Is Mullah Omar dead after advocating peace and cooperation of the people of the region.

The leadership in Kabul has been meeting with the Taliban to solidify a peace between them. This is definitely an attempt to destabilize this peace movement. 

July 20. 2015
By Mirwais Harooni and Jessica Donati

Afghanistan (click here) said on Wednesday it was investigating reports that Mullah Omar, leader of the militant Taliban movement behind an escalating insurgency, was dead.
The elusive Omar has not been seen in public since fleeing when the Taliban was toppled from power by a U.S.-led coalition in 2001, and there has been speculation for years among militant circles that he was either incapacitated or had died.
"We are aware of the reports of the passing of Mullah Omar, the Taliban leader," Sayed Zafar Hashemi, a spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani, told reporters.
"We are still in the process of verifying those reports, and as soon as we get any more accurate information or identification ... we will let the media and the people of Afghanistan know about it.".... 

If he is dead, Kabul's leadership should seek to find the murderers. Omar was advocating peace. That was a profound change in his position and he intended to help end the fighting. It is only right to know who killed him and why. 

July 29, 2015
By Tamim Asey  

Afghan forces are fighting Central Asian extremists. Time for the region to get more involved. (click here) 

...Ties between Afghanistan and Central Asia are driven more by security imperatives than by trade and energy. Afghanistan and Central Asia share geographic, demographic, security and economic ties that go back to the ancient Silk Road days. With the disintegration of the former Soviet Union and the emergence of newly independent Central Asian states, Afghanistan began an era of tumultuous relations with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Following the 2001 NATO/U.S. intervention in Afghanistan, bilateral relations changed and a new dynamic emerged.... 

This is the type of changing landscape in the region. There are advances in peace only to be followed by attempts to destabilize it. The players wanted by authorities yesterday are attempting to end hostilities today. It is impossible to keep track of those that are becoming allies and any eruption of new enemies.

I suppose the advocacy for peace by Omar was more a surrender, too. It's becoming difficult to conduct war in a rapidly changing environment when a peace process proceeds. This is Afghanistan today. It would be helpful to have borders enforced to prevent extremists from carrying out attacks that effect the peace negotiations. 

Omar was a Taliban. Kabul has to view his death as a problem and not a death of an enemy. 

July 29, 2015


ROME: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) (click here) General Raheel Sharif on Wednesday said Pakistan will bring its war on terror to its logical end, purging the whole region of terrorism.
The Army Chief who is on an official visit to Italy, said during a speech in Centre of International Studies, Rome, that Pakistan had launched Operation Zarb-e-Azb to eliminate terrorism which was a global threat.

“For the world, terrorism is a conflict, for Pakistan it's a war of survival," said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Asim Bajwa quoting the army chief as saying.
He said terrorists would not be allowed to reorganise, adding that the operation will ensure establishment of peace in Pakistan and the whole world....

Missing people are turning up in the ranks of Daesh. It is an increasing pressure to find the 'real god.'

May 28, 2015
By Catherine Putz

Halimov (click here) has been missing since late April and was reportedly arrested last week in Turkey. The mystery continues.

Gulmurod Halimov, the missing Tajik OMON commander (well, former commander now) has apparently turned up — and not in Turkish custody as was reported last week. Halimov is the latest ISIS video star.

The 12 minute video, which is polished and features a techy, Matrix-like intro, was posted on May 27. It begins with a montage of video clips showing news reports of Halimov’s disappearance and then shows him, with a black wrap around his head, holding a rifle, and talking at length about himself and why he joined ISIS. The video ends with Halimov (presumably, though he is not shown) shooting a tomato.

Halimov, in the video, explains his radicalization as a response to the Tajik state’s crackdown on religion — mentioning restrictions on public prayer and Islamic dress. From RFE/RL:... 

...It is clear that the key factor for Tajik youth traveling to Iraq and Syria to fight alongside ISIL militants is propagation of Salafi ideas in the country.

Over the past 15 years, Salafists have brainwashed dozens of people working in the country’s law enforcement authorities and government bodies. As a matter of fact, they have undermined the authority of the government. Unfortunately, we do not know how many officials became Salafists. We do not know how many lawyers, journalists, mullahs, and imam-khatibs are propagating Salafi ideas among the population....

Fifteen years is the length of time from the first pf West's invasions.  The idea NATO is going to make a difference in the region is obviously wrong. The struggle for peace within Afghanistan has to inclusive a lasting peace. The Kabul peace process has to reach out to these populations of people.

...In an April interview, Oinikhol Bobonazarova, one of Tajikistan’s best-known human rights advocates and opposition politicians, said the government was leaving critical issues unresolved — economic troubles and the woes of migrants – and diverting people’s’ attention: 

We have massive economic problems, the problems with our migrants, and the current [financial] crisis. But everyone is suddenly concerned about women’s clothing. Apparently that is the most pressing concern. Personally, I don’t think a woman’s clothes are important....

In the waning hours of the West's presence in Afghanistan it is obvious occupation was the only reason there has been a degree of stability. That is not the mission of NATO. NATO was suppose to build a lasting peace based on the strength of it's national defense forces. NATO needs to leave since most of it's presence has been mostly ineffective for fifteen years. 

...The Chinese and Russian national security establishments recognize the threat and are already in close contact with Afghan security and intelligence institutions. China and Russia are also working to address the challenge through the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, addressing the SCO summit in Ufa recently, put it this way: “…we are fighting on behalf of the region in the world and in this fight we need to be joined by forceful and coherent action.” He further warned of the consequences of inaction “…China, India and Russia out of the big countries will be in harms way, but also all our other neighbors near and far.” It was a stark warning of the security threat that confronts the region....

The region will move toward a stable region based on the ability of neighboring countries to control their borders and end extremist groups. NATO has spent fifteen years in meaningless occupation.

There may or may not be a civil war within Afghanistan if the peace efforts are not comprehensive and successful.

...China has also been working with Afghan, Tajik and Pakistani intelligence agencies to address the security concerns created by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement in Xinjiang province.

Meanwhile, the rise of ISIS and its declaration of the creation of the province of Khorasan – ostensibly covering Afghanistan, Central Asia, and parts of Iran and Pakistan – has further complicated the security dynamics and calculations in the region. Numerous radicalized youth and battle hardened terrorists from Central Asia have now joined ISIS and are fighting Afghan National Security Forces in Afghanistan....

The videos are used for Daesh recruitment and radicalization of young men. It is a charismatic movement. The influence of these extremists needs to be identified by GOVERNING authorities as a threat to young lives and SOULS.

Sandra is still dead.

Okay, so this clears up some inaccuracies about a jail and it's personnel, but, she is still dead. That is the problem the authorities are failing to see. All kinds of nightmare stories came out about the information the public had because of the nightmare playing into this story. 

She should not have been arrested. She was there on false charges and no one cared to understand she was falsely arrested. None of this should have happened. 

The question in most people's minds is who are the others? Sandy Bland ran into a cop that carried a scenario with an outcome he controlled. Who else has come through this facility with the same exact problems? How many people were arrested on false charges?

The other inmates are African American. There needs to be an investigation into this facility, it's staff and practices and the police officer involved. How many arrests and bookings are made due to confrontation of an officer besides a minor traffic violation, including this police officer and others? What goes on here? It is institutionalized abuse.

Paris is coming.

Expectations should remain high. We are far from ending this dangerous climate and it is important everyone is ambitious and persistent even after the meeting. We cannot afford to slack off. There is too much at stake.

July 22, 2015

Mayors from around the world (click here) have declared that climate change is real, man-made and must be stopped as a matter of moral imperative, gathering at the Vatican to announce new measures to fight global warming and bask in Pope Francis' ecological star power.

The Vatican invited the 60 mayors to a two-day conference to keep up pressure on world leaders ahead of UN climate negotiations in Paris later this year. The meeting also aimed to promote Francis' environment encyclical, which denounced what he calls a fossil fuel-based world economy that exploits the poor and destroys the Earth.

One by one, the mayors lined up to sign a final declaration stating that "human-induced climate change is a scientific reality and its effective control is a moral imperative for humanity."

Francis told the gathering that he had "a lot of hope" that the Paris negotiations would succeed, but also warned the mayors: "You are the conscience of humanity."...

July 29, 2015

A shocking recording (click here for audio) has emerged of a passenger plane pilot with just three minutes of fuel being told that he can't land at an airport because the runway was closed.
Allegiant Air flight 426 was circling Fargo's Hector International Airport in North Dakota requesting permission to land, but was notified that the airport was out of service as the Navy's Blue Angels were practising for a forthcoming air show.
However, the pilot then told ground officials that he didn't have any "fuel to go anywhere else" when it was recommended he fly to an airport 70 miles away....

It is a non-story. Even with a gag order it is a non-story. Frankly, I don't blame him for getting a gag order.

The fact of the matter is they are divorced. What occurred in the marriage belongs to them alone. They have children that have grown into rather productive adults with fortunes of their own. There isn't anything else to understand.  

The gag order ended it. It ended it for the entire family, otherwise, the front page tabloids would still be posting a feuding family. I don't really see the Trump Bunch taking leave of their senses to become the first family of trials and tribulations. 

July 28, 2015
By John Santucci

..."I have recently read some comments (click here) attributed to me from nearly 30 years ago at a time of very high tension during my divorce from Donald," she said in the statement today. "The story is totally without merit. Donald and I are the best of friends and together have raised 3 children that we love and are very proud of." 

Ivana Trump had already walked back the rape allegation in 1993 as the book was about to be published. 

“During a deposition given by me in connection with my matrimonial case, I stated that my husband had raped me,” Ivana Trump said in a statement at the time, as the Daily Beast reported. "[O]n one occasion during 1989, Mr. Trump and I had marital relations in which he behaved very differently toward me than he had during our marriage. As a woman, I felt violated, as the love and tenderness, which he normally exhibited towards me, was absent. I referred to this as a 'rape,' but I do not want my words to be interpreted in a literal or criminal sense."... 

So, now that The Daily Beast has gotten attention by bringing up the past, there are follow-ups. I don't find this interesting or relevant. Has Donald Trump stated a policy whereby women can't breast feed and pump their breasts? I don't get it. Being sued is a very stressful circumstance, I am sure everyone was unhappy to be in that room.

July 28, 2015
By John Santucci

Donald J. Trump (click here) seemed irritated. He had been grilled for two hours in a lawsuit over a failed Florida real estate project, and he told the lawyer that her questions were “very stupid.”

When the lawyer, Elizabeth Beck, asked for a medical break, Mr. Trump and his lawyers objected, demanding that the deposition continue. Ms. Beck said it was urgent — she needed to pump breast milk for her 3-month-old daughter, and she took the pump out to make her point.

Mr. Trump erupted.

“You’re disgusting,” he told Ms. Beck, in a remark that is not disputed by either side. He then walked out of the room, ending the testimony for the day....

Let me put it this way. The only reason to dig into the past attempting to resurrect old ghosts is to defeat Mr. Trump's presidential bid through the same manner Hillary Clinton is being defamed. By suspicion alone the American people are suppose to dismiss any sincere run for the US Presidency. 

The New York Times is striking out here. They have fabricated a story about Hillary Clinton being a criminal and now Mr. Santucci is attempting his claim to fame by rereading old text.

There is no merit to any of this and it is time The New York Times explain itself.

Beloved Cecil.

I have resisted to write anything about Cecil. I knew I would not write anything civilized at this point.

Cecil was protected in lands dedicated to that purpose. He would not have wandered that far away if he wasn't enticed to do so. Where do I begin. Besides being protected, he is legendary which is why the lousy bastard wanted him as a trophy. The ? hunter ? has to be one of the most narcissistic people in the world. 

IUCN Status: VU (vulnerable) (African) Critically Endangered (Asian) (click here)

Male lions are prized for their manes. Supposedly, the darker the mane the more POTENT the lion. Is this getting the message through? How completely hideous it was to kill this lion?

The hideousness of this kill is what has every enraged. 

7 March 2012
By ALERT

...Currently, (click here) wild populations of modern lions (Panthera leo) reside only in Africa and Asia, in which these two subspecies (P. l. leo and P.l. persica, respectively) are becoming increasingly endangered; subsequently being listed as ‘vulnerable’ and ‘endangered’ on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list [3-4].  Although it should be noted that up to 24 subspecies classifications for lions have been identified these were based solely on geographical and morphological aspects, e.g. mane size, body size, mass, skull size, colour etc. [5]....

The stories about male lions and their manes is such a strong statement there have been professional mammalogists that have formulated research to understand it as a fact or a myth. It matters when realizing the species is endangered. The habits of the species is important to help insure survival. If there are nothing but blond males does that mean there will be less offspring?

...To test whether the mane (click here) is an indicator of male quality, we used life-sized toy lions with contrasting manes that were generously donated by Anna Club Plush toys of Holland and manufactured according to measurements and hair samples from Serengeti lions. After finding a group of real lions, we set out two models with manes that differed in either mane length or in mane color. We then attracted the lions’ attention by broadcasting the sounds of hyenas at a kill (a dinner bell for lions) and watched to see which model the real lions chose to approach. The results were startlingly clear: male lions approached shorter and lighter manes, apparently finding them less intimidating. In contrast, females were indifferent to mane length, but they found darker manes much more attractive than blonds....

These animals are loved. They are loved by those that conduct research to insure their survival. They are loved by people all over the world that want their survival insured. And they are loved by the country by the country where they live and the tourism they bring to the people.

Zimbabwe's government is not going to let this hideous man get away with killing a precious senior aged lion. 

July 28, 2015
By Don Melvin

An American man (click here) is being sought in connection with a case that has drawn international attention -- the killing of Cecil the lion -- Zimbabwean officials said Tuesday.

The man suspected in Cecil's death is Walter James Palmer of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, according to Johnny Rodrigues, head of the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force.

Cecil, who was 13, was a prized lion in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park, where visitors reportedly sighted him frequently. A video of the animal, regal, indifferent and sleepy-eyed, has been widely disseminated.

He was a participant in a study that Oxford University in Britain was conducting, and he had been outfitted with a GPS collar.

A police official in Zimbabwe said that two Zimbabweans had been arrested in the case and that police were looking for Palmer.... 

Cecil was well studied and understood and I have no doubt he has many younger lions roaming the land in Zimbabwe that are his offspring. Those lions are precious because they belonged to Cecil.

I am sure Cecil's pelt and head will be confiscated from the killer and put in esteem in Zimbabwe. In that is the knowledge his genetic keys will be understood forever. If ever the lions of Zimbabwe are diluted and failing their numbers perhaps animal geneticists can introduce Cecil's genes. At least that is the dream. 

To all those that loved Cecil, this is a difficult time. I am sorry an American has been such a horrible man. This type of hunting is really disdained in the USA. These people are primarily wealthy and have time on their hands. They don't use their time productively rather than self-fulfilling egos.

Cecil has youngsters in Zimbabwe and those should be the focus of affection now. They need those that loved Cecil to protect them too, especially from such horrible deaths resulting in trophies.

I apologize as an American for the pain of loss of Cecil. I will miss him, too. 

President Obama's comments about being elected for a thrid term is taken out of context by the US press.

How badly do people want to criticize President Obama in hate before he says a word? You really need to do some self-reflection before sounding off.

The speech was given in Ethiopia to a group interested in his life as President. President Obama frequently speaks in traditional ways and in INSTRUCTIVE ways when he is abroad. Don't tell me no one noticed besides me.

This is a map of Africa (click here) and forging democracy. President Obama was pointing out in humor how the US Constitution and subsequent laws limits him to 8 years of leadership. Some African countries don't know the luxury of having competent governments that frequently change their leadership. 

Will the US Press kindly think before they leap? It would be helpful. It might even be instructive to the American public that operates in a vacuum of hate and war.

Humanitarian efforts on the ISS

In one of many direct Earth applications (click here) of International Space Station research, the newest Benefits for Humanity video in the Benefits series highlights how high-quality crystals grown in microgravity lead to new therapeutics for disease. Learn how the investigation of protein crystals in space is helping to treat Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), an incurable genetic disorder affecting the muscles with onset usually in early childhood and primarily in young males....

Alka-Seltzer on the ISS

Last Updated: July 28, 2015

Editor: Kristine Rainey

 

A multi-vortex tornado touched down in Manitoba Canada for three hours without causing any injury or death.

July 27, 2015

People in southwestern Manitoba (click here) took cover Monday night as violent storms roared through the region, producing a "phenomenal" tornado that lashed trees, farmland, and roads.

Environment Canada confirmed that a large tornado touched down southwest of Melita, Man., around 8:30 p.m. CT, then moved into the area of Tilston, Man., around 9:25 p.m., and then northeast of Virden, Man., at 10:55 p.m....

This is very similar to the twin tornadoes from last year. That 'system' continued to produce tornadoes for hours.

Wow. You rich guys stick together, huh?

July 28, 2015
By Colin Campbell

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban(click here) had nothing but praise for fellow billionaire Donald Trump in a recent post on social media. 
Cuban, writing on his Cyber Dust app, said the Republican presidential candidate was "probably the best thing to happen to politics in a long long time." 
Trump, a real-estate magnate and television personality, has been at the center of a media firestorm since kicking off his campaign last month. 
Trump generated reams of headlines while accusing the Mexican government of sending its country's criminals to the US. Trump also briefly questioned the war record of Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona).
But Cuban said the only thing that mattered was Trump's breaking political orthodoxy by saying what was truly on his mind....

I told you so.

I love the commentary about Trump's wealth. "He only has 7 billion and not 10." Really. He lost count. That is a lot of gold.

They are correct though. If the balloting as between Trump and Huckabee, who would you choose? Huckabee isn't all that anyway. He stated a couple of months ago if he wasn't nominated or the nominee didn't swear to establish a Marriage Amendment he would run as an independent. So, don't look at Trump as though he is a threat to the Republican Party if he isn't the nominee and runs as an independent, Huckabee already said that. 

Perhaps Hillary Clinton has heard of Elon Musk.

The USA has an obligation to the inventors that came to heed it's call, but, first this.

His latest venture doesn't bring him more business to his battery empire. It is an act of conscience.

July 27, 2015
By Samuel Gibbs

Over 1,000 high-profile artificial intelligence experts (click here) and leading researchers have signed an open letter warning of a “military artificial intelligence arms race” and calling for a ban on “offensive autonomous weapons”.

The letter, presented at the International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was signed by Tesla’s Elon Musk, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Google DeepMind chief executive Demis Hassabis and professor Stephen Hawking along with 1,000 AI and robotics researchers.
The letter states: “AI technology has reached a point where the deployment of [autonomous weapons] is – practically if not legally – feasible within years, not decades, and the stakes are high: autonomous weapons have been described as the third revolution in warfare, after gunpowder and nuclear arms.”

The authors argue that AI can be used to make the battlefield a safer place for military personnel, but that offensive weapons that operate on their own would lower the threshold of going to battle and result in greater loss of human life....

Elon Musk heard the call for alternatives to the petroleum the USA had such a thirst for. He took it all seriously and invented the state of art batteries used in Tesla automobiles.

May 9, 2015
By Gina Coplon Newfield

“The sun shows up every day (click here) and produces ridiculous amounts of power.” —Elon Musk, May 1, 2015

Elon Musk produced fireworks last week when he announced that Tesla, his company known for its high-end electric cars, will soon start selling batteries to power homes and businesses. The products—which run about $3,500 for Powerwall home systems and about $25,000 for Power Pack business systems—will likely start shipping to customers later this year. The home system will store 10 kilowatt hours of electricity, enough to power a household for several hours....

Elon Musk has changed the way energy is delivered. It is time the USA recognize his genius. The technology he has invented is well within a reasonable cost and does not become obsolete. Alternative energies are the future.

It is time for the USA to listen to it's young people; they want a future free of pollutions and a world alive with environmental safety. This generation is highly moral and they want their lives to reflect the best of that morality. Elon Musk is more than happy to solve this generations problems. We have every reason to be proud of him.

This current endeavor of Elon Musk is about using his technology properly and morally. These scientists know what happened to splitting the atom and they don't want it on their conscience. 

So, the idea the USA has to remain within the prison of the petroleum nightmare is over. The USA must lead and bring moral structure to the lives of Americans looking forward to re-establishing the American Dream without regrets.

I am sure I don't have to tell Hillary Clinton how to run her campaign. I love the new video, by the way.

Hillary Clinton should not feel obligated to answer questions about Republican priorities. The facts are plain, the Keystone XL to oil export and the like are obsolete economic priorities.

The Republican rhetoric only reflects how out of touch they are with the real world. We are seeing movements in mergers of oil field suppliers and a continued fluctuations in oil prices.

There is seismic activity at fracking sites, the land of the USA is in peril. The USA continues to be at the top of the list for greenhouse gas emissions and methane is rising now because the fracking industry doesn't care what happens to the emissions of methane. They won't spend money on industrial infrastructure and chronically pollute the troposphere.

I don't care if CEOs come out and state it is stupid to allow emissions of methane because they are losing money, the facts are the CEOs don't care. I would think the tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico would be enough to portray the standards of the petroleum industry. They don't care about human life, so what makes anyone think they care about the environment? 

Currently Dutch Royal Shell is attempting to place oil platforms in the North Pacific thousands of miles from their headquarters without any feasible support close enough to rescue employees from these platforms. Yesterday, one of their icebreakers had a hole ripped out of it's outer shell. This ship is vital to the production personnel on these platforms. Now, that the Icebreaker is in for repair there is no support for the attempts to drill along the Aleutian Islands that are foreign owned. 

The entire idea of drilling in the Pacific is wayward. The Pacific Ocean is vast and has a far larger surface area than the Atlantic Ocean. As well, the deepest trenches on Earth are in the Pacific Ocean. What does that mean? That means the Pacific is far more turbulent and unpredictable than the Atlantic. The wave motion might be characterized as a difference between a bath tub and an Olympic sized swimming pool and that doesn't account for the earthquakes and volcanic eruptions within "The Ring of Fire." 

We know the devastation of a Ring of Fire earthquake from the Japan episode.

The entire petroleum industry is obsolete. The technologies are as old as the land they drill. They say fracking is state of the art. Really? That doesn't speak well of the industry and it's R&D. 

Let's just put it this way, the industry's greed has shot itself in the foot and they don't care if it's bleeding methane. The balance sheets won't permit for the cost of health care insurance.

Jen Welter breaks the mold and becomes the first NFL female coach.

July 27, 2015
By Brian Walsh

The Arizona Cardinals (click here) just made one of the biggest splashes of the NFL off-season.

Dr. Jen Welter, a collegiate rugby player who played 14 seasons of pro football in the Women’s Football Alliance, was picked by head coach Bruce Arians as a training camp intern to coach the teams linebackers, becoming the first women to hold a coaching position in the history of the NFL.

“Coaching is nothing more than teaching,” Arians said in a statement Monday. “I really believe she’ll have a great opportunity with this internship through training camp to open some doors for her.”

Despite not having any ties to the NFL, Welter has an extremely long history with football. A graduate of Boston College with a master’s in sport psychology and a PhD in psychology, Welter became the first woman to play in men’s professional football game in a non-kicker position in 2014 when she took the field for the Texas Revolution – a team in the Indoor Football League. After her debut, she went on to be an assistant coach for the Revolution....

Looking forward to "Rogue Nation." It wouldn't be MI if it weren't Cruise.

I thought it would (click here) be hard to top Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, but this franchise just keeps getting better. The latest edition, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation is not just the best movie of the summer, it is the best summer movie of the summer, with its smart script and direction from Christopher McQuarrie, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of The Usual Suspects who has a long-standing relationship with star Tom Cruise having penned Valkyrie, Edge Of Tomorrow and Jack Reacher...

 

The fourteen year old boys probably were victim to a squall that rolled through, but, no one can rule out the possibility of abduction either. It would be a perfect cover for kidnapping.

There is also a report of illegal immigrants coming from a boat on shore to the USA. If they witnessed it, could they at risk for kidnapping?

Child porn. Human trafficking. Boat traffic needs to be examined at the time and place of their missing status. They probably are not kidnapped. Hopefully they will show up soon.

There was a conviction earlier this month of the couple that abducted two Amish girls.

July 17, 2015

A man convicted of sexually abusing two Amish girls (click here) in northern New York to make pornography has pleaded guilty to kidnapping in the case.

Stephen Howells and girlfriend Nicole Vaisey were charged by federal prosecutors with coercing and sexually exploiting the girls and other children. Both have pleaded guilty to child pornography charges, remain jailed and await sentencing.

Howells on Friday also admitted he pushed the girls into a car his girlfriend was driving.

Authorities say he lured the girls with a dog.

He faces 25 years in prison. His girlfriend also has pleaded guilty to kidnapping.

The Amish girls were 7 and 11 years old. They were abducted Aug. 13 from their family's roadside farm stand. They were released from the couple's home the next day....

What is very troubling about all these incidents is the fact the children are in the age range of 7 to 14 with two 14 year olds still missing from a capsized boat. Just because children don't need direct supervision they should not be allowed in places where their safety is at risk.

This man pushed the two girls into his girlfriend's car where their parent was attending a roadside market. Children need to be safe and adults need to be vigilant regardless of "Oh, Mom, I'll be okay." 

These incidents were close to parents and near their home. Bad things happen to good children and then the scar is for life or worse.

It is that time of year. The children are at risk for harm.

July 28, 2015

By Martha Mendoza

...The search for a missing 8-year-old girl (click here) came to a tragic end after police found a body inside a trash bin at a Northern California complex where she was last seen riding her scooter. A teenage boy, who also lives in the complex, was arrested in the case.

Santa Cruz Police Chief Kevin Vogel said the body found by a detective Monday night at a Santa Cruz artist community and housing center likely belongs to Madyson Middleton.

"We haven't positively identified her yet but we believe she is probably Madyson Middleton," Vogel said.

A 15-year-old boy who lives in the complex was arrested around the same time the body was found and is being questioned on suspicion of homicide, Vogel said.

Madyson vanished Sunday afternoon at Tannery Arts Center, where she lives with her mother. She was last seen riding her new, white scooter in the courtyard, but at about 5 p.m. her mother realized she was gone....

Third degree burns on children without sunscreen. This is horrific. Children hospitilized.

I think this is criminal neglect. The children's lives were in danger. The family should speak to authorities or even consult an attorney. I would not let anyone get away with this. Children exposed to the sun with severe burns are a candidate for skin cancer in the future.

July 28, 2015
By Rebecca Rose

...They claimed (click here) they were out of sunscreen and that they told the kids to put on their shirts, but they didn't want to leave them on," Broadway said.
"[The employees] were actually making fun of my older son, because both boys got sunburns but he was being a 'baby' and crying about it," she told Buzzfeed. 
Broadway said things got much worse later in the day, when her oldest son complained of chest pains and told her he wasn't able to breath. She brought him to a medical center burn unit, where she was told the sunburn was so severe, they needed to air-lift him to a hospital in Texas which specializes in treating burn injuries.
The boys' aunt later posted photos of the burns on her Facebook page over the weekend. The boys' skin peeled and developed large boils and blisters on his back and shoulders....

So the hull was ripped open, huh?

Let's think about that a minute. 

Does anyone think it is easy to rip open a hull on such an ocean going monstrosity?

Well, it all depends. 

It depends on whether or not you're an iceberg or not. 

Oh, absolutely there are icebergs all the time in the Arctic Ocean. That never stops. It isn't the Gulf of Mexico. If you want to know how clueless these petroleum companies are, read their Environmental Impact Statements (EIS).

They don't write a unique EIS for every time they apply for an application for offshore drilling, they photocopy the one before.

Honest. Why else drug the folks at the old Minerals and Mines Management agency? 

Oh that reminds me. I have a theory about my exposure to the FBI a few months ago when a page of naked ladies showed up when I as looking for rock classifications. Ready? What goes together to actually sucker a geologist into servitude to the petroleum industry? Blackmail. Why not build a website where geologists go for information and have a pop up of naked ladies that automatically takes one to an FBI sting page?

You know what I am trying to figure out, who set up the page the petroleum industry or the FBI? I think it wasn't disarmed and it was doing what it was suppose to do to compromise federal employees into servitude. What are the chances of a professional geologist having a career with an FBI record of any kind? What are the outcomes to being listed as a potential or actual sex offender? A federal employee would be ruined if that sort of event manifested in their personnel file.

Environmental activists in kayaks protest the Fennica, a vessel that Royal Dutch Shell PLC plans to use in its Arctic offshore drilling project, as it underwent repairs on Swan Island, Saturday, July 25, 2015, in Portland, Ore. (Sam Caravana/The Oregonian via AP) 

July 26, 2015
By AP 

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Environmental activists in Portland are protesting the arrival of the Fennica, a vessel that Royal Dutch Shell PLC plans to use in its Arctic offshore drilling project after it's repaired.

The damaged ship, a 380-foot icebreaker, arrived at a Swan Island dry dock about 3 a.m. Saturday. The icebreaker is a key part of Shell's exploration and spill-response plan off Alaska's northwest coast. It protects Shell's fleet from ice and carries equipment that can stop gushing oil.

The Fennica was damaged earlier this month in the Aleutian Islands when it struck an underwater obstruction, tearing a gash in its hull.
About 75 "kayaktivists" and other protesters in boats were on the water Saturday afternoon, near where the Fennica is docked, holding a peaceful on-the-water rally against arctic offshore drilling, activist Mia Reback said. No arrests have been made.

July 27, 2015
By Alaska Dispatch News

A strong earthquake (click here) struck near the Aleutian Islands on Sunday night, but there were no immediate reports of damage and no tsunami was generated.
The quake, centered 71 miles southwest of the village of Nikolski and 167 miles southwest of Dutch Harbor, had a preliminary magnitude of 6.9, according to the Alaska Earthquake Information Center. It hit at 8:49 p.m. and was followed by a numerous aftershocks, according the U.S. Geological Survey.
By 6 a.m. Monday, the area had seen five aftershocks with a magnitude of 5.0 or greater, and more than a dozen smaller shocks ranging in magnitude from 3.1 to 4.9.

No tsunami was generated, according to the National Tsunami Warning Center.
The area, near the Fox Islands, is just under 1,000 miles west of Anchorage. Nikolski, with a population of fewer than 20 in the 2010 census, is the only community in the vicinity.
The earthquake was centered 53 miles south of Mount Cleveland, a restless volcano that has been rumbling recently. An explosion was reported on July 21. 

The Fennica is an icebreaker (click here).

According to Shell it is vital to protect it's drilling operations. Shell should not be operating their drilling platforms without all the ships needed to prevent disasters.   

Below is where the volcanic eruption took place. There are volcanoes within these islands. I know that because I know people that work on bird surveys in that area of the world. I find it really odd an icebreaker was hung up on an underwater structure. It doesn't quite make sense to me. Icebreakers have a really specific hull and they don't have deep water displacement. Icebreakers are flat bottomed boats. A three foot section was ripped open. That is an entire section of shell plating. 

The boat was forced up on an iceberg. That is the only thing that makes sense to me. It met it's match.

OR. 

It met a storm that drove it up on a reef or shoreline. 

The Aleutians are practically open water. There is plenty of ocean motion. I am not surprised it got in trouble. What were they doing there? Going around the islands?  

While I ponder that, the oil rigs should not be operating without the proper accompaniment of other ships that run interference with icebergs. It is a human safety issue as well as an environmental issue.

This is the Cleveland Volcano (looking at it upside down from the satellite) before it exploded. 

I stand corrected, this was the first traces of the eruption. There is a discoloration of one section of the peak where ash was carried.

Here is a composite (click here) Landsat 8 image of Cleveland from the afternoon of 14 June 2015. The shortwave-IR data in color shows elevated temperatures in the summit and is overlain on the grayscale visible wavelength base. Note the light dusting of ash on the north flank as observed by C. Read on his commercial flight back to Anchorage. Snow-free ground near the summit is also evident, but not necessarily unusual.

There were tsunamis but that doesn't mean it was a calm ocean.

The narrative is for the image below.

Wait a minute, this isn't a USA vessel. This is Dutch Shell. That is what it is doing in the open ocean. Oh, these guys are nuts. They aren't going to have much fun. They ought to take all their expensive toys back to the North Atlantic where they know the territory. This is a huge mistake.

Landsat-8 satellite image of Cleveland Volcano, (click here) draped over topography, collected on the night of July 23, 2015 at 08:53 UTC (12:53 am AKDT). The grayscale base image is from thermal infrared (TIR) data, and shows temperatures from cool in white to warm in black. The color overlay is short-wave infrared data, and shows high temperature features that aren't seen in TIR data. A hot summit vent is observed (as a red dot), surrounded by slightly cooler (but still hot) deposits likely from the explosion on 21 July. Note that steaming or clouds obscured a portion of the hot deposits on the south side, observed as an indent in the (likely) circular deposit.

There are some real reasons to get the State Department involved. The Aleutian chain has some of the most pristine Arctic environment the USA has. One oil spill and the Alaskan islands are history.

Below are the major ocean currents of the area. There are fisheries in these waters, including USA, but also Japan and Russia. This is going to be a mess. The State Department (click here for begin to contact) needs to talk to the people at Dutch Shell because they are using USA waters to move their oil rigs in and out and there was no EIS filed. I don't remember one. This is not funny. 

Who has resources? Greenpeace, but, NRDC (click here) has to be contacted and made aware of this.

Below are US interests in the region. Kodiak Island is at peril if Dutch Shell blows a well.

Send a note to the White House, too. (click here)

Dutch Royal Shell has no idea what they are doing in the North Pacific. They aren't going to succeed and the entire area is in danger of oil contaminator including fisheries. They are using US waters in their operations and dragging all sorts of ballast and garbage in and out of our waters with their movement.

The company never went through the process as far as I recall of determining the environmental impact of their operations. 

The Pacific Ocean is very, very different than the Atlantic. I know the North Atlantic is treacherous on a good day, but, the Pacific has far greater surface area and the open ocean is merciless. They don't know what they got themselves into in this venture. They need to stop.