There are some outrageous expressions to justify the murderers.

This is ridiculous. Murder is illegal. The murders in France are no different. There is absolutely no reason for causing the deaths of anyone, yet alone those that bring quality to the lives it touches. These deaths have nothing to do with arrogance, it is about defending the lives of civilized people.

The sincere protections for the people that rattle the status quo is vital to a healthy country. The real task is to find a way to protect Charlie Hedbo. Is there a balance between freedom of speech and its' extremes so everyone knows the unlimited reach of freedom? Without these very talented men and women we don't grow as a culture and society. They are important. We need to find a way to protect their lives without oppressing their rights. Is that possible in an open society?

Questioning the ability of a country to protect all their citizens is not giving permission for murderers to carry out their own agenda of hate.

France is the example of where life is most precious in their culture. These deaths are profoundly felt. They have insulted the values of France. It is the willing expression of grief of the French people that has to impress the world as to what the depth of peace can be felt by a nation. They are hurt. They are missing their own very deeply. France is a magnificent example of freedom and endearment of citizens to each other. There is just no question as to the loss this country feels for those violently murdered by oppressors.

Derek Fox said the editor of Charlie Hedbo had the price of his assumption of cultural superiority and arrogance. Photo / Supplied

January 8, 2015
By Isaac Davison

Former broadcaster (click here) and Maori Party candidate Derek Fox has been criticised after blaming the victims of the Paris terror attack.
Fox said on Facebook said the editor of French satirical magazine Charlie Hedbo had "paid the price" for his "bigotry" and "arrogance".
Three gunmen shouting "Allahu akbar!" killed eight journalists and a visitor at the magazine's Paris office and two police officers as they fled the scene.
Fox wrote that Charlie Hedbo editor Stephane Charbonnier was a "bully" who had abused free speech and was now responsible for the deaths of his colleagues.
"The editor of the French magazine has paid the price for his assumption of cultural superiority and arrogance, he was the bully believing he could insult other peoples culture and with impunity and he believed he would be protected in his racism and bigotry by the French state....

Cyclones rarely make landfall in New Zealand. That is not the anticipated outcome this year.

Most cyclones (click here) in the southern hemisphere that effect New Zealand are primarily offshore with diminished but strong winds reaching land. This is a new event anticipated by New Zealand.

January 8, 2015
By Vaimoana Tapaleao

...There is a high chance a tropical (click here) cyclone could hit the country sometime over the next few months, a report released by the national climate centre said today.
Niwa's climate outlook for January, February and March shows sea temperatures are expected to be warmer than usual in the Tasman Sea to the west and south of the country - but near normal to the east of the North Island.
It also points to a high probability that there may be some tropical weather systems heading down under soon.
"New Zealand has a slightly elevated chance of having an ex-tropical system coming within 550km of the country during the 2014-15 Tropical Cyclone season."
The outlook for tropical cyclones shows that the risk for New Zealand will be highest around February through to April....

France has a very long history of domestic peace. This is a rare event and the Eiffel Tower went dark in honoring those lost in this mass murder.

...Some onlookers (click here) held pens in the air in tribute to the eight fallen journalists. Some held bouquets of flowers. And others silently wept as they stood in the late-morning rain. French President François Hollande declared Thursday a national day of mourning, the fifth time in the last 50 years that the day has been set aside. Flags in France and at many embassies around the world are flying at half mast as the country copes with its first terrorist attack since 1995....

There have been many artists slain by Violent Islam.

November 24, 2004
By Ronald Rover

On the morning (click here) of Nov. 2 in a busy street in east Amsterdam, a 26-year-old Dutch Moroccan named Mohammed Bouyeri pulled out a gun and shot controversial filmmaker Theo van Gogh, who was riding a bike to his office. Van Gogh hit the ground and stumbled across the street to a nearby building. He didn’t make it. As the Moroccan strode toward him, van Gogh shouted, “We can still talk about it! Don’t do it! Don’t do it.” But the Moroccan didn’t stop. He shot him again, slit van Gogh’s throat and stuck a letter to his chest with a knife. He was slaughtered like an animal, witnesses said. “Cut like a tire,” said one. Van Gogh, the Dutch master’s great-grand-nephew, was 47 years old...

The killer took the time to write a letter.

That doesn't begin to name all the journalists lost when covering war in the Middle East. Occasionally they are deceased by friendly fire.

Freedom of Speech for the sake of freedom of speech isn't worth anything if the artists most important to the message are all dead. 

A democracy is not enhanced if their most devoted practitioners no longer carry their passions to the world. This is not acceptable. There is a need of a resolve to protect some of the most outspoken members of our society. There needs to be a relationship between local authorities and the artists that support freedom. If there is a chance coaching them will assist them to protect themselves and/or be aware of the dangers they face, it might sincerely thwart this hazard in practicing democracy. 

The enemy considers the death of such people a victory. I think it is a problem to allow Violent Islam any victories. Everyone of these events are recruitment tools at the very least. 

I am so tired of James Clapper there is no word to describe it. I've moved past disgusted and disdain. I am in new territory to describe this incompentency.

June 7, 2015
By Chris Strohm

U.S. investigators (click here) were able to trace the hacking of Sony Pictures Entertainment to North Korea’s intelligence agency because of sloppy tradecraft used by the attackers, according to FBI Director James Comey.
The hackers sent e-mails to Sony employees and posted material online using Internet addresses known to be used exclusively by the North Korean government, Comey said in a speech today at a cybersecurity conference in New York.
“I have very high confidence about this attribution, as does the entire intelligence community,” Comey said
The attack, which became public in November, was overseen by North Korea’s Reconnaissance General Bureau and is the most serious digital assault ever on America, U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said in a separate speech at the conference. North Korea’s government has denied involvement... 

Maybe putrid. That's a good word. Repulsive. A decaying mass of organic matter. That will do it for now.

James Clapper has been polluting the halls of the federal government for a long time. I suppose he was once valuable, but, in all honesty he is about the most worthless, putrid federal official that has ever existed. He has taken the invasion into privacy to all time highs and for what? NOTHING.

The federal USA government has been justifying invasion of privacy since 2001. That was about 13 and a half years ago. Do you know how many people are in the USA? How about the world? As of 2013 there were 7.125 billion human beings in the world. Within that 7.125 billion human beings only 316.1 were Americans.

13.5 years multiplied by 365 days is 4927.5 days. There are 24 hours in a day. That makes 118,260 hours since September11, 2001. There are 60 minutes in a hour, that makes 7,095,600 minutes since September 11, 2001. There are 60 seconds in a minute 425,736,000 seconds since September 11, 2001.

That would be 134.68 seconds per living citizens of the USA. That would be 2.2 minutes per citizen of the USA including children. 2.2 minutes is a long time for a computer to search any parameter.

If the USA dedicated a computer bank, LIKE THE ONE JAMES CLAPPER now has, to evaluating risk in our society and assigned a score to each person in the USA I have no doubt a very interesting picture would result.

Finding THE RISK is what intelligence is all about. The agencies know where risk takes place and defines what cumulative risk is as exists with radicalized people.

The point is there are more and more problems arising without any knowledge of PREDICTING the risk. That is a travesty to the USA. This country should be able to pull out the facts of risk everyday and know where the greatest risks of death to human beings will result. I don't care if they die in war, or on airplanes caught in turbulence, the USA for all it's investment and training should have an EXCELLENT idea of where the hot spots are going to be in the world. 

Currently, the best people like James Clapper can do is state why tragedy happened and what can be done to prevent it in the future. That is NOT what he is paid for, that is what I volunteer for. As long as the common sense of any American can be satisfied with what is being done by their government that is all that has to happen.

James Clapper has lied in his capacity. This man has the veritable fortune of the American people in his hands to prevent tragedy. He lies

I have pondered how an incompetent such as Clapper can be in government for so long. I think I've got it. 

Ever hear of "Key Man Risk?"

How can a government justify the security of the nation in the hands of a man that lies?

Much has been written about "Key Man Risk" (click here) - the danger to corporations that rely on one or a few individuals.

Much has been written about ‘key man’ risk — the danger for corporations that rely on one or a few individuals — and its impact on business value. Fashion firms with a celebrity designer, for example, or asset management firms with a star investment manager, are particularly vulnerable. - See more at: http://www.desantisbreindel.com/how-can-a-corporate-brand-minimize-%E2%80%98key-man%E2%80%99-risk/#sthash.E2qRKt6d.dpuf

Much has been written about ‘key man’ risk — the danger for corporations that rely on one or a few individuals — and its impact on business value. Fashion firms with a celebrity designer, for example, or asset management firms with a star investment manager, are particularly vulnerable. - See more at: http://www.desantisbreindel.com/how-can-a-corporate-brand-minimize-%E2%80%98key-man%E2%80%99-risk/#sthash.E2qRKt6d.dpuf

There are experts in regard to the North Korean hacking scandal that have come out time and again to state, this was not all that. Sony never secured their internet facilities. They filed security codes in a file named "Security Codes." 

Yet, the federal authorities are very confident, although albeit, not completely confident that North Korea caused all this damage to Sony. North Korea's internet facilities comes through China. North Korea is impoverished because of their possession of nuclear weapons. I believe Kim wants to speak to South Korea in hopes of ending this hideous allegation from the USA.

If the USA is going to say North Korea was behind the hacking of women's salaries at Sony, they are also stating China was involved for allowing such activity. Therefore, there are two countries in breach of a Japanese company with files regarding Americans they employ. Do you know how completely obscure that defines USA involvement? There is nothing here. Americans were involved in a scandal with a Japanese company which practiced very loose internet security. There is no reason for the USA to be involved, yet, the Bozos with the big computers are all about this garbage.

Where were the predictions the hacking into Sony would occur? Where were the predictions of the risk France faced with the people who carried out the attacks against innocent journalists and their editors? Where were those predictions? Absent. Completely absent.

Europe and the USA exchange information all the time. We rely on each other, it also includes Australia and a multiple of other nations including Mexico to end violence in our societies. If James Clapper is going to sit on top of the largest number of computers in one building and argue who has the best information over North Korea without a reason to do so; what's next? What is going to happen next the USA and allies have on clue about.

You want to know how wars get started? Having James Clapper in the ranks of the federal government to escalate the rhetoric and propaganda to the point of convincing the voters. Clapper has to be fired. If he won't resign than kick his sorry ass out of the USA government. It am so tired of people dying when they should NEVER have to; putrid is the best word I could come up with today.  

I don't give a flyin' fuck who stole all that material from Sony. Sony needs to care enough about their professionals that work hard to provide excellent entertainment to the world. Sony's problem is not mine, but, James Clapper is.

Thank you, Secretary Kerry

The French Imam called the slain "Martyrs for Liberty." It is this leadership we all validate and appreciate. I am relieved there are holy men in the Muslim faith standing for the morality and civilization we all value over the violence we witnessed today.

Imam Hessan Chalghoumi is a brave man to abhor violence and demand peace, liberty and calm. Living within a civilized society brings about the best life has to offer. It is unfortunate some believe a life of quality is unnecessary to the worship of god. That is somewhat at the crux of this violence. Somehow, the values of quality of life, peace, respect for human dignity is an offense to Violent Islam. Everywhere I look there are atrocities where an extremist point of view is enforced while completely rejecting civilization and a future that is better than today. 

These extremists enforce suffering as a method to live a life in approval of their god. It is perverted. There isn't any other word I can think of to describe such heinous people. They pretend to be martyrs for Allah, when in fact they are international criminals using death and fear to capture their definition of a man in devotion. There is nowhere in the Quran that demands violence as proof of a person's devotion. Nowhere.

The extremist considers the definition of life as taking that of others they can not understand. Civilization has no definition in this perverted society of extremists. Civilization is a sin. They look upon women they marry with oppression and a purpose to bring about more warriors. There is no love of their children, there is simply mentoring to become weapons.

Hassen Chalghoumi (left), Imam of the municipal Drancy mosque in Seine-Saint-Denis, walks with police near the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical newspaper, after a shooting Jan 7, 2015. -- PHOTO: REUTERS - See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/world/europe/story/parisian-imams-condemn-attack-call-it-declaration-war-20150107#sthash.j1JgiePS.dpuf

Hessan Chalghoumi, (click here) left, Imam of the municipal Darcy mosque in Seine Saint Dennis, walks with police near the Paris office of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical newspaper, after the shooting of January 7, 2015.

Hassen Chalghoumi (left), Imam of the municipal Drancy mosque in Seine-Saint-Denis, walks with police near the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical newspaper, after a shooting Jan 7, 2015. -- PHOTO: REUTERS - See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/world/europe/story/parisian-imams-condemn-attack-call-it-declaration-war-20150107#sthash.j1JgiePS.dpuf

Hassen Chalghoumi (left), Imam of the municipal Drancy mosque in Seine-Saint-Denis, walks with police near the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical newspaper, after a shooting Jan 7, 2015. -- PHOTO: REUTERS - See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/world/europe/story/parisian-imams-condemn-attack-call-it-declaration-war-20150107#sthash.j1JgiePS.dpuf

January 7, 2015
By Lisa  Bryant

PARIS—
French officials say police (click here) have identified the three suspected gunmen in Wednesday's mass murder at the Paris headquarters of the satirical weekly paper "Charlie Hebdo."
Authorities say two of the alleged shooters are brothers who are French citizens, ages 34 and 32. The third suspect is an 18-year-old student. His nationality is not yet clear.
Police said at least 12 people, including two police officers, are dead after the attack.
Late Wednesday morning, black-hooded gunmen, who carried Kalashnikov rifles and a pump-action shotgun, stormed the weekly's offices, bursting into an editorial staff meeting and opening fire. Terrorism experts said the gunmen appeared to have carried out their attack methodically....

Who and/or how did these murderers have such detailed information?

Returning honesty and trust to their esteemed values, is the single most important VALUE facing democracy today.

"You have a right to peddle nonsense, but you don't have a right to peddle nonsense as truth."

The proper word for this loss in our countries is epistemology (The theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope. Epistemology is the investigation of what distinguishes justified belief from opinion.)

She's an extremist, (click here) a danger to children and she's coming to a community hall near you. The question facing Immigration Minister Peter Dutton is, should she be allowed?

The difficult ethical issues do not pit good against evil, but good against good. Consider the proposed Australian tour in March of anti-vaccination campaigner Dr Sherri Tenpenny. Putting three different rights in conflict, it pivots on the trust issue that will profoundly shape the future of democracy and, quite likely, the planet; our trust of government, of science and of reason....

Our democracies are racked with it. Opinion. Opinion doesn't justify dismantling achievements of a government. Facts and expertise are lacking in large measure throughout our societies and government. I think social media is a larger part of the problem than anyone wants to admit. It provides a platform which power brokering by opinion can measurably destroy anything 'the chat' decides is worthless to them personally.

This is definitely part of the wealth gap in the USA. At least Intel recognizes it's lack of diversity practices.

January 7, 2015

Silicon Valley has a diversity problem, (click here) and Intel plans to invest $300 million in the coming years to tackle it. The world's largest chip maker has announced a "Diversity in Technology" initiative to get more women and minorities hired at Intel and other high-tech companies. "This isn't just good business," Intel CEO Brian Krzanich said Tuesday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where company officials also demoed some new gadgets and technologies. "It's the right thing to do. When we all come together and commit, we can make the impossible possible."

Intel said the idea behind the initiative is to get tech companies to build "a pipeline" of female and under-represented minority engineers and computer scientists and to hire and retain them. Intel's own goal is to "achieve full representation of women and under-represented minorities" at the company by 2020, though Krzanich didn't spell out specific target numbers. According to its publicly released figures, Intel's 2013 workforce was 76 percent male, 57 percent white, 29 percent Asian, 8 percent Hispanic and 3 percent black.

There is some doubt about the bombing of the NAACP? Really?

Okay, I'll admit it looks like amateurs, but, that was no amateur that got the idea at the very least hate was legitimate in the USA.

January 7, 2015
By Abby Johnston
In what appears (click here) to be an attack on civil rights group NAACP, an explosive device detonated outside the Colorado Springs branch’s headquarters on Tuesday. Luckily, nobody was killed or injured in the attack. The FBI is looking for the alleged attacker, described as a balding white man driving a white pickup truck. Unfortunately, this is not the first attack that has been waged at the well-known group; the NAACP has a history of violent attacks on its leaders and facilities, perpetrated by white supremacist figures that were sometimes linked to larger organizations. 

Although the Colorado Springs bomber’s motives are not yet known, it is, as always, hard to believe that any attack on an organization dedicated to securing the rights of African-Americans would be targeted by anyone without hateful motivations. 

In this instance, no lives were taken....

The former Mrs. Howard Hamm is being diminished in importance by the courts. Women's rights.

Good for her! Well, lookey thar. It is Howard and his estranged spouse at a "Time 100." So, let me get this right, Continental Oil never benefited from the bride of Howard Hamm, nor did he. Liar! This photo is just one bit of proof the value Mrs. Hamm brought to Howard's career and therefore, Continental Oil's as well. She either needs better lawyers and/or a better judge.

The courts like to discriminate against women as significant to the careers of their husbands. Really? I suppose Mrs. Hamm simply stayed home and backed cookies, right? 

Oh, wait, in our political realm in the USA baking cookies can win an election. I do believe cookie baking and the like came up during the first campaign of Former President Clinton and again with Ann Romney. So, women's "House Frau" image in the Republican dynasties of oil is important for elections, but, not for marriages. Now, who is it exactly that has double standards?

by Jay F. Marks

Modified: January 6, 2015 at 7:58 pm 

Published: January 6, 2015

Harold Hamm’s ex-wife (click here) has rejected a check for nearly $1 billion as she continues to pursue a larger share of the couple’s assets, an attorney for the Continental Resources Inc. CEO said Tuesday.

Hamm borrowed money to write his ex-wife, Sue Ann Arnall, a check for more than $974 million — the amount he was ordered to pay her in a November divorce ruling — but she refused to accept it as she appeals the ruling in search of a higher award.

Oklahoma County Special Judge Howard R. Haralson on Tuesday refused to change his ruling in the case, which Arnall appealed to the Oklahoma Supreme Court last month.

The judge indicated he would consider awarding alimony to Arnall in a subsequent hearing.

Haralson ruled Nov. 10 on the division of assets in the case after an eight-week trial that largely occurred behind closed doors to protect sensitive information about Continental....

More proof the new majority Republican Congress is wasting the money they are paid in unethical politics.

It is time to do the country's business. And knock off the rhetoric about "The will  of the people." That is nothing, but, bullshit. This Congress was bought by Wall Street and ONLY by the skin on their teeth because the Dems and their contributing individual members of a civil society put up the fight of the decade. 

January 6, 2015
By Niraj Choski

As members of Congress (click here) returned to a snowy D.C. Tuesday morning, so, too, did some governors. And they have a few requests.

In their State of the States address on Tuesday, the two governors heading the bipartisan National Governors Association touted state innovations and lamented federal gridlock, urging Congress to pass and reauthorize laws this year on a range of issues from education to jobs to health care to infrastructure.

“Like many of my fellow governors, I, too, have been frustrated by the stalemate that seems to pervade Washington,” said Utah Gov. Gary Herbert (R), NGA’s vice chairman. “Ideology is important, and guiding principles should guide, but they should not be used to impede governing.”

In his speech — which followed remarks delivered by NGA Chairman and Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) — Herbert laid out a series of policies governors of both parties hope to see addressed by the 114th Congress, which reconvened on Tuesday. The pair, along with others, said they also planned to discuss those policy priorities with President Obama later Tuesday afternoon in a White House meeting....

In North Carolina, the "Moral Majority" caused such a deep divide among voters those elected had to promise to bring health care to the Poor and Lower Middle Class. Of course, the Republicans in North Carolina are toying with that promise to "Find the best solution for NC." But, the Moral Majority was instrumental in pushing health care to the top of the agenda for the elections. Unfortunately, the hard work is just beginning. I imagine there will be many opportunities to prove how the North Carolina Republicans are trying to cheat the electorate and move away from the promise.

The Medicaid Expansion has worked in the states which accepted it and it is that law the NC Republicans need to HONOR.

In Washington, DC it is no surprise the Republicans are chasing their tails. They were chasing their tails during the election, but, through propaganda allowed the public to believe they could actually force through an aggressive agenda that nullifies citizen's rights. There is still no leadership that can actually carry forward a productive agenda. The next six weeks is going to be a circus.

Do we know the names of the victims yet? Too early?

I am quite certain they were brilliant. It is not easy to create satire and have it widely accepted as it was with "Charlie Hebdo."

Other than knowing the descriptions of the murderers they are nothing. It takes so very little to kill while brilliant people are at the mercy of the hate filled radical.

My deepest sympathies to the families, friends and the country of France for this heinous murder of citizens that have and understand the depth of freedom.

These deaths have taught us how precious freedom is and how we have to protect it from those that hate it.

"Long live France."

January 1, 2017

French President Francois Hollande, (click here) following a crisis meeting at the Elysee Palace spoke to the people of France.

In a live televised address he referred to the “brave and talented journalists” who were killed and called on all French people to take part in a minutes silence on Thursday at midday which he announced would be a national day of mourning. Flags will fly at half mast in the country for three days.

The thoughts of all France he said went out to the families of the journalists who are grieving for their relatives shot in Paris. He also paid tribute to the two policemen who were killed.

“This was an attack on freedom, we must be ourselves and we must realise our best weapon is unity. Nothing must separate us or drive us apart. France is a great nation when under pressure. We are stronger than our enemies when we are together.”

He stressed the need for the country to defend the freedom of speech and ended the brief address in a determined tone.

‘We will win. Nothing will make us renounce our determination. Long live the republic. Long live France. “

It would seem as though violent Islam doesn't like North Korea taking the headlines.

January 1, 2015
By Nicholas Vinocur and Antony Paone

PARIS (Reuters) – Hooded gunmen(click here)  stormed the Paris offices of a weekly satirical magazine renowned for lampooning radical Islam, killing at least 12 people, including two police officers in the worst militant attack on French soil in recent decades.
One of the men was captured on video shouting “Allah!” as four shots rang out. Two assailants are then seen calmly leaving the scene and remain at large....

The offices where they occurred was assessed before today. The killers and/or accomplices were knowledgeable as to who sat at what desks. This attack could have been avoided if the policies of the satirists newspaper had closed a loop. Guests into their offices have to be qualified with a background check AND a sincere interest in their product.

Close the loops and keep offices safe. Security is well known to The West and it will be appreciated. Open public forums are more difficult, but, metal detectors can be an alert. A local economy can be effected if liberties are robbed from citizens. Local economies have local governments to consider this danger and decide the best methods to secure their citizens.

But, I also note the Tsarnaev brother is on trial in Massachusetts. These killers are found and do face justice.

 I do believe this was to return global media to the attention of Violent Islam.  "The Interview" didn't place the highest priority of fear on Islam. Violent Islam wants the attention of the global community to manufacture fear. The more Violent Islam is receiving attention by media the more it inspires them to continue to cause this mayhem globally. I have other better things to do then propagate fear of immoral killers.

It never takes long for Republican corruption to show up.

April 21, 2012
In our discussion of the odd policy decision (click here) by the Daugaard Administration to scale back the portfolio of the Lieutenant Governor position based on a personal decision by the current holder of the job, a minor kerfuffle erupts over Dennis Daugaard's taxpayer-funded photo op tour of Kuwait and Afghanistan.
Commenter Robert Cordts finds offense in the Governor's donning of a military jacket:
I just think members of the Daugaard administration are liars. Daugaard was wearing an Army uniform (BDU) the other day in Afghanistan while doing a television interview. I realize that he is commander-in-chief of the SD National Guard but I think it is a stretch for him to wear the uniform of the armed forces. Wearing leather and chaps to promote the Sturgis rally is one thing but putting on the uniform of the armed services is another. Has he ever served in the military? I have not found any information indicating that he has. Daugaard is either pretentious or deceitful, I dont know which is worse...

Daugaard is the newly elected governor of South Dakota. When is the law not the law? When every state effected by TransCanada has a newly elected Republican governor. There goes the aquifer and the farm land.

January 6, 2015
By Bob Mercer
 
PIERRE – TransCanada (click here) will be allowed to show why the state permit issued in 2010 for constructing the segment the Keystone XL oil pipeline through South Dakota should remain valid. 
The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission decided Tuesday to allow TransCanada to attempt to prove that the project would still meet conditions set in the permit despite changes in the proposed pipeline plan.
The Yankton Sioux Tribe and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, backed by other tribal and landowner organizations, asked the commission to dismiss TransCanada’s application.
The opponents’ central argument was that 30 changes identified by TransCanada require a new permitting process.
The commission however voted 3-0 to deny the opponents dismissal requests.

South Dakota law requires that proponents of a proposed project, if construction hasn’t proceeded after four years, show, or certify to the PUC, that it still will meet the permit conditions....

Except, for Montana. Montana is still Blue since a year ago. Montana has some clout with the KXL as it has cross Montana before it gets to the Red States.

When it comes to Republicans the corruption just never stops.

Daugaard's donors to his Governor campaign remain uncoded to the tune of $1,519,086. (click here)

And Heineman doesn't have radar for Canada's invasion. How long has Heineman been a governor and he doesn't have Canada on his radar? Liar.
 
...Two weeks ago (click here) during an exclusive interview (see video below) with Nebraska Watchdog, Heineman was asked if he thinks the pipeline is a good idea. The Governor said it’s not on his radar. “I just haven’t focused on that issue to any great extent because it’s a federal regulatory issue. So I’ve let our congressional delegation deal with that,” said Heineman...

...According to a survey released by pipeline critic Bold Nebraska, 48 percent oppose the pipeline, 19 percent favor it, and 33 percent are undecided....

There are wind chill, winter storm warnings, high wind warnings and gale warnings across the entire northern tier of the USA by the National Weather Service.

The first thing that comes to mind is the recent death of a family flying in their private plane from Florida north. The sole survivor of the crash was a seven year old that had the presence of mind to save her own life by walking three quarters of a mile to a porch light she saw after getting out of the aircraft. She stated to the man that answered the door, "My parents are dead, can you help me?" She learned survival skills from her father as a young girl. When she knocked at the door to the home she was covered in blood from walking through briars and traversing a water way.

Please advise small aircraft to reconsider their flight plans due to icing of the wings. Thank you.

I implore President Obama to continue to close the gap between a communitties minorities and their police.

Currently, police are refusing leadership while using a prescribed legal methodology to openly kill unarmed citizens.

January 5, 2014
By Rocco Parascandola, Tina Moore, Corky Siemasko
 
Mayor de Blasio (click here) gave the cops who turned their backs on him a good smack Monday.
Speaking for the first time about the public dissing he endured at the funerals of hero cops Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, de Blasio said “they were disrespectful to the families involved.”
“I can't understand why anyone would do such a thing in the context like that,” an angry de Blasio said. “And I think it defies a lot of what we all feel is the right and decent thing to do.”
“I also think they were disrespectful to the people of this city, who in fact honor the work of the NYPD,” he added....

When I express loss to families or a country for any of citizens it is with the understanding I under their pain. I stand in recognition of their will at the funeral of their loved ones. I don't put my priorities first.

These officers were especially precious in that they were minorities. Their cultural diversity came out in their funeral services. They were the people we have so long wanted to be a part of public infrastructure to bring their insight and their abilities to bring about solutions. The loss of both of these men is profound beyond that of their families. 

I thought the country had it's fill of funeral demonstrators, but, it would seem not.

Mayor DeBlasio jumped to assist the families of these men by increasing their rank when it was first learned of their heinous deaths. The state legislature has appropriated millions of dollars to outfit police cruisers with bullet proof glass. These deaths were profoundly felt and people came together to honor them by learning from this event.

It is unfortunate there was only insight after the fact not as a precaution before the deaths occurred. The missed opportunity to save lives occurs before the tragedy, not afterward.

One of President Obama's greatest accomplishments to add to his legacy is civil rights.

Catherina Pareto, right, and Karla Arguello, second from right, kiss after they were married by Circuit Court Judge Sarah Zabel, left, Monday, Jan. 5, 2015, in Miami. Zabel provided a jump-start Monday to Florida's entry as the 36th state where gays and lesbians can legally marry, saying she saw no reason why same-sex couples couldn't immediately get their licenses in Miami-Dade County ahead of a midnight launch statewide. Photo: Wilfredo Lee, AP 

January 5, 2015
By Curt Anderson and Tamara Lush

MIAMI (AP) — Lesbian and gay couples (click here) were wed in Miami on Monday by the same judge who approved their marriage licenses, hours before Florida's coming-out party as the nation's 36th state where same-sex marriages are now legal statewide.
The addition of Florida's 19.9 million people means 70 percent of Americans now live in states where gay marriage is legal.
The cheers in the courthouse reflect how much of the nation's third-largest state has changed since the 1970s, when Anita Bryant, the former beauty pageant queen and orange juice spokeswoman, started her national campaign against gay rights in Miami.
"It's been a long time coming," said Cathy Pareto, who wed Karla Arguello, her partner of 15 years. "Finally Florida recognizes us as a couple. It's just -- I don't know, sweet justice."...

Any oil infrastructure investment is poorly decided.

Those are the facts, both scientific and financial. OPEC is steadfast in it's resolve and that is good news. They will continue to be the one factor that will steady the market. There is a fall in demand for oil. It isn't just a glut. 

January 5, 2014
By Joe Carroll

Tumbling crude prices (click here) will trigger a flood of oilfield write downs starting this month after industry returns slumped to a 16-year low, calling into question half a decade of exploration.

With crude prices down more than 50 percent from their 2014 peak, fields as far-flung as Kazakhstan and Australia are no longer worth pumping, said a team of Citigroup Inc. (C:US) analysts led by Alastair Syme. Companies on the hook for risky, high-cost projects that don’t make sense in a $50-a-barrel market include international titans such as Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA) and small wildcatters like Sanchez Energy Corp.
The impending write downs represent the latest blow to an industry rocked by a combination of faltering demand growth and booming supplies from North American shale fields. The downturn threatens to wipe out more than $1.6 trillion in earnings for producing companies and nations this year. Oil explorers already are canceling drilling plans and laying off crews to conserve cash needed to cover dividend checks to investors and pay back debts.... 

For the USA legislation to add to this collapse is a huge mistake, but, Republicans legislate to their cronies and not real life. It is ridiculous to think the KXL is a viable project. The support for the KXL is extreme politics, so what else is new in the USA?

January 5, 2014
NBC News Staff, CNBC and the Associated Press
 

What a way to start the first full week of trading in 2015. (click here) The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled more than 300 points on Monday, dragged down by falling oil prices amid worries that while they are a boon for consumers, they could hurt other sectors of the economy.

It was the worst session for the Dow and for the broader S&P 500 index in over three weeks. The Dow unofficially dropped 1.84 percent, the S&P shed 1.81 percent and the Nasdaq dropped 1.6 percent. Monday capped the stock market's first four-day losing streak since December 2013 and sent stocks to their lowest level in two weeks...

The Republicans will be carrying out rhetorical legislation post election.

It is strange how 'dog whistle' politics is never silent even after an election. 

The KXL is antiquated infrastructure. The Democrats needs to propose and pass an amendment which simply reads, "No further oil infrastructure will be built until the tropospheric carbon dioxide returns to 350 parts per million and the methane levels end its' escalation." Straight and to the point based in scientific facts. The Democrats need to have the NOAA and NASA scientists on the floor of both the House and Senate to state the facts.

We have witnessed two airline tragedies along very close longitudinal lines. Both were over the Pacific which is the largest of Earth's oceans, both were caused because of severe turbulence in Earth's troposphere. This was not a coincidence. They both received significant turbulence because of abrupt climate change which has caused huge shifts in hot and cold air masses.

Additionally, in the amendment needs to be strong language that will improve the safety of existing pipelines. The current pipelines need to be rebuilt with three wall USA steel pipes. This is similar technology that is used in building tankers that transport oil. Most tankers are double hulled. In the USA any and all current pipelines no matter what they carry need to be triple hulled. That change also has to be included with tanker cars on rails or the highway to prevent spills and damage to the USA lands.

Refitting the current oil infrastructure will increase sustainable employment far beyond that of any promised by the KXL. Gasoline tax increases are far overdue.

Snow in Southern California

December 31, 2014

By Sean Breslin

It might "never rain in Southern California," (click here) as the old Albert Hammond song goes, but it sure can snow.

The snowfall even came down in areas that don't usually see wintry weather at the lower elevations. At 1,400 feet, Lake Elsinore reported six inches of snow to the National Weather Service, and residents were quite surprised to wake up Wednesday to see front yards and palm trees covered in snow....

There is nothing normal about this temperature map. And the water vapor satellite reflects the same oddity.

January 2, 2014
0445 GMT
The Weather Channel Current Temperature Map

Average Temperatures for Texas in December (click here)

NOAA Water Temperatures of the Southern Atlantic Coast (click here)

The South Pacific Coast has an average temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

So while there is snow in southern California, the polar air isn't effecting the coastal ocean temperatures.

I saw this temperature change last year along the West Arm of Grand Traverse Bay, Traverse City, Michigan. 

The warm very moist air initially caused rain for about 30 minutes or so and then it turned to snow and plenty of it. Out on the bay though, there was a very strange phenomena occurring. The ice had become very thick during the frigid arctic winter, but, with the warm air blowing across the bay the surface ice was melting. It wasn't melting because the water was becoming warm, but, because the air was warm. At the southern tip of the bay the wind was so very cold after crossing the frozen bay a person couldn't turn their face into the wind for concern of frost bite almost immediately. The surface ice was turning to water, but, there were still ice structures poking up through the water. The ice under the water hadn't melted.

Looking at the two USA coastal waters being warm in the Pacific and falling in the Atlantic, it makes sense. The air is cold, but, doesn't effect the Pacific coast waters because it wasn't exposed to it long enough. The Atlantic on the other hand is exposed to the frigid arctic air far longer, hence, changing it temperature on the surface. 

Below is the UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite of North and West Hemisphere (click here for 12 hour loop)