."...