The "Nuns on the Bus" has potential to help Americans far beyond their tour.

The Nun Habit (black cloak) frequently makes others believe they are all the same. Not so. Sister Corita Kent could easily be appreciated in MOMA.


Below she appears at a showing of her work at the Museum of American Art in New Britain. See, she isn't just a nun that likes to express herself though abstract art, she is an American artist as well.


One of her works found notoriety, "Let the Sun Shine In," a portrait of Pope John XXIII. That is noted in the Washington Post article. A image of the actual artwork is below.


It is safe to say if anyone was to look in a book of a collection of American artists, Sister Corita Kent won't be found. That is really not appropriate for a country that embraces self expression and religious freedom.

Posted at 09:30 PM ET, 06/19/2012

Before there were “nuns on a bus,” there was Sister Corita Kent (click title to entry - thank you)

By Melinda Henneberger

...it’s impossible not to feel both energized by her passion and acutely aware that she walked the same bumpy road many of today’s American nunsare on after Vatican criticism that their work has been infected by “radical feminism.”...

It is my opinion that much of the criticism coming from the Vatican of Americans, American women and American Nuns and Priests (Those furthest from attaining the station of Pope.) is due to their removed interest of the American culture.

The Vatican will seek to support prostitutes in Rome as part of a societal culture needing protection and recognition, but, it won't recognize the beauty of the American spirit and its manifestation in art and the art of freedom of speech. Art is, of course, speech.

So, while the Roman Catholic Church is a global organization and has missionaries in some of the roughest political environments in the world, it does not necessarily embrace the cultures of countries to allow their flock to feel welcome and embraced in return. Somehow, the only aberrations appreciated by Rome are those of beatification and sainthood, while the Lord's flock has many ways of expressing their love of their faith.

Another way of saying it, "The folks at the Vatican are stuffed shirts." You can quote that.


The Nuns on the Bus are wonderful. They are centered on morality and how to sustain human dignity at a time when money is a focus rather than the 'integrity of decency' in the USA. Their voice is extremely important within the borders of the USA during a very difficult political environment. Their wholesomeness is invaluable as is their spiritual expression of upholding morality during times when an aspect of the USA government seeks to put war machines before the survival of their own citizenry. They temper the 'raw attitude' currently in our society that would like to kick the poor to the curb, literally and figuratively. They could not have come at a better time and I dare anyone to contest their intents are outside their faith and love of God.


The Nuns on the Bus may not realize when a message is begun in the USA it takes a long time, up to two years, before that message sinks into the national dialogue in a way that transcends all the capitalism static. There is a great deal of 'money dialogue' in the American culture. For spirituality to find a 'status' in this very busy 'grab attention' lifestyle; the Nuns on the Bus have a lot of work to do. They need to continue to seek 'in roads' with the American dialogue to make morality a priority and not a fiscal liability.


I was thrilled when I first heard of the tour and I strongly support it and it's continued purpose and impact within our country. I thank them for valuing the best side of us.

When Romney heads to the London Olympics, who is paying of it, the campaign?

The horse isn't running for President. I would be surprised if the horse has Secret Service, too, so leave the animal alone.


Blue ribbon first place. Red ribbon second place. Yellow ribbon third place.


His hat keeps flies out of his ears to prevent any distraction from his work.


...When Mitt Romney travels (click title to entry - thank you) to the Olympics in London next week, he is hoping for a round of positive media coverage of the strong leadership he provided in rescuing the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2002. But he will be walking a tightrope because his Democratic critics will use the occasion to ridicule him and attempt to undermine his case....

Assad's government is toppling.

The reason Assad is losing his civil war.

Wednesday July 18, 2012

ANKARA: A Syrian general (click title to entry - thank you) and several soldiers crossed into Turkey on Monday, a Turkish diplomat told AFP, bringing the number of defections by generals from Bashar al-Assad's embattled regime to at least 18.

Turkey has become home to dozens of defectors who have crossed the border and formed the Free Syrian Army in opposition to Assad's regime....

The reason Russia has a strong role in the region.

By Editorial Board

...Syria holds one of the largest stockpiles of chemical weapons (click here) in the Middle East, composed of blister and nerve agents, including sarin, for which it has manufacturing facilities. It is believed to have sought out the deadliest nerve agent ever created, VX....

I caution the West to pound away at the idea of WMD, again. There is no current inventories of same from Syria. That last invasion into Iraq was completely unjustified. I might add, civilians were not under siege when the USA and its coalition of the willing invaded a stable and disarmed country. The UN Inspectors doing work in Iraq at the time were finding NO WMD.

VX alone will become inert extremely fast. So, there may be no more effective WMD in Syria. If Syria has a production plant of same, it tells me there are needs to restore their stocks because of degradation of their inventory.

As more and more generals defect from Syria the Assad regime is very exposed to intelligence and attacks at highly secure locations. It is my opinion with the defection of all the military results in a successful attack into Damascus.

If Turkey doesn't have enough intelligence today to completely bomb and dismantle WMD sites without invasion then what the heck are they doing? I am quite confident Turkey is ready to take down the regime in a moments notice no different than in Libya. I am quite sure the Syrian Generals are more than welcome when they show up at the border heading into Turkey. 

I really believe the anxiety level over Syria is inappropriate. Between Russia and Turkey there is more control than we realize. This conflict won't last forever.

The Senate Races considered to be toss ups until today, adding Hawaii according to the US Chamber of Commerce.

Massachusetts


Warren (D)  vs  Brown (R) - evenly divided at 47% each


Indiana 


Donnelly (D)  vs  Mourdock (R) - currently evenly at 42% which reveals a high level of undecided and possibly independent


Virginia 


Kaine (D) 46%  vs  Allen (R) 44% - that leaves about 10% undecided


New Mexico 


Heinrich (D) 46%  vs  Wilson (R) 42% - 10% undecided


Montana


Tester (D) 47%  vs  Rehberg (R) 49% - Not much wiggle room. Low amount of undecided. Tester has been a great Senator for Montana, I am a little surprised.


Dodd - Frank? Rehberg must be lying through his teeth big time. Given the irresponsibility that still exists in the Financial Sector as exhibited by Morgan, Barclays and LIBOR there should be no doubt Senator Tester is doing the right thing. He is being attacked by Rehberg because he is on the Senate Banking Committee. It is a 'designer' focus. Tester has done a lot for Montana, they will be sorry if they don't put him back. Senator Tester needs to speak about some of his best accomplishments for Montana. Seriously, they need him.

Rehberg is attacking Tester for having sponsored a bill that would have delayed limits on debit interchange fees in Dodd-Frank’s Durbin rule.

Whereas Tester "implied it was the six-term GOP congressman who lacked independence as demonstrated by his vote against the Dodd-Frank Act," writes Wack.

"It held Wall Street accountable," said Tester, and Rehberg "opposed it, for obvious reasons."

Got that? In sum: they are each trying to paint the other as beholden to the financial services industry.

"The Montana campaign is getting a lot of national attention because it is one of several races that will determine whether the Senate swings into Republican hands," observes  Wack....


Why would Montana want to vote for deregulation again. Barclays is going to be on the Hill, unless they were there already. Let me see.


I think this article makes an interesting point. It is the institutions failing to act responsibly in the market. They want governments to leave them alone without regulation. That can't be. They haven't proven to be either stable enough or ethical enough. Those are not reasons to deregulate, the complete opposite. Montana doesn't understand that?


Senator Testers experience is important, especially now.

Blame Barclays, not capitalism (click here)

By Jonah Goldberg

7:00 a.m. EDT, July 16, 2012

Why aren't more people furious about the Libor scandal?

That's a question mostly being asked on the political left these days, and they're right to ask it....

...Indeed, a conservative estimate is that some $350 trillion in bonds and loans are pegged to Libor worldwide. That's more than 20 times the GDP of the United States....

Hello? Montana? Are you out there? Crops ain't that good, but, that has nothing to do with the banks directly. I guess it is starting to get expensive to feed the cows, huh? Fuel prices, cost of production. How the loans rolling this year? There are low interest loans this year to help with costs. Diesel. You know I would think cooperatives should be producing their own biodiesel by now. 

The American Research Group has interesting Household Surveys.

There is a big difference in the way Americans are viewing their Household Financial Situation; much better than a year ago.

...When it comes to rating their household financial situations,(click title to entry - thank you) 63% of Americans give an excellent, very good, or good rating and 36% give a bad, very bad, or terrible rating.

Among those saying they approve of the way Obama is handling his job, 80% say excellent, very good, or good and 19% say bad, very bad, or terrible. Among those saying they disapprove of the way Obama is handling his job, 41% say very good, or good and 58% say bad, very bad, or terrible....

Household financial situation	Excellent	Very good	Good	Bad	Very bad	Terrible	Undecided
Jun 2012	10%	15%	38%	25%	8%	3%	1%
May 2012	9%	16%	43%	19%	6%	6%	1%
Apr 2012	10%	14%	41%	24%	7%	4%	-
Mar 2012	6%	16%	52%	15%	5%	5%	1%
Feb 2012	6%	16%	37%	28%	7%	5%	1%
Jan 2012	10%	15%	40%	22%	8%	4%	1%
Dec 2011	3%	19%	45%	23%	3%	6%	1%
Nov 2011	6%	15%	44%	22%	9%	3%	1%
Oct 2011	11%	15%	32%	22%	7%	12%	1%
Sep 2011	10%	13%	48%	24%	1%	3%	1%
Aug 2011	1%	16%	50%	23%	6%	3%	1%
Jul 2011	7%	17%	47%	21%	4%	3%	1%
Jun 2011	4%	14%	45%	25%	8%	3%	1%

There is a consistent change over the last three months compared to one year ago. I find that interesting. The most remarkable change in this survey actually sees their Household Financial Situation as Excellent. A year ago that comfort level was at 4%, in June 2012 it rose to 10% but has not fluctuated much at all over the past three months.


It is a smaller sample size, but, that smaller size is consistent over the year. The methodology to the American Research Group doesn't really change, so their reporting even though it appears to be an outliar, is consistent. I still find it interesting.


The greatest fluctuation exists between the "Good and Bad" ratings, but,that makes sense. There will be more dynamics at those levels. But, the approval rating is shifting up to Excellent. 


Interesting.

Hawaii is in play in the Senate and the Democrats are winning the fundraising.

By Patrick O'Connor

...A new round of polling (click title to entry - thank you) from the business-friendly U.S Chamber of Commerce suggests President Barack Obama’s home state might actually be in play.
Republican former Gov. Linda Lingle leads Democratic Rep. Mazie Hirono, 47% to 41%, to fill a seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Daniel Akaka, according to a new poll released by the Chamber. Earlier polls show the Democrat with a solid lead.
The Chamber, which rarely discloses poll results, released the Hawaii numbers along with the results of public-opinion surveys for Senate races in Montana and Virginia that also show the Republican candidates outpacing their Democratic opponents....

Senate Fundraising Winners and Losers (Click here)

By Sean Sullivan and Julie Sobel

July 17, 2012 | 6:31 a.m.

During the second quarter of the year, Senate Democrats largely won the fundraising battle, but the power of well-funded Republican outside groups will even the playing field in races with weak Republican candidates for whom fundraising has not been a strong suit.

Individually, the period's standouts were mainly familiar faces who had already demonstrated a knack for hauling in big bucks. The quarter's biggest disappointments also largely had a history of lackluster numbers; but now they also face a race against time with most of the remaining primaries slated for August. With just one more complete fundraising quarter left until Election Day, here are our second quarter Senate fundraising winners and losers:...

Stop the anger, let the university heal.

A plane flying the Penn State University campus in State College, pulls a banner reading "Take the statue down or we will." The Paterno statue outside Beaver Stadium has been a point of much contention.

AP Photo/Centre Daily Times, Nabil K. Mark

No, you will not. Penn State is considering closing down the football program. The proper measures will be taken by the school administration. The administration has to be trusted again. The exposure and conviction of the pedophile acted effectively to seek change in the way Penn State conducts its professional staff. 

The decision around the football team is in regard to any rule breaking of the conference. If Paterno proves to be dishonorable in many venues his leadership will be eliminated as an icon for the university in the future.

Paterno’s Alma Mater Takes Name Off Award

By TIM ROHAN

Published: July 17, 2012

...Brown — which Paterno graduated from in 1950 — (click title to entry - thank you) has removed Paterno’s name from a coaching position and an annual award. It is debating his status in the university’s athletic hall of fame in the wake of the child sexual abuse scandal involving Jerry Sandusky and Paterno’s role in it....

Patero was of a different generation. One that didn't understand the strength of safety in numbers. Most of the time institutions were not empowering so much as machines of the system. That is what Peterno understood. Either become a 'brick in the wall' or lose your job, your place in the world and a future.


Paterno is a prime example of the failure of power today. People find empowerment among each other. The ease with which danger of any kind exists in the world today, rarely goes unnoticed. That was not the case for Paterno. He handled a pedophile as best he could while building lives and futures for students and staff.


Paterno obviously had success. The people under his tutelage became successful and it wasn't because pedolphilia ran wild among them.


Sandusky was gone a while ago. He was considered a danger to the Penn State Football Program long before he was finally prosecuted and moved out of society. Paterno did something right. No one can accuse him of simply looking the other way, that wasn't the case. If he didn't have the means within his own understanding of his power and prestige enough to move an administration then all anyone can accuse him of is being humble. If he was at a loss to protect young men and boys whom he had little to no influence over, then the only thing he is guilty of is being an innocent by stander.


Paterno is not the monster. He is an unfortunate. He lacked the will to move against the system, he acquired that understanding somewhere.


The problem with Sandusky was the incideous ability he had to acquire young boys for his sexual antics. He formed an entire organization around recruiting disadvantaged young men to satisfy his appetite. He adopted boys to exploit. Was there no measure within the system to stop this man?


There are many other aspects to Sandusky's crimes that needs to be examined to the exploitation of children. Paterno was not as much the problem as the system he lived and worked. Paterno was not omnipotent. He did not control every aspect of the indecency and criminal content of a pedophile. I am sure he was as disgusted as anyone and reflected on it many times. I sincerely believe Paterno simply didn't have the ability to move outside  his own understanding of victimization. 


It is not unusual for professionals to dismiss federal mandates to act against abuse. There is sometimes a lot on the line, too. They can't do it anonymously. They don't have a lawyer's head on their shoulders. They second guess their own conclusions.


I believe all those involved with Paterno, his memory and the appropriate elevation of his career will do the right thing. The administration has to have a chance to sort through it all. Their case for action has to be solid and well considered, otherwise, it will look like as a vengeful propaganda stunt.


I'll tell you what bothers me more; the murder of a man years ago. Sandusky is physically a large and strong man. I would not put anything past him in his belief he was a pedophile's path to success, including murder. Sandusky wrote a 'how to book' for other pedophiles. If one gets to know the pedophile community there is the understanding they have a legitimate right to their lifestyle. Sandusky is an example of that community and he was proud of his accomplishments as a pedophile satisfied with his choices. Believe me there are far larger and more pressing problems than a statue of an unfortunate.

Enough of the killing in Syria. Is there any reason to object to the battle against Assad?

The opposition Syrian National Council issued an ultimatum of its own as the UN Security Council prepared to vote on extending the mandate of the UN's cease-fire monitors in Syria. (click title to entry - thank you)

By Howard LaFranchi, Staff writer / July 17, 2012

UNITED NATIONS, N.Y.

With world powers playing a bit of brinksmanship over international action on Syria, Syria’s largest opposition coalition is presenting an ultimatum of its own: Either the UN Security Council passes a resolution with real consequences targeting President Bashar al-Assad and his regime’s violence, or the opposition will turn elsewhere for the means to defend itself and the Syrian people....

The ultimatum is not leveled at any other country or the UN, it is leveled at Assad. The ultimatum simply illustrates a reality Assad has to face. There are people within in Syria that can alter his future plans.

This was a strategic decision. The opposition performed intelligence, found the defense minister and made sure he was dead. That is a well organized opposition. They are ready to take control of their country. They know their enemy. They can defeat it.

Bomb kills Syrian defence minister as Damascus battle rages (click here)

By Dominic Evans and Khaled Yacoub Oweis

BEIRUT/AMMAN | Wed Jul 18, 2012 4:18pm IST

(Reuters) - Syria's defence mininister was killed in a bomb attack on a high level security meeting in Damascus on Wednesday, state television said, as the revolt against Bashar al-Assad struck at the heart of the president's inner circle.

State television said Defence Minister Daoud Rajha was killed in a "terrorist bombing".

Lebanon-based news channel al-Maydeen said several senior security officials had been killed in the attack while battles raged within sight of Assad's presidential palace....

There was no terrorist bombings. This was self-defense of their own neighborhoods. The innocent needed a champion, evidently they have found one.

How many more Nazis are out there? He is 97 years old. What a nightmare.

Hungarian authorities (click title to entry - thank you) have taken Nazi war crimes suspect Laszlo Csatary into custody for questioning, prosecutors have said.

He is number one on the Nazi-hunting Simon Wiesenthal Center's wanted list and is accused of assisting in the murder of 15,700 Jews.

Last week, reporters from British newspaper The Sun found the 97-year-old living in Budapest.

Prosecutors reportedly want him to be held under house arrest.

This will enable the authorities to confiscate his passport.

They said that, considering his age, he is in good physical and mental health....

Romney really believes he is entitled.

Al Green's copyright has been enforce equally. If anyone tries to view the clip of President Obama's vocal debut, the links are dismantled because of copyright. So, demanding the Romney campaign FOLLOW THE LAW, is not singling them out or an act of discrimination so much as enforcing what is Reverend Al Green's to protect. The context of a legacy matters and Reverend Green has his standards.

Al Green hasn't released a new album since 2008's Lay It Down, (click title to entry - thank you) but the soul great has been having a hell of a year. In January, President Barack Obama sang 10 seconds of Green's 1971 hit "Let's Stay Together," single-handedly saving the music business. This week, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney responded to an Obama ad that features the former Massachusetts governor's rather pitchy "America the Beautiful" by running an ad depicting Obama's surprisingly solid Green rendition. As tech blog Ars Technica points out (via the Daily Swarm), though, the Romney YouTube ad has been hit with that common, dreaded sight: a copyright takedown notice. The ironing is delicious....

I am happy the former President is finding energy in participating in his own economic campaign, but, it is the same old corrupt paradigm and we don't need it.

The project has a book published call "The 4% Solution." It is very Republican, it is very rhetorical and it won't work.


The 4% Project with its red covered solution guide (the color of communists) is more of the same. It is a pie in the sky 'big idea' for Republicans to tout as 'the definitive answer' to all the problems of the USA.


We now know what the big pow-wow with Dick and George was for disguised as a Romney fundraiser. It wasn't about supporting Romney, it was about promoting their own solution that will serve to increase their personal wealth. Romney is to proctor the new economy according to Bush/Cheney and the dream machine to have the good old days back again.


I would like to think the Old Regime is acting out of guilt for the damage of their past administration, but, they have no guilt, they have no remorse and this is about expanding personal wealth.


I just can't wait for Neil Bush to return from China with his new woman to bring this solution to reality, can you?


The problems the USA has is profound. It is not competitive anymore because of the damage done to our educational system among other things for a decade of bad ideas. The red book guide to 4% Chinese growth in the USA does not address the need to bring back the competitive edge of the USA, it simply adds more poor paying jobs to the USA economy while calling it progress.


Grateful for a new heart, does Cheney go fishing? No. Does he take gun lessons on safe operation when in the company of others? No. 


No, he sure doesn't. He simply engaged in "The Empire Strikes Back." Seriously. Did Darth Vader every change his ways? No. Did he ever apologize to Luke for all the problems he caused while seeking to annihilate populations of people? No. So, why expect something civilized from Richard Cheney.


Where did Darth Cheney make his first stop after some fund raising? Capital Hill where anyone would expect to find a Heart Transplant patient. And what exactly was he doing on Capital Hill? Besides a lunch paid for by others. Was he promoting the bill regarding the benefits of transplants in gratitude for his new lease on life? No. Was he seeking to make the world a safer place from the Climate Crisis? No. Was he asking to have the President demand a Peace Treaty from every nation in the world? No. He was looking to increase the military budget of the USA Defense Department. Now, that is what I call a walking miracle that sincerely learned how precious life actually is, wouldn't you say?

Dick Cheney offers the GOP familiar advice on spending (click here)

By Dana Milbank

Dick Cheney has not had a change of heart.

The former vice president, the reinvigorated new owner of a transplanted ticker, went to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to advise Republicans on budget strategy as Washington heads for the “fiscal cliff.” And Cheney’s message hadn’t changed a bit since the days, early in the George W. Bush administration, when he told the Treasury secretary not to worry about deficits....

The ideologues want junior Senator Marco Rubio.

According to Hannity's guest yesterday the "Party" wants to have a 10 point bounce coming out of the GOP Convention. The ideologues are convinced if Rubio was the Vice President nominee to run with Romney they would get a 10 point spike out of the convention, the same as Clinton after his convention.


They can dream, can't they? Oh, wait. No, they can't, they don't like The Dream Act.

10 Years Of Marco Rubio's Tax Returns (click here)

The Senator from Florida and possible vice president pick released his tax returns from 2000-2009 during his 2010 run for the Senate, but they're no longer available on his campaign website. News organizations noted in 2010 that his wealth increased along with his power during his time in the Florida House of Representatives. Rubio joins Senator Scott Brown among Romney allies who have released many more years of tax returns than the nominee....

This is typical of the GOP. They consume anyone in the area to provide a good 'stimulus' to a weak ticket. They have the history of doing so and this is no different. 

Senator Rubio should have his own aspirations because I believe he is very talented and dedicated and why he dare not go against the Tea Party. Given another six to ten years, Senator Rubio will be ready to make his own run for President as a Republican candidate. But, due to the fact every election to the GOP is a desperate election to save the country from being taken over from the inside, ie: communists, any covert conspiracy of the day, etc., they destroy careers of some of their most new and junior members.

Rather than asking its members what their aspirations are for their career, the GOP believes every Republican should 'toe the line' and be at the disposal of their agenda to win no matter the price to the candidate in the long run. Every time the GOP has leaned on a junior member to run for the Vice Presidency their career is over. It can be pointed to over and over. These GOP members are inexperienced in a way the Presidency demands. 


Well. We'll see what the mistake is this year, but, I sincerely hope, while flattering to ask to be a nominee to run for Vice President, the choice will be one that is actually ready to be President.

Losses to farmers from historic drought due to the Climate Crisis.

Farmers across the United States (click title to entry - thank you) hoped for rain in July 2012 as a drought of historic proportions parched key commodity crops, including corn, soybeans, and wheat. On July 11, the United States Department of Agricultureannounced that more than 1,000 counties in 26 states qualified as natural disaster areas—the largest total area ever declared a disaster zone by the agency....


The Drought Monitor and this NASA photograph were rendered the same day. The effects of the drought is more than obvious. The lack of action by the USA Congress to due to Republican priorities in regard to climate is more than obvious.


Drought is a long term problem. This is not something that happened over night or in the last few months. Every USA agency and environmental interest in the country has been speaking to this for years if not decades.

Drought worsens crop damage, raising world food, fuel worry (click here) 

July 16, 2012|Andrew Stern | Reuters

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Corn and soybeans in the U.S. Midwest baked in an unrelenting heat wave on Monday with fears rising of big crop losses that will boost food and fuel prices and cut exports and aid from the world's top shipper of the key crops.

The condition of the nation's corn and soybeans as of Sunday deteriorated even more than grain traders had feared, and the U.S. Agriculture Department cuts its weekly corn crop condition rating by the biggest amount in nearly a decade.

Health Hazards of Heat Waves, Wildfires, and Other Extreme Weather (click here)

Posted July 17, 2012

...tens of millions of people are vulnerable to extreme heat.

Now that climate change is making potent heat waves more commonplace, these numbers will only continue to rise. NRDC recently released a report concluding that an additional 33,000 heat-related deaths will occur by 2050 as a result of climate change.

The summer of 2012 has already delivered one record-breaking event after another, from wildfires to freak storms. This barrage of destruction has prompted more meteorologists and mainstream media outlets to finally make the connection between extreme weather and climate change.

But in the midst of all the intense coverage, a quieter, more personal story has been lost: the many ways extreme weather threatens our health....

Seasonal firefighters win federal health benefits (click here)

July 17, 2012

WASHINGTON—The White House says about 8,000 temporary firefighters and their families will get access to federal health insurance following a petition drive bolstered by this year's historic fire season in the West.

President Barack Obama says the nation has been inspired by the heroism of firefighters battling deadly wildfires this summer. Obama says he has directed his administration to ensure the firefighters "can count on the care and protection they need."

The temporary firefighters weren't covered by federal health insurance because under federal rules, temporary seasonal employees can't buy into federal insurance plans.

Members of a South Dakota-based hotshot crew who fought wildfires this year launched a petition drive seeking the health benefits and gathered more than 125,000 signatures.

The cost of an unaddressed Climate Crisis is high and this is only two locations. 

Insurers estimate Colo. fire damage $449.7M (click here)

Posted: Jul 17, 2012 12:03 PM by Kirsten Bennett 
Updated: Jul 17, 2012 12:32 PM

DENVER (AP) - Insurers estimate that Colorado wildfires that destroyed over 600 homes are responsible for at least $449.7 million in damage.

The figure released Tuesday by the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association is based on claims filed so far for houses lost at the High Park Fire in Larimer County and the Waldo Canyon Fire in Colorado Springs. It also includes claims for personal belongings and cars lost and living expenses in the fires' aftermath but not commercial losses. It's expected to grow as claims are processed.
Waldo Canyon accounted for the bulk at $352.6 million while High Park homeowners have filed for $97.1 million in damages.
Association spokeswoman Carole Walker said there were more homes without insurance and a greater variety of property values in the High Park burn area than in Colorado Springs.

Is Romney a criminal? Does he have a character issue?

I don't think anyone knows enough to say yes or no about the criminal allogations. And by the way the Obama Campaign never made the allogations he was a criminal. They pointed to the fact 'Two Truths Cannot' exist at the same time. 


There needs to be "Subpoena duces tecum."


There are not sworn statements. 


Basically, there is no accountability that matters by the Romney campaign to quiet the call for proof of his activities with Bain Capital to justify the deception occurring during the years he claims his focus was the Olympics. He obviously deceived people. He stated officially he was the sole owner, CEO and President of Bain Capital while designating a management committee to act in his interests. He could have gone back to Bain at any point in time during those three years he claims he was 'completely absent' from decisions of the company.


Does he continue to have a character issue?  Did he ever stop having a character issue is the question? No, he never has stopped having a character issue. He was more than happy to elevate his image away from being a ruthless business man by affiliating with the 2002 Olympics. But, what sincerely reveals his character is the fact he did not discern the brutality in Burma when he outsourced the Olympic uniforms. He never took humanity into account. He never took objections raised at the time based in humanity into account. THAT fact cannot be disputed.


I my opinion the realization he didn't care about the people of Burma and only the bottom line of 'making ends meet' for the Olympics speaks to his success with his company Bain Capital. He makes decisions based on profit, not values of the human condition and quality of life. He has no problem outsourcing jobs to dirt cheap labor under the oppression of a dictatorship.


..."When I looked at the label for the uniform, I went nuts," (click title to entry - thank you) one former torchbearer tells the Guardian. "When you are sending work representing the US to a military dictatorship, I have an issue with that." After receiving more than a thousand emails protesting the uniforms, the Salt Lake Organizing Committee offered this bizarre response: "The torch relay clothes were NOT made in Burma. They were manufactured in Myanmar." The committee apologized after activists pointed out that Burma and Myanmar are the same country....


Olympic CEO, Willard Mitt Romney never embraced the profound purpose of the Olympics, he only saw dollar signs and personal political gains.


The Olympics are steeped in all kinds of symbolism. The Olympic Rings were first displayed in 1920 at the Antwerp games. The symbol represent the five continents participating in the games. The rings aren't standing alone, they are intertwined. The symbol is about coming together. World War I ended in 1918. This is an expression of peace and the fact people can come together over a common idea to act in competition against each other while seeking greatness. 


To the left is the symbol of the 2002 Olympics. I suppose. But, tell me what the heck that symbol is pre-empting the Olympic Rings without their colors. Below to the right is the London Games symbol. There is no comparison. The spirit of the games is upheld. I can only hope the scrutiny of all the London games can hold up to its purpose and goals. 


The Olympics isn't just about great athletes. Olympic athletes are the best their countries can send to compete. There are plenty of international competitions for the same athletes, but, none have the esteem and importance of the Olympics.


The point is when Romney was CEO of the Olympics he didn't uphold the values of the Olympics. Burma was a brutal dictatorship, yet he allowed that dynamic to apply to the business of the 2002 Olympics. The Olympics are not about brutal dictatorships, it is about dissolving that paradigm and upholding the integrity of THE BEST VALUES of each participating country.



There is no doubt Willard Mitt Romney made financial ends meet for the 2002 Olympics after the attacks of September 11, 2001. But, to realize he didn't care about how that happened while American soldiers were fighting terrorists seeking to impose oppressive dictatorships over free countries is outrageous. 


Mitt Romney is Wall Street. He is Wall Street through and through and he is not trustworthy both in the methods he upholds American values, defends those values and portrays his authority to every extreme allowed by law with his relationship with Bain from 1999 forward.


Now, his answer to imposing his political flag waving is to go to London so Americans can view his once authority in Utah. I doubt he'll be finding people from America on a rope line for his political campaign in London. But, hey, he thinks being in London at the Olympics is a political strength of his campaign. Really?

I can't believe this has gone on for seven years. This is a flood plain. People should not be living there.

Published: July 16, 2012 Updated 7 hours ago


...An Associated Press examination (click title to entry - thank you) of the properties sold to the government by homeowners New Orleans after the catastrophic 2005 flood has found that about $86 million has been spent on 5,100 abandoned parcels. And there's no end in sight to maintenance costs for perhaps most of the 3,100 properties that remain unsold....


Over 1100  people died during Katrina. That isn't enough for everyone? The people that sold their homes were wise to do it, but, the lingering reality of the devastation of the city and its people needs to stop.  


New Orleans Ninth District was never respected as a dangerous reality. For as long as I can remember New Orleans sank due to oil and gas drilling. At the time of Katrina the sinking was 20 feet, more in some places. The city knew they were vulnerable and "The Big One" was considered folk lore by elected officials outside of the city'a Mayor. 


Then reality came to visit and Katrina was that storm no one ever planned for except to place axes in their attics. The plan was that as the flood waters rose the people, the poor people of the Ninth Ward would hack through their roofs and escape to survive. That is exactly what occurred.


The Wetlands were devastated by the petroleum ships. The wetlands were not there to stop/tame the storm surge. So, Katrina delivered flood waters reaching 20 or move feet high. Those that lived through the storm in the Ninth Ward were amazing. They carried out the plan Mayor Ray Nagin helped instill for survival and they lived. He should be proud of that fact. It is a fact that the federal government didn't care about them and never enforced environmental protections to stop flood waters. There was never wetlands restoration. Governors, even today, that see the oil industry as necessary never considered those people important. Yet, billions of dollars US were spent on the after math.


It is time to let go. These lands are not safe. People have moved on and it is time to realize the pain is over and the healing has taken place as best it can. 


The abandoned houses in the flood zone that are a problem for police should be bulldozed. The driveways and roads jack hammered to be impassible for drug activity, electric polls and lines removed and secured from the area to make it safe. And water mains shut off along with the removal of fire plugs. Then let the natural world take over. There is no reason to continue to hold on to lands that are too dangerous for homes. Katrina was right, it is time to give it up.