...continued...

Netanyahu demands peace for peace.

Israel PM calls for demilitarized Palestinian state (click here)

updated 4:43 p.m. EDT, Sun June 14, 2009

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel could accept a peace agreement with a "demilitarized Palestinian state" as its neighbor....

The Daily Star (Lebanon)

The editorial below clearly indicates Israel's Netanyahu is a brilliant strategic diplomat. What Abdel Monem is articulating could be called, "Gaming the Diplomacy." There is no reason to 'play one's hand' to the end ahead of deciding on the shape of the table. If Israel does not put all it's cards on the table, it doesn't know exactly what the possiblities are when the final agreement is reached. It is important the Palestinians do exactly the same thing. One of the huge hurdles of the Middle East process, eliminating the chronic religious based violence, is there is 'cultural' covert measures that play out AFTER agreements are reached. That has to end. What Israel's Netanyahu has done is brilliant. He is placing ALL the exponential factors exactly in transparency of the 'process.' It is 'best' for the outcome and will derive a 'true peace' rather than a 'settled upon agreement.' In other words, "Let the diplomatic games begin." This time. Let's 'get it right.'

The Arabs' blanket rejection of Netanyahu's speech is short-sighted (click title to entry - thank you)
By Abdel Monem Said Commentary by Tuesday, July 07, 2009
...The Netanyahu speech, in turn, triggered two general responses. Whereas the United States and the European Union welcomed the speech, the Arabs rejected it, with some Arab media insisting it had effectively sounded a death knell for the negotiating process....
...Having correctly gauged the global temperature, Netanyahu, chose not to openly buck the tide. Instead, he hit upon a formula that sounded conciliatory but, in fact, was calculated to dismantle any Arab-Western-global consensus, minimize Israeli losses and buy time.
Netanyahu's speech was designed to send out mixed signals....
...Such a strategic handling of the Netanyahu speech is far removed from blanket rejection, which serves only to hand Europe and Washington to Israel on a silver platter. Through such a rational strategy of engagement we can build momentum to support the Palestinian cause. Above all, we must remain on guard against behaving in the way Netanyahu is banking on.

Iran's Assembly of Experts has power to remove Ayatollah Khamenei (click here)
By Gareth Smyth
Tuesday, July 07, 2009


(Ahmadinejad's qualifications for President was being mayor of Tehran. Popular within a large city in Iran with significant number of votes. Do I see a 'rut' here? Yep.)


...By November 2005, just three months after Ahmadinejad took office, Rafsanjani used his sermon at Tehran Friday prayers to rebuke the president for damaging "national unity." This came two days after Khamenei had defended Ahmadinejad's government and called for it to be given more time.
"Our society has been divided into two poles and some are behaving aggressively," said Rafsanjani, who criticized "a current trying to remove and isolate invaluable individuals and efficient managers" and attacked the president for "vague pictures" in his proclaimed fight against corruption.
Rafsanjani soon joined Mohammad Khatami, the former reformist president, and Mehdi Karrubi, the former parliamentary speaker, in coordinating a "coalition of the concerned" against Ahmadinejad.
This group came together in alarm at the president's foreign policy pronouncements, which they felt imperilled Iran's position, and in concern at the harm inflicted by Ahmadinejad's reflationary economics....
...But a notion as malleable as "adequate capacity for leadership" could now work against Ayatollah Khamenei.
From the arguments over the conduct of the election used by Rafsanjani, as well as by reformist figures like defeated candidate Mir-Hossein Musavi, it is easy to see potential constitutional grounds for a challenge to Khamenei within the Assembly of Experts.
It would be a huge step for the clerics who make up the Assembly, and indeed a huge step for Iran.
Gareth Smyth, a former opinion editor of The Daily Star, was chief Iran correspondent of the Financial Times, 2003-7. This article was contributed to The Daily Star law page.

A legal manifesto for Iran's Green RevolutionIranians deserve support of democrats, activists (click here)

By Chibli Mallat

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

1. Violent deaths v. non-violent demonstrations. By end of the first week, between 20 and 40 people had been killed, and many more wounded. Responsibility for keeping order lies first and foremost with the government, headed by the president under the watch of the supreme leader (rahbar), Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The deaths mark a grave failure of the system. Under Article 27 of the Iranian Constitution, corresponding to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and subsequent covenants, "public gatherings and marches may be freely held, provided arms are not carried and that they are not detrimental to the fundamental principles of Islam."...

...2. Election results and arbitration. When people in large numbers descend onto the streets with the support of two major candidates to question election results, their concerns cannot be brushed aside. Iranians need to get to the bottom of what happened.
So far, the arguments are hazy and cancel each other out. Two theses stand opposed. The Leader has asked the Council of Guardians (CG) to carry out its constitutional mandate under Article 99 of the Constitution to investigate if the elections were valid. But in his speech last Friday, Khamenei said that a victory of 11 million votes could not have been rigged. In fact, both he and two presidential candidates doubted that the CG could change the results: Khamenei on the grounds that the winner's majority was so large, Musavi and Mehdi Karrubi, because of their lack of trust in the CG. Ironically, they were both right....

...3. The Iranian constitutional system. The outcome of the tenth presidential election suggests that central traits of the Iranian Constitution should be re-examined. For a republic where citizens choose their leader, the Iranian Constitution fails two major tests.
The first is the Council of Guardians itself, which regularly vetoes presidential candidates (Art.110.9). In the current elections, over 450 Iranians presented their candidacy, and the Council rejected all but four. This is unsustainable in any democracy and the practice should be removed from the Constitution....

Restoring the full rule of law to America: indemnify torture victims (click here)

By Owen Fiss

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

One 'thing' to remember. The USA just concluded eight years of incompetency in the Executive Branch with an endorsing Republican majority in the legislature for six of those years due to the 'cultural' issues beset to the Amercian electorate post September 11, 2001.

What does that mean?

It means, example Alito and Roberts and realize that the judicial system of the country has been 'contaminated' with incompetency and those that focus on 'wealth' and 'ideologies' that secure their so called wealth through assignments by the then Executive Branch. That 'contamination' will exist for some time and it seems as though when it comes to 'Constitutional Rights' and the issue of ? terrorists ? the judiciary is scared to move in favor of 'rights' verses 'containment.'

The only reason I refer to this 'formality' of discourse is that to rely on the USA Judiciary as an example to freedom and personal liberties as well as personal rights is not necessaroly the best reference to those subjects. Each review of any judicial proceeding from here on needs to be reviewed in the particulars of the Justice themselves. With a Supreme Court weighted to the 'right' as the current Robert's Court (You know the guy, the one that couldn't get the oath of office right.) is; one has to examine closely the Minority Opinion in heavy scrutiny of the Majority opinion. The same holds true for the lower courts. The judiciary has to be under scrutiny until it is relieved of the contamination of incompetency under Bush/Cheney.

The 'right' leaning of the American Judiciary post Bush is consistent in denying Civil Rights and granting Fiscal Exploitation of 'The American System of Living' which includes impeding Civil Rights to contain 'difference' and Civil Liberties that would provide 'fiscal management' of 'HUMAN RESOURCES.'

Such Civil Liberties have consistently been impeded to benefit 'fiscal' consideration in the area of Environmental Statues. This past year in the Robert's Courts, environmental statues were ruled AGAINST regardless of the 'spirit' that was intended by the American Legislature.

That said, it is up to the current Democratic Majority to focus on Legislative measures that return rights to Americans in the face of a hostile Supreme Court based in 'Right Wing Ideologies.' ESPECIALLY. In the face of the Global Economic Crisis. The Robert's Court will act in 'knee jerk' reactions as did Bernanke when he opened up a full $1 Trillion US from the Federal Reserve with the excuse, "I wanted to be sure they had all the instruments they needed for ANY recovery." Bernanke opened up 'advantage' to the very idiots that sunk the economy in the first place; The Robert's Court does the exact same thing. The Robert's Court which likes to send cases back to the lower courts (as a punitive measure) will consistently seek NOT 'legal' remedies, but, 'fiscal ideological' ones.

Hence, and therefore, the struggle to return the USA to its best luster does not end with the courts, but, with the legislature and the striving of the American people to return their country to its 'resolves.' Those resolves are solidly reflected in the persistent 'tone' of the NEW President Barak Obama who seeks to build 'Coalitions' of people seeking peace and NOT war.

...A special test of these promises is now pending before the Second Circuit which sits in New York. It involves Canadian citizen Maher Arar, who was taken into custody by US officials at JFK airport in September 2002, and then transferred to Syria for interrogation under conditions of torture. At issue is the legality of the practice known as extraordinary rendition, the transportation of individuals suspected of terrorist activity to foreign countries for interrogation, sometimes torture. After a panel of three judges refused to reach the merits of Arar's claim, 12 judges of the Second Circuit, sitting en banc, reheard the case. They are expected to rule soon.
In this suit, Arar asked for monetary damages and a declaratory judgment that the law had been broken. On the first claim, the three-judge panel ruled that it did not have congressional authorization to give damages. Such a ruling seems odd in the extreme. It is not clear why Congress, a political body, must give the judiciary authorization before allowing damages for the violation of a constitutional right....

...Obama has disavowed many of the policies of the Bush administration and assured the nation there will be not torture on his watch. Yet a willingness to speak only to the future is not sufficient. Not only must the new administration establish policies that preclude torture in the future; it must also account for the wrongs of the past. It must prosecute those who engaged in practices clearly understood to be torture and provide civil remedies to those who were in fact tortured....

Here's how Europe can help in closing down Guantanamo (click here)
By Gilles De Kerchove Commentary by Tuesday, July 07, 2009
...We share Obama's assessment that "Guantanamo became a symbol that helped Al-Qaeda recruit terrorists to its cause. Indeed, the existence of Guantanamo likely created more terrorists around the world than it ever detained." We in the European Union believe that it is our common interest with Washington to prevent radicalization and recruitment to terrorism throughout the world....
... More generally, we agree with Obama that "in the long run we ... cannot keep ... safe unless we enlist the power of our most fundamental values," and that "we uphold our most cherished values not only because doing so is right, but because it strengthens [us] and keeps us safe." The experience of European democracies confronted with a long-term terrorist threat shows that human rights and the rule of law are our strongest assets. That is why terrorists want to destroy them.
The closure of Guantanamo must be accompanied by a fundamental review of the underlying policies that gave rise to its existence. Obama's decisions to ban "enhanced interrogation" techniques and end secret detention are important steps in the right direction.
But more steps are needed....

With Al-Jazeera's American challenge comes responsibility (click here)
By Mohamed Elmenshawy Commentary by Monday, July 06, 2009
...As the president said, he seeks a fresh relationship, one "based upon mutual interest and mutual respect" and "upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition." The new Obama administration has taken the lead seeking to advance cooperation and understanding. In order to promote constructive dialogue along similar lines, Al-Jazeera must follow suit.
Al-Jazeera's coverage of the United States has yet to offer viewers a complete picture of American society. Since September 11, 2001, interest in America has risen noticeably in the Arab world. Few Arab media outlets, however, have satisfied this growing demand. Everyone reports on America the "superpower," but few report on America as the complex, diverse and democratic society that it is. Al-Jazeera's coverage of the United States and its policies has tended to reflect a limited understanding of the country's inner workings or its history. This has created a skewed image of America in the Arab world - one which must be adjusted....
...It might be useful, here, to recall the former Israeli prime minister, Menachem Begin's positions regarding Israeli settlements, airports and land in the Sinai and then to recall that the Sinai was subsequently returned in full to Egypt. It is also useful to bear in mind that many Third World countries, upon reaching independence, started under conditions of less than full sovereignty which was eventually acquired as circumstances changed....

Anything short of a completely Lebanese Cabinet is not sovereign.

Riyadh urges independent Lebanese cabinet formation (click here)
By Elias Sakr Daily Star staff
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
..."Saudi officials called on Lebanese politicians not to abandon to foreign forces their right to form a government," a March 14 source said.
Commenting on media reports that implied the cabinet formation process was stalled until a Syrian-Saudi rapprochement could be reached, the source stressed that the formation course was "a strictly Lebanese domestic affair."...

Okay, where is this guy. Cherokee County ain't that big.

They may have found him? Gaston County, North Carolina? Close enough. We'll see what his profile is.


Cherokee County is located in the Upstate of South Carolina. The County sits in a prime location just off I-85 between Charlotte, North Carolina and Greenville/ Spartanburg, South Carolina, two of the nation's fastest growing metropolitan areas. (click here)

He is believed to be about 200 pounds. Coroner, we are receiving reports from coroners. That has to be a first. If anyone is hiding him or protecting him, they need to be a part of the 'Wanted Poster,' too.

Police released this sketch of a suspected serial killer who they believe is responsible for four deaths in South Carolina. They describe him as a white male with salt and pepper hair who is about 6 feet 2 inches, approximately 250 pounds. The suspect's vehicle is a 1991 to1994 Ford Explorer Sport: a two-door SUV with faded paint that is gray or champagne in color. (Cherokee County Sheriff's Office)

Coroner: Teen 5th Killed by Apparent Serial Killer (click title to entry - thank you)
Coroner: Teenage girl shot in father's store becomes 5th slain by suspected SC serial killer

By MITCH WEISS Associated Press Writer

GAFFNEY, S.C. July 4, 2009 (AP)

According to this report, it would seem at least three of the victims were conducting business in private enterprises at the time of their death, so it is my guess the killer is looking for cash money or anything that can be 'fluid.' He doesn't regard life at any age important. He made up his mind the world dealt him a bad hand and he doesn't care what it takes to get by. Might want to check unemployment roles in the Cherokee County area for someone who was just dropped from the benefit or receiving benefits that meet this description. He seems to know who is running these businesses and when it is vulnerable to carry out his crime. It is my g.uess he is from the area as it seems common knowledge to him to assault these people

A teenage girl shot while helping her father in their family's small furniture and appliance store died Saturday, becoming the fifth victim of a suspected serial killer terrorizing a small South Carolina community, authorities said.
Abby Tyler, 15, died about 11:15 a.m. at a Spartanburg hospital after fighting for her life for two days, Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler said.
Tyler was wounded and her father was killed Thursday as they worked to close the Tyler Home Center near downtown Gaffney....

When did this killing spree start? I haven't been following it. These victims, one had a peach orchard (a private commercial enterprise). May have been selling products from the orchard and believed to have money around.

The 83 year old would have some cash assets. SSI and a daughter she lived with. There was probably money in the house. It is my guess, and why I asked as to when he started his killing spree, is that he started locally. With people vulnerable. Probably don't lock their doors and if they did, a 200+ pound man would be able to knock the door down. You know what? The South Carolina State Police and National Guard need to start patrolling these back roads. I wouldn't let it be known the area law enforcement was going to be beefed up either. The FBI needs to start door to door interviews. I don't buy it that even family members of this man didn't notice he was different or had more money in his pocket.

...An 83-year-old mother and her daughter were shot to death Wednesday, and a 63-year-old peach farmer was found dead at his home a week ago....

I don't believe this guy is crazy. I think he knows exactly what he is doing and thinking someone like the Green River Killer or that other guy, the Kansas Sherrif Killer, (Forget his name - they knew him by initals.) got away with it for a long time, too. Reports don't say anything about sexual attacks so much as simply killing. Even if sexual assaults occurred, that doesn't rule out robbery either.

...Blanton said all the victims were shot, but he would not say how the deaths were linked. The shootings all occurred within about 10 miles of each other in Cherokee County, a rural community of 54,000 people set amid peach orchards and farms some 50 miles west of Charlotte, N.C....

I don't think he's from Charlotte. He knows where the money is in the rural area. I still think he is a local. Probably a farmer himself. Is there any chance that killing local farmers would benefit another one? Land arguments? Losing a farm? Any chance this guy could have been a debtor to the commercial businesses in town?

Wheels down in Moscow. Tight security. Obama is here !!!!

Peace.

End the possiblity of nuclear detonation.

If the leaders of the USA and Russia cannot save the world from itself, then we are lost.


The First Family in Russia. Good news to follow.

RIA NOVOSTI
U.S. not to blame for global economic crisis - Obama (click title to entry - thank you)
15:16
06/07/2009
...He said the economic crisis resulted from "a culture of irresponsibility regarding financial matters" in the United States, Europe and elsewhere, and urged efforts to promote an era of responsibility.
"We're called upon to recognize that the free market is the most powerful generative force for our prosperity -- but it is not a free license to ignore the consequences of our actions," Obama said.
Commenting on the priority of his visit - to "reset" relations with Russia, Obama said he was guided by the pursuit of common interests....

Russia was the nation that ratified The Kyoto Protocol and made it a valid global priority.

Russia, U.S. can agree on arms cuts - Medvedev (click here)
15:47

06/07/2009

..."Our countries are encountering a variety of problems, including global security and strategic offensive weapons. I believe that we have every chance of taking important and necessary decisions," Dmitry Medvedev said at the opening of talks with U.S. President Barack Obama.
Medvedev expressed the hope that talks with Obama, who arrived in Moscow earlier in the day, would help to resolve a number of bilateral problems.
"We hope that as a result of today and tomorrow's work and full-scale bilateral talks we will resolve a number of difficult issues in the history of Russian-American relations and will turn a new page," the Russian president said....

Russians full of energy, certainly express their quality of life and freedom of speech far differently than decades past. A welcome change. We welcome the partnership of the Russian people in peace.

As long as we are near the melting Alaska...Bye, bye. Everyone say bye, bye to Sarah.

Imagine McCain winning the election. Then six months into the new administration the Vice President decides to resign. Okay, maybe 2 and a half years. She doesn't have what it takes, she never did. She won because she pledged to sell a jet. Alaska needs people that sincerely care about it, not people that exploit its 'hard core' Republican 'theme' to grab power and the wealth of oil.

And guess who is astounded? The man claimed by USA Today to be the lead Republican. Grassley. Grassley, is the new Republican leader? Well, he certainly knows how to get rid of bankers, I'll give him that much.

　

..."It's astounding," Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican said on CBS' Face the Nation. Grassley, whose state holds the crucial first contest of the presidential campaign, said he would welcome a Palin presidential candidacy but thought it might now be harder to launch....

　

Obama Gets Boost as Palin Departure Deepens Republican Disarray (click here)
By Julianna Goldman and Edwin Chen

...According to Gallup polling, just 34 percent of Americans view the party favorably. Even among Republicans, 38 percent have an unfavorable view of their party and almost half can’t name an individual who speaks for it. And those polls were conducted before Palin resigned and two other Republicans, Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina and Senator John Ensign of Nevada, acknowledged having extramarital affairs....

Local Time: 4:06 AM AKDT (GMT -08)

Lat/Lon: 58.8° N 137.0° W

Updated: 11 min 9 sec ago

Temperature :: 61 °F

Conditions :: Clear

Humidity :: 55%

Dew Point :: 45 °F

Wind :: 9 mph from the NW

Pressure :: 29.94 in (Rising)

Visibility :: 10.0 miles

UV :: 0 out of 16

Clouds :: Clear -
(Above Ground Level)

Elevation :: 33 ft


Arctic sea ice at second lowest level (click title to entry - thank you)
DAN JOLING
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Associated Press Last updated on Tuesday, Mar. 31, 2009 08:33PM EDT
Arctic Ocean sea ice has melted to the second lowest minimum since satellite observations began, according to scientists at the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center.
Sea ice melt recorded on Monday exceeded the low recorded in 2005, which had held second place.
With several weeks left in the melting season, ice in summer 2008 has a chance to go below last year's record low, the scientists at the University of Colorado said.
Environmental groups said the ice melt is another alarm bell warning of global warming.
“It's an unfortunate sign that climate change is coming rapidly to the Arctic and that we really need to address the issue of global warming on a national level,” said Christopher Krenz, Arctic project manager for Oceana....

Manuel Zelaya would be better to find a safe haven for the rest of his life.

Former Honduras President Manuel Zelaya and Former President "W."

Manuel Zelaya will be arrested at the very least and probably for his own safety. There is a chance he would be assassinated. There is strong evidence President Micheletti has a firm grip of the country. If the country was in turmoil and needed leadership, I could understand the attempt to return, however, at this point there are underlying issues of safety that cannot be ignored.

...The poor Central American country's Roman Catholic archbishop and its human right commissioner urged Zelaya to stay away (Click title to entry - thank you), warning that his return could spark bloodshed. The interim government said it would arrest Zelaya and put him on trial despite near-universal international condemnation of the coup that removed him as he campaigned to revise the constitution.
In Washington, the Organization of American States suspended Honduras as a member late Saturday. Micheletti preemptively pulled out of the OAS hours earlier rather than comply with an ultimatum that Zelaya be restored....

The near borders nations to the USA are having trouble with stability. Honduras now has a coup government. It is the policy of the USA to not recognize such changes in authority. I believe the Obama Administration and Defense Department needs to assess the return of the National Guard in Iraq sooner than later. There is instability in the hemisphere. There are power struggles everywhere.

Under Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld, China has become a trading partner and Russia an ally to many countries in the Western Hemisphere. There are power players now in countries little conceived to be 'vital' to USA national security, such as the new influence of Taiwan in Belize. China is not happy about the wanderings of the Taiwan government in this hemisphere and that of the East. Taiwan alone is looking for a 'coalition' with Japan and other small nations such as Belize. It reminds me of the Infamous Bush Coalition of nations pledged to Iraq for fiscal supports.

The USA needs to tread lightly with Taiwan's enthusiasm for new alliances. Taiwan could literally build enough of a following for the wealth it deals to these impoverished countries, to consider a stand against the US "One China Policy." I'd hate to think the USA would be sucked into a conflict with China over Taiwan. Taiwan won't win against China.

The coalition between Taiwan and Japan, considering the escalation of tensions with North Korea, is understandable. However, if it is North Korea that Japan and Taiwan are concerned about, then they need to work diligently with China and Russia to assist in containing the North Korean threat. If Taiwan continues to believe they can move into a national status of autonomy, they have to face the dangers of bringing China's influence with North Korea to bear.

In Mexico, the drug wars, no different than in Afghanistan, have provided a financial base for a revolutionary force within Mexican borders. Violence is still continuing there, but, Calderon still exhibits control of the country's infrastructure.

At least 14 bodies found in Mexico mass grave (click here)
By MICHAEL E. MILLER – 3 days ago
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Police said Wednesday that they have uncovered a mass grave in central Mexico with the remains of 14 or 15 people believed to have been executed by the Zetas drug gang.
The remains found in Guanajuato state were so badly burned that officials were not immediately able to identify the number of victims, and it may be difficult to identify the dead.
Guanajuato Attorney General Carlos Zamarripa said the 14 or 15 bodies were piled into a single pit discovered on Saturday, a day after a shootout between police and suspected Zetas hit men in the town of Apaseo el Alto.
In the shootout, 12 gunmen were killed, 12 were captured and one police officer was wounded, officials said. The dead gunmen were not the bodies in the mass grave.
A large cache of weapons, including assault rifles, grenades and bulletproof vests, was also discovered after that clash, Zamarripa said. Investigations into the confrontation led police to the grave site.

There is escalated threat of the H1N1 virus in South America.

Swine flu emergency in Argentina (click here)
Page last updated at 11:30 GMT, Wednesday, 1 July 2009 12:30 UK

The city and province of Buenos Aires have announced a health emergency to fight a swine flu outbreak that has killed at least 26 people in Argentina.
Officials are being given more power and resources to tackle the epidemic, and school holidays for millions of children are being extended.
Argentina has confirmed more than 1,500 cases of swine flu, which is spreading during the southern hemisphere winter.
Meanwhile, an international conference on swine flu is opening in Mexico.
Teams from some 40 countries are attending the three-day event in Cancun. The head of the World Health Organization, Margaret Chan, is also participating.
'Too late'
The health emergency measures in the capital and surrounding Buenos Aires province were unveiled on Tuesday....

Venezuela has recently nationalized its third bank.

Venezuela, China May Sign New Loan-for-Oil Accord, Chavez Says (click here)
By Steven Bodzin
July 3 (Bloomberg) -- Venezuela and China Development Bank Corp. are discussing a third $4 billion infrastructure loan to be paid in oil, President Hugo Chavez said.
“This bank is the one with the most money in the world,” Chavez said late yesterday on state television. “It has half the money in the world and is allied with Venezuela.”
Chavez is seeking closer ties with developing nations such as China, Russia, India and Brazil to reduce dependence on the U.S., which consumes more than half of Venezuela’s oil exports.
China previously made two $4 billion loans to finance infrastructure projects in Venezuela. Venezuela’s government repays the loan with as much as 230,000 barrels a day of oil provided to China National Petroleum Corp., according to the annual report of Petroleos de Venezuela SA, also known as PDVSA.
China, the world’s second-biggest energy user, has signed loan-for-oil agreements with countries including Russia, Brazil and Kazakhstan this year, tapping its $1.95 trillion foreign- exchange reserves to buy assets after oil’s 55 percent decline from July’s record....

Do to the hostile nature of the USA during the Bush Adminisration there are all kinds of dynamics that have been set in motion. The current USA President was handed not only a poor hand in any international venue, he was handed a world moving into a hemispheric war to end the 'threat' of the USA to any other country.

The way the Obama Administration can neutralize the 'preceived' threat is to remain consistent while rebuilding relationships with near border countries and reopening 'stabilizing' relationships in trade and mutual security interests, including, ending the 'drug cartels' in the Western Hemisphere while ending any source from Afghanistan.

The 'State of International Affairs of the USA' is about as lousy as it gets.

Morning Papers - Its Origins

The Rooster

"Okeydoke"

Still yet another death by gun. Sooner or later the American people will see the dynamics that resulted because of Republican indulgences.

Steve McNair dead by gun violence.
(Click title to entry - thank you)

According to the CDC, gun related deaths have been increasing. These rates are per 100,000 people. They are numbers that relate all races, both sex.

The year - the rate by firearms alone. The rate increases are NOT statistically proportional to explain away the phenomena by population increase alone.

2000 - 3.84

2001 - 3.98

2002 - 4.11

2003 - 4.10

2004 - 3.96

2005 - 4.15

In real numbers, those are 10,801 human beings in 2000 increasing to 12,352 human beings shot to death in 2005.

The Brady Campain still news your support. Amazing. Will the NRA ever be defeated? (click here)

As a side note. The Assault Weapons Ban expired in 2004. It gave permission for increased firearm violence. I don't see that the death rate fell, do you?

The news content have become contracted. There is a lot to talk about besides populous junk.

One area grossly neglected in headlines is the crisis in State Budgets and the way it's being steam rolled by opposition candidates as political volleys. That reality is a faux reality and one that will cause more problems than it can ever solve. There is fiscal stress everywhere and for many reasons. I'd like to touch on a few.

To begin with, there are 'tones' to every state and federal administration. I think of all the states the two extremes might be measured in California and New Hampshire, however, for the working class of the USA, the best state to look toward in the area of 'recovery' is Michigan.

NEW HAMPSHIRE (Click title to entry - thank you) The New Hampshire budget will be balanced if the state wins two lawsuits over disputed funding sources, but state residents and visitors face a slew of tax and fee increases. Some campers will pay a 9 percent tax.

The problems we face today are profoundly defined within the past administrations of thirty years +, gone by. I cannot imagine a more healthy conversation to have at this point, but, one of 'frank facts' and the etiologies of the current crisis the global communities face. So, this would include stability of every venue of sovereignty, including the sovereign rights of the States within the boundaries of countries.

No different than the issues of the federal government in the USA, a crisis of equal measure is occurring within the States.

The current issues did not START until the reality of the gross misconduct of the past EXTREMIST administration came to roost, so let's stop kidding ourselves about how we got to this point.

The eight years of the Bush/Cheney White House brought to bear every Republican venue of extremist policy directives known to human recorded history. There was tax cut after tax cut, SUPPOSEDLY, to fuel the economy. There was Pork Project after Pork Project and every legislative directive during their adminisration was a jobs bill. There were no constructive democratic principles passed as pure legislation addressing the rights of Americans. The past extremist USA administration was oppressive with designs on 'forever wars' to faciliate a militaristic construction of the country.

Anyone denying that is a liar.

The Republican Party is one of 'ideals' and not REALITY. They adhere to them because they are draconian in their priorities on wealth as facilitated by relying on power playing government regardless of the benefits to the populous of the country. They regularly 'plot' their course of wealth management by exploiting the naivety of the electorate fueled by populous myths regarding economic realities and their possibilities.

The election of Barak Obama in November of 2008 resulted because Americans wanted their country back from the ravages of Republican exploitation. The 'final shot' in the American flag came when the economic exploitation of the financial sector revealed itself and a $700 TRILLION COST was placed at the doorstep of every American taxpayer. The reality as to 'what they were upto' was devastating and for the first time in recent political history Americans discovered The Truth was a better place to assign loyalty than party affiliation.

President Obama represented then and continues to represent all that is possible. An America that cares for itself, its poor and strives to capture a future generations are promised by the deaths of our military from centuries past. He mentioned our first Revolutionary War President in both his acceptance speech and inaugural speech.

(As a side note, I hope President Obama consolidates the Washington Crossing Parks on both sides of the Delaware River as a National Park. It should be. It would be an honor long overdue.)

But, in realizing how exploitive the past administrations have been of the American people and how neglectful their focus, it is time to call on the TRUE moral character of the American people in setting priorities for the country and its STABILITY and not 'flash in the pan' promises.

There are many reasons why the American economy appears a bit lethagic. For one, the priorities of the country has changed. The priorities of the USA as reflected in the Obama Presidency have always been there. They have been neglected. They cannot be neglected any further and it may be the future of Americans will come with a price. It is a price we have to pay for the sins of being neglectful. It is just that simple and at the core of all this I believe we know it.

President Obama continually states, as the country changes there is job creation. Not empty job creation, but, sustainable and PURPOSEFUL job creation.

Where do governments of any kind find the monies and fiscal infrastruture to exist and conduct itself? Through taxes. There has to be taxes, otherwise, there is no government. One cannot support a military on will alone. Right? Can and will every American citizen become a survivalist culture, arm themselves and be a civilian military? Will the civilized world within the USA become a wilderness of conflict and self protectionism? Scary thought. Is that whom we are?

I think an example of whom we are as people in the USA can best be reflected in the civilized society of New York City as it resulted after September 11th. We rose to the challenge of caring for ourselves. We found compassion to others a better way of life. That is whom we are as Americans.

There is that expression, "Except of the grace of God, There go I." Americans have that focus when it comes to realizing how tenuous life is. Our lives in many instances hang in the balance of 'connectedness' and 'possibility.' To believe we each have the power within ourselves to survive modern society alone is a hideous idea.

Much of what we face as Americans today, is due to coming to terms with policy change. In realizing our strength is best served as a collective rather than an individual. We realize how exploitive the private sector has been when TRUST has been misplaced. We need to and want to stop the exploitation of our populous and place our children in the hands of a benevolent entity while securing happiness in life. Other societies have made that transition and we can as well.

When a country has to bail out its banks there is something profoundly wrong with the way 'trust' is doled out. When millions of its populous struggle to achieve affordable health care there exists a profound reality that cannot be ignored. Without healthy people there is no viable sovereinty to any country. We have witnessed that. There are countries on Earth that do not have viable soveriegnty and their populous are struggling with survival. Tell me that should exist. I want to hear how that should exist in the world of 2009.

Americans allowed 'exspanionist' ideal to remove the very jobs that supported our government and all that is possible to be exported in the name of 'compassion' and peace. That was not a good idea and today the USA is paying the price of placing 'trust' in the hands of people that would rob us blind and leave the future of our children to 'luck.' We have to learn from these mistakes. Unfortunately, that reality is placed firmly on the shoulders of our new President and he honors that 'trust' everyday.

We are finding our way out of a severe economic recession. Actually, it can be considered as severe as the depression of the '20s and '30s in the USA. This is not an overnight recovery. It is laced with change in venues of government and how Americans are cared for including the care of the future for the USA and its children. We need to address issues that do not automatically engage high income possibilities. They are huge infrastructure changes that are going to result in debt. Americans very well may see services cut while facing challenges in financing their governments. Blame the Republicans. That is exactly whom the most responsible parties are, because, if trust was better placed and these changes occurred over decades instead of years we won't have these issues today.

I sincerely believe we have the Best of the Best in the Oval Office in the White House.

In the case of health care, I want to hear how expanding the consumer base for the industry will cost more money. Because right now the cost of a new MRI is carried by a narrower set of consumers that 'can pay.' When the cost of health care infrastructure is expanded over a wider base of consumers there will be less cost to everyone.

I don't want to hear how government subsidies were never before a venue for receiving care. In the 1950s before hospitals were built in communities there was funding from the federal government that was to translate into care for those that could not afford it. So, just knock it off. You are all a bunch of liars grabbing for wealth rather than what is best for our people.

In the case of the USA military? We aren't going to be the world's liberator. That is up to the people within their countries and they need to have the conversations that will faciliate their own liberation. The USA has been an example of a democratic government with a comfortable quality of life for those that WORK for that quality of life. If working is a way to a better quality of life then we are an inspiration. We aren't going to apologize for it.

The wars the USA will be involved will grossly shrink.

The war into Iraq was facilitated by fear of terrorists and their potential to 'startle' the public by causing limited deaths in spectalar attacks. Stop to think about that. We were attacked on September 11, 2001 by our own weaknesses in National Security to allow a private industry to proceed with business without securing their passenger lists. That weakness was profound in its naivety. It was going to happen. It was asking to happen.

What is more astounding is the reality we were lied to at the highest levels of government to call our military off the 'sincere' war front, which was supported by the international community, to conduct a war for oil and revenge by the President for a once verbalized threat to his father.

There is nothing profoundly proud about the war into Iraq. It resulted out of wealth, fear, as well as misdirected ego.

There won't be anymore wars.

Terrorist attacks are not wars, nor reason for them.

Terrorist attacks are failures in infrastruture.

Those are astounding statements, but, previous to the Iraq War there were shrinking threats to national defense by any country. We were attempting a peaceful world that addressed global concerns such as poverty, human rights and threats to our planet. The Bush/Cheney White House along with the Republican Party disregarded the progess the global community was making to 'disarm' from mutual enemy status to work together to find harmony and change through progressive initiatives.

The Bush/Cheney Administration completely derailed an entire global community for its purpose. It destabilized 'the sense' of well being of the international community through their hostile attacks into countries that were not a threat to the USA and by verbalizing the 'hostile' nature of the USA.

Are we that hostile a country?

Are we actually a country that attacks for any reason we choose?

Of course we aren't.

We now have to RESECURE the global community from 'the fear of the unreliable USA.' Ain't an easy task, but, one of consistency and legislative initiative based in profoundly stable CONSTITUTIONAL values. In other words, we have to prove the USA is stable, unflappable and 'coup' resistant.

There is absolutely no reason for any military escalation of any country, yet every nation is on 'fast forward' to mutual nuclear annhilation and where that won't work, we'll use neutron blasts. How screwed up is that? On one hand we are supporting an INTERNATIONAL Space Station while escalating mutual nuclear annihilation. There is something grossly "W"rong with this picture.

Realizing the worst enemy any country has are 'individuals' out of control in religious fervor, there won't be need for national military invasions or otherwise. We do have to come to terms with the current reality that is North Korea and Iran. Their nuclear programs have proven to be dangerous to the international community and that can't be ignored. Other nations that face the threats of these two countries can never be well secured in mutual ability on a timeline that is reasonable. These dangers have to be addressed. In doing so, the international security can honestly take a breather to step back from the precipice.

We have to finish Afghanistan to RETURN the balance of democracy to the REGION. Under Bush/Cheney the Musharraf admnistration did little to nothing to stop the growing threat of The Taliban. We cannot ignore what occurred in Pakistan while our military was rerouted into Iraq. The injustice of the actions of the Bush/Cheney administration didn't begin and end with the Paulson Bailout, it occurred during the entire administration that reigned 'fear' over the USA electorate.

At any rate, Afghanistan and securing the Karzai government is vital to stability in the region. We have to ask both China and Russia to achieve stability in these regions by eliminiating existing networks of 'powerful' groups that seek influence through violence. I have confidence both China and Russia will act in any measure necessary to stop these groups.

I have confidence the Obama administration will find friends in both these communist nations through willingness in mutual peace rather than brinkmanship toward conventional or nuclear wars. The 'nature' of the species of human being has to include 'reason' that is based in mutual peace and well being rather than violence to military dominance.

We also have to prove we can 'live within the unchangable physics' that is Earth. All is possible with willingness to achieve it. That has value as well. Intangible value that secures Earth to future generations.

This Fourth of July, let Americans recapture their 'purpose' rather than their only understanding of 'wealth.' Recovery is on the way, but, the timeline does not allow for 'immediate gratification.' Get real, okay?

When the going gets tough, the tough leave. If. The tough is a Republican.

Give me a break, okay? The Palin Budger REQUIRES Stimulus dollars in order to float. She is violating the 'spirit' of the stimulus dollars and is allowing the State of Alaska to take the heat. She's bailing on the people that elected her, albeit, regretably.

...Gov. Palin's Budget Director Karen Rehfeld is emphasizing accountability with Alaska's nearly $900 million stimulus portion.
Rehfeld says the state could owe money if the Feds find out Alaska did not carry out the stimulus correctly.
The news comes as the Feds say Alaska is now eligible for two portions of education stimulus money, including $96 million that will apparently trickle down to local districts.
Rehfeld continues to use the phrase "strings attached," telling the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce Monday what sounds like a cautionary tale.
The administration does not appear to be phased by lawmakers saying stimulus stings are false.
Instead Palin's budget director continued throwing rope after rope.
"The state needed to make specific reassurances," Rehfeld told the Chamber, adding, "There is unprecedented accountability. You will quickly see there are additional requirements or strings....

My Deepest Sympathies and...

...Peace to the Jackson Family.


Michael walks among the greats.

Insomnia is about returning to REM sleep, not simply being unconscious.

Propofol did not kill Michael Jackson. Huge wealth and a man that believed there were no boundaries in his life is what killed Michael Jackson. It would be better for the medical profession and the DEA to address any abuses in this case, but, the real crime is the ability to have all of what one wants without healthy barriers or consequences.

Michael's naivety about the dangers within his own life killed him. He lived with fantasy more than reality. That 'comfort' zone for him allowed him experimentation into entertainment of his audience. It also cost him his life.

I suggest body guards of such individuals have 'custodial' authority to prevent these issues from existing. In other words, when he became unable to manage through friendly measures, he should have been taken into custody and placed under restraint to be managed appropriately. His death benefits no one.

t

Under the ideal circumstances, propofol has serious side effects that remain unmanageable to the best outcome of the patient. Propofol is never used for convenience by medical personnel. It is used on severely compromised patients whereby invasive devices are used within the body to control the patient from crashing and dying. Invasive devices such as vents when patients have suffered severe and difficult spine cord injuries and events such as severe heart failure when a baloon pump is in place and the patient's body position has to be managed.

Propofol under the best of conditions is only used when all else fails ! It is rarely used as a subsitute for general anesthesia. It is tightly used within the medical profession for those that do use it.

...Despite the inherent pharmacological and clinical advantages of propofol therapy in the ICU (click title to entry - thank you), its use is associated with adverse drug-related events (Table 2). Propofol has a cardiovascular depressant effect that may lead to hypotension and bradycardia, particularly in volume-depleted patients.1 Hypertriglyceridemia associated with pancreatitis, respiratory depression, pain with injection, green discoloration of urine, nausea, vomiting, and allergic complications have also been historically associated with propofol administration....

Time to get busy, Al. A lot of catching up to do. Just in time for Earth and American Health Care. Make History.

Key dates in the Al Franken-Norm Coleman Senate recount (click here)
From a Times staff writer 2:12 PM PDT, June 30, 2009
Nov. 4, 2008: Initial vote tallies on Election Day show Republican Norm Coleman leading Democrat Al Franken by 215 votes, but the race is too close to call.Nov. 18: Statewide canvassing report says Coleman has a 215-vote lead, triggering an automatic hand recount because the margin is less than one-half of 1 percentage point....

We are out of there ! Our military is needed for National Security, NOT, settling ethnic disputes, oil interests and civil wars.

...The White House said Tuesday (click title to entry - thank you) that Biden would work closely with General Ray Odierno, the top US commander in Iraq and US ambassador to Baghdad Christopher Hill as US forces prefer to leave for good by the end of 2011.
"The vice president has been asked by the president to oversee the policy," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Tuesday.
Biden would work with Iraqis "toward overcoming their political differences and achieving the type of reconciliation that we all understand has yet to fully take place but needs to take place."...

About darn time. "Being your own doctor was the Bush methodology to America Health Care.

These drugs are 'helpful' but they aren't candy as they are currently treated. Over the counter drugs have their place, but, I am more than pleased the FDA are given back their 'teeth.'

Another Airbus fell out of the sky. Somehow a surviving five year old is more important than the rest of the passengers.

The statistics with the table below is a little deceptive and in my opinion is trivial. The fact that Airbus is more popular in the countries where these recent accidents occurred could make a couple of statements.

Airbus wants everyone to believe it is the weather. It isn't the weather or wind conditions. The typhoon season in the North Indian Ocean ended in May with an occurrence of all of two storms this season. There is a 'Tropical Storm' season that occurs in September and October but the storms never get that strong these days. The two cyclones that occurred in this ocean didn't acheive Cat. 2 status. They had maximum winds of 50 to 65 miles per hour. There is absolutely no reason why a Jumbo Jet can't fly through turbulence of 40 to 60 mph. These planes have engines that create winds stronger than that when they are preparing for take off. I don't want to hear the excuses anymore.

Since the Airbus crash of Air France, the Bowing Dreamline is back to the drawing board and we many see a Dreamliner in commercial flight.

To begin what the heck are we building such huge jets for in the year 2009? In case no one noticed, these jumbos were used by al Qaeda to attack the infrastructure of the USA. Then there is the issue of fuel. While the Dreamliner is supposed to save fuel, there is no reason to be traveling in such huge planes that use huge capacities of fuel. It makes no sense. There is nothing 'green' about planes.

The issue that two crashes of Airbus occurred in close proximity of each other is however significant. It means the mechanisms, computers, software have a longevity different than the plances. The Super-Jumbos are simply too big to fly. They are loaded with computer software to help handle their bulk in flight, take off and landing. If Airbus has a problem it doesn't matter if they haven't had accidents before or if they have had a million. A problem is a problem. You won't find me on a plane.


Planes with fatal accidents to passengers (click here)

As rescuers search for survivors of the Yemenia Air Airbus A310 which crashed investigators will already be looking at possible causes.
Organisations record reams of data on commerical airliners around the world. This set - which includes the latest crash - is from consultancy Ascend. It shows us the most popular airliners in the world - and how many fatal passenger crashes each has had. It does not include terror attacks and there are other caveats too: for instance, the DC-9 have been in service for a long time and the current fleet is now reduced due to retirements. But it is a unique dataset - let us know what you think.

After the people of South Carolina dry their tears over the melodrama, they need to impeach him if he won't resign.

His own Lt. Governor indicted him on insubordination of a Governor to this responsibilities.

The Lt. Governor appeared wtih Huckabee. It was obvious the State of South Carolina was in limbo the entire time Sanford went missing. The Lt. Governor didn't even know he was missing until someone called him in regard to where the Governor might be. (click here)




Part I



Part II

Sanford is basically corrupt. He was wheeling and dealing outside USA federal policy. He and his supporters, which have invested heavily with him as a potential Presidential hopeful, may be trying to 'capture' sympathy through isolating this as a South Carolina issue, but, it may be that Sanford's lover might actually be his haven in case he 'got caught.'

...The Commerce Department halted high-level trade missions to Argentina after Argentina reneged on its debts. A Commerce Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss the matter publicly, confirmed that Sanford's visit contradicted federal policy....(click title to entry - thank you)

Attack against Affirmative Action. So what else is new in the Robert's Court?

It would appear as though President Obama has chosen the perfect candidate to the Supreme Court. She is gifted enough to see past the 'Status Quo' and while this is not directly an Affirmative Action case, it has the underlying dynamics of one.



Firefighters' Case Shouldn't Haunt Sotomayor (click here)
By Eva Rodriguez
Make no mistake about it: The case of Ricci v. DeStefano will come back to haunt Obama Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. In a fair world, it wouldn't.
A sharply divided 5-4 Supreme Court this morning overruled a decision issued by Sotomayor and two colleagues on the New York-based federal appeals court. Sotomayor upheld New Haven, Conn.'s decision to throw out tests for leadership posts in its fire department. The city took the action after test results showed that only white or Hispanic firefighters scored high enough to qualify for promotion; under this test, no African-American firefighters made the grade....

The real question is, why have caucasians done so well in leadership and primarily caucasian males? Some of that 'equation' is a 'cultural' issue. Not socio-economic, but, the 'culture' of leadership in American institutions. And yes, business and government are institutions with different 'characteristics.'

We all know the expressions, "The Good 'Ole Boys Club," "The Glass Ceiling." They are real and not just expressions. They are real dynamics that provide barriers to accomplishments by minorities, including white women. As an example I offer 'The Good 'Ole Boys Over Reaching Club of Goldman Sachs.' (Correction : There may have been one token Black Man in the mix.)

When one looks at the men that come out of the institution to 'service' the government rhelm, they are all white men. So, I don't want to hear how there is NO problem in the USA with advancement of minorities, including white women, just because a 'limited' and 'hostile' Supreme Court made a ruling that is supposed to 'end it.' This does not 'end it.' It opens the country to a vulnerability of continued poor standards in the 'culture' of business and government.

The 'idea' of advancement in leadership should come with a well rounded background. But. Who provides the 'opportunity' to that background? Ideally, the 'process' should be as if the choice for a leadership position were blind to any dynamics, except, those needed for the leadership position. When a test is administered to 'find' advancement it should not be the do all and end all, but, a 'tool' for evaluation.

Some people don't do well on tests, yet perform beyond any expectations in 'the field.' There is a reason for that. It was absolutely correct to eradicate the test as a 'tool' to 'decide' a new leadership position. When there is a stark difference in the scores of minorities to their majority peers all kinds of red flags should go up. Absolutely, without a doubt.

The underlying message to this Supreme Court decision is that everyone needs to study harder and with better concentration. What? It 'implies' those that did not do well are inferior to their peers that did well, hence a better leadership choice based on study habits. The Robert's Supreme Court today 'decided' to back 'a test' and not performance of someone that was to 'apply' 'knowledge' to leadership of a very dangerous profession. They literally 'dummied down' the options for achieving the best outcome. It is a hideous decision today. Absolutely.

Reading and writing has a place in determining leadership, however, that is a characteristic one needs to achieve to succeed at all. All to often 'tests' for 'placing' people in leadership positions are based in 'how to play the game.' In other words, 'What would your decision be if presented with X, Y, Z dynamics. As an executive what would be the best choice for 'organizing' decision making. Applying 'learned skills' to decision making based on 'what it best for the fire fighter' responding to a fire is not a matter of 'business decision making,' but, one of 'dynamic' decision making.

Should there ever be a departure from that? Is there a position within leadership for fire fighters that should depart from 'experience' into a 'business' decision? Not in my opinion. Any fire fighter needs RADIOS that work. That decision to make the best choice of radio for fire fighters could have saved lives on September 11, 2001.

There is not necessarily 'right or wrong' dynamics, but, more 'learned experience' application to those decisions. I doubt seriously any written test, even in essay, could bring the 'knowledge' of fire fighting to bear equitably to a candidate. No fire fighter has the very same experience as another. The choices minorities are making in applying for employment might very well be with other minorities where cultural backgrounds are not issues when working together. After all, fire fighting is life and death to any person involved, be it the professional responding or the victim.

The choices of fire fighters to their particular interest in serving in the field are based on intimate dynamics. These people pratically live together and know each other's personality well. They have preferences in what their companies are composed. It was about a year, maybe more, ago that a gay fire fighter was literally beaten by a peer. I don't site that as a 'fact' to this case, but, as an example of the underlying dynamics to being a part of a fire company.

I am quite confident the State of Connecticut did not go out of their way to compose a test that was discriminatory, however, the application of the test to the candidates proved there were severe deficits to the ability of all the candidates to apply their experience and knowledge. With that reality comes a decision itself. That decision SHOULD have lead to 'first' an evaluation of the candidates that were 'excluded' from doing well and why. Why indeed were minorities performing poorly on a very important test that I am confident every one of them took seriously? It is a question even today that has not been answered.

Today, the Supreme Court prohibited that question to take place. It excluded 'statistics' based in race, religion, culture or gender to be a 'factor' in preparation of tests to advancement. That is dangerous beyond any imaginary 'line' that exists which acts as a discriminatory 'tool.' The decision today is one of the most horrendous ever made by the Supreme Court. The decision was minimally biased if not bigoted itself. From where I stand it was an act of anger against the 'melting pot' that complicates the landscape of the USA. Make no doubt about it, the landscape of the populous of this country does not allow for efficiency so much as challenge. The Supreme Court failed the challenge today. No doubt in my mind. Attempting to 'simplify' the USA only makes it all worse. It just doesn't work. It is the nature of the beast.

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

Local Time: 8:34 AM AKDT (GMT -08)

Lat/Lon: 58.8° N 137.0° W

Elevation :: 33 feet

Temperature :: 52 °F

Conditions :: Overcast

Humidity :: 76%

Dew Point :: 45 F

Wind :: Calm

Pressure :: 30.17 inches (Steady)

Visibility :: 10.0 miles

UV :: 1 out of 16

Clouds :: Overcast 3000 ft
(Above Ground Level)


Earth's in the emergency room (click title to entry - thank you)
BY DAVID YARNOLD
dyarnoldedf.org
...Continuing to delay the environmental care we urgently need will make the future much, much worse. Projections show the inland United States will warm up roughly 40 percent faster than the global average, with profound implications for American agriculture. In 2007, the prestigious Science magazine published research that ''predicted a permanent drought by 2050 in many parts of the country,'' creating 1930s Dust Bowl-like arid conditions from Kansas to California. Another study found that without action to address climate change, by 2100 Oklahoma will see temperatures above 110 degrees for 60 to 80 days a year -- within the lifetime of many children born today.
Just as emergency room care is always more expensive, waiting to address climate change will cost prohibitively more. Suppose we pass cap-and-trade climate legislation this year, with the law taking effect in 2012. To comply with the emissions target by 2020, businesses would need to cut annual emissions by about 2 percent.
Now let's look at another scenario: say we pass a cap-and-trade bill in 2010, and it doesn't take effect until 2014. To meet the same target, emissions would have to fall by 4.3 percent per year -- over twice as fast -- year after year until 2020, just to get to the same place. By 2020, emissions would have to be cut 23 percent below the starting point in 2014 compared to a 15-percent reduction if we begin just two years earlier. That's the cost of delaying action while the amount of global warming pollution in the atmosphere continues to rise....

Morning Papers - It's Origins

The Rooster

"Okeydoke"

The week past was marred by notable deaths.

The most incredible being the Democracy Now Demonstrators in Iran. I never expected such a strong and resilient front to the demand for the enforcement of democratic principles before within a country plagued with a ego-inflated demogogic figure as its President. While the current Ayatollah pleaded for the demostrators to stop their out cry, the Iranian government proceeded in declaring there were in fact inconsistencies in at least fifty cities within the election vote count, however it would not effect the outcome.

The demonstrating did not end in Iran. There were demonstrations around the world in support of the Iranians. One such demonstration proved to be confrontational in Sweden of all places.

Protesters break into Iranian embassy in Sweden (click here)

By LOUISE NORDSTROM, Associated Press Writer

Fri Jun 26, 2:01 pm ET

STOCKHOLM – Angry demonstrators broke into the Iranian Embassy outside Stockholm on Friday, climbing in through shattered windows and injuring one embassy worker, police said.
More than 150 people had gathered outside the embassy to protest against the Iranian regime, when some of them attacked the building with rocks and tore down a fence to enter the embassy grounds, police spokesman Ulf Hoglund said.
"A few managed to climb through broken windows into the building," Hoglund said. He said one member of the embassy staff was injured inside the building, but didn't know how seriously.
Fifty police officers and an ambulance were dispatched to the scene. Hoglund said police had evicted the demonstrators from the building and arrested one person.
Organizers of the demonstration said a few of the protesters were injured in clashes with the embassy's security officers.
"We want a regime change," said Firouzeh Ghaffrpour, one of the organizers. "The Islamic system is not wanted by the people of Iran."
The protesters, mostly Iranians, also demanded the embassy be closed.
Police said the situation was under control later Friday, but demonstrators continued to block the entrance, preventing embassy personnel from leaving.
The protest followed several peaceful demonstrations in Sweden after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected in a June 12 vote that the opposition claims was marred by massive fraud.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad still remains President of Iran and is ratcheting up his rhetoric against The West, primarily with the USA as his target. He continues his inflammatory ranting which is taking away any legitimate authority of his office.

President Ahmadinejad is facing an even more difficult administration in DC that has been willing to talk with Iran regarding its aggressive nuclear proliferation which has already seen a resident enrichment facility.

Now, it would seem as though the attempts by the current administration in resolving sanctions agsinst Iran while seeking cooperation in the nuclear arms race in the Middle East is again being toyed with for increased rhetoric to garner time to complete nuclear armament of missiles. It is doubtable, especially now with threats of executions by an Iranian cleric, that peace talks will favor any outcome that was possible with Iran. It appears a rhetorical govenment is favored by the authority within that country as the world has watched Iran not only complete its nuclear facility, but, build enrichment facilities capable of weapon capacity. It is a 'strategy' favored by Iran in the face of sanctions that are disregarded as insignificant within the rhetoric of the authorities.

The Middle East Peace process has a poor margin of achievement with 'still' hopes of a Two State Agreement between Palestine and Israel as a conduit to everything else possible in resolving the New Cold War of countries such as Iran and North Korea. It is unrealistic to believe that 'settling' the Palestine-Israeli process will stop Iran or any other country within the Middle East from propagation of nuclear weapon capacity. The process between Israel and Palestine is unique to any outcome with Iran. Iran sees a greater picture as a champion for the Shi'ites, when in reality it is overshadowing a demise to such a benevolent people with nuclear capacity.

In DC, a primary vote regarding Climate Change legislation passed by a reasonable margin. The opposition admits Earth needs to be a partner in government oversight of carbon dioxide emissions, however, they say the 'timing' for such legislation is a bad idea as it is an economic 'strain' on the already compromised global economy. Tell me that makes sense. I want to hear how all that makes sense. The people that would make such statements also were able to achieve peace in the Middle East, right? Sure.

Let's see. Ignoring the devastation of high tropospheric carbon dioxide levels for nearly five decades has brought the globe to a deadly pattern of Climate Change. In the 1960s when the Greenhouse Effect promoted the first Earth Day, the verbiage Climate Change was never spoken. Climate Change became popular with the Republican leadership and a substitute for Human Induced Global Warming. Somehow, the verbiage would make the 'reality' managable. The problem the Neocons ran into was not a PR issue, only the reality that they couldn't declare war on Earth to garner cooperation in their priorities. Although, the arguement can be made war against Earth has been a priority of Republican leadership since Earth Day.

A President for the Future, someone the American people have needed for the five decades following the alarming news from our scientists. I congratulate him for his resolve on the issues of the day. There is no treading water for President Obama as there has been by Republicans. He isn't a rhetorical figure that laces 'happy talk' with reality. He 'explains' the direction of this administration based in 'the truth' and resolves leading in 'answers' to the issues. He is a remarkable person.

Reflecting on President Obama's family values and on the lighter side of American life, Bo received his official White House portrait and the Los Angeles Times had fun with the idea of "Universal Pet Insurance." An interesting idea, considering pets now receive such advanced technologies as radiation and chemotherapy for cancers.

Obama dog Bo officially declared cute, seeks universal pet insurance (click here)

Well, it didn't take long. And came as no surprise.
Just weeks after moving into the Democratic White House, Bo Obama used the occasion of his official photograph release today to call for universal pet health insurance.
Looking just darling and tilting his head as generations of successful public dogs have endearingly done to capture human hearts, the Portuguese water dog said that a society that could send chimpanzees into space certainly could afford to pay for such essential insurance for their beloved home companions....

The Los Angeles Times is quite right, pets have come a long way from the RCA Victor Dog. Nice blog article, thank you.

Oh, perhaps I need to qualify one statement that seems like rhetoric. I stated this is a 'tougher' administration the Middle East and primarily Iran has to face.

My favorite quote of any American President to date is the 'theme' for this blog. “I never give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it’s hell.” – Harry Truman. Something Michael Moore has been able to capture as a methodolgy in life. Imagine that.

At any rate, having Iran and the global community face the facts of the burgeoning nuclear proliferation in the Middle East by staring down Ahmadinejad rhetoric and lies while STILL demanding to 'talk' is far tougher a stance than simply sitting in the Oval Office and ranting about dropping bombs. An administration that seeks peace through progressive talks and demanding verification of disarmament and non-proliferation strategies does not allow for rhetoric by Mahmoud or any other 'traditionally' considered Rouge State.

Opening up and even demanding a peace process and method of nuclear non-proliferation with ultimate disarmament as a goal to stop any insane ideologies of annihilating half the populous of humans on Earth (Assuming of course only half the planet would oppose the other half.) is a tough stance and one the entire global community (at some level) would seek to disavow.

Seeking peace and nuclear non-proliferation is far more difficult than chronic nuclear brinkmanship. It exposes the 'under belly' of the global community. A dangerous place indeed.