Let me pay tribute to daytime television.

It stinks.

The local news is primarily violent about car crashes and murders. Then there is the latest 'happenings' of local activities made to make summer interesting, but, that's it. It never raises the opposition to things like the North Carolina Governor. Never. Always smiles. No talk about voter oppression.

Then there is the national programs like the Today Show that tries to be current and 'happy, happy, joy, joy.' Until Jenna Bush rides the "Terror-dactyl" as if she is the most scared woman on the planet and then doesn't let it go for the next two to three days.

I don't know what the deal is with NBC and this chick, but, I suppose she is trying to bring in FOX viewers as she EMOTS over how she saw a woman and a baby on an airline and can only imagine what it feels like to lose someone on MH17. 

To begin, she doesn't know anything about anyone else besides her own emotions, which obviously is a source of uncontrollable permission for screaming. Additionally, the 'promotion of war' isn't even in the purview today because the entire mess Putin has created along the Ukraine - Russian border is built on 'what is possible without nukes' and the nations of the world are going to end his 'insurgent joy ride' in the Ukraine.

The events in Ukraine are not in anyone's hands except the nations of the world.

WHERE ARE THE MINORITIES? 

The "As the World Turns" (which ended it's decades of 'sharing' in 2010) Crowd doesn't know what sincere problems of Americans actually are. The entire minority experience in the daytime stories is homogenous and does not bring in reality at all.

There is a reason why I stopped watching this mess a long time ago. And what is this mess about Nightly News being cut off half way through an hour program to opt for "Wheel of Fortune?" The ENTIRE nation isn't interested in sincere information that may impact their lives? What is that mess all about?

That brings me to the game shows. The minority experience with these shows are crowded into Family Feud and Let's Make a Deal. These two game shows are different from the past and more exciting, but, they still don't bring in the handicapped. 

The handicapped, including our military, are NOWHERE on daytime television or ANY game shows. "Come on Down" takes on an entirely new barrier to success. There isn't even a representative sample of handicapped on any show anywhere. There are absolutely no handicapped show hosts anywhere.

Then there are the entertainment shows. "America's Got Talent" and all that. They start their competition by wearing out the participants. They hold marathon events where a 'hopeful' has to hope to be an early competitor so they have some degree of vitality when their turn comes. These competitions are important to many people and there is some incredible people seeking a 'one time' chance to exhibit their talent and they are hobbled by fatigue. The large scale sorting should be more equitable. There are contestants that leave their one time opportunity because they know whey won't be at their best by the time they are heard or seen.

To say the quality of national and daytime and local television WANTS is an understatement. It is lousy television.

Morgan Stanley documentably caught in the frey.

July 17, 2014

(Reuters) - Morgan Stanley (click here) does not believe new U.S. sanctions on Russian oil company Rosneft will affect a pending deal between the two companies, the bank's chief financial officer said on Thursday.

The bank's management is moving ahead with plans to sell the majority of its global physical oil trading operations to Rosneft later this year, CFO Ruth Porat said in an interview.

"Recognizing the guidance was just released last night, we don't believe it applies to our transaction," she said. "We continue to do all the work necessary for closing by the end of the year, obviously subject to regulatory approval."
Her comments come a day after the U.S. government imposed its toughest sanctions yet on some of the key players in the Russian economy over what Washington says is Moscow's reluctance to curb violence in Ukraine. The move closed off medium- and long-term dollar funding to Rosneft, the country's second-largest gas producer Novatek and its third-largest bank, Gazprombank.
The measures stopped short of freezing the companies' assets, restricting the short-term funding the companies need for day-to-day operations or stopping U.S. firms doing business with them.

But they had raised some doubts about whether mounting political tensions with Moscow could complicate the bank's deal to sell the majority of its global physical oil trading operations to Russia's largest oil producer.

The Wall Street bank agreed to the sale in December before Russia launched an incursion into Ukraine's Crimean peninsula....

Initially, it looks like the separatists.

Russia would never do this. Ukraine government would never do such a thing intentionally. It looks like separatists and with this degree of sophisticated weapon Europe is not safe. Russia isn't safe either for that matter.

I would expect the nearest NATO unit sufficiently equipped would be asking permission of Ukraine to enter the area to secure it. This is a very dangerous area of the world and to expect civilian authorities to conduct any operation is silly.

12:34 Today
Malaysian passenger (click here) jet ‘shot down’ in east Ukraine, latest updates:
- Malaysia Airlines has lost contact of #MH17 from Amsterdam. last known position was over Ukrainian airspace
- Eastern Ukraine separatist A. Borodai says Malaysian airliner shot by ukrainian government forces
- Reuters correspondent on the scene in Eastern #Ukraine sees burning wreckage of air plane, bodies on ground
- Ukrainian Interior Ministry adviser said the Buk missile was fired by separatists


There is nothing to say Russia cannot offer it's assistance to NATO and Ukraine as well. 

If the jet was shot down and it was a BUK missile that is somewhat nondescript. The BUK was a missile system. It is from the former Soviet era. 

It is not a minor missile system. it has capacity. 

It is considered medium range which is not outlawed by the ABM Treaty and can be mobile.

I find it odd this is a Malaysian flight as well. I don't believe in coincidence. This is a perfect opportunity to pull major nations into war. I hope major powers are prepared for a defensive and not necessarily an offensive posture. I would not necessarily rule out terrorists either. I am sure the international agencies are looking at passenger lists.   

I might point to the fact this is another 777. As of today the Triple 7 has been involved with 11 aviation accidents and incidents including five hull-loss accidents and three hijackings (reference Aviation Safety - click here). Previous to 2013 the jet had an excellent record with only accidents occurring on the ground while being serviced. It is now becoming a jet of interest. The jet was introduced into service in 1995. 

The Super Jumbos will take on more interest by dangerous groups. They carry more fuel and more people. They are perfect for a terrorist incident.

If the Malaysian jet were shot down I would expect it happened outside of Ukraine airspace and the crash trajectory would have brought it to crash in Ukraine.

I found this an interesting editorial in the Tehran Times. It speaks to 'regional security' for what might be the first time.

July 16, 2014
By Abdollah Ghanbarloo

...a final point, (click here) all states share responsibility for each other’s security. Their common interest requires international cooperation for eradication of violent extremism. There are two main ways to solve Iraq’s problems. Firstly, Iraqi government needs a new national dialogue and new national reconciliation project between Shiite, Sunni, and Kurdish populations to build a new Iraqi society based on the principles of equality, understanding, toleration, and friendship among all groups....

The editorial explains quite clearly the events of rebellion throughout the region. This editorial also speaks to elements of the region that have interests in establishing and sustaining a peace. There are chances that can occur without any more sectarian violence if all nations are willing to recognize their part in regional stability. 

Iran more than any other country has the potential to end any sectarian violence by leading and bringing about regional stability. For far too long, extremist groups often characterized as terrorist elements have fought for their continued presence. It has to end. The groups that are primarily Shia need to accept leadership of their religious leaders who lead in peace without violence as a focus of their purpose. 

I would hope the Russia forces were to end the east Ukrainian insurgents.

I think Russia is providing a lot of mixed messages. I am sure it serves it's purpose well. But, Russia needs to end the ambivalence costing it so much economically. Russia is losing it's status globally. It is time for President Putin to end the discussion about another Russia state in eastern Ukraine. It isn't good for Russia or Ukraine and it certainly isn't good for the people of Eastern Ukraine. It is time to jail those standing even in defiance of Russia in regard to separatism.

July 16, 2014
VOA News 

...The Pentagon (click here) says it is increasingly concerned about Russian military forces massed on the border with Ukraine.  It confirmed NATO estimates that 10,000 to 12,000 Russian troops are deployed there, adding the force "certainly has the capability to conduct operations on either side of the border."

Tensions between Moscow and Kyiv escalated Tuesday after a top Ukrainian defense official warned the country faced an imminent Russian military attack and Ukraine's security chief said he had "absolute proof" Russia was involved in the downing of a Ukrainian military transport plane a day earlier.

Later Tuesday, 11 people were killed in an airstrike that destroyed an apartment building in the eastern Ukrainian town of Sniznhe.  Pro-Russian separatists blamed Ukraine's air force for the attack, while a Ukrainian military spokesman, in a thinly veiled accusation against Russia, called the airstrike a "cynical provocation."...

It is about time to have EIB to end it's supply of money to those not engaged in peace.
 
Suspending investments
...The 28-nation EU has been under strong pressure from the U.S. and Ukraine to take a hard line against Russia.
The EU leaders will ask the bloc's bank, the European Investment Bank (EIB), to suspend financing of new public sector projects in Russia, the draft statement said.
EU countries will work together within the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to suspend EBRD financing of new projects in Russia, it said.
EU diplomats say taking action at the EBRD will be complicated as Russia is one of 64 countries that are shareholders of the bank.
Russia has traditionally been the biggest recipient of the London-based EBRD's funds - the bank lent 1.8 billion euros ($2.44 billion) there last year. The EIB pledged to lend more than one billion euros to Russia last year....

Another demonstration of Tea Party anarchy.

The rules were written before he started to pout, yet, he is out to declare a legitimate election illegal. They rule by power, not the rule of law. Just another clear indication of their lawlessness.

Mississippi State Sen. Chris McDaniel’s (click here) legal team said on Wednesday that they will more than likely challenge the tea party favorite’s loss in the Mississippi Republican primary runoff election between him and incumbent Sen. Thad Cochran.
Mitch Tyner, an attorney representing McDaniel, said at a press conference in Jackson that voting records are still being reviewed but enough evidence – including crossover votes – has already been found to make the challenge and that official paperwork would likely be filed within the next 10 days.
McDaniel’s team is still rigorously reviewing poll books in search of voter irregularities. Cochran, a six-term senator, had made an appeal to African-American and Democratic voters to help him in the GOP runoff on June 24. He was declared the winner by 7,667 votes. McDaniel, who led after the first round of voting on June 3, alleges there was fraud in crossover votes and has been trying to raise money to fund the legal challenge....

The sentences should be commuted to "LIfe without Parole."

There is no adequate answer for carrying out the death sentence anyway. California needs to get rid of the death sentence and commute any inmate to Life without Parole. 

July 16, 2014
By Bob Egelko
 
...For most of the 748 current Death Row inmates, (click here) "systemic delay has made their execution so unlikely that the death sentence carefully and deliberately imposed by the jury has been quietly transformed into one no rational jury or legislature could ever impose: life in prison, with the remote possibility of death," said U.S. District Judge Cormac Carney of Santa Ana.
Out of more than 900 convicted murderers sentenced to death in the state since 1978 under the current system, Carney said, 13 have been executed, 94 have died from illnesses, suicide or other causes, and 39 have had their sentences overturned....

July 15, 2014
By Carol Rosenberg
crosenberg@MiamiHerald.com
 

In the first known rebellion (click here) against Guantánamo’s force-feeding policy, a Navy medical officer recently refused to continue managing tube-feedings of prison hunger strikers and was reassigned to “alternative duties.” 

A prison camp spokesman, Navy Capt. Tom Gresback, would not provide precise details but said Monday night that the episode had “no impact to medical support operations at the base.”

“There was a recent instance of a medical provider not willing to carry out the enteral feeding of a detainee,” he said in an email. “The matter is in the hands of the individual’s leadership.” 

Word of the refusal reached the outside world last week in a call from prisoner Abu Wael Dhiab to attorney Cori Crider of the London-based legal defense group Reprieve. Dhiab, a hunger striker, described how a nurse in the Navy medical corps abruptly refused to “force-feed us” sometime before the Fourth of July — and disappeared from detention center duty.

Crider called the male nurse the first known U.S. military conscience objector of the 18-month-long hunger strike in the prison camps, and said his dissent took “real courage ... none of us should underestimate how hard that has been.”
Dhiab, 43, is challenging Guantánamo force-feeding policy in federal court. A Syrian who was cleared for transfer from Guantánamo in 2010 but who can’t be repatriated because of unrest in his homeland, has been an on-again, off-again hunger striker to protest his indefinite detention....

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/07/15/4237720/navy-nurse-refuses-to-force-feed.html#storylink=cpy

There is plenty to worry about in West Africa other than civil distrubances.

July 16, 2014
DAKAR/HAVANA - The death toll (click here) from the world's worst ever Ebola outbreak in West Africa has risen to 603 since February, with at least 68 deaths reported from three countries in the region in the last week alone, the World Health Organisation said on Tuesday.
WHO said there were 85 new cases between July 8-12, highlighting continued high levels of transmission. International and local medics were struggling to get access to communities as many people feared outsiders were spreading rather than fighting Ebola.

"It's very difficult for us to get into communities where there is hostility to outsiders," WHO spokesman Dan Epstein told a news briefing in Geneva. "We still face rumours, and suspicion and hostility ... People are isolated, they're afraid, they're scared."
Sierra Leone recorded the highest number of deaths, which include confirmed, probable and suspect cases of Ebola, with 52. Liberia reported 13 and Guinea 3, according to the WHO figures....

34.2111° N, 77.7986° W

July 15, 2014
2315.17z
UNISYS Goes East Satellite (click here for 12 hour loop - thank you)

Five and a half hours of thunder with some rain at times, occasional lightning. The lightning usually came in twos with fire engines being heard afterward.

The thunder would crescendo and then abate to nearly nothing, then it would begin again.

The truce never had a chance and now Israel believes it is more justified than ever.

It was never a proper ceasefire. The Palestinians never abated and there are questions to any agreement being recognized by them at all.

I was sorry to hear about a death in Israel, but, I was also sorry to hear how families are being lost in Palestine. The Palestinians believe in their battle as much as Israel believes in its.

2 hours ago (click here)

Israel will "continue and intensify" air strikes on Gaza after a ceasefire proposed by Egypt failed, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned.
The deal was accepted by Israel but Hamas, which controls Gaza, has not responded officially to the initiative. Its military wing rejected it.
Palestinian officials say Israeli raids have now killed 194 people. On Tuesday, Israel reported its first fatality.
Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen reports.

July 15, 2014
0030.20z
UNISYS GOES East Water Vapor Satellite (click here for 12 hour loop - thank you)

There are two circulations centers off the Atlantic coastline. The surf was high today. It will be interesting when the cold meets the circulation centers.
 
July 14, 2014
weather.com
Severe thunderstorms will threaten (click here) multiple regions of the country over the next couple of days from the East to the Southern Plains to the Front Range of the Rockies.
At least 80 million Americans are in the risk zone, though only a fraction of that population will personally witness severe weather due to the spotty nature of these storms.
The strong cold front bringing the polar air invasion into the Midwest will become the focus for severe thunderstorms Monday and Tuesday as the front pushes south and catches up to a weaker front responsible for most of Sunday's severe weather in the Ohio Valley and Northeast. Damaging straight-line winds and local flash flooding will be the main concerns in the East and Midwest....

A fighting force has to have loyalty. The only loyalty remaining in Iraq is along ethnic/religious lines. It's over in Iraq.

The Kurds have their first sovereign borders. I think Syria has a real problem with ISIS and I can't think of any better country to handle it. 

In order for the USA to even consider an invasion into the area, it would require NATO commitment with a full scale invasion with intentions to kill and slaughter 100s of thousands of people. There is no loyalty in the ranks of the Iraq forces and they would slaughter American troops (Green on Blue attacks). 

Enough. It is time the Middle East settle it's own problems. 

July 13, 2014
By Eric Schmitt and Michael R. Gordon
 
WASHINGTON — A classified military assessment (click here) of Iraq’s security forces concludes that many units are so deeply infiltrated by either Sunni extremist informants or Shiite personnel backed by Iran that any Americans assigned to advise Baghdad’s forces could face risks to their safety, according to United States officials.

The report concludes that only about half of Iraq’s operational units are capable enough for American commandos to advise them if the White House decides to help roll back the advances made by Sunni militants in northern and western Iraq over the past month.

Adding to the administration’s dilemma is the assessment’s conclusion that Iraqi forces loyal to Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki are now heavily dependent on Shiite militias — many of which were trained in Iran — as well as on advisers from Iran’s paramilitary Quds Force....

July 9, 2014
By Chisaki Watanabe and Finbarr Flynn

Deutsche Bank (click here) plans to lend about $US1 billion ($1.06 billion) for Japanese solar projects, joining Goldman Sachs in funding cleaner energy as the government struggles to restart nuclear power plants after the Fukushima disaster.
The bank is ready to provide financing for three to six projects in the next 12 to 18 months, said Hans Van Der Sande, director of Deutsche Bank's structured products group at its Tokyo branch. The Frankfurt-based lender agreed last month to provide a 11.1 billion yen ($116 million) loan for a solar power project on a former golf course north of Tokyo to be operated by a unit of Spain's Gestamp Renewables Corp.
Japan may add the most solar power capacity in the world this year, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, as a two- year-old incentive program attracted investors including Goldman Sachs. Even so, renewable energy accounts for less than 11 per cent of its total production, compared with 31 per cent in Germany, leaving the nation reliant on fuel imports after the closure of all of its atomic reactors and contributing to 23 straight months of trade deficits.
"Every time a country implements these very, very attractive standards you have a gold rush and that gold rush started two years ago," Van Der Sande said in an interview. "Now the water is kind of pulling back, smaller people are leaving and the real players are staying."
Deutsche Bank declined to disclose the interest rates for the solar loans. The average new lending rate in Japan was a record-low 0.779 per cent in May, according to central bank data. Average interest margins on dollar lending in the Asia-Pacific region outside of Japan were 2.35 percentage points so far in 2014, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The Israelis need to stop killing Palestinians. It isn't solving anything.

July 15, 2014
The Egyptian government (click here) on Monday evening proposed a cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip, according to which the two sides would end “hostilities” as of 9 a.m.on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is to convene the security cabinet early Tuesday morning to discuss the proposal. 

Diplomatic officials said that Netanyahu was expected to encourage the other seven members of the security cabinet to accept the proposal, which would return the situation in Gaza to what it was before Operation Protective Edge began a week ago. Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman and Economy Minister are expected to oppose the proposal in the security cabinet, but are unlikely to be able to prevent the forum from accepting it.

Some 48 hours after the cease fire goes into effect, Egypt is to convene representatives of both Israel and Hamas for further negotiations.
One diplomatic official said that the cease fire would be returned to what it was last Sunday, but “with Hamas much weaker."...

I do not believe Hamas is weaker. That is nothing but 'feel good' propaganda. The fact is Hamas is building better and stronger missiles right in Gaza. Israel brought it on themselves. Either Israel realizes the resolve of the people in Gaza is to end this conflict or never end it at all and needs to get real about a lasting peace.

The technology in Gaza is no longer a joke, is it? The Katyusha rockets were like throwing stones at Israel. That isn't the case anymore. Israelis may actually be looking at a real reason to end violence this time. If they don't and don't agree to Palestinian borders with the withdrawal of settlements, this may escalate and cost Israel more than it bargained for.

Until now, Israel had the upper hand. It would seem with this increased technology in Gaza the power structure is shifting. It is time to end the violence with the Palestinians, decide on permanent borders and remove settlements.

Palestine is no joke anymore, is it?

Deadly Hail Storm Batters Beachgoers in Siberia

Apologies.

Traveling.

I want to continue this conversation.

Until later...

July 13, 2014

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has led tens of thousands of people in St. Peter's Square in unannounced, silent prayer for an end to the warfare in the Mideast.
Francis called for insistent prayers for peace in the Holy Land during his Sunday window appearance to pilgrims and tourists.
He said he didn't consider "in vain" the June 8 peace prayer gathering he hosted at the Vatican attended by the Israeli and Palestinian presidents.
Francis, who made a Mideast pilgrimage in May, urged people to avoid concluding that "violence and hatred win out over dialogue and reconciliation."
Last week, Israel widened its air assault on the Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers, and militant rockets have targeted Israel. Francis lamented the recent "tragic events."

Neil Diamond - Pretty Amazing Grace

"Pretty Amazing Grace" by Neil Diamond  (click here for official site)

Pretty amazing grace is what You showed me
Pretty amazing grace is who You are
I was an empty vessel
You filled me up inside
And with amazing grace restored my pride
Pretty amazing grace is how You saved me
And with amazing grace reclaimed my heart
Love in the midst of chaos
Calm in the heat of war
Showed with amazing grace what love was for
You forgave my insensitivity
And my attempt to then mislead You
You stood beside a wretch like me
Your pretty amazing grace was all I needed.
Stumbled inside the doorway of Your chapel
Humbled in God by everything I found
Beauty and love surround me
Freed me from what I fear
Ask for amazing grace and You appear
You overcame my loss of hope and faith
Gave me a truth I could belive in
You led me to a higher place
Showed Your amazing grace
When grace was what I needed

Look in a mirror I see Your reflection
Open a book You live on every page
I fall and You're there to lift me
Share every road I climb
And with amazing grace You ease my mind

Came to You with empty pockets first
When I returned I was rich man
Didn't believe love could quench my thirst
But with amazing grace You showed me that it can

In Your amazing grace I had a vision
From that amazing place I came to be
Into the night I wandered
Wandering aimlessly
Found Your amazing grace to comfort me.

Pretty amazing
Pretty amazing
Pretty amazing
Pretty amazing
Pretty amazing
Pretty amazing
Pretty amazing
Pretty amazing

You overcame my loss of hope and faith,
Gave me a truth I could believe in.
You led me to that higher place
Showed me that love and truth and hope and grace were all I needed.