Activists Oppose Zoo's Decision To Move Elephant To Mexico

DALLAS -- Some animal-rights activists are asking the city council to overturn the Dallas Zoo's decision to move its lone elephant to Mexico.
Jenny has been a fixture at the Dallas Zoo for more than two decades, but the 31-year-old African elephant is scheduled to leave for a wildlife park in Mexico in the fall. Her companion, Keke, died in May....

Zoos

Gator Falls, albino gator exhibit delights at Lowry Park Zoo
June 30 2008
See related video HERE.
By Janel Heflin, Special to The News
TAMPA – Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo officials proudly announced the opening of the much-anticipated Gator Falls flume ride and white “albino” alligator exhibit on June 25.
Gator Falls, a log-type flume ride that offers a bird’s eye view of Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, is now officially open.
As of June 25, patrons to Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo were able to witness first hand the work that took over six months to complete: Flume rider are able to reach heights of 30 feet while viewing the beauty of the Mason M. and Charles P. Lykes Native Florida Wildlife Center. You can see the boardwalk, and numerous Florida species, among them Key deer, gray-green alligators, manatee, and now, albino alligators.

http://cnewspubs.com/attractions/modules/news/article.php?storyid=642



Zoo lions kill golden eagle
Published: June 30, 2008 6:00 PM
Savage as it may look, lions attacking prey is a way of life in the animal kingdom.
But it isn’t something commonly seen at a zoo, let alone captured in photographs, as it was last Friday at the Greater Vancouver Zoo.
Professional photographer Pablo Su, who took his young family to the Aldergrove zoo that day, didn’t think he would be snapping shots of a lioness with the zoo’s golden eagle clasped in its jaws.
“We were essentially done for the day, and had seen everything, when we noticed a little bit of commotion at the lion’s cage,” said Su on Monday. 

http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/22739534.html



Giraffes, zebras star attractions at Dhaka zoo
Tue Jul 1, 2008 10:32am BST
DHAKA (Reuters Life!) - Giraffes and zebras are staple attractions at zoos around the world, but many in impoverished Dhaka are getting their first glimpse of these beasts after a rare upgrade of the city's zoo.
The zoo recently received 27 animals from South Africa and the response from visitors has been overwhelming, with families flocking to the park to see what many are calling unusual creatures.
"They have been expected for a while and zoo authorities wanted to see some foreign animals," park director Aminur Rahman told Reuters.

http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSSP28457220080701



County Council members tour Hogle Zoo, Tracy Aviary in advance of bond vote
By Christopher Smart
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 07/01/2008 03:20:23 PM MDT
Posted: 3:09 PM- Salt Lake County Councilman Marv Hendrickson rode the lion.
Councilwoman Jenny Wilson sailed along upon the back of a big bird.
And Councilman David Wilde jockeyed a baboon.
Yep, this sure wasn't a budget hearing. It was the County Council's tour of Hogle Zoo, which included rides on the new Conservation Carrousel. Council members also visited Tracy Aviary on Tuesday in advance of a July 15 decision on whether to put bond proposals on the November ballot for both animal parks.
Hogle Zoo - which may have picked up a key swing vote in its ballot bid - wants county residents to award $65 million for a new and expansive arctic exhibit that would feature polar bears and seals; an African savanna with lions, giraffes and rhinos; a bigger animal hospital; and more.

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_9755848


Zoo animals try frozen food (video)

Rome's zoo keepers are finding inventive ways of keeping their animals cool in 40C temperatures.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7482635.stm



San Diego Zoo features 'Nighttime Fiesta'
UNION-TRIBUNE
2:44 p.m. July 1, 2008
SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Zoo is now open later each night, and this year's expanded summer nighttime hours have a Latin flair.
“Nighttime Zoo Fiesta!” – a celebration of Latin-American heritage in Southern California – started Friday and runs through Sept. 1.
Zoo gates stay open until 8 p.m., and visitors can stay on the grounds until 9 p.m. Animals including hippos, elephants and gorillas will have nighttime feedings.
The fiesta will kick off each day at 4:15 p.m. with a macaw fly-over at the front entrance. There will be animal encounters near Hunte Amphitheatre at 6 p.m. and Wegeforth Bowl at 7 p.m.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/features/20080701-1444-bn01zoo.html



Petting zoo features goats, alpacas, a kangaroo -- and a really old tortoise
July 01, 2008 22:33PM
The pig races at Summer Celebration are most definitely kid-friendly, and so is the petting zoo where you can see plenty of critters.
What you can find in the little corrals are animals not usually found in these parts, like a two-hump camel that most definitely needs some shampoo and a brush.
"There are no pigs at the petting zoo," said Sam Council, 6, of Norton Shores, who'd seen the zoo before heading off to the pig races.
"And you can't touch the tortoise," Sam said. "But he's 129 years old and I didn't want to touch him anyway."

http://blog.mlive.com/chronicle_backstage_pass/2008/07/pig_sidebar.html



S.F. Zoo gets lucky: Baby aye-aye lemur born
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
It's rough being an endangered aye-aye lemur: It takes 2 to 3 hours to copulate, and if you don't have a good teacher, you may never procreate at all.
A pair of the nocturnal creatures from Madagascar got lucky, however. The proof: the baby aye-aye born sometime June 20 or June 21 at the San Francisco Zoo. Like its parents, the baby aye-aye has big ears, wiry fur and, most notably, a long, bony middle finger topped with a razor-sharp claw, which the lemur will eventually use to hunt around trees for grubs.
The birth of the lemur, whose sex is unknown, is significant because it's only the second time an aye-aye has been born in captivity to parents who were also captive-bred, and it's the first time ever that a pair has bred without other aye-ayes around. Until recently, researchers had success breeding only the handful of aye-ayes taken from the wild in 1987 as part of a research program at Duke University.
The parents at the San Francisco Zoo - and their new, unnamed offspring - are part of that research program. The recent birth indicates that captive breeding programs could be successful and boost numbers of the rare primates.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/02/BAC411HJGT.DTL


Rustic cabin in Mendota Heights' Dodge Nature Center is quick urban retreat
A handmade 1930s-era cabin nestled in a restored oak savannah prairie in Mendota Heights offers Twin Citians a quick retreat. Just opened to the public, it's already booked every summer weekend.
By Nick Ferraro
nferraro@pioneerpress.com
Article Last Updated: 07/01/2008 10:41:13 PM CDT

http://www.twincities.com/ci_9758281?nclick_check=1



Czechs arrived in Krasnoyarsk for talks with Krasnoyarsk zoo
12/6/2006 2:23:58 PM
Krasnoyarsk, Dec. 6 (Newslab) - Delegates from two Czech zoos are on a visit in Krasnoyarsk zoo "Royev Ruchey".
Directors of Zoo Brno and Zoological Garden Vyskov arrived in Krasnoyarsk to visit "Royev Ruchey" and have talks on exchange of animals between Russia and Czech Republic.
An agreement to deliver a couple of zebras in late summer 2007 has been reached, Krasnoyarsk zoo deputy-director Yuri Makhrov said. "There have never been any zebras in Krasnoyarsk zoo, so this present from the Czechs will be of great importance," Makhrov noted, "Czech zoos have also promised to help our zoo get a giraffe, although it will be very difficult."
Moreover, Krasnoyarsk is expected to receive two Polar wolves from Czech zoos. The Czechs have not chosen any animals they would like to get in exchange from Krasnoyarsk.

http://english.newslab.ru/news/207891

continued...

Last-ditch effort to save Tasmanian devils for the wild

Vets Jemma Bergfield (right) and Colette Harmsen, of Tasmania's Department of Primary Industries and Water, give a devil its final health check before it is shipped to the mainland.Photo: Peter Mathew

THE first of a "Noah's Ark" collection of Tasmanian devils leaves today for mainland zoos as the disease devastating the marsupial intensifies.
The 47 healthy young animals will found a captive breeding population as last-ditch insurance against extinction of the species in the wild, where they are succumbing to a form of cancer known as devil facial tumour disease.
More than half of all wild devils have died in recent years from the disease, according to scientists tackling the crisis.
The latest research shows the disease is forcing wild females to breed much younger, reducing these "teenage mothers" to a single litter in life before they die. Previously they would have raised three litters of offspring....

Zoos Dated

2-decade effort has kept ferret alive
By RUFFIN PREVOST
Gazette Wyoming Bureau
MEETEETSE, Wyo. - After two decades of captive breeding and intense recovery efforts, black-footed ferrets remain among the most endangered mammals in America, with an estimated 700 living in the wild.
But they might have become extinct, were it not for a dog named Shep.

http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/12/02/news/wyoming/25-ferret.txt


Nandankanan big cats may face displacement
Bhubaneswar, Nov 29. (PTI): Some of the big cats roaming around in the Nandankanan zoo near here may face displacement soon, a senior zoo official has said.
The zoo, nestling in natural surroundings as it is part of the Chandaka forest, has 28 Royal Bengal Tigers and an equal number of lions, but as per the directive of the Central Zoo Authority, no big zoo is allowed to have more than 10 animals belonging to a particular specie, he said.
The CZA has also laid down that captive breeding of species having no conservation value would not be allowed in the zoos.
This circular has come in the wake of the Supreme Court directive that breeding should be stopped in 250 zoos across the country in view of overcrowding leading to inadequate space.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/008200611290310.htm


Activists query native animal exports
Andrew Darby
November 29, 2006
AdvertisementAdvertisement
MELBOURNE and Sydney zoos are pushing ahead with plans to export Australian animals to a controversial Thai wildlife park in exchange for their new elephants.
Chiang Mai Night Safari, the park where the deal obliges the zoos to send the animals, had a high death rate of exhibits, and had to ditch plans to offer some on its restaurant's menu.
A project of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Night Safari was recently reported to have "borrowed" Indonesian orang-utans from wildlife authorities and was under a legal attack for being located inside a national park.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/activists-query-native-animal-exports/2006/11/28/1164476205183.html


Thin Line of Defense Against Exotic Animal Meat
The Associated Press (Posted by MSNBC.com)
28 Nov 2006
Photos Courtesy of Associated Press
Bird flu, viruses could easily be brought into U.S. by unsuspecting travelers
Wildlife inspector Bryan Landry can spot threats everywhere at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. A backpack carried off a flight from Nigeria contains plastic bags of meat from the bush that could harbor the lethal Ebola virus. Those salted duck eggs from South Korea, a delicacy not easily found here, could carry the dreaded bird flu.
And the exotic birds taped to a passenger’s legs and the pair of monkey paws concealed in a bag could harbor any one of several diseases that jump to humans. Landry and fellow inspectors with the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service are a last line of defense against such risky items before they come across the border, often with unsuspecting people intending only to bring back a taste from home, an exotic pet or a travel memento.

http://wdin.blogspot.com/2006/11/thin-line-of-defense-against-exotic.html


Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital
The Vet Med Teaching Hospital is a
research facility and shares UC Davis' mission of public service to the State of California. The hospital offers a full range of services whether your creature is great or small, large or exotic, and they're essentially open 24hrs/day, 365 days a year [appointments during regular hours preferred]. As a teaching hospital, many procedures may be performed by veterinary students under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. Oftentimes, a private practice vet will refer clients to the VMTH for a second opinion or more in-depth treatment. This is also the only place on campus where you can see lamas!

http://daviswiki.org/Veterinary_Medical_Teaching_Hospital


Poor Yogi was smarter than average, but we are much more deadly
E.J. Montini
Republic columnist
Nov. 30, 2006 12:00 AM
The Arizona Game and Fish Department doesn't assign names to the wild animals that it tranquilizes and then kills, but I'll refer to the deceased bear as Yogi.
After all, he was smarter than the average bear, like the cartoon character. And though he was captured and euthanized, it wasn't intelligence that lead to his demise but poor judgment.
Those of us who roam the wider animal kingdom - or at least that section known as the "rat race" - understand that even the most intelligent among us sometimes make personally destructive decisions.
advertisement
In this particular instance, which occurred about a week ago, a 2-year-old male black bear was caught rummaging through some garbage pails in the Gold Canyon area outside of Apache Junction.

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/1130montini1130.html



Survival of the fittest
MICHELLE PAINE
December 01, 2006 12:00am
TASMANIAN devils are expected to be flown to interstate zoos as early as today to help establish insurance populations.
The 29 young devils and 18 of their babies carry with them the hopes of wildlife lovers around the world. Zoos in four states will work to establish a genetically viable "Project Ark" population in case the devils' wild cousins are destroyed by Devil Facial Tumour Disease.
It is believed up to 80,000 devils have died from the disease during the past decade.
The healthy animals will be flown free by Qantas, which has been promoting the cause of the endangered marsupial.

http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,20851764-5007221,00.html


Teeny Frog Saved From Extinction In Zoos
Panamanian Golden Frog Expected To Go Extinct
POSTED: 9:19 am MST November 28, 2006
DENVER -- The Denver Zoo is part of an effort to save a disappearing frog species that has become Panama's national symbol of nature.
Scientists fear that sometime next year, the last wild Panamanian golden frogs will die. The species is being destroyed by a fungus that is also wiping out other amphibian species. But about two dozen zoos including the Denver Zoo have several hundred of the frogs in captivity.
The fungus was only the final blow for a species whose numbers have long been dwindling because of deforestation, overcollection and water pollution.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/irresistible/10413514/detail.html


Library museum pass programs
A number of libraries have programs where you can borrow a pass for a local museum for a day. Here are a number of projects I've been able to identify.
The Lynn, Massachusetts library has a museum pass program sponsored by the Friends of the Lynn Public Library for patrons for borrowing low-cost passes to museums which include the Museum of Fine Arts (Boston), the New England Aquarium, the Boston Children's Museum, the Harvard Museum of Natural History and the Stone and Franklin Park Zoos. The Friends support the museum pass program and members of the Friends get discounts on passes.
The Keene, New Hampshire Public Library offers free or greatly reduced admissions to the Boston Museum of Science, the Canterbury Shaker Village, the Currier Museum of Art, the Magic Wings Butterfly Museum and the Museum of New Hampshire History. These passes may be booked in advance and are checked out with a Keene Public Library card.

http://vielmetti.typepad.com/superpatron/2006/11/library_museum_.html


Ackermann's Settlement Payment May Go to Soccer Clubs, Zoos
By Elena Logutenkova
Dec. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Deutsche Bank AG Chief Executive Officer Josef Ackermann and five former Mannesmann AG officials, after agreeing to pay millions of euros to settle a lawsuit, may end up helping soccer clubs, zoos and other civic organizations.
The Dusseldorf regional court has received ``150 or even more'' requests from varied organizations for the money, said court spokesman UlrichThole. The court ruled Nov. 29 that 40 percent of the 5.8 million-euro ($7.7 million) settlement will be distributed for community purposes.
Requests for the money included a soccer club asking for a set of new jerseys for its youth section, museums, voluntary fire brigades, zoos and botanical gardens, Spiegel reported in its online edition. Thole declined to name examples of requests, citing confidentiality.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601100&sid=a5dWV8UjrsrU&refer=germany



Facts about Dolphin Drive Hunts in Japan
During drive hunts, migrating pods of dolphins and other small whales are first panicked and confused by loud banging, then herded, by the hundreds, into shallow coves and butchered, one by one, by fishermen. Every year, some 20,000 small cetaceans of several species, some of which are endangered, including bottlenose dolphins, striped dolphins, spotted dolphins, Risso's dolphins, short-finned pilot whales, white-sided dolphins and false killer whales, are killed or taken in the drives, sometimes illegally.
This cruel and inhumane practice is sanctioned and controlled by the Government of Japan, which claims that these animals compete with the fishermen and slaughtering them is a means of pest control, but no evidence for this claim exists. The dolphins are processed and used as pet food or fertilizer, and the government is encouraging the consumption of dolphin meat. In fact, the hunts would be economically unviable without the sale of live dolphins captured during the drives to dolphinariums in Asia and elsewhere.

http://flyingorca.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!BA2341B4E893C3D6!114.entry



Slippery leopard shot dead in zoo farce in east China
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-12-06 18:38
BEIJING -- A leopard, a species under top-level state protection in China, was shot dead by local police Tuesday after escaping from its cage in a zoo in East China's Fujian province.
Armed policemen keep guard near an escaped leopard at a Shishi park, southeast China's Fujian Province December 5, 2006. Police shot dead the leopard after they failed to capture it and a feeder was bitten during the trapping attempt. [photobase.cn]
The leopard was found roaming the grounds of the Yuanyangchi Zoo at 7 a.m., sparking off a series of blunders by zoo staff and local police.
The zookeeper, with the assistance of the police, failed several times to shoot the leopard with a hand-made bow and anesthetic arrow before being attacked and injured by the irritated animal.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-12/06/content_752294.htm



Chattanooga Zoo, And Its Animals, Slowly Recovering From Nov. 7 Fire
by Judy Frank
posted December 5, 2006
The Chattanooga Zoo is slowly recovering from a Nov. 7 fire that claimed the lives of several animals.
On Tuesday, G-Tort the tortoise, swathed in a towel and cradled in the arms of Chattanooga Zoo director Darde Long, waved her front legs impatiently, oblivious to the half dozen people crowded around trying to get a good look at her.
G-Tort is the miracle survivor of the fire that swept the zoo’s education building on Nov. 7, Ms. Long said. Discovered alive after firefighters had left the scene and workers had given up on finding any more survivors, she was nearly dead.

http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_97821.asp



Molly is walking tall at the zoo
10:07am Monday 4th December 2006
CBy Staff reporter »
BEING this good looking is no tall order for Chester Zoo's latest addition.
Molly is the first Rothschild giraffe to be born at the zoo. Mum is Kelly, six, and dad Thorn, five.
Kelly has taken to her new role as mum and just 30 minutes after she was born, Molly, who weighs 70kg, was on her feet.
Mike Jordan, Chester Zoo's Curator of Mammals and Birds, said: "To begin with, Kelly was a little anxious in her role as a new mum and we were on standby to intervene and help the calf. "But they have now taken to each other and Molly is suckling and mum Kelly is being very attentive. She is coming along very well and we are delighted with her progress."
The birth of the zoo's first Rothschild giraffe is all the more welcome as there are only 600 Rothschild giraffes left in the wild in Kenya and Uganda.

http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/1055493.molly_is_walking_tall_at_the_zoo/



Britney at the zoo
Britney Spears celebrated her b-day at the L.A. zoo with her son Sean Preston

http://www.waleg.com/photos/displayimage.php?album=677&pos=0



New Kea in Dodge Rare Animal Conservation Center
Name: “Maui”; named after a character in Maori folklore that was always portrayed as a prankster and a trickster (the Maori are the indigenous people on the South Island of New Zealand, the natural habitat for keas.)
Hatch Date: December 23, 2005
Hatch location: San Diego Zoo
Maui arrived at the Philadelphia Zoo on August 9. We were planning to pair him with our female kea, Pepper. Unfortunately, she passed away just a few days after his arrival. Currently, we are checking with other zoos to try to find another young kea (of either gender) to house with Maui.
There are several ways to estimate the age of a kea. Juveniles have yellow feathers on the top of their head, yellow eye rings, a lighter lower beak and a yellow cere (fleshy area at the top of the beak). Maui still has all these characteristics, which will fade as he ages.

http://philadelphiazoo.blogspot.com/2006/12/new-kea-in-dodge-rare-animal.html



Kea
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
For other uses, see Kea (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Kia.
Kea
The Kea (Nestor notabilis) is a species of parrot (family Psittacidae) found in forested and alpine regions of the South Island of New Zealand. The Kea is one of the few alpine parrots in the world, and includes carrion in an omnivorous diet consisting mainly of roots, leaves, berries, nectar and insects. Now uncommon, the Kea was once killed for bounty as it preyed on livestock, especially sheep, only receiving full protection in 1986.[1]
Kea are legendary for their intelligence and curiosity, both vital to their survival in a harsh mountain environment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kea



Patrons flock to the Waffle House zoo
Myron Pitts
Migrating Canada geese and a few ducks have managed to make a nice home in a corner of one of the city’s busiest shopping areas.
The geese flock by the dozens to a water retention pond between the Wal-Mart Supercenter parking lot and the Waffle House at Yadkin and Skibo roads.
The fenced-in pond was built to collect storm water and prevent flooding from the Wal-Mart lot, which has 1,006 parking spaces. But the shallow body of water is also a bird sanctuary that draws families and children who come to feed the waterfowl.
Waffle House employee Heather Cox says it’s easy to recognize the geese among the other birds.

http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=248774

continued...

The Antarctica Ice Chime

Catatrophic Flooding with levees destroyed and chronic storms the land is saturated. (click here for Wis. weather forecast - chronic thunderstorms)

July 1, 2008
Lone Rock, Wisconsin
Photographer states :: Flying over LNR today and saw the damage that the flooding did to the airport. The rains were almost 3 weeks ago and the airport remains closed. The ramp and approach end of RWY 9 were covered in water.

The Region never gets a chance to dry out.

TODAY...A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS MORNING. MOSTLY CLOUDY NORTHWEST WITH THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY SOUTHEAST THIS AFTERNOON. HIGHS FROM THE MID 70S NORTH TO THE UPPER 80S FAR SOUTHWEST..

TONIGHT...EVENING THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY FAR SOUTHEAST...A CHANCE OF EVENING THUNDERSTORMS SOUTH AND EAST. PARTLY CLOUDY NORTHWEST HALF.LOWS FROM THE MID 40S FAR NORTHWEST TO NEAR 60 SOUTHEAST..

THURSDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE LOW TO MID 70S. SLIGHTLY COOLER NEAR THE GREAT LAKES..

THURSDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS IN THE MID 40S NORTH TO MID 50S SOUTH..

INDEPENDENCE DAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 70S. SLIGHTLYCOOLER NEAR THE GREAT LAKES..

SATURDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE 50S. HIGHS 80 TO 85. COOLER NEAR THE GREAT LAKES..

SUNDAY...A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE DAY NORTHWEST. A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY NIGHT ALL BUT SOUTHEAST. LOWS 55 TO 60. HIGHS IN THE LOW TO MID 80S.


Flooding aftermath plagues some Wisconsin beaches (click here)
By ROBERT IMRIE
Associated Press Writer
12:46 PM CDT, June 28, 2008

WAUSAU, Wis. - The aftermath of torrential rains that flooded southern Wisconsin in early June is now plaguing some swimming beaches as the long Fourth of July weekend approaches.

The flooding dumped rich nutrients into the lakes, creating ideal conditions for more potentially toxic blue-green algae, said Bob Masnado, a water evaluation specialist for the state Department of Natural Resources.

"There were a lot of beaches that were under water," he said. "We are probably past that point of general concern over the bacteria conditions. We are starting to see more blue-green algae problems. That poses another risk altogether."

As of late last week, nine of 14 public swimming beaches in Madison were closed because of algae, said Kirsti Sorsa, an environmental supervisor for the Madison-Dane County Health Department....

Wisconsin Boy Hospitalized, Sickened by Floodwaters (click here)
June 30, 2008
University of Wisconsin Hospital officials say a 6-year-old boy with a life-threatening kidney disease may have been infected while playing in contaminated floodwater.
Dr. Ellen Wald says the child has been on dialysis and in intensive care since Sunday. She says he will probably stay in the hospital for at least a week.
It's the first known health problem linked to widespread flooding in Wisconsin earlier this month. But authorities again warned that sewage plants were overwhelmed during the storms and water may be contaminated with bacteria.
Wald says the boy started vomiting three days after playing in a flooded creek near his home in Richland Center.
She says a test for E.coli 0157 was negative, but doctors think he has another, hard-to-detect strain of the bacteria.
Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Hurricane Cycle has changed this year as well. The storms are Pacific and NOT Atlantic storms.

The Pacific storms are simply developing one after another.


July 2, 2008
0930z
UNISYS GOES West Water Vapor Satellite (click title to entry for 12 hour loop)

There are seven named Tropical Storms in the Pacific this year compared to four or less in previous years. Most years there has only been ONE that has occurred by July 1st in the Pacific. There isn't enough supporting humidity in the lower troposphere until the tropics at the Equatorial latitudes are utilitzed for their water vapor.

A report by NASA shows higher turbulence in the oceans caused by winds increased by Human Induced Global Warming.

This image from NASA (click here) shows drastic Sea Level Rise due to high wind turbulence and the 'piling up' of waters at the western borders of the oceans including the northern oceans as well. The wind has become so dramatically higher that the 'lower' sea levels of the Eastern Pacific can be noted to be lower and allowing upwelling normally only observed on El Nino 'CYCLE' years. The Earth's climate cycles no longer exist, but, only the unrelenting heating cycle of the rotation of Earth in relation to the Sun.

This is still another sequelae of the negative feedback loop of Human Induced Global Warming. The winds are so strong across the planet they are causing a 'chronic' El Nino effect by pushing ocean waters to the western boarders of the oceans allowing 'upwelling' of once contained carbon dioxide from the deep oceans on the eastern boarders of the oceans.

McCain wants to pump more oil. That's unacceptable.

Earth will warm dramatically faster with larger regions of drought when the ice in the Artic Ocean is depleted. This event carries a great deal of peril.

Tony Blair did introduce Climate Change as an agenda at the G8. The year was 2005 (click here), the same time of the London Bombings by al Qaeda. The bombings gave Bush a platform to distract from Human Induced Global Warming at the G8.

Blair being the gentleman he is never thought it important to point a finger at Bush to condemn him for letting Osama bin Laden escape the campaign in Afghanistan in 2001. I remember Blair before the British Parliament on more than one occassion defending his stand on supporting the USA in Iraq, but, at the same time he neglected to condemn the failed campaign of Afghanistan which lead to the London bombings with terrorists trained in Pakistan.

The current Prime Minister Gordon Brown needs to 'speak truth to power' with Bush on the issue of Climate Change as well as taking on Mugabe.




The weather at Glacier Bay National Park (Crystal Wind Chime) is the same as San Francisco, California today.

The Current Conditions in San Francisco at 5:35 AM EST is 54 F with Overcast Skies.

Elevation :: 33 ft / 10 m

Time :: 5:00 AM EST

Temperature :: 52 °F / 11 °C

Conditions :: Mostly Cloudy

Humidity :: 88%

Dew Point :: 48°F / 9 °C

Wind :: Calm

Pressure :: 30.01 in / 1016 hPa (Rising)

Visibility :: 10.0 miles / 16.1 kilometers

UV :: 0 out of 16

Clouds:
Scattered Clouds 800 ft / 243 m

Mostly Cloudy 11000 ft / 3352 m

(Above Ground Level)

Corn is not the answer for Biofuels and never has been.

Seek sustainability (click here)

The farming communities of the USA will understand this. The New York Times article today hasn't 'got the culture' right. The Neocons are trying to promote poverty among American farmers in exchange for off shore drilling profiteers.

I'll explain.

The reason corn is a focus for ethanol and biofuels is because that is what American farmers have traditionally grown. Feed corn. That is what makes them profits in the USA. If in Brazil they would learn that corn is not necessarily 'the cash crop' of choice.

In Brazil it is sugar cane that is the cash crop of choice for 'fueling' the motoring habits there. (click here)

This is a study from Penn State. It compares the 'conditions' that best grow Prairie Grass, see Table l. (click here). Prairie Grass grows under very dry conditions in Pennsylvania. Prairie Grass will grow in very dry conditions any place actually. If there is flooding and knowing the root systems of 'grasses' tend to 'hold the soil' it is difficult to state that Prairie Grass as a 'cash crop' would ever be a bad investment for the American farmer, especially since their feed corn crops are doing so poorly.

In regard to 'SPECIES' of grasses, there is a difference between Prairie Grass and Switchgrass. Not the same thing. Prairie Grass is far heartier under Climate Change circumstances and that brings me to my next point.

The 'Traditional Crops' of the American farmer won't be profitable to them anymore. With Climate Change evident everywhere the American Farmer HAS TO seek different crops to plant and harvest.

In regard to the 'Carbon Credit Market' for farmlands. It will become worthless if there is no crops growing there. So, basically, if the American farmer is to survive then they need to 'get their priorities straight.'

What are those priorities? Simple. Survive and make money.

The commodities markets will respond to the changing face of crop production in the USA. In other words if American farmers believe the ONLY crop they can grow to 'break into' big money for Biofuels is corn they will seek to provide that no matter how bad it might fail. But, if farmers begin to plant 'alternate' corps such as Prairie Grass, the commodity markets will follow that trend and pay as much if not more for those crops as they did for corn.

To allow American farmers to fail and remain on a 'welfare system' of cheap loans and debt ridden land is immoral. It is corrupt government and certainly is a government without insight. Compassionless is the word. Americans want their farmers to do well. We would love for Family Farms to return in greater numbers to our national landscape actually.

Farmers need to be brave and bold in 'taking' what is rightfully theirs to have. Climate Change will rob them of their land and future. They have to react to Climate Change with aggressive measures that will INCREASE the amount of CHLOROPHYLL on every acre while providing them with crops that will return much needed income to rid themselves of debt.

Crops like Prairie Grass are not necessarily JUST used for biofuels. Long before cattle populated any 'feed lots' there were huge herds of Buffalo that roamed the plains and ate exactly that. Prairie Grass. There is nothing to say the 'feed lots' of the USA have to feed corn either. There is every indication that 'succulent' corn won't be vaible crops in the USA. If feedlot cattle HAVE to have corn then it might need to be imported. But. From where?

When George Walker Bush stated in 2003, "...there is no such thing as Global Warming..." he and his administration condemned the American farmer to loss their lands. That is an interesting throught when considering those lands could be purchased by the very same folks that didn't protect the American farmer from failure due to Climate Change.

Allowing American farmers to fail in the face of Climate Change while promoting the use of off shore oil is to say that they aren't worthy of the dignity alternative crops can provide for them. A nation 'strapped' for a reasonable way out of an energy crisis due to their dependance on fossil fuels is a grateful nation when it is accompanied by heroes that continue to 'feed them' as well.

The price of food is going up. The USA has had a 'cheap food' policy for a long time. The USA and it's 'give away' economy has to realize new realities. Those realities might even lead to a far, far healthier nation as well.

I know the American farmer is capable of making 'wise' choices and being dedicated to their purpose as well. I wish them the best of luck and hope they are 'tough as nails' when deciding on a new President that will give them the opportunity they need.

They don't need to sacrifice, they need to grow crops that we all need for energy as well as a food supply. Adverse outcomes will continue to mount if a 'dust bowl' is allowed to develop. There needs to be aggressive changes and now !


Corn plants in Blairstown, Iowa, were pounded by hail recently and perpetual rains for weeks. (click here)

Energy Balance / Life Cycle Inventory for Ethanol, Biodiesel and Petroleum Fuels (click here)

..."Corn ethanol is energy efficient, as indicated by an energy ratio of 1.34; that is, for every Btu dedicated to producing ethanol, there is a 34-percent energy gain." A similar study done in 1995 indicated only a 1.24 energy ratio. The increase is accounted for by an increase in corn yields and greater efficiencies in the ethanol production process. As a result, energy efficiency in the production of ethanol is increasing....


Mixed Prairie Grasses like the original settlers of the West found as 'sod.'

...it's not monoculture crops like corn, soybeans or even switchgrass, but rather the "sea of grass" that fell to the plow in the 19th century that harbors a bright hope for the 21st. Mixtures of native perennial grasses and other flowering plants require little energy or fertilizer to turn into fuel, yield up to 238 percent more usable energy per acre than any single species and can even lower atmospheric carbon dioxide by storing it in their roots or in soil....

...In their previous study, Tilman and his colleagues calculated the energy outputs of ethanol and soy biodiesel and compared those numbers to the inputs of energy-mostly from fossil fuels-necessary to produce them. An input of 100 units of energy will yield 125 units from ethanol and 193 from biodiesel. In the new paper, Tilman, Hill and Lehman calculated that mixed prairie grasses, if converted to synthetic fuels by the right means, would yield 809 units....

Who does McCain listen to? Lieberman. Lieberman states "Iranians are training extremists, not al Qaeda." Al Qaeda doesn't train extremists?

The Blunderers of all Blunderers (...I am not talking about a massive ground invasion of Iran...that would include taking military action to stop them...I would leave that to the Generals, but, I think a lot can be done from the air..."(click here). Right. But, leaving it up to the generals is the way to go? That is what Bush says all the time, but, he doesn't listen to his generals so much as shows them the front door.

The Bush/Cheney and Proposed McCain blundering CONFIRMED

While the press won't necessarily level opinon with the writing, what is UNDISCLOSED in a lot of the reporting of the circumstances is the 'FACT' that al Qaeda forces are very fluid and will move throughout the world with ease to support their international infrastructure. Hence why a nation's benevolent sovereignty is more important than any aspect of conventional warfare.

They can call it Taliban I suppose, but, to note with this increase in violence in Afghanistan is the change in authority in Pakistan. The Taliban and al Qaeda aren't feeling secure in Pakistan as they used to be. In recent months, Musharraf is being deposed of his power. Rightfully so. We need TRUE allies in Pakistan and not a Coup Government that allows tribal areas in the mountains to harbor al Qaeda and Taliban while they were nutured back to health to secure the residence of Osama bin Laden.

What is still not discussed is the fact that while Iraq is quieter due to so many deaths, injuries and impoverishment of civilians, the 'actual' 'war theater' in total isn't any quieter. The casualities and events have simply moved from Iraq to Afghanistan.

Bush has no victory in Iraq to tout. He has movement out of the country of 'elements' that would seek action elsewhere.

Iran needs to be involved in Iraq. It is the only way there will be enough security in the region to stop the violence. That would mean a Shi'ite presence in the country and the Sunni nations outside of Iraq don't want that, but, at the same instance the Sunni countries are not willing to commit to security forces to bolster the Iraqi forces either. The LACK of diplomacy is everywhere and exceptionally noted with the continued instability of Iraq now five years out.

I have said this before and still believe it years later, the provinces of Iraq need to secure their own borders along with assistance from 'ethnic' peacekeeper forces. In other words, The Sunnis of the region need to assist An Albar to secure their province. Iran needs to assist southern Iraq to provide stability to cities such as Basra and the Kurds need to be assisted by Western nations to nuture their already existing democracy. I think the ONLY aspect to this is still some interest by all the provinces in the remaining oil wealth of Iraq, which is probably marginal. In general, oil is diminishing in its global supply.

I have confidence in Arab leaders to work with Iraq to stop the killing and civil unrest within that country. The American experience there is simply hideous and outrageous. It has been nothing but a comedy of errors accompanied by retirement of most Generals that were in the ranks at the beginning of the Iraq invasion. In five years there has been a parade of retiring generals in the USA as like none other. From my point of view it is due to lack of respect by the Executive Branch and the abject failure of any strategy to stop the violence without destroying the lives of the Iraqis.

See, the 'powers that be' with the Republican influence in the USA still view Iraq as a 'strategic theater' to the West's national security directives.

That is a lie.

The West has plenty of places in the Middle East that can serve as 'ready' forces if there are issues regarding further involvement. The ONLY strategic importance for Iraq is as a springboard into another tragic invasion into Iran. That can't happen.

We have witnessed this past week the destruction of the 'vent' for North Korea's nuclear reactor. There were no bombs or troop level increases. As a matter of fact, last year the number of American troops in South Korea dropped significantly. If we are too be successful in 'good faith' negotiations with Iran regarding its nuclear facility and its dismantling, we need to leave Iraq and concede the Iranian importance to the "Nation Shia" and its population now 'in existence' in Southern Iraq. I never once heard Iran state al Sadr was a threat to them. I think he is going to school in Iran, isn't he? To become perhaps an Ayatollah. That was his only hurdle I believe. Lack of proper theological education.

But, the point is that Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda IS THE ONLY REAL THREAT to any terrorist attacks and currently and much to their credit, Saudi Arabia has a strategy that keeps such elements under control. So does Jordan. The attacks in Amman were by Iraqis, not Jordanians. Such an example of 'exported anarchy' from Iraq due to the Bush/Cheney/McCain/Halliburton War should not go unnoticed either.

I thought for sure, the Amman attacks would result in a 'regional commitment' and 'regional infrastructure' that would work for the Arab nations, including Iraq, but the Republican Political Agenda proved 'too much' for such diplomacy to be successful. The only diplomacy Bush is interested in is harassing his Saudi family for more oil.

We don't belong in Iraq.

We never did.


David Wood, national security correspondent for The Sun, has reported on war and conflict from around the world since 1977. He recently won the Headliner Award for his Iraq coverage.

Afghanistan: casualties again outpace Iraq (click here)
Three Special Forces soldiers were killed Sunday in Afghanistan, helping to raise the monthly U.S. and allied death toll there to at least 45.
June will be the second month in which more coalition troops were killed by insurgents in Afghanistan than in Iraq, where the death toll in June reached 31 coalition troops. The dead included 27 Americans in Afghanistan, 29 Americans in Iraq.
In Washington, anger is rising at the rising death toll and the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan. Ike Skelton, the venerable Democrat who chairs the House Armed Services Committee delivered a blistering letter Monday to Secretary of Defense Gates, charging that the Bush administration has no comprehensive strategy for saving Afghanistan.
"I am deeply troubled that the Taliban has reportedly coalesced into a resilient insurgency,'' wrote Skelton, referring to a gloomy Pentagon report on Afghanistan released last week.
"There is no well-coordinated comprehensive strategy for Afghanistan," he fumed.
"In many instances, there are no performance indicators or measures of progress, no timetable for achieving goals, and no long-term budget. ''
The three soldiers were killed in Khosrow-E Sofla, Afghanistan, when their vehicle rolled into a canal, according to a Defense Department statement.


"Kandahar in June"
A huge umbrella is seen on a main road on the outskirts of the city in Kandahar, south of Kabul, Afghanistan on Friday June 27, 2008. Kandahar was one of the main strong hold of the Taliban regime, kicked out of the power in late 2001 by US forces. (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)

The good General Magnus forgets that when George Walker Bush wants 'NO TIMELINE' for Iraq and the Republican "Political Timeline" is more important he should NOT speak out of turn like this. Did General Magnus first get permission to do so? Probably not. Shame on General Magnus for placing doubt on Georgie's War Stategy. Bad General. Bad General. Bad, bad General.

..."At what point do U.S. combat forces, and in particular the Marine Corps, shift from what is a dramatically improved security situation in Iraq to one that needs to be dramatically improved in Afghanistan?" Gen. Robert Magnus, assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, said recently in an interview at the Pentagon.
At least 45 international troops — including at least 27 U.S. and 13 British servicemembers — died in Afghanistan in June, the deadliest month since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001, according to an Associated Press count.
In Iraq, at least 31 international troops died in June, including 29 Americans, according to the AP....

Pentagon: Taliban a resilient force in Afghanistan (click here)
By LOLITA C. BALDOR – 3 days ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — A new Pentagon report says the Taliban has regrouped after its initial fall from power in Afghanistan. The new report offers a rather dim view of progress in the nearly 7-year-old war, declaring that the Taliban has "coalesced into a resilient insurgency."
Noting that insurgent violence continues to climb, the report said that despite efforts to capture and kill key leaders, the Taliban is likely to "maintain or even increase the scope and pace of its terrorist attacks and bombings in 2008."
At the same time, the Afghan Army and national police are progressing slowly, and still lack the trainers they need.
The report was released Friday along with a separate plan for the development of Afghan security forces. They are the first two comprehensive reports done by the Pentagon evaluating progress in Afghanistan.

The Military MEN that made it to the Presidency of the Executive Branch of the USA were all Generals. I should say that differently.

Dwight David (DD) Eisenhower on the eve of
D-Day. The General among his troops.

The military men that made it to the Exeuctive Branch of the USA that actually had good policies were all Generals. And even then other than Eisenhower the 'quality' of their presidencies are in question.

George Washington's service as a General doesn't really count. He lead a 'colonial' army in resistance to the British occupiers BEFORE there was a USA. So, his service as General is noted, but, it wasn't 'exactly' within the definitions of the USA in its entirety. He had to win the war before he became President. A little bit different than the generals below.


John McCain's highest rank was captain (click here) and there hasn't been a General in the Executive Branch of the government since Eisenhower.

Rutherford B. Hayes (elected in 1876) was a major general who served under Philip Sheridan in the Shenandoah campaign.

James A. Garfield (elected in 1880) was a major general who served under George Thomas at Chickamauga.

Chester A. Arthur, was a brigadier general who served as quartermaster general of the New York State Militia in the Civil War.

Benjamin Harrison (elected in 1888) was a brigadier general who served under Joseph Hooker in the Atlanta campaign.

I actually think this is a dead issue, except for the Christian Conservative voters for McCain. In recent history the 'ranks' of the presidency was as follows:

Walker Bush was a 1st Lieutenant. That didn't seem to teach him a darn thing about appropriate war time diplomacy, but, only 'desperate' tactics like water boarding and torture.

H. W. Bush was a Lieutenant. He threw Saddam out of Kuwait with the help of Powell, but, he didn't have any kind of a viable Homeland economy and was in office for ONLY four years. Bush, Jr. didn't have any kind of a 'real' economy. He had some wartime economics and then he 'blew smoke' up everyone's skirts to falsely inflate the 'idea' of a booming economy and then the housing 'bubble' burst.

Ronald Regan was a captain. He was stateside during the entire WW II episode and then in the Army Reserves until he was discharged. Let's face it, Ronald Reagan had no policies either EXCEPT deregulation. He was responsible for the Iran-Contra Affair. You know, Ollie Gate and all that mess.

Jimmy Carter was a Lieutenant, but, that didn't help with the Iran Hostage situation. I mean he tried to rescue the hostages, but, the desert operation was a disaster.

Gerald Ford was a Lt. Commander during WW II. His time in the Executive Branch saw the end of the Vietnam War. So it would seem his 'insight' from his war years was to 'end it' in the face of exploitive economics that were developed by Nixon and Bell Helicopter. McCain was a prisoner in Vietnam. I would think he would find the example set by Ford more than inspiring. "W"rong !

Nixon was a commander during WW II. Even the Dilantin he took to treat his psychosis didn't help. Do the soldiers returning from Iraq get their Dilantin without cost? Do they get treatment in time to save their lives? No? Why not?

Lyndon Johnson was a subordinant Lt. Commander during WW II in the navy reserves. We all know what happened there. He continued to be subordinate and succumbed to pressure to engage in a war in Vietnam. He was wrong to do so, but, here again we are looking at a Texan that simply wanted to make money. There was a lot of pressure on the Executive Branch to enter Vietnam. It was 'sorta' on the heels of the Eisenhower presidency whereby the nation thought generals were peachy-keen. But, Vietnam was a royal disaster and McCain can thank a Democrat for his bragging rights to his POW status.

And before we get to the ONLY General to become President that wasn't a joke, there was JFK. We lost him. He was a great man. He 'took on' the ESTABLISHMENT with his brother Bobby at his side. Barak in many ways walks in Jack's shadow. They are both historically looking like brothers of 'Traditional Democratic' values. The both distained the 'DC Insider' government that propagates corruption as on K Street. It is a little scary to realize Barak, now forty-five years after Jack was killed IS challenging a nation to move beyond its prejudices and reach to a day when the USA returns to its luster as in the Kennedy years.

JFK was a Lieutenant in the Navy. We all know about his injuries and how it plagued his life even in the Oval Office. His 'battles' during his Presidency weren't necessarily 'glorious' when one looks to The Bay of Pigs (click here), but, the Russians weren't successful in Cuba and he simply 'pissed off' Khrushchev (click here). I mean Khrushchev was in the United Nations banging his shoe on the table in frustration of Kennedy.

I'll tell you something and Vladimir won't like this, but, he could use a little reflection on the actions of the former SOVIET's leader. This isn't exactly a clear analogy and one has to be careful to bring up the name of al Qaeda these days. Or maybe not. I mean Osama bin Laden is still out there and wanted by the USA intelligence networks with a price on his head of $25 million. You know Halliburton should double that bounty, don't you think?

But, back to the Soviets under Nikita and Putin's much needed reflection that should 'inspire' image makers to work on Russia's 'likability' quotient.

Khrushchev was a bit 'al Qaeda like' but on a much larger and sophisticated scale. The Soviet Union was a Superpower after all. But, he looked at a young Jack Kennedy and the royal failure of the Bay of Pigs and decided 'he could get one over on him.' So, he tried to load nuclear weapon silos into Cuba. Those tactics by Nikita were completely an attempt to be 'sneaky' in HOPES that Kennedy was to naive to even detect the trouble. That says something about 'the idea' of naivety and the success of a President.

Barak is a Senator. He is not naive to any 'intelligence' in the community of the USA government. I am confident before he voted "NO" to the invasion into Iraq he read carefully the 'lack of intelligence' that existed to support such an invasion. The Iraq invasion was completely unjustified and we all know that. I do believe John McCain voted to invade Iraq, did he not? I am sure he read the SAME lack of evidence as Barak. Right? It would seem as though there is more naivety by McCain regarding Iraq than there could ever be of Barak. Hello?

And last but not least, is Dwight David Eisenhower. Dwight, sounds like one is studdering trying to say White. But, to not be glib. Eisenhower was no joke. He was THE General of the Army. He was Supreme Allied Commander in Europe and his career lasted just shy of forty years. He had seen it all and he never turned from the dedication of being a military man. Forty years of dedication is one of the most significant lives in USA history. He defeated Hitler. He was the man. What else do you say? Others helped, but, if Eisenhower hadn't gone into Europe, Churchill or DeGaulle would not have been sitting by his side, okay? Yes? Yes.

We all know that Bill Clinton never served in the military. As Barak hasn't. But, Clinton and the generation of Democrats POST Vietnam, turned away from 'glamorizing' the idea of 'the military.' As we all have witnessed with Bush's huge warring blunder, 'terrroists' can't be thwarted by 'Conventional' warfare. They can't be captured by a 'Surge in Iraq' when the enemy is in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

To prove even further the 'lack of success' conventional warfare plays in stopping and capturing terrorists that live in the most remote areas of the world, when Osama bin Laden was heard on 'walkie-talkies' in Tora Bora, he was nearly at arms length to capture and what did the military do? Well, you have to know that if bin Laden was captured, that the war would be over. We would then have 'The Terrorist' most responsible for the attacks of September 11th. There would be no excuse to move into Iraq. Right?

So, in regards to Tora Bora, it looks to me as though Don Rumsfeld intentionally 'blew it.' He had bin Laden in his sights. This was the terrorist that was the reason why we invaded Afghanistan. Yes? Yes. Definately yes. And while CIA was radioing to others their NEEDS for a successful military campaign in Tora Bora to capture or kill bin Laden; Rumsfeld was downplaying those demands and sent in woefully far less than was REQUIRED to stop The Terrorist Network of al Qaeda. Amazing. He sent in Daisy Cutters. Daisy Cutters. Do you think our 'ground military' could even maneuver in the region KNOWING that Daisy Cutter bombs were going to be dropped near their location? Heck no. What the HELL did Rumsfeld think he was doing, EXCEPT, loss the battle. Don't tell me that Rumsfeld 'misunderstood' or 'didn't have the experience.' I mean EXCUSE making for Bush's Blundering Wars is OVER, people ! Over !!!!!

So, to look at all the presidents of the USA. I mean all of them and their 'expertise' in office in leading the USA, there doesn't seem to be a correlation to their military service, now does there? Of the majority of presidents that served in the Oval Office that were involved in the military sometime as an American, there is little to NO correlation between their success in war as Commander and Chief. If anything, the USA is more a blunderer in regard to wars since Eisenhower, than any other descriptor one can find.

Hitler was defeated. He was defeated by Eisenhower. The world learned of the greatness of the USA due to the career dedication of ONE MAN. The world learned that despicable people with the ability to dominate global populations need to be watched. The world learned that putting such people 'on trial' according to the Geneva Conventions at The World Court was far better, even if not perfect, than allowing countries to be dominated by Mad Men and 'risking' war without end on a planet shrinking in its ability to sustain growing populations of humans.

The 'idea' that war is a necessity in the year 2008 is hideous. The efforts to end terrorism are far more intricate than anyone speaks of these days. In actuality, it is the sovereignty of nations that will defeat terrorist networks and NOT invading armies. Invading armies will INCREASE the likelihood and propagation of terrorist networks. War and impoverishment doesn't stop terrorists, it assists them.

The USA needs to 'get over' its 'idenity crisis' when it comes to choosing a President. The USA needs to stop defining 'that defining moment' in the Voting Booth as one that has to indicate a choice of a great military career to enhance the powers of the Executive Branch. I propose the idea that 'affilaitions' with military might only corrupts power. While a President has to make decisions in advise of his generals, we need a President/Commander and Chief that can also 'get along' with generals and keep them from retiring every six months. A President of the USA has to be willing to ACCEPT the advise of his generals and not demand them to ACT according to Executive Branch 'political agendas.'

WW II was NOT a political agenda. Iraq definately was and continues to be.

The issue regarding the military is whether or not we have a RETURN to Peace Time and that REQUIRES diplomacy and not strong arm military tactics. Wesley Clark is looking somewhat like the 'attention seeking' Reverend Jeremiah Wright long about now. Is Wes vying for Vice President? I don't believe he'll be Barak's first choice.

end

Plains storms kill 2, disrupt Olympic hopefuls

Damage to the exterior of the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb., is visible after a severe storm with strong winds swept through Omaha on Friday, June 27, 2008, forcing swimmers at the Qwest Center, who were practicing for the U.S. Olympic trials, to evacuate pools. The storm canceled an outdoor concert and knocking out power to large parts of the city. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

By ANNA JO BRATTON – 13 hours ago
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Severe storms with strong winds swept through the Plains on Friday, forcing swimmers practicing for U.S. Olympic trials in Omaha to flee pools and run for cover, killing two teenagers in Iowa, and knocking out power to thousands....

The names of the dead were not reported. Perhaps because they were minors. They reported the names of the scouts killed in Iowa.

...A spokesman for the Omaha Public Power District said more than a third of its customers were without power. The district serves 330,000 customers. There were widespread power failures in Council Bluffs, and Bailey said the police department was on auxiliary power.
The Missouri River Wastewater Treatment Plant, which serves the Omaha area, lost power, said Bryan Cook, duty officer for Nebraska Emergency Management.
Untreated wastewater was being discharged into the Missouri River, said Joe Gudenrath, spokesman for Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey. City officials told people to avoid wading or swimming in the water in the stretch of the river that passes by Omaha, and several miles downstream.
Outside the Qwest Center, chunks of what appeared to be material from the building were scattered about....

Why do they come to the USA? This really should be a topic to explore further as it is rarely represented 'in context' with the media. Ad space, etc

I am assuming this is a picture of the Coral Gables, Florida resident by the name of Juan Carlos Serrano (click here). It took some looking to find this and come to understand 'an example' of the immigration of illegals in the USA. Unfortunately, Mr. Serrano's family is considered illegal even though he is a citizen. A legal citizen that evidently went through the process correctly.

It is stated in the Miami Herald that this gentlemen is 34 years old now and has been residing in the USA as a citizen for 3 years. It would be a reasonable assumption to believe this is he. The picture was taken at a Venezuela Workshop for professionals by Linux (click here). Probably not an everyday occurrence in Venezuela either, so it is easy to assume to qualify as someone who should attend this workship, such as Mr. Serrano, he was an accomplished professional in Venezuela. The workship took place in 2003 (click here - if one opens up the PDF the date 2003 is seen), which was five years ago, and would also be in line with Mr. Serrano's story line.

But, to prevent victimization, let's just say all this is fictious while keeping with these values. A 34 year old professional, trained in Venezuela after escaping Cuba comes to the USA and now wants to bring his family to the USA. I think that is an interesting set of circumstances, so I want to just 'go with it' and 'tease out' a reality rarely visited by Americans about their immigration policies.

The immigration polices of the USA are, in my opinion, fairly liberal especially where it brings high level talent to the American workforce. To say Mr. Serrano's family should be in the USA with him is a given. For any naturalized citizen that has come to the USA while enhancing the 'brain trust' and providing skills where needed to an employers needs is a valuable citizen to this country and should have their families processed to their citizenship in a way perscribed by the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

To first realize the Miami Herald article (click at title to entry) states the policies 'at the border' need to be applied equitably to all those that cross it, is correct. There should be no favoritism or adverse discrimination. In a case like this, while the Immigration Laws are investigated to the best applied to the situation, whether humanitarian or Habeous corpus issues that require 'sanctuary' or 'political asylum', there was no reason for a family to be detained when the person involved is a naturalized citizen with a job, history of paying taxes and good citizenship.

All that is a given and I agree with the article's author in regard to that. However, these circumstances provide a different opportunity and why the USA runs into problems with struggling Latin American countries such as Venezula and Cuba.

References to this entry:
Amnesty International Reviews

Current Reviews of Venezuela (click here)

Venezuela Human Rights under Threat (2004) PDF (click here). This is a description of the 'danger' that existed to the populous of Venezula during the elections of 2004. Mind you, Venezuela while having its own military still has 'militias' which sometimes agree with the government and sometimes don't. So, when 'outbreaks' like this occur it is not entirely the fault of the government even though the government gets blamed for it. Venezuela's militias are also a reason why President Hugo knows intimately about that infrastruture throughout the region. These militias are fluid in structure and activity and do not have borders. The militias are also known to protect at times cultures within the country side that would not necessarily exist without them and they are also known to act inappropriately against authority. It is why they exist 'among the people' that might not otherwise have representation or survival. I have no doubt there are militia members within the Venezuelan military as well.
..............

US Department of State Review
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005 (click here)
Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and LaborMarch 8, 2006
Venezuela is a constitutional democracy with a population of approximately 25 million. In 2000 voters elected President Hugo Chavez of the Fifth Republic Movement (MVR) in generally free and fair elections. While civilian authorities generally maintained control of the security forces, there were instances in which elements of the security forces acted independently of government authority.
Politicization of the judiciary, restrictions on the media, and harassment of the political opposition continued to characterize the human rights situation during the year. The government used the justice system selectively against the political opposition and implementation of a 2004 media law threatened to limit press freedom....

To return to my argument.

When people immigrate to the USA it is usually to enhance the need for their talents by the USA, the most common profession impacted by immigration is nursing. There is a shortage of American nurses in the USA and there is an opportunity for immigration that is continuous. The policies serve the purpose they need when hospitals recuit foreign nurses. Let's just say the same is true of computer specialists that come to the USA as Mr. Serrano has.

What did that do to Venezuela and the polices of that country?

Here a young professional that immigrated to Venezuela from Cuba, was trained outside the USA with the monies of a 'socialized' system of government and wealth. He left Venezuela and with no cost to the USA he is now a citizen here. That means he came as a qualified individual, trained by monies outside the USA, to work a job vacancy in a country, namely the USA, whose educational loans and grants have been cut to the bone by Neocons.

That is not depriving in a real way the American workers unable to achieve financial loans and grants to move into that profession?

That is not depriving Venezuela of it's brain trust?

You betcha.

The current policies of the Immigration and Naturalization Service allows and almost encourages people to immigrate here that are professionals with substantial incomes, before and after arriving, to 'fill in' gaps in the USA workforce while depriving citizens of THE OPPORTUNITY to improve their lives. Not only that, but, the No Child Left Behind changes to the American educational system is an abject failure, placing more American citizens 'at risk' for failure in school, leading to far higher 'drop out' rates, increasing 'teen pregnancy,' increasing 'substance abuse,' increasing 'crime rates,' diminishing 'university enrollment' and basically impoverishing the USA of 'naturally-born citizens' to continue to supply 'talent' to the country's brain trust and work force.

The really 'funny' thing about it is this. Even Mr. Serrano's employment here, while bringing his family here, is not going to get him what he came for. As he might, in his own personal capacity, be able to 'do well' in the USA, but, he is now exposing his family and children to an educational system already 'broken.' In other words, the very 'lack of financial opportunity' Mr. Serrano left behind in Cuba and Venezuela; he is now exposing the 'next' generation that he is raising as children, to the same, if not worse lack of oppourtunity afforded HIM by the socialized system and government he obtained his abilities. I don't buy the argument that 'any education' in the USA is better than elsewhere. That is a hideous argument that propagates failure domestically and abroad.

Now, about Venezuela.

Venezuela's socialized government made an investment. They educated people like Mr. Serrano to 'compliment' the brain trust of Venezuela. There is not the financial opportunity for his talents in Venezuela because it is not a First World country. When professionals like this receive training/education from Multi-national companies that are supposed to be acting in humanitarian capacity by 'sharing the wealth' in places like Venezuela to 'bring them up to speed' and encourage upward movement of that society toward First World status, but then also provide emmigration issues, then what has Venezuela achieved and why do the governments like Venezuela have adverse policies toward the USA?

If Hugo Chavez cannot achieve in a generation or so movement in his country a better economic status for his people, the country of Venezuela is put on a 'perverbial WAIT LIST' while people that immigrate to the USA economy are 'cherry picked' to benefit American economic structure. How many generations of Venezuelans have to suffer through these type of hideous fluctuations in their socieites before there is improvement in THEIR economic status while supplying the USA with their oil? Even with their brain trust?

What does that do to the militias and their belief systems that the Venezuelian government will never be able to address the needs and survival of the people?

Basically.

When will the policies of the USA government STOP treating the rest of the world as it's oyster and start benefiting its own citizens while ACTUALLY improving the conditions of the people of Venezuela by improving the quality of life of professionals within that society and expanding THEIR universities and training centers without degradation of THEIR work force?

Chavez threatens to stop oil exports over new EU immigration laws (click here)
Jun 19, 2008
CARACAS (AFP) — President Hugo Chavez threatened Thursday to shut off oil exports to European countries that enforce tough new EU rules on illegal immigrants.
"Our petroleum should not go to these European countries" that apply the new laws, Chavez said at a press conference here.
Just as European nations could return undocumented immigrants to their country of origin, Latin American countries could also decide "the return of European investments," Chavez said.
"At least in Venezuela," he said. "We don't need them here."
Chavez said that his government would "review the investments that they (the Europeans) have here to see if we can also apply a 'return directive'."
The European Union adopted tough new rules Wednesday on illegal immigrants, allowing detention for up to 18 months prior to expulsion, and angering human rights groups....

Chavez is stating he opposes the 'detention' for the sake of humanitarian efforts. The EU is stating 'we don't need them either.' Yet, due to lack of fiscal growth in Venezuela there is no place for these people, AT ALL. To literally dump the impoverished illegals on other countries relieves the issues of Venezuela of dependancy of people unable to 'produce' for their societies.

The same exact relationship has existed between Mexico and the USA for centuries and now with a diminished and out sourced economy, rising costs of government to handle illegal immigration issues, the problem in the USA has to be solved. I have stated on many an occassion, the issue is NOT illegal immigration, it is the ILLEGAL EMMIGRATION that is allowed by these fiscally poor countries as a 'state approved' welfare system that is the issue.

It is true of Mexico and it is true of countries like Venezuela. There are dynamics at work that undermine the American workforce while improving corporate profits AT THE COST of people on both sides of immigration. When Venezuela can become attractive enough for professionals to stay in their native countries, the USA will be forced to 'invest' in its work force again providing student loans and grants returning 'The American Dream' to all.

There is a reason the 'recession' in the USA is still growing and it isn't completely about housing either. It is about the cost of 'the loss' of American expertise throughout the nation and quiet possibly the world.