Let the Right One In

The long existing question as to how vampires survive has been answered.
Man, what a blastedly good thriller film this was.
This Swedish interpretation of survival of modern day vampires felt as though there was blood in the aisles. No lie. There was no lack of frankly obvious blood and decaying bodies.
The real clincher to this thriller was the 'child' element. For all my life I have envisioned vampires as adults. Well, guess what? They can be children, too.
The logic in this thriller jars the conscious and compels the viewer. The victimization of the pschye by the reality of a child vampire and what that means to parenting became all to imposing.
Magnificent work.
Within this thriller existed the Michael Moore theme of 'justice of the underdog' and that was more amazing than any other aspect of the festival that blended an emotional rollercoaster into its content and interest.
I could not believe this film was conceived and actually existed. It was entertainment unexpected and refreshing at a point in the festival where distraction served to return me to reality 'of the moment.'

Head Wind

Iranaians are NOT in isolation. I can only imagine what the Bush Propaganda media is doing to these people.
The other title to the film should be "How to make an Ayatollah crazy."
The state run media of Iran has little affect to the majority of those influenced by 'independent television access.
The West needs to relax as there is no danger to the proliferation of independent media in Iran. The determination that these folks seek 'homemade' satellite dishes is daughting. I wonder how much Israeli TV is actually viewed in Iran.
The Iranian government virtually has given up in attempting control of the volume if satellite dish TV among its populous. The police run raids on occassion to keep the Ayatollah happy, but, as soon as the dishes are gone there are more in their place.
The film is more a reality into the lack of understanding of commercial ventures than it is anti-Ayatollah. The satellite dish network of Iran is alive and healthy facilitated by entrepeneurs that manufacture their products in very primative methods. The manufacturer of the satellite dishes literally delivers it by bicycle and sets up the signal to the awaiting television as well.
This film was absolutely amazing and speaks to the commonality of the human experience and the need for self gratification and freedom.
I found it more entertaining than enlightening. I sincerely am not afraid of Iran, so much concerned for its corner on primative independent media moguls.

Body of War

An adventure worth taking with Phil Donahue (click here).
I passed up "Kenny" to stand in a waiting line for this film. It was worth every minute of waiting.
I did not anticipate the strong anti-war content. I thought this would be a film that would simply honor 'the veteran,' but it also provided opposition to the Iraq invasion that was 'new' and completely welcome.
Body of War took great pains to allow the personality of its subject to dominate the content of the film. We all are aware of Iraq War Veterans Against the War that sometimes is viewed by a greater society as a 'grudge match' with the priorities of war by the current administration. This film removes any doubt regarding the 'disposable' nature assigned by The Bush/Cheney Executive Branch of our miiltary personnel.
Phil took the reality of his subject to a level any organized and commercial media service never broached, not even The Washington Post in its criticism of Walter Reed.
Our soldiers are being given 'The Bums' Rush' when it comes to their war injuries and any potential for complete recovery or ability to live a quasi-normal life.
The film made me wonder if The Geneva Conventions covered the abuse of a government of its veterans, because there are 'human rights' violations of the American military personnel as well as their recruiting services that became an underlying reality of this film. The expectations of this veteran for his purpose in enlisting and the resultant life 'he was left' are nothing short of 'merchanising' war for palatability with no promise by the USA military to live up to its' commercialization of war.
The physical condition of this generation of Disabled Vet is grossly different with poorer prognosis than I ever expected going into this film. Phil provided an opportunity for this veteran to meet one of a previous war. The 'time' given in recovery to past generations of Disabled Vets was vastly more comprehensive, both in 'physical content and the prioriites of mental health.' Tomas, the subject of the film, literally loses his very promising marriage to ghosts of masculine failure. Those quality of life issues were NOT a problem to a role model Tomas visited which clearly defined an America 'out of sync' with its loyality to their soldiers.
Phil Donahue's commitment to his subject didn't stop with Tomas' message regarding the war, it portrayed in unspoken images the reality of a man neglected by his country. It made me wonder how much of an Iraq War Disabled Veteran's life was for the purpose of medical research rather than support for body and life style changes, because their mental health has been completely discarded as a priority.
Phil's dedication to his subject resulted in a friendship that continues today. He informed the audience to the continually deteriorating physical condition of Tomas which was undoubtedly faciliated by his aloneness in life.
Senator Byrd appears in the film as a friend to Tomas. Together they mark the legislators that voted 'NO' to Iraq's illegal invasion. Senator Byrd characterizes the nay sayers as "The Immortal 23." And indeed, the reality to that fact is overwhelming.

Up The Yangtze

The picture above did not cinematically dominate the film content in actual film footage or time so much as theme. The film focused most of its cinematography on a tourist boat of the Yangtze River. This river was 'lost' in its natural spendor to the demands of The Three Gorges Dam.
The social content of the picture was dramatic including loss of opportunity of Chinese youth to advanced education due to economic strife. Don't tell me for one minute that is not a growing reality in the USA, because it is and what overwhelming is a burgeoning awareness to 'cultural content' of countries dominated by Bush Empire Dreamscapes.
The film chronicled the change in the water levels, both actual and anticipated, of a river that would contribute to a huge China project that may prove to provide necessary water to the people of that nation, if the dam holds up to the 'weight stress' of such high volunes of water behind concrete..
As witnessed with the 2008 Olympics as well, China goes to great length to portray an image that is immaculate of flaws. To that end the people of China are served in their importance and political dedication to them.
China is a People's Republic. It should pay attention to its populous and be the promise of their futures. In that reality is also the content of high population demands met by a government that copes as best it can.
The film is not a ridicule to China, except in the minds of the movie goers. There was every reason to believe the Chinese government actually consented to this film as it portrays a strong reality in the sacrifices of its younger members in finding a foothold to economic survival. It also reveals a commitment to 'love of family' with a reality tempered by the demands of Communism and its removal of family members to work priorities.
The success to these huge building projects by China is not due to mechanization facilitated by fiscal wealth, but, in harnessing physical laborers to accomplish what many smaller countries with similar economic issues cannot achieve. Every brick laid for the 'lining' of the water canal leading to the dam was by hand. That goes for the manufacture of the stones themselves.
China is a not a 'comfy' country to live in and relies on its people to facilitate its growth. There is no way American labor wages can apply in China, but, the nation does need to provide a great health care content to its rural populations. If the Chinese people love their country enough to devote lives to its construction and uplifting from impoverishment, then they should be supplied a healthful longevity that rewards the reflection of old age.
The film is cinematically rich and when put into content to China's political reality vs USA becomes more revealing than the average film goer might anticipate. I enjoyed it, especially in 'revealing' the Chinese struggle as well as its success.
Excellant film.

Bigger, Stronger, Faster

Wicked co-dependency.

The film places into perspective the reality of anabolic steriods and the unfortunate relationship they have with the American male persona.

It profiles three brothers and their exposure to a male identity that should be shelved along with the morphing of GI Joe through the years.

The reality is that 'risk taking' with anabolic steriods is more demonized than reality. The dangers of 'using' are real, but, they are also in the minority of health concerns of American men and boys.

At the other end of 'using' are real rewards in that if 'you make it' there is wealth and financial security. It should be noted the success of such priorities in the USA only propagates the abuse of average people that are conceptualizing their own opportunity.

"Using" anabolic steriods surmounts to 'living a lie.' The realities of 'super-human' content exist through eugenics. The film also and appropriately so, examines this fact of life. In other words, if genetics can be captured by those that can afford it to harness economic success then why shouldn't those that can't afford it be excluded from that exclusive club? Anabolic steriods is the answer to 'average genetic content' in a world destined to win at all costs, including 'Speedo suits' that are either standard issue to all Olympic swimmers OR NOT !

The film was a real eye opener in that it revealed a reality not pursued by media that see opposition to anabolic steriod use as a political volley for Republicans and a distraction from illegal wars.

The moral content to this film was gratifying while it explored 'the truth' beyond a shadow of a doubt regarding anabolic steriods.

This film was no different at its conclusion than most of the others which provided access to the film makers and stars for Q and A sessions. It was interesting to say the least.

The Youngest Candidate

This is the film I longed to see from the first view of the festival catalog. I had no idea the director of the film was actually a Michael Moore prodigy.

The film followed the burgeoning careers of four political candidates that some would characterize as 'bearly out of diapers.'

I was completely 'about this concept'. The driving force behind the promotion of young candidates has several venues.

To begin, our political content in the USA has become 'Old World,' in that, it has also become corrupted. If there is one reality this film portrayed with each candiate is their commitment to wholesomeness of character while promoting their belief in 'truth in government and lack of corruption.'

These young people are exciting and full of potential. To that end, Mr. Pollock has not abandoned them to their inability to be elected 'in the first go round.' He is forming a non-profit group to support these young people and faciliate their priorities for government without thrusting their defeat into priorities of 'becoming part of the problem' in order to be elected.

This film has potential beyond its content. It has the promise of a return to government of, by and for the people. It 'sorta' is a film before its time, except, in the year 2008 we actually do have a "Candidate for Change."

4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days

The female plight of having, but, not owning a uterus. It 'examines' the reality of a country, namely Romania, and its lack of comprehensive support to women (click here).

This film was long overdue to be shown in the USA. It encompasses a 'revisit' to the nighmarish reality of women that are faced with lack of access to abortion. Increasingly in the USA, the political content of legalized abortion is shrinking to the point of enforcing 'back street' abortions once again. We have already witnessed women 'taking chances' with their lives in having the force of baseball bats leveled against already expectant bellies.

To that end, this film provides some of the most desperate of circumstances of women faced with few choices in birth control, while exploited for their sexual nature to a society that little values them otherwise.

Impoverishment of culture is the underlying content to this film. Where a society seeks richness in cultural content it extends its ability to support an economy that uplifts both genders and provides opportunity.

In a waning economic reality of the USA that permeates global dynamics one of the first places women will find suffering is their 'uterine' reality.

Women were born with a uterus, that does NOT entitle any society to 'trap' them into a reality of servitude to its potential.

This film is powerfully contented with completely disgusting potentials to a reality that at one time the USA left behind as a form of gender slavery.

Sleep Dealer

Nothing short of scary.

This film delves into the 'values' affiliated with the illegal immigration of the Mexican-American border. It explores a reality yet to be realized in that people whom would risk their lives to cross the border to the USA engaged in risking their lives by becoming a cyborg to the American construction industry.

The characters all have interesting, but, desperate content to their personalities while exploiting the realities of cyborg opportunities for an income in a 'speciality city' in Mexico. They become 'equipped' with electronic enhancements to their neuro-muscular systems that literally could kill them if not exhaust them into submission for the lack of a vital economy in Mexico.

The 'back drop' to the movement of the characters to this particular fictious city in Mexico is the 'reality' of the very poor water quality and availability to the people of Mexico.

The film is exciting and action packed with political imagineering.

I liked this film as it gave permission for exploration into the pains of illegal immigration which will probably come to an end with the next USA Presidential elections and a change in policy with Mexico that faciliates its own economy while disabling it as a parasite to the USA.

Persepolis (The Movie) - My first movie of the festival.

The name of the film is actually an ancient site in Iran. The site's Iranian name is Takht-e-Jamshid, "The throne of Jamshid", a mythical King of Iran.
The ancient name is "Parsa", "Pars's Town". Provincial of Fars. Altitude 1,800 meters, 60 km N-E of Shiraz on an excellent road, 420 km S of Esfahan on a good road. International airport at Shiraz. National airport at Persepolis. (click here).

That stated, this was one of the many films that lavished the 'theme' of woman.
It followed an Iranian girl through her years of growing up which included tragedy in deaths of children little different from herself. This film also had a 'safety' element to it in that the girl was protected by doting Iranian parents 'in tune' to the dangers of living within a country then pulsing with political and military uncertainty.
Her young adult years were spent aboard; no different than many wealthy children exported for their own safety and intellectual enhancement.
She proved to find life challenging 'in The West' and eventually returned home where her values did not conflict with culture surrounding her life circumstances.
The film is animated in tones of black and white which allows its treacherous emotional content to be digested without overwhelming the psyche. It is not light in content, but, well done and worth seeing. It left a lasting impression on me, but, then that is the case with most of the films at this festival.

Opening Night Party of the Fourth Traverse City Film Festival

Traverse City, Michigan is a great little town, poised on Lake Michigan, there is always a breeze that provides for a pleasant climate no matter the weather.

The evening of "The Opening" was faced with a threat of strong storms. The Opening Night Party was moved from Wade-Trim to a huge tent at the Village at Grand Traverse Commons. This type of foresight in the 'detail' attended to by Michael Moore personally is simply astounding. You have to know that everyone attending is accepted as 'his personal friend' and nothing less.

At one point when 'festival transportation' was challenged with 'street fair traffic' Mike stated he would personally transport anyone needing same within the festival activities if there was failure otherwise. Mike is a good and loyal friend and that is translated into every aspect of this festival.

To that reality proves a successful film festival now in its fourth year and continuing to grow with the bravery that takes. It makes the Traverse City Film Festival experience a challenge and 'a reality check,' especially for someone that has attended from its beginning. Make no doubt about it, the TCFF is a powerhouse of political content and there is no end in sight.

Getting past 'the safe haven' that surrounds TFCC, the enjoyment of the evening is not to be understated. The tent was filled with music for dancing within reasonable decibels that filled the dance floor while catered food and spirits flowed without end.

To coin a cliche, "A good time was enjoyed by all," with the band never holding back.

The beginning of the festival was enhanced by a volley of bids for Mike's Baseball Cap which spilled over onto the dance floor when Michael made an appearance. There is a stunning sporting rivalry between the universities in Michigan and to that end donations were volleyed to enhance 'the fun' of the atmosphere permeating the festival.

Great evening. Thank you, Mike.

Opening Night Film - Vicky Christina Barcelona

The film was completely enjoyable, but, the overwhelming theme was simply "The man is a gland," which brings me to the question, "What is it with Woody Allen?"

The film was pure entertainment and the stars were absolutely wonderful. The undertone to the film was serious. It was the indulgence of adult sexuality and its rewards and pitfalls.

In a world where woman are coveted as 'political icons' this film completely dispells that reality and places women back 'in the game' of sexuality and fun. I applaud Woody Allen for that affirmation of adult consent, as it is long overdue and completely needed in a nation 'Post Bush.'

Thank you, Woody, the film fest would not have been the same without both you and the stars that lined the 'activity' within the film that created 'adult adventure' and 'permission.'

Life is supposed to be spicey and a relief to any 'life worth living' when mundane boredom surmounts the values of 'societal consent.'

Great film, good fun.

With the price of gas and the reality of Human Induced Global Warming, simply getting to Traverse City proved worth it.

It's Wednesday Morning

Cherry, Cherry by Neil Diamond

Baby loves me
Yes, yes she does
Ah, the girs outta sight, yeah
Says she loves me
Yes, yes she does
Gonna show me tonight, yeah

She got the way to move me, cherry
She got the way to groove me
She got the way to move me
She got the way to groove me

Tell your mama, girl, I cant stay long
We got things we gotta catch up on
Mmm, you know
You know what Im sayin
Cant stand still while the music is playin

Yaint got no right
No, no you dont
Ah, to be so exiting
Wont need bright lights
No, no we wontGonna make our own lightning

She got the way to move me, cherry
She got the way to groove me
She got the way to move me
She got the way to groove me

No, we wont tell a soul where we gone to
Girl, we do whatever we want to
Ah, I love the way that you do me
Cherry, babe, you really get to me

She got the way to move me, cherry
She got the way to groove me
She got the way to move me
She got the way to groove me

Let's take a look at the TCFF before the world goes into complete political collapse and WW III ensues.

Just a word about what is being volleyed about and I am not talking Olympics.

The circumstances in Georgia isn't about Russia, it is about the disproportionate hubris of The West. The last thing any country needs right now is someone like John McCain stating we are all Georgians and this is about Russia reclaiming the Russian Empire. I got the feeling McCain was about to declare war on Dead Czars.

We are not all Georgians and that is exactly the problem in that this is a highly ethnic region where by the 'break away' provinces are DEFINATELY not Georgians.

The map above clearly illustrates the 'consequences' to a passive Russia. Moscow is only a stone's throw from the conflict region and the place where Bush and the USA Republicans are willing to sell missile shield defenses.

Besides the obvious greed of USA military contractors in placing missile shields at Russian borders, it is completely obvious these so call 'strategic' locations are simply an impetus to further war. Like, ah, why are not they selling missile defense to Russia if Iran is such a threat to the ENTIRE region?

If Germany feels threatened by Iran missiles then they need to locate their 'defense arsenal of missile shield' in Germany. The fact of the matter is that would irritate economic ties between Germany and Russia and therefore The West and its spineless strategy of using fossil fuels displaced their national defense needs on former Soviet states because they are 'easy pickins.'

Former Soviet States broke away from Russia and while Moscow continued to build diplomatic relationships with them, The West saw this as an opportunity to divide and conquer. While these 'nation/states' were within the 'concept' of Russian sovereignty The West wouldn't dream of treating them as potential for war paraphernalia market places.

The approach by and of these small nations was completely "W"rong and ill conceived, obviously based in 'profit/loss' statements and not sound foreign policy. These nations are tenuous at best. Economic strategies should have resulted and nothing more, while any military approach for them should have been in regard to 'internal' competencies which could later and easily be expanded to accommodate the approach of international defense strategies.

In other words, Bush/Cheney greed simply 'blew it.' They placed 'at risk' the very lives of the people of this region without any ability to secure their borders while using a 'blood sucking' strategy in Iraq and AGAIN substituting other countries people for their own military strength.

Russia simply observed, planned and deployed when necessary. The diplomatic corp of Russia chronically stated they would not tolerate The West's issues with them and they won't.

The 'idea' Bush continues to propagate in that Russia is now his bastard child and ostracized from international relations and benevolence is nothing but rhetoric backed by the threat of nuclear holocaust. Plainly put, "The Bush/Cheney approach to international relations by escalating military build up is completely STUPID and this is the result." If one asked the people now dead, that weren't a week ago, they would say the same thing.

THE WORLD IS NOT THE USA'S OSYTER !!!!!!!!

Any UN Resolution that treats Russia as an invading entity, when it was their sovereignty at risk along with the 'ethnic sovereignty' of the regions in question will fail. Just because 'The West' is surprised and feels vulnerable now is no reason to over react, further 'wedging' Russia into a defensive stance will only guarantee escalation of the circumstances without any chance of resolve.

If the UN wants a 'fig leaf' extended in this conflict, it needs to elevate any concern by Russia in the face of obvious aggressions by current USA Foreign Policy. In doing so, it will extend 'the right' of Russia to exist and to act in protections of people that were once theirs to claim. When that is settled, there is no reason for peace to be evaded in the name of sovereignty and economic developments between all countries globally can flourish without fear of reprisal.

I remind that before there was an escalation of tensions, well over a year ago, between the USA's idea of 'international defense' and Russia's concerns for protection of their country and poeple, there was vast more economic 'fluidity' in the region INCLUDING that of Russia itself. The current 'state of affairs' of all these countries is to propagate war and you can place 'real money (if you have any)' on the idea of a 'war zone' between Europe and Russia which IS now established as The Former Soviet States. Is that what the UN wants as a final result of this decades long struggle?

Accepting Russia's right to exist while providing the 'idea' of 'safety' to the region that was once the USSR depends on 'cooperation' of concerns including Russia's desire to join international organizations such as NATO. If Russia were a member of NATO, it could hardly form strategies of defense against the very nations it was now aligned.

Russia is a major military power on Earth and the sooner all countries realize that and INCLUDE the Russian people in a global peace rather than a 'global conquest strategy' the sooner terrorist networks will be dismantled and NON-PROLIFERATION can ensue.

If anything is to be learned from this episode of Earth History regarding the 'tenuous' stability of global sovereignty; it is that 'pandering' to Neocons in order to control them is simply a stupid idea. "Playing" to Bush was an extremely poor idea and while the USA 'continues to be contained' in Iraq; to allow such 'ideas' of invasion, as if there was no other strategy against it, only allowed 'the build' up of military hardware globally and facilitated instability.

IF ANY COUNTRY needed economic sanctions over six years ago, it was the USA. It should have been limited in its 'content' internationally far more than it was and should have been forced to 'deal with' its 'real war' in Afghanistan while 'chalking up Saddam Hussein' to UN strategies that despite exploitation for wealth 'still worked' to contain any and all efforts otherwise.

Karzai tried to resolve tensions between Iran and the USA at the very onset of the Afghanistan invasion without the global acclaim by the UN and today The West is at risk of its own stability and sovereignty than ever before.

Honestly.

What has everyone been thinking?

They both crashed in Vietnam, but, Captain McCain found it necessary to victimize others?

John McCain needs to publicly apologize and set the record straight.


POW HOME: Lt. Col. Edison W. Miller, right, is shown Feb. 16, 1973 arriving home at Mirimar after more than five years in a Vietnamese POW camp. At left is Maj. Gen. Herman Poggemeyer.


MEDALS: Edison Miller who served in the Marines for more than 24 years displays the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart and other medals he was awarded for his service.
JEBB HARRIS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER


POW mate calls McCain 'liar' over 'turncoat' charge
Irvine resident Edison Miller is shown center, third from left, with a group of POWs meeting a delegation. He was shot down over Vietnam on Oct.13, 1967 and spent over 5 years as a POW.
COURTESY EDISON MILLER


Edison Miller is noted on the same page as the former Captain John McCain (click here). A US Captain had no right to ridicule any other downed pilot.

..."He lied about me," said the Irvine resident, who retired as a Marine Corps colonel shortly after the war. "The attacks on my character and integrity are totally without merit or justification. I did stand up and say the war was wrong. I would speak against the war, but I never spoke against my country. And I gave up no secrets."... (click here)

They were both POWs. This is inexcusable. I guess McCain needed to feel he was still captain of something.

Vietnam failed because it was an illegal and immoral war.

There were a lot of people against the Vietnam War and some were even killed on our own soil because of it (click here). Nixon ordered armed National Guard troops onto college campuses to kill innocent and unarmed people exerting their rights to freedom of speech, assembly and self-expression as citizens. The problem was a corrupt President !

Vietnam Veterans Against the War (click here).

West Point Graduates Against the War (click here)

Believers Against the War (click here)

Seeking out and knowing the truth regarding circumstances that engage USA soldiers in war and opposing the Executive Branch that violates that trust isn't a matter of being less a patriot.

It is a matter of being the greatest of patriots !

Is it over? For today, at least.

Russia didn't invade Georgia to turn around and simply slap the wrist of the arrogance of Georgian aggression. Russia is in it for the long haul and it won't give up its position with Georgia for some time.

I believe Moscow is asking for the resignation of the Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. It sounds like a fair trade for peace. In this way, a new president of Georgia an be chosen that will better get along with Russia to calm the redrawn borders that was once Georgia's to claim.

In all honesty, the UN proposal is high handed and villianizes Russia, again.

It's like playing poker at this point. The Europeans and Americans were completely caught off guard by the clash and now seeks to neutralize the circumstances to 'regroup' and place themselves in a better position to retaliate.

I don't think that will be possible.

The USA has too many 'war irons' in the fire and nuclear exchanges are simply out of the question unless Bush/Cheney get really stupid. The attitudes and platitudes of the UN is simply unrealistic and an insult to a sincere outcome to any expectations.

Medvedev raises two conditions for peace in Georgia (click here)
12 Aug 2008 11:22:46 GMT 12 Aug 2008 11:22:46 GMT Source: Reuters
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, in Moscow to promote an international plan to end hostilities, called for fast efforts to create a timetable to ensure all forces returned to previous positions.
"We can discuss the question of a definitive settlement if two conditions are met," Medvedev, who earlier announced a halt to military operations, said in the Kremlin before meeting the French leader.
"First, Georgian troops should return to their initial position and be partly demilitarised. Second, we need to sign a binding agreement on non-use of force."
Sarkozy, trying to adopt an even-handed approach to the conflict, welcomed the announcement of a Russian halt to military operations....


...The French foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, has preceded his boss to the region. France last night circulated a draft resolution at the UN security council calling for an "immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities and the complete withdrawal or Russian and Georgian forces" before August 7.
Other elements of the plan call for a humanitarian corridor and for a European peacekeeping force to replace the Russian "peacekeepers", which have been deployed in South Ossetia since 1992. Eager for a lifeline out of the mess it has unwittingly created, Georgia has accepted the proposal.
But the Russians are not biting. They are unhappy that the resolution, in the words of their ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, is "too soft" on Georgia, and contains "no reference to Georgian aggression or Georgian atrocities"....

What happens to Earth's troposphere when the Arctic Ocean continues to warm?

...But recent storms in the Beaufort region "triggered steep ice losses," he said, "and it now looks as if it will be a very close call indeed whether 2007 or 2008 is the worst year on record for ice cover over the Arctic."...


Will the Arctic Winter BE ENOUGH to sustain a benevolent troposphere. Not likely. This winter will provide 'some' insight to the waxing and waning of very thin Arctic Ocean Ice. The North Pole will require monitoring to realize the extent that its Dark Winter will allow for some ice formation. It is my estimate that once the ocean is 'ice free' in September the waters will continue to warm and global tempertures will escalate all that much quicker.

Just because the ice is gone, doesn't mean the dangers to Earth are over. The Arctic Ocean melted due to increased levels of carbon dioxide spawned by American Consumerism and its export. Once the ice is gone from the Arctic Ocean, the waters will continue to warm. There is a real question about the benevolent future of Earth.


The Polar Bear Club going for a swim in Prudhoe Bay and the Arctic Ocean at the end of the Dalton Highway, Alaska

'Unprecedented' melt sinks hope for Arctic ice recovery (click here)
Rapid disintegration of ocean ice cover on track to set record
Randy Boswell, The Ottawa CitizenPublished: Monday, August 11, 2008
OTTAWA - The Arctic Ocean ice cover, which appeared earlier this summer to be headed for a moderate recovery after last year's record-setting retreat, has begun disintegrating so rapidly in recent weeks that experts now say the ice loss by mid-September could exceed even 2007's history-making meltdown.
The Canadian Ice Service is reporting an "unprecedented" opening of waters in the Beaufort Sea north of the Yukon-Alaska border, where expected increases in ship traffic have just prompted the U.S. Coast Guard to establish two new outposts on Alaska's north coast to strengthen its vessel-monitoring and search-and-rescue capabilities.
The U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center, the world's leading satellite monitor of ice in the Arctic Ocean, is now hedging its earlier bets that this year's Arctic ice minimum would not be as extreme as last year....

The weather at Glacier Bay National Park (Crystal Wind Chime) is:

Lat/Lon :: 58.8° N 137.0° W

Elevation :: 33 ft / 10 m

Local Time :: 6:37 AM AKDT

Temperature :: 52 °F / 11 °C

Conditions :: Overcast

Humidity :: 88%

Dew Point :: 48 °F / 9 °C

Wind :: 4 mph / 6 km/h / 1.5 m/s from the North

Pressure :: 29.97 in / 1015 hPa (Steady)

Visibility :: 10.0 miles / 16.1 kilometers

UV :: 0 out of 16

Clouds:
Few 2000 ft / 609 m
Mostly Cloudy 2500 ft / 762 m
Overcast 3700 ft / 1127 m
(Above Ground Level)

The Beijing Olympics - Let the games begin

Overall Medal Standings (click here)


China is First in Metals (click here)


South Korea is Second in Metals (click here)


USA is Third in Metals (click here)


Italy is Fourth in Metals (click here)

Shadows of "The Prague Spring" - There is 'just so much' that Communist Russia and China will tolerate from The West in the name of peace.

..."He tried to do many compromises, as he said, to try and save the results of the Prague Spring. But, we know that step by step he went very far from the ideals behind it, not reality, but the ideals of reality, and he declined or couldn't participate later in opposition against the Communist regime."...

Read my lips, "No New Missile Shield." - Georgia was not a good neighbor.

Georgia's Saakashvili signs South Ossetia ceasefire plan (click here)
16:48
11/ 08/ 2008
TBILISI, August 11 (RIA Novosti) - Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has signed a ceasefire plan for South Ossetia, a RIA Novosti correspondent said on Monday.
The exact details of the document, drafted by the French and Finnish foreign ministers, are currently unavailable.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and his Finnish counterpart Alexander Stubb are now expected to bring the document to Moscow, where they will discuss it with Russian authorities later on Monday.
Colonel-General Anatoly Nogovitsyn, the deputy chief of Russia's General Staff, was cautious however, saying that, "The statement [on the ceasefire] was made to lull the public into a sense of security. But we are remaining vigilant. We, the military, must not relax," he said.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said earlier on Monday that Russia had almost completed its operation to force Georgia to accept peace in South Ossetia. He said that Russian forces had now taken control of Tskhinvali, the capital of the South Ossetian breakaway republic that was attacked by Georgia on Friday.
"We have completed the bulk of an operation to force Georgia to accept peace in South Ossetia. Russian peacekeepers have assumed control of Tskhinvali," Medvedev told Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov....

Georgia was unable to maintain its sovereign borders because as a former Soviet state it became a hostile entity at the borders of Russia.

Just that simple. Georgia did not believe in "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie."

If Dimitry Medvedev hadn't allowed his country to be a 'satellite' of the Bush/Cheney oil ambitions then Georgia would still be intact. It was just a matter of time before Russia had had enough of the 'staging' of a war against ITS sovereignty.

When the Cold War ended in 1991, who thought Georgie, Jr. would undo all the free world had worked toward over decades? The West needs to measure its intolerance of Russia. Georgie's ego and his Daddy's so called legacy will get in the way of prudent decision making. The ruins of The West lie in the balance.

Russia is not seeking WW III, it is seeking the end of aggressions by Bush and Cheney in Europe against its western borders. Russia wanted to be a member of NATO, now the country is AGAIN treated as a bastard child by The West. When will peace ensue and prosperity by all begin? I think the answer to that inquiry is NEVER. At least as long as The West continues to justify their military strength based on irrational fears of Communism.



Yesterday, while reviewing the headlines, I realized the best option for Dimitry Medvedev would be to either surrender or leave the country through Batumi. The option of him leaving at Batumi is now out of the question. With occupation of all the borders of Georgia, there is no doubt it will fall back to Russian sovereignty.

In less than four short days, Russia has been able to reoccupy Georgia without a single opposition.

Whatever did Rice, Bush and Cheney believe they were going to accomplish with a missle shield placed at a Russian border?

The aggression of The West needs to stop. It tends to forget, the two largest communist nations on Earth are opposed to it.


Russia cuts sea links with Georgia (click here)
SOCHI, August 11 (RIA Novosti) - Sea links between Georgia's Black Sea port of Batumi and Russia's Sochi have been cut, the deputy head of the Russian Black Sea port said on Monday.
Georgia launched major ground and air attacks to seize control of South Ossetia on Friday, prompting Russia to send in tanks and hundreds of troops. Around 2,000 civilians have since died in Tskhinvali, according to Russia. A total of 34,000 people are also reported to have fled across the Russian border.
"We have temporarily suspended sea links with the port of Batumi. According to the information at our disposal, the port of Batumi is closed," Simon Mamaladze said.
Russia resumed sea links with Georgia in late March 2008, two years after it halted air, post and sea links with the former Soviet republic.
Also on Monday, Russia suspended postal communication with Georgia...

I suggest NATO seek peace with Russia. I do believe if they were a member of NATO, they would eagerly assist with Afghanistan. Otherwise, if escalations of tensions continue, we might even be looking at hostilities between China and India.

If Nicolas Sarkozy intends for peace to exist and PERSIST (click here), he needs to welcome Russia as a friend assaulted by a "W"rong headed American president and not 'an enemy' to the entire world. Russian 'acceptance' is long over do and with that reality comes cessation of continued teetering of chronic Neocon warring.

The ONLY way to defeat terrorists is to stop them at every opportunity. That won't happen so long as tensions are allowed to exist between countries for reasons of 'political' differences.

Hatred is a Neocon tool. The West needs to stop every opportunity for hate to manifest its ugly head in order to prevent nuclear proliferation and potential to global demise. The USA's priorities are a problem and the American people do not have the political will to stop their irrational ideation of spreading democracy in exchange for wealth.

Russia to demand urgent Russia-NATO Council meeting (click here)
13:59
11/ 08/ 2008
MOSCOW, August 11 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will demand an extraordinary Russia-NATO Council meeting on Tuesday over the situation in South Ossetia, Russia's envoy to the North Atlantic alliance said on Monday.
Georgia launched major ground and air attacks to seize control of South Ossetia on Friday, prompting Russia to send in tanks and hundreds of troops. Around 2,000 civilians have since died in Tskhinvali, according to Russia. A total of 34,000 people are also reported to have fled across the Russian border.
"Tomorrow, when Georgia's foreign minister arrives in Brussels and, possibly, the NATO Council is convened, Russia will demand an extraordinary meeting of the Russia-NATO Council to present our arguments and the truth about the methods of the Saakashvili regime and measures being taken by our peacekeepers," Dmitry Rogozin said.
A top Russian diplomat accused foreign media on Sunday of pro-Georgian bias in their coverage of the conflict between Georgia and Russia over breakaway South Ossetia.
"We want television screens in the West to be showing not only Russian tanks and saying Russia is at war in South Ossetia and with Georgia, but also to be showing the suffering of the Ossetian people, the murdered elderly people and children, the destroyed towns of South Ossetia, and [regional capital] Tskhinvali. This would be an objective way of presenting the material," Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin told a RIA Novosti news conference.

The aggression by the Bush/Cheney White House is more than obvious and it has dearly little to with Tehran. The missle shields were to be at Russia's western border while India was being equipped to a higher standard of nuclear potential. The 'ideation' Bush and Cheney were carrying out was to surround Russia and China with a 'kill zone.' Its the most hideous idea that ever existed in a USA administration.

China has been a friend in disarming North Korea. Russia has been instrumental with Iran and the Middle East while Georgie Bush played political volleys in the USA and maintained a 'helpless' stance in providing 'security' to any country including his own. What does The West think they are doing?

Russia and China have proven themselves to be worthy friends and allies to peace.

Moscow must answer U.S. shield with Cuban 'spy' site - analyst (click here)

MOSCOW, July 23 (RIA Novosti) - Russia should respond to U.S. missile defense plans for Central Europe by reopening a 'spy' facility in Cuba to gather intelligence on the United States, a Russian analyst said on Wednesday.
The electronic monitoring and surveillance facility near Havana at Torrens, also known as the Lourdes facility, the largest Russian Sigint site abroad, was shut down in October 2001 by then- president Vladimir Putin.
"Cuba is a unique place to gather intelligence on the United States. I believe that the reopening of this station is both possible and necessary amid the threat that the Americans are creating for Russia," Alexander Pikayev, head of the disarmament and conflict resolution department at the Russian Academy of Sciences' World Economics and International Relations Institute, told a news conference at RIA Novosti.
"Russia has every right to respond," he added....

Poland says U.S. missile shield deal 'one step closer' (click here)

WARSAW, July 21 (RIA Novosti) - Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on Monday that Warsaw and Washington had moved a step closer to an agreement on the placement of a U.S. missile base in Poland.
Sikorski met in Warsaw with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried earlier on Monday and said after the talks that the Polish and U.S. positions had taken "another step closer."He also called the talks, "The kind that take place between friends."Poland and the United States have been engaged in protracted talks over a U.S. request to place 10 interceptor missiles in northern Poland as part of a U.S. missile shield for Europe and North America against possible attacks from "rogue states," including Iran.
The U.S. is planning to link the missile base in Poland with an early warning radar in the Czech Republic. The Czech government has already agreed to the U.S. plans, pending approval by parliament....

Bushehr NPP could be launched later in 2008- Iran's vice president (click here)

TEHRAN, August 8 (RIA Novosti) - The Bushehr nuclear power plant currently being built by Russia in southern Iran may be launched later in 2008, an Iranian vice president said on Friday.
Russia is building the $1 billion Bushehr facility, Iran's first nuclear power plant, in the south of the country in accordance with a 1995 contract. The project is also subject to UN supervision as Iran is under international scrutiny over its compliance with its nuclear non-proliferation commitments.
"I think preparatory operations to launch the power plant will be started at Bushehr later this year," the IRNA news agency quoted Gholamreza Aqazadeh, who also heads the country's atomic energy organization, as saying.
Russia's nuclear power chief Sergei Kiriyenko said in early June that preparations for the launch of the Bushehr project, including nuclear fuel operations, would start in the fall. He said with confidence that the safety of nuclear fuel storage was not in doubt....

Czech, U.S. officials sign missile defense deal (click here)

WARSAW, July 8 (RIA Novosti) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg signed an agreement Tuesday on the deployment of a missile-tracking radar on Czech soil, the CTK news agency reported.
The two countries also have to sign a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) covering the troops who would staff the base, but it has yet to be finalized.
As part of the missile defense system, the United States plans to place interceptor missiles in Poland, but talks with Warsaw have stalled.
The plans are fiercely opposed by Russia, which sees them as a threat to its national security and the international nuclear deterrence system.
"This is a very important system for Europe," Schwarzenberg said Friday. "Weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery are proliferating in the modern world. If there are no immediate threats today, they will emerge in the future."
He said that after Russia's lease of Azerbaijan's Gabala radar station expires, its possible use could become a subject of NATO discussions.
Russia has offered the United States the use of its radar stations in Armavir in southern Russia and Gabala in Azerbaijan as alternatives, but Washington said they could only be used as "supplements," if at all.

Venezuelan military build up cause for anxiety (click here)
Sunday, August 10, 2008
The bizarre remarks and actions of the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez continue to concern anyone who is interested in the peace and security of the Caribbean region.

Chavez has recently purchased US$4 billion worth of military equipment from Russia. These include: 24 Sukhoi combat aircraft with missiles, Main battle tanks, transport aircraft, air defence systems and Kalashnikov AK automatic assault rifles. This latest purchase follows a 2005-2006 agreement with Russia to buy over 50 combat helicopters, 12 Tor-M1 state-of-the-art defence anti-aircraft and anti-ballistic missile systems and 100,000 Kalashnikov rifles....

Russian arms exports to exceed $8.5 bln in 2008 (click here)
16:12
05/ 08/ 2008

MOSCOW, August 5 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's military exports will exceed $8.5 billion in 2008, a senior government official said on Tuesday.
Russia has doubled annual arms exports since 2000 to $7 billion last year, becoming the world's second-largest exporter of conventional arms after the United States.
Military exports "are planned at $8.5 billion this year [2008], and I think we will fully meet the plan, and even exceed it," Mikhail Dmitriyev, head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, told a RIA Novosti news conference.
Russia exports weapons to about 80 countries. Among key buyers of Russian-made weaponry are China, India, Algeria, Venezuela, Iran, Malaysia and Serbia....

Olmert's resignation will not affect Mideast peace process (click here)

...Under Olmert, Israel resumed talks with the Palestinians and Syria, after a lengthy suspension. But then, any other Israeli leader would have done the same, because there is a time for war and a time for peace. Now is apparently a time for peace....

Syria's president to visit Russia on August 20 (click here)
11:05
11/ 08/ 2008
DAMASCUS, August 11 (RIA Novosti) - Syrian President Bashar Assad will arrive in Russia on August 20 for a working visit, a spokesman for the Syrian information ministry said on Monday.
During his two-day visit, Assad will meet with Russian leaders to discuss bilateral relations and regional and world developments, in particular the peace process in the Middle East and the situation in Iraq.
Assad last visited Moscow in late 2006.

The Bush/Cheney White House has propagated NOTHING but fear. As a result Iran has lost its footing to a moderate government and has elected extremists to protect its single Shia sovereignty. Russia has been there to moderate and empower. In doing so, Russia now has alliances with countries that can provide strategic information and alliance with continued escalation of USA aggression.

Iran seeks closer ties with Syria in countering external threats (click here)

TEHRAN, July 29 (RIA Novosti) - Tension in the Mideast region requires active cooperation between Iran and Syria, the Iranian parliament speaker said Tuesday.
"Iran is committed to developing all-round cooperation with Syria. The sensitive situation that has evolved in the region requires a deepening of this cooperation, as well as consultations between our countries on a broad range of issues," Ali Larijani told visiting Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem.
The Iranian official said Damascus and Tehran had good potential for deepening bilateral ties in the political, trade and economic realms.
"Iran and Syria are two important countries in the Islamic world, which play a significant role in standing up to the threats faced by the followers of Islam," he said.
Moallem, attending the 15th Non-Aligned Movement ministerial meeting in Tehran, said Syria attached "great importance" to developing relations with the Islamic Republic....

The West is caught in a self-abuse cycle of Bush/Cheney wealth priorities. The West is weakened in its fight against terrorist networks in Afghanistan under the NATO alliance by the idiocy of the Republican War Machine that performs its 'wealth management' regardless of prudent foreign policy. Selling war machines are fun regardless of the destabilizing effect on international relationships.

Turkey set to create $1 bln missile shield in Ankara, Istanbul (click here)
16:12
11/ 08/ 2008
ANKARA, August 11 (RIA Novosti) - Turkey plans to buy eight missile defense systems abroad to protect itself against possible missile attacks, an undersecretary for the Defense Ministry said on Monday.
Murat Bayar said two missile shields are to be deployed in and around Ankara and Istanbul by 2010, and that Turkey is currently negotiating a deal with four countries: Russia, the United States, China and Israel.
Experts say the most effective systems for Turkey would be the Russian-made S-300/400 or the U.S. Patriot missile defense systems. The United States deployed Patriots in Turkey during the war in the Persian Gulf and the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
Bayar said four systems would be bought initially and deployed to protect the Turkish capital.
"Systems that will be bought later will be deployed in other areas, depending on the threats encountered by the country," he said.
The cost of the Turkish air defense system has been put at $1 billion.

The West needs to stop their idiocy. They have DIRECTLY caused the invasion into Georgia and the escalation of a global war strategy by Russia due to indulgences of the Bush/Cheney Dreamscape. The incredible aspect to all this is that Russia has The West surrounded and completely compromised. NATO can't even win in 'Little Afghanistan' without redeployment of American troops from Iraq.

Putin is damn genius.

He has allowed the threat of the USA, based in the reality of an illegal invasion of Iraq, to take shape in countries that Bush/Cheney have 'oil designs' on. Putin has reaped what no other Russian premier could accomplish; the rewards of allowing American Greed to overshadow a world order now in collapse.

Russian Moves in the Americas (click here)
Russia's push into the region could force others into an arms race that no one wants or can afford.
By Jorge Castañeda NEWSWEEK
Published Aug 9, 2008
Aug. 18-25, 2008 issue

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's surprising announcement in early August that his country would seek to "re-establish" ties with the Soviet Union's old allies in Havana stirred up excitement in many foreign newsrooms, and raised eyebrows in a few foreign ministries around the world. Coming in the wake of a three-day visit to Cuba by a high-level Russian delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin, and of reports about the possibility of the Russian military's using the Caribbean island as a fueling station for its Bear bombers, which are capable of carrying nuclear weapons, the flurry of news evoked memories of the 1962 missile crisis and a new "threat" to the United States from across the Florida Straits....